The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-26 00:00:00

THE SEN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVEN G, MAY 26i 1847,

NATIONAL BANK OF IRELAND.
(TIES DXY.)

The twelfth anntai general meeting of the pro-
prietors of the National Bank of Ireland was hell
this day, at No. 13, Old Broad-street, fur the elec-
tion of directors in room of those who, in pursuance
of the deed of settlement, retire from office.
Some interest in the proceedings was evinced, as it
was expected that reference would be made to the
late Governor of the Institution, Daniel O'Connell,
Esq., m.p., who, during a long and active life
Sustained such a conspicuous part in the history of
Europe. The meeting was, therefore, more than
ordinarily crowded.
J. C. Ruding, Esq., occupied the chair.
among the directors present we observed T. Lamie
Murray,
Esq J. C. Ruding, E-q., Fowler Nowsam, Esq.,
Robert Sutton, jun., Esq., Charl.:s Bianconi, Esq.,
B. Renshaw, Esq., A. P. Johnsoe, Esq., L. W.
Wheeler, Esq., J. L. Wheeler, Esq., John Ransom, Esq.,
W. L. Wheeler, Esq , Joseph Wheeler, Esq., Charles
ttule, Esq.,
Thomas Shewell, Esq., H. M. Jones, Esq.
Francis O'Neill, Esq., Captain Sir Burton Macnamara,
Joshua B. Bacon, Esq., John Robins, Esq., George
Coxhead, Esq., Jacob Stanley, jun., Esq., John Pitman,
Joseph Barber, Esq., E. J. Dof Cork. aniel, Esq., A. K.
Rutchison, Esq., G. F. lardy. Esq.,
The CHAlRMAN—Gentlernen, I am happy to have
the pleasure of meeting you at our twelfth annual
meeting, and I trust that the report which we have
to lay before you will meet with your approbation.
I shall now call upon the Secretary to read the notice
convening the meeting.
The SECRETARY, having read the advertisement,
then, by order of the Chairman, read the following
"REPORT
Of the Directors of the National Bank of Ireland,
made to the Proprietors at the Twelfth Annual Ge-
neral Meeting, held at the office of the Company,
No, 13, Old Broad-street, London, on Wednesday,
the 26th of May, 1847.
11l presenting to the proprietors the Twelfth An-
foal Report of the operations the bank, the direc-
tors deem it right to call their attention to the several
circumstances that have occurred in the eventful period
3ince their last meeting, and which were calculated,
more or less, to affect the property of the establishment.
"In August last year, the Bank of England, influenced
b
the favourable course of the exchanges, lowered its
late of interest to 3 per cent.; but, subsequently, owing
to their re-action, and the consequent drain of bullion, it
Wised the rate to 4 per cent., and, recently, to 5 per cent.
i
The failure of the potato crop in Ireland, for the
asecond time, caused much consternation, and from being
4.1 exorting country,f
llreand ecame a large importer
thep necessaries oife,l thus,b not only disturbing the
anal courz,e of things, but adding considerably to the
d
14eiency experienced in countries similarly situated.
:Under these difficult circumstances, new to Banking,
businesstherefrom
in Ireland, and the speculation likely to result
the directors have preserved one uniform
co
urBe, discouraging, as much as in their power, all
import
operations, but affording facilities for the
of provisions intended to supply the growing
wantsth of the country. One of the immediate results of
.policy has been already visible, in the increased
and Increasing confidence in the bank, and its ability to
:11;4,13 accommodation to the legitimate demands of trade
u agriculture.
"The long discussed question of the abolition of the
corn-laws, became in the past year, a final measure; but
the circumstances already noticed, have s'.]spended their
action
er, so far as the agricultural interest of Ireland is
—ne'rued.
11" The proprietors will be gratified to learn, that the
on has been instrumental in facilitating the operations
114,,.overnment, connected with the Commissioners of
puruile Works, and which have been in force for the
Pose of relieving th unparallel, d distress and destitu-
tionwhich prevails in Ireland.
Jelint was-man previous meeting of the proprietors a strong
, fested, that the Bank should further
Which An alliiviating the wide spread" and deep distress
ef !xisted. The directors have now the satisfaction
aitting that they have carried out the views of the
of proprietors(),,t, by contributing in various localities upwards
ieh thousand pounds.
laid be; Proprietors will observe, from the accounts now
°re them, that tho past year has been one of
prosperity Yea. to the Bank, as, in addition to the two halt-
2250Ywnividenda which have b( en paid, amounting to
0,612 i, the directors have remaining a surplus of
credit 10s. 2d., which has been carried to the
50,108 r the Reserve-tend, whereby it is increased to
" The 155.3 d.
te 184 r undivided profits at December,
were
et pr
were
fits fur the year ending De-
-1846

ti D
~
it)l3 Midsunamta 72,608 15 3
e Ct
hal
r's dividend
1846 ...... ... .£11,250
" (I°'' do to Christmas,
1846 "
........................... 11,250
,22 500 0 0
--.

