IRELAND.

The Dublin Evening Mail of Friday, on the authority of a private letter " written by one who has peculiar means of obtaining authentic information," echoes the doubtful report that the Queen means to visit Ire- land this year, and that Mr. O'Connell is lobe liberated by the Roy al cle- mency. The Mail is very indignant; asking if it is possible that Sir Robert Peel can dare to "convert his Royal Mistress into a political puppet "; and warning him, "if it be deemed advisable, if it be considered prudent, or safe, or decent, that the prerogative of mercy should be extended to a conspirator against the Crown," not to make the Sovereign "per- sonally a party in an act so suicidal to her title and dignity." The Re- peal papers receive the announcement with various feelings ; speaking of it in an unusually moderate tone, but declaring that they will not give up the Repeal agitation. The Ultra Repeal Nation says-

" The Queen is coming to Ireland !—coming to liberate the state prisoners

and allay the wallet of agitation with the approved specific of oily words I So Says the Evening Mail. Let her come: she will learn with her own eyes (which are full of woman's keenness) how basely her Ministers deceived her, and how much more ignorant and incapable are the servants in her Cabinet than in her kitchen or her stable. We do not seek a Royal visit, and we do not repel it. It cannot depress the hopes or the labours of the people, (what can or shall?) and it cannot crown them with triumph. The time has gone by when a Monarch's will was the fate of a people. All considerations personal to the Queen make us desire to see her in her ancient kingdom of Ireland,' which we believe she loves, and which loves her notwith- standing the infamy of her Ministers But there is nothing in her great office, apart from her own character, to invite sympathy for such a visit. Hitherto the Sovereigns of England have come here with arms in their hands or lies in their lips—to murder or betray. One, too weak to hurt us, came to ask our help, but, accomplishing the destiny of his class, brought us only mis- fortune. For the future, come or not, they cannot betray, and they shall not hurt us. As for the state prisoners, it is the Queen's undoubted prerogative to send them back to their labours for Ireland. If she does, they are ready to march from Richmond Prison to Burgh Quay, and fall into their accustomed places like rested men bound to do double work. She will curtail their leisure, and anticipate by some months the time of their renewed labour—that is all. From them, as from every true man in Ireland, she will learn that it is no boon to terminate an injustice ; and if it were, that all the favours it is Eng- land's to bestow or refuse would not turn the Irish people from their solemn purpose." Mr. John Augustus O'Neill has written a letter to the Freeman, ma- king known his idea that the coup d'etat originated in a remark that fell from him long ago ; and graciously bespeaking peace and quiet for the Royal visiter- " As I did not join the Association with a view of keeping Majesty away from Ireland, but rather of increasing the number and necessity for Royal visits, I for one will not bate one iota of my zeal for a D.anestic Legislature because the Royal yacht happens to put into Dublin Bay. That cannot affect the question whether Irish gentlemen are or are not competent to transact Irish business in the Irish metropolis. As for enlarging Mr. O'Connell and his fellow-prisoners, (the real object of the visit,) that will be an act of justice, performed in the manner most acceptable. I am quite sure that the Associa- tion will have the good sense and good taste not to make a tour of pleasure a tour of annoyance. There are plenty of opportunities for introducing political affairs and lengthy petitions. I should consider it bad taste and worse policy to beset the Queen with politics and petitions on her first visit." The Dublin Monitor, a Liberal but not a Repeal paper, discredits the report, but scouts the notion that there could be any danger to the Queen in Ireland.

The Ulster papers report that Dr. Boyd, Member for Coleraine, has been appointed Registrar-General, under the Presbyterian Marriage Act, with a salary of 1,0001. year ; which would vacate his seat. Mr. George Dawson, Sir Robert Peel's nephew, is spoken of as the Conser- vative candidate.

The Dublin Monitor has "heard it mentioned, as from authority, that Dr. Murray Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Healy Bishop of Carlow, Dr. Kinsella Bishop of Ossory, the Right Honourable D. R. Pigot, and the Right Honourable R. A. Blake, have been named by Sir Robert Peel as the Catholic Commissioners" of Bequests ; and it is hoped that they will act. " Should this be the case," adds the Monitor, "it is quite manifest that the provisions of this act will not be carried out so as to justify the dark forebodings of Dr. M'Hale ; and it is equally clear that the act itself does not merit the character he bestowed upon it."

