The Sun. — 1831-05-16 (London, England)

LIMERICK, MAY 12.  (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)  Words cannot convey the excitement prevailing in this city, in consequence of the disturbed state of the adjoining county of Clare. The " Terry Alts" have this morning made an incursion to within two miles of this city, and to the number of 2,000 surrounded the house of a gentleman of the name of Gloster, who, with his wife, they dragged out of bed, and placing them on their knees, swore them to leave their residence before six o'clock this evening. Mr. Gloster and his lady immediately set out to seek an asylum here, and accounts have followed them that the insurgents were hu•ily occupied in deMolishing the house and premises. The military have just left town to endeavour to'disperse the miscreants. The election for the county of 'Clare commences tomorrow, and the divided interests in favour of the different candidates tends not a little to increase the agitation which prevails. It was rumoured yesterday evening that Major INPNamara had withdrawn from the contest, and that William Smith O'Brien, Esq., late M.P. for the borough of Ennis, and son of Sir Edward O'Brien, tv'ao oppmerl Mr. Maurice O'Connell at the last election, was canvassing in his stead. This, however, is contradicted this mornims, and Major M'Namara, Mr. Maurice O'Coanell, and Mr. O'Gorman Mahon, will positively appear before the electors as candidates on the hustings to-morrow. A great anxiety for some days has prevailed amongst the respective friends of the two last named gentlemen to prevent a collision, and Mr. M. O'Connell consented to leave his preiensions to the opinion of six gentlemen, indifferently chosen. The meeting took place in this city yesterday, and after a deliberation of upwards of four hours, the referees decided that both gentlemen should re • main in the field. Mr. Maurice O'Connell was here to meet his father yesterday, who passed through to Kerry, where his election is beyond all doubt. The election of a Member for the borough of Ennis took pl me yesterday, when the Right Hon. Vesey Fitzgerald, tile joint patron of the borough, was returned. It was confidently asserted that the Right Hon. Gentleman bad returned himself at the express instance of the Duke of Northumberland, to oppose the Ministerial measure of Reform, and the people of Ennis and its neighbourhood nuked their disgust of the buroughmongering system by a mock funeral procession of about 6,000 persons, with a coffin containing, as they said, the remains of the dead and - corporation and rotten borough of Ennis. The procession proceeded to the residence of Mr. O'Donnell, the Town Clerk, where, on being reuse I admittance, they threw the coffin over the wall, and quietly dispersed. It now becomes my painful duty to record another of those cold-blooded murders which have been but too frequent in this unhappy land. A poor countryman of the name of Rice had become obnoxious to the peasantry, in consequence of some expressions he had used deprecating their illegal and nefarious pursuits, and had been necessitated to come for safety to the town of Ennis. Last night an immense party of the " Terry Alts" entered the town, and proceeded to Rice's lodgings, which are within a pistol•shot of the barracks, and dragging him out of bed into the west, there cruelly murdered him with their spades, and then withdrew from the town. An active pursuit was commenced, and the country was scoured, but up to the moment I write without meccas.  Such is the state of the county, which to-morrow is called to exercise its high prerogative ot electing represen. tatives. and the deadly hostility existing between the re. spective friends of Mr. O'Gorman Mahon and Mr. Maurice O'Connell, have excited in the minds of all the higher clas,e, of the residents in Ennis the greatest anxiety, net to siy fears, as to the proceedings of to-morrow. I leave, for Ennis this afternoon, from which I will write you. Since writing the above, intelligence hiss reached tows of a most distressing accident which occurred last night to Robert O'Brien, Esii,," third son of Sir Robert O'Brien, Bart. This young gentleman was heading a party of mi. litany and police during the night in pursuit of the " Terry Alts," when, in leaping a hedge, the musket with which he was armed, came in contact with some bushes and went off. The ball entered the fleshy part of the left arm, the bone of which was fractured to such a degree 0 to retailer amputati in immediately necessary. Medical aid was procured with all possible despatch, and the operation performed. The unfortunate sufferer is pronounced out of danger.