IRELAND.

During his stay at Ballinasloe, Cardinal Wiseman was entertained at a banquet where only two laymen were present ; the convivialists being a collection of one hundred and fifty priests and prelates, none of whom forgot to take their territorial titles in full. The health of the Pope was drank—but not that of the Queen. In the course of the speech- making Cardinal Wiseman contrasted his lack of popularity in England with the abundance of that blessing in Ireland.

"In the morning I go to a church, offer the holy sacrifice, address the worshippers, or go through some other function. heave the church and re- turn home without any external indication to show that deep interest in what has been done, such as in Ireland greets the Irish ecclesiastic at every stage of his missionary labours. It may be that sometimes a small knot of humble, yet cheerful members of the flock will group around the church door and smile their satisfaction, or perhaps even allow their gushing feel- ings to find vent in some religious exclamations. But I never need inquire whence those sympathising Catholics come. I know well they are from Ire- land—may-hap from Ballinasloe or Galway, or Mullingar, but certainly from the country where the faith flourishes in all its primitive verdure and fruit- fulness. The Catholics of England are deeply interested in the continuance of that glorious union that characterises the Irish nation—the union of its bishops, priests, and people. The fate of the Catholics of England may be said to depend on the Catholics of Ireland—not, indeed, be- cause these come and form congregations and churches in the cities and towns of England—not because wherever they settle in England congregations and churches are established. Important as these advantages are in a country in which the true religion had almost become extinct, it is in another sense I mean to say that the fate of English Catholics depends upon their brethren of the Catholic Church in Ireland. The dominant power in the State may affect to disregard the complaints and remonstrances against the injustice of which still the Catholics of both countries have too much cause to complain, and vexatious obstacles to the free exercise of theCatholic religion may be maintained or introduced in despite of us, English Catholics. But no party that may have the administration of the affairs of the British empire can venture to treat with contemptuous disregard the just and united demands of the Catholic people and the Catholic hierarchy of Ireland. Let the priests of Ireland then act as they so well know how to act, earnestly, disinterestedly, and with fearless perseverance in maintaining their and their people's just religious rights—in resisting all encroachment on them, in obtaining redress of the grievances which religion has still to contend with. (Loud and prolonged applause.) It was indeed consoling and hope- ful to see in the course of last year how the Catholics of both countries worked together with these views—to see the Irish Members of Parliament and the Catholic peers of England united in demanding for their religion what as citizens Catholics are entitled to."

Dr. Miele denounced the feeding of cattle fat, and elaborately vindi- cated the superiority of the peasantry over the cattle ! He said that "the rage for cattle-feeding seems to threaten us with something like an Egyptian idolatry when the worship of Mammon and of Serapis seem equally prized ; it is well to have such a Christian temple always ac- cessiht to remind one of that holy victim to which the sacrifice of ani- mals once forming a portion of Divine worship was obliged to give way."

The Lord Mayor of Dublin projected a great banquet to celebrate the triumph of science in connecting Europe and America by means of a tele- graphic cable. It was understood that Lord Eglinton, who had returned from his tour in the North, would attend the banquet, and it was fixed for Wednesday. But Ate proved to be more powerful than the Lord Mayor. Cardinal Wiseman, fresh from the great meeting at Ballinasloe, where the Queen's health was not drunk by the prelates and priests of the Chinch of Rome, arrived in the neighbourhood of Dublin on a visit to Lord Bellew, and being an old acquaintance, the Lord Mayor invited the Cardinal to the banquet. The consequence was that Lord Eglinton did not attend. The .&eeman's Journal furnishes this explanation. "During the past few days we have observed a scrupulous silence regar,j. lug the various rumours that were afloat with reference to the strange co which it was said Lord Derby's representative in Ireland was about to adopt with reference to the Mansionhouse banquet. It will be remembered thit

the fashionable 'announcements' some weeks ago informed the public that his Excellency had fixed the let of September as the day on which it would be most convenient for him to be present at the banquet designed by the

Lord Mayor as a just tribute to the genius and perseverance of Mr. Bright. His Excellency had, in fact, fixed the day. Rumour within the past week hinted that because the Lord Mayor had extended his hospitalities to a

whose genius and acquirements have achieved for him as high a position in the world of letters aud of arts as his virtues and teaming have marked him

out as fit to hold in the Church of which he is so distinguished an ornament,

the Tory Viceroy would decline the invitation. No question was in issue as to precedence, as to the order of the toasts, or as to the character of the

toasts. If there was, some excuse might be made for the over-sensitiveness

of Lord Eglinton. But no such point was even hinted at. The judgment and discretion of the Lord Mayor were ample security against any cause

being given even for doubt on such matters. Indeed, it is but right to say that no doubt was even suggested, and the sole cause given for the studied and ostentatious absence of Lord Eglinton was the presence of the Cardinal, and the unwillingness of a Member of Lard Derby's Government

