IRELAND.
The proceedings at the weekly meeting of the Repeal Association, on Monday, were rather entertaining. Mr. O'Connell introduced Mr. Richard Grey Porter,. late High Sheriff of Fermanagh, (and author of a well-known pamphlet on Fede- ralism,) and moved that he be enrolled a member of the Association; which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Porter avowed his adherence to Federalism. The chief features of the new act of Union which he advocated were, firstly, the rereccoogg nition of the independence of Ireland as a -voluntary partner in the Iliberno-Bri empire; secondly, the settlement of the national debts of the two Countries 'on equitable principles; and next, an increase of Representatives in the British-House of Commons, to the extent to which this country was entitled accordingto popri- lation and amount of territory. But he gave the associators some advice. He would tell them some of the reasons which deterred many thousands of men of moderate opinions in the North of Ireland, and indeed in ever' part of the country,-from, joining them. The first was, the fear that this association was merely O'Connellite. But this fear he believed to be unfounded: they had chosen Mr. O'Connell as their chief because he had the best head among them; but that he could true them as he pleased he denied altogether. Another reason was, that they were afraid that the establishment in College Green would lead- either to its own sui- cide, as formerly, or a separation of Ireland from England. He agreed wjth
who believed that if there was a Parliament in Dublin, there would be a lion of the countries in two years. ("No, nor) He stated this m his own opinion. The last reason to which he would advert, by which many were influenced in persisting to refuse joining the Association, was the non-publication of their accounts. If everything connected with their accounts were above board, they would stand much higher m the estimation of the world: and for his own part, he did not join them until he obtained a plain promise from Mr. O'Connell that for the future the accounts should be published every week, item by item.; -
Mr. O'Connell said, that up to the commencement of the State prosecution.the accounts had been regularly published; and since that time the current expenses of the week to the last farthing had been regularly reported to the Committee every Thursday. The accounts likewise had been under consideration with a view to publication; but one of the auditors had been taken ill, and had only returned among them that day. He had no doubt that within .a fortnight they would be able to publish them.
Mr. Smith O'Brien expressed dissent from the views put forward by Mr. Grey Porter, and declared himself an unconditional Repealer.
Mr. O'Connell concurred with Mr. O'Brien in thinking that the Union ah-ould be got rid of in the first place: when that was accomplished, he was ready for talk with Mr. Porter and those who thought like him, respecting what 'they would take instead dit. He thought that now he might expect that the Union would be repealed, and that Sir Robert Peel would be the man to. bring in the bill. " When you talk of a man's future conduct, the best grounds on which to conjecture what that shall be is to look to his past conduct; and is there any- thing in what may be called the antecedents of Sir Robert Peel that is incon- sistent with his bringing in an act of Parliament for the Repeal of the Union himself? Was there ever, I ask, so determined an enemy of Catholic Emancipa- tion as Sir Robert. Peel—conscientiously I admit, but still a little usefully to him- self; for it was by taking the ground of No Popery in his early political life that he, the BOA of a manufacturer—a manufacturer of high character certainly—has risen to the dignity of Premier of England. He was in this country the enemy of Catholic Emancipation, and the principal man that organized the Orange lodges throughout Ireland. He left that system after him in operation, which was carried so far that almost every young gentleman in the North of Ireland when he attained his age was, according to Peel's scheme, regularly sworn in' an 0 wan That system continued several years in existence under his auspices; and no man ever made or published more speeches against Emancipation than Sir Robert Peel. But who conceded it ? who carried it and worked it through the House of Commons, and assisted by his influence to it through the House of Lords?—The same Sir Robert Peel. Hurrah, then,
feel and R' epeal!" " They said, indeed, that they gave the 1 right to the 'Catholics, but they would have a Protestant preference ' in allthings possible. The words of the Duke of Wellington were ' a Protestant preference.' That was a shabby way to emancipate us; it was like flinging a bone to a hungry dog i without any meat on it. But, perhaps, as he is growing older he is growing wiser and better. I think I must fall in line with him; for nothing was ever more fah', manly; and excellent in all its details, than his plan respecting Maynooth." On the last day of meeting he did not hazard any opinion with respect to the proposed Mavnooth grant, and he had intended to be cautious this day; but having Jest read the bill, he had no hesitation in pronouncing it to be most excellent, and the speech by which it was accompanied was as fair and manly as the plan itself was admirable. It was done in a noble and generous manner, and he was grateful for it. He repeated, that the bill was excellent in all its details, and quite satisfactory and unobjectionable. The increased grant was to be given without restriction of any kind: but would that make them give up their agita- tion for Repeal? He firmly believed; thacfor that very grant he ought to say, " Thank you, agitation; and Conciliation Hall, I sin obliged to you; and Repeal Association, Maynooth ought to pray for you." (Laughter and cheers.) Sir Robert Peel was well aware of the favourable impression which the bill would produce-on the minds of the people of this country; and, accordingly, the evening of the bringing it in he set the Americans at defiance. If he persevered in his present line of conduct towards this country, Ireland would set them at defiance
too. To America I say' don't dare attack England; they are conciliating Ire- land: and you have three millions two hundred thousand slaves among your in- habitants."
