766 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
[Ocr. 28, 
apply to Parliament to extend the Northern and Eastern 
Railway from Newport to Cambridge. At the meeting of 
the Eastern Counties shareholders, the same propositions 
were submitted and discussed, Mr. H. Bosanquet pre- 
siding. Mr, Whittle Harvey spoke for nearly two hours’ 
duration, contending that it would be a pernicious and 
suicidal act if the Eastern Counties Company were to take 
a lease of the Northern and Eastern in perpetuity. He 
entered largely into statistics on the subject, which were 
replied to by the Company’s solicitor. Mr. Salamons, 
Mr. Tite, and other proprietors, also spoke in favour of 
the proposed amalgamation, which was ultimately carried, 
with only six dissentients out of a meeting of upwards of 
200, the chairman explaining to the meeting at its close 
that its adoption would not only have the effect of largely 
benefiting the public, but of terminating all existing Par- 
liamentary contest and injurious competition for traffic, 
IRELAND. 
Dublin.—The Lord-Lieutenant presided at a Privy 
Council last week, when it was agreed that a proclamation 
shall issue fixing the 13th November as the day whereon 
the Arms Act shall come into operation.—On Friday in- 
formations for perjury were tendered against Mr. Bond 
Hughes, the Government reporter, upon whose deposi- 
tions the parties to be prosecuted were called upon to give 
bail. It appears that this gentleman swore that a Mr. 
Barrett, proprietor of the Pilot newspaper, was present, 
and took an active part at a certain meeting, while 13 
witnesses depose that Mr. Barrett not only was not pre- 
sent, but it was physically impossible he could have been 
present, The case was brought before the magistrates of 
College-street Police-office, at two sittings, but they ulti- 
mately decided that it was not within their jurisdiction, 
and refused to receive the informations.—In the Corpora- 
tion on Friday, Mr. O’Connell brought forward the follow- 
ing resolution :—‘* That we deem the transmission of the 
proclamation to the Lord Mayor about the hour of four 
o'clock on Saturday the 7th of October inst., to prevent a 
meeting to be held on the next day, too late for the pur- 
pose of due caution, and especially too late for him to 
warn the citizens of Dublin of the impending peril.’’ 
The Lord Mayor declared that he had never experi 
enced any want of attention on the part of the Admini- 
stration, and wondered much how Mr. O’Connell could 
have thought of alleging this matter as a proof to the 
contrary. On a division, however, the motion was car- 
ried by 38 to 9.—The various wards of the city have since 
held meetings to protest against the recent measures of 
Government. 
had merely repeated 
on Monday what he had often before and long since 
tated on the subject of a 3 then in templ 
tion respecting the attainment of a federal Parliament. 
But then, as well as on Monday last, he fully retained his 
own opinion, that nothing short of Repeal could or onght 
to satisfy the people of Ireland, and that nothing else 
would afford an efficient remedy for the manifold griev- 
ances of the country. He was still firmly attached to the 
principle of independent legislation, but having reason to 
believe that a movement for a federal Parliament would 
rally a considerable and very influential party, he had 
expressed himself ready to make the experiment, because 
he felt conscious that the result would be a still deeper 
conviction that in Repeal alone the true remedy would be 
found. He had been promised the support of a very pow- 
erful party in England, and he had reason also to calcu- 
late upon the adhesion of a very influential party in Ire- 
land. Tohis English friends he was doubly grateful; 
but while entertaining and expressing these opinions, he 
was bound to declare that he was still of opinion that it 
was only in an Irish House of Commons, and in an Irish 
House of Lords, that the wrongs of Ireland could be 
redressed and the rights of Ireland maintained.—On 
Monday the Repeal Association held their weekly meet- 
ing in the New Conciliation Hall, which was opened on 
the occasion for the first time. The building was densely 
crowded, and many thousands were unable to obtain ad- 
mission. A Government reporter was present. Mr. J. A. 
