The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-18 00:00:00

THE

dable opposition has been exhibited to the enforcement
of civil bill decrees for arrears of rent. This fatal
movement, if not promptly and vigorously suppressed,
must consummate the ruin of the country. The last
hope of its social regeneration must vanish if its
children should now combine for its destruction ; the
last plank of the shipwrecked vessel will be destroyed
by the hands of the surviving crew. How can it be
supposed that English capital can be drawn into the
country, that employment can be afforded to the
labouring population, the wastes reclaimed, or the
farms properly cultivated, when a general
eombination exists to deprive the proprietors
of their just rights ? The landlord and tenant code
may require amendment. Full security shoul:t be
afforded to the occupying tenants that they will be
permitted to enjoy the fruits of their skill and in-
dustry by receiving adequate compensation for all
unexhausted improvements, in the event of the rents
being unduly raised, or of their being evicted from
their holdings. But can acts such as these, which
are now, unfortunately of every-day occurrence,
ameliorate their condition or warrant reasonable ex-

pectation of the advent of happier times ? Mos
undoubtedly not. All classes are suffering deeply
and severely ; they are enduring embarrassments
and encountering difficulties of no ordinary magni-
tude, and it is incumbent on all, without distinc-
tion of rank and station, to co-operate zealously and
efficiently for the preservation of their common
country. But this requires not merely vigorous and
energetic, but also combined action ; if any
hang back—if, in place of striving for the
general welfare and prosperity, they not only with-
hold their own exertions, but even strive to mar
those of their neighbours, it requires no extraordinary
power of vaticination_to foresee the fatal termination
of the struggle.
The conduct of the conspirators is no less insane
and destructive to themselves than it is lawless and
criminal. It is as unwise and impolitic as it is un-
just and inequitable. It is similar to that of a mu-
tinous crew, who, while the storm is raging, break
into the spirit room, abandoning all hope of safety,
and seeking only to die in a state of brutal and de-
grading intoxication. A heavy responsility will be
incurred by those who, in the present condition of
their country, preach up a resistance to rents as the
panacea by which her afflictions are to be assuaged
and her wounds healed. The popular mind is un-
fortunately but too easily excited ; and what can
be thought of those who recklessly apply blazing
torches to the inflammable material? The conflagration,
if once enkindled, cannot be so easily extinguished as
the incendiaries may imagine; it will extend through-
out the length and dreadth of the land, involving all
—the guilty as well as the innocent, in one common
destruction. What do they imagine ? Do they for
a moment suppose that "repudiation" will be limited
to rents—that every species of contract or liability
will not share a similar fate? The doctrine is too
convenient for dishonest debtors to be limited in its
application. If the law can be set at defiance, and
violated with impunity, in one respect, it will be so
in many others; its obligations and edicts will
speedily be disregarded ; an age of rapine and
anarchy will ensue; might will constitute right, and
there will be no peace or tranquillity in the land,
where the law of the "strong arm" is alone re-
spected. Cultivation will cease—the arts of civilized
life will fall into disuse—lreland will relapse into
a state of pristine barbarity—and the people who
have wilfully destroyed their own means of sub-
sistence will perish by myriads under the combined
operation of famine and its twin sister pestilence.
The fearful effects of the potato blight—of the fever
—the cholera, and the other diseases by which Ire-
land has been decimated, will be far exceeded by the
calamitous results of the moral pestilence that is
spreading rapidly throughout the land.
Already the conspirators are gaining confidence,
and acquiring fresh audacity by the partial success
that has attended their lawless proceedings. At first
they were contented to oppose "passive resistance" to
the officers of the law, or to carry off their crops sur-
reptitiously; but greater violence is now exhibited,
and deadly weapons are fearlessly resorted to against
those who impede their progress, or oppose the re-
moval of the farm produce.
A conflict attended with fatal results took place on
Saturday night at Killaughy, in the King's county,
in which three policemen were killed or mortally
wounded, and several others seriously injured. Se-
veral vollies were subsequently fired into the bar-
racks, whither the survivors of the constabulary had
been compelled to retreat, and the corn was carried
off in triumph by the misguided peasantry, with the
exception of one load, which was cast on the road-side
in order to make room for some of the assailants that
had been severely wounded in the conflict.
The desperate course adopted by the infatuated
conspirators appears perfectly inexplicable. There
was no attempt by the constabulary to seize the corn,
or to compel the party to carry it back to the farm
whence it had been removed. Constable HALL, the
leader of the police, merely required the party to
stop while he took down the names of those engaged
• - +nansaction so very suanieinng, JOHN
KEYES, the termer whose crops were in course
of removal, expostulated, declaring that he had a
right to send where he pleased his goods which were
not under seizure, and added'that "he would not be
stopped by him or the magistrate either." HALL,
however, continued firm in his resolution to take the
names of the party, when KEYES gave the order for
the " armed men to stand forward." A volley
was almost immediately fired, under which sub-
constable MORTIMER was shot dead, two police-
men mortally wounded, and others received
severe injuries. The police returned the fire,
and it is supposed with considerable effect.
The door and windows of the police barrack
were subsequently perforated with many balls, the
marks of which remain upon the walls. Many per-
sons charged with being concerned in this daring and
sanguinary outrage have been arrested, and still
remain in custody. The act itself, however, affords the
strongest illustration of the reckless determination of
the peasantry to go to any length in support of their
illegal objects, and of their thorough confidence in the
general feeling of the country in opposition to rents,
which they hope will enable them to evade the penal
consequences of their fearful crime. A coroner's
inquest has since been held, and a verdict of wilful
murder returned, finding Joins MITES (who has
absconded), ands relative, named JOSEPH KEYES, now
in custody, guilty. Informations have also been taken
against other parties, also in custody, and there is no
doubt that the matter will receive a full and search-
ing investigation.
Acts such as these are calculated to awaken
feelings of deep sadness.in the hearts of the real well-
wishers of Ireland, who truly sympathise with her
afflictions, and who desire large and comprehensive
reforms in the landlord and tenant code. Under any
circumstances, however, the majesty of the law
must be vindicated, its transgressors made amenable
to justice, and the rights of property preserved
inviolate.

THE QUEEN'S' VISIT TO THE CITY.
No detailed arrangements have yet been made with
reference to her Majesty's visit on the 30th to open
the New Coal Exchange, nor is it yet decided
whether the Queen will enter the City by land or
by water, but we understand that the Right Hon.
the Lord Mayor proceeds to Windsor this day, when
his Lordship will receive her Majesty's commands
on the subject. In the event of the Queen preferring
the water route it is most likely the Royal party
will embark at Whitehall Pier about half-past one
o'clock, not in the Admiralty barge, but either in
the Queen's own barge, or one of the Royal yachts,
now at Portsmouth, ordered up for the purpose.

HEALTH of the QUEEN DOWAGER
(From the Court Circular.)
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager remained yester.
day much in the same state.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.
The Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
walked this morning in the Slopes.
The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent dined
with the Queen and his Royal highness.
The Earl of Carlisle arrived at the Castle to-day,
and had the honour of joining the royal party at
dinner.

Dispatches were received yesterday afternoon a'
the Colonial-office, from the Governor of Gibraltar.

Malice is the spur of wit, good nature the bridle.
Eliza G'ook's Journal.