The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-26 00:00:00

THE IRISH BAR.

We extract the following from an admirable article in
he Law Review for the present month, under the title
of " The Irish Bar a few Years after the Union:"—
" The generation of the Irish bar, of which Lord
Plunket is almost the sole remaining relic, deserves some
memorial. The union, when it closed the doors of a
native Parliament, effected a complete change in the
character of the profession. That learned body is now
no more like what it was, forty years ago, than the
squires of the present day are like those of Castle Rack
Rent. The legacies beq'ieathed to the existing genera-
tion, by their hunting, drinking, rent-anticipating pro-
genitors, in the shape of mortgages, have almost extin-
guished all the fun and fire of the squirarchy. The
morning of whisky, the noon of duelling, and the night
of claret, those glorious times when Irish gentlemen
reflecting, as Sir Boyle Roche said, ' that posterity had
done nothing for them,' were determined in return to do
for their posterity—and kept their word with a venge-
ance—are passed away, and days of reckoning have
succeeded: days, albeit, though days of reckoning, not
to be marked with chalk, but charcoal—never even
dreamt of in Ireland till the' accursed ' union taught
debtors that they must pay, and tenants that they might
live. The then bar partook, as might be expected, very
I much of the character of the gentry. Enjoyment of
the present, defiance of the future, constituted its
characteristics. Law, with most of its members, was
by no means a primary:consideration. Of course, there
were exceptions, and shining ones; but we speak of the
rule. Even where knowledge was possessed, it was not
always very safe to make use of it. To demur to a
declaration was deemed the height of incivility, agrare
personal provocation ; and the graver, because it was
obviously deliberate. Zeal was made to atone for want
of learning. Each man became the representative of his
brief, to gainsay any one invention in which the holder
was to resent as highly unprofessional. Barrington has
by no means exaggerated the belligerent propensities of
his brethren. The reports most in vogue were those of
the pistol. Every gentleman was expected to fight one
duel at the very least. It was a legal diploma. Curran
fought four. Had matters even gone to extremity in
our own day, Mr. Smith might have pleaded precedent.
Lord Clare fought when he was attorney-general. In-
deed, Toler's promotion turned the Common Pleas into
a kind of court of honour, the noble chief priding him-
self on his chivalry; and often more than hinting, from
the bench, that he was no longer a judge than while he
sat on it. It was a favourite boast of bis, that he
began the world with fifty pounds and a pair of hair-
trigger pistols.' They served his purpose well. A. well-
timed challenge to Napper Tandy, one of the mushroom
demagogues in which Ireland is so prolific, was under-
stood mainly to have contributed to his elevation. When
Fitzgibbon, the then Chancellor, was apprised of the
intention, he at once exclaimed, Make him a bishop—
make him an archbishop—anything but a chief justice.'
The luck, however, of the hair-triggers triumphed,
and Toler died not merely a chief justice, but the
founder of two peerages, and the testator of an enor-
mous fortune."

