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party warfare, in which a large proportion of the Session was fruitlessly consumed. On the other hand a consideration of the great and extensive changes which late years have introduced will go far to reconcile those who are alive to the evil of disturbing and un

settling important interests, to a Session less productive of legislative alterations, and which afforded some pause and resting-place in that onward career and restless pursuit of improvement which the spirit of the age has so greatly tended to accelerate.

CHAPTER IX.

Repeal Agitation in Ireland-Mr. O'Connell resumes his exertions for Repeal with renewed energy-Formation of the Repeal Association -Its Constitution and Emblems-Appointment of Repeal Wardens, and their duties―The Monster Meetings-Speech of Mr. O'Connell at the Trim Meeting on the 16th March-Meeting at Mullingar, attended by Roman Catholic Bishops and Clergy-Declaration in favour of Repeal by Dr. Higgins, Titular Bishop of Ardagh-Proceedings at other Repeal Meetings-Violent language used on those occasions -Co-operation of the Press-Efforts of the "Nation" Newspaper in favour of Repeal-Publication of Songs and Pieces commemorative of the Insurrection of 1798-Alarm excited by these Demonstrations in the public mind-Policy of the Government-Removal of Magistrates implicated in the Repeal Movement from the Commission -Further progress of the Agitation-The great Tara Meeting on 15th August-Reason for the selection of this spot for the purposeUnequivocal language of Mr. O'Connell on this occasion-He broaches a plan at the Repeal Association for the revival of the Irish Parliament-Arbitration Courts are proposed to supersede the jurisdiction of the Magistracy-Allusion to the State of Ireland in the Queen's Speech-Mr. O'Connell vehemently attacks this document, and publishes a counter-manifesto-Use made of the Temperance Societies-Mr. O'Connell's Harangue in praise of the Teetotallers— Announcement of a great Repeal Meeting to be held at Clontarf―The Government takes Measures to prevent it.-A Proclamation is issued on the 7th of October prohibiting attendance at the Meeting-Conduct of Mr. O'Connell-He urges the abandonment of the Meeting, and issues a counter-proclamation-The ground at Clontarf is occupied on the 8th by a strong military force-A vast concourse takes place, but no disturbance of the peace-Warrants are issued against Mr. O'Connell and his Son, and eight other leading Repealers on charges of conspiracy and sedition-Mr. O'Connell exhorts the People to tranquillity-His remarkable change of tone after the Arrest-Accession of Mr. W. S. O'Brien, M.P., to the cause of Repeal-Proceedings against the Repealers commenced on the first day of Michaelmas Term-Mr. Justice Burton's Charge to the Grand Jury-A True Bill is returned -Various efforts of the Defendants to defer the Trial—It is at length postponed till the 15th January. SCHISM IN THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND-State of feeling in the Non-Intrusion Party-General apprehensions of a rupture-Addresses of the Assembly to the Crown against the jurisdiction of the Law Courts, and for the total abolition

to the Moderator of the Assembly-Case of the quoad sacra Ministers -Decision of the majority of the Court of Session in the Stewarton case-The Commission of the General Assembly admit the quoad sacra Ministers to their Meeting notwithstanding-The Commission presents a Petition to Parliament-Debate thereupon in the House of Commons on the Motion of Mr. Fox Maule for a Committee on the subject-It is rejected by 211 to 76-Preparations in Scotland for setting up the Free Presbyterian Church-Declaration of the Special Commission-Public Meeting of Non-Intrusionists at Edinburgh -Election of Members of General Assembly-The Marquess of Bute appointed High Commissioner-Conduct of the Marquess of Breadalbane, with reference to the Movement-Opening of the General Assembly on the 18th May-Dr. Welsh, the Moderator, reads a paper of Reasons to justify the secession, and then retires with a large party of Non-Intrusionists from the Assembly-Principal Macfarlane is chosen as Moderator by the remanent Members-The seceding Members meet and constitute themselves the Free Presbyterian Church-They choose Dr. Chalmers as their Moderator, and proceed to take Measures for the establishment and organization of the new system-Statement of the Financial Committee-Further Proceedings of the Secessionists-The General Assembly transact some important business-Lord Belhaven moves the rescision of the Veto Act, and of the Acts legalising the admission of quoad sacra Ministers-After some discussion they are repealed - Former decision of the Assembly, suspending the Strathbogie Ministers, is rescinded-Proceedings of the Assembly, respecting the seceding Ministers-Their Churches and Chapels are declared vacant-The Seceders execute an "Act of Separation," which they transmit to the General Assembly-Both Assemblies are dissolved after transacting much business-Nature and extent of the Secession-Relative numbers of Seceders and Adherents -Effects of the Movement in the Country--Substitution of new Ministers in the vacated Benefices-Lord Aberdeen's Bill respecting the settlement of Ministers-Further Proceedings of the Free Church Parly-Some Land-owners refuse to grant sites for Churches-Excilement caused by this conduct-Letter of the Duke of Sutherland, explaining grounds of refusal-Serious Riots in Rossshire and Cromarty on the introduction of new Ministers. INSURRECTION IN SOUTH WALES-Rebecca and her Daughters-Great Destruction of Turnpike Gates-Singular Disguise and mode of Attack adopted by the Riolers-Irruption of the Mob into Carmarthen, and attack on the Union-The Hendy-Gate Murder-Capture of Prisoners-Incendiary Fires, and other Outrages-Special Commission at CardiffStrong Force of Military and Police quartered in the Disturbed Districts-Appointment of a Commission of Inquiry-Proceedings of the Commissioners.

