31 DECEMBER 1831, Page 2

Mr. O'CONNELL proceeds with his plan of agitation, and justifies

t from the example of those who now decry A- n Who told us," exclaimed he, at a meeting of the National, on Monday, " to agitate? About two and a half, or three years ago, when Lord Anglesey agreed in opinion with us, he wrote a letter to Dr. Curtis, which letter ended with these three words, ' Agitate, agitate, agitate !' And so far from shrinking from the accusation of being an agitator, I take up the words of Lord Anglesey, and say, Agitate, agitate, agitate !' How dare the Whigs talk to me in abuse of agitation? When did it ever occur in any country, that one single blessing of liberty was obtained except through the medium of agitation?"

The English of all this is, that Ireland must have 125 members in- stead of 105, or Mr. OCONNELL will play the deuce with the Minister --and worse, by virtue of the precedent they have themselves esta- blished. We may here observenhat the general agitation of a people, to get rid of a generally felt and acknowledged grievance, is a very differ- ent matter, though the name be the same, from the general agitation of a people on a nice question of political arithmetic, which nine of ten do not understand, or are at issue about. Had Ireland been left with its boroughs close, while those of England and Scotland were opened, the case would have been different. If Ireland must agitate for more members, why not Wales—why not Scotland- -why not England? If any town or county in Ireland be neglected, have they not voices of their own? But the twenty members will not suffice—if these were granted, the Liberator would still agitate for the Repeal. As to any opposition which pitiful England may offer to either project—contemptible!

"England, strong as she is, with Scotland and Wales pouring in on her—I will give them France too, paltry Spain, Portugal, the States of Italy, and they may add the Russian Autocrat ; and in opposition to these, let only the Catholics, Protestants, Presbyterians, and Dissenters of Ireland put shoulder to shoulder in the field, and we will defy them. Every mountain in Ireland is a fortification, every road is a defile, and, in fact, such military positions and advantages no colfmtry ever had; and if agreed amongst ourselves, what country ever had such a garrison ? They may seduce us and divide us—they may win our hearts too- but,by force they never can be victorious."

• -1;A1, Mr. O'CONNELL ! "if agreed among ourselves "—you do 'well toadd that. Two such 7fes scarce make one possibility. Tuesday offered a fine specimen of United Irishmen, in a set viarrel between Mr. O'CONNELL and his quondam friend honest JOLOK LAWLESS, about the antiquated affair of Meath. If these things be done in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?