IRELAND.

Lord Fortescue, with Lady Fortescue and Mr. John Fortescue his second son, sailed from Kingstown for England, at three o'clock on Thursday week, in the Merlin steamer. At half-past seven in the same evening, however, the steamer put back to the harbour, in consequence of the high sea and thick and tempestuous weather off Wicklow Head. Lady Fortescue disembarked, and returned to Maretimo, where she passed the night. At four o'clock on Friday. her Ladyship reem- barked; and the vessel sailed at a quarter to five for Ilfracombe, Devon- shire, near is Lich the Earl's seat, Castle Dill, is situate. Lord Fortes- cue was unable to land on Thursday evening, as he only had leave of absence ; so that if he had gone on shore, a second Queen's letter would. have been necessary to authorize his departure.

Earl de Grey left London on Tuesday, to assume the Lord-Lieu- tenancy of Ireland. He went by the Railway to Liverpool ; where he embarked at nine o'clock, in the steamer Medina, for Kingstown. He arrived there at six o'clock on Wednesday morning. He landed at eleven, and proceeded with a long train of carriages to Ball's Bridge; when he mounted a horse, and was received with the usual form by the Corporation of Dublin. The Morning Chronicle says that he had a very silent reception ; but there were no marks of disapprobation, and as the procession neared the Castle, at about twelve o'clock, a few cheers were given. At the Castle he was received in the Presence-chamber by two of the Lords Justices, Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Blakeney, and Chief Justice Doherty ; both of whom wore their hats, while Earl De Grey was uncovered. Accompanied by the Lords Justices, he went to the Privy Council Chamber ; where the following members of the Council were assembled—the Duke of Leinster, Mr. F. Shaw, Mr. A. R. Blake, Chief Remembrancer, the Bishop of Kildare, Mr. Pigot, late Attorney-General, Mr. Blackburn, present Attorney-General, the Chief Baron, and Dr. Radcliffe. As soon as the Queen's letter had been read and the usual oaths administered, Lord de Grey, wearing his hat, took his place at the head of the Council-board. S on after, a procession was formed, and he returned to the Presence-chamber; where he had a levee. Among the presentations, besides those who had already taken part in the ceremonies, was Prince George of Cambridge. It is said that the Lord-Lieutenant will return to England today or Monday next, to take over his family. It is already observed in Dublin, that he is reputed to be very wealthy, and popular in his habits. The shopkeepers are calculating upon a busy season during the winter.

The Dublin Evening Mail announces the following appointments in the new Lord-Lieutenant's Household—

Mr. Barker, Comptroller; Major Brownlow, Master of the Horse;

Mr. G. L'Estrange, Chamberlain ; (Mr. L'Estrange held the same office under Lord Haddiugton ;)

Mr. Magennis, Private Secretary; Honourable Captain Cole, First Aide-dc-Camp ; Lord Como Russell, Aide-dc-Camp; Captain Murray, extra Aide-de-Camp; Captain Willis continues as Gentleman Usher; Report assigns the place of State Steward to Mr. Balfour.

The great dinner to which Lord Morpeth was invited by the Re- formers of Ireland was held on Tuesday, in the Dublin Theatre Royal. The pit was boarded over for the occasion, the stage was covered with an awning of pink and white, and the house was handsomely orna- mented and lighted. Before the dinner was served, the lower and upper tiers of boxes were completely filled with ladies in evening- dresses. At seven o'clock, Lord Morpeth, accompanied by the Chair- man, the Marquis of Clanricarde, was ushered into the Theatre by a crowd of stewards. Among the principal guests were the Earl of Howth, Lord Clifton, Lord Lismore, Lord Louth, Lord Lurgan, Lord Carew, Lord St. Lawrence, Lord Talbot de Malahide' Lord Hunting- don, Lord Ebrington, Lord Altamont, Mr. Shell, Sir William Somer- ville, Mr. Sharman Crawford, the O'Conor Don, Mr. O'Connell, and a host of Members of Parliament and other public men. About five or six hundred sat down to dinner. In proposing Lord Morpeth's health, the Chairman dwelt emphatically on the ample fulfilment which Lord Morpeth's career had exhibited of the bright promises of his youth; and, alluding to his temporary retirement from public life, he said he hoped it would not be long—" England could not do without such a statesman ; Ireland could not afford to lose the services of such a man."

