IRELAND.

A numerous meeting of Poor-law Guardians from all parts of Ireland was held in Dublin on Tuesday. The Marquis of Westmeath presided, and many influential noblemen and Members of Parliament were present. On the motion of Sir Montague Chapman, a Committee was nominated to frame a resolution for the meeting: among the Committee were—Sir M. Chapman, M.P., Mr. J. L. Napier, Sir P. Stewart, Lord Dunsaudle, Mr. Pierce Mahony, Sir Edward Borough, and Mr. G. A. Hamilton. On the recommendation of this Committee, the meeting adopted the following petition to Parliament-

" That we fully. agree in the necessity of a Poor-law, but feel that the present system requires immediate amendment. That your petitioners implore your Honourable House to proceed without delay to institute such measures as may individualize responsibility, and provide more effectually for the destitution of poor, without extinguishing capital through an injurious mode of assessment." The Clare Journal notices an alarming feature of the present state of things in its district- " the large quantity of land left without occupants, and likely to remain so during the ensuing season for tillage. Indeed, there is every reason to fear that on :the approach of spring the quantity of land thus left unoccupied will be in- creased even to a much greater extent than at present, if as may fairly be piv mimed, the tide of emigration will rise higher as a more favourable season for it advances. It is a point now in dispute, whether this general clearance (voluntary or involuntary on the part of the occupants, as the case may be) is caused from the pressure of poor-rates, or the still greater pressure of exorbitant rents, which the tenants are unable to pay and which the landlords are unwilling to reduce. We are inclined to the latter opinion, especially when we consider—as was recently stated by Captain Kennedy, and generally believed to be correct—that the lettings in Clare are higher than almost any other county in Ireland."

The journalist proposes vigorous dealings-

" It is really a desperate state of affairs; and we believe the remedy, to be effec- tual, must be desperate also. We think that the Boards of Guardians through- out the country should be empowered to take into their own hands all the lands Sound unoccupied and waste in their respective unions after a certain date—say the 1st of March, and employ part of the idle population who are being supported in the workhouses to till it; and let whatever remains of the produce of the crop, after deducting for seed, labour, and poor-rate, be handed over to the landlord."

A warrant has been received from the Treasury, by the Irish Board of Works, directing that, instead of repaying into the exchequer the instal- ments of the famine loan now in the hands of the Board, which exceed the sum of 360,0001., this money may be reissued, upon proper security, to the landowners in the several counties which have paid it, for drainage and other improvements of the land. No applications from persons resident in counties in arrear to be complied with.

Mr. Charles Gavan Daffy was arraigned on Thursday the 14th, before the Commission Court of the County of Dublin, for the crime of compassing the deposition of the Queen, and publishing his intent in divers articles of his paper the Nation. The Attorney-General moved that the County indictment be quashed; but Mr. Butt opposed the motion. He desired that the Crown should get no help from the Court: if the Crown meant to abandon the County charge, let it enter a " nolle proseqni." He would contend hereafter, that by preferring the County indictment, the Crown precluded itself from preferring another indict- ment in the City jurisdiction.

On Friday, this and other questions equally technical were argued.

At the beginning of the argument, Mr. Justice Perrin said—" Let it be under- stood that none of the proceedings connected with this trial are to be pub- lished till the trial is over.

The Clerk of the Crown (addressing the reporters of the public press)—" Gen- tlemen, take notice that none of the proceedings connected with this trial are to be reported—" Baron Richards—" Published."

Clerk of the Crown—" That none of the proceedings are to be published, or any comments thereon, until the final close of the triaL"

It is conjectured that the cause of this prohibitory order was, that the Freeman's Journal contained a copy of the panel from which Mr. Duffy's jury was to be taken.

On Monday, the Court Justice Perrin and Baron Richards) decided against the prisoner. Neither on common-law grounds nor on the reasons drawn from the statute 6 Geo. IV. c. 51 was there any legal objection to the pendency of two indictments for the same offence, one in the city and the other in the county. But the Court would take care that the existence of the second indict- ment should not prejudice the prisoner in his defence against the first.

At the end of the judgment, Mr. Duffy personally addressed the Court.—" Might I, my Lords, respectfully urge, under the discretion of the Court, that it would be a grievous injury to my case if your Lordships should feel bound to adhere to your order with respect to the publication. Mr. Justice Perrin—" What is this? We cannot hear the prisoner and coun- sel both.

Mr. Daffy—" But, my Lord—" Mr. Justice Perrin—" We really cannot hear the case first argued by counsel and afterwards by the prisoner."

Mr. Butt—" It is no part of the case, my Lord, on which Mr. Duffy wishes to speak." Mr. Justice Perrin—" No matter; he had better instruct his counsel or attorney." Mr. Daffy—" Very well, my Lord ; I'll instruct my counsel, if the Court pleases!' Baron Richards—' It certainly would be more regular for the, prisoner to in- struct his counsel than to address the Court."

Mr. Batt (having had a brief communication with Mr. Teeling, prisoner's at- torney)—" 1 am aware, my. Lord, it is rather irregular for any one to interpose; but although not regularly instructed, I understand what the prisoner was about to say had reference to your Lordships' order to prevent the publication of pro- ceedings. He was about to ask your Lordships not to insist on that order."

Mr. Justice Perrin—" Oh! we can't do it ! we can't do it !"

Mr. Butt sat down.