The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-03 00:00:00

THE RIOTS IN LIMERICK.

The following version appears in -the Pilot of this
evening:
Limasece, SUNDAY.—I am sorry to have to inform you
that this city has been the scene of meet alarming and la-
mentable disturbances, in consequence of Mr. Mitchell, who
has been en continually libelling the memory of O'Conne 11,
being invited to the soirée, advertised to be given last night.
In the evening, previous to the intended enterteinmesit, the
effigy of Mr. Mitchell was borne through the streets on
men's should( TS, the figure being suspended by the neck
from a rope fastened to a long pole. On the back of the
effigy were inscribed in large letters the words, " Mitchell,
the calumniator of O'Connell ;" on the front, " Mitchell,
the slaade'er of the Catholic religion." As soon as the
company had collected—to the number of some three
hundred, or more—the effigy was tarred over, and brought
in front of the building in which the soiree was held. There
it was set on fire, aad burned fiercely—the blaze reaching
neerly the roof. During the progress of the combustion
several attempts were made to push the burning mar
through the windows and doors. These efforts were suc-
cessfully repelled by the party inside, and luckily, from the
inflammable nature of its materials, the figure was consumed
before the arrival of fresh reinforcements of the populace.
Great alarm, of course, pervaded those inside, especially
the females, many of whom got sprained noel's, and were
otherwise injured, in their haste to ascend from the bottom
story, which was most threatened by the populace. Lan-
guege of the most insulting nature now peered between those
inside and the assemblage without. A shower of stones
was noon hurled at the budding, every window in front of
which was in an instant demolished, and the door smashed
in. Then, indeed, the struggle became " lest and furious."
The ltev. Doctor O'Connor, the only Catholic priest who
attended the soiree, endeavoured to obtain a hearing by
putting his head through one of the upper windows, essay-
ing to obtain a parley. But the only reply he could obtain
was, that as he had joined Mitchell, the calumniator of the
dead, let him abide the consequences. I cannot conceive
how he could escape unhurt, for the stencil were flying in
volleys mound him. Meanwhile the battle below raged
fiercely, the doors being broken open. As many of the
m mines of the Sarsfield Club went to the entertainmeut
armed with either pike or rifle, the fire-arms were here
brought into rsquisi:ion. Several shots were discharged at
the assailants, but I have no doubt they were blank
eartridge. When the first shots were fired the crowd
tell back, the party inside supposed for the purpose of
retreating, as they followed up the discharge by a silly
with the pike. They were, however, greatly disap-
pointed. The populace had only retreated for the pure,
pose of obtaining a further supply of stones, with which ,
they instantly returned, and pouring in a thundi ring volley
of these formidable missiles, they drove back the pike party.
The firing then recommenced, and one man fell pierced with
a bullet. The consequences now must have been awful, as
one party, momentarily augmenting, was maddened to fury,
ann the other would have fought with all the courage of
despair, had not the opportune arrival of Sub-inspector Wit-
fiams and a large party of police put an end to the conflict.
At this moment Mr. W. Smith O'Brien made his appear-
ante in the doorway; and, I deeply regret to state, he
received a blow from • stone over the eye, which cut
and bruised him, Everyone deeply deplores this occur-
rence. The military now arrived. A troop of horse lined
the street, and enabled the inmates of the beleaguered
building to make good their retreat. Mr. O'Brien proceeded
to his residence to have his &redressed, after having pledged
his honour that he would never more appear at a public
meeting, and signified his intention of retiring into private
life. Mr. Mitchell got away without being observed. Some
say he 'lipped out in disguise, having changed coats with a
labouring ~an until he arrived at the hotel. Mr. Meagher
same out leaning on the arm of Mr. E. Costello. There
did not appear to be the slightest desire to molest the
young gentleman; nor indeed was the smallest hostility
manifested towards any of the guests but Mr. Mitchell,
whose talk about fraternity,, and his slanders on
O'Connell's memory, so insulting to a grateful people,
are, to say the least, exceedingly irreconcileable. All
would now have ended, without further trouble, but for
the conduct of two persons named Keefee, members of
the Saretield Club, who, basin.; mounted the upper step
of Cr uise's Hotel, at which Mr. Meagher ens stopping, drew
out two daggers, and dared any in the crowd to " rookie
Meagher or Mitchell." The challenge was answered by a
shower of stones, one of which struck Mr. Cruise on the fore-
head, as he was shutting the door, and cut him severely.
The Keeffes escaped in the confusion. Thus ended this la-
mentable affair, which bed its entire origin in the tine died
for writings of Mr. Mitchell, and in the perversity which led
him to persevere in going to the soiree in the face of so for-
midable a manieetation of popular indignation. Had he not
been present, not only would there have been no disturb-
ance, but • greet number would have attended, who, luckily
for themselves under the circumstances, stopped away.
