IRELAND. EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A CHAPEL.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 219, 5 July 1848, Page 3

IRELAND. EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A CHAPEL.

The following story has been communicated to us by a party whose opportunity of information cannot be questioned. Mr. Joseph Holmes is a resident proprietor in Sligo, within a short distance of Ballaghadderreon, County Mayo. He is a Magistrate for both counties, and wab made a Deputy-Lieutenant of the former lai>t year, us a mark of the sense entertained by the authouties of his exertions in behalf of the poor, during the late crisis, and of his unceasing labors in preserving the peace of the district at a most trying peiiod. Having received intimations that the Paiish Priest, Mr. Tighe, had made repeated attacks on him at the Chapal, and that his life would be attempted by assassins who had arrived in the neighborhood, he was prevailed on by hit friends to leave the country for a short period, till the passing of the late Government measure, when he returned. These facts coming to the knowledge of his brother, Mr. A. Holmes, who resides in England, the latter paid a hurried visit to this country, and on Old Christmas day presented himselt at the Chapel, at Ballaghaderreen, and having asked and obtained permission from the Rev. Mr. Tighe, to address the congregation, a very numerous one, was accommodated with a place at the altar. He declined addressing the people till Mr. Tighe stood at his side— a becond Priest stood at bis left. Ballaghaderreen is within a few miles of tne scenes of the murders of Major Mahou, and the Rev. Mr. Lloyd; The following scene then took place — Mr. Tighe—" Mr. Holmes has expressed a desiie to address you, and I have given him permission to do so." Mr. Holmes (advancing to the front of the altar,) — IC My friends— Mr. Tighe, your Pne->t, has given me permission to address you from tins altar, and I will avail myself of it. I have travelled five hundred miles to say five words to you — pray, therefore, attend to me. You do not all know me but you know my bn ther, Mr. Joseph Holmes. (We do.) Is theie amount you one who can say that my brother has ever dona an unkind or an unjust act by him ? If there is let him hold up his hand ! la there amongst you a mau who can deny, thai, for the last two years my brother has been. >our sla\e ? If there is let him speak ! ( V pause ) Duri ing lue last two yeaifa, my brother ius expended

X2<),() 10 in i>rovi iorr, to tvi i> ilovn tlir irril^n 1'"",1 '"", that vim rind yom rUlduii i iii;l't not starve ' Iff !■ ' daily, lortlic last sixteen month i, leu MO oi y»-m n.i<dren ut liis schoolhousc. He has turned his home .imiE ollices into a provision store for your accommodationAnd what is the leturn lie hw met with ? Do you <equire lo he told i Why, when \\f left home, a mvPUi a»fo if ib notations that, the a s.usihs who were to hum*tier him, had aruved in the \iai i«>lt , n"cl .7cro I) nboim'tl amongst you "" There me those arnon >s f you lli.it luv \' it ! I can account for (ho presence of these nnscicnt 1 -. They wore aitiatlad h ; 'her by the inHimm.iloiy h:i • r.mgues of youi Piiest hcrp--(j)oi'ilin^ to Mr. Tighc,) -—I tctl iiiin so to his face !" ( rienioiuloi'a upiodr in the Cli.ip.'l Crits of—-" Turn him oul 1 he' 1 ! d li.ir !" A scene of q eat co ifucion, ili;u ip; \>lue!i th? Cniatpir* van ntteiii}ttcd to ad-lic^ iiud npp' i'-c the ju'onli 1 , f < »I •■ lowed. At leiifljth Mi.Ti^hc s ii-'Vi-tHd, .lticr mutiy ineffectual efforti, in (ihf,:iiiing < h umg.) Mr. Tighe — " lis l.ilsc ih.it I made m> p.Uado .),? Mr. Holmes— thcro lure lucn !>mi^- lov'yilnl in iJuj paiiili, and poor vvrcichss turned out, but 1 nevei <it-> tacked Mr. Holmes.' 1 Mr. Ilolmci— •" I know tint jou did, nndl lei! yon at this altai, to your face, and in the mvsencs of your oongi elation, tbat it ia your ottarku o.t my brother from this spot that Ijitc brought these murdereis to this p.insh. [Here the upioar rccooamencou, and some of th-i more violent of tlu> «')ngro^cition app"nird *JisposeJ to pas-3 o\ei - t!ie mils to the altai , the Pntbts cndiMvoMiii; to icstrain them | Mi Hjlruo. (aJwiiiciiiii in Iront)— "J am not afi aiJt of you, T p<init> hnc \o tell you these truths nlons, and am not to be dstoired b^ five hundied of you." Mr. Tijjhe — { " My friends, this is the House of Cd. Let us have no more ot this. Mr. II <lims hasjeharged me with a'tecks on his biotbcr, which I deny. If he has anything; more to say, let him address you outside the Chapel !" Mr. Holmes having declined any further address to the people, left the Chipel surrounded by a mob, who refrained from any act of personal violenru, but saluted him with groans ami executions on his driving away — Dublin Evening Mail.