The Express.
London, England, 1848-07-27 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JULY 2G.
The clubs have dissolved. I believe you may rely
upon the following facts. When the news of more
effectual repressive measures had arrived on Friday
last a confidential me..senger was despatched to all
the trusty officers of the clubs to assemble on Friday
night. 'the representatives counted about twenty-
five. Steps were taken to baffle the vigilance of the
police, and they were eminently successful. The
"officers " made long detours, and entered the place
of meeting at considerable intervals. It was ordered
that no papers of any kind should be brought, anl
even private letters were interdicted. After a long
consultation it was resolved by a large majority
that the meetings of the clubs should be suspended
indefinitely—that the registry rolls of each should be
confided to the most trusted, and by him to be placed
beyond the reaell of discovery—that they should not
surrender their awls, or hold them subject to the will
of the licenser, if such permission were probable, but
either destroy or conceal them until the recurrence of
better times;. and, flually, that the presidents, vier-
presidents, and other officers whom the executive
would capture in the first instance, should either pro-
vide for their personal safqty by flight or hold their
ground—" which of the two to choose ?" sach is a

brief outline of the last meeting of the chiefs of clubs.
Oa Saturday and the two succeeding days there
were various departures for the provinces. The ob-
ject I believe to be concealment, though others con-
jecture immediate insurrection. I have heard from
good authority that the projected meeting of the
league at Enniscorthy is postponed "to a day not
named."
The liberty of writing from Newgate is to be
limited henceforth. The superintendents have ordered
that the prisoners be not allowed to publish any
articles dated from the prison, or with their signa-
tures attached. A new " Military, Political, and Fe-
lonious " publication, entitled the "Newgate Calendar,"
was to have appeared to-day, written by the inmates;
but the order of the board has stayed the issue.
The authorities proceed with vigour is repressing
the circulation of the Felon and Galion in the coun-
try districts. In addition to Carlow, noticed in my
letter of yesterday, the agents in Enniacorthv, Clon-
mel, and Sligo, have been arrested and held to bail
for the sale of the Nation and Felon of Saturday. In
Sligo, the postmaster was the luckless offender.
The aimission to the prisoners confined in New-
gate has been very much restricted within the pre-
sent week. Mrs. Duffy presented herself today at
the doors, and was refused entrance, being informed
that admission can be had on two days only—the
days named by the board of superintendence. This
measure is rather one of discipline than precaution;
but the usual gaol-guard has been augmented by a
couple of police to-day.
The catholic clergy are acting with true intrepidity,
and in behalf of older, exposing themselves to un-
popularity. Tho noble example of Dean Burke and
the Rev. Mr. Hennebury, of Clonmel, has been fol-
lowed by the Rev. Mr. England, parish priest of
Passage, in the vicinity of Cork. The clubs of three
parishes had selected the chapel to receive the repart
of the " Southern Council," but the rev. gentleman
would not suffer the dceecration, and prohibited the
meeting. The clubbists then fell back on the chapel
yard, but no Southern Council" appearing, they
departed with many a murmur.
the sentiments which animated the French repub-
lie towards the British government, were manifested
by the representative of the republic in Dublin, in im-
mediately applying tor liberty to posses arms. Seve-
ral Frenchmen, resident in Dublin, have pursued f:ne
same course. An additional step of peculiar ier2ort-
ance at the present moment has been taken 1.. y the
French cowed. He calls, by public notice:, on all
Frenchmen to appear at the consulate wit:rtiu four
days, and inscribe their names on the ree,ietry. In
the event of non-compliance, all unineer;bed names
will be reported to the government, whieli will adopt
such preventive measures as may be deemed necessary.
Mr. Smith O'Brien arrived in 'elnuiscorthy on
Saturday, en route to visit Mr. MaF.er of Ballinkeel,
late M.P. for Wexford. During his brief stay he ad-
dreamt the assembled clubs, expressing a desire to
see the organisation planted, according to the Nation,
from shore to shore." In the evening bon-
fires were kindled on " Vinegar-hill" ominous
name ! On Sunday morning ho was joined by
Messrs. Dillon and Meagher the first from
Dublin, the second from Waterford. All three
returned to Enniscot thy in the afternoon of Sunday,
where they addressed a large concourse of excited
Shelmalier men. In the evening they departed for
Kilkenny, and were escorted by horsemen and footmen
to the bounds of the county of Wexford. The object
of the Kilkenny visit is the commencement of an
"effective organisation."
Since writing the above I have heard that Mr. S.
O'Brien intends to be in Dublin to-morrow, and await
his fate—freedom or a prison.
Notices appear in the Gazette to-night calling on
the recently proclaimed districts to surrender their
arms on the 27th.
The attempt tried in February to obtain "popular"
