cotemporary, the Killrenny Journal is angry at our frankly-

fit : ~

T H§.§;i‘P

44

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Mus. WELPLEY, N. Y.——The O’Falvies were anciently chief-
tains of the territory of Corca Duibkne, now known as the barony
of Corcaguiny, in the County of Kerry. They are descended
from Degaidh, grandson of Olild Arronu, an Ulster prince of the
line of Erimhon, or Heremon. Degaidh migrated to Munster a
short time previous to the Christian era, and was there favor-
ably received by Duach, the Iberian King of that country, who
then chanced to be also Arch-King of all Ireland. The descen-
dants of Degaidh became very powerful in time, so that some of
them usurped the sovereignty of Munster. They were called
the C'lanna Degha, or “ Children of Degaidh,”from their founder,
and also the Emai .I[umh,«m, or Ernaans of Munster, from Olild
Arroun. From Carbri Riada, one of the race, sprang the Dal
Riada, conquerors of Seotland, who for many ages furnished
Kings to that country. One of the most celebrated chiefs of the

Clanna. Degha was Curigh MacDari, the vanquisher of Cuchullinw

and the reputed founder of the ancient fortress of Oathair Chonrigh,
or “ Curigh‘s Castle,” now Cahirconry, on a mountain between
the bays of Castlemain and Tralee. At last the Ernaans 01‘
Degadians, were deprived, by the race of Eber, of their leading
position in Munster, and driven altogether into Kerry. Where
they continued possessors of the territories of Corca D10/W26, Ui
Rathach and Magh Og-Cizinche, now the baronies of "C0-'Cfig11iDy,”
“Iveragh” and "Magonihy,” down to the English iI1V&Si0n.
The chieftain families of these districts were 0’FuiW€ 110W
“O’Falvey,” lords of Corcaguiny ; 0’Seghdb,a, now “O'Shea,”
lords of Iveragh, and ()’C'(mghaile, now “O’Connell,” lords of
Magonihy. The O’Falvies take their family name from Failbhe,
King of Iar Mumhan, or West Munster, who was Admiral Of the
Munster fleet under Callaghan of Cashel.

thO’h-Uidhrin mentions the Ernaan chiefs in verses, translated

us:
“Three chieftains own the land
Of Corcaguiny of fair hosts; “.
The warlike O’Falvey——aud O’Shea,
The strengthening bond of the East coast.

O’Connell of the sharp swords

Rules in the forts of shaded Magonihy;
Like a tall tree in a hazel wood

Is this chief of Munster’s horsemen.

From the Mang, westward to Ventry——
Lies the territory of O’Falvey.

- O’Shea. is undisputed chieftain
Of the wide district of Iveragh.”

The Clan of O’CoNNoR KERRY, in Irish O'C'onc72ubhdn' Ciarraidhe
is, as related in a. previous number, descended from Oiar. or Kiar,
son of the Red Branch Knight, Fergus Mac Roigh and of Meidhbh,
or “Mevia,” the heroine queen who ruled Connaught about the
time of the Christian Era. A portion of the descendants of this
Kiar settled in L7 Mumham, or “West Munster, and to which
they gave the name of Cearrnidhe. In time the chief family of
the tribe took the name 0’C'omhabIzaz'7-, from “ Concobar” or
“ Connor” son of Cathal, one of their chiefs. Mac Betha or
“ Macbeth,” son of Muredach and grandson of the Connor com-
manded the forces of West Munster at Clontarf’ where he was
slain in 1014.—The epithet Oiarraid/ze “ or Kerry” was given
to this clan in order to distinguish it from several other
clans, that took the name of O’Connor—as O’Connor Faly,
O’Connor Don, O’Connor Keenaught, O’Connor Corcomroe—
all of different origins.—The Ciarraidhe tribe produced many dis-
tinguished warriors, and several eminent fathers of the Irish
Church—-of them were, St. Brendan of Kerry, founder of the see of
Ardfert and of several monasteries in the 5th century. St Cart-
hach, or Mochuda, who in the 7th founded the College of Lismore
in the county of Waterford, so famous afterwards throughout
Europe as a seat of learning and sanctity : In the 13th century,
the Fitzmaurices conquered a large portion of the principality
of the O’Connors—Kerry, which thenceforth was confined to the
present barony of Iraghticonnor. There they built several cas-

