The Press.
London, England, 1856-09-20 00:00:00

artlanb.

Mn. Swim O'BRIEN was presented last Sunday
with a congratulatory address by the inhabitants of
Limerick. An immense procession of people fro-
cseeded to Cahirmoyl t 3 welcome the exile home. To
the address Mr. O'Brien replied at some length. His
determination not to re-enter Parliament continued,
he said, "unaltered"; his sentiments differed too ma-
terially from the Irish patriots of the present day:—

When in 1843 I avowed myself to be fully convinced
that the only effectual guarantee for the permanent
welfare of our country is to be found in the restoration
of its Legislature, I did not profess this conviction only as
a means of extorting secondary advantages of either a
personal or a national kind for the inhabitants of Ireland.
I adopted it as a stern reality, the furtherance of which
would probably for several years require many personal
sacrifices on the part of those who became the champions
of their country's rights, and which specially demanded
an entire separation from all connection with English
Governments and English parties. Within the short space
of ten years I have seen almost every man who was a
prominent leader in the repeal agitation (except those
who were driven into exile) become a stipendiary or a
supporter of the British Government. I have no desire
to impugn the motives or conduct of any man, a change
of circumstances sometimes justifies changes of opinions;
and I always prefer to impute even to doubtful actions
honourable rather than base motives ; but when I find
that these changes have been sanctioned—and in some
instances encouraged—by the constituencies of Ireland,
I am compelled to conclude that my opinions are out of
date, and that Irish patriotism no longer means what it
appeared to me at Tara in the year 1843.
He repudiated the principle of force in obtaining the
Repeal of the Union; he bad never maintained, nor
did he now uphold, such a principle. The circum-
stances of 184,8 were singular:—
Under all probable circumstances, when in IB4' this
country was reduced by misgovernment to a condition
more abject than any that it had known even in the worst
period of its disastrous history, and when we were de-
prived of all constitutional methods of redress by the sus-
pension of the Habeas Corpus Act, I thought, and I still
think, that resistance was justifiable. I thought then, and
still think, that if we had been supported by the Irish
nation in the struggle which we commenced, we should
have been able to secure for Ireland within a few months,
or perhaps a few weeks, the inestimable blessing of self-
government. A year's residence in Belgium, which, during
the last twenty-five years, has been one of the best regu-
lated nations of Europe, has confirmed me in the convic-
tion that a Government founded on a successful revolution
may become the most stable of all governments. But it
is vain to speculate upon what might have happened if we
had succeeded in 1848 in establishing the national or legis-
lative independence of Ireland.

He accepted the defeat, however, as a dispensation of
Providence, and if the Irish people thought that they
could be more happy under the government of the
Imperial Parliament than under that of a local legis-
lature, he was compelled to acquiesce in that prefe-
rence :

I acquiesce in it with the less reluctance because Ibis
country is now comparatively prosperous, anti because
some of the evils which gave occasion for discontent have
been mitigated.

At the same time he held himself to be free to take
whatever part in Irish affairs best befitted an Irish
patriot:—
I shall, therefore, occasionally take the liberty to offer
advice upon public affairs to all who are disposed to listen
to my suggestions ; but for the present I desire to enjoy
repose during a few months, if it were only that I may
have an opportunity of studying the altered circumstances
of this country.

THE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE CRIMEAN BANQUET
exceed 1,2001. It is proposed to invite the wives and
mothers of the men to the dinner.

SIR COLIN CAMPBELL arrived in Limerick from
Cork on Monday, and proceeded at once to an in
spection of the troops, which was conducted with the
utmost minuteness. The gallant general also In-
sleeted the barrack schools and the military prison,
a .d 1 istevening set out for Templem ore.

How ENGLISH LANDLORDS work with Irish estates
and Irish tenants is told in the Ballinasloe Star :

James C. Harter, Esq., of Broughton-hall, Lancashire,
purchased in 1852 an estate of some 1,500 acres, lying for
about three miles along the verge of the Shannon, and
contiguous to the Bridge of Banagher. The estate was
at this time in a deplorable condition. On taking posses-
sion Mr. Harter directed that no one should be evicted,
though the property was cut up into small tenements,
s:veral detached and irregular holdings belonging to one
tenant. The farms were all remodelled, and encourage•
ment in the shape of substantial aid given to every tenant
to improve his residence and offices. As a preliminary
improvement, draining was extensively set on foot, and a
number of leading arteries were at once cut at Mr. Harter's
expense, forming outlets for the superabundant moisture,
without which the drainage could not have been effected.
New roads have been made, opening up the estate, and
giving value to the land which it was impossible formerly
to reach. Every cottage and farmhouse is neatly white-
washed, and the old Irish habit of collecting a manure
heap or a cesspool at the entrance to each has been en-
Urely discontinued. Those who saw this property twenty