SALE OF AN ALLEGED AUTOGRAPH OF SHAESPERE.
.Yesterday, at the sale of autographs at Messrs. South-
gate and Barrett's rooms, in Fleet-street, an autograph,
stated in the catalogue to be " undoubted," of William
Shakspere, was sold. The autograph is on the title-page
of an old folio volume, called "Blount's Historic of the
Righte of the King of Portugal to the Crowne of Cas-
tile; emprynted at London by Arn Hatfield, for Edward
Blount, 1600." Blount, it is well known, was, conjointly
with Jaggard, the publisher of the first edition of Shak-
spore's " Comedies' Histoi ies, and Tragedies," and this
book is dedicated to the Earl of Southampton, Shak-
spore's greatest patron. To quote from the catalogue,
it states, " that this undoubtedly original autograph of
the immortal Bard of Avon, on the title of the above
volume, came into possession of Mr. Hamilton (of
Islington, the late possessor) many years since, during
which time several eminent collectors have seen it, who
are unanimous in their opinion of its authenticity. It
has been compared with the well-known fac-similes
formerly in the possession of the late Mr. Upeott,
whose belief was in its favour of its genuineness."
The auctioneer stated that it could be proved to have
been in possession of one party eighty years, which
would take it beyond the period when the clever fabri-
cations of Ireland were done. He had taken it to the
British Museum, and also to Doctors' Commons, and
all who had seen it were of opinion that it more closely
resembled the writing of Shakspere than any they
had ever seen. The cause of the book being in such a
filthy, dirty state was that for sixty years it had been
kept amongst a lot of old lumber, and was sold to Mr.
Hamilton, with a quantity of old books, as waste paper,
by the lady who formerly possessed it. It was not until
three years after Mr. Hamilton had it in possession that
he discovered the name upon the title. The book was
handed round the room; there were no covers to it, and
it was so water-stained that a strong magnifying glass
had to be used to distinguish the writing. The signa-
ture appeared to be in much smaller characters than
the one in the Museum, and less formal, but still there
was a great similarity. Fire guineas was the first offer,
and after a languid bidding it was knocked down for 91.
to a gentleman named Maxwell,
TDB OLD LINCOLN'S INN THEATRE.—The council
of the Royal College of Surgeons have just purchasedi
the extensive premises of Mr, Alderman Cope and ad-
joining their institution, for about 18 000reLaseItthiisi
ssitzaeteodf
to be the intention of the council to 'inc
their museum, founded by John Hunter. This large
addition will also enable the counself to extend their
works on medicine and
library—the best repositor
the collateral sciences in 13:;nong
nbuildtheatre,ing wasl
formerly, as is well known, the aLuidn,colrnillne
staircase to the boxes remains precisely as it did when
the edifice was a theatre, and 't contains many relics of
the departed glories of Rich, Macklin, Bullock, and
Spiller. The, place ceased to be used as a theatre in
garden.
1730, when itch removed his company to Covent-

" Resolutions for carrying out the several points
alluded to have been prepared, and will be submitted
to this and the special meeting respectively.
" Since the last general meeting, a vacancy has
occurred in the direction, by the retirement of
Thomas Seccombe, Esq., which the directors have
supplied by the election of Major-General Duncan
M'Leod, of the Hon. East India Company's En-
gineers."
Attached to the report was a statement of ac-
counts, which showed the total receipts to have
been 179,0391. 10s. 10d., and the expenditure,
168,1301. 13s. 2d., leaving a balance in hand of
10,908/. 17s. Bd.
After a short conversation, in which the Chairman
explained that the expenses had exceeded the original
estimate in consequence of the wooded single line
having been superseded by a double iron rail, the re-
port was adopted.
The mtigikk was then made special, when resolu-
tions were carried forfeiting 430 shares, it being
understood that any shareholder who wished
miglt take them up at a sum exceeding
51. each, caTrwise they would be sold to the party
who purchased t;,-; shares previously forfeited at the
same rate ; and authorising the directors to proeted
to Parliament in the present sessu:ll for power authoa
1
rising the company to make three sever:: deviations,
for an increase of capital, for the extension pf the
compulsory powers of the company, and for abate.-
doning the Dells branch. _ _

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks, and
confidence in the chairman and directors.

LOSS OF A SLOOP, WITH
ELEVEN LIVES.

.
On Sunday last, owing to the severity of the wpather,
it blowing a regular gale with a spring tide andweastern
wind, a sloop, belonging to Mr. ;'Goy, was fora.`d
from its anchorage at Olin, and not being able to galas
her position again, she struck, and in a wort time all
on board met a watery grave, save one man. The boat
was bound for Limerick, and was heavily laden with
corn belonging to Dr. Enraght, and also with butter
belonging to several buyers from this City, which heal
been purchased at the Glin market. This catastrophe-
happened not many yards from the shore, and in the
presence of a great portion of the congregation that had
not at the time left the chapel. It is said the cargo will
be saved, but much damaged. In reference to the loss
of life and property down the river near Gli,n, we have
received the following account from a uorreepodent at
Foynes
. _

