IRELAND.
The Dublin Crimean banquet to 3500 soldiers took place on Wednes- day ; and although so many were entertained, " the whole proceedings were conducted with a degree of order which was positively marvellous." The dinner began at one o'clock, and at five all the guests had departed. The banquet-hall was a large room in the Customhouse. It was hung with dark drapery, relieved by a tricolour edging ; the iron pillars sup- porting the roof were decorated with military trophies surmounted by the banners of the Allies ; and on the walls the names of the chiefs of the war were painted in large letters. Opposite the head table were two huge Crimean trophies, including two cannon. The galleries were oc- cupied by regimental bands. The soldiers drawn from the Dublin and country garrisons, and from the camp at the Curragh, were seated at eighteen tables : at the high table, the Lord Mayor occupied the chair, Lord Carlisle sat on his right, the Lord Chancellor on his left; while on either side sat Mr. Horsman, Lord Gough, Lord Seaton, Admiral Cliads, Lord Talbot de Malahide, Mr. William Dorgan, Sir Philip Crampton, Master Murphy, and other civilians and military men. The bill of fare comprised 250 hams, 230 legs of mutton, 500 meat pies, 100 venison pasties, 100 rice-puddings, 200 plum-puddings, 200 turkeys and geese, 250 pieces of beef, weighing in all upwards of 3000 pounds; three tons of potatoes, 2000 loaves, 100 capons and chickens, and six ox-tongues. The potatoes and the plum-pudding were brought in hot ; the rest of the dinner was cold. To each man was supplied a quart of porter and a pint of the choice port wine given by Mr. Brennen.
After dinner there was a moderate supply of speaking. The Lord- Lieutenant opened his address by saying that his wish was " not to speak long, but loud." He spoke with brevity, but with a warmth that won the hearts of his hearers. Here is a specimen.
" We are here upon Irish ground ; and Ireland has a right to give a wel- come to heroes, because many and many she has sent forth to every grade in your ranks. But Irish hospitality is not stinted to her own children. As it was not asked, when the cheer rose loudest in your charge, whether it had most of the English, Scotch, or Irish accent—as it was not asked when the red blood flowed from the field or from the trench—as it was not asked whether the warm tide gushed from English, or Scotch, or Irish veins--so here today you are seated side by side at the same board, and you need no other passport but the bright medal which glows upon your manly breasts."
The other speakers copied the brevity and heartiness of Lord Carlisle —Lord Gough, Lord Seaton, the French Consul, Mr. Isaac Butt, four noncommissioned officers, and a boatswain. When the signal of de- parture was given, the troops marched off in excellent order and still more excellent spirits ; cheered by the crowds as they withdrew. The Lord-Lieutenant left Dublin on Thursday, for Castle Howard.
There is rather an increase of emigration from the West this autumn, instead of the decrease that might have been expected from the improved condition of the people. The emigrants are of the better order of peasants.
The Waterwitch sailed from Dublin on Monday with 115 emigrants fbr Montevideo and Buenos Ayres. Thousands of Irish are already settled there, with Irish priests as pastors. It is said that the priests in Ireland support emigration to South America in preference to the North, because in the former the Roman religion prevails.
The branch line of the Belfast and Ballymena Railway to Cookstown was opened by the Earl of. Cm-lisle, on the 16th instant.
The appeals to the Lord Chancellor in the matter of the alleged contri- butories to the Tipperary Bank was to have come on for hearing on Monday list; but they were postponed by consent of all parties till the end of Michaelmas term—after the 25th November : the ground for postponement was, that the English shareholders had made an offer of compromise in reply to the circular of the official manager. It is reported that the English shareholders offer 10,0001. to be freed from all further liabilities, and that the official manager regards the offer with favour. A meeting of depositors at Roserea have resolved that the only " compromise " they will make will be for the receipt of 20s. in the pound.
Previous page
