The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-05 00:00:00

MARCII 5, 1845.

' a Coercion Bill until he has tried the experiment of
justice. It is quite clear that until the cause of the
murders are done away with, coercion cannot be a pre-
ventive, and can scarcely produce any but unava-ling
punishment. It will, however, produce more irritation
and greater desperation.
" B L let the pcople bo.vare. Let them recollect that
the Rebellion of '9B was not up, and fumeoted, and fos-
tered into existence to carry the Union. Let them be
convinced that there are enough of evil•disposed persons
ready to foment another Rebellion, in order to prevent
the Repeal of the Union.

" There never was a period when it was so incum•
bent on the people of Ireland to be perfectly peaceable,
and to keep within the strictest limits of the law.
" It is in our peaceable exertions alone, that we can
hope to defeat this atrocious measure. The Bill is not
as yet law, and we are entitled and bound to denounce it
to the opposition and hatred of our country.
" There is one comfort, the attempt to continue the
Government of Ireland by the means of coercion, with
a refit -al to do us justice, is an additional stimulant to
augment the numbers and increase the z.?al of the re-
pealers. The demonstration is complete. - There is no
peace, no tranquillity, no prosperity for Ire-
land, save in the repeal of the union, and the restoration
of the Irish nationality.
" Hurrah, then, for the repeal !
" Believe me to be yours, very faithfully,
"T. M. Ray, Eiq." ".DANIEL qCONNELL."
Mr. D. CALLAGHAN, MY., and several other gentle-
men having addressed the meeting, and a remonstrance
against the Irish Coercion Bill having been adapted, the
rent for the week was annonced to be 2271. 13s. 3d.
The meeting then adjourned.
MORE CONVICTIONS.
On Wednesday last. feur. men were arra.igna At the
Longford assizes, for the wilful murder of Henry Bergin,
at a place called Gowlan, on the night of the Ist of No-
vember. Two of the prisoners only, John Buchanan
aid Bernard M'Geoy, were put upon their trial, and
after a long and patient investigation, the jury brought
in a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners. On the
day following the two convicts were again put to the
blr, for the purpose of receiving sentence, when the
following frightful scene ensued

" The Clerk of the Crown, in the usual manner,
asked the prisoners what they had to say why sentence
of death and execution stould not be pissed on them.
Both of them knelt down in front of the dock,
and Buchauuan, who appeared to speak for
both of them, said, In the sight of God, this
Court, and the jury, I protest I had not hand, act,
or part in the murder of Henry Bergin, and may I
never see God, or his angels in heaven, if I murdered
him. I forgive my prosecutors, judge, and jury.' lie
then entered into an explanation of how he was occu-
pied in Longford the day.of the naurd.lr, and closed with

a❑ iniprecaiion which shocked and made the hair

every person in court s►tand• on end, that may be
my doom, and the devil my angel, if I murdered you,
Henry Bergin.'

" After. this he rose, and the judge, in a most feeling
manner, said that no person who had heard the evi-
deuce could doubt the justness of the verdict, called on
them both to repent, and said he could hold out no hope
of clemency to them, and sentenced them to be hanged.
The day named is Saturday, the 21st of March."
KING'S COUNTY-POTATO DISEASE.

We are informed by a correspondent that potatoes
are every day getting worse with the disease in the
King's County. One gentleman, when removing the
other day. his p itatoes from the pit-hole, found that, of
fifty barrels of cups, he had not over ten in any way
sound. The poor (we are also informed) are in a most
distressed state, without any employment whatever, and
in a few weeks more, it is feared, famine and fever will
generally prevail. Seed potatoes are selling in Philips
town, at present, at from 12s. to 15s. per barrel of 24
stone.—Pilot.

FESTIVAL AT OSTEND.-NEW

STEAM SERVICE.

BRUSSELS, MARCH 3.—A sumptuous entertainment
was given, yesterday, at the Ostend Hotel de Ville, on
the occasion of the inauguration of the daily steam-boat
service between that town and Dover. About fifty
gentlemen, invited expressly by the Belgian govern-
ment, sat down to table in cne of the noble rooms of that
ancient edifice. Am.)ogat the company were Baron T.
Serelases, who acted as chairman ; Major and Captain
Lahure, of the Belgian Admiralty ; M. de 'Udder, Mem-
ber of the Senate ; M. Donny, Member of the Cham-
ber of Representatives ; M. Curry, the English Consul
at Ostend ; M. Three', of the 'Belgian post•offce ; M.
Bach, the Prussian consul ; the civil and military
authorities ; Mr. Latham, the Belgian Consul at Dover ;
Mr. Waghorn, the distinguished traveller ; Mr. Bourson,
the editor of the Government organ, the Maniteur Beige;
two representatives of the Rheno-Prussian Railway, &e.
The three or four rooms forming the magnificent suite of
apartments were brilliantly lighted up and tastefully
ornamented with flowers and shrubs; and from the walls
were suspended in massive gilt frames the superb folio
collection of the Gothic edifices of Europe, by Sinionau
and Son, of Brussels. A full military band was stationed
in one of the rooms.

