The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-22 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, FEB. 20.—The suggestion of Chief Jus•
tice Blackburn has been adopted in another and re-
markable instance in the county of Tipperary. On
Friday, a meeting of the gentry, clergy, and farmers
of Ardfinan, Ballybacon ; and other parishes, was
held in the Sessions-house of Ardfinan ; S. W. Bar-
ton, Esq., in the chair; when, on the motion of the
Rev. 13. Prithe Perry, seconded by Mr. Patrick
Walsh, a " society for the improvement of agricul-
tural interests, and for the preservation of the peace
and prosperity of the district," was established, under
the designation of the " Ardfinan and Newcastle
Agricultural Society." Lord Suirdale has been ap-
pointed chairman. The landholders and farmers have
opened a subscription list, to promote the objects of
the society.
REPRESSION OP CRIMB.—THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
CLERGY.—Some weeks since the Rev. Peter Clarke,
parish priest of Belturbet, county of Cavan, signalized
himself by saving the life of a Mr. Winslow, who
had been employed in the enforcement of rents, when
he was attacked by a furious mob. It appears that
Mr. Winslow is a Protestant, and that the priest
vainly endeavoured to induce some persons of his own
creed, farmers in the neighbourhood, to arm them-
selves for his protection. The Rev. Mr. Clarke,
however, by the exercise of great presence of mind
and courage, succeeded in saving his life. The Lord-
Lieutenant on receiving an account of the affair, caused
the following letter to be forwarded to the reverend
gentleman, whose reply is also subjoined
" Dublin Castle, Jan. 18, 1848.

" Sir,—l have to inform you that your humane con-
duct in protecting Mr. Winslow, when attacked upon a
recent occasion, has been brought under the Lord-
Lieutenant'b notice ; and his Excellency desires me to
convey to you his thanks for your active exertions for
the preservation of the life of that individual.—l am, sir,
your obedient servant,

" T. N. REDINGTON.
"Rev. Mr. Clarke, P.P., Belturbet."
" Ballihair, January 31, 1848.
"Sir—l have not until this day been honoured with
your letter of the 18th instant, conveying to me the
thanks of his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant for the
services rendered in protecting the life of Mr. Winslow,
attacked on a late occasion.

" In that case I conceive I have only done my duty,
and I most humbly beg to assure his Excellency that,
deeply impressed with a due sense of the high favour
now conferred on me in this valuable testimony to his
Excellency's approbation, I shall always feel it my duty
to pursue the same course, and by using every means
in my power, to co-operate with the Government in re-
pressing crime and preserving the peace of the country.
" This outrage, like many others in Ireland, has arisen
out of the tenure of land and the unhappy relations new
existing between landlord and tenant. A ,just and
equitable settlement of that question would render easy
the management of the people.
" I have the honour of being
" Your obedient servant,
" T. N. Redington, Esq." " P. CLARKE.
RESPITE OF A CONVICT.—STRANGE
DISCLOSURES.

The Limerick Examiner of Saturday contains the
following This ;day the governor of the county
gaol received a respiteifor a week from his Excellency
the Lord-Lieutenant, in favour of Michael Howard,
convicted of the murder of Johanna and Cornelius
Hourigan, at Ballycoleen, and sentenced to die on
Tuesday next, the 22d instant. On the preceding day
a deputation, consisting of R. Maxwell, Esq., E.L. ;
Rev. R. Enright, C.C., Croom; Rev. Mr. Burke,
chaplain to the gaol, and Sir David Roche, Bart., had
an interview with his Excellency, as also with the
Right Hon. Chief Justice Blackburn, on the subject.
Most of our readers are aware that a memorial, most
numerously and respectably signed, had been got
up for the deputation in this city previous to their
leaving for Dublin. Some startling details, however,
transpired.a few days previous, with which it is neces-
sary our readers should be acquainted. The day on
on which Renehan was executed, the Rev. Mr.
Enright, believing in the innocence of 'Toward, re-
solved to have an interview with Tlourigan, the prin-
cipal prosecutor against him, and happened to meet
him in his house, a few minutes before the time
fixed upon for the execution. After speaking to him
for a short time, he took out his watch, looked at it,
and said that the executioner was at that moment
pinioning the arms of the man that was to die. Again
in a few minutes after, he looked at his watch a se-
cond time, turning to Hourigan, and said, The
prisoner is now standing on the verge of eternity,'
and dwelt on the solemnity of the scene. In a few
seconds after, he again said, ' Phil, he is now before
the tribunal of God, and though he has sinned, he has
paid the penalty. Let us pray for the repose of his
soul.'

