The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-28 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 28, 1849.

connected, you cannot expect me to suppress the feeling
which nee in my mind when I look around and see
those whom you have done me the honour of associatirg
with me on this occasion. (Cheers.) I see many here
who were not concocted with the government over
which I resided, but who were nevertheless prepared
to wake, and who did make the greatest peroonal saer.fins
to min their free support to that government from the
invest and most disinterested motive s, even when they knew
and felt assured that its days were numbered—(bear, bear)—
but who, mating on the honest conviction of their own minds,
submitted to any degree of obloquy and urjust misconstrue
Mon of their motives rather than ebasden the duty they be-
lieved they owed to their sovereign and their country.
(Hear, hear.) I cannot ace them, and—l will not say return
thanks to them, for they want no expert's:on of gratitude
from me for the performance of that which they
felt to be a public dory—but I cannot meet them
at this table, without placing on record my admiration of
the principles which guided their conduct. (Hear, hear.)
Still lees when I see around me those who were associated
with me in the execution of public duty, who were homed
with me by the tits of a common responsibility, and still
more closely bound with me by the ties of unvarying reel
penal attachment, reciprocal esteem, and reciprocal support
—(cheers)—when I see around me these who gave me their
professional Reisman as men of the highest eminence at
the bar—when I see these with whom I conferred
on questions of the deepest interest connected
with the commercial and colonial paicy of this country—
when I see the miuister with whom I was in daily commu-
nication on the internal affairs of this country, sad who
brought to the performance of his duty the highest talent,
the greatest wisdom, and the most consummate skin
in the administration of his department—when I tee my
right honourable friend, to whom more especially
the charge of the finances of the country de-
volved—one with whom I made my earliest political
friendship, and with whom I have shared every vicissitude
of political fortune, and who, by his financial ability and
his judgment conciliated the respect of this great city, and
in whose integrity the most unbounded confidence was
always felt, and whose administration of the franc's of the
Ciuntry eyes as eminently successful as that of any Chew
calor of the Exchequer that ever held the office—when I
tee on my right hand my noble friend, who wee
charged in the most critical times with the adminis-
tration of the foreign affairs of this country—(cheers)—who
while in °Mee gained the confidence and good will
of every foreign sinister, with whom he had to
enter into comoweication, and who gained for the coun-
cils of his sovereign in foreign affairs an influence never sur-
passed, and which was mainly due to his own personal con-
duct and character, and who inveriibly mode the influence
he possessed subservient to that which was the
great end of his militant life —the removal of all
obstacles which prevented • good and cordial un-
derstanding between this country and foreign powers.
and the miiatenance of universl peace consistently with the
mot scrupulous and undeviating regard to the interests and
honour of his own entatry—(hear, hear )—when I look
on those around me I cannot hear you, my lord, give me
at much of ere lit f r the sets of the administration one
which it was my lot to preside, without acknowlidginet as I
now deliberately do, that I believe no man who ever stood
in the situation in which I stood as first minister
of the crown had the same advantages in the sealoup, the
faithful, and the cordial eupport of those who were united
with him is' his duty as I had. (Hear, hear.) We had our
d fferences of opinion,no doubt, and we expressed those dif-
ferences, as it was our duty to do—but this I can say with
truth, that they for a moment interrupted the hu-
man, of privan friendship; and when the decision was taken
the difference that had existed never interfered with the di-
rect and earnest execution of that which was decided
upon. (Hear, hear.) lam bound, therefore, to admit that
whatsoever may have be-inj my influence in public affairem
far as feeling is concerned, my gratitude is due to thou with
whom I was associated, and f may add that try respect for
their probity, my attachment to them as private friends, has
only gained strew:di by the interval which has elapsed since
I resigned office. (Cheers) But you, my Lord Mayor,
have sliuded to a moon earlier period of my
connexion with the strain of the crown. It is
now for' y yeses since my parliamentary career
commenced, and my lot has been cast during a most impor-
tant and ful period of the history of the country. I
look back on that which has passed diming that eventful
time with mixed feelings of satisfaction and regret—of regret,
bre 'use with scarcely an exception the tide of time has
swept away every one who then occupied the chief posts in
the government-almost all these great minds that were then
awepieg the destinies of empires or commanding the applause
of listening senators. (ll.ar, hear.) It has ased God,
indeed, to spare to us one illustrious man. He remains,
Like a great ota•mark, standing every flow,
And twine those that eye thee !
I uttered public lite when Spain was occupied by the French
army—by nn leis than 360,000 French a when, after
the battle of if-levers, the Duke of Wellington retired from
Spain, and withdrew a force of 30,000 British within the
lilies of Torres Vodras. There was great disuse. and great
sir pression felt in conet quence,and it was prophecied that the
British army must evacuate the Peninsula, and a public
proclamation was issued that Napoleon himself would take
the command ie Spada, and that his crossing the Pyrennees
would be the signal for the British leopard to rush into the
sea to escape death or disgrace. Preparations wero made
to withdraw him the line, of Tones Vodras, it neceseory—
hut there woe one man who
and who aided by the noble marquis near me (London-
derry), and the other martial spirits of the time, advanced
from those lines, and the Bri ish leopard
its career until the British standard was floating on the
wells of Pan-, sad the independence of Eur pe wee won by
the gallantry and intrepidity of the Duke of Wellington.
(Cheers.) lle, thank God, is still spend to us. (Hear,
hear.) And I am sure I only echo the universal
sentiment when I toy may he long live to enjoy
the maul of a grateful pe3ple, and may the country
long witness the lustre of his declining years when his wisdom
in the senate is scarcely eclipsed by the meridian splendour
of his early days in the field. (Cheers.) During the whole
period I held office I had the advantage also of the eminence
of that noble duke, and I cannot express in terms sufficiently
warm and emphatic my sense of the great advantages which
in civil lee the country has derived from his sagacious coun-
cils. (Hear, hear.) Having said so much, my lord, to
none of those other subjects to which you have
adverted, with one exception only, shall I refer to
—but there is one subject of which I may speak without the
chance of giving offence to any one, or evoking the slightest
feeling of party—that one subject is Ireland. (Hear, hear.)
Men of all patties and all political connexions are now feel-
ing the deepest sympathy with the misfortunes of that un-
happy country, and feeling the most sincere desire to admi-
nister ti her present wants, and to lay the foundation for
her future prosperity. If the City of London can co-ope-
rate in this great object, it will confer on itself a credit which
is already jusey its due from its past connexion with
the history of that country. It is now almost two
hundred and forty years since a sovereign of this
country desirous to make a settlement in Ireland sought the
assistance of the City of Loudon, at d invited their co-opera.
Men in restoring what wee then ca led the ruined cities of
Londonderry and Celerainc ; and if there be any authority
which has seuen to look b ick on its c otnexien with Ireland
without remorse it is the City of London, which has done
more than parliament or proprietors to promote the interests
of that country, and, forgetting temporary gain or pee-
-1 sent interest, has sought a compensation for such
sacrifices in the permanent welfare of the district with
which it was connected. I hope, after the lapse of 240
years, the City of London may be again able to assist in
promoting the welfare of Ireland. If so, it will act now
on new, on more liberal and more comprehensive princi-
ples. It wid not seek, as it used to do, to expel the na-
tives from the soil, but will rather seek to elevate their cha-
racter, to encourage their industry, and find permanent
employment for them, and instil into their minds the principle
of order, of respect for the laws, and submission to the cent-
stituted authorities. I hope such a plan may succeed, and
that it may receive front the government the emconragement
which is necessary. The boundaries of the City are mew
eerily limited, itajuristictien cannot be extended ; but if by
a useful connexion with Ireland it can encourage in the re-
mote districts habits of industry and selt-support, it will
endear the English name to the people of that
country, and do more to cement the union than any legisla-
tion. it is my deep obligation to the city of London, my
respect for its past Course, and my respect for its present
chief magistrate, which induces me to say, that I hope,
under his auspices, this charitable work may laa undertaken,
and that it may please God to prosper it, and to Ity the
foundation for the future peens and prosperity of that
country. The right hon. baronet then proposed the health
of the Lord Mayor, to whose political independence he paid
a The LORD
compliment.
e LORD MAYOR acknowledged the compliment, and
proposed the health of Mr. Bancroft and the Foreign
Ministers.
Mr. BAN CROFT expressed his gratitude for the hospita-
ble reception which the city of London had always gisen to
the representatives of his country.
The LORD MAYOR proposed " The health of the
House of Peers, coupling with it that of the Earl of
Aberdeen."
The Earl of ABERDEEN, in returning thanks, assured
his lordship that the House of Lords could never be indif-
ferent to the good opinion of the City of London, particu-
larly when expressed by its chief magistrate.
The LORD MAYOR next gave " Sir James Graham and
the House of Commons," which was acknowledged by Sir
James Graham.
The remaining toasts were "Sir F. nudger, and the bar
of England," "The Mayors of Manchester, Liverpool, and
, Tamworth,",which, having been acknewlelged,the company
itoseiation I broke up.

