The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-16 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN COLLEGE ELECTION.
[From the DI Alin Morning Post of Tuesday.'
]'eater ay, at eleven o'clock, the election fur a Representative of
the University was held In the new Theatre of the College.
Dr. Potions. L.L.D. rose for the purpose of proposing the
Right lion. 'trot. Conynghom Plunkett as a tit and proper person
to represent the University in Parliament, and adverted in general
terms to his conduct and capabilities.
Alr. O'Destonitt:E, a scholar, seconded the nomination of Mr.
Plunkett.

Mr. PLUNKETT presented himself, and was received with
ming'ed applawe and disapprobation. After the Right Hon.
Gentleman could obtain a hearing, he thanked the constituency of
the College for tile honour they had heretofore conferred upon him,
an honour which be confidently looked forward to receive again at
their hands. Ile went into a review of his political conduct, and
said that although he felt that there were very many about him
who differed essentially with him upon that greatque.tion which di-
vided the cmntry—namely, the Catholic question, yet be was sure
that they all had the same object in view, th: security of the Pro-
testant Establishment in Church and State, however they might
differ in their opinions as to the mode by which an object so de-
likable was to be achieved. Those opposed to him (Mr. Plunkett)
might consider that the best security for the Protestant Ascen-
dancy was to be found in withholding farther concessions from the
Roman Cathilies. lie thought differently, and while he gave full
credit to those who differed from him for the sincerity of their
opinione, he claimed a like privilege for himself. The Right lion.
Gentleman Coen alluded to the Candidate who had lately canvassed
them, as the Representative of those principles to which he (11r.
Plunkett) was averse, and paid some compliments to Mr. licorice
Moore, and that portion of die Electors by which he had been
supported.
Tie question being put, and no other Candidate being proposed,
the customary Proela.uation was made, and Mr. Plunkett was de-
clared duly elected.

An attempt was made to chair Mr. Plunkett through the courts
of the College, and for this purpose he was smelly boistrd on the
shoulders of some of dux* creatures who have forfeited every claim
to the name or Protestant by the suport they afford this man.
The stiultuts of the University, however, were resolved that insult
should not be added to injury. The spirit of Protestantism which
is &bruit' has found its way within the precincts of the Col-
ley,. A simultaneous rush was made towards the golden calf
whidt the-e id lours bad set up, lu sn instant he was hurled
from his elevated simatit a—he was prostrate. Nothing could con-
tr.' the ebullition of feeling—nothing repress the manifestation of

THE BRITISH PRESS.

disgust. The chair was shivered to atoms, and its fragments de-
posited in a place which decency forbids us to mention• while his
bearers were treated to a drenching—not under the pump. In the
mean time .Me. Plunkett escaped without suffering any injury, and
we wish him jay of his chairing.
The finale of this election we copy from the Evening Mail, as
the hest authority upon the subject. The Mail *aye, `• the spi.
rit of Protestantism has found its way within the precincts of tire
College." It seems, then, that it is only just now that the Uni-
versity has imbibed the the " Protestant spirit." flidicrto we
were to error in supposing that it was a Protestant University.—
The Provost and Fellows were erroneously believed to have been
Protestants. But now the " spirit of Protestantism," according
to the Mail, has unequivocally evinced itself within the College.
How, reader, dolt thou think the spirit manifested itself ? By as-
saulting their newly-chosen representative—the King's Attorney.
General, a man justly honoured for his great talents the intimate
friend of the Archhtshop of Doblin—the father of one beneficed
clergyman, and the bther-in-lsw of another—a man distinguished
by the perocnal regard of the '-overeign. This eminent person
was hurled from the chair in which he had been placed, and laid
prostrate; the chair was shivered to atoms. And what, reader, has
been the offence for which the vengeance of the spirit of Protestant.
dam is thus visited on Mr. Plunkett t He has done that and no
more, which the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge has
done; which the Representative in Parliament of that University
has done. but it seems these personages, no more than Mr. Plun.
kett, are too now considered Protestants ! Thus a new religion
dawns upon us.
CITY OF DUBLIN ELECTION.

[From the tame Paper.]
Yeeteraay, shortly after ten o'clock, the Court House in Green-
street was crowded.

Sheriff' MOORE handed the officer of the Court a proclamation,
which he read aloud, calling upon the electors to come unto that
adjourned meeting, and tender their votes. The law requires that
the proclamati,.n above alluded to should be read three times, and
• " reasonable time" allowed for the electors to come in. About a
quarter of an hour elapsed between each time, during which the
utmost good humour prevailed among all parties in the Court.
About twelve o'clock, Mr. Sheriff' Moore rose and declared
Mr. George Moore and Mr. Henry Grattan duly elected to serve
as Representatives in Parliament for " the County of the City of
lluhlin."—(Great cheering.)
Mr. MOORE now rose, when there was a cry for " Grattan,
(3-often." It was some time before Mr. Moore was allowed to
proceed; at length, in the midst of frequent interruptions, he spoke
to the following effect, or, rather read the following speech from a
paper which he held in hi.. hand:—

