The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-23

be crcumspect in his receptions of strangers,
and resigned all hope OF personal knowledge OF
O'Connell. Twas, fortunately, mistaken Through
Mr. Fitzpatrick, the intimate friend OF O'Connell,
obtained the privilege of dining at the table OF the
Irish patriot and enjoying his converse and that OF
his family, more than once; CIR hooera ree els
Dublin papers the day before dined at the house
of Mr.. O'Connel and he had made speech IN
answer to it at the Repeal Association that very
day. Mr. Fitzpatrick had told me to come halt an
hour before dinner time. When | gave my
name, | was told that he was asleep, and
was forthwith ushered into the drawing room
est daughter, and Mrs. Morgan O'Connell; the
former was in mourning for the death of her hus-
band; she was pale but her features, and especially
her eyes, were full OF spirit Mrs; Morgan O'Con-
of our conversations? Have any night to speak OF
them! have no excuse in the celebrity OF their
great relative, to draw the light OF publicity upon
these ladies'. / SHALL therefore, only Say, that the
one beamed with intellect and the other with beau
ty and cordiality. Daniel O'Connell; Jun soon
came !; he is fine young man, who has pursued
his studies under his fathers superintendent, and
last of all came O'Connell, his two eldest sons,
Morgan and John, and Mr.. Fitzpatrick. O'Conne
wore green coat with a black collar, and over
that blue cloak, which he kept on at dinner.t,me
ing the habit OF keeping himself thus wrapped up
after he had spoken in public. After greetings
and compliments had passed. he kissed his daug liter
and daughter-in-law and sat down in the circle
That he was the centre to which all eyes were
turned, may be easily understood. And, indeed,
without either his name or his acts, O'Connell Is
man to be, Of himself, the centre OF any society.
lie sat there a Colossus, or statue of Jupiter,
dominating all. There were the signs OF exhaus-
ton in his countenance, but this did not prevent
spirit starting from his eyes and humor playing
couraged others with cordially and cheerful smiles
Dinner soon came: O'Connell sat at the head Of
the table, Mr.. Morgon O'Connell at the foot; Mrs.
French sat on the right OF heI father, ana Mrs.
tha loIf daf hpr
and other members of the family. Before we sat
down Mr.. O'Connell said a short grace; 1t was
Friday, and therefore no meat was brought to the
table. There was everything else in abundance,
the best wine and the freshest fruits. During dim
ner, O'Connell was always the leader OF the con-
versation, though he spoke little, and only to his
children and his guests, to invite them to partake
OF this and that dish, and such and such wine.
The greatest silence prevailed during the whole
dinner time, and at times felt certain uneasl-
seize me, such as had not for long time
lection my days of boyhood. Alter dessert,
O'ConnePs grandchildren came in, and | be-
lieve, if he had dozen, that he had sixty Of them.
They each gave .helL graiafainef KISS le ,nen
he gave his other hand to his daughter-ln- law, and
thus sat hand in hand with them. There was
something solemn IN this, which one would not
have expected at a moment when the giant mind
was relaxed. When the dinner was over O'Con-
nell said grace, again kissed his grandchildren, and
the ladies' then left the room with them. The
whole
archal family scene, and inspired me with more
and more veneration for man who became greater,
in my eyes, every day remained IN Ireland. The
conversation did not get quite free even after dim
ner, and perceived 1t was necessary tor OCOnnel
to set his tongue going in order TO loosen those
of his friends. None Of his sons spoke save young
Dan, just returned from travel. had an opportu-
nifty, however, OF observing to Mr.. OConnel that
Irish were Separatists. We clamoured for
an Union, and your efforts are to dissolve
one | was then obliged to explain, and to
show the difference between Gland and Germany,
Germany having much that Ireland wants, and
ireland possessing much which Germany has
not. Germany has provincial institutions, Ire
land imperial institutions, which, without the sup
port of the provincial ones, are but msiortune.-
Ireland might learn much from Germany, and Ger
many would find much to better her condition In
England and Irel and. This little episode brought
sketch and the example taken from Germany was
new to him. This all that had the opportu-
nifty of remarking. Tea was then served IN the
drawing ROOM whilst OConne retired h 10 ms study
and shows the patriarcha fear In which he Is held
by his children and grand children. They see him
seldom. except working tor the good OF Ireland,
and they are young enough to know him only as
great man and the liberator OF Ireland. heard
that O'Connell was the gayest companion In the
world, and would amuse a whole company by his
spirit, fun and humor. This can the more easily
be understood as he, being the soul of all, must
naturally communicate his feelings to all around
him.
dined again yesterday with O'Connell. He
was quite different man from when was there
before AT dinner he was quite active, and did
honor to the vands and TO the VINE. The CONVEX.
saton was friendly. and on general topics; but
when the ladies and the child en- lett the dining
room, the conversation took severer turn. The
principal topic Repeal; 1t Is subject ever new
and ever interesting in Ireland: Mr.. Fitzpatrick,
one of the guests, said that sending petition tor
Repeal 70 the Parliament In London, was tana-
IN a tarfr
the English parliament. OConnell answered, IT
he could hope to bring. on Repeal by such means,
he would not prevent that petition from being pre-;
sented Right was on the side of Ireland, and
power on the side OF England; and # Ireland had
once the power of ruling itself, mere matter
form would not stand in It's way, nor prejudice its
right One OF the guests rnen r remarked,
a COMPROMISE O'Conne answered, that the
emancipation in 1929, even to the last mo-
tisn OF its passing. was SO improbable that no.
despaired of as improbable. He then spoke OF his
own plans, and said that the way in which new
epochs were founded upon the history OF nations,
was without precedent. The Magma Charta had
been obtained by unconstitutional means, and so
had the foundation of the Orange and HanOverian
dynasties. Such new regulations were themselves
precedent; if they were founded upon necessity,
and the state of circumstances. John O'Connell
then brought the conversati upon the Dublin press
and com ,laned that they did not, like the London
press make the private affairs and acts OF the ma
Ional meetings the subject for leading articles
O'Conne agreed that these journals were very I'M
important, and that there was only of the Jour
nails which had really well written articles. won
dered at these complaints, but much more so when
| found out that O'Connell, in spite of his power,
left the Dublin press to It's entire freedom. There
was another remark which asonished me much.
O'Connell said that Peel's do nothing policy was
the very best for him. AL that Peel could do
would only do harm to England, and | was for
long time asonished at having heard him speak so
clearly and simply. John O'ConDell gave his faith
er feast yesterday, to which had the honor of an
invitation. ! reloice | have had an opportunity
of observing Mr.. Daniel O'Connell IN another
point of view. The Irish have an admirable Gus
tom in summer, ot entertaining their company as
much possible in the open air. They poet
cal people, and feel that nature is sufficiently beau
tiful to set off the most splendid feast John o.
Council had chosen Oakley Island for that purpose
Ihis leland IS sllnaied the snuI p