IRELAND.

The nomination of candidates to fill the seat for Dublin, vacant by the death of Mr. West, took place on Monday. The High Sheriffs took

their place on the hustings in the Court-house at half-past ten o'clock. Before that time, Mr. Gregory had appeared, supported by Sir John Kingston James, Colonel Verner, Mr. George Ogle Moore, and several other gentlemen. On the opposite side were ranged the Lord Mayor,

the Honourable Frederick Ponsonby, the Honourable Mr. Caulfield, Mr. Pigot, the Honourable Mr. Howard, Sir John Power, Mr. Peirce

Mahony, and other Liberals. The Lord Mayor proposed a compact be- tween both sides, that every one should be patiently heard ; and the compact, which was generally agreed to, seems to have been pretty well observed.

The Honourable Mr. Caulfield proposed Lord Morpeth, with an en- logjam on his public and private character. The proposal was se- conded by Mr. O'Connell ; who paid a tribute of respect to the memory of Mr. West. He then justified the choice of his party— Could he have made a selection, he should have had a Repealer, certainly. Next, he should prefer an Irishman. (A voice, " There's one behind you.)

Well, every man born in Ireland was not, unfortunately, an Irishman. Happy would he be were that the case, for the Irish would have Ireland. Although all friends of Reform should unite, could one be found to come forward, he would give his existence for an Irishman and a Repealer. If Mr. Gregory were then to declare himself, and promise on his solemn word to join, with all his might, heartily for the Repeal, Mr. O'Connell would at once—though he then seconded Lord Morpeth—vote against him, and second Mr. Gregory. Sir John Kingston James, then, had a little bit of memorandum. (Laughter.) He was furnished with sonic scraps from former speeches—he saw it in his face. It was to se- cond him in his attack—to throw into his teeth the preference be bad formerly expressed for a Repealer, and remind him of it this clay. But let them all re- member, he offered to vote for Mr. Gregory, on conditions ; and it was no

matter then what any one might say, for he could show that no person had a right to say that because a Repealer had not been put forward he had abandoned Repeal. No, he would never abandon Repeal: but as he could not get a Repealer, he would see who was next more eligible; and their choice was between Lord Morpeth and Mr. Gregory. Mr. O'Connell glanced round the political horizon—at France, and her still cherished idea of retribution for Waterloo—at the dispute be-

tween England and America—the yearly diminishing exports of Eng-

land—the wailings of despair and ruin that rose from wretched Paisley ; and he declared that there never was a period when it was more

necessary to have the services of a well-informed and practised statesman. Mr. O'Connell went on at considerable length to contrast the position of Lord Morpeth and Mr. Gregory before the public ;

asking, was there under _heaven any quality to recommend Mr. Gre- gory to the citizens of Dublin as their representative ? During the latter part of his speech, Mr. O'Connell was sometimes interrupted by the Reverend Tresham Gregg ; to the great displeasure of many ; but Mr. O'Connell told them to imagine that there was a green parrot screeching in a cage, whom nobody could control.

Sir Kingston James proposed Mr. William Henry Gregory. Mr. Gregory had been charged with being a foxhunter : so much the better, for then he would win this race. If he was a young states- man, so had Lord Morpeth been once, as every other statesman must be. Mr. Gregory's scholastic career at Harrow had been most dis- tinguished. Mr. Ogle Moore seconded the nomination of Mr. Gregory. The Honourable Mr. Howard addressed the electors on the part of Lord Morpeth; chiefly for the purpose of denying that his family had refused to identify themselves with the nomination. He felt that there was no honour which Lord Morpeth would more eagerly cherish than that now offered to him. In Yorkshire, the feeling was generally in favour of the election.

