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

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MAY 3.
Sir William Somerville's Franchise Bill has filled
the entire liberal party with delight. All agree in
the broad and comprehensive principle on which it is
based, and admit that the ministry have at length
approached the popular maim, " Justice to Ireland."
Their most violent opponents declare the measure to
be a bold approach to general suffrage, and likely to
satisfy the democratic exigencies. A few more such
measures, and conceived in the same liberal spirit,
and the Irish people will have no cause to complain
of ministerial inattention to their political necessities.
It is) feared, however, that the eight-pound rating
may be too low for the oligarchical longings of the
upper house, and that the qualification may be raised
to ten pounds or higher. On this point the liberals
trust ministers will be resolute and unwavering. The
great and especial value of the measure is the separa-
tion of the franchise from tenure, and its connexion
with simple rating under the poor law. Besides, all
who ksow the relations between landlord and tenant,
are of opinion that such a measure will greatly facili-
tate the extension of leases. Another principle in the
bill has given great satisfaction—namely, the release
of voters in towns from payment of all rates and taxes
except the poor :rate, to entitle them to vote. This
saves Dublin from terries and toryism.
The Mill, as might have been expected, cm this
transfer of power to the Irish democracy, is quite
furious, and for all-sufficing reasons.
Whether from the slackness of business in Dublin,
or the great increase in the trades, Mr. Hyland, the
pike-maker, has made a tour in the provinces. He
has been in Killarney since Saturday exhibiting
specimens and taking orders for his new inventions.
The speculation does not appear to have prospered.
Perhaps as he moves across the border to Tipperary
the prospect might be more encouraging. Could not
the authorities check this demoralising mission?
Overtures have been made to Mr. Butt, Q.C., to
undertake the defence of either Smith O'Brien or Mr.
Meagher, and come forth with a " national appeal."
No time is to be lost, as the special jury will be struck
to-morrow. The constitution of this tribunal is
looked forward to with much anxiety by the friends
of the traversers. There might be a " boot-eater."
There are at present three Scottish infantry regi-
ments in Dublin.

CORK, Mar 1
Compared with the great popular demonstratioi
which were formerly made in this city under the
auspices of O'Connell, the gathering of the Young
Irelandere to-day was contemptible as to numbers,
although they were " whipped in " with a perse-
verance and zeal that would have done credit to
Billy Holmes in his best days. For the respectability
of the parties who conducted the meeting not mach
can be said, with the exception of the few misguided
gentlemen, who may yet have bitter cause for re-
penting of their conduct. The trades were
supposed to be marshalled in order, and there
is no doubt that their flags and banners were un-
furled (I counted twenty banners) ; but the attend-
ance of the labouring classes was very scanty. The
meeting was held upon a very lofty hill, adjoining
the city, and not far from the Wracks, and its ap
pearanee was certainly picturesque. The crowd was
issechled in a vacant space, surrounded on either
side by steep rocks; and upon these heights, covered
with furze in full blossom, lines of men, women, and
boys eat down to overlook the meeting at their ease.
The day was fine, and a fresh breeze displayed the
flaunting banners to great advantage. There
was the usual buz of expectation amongst
the crowd ' • and the Irish jibe and joke
was bandied about with the proverbial humour of
the country. Including men and women, there were
between nine and ten thousand persons assembled,
but certainly one half of those were attracted by
pure curiosity, and anxiety to see the sight. In no
respect was the meeting, as to numbers, or the cha-
racters of those who composed it, formidable. To
those accustomed to examine popular assemblages, it
was insignificant. There was a tone of levity and
rollicking amongst the crowd, very unlike the stern
determination of men resolved to do or die. That
the procession could not have been very imposing,
you will judge from the fact, that it took
less than twenty minutes to pass across St.
Patrick's-bridge. How different from the mighty
monster meetings of O'Connell, where the masses
assembled, headed by the catholic clergy, many
leading merchants, and a great number of the gentry
and wealthy traders of the catholiis! The assemblage
to-day was only the ghost of a
There was not seen a single catholic clergyman (vela
looking on as a spectator.
Though greatly divided by variety of opinions
amongst themselves, the overwhelming mass of
the liberal party in Cork, whether radical, or whig-
repealers, or firm O'Connellites, are sturdily
opposed to Young Irelandism. The repeal party
in the city is very respectable, and repu-
diates anarchy and violence. Its faith is in
the power of " opinion," and when demanded
reasons for its confidence it alleges that the
pressure of taxation will drive many of the protestants
to become repeaters ; that the certain reform of the
established church will diminish the ties uniting the
protestants to England ; and it even calculates on the
English people getting thoroughly sick of keeping
Ireland. Of the party holding those opinions there
were Lo representatives at this day's meeting.