The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-15 00:00:00

FOREIG

CIATION.

The weekly meeting of the Association was held on
Saturday in the Conciliation Hall. Mr. O'Connell entered
at one o'clock, and was received with loud cheers. On the
motion of the Hon. Gentleman, the chair was taken by John
Primrose, Esq., ex-J.P.
The CILURMAN said he felt highly flattered at the com-
pliment paid to him in calling him to preside.
Mr. RAY read the minutes of proceedings on the last day
of meeting.
Mr. O'CONNELL handed in 115/., transmitted by the Arch-
bishop of Tuam.—(Cheers.)
A vote of thanks to the Archbishop was then carried by
acclamation.

Mr. O'ColixELL—l will now say, in order that I may
not have to return to the subject again, that the course
which I believe will be taken in reference to us is the fol-
lowing :—On Monday we will be called up for judgment,
which, perhaps, will not be pronounced until Thursday,
and on Thursday our writ of error may be entered.
I believe that a writ of error in misdemeanour cases first
lies to the twelve judges inlreland. That, I admit, is not
the general opinion; but it is mine; I may be mistaken;
yet I have no very great interest either way in their legal
determination—it is my opinion, and no more. If it do lie
with the twelve judges, it will go from them to Parliament.
If not, it will go at once to Parliament, where it will be fully
. argued ; and I have much pleasure in being able to inform
you that there is every reason to suppose that the judgment
will be quashed altogether.—(Cheers.) It is my own legal
opinion that it ought to be quashed, and that opinion is
given as unquestionably as if I was not myself concerned
in the matter. My judgment is not in the slightest degree
cloaked by my personal interest. The truth is, it is not my
case personally—it is the case of Ireland.—(Cheers.) And
find that the opinion I have just expressed is not only mine.
but that also of the ablest lawyers both in England and
Ireland. They say that the judgment ought to be quashed.
At all events, it, will give us six weeks. and then, if at liberty,
I will go over to England on Friday next, to hinder the
attempt made to limit the franchise in Ireland from taking
place, if possible, and prevent the transfer of the people's
rights and privileges to the hands of a Tory aristocracy.
At a subsequent part of the proceedings Mr. O'CONNELL
corrected a misstatement that had . appeared in a book
written by the Marquis D'Arlincourt, who stated that Mr.
O'Connell was the author of a quotation used by him.at a
public meeting, and inscribed by him in the Marquis's album.
Mr. O'Connell said, " Now, I am a plain prose writer, and I
neither wrote, nor said I wrote, the lines in question. You
may recollect them ; they are as follow :
" Oh, Erin, shall it e'er be mine
To wreak thy wrongs in battle line;
To raise my victor head, and see
Thy hills, thy dales, thy peopl% free?
That glance of bliss is all I crave'.
Between my labours and the grave."
(Cheers.) The rhyme is perfect, the versification excellent,
and my disinclination to take the paternity is not because of
any defect in them but it is a matter of fact—there is only
one word which I inserted, and which I claim as my own
compostion—that word. is Erin.'—(Cheers.) In the ori-
ginal lines the word was " Scotland"—they are from a poem
by Miss Mitford, called Wallace'—a poem not as wall known
as it ought to be." He then addressed the meeting on the
Franchise Bill of Lord Eliot, of which he gave a minute
analysis, pointing out the calamitous effect its provisions
will have on the popular franchise in Ireland. With the
blessing of Heaven, out of prison he would be in his place in
Parliament, and divide the House one hundred times before
he would allow such a Bill to pass—he would perish on the
floor of the House of Commons, or defeat such an attempt to
strike down any little remnant of popular rights as remained
to them.—(Loud and long-continued cheers.) Now, who
would tell him, when they saw such specimens of imperial
legislation, that they ought ever to be content till they had
a -Parliament in Dublin ? He trusted, however, that the
opposition raised against it would be such as to prevent
Lord Eliot's Bill passing before next Christmas.—(Loud
cheers.) Mr. O'Connell then concluded by moving, " That
the Association do take steps to procure the opinion of Ire-
land with regard to Lord Eliot's Bill ; and that the people be
called upon to petition against the passing into a law of
that atrocious measure."—(Cheers.)
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN having addressed the Association,
Mr. O'CONNELL announced the repeal rent received since
last meeting as 4031.95. 3d.—(Great cheering.)
NEW ARRANGEMENTS OF THE POST-OFFICE.
The new arrangements came into operation yesterday. The
Merlin, Government steamer, left Kingstown, with the Eng-
lish mails for Birkenhead, at seven o'clock. She carried only
four passengers. When nearing that place, the Merlin was
to drop the north of England mails in a boat, to be kept in
waiting to convey them to Liverpool; and she was then to
proceed with the-London bags for Birkenhead.'