The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-27 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.— ferred the request as a favour. The noble lord made
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. CHATTERTON. a few remarks to the deputation, in which he said
THIS EVENING, FAUST. Mr. Phelps ; Messrs.
Edmund Phelps, W. Harrison, and Johnstone ; Mrs. Her- that he was very glad to meet them, and to hear
mann Vezin, Miss Poole, and Mrs. H. Vandenhoff. their temperate language. He then explained that
To conclude with the Comedy of KATHARINE AND
PETRUCIIIO. Petruchio, Mi. T. Swiubourne ; Katha- there were great difficulties in the way of granting
riue, Miss Isabel Adams. Hyde or Green Park, because they were within the
Doors open at half-past six; performances commence at
seven o'clock. limits of the metropolis, while Holyrood-park, which
they had cited as an example, is outside
the boundaries of Edinburgh. Lord JOHN
MANNERS then declared that "the Government would
not put the slightest obstacle in the way of the
meeting being held, and they did not for a moment
believe that the real working men of London, if
allowed to meet in one of the parks, would be guilty
of any disorderly conduct." This is exactly what
every one said who knew anything of the matter
last summer; it is not the working-classes who
come into collision with the authorities at such a
time, but the " roughs " of the town and their

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET,
sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Buckscone,

THIS EVENING, A DANGEROUS FRIEND. Messrs.
Chas. Ala hews, liuwe, Kendal, Gordon, weathersby. Sze.;
Mesdames C. Mathews, Moore, Chippendale, Laws, MU, AC.
Followed by ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.. Mr. Chas.
Mathewv, Mr. Compton, Mr. hogers, Mr Clark, Ac. ; Mes-
dames C Mathews, Hill, IVri!Tht, Colman, Sidney, AC.
ALer °UK MARY ANNE. Mr. Rowe, Mr Clark,
Mite. C. Um.

Miss

associates.
The noble lord explained that it would be much
more convenient if Primrose Hill were selected for
the purpose of the meeting in question. In await-
ing the decision of the Government he reminded
them that if the Government declined their
request of assembling in Green or Hyde Park,
it would be from no " indisposition upon their
parts to see the working classes expressing their
opinions with respect to Parliamentary Reform, or
on any other question in the fullest and freest
manner, but from a paramount sense of the duty
which they owed to the people of the metropolis."
At a subsequent period Lord JOIIN MANNERS
wrote to the Committee to say that the Govern-
ment could not accede to the request of granting
Hyde or Green Park, but that they would
give any facility for the use of Primrose
Hill. It is not yet decided upon whether or
not this place will be finally agreed upon, but in all
probability it will. A deputation is to wait on Mr.
WALPOLE for the purpose of settling about the
swearing in of special constables and other matters.
We hope that those who have the conduct of this
affair will display caution and moderation, and so
prove themselves to be worthy of the trust which
has been reposed in them. At any rate, it will be
seen by those most immediately concerned that no
hindrance whatever has been put in their way
by the Government, but that, on the contrary, they
have done their utmost to promote the object of the
meeting. It must be evident to all who consider
the matter in a calm manner that either of the
parks alluded to are not suitable for the purpose,
and it would, indeed, be most likely to cause dis-
turbances if such inconvenient localities were fixed
upon. As it is, we hope and expect that the meet-
ing will pass off in a manner creditable to all parties,
and that the proceedings will be distinguished by
that love of order so characteristic of Englishmen.

It will be with regret that the public will learn
that great disturbances are likely to take place in
Ireland, and that active preparations are set afoot
by the authorities in order to meet the emergencies
that may arise. It is true that for some time past
apprehensions have been entertained in certain
quarters that great difficulties were likely to be met
with, but no general reliance was placed in these

surmises, and therefore this last account is

sure to surprise many, and to cause annoyance
and regret in all directions. It would seem as if
nothing could put down the Fenians and stop
their stratagems. It is said that those among them

who have been permitted to go to America on parole
have contrived to avoid discovery, and so got back
again to the scene of their former mischievous in-
trigues. Dining last week also it was discovered
that in Limerick there were a number of arms con-
cealed, and besides this some cases of muskets were
stopped at Cork, and they were directed to a firm
in that city. In consequence of the arrest of a
stranger in Dublin, the authorities have in-
tercepted an immense sum of money, amount-
ing in fact to nearly a thousand pounds.
Very considerable sums are indeed constantly
arriving in order that arms may be bought, and all
accounts seem to agree as to the unsatisfactory state
of things. Besides these circumstances referred to
having come to light, great uneasiness has prevailed
upon hearing that the troops in the garrison of
Dublin have been under arms the last ten nights,
and detachments of cavalry have been patrolling the
suburbs. The police consider that there are many
Irish Americans about fomenting strife and discord,
and making preparations for future measures of a
revolutionary tendency. The truth of this will soon
appear, no doubt, and meanwhile, of course, great
anxiety will be felt and considerable curiosity pre-
vail.

It cannot be too much regretted that such a state
of things should have supervened upon a condition
which many believed to be one of comparative peace,
if not of completely restored order. A significant
proof of this unfavourable opinion entertained by
the Irish authorities is furnished by the fact that a
steamer arrived at Holyhead on Saturday night
having 50 cases, containing 1,250 breech-loading
rifles, for the members of the constabulary force.
These were conveyed by a strong escort of
mounted police to the depot at Phoenix Park.
In the course of some evidence taken at the petty
sessions a witness deposed that he had been asked
if he would be a man when STEPIIENS arrived.
Upon the arrival of a steamer at Drogheda,, from
Liverpool, two men were discovered in the engine-
room who had lately come from New York. They
were taken to prison, but it did not seem that much
colunldtbhee proved against tohf coem.
rk and the city itself
a great deal of uneasiness prevails. The police
stations are barricaded, and the military are
dispersed through the country. It is said
that one of the prisoners lately taken is a
Head Centre. Three men were arrested yesterday
as suspected Fenians. It is to be hoped that even
now, when things have gone so far, the good sense
and right feeling of the majority of Irishmen will
triumph over the excitement of the thing before
them, and the foolish idea that they have at last an
opportunity of settling the vexed questions of
national jealousy and wounded honour. If this
mad attempt of Fenianism be persisted in a
l'outrance, we all know what the consequence will
be ; but while the law must take its course, there
will be .ample cause to lament the necessity of its
enforcement. Surely experience ought to show the
utter uselessness of these contests, and duty points
most inflexibly to the adoption of another course.
As for talking of revenge upon the English, it will
be Ireland and the Irish who will suffer and have
to pay the penalty.

Some expressions made use of by Mr. llccmEs,
M.P., in his recent speech to his constituents re-
specting Mr. CLAY'S Educational Franchise Bill,
have called forth a disclaimer from that gentleman.
Mr. HUGHES'S words implied, or seemed to imply,
that he thought Mr. CLAY'S measure was brought
forward mainly with a view of damaging the late
Government. Mr. HUGHES denies that he had any
intention of imputing party matters to Mr. CLAY
himself, though he believes that some antagonists of
the defunct Reform Bill were glad to use it
against that measure. Mr. Clay's letter to
the member for Lambeth shows very clearly
that his motion, as was Currently believed at