RESULTS OF LORD JOHN'S IRISH 'MIT.
LORD JOHN RUSSELL has been to Ireland, and has left it again : what has he carried away with him? What secret spoils of knowledge he may bear from its shores no oracle has yet an- nounced; but he carries off a few interesting souvenirs. Among them are the memorial and memoranda of the Galway folks, who made a most characteristic application for Govern- ment aid in constructing railways. Mr. Ennis only asked Go- vernment to guarantee 5 per cent on 500,0001. for the Mullingar railway : it is a most prosperous concern ; the line to Mullingar would be opened in a few days ; the company has already spent about 700,000/. or 800,000/. on it, and would probably "with their own means get to Athlone ": there would be no risk ; the company would pay punctually, and would give their line as se- curity—" it would be impossible to find better security " : Govern- ment would have the credit of giving help at quite a bargain ; never was an opportunity for munificence offered at so low a fi- gure. It does not, indeed, appear to have occurred to the projec- tors, that if the line were so certain of profit, so rich in resources, and so secure, it might do without Government help : but that is an idea that never does occur to the Irish mind. Begging and boasting go naturally together. "While the deputation endea- voured to impress on his Lordship the advantages to be derived from the completion of the railway from Galway to Dublin, and the facilities which the position of Galway gave its bay for be- coming the packet and commercial station for Transatlantic com- munications, his Lordship lent an attentive ear to the sad tale of the wants of the Western districts."
Another souvenir is the subpoena which Lord John received, just as he was on the point of departure, summoning him to attend the trial of Mr. Smith O'Brien, at Clonmel. The person who served the subpcena had some difficulty in getting access to the Premier ; who now, for once in his respectable life, knew what it was to be pursued with a writ. On his part, Lord John had a difficulty to know what he could be wanted for. Probably to give point to a speech in defence, or add a lordly grace to the list of witnesses to character. Lord John will learn experimentally the low state of law practice in Ireland. Thirdly, the papers proclaim a very touching souvenir which the Premier bears from the Irish shores, obtained when Lady John went with "the whole party" to a baby-linen shop. Although the Premier refuses railway subsidies, the houses of Bedford and Minto unite to encourage the manufactures of Ire- land. When the Dublin purchases meet his eye, "during the month," he will reflect with a gratified conscience on what he did for Erin by investing his capital in robes and pinafores. Irish linen will shield the cadet of Bedford against the cold, Irish diaper will sustain the responsibility of the aberrant pap ; and when the Prime Minister is again reproached for having neglected to clothe the naked or feed the hungry, " forsan et hEec olim me- minisse juvabit."
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