The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 232_ 1844.

and lastly, that the Act never allowed the Court so to
alter as to entitle the claimant to the franchise.

Mr. Sidney Smith, the well-known Anti-Corn-law
lecturer, appeared in support of the claim ; J. A. Taylor,
Esq., was also present to watch the proceedings.
The REVIIIIING BARRISTIM inquired for whom Mr.
Smith appeared ?
Mr. \Varney said Mr. Smith attended to argue this
point, as being better informed upon the matter than
he was.

Mr. Willan was examined, and stated that he held
three rooms in St. Botolph-lane, all of which communi-
cated with the stairs. He had his own key. If each room
were to be let separately they would bring 3s. a week.
Mr. Quin said this claim was like one which would be
made on account of a house to which was added that
next door, to make up the full value. In the present case
they sought to establish the right to the franchise from
three rooms, whereas only two were mentioned in the
claim.

Mr. Sydney Smith contended that the 27th section of
the Reform Act, under which the claim was made, was
intended to be free from all technicalities, in order that
the poorer classes, whose franchises were affected by it,
might clearly understand it.
The REVISING BARRISTER said he would not at all
enter upon the legal technicalities of the Act in the pre-
sent instance, because be was determined to reject the
claims upon the question of the value of the premises.
The claim was made on account of only two rooms, while
the ♦alue was sought to be established from the rent of
three rooms, and therefore the name of the claimant
must be omitted.

Mr. Wansey gate notice of his intention to appeal
against the dec►sion of the Court.

EAST SURREY REGISTRATION.

Mr. S. C. Fish, the barrister appointed to revise the
lists of voters for the division of the county of Surrey,
held this first Court at Reigate, on Friday, at the
Town-hall.

Mr. Hart, of Reigate, attended as the Conservative
agent, and Mr. Jeans appeared for the Liberals.
There were several new claimants in the parish of
Warlingham. The first was that of Amos Ashby.
Mr. Jeans asked to be permitted to see the notice
of claim.
The REVISING BARRISTER asked him on what
ground he made the application. There had been no
objection made to the right of the party to vote.
Mr. Jeans submitted that he was entitled to see the
notice of claim, as he had reason to believe it was not
in proper form.
The Revising Barrister then handed over the claim
to Mr. Jeans, who then objected that the qualifica-
tion was altogether incorrectly described, and that the
claim could not be entertained.

The REVISING BARRISTER said the claim was cer-
tainly informal, and the name was expunged from
the list.

The other claims were then proceeded with, and
Mr. Jeans applied for permission to see each notice of
claim.

The REVISING BARRISTER said he would not allow
it, as it was merely a sort of fishing for objections. If
he was instructed that in any particular case the
notice was informal, he would allow him to see that
notice, but he would not permit him to see all the
notices for the chance of being able to take some ob-
j ection.

Mr. Jeans remarked, that having shown in one case
already that the notice was informal, he thought he
was justified in asking to see the others.
The REVISING BARRISTER said that as no formal
notice of objection had been given, he should consider
the overseers had done their duty, and he could not
permit the time of the court to be wasted in seeking
for objections.
The Rev. Mr. Fell claimed to vote. His qualifica-
tion was described as a rent-charge upon Warling-
ham Court Farm.

Mr. Jeans submitted that this was not a proper
description of the qualification. It should have been
a " freehold" rent-charge.
The REVISING BARRISTER said, that, no doubt, was
the proper description, but the 40th section of the
new Act gave him the power to amend the de-
scription.
The overseer was then examined, and he proved
that Mr. Fell received a yearly rent-charge of 101.
from the farm in question.
The REVISING BARRISTER said that upon this evi-
dence he should insert the word "freehold."

The name was then placed upon the list.
Mr. Jeans said he trusted after what had taken
place, the court would now allow him to see all the
notices of new elaitni.

