Some of the particulars of the riots in the North
of Ireland we have given elsewhere. Were we to trust to the exaggerated representations . of the parties, nothing could exceed the insolence of the Orange faction on the one side, except the folly of the Catholic faction on the other. There seems, indeed, to have been faults on each hand; but we must not lose sight of the grand fact, that the processions, which no prin- ciple of common prudence can justify, were the exciting cause of all that has taken place. Had the Orangemen, now that by law they are on a level with the rest of their countrymen, been content to appear so, and had they abstained from their absurd exhibitions, no blood would have been shed. And had the proclamation of Government appeared on the 8th instead of the 18th, they would have been compelled by the magistrates to do what their own judgment should have induced them without such compulsion. In some accounts, the country has been described as in a state of actual rebellion,—the Catholics encamped, and meat purchased to provision them. The latest letters, however, contradict these exaggerated rumours in toto ; no violence has been committed since the 15th; and long before the time at which we write, the country has, we doubt not, been restored to as peaceful a state as it ueually enjoys. The following is the proclamation of the Lord-Lieutenant.
" NORTRUmBER,LAND.—Whereas in certain counties of this part of the United King- dom, meetings of large numbers of his Majesty's subjects have lately been held, for the avowed purpose of commemorating political events, or for the manifestation of parti- cular opinions, political or religions; as also for the purpose of resisting, by violent and illegal means, such commemoration or manifestation, to the great danger of the public peace, and the well-founded terror and dread of his Majesty's peaceable and well-dis- posed subjects : And whereas such meetings have, in resent instances, been attended with loss of life to some, and personal injury to other individuals attending them : And whereas we have reason to apprehend a recurrence of similar assemblages : And whereas many well-affectedbutunWary persons may be seduced by divers pretences to attend the same : We, therefore, the Lord Lieutenant and Council, being resolved to put down and suppress such meetings, and to prevent the recurrence thereof; have thought fit to issue this Proclamation, solemnly and strictly warning all His Majesty's liege subjects from hence- forth to discontinue the assembling, either for the purpose of assisting in such meetings or assemblies as aforesaid, or for illegally resisting the same; and do charge and earnestly exhort them, to the utmost of their power, to effect the discontinuance of all such meetings and assemblies, and thereby to prevent the dangers and mischief consequent on the same: and, being determined strictly to enforce the law and the penalties thereof against persons oifendingin thepremises, do charge and command-oil • mayors., justices pt Ow peace, and all vther magistrates, ytecurft, and atlierS ikaallitevkvvra, Iv be aiding and assisting In the execution of the law in preventing such meetings and assem- blies from being held, and in the effectual dispersion and suppression of the same, and 1n the detection and prosecution of those who shall offend in the respects aforesaid. Given at the Lodge In His Majesty's Park, the Phomix, the 18th day of July, 1829.
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