IRELAND.

The !general Irish news is a confused detail of purposeless savagery on the part of the starving and excited peasantry, and of alarms, scouring pursuits, and barren captures by the troops and police. It is impossible to give any connected narrative; and the-position of things is best indicated by characteristic selections from the Irish accounts.

The following summary of the campaigns of Mr. O'Mahony—a fellow rebel with Mr. Doheny—during one day, is compiled from the Clonmel Chronicle.

On Wednesday night, the insurgents assembled in large numbers on thehills, fired shots, and lighted large signal-fires. " They were gathering during the day from all quarters, and at night they were supposed to number from three to six thousand men. On that evening, Mr. O'Mahony, who is acknowledged to be the most mischievous, dangerous, anddetermined of any of the rebel leaders, was closely pursued from the direction of Glenbower, up towards Carrick; and after having been very closely pushed indeed, he got out of sight; but in a little time the police party in pursuit suddenly came upon him. He was on horseback: he made for the river, which was about half a mile distant; where he was joined by a few fellows, who probably were scouts to guide him to the gathering on the Waterford mountains." He dashed into the river, and his steed carried him to the Water- ford side. He made for some hills crowned with woods: on reaching. the wood margin he alighted, took the bridle from his horse, to prevent its use in pursuit, and plunged into the thickets; where the trace of him was soon lost. He arrived at Ballinaclogh soon after seven, and was joined by one of the gatherings, "es- timated at about 1,500 men, nearly all of whom were armed, and well stored with provisions. They formed in ranks, and marched off in military order to Clones, where they werejoined by another body; all of whom at once proceeded to attack the residence of William Moore, Esq., of that place. They fired into the house, broke open the doors and windows, ransacked the premises for arms, and carried of ome guns, which they. found. "They then proceeded to a place called Mathel, and halted when they came to the glebe, the residence of the Reverend William Hill, who is an inoffensive old gentleman. They knocked at his doors and demanded admittance; were de- nied; the brave old gentleman immediately got up, and with his son and son- in-law provided their defence. The mob continued battering at the doors, but they were too well barricaded within. They were forcing themselves into the house through the windows, when the three, with the greatest coolness and de- termined bravery, appeared at the windows, and returned the fire which they sus tained. The firing was kept up for nearly two hours and a half; and the ruffians, finding themselves foiled in this mode of proceeding, divided themselves. One party continued to fire in at the windows, another battering in the doors, and a third got some bundles of straw, lighted them, and set fire to the barn, cow- houses, and all other out-offices, which they burned nearly to the ground. The fire reached up to the house, which was also igniting, when the brave defenders of their own home were compelled to strike. They yieldeid up two old guns, having managed to dispose of their working arms. The mob became turbulent, and insisted upon taking young Mr. Hill with thein as a hostage. This pro- position was urged with great vehemence and-threatening, and as resolutely opposed by-Mr. Hill; and although rumour states that they did take him with them, I can state positively that they did not; for he has since, with his father, sworn informations of the attack.

" They then proceeded to the residence of Mr. Moore, at Ballynavin; where, after breaking into the house, they made search for arms and provisions, and found a pistol and some:powder, which they took away with „them. They next attacked the residence of Mr. Henry Wilson, also of Ballynavin; fired into the house, broke open the doors, and took a gun away with them, also a quantity of cattle which were on the land; those they drove off for the purpose of replan, ishing their commissariat. The ruffians next proceeded to the residence of Mr. Walsh, at Glenbower. They broke into the house; turned over everything in it, and destroyed much valuable property; but did not succeed in finding any arms. On leaving the ground, these model patriots stabbed with a pike a most valuable colt; and it is expected the animal will not recover. They then went off in the direction of Rathgormack; where they were again joined by the main body. They then marched up the mountains. Immediately on intelligence of those outrages reaching Carrick, Head Constable Orr and a party of Constabulary proceeded to the Reverend William Hill's residence, to scour the country round about." In another direction, near Carrick-on-Suir, Mr. George Sheppard had