Mr. Hart objected, and said, that in the absence of
any formal objection, he though the court ought not
to allow this to be done. He was not aware whether
the claimants were Conservatives or Liberals, but he
objected to the course proposed by Mr. Jeans upon
principle.
The REVISING BARRISTER said they knew nothing
about Conservatives or Liberals in that court. If
Mr. Jeans really believed that any of the notices of
claims were informal, he did not think there could be
any objection to his being allowed to see them.
Mr. Hart said they were merely technical ob-
jections.
Mr. Jeans said they were not merely technical ob-
jections for in one case the party had not even in-
serted the name of the division of the county or his
qualification, and all that he inserted was "farmer."
The REVISING BARRISTER decided that Mr.
Jeans should see any claim which he believed to be
informal, and one or two names were expunged upon
objections as to the description of qualification, &c.,
taken by Mr. Jeans.
In the parish of Horley, the right of a person who
claimed to vote was objected to by the overseer on the
ground that he was the keeper of the post-office.
The REVISING BARRISTER said that a person hold-
ing such an office was not entitled to vote, and he
therefore expunged the name.
No matter of any interest occurred in the other lists.
On Saturday Mr. Fish held his court at Croydon.
Mr. Jeans again attended on behalf of the Liberals,
and Mr. John Drummond and Mr. Chrees for the
Conservatives.

In the parish of Childen, John Brown claimed to
vote. He described his qualification as " farmer."
The REVISING BARRISTER said that if persons
would not take the trouble to comply with the pro-
♦isions of the Act of Parliament, they must abide by
the consequences, and he rejected the claim.
In the parish of Cashelton, the claim of Mr.
William S. Meryweather was objected to by the
Conservative agents. Mr. Meryweather claimed to
♦ote in respect of a freehold rent-charge upon land in
the parish of Cashelton.
Mr. Meryweather was examined in support of the
claim, and it appeared that, in right of his wife under
a will, which he produced, he was in the receipt of
6001. a year from the land in question. The money
was paid to him by trustees.
Mr. Drummond said his objection to the right of
the claimant: was, that he did not possess such an in-
terest as amounted to a freehold rent-charge. The
father of Mrs. Meryweather had by his will devised
the property in question to trustees to be turned into
money, and out of the proceeds the trustees were
directed to pay over a sum of 500/. a year, and in point
of fact, Mr. Meryweather had no title whatever in the
land ; he could not enter upon it, and his interest was
merely a personalty, and not at all in the shape of a
freehold.

The
in ItEVISING BARRISTER, having perused the will,
said that he was of opinion the claim could not be
admitted in its present shape. He would not give a
decided opinion, but he thought it probable, it' the
application were removed for the qualification of a
cestuique trust, it might be successful; but, at pre-
sent, he could not allow the claim.—Name expunged.
Mr. Montagu Turner, the son of the last applicant,
was also objected to by the Conservatives.
Mr. Drummond said that, in this case, he was un-
fortunately not able to produce his notice of objec-
tion, and he must, therefore, withdraw it. In order
to save Mr. Turner any trouble, he had written to him
to inform him that his vote would not be objected to,
and that he need not attend to support his claim.
Mr. Jeans said no such letter had been received,
and he intimated that he should apply for costs.
Mr. Drummond said he had done all in his power
to prevent the gentleman from being inconvenienced.
The REVISING BARRISTER said it was no case
for costs.

Mr. Marcus W. Turner also claimed to vote in re-
spect of the same property as Mr. Meryweather.
The claim was disallowed upon the grounds stated
in the former case.

In the parish of: Croydon there were upwards of
200 fresh claims sent in by persons already on the re-
gister, but who considered their qualification and re-
sidence improperly described, and which particulars
they amended on their fresh notice of claim.
The REVISING BARRISTER having, upon the ap-
plication of Mr. G. Penfold, who attended for the
overseers, struck out the names upon the old list,
proceeded to consider the new one.
Mr. Jeans then said, that certain voters, consider-
ing the description of their qualification, residence,
&c., incorrectly stated, had sent in fresh. claims, giving
the particulars required by the late Act of Parlia-
ment. The parish officers had, however, neglected
to follow the form of the notices sent to them, and
had printed them in the old form. He had, therefore,
to apply to have all the further particulars added to
the list.
Mr. Penfold submitted that the description given
in the register was quite sufficient, and was all that
was required by the Act of Parliament. If all the
particulars sent in the claims were to be printed, it
would cause a very large additional expense in the
printing of the register.
Mr. Jeans submitted that i was highly important
that the qualification and the residence of the voter
should be properly described, and in the form pre-
scribed by the Act of Parliament. In many of the
cases in the old list, the residence of the voter was
' not at all clearly given; the name of the owner or
tenant of the property was altogether omitted ; and,
in fact, the description of the party was most meagre
and incomplete.

