The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-02 00:00:00

Me Court.

The Queen held a court yesterday afternoon, at
Buckingham Palace, for the reception of an address from
the corporation of the city of Dublin. At three o'clock the
deputation arrived at the palace; it was composed of the
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Keshan, Alderman
O'Brien, M.P., Alderman M'Kenna, Alderman C. P.
Oawen, Mr. M. O'Connell, M.l'., D.L., town councillor;
Mr. R. Keating, town councillor; Mr. Ferguson, town
ooloacillor; Mr. T. Reynolds. marshal of Dublin; Mr. T.
L. Lynnott, high constable of the city of Dublin ; and Mr.
J. Curran, mace bearer. The deputation were conducted
from the Library, where they had assembled, by Sir W.
Martins and Mr. Heritage, the gentlemen ushers in wait-
ing, to the door of the Throne-room. The Lord Chamber-
lain here received the deputation and conducted them to the
presence of the Queer. Her Majesty was seated on
the throne, Prince Albert being by her aide. In
attendance on the Queen vas Sir 0. Grey, her Majesty's
Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department.
The Mistress of the Robes and Lady Portman, Lady in
Waiting, were behind the thrf,wo ; and the
Lord Steward,
the Lord Chamberlain, and the .1,/aster of the Horse, stood
in their stations near her i:.=.leltY• The room was
lined by her Majesty's honourable cu. .Foley. Gentlemen-at-
Arms, commanded by their captain,
potation having approached the royal Pr. Foley. The de-
*Nice, the Lord
Mayor read the address from the corporation, the
presented it to his Sovereign. The Queen 'et
address, and returned a most gracious answer.
O'Connell, M.P., the mover of the address; and. t'
Councillor Ferguson, the seconder, had the honour of
introduced to the Queen to kiss hands. The senior Ala
man, Mr. Kahan, had also the honour of being presentee;
and kissing hands.
The Queen gate audience to Sir George Grey. I

Mr. C. 8. Whitmore, of the Oxford circuit, has, says
the IVolosehompton Chronicle, been appointed recorder of
Lichfield, vice Mr. Waddington, the new under-secretary.

HOLY THURSDAY." Yesterday, in accordance
with ancient usage, the boys belonging to the several parish
tchwils assembled, and, marshalled by the various local
authorities, proceeded to "heat the bounds" of their re-
spective districts, in order, it is said, to preserve a knowledge
of their limits. The scene at the kills garden, Chancery-
lane, was particularly animating, several baskets of bread
being distributed among the crowd, from which act the
place derived its name. We understood it was formerly the
practice to whip one of the boss on arrivi• g at the bounda-
rie,, " lempora mutanfur et nos routaniur in sills."
TIIE tali 0E Mn. MITCHEL.— Last night the
received information that several meetings were to
take place in various parts of the metropolis, to sympathise
with Mr. Mitchel, and to demand of the government his
immediate liberty, and that at the termination of theme
meetings the parties intended to march off to Clerkenwell.
wren, which induced the commissioners to make such at.
rangern, nte as would effectually have broken up such pro-
ecteione, if attempted. At art early part of the evening a
number of mounted police were sent to Clerkenwell, to Ar-
bour-square, Stepney ; King-street, Westminster; and
Lambeth. The soldiery were also under arms, and were
quartered in different parts of London. The Artillery Com-
pany received notice yesterday morning to assemble in the
evening end hold themselves in readiness, in case their
services should he squired; and the whole force met at
the armoury in the Artillery-ground, and were immediately
placed under arms. At 6 o'clock the people began to as-
xemhle at Clerkenwell green, in the expectation that some
of their lead-rs would address them according to promise:
in that they were disappointed ; and the only party who
att.mptcd to make a spt Ich was a man nobody appeared to
know, who was deemed in a brown holland blouse. Having
taken his stand on the kerb opposite the churchyard, he began
his harangue by upbraiding the people for their cowardice,
in not resisting the police the previous night. His audience
did not seem quite to agree with him, and after some little
alt. rcation the speaker left off his discourse, and gave one
of the men who interrupted him a violent blow in
the face. Being immeliattly surrounded by some
of his partisans, the fellow succeeded in getting off.
At a quarteepast eight o'clock Mr. Superintendent Lewis,
with about lOU men, marched on to the green, at which time
the mob was creating a gnat noise, throwing stones about,
and rushing to and fro with sticks in their hands, so that the
inhabitants were compelled again to close their shops. An
additional number of police came up, marched in a body
amoupt tl,e crowd, and in the course of half an hour suc-
ceeded in driving back the rabble, and by placing a reserve
at the end of the courts and streets leading on to the Green,
the people wire prevented from again cmgregating. To
drive the rabble hack from the bye streets was a work of con-
sidevible difficulty, but it was accomplished without much
personal injury to any one, and by ten o'clock there was not
a thousand persons to be seen near the Green. At that
period the place was well guarded by a strong methr of po-
lice. The eammissioners of the city and the metropolitan
police were at eleven o'clock actively engaged in drawing
out plans for the police to act upon. The city force are
armed with cutlasses. and so are the metropolitan.

