The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-21 00:00:00

AFFIRMATIONS.

Sir J. TRELAWNEY moved for leave to bring in a bill
to allow affirmations or declarations to be made instead o
oaths, in certain cases, in Great Britain and Ireland.
He contended that when convicted felons were
allowed to give evidence, it was most unjust to refuse
the testimony of a witness who from conscientious reasons
refused to take an oath.

Mr. DILLWYN seconded the motion, and leave was
given to introduce the bill.
CHURCH RATES COMMUTATION.

Mr. ALCOCK obtained leave to bring in a bill for the
voluntary commutation of church-rates, and the bill was
read a first time.

EAST INDIA (RAILWAY COMPANIES).
On the motion of Mr. H . BAILLIE, a number of returns
on this subject were ordered.

The house then adjourned at a quarter past five.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING.
MR. SMITH O'BRIEN'S PAMPHLET.

The publication of Mr. Smith O'Brien's pamphlet,
in condemnation of the project for au invasibn of
Ireland by France, has given rise to a good deal of
adverse criticism in the columns of the Nation and
other journals of kindred principles. By way of
general reply Mr. O'Brien writes a letter to the
editor of the paper mentioned, which, with the
exception of a few preliminary observations, we
subjoin :

" For myself, I have executed a very painful duty
—not hastily, but after having considered the sub-
ject during more than 15 months.
" While I appreciate the noble qualities of many
of the ' men of 1798,' I have always considered that
the proceedings which they adopted with a view to
serve their country were most disastrous to its
interests. Especially disastrous were the conse-
quences of two courses of' action upon which they
relied—namely, the formation of secret societies,
and an attempt to liberate this country by means
of foreign aid. Had they supported the small party
of patriots which was led by Grattan in the Irish
Parliament with the same energy which they mis-
applied in the formation of secret societies, and in
looking for foreign succour, they would have even-
tually obtained all that this nation required, and
the Union' would never have taken place.
" We are menaced with a repetition of these errors
by the formation of the Phoenix Society, and by
the tendency to look to France for deliverance,
which. has been manifested since the battle of
Solfermo. I have therefore felt myself compelled
tois.warn my countrymen against the dangers which
mipending, and I am happy to find, from several
private communications which I have received, that
some of the most enlightened and patriotic of my
Catholic friends do not discover in my language
that tone of disrespect of which the critics who
have reviewed my pamphlet in the Nation ccmplain .
" A Belgian friend, however, upon whose judg-
ment and experience I place much reliance, tells me
that Mr. Martin and I are like those doctors who
formerly sought, by long investigation, to account
for the appearance of a golden tooth in the head of
a human being. After the argument had lasted for
a long time, it was at length discovered that the
assumption on which the argument was based was
unfounded ; for that no such golden tooth had been
discovered in the head of any human being. He
assures me Louis Napoleon will never invade Eng-
land or Ireland, so that the hopes and fears founded
upon such a contingency are equally illusory.
" There is a tradition in the county of Clare that
a gentleman named Michael Comyn, who wrote
some stories and poetry in Irish, which well deserve
to be read by our students of the Gaelic language,
was so firmly persuaded that Ireland was to be de-
livered from British rule by a French or Spanish
invasion that he spent great part of his life in medi-
tating upon this contingency. The invasion never
took place, but poor Mr. Comyn neglected his busi-
ness and spent his fortune in preparation for it, so
that he reduced himself from comfortable circum-
stances to pauperism.
" Let us not imitate either Michael Comyn or
the learned doctors. Let us not neglect the essen-
tial interests of our country while we cherish illu-
sory expectations.
" I differ with much that I see in the columns of

the Nation, but I am happy to agree with its writers
in thinking that our aspirations for national inde•
pendence ought not to prevent us from using all
the resources that are furnished by the institutions
under which we actually live, for the purpose of
obtaining improvements either by social efforts or
by legislation. The policy of Parliamentary inde-
pendence,which the Nation has so long advocated,
is quite compatible with a resolute determination
to promote, by all the means in our power, the re-
covery of the legislative independence of this
country.
" 1 would myself prefer that the Irish represen-
tatives should meet in Dublin rather than in Lon-
don, if they were sufficiently numerous to form even
the committee of a national Council; but if the con-
stituencies of Ireland neglect such opportunities as
that which will be afforded in the county of
Cork during the present week for the election of
Repealers as members of Parliament,those who
ftereore v.boouurnindg to
de-
sire to promote the social and
hflegislative improve-
ment
foldthoefirthairsmscoa
serve their country through the agencies which
country rtyo
they can at present command...
aarbes taniont
„For my own part, I will give such support as I
can offer to any useful proposal, whether it emanate
from an Orangeman, a Conservative, a Whig, an
Old Ireland Repealer, a Young Ireland Repealer,
interest in
our can agree.
recentagrefe
e.
or a Franco-Hibernian ; and if we act towards each
other in this spirit, perhaps we shall find that there.
are a great many questions of common
regarde.You o fmwhich
maelml Irishmen hm
thaten
on.tr.oversy
originated in an apparent difference
re-
specting the formation of Volunteer of opinion
I. am now happy to find that this corps in re-
is difference
of opinion was rather y
imaoinar than
believe that there are very few
Irishmen real, and I
who would
not prefer that the scenes of 1782 should be again
witnessed in Ireland
rather than those of 1798.
~ Believe me, yours very sincerely,
" WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN."

Notwithstanding the report that the Southern
States of America contemplate the imposition of an export
duty equal to an eighth of a penny per lb. on cotton, the
Liverpool market was dull and irregular yesterday at Ld. to
,}d. per lb. below the rates of Friday ; the stoppage of 50,000
Of 60,000 looms which will take place this week in the
Blackburn district, and the possibility of an extension of the
strike in other quarters, having contributed, with the
large arrivals, to create a feeling of great depression.
The Southern States, by their proposed movement, are
doubtless actuated by the idea that they will thus get a
revenue at the cost of the European importers, and also of
the importers of the New England States; but it is obvious
that they will thus increase, in the most direct manner
possible, the stimulus to production in India and other
parts of the world.