THE IRISH NATIONAL EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 468, 31 March 1882, Page 5

THE IRISH NATIONAL EXHIBITION.

The following letter has been received by Mr. Gray, of the Freeman? s Journal, from his Grace the Archbishop of Oashel : — '•The Palace, Thurles, January 28. "My Dear Mr. Gray, — Allow me to congratulate you very heartily, and with you the universally-esteemed Lord Mayor of Dublin and certain other good and patriotic men, on the success of your efforts to have an Exhibition of Irish Arts and Industries held in Dublin this year. The project has at last taken a practical shapp, and can hardly fail now to be a great success. " Under existing circumstances in Ireland, with 500 of our most valued countrymen in gaol, though not convicted of any offence, and while the liberty of every Irish citizen may, without exaggeration, be said to depend on the estimate formed of him by policemen and other such formidable potentates, it would, in my humble opinion, have been mean-spirited and unbecoming in a high degree on the part of the promoters of the Exhibition to have sought for, or even accepted, any patronage except that of the Irish people. Indeed, it is very much to be regretted that the vexatious question of State patronage had ever been raised ; but it is, at the same time, fortunate that it has been finally set at rest, and settled withal in a manner completely in harmony with the popular sentiment. I " I shall have much pleasure in subscribing for 50 shares in the proposed Limited Liability Company, and take this opportunity of recommending it to the country at large, but in a special manner to the patriotic priests and people of the county of Tipperary. — I remain, my dear Mr. Gray, your very faithful servant, '• (3& T. W. Croke, Archbishop of Cashel.