IRELAND.

Great preparations were made by the good people of Dublin last week to receive their Queen. When it was known on Sunday that the Court had reached Holyhead, her Majesty's arrival was all day expected ; but the loyal holyday folks were obliged to wait patiently until Monday morning. Then she came. From the pier at Kingstown the eager sightseers of Dublin caught view of the headmost ship of the squadron—the Royal yacht itself—as early as seven o'clock. The morning was remarkably fine, and the crowd gradually increased. At eight, the Lord-Lieutenant and the Countess St. Germans arrived and went on board the Royal yacht ; while on the plat- form were the Duke of Leinster, the Primate of Ireland, Archbishop Whately, the Lord Chancellor, several Peers, military officers, mem- bers of the bar, and others. The basin was crowded with craft of all kinds, and a dense crowd bordered the shore. When the Queen or the Princes appeared on deck, cheers broke forth ; and when the crowd had nothing to see, they laughed and chatted with truly Irish vivacity. At ten, all things being in readiness, the Royal party went ashore, add proceeded under a covered avenue leading from the wharf to the rail- way: During this passage twenty thousand spectators sustained one un- ceasing shout. At the top of the ascent, her Majesty turned round and looked down upon the harbour and the crowded shore ; which the people perceiving, they sent forth their noisy welcome with redoubled energy. The train with the Royal carriage dashed on without stopping, to the Westland Row station. Here the Lord Mayor of Dublin, accompanied by the municipal authorities, presented her Majesty with the keys of the city. After this ceremony, a cortege was formed, and under a strong escort of cavalry her Majesty drove at a walking pace through the streets of Dublin. A double line of soldiers, of both arms, kept the way; behind them the people thronged the foot-ways ; above them the house- holders and others appeared on platforms, and higher still at the windows and on the house-tops. Through all the streets the same scene,—gaily- dressed ladies, a great crowd, and unbroken cheers. When the pro- cession reached Merrion Square, a portion of the Exhibition building became visible, and the procession halted for a moment. At the gate of Phceniz Park, followed alone by It few dragoons, the

Royal party drove rapidly on to the Viceregal Lodge. But the Queen was soon out again, walking in the grounds. In the evening, accompanied by prince Albert, she drove out into the suburbs, and, it is said, called on Mr. Dorgan ; who, having had no intimation of the visit, was absent from home.

In the evening the public buildings were lighted up, and many citizens, unmindful of the official proclamation, had illuminated their dwellings in the nut style. It is remarked that the people looked happy, well fed, and contented; and that at no previous Royal visit was there ever such an Irish crowd.

Th's Royal visit to the Exhibition was made on Tuesday morning. The building was filled by the holders of season-tickets ; the ladies oc- cupying all the best seats, and forming a beautifully-coloured margin round the central compartment, where stood the dais erected for the Queen. It is remarked that, generally speaking, there was an absence of official costume ; which was quite in character with the special view of the present Royal visit. About eleven o'clock, a cheer outside announced the approach of the Queen ; and shortly after her Majesty entered the building, and was conducted to an apartment fitted up for her use. As she entered the central hall, a loud cheer burst from the assembly, hats and handkerchiefs waved, and the National Anthem pealed "with heart and voice." The Committee, headed by the chairman, Mr. George Roe, led the way to the throne ; then came the Queen, Prince Albert, and the two Princes ; next to them, the Lord-Lieutenant and the Duchess of Wellington, and the Countess St. Germans and Earl Gran- ville. The Queen eat with the Prince of Wales on her right hand, Prince Albert and Prince Arthur on her left. The spectacle which the hall now presented was singularly imposing : in front, the vast assem-

blage standing up and cheering loudly; behind, the Court in an attitude of respectful attendance ; and beyond them, on the verge of the plat- form, a semicircle of the Irish nobility. The Lord Chamberlain then made a sign to Mr. Roe, who read an address of welcome to the Queen. The jirineipal passages were the following.

"Recollecting the deep gratification which your Majesty afforded to your Irish subjects by your gracious visit to this metropolis on a former occasion, we

cannot fail te attribute our being honoured by your august presence this day to your Majesty's special wish to foster and encourage an enterprise having for its object the industrial and intellectual improvement of your people.

