The Express.
London, England, 1848-07-20 00:00:00

throughout the city to-day, yet no person can account
for the general inquietude beyond a vague suspicion
of a coming storm. The Carrick-on-Suir affair,alluded
to els.where, has come in aid of this troubled state,
and quickened the alarm. There may be nothing in
the aspect of the times to warrant any real danger,
but the meeting last night at Drogheda, combined
with the resolutions of the clubs, the movement at
Carrick and Slievenamon, and various other indica-
tions of disorder, have for the first time since the club
fermentation disturbed the minds of the citizens.
The money market was a little less steady than usual.
The meeting of the clubs on Saturday night even-
tuated in the adoption of resolutions favourable to
" religion and social order," and adverse to the main-
tenance of " British legislation in this island." The
representatives of 30 cluos assembled in the confede-
ration rooms, with Mr. Dillon in the chair, when it
was resolved and declared : let. That the end of the
organisation was the overthrow of the power of Eng-
lish legislation; 2nd. That religion should be upheld,
and the " legitimate" influence of its ministers main-
tained ; 3rd. So tar from seeking disorder or enarchy,
they wish to secure independence with " the least
possible injury to any class," and in the accomplish-
ment of their designs to put an end for ever to " the
sufferings and disorders which have never ceased to
afflict our people under the sway of Britain." Mr.
Smith O'Brien proposed these resolutions, which were
unanimou.ly adopted by the committee of officers.
These are the names of the Dublin clubs :
Grattan, Dr. Doyle, Hugh O'Donel, Mulyntaux, Davis,
St. Patrick, Oliver Bond, Merchants' Assistants, Silken
Thomas, Citiserue, Emmett, 'OS, Henry Jackson, Shelmalier,
Swift Visited Irish, Swift, Archer O'Connor, Irish Felon,
Curran, Shears, Fitage-alti, Fag a bealac, Felon, ()liana-
ran, Bermuda, Students, Clamart, St. Ruth, Roger O'hieore.
Informations wire taken to-day against the news-
venders who had vi dated the cautionary notice of the
authLrities in selling the Nation and Felon on
Saturday last. They come under the old act for pub-
' lishinz seditious papers, every sale being an act of
publication. It is not likely, however, they will be
. seriously punished. On reading the article in the
Nation on which the informations were grounded, the
worthy ma ,istrate looked quite aghast, and asked the
' solicitor for the prisoners whether that was not
sedition ?

The Kilkenny deputation, consisting of the mayor,
meu.bers of council, &e., will arrive in town to-
morrow to give strength to the league. The clubs in
the city of St. Galilee are running up rapidly. 2,000
are expected to join to-night. Much uneasiness pre-
vailed in that city, in consequence of a rumour that
government had resolved on the arrest <f the popular
leader, Dr. Cane.

THE LOND-LlEUTENANT.—Notwithstanding the semi-
official announcement in the Observer that letters nominat-
ing Lord,' Justices have been transmitted to Ireland, I am
enabled to assure you that Lord Clarendon will not visit
England at present. The gravity of the circumstance con-
veyed in my despatch • o-day would, of course, be grounds
sufficient, but his excellency had already determined to re-
main on Irish soil. He did, however, contemplate a visit.
Mr. NM ITN O'BILINN IN DROONNUA.—Mr. O'Brien visited
Drogheda last night, and was received with a triumphal pro-
cession—bands, banners, trades guilds, clubs, &c. The
place of meeting was the Market square, which was densely
crowded. Mr. N. Fitzpatrick in the chair. An address
having been presented to the member for Limerick, he re-
plied in a strain which, however intended to be cautious
without descending below the popular mark, has, it is
reported, brought him under the notice of the executive.
He said: Gentlemen, these are not times for speech-making.
I came here because I have been frequently told that the
inhabitants of Drogheda were anxious that I should come
amongst then for the purpose of promoting that great object
which has been set forth in our address as the paramount po-
licy of this country—the union of Irishmen. (Hear, and loud
cheers.) And I came here with the more pleasure because this
town had alreadydistinguished itself by being amongst the fore-
most in the kingdom to set the example of that blessed union.
Gentlemen, I confess, too, I was anxious to ascertain by what
spirit you are animated under the existing circumstances of
the times ; for no man who contemplate s She present posi-
tion of Ireland can tell for a tingle day what may be the
requirements demanded of every one amongst us. You will
understand that I do not intend to place myself within the
operation of that law which would subject me to transporta-
tion to Bermuda. I am told that it is the desire of my
fellow-countrymen that I should avoid committing myself
in any way which would place me without the sphere of
being able to be useful to them in Ireland. (Cheers.) And,
therefore, I shall not on the present occasion say anything
felonious. (Cheers and laughter.) I shall not gra ify Lord
Clarendon by enabling him to put me into the gaol of New-
gate or of Drogheda. (A voice—" A cheer for Mitchel.")
(Loud cheers.) But I have no objection that the govern-
ment should know that ever since I have come to the town
I have heard some very fighting cheers ,• I have heard
sundry expressions which intimated to me that the vast coo-
-1 course which I now behold with so much pleasure have fully
determined on obtaining their nationality. (Cheers.) But
undoubtedly there is much to tempt you to consider how soon
it may be necessary for us all to have recourse to the last
means of justifying a great nation. (Loud cheers.) For
what do I find at the present moment ? Within the last
four-and-twenty hours I have visited, in prison, four of the
moat respected and virtuous men in this country. (A voice :
" Three cheers for them."—Another voice : " A groan
for Clarendon.") Don't mind groaning anybody ; that is
a very poor way of showing your feelings. If the govern-
ment were desirous to pick out of the whole population
Ireland four men whose private and public character wa
such as to claim for them the sympathy of the whole nation,
they could not have found four men more distinguished
every patriotic virtue than the four now lying in gaol .
Dublin. Having eulogized the four gentlemen now in New-
gate, Mr. O'Brien proceeded: While the government at-
tacked the clubs it was their duty to support them, for let it
be remembered that no such object as an insurrection ever
entered into the minds of the originators of these clubs.
Their object was to organise by them public opinion, and
not to leave it at the mercy of any one man, whoever he
might be, but to base it on the general feeling of the people.
(Hear, hear.) lam anxious, from what I sec here, to per-
suade yon that it is of the utmost importance that you
should observe the most perfect order at all your public
meetings. I met at Cork, the other day, above 10,000
people, of whom 2,000 belonged to the clubs. The 8,000
were pressing on each other, while the 2,000 took up their
places in regular order, and really looked more numerous
and imposing than the mass who were so irregular, and
they walked—for we must not say " marched " in these
times—(laughter)—in a manner that commanded the highest
admiration. Let me tell you what occurred to me in the
county of Cork last week. A member of a club in Bantry
rode :orty miles in one night for the purpose of conveying a
letter to me. It would appear to me that the time is coming,
or has perhaps arrived, when communication by post may
become unsafe. lam not sure that my own letters are not
opened. I believe the letters of others are. Therefore, if I
wanted to send a letter from Dublin to Donegal, I should
wish to see such an establishment of clubs through the
country, that it could be passed from hand to band without
giving any man the trouble of going ten miles with it, or
causing ham any inconvenience or expense. ("Haar," and
cheers.)