THE REFORM MOVEMENT.
MEETING OF THE NEW LEAGUE AT
BIRMINGHAM.
A public meeting of the inhabitants of Birmingham
favourable to the principle, of the New Reform League was
11,1,1 in the 'town-hall there on Wednesday night, Mr. G. F.
Muntz, M.P., the President, in the chair. From eight to ten
thousand persons were present, amongst whom were many
of the most influential inhabitants in the borough,
The CHAIRMAN, after some introductory remark., said
that after the declaration of Lord Jo' n Russell that the
people of this country did not want either the reform pro.
posed by Mr. Hume, or those of Mr. °Twiner and the
chartists, he felt that it might safely be left with the people
themselves to answer how far they were satisfied with the
present state of things, and to tell the prime minister how
tar they law the necessity for reform being extended, in
order to enable them to procure 'hat justice which was due
to them in all the circumstances in which they were placed.
The hon. gentleman adverted to the extraordinary manner
in which Mr. flume's motion had been put off by
those who were oppes,d to it • and he said after
the uncalled-for declaration of Lord John Russell on
that oceuion, if the people did not come forward and give a
plain, straightforward, and emphatic answer to it, it would
be inferred fairly that there wee no desire for reform ; the
prime minister would take it for granted that such was the
ease, and there would be an end of the power of the people
to get reform for perhaps a number of years. Under the
pri sent system, all the interests of the people were sacrificed
to the wealth of the country : it MLA notorious that a very
large propo Von of the seat. in the House of C irumons were
bought, directly or indirectly. Tee torics were opposed to
all reform—that was fair enough, and in accordance with
their principles: the whies, on the other hand, pretended to
be very fair and liberal, but only let any man attempt to
put their principles in practice, and immediately they took
their stand on the finality of the Reform Bill. By that bill,
it was true, u few independent boroughs were created, but
what were they in comparison with the mass of small places
having a couple of members a piece, where the
voters were bought and sold almost like ca'tle in
a market ? (Hear.) This was not a party question; both
whigs and tories being alike in upholding the present ini-
quitous system, which worked so well for the welfare of the
people that they were often in a state of want, and the masses
plunged into all serts of misery. The fact was, that so long
as the House of Commons remained constituted as it was at '
the present time, practical men—men who understood what
the wants:and feelings of the people were—would never get
seats there. Would any man who knew anything of the
perseverance and character of Englishmen, pretend to tell
him that there was no help for their being plungedl into such
distress as they oftentimes were ? Engliehmen, who could
labour more than it was ever intended that man should
labour, and yet not obtain a comfortable livelihood !
Wes that the perfection of government (lieu.) Ile
hail always proclaimed, both in that hall and else-
where, that wherever such a state of things existed,
it was the fault of the government. He didn't charge
that in particular upon whigs or tonics, for both were
equally culpable. Let there then be a government that re-
' presents the people. Let the people unite in pulling down
such an iniquitous system as at preseht existed. Let Bin-
' mingbam, and Manchester, and Leeds, and Sheffield, and
the other large independent constituencies in the kingdom,
' join in insisting, in demanding, that the votes of their repre-
sentatives shall no longer be neutralised by the members
sent to the House of Commons from places little better than
villages. Let there be a fair, free, and honest representation
of the people. (lieu.) Na man who bought votes meant
to represent the people honestly. A man didn't lay out his
money without the hope of getting it back in some other
way ; and for his part he didn't believe there was
a better trade going than the trade in politics. He
knew that well enough ; and that if he chose to
' sacrifice all principle that he could make a tolerably good
income by it. (Laughter.) He had always endeavoured to
represent the people honestly in the House of Commons;
and for that reason both whigs and tories looked upon him
something in the style that a cow would look at a bastard
calf. He had always said that those who paid the expenses
of the country ought to have the power of managing its
affairs. lie had a great stake in the country himself ; but
he didn't for that reason object to the people having their
full share of political rights. (Cheers.) And whilst on the
' subject he would say, " beware of those who would sow
dissensions amongst you ; always suspect a man who says,
" Don't take anything it you can't get everything ;" if you
allow that game you'll go on as you are at present, the aris-
tocrats and the wealthy portion of the community trampling
you under foot ; yourselves suffering all sorts of privations
for the rest of your lives, and leaving the same thing for
' your children after you. (Cheers.) Do you join heart and
' hand to show the prime minister that he is thoroughly igno-
rant of the wants and desires of the people of this country.
(Hear.) Tell him all your wants—respectfully, plainly, but
firmly ; and let there be no mistake or misunderstanding on
either side. But, above all things, let there he no disturb.
ante, for that is the beet game you can play for those who
want to deprive you of your just rights. I shall do all I can
to gain for you your just rights—remember, whoever else
deserts the cause of the people, I never will. (Cheers.)
Mr. Dewsore, M.A., moved the first resolution. Advert-
ing to the circumstances attendant upon the postponement of
Mr. Karma's motion, he said that the interests of the people
had been sacrificed to the interest which legislators took in
' " the Derby." The legitimate purpose for which they were
sent to parliament was sacrificed for the fool's pursuit, betting
on horse-races. He thought that Lord John Russell's de-
claration with respect to Mr. Hume's motion was the last
dying speech and confession of whiggery. At one time the
people were disposed to believe in their professions : they
stood a long while upon their reputation, but now the confi-
dence the country had in them was completely frittered
away. lie believed that the people would prefer Peel to
Russell, because whilst the one had advanced the other had
stood still. Whiggery was a huge sham without power.
The whigs were neither strong enough for us to fear them,
nor wise and able enough for us to respect them. That the
premier was ignorant was not to be wondered at ; the whole
government of this country was smothered in routine ; if a
place fell vacant it could only be tilled up from the same
clique or the same club. The extraordinary versatility of
talent exhibited by our nobility in these matters was truly
wonderful : ajump from the buckhounds to the Post-office
was nothing ; and if at any time a good man did turn up,
he soon became the victim of the system—a red-rapist. They
had grooms of the stole, and grooms of other departments ;
but he (Mr. Dawson) would like to be a groom to the prime
minister, and for one day he should like to give him an
airing, and to bring him down to Birmingham, in order that
be might get some idea of what the people did want, and of
their feelings. It was the custom of ministers to look at
everything with an official aspect and to do nothing—first,
because they had not the will to 'do anything ; and next (as
in the case of Lord John Russell's government), beause they
had not the power. Then they came to parliament at the
end of a session, uttering pitiable Jeremiads of their short-
comings, and then going to grouse aimin. (Laughter.)
Lord John Russell knew right well that the Howe of Com-
mons did Lot represent the people, and, in Meier that it
should, they intended to have the suffrage widei." extended.
The City magnates might tell his lordship that 'hey were
satisfied, that they did not want reform ; but the people re-
quired it, and they would have it. On the 20th
of June the minister would be undeceived by the
petitions of the people, and all the attempts of
whigtery to stem the torrent of reform would be
atrean Ya
übad time th reject
tentli)e
Jew
eßllo use of Lords had
taken great deal of
terological twaddle had been talked on that subject—about
C.'w:'uasty bong violated, and other cub pitiful nonsense;

