IRELAND.

A remarkable -correspondence on the relations of Parliamentary "pa- tron and nominee," has passed between Lord,Londonderry and -his nephew Mr. David Stewart Ker, one of the candidates for the seat which is to be resigned by Lord Castlereagh.

Lord Londonderry opened the correspondence with the following letter to his nephew.

"Mcddemesse House, February 7, lft62.

" My-dear -David-4 lament very .sincerely to say, notwithstanding all my efforts, Castlereagh has determined to resign the county at the next election. He feels himself pledged to Sharman Crawford ; and it is quite impossible, from my strong opposition to the Tenant-right League, that I-can support or poll my voters, even for a son, under so -wide a difference in our views and opinions. Nothing can be more painful to me than this position, which Castlereagh has made so inevitable. After the immense treasure expended by the family on this county-seat, -I cannot reconcile it to myself, my ,posi- tell, and my political name, to abandon it during at least my tenancy, nor resign the nomination to even CastlereasSi paying his own means, as he must even then be dependent on my votes, which I could not offer for Tenant Le aid. Yen are my eldest and I willingly offer the first re- seara of tmy intereet and means to you, if you will take C"astlereagh's posi- tion with me in the county seat; more especially as I believe you are as equally inclined to support .Lord Derby's public views and future 'govern- ment as I am. It may, however, very naturally other to you, from your large interest, you woulestand on your own bottom, independent of anyone, and that you would contest the county on your own just pretensions. If this be your object, loan, of course, say nothing, and can only sincerely lament if I am forced to take different views. I ask myself, 14 after all my fore- fathers have spent, I ought to _yield this prize. I grant I may be defeated ; but Lought not to succumb. If your affection leads your coalescing now in

our poltScal views—as I believe I am as good aProtestant as any man in our county—to accept the offer I make, I consider, with Lords Downshire, Annee- lev, and landlords generally approving, we could defy Sharman Crawford, his sascriptions, and the League : of course all expense in a contest would be mine. On the other hand, if you are disposed to stand alone yourself, circumstanced as I am„ it would be unfair not to tell you at once, that the disagreeable duty I have forced upon me, but which I know not how to shrink from, s to fight, and suppert,by the most eligible candidate I can procure, the family seat for i the county n which we have so large a stake, and in which I have myself spent so much. Pray be kind enough to let me know your decision with the least possible delay; and believe me ever, my dear Ker, yours most affection-

ately, VANE LONDONDERRY." MY. Ker answered on the 10th February, in a letter to his dear uncle, containing this acceptance of the offer made- " From the handsome manner in which you make that proposal to me, and from the circumstance of our coalescing in our political views as to sup- porting Lord Derby and sound Conservative and Protestant principle!, I have no hesitation in saying sincerely, that I am very much under obliga- tion to you, and that I feel no difficulty in accepting -your offer?'

But on the 27th February, Mr. Ker wrote to his cousin, Mrs Alexander

R. Stewart, canvassing him for his support, with expressions which came to the knowledge of Lord Londonderry, and suggested to his Mind that there was not quite a clear understanding between him and his nephew on the relationship which he intended should sulisist between them. Accord- ingly, Lord Londonderry wrote, through his Son Lord Ernest Vane, (being himself unwell,) to ask-for an explicit undeestanding on this alternative—

"Whether you accept the offer he made, bona fide, as coming in for the county of Down as his Member, and by his money ; or whether you decline this, which was the distinct proposition he made to you." Mr. Ker answered at considerable length.

said—" I perfectly understand that I am to be your Member, e. in consideration of the terms of your proposal. I am to represent your political views : but I understand, at the same time, that we agree in polities, and particularly in two points, which now alone are visible in the horizon,"— namely, opposition to the Tenant League, and support of Lord Derby. In reference to the latter point, he added—" As Lord Derby's views, upon every question, are not yet fully declared, it does not appear necessary for his fol- lowers (of which or of whom I am one) to declare theirs upon every question, but rather to wait for his decision, and to be prepared to support what we be- lieve to be an honest and upright Government and party." On the general re- , Wiens between them he said—" It is very well known the terms upon which I come forward. It has been made known to all persons who are anxious to maintain the influence of your family and property in the county ; but it did not ap,pear to me necessary or advisable to make our arrangements known to each in- dividual, and publicly ; because, as regards our opponents and the Northern TPhig, it would confirm their insinuation, that the county was to be handed over to a political " crab," ' and because there are many landlords, and Ibelieve tenants, who would be much offended by assuming that they could be influ- enced by anything except their own conscience -and opinions; paeticularly, as it so happens that those of the largest property and influence are united in supporting Lord Derby and opposing Sharman Crawford. (Subauditum eat, we agree in these same objects.) Assuming then, that no difference of opinion would arise between us, I considered that I was at liberty to canvass the county without further authority or delay, and that it would be danger- ous to allow the Tenant-right canvass to steal a march upon the influence of the landlords. I therefore trust., that as I have been so far fortunate in ob- taining very.general support, and as I believe that the arrangement is agree- able to the county, I trust that the course I have pursued will meet with your approval, and that nothing has occurred to interrupt the understanding between us."

