of the city of Cork, not connected with the corporation, had occasion to bring an action, he never had it tried there, but in some neighbouring county, frequently in his (Mr. O'Connell's county; ("your own kingdom," observed a gentleman in the room.) The honourable gentleman (Mr. Hutchinson) had also forgotten, that it is notorious that a poor man never obtains a verdict against a rich man in the city of Cork, and that it is the only county in Ireland in which an assassination has been committed for a pecuniary consideration, in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining justice for a poor man.

Indeed, there was one exception to this general accusation, in which he (Mr. O'Connell) had been himself concerned, and he was resolved to try to shame the jury into a verdict, by telling them if they gave a verdict for his client, they would be the first jury in the city of Cork that had given a verdict for a poor man, against a rich adversary, and they deserved the distinction, for they found for the poor man. There was not a county in Ireland, even the most Orange of the north, that he would not sooner have a Catholic's case tried in, than the city of Cork ; and as to their grand juries, he never yet heard of a resolution proceeding from them in favour of liberty or liberality, while instances are most numerous of the contrary.

It was by presenting a petition against the Catholics, as foreman of the grand jury, that Mr. Anderson, of Fermoy, got his knightship from the Duke of Richmond. With the existence

of all these facts, he would admit Mr. Hutchinson was mistaken in his opinion of the city of Cork juries, and he would not apologize for the error; but he was bound, from the deepest gratitude, to acknowledge Mr. Hutchinson's many and eminent services, and to express his sincere belief that he was mistaken, and had not shaken his (Mr. O'Connell's) conviction of his pur... and ardent patriotism.

In mentioning the name of Brougham, he was affected by feelings of admiration, gratitude, and pleasure. (Hear, hear.) Never was there, perhaps, happier specimen of splendid and various talents, of a powerful mind, of chastened energy and unaffected greatness of design and arrangement, than in the speech for which they were about to thank its author. In his reply to those who followed, oh, what a triumph! He followed them to their den, and dragged them from their strongest hold. When they affected to talk of the celebrated letter being improperly introduced, from the manner in which it had been obtained, instead, then, of replying by acquainting them of its history as furnished by

him (Mr. O'Connell), he fearlessly preferred, not merely to enter: but to carry the war into their own camp, to ask them how they came by the queen's letters ?

But oh, that was a different case. No public crime was committed there—no violation of the most sacred principles of social or civilised society. There was no despicable meanness in bribing the queen's domestics to become malignant tale-bearers, perfidious and treacherous guardians of her escrutoire! Oh, but that occurrence was managed with such excessive delicacy, that it did not deserve to be named at the same time with such baseness, as producing a mischievous, offensive, and unconstitutional letter, found in the street, and relating to improper interference with the grand jury by-a judge.

The bare mention of even the possibility of a political judge of a certain party being influenced by his prejudices in the administration of justice, would be such a sin in the eyes of Lord Downes and Mr. Saurin (who were both perfect saints in their way), that life itself would hardly suffice to expiate the offence; but thank heaven, Mr. Plunket spares the press at both sides, and much good may it do them, though some portion of it never spares him (Mr. Plunket), nor were they more kind to himself (Mr. O'Connell); but they were perfectly welcome, when they made any thing by him, to cut him up in bad rhyme and worse prose, sooner than he should invade the liberty of that powerful preserver of our rights and freedom.

But he would ask, if ever such a use was made of the press as the publication of a charge lately given from the bench in Carlow? Why, it was a perfect libel on the learned judge, for it was impossible that any such buffoonery could ever have escaped from the lips of a man holding the office of Chief Justice; and if Mr. Saurin should succeed in turning Mr. Plunket out. the press-that is the independent portion-will be punished for having inserted so gross a libel as that purporting to be Lord Norbury's charge.

In the speeches of Mr. Brougham upon their petition, there was so much to admire as made it impossible to select any particular passages for eulogy; but what was most worthy comment was the total indifference to personal or professional interests when upon the subject of the judicial authorities; but take him all in all, had they a man in the House of Commons possessing such powerful talents.

There was, to be sure, Mr. Peel, remarkable for his figures of poetry, Mr. Canning for his figures of wit, and Mr. Robinson

for his figures of calculation: but they were all so many figures of pigmies when compared with the intrepid zeal, capacity, powerful mind, and happy eloquence of Brougham; and sincerely did he (Mr. O'Connell) wish he were endowed with some portion of his abilities, in order to express the gratitude of Irish Catholics for that exertion, the fame of which will travel to the remotest corners of the world; and if their country should have occasion to erect a monument, not to a Wellington, but to perpetuate the resurrection of Ireland from the evils of the Union and the curse of intolerance, oppression, and persecution, the first name written over the altar of Justice should be

HENRY BROUGHAM.

The Association having adjourned from its rising on the day of the motion for thanks to Henry Brougham, until November, Mr. O'Connell, thus released from his chief political engagements, delayed only until those of a legal nature were terminated by the long varation, to rejoin his family in France.

From Tours, where they had spent the winter, he brought them to Paris, and thence, after several weeks in that city, by Rouen and Havre, to Southampton, for a further sojourn of a few months at the latter.