special constables, by working on the lord mayor, has
been tried again to-day on one of the municipel magic
trates and a venerable repealer. A prolix affidavit
was laid before him to establish the urgency of te-
taining arms !n the hands of the clubs. But the
" old volunteer of 82" would not assume the serious
responsibility of swearing in specials.
Mr. Lynch, late actuary of the Tralee Savings
Bank, and a defaulter to the extent of 20,0001., has
been sentenced to transportation for 14 years.
WATERFORD, JULY 25.
Apprehensions of an outbreak are entertained here.
Smith O'Brien and Meagher had spoken at a meeting
at Carrick-on-Suir, on last night, employing in-
flammatory and exciting language, and it was under-
stood that warrants for their apprehension were
issued, and in the hands of the police. Mr.
Meagher was trying . to organise a meeting of
the clubs for last night, and the confederates
threatened that the capture of either of their leaders
shall be the signal for the onslaught. Meagher had
issued an address calling on the clubs to meet at 5
o'clock last night, and his emissaries are moving
about among the different presidents and wardens ;
he and O'Brien, who bad spoken at Kilmacthomas,
were expected to be at Waterford lest night, and to
meet the clubs for the purpose of completing the
organisation. The authorities, under Gen. Sir Chas.
O'Donoel and Mr. Tabuteau, are using every means
to uphold the supremacy of the law. The police, well
armed, are out in bodies patrolling the roads, in order
to prevent mobs from coming in from the country;
and the military are in barrack., but constantly under
arms. Scouts have also been sent out to give the
earliest information of the approach of any procession.
The Ithadamanthus frigate is alongside the quay in
such a position that some of her guns command the
streets. The government force in the city comprises
about 200 police, 450 of the 7th Fusiliers, a troop of
dragoons, a body of artillery with four pieces of
cannon, 400 of the 50th, and the crew of the
Ithadamanthus; and that force is to-day aug-
mented by an arrival of fresh troops. As a
proof of the prejudicial tffect which the disturb-
ances are producing, I may mention that as many as
30 or 40 passengers of respectability, who had deemed
it prudent tc withdraw from the country, have em-
barked by the Rote, which has just set sail. Mr.
Carroll, the mayor, a flaming repealer of the old
school, has also taken his departure.
About 400 tr.mps have marched for Piltown, the
seat of Lord Bessborough, about three mike from Car-
rick-on-Suir.
The prevalent opinion is, that any etnieute, should
such be attempted, will be subdued ; but should a
collision take place, it is not hoped that order could
be restored without considerable bloodshed. Intelli-
gence of the suspension of the Ilabeas Corpus Act
having passed the House of Commons in ono day,
had just reached us, and has given great satisfaction
teethe well-affected portion of the population of this city.
CORK, JULY 25.
The fleet under the command of Sir Charles Napier,
C. 8., arrived here at 12 o'clock to-day, and consisted
of five sail of the line and several smaller craft. It is
thought that the presence of these ships and so de-
li rnnued a commander will have a salutary effect.
The passing of the bill suspending the Habeas Corpus
Act has given much confidence to the friends of order,
who were looking forward to the most favourable
results as a consequence. One hundred and thirty of
the police force were on Monday withdrawn from the
barony of Cork, and distributed among the stations in
the borough. A detachment of lancers has also
arrived, and in order to fit them for night duty, they
are provided with lanthorus, which are attached to
the saddles.
The following copy of a threatening letter pub-
lished in a local paper, will be read with interest, as
showing the intimidatory measures which are being
employed to frighten the loyal members of the com-
munity;
R11.1.T FFT,GRIRON—You bloody 1411 iwonnilrl, I have jut Mani
that you intend diwn's.iing all the you'd( arm in your employment
that belong to the clubs, and bringing in the Enalith in their glace..
Now, I do imu.ion you, if you do any such thing, so sure as you live
you ui.l be the fleet wan I will send a bullet throu4.—Your enemy,
A M1,113F11 or ran FELON Cu.3.—Mc•srs. W. Fitzgibbon and Co.,
Great George's-street, Cork.

CLONnEL, JULY 21.
I have arrived thus far in my progress through the
south, and must at once tell you that the disaffected
party are manifesting a spirit, and a determined spirit,
of resistance to the government. I do not wish you
should infer from this that an insurrection is inevit-
able. I merely urge the fact, in order to show how
necessary it is that the authorities should be on the
qui vire, and how important that they should make
a judicious disposition of the limited powers at their
command. I sin myself inclined to think that the
number of troops at present stationed in Ireland will
be found in the end quite sufficient for any duties they
may be called upon to disetarge, provided they are
managed and directed with caution. This was appa-
rent iu the manner of releasing the clubbists at
Carrick-on-Suir, and more especially in the
circumstances which attended the arrest of Mr.
MeNher in Waterford, In the former instance the

