The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-15 00:00:00

JUSTICE TO IRELAND.

MEETING IN 'COVENT-
GARDEN THEATRE.

Last evening a meeting of the friends of Ireland was
held in Covent-garden Theatre, for the purpose, as ex-
pressed in the advertisement convening the meeting, of
affording to the middle and industrious classes an op-
portunity of mingling their feelings with those of the
higher classes, so unequivocally expressed on a late oc-
casithi; in syMpathy for the sufferings of the Irish people,
and of 'their illustrious leader, in whose person the
dearest right enjoyed by the subject under the consti-
tution of this country has been grossly infringed.
Long before the hour appointed for taking the chair
lad arrived, the theatre was -densely thronged in every
parts, Stud the pit so much so that it was found necessary
to admit a large portion of its occupants upon the stage.
There were stationed in various places throughout the
house, but chiefly around the chair, several men, some
of whom were dressed in frieze coats—the dress peculiar
to the Irish peasant—and who wore upon their hats
slips of paper, having inscribed the words, " O'Connell's
police." Judging from the boisterous good humour of
the mighty mass, their exhibition of mirth, and
the evident determination which they evinced to
have as much "fun" among -themselves as possible
before the commencement of the business of the meeting,
we should say the vast majority were natives of " the
Green Isle." The dress circle and stage boxes were
occupied by persons of both sexes, who belonged, ap-
parently, to what are conventionally termed the better
classes. _ _ _ _ . _ _

Shortly after seven o'clock the cheering from with-
out heralded the approach of Mr. O'Connell, and im-
mediately on the entrance of the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman upon the stage, the vast assemblage rose en
masse, and the scene , that ensued baffles description.
The ladies waved their handkerchiefs, the gentlemen
their hats, and both cheered and hurraed, again and
again, with an earnestness and enthusiasm which were,
perhaps, equalled, but only equalled, on the occasion of
Mr. O'Connell's reception at the banquet on Tuesday
evening last. - When the cheering, which was prolonged
for several minutes, had somewhat subsided,

WILLIAM J. O'CONNELL, Esq. (Grand Repeal
Warden of England), was called to the chair, amidst
most enthusiastic cheering. He said he was sure that
they would believe him when he said that he considered
that moment to be the proudest of his existence. He
believed that he had been called upon to preside, be-
cause he bore the name-of their honoured and esteemed
leader, who sat on his right hand.—(Loud cheers.) He
believed that they all appreciated the merits of that
powerful body whose exertions were destined to
restore peace, happiness, independence, and na-
tionality to Green Erin.—(Great cheering) That
cheer " convinced him that it was unnecessary
to mention the name of that body, but still he would do
so, it was the Lo) al National. Repeal Association.—
(Great cheering.) He had witnessed an assemblage in
that theatre on Tuesday last which did honour to Old
England.—(Cheers.) He would ask what it was that
brought together the Noblemen and men of influence
that were assembled on that occasion ? Why, they as-
sembled
together with the same object for which the
present vast meeting had been called together—to ho-
nour, to esteem, and to love the great Liberator of Old
Ireland.—(Tremendous cheering.) The sympathetic
feelings which had been exhibited on that occasion would
never be obliterated from the Irish breast.—(Great and
enthusiastic cheering.) It was glorious, indeed, to find that
feelings of amity and brotherly love had so suddenly
sprung up between the Irish people, and the English people.
Englishmen now found that they could understand the
Irish character. He hoped that every Irishman present
would do all in his power to cultivate that friendship which
had been expressed and exhibited on Tuesday night
last.—(Renewed cheering.) Englishmen were their
brothers and fellow-subjects, and they had been perse-
cuted by the same class of persecutors. He hoped that
the anniversary of last Tuesday would be kept every
year, and that upon that day Englishmen and Irishmen
would meet together.—(Great cheering.) The Hon.
Gentleman concluded by calling on
Mr. HYDE, of St. John's-wood, to move the first
resolution. He came forward to do so as an Irish Fro-
testant.—(Great cheering.) It had been said that the
objects of the Repealers was to dismember the empire.
He emphatically denied this, and he declared that if such
was the purpose of the Repeal Association, to which he
was proud to belong, he would not for a moment allow
his name to be connected with it. He had much plea-
sure in moving the following resolution:—" That we
yield to no class of the British people in loyalty to our
gracious Sovereign, in our respect for her public and
private virtues, and in our determination to maintain,
unimpaired, her supreme authority."—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. O'LEARY seconded the resolution, which was put
and carried unanimously, amidst much cheering.
• Mr. M'LEOD moved the next resolution, " That the
sympathy for the sufferings of the Irish people, which
has been so nobly displayed by large bodies of English-
men, on late occasions, is gratifying to all lovers of
peace and good will, and must afford, if any such were
required, additional motives for exertion, and that we
are determined to struggle peacefully, but untiringly, for
the regeneration of Ireland."
Mr. M'LEAN seconded the resolution, and in doing so
he said that he had been driven from his own country to
this to seek employment, because a system of IJad legis-
lation had deprived him of the means of subsistence at
home. He hoped ere long to see meetings upon this
subject held, not in theatres, but in such places as Ken-
nington-common, where they would raise a shout whose
echo should be heard within the walls of the House of
Commons and the House of Lords, and which should cause
those imbecile Lords to tremble in their seats, and make
them say to themselves " the Agitator has got not only
the Irish people-with him but the English people also."
The resolution was then put and carried amidst en-
thusiastic cheering.

