The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-02 00:00:00

T II

IRELAND.
SPECIAL COMMISSION FOR WESTMEATH.
DUBLIN, Nov. 29.—The Warder of this day says :—" We
have learned from undoubted authority that Government
has resolved on issuing a Special Commission for the county
of Westmeath. The judges named are Chief Justice Do-
herty, the Chief Baron, and Baron Pennefather. One of the
first duties of the Commission will be to try the persons in
custod for the attack on Sir Francis Hopkins. The day of
present named for the opening of the Commission is Satur-
day, the 27th of December.
THE EIGHTY-TWO CLUB.
The annual dinner of the above club took place on Thurs-
day night in the Rotunda. Upwards of one hundred mem-
bers were present.
Many of the prominent members of the club were pre-
cluded from being present at the banquet. Amongst those
unavoidably absent was the president, Mr. O'Connell. A
recent domestic calamity, which had deprived him of a near
relative, precluded him and the immediate members of his
family from participating in the festive scene.
The place of Chairman upon this occasion was filled by
William Smith O'Brien, M.P., V.P. ; Henry Grattan, BLP.,
V.P., and Richard Albert Fitzgerald, M.P., V.P., filled the
vice chairs. The banquet-room was without decoration,
save that the banner of the club waved from the central
gallery. Crowds of ladies thronged the benches.
The banquet having been concluded and grace pro-
nounced,
The CHAIRMAN expressed his regret that Mr. O'Connell
and Mr. John O'Connell were absent, and that one so un-
worthy as he was had been deputed to act as president. He
then gave the health of "The Queen."--(Cheers.)
The toast having been received with all the honours,
The CHAIRMAN again rose and said—The next toast
which I have to propose is, that we denominate our
charter toast—(Cheers)--the test of our political creed—
(Cheers)—the vow that we renew at these our meetings,
that we shall be contented with nothing less than the
legislative independence of our country.— (Cheers.) After
expressing his regret that more of the wealthier class
had not joined them, the Honourable Gentleman pro-
ceeded—Thank God that source of disunion which arose
from our becoming the abettors of English factions is at an
end.—(Cheers.) Irishmen are no longer Whigs or Tories;
they are Patriots, Nationalists, Repealers, if you please.—
(Cheers.) But no longer shall it be said that we are di-
vided by English factions.—(Hear, hear.) I shall not con-
ceal from you my belief that we are ourselves in some
measure in fault on account of the distrust entertained by
some. I cannot but fear that the course we often take in
the press, and in our public assemblies, partakes too much of
the spirit of ancient times—the disposition to vituperate the
characters of those who, perhaps, may be in error. I ask no
compromise with error itself. I ask no one to screen injus-
tice ; but I ask and enjoin the men I see around me, on all
occasions, to treat with respect honest indifferences of opi-
nion. In conclusion, he gave " The Legislative Independence
of Ireland." The company rose, and pledged the toast with
unbounded enthusiasm.
Mr. ALEXANDER 111‘Canurf proposed the next toast. It
was " The memory of the Volunteers of 1782."
The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.
Mr. O'NEILL, of Bunowen Castle, next rose to propose
" The health of Mr. O'Connell."
The toast was received with unbounded enthusiasm.
Mr. JOHN MITCHELL, then gave " The memory of Thomas
Davis ;" and lauded the patriotism, private worth, and intel-
lectual power of that lamented gentleman.
Sir C. OTOGHLEN then gave the " Irish House of Lords
of 1719," and took a review of Irish history at this and
preceding periods, which was received with loud applause.
He then said he had heard it stated that repeal could not
be obtained. How absurd was the thought? Was there
anything more unfavourable to their nationality than their
position in 1719 ? yet how gloriously had they achieved their
independence. Did not the same blood flow in their veins as
in those of their forefathers, and why should they doubt that
they would obtain a repeal of the union '—(Cheers.) They
should imitate the example of the volunteers of 1782—for-
give their past injuries, and forget their past differences.
False friends might betray them, but onwards they would go.
The cause had sunk deeply into the hearts of the Irish people,
and if they persevered they would accomplish the dream of
Molyneux, the hope of Swift, that for which Flood struggled,
and that which Grattan upheld—the independence of their
country.—(Cheers.)
Mr. M. DOHENY next proposed—" The Earl of Bristol,
Bishop of Derry, and the Patriot Clergy of 1712."
The CHAIRMAN then proposed—" The Commons Majority
of 1789, and the Minority of 100." They were also taught
by the events which preceded the union, that no confidence
could be placed in England.—(Cheers.) In connexion with
the toast he might be permitted to refer to the memory of a
father to whom he was much attached, and amongst the
most cherished reminiscences of his family was the fact that
he was one of the noble band who refused the honours that
dishomured those who accepted them; and in referring to
the subject of the toast he could not avoid homage to the
memory of a beloved parent."—(Cheers.)
Mr. H. GRATTAN, M.P., next proposed "Their Native
Land." This toast, which was the last, was warmly responded
to, and the assembly broke up at eleven o'clock.
THE CALAMITOUS OCCURRENCE ON THE ROYAL
CANAL. _