It is not for the author of this half-sketch, half-compilation, overpowered as he is by the multiplicity of matter directly relevant to his theme, to introduce what is of lesser, because of private concernment; yet the remark may be allowed him, that the recollections of travel in the company of Mr. O'Connell are among the most delightful in the minds of his family. Records of the old woes of Ireland; recitations of her most moving ballad poetry; information and illustration the most interesting upon historical events connected with the objects on the line of route; these (given an additional charm to by the unvarying sunshine of cheerfulness, and the frequent indulgences of playful bumour)

"Cheered the rough road, and made us wish it long !”

Late in October he returned to Ireland, accompanied only by the writer, then on his way to the Jesuits' College, at Clongowes--Mr. O'Connell not being one of those Irish Catholics, who are so ashamed of their country that they must needs leave their children in England to be educated.

Before proceeding to his ultimate destination, the writer attended one meeting of the infant Catholic Association, in Capel-street, and, by a chance, did not attend another until the year 1829, when that body had not only passed its maturity, but, having accomplished its great end and object, was approaching its dissolution.

The contrast was striking. The narrow two-room floor in Capel-street, yet but half filled, the scanty returns of money, the few communications from the country, and tho informal haste with which the business of the day (all, save Mr. O'Connell's usual address) was got through, were exchanged, in 1829, for the much larger arena of the Corn Exchange Rooms, crowded-room, passages, stairs, and all, to suffocation; Catholic rent handed in in hundreds; country letters of the most spirit-stirring tone read in rapid succession; and these, and other routine businesses, conducted with a gravity, and an observance of forme, that could scarcely be equalled in the bureau of a Secretary of State.

The men themselves (such of them as the vicissitudes of the eventful interval had left in activity) were altered. Captious, uncertain, half-timid in 1823, in 1829 they were bold, self-confident, enthusiastic. Each of them, in that interval, had been taught

One only remained unaltered. The tone, the manner of 1823 were, in his case, the long and manner of 1829, high, cneering, hopeful, and determined, to the fullest degree, dat not more so in the latter year thar: in the former.

In her adversity, he had never doubted of the fortunes of Ireland, and carrying out ef the merciful designs of Divine Providence in her regard.

The Association re-assembled for its winter "session," at the rooms in Capel-street, on Saturday, the 1st of November. Mr. O'Connell had all the work to himself.

MR. O'CONNELL observed that in consequence of the secretary's. absence, the book containing the proceedings of the Association could not be laid before the meeting; and, therefore, as there was no business nor order of the day to proceed in, he should then give notice of some motions for the next day of meeting, and he would begin with notice of a motion of thanks to the author of the pamphlet "In Vindication of the Catholics of Ireland."

The pamphlet had been attributed to the learned Doctor Doyle, and there was no doubt it emanated from his powerful pen; but as the author had not thought fit to attach his name to it, the Association would not be authorized to use his name in their vote.

He (Mr. O'Connell) considered it truly satisfactory that such a work came from such an authority; for there was not a single principle professed through the whole of the pamphlet that did not meet the concurrence of every Catholic in Ireland. The "Essay upon Tithes" was, perhaps, one of the happiest compositions ever read, being in its nature novel, and in its objects useful, in demonstrating the weakness and insufficiency of the title to tithes, as derived from divine right. To the Catholics it was matter of congratulation that, against a principle so pernicious and oppressive in its bearings, and so much opposed to man's natural rights in its practice, the arguments most effective, and calculated to shake its holding, were furnished by a Catholic prelate.

For seventeen of the eighteen years when, struggling with the British Parliament for their rights, the Catholics dared not raise their voices upon the subject of tithes, until their enemies had furnished them with the opportunity, and then it was shown that, however insupportable a grievance tithes were to the Irish peasantry, the mode of collection rendered them the most fatal enemy to the peace and prosperity of the country. It was the bounden duty of the Association to pledge itself to the principles professed in the pamphlet, and to throw around it the shield of its opinion against any assaults that may be made upon its

author, by one of the vilest instruments that ever disgraced the institution of the press.

If the pamphlet was read in England, it would be of the last importance, as it might induce England, for the security of the British empire, to think of making peace with Ireland, when she is very likely to be at war with the Continent. (Hear, hear.) By the intended vote of thanks, the Association would proclaim their opinion, and their wishes, on the subject of their griev

ances.

The next notice he should offer, was for the appointment of a committee for collecting such facts as may be deemed necessary in support of their petition to the House of Lords, upon the ad· ministration of justice to Ireland, to be presented by Earl Grey.

The Irish public (he said) well knew that in their country justice was corrupted to its very source, and that in one province in particular, the administration of justice had been affected by the unfortunate tinge of sectarian and political prejudice, and that even in the very counties so highly lauded by parliament for their good government.

When the petition was confided to Mr. Brougham, it was not thought necessary to support its allegations by particular facts or instances, or he should have been furnished with them most plentifully; and if they were only to take up the records of the last assizes, they should find abundant matter of complaint in the Leinster circuit. But their petition never went to arraign the superior judges. It was true they did not compliment, but neither did they censure any court; indeed, it was quite impossible their complaints could have alluded to the superior courts; for whilst there were particular judges exceptionable, the superior courts in general were honest, impartial, and able; and he most explicitly and unequivocally expressed his respectful admiration of, and confidence in, all the judges in the King's Bench.

TITHE COMMUTATION BILL.

MR. O'CONNELL said his third notice related to a very impor tant subject. It was, that a committee should be appointed to prepare a petition to parliament against the late Tithe Commutation Bill, than which he had no idea of any measure more contemptible or ridiculous