The Sun.
London, England, 1828-08-19 00:00:00

PRICE 71).

are called upon to celebrate the valour and success of
our forefathers in the defence of their city against a
foreign foe and a domestic enemy. What a multi-
tude of recollections does such an unnatural combina-
tion present--what a painful retrospection for every
true lover of his country—a foreign foe and a do-
mestic enemy (cheers). In such an union are cocom-
bined the horrors of a foreign invasion and a civil
war, the two greatest curses which can afflict a coun-
try, and where victory itself is robbed of half its
glory. Would that the deeds which we now com-
memorate were confined to the songs of triumph over
a foreign enemy, with what unmixed plea-
sure should we lift the cup to our lips, and
raise the shout of triumph in commemoration of
our noble defenders! Would to God that we
were called upon alone to record the defeat, the dis-
grace, and rout of the execrable De Rosen and his
French squadrons ; but what person bearing the name
of Irishman will say, no matter whether a follower of
King William or supporter of King James--but
what man bearing the common name of Irishman
will say, that he peruses the narration of those
scenes, where the glory and the misery of his coun-
try are blended together, without fixed feelings of
triumph and disappointment. Let us give our ut-'
most meed of praise to the valour, the fortitude,
and skill of 'Walker (cheers), but what man in the
exultation arising from the display of national virtue,
can refuse the same praise to his gallant adversary,
Sarsfield. (Loud hisses.) If I thought any gen-
tleman could intend to put me down by clamour, no
person should ever see me at a meeting of this kind
again. It is right that at a meeting such as this, I
should express my opinions openly and fearlesoly, and
I shall do so despite of every attempt to interrupt
me. lam here, Sir, as a servant of the Crown,
and no one can blame me for expressing the honest
conviction of my mind. I say, Sir, that no Irish-
man can blame me for bestowing on the adversary
of Walker that praise to which his valour so justly
entitled him. (Cries of No, no, no.) If it he the
opinion of the person that we are to withhold our
meed of approbation from Sarsfield, what a pitiful,
cringing creature he must be. Both were Irishmen,
both were brave, both skilful and both have conferred
immortal honour on the character of the Irish soldier.
As one of the descendants of the warriors of that
day, not indeed of those who endured the siege in
the city of Derry, but of those who volunteered their
services to King William, I attend this anniversary.
I attend here to mark my approval of the principles
of the Revolution of 1688; and since it has pleased
the descendants of these brave men, even at this late
period, to raise up a trophy in commemoration of
their exploits, I most willingly contribute the aid
both of my purse and presence, to establish what I
hope will be a never-fading memorial of our respect
and gratitude. But, gentlemen, I wish it to be par-
ticularly understood, that I do not attend here to
mark any triumph over my Roman Catholic bre-
thren ; I wish to blot out for ever the recollection
that the triumph of those days was achieved over
natives of the same soil. I cling only to the bles-
sings which we have gained, namely the enjoyment
of a free Constitution ; and I will not diminish the
value of such a legacy by a heart-burning reference
to national strife, and by tearing open afresh the
wounds of civil warfare. Having made these de-
clarations and thanking you sincerely for the honour
which you have done me, I might now close my task,
but it is impossible not to see that under the present
very peculiar circumstances of the country, some-
thing more is expected from a man who has the
'lour of being your Representative in Parliament,and
who is no inactive spectator of the passing events,
than the mere formal ceremony of making a compli-
mentary speech. I shall therefore take this oppor-
tunity of making a few observations upon the inter-
nal condition of this country, begging of you at the
same time to bear in mind that my remaiks are made
without reference to the opinions of any other indi-
vidual, that they spring. from my own observation of
the events of the day, and that they are totally un-
influenced by party connexions, or official station.
It is a source of the most gratifying pleasure to me
to be able to state, most unequivocally, that I see a
marked improvement in the condition of the people
—it is visible in every class, it is corroborated by a
reference to those tests, in which there can be no
deceit. If we were to believe the rumours of the
day, if we were to be guided by the reports of the
public Newspapers, we might fancy ourselves in a
state of insurrection, and in a country where there
was no security for life or property, from whence in-
dustry had fled, where commerce was extinct, and
where poverty and starvation had almost completed
their work of degradation and destruction. It is
astonishing to see with what avidity the public mind
is ready to receive even the most incredible fabrica-
tions with respect to Ireland, and how little the real
condition of this country is understood. But what
are the facts ? The English Newspapers teem with
reports that Ireland is in a state of insurrection, be-
cause a couple of regiments have received orders to
march from England, to replace other regiments that
are about to leave this country--they land at Bel-
fast, and the whole North of Ireland is supposed to
be in a state of alarm ; but what is the fact ? I
will venture to assert that so perfect is the state
of tranquillity in this province, there is hardly to
be found a single family which would think it neces-
sary to fasten the latch of their door. But let us re-
fer to more convincing evidence than mere assertion.
The Assizes are just finished—there, at least, are to
be found the tests of crime and outrage, if they exist.
in the country ; but when, within the memory ?f
man, have the gaols been emptied with so few evi-
dences of the demoralization of society—when can
we recollect so few instances of sanguinary outrage,
of midnight robbery, or party violence ? I heard
the Judges declare their perfect astonishment at the
tranquillity of the country; and we heard their con-
gratulations in this city, that they found no crimes
on the circuit, but suck as must exist in every mixed
state of society. Is trade extinct ? Has commerce
fled, and is starvation staring us in the face ? Look
at the quays of Belfast and Derry—look at the nu-
merous steam-vessels departing every day for Glas-
gow, Liverpool, and London, and can any man say
that trade is extinct? (Cries of oh, oh, oh !) Look
' at our fairs and markets, and Jet us ask ourselves if
industry has fled; more animated scenes of business
and activity cannot be found, and no complaint is
beard, save the never-failing one of the lowness of
prices. Where are to be found the proofs of general
poverty and starvation ? Food is so cheap that it
is within the reach of every individual of even the
least industry ; potatoes vary from fourpence to six-
pence a bushel, a price which will enable a man to
maintain himself for little more than a halfpenny a
day, and provisions of all kinds are so abundant, that
the markets of Liverpool, Glasgow, and Bristol, are
and ever.
the
actually overloaded with Irish produce. Such
.is the
condition of this part of 'rebind. I speak only atii..Pri
and I
vince, with which I am best acquaiiiiiiteddy,
defy any man to contradict the statement:a:ollnel
have made. It may be said that I hay.eatexstalgeg a
rated the picture of our prosperity, and tefli,
it is in
fsetasstieoonfotriges
disisitnracoctmedpastitbalteesovfithhte:ldiLlignd.
elements of prosperity are to be foul:at 1
failing resources of a rich soil,• a
trious people, and a neighbouring market, ready t,,
meets us in every station, in even
denyoado n iitn'every undertaking—l mean the state
receive all our produce. But with such advantages,
s
and with such resources,
.there is one ingredient
11 our blessings, and which,
religious and.political.dissensions, or, in °the,
I hate not staid
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orni httsr ),or jr,
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