O'Neill took the chair, and addressed the meeting at great 
length. Mr. O’Connell then rose and said ; I wish that the 
first sentence which I have to utter in this Conciliation 
Hall, formed now as it is into an assembly, shall be this 
owns, 
there 
This 
cnnouncement was received with loud cheers. after which 
peep y 
RS yee read a long letter from Mr. O’Brien 
“ en which had induced him to join the 
O'Connell eR SOR “A few years ago,” said Mr. 
had bi hi tT. O’Brien was an anti-Repealer—events 
-veen, his teachers, and had shown him that there was 
nothing for Ireland but the Repeal ; and he had boldly 
and manfully, as it became him, scorned to be kept in 
fetters of former opinions, or to be taunted with incon- 
sistency. He was truly consistent—he was honest when 
he was an anti-Repealer—he was honest now that he was 
amongst the Repealers. There hada good deal fallen 
from their chairman of the distinction between federalism 
and an independent legislature. It was an independent 
legislature he (Mr. O’Connell) was looking for. 
independence he did not mean independent of England— 
quite the contrary. By independent he did not mean 
independent of the Crown, quite the contrary ; bound 
to England by the golden link of the Crown, with a 
mutuality of interest — most firmly attached to the 
continuance of that connection on fair terms; but 
insisting that Ireland has a right to the revival of that 
parliament of which she was deprived by the foulest means. 
This language might be thought inconsistent with what 
fell from him on the last day of meeting, it was no such 
thing. He mentioned then that approaches had been 
made on the part of the Whigs. The first was that many 
would join him if he held out the hope of federalism ; the 
second was a letter which he received from a gentleman 
in England, and he assured the gentleman who wrote to 
him that the Repealers did not desire separation, and that 
they would give every guarantee that that was not their 
object. It was said to him that if he held out these 
hopes a considerable number of Whigs would join him; 
recollect that it was on this ground that they were joined 
by the Right Rev. Dr. Kennedy ; it was on this ground 
that they sought the junction of Mr. §. Crawford, and 
received the support of Mr. O’Hagan and others. They 
went far enough for the Repealers to act with him, but 
he never said that he would rest contented with a smaller 
quantity, as long as it was possible for him to get a greater. 
He would be ashamed of being the colleague and com- 
panion of the chairman, and the friend of Smith O’Brien 
if there was the least hesitation about him in saying that 
the hopes of justice had been total delusions, and that he 
was looking now for the Repeal. He would reject no 
man’s assistance who went any part of the way with him. 
Any man that joined him to repeal the 40th of Geo. IIt.; 
chap. 38, what was called the ‘‘ Union Statute,” was 
welcome amongst them; he would obtain the best 
parliament himself after he had been thus assisted on his 
way. He had every disposition to conciliate—none to 
compromise. What had occurred might teach the Govern- 
ment, if there be wisdom amongst them, and the states- 
men of England, if they be wise, that they might win the 
Irish heart by kindness, and by conciliatory conduct they 
might bind Ireland with the link of faithful affection to 
the British connection. They might keep the Irish people 
in a state of irritation, discontent, and disgust, but there 
never would be a rebellion again. There would be no attack 
on the part of the people. Oppression might be continued, 
but the people had perseverance enough to suffer patiently, at 
he timed mined never to abandon the workin which 
they were engaged until as large an assembly as he then 
addressed hurraed in College-green on the opening of the 
Irish Parliament. In conclusion, he moved that the 
marked thanks and gratitude of the people of Ireland be 
offered to Mr. Smith O’Brien, that his letter be printed, 
and a copy of it transmitted to every member of both 
Houses of Parliament. Mr.O’Connell then handed in seve- 
ral large sums of money, among which was 100/. from Phila- 
delphia, and 507. more from the same place, transmitted 
to his daughter, Mrs. Fitzsimon, from the ladies of Phila- 
delphia. He took that occasion of stating, for Mr. Steele, 
against whom informations had been sworn by Mr. Bond 
Hughes, that Mr, Sceele had been blamed for not having 
prosecuted Mr. Hughes for perjury, but seeing that in- 
formations on the same ground had been refused, he 
thought there would not be at present any use in com- 
mencing a prosecution. It appeared that Mr. Hughes had 
sworn that Mr. Steele, at a meeting of the Repeal Asso- 
ciation, made use of the quotation—* Behemoth, biggest 
born of earth, upheaved its vastness.”’ Now, Mr. Steele 
had never used the lines, but he was in the habit of re- 
porting his own speeches, and when writing his speech for 
the Freeman’s Journal, he had put them in, and Mr. 