‘tles after the Norman fashion, the principal of which was Car-
rigafoyle, near the mouth of the Shannon. The whole of the
possessions of the clan were plundered from them during the
Elizabethjan, Cromwellian and Williamite wars; but many of‘
them still hold more property and position. Daniel O’Connell,
O’Connor-Kerry, an oflicer in the Austrian service, claims to
represent the chieftaincy at present. Of the O’C,onnors-Kerry,
0’h-Uidhrin says.
a Righ Ciarraidhe os Clannaibh ceii-‘#—

OConchobhair coir doisein ;

Cele clair an midhfhuinn mir

On traigh co Sionaind sruithghil.

A King of Kerry over Kiar’s clans,

O’Connor rules the land by right.

Chief of a land of fertile fields,

From the shore to the Shannon of clear streams.”

In English

JAMES COT'I'ER,BOSt0l1l.—VVe do not know the origin of the
name Senton.—Your remarks as to the application of the Irish

name Muire are correct.

JOHN MACDONOUGH. N. Y.——Your communication does not
suit us.

THOMAS CONOLLY, Manchester.——Both your letters have been
answered. Enquire at the Post office. J. O. M.

THE NEWSPAPER AGITATION AT HoME.—The following sen-
sible observations appeared in the Dublin Ilishman in reference
to a proposed gathering of newspaper Editors in Ireland :——“Our

stated objections to this new and preposterously absurd proposal
for ‘agitation.’ It is evident that the Journal and we differ very
widely ; and we shall, therefore, avoid all useless discussion on
the subject. But our cotemporary amusingly asks what ‘agita-
tion’ we would propose in its place! God bless the writer’s
simple soul I we want no ‘agitation.’ We set our face utterly
against any new scheme of brawling and talking, to debauch the
blic mind, and bring up again a host of feeble parliamentary
‘agitators’ to deluge us with driftless speech. How absurd, too!
Whilst England and Scotland are arming to ‘keep off the invader,’
the only proposal offered by the ‘leaders’ to Ireland is that she
shouldeget up a mighty palaver of Newspaper Editors I God
help us !——it was not in that fashion Grattan and the Volunteers
won a gleam of independence for their country.”

MAC SWEENY, Wilmington, Del.——The clan Mac Suiblme, in
English, Mac Sweeny and Mac Swiny. is descended from Duirm-
ahleibhe, pronounced Dunlevie, son of Aedh Athlamh, son of Domit-
null, or Donall O’Neill, Prince of Tyrone. This branch of the
royal house of Ulster migrated at an early period to Donegal,
or Tyrconnel, where they formed three great families, namely:
Jlcw Suibhne Fanaid, or “Mac Sweeny Fanad,” whose possessions
Jay along the Western shore of Lough Swilly, and whose princi-
pal stron hold was Rathmullin Castle ; Mac Suiblme Boghaineoch,
or “Mac; weeny Banagh,” whose inheritance was situated in the
barony ofiianagh, on the Southwestern coast of Donegal, and
whose Castle was at Rathain. The islands called in Irish Reach-
-rain Muiimtire Brin, and in English. “Rathlin O’Beirne,” lay in
his territory; and Mac Suibhne na d-Tuagh, which some translates
“Mac Sweeny of the Battle Axes,” though others make the epi-
thet, na d-Tuath. i. e. ‘ of the Territories.” The latter’s possess-
ions lay in the present barony of Kilmacrenan and comprised
the districts known as‘ the Tuatha Toraighe, or “Districts of
Tory Island.” The Mac Sweenies were hereditary marshals to
the O’Donnells, and leaders of their battle~axe guards and
Galloglasses——the latter being a. species of heavy-armed foot
soldiers. A branch of the clan also migrated from Donegal to
Munster, where they became distinguished military leaders and
Captains of the Galloglasses of the Mac Carthies, Princes of
Desmond, from whom they received extensive possessions.
Their castles were at Cladagh near Macroom, and Castlemore
in the parish of Moviddy.

