The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-12 00:00:00

MR. SMITH O'BRIEN.

The following report of an interview between a
deputation of the Parliamentary friends of Mr.
Smith O'Brien and the Premier is condensed from
a long account supplied to the Cork ixaminer,
whose proprietor took a leading part in the affair :
"On Saturday last, at 12 o'clock, the following
members of the House of Commons had an inter-
view with Lord Palmerston, by appointment, at his
lordship's private residence, Piccadilly, with a view
to press upon his lordship the prayer of the memo-
rial presented during last session, which asked per-
mission for Mr. O'Brien to return to his own coun-
try:—Sir R. Ferguson, L -mdonderry; Mr. Chiches-
terFortescue countyofLouth; Mr.M`Evoy, county
of Meath ; Mr. Bowyer, Dundalk • Capt. Bellew,
county of Galway ; M. M'Cann, Drogheda ; Col.
Greville, county of Westmeath ; Mr. de Vere,
Limerick ; Mr. Pollard-Urquhart, county of West-
meath ; Sir I. Fitzgerald, county of Clare, and Mr.
Maguire, Dungarvan.

"Mr. 'Maguire said he would recall to his lord-
ship's memory the fact that at rather an early period
in the last session a memorial was presented to him
on the part of nearly 150 members of the House of
Commons, praying for permission to Mr. O'Brien to
return to Ireland. The reception then given to the
memorial was considered to be favourable, and this
idea was strongly impressed on Mr. O'Brien's wind
by the communications of his friends, who ware led
to hope for a successful issue to their application.
Indeed it was almost said, in words, by those who
wero then supposed to speak his lordship's senti-
ments, that-he was inclined to core ply with its I rayer,
and that everything would be satisfactory., These
assurances had been conveyed to Mr. O'Brien, who
naturally awaited the result with intense anxiety,
and whose hopes were consequently excited to
the highest pitch of, expectation. It was un-
necessary to remind his lordship how the hopes
then held out were not realised ; and it would
be quite impossible to describe the bitter disap-
pointment felt by m% O'Brien when that announce-
ment was conveyed to him by his friends. The
answer them given by his Lordship was of such a
nature as not to shut out the hope that the appli-
cation might not be acceJed to at a future and not
remote time ; and therefore his hon. friends and
himself considered that it was their duty to bring
the subject again before his Lordship's attention, in
the hope that the still more favourable circum-
stances of the country would aid them in their pre-
sent appeal to his Lordship's sympathy. The
country was never more profoundly tranquil, never
more free from crime of a serious character ; and
the people of all classes displayed, by the generous
alacrity with which they supported her Majesty in
the present war, a loyalty which was worthy of the
best and kindest consideration of her Majesty's Go-
vernment. It was due to Mr. Davidson, the hon.
member foi Belfast, to refer to his views, which he
had his permission to explain. They were the more
important as they were those entertained by a large
and influential class in Ireland. Mr. Davidson
authorised him to state that he thought there had
been quite enough of punishment, that justice had
been sufficiently vindicated, that further punish-
ment would be more in the nature of vengeance
than justice, and that it was perfectly consistent
with good sense and sound policy to allow Mr.
O'Brien to return to his home and family.
" Mr. De Vero followed, and urged upon his
Lordship various reasons which would render corn-
pliance with the request then made most accept•
able to all classes in Ireland, and especially his own
constituents, whose feelings were quite unanimous
with respect to the sound policy and wisdom of
such a course.

" Sir R. Ferguson sail it was quite unnecessary,
after the full explanation given by Mr. Maguire,
and what had been said by Mr. Da Vere, for him
to trouble' his Lordship with any lengthened re-
marks, but as he happened to be the only member
then present from Ulster—owing to the fact that
most ether members had been compelled to leave
for Ireland—he would simply say that he concurred
in what had been expressed already ; and that he
felt satisfied that if the permission sought for on
the part of Mr. O'Brien were granted it would be
received with gratitude, and that the Governnient
would be fully justified in granting it by the cir-
cumstances of the country.

" Sir J. Fitzgerald spoke to the unanimous wish
of the people of Clare ; and Mr. Bowyer also
strongly represented the favourable nature of the
occasion, and the good effects which would follow
from a ready compliance with the prayer of the
memorial.

"No other gentleman having thought it neces-
sary to add anything to what had been said,
"Lord Palmerston assured the deputation that
the subject should have his most anxious consider-
ation, to which it was entitled, not only on account
of its peculiar nature, but from
_the additional
weight which it derived from the present influ-
ential deputation. They could not, of course, ex-
pect that he could then be prepared to give them a
distinct answer. It was, indeed, impossible for
him to give a reply at present. The subject was
one to be considered, not by a single member of
the Government, but by the Government at large,
and he would submit it to their consideration as
soon as possible, and announce their decision with-
out delay.
"It having been finally arranged that his lord-
ship would communicate with Mr. Maguire shortly
after Parliament met after the Easter holidays,
the deputation thanked his lordship for his atten-
tion and courtesy and withdrew."

MADAME GOLDSCHMIDT'S CONCERT
FOR THE NIGHTINGALE FUND.

This concert took place last night in Exeter Hall. It
excited the greatest interest ; and notwithstanding the
high price of admission—a guinea to every part of the
hall—the vast space was completely filled, every seat
being occupied. The receipts must have been of a mag-
nitude quite unprecedented ; and, what is more. every
shilling of the amount is to go to the fund ; for Madame
Goldschmidt, not content with giving her best exertions,
pays the whole expenses of the concert, amounting, as
we are informed, to above 6001.—a noble act of gene-
rosity, quite of a piece with the whole character of this
illustrious lady. The concert was got up in a style of
great magnificence. The programme included many
standard works of the highest excellence, viz., Mozart's
symphony in G minor, Beethoven's "Choral Fantasia,"
and march from "The Ruins of Athens," Mendelssohn's
hymn, " Hear my prayer, 0 God !" and %Veber's "Con-
cert Stuck," besides such interesting novelties as Mr.
Benedict's overture to " The Tempest," and a selection
of sacred music from the pen of Otto Goldschmidt, per-
formed fur the first time in England on this occasion.
The chief vocalists were Madame Jenny Lind, Madame
Weiss, Mr. Swift, and Signor F. Lablache ; the solo
instrumentalists, Herr Goldschmidt, Mr. Lazarus, Mr.
RSmusat, and Mr. Sydney Pratten ; the conductor, Mr.
Benedict. Mr. Mitchell's arrangements for the comfort
of the vast audience were perfect in every particular.

THE PASHA OF EGYPT AND THE GREAT MALLEABLE
IRON GuN.—Within the lait few days the Pasha of
Egypt has, through his commercial agents in Alexandria►
and Liverpool, been making special inquiries relative to
the quality of the metal and the various interesting pro.
ceases connected with the forging of the great wrought
iron gun in progress of manufacture at the Mersey Steel
and Iron Works. With their usual courtesy Messrs.
Hurstall, and their intelligent manager, Mr. Clay,
afforded every information, and showed the agent of the
Pasha the operation of boring and turnieg, now rapidly
approaching to completion.