The proceedings at the inquest on the fifteen persons
drowned in the passage boat on the Royal Canal, was con-
cluded on Thursday. An immense number of persons were
present. It was painful in the last degree to witness the
visitors examining the bodies—as many persons had come
from town and country with the view of identifying their
friends or acquaintances, and in two or three instances
bodies were recognised, and then arose a shout of grief and
lamentation which the sternest heart could not resist. There
still remain six persons whose bodies have not been recog-
nised ; one of them is a beautiful young girl, Christian name
supposed to be Mary. She came from Liverpool in company
with a person named Morris, and she told him she was going
to a place called Rueskey. A Mrs. Beattey, who was going
to Leitrim, had a most miraculous escape, and gives a fearful
account of the aeeident ; Mrs. Mulligan (lost); lived some-
where about Longford, and was returning from Boston, in
America, where she had gone to bring home her daughter, a
pretty young girl, who was saved by the courage and hu-
manity of Jessop, a private belonging to the Bth Husaars, a
fine fellow of undaunted courage, who saved two or three
lives with his own hands, and for which the company has
rewarded him in a handsome manner. Coffins were provided
for all the bodies, and some of those recognised were taken
away by their friends in the course of the day, when the
jury was called over.
Mr. Perry said, on behalf of the Company, that they had
resolved on sending the survivors home free of all expense ;
the Company would make good any loss or damage sus-
tained by the passengers, send them home free, and give to
each of them 11. in addition to their expense and loss. To
Jessop they would give 51., and make good his loss, and also
recommended him strongly to his colonel. In fact, nothing
should be left undone by the Company to make every repa-
ration they could, and as to the property which was now in
possession of the police and the superintendence of the
magistrates, the Company would give a guarantee to the
magistrates for it, in order to bear them harmless if any
mistake might occur in the distribution of property or
claims to it hereafter by the representatives of the deceased
parties.
The examination of witnesses was then proceeded with.
After about half. an-hour's consultation, the jury returned
the following verdict :
" We find that the said Edward Rutledge, Thomas Bannon,
Michael Moran, and Catherine Mulligan, with four men
whose names are unknown, and five women whose names are
unknown, and two children whose names are unknown, came
by their deaths by being suffocated and drowned in the pas-
sage-boat, Longford, in the Royal Canal, near Clonsilla-
bridge aforesaid, on Tuesday, November 25, 1845, and that
it was in some measure occasioned by the neglect of the
master, Christopher O'Connor, the steersman, James Dunne,
and the very culpable neglect of Patrick Teeling, a free pas-
senger; and we further find that the upsetting of the said
boat was occasioned by the most gross negligence of the said
Patrick Teeling after the helm was given in his charge by
the said James Dunne; and we further find the said Patrick
Teeling guilty of manslaughter. We also further find a great
want of caution in the existing regulations concerning the
construction of the passage-boats, the regulation of the number
of passengers to be carried. and the duties of the crew ; and
we further find a deodand on the said boat of 1001. sterling."
The coroner then made out his warrant, and committed
Treeling for trial at the commission for manslaughter.
The proceedings then terminated.