IRELAND.
A public meeting was held at Bandon on Thursday week, to petition Government for measures to alleviate the great and increasing distress of the unions of the West. Lord Bernard presided; Lord Carbery, the Honourable Captain Bernard, Mr. Edmund Burke Roche, M.P., and others of the leading local gentry, were present. Lord Bernard proclaimed that the manufacturing towns have discovered their mistake, and found that the ideal phantom they have pursued will lead them to ruin and de- solation. Do the Poor-laws offer the least hope of an adequate remedy? What is to be the future area of taxation? No man can discharge his duties While he is liable to be overwhelmed by the poverty of his neighbour's Ostate.
"This has been strongly put by Sir Robert Peel, in his very able statement in the House of Commons; for, vague as is that statement, it is the only one that gives us any hope of anything practical. I do not lend myself to Sir Robert's de- tads---I differ from some of them—I do not understand the plan ; bat, this much I feel, that some large and comprehensive measures must be taken if the Govern- ment mean or wish to reclaim this country from its embarrassments.* Mr. Roche made light of Sir Robert's "flashy and skin-deep harangues." Sir Robert Peel had ruined them, and now he proposed to mend them by selling theta up. "He ruined them by not warning them to take the ball at the first hop, and Pant their land on long leases; and he ruined them still more by depriving them
of all the protection they had." There never was a man who gave such bad ad- vice, or who did less to develop the resources of his country. If they took the Louts Blaneism, the Socialism out of them' such as the employment of the peo- ple in national workshops, and took out of them a side-attack which he made on the Court of Chancery, he did not see what else there was in his late speeches worth looking for.
Resolutions against the rate in aid, and in favour of an Imperial rate, were passed; with the following special one relative to local obligations al- ready incurred-
" That we beg to call the attention of her Majesty's Government to the impos- sibility of collecting the first and second instalments of the labour-rate, between this and Summer Assizes, in the baronies of Bere, Bantry, and Carberys, lbane, and Barryroe. That the weight of such levy is in exact proportion to the poverty of the districts; so that the poorest baronies have the largest charge upon them. That the fact of such attempt to collect such instalment has rendered it impos- sible to procure collectors for these baronies of Bern, Bantry, and W. D. W. Carbery, although offered double the usual poundage. That we request her Majesty's Government, in consideration of these circumstances, and of the usual punctual pay- ments of this county, to extend the period of payment from ten to twenty years; and that no collection be made in these baronies until after the Summer Assizes 1849."
The tide of emigration flows rapidly from every town, village, hamlet, and parish in this part of the county. The most industrious and comfort- able farmers are disposing of their farms, and converting their cattle, im- plements of industry, and every particle of their property, into money, for the purpose of emigrating immediately to America, and of quitting a land of pauperism and excessive taxation. Mr. Francis Spaight, Derry Castle, has since last week sent to America' free of cost, forty-six females, who voluntarily emigrated, and who had resided on his property.—Ifenagls Guardian.
Without the application of the clearance system, the land promises to be deserted and become a wilderness in several localities. From the district of the Silvermines, last week, forty families, comprising two hundred indivi- duals, left their homes for America.—Tipperary Vindicator.
Mr. Duffy has again escaped conviction, and very nearly attained the triumph of an acquittal. The same evidence was adduced that has already become familiar; and the same character of eloquence was displayed in his defence. Mr. Justice Jackson's charge, which was four hours' long, is de- scribed as "preeminently distinguished for the strict impartiality and moderation of its tone." The case closed on Friday, and the disagreeing Jury retired to spend the customary night of hungry argumentation. In. the morning, the Judge was informed by them that they were equally divided, without chance of any change of opinion; and soon, one of them was declared dangerously ill. They were accordingly discharged.
Thereupon application was made for the discharge of Mr. Duffy, or at least for his liberation on bail. To the latter branch of the alternative the Attorney-General made no opposition; and in the course of the day Mr. Dillon, auctioneer, and Mr. Grace, printer, entered into recoguizances, of 5001. each, along with the principal in 1,0001., for Mr. Dufly's surrender to be tried again, at the next Commission Court. This done, Mr. Duffy was discharged from custody. Before retiring, he thus addressed his Judges—
"My Lords, it would be a great satisfaction to me if your Lordships would per- mit me. before leaving the court, to say with most unaffected sincerity, that I ant deeply sensible of the absolute impartiality with which the Judges have tried this case; and I am not in the habit of making professions which I do not feel I am justified in making." He was received with rejoicings by the populace outside the court; but disengaged himself quickly, and was taken in a car to the house of his friend Dr. Callan.
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