No meeting had, before that, ventured to call itself “Repeal infantry;” and to Clontarf horsemen also were summoned, and were designated “Repeal cavalry;” and, in the orders for their assembling, marching, and conducting themselves, military directions were given; and the meeting, had it been permitted to assemble, would have been a parade of cavalry, ready for civil war.  It would have been a sort of review—­in the face of the city of Dublin, in open defiance of all order and government.  Let us add, that, just at that time, Mr O’Connell had published his “Address to all her Majesty’s subjects, in all parts of her dominions,” (a most libellous and treasonable publication;) and the arrangements to secure the peace were more complete, and could be brought to bear more easily, on the Clontarf than on any of the preceding meetings.  The occasion presented itself, and as soon as possible the Irish authorities assembled at Dublin; the proclamation appeared; the ground was pre-occupied, and a force that was irresistible went out to keep the peace, and prevent the meeting.  The result showed the perfect success of the Government’s enterprise.

As the foregoing topics will doubtless occupy much of the attention of parliament during the ensuing session, we were anxious to place on record our own opinions, as the result of much reflection, during a period when events were transpiring which threw upon the Government an awful responsibility, and rendered their course one of almost unprecedented difficulty.  Modern times, we are convinced, have witnessed but few instances of such a masterly policy, combined with signal self-reliance.

One or two general topics connected with Ireland, we have time only to glance at.  First.—­From the faint reluctant disavowal and discouragement of Mr O’Connell and his Repeal agitation, by the leading ex-Ministers during the last session, when emphatically challenged by Sir Robert Peel to join him in denouncing the attempted dismemberment of the empire, irrespective and independent of all party consideration, we are prepared to expect that in the ensuing session, the Opposition will, to a great extent, make common cause with Mr O’Connell, out of mingled fear, and gratitude, and hope towards their late friend and patron.  Such a course will immensely strengthen the hands of the Queen’s Government.

Secondly.—­To any thoughtful and independent politician, the present Sovereign state of Ireland demonstrates the utter impossibility of governing it upon the principle of breaking down or disparaging the Protestant interest.  Such a course would tend only to bloody and interminable anarchy.

Thirdly.—­Ireland’s misery springs from social more than political evils; and the greatest boon that Providence could give her, would be a powerful government inflexibly resolved to put down agitation.