The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-18 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JAN. 14.—The meeting of Irish peers and gentry,i
held this day at the Rotunda, was in all respects the in
imposing and important assemblage that has taken place in
Ireland for many a day. To give anything like a correct
reps •rt of the procee•bugs
ohm be impossible, the Corn-
' raittee, for some itirdivulged reason, having thought proper
of what was done
to exclude the preis. Enough,. however,tvthecriclusion, that if the
arid said has transpired to
tne.juantii6v
future proceedings of movement party " be charac-
terised distinguished the meet-
of- unanimity which
terised by the same
t must be beneficial to Ireland.
this day, the result
It is certainly a new feature in Irish society
to see men of all ranks, politics, and creeds,
endeavouring to forget former feuds, and profess-
their anxiety to elevate their country and their
fellow man in the social scale. Heretofore Ireland has been
the battle ground of faction ; for once her children appear to
have abandoned their foolish disputes about the colour of a
ribbon, or the complexion of a creed. They have learned
wisdom in the records of the past, and entered into a covenant
with one another to be prudent for the future.
For the following abstract of the proceedings we are in-
debted to the editor of the Evening Freeman.
Among those present were the Marquis of Ormond, the
Marquis of Sligo, the Marquis of Drogheda, the Earl of Erne,
the Earl of Mot •wn. the Earl of Clonms I. Viscount Mascarene,
Lord Farnham, Lord Cloncurry, Lord tVallscourt, Lord Dun-
sandle, Lord Clarina, Lerd Castlemaitie; Dawiel O'Connell,
M.P.; the Rioht lien. Frederick Shaw, M.P.; William
Smith O'Brien. M.P. • George Alexander Hamilton, M.P.;
John O'Connell, M.P.; Anthony Lefrov, M.P.; William
Collett, M.P.; Alex. M`Carthy, M P.; Hugh Morgan Tuite,
M.P.; William B. M'Clintock Bunurv, • M.P. ; Benjamin
Chapman, M.P.; Cornelius O'Brien, M..P.; Robert Arch-
bold, M.P,; Henry Grattan, M.P.; Edward Grogan, M.P.;
Fitzstephen French, M.P.; Ralph Osborne, M.P. ; Major
Macnarama, M.P.; Viscount Bernard M.P. ; Lieutenant-
Colonel Taylor, M.P. ; Richard Smithwick, M.P.; R.M.
Bellew, M.P. • M. E. Coibally, M.P.; James Power, NIA'. ;
Lieutenaut.Celonel Acton, M.P.; Viscount Milton, M.P.
On the motion of the Earl of CHAILLEMONT. seconded by
Lord FARNHAM, the Marquis of Ormonde was called to the
chair.
Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE, addressing the chair, suggested
that the reporters of the public press be permitted fully to
record and publish the proceedings. He dwelt at soma length
on the necessity of having the proceedings of a meeting so
influential, in point of rank and numbers, fully placed before
the public.
The Hon. Mr. MONK, one of the Secretaries, observed that
an understanding was come to at the committee not to have
the meeting partake of the character of a public meeting, but
rather of a conference of the Irish gentry ; that, however,
the gentlemen of the press were all accommodated with
tickets of admission, with permission to give the public a
general view of the object, character, and proceedings of the
meeting. We are not yet aware whether the reporters will
be permitted fully to transcribe their notes ; and as they
were admitted on the faith of submitting to the rules of
the meeting, it would be a breach of that faith to fully pub-
lish the proee dings without the express assent of the Com-
mittee.
We shall, however, endeavour to convey to our readers
an accurate impression of the tone and temper of this most
important meeting—one highly pregnant with hope for the
future of Ireland. Our readers will see by the list of those
in attendance that numbers of the aristocracy of every poli-
tical sect were present, and that the list of gentry exhibits
a combination of creeds, and sects, and parties such as never
before existed in Ireland.
Several letters of apology were read, including letters
from the Marquis of Glonyngham, Lord Glengall, Lord Kil-
maine, the Hun. Frederick Shaw, Sir E. Hayes, Sir Gerald
Aylmer, Grogan Morgan, Theophilus Nugent, Gen. Conyng-
ham, James Hamilton, A. O'Connor, Conway Dobbs, J.
