The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-20 00:00:00

IRELAND.

THE STATE TRIALS.

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTERS.)
DUBLIN, FRIDAY, JAN. 19.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

THE QUEEN V. DANIEL O'CONNELL AND OTHERS.

The examination of Mr. Frederick Bond Hughes
terminated yesterday, and as far as it goes, it is con-
sidered as decidedly favourable to the traversers.
Mr. Hughes gave his testimony in a very manly and
impartial manner, and at once admitted the error he
committed with respect to Mr. Barrett's being pre-
sent at the Abbey-street Theatre. I understood Mr.
O'Connell himself declared that his evidence was very
fair. After the conclusion of Mr. Hughes' testimony
yesterday, Mr. Ross, the second Government re-
porter, who did not announce himself in that
capacity, as Mr. Frederick Bond Hughes did,
was [partially examined, and his testimony was re-
sumed at the opening of the Court this morning.
It has now occupied nine hours, and has consisted
of nothing more than the reading of reports. About
half-past one o'clock Mr. Ross appeared to get very
weak, and the Court adjourned for some time. The
examination was resumed after a short adjournment,
and the witness is becoming more and more exhausted,
the jury sometimes finding it difficult to hear
him. The cross-examination has not yet commenced ;
and, it is said to be the intention. of
the principal cross-examiner, Mr. Henn, to be very-
severe upon him. There is considerable excitement
about the Courts, but not so great as one would na-
turally expect on such an occasion. The people in
the country are far more excited than they are in
town, and, from letters which I have received,
they are awaiting the result with the intensest
anxiety. It is a generally received opinion, that if
a conviction should take place, the Government will
not, under the remarkable circumstances by which
the trial was preceded, press for punish-
ment. Should they be so unwise—and what
folly may not be expected from the present
Government—the result will be excitement ten-fold
greater than the present, and a vast addition of men
and money to the Repeal Association. This you may
be sure will be the consequence—the principal tra-
verser and the maligned clergy of the people will
prevent worse.

SUMMARY of the STATE TRIALS.

(FIFTH DAY.)
The interest attached to the proceedings seems to
increase as the "combat thickens." The Rotunda
and the approaches to the Court are thronged through-
out the day by crowds of persons, who though they
cannot hear anything that is going on, seem to derive
some satisfaction from a close proximity to the scene
of action. O'Connell is enthusiastically cheered as he
enters and leaves the Court. The evidence
given yesterday by Mr. Bond llughes is the
general topic of conversation to-day, and of
discussion in the Morning Papers. The gene-
ral impression is that he gave his testimony in an
honest, bold, and straightforward manner. lie had
acted in an open and avowed capacity, had nothing
to conceal, and when asked his opinions of the state
of the country, and the disposition of the people, he
replied frankly and favourably. Beyond authenticating
certain speeches made in certain places, his evidence
does not tell in the slightest degree against the
traversers.

At the sitting of the Court this morning, the exa
mination of Mr. Charles Ross, the other Government
witness, was recommenced; it was confined to read-
ing, according to the direction of the Solicitor-
General, copious extracts from his notes, of speeches
made at the meetings he attended at Clifden, Donny-
brook, and the Corn Exchange.
The Court rose for a short time, in the middle
of the day, after which the examination in chief
was continued, and did not conclude till half
past three o'clock. His cross•examination was ex-
pected with considerable anxiety, as it was rumoured
it would be a very severe one. When Mr. Henn
rose for the purpose there was a general bustle
through the Court, as if the interest of the proceed-
ings had suddenly revived. The first questions of the
traversers' counsel were directed to ascertaining the
state of the witness's circumstances at a former period.
It was elicited that he had been insolvent, and that
he received for attending the different meetings in
Ireland 3501., with 501. separate for the meeting at
Donnybrook. He said he was not aware, when sent
over, of the nature of the services that would be re-
quired of him, and that he regretted having ever un-
taken them. When asked by the Counsel whether
he would have undertaken them for fifty thousand
pounds, he said he would not have undertaken them
for a very large sum.
The witness seemed much exhausted by the long
examination, which was continuing when the express
left.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

GLOBE.—The examination of witnesses, in the Trish State
Trials, on the part of the prosecution, was proceeded with on
Thursday morning. Three " gentlemen of the press," occu-
pied in succession "the chair," as the revolving seat in the
centre of the table around which counsel are arranged,
is designated in the Irish Law Courts. Their evidence
—a mere recapitulation of matters with which every one
who has read the proceedings at the "monster meetings,"
as supplied by the daily journals, was already familiar
—afforded nothing new to the craving curiosity of the crowd
within the Court, and will be regarded with indifference by
the country at large. The leaders of the Repeal Association
seem to have courted publicity in their whole proceedings.
The extraordinary facilities afforded to the reporters for
the London journals, and the special attentions shown
to the witness who announced that he attended the
meetings on behalf of the Government, showed that se-
crecy formed no element in the dire " comspirsey" with