"In this building, raised at the cost of a highminded and generous per- son, whose name is honourably identified with projects of practical utility to his country, we present for your Majesty's inspection a collection of arts and manufactures from most of the nations of Europe. "To your Majesty and your Royal Consort we offer our grateful thanks for the early and gracious encouragement extended to this undertaking by your promise of those contributions which now grace the Exhibition." To this her Majesty replied, with her usual clear intonation- " I receive with sincere pleasure your address, and I thank you for the expression Of your loyal and devoted attachment. I willingly contributed to this collection of arts and manufactures from most of the countries of Eu- rope, the object of which was to promote the industrial and intellectual im- provement of my people ; and it has added much to my gratification, in re- visiting this portion of my dominions, to see the complete success of an en- terprise which has been carried out in a spirit of energy and self-reliance, and with no pecuniary aid but that derived from the patriotic munificence of one of my Huh subjects." - - - The Queen hail no sooner done than a practical joke was let off- er it might be an accident Several persons had gathered round a bronze fountain, when suddenly the fountain began to play, and those within range of the shower-bath rushed away, with an accompaniment of laughter. After this, Mr. Roe, Lord Talbot de Malahide, and Mr. George Hancock, had the honour of kissing hands. Then the committee of the Exhi- bition presented a suitable address to Prince Albert. Prince Albert replied, with a marked emphasis- " Gentlemen, I thank you most sincerely for your very kind and gratifying address. It is with more than ordinary satisfaction that I again find myself in this city, at a time when the energy of the Irish people—aided by the noble liberality, which you so justly commend, of a single person—has opened to the world an exhibition in which, I rejoice to hear from you, articles of native produce and of native art and industry occupy so large a space. Most cordially do I respond to the prayer with which you concluded, that each succeeding visit of the Queen may find Ireland advanced in art, in agricul- ture, and in manufactures; and, I would add, in the comfort, happiness, and prosperity of her people." Mr. Dargan, who bad taken up a position among his fellow committee- men, was now beckoned forward by the Lord Chamberlain; and, kneeling down, he kissed the Queen's hand, amidst the cheers of the great assem- bly.

"After this.presentation a procession was formed, in which the committee and chief officials of the Exhibition took the lead, and the Lord Mayor and

Corporation followed ; then came the Queen and Prince Albert, the two young Princes, the Royal suite, the Lord-Lieutenant, Lady St. Germans, and the principal members of the Viceregal household. The procession was not one of strict state and ceremony ; for the Lord Chamberlain walked like ordinary human beings instead of backwards ; and her Majesty, instead of a diadem, wore a very pretty pink bonnet. Prince Albert was rather more formally arrayed, in a Field Marshal's uniform ; but the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred were simply and neatly dressed in white trousers and waist- Oats, with emerald green jackets. Leaving the centre of the building, the Royal visitors first passed through the North hall, where the hard-ware,. the textile fabrics, and the manufactures from mineral substances, are chiefly located. From the North hall the procession, passing by the ancient crosses fixed at the chief entrance, moved slowly through the foreign compartments en the South aide; and thence into the picture gallery, which had been kept perfectly clear of spectators, in order that her Majesty might enjoy unin- terruptedly the first impressions produced by so unrivalled a collection of

paintings so admirably displayed. The effect produced upon her was, as had been anticipated, instantaneous. Wapper's great picture of Louis XVII.

first arrested her attention; and she pointed out to the young Princes by her side the emaciated form of the youthful Bourbon leaning disconsolately against his prison-walls. She moved on a little ; but the crowded beauties of the Belgian school soon brought the procession again to a stand-still, and at last completely broke it up for a time. The Queen and Prince, attended Only by their suite, went from end to end of the gallery ; examining in their course the charming mediseval court which forms a part of it. The proces- sion then passed through the supplemental hall, which has been fitted up since the opening for the reception of the ancient masters, and into the apart- ment appropriated to Irish antiquities; and, recrossing the picture gallery and the Indian compartment, the Royal party resumed their former peti- tions." •

The Corporation of Dublin next presented an address ; to which her

Majesty made suitable reply ; and Prince Albert went through the same ceremony. This concluded the visit ; and, still attended by bursts of cheering, the Royal party quitted the Exhibition. In the afternoon, the Queen and Prince Albert visited Mount Aunville, the seat of Mr. Dargan ; where her Majesty remained an hour, going over the mansion, which commands a fine view of the Wicklow Mountains and Dublin Bay, and holding long conversations with Mr. and Mrs. Dargan.

The Queen, Prince Albert, and the boy Princes, were at the Exhibition as early as nine :o'clock on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Almost the first face which presented itself to her Majesty on the former day was that of Mr. Belshaw, so well _known at the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park. She remained three hours in the building, attended by the committee.

In the afternoon of Wednesday there was a grand review in Pheenix Park; but heavy rain fell almost without ceasing. The Queen, however, did not abandon the field ; and the troops, of course, went through their work in spite of the weather.

In consequence of the death of Mr. Roger Johnson Smyth, a vacancy is created in the representation of Lisburn. Mr. Smyth was a Conser- vative, but rumour points to a Liberal as his successor.

Many of the Constabulary have emigrated to Australia, and others are expected to follow. A letter from one who went is published, and will be a strong incentive for his comrades to imitate his example, as he urges them to do. He is a warder in a prison ; has 219/. a year, food, lodging, and clothing, and "a servant to attend" him : he reckons on saving 1901. a year.

Several persons have been committed for trial by the Dundalk Magistrates for belonging to Riband lodges : the chief witness was an approver, who said he had been a Ribandman for thirty or forty years.