Dr. Cantwell, Roman Catholic Bishop of Meath, has referred to Mr. O'Connell, "as a barrister," for his legal opinion on the Charitable Bequests Bill ; the Bishop being trustee for several bequests. Mr. O'Connell has given his opinion, but has declined the fee ; and his written statement having been published in the papers, it may be re- garded as his substitute for a speech in Parliament against the bill. He first states the law as it stood before the passing of the act. Roman Catholics could endow all manner of Catholic charities for religious purposes—including monasteries for nuns, glebes for clergy to any amount of value, and funds for the maintenance of the mass. There was only one exception made by the Emancipation Act—that convents could not be endowed for Friars or Monks : but that exception could be easily evaded—it does not apply to the persons styled Education Monks or Christian Brothers. There was nothing to be desired from the Legislature as to enabling the Roman Catholics to create Catholic charities and endowments. There were, however, two inconveniences in the working of the law. Catholic charities must be administered by trustees, who had to be kept in succession at a cost of trouble and ex- pense for deeds and so forth ; and the absence of legal recognition of the succession of Catholic Priests and Prelates was a fertile source of litigation and vexation.

Mr. O'Connell next discusses the alteration made in the law by the recent act. It gives increased power to the Commissioners of Chari- table Donations and Bequests. Charities vested in Dr. Cantwell by a final decree of the Court of Chancery are, be thinks, safe ; but all other existing charities, whether vested in him or any other Catholic Prelates, Priests, or laymen, are placed, by the 6th section of the act, within the grasp of the Commissioners : the Commissioners are empowered to in- vestigate concerning the usages, " intendment," doctrine, discipline, and constitution of the Catholic Church : the Catholic Commissioners only are to certify the fact ; but the majority of the Commissioners, being Protestant, mill have to decide how far that certificate is to be carried into effect. By the 16th section, no bequest of lands, tene- ments, and hereditaments shall take effect unless made three calendar months before the death of the bequeather ; and no grant by deed shall take effect unless the deed be registered within three calendar months from its execution. The clause, however, may be evaded by bequeath- not•the land, but a sum of money chargeable upon the land. The 15th section only recognizes three heads of charitable purposes—firstly, building and repairing Catholic churches and chapels ; secondly, for building (it does not say repairing) residences for the Catholic clergy ; thirdly, money or land for the support of the Archbishops, Bishops, or Parish Priests. These are the only charities comprised in the enabling portion of the act ; all other charities are omitted, or only touched by the 6th and 12th sections, which hand them over to the judicial power of the Commissioners. The act therefore does no real good, but much harm. "There is, however, one advantage gained by means of this act, that is, a distinct recognition by law of the successors of Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, and Parish Priests. This is certainly a boon, but one of so limited a nature as to be but very slight compensation indeed, if any, for the enormous mischiefs created by this statute It has been supposed that this section recognized the real titles of the Catholic Archbishops and Bishops in Ireland. It does no such thing: it recognizes that they are Archbishops and Bishops ; the law has always made that recognition in the most emphatic way, by acknowledging the validity of the ordination by the Catholic Archbishops and Bishops : so that ever since the introduction of Protestantism in Ireland as the State religion, every rene- gade priest who becomes a Protestant is at once and without further ordination a minister of the Protestant Established Church. Thus there is nothing gained by a recognition in this act of Parliament of Catholic Prelates being Arch- bishops and Bishops. Notwithstanding the new act, it is perfectly clear, that if the Most Reverend Dr. Crolly were to call himself Bishop of Armagh, which he really is, or if the Most Reverend Dr. Murray were to call himself Arch- bishop of Dublin, which he really is, each of those venerated personages could be indicted and fined I00/. for so calling himself, as an offence, notwithstanding this new act of Parliament. In this respect there is, I repeat most emphatic- ally, no alteration of the preexisting law. All the alterations, except the single admission of succession, are onerous, burdensome, or restrictive."

