The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-03 00:00:00

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
DUBLIN, Nov. I.
" The edge of war, like an eathed knife,
No more shall cut his master."—SHAKESPEARE.
The announcement given in your Journal, nearly two
months ago, under this head, is now realized. The " Ge-
neral Association" is no longer in existence ; it was dissolved
yesterday by O'Connell, pursuant to his notice, in a speech
which the Dublin Journals of this morning contain at full
length : and upon which, therefore, I need not further com-
ment, than to say—it was one of his most happy displays of
mental and physical powers. The Learned Gentleman
appeared in excellent health and spirits ; and, throughout
the entire of his able and lucid oration, evinced clear proofs
of increasing devotedness to, and knowledge of, the true in-
terests of Ireland. The strongest evidence of this appeared
in the caution he observed in saying anything that could ex-
cite too sanguine expectations in the breasts of his county-
men—while he earnestly besought them to place confi-
dence in Lords Mulgrave andMorpeth, and the general
character of her Majesty's present Government. He de-
clared himself afflicted at the idea of depending upon any
power, more than that of the people themselves, for the
amelioration of this country ; and frequently repeated those

lines which have been the motto of his political career—
! " That self-exertion is man's best friend in the various strug-
gles of public and private life." The meeting was nume-
rous and respectable ; and, if there were any dissentients—
I know they could not be many—they were silenced and
satisfied with the good policy of the course adopted, by the
tone and temper in which O'Connel reviewed the position
of public affairs, and the reasons he assigned for trusting at
present to our repruentatives in Parliament, who are said to
be a stronger phalanx of Irishmen than there has ever been
united on Irish questions in the Imperial House of Commons.
This proceeding on the part of the Liberator, who has
been hitherto considered so fond of agitation as as to be
incapable of quiescence, or unwilling to see his countrymen
in calm and rest, is regarded by many as likely to produce
a good effect on sober Englishmen. It shows demonstra-
tively that the very moment we find ourselves within the
pale of the British Constitution—recognised as subjects of
her Majesty--having an equal claim to the blessings of a
free State with the people of England and Scotland, at
that moment arc we ready to abandon a course which has
been calculated to excite dissatisfaction and discontent in

the minds of some good men. The Legislature has long since
pronounced the people of Ireland entitled to almost all the
privileges enjoyed by the people of Great Britain. But it
is only within the last two years that. the Executive paf't of
the State has evinced anything like a determination to carry
the letter of the law into practice, by declaring Catholics
and liberal Protestants eligible to those public employments
which have been heretofore monopolised by a few—the
Ascendancy faction. The Association had been called into
existence by necessity. Nothing less than a privation of right,
in withholding Corporate Reform—and insult added to
privation—could have brought into one compact combina-
tion the nearly 60,000 Irishmen from every part of the
kingdom (of whom more than 4,000 were persons of pro-
perty and influence, many of them of high station,) of which
the Association consisted. They united together for the
purpose of expressing the feelings of this country at the in-
juries inflicted on her, and to petition loudly and incessantly
against the perpetration of wrong implied in the denial of
right. With more than two thirds, however, of their Re-
presentatives pledged to the interests of their country, they
now feel disposed to try an experiment, and confnle their
cause to the generous impulses of an unsophisticated Queen,
and an enlightened Ministry.
The progress of events, not less than the incidents of
every dny, confirm us in this confidence. Our adversaries
are supplying ammunition of the very best description to
enable us to fight our cause triumphantly during the ap-
proaching Parliamentary campaign. They are dealing in
falsehoods, prejudices, and fictions of the grossest kind, which
must in due season re-act against themselves with shame
and discomfiture. Incontrovertible proofs of the tranqui-
lity and general improvement of this country will be brought.
forward immediately after the opening of Parliament ; and
the „Journals that now circulate fictions cannot dare to with-
hold fscts from their much abused and deluded readers.
Earl Mulgrave is preparing to leave for England, no doubt
with the view of being in his place in the new Parliament,
to meet the attacks of such Noblemen as may venture to
impugn his administration, on the false grounds predicated
by the Times and Standard. It is to be Loped that, for
the greater honour and glory of his Excellency's triumphs,
some more rcdoubted and better armed Knight than the
111,.rquis of Westmeath may have the courage to cater the
lists with him.' Lord Morpeth will not be !era ready and
prepared to meet his adversaries in the House of Commons,
We look forward with intense curiosity to the ridiculous
efforts that may be made by the patrons of the To; y press,
to sustain the veracity of their organs. Or rather, we antici-
pate a signal defeat of the champions of lies and corruption,
should they not prove recreant, and refuse to come forward
in support of so much infamous fabrication. If the party
cannot succeed in damaging the Irish Government, they
will, of course, fail in making any impression on Englishmen
favourable to themselves ; and then the only question will
be,—are they to continue their plans of obstruction to every
measure calculated to ameliorate the condition of Ireland ?
Should they have the hardihood so to persevere fur the

third time, they may have the satisfaction of greatly annoy-
ing their opponents—but they will as surely lay the-founda-
tion of much national mischief, and of their own ultimate
political annihilation. On the whole the Liberals here arc
acquiring courage, in proportion as their opponents threaten
and bluster, and as the Session approaches.