IRELAND.

A "monster meeting" was held on Sunday, at Mallaghmast, in King's County, the reputed scene of an apocryphal " Saxon " massacre of Irish in the reign of Elizabeth, and of another doubtful slaughter of Rebels in '98—

" It is asserted," says the reporter of the. Times, "that, if a stick be thrust a certain depth into the earth of the rath, it will, on its removal, be seen to be coated, all dank and moist,' with the black blood of the murdered chieftains of Leix and Offaly. A suggestion of mine, that bog-stuff might produce that peculiar effect, was badly received by my credulous and well-intentioned informant; who ridiculed the Saxon ignorance, that could suppose a bog to exist at the top of a rath, from which he boasted that five counties were visible. This far-famed rath is a circular embankment of earth, similar to those occurring throughout every county in Ireland, and generally supposed to be the fosse-banks of ancient forts of Irish or Danish erection. Exteriorly the Rath of Mullaghmast rises with rather a precipitous slope to a height of thirty feet. There is a plain space at the top about a yard wide, and there the sides descend to the interior about twenty feet down with a gentle declivity. From the summit of the bank the view is very beautiful; extending to the horizon on all sides, which is bounded by the verdant and richly -swelling hills of Meath, Carlow, Kildare, and Wicklow, lied encompassing a vast extent of the most fertile, richly cultivated, and well-wooded land in Ireland."

The meeting was of course numerous. About twenty Temperance bands were on the ground • sonic bodies of men coming from distances of fifty or sixty miles. Pikes with flags affixed were borne by some, as banners. Mr. O'Connell, in a gown of purple velvet trimmed with fur, arrived in procession, accompanied by the Lord Mayor Elect of Dublin and about thirty-five members of the Corporation dressed in their robes. The assemblage is said to have resembled that at Tara, though falling short both in picturesque effect and numbers. On ascending the platform, Mr. O'Connell inquired if there was not a Government reporter present. The question was immediately answered by Mr. F. B. Hughes, of Mr. Gurney's office ; who said that he attended for the Government. Mr. O'Connell then assured him that he should have every possible accommodation. Mr. O'Connell was called to the chair ; and he began his speech by saying that he felt more honoured at being called on to preside over that meeting than over any he had ever before attended— except the meeting of Tara. He soon passed on to his protest against the continuance of the Union ; observing that the Irish Parliament, which assented to that measure, was authorized to make laws, not Legislatures—to act under the constitution, not to violate it ; and he predicted that the Union would not last much longer. We pick out the newer points in his speech—inseparably mixed, however, with some that are very hacknied. He repudiated foreign intervention

" America offered us her sympathy and support. The support we refused, but the sympathy we accepted. While we did so, we stood upon the firm ground of the right of every human being to liberty ; and 1,00 the part of the Irish nation, declared that neither the sympathy nor support of America should be purchased by the abandonment of one particle of our principles. I de-. nounced from the Association, and I here denounce again, slavery in America, as a sin against man, and a sin, in its operation, against the eternal God. It

would be of little importance; however, that I should make that announcement

and protest if I were not backed by the Irish people: one and all, you will join me? (" We'll die for you !") Let that go to America. I want nothing but

Ireland for the Irish ; and in looking for that, I expect the sympathy of every good man everywhere : but I want not armed support or physical strength from any country. In the same way, I thanked the Republican party in France for their sympathy, but I refused their support. The usurper Louis Philippe, who trampled on the liberties of his own gallant nation, thought fit

to assail us through his newspaper : but I retnrned the taunt with double vigour, and denounced him as a treacherous tyrant, who violated the compact he had entered into with his own country, and who could not therefore be fit to assist the liberties of any other. I want not force from France or America. I have physical force enough about me to attain any end. But that is not my pIan. I will not risk one of you, for I could not afford to lose one of you.

protect you all—C" And we'll protect you !")—until I gain the RepeaL Yes, I know that there is not a man there if unjustly or illegally attacked, that

would not be ready to stand in open field my side. But nobody will attack us, and we will attack nobody."

