The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-03 00:00:00

IRELAND.

Drama. Aram 1.
A distinguished member of the lute Irish Council,
and a protestant, is getting up • requisition to be
signed by the gentlemen who agreed on the policy
of the council, in favour of some system of local
government.
A movement of a most important character is, I am
assured upon good authority, about being taken—sue
which must exercise a most powerful influence upon
the progress of events here. This is a declaration
which has been already agreed upon, and which is
about being forwarded for signature to the protestant
aristocracy and influential classes of the gentry of
that persuasion, pronouncing fur the right of Ireland
to a legislature, and calling upon the government to
consider the subject with a view to solve the difficul-
ties of the country at this time. The parties with
whom this originates are mod inflaentiaL Of the
success which will attend it I shall not attempt to
anticipate.
The country in the neighbourhood of the metro-
polis is looking beautiful. The spring work is nearly
completed, and the young corn very healthy and pro-
mising. A eentleman, who has been tor the last week
through Wicklow, Kildare, and Dublin counties, and
returned to-day, assures me that the breadth of land
under corn in those cousties is beyond the average of
any former year, and the potato tillage little less ex-
tensive.
The accounts from the country are very unsatisfac:
tory. As usual, Limerick and Tipperary stand in the
van of the movement. In the north, the orangemen
gird up their loins for the struggle, and declare their
readiness to cross the Boyne and p'it down the " dan
gerous conspiracy which now exists," for the supprer4
sion of monarchical government.
Pike making has now become general. On Thurs-
day last the police discovered a deptit of these insur-
rectionary implements in Roscrea, Tipperary They
are described as of a formidable character.
The confederates will hold their next meeting on
Wednesday next, in the Music Hall. Various are the
speculations as to the course the Earl of Clarendon
will pursue, but it is not improbable the meeting will
be suffered to pass away like its predecessors. It is
hard to know how it could be suppressed by pro-
clamation or police.
Tipperary has suffered sadly from its disorder, and
yet it is untaught. Since the 21st of January last
there has been hanged nine, transported seventy-sere n,
and imprisoned 251.
A northern paper states that the troops which are
to be encamped on the Curragh of Kildare, in the en-
suing summer, will be six weeks under canvas. In
addition to the usual routine of drill in camp times,
the men will be practised daily in striking and pitch-
ing tents.
The southern papers continue accounts of the signal
fires. The Limerick Chronicle innocently ascribes the
sudden illumination to the i;nition of a furze bush ;
which, operating as a signal to the other simple
mountaineers, was taken up and propagated from
peak to peak.

THE COUNCIL OP TH HEE H DRED.—One of the
favourite propositions of the late Mr. O'Connell was the
assembling of a council of three hundred. That learned
person, however, never could see how that could be accom-
plished in the face of the Convention Act. Accordingly be
never propounded any plan for organising the council.
What he failed in, however, his younger and more riskful
countrymen are about to achieve ; and in defiance of all the
convention law and of every other law opposed to their
good pleasure they will have the council. The following
requisition referring to this subject was circulated to-day :
We the undersigned citizens of Dublin, deeply afflicted by the dis-
honoured and bankrupt condition of our country—fully determined to
ransom her at any sacrifice, and believing that this moment, as event-
ful its the history of the world, is a propitious one to put such a reep.
laden into action, desire a meeting of the requisitionists, to consider
what means would be mod effective to procure the election of a coun-
cil of three hundred, representing the reel...to dames and intereets
Ireland, and its assembling on an early day in Dublin, in order to
devise and execute such measures for our deliverance as shall appear I
to be warranted by the necessity of the case.
