The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-24 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, SEPT. 21.--ThTusual wetkly meeting of the
Repeal Association was held this day, at the Conciliation
Hall; William ,'Guinness, Esq., in the chair.
The SECRETARY read the minutes of last day's pro-
ceedings, after which
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL read the following letter from
his father:—

" Darrynane Abbey, Cahirciveen, Sept. 17.
"My dear Ray,—lt is impossible to exaggerate the
frightful prospect of famine and pestilence that lies
before us. The failure of the poor man's crop is known
to be all but universal—indeed, the fact is so familiar
that it is quite superfluous to repeat it.
" The plan for affording relief through the medium of
public works will be in full operation in the course of
the ensuing fortnight. To be satisfactory, however, it
requires the most active co-operation of the landowners
and farmers.

" Unhappily, in the present state of the country, it
will not be sufficient to procure employment for the
people. The great difficulty is, the procuring sufficient
food. The great deficiency is in the supply. of food—
food is already at famine price, and the leaving in the
hands of the mercantile men the supplying food as a

commercial speculation will necessarily keep it at a famine
price. The intervention of Government is, therefore,
absolutely necessary—such intervention is surrounded
with great difficulties, and will impose an enormous ad-
ditional burden upon the Government. It must, how-
ever, be done, or the people will starve ; it not being, I
repeat, safe to leave the people at the mercy of specu-
lators in bread stuffs.'

" It is true that promises are held out to keep the
market down, by pouring in a supply of Government
provisions. Thus the difficulty meets us again • for the
Government, in keeping down the markets, will be very
likely to drive the mercantile classes out of the trade, so
that the supplying of the food will ultimately fall
altogether upon the Government.
" Many plans have been suggested to meet the diffi-
culties, especially plans to borrow from the Government,
at a low rate of interest, moneys to be laid out on pro-
ductive improvements on leads, to be repaid by the
borrower. _ _

" Let it be remarked that there are already a million
of pounds sterling in the hands of the Board of Works,
to be lent for the drainage of Irish estates, and yet very
few indeed have availed themselves of that fund.

" One feature in the present emergency affords the
greatest satisfaction. It is that which exhibits
persons of every class, and of every persuasion,
and of every political opinion, combining together,
without the slightest reference to any irritating
or party topics, but one and all endeavouring to find out
the best mode of mitigating the approaching famine.
This has never happened before. It is the first time in
Ireland that unanimity, complete and entire, has shown
itself among men of various persuasions and different
political opinions, and that unanimity has been un-
viola ted amidst the fervour of public meetings.
" The consequence has been, that various plans have
been suggested for alleviating the present misery, and
anticipating the evils to result should another year of
famine follow the present.
" When we were dealing with the afflicting, but still
partial distress of last year, we fondly anticipated relief
from the promising harvest of the present year ; but it
has pleased Providence to disappoint our hopes, and ag-
gravate the evils of our prospects.
" Who shall tell us with confidence that we shall not
have another year of similar calamities? Judging from
what has happened in other countries, we have great
cause to dread the blight will not terminate in the
present year, but that we shall have another famine
year to provide for. Under such circumstances, every
man who produces a plsn to obviate the dangers and
difficulties of our position and prospects, is, to a certain
extent, a public benefactor.
" There is another consideration deserving attention,
that the Government plan of succour is calculated to
produce throughout Ireland, a more extended poor-law,
necessarily calculated to extend out-door relief to all
adult labourers and their families in a state of destitu-
tion, as well as to all other destitute poor. The English
statute of Elizabeth is being extended to Ireland, and
the poverty of the country is about to be placed for sup-
port upon the property—especially upon the landed
property.
" In seeking to relieve the present distress, it will re-
quire the utmost care and vigilance to prevent Ireland
being involved in the entire detail of the English poor-
laws.
"But the greatest evil of all is the want of combina-
tion and co• operation between the Irish gentry gene-
rally. The late meetings afford a proof of the practica-
bility of such a combination, but then those meetings
lasted for only part of a day.
" After conferring amicably, and resolving eloquently,
they dissolved into their original elements, and left no
combined body to carry out their intentions.
" Now, what I most ardently desire is this, that the
gentlemen who resolve so well, and who talk so wisely,
should make up their minds to give permanency to their
efforts by the continuance of some committee or depu-
tation. •
" How delighted I should be to be able, with any
prospect of success, to propose that the gentry in each
locality in Ireland should appoint a delegation of their
number to meet together in Dublin without delay, in
order to organise the best plans for obtaining Govern-
ment and loyal relief during the impending calamities of
famine and pestilence, and to embody, in practical form,
their suggestions to Parliament for laws suited to the
emergency.
" The first duty of such a meeting as I allude to
would be to address the Ministry, and, if necessary, the
Crown itself, to call together, without delay, the Parlia-
ment ; such a demand, coming from such a body, would
be irresistible.

