The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-22 00:00:00

N°. 18,069.] LONDON, THURSDAY tc-
•
AUGUST 22, 1850.
- 9

RAVESEND STAR PACKETS
Fore Cabin and Seconsi Class Railway NINEPENCE to
or from London and Gravesend.
Saloon and First Class ditto, ONE SHILLING.
To or from Blackwall.
Fore Cabin 6d. Chief Cabin.. • • 9d.
Intermediate Piers ........ 6d.
No other Packets call at the Grays, Greenhithe, and Purfleet Piers
The Packets call at the Piers as underlined (weather permltting).
FROM TERRACE PIER, GRAVESEND.

rime

f*7
734
t 934

!toshr-
vile.

'Grays

Greem-
hithe.

Fur-
fleet

rime

6%
7
7%
8
8!4

Direct Tral

Omnibuses
ev.try quarter
FROM BR Ui
the

SUNDAYS

ttostir-
ville. I

Grays IGreen-I PI
'lithe. (1(

,ins trout the Boats marked t
I rt.= Fenchurch-street Station to all parts of London
r of an hour.
NSW[CK WHARF, BLACKWALL, on the arrival of
1 Trains from the Fenchurch-street Station.

WEEK DAYS. SUNDAYS.
Time. Par- Green- Roster- Time. Fur- Green- Roshr-
a. 31. fleet hlthe. Gray"" H. vine. fleet hithe. gays villa.
X
10% i —9%
11 10
12 I 10%
2M 13
3 2
444 —3%
-5 .5
CU
7 tA 714

Passages marked are run direct, th
witted to stop at Piers or for Boats.
BOAT TICKETS.—TweIve Months, 41.
Nree Months, H. 155.; to be had of the
vicketl ; or Mr. Monk, Terrace Pier, Gra.
August, 1850.

Le racitets not

'. 4s. ; Six Months, 2,
o Collectors on boa
ivesend.

f. 1155.;
re the

ADDITIDNAL TRAIN TO BRIGHTON.
LONDON, BRIGHTON, and SOUTH-COAST
RAILWAY.
An EXTRA. TRAIN, with First and Second-class Ca'riages, leaves
London-bridge Station at 2 P.M. daily, calling at Red Hill and Three
Bridges, and arriving at Brighton at 3 40 F.M.
FREDERICK SLIGHT, Secretary.
London Terminus, August 21,1850.

TO BE HAD AT ALL THE LIBRARTES.
THE POPULAR NEW NOVELS,
PUBLISHED BY MR. COLBURN.

r.
PETTICOAT GOVERNMENT.

By Mrs. TROLLOPE.

CLAUDE. A Tale. By Miss MOLESWORTII.

OUR COUP IT. By JOIIN MILLS, Esq.

ADELAIDE LINDSAY. Edited by the Author of " Emilia
Wyndham."

V.
I
;t ANNE DYSART, the Scotch Minister's Daughter.
VI.
-- REGINALD HASTINGS. By ELIOT WARBURTON, Esq.
YII.
The TR t VELT.ERS; or, Mornings at Matlock. By R. SHEL.
TON MACKENZIE, D.C.L.

STORY of a MA.Ir of FASHION; or, Sin and Sorrow.

IX.
LA VENDEE. By ANTIIONY TROLLOPE, Esq.
Also, just ready,
The LUTTRELLS ; or, The Two Marriages. By the Author of
" Shakspeare and his Friends ;" " Maids of Honour," &c.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough•street.

FIELD MAR ;HAL THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON
AND THE RIGHT HON. SIR ROBERT PEEL, BART., M.P.
71‘,SSItS. PAUL and DOMINIC COLNAGHI
and CO , 13 and 14, Pall•mall East, Publishers to her Ma-
jesty, beg to state that they are now preparing for publication an
Engraving of the above Statesmen, from the Picture the property of
her Majesty. Painted from Life, by command of her Majesty, in
1844, by F. WINTER(IALTER. The Engraving is executing
in Mezzotint°, by JAMES FAED, and the original Picture is now on
View, at Pall-mall East.

CONDITIONS OF PUBLICATION.
Size of the Plate 30 by 20 Inches.
Artists' Proofs (very limited in number) -C8 8 0
Proofs before Letters
Proofs
Prints
Paul and Dominic Colnaghi, Publishers to her Majesty, 13 and 14,
Pall-mall East.

BRITISH COLLEGE OF lIEALTII, Hamilton-place,
New-road, London.
THE HYGEIA.N SYSTEM, as propoundei by
Mr. MORISON, was subiultted to the world upwards of 28
years ago. The extensive sale which the medicine (MORISON'S
PILLS) commands in all civilized communities, notwithstanding
all the interested opposition of the doctors, is undoubtedly the surest
guarantee to the public of its beneficial effects, and the truth of the
Hygeian system.

No
N Chemist or Druggist is authorised to sell Morison's Medicines.
An Agent Is to be found in every town throughout the kingdom, and
most parts of the world.

INVERNESS SHERIFF CRIMINAL
COURT, Aug. 14.
♦ MODERN LOCHINVAR.

