The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-06 00:00:00

/ OBSEQUIES OF THE LIBERATOR.

DUBLIN, AVEDN.Esnair.--This day being appointed
for the celebration of the solemn office and Pontifical
il
lustrious
died, mass for the repose of the soul of the
dad, the anxiety to obtain admission to the church
was 'extreme. The demand for tickets far exceeded
the capability of the church to contain the,applica nts.
Owing to the admirable arrangements, the edifice,
although filled in all its parts, was not inconveniently
crowded. The entrance was by the eastern gate,
and, passing round by the southern door, the visitor
entered the aisle, and, if fortunate enough to be early,
obtained a passage to the sanctuary.
The coup d'ceil from the extremity of this position
was imposing in the extreme. The chapel was hung
in mourning, and its sombre aspect was increased by
the windows being draped inside with crape. At
both sides and ends of the nave chandeliers were
appended to the pillars, and numberless wax lights
burned around
.and above the high altar. But the
catafalque and its precious burden were objects of
peculiar note and attention. Numerous candelabra
attached to the pilastres around the sarcophigus threw
their soft light upon the crimson coffin, with its rich
and tasteful ornaments. In front of the ea4,-rn gal
lery, which contained the family and relatives of toe
great defunct, were affixed the arms and quarterin
of the O'Connells; whilst above, in fr ant of the organ
loft, was placed an immense scroll, on whi,h wer.
painted the inscriptions, in Latin, adopted at the
ceremonies in the Roman Basilica.

Similar scrolls, in lozenge sh !oe, were appended to
the sides of the dais of the catafalque, and at each
end appeared the arms of the ancient house of Darry-
nane. In attempting to de,cribe the appearance of
the church on this sad and engrossing occasion, it
would Le utter injustice not to mention, with all
praise, the efforts of Mr. Crooke, to whom the entire
management of the details and decorations of the
church was entrusted. As a striking instance of the
interest attaching to everything connected with the
last sad rites, we are assured that no less than sixteen
hundred persons per hour passed through the noble
warehouse of Mr. Crooke, during the four days on
which he kindly permitted the public to view the
catafalque manufactured on his premises.
To resume :—Stretched all along the nave at each
side, from the high altar, were forums five deep, on
which were seated the clergy who constituted the
choir. Dressed in their white surplices, the clergy,
ranged in a compact body, breviary in hand, to the
number, it was calculated, of between eleven and
twelve hundred. In other parts of the church there
were many others, who did not take so prominent a
part in the ceremonies.
There were present, as well as we could ascertain
unaided, two Archbishops and sixteen Bishops : The
Most Rev. Dr: Murray, Primate of Ireland, and Most
Rev. Dr. M'Hale, Archbishop of Tuam. The other
Prelates present were—The Most Rev. Dr. Cantwell,
Bishop of Meath ; Most. Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop
of Elphin ; Most Rev. Dr. M'Gettigan, Bishop of
Rapboe ; Most Rev. Dr. M'Nally, Bishop of Clogher ;
Most Rev. Dr. O'Higgins, Bishop of Ardagh ; Most
Rev. Dr. Keating, Bishop of Ferns; Most Rev. Dr.
Maginn, Bishop of Derry; Most Rev. Dr. Hely,
Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin ; Most Rev. Dr.
Foran, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore; Most Rev.
Dr. Walsh, Bishop of Ossory ; Most Rev. Dr. Ryan,
Bishop of Limerick ; Most Rev. Dr. French, Bishop
of Kilmacdaugh; Most Rev. Dr. Egan, Bishop of
Kerry ; Most Rev. Dr. Blake Bishop of Dromore;
Most Rev. Dr. M'Nicholas, Bishop of Aconry ; and
the Most Rev. Dr. Whelan, Bishop of Madras.
Of the clergy present it would be, of course, im-
possible to furnish a list. We noticed amongst them
the reverend gentlemen of Gardiner-street ; the
Very Rev. Dean Burke, the reverend P.P. of Clon-
mel; the Professors of Clongowes; the Professors of
Maynooth ; the reverend gentlemen of the metropo-
:kart parishes; the Rev. Mr. O'Farrell, chaplain of
he Lord Mayor, who was prevented from attend-
ing by a pressure of most unavoidable busines., ;
the Rev. Thomas Maguire; the Rev. Mr. Finn,
the venerable P.P. of Irishtown (who married the
Liberator)...

In the gallery at the east end, beneath the organ
loft, were the members of the Liberator's family—his
four sons, Maurice, John, Morgan, and Daniel, with
the female relatives and some of the children. Mr.
Steele, the Fidus Achates of the Liberator—the
Bayard of Irish politics—also occupied a seat in the
gallery.

_
Amongst the general auditory were some of the
most distinguished men known to the public.
At five minutes past eleven, the prelates, dressed in
purple, and wearing the episcopal mitre, having taken
their places in sears covered with crimson damask, at
the eastern end of the quadrangle, his Grace the
Archbishop of Dublin commenced the solemn Offi.
cium Difunctorum at Matins and Lauds. the re-
,ponxes being delivered by the assembled clergy. As
The voices ascended with the incense of supplication
and praise, the wrapt attention of the vast congrega-
rion—tbeir audible prayers as with profound forget-
fulness of all else they poured forth their hearts to
[leaven, combined to impress the mind of the looker-
on with an ineffaceable recollection.

After the office had been entoned, the solemn
Uigh Mass for the Dead commenced—The Most Rev.
Dr. Wieland, B.shop of Nladfas. ifficiating as high
?riest ; 1)r. Cooper, as deacon; Rev. Mr. Murphy, as
iub-deacon; Rev. Mr. Keogh as master of the cetemo-
Iles; and Rev. Mr. Pope, officiating master.