The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-23 00:00:00

REDUCTION OF THE DUTIES ON RUM.-

DEPUTATION.

A deputation from a meeting of Irish members
waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, en the
subject of the proposed reduction of the differential duty on
rum. The deputation consisted of Sir L. O'Brien, Major
Blacken, Mr. W. Fagan, Col. Dunne, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. J.
O'Brien, Mr. Butler, and Capt. Green. Sir L. O'Brien
handed the Chancellor of the Exchequer two resolutions
which were adopted on Wednesday at a meeting
of the Irish members; the first set forth that, in
the opinion of the meeting, the reduction of the dif-
ferential duty on rum would be ruinous to the distilling
interest in Ireland, and thereby injurious to the agrictil-
turist;—the second called for a change in the excise regula-
tions regarding the mode of charging duty on British spirits
at the " worm's end," instead of whenthe spirits were taken
out of bond for consumption, as was the case with the West
India spirits.
A long discussion took place between the members of the
deputation and the Chencelor of the Exchequer, in the
course of which each member of the deputation advocated
the necessity of protecting the Irish distilling interest.
The CHANCELLOR 'of the EX.CIIEQUER said he was of
opinion that the mode of charging duty might be safely
altered so as to meet the views of the deputation—namely,
to be charged on delivery from warehouse when taken out
for consumption, instead of at the " worm's end," as was
now the practice ; and he seemed disposed, as regarded the
differential duty on rum, to fix it at sixpence a gallon in-
stead of fourpence. In expressing this opinion he wished
to guard himself against committing his colleagues ; he
would not pledge himself to any course without their
sanction.
The deputation left the right hon. gentleman under the
impression that the duty would be reduced to sixpence in-
stead of fourpence a gallon. They then proceeded to com-
mittee-room No. 21 of the House of Commons, for the pur-
pose of communicating to a meeting of Irish representatives,
and to a deputation of the Irish distillers, the result of their
interview.
Sir L. O'BRIEN was in the chair, and the particulars of
the interview were stated by him, Mr. Reynolds, and Col.

Duane. They stated that the Chancellor of the Exchequer
intimated a disposition to abandon the government proposi-
tion, so far that, in consideration of the remonstrance of the
Irish members, he would recommend an alteration of the
differential duty on rum from the proposed 41 to 6d., and
he was also prepared to have the duty on Irish whiskey
charged on coming out of bond, and not previously. And as
to the residue of the reduction, he would have it taken into
consideration by his colleagues.
Mr. KEOGH, M.P., suggested that it would be proper to
hear some detiuite statement from the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer binding his colleagues, and that it was but fair to
the \Vest India interest that they should know of the ar-
rangement, if any were concluded. To effect this object,
and to make the matter certain, he proposed that a question
should be put by Sir L. O'Brien in the house this evening
' to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Lord C. HAMILTON and others supported this proposition,
which was opposed by Mr. REYNOLD 3, who considered it
would bring the West India supporters to attack the
Irish distillers, and that it would be more prudent to
wait the convenience of the government; but it was re-
solved by the meeting that the question should be put,
and that tie Irish members should know the course that the
government intended to pursue before the sugar debate was
allowed to proceed.

MISHAP TO THE HISERNIA.—The regularity with
which the steam-packets from America usually arrive causes
the mere anxiety when one of them does not make her ap-
pearance when aue. Some uneasiness was fi It at Liverpool
on Tuesday respecting the Hibernia, and it was not, it seems,
without foundation, for she ran on shore in the evening of
that day on the Calf of Man, during a fog. Whether the
sultaireed any damage has not been ascertained, as the mis-
fortune wan not divulged on her first arrival.

ORIENTAL BANC—Yesterday, a special general
meetinT, called to confirm certain new laws sad certain
alterations in the old laws of the company, agreed to at a
meeting in December last, wu held at the bank in Wel-
brook. H. G. Gordon, H 4 pres dad. The secretary read
the proposed alteration, whiclt applied generally to the work-
ing regulations. The only provision involving • change in
the principle of management was as follows:

- -
That no director, India director, or local director, shall become a
security or guarantee for any person or persons in any loan transac-
tion with the company, nor shall he in any way incur any liability to
tho company uneorcred by such securitr a, that company make take,
except so far as may be the consequence of his name appeartug upon
any bill of exchange in the usual iourre of mercantile or commercial
transactions, or personal remittances toor from England or Asia.
- -