In the month of February last. an incident, or series
of incidents, occurred in the Hebrides, which excited
considerable interest there and wherever the story
spread. It was a romance of love—of love opposed by
friends—of flight, pursuit, capture, and rescue—termi-
nating in marriage. Never was the old adage, " love
laughs at locksmiths," more singularly illustrated. In
the course of the proceedings, however, certain wild and
lawless proceedings took place, for which the principal
party concerned and two assistants were indicted before
the Criminal Court. To-day was fixed for the trial, in
which great interest seemed to be taken in the town.
rho trial was not concluded till a late hour, but the fol-
lowing is an abstract of the proceedings :
Donald Macdonald, Baliloch, North Uist (son of Mr.
Macdonald, Munkstadt); Donald Mackenzie, Munk-
stadt, Kilrouir, Skye; and Charles Mackinnon, fisherman,
Munkstadt; were accused of invading the house of John
Robertson Macdonald, E 04., Rodil, Harris, commis-
sioner for the Earl of Dunmore, in company with a
number of others, some armed with sticks, when they
burst open the door, assaulted Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald,
and Mr. Macdonald's clerk and shepherd, the former to
the effusion of his blood and injury of his person—the
inmates having been by these proceedings put to great
terror and alarm.
Donald Macdonald was the only party who appeared,
and he pleaded not guilty. Warrant was granted to
apprehend the other parties charged. A jury was em-
pannelled. A special defence was set up by the pri-
soner, and read to the Court and the jury, to the effect
that the prisoner went to Rodil for the accomplishment
of a legal engagement; that he and the lady, now his
wife, were separated against their mutual wishes; and
that if noise took place on the occasion, it was not on
account of the prisoner, but of those who opposed him.
Donald Ferguson, servant with Mr. Kenneth Macdo•
nald, of Skeabcast, uncle of the prisoner, went with his
master to Garnish, Urriboat, on a Friday morning. Had
heard that Donald had gone off with a daughter of Mr.
Macdonald, of Balranald. They went to Uig next day,
and the panel went for several of his father's servants.
Donald Macleod, captain of a small vessel, the Eliza
Macleod, was applied to to take them to Harris. It was
so stormy that he would not go, and they got another
boat ready to go to Harris "to get a wife for their
master's son." It was so stormy that several went
back to Munkstadt. They left the shore between eleven
and twelt e o'clock at night. Eleven or twelve were in
the boat. He and the panel were there. They gut to the
harbour of Rodil, in Harris, about four in the morning.
The house was close by. They went up to the grieve's
house, and witness found out from the daughter that
the la Sy for whom they had come was sleeping in the
bed-room, arid that Mrs. Macdonald slept with her. He
told the panel, and the party went up to the house.
The door was partly open, and the panel went in. Wit-
ness was standing at the porch, and the men round about,
when Mr. Macdonald (Itudil) came out of the house in
his shirt and drawers, swearing at them as if he was
mad, for coming to the house at that time of night to
rob it. The .Lewisman (Donald Mackenzie) answered
teat they had come to get a wife for Munkstalt's son."
Some of Rodit's men slept in an out-house, and he went
in that direction. He was soon followed by Kenneth
Macdonald, his clerk, half dressed, and with a gun in
his hand. Ho said if they did not go away ho would
shoot them, when Lewisman swore at him, and said,
" it you don't be quiet—are you going to shoot me?"
He then heard the clerk cry murder, but heard no blows,
and the clerk retreated into the house. Lights were ap-
pearing and disappearing, they heard the front door
fastened from within, and the men, who were s!1 out-
side, said among themselves, " that if they got Munk-
stades son out, they did not care whether they got the
wife or no." The panel put his head out of the window,
and cried, " Come in my lads and take the trunks, we
are ready to be off." They went and
seeing the boats, aand
seeing Radii's gardener going as if to waken men, wit-
ness took him by the breast and held him there. The
trunks were carried down, the lady followed last, and
they set sail for Skye. There was some conversation in
the boat about going to a place near Borrodale, and to
remain there till night, if pursued.—[ rhe pointin
volved in this last answer was not clearly brought our
by the witness, as he stated, in answer to Mr. Stewart
that it was till the wind and sea would go down a little.]