He cited a new authority " There is not a man in his senses in Europe or America that does not now admit that the repeal of the Union is inevitable. It was only this week that the Morning Herald newspaper, who had a reporter at the Lismore meeting, published an account of it, in which he says that it would be impossible to refuse so peaceable, so determined, so unanimous a people as the people of Ireland, the restoration of their domestic Legislature."

He strangely mixed up caution and incitement— "Oh, my friends, 11l keep you free of treachery. But do not fear—there shall be no bargain, no compromise, nothing but Repeal and a Parliament of our own. (Cheers.) My advice to you is to confide in no false hopes that may be held out to you—to confide in nothing until you hear me say, 'lam satisfied.' (Shouts of " We never will 1") And I'll tell you where I'll say that—near the statue of KingWilliam in College Green. (('heers.) We have come here to express our determination to die to a man, if necessary, in the cause of Ireland. (Loud cheers.) We have come here to take the advice of each other, and above all, I believe you have come to take my advice. (Cheers, and cries of" We have! ") If you obey my advice, Repeal is certain. I'll go slow—you must allow me to do that, but I'll go sure. No man shall be fined, imprisoned, or prosecuted, who takes my advice. I have led you thus far in safety: I have swelled the ranks of the Repealers until they are identified with almost the entire population of Ireland, I have seven-eighths of the people enrolling themselves as associates. ("More power 1") I don't want more power. I have enough, and only ask that you should allow me to use it."

Apropos to the new Arbitration Courts, he virtually announced that the Repeal will not happen so soon as some expected ; not at least in the " Repeal year " o You will have in those Courts friends who will do justice to all parties alike, and without costing you one farthing. ra go on with that plan until all disputes are decided. (".Long may you live!") I wish to live until I see justice to Ireland and liberty proclaimed throughout the land. It will take me some time to arrange my plan for the new House of Commons ; a plan which will be one day submitted to her Majesty, when the present miserable Administration shall be supplanted by one that can be regarded as friendly to Ireland."

He promised a very exclusive staff of public officers

" Let the English have England, the Scotch Scotland, but we must have Ireland for the Irish. .1 won't be content until I see every office in Ireland, from the lowest Police-constable to the Lord Chancellor, filled by Irishmen. This is our land, and we must have it. We will be joined to England by the golden link of the Crowd, but we must have restored to Ireland her judicial independence : we must have the appointment of our own Magistrates; and when we have, we'll let some of the present shoneens on the bench stay at home."

His peroration was characteristic for its hacknied laudation of Ireland, its promises, and its equivocal allusion to war— ' " Among the nations of the earth Ireland stands number one in the phyaical strength of her men, in the purity and beauty of her daughters, and in the religious fidelity, the bravery, the generosity, the imperishable patriotism, and the temperance of her people generally. Have I any Teetotalers here? (Here there was a show of hands.) I can tell you it is Teetotalism that is repealing the Union. I would not have dared to bring you together in such multitudes if I had not Teetotalers for my police. (' We are all police.') To be sure you are, and there will soon be no other. (Cheers.) Oh! my friends, is not this a country worth fighting for—a country which possesses a water-power sufficient to turn the manufactures of the world? Is it not a country worth dying for ? (Cheers.) Above all, is it not a country worth being tranquil, submissive, docile, and obedient for? I'll see every man of you having a vote. I'll see you protected by the ballot from the agent of the landlord. I'll see your labour protected and your title to continue in possession recognized. I'll see the nailmaher busy to the middle of the night ; I'll see the carpenter covered with his chips. I'll see prosperity again in the land. Stand by me, obey me, and I'll see Ireland free." (Loud and long-continued cheering.)

An address from a Committee "to the O'Connell" was presented by Mr. Callaghan. It began, "Illustrious Sir "; and was accompanied by "the Irish national cap," which it described as "an article of domestic manufacture, intended to combine the glorious recollection of former nationality with utility, comfort, merit, and cheapness ; the form being that of the old Milesian crown, to which is added a wreath of shamrock, interwoven with a white band." A green velvet cap, lined with blue velvet and ornamented with gold, was then placed on Mr. O'Connell's head; the people cheering and laughing. Mr. Callaghan placed upon his own head a cap of similar shape, but made of gray frieze and trimmed with green riband ; which he called the "people's cap." Mr. O'Connell, in returning thanks, likened himself to Malachi, when "he wore the wreath [? collar] of gold which he won from the proud invader"; and he declared that he would wear the cap while he lived, and it should be buried with him when he died.

