r stated that he had called
on my informant, because he understood him to be a disappointed man,
and ill-disposed to the existing order of things; that with respect to
himself and the thousands who felt with him, there was no sacrifice
they were not ready to make, if they could humble England and reduce
her to a third-rate power.

The place originally selected for the monster meeting, according to
the advertisement which I enclose, was the Bonsecour Market, a covered
building, under the control of the corporation. When this was
announced, however, the Government sent for the mayor (a French
Liberal) and told him that they considered it unbecoming that he
should give the room for such a purpose. He accordingly withdrew his
permission, stating that he had not been before apprised of the
precise nature of the assembly. After receiving this check, the
leaders of the movement fixed on an open space near the centre of the
town for their gathering.

It took place last night, and proved a complete failure. Not a single
individual of importance among the Irish Repeal party was present.
Some hundreds of persons attended, but were speedily dispersed by a
timely thunder shower. O'Connor was violent enough; but I have not yet
ascertained that he said anything which would form good material for
an indictment. I am of opinion, however, that proceedings of this
description on the part of a citizen of another country are not to be
tolerated; and, although there is an indisposition in certain quarters
to drive things to an extremity, I think I shall succeed in having him
arrested unless he takes himself off speedily.

[Sidenote: The British question.]

But the French question and the Irish question were simple and unimportant
as compared with those which were raised by the state of feeling recently
created in a large and influential portion of the British population,
partly by political events, partly by commercial causes.

[Sidenote: The Family Compact.]

The political party, which was now in opposition--the old Tory Loyalists,
who from their long monopoly of office and official influence had acquired
the title of the 'Family Compact'--were filled with wrath at seeing
rebels--for as such they considered the French leaders--now taken into
the confidence of the Governor as Ministers of the Crown. At the same time
many of the individua