The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-03 00:00:00

leader of the Orangemen in that part of the country,
called upon his Lordship and informed him that the
Orangemen were anxious to visit him on the 12th of
July, in order to testify their affection and attach-
ment to him personally. His Lordship replied "that
the noise of such an assemblage would be unsatisfac-
tory to him—that he was at an advanced period
of life, and not in that health he once enjoyed, and
that as a member of his family was in deli-
cate health, the noise might be most in-
jurious." Here was not one word against the pro-
priety or expediency of the proposed demonstration,
not a single syllable as to its illegality or impolicy.
The objections were entirely of a personal charac-
ter :—" The noise would be unsatisfactory." "He
was at an advanced period of life." " Not in that
health he once enjoyed." " A member of his family
was in delicate health." But nothing against the in-
tended procession, which was thus expressly recog-
nised and sanctioned in the clearest manner. The
Orange leader was not so easily got rid of. He saw
how feeble were the faintly uttered objections. He
remonstrated, and his Lordship, in place of remaining
firm, took two days to consider the matter. At the
appointed time he told the plenipotentiary " that he
could not invite the Orangemen to his house, but
that if they went to a field near his house,
he would not shut his gates to any loyal men
who wished to come in." Could there be a more dis-
tinct invitation to the parties, or more unequivocal
encouragement of their purpose ? Was he not to all
intents and purposes a participator in their proceed-
ings ? He stood at his own door while the Orange-
men passed before him. He saw " about 300 who
were armed, and he confessed he sincerely regretted'
to see it. He thought, however, it would not be illegal
because on the 12th of July, 1848, there were many
armed in these processions, and on the 17th of March
last, when the procession of Ribandmen took place,
on their great day, he saw many hundreds who were
armed." Here, then, is a magistrate, a man of
rank and education, professing his ignorance of
the law he was bound to preserve, and believing in
the legality of armed processions because the Orange-
men:e n oo fn thethe formerl7th
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armed.band-
His Lordship subsequently harangued the assembly
from a platform erected on his own grounds. He did
not, of course, advise them to be guilty of any of the
outrages that were subsequently committed ; but un-
fortunately, the fact of the procession, the party
tunes, banners, and watchwords, the paraphernalia of
the lodges, left but little doubt as to what would be
the termination of the proceedings. The remainder
of the statement consisted of a denial of having distri-
buted whisky ; beer only was given, of which an ad-
ditional quantity was ordered for the occasion.
It remains for the Irish Government to say whether
the above explanation be satisfactory, and whether the
conduct of Lord RODEN was consistent with his duty
as one of the magistracy of the county in which the
disturbance took place. To us it appears very far, in-
deed, the reverse. his speech will afford the most
conclusive evidence of the necessity for the re-enact-
ment of the Processions Act, which we trust will
be brought before Parliament in the very commence-
ment of the session. The matter is now in Lord
CLARENDON'S hands, and we doubt not that his deci-
sion will sufficiently vindicate the law and prove
satisfactory to those who desire the maintenance of
peace and tranquillity in Ireland.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

sVe htiVe received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The Presse publishes the following
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM TURTN.