. A petition to Parliament for Repeal of the Union was moved and carried, as well as a vote of confidence in Mr. O'Connell ; and the meeting separated with three cheers for O'Connell and the Queen.

The monster meeting was followed by a dinner of four hundred guests; whereat Mr. John O'Connell presided ; and some of the spicy remarks of the morning were excelled after the wine. Giving "the health of her Majesty," the Chairman drew in harsher lines the customary distinction—

They could distinguish as well between her and her Ministers, when bloody deeds were attempted, as they had the other day, when vain and babbling words were put into her mouth. If her Ministers attempted them, and endeavoured to establish her throne amid bloody fields and blazing villages, let them take heed lest the reddest tide of blood might not flow from the bodies of their tools, and the fiercest blaze be that of their own haughty strongholds. (Cheers.)

" The O'Connell" also spoke of the fighting— Ireland had made her demonstration before, and hundreds of thousands of fighting men had met. (Tremendous cheers, and hurraing, which lasted some time, all the company standing up unanimously.) Why, one would think they had a taste for fighting. (Laughter.) " O'Connell's desire to moderate his followers—

No country had ever been fortunate which had been governed by another. (Cheers.) But he was afraid that in the struggles they would be rash, that they had not confidence in their leader. (Shouts of" Bre have!" and cheers.) How his heart thanked them for that cheer but knowing their grievances, their burning bravery, he feared somebody would have an outbreak, and gratify Sir Henry Hardinge, and give employment to his brandy and biscuit men. (Cheers, and cries of " No, no ! ") Oh, they needed not to tell him so now—his fears were vain. He saw men determined to bide their time, and take no steps but such as wise men and God's own priests approved of. (Cheers.) The "massacre of Mullaghmast" was duly improved by the orator " It is not by accident that we are upon the Rath of Mullaghmast this day. I anticipated and rejoice that it has happened. Where my voice is now sounding in your ears—where ye now stand on the green sod, there once was heard the wild shriek of horror and despair—the agony of the inflicted wound, the heavy feeble groan of fast-approaching death. On this spot where we stand were the perishing, unarmed, and confiding Irish chieftains. On this spot did they fall beneath the Saxon bayonet and sword, used in security, and therefore delightfully, in dealing death to their plighted guests, whilst the triumphant shout was raised over an unarmed prey. (Great sensation.) Three hundred and ninety-nine Irish chiefs perished here! They came, confiding in Saxon honour, relying on the protection of the Queen, to a friendly conference. In the midst of revelry, in the cheerful mirth of the banquet-house, they were surrounded and butchered. None returned, save one. Their wives were widows, their children fatherless. In their homesteads was heard the shrill shriek of despair—the cry of bitter agony. (Sensation, sobs (!) and cries of " Oh I ") Oh, Saxon cruelty how it cheers my heart in all its misery to think that you dare not attempt such a deed again! (Enthusiastic cheering, and cries of "Never dare they ! ") Let every mother who hears me think of the moment when each gallant chief left his home with a parting to his wife and babes. Let her—oh let her imagine for a moment, that husband, the father of those children, brought home to her a bruised and bloody corpse! In the pride of manhood, in the confidence of strength, with sinewy arm, capable, if but prepared, to defend her from any foe, did he leave her; next day he was brought home in all the inanity of death—powerless to defend, incapable of affording any thing but hitter pia; interminable sorrow! Oh England, England! thy crimes have filled the cup of bitterness. The hour of the vengeance of God, I greatly fear me, cannot be far from you ; but thou, oh Ireland, hest days of glory still before thee." Mr. O'Connell launched an attack on divers individuals ; denouncing among others the Members for the County, Mr. More °Terrell and "little Amity," (Mr. Archbold,) because they were absent from the meeting; and desiring the electors not to return them again. The guests separated about nine o'clock, having disposed of a long list of toasts.