Cross-examined—Norman Macdonald, who was in the
boat, was to be the bearer of a letter from the lady to
her mother. When going to Harris there was no tale of
violence. He heard no noise and saw no violence what-
ever at Rodil, except what was made by Rodil himself
and the clerk. There was no noise after the clerk went
in. Mr. Donald Macdonald male no noise in the house.
The sole object of going to Harris was to get the lady,
not to rob. He had before that heard that Mr. Cooper
desired to marry the lady, and had gone to Munkstadt
with pistols to kill Munkstadt's son. He had heard that
Mr. Cooper had asked the lady, and the lady refused
him. He (witness) had heard that the panel and lady
had gone off before, but did not know where, and her
uncle had taken her from him in spite of her. When
in the boat leaving Harris, the lady said she was very
happy.
William Macdonald, Fearn of Kilmuir, a sheriff's
officer, was one of the party who went to Harris. They
sailed from Tyrone to Rodil, a distance of about twenty
miles. The party had sticks, in case some attempt
might be made against them. It was dark when they
arrived, about two in the morning. The panel and his
uncle went into the house, telling the men to stand at
the gate. In ten minutes, Mr. Donald came to the
door, and told them he had been at the bedside, and the
lady was getting ready to come out, and they were to
stand at the door, as she might have some luggage.
(The witness then corroborated the preceding evidence
in a number of points.) When the clerk threatened
to shoot them, the Lewisman gave him a blow on the
head with his stick; Mackinnon, at the same time, took
the gun from him, and the clerk. calling murder, went
into the house. Some of the men then went into the
house, and he heard them saying to Mr. Macdonald, that
if he would allow the woman to go away peaceably
there would be no disturbance. He heard Mr. Donald
Macdonald call out—" Come on, my lads, I am a prisoner
in the house." The door was fastened,. hut they forced
it open, and fJur men went up the stairs to the bed-room,
where there was some scuffling. Witness waskeeptivr out
of the way, not wishing Rodil to recognise him. Mac-
leod brought down a trunk, and witness carried it t.) the
boat, and on returning met them all coming out. Some
of the party had hold of Radii, some of them of the
clerk, and some of the shepherd, and were brandishing
their sticks over their heads. There was ten minutes'
scuffling at the bottom of the stairs before, they got out.
They then set sail for Skye, having been about two hours

at
Cross examined—Mr. Macdonald told us when leav-
ing Skye to act peaceably and do no harm. Witness
wouli not have gone if violence was to have been used.
The panel told witgess that the lady had been taken
from him at Torbert against his and her will. There
was no violence till the clerk came out and peiente I

the gun at one of the party. When they Caine down
stairs scuffling, Rodil and his party were trying to keep
the lady. He heard Mr. Donald Macdonald calling her
hia wife. Rudd said he wished her to remain, so that

he (Macdonald) might get her with consent of her
rather. Macdonald stid he would not wait. He beard
Rodil ask the lady whether she would rather go or re
main, and sho said she would rather go away. She did
not appear sorry, but laughed and seemed hearty. She
was now married.

By Mr. MACKEY—DonaId Macdonald said in the boat
they were to behave peaceably. They were not to do
any harm to any who were to naeet them, but they were
to stand by Macdonald and do their duty. They ex-
pected resistance, and were prepired for it.
By Sheriff CoLgunouN—l had a waiking•stick, and I
am still a sheriff's officer.

Donald Macleod, master of the Eliza Macleod, said
that when he was lying at Lochmaidy, on the 15th of
February, the prisoner came on board with a lady, at
four o'clock in the morning. He said they were going
to Edinburgh to be married. Witness sailed at half-
past 601'012 for Tarbert, in Harris, and afterwards for

Skye. They got to ITarbert in the forenoon, when
some of the young lady's friends came on board, and
they all went ashore together. There was no force. He
lay in the harbour from Friday till Wednesday, and
Macdonald was on shore all the time. Witness was
afterwards applied to in Skye to go to Harris, but it was
too stormy.
Cross-examined—He bad been told by Macdonald
that he was coming with a lady to Lochmaddy. It was
a great storm when they came, and he refused to sail.
' They were anxious to start, particularly the lady. She
seemed exceedingly happy. At Loch Tarbert she
seemed very sorry when her relatives came, and clung to
Mr. Macdonald determined not to leave him. She said
she would die sooner than part with him. He did not
know what induced her to go at last. He did not see
her leave the vessel. It was true enough that there was
the greatest unwillingness to part.
Mr. John R. Macdonald, Roll, brother of Balranald,
said that Mr. Cooper was appointed factor for Lord
Macdonald in 1849, and Mr. Donald Macdonald was
sent to North Uist that summer, as factor there. Mr.
Macdonald was oa visiting terms at Balranald. Oa
the day of the elopement, Balranald's son came
to Rodil, and said his sister Jessie was amissing.
They had reason to believe she was on board the Elizs
Macleod, and they went from Roth' to Tarbet, a dis-
tance of twenty-four miles. Witness asked her to come
away. She was crying and sobbing very much, and
almost in hysterics. She could say nothing. They
went on shore, Macdonald with them, and next day
went to Rodil. Macdonald did not claim the lady as his
wife then, and his niece never while at Rodil maid she
was married. She was kindly treated, and was not con-
fined. On the Saturday of the rescue he was awoke by
his wife, who was in a state of great alarm, and said
that Macdonald, Munkstadt, had come with a party of
men to carry off Jessie. He sprang out of bed, went
down and found Macdonald. Miss Macdonald was
dressing. Witness asked Macdonald how he dared
to break into the house at that hour, and to enter
that room. He said he would not go till he
got his wife. Witness said there was no wife of his
there, ordering him away, and took him by the collar;
Macdonald said it was of no use, for he had a party at
hand. He then went to the window, and cried, " Come
on, my lads, come on all of you." It was dark, but he
knew Macdonald's voice and features. He (witness)
then observed that his wife had returned, and he then
went out, locked the door, went to his own room, partly
dressed, and on running down again found three or four
men at the bed-room door. He pretended he knew them,
and when they went out he locked the main door, and
was preparicg to bar the windows, when he heard the
clerk cry " for God's sake let me in." He then went
down, let the clerk in, and bolted the door. The clerk's
face was streaming with blood. He and the clerk and
the shephErd then went to the bed-room, and he took
hold of his niece, and told the others to remove Mac-
donald. There was struggling for a minute or two,
when the door was burst open, and six or seven men
came running up stairs brandishing their sticks, and
swearing they would commit murder if opposed. He
saw there was no use in further opposing them, and
certainly thought there was danger. He appealed to
their better reason, when Macdonald said, " Are you
my wife, Jessie?" and she said " Yes." Macdonald
then said that "is marriage
,enough when said
before you, a justice of the peace. ' Witness said he
would listen to no such nonsense. He sf erwards msde
another attempt to retain her, holding her round
the waist, but she was forced from him. His wife and
daughter, and governess were very much alarmed, at .d
suffered for some time.