P. T. SHERLOCK, Chicago.—The meaning of the word “Fenian”
is explained under the heading, “To Correspondents,” in N o. 4,
Vol. 1 of the Pncnmx. As that number may not be now acces-
sible to you and your friends, we reprint it entire for your bene-

-

---~——..a.....au-1-o*‘ -

To this day the exploits of the Fenian Orderlare commemorated

Tales,” while Iieating, O’Hal1oran and others tell us plainly
what were its uses and objects. Hence, we think that no Irish-
man should fecl at a loss for the interpretation of the term “Fe-
nian Fund.

“We also find that the wlzole of the Gaelic tribes were denomi-
nated “Feni ” Some authors will have it that they got the
name from Phoenicia, whence as these tell us, they had their
origin. Others derive the appellation from Fenius Farsaidh
one of our most celebrated progenitors. as we are told in the
following stanza quoted by the venerable Dr. Keating :

‘Feni o Fenius ad bertha——
Brigh gan dochta:

Gaedhail o Ghaedhal Glas gartha;
Sgoit o Sgota.’

In English-—
‘Fenians from Fenius they are called-
Nor forced that meaning:
From Gaedal Glas we name them Gaels:
And Scots from Scota.’

“It is to be further remarked that some learned antiquarians
have supposed, our great ancestor, the aforesaid Fenius to be
indentical with another celebrated personage, whom the Greeks
call Phoenix—a namesake of our own. He was the founder of
the great Phoenician nation, and from him they took their name.”

BRITISH PILFERINGS IN THE Posr O1-‘I:‘ICE.—-—Tlle English govern-
ment are heir old trade of piracy in their Post Ofiice. The
same handfiat opened the letters of the Bandieras and con-
signed them o the scaffold are now laid upon our correspond-
ence. A letter which we received by the Canada, on literary
matters, was opened in the Dublin Post Ofiice and clumsily re-
sealed. It is a poor shift for the great Anglo Saxon.

OUR BRIGADE RALLY, by F. N. R., which will stir Celtic valor
like the cheer of a charging column—a column of pikemen—
will appear in our next PH(E.\’IY.

BALL OF THE FENIAN CLUB.
THE ball of this club which will take place in Chicago, on the
2d of January, promises to be one of the most brilliant reunions
of the patriotism, manhood, and beauty of the sons and daughters
of the old land which that city has witnessed for many a day-
We feel, and Ireland feels, indebted to the President, Mr. Sher.
ridan, Vice President, Mr. McDermott, Secretary, Mr. Quirk,
Corresponding Secretary, Mr. Kearns, and Treasurer, P. T. Sher-
lock, for the effective services rendered to the sacred cause of
fatherland. To them and all true brothers out West, we send
our cordial greeting, Wishing them a happy New Year and
hoping when they again meet in the ball room, to usher in an-
other New Year, they will have to add to the stars and stripes
the flag of another liberated nation. A

..._.____-

DAMAGES AGAINST A CONTRACTOR.

IN the Supreme Court last week, in the case of'Edward Hughes
against Michael J. Green, a Corporation contractor, the action
was brought by plaintiff to recover damages for the death of his
daughter, a beautiful and intelligent girl, eleven years old.

