The proceedings at an adjourned meeting of the Repeal Association,
on Thursday, are not without interest. In the first place, a letter from Mr. Connor to the Secretary was read : it ran thus-
" Sir—In consequence of the general repudiation by the Repeal Association of the notice of motion attempted to be given by me on Monday last, I beg leave most respectfully to tender my resignation as a member of the Loyal National Repeal Association of Ireland."
Mr. John O'Connell said, he was glad that he had been thus saved the pain of moving the expulsion of Mr. Connor, which he had come down to the Association with the firm determination of doing. It could not be denied that Mr. Connor had been treated by the Association with every consideration. He moved that the resignation of Mr. Connor be received. Mr. O'Neill Daunt seconded the motion ; and wished it to go forth most unequivocally to the world, that the Association, in accord- ance with the motto placed over the chair, most fully acknowledged the rights of property, at the same time that they insisted on the observance of its duties. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Stritch read a long report from Mr. Davis, (a barrister and member of the Association,) on the subject of "promoting nationality in the various branches of the Fine Arts in Ireland." The report re- commended that this spirit of nationality should be extended to designs in painting, sculpture, and architecture ; and promoted by premiums of 401. and 201. for the best oil-paintings, 20/. and 101. for the best water- colour paintings, 31. for the best rough sketches in outline ; under cer- tain limitations, which provided that the contending artists should be Irishmen, their works of a national character, that they should be ex- hibited in the Conciliation Hall, and the Association be entitled to en- grave from them. A list of eighteen subjects selected from Irish his- tory, commencing with "the Irish Solon, 011am Fodhlab, delivering his laws to the people," and terminating with "Mr. O'Connell defying the Saxon at Mallow," was suggested. The majority of these subjects commemorated " Saxon " defeat or treachery. The report further re- commended a grant of 501. from the funds of the Association in aid of the statue of Saarsfield about to be erected at Limerick, which city he defended against the English forces for King James the Second. This report also was adopted unanimously.
A voluminous report was presented from the Committee appointed to investigate charges preferred against Mr. Smith, law-agent to the Corporation of Dublin, and member of the Repeal Association. The charges were, that he had, while agent on the town-lands of Paristown and Darvistown, in the county of Westmeath, exterminated eighteen families. The Committee only reported the evidence, without stating any opinion. Mr. Smith warmly defended his conduct ; averring that the writs of ejectment were only used by him to obtain legal possession of the land, but that all the tenants except one remained in actual occu- pation. In the course of a violent altercation, Mr. Smith complained that there was a conspiracy against his professional character; and Mr. O'Callaghan stated that Mr. Smith's conduct before the Committee had been " overbearing," as he accused them of being " packed." The scandal of the dispute was closed by the formal reception of the report.
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