The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-24 00:00:00

IRELAND.
DRAINAGE AND INLAND NAVIGATION.
DUBLIN, JULY 21.—A project of very considerable import-
ance was brought before Sir Robert Peel on Saturday last, by
an Irish deputation, who sought the aid of Government in car-
rying into effect the recommendations of the Drainage Com-
mission for connecting the river Shannon with Lough Erne,
and thus uniting, by inland navigation, the provinces of Munster
and Ulster. It is stated that this arrangement would afford
facilities for the drainage of not less than four millions of acres.
REPEAL ASSOCIATION.
The weekly meeting of the Association was held this day,
William Magennis, Esq., in the chair.
Mr. O'Coiszsera. acknowledged the receipt of 12/. from
New York, and read a letter accompanying the remittance,
which animadverted on certain expressions uttered by Mr,
O'Connell on a late occasion, to the effect that if England
rendered justice to Ireland, she might calculate on the
assistance of Irishmen in enabling her "to humble the
proud eagle of America." What he (Mr. O'Connell) said
on the occasion referred to was, that it England did render
justice, full and ample justice, to Ireland, she would be in such
a position, through the co-operation of Irishmen, as to defy all
the nations of civilized Europe, and would be even able to pull
down the flag of America itself. Such was the sentiment he
uttered, hnd he believed such was the sentiment of Ireland also.
It was in consequence of the blustering of Mr. Polk with regard
to the Oregon territory, a blustering which had since ceased,
that he had been drawn into the observations com-
plained of. Mr. Polk evidently calculated on a di-
version in his favour in Ireland, should a rupture take
place between England and America. Having expressed
the gratification he felt at the opportunity afforded him of ex-
plaining, he moved the insertion of the letter on the minutes, and
the thanks of the association to the writer.
Mr. O'CowieEra. again rose, and said as that was the last op-
portunity he should have for some time of addressing the associa-
tion, he considered it advisable to lay the present state of Ireland
before the public. He wished it to be understood that he did not
intend to be idle; on the contrary, he had cut out a considerable
quantity of work for himself, which would occupy him during his
sojourn in the country. Mr. Fitzroy Kelly, her Majesty's
Solicitor-General, in his late address to the electors of Cam-
bridge, had stated that agitation and agrarian disturbances
had ceased in Ireland; but, as a proof of his accuracy in
the affairs of Ireland, he had to state, that he expected to
have the pleasure of addressing 150,000 men of the county
Wexford on the next Wednesday, and an equal number
in Galway during the ensuing week. That was no sign
that the agitation was subsiding ; and lest the Govern-
ment should forget that there were such people as
the Irish, it was determined upon to hold two monster
meetings during each month.—( Cheers.) The ministry had
certainly altered their tone with regard to Ireland, and Sir
James Graham had retracted his expression " that concession
to Ireland had reached its limits," but he would never rest
satisfied till Ireland was placed on a footing of perfect
equality with England. The country, he regretted to say
it, was not in such a state of tranquillity as could be
desired. Prtedial disturbance was rife in many coun-
ties. In fact, the country was not in such a state for
twenty years past. Fermanagh was disturbed, but he could
not even guess at the reason, as it was blessed with a large
number of most excellent landlords, but nevertheless the "Molly
alaguires " were busy in circulating their notices. That the
country was disturbed there could be no question, and was it not
melancholy to have her Majesty's Solicitor-General coming
forward and stating deliberately that peace, order, and obedi-
ence to the law existed ? Yes, Mr. Fitzroy Kelly asserted that
agitation had ceased in Ireland, and that tranquillity reigned.
Whilst he gave the Government credit for their good wishes
towards this country, he would ask, how far had the. pro-
mises held out in the Queen's speech, at the opening of the
session, with regard to Ireland bteh fulfilled ? Ihb Maynooth
Bill had certainly been passed, but that measure was more
valuable in its collateral nature than for the endowment w hich
.it conferred. The discussions which it gave rise to plainly
showed the innate hatred of the English people to she re-
ligion of the people of this country. The Colleges 11111 he
might look upon as passed, and were they to consider
that measure as a boon which the Catholic prelates had
pronounced to be dangerous to faith and morals ? It
had been asserted that the opposition to this Bill would
be moderated, but he was in a position to be able to state
that the opinions of the Bishops with regard to it were un-
changed, and would continue so. It was reasonably ex-
pected that some alteration would have been made in the
Charitable Bequests Act during the present session, but
the answer of Sir James Graham to the question proposed
by Lord Arundel, in the House of Commons on Friday
night, has completely dissipated all hopes of amelioration.
The Catholic Bishops, who had supported that measure
solely on the ground that the amendments they suggested
would be introduced, had remonstrated with the Govern-
ment on the treachery that had been practised upon them,
but the answer to their remonstrances was, that the best con-
sideration of the Government would be directed to the points
suggested ; but their best consideration just meant no con-
sideration at all. After referring to a variety of topics
having reference to the future mode of carrying on the
agitation, Mr. O'Connell concluded by giving notice of his
intention to prepare and put in form, during his sojourn in
the country, the following Bills, with a view to their' adop-
tion by the British Legislature, and that each member of
Parliament should be furnished with copies of them fully
six weeks before the commencement of the next session :
I. An Act to enable her most gracious Majesty to exercise
without delay her undoubted prerogative to summon her Par-
liament of Ireland, to contain clauses declaratory—
I. Of her Majesty's power and authority to issue writs, of
summons to all the Peers of Ireland, and writs for the election
of Members of the House of Commons of Ireland, not to ex-
ceed the ancient number of 300.