Lord Londonderry replied with this letter, closing the transaction on his part.

.‘ Holdernesse House, March -6, 1812. 4‘ Dear Ker—I have received your long letter of the 3d. I regretto say that it has given me much disappointment under deep afflietion, and is by no means satisfactory. The letters already passed between us will show my understanding without any qualifications. You say now—' I perfeotly under- stand I am to be your Member,' that is to say, under consideration of the terms I propose' • we agreeing on general Conservative principles. But farther -than that,; were no points whatever propounded in my offer, and I must decline them all now stated. Your first acceptance was absolute —'unconditional—as if you were heir to my estate and political influences. I hardlythink you would wish to blind-me ; but as everything so rapidly changes in these days, I must not be a dupe to my own affectionate credulity. Itis not too late yet. I may be -defeated ; but my political position and name de- mand I should uphold the family seat in the best manner in my power. Of course, by your letter I MU now free ; and neither in expenses nor support can you look to me our impressions as a both fide understanding on the known -principles of the patron and nominee are so wide asunder. What must be the result in our conviction at such a state of complicated points and considerations as you bring in-? You would be in the seat with my money, and my means, M a very great degree ; and my friends and others would laugh at me for your boasted and acting independence. I shall write imme- diately to Mr. J. Stewart and Mr. Andrews to take the best possible measures for our family interest. If they understand, on further communication, that you no longer acquiesce in the letter and spirit of the 10th Febuary, of course I shall lay the correspondence before Lord D. and my friends in the county, and upon advice or otherwise start my own candidate, however late

in the field. Yours, VANE Lowemeuminv." Mr. Ker intimated on the 10th of March, that he considered the en- gagement or understanding withhis uncle at an end ; and he seems for the moment to have left the field as a candidate.

In a letter on the 16th March to Mr. Maxwell of London, about an- other candidate to oppose a seeond nephew of Lord Londonderry's, put forward by the Marquis, Mr. Ker said— "If Ward chooses to stand, I will support him ; but if not, I will not re- tire in favour of J. V. Stewart—neither a resident nor a proprietor, but a nominee.' Observe, that the meeting in Downpatrick had been published in The Banner ; that there was a strong feeling against a nominee ; that it was said that Lord L.'s nominee was more a nominee than is gene- rally understood by that term ; that he had no chance of succeeding ; that I was first in the field ; that I was then free ; that I should have admitted every accusation alleged ; and that I could not, with any regard to my posi- tion and character, and the respect I have to the county, retire in favour of Mr. Stewart." He waited from the 10th to the 22d of March, to give opportunity to any other candidate to come forward; and. warmly supported Mr. Ward during the few days that he allowed his name to be before the county. Mr. Ward having retired, Mr. Ker issued his own address. Understanding that "selected portions" of the correspondence between his uncle and himself had been printed and privately circulated with comments on his conduct, -he felt constrained to print and send to his friends a full copy of the whole of the letters which passed; and through

one of those friends, we suppose, the correspondence has come before the public in the newspapers.

An influential deputation ngesented to the Lord-Lieutenant at the Vice- regal Lodge, on Monday, a memorial "entreating the Royal clemency on behalf of William Smith O'Brien and his companions in penal exile." The distinctive paragraph of the memorial was this brief one- " We beg respectfully to represent to your Excellency, that the state of the country at this time would justify the exercise of the Royal clemency towards them." The Lord Mayor of Dublin, who headed the deputation, stated that the memorial was signed by nine Peers, fifteen Catholic Bishops, nineteen Baronets, forty-two Members of Parliament, sixty-six Deputy-Lieute- nants, two hundred and eighty-eight Magistrates, eleven High Sheriffs, upwards of five hundred dignitaries and clergymen of all denominations, the Mayors of almost every provincial town in Ireland, the heads of the several professions, and about 10,000 other persons.

The Lord-Lieutenant read a reply, which in words of consideration for the memorialists firmly refused their prayer.

"Though convicted of high treason, the lives of Mr. O'Brien and his as- sociates were spared by the exercise of the Royal prerogative ; and they, as well as the persons who incurred the penalty of transportation for treasonable practices, have been treated with unusual indulgence in the places of their

tile—even the measures of restraint rendered necessary by their own con- duct having been of abort duration.

It is, however, to be regretted that these acts of lenity have not been at- tended with the effects that might reasonably have been expected ; but that, on the contrary, repeated attempts to escape have taken place—in one case with success; and that none of the persons on whose behalf my interference is solicited have expressed contrition for their crime, or manifested any sign of gratitude, or loyalty to the gracious Sovereign whom they have so grievously offended, and to whose clemency some of them are indebted for their lives.

"Under these circumstances, I do not consider myself justified in recom- mending the prayer of the memorial to her Majesty's favourable consider- ation."