He now comes to the modus operandi of the act ; on which he specifies several technical points which are new and stringent. For instance, each Vicar-General, or certain other persons, must make a return on oath of all charitable donations and bequests in every will deposited in the office of the person making the return : the Commissioners have authority to decide who is the person contemplated by the devise or be- quest ; who is the Archbishop, &c. for the time being ; whether bequests are "misapplied" or otherwise ; the intention of the bequeather- questions involving the doctrine and discipline of the Roman Catholic church. "Another operation of this statute is to give the Lord-Lieu- tenant the power of appointing a secretary or secretaries, with salaries

to be fixed on by the Treasury. This is sufficiently : it is a mode of bribing some hungry Catholics against their country and reli- gion." The statute takes away from the Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, or Priests, all power to demise or let any lands given for the specified Catholic purposes ; an extensive and most oppressive alteration of the preexisting law. The Commissioners are empowered to lease lands, and of course to 'select the tenant—possibly an Orange tenant ; which might give rise to much vexation. As a proviso expressly declares that the jurisdiction of law-courts is not limited by the act, it will save no expense. Mr. O'Connell sums up judgment thus— "Upon the whole, therefore, looking for the intention of the Legislature in this act, as a lawyer I am bound to declare my opinion, that no bounty or ad- vantage to Catholic charities could have been intended by the framers of this act. That on the contrary, the real intention of the act was and is, to limit and to restrict the power of endowing Catholic charities in Ireland. That the intention to involve the Catholic clergy in the peril of an uncalled-for selection on the one hand, and an undesirable rejection on the other—in short, to create if possible a dissension in the Catholic body—is obvious to any person who attentively peruses the act. The only point conceded is the succession of the Catholic priesthood; a succession, however, which at present is regulated by each Catholic Bishop in his own diocese, but which, under this act, will be ad- judicated upon by the Commissioners, some of whom, perhaps, may be Catholic laymen. But even if all the Catholic Commissioners shall be of the revered order of Catholic Prelates, yet such Prelates cannot, upon Catholic principles, as I believe, make any such adjudication out of each his own diocese, without something of usurpation."

Finally, he recommends that all befitting means be taken to prevent the act from going into execution ; and he hints, that it cannot take effect unless some Roman Catholics voluntarily accept the office of Commissioners.

The Dublin correspondent of the Times tells an anecdote to show the necessity of the 16th clause of the Charitable Bequests Act—the clause which has especially excited the ire and opposition of the Roman Ca- tholic priesthood. We somewhat abridge the story. Some time ago, a pedlar, who had amassed 5,0001., made a will, bequeathing 3,0001. to various Catholic charities, and 2,000/. to certain poor relations. When he was dying, the parish-priest persuaded him to cancel that will and make another, in which he left the whole of the 5,000/. for the uses of the church'; and to make assurance doubly sure, he was further persuaded to execute a power of attorney, transferring the stock from his own name to that of two titular Bishops; one of whom subsequently refused to take any part in the transaction. Scarcely had the priest left the sick-bed, when the patient par- tially rallied, expressed to a friend near him his regret at the step he had just taken, and actually wrote a few lines to a relative in Dublin, authorizing him to resist the transfer of the stock, and declaring the wish that his property should be disposed of according to the terms of the original will. He died the same day ; but the letter did not reach its destination until two days after- wards, too late to be of any avail. The relatives, however, are about to take legal measures to recover the money. And even if they should fail, the second will may be frustrated; as the accompanying deed only names "the Bishop of the diocese" as trustee, without specifying whether the Catholic or Protestant Bishop is meant.