The first toa-t, " The Health of his Majesty the King
of the Belgians, and of his August Family; may a
live long, very long yet, to see his people appy and
prosperous," was received with all the honours. This
was followed after a brief interval by " The Health of
her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland,"
which, like the former toast, was enthusiastically drunk.
The band struck uo the national air " God save the
Queen" in excellent style, and, on concluding, it received
the unanimous applause of the company. A general
call was here made for Mr. Curry, the much-respected
English consul at Ostend, who, in obedience to it,
arose after a - short pauze, and returned thanks
for the respectful and cordial manner in which the
health of his Sovereign had been received by the dis-
tinguished assembly. Mr. Curry, who spoke in French,
concluded by proposing "Prosperity to the Town of
Ostend," which was greeted with much cheering, and
duly honoured. The next toast was " The Health of
the King of Prussia," in proposing which the chair-
man expressed his regret that M. Dechamps, the present
Minister for Foreign Affairs, and late Minister of
Public Works, was unavoidably absent on that occa-
sion, and warmly eulogized that able minister for his
successful efforts to increase and extend the means of in-
ternational communication between Belgium and Eng-
land, and also between the former country and Rhemish
Prussia.

The Chairman's remarks were warmly applauded, and
le toast which he announced was duly responded to.
Mr. Baca, the Prussian Consul, briefly returned
hanks.

After some complimentary observations respecting
Mr. Waghorn and his spirit of enterprise, the health of
that gentleman was proposed, with the permission of the
Chairman, by Captain Lahure, and was received with
hearty cheers, and with all the English honours.
Mr. WAGHORN returned thanks in English, and ex-
pressed his conviction that the hospitable town of Os-
tend would reap some benefit from the efforts which he
was perseveringly making to effect a speedier communi-
cation between the East Indies and Great Britain.
Ile remarked (amidst much applause) that be was en-
couraged in his laborious attempt, and urged to persevere
in it by the thought that, by bringing Europe and Asia
closer together, as it were, he was promoting the great
cause of civilisation and Christianity.
After the foregoing toasts had been disposed of, the
conversation became general and animated, several
pieces of music were admirably executed ; and after the
chairman arose from the table the company promenaded
up and down the elegant suite of apartments, sipping
coffee and talking of "politics and policy." In three or
four little groups the new measures a Sir IL Peel were
discussed, and Various opinions expressed respecting the
manner in which they would be received and met by the
continental states, particularly by this country and Ger-
many.

After the festival bad been concluded, the majority of
the company proceeded to the Casino, a private club in
aportion of the Hotel de Ville, the members of which
most courteously received the strangers who had been
invited to the entertainment. Ihe exterior of the
Town Hall was ornamented with Belgian aitcl English
flags, and numercus rows of lamps were placed along
the entire front of that building.
About six o'clock this morning, the majcirity of the
company who had assisted at the festival embaa.ked in the
new steamer, the Chemin de Fer (built by the Messrs.
Ditchburn and Mare for the Belgian Government), for
Ostend. The quays and the various ships in port were
crowded with eager spectators ; a full guard' of honour
was stationed opposite the place of embarkatitm, and as
the boat glided majestically on its first voyage to
Ostend the military presented arms and the: assembled
crowd gave some hearty c'J)ers. The passage was a
prwoeeaurrgeht
onoobneel,agduaiireitdes)s,tophinaerutmicchaujla(a)rtrilttyhyeti
rOh fee
ease
eeel
aggsi
aetinhi
ste,leini,oc.,enrne(ottyhaeepr::
terday evening. The company on board had been in-
vited by the'Belgian Government to make thb trip, with
the privilege of returning to Ostend on thurtday or
Sunday next. The directors of tl.e South-Eistern Rail-
way, with equal liberality, gave to each ge tleman on
board a first-class free pass ticket for Lond n, and for
the return journey to Dover, the ticket to hod good till
the 7th instant inclusively. All the foreign gesalemen
shortly after landing at Dover proceeded o Landon,
where they will stop till Saturday next. I
The following, amongst others, have availed them-
selves of the opportunity to visit the great metropolis
—Captain Labure, Director of the Belgian Marine ; Cap-
tain Schohkeil, M. Hariehhorn, and bI. Richard ~on, of
Cologne ;- M. Jerlache, M. de Breyre. M. de Basson-
p e•e, Intendent siilitaire ; M. I'arys, Licui Vrtnhae-
verke, ,Lieut:-Qoionel Benckers,.Captain Vanderplante,
M. Deladriere, Commandant de Place of Ostend ; M.
Van Isseghen, Dutch Consul at Ostend ; M. Boarson,
Captain Maillct, Lieut. Ablay, Baron T. Setelaes, Lieut.
Guyette, Major Lahure, M. Allard, and' Count de
Buisseret.

Mr. Latham and Lieut. Waghorn, who had been
officially invited by the Belgian Government to the
festival, also returned to Dover by the new ixiat.'
The Captain of the Ohernin de For is an experienced
seamqn natned Claes a native of Belgium. lie Teats
English well, and giVes his' orders to the head engineer,
stokLirF, d'nci pilot, in that language. The -head- en-
gineer is an Englishman named Davies, who,has tyro
Belgians under his instruction. The lieutenant of the
teffl4el and the common sailors are Belgians„, A GUS-

torn-house officer will always be on board, and will,
when required, examine the luggage, &e., during the
passage, in order to avoid (Way at Ostend. The pas-
sage to Dover was pL:rforrnect is five hours and 4hirg.e.
quarters. The engines are of 120 horse power: Thet ,
will be for the future a daily cormuunicaCoa:LbetWeen-'
the two ports.