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

" The health of the President," which WAS ennugi-
astically responded to, after which he resumed his
seat.

The PRESIDENT then rose to return thanks. He
said, it is highly pleasing to me to meet such an
assembly of my fellow-townsmen as that I now have
the honour to address. Men of all classes—men who
honestly and manfully opposed the return of my
Learned Friend at the last election, but who have
since had practical proof of his desire to benefit the
town of Athlone, and have honourably thrown aside
their opposition, and have come forward to testify by
their presence here to.night their approbation of my
Learned Friend's exertions to benefit Athlone.—
(ll.ar, hear, and cheers.) I thank you for the very
warm and generous way in which you have drunk
my health, and I can only say that it will render me
but too happy at all times to have an opportunity of
benefiting my fellow-townsmen of Athlone.—(Cheers,
during which tt e Rev. Gentleman resumed his seat,
h tying. proposed " the health of the Vim Chair-
man.")
The Rev. KIERAN Krutor, P.P., rose to return
thinks. He was happy to find a meeting so harmo-
nious, and for such a purpose, as to pay a compliment
to their worthy representative.—(Loud cheers.) It
is true that at one time he was an opponent of Mr.
Keogh, and he thanked the lion. Gentleman for de-
signating th:it opposition open and manly.—(llear,
and cheers.) Since that time be had reason to be-
lieve that Mr. Keogh was a friend to the borough
of Athlone, and a lover of Ireland, and were he again
to come forward—and this he felt he could do with-
out any sacrifice of principle—he (Mr. Kilroe) would
support him.—(Cheers) It was time that party
feelings should be forgotten—that party should be
extinct—and Irishmen united for the good of their
country.—(hear, and cheers.) lie was right glad to
find men in that assembly who at one time differed
from him politically, because it was evidence of union
amongst all bearing the name of Irishmen. The
country had passed through many and great trials,
still he would ask, no matter how changed she might
be under those trials—

" Breathes there a man with soul to dead.
Who never to him-elf has said,
This is my oven my native land?"
(Great cheering.) The Rev. Gentleman then thanked
the meeting for the reception which the toast of his
health had met, and resumed his seat amidst tremen-
dous cheers.

The PRESIDENT next rose to propose the health of
an Intelligent, useful, and loyal body of men—
" The Bar of Ireland."
Counsellor BLAKaNET returned thanks.
Mr. KEOGH begged leave to propose—
" The health of the I.Zev. Mr. Dardis," which was
well received.

At a few minutes after nine o'clock the Rev. Mr.
Moffatt vacated the chair, to which, on the motion of
George Hetherington, Esq., M.D., Edward Larkan,
Esq. J.P , was unanimously chosen.
KEOGu then proposed—
" The health of Mr. Philip Hay, late Chairman of
the Town Commissioners."

Mr. HAr, on rising to respond, said that he never
had been one whose taste savoured of politics. He
had seen too much servility and corruption to tread
that path ; he was too humble to be a leader, and too
proud to be dragged at the tail of any man. In re-
fusing to join in politics, he had abstained from taking
out his vote ; but if it were to return Mr. Keogh to
Parliament, he would register his vote for him, and
give him his most strenuous support.—(Cheers )
" The health of Mr. Larkan" was then proposed.
Mr. LA,RKAN thanked the meeting for the kind
manner in which his health had been received. With
all that had been that evening said he cordially agreed.
The cry of class was taken from the land—(Hear,
hear)—and it was now proved that so long as the
country was divided nothing but a phantom had been
pursued. He had great confidence in their worthy
guest as the representative of the borough, and he
should ever command his support.—(Cheers.)
Some other appropriate toasts having been pro•
posed, the meeting immediately after separated, each
one fully satisfied with the evening's entertainment.
F

ATAL COLLISION AT SEA.
(From the Liverpool Courier.)
On Tuesday morning a frightful collision took
place between the steamer Minerva (plying between
this port and Kingstown) and the brig William
Rushton, the consequences of which are the loss of
seven lives, and the tutal destruction of the William
Rushton.

As fAr as we were able to collect the circumstances
of the case up to the time of our going to press last
night they are as follows :—On Monday evening the
Minerva left Liverpool at seven o'clock, in company
with the Iron Duke, both vessels being bound for
Kingstown. During the whole of the evening it
blew very hard from the W.S.W , and the Minerva,
not bring able to make much way, was kept on the
'Welsh coast.