The Repeal Association met, as usual, on Monday ; Sir Valentine Blake in the chair; and Mr. J. Kelly, M.P., acting as locum tenens for Mr. Smith O'Brien, Mr. O'Connell's locum tenens. The business trans- acted was not very momentous ; but in some degree it illustrates the pre- sent spirit and temper of the Repealers. Mr. Daniel O'Connell junior produced a letter from the Home Office, stating that Sir James Graham had laid before the Queen "the address signed by a large number of natives and inhabitants of Ireland." " General " Clooney delivered a warlike speech ; and was succeeded by Mr. Dillon Browne, who ex- ulted in the position attained by the Repealers, as attested in the sym- pathy of France, the generous inexhaustible aid of America, the muni- cipal declaration signed by 500 members of different Municipalities and headed by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and the address of the Eng- lish Catholics— No moment could be more opportune for the people to struggle for the ame- lioration of their country than the present. Whether he looked to the East or to the West, he found embarrassments crowding upon England—from the Society Islands to the territory of Oregon, from flindostan to Algiers. In every quarter of the world were visible the giant shadows of the coming revo- lution. (Cheers.) Mr. Kelly read a letter from Mr. Smith O'Brien enclosing 1/. as his "subscription to the Repeal Treasury for the third month of the Cap- tivity "; stating that he should be absent from Dublin until the 3d September, and giving a qualified support to the new Repeal-Temper- ance movement- " I avail myself of this opportunity to remove a misconception which may arise from a statement made by Mr. D. O'Connell junior, at the last meeting of the Association. I have not recommended the adoption of any resolution against the use of tobacco or other taxable commodities. Though the conduct of the English Government towards the Irish people has been such as fully to justify this resolution, I am not prepared to ask the Repealers of Ireland to deprive themselves of any healthful enjoyment, unless some great national ob- ject can be promoted by such a sacrifice. It is right, however, that both Go- vernment and the people should contemplate such a determination as a probable contingency. So long as we are treated as 'aliens' and as enemies, no moral obligation binds us voluntarily to furnish the means by which our ' subjuga- tion' (I borrow this word from the leading organ of public opinion in England) may be continued. The adoption, therefore, of this resolution, or non-adoption, is simply a question of expediency ; and it is satisfactory to know, that if a time shall arise when the imposition of personal privation upon ourselves will facilitate the recovery of our national legislation, those sacrifices will be cheer- fully made. A Temperance pledge, limited for the present to the period at which the Repeal of the Union shall be attained, appears to me to possess many advantages. • * Under the influence of such convictions, I formed a resolution which I trust I shall never repent ; and, with these feelings, I should naturally rejoice if the example were universally followed. I can, however, by no means advise that the adoption of this pledge should be considered as a test of patriotism. Many individuals may be very sincere lovers of their country and very ardent advocates of domestic legislation, who would be unwilling to bind themselves by any such engagement. With regard to the use of Irish manufactures, there is, at present, considerable difficulty in excluding from consumption the competing productions of England : but it ought to be the aim of every true Irishman to give a preference to the produce of Irish indus- fty ; and when our manufacturing and commercial resources are more fully de- veloped, we shall be prepared for such ulterior resolutions in favour of Irish fabrics as circumstances may suggest." Mr. Kelly himself dissented from Mr. O'Brien's reluctance to adopt the Tobacco pledge ; and he mentioned a circumstance to show the de- termination of the people— When the account reached Limerick that it was the intention of the Re- pealers to relinquish the use of tobacco, one of his constituents, a manufacturer of that article, and who paid 500/.. weekly as duty, offered in the most gene- rous manner to shut up his stores if by that means he could advance the cause of Repeal. The name of this gentleman was John Spalade, or as he was called, " honest John Spalade."

Mr. M'Nevin presented the report of a committee of the Association on the practice of opening letters at the Post-office. This practice was strongly denounced ; and Mr. M'Nevin added his oral condemnation— Ireland bad been specially favoured by the extensive use of that practice; and it could not but be a gratifying consideration for Mr. O'Connell and those gentlemen who had partaken of Lord Normanby's hospitality, to know that the instant they were sitting at his table their private affairs and their family secrets were as well known to his Lordship as to themselves. By the atrocious conduct of the Home Secretary, for imitating which the humbler subordinates of the Post-office were visited with condign punishment, had the SOU Of Italy been deluged with her noblest blood, and the gallant Bandieras had been led forth to an execution where Sir James Graham might be con- sidered as presiding in spirit, as he would have been its most suitable instru- ment in person.