" When the Parliament met, the influence of such a
body as I describe would, necessarily, be all-powerful ;
and every hope would arise that an effectual plan for re-
lief of the people of this magnficeut Ireland would be
realised. I may be sneered at by some, and laughed at
by others, for making such a proposal ; it will be said
that what I want is an Irish Parliament, and I confess
that there would be some remote resemblance to an Irish
Parliament in such an assembly l but there would be
none which a British statesman need apprehend, or the

most timid anti-Repealer object to. -
" There are other topics which I would wish to sub-
mit to the Association, but for the present I postpone
them. Let me, however, conjure the gentry of Ireland
seriously to reflect that unless they adopt some plan to
make their weight and importance felt by the Govern-
ment, the English plan of out-duor relief in its worst
form, will be almost insensibly communicated to Ire-
land, and their estates not only burdened, but actually
confiscated.
" In the meantime,, let the Repent Association con-
tinue its exations—let it accumulate documents for the
discussion of the repeal question in the next session of

Parliament. No t-tional-man tan object to such a dis-
cussion in the British Parliament ; neither can there be
the slightest shadow of a dutt'st that the union has
worked badly for Ireland. Before th'e present distrcsi
it was proved on the over memorable Devon commii-
sion, that the agricultural population of Ireland, bring
seven-eighths of the entire. endured more misery than
any other people in Europe. Perhaps, now that it is as-
certained beyond any controversy, that the plan for
working out the restoration of the Irish Parliament is
purely and undeviatingly peaceable—there may be such
an accession to our strength as would render the repeal
inevitable.
"Believe me to be very faithfully yours,
" To M. Ray, Esq." " DANIEL O'CONEL.
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL, in moving that the letter be
inserted in the minutes, said that he had just been in-
formed that a meeting of ratepayers, which was held
at Cashel, had separated without doing any thing for the
people. The meeting was presided over by Lord Glen-
gall, and they had done nothing for the starving people.
The Reverend Mr. Kirnan, who had informed him (Mr.
O'Connell) of the circumstance, hastened up to Dublin
to lay the matter -before the Lord-Lieutenant, with a
view of inducing. the
__AvArrtmont +ri halra +ha chat