2. Directory of the numbers to be elected by each county at
large, county of a city, and county of a town.
3. Also by each present or newly to be constituted borough
on the scale of population.
4. Defining the elective franchise to be extended to all resi-
dent householders.

5. To provide that the mode of voting shall be by secret
ballot.

6. To provide that all statutes passed by the alleged United
Parliament shall have force of law until altered or repealed by
the Parliament of Ireland.

7. To vest in her Majesty, her heirs and successors, the
Parliament-house in College-green, in trust for the Lords and
Commons of Ireland, provision being made to give full compen-
sation to the Bank of Ireland.
11. An Act to establish in perpetuity the perfect equality in
the eye of the law of persons of all Christian persuasions, and to
prevent for ever the existence in Ireland of any legal or temporal
ascendancy, to contain clauses declaratory—
!. Of this Act being the basis of the repeal of the Union,
and expressive of the solemn compact made with and between
all the people of Ireland, in the awful presence of God, that
persons of all Christian persuasions shall be and for ever con-
tinue on an entire and complete equality, legal and political.
2. Prohibitory of the Irish Parliament making or having
authority or power to make any law, penal or restrictive, on
the score of religion.
3. Prohibitory of the Irish Parliament to endow, as a State
church. any particular church, sect, or persuasion.
4. Declaratory that the ecelesiastical revenues belong to the
State, and ought to be appropriated to purposes of education
and charity.

5. Providing, however, that the vested interest of each in-
cumbent, episcopal or clerical, shall be fully protected during
the respective lives of each, to become public property only as
each life shall drop.
HI. An Act to charge the estates of all absentees with an
income-tax of 20 per. cent. Clause to define absenteeism:
viz., non-residence in Ireland for six months in each year.
IV. An Act to confirm the custom of " tenant right " where
it at present exists, and to make provision for its gradual and
well-considered extension all over Ireland.
V. An Act to entitle all tenants upon conviction to full com-
pensation for all improvements heretofore made, or hereafter
to be made, on the premises held by such tenants.
VI. An Act to facilitate the partition and sale of lands sub-
ject to incumbrances and to deposit in the public funds the
purchase money, subject to the same trust to which the lands
were liable.

VII. An Act to take away from the landlords all powers of
distraint or ejectment for non-payment of rent, unless the land
be held under lease for a term of at least 21 years.
VIII. An Act to repeal the poor-laws, and to convert the
present poor-houses into hospitals for the sick, infirm, and aged
paupers, and to provide for their support for six years, by
charging the necessary expenses on the Consolidated Fund.
IX. An Act to enable lessees for lives renewable for ever, to
convert their tenure into perpetuities, making compensation for
fines when payable.
X. An Act to empower tenants for life and corporations
sole or aggregate, including the corporation of Trinity College,
to grant leases in perpetuity.
XI. An Act to direct that in all sales of lands sold under the;n
authority of any court of equity, the estate should be sold
small lots, with a right of pre-emption to the occupiers.
Act,
XII. That the principle of the Church
with a custom of renewal to acquire
enabling tenants occupying under lepaesrepefotruTiteaymale:r.amfixoefdyrecanrts:
sole or
of be extended to all leases hiaeulddsuhnedletrunadn
aggregate, including the under tchoerpCoroaltlelogne
Phy-
sicians and under Trinity
College,
XIII. An Act to direct that such of Crown estatesin
Ireland as are not rectuiredforteDublitnh convenience of the public
should be sold in small divoisssieosnsc,na,
therig rehhtpuofparese.rnoi
emption.ie
to
oehbige
given to the tenants in possession,
payable by instalments.
XIV. An Act directing that in all future conveyances the
original deed should,as
and that certifiedintheeaseofwil o
wills, be
be admissiblepositedn
inthe
Re
ceii Dublin,cept when the validity of the original deed
itseglfi evidence,sstbehrY-°allffie
questioned.
At the termination of the proceedings, Mr. O'Connell an-
nounced the rent for the week to be 3191. 18s. Id.
DUBLIN STOCK EXCHANGE—Juv 21.
GOVERNMENT FUNDS.--Three-and.a.Quarter per Cent. Stock,
101 i ll—Bank Stock, 208.
MISCELLANEOUS.—Grand Canal Debentures Six per Cent. Ile-
dueed, 68* i—Royal Bank, 13i—City of Dublin Steam packet
Shares, 104—Ditto, 1836, 51—Mining Company of Ireland, 14—
Wicklow Copper Mines, 18.
RAILWAYS.—Belfast and Ballymena, 6f —Belfast and County
Down, 3l—Cork and Waterford, 11—Dublin and Belfast Junc-
tion, 881 B—Dublin, Belfast, and Coleraine Junction,