"jefty's paternal influence, to preserve you an happy, and to "establish you an opulent and flourishing people." His Excellency amongst other particulars proceeded to state, that there had been only £.200,000 raised upon the last vote of credit; but that notwithstanding, a large fum would be wanting for the repair of Barracks.

In Feb. 1762, Mr. fecretary Hamilton prefented to the houfe of commons, the following meffage from the lord lieutenant.

1 "Dunk Halifax."

"I have it in command from his Majefty to inform this houfe, that notwithstanding the moft conciliatory efforts which his Majesty's moderation could dictate, or his royal dignitý permit, affairs have been brought to an unhappy, tho' on his fide inevitable, rupture with the court of Spain."

"In confequence of this event, and of the dangers to which this kingdom may be thereby particularly expofed, his Majefty has directed me to inform this house, that he has thought it neceffary to make an immediate augmentation of five battalions of his forces on this establishment."

"I have it likewife particularly in command from his Majefty, to affure this house, that after the liberal grants which the parliament of Ireland has made in the courfe of this feffion, it is with much regret he finds himself under the unavoidable neceflity of making any application for further fupplies: But his majefty, having in all exigencies, the moft full and firm reliance on the experienced affection and loyalty of his faithful Proteftant fubjects of Ireland, entertains no doubt, that this house will concur, with their usual unanimity and chearfulness, in those measures which the present war has rendered fo indifpenfably neceffary, for the defence

of

of his majesty's crown, and of the religion, laws, and liberties of this kingdom."

"I have directed eftimates to be laid before you of the charge that will be incurred by the propofed augmentation, with as much exactness as it can be now computed; and this house may be affured that fuch fums as fhall be granted will be applied with the strictest œconomy."

"I am fenfible how unneceffary it would be for me to add any thing, on my part, in regard to a measure that comes fo ftrongly enforced by the recommendation of the crown, by the fituation of affairs, and which is fo effential to the fafety of this country: yet as I look upon this fervice to be of the utmost moment to the fecurity and prefervation of this kingdom, I fhall confider your proceeding in it with alacrity and dispatch, as the highest honour that can be conferred on my administration."

In confequence of this meffage, the augmentation was accordingly ordered, and another vote of credit paffed for the raifing of £500,000 at 5 per cent. The house of commons alfo fhortly after refolved, that an addrefs fhould be prefented to the lord lieutenant requesting that he would reprefent to his majefty the fenfe of that houfe that the entertainments and appointments of the lord lieutenant of Ireland had become inadequate to the dignity of that high ftation, and that it was the humble defire of that house that his Majefty would be pleased to grant fuch an augmentation to the entertainments of the lord lieutenant for the time being, as with the then allowances, fhould in the whole amount to the annual fum of £16,000; which measure was alfo effected.

Infurrection of the White-boys.-Their depredations.—Obferva tions thereon. Remarks on the Oak-boys, Hearts-of-Steel-boys, &c.---Conclufion of the Seffion in 1762.—Lords-juftices appointed. Removal of Mr. Pitt.-Address to him from the Merchants, &c. of Dublin.---State of the Irish Peerage in 1759---Refolutions of the Citizens of Dublin relative to a Septennial Bill.---Seffions opened in 1763.---Proceedings therein.---State of the Nation.-- Motions for an Address to his Majefty.Seffion concluded in 1764.-Lords-Justices appointed.

THE

HE peace of the country was now difturbed, by fome infurgents, in the fouthern parts, who ftiled themfelves White-boys or Levellers, and committed many acts of violence, robbery and murder: houghing cattle; cutting down trees; destroying ditches and other inclofures and whofe exceffes were carried to fo dangerous a height, as to require the interpofition of military force.

:

Thefe mifguided people bound themfelves by an oath, of which the following is faid to be a copy.

"I do hereby folemnly and fincerely fwear, that I will not make known any fecret now given me, or that hereafter may be given me, to any one in the world, except a fworn perfon belonging to the fociety called White-boys, or otherwife, Sive Ultagh's children."