to sit publicly at the same board with a Prince of the Church, because he also happened to be the Archbishop of Westminster. We believe there is

not on record an instance of such paltry bigotry as this. It is said that Lord Eglinton was not personally afraid to encounter the 'red cloak,' and that he wrote for orders to the other side. It is also said that the orders were of the most peremptory character. But, whatever may be the truth of

these rumours, the That is, that immediately after his arrival from the north, Lord Eglinton intimated to the Lord Mayor his determination to be absent

in a manner that left no doubt as to the real motive ; and it is also equally clear that this procedure was perfectly in keeping with the whole tenor of his political career. It will be remembered that when a bill was introduced

by the Marquis of Lansdowne in 1848, to enable the Queen to curry on

diplomatic relations with the Court of Rome as with all other foreign Courts, Lord Eglinton took a prominent part in defeating that rational

measure' which would have substituted open dealing for the base intrigues alleged to be carried on by English agents for the purpose of misleading opinion at Rome. The manner in which Lord Eglintonn defeated the bill showed at once his dexterity and his early hatred towards ecclesiastics of the Church of Rome."

The banquet, the source of so much discord, was nevertheless well attended by men of all parties, the Cardinal being, of course, the undis- puted lion of the evening. It is, however, stated that, in addition to the Lord-Lieutenant, the Chancellor, the Lord Justice of Appeal, and many other public functionaries, as well as many gentlemen of high social position who had accepted the Lord Mayor's invitation, felt constrained to absent themselves in consequence of the expected presence of Cardinal Wiseman. The speechmaking was not remarkable. The Lord Mayor proposed the health of the Lord-Lieutenant in high terms of praise. Mr. Charles Bright's health was drunk. Cardinal Wiseman made a speech suggested by the telegraph, in proposing the health of the Lord Mayor, and that potentate proposed "the health of his Eminence Cardinal Wiseman." After the banquet, the Lord Mayor, the Cardinal, and company generally, left the banquet chamber and proceeded to the drawing-room, where several introductions to his Eminence took place. Ile was soon after conducted by the Lord Mayor, Lord Bellew, Sir James Power, and several members of the corporation, to his carriage. His Eminence was loudly cheered by a large crowd of persons who had re- mained outside the Mansionhouse till near midnight, in the hope of catching a glance of him. A piece of the Atlantic cable, neatly bound up with brass ferules, was laid on the tables beside the plate of each guest, to whom it was pre-

sented as an appropriate souvenir of this interesting festivity. On a small brass label fastened round the cable were inscribed these words- " Part of the Atlantic Submarine Telegraph Cable, manufactured by Messrs. Glass, Elliot, and Co."

A huge political meeting was held on Monday at Nenagh in Tippe- rary. The object of this gathering was to petition Parliament to inquire into the case of "the Cormacks " ; two brothers executed for the murder of Mr. John Ellis, some months ago; but, as will be seen, the meeting was used for political purposes by the leading spirits present. The O'Donoghue presided. He denounced the Irish portion of the present Government as Orangemen, who would crush if they could the frieze., coated peasantry of Ireland. "Who are the Orangemen ? Are they the Catholics of Ireland ? No. Are they the Protestants of Ireland? No. Who, then, and what are they ? They are a miserable set of isolated political fanatics, cut off from all sympathy with those in the midst of whom they dwell. I will tell you what they think themselves to be. They think themselves to be a garrison in the midst of this country, to change if they can the ancient religion of our forefathers—(Cries of Never!")—and to drive our poor people across the ocean to America or to Australia. If you were to hear what these Orangemen say of you if you were to read their newspapers, you would suppose that they could govern Ireland ; whereas the fact is that in the three great provinces of Munster, Connaught, and Leinster, there is not one single place where Orangeban in the face of day dare to erect a platform and proclaim its opinions. (Cries of "No, nor never shall !") Breit in the north of Ireland they cannot hold their meetings either, but are afraid to trust themselves beyond the narrow limits of a back parlour." Father Kenyon, of Templetlerry, surpassed The O'Donoghue in the violence of his language. He seconded the first resolution, which de- nounced the Irish jury system, and the practice of judge Keogh, who in summing-up takes a distinct side either for or against the prisoner. Mr. Kenyon said the time was when the priests and bishops of Ireland would scorn to petition a Saxon Parliament. Put no faith in petitions. "The English Parliament and the English Government are not con- cerned for you. They may administer justice to their own people, but you are a foreign people ; they have their heels upon your necks and their hands in your pockets, but they have no notion of dispensing justice to yell. Men of Tipperary, we are met, here for other purposes too. We will peti- tion Parliament—even I will demean myself so far for that little fragment of justice, because I believe it to be possible ; but I would not deceive you in the least by making you believe that any real justice can be had by that means." Then he described the just judge, and contrasted him with the unjuatindge, that lowest and worst creature, "And such an unjust judge, and such a vile man, was that Keogh, a man who, for his deadly treason to his country, if true justice were administered to him—not the caricature, the mockery of justice he dispensed in yonder court-house—he would, years since, have hung upon a gallows fifty feet high. (Cheers and laugh- Be was one of those that traded upon the credulity of the men of Ireland. They had too long been dupes ; and he was one of those who, pretending to be their friend, stabbed them to the heart. They should pe- tition Parliament to hang him. (Cheers and laughter.) They had the liberty to petition Parliament, and let them petition to have Keogh hung." The meeting was a renewal of patriotic vows—the first since 1843. "We come here, then, in spite of all the falsehoods that are being propagated daily—in spite of all the Lord-Lieutenants that have come here since to delude us—in spite of all the flunkies in all the towns of Ireland, that pre- tend that Ireland is i prosperous—we come here to tell them all, and to tell the world, that there s an undying principle in our heart that assures us that all this is false—that we are not prosperous—that we would not be prosperous if we could ; for what is prosperity if we cannot be free ? (Loud cheering.) Let us treasure up our wrongs ; let us keep them until Rod inspires us at some happy moment, and opens a way for us. We have come here, then, to renew our duty to our country; we all pledge ourselves that we shall unite to free our trampled country. We will all condescend to petition for this time, and God send it may be the last."

