The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-22 00:00:00

mitted by President Fillmore to the favourable consi-
deration of Congress, respecting the proposal of some
American merchants to establish a line of mail steamers
between New York and Galway, recommending
that line as calculated to " lessen the time now re-
quired for the transmission of the mails between the
United States and England and Ireland ;" and
adding that " other cogent reasons, not directy con-
nected with its usefulness for mail purposes, have
been strongly urged in favour of its establishment."
SALE OF ENCUMBERED ESTATES.—The Chief
Commissioner sat yesterday, and sold two small pro-
perties. The first was in the matter of the estate of
Josephine Catherine Handcock, deceased, and of
Honoria Handcock, which comprised the fee and in-
heritance of the lands of Clonacrussa, Coolicknalea,
and Cartron, situate in the barony of Dunmore and
county of dalway, containing in the entire 271 a. 2r.
32p., Irish 'plantation measure, and producing a nett
rent of 3101. 13s. sd. Mr. Patrick Nolan, in trust for
Dr. M'Hale, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuam,
was declared the purchaser for 2,9001. At a former
offer .of this property for sale, the highest bid was
only 1,000/, The other property disposed of was
in the matter of the estate of George Lloyd, which
comprised the fee and inheritance of one undivided
moiety of the towns and lands of Inchincummer, Kil-
sarcon, and Ballycantaurd. These lands are situate in the
neighbourhood of Castle Island, and are held by
Henry Arthur Herbert, of Muckross, Esq., M.P.,
under lease of August, 1709, for lives renewable for
ever, at a yearly rent of 110/. 15s. 4d., and a renewal
fine of 301. late Irish currency on the fall of each life.
Mr. G. W. Thompson, solicitor, in trust for George
Thompson, the petitioner, was declared the, purchaser
at 1,2351.
THE MURDER OF Ma. BATEsoN.—The Londox-
derry Standard of yesterday says—" We understand
that Government have offered a reward of 100/,, pay-
able on the conviction of the perpetrators of the
murder of Mr. Bateson ; whilst the gentry in the
neighbourhood have already subscribed 1,5001., of
which a reward of 5001. is offered for the conviction
of the offenders, and 2001. for any evidence that may
lead to their detection."
THE SPLIT IN THE DEFENCE ASSOCIATION.

DUBLIN, SATURDAY.--Notwithstanding the seve-
rity of the ill-timed (?) attack of si_kness which de-
barred Primate Cullen from taking any part in the
election of secretary on Wednesday last, " his Grace"
has recovered strength sufficient to enter the lists, and
take his side in the fierce controversy now raging
with respect to the preference of the "Saxon" to the
aboriginal candidate. Dr. Cullen has addressed a
letter to the honorary secretaries of the Defence As-
sociation with a view of casting oil upon the troubled
waters, and of appeasing the wrath of the mutinous
" Spartans" who, by their recently-published pro-
test, have shaken all public confidence in the good
faith of the association. Whether these objects are
likely to be achieved by the doctor's coy avowal of
his sympathy towards Mr. Wilberforce is doubtless
best known to Messrs. Keogh, Moore, and the other
confederated advocates of " pure nationality." Sub•
joined is a copy of Primate Cullen's missive.
" Dublin, Dec. 19.

" Gentlemen,—The effects of a severe illness de-
prived me of the advantage of being present at the
late meeting of the committee of the Catholic Defence
Association. I regret this the more, inasmuch as I
lost by my absence an opportunity of expressing
personally my sincere acknowledgments to you for
the zeal and ability with which you have discharged
the duties of honorary secretaries during the past
months.