Mr: G.' FALL, an English Protestant, and a member
of the Loyal National Repeal Association, moved the
next resolution—" That Daniel O'Connell, is de-
serving of our unlimited confidence for his unparalleled
services in the cause of Ireland. and for his persevering
exertions to promote the rights and liberties of Man
without distinction of class, colour, or creed, and the
persecution to which he has been subjected, serves only
to raise him in the esteem and good-will of all friends
of constitutional freedom ; and that an address, in con-
formity with the foregoing resolution, be presented to
Daniel O'Connell, Esq."—(Great cheering.)
The resolution, having been seconded by Mr. Barden,
was put and carried unanimously.
Letters of apology for not attending the meeting were
then read by Mr. Dunn, the Secretary, from Mr. Shar-
man Crawford, M.P., Sir De Lacy Evans, and Sir John
Easthope, Bart., M.P.
The CHAIRMAN then read the address to Mr.
O'Connell, which was'one from the Repealers of London.
No eopies we were informed, on our application for one,
had been prepared for the press.
At the close of the reading of the address—
Mr. O'CONNELL advanced. to the front of the stage,
and was again hailed with the most enthusiastic cheering,
which was prolonged for several minutes. When order
was partially restored, hOsaid—After all I have to com-
plain of you. :Perhaps you will think me ungrateful
when I begin by telling you that you have taken an ad-
vantage of me—not an unfair advantage, but still an ad •
vantage, because' you have anticipated me in what
I had determined upon doing when I left Ireland.—
(Hear.) I left Ireland with the full determination of
calling a meeting of the Repealers of London. I determined
to address them at some length, and I considered a
good deal where it was I should call the meeting to be
held. You have, however, anticipated me. You have
spontaneously called a meeting, and I glory in the im-
menseassemblage you have brought together.—(Cheers.)
Repealers of London, I thank you.—(Cheers.) I have
come here to address you as cif pealers.—(Cheers.)—
[Here the Hon. and Learned Gentleman apologised for
wearing his hat, which he said the cold wind that blew
from behind him rendered necessary.] (A voice,
" Take care of your health.") I want to tape care
of it, continued the Hon. and Learned Gentleman,
I know not how long I may be locked ep.—(Cries of
" Never.") When I left Ireland, I felt it would be my
duty to address the Repealers of London, and to express
to them the gratitude of the humble individual now ad-
dressing you—my own personal gratitude—the gratitude
of the Loyal. National Repeal Association—the grati-
tude of the entire Irish people, for the patriotism and
perseverance which the Repeaters of London have evinced.
I rejoice in the manner you have conducted ymirselves.
Unaccustomed to so large a combmation, little differences
arose.from time to time amongst you, but they were all
amicably settled amongst yourselves in the spirit ofgood
fellowship, and one' of the-most important branches of,
the . Repeal Association were found located in LondoU.
Repealers of London, I thank you—L-heattily thank you:
I pay a debt of national gratitude in Atanking
you, and it gives me. great pleasure to tell
you ' that the contributions ' from :London haVe
exceeded, by four ..times the amount, anything we
expected.—(Hear.) Having told you now. 'what I in-
tended to speak of, I tell you now what I did'not think
I would have to tell you When I-left Ireland. then
had no notion that one of the topics upen which should
have 'to address the Repeaters of London would be
the English sympathy and the English support which
I have received since my arrival in England.—(t heeri.)
In every crisis of the fate of Ireland—looking
'WV' at her history as 1 "have : done , with
anxious and persevering
.eye—estimating the facts that
have preceded us, with a view to kLow how I should re-
gulate those that ' were to apprqach—with ' 'most'
anxious solicitude to understand the history of our coun-
try, I.macle myself' familiar' with its details, and am
able to say these two things---Ifirst, that at lioother
crisis -of the fa!? of Ireland, was.the. Government divided
from 'the popular voice in England—unhappily the
English people were deluded into joining their
Government in formek oppreSsiois of . Ireland. In
every other • phasis •of Irish history, the, People
and the Government England went together in
oppressing Ireland. Blessed be' God ! we have arrived-
at a time when the wise and the. good. of the English
nation range themselves on our side, and condemn as
emphatically as we condemn, ,the misconduct of a base
and paltry Government.—(Loiid 'Cheers.) Yes' I bad
no notion of meeting with so much sympathy a;ul sup-
port. The cheers of the men of - Birmingham are still
ringing in my. ears.—(A voice from 'the gallery,'" You
shall lave more of them.") I wiaYsiirriebody would put
a wisp of hay in that calf's mouth.—(Roars of laughter.)
Yes, the cheers in the milder, but not less sincere accents of
• what are called the Vetter classes' of society ere stilt'
present to .my .Eighti _and: rsixfy hours bare not