but the effect of politics upon theology was marvellous, for
they saw one archbishop voting one way, and the other an.
other—whig.made bishops voting in favour of the bill, and
tories &pion it. So much for principle. He said again
that Peel was far preferable to Russell. In conclusion, Mr.
Dawson said that lie hoped the people would maks his pro-
phecy a true one—that the last dying speech and confession
of the whip bad been made; that whiggery bad gone to
seed ; end that the professors of its principles must give way
to abler men. Mr. Dawson concluded by moving the follow-
ing resolution:—
lint the Prime Minister, having stated his belief "that the
middle and working classes of this country, speaking generally,
neither Isiah for the one great reform nor the other—that they
arc neither anxious for the people's charter as proposed by the hon.
member for Notts, nor for that great plus of reform, which
comes somewhat rear the people's charter, which is proposed by the
h 41. member for Montrcve"—thi. meeting desires to express Its opi-
nion that lord John Russell Is either grievously ignorant of the
cobra of the nation, or has greatly misrepresented the people.
Mr. R. K. Doeutas, in seconding the resolution, said
that Lord John Russell ought to have been the last man in
tho world to my that tie people did not want reform, be-
cause they had not inundated the house with petitions for it.
The tories hod raised this very cry against the noble lord's
great bill. Now the fact was that the people were tired
of petitioning parliament; but let the Prime Minister,
in answer to his own assertion, look at the peti.
tion which hid been presented in favour of the
charter. Why, after all the bad and doubtful signatures had
been removed, there were more good Lames than had ever
before been attached to all the petitions presented to parlia.
went on any one subject. It had been said that Lord John
Russell was in favour of reform, and that he only wanted
properly backing up by the people. He (Mr. Douglas)
hoped it might be so. In that case he would say, instead cf
wishing the noble lord had made his dying speech, " Lord
John live for ever!" (Hear.) However, whether he turned
out to he Lord John Finality, or Lerd John Progress, the
best way for confuting in the one case, and for confirming in
the other, was for the people to send properly authenticated
petitions to parliament. The theory of all representation
was this, that the member was the best man—the man with
' the clearest head—the most thinking man in tl.c community
—that be had the largest experience, and was, conie•
quently, fitted to lead, not to follow, the people. Ministers
ought in the ti ue spirit to be the ch uice of the people aewell as the
representatives, and so choreal because of their fitness to lead
and to govern. What would be said of the shepherd if the
sheep had to show him the way to the waters ? (Hear.)
He (Mr. Douglas) believed that Sir It. Peel had the capa-
city to lead the people, and that Lord John Russell was
altogether deficient; his great exploi', the Emancipation of
Dia.enters Bill, abundantly proved his deficiencies in the
qualities essential to a leader. The fact was, that the whip
had always been looked upon as gods ; but, for his part (he
saiii), God help the wo• ahippers of them.
The resolution was thee put from the chair, and unani-
mously carried,

