The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-16 00:00:00

PRIVY COUNCIL.

On Monday next her MAJESTY will hold a Privy
Council, for the purpose of settling the Royal Speech
on opening the session of Parliament on the following
day. The summonses for this Council were issued
to-day.

The great meeting of the nobility, gentry, and
landed proprietors of Ireland, which took place on
Thursday last, must awaken the most lively feelings
of pleasure and gratification in the mind of every one
desirous of the well-being and prosperity of the
sistef' kingdom. The monster grievance of
Ireland the mutual distrust and jealousy
that has so long unhappily prevailed amongst
her children—was for once completely vanquished.
No trace of its existence could be discovered ;
persons of all shades and varieties of political feeling,
of all:creeds and parties, were to be seen co 'operating
together, and carrying on their proceedings in the
most harmonious manner, good-will and fellow-
ship prevailed on every side, former animosities
were forgotten, feuds were reconciled, and
the only contest appeared to be which could
labour most zealously in behalf of Ire-
land. As the Noble Chairman truly said, " they were
assembled together as Irishmen, on Irish grounds,
for Irish objects; their sole object was the good ( f
their common country, and the hatchet of political
animosity was buried for that day at least." Let us
hope that it may never again be raised from the tomb
to which it has been so consigned, but that henceforth
the calmut of peace may occupy its place, and that
there may be an end of

"Civil dissension, with its virrous tooth,
That gnaws the bowels of the common wealth."

The most gratifying part of the proceedings was
the perfect unanimity that prevailed. No word was
uttered, no sentiment expressed that could have
given offence to the most fastidious ; the mere sugges-
tion that the pressing any point might, by a possi-
bility, occasion a difference of opinion, was sufficient
to ensure its immediate withdrawal. Every one of
the resolutions submitted to the meeting were
unanimously carried, and the assembly separated,
having passed all the resolutions prepared for adop-
tion by the committee.
The exclusion of the -press, on which we have
already commented, was most properly abandoned,
and the sanction of the meeting was given to the
full publication of the proceedings. This is as it
ought to be—a good cause should never seek conceal-
ment, should never shun the light. If the resolutions
are good in themselves they will bear the freest dis_
cussion, the most rigid investigation. Any restric-
tion on the press carries with it prima facie evidence
of something wrong or defective in that which is sought
to be suppressed. We are happy to find that the
committee discovered their error in good time, and
that they candidly acknowledged it, and acted in
obedience to their better judgment. It is a good
thing when public men are thus ready to retrace their
footsteps, when convinced of the propriety of doing
so; it affords a propitious augury that they will be
open to reason and argument, and will not adhere
with blind obstinacy to any hastily conceived opinions.
The first resolution proposed was that last
adopted by the committee. It was in support
of the formation of an Irish party, and contained
a strong appeal to the representatives of the coun-
try to co-operate together cordially in Parlia-
ment, and to unite in advocating such measures as
may appear calculated to raise the social, material,
and moral condition of the people, to save
society from the ruin by which all classes
in the land are now threatened, and to pre-
serve the property of the country from confis-
cation : this was proposed by Mr. GEORGE ALEX.
HAMILTON and seconded by Mr. O'CONNELL, in short
and pithy speeches, indeed, there were no long-winded
orations indulged in during the day. The speakers
seemed to have adopted for their motto,

" Xeta non verba,"

and thus exhibited a stronger proof of the sin-
cerity of their determination. It was on this
resolution that the only cloud that appeared
to threaten the harmony of the day appeared. Mr.
OSBORNE, we think very injudiciously, asked whether
the Irish party would pledge itself to oppose the
Government if it refused to adopt some practical
measure for the relief of the people. He, however,
immediately withdrew the question on its impropriety
being pointed out by Mr. MOUNSELL. Mr. OSBORNE
is an Englishman, representing an English con-
stituency, so that the indiscretion did not pro-
ceed from any Irishman. It is, however, but
justice to Mr. OSBORNE to say that he has fully and
entrely identified himself with the country of his
adoption, and in which he is now the proprietor of
extensive estates, and that none of her children can
be more devoted to her interests, more anxious for
her welfare, or desirous of her prosperity,
than he has shown himself to be. He has
laboured indefatigably for the formation of
an Irish party, and he has seen the call re-
sponded to in a manner that could scarcely have
been hoped for by the most sanguine. Already
nearly 80 Peers, and representatives of the people
have enrolled themselves, have acknowledged their
former errors, and pledged themselves to mutual
concessions and to unity of action, so far as the
affairs of Ireland are concerned. It is im-
possible to overrate the advantages of such
a combination, if judiciously pursued, and
if there is no attempt to carry it to extraordinary