Mr. Gregory next addressed the ele,ctors for himself. He denied the imputation which had been made against him, that at a recent meeting his voice had mingled in a cry of "To hell with the Pope!" He charged the Repeaters with inconsistency in supporting Lord Morpeth ; and spent some time in recapitulating the opposition which the Whig Government—denounced by Mr. O'Connell as "the base, brutal, and bloody Whigs "—had offered to Repeal ever since 1833. Mr. O'Con- nell complained that Lord Morpeth led the Opposition against his franchise bill. The Poor-law, too, had caused as much division and bickering among the Liberal party as Repeal, coercion, and the fran- chise. How could those friends of Irish agriculture who opposed the introduction of foreigh corn, support Lord Morpeth ? could the Irish manufacturer give his vote to a Yorkshireman, and think that he would forget Huddersfield and Leeds? could any lawyer support a member of the Ministry who had insulted the whole bar by one of the most bare- aced jobs? could the clergy support a man who had aimed many a bitter blow at the Church ? By what nondescript party, then, could Lord Morpeth with consistency be supported ? The show of hands was declared to be in favour of Lord Morpeth. A poll was demanded on behalf of Mr. Gregory, and it was fixed to begin next day. As the poll proceeded, the Conservative gained on his opponent. On Wednesday night his gross majority was 309. On that day Mr. O'Con- nell issued an address to his "Fellow Citizens," commencing "Our prospects are beginning to be clouded. There is an appearance of apathy or neglect. * * Yet we have the means of success in our own power.' So he cries, "Rouse, then, electors of Dublin I" Before the ejection, strenuous efforts were made to procure the removal of the two High Sheriffs, Mr. Porter, and Mr. Browne, on the ground that their management had caused serious obstruction to the Liberals at the last election. It was alleged that Mr. Browne had, by deed, made over his right to act, for a consideration, to Mr. Porter ; and that Mr. Browne had also so far forgotten his character as to offer to assist the late Ministry with his electioneering influence if he were made a knight. The offer was conveyed in the following letter, which is supposed to have been dated March 1841— " My dear Eiffe-1 regret I cannot, owing to my official duties, go to Lon- don with you this night ; but,' beg of you to deliver the enclosed letter to my friend Mr. Archbold.

"In soliciting from the present Government the honour of knighthood, I conceive I have very considerable claims on them. In the first place,I am de- termined, come what may, to act in every way possible according to their wishes; and were there no other circumstances in my favour, the immense re- duction I have been enabled to make (through so happy a selection of a Grand Jury) in the taxation of the city of Dublin, ought to entitle me to their con- sideratiou.

"The very, considerable influence I possess in the county of Dublin, equal to thirty votes in a contested election, shall be at their service ; and, although it may not be due to the candidate from themiecjiviflurij exertion °Amy behalf shall be exerted, provided I get the quid pro quo.

"Pray let me hear the result of your personal communication with Mr. Archbold; and accept of the assurance of my positive promise to fulfil any pledge made on my behalf by you, appertaining to the honour solicited; and

believe me to remain most sincerely yours, A. BaowNe." - "C. Eiffe, Esq., Dame Street."

These allegations were stated repeatedly in the course of a long cor- respondence which Mr. Smythe (the agent of Lord Morpeth's Com- mittee) and Sir John Power had with Lord Eliot. The existence of the deed was first obscurely and then positively denied by Mr. Davis the Sub-Sheriff, who was said to have drawn it up ; and Mr. Smythe and Mr. Davis are at issue on the matter of fact. Lord Eliot suddenly de- parted for London, on Saturday, leaving his share in the correspondence to Mr. Lucas ; who sent a letter, in which the signature was omitted, Informing Sir John Power that "With respect to Mr. Browne's letter• to Mr. Eiffe, his Excellency does not feel called on to express any opi- nion, further than that it does not, in his judgment, afford sufficient ground for the measure which you desire him to adopt."

One of the strongest charges against the Sheriffs at the late election was the appointment of the Assessor, Mr. Waller, who is accused of the grossest partiality ; and one object of Lord Morpeth's friends was to procure the appointment of a juster judge to decide on the votes ten- tiered. In this they were more successful. Mr. Waller "resigned," in consequence of "excessive fatigue at the last election "; and Mr. Mat- thew Baker was appointed in his place. Mr. Baker, however, soon "resigned" too.

"Late on Saturday evening," says the Evening "a protest on behalf of Mr. O'Connell and his candidate was presented to Mr. Sheriff Porter, against the appointment of Mr. Baker as his Assessor, on the alleged ground of Poli- tical lams, as well as his having formed and expressed opinions upon certain points likely to arise during the election, unfavourable to the party making protest. This document was accompanied by a proposition that one out of six names of barristers sent—all pronounced to be competent in legal skill, and unobjectionable in respect of political feeling—should be drawn by ballot. So soon as Mr. Baker was apprized of the objection raised against him, he at once and with becoming dignity declared his intention of withdrawing, and declined acting as the legal adviser of the Returning-Officer. With respect to the proposition made to the High Sheriff, that gentleman refused to forego his undoubted right of appointing his own Assessor, and therefore refused his as- sent to a billet; but selected, from the names forwarded to him, Mr. Boyle Keller ; who appeared in that capacity on the hustings this morning. We have never heard the name of Mr. Keller as a politician ; but we understand he is a most excellent lawyer, and a highly-respectable and impartial gentle- man. Ile is a member of the Munster bar."