Hughes had thought proper to make use of them in his 
informations. After the routine business had been gone 
through, Mr.O’Connell addressed a few words to the 
Association, recommending peace and quietness. The 
repeal cause, he said, had made a progress that had as- 
tonished him. He then announced the rent for the week 
to be 2,284/. 5s. 5d. An adjourned meeting of the Asso- 
ciation took place on Tuesday. Soon after its commence- 
ment, the Rev. Tresham Gregg begged to be allowed to 
state that he did not consider himself included in the vote 
of thanks purporting to come from the Irish people and 
Mr. Smith O’Brien. Mr. O’Connell then amidst much 
laughter moved that Mr. Gregg be not considered included 
in the vote, and begged the people to allow him quietly to 
leave the Hall, which was done, all manifestation of feeling 
being checked at the desire of Mr. O’Connell and Mr. 
Steele. Mr. O’Connell then attacked the Morning Chro- 
nicle, for inserting two letters on the state of Ireland, 
signed ‘‘ Philalethes,’’ which he attributed to Mr ‘Treve- 
lyan, secretary of the Treasury. He then moved that 
an ‘‘ address of conciliation” be prepared by a committee. 
It would come, he said, very suitably from that hall, 
which was called ‘* Conciliation Hall.’”’ Me wished to con- 
ciliate every class of his fellow-subjects, but on just and 
manly grounds. He would not do it to buy off hostility, 
nor at the expense of principle. They would co-operate 
with any man that was for repealing the statute 40 Geo. ILL. 
ce. 38. As to the people of England, he would be glad to 
conciliate them, but he almost despaired of being able to do 
so. The Whigs seek to get into power through Ireland, but 
the Whigs were a treacherous set—there was no escaping 
the extent of their calumnies. They had grossly per- 
verted what he had said about the Bourbons; but he 
deprecated revolutionary violence in any country on the 
globe. As to the Chartists they made him offers of assist~ 
ance, but he would have no alliance with them, and put 
their letters in the fire. Joseph Sturge and the Complete 
Suffragists were a small party, but he would be glad to 
assist them} however, his apprehensions exceeded his 
hopes. As to the wise and judicious people of England, 
he would wish to conciliate them, and he would tell them 
in the first place that he had no desire to separate. He 
insisted, however, that if England could not transfer her 
Parliament to France, so neither could the Irish Parlia- 
ment transfer theirs to England. This was the doctrine 
of such men as Locke, Plunket, and Bushe. He would 
move that a committee be appointed to draw up a sort of 
declaration assuring the Protestants that Catholic ascend- 
ancy could never happen. That declaration would be the 
solemn pledge of the Repeal Association and of the people 
who confided in that association, That declaration would 
be the shield of every Protestant to resist persecution if 
it should ever occur, but there was no danget of it, 
The spirit of persecution was not in the Catholic. Ire- 
land had been stricken down by dissensions amongst 
her children; but once all the Irish were for Ireland, 
Treland would be legislated for by the Irish. He 
desired, therefore, to proclaim in the Conciliation Hall 
this truth as the basis of their exertions ;—that they 
placed their exertions for Repeal on the right of free- 
dom of conscience to all men—without ascendancy to 
any, or political inferiority to any. He concluded by 
moving that the Committee be appointed, which was 
agreed to. Mr. O’Connell then said it was most important 
that they should have as many addresses as possible to the 
Queen between that period and the sitting of Parliament, 
in order that her Majesty should be thoroughly informed 
of the real state of Ireland. Those petitions should com~ 
plain of the present administration, and pray that her 
Majesty will appoint other persons more deserving of her 
confidence, It would be their duty to see that those 
petitions were properly signed, and they would begin the 
next session of Parliament with a cartload of petitions. 