The Northern Whig, a highly respectable Liberal paper, of Ulster, contains the account of " A Visit to one of the Monster Meetings," namely

that of Lismore, apparently by the editor. It is valuable evidence as contrasted with the inflated accounts of Repealers and Alarmists, and has the appearance at least of the impartiality that might be expected in the quarter whence it comes. We extract a considerable portion, selecting the passages which best bring out the character of the occurrence " We entered Lismore from Cork and the first manifestation of the approachiug meeting which we observed, (if we except some shootings of boys, at one or two places, in favour of "O'Connell,') was at the little town of Tallow, three or four miles from Lismore. The street of the former place was crowded with persons, principally on horseback, who appeared to have been halting to rest on their line of march. They were moving, and many bad moved, at the time we entered Tallow ; and, during the rest of the way to Lismore, the coach by which we journeyed continued to pass a stream of persons, travelling in such modes as they found convenient. A large number were on horseback ; and of these, some carried women behind them. Others were on foot, hurrying onward to the place of meeting; but many were seated upon common carts, of which, as we approached Lismore, there was nearly a continuous string. Each

cart seemed to contain the grown-up, and occasionally some of the smaller members of a family. The general appearance of the parties struck us as re markable. Among them there was scarcely any excitement ; and they seemed

like people going quietly to places of worship, or to a fair, rather than to a meeting for effecting a repeal of the Union. Occasionally, the female occu pants of a cart, or the fair Repeaters, who, in harmonious union with their Repeal spouses, jolted along, smilingly, on pillions or without, showed pleasing signs of vivacity and enjoyment; and now and again persons of the other sex laughed, and moved merrily forward. But, in general, the deportment of the mass was peculiarly quiet ; and, undoubtedly, if we had not been aware of what was going forward, we should not have expected that any thing exciting was

occupying their attention. They seemed to us as if engaged in conversing upon

the ordinary topics which were likely to occupy their attention, instead of bring deeply concerned about the momentous question of breaking up the Legislative

Union, in spite of Queen and Parliament. The handsome town of Lismore, beautifully situated on the Blackwater, was crowded with people as we entered it; but no decorations in the way of arches, or the like, were to be observed. The scene, however, was very animated.

"It was between three and four o'clock before the procession reached Lismore. It was certainly not at all imposing. The only carriage was that of Mr. O'Connell himself. There were one or two hired chaises, and some gigs and cars, together with horsemen and men on foot. The cavalcade advanced rather irregularly, and was less numerous and much less enthusiastic than we had ex

pected. • • " Tbe place selected for the meeting is situated about a mile from Lismore. It is a field on the side of a hill of gentle declivity; and the platform for the use of the speakers, and of those who chose to pay the sum of two shillings, was erected at the lowest corner of the field. When we arrived on the ground, the prospect was curious and interesting. Here were numbers of carts, from which the horses had been relieved ; there were groups of people chatting and enjoying themselves, as on a holyday ; in another place were tents with refreshments; again, was to be seen and heard a ballad-singer, 'discoursing most elo quent music' in favour of Repeal, or a vender of a prosaic description of the iniquities of the Union ; and around the platform were congregated a considerable body of men on horseback, who, because they were on horseback, had arrived early on the ground, and seemed determined to make sure of hearing,

if they could, what Mr. O'Connell might say. The day was beautiful; and such an assemblage could not fail to be animating and picturesque. We

should have stated, that the ground rose on the rear of the platform ; and that on this quarter groups were scattered here and there, adding to the general effect. • •

