The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-27 00:00:00

IRELAND.

MR. O'CONNELL.—THE UNION.—POOR LAWS.
On SatUrday the annual dinner on behalf of the St.
Bridget's Charity, took place at Radley's Hotel, Dame-
street. DANIEL O'CONNELL, Esq., M.P. (who on his
entrance into the dining-rooms a few minutes after six
o'clock, was greeted with the most enthusiastic cheering),
presided.
After the cloth was removed, Mr. O'CONNELL rose and
was again received with the most marked demonstrations of
regard. The first toast, Gentlemen, said he, you all know
is the most powerful Monarch on the face of the earth—
King William, and God bless him.—(Cheers.)
" The King." Drank with loud applause.
The CHAIRMAN shortly rose again to propose the
Princess Victoria. You are quite apprised, said the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman, of the conspiracy which had been
set on foot to alter the accession to the Throne.—(Hear,
hear.) Part of the evidence respecting that conspiracy is
before the public, and a great deal more could have been
produced had it not been carefully concealed. I hope,
however, before the next Session of Parliament is over,
means will be taken to cause the entire of it to be disclosed.
But there is even now enough of it before the public to
prove that the Orange faction contemplated that act of
treason which their entire conduct shows them to be natu-
rally capable of committing ; and, for my own part, I
should scarcely be sorry they had attempted it.—(Hear,
hear.) Ido believe that the attempt would give so much
pleasure to the good portion of the community that they
would unanimously combine to crush such a faction.—
(Cheers.)._

" The'Princess Victoria."—Three times three.
Mr. O'CoNNELL—The next toast is " The People," the
genuine source of all legitimate power.--(Hear, hear, from
Mr. Lawless.) I understand that cheer from my friend
Lawless.—(Great cheering.) lam glad, however, that
with all his zeal for the people he has like me grown ex-
tremely loyal ; and I believe, after all, we were the genuine
loyalists.--(Loud cheers.) Well, I am struggling on in
my career of agitation for the benefit of the people.—(En-
thusiastic applause.) In my late agitation, the flattering
kindness of my friends gave me an opportunity of sounding
public opinion in various parts of Ireland—at a public dinner
in Kerry—public dinner in Tuam—at one on a small scale
in Moate—and at one of great magnitude in Stradbally.
The reports of the proceedings there which appeared in
the newspapers was of so condensed a nature, and so cur-
tailed an account one way or other, that very little notion
indeed of what was really said could be conveyed by it. I
have gotten the authority, I may say, of two divisions, nay
I will say of all Ireland—(Cheering)--to state this to the
government and people of England—Your paper union
we care not for—your parchment union we care not for—
give us a union of prosperity, and of rights, of justice, and
of benefits, for to such an union are we ready to concede—
place us on an equality with yourselves, and then talk to me
of an union, for then I will offer you in the name of the
Irish people, not to talk of repeal ; but unless you do that,
thank Heaven we have seven millions of people to fall back
upon the question of Repeal again—(Loud and long-con-
tinued cheering)—while you have no resource in Ireland
but a miserable Orange faction—(Renewed cheering)—
who, when invited to-become repeaters, declared themselves
ready to sell their country again—their country, did I say ?
—no, they are no Irishmen.—(Loud cheers.) They de-
clared themselves anti-repealers, because they are not Irish.
men.—(Continued cheering.) We have come exactly to
that state of the case now. Igo to England, not as a
paltry beggar to solicit alms, but I go to England as the re-
presentative of the Irish people.—(Loud cheers.) Justice
we want, and justice we must have ; but I would rather
that we should obtain it with the assistance of England.
Ireland must have justice done to her, or, in the face of the
world, and in the presence of England, she will be justified
in looking to her own constitutional and national resources.
—(Hear and cheers.) Let them but give us fair play ; they
they will find that we require no more ; for if they even
tendered more we would refuse, for ourselves alone.--
(Loud and continued cheers.)
" The People, the genuine source of all legitimate polVer."
Drunk with great enthusiasm. .
Mr O'CONNELL shortly after rose, and said, that it was
without meaning to be obtrusive, he offered himself so soon
to their notice again. " I have," said the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman, " however, to propose a toast, which I never
before proposed at any public assembly.—(Hear, hear.) I
have been more than once, more than doubtful upon the
subject, but' I now find it to be imperatively necessary to
take part in it. The toast I mean to propose is that of
poor laws.—(Great cheering.) The amended system of
poor laws in England has worked so well that many of my
objections are, in a great measure at least, removed by it.
Besides, there is so much cruelty exercised by the landlords
of Ireland, so much of hideous oppression practised by them,
so many families turned in cold blood upon the world to
starve, that I feel it impossible to punish the monsters who
have been guilty of this atrocity as they ought to be, or to
protect their victims, without the aid of poor laws.—(Hear,
and cheers.) When I say that the Orange faction are in-
cendiaries, I am told they are not, and that they are ready
to tolerate others, and I am told this while they are actually
asserting their supremacy over others,—(Hear, hear.) I
say, then, that their character is written in letters of
blood—ear, hear, front Mr. Reynolds)—that they are,
essentially,exterminators, and I appeal for my proof to
no other fact than that of their tyranny to thousands
during the last year, in turning them -upon the world to
starve, with no other place of refuge than the ditches,
and in
human anmadny instances leaving them, in the - most 'in-
deaths, that produced by fever and starvation.—(Hear,
unmerciful manner, to suffer the wont of
tlcar.) In this manner they have exterminated whole