PROCLAMATION OP OUTLAWRY.—At the last sitting !
of the Sturiffe' Court, Mr. Hemp, the bailiff, made the usual
proclamation.and called upon the following to surrend•r into
the custody of the She• iff of Middlesex, according to the
several processes against them, or be outlawed:—Philip
Bow Daniel, at the suit of the Rev. W. Boleyn ; the Due
de Mellott, at the suit of Robert Burt; Edward Thomu
Delalleld, at the suit of Frederick John Francis; 'derma-
-1 duke Hut Hart, at the suit of John Sherpa.; Ashby Blair
lisalewood, at the suit of William Francis Lowe; Gilbert
Aussie, Young, at the suit of Onesiphonts Roberti' William
Benham, at the salt of Edward Runde,; Robert Clifton, at
the suit of Charles Henry Rowel; Caroline Young De
Latour, at the suit of Henry Richardson ; George Rstonsin,
at the nit of Richard Bland Lucas ; Henry Brett Barlow, at
the snit of Henry Charles Curlewis; Robert Martindale
Clerk (clerk), at the suit of Jobs Pook ; H. D. Campbell,
at the suit of Charles Humphreys ; James Alexander
Thoms., at the suit of Thomas Howard ; Frank Whitworth
B)kes, at the suit of John Wyatt ; F. C. Cope at the suit
of Charles Sanderson and ethers; and Sir William Massey
Stanley, Bart, at the suit of Joseph Knight and another.
There were twenty-one other sautes in the last, but they have
been before published.