About one o'clock yesterday morning, when the
Minerva was between Puffin Lland and Point Lynas,
a strange sail was descried close upon the steamer.
The vessel proved to be the William Rushton, from
Laguna, on the coast of Mexico, heavily laden with
mahogany and a few parcels of a general cargo. As
far as our information goes the brig was not
observed by the steamer until she wa close
upon her, the fertnt r showing no light.
We have, on the oth:r hand, been informed
that the people on the brig saw the steamer's
lights some ten minutes before the frightful collision
which eventually cccurred. Immediately on the brig
being seen coining in the direction of the steamer it
was clear to all on hoard that a collision was inevita-
ble, and consequently the engines were at once re-
versed, the helm put hard up, and, as far as our in-
formation goes, everything done to mitigate the effects
of a calamity which seemed unavoidable.
Only a few moments elapsed after the brig was
first seen before the bowsprit of the steamer came in
contact with her, striking her about midships, and
the collision was a very violent one, from the circum-
stance that the steamer was going at full speed when
she first saw the brig, and the engineer had therefore
not time to reverse the engines in time to prevent
serious consequences.
As soon as Captai❑ Hall, of the Minerva, saw what
had happened, said that it was evident the brig would
sink, he promptly ordered out the lifeboat of the
Minerva, and, although he was remonstrated with by
many of the passengers for doing so, on the ground
that such a step was rash and useless in consequence
of the sea running so high at the time, he still per-
sisted in sending the boat off, which succeeded in
saving the lives of four persons on board the brig, in-
cluding the captain, the cook, and two seamen. The
remainder of the crew, which altogether numbered 11,
wire all drowned. In about ten minutes after the
collision the brig sank in deep water, not a vestige of
her was to be seen.

The life-boat belonging to the steamer had the ut-
most difficulty in regaining the Minerva, as the sea
was running so very high at the time. On examin-
ing the Minerva, Captain Hall found that her fore
compartment was so stove in by the collision as to he
completely filled with water, and the ship was con-
siderably down by the head. He also found that she
hsd ltht her bowsprit, her foremast, and all the run-
ning forward gearing. Under these circumstances
he deemed it prudent to run the steamer into Beau-
maris, where he landed his pas.engers, the greater
part of whom went on from Bangor to Holyhead
by the railway, and from there took the steamer to
Kingstown.. _ _

Previous to leaving Beaumaria the passengers pre-
sentt•d Captain Hall with the following flattering tes-
timonial of their opinion of his seamanship under the
trying circumstances in which they were placed, and
in acknovvledgment of his intrepid conduct in endea-
vouring to save the lives of those on board the William
Ittnihton

" We, the passengers on board the Minerva, which
left Liverpol on the 19th instant, at seven o'clock r.m.,
much as we regret the Iv& collision which occurred be-
tween her and the brig William Rushton, cannot fail to
record our sense of the gallant conduct of Captain John
Henry Hall, who, though at imminent danger to his own
vessel, seat out his boat to render all tho assistance pos-
sible to those in the unfortunate brig ; and we farther
beg to record our high sense of the propriety and con-
duct of Captain Hall on this very trying occasion.—
Signed. Richard Leffe, Julius Delmege, William Cham-
bers, Edward Garwood, James Leary, Samuel Corbish-
ley, Charles M•Maher, John Mangay, Laurence Sanvigs,
H. D. J, skins, William Mooney, William Burgess, H.
Ebsworth, Henry Smith."

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, AUG. 21.
STOCK EXCITANGE.—We have little change to notice in
this share market. A small business has been done, and
prices generally remain stationary. The only alterations
are—Great Western, 17/. Share, 71A dis.—South DeTon, 7A.
VEI-Ttitn., AUG. 21.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was little business doing to-
day, but prices were steady. The transactions were as fol-
low:—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 39—Ditto, 3j. Shares,
91A dis.-12ittto, Halves•(ll. and S.), 12!i— Lancashire and
Presti,n, Three-quarter Shares, 17% p.— London and North-
' Western, 111,‘,—Ditto, New Quarters, 15-16 p.---Midlane.
3214—Ditto, Preference, 247,,, —North Union (B), 1664i—
Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester. 634—Son!li.Eastern an_
Dover (No. 4), Registered, sc. York and North dlidland,
15,4—Ditto, Preference, 21 1-16 dis.- Unt.:ll Rhenish, 5%.
MANCH ESTEIt, Ana.
Stock EXCH.kNOE.—Tt:o sh ire market to-day was
more animated, and prices have *lightly unproNjal. The
transactions were as follow : East Lancashire, 814 ex d.—.
Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fin lis,9 t,4 dis.— Leeds and 1 hirsk,
London and North-Western, 11043 Ditto, Ncw
Quarters, 15.16 p. Ditto, Manclu›ter and Birmingham,
Quarters (C), 15.16
p. - Manchester, Sheffield. and Lincoln-
shire, 14 - Ditto, Preference, 73% —Midland, Railway Console,
3214 11s-- North Staffordshire, chs.—South-Eastern and
Dover, Consolidated Stock (No. 4). 5.
BIRMINGHAM, AUG. 21.
STOCK EXCEUNGE.—The share market was dull and in-
active to-day. The only transaction reported was—Shrews-
bury and Birmingham (B), 7 die.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic f r
the Week ended Aug. 18, 1850 : C. and 11. Main L
3,635/. lOs. Id ; Hold, 132/. 123. 9d. i Steam-10a tr, ,
118. 9d. i Lial, 4,1531, 14z. N.