The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-09 00:00:00

IRELAND.

GREAT FIRE AT B.%LLYSHANNON.
BALLYSRANNON, DONEGAL, AUGUST G.
I have to communita'e to you a few particular. of
a most Caro ing and ee.tructive fire, whiCh occurred here
yesterday, at about haltput 1 o'clock, just as the people were
coming from the different places of worship. It broke out in
the dthhiphouse of a tanyard, at the rear of the premises of
Mr. Wm. Boner, of Marketstreet, and, in livery short time,
communicated with several houses situated in the front street,
sad continued to spread with great rapidity for upwards of
three hours. The day being intensely hot, the smallest
spark caused the bonne that were thatched to ignite. The
alarm baring spread, the entire inhabitants turned out to a
man, both " gentle and aimp'e," using the greatest possible
exertions to arrest the pralines of the flumes, which assumed
the most alarming appearance. At this time the detach-
ment of the 67th regiment, under Captain Stanley and
Lieutenant Smyth, with the barrack engine, arrived on the
spot, also the eustabulary. with Captain Hayden at their
head, and Head Consul:v:6 hfacartney and the revenue
police, with Sub-Lteateaant M`Fiulden, all of whom used
the most praiseworthy exertions to stop the prcgr‘u of the
fire, end also to protect property, which lay scattered itt
immense piles in the adjacent streets. Several persons are
serious sufferers. I this day counted no lies than liftesu
houses in the back street which are completely unroofed,
but the interior of any of them does not appear to bath
suffered much damage. The owners of the princial
of them are Michael Gavican, general merchant;
Wm. Boner, tanner ; Michael filHowan, Martin M'Oowan,
baker ; H. /Manus, butcher ; T. M'O,wan, biker ; .
M'Vity, publican; Mn. Ertzeimon, Mrs. Msgragh, &c.
At one time it was gthady fined the entire town would be
consumed to ashes. The fire was quite visible at Hindman,
a distutos of three miles. The hoe" aof the Messrs. Wm.,
Stephen, in /darkst-street, woollen-drapers, hada most nar-
row escape, but did not receive any injury. The bash:tants
owe a deep debt of gratitude to C sptaia Stanley, and his floe
body of men for their very effective assistance. bidet d, it
were almost inviduous to particularise any, where all seemed
to vie to see who would render moat service. I cannot, how-
ever, omit to notice the laudable efforts of the Earl of Cale-
don, who might be seen, with bucket in hand, running to and
fro to lend a "helping hand" whirs must needed; also the
Rev. George Tredeuick. Rue. Ileum. Coyle, C.C. ;
men, C C., hi*Guire, P.P. Inismactaint ; Captain O'Neil,
Messrs. P. Brady. H. Crittick, J. Stephens, Swan, Trumble,
Ac. The Earl of Caledon is staying here on en angling ex •
carsion.—Freeman'sJourwii.

RELIEF OF DISTRESS IN IRELAND.—Rev. IVm.
R. Townsend, Rector of Aghadda, Whitegate, seer Cloyne,.
county Cork, will be much olid,ged to the editor of the Ex-
press to acknowledge for him the following donations for the
poor of Aghadda. To such as have sent money and sab-
scribed their names he writes dire c.ly • Rat-sovereign from
P. M.; do. (subscription for the !rifle), I'. M. ?ashore, re-
gistered letter, gold,; 104. ; J. 13. M., Dublin, p. order, 10e. ;
A. D. A., by the hoods of the Rey. E. Singe, first half,.
51.—Aghadda, Aug. 7, 1819.

°
THE DOLLY'S BRAE AFFAIR.

CASTLEWELLAN, AVOCST 6.

Daring the examination to-day, the question arose.
whether the Rev. Mr. Morgan, as a priest and confessor,
could give up the names of certain ribbonmen who were ac-
tively engaged in the not.
Mr. Berwick, the commissioner, decided that such a requi-
sition was decidedly it:epee/se r. Ile thought the clergymen
alluded to, who had so much influence over their Bucks, had
done all they could to promote peace, and that it would be
very unfair to ask them to identify or give the names of
puties on the hill whom they knew.
Mr. Rae—And I am prepared to show you two decisions
to the effect that a catholic clergyman is not in certain cues
bound to give up the names of parties ; and I have no objec-
tion that the same rule should apply to clergymen of other
churches, even though nut acting as mediators.
Mr. Be rwick certai3ly thought that the question should
not be snswered, asst would undoubtedly tend to destroy the
influence of clergymen in the country—those clergymen have
done all they could to prevent disturbance.
Mr. Moore—The observations of the commissioner are en-
titled to every res; out, sod his ideas are exactly those which
struck my mind at the time the proposition was first made. I
made that proposition, which Mr. Rae indignantly rejectel ;
and certainly he has got the full benefit of it in the papers.
Mr. Raw—Well, we need not get into a passion about it.
After some obiervatioos from Mr. Rse and other gentle-
men, the Commissioner decided on not allowing the question
to be pressed ; and Mr. Moore au4 the other counsel said
they would consult as to the coune they would pursue.
Ellen King examined by Mr. )tae—Our house was
wrecked ; it is the long house near the cross road at Masher-
mat o. When the disturbance began, I saw Mr. F. Beers,
and beard him say, " Come, boys, you are into M'Mullan's
land ; d—n their souls! blow them, man, woman, and child,
out of it." The persons be said that to had badges on them,
and I supposed them to he Orangemen. I heard the firing
commence. This was raid by Mr. Beers about half a quarter
of an hour after the lint shots began. Mr. Beers had nothing
in his hand, barring a rod or walking elk k, and a "guy"
tl ick staff it was. I did not wait to see which way be went
they that, fur I took in through a corn field to James
Ward's house. It was on flee, and I was down in a field he-
side it. Mr.Reers was on the roadside at the time, and so was
I. Arthur Trainor's house and nor house was on fire at the
time ; I did sot know the parties that did the work ; the
plies were running up Meghermayo bill at the time; 1 did
i not see Murphy's house set on fire; there was a brae be-
, tween me and it.