FAMINE IN IRELAND.

A public meeting took place last evening at the
Lendon T , B shol agate street, for the purpose of hear-
ing the statements of a d pu•ation from the Relief Commit-
tee to Dublin on the subj-ct of the alarmi.g distress now
prevalent in !velem', and with a view to suggest measures
los preventing its periodical recurrence. There was a very
full attendance.

Mr BRIGHT, M P. presided ; and in opening
the prenteedinet, said, I have consented to occupy
the enact on this occasion at the request of gentle
man who are over here, members of the Relief Corea
mattes of the city of Dublin, who are anxious to lay
important facts before this meeting and the English pullie,
with respect to the present condition of Irel end. I consented
to be here with some reluctance, and I have accepted the posi-
tion in which Itad myself placed, because I am extreme iy
anxious not to interpose the slightest obstacle to the pur-
potation has visited England. (Hear, hear.) The ob-
jectalienate of the benevolent and excellent object with which
is one with which I think every man and
hts
odfethis meeting
every woman must symptith4e ; for it is impossible that the
meet perverse ingenuity can find fault with the aim of the
gentlemen who are over here front Ireland, and who are
anxious to enlist our good will still further in the cause of
V.eir unhappy country. We are met for the pur-
pose of continuing that very long discussion which
fur the last four or five years has occupied the
attention of a large portion of the
.people of this country, a
discussion which his for its object the discovery of
the true remedies for a condition of things exi-ling in a
portion of this kinedum which is perhaps unparalleled in the
civilized world. We have before us probably the most im•
portent subject which the people of this country could be
called upon to comelier. (Hear, hear.) We have a
portion of the United Kingdom, brought now within
some 15 o: 18 hour,' journey front the place where we are
assembled, suffering a calamity which has been very aptly
described by the present first minister of the crown as a
famine of tne 13th century o:catring in the 19. b. (Hear,
bear.) We have not a mere scarcity of food, not a
mere time of commercial depression, not a mere
failure of a particular industry ; but we have that which we
understand literally by the term famine, extending over
districts comprising a population of nearly four mil ions of
human beings—(hear, hear)—and this famine attended, as
famines always are, by a mortality of a most frightful cha-
racter, and by a desolating and calamitous evils, such as
those who have not visited the country can form no adequate
ides of. (Hear, hear.) And we see further that that for.
tion of the population which is not stricken down by this
mortality, or not so prostrated as to be prevented from leaving
the spot, is rapidly fleeing from that country, just as people
fly truth &city stricken with the plaguo ; and these is not an
ocean which they are not now cruising, not a country to
which they are not now hastening over the wide earth's cur.
taw, as a refuge from the disasters, the sufferings—it may
be, the death that awaits them, if they remain in the land
of their f irth. (Hear, hear.) 'that this state of things
lists in Ire :and, is, or ought to be, to all the people of the
United Kingdom, a subject of mourning and humiliation.
(Hear, hear.) We live in a time when public opinion
exerts great influence on the eovernment—unit. r a couseito
Won under which public opinion is able to tear strongly upon
the government; and in as far as government is responsible
for any of these things, we who are here aseernh'ed, and our
fellow.countrymen everywhere,are to no en all extent respon-
sible also. (Hear.) And if, in past tithes, we have Leen
ignorant of what was passing in Ireland, we have now little
excuse, and after this meeting, we shall have none whatever,
If we do not by every means in our power—whether by pri-
vate benevolence, by a better system of law in Ireland, or by
a better administration of the law in that country--
do our utmost to remove this frightful evil which is
eating iota the strength and happiness of the empire. (Hear,
hear.) The existence of this rate of things argues either
great miscoedact on the part of the Irish people, or great
blunders and great crimes on the part of the imperial go-
vernment. (hear, beer.) This meeting is not ea:led for the
purpose of blaming this or that party in connexion with this
sorrowful question. We might throw blame upon many,
and take some blame to ourselves, but it is far better that
we should loss sight of the past, except so far as it should h:
a warning for the future--(hear, hear)—and that, without
reference to political, or religious, or sectarian differences,
we should act as men would tact in a ship that was in darger
of foundering, when the party squabbling which had repa-
rated them for a time should be forgotten, awl every man
should he willing to work at the pumps as if for his on u
life and thou of his corcp (Cneen.) The deputa-
tion from Ireland is composed of gentlemen with whom 1
have had no acquaietance before this meeting was
j roposed, except by name. They are, I b,lieve,
c.eunroeel politically with various parties, and re.
lieiou.ly with different denominations in Ireland.
They are not here en what may be called vulgarly a
b aging expediti iHear, hear ) They came for a higher
and more permanent object than that. They wish to Este
distiecly, accurately, and simply what they know of the
condition of large masses of their fellow-cauntrymeu ; end
they feel awn% el that the wealthy and benevolent in
England will be willing, at the opportunity may be alf.:ried
them, to make sone contribution to that committee which
they represent here, with the view of giving relief, iii cer-
tain districts, and to a considerable portion of the popula-
tion, durime that short period which shall pass
between the present time and the full gathering of
the harvest. (Hoar, hear, hear.) The relief committee
w pursuing its tabours on a most admirable system. It Ms