In March, 1858, the defendant,who was a contractor for the
opening of 52d street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, was en-
gaged in blasting rocks there, on the afternoon of the 25th of
March. About six o’clock be caused a very heavy blast to be
fired. There being no proper covering, as required by the Cor-
poration ordinance, a stone from the blast was thrown a dis-
tance of 200 feet, and struck the roof of the plaintiff’s house
and breaking through the roof and ceiling, fractured the skull
of the plaintiffs child, broke her arm, and otherwise so seriously
injured her that she died in two days. The defendant urged, as
his defence, that the accident was caused by the negligence of
the blaster, and not by the negligence of himself as contractor
We are glad to find that the law, in this instance, has been, to
some extent, vindicated, and that contractors and other function-
aries, acting in public capacity, have been taught that they can-
not jeopardise or destroy with impunity the lives of the citizens.
The jury returned a verdict of three thousand dollars damages.

ROCK’S HUE AND CRY.

Ouarduigidh comair doibh cucmta is curraiglztlie,
Tuzamms taoide.

* * * * No. 1.—HuGH CARELTON, alias Carolan, a native Of
Ballynahinch, county Down, is a man of about 60 years of age,
5 feet 7 inches in height, hair grey, long and thin face, with
sharp blue eyes; from his walk would not be supposed to be
more than 50 to 55 years old, as he is smart and erect. When
last heard of, wore brown coat, dark trowsers and black hat; he
was then in Belfast, under the instruction of Tracy, a most vigi-
lant magistrate and Instructor of Informers.

_No. 2.—HUGH CABOLAN, or Carolan, is at large in Belfast, sent
out probably as a decoy. Let all true men keep a close watch
upon all his ents, without, however, cpmmitting them-
selves yet a whi e. Give him rope enough,'Rock’s police will
nab him when he and his protectors least expect it. Our friends
will not rashly fall ithe into clumsy snare they set for them by
the letting loose of this shameless and barefaced ruffian among
them.

No. 3. PAT CALLAGHAN, of Callan Co., Kilkenny, is about
five feet six inches in height, stout and square built, and about
twenty-seven years of age. He was kept safely and comfortably
in the jail while Martin Hawe was in prison. It is supposed he
was sent by the British government to New Zealand, whilst some
persons think he has gone to the Ueited States. When last seen
he was dressed like a Frenchman, and wore a black moustache
and imperial.

No.4.——SULLIvAN GouLAH——This wretched informer is the son of
Bailé Galldha, (pronounced Baulie Goulah), or the English baililf
and was born in Bonane, County Kerry, is about 27 years,
old; five feet seven in height; brownish hair; tender, redish eyes;
low, villainous forehead, straight nose,large mouth; bushy, dark
brown beard. There was some talk of his having been sent to
New Zealand, but it is supposed that he is still under the pro-
tection of the British government, in a place of concealment at
home. Captain Rock is exceedingly anxious to make his ac-
quaintance, and would have no objection to invest a, small sum
for the purpose of his discovery. * * * *
LIEUT. TERRY ALT,

SERGEANT STARLIGHT,

Inspectors of Rock’s Police.

in the Ossianic songs and the Sgel/a Ivlrrmnuighechta, or “Fenian .

 fif Toavoid mistakes, the friends of THE PHcEN1x in sending

their favorsllto _ will please state the Post Ofiice,
County, and State, Where they wisktheitnrders addI‘8S|i€d-
T E R M S. --

Yearly subscription, payable half yearly, in advan
Single copies, Four Cents.

CLUB TERMS.

€§.‘»$1 

For a club of Ten to Twenty members, _$l.50 each, for 12 months,

or, 75 cents each for 6 months.

For a club of Twenty to Thirty members, $1.40 each, for 12
months, or 70 cents each, for 6 months.

For a club of any number of members over Thirty, $1.30 each,
for 12 months, or 65 cents each, for 6 months.

Payments invariably to be made in advance.

Subscriptions acknowledged, and subscribers names published,
in the next Pn(EN1x after receipt of subscription.

@ PIEKENIX CLuBs—will please select one of their number
to whom the papers may be addressed in one parcel; or should
the club consist of Twenty or more, they may select two or
three of their number to whom a parcel each may be addressed
for distribution.

