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

IN HONOUR OF THE

LIBERATION OF NR. O'CONNELL
AND HIS FELLOW PATRIOTS.
DUBLIN, SATURDAY EVENING.—From an early

After a few moments' consultation with his friends, hour this morning the busy note of preparation for
the Liberator resolved, contrary to what was ex- the procession was
to be heard in all quarters. The
pected, to go at once to Merrion-square, and in less trades were up and stirring, and the whole city
than ten minutes he left the prison on foot, accom- seemed to be on the qui vivo. The weather, however,
panied by R. Dillon Browne, Esq., M.P., the Rev. proved unfavourable, rain having fallen heavily the
Mr. Gilligan, Rev. Mr. Collier, Mark Blake, Esq. previous night, and continued all the morning. Ten
M.P., Rev. Mr. Gullinan, D. O'Connell, jun., Messrs. o'clock was the hour appointed for the procession
Ford, Cantwell, Reilly, Mahony, and about twenty forming in Merrion-square, but in consequence of the
other gentlemen. Some of the other State prisoners rain, twelve o'clock arrived ere that was effected.
left the prison along with the Liberator, and accom- Mr. Thomas Reynolds, Marshal of Dublin, acted
panied him home. as commander-in-chief; he was gaily dressed, with
O'CONNELL'S WALK THROUGH DUBLIN. cocked hat, and mounted on a charger. The line of
It being the intention to have left the prison pH- route was flanked by crowds of spectators, and the
w
vately, there were not more than a few hundred per- windows of every house filled. The procession having
sons at the time on the Circular-road. But in con- been got into line started from the corner of Merrion-
sequence of the loud and animated cheer that burst square, turning into Fitzwilliam-street, and ,
, this morning) in the following order :
rades, with banners and bands, the members all
pro-
forth on the appearance of the Liberator without the seeded to Richmond Prison (whither Mr. O'Connell,
walls, he did not proceed many yards before the crowd
&c.returned
began to swell, and ere he reached New-street they
The T
amounted to thousands. As they passed along the
with repeal buttons in their breasts; the committee
streets people seemed to doubt the reality of what of the National Trades and Political Unions in car-
their senses told them, and eagerly ran to convince riages ; the Corporation in carriages, the Lord Mayor
themselves that indeed O'Connell was free, and that in state
ficent piece of workmanship, surmounted by a chair
magni-
the right of the people to remonstrate was vindicated carriage, the Triumphal Car (a most
by the liberation of the man who had so often stood of state, all about twenty feet high), drawn by six
among them, and whose first act in freedom will be greys, with postillions, and two outriders; in front of
again to stand among them, to demand in the same un-
h harper; then followed a lengthened range of carriages,
the car
ehe s,were two pages, and behind them an Irish
daunted tone that brought on him the vengeance of the
gigs, hack-cars, and equestrians.
foe—the restitution of the national rights of Ireland. brou
'When he reached Harcourt-street so great a crowd It was a quarter after one o'clock when the last of
had collected on the continuation of the Circular- the procession left Merrion-square. In this' manner
road, by which it was intended to have proceeded to they proceeded at an easy pace through Fitswilliam-
the square, that the Liberator and his friends were I street, Baggot-street, Stephen's-green, Harcourt-
compelled to turn along Harcourt-street, proceeding i street, along the Circular-road, to Richmond Prison,
through the Green, and Merrion-street, to his man- a dense crowd following, and cheering at intervals.
sion. Long before they had reached the square the The line of route from the prison was thus laid out :
crowd had become enlarged to many thousands, and ' —Along the Circular-road, by Kilmainham, over
the pressure had become so great that the people Island-bridge, by Conyngham-road, Barrack-street,
found it necessary to form a cordon round their re- ' Ellis's. quay, Arran -quay, Inns-quay, Ormond-quay
stored leaders, which they did in a manner at once f Upper, North Frederick-street, east side of Rutland-
effective and demonstrative of the perfect organisation square, Sackville-street, Carlisle-bridge, Westmore-
of which our people are capable. For a distance of land-street, Grafton-street, Nasm.street, Clare-
about forty yards they joined hands, the foremost street, Merrion-square North, and the Liberator's
men walking backwards, those at the side walking house.
side foremost, thus forming a ring embracing the j The procession did not reach the prison till half-
width of the street, and extending above forty yards past two. Shortly after Mr. O'Connell made his sp-
in front, so that all forward could see 'oConnell as j pearance, and mounted the triumphal car amid deaf-
he proceeded once more at liberty towards his home. ening cheers. He was dressed in a loose surtout, and
Within this space no persons entered—the people looked well. His son John having also ascended
cheerfully obeying the orders of the O'Connell police. rboth took their seats, and the procession moved on in
MERRION-SQUARE. the 'route prescribed. The other liberated prisoners—
As he neared Merrion-square, the tidings that he Messrs. Steele, Ray, Gray, Duffy, and Barrett—fol-
was positively abroad spread wider, and fresh crowds lowed in open carriages. The passage was marked
rushed eagerly to meet him, incredulous that he was by one continued scene of the most enthusiastic
there till they had actually seen him ; for it was un- cheering. All Dublin was out, or in windows.
derstood that he would not leave the prison until next The most_ remarkable street in the route was Sack-
day. The people leaped and danced about him, while : ville-street. Nelson's Pillar was crowded, and every
their acclamations rent the air. When he entered the , window in the street filled with spectators. The
square, having still to pass along the whole length of 1 commencement of the trades' processions arrived at
one side of it, crowds rushed along the flagways to 1 Nelson's Pillar at 25 minutes to four o'clock, and
secure a place near his house. Mr. O'Connell had to 1 its length may be estimated, when it is known that
walk in the middle of the road, but the people still ' though going at quick time, they did not entirely,
pass till half-past four. At half-past four a tremend•
preserved the whole road in front of him clear, not
more eager to see him than to have him seen. 'Twas ous shower of rain fell, which drenched the whole
not curiosity, but pride, they seemed anxious to gra- procession, and threw a gloom over the proceedings.
tify. They wished the world to look upon him, and , All underneath was mud and slush. The other parts
behold their Liberator now liberated of right. ; of the procession followed, and exactly at a quarter to
Long before Mr. O'Connell had traversed a third five o'clock the triumphal car entered Sackyille-
of the distance to the house, or could be seen from it I street.
—for it was growing dark—an immense crowd had' It is almost impossible to describe the scene; the
occupied the space around, and cheered, and cheered, spacious street was crammed with a dense multitude
looking towards the door he was to enter by, as if he and the windows crowded. As the car proceeded
were already within his house. By this time there along, a continued universal shout rent the air. Mr.
could not be less than fifteen thousand persons in the O'Connell every minute standing up and bowing to
square. Their acclamations never once subsided as his congratulators. Nelson's Pillar, the
Mr. O'Connell approached; but when he did approach,On passing
scene was magnificent; the street presented a jammed
and actually placed his foot upon the step to ascend mass of human heads, every mouth distended, those
to hill own door, then indeed such an exhibition of in windows waving kerchiefs. Backville-street never