Interest excited by Mr. O'Connell's Letters-The Clare Election - The "Progress"-Trades Political Union- Mr. O'Connell returns to London-his Letters PAGR 81 Premature Session of Parliament-The Irish Tories-Lord de Grey-Reformed Corporation of Dublin-its first Lord Mayor-Municipal Reform Act-Mr. Grote--The New Ballot-box-Vote by Ballot-Mr. O'Connell takes Possession of the Mansion-house in Dublin-Difficulties he had to encounter-Corporation Address to her Majesty -its Presentation-Dinner at the London Tavern- Sir Robert Peel-his Speech on the Distress of the Country-Meeting at the Reform Club-The Corn Laws -M. Soyer's Dinners-The High Sheriff of Fermanagh Bribery and Intimidation. - Mr. Roebuck - Peel's Financial Plans - Customs Tariff-State of Parties- sence of mind-The Dublin Press-Meeting at the Royal Exchange-Compelled to escape-The "Nation"-Young Ireland-Thomas Davis-Smith O'Brien-Gavan Duffy- Repeal Discussion-Public Meetings, with Statement of the Numbers attending them-State Trials-Monster Indict- ment-Rumours of Perils-Alarm on the Road-Amount of Miles travelled-Popularity of Mr. O'Connell-Peace- able Agitation-The Mail Contracts-Building of Concilia- Mr. William Connor-Entreé of Mr. James Gordon Bennett -"Great Room" of the Corn Exchange-Mr. Bennett's Exit-Rev. Tresham Gregg-The Coal Porters-Great England's Pride of Domination-Campaign against Repeal- PARLIAMENTARY AND AGITATION EXPERIENCES: CHAPTER I. OPEN-AIR AGITATION. A BREAK DOWN. A MONSTER MEETING.ANATHEMA AGAINST REPEALERS.-PRETENDED COALITION.-LETTERS OF MR. O'CONNELL.-THE YOUNG IRELAND" PARTY.-MR. DAVIS.— ELECTION OF 1841.-THE "O'CONNELL RENT."-CANDIDATE FOR 66 DUBLIN. THE DUBLIN ELECTION. CARLOW ELECTION. ABDUCTION OF VOTERS.-A MORNING MEAL.-THE ELECTION-OUR DEFEAT. -MR. KAVANAGH. My first experiments in open-air agitation were not particularly encouraging. Upon both occasions, the platform, or hustings, fairly broke down. Upon the first of them, the platform, fortunately not at a great elevation from the ground, yielded in the centre; and the chairman, from having upon him, metaphorically, the whole weight of the meeting, was made to undergo something like an experience of it in hard physical reality. Secretary, reporters, movers and seconders of resolutions, orators and all, we tumbled in upon him in doubtless "much admired" but not very agreeable confusion; and but for the lucky chance of a stout oaken table having covered him, the "pressure from without" would have put an end to him, as it has before now to ministries and parliaments. On the second occasion we were a considerable height from the ground, and just before our fall we were assured that the platform "would bear a house," a form of expression very much in fashion ⚫on such occasions, but which I earnestly recommend to the particular distrust of all platform orators. In both cases there had been persons underneath until a few moments before the accident. In the second case we had had exceeding trouble and difficulty to get them to remove, and the last had scarcely left the place, ere the crash occurred. A cross beam, made of green wood, snapped suddenly in two, and the superincumbent staging, with all its patriotic load, went down at once "Like some vast mountain, Half sunk, with all its pines!" |