The Eveniuy Mail adds, from • correspondent, that after
the troops were withdrawn, at about half-past ten o'clock,
the mob broke into the store where the meeting had been
held, broke all the cups, saucers, plates, benches, and orna-
mental festoonings, and then retired satisfied, having mal-
treated two policemen who had been stationed there, and
not being relieved, were unwilling to quit teeir posts. Mr.
Cruise, the hotel keeper, was struck on the head by a stone
aimed at Mitchell. Nothing could exceed-the chagrin and
discomfiture of Meagher and Mitch, Ili Aher ordering and
counter-ordering a car for Rathkeele, they ended by indu-
cing Mr. Cruise to let the Cork coach be packed and
horsed in his yard (contrary to usual practice), and then
having safely lodged themselves inside, the two heroes had ,
the yard gate suddenly opened, and they were whirled off in
search of • new field of glory.
The proceedings at the ;commencement of the soirée are
thus detailed by another correspondent :—A meeting of the
Young Inlanders took place here last night, in honour of
Smith O'Brien, Meagher of the sword, and Mitchell of vitriol
notoriety, of which the Old Irelanders, having the fear of a
free passage to Norfolk Island, provided by the Crown
Security Bill for treasonmongers in open and advised speak-
ing, fought shy. About 100 Confederates, perhaps, assem-
bled, and having moved Doctor Daniel Griffin to the chair,
proceeded to take the tea and other good things provided ;
but their quiet enjoyment of those creature comforts was
suddenly interrupted by a volley of stones from the Old In-
landers, which smashed the windows and door, outside of
which several thousands of these gentry had assembled, para-
ding an effigy of Mr. Mitchell. This thing they proceeded to
burn its a bonfire o Aside the door, through which the smoke
made its way into the building, to the great alarm of some
few of the inmates, four of whom defining egress by the
door a dangerous attempt, ascended to an upper story,
and courageously let themselves down by a chain used for
hoisting up goods, and made their escape by a back
leas. The great majority of them, inside, however,
manfully stood their ground, at the risk of sharing the fate
of the captive Arabs suffocated in the caves of Debra; but at
length fearing to be smoked out, and hearing the entreaties
of a reverend gentleman from an upper story, who called out
" shame on you, men," in vain to the crowd below, the ins-
priaened confederates fired some blank shots front the interior
of the building, which quickly sent those outside scampering;
Smith O'Brien then went among the crowd, with a view of pa-
cification, when he received a severe contusion from a stone
beneath the left eye, and was, in consequence, obliged to go
home. The police now made their appearance, when peace
was restored outside, and those within proceeded to give the
usual toasts, Messrs. Meagher and Mitchell being the prin-
cipal speakers on the occasion. By ten o'clock the military
were called out, under whose protecting care no further col-
lision took place, and the meeting separated before eleven
o'clock, the leaders thoroughly crestfallen at their inhos-
litable reception by the inhabitants of the city of the vio-
ated treaty. From the foregoing description will be per-
ceived the little sympathy felt for the doctrines of the con-
federates in this place. Here their numbers are contemptible.
if one may be allowed to judge by the muster of lest night ;
and the mishap of Mr. O'Brien, who will have to appear to-
morrow in the Court of Clueeh's Bench ,with the ignoble
mark of a black eye, must cast such an air of ridicule over
the whole affair as effectuvlly to prevent such freaks for the
future.

Music.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—MdIIe. Alboni appeared
last evening in " La Cenerentolte," an opera in which it is
said she created a great sensation last season in Paris. She
sang charmingly ; but the effect of her performance suffered
from the general weakness of the opera, which is very tar
front being one of the masterpieces of its author. The drama
is very poor; the writer of the libretto having with great
want of judgment discarded all the incidents of the pretty
fairy tale, which is so delightful to the childish imagination,
and never loses its charm even to children of a larger
growth. Divested of all its fanciful machinery, the story ie
meagre and insipid in the extreme, with almost nothing to
excite either interest or amusement. Rossini could derive
no inspiration from such a subject. Much of the music
consists of remplissage and common-place ; and the very best
parts of it never rise above elegant and agreeable mediocrity
In the part of the heroine there are only two or three thing.
in which the best singer can produce much effect. The
snatches of the old ballad which Cenerentola is discovered
singing by the kitchen fire were rendered striking by the
beautiful tones of Alboni'e voice and her quaint um.
