The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-08 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JAN. 6.
It was not easy to foresee the precise conclusion to
which the proceedings in Mr. Duffy's case were
brought yesterday. Although, so far as some por-
tion of the demurrer, it was held good, yet the formal
judgment of the court overruled it. rho court decided
with the crown, but arranged that the order should
be drawn up in such a manner as to prevent any por-
tion of the publications subsequent to the 3rd
of June being off red in evidence against
Mr. Duffy. The Attorney-General being then
asked what step he next proposed to take, called
upon the court for
;judgment on each of the counts of
the indictment. '1 his course took Mr. Duffy's counsel,
and the court too, somewhat by surprise, for Mr.
Justice Perrin declared he was not prepared then to
pronounce judgment. His brother Richards was of a
similar mind. It was plain, however, from the tone of
the court, and confirmed by a significant gesture of
Mr. Justice Perrin towards Mr. Holmes, that
their minds were disposed to deciue 'in the
legality of the indictment, and to comply
with the demand of the Attu ney•Geueral. 'the
crown would seem to be very well assured as
to the law, ;not only upon this point of the
demurrer, but also as regards the other questions
raised in the course of the proceedings, for as this
course would give him a conviction on purely legal
grounds ate e—without the intervention of a jury, or
a consideration of evidence, it is hardly to he sup-
posed that he should withheld his assent to the issuing
of a writ of error. It is not iratiossible that the
learned Attorney ie forced to hazard something in
this case. First, he cannot, after the case has pro.
seeded so far, apply to the court either to
quash the indictment, or allow him to enter a not.
pros. Secondly, because Mr. Duffy has presented his
petilon fur a trial at this commistoon, to which of
right he is entitled; and, finally, because the articles
which the judgment of the court has excluded are
pis cisely those on which the crown would rely, both
is sustaining the intents charged, and leading a jury
to a conviction. Finally, the crown elected to
take until Thursday next to cunvider before
they would present their n:timatum to the court,
and, meantime, their lordships recommended
some communication between counsel on both
sides. Mr. Duffy's legal advisers are sanguine on the
point that judgment cannot be given before trial,
more especially as the demurrer, though ruled against
them, h .N eventuated in a revision of the indictment.

Mr. Henry Grattan, " as Senior Representative,"
has addressed a card to the Irish members, recom-
mending a. meeting of their body previous to the an-
nembhug of Parliament, and with great modesty
u&•ring his own services " to contribute to the public
good by assisting at it." This is a mode of offering
for a lead* rehip rather decided, and is not at all likely
to be effectual. The mantle of the late Mr. O'Connell
is too wide for the shoulders of Henry Grattan.
A new weekly paper has been started in Dublin,
called " The Irishman."

Tue OBANO6 SOCIRTY.—A sign4leant indication of the
amount of toleration which the brotherhood of orangelaud
will permit the brethren to exercise has just beets mani-
fested. Col. Blacker, who, it will be recollected, was re-
moved from the commission of the peace in Lord Normanby's
vice-royalty, has just been expelled the Orange society. klis
removal from the magistracy arose in this way. At a period
when the executive was publicly discountenancing what are
called Orange demons rations, Colonel Blacker per-
mitted them to parade in all their paraphernalia
upon his lawn, on one of their anniversaries. The
colonel himself, meantime, stood at his window looking
out .in the procession, while Mrs. Blacker and other members
of his family, standing beside him, wore orange cockades
and sashes. The cause of his recent expulsion from a body
in which he had the position of, I believe, grand muter of
Armagh, was caused by his having subscribed to pay off a
debt owing upon a catholic chapel adjoining his own estates,
and to which several of his catholic tenantry resort to per-
form their religious duties. Perhaps it was not inappropriate.
in suon a case, that his expulaiou should Le moved by a cler-
gyman of the established church.
Tae tdUKULIi or SURGEON DAVIB.--011 Sunday, 24th
ult., Dr. M.Gettigan denounced from the altar the assassin*
of the late S. Davis, Esq , in the stronge,t lanituage sad
manner, urging on the p ople the necessity of discovering,
and prosecuting to conviction, the perpetrators or abettors of
so diabolical an act.