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imagine how feelingly alive and nervous we are at all these rumours. I would just like to know what are your own hopes; if you think the appointment is to take place or any other in lieu of it. . . . I daresay your going to Ireland would be much to Lord Morpeth's wish. . . . I can well believe it is no easy matter to dispose of Gossett, as he is a King's favourite. His brother is chaplain to the Royal Family at Windsor, but this is a reason for getting him to some less eligible station than where he is. Do you see that the Lords are up in arms at the brilliant entry1 given to Lord Mulgrave. What anger has been displayed. . I only wish to add, what do you think yourself as to the Irish appointment? To us it appears you are quite cut out for it, and that the sooner Government can send you there the better, as the place is ill supplied by such a Tory, and must retard public business very much by the present Under Secretary. . . .-Your affectionate mother,

"E. DRUMMOND."

"P.S.-I hope if you have any other place in your choice you will not reject it without weighing well all things for and against it. Your partiality for Ireland may lead you to underrate a less glaring, but perhaps better place in many respects. In saying we think you cut out for it, I fear lest we may help to mislead you, more especially as it may agree with your own wishes. This day's paper speaks of Lord Morpeth's going immediately to Ireland. Once more adieu. God bless you."

Drummond's "partiality for Ireland" prevailed, and before the end of June he was appointed Under Secretary at Dublin Castle.

In the same month he became engaged to Miss Kinnaird; and in July set out for Ireland.

1 Into Dublin.

CHAPTER VI.

IRELAND IN 1835.

DRUMMOND found Ireland in 1835 seething with discontent. Catholic Emancipation had enraged the Orange faction, and had not satisfied the masses of the people. The measure had been grudgingly granted, and unwillingly carried out. It brought no peace. In truth, it remained practically a dead letter until Drummond came. Mr Lecky has stated the case with characteristic clearness and force. "In 1833-four years after Catholic Emancipation—there was not in Ireland a single Catholic judge, or stipendiary magistrate. All the high sheriffs with one exception, the overwhelming majority of the unpaid magistrates and of the grand jurors, the five inspectors-general, and the thirtytwo sub-inspectors of police, were Protestant. The chief towns were in the hands of narrow, corrupt, and, for the most part, intensely bigotted corporations. Even in a Whig government, not a single Irishman had a seat in the Cabinet, and the Irish Secretary was Mr Stanley, whose imperious manners and unbridled temper had made him intensely hated. For many years promotion had been steadily withheld from those who advocated Catholic Emancipation, and the majority of the people thus found their bitterest enemies in the foremost places." This was the case in 1833, and it continued in the main to be the case until 1835.2

1 Lecky, "Leaders of Public Opinion in Ireland," p. 260.

2 The first Melbourne Ministry (July 1834) showed a disposition to break the system of ascendency, but it was a Government without backbone, and did nothing.

In 1831 the tithe war began.1 Six millions of Catholics. refused to pay tithes to the Church of six hundred thousand Protestant Episcopalians. The Government supported the Church with all its strength. Horse, foot, police, and even artillery scoured the country to collect the tithes. The people resisted, and a struggle, to which Englishmen look back with shame, was the result.

In March 1831, a troop of the 1st Dragoon Guards, a detachment of the 21st Fusiliers, and a strong force of police were despatched to collect tithes in the parish of Graigue. The peasants offered a passive resistance; all attempts to seize their cattle failed; and, after a campaign of two months, the military and police retired, having collected only one-third of the tithes of the whole parish.

In June, some cattle seized for tithes were put up for sale at Newtownbarry. The peasantry gathered in great force, and rescued the cattle from the police. The Yeomanry were called out, and fired on the peasants, killing twelve, and fatally wounding twenty. But no sale took place. The peasants were shot down, but the law was not enforced.

During July and August vigorous efforts were made to collect tithes in the County Tipperary, but without success. As at Newtownbarry, the peasants were shot down, but the law was not enforced.

At Kilkenny and Castlepollard peasants and police again came into collision. The chief casualties were again on the side of the peasants; but the enforcement of the law was again successfully resisted. Tithes could not be collected; processes could not be served; cattle seized for tithes could not be sold.

But the fiercest of these tithe Carrickshock in December 1831.

encounters took place at Peasants and police met

1 I have dealt fully with the subject of the tithe war in "Fifty Years of Concessions to Ireland" (vol. i., book iii.), and shall but refer to it briefly here.

peasants was

face to face; pitchforks and slanes were pitted against bayonets. A hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The chief of the police was killed; the leader of the killed; the police were completely routed. men were killed and seventeen wounded. Carrickshock brought about a truce which, however, lasted only for a few months.

Eleven police-
This affair of

In April 1832, a cow seized for tithes was put up for sale at Doon, in the County Limerick. Sixty men of the 12th Lancers, five companies of the 92d Highlanders, a strong force of police, and two pieces of artillery were in attendance. The peasants fell upon the police, and drove them out of the village. The Lancers and Highlanders charged and fired upon the peasantry, scattering them over the fields, wounding many, but killing none. The cow was "knocked down" to the owner's brother for £12.

In May, thirteen cows were put up for sale at Rathcormac, in the County Cork. Two companies of the 5th Foot and two companies of the 92nd Highlanders were present. But no sale took place. No auctioneer could be found to sell, or farmer to buy.

In September, an attempt was made to value lands in the parish of Wallstown for tithes. A detachment of the 92d Highlanders, a detachment of the 14th Foot, and a force of police, under the command of one admiral, two generals, and three magistrates, accompanied the valuers and parson. The peasants resisted the valuers, and were fired on by the military and police. Four peasants were killed, and many wounded.

In October, peasants and police again came into collision at Rathkeeran, in the County Waterford. The police, supported by a detachment of the 70th Regiment, fired upon the peasants, killing twelve, and wounding many. After this affray the Rector of Rathkeeran fled from the parish.

In April 1833, Grey's Coercion Act, suppressing the right of public meeting, and empowering the Lord-Lieutenant to proclaim martial law, and, practically, suspend habeas corpus, was passed. But the tithe war went on.

Towards the end of April, a force of infantry and cavalry proceeded to Kilmurry, in the County Waterford, to collect tithes. The peasants barricaded their houses and awaited attack. But the military retired without forcing a conflict. In May they returned. The peasants again barricaded their houses, but the military this time attacked, breaking into the houses, seizing the cattle, and carrying off many of the peasants to jail.

In June, a troop of dragoons, a detachment of the 29th Regiment, and a force of police were despatched to serve tithe processes in the neighbourhood of Carrigtwohill, in the County Cork. The peasants selected a point in the line of march where they should offer resistance. They fortified a large garden, surrounded by stone walls, close to the house of a farmer on whom process was to be served. Here, armed with pitchforks, scythes, slanes, and sticks, they awaited the military and police. A stubborn conflict followed. The police and soldiers tried to enter the garden, but without success. They fired upon the peasants, but without effect, the bullets passing harmlessly over the insurgents' heads. Finally, the troops retreated without serving the processes.

A few days after this affray at Carrigtwohill a party of the 70th Regiment, engaged in posting tithe notices, were set upon by a large force of peasants, and had to fly for their lives.

In September an attempt was made to value lands in the County Kilkenny for tithes; but the peasants fell upon the valuers, destroyed their measuring tapes, smashed their instruments, and drove them off the fields.

Throughout 1834 the war still went on. Boycotting was

F

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