IRELAND.
The Dublin Evening Herald announces that Lord John Russell will not be present at the State trials— "It has just been discovered that Mr. Smith O'Brien's advisers were mistaken, not in the nature of the documents in reference to which Lord John Russell re- ceived a Crown SOLIMICals, but with respect to the individual actually compromised by them. It is perfectly true that a noble Lord, who held a foremost place among the Reformers, and afterwards one of the highest offices to which a subject can aspire, did actually pending the Reform riots write a letter or letters, at this mo- ment in existence inviting a gentleman then holding the rank of Colonel to place himself at the head of 50,000 men, and march upon London, for the purpose of over- bearing opposition by terror. But the party actually implicated by the letters is not a member of the present Cabinet. Lord John Russell has been written to by Mr. O'Brien's solicitor, apprizing him that his attendance at the ensuing trial will be dispensed with."
During Lord John Russell's stay in Dublin, the Guardians of Swineford Union forwarded an address, urging the necessity of essential changes in the Poor-law, especially the abandonment of stone-breaking and other "unproductive works," as tests of destitution. In a courteous reply, Lord John wrote as follows- " I am sensible of the difficulties which the Guardians have to encounter in affording relief; and I concur with them in thinking that some amendments in the Poor-law are required, although I may differ with them as to the nature and extent of those alterations. But I am persuaded that the great changes in the occupation of land which the failure of the potato in late years has rapidly caused, could not have been borne without social disorganization, had not the subsidiary aid of the poor-rates afforded relief to those whose crops had entirely failed, and for whom no employment could be found. Relief and profitable employment are matters so totally distinct, that I am convinced evil and not benefit would arise from placing both under the direction of the same body."
The proceedings of the Special Commission continued at Clonmel on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, true bills were found against Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Donohoe; on Saturday, true bills against a number of less prominent persons. The whole were called in, and received copies of the indictments against them. The business of the trials was then ens pended till Thursday the 28th.
It is reported that Mr. Duffy, of the Nation, has signified his intention ot pleading "guilty" without reserve or qualification ; of submitting himeelt absolutely to the constituted authority, and throwing himself on the mercy of the Crown.
Smith O'Brien has undertaken to pay for competent legal assistance for all the poor men who are to be tried, leaving the choice of individuals to themselves. It is said that his own counsel have great hope of gaining a favourable verdict on the strength of some technicalities, if not on the merits of the case.—Saunders's News-Letier.
The property in the residences of Smith O'Brien at Cahinnoyle and of Doheny at Cashel is in charge of bailiffs under exchequer writs. Do- heny was, up to the time of his escape, treasurer of the Cashel Corporation. At the time he fled, it was publicly stated that he carried off a large amount of Corporation funds; but at the close of a financial inquiry, which took place last week, it appeared that the balance was in favour of Do- heny.—Correspondent of the Cork Constitution.
Some " excitement " was created in Carrick.on-Suir and Clonmel, on Tuesday, by the movement of small military parties: but it turned out that they were only employed in escorting nine prisoners, arrested near Carrick, on Monday night, to be tried at Clonmel for participation in the last dis- turbanees.
Twenty-five other persons were arrested between Carrick and Mimeo- thomers: it is said that they had been plotting to carry off the Judges 4' into the mountain fastnesses."
Mr. Killaly, the editor of the Waterford Chronicle, was arrested on Wednesday, on a charge of high treason.
Miss Eliza Power and Miss Ryan have been arrested, in a public tra- velling-car, and committed to Clonmel Gaol, on a charge of treasonable practices. Miss Ryan had a parcel of letters belonging to Mr. O'Mahoney, and a box of percussion-caps, in the crown of her bonnet.
On the authority of a private letter said to have been received by Mr. Redington from a friend at Boulogne, the Dublin Warder reports that Mr. Doheny has certainly arrived in France. Hardship had added twenty years to his apparent age; so that he could not at first be recognized.
Sir Charles Napier's fleet sailed from the Cove of Cork on Tuesday: its destination was understood to be Portsmouth.
The Freeman's Journal, the organ of the Romish hierarchy in Ireland, publishes an extract of a letter from Rome, to this purport—" A few days more, and the Infidel Colleges will stand condemned for ever. The bribery scheme, as affecting the clergy, must also fail. They are all so many springs of the same machine to achieve the utter prostration of Ireland."
Previous page
