The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-15 00:00:00

many Furl to have been burn rep by the terrible
irruption ef 1798, new life began to germicide:
Aeon the rang meet, old fears of catholic numbers
andestholie tenets had in a great degree subsided;
while among the disfranchised the praotioal expe-
rience., oppression tended to create sympathy with
fellow-stragglers for liberty, even where the tyranny
was orthodox and anointed. The national songs et
Moore were not more popular than his anti-Austrisn,
satires • en admiration for American institutions was
illogically but sincerely mingled with a traditional
belief in ultramontane doctrines; the foremost advo-
sates in England of emancipation were the enemies of
pelestly domination and intolerance abroad u well
as at home ; so that, by degrees, demagegaium is
Ireland caught the accent of toleration, and was fain
to askew its maxims. Somethiog of accident,
ardig of craft, something of unreasoning impulse
than was, no doubt, in this; but something also
there was of genuine conviction of troth, and mob .
desire to see the resuscitated cause of political 11e.
gram in Ireland founded upon principles of wadi,
wide justice, rather than upon the insular policy of
pacifying serfs grown too numerous. O'Connell's
quick sight early discerned the importance of making
his followers hoist liberal colours whenever they
passed in review before the English parliament or
people; and there were moments, perhaps, at every
period of his life, when his large and generous Da•
tore was thoroughly imbibed with the noble feelings
of international fellowship against despotism, entire
freedom of education, and real equality io religion,
to which no man ever gave more noble expression.
Bat with O'Connell these were too often feelings
that came and went with the occasion—not principles
built slowly and firmly upon history and reason, in
which he habitually lived. With Shell it was other-
wise. Though brought up until the age of 'even-
tees among the Jesuits, he had not been long at
the University of Dublin ere he avowed opinions
regarding political and ecclesiastical authority little
in unison with those of Loyola or Bellarmin ; and
before he had taken his degree, if we mistake not, he
had ventured publicly to grapple with O'Connell on
the question of the veto. Nearly every educated
layman at the time concurred in thinking that the
political enfranchisement of millions would be cheaply
purchased by the recognition of a right in the go-
vernment to object to the appointment of improper
persons to the office of catholic bishop. Mr. Grattan
and Mr. Canning urged strongly in parliament the
polity of such a settlement ; and Pius VIL publicly
intimated his readineesto concede the stipulation wind'
the Court proposed. Bat prejudice and passion on
both sides of the Channel rose in mutiny at the
mention of such terms of accommodation. The pro-

testant bigotry of the Court secured their rejectiOn in
parliament ; and the catholic bigotry of the mob
doomed every man in Ireland to obloquy and re-
proach who did not embrace the uncompromising
views of O'Connell.

For several years Mr. Shell devoted himself alto-
gether to literary pursuits. His compositions were
chiefly dramatic, and several of his plays were pro-
duced with great moons from 1816 to 1820 at
Covent-garden. It was the desire of Campbell to
enlist the co-operation of as many writers of talent
and reputation as possible whose general sentiments
coincided with hie own ; and with this view he
gladly availed himself of a pen like that of the
popular dramatist, for in that character only was he
as yet known to the English public. It happened
that, about the same time, Mr. William Curran, the
son and biographer of the celebrated advocate (whose
conversation Byron said contained more genuine
poetry than the elaborate compositions of any
versifier of his day), bad undertaken likewise to
contribute to the page" of the New Monthly. He
was the intimate friend of Bheil ; and by him
it was proposed that a series of pen-and-ink portraits
of the most distinguished members of the Irish bar
should be conjointly, or rather alternately, painted
and published anonymously, under the editorship of
Mr. Campbell. The first of the remarkable papers,
which appeared at intervals from 1822 to 1829, was
a sketch of Mr. Plunket, then Attorney-Oeneral for
Ireland, and one of the most accomplished debaters of
the day in the House of Commons. The subject was
a difficult one ; but the conception and handling were
alike masterly, and attracted general attention. The
next was a sketch of Mr. Bus. a name less familiar
to English ears, but one fully appreciated by the
most eminent of our legists and men of letters. It was
equally successful; and discerning critics hesitated
not in ascribing both to the sane band. Yet the one
was wholly the production of Mr. W. Curran, the
other was altogether that of Mr. She'. Throughout
the series the secret of authorship was preserved,
and that so closely that up to the present time
the share appertaining to each of its concur-
rent writers has
known, while at different times papers written by
the one have confidently been attributed to the other.
An American publisher having recently reprinted the
whole, with an absurd biographical prefix, falsely
ascribing them without distinction to Mr. Bheil, and
calumniously pretending that he had in his lifetime
claimed them as exclusively his own, Mr. Colbnrn has
thought it right to republish separately the contribu-
tions of the late distinguished orator, and those of
Mr. W. Curran. A Life of Mr. Shell, forming a die-
duct work. is likewise announced, and may be ex-
pected shortly to appear.—From a Review in jhe
Daily News.

PEACE MEETING AT MANCIIEETER.—The third of
the series of weekly meetinp for the consideration of the
policy and social effects of the war, was held In
rarla ill's•beildisp, Manchester, on Tuesday evening; Mr.
George Wilson, in the chair. Addresses were delivered by
the eltairmaa, Mr. Thomason, Mr. Edmund Ashworth, sad
Dr. Halley, after which the meeting was adjourned to
Toothy ens*/ asst.

MPSFAENTATION or LIVERPOOL.—The conserva-.
tire eandidato, Sir B. George Bonham, Bart., H.C.8.,
issued his address to the electon of Livarpool yesterday,
and was expected to address the electors the same aftsraoce.
Hs had not, however, arrived up to 6 p.m. The liberal
party hays not yet announced their candidate.
Poirramoura Bumtow.—The official declaration
of ;he poll was maids yesterday by the Mayor, the nunibeis
being the MN as we reported on Tuesday; namely, for Lord
Mooch, 1378; Mr. Borman, Goals', 473. Lord Maack
return d Omits to the (Anton fur the henomr conferred
upon him; mad Mr. Gusts* expressed his thanks to thou
who bed Toted for his, as also to those who had been his
°whoa% for :he courtesy they had displayed towards his
4= hho eoweekt. A vote Cl shacks to the Mayor este
the husases.
Acre OF PAILIAMIGIT:The present session ae
neared as the 12th Desestrir. 11414 the amber of plan
eels pored la ths period is dz.