Page images
PDF
EPUB

the claims of the right to forgive sins, of miracles, of canonization, of infallibility in either Pope or Council, of a right to be sole interpreter of Scripture, to withhold the Scripture, to hold the keys of purgatory, to commute the virtues of the living for the crimes of the dead, to dissolve oaths, to dethrone kings, to break allegiance, to command that men shall be tortured and slain for their faith?—Blasphemy!"-Rev. G. Croly on the Apocalypse, p. 231.

"It is fit that scriptural Christians all over the world should settle it in their minds, that Popery as a system, never has departed, and seems likely never to depart, from that which is its predicted characteristic-blasphemous usurpation of the place of God!”—Missionary Register, January, 1825.

Once more, "to the law and to the testimony." The language of Scripture is very emphatic upon this point:" And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue for forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." (Revelation xiii. 5-6.

(To be continued.)

ROMANISM AS IT RULES IN IRELAND.-A PAGE FROM THE DAILY JOURNALS.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

DUBLIN, Nov. 6.—The accounts from the country to-day show no symptoms of improvement, but rather the contrary, the conspiracy against life and property seeming to become daily more perfect in its organization. The Irish metropolis was never before so full at this period of the year, every one who has the means at his disposal flying the rural districts, and seeking for safety in the crowd of the city. Two regiments of Infantry (the 1st Royals and the 57th), now in England, are reported for service on the Irish establishment; but it is more than doubtful whether the whole available force of Great Britain would be sufficient to give a practical check to the horrid system of assassination which, for the fatal certainty of its aim and end, appears to have reached the point of perfection.

Some additional particulars respecting the murder of Major Mahon are furnished by the "Longford Journal: ""Major Mahon was returning from Roscommon, where he had been attending a meeting of the Board of Guardians for that union, in an open carriage, accompanied by Dr. Shanly, of Strokestown, and a servant, when within about four miles of that town he was fired at and shot dead. We have been informed that three men, armed with guns, lay behind the ditch waiting his arrival. On the carriage coming up, the first fired and slightly wounded Dr. Shanly; almost at the same instant the second fired, hitting the Major in the neck and chest with heavy duck shot, tearing and lacerating all the vital and connecting parts between the head and body, and lodging a large part of the charge in the chest. He only uttered the expression, 'Oh God!' and was dead in a few

seconds. On his receiving the wound, the Doctor and servant turned round to the Major, and all their heads were together, when a third gun was snapped, but fortunately missed fire, or the whole three might have been murdered. The servant drove as quick as possible to the police barrack, which was only at a short distance, and brought them to the spot, but they were neither able to arrest the murderers or to get any clue to them; indeed, the whole neighbourhood appeared to be in commotion during the day, as if expecting some important coming event, and very little inclined to give assistance, but rather to throw obstacles in the way of justice. Major Mahon's remains were brought to Strokestown-house, and will be interred this night in the family vault in the demesne. Major Mahon was a resident landlord, and his exertions to alleviate the distress during the last distressing season were equal to any gentleman in the country possessing a similar income; indeed, it may be said that he had none, having to live on other resources, as he got little or no rent for the last eighteen months. The Hon. Gentleman, like many others, quarrelled with the priests in his neighbourhood about the relief of the poor; and, although at an expense of between 6,000l. and 8,000l., he sent upwards of 700 poor people (who appeared thankful and expressed their thanks) to America this season, he has been from the chapel altars, even on the very last Sunday, reprobated and abused as a tyrant, oppressor of the poor, &c., and we now behold the result. We believe, at the present moment, letters of thanks to Major Mahon for sending them out, and thanking God that they went out of poverty, could be showed by friends of the emigrants in the neighbourhood of Strokestown. But what signifies it, if they were taken out of poverty and placed beyond the reach of want? 700 taken out of a district left their Reverences that number of shillings (on an average) short of their annual income. Hence all the ill-will and bad feeling."

The Tipperary papers of yesterday furnish their usual quota of outrage. The "Nenagh Guardian" says:-"Just as we were going to press this evening, intelligence reached us that Mr. Garvey, with a party of police, were distraining on the lands of Moneygall, when he was fired at, which missed him, but two balls entered the breast of the constable commanding the party. We have not heard whether the wounds were dangerous or not, and must only defer the particulars till our next publication. A party of recruits from the constabulary depôt in Dublin were passing at the time en route to Nenagh, but were not sufficiently experienced to pursue the enemy."

The Mr. Garvey above mentioned is a magistrate and agent of the Norbury estates in the south of Ireland. Tipperary Thugs, however, do not restrict their bloody trade to the male population, as will be seen by the following letter from Thurles, published in the "Nenagh Vindicator:"-" I regret to have to inform you that a cold-blooded and barbarous murder has been committed on Tuesday night, at Coolgorth, near Barnane. The victim was a Widow Darmody, who, it appears, has been twice married, had no family, and was possessed of about three acres of land. It appears she was about getting married a third time, contrary (as rumour has it) to the wishes of her friends. She must have been decoyed out in the fields by her assassin, under

the guise of a friend, as her dead corpse was found about a perch behind her house, her head dreadfully wounded and bruised. An inquest was held on Wednesday by the coroner, Mr. Thomas O'Meara, before a respectable jury, when Dr. Quinlan deposed that the wounds inflicted on the head caused death. A verdict of wilful murder was returned against some person or persons unknown."