lages, and therefore is it that I deny /heir right to say I ca-
lumniate them when I taunt them with being Moody exter-
minators of the Irish people.—(Hear, hear.) This rat has
been felt not only in Ireland, but most fortunately else-
where." Mr. O'Connell concluded by proposing—
". An Improved System of Poor Laws for Ireland."—
Thank with the greatest enthusiasm.
"The health of Maurice O'Connell, Esq., M. P., the
President of the Charity," which was received with enthu-
s4astie applause.
Mr. O'CsoiNsu: again rose and said—l am about to
propose to you the Catholic Clergy of Ireland.---(Loud
cheers.) The manner in which you have received the
mention of that estimable class of individuals shows the re-
spectful affection which you, in common with a whole peo-
ple, entertain towards them. Yet these arc the men whom
the base Times has dared to designate " surpliced ruffians."
It really astonishes me that Barnes can forget how many
poor Irish in London are disengaged, who, if aware of his
having used such a phrase, would dip their hands in soot
and then blacken his face with filth.—(Loud laughter.)
This would be a just retaliation, and it is by some such ex-
pellent that the audacity of the miscreant will be checked.
_Olean) We have now to do honour to those who
have pr,;yed themselves the poor man's friends, under all
cfrefilitkinet,, often tried and never found wanting.
Mr. OVoogri,r, here announced, amid genera expres-
sions of regret, ibat he had received a communication which
summoned him away, his attendoce being particularly re-
quired in another place.
The Rev. Mr. TYRRELL said it was in) poss;Lle he (Mr.-
O'Connell) could go until he had heard otic toast.. He
(Mr. Tyrrell) would give them a toast to which tht;,"
would respond with the utmost eagerness. He concluded
by proposing the health of the Liberator, which was drunk
with the most unequivocal demonstrations of affectionate
regard.

Mr. O'CoNNELL, in acknowledging the honour, said, I
have seen Administrations here, which, like the lion's
mouth in Venice, were ready to receive everything thrust
upon them, good and bad, but, unlike the lion's mouth, they
closed their teeth upon, and crushed, and suppressed every
thing of virtue or advantage to the country which came
between them.—(Hear, hear.) I have seen in the courts
of law the sheriffs party men, the jury party men, and the
judges party men, so that the poor fellow who came before
them was like a man playing with a gambler who used
loaded dice ; there were 99 chances to one against him.—
(Hear, hear.) Ireland has had her dark days, and long and
dreary were they ; but there is now on the horizon a light
which has for years been struggling into the splendour it
now exhibits, and which continually increasing in brilliancy,
will, ere long spread over the land in a full tide of glory.
Mr. O'Connell then retired amid the cheers of the com-
pany.
The company shortly after separated.

DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DUBLIN
AND LONDON.

On Saturday a numerous and most respectable meeting
of the citizens of Dublin was held in the Coffee-room of
the Commercial Buildings, pursuant to public requisition,
to take into consideration a plan for facilitating the com-
munication between Dublin and London by a new line of
route through Pottdynllaen, in Carnarvonshire, which har-
horn- it is proposed to connect with London by a rail-
way--the distance to be accomplished in twelve hours
and a half. Amongst the gentlemen present we noticed
the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the Right
Honourable the Recorder, the Hon. Randal Plunkett,
M.P., Sir John Kingston James, Bart., Mr. O'Connell,
M.P., Christopher Fitzsimon, M.P., Sir Edward Stanley,
Sir W. W. Lynar, Alderman Smyth, Colonel Jones PAITy,
a member of the Welch deputation, and Messrs. Guinness,
Bewley, D'Olier, Barton, Perry, Boyle, Williams, Codd,
Pim' &c. &c.'
On the motion of Alderman SMYTH, seconded by AR-
THUR GUINNESS, Esq.,the Chair was taken by
The Right Hon. the LORD MAYOR.
_

His LORDSHIP expressed his gratification at being called
upon to take the Chair upon such an occasion. He saw
around him gentlemen who took different views upon other
topics, but they came to that meeting influenced by one ob-
ject—the desire of doing good to their common country.
Such being their motive, he was sure that if the project
about to be submitted to the meeting was feasible, it would
be embraced with warmth ; but if it were found upon in-

quiry that the advantages which promised to result from it
could not be realised, then upon its own demerits it would
fall to the ground. Of this much he could inform the
meeting, that the idea was not a novel one, for he recol-
lected it the common topic of conversation thirty years
ago. He hoped that God in his infinite goodness and
wisdom would open a new field for the exertions of Irish-
men, and for the employment of the poor and suffering po-
pulation of the country. He saw around him gentlemen
that he knew had that object warmly at heart, and amongst
them several distinguished strangers from another part of
the kingdom, who had kindly afforded their assistance to
carry the plan into effect. His Lordship concluded by in-
troducing Colonel Parry, a member of the Welch deputa-
tion, and a gentleman of large 'property in the county of
Carnarvon, to 'the notice of the meeting. _ _

