London, Monday, June 30.

“The authority of the British Senate over Irish representatives is now fairly placed at issue.  By my letter of yesterday evening, you were apprised of the determination of Smith O’Brien and John O’Connell, to refuse to comply with the summons of the parliamentary selection committee.

“The course I suggested as that which it was probable would be adopted, has been since finally resolved upon, and in part carried into execution.  John O’Connell, for the purpose of taking the chances of a judgment in the Irish court, will not forward his answer till he shall have reached Ireland.  Smith O’Brien delivered his reply to the clerk of the House of Commons this day, at one o’clock.”

Here follows Mr. O’Brien’s letter:—­

    OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CLUB, PALL-MALL.

    “June 30, 1845.

“Sir.—­I had the honour of receiving on Saturday afternoon a letter dated 28th June, and signed ‘Henry Creed,’ to the following effect:  ’I am directed by the committee of selection to inform you that your name is on the list for which members will be selected to serve on the railway committees, which will commence their sittings in the week beginning Monday, the 14th July, during which week it will be necessary for you to be in attendance, for the purpose of serving, if requested, on a railway committee.’

“I trust that the committee of selection will not think that I am prompted by any feeling of disrespect towards them, or towards the House of Commons, when I inform them that it is my intention not to serve on any committees except such as may be appointed with reference to the affairs of Ireland.

“I accepted a seat in the House of Commons, in the hope of being thereby enabled to assist in improving the condition of the land of my birth.  So long as I continued to believe that I could serve Ireland effectually in the House of Commons, I shrank from none of the labours which are connected with the varied functions of that assembly.  During twelve years I attended Parliament with an assiduity of which I might feel disposed to boast, if the time so consumed by the House and by myself had been productive of results useful to my native country.

“Experience and observation at length forced upon my mind the conviction that the British Parliament is incompetent through want of knowledge, if not, through want of inclination, to legislate wisely for Ireland, and that our national interests can be protected and fostered only through the instrumentality of an Irish legislature.

“Since this conviction has established itself in my mind I have felt persuaded that the labours of the Irish members, though of little avail in the British Parliament, might, if applied in Ireland with prudence and energy, be effectual in obtaining for the Irish people their national