The Reverend Mr. Coghlan denounced the Charitable Bequests Bill ; declared the people ready to abandon the use of tobacco, or any other exciseable article ; and stated that every Sabbath, before mass, in nearly every chapel throughout Ireland, a suitable prayer was offered up for the safe deliverance of Mr. O'Connell from his enemies.

Mr. Kelly, while urging the extension of Repeal reading-rooms, was facetiously triumphant respecting the present position of England— Did they know that France had declared war against an ally of England, and had bombarded Tangier? (Loud cheering, and cries of" Bravo !") Her fleet was battering down the towns and forts of the Emperor of Morocco, the old friend of England ; whilst the present force of that power in the Mediterranean consisted of two vessels of war and an odd steamer or two. (Loud cheers.) What a mighty fleet for Britannia, the great ruler of the waves I (Cheers and laughter.) Her ships, instead of guarding her interests, were busy on the coast of Ireland, keeping a bright look-out for any bit of green bunting which might chance to dangle from the mast of a passing merchantman. (Cheers and such laughter.) Why, if they had a vocation for pulling down flags, did they not try their hands on the tri-colour of the Suffren ? (Tremendous applause.) Town-Councillor O'Reilly was equally facetious about the promised arrival of Queen Victoria in Ireland— It would be looked upon with joy, for she was a woman—with loyalty, for she was a Queen. He only wished she was coming to open her Parliament. (Loud cheers.) But the people were not to relax in their exertions, nor suffer themselves to be led astray by cattle-shows or royal progresses. Prince Albert had sent a cow to their agricultural meeting. (Cheers and laughter.) What a shame that was! why, Sir Robert Peel had sent a bull to Tamworth. But perhaps the Prince thought there were bulls enough in Ireland already. (Cheers and laughter.) One thing he might be assured of, that no bulls or blunders would frustrate the speedy attainment of their sole and darling object—the Repeal of the Union.

Mr. D. O'Connell reported "the Repeal martyrs" to be in excellent health and spirits ; signified his father's anxiety that Parliamentary 'voters should be diligent in getting themselves registered ; and intimated the Liberator's satisfaction with Mr. Smith O'Brien's view of the new pledges— He had learned from his father that he was delighted that Mr. Smith O'Brien should have taken the subject of the pledges into his consideration ; convinced that whatever that gentleman decided upon would be the wisest and best Course to be adopted by the Association, who must have the most unlimited confidence in his patriotism and wisdom.

The rent for the week was 6351.

Mr. O'Connell has received an address from the Roman Catholics of England, sympathizing with him in his imprisonment ; condemning the prosecution for constructive treason, and his trial before a Jury unfairly selected, of which every member held religious and political opinions opposed to his own ; deploring the alienation produced between the two countries, but avowing the belief that O'Connell's incarceration has advanced the emancipation of his country from the unjust Government by which it is now oppressed ; looking krward to his renewed exertions; and congratulating him on the obedience to his precepts of peace and order. The _Nation describes this address as being signed by "the flower of the old aristocracy of England ": the signatures, however, were only these— Shrewsbury; Camoys; Stourton ; Dormer ; Stafford ; Newburgh; Charles Staunton; Charles T. Clifford ; Edward M. Vavasour, of Hazelwood; William Wearing; Thomas Browne, Bishop of Appollonia, Vicar Apostolic of Wales ; William Riddell ; Pyers Mostyn ; Charles IL Tempest; M. C. Maxwell; John F. Vaughan; Peter Constable Maxwell, Mayor of Richmond; Robert Berkley junior, of Spetchley Park, Worcester ; Edward CI:levering; Joseph Weld, Lul- worth Castle; Joseph T. Tempest ; Richard Huddleston ; Edward Huddles- ton ; Joseph Wood ; S. T. Scroope ; R. Baillie, Tadcaster ; J. Coltanach, LL.D.; J. Drysdale, York ; Richard Boyle ; J. Bird; T. Jarrett ; G. Speakman; Thomas Ord ; James Smith ; Charles Langdale. [The name of Mr. Middleton, of Stockeld Park in Yorkshire, has since been added.] The Pilot describes a state-chair which a young lady is about to pre- sent to O'Connell. It would seem, from the description, that it is in- tended for his use when he is crowned King of Ireland.