THE Rev. Mit. MATHEW. THE PRACE OP THE
COUNTHT.—Dr. Shell, a temperance enthusiast, wrote to
Father Mathew, requesting an address from him to tke Irish
people in these heated times. The following is the reply of
the Rev. Mr. Mathew :
Cork, March 23.—My dear Dector,—lt is unnecessary for me to
hone the proclamation you advise. Ma sentiments are sufficiently
known ; and I here done more, and that suressfully, for the peace
and quiet nt Ireland than any other living men. Her Majesty's minis-
ters, especially the Irish government, have the strongest proof of this
assertion. The cam and sobriety that prevailed in our wretched
country on St. Patrick's-46y, notwithstanding the threats of the dis-
affected, bore the strongest testimony to the blessed results of my
Labours. The police replete demonstrate the almost incredible few.
now of committals for drunkenness on that ever-memorable day. The
Most Her. Dr. Miele must be convinced that the temperance move-
ment has lost none "of Its vitality by the official patronage conferred
on me.”—l am, with high respect, dear Dr. Shed, yours affectionately,
Taconatn 31Aresw.—To John Shell, Esq., M.D.
POOR-LAW Uri lONS.—The fallowing important document
has just been published, containing the instruction issued to
the local commissioners, for ascertaining the alterations
which may be beneficially made in the number and boun-
daries of poor law unions and electoral divisions:
Whitehall, 2:th March, INIS.--Gentlemen,—l am directed by
Secretary Sir George Grey to transmit to yea the accompanying
commusuon ; and I ear to address to you the following observations
for your guidance in the discharge of the duty entrusted to you. As
regards union, recent experience has proved that many of them are
inconveniently large, and a redaction of their else, and consequent
formation of new unions, may in sour cases be assumed to be
desirable. With reference to this branch of the duty entrusted to
you, you will inquire and report as to each of the existing
anion,: I. Whether the workhouse is situated at a market town or
other convenient central place, to which the guardians are in the
habit of resorting.-2. Whether the sire and other geographical cir-
cumstances of the union are such as to prevent the guardians and
relieving officers from attending the board without serious interrup-
tion to their other duties. 3. Whether the same circumstances pte.
Teat the applicants for relief, who dedre or who may be required
to attend the board, from doing so without serious inconvenience.-
4. Whether the amount of pupulatioo land pauperism in each union
is greater than would render it possible for the guardians in ordinary
times to transact the business of the union conveniently on one day of the
week : and lastly, whataiterations it would be advisable to make in the
boundaries of existing unions, and what new unions it would be desi-
rable to form, in order to meet the wants of the country on the points
above adverted to, or any others which may present themselves in
the course of your inquiries; due regard being bad to the position of
the existing workhouses, and the charge to be incurred in the erec-
tion or new workhouses. With regard to electoral divisions, you will
inquire and report as to each of such divisions—l. Whether the ex-
tent and circumstances are such as to enable the inhabitants to feel a
community of interest, and to co-operate without difficulty for
their general welfare.-2. Whether the proportion between the
value, caixtbilities and population bears as fair a ratio to those ot
the adjoining electoral divisions as permanent local cimunstances
admit. The care of large towns requires special oonederation. The
elements connected with their social orwanisation differ materially from
those of rural districts; and while on the one hand it may be desir-
able to keep them eeparate, on the other, this might throw an undue
burden on the towns; your attention will, therefore, be directed to
the moot equitable mode of apportioning the Ourden.—Leetly. Re-
gard being bad to the preceding consideration., you will require
and report—l. What alteratione it will be desirable to make
in the boundaries of particular electoral dirlsione.-2. What
electoral divisions ought to be redured in extent —3. And
what new electoral divisions it may be desirable to form. In
considering the formation of new unions or new electoral divisions of
a smaller sire than those now existing, you will bear in mind the
t 'newt, of forming boards of inlardial. AO composed as to be able, from
their intelligence and knowledge of busineso, to conduct the adminis-
tmtjaa of the poor law with due regard to the load benefit of their eon-
' stituents and to the general interests of the country. I ant, Sc.,
signed) Drxts Li Idancuarer. Capt. Thos. Alike, farceur, RE.;
iapt. Wm. E. Delves Broughton, ILL.; Charles Sharman Crawford,
1 Req., &c.

HARWICH ELECTION.—CLOSE OF THE POLL, APRIL
I.—Sir J. C. Ilobhouse, 131 ; Hon. M. Sutton, 127 ; ma-
jority, 4.