Mr. R. K. Kennedy, in moving the resolution confirming
the alterations, observed that, considering the present situa-
tion of joint-rock companies in India, he thought it right
to state, for the satisfaction of the proprietors, that Mr.
Grey, the attorney of the Bombay section of shareholders,
bad examined fully the books of the company, and had
agreed with the principle of management adopted by the
directors. This did not however quite satisfy all the Bombay
proprietors, and they deputed Mr. Richmond, one of their
number, to visit the establishment in London, and inquire into
the affairs of the bank. To that gentleman all the books were
thrown open, and the result was that though there were
some trifling points on which be differed, he agreed in prin-
ciple with the method of the management pursued. The
directors now made the offer to all the sharehold, rs p non-
ally to come and investigate the affairs of the bank for their
own satisfaction. This, he thought, was all that could be
expected from a joint-stock company.—Mr. W. L. Gay se-
conded the resolution, and congratulated them on the satis-
factory termination of the inquiry which had been made.
The unanimous adoption of the resolution brought the pro
oeedings to a close.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JUNE 21.

The hesitation of Mr. John O'Connell to join the
proposed union arises, it is understood, from the ad-
dress of Mr. Smith O'Brien, published on Saturday
last, in which he states that the Confederation tri-
umphs in the union, because the terms of the proposed
league ars identical in spirit with those offered by the
Confederation to Conciliation-ball, and in which Mr.
O'Brien asks " when will the Irish people be prepared
to strike P"

The organisation of the clubs is energetically pro-
ceeded with, and as these are headed by prominent
members of the Confederation, and receive instruc-

tions therefrom, although uncontrolled and inde-
pendent in their action, Mr. O'Connell most probably
felt he would be very unsafe in such fraternity. The
course taken by Mr. John O'Connell has not pleased
his party. It is confidently stated to-day that the
hon. gentleman will retire into private life. In fact
he has addressed a letter to the Freeman, in which he
all but states he will net join the League.
A fund is being raised among the friends and ad-
mirers of the late Mr. Steele—many of them opposed
to him in politics—to defray the charge of trans-
ferring his remains to Ireland. There is no doubt it
will be amply productive for the purpose, as there
were few men of extreme political views who so
largely possessed the esteem and friendship of oppo-
nents in private life as Mr. Steele.
On the subject of the vacant bishopric the Evening
Mail has the following article :
It is stated, on what we consider to be good authority, that
the Bishop of Killaloe (Lori Riversdale) is to be translated
to Cork, and that the provost (Dr. Badleir) will probably ac-
cept the united see of Killaloc and Clonfert. In the event of
this arrangement being carried out, we have reason to believe
that the vacant provostship will be conferred on Dr. Eking-
ton. The right rev. and noble lord, in relinquishing his
present preferment for one more convenient to his Patti-
mont,,l demesne, will sustain a considerable diminution of
ecclesiastical income.

Another account says, that the Rev. Dr. Wilson
will certainly be the new bishop. He has been an
earnest supporter of the national system of education
since its establishment, and his character stands high

as a clergyman.
The ecclesiastical commissioners, Messrs. Erck and
I Quin, have been summoned to London to give evi-
dence before the committee on ministers' money. The
object is to ascertain whether any portion of the funds
of the commission could be applied to the uses of the
clergy who would be affected by the abolition of the
unpopular and vexatious rate.
A catholic clergyman, in a letter to the Tipperary
Vindicator, relates a strange story, how that an ap-
parent policeman came to him at dead of night, and
detailed the plan of an insurrection in August, for
which the police had spared out of their pouches 30
rounds per man, and whose execution was to be pre-
sided over by the catholic clergy. The Rev. Mr.
Ryan suffered the villain to escape after he did
His varnished tale deliver,
instead of arousing the inmates and making a capture
of Mr. M'Kew.

