We mentioned last week, that Mr. O'Connell and Lord Cloncurry
had agreed to forget past differences. Some of the passnges in O'Con- nell's letter to his Lordship, on the occasion of their reconciliation, ate well worth reading—being characteristic of the writer, and illustra- tive of the wise policy which he has chalked out for himself.
" Merrion Square, 12th October 1835.
"MY Loan—I do not know how to express my feelings of satisfaction suit delights at the kind manner in which after all, you so kindly received my advances towards. a reconciliation. I do assure you, my Lord. 1 do bitterly regret having ever forfeited that kinduess. If I knew how to atone to you, I certainly would do so ilk the moat respect- GI manner that wools could assume, and with this most cordial anxiety to satisfy yon in every respect. But. perhaps, a recollection of the circumstances in which I was placed at the time, the natural irritation and excitement of my mind at a prosecution which I neither expected nor deserved, may furnish, to your Lordship's indulgent minds a better excuse for me than I could otherwise possibly make. Yet, I should certainly 1101 Lan' forgotten your lung-tried zeal anti fidelity in the cause of Ireland. the perse- cution you endured for the far greater part of your life, because you had the undeviating manliness to prefer the cause of the l'eople to the interests of the malignant but governing Faction, by which that people were oppressed. Perhaps, too, I was the more easily led into violent courses by the confidence placed, at that time, by the Ministry, on men in this country who naturally belonged to that faction, and oho, under the hypocritical pretence of liberality, acre betraying the Government under whom they served. and the country which they treacherously affected to cherish. do appeal to you, my Lord, whether it was not natural I should Nei deeply indig- mod at the appointments made by the Whig Ministry in Ireland, at the blindness with which they fell into the snares, and even into the arms of their mortal enemies, and those of oar wretched country. " The Irish People have been too well taught, by the experience of centuries of op. pression, not to perceive that there is, at length. a new day opening Limn this unfortu- nate land. They are convinced, that, in the stability of the present Ministry. io placed the only prospect of that reign of justice, which shall destroy the rule of the sangui- nary, mendacious, and insolent Orange faction. and give to Ireland a participation. upon terms of perfect equality, of all the advantages of the more favoured parrs of the British empire. Need I say how desirable it is that you, my Lord, shield become a prime leader in that popular movement, which would peaceably, but firmly, aid the laitabLieutenant alai Government of Ireland, in that system of conduct which would blot Out the miseries of this country, by terminating that cruel and unceasing misrule which has marked the history of the Tory and 'Orange domination over the Irish People, at all former periods ? Pardon me, my Lord, for the length of this letter. I act upon an idea which the celebrated popular leader, John Keogh, endeavoured to realize, more than forty years ego.—the taking the Government of Ireland out of the heeds or the Ascendancy Faction, and identifying it with the Irish Nation, at large. It' we be true to ourselves, the time is come to have that choice made, once and for always. Every former Administration have chosen the worst part—the Faction ; they have governed Ireland by the Faction, through the Faction, and for the benefit of the Faction. It is time that Ireland should be managed wisely and kindly by the friends of the People, and for the exclusive but comprehensive benefit of that People. The choice is—the Faction on the one hand, Ireland on the other. This, therefore, is just the time when every man, oho loves his native land, should rally all the liberal and enlightened pint of the Aristocracy, of the landed gentry, and of the commercial wealth and imelliAence of this island, in one common cause with the hope at large, to give effectual support to the Government, which has, at length, made a salutary and was choice—has disclaimed Fact ion, and preferred the People of Ireland."
Lord Cloncurry's tone is equally candid. He thus commences his letter- " I.yons. 13th October 1835. " Me DEAR O'CoxxesL—I thank you for your letter : it has given me the sincerest pleasure. If you had done me a serious injury, I should deem it au atone- ment. If you did not atone, I should now feel it my duty to cooperate with you in the service of our country. I have not, indeed, the vanity to imagine, that my coopera- tion could be otherwise valuable, than from the affection borne to me by the friends of liberty, of justice, and of Ireland ; from their belief in the singleness of my devotion to their cause. It is not now necessary to inquire whether I was premature. or O'Con- nell tardy, in hailing the improved prospects of our country there WAS reason for you to doubt, as there was for me to hope."
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