Cross•examined—Witness was an old friend' of the
prisoner's father, and had known the panel from his
childhood. He certainly bore an excellent and irre-
proachable character. He did not know, when at Tar-
bert, that the lady and he were engaged to each other in
marriage, and his first idea was that Macdonald had
carried her off from her father's house. In th• bed-room
at Rodil, when witness took hold of her, she seemed as
sorry to part with the panel as he was to lea►e her.
Witness did not suppose that Macdonald had come for
any other purpose than to carry her off.
Kenneth Macdonald, clerk, corroborated the preceding
evidence, as did John Macdonald, the shepherd, who said
he had received several blows from sticks.

Mrs. Macdonald was also examined. She stated, in
cross- examination, that the lady did latterly appear
anxious to go away, when Mr. Macdonald told her that
Mr. Cooper was expected at Rodil that day. She (wit-
ness) did not then understand that Mr. Cooper was a
rival.

By Ur. MACKAY—Her father hail never mentioned
Mr. Cooper's name in her hearing. She herself told

witness so.

Miss Landles, governess at RAH, Miss Christina
Mary Macdonald, and Ann Macdonald were next ex-
amined, and corroborated preceding evidence.
The prisoner's declaration was then read. It added
nothing to the information except that, after escaping
from Rodil, the party reached Gairloch, and from thence
Edinburgh.
This concluded the prosecutor's case, when an excul-
patory evidence was led at length.
Mr. Kenneth Me.cdonahl, uncle of the prisoner, knew
the handwriting of Miss Alickdonald, and identi-
fied as her's a letter handed to him, which he read to the
jury:—

" Thursday morning.
My dearest Donald,—lf the liJarer of this letter
meets you on your way here, you must return home. It
.e -ins that W. Macneil suspects, or else has heard what
wo have been intending to do. As ho had no opportu-
nity of telling papa of it, he deputed John Macdonald to
do so, which he did last night, and papa immediately
wrote William to find out all Le knew of the matter. I
heard this from the grieve's wife. John Macdonald
told her hu,band of it. Newt, my own Donald, we
mast ba off this night. You had better not come till half-
Past eleven o'clock. I shall be quite ready to start with
you."—The reading of the letter Was fullowed by
which the sheriff suppressed. The witness
stated that it was not the intention of the party to have
gone to Harris that night until he heard Mr. Cooper and
Mr. Macdonald were going direct from Dunvegan to
Rodil to claim the lady. It was their intention to be
peaceable. There was no bar on the door at Ruda when
they entered—it was simply latched. There was no
disturbance till the lad appeared with the gun. Rodil
swore at the people, and threatened to shoot them from
the windows. The lady, when she came to the boat,
teemed perfectly pleased and happy. He knew that his
read a very complimentary letter from Lord Macdonald,
accompanying the appointment of the panel as factor in
North Uist, addressed to the prisoner's fattier.
nephew Donald had firmness or character. He then
By Mr. MACIKAY—VVItneas said it was a common
thing in Skye for one gentleman to enter another'a house
by the window. Was it common for gentlemen there to
enter, as some did, a friend's wino's bedroom?—No. He
always took his stick with him, even when he went into
a boat.

By Mr. STEWART —Witness never heard of it being
usual in the Long Island for wives to leave their hus-
hands and sleep with young ladies.
Jessie Macdonald to have been twenty-one years of age
at that time. lie understood Miss
Mr. Cooper, Portree, commissioner f)r Lord Mac-
donald—Mr. Donald Macdonald was not factor for Lord
Macdonald in North Ui,t or elsewhere. He was sent to
North Uist till his Lordship should see what was to be
done. He had no books. Ho (witness)'could not call
him by any name—there was no name at Aberdeen for
such an appointment as the panel held. Witness was
present when the panel's father came to ask the appoint-
ment. It was not recalled, and the fact was that Mac-
donald was unfit for the office. Balranald was asked by
him (Mr. Cooper) to collect the MA rents for 1849.
Witness asked Donald Macdonald to copy a statement
of certain things that took place, and he found it so mi-
serably spelled that he had to do it over again himself.
Witness swore that the prisoner never Was a factor to
Lord Macdonald. (Shown his Lordship's letter of March,
1849) as follows:

