The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-09 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF THE LORD LIEUTENANT. J IRISH ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.

(From the Dublin Morning Register of Saturday.)

It was announced at Dublin Castle at a very early hour
yesterday morning, that the Duke of Northumberland had
reached Kingstown from Holyhead, at half.past three
o'clock, A. at. His Excellency, and the Duchess of Nor-
thumberland, had left the latter place last evening, at
half-past nine, on board the Escape packet, Captain
Skinner; but as their Graces had not been expected to
arrive at so early an hour of the morning, none of his
Majesty's vessels in the harbour had gone out to meet
them. Their Graces were accompanied by the lion. Cap-
tain Percy, R. N., who takes the command of the Royal
Yacht. The Private Secretary of the Duke, Mr. Single-
ton, Archdeacon of Northumberland, also accompanied the
family from Lord Powis's seat at Walcot park, to Holyhead
and Dublin. Their Graces left the Escape at seven
o'clock, and got on board the yacht, where breakfast was
provided by Mr. Gresham, of the Royal Hotel, at Kings-
town. The Duke and Duchess, we understand, expressed
themselves greatly charmed with the beautiful scenery of
'the Bay of Dublin, and after having refreshed, they took
their stations upon deck, and enjoyed for a considerable
time the fine prospect presented from the vessel.
Precisely at twelve o'clock the Vice-regal party left the
yatch for the shore. A twelve-oared galley, manned from
the yatch, landed their Graces at the spot from whence
the King► embarked some years ago. Their Graces were
received by the Harbour Commissioners, and several per-
sonages of rank, and by personages deputed by the Lords
Justices to attend their 'landing.
The Archbishop of Dublin, and the Chief Justice of the
King's Bench, were the personages deputed from the Privy
Council to receive the Noble Duke upon his landing.
After they had been introduced to his Excellency, he in-
vited them to take seats in his own carriage, and they
rode with their Graces, the Duke and Duchess to the
Castle.

The procession moved from Kingstown at a quarter past
twelve o'clock, preceded by Town Major White and an
advanced guard of cavalry. Next same the State Trum-
peters -an horseback, the kettle-drums, &c. followed by
the carriages of the High Sheriffs and the Lord Mayor.
The Heralds were mounted on grey chargers. The Aides-
de-Camp of the Lord Lieutenant rode 'immediately after
these latter gentlemen. The equipage of the Duke and
Duchess of Northumberland was flanked by the High
Sheriffs, on horseback, bearing each his truncheon; and
a large squadron of cavalry interposed between the Duke's
own carriage, and the carriages of his Excellency's suite,
which preceded it. The horse regiments formed into line
in the procession as it passed the station of every file of
men.

On arriving at the Castle, the. Duke and Duchess of
Northumberland were received in the manner prescribed by
the ceremonial. After their Graces had received the corn-
plhnents of the chief State Officers and others, the Noble
Duke, accompanied by the Lords Justices and their respec-
tive retinues, proceeded to_ the Council Chamber, where
the Privy Councillors had previously assembled, and where
the Duke of Northumberland was duly sworn in Lord Lieu-
tenant and Chief Governor of Ireland.

The ordnance at the Phoenix Park fired upon signal
from the Castle, which was given by a rocket immediately
upon the ceremony of swearing-in being closed. Three
rounds of twenty-one guns were shortly afterwards
answered by the infantry. in Dame-street and College-
green, which bad formed into a square, and the pageantry
of the day thus dosed.

On Saturday a meeting of Irish Roman Catho-
lics, and other gentlemen, was held at the Thatched
House Tavern, for the purpose of considering the
measure now before Parliament, respecting the
raising of the qualification for the elective franchise
in Ireland from 40,. to 10/.

Mr. O'CONNELL commenced the business of the
day by reciting the resolutions of the late Irish Ca-
tholic Association, strongly protesting against any
interference iu the elective franchise. The Hon.
Gentleman expressed his approbation of the measure
of relief, excepting that part which related to the
elective franchise, which was a most important
branch of it. There were other parts of the mea-
sure which were objectionable, but they were of
secondary importance, and it war probable that,
in the progress of the Bill, they might be satisfac-
torily adjusted. The arrangements which he adverted
to were those relating to Monastic Institutions, and
the titles of Roman Catholic-Bishops in Ireland.—
In consistency with their past resolutions, and in
gratitude for the services and virtues of the forty-
shilling freeholders, they were bound to stand by
them, and to protest against the proposal for their
disfranchisement. The Hon. Gentleman proceeded
to state that the Bill, in every other respect, was
the best Bill that had hitherto been brought for-
ward for their relief. He moved that a petition be
presented to Parliament, which, whilst it expressed
their gratitude for the boon that was extended, yet
prayed that that part of the measure relating to the
disfranchisement of the forty-shilling freeholders
should not pass into a law.

Mr. P. ISIAIIONY considered that it was highly
inexpedient to come to any resolution at the•prescnt
meeting. He now, for the first time, was induced
to speak in public.

Mr. O'CONNELL said, though it might be the
first time Mr. Mahony spoke in public, .it was not
the first time he acted in public: he should be re-
ceived with welcome by every Irish Catholic, for it
was to him (Mr. Mahony) that the Catholics were
indebted for the great and important meeting at the
Rotunda, which had so eminently contributed to
the success of their question. That meeting was
the result of his patriotic exertions.—(Cheers.)
Mr. MAHONY proceeded, in a speech of consider-
able ingenuity and eloquence, to contend for the in-
expediency of coming to any resolution upon the
subject. Their best advocates in Parliament had
consented to it, because it was deemed necessary
for the carrying of the great question of relief. Any
declaration upon it would create division, whereas
the object of the measure was to unite. At ;all
events, any protest against the measure would come
with stronger recommendation to Parliament, by
being the spontaneous:expression:of the people them.
selves, and not by emanating from a meeting in
London, and appearing to be a suggestion and
declaration to them. The learned gentleman deli-
vered a very sensible and impressive address, which
was received with much attention by the meeting,
against the expediency of taking any step at the-
present raeeting upon the subject of franchise.

Lord KILLEEN concurred in the opinions of Mr.
Mahony. Similar opinions were also advocated by
Mr. O'Gorman and Mr. E. M‘Donnell. Mr. 0. G.
Mahon, Mr. Steele, Mr. Lawless, and other gentle-
men, supported the views of Mr. O'Connell ; and
after a warm discussion, Mr. Mahony consented to
withdraw his amendment, on the understanding that
the petition was to go forth as the petition of the
indiv►dual signatures attached to it, and not to pledge
(as we understood) the meeting, generally, to this
proposition.

In this course of the discussion, Mr. O'CoNNELL
intimated that he had addressed a letter to the
people of Ireland on the subject. The tenour of
his address was to protest against the measure, and
to advise that petitions he presented against it; at
the same time he disclaimed any factious opposi-
tion, and advised a firm, at the same time a tempe-
rate, conciliatory, and constitutional resistance to
that of the measure relating to the franchise.