T HE narrative of public events

for the year 1843 would be very incomplete, if it did not include some particular notice of

three very remarkable transactions, which marked its progress in different quarters of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, and

Wales, each being the scene of an extensive popular movement, though widely dissimilar in their nature and character. The events now referred to, are the Repeal Agitation in Ireland, the secession from the Church of Scotland, and the Rebecca riots in South Wales. We propose to give a brief sketch of each of these events in the order in which they have been mentioned.

The Repeal of the Legislative Union had been continually held out by Mr. O'Connell, from time to time, to the people of Ireland, after the attainment of the Roman Catholic Relief Act, as the great ultimatum in his views for their benefit, but his exertions in pursuit of this object, seemed to be at times considerably relaxed or diverted in favour of some more immediately attainable object, and no very strong belief was generally entertained of the sincerity of his professions in relation to this subject. In the present year, however, he took up again the cause of Repeal with new energy, and resumed the agitation by which he sought to attain it, with a vigour and earnestness of purpose which shook Ireland to its centre, and produced an effect unsurpassed by any of his former experiments on the passions of his countrymen. Abandoning the House of Commons, which the overwhelming majority of the Conservative party made a hopeless field for his exertions, he gave himself wholly up to the work which he had undertaken in Ireland, and raising the banner of national independence, devoted all the resources of his mind, and all the arts which a long career of agitation had made him master of, in rousing the sympa

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their efforts for the great struggle by which the severance of the two Kingdoms, as he promised his followers, was to be effected. The same plan of organization, which had been adopted with such success, in prosecuting the Roman Catholic claims were again resorted to, and an Association for the furtherance of Repeal provided with all the machinery requisite to give effect to its comprehensive designs, formed the main instrument by which the Union was to be assailed. This body, which was styled the National Loyal Repeal Association, was formed under that name in 1840. It consisted of associates, members, and volunteers. The associates were quired to pay but a small subscription of 1s. each, so as to have their numbers extended generally throughout the country; and a card was given to each, which answered all the purposes required, without coming within the express language of the Act of Parliament against passwords and signs, and enabled the person having such a card to show to his neighbours that he was connected with the Repeal Association. The next class in the Association were the members, who were to pay each 11., or if an associate who paid 1s. took the trouble to collect 20s. from others, he also was entitled to become a member. A card was also issued to the members as the bond of union between them. The inscription on this card was peculiar. It bore the names of four places in Ireland, the scenes of fights in which the Irish had been successful, either over Danes or English. A printed document accompanying the card described these four victories. In another part of this

Ireland was contrasted with various States, with the following words underneath-"Ireland has not a Parliament." It then set forth the revenue expended by Ireland during the last great war against France, and stated that the Commander-in-Chief, and two-thirds of the officers and men of the English army and navy on that occasion were Irishmen. Among other devices of a similar tendency, was a scroll at the top of the card, bearing the following words"Resolved unanimously, that the claims of any body of men, other than the King, Lords, and Commons of Ireland, to make laws to bind this Kingdom, are unconstitutional, illegal, and a grievance;" Dungannon Volunteers, 15th February, 1782. Then followed at the bottom of the card an extract from a speech of Mr. Saurin, declaring the Union not to be binding on the conscience. Besides the three classes of members who have been above described, the Repeal Association likewise comprised officers, consisting of general inspectors, repeal-wardens, and collectors. The repeal wardens were to be appointed by the Association, on the recommendation of the clergymen of their parishes. A book was prepared, called Instructions for Repeal-wardens, which described in very full detail the several functions which they were to execute. One important branch of their duties was the transmission and circulation among the associates in every district, of certain newspapers devoted to the Repeal cause, to be purchased out of the subscriptions in aid of the general objects. Such were some of the leading features in the organization of this Association, the main

objects of which appear to have been to provide a machinery of the most effective kind for the collection of funds, and to train the people to combination, and prepare them for concerted and simultaneous movements at the direction of the leaders. The assemblage of immense masses of people at meetings held in the open air, and denominated "Monster Meetings," was the great step in the conspiracy, and some of the proceedings which took place at those assemblies are deserving of particular notice. The first of these was held at Trim, on the 16th of March, at which Mr. O'Connell, with two of his friends, Messrs. Barrett and Steele, and about 30,000 persons were present. After this meeting a dinner took place, at which various exciting speeches were made. Mr. O'Connell addressed the meeting in his usual florid style; he said, that when he thought of the multitudes that surrounded him-when he saw the bright eye and hardy look which alone belonged to Irishmen beyond every people on the face of the earth, he would ask them, would they be slaves? and would they consent to be everlasting slaves? They would answer, "No," and he would join in the response and say, "I shall either be in my grave or be a freeman." Did they recollect the observation of Lord Tenterden, in which he adverted to the inscription on banners in speaking of the illegality of associations?" Better to die like a freeman than to be sold like a slave." The learned Gentleman then proceeded-"I join in your responses, and say, as to myself, I shall either be in my grave or be a freeman." "Į told you before I would not be a

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