" Armdale Castle, March 15, 1849.
"Dear Munkstadt —This morning when you were in
my room, I spoke to you about your son, and asked you
why did not get him appointed as factor to some.
body, for with his talent I should imagine that if he
were known to parties in want of an agent you
could find no difficulty in procuring him such a situa-
tion. It has occurred to me that he would suit
very well for my North Uist property ; and as I am
going to make a change in the management, I now offer
Donald the appointment, and I know full well that if he
accepts of it that my interests in that quarter will be
well attended to; and in offering th• situation to your
son, I do it from the conviction that he will serve me
faithfully. Will you send him over here, and I will
talk over the matter with him.—Believe me always
yours most truly, " itAcDoNALD."
It was no appointment, and the panel never had any
books. He (witness) recalled it in October. [llr. Cooper
then read the following letter:7]

- (Private.)
"91, Princes-street, Edinburgh, Oct. 15, 1849.
"Dear Sir,—l am desired by Lord Macdonald to ac-
quaint you that it is his Lordship's wish that I shall in
future collect the rents of North Ui.t. As I am expected
by his Lordship to reside in Skye, you will easily per-
ceive that I can save his Lordship considerable outlay in
the management of North Uist by undertaking this
ch 'age; and I am sure you know Oat the change, in as
far as you are concerned, has been made by his Lt.rd-
ship for no other reason.
" I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,"
PATRICK COOPER,.
" Donald Macdonald, El., B.diloch. Lochmaddy."
Ho was in North the', in February, 1850. and was ac-
quainted with Miss Jessie Macdonald. Ile had an at-
tachment to her, and made a proposal of marriage to
her. Miss Macdonald led him to believe that he might
be successful. He could not say that she ever rejected
him. She seemed to be in some considerable diffieulty.
He said that if she had any objection to him he would
not press his suit. The proposal was made out of doors,
and Miss Macdonald's behaviour aterwerds was such as
to induce him to remain at Balranald for a few days lon-
ger than he had intended. She did not tell him formally
not to recur to the matter again—she seemed in great
difficulty, and said she never expected the offer. A,
he saw the difficulty she was in, he said no more on
the subject, except that she should not permit it to
distress her. He left the following week in
consequence of an urgent letter from Portree,
respecting the illness of a friend. When he went

to Lochmaddy he saw the vessel he engaged a good
way off. He then left the island by the packet, with
Ba!repaid; they went to Portree, and on the Saturday
following the day he left the island, they intended going
to Stornoway. Balranald was then in search of his
daughter, and he intended to accompany him as a friend
wherever he would go. They left either on Saturday
night or Sunday, and went to Shieldaig. He did not
recollect engaging the vessel, or telling the captain they
were going in pursuit of Miss Macdonald. He had threa
or four pair of pistols, and sent his servant to Corrybreek
for a pair. [The drilt of a long examination, into which
we cannot eLter, was to show that Mr. Cooper perse-
veringly pursued the fugitives, on their first flight,
armed with piitols.]
Mrs. Macdonald (Miss Jessie Macdonald) was then
called, but the public prosecutor objected to her evidence
being received, us she was the wite of the panel. Mr.
Stewart replied that as much evidence had been adduced
as to what Mrs. Macdonald had said, he was anxious
that the jury should have it from her owu mouth. The
court sustained the objection.
Ronald Macdonall, servant to Donald Macdonald, as-
sisted at the elopement. Ha was told before leaving
Baliloch what t.) do. He got the trunks outside the
lodge. The lady then came out, and went with Mac-
donald arm in arm to the dog cart. They drove tandem,
and witness rode the first horse. The lady was very
anxious to be off, and they went as fast as their horses
could carry them. " Were they laughing?"—" It's she
that was." There was no force required. It was a very
morning,bad with lightning:and rain.
Angus Macdnimid, policeman, lives near Rodil, and
was employed for nearly a week before this lady was
taken away from Rodil to watch for fear she would be
taken away. He was on the watch nightly till twelve
o'clock.

The Procurator Fiscal and Mr. Stewart then ad-
dresssed the jury, Sheriff Colquhoun summed up, and
the jury retired at seven minutes to nine o'clock. After
an absence of ten minutes they returned, when their
chancellor, Mr. Simon Fraser. Church. street, announced
their verdict to be, by a majority; Not Guilty. The
verdict was received with great applause.
The court was crowded towards the close of the pro-
ceedings; and upon its breaking up, the crowd accom-
panied Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald to the house of the
legal agent, Mr. C. Stewart, cheering them most
heartily all the way.—lnverness Courier.