Lord Morpeth spoke long, in fluent, warm, and forcible language. After having filled the office of Chief Secretary for Ireland during a longer period than any of his predecessors—looking back upon his own misgivings at first, the difficult and delicate duties involved, and not forgetting the errors which had occurred—the brilliant scene before him. was his rich reward. He rejoiced to have been the partner and the interpreter of his colleagues' policy ; and especially it was his pride to have acted in Administrations headed by the gallant and chivalrous bearing of the Marquis of Normanby and the steady deep-rooted pa- triotism of Earl Fortescue. But the main source of their strength had been the generous and unswerving fidelity of the Irish people. And if at length the Ministry to which be belonged had been overthrown,,,

that overthrow was occasioned by their endeavour to do justice to the struggles of industry and the wants of the entire people. Looking back upon their government of Ireland, he would rather appeal to their acts than to their wishes or intentions as the excuse for non-performance. They had been most attacked about the Appropriation-clause-

'Upon our accession to power we found the country disturbed—convulsed would hardly be too strong a term—by the collision between the Church, the Law, and the People, which arose from the endeavour to collect the legal impost of tithe. Before our Administration, blood had flowed at Rathcormac ; dining it blood flowed at Inuiscarra. We thought—whether the opinion was right or wrong—that the people had an essential grievance to complain of, connected with this subject ; and we endeavoured to embody in an act of the Legislature a principle which we thought calculated to counteract and remedy those griev- ances. We made the attempt; we renewed it with the same result ; we made it a third time, and a third time failed. What ought our course to have been ? We might have retired from office, but that was not sought for by those upon whose behalf we made the endeavour, and such a resignation would have been looked upon by them as an aggravation of the evil ; to persevere in the attempt would have been manifestly futile and fruitless ; to leave the whole question of Tithe perfectly untouched and unsettled, would have been to bequeath to Ireland a legacy of strife and mischief, which we thought no empty praise for con- sistency, no fancied point of honour, should be allowed to balance." Who wag to blame them? the supporters of the present Administra- tion? let them be rebuked by Sir Robert Peel himself- " What did he say upon the 10th July 1838? Why, he thus expressed himself= I am not about to censure the course a hich Lord John Russell has so manfully taken—a course which I think the best that could be adopted. Looking at the difficulties with which this great question is surrounded in Ireland, I believe really and conscientiously, that he and his colleagues have taken the best course for the general interests of the country and the peace of Ireland.'" As to the Poor-law, no one could witness the scenes in the country and not be convinced that the time had come when the dark lineaments of Irish destitution must be looked in the face. The Municipal Cor- poration Act had been shorn of its fair proportions ; but Lord Morpeth still hoped that it would be found capable of carrying popular control into a field were it was most urgently wanted. Some measures which had not been passed might fairly have been regarded as neutral ground— such as bills for the regulation of fisheries, the promotion of drainage, and the construction of railways : he should not grudge to the suc- cessors of the late Ministers the credit of completing those measures, which his colleagues had only the credit of contemplating. One piece of legislation, however, he did not wish to bequeath to them ; and that was Stanley's Bill. [This allusion produced groans and hisses.] Lord Morpeth then adverted to the Executive Government of Ireland- " With regard to the administration of the law, I believe I may say, without any degree of over boastfulness, that we leave the administration of justice, having been exercised without partiality to class or creed, and with no lack of efficacy and vigour, far more deeply seated in the respect and affection of the people than we found it. We leave the police, both in this metropolis and in the country, discharging the difficult and sometimes unwelcome duties allotted to them, with far less irritation to public feeling, and less suspicion of partisan- ship, than we found it. We found a portion of the Coercion Act in operation : we first mitigated it, and afterwards dispensed with it, withont detriment to public repose or safety. We found the army with an amount of military force consisting of 23,000 men, in 1834: we leave it, In 1841, at the amount of only 15,000 men. (Cheers.) We have done what in us lay to give encouragement and development to the system of national education which we found esta- blished here : upon which point, notwithstanding my conviction of its surpass- ing importance, I would not attempt to dilate further, Jecause I would shrink from giving to it even the appearance of a party complexion, and because I feel that much of the credit due to the principle upon which it was founded, and by which it has been invariably recognized, ought to be allotted to my prede cessor iu office, Lord Stanley ; who, as I have already coupled him with an unpopular measure, I now the more readily associate with one which I am per- suaded has done, and which I believe every day in a rapid increase to be doing, more solid and permanent good to this country than almost any other measure I could name. But the most satisfactory test of the administrative merits of the Government must be found in the condition of the people, with respect to internal tranquillity, to habits of industry and order, and to the prevailing amount of crime."

