The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-22 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, lULY 22, 1882.

rim nu& ROMAN CATHOLIC ORTVRWTY.

The chief feature in the Dublin papers of yeeter-
der is the account of the proasedinp connected with the
laying of the foundation storm of the new Roman Catholic
University on Sunday. The Freeman's Journal devotes
nineteen columns to the subject. We take the following
tram Seemedere Newt :

TM •as is connexion with the laying the first stoma
of the Roman Catholic University, intended to give " free "
education to Ireland, came off yesterday. Prom eleven in
the morning until neer six in the afternoon the principal
streets and thoroughfares of the city were occupied with
it, sod with the crowds which it oonaskieed. Great
numbers of persons mine into town by the various railways
to see It ; and the aggregate of those belonging to the
city by whom it was witnessed during the several hours
that it wound its slow length along could not have been
less than a fourth or fifth of the whole city population.
Unquestionably the number both of the processionista and
of the 'pentagon congregated in the city wu u great, if not
plater, than on any of those similar occasions, when mighty
"processions" formed the principal machinery of political
and religious sgitatioea in bygone yeas—agitation which
some minions fondly hoped were fast passing out of the re-
collection of the people, but the memories of which yester-
day it sm sought to reenL The lines of vehicles of all sorts,
private as wall as hired, which extended along either side of
the streets for the whole route of the prommum, *via tip to
the very site of the university on Drumcondra•rosd ; the
crowds of spectators on foot of all ranks ; the numberless
windows thronged with beholders—all attested the anew-
tioas which the affair possessed aa a "sight," independent
of tares wathw!itati emotions hy. shit* Ms sitatertosiatt