" Leafing amount of undivided profits,
at December, 1846 £50,108 15 3
" There are now to be elected three directors, in the
room of Nicholas Maher, Esq., M.P., Maurice O'Con-
tell, Esq., M.P., and Robert Sutton, jun., Esq., whose
teats at the board are vacated by rotation, all of whom
are candidates for the office, and eligible to be re-elected.
" Approved by the Court,
(Signed) "T. LAMIE MURRAY, Chairman."
The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, before I put the ques-
tion of the adoption of this report, I beg to know if
anY Hon. Proprietor has any question to ask ?
Mr. JONES—Sir, it is from no wish to ask any
question that the board may not be ready to answer,
but being a proprietor, and presuming that there are
others who, like me, feel anxious on this subject,
1i
tnamely,h t e Bank
k the account of our late Governor stands
at the same time that I am persuaded,
both from the character of the illustrious individual
eea'ed, as well as from the care and attention of
the
directors, I may anticipate a favourable answer—
certainlyb an answer different from that prognosticated
raany of those who are not so well acquainted with
the
you 1,4115:1" of the Bank as myself. Therefore, Sir, if
the nt-ae:tin eno
objection, I should wish you to inform
whether the account of the late Governor
‘41143 as it ought to do.
The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, I have much pleasure
In
Itnclarriering the question of the Hon. Proprietor,
that the the utmost satisfaction in telling you
raor 'no balance due from the late Governor is not
sore tthaxl4,oool., and we hold life policies to the
bat Z-of 7,500/. besides other securities, so that the
um bacan lose nothing by the late Governor. I
rect r PPY to be thus able to put at rest all the incor-
of ePorts that have been circulated, that the debt
the late Governor to this Bank amounted to
0,000/. or 70,0001.
Mr. J0NE5....4 am happy to hear so satisfactory an
answer, although it was only what I expected from
the honourable conduct and business character of the
directors of this bank.

The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, before moving
the adoption of the report, ieteiiasu
painfulymythe dutydeath of our
to
announcet
andmeetingothe i
distinguished much-lamented Governor. It is
with extreme regret
that after the presence of that
most distinguishedfor
many
so gentleman at the annual meetings
Of this companyyears, that we should be
deprived of his valuable services, and that upon this
occasion so humble an individual as myself should be
called upon to occupy the place so ably filled by
that lamented gentleman. To Mr. O'Connell
we ewe a debt of profound gratitude for the
Valuable and gratuitous assistance which he afforded
in his lifetime in the establishment of this Bank. The
readiness with which, upon all occasions, he lent the
aid of his
Powerful talents for its advancement, and
the able and
impartial manner with which • he dis-
charged the
of: the • arduous duties of a governor
Bank, won for him the esteem
of his colleagues, and entitled him to the warmest
thanks of all interested in this society. The heart
of Mr. O'Connell, I may say, was centered in this
Bank ; he believed that this was an institution which,
after paying a beneficial return to its proprietors,
was calculated to contribute largely to the so-
cial improvement of Ireland, particularly the
Poorer classes, whose welfare was his constant
care, and
it was a source of the greatest
satisfaction to that distinguished gentleman to know,
previous to his decease, that all his endeavours towards
this end had been crowned with success, and that his
fond and ardent hopes for its success had been fully
realised.
(Hear, hear.) By the death of Mr.
O'Connell his children have been bereft of a kind
and affectionate parent, the directors of an amiable
and valuable colleague,
and the proprietors at large of
a highly influential and distinguished patron.—
(Cheers.)
-Having paid this tribute to the memory
of our departed friend, I think that it is now right to
allude to the affairs of the Bank its.2lf.—(l-lear, hear.)
of since the making up of these account=, in the month
December last, which have been already laid before
T,:s,,
~i have the happiness of stating that the Bank
Our en
progressing most satisfactorily.—(Bear.)a
po reintserve fund has increased to upwards of 50,0001.,
which, I hope
which, in the opinion of the directors, and
IS e
) will be concurred in by yourselves,
aufficintly
large to enable the directors to