The report of Mr. Owen, the engineer employed to make
the survey, was then read. It gave a most favourable ac-
count of the line marked out for the railroad, and of the
harbour of Portdynllaen.
Letters having been read from Mr. Ormsby Gore, Mr.
Maddock, and Mr. Aston Smith, influential landholders in
Carnarvon, apologising for not being able to attend the de-

putation in Ireland, but promising their warm co-operation.
Colonel PARRY rose and said, that the letters which had
been just read to the meeting proceeded from gentlemen who
had been deputed with him to co-operate with the citizens
of Dublin in carrying into effect an easy and expeditious
mode of communication with London, by railway—and he
was bound to say, that they were in no ways personally in-
terested, in the undertaking, havinc, no property in the pa-
rish or immediate district through which it was to run. He
himself lived within a few miles of the intended harbour,
but had no interest in it further than being deputed by a
public meeting of the county of Carnarvon, not certainly
to take a lead in the thing, but to give the benefit of his
assistance and advice, founded upon his local know-
ledge of the place, and experience of the advantages which
it offered. It was not necessary at this time of the day to
enter into a general disquisition upon the merits of rail-
ways and steam navigation, or of the great success which
had always been consequent upon them. He did not

want to discuss the relative merits of rival interests, or
to depreciate the property of any commercial class. His
object was to show that by adopting the proposed plan,
Dublin and London would be brought closer to each other ;
and by thus opening facilities of communication between the
two great cities, national distinctions would be done away
with, and the interests of the two countries would be con-
solidated. The more expeditious and frequent the com-
munication and intercourse, the more firmly would they
cement the bond of union, and render it imperative upon

the Imperial Legislature to .afford to all the benefits and
protection of equal laws. Seeing around him men of
transcendant talent and eloquence, it would be abusing the
time and trying the patience of the meeting were he to in-
trude at great length upon their notice but this much he
was bound to state in reference to what had fallen from his
Lordship, that about the period alluded to he had the
honour of a seat in Parliament, and in conjunction with
several other Members of the House of Commons, put
forward the present project ; but owing to circumstances
which it was not necessary to detail at length, it fell to the
ground. This much it was sufficient to say, that one of
te principal reasons of its failure was, that the advantages
of steam navigation and communication by railways were
not sufficiently appreciated then. The Gallant Colonel
here read an, extract from a pamphlet published by Mr.
Archer, showing the natural facilities afforded by the
harbour of Portdynllaen and the country through which
the railroad is intended to pass. He also quoted Sir It.
Peel's speech at Tamivotilii and a lecture of Dr. Lardner
at Manchester, to demonstrate the benefits that were con-
ferred upon mankind by the discot'erY and application of
the. principle of steam. He proceeded to say that where-
ever capital had been laid out on underta;,:ngs of this de-
scription, it had made ample returns. In a rern,2:te part of
the British dominions, the Highlands of Scotland, upwzds
of 500,000/. had been expended on roads and bridges. In
Kerry and other uninhabited parts of Ireland—(" Hear,
hear," from Mr. O'Connell, and great laughter)—whenever
capital was laid out, similar good fortune had crowned the
efforts of the speculators, and he had not the slightest doubt
upon his mind that the present undertaking would prove a
source of great revenue. He could say sincerely, that the
persons who had sent him there had no selfish or interested
motive in proposing it, and, for that matter, would be satis-
fied at filen• choosing any other harbour that would be more
favourable to their object. If this were a selfish or inte-
rested proposal, if it could be demonstrsted -that it was a
visionary or impracticable one, let them at once throW it
overboard, and, for his part, he would destroy every docu-
ment connected with it. The gallant Colonel concluded by
repeating his conviction, that if the facilities of intercourse
were increased, it would cement more closely the union be-
tween the two countries,, and conduce to the happiness and
commercial prosperity of Ireland, which it would be ever
his most anxious desire to promote.
Mr. O'CONNELL said that he offered himself thus early
to the notice of the meeting, having engagements that
called him elsewhere, in order that he might avail himself
of the opportunity of making a few observations which
occurred to him upon consideration of the present plan.
He begged to offer his best services in carrying into effect
any resolutions which the meeting might think proper to
`pass. They should be given zealously and diligently, and
with the full force of the few abilities that nature had con-
ferred upon him. In thus tendering to the projectors of
the undertaking his co-operation and support, le wished to
accompany 4 with a few remarks that suaestea themselves