The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-26 00:00:00

IRELAND.

GRAND ORANGE MEETING AT THE MANSION
HOUSE—THIS DAY. _
(Abridged from the Dublin Evening Post of Tuesday.)
This meeting, for which the note of preparation has been
so long sounded, took place in the large round room at the
rear of the Mansion House. At one end of the room a
large platform was erected, for the accommodation of those
who were to address the meeting. On inquiry, our repor-
ters were informed that the following were amongst those
ssated on the platform :—The Marquises of Downshire
and Waterford ; the Earls of Behnore, Donoughmore,
Charleville, Glengall, Bandon, Rathdowne, and Roden ;
Lords Povverscourt, Corry, Castlereagh, Downes, Mande-
ville, Dunsanv, Hawarden, Suirdale (son of Lord Donough_
more), Claude Hamilton, and Crofton ; Hon. Randal
Plunkett, Hon. C. Maude, Sir J. K. James, Sir George
Rich, Sir Robert Shaw, Messrs. West, M.P., Hamilton,
M.P., Sergeant Jackson, ALP., &c. Exactly at eleven
o'clock Lord Roden appeared upon the platform, holding
to his nose an Orange handkerchief, lined with purple.
For a moment or two the Noble Lord seemed embar-
rassed and undecided as to what course he should pursue,
whilst peal after peal of the " Conservative fire " re-
sounded through the room. As if caught with the enthu-
siasm of the scene, his Lordship took the Orange handker-
chief from his nose, and suddenly elevated it above his
head. In a moment the signal was taken. Almost every
man in the crowd pulled out his Orange and purple hand-
kerchief, and waved it over his head, whilst the shouts of
" No Surrender" rung through the room, Lord Roden, losing
all restraint, shook his Orange flag to the wind, and mixed
his voice in the general chorus. For a minute or two the
round room presented a forest of waving Orange flsgs,
whilst the din produced by the shouting was really deafen-
ing. In fact, the meeting presented the appearance of a
vast and multitudinous Orange Lodge, and it seemed as if
all the Orangemen in Ireland had congregated for the pur-
pose of giving vent to those feelings which have been bot-
tled up since the pretended abolition of the Orange body.
The ceremonial was concluded by three rounds of the" Con-
servative fire," Lord Roden acting as fugleman and
master of the ceremonies.
Soon as order was restored, on the motion of Sir Robert
Shaw, seconded by Sir J. K. James, the Marquis of Down-
shire was called to the Chair amidst cheers and peals of the
" Conservative fire."
Lord DOWNSHIRE, on taking the chair, said, as one of
the requisitionists, he felt it his duty to give every aid in his
power at this meeting ; and, when he looked at the large
assemblage before him, composed of all ranks, professing the
Protestant faith ; and when lie knew that there were now
in this metropolis such a vast body of the rank and property
of this kingdom, he felt that the requisitionists were fully
warranted in calling the Protestants together, to lay their
wishes and their grievances before the Throne and the Le-
gislature.—(Loud cheers.) He should not further detain
them ; but he would entreat of the meeting, however much
they might feel aggrieved, to avoid any expression that was
not guided by that good sense, combined with energy of
' feeling, deserving the name of Protestantism. Violence
could do nothing creditable to a nation or body of men. In
conclusion, he called upon the meeting to support him as
their Chairman. (Here there was a round of " Conserve-
tire fire," Lord Roden acting as fugleman.)
The CHAIRMAN again rose and said, as there was so much
to be done, he should not delay them by reading the letters
which he had received. He would merely allude to them.
A valuable letter had been received from Lord Farnham—
(Cheers)—who expressed great regret that he was indis-
posed. Colonel Fordo, of the county of Down, was indis-
posed, and confined to bed ; and Lord Abercorn regretted
that he was also indisposed.
Lord RATHDOWNE rose and said—My Lords and Gen-
tlemen—(Cries of " No surrender")—l move that Sir
George Rich and Mr: Thomas Hamilton be appointed Se-
cretaries of this meeting.
Lord HAWARDEN—My Lords and Gentlemen, I beg
leave to second the motion.—Carried unanimously.
Lord RoDEN—I beg leave to move your Lordship that
the requisition which has called this great meeting together
be now read.
Mr. THOMAS HAMILTON read the requisition.
Lord RODEN proceeded. This was the most influential
meeting—the greatest meeting of the Protestants of Ire-
land that was ever assembled in that room. The Peers
who had signed the requisition with him, and who were in-
duced to take that course which they have taken because
they felt the strength of the observations in that document
before the meeting. It had laid open the danger, the immi-
nent danger, to which the Protestants were exposed in this
country at the present moment, and because he-and those
who acted with him that in their present position as Protes-
tant Peers, constantly residing in our native land, they were
bound to come forward, at the present time, to awaken our
Protestant countrymen throughout the land to a sense of
the danger which threatens them, and to arouse, as far as
in their power, their Protestant fellow-Christians in England
to a sense of that duty imposed on them, to assist the Pro-
