IRELAND.
The death of Colonel Clements, who died at Cootehill, on Wednesday, of apoplexy, creates a vacancy in the representation of Cavan county.
A meeting was held at Fermoy, on Saturday last, convened by the Earl of Mountcashel, "to petition Parliament on the present depressed state of agricultural produce, caused by the ruinous effects of the new Tariff and Corn-laws." The chair was taken by the Earl. He de- livered an address of some length, dwelling on the increase of taxation and the fall of prices. The landlords, he declared, were so pressed by mortgages and the fear of legal consequences if they did not keep up their payments, that they were unable to reduce their rents, or to act with that kind and friendly feeling which they wished towards their tenants. He cast a regretful glance at the time when prices were high and every man was comfortable ; and attributed the jeopardy of agricul- ture to the Tariff-bill and the alteration of the Corn-laws. Lord Mount- cashel was supported by Mr. Montgomery Martin and other gentle- men ; and some progress was made in carrying resolutions in accord- ance with his views. Opposition was begun by Mr. E. B. Roche, M.P. ; who taunted the promoters of the meeting with having assembled to discuss the measures of the " farmers' friend," who was to have reme- died all their evils. Mr. Allen called on the meeting to adopt no petition which did not include the Canadas, as a country against which protec- tion was specially needed. Some outcry was raised for a reduction of rents, and for "free trade "; and ultimately the opposition was put in the distinct shape of an amendment to one of the resolutions, declaring that " the late alteration in the Corn-law and Tariff had not had a suffi- cient trial to ascertain their proper effect on the country." The ques- tion was twice put, on a show of hands, and on a bodily division of the meeting : but after all, the Chairman declared that he could not tell on which side numbers preponderated, for some were made to go on the side for the amendment against their wish ; and as he was not prepared for the uproar which prevailed, he abruptly adjourned the meeting for a fortnight.
The Marquis of Lansdowne has placed at the disposal of his Irish agent the sum of 1,000/. to be laid out in draining, under the guidance of an eminent agriculturist, whose services are to be employed in ad- "fencing the improvements of the farms ; and the tenants are to have the benefit of earning this money among themselves.—Times.
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