IRELAND.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 24, 17 January 1844, Page 4

IRELAND.

The great meeting- on the hill of Tata, which has been looked forward to fulsome time, took place on Tuesday, Aug. 15th. The number estimated by one person at 500,000; by "an old military friend" of the Dublin Pilot at 1000.000. ~\S hatever the numbers, the scene must have been the best got up of all the " iiion* ster meetings." The road to the hill was thlonged with passengers, in carriages, hired cars, and on foot. A great pro* cession assembled at Danshaiifihin, fourteen miles from Dublin, and parted at lialf-past ten o'clock ; but people left Dublin for the rendesvous betore dawn, and even over night. The >i!e is thus described :—"The hill of Tata, when it came in view, presented the appearance of an encampment. The southern side was completely covered with the canvass of tents, over which fluttered banners with Repeal mottoes ; and beneath the canvass, and on the field outside, ample Tiands seems to have been provided by thrifty dealers. The ascent to this celebrated hill is so gradual by the southern road, that one is not prepared for the extended prospects, which on the top break upon the sight on all sides. The view is onJy limited by the horizon, and, passing over lauds of the richest pasture, is said to encompass portions of no less than twelve counties. The plain, on the summit of the hill, comprises fifteen acres ; tut on these it is in vain you seek for any sign or relic of that extensive regal lesidence so proudly spoken of in Irish history ; if we except two mounds, one of which a peasant pointed out to us as *' the spot where fifty of the boys were buried in one grave, who were shot at the battle fought there at the time of the troubles in '1)8." To the north of the hill were erected two platforms ; one for the ladies j and the other, capable of containing five hundred persons, for the speakers and other leading characters.— The principal members of the Repeal Association of Ireland and a number of English and Scotch gentlemen were also on the ground who took a lively interest in the proceedings. A number of very excellent speeches were delivered duri ig the day, each speaker impressing upon the vast multitude the necessity of avoid sng- the least breach of the peace, as it might give their enemies, the Tories, an opportunity of heaping slander on the cause they were advocating, viz, a Repeal of the Legislative Union. During JWr. O'C's., speech, which occupied two hpurs, he said—•♦ Old Wellington began by threatening them, and talked of civil •war ; but he said nothing about it now. Now only think of an old general doing euch a thing. He had heard that a great deal of brandy and biscuits had been sent to the barracks, and he sincerely hoped the poor soldiers would get some of them. Their honest brothers, the soldiers who lad been sent to Ireland, were as orderly and brave men as any in Ireland. (Hear, hear and cheers.) He was sure that not ©ne of them had a single complaint to make against them. (Hear, hear and cheers.) If any of you have say so. (Loud cries of " No, no.") They were the bravest army in the world ; and therefore he did not disparage them at all when he stated this fact, that if they were sent to make war against the people, he had "women enough to beat them. (Cheers and laughter.) There was no mockery ©r delusion in what he said. At the last fight for Ireland, when they were betrayed by a reliance on English honour —which they would never again confide in, for he would as soon confide in the honour of a certain black gentleman that had got two horns and hoofs. (Laughter.) But as he was saying, at the last battle for Ireland, when, after two days' hard fighting, the Irish were driven back by the fresh troops that were brought up by the English to the bridge of Limerick, at that point when the Irish soldiers retired fainting, it was that the women of Limerick threw themselves in the way, and drove tlie enemy back, fifteen, twenty, oi thirty paces. (Cheers.) Several of the poor women were killed in the struggle; and their shrieks of agony being heard by their countrymen, they again rallied and determined to die in their defence ; and doubly valiant in the defence of the women, they together routed the Saxons. t,Loud and long continued cheering.) Yes, he re-

peated that he had women enough to beat ali the army in Ireland. (Renewed cheering.) It was idle for any minister or statesman to suppose for a moment that he could put down such a struggle as this for liberty. The only thing- he feared was the conduct of some ruffians who were called Ribbon men; and he went on to warn Repealers against them. He claimed for the Queen the right at once to summon an Irish Parliament; and said that if "dirty Sudgen "-.would not sign the writs, an Irish Chancellor could soon be found who would ; and he added, " I believe J am able to announce in you that, twelve months cannot possibly elapse without having a hurra tot our.Parliamem in College Green." He announced, thai on Monday next the association would nominate " Arbitrators" in the persons oi the displaced Justices of the Peace, who would decide disputes without expense ; and he exhorted his hearers to cany their disputes before those arbitrators for settlement." After giving three cheers for Mr. O'Connell and the Repeal of the Union the imuiens muliitnde departed. Irish Paper.