Mr. O. EDMONDS, clerk of the peace, next rose and said,
that after the unanimity which had prevailed, and the cnthu
dam which had been evinced in the course of these proceed-
ings,he thought it very unfortunate that Lord J. Russell
could not be imported to a Birmingham meeting. if he
were to hear the joyful exclamations of co many thousands
' of people w hen a great measure was submitted to them, he
would not say that the people of Birmingham were indif-
ferent to reform. (Cheers.) It seemed to him, however,
that Lord John was the atone courier to Sir Robert Peel,
to run before and do the talking part, and then give place to
the right hon. baronet, who bad the power to carry out prac-
tically what the other talked to death. (Cheers.) In his
opinion nothing was more ill-advised or wicked than for
the whips to stand in the way of those reforms upon which
dependt d the atabili.y of the throne. The prime minister
might have taken a lesson from the events which had oc-
curred in other countries during the last three menthe.
Would any one have ventured to predict in one day thedown-
fall of Louis l'hilippe and his dynasty ?--uf that monarch
who was said to be one of the most profound politicians, and
at the head of a monarchy believed to be as firmly consoli-
dated as that ot any crown in the world ? But having in view
the excesses which had been committed elsewhere, the people
of England must, whilst abating no exertions to obtain
their jeot rights, be as determined to preserve the peace of
the country. (Hear.) The millions of England must put
down their names and their addresses to the petitions for re-
form; and he pledged himself, whenever a document
was brought forward with the signatures of the mass of the
population appended to it, and those well authenticated, that
they could carry whatever they liked. (Hear.) lie had
told them before in that hall, and he repeated it now, that
the man who talked of physical force was an idiot. It such
means were resorted to the consequences would be awful ;
but the plan which he had recommended for their adoption
would dead to a result which no government dare resist.
Moral force would carry all the people had a right to have.
(Ilea.) And if the people did not take the means within
their power to enlighten the minister the fault was with
themselves. He (Mr. Edmonds) believed, if they only
came forward in a peaceful and constitutional but deter-
mined manner, and demonstrated that the masses
rluired further reform, that they would carry every-
thing they were entitled to possess. He asked the
m a of Birmingham—the men who organised the political
union of 1831—whether they would come forward energeti-
evlly and demand of the minister and the parliament the
reforms now sought ? (A great burst of approbation followed
this appeal.) There were at that time two great sections of
reformers in that town: the chartists and the household
suffragists. Nvw the friends of the last were moving in the
same direction as the universal suffrage party. It had been
told them that if they got household aulfrage the more
extended franchise was certain to follow if they were entitled
to it; in such circumstances would any honest chartist do
anything to jeopardise the one measure because the other
could not at pment be obtained ? (Cries of "no.") It was
now under consideration that • conference should take