increase the amount of dividend.—(Hear, hear.)
The utmoqt his been exercised by
your directors, and will be continued; and,
unless any unforseen circumstances should take
place, we have a confident hope and expectation that
before we have the pleasure of meeting you again we
shall be able to increase the dividends upon the capi-
tal of the Bank.—(Hear, hear.) I will now move the
adoption of the report.
Mr. THOMAS SHEWELL wished to inquire, whether
proper provision had been made for any outstanding
bad debts. He wished also to state, that he hoped
great care would be exercised by the directors in in-
creasing the amount of the dividends, because he
felt it to be essential to the security of the concern

that the reserve fund should be kept upon a sound
foundation.

The CHAIRMAN—The amount of bad debts has
been written off, as far as could be ascertained, and
provision has also been made for those debts silich
may be considered as of a doubtful character.
Mr. WHEELER seconded the adoption of the report,
which was put by the Chairman, and carried unani-

mously.
The CHAIRMAN said the business of the day had
been brought to a close, and all that remained for him
to do was to thank them for their kind attendance.

...... ..._ .......__ ______ ___
111 r. BACON said he thought it was their duty to
pass a vote of thanks to the Chairman and di-
rectors for their labours during the past year.—
(Cheers.) The report which they had just
heard read must have been exceedingly sa-

tisfactory to those who had watched the pro-
gress of the Bank as he had, and, therefore, he
considered that it was their duty to pass a cordial vote
of thanks to them for their labours. He held in his
hand a list of the profits realised by the Bank
during the last eight years, and he found that they
were much greater than in any previous years ; and
this, they must bear in mind, had occurred during a
period of unexampled suffering in Ireland, when they
might have expected that the profits would
have been reduced, instead of increased. With re-
spect to the increased dividend he wished to make an
observation, namely, that it vas a matter which
might be safely left in the hands of the directors.—
(Hear, hear.) Before they had a reserve fund of
50,000/. he should have thought it inexpedient to
raise the dividend ; but when they had a reserve fund
of 50,0001. (Cheers)—and when the interest of
money was much higher than it had been
for some time past, he thought that they
might make the proposed increase ; but as he
had said, he thought this was a question which
the directors were quite competent to settl,.— (Cheers.)
He had, therefore, great pleasure in moving a vote of
thanks to the Chairman and other directors for their
exertions in behalf of the institution.

Sir BURTON MACNAMARA begged to second the
motion. He did so as a person who had lived in
Ireland during the crisis which had come upon her;
he had consequently witnessed the operations
of the banks in that country, and could
therefore, confirm the statement of the Honour-
able Proprietor, that by good management the
profits of the Bank had increased during a period
of almost unexampled suffering. He had watched
the operations of the Bank, and be was, therefore,
in a position to state (and it gave him grew`
pleasure to do so) that none could have discharged
their duties better than the officers of the Bank in
Ireland. He hoped the directors would take into
account the inferior officers of the Bank, and, con-
sidering the high price of provisions, increase their
salaries.

The motion was then carried unanimously.

The CHAIRMAN then said—Gentlemen, we are
much obliged to you for the vote of thanks you
have proposed to us. It is a source of the ut-
most satisfaction to us to learn that the report
has met with your approbation ; we trust that
by exercising the same diligence as during the past,
we shall deserve a similar mark of your approbation
in the future. We beg to thank you very cordially for the
kindness which we have experienced from you at
this meeting. In reply to the observation of the
gentleman who spoke last, with respect to raising
the salaries of some of the inferior officers,
owing to the high price of provisions, I have to state
that the subject has been already under the consi-
deration of the directors, and the recommendation of
the llon. Proprietor has been already anticipated
by them.
The meeting then terminated.

