The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-03 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, July 2.
Mr. W. Smith O'Brien, having recently returned
from Poland, was requested by a number of gentle-
men of different denominations to deliver a lecture

on that country, and its present struggle for inde-
pendence. He readily complied with the requisi-
tion, and the lecture was delivered yesterday even-
ing, in the round room of the Rotunda, which was

crowded greatly in every part. It was feared by
some that he would mix up the case of Ireland with
the discussion, which would cause dissension, and in-
jure the cause of Puland. He promised to abstain
from doing so, and kept his word. The chair was
occupied by Mr. P. P. M'Swiny, town councillor.
Mr. Smith O'Brien was received with unbounded

enthusiasm, many of the audience waving their
hats and handkerchiefs. He said was proud
to hear from those cheers that after to long an ab-
sence the feelings of the Dublin peDpie were the
same towards him as they had been is former times.
Much of the lecture was cccupied wi,h a review of
the history of Poland and its former efforts to effect

its emancipation. When in Poland Mr. Smith O'Brien
learnt that the local agents of the British Government
speak of the Poles as revolutionists, and an intelli-
gent Russian officer, with whom he had a long con-
versation, took it for granted from all the evidence
which had fallen under his observation that the Eng-
lish Government are favourable to Russia rather
than to Poland. Before he arrived at Cracow he
was disposed to believe that Austria, from motives
of policy, was adopting a strict neutrality between
the contending parties; but he found, on the con-
trary, that all the agencies which she can employ,
without openly espousing the cause of Russia, are
set to work to assist the Russians and to injure the
Poles. Persons coming to Cracow and the principal
towns of Galicia with a view to crofts the frontier

are freqnently seized by the police and lodged in
prison, even though they may be duly furnished with
passports. Tee Austrian police, who are said to be
in the pay of Russia, are ever on the watch to seize
arms intended for the use of the insurgents, so that
not more than one out of every three muskets that
are purchased abroad for their use ever reach them.
The lecturer said that he entertained hopes of the
ultimate success of the Poles, even if left to them-
selves. I3y keeping to the system of guerilla war-
fare, and aided by the shelter of their numerous
forests, they will succeed if they can keep up the
national enthusiasm. He related instances of Rus-
sian cruelty and brutality, and made an earnest
appeal to Irishmen to aid the Poles in their noble
struggle to cast off the Russian yoke, He would
not advise any young Irishmen to go out to Poland
to fight, unless he might have an opportunity of
doing it under the protection of France. If his
age were 25, instead of 59, he would certainly have
made a campaign in Poland before his return to
Ireland ; and if any young man who could com-
mand a sufficient amount of money to defray his
own expenses, and could endure privation, were
anxious to go to the aid of the Poles, he would not
dissuade him, even if he were his own son. He
should, however, know something of the German,
French, or Polish language. The lecturer put his
peroration in the mouth of some future citizen of
emancipated and independent Poland, whom he re-
presented as saying,---" When we were in the last
extremity of despair, when we were made the sport
of diplomacy by the statesmen of Europe, when we
received from mighty and wealthy nations nothing
oeyond barren expressions of admiration and of sym-
pathy, we learnt that there was an island in the
West, the inhabitants of which were among the first
of the nations of the earth, who stood forth and pro-
claimed that nothing less than the entire independ-
ence of Poland ought to satisfy the conscience of
Europe, upon which, the successive partitions of our
country have weighed like the remorse which follows
a crime; and the inhabitants of that island, at a
moment when they were themselves suffering many
calamities, tendered to us such assistance as they
could afford. The rich man gave according to his
wealth, and the poor man gave aecording to his
poverty, but all gave something for the redemption
of Poland. Blessed be the men of Ireland ! Blessed
be that land of saints ! Blessed be that land of

heroes! My countrymen, if you desire to earn the
gratitude awl blessings of a sensitive and heroic
race; if you desire to win eternal renown for your-

selves and for your country; if you desire to per-
form a sacred duty which shall be acceptable to

your consciences and to your God, come forward
❑ow in support of oppressed Poland, and, imitating
the custom of our ancestors, let the cry be, Ireland
to the rescue ! Ireland to the rescue of Poland r"