FIRE.—AT ORCHARD-WHARF, BLACKWALL.—
Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, between 1 and 2 o'clock, a
fire broke out in Orchard-wharf, Blackwell, the property of
Messrs. Miller, Ravenhill, and Co., the iron ship-builders
and engineers. The private watchmen was the first person
to make the discovery. Whilst be seas passing down the
wharf, he perceived a dense mass of smoke issuing from the
blacksmiths' shops. Knowing that the furnaces were all
"damped out" when the nun left off work on Saturday.
night, the watchman became apprehensive that a fire Lad
occurred ; he, therefore, without a moment's loss of time,
ran to the belfry, and rang the fire beg. This, of course.
caused great excitement in the neigliseurhood, but it had the
tagettar several hundred of the
desired effect of calling
workpeople residing in the Utrict. Although only a few
shops by
minutes had elapsed hero. assistance arrived, the smiths'
that pay were in one mass of flame. This
building was adjoins on either side by the storehouse, cop-
parte:tithe shops, offices, stables, and other similarly. con-
structed promises. and by 5 o'clock the fire was extingtushed.
The damage done is considerable. The three buildings be-
' fore spoken of are burned out. Fortunately the firm was
insured, and the business will be carried on as usual. How
the outbreak occurred is at present enveloped in mystery.
The police under Mr. Inspector Holmes of the K division,
hat s difficulty in keeping the spectators out of the way.—
IN WHITECHAPEL.—SERIOIE ACCIDENT TO A FIE/EM/L.c.
—Yeeterday morning, between one and two o'clock a fire
bolo out upon the premises of Mr. G. Furbey, an iron
miekter at No 53, Whitechapel-road. It commenced in the
@Aar, and before discovered had extended into the back LANCASHIRL,
--
portion of the shop. The instant alarm was sounded by the
police, and after considerable trouble the inmates were made PROPOSED NATIONAL GUARD IN MANCHESTER.
sensible of the great danger to which they were exposed. The proposed meeting of repealer, and chartists on Saturday
They immediately made for the staircase, hoping by that
been held in Stevenson-square, at two o'clock, but at that
for this object proved a failure. The meeting was to have
hour only sixty or eigkty people had assembled in that great
means to effect their escape. Owing, however, to the fierce-
area, so celebrated in peat times far popular meetings, and
nese with which the fire was burning, and the dense volumes
of smoke mounting the stairs, the several parties were nearly
enter upon business, though some of the parties lingered
overpowered, and they were forced to return to one of the the numbers did not increase, nor was any attempt made to
upper rooms. Having opened the windows they were going
to jump out, when they were told by the crowd to remain there for hours. About 3,000 persons have been sworn in S 3
until the fire-escape arrived. A ladder was however brought special constables by the authorities besides great numbers
before tt e machine had time to get to the place, and the of mill operatives, who are not to he%required to act beyond
whole ef the residents were taken down safely. The engines the precincts of their own places of work, and only in the
quickly attended, and by setting them to work the flames event of attempts to prevent their continuing to work.
were after some trouble extinguished, but not until the whole A FORGED CHEQUE FOR 3,4501. 175., on the Man-
of the stock in trade was destroyed, and the building seri-
kern ranch of the Bank of England wu uttered last
ously damaged by fire. Whilst the firemen were engaged we, d presented at the bank for payment on Wednes•
in getting the flames subdued, James Bradley, one of the day. It was presented by a young man named Naughton, a
brigade, in walking along a wall, slipped off, and, falling servant in the employ of Mr. Alex. Henry (M.P.) and Co.,
wpm a skylight he fell through, and was so severely cut whose signature was forged as the drawer. of the cheque,
about the head and injured in the back, that he is oblited to sad the writing being a good imitation, and the firm havin
keep his bed. Mr. Furbey's len tall' fall upon the &oval an amount open with the brew* bank,
it was cola