Glasgow Courier. — 1859-03-22 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

PAT MCCARTHY. , No band "Direct yours to Den Killenbogh "We received twenty pounds for your father on Sunday." The two Irish novelists who have best succeeded in depicting the passions of the Irish peasantry are Banim and Carleton; but the foregoing letter testifies with the force and unconsciousness of pure nature to the universal ascendancy which the priests have over the lower classes in Ireland.  That ascendancy has been most vividly shown by the useful aid which they gave to government in the case of the Phcenix conspiracy, and it is a fair question for the public opinion of the empire to ask, why in conspiracies for the murder of landlords the priests do not stand forth with equal activity against their implicated parishioners  The peculiar feelings of the lower classes in Ireland was shown very strongly in the following incident at the trial in Tralee. Informations had been sworn by Daniel and Joseph Murphy, and, when produced en the witness-table, they both refused to give evidence, and the judge had to send them to jail. The report of the trial goes on to state:— The refusal of the witnesses to give evidence, and their committal, occasioned considerable excitement in the court, and in the vicinity_ of the court-house large crowds soon assembled, araoptet whom it was a topic for discussion and sympathy *ring the evening. The mother of the witnesses having come to the lodginghouse where they had been stopping to inquire respecting them, was informed of the event, and at first exhibited some natural emotion: but, immediately recovering, went down upon her knees in the presence of several persons, and thanked God and the Virgin Mary that her sons had acted so, and had not brought disgrace upon their name."  These men had previously sworn in their information as to certain facts. The presiding judge very properly sentenced them both to six months' confinement.  While we write the Plicenix trials are proceeding at Cork, and we are glad to see that Mr Attorney. General Whiteside has repaired there. Our readers will appreciate the reasons why we refrain from detailed commentaries on some of the special features in these trials. In mercy to Irish society it will be necessary that not merely the organisers of treasonable conspiracy, but its mischievous applauders, who avoid overt acts, should be treated with wholesome severity. It is obvious that in the south-west of Ireland there is a most dangerous set of persons. Their inflammatory temperature will have to be cooled down by colonial air, and a change of climate for them, at the public expense, will be deeply advantageous to the health of the community which dwells in the romantic region between Bantry and Skibbereen. Nature has strewn the land there with scenery that attracts the tourists of the world, but its glens and mountain fastnesaes will not gain in attraction if permitted to be the haunts of a Pheenix banditti. Poachers on the constitutional rights of the Crown must he taught that their predatory politics may be picturesque to others, but will be exceedingly painful to themselves. They may be carried further in their transports of enthusiasm than they calcoloed. Their ear, ices may end in the hulks, and their sublime aspirations may terminate in their view of the southern hemisphere, and a trip to ascertain whether the shamrock grows near Botany Bay. They may be more green in their politics than they think. Their verdant patriotism may be objected to by the police, who wear the national livery, and their fiery thirst for popularity must be assuaged with "the stone jug." Patriotism a la Wolfe Tone is hotter than potatoes roasted in a lime-kiln, and burnt fingers in a conspiracy cannot easily be cured by apothecary's ointment. We observe that some National schoolmasters are deeply implicated in this conspiraty. Striking arguments will have to be used with these political pedagogues, and they must be made to learn their lessons better before teaching them to others. They have evidently put a new reading on the lines of Thomson—  "Delightful task to rear thq tender thought, And teach the young idea hew to shoot;" but that they misinterpret the last line will have to be explained to them with the rod of authority. Pupils of "Young Irelandism" can scarcely be well up in the Humanities, andAliese schoolmasters must be sent back to school themselves, and the system which produced them will have to be examined with increased care—Press.