" While availing myself of this occasion for ten-
dering to you the expression of my sentiments of
thankfulness, I cannot conceal from you the feelings
of deep disappointment which I have experienced at
learning that a misunderstanding has grown out of
the proceedings of the committee, which terminated
in the election of Mr. Wilberforce to the office of se-
cretary. From the first formatio of the society I
understood the feeling to be universally entertained
that all Catholics of the United Kingdom were to
constitute one body, and to be in all respects upon a
perfect equality, without distinction of province or
country. This, as far as I could judge, was deemed
a vital principle, and the one best calculated to advance
the interests of our holy religion. Charity, and truth,
and union among all Catholics of the empire appeared
to be the basis upon which our proceedings and com-
bined efforts were to rest. Bearing with me the
impression of this avowed principle, strengthened as
it has been by an intercourse with several members,
both lay and clerical, of
the association, I was not
prepared I must confess for the exception which has
been taken to the selection of so distinguished a per-
son as Mr. Wilberforce to the office which was to be
filled. Were the association founded for local or
merely political purposes I would subscribe to the
justness of the exception. When, however, it is
borne in mind that its objects are religious and Ca-
tholic, every question arising should be decided upon
religious and Catholic grounds. If au association
were established for purely political purposes, I would
earnestly desire for it the fullest measure of success
in the pursuit of every legitimate and patriotic ob-
ject; but my peculiar sphere and spiritual associations
would not allow me
time to take any active part in
it. If I have taken a small share in the proceedings
of the Defence Association, I have done so because I
considered that I was concurring directly to promote
the spiritual interest, and next the temporal welfare of
the people.

"My persuasion was founded upon the words of
our Divine Redeemer, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of
God and His justice, and all these things will be added
to you.'

Trusting still that the same spirit of charity and
generous toleration of difference of opinion which has
hitherto characterised our proceedings
to guide our future steps, may continue
" I have the honour to be with sincere respect,
" Your faithful and obedient servant,
" + PAUL CULLEN, Archbishop
Primate of all Ireland.
P.
" J. Reynolds,
—s(l', M.P., W. Keogh, Esq. M.P., J.
J. Sadlier, Esq., M.P., llonourary Secretaries, &c."
The Tablet is all but silent upon the subject of the
split, but gives a half-promise that the grounds o f
dissatisfaction which led to it shall be made public
in a second edition. The mutiny, meanwhile, is be-
coming infectious. Mr. Robert Keating, one of the
meuil,tab A co,
~,CythQ ....C., of
5 Waterford, thus writes to
the leader of the mutineers :

" 5, Great Denmark-street, Friday Evening.
" My dear Keogb,—l have only this day arrived
in town, on my way to London, and was rejoiced to
peruse the admirable address to the Irish people in
this day's Freeman, signed by you and several of my
brother members. I need searcely tell you, who
known my sentiments on matters of that nature so
well, that I concur most heartily in the course you
have taken, and that if the signatures are extended
beyond those who attended the committee on Wed-
nesday, I beg you will attach my name to the, docu-
ment.

" Believe me, my dear Keogh, very sincerely yours,
"ROBERT KEATING.

" W. Keogh, Esq., M.P."
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH BETWEEN DUBLIN AND
HOLYHEAD.
Tile Warder of this day states positively that the
same company which has executed the submarine
telegraph between the French and English shores, has
actually submitted to the Government a proposal by
which it guarantees the completion within a very
limited period of a submarine telegraph, upon the
very same principle and construction, between Kings-
town and Holyhead. The sole condition required by
the company is, that the Government will pay it for
the exclutive use of the two wires which they propose
placing at its disposal a yearly sum of 1,0001.

SALES OF ENCUMBERED ESTATES.
One of the Commissioners sat yesterday in the
Court at Henrietta-street, for the sale of encumbered
property. There were no less than twelve estates
to be auctioned, comprising household, leasehold,
and fee-simple property in the counties of Meath,
Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Dublin, Kilkenny, Mayo,
Westmeath, and Tipperary, and in the cities of Dublin
and Cork. The court was thronged to inconvenience
with solicitors, bidders, and others, and the sales were
in most instances completed with the Asual dispatch ;
in fact, before 4 o'clock, with the exce)tion of two or
three lots, the whole of this great massof property had
passed from the former owners into the possession of
new hands.

The properties were set up in the ffflowing order :
—The Kerry estates of Mr. Barry Colins, profit ren-
tal, 3131. per annum, sold for 3,500'., equal to 11i
years' purchase. The Meath estates cf Mr. Barclay
Scriven, rental, 6671., sold for 8,8901., ,qual to nearly
13i years' purchase. The estates o" Mr. 'Walter
John Carew, lying in the county of Cqk and city of