The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-22 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JULY 20.—The accounts from some of the
southern counties, received to-day, afford lamentable con-
firmation of the spread of the insurrectionary system,
which is hourly assuming a more daring and desperate
character. The local Confederate journals are crowded
with reports of club and other meetings, at which the
peasantry are called upon to arm and prepare fcr a de-
cisive conflict. The most violent sedition—nay, absolute
treason—is spouted at these "monster meetings," and
the prosecutions for sedition are made subjects for mer-
riment.

Meantime, whilst Mr. Smith O'Brien has for the pre-
sent returned to head-quarters at Dublin, his lieutenants
are actively engaged in organizing throughout the pro-
vinces. Mr. Doheny continues in Tipperary, Mr. Meagher
in Waterford, Mr. Strich in Roscommon—and other
emissaries are at work in various districts, preparing for
what they call the decisive struggle.
There is no truth whatever in the curiously circum-
stantial reports of the arrest for sedition and subsequent
rescue of the Rev. Mr. Byrne. The facts which gave
rise to the story will be found delsiled in the letter ex-
tracted from the Tipperary Free P-css, in our impression
of yesterday.
The Waterford Chronicle supplies some additional par.
ticulars:—

" WATERFORD, MONDAY, JULY 17.—0 n my way to
Waterford this morning, through Carrick, about eight
o'clock, shortly after the public cars passed through,
the police had arrested (in their beds) two or three of
the heads of the clubs in that town, and brought them
to the Bridewell; and when it became known through
the town, men, women, and boys flew in all directions to
acquaint the rest of the members of the different clubs in
town, who, upon hearing the news, mustered in double
quick time from all quarters of the town, first proceed-
ing to their respective club-rooms to deliberate. When
they had deliberated, they marched out with full deter-
mination to rescue the prisoners or die in the attempt;
in the meantime, while m deliberation, the news spread
like electricity to the surrounding country, and the
bells of the different chapels, Ballyneal, Newtown, Rath-
gormak, Dysart, Clones, and Carrickbeg, were set in
motion, and like mountain torrents the men of those
localities came speedily into town, and in a few minutes
the streets were densely crowded ; the cry was, To
your pikes, boys ;' and in a short time the pikes came
forth in great numbers. I did not think there could be
so many stout athletic fellows able to bear arms as ap-
peared in the streets in about an hour from the com-
mencement, who would have no doubt rescued the pri-
soners at any risk, had not some of the members of the
clubs, whose judgment was more matured, and to whom
they looked up with some respect, remonstrated with
them, and told them the time was not come to strike the
blow. The Rev. Father Byrne having made his appear-
ance, calmed their rising passions, and caused them to
withdraw, on the assurance that the prisoners would be
instantly liberated on entering bail for them, and that
the crime was small. I forgot to say that those who
had not pikes were armed with scythes on the end of
sticks, long reaping hooks prepared, and billhooks ; but
as I was obliged to proceed on my journey I saw no
more of the transaction, but it appeared to me to bear
a direful portent."
On the evening of the same day, according to the
Tipperary Free Press—
" About half-past nine o'clock a signal fire blazed on
the east side of Slienamon, and in an incredibly short time
was followed, by 10 additional fires on that magnificent
mountain; by 15 on the county of Waterford range of'
mountains—one in the direction of Carrick—ono near
Fethard—two in the direction of Lisronagh and Cleri-
han, and between the latter and the Caher mountains—
two in the direction of Knocklofty, &c. We have not
heard the occasion which gave rise to those remarkable
signs of the times; but the spirit was caught up by the
people of this town, who had bonfires lighted in the
main street, Iriskown, &c.; vast crowds assembled in
the streets, and were addressed by two members of the
clubs, both Protestants, who were very loudly cheered."
THE COMING PROSECUTIONS.
An application was made before Mr. Justice Perrin,
at Omagh assizes, to admit to bail Mr. John Martin,
proprietor of the Felon newspaper, and now a prisoner
in Newgate, awaiting his trial for felony at the next
commission. Judge Perrin refused the application.
THE POTATOES.
There are reports of failure in the potato crop from va-
rious parts of the country, but on comparing them with
the aggregate accounts you would certainly come to the
conclusion that so far there is really no cause for alarm.
Where good sound seed has been sown in good soil, and
proper care observed with it, no cause of complaint ap-
pears. The marks on the stalks may indicate failure of
those plants, while it is just as probable no loss will
occur. There are cases mentioned where black marks,
similar to those which were on the stalks in the year
1846, were observable eight or ten days ago; andat pre,r
sent the plants are fiourish,jpg. Thelollowtig is from
CoFk:-= •

"From various inquiries instituted in many localities,
we (Cork Examiner) have the most satisfactory confir-
mation of the opinion which we expressed in our last—
namely, that wherever the disease---if it could be called
such—appeared, it was in a very mitigated form, and
such as to create little or no uneasiness in the mind of
the grower. It has only appeared in some localities; but
in no one instance have we heard of its assuming a dan-
gerous or alarming character.
"A highly intelligent gentleman, who has just tra-
velled from East Skull, assures us that he has been de-
lighted, during a journey of two days, with the appear-
ance and abundance of the crop, which he asserts is
perfectly sound, from Dunmanus Bay to the city of
Cork."

(From the Dublin Evening Herald of Thursday.)

Without one word of unnecessary commentary or pre-
face, we proceed to lay before the Government, as well
as before our readers, the following alarming facts. We
are not at liberty to state through what channel the in-
formation has reached us, but we can assure the Govern-
ment that its accuracy may be relied on, and we trust
that, if hitherto unapprised of the circumstances we are
about to mention, they will lose no time in testing the
truth of the intelligence, and acting as the exigency may
require.
The information is to the following effect:—
Last wnek eighty stand of arms were purchased by
the Dr. Doyle Club, of which Mr. Duffy of the Nation
is the President; 20,000 stand of disused military
flint muskets have been purchased in London for the
use of the insurgents, and are coming over in batches.
Yesterday evening, a large van with four horses was
publicly (as it happened, actually under the eyes of a
police inspector) laden with muskets at the door of a
gunsmith, who keeps a shooting gallery upon Welling-
ton Quay.

Yesterday morning, Ryland, the noted pike-maker,
left this city for Carlow, with a large consignment of
pikes.
The rebels have prepared a map of the city of Dublin,
subdivided into districts, in each of which the points at
which the clubs are respectively to muster, and where
barricades are to be thrown up, are indicated.
It is now arranged that if, upon the formation of the
jury to try Duffy or his fellows, it shall appear pro-
bable that a conviction will be had, the clubs are to rise
immediately and prevent the trial by an anticipatory,
and, as they hope, a successful outbreak. Ono word we
must add. The 20,000 stand of arms above mentioned
will alone cost, by the time they are delivered in Dub-
lin, fully 10,000 Z