etfairs in that locality into immediate consideration.
Parliament, he said, sbould assemble in three or four
weeks, and endeavour to avert the painful evils with
which the people were threatened.
Mr. Josh O'CoNNELL announced the resignation of
Dr. Cann, Of Itilkenny. It was with the sincerest sorrow
that they accepted Mg resignation. He hoped that at a
future period Dr. Cann would adopt the principle which
the Bishops and Archbishops have adopted, he meant
the glorious moral force principle.
Captain BRODRICIE seconded the motion, which passed.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL said that there were others who
wished their names to be removed from the books; he
would move that Mr. Ray be desired to comply with
their wish.—Passed.
Mr. R. D. BROWNE, M P. (who entered the meeting
a short time previous), then came forward, and was
warmly received. He said that he would not detain
them long, but he could not let such an opportunity pass
without full,' expressing his full approval of the " O'Con-
nell moral force" policy, and his strong disapproval of
the course pursued by the " physical force" gentlemen.
—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Browne) was always a re-
pealer, and the more he saw of England and Ireland's
relative positions, the stronger he was in his belief in the
absolute necessity there was for a native Parliament.—
(Cheers.) The Learned Gentleman next alluded to the
Labour Bill, which I e teal he hoped would succeed in
establishing the golden rule of agriculture or commercial
labour—" A fair day's pay is worth a fair day's work,"
and " a fair day's work ought to have a fair day's pay."
It was a good measure, and one of the first good measures
ever passed for Ireland. —(Hear, hear.) Now he had
heard of repealers being abused for supporting the Go-
vernment which passed it ; he svcsgd ask—why should
they not support a Government which seemed disposed
to do justice—and which was composed of such men as
Mr. Ward, Mr. Gibson, Mr. M'Culloch, and Sir Wil-
liam Somerville ?—(hear, and loud cheers)—men who
were known to be the ardent friends of liberty, and
whom he believed would yet be found amongst their
ranks as repealers. His principle would be to take their
support, and alt the good measures they could get from
the Whigs, and use them as stepping-stones to repeal—
for nothing but repeal would satisfy them.—(Loud
cheers.)
Mr. LAUGHNAN, T.C., next addressed the meeting,
in handing in some money, and expressed a hope that
ere long he would see a reconciliation between the" Old
and Young Ireland parties."
Mr. O'CoststELL said that they would be most happy
to effect a reconciliation, but, as he had often stated
before, it lay with the Young Ireland party to make the
move, as they had swerved from the rules of the Asso-
ciation, and could only be again connected with it, by a
determination to agitate by moral means alone.—
(Cheers.) They had erred, and they were the parties
to repent of their error.—(Cheers.) The Honourable
and Learned Gentleman then alluded to the Labour Rate
Bill, and the Treasury minute regulatins,. it. He said
that that order directed that the wages should, in each
locality, be twopence lower than the wages given by the
landlords in the neighbourhood, and if such were the
case, the people would be starved, as the wages in the
county of Meath, one of the best counties in the country,
were only nineper.ce farthing a day, in summer, and
sevenpence-halfpenny a day in winter, which would leave
only fivepence-halfpenny a day to support a labourer
dur.ng the approaching winter. Trait was the calcula-
tion as regarded the best counties; but in other parts of
the country, in the west and south, there would not be
threepence a-day coining to the labourer under the
Treasury regulation—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear")—
therefore the Government should at once consider the
matter, and make provision to give fair remuneration
for a fair day's work.—(Cheers.)
Mr. J. M. M'DONWELL, M.P., then banded in some
money, and made some observations with regard to a
Mr. Lynch—(Hear, hear)—whom he denominated " the
rotten Papist of Mayo," stating that be was not even fit
to drive one of Croal's coaches. He said that he would
not advise any one to do anything improper or illegal ;
but he knew he would not starve, if food was to be got
at.—(Cheers.) In conclusion, Mr. M'Donnell proposed
the enrolment of Mr. Peard, of the sth Dragoon Guards,
as a member of the Association; which resolution was
seconded and passed.
After some short pause,
Mr. J. O'CoszstEu. rose and said he did not know,
but that it might be dangerous for gentlemen in the
army joining the Association.—(Cries of " Hear.") He
would, therefore, beg to move the suspension of his ad-
mission for the present, until they should have an op-
portunity of consulting some more legal persons, more
competent to give an opinion than he was.

Motion withdrawn. -
Mr. BoURKE postponed the reading of the report from
the Repeal Discussion Committee, until Monday next,
in consequence of the hour to which the proceedings had
been protracted.
After which the rent was announced to be 61/.165. 4d.
Mr. Bourke was called to the chair, and the meeting
adjourned.

THE CONTINENTAL FORGERIES.---The two forgers,
Theodore Herweg, alias Romansou or Raumanzow, and
Knapps, hare undergone several interrogations before
the examining magistrates, and several witnesses have
also been examined. It appeared that Romanzou
scarcely ever remained in one apartment more than a
quarter of a year, and was to leave that in the Rue
d'Anjou, where he was taken, in October. He never
went out, and was not visited during the time he stayed
there by more than three persons. The preliminary
proceedings are likely to occupy several months, on
account of the evidence which will be required rom