branch committees in a very large number et the distressed
parishes, unions, and districts, in the south and west of Ire-
land; the parties connected with these sub-committees
are generally the Roman catholic priests, the clergy-
men of the established church, gentlemen, a..d
persons of every party ; because party differences, with all the
best people of the country at any rate, have been swallowed
up iu this great calamity. (Hear, hear.) They prove: t
give relief especially to those of the peasantry who hood
some portion of land, and who would have been unable,
but for the exertions of the committee, in many c.ser, to cul-
tivate ir, and make preparation for the forthcoming har-
vest and the future year. 1 find, in the report of the
Cast:awe relief committee, this statement of the mode in
which they proceed :
" First principle to be rigidly observed—no relief without
week on their own holdings by those who receive aid from
mu committee.
" Second—We have divided the union, comprising three
parishes—Castleber, Dallyheane, and Dreafty—into three
districts, and have appointed three inspectors, one fur each
district, who are obliged to give their undivided time and
attention to this duty—namely, they are to visit, in the first
place, the buiialiogs of each man see king relief. Tuey must
make inquiry into hie cireamstarees. They are te report to
the committee the result of this inquiry. If the committee
consider the person an object of relief, toe inspector is to go
next day and app Ant a certain task of work for the party for
a fortnight ; and if not executed at the end of a fortnight, no
further relief to be given.
" Third—ln addition to this first inquiry, the inspector is
obliged to visit each holding and village twice every week;
and if the recipient of the aid of our committee is found ab-
sent from his work, without some great cause and sufficient
reason given, he is disentitled to further relief.
" Fourth—The relief is given in money in advance, and
the scale adopted is—one shilling to every member in the
family, young and old, for each fortnight. We coma, r
in money in every passible respect more advantageous—
less liable to abuse—less demoralising—and more econemical
than in any other way.
" Fifth—The committee keeps a register, which contains
the name of every recipient of our charity—the amount each
' receives—the number in his family, and the date of the re-
ceipt of the sum awarded to him; and this register is open
to the inspection of every man in the entire community.
" The prospective good that will inevitably be the result of
our plan, is beyond calculation. It is increaible what an ex-
tent of land has been cultivated in these parishes during the
last three weeks. We have purchased at Drummond's, is
Dublin, through our treasurer, Henry Murphy, EA., 11
cwt. of turnip seed, which has been, and is still being, dies
tributed through the districts.
The report of the Dublin committee shows an expenditure
of between 2,00 W. and 3,0001.: at a later date it was up
wards of 3,0001., which had all been subscribed within a
short period. You will observe, therefore, that the com-
mittee is in real working order; its object is not an indiscri-
minate almsgiving, than which nothing can be more destruc-
tive to any people. (Cheers.) The committee know
that the harvest will not be ready for two or three months
to come, that the stock of provisions in the hands of the un-
fortunate peasantry is almost, if not entirely, exhausted, and
that thousands must perish within the next three mooch' if
assistance is not rendered to them. The object of this meeting is
that we may know precisely what is the state of Ireland, and
that through the public press this knowledge may go forth
to the metropolis and the whole country.
The Rev. Dr. MILEY, of Dublin, erne of the de-
putation, said, the obj.ct of their humble deputation
was very easily stated. It was the same, in fact,
by which the few individuals were actuated who first
set on foot that relief committee, at whose request
the deputation now appeared here. They hid not come with
the vain hope that, by any efforts of their own, no matter
with what zeal and activity they might be responded to, it
would be possible for them to grapple with the difficulty, to
cope with the misfortunes under which such multi-
tudes of their unhappy fellow-countrymen wars sinking.
The chief object they had in view was to relieve
the country, nay, their common humanity, from the
stain that must have fallen on it, if a State of things
so disastrous as that under which their power were la-
bouring was allowed to pass along its course, desolating
these unhappy creatures, without even one voice being
lifted to implore assistance, and give the world warning et
the desolation they were suffering. (Hear, hear.) It was
said that there war an indisposition here, even amongst the
benevolent, again to subscribe for the relief of a famine
occurring for the fourth time in the sifter island ; but it was
impossible that that indisposition could be greater than was
the indisposition in Ireland, two months ago, to acknew•
ledge the hideous fart that, after having passed through
three seasons of the most tryirg disaster, they were
on the threshold of a fourth won* than any that had
preceded. The relief committee had male every
possible exertion with their limited means, and the
citizens of Dublin had responded with edifying
seal. Districts were formed, and each day on en ave-
rage brought in about 1001. (Hear, hear.) With the
deep conviction that the benevolence arising from home
sources would be quite insufficient, they issued query sheets
to the clergymen throughout the south and west, to obtain
information as to the numbers of the population in 1814 and
1349, the deaths front destitution, houses levelled, extent of I
arable land, class of employment, wages, out-door relief
lists, rations given, etc., so as to present the most aeourate
possible picture of the condition of the people in the dis-
tressed localities. They invited alio information from per-
sons in Dublin from these localities. The result was
the conviction that no power of language could

