The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

IRISH AFFAIRS.
(From our own Ccrrespondent.)
DUBLIN, Thursday, April 23, 1857.
Timm: are one or two facts in connection with the
contest for the Dublin University with which you
ought to be acquainted. Although nominally an
independent candidate, Mr. Lawson was really the
Castle nominee. Great exertions were made in his
behalf. All the expectant members of the bar, and
the least reputable, albeit more voracious, portion of
the clergy, were enlisted by the Government runners,
and it was !very confidently anticipated that Mr.
Hamilton's seat would be won. The farcical can-
didature of Mr. Wilson, too, under the leadership of
Dr. Blackwood "the grateful," was supposed to be
likely to favour the Viceregal pet. With the result,
so far as the public is concerned, you have of course
been long acquainted, but it may interest you to
know that the victory achieved over Palmerstonism
in the Irish Universiti was really much more signal
and triumphant than appears "on the record."
When Mr. Lawson retired, a reserve of two hundred
votes actually promised, and capable, in an emer-
gency, of being readily doubled, remained intact, and
there is no doubt, that had the battle been fought
out to the last, upwards of a thousand electors would
have attested their full confidence in Mr. Napier
and Mr. Hamilton ; and observe, the issue raised
was not ambiguous here—there was no disclaimer
of political bias, and no abnegation of party sympa-
thy. The Conservative candidates stood on Con.
servative principles. They acknowledged an honest
faith in the Conservative leader. Nothing, more-
over, could surpass the zeal and enthusiasm which
was displayed by the whole constituent body in
vindication of their convictions. Men came up to
the poll from all parts of the kingdom, and one
gentleman travelled a journey of more than 1,200
miles on this mission. Among the eminent sup-
porters of the sitting members was Dr. M‘Neile,
a divine as remarkable for his eloquence as for his
consistent Christian character. He, of Protestant
champions the most able and the most philosophical,
has not been infected with the Palmerston fever,
but retains unshaken his allegiance to Lord Derby.
Of all poor Lord Carlisle's electioneering tactics,
his most petty and discreditable stratagem was his
move in Leitrim. In that county Mr. Ormsby Gore
occupies so high a position as to render his return
certain in the event of his becoming a candidate.
As soon as his address was issued he applied to the
Lord Lieutenant to be relieved of his office of High
Sheriff. It suited the Viceroy's purpose, however,
peremptorily to refuse his resignation, unless he sub.
jected himself to the very heavy fines exacted in such
cases, and this, although such a course was most un-
precedented, and several gentlemen highly qualified
were willing to serve in Mr. Gore's stead. So far as
the political result is concerned, I regret to say Lord
Carlisle has succeeded. Instead of two Conserva-
tives, one only will be elected for Leitrim. But it is
imoossible that such an arbitrary and tyrannical
exercise of authority can escape parliamentary atten-
tion and public reprobation. No apology whatever
is offered for Lord Carlisle. His adherents treat the
thing as a capital joke, and applaud the cleverness of
the manamvre. I trust the subject will be fully and
vigorously investigated, for such acts do more to
bring the Viceregal office into contempt than even
the " Birch" disclosures during the luckless rule of
Lord Clarendon, and that is saying a very great
deal.
There will be several petitions against Irish re-
turns. At Sligo Mr. Somers will be accosted with
tees of corruption which will make Mr. Coppock
open his eyes. Mr. Ennis, too, will be called upon
to clear himself of a participation in some dark
d iings at Athlone. Of the petition of Colonel
Higgins against Mr. Moore's return for Mayo, Ido
not think much will come tending to improve that
worthy's position or prospects. Credible informa-
tion leads one to conclude that an investigatiou will
serve to bring out in bold relief the partiality of the
paternal Higgins, as High Sheriff. Worthy father
of a worthy son, he has as much right to
be treated as a landed proprietor as one of
the tenants of Mr. F. O'Connor's allotments. Colonel
Hi gins had the advantage of Government support,
most unscrupulously used and applied. All the
landlords in the Palmerston interest, peers and
commoners, rushed to the rescue. It would be a
pity that Mr. George Moore should lose his seat,
for, independent of his being a leader of a party, he
is a man of ability and honesty. Who ever heard as
much of Colonel Higgins? Those who entertain
inch an opinion of the hon. and gallant ex-member
f. Mko may be very numerous, but they are some-
what r: served and taciturn on the point, and that is
dubioni friendship, atter all ! Sergeant Shee joins
his brother hack in retirement ; or, shall we say,
exclusion from public life. Considering the virulent
aping in which the learned sergeant entered upon g