The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-23 00:00:00

LOYAL NATIONAL REPEAL ASSOCIATION.

DUBLIN, JAN. 20.--The Conciliation Hall presented a
most enlivening and animated appearance to-day. In-
deed, the anxiety to obtain seats was most intense, owing
to the belief generally entertained that Mr. O'Connell,
after an absence of some weeks from Dublin, would de-
liver a lengthened and important speech upon the sub-
ject of the concordat, and make allusion to the Chari-
table Bequests Act. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman
entered the Hall at half-past one o'clock, and was re-
ceived with the most rapturous peals of enthusiastic ap-
plause, which were again and again repeated.
On the motion of JOHN O'CONNELL, Esq., William
Smith O'Brien, Esq., M.P., was called to the Chair,
amid vehement cheering.
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL addressed the meeting in a vi-
gorous and eloquent speech. The Hon. Gentleman ex •
horml the repealers to persevere steadily in their efforts;
and in the event of any one of the dangers which which
England was threatened alighting on her, she would
have to appeal to the generosity of Ireland, asking her
forgiveness, and steady alliance, and repeal was certain.
—(Hear, hear.) They had good reason to know how
inveterate was the hostility of England to this country,
and irreligious though it might appear to some,
he thanked Heaven that there was now planted in
the Irish mind a deep and invincible distrust of England,
and the strongest possible belief that if they were to trust
England again they would be again, as they had ever
been, treacherously betrayed.

Mr. O'CoNNELL rose and was enthusiastically received.
The Hon. Gentleman read the following letter from the
Right Rev. Dr. M'Nally, Roman Catholic Bishop of
Clogher

" January 17, 1845.
" My Dear Mr. O'Connell,—The slanders which, for
a length of time, hare been so unsparingly heaped on the
Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland, at home and abroad,
will not, now that the object has been made manifest,
excite feelings of much surprise, especially, when we
find, by the letter of the Cardinal Prefect, just published
by his Grace the Primate, that our revilers, in further-
ance of their insidious assaults on our religious charac-
ters, have had the daring effrontery to insult the meek
venerable Head of the Catholic Church, by charging the
Apostolic See itself with encouraging or conniving at the
political intemperance imputed to some ecclesiastics in
this country, on statements unfounded perhaps, or
grossly exaggerated, and which, if true, would be a sub-
ject of the deepest affliction, not only to the Holy
Father, but to the whole body of the Prelates,
Clergy, and Catholic people of Ireland. I believe
that you and the Catholic laity of Ireland are not
admirers of a political priest, in the sense in which
the words are commonly understood, and I am sure
that I have never sanctioned in others or been guilty
myself of political intemperance, and with the divine as-
sistance, I trust I never will be induced to sanction or ap-
prove of the conduct of any clergyman who, neglecting the
duties and obligations of his ministry, would, to the pre-
judice of his sacred character, entangle himself with
secular business,' and political schemes ; but I think it
right at the same time to add, that looking to the wretched
condition of our poor people, I feel it quite consistent
with my duties as a Bishop, and in the peculiar circum-
stances of this country, in a manner obligatory upon me,
to co-operate in a befitting way, with my fellow-
countrymen in seeking, by purely peaceable and
constitutional means, for the enactment of good
laws, and the repeal or amendment of had ones,
knowing that your unrivalled talents and influence
have, through a long life, been unceasingly directed to
the attainment of these objects, and that the peace,
order, and tranquillity of the country are mainly pre-
served by the hope that fair and just legislation will be
at length attained through your exertions; and entertain-
ing the deepest conviction that you are not less anxious
to promote loyalty to the Throne, than to maintain the
rights of the people, I have to request that, at the next
meeting of the Repeal Association, you will do me the
honour of handing in my subscription for the year 1845.
" With unbounded gratitude for the services which
you have rendered to religion and to the country, I have
the honour to be, my dear Mr. O'Connell, your most
obliged and most faithful servant,
" k CHARLES M'NALLY.
" Daniel O'Connell, Esq., M.P.," &c.
Some communications having been read,
Mr. O'CONNELL then rose, and said that it was with
the greatest gratification he rose to commence his agita •
tion for the repeal. He was only beginning the agita-
tions for all that he had done hitherto passed for no-
thing; nothing was done while anything remained to be
done; and until the repeal was passed, he would ap-
proach every meeting as if it were the first time that he
was before the pubiic. The repeal was their sole object.
There should be no palliation—no palliative—no half-
measures—nothing that the English Parliament could
give would satisfy them—they would have nothing but
the repeal—they could neither delude, nor bribe, nor in-
timidate them. They had met in unarmed hundreds of
thousands, in the most perfect tranquillity, although
with physical force sufficient to overturn any monarchy
upon the face of the earth. They met in constitu-
tional loyalty, and had not shrunk from the legiti-
mate perils of their station. The struggle was worth
living for ; and sometimes he regretted lest repeal should
be carried, he felt such pleasure in looking for it.—(Great
laughter.) They had not sought ascendancy themselves,
and that man was base and corrupt who dreamt of reli-
gious ascendancy over others. The glorious struggle in
which they were engaged was that the press should be
free—that education should be free—that religion should
be free—and Ireland free.—(Cheers.) There was no
doubt, before many years elapsed—perhaps months—
nay, even the weeks might easily be counted, when
England would require the bravery of Ireland. They
should have it ; but he marked his price—the repeal.—
(Cheers.) The English press consoled themselves with
the idea that repeal was upon the wane—that room was
an evidence, no doubt, that the people were very in-
ditkrent—was there ever a greater absurdity ? They
wished it, therefore they said it—for that was the
morality of England ; and perhaps there was an
under current, and they conceived that if the people
suspected one another, apathy and mistrust would
weaken their entire power. There was no apathy—
no shrinking from repeal. Why should there be so ?
No change had as yet been made to induce them to
abandon their agitation.—(Cheers.) What bribe did
they hold out ? What dark oblivion did they throw
over the past to make them forget the hideous, profligate,
and demoniacal manner in which the union was carried?

