The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-07 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DCIALM, J&e. 5.
The meeting of the County of Dublin, held yester-
day, to denounce free trade, was cleverly managed by
the protectionists. The requisition upon which the
meeting was convened for Friday, only made its ap-
pearance in the Evening Mail on Monday, and subse-
quently all noise about it was hushed. The protec-
tionist newspapers scarcely mentioned the subject,
and everything like eclat was carefully avoided. The
meeting was held at Kilmainham, at • convenient
distance from the Dublin " rabble," and a select mob
of raggamuffina was hired to shout down all discus-
sion and cheer the landlores. The appearance of the
poor wretches who were employed for this purpose at
once made that fact palpable. At all events the whole
affair was most disgraceful ; and the protectionist
resolutions were adopted amidst a scene of confusion
which it would be difficult to describe.

A meeting, held at Dunmannay, in the County of
Cork, on Thursday, ended in the total discomfiture of
the protectionists. The Rev. Mr. Kelleher, in an ex-
cellent speech, proposed a tree trade resolution, which
was carried by an overwhelming majority.
At a meeting held in Cavan on the 3rd instant,
the protectionist petition. was adopted. Sir John
Young, in a very able and temperate speech on the
occasion, gave an exposition of his views on the sub-
ject of protection. He declared himself in favour cf
I free trade ; and that, consequently, he could not give
his support to any measure which would have for its
object the re-imposition of a tax on the chief articles
of food. He was heard throughout with the utmost
attention ; and though he failed to convince the
meeting that he took the right view of the question,
he m►de a favourable impression by the candid man-
ner in which he avowed his principles.

A fire took place in the Loughrea Workhouse on
Thursday morning, by which the whole central range
of the building was entirely destroyed. A correspon-
dent of the /Weems says:
It is stated that the tire commenced about the hour of 11
o'clock at night, in the master's room. The tire was at its
greatest fury at the hour of 5 o'clock in the morning. The
entire central range of building was utterly destroyed, and
were it not for the active exertions of a company of the 89th
Regiment the entire range of building lying north east
would have been also burned down. This company, under
the directions of Sergeant Great, succeeded by means of a
water-engine in arresting the spread of the devouring ele-
ment. Although a great portion of the furniture has been
saved, yet the destruction of
_property is immense. The
house, it is stated, is insured. If so, the union is at no lose.
Unjust and unfounded suspicious lave beta expressed with
regard to the master, who, it appears, was dismissed a few
days since from his °Mee. The inhabitants of Loughres,
in great numbers, were at the awful scene, even at that
early hour, and assisted the military and polio; in quenching
the flames.
At the connoil meeting of the Royal Irish Agricul-
tural Society yesterday, letters were read from the
following districts, stating that the local bodies were
prepared to contribute the necessary sum of SM. to
secure the services of a practical instructor, viz.: the
Ballinaaloe Farming Society ; Innisticige ditto; Ard-
finan and Newcastle ditto; Wexford ditto; Ken-
naught ditto; Lisinore ditto ; Sligo ditto; also the
Listowel Union, and from several other districts,
making inquiries on the subject.
A vacancy, mays the Erening Mail, is likely to
occur within the month in the representation of Mayo.

It is maid that Mr. Dillon Browne has been appointed
by Earl Grey to the Govercorahip of the Falkland
Wands.

DRAMA.

---
THE FLOATING DRAMA.—The Medway steamer,
commanded by Ceptain Symons, left Sonthatnyou en the
17th of last October, and on the 2nd of Novemb r, between
Madeira and Barbados', the following entertainment took
place on board ; and we need hardly observe that, between
the sea and the tailors there was a completely overflowing
audience : The sntle,tai!mnents conristed of Sheridan's

comedy of "The Rivals," an epilogue, written by Mr.
Freeman (a passenger and comptroller of the customs at
Jamaica), and spoken by the gentleman who personated
ydia Languish; several songs, sad the Sailor's Hornpipe
by one of the crew. One of the stage managers was Mr. H.
Reynolds, eon of the well knows author of his own " Life
and Times."