PRINCESS'Saena
Piper,t3 ,astwoTasiit,
bEalAiidToßperEa:
Last ev •
rvoeodu,,,o tier© with completer
laanidd,inwGe
rmeeanywaidedh,,
inmost e deserved p
the Kingnantpitil,etd,
artSurhBes.rde.ir'rgnheoJames
s
I.; the hero is a Scotch bagpiper,° tSawn
with
Macaulay
Gl orvaen b
(Miss Emma Stanley), who is in
yi)
athe
publican,pretty
daughter (Rosa) of old Spillpeg (
who refuses his consent unless Sandie can raiso 50L; and
Sandie writes to the King, asking his Majesty to ad-
vance the sum to a countryman in distress. Some En-
glish Lords, who have been plotting to seize the King at
Blackheath, hire Sandie, who they imagine has over-
heard their plot, to play a tune on his bagpipes within the
King's hearing, so as to entice forth the King, who is
passionately fond of his national music, when they in-
tend to; seize him. One of their number, Devereux
(Mr. Barker), warns the King of his danger
by an anonymous epistle, and poor Sandie,
who has been left waiting on the heath some
hours, strolls towards the palace, strikes up a tune, and
is sent for by the King, who breakfasts heartily
off some bannocks and Dumfries ale, which
Sandie has in his pouch, and gives him
in exchange for the dainties which had been
provided for his own breakfast. Sandie mentions the
note, and the King imagining that he is the author of
the anonymous epistle, heaps all sorts of favours
on him. The rebel lords believing Sandie knows
their secrets, lest he shoul3 betray them. also reward
him, and Sandie takes all as a homage justly paid to
his superior skill as a piper. Several amusing contretemps
arise, and we are carried pleasantly through two acts before
the marriage of the lovers, the end of all comedies, takes
place. The acting of Miss Emma Stanley as Sandie was
admirable, and in fact secured the success of the piece.
She was called for at the conclusion, and enthusias-
tically applauded. The music by Mr. Joseph Duggan.
a.though it has no claims to originality, is light and
elegant —a cento of pleasant reminiscences. The piece,
which was announced for repetition every evening, will
doubtless have a run.

GENERAL FALL IN Padvrsiosis.--Yesterday morn.
ing the price of bread was reduced in several places in
the metropolis a halfpenny in the 41b. loaf ; many of the
under-priced bakers announced the gratifying tact by
large placards. having the words "Glorious news, down
again to 10p.," inscribed. The general price of seconds
bread is from lOid. to I lid., and the L. ague Company
are selling at 10d. the 41b. loaf ; interior can be obtained
a penny less. and the best bread sells at Is. Id.; flour
has been reduced in proportion. A reduction of a penny
in the pound has taken place in the prices of butcher's
meat of all descriptions, and in consequence bacon and
other cured provisions have been reduced. The fine
Ntather has caused a large supply of fish, which is sold
remarkably cheap; small soles can be had from 2d. to 3d.
per pair, and mackerel five for Is. Vegetables, particu-
krly greens and cabbages, are very plentiful; the firmer,
which about a week ago sold at 7d a bunch, can now be
had at 2d., and early York cabbages at lid. each; early
foreign potatoes sell at 3d. per lb.
NEW GOOD CONDUCT WARRANT.—Yesterday the
New Good Conduct Warrant, founded on. the recent pro-
ceedings of the Right Hon. F. Maule for bettering the
condition of the soldier, was issued from the
.Horse
Guards. It is of considerable length, and.authoriss an
increase in the amount of pensions, which holds out
prospects of a most brightening nature to non-commis-
sioned officers and privates of good character. The boon
it is thought will be followed by many beneficial effects,
and will, no doubt, in a great measure allay that discon-
tent which has lately prevailed amongst the non-com-
missioned officers as well as privates.
NUMEROUS FlRES.—Yesterday afternoon, shortly
before five o'clock, police-constable Mackwick, whilst
proceeding along his beat in Tudor-street, Bridewell
Precinct, discovered that the premises occupied by R.
G. Price, Esq , as coach-house and stables were on fire.
The officer immediately sounded an alarm, and in a very
brief period the engines belonging to the Bridewell
Hospital, parish, London Brigade, and West of England
offices attended, when the firemen found that the hay
and straw in the lofts over the stables were enveloped in
flames. After some trouble the firemen and about 30
hired auxiliaries, who were assisted with a plentiful
supply of water, got the mastery over the flames, but
not before the contents of the loft were consumed, the
roof burned off, and the ceiling of the coach-house
severely damaged by water. The origin of the fire
could not be learned. About noon yesterday a fire that
caused considerable alarm broke out at 110, Fleet street,
occupied by Mr. Mecham, trunk-maker. It originated
from some unknown cause in the first floor back, used as
the kitchen Engines quickly attended, and by setting
one machine to work the flames were soon extinguished,
the damage, considering the extent of the premises, not
being very great.o'clock, io'chk,
a fire,esame morning, about ten
minutes pastthree
which had it not been
so opportunely discovered would doubtless have proved
of a most disastrous character, was found burning at
13eala's-wharf, Mill•lane, Tooley-street, Southwark, the
:)roperty of Messrs. C. and G. Griffin. It was caused
gas pipe, which set fire to the
from some defect. in the
under part of the flooring in the B warehouse. Owing
t.) the timely assistance afforded the damage done was
comparatively inconsiderable. The firm is insured in the
4 Sun, Alliguce, .sod Zinnia offices.

