28 JANUARY 1882, Page 3

The only intelligence from Ireland of much interest is a

rumour that preparations for insurrection have been discovered in county Clare, and that the Government believes the move- ment to be very wide-spread. Beyond the despatch of two more regiments to Ireland, we see, however, little evidence for this story. In more domestic affairs, we note that juries are returning verdicts of guilty,—in one case, on the evidence of " Captain Moonlight,"—i.e., the head of a terrorist gang who turned Queen's evidence; and that a great meeting of Ulster tenant-farmers was held in Belfast on Friday week, to s upport the Land Act. The meeting was largely attended, and after hearing speeches from Mr. Givan and Mr. C. Russell, the farmers resolved, "That the Sub-Commissioners, of whose intention to be fair no doubt is entertained, have not adequately protected the tenant's interest in his holding by the rents they have fixed. They have either taken too high a standard of rent, forgetting the increased cost of labour, and the vastly increased foreign competition ; or they have made too small an allowance for the interests and improvements of the tenants ; and undoubtedly, the rents recently awarded are in excess of the old, customary rent of Ulster." In the immense- number of decisions, on appeal, now being settled by the Land Commission, the words -"confirmed," "confirmed," recur with almost monotonous regu- larity. The truth is, that no one, however familiar with the subject, had an idea of the extent to which rack-renting had gone in Ireland.