The Sun.
London, England, 1836-02-18 00:00:00

DUBLIN-MONDAY

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
" The storms of wintry time will quickly pass,
And one unbounded spring encircle all."

The King's Speech, and measures of Reform since an-
noanced are diffusing great content and satisfaction
throughout this country—because the long-cherished hopes
and expectations seem at length likely to be realized. Ire-
land feels that we have now a Government that, under-
standing her wants, is disposed to supply them ; and fully
sensible of the evils that have so long oppressed us, are de-
termined to mitigate them. A few days before the opening
of Parliament, I furnished you with the result of my obser-
vations on public opinion, which amounted to this—that a
reform of the corporations—a settlement of the tithe ques-
tion—a provision for the destitute poor—and some laws
restrictive of the influence of ignorant and prejudiced
magistrates—were looked forward to, during the present
Session. It appears that the most important of these mea-
sures are already resolved upon ; and if Government be
slow in pressing them on the immediate attention of the
Legislature, we feel that it is with the view of rendering
their adoption, on a scale of the most comprehensive utility,
ultimately more certain ; for the most sanguine amongst us

cannot deny that hopes of Tory domination are not yet
quite extinguished ;, and that, so long as such hopes are
entertained, the effect of every measure of national improve-
ment will be circumscribed and impaired by that branch of
the Legislature not yet sufficiently permeated by the " spirit
of the age." Rut even this opposition will give way to the
Ministerial majority in the lower House, which must be
daily augmenting. The events of the last week prove to
demonstration the progress of Reform among the represen-
tatives of the people. In every struggle they have contrived
to be in the right. Not only has Sir Robert Peel's party
lost ground in public opinion, on this side of the Channel,
since the 4th of this month, but he has himself diminished
his repute for discretion by the mode in which he marshalled
the Tory forces, and exposed their weakness, in the ren-
contres that have already taken place ; and the discomfiture
of the first engagement seems to be repeated in every sub-
sequent one entered into by his partisans. Nothing can be
more disastrous to Tory prospects here than the inauspi-
cious commencement of the attack on O'Connell ; and dis-
may already manifests itself among that faction in this
country, who had hoped the Raphael affair to be a God-
send, by which they could work great mischief to a Govern-
ment meriting the support and approbation of Dan. The
promptitude evinced by that gentleman in seeking an inves-
tigation, not less than the conduct pursued in the case by
the Secretary for the Home Department, have quite
astounded the corruptionists here. They are completely at
a loss to divine why a Cabinet Minister should court inquiry
into a transaction that, may by possibility terminate unfa-
vourably to a supporter of Government. This was not the
way in which services were rewarded in the good old Tory
times—the practice, during the long period of their misrule,
being for the Government to exert all its powers and in-
fluence in staving off such inquiries.
But the most disheartening, the most sickening circum-
stance connected with the intelligence of this affair to the
Ascendancy boys is—the masterly chastisement inflicted by
Mr. Shiel on Lord Stanley. The debates on this point
have been perused with considerable interest and anxiety by
both parties here, who regarded the Right Hon. Ex-Secre-
tary as arbiter of the destinies of the powers now contending
for supremacy in both Houses of the Legislature. But
conjecture and suspense no longer prevail—his Lordship is
not now looked upon as holding the balance of power be-
tween Whig and Tory. Our talented little countryman
has placed Lord Stanley in a false position—or perhaps, to
speak more correctly, he has divested him of all the state
influence that has been for some time past ascribed to him.

In the position in which he stands at this moment, he can-
Dot lend much assistance to any party with which he may
choose to coalesce. Sheil has given him a political portrait
and colouring which cannot recommend his support as de-
sirable to either set of benches. Henceforward, therefore,
he is marked, as one of that peculiar caste of statesmen
who cannot be in the ascendant in these kingdoms. Such,
at least, is the impression of a great number of persons in
this city, who hitherto were inclined to think favourably of
his political conduct.
The premature and melancholy death of Mr. Jessop,
High Sheriff of Longford, has caused a great sensation
within the last few days. He had been just sworn to dis-
charge the duties of his office, in a county long under the
dominion of the Tories ; and much curiosity now exists as
to his successor. It is mentioned in well-informed circles,
that a Mr. O'Ferrall, brother of Moore O'Ferrall, Member
for Kildare, and one of the Lords of the Treasury, will be
the new Sheriff ; and certainly a more generally acceptable
nomination could not be decided on. This gentleman is a
member of a respectable Catholic family, well known
throughout Ireland, not only by reason of their extensive
property and influence, but because of the estimation in
which they are individually held by all who know them.
Ile is said to have a large lauded property in the county ;
and the mention of his name shows the great expectations
of improvement, in every department of the public service,
which Earl Mulgrave's Government has excited.