these experiences, which are authenticated by his his narrative of them addressed to the Lord-Lieutenant- " On Monday evening the 11th instant, the rebels assembled near the Slate Quarries, about six miles from Carrick-on-Suir, on a hill near the townland of Clasnasmall, and within a short view of my residence. They pasted the night firing shots and keeping up watchfires. On the following morning, when I got up, they were visible from my windows, marching and countermarching in military array, as if intending to challenge the military and police to come out from Carrick-on-Suir (in view of which town the chain of mountains is situate) and attack them. Towards five o'clock, bodies of rebels were observed marching down the hill; but soon after one of them returned and fired a shot in ascending the hill. Not very long after, I happened to be with my men inspecting the stacking of oats upon a field in rear of my house. I heard one of my workmen say—' Oh 1 master, master, look at the pikemen riding towards us.' I looked up in the direction of my house, and perceived a man furiously approaching on horseback with a pike, and who almost imme- diately exclaimed, Where is your master ? ' One of my men replied, He is in field'; when the pikeman, looking at him savagely, said, Tell me, you

coward, where he is? I then advanced (being partly concealed at the time by the corn); when he pointed his pike at me, and demanded my arms. I replied that I had given them up to the police. He said, ' Yon are telling me a lie'; and immediately jumped from his horse, and collared me. A severe struggle ensued. When .I perceived his pike upon the ground, I instructed one of my men to secure it. After some parley, we let go our hold; the rebel falling upon his knees, exclaiming I was a gentleman and a soldier—assuring me not a hair upon my head should be injured. He then went in the direction of my house (for the purpose, as he stated at the time, to keep off his party); when he returned, and demanded 501., whisky, and oatenmeal; all which I declined giving. A soon as I heard the pikemen (amounting, as I was given to understand by my servants, to between twenty and thirty) had left my yard, I returned, took out a case of pistols, had a gun concealed, and brought with me seventeen sovereigns, some silver, and immediately crossed the country on foot, in company with my two men, until we reached Newmarket; when I fortunately met a returned car going to Kil- kenny. I hired this car, and reached my brother's residence, near Inistiogue, in or about twelve o'clock at night; having previously given necessary information at the different stations and magistrates' as I passed along."

The following account, from the Freeman's Journal, is of a somewhat different character; the writer strongly asserting the agrarian character of all the disturbances. " Thurles was in astate of great excitement on Monday morning. Owing to in formation communicated, I believe, by a Magistrate, Mr. Gore Jones, R.M., was astir before nine o'clock, and at ten proceeded from Tharles in the direction of ifolycross, at the head of a large party, consisting of about 100 cavalry of the Line and 100 infantry of the Constabulary force. Preparations were also made for the protection of the town in case of a surprise; and those who, swayed by the rumours, expected an assault upon the town, were, I can assure you, by no means few. As the day progressed the excitement increased; and it was not till after two o'clock, when Mr. Jones with his party returned, weary and exhausted, but 'unscathed,' that the panic was allayed. It appears that during the latter part of last week—I cannot just now say on what precise day—Mr. Lanigan, of t astlefogarty, had removed to his farm-yard some corn, wheat, and oats, seized for rent due by some of his tenants. The poor peasants finding their corn gone to the landlord—their potatoes melted into rottenness, and their wives sad children in danger of being without food—went among their neigh-. hours and told their tale of wo. Each man who heard of the seizure felt that his own turn could not be long distant; and in the course of Sunday no- tices were posted in all the public places, calling on the tenantry of the district and of those adjoining, to assemble on this day (Monday) to consult what steps they ought to take to secure for themselves and their families so much of the crop as would sustain life. The place fixed on for the meeting was Mealiffe Hill, about two miles South of Holy Cross. This purely agrarian meeting was the 'rising,' and the 'rebel encampment,' which Mr. GoreJones and his party went to encounter and disperse! The meeting, from what cause I know not— whether the peasantry were aware of the approach of the military or not., I am not able to say—was very small, and was described by one of the force,' after his return, as a handful of naked and hungry-looking men, who lamented the seizure of their corn when they had not enough left for food." Many journals join the Freeman in its opinion of the general character of the movement. A Dublin correspondent of the Morning Chronicle cor- rects some assumptions in a late leading article of the Times, and asserts authoritatively that "the quarriera and miners of the Mining Company of Ireland refused to act either at Mullinahone or Ballingarry, when invited by Smith O'Brien; and the workmen in Messrs. Malcom- son's factory, of Portlaw, in like manner declined, upon Tuesday last, to take part in an outbreak which was purely agrarian,—using that word in the sense in which it was of old applied, to designate a law for the compulsory distribution of land." He states a fact which he deems " must furnish a key to the origin of the existing disaffection: during the present harvest, the wages of agricultural labourers have not exceeded an average of threepence a day, with diet—black bread, or diseased potatoes; and in numerous instances so low as one penny per diem has been paid."