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.

By the packet- ship Columbia, Captain Fenton, ar-
rived in the Mersey this morning, we have New York
accounts of the Ist inst.

Politically, they are entirely unimportant. The
Washington Union reports the position of affairs on
the Rio Grande as follows :
" The last letter from General Taylor, of the 28th of
March, reports that our communications with the rear
are now measurably secure, no interruption having taken
place since that reported on the 20th ult. A train ar-
rived on the 24th, under escort of the Ist Indiana Regi-
ment, and another was daily expected. It is understood
that the regular cavalry of Urrea had retired from that
qulrter across the mountains; a natural result of the
retreat of the main army towards San Luis and of our
precaution to secure the trains. All was quiet at Sal-
Alio; the troops in good health, and the wounded ra-
pidly recovering. The inhabitants, both at Saltillo
and Monterey, were generally returning to their homes,
and, in the country, are engaged in planting their
crops."
The commercial accounts by this arrival are but
- - • -

little later than those received by the Cambria. Ex-
change, after the steamer's departure, was quoted at
6 to 64 per cent. premium, a little higher being paid,
in some cases, for favourite signatures. The cotton
market was quiet. The flour trade was unsettled,
several holders, in anticipation of the opening of the
canal navigation, having evinced an anxiety to realize.
Freights also were unsettled, and several vessels
were about to leave for the St. Lawrence to
trade. We annex the usual report from the New
York Shipping List of the Ist instant. Dates from
the southern markets are not later than those last
received :

f MR. O'CONNELL-. FP( "iin
The Paris Notional publishes the following elo-
quAa, tuid in itiaoy laapeots just., ti o ~riilcal el Lc i 1
of O'Connell :
" We should write an entire book, comprising tle
history of Ireland for the last fifty years, it we would
give a complete idea of the life of O'Connell. In writing
those lines, in which we shall unite some personal im-
pressions with recollections s eit known to everybody,
we desire to appreciate thut great character without dimi-
nishing its proportions, and to pass judgment on the
politician without giving to his acts a sense or a mean-
ing contrary to his own. Daniel O'Connell entered
upon public life at 22 years of age; death alone with-
drew him from it at the moment when he was about to
attain his 74th year. The admirers of his glory may
consider that his death arrived at too late a period. Had'
he fallen five years since under the last persecution of
the Tories, and in that prison to which he was accom-
panied by an entire nation, he would have been, to use
the language of Bossuet, entombed in his triumph.'
His destiny did nut permit that; it struck him in a
foreign land, far from that green Erin which he adored,
and during latter years, whilst his powerful constitution
was declining gradually and Ireland was beingdecimated
by famine—lreland, a victim full of resignation, had no
longer the force to cause her groans to be beard. At
that period every eye was directed towards that man
who held the nation suspended at his will ; he was re-
minded of so many speeches full of' hope, so many
illusions maintained by his eloquence—he was accused
of having by a compromise paralysed every burst of
courage, and crushed in the bud every real attempt at
emancipation. Tee inclemency of the weather and the
unproductiveness of the season were attributed to him.
In what were we deficient at that moment,' exclaimed
lately a patriot of the Young Ireland school, neither
hands, heart, or intellect. We are possessed of all those
advantages in the name of our eternal rights. At pre-
sent we possess none of those—and the violence of con-
quest, and the culpable weakness of those who have made
a treaty with our enemies, have caused the continuation
of that impious and homicide rule which converts
8,000,000 of Irishmen into a type of the most miserable
amongst civiiized nations!' The bitterness of those com-
plaints fell drop by drop on the heart of O'Connell,
whose blood was congealed and no longer felt that ener-
getic excitement by means of which he governed so long.
He himself felt that the stamina of his best days could
scarcely suffice to make head against so desperate a
situation. That aspect of Ireland, whose wounds were
gaping —those accusations, which appeared to impute to
him a part of the most perilous responsibility—the bold
plans of the Young Ireland party, which filled him with
terror—the feeling of his own declining health—all com-
bined to hasten his last moments. We are not so unjust
as to refuse to acknowledge the great services which he
has rendered. He, it is true, did not accomplish a work
apportioned to the power which be enjoyed, but what
we wished of him he did not wish. Ho has been