The REVISING BARRISTER, having looked over the
list, said that certainly many of the descriptions of
qualification and residence of voters were most in-
complete, and that the provisions of the Act of Par-
liament had not been complied with. It was clearly
the intention of the Act that every facility should be
given for identifying the parties who claimed a right
to vote; but in a great many of these cases, it would
be impossible to do so from the inaccurate description
given of their qualification, residence, &c., in the re-
gister. He should, therefore, direct that all the par-
ticulars contained in the new clauses should be in-
serted on the register.
It was then arranged, in order to afford time for
this to be done, that the amended list should be pre-
sented by Mr. Penfold at a future sitting of the
court.

NATIONAL BANQUET
TO MR. O'CONNELL AND THE
OTHER TRAVERSERS.

DUBLIN, Sari. 19.—This evening the dinner to
Mr. O'Connell, and his companions in prison, takes
place at the Music-hall, Lower Abbey-street. So
early as three o'clock the doors were surrounded by a
large crowd of persons, and all the places had been
engaged for some time. There were seats laid out
for 800 persons, and these being taken at an early
hour to-day, great numbers have been disappointed,
who had not applied in time.
Even without the company for whose accommoda-
tion the Music-hall was appropriated, it presented a
very pretty appearance. The hall is laid out as a
theatre, divided into boxes, and the pit, or floor,
being level, had seven very long ranges of tables fir
the guests. Upon the dais, where the performers
usually appear, there was a long table laid out for Mr.

O'Connell, his associates in the trial and the sentence,
and Members of Parliament, with the Prelates of the
Catholic Church who hare notified their intention of
being present.

Beneath the boxes, appropriated exclusively for
ladies (who are required to appear in full dress),
there are tables also laid out.

The hour appointed for dinner is six o'clock. The
chair is to be taken by the President of the evening,
W. Smith O'Brien, Esq., M.P.

Amongst those who have notified their intention to
be present are—N. Maher, Esq , M.P., T. Kelly,
Esq., M.P., Caleb Powell, Esq., M.P., 11. Grattan,
Esq., M.P., E. B. Roche, Esq., M.P., and Mayors,
with members of the Corporations, of Dublin,
Limerick, Cork, Kilkenny, Clonmel, Sligo, Water-
ford, &c.

Of the letters that have been received, some may
be considered worthy of perusal.

" Dungannon, Sept. 16, 1844.
" Gentlemen,—ln reply to your much-esteemed letter,
inviting me to the national banquet to O'Connell and his
late fellow-martyrs, I have the honour to acquaint you,
for the information of the managing committee on that
auspicious occasion, that I am at present on my visita-
tion, and that my arrangements with my clergy for the
discharge of my spiritual duties will not allow me
leisure to avail myself of your very kind invitation to
the public dinner in Dublin on Thursday next.
" I have the honour to remain, with the highest res-
pect, gentlemen, your much obliged, humble servant,
" y W. CROLLY.
" John L. Arabin and James O'llea, Esqs."
" Mountjoy-square, Sept. 12, 1844.
" Gentlemen' —I have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, inviting me, on
the part of the managing committee appointed to super-
intend the national banquet to O'Connell and his fellow-
martyrs, to attend as a guest on that auspicious occasion ;
and I pray you to convey to the committee the expres-
sion of my sincere thanks for this mark of their kind at-
tention, together with the assurance of my regret that,
participating as Ido most largely in the general delight
occasioned by the splendid triumph of law over injustice
which they are about to celebrate, it will not be in my
power to avail myself of their valued invitation.
" I have the honour to remain, gentlemen, your most
obedient, humble servant,

