IRELAND.
The Lord-Lieutenant's stay at Belfast lasted only till Friday evening. We briefly mentioned in our last Postscript the incidents of Lord Cla- rendon's visit on Thursday : with the exception of the grand dinner at which he was entertained that evening, the proceedings of the Friday were a repetition of those of Thursday. The banquet on Thursday is worthy of separate report, however. It was given at the Music Hall, at seven in the evening. The list of guests fills one of the broad and tall columns of the Northern Whig, and it comprised the aristocracy of Bel- fast and the surrounding counties, with representatives of all religions, and every important class of citizens.
Lord Clarendon rode to the place of meeting in General Bainbrigge's carriage drawn by six horses, a military escort preceding him, and the streets crowded by acclaiming thousands. He was received at the Music Hall by the Corporation in their robes of state ; the Mayor preceded him as his usher into the diningroom, and as he took his seat the bands played "God save the Queen." The guests included men of all creeds and political shades ; near to the presiding Mayor were seated the Bishop of Down and Connor, the Earl of Erne, the Marquis of Londonderry, Mr. Sharman Crawford, M.P., and Mr. N. Alexander, M.P. The notable speech after dinner was that of Lord Clarendon himself, in acknowledg- ment of his own health; "which was drunk with hearty and prolonged enthusiasm, the bands playing St. Patric.k's Day.' " The only portion of the Mayor's speech which he dissented from was that which put a high value on his own services as representative of the Crown in Ireland; for he best knew how far his services had fallen short of his duties, and what indulgence of interpretation the difficulty of his position compelled him to crave. " niaLesay that the general good, without distinction of
party or class, has ever n the object I had in view ; and for any want of success in the accomplishment of that object I may plead the obstacles which, during the past three years, beset the path of Government. I need hardly- allude to that terrible calamity, with all its frightful consequences, with which it was the will of the Almighty that this country should be punished, —a calamity unprecedented in the annals of history, and involving all classes in general confusion and ruin. The calamity was indeed overwhelming; but its effects were rendered still more difficult and embarrassing from the cir- cumstance that, when men were starving and suffering, a willing ear was given by them to the injurious teachings of false advisers, and that there broke out those remarkable political convulsions which shook the whole con- tinent of Europe to its centre, and influenced to a great degree large portions of this suffering country. I need not say that that was a moment of anxiety to one placed in the responsible position which I occupied, and who felt like me the dangerous nature of the errors which were in circulation. I can affirm, however, that even in the darkest momenta I never despaired and never feared for Ireland. I knew that for a time the portion of my country- men to whom I am alluding might be led away from the path of duty and their own true interests ; I knew that it was my part to uphold the laws and maintain the public peace ; still, I never doubtedi that when the excitement of the period was over, reason and duty would resume their sway. Subse- quent events did not belie my impression. The clouds of discontent passed away, and our Sovereign stepped on the shores of Ireland the harbinger of union and concord between all her !subjects. It was to me, and I am satis- fied it must have been to you, a source of the sincerest pleasure, that at a time when anarchy and confusion prevailed throughout Europe—at a time when the foes of order hoped for sympathy here, and expressed their belief that the Queen of these islAnds would not dare to set her foot upon her own Irish shore—that that was the very period selected by her Majesty for visit- ing Ireland- that that was the very time when she felt she was able to repose confidence in her Irish subjects; and that that was the occasion when her confidence was fully reciprocated and recompensed by the enthusiasm with which all ranks, classes, and parties, nnammoualy welcomed her gra- cious advent. At that very time, the enemies of order, both at home and abroad, felt themselves baffled; they then felt the loyalty of Ireland presented an insuperable barrier to their designs, because Ireland at that time presented, as I hope she ever will present, an insurmountable obstacle in the way of the contrivers of rebellion and anarchy. The impression of her Majesty's visit, and the accompanying visit of her royal consort, is still fresh and bright in the recollections of her people on this side the Channel ; and I ant satisfied that all future visits, which are looked forward to with pleasure and anxiety, will serve to deepen and render permanent the im- pressions which have been formed. Among the most agreeable signs of im- provement which have of late taken place in this country, I rank the fact that almost all men in Ireland appear to recognize the folly and uselessness of those political differences which have too long destroyed confidence, scared away capital, and fostered a spirit of animosity among the population. I do not, of course, allude to the legitimate discussion of political questions—the birthright of British subjects—which has utility for its basis and the public good for its object. I allude to that agitation which is carried on, not for the public interest, but for individual purposes ; and I am happy in being able to appeal to this enlightened assembly whom I have the honour of addressing, .whether, in this respect, a vast improvement has not taken place—whether a period can be recollected less characterized by scheming agitators than that of the two years which have just passed ?" His own personal observation enabled him to pay a special compliment to Belfast on the extraordinary advance made by her in manufactures and art. He had visited her twenty-three years ago, and could compare his recol- lections with what he now saw. Her progress was already well enough known to those present, but it would "not be regarded as out of place for a stranger to proclaim his admiration of those qualities whiot have Placed Belfast in the proud and commanding position which she nON occupies, and which ren- der her one of the most rising cities in her Majesty's dominions." If, indeed, it were the object of England, as has been querulously charged against her, to damage or steal away the manufactures of Ireland, "England had only_to look round Belfast and see whether she had been successful or not." The North has the chief credit of advance, but signs of hopeful revival and com- mencing progress are visible throughout Ireland. " Few can remember a circuit such as that lately passed, when, with two or three exceptions, the addresses of all the Judges were couched in language of congratulation as to the improved moral and social character of the people of Ireland, and the ab- sence of those frequent agrarian outrages, which, I am very sorry to