He admitted that dreadful outrage bad occeurred ; but he quoted sta- tistical details and the charges of the Judges to show how the amount had decreased in the period of the Whig Administration. He gave some advice to their successors in office—to improve upon the manage- ment of the Whigs, to avoid their errors, and to keep clear of the blighting spirit of bigotry. It would be beyond his province to instruct those by whom he was surrounded in the course which they ought to pursue in political operations of magnitude- " To remind you that the observance of moderation and patience—of an un- qualified adherence to the law—of strict adherence to the neutrality, of the violation of which you would be the foremost to complain—are both the sorest road to general success, and the noblest dicta of indisidual duty, if not imper- tinent, would be at least superfluous. As little should I be disposed to counsel acquiescence in any positive wrong, or any flagging in the most dauntless or determined resistance to arbitrary procedures, or paltry obnoxious measures : but, amidst all the difficulty and uncertainty that may rest upon the future, and the elements of difference by which we may be surrounded, I place, I own, any chief reliance upon the ultimate prevalence of good, under the Supreme blessing, upon the manifest tendency and advance towards improvement which have of late been exhibited by the Irish people themselves." He concluded by bidding farewell to his friends and associates, and to the people.

Among the other speakers, were Mr. O'Connell, who volunteered to propose Lord Fortescue's health ; Lord Ebrington, who returned thanks for it ; Lord Lurgan, Sir William Somerville, and Mr. Sheil, who re- turned thanks for the late Ministry. About twelve o'clock, when the company began to retire, a long list of toasts still remained to be disposed of.

The following correspondence between Colonel Crichton, the Lord Lieutenant of Fermanagh, and Sir Robert Peel, is important as a proof of the conciliatory spirit in which Sir Robert Peel's Irish Administra- tion is to be conducted, and of the response with which his wishes meet among the moderate Conservatives in the country.

COLONEL CRICHTON TO SIR ROBERT PEEL.

Crom Castle, 6th September.

"Sir—In consequence of the manner in which you have been attacked during the late debates in the House of Commons, in allusion to a certain offensive seal which has been affixed to the return of the Members for the County of Fernumagb, I, as Lieutenant of this county, considered it my duty to call a meeting at the earliest moment, for the purpose of giving the_gentry an opportunity of disconnecting the Conversative party from the conduct of the individual who has so rashly canned the stigma to be cast upon us. "I feel much pleasure in forwarding to you a copy of the protest, signed by all the principal gentry at present in the county, expressive of their disappro- bation of such conduct, and of the insult offered to the feelings of the Roman Catholics. I have likewise sent copies to each of our Members, in order that' they may make what use of them They may think proper in the House. "I trust this document will remove from your mind any impression that thern gentlemen and landed proprietors of this county are capable of fostering the feelings imputed to them, or of disgracing by such unworthy and uncharitable actions the party whose principles you advocate.

a I have the honour to remain your humble servant,

"Joni./ CRICHTON, Lieutenant of Fermanagh. " To the Right Honourable Sir Robert Peel, &c."

THE PROTEST ENCLOSED IN COLONEL CRICHTON'S LETTER.

