The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-26 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, May 25.
The anniversary of the Queen's birthday was
celebrated by a military display in the Phcenix
Park. The weather being propitious a large num-
ber of people 'witnessed the review. The troops,
mustering nearly 7,000 men, were under the com-
mand of General Ridley. They appeared in ex-
cellent condition, and went through the manceuvres
and the sham fight in admirable style. In the city
the public offices were all closed, and the day was
observed as a general bolyday. In Kingstown the
clubhouses and the shipping were gay with flags
and bunting. At noon a salute of 21 guns was
fired front the deck of the Royal George. Several
yachts wore cruising in the Bay, and multitudes
went out from Dublin to enjoy the sea breeze and
the green fields. In consequence of the genial heat
and the rein, which has fallen abundantly at inter-
vals since Thursday, the country looks beautiful,
and the crops rich beyond anything known in Ire-
land for many years.

An interesting ceremony was performed at Dreg-
heda yesterday. That town was once famous for
religious bigotry, dirty streets, and witty beggars,
and though only 23 miles from Dublin, and on the
high road to Ulster, it had as little appearance of
civilization as if it were in the heart of Connaught.
The railroad and other circumstances have improved
it very much ; and now it has found a munificent
benefactor in one of its natives, Mr Benjamin Whit-
worth, one of the wealthiest merchants of Manches-
ter. Yesterday, in the presence of an immense
applauding crowd, who asked no questions about
religion or politics, he laid the foundation-stone of
the Whitworth Hall—a building which he is about
to erect at his sole expense, for lectures, reading-
rooms, libraries, and public meetings. The hall will
cost £3,000. At 12 o'clock the mayor, Mr. Chad-
wick, and the members of the corporation assembled
at the Tholsel in their robes of office ; the various
trades of the town came out with banners, and the
children of the Christian Brothers Schools, bearing
small flags. A procession was then formed, and
followed to the site by a vast multitude. Arrived
there, the mayor read an address to Mr. Whit-
worth, expressing the esteem, regard, and gratitude
of the inhabitants. Mr. Whitworth, in reply, said
his object was to find profitable employment for the
people, and thus to check the tide of emigration.
He had always found the Irish willing to work.
He was about to establish a cotton mill at
Drogheda, of the success of which he had not a
shadow of doubt, and he believed others from
England, although at present prejudiced, would
follow his example. The cotton trade in Lanca-
shire had been disorganised and the workmen
scattered in all directions. He believed that,
owing to the scarcity of labour in England, not
more than three-fourths of the mills would ever
again be fully employed. There was, therefore,
a splendid opportunity to commence operations in
Drogheda. He would give a good day's wages for
a good day's work. He did not think there would
be any combination. They would see that it was
for their interest to work with him and help him to
better their condition. Three cheers were then
given for Mr. St. George Smyth, who had given the
site, and the stone was laid in the usual form. Mr.
Whitworth next turned the first sod on the site of
his proposed cotton factory. He expressed a hope
that not only Drogheda, but the whole of Ireland,
would bo benefited by this movement. Mr. Whit-
worth was subsequently entertained at a public
dinner, which was attended by about 150 of the
gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood. There
has been for some time a good deal of talk in Drog-
heda of returning Mr. Whitworth as the represen-
tative of the borough at the next general election,
but it is said that he declines the honour.

A dreadful boiler explosion took place in Lon-
donderry about 6 o'clock on Monday evening. The
boiler was on the premises of Mr. Christy, a miller,
in Foyle-street. The sound was like the discharge
of artillery, and a shock like that of an earthquake
was felt over the town. Two houses abutting on
the boiler were blown up, and nl less than five per-
sons were found dead under the ruins, besides
several persons more or less injured. The victims
were Mr. Conaghan, owner of one of the houses;
his daughter-in-law, a fine young woman ; a ser-
vant maid, a girl about eight years old, and a child
about two years. In the room of another house
were found the remains of the widow M'Swine,
shockingly mutilated. The Derry Sentinel states
that such was the force of the explosion that many
houses in the neighbourhood had their roofs shat-
tered as if the town had been bombarded, and
many windows were broken. The loss of so many
lives has cast a gloom over the city.