military were outnumbered; in the latter, the entire
affair was a bungle. The offence for which he was in I
custody was a bailable one, and had ho been applied I
to he would at once have given the necessary securi-
ties, and thus the excitement of an arrest would have
been prevented. But if arrest. were necessary, he
should not have been permitted to remain in the town
haranguing as excited populace for more than four
hears ; telling them, indeed, not to attempt a rescue,
as it would be ruinous to the cause, but by his lan-
guage and the position in which he stood maddening
them to the last degree ; for his speeches were most
forcible, and he was regarded as one doomedto follow
Mitchel into banishment. This should not have
been permitted, but the worst is to be told. The
military were called out when the effervescence had
subsided, and then, when eecarting the pri,,oner out
of town, they were soon run off their legs, became
blown, and got mingled with the crowd, so that they
might have been disarmed without any difficulty.
This was so obvious that the people took credit for
their forbearance, and considered that a teinptalion
had been thrown in their way to incite them to pre-
mature outbreak. This, and the affair at Ca• rick to
which I have alluded, appear to have familiarised the
people with the prospects of a collision and the
chances of success. To subdivide the regiments (as
is now the case), and to march the troops in such
small detachments (as is now commonly done),
is to invite athlete I am credibly informed that
a reinforcement of fifty men, which marched into
Carrick a few days since, would certainly have
been attacked and possibly been overpowered but for
the interference of a Roman catholic clergyman. The
fact, I understand, is well known, and yet I myself
saw this very day a detachment of 23 or 30 mcn es-
corting nine baggage-carts through the couut:y. It
is true they were followed at an interval of some
miles by a detachment of a hundred soldiers; but
how easily might the advanced guard have been cut
off by a few resolute men before the reinforcement
could come up. If the disaffected succeed in sur-
prising and overpowering any force, no matter how
small, the consequences will be dreadful. Rumour
wil.l magnify the success a hundredfold, and the
vehole country will rise en masse. It may
be truly said that with them the first blow
will be, not merely tho half, but the whole battle.
how daugerous is it, then, to risk a chance—more
especially as it is clear that nt the first repulse the
armed organisation will melt rapidly away, for thou-
sands have joined and are joining the disaffected upon
compulsion, or through fear, considering that the
government are not in sufficient force to assure the
well-disposed of protection. Hence arises the demand
fur more troops. The forces here and in Waterford are
perhaps sufficient, but at Carrick, which is the very hot-
, bedof disaffection, there is only to be a garrieon of 200
, men, while 400 men are to be stationed close to the
seat of the Eal of Bessborough. This latter dispo-
sition has excited some animadversion, without enter-
ing into which I shall merely say, that, if intended to
intercept the communication between Carrick and
Waterford, it is an absurd arrangement; for any hos-
tile force marching from Carrick would naturally pre-
for the right bank of the Suir to the road through
the county Kilkenny, where, after all, it would be ne-
cessary to carry two bridges so situated as to be easily
defended. Nothing can be better affected than the
military; but I repeat only the general opinion when
I lay that reinforcements are required.

PUBLIC OPINION ix THE PROM:CM-But few .ne
provincial journals have yet hadi an opportunity of express-
ing the opinion of the provinces with respect to the new
measures of the government. We, however, bear from Bel-
last, Newry, and from Cork. From the former town we
learn that " the determination of her Majesty's government
to bring matters to a unwed, Ogee has given unfeigned and
heartfelt gretifica'ion." The utmost confidence is expressed
in the vigour and energy of Lord Clarendon. but ► hnpe is
expressed that the Maims and the Felon will be
crushed, which shall ensure that " peace, secu-
rity, and order will again revisit our shores."—ln Cork
" a murrain" seems to hive seized them. The Examiner'
writes in fine inflated language, declaring that it has al-
ways deprecated " any incitement to insurrection," which,
" whether successful or unsuccessful, must throw the country
hack ;" but contemplates the " goading of peaceful men to
blood-sacrifice." The reliance of this journal is. however‘ on
delay in parliament. Little the writer knows how v tin the
hope. Will Burke Roche (the writer asks), will Dr. Power,wil
Sir D. Norreys endure this and abandon the country ? And
then, if they do that which they have done they are threatened
with "eternal infamy," and "on their heads be it." In
Newry they talk the matter with reason and coolness. "It
is an extensive measure" they admit, "but who will say itis
not justified by circumstances ?" The measures hitherto
proposed to meet the case were "rather calculated to scare
than kill." They have publicly avowed tlvirfi zed resrlution
and their preparedness to raise the standard of rebellion, and
originate a civil war early in August. For the goverameat,
therefore, nothing remained but the choice between leaving
these miscreants at large to work out their devilish purpo.es
or infringing en the liberty of the subject ; and the latter
alternative has been wisely preferred."

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