DINNER TO WILLIAM KEOGH,
ESQ., M.P. FOR ATHLONE.
(Abridged from the Westmeath Independent.)
This important event came off on Thursday even-
ing last, in the Ball-room of Gray's Hotel, Athlone.
The dinner was largely attended, and served up in
the most excellent manner. Wines in profusion, and
every delicacy which the season afforded. The room
was tastefully and beautifully decorated with ever-
greens and flowers.
At six o'clock the chair was taken by the Rev. J.
R. Moffatt.
On the right of the chair sat the guest of the even-
ing, William Keogh, Esq., M.P. ; and on the left
Edward Larkan, Esq., J.P.
The vice-chair was filled by the Rev. Kieran
Kilroe, P.P. of St. Mary's.
The following letter of apology was read by the
secretary, William Kelly, Esq.:—
" Knockbane, Galway, Aug. 1, 1850.
" Sir,—l hope you will accept, and convey to the
people of Athlone, the expression of my very sincere
thanks for the compliment they have paid me, in invit-
ing me to be present on the occasion of their paying so
well-deserved a tribute of respect to their most excel-
lent representative, Mr. Keogh. While I regret to say
it will be entirely out of my power to avail myself of
this mark of kindness, I am happy in being afforded an
opportunity of expressing my gratitude for the able as-
sistance and constant and energetic support I have al-
ways derived from yoar representative in carrying out
those great practical improvements to which you have so
flatteringly alluded; and I consider that the untiring
zeal and great ability he has brought to bear in intro-
ducing and promoting such measures—and many most
useful and valuable amendments in the law—fully en-
title him, not alone to the high estimation in which he
appears to be held by his constituents, but also to the
respect and gratitude of the country generally.
"I have the honour to remain, Sir, your very obedient
servant,

" A. O'FLIIIERTY.

_ _
" W. Kelly, Esq., Athlone."
Dinner having been concluded, and the usual loyal
toasts given,
The CHAIRMAN next rose to propose the health of
the guest of the evening—Mr. Keogh. Ile said he
was one who early saw the fitness of Mr. Keogh, their
present Member—(Hear)—and in whose return he
was instrumental.—(Cheers.) He spoke now to men
who at that time opposed Mr. Keogh's return, but he
was happy at seeing them amongst the party that had
that evening assembled to meet in good fellowship
their representative.—(Cheers.) To them he would
extend the right hand or friendship. Athlone had
been long misrepresented by men who cared not for
its welfare. They now had one of a far different
stamp—one who had sacrificed personal gain to pro-
mote the interests of Athlone.—(Cheers) It afforded
him great satisfaction to propose the health of Mr.
Keogh.--(Cheers.) They wanted honest men to re-
present them—independent men—and they ha l at last
got an independent man, one who refused to side with

the Minister when the welfare of Ireland was threat-
ened.—(Cheers.) If the grievances of Athlone were
not heard of it was not Mr. Keogh's fault, but their
own. It was for themselves to make known those
grievances, and if they did so they had a representa-
tive able and willing to have those grievances re-
dressed. Ile hoped party was at an end, and that
there was now no party but one, and that was—lre-
land. The Rev. Gentleman, after proposing Mr.
Keogh's health, resumed his seat amidst unbounded
applause.

The Hon. and Learned MemLer's health was re-
ceived with long and reiterated cheers. Silence being
restored after an interval of some minutes,
Mr. KEOGH presented himself when the same ap-
plause met him. He said—Although from my pro-
fessional avocations and the duties of the high posi-
tion to which your kindness has raised me, I must be
considered accustomed to public speaking, yet I can-
didly confess that I fear to undertake the task of
adequately thanking you. When I look around this
splendid meeting collected from all sections of the
people of Athlone, an assemblage not second to any
which ever met before in the town, either in the
number, respectability, or influence of those present,
I feel that the compliment is far beyond my merits.—
(Cries of " No, no.") My respected friend at the
head of the table has kindly and touchingly alluded
to the zealous and active part which he took in pro-
moting my election.—(Hear, hear.) I well remem-
ber those exertions. It is now three years gone since
I then stood before you to solicit your suffrages.
Many amongst you, naturally enough, were slow to
consider that I, an untried man, was fit to become a
representative of the people. All of you might en-
tertain apprehensions that a young man, and especially
a young professional man, might be more anxious to
advance his own interests than to discharge with fide-
lity the solemn duties which unquestionably devolve
upod a member of the House of Commons. Three
years have gone by, and this overflowing meeting,
this heart•stirring reception, as far surpassing my
expectations as my deserts, is the best evidence that
you have approved the course which I have taken in
Parliament.—(Cheers.) I confess I am proud of the
position in which I stand this evening, and I have
reason to be proud. I see beside me my valued
and respected and reverend friend, backed by the
same men who then by their votes returned me to
Parliament, as firm, as cordial, as generous in their
support.—(Cheers.) But still prouder boast, I see in
every part of this room those gentlemen who did then
give me the most strenuous opposition. Yes, opposi-
tion I received, determined but manly, straightforward
and frank. There was everything of political, but I
know from first to last there was no personal hostility.
—(Cheers.) I never experienced any from you, and
on my own part, I can solemnly and sincerely declare
that as no word ever escaped my lips which could be
considered disrespectful to any of you, so I never en-
tertained the slightest to any one by reason of
that opposition.—(Cheers.) Once I became your
representative I knew no distinction. I considered it
my duty to pay the most respectful attention to all
your communications, and as the best evidence that I
acted up to those intentions, I see here present the
men who conscientiously opposed me, led by that en-
lightened, high-minded, and liberal clergyman, the
Rev. Mr. Kilroe.—(Great cheering.) If it is grati.
Eying to me to see at the head of this table the digni-
fied and respected rector cf this parish, how rejoiced
must I feel by finding at the other end of this room a
clergyman of my own persuasion—(Hear, hear)--
one who was before opposed to me, but whom I am
now proud to be permitted to call my friend.—(Loud
cheers.) It is not, it cannot be to me, that this unio❑
of all parties is attributable. it springs from the de-
sire which is every day rising in the breasts of Irish-
men to forget angry distinctions, to join for the com-
mon good in one common bond of amity and friend-
ship. The records of past centuries have shown bow
we were divided and trampled on. I trust that
brighter prospects are opening for us in the aroused
sense and united will of all classes of the population.
—(Cheers.) Speaking of the advantages of union, I
am reminded of an illustration which lately occurred
upon the question of the spirit duties. When that
question was mooted in 1847 and 1848 the Irish
Members were disunited and effected nothing. I❑
this year a change came " o'er the spirit of their
dream," and how differently did they appear. The
constituencies called upon their Members to support

