The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-14 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Dec. 12.
The perils of their situation are being revealed to the eyes
of the Irish gentry. After a long sleep, they are at length
awakened to a keen sense of their desperate position, and
look around in vain for help. The revelations of the last few
weeks—aquarter of a million of men and half a million pounds
sterlingetnployed in doing nothing butobstructing the high-
ways—has excited the most vivid appreheusions of the land-
lords, and the cry has gone forth, What is to be done ? To mort-
gage the capital of the country for purposes unproductive
and demoralising, and hold themselves in hypothecation to
the state fur the repayment of an indefinite sum, is a fearful
contemplation. But where is the remedy? So bewildered
are the landlords, so lost in the calamity which
threatens to annihilate their status as a native gentry,
and hand over their properties to the master's sale
or the auctioneer's hammer, that the true means
of extrication arc disregarded, mid they fly for re-
fuge from one impracticability to another. There is no
thought of preventing the final disaster by prudent and prac-
ticable courses—in fact, by parting with a nominal territory,
getting out of the costly responsibility attached to a barren
ownership, and living frugally, honourably, and indepen-
dently on their actual incomes. The Mail of last night re-
flects the depth of their feelings. Letters are published from
several landlords, all bitterly complaining of the confiscations
trap into which they have been seduced, and suggesting a
remedy, or the means of arriving at some solution through
the combined counsels of an Irish party. Mr. R. Osborne
recommends that meetings should be at once convened in
every province in Ireland, end twenty-five gentlemen of
approved character and intelligence selected from each,
to assemble in Dublin early in January. This
" phantasm of an Irish parliament" he conceives in-
finitely leas dangerous they the more astounding
fact that two-and-a-half millions of our population
are in ordinary seasons out of employment, that the
maximum cost of providing for each is 41. lls. per
annum, which makes a total of 11.375,000/., and this with
the gross rental of Ireland amounting only to ten millions
sterling. Mr. Osborne, however, forgets, when assuming
his facts to be true, that half the payment will fall upon the
occupier, these sentiments are basked up by other landed
proprietors. Out of this agitating tumult it is clear that
something more definite, and perhaps formidable, will arise.
While some of the class am all excited and indignant, others
are cool, reflective and sensible. Of these few, the most
prominent is Sharman Crawford, who has addressed an ad-
mirable letter to Lord John Russell, on the causes of Irish
evils and the remedies for the disease. He asks for a legis-
lative enactment to cosapsiamapiammatby a tax on property.
However men may differ from loss of his conclusions, it is
impassible not to admire his benevolence, honesty, and
candour.
At the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of Ireland yes-
terday, a dividend was declared of 4 per cent. cn the half-
year, with 36,0001. added to the rest. There was the further
gratifying intelligence to the proprietors, of payment of a
bonus of 5 per cent., in addition to the four out of the sur-
plus stock of the company. After the ordinary business, the
deputy-governor, Mr. Carr, stated that the directors, besides
1001. already advanced, were anxious to sanction the further
sum of 1,0001., for the relief of distress. The proposition was
unanimously agreed to.
The Society of Friends in Dublin have displayed a re-
markable munificence in relieving the present distress.
They have addressed " encyclical "to all their bretheren
in Ireland, to contribute in proportion to their abilities.
Over 2,0001. have been contributed by a few individuals in
Dublin, of which one family, Mr. Bewley's, have subscribed
7001., and the Pim's, 6001. At Lisburn, 6001. have been
contributed. The subscriptions, as yet reported, exceed
3,0001.
The Gazette of last night contains proclamations for
holding baronial sessions in twenty additional baronies, the
largest number that has as yet appeared.
Toe RECONCILIATION 07 YOUNG IRELAND.—There was
a meeting of the seceders from the Repeal Association, held
at the Nation newspaper office, yesterday, when the follow-
ing resolutions upon the subject of the proposed reconcilia-
tion were, among others. adopted :
That we hare read with satisfaction the overtures to a reconciliation
made by Mr. O'Connell, on behalf of the Repeal Association, on last
Mcoday ; and that we believe the dienesion by a conference of all
the points of difference between us and the emaciation, to be the best
and most judicious course towards effecting that reeonciliation.—That
Inasmuch as all these points of difference have been repeatedly placed
before, and are distinctly known by, the Irish people, we deem it us-
necessary to iterate them at length on this otession.—lbat, with •
slew to mks the "reconciliation" universal and lasting, Muni:dime

tarps be tali a, by communication, to awertain the opinions
of the weeders at a distance upon the questions proper is be
submitted to the conference.
The following paragraph, from the leading article in the
Nation, contains those " points" which the resolution de- •
elates it nnaecewary to ° iterate":
Now, the pane adherent's between us, are not acme "illegslit
or "physical torte," but questions involving the politeal, moral, and
financial working of the etenclatlon itself. The so, esters eav that as
at preterit constituted and conducted it is unvotuul, and therefore
powerless for good; often offensive in its tone and proceedings to ha
Protestant members. and therefore less than national; unier obi'
lions to an English faction, and therefore suspected and deterecd
the pi ople of Ireland. They say further, that the committee, w
even in its best days had nut that mated watch it ought to hare over
the operations of the body, has noes° control at all. All this they
ought atwolutely to eee reformed befo e they again co-operate with
the Net cal Association.
The Nation, not improperly, it would seem, calls this a
" reconstruction " of the association. Mr. Smith ()Trim
ban not ROYAL
spokes openly upon this subject.
THE ROYAL AOHICELTCHAL SOCIETY OP IHELAND.—•
—There was a meeting of this body held to-day by arrange-
ment, and the 11th rule—that which forbids the introduc-
tion into the discussions of the society of all matter baring a
political tendency, or whica shall come befori parliament for
discussion - was re-enacted unanionoutly. Ne sunjevt of
that nature, therefore, can for the future enter into the deli-
berations of the society, and in order to protect the rein-
stated rule trim being tampered with in future, it was
agreed that no rule of the society should for the time to
come be rescinded, unless on notice given a month pre•
viously, which should be communicated to all the members
at least one fortnight before the expiring of the monthly
notice. The Duke of Leinster was present at the meeting,
and took the chair at its conclusion—an evidence that the
remaining seceders, noble and lay, will return to their former
connexion with the body.