Mr. Healy has spoken twice to the Irish Institute of
Newcastle-on-Tyne, since our last impression, once on Satur- day last and once on Monday. In his first speech, Mr. Healy intimated that the spiritual intimidation said to be exercised by the Irish priesthood, is not nearly as mean and contemptible as the coarse bribes of beef and beer by which English political agents win our English voters to their side. Perhaps not; but is it not much more overpowering? No doubt the English craving for hearty eating and/drinking goes half-way, or more than half-way, to meet the " treating" by which it is tempted; but for that very reason, the tempter exercises no tyranny to compare with that of the priest who canvasses in the confessional, and threatens to leave the obstinate politician unabsolved. Mr. Healy then went on to declare that Mr. Gladstone's offer of 1886 to reduce Ireland's contribution to the common expenses of the United Kingdom to one-fifteenth of the whole, is not nearly generous enough, and that it would now be rejected without hesitation by all Ireland. Does not that look a little like asking for a great collective bribe to the corporate life of Irishmen, in return for cordial support of Mr. Gladstone's measure P
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