The Sun.
London, England, 1824-03-12 00:00:00

Unction between partied where the laws were thus grossly
violated. If one party told him that they took up arms to
defend themselves against another, he would say that was no
defence of their conduct. The laws of the country would de.
fend every man if he applied to them. Outrage must be put
down by Jaw, and not by lawlessness. Whether Itibbonmen,
or Orangemen, or any other Association, the law was strong
enough to put them down ; and he trusted there was no man
in that House who would shrink from supporting any public
officer who enforced the law for such a purpose.—(Cheers.)--
If a rational ground had been shown for the production of these
Papers, he should be the last man to object to it; but he was
.certain the House would see that no ground had been shown.—.
<Cheering.)
Lord A urtiosP and Mr. MARTUN rose together, but Mr.
MARTIN having caught the Speaker's eye, the Noble Lord sat
down.
Mr. R. MARTIN thought, that even taking the statement
of the Noble Lord for ganted, there was no ground for putting
the correspondence on the table.
Lord ALTHORY said, in the .correspondence put into his
bands, there was no condition whatever. With the permission
of the House he would read it.

No. I. " Feb. 18, 1823.
" Sir—l have a communication to make for the information
of his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, relative to the illegal
society of persona styling themselves Ribandruen of the county
and city of Dublin. You will do me the honour to acquaint
whea and,to whom this communication is to be made.
" I have the honour to be, &c.
" it. W. BENNETT.
" To Wm. Gregory, Esq., Private Secretary, &c."
No. 2.

" 'Dublin Castle, Fb. 20 123.
" have to acknowledge the receipt ofe your, lettBer of
the 18th inst., which has been submitted to the Lord Lieu-
tenant; anti I am directed to acquaint you, that if you will
be sod to commit to writing any communication on the
subject to which you allude, and transmit it to me, it shall be
immediately brought under his Excellency's consideration.
" I have the honour to be, &c.
" To R. W. Bennett, Esq." " %1% GREGORY."
No. 3.
" To Wm. Gregory, Under-Secretary, Act.

" Febru-ary 23, 1823.
Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge your letter.of the
20th inst., requiring me to commit to writing the communica-
-tion to which I alluded in that letter, and which I had to make
on behalf of the Ilibandmen of the county and city of Dublin.
" blaring frequently been employed for them as Counsel, I
made use of the opportunities thus afforded to me, to endeavour
-to ascertain the real objects of that society. I was assured-that
the pincipie of their union was wholly -defensive against the
OFange party. They informed tee, that-the .Itiband system
commenced in Armagh, where outrage of a very satmtinary
charaCter was alleged to have been committed against the Ca-
tholics, by the Orange party, with impunity ; and this, it ap-
pears, created a bitter sprit of retaliation in the minds of the
sufferers, which ultimately produced the iltiband Association.
" Persuaded that _this was a correct representation of the
principles and views of this body, and that they were not hostile
to the constitution or the King, -it occurred to me that recent
circumstances connected with the prosecutions of the rioters at
the theatre presented an opportunity (if properly acted en) of re-
conciling this society to the Government.

" Under this impression, I succeeded in opening a comnru-
Taication with their leaders, principally through the medium of
Thomas Hughes, now under sentence of transportation for ad-
ministering the Ilibandman's oath. In consequence of effect-
ing this communication, two most respectable Catholic clergy-
seen, distinguished for loyalty and intelligence, were deputed
• oritheir part to confer with me on the subject ; and after se-
veral meetings, for some weeks past, I became fully convinced
that there existed,on their part a sincere disposition to affectionate
-.loyalty to his Majesty and the present Government of Ireland.
And, were all other proofs wanting, a circumstance occurred,
.during these conferences, which appeared quite decisive.—At
that. period some malignant and exaggerated rumours respect-
ing, the nature and extent of the King's late indisposition were
industriously circulated in 131ublin, on which occasion these
clergymen informed me that the despair of the delegates from
the Ribandmen was so excessive as nearly to put an end to all
further proceedings as useless. But, upon the assurance of his
Majesty's restoration to health, the matter was resumed with
increased ardour and activity.
" it suggested to them the propriety, and perhaps importance
at that time, of coming forward and offering to take the oath of
allegiance, to renounce all illicit associations, and to give up
their arms : and I now have the satisfaction to state through
their authorized agents, that these suggestions have been ern.:
braced with enthusiasm ; and 1 ant now commissioned by them
to communicate to you, for the information of his Excellency
the Lord Lieutenant, that they are ready and anxious to come
• forward and subscribe to the terms upon obtaining amnesty.
" I have to address you last-1 am instructed to state that
the members of Kildare, Meath, 'West Meath, King's and
Queen's counties, and Tipperary, have desired to be included
ia this communication; and no doubt is entertained that the
whole body of Ilibandmen will follow the example. This num-
-ber of organized .R iliandmen in the county and city of Dublin
is stated to be 130)0, and thosein the aountry very cormidera.
have the honour, &c. It. 1%. B.
" To Wm. Gregory, &e."