testants of Ireland in the moment of their peril. If excuse
were necessary for the step which they bad taken, it was
to be found in the circumstances takir'-, place every day
—circumstances sufficient to make the blood boil—mas-
sacres going on, and persecution of their poor Protestant
brethren, and that system of exclusive dealing, which had
driven many of their Protestant brethren to seek sustenance
in a foreign land—the connection that existed between his
Majesty's Government in this country and the faction was
sufficient reason for them, if any excuse was necessary, for
the steps that they were then taking. He (Lord Roden)
had reason to feel proud when he saw the hundreds and
thousands that came up from the distant provinces to re-
cord their sentiments there that day.—(llear, hear.) With
respect to the business of the meeting to-day, he would
wish to say a word or two—after the gentlemen who at-
tend here have moved and seconded the resolutions, it is
intended that the address to the Crown, with the petition
to both Houses of Parliament, should be laid—(Here his
Lordship popped his head at one of the secretaries, and
asked—" where will we lay them ?") His Lordship pro-
ceeded—at the different booksellers in Dublin, in the Mer-
chants' Hall, for the signatures of those who are ready to
" hack us up" in our struggle for Protestant liberty.—
(C.:leers, and Kentish fire.) This is the time to chase away
apathy and case, for we stand at the present moment under
circumstances the most appalling ; but He that can pull down
one state and set up another, according to His will, can relieve
us out of our present difficulties. It is the duty of every real
Protestant to make use of every means in his power to protect
his wife and children, and property—it is the duty of every
Protestant to promulgate the Protestant faith, for which
our forefathers bled—(Cheers)—because on it depends—
on its maintenance in this country—on its promulgation
throughout the land—depends the existence of Protestant
, liberty. his Lordship then said that he had received let-
ters from several noblemen who could not attend the meet-
ing, although their hearts were with them—namely, Lords
Abercorn, Donegal, Mayo, Thomond, Enniskillen, O'Neill,
Castlestewart, Hillsborough, Bcrehaven, Dunlop, and
Dufferin.
The Earl of GLENGAL rose to second the motion of Lord
Roden. He looked upon this meeting as a proof that the
requisitionists had done their duty. The cheers of the men
' of Glasgow were heard in Ireland, as a proof that they were
ready to stand or fall by the Protestant Constitution. This
was but an echo of that meeting. The meeting at Glasgow
had stopped the progress of revolution in Great Britain.
This meeting would go far to produce the same effect in
Ireland. The House of Lords had done much to resist
the mania for revolution ; but it would depend on the people
to what extent the House of Lords would in future go.
Who were the people of Ireland ? Was he to be told
that those multitudes of unfortunate poor, the slaves of
the priests, were the people of Ireland ?—(Cheers, and
cries of " No, no.") Arthur O'Connor was right when
he said that such a domestic tyranny existed in Ireland,
that no landlord could exercise his right over his property.
The Noble Lord concluded by urging the most strenuous
exertions at the registries—for it was there the battle was
to be fought.—(Cheers.) They were in that battle, under
the leadership of a Noble Duke, whose banner was never
unfurled but to victory.—(Cheers.) If they did not win
that battle, he could tell them that the days during which
they could hold their Protestant estates were numbered.—
(Repeated rounds of the Conservative fire, in which -Lord
Roden again acted as fugleman.)
Marquis of WATERFORD—Gentlemen, in proposing the
resolution which I hold in my hand, I will not trespass on
your time by any lengthened observations, because the sen-
timents which I feel in common with you are most ener-
getically expressed.—( Hear.) I for my own part am
ready to take my share in the present conflict.—(ljear.)
It was only. the other day that a Protestant was nearly
murdered within my own walls ; as for me, I am ready to
loose both life and fortune sooner than submit our Consti-
tution to be destroyed.—(Hear, and cheers.) I will now
read the resolution with which I have heen entrusted. His
Lordship read the resolution, and then sat down amid
several rounds of Kentish fire.
Mr. J. B. WEST, M.P., seconded the resolution, and
went through the history of Protestantism in Ireland, to
show that British connection depended upon its sustenta-
tion. (At one point in this speech Mr. West suddenly got
into a dead lock, and for two minutes continued silent look-
ing at his notes, while the meeting resounded with encou-
raging cries of " Hear, hear.") After alluding to three
rebellions, in Ireland, the Learned Gentleman adverted to
an expression of Mr. Sheil, that the Conservatives seemed
to forget what dwarfs they were. Certainly that was a
. strange observation coming from Mr. Sheil.—(Laughter.)
But on looking at this meeting—at the multitude before -
him, he could see no warranty for such a description of
the Conservatives, who possessed the property of Ireland
in the ratio of twenty to one.—(Cheers.) He next alluded
L to the calculations made by Mr. O'Connell (whose name ex-

