The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-04-28 00:00:00

"CHARITY THINKETH NO EVIL."

(From the Dublin Mail.)
The panic famine is exciting a considerable interest
among the newspaper reporters in Cork, and a good deal
of literary curiosity amongst the lovers of fun in the world
at large. Swift's Battle of the Books is a very grave farce
compared to the merry tragedy of the Battle of the Priests,
fought last Sunday on the banks of the OUNABUY
RIVER. Let it not be supposed from the name, arid from
the savage language that passed between the combatants,
that the scene of action lies among the Indian tribes,
black, copper, or red, which still linger on the borders ot
civilization, on the transatlantic continent, or in any of the
wild islands of the South, or Great Pacific oceans. The
island in which the wordy conflict took place, is our own
sweet isle of the west—the district the county of Cork,
and the tongue-doutiest of the warriors a Christian [?]
Priest—and, to crown the whole, the subject was Charity !
We are as used to such things in Ireland. as the eels are
to skinning, and therefore think nothing of them. We
should like to know what our English neighbours will
think of our methods of administering charity.
The meeting at which the following scene took place,
and which is merely a sample of the rest of the proceed-
ings, was held on Sunday, for the purpose of obtaining
the deepening of the Ounahuy river. We take it from the
Cork Constitution, and way observe that Fathers M'lsia-
mars and Hallinan, two priests in the district, were the
chief actors. A discussion ensued as to the selection of a
committee to carry the purport of the resolution into
effect—and, after much warm debate, Father M'Naniara
(whose conduct and good feeling throughout were exem-
plary) interposed and said—
" My great object is to secure unanimity, and to remove
every obstacle to effecting our object. (Hear, hear.)
" Father Hallinan—And to effect that object I came
into a meeting with a party who pours his viperous slander
upon me. kll ear , hear.)
" Dr. Aheartie.—To whom do you allude?
"Father Hallinan.—To you. (Uproar.)
"Dr. Abearne —To me! 1 tell you—but I will merely
say. your observation is unclerical—you are a pretty in-
structor of peace.
"Father Hallinan.—lf your character was taken from
Heaven's note-book, it would be a black one. (Tumult.)
"Dr. Ahearne.—Your observation is most unbecoming.
There's a Christian minister! (Great uproar.)
"Father Hallitian.-111 not eo behind backs to tell you
what you are. (Confusion.) Your calumnies will not be
unreplied to by me. (Order, order.)
"A Voice.--Is this the way you relieve the poor?
"Mr. Driscoll.—'Tis government relief. (Laughter.)
" Dr. Ahearne.—ls this a relief committee? (Uproar.)
Hallinan, you are pretty well known. I need not go far
distant for your character. (Order, order.) Look around
you! Several are here in this room whom you have de-
stroyed. (Confusion.) Look at the misery around you
—here there are several broken-hearted from the excess-
ive degree of oppression practised towards them by you.
(Order, order.) You have threatened at the altar of Al-
mighty God, and you-- [Here the speaker was inter-
rupted with cries of shame and order.]
"Father Hallinan.—Come fi.rward, you paupers, who
are unable to pay five shillings in the wound. (Uproar.)
This is the wretch whom I have been obliged to decry
from the altar. (Great uproar.) This is the man who is
practising usury in the parish. (Tremendous uproar.) He
shall have it—man to maul—face to face !—there's at him!
(Awful uproar )
Chairman.—Oh God !oh God ! oh Gud! (Great
confusion.)
" Father Hallinan.—He brings disgrace on the well-
disposed, charitable, and kindhearted. (Increased con-
fusion.)
" Dt.ctorAhearne.—You destroyed every one you could.
Father Hallinan.—You cast a reflection upon society
—every man shuns you—you are a disgrace to society.
(Uproar.)
Doctor Ahearne.—You are no clergyman, but the
reverse. (Upro ir.)
" Doctor Hallinan.—Oh, you cowardly
" Doctor Ahearue.—On, you firebrand. (Great up-
roar.)
" Father Hallinan.—Faugh, laugh, forrifooth ? (Up-
roar. )
"Father M'Namara.—This is very shamt ful. (Hear,
hear.) Stop it, Mr Chairman.
" Chairman (scratching tits head.)—Oh. mister, mister.
mi-ter, stop, if you please. Drop, drop, drop it. (Hear.)
" Mr. O'Mahony.—lt is enough to make people shud-
der. (Hear, hear )
" Dr. Ahearne.—l declare that I had no earthly object
in coming from Cork this ,riclemei,t day but to contribute
my humble mite arid assisance to the furthering of the
pia sent p oj:ct, which I coaceivr d would' :ave met with
the concurrence ot all parties, and 1 little expected the
observations which have been given utterance to. The
matters which have been broached here at this public
meeting are ill-suited to a peas ,n who is to be looked up
to as the medium fur preachii:g peace and hu.nanity ;
but --

" Mr. O'Alahony.—Order, order. (Uproar.) If any
gentleman 'pis forgotten his character, you, I think, ought
not. If a gentleman forgets his position, it is

" Father Hallinan.—The ra,,cal has
" Dr. A hearne.—l despise the source from whence that
comes. (Great uproar.),

" Father Hal nil.—You are a (Tremendous up-
roar.)
" Father 111`Namara.—The sooner we finish and cut
this. meeting the h.tter_ _ 1 I oar,

Dr. itheatue.—l did not expect the attack made upon
me; but when 1 am attacked, 1 will, as it is my impera-
tive duty, reply. (Cries of • Order.')
" Chairman.—There's enough about it. (Hear, hear.)
What are we doing?
" Dr. Treadian.—WE'RE DEEPENING THE OUNABU Y
RIVER 1"