"Enniskillen Courthouse. 4th September. "In consequence of a correspondence having appeared in the last publication of our county papers, and our attention being called to the report of a speech said to have been made in Parliament by Sir Robert Peel, alluding to certain circumstances regarding the conduct of our High Sheriff in the recent return of our County Members, in which the right honourable Baronet states, he has been asked whether he intended to associate with parties who have offered a deep insult to the religious feelings of their countrymen, &c.: " We take the earliest opportunity, at a meeting convened by the Lieutenant of the County of Fermanagh, of entering our decided protest in condemnation of an offensive seal having been affixed to the return of the writ, as disavowed by our late High Sheriff; and we totally disconnect ourselves with the person or persons who could be guilty of any act which could impair the kindly feel- ings that up to the present period have so happily existed in Fermanagh between all classes of her Majesty's subjects • and we feel it right to state, that. in no part of the empire does greater tranquillity or more marked obedience to the law exist than in our loyal and united county.

"John Crichton, Lieutenant, Crom Castle ;

H. S. Cole, Florencecourt ;

W. D. Arc), Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace, Necorn Castle John Irvine, Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace, Rockfield ; E. Archdall Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace, Riveradale ; 'W. Archdall, Justice of the Peace, Riversdale; John Richardson, Rossfad; Henry M. Richardson, Justice of the Peace, Rossfad; James Lendrum Justice of the Peace, Corkhill Lodge;

Foliot Barton, f)eputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace, Clonkelly ;

J. G. Porter, Justice of the Peace, Kilskerry ; George Spear, Justice of the Peace, Enniskillen ; John Richardson, Kesh ; Joseph Richardson, Justice of the Peace, Summerhill; John James Fox, Clerk, Kinawley Glebe; Charles Cobb Berisford, Clerk, Killeaher ; Arthur H. Irvine, Corkhill House ; William H. Deering, Derrybrusk; Charles Faussett, Justice of the Peace, Lisbofin; Henry Gresson, Justice of the Peace, Shebey ; John P. Hamilton, Justice of the Peace, Oakfield; Hamilton Haire, Glassdrummond;

j. G. Porter, Justice of the Peace, Bellisle;

Robert Fausset, Lisbofin ; Charles Archdall, Riverstown;

Robert Archdall, Riverstown ;

W. B. Friuli, Willoby Place, Enniskillen; William Gabbet, Deputy-Lieutenant, Enniskillen; Thomas Baily, Justice of the Peace, Mulladuff; John Crozier, Justice of the Peace, Gortra ; Arthur Scott, Sandville ; W. Scott, Scottsborough ; Charles Irvine, Justice of Peace, Johnstown;

Charles Le Pour Trench, Justice of the Peace, Highgate Lodge ;

Robert Dickson, Justice of the Peace, Hollybrooke; Charles Maude, Enniskillen."

SIR ROBERT PEEL'S REPLY.

Whitehall, 9th September 1841. " Sir—I hasten to acknowledge the letter which I have had the honour of receiving from you, and the document which accompanies it, expressing, on behalf of the principal gentry of Fermanagh at present in the county, their marked disapprobation of an act to which public attention has been recently called, and which was calculated to wound the feelings of our Roman Catholic fellow-subjects. "I assure you that this document was nnnecessery with a view to remove from my mind an impression unfavourable to the body from which it proceeds. I could not entertain a doubt that the gentlemen of Fermanagh would deeply lament and entirely disapprove of the act in question.

"But though the document may be superfluous for the particular purpose for which it was intended, I have received with cordial satisfaction the commu- nication which you have made to me.

"I rejoice that at a public meeting of the gentlemen of Fermanagh, con- vened by yourself as Lieutenant of the County, sentiments such as those of which you have been the organ should have been expressed, so calculated to discourage throughout Ireland provoking and irritating demonstrations of party- feeling and to remove the causes of dissension and ill-will. "The proceeding which you have adopted is calculated to give strength and confidence to the Government, which it has been my duty to form in obedi- ence to the commands of her Majesty. "it assures me that the course which I have firmly resolved to pursue with respect to the administration of Irish affairs will meet with the cordial support of those whose friendly cooperation is almost essential to its success. " My firm persuasion also is, that it will Ile followed by consequences much more important than any that are connected with mere party interests; that by setting the generous example of forbearance and by allaying angry feelings,. it will go far to paralyze the agitation by which lrdand has been distracted ; and to enable the real friends of that country (whatever be their religious dis- tinctions) to lay the foundation of internal peace and social improvement.