'adequately describe the extent of the suffering. The
intelligence from every quarter of the afflicted country
would have forced them on a visit to this country, I it had
not been previously determined on. They felt that they
must sacritice their pride, and suffer many trials of private
feeling; but had the ordeal been ten times more difficult,
they must have made the attempt, or they would not have
acquitted themselves of the blood of those starving thou-
sands. (Hear, hear.) Where else could they go but into
the heart of this gnat capital, whose benevolence was only
quelled by the opulence of its leading classes? How else
could they have rid themselves of a heavy responsibili• y,
knowing that thousands were about to fail victims to the
impendingfamine ? (Hear.) Connected as he was, in his tie
rical capacity, with the Irish people, be would not Teuton to
speak as he felt of their national character and virtues. Any
testimony of that description would come with a far better
grace from those who differed from that people and from
him in their religion+ opinions; and such testimony they
had which was shove all suspicion. At a meeting of the Lisa
Amelioration Society, held at the Hanoveriequare Rooms, on
Aug. 5,184 S, Mr. Fitzwilliam said in combating the notion
that Ireland would not remunt rate an outlay of capital, that
Irishmen were as capable and as willing to work as any
people on the face of the earth, and quite as fit to occupy the
highest positions—(cheers)—and he instanced the fact of
many Irishmen being the heads of most respectable esta-
blishments in America.

Mr. O. THO NIPSON, M.P., said that he was at a loss to
discover bow it ha; pened that men who were so esteemed in
other countries were so wretched and d.-spited in their own
that they were to be found on the bench, in the lrgisla
tun, and filling every honourable position that the country
opened to talent, and that they had had a recent
instance of one great man ruling the destinies of that coun-
try. Another authority was that of a moat distinguished
statesman, Sir H. Peel—(sheers)—who said in a recent de-
bate that he never hod believed the doctrine by which some
had attempted to rebeve themselves of their obligation te-
ener& Ireland, namely, that there wu any inherent indis-
position to work on the part of the Irish labourers; they
evinced, he said, when convened with, • natural politeness
and cleverness which showed that nature nevi r in-
tended.thi m to be serfs—that they were most tractable and
patient, most forbearing under privation, most industrious,
meat anxious to remit small sums to their friends for the
purpose of paying their rents or keeping their families out of
the workhouse ; and the right hon. baronet therefore repu-
diated the doctrine that there was any inherent sloth
Or want of activity or enterprise in the Irish people.
On one side of the channel there was monst r poverty, on
the other enormous wealth, and to avoid a conflict b-tween
the two was impossible if allowed to continue. If they
did not aid that p iserty by the timely application of states
manlike and indica means, it would grapple with the great
presperiiy i n which this nation had been built up, and a
horrible struggle would ensue. They heard of Irish misery
already in their taxes; they beard of it that evening with
thi it ears, it was felt in their labour mart—(loud cries of
t• hear"), and if allowed to go on ill's would be but the mere
rehearsal of what was to take place in future yearn. Common
wisdom, therefore, dictated the necessil of putting an end
to it; he asked the English people upon thatgrouud to come
to their assistance.
The Rev. Air. KING (reciter of Kilmore, one of the de-
putation) said that presious to the failure of the potato, the
people in Ireland were comparatively well-fed, contented
and happy—their only failing b.ing, if fading it was, an ex-
cessive eagerness to p.dsess land and cultivate it, not upon
the terms of small payments, but upon the highest possible
terms of rent, as much as Cl., 71., to tit, and even
10/. an acre being offered by them, end paid, too,
for land on which they could till the potato,
But the potato having failed, the people were left
without food; starvation set i ; and the generosity of this
country was immediately set in action. The repei.l of the
corn-laws took place moat favourably for Ireland. (" And
for England too.") He was sure it did. Hue some time
elaweit bahre that law was felt, and intense sieff ring was
endured, unit public works were set on foot. Those works,
however, a:forded only a temporary and very incomplete
relief, being often withheld for so considerable a period of
time, that the consequence was starvatioa and death. To
meet such curs, the private cur tributions of English
benevolence were applied. In the intense cold of winter
he had seen hundreds of person waiting for the
money which they had rigidly earned, until 12 o'cleek at
night, o: ly to be disappointed, and then they were of lute]
to have recourse to him or others fir a 1, tic food to support
nature. Out-door relief WAR then altogether unknown. hail
it been the plan at that early period, instead of employing
the eeesautry at pr.iitifleu occupations, to issue tick.ds in
au;n:eutation of wages to the farmers, it wculd have been
much more beneficial. The poor-houses were crowded,
and those entitled to out door relief obtained it ; bet
what was to become of those who had • quarter of
an acre of ground: They had to give up their pro-
perty altogether, and their only sphere of industry, if
they chrec to scth cut-door relief. Many did so. Many
gave up their huhsrs. and burned them, is this hope of got-
lug out-door relief; but they were di.sisp tinted, sank under
the calamity, tend in many instances died. Last spring he
bought of persons, who were lying in the ditches,
ti improve the rectory, and he offered 2.1. •day to the adultf,
and I id. a day to the young,fearing that if he offered more he
would be inundated with otlik rs, and the consequence even
of this oiler was, that multitudes came to him arid worked
like alaue, the chief employment being in carrying stones off
the ground, which they did until the ground itself, owing to
the numbers upon it, had to be twice dug bekre it could be
sown.