&tcd tremendous veiling) regarding the population of Ireland,
and contrasted them with those of Baron Foster, preferring
the latter, and designating the last returns of the commis-
sioners of copulation as erroneous, and, in many instances,
fraudulent. He next alluded to Lord Mulgrave, designat-
ing his Excellency as " the pupil of Mr. O'Connell," which
produced general yelling. He hoped Lord Mulgrave would
in future be more particular in his allegations regarding the
amount of Protestant population, when he took the trouble
of ascertaining the facts. He then went into calculations
respecting the contributions of the Mendicity and other in-
stitutions made by the Rev. Charles Boyton, whose name
was received without a single cheer. In going through
those calculations, the Leained Gentlemen used the terms
Protestants and Catholics, when there were loud shouts—
call them Papists—call the rebels Papists." Gentlemen
(continued Mr. West) you are perfectly free to call them
by whatever name or epithet you please ; but I trust you
will agree with me that those addressing you from this
'place should be at liberty to apply the terms in general
use. Then, I say, the Catholic contributors—(here there
were loud shouts of " no, no ; call them Romans.") Very
well, gentlemen, I shall call them Roman Catholics.—
(Loud cheers.) Mr. 'West next alluded to a letter of Mr.
O'Connell's, in observing upon which he said, " here is the
letter of that gentleman.—(Loud shouts of " no, no :" call
him that beggarman," followed by loud cheers.) Mr.
West next alluded to Mr. O'Connell's exertions to con-
ciliate the Orangemen, which he characterized as humbug
and cajolery. _ . _

The Earl of DONOUGHMORE next rose and was received
with deafening rounds of the Orange " Conservative fire."
He said the resolution contained such indisputable facts,
that he would merely move it, but for the part he had
taken heretofore in politics. He had been a supporter
of Catholic emancipation.—(Cries of " Call them Romans.")
The Catholic Relief Bill had been passed with every pos-
sible security—even the precaution of a solemn oath ; but
nevertheless the Protestant institutions of the country were
now in the most imminent danger.—(Loud cheers.) For
that reason he should most cordially co-operate with those
who composed this vast assemblage. _

Mr. G. A. HAMILTON animadverted on the Earl of Mul-
grave's government sending down troops and stipendiary
magistrates to the north, to suppress disturbances where
none existed, and concluded by passing a glowing eulogium
on .the loyalty, the consistency, and the morality of the
Protestants of Ireland. He then sat down amid waving
of Orange handkerchiefs and all kinds of Orange noise.
Lord CASTLEREAGH was next introduced, and said they
knew each other, and were determined to act together in
the maintenance of that Constitution and those liberties
which, under God's blessing, they never would consent to
give up.—(Cheers, and Kentish fire.)
Mr. Fox (the late Candidate for Longford) seconded
the resolution in a speech of considerable length, in the
course of which he said—that at the last election he was
beaten by the arts of the Government, the Association, and
the Priests.—(Groans.)
The fifth resolution was proposed by the Hon. Tilos.
VESCI, and was seconded by the Rev. Mr. ANDERSON, of
the Synod of Ulster, who concluded by giving the right
hand of fellowship to his Protestant brethren of the Esta-
blished Church.
Lord POWERSCOURT moved the sixth resolution. He
saw himself surrounded by men of rank, of talent, and of
energy, who were all combined against that base sedition
which was shouted every week at the Corn Exchange—
( Hear)—by that man who calls himself a patriot, but who
allows his country's sons to be ground under the millstone
of a base and superstitious priesthood.—(Cheers.) He de-
nies them a religion and enlightened education. He calls
himself a friend to his countrymen—but, nevertheless, he
wrings from the hand of the peasant his hard-earned pit-
tance, and from the mendicant his miserable mouthful to
fill his own- already well filled money hags.—(Cheers.)
The Rev. M. O'SULLIVAN seconded the resolution, and
was left speaking in his usual style.