The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-02 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, August 1. •
The Right Hon. Maziere Brady, Vice-Chancellor
of the Queen's University, has presented to his
Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant his report of the
condition and prospects of the university in the
year ending April, 1866. The Vice-Chancellor
states that the general university examinations com-
menced on the 25th September, and terminated on
the 22d October. Examinations for degrees in the
faculty of medicine were also held in June, and first
university examinations in arts and engineering in
April. At these various examinations 353 candi-
dates presented themselves. Examinations of can-
didates who were not members were also held in the
month of June. Thirty-three candidates presented
themselves for the certificates.

At the Cork assizes yesterday Edmund O'Loughlin
was arraigned for the wilful murder of Sub-con-
stable Patrick Sheedy, at Midleton, on the occasion
of the rising in that county on the sth March last.
The unfortunate occurrence took place in a colli-
sion between the insurgents and the constabulary on
the night in question, when the sub-constable met
his death by a bullet fired by one of the Fenian
party. Mr. Sergeant Barry and Mr. Exbam, Q.C.,
represented the Crown, and Mr. Waters appeared
for the prisoner. The prisoner availed himself fully
of his right to challenge jurors, and several were
directed to stand aside by the Crown. The jury
having been sworn, Sergeant Barry addressed the
jury on behalf of the prosecution in a very able
speech, detailing very minutely the circumstances
connecting the prisoner with the crime with which
be was charged. He descanted at much length on
the criminality of those who were persuaded by the
voice of the seducer to engage in treasonable prac-
tices, which, the learned sergeant. said, could only
end iu their own destruction. The jury, lie felt con-
vinced, would weigh deliberately the evidence
that would be produced on the part of the Crown,
and if the case put forward against the prisoner
failed to prove incontestably his guitt, they would
be bound by the saving provisions of British
law to give the accused the benefit of any reasonable
doubt. But they were equally constrained, if they
believed the evidence that would be addued, to find
the prisoner guilty. Several witnesses were then
examined with reference to the charge against the
prisoner. Some of the witnesses swore to thepresence
of the prisoner amongst the insurgents at Midleton
on the occasion of the rising. Mr. Waters then
addressed the jury in behalf of the prisoner in au
able and forcible speech. The learned gentleman
contended that the evidence produced on the part
of the Crown failed to prove the complicity of the
prisoner in the attack on the constabulary which
resulted in the death of Sub-constable Sheedy. He
made an earnest appeal to the jury to give the pri-
soner the benefit of the doubt which, he contended,
existed in the case, and return a verdict of ac-
quittal. At half-past 11 last night the jury re-
turned in' o court, and stated there was not the
slightest chance of their agreeing to a verdict. His
lordship then discharged them, and directed that
the prisoner should be detained in custody.
James Butler was indicted yesterday, at Nenagh,
on a charge of treason-felony before Mr. Justice
Morris. A good deal of evidence was adduced in
support of the charge. A letter found in the pri-
soner's house was also put in. The letter was
written by the prisoner to his brother in America,
but never sent to its destination. The following is
the unique document :
" Mount Catherine, November 17, 1865.
n Dear Brother, —lt is time for me to write to
yoa. I always thought you would not forget me.
Well, I hope you will write now to answer this
letter. I thank God lam well and in good health,
and all my family. I have now seven children,
four boys and three girls. My third son is Edmund,
a stout fellow like yourself. My father is still liv-
ing and in good health, and all brothers in I,ke
manner, thank God. Lizzie wrote to Father Molloy
a fortnight ago, and he told us that he thinks from

her letter she is —• Mother in West Mat Island.
You spoke in Phillip Maher's letter about her ad-
dress, and also Cornelius. The address of Lizzie—
Convent of the Good Shepherd, West Mat Island;
and Cory is Glen Rule, Cotehill's Creeks, Belfast
Post Office, Victoria. Dear brother, I wish to
know that you would be well circumstanced. I
loved you dearly, and why should animosity
exist between us so far from each other ? The
reason is you never wrote one scrawl to me. I
should think you are not the brother I thought you
to be. Though I not writing to you I never forgot
you in my mind, and at my prayers, and for ever,
my dearest of brothers. You spoke in a letter to
Laurence about your being in want of money,
which gave us great uneasiness ; but don't you know
all the money that Lizzie took from us to be again.
Now let us cheer how the Fenians is preparing
to
land from America here. We are told in the papers
the people here are wishing to see the day their
country would be free. Let us know is the Govern-
ment of America giving them any Encouragement.
The people here are expecting that it will be up the
top light and in action before Christmas Day. Let
me know how you are in health, wealth, and pros-
perity. Wishing you and wife and children my
best respects, yours,

"JAMES BUTLER,
" Fond Brother."
The case had not concluded at the rising of the
court.

TIIE OLD BERKELEY FoxtioUNDS.—ViCOUnt
Malden, Loud Water 110U30, Riekmansworth, Harts, has,
consequent upon failing health, resigned the post of
master, and the noble viscount will be succeeded in the
mastership by Mr. O. A. Barnes, J.P., Chorley Wood,
Rickmansworth.

PROGRESS OF SCIENCE.—" A machine for black-
ing boots," says the Union, "might be seen at work yes-
terday in the garden of the Palais Royal, at the pavilion
on the eastern side of the Cafe de la Rotondo. This in-
vention, howeyor, unfortunately not only blackens the
shoes, but the stockings and trousers of the wearer. It
besides appears to be not without some danger ; one
customer had his foot caught between the two cylinders,
which are turned by means of a handle, and when he ex-
tricated himself he was heard to affirm that he should
never be caught there again ! The experiment, neverthe-
less, appeared to cause great amusement to the distin-
terested bystanders."