Professor Kay.Anagh read a letter from Archbishop
Cullen, expressing sympathy with the Poles, regret-
ting his inability toattend the lecture, and promising
his mite should a subscription be opened in aid of
the heroic and suffering Poles. Mr. Dillon,barrister,
ono of the "men of '48," in moving S vote of thanks
to Mr. S. O'Brien, expressed his regret that Ireland
could not send a division of 10,000 men to aid the
Poles, who on the plains of Poland could test the
merits of their national weapon the pike. There
seemed to be magic in the last word for some of the
audience, for it excited their enthusiasm to the
highest pitch. Mr. Crane, a former lieutenant in
the Pope's Irish Brigade, seconded the motion. Mr.
J. O'Donnell, of Limerick, moved that committees
be formed in the towns of Ireland, and that the
ladies should be solicited to give their aid, following
the example of Mrs. Wilde, who was on the plat-
form; and whose presence was hailed with loud ap-
plause. Professor Hennessy, of the Catholic Univer-
sity, brother to the hon. member for King's County,
attempted to address the meeting, but he could not
get a hearing. There were loud cries from the audi-
ence of " Illuminations !" and, although Mr. Hen-
nessy endeavoured by gestures to gain a hearing, the
groaning, and hissing, and shouting of the word
" Illuminations !" continued, so that he could not
speak. The Processor, finding he would not be
heard, resumed his seat, andthe people cheered with
renewed vigour at their triumph. A committee was
proposed, which included the names of Archbishop
Cullen, Mr. W. S. O'Brien, The O'Donoghue, M.P.,
Mr. P. Hennessy, M.P., Mr. D. C. Heron, Q.C.,
Mr. J. B. Dillon, and Mr. Gregory Martin. The
meeting was addressed by Mr. W. Burke, Professor
O'Sullivan, Mr. Devitt, and Mr. F. Morgan, and,
after voting thanks to the chairman, the vast
assembly dispersed.

The following officers have beeu placed under
orders to embark with the reinforcements of Royal
Artillery about to be despatchei to India during the
present season—viz., for Bengal, Capt. R. Oldfield,
Capt. G. Haßand, Capt. Slime, Capt. W. Delane,
Capt. J. A. Bazalgette, Lieut. C. W. Townsend,
Lieut. T. C. Nicholas, Lieut. W. S. Alexander,
Lieut. G. C. Baylay, Lieut. C. F. B. Grey, Lieut.
H. F. Smythe, and Lieut. C. E. Beadwell. For
Madras—Lieut.-Col. A. W. Alacintyre, C. 8., Capt.
H. M. G. Purvis, Capt. W. F. B. Lawrie, Capt.
M. C. Lawson, Lieuts. J. Featherstonhaugh, A. J.
Lovie, H. P. Macerthy, C. F Cambier, M. I. Sex-
ton, E. Johnson, H. Roberts, J. B. Knox, and G.

Black. For Bombay—Capt. S. Hoskins, Capt. G.
F. Worsley, Capt. G. Twisc Lieut. T. W. Major,
Lieut. H. Geary, Lieut. M. J. Clarke, Lieut. M. A.
Chaldecott, Lieut. C. H. Campbell, Lieut. J. H.
Humphrey, tient. W. S. Langley, Lieut. H•
lirateley, Lieut. H. D. Rielmond, and Lieut. E•
W. Buller.

THE YELVERTON CASE.—This case was set down
for bearing in the House of Lords for Tuesday last, but it
is doubtful if it will come before cleir lordships this session.
Mr. Thelwall, of Hull, who recovered a verdiot against
Major Yelverton in Ireland for Ors. Yelverton's mainte-
nance, is taking proceedings agailst the major in iEngland
to enforce the payment in the English courts.