—(Hear, hear.) What was the only hope for Ireland
but the Irish ?—(Applause.) Was it not ridiculous that
the Whigs could for a moment imagine that they could
have any confidence in them, when they had done all in
their power to injure Ireland, by creating dissension, and
holding out hypocritical hopes of success, and of
redress ? What redress could they obtain ? Was it
redress from Parliament ? Why, there was no doubt,
but that the Queen's speech would convey the
expression of her anxious wish ,to do every-
thing in her power to benefit Ireland, and he was
sure that she would feel what she said ; but still,
was it not well known that her speech was only the
speech of her Ministers—a speech which could not be
depended on, particularly when it was remembered that
one of them, Sir James Graham, had said that concession
towards Ireland had reached its limits.—(Cheers.) Such
was the declaration of one Minister, and Sir Robert Peel
would not fail to act his usual part of Joseph Surface.—
(Loud cheers.) The Learned Gentleman having in his
usual forcible style expressed his determination never to
have any further connection with the Whigs, alluded to
Lord Fortescue's bribe (as he called it) to the Irish
people, to keep them from joining the repeal movement;
and also to Lord Ebrington's late speech in Devonshire,
where he said that the Catholics were to look upon the
Pope as their " Lord and God." He said that there
was nothing more false than to suppose that such was
the doctrine of his Holy Church, and proceeded to refer
to the Bequests Act. He commenced his observations_ead
on this subject by saying that he was informed,
regretted very much to hear, that dissent be
had heard
s had arisen
upon this subject; and also stated h
that a rescript had come from the Pope to
ho had heard it
put down the
agitation. Now, as to this latter respeo. lie admitted ther t
with regret, for such was not the ca
receipt of the rescript, but there was no prohibition to
repeal—(Great applause)—on the contrary, one of the
bishops who received the rescript, had that day sent in
his subscription to the Association, for 1i45 ; and
another who signed it, attended a dinner in Limerick, in
a few days after, and there declared himself still a re-
pealer.—(Cheers.) No such interpretation as that
sought to be put on it by the enemies of Ireland could
fairly be put upon it, because a more harmless docu-
ment never came into any country—a document which,
lie would say, in no way attempted to interfere with the
agitation of repeal.—(Cheers.) He (Mr. O'Connell) con-
fessed that the Bequests Act alarmed him much more,
and in noticing it he had no intention to censure any one
who took a part in the Commission for managing it, but
he could not but say that, under the form of something
innocent, the worst measures were contemplated by it,
and it was, in his mind, the duty of every layman in
Ireland—for they were unanimous on the subject—to
petition the respective bishops of their diocese to aban-
don the Bill, and cease from holding any appointment
under it.--(Hear.) With reference to the concordat, it
had been authoritatively denied that the British Govern-
ment were negotiating with the Holy See to effect such
an arrangement. He believed the denial, simply for this
reason—that a concordat implied a concession to both

sides; but the British Minister would not make any
arrangement in which the concession was not altogether
% one-sided affair.—(Hear, hear.) This fact, however,
coti'd not be denied, that Mr. Petre, the envoy of
the BritiV!? Minister, was actually residing in Rome,
and the frier ais of Ireland were absent from Rome,
when the rescript which created such, excitement was
obtained from the Pope.--(Loud cries of "Hear, hear.")
Mr. O'Connell then suggested that two delegates should
be sent to Rome on the part of the laity, and he named
Lord French and J. O'Connell, Esq., his son, to remon-
strate with his Holiness against countenancing any eccle •
siastival interference with the Catholic clergy who had
embarked, or were about embarking in the struggle,
the political struggle, for the freedom, and liberty, and
justice of the Irish people. He moved that it be referred
to the Committee to consider what ought to be the con-
duct of the Irish representatives in the coming session of
Parliament, and that they report this day week.—Passed.
Some further sums were handed in.
Mr. O'CONNELL announced the week's rent to be
395/. ss. sd.

Thanks were given to Mr. O'Brien for his conduct in
the chair, and at five o'clock the meeting adjourned.

A BISHOP AND A RECTOR.

