PUBLIC MEETING - On Monday last, in accordance with the requisition of the Lieutenant of the County, a meeting of the County at large was held in the Courthouse, and we are happy to say that at no one occasion have we ever seen so influential and respectable a meeting, comprising, as it did, persons of all creeds and classes; it was a criterion to judge of the popularity of the object which called them together, and the sums subscribed on the spot, augers well for the ultimate result. The Lord Rossmore in the Chair, and among others present, we observed Lord Cremorne, Robert C. French, Esq., High Sheriff; C. P. Leslie, Esq. M.P., Right Hon. E. Lucas, Sir G. Forster, Bart., Robert B. Evatt, Esq., Robert Maunsell, Esq., Balander Park, W. Temple, Esq. M.D., G. Morant, Captain Lloyd., J. Lord, Esq., E. P. Morphy, Esq., J. Faucett, Esq., H. G. Johnston, Esq., John Reilly, Esq. Solicitor, A. K. Young, Esq., John Jackson, Esq. M.P., M.P. Lewis, Esq., James Warren, Esq., N. Greer, Esq., R. G. Warren, Engsq., John Brady, Esq., Captain Stopford, George Shegog, Esq., David Smith, Esq., W. Forster, Esq., H. Jones, Esq., Robert Thompson, Esq., David Hamill, Esq., Dr. Moorhead, Charles Hopes, Esq., J. C. Adams, Esq., Thomas Singleton, Esq., R. H. Dolling, Esq., Robert Forster, Esq., A. A. Murray, Esq., Fingherbet? Lucas, Esq., J. Richardson, Esq., Charles Hawkshaw, Esq. There was, also, a large attendance of the Clergy of all denominations, and a numerous attendance of ladies evinced their participation in the work of charity about to be commenced.

Lord Cremorne opened the meeting by expressing his entire concurrence in the course adopted by the Committee who organised the meeting. Small subscriptions would be as thankfully received as large ones, and the subscription would be such that all could contribute to it; he, therefore, felt much pleasure in proposing the resolution which had been put into his hands, which was:-

"That the County be divided into convenient districts, and that Committees be appointed to carry out the views of Her Gracious Majesty, respecting the Patriotic Fund."

Sir George Forster felt much pleasure in seconding the resolution; but, unlike his noble friend, the proposer of the resolution, he would address himself to the ladies present, with their aid he felt no doubt but the county would nobly and generously respond to the call now made upon them. He would not detain the meeting by any further remarks, as he was aware that there was a right hon. friend of his deputed to propose the next resolution, from whom they might expect a more eloquent address than from him.

In proposing the next resolution, the Right Hon. E. Lucas said:-

My Lord and Gentlemen - My worthy friend, the Hon. Baronet, who has just sat down, has told you that he refrained from trespassing longer on your time, because he knew he should be followed by others at greater length. I can apprise your lordship and the meeting, that I could not improve on the quality of that which he has spoken, neither shall I endeavour to make amends by the quantity of that which I shall lay before you. You are all aware, in a general view, of the object of the meeting. The Legislature does not, as has been detailed by Lord Cremorne, think fit to make provision for the widows and orphans of those who may fall in the service of their country. Her Majesty has appealed to the loyalty and good feeling of her subjects to supply this want; and her Majesty and her illustrious consort have led the way with that munificence by which they are invariably distinguished on such occasions. There can be no doubt that the call will be amply responded to in this county, deeply interested as it is in the present contest. Your noble Chairman belongs to a family peculiary military, for though none of its members are engaged in the present war, it is a profession they have amost exclusively followed, and it is not long since one of them died at a mature age, after having gained distinguished honors in the wars of India. The noble lord who moved the first resolution, has a brother, formerly member for the county, serving in the Crimea; your present member, the worthy baronet, who preceded me, has his eldest son similarly employed; your senior member, who is about to follow me upon this occasion, has a brother, not only serving, but wounded in the late glorious engagement: and would that I could here close the list without alluding, however briefly, to a loss which a valued friend of us all has lately sustained, of a gallant son, perishing, almost in the moment of victory. In short, where is the family from the highest to the lowest in this county, which has not furnished its contingent to the service of the country; and when has it been known that one of them so serving, has disgraced its name? The British soldier embarks for service, wherever it may be, with no other thought for himself but to do his duty and exalt the cause of his country; but he must often painfully think on his wife and children who are left behind:- and there is no scene no more painful to military officers than that which takes place at the moment of separation, and which their duty compels them to witness, without the power of relief. I confess, I, myself, wish that a small portion of the fund now about to be collected for the widows and orphans might be set apart for the wives and children of absent soldiers; but, perhaps, that object will be sufficiently met - I hope sincerely it will - by another mode of collection. I cannot, my lord, terminated these remarks without a tribute of admiration to those self-devoting families, of every class, and every persuasion of Christianity, who are now on their way to take their post by the sick bed of our soldiers and minister to their wants; and to the truly Christian Ministers of each persuasion, who hhave offered themselves to administer spiritual aid and consolation. Our duty here is to contribute from our superfluity for the widows and orphans upon whom the calamities of war may inflict privations; and I have great pleasure in moving for this benevolent object, the following resolution, viz.:-

"That each Local Committee be requested to collect subscriptions in their respective districts, and forward them to the Treasurer of the County Committee, that there may be one general County Fund."

Mr. Leslie felt much pleasure in seconding the resolution proposed by his right hon. friend, after whose eloquent address there was little left for him to say - he would detain the meeting but a few moments, as he could but recapitulate the sentiments previously expressed. He could not but regret that occasion ever existed for this meeting, but it had become necessary - they were all bound to aid those who lost their sole support in this war, and afford the comfort to those brave soldiers, that those they loved best and left behind, would be cared for and protected by the people of this country. The war had become an imperative demand on Great Britain; it was in the defence of a brave Ally who was threatened by a superior power, and when did ever the people of England and Ireland refuse to lend their support to such a noble and generous cause? For forty years we have been cultivating the arts of peace - for such a length of time indeed, that to many the prowess and bravery of our soldiers became but a matter of history - but now, our own day has given a page to historians as brilliant as ever yet had been recorded. The Bristish soldier who never had heard a shot fired in wrath, as boldly faced and bravely assailed the foe on the heights of the Alma, as ever did the veterans whose deeds they were emulating - as steadily under the leaden and iron shower did they advance to meet the foe as if they were veterans hardened and experienced in all the elements of war. They were met that day to secure to the wives and children of those who fell, a maintenance and a support, and he hoped that each and all would give according to his means.

Immediately on the close of the meeting the following sums were subscribed:-

The Right Hon. Lord Rossmore £100/0/0

Lord Cremorne £ 50/0/0

Charles P. Leslie, Esq., M.P. £100/0/0

Sir T. B. Lennard, Bart. £ 50/0/0