IRELAND.
At a special meeting of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, last week, resolutions were adopted, and a memorial agreed upon, bringing before Government the claims of the Irish linen trade to a full participation in the proposed reduction of the duties now under the consideration of the Government of the United States. A duty of 20 per cent is at present levied upon imports of Irish linen ; which amounts to a tax of 35,0001. annually on American consumers. This high duty is not strictly speak- ing protective, for the linen goods manufactured in America do not enter into competition with Irish goods, and the flax manufacture of the States is insignificant. Only 14,550 spindles are employed; "under the amount in many individual Irish factories, and only one half of what is contained in the York Street mill alone."
Dr. Cantwell, Roman Catholic Bishop of Meath, is in a state of min- gled perplexity and indignation respecting the Income-tax. It appears he received the usual paper addressed to him as the "Reverend John Cantwell." As the only income which he has is derived from the bishop- ric of Meath, an office which the Government does not recognize and for- bids to be named, he is at a loss how to make a return. Unwilling to incur the penalty of neglect, or to resist any law however unjust, he has written to Mr. Pollard Urquhart, M.P., for advice seeing that Mr. Urqu- hart voted with the Government. Mr. Urquhart has replied ; but he can- not solve the difficulty raised by Dr. Cantwell.
[The Standard suggests an easy solution of Dr. Cantwell's difficulty.
"The following form will be satisfactory and quite safe--' John Cantwell, resident, (name residence,) Roman Catholic bishop. Income derived from bishopric, so much.' The exercise of any office in the Romish Church is as lawful as any other profession."]
A Roman Catholic priest who took part in the last Sligo election has been adjudged to pay a bill of 81. 15s. for refreshments supplied to voters apparently under his direction.
A Cork journal states, that on Tuesday, 400 men, draughted from nine foot regiinents, embarked on board the ship Leopard for the Mediterranean. The draughts belonged to the Thirteenth, Fifty-fifth, Thirtieth, Ninety- second, Third, Forty-first, Forty-ninth, and Sixty-eighth Foot.
Sir William Betham, Ulster King at Arms, died suddenly on Wednes- day, at his residence near Blackrock, Dublin.
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