It is with regret I beg to inform you that there has
been serious loss of life on the river Sharman yester--
day (Sunday) between this (Foynes) and Glin. About
three o'clock, P.M., a
boat belonging to Mr. Thoi.us
M'Coy, Glin, laden with butter, &c., belonging to sou.
butter buyers who attend Glin market, having on boat 4
twelve human beings, including the crew, was anchored
at Glin ; the wind rising, she was obliged to give way,
and not beingable to head Glin point, she struck, sank, and
all on board perished, save ono boatman, named Michael
Roohan, the pilot. The persons on board consisted of
four women and eight men, and were bound for Limerick
to make market, having with them a great deal of
money and value. Captain Thomas Madigan, of Glin,
left Glin harbour in his own boat (being forced to let go
his cable) in about half an hour after the above occurred,
and I am informed he got safe to Pound-street, on the
Clare side, opposite Glin. About one o'clock on Sunday
I saw a boat off Foynes Island, striving to make Voynet
harbour, but unfortunately she began to sink; the melt
on board being only two in number, ran het' into the
slob on north shore of Foynes, all her hull and ,art
of her mast being covered. Two men got up in
rigging, the younger of the men, about 25 years old,.
fell from his place of refuge about nightfall, and met
with his grave in the waves. The other, an old man,
the father of nine children, held on until about nine
o'clock, when he was saved by a boat with six men
from Foynes. This is the second time this poor man
has been saved at Foynes. His name is Martin Price.
I am informed that two turf boats have been lost up
towards Beigh Castle, and no account of she crew
as yet."
So high was the tide in Limerick, that the quays were
all overflowed, together with the Custom-house; and at
the Abbey-bridge and Sir Harry's Mall, the tide rose BO
high as to render the passages all round impassable,
unless by boats. The water covered the entire road
from the Abbey-bridge towards Athlunkard-street, and
St. Mary's Chapel-yard was completely overflowed. The
storm and rain, during the entire day, was almost in-
cessant.—Limerick Reporter.