several foreign countries. Knapps is confined in the
prison of the Madelonnettes, and Romanzou in that of
St. Pelagrie. The thirty-two notes found upon Roman-
zou were for 1001. each, and not for 5/., as was at first
stated. Both the prisoners have made a full confession.
Romanzon states that, after having sonarrowly escaped
from arrest on the 6th January, 1832, when the
woman DAnelle, and Pressel, the native of Wurtemberg,
were surprised at Passy, where he, Romanzou, had
set up a press, he got over the frontier into Switzer-
land, and made his way into Italy, where he lived for
four months upon a sum of money that he took with
him. Fearing an application for his extradition, he re
turned to France, thinking he would be able the more
easily to conceal himself there. His resources were
then reduced to two genuine Bank of England notes for
1100/. each ; and be conceived for the first time the idea
of imitating them. But the difficulties he had to con-
tend with were so great that he was for two years
working assiduously before he could succeed ; living in
the most parsimonious manner upon one of the notes
being obliged to keep the other as a model. At the end
of the two years he found that he had produced a perfect
' forgery, but not daring to trust the uttering of his
false notes to any third person, he issued them himself,
and in three days exchanged twenty-six of them for
1001. each at different money-changers' offices. He
then sto• ed, and travelled till he saw the effect pro-
duced upon the Bank of Englard. At the time of his last
capture, Romanzou was engaged, with- the assistance of
his momplice Knapps, ill' manufacturing a greater
number of notes of the Bank of England, with the
intent, as he says, of raising 100,000 f., with which he
hoped to g s over to America, and there live an honest
life.— Galignani,
INDIAN CORN.—There Ire at present growing at
Admiral Duff's, Braemorriston, two rows of Indian corn,
which have arrived at much perfection. Having seen
the other day this sample of Eastern crop, we were
much gratified with its rich and luxuriant appearances
tLe stalks, which are fully ten feet in height, containing
abundant and closely-grown -grain. The seed was sown
in March in the open air, has largely partaken of the
fruitfulness of the season, and the produce shows that
our climate is fast approximating to a more mild and
general temperature. We 'also saw several fig-trees in
the same garden, bearing a rich crop of very fine fruit.

—Elgin Courant.
MORTALITY OT THE METROPOLIS.—The total
number of deaths registered in the metropolis, for the
week ending Sept. 19, is 863 ; of these 826 were deaths
from disease, showing a decrease in the number of deaths
from disease of 60, as compared with the week pre-
ceding. The deaths from cholera during the week were
2; from dysentry, 2; and from diarrhoea, 79. The births
during the week were 1,235.
THE RESTORATION OF .ST. JOHN'S GATE.—It ap-
pears that the restoration of St. John's Gate is progress-
ing piecemeal. 1301. only having been subscribed, a
sum insufficient to complete the work, the masonic opera-
tics' are necessarily limited. The restorations effected

in the north front are, the two towers and the upper
portion of the gate have been recased with stone, rough
to accord with the present stonework, new solid stone
embattlements, and new solid window heads, jambs, and
sills to the turret windows. The red chimney pots have
been taken off, and others in accordance substituted.
The Roman style door front has been removed. It is
said that about 901. more will restore the stone embattle-
ments to the south front.

TROTTING MATCH FOR TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS
ASIDE.—On Tuesday, a match between Mr. Reynold's
grey mare, and Mr. Dilion's black horse came off at
Wimbledon-common, the contesting distance being two
miles; when, after a good race, the grey came ita the
winner by fifty yards, having covered the distance in
seven minutes and twenty seconds.
TRUCKS ON WESTMINSTER BRIDGE.--011 Tues-
day, about noon, several persons were knocked down on
Westminster-bridge, by fellows rushing through the
narrow thoroughfare left open for foot passengers
drawing trucks after them. A row of posts placed
at either end would effectually prevent such another
occurrence.
DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT BRITA,TN.—LivER-
Pon, TUESDAY.—The steam-ship Great Britain, Captain
Ilo,,ken, sailed hence for New York this forenoon, carry-
ing out no less than 181 passengers. Amongst these
were Mr. King, late Minister of the United States to the
Court of the Tuileries; and also the troop of children
lately organised in imitation of the celebrated band of
Dan sew es Vicnnoises
VOLCANO or SADDLE ISLAND, IN THE RED SEA.
—A dispa'ch received at Lloyd's on Tuesday afternoon
from the East India-house, enclosing a copy of a letter
Irker. of the Hon. East India Com-
from lieutenant
that on the
pany's steam-vessel; Victoria, m;:::,"2"'es
14th of last August smoke was observed to issue igroril
the summit of Saddle Island, in lat. 15 7, N., lon. 42 12,
E. The weather at the time was very squally, with
thunder and liKirtning.. Saddle Island is one of the
group called " Zebayer" Islands, in the Red Sea, in the
direct track of vessels proceeding up and down, and are
all of volcanic origin; but there is neither record nor tra
dition of their having been in active operation. Jibble
Seir in lat. 15 32, N., and lon. 41 55, E., was observed
to be smoking when visited by the officers of the Benares
during the survey of the Bed Sea, but never [since.
There is a tradition among the Aritb
pilots of its having
been on fire some fifty years ago, and bears among
many of them the name of Jibble I)ookhan, or " Rill of
Smoke," and has the appearance of having i;ecrt in
active operation at 4 much 149- pvriod than the 40.4rr
Wands.