The fleet lying in Cove, which was about to sail for Plymouth, has been countermanded, and the various vessels and war-steamers composing it are to remain for a month. Admiral Sir Donald Mackay is nominated the Commander-in-chief.

the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne arrived at Kingstown on $attuday, by the Banshee Government steamer; and proceeded to the Vice; regal Lodge, as the guests of the Lord-Lieutenant.

The Limerick Reporter contains the following rumour—" Mr. Reynolds, M.P. for Dublin, it is said, is to be Inspector of Savings Banks, with a salary of 1,5001. a year."

A deputation, consisting of the Marquis of Downshire, Marquis of West- meath, Earl of Lanesborough, Earl of Erne, Dean of St. Patrick's, Honour- able Cavendish Butler, Sir Philip Crampton, and Mr. H. E. Gayer, waited last week upon the Lord-Lieutenant, at the Viceregal Lodge, for the pur- pose of presenting the following address-

" We have the honour of presenting to your Excellency a declardion against the repeal of the Union between Great Britain and Ireland, signed by 80,000 per- sons. Having originated with a few individuals wholly unconnected with the Government, and been circulated at private expense, we are aware, that however influentially signed, the numbers constitute a very small proportion of those who concur in the opinions expressed in it. It was not designed as a measure of par- ty politics, but merely to afford the well-affected an opportunity, if so disposed, of publicly expressing their determination to maintain the union between the two courgries, and discountenance the late unhappy agitation by every means in their power. Neither influence nor solicitation to procure signatures has been resorted to; but the numbers may, at least, be sufficient to satisfy your Excellency, if such proof were needed, that there exists in this country a large and influential body of men, who, differing widely among themselves in political opinions, are all strongly attached to British connexion, and opposed to revolutionary changes in our happy constitution?

Analysis of the Signatures—Peers, 110; Peers' Sons, 10-120 Noblemen. Bishops, 12; Baronets, 68; Deputy-Lieutenants, 330; MP.'s, 44; Fellows of Trinity College, 30; Justices of the Peace, 1,010; Deans and Archdeacons,19-38; Beneficed Clergy, 278-316; Barristers, 270; Solicitors, 200; Physicians and Surgeons, 260; Merchants, 104.

The Lord-Lieutenant made this reply- " My Lords and Gentlemen—This declaration, emanating from the vast ma- jority of those who represent the rank, the property, the education, the commerce, and the industry of Ireland, constitutes an event of which the importance can neither be disputed nor exaggerated. I cordially thank you for presenting this memorable record of your opinions to me; and I need hardly assure you of my en- tire concurrence in the sentiments it expresses and the determination it avows.