The rent for the week was 3331.
Lord Cloticurry has joined the '82 Club. It is said that Mr. John Reilly, a Town-Councillor, although proposed by Mr. O'Connell and Mr. Smith O'Brien, has been black-balled, because he is a tailor and draper.
The Priests' Protection Society met at the lecture-room of the Society, in Dab- )in, on Thursday last week; the Earl of Roden presiding. Several clergymen were present;' but' among the most vehement speakers were two " reformed priests," gentlemen converted from the Roman Catholic faith. We learn by the report in the Dublin Times, that the Reverend Mr. Brasbie made " a lengthened
reference to the impure, mpure, immoral, disgusting; and very revolting pages 'of . the celebrated Dens, or the more indelicate, immoral, and dissocial, anti- Christian, unnatural,' but less notorious, but more wicked work of Sandia." Dexis's; he said, was a work which was' always 'consulted with reference to the sacrament of penance—that infernal' instrument devised by the Prince of Darkness; for the purpose of enslaving, degrading, and demoralizing immortal souls; that they might become the' prey of future rapacity. There the youthful penitent was made acquainted with crimes of which, even in mature years, they would be ignorant were it not for the confessional. Did they see the unfortunate '"Ittrundererstanding On-the threshold Of eternity, declaring. in the presence of God that they were innoCent;froin the conviction of the power of the priest to remove guilt? Never was there such an engine devised to rivet in chains the population of a country. On it he could.speak for hours; but it was better to draw the veil of silence-over the abominations of the tribunal—as regarded it, he would concen trate all in one word, " silence." Sancha, the other writer referred to, was gene- rally consulted on " matrimony.," or the " marriage state"; and while they had beard much about Dens, Sandia far exceeded him in every sensual refinement, in every brutal immorality. He knew a fellow-student, not remarkable for his ascetic manners: he was so shocked after looking into Sancha, the subject to Which he referred being so repugnant to his feelings, that he fell on his knees and raised to Heaven his eyes in prayer; for without prayer he could not disengage his mind from' the abominations which were even infused at a glance. And if young men within the walls of a college had such difficulties to contend with, what must be the consequence of such prhiciples whenthey mix with society? And as to Bailey, another class-book, the doctrines contained in it are also of an immoral anti-social tendency. That the doctrines taught in that book are opposed to the Word of God, is a matter of public notoriety. file meeting adopted a peti- tion to Parliament, praying for inquiry into the systein of education pursued at Maynooth, and the withholding of all future grants.
The Presbytery of Belfast, one of the most influential in Ireland, have passed resolutions condemnatory of the proposed endowment of Maynooth College.
A party of four men, belonging to a gang called " Molly M'Guires," committed a murder at Ballyrahan, near Strokestown, on Sunday afternoon•' no one inter- fering with them, though plenty of people were at hand. The ruffirins first entered the house of John Dignan, a poor-rate collector, and not finding him at home, they merely seized his arms. They then went to his brother's house; and lie also being out, they began searching for arms. Presently the man arrived, and stabbed one of the robbers; when he was shot through the head. The wounded " Molly If‘Guire" was unable to escape, and was arrested; but the other three got away. .A Coroner's Jury have returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against some per- sons unknown"; for no one, it is said, would venturelo identify the prisoner !
A man has been shot dead in a field by his brother, at Milltown, in Tipperary. The brother had recently returned from America, and claimed some land from the murdered man, which the latter refused to give. The fratricide has absconded.
Six armed men waylaid Mr. William Ryan, a gentleman of Ballymackeogh, beat him, and tried to shoot him. They had heen Observed; two parties of Police eerie up; and there' was a scuffle. One of the assassins was shot dead, another was wounded as he fled, and a Policeman was shot in the thigh. Two days afterwards, the wounded fugitive was captured; and two more of the party have been arrested since.
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