Hyde (Castle Hyde), N. Wally, E. Smyth, &c., &c., &c.,
highly approving of the proposed union of Irishmen, and of
the general objects of the meeting. -
Sir MoNTAGU Cum-max addressed the meeting in an elo-
quent and useful speech, and dwelt upon the dire character
of the visitation with which this country was afflicted, and
on the total inadequacy of the present measures of the Go-
vernment to Meet the exigencies of the case. He dwelt
upon -the necessity of forcing the Government to import
food for the people, and to permit their false theories of
trade to sacrifice the lives. of the people of Ireland. He
entered at some length into the project of an Irish party,
and strongly urged the necessity of its prompt formation
and united action. Having recounted the labours of the re-
productive committee, he moved that C. Stanley Monk, Sir
C. Loghlen, Wm. Monsell, and Richard Bourke, Esqs., act as
secretaries to the meeting.
Mr. GROGAN, M.P. for Dublin, seconded the resolution,
and in a short speech gave his full adhesion to the proposed
Irish party, to its object, and the laws of its formation.
At this stage of the-proceedings, Mr. O'Connell entered the
room, and was received with loud and enthusiastic cheers by
the whole meeting.
Mr. Geonos A .....LEXANDEIL HAMILTON, M.P., proposed the
first
_resolution, which is as follows :—" That we deem it our
duty most earnestly to impress upon our representatives, our
solemn conviction of the necessity of their now co-
operating cordially in Parliament for the advancement
of the interests of Ireland; and of their uniting to advo-
cate 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 preserve the property
of the country trom confiscation." The Honourable and
Learned Gentlensan proceeded at great length to develop the
necessity that existed fuc union amongst Irishmen—declared
that an Irish party was not any project, but was already a
thing effected, as the proud array of names published in the
public journals of the day proclaimed.—(Loud cheering fol-
lowed this declaration.) He proceeded to say, that he bound
himself to the principles of that union, and would devote all
his energy and time to the working out its object, and seek-
ing the advancement of Ireland, totally heedless of all party
and sectarian interests. Mr. Hamilton made a very able
speech, dwelt on the necessity of " first," and above all
things, to bring food for the people, " to save," to use their
own expressive words, " such of the people as can yet be
saved."
Mr. O'CONNELL rose to second the resolution. He was
greeted with loud and repeated cheers. He expressed his
full concurrence in all that fell from Mr. Hamilton. He, too,
was for the formation of a neutral but united Irish party.
No compromise of any prirciole by ant man, but a vow
by all to unite for the salvation of the people and the
permanent interests of Ireland. He dwelt with his wonted
force upon the terrible calamity that spread itself over
the land—death was the first enemy they had to en•
counter; and fbr this purpose they should unite' to compel
the Government, at any cost of money, to save the lives of
the people by procuring immediate and abundant supplies of
food for them. All other objects were but ancillary to that
great 11,3 l —(Loud cheering f Bowed this.) Food, then, was
the first object.— (Che s log again.) He then commented on
the calumny of the Times against the gentry and people of
Ireland. His caustic remarks of the insolent attacks of the
Irish nation were heard with loud plaudits. He eulogised the
gentry and clergy of all sects—invoked a blessing on the
new Irish Union, and pledged himself to full and cordial
co-operation. forgetful of men's differences, mindful only of
Ireland and her interests. (The Liberator resumed his seat
amid loud and repeated cheering from all parts of the room.)
The resolution was carried unanimously, and with repeated
plaudits.
Mr. C. DILLON, of Fermoy, spoke to the resolution, eulo-
gised the committee, and referred to the unanimity ot 'B2 as
an example of what might be now done.
Mr. B..OSIIOIiNE was of opinion that the meeting should
look to food as the first object to be sought for by the union.
—(Cheers.) He wished to know whether that meeting
would authorise the Irish members and English members,
such as himself, to propose an amendment to the address in
case ministers refused to supply food to the people.—(Tre-
mendous cheering) He was a supporter of this Government,
but he was a more ardent supporter of the right of the Irish
people to live —(Repeated plaudits which continued several
minutes.) No minister ought to be permitted to hold office
who would not at once feed the people, and this an united
party coulddo.—(Repeated cheers.)