" Hourigan was moved by the touching appeal of
the pious, zealous, and persevering pastor—lie did
prey, as directed, and.; the Reverend G.-ntleman, seiz-
ing the favourable moment, asked him why he had
sworn away the lives of innocent men ? 'Because,'
said he, '1 wanted revenge. A girl came to me from
Ballinvasradeen, and told me that Howard came to
her brother and asked him to go with him to murder
the Hourigans, and I thought it too bad not to have
satisfaction." Then,' said Mr. Enright, you were not
in the hoggard.' No sir." You swore falsely.'
Yes sir.' YouTwere at your brother's house ?" I
was, sir.' Then, turning to the little girl. 'And, my
little child, why did you swear against innocent men
to take away their lives ?"lhe little girl cried, and
replied, was put up to it, sir.' The Reverend
Mr. Enright next waited on Mr. Maxwell, and both
had an interview with Hourigan, but the latter
altered his tone; however, though denying his former
statement to the Reverend Gentleman, he left by his
shuffling and stammering such an impression on the
mind of Mr. Maxwell, that that worthy and excel-
lent magistrate resolved to take up the question
seriatim, and so, accompanied by the Reverend Mr.
Enright, went to the scene of the murder and saw
with his own eyes, and noted down on paper, the
position in which Hourigan had sworn on the trial of
Howard that he himself was placed on the day of the
murder. He had sworn he could not be seen, and
both gentlemen plainly perceived on resting near the
haggard ditch that he could not possibly avoid being
seen in such a place, for it was quite exposed. All
this was carefully noted down, and detailed to his
Excellency. Again, the . affidavit of Hourigan's
brother was produoed, that at the very time of the
murder the prosecutor was at his house. Next came
Mr. Sheehy's letter, the purport of which was, that
soon after the murder Phil. Hourigan had expressed
his gladness to him ' that he was not at home when
the murder occurred,' and that it was he whom they
wanted. _ _ _

" During the interview his Excellency asked what
was the day fixed for the execution, and being told
the 22d inst., said there was no time to be lost, and
at once wrote to the Queen and to the Chief Justice,
who, on receiving the letter, at once adjourned the
Court, and had a long interview with Mr. Maxwell,
who brought back the Chief Justice's reply. Mr.
Maxwell, during the interview, stated to his Excel-
lency he had no more doubt on his mind of Howard's
innocence than of his own existence, and that he was
impressed with that conviction from Hourigan'sman-
ner, and the impossibility of reconciling Hourigan
swearing with the situation of the place where the
murder occurred, besides the affidavit of his brother.
The Rev. Mr. Enright next detailed his interview
with Hourigan, and produced a sketch of the locality ;
and the Rev. .Mr. Burke dwelt on. Ranehan's declara-
tion to him and to Another previous to his execution,
which fully exculpated the prisoner."
ExrcuTios AT EN.NIS.—On Saturday John Crowe,
convicted at the special commission of the conspiracy
to murder James Watson, Esq., of Ballycorney,
underwent the extreme penalty of the law on the
drop in front of Ennis gaol. The memorial of the
culprit to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant was
acknowledged on Friday by an answer that the law
must be enforced.

LlMERlCK,n3n.l9.—Tuesday next, at two o'clock,
James Sheahan and James Quane are to be executed
at the drop of the county gaol, pursuant to sentence
passed at the late special commission, for the murder
of Mr. Ralph Hill, at Itathurd, near this city.
THE JEWS AND THE BELFAST ROMAN CATHOLICS.
—The Northern Whig says :—lt having been inti-
mated to the Baron Rothschild that a petition, in
favour of this Bill, from the Roman Catholics of
Belfast, was signed by 2,390 of that body in one day,
and that, if sufficient time had been allowed, 10,000
signatures could have been readily obtained; a letter,
of which the following is a copy, has been received
from the Baron :—" London, Feb. 14, 1843. Sir—
I beg your acceptance of my thanks for the interest
manifested, and the informaticn conveyed, in your
letter of the Sth instant, which would have had earlier
acknowledgment but for the extreme occupation of
last week ; and I have pleasure in expressing my
sense of the kind exertions of nay Roman Catholic
fellow citizens.--I have the honour Jo be, Sir, your
most obedient servant,
" L. N. DE ROTHSCHILD.
" B. Lennon, Esq., 7, High-street, Belfast."

MERTIITR.—The average quantity of coal used at
the Dowlsis iron-works is estimated at 1,500 tons per
day.—Hereford 'flutes,