An attempt was made at this stage to read letters from persons ex- plaining why they could not attend, but, at the suggestion of a priest, "the men of Tipperary" would not listen to them for a moment.

The business of the meeting consisted in the passing of resolutions. One complained that in a panel of sixty petty jurors there were not more than six Roman Catholics, thus making the right of challenge a mockery. Another set forth the objections to the trial of the Cormacks—an unfair jury, witnesses, one an accomplice, another a perjured approver, a third a gaoler. A fourth resolution spoke of the caprice of Judge Keogh, who " is fairly suspected of having outraged the decorum of the court and trifled with the spirit of the constitution." The last resolved that Par- liament should be petitioned to investigate the case of the Cormacks.

Dr. MIlale, and seven other Roman Catholic Bishops have put forth a thundering manifesto against Queen's Colleges, the National Schools the model schools, and any kind of "mixed education" that could be de- vised, especially in intermediate classical schools.

"Whether you are to believe the insidious report that represents the colleges as harmless and safe, or trust and obey your prelates, who watch as to render an account of your souls,' 'judge ye. If your fathers evinced such heroic fortitude, with the sword impending over them, what are we not to hope from you in far more favourable circumstances, strong in the conviction of the victories already won over intolerance by a peaceful use of those legitimate and constitutional weapons which even the laws of your country put into your hands ? If you wield those weapons as become good Christians, good citizens, and faithful subjects, with firmness, wisdom' and moderation, you must obtain not only the Justice of not being forced from your dwellings for not sacrificing the faith of your children, but you will even share in the public funds that are granted for education, to which you are entitled by your numbers, by your contributions in taxes to the Ex- chequer, and by your fidelity in cooperating in every way to the defence of the state and the sustainment of all its burdens. We now further so- lemnly declare that no system short of an unqualified separate education for our flocks shall ever satisfy us ; and in order to succeed in obtaining it without delay, we request again of our beloved people to use all constitu- tional means in pressing their rightful claims, in every form of petition and remonstrance, on the government and legislature ; nor shall we be wanting in lending every aid in our power to them and their clergy in the further- ance of this complete liberty of education, so essential to the full discharge of our episcopal duties, and to the complete freedom of the Catholic Church."

Mademoiselle Piceolomini was the heroine of a stormy burst of Irish delight on Saturday night, the end of her engagement. From the upper gallery descended a splendid copy of " Moore's Melodies," and an im- mense supply of flowers from all sides. The gods" were uproarious. When the fair songstress left the theatre, the horses were taken from her carriage ; fireworks were exploded ; music resounded on all sides mingled with cheers. At length the little lady reached her inn in safety, and appeared on the balcony to the earl impoli. Then, supported by Giu- glim, she spoke to the dear people' slowly and with apparently much difficulty—" My dear Irish friends, I cannot speak English much, but I will try to thank you. You have been very good to me—more than I deserve. I am very sorry td leave you, but I -will hope to see you soon again." (Tremendous cheering.) The Piccolomini remained for some tune longer at the window, and gave rise to renewed bursts of applause by adding, to what she had already said, the words " Erin-go-bragh." She was interrupted in her speech by storms of cheers, music, and fire- works. Giuglini also spoke. All he could say was, "Irishmen, I love you all very much. Good by ; God bless you!"