Here are two more samples of life (?) in Tipperary. The first is from the "Tipperary Constitution:"-" It has been going the rounds of the papers that the body of a man named Hickey was found in the Anner near this town, but there was not the slightest ground for such a report. A man of the name of Coghlan has been missing for the last three weeks; of course suspicion naturally arose in the minds of those interested about him as to what had become of the man. The police got wind of the matter, and ever vigilant and active as they are, it soon came to their ears what were the real facts. On Monday evening last, about the hour of four o'clock, the body of Coghlan was discovered in a drain near Thorney-bridge, and it presented a most horrifying appearance. The clothes were torn off the body, which was in a state of decomposition. Mr. W. Fosberry, sub-inspector, having got intimation of the discovery, proceeded at once with a party of police to the spot, taking with them a coffin, and when they arrived they were shocked at the revolting sight. There were several fractures on the head-one on the crown, two on the back of the head, and a compound fracture from the crown to the base of the skull. The body was brought into Clonmel, where an inquest was held, before Mr. William Ryan, coroner, assisted by our active and zealous magistrate, Mr. Samuel Riall, and, after a lengthened investigation, a verdict of wilful murder was found against some person or persons unknown. The cause assigned for the perpetration of this dreadful murder is, that Coghlan was to prosecute some persons at the quarter sessions of Clonmel for stealing meal at Bohermore. When Mr. Fosberry and his party were bringing the body to our town, a shot was fired in their front near Powerstown chapel. Two of the police immediately leaped off the car, and pursued the party whence the shot came. They arrested three fellows, one of whom was armed with a gun."

The second is from a North Riding paper:-"On Tuesday last, two armed ruffians, at the hour of noon, went to the Glebe-house of Ballymackey, in the absence of the Rev. Mr. Curry, the present Incumbent, and who has been only a few months in the parish. One of these fellows went into the house, saying he had turf to sell, the other remained outside. The man who entered said he wished to see Mrs. Curry, who, on receiving the message went down to the kitchen, when he took out of his pocket a pistol and presented it at that lady. She then ran up stairs, when he followed, but Mrs. Curry succeeded in shutting the door on the landing place, which he endeavoured to force open, but could not succeed. The man returned to the kitchen, ordered the servant on her knees, when he snapped the pistol twice at her, which missed fire; afterwards he and the sentinel outside went away. Two persons were subsequently arrested by the Ballymackey police, but were discharged, as Mrs. Curry was unable to identify them."

the

Turning to another southern county, the "Limerick Reporter" gives the subjoined account of a most daring act of Whiteboyism gallantly, but unsuccessfully resisted, by a party of gentlemen, one of whom was severely wounded in the encounter:-"NEWCASTLE, Nov. 4. This morning, between six and seven o'clock, a daring attack by Whiteboys with their faces blackened, was made on residence of Mr. J. Meade, at Ballyeagna, about four miles from this town, a highly respectable and worthy young gentleman. It seems a party of young gentlemen, consisting of Mr. Nicholas Upton D'Arcy, and Messrs. J. and W. Keane, were known to be enjoying the hospitality of Mr. Meade previous to an intended shooting excursion, and to be the owners of some capital fowling-pieces, which the boys' desired to change owners.' Accordingly some half-dozen of them bolted in' as soon as the doors were 'unbolted' in the morning, daringly determined to gain possession of the fire-arms. The young gentlemen being in bed at the time were totally unprepared for the attack; however, they made a gallant resistance. Mr. Meade was shot through the thigh as he came out of his bed-room to repel the desperadoes, and was afterwards repeatedly knocked down by blows on the head from the butts of guns as he gallantly struggled with his assailants. The respected gentleman has received several wounds in the head, shoulders, and elsewhere, and several slugs are as yet unextracted. Mr. D'Arcy was then attacked by the fellow who shot Mr. Meade, and a desperate single-handed encounter was the result. The Whiteboy, as he came forward, was snapped at with both barrels of Mr. D'Arcy's piece, which missed fire, fortunately for the Whiteboy, as Mr. D'Arcy is known to be a crack shot. The Whiteboy's return shot lodged in the wall close to Mr. D'Arcy's head, who rushed on his antagonist and succeeded in bringing the ruffian underneath him. The Whiteboy shouted to his comrade for assistance, and Mr. D'Arcy then received a blow on the head, which stunned him, during which time the Sansculottes retired, taking with them three splendid double-barrelled guns and one singlebarrelled one. Mr. Meade is very dangerously wounded, and it is hoped the perpetrators of this outