I.RELAND.
Through the columns of the Cork Constitution we learn that the Go- vernment offered to place Mr. John Francis Maguire in the commission of the peace, and th at Mr. Maguire declined the " unlooked-for kindness." Mr. Maguire is one of the most prominent of the Irish Independent Opposition, and he has lately been decorated by the Pope. He thus states his reasons for the course he has pursued-
" My motive is a simple one. I desire not only to maintain my political independence in and out of the House of Commons, but not to risk even the appearance of its forfeiture. I gave a cordial support to her Majesty's Ministers in their late struggle against a dishonest resolution and an un- principled cabal. I did so because I felt the Government were in the right,
and that their enemies were in the wrong. But did I receive even se trifling a favour as the commission of the peace from your Excellency'shands it might be said—by those who do not -.ow me, or who have an terest in misrepresenting the party to which I belong, and the policy. which I have persistently pursued—that I was anxious to .propitiate the Tory Administration, and acted with a view to some ulterior object .... assure your Excellency I appreciate your unlooked-for courtesy the more from the fact that the application of the Town-Council of this city, over which I presided as Mayor in 1853, was refused in 1854, from motives of hostility, the result of political animosity—the application being made with a view of further rewarding one who, with all his faults, had been an active chief magistrate."
The riots at Belfast have subsided for the present. The mob conducted itself with such violence and brutality, that an additional military force was sent for at the end of last week, and the town appeared like a place in a state of siege. Mr. Tracy, the resident Magistrate, issued an order authorizing the police to use their arms.
The Grand Orange Lodge has solemnly prohibited all external demon. strations upon the 12th July.
An attempt has been made to assassinate Lord Castlemaine, in the streeth of Athlone. Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon, Lord Castle. maine, in company with Dr. Brodie, Poor-law Inspector, was passing through Church Street, on his way to Rourke's Hotel, when opposite Me. Maxwell's establishment, a pensioner named Kelly rushed at his lordship, and attempted to strike him with a large knife. Fortunately, Lord Castle- maine, with much presence of mind, warded off the blow by raising his stick, and knocked the knife from the fellow's hand. Kelly attempted to regain possession of it, but was happily prevented from doing so by Dr. Brodie, who seized him by the arm and held him until taken into custody by the police. Kelly had been a tenant of a house belonging to Lord Castle- maine, and had been dispossessed for non-payment of rent : he threatened to have revenge.
Mr. John M'Gowan, the Mayor of Sligo, his deputies and poll-clerks- two each—were convicted at the last assizes for conspiring together, pre. vious to the late election for the borough of Sligo, to return Mr. John Pa. trick Somers by a fictitious majority. They subsequently raised an objec- tion to the sentence, which has been decided against them by the Court of Criminal Appeal. The conviction being thus confirmed, the parties duly surrendered within the ten days prescribed by law, and they are all now safely lodged in the gaol of Sligo.
A Protestant clergyman, the Reverend Mr. Seymour, has publicly de- nounced, " in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost," the "idolatrous ceremony" of the procession of the host as it passed along the streets of Tuam on the festival of Corpus Christi. Dr. M'Efale himself carried the host. It is remarkable, that beyond shouting and hissing, Mr. Seymour was not molested.
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