ELOPEMENT AND GOOD GENERALSHIP.—Wed-
nesday a great sensation was created in Stockton-upon-Tees,
by the elopement, on the preceding evening, of a fashionable
young couple for Gretna-green. The gentleman, who has
just attained his majority, is a young soldier, whose regiment
is at Plymouth, and eldest son of a well-known clergyman and
magistrate near Northallerton ; the lady, who is about the
same age, is one of the nieces of a retired solicitor of great
wealth at Stockton. The happy couple started from the lat-
ter place in a post-chaise at six o'clock on Tuesday evening;
but on reaching Durham, the gallant son of Mars, though ar-
dent with love, yet with the cool head of an experienced gene-
ral, dreading pursuit, which he was certain would be quickly
made, resolved to halt. in that city rather than incur the risk
of being thwarted in his purpose, by undertaking the more
protracted and hazardous trip to Gretna. The ruse proved
successful I for within a few hours two gentlemen, relatives of
the fugitives, arrived in hot pursuit at their retreat, the Half-
Moon Inn, and demanded admittance by a furious attack at
the bells, doors, and windows, which was obstinately resisted
by Boniface on account of the lateness of the hour, who, how-
ever, assured the gentlemen on his honour that there were no
such parties in his house, but that they had taken coach to
Darlington. The pursuers, on hearing this, and never doubt-
ing such an assurance, and, moreover, unable to gather any
intelligence from the post-boy who had driven the couple, or
the ostler at the inn, both of whom were completely over-
powered by the liberal treatment they had experienced—im-
mediately started off for Gretna ; where, on learning that the
man of iron had not been honoured with a job that week, they
iay in ambush for some time in anxious expectation of the ar-
rival of the lovers, calculating to pounce upon them upon the
very threshold of the " Smiddy." They, however, waited in
vain, doubtless not less to their chagrin than disappointment
at being so completely outwitted; and thus the happy pair
were left. et Durham to have the Gordian knot tied at their lei-
sure, and unmolested, the following morning.-Tyne Mercury.
SHOCKING AND FATAL ACCIDENT.—On
Thursday week, one of the most shocking and summarily
fatal accidents on record occurred et the extensive printing
works of Messrs. William Grant and Brothers, situate at
Ramsbottoto, about three miles from Bury. The drying ma-
chines in those works are placed in a large upper room, on
one side of the large square formed by the buildings, and are
driven by a neat, portable, six-horse steam-engine, which
stands in the same room. A boarded partition divides the
space occupied by the machines from that part of the room in
which the engine stands, behind which partition, for safety, the
fly-wheel is Situated. This precaution is the more necessary,
as one side of the room forms a sort of thoroughfare for the
hands employed in other parts of the works situated on the
same story, The fly-wheel revolves in a strong wooden
framing, wide enough to allow its periphery to work freely be-
tween its two sides. Whilst the engine was at work on the
day above mentioned, one of the men went behind a partition
to replace a strap on the driving pally of the machine next
the engine, in endeavouring to do which, it is conjectured, he
must by some means have lost his footing, and fallen with his
head upon the wooden framing, just within the range of the
arms of the fly-wheel, which, in an instant, severed the upper
part of his head from the body, leaving the lower jaw attached
to the lifeless trunk. The noise, and the momentary concus-
sion, occabionccl by the dreadful accident, induced a fellow-
workman to go behind the partition to ascertain the cause,
and the Lorror he felt at discovering the Ilfele:; remains of a
fellow-creatui-e, who had only a moment previously been work.
ing by his side, in full health, stret.gth, and spirits, may be
better conceived than
ribed. When taken from the fatal
spot, the remains of the poor ;,:.!low presented a eiekening
spectacle. An inquest on view of the i-..?dy was held at the
Grant's Arms, Ramsbottom, and a verdict of " Accidental
Death" was recorded. The poor man has left a widow gnd
small family, to lament his melancholy end.—Manchester
Advertiser.
SNOW STORM.—We learn from a gentleman in
Badenoch, that there has been a " feeding storm" in that dis-
trict, which has been augmenting for the last eight or ten
days, and has placed many of the inhabitants, resident among
the hills, in a state of blockade. If a change does not soon
come, the sheep-farmers will suffer severely, and provender
will be scarce. The proprietors of the Caledonian Coach
have been at no small trouble and expense keeping it running,
often with six horses to drag it through the snow. in spite of
all exertions, however, the coach stuck fast on Saturday, rho
oth January, within half mile of Dalnacardoch inn. On
3
Monday, an attempt was made to plash it forward, and about
three miles 14rther were accomplished, but tlio now became
earaedrour-rit 1A0t: 4: Our
so deep, that it was fond necessary to drive the coach bFrek
again to the inn, and there* egg remains. The same evening
the 4gzan to Perthshire,
lost discovered their situation,
Posttheir tynewrs
i,;fipr:smto;Kd,sn_i,gaunt}sd)sieywe
light &mud nett
and being stro yptpg Nog., mcceeded in gaining
ng, Lark,
Dalwhinnie Inn, one of them at Se.vPu rho morning,
apcl the other at ten. —lnverness CV urtei.
it 1.14 g, so strong a gale of wind from the northward
yesterday as rye 02e riser appear more like a sea than the
River Thames, even prevantiog 0. number of vessels from
Keying with any degree of safety. W6.J.'Ar fii,c;p;m,:,.! accounts
from ,t :e opt, as at the time of writing this there wag pot the
;east appeartins,e,of its abating.