Star.
London, England, 1831-01-22 00:00:00

ILLEGALITY OF THE ARREST.S.

The following letter, says the 3lorning Ite,gislor, is highly honour-
able to its distinguished author. It expresses the opinion of every dis-
interested man at the bar, who knows his profession, and understands
the rights which the subject ought to enjoy under the British Consti-
tution :

Wednesday morning, Jan. 19, 1831.
Sie-1 bough it is now some years since we have had any per.
sonal intercourse. I feel that circumstances justify me, at least to
myself, in addressing this to you. I learn by the papers of last night
and this morning, that the charge under which you were yesterday ar-
rested, is, for what is called, a conspiracy to evade the late proclama..
duns. In my opinion, the charge savours strongly of illegality and op-
pression, and in this view of your case, if my very feeble professional aid
can be of use in your defence, I shall most cheerfully give it. With
sincere respect for Loid Anglesey personally, and a wish to support his
government, even against you, so long as it is conducted on principles of
law and constitution—his Lordship seems to me to have violated
both, in his proceedings on the unlawful assembly act. Those proceed-
ings are by the act, those of the Lord Lieutenant alone, and it is, there-
ion, the less presumptuous to suppose they may be erroneous. To me
it appears that he has misapplied that law to cases to which it was
not applicable, and has strained it in his proclamations—particularly
the last—to an extent which greatly endangers public liberty. This
may be a gross error, perhaps, on my part, but the Court of King's
Bench and a jury, will prevent the error, if it be one, from being
mischievous.

I am persuaded it is unnecessary for me to say, that from the offer I
take the liberty of making, no just inference can be made of any adop-
tion on my part, of your political principles, nor any approbation of
your general political conduct.
I remain, Sir, very truly, your obedient servant,
THOMAS WALLACE.
Daniel O'Connell, Esq. M.P. &e. &c.
POPULAR FEELING IN DUBLIN—THE MILITARY.
The band of the 92d Hi , when the regiment does duty at
the Pigeon House, y accompany the guard to Nassau-street, as
they are marched for that station, and there is on such occasion a
considerable crowd of Were attracted after them by the music. On
Tuesday there was the usual display, and the usual number of followers,
and as the band returned through College.green, a few boys, whose mis-
chievous wit sass excited by the peculiar sostume of the soldiers, made
some jeering observations res ng it, which produced a good deal of
laughter among the by ere. Immediately a young man, ap-
parently of the rank of a tradesman, reprimanded them in forcible
terms for such an improper and unprovoked insult. A crowd collected
round him, and he proceeded to address them in a very energetic
manner,and with much propriety of expression. Hq said the soldiers
were inoffensive men, and that any resentment felt against persons in
power should not be visited on the soldiery; they but performed their
, duty, and should be respected for their good conduct. His reason for
thus expressing his sentiments was, that he loved his King and his
country ; and dished to see peace among all men of every class ; and
lusher(' he might cease to breathe the moment he ceased to feel his
present ardent wishes for Ireland's prosperity and legislative indepen-
dena. He then walked away, cheered by the persons who had collected
about him.

THE PROCLAMATION. EXTRAORDINARY PRO.
C BED I NG&
Saturday list, Mr. Blake Foster entered the sessions house, and seeing
three magistrates on the bench addressed them is follows : —Gentle-
men, I apply to you on behalf of a large portion of the people of this
neigh for the use of the court-house to hold a public meet-
ing for petitioning Parliament. I have, indeed, no reasonable
doubt that
.7 facility will not be afforded a vast community, whose
objects are , and whose demeanor ever, lam assured, will be'
peaceable constitutional. To several counties in Ireland, the
county sessions houses have, on respectable applications been at once
given, and I am sure so enlightened a bench as I have the honour of
addressing will not refuse me.
Lord Gat stood up with eonsidereble irritation and surprise—No,
Sir, it shall not be given—no meeting of an illegal character shall take
place in this court ! !
Mr. B. Fester—My Lord, I trust I stand in that relation of society,
that no man will dare to suppose I should calls meeting of an illegal
or seditious tendency. I fling back the allegation with contempt. I
am as loyal as any man here. I did not apply to you for an +Hegel
purpose. No, no our object is the impreseribable right to meet the
petition—aright consistent with the Crown, the charter of Englishmen ;
and God forbid that Irishmen should be debarred from exercising that
right.
Lord Gat—Sir, if you don't retire I'll commit you. You should
take care what you say. Mr. Steele is taken up, and the Bcuch will
maintain Its dignity.
Mr. B. Foster—l appeal to every genllernan present have I, by speech
or otherwise, provoked this threat. Lord Out, I defy you. I stand
oh facts. Send me to prism if you dare, but you will pay amply foe
your jurisdiction. I will hold the meeting in the open sir. Loy your
hand on me—we will disperse--then we have our remedy. I care
not for your threats while I violate no law—l am far above your
utmost malignity.
Lord Gat—thief Constable, do your duty.
Here a scene of Indescribable 'confusion arose. Mr. Blake Foster
was Mandy collared by the oflicer in the most violent manner, and
literally dragged oat of the Court, hie person roughly handled, and his
coat torn, while the pollee thrust him forward. On being left in the
street.the rush of the populace was tremendous. Never was the outraged
majesty of the people mere unequivocally conspicuous ! Shame and
indignation appeared deeply impressed on every countenance, and
being market day, the concourse was immense. The people'
became exceediagly impatient, when Mr. B. Posta, who was liberat-
ed, (to quiet the agitated passion of such a vast multitude), addressed
them from the very steps of the Session-house—the Chief Constable on
one side, the noble lord on the other—in a speech of peat coolness. He
implored them to be tranquil,—to obey the laws—to remain peaceable
and submissive to the laws, and in the insult offered to them in his
person, he knew he had influence on them, but if they unappeased, he
would certainly most assuredly abandon them. Thee loquent gentle-
; man then &tailed the manner he was assaulesd—declaed his determi-
nation to eo the laws for redress t and after some other °Werra-
dons on theßqoal oldie Union, the maid right of petition. the re-
cent proclamations, he concluded by beseeching them to separate tuna-
ably, first giving three cheers for the union of the Orange and the
Green. Mr. B. Foster wee not committed.—Comsesight Journal.

PARIS, 18.—The news of the death of Don Mi-
guel is not confirmed to us by our correspondence. We may
now place this report among the fables which those who are
the most grieved at the unhappy state of things in Portugal
are but too ready to listen to.
TouLow, Jew. 12.—1 t is affirmed, that a ministerial de-
spatch announces the formation of several camps, vi:.—one
of 25,000 men at the Bridge of Var ; one of 50,000 men
at the frontiers of Switzerland ; one of 150,000 men on the
Rhine; and one of 50,000 men near the Pyrenees. This
circular describes some measures relative to this subject. It
is said that the 18th regiment, in garrison at Toulon, is to go
to Colmar.
It is strongly reported, says Le Spectateur, that a camp
of 12,000 or 15,000 men will be formed in the spring near
Dijon ; that troops will be stationed between that and Be-
sancon; and that search has been made in the archives for
the plan of a camp which was formerly occupied by the re-
serve of the first army in Italy.

CONVICTIONS AT SPECIAL COMMISSIONS.

As the Special Commissions have pow all concluded, the following,
summary of the Convictions obtained at them, the Winter Assize,
and the various Courts of Quarter Sessions, for offences against
property, arson, breaking machinery, agricultural and otherwise. and of
riotous assemblages and other offences, growing out of the late agricul.
titre] tumults, will exhibit at one view the results of the whole period
ur tie disturbance.