POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
The general meeting of landowners convened by the Reproductive Em- ployment Committee, and held at the Dublin Rotunda on Thursday, ex- ceeded all expectation in the comprehensiveness with which it included all parties, and in the unanimity of the proceedings. From a fear of the possibi- lity of a different result, the newspaper reporters were debarred from taking full reports; but they were permitted to be present, and ultimately were allowed to give as complete an account as they could. The Marquis of Ormonde presided. The room was densely crowded with noblemen, Mem- bers of Parliament, and country gentlemen, of every possible shade in re- spect to religious and political opinions. Others who were unable to attend sent letters of concurrence.
The resolutions adopted by the meeting were very voluminous, and va- rious in their nature. We shall endeavour to enumerate the main objects. in an exceedingly compressed form.
To save society from the ruin which threatens it, to preserve the property of the country from confiscation, it is necessary that the Irish Representatives. should cooperate cordially in Parliament, in supporting measures to raise the social, material, and moral condition of the people. Government is called upon to secure local supplies of food sufficient to keep the people alive at any needful sacrifice of money; to remove artificial impedi-
ments, by suspending the navigation-laws and import-duties on corn, and by permitting the use of sugar and molasses in breweries and distilleries; to use vessels of the Navy in the transport of provisions; Relief Committees, to have per- mission to sell food under first cost.
A protest is entered against the vast and wasteful expenditure on useless or pernicious works, and against charging that expenditure exclusively on land.
The neglect to prepare land for future crops is observed to an alarming extent: to meet this evil, seed-depots should be established by Government.
The Treasury should have powers to make loans to railways.
The State should afford facilities for private employment, and apply all its energies to the absorption of surplus labour; and several measures are suggested by which Government might absorb surplus labour,—piers and harbours for fishery purposes, with model curing-houses and salt-depots; reclamation of waste lands, or aid to landowners who choose to undertake that task themselves; simplification and consolidation of drainage acts; public loans to proprietors under limited in- terests, and to tenants, for permanent improvements of land; a law to secure for tenants on removal compensation for permanent improvements; facilities to land- owners for selling portions of their estates in payment of incumbrances; facilities. for the conveyance of land.
Other social improvements are suggested,—amendment of the Grand Jury system; measures enabling proprietors to improve the dwellings of the poor, and establishing sanatory regulations; dissemination of agricultural knowledge.
In moving and supporting these resolutions, several gentlemen of all parties took an active share; and a few particulars may be added as an appendix to the resolutions. The Earl of Arran bore testimony to the neglect of the land "everywhere," "the total indifference to agriculture." "He felt that unless the people were taken from those infernal roads anti - put upon the fields—and put upon it at once—the country was irretriev- ably gone, because the next year would be worse than the present.' Describing the deplorable state of Cork, Lord Bernard said that the im- portation of Indian corn amounted to only 46,000 quarters, to replace the loss of the produce of about an equal number of acres of potatoes.. Touching the establishment of seed-depots, Mr. Bernal Osborne objected-- It would provoke just censure in England: he would give his own tenants seed, and he thought every other proprietor should do the same thing. In speaking of the necessity for giving the peasantry an interest in the land, Mr. Naper of Loughcrew mentioned, that in his county arms had been, procured to a considerable extent. He was hastily interrupted by cries of "Order!" and" Chair!"
Mr. O'Connell was present. He seconded the first resolution, which had been moved by Mr. George Alexander Hamilton; and in the midst of a speech on the necessity of supplying "food, food!" he could not ab- stain from breaking out into a gross attack on the Times newspaper- " My lords and gentlemen," said he, "you have been grossly calumniated and basely maligned by that paper." He might be accused by some of inciting those foul libels on them. If he were guilty, he now expressed his contrition and sor- row: he, however' might, under ordinary circumstances, attempt to prove he Ma right; but in the dreadful state of his poor countrymen he would bear anything.. Why, his blood boiled in his veins when he read in that paper the deliberate as- sertion that the landed gentry of Ireland were the worst aristocracy in Europe.. (Groans.) A fouler calumny was never uttered even by the wretch who wrote that the peasantry of Ireland were the lowest vermin that existed on the habit- able globe—(Groans)—another foul calumny of that foul wretch—(" Hear, hear! ")—and the middle classes were dishonest, mean, and servile. Why, that was the foulest of all the base and malignant slanders of the vile wretch." ((oaria and "Hear, hear!") Subsequently, other gentlemen, Mr. Osborne and Mr. Naper, deprecated_ this reference to the press- and the outburst was, in fact, an isolated ex.- crescence on the soberer proceedings.
In conclusion, it seemed to be understood that 'if Government did not. comply with the wishes expressed, another meeting of the same kind should. be held.
Charles Daniel O'Connell, Esq., of Bahoss, Kerry, son-in-law of Daniel O'Connell, M.P., has received the appointment of Stipendiary Magistrate. —Limerick Chronicle.
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