RATES FOR ADVERTISING.
For each square of Ten Lines
First Insertion. . . . . $1 00 Six Months. . . . . . . $14 00
Three Months.. . .. . 8 00 One Year. .. . . . . . . 20 00

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This journal circulates widely in the principal cities and
towns of the South and West. It has devoted and intelligent
correspondents in those cities and towns throughout the Union,
who communicate regularly with the PH(ENix, and frequently
with their fellow members of the Fenian Brotherhood throughout
the United States. For these and numerous other reasons the
PH(ENIX possesses superior facilities for giving information to
our countrymen of the various location of their relatives and
friends. Advertisements of this character will appear four
times in succession in the PHo«:.\'1x for One Dollar.

@ For any of our countrymen who may be unable to pay
for such advertisements the Pnaaxix will cheerfully publish them

free.

T H E P ficn N I 

NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1860.

 

ALL letters for John O‘Ma.hon.y, Director of this journal,
should henceforth be addressed, Box 5010, P. 0., New York.

 

NOTICE TO CAPTAINS OF THE PHENIX BRIGADE.
THE captains of the Phoenix Brigade in the different parts of
the State, are hereby required to make weekly returns to the
Head Centre, at No. 6 Centre street, New York. The members
of the respective companies are also requested to call upon their
captains at each meeting, for a receipt from the Head Centre of
each communication forwarded to him. In the case of replies
not being received from the Head Centre in due course, he

should be communicated with by telegraph. ,
TO THE FRIENDS OF THE PHOENIX.

MR. PATRICK KEARNS‘, a true and tried Irishman, willvisit the
following places during the present month, to solicit subscrip-
tions for the PHCENIX : Philadelphia, Reading, Schuylkill Haven,
Port Carbon, Pottsville, Tremont, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Sunbury
and intermediate places. We bespeak a cordial reception from
our countrymen and brother FENIANS for Mr. Kearns, who, we
are sure. will not be the less acceptable to them because he is

under the ban of British law for his devotion to the good old

03.1186.

THE PEOPLE AT HOME AND THEIR MASTERS.
IT is a strange anomaly that the ruling classes of
Eng1and,Ireland and Scotland—-the men who keep the
great Anglo-Saxon working for them eighteen hours
a day in the bowels of the earth, like a piece of ma-
chinery, who depopulate whole villages in the Scot-
tish Highlands, and drive the evicted Irish like
sheep into the Poor House to pine a season and
perish-—are physically and mentally inferior to those
over whom they exercise such absolute authority.
The people are governed by acts of parliament,
made by the aristocracy; they are taxed by act of
parliament, robbed by act of parliament, duly hang-
ed or transported by act of parliament. There is in
fact no infamous or coercive measure which may
be had recourse to against the subjects of the
queen of England, that her majesty’s attorney gen-
eral cannot find sound law for. If the people had
the power of appointing men to make the laws by
which they are governed. as in this Republic, their
submission to the grinding exactions of landlords
and the oppressive political prosecutions of the gov-
ernment, could be understood; but when an irrecon-
cilable difference exists between the two principal
classes into which society in Europe is divided-
when one is the obeyed and hated, the other the des-
pised and oppressed—it seems difficult to under-
stand why the stronger submit to the weaker, es-
pecially when they furnish from their own ranks
men to enforce the very laws which are the offen-
sive weapons of their enemies. The aristocracy
supplies the Magistrate who —signs the warrant
which the act of parliament frames, but the people
furnish the policeman who enforces the warrant. The
ruling classes give officers to the navy and the
army, but the crews and the rank and file are from
the toiling masses. If the crew of a vessel or a
portion of a regiment mutiny, their very comrades
are marched against them to put them down.-
Policemen and soldiers in Ireland are detailed to
protect the sheriff in the destruction of the farm-

with a holy zeal.

Aug. 1 Y Y

ing classes, just as the native army in India was
used to enforce the most galling exactions on
their own race.