frequently honoured with the title of tribune ; he
never possessed more than its exterior qualities—
the lofty stature—the athletic force—the exterior pas-
sion, and perhaps the language; but he neither possessed
the instincts nor the resolution of a tribune. There

is nothing more common than to be deceived by ap-
pearances ; genius possesses the
i rare privilege of com-
prehending everything, and we imagine that we expe-
rience profound sensations when we merely reflect those
of others. It was thus that O'Connell became the

indefatigable echo of grief which he did not feel, and
passed for a tribune of the people whilst ho was merely
the powerful advocate of the middle classes. Daniel
O'Connell had seen in his youth the efforts of the mul-
titude, the ardent impatience of that oppressed nation—
the mysterious insurrection—the frequently sanguinary
violence of the Irish perishing of hunger—those appeals
of the secret societies to arm ~ succeeded by those terrible
executions of which the traces w..:re to be found on the
high road or at tha gates of the rich—the entire his-
tory of a people reduced to despair, which feels the
weight of invasion on its breast, and which contends
with fire and sword against the foreigner. Well ! he
execrated that history ; he came not to organize that
army, but to destroy it ; he ch dared so in the first
speech by which he established his reputation ; he
wished to ,übstitute a straggle in the face of the sun for a
midnight hattle,—legal means for violent conduct,—for
the vongeance of despair he substituted that activity which
affords hope. From the commencement be spoke
with respect of le ,alitv ; he declaimed vehemently
against the oppressed, who by their crimes
appeared to wish to justify their oppressors ;
and in the 3 ear 1811 he pronounced those words,
co often repeated by him, that the greatest progress of
the human mind was not worth a sing drop of human
blood. It was easy to see from that moment in what
circle he had enclosed himself. The sight of the mas-
sacres, the political trials, and the sentences of death
passed in the year 1798 struck his mind with an invin-
cible horror fur the Saturnalia of force. At a later

period, having [wen insulted by one of his countrymen,
he fought and killed his adversary in a duel. Af:er this
affair he ran to a Catholic church in a state of distrac-

tion, and vowed that he would never again touch an in- 1
strument of destruction. That double impression decided 1
his political career. Thus oppression might stretch its
springs and double the number of its victims. O'Connell '
tabut end
to Cato
words, analogous
am
tildetermined to combat and pursue it without any cessa-
tion, but he had preciously traced the line beyond which i
he would not pass. It was in legality he placed his 1
hopes—it was legality which was his only flag—that was
the calm of his feebleness and latterly of his impotence
—it was likewise his force as an agitator and as an orator.
He said, like others, ' Peace everywhere, and for ever ;' 1
but that peace was neither idle nor disgraceful—it was
neither sterile, corrupt, inert, nor sleepy. He was
able to make that peace formidable to England, and he
derived from it all the conquests which it was possible
to extract. From the population of Irish peasants,
enrolled under the banner of the Whiteboys, he
wished to form an immense Catholic legion, the clergy
was his staff. It was not through calculation that he
t,ogeovuesr
(i tot
the those
religion
wghioinch of Lucan
the at
sought that auxiliary, which offered itself so naturally
to him. Lord Byron makes one of his heroes speck
thesei per-
secuted.'
O'Connell had a lively faith in that religion
faith which never wavered. The persecution of
Catholicity in Ireland prolonged the fanaticism of the
middle age to modern times. We can scarcely believe
when reading the last memoir of O'Connell that such
sanguinary laws could have been applied at the com-
mencement of the present century. The title of Ca-
tholic proscribed that of citizen—he possessed no right,
no property, no asylum. We do not wish to stir that
pool of blood, but an idea may be formed of the civil
position of the Catholics, when it is known that a Pro-
testant meeting a Catholic on horseback had a right to
make the Catholic alight and take possession of his
horse. Such was Ireland when O'Connell entered on
public life. It was the period when Pitt by force and
seduction, menaces, and bribery destroyed the Irish ,
Parliament and proclaimed the Act of Union. The
patriotism of the Irish was roused, and the following
passage from the speech of an orator who had opposed
the union was placarded on the walls of Dublin: ' Ire-
land is no I, nger anything but a colony of slaves fur
England.' O'Connell had soon an opportunity of ex-
plaining his principles on this subject during a political
trial, and his language was so persuasive, his
appeal to the country so pathetic, that when
leaving the court-house be was hailed as the
chief of a new party. Nevertheless, his success at the
bar restrained him. From the year 1809 to the peace
his reputation and his practice so much increased that it
produced him 20,000/. sterling a year. Still, however,
he did not neglect his general interests—there was not a
public meeting at which his voice was not heard—not a
banquet at which he was not the popular orator—not a
petition nor an address which was not prepared by this
accomplished lawyer ;—he thus converted the laws pre-
pared to crush him into an arm. Nevertheless England,
which had made so trte), promises in order to obtain
the Act of Union, proved herself implacable. ' She

