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

MARCH 5, 1M46.

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 apre-
ventive, and can scarcely produce any but unavaling
punishment. It will, however, produce more irritation
and greater desperation.
" But let the people beware. Let them recollect that
the Rebellion of '9B was got up, and fomented, 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-
es 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 refusal to do us justice, is an additional stimulant to
augment the numbers and increase the zeal 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, Esq." "DANIEL O'CONNELL."
Mr. D. CALLAGHAN, M.P., and several other gentle-
men having addressed the meeting, and a remonstrance
against, the Irish Coercion Bill having been adopted, the
rent for the week was annonced to be 2271. 13s. 3d.

The meeting then adjourned.
MORE CONVICTIONS.

On Wednesday last four men were arraigned at the
Longford assizes, for the wilful murderof Henry Bergin,
at a place called Gowlan, on the night of the Ist of No-
yember. Two of- the prisoners only, John Buchanan
and 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
bar, 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 should not be passed on them.
Both of them knelt down in front of the dock,
and Buchannan, who appeared to speak for
both of them, said, 'ln 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.' He
then entered into an explanation of how he was occu-
pied in Longford the day of the murder, and closed with
an imprecation which shocked and made the hair of
every person in court stand on end, that Hell may be
my doom, and the devil my angel, if I murdered you,
Henry Be'ro-in.'
" After this he rose, and the judge, in a most feeling
manner, said that no person who had heard the evi-
dence 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 potatoes 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
s ton e.—Pi/o t.

FESTIVAL AT OSTEND.-NEW

STEAM SERVICE.

BRUSSELS, MARCEL 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 one of the noble rooms of that
ancient edifice. Amongst the company were Baron T.
Serelases, who acted as chairman ; Major and Captain
Lahure, of the Belgian Admiralty ; M. de Bidder, Mem-
ber of the Senate ; M. Donny, Member of the Cham-
ber of Representatives ; M. Curry, the English Consul
at Ostend ; M. Bareel, of the Belgian post-office ; 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 Moniteur Belge;
two representatives of the Rheno-Prussian Railway, &c.
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 Simonet'
and Son, of Brussels. A full military baud was stationed
in one of the rooms.

The first toast, " The Health of his Majesty the King
of the Belgians, and of .his August Family; may he
live long, very long yet, to see his people happy 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 up 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 pause, 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 eqend 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
the toast which he announced was duly responded to.
Mr. BAca, the Prussian Consul, briefly returned
thanks.

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.
He remarked (amidst much applause) that he was en-
couraued 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 of Sir R. 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.

Alter the festival had been concluded, the majority of
the company proceeded to the Casino, a private club in
a portion of the Hotel de Ville, the members of which
most courteously received the strangers who had been
invited to the entertainment. The exterior of the
Town Hall was ornamented with Belgian and English
flags, and numerous rows of lamps were placed along
the entire front of that building.
About six o'clock this morning, the majority of the
company who had assisted at the festival embarked 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 embarkation, and Ita
the boat glided majestically on its first voyage to
Ostend the military presented arms and the assembled
crowd gave some hearty cheers. The passage was a
rough one, and the majority of the gentlemen (there
were no ladies), particularly the Belgians, did not ap-
pear to be quite so much at their ease as they were yes,
terday evening. The company on board had been in-
vited by the Belgian Government to make the trip, with
the privilege of returning to Ostend on Thursday or
Sunday next. The directors of the South-Eastern Rail-
way, with equal liberality, gave to each gentleman on
board a first-class free pass ticket for London, and for
the return journey to Dover, the ticket to hold good tilt
the 7th instant inclusively. • All the foreign gentlemen
shortly after landing at. Dover proceeded to London,
where they will stop till Saturday next.
The following, amongst others, have availed them-
selves of the opportunity to visit the great Metropolis
—Captain Lahore, Director of the Belgian Marine ; Cap-
tain Schohkeil; M. llatitthhorn, and- M..lRichardsop, of
Cblogne ; M. ..Terlacht, M. -de 'Brey.re, M. de Basson-
.olllre, Intendent. Militaire ; M. Parys, Lieut. VanhaeL
verke, Lieut:-Colonel Benekers„ Captain Vanderplante,
M. Deladriere, Cbmmandant..de. -Place -of ..Ostend ; M.
Van Isseghen, Dutch Consul at Ostend.; AL•.Bourson,
Captain Maillet, Lieut. Ablay, Baron T.. Setchies, Lieut:
;Guyette, Maier LOure, M. Allard, and Count de
Butsseret.- •
. ,mr.l*Sprn and Zie4t. Nlraghorn; who 'had' been
••officially .by the "Belgian Goierninent to the
festitial, also returned to Dover by.thttneW::boat.
The Captain of the Chemin de Fer• its experienced
seaman named Claes, a native- of Bergiunt He speaks
English well, and gives his orders to •the head engineer,
stokers; and pilot, in that language. The head en-
gineer is an Englishman' named Davies, who has two
• Belgians under his instruction. The lieritegqlit.af the
- Tool and
..t119.,0041011l lcn era.Aelgiaus, :A cm*-
.

tom-house officer will always be on board, and will,
when required, examine the luggage, &c., during the
passage, in order to avoid delay at Ostend. The pas-
sage to Dover was performed in five hours and three-
quarters. The engines are of 120-horse power. There
will be for the future a daily communicationlbetween
the two ports.