"I am convinced that protracted political agitation, whatever be its professed object, or the means by which it is conducted, must be injurious to the tran- Pinky and the progress of any country; and much more so when the object, even 11 its attainment were possible, would involve all classes in anarchy and ruin, after having endured the terrible calamity of civil war. To those who venture to affirm that Ireland is unanimous in demanding the repeal of the Legislative Union, your declaration furnishes the most conclusive reply. In your solemn Pledge to maintain that Union, and to discountenance the Repeal agitation, they will, I trust, discover the hopelessness of persevering in those criminal efforts which have so long proved injurious to the peace and prosperity of their country?

The society for promoting annual sittings of the Imperial Parliament in Ireland, for transacting Irish business, met on Monday, at the Committee- rooms, Northumberland Buildings; the chair was taken by Mr. Naper, in the absence of Lord William Fitzgerald. Several letters were read pro- posing alterations and amendments of the proposed scheme, the substitu- tion of other plans, and the enlargement of the sphere of operations, so as to include a variety of remedial measures. "Resolved, That none of these suggestions be entertained or discussed; the Committee being pledged to confine themselves to the high object of endeavouring to secure a periodical sitting of the Imperial Parliament in Dublin, for the con- sideration of Irish affairs." Mr. Sharman Crawford was one of several new members enrolled. A refusal to join was read from Mr. Ralph Osborne, M.P.; who " deprecates any political agitation in Ireland under existing circumstances."

A prospectus of a successor to the Nation, under the title of the National, is published in the correspondence of the Morning Chronicle. The an- nouncement runs- " Irishmen I—The Habeas Corpus Act has been suspended. Our constitution- al liberties now he beneath the footstool of an English Viceroy. Our country is under the ban of military occupation. The reality of a withering despotism chills the spirit and is crushing the hopes of the people; while Patriotism, the sublimed

i of virtues, has been, by the wicked ingenuity of your rulers, included in the cate- gory of ' treasonable practices.' • • •

To cheer and sustain the national cause—to elicit and invigorate a healthy national sentiment—a faithful and fearless national press is wanted. In the metropolis, the organs of the people have been silenced—the voice of the country is not heard. A slavish press exists. Calculating sycophants of a degenerate Whiggery, in all its intense selfishness and sordid inhumanity, have usurped the privilege of reflecting the popular emotions. This must not be. This national scandal must cease. Irish feelings, Irish wants, and Irish hopes, must find ex- pression through a press Irish in its spirit and Irish in its aspirations—as truth- ful and as courageous as the people it represents."

Mr. Smith O'Brien, Mr. Meagher, Mr. Leyne, Mr. Donaghne, and Mr. T. B. M`Manus, were transmitted on Monday evening from Kilmainham Gaol to the terminus of the Cashel Railway at Kingsbridge, where a special train was in readiness to convey them on their route to Clonmel. About 200 of the Constabulary, with fixed bayonets, were placed in order outside the terminus-door and along the platform inside. At a quarter past nine o'clock, one of the prison-vans drove up; and the police were ordered to stand to their arms. A number of the Metropolitan Police were stationed about the place, each man having a loaded pistol, capped and cocked. Some cars drove up at the time; and one of the drivers called out for a por- ter to take in " Smith O'Brien's luggage." Several trunks (the luggage of all the prisoners) were handed in, and in a few moments the van was opened, and the first prisoner, Mr. T. B. M'Manus, was escorted by several policemen into one of the carriages. Smith O'Brien came next. " He had," says's witness, " a cloak thrown loosely over his shoulders, looked very well, and walked with his usual firm step. On alighting from the van, he took off his hat, and remained uncovered till the train departed." Mr. Meagher smiled, and was " quite elate ": Mr. O'Donaghua was also " very elate "; Mr. Leyne was ill and depressed-looking. Fifty policemen entered the carriages with the prisoners, having their bayonets drawn; and the train set off for Tipperary, whence carriages would take them to Clon- mel.

Banagher sheep fair, on the 15th, went off " most dismally; all sheep and no buyers."