[Here the numbers present are roughly estimated at 40,000, 50,000, or

60,000.] • "In the part of the field through which Mr. O'Connell passed, [on his arrival,] and more especially near the part of the platform where he approached, there were loud cheers; but in other directions such was not the case. Un questionably, there was far from that enthusiastic outburst of feeling which might have been expected from the whole assembly. The majority of those present seemed to have mustered as for recreation ; but to look upon them, in general, as persons who felt deeply, or even felt at all, upon a political question, would be utterly absurd. • * • A chairman was appointed, and speeches

were made—at least apparently: but what was said, we, though on the platform, could not make out. We remained for about an hour after Mr. O'Con

sell arrived ; but during that time, not a single word could we hear. The noise which prevailed prevented au hearing, except by the few who were immediately beside the speakers. "We would not do justice to the meeting, did we fail to state, that the aparance of the people, and their whole deportment, were creditable and grati

ing. They preaented a satisfactory display of quiet and comfortable yeomanry. Many of them are the tenantry of the Duke of Devonshire who possesses a bus estate around Lismore; and the appearance of the people at this meeting bore strong testimony in his favour as a landlord. We have seldom seen a finer body of peasantry. These people arc, evidently, little acquainted with the question of Repeal. But they are ready, when directed, to join in a quiet display, and enjoy the pleasure of a day of recreation. They are little of politicians ; but they are entitled to the credit of being a peaceable, industrious, and comfortable populace. During the whole day, we saw no man who seemed quarrelsome, or even excited ; and as to intoxication, that is not to be spoken of.

"The assembled multitude appeared to have no notion of foolishly trying to

bear speeches. A display—a demonstration—seemed alone to be the object. They had attended, probably, because they had been directed ; and as soon as they had seen Mr. O'Connell on the ground, they appeared to be of opinion that they should bethink themselves of getting off the ground. In point of fact, they speedily took their departure; and before Mr. O'Connell had spoken one word, horsemen, and footmen, and horsewomen, and footwomen, were pouring off, in rapid and dense streams. Indeed, not a score had any chance of hearing him ; and, of course, it was prudent to withdraw." The paper finishes with the anticipation that other accounts would greatly magnify the importance of the meeting. They did so ; and in a subsequent paper, the Northern Whig discusses some of the misrepresentations. First as to numbers— "The Dublin portion of the Repeal journals have, for so far, confined them selves to general descriptions; but one journal (a Waterford paper) unhesitatingly gives a round estimate of half a million. Mr. O'Connell describes the assemblage as the greatest of all the Repeal meetings except that of Tara; but, nevertheless he fixes the number at not above three hundred thousand, at the outside. Thai', between two Repeal authorities there is the trifling difference of two hundred thousand, at least! [The ipsissirna verba of Mr. O'Connell are quoted; comprising the further statement, that his voice could convey its sounds to those of the meeting who were at a distance, so as to be understood.] Here, two or three things are worthy of remark. In the first place, to say that a human voice' could he audible to two or three hundred thousand, is to make a very foolish assertion; and, besides, we were ourselves within three or four yards of Mr. O'Connell when he first spoke, and so impossible ARS it to bear him that we could not make out one word that he said. But, if his assertion be received as true—if all could hear him—what comes of the hundreds of thousands ? Of course, they were not there ; for, if they had been, they could not have heard. But, again, he says that this meeting was the greatest of all, with the single exception of Tara.' If so, we have a means of testing the estimates of some of the other meetings. The Cork meeting, held in May, was said to have amounted to five hundred thousand ; the Nenagh meeting, of the same month, to fire hundred thousand; the Mallow meeting, of June to five handled thousand; that of Ennis, in the same month, to five hundred thousand; the Skibbereen meeting, of the same month, to five hundred thousand; the Dundalk meeting, of the same month, to four

