The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-03 00:00:00

THE IRISH COUNCIL.

There was a meeting of this body to-day, which was open
to parties not being members, and to " the press." It is a
reconstruction of the Reproductive Employment Committee
formed in December last, and from which " the Irish party "
was an emanation. The meeting was called for 3 o'clock, p.m.
It was half-pant before the chau was taken, and the members
present were but few.
Mr. Chetwode was called to the chair, and Sir Ceman
O'Loghlen acted as secretary. The latter gentleman read
the report, which, after adverting to the origin of the Repro-
ductive Committee and the Irish party, and the resolutions
emanating from the imposing assemblage held by them in
January last, thus records the failure of the expectations the
proceedings then had excited:
It wan then oonfidemtly hoped that our representatives in
meat would take advantage of this m authoritative an expuoition of
the Bens* of the nation, and that they would, with all the real and
ability of which they were capable, and, shave all, by their unanimity
tome upon the attention of the legislature the calamity under which
the country suffered, and obtain, from its sense of justice, adequate
measures of relief That hope has been totally disappointed. The
condom of the Irish representatives boa been again characterised by a
want of unity of action, and by a subserviency to that political expe-
diency which has KO often rendered the interests of Ireland subordinate
to those of party. In the mean time famine and diseme have spread
desolation throughout the land—an universal panic has annihilated
credit--the national character hue been loaded with obloquy—end all
dames of our countrymen are threatened with a common ruin.
Under these circumstances, the portion of the committee
of December which yet held together, determined upon the
formation of another body, which they designated " The
Irish Council," and the objects and purposes of which are
than expressed :
To combine Irishmen of every grade and section of opinion—to
watch over mai assert the rights and intern*. of our common
country—to mirror its wants and wiahes—to create, foster, and deve-
lop a sound Irish public opinion, irrespective of party, see the oh.
jade of "The Irish Council." AU topics relating to the welfare of
Ireland will form subjects of dismasdon and deliberation at our meet-
ings; but, at the same time, as one organization, to be effective,
must combine Intelligent men, connected with the different parties,
classes, and creeds, Into which Ireland is divided, the very existence
of our body, and its utility to our country, demand that all subjects
calculated to excite angry
.discussion shall be, as they have hitherto
beta, excluded from our deliberations, which should bo directed to
objects of national concern, in regard to which all classes (*el a wa-
in= interest. -

Mr. Hartpole Leckey proposed, and Lord Wallscourt se-
conded, the adoption of the report, which was adopted, after
• protest from Mr. Henry Grattan, on the part of the Irish
members censured in the quotation.
Mr. Monsen, in proposing aresolution respecting the
working of the council, eomplained of the relief works, and
stated that he thought the government had done very wrong
in not having assented to the proposals of certain relief
sessions for constructing the earth tables of railways pre-
sented for at those sessions. Mr. Monsell instanced a case
in Clare, where it was objected to sanction the construction
of the earthworks en the ground that a great part would go
into the pockets of the landlords for the land. Now, the
land destroyed by the road works in those baronies would
coat twice as much as the land for railways, and the works
themselves twice as much as the making of the railways. Mr.
Mansell went on to show, that in many cases the rates under
the Relief Act it would be impossible to levy on account of
their heaviness, and argued that wherever the number of in.
habitants of a union came near the amount of its rated pro-
perty, then in the next year there must occur destitution as
severe as in the present. He thought the council should
supply the government with information—statistical informa-
-1 lion—respecting the condition of the country, as they mani-
festly legislated in ignorance.