THE CHOLERA. IN RUSSIA.—Official accounts from
St. Petersburgh, dated the 12th inst., announce that the
cholera had made fresh progress at Moscow. Between
the 25th of October and the Ist of November the number
of cases daily iacreaaed, 641 persons having been at-
tacked during that period, 238 of whom had died. From
the first appearance of the malady in that city up to the
Ist of November, 1,197 cases occurred, 402 of which
proved fatal. The patients belonged for the most part
to the lower orders. The cholera had totally ceased in
the Government of Astracan, where it carried off 3,772
persons, and in that of Koura, where 1,08274 cases anddeinesdoutof
1,673 patients. At Kazan there were 1,2
665 deaths. At Kieff the cholera was likewise in-
creasing in intensity. Since the 26th of October 278
were attacked, and 113 died. In other governments the
epidemy still endured. The most western points it has
yet reached are the town of Alexandrof, in the govern..
went of Kherson, and the district of Olgapol, in pa.
dolia. The latter are about thirty miles distant from
the Austrian frontiers. So far, it has been generally
remarked that its duration is shortest
Ti;iene
nrrt the
e identifiedldoec aatlhit localities
where its intensity is greatest.
a strangerk'AAL AND
trolw'AnLL(lwNhGoAhaescsthinTie
cmiddlelose
to ag , and of the name of George
ePernbroke-street, Pembroke-
night or Tuesda; morning, under the
pCaloalonakeb,eo,ounroceArci)u'ornrcdefday
Pembroke-
following appalling circumstances :—lt appeared, that
for some reason or other, utterly inexplica6le at
and likely never to be ascertained, he got over a gat*
which divides Pembroke-street from a plot of ound
upon which a shaft has been sunk for the purpose of present,
ex-
cavating a tunnel now in the courso of construction be-
tween Edge-hill and the North Docks. When he had
succeeded in getting over the gate he evidently fell into
a large bed of
mortar;
and, after having floundered
about there for some time
hwk
seemsealed rhig Ont into
getting
the
tunnel,out, to
have come forward
of
to the bottom which, a depth of 75 feet, he was pre-
cipitated! On Tuesday morning,
when the workmen
went down, they were astounded at finding a lifeless
corpse.--Liverpool Times.
POOR-LAW COMMISSION.—There is a report that
the Earl of Devon, and not the Earl of Chichester, as
formerly mentioned, has been appointed Chief Commis-
sioner of Poor-laws in England.
An American orator says :—" If I am elected to
office, I will unrivet human society, clean all its parts,
and screw it together again; nay, more, I will purge all
corruption, correct all abuses, and go through the ene-
mies of my party like a rat through a new cheese."
The Government contract for 100,000 gallons
rum, for the navy, was taken yesterday by Messrs.
Lemon Ilan and Son.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENT E_
E.
WATERFORD AND KILKENN. Y.
The half-yearly meeting of this company w. as held
on Wednesday, at the London Tavern, Bishop sgate-
street, Mr. G. Anderson (in the absence of P. S.
Butler, Esq., M.P.) in the chair.
Captain CURRIE, the secretary, read the'advertisee
ment convening the meeting, and the following
report :
"At the last half-yearly general meeting, the
directors had the satisfaction of alluding to the
successful result of a negotiation, in which they had
then been for some time engaged with the
Public Works' Loan Commissioners, and of explain-
ing the terms on which the loan sought for would be
granted. At that time they anticipated the necessity.
of making a call of 21. los. per share, about this pe-
riod ; but, meing to the existing money pressure, they
are happy in being able to defer doing so, without
prejudice to the interests of the company, for a short
time longer, hoping that an improvement may take
place, and the proprietary be enabled to respond to
the call, when made, without inconvenience. In car-
rying out a forbearant3Z,, at this juncture so desirable,
the directors have been in ziOrne_legree assisted by
the sale of the shares forfeited in luzy last, which they
have been fortunate in placing In high; responsible
hands ; and, while upon this subject, it ma; be as
well to urge upon the shareholders the propriety- of,
confirming the forfeiture of a further number or
shares, which will be submitted for such purpose
when the meeting shall have assumed a special cha-
racter, for the directors will be enabled at ence
place them out upon the same terms as the former,
and thereby secure the prompt payment of all futures
.
calls; these shares, it should be observed, are held by
parties who have been ascertained to be altogether
incapable of meeting the calls already made, to say
nothing of the future demands to which they are
liable—other shareholders, in arrea.r,
pay-
ing, are being proceeded against. capable of "
Had it been deemed desirable, the r,..7e hetWe'eri
Kilkenny and Thomastown might have been at this
moment open to the public, but the directors being
satisfied from the best information, that the trafte OIL
so short a distance would not be sufficiently remune—
rative, have determined on delaying the opening of
any portion till the Carlow line is finished, and the
whole of the traffic from Dublin thrown upon the
Waterford and Kilkenny Railway, and this the Irish
South-Eastern Company positively state will be the,
case in the ensuing spring.
" The directors have pressed forward the works at
the Kilkenny station for this purpose, as well as with•
the view of having it complete by the Ist of Septem—
ber last, thereby carrying out an agreement entered
into with the Irish South-Eastern, by which that
company is to pay interest from that date at the rate
of 5 per cent. per annum to this company, on half
the outlay between their junction with our line and
Kilkenny, including the station at that place.
" When the meeting shall become special, the
directors purpose submitting three several deviations,
which will bring about a saving to the company,
after paying all expenses consequent upon going to
Parliament, of upwards of 20,000/. ; and also for
general powers for an increase of capital, for extend-
ing the time for taking land, and for abandoning the
Kells branch.