• hundred thousand or five hundred thousand ; the Waterford meeting, of July,

to five hundred thousand ; and the Enniscorthy and Castlebar meetings of July, to four hundred thousand each. But, upon the authority of Mr. O'Connell, not one of these was really so large as the Lismore meeting; and yet the Lismore meeting amounted to no more than 'two to three hundred thousand.' Thus, then, if we assume his estimate to be correct, the published estimates in the other cases were gross and flagrant exaggerations. Some special statements of the Pilot are noticed " We are told that the houses (of Lismore) were tastefully decorated' on the OCCS13100. This is a piece of pure romance. We walked several times through the streets, and were particularly struck with the fact that there were no decorations. Secondly, it is stated, that the deer-park, an enclosure of some thirteen hundred acres, was kindly granted for the occasion' of holding the meeting. Why, the meeting was held in a common stubble-field—an enclosed field of some ten or fifteen acres. Whether or not the ground ever formed part of a deer-park, we do not know; but we know that there is at present no such park, and that the talk of • an enclosure of some thirteen hundred acres' is a mere poetic flight. Next, for the purpose of making the rural picture more beautiful, the Pilot says, (and Mr. O'Connell says much the same thing.) that the valley of the Blackwater lay nearly due East, revealing not a few of those singularly handsome parks," &e. This is very pretty in description; but, unfortunately for the reality, the valley of the Blackwater ' did not reveal' any of its charms to the persons them assembled; and for this very good reason, that it was far out of view, and that a glimpse of it could not be caught by any one who did not first travel over an intervening hill of considerable extent. Again, we are gravely assured that' the platform wascrowded with rank, talent, and wealth.' So far was it from being 'crowded,' that certainly not more than one-fourth of it was occupied,—the charge of two shillings for admission being, apparently, quite sufficient to deter the greater part of the 'rank, talent, and wealth,' from seeking access to it."

The Standard holds high controversy with Mr. O'Connell about the alleged massacre of Mullaghmast. The Standard denied the massacre; and Mr. O'Connell referred to his own Memoir on Ireland, and to his authority, Fynes Moryson. The Standard refers to the Memoir, and finds other apocryphal statements ; refers to the authorities ; and then, in an elaborate article, charges Mr. O'Connell with garbling and "forgery." We cannot give space for much of the matter in dispute ; but some specimens may show its nature. For example " My first quotation," says Mr. O'Connell, "is from Leland's History of Ireland, Book IV. He tells, chap. 2, that when in the year 1579 the garrison of Smerwick, in Kerry, surrendered upon mercy to Lord Deputy Gray, he ordered upwards of seven hundred of them to be put to the sword or hanged. • That mercy for which they sued was rigidly denied them; Wingfield was commissioned to disarm them; and when this service was performed, an English company was sent into the fort, and the garrison was butchered in cad blood: nor is it wit hoist pain that we find a service so horrid. on detestable, committed to Sir Walter

Raleigh.'

"it also appears that for this, and such other exploits, Sir Walter Raleigh had 40,000 acres of land bestowed upon him in the county of Cork ; which he afterwards sold to Richard first Earl of Cork."

The Standard refers to Leland, and finds that the garrison in question eonsisted almost exclusively of Spaniards and Italians ! It was quartered, not at Smerwiek, but at the Forte d'Oro, or Golden Fort. The English journalist quotes 'f Leland's account of the affair, necessarily abridged but nowhere mutilated " ; which seems indeed to justify the Standard's assertion. We take only the small bit quoted by Mr. 0 Connell; which does not include the deacription of the "700 Spaniards and Italians" that composed the garrison ; and from which, short as it is, he strikes out some words that refute the case which the garbled extract is used to Intl:Tort ' That mercy for which they sued was rigidly denied them; Wingfield was commissioned to disarm them ; and when this service was performed, an English company was sent into the fort. The Irish rebels found they were reserved for execution by martial law. The Italian General and some ijficers were made prisoners of war. But the garrison was butchered in cold blood; nor is it without pain that we find a service 80 horrid and detestable committed to Sir Walter Raleigh." This is the portion of the extract from Mr. O'Connell's book, about Mullaghmast " 4. The next instance I shall mention occurred in the year 1577. It is thus introduced by Morrisson the historian (folio edition, p. 3)— ' After the 19th year of Queen Elizabeth, videlicet soon 1577, the Lords of Connaught and °Tooke,' says Ifforrissou, • made a composition for their lands with • Sir Nicholas Malby, governor of that province; wherein they were content to yield the Queen so large a rent and such services, both of labourers to work upon occasion of fortifying, and of horse ard foot to serve upon occasion of war, that their minds seemed net yet to be alienated from their wonted awe and reverence to the Crown of England. Yet, in the same year, ii horrible 10,3ACHE Was COMMitted by the English at Mulloghnutston on some hundreds f the most peaceable tf the Irish gentry, incited thither on the public faith and under the protection of Government.'

