2 FEBRUARY 1839, Page 1

The Precursory campaign has closed, and Mr. O'CONNET.T. is now

on his road to London. It may be surmised that he is not altogether satisfied with the result of his extraordinary exertions during the recess. There has been coolness at the Castle—the consequence, probably, of the Ministerial disposition to rely upon Conservatism more than upon Irish agitation for the means of rubbing through the coming session. The Anti-Corn-law move- ment has not tended to increase the importance of Mr. O'Coss- Nimes aid. Irish subjects will not be so prominent as formerly. It' time Tories offer a Corporation Bill, the Whigs will not refuse it, whilst the Radicals will scarcely interfere between them. Mr. O'Costxuat, will soon discover, if he is not already aware of it, that English objects must this session be substituted for those Irish

• questions, which have so long, and to so little purpose beyond keeping in the Whigs, occupied the almost exclusive attention of Parliament. Not that Irish affItirs ought to be disregarded or shelved, but, for a session at least, they will not be pond, as they have been, into undue importance, or made the pivot on which the existence of Administrations turns. His characteristic sagacity has, WC suspect, enabled Mr. O'CONNELL himself to fore- see that in the pertbrmances of the ensuing session he will not play the leading part. The consciousness of declining influent ... ha-, not tended to soothe a temper never sufficiently under control, and on several occasions Mr. O'Coxxra,t, has betrayed unbecoming irasci- bility. His attacks on the newspapers are utterly tuna rth:- of a man in ins position ; and even success in crushing an ina..1).:salcnt journalist must be injurious to himself. He may receive itaplatise and adulation from his band of Precursors,. but the symn...thy on this side of the Channel is entirely with Mr. STAUNTON, pre- ferred heavy loss to slavish submission. These parish brawls would not deserve notice front us, did they not illustrate tho ex- tent and nature of Mr. O'Costsura,'s power in his own country. It would appear that the Dublin Liberal newspapers are at his mercy. Two or three succumbed at once under the weight of his displea- sure; and the resisting journalist acknowledged that he preserved his independence at the risk of destruction to his property. When, therefore, the decline of Mr. O'Costsam.'s influence is predicated, the remark must be understood as limited to its operation in Parliament. Over the Irish populace he is still lord paramount. Notwithstanding his anger with the Whigs, and attacks on Lord NORMA N EY, Mr. O'CoNstErm has finally assured his Dublin consti- tuents that he is resolved to continue his support to the present Ministry. In fact, dissevered from time Whigs, Mr. O'CONNELL would lose the greater part of his importance. He has cooled the friendship of British Radicals; with the Tories, of course, there can be no connexion if he quarrel with the Whigs, behold him reduced to the chieftainship of his Irish Janissaries, and with diminished means of securing their fidelity by rewards. Verily, the partner- ship between O'CONNELL and these Ministers ought to continue; for, after its dissolution, small will be the profits accruing to either him or them.