say, so long have proved the curse of this country. I have, too, the authority of the Inspector-General of the Constabulary for saying, that since he entered the force the calendar of crime was never so low as it is at present. I believe that the crops have never been got in so well as they have this year, and that the lands were never so well tilled. One million sterling has already been advanced under the Land Improvement Act, and the reports we have received from the Commissioners of Public Works show how well the ex- ample of improving landlords has been followed by improving tenants, and how important to the labouring classes is regular employment with money wages. I certainly was grieved at seeing today large bales of flax—Russian and Dutch—that might have been replaced by Irish. I regretted the sight ; still, it is gratifying to know that attentign la being generally turned to the cultivation of flax in this country, and that owners and occupiers of land are beginning to understand how greatly their interests will be promoted by their contributing to advance the national manufactures. I regard the present movements in this direction as hopeful; and I look forward to a time when the advantages will become fully apparent, and when the in- terests of agriculture and manufactures will be interwoven and brought together into harmonious action." "In an assembly like this," added Lord Clarendon, with a dexterous implication of compliment, "I do not fear to speak on a subject which is unpopular " : he therefore completed his review by a reference to the working of the Poor-law, the favourable conjuncture being made even more favourable by evidences of improvement from even that forbidding quarter. "I do not fear to state my conviction that the same principles should be applied to Ireland which have long been adopted in ; and I am satisfied that the duties of charity should hold a first place in our regard, and that to relieve the absolutely destitute and prevent the spread of crime, a compulsory provision is absolutely necessary. The Poor-law was introduced into Ireland at a very unfortunate moment, because a moment of embarrassment and of difficulty; but now that it is being tho- roughly understood, old evils and difficulties are being removed. In June and July of this year there were on the relief-list 6000 or 7000 less than during the corresponding period last year; and the reduction in out-door re- lief has been as 3000 to 20,000. There are at the present time not more than 14,000 persons receiving out-door relief; and from the circumstance that Boards of Guardians are diartharging their duties with greater zeal and efficiency, and that they are taking a deeper interest in the subject, and that
• they are managing the affairs of the workhouses as they would manage their own affairs, I am persuaded that the expenses of future management will be greatly reduced."
Lord Clarendon ended with practical counsel to Irish lantords, which he made _palateable by a preliminary tribute of warm praise to their class. "With respect to the landlords of Ireland, I would take this opportunity of saying that they have been most unjustly condemned as a class. They have no due allowance—I might almost say no allowance at all—for the unavoid- able difficulties of their position. I have the pleasure of being personally acquainted with many landlords, who for kindness and attention towards their tenants, and who for the zeal and untiring assiduity with which they perform the duties properly devolving upon them, are second to none in the world, and are deserving of the highest commendation. Among a class so numerous, I am well aware that there must be some bad men ; but it is the conduct of a good man that will prevail, and I believe such conduct is pre- vailing. I believe the time is not far distant when the evils of absenteeism will be fully recognized in their true light ; and when it will be seen that there is no supervision equal to that of owner of the soil, and that the landlord will be rewarded more fully in witnessing the welfare and social comfort of his tenantry than in spending their proceeds in his own pleasures and enjoyments elsewhere." Mr. Monahan has been appointed Chief justice of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, in the room of the late Chief Justice Doherty; and Mr. Hateholl has advanced to the Attorney-Generalship. "I have learned," says the Dublin correspondent of the Morning Chroni- cle, "that Mr. Monahan has accepted the Chief Justiceship at the reduced salary of 40001. per annum, in accordance with the recommendation of the Official Salaries Committee. The annual salary of the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas has been 6000/. per annum, with 5001. for the two circuits. In future it will be 40001. besides the allowance for the circuits."
The Whigs have again a windfall of patronage. Dr. Stopfoni, Bishop of Meath, died on Tuesday, at his palace, Ardbraccan, of disease of the heart. The deceased Prelate was raised to the bench during the Vice- royalty of Earl De Grey.
The "Synodical address of the Fathers of the National Council of Thurles, to their beloved flock the Catholics of Ireland," has been pub- lished in Dublin by authority, in the shape of a pamphlet. If we accept this document as the unqualified manifesto of the Synod, the Colleges are condemned root and branch, and the Roman Catholic priesthood are called upon to abstain from connexion with them. But a doubt is raised, with a semblance of "authority," from another quarter. The Dublin Evening _Post, the Government organ, exhibits an. antidote to the virulence of Archbishop M‘Hale's composition, in a meek paragraph, which it inserts anonymously, but with the prominence of an official communication, under the simple heading title of a "memorandum." This opposing document declares it to be known" that " the acts of the late Synod can have no effect until they shall have obtained the sanction of the Holy See " ; and it repeats the assertion of "persons who ought to know the fact"—" that on certain points not yet decided regarding the Colleges, the opinions of the Bishops are so nearly balanced as to admit of a majority of one only." The "memorandum" also declares it to be no longer a secret, that the Sy- nodical address contains a passage of which many of the Prelates have disapproved.
The Lords of the Admiralty, says the Times, "have given instructions for a complete survey of the Western coast of Cork, to ascertain its capa- bilities for being converted into a Transatlantic packet-station and har- bour of refuge. Three Government Commissioners are to visit the spot." The Cork Constitution has the following statement on the same subject— "Mr. Nixon, engineer of the Cork and Bandon Railway, has received in- structions from the Lords of the Treasury to survey and report on the har- bours on the Western coast of this county, as to their several capabilities for the purpose of a packet-station and harbour of refuge. He this day proceeds on his tour. His inspection and reports are to be completed withm a fort- night, when three Government Commissioners will visit the harbours."
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