" The rough design of the chair may be considered as borrowed from that in St. Edward's Chapel, Westminster Abbey, used on the occasion of the coro- nation of the English Sovereigns ; but that which we are now describing far excels its venerable prototype for massiveness, richness of decoration, and general execution. The timber work is all of Irish oak, carved throughout with consummate skill, and with considerable elegance of design and composition. The claw-feet, with the rails of the front and sides, are massive, and are covered with superbly-carved scroll-work, intermixed with clusters of oak leaves, acorns, and shamrocks. On the knee of each foot is a shield, to receive an armorial achievement ; and in the centre of the front-rail is the figure of the Irish golden cap, an imitation of which was presented to the Liberator at Mullagh- mast." [There are also carvings of Irish wolf-dogs, with eyes of rubies and collars of Irish gold, round towers, and harps, with O'Connell's motto, &c. There is a footstool to match with this splendid chair.] " It is enriched with scroll-work and wreaths of shamrocks all round ; haviug in the centre of both sides the figures of Irish harps, in the centre of one end the crown of Brian Boroihme, and in that of the other end the Irish golden cap." [The Berlin wool-work for chair and stool have been executed by the young lady who pre- sents them to the Liberator. She deserves to be Queen when O'Connell is King.] Dr. John B. Sheil, a physician, has written to the Times expressing his belief that the Reverend Theobald Mathew is opposed to the Repeal of the Union : he was avowedly so, and Dr. Sheil believes him to be so still : " When Mr. O'Connell was at Belfast, I heard Father Mathew state in this very town [Ballyshannon] that he considered the Repeal of the Union impracticable and a delusion ; and that he never would consent to any political or religious controversy being introduced into the society."

The Belfast Vindicator, a Repeal paper, thus assails Mr. O'Connell's leading counsel, for absenteeism and other sins- .' The public journals announce that Mr. &nil has taken up his residence permanently in London. He has turned his hack upon his country ; he has become Saxonized in his predilections, and is about to settle down, for life, in the land of the tyrant and the stranger, a recreant absentee. ' Go, deceiver, go ! ' Would that every man of doubtful or waning virtue, like him, did se- gregate himself from our ranks. There would then be no suspicion—no dis- trust—no sneering of Whiglings at Irish patriotism—no sarcasms of those who, having no consciousness of virtue within themselves, have no faith in the virtue of others. It will he in vain to tell us, in Mr. Shell's favour, that he is still a good Catholic. We want not Catholics now, but Irishmen, be their creed what it may. We do not now ask at what altar a man kneels, but whether he be- lieves in the new doctrine of Irish nationality, and is prepared to lay down his life, a witness for that faith. Nor let it be deemed, because of this brotherly tolerance, that we entertain, or approve, a cold and heartless liberalism on the subject of religion. We are as truly Catholics as we are Irishmen; but if we find in others that spirit which is truly Irish, we will not refuse their coopera- tion, nor renounce their fraternity, because they want that which is entirely Catholic. Hence we prize O'Brien and Grattan far above Sheil and Corballis and Bellew. Those, therefore, who are not with us, had better at once go out from among us. We will thank them for redeeming us from the ignominy of their brotherhood."

One night last week, a gentleman in his sleep, or only half-awake,. leaped out of a second-floor window of the Northumberland Hotel, Dublin ; and, strange to tell, merely hurt his left arm a little.

Seven persons have lost their lives in some vaults discovered in the hill of Ballybunion, in the parish of Liselton, Kerry. After the vaults were discovered, a party of boys entered for a short distance, and re- turned safeyl : two others, more venturesome, went farther, and not re- turning for a lonn time, the father of one of them went in ; after a time three young men followed, to see what had become of him : the day passed over and none of them came out, all having perished by the foul air in the vaults. On the following day, a party of six volunteered to seek the lost men and boys. Having passed through some narrow pas- sages and four cellars of small extent, they came upon one body, and proceeded to bring it out, when the noxious air began to affect them : three were overpowered by it, and one was left to die ; the other three men being only able to bring out two of their companions. Next day, a number of men dug through the hill to the vaults, and the seven bodies were taken out.