place between some of the leaders of this movement
in Birmingham and between the heads of the new
political union or complete suffrag; party, the object
being to promote a complete co-operation between the
two parties; fig it must never be forgotten that the
great cause of reform could only be successful by
an enthusiastic union of all parties. Ile appealed to them
boldly as to whether there was a single instance of the people
gaining their ends when physical force had been resorted
to ? What good ever came of violence ? On the contrary,
it blasted' the success of the people. He implored the
men of Birmingham not to listen to these insane scoundrels.
One of them had talked of setting fire to the cannon by put•
ling the torch in its mouth. That was what they had been
doing, and bad succeeded in blowing themselves and their
cause to atom?. Mr. Edmonds concluded by moving the
adoption of the following petition :

That this meeting do now agree to petition parliament in support
of Mr. Hume's motion, and that the following form of petition be
adopted:
Unto the honourable the Howe of Commons of the united kingdom
of Greet Britain and Ireland in parliament assembici, the humble
petition of the undersigned inhabitants of Birmingham humbly
shoseth flat the parliamentary Reform Act or 1032, which, as an
important advance at the right direction, your petitioners do not
wish to undervalue, though it may have given plenary satisfaction to
its framers, has by no means fulfilled the just expectations of those
for whom It was framed. That though professing very greatly to
augment the general cofutitueney of the United Kingdom, u well as
of each particular divisien and district of it, the addition on the whole
has been altogether insignifleaht, and in not a few particular in-
stances the result tag been a diminution instead of an increase.
That comprehending, u the franchise under that act does, the least
independent of the middle classes, while it excludes altogether, or in a
very great manure, the more iedependent of the working cLustea, it
has left almost as much scope to the exercise of coenion and of
bnbery and other evil infiueness, as was afforded by the old system.—
That In removing from the constitution such evident blots as Old
• Benin and Gatton, It has retained, lot the benefit of influential families
and millionatreo, a number of borough., who-, subserviency and profli-
gacy are the more disgraceful and o..ious, because sheltered
under a system of pretended freedom and purity. That
your petitioners have learned that a proposal is about to
be submitted to your honourable house so to amend the
Reform Act as to bring it into more intimate hammy
with the wishes and the scants of the people ; and to make it, as it was
meant to be thereat, a practical charter of their liberties; by con-
ferring the franchise on all male persons of legal age who may have
occupied for not lean than six months any house, or part of a house;
by giving the security of the ballot to the voter; by a fair and equit-
able dintribution of the right of returning members, instead of the
present anomalous and unjust Lucca; and by limiting the duration of
parliament to three years. That your petitioners are of opinion
that such amendments are equally essential to the con-
tinued stability of the throne and the peace of the country; for
they canna conceal from themselves, and desire not to conceal
from your honourable house, that the tremendous revolutions
on the continent of Europe which are now in programs, changing
dynasties, and subverting the moat time-hallowed institutions, have
been provoked by a system of eta-s legislation, the same in nub-
mance, though differing in degree, from that which bar so loot pre-
vailed in England; and that the complaints at home, unless newly
and wisely met by ample and fitting COOCOIMOM, can hardly fall to
Isaac in courses as violent, and, for the time, as di. estrous as analo-
pun grievances have bowed abroad. MaT it therefore please your
hon. house to give its most earnest attention to ouch prenatal when
submitted to fie consideration, and to take such measures as may
seem At to your hon. house for the same being passed with all conve-
nient speed into a law.--And your petitioner., as in duty bound, will
ever pray, &c.

