23 DECEMBER 1854, Page 8

IRELAND.

Captain Pakenham, the brother of the late Member, killed in the Crimea, has issued an address to the electors of Antrim.

An official notification from the Board of Trinity College announces the contemplated relaxation of the statute which debarred Dissenters and Roman Catholics from attaining the honours and rather scanty emolu- ments attached to the scholarships. The Board, it seems, have resolved

to create some additional scholarships, "which shall be open to students of all religious denominations, without distinction." They are to be coed "Non-foundation Scholarships," and will be tenable for the same period and endowed with the same emoluments as the chartered scholar- ships, and the candidates for both will be examined at the same time and la the same subjects. Four of the new scholarships will be filled up at next Trinity term examination.

A case of some interest was heard in the Dublin Chancery Court last week. Is the railway accident at Straffan, one of the victims was a Miss Clara Kirwan. She was possessed of 6000/. under her father's will; but when her brother, Mr. Valentine Kirwan, took out administration, he could only make available about 30001. On inquiry he found that his sister had trans- ferred 3000/. to the names of Dr. Paul Cullen and the Reverend Dr. Curtis, Superior of the Society of Jesus in Dublin, for the benefit of a convent ; and he alleged that his sister was extremely delicate and susceptible of being unduly influenced, and that she had been unduly influenced by Dr. Curtis. It was not, however, shown that she was incapable of disposing of her pro- perty; and several allegations tending to show that she was under undue in- fluence were disproved. It was asserted that the object of Miss Kirwan was to leave her property for purposes of benevolence, and in aid of a charitable institute. On Monday, the Lord Chancellor gave judgment in favour of the defendants. Mr. Kirwan proposes to appeal to the House of Lords.

All last week there was most tempestuous weather in Ireland—gales, heavy rains, and storms of thunder and lightning. In Mayo county, a church- steeple was struck, and it fell and crushed the church : a christening-party had just left the building. A few years since there were 3000 inmates in Ballinasloe Workhouse; there are now but 400; and the Guardians have recently sold the surplus bedding and clothes. Some of the purchasers were people who formerly used the articles as paupers.