the just demands of the country upon that subject.—
(Hear, hear.) A highly respectable gentleman of
this town, Mr. Fallon, called upon me to act, adding
that he did so although he felt he had no claim
upon me, hiving been my opponent. I replied to
him that I agreed with him in everything except that
remark. I distinctly told him that his opposition I
did not consider—he was my constituent--he had
every claim upon me, and I supported the Spirit Bill
upon two occasions, when we succeeded by majorities
in the teeth of the Government ; and we were only
ultiesately defeated by a majority of one, at a period
when many Irish Members, like myself, were obliged
to be absent at the assizes.—(Cheers.) That was
the result of union—a result which will render it
impossible to deny us justice on that question in
the next session.—(Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, when
I addressed you at the hustings I told you that
I thought the great line of railway to connect your
town with the Atlantic ought to be supported by
imperial resources. I joined with others, as my ex-
cellent friend that patriotic representative, Mr.
O'Flaherty, has lay his letter testified, in pressing that
question on the Government. I did more, I lent the
aid of my professional experience towards obtain-
ing those clauses in the Railway Bill which have, I
belive, enabled the company to obtain speedy posses..
sion of the land, and saved them, as persons connected
with the company have admitted, in legal expenses,
from fifteen to twenty thousand pounds—and now
that railway is rapidly progressing. It will be com-
pleted to Ballinasloe before the next great fair in
October, and at this moment it is giving employment
to hundreds who would otherwise have been in a
state of destitution.—(Cheers.) These and other
questions of a local nature I have to the utmost of
my power advanced. In the presence of our fair
friends, who smile their sympathies upon us, it would
be perhaps unpardonable to dwell upon topics of gene-
ral politics.—(Cheers and laughter.) [Several ladies
crowded the end of the room and passages to hear
the Hon. Gentleman's address.] But even in the
presence of the gentler sex, for whose presence we are
so much indebted, there are questions to which I must
allude before I resume my seat. I will not detain you
with those legal reforms in which I am proud to say
I took a part, although therefore I was in my absence,
and on the grossest misrepresentation, soundly rated
by some fervid and flaming orators of my own pro-
fession. Of course it was on public grounds. They
had no personal interest at all.—(Laughter.) But I
pass to still greater questions, and first of all that of
free trade—the great question whether man, who has
been ordained to eat bread " in the sweat of his
brow," shall eat that bread taxed or untaxed.—
(Cheers.) Upon that question you all know my sen-
timents. When I came before you at the hustings I
let you all know there was no concealment at all
about it, that I was a most decided supporter of those
free-trade measures which had been just then carried
by that great statesman whose loss universal Europe
deplores, and Ireland has reason to lament.—(Great
cheering.) I then believed, and I still believe, that
this great country was, by the timely carrying of
those free-trade measures, saved from those political
convulsions which have swept Europe. I saw nothing
in three years of famine to alter my opinions. Great
as was the devastation caused by that famine, believe
me, your miseries would have been more deeply felt
had there been in operation a code of laws, framed,
I say, with the direct purpose of increasing arti-
ficially the ircomea of the higher classes at the
expense of the toiling, struggling artisans in every
gradation throughout this great community.—
(Lung-continued cheers) Have I any reason to
change my opinion now? When coming along to
this town on every side I saw unmistakable evidence of
the existence of the blight upon the great crop of this
country. May Divine Providence avert this crown-
ing calamity ; it would strike down the last hope of
our people.—(hear, hear.) But if this, too, be in
store for our unhappy country, I ask who is the man
daring, nay—l will use a stronger expression—auda-
cious enough to ask the Parliament of England to
tax the food of the people ?—(lmmense cheering.)
Protection indeed ! Protection to keep up rents
which were created by war prices in those sanguinary
conflicts which we maintained in Europe at the ex-
pense of those hundreds of millions of debt which are
now pressing down the energies of the country
(Caeers.) I say the first protection we shall all de-
mand is protection for the lives of the people. I value
the life of a fellow-creature far more than all their
incomes. I will first guard with a jealous eye the
fold of the millions; and then if there is to be protec-
tion let it be for the industry and the capital of the
tenant, who will never improve the soil so long as the
fruit of his exertions is not guaranteed by some legis-
lative enactment.—(Cheers) I say that God and
nature intended that the soil should grow and increase
