The Express.
London, England, 1848-12-06 00:00:00

IRELAND.

APPALLING SACRIFICE OF LIFE ON
BOARD A SHIP.
Dunwr, Dac. G.
List evening an appalling communication was
made by telegraph to the authorities at the Castle
from the Mayor of Londonderry. It appea-s that on
Sunday. during a heavy storm, an emigrant ship, also
called the Londonderry, put into the above port,
when the dreadful discovery was made that there
were 40 to be disembarked. The vessel, it
seems, sail from Sligo on Friday with a great. num-
ber of emigrants on their way to Liverpool, to be
trans-shipped to the United States. Among them
were several wealthy farmers, who had, or were
reported to have, large sums of money on
board.
A communication from the Derry Sentinel office,
Monday morning, after stating that an inquest had
taken place on the body of one of the sufferers, and
had been adjourned, proceeds thus :
"It appeared from the evidence tendered that the
Londonderry steamer left Sligo for Liverpool at four
o'clock on Friday evening, having on board, besides
cattle, &c., nearly one hundred and fifty steerage
passengers, the greater number of whom were on
their way to America; and that the evening became
so boisterous that none but the crew could keep the
deck. The passengers were ordered below, the hatch,
or companion , was drawn partially across ; but
it appears that sufficient space was not left
for the purpose of ventilation, which caused the
unfortunate people below to experience all the horrors
of suffocation. One passenger, more fortunate than the
rest, succeeded in gaining the deck, and alarmed
the mate, when he, with some of the crew, hastened
to their relief; but it was too late-73 human beings
had ceased to exist. It would be premature to go
further with the matter at present, as the inquest is
pending. The captain and crew have been taken
into custody."
The gentry of the Tuam district have held a meet-
ing to complain of the poor law, and its operation.
Tney declare that the effects of a visitation of provi-
dence ought not to be borne exclusively by
victims of that scourge. That the imperial legisla-
tion is bound to provide for the averting of the star-
vation that prevails. That the poor law is defective,
inasmuch as it throws the support of the poor on one
class of property ; and they claim that an income tax
be imposed to support the poor; that a discrimina-
tion be made between the resident proprietor and the
absentee, and that the areas of taxation should be
lessened. _ _ _

The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the Hibernian
Bank was held yesterday, the governor, Alderman
Timothy O'Brien, M.P., presiding. From the account
statement read, it appeared that the net profits of the
bank for the year ending lst Nov. were 18,0251. 158.7 d.
on a paid-up capital of 250,0001. Losses on banking
in 1847 were 12,0001. A dividend of 5 per cent. was
declared.
The Evening Mail says " A new question of in-
ternational law will arise upon the proceeding referred
to in the following circular : Doubtless the club law
will not sanction the condemnation of a party unheard,
and therefore a writ of habeas ewes must issue to
bring up the body of Mr. William Smith O'Brien, M.P.,
on Friday, the 15th of December, 1848, at 1 o'clock
p.m., to be solemnly arraigned in Pall-mall. The
Queen's writ used not to run in Connemara. Whether
the writ of the Oxford and Cambridge University
Club will ran into Richmond Penitentiary or not is a
question for the gentlemen of the long robe. It may
give them as good an occasion u any other to talk
nonsense for four or five weeks more :
Oxford and Cambridge University Club, Nov. 29.--Sir,—A certifi-
cate, signed by thirty-two member. of the club, having been pre-
meted to the committee, certifying that the conduct of William Smith
O'Brien, Fog., M.P., hos been, in their opinion, derogatory to his
abides in sodall, and injurious to the character and interlude of the
club. I beg to inform you that the committee have, in pursuance of
the 52nd rule, mamba a special general meeting of the club for
Friday, the 15th of Deoembre, ISM, at I o'clock p.m., for the purport
of ilweettflutht{ the ehative brought again* Wfillam Smith O'Brien.
Evq., M.P., and deciding whether he has merited impulaiam I have
the honour to be, air, your suet ebedout servant, WILLIAM Gems
Molina, Secretary:.

EXCLUSION OP CATHOLICS PROM JUJU/IC—A memorial
is io course of signature throughout the city, and numerous
names are being attached to it, protesting against the exclu-
sion of R•iman catholic, from juries, as against the spirit of
the Emancipation Act. This document will probably reach
the hands of Lord Clarendon on his arrival.