" ;..1 D. MURRAY.
" John Arabin and James O'Hea Esqs."
_ _ _

" Tuam, Sept, 16, 1844.
" Gentlemen,—l have had seldom to exercise a greater
act of self-denial than that of foregoing, on account of
imperative duties which could not be postponed, the
gratification of being a guest at one of the most joyous
festivals that ever gladdened the hearts of Irishmen.
Tke glorious event which it commemorates is one which,
while it awakens the liveliest extacies of the human
heart, is calculated to draw forth the most solemn
emotions of reverence to the Great Disposer of human
destinies.
" The suddenness and surprise with which the Intel-
ligence quickened or struck down the hopes of all who
heard it, prove that it was an event far beyond the beaten
track of political calculations. It came upon the mind
of the nation like a vision of the night Not like a
vision, however, will it pass away ; for its effect will be
an enduring reality—lreland's legislative freedom. For
such a consummation we are indebted to the artificers
of the late prosecutions ; and in the political fate of the
Liberator and his fellow-prisoners well may be exem-
plified the words of the inspired writings lie that
diggeth a pit shall fall into it, and he that setteth a stone
for his neighbour shall stumble upon it, and he that
layeth a snare for another shall perish in it. A mis-
chierous counsel shall be rolled back upon the author,
and he shall not know whence it cometh.'

" Hoping that Irishmen, without distinction of sect or
creed, will avail themselves of the benefits of a providen-
tial interference, obtained through the pious prayers
of the people, which were offered up in the churches
for humanity and justice, and the liberation of the
captive, I have the honour to be your very respectful
and obliged servant,
" JOHN, Archbishop of Tuam.
• John L. Arabin and James O'Hea, Esqs."

" Loughrea, Sept. 13, 1844.
" Gentlemen,-1 our much esteemed favour came to
hand, conveying to ma an invitation to attend as a guest
the national banquet to be given to Daniel O'Connell,
Esq., and his fellow-martyrs, on the 19th instant, in the
metropolis of Ireland. I feel much honoured, indeed, by
the very high compliment thus conferred on me by your
managing committee, to whom I request you to present
my most grateful acknowledgments, and assurance that
nothing could afford me more heartfelt satisfaction than
to be present, on this truly important and auspicious oc
casion, did the present state of my health authorise me
to undertake such a journey, and mingle with such a vast
assembly, where, no doubt, myriads of the patriotic sons
of Erin will meet in social festivity to send forth in the
most enchanting strains of eloquence the outpourings of
their very souls, as feeble proofs of their respect, their
veneration, and their unbounded confidence in the great
man who was lately immured within the walls of a
prison, as if guilty of conspiracy ; but at present, thanks
be to an all-wise Providence, his sentence is reversed by
the highest judicial authority in England, and he is de-
clared to be free from any other charge, except that he
endeavoured by legal and constitutional means to assert
the independence of the land of his birth, and restore to
his countrymen those rights and privileges of which they
were so unjustly deprived.
" I shall now conclude by a fervent prayer that all
those who have erred in by-gone days may profit by
passing events, and adopt such policy in future as may
tend to promote the peace and prosperity of the British
empire, and unite all her Majesty's subjects in the closest
bonds of Christian charity and brotherly lore. With
sentiments of the highest respect, I have the honour to
remain, gentlemen, your very grateful and obedient
servant, " Thomas COEN, Bishop of Clonfert.
" To John L. Arabin and James O'Hea, Esqs.,
Secretaries, &c. &c."
" Kilkenny, Sept. 13, 1844.
" Gentlemen,—l have been honoured with your letter,
containing an invitation to the O'Connell banquet, only
on this day, having been absent in the country by the
orders of my physicians.
" I feel much obliged by the invitation which you have
forwarded, and regret most sincerely that I cannot have
the honour of accepting it, as lam not yet fully re-
covered from a severe attack of illness.

" I know of nothing that could give me more pleasure
than to have an opportunity of paying a tribute of re-
spect and gratitude to Mr. O'Connell. As the principal
instrument, in the hands of Divine Providence, of deli-
vering the Catholics from an oppressive yoke, he de-
serves our respect, and as the most unceasing and most
powerful labourer in the cause of our country's rights,
he deserves the warmest gratitude and most strenuous
support of every one that loves Ireland.
"At this moment, particularly, he has a peculiar
claim on every mark of our respect and gratitude, when
he has—l fearlessly say it providentially saved us from
an illegal and unjust persecution. The world has seldom
seen such a combination of unfairness and injustice as
was exhibited in his trial ; and from the intimate know-
ledge of the Irish character which my station affords I
was filled with apprehensions lest the Irish people would
lose all confidence in the administration of justice, and
thus, notwithstanding all our exertions, be led to think
of illegal means to relieve themselves from their most in-
tolerable sufferings. That a man who has always, by
word or example, preached peace and obedience to the
law—one who has f9' so many years restrained a sensi-
tive people when driven by dire necessity to the very
verge of violence—one who has been the most strenuous
and the most successful supporter of the law in Ireland,
should be prosecuted as a disturber—should :be declared
, and be doomed to a dungeon
sentence—is not only monstrous
igbnyuiil a
ttsyterlbufy,lyilbuptaw unmerciful
ckaesdf jury, and
with the most lamentable con-
sequences. From these his acquittal has delivered this
country, and sorry I am I am unable to join in the
public expression of our heartfelt joy.
" I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your very obe-
dient servant,