_
. .
grants us nothing,' exclaimed O'Connell in 18'20, ' be-
cause we do not stir. Let us agitate ! Let us unite I
Let the weight of our petitions crush the table ot the
House ot Commons, so that by the noise made in breaking
the table, the House may at length be warned that we
are n3i.lions of men crushed by iniquitous laws.' Vain
hopes I There are periods when nations appear to lose
every principle of life through torpidity. In the year
1823 two men, equal in eloquence, met at V. icklow at
the house of a common frieod ; both patriots and both
young, they shed tears on the fate ot Ireland. The-e
were Shell and O'Connell. Supported one by the other
they determined to rouse the population from its apathy
by founding a vast Catholic Asociation. The founda-
tion was soon laid, and they agreed to meet in the
tern
of a bookseller in Dublin. Ten members were
consuiered sufficient to found the association. Four
meetings were held, but notwithstanding
co
enotmobset
Plwhen Mr. O'Con-
nell heard voices in the bookseller's shop. They were
those of three students in divinity who came to purchase
found.tei ng
hours Ththeey N4t.e draey a
books. according to the statutes of the association in
invitationslas thetbiole tti
embryo every ecclesiastic was ipso facto a member. Mr.
O'Connell invited the students to take their places—they
hesitated—he forced them into the room, and closing the
door he exclaimed with a thundering voice, " We are
constituted—Mr. Shed, I call on you to speak.' This
feeble nucleus soon became larger—the acorn assumed

he proportions of an immense oak---all the priests were

appoinCed officers of the association—within two years i,
extended over the entire territory—it presented itself
everywhere, and if any act of violence was committed
against an Irishman a lawyer was employed to prosecute
btbeuilaaiseig,Ti end
Li iti7l'
1. a i
~i n 0
the affair—the act was denounced in the newspapers and
at the meetieg,s of the association. At the close of the
year, 1,201,000 signatures were attached to the Catholic
appeared to exceed the powers of a human
)petition, and the following year more than 2,000,000.
Ireland appeared to be roused, and the feeling of
nationality inspired her population. The activity of
seven or eight hours a day
—harangued everybody—at one moment in the public
streets, the next at a meeting ; the
same
day
at a
public dinner, and the following day appeared a
()'Gunnedb,ig.He spoke during
letter signed by him in the journals of the association,
or some pamphlet, or denunciation of an abomi-
nable law or an act of oppressive Government. He ex-
cited agitation with all the strength of his powerful
the sublime and descending to the gro-
lungs. It was then that he developed all the resources
of his unparalleled eloquence—little careful of his style,
Pleasure the laughter or the tears
an eloquence spontaneous,
multiplied, varied, affecting every chord of the human
and calming storms—sometimes
of the auditory, according to circumstances—inflaming
sometimes picturesque, but ever animated
the passions—
heart
with that spirit of inspiration drawn from the love of his
win hatred of oppression. He found pleasure
country
in queting old patriotic adages, even when they were
opposed to his principles. How many times did he not
repat those celebrated lines—
' —exciting
'Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not
Who would be free himself must strike the blow!'

