r. O'Brien was to proceed to
London, where disobedience would be more marked and decisive; and Mr.
John O'Connell was to remain in Ireland, where he could take advantage
of an additional obstacle to the exercise of its authority to the House.
So the matter stood when Mr. Hume, through what motive it is not easy to
see, neglected or abandoned his notice. The country regarded this as a
confession of weakness by the House, and gloried in a new triumph
achieved by the genius of Mr. O'Connell. He himself thought he had found
a great and solid basis for future action, and hinted at the prospect of
being able to raise upon it a parliamentary structure, having
imprescriptible and indefeasible authority, and only requiring the
sanction of the crown.

A short time after the withdrawal of Mr. Hume's motion, the question was
again raised in another form. The chairman of the Committee of Selection
for Railways addressed a circular, among others, to Messrs. S. O'Brien
and John O'Connell, requiring their attendance at the selection of
special Railway Committees. The correspondent of the _Freeman's
Journal_, thus writes in forwarding their replies:--

_London, Monday, June 30._

"The authority of the British Senate over Irish representatives
is now fairly placed at issue. By my letter of yesterday
evening, you were apprised of the determination of Smith O'Brien
and John O'Connell, to refuse to comply with the summons of the
parliamentary selection committee.

"The course I suggested as that which it was probable would be
adopted, has been since finally resolved upon, and in part
carried into execution. John O'Connell, for the purpose of
taking the chances of a judgment in the Irish court, will not
forward his answer till he shall have reached Ireland. Smith
O'Brien delivered his reply to the clerk of the House of Commons
this day, at one o'clock."

Here follows Mr. O'Brien's letter:--

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CLUB, PALL-MALL.

"_June 30, 1845._

"Sir.--I had the honour of receiving on Saturday afternoon a
letter dated 28th June, and signed 'Henry Creed,' to the
following effect: 'I am directed by the committee of selection
to inform you that your name is on the list for which members
will be selected to serve on the railway committees, which will
commence their sittings in the week beginning Monday, the 14th
July, during which week it will b