Mr. Ald. WESTON seconded the adoption of this petition.
They had met there (he said) in order to satisfy the doubting
mind of Lcrd John Russell, and also to stimulate and arouse
the people in other parts of the country. The battle had yet
to be fought ' • and they would hare to meet again and again
until the evils of which they complain( d were gradually com-
bated and removed. The reforms they were at that time
seeking to obtain were only of a very moderate character;
and if not at once granted something worts must take place.
(Cheers.) Was it likely that whilst society was daily pro-
gressing the frame-work of government could be standing still ;
that antiquated forms, systems, and institutions could be per-
mined to exist, clashing as they did with the wants and the
happiness of the people 1. Tbis was the true secret
and philosophy of the revolutions which had token
place, and of the overthrow of the thrones which had been
upturned: the demands of the people fur reform were
scoffed at—extravagance and voluptuousness on the one
hand—poverty and misery on the other; until, goaded
by both, the people rose in their might, and systems which
ages had hallowed were in the midst of their vaingloriousness
swept away as by a mighty torrent, without a power to stay
its resistless force. (Cheers.) Who was there, then, that
would not prefer reform to revolution? Did the last improve
trade or contribute to the happiness of the people ? Would
not the former consolidate the stability of the empire by pro
meting and increasing the happiness of the community ? For
his part, however, he thought there was very little to choose
between Peel and Russell; both were very sceptical, neither
would see the storm on the horizon till the tempest approach.
ed. They could not have forgotten what time it took to
convince Peel that the corn laws must be repealed.
All that agitation, and all that exertion on the part of good
men, and all that money spent to convince one man!
(Hear.) Petitioning be knew did not find much favour
with the men of Birmingham, and for the reason that the
people's petitions were too little regarded. Now, however,
they intended to go upon a new principle, adopting the
old-fashioned system an their basis. Their petitions should
be so framed and got up that they could not be easily set
aside; from each town and hamlet they would go forth;
every petitioner's name and residence fairly made knows ;
and by this means they would produce such a demon-
stration, Second only W that which carried the Reform Bill,

and which shook the kingdom to its very centre. (Cheers.)
But of all things let the people be true to themselves; let
there be no disputes about mere words; for himself he had
no hesitation in saying that he was • coral lets chartist,
nothing more nor least ibut was that to prevent him from
joining hand and heart in such a movement as Lois ; laying
aside minor differences for a public good ? (Hear.) Ile be-
lieved they were all loyal enough : England hail flourished
under the system of a king, lords, and commons; and
although, if he were going to frame a new constitution, he
might be disysed to dispense with the king and the lords,
atilt he would rather endure such Us as those entaded than
fly to changes which might prodt.ce bloodshed, havoc,
desolation, and misery. (Cheers.) Let, however, the rulers
of this country—the powerful in this country—remember
that there was a spirit of endurance implanted by God in
the heart of man to yond which he could not go. With a
population on the verge of stars ation wh:..t safety and secu-
rity are to be expects d ? What the limits of endurance are
(said he) may not be spoken, even though they were known;
but, when the period comes that they are outstretched
beyond their natural limits, farewell to the love of order
which knots men tegethtr—farewell to the tits of humanity.
(Immense cheering.) Let Lord John Russell beware of that
hour. Great as are the evil. we have to endure—great sears
the wrongs of which we have to complidn, let us all
stand for " peace, law, and order;" not bating one jot of our
firmness of purpose to obtain our just demands. (Cheers.)
We wid adopt as our motto the three words I have just ut-
tered to you ; but if the time comes when the bonds which
knit those together arc rent avaunder—if the prime minister
and lei:Waters hesitate too long—let it not be laid to our
surge that we were the first to trample on toeill insitsttiong
and to raise the signal for starchy. (Applause.)
The adoption of the petition was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. W. B. Swint, a complete suffragiat, next addressed
the meeting. lie said the league did not go tar enough for
him, but that he was not disposed to do anything to obstruct
the progress.
A resolution having been subsequently passel, requesting
the borough members to present and support the petition
Mr. in acknowledging this and the vote of thanks
to him, strongly urged the neerrsity of care being observed
in attaching signatures to the petition, and that every indi-
vidual should sign his own name only, inasmuch as by that
course they would do away with the possibitity of discredit
being thrown upon any petition.
Sever.l persons in the ball complained th.rt they were
unable to write, and asked how they were to alba their sig-
natures, whereupon Mr. Monts rejoined that they might
follow the example of some of the barons who signed Magna
Charta, and make their mark, taking are that same person
affixed their names and residences.

