The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-03 00:00:00

IRELAND.

Dreux, Frs. 1.

The 'meeting which wu held yesterday in the
Royal Exchange to promote the establishment of a
packet station on the western coast of Ireland, was Ia
every sense a most important one. The attendance of
the nobility, gentry, and merchants on the ocusion
off irded tee brat evidence of the profound interest
which the subject cre dos in this country, and was also
a fresh instance of the happy noarimity with which
men opposed to each other in religion and politics are
beginning in Ireland to rune common objects for
the welfare of their conntr;-. The great hall of the
Royal Exchange wee crowded to excess with the
eitzens of Dublin, who exhibited an earnest haired
in the proceedings. Numerous depututiors from the
country were in attendsno'; the Lord Mayor pre-
sided, and t+ e following list of pirsous from
awing those who were around the platform will
show that the assemblage was an influential ono:
The Matquis of Westmeath, the Earl of Donnelly,
Lord Talbot de Msishide. Viscount (ion, Lord Castle-
maine,Lord Dunsandle, Edward Groan, M.P., John
Reynolds, M.P., Torreas M'Cullagh, Shames
C.awfoed, M.l'., Jon O'Connell, M.P., Henry A.
Herbert, MP., Sir Timothy O'Brien. But., M P., Sir
Percy Nugent, Berl., M.P.. Wyndham Go Id, M.P.,
Christopher Sr. George, M P., Colonel Taylor, M.P.,
Sir Thomas Burke, Bart., M.P., Sir William Hort,
Bart., Sir Nlontegn Chapman, Bart.. the High Sheriff
of the City of Dublin, Sir Matthew Bsrrington,Bart.,
the Ifign Sheriff of the County of Mayo, Sir Edward
Donne:l,B:c , The proposers and seconders of
the resolutions were the Marquis of Wes /truth, Mr.
A. Lefroy, Mr. Grogan, M.P., Mr. Kennedy, a mer-
chant of Belfast, Admiral R ibinson, Mr. Herbert,
M.l'., Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Torrens M'Cullagh,
M.P., Lod Castlrmaine, Lord Ducsardle,
A committee was appointed to carry out the objects
of the meeting, and a deputation was also chosen to
wait on the Lerl Lieutenant to rajoest the exercise
of his irfluence in accomplishing those object.. Such
was the practical result f the most important meet-
ing yet held in Ireland on the subject of the Western
Packet Station, a subject which excites perhans more
interest here than any other now occupying the pub•
lie mind. There was not much in point of argument
or fresh information added by the shakers yesterday
to what has been already tefore the public. The
advantages seising from the geographical poeiti-o of
the country were chicly dwelt on, and the confl cling
opinions relative to the several competing ports of the
west and south were kept out of view.
The following reply from Cardinal Wiseman to the
address from Sligo fray been received by the Roman
ca'holic birhop of Eiptim, by whom the address had
been forwarded
My dear lair .I auil Brother in Chrivt,—The most gratify-
inu :oldie.. which your lonlrhip has forwarded to me from
the aggregate meeting of the city and county of Sligo
deveriev, indeed, my wannevt gratitude, and I request your
!,,rl.lOp to expresa Un me heltaU this feeling to all who fume
aimed or voted for it. Though attempt% are being made to
divide the_ inter,t of Irish and English eatholies in the