4 {el WM. KINSELLA, Bishop of Ossory.
" John L. Arabia and James O'Hea, Esqs."
" Violet Hill, Newry.
" Gentlemen—l find myself so beset with difficulties
at the prosent time, on account of the expected death of
the venerable vicar-general, who always, in my absence,
faithfully supplied my place, that although I have fer-
vently prayed from the tirst moment of the incarceration
of our beloved and illustrious Liberator for his glorious
and happy deliverance, and although no event can afThrd
me more satisfaction and heartful joy than to see him in
good health, again restored to society, and again engaged
in restoring happiness to his country ; yet the circum-
stances in which I am placed oblige me to deprive my-
self of the great gratification of witnessing, on Thursday
evening, at the est!ve board, the splendid display of
public feeling by which that event is to be celebrated.
" I beg, gentlemen, that you will please to convey to
the managing committee my most respectful and most
grateful thanks for the high honour conferred on me in
inviting me to that banquet.
" With most grateful sentiments, also, for the very kind
terms in which the invitation was communicated by you,
I have the hoour to be, gentlemen, your much ob-
liged humble servant,
" F. 4 MICHAEL BLAKE, Bishop of Dromare."
" Waterford, September 14, 1843.
"Dear Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge your
letter of the 11th instant, inviting me as a guest to at-
tend the national banquet to O'Connell and his fellow-
martyrs,' on the 19th instant. I very much regret that
duties of a pressing nature, and which I cannot post-
pone, will deprive me of the pleasure of attending on

that auspicious occasion. With best thanks to the ma-
naging committee for their kind invitation, I have the
honour to be, dear sirs, your faithful, obedient servant,
"101 N. FORAN, R.C.8., Waterford and Liamore.
" To J. L. Arabia and James O'Hea, Esqs."
"Roscommon, Sept. 14., 1844..
" Gentlemen—Allow me to express to you and the
committee for the national banquet to O'Connell and his
fellow-martyrs, nay unfeigned thanks for the very distin-
guished and flattering compliment you and they have been
pleased to pay me, in inviting me as a guest upon this glo-
riousoccasion. Unfortunately a previous engagement upon
a solemn official duty will preclude the possibility of my
attendance. lam with you in heart and soul. I am
devoted to our illustrious Liberator, and to every mea-
sure that he proposes for the good of old Ireland. When
I reflect upon the great and victorious triumph that he
and his fellow-martyrs have obtained over his iniquitous
persecutors, the enemies of truth, justice, and of Ire-
land, my heart exults with joy. Again apologising for
my unavoidable absence, I have the honour to be, gen-
tlemen, yours very faithfully, &c.,
" el GEo. J. O'BEIRNE, Bishop of Elphin."
" John-street, Chapel House, 16th Sept., 1844.
" Gentlemen,—l have been exceedingly honoured by
the invitation to attend as a guest at the national banquet
to O'Connell and his late fellow-martyrs, and would be
delighted to mingle in the enthusiastic feeling which will,
if possible, be more than ever called forth on that auspi-
cious occasion; but having on my return to Ireland pro-
posed to myself not to attend public meetings of any de-
scription during my sojourn, I pray you to accept that
resolution, which I offer most respectfully, as my apo-
logy for not being present; at the same time assuring
you, that I will be with you in mind and heart—that I
will always retain your letter of invitation as a document
ever dear to me—and that you may always count upon
every effort in my power to promote the welfare of
Ireland, and the views of our beloved Liberator for that
end. I have hesitated these few days past to offer this
my apology; but when I remembered that I have al-
ready early put on record my sentiments on the measure
rf Repeal as one of common sense, common justice, and
sound policy, and, in reality, the only remedy for the evils
of Ireland, I could not fear that my absence would be
misunderstood; and, therefore, relying with confidence
that the apology will be accepted, in the true sense and
spirit in which it is made,