There is, in the north of Devon, a gentleman of
large fortune, rector of a parish, who keeps a pack of
hounds. He is celebrated all the country round for
his old-fashioned hospitality, his love of rural sports,
and his encouragement of wrestling and other athletic
sports. He is rather getting beyond his prime, or
otherwise he would have been backed to take all the
bench of bishops, " one down and t'other come on,"
with his " mauleys." He is not a man of refined
mind ; not so good as Fielding's Parson Adams, nor
so bad as his Parson Trulliber, but a cross between
the two. Well, respecting this reverend man and his-
parochial doings, strange rumours reached the ear of
the bishop, and he determined to "take him in
hand." He had tried him at an early visitation, and
addressing the reverend gentleman as he stood
amongst the assembled divines, he said to him,
" Mr. -, I wish to have a few words with you
in private." The honest divine roared out. in a
broad vernacular twang, " Nothin' privut haulm yue
and me, my lard ; whatever you've got to zay to me
zay it heer." The bishop declined in his blandest
tones. But in vain. The reverend gentleman, who
professes to be as open as the day, and, indeed, is so,
still reiterated his desire that his reverend brethren
should have the benefit of any advice the bishop had
to bestow on himself. The bishop still declined ; he
must talk to him in private. " Very well, my lard
(exclaimed the divine), your lardship will find me at
my quatters (quarters) at the George." The bishop
did not go to the George (a respectable,farmcrs' inn),
and the interview did not take place. It was destined
to be held at the reverend gentleman's own boa'se,
and this brings me to my story of the brandy.
The bishop had written to this exemplary divine,
and received no reply ; in short, no notice of
any kind was taken of his letter. Having to make
a pastoral tour into the neighbourhood, and being
determined to see for himself into matters which
had been literally reported to him, the bishop one
fine morning found himself travelling in hi.,
episcopal equipage, just as the apostles travelled, very
near the house of the rector. That diligent minister
was on horseback, and arrayed for hunting. Seeing
the bishop making towards his house, he turned round
and galloped home. He told his housekeeper that a
gentleman was coming, to show him into the parlour,
and call him down. She was not to notice that the
expected visitor had been seen, or that her master had
been out. The bishop came, and the bishop was ShOWDI
into the best parlour. Great was the flutter around
the rectory when they found who it was , that had
come. In a few minutes the reverend gentleman en-
tered, and to his astonishment found the bishop ac-
tually in his house. lie moderated the ecstacy of his
admiration so far as not to give the bishop a stage
hug. But he ran over to the bell, pulled it violently,
and thus brought in the domestic at a gallop. " Did
yue knave that the bushup was here ? " he
roared. " Ees," exclaimed the terrified' maiden.
" Then why didn't 'e bring un some brandy?"
he retorted, rushing up and down the room, stamping
and storming at this neglect of his bishop. The
servant stood aghast. The bishop exclaimed "
Si-
lence, silence !" turned up the whites of his eyes, and
endeavoured to look like a primitive Christian. But
he was in the wrong place to make any impression
in that line. " Silence !" roared the divine ; " Si-

knee! When you've come over the North Devon
hills this cold morning to zee me, and her not to
give 'e no brandy ! Why, it was enough to make a
man go stark mad to see the hospitable character of
his house endangered by such unpardonable neglect."
The indignant divine was not to be pacified. The
bishop raised his voice authoritatively ; he demanded.
silence; "he wanted no brandy." But he had to
deal with one who could storm too—aye, and storm him
blind if it came to stentor-proof trial. The pious
bishop descended from command to entreaty—he really
wanted no brandy—" Why didn't you answer my
letter ?" he asked. " Letter, my Lord !" inquired
the Rev. Gentleman, " why, whatever could your
Lordship have to write to me about ? I thought I was
indebted to your friendship for the honour of your
visit." The bishop was very much surprised to find
that his missive had miscarried. " How did 'e zend
ut ?" asked the divine. " Through the post, of
course," replied the bishop. " Oh, that accounts
for't," said the divine, " I never take up letters by
the post—when I write to a gentleman, I zend my
sarvant wi ut !" I will not occupy your space b 24-
stting all that is reported of the denouement. It is:
sufficient to add that the bishop got out of the
house with all reasonable alacrity, after stating
what his letter was about, and hearing such ex-
planations as the reverend gentleman very frankly
tendered. One point was that "he kept hounds." He
said, " Show me a canon of the Church against keeping
of hounds, and I'll "put them down." Another was,
that people were seen to come out of his house drunk.
He pleaded that he was "main glad to zee his friends
at all times ; he put the best his house could afford
cheerfully before them ; he could not guage their
stomachs, and say, thus far shalt thou go and no fur-
ther," &c. Having replied in this orthodox fashion to
the bishop, his Lordship took his leave, and has never
been in the house since. Now I do not mean to vouch
for the whole truth of these stories. What passed
between the bishop and the reverend gentleman has
never been mentioned by the former ; the story is,
therefore, one-sided. I can only say that it was the
rage of lerical circles, and was most righteously be-
lieved to. be true in substance, and I believe it to be
substantially true.-2lforning Chronicle.