IRELAND.
Mr. O'Connell's new club of agitation is to he called " The Pre- cursor Society of Ireland." It is intended that this society shall con-
tinue till the end of next session of Parliament, and make every effort to obtain "justice for Ireland ;" which is to include equality of Par. liamentary and Municipal franchises with England and Scotland, a new distribution of Members so as to give Ireland her fair proportion of representatives, and the entire abolition of Tithes and all compulsory payments to a Church to which the people of Ireland do not belong. If these objects are not secured in the next session of Parliament, then the Precursor Society is to be organized into an " Association for a Repeal of the Union." This plan was adopted at a numerous meeting of Mr. O'Connell's constituents, in Dublin, on Saturday. The assembly was unanimous in their approbation of Mr. O'Connell's past conduct and future
schemes,—with one exception. Alr. Sharman Craw ford attended the meeting to prove himself ready to repeat in Mr. O'Connell's presence that disapproval of the Agitator's policy which he had expressed in revere! letters. Mr. Crawford was not very well received by the meeting, when he exposed the inconsistency of Mr. O'Connell's sup. port of the Tithe Bill and other Guvernment measures with the pre-
sent proceedings. Some sharp words passed between the two gentle- men. Mr. O'Connell replied to Mr. Crawford's attack in the follow- ing fashion-
"i ask, what good is he doing? Ile is attacking us upon what is gone by ; leis writing letters abusing me ; and he will not join its in our exirtions fur thefuture. That is precisely what be is doing ; but, nay more, I will ask what goad did he ever do? Nothing. Nur it he were to live for the thousand von which I wished him, he would not do half as much good as he is doing hum now. If he be anxious to do good, let hint come forwaid and unite with os; but why should he compare himself to me in p • of services to my country? He says I was absent from my place one night; but when I was light after night watching over the lihei ties of my country, and fighting her Wes, where was he ? He was snug in Crawfordsburn, not doing any good to any human being, for I have heard a good deal about him, but I never could bee that he did one good or generous action in his life. lie assails me with Oldie malignity of Tory hate and Tory ribaldry ; but what do I care? I ask biro, dues he think that he can humbug the people by his vaunted patriotism, std his declarations of respect fur me. Let him speak out. It does not be- come it gentleman of his rank and station to act the hypuerite. He is use enemy. Let him honestly avow it. I am not his enemy ; and I never did as thing to him in my life except to laugh itt him, and I believe many others laughed at him too; but I never did him any harm, nor had the least bad feel- isg towards him in the course of my life."
Mr. O'Connell offered to forget bygone quarrels, and bury all in oblivion. There was a cry of " Join him, Crawford ! " but Mr. Craw- ford said nothing. Mr. O'Connell proceeded in the same strain as Wore
"task him, will he assist me to repeal the Tithe Bill? No: instead of deringus his assistance, he spent an hour and a half in making a speech, which had no meaning, save as far as an attack upon me was understood. The people of Ireland will laugh to sewn the pretended patriotism of the man who intend of joining in our strugeles for the future, dues nothing but heap abuse spun a man who has devoted his whole life to his country."
Again, turning to Alr. Crawford, Mr. O'Connell said, " Will you join me, Sir, and forget past differences ?"
When Mr. Cruwford'n turn came to reply, he disavowed all respect for Mr. O'Connell—" I tell him, he bits not my respect. I meant to ate no harsh language towards Mr. O'Connell, but I did not pretend he possessed my respect." Mr. Crawford proceeded, but was inter- rupted by noise and hisses. He was, however, beard to say— "l do not attempt to compare with the honourable gentleman in the power of running down an antagonist by eloquence ; but I may he permitted to CUM. pue with him in honesty of intention. 1 have jollied him hitherto at his call upon many occasions ; and upon every occasion he deserted me, and voted against me in Parliament. The very question he called upon me in a letter to rapport, he voted on against me, and against his own professions, when it came before the House."
Mr. O'Connell said-
" What brought you here, Sir, holding such opinions of me, who called this meeting? Did not you come to do mischief ? He came from the enemy's camp; and I impeach him for it before the people of Ireland. What brought kis here? Do you recollect the old song- ' What brought you here, Sharman my jewel? What are you after, craw ford my man?'" A Person called to the meeting to hear Mr. Crawford ; but Mr. O'Connell exclaimed— "No, no; /ant against hearing him any longer. If there were any pros- pect of doing good, I would lie willing to hear it all over again; bit we 14.4e !ward nothing but invective ,nd stale Tory fallacies. Let him write a le•te: :n the Mail, if he chooses."
Mr. Crawford re!ired from the meeting. Mr. Alexander Galloway, of London, lauded Mr. O'Connell for his magnanimity, and reprobated Mr. Craw ford's cots hurt. Ile banded in the !limes of twenty citizens of London sea Members of the Precursor Society. [Has not Mr. Galloway an eye upon some Irish constituency ?1 Two hundred members were enrolled before the meeting separated.
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