IRELAND.
Since the introduction of a regular system of constabulary into Ireland by Mr. Peel, besides the ostensible organized force, which has been gradually accumulating to a serious extent throughout the country, there has also been growing up what may be termed a branch establishment, which, however necessary on the plea of necessity, has always been in particularly bad repute in Ireland,—viz. that of Crown witnesses, or, as they are popularly called, "informers." The subjoined is the copy of a formal receipt from one of these worthies, who bad (perhaps whilst intoxicated) paid it away in the country, as a pensioner would his quarter's bill for value received. It fell, however, into more hands than he calculated on, and has appeared in the Morning Register.
" Received from Thomas Taylor, Esq., Dublin Castle, the sum of eleven pounds eleven shillings; being my quarter's allowance as a Crown witness, due and ending the 14th day of May 1833. "MICHAEL Drvvint. "111. 11,.
" Present, P. Morgan, constable."
The Morning Register declares, that the above amount was paid on demand, by Mr. Taylor, Chief Clerk in Dublin Castle.
Mr. O'Connell's agent for the pacification of Ireland, the renowned "Tom Steele," has been arrested in Limerick, and held to bail for a seditious libel against the Government, in a speech delivered by him in that city last week. He will be tried at the Summer Assizes there.
Monday last was the day appointed for the serving of the tithe notices on the farmers residing in the Union of Middleton, in the county of Cork, of which the Reverend Dr. Austin is rector. The country for miles round was illuminated on the previous Sunday night, by fires on the tops of the hills; from wnich it was evident that a great assembly of the people was to be expected. On Monday, a troop of the 7thDragoon Guards, two companies of the 29th Infantry, and a large body of Police, all under the direction of Mr. Marshall Cummins and Captain Hoare, B. N., both Magistrates, marched to the ground where the notices were to be served. They found a large body of the country-people, amounting to several thousands, apparently prepared to resist them. They served one man with a subrana, however, without resistance ; but a large body was collected before the next house, occupied by a man named Butler. Captain Hoare in vain remonstrated with them, and desired them to disperse. The Riot Act was then twice read, and the soldiers and police fired. It is supposed that they fired over the heads of the people, as none of them were hurt. The only man killed was a soldier of the 29th Regiment, who was with a detachment on the summit of a neighbouring bill. He must have been accidentally killed by one of the police or soldiery, as none of the people were armed. Mr. Cummins, the Magistrate, who went for a cart to take away the body of the deceased, was met by some women, and severely beaten by them. The troops were then drawn off. On the following day, large reinforcements arrived under the command of General Arbuthnot; when the notices, it is said, were served without resistance from the peasantry.
The Rector of Newtownbarry, has given notice, that he shall commence driving for tithe on the 18th of June, the anniversary of the battle between the Police and the peasantry of that village. [ We trust that the Government will interfere to prevent, or at least postpone, the threatened campaign of this incendiary.] On Tuesday week, a small party of the Killenaule Police went to the parish of Lismolin, in the county of Tipperary, under the command of Chief Constable Smith, to protect Mr. Benjamin Wright, the proctor of the Reverend Archdeacon Cotton, whilst serving writs on the Parishioners for arrears of tithes. Here they were met by a party of
between-500 and 600, -armed with spades, shovels, forks, &c. ; who demanded that the tithe-proctor should be given up to their vengeance. This Mr. Smith of course refused; and foreseeing the probability of a contest, in which his small force would perhaps suffer severely (and perhaps meet with the fate of that led by Mr. Gibbons through the defile at Carrickshaugh),,he very prudently retreated to the Policebarrack at Harley Park. The writs, of course, remain unserved ; and the necessity of an increased force is spoken of ere they can be executed, without a resistance that might lead to bloodshed in the present irritated state of the peasantry in that parish.—Times.
On Friday week, before day-break, a party of Military, horse and foot, and a number of Police, accompanied by Dr. Fitzgerald, resident Magistrate, set out on a secret expedition, and searched the neighbour,hood of Lowesgreen, in the county of Tipperary, with warrants for the apprehension of tithe defaulters. The birds were, however, up, and flown; not a defaulter was found in bed. On inquiry, it was found that a Policeman had given the defaulters timely notice of the warrants out against them, and of the intended capture.
In Kerry, and in other places in Tipperary, there have been several riots, murders, and attempts at murder, during the last few days. Things seem to be going on very much as usual in Ireland, notwithstanding the announcement by the Viceregal gaper, the Dublin Times, that the country is rapidly returning to a state of tranquillity. The Irish correspondence of the Globe and London Times contains facts which convey a different impression.
A few days ago, an affray took place between two rival factions, at the fair of Ballingarry ; when Maurice Ivors was pursued into the chapel, and actually murdered in the house of God.
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