22 AUGUST 1846, Page 8

IRELAND.

The letters from all districts of Ireland continue to report the complete destruction of the potato crop. It is stated that there is hardly in any part of the country a sufficiency of supply up to Christmas, and in most places the crop fit for human consumption will not last to the middle of November.

The Corporation of Cork having requested Mr. Labouchere to support a petition for an equalization of Irish municipal ffranchises with those of England, the Secretary for Ireland has replied, by"letter, in these terms- ' It is only necessary for me to say that it will afford me much pleasure to assist in calling the attention of Parliament, whenever a fit occasion shall arise,. to the discrepancies which exist in the municipal law of the two countries, and that I shall rejoice at their removal in every case that the circumstances of the various localities permit."

The following gentlemen who were dismissed from the Magistracy for attending Repeal meetings have been restored— Lord Ffrench; Daniel O'Connell, MP.; Sir Michael Dillon Bellew, Bart.; H.. Bridgeman, bLP.; Pierse S. Butler, bLP.; Cornelius O'Brien, 11.P.• R. A. Fitz- gerald, M.P.; Caleb Powell, M.P.; Daniel Clanchy; Nicholas Boylan; Francis- Comyn ; Christopher Nugent; J. IL M'Donnell, M.P.; R. De Verdon.

Sir W. Verner, M.P.., better known as Colonel Verner, who was dismissed for his Orange ebullitions, Sir Richard Musgrave, and Mr. J. A. O'Neill, who resigned,. have also been restored.

The weekly Repeal meeting, on Monday, was attended by Mr. O'Connell. A letter was read from Mr. Smith O'Brien, written under the apprehension that entire silence on his part might be construed as acquiescence in the late proceedings of the Association. Mr. O'Brien begs to record his dissent from the resolution which deprives the subscribers to the Repeal fund of their right to receive the Nation newspaper. He did not agree in all the sentiments and expressions which appeared in that paper; but he cannot acquiesce in that oppressive proscription-

" I admire it for the extraordinary vigour of its style, for the dazzling splen- dour of its prose, and for the glowing beauty of its verse—for the absence of that scurrility by which modern journalism is disgraced—but,l above all, for its burning enthusiasm in the cease of Ireland.

"For my own part, although I have felt it to be my duty to defend men who have been unjustly assailed, and in doing so have cheerfully sacrificed that po- pularity and leadership' which it is supposed that I covet so much, I firmly re- pudiate the imputation that I am desirous to encourage the people of Ireland to struggle for their legislative freedom by an appeal to arms: but, on the other hand, I will not consent to pamper the pride of England, or to encourage her op- pression of my country, by telling her that the Irish people have for ever fore- sworn the use of the sword as the final vindication of their national liberties."

Mr. O'Connell adverted to this letter; declining to bandy arguments, re- iterating his denunciation of physical force, but begging Smith O'Brien to throw away his sword and rejoin the Association.

Rent 2291.