in cultivation, and that the man who by his labour and
in his capital increased the value of the soil should
have a property in that increased value. That
is the inalienable right of the tenant.—(Cheers.)
That is tenant-right—(Hear) —and that I unhesittit•
ingly promise you I will labour to obtain fur him.
Upon these topics we are all united.—(Loud cheers.)
Let whatever party come into power, upon the ques-
tions of free trade and the rights of the tenant my
opinions are unchanged and unchangeable.—(Cheers.)
My Rev. Friend at the head of the table has alluded
to the course I have taken in Parliament—acting in•
dependently either of Government or opposition. I
have done so to the best of my ability. I have given
my votes not as a slave to any party, not at the beck
of any Minister. I have endeavoured to serve my
countty as my conscience and my judgment dictated
—(Hear, and cheers)—and now / will refer to the
Irish Franchise Bill. Upon that question you know i
the part I took, and I know it was approved of by
you.—(Loud and continued cheering.) Is it not a
monstrous anomaly that Ireland with her eight mil-
lions of population should be left trusting to twenty
thousand electors? lam satisfied there are not more,
if so many, in Ireland. I have of en been amused in
the house of Commons listening to gentlemen com-
plaining of the paucity of electors in Australia or Esse-
quibo, or mayhap the valuable colony of Tobago
What a pity that those possessions should not enjoy th •
constitutional privileges of the franchise.—(Leughter.e
But a'k the same gentlemen to give a liberal fra-)
chile to Ireland, and at once you find that, in their
estimation at least, Irishmen are net half so fit to en-
joy the franchise as the inhabitant of Australia, To-
bago, or British Guiana.—(Laughter.) The men
who remain at home are not so worthy as those who
desert the country. The white Irishman is inferior to
the swarthy inhabitant of Guiana. With those gen-
tlemen I do not agree, and I am for giving to my
countrymen the same privileges in the franchise and
in proportionate numbers that Englishmen enjoy.
Any man who is content with less is not fit to be an
Irish representative.—(Cheers.) Since I came to
town I have heard intelligence which leads me to
think that the Lords will pass the Bill as sent from
the Commons.--(Cheers.) If they are wise they will
do so. It is not all we are entitled to, but still it will
give this country a large constituency.—(Hear, hear.)
Now, have I said a word calculated to disappoint or
offend any of you ?—(Cries of "No," and " Go on.")
I fear I have wearied you.—(No.) When I return to
Parliament, encouraged by this meeting, by your warm
friendship, by your enthusiastic greeting, for which
from my inmost heart I thank you, I will pursue
that course which has won your approbation. I will
not follow any headlong leader or play the sycophant
to any Minister. But when I think the Minister
right, I shall give him a cordial support, just as
readily as when I believe him wrong should un-
hesitatingly oppose him. I have already often op-
posed-1 have frequently supported the Government.
And upon a late occasion, when angry parties stood
face to face, I did decline to join in censuring the
Foreign Minister of this coup try.—( Hear, and cheers.)
Great allowance in times of difficulty must be made
for public men, and for none more than those who
have to adjust the foreign relations of this mighty
empire. Look to the condition of Europe fur the last
three years. In France, the ancient dynasty of the
Bourbons swept away in all its branches, a republic
of a most questionable character scarce established in
their place. What capital is there which has not
been stained with the gore of civil strife—the streets
of Berlin and Vienna died in blood—the smiling
plains of Italy, nay, even, the consecrated walls of
Rome desecrated by desperate men rushing upon
extreme courses.—(Cheers.) Were these ordi-
nary difficulties or common times ?—(Cries of " No
lie.") I own I felt the dangers from which we had
escaped. I heard the accusation, I listened to the
vindication of the eminent man who wielded in such
a crisis the destiniea of England, and in my conscience
I believed, and by my vote I declared that, whilst in
the most trying times he saved us from the agonies of
war, he preserved inviolate abroad the honour, inte-
grity, and character of the British name and nation.
—(Loud and continued cheers.) In conclusion, the
lion. Gentleman said that if he had made omissions
in his duty to his constituents, they were errors of
the head, not of the heart. He told them on the hus-
tings that he would make any sacrifice, personal or
professional, to promote the interests of Athlone. He
would not srealt of any processional sacrifices, but o,!e
thing he did nut sacrifice, and that was their, and his
own, independence.—(Loud cheers.) He begged to
tender his overflowing thanks to all present, and to
the bright eyes and smiling faces before him he
offered the tribute of his admiring gratitude.—(This
compliment on the part of the Hon. Gentleman was
loudly applauded.) Mr. Keogh then proposed