Gentlemen Electors of the City of Dublin—You will, I am eon.
II lent, readily believe me when I assure ,ou that this is the proudest
day of my life. On SAturday last 1 celled upon you to give sour
suffrages on the principles and in the spirit of independence, and
on that principle and in that spirit you have elected me as your re.
presentative. Gentlenien, the only mode I can assume to thank
my sincere friends for the unparalleled success with which I have
been crowned, is to attribute the support they have afforded me to
its t-tie cause—the principles which I advocate. Gentlemen, I rosy
well adopt for my motto— Vcui, tddi, vkl—and never was there
a triumph more complete or more powerful. Gentlemen, you
may indulge the proudest boast of rescuing the Protestant
Constituency of Dublin from disgrace. Gentlemen, the result
of your efferts has been most unparalleled. In the history
of Patlianientary Representation nothing similar to it can be
found. A few days since, the Protestant Constituency of the
city was sunk and degraded, and in a single moment hope seems
to have sprung up from the depths of despair. The impulse was
instantaneotts—the electric fluid shot with rapidity through every
portion of the Protestant mind, and within forty-eight hours of my
offering myself to your notice, I was the I{,presentative of your
Protestant feeling. Gentlemen, I had no time to canvass you, and
if I had time, there was no necessity. Your support sprung front
spontaneous feeling, and flowed In upon me from all directions. I
was stopped in the street by my friends and by acquaintances, and
by strangers. Illy table groaned with letters entreating me to offer
myself. Addresses front corporate bodies poured in upon me,
offering me their unanimous support. The Protestant lion was
aroused, and Protestant principle has triumphed. Gentlemen. I
do deny that the term party can be applied to the support which 1
have received. I have no religious animosity rankling in my heart.
I never chewed the slightest hostility to any man, or to any man's
creed. In selecting my domestic household, religion never entered
into my consideration. In tenanting my estate, I never gave a
preference to a Protestant before a Roman Catholic. I reckon
amongst my most cordial and sincere friends gentlemen of the Ro-
man Catholic persuasion. The religion of a man never exci.el
my hostility ; no, not even my suspicion. Gentlemen, I do nut
quarrel with the expression of public opinion ; no, I glory in it.
The support which I received 1 owe to public opinion, and the re-
sult is due to the exercise of it. I relied upon the rrength of a
principle, and not upon the spirit of a party, and I shall continue
to support that principle with steadiness and perseverance. I sup.
port that principle upon the conviction that the interests of all are
best supported by the maintenance of the Protestant ascendancy.
Gentlemen, allow me once more to repeat my grateful thanks tor
the honour you have conferred upon me. You have reposed th.,
utmost confidence in me—you have trusted an untried man.—l
hope that confidence will not be violated—that that trust will not
he betrayed.—Mr. Moore sat down amidst cheering and groaning.
Mr. (. addressed the electors with great warmth. From
the great noise and confusion that prevailed, it was impossible to
follow Mr. Grattan fully through his speech ; but we caught, we
believe, the principal facts. Mr. Grattan said, " Protestant electors
of the city of Dublin, I thank you. Catnolic electors of the city of
Dublin, I thank you. claim no victory, for I have received the
cordial support of the electors of Dublin. (A voice from one of the
sidegallertes said, " No, no.") Mr. Grattan—l say Yes, and fear
no coutradiction. I hold a book in my hand which shews that the
votes of one thousand Protestant freemen would have been given in
my favour. I hare another book before me which chews me that
one thousand four hundred Catholic freeholders would have voted
in my favour. The lion. Gentleman said he had obtained a vic-
tory ; over whom, I would ask ? Say, was his the triumph of
independence, and that he did not succeed through party ? Look
there"—(Mr. Grattan here pointed to Mr. aloore's placard, which
was posted on one side of the Court, and which contained these
words—" York for ever, Moore and Protestant ascendancy."
lie then pointed to his own placard, which was opposite, on which
was printed, " Grattan and Independence." Look, said Mr. G.,
on this picture and an that, and see if he did not owe his seat to a
party. Look at the symbol there stuck up, and my did he not get
in by a party ? He charged Mr. Moore with violating a compact
that lied been made with him by Mr. Moore and his party ; he had
contracted with him, in his address to be delivered here this day,
not to touch upon any religious subject, and that compact was not
observed by 111 r. Monte.
Mr. MOOSE denied being a party to any stipulation of the kind.
Mr. GRATTAN reiterated his assertion, and produced the heads
of a speech which lie intended to make there that day (in which he
avoided all mention of any religious topic) founded on the cont.
pact ; but he and his friends had kept that treaty as they did the
treaty of limerick. (Tremendous cheering.)
" They kept the word of promise to the ear,
But broke it to the hope."
(Chair, chair—" you must be chaired, Grattan.") Mr. Monte had
1(4141 he did not runt his pretensions on a party; but he (Mr. Grat-
tan) would ask him, did he not say recently that his health had
been given front the chair of the York Club, by (we think 111 r.
Grattan said) the Lord Chancellor, and if a subscription was not
raised in that quarter for him ? He did not know whether the
society alluded to did or did not come under the Secret Society Act,
or aliether the members were guilty of any transportable offence.
Mr. Grattan. in conclusion, referred to the attack made on Catho-
lics of wealth and consequence in Dublin. He reiterated his thanks
to his Protestant and Catholic friends ; he also emphatically re.
turned thanks to the Sheriffs for their conduct, which lie said had
been in every respect most impartial. He begged to speak of the
Lord Mayor in similar terms, and highly eulogized his son, the
Sheriff's Assessor, Counsellor Abbott, who had, and no doubt
indeed has condoned to do, his duty like a lawyer and a gentleman.
He sat ;loin amidst great cheering. and cries of " Chair him,
chair him."

Serer.il gentlemen who were in the centre of the Court now got
near Mr. Grattan on the bench, crying out he meat be chaired now
—the contract is broken. %Ir. Moore's friends appeared anxious
to prevent a chairing. Mr. ilrauan retired through one of the pri-
vate entrances to hut committee-room in Chapel-street, when. to
gratify the immense number assembled there. he addreased them
bout the window ; from thence be was drawn by the people in an
open barouche.accompanied by many of his friends, to his house in
Stephen's-green, where he again addressed the people • many hun-
dreds of whom followed the carriage, huzzaing through the streets