"5. The manner of this massacre appears to have been this (the spot is now part of the King's County)— . The English published a proclamation, inviting all the well-affected Irish to an interview on the Rathmore at Mulloglimaston ; eueaging at the same time for their security, and that no evil was inteuded. In consequence of ibis engagement, the well-affected came to Rathmore aforesaid; and soon after they were assembled, they found themselves surrounded by three or four lines of English horse and foot completely accoutred, by %Isom they acre ungenerously attacked and cut to pieces ; and not a single man escaped." The Standard quotes a long extract from Fynes Moryson, from which it appears that the passage in Italics, commencing "Yet in the same year," is a " forged " interpolation in the text.

The Standard proceeds " The account of the imaginary massacre in No. 5, is taken, without acknowledgment, from Curry ; and even here the lying genius of the incendiary could not rest. Curry says that the victims found themselves surrounded by three or four lines of English AND Irma horse and foot, &c.' ; but Mr. O'Connell strikes out the words 'Anna limn,' in order to leave the whole responsibility of the feigned atrocity upon 'the Saxon.'" At a meeting of the Repeal Association on Thursday last week, Mr. O'Connell made an attack on divers journals,—among them the Spectator and the Journal des Debuts. The offence of the French paper seems to have been, that it had treated the Repeal agitation as on the wane. The offence of the Spectator lay in a paper °' which appeared on the 23d September ; and the case against us is thus set forth by Mr. O'Connell, according to the "authorized version," as we suppose it may be called, of the Dublin Repeal papers " We formed the Precursor Society to warn the people of England that if our grievances were not redressed we would look for a repeal of the Union ; and though they heeded not our warning, they now accuse us of an attempt at dismembering the empire. I deny, Sir, that we have any such intention : on the contrary, while I live, and those who possess influence over the public mind continue their exertions, there in no danger of dismemberment. Unless, according to the wish held out by the Spectator last week, that I was dethroned, or, to take the other alternative, that I was dead,—and I believe they would take the latter alternative if they had the choice of both, for a more faithless creature never lived than Rintort1 of the Spectator,—unless, I repeat, that happens, there cannot be a separation. One of those is an event that must certainly come; the only thing doubtful is, the period when it will occur ; and after my death, if the grievances of Ireland are not redressed, I have no more doubt than that I am now in existence, that a violent and sanguinary separation will take place."

[Those who have read the Spectator's paper of the 23d September, will be able to judge whether there is a particle of truth in the foregoing account of it. Our position was the very opposite—namely, that if, in the mutability of affairs or the course of nature, O'Connell were dethroned or dead, the violence which he excites but controls would burst forth uncontrolled. It is not our vocation to bandy vituperative words with Mr. O'Connell : we believe he would prefer that to a calm analysis of his effusions; but we shall continue our endeavour to strip facts of the falsehood that disguises them, solicitous neither of his exaltation nor his detriment, but of truth alone.] • "The Obstacle to Ireland's Improvement "; Spectator, Se. 795, page 900.

There is to be a meeting tomorrow, at Conquer Hill, Clontarf, about three miles from Dublin ; and the Repeal Association have issued rules to be observed by the "Repeal Cavalry." "Regulation wands and cockades" are to be furnished to those who volunteer ; and the notification, which is drawn up to resemble a military general order, lays down rules for the formation of "troops," for "muster-march and parade," so as to prepare as soldierly a display as possible.

At the usual meeting of the Repeal Association, on Monday, a letter was received from Lord Ffrencb, slating that the people of Ahascragh had publicly expressed contrition for their misconduct in resorting to violence, and begging that they might be restored to the lists of Repeal members ; the writer offering to be bail for them. Mr. O'Connell said, that a request from Lord Ffrench must be complied with ; and he moved that Ahascragh be "reinstated on the map of Ireland." Mr. Mark O'Callaghan handed to Mr. O'Connell a letter, which his brother had received from America. Mr. O'Connell treated it with contumely— " I have been handed this letter, which is signed John Arlington Bennett, Major-General, and John Clinton Beckman, Adjutant-General, offering me military organization to assist me. Of course, 1 spurn it. (Tearing the letter in pieces.) That is the way I treat their military organization. (Cheers and laughter.) I know a trick worth two of that." (Enthusiastic cheering.)