The meeting (says our correspondent) was altogeeet a
very enthu‘i nitic one; an unttnoving inter. *t in the pro-
ceedings having been kept up until ten o'cluck at night.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, MAT 31.
An important alteration has taken place within the
last day or two in the constitution of the Irish Con-
federation, and, as I have been informed, in the clubs
also. The council of the former body has hitherto
consistcd of 150 members, more or less. These have
selected from amongst their number by ballot an
executive council of 21, in whom will reside for the
future the central moving power of the b•xly. Tho
objects of this change will easily suggest themselves!
It is reported that to-morrow night an ad.
dress from the Corfederaticn to the country will
be proposed, and carried of course, in which a
policy even more definitive than any hitherto
propounded will be recommended to the country.
The address wil,, it is said, be signed by Mr. Smith
O'Brien, and will recommend an immediate resort:to
arms. Other accounts say that there exist serious
differences in the councils of the c.nafederation,
some of the leaders being unwilling to pledge them-
selves to a desperate course, while the clubs profess
themselves rtady for any extremity. According to
the latest rumours, the meeting of the confederation
ht.d been postponed in co..sequence of the divi-
sion which had taken place among the leaders.
Meantime, the sympathy with Mr. Mitchel is
manifested in the country as well as in the metropolis,
in the substantial form of money subscription..
The most satisfactory accounts continue to b re-
ceived from all parts of the country as to the prcs-
pects of the crops, including potatoes. The weather
is most favourable, and, judging from present appear-
ances, we are likely to have an early and i.bundant
harvest.

The Cork Constitution, of yesterday, states that
Mr. Mitchel reached Spike Island "enfeebled in body
and agonised in mind, end that he spent the night of
the passage
.without sleep, and in tears." This de-
scription is inconsistent with the facts I ascertained
from a gentleman, on whose information I can rely.
Mr. Mitchel, after the Shearwater rounded Bray
Head, was visited by the officer of the watch, of
whom he asked whether he could be furnished with
a " book of any kind." This request not bring complied
with, he shortly after went to sleep, and when visited
in the morning appeared contented and eh, erful.
On leaving the vessel he expressed his Brat, ful sense
for the great kindness of the commander, officers, and
crew, all of whom had endeavoured to render his
painful situation as agreeable as possible. He asked
ore of the officers how long he would be detained at
the convict depot previ.ms to final deportation, and
whether he would be suffered to communicate with
hie family? The officer could not satisfy Lis itquiry
or either of these points.
The account of his arrival created much excite-
ment among his friends in Cork. The confederates
of the Desmond club assembled and paraded the city in
procession on Sunday evening. As in Dublin, whenever
the populace gathered in such numbers as to obstruct the
public way, they were dispersed by the police. Sail
and row boats prowled around Spike on Sunday and
yesterday to catch a glimpse of the sufferer, but it is
needless to say their:curiosity was disappointed. The
guard has been increased round all the points of the
island which lie immediately opposite to the town of
Cove.

A committee is in progress of formation in Dublin
to receive subscriptions for Mr. Mitchel',s family.
When the central body is completed, district cem-
mittccs will ba appointed, and the aggregate proceeds,
I understand, will be expended in the purchase of a
small property. It is expected that the collection
will reach 3,000/. In a few hours .504 were sub.
scribed in Drogheda.
A Mr. Maguire was lately arrested in Cavan for
having proclaimed the enrolment of a "national
guard," with the necessary " weapons and accoutre-
ments." Yesterday Sir Colman O'Loghlcn turned
aside from the Court of Queen's Bench, and applied
to the Barons of the Exchequer for a writ of habeas
corpus to bring up the body of Maguire from the
gaol of Cavan. Sir Colman argued against the
validity of the committal ; but the court were very
reluctant to usurp the functions of the Queen's
Bench, and urged "no jurisdiction." But the appli-
cation being under statute, the right was at length
conceded, and Tuesday next is named for the return
of the writ. Sir Colman very likely will " take
nothing by his motion."