The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-04 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Nov. 2.
DEPUTATION TO TEE LORD LIZITTENaNT FROM THE
Cosa cry GALwAy.—lfis Excellency the Lord Lieutenant
received a deputation, on Saturday, at one o'clock, in
the Viceregal Lodge, Phccnix Park, composed of gentle-
men from Galway, headed by T. B. Martin, Esq.,
M.P., who informed his Excellency that the deputat on
were instructed to request that immediate employment
should be given to the poor all through the county of
Galway, and particularly in the districts bordering on
the coast. He stated that the districts in question being
of a mountainous character, there was no substitute to be
got for the potato, which had signally failed in every
locality, and that consequently the people would not only
want employment to procure the means of raising food, but
the establishment of depots where they could buy it, as in
many baronies it was at present necessary to travel upwards
of twenty miles for it ; and he also requested that directions
should be given to have the works suspended by the treasury
order of the Ist of September taken up and tinished.—The
Lord Lieutenant, in replying to the deputation, stated,
that he had issued orders that all suspended works should be
completed, and said, that it was only such works as were
presented for under the former act, and had not been
commenced, that were not to be set on foot again. He
also informed the deputation that as little time as pos-
sible would be lost in giving work under the labour act,
which he hoped to carry out, so that the poor who got em-
ployment under it should be paid as high wages as could be
consistently given, and paid regularly, at least once a week.
As to depots, his Excellency said he could not make any
promise that they would be established, as there were a
great many obstacles in the way ; he was, however, deter-
mined to do all in his power to carry out the wishes of those
who were taxing themselves to feed the poor ; and if it was
fbwnd that depots could be conveniently established without
interfering with the trade of the country, he would throw
no impediment in the way. His Excellency, in conclusion,
referred the deputation to the Board of Works to consult
with Sir Randolph Routh on the latter subject, which he
stated ho was unable to give any decisive answer to.
There was no memorial presented to his Excellency by
this deputation.
REPEAL ASSOCIATION—CONCILIATION HALL.—
The usual weekly meeting of the Itepealers was held this
day. Considerable interest was attached to the meeting:
First, because it was known that Mr. O'Connell, after a
considerable absence, would be present : and secondly, that
he would speak upon the subject of the divisions between
the two parties of Repealers. Mr. O'Conuell entered the
Hall a few minutes before one o'clock, at which hour the
whole building was crowded to overflowing. After some
preliminary proceedings,
Mr. STEELE rose and made a statement in reference to
an
article in the Nation, in which " Measureless contempt" was
expressed for Mr. Steele. He then proceeded to contrast
the writings in the Nation with the affidavit made by Mr.
Duffy during the state trials, and contended either that
these writings were a lie or the affidavit a perjury.
Mr. O'CoNNELL then proceeded to make his speech of the
any. He was received with repeated bursts of applause.
He thought be would have to address them at great length
on the dissension between the repeaters ; but he was unable
to do it, for the misery of Ireland was so great he was ab-
sorbed in it. The country was in great peril. They were
only in the commencement of horrors, and if heaven did not
guide the councils of the government, it was impossible to
predict what would result Iran them. He could not see his
way to the remedy, but he would say what would aggra-
vate the misery, and that was if the people should not
practise forbearance, and if they should not, know that all
depended on the good sense of the people, and on their
taking the advice—he might say the commands—of the
clergy. Ile then commended the conduct of the Protestant
and Presbyterian clergy in the present conjuncture, and re-
joiced that a community of danger had made all united. He
said that, after ail, these would not feed the people. He
was anxious to impress the real extent of the destitution on
the mind of England, though the English press might abuse
him for it. The hon. and learned gentleman then said that
the result of their interview with the Lord Lieutenant was.
that little could be done for the people, but that that little
would be done. With regard to the Board of Works, they
had an interview with the Commissioners, and found that
their shortcoming was caused by the paucity of engineers,
and other assistants. Such was the universality of the d:stress,
the Board of Works could not get engineers enough. He
recommended every locality should send up a representative,
and suggested that these should form a national committee.