Mr. Beers to Mr. Moore—l declare to Almighty God that
what this woman has stated ii a falsehood.

Mr. Rae—On your oath, did you ever commit an in-
dictable offence in your life ?
Mr. Hamitic— Don't answer that.

Mr. Berwick—if the g, wlemen of the prep inn taken
down this question, I hope they will also take down that I
prevented the qoestion being put.
Mr. Quinn, J.P., here stated that the girl was com-
mencing to make a statement, and that the coroner stopped
her making her statement, saying it was irrelevant. Ile
added, that he heard her snaking urn of some of the words
she had now used at the time.
Elizabeth M'Poland examined—l saw Mr. Francis Been
on the twelfth, sbout a quarter of an hour after the firing
began. I saw him a few perches from the ►choolhouse. lie
was in the field when I heard him using the words (I sup-
pose to his own party), " Fire, and kill on." When I heard
thee) words I ran away to my own field, and one of the
party fired a gun at we, and the hal went through the sleeve
of the gown upon me. (The witncu chewed a rent in the
sleeve, as if made by a bullet, but there was no correspond-
ing hole to show what direction the bullet took ) The bullet
did not touch my skin. I could net may who field at me.
Mr. Beers was then recalled—l decla.e, in the meet solemn
manner, to God, I toner t xpr-astd the words attributed to
me by the witnese.
Witness—Well, well, I told you the truth.
To Mr. Reilly—l camp here along with the neighbours to
tell what I knew. I warrant you I told this story before.
To be sure I was shot at.

Mr. Berwick—M!.. F. W. Beas is arxious to go away,
baying an engagement in Dublin, and I now wish to know
whether you, Mr. Ric', or any of the other gentlemen, wish
to examine him. _ _

Mr. Rae—l don't want to interfere with Mr. Beers' jour-
ney to Dublin; but I think Mr. Ruliven, the crown-
solsciter, ettottld tender informations, and have Mr. Boers
arre.ted, as wviald be done to a pennon iu an humbler spurn
of life.

Mr. Berwick—l don't know but I may have informations
sworn on both ticts. It would he highly improper for me
to say what I intended to do. Tao m.stter has only been put
in a train of mite, stigation.
Margaret Traitor examined—When the work commenced
I was in our own lard, coming down to see the soldiers that
were riding. When I was coming down in our own held, I
hrazd the tint shot on the road. I saw the smoke. 1 will
not say whether it was a squib or not. I had not time to
ray a word until I heard many. I ran up my own field and
lay in the " though," and a man with a sash on him came
up and said, " D—n your souls, boys, here is a impish, and
I'd smother her." He had no gun, but he lifted a stone and
threw it at me. I ran on, and then saw Mr. Beers, and be
said, "D—n y•iurit.uw, boys, pop hcr." I then ran on, and
took a tile direc ion from them, and heard two shots passing
by my head, and I saw no mere. I saw no police there: I
could tot, for the ditch. There was rot • soldier there at
the time, that I saw. Mr. Beers was doing nothing, he was
only walking ; he had no gun or blunderbuss with him ; he
had no staff, that I saw.

Mr. F. W. Beers then came forward and said, What
this witness has stated is false, on my solemn oath."
Mr. Rao then made an application for an adjournment
of the inquiry, stating levers, reasons in support of his appli-
cation.

Mr. Berwick said he wial.ed to allow the gentlemen on each
ride every reuonable laq:une, but he understood that there
were some mime's., present who wished to be examined, and
the investigation must therefore be continued.
Margaret King examined—l wu in my own house when
the door was broken open. I made my escape, and one of
the Orangemen, wide a gun in h a hand, li ted • stone and
knocked me do en wich tae stone. I returned to the gar-
den and saw three of them stabbing my tuck. I hid in tue
byre, in a little straw, and some of them name into the biro
and stabbed the cow in two places; they then broke
the stake and let the cow out. I then went out end
saw my mother with my uncle, and I tack him on my knee,
and my uncle lived about ten minutes atter. He dicd on my
knee.
_ . . .

To Mr. RAC—They d—d my grandmother, spat in her
fate, hit her on tn.: hen 1 with a stone, and cut her arms, and
then lifted a chair and smashed it on her forehead ; the chair
is there to be seen yet.
James M'Orady, examined—l was on the brae after the
Orangemen pawed by ; I heard the shouting commence ; I
went and hid and heard Murphy's house broken into ; I
saw two of the Orangemen charging their guns, and fire up
the mountain, shouting, "No Pope ;" they charged again,
and one of them, as he fired, shouted always " No Pope;"
one of them shut toe g• At ; a man on honeback said, " Yew
God's sake,_ bays, come away ;" Ley then returned, and one
of them said,— who the hell shot the goat ?" another s.ici
—"
By Heavens, it was me ;" I then went oa, and law
Sweeney dead ; I know the parties whom I saw on the road
at that time ; I lived with one of them.
Mr. Rae—Don't mention their name,. •
Mr. Reilly—But I'll insist on having the names.
Mr. Berwick, . Mre-eing counsel for the Orangemen, said
—lf you press this matter, I shall adjourn this part of
the ease till Monday : tike the Informations of the boy
in a private court, and order these three parties to be
arrested.
Mr. Rathven—Hers is evidence if a very serious felony,