tinenselveirod their very nuilieroassympludesre wire
animated, sod which no doubt caused them all to enter-
tain a most profound conviction that this mighty display
of the strength of the people will utterly annihilate the
British minister against whom it is levelled. The rebuke
which the Roman catholicism of Ireland fancies it is
thundering in his political ear may be audible in that
Leek as only • faint murmur, as being merely the
vices of a section of the population of the empire whose
best title to influence lies in their numbers. It is
curtain, however, that the minority in the city who did
not concur in the objects and intentions of the pro-
ceed:a received the full benefit of its effects, which they
were obliged to accept, whether agreeable or otherwin.
The movement of the several bodies of parsons which went
to maks up the demonstration were marshalled by • number
of young men on horseback, who acted as • sort of police,
keeping order, and securing the possession of the highway
for their friends, decorated with blue and green rosette',
menet all comers. It is only justice to this de-
monstration to say that it came off without the
slightest interruption of the peace on the part either
of the proceasionista or of their sympathisers io the
crowd. No offensive words were used or deeds done by
either, as far as we could learn. There was also • total
absence of cheering. The marching trader—the persons
freer the Roman catholic schools and other institutions
which took part in the proceeding—the bodies
of priests and students—the thiriages of the more
dignified prooresionista, including members of corpora-
tions, and also the members of the Roman catholic hier-
archy who were present—passed silently along the streets,
undisturbed by houaing, and unmarked by any seta almost
on the part of the crowd, save the raising of a few hats by
those who were close to the ' of the bishops, in saluta-
tion to the prelates, to which the tter as quietly responded.
The wends of the music and the subdued murmur of the
crowd formed the only audible tokens of what was taking
place. AU the archbishops sod bishops wore ecclesiastical li
vestments and caps ; but as nearly all were in aloes carriages
or other vehicles this bad not any appearance of ostentatious
parade. Several members of corporations, includiog some of
the Dublin corporation, wore their robes of office. Police
were distributed at various points, but no occasion arose for
their services. The procession began to form soon after
eleven o'clock in the morning. Different rendezvous were.
appointed for different sections. Stephen's-green was
• central point for the conflux of the several bodies
of tradesmen, by whom it was completely encircled and
blocked up at half-past 1 o'clock. The slaters, the carpenters,
the stone-cutters, the tanners, the shoemakers, the foresters,
the silk weavers, kc., were all there to mark their adherence
to the cause of "free education." Down the sidle of Mesquites
long lines of large banners flaunted high in the air, and were
visible from a long distance. The mottoes and devices on
these related to the several trade". Rosettes of green, and
scarfs of blue, green, and white were worn by the proem-
sionista ; white stacks or weed, were visible in aliutdanos.
The persons who walked were for the most part men of
respectable appearance, and well or decently dressed. The
carriages and vehicles of those of higher rank who took part
their demonstration were sunieroas. The crowds in West-
morland-street, at Carlisle-bridge, ant in Sackvilleetreet,
about two o'clock, were very great. The proceuiou, pro-
perly speaking was formed at that hourr, and started from
rl.boroi4hetreet Roman Catholic Cathedral for the site.
A sermon had previously been preached in the cathedral by
Archbishop Hughes after High Maas. The order observed
on the route was in the main as follows. The primary schools
walked first. Then followed the membersof the trades, with
their banners and devices each headed by • hand. Next
came the municipal bodies, which inclmied representatives
from the corporations of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Water-
ford, Kilkenny, and Clonmel. The Lord Mayor of Dublin
' was not present. The members of parliament who at-
tended were The O'Donoghue, Major O'Reilly, Mr.
Maguire, and Mr. Lanigan. A place in the programme was
assigned to "deputy lieutenants," and two or three gentle.
men appeared in uniform, but who they were, or whether
' they were deputy.lieutenants, we were amble to learn. As
a rule, the catholic gentry were "conspicuous by their
absence." The demonstrati.in was entirely of a popular cha-
racter, and represented the more extreme shade of opinion.
Next in the procession came academic bodies and members
of schools and colleges, including those of the Catholic Uni-
versity. These were followed by a considerable number of
the Roman catholic clew from various parts of the
country, on foot, attired in their ordinary public costume.
The carriages and vehicles of the bishops followed.
&mooed, the bishop* in attendant* were—Dr. Dixon,
Titular Archbishop of Armagh ; Dr. Leahy, Archbishop
1 of Cashel ; Dr. Hughes, Archbishop of Now York ; Dr.
Kelly, Bishop of Derry; Dr. O'Brien, Waterford; Dr.
Duman'
i Achonry ; Dr. Furlong, Ferns ; Dr. Denvir, Down
and (honor ; Dr. M'Evilly, Galway ; Dr. O'Hes, Ross ; Dr.
Kilduff, Ardagh ; Dr. Leahy, Dromore ; Dr. Keane, Cloyne ;
Dr. Derry, Cloofert; Dr. liPtlettigan, Raphoe ; Dr. Flannery,
Killaloe • Dr. Clasher; Dr. Gilhooley, Elphin ;
Dr. Fits Patrick, Boston ; Dr. Moriarty, Kerry ; Dr. Vs slab,
Ornery ; D. M'Farland, Hartford ; Dr. JULoablin, Brook-
lyn • Dr. Smith, Dubsgne ; Dr. Mlicakey, Albany ; Dr.
Biotin, Portland; Dr. riMOG, Buffalo; Dr. Grant, South-
wark ; Dr. Errington, Archbishop of Trebisoed, &c. A
miscellaneous collection of persons who thought fit to join
the procession brought up the rear. It was about • quarter
to six o'clock when the bishops, who closed the procession,
arrived at the site of the proposed building, which lies
outside the city boundary on the west side of the Drum-
coadm-road, and in the vicinity of the Roman catholic
college of All Hallows. The land which had been pur-
chased by the projectors of the college comprises about
thirty-six acres. A range of seats had been
erected along the boundary of the field in which the
foundation stone was to be laid, and places were appropriated
for the "hierarchy" and the other leading persons who were
expected to take part in the proceedings. Placards were
posted conspicuously in various places calling on the people
as they valued the success of theirgreat rause not to enter on
the grounds until alter the arrival of the procession, but this
request was wholly disregarded by the immense multitudes
who thronged to the plats from an early hour. Long before the
first detachment of the trades arrived the ground was crowded '
by men, women, and children, who were wedged together in an '
almost impenetrable mass. The seats were Deco pied by the first
owners, and even the places reserved for the hierarchy were
not sacred from the popular invasion. So dense was the
crowd of human being. assembled in this limited area that
when the processionists arrived they found it a matter of ex.
time difficulty to get through the mass and range them-
selves, with their bands and banners, opposite to the spot
where the ceremouy of laying the stoue was to be performed.
Many of the persons who walked in the procession turned
back when they reached the ground, in cousequeuce of the
enormous numbers already assemblid there ; and in fact for
nearly two hours before the close of the proceedings a stream
of people large enough to form • respectable demonstration
'in themselves passed back towards the city. When the
bishops arrived the scene that presented itself was a very
striking one. On all sides, as ter as the eye could reach,
nothing was to be seen but an enormous multitude, closely
compacted together in the centre, and swaying backwards
sod forwards almost like the waves of the sea. It
was with the utmost difficulty that a way was
made for Dr. Woodlock, the rector of the university, and
his right reverend supporters ; and, indeed, the confusion oc-
casioned by the overcrowding was so great that we believe
a considerable number of the prelates were unable to enter
the enclosed poued. As it was now six o'clock, it was
deemed advisable to conclude the proceedings as quickly. as
possible, and accordingly the ceremony of blueing sod laying
the foundation stone wee hurriedly performed by Dr. Wood-
lock. Major O'Reilly, I& P., then came forward, and
thanked the people in the name of the rector of the uni-
versity for their attendance and their conduct on that day.
He also thanked the Archbishop of New York and the
other prelates who had honoured them by their presence
on that auspicious ociouioo. Notwithstanding the oppo-
sition given by Lord Palmerston the catholic* of Ireland had
triumphed. They had chosen to have a university of their
own, and despite of every opposition they were determined
to provide catholic education for the catholic young
men of Ireland. Major O'Reilly was proceeding with
further observances in this strain when he was iaterrupted
by • crash behind him, oocuioned by the breaking down of
some of the benches which gave way needier the great
pressure of the crowd. No one, however, was hurt. This
teeminated the open air part of the proceedings, and the
pseple lieges immediately to diaper's. They did so quietly
sad rapidly ; nevertheless it was considerably above an hour
before the emu of the ceremonial was cleared. Is the
evening a dinner was given at All Hallows College, which