For himself he had taken care, that, in his own district, fur
some months, at least, there would be no famine felt. He
then adverted to the attacks made on the people employed
by the Board of Works, stigmatised the conduct of the out-
rageous,which had caused those gentlemen to resign, and pre-
vented all relief—for those gentlemen would meet death in
open fight, but would not be torn in pieces by a mistaken
multitude. Mr. O'Connell then earnestly recommended for-
bearance and consideration to the persons employed
by the Board of Works. He next complained of
the omission of the Curates, Catholics and Protes-
tants, from the relief committees • for they knew the
distressed in their several parishes, which the parish
priests and rectors did not know. The hon. and learned
gentleman then expressed his approval of the system of task-
work, beeause by that means the children, and even the wife
of the labourer, who could not be employed under the act,
Would assist the husband and father, and hasten the
menpletion of the task. But the pay should be liberal,
and should be paid in part before the teak was com-
pleted. With respect to food, Lord John Russell was
mistaken. He forgot that few landlords who could leave
Ireland lived in it, and those therefore who remained ought
not to be expected to assist the people. But the govern-
ment ought to establish food depots, or famine would
swallow up the people: for, the other day, in his
own district, his son gave 171. for a ton of oatmeal,
201. for a second ton, and he could not get a third
ton for love or money. He again referred to the officers
of the Board of Works, and begged they might not be in-
terfered with. Then as to wages—nothing should be
considered wages which did not enable a man to obtain sub-
sistence according to the present prices of provisions. He
earnestly impressed upon the people to abstain from violence
above all things, and called on all classes to assist the govern-
ment to feed the people. And now he would express his sa-
tisfaction that the seceders had determined on not coming back.
Mr. S. O'Brien, a respectable gentleman, had walked out at
the door of the Hall. and now they had set up for themselves.
It was better they should do so at once. They wish to cell
themselves a phalanx—now, he christened them a phalanx,
and that they should be called. They should recollect that
it was by such essays the French infidels,withVoltaire attheir
head, who had revolutionised France, had commenced their
attacks on Christianity, and the necessity of such a phalanx
seemed to be that they should supply periodically essays morel
stimulating than the preceding, until at length they
went off like the pop of a soda-water bottle. (Laughter.)
Mr. O'Connell then proceeded to comment upon some pas-
sages of Mr. O'Brien's letter, from which he contended that
that gentleman contemplated an appeal to revolution. And
he cautioned the people of Ireland against listening to Mr.
O'Brien and others who counselled an appeal to the sword ;
and a greater instance of the injury which resulted from the
men who appeal to the sword could sot be afforded than that
referred to by Mr. Smith O'Brien : the revolution of 1688,
which was concluded by the treaty of Limerick, which the
sword cut asunder the day alter it was signed !
• There were two parties now in Ireland—the Phalanx and
the Association; let the people choose between them. But
he would have nothing to do with those who relied upon the
sword. In the meantime, it was happy they were separated
—they were completely rid of them. And now he appealed
to the gentry, the Conservatives, to Irishmen of every dem—
and he asked, would not the country be better for govern-
ing themselves ? Why did not the gentry join them when
they knew the country ought to be governed by itself?
Because they were afraid of the physical force men, who
though they did not declare themselves, had always sou;
rocs maintained the principle. But there was nothing to
prevent them cow from joining them, and he hoped to
find that the gentlemen having assembled in national
committee, would think it just as well that they
should hold their next meeting in a certain room la
College-green—a room which was now square, but would
be made round again when they assembled there with a
hurrah for the repeal of the union. The hon. and learned
gentleman then proceeded to contend that the principle of
the seceders was a principle which involved treason, and'
illustrated his position by the case of the Catholic Anemia-
tion. He contended that he had done the Repeal Asemba-
non great good by preserving the fidelity of their allewkines.
They would resort to constitutional means alone, and, by
those means, said the learned gentleman, believe me, my
friends, you will carry the repeal. (Loud cheering.)
Some documents were then read, after which Mr. O'CON-
NELL again arose, and said he would report his answer to
the Cork resolutions, recommending reconciliation, on
Monday nest.
Capt. BRoDERICK next addressed the meeting, and con-
tended that Lord John Russell should declare for the open-
ing of the ports.
Mr. O'CoNNELL said it had been suggested that he would
abandon Cork at the next election. It woe no such thing.
They were in such a position in Dublin, that they could re-
turn the good men, and he would not abandon Cork; his fate
was linked with his constituents of Cork. There would be
a contest there if anybody else set up—there would be none
against him. Several conservatives had promised him their
support, and one gentleman offered even to propose or second
him, and another said ha would go fifty cones to give him a
vote.
The rent for the week was announced to be 671. 12a. 4d.
The meeting then adjourned.
LABOUR BATE Act.—At the adjourned sessions for Rath-
down, on Saturday, very large sums were presented for