The CHAIRMAN here real a I. tter which he had received
from his fr end Mr. Cobden, in which he expressed his regret
at his inability to attend, and his sympathy with the object
of the meeting.
The Rev. Mr. HAILDIMAN (of Westport, county Mayo)
said that he had one advantage, but a melarcholy one, over
his two confreres In addreuiog tut meetieg, and that was,
that he hail come directly from the very focus of the famine.
Ab.ut a fortnight ego a respectably gentleman, in writing to
him from this capital, said that the Engli.h people looked
upon the sufferings of the Irish people as fabulous. Would
that their sufferings were fables, and he would not be there
that evening, so fae from his famine-stricken flock, to make
• statement of facts plain and incontrovertible. If there
was one amongst them sceptical of Irish misery, he would
like to transport him for a few days from the gay and festive
seems of this metropolis to the awful region from which he
(Mr. Hardiman) had just come. He would place him upon
the summit of one of those beautiful hills that
chequer. d the face of his beautiful eouniry— for
so she was even in her sorrow—and thence he would
show him most unmistakeable signs of the devastating
agent—the scattered Menet of the ruined villages, the stand-
ing gables of what was once a house, se if rearing still their
heads to testify to the desolation of the land. He would lead
him to the catacombs where the pe .ple were buried alive, he
would show him places of abode for the living that were
unfit to cover the dead, and to which they went after they
bad been banished from their fireside, and its humble but
happy ',tenet, which encouraged them to patience in all their
difficulties—he w iuld chow him mothers with scarcely a
sufficiency of elating to screen modesty—he would show
him children alteecether naked—he would show him, in! a
word, that the misery of the Irish people was no
fable, but • sad and heartrending reality. (Hear, hear.)
They wanted to draw c'oser the sympathies of the two
countries. Why should one portion of the empire revel in
wealth and grandeur without contributing something to elle-
! vista the unutterable woe of another portion ? (Hear, hear.)
He had promised some facts, and he would state is as few
words as possible some of the moat revolting revelations ever
mede. (Hear, hear.) lie wan the priest of a country pari-h
in the immediate neighbourhood of the small town of West-
port, in the county Mayo, which, generally speaking, was
remarkable for its wretchedness, but in his pariah the very
focus of the destitution caused by the failure of the potato
crop might be said to exist. In 1941, the population of his
parish was 11,419 individuals. Making a moderate &Row-
ance for the increase of population from that year
till the latal year of 1844, when the famine set
in, the number of inhabitants might be rated at
12,000. At the present moment, the two electoral divisions
of which the parish consisted contained no more than 7,000
souls, being a falling off of fully 5,000 since the famine com-
menced. (Hair, hear.) Of that number no has than 4,000
wt re registered as recipients of out-door relief oa the books
of the relieving officers of the district. In the discharge of his
professional duties he had entered a but in which 18 human
or ings &ere huelff.ed together, nearly all of whom were suf-
fering from dysentery, yet they had not a roof to shelter them
or a blanket to cover them. They were all on the relief fund,
but there was no medical aid provided, and of the 18 ell save
three were disposed of in a very few days. He had also
attended a man who, while engaged in stone-breakiog, had
f illen 441 tho road from fatigue and hunger. Ile concluded by
warmli eulogising the humanity of the gentl' men entrusted
with the administration of funds for charitable purposes in
this country, and expressing his belief that the cause of the
famishing people of Ireland was safe in their hands.
The CHAIRMAN said that the deputation having now
brought their statements to a close, he would call on some
gentlemen with whom the citizens of London were better
acquainted to propose some retediesions for their consi-
deration.
Mr. EWART, M.P. on proposing the first resolution,
said that he was disposed to listen favourably to the demands
of the deputation for relief, because they assured the meet-
ing that if the people received temporary ri lief they would
be enabled to continue to labour. The hon gentleman con-
cluded an el, gut nt appeal in behalf of the inhabitants of the
distressed districts by proposing the following gentlemen as
members of a committee to receive subscriptions and trans-
mit them to the Corn Exchanges Relief Committee: H.
Christy, Esq .10. W. Alexander, Esq., M.P. ; R. Cobden,
Esq., 81. P. ; P. Serope, Esq., D 1 P.; J. Trains, Esq., M.P. ;
R. Godley, Esq., W. Bennett, Esq., W. Ewart, Eiq., M.P.;
C. Gilpin, Esq., J. Bright, Esq., Dd.P.
Mr. CHRISTY, in seconding the resolution, said there
was no man more convinced than himself that the giving of
alms was not the way to elevate the condition of the people of
Ireland, but he could not shut his eyes to the fact that there
was at present in the country an amount of destitution which
neither the poouratcs nor any amount of private benevolence
could meet.
The resolution was then carried unanimously.
Mr. P. SCROPE moved " That the interests of England,
no his than Ireland, require that some energetic action he
taken to elevate the condition of the Irish people, and enable
them to sustain themselves by the exercise of that industry
which has characterised them when placed in circumstances
favourable to its development, and that we are convinced,
that object can be materially advanced by measures which
will remove the obstacles which at present impede the appli-
cation of labour and capital to the soil, and will secure to the
occupier the enjoyment of the fruits of his industry."
Mr. G. W. ALEXANDER having seconded the reso-
lution,
The CHAIRMAN, on putting it to the meeting, said
that one of those meuures which were before parliament
for remedying the social 'Vile of Ireland was at peestnt

in progress through a house where good bills were seldom
made better, and begged to say, that whatever opinion he
had expressed regarding that bill, related only to its condi-
tion on parsing the House of Commons, and by no means ex
tended to an approval of the alterations made is another
house, which would have the effect of greatly detracting
front the value of the bill.