" I have the honour to be, gentlemen, with the pro-
foundest respect, your exceedingly obligel, truly grate-
ful, and devoted servant,

" DANIEL O'CoNNoR, Bishop of Saldes."
" To L. Arabia and James °llea, Esqs."
"Riverslade, Ballina, Sept. 16, 1844.
" Gentlemen—The invitation of the managing cow-
mittee appointed to superintend the national banquet to
O'Connell and his late fellow-martyrs, conveyed to me
through the medium of sueh distinguished patriots as
you, and proferring to me the high honour of attending
as a guest at the banquet, reached me in due coarse. I
highly esteem the compliment paid to me by the CDM*
mitteee. I will not say that I want language adequate
to express my gratitude for their kindness, but I will say
that I cannot give sufficient expression to my feeling of
regret that a combination of circumstances, over which I
hare no control, will deprive me of the great gratification
which I should otherwise derive from being present at
the banquet, for the purpose of offering in person my
heartfelt congratulations to the illustrious father of his
country, and his late fellow-martyrs, on the occasion of
their release from an unjust captivity, and of contri-
buting to swell, by my humble person, the crowd of
patriots who will meet to honour O'Connell, and cele-
brate the triumph of Ireland over the iniquitous attempts
to crush her struggles for nationality by fraudulent jury
lists, packed juries, and one-sided judges.
" I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most
obedient, humble servant,

" k THOMAS FEENT.
"John L. Arabin and James O'Hea, Esqs."
" Dr. Healy presents his most respectful complimeats
to Messra. Arabin and O'Hea, and begs to assure them
how &ley grateful ` feels for the invitation conveyed
in their note of the 11th to the national banquet to Mr.
O'Connell on the 19th instant. Dr. Healy regrets ex-
ceedingly that, being for some time under engagements
for every day during the present month—engagements
which he could not get rid of without much inconve-
nience to large numbers of people—he feels obliged to
deny himself the honour and pleasure of being present
at the great manifestation of national feeling to take
place on Thursday next.
" Tullow, Sept. 17, 1844."
~ rnniscorthy, Sept. 15, 1844.
"My dear Sirs,—There is no compliment that could
be more acceptable to me than your invitation to the
national banqaet, to be given on Thursday next, to the
illustrious Liberator and his distinguished fellow-captives,
who, after long suffering, have been restored to liberty
by the highest tribunal in the empire.
" Never was there a triumph more signal than that of
the beloved father of his country, and his triumph is joy-
fully participated in by the people of Ireland, who were
wantonly deprived of their illustrious leader, and who
felt themselves as if incarcerated in his person.
" His political opponents vainly imagined that they
had crushed him and Irish independence for ever ; but
Divine Providence otherwise ordained it—for instead of
crushing him they have elevated him to a pinnacle of
glory such as no man ever occupied before, and have
given a powerful impulse to the very agitation that they
attempted to suppress.
"Numerous duties that cannot be postponed will de-
prive me of the honour and gratification of being present
at the banquet, and of personally thanking you and the
managing committee for the distinguished favour you
have done me ; but, though absent, I will participate in
your joy, and cordially unite with you in congratulating
O'Connell, the moral regenerator of Ireland, and the
benefactor of the human race.—l have the honour to be
my dear Sir, your vary faithful servant,
"N JAMES KEATING.
" John L. Arabin, Esq., and James O'Hea, Esq.,