In the old feudal times those who made them-
selves rulers by virtue of the sword were men of
IFOD-1;1erve and unbending will, and whatever they
won by the strong hand they bound unto them-
selves by law, which law they still’ retained within
themselves the power of enforcing. Communities
grow tired of continued strife and gradually sub-
side into a state of quietude, and the law at first
written in blood, becomes, afjzer the lapse of a few
centuries, a thing of vcneration, sacred as the per-
son of the Roman Dictator, but the people see not
the Lictor and the fasces, and regard its adminis-
trators much in the same light as the frogs did
their king Stork; So long as people rely upon the
law as a means of redress for their wrongs, it is a
most powerful machine in the hands of their mas-
ters, particularly if they have within them the
power of enforcing it; but when they are reduced
to depend upon the co-operation of the working por-
tion of the community for the execution of unjust
laws, which maintain them in a state of luxurious
ease, their position is precarious. That lamp of"
A1addin’s was a most useful, wonderful and potent
article in the hands of its possessor as long as it
remained unbroken. So it is with the British law,
and that old imaginary talismanic instrument, the
British Constitution. It is a tickl.ish position for the
ruling classes to be in, however, when the people be-
gin to perceive that they are the instruments used
for perpetuating their own degradation, imposing‘
unjust taxes upon their property, levying enormous
rents, and actually transforming themselves into
paupers by the enforcement of, and in obedience to,
that thing called English law. Such a state of
things produced the Indian revolt, which is not yet
completely subdued. The British law being once
thoroughly broken the ruling classes will have no
power to mend it again, and there would be an en-
tire reconstruction of the entire fabric of society.
There is nothing the Government fear so much as
the breaking or defiance of the law. A person
speaking or writing anything having the slightest
tendency in that -direction, is grabbed up and dis-
posed of before his doctrines obtain sufficient head-
way. As they cannot lay their hands upon us, at
present, they are in a savage state of rage against
the PHCENIX, because it shows that the people can
never obtain their rights, never expel the foreign
garrison, never retain the food raised upon the
Irish soil for the support of the Irish people—never
constitute a free and honored nation under the folds
of theirown flag'—until British law in Ireland is
violated, torn, and trampled in the mire with arm-
ed heel. We propose to teach the people, by word
and example, how this may be done; and so in the
first dawn of the New Year we set about the work

"\'\r”&TQ'\. V-O» \.—e \ \,\.-V-..\-\x\~A~,,.

O R G A N I S E .

THE chief defect of the organization and combina-
tion among Irishmen, now slowly progressing in
this country, is, that they are spasmodic. In some
localities all is fire and impetuosity to-day, and all is
supineness and despair on the morrow. This want.
of continuity is Worse than difference of opinion and
want of concert; it is even worse than dissension.
Dissension bcspeaks want of discipline, falling off
indicates Want of heart. VVe mistake greatly the
responsibilities of our position, if we think they do
not demand patience, toil, sacrifices, and a long,
long waiting. They demand more, much more, and
more of what we are less prepared to give. Those
who are in earnest must not only be tolerant and
patient, but forgiving and forgetful of slights,
They must'be proof against the present reverses
and coming gloom. They must make the anchor
for the perilous sea, and create the star for the.
stormy sky. Their place is near the breakers and
amid treacherous waves. They must watch. If
their attention be taken away, by any syren song,
they are lost—-lost to the brigh‘ destiny before
them, if they be only steady, steadfast and true.

In the New England states, there is amimme I
number of towns, of all sizes. In the small, as we]
as the, large there is a fair proportion of Irishmen,
These Irishmen, as a general thing, are more _pat1-i-
otic than Irishmen elsewhere in the Union, for the‘
reason, that they are here less tolerated, more.
worked, and less thanked. They have scarcely any
one to represent them in the higher walks of life,
They work hard and fare badly. The doom of their’
country pursues them; and as a consequence they
are, in general, true to their country.

Let us not be understood as saying that any"
locality, any position, any combination of CIl‘CllIn-
stances can, to the slightest extent, detract from
the fidelity and patriotism of the true Irishman.
But we cannot forbear from expressing the undoubt.
ed conviction, that where Irishmen, in this country,
are most banned, there they are the truer Irishmen