"Furthermore I fwear, that I will be ready at an hour's warning (if poffible) being properly fummoned by any of the officers, ferjeants, or corporals belonging to my company.

"Furthermore I fwear, that I will not wrong any of the company I belong to, of the value of one fhilling; nor

fuffer

fuffer it to be done by others, without acquainting them thereof.

"Furthermore I fwear, I will not make known in any shape whatsoever, to any perfon that does not belong to us, the name or names of any of our fraternity; but particularly the names of our respective officers.

"Laftly Ifwear, that I will not drink of any liquor whatsoever, whilst on duty, without the confent of one or other of the officers, ferjeants or corporals; and that we will be loyal one to the other, as far as in our power lies."

The public mind was much agitated by these proceedings and it must be acknowledged, that means were used to represent matters in a more ferious and alarming point of view, than was really neceffary.The cause of these disturbances was often mif-ftated,-every occurrence relating to them was imprudently exaggerated. A Popish plot was alledged to have been on foot, to overturn the government, to maffacre the Proteftants, and to favour our enemies in their dreaded invasion.

Acts of popular outrage are committed generally by the lower order of the people :-And as that order principally confists in this kingdom, of Roman Catholics,—it was in fome respect, a natural confequence, to attribute the mifdemeanors of the Southern infurgents, indifcriminately, to perfons of that perfuafion.-The houfe of commons there. fore appointed a committee," to enquire into the caufes and progrefs of (what was termed) " the Popish infurrection, in the province of Munfter."

7

It appears however, that this evil did not originate from religious prejudices: and if any reliance may be placed on public declarations, the higher order of Roman Catholics wholly difapproved of thefe proceedings. Several exhor

At Helly

tation:

tations were read in the different chapels throughout the kingdom, diffuading the ignorant and deluded from fuch atrocious offences, (a)

In fact, the cause of that difturbance, is now known to have been this.-Some landlords in Munfter fet their lands

(a) Amongst others, the following was read in all the Roman catholic chapels in Dublin.

« DEAR CHRISTIĀNS,”

"We think it our duty to remind you of the gratitude and thanks you owe to the Almighty God, who in these calamitous times, fo fatal to "other parts of Europe, leaves you in the happy enjoyment of peace and

all the bleffings that attend it; bleffings that ought to fill your hearts with "the deepest fenfe of God's mercy towards you, and thankfulness to our "chief governor here, whofe paternal care and pity, equally generous and "extenfive, knows n diftinction of perfons or people. Thefe bleffings

εί

86 we attribute in a great measure to your peaceable and discreet behaviour "hitherto wherefore we exhort you in the bowels of Jesus Christ, to ❝continue to demean yourselves in the fame peaceable manner, and to avoid every thing in public or private, that might give the leaft fhadow of of fence; that our miniftry (as St. Paul fays) may not be blamed. Nor does this caution proceed from any diffidence we have of your future “conduct; it is rather intended to raise in your minds a lively sense of the lenity and mildness of our prefent moft gracious government. Length of "time, your conftant ready and chearful fubmiffion to the ruling powers, "and above all, the merciful and humane difpofitions of the prefent royal family, have greatly worn off the rigour of prejudice against you :thefe happy difpofitions encouraged by a continuance of the fame be"haviour in you, may perhaps improve still more to your advantage: but "whether we shall be deem'd worthy of future favour or not, it is cur duty "as ministers of Jefus Chrift, ftrongly to enforce the obligations of a sub "miffive, obedient, and peaceful behaviour; and yours as chriftians and "good subjects, to fulfil them steadily in your practice.”

Perhaps it may be excufeable to mention bere, a circumstance that occurred during the disturbances before fpoken of. In May 1762, Mr Wm. Kennedy then parish priest of Tulla in the county of 'Tipperary, being apprehended, was brought to Limerick, and there examined before the late Godfrey Lill efq. (formerly one of the Juftices of the court of commonpleas) when two letters from his fuperior, were found about him, ftrenu oufly recommending that if any of the Levellers appeared in that parish, be thould exert himself as much as poffible to fupprefs them.-As nothing was proved that could criminate the prifoner, he was foon after liberated.