.......
present efforts to excite animosity ti was t the latter, lam
sure they will prove unsuccessful. fhe bond between us
is one of faith and charity, and even should a
policy he adopted by our rakes which shall serve
to separate our respective worldly interests,
.the
very Ittompt will only *live to strengthen our echelons
Whateier impugns the rights of catholics in Eng-
land to earn out their religion according to its principles,
in _Marks thC exercise of the sovereign pontiff's spiritual
jurialii lion, assails either the members or the head of a
common and living body. But, further, it must be obvious
that if any concession be withdrawn from us, or any
restri• lion be imposed upon what, till now, has been deemed
Lurid. this will weaken every pledge and every assurance
which ilk, Irish catholic♦ have received for their religious
liberty or other eeelcsia,tical advantages. These considera-
tions give as every confidence that our brethren in Ireland
will ("deem this a common cause, and will not fail to show
that *holier and stronger principle than any political
holds all the catholic, of the empire in closest union.
I now particularly beg your lordship to recommend this
'al red cause to the prayers of your religious communities
and of your faithful tleek, fur it is on the power of God to
protect his church that we must mainly rely in the coming
mutest far more than on the a isdom of our councils, or even
the support of our many friends. I must not conclude with-
out repeating my sincere thriiks to your lordship, to your
excellent clergy, and to the gentlemen who have signed the
address, among whom, such as, like Mr. Verdun, the mayor,
have not the same motive of religion* communion, deserve

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL
OXFORD. F. I. A summary of the member, of
the university, up to January, 1831, shows an increase, ee
compared with the auinotary of January, 1840, of 58 mem-
bers of convocation, 47 members on the books, and of deter-
mining bachelors 7, while at the same time it shows a de-
crease of 34 matriculations, and 5 regents.

The Itesponsion List contains the names of 273eandidates,
and is the first published under the uew system, although
it combines a great many names under the old system. The
new eaaminat,on statuv lating to the respon.ions state,
" that the first responsions under the new system and the
last responsions ender the old will be carried on at the same
time and under the same roasters of the schools in Lent
Terns, 1831" The masters of the schools have given
money that they will require the attend ince of those under-
graduates only who intend to offer themselves for respon-
sions under the new statute in the schools on Monday,
Feb. 3.

PRIZE roa AN ENOLIEN POEN ON A Saguia firm-
zat-r.—The exercises for the above prize have been sent in
to the registrar of the university. It will be remembered
that a benefaction of I,OOOJ. Three per Cent. Consolidated
Bank Annuities having been offered to the university, the
intense to be given as • prize for an English poem on a sa-
cred subject, which is to be awarded under certain regula-
bens ems.- in every three ream, was accepted by convocation
on the 13th February, 1148, when the fallowing subject s3t
proposed fur the year 18.51—" St. Paul at Athens." The
prize in to be adjudged on the Ist day of June next, hut is
not to he recited. Printed copies are to be sent by the for-
tunate author to the Chancellor, heads of colleges and halls,
the proctors, the judges of the eonipositions, the professors,
the founder of the prize, and the Bodleian Library.

CAM RILI DOE. FER. I.—Collr US CHRISTI COLLP.OO.

—Mr. Robert Holme, 8.A., has been elected to a fellow-
ship in this society.
Kew's Com.zoz.—Mr. Henry George Whiffing, son of
Mr. Whining, of Thorney Abbey, has been admitted to a
seholan4hip in this society.
TniNtrr COLLVIII.—The prize for the best Latin Ode
has been adjudged to H. Shield.

Rev. S. Bolton to Salt l'erpetual Curacy, Staffordshire ;
patron, Earl Talbot.
Rev. G. V. Guise, to Little Birch Rectory; value, 1701.;
and Aconbary Rectory, value, 248/., with residence, Here.
ford4hirr ; patrons, Guy's Hospital, London.
Rev. IL W. L. Tollemache to South Witham Rectory,
Lincolnshire ; value, 12W., with residence ; patron, Earl
Dysart.

VA(' k!fT.

Bettiscombe, Dorsetohire, dioccoe of Salisbury ; value,
1901. ; patron, A. B. Sheridan, Esq. ; Rev. J. W. Scott,
deceased.

SPORTING.

ACCEPTANCES FOR THE GREAT HAN-
DICAPS.

The following is a list of the remaining in for the
Great Handicaps at nine o'clock on Saturday night; as the
time for declaring did not clue until twelve, it is possible
that we may have to make one or two corrections in our
next. The mint remarkable feature is the '• scratching "of
Cowtack fur the Chester Cup, which took place about one
o'clock on Saturday, thus proving the rumour to which we
alluded on Friday wax not without foundation. The ac-
ceptances arc below the avenge.