IRELAND.

Mr. Smith O'Brien's presence at the weekly Repeal meeting on Monday brought on a " crisis " at Conciliation Hall. The Lord Mayor of Dublin presided; and the hall was thronged with leaders and followers of both sections.

A letter from Mr. O'Connell fanned the smouldering embers. He had much to write, he said, and but little time to write in- " The truth is, my spirit is sad and my heart is heavy at the miserable dissen- sions introduced into the Association."

" The advocacy of physical force doctrines renders it impossible for those who stand upon the constitution of the Association itself to cooperate with those who will not adhere to that constitution."

" It is unhappily become the more essential to assert our principles, as the As- sociation is sought to be involved in proceedings of a most seditious nature, stated in the Nation newspaper to have been perpetrated in and by the writers for that publication. It would appear that the traversers in the late indictment are by those writers involved in similar guilt with their own." "I will not, however, allow the matter to rest here. As soon as I return to Dublin, I will give a regular notice of referring the subject to the Committee, and to report thereon to the Association.

" I mean also to publish an address to the people of Ireland on the conduct of the physical force advocates, who continue, in despite of our solemn resolutions, members of our body." One consolatory item is mentioned: Mr. O'Connell had heard that the Irish Lord Chancellor has resolved to reinstate the Repeal Magistrates.

Mr. Smith O'Brien was the first to speak— Although not agreeing in all the sentiments contained in Mr. O'Connell's letter, he would nevertheless move that it be inserted in the minutes. Mr. O'Brien dis- claimed any intention to give offence to Mr. O'Connell or to any member of his family in the speech which he delivered at Kilrush: if he said anything offensive, or made an unmeasured boast about his connexion with the Young Ireland party, he was willing to make a retractation. If Mr. O'Connell's opinions on the sub- ject of physical force were to be the sine qua non of the agitation, he would merely. say, that, in his opinion, they were unjust and impolitic; and, if perse- vered in, he would be under the necessity of staying away till the course of pro- ceedings were altered. Ancient and modern history showed that the liberties of nations had been achieved by a resort to arms. It was the adoption of physical force that procured the crown for Queen Victoria. It was the force of arms that I placed it on the head of Louis Philippe. It was physical power that made Bel- glum .a nation, and restored liberty to Greece,- And was Ireland to be excluded frOra;,any such facility for righting herself by such means? It was not for him to say when ra resort to physical force would be justifiable. There was' he was happy to say, no immediate prospect of any. What he denied was, that the As- sociation had a right to put any such test to the different members of the con- federacy. Mr. O'Brien next read the "Anti-Physical-Force and Anti-Nation-newspaper resolutions," recently adopted by the Association; and said, that as he had been to some extent the cause of the unhappy dissensions which prevailed, he could not allow the people who had honoured him with their support to be sacrificed, 'with- out recording his protest against it. He was bound to say frankly, that if any attempt were made to put down the Nation, or exclude certain gentlemen from the Committees or the Association—until they were restored it would be impos- sible for him to coiiperate with them. Those were his opinions, and he did not feel at liberty any longer to conceal them. He trusted the breach was not irre- parable, and that the past would be forgotten in generous oblivion.

Mr. John O'Connell spoke next— He denied that there were any grounds for hunting selfish motives to Mr. O'Connell for supporting. the Whigs. [Mr. O'Brien remarked that he had not done so.] The expressions of Mr. O'Brien were not, perhaps, quite so explicit, but they certainly might be so construed. Was Mr. O'Connell to be censured for returning his son for Dundalk ? It was wrong to say that Mr. O'Connell was determined to support the Whigs on every ouestion. Why, be was opposed to them on the Sugar question, and Mr. O'Brien was not. Where, then, was the evidence of subserviency? Mr. John defended the Anti-Physical-Force resolu- tions, and showed that any gentleman who joined the Association, believing that the adoption of physical force was not inconsistent with its principles, deceived himself most egregiously. He remarked, that Mr. Pigot was in London endea- vouring to draw out bills which would be of great use to the Irish people; and as for himself, he could state, that if he found a Government that had got into power did not act up to his views, and if place, profit, and pension were offered to him, he would fling to the winds such an offer; and whatever were his lot, if he and his family had to go and beg in the streets, that lot should be his.

A scene of great confusion followed. Mr. Reilly rose to put some ques- tions to Mr. Smith O'Brien, and was met with hissing and groaning.

The Lord Mayor—" I trust that the first person who hisses will be pointed out to me, and I will exercise my authority as a Magistrate [I] and have him turned out."

During a hubbub, Mr. Ray announced that he had received a letter from Mr. Charles Gavan Duffy, of the Nation, with a request that he would read it to the meeting; but, as it would likely lead to a discussion, Mr. Ray submitted the propriety of an adjournment to the following day.