Since the foregoing was written we have received
the following :
" The Irish Confederation held timeeting at eight
o'clock this evening, in the Music-hall, convened by
advertisement. l'he building was densely filled.
Owing to the collisions which have recently taken
place between members of the Confederation and the
police, the former did not, as hitherto, march in a
body to the place of meeting, and hence no disturb.
ance of the public peace occurred. None of the more
prominent members were present, and, as a necessary
sequence, the tone and language of the speakers were
much more subdued and guarded than usual. Shortly
after eight o'clock the chair was taken by Mr. Denny
Lane (Cork).
Mr. J. Ditto/4 then addressed the meeting. He proceeded
to lay before the meeting 131 account of the receipts and ex-
penditure of the:lrish Confederation, from the day it was
founded to the 21st day of the present month. The sum
total of their receipts was 9161. 89. Id. ; 4001. of this 'um
was paid in by members of the body, so that the country at
large contributed little more than 6001. The speaker then
read a detailed statement of the various items of
the expenditure of the Confederation, showing a
balance in hand of 31. 19s. Besides the regular
fend of the Confederation, there was another re-
cently got up for the purpose of defending Messrs.
O'Brien, Meagher, and Michel in the late state proi.cu-
, tions. This fund amounted to 4001., of which, after the
payment of all expenses, 2001. still remained in hand. He had
then the pleasure of proposing that 1501. of this balance be
added se the fund in course of being raised for the wife and
family of John Mitchel. (Deafening applause.) The re-
mainder was reserved in order that they should be enabled to
contribute something to support the infancy of the New
League. (Hear.) Mr. Dillon next made a long statement
of the circumstances which had led to the negotiation of a
union between the hitherto adverse repeal parties, which
differed in no material respect from that given by Mr. J.
O'Connell at the last meeting of the Repeal Association.
He then proceeded to state what had transpired at the re-
cent conferences of repealers. At one of these conferences
Mr. John O'Connell was asked whether, in case the league was
formed, he would permit the members of the Confederation
to call on the people to arm, and he said he had no objec-
tion; but at the subsequent conference he stated that he
could not abide by what he had formerly pleeged himself to;
and that he now viewed with apprehension the movement
that was rapidly progressing for the purpose of arming the
people—(hire)—and that, should the members of this
league be called on to arm, he would feel it his duty to uirss-
test against it. (Renewed hisses.) The members of the Re-
peal Awriation who were present at, that conference then
and there protested most strongly against the retractation
made by Mr. O'Connell, who brought down with him a
aeries of resolutions that amounted in substance to the old peace
resolutions of Conciliation-hall—(groans and hisses)—and
stated that he could not consent to bee member of any asso-
ciation which would not place those resolutions on its books.
(Hines.) Under these circumstances, when Mr. O'Connell
made this announcement, they told him that all understanding
between him, al an individual, and the Confederation was at an
end. (" Hear," " Bravo," &c.) He could net discover the real
causes of this retractation on the part of Mr. O'Connell, but
that gentleman had himself assigned as the reasons of his con-
duct a leading article in the last number of the Nation,
and • letter of Mr. Smith O'Brien in the same number.

There was one passage in the latter that seemed peculiarly
offensive to him, which ran as follows: "All the principles for
which tbe enn:ederates contended have in succession been con-
ceded to us." But Mr. O'Connell should bear in mind that
Mr. O'Brien' when he wrote this lets r, was addressing the
members o: the Irish Confederation, not those of Conciliation-
hall ; and he only wanted to show them that there had been
no principles of theirs abandoned—the principles he alluded to
being two—viz., those that had been conceded them, the anti-
place.beggine principle and the anti-sectarian principle. Was
this union, then, after all, to take place ? ("Yes, ye..") lie,
for his part, said yes, and on behalf of the Confederation he
would also say yes—(cheers) —a proof of which would be
given that evening by the pr posal of a resolution to
adjourn the Coefeds ration sine die, for the purpose of
facilitating the union of the repeal parties. (Loud cheers.)
He could not answer for the Repeal Association, and was
unaware what is member, intended to do ; but this he would
say, that after the solemn assent given to the 10 re-olutions
lormieg the basis of the union, by the people of Ireland, if
they now (because Mr. J. O'Connell, whatever amount of
respect might be due to him as the son of his tither. shrunk
away from them) refrained from entering into this league,
then he would ssy they were stultified before the whole
world. (Lou! cheers.)
The R.v. TUADDEUS O'Maicev, an enthusiastic visionary
sad unveiled communist, next addressed the meeting in a
long and iutiammatory speech, urging the formation of armed
cliabo, arid stating his intention to take an active part in their
formation.
Mr. T. D. M'Gnee having spoken, a resolution was
paired, adjourui,g the Confederation sine die.
Mr. C. 4. Derry lastly addressed the meeting, and
entered into all the details of the :ate con:'erences between
the repeal parties, the hinds of which are already before tae
public, and nerd not be reeaeitulated in this report. Ile
stated that when Mr. John O'Connell pr posed his peace
resolutions at the last conference of the repeal parties, all
his old associates at Conciliation-hal, without ezeeplior,
voted against him and for the union. (Loud cheers.) Ito
(Mr. Duffy) had cow good news to tell them. It was this:
Mr. John O'Connell, when he found himself out-voted, said,
" We have appealed to the country, at my consent and with
my concurrence, and the country has pronounced azainst
me. Yon, as the Irish League, moat go on, but as for me,
I have certa'al conscientious scruples, sooner tl-.an forego
which, I have made up my mind to retire into private life."
(The whole sudieuee here rose and cheered vehemently for
several minutes, on the announcement of Mr. O'Connell's
retirement from public life.) There was a condition
attached to this step by Mr. O'Connell—namely, he desired
that, at the next meeting of the Repeal Association, Mr.
Galway should propose its indefinite adjournment, in order
that the league should at once take its place.