The resolution wu then adopted unanimously, and the
meeting separated.

FINANCIAL AND
lAMENTARY REFORM.

MEETING AT HAMMERSMITH.
Last econitur, the fret public meeting of the Par-
liamentary and Financial Reform Ass :ciation for the If AM.
mersinith polling district, was held at the Albion Hall,
Hammersmith. The chair was occupied by WintiAm Sing-
sow. M D.
Thu CHAIRMAN commenced the proceedings by stating
that a distinct Parliamentary and Financial Reform AMOCM.
tine had been formed at Hammersmith, because, according
tdlaw, branches of the London Avociati,n could not be en.

tablished in the suburbs of the metropolis. The subject of
financial reform had commenced at Liverpool. The mer-
chants and traders of that town had applied the principles
of common sense to the income and expenditure of the go-
vernment, and by means of the different tracts they pub-
lished they had dune a great deal of good to the calve.
CHARLES BROWN, Esq., proposed the first resolution,
Teat the public expenditure of this kingdom is wane-
fully extravagant in amount; and that the taxation by which
it is raised presses most unjustly upon the laborious cloves,
especially in curtailing the means of employment."
ARTHUR KENNEDY, Esq., seconded this resolution.
Mr. OSBORNE, M.l'., supported it in a long and eloquent
speech. lie said they were now assembled for the purpose
of promoting parliamentary and financi ei reform, and he
thought they ought all to take some credit to themselves for
having brought financial agitation into fashion. No later
than the day before, on a larger stage, but he doubted
whether with a more intelligent audience, certain amateur
actors, in the shape of real live lords—(loud laughter)—
with en undoubted duke in the chair, collected
at Drury-lane Theatre, for the purpose of run-
ning atter the " WilLu'.ths-Wisp " phantom of
protection, which the people of this country had
deed wed should no longer exist. (" Hear, hear,"
and cheers.) The present meeting had assembled 1. r a very
different purpose ; and they had acted wisely and
looking fur parliamentary reform first and financial reform
afterwards, for very sure he was that unleu they had a fur-
ther reform of the House of Commons they might, to use a
vulgar phrase, whistle" for financial reform. (Hear,
hear.) It was very curious to look into the present constitu-
tion of that house. It appeared, fro m a cor-
rect analysis which had been published of it,
that only one out of seven males was now repr. seated. Out
of 6,700,000 male adults, 5,721,000 were taxed by the state
without having any voice whatever in that taxation,
(Cheers.) This of itself formed a good ground for some
further reform in the house, but there were other rvu.ons in
favour of the proposed change. He had been listening in
the House of Lords the night before to the debate on the
Jew bill, a bill which he grieved to say, because of the great
principles at stake, had been thrown out; but he hyped
the City of London would do its duty again by
returning Baron Rothschild to the House of Commons, for
that, after all, was the only way to open the eyes of the
House of Lords. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) In the
course of the debate the Bishop of Orford gave, as his reason
fur not admitting the Jews into parliament, that to corrupt
was the constituency of this country that you could not
trust the Jews in parliament for fear they should buy theta
up. I Loud laughter.) Will, if there were cons ituenriea
so corrupt, and he (Mr. Osborne) believed there were a:me,
what better reason club' have been adynne.d by the right
rev, prelate to show that a further reform was recraired ?
There was no such farce in the world sa to cell him (Mr
Osborne) and other members of the House of Commons,
" guardians of the public purse." What was the cruse?
No later than that morning a return had been laid on the
table of the )louse of Commons, which convicted these so-
called guardians of the public purse of public incapacity.
They had all heard of the new houses of p
other high-sounding phraseology, the Na v Palace Of West-
minster. (A laugh.) When the eld hoes.s were buret il
down—a sort of reform in parliament by the seat—(laughter)
—there was an estimate obtained of the cost of building new
ones, and that estimate, respecting which ho cast no r, flee-
tion upon the architect, amounted to 707,1011.—a sum, one
would imagine, for which a very handsome building ought
to be ercc'ed. He had succeeded that morning in geit•ing
the probable estimate for finishing thou houses—t f only
totaling them, not including the furnishing, or the ventila-
tini of Dr. It, id; and that probable expense of finishing
them amounted to 2,045,9231. (and mirk the wonderful ac-
curacy !) 164. 11 (Laud laughter, and cries of " Shame !")
He staked his veracity as their representative that the fur-
nishing and all would cast 3,000,0e1t. of (he public money;
and was not this an iustance that the House of Com-
mons was not the guardian of the public purse?
( Hear, hear.) The mierellaneons erimatas amounted
to 3,1010,0001, and he could not tell the meeting what
those estimates consisted of. They included travelling
expenses of the King of the Belgians and other
great people who did us the faveur to visit us,
and then did us the favour to call upon us to
pay the bill. They also included the cost of
triennial trumpets and the exportation of a bishop to Hong
Kong. (Hoar, and loud laughter,) The lien. gentleman
proceeded at some further length, and amid much applause,
to analyse the e,timates and the body• t, and concluded by
observing that the reform of the House of Commons was a
measure-
most loudly demanded at the present time, and
most urgently required.
Mr. T. J. SEARLE proposed the second resolution, as
follows :
" That the electoral system of this country is such as to
place the legislative power chi, Ily in the hands of a com-
paratively small class, by mane et such corrup.ion and coer-
cion as debase the natural &trimmer ; alit so clean will con-
stantly and systematically prefer the public interest to is
own peculiar butulit ; that t e natural effects of class legisla-
tion are palpable among us, not only in the financial admi-
nistration, but in the tendency artificially to create inequa-
lity of property, in the insufficient dispensing of justice, in
the amount of crime, in the ro glect of education, the perver-
sion of charitable funds, and in the frightful misery of a large
portion of our fellow•subjects ; and that these evils, the only
real dangers of the commonwealth can never b effectual'y
removed except by a full, fair, and free representation of the
entire pee ple."
This resolution was seconded by Mr. Thos. C. FLETCHER,
and supported by Mr. F. GASKELL.
The other resolutions proposed, seconded, and carried on
tee occasion, were as follows :
That the persons here present, duly impressed with the
importance of these truths, and anxious to do their duty by
correcting such abuses and averting such diem ri fr m tho
state, fondue members of the Hammersmith Parliament, ry
and Financial Reform Asenciation, the subscription to which
shall be 2s. per year, or 6,.1. per quart. r, paid in advance,
eethteinygnoonwtheenrelorlsttheYemedintivid,l;yaicn.
eanvedrywhmicohnsthhatll
thatahnodleta m
cordingly.
4 That a council be appointed of the association for the
purpose of managing its affairs, with irfoructions to elect a
business and other committees from their own body, and
with power to add to their number, and that A. C. Bean be
requested to act as secretary to the society.
" 5. That the principles of the Metrop Often Parramentary
and Financial Reform As ociutioa having been explained to
the meeting, this society adopts them as the basis of its re-
forms to be claimed, and each memb r pledges himself to
assist in any peaceful and legal manner in earryibg them

