ple of Tipperary
from the holding of such meetings, in an address to be printed and
circulated at the expense of the Association. 4. That it be referred to
the standing committee to report whether it be, or may become expedient,
that a deputation shall be sent to Tipperary, and suggest such other
measures, as shall be deemed advisable, in order to dissuade the people
from holding such meetings." Mr. O'Connell issued an address to the
people of the county of Tipperary, which enjoined them to obey the laws;
and the storm which had threatened to burst over Ireland was allayed.
The Catholic priests, sharing in the alarm of the agitators, enforced
the directions of the address from their altars; and the threatened
danger was prevented. When it was over, government exhibited symptoms of
returning life: the lord-lieutenant issued a proclamation enjoining
that which Mr. O'Connell had already done; namely, the discontinuance
of large and armed meetings, as illegal and alarming. The only effect
of this proclamation was to confirm Mr. Lawless in his resolution to
proceed no further in his mission to the north; for the assemblies had
disappeared before he ventured to call them in question. The apathy of
the government at this crisis is scarcely to be accounted for, as it
must have been clear to its members that the train was laid, and that it
only required the application of the match to occasion a most terrible
explosion. The only remarkable declaration which ministers substituted
for active measures, consisted in a private letter sent by the Duke of
Wellington to Dr. Curtis, Catholic primate of Ireland. In that letter he
expressed an anxiety to witness the settlement of the Catholic question;
but confessed that he saw no prospect of such a consummation; adding
with a species of studied obscurity:--"If we could bury it in oblivion
for a short time, I should not despair of a satisfactory result." A copy
of this letter was sent to Mr. O'Connell, and he forthwith carried it
to the Association, where it was received with plaudits as a declaration
that the Duke of Wellington was now favourable to the Catholic claims.
It was ordered to be recorded in their minutes as such, although it
was not easy to foresee how such a conclusion could be adduced from the
letter. This conclusion, however, was arrived at, and it naturally added
to the exultation and confidence of the Catholics. This, however, was
trifling compared with the mischiefs which