Mr. IllortsELL, of Tervo, observed that the reception given
to the suggestion plainly showed the feeling of the Irish gen-
try as to the areat immediate object—food,' and the necessity
of fogcing the Government to do its duty. If Mr. Osborne
put a roofql s, to that effect, it would, beyond question, be
carried with almost perfect unanimity..:but he would suggest
that the determination of the course to be taken in Parlia-
ment belt ft to the men who formed the Irish Parliamentary
party—(Cheersr)—in them they had confidence, and to them
it would be safe to leave the decision.
The Earl of ERNE proposed the next resolution; it was as
follows oss
" That before and beyond all other considerations is the
salvation of the lives of the people; and we therefore deem it
our solemn duty—the present system having signally failed
—to call upon the Government in the most imperative terms
to take such measures as will secure local supplies of food
sufficient to'keep the people alive, and to sacrifice any quan-
tity of money that may be necessary to attain the object, de-
claring, as we do, that. any neglect or delay in that matter
wilt-render the Government responsible for the safety of the
people of Ireland, who must perish in multitudes unless sup-
plied with food."
That as the people of this country are suffering from a
most extraordinary and incalculably extensive deficienc3 in
the stock of food .we further call upon the Government' to
remove all artificial impediments to the supply of that defi-
ciency, by the temporary suspension of the navigation laws
and the duties on the importation of corn, and also to give in-
creased facilities to that navigation, by permitting such ves-
sels of her Majesty's navy as can be spared to be employed
in the transport of provisions.
" That we consider it would be most desirable that the
unrestricted use of sugar and molasses in our breweries and
distilleries should be permitted, under existing circumstances,
in order to save fur the more useful purposes
a portion of the
grain now used in those establishments.
"That we recommend that relief committees should be
allowed to sell food under first cost to the destitute in their
respective neighbourhoods, and that their doing so should not
cisentitle them to Government contributions in aid of their
fends."
The reading of these resolutions was received with loud
cheers. The Noble Earl pledged hiinsuif to support the
Irish party If that party would seek tired tier the people.._
(Cheers.), Unity now was essential, and if the country was
to be, saved, it was by union alone it could be dine. Colonel Duman D.L seconded the resolution. The
people should, bane fOnil. tie was a political supporter of
the Gove'rMitiht, but there was a greater and a better party
for which they -hould first work—their country.—(Cheers.)
a Mr. WALKER, ex-M.P. for Wexford, supported the resolu-
-176• Wexford, the richest county in Ireland, was reduced
Thee common level of the most distressed parts of Ireland.
L were without food—Wexford was without food too.
t'"tre
evorntment should import—they should make grants
should be rto relieve it from its difficulty; the people
for next turnedyear.—
to culture of the land to secure a crop
fed.— (Cheers.)
Ttliteers.) Hut meantime they should be
net fed, and they haZte7ld not work the land if they were
duty and gave up its faloseotre unless the Government did its
The resolution was then poeosries— (Cheers.)
Lord RETINARD, ALP., and carried.
proposed the •
fellows:— third resolution as

and re
. .
"That we have heard with alarm
reg►et, tat in man
-c land has not beeny
di,tricts in Ireland the usual exteX f
cultivation, pwin—
pr..paretl, and cannot be prepared, for
thf, poverty of the occupants, and consequently 14, to
during the ensuing year; and while we confidentlywill be waste
the. exettions of the landed proprietors to protect ii'relr on
try from the great evils which must follow from such'sac°7
lect, we cannot avoid calling the special attention of Govern
moot to the alarming reports which have reached us on this

mport ant subject.
" That it is an ascdrtained fact, that the supply of seed in
thi i country will be deficient, and to meet this evil we
earnestly tecornmend that seed depots be established by
Go verninent.'7
He spoke with much earnestness on the state of destitu-
tion in his County (Cork), and regarded it as a most fella-
cioas principle of
political economy, as it was called, that
the people of the district of Bantry, who could boast of two
of the most capacious harbours in the world, would not be
allowed, in consequence of the operation of this principle, to
ship from any country a sufficiency.of food for the starving
population. 1

Mr. WYNNE, of Hazzlewood, in seconding the resolution,
said he though the people of England had not a just or cor-
rect idea of the extent of the distress in this country. He