out."
The usual vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to the
chairmen and Mr. Osborne, M.l'., and the meeting separated
shortly alter 11 o'ebek.

ROYAL EUOHLAND SCHOOL SOCIETY.

Yesterday a public meeting was held at the Free-
ma.ons' Tavern, in aid of the funds of this society. The
Rev. Dr. Cumming having taken the chair,
Dr. CLARK stated that, through the instrumentality of
this excellent society, education had been carried to
the remotest pans of Scotland. Ile had visited many of
the schools established by the society, and be was de-
lighted to see the progress which had been made by
these humble seminaries. On the most barren moors, and
in the mat sequestered glens, he had met with happy
and well educated children; cad it was gratifying to ob-
serve the intimate acquaintance with the Scrptures which
every child exhibited. The number of children
under the daily care of the society was 20,000, and
the cost of educating each child was only 55. a year. The
total amount, therefore, that was required for the instruc-
tion of each child was V. sterling—taking a pert 4 of 4 years
es the time usually occupied for that purpose. The funded
property of the society was 5,0001., but this sum was entirely
absorbed in the maintenance of the various schools already
established.
The Rev. NORMAN MACLEOD addressed the meeting,
observing that the Royal Highland Society had !seen ins alit-
ence 140 years, and, previous to its forma' ion, the inhabitants
of the Highlands and islands of Scotland were in a state of
absolute barbarism. It was not until the year 17b0 that
they could procure a Bible pruned en Gaelic, and this was in
four large volumes, whilst tne price (305.) was so heavy that
the Highlanders could not possibly purchase it. So
secently as the year 1803 was the first Gaelic Bible
printed in a form sufficiently small that a High-
lander could carry it in his pocket.
A vote of thanks was then paned to Mr. Bacon for his
kindness in allowing the gratuitous use of the room, and the
meeting separated.
In the evening the anniversary festival of the society was
held at the same establishment, the Duke of Aron in the
chair. Amongst the guests at the principal table were Lord
Drumlinrig, Major Adair, Major-Gentral De la Motte,
Captain Charles Forbes, Sir J Am( s Clarke, M D., the Rev.
Dr. Clark, Dr. Cumming, the Rev N. Macleod, &c.
The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were drunk on the 00.
talon ; and
The CHAIRMAN proposed the " Army and Navy."
Major-General De la Motte returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " Prosperity to the
Royal Highland School Society," and stated that amongst
the many valuable institutions in this country there was not
one which, with so small an amount of money, did such great
and lasting good as that which they were now assembled to
celebrate.
Various national toasts were proposed in the course of the
evening, and were responded to with true liaghlandhonoank
Angus Mackay, the Queen's piper, was in attendance,
and infused a spirit of nati mality into the mutant-IV--
..,,,.., *I,/

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kis elms performances on the bagpipes. Ur. COON! w=g
al Brattish os which ocessiosed cansidctabla 111071-
==cost. bad two m
lanpim (whose 11304.11 we bad nct the good
hartane to boar) delighted the company by the good- humoured
wanner is which, by their •susteal mutt:Sas, they cohtii-
betted W the hann,oy LI tbe tecnit g. /deny ef the pueste
appeared is full oigbletol ...ostuatii, and the stoicism play rd
'varicose Scottish airs defog the dinner.
The seespsay broke op between 10 sad 11 o'clock.