LATEST FROM IRELAND. (From the Dubrin Evening Foreman, Oct. 10.)

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 289, 7 March 1849, Page 3

LATEST FROM IRELAND. (From the Dubrin Evening Foreman, Oct. 10.)

The following is the verdict and sentence of Mr. Smitb O Brien :— At a quarter past five o'clock, the juil-ie; entered ihr cmirf, toi)k tlieir se«ts on the bencl), aud Mr. Smith OB leu wa« placed at the bar. The Cierk of the Crown having called over the names of th<* jury, «*ked, G'ntlrmen, have you agreed to your verdict ? The Foreman. — Yet. Oerk o( the Crown. —How say you. It William Mni«h OBrien guilty or not guilty ? A verdict of j;U Ity was then returned, with the follow ntr recommendation. 44 Wo earnestly recommend the prisoner to the merciful consideration of the Government, the Jury bern? unanimously of opinion that, for nmny reasons, hu life should be spired. 1 ' '* For aelf and iellows, " Richard M. S. Mansehagh, " Foreman," The Clerk of the Crown hating read over thf indictment, addressed Mr. OBrien, and »aid— To this idictmenl you have pleaded not guilty, and put yourirlf upon your country. Th«t country has pronounced you guilty. Whtt have you now to say why tho sentence of the law should uot be pissed uuon you. Mr. OBrien, in a calm and firm voice, addressing the juds;e», mid— My lords, it is not my intention to eater into any vindication of my conduct, however much I might have desired to avail rayielf of this opportUQty of doing so lam perfectly sttijfied with the c»'ts':iousnea that I U-tve performed my duty to my country—that I have done only that which in tny opinion, it wss the duty ol every Irishman to have dnne t A«d I am prepared now to abide the consequences f having performed my duty to my native land. Proceed with your sentence. Ou utterance of these words, a deep murmur, followed by a burst of applau«e, filled the Court, but it was at once suppress d. Mr. OBrien then stepped back a pace from the front of the dock, and folding his arms acroi* his breast, looked steadily at the judges, and made a silght inclination of bis head, preserving in thu trying moment the same c*lm composure which has characterized his bearin? throughout the evcnifol progress of this memorable trial. Alur a lapse of a few moments, Chief Justice Blackburne proceeded with slow and impressive accents, amidst the most profound silence, to pronounce the awful sentence of the Court. He tad— William Smith OBrien, after a long, patient, and laborious trial, a jury of your country has found you guilty of high treason. Their verdict was accompanied by a recommendation to the mercy of the Crown ; and that recommendation, as it our duty, we shall send forward to the Lord Lieutenant, to whom, a* you must know, exclusively belongs the power to comply with it. It now remains for us to pronou ice that sentence by which the law marks the enormity of your guilt, and aims at the prevention of similar crimes by the ex • ample and tb« infliction, of a tenibie punishment. [Marked sensation iv the court] Oh! that you would reflect upon that .crime, and dwell won it in : i icere repentance and temorte. Oh 1 that you would regard it as it if regarded by every rational being— that you would feel and know that it is really and substantially as repugnant to the interests of humanity, tn« precepts and spirit of the divine religion you profess, as it is to the positive law, your violatiooof which is now attended by the forfeiture of your lite. (Great sanction) The words which you have addressed to the oourl, forbid me— l say it with pai» and wr ow— • from proceeding any further on ihis subject. It now o ly remains for the court to pronounce the sentence of the l*w . [Here their lordships, without the slightest apparent. emotion, put on their black caps, which caused a thrill of horror to pervade the crowded court,] That icQtenCD ii, that you, William Smith 0 Brien,

be token from hence to Hie place from whence you time, and he thence drawn on a hurdle to ths flaw of execution, and be there hanged by the nvck until you aro dead : and afterwards jour head thall be *e«ered fiom your body, and your body be divided into four quarters, to, b« disp>»ed uf at her Majesty »lull think fit. A.»d "may God have mercy ot jour soul. The judges tht-n hastily retired from the bench. When the tut provi«ions of ihr sentence were pronounced, the public feeling, according to the Evening Fieeman (from which pupcr we hare thridged this accoun<) could tnlnnaru'eit i self by stifled sobs and broken murmur* ol nympithy. Mr. OBrien, aft«r havine; bo«f<l to his counsel, warmly shook hands with Mr. Patter, Dr. Giay, ami Mr. OHara, who stood beside the dock, nnd retired with a cou»p>bcd de meauour and firm step.