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The object of this meeting was to offer to Mr. Atkinson their 

 congratulations on this pleasing event, and to assure him of the 

 gratification of the inhabitants of this town and country in his 

 triumph. Mr. Atkinson was a gentleman well known in the 

 country ; his father had resided in it ; and, during a long life, 

 had maintained the station of a landed proprietor and grand- 

 juror of the County Donegal with popularity. Mr. Atkinson 

 himself had followed the example of his father ; and, as a resi- 

 dent country gentleman, possessed the good-will and good 

 wishes of every man. As an independent and upright magistrate, 

 he had presided on the Petty Session's bench in this district, 

 and had conducted himself always with firmness, impartiality, 

 and talent. (Cheers.) There could be but one opinion of the 

 value and utility of such a character in this country ; and the 

 numbers assembled here this day proved that the feeling was 

 general amongst all classes. He (Mr. Sanderson) participated 

 in the general regard for Mr. Atkinson, and lamented that any 

 thing had occurred to give him even a momentary cause of 

 annoyance ; at the same time, he conceived that the meeting 

 would best consult their own dignity by not descending into 

 any vituperation or personalities towards any individual on this 

 occasion. The triumph of Mr. Atkinson was complete ; and 

 no person rejoiced more in it than he (Mr. Sanderson) did. 

 (Loud applause.) 



ROBERT JOHNSTON, Esq. of Laputa, then rose and said: 

 I come forward this day with feelings of pleasure and un- 

 affected gratification, to propose, for the adoption of the meeting, 

 an Address to Mr. Atkinson, to congratulate him on his trium- 

 phant acquittal of all the charges brought against him. When 

 I consider the respectability of the numbers, and the unanimity 

 of the persons present here this day, of different religious per- 

 suasions, and different political feeling, all combined in one 

 object, of testifying their respect and confidence in Mr. Atkin- 

 son, I should almost imagine that, if he himself were here, 

 however deeply he might feel indignant at the unfounded 

 charges made against him, he would, nevertheless, be disposed 

 to consider it rather a fortunate than an untoward event, in so 