Secretaries."
" Alleston Park, Sept. 15, 1844.
"Lord Stourton regrets that the state of his health
will not permit his accepting the flattering invitation he
has this morning received from the committee of ma-
nagers of the national banquet to be given on the 19th
instant, and thus to express his hearty unison with the
national feelings in their commemoration of the triumph
of liberty and justice.—l have the honour to remain,
Gentlemen, your obliged and obedient servant,
" To John L. Arabin, Esq., and James O'llea, Esq."
" Stonis, Henley-on-Thames, Sept. 15, 1844.
" Gentlemen—l have this morning been honoured with
your invitation to attend the national banquet to O'Con-
nell and his late fellow-martyrs. Nothing but the short-
ness of the time, that will not allow me to break through
more important engagements, prevents me the great
gratification of accepting it. If a real and heartfelt satis-
faction at the late triumph of justice over injustice, of
good feeling over bad, of honesty over fraud, of freedom
over oppression, would entitle any person to a seat at
that national banquet, I may well claim a right to re-
ceive your invitation.
" If a feeling of gratitude to Mr. O'Connell, of respect
for his talents and his virtues, and of affection for his
person, be the ground that dictates your summonses to
attend, there is no one, even in Ireland, better gratified
than I am to be present at your demonstration in honour
of his success. Entertaining these feelings, it is mor-
tification to me not to be with you on the 19th, to unite
with you in celebrating the occurrence of this unlooked-
for but just blessing to your country and your distin-
guished countryman.
" I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your obedient
servant, " C.4.m0r9.

" Messrs. John L. Arabin and James O'llea."

" Lady Bellew presents her compliments to the gen-
tlemen of the committee, and begs to inform them that
Sir Michael Bellew is at present on the Continent. Lady
Bellew is sure Sir Michael will regret exceedingly his
absence on the present occasion, and that were he in
Ireland, nothing could give him greater pleasure than to
have the honour of being present at the banquet to be
given to O'Connell and his fellow-martyrs, on Thursday,
the 19th instant.

"Marino, Galway, Sept. 16, 1844."
"Kingstown, Sept. 12, 1844.
" Gentlemen—l beg to return you and the: committee
of the national banquet to O'Connell and the :other
gentlemen, victims of a prosecution as unwise as it was
unjust, my best thanks for the honour you have done me,
and to express the regret I feel that it will not be in my
power to be present at that festival, and join in your
honest exultation, and personally to express the delight
I feel that justice has at length been vindicated, and trial
by Jury is not yet doomed to be a delusion, a mockery,
and a snare.'—l have the honour to be your obedient
servant, " MmurowN."

" Grange, Youghal, Sept. 13.
" Gentlemen,—l have had the honour of receiving
your letter of the 10th. I am extremely sorry that pri-
vate affairs of an urgent nature will prevent my being in
Dublin on the 19th. It is my wish to pay every mark of
respect to Mr. O'Connell and his fellow-martyrs. They
are entitled to the gratitude of every Irishman who
wishes to free his country from the deep degradation of
submission to British domination.—l have the honour
to be, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
" R. MUSGRAVE."
" Dromaua, Sept. 13, 1844.
" Gentlemen,—ln reply to your communication trans-
mitting to me a copy of a resolution adopted at a numer-
ous meeting of the friends of the repeal of the union, that
a public banquet should be given to Mr. O'Connell and
his fellow-martyrs on Thursday, the 19th of September,
to commemorate their liberation from their most unjust
imprisonment, and requesting me to inform you as to
whether the managing committee may calculate on my
co-operation and attendance, I beg to say, that though I
think that the very just decision of the House of Lords
upon the writ of error is well worthy of being celebrated,
yet that it will be out of my power to be present at the
banquet proposed to be given with that view.
" I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen, your obe-
dient servant, "WILLIAM VILLIERS STUART."
" Gresham's Hotel, Sept. 17, 1844.
" Gentlemen,—l had not the honour of receiving until
eight o'clock last night your circular of the 10th instant,
announcing the intention of entertaininv, Daniel O'Con-
nell and his fellow-martyrs at a public banquet in Dublin
on Thursday, the 19th of September instant, and re-
questing to know whether you may calculate on my co-
operation and attendance, and whether I have any objec-
tion to the publication of my name as a member of the
Committee. If not too late, I shall feel honoured by
your inserting my name among the members of the Cum-
neittee ; and if ray health allows me, I shall feel
happy in attending the dinner, but I a.n at present suf-
fering from acute neuralgia. I should have answered
your circular sooner, but it was directed to Cloonalis,
whence it was forwarded to England, and thence it fol-
lowed me here, where I arrived yesterday. I have the
honour to be, Gentlemen, your very obedient servant,
" O'CONOR DoN.
" John L. Arabin, Esq., James O'Hea, Esq."
" London, Sept. 14.
My dear Sir—The invitation transmitted to me
through yourself and fellow secretary, from the manag-
pgi committee for the taticsti bouquet W Mr. Crcou.