!dicky of manner. The pretty trio which follows by
the three sisters, was spoiled by the singing of two
of the ladies. The scene in which the l'rinee
first sees Cenerentola and is smitten by her charms is very
pleasing, and the duet between them was exquisitely sung
by Alboni and Salvi; but we missed that touch of pathos,
in the poor girl's artless tale of bard usage and suffering, to
which we have been accustomed by other performers. This
Is the only passage in which the actress has an opportunity
at exhibiting anything like feeling ; and having missed it,
Alboni's whole performance was void of passiou. None of
the music she had to sing afforded any room for expression;
sad even the air, "Iron piu Incite," which forms the
finale, and from which the part derives its whole eclat, is
waking more than a string of bravura variations on a very
ordinary theme, which she sang with the most finished and
brilliant execution, but neither did nor could display tbt
highest qualities of a vocal performer. In her principal
efforts she was most warmly applauded. The cantabile
movement immediately preceding the above air (.• Nacqui
all' affanno ") was redemanded and repeated. The " Non
piu meats " was also loudly encored, but the lady did not
comply with the call, but twice came forward
merely to curtsey to the audience. We could
hardly ascribe this refusal to fatigue, for during
the evening her physical strength was not severely
taxed. She did not sing a great deal ; what she did sing was
of a light description, and she had not the effort of passionate
SCOTLAND. action or expression. We have heard Grisi exert herself
thrice as much, and cheerfully comply with every wish
The liberal press still continues to denounce the of the audience for a repetition of what pleased them. In
Entail Bill. The Ayr Advertiser not on]y condemns regard to the other parts, Salvi, in the character of the
Prime, was everything that could be desired. Tamburini,
the measure, but sneers at the office of Lord Advo-
as Dandin. i, the foppish servant duig• disguised as the prince.
cute, and all its possessors, which is rather a sweeping showed himself a genuine comedian ; perhaps had he made
method of discussion : the character a little more broad and vulgar, it would have
On the appearance of the toed Advocate's bill for the modification been more amusing. Rovere's Don Magni;ico was, as usual
of scottivh entails we took instant exception to it, as, like all the at- with him, it piece of elaborate buffoonery. The opera was
tempts formerly made to alter the law, mere nibbling at the question. splendidly g m
most
of up ; the ball-room scene, in particular, was
There has been been too much of this. Parties make laws, they con.
wive, for the exclusive benefit of their class, and when they become one of the agnificent we have ever seen on the stage
intolerable even to that very class they are attempted to be altered
by little and little—trying to remove the pinching corner of the shoe tgbe 3)ranta.
vhirh 04ht to be thrown off altogether. We hailed with satiated ten
the oppositionorganined against the entail law of late in Edinburgh, RAYMARKET.—" A Confidence" is the title of a
by entail pro of Scotland, almighty encouragement to others new piece produced here last evening, from the pen, we be-.
less perso interested to get quit of a statute worthy only of a lthve, of Mr. Bourcicault. It th written with " a purpose,'
harberoue ago, sad which would no more be passed of new at this day and conveys a lesson highly important to married couples.
than • law to give movies each to the merchant princes of this age. We are introduced in the opening to the two young wives of
But we expressed our distrust of say large or very beneficial measure mum Gresham and Congrece, the middle aged and re-
emanating from the Lord Advocate of Scot and. Oar objection to the
source of the change has no party signification. Every Lord Advocaat Spectable principals of a banking firm in the City. The two
we have had means of judging has arrogated to himself the wisdom, ladies, in addition to their husbands, have their respective
and been held by the government to reflect the wishes, not only of all admirers in the person of Mr. St. Leger and Mr. Williams
the repeesenttedves, but of the few people of "that bore —the one a military man, and the othera clerk in the
hill, somewhere within the confines of Great Britain, called banking house. Each lady, while respecting and
8"4"/"" Power/em in action, except in the endless hno • het husband, exhibits a manifest incli
plleation of laexplic.bly-worded acts of parliament on ancient ° u:nrE
nation to depart from her duty towards him. Mrs.
seems totally unthought of by the country at large, he has
yet exercised national authority with rho ticcroment in Gresham communicates to her husband u:th mender
ehdvbw, reducing to impotence, or total.!? rejectin,. :11 measures of able simplicity her love for admirer, and her de.
a popular tendency and of a practical chameter. It the Lord Advo- termination to conquer it, pr anti-ley, s' the same time, that
ale withheld his support the government c Included the meacure tO when he shall pay another visit, she will ring for her hue-
he unnecessary; if the Lord Advocate reported Scotland tamable
band to confront him. She has only time to state that his
tlioertrergrintinfeltlif perfectly
eaziariedtio thatr ta:eng PKV
fre* frost 7,1 i name is Arthur when Mr. St. Leger, who comes in quest of
urienaose erbium, happy our sudden mesh scion, when the other lady, is announced. The transparent device by