IRELAND.
It is rumoured that the Irish Government are about to prosecute Tipperary journal for reporting the flagitious and seditious speeches of the O'Donoughue and Father Kenyon at the great meeting at Nenagh, on behalf of the brothers Cormack executed for assassinating Mr. Ellis.
The Dublin Protestant Association has foolishly and laboriously ex- pressed its "great indignation" at the visit of "a so-called temper' prince of the Boman States," Cardinal Wiseman, to the library of Tnn' ity College, Dublin! But the statement that Dr. Wiseman, during his late stay in Dublin, was invited by the Fellows of Trinity to visit the library and museum, turns out to be incorrect; and thus the indignation is thrown away. The Cardinal went to these sights as "a distinguished stranger."
Yr. Smith O'Brien has communicated to a meeting held at Mill Street, Cork county, the views he entertains of the policy which should be adopted by the people of Ireland and their representatives. It is a con- fession of failure.
6i Tnis.policy involves the creation of a national party which shall hold itself entirely independent of the factions which alternately rule the Go- vernment of England ; and one of the first objects to the furtherance of which it ought to apply itself is the attainment of a satisfactory measure for the protection of the tenantry of Ireland. The only remark which I now desire to add to the opinion contained in that address is, that it behoves the independent Irish Members to prove that they are as little disposed to con- nect themselves with a Conservative Government as to form an alliance with the Whigs. For my own part, I have ceased to expect beneficial le- gislation for Ireland from any English party or Government, but I feel convinced that the best chance of obtaining good measures is to be found by concentrating in an independent national party the whole influence of the Irish nation. It remains to be seen whether there exists in this country public spirit sufficient to give effect to such a policy. I candidly confess that I can observe in the present state of the public mind but scanty indica- tions of a national spirit."
Frances, Marchioness of Londonderry, met her tenantry in the village of Camlough, last week, at an agricultural show. She was present at their dinner, but sat above them, on an elevated platform. When her health was drunk, she made a characteristic speech.
"I confess I feel great satisfaction in knowing that since ten years ago, when I first came to reside among you, a great and visible improvement has taken place—that you, in conjunction with the people of the country, gene- rally, have made vast strides in progress and amelioration of your condi- tion; but though much has been done, much more remains to be accom- plished." They have performed their duty to her, but not to themselves. "Your farms are not high set ; prices have been good; help and assistance have been given to many. I ask you is your social condition what it ought to be ? Might you not, by adopting a more beneficial and enlightened system of agriculture, immensely increase your produce ? Might you not, by thrifty and frugal habits, improve your houses and domiciles, still greatly capable of it ? and might you not, by supervision, promote, what is more important than all—the education of your children—rather than, from a false desire of gain, take them from school at a period when every hour is of advantage for their future welfare ? Now, I ask you to ponder over these questions, and if I am right I ask further, for your own sakes, to ap- ply a remedy. (Enthusiastic applause.) I confess I have been discou- raged in some of my endeavours. The agriculturist I got to give you ex- tended notions you declined making friends with, and he left from dis- couragement. The premiums I offered for gardens did not seem to be pro- perly received, and I was obliged to give up the flower show. It is., how- ever, a great consolation to find that the entries this year for agricultural prizes are greatly on the increase, and evidently prove that there is a spirit of emulation arising amongst you which will, I am convinced, if persevered in, tend to your improvement and future prosperity."
The defences of Spike Island and ',Queenstown are to be put in "the highest state of efficiency."
• The Great Western Railway Company are about to construct a line from their terminus at Galway to the dock, in order to facilitate the em- barkation and debarkation of passengers by the line of steamers running between Galway and America. The talk about building a breakwater is rencwe I.
There have been very serious floods in Limerick, Kerry, and Cork. At Abbeyfeale, in the river Feale, five persons were drowned, bridges, houses, and a great deal of property destroyed. In Cork and Connemara alike walls were swept down ; vessels carried from their moorings ; stacks of corn, hay, Ogg, floated off; potato fields submerged ; horses drowned. The destructive effects of this sudden rising of the waters in the south of Ireland will be painfully felt in many a village and homestead.
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