There are some kinds of assault less significant of dano.er
to the assailed than of weakness in the assailant. Of that kind are recent attacks on Government for certain impartial appointments.' Dr. Kirwan, a Roman Catholic divine of repute, and ProfeSsor Kane, a Roman Catholic distinguished for scientific attainments, and for the real patriotism which has made him devote those attainments to the service of his country, have been appointed Presidents of two of the new Colleges in Ireland; and the selec- tion is assailed by the extremes of both parties in Ireland. The' worst said of Professor Kane is, that he is a learned chemist : but everybody knows that he is much more than that—a man who can give his special scientific attainments the largest application. The political party called Protestants seem to be actuated mainly by dislike to Dr. Kirwan's faith; and some tales are told of aca- demical deficiencies on his part which are manifestly false— absurd on the surface. The Protestants feel that they do not possess the whole power of the English Government, which once, as agents for the English Tory party, they wielded. The last adherent of Ministers in the Tory press of Dublin, the Evening Packet, has deserted in disgust at their recent appointments ; thus proclaiming that utter division between the English Conser- vatives and Irish Tories which leaves the latter quite powerless. The Repealers turn round upon Dr. Kirwan as a deserter from their faction : Mr. O'Connell and his son John pursue the divine with insinuations of corrupt motives. Mr. John also denounces a Repeal journal for " hallooing" in gratitude because a College is established in Galway ; and Government for withholding the choice of sites for the Colleges, so as to provoke competition from several places for the favour, and to pledge as many as possible to the system. These complaints indicate that the policy of Govern- ment is succeeding ; that the Repealers know it is ; and that the consciousness presses so heavily on them, that out of the fulness of their dismay the tongue speaketh.