No. 4.. Feb. 2, 1823.
".My dear Sir,—A number of persons•frorn" different parts of
the country, in addition to those we mentioned to you, have
called on us to know what has been done relative to the prop°_
sion.you made to Mr. Gregory. last week ? We beg leave to
State that they are most anxious to carry that proposition into
eff..ct. We request that you will endeavour to obtain the an-
swer of Government as soon as posSible.
6` With Lest wishes, yours, &c.
." To R. W..Bennett,.&c. &c.

A. LUBIE.
W. 'YORE."

No. 5. • ." Feb. 2i, 4823.
Sir,—Not having had the honour of receiving any answer. to
•my communication of the 24th Ithissliould lave been 22d] inst.
relative to the Ribandinen, and 'great anxiety having been ex-
-pressed by these people for the determination Of 'Government
.thereon, I think it my duty to call your attention to the enclosed
letter from the Clergyman to whom I betore alluded.
" To W. Gregory, cice; " R. W. B."
No. 6.—," Dublin Castle, March 3, 1823.
-" Sir—l submitted your letters of the 24th and 28th ult.,
relative to the Ribandmen; t 6 the Lord Lieutenant, and when-
ever I receive his Excellency's commands, I shall not fail to
communicate them to you.-1 have the,honour, &c.
-" To R. W. Bennett, &c. &c "

W. GREGORY.

No. 8. " March, 1023.
" May it please your Excellency—From the moment Coun-
sellor Bennett communicated to us the gratifying hope that' it
might meet your Excellency's benevolent views to extend your
mercy, and bring under our Most Gracious Sovereign's protec-
tion the Ribandmen of Ireland, we lost not a moment in using
all our exertions to bring about so fortunate an occurrence—an
occurrence which we look upon to be of the greatest importance
to this divided country. We can with the fullest confidence
assure your Excellency, that these deluded. men were by no
-means actuated by any hostile views to our Most Gracious Sove-
reign's or your Excellency's mild and conciliating Government :
.on the contrary, they are loyal from principle, and as far as We
could learn from them, their intention, in this illegal association,
was to protect themselves from a faction' that persecuted and
oppressed them. In our communications with them, we foOrid
them willing and eager to avail themselves of your Excellency's
clemency, in procuring for them our Most Gracious Sovereign's
pardon. And we beg leave to suggest to your Excellency, that
it will serve, in a powerful degree, to increase their confidence
in were your Excellency pleased, if not to extend pardon to
Hughes now under sentence of transportation in Kilmainham,
at least to suspend his transmission to Cork for some time. lie
has greatly contributed to the change that has takes place ,in
the sentiments of these misled men. In a word, we could have
no communication with -them were it not for him. Hoping
that your Excellency will take this our humble suggestion into
consideration, we remain, &c. " A. LURIE.
" To his Excellency, &c. " W. YORE."
No answer was given to this, and Hughes was transported.
No. 8. " July 18, 1823.
" Sir,—On the 24th (22) and 28th of February last, I had
.the honour of submitting through you a communication to the
Lord Lieutenant, from the Ribandmen ; and on the 3d March
you informed melliat whenever you received his Excellency's
commands on this subject, you would communicate them to me.
'slaving received no answer after such a lapse of time, I am
apprehensive that this matter (under the pressure of important
affairs) may have escaped his Excellency's recollection ; 'I
therefore beg leave to request you will call the Lord Lieute-
nant's attention to the subject, and acquaint me whether it is
the pleasnre of Government to give any answer to the applica-
tior. the Ribandmen.

" Though they were extremely anxious to know the senti-
ments of Government on their case, they did not wish to press
for an answer until certain discussion which have since occupied
Parliament had terminated.—l have the honour to be, &c.
" Wm. Gregory, Esq. " R. W. BENNETT."

No. U.

" Dublin Castle, duly 23,1823.
" Sir—l submitted your letter of the lerth instant to the
Lord Lieutenant, and have not any commands from his Ex-
cellency to return an answer.

I have the honour to be, &c. •
." R. W. Bennett, Esq. W. OREGORY."
•He (Lord Althorp) agreed with the Bight. Hon. Oentleman
.opposite, that it would have been highly improper in the
iismaissuat to have entered into any negotiation with the
Itibbm4filea on an understanding such as had been stated;