Ireland in 1843, taken in connection with the disturbances at home, alarmed the govern ment and caused it to make a ialse move. The agitation in Ireland for repeal of the union with England had been conducted un der Daniel O'Connell's guidance, through monster meetings, but without violence. The government at last determined to interfere with these assemblies, and issued a proclama-
meetings' the government foolishly prose cuted O'Connell and eight others for conspir ing to raise disaffection and hatred of the government (5 St. Tr. i). Their trial in the Irish Court of Queen's Bench in 1844 was in every way a great cause. The indictment itself covered fifty-eight folio pages, and charged fifty-eight overt acts. Sixteen coun sel appeared for the defense. The attorney-
JAMES WHITESIDE
tion prohibiting a proposed meeting at Clontarf, in October, 1843. O'Connell acquiesced and instructed his people to obey, and the meeting was not held. While this act of O'Connell's showed his power, it undoubt edly impaired his influence with the younger and more turbulent element, which afterward organized the Young Ireland movement of 1848. Not content with suppressing public
general spoke eleven hours in opening the case. Counsel for the defense spoke for eight days. The solicitor-general closed with an argument lasting nearly three days. Chief Justice Pennefather's charge to the jury oc cupied a day and a half. Having agreed upon their verdict, after five hours' delibera tion, the jury occupied nearly as much time in settling it so as to conform to the eleven