The rent for the week was 814/.

At another meeting, on Tuesday, Mr. O'Connell accepted the appointment, conferred by the Arbitration Committee, of Arbitrator for the City of Dublin. He then passed to the charges against Mr. Smith, of ejecting certain tenants from lands on which he was agent ; which charges he pronounced to have been proved. Mr. Smith had said that the tenants remained in possession ; but in point of fact they only remained on the land as "care-takers," so that the landlord, Mr. Dyas, might turn them out to starve on the fields without difficulty. He withheld, however, motions which he meant to make on the subject ; hoping that Mr. Dyas would change his course, and that events would supersede those motions.

The "Repeal Magistrates" sat again as a Court of Arbitration at Blackrock, on Friday. Dr. Gray, the editor of the Freeman's Journal : presided : he explained that silence, decorum, and respect for the per sons of the gentlemen uho sat there must be observed ; that the gentlemen on the bench would wear their hats, but not the "audience "; with other particulars of the like kind. Two cases came before the Court. A plasterer appeared as plaintiff, claiming 1/. 1 is. 6d. for work done : the Magistrates recommended an arrangement " outside." Christopher King was.enmmoned for a debt of 11s. ld.: but the plaintiff agreed to take 7s. 6d payablein three monthly instalments. In a third case, the defendant did not appear. Both parties in each case were required to sign a "deed of submission to arbitration."

The Drogheda Argus announces the commencement of Arbitration Courts at Moynalty

" The principal object of the assembly was to appoint a Chairman and Secretary; but it being Petty Sessions day, the people who were collected in town on law business no sooner heard of the arrival of the Arbitrators, than they immediately left their Worships the J. P.s to solace their dignity on the bench by looking at each other, and hastened to the newly-appointed Magistrates of the People, to whom they handed their summonses for adjudication. The new Court was held next door to that occupied by the J. Pt; one of whom remarked, when several parties were called and did not answer, that he supposed they were at the court below.'"

The Dublin Evening Mail publishes official communications contradicting two reports of corruption among the soldiery. At Mallow on the 22d September, according to the Cork Examiner, some soldiers joined the people in shouting for O'Connell and Repeal : but it is now stated by the officer in command, that only a corporal and three drummers were present, and they took no part in the proceeding. In like manner, a statement that some Dragoon Guards and Highlanders "pronounced," toasted O'Connell and Repeal, and admired the "measured tread" of a Repeal procession at Lismore, is authoratively denied ; " seeing that they were all under arms daring the entire day within the square of the Castle-yard, from which nothing lower than the churchsteeple could be seen."

The Cork Reporter of Saturday makes a disclosure of a most remarkable kind—that Cork bad been threatened as ith bombardment. The journal, whose text we somewhat abridge, professes to have known the facts for some time, but to have withheld them until convinced of their authenticity " While her Majesty's brig the Lynx, a vessel mounting three guns of formidable calibre, but pierced for ten, was lying off Cove, her commander, Captain Burslern, one day gave the order to clear the decks for action. The order was quickly obeyed : the drums beat to quarters, the three guns were primed and loaded—iu feet, double-shotted—and the crew waited in breathless silence and astonishment for u hat was to follow : but they were not long kept in suspense, for, in a few minutes after, Gaptain Burslem ordered the guns to he fired upon the town ! The officers next in command were horror-struck at hearing such an order, and perceived that they should be justified in preventing its execution. Accordingly, the First Lieutenant and one or two of the other officers consulted for a moment ere the fatal command should be carried into effect; and, having arrived at the conclusion that no such order could by any possibiliti have been given by any man in his senses, and without the least provocation, they contrived to induce the Captain to go below for a moment, and suspend the order. This he complied with; and having been got into his own cabin, every precaution was taken to secure him, and the whole affair reported to the Admiral. Captain Burslem was immediately removed, and the Lynx is now in the Shannon under the command of her First Lieutenant. It has been stated that, on two or three occasions of late, Captain Burslem had evinced symptoms of impaired intellect, but never before to such an extent."