Mr. John O'Connell said, that he had asked Mr. O'Brien's opinion on the point; and it was favourable to the adjournment. Mr. O'Brien added these words-

" I think it would be the interest of the Association to adjourn until tomorrow: the question will be very much the same as that before you today, and it will be better to put an end to so painful" a discussion. If the alternative be that present- ed' to us—that one or the other party must withdraw from the Association—for myself I must say, that I do not wish to give in my formal resignation until I am -expelled. So far from wishing to oblige Mr. O'Connell and his friends to with- draw from the Association, I would think it my duty to yield and leave them to pursue their own policy. shall look on, in the House of Commons and in the country, and by writing and speaking will endeavour to advance the Repeal cause; but I will not attend here to create dissension by expressing a difference of opinion."

Mr. Steele intimated, that should any resolution be come to in opposition to the fundamental principle of the Association, as laid down by the father Of his country, he should resign his office of Head Pacificator.

The meeting agreed to adjourn. The rent, was 1091.

On Tuesday, Conciliation-Hall was again crowded. The Lord Mayor presided as before; and the combatants mustered in the same force as on Monday.

Mr. Ray read Mr. Duffy's "monster" letter, which appeared in the No, Lion of Saturday. Mr. Duffy asserted that the sentiments expressed in the Nation on the subject of physical force had been greatly misrepresented in Conciliation Hall; and explained that all that was meant in the article commented upon by Mr. Steele at a recent meeting was, " that, believing these threats and promises [made by Physical Force Repealera at monster meetings, dinners, and soirees; if Irish rights were not conceded] to be the foreshadow of things to be done if a great emergency arose,' they thought them good, and desired to give them currency and force." Mr. John O'Connell deemed Mr. Duffy's course of policy most dange- rous— The time was come to repudiate the doctrines of the Nation newspaper. That paper had stigmatized the magnificent assemblages of the people which had taken place in different places as the "vulgar gatherings of faction. Mr. John O'Con- nell quoted from the speeches delivered by his father at " monster meetings," to show that he was directly opposed to the exercise of physical force, unless in the event of a contingency which it was very unlikely should ever occur. [This meant, we believe, an armed assault on the people of Ireland; which Mr. O'Con- nell would have held to justify an armed resistance.] Mr. Mitchell, the reputed editor of the Nation followed; defending that journal, and stating that if he were compelled to withdraw from the Association he would struggle for the redemption of his country in any field that was left open to hini.

Mr. Steele proposed to bring the dissentients to a test—a solemn adjuration that in no case, or under no contingency, except that of being attacked, did they meditate a recourse to physical violence. If the young gentlemen would not take that test, the sooner they left the Association the better. Mr. Meagher, instead of taking the test, waxed more and more warm, till he arrived at an apostrophe to the sword! Abhor and stigmatize the sword ! No— remember that it cat in pieces the banners of Bavaria in the passes of the Tyrol; and that a nation, a great nation, sprang up by its magical influence from the waters of the Atlantic, and colonies became a daring free republic ! Abhor and stigmatize the sword I No—for it scourged the Dutch. He had learnt its power, and that it was the right of nations to govern themselves, while he stood upon the ramparts of Antwerp, where liberty was rightly appretiated, and its posses- sion was purchased by an effusion of noble and generous blood. Abhor and stig- matize the sword ! No."

Mr. John O'Connell started up. He could no longer hesitate about the course he had to pursue: the deepest conviction upon his soul was that such language was not safe. The sentiments which Mr. Meagher had avowed were sentiments directly and diametrically opposed to the sentiments of the founder of the Associa- tion; and therefore, either he or Mr. Meagher should cease to be a member of that Association.

Captain Broderick—" Nor can I remain any longer." (Cheers.) Mr. Steele—" Nor I." (Loud cheers.)

Mr. Smith O'Brien entered his protest against the manner in which Mr. Meagher had been pat down by Mr. John O'Connell when pursuing his legitimate argu- ment.

Mr. John O'Connell—" The question is not, as Mr. O'Brien states, whether a

young man shall be put down, but the real question is, shall a young man put down the Association; for ,I do declare it is my firm conviction that his language was most dangerous. The question was, would the Association stand by those resolutions or adopt another leader "

Great cheering, accompanied by groans and hisses,-followed this declara- tion; and a scene of the utmost confusion ensued; during which, Mr. Smith O'Brien, accompanied by Mr. Meagher, Mr. Mitchell, and all the members of the " Young Ireland " party present, left the hall. Their departure was the signal for an enthusiastic burst of applause from the supporters of Mr. O'Connell; whioh was, however, immediately suppressed. On the restora- tion of order, Mr. John O'Connell gave utterance to his grief at the de- parture of such excellent men from. the. Association- " This is not a time to speak; it is a time to weep. Let us then retire from this hall, to mourn over the loss we have sustained. Let us not think of meeting till Monday next; when I hope Mr. O'Connell will be here to try to repair the breach that has inevitably occurred. But I do implore those kind friends who have cheered me today to use no angry word—no term of insult or reproach towards the men who have now left us."