The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-04 00:00:00

.ROYAL P3R,INCESS'S THEATRE.
Under the M. anagennent of Mr. Charles Kean.
TIIIS EVENING, LIVI)SG TOO FAST.
And MUCH ADO. ABOUT
-M NOTHING.
31tr. and sirs. C. Kean.
Followed by a new Farce, in one act, entitled
THIRTY_, E NEXT BIRTHDAY.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS ETENING- will be performed SHE STOOPS
TO CONQUER. 311 r. Buckstone and Miss Reynolds.
A new Spanish Ballet, THE INFLUENCE OF GRACE,
it: which Perea Nena t vill appear.
With WHITEBAIT AT GREENWICH. John Small, by
Sir Wm. Don, Bart.
And A DAUGHTER TO MARRY.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, THE LITTLE SAVAGE.
After which THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE.
WOOLNG IN JEST AND LOVING IN EARNEST:
Miss Swanborough.
And THE BONNIE FISH WIFE.
Commence at 7 o'clock.

A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
Westminster-road.
Sole Lessee, Mr. William Cooke.
A. rms EVENING will be produced, for the first time, a new
vnd Spectacle, with most peculiar effects, entitled LIFE
IN THE EAST ; or, The Sepoy Revolt, embracing the entire
strek i.gth of this vast Hippodramatic Temple. Characters by
Mr. 1 Phillips, Mr. Holloway, &c.
Foll'owed by SCENES IN THE ARENA, and a variety
of inbxlitable feats of Equitation by those talented artistes,
Madame Blanche, Miss Emily Cooke, Madame Fleurette, Mr.
'W. Cooke, Mr. Runnels, Mr. W. Cooke, jun., dm
--"*"'"N4,Jo fees to box-keepers. The art of riding taught.
Commence at seven.
Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips.

CANTERVIURY HALL, Westminster-road.—.
Proprietor—C. MORTON.
The public is most respectfully informed that the FINE
ARTS GALLERY. in connection with the above Hall, IS NOW
OPEN DAT AN D NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12
o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec-
tion of Pictures, b y Ancient and Modern Masters and is also
devoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels
he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist-
in g Music Hall, the New Fine Arts Gallery, and the recently
added Ante-Hall, will present an attraction which, whether
as regards the architectural beauty of the structures them-
selves, or the varied mbinations
within, will be foundand to behitherto whollyunattem withoupttedparallel in. tke
Kingdom.
The MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT commences as usual at
Seven o'clock.

THE WEATIIER.-SUN OFFICE, DEC. 4.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.

52—highest since noon yesterday.
52—lowest this morning and during the night.
M—this day at noon.

BAnoiurrEß-29.98—falling.
vi IND, South-Westerly ; light, with drizzling rain, and
muggy ►y weather.

THE SUN.

SATURDAY. DECEMBER 4, 1858.

R jThe Irish Government Pave firmly resolved to
put down the riband conspiracy. The results
which have recently appeared—the attempted
murder of the Rev. Mr. NIXON and the assassina-
tion of Mr. ELY—have led to this salutary
a etermination. And the most energetic means
have been resorted to. By the vice-regal procla-
mation, which will be found in another part of this
day's impression, it will be seen that a reward of
Xlo6` has been offered for such information as will
lead ti.• the conviction of any of the persons who
shall ha ve administered any treasonable or sedi-
tious oat2l, and £5O for information leading to
the conviction of any of the persons who shall be
found to be .members of, or in anywise connected
with, any of tie societies referred to by thefprocla-
mation.

These secret and illegal associations have been
the curse of Ireland—the fearful cause of all its
troubles and sufferings. They were originally
framed to carry out what has been felicitously
termed the " wild justice of revenge ; " but they
went far beyond even that limit. Regular courts
were held, in which parties were arraigned and
condemned without having any opportunity of
being heard in their own defence ; and executioners
were appointed to carry out the sanguinary
sentence. These were generally strangers, who
could not be identified in the locality. And every
member of the associationwas bound to take his chance
of the terrible mission being directed to himself.
It was some ten years since proved that there was
a place in Kilkenny termed " The Black Sheep
Office," in which complaints against landlords,
agents, or other persons in any way concerned in
the taking or management of land might be lodged,
and which would pronounce sentence of death, or
some lighter punishment, according to the judg-
ment of the midnight tribunals. The Irish
Vehme Gericht did not bring the accused before
them. He was not made acquainted with the cause
of complaint, or allowed to offer any explanation.
The statement of a " sworn brother" was accepted
as " confirmation strong as proof of Holy Writ."
And thus gentlemen of the highest character, and
others against whom no just complaint could be
preferred, have been sacrificed at the shrine of the
Hibernian Moloch.

Long since the system was :declared to be
illegal, and numerous Acts of Parliament have
been placed on the national statute-book for
the purpose of punishing the participators in
the illegal confederacy, but never hitherto
have such energetic measures been resorted to,
The rewards offered are sufficient to excite the
cupidity of men who have, possibly, never been
masters of the tenth part of the amount tendered
for private information. And better still, it will
excite a feeling of insecurity amongst all the mem-
bers, who must feel that a price is set on their
heads, and that they may be made the victims of
any of their criminal associates at any moment. It
is this feeling of distrust and suspicion that thwarts
many atrocious projects ; and although there is an
ad age which declares that there is "honour
amongst thieves," it is manifest that the
principle is not -
recognised to the full extent.
There is usually a struggle as to who shall be
received as approver, and purchase his own safety
by the betrayal of his confederates.
We believe that so large a reward has never
been offered for the discovery of a member of the
proscribed cofraternity. When a serious crime
had been committed, the Castle authorities came
forward, but their officers were restricted
to the
specific offence referred to. Now they have
aimed a blow at the root of the entire evil. It is
"Bibandisin" that is to be suppressed at any cost,
and as the entire strength of the Government
is thrown into the scale, there can be but
little doubt that the illegal societies,
so justly complained of, will eventually be com-
pletely subdued. The reward offered may ap-
pear large. There are probably hundreds of
thousands of Ribandmen in Ireland ; but when
fifty or a hundred have been tried, condemned, and
punished, the neck of the conspiracy will be broken,
and peace restored to unhappy Ireland. Lord
EGLINTON and his advisers are entitled to the

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