Mr. lledington is about to retire from the representation of Dundalk. The fact has just come to the knowledge of the Conservative electors, who are determined to start a candidate.--Standard.

At a special general meeting of the Repeal Association on Friday,

Mr. O'Connell proposed the mode of action which he thought they should adopt for the ensuing year— His plan was that of apportioning the country for enrolment according to its four provinces ; and he would thus give the fullest opportunity for Irishmen in all districts of Ireland to come forward and join in the struggle. He meant to assign Ulster to Mr. Steele ; his son John O'Connell bad volunteered to take the province of Connaught ; Mr. Ray would go to Munster ; and he would take Leinster himselE Each of them would be pledged to make regular re- turns immediately for every parish; and over and above all, the head-warden of all Ireland should be Mr. Steele, if they did not differ from him. They would all of them make immediate returns ; and they would send in once a month, in alphabetical order, a report of what parishes in each jurisdiction had given in their adhesion to Repeal. Such of the Repeal wardens as had been energetic in the discharge of their duties should be continued in office; such as had been inactive would be struck from off the roll ; and wardens would be appointed in localities where such officers did not before exist. They would by this process ascertain with the utmost minuteness how many Repealers were in Ireland. He announced to them fairly, that he would not bring the question before the British House of Commons until he had four millions of enrolled Repealers. Let him have one million from each province, and then he would call upon the Parliament to gratify their legitimate desires. The plan he proposed was a legal and constitutional one. They would have no representatives, nor would they commit any deed of delegation. They would not violate any law ; but they would hold public meetings; and where there was any obstacle to this measure, the Repeal wardens would go round in person, and ascertain the num- ber of Repealers in every district.

The recent judicial decision invalidating marriages solemnized by clergymen of the Presbyterian Church between members of that per- suasion and Episcopalians, has caused the greatest excitement through- out Ulster. The feeling of alarm manifested itself on Thursday week, la a public meeting at Armagh. In the course of the discussion, case) were mentioned in which owl marriages had been declared legal. The Reverend Dr. Henry cited such, a case- " It is now twenty-four years since Captain Lethrope, an Episcopalian, was married, by Dr. Black of Derry, to a Miss Marshall, of his own congregation. The parties removed to England, where Lethrope resided; and an attempt was afterwards made to deprive the daughter, the issue of this union, of her right- ful property, upon the plea of the illegality of the Presbyterian marriage per- formed between her parents. Lethrope himself was party to this base attempt ; and not content with the iniquity of the disinheritance of his daughter, he added the crime of bigamy to his unnatural guilt. Doctor Black was sum- moned to England, and proved the marriage. Not only was Lethrope defeated, but he was transported for seven years ; and Miss Lethrope put, by the Chan- cellor of England, on Dr. Black's testimony and marriage, in the undisturbed possession of all her rights."

Another.— "About seven years ago, I was summoned to give testimony, in this city, before our present Assistant-Barrister regarding the degradation of one of our ministers, who, after his deposition, had married an Episcopalian man to a Presbyterian woman. The husband bad forsaken his wife, and she brought an action for maiotenance. Even this marriage was held good : and I remember bow the legal acuteness of two attornies was unavailing, and how the man was thrown into the expense both of costs and yearly maintenance for his wife. It was then declared, that a marriage-contract entered into in this country, before competent witnesses, if acted on afterwards, in the public acknowledg- ment of man and wife by each other, was good and binding, though the par- ties might be of different persuasions and the vow taken even before a lay- man."

An instance was mentioned of the effect of the late decision, which will probably not long remain a single proof of its injurious tendency—. "A poor woman, married fourteen years ago to an Episcopalian by a clergy- man of the Presbyterian Church, has, in consequence of the decision of the Judges, been abandoned, with her four children, by her husband; who has entered into a second marriage with another woman. The deserted wife has been obliged to apply for admission for herself and children into the Union Workhouse; and at a meeting of the Board of Guardians, her children were publicly designated as bastards."

The meeting adopted a petition that a law may be passed to legalize all marriages which have hitherto been contracted under the circum- stances in question, and that a clause may be introduced into the bill bestowing on the ministers of the Presbyterian Church the right of uniting their hearers with the members of all other communions.

Delahunt has made a full confession of the murder of the boy Ma- guire, at Dublin. He has acknowledged that he committed the crime with a view of obtaining reward as a witness by implicating innocent parties ; and that he had no accomplices, as he once pretended. Dela- hunt was so enfeebled by horror at his situation, that he was not ex- pected to survive to be executed.