Miscellaneous.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 7, 6 June 1848, Page 4

Miscellaneous.

THE LATE ASSASSINATION OF MAJOR MAHON. MORE PRIESTLY APOLOGIES. The following is an extract of a letter which appeared in the Times of Thursday last, signed "An Irish Peer," relative to the denial, by the Rev. Mr. M'Derinott, Parish Priest of btrokeaiown, of the denunciation of the late Major Mahou from the altar, previous to the murder:— *• Sir, —In your journal of the 11th inst. appears a letter from Priest M'Derinott, of Strckcstowo, county of Roscommon, who is accused of having denounced the late respected M<*jor Mdhon. He says—' 1 hare now to assure the public, by tne most solemn asseverations a clergyman can utter, that the late Major Mahon was never denounced, nor even his name mentioned, from any chapel altar in Strufcestown, or within twenty miles of Strokestown, in any direction, on any Sunday before his death.* •• The Rev. Prast is quite right as to the word 'Sunday.* The late Major Mahon was denounced from the altar on the * Monday' previous to his assassination; that 'Monday* was a Saint's day, [the Romish festival of ' St. Rose of Lima,'] on which the Roman Catholic population attend mass as regularly aod in as great numbers as on the Sabbath. The fdct is known in Dublin Castle. *' I make no comment whatever upon this circumstance. I leave the people of England to form their own judgment of it.''

(From the Times.) The Rev. Mr. M'Dermott appenrß to be well versed in the special pleading of assassination. He may be laid to be the Tidd or Chitty of Irish Thuggee. The case of the unfortunate Major Mahon has been connected with a denunciation trom the altar. For reasons best (known to himself the Reverend Gentleman liaß warmly espou*ed the cause of the pec ant priest. The merits are against him. Major Mahon was denounced from the altar; and, immediately after the deum.cation, Major Mahon *es Bhot. This is the state of facts with which counsel have to deal, and yet save their client from tbe gallown. Mi. M Dermott accordingly closely examines the ma'.ner and form in which the accusation has been laid From many

quarters in Ireland, and from all quarters in England, the voice of the accuser has been constant in the wme s'ory. On the Sua Jay preceding his death, Major Mahon was denounced-from the altar, and on thß next day, Monday, he was shot. This is the tale that has come to us on every side from the press. This is (he account that was given of the deadly anathema by Lordß Famham and Stanley in tbe House of Peers. The very words used by the Priest were cited : —>'* This man," meaning Major Mahon, "is worse than Cromwell, and he still lives!" Let us hear Father M'DerI raott in reply. " I have uow to assure the public by the most solemn asseverations a clergyman can utter, that the late Vlajor Mahon was never denounced, nor even his name 1 mentioned, from, any chapel altar in Strokestown, or ' within twenty miles of Strokestowu. on any Sunday before his death." How sure the Rev. Gentleman is of his factß! We are now assured by an Irish Peer»whoseletterwe publish today, that the fact of the denunciation from the altar mas true. The oii»y misstatement consisted in the averment of the day on which the priesily curse was uttered. Major Mahon was denounced on the Monday, —on the morning of the day of his death. After w»at fell from Lord Lansdowne the other night, we can entertain no sort of douht thai the authorities in Dublin would he happy to proceed againßt the priest who denounced Major Mahon oti the ■* Monday," if they could get any of the congregation to come forward and bear witness to the fact. This, however, is Father M'Dermolt's Btrong point. The priest is sure of bis men. The stronghold of the priest is in their abject and superstitious notions of his power over tbeir future destiny. This it is which makes them pliant as Wax in his hand?, and enables him to laugh to scorn the provisions of the law and the indignation of his countrymen. ** Why do yon not prosecute me," says the Rev. Gentleman, " if I have used these words V The legal process is simple and inexpensive—hireling se.fs will be found in Roman Catholic congregations. Why do not some such characters come lorwartl and denounce the denonucer ? This is Father M'Dermott's position. The answer ie obvious. It is hecause the voice of an approver or two of bad character—Mr. M'Dermott, not we, suggests these means —could not weigh with a jury against the united testimony of a congregation fully prepared to perjure themselves in platoons, in order to save their spiritual instructor from the gallows. Thia, we take it, is the main reason why the Irish Attorney-General has not already made acquaintance with the Rev. Gentleman who is said to have denounced M.<jor Mahon on the ** Monday." There are many things in this world of which you may have the most perfect moral certainty, and yet be unable to establish them according to the strict forms of law. The denunciation of Major Mahon belongs to this class. The apologetic or explanatory letter of Father M'Dermott is an anathema in itself—a worthy petulant to the murder suggesting speech of Avchde:con L»flan. The two Reverend Gentlemen are just the men to keep the peasantry to their romantic employment in the long winter Might!". They have ouly got to implore them to desist in the style they have used hitherto, and thtre will not be a respectable mau in the countryside whose life would be worth tiro days' purchase. Could poor Major Mahon be called to life sgaiß, the explanatoiy letter of Mr. M'Dermott would be quite sufficient to consign him again to a bloody grave, without any second denunciation from the altar on a ** Monday."