TRENT: VALLEY, MIDLANDS, AND

GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.
A special general meeting of the shareholders of this
company was held yesterclty, at two o'clock, at the com-
pany's offices, 19, Great George-street, Westminster.
Hennir TOOTAL, Esq., deputy-chairman, having taken
the chaff, said his first duty was to express his extreme
regret that tile chair was not occupied by the chairman,
the Hon. Colonel Anson. He held in his hand a letter,
stating that severe domestic affliction, namel.r, he death of
one of his children, prevented him from being present.
The SECRETARY read the advertisement, and after•
wards the report of the directors. It stated that the
meeting had been specially convened to take into CollEi-
deration the proposed amalgamation of the company
with the North Staffordshire Company, to ratify the
agreementr, dated the 23d February and 19th June.
1846, to that effect, and to confer the necessary powers
on the directors for fully effectuating that object. The
capital stock of the amalgamated company would con-
sist of 945,0004, composed of 78,750 shares of 121. each,
of which 35,000 would belong to the Trent Valley Com-
pany, and a 12/. share in the amalgamated company
would be issued to each holder of one 201. scrip.
The accounts showed a sum of 73,5001. receipts and de-
posits up to the 22d September instant, and 12,7101. 15s.
6d. payments on account of expenses, thereby leaving a
balance of 60,7891. 4s. 6d.
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the shareholders, on
their first meeting after obtaining deir Act. At an early
stage of their proceedings the circumstance of another
company having been formed, which aimed at the same
objects and traversed the same country, was a reason
why the directors felt anxious that they should be
brought together. He had now the pleasure to tell them
that the agreements for amalgamation had been pre-
pared, and now all that was necessary to complete it was
the consent of Parliament. He believed the railway
would benefit the country through which it was con-
structed, and be remunerative to those who had invested

their capital in it. He moved that the report now read
be received and adopted, printed, and circulated among
the members.
Mr. J. VT. UNETT seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN said the next business was th.
election of directors ; he wished, therefore, to state that
in the terms of the amalgamation, the South Stafford-
shire Company appointed ten of the directors, and the
Trent Valley eight.
The eight retiring directors were then unanimously
re- elected.
Messrs. George Sanders, Wakefield, and James Dur-
ham, were appointed auditors, at a salary of 25/. each.
The CHAIRMAN said the special business of the day
now came before the meeting, namely, the approval of
the atnalgamati,,n of the Trent Valley with the South
Staffordshire. The other company were to find of the
whole capital 525,000/, and the Trent Valley 420,0001.
The SECRETARY then read a series of resolutions
voting the amalgamation of the two companies, and
authorising the directors to carry it out.
The CHAIRMAN moved these resolutions.
Mr. BEALE seconded them, and they passed unani-
mously.
A PROPRIETOR said he observed that the 201. shares
were now reduced 12/.; be wished to know when the bor-
rowing clause would come into operation, if at all?
The CHAIRMAN said the reduction was necessary, as
the capital of the two companies would have been more
than was needed, and they had still the same power to
borrow to the extent of one-half as before.
A PROPRIETOR wished to know whether this company
would make the Shewbellow Branch, or would leave it
to be made by the Grand Junction Company ?
The CHAIRMAN said it would be made, but by whom
he could not yet say.
Mr. WALKINGSHAW moved a vote of thanks to the
directors, which was seconded, and carried unanimously.
The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and the
meeting then separated.