Anct again ho invoiced all the beauties of -his dear Ire-
. landandher verdanthills,andrher picturesque sites, and
(
devoted, ireellectual. and so war:l:y' to be' happy, se
e.cil d!=posed to become so, and w ;rich the brutal heed
of the Saxon crushed like a flower of which you break
the stem. ' Ireland, first flower of the earth and first
gem of the sea l' And with this enthusiasm he
isinglcd the traditional history, the remarkable
deeds of arms, the ancient glory of his country,
which gave masters to all Europe, and which was learned
when other nations were plunged iu ignorance and bar-
barism. This was the inexhaustible theme of his
spe,sechoer3o and,anditm was
bsh:ad popularity
re-animating
he
that love of coun-
try
0 more
unbounded svas able
everto ceeonjqouyeed b
conquer the
m
any man. The history of that first association is
similar to that of all the others, and the talent, as well
as the power of O'Connell, preserved since then the same
character. The English, seeing that new struggle in
the name of the law, wished to terminate it by the law.
The Bill of 1825, presented by Goulburn, afforded Sir R.
Peel an occasion to pronounce a remarkable speech,
which subequently caused him embarrassments, and
perhaps excited in his breast the remorse attending a
bad action. It summed up the whole English constitu-
tion in these words:—` Hatred of Catholicism, distrust
towards Irish idolaters!' The Bill adopted prohibited
all meetings, all associations, during more than four-
! teen days! This was sufficient for O'Connell to con-
tinue to develop his work. The law was promulgated
in the month of March. On the 13th of July the
Catholic Association was re-modelled on a new legal
basis. It no longer had a centre nor a constant duration.
It had as many centres as there were towns, as many
meetings as there were villages; the principal orators,
and O'Connell at their head, traversed Ireland in every
direction, and innumerable assemblies hailed them with
transports of enthusiasm. It was on the 13th of July,
in the church of Waterford, amidst the prelates and
crowd which thronged the edifice, that the new associa-
tion was inaugurated. The Catholics, not satisfied with
speaking, resolved to act. They were excluded from
Parliament, and determined to force their way into it.
Fitzgerald, the representative of Clare, had become
Cabinet Minister, and again solicited the suffrages of his
former constituents. An order was given to elect
O'Connell in his place, although O'Connell was not
eligible. The particulars of that solemn demonstration
are known to everybody. During three days the Irish
electors, escorted by a multitude of peasants, repaired
to the hustings, and openly voted for O'Connell. During
three days the people, in a mass, kept watching, and,
strange to say, no act of disorder, no sign of intemper-
ance, disturbed that immense reunion. A solemn cir-
cumstance imparted a dramatic colour to the event.
At nightfal, when the result of the poll was about to
be proclaimed, a Catholic clergyman made his way
through the crowd, ascended the hustings, and com-
manding silence with his hand, slowly pronounced
these words—' Irishmen ! brethren ! an impious
Catholic had the misfortune to vote for Fitz-
gsrald.'—(' Shame! shame!' exclaimed the indignant
people.) ' Silence,' replied the speaker, in a severe tone;
the indignation of man is feeble compared with the
wrath of God! The hand of the Almighty has
punished him. I inform you that he has just been
struck with apoplexy. A prayer for his soul!' And in
an instant the whole multitude fell on its knees, when
some stentorian voices shouted out. ' O'Connell is re-
turned! O'Connell for ever! O'Connell and Ireland
free!' The crowd then dispersed in every direction,
carrying to the extremity of the island the glorious
tidings which made every heart rejoice. He proceeded
to London, presented himself in the House of Commons,
and when tendered an oath he could not take he protested
and retired. The electors of Clare refused to elect
another deputy, and the agitation of Ireland becoming
more and more menacing, the English eri,tocracy was
compelled to yield, and the emancipation of the Catho•
lies was proclaimed by that same Sir Robert Peel, whose
fortune was always magnifi, d by the strange circum-
stsnce that he was obliged to carry the measures
most violently opposed by himself and his party. We
shall not continue the biography of O'Connell
any further. The events are too near us, and the
traces of his passage though Parliament cannot
be so soon effaced. When the Whigs resumed
the direction of affairs O'Connell, confiding in their
good intentions, extinguished the fire he had kindled,
and which he was able to rekindle during the Tory
Administration. His influence over the masses still en-
dured, but his action over the enlightened and resolute
et atriots had long been on the wane. The Cabinet of
Sir Robert Peel renewed the popularity of the Agitator
by instituting against him judiciary proceedings, similar
to those already directed against him, at another period,
to the discomfiture of his persecutors. But on the re-
turn of Lord John Russell, all those angers, those pro-
mises of r-peal, all that movement imparted to a popu-
lation which he was certain to restrain, all that ardent
and sarcastic eloquence, which preserved in his old age
all the power and vivacity of his youth, suddenly
vanished like a phantom. Then an opposition formed
it.elf round him, and ultimately against him. This was
his deathblow."

The National then concludes with an extract from one
of O'Connell's speeches, delivered at Waterford, in
which he pr‘dicted that the rising generation would not
be so patient under suffering us those that preceded it.