IRELAND.
In consequence of the recent proceedings in Parliament for the sup- pression of Orangeism, the Duke of Cumberland, Lord Bandon, the Marquises of Ely and Thomond, Colonels Verner and Perceval, Mr. Maxwell, Mr. Archdall, Mr. Randall Plunket, Mr. Mortimer O'Sul- livan, and several other leading Orangemen, now in London, forwarded, through the (ex) Grand Secretary, Mr. Maxwell, an address to the Irish Orangemen, strongly recommending the dissolution of the So- ciety in Ireland. lire subjoin some passages from this document- • "rts, :mention of England is fixed upon sou; alas humanly speaking, you are to determine the fate of Protestantism in Ireland. Friends and enemies expect your deci- sion with almost equal interest; the adversary hoping that some manifestation of interm erome will place you within his power ; friends confidant that you will be found 0(011 to the difficulties of the occasion, and will give a crowning it,surance of the pure faith and layalty by which you ever have been distinguished. We cannot, and du not, attempt to disguise from you, that the address voted by the House of Cumulous was not sailed Mr by the state of Ireland, or by any demerits in our institution. We cannot say to you that the dangers to meet which the Orange Institution was framed, threaten us uu longer, or that you must not as we feel it a painful task to relinquish an associa! ion justly endeared to us; but we can tell you, that all opportunity has now been given you which should not he lost—the opportunity of ntanilesting a dutift:1 regard to the feelings of our gracious Sovereign, and offiulug to his NI:O.-sty a limo!' of stemlfits' attachment, of which we are persuaded he will never be titrtgettel. The severe duty hds devolved on us, of recommending that, in the spirit of the generous devoted- nes; a Lich has always characterized the Orange Society, y, :u now dissolve it."
Letters from Mr. Maxwell and Colonel Perceval, resigning respec- tively the offices of Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer, were for- warded at the same time with the above-mentioned address. But the Irish Orangemen show little disposition to follow the advice of their leaders. The Grand Committee of the Grand Lodge held a meeting in Dublin on Saturday, and resolved upon " no surrender." They declared, that the " mere will of the King" was not law, and that it should take an Act of ,Parliament to put them down. They protested agsinst the conduct of those officers of the Institution who had
resigned their posts; and did not hesitate to proclaim that they would persevere in the exercise of those " rights," which the cooperation of the three branches of the Legislature could alone deprive them of. Sir Harcourt Lees has brought his crackbrained eloquence to their aid. Here is a specimen-
" TO THE ORANGEMEN OF IRELAND.
" Blackrock, Saturday, 27th February IMO.
" Loyalists—I have read with more than contempt the repot ted proceedings est t he Orange Institution,WiliCh must for ever immortalize the wisdom and energy of t he Peel or Expediency Tail, (infinitely now to be more suspected than the O'Connell Tail,) when assuming in future the title of ' The Friends of the Protestant religion awl the lipase of Hanover.' As to their supposition that you will, under the present alarming state of affairs (with a Popish and Radical conspiracy ready to explode. and even 1 myself cannot tell the moment), dissolve your society—why, my Lord John Russell and his Majesty's Marines may indulge in such fancies, but Sir Harcourt Lees :Mal his brave and consistent brethren in Ulster will neither believe it nor be humbaggal. " Orangemen—increase and multiply—be tranquil—he vigilant. Put your trust in d—stilt revere your King—and keep your powder dry! " I ever am, through good report and evil report, your faithful friend, " iIARCOURT LEES."
On Monday, the Grand Committee met again, and agreed to an address to the Orangemen of Ireland, warning them against the example of the deserters, and assigning the following as the cause of the defection from the Orange camp-
" It was by mixing in the struggle for place and power at present existing between two rival parties, whose leaders have shown themselves equally indiffe- rent to the maintenance of Protestantism in Ireland, that our erring brothers have fallen ; and though convinced that not one amongst them could have been influenced by motives of personal aggrandizement, they have yet been blinded by the desire to save that party from a temporary defeat, or more pro- bably duped into a miserable compromise by vague promises of future support —promises as hollow as those by whom they were made. Wit entreat the brethren to take heed lest they fall into the same snare, and to watch earnestly lest they desecrate the high principles of our order by over-zealously inter- fering to support individuals whose interests are not in all respects identical with ours."
At the Cavan Assizes, on Tuesday, the Crown Counsel withdrew all proceedings against the Orangemen, indicted for walking in pro- cession on the 12th of July last. This be did in obedience to instruc- tions from Lord Mulgrave; who expected that after the proceedings in Parliament, and the example of obedience set by the Duke of Cumberland, there would be no occasion in future to enforce the laws against Orangemen.
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