He did not mean that there should be simultaneous meet- 
ings, even of any one county, for this purpose, for in the 
present state of irritation it would be better to have 
parish meetings, one after the other, before Parliament sats 
Cork,—The Cork papers mention that on Thursday 
night the hills in the neighbourhood of Donoughmore, in 
that county, were all lit up, but for what purpose is a 
mystery. The Cork Constitution says, ‘‘ The lighting 
commenced about ten o’clock, and soon after acres of fires 
were seen flaming round the country. What is the object? 
Are there any ill-advisers urging on the unfortunate people 
to deeds which they will by-and-by bewail in blood 2”” 
Limerick.—The Limerick Reporter of Friday says, 
“ The hills through the counties of Limerick, Clare, and 
Tipperary were illuminated last night by large fires, which 
shed their light over a circumference of at least twenty 
miles. The scene was beautiful and imposing ; but what oc- 
casioned so unusual an occurrence we cannoteven guessat.” 
Tipperary.—The Tipperary Constitution of Friday 
alludes to the night-fires as follows :—‘* Last night, 
betwen the hours of seven and eight o’clock, the entire 
country was literally covered with fir From every 
eminence throughout the counties of Limerick, Clare, and 
Tipperary a fire blazed, and all shot into light almost 
simultaneous several instances the fires blazed 
on the public roads, and torches were to be seen borne 
along by the people in every direction. It was really 
wonderful to witness the exactness with which each fire 
for miles round blazed into light, almost at the same mo- 
ment. The meaning of those fires we cannot ascertain.’”” 
Clare.—In the county of Clare, as well asin Tipperary, 
Cork, and Limerick, the fire-lighting system was in 
operation on Thursday night last. The Clare Journal 
contains the following :—‘* On Thursday evening, is far 
as the prospect could be commanded, lights were observ- 
able on all the hills in the country. We have in vain made 
inquiry as to the cause—no one knew, or if so, they were 
not inclined to tell. In our streets there were several 
large bundles of blazing straw carried round, followed by 
a crowd of laughing women and screaming children, to the 
annoyance of the people and very manifest danger of set- 
ting fire to those houses covered with straw. Why some 
one of the authorities or the police did not prevent the 
dangerous amusement, we are at a loss to account for. 
SCOTLAND. 
Glasgow.—The Free Church General Assembly met in 
this city on Tuesday week, and was attended by the Mar- 
quess of Breadalbane, Mr. Fox Maule, and several mini- 
sters deputed from distant churches, among whom was the 
Rev. Ceesar Malan from Geneva. Dr. Chalmers preached 
the sermon, and moved that Dr. Thomas Brown be elected 
Moderator, which was seconded by Dr. M‘Farlan of 
Greenock, and carried unanimously. At the sitting on 
Wednesday Dr, Chalmers intimated that he had trans- 
mitted the address of the Free Church to Her Majesty 
to the Home Secretary immediately after the rising of the 
first assembly, and that he had received the following an- 
swer from Sir James Graham :— I have had the honour 
of receiving and of laying before Her Majesty the address 
which bears your signature, and which was transmitted by 
you tome. Jam unwilling needlessly to refer to the late 
secession of a portion of the ministers from the Established 
Church of Scotland ; but the assurance of your continue 
loyalty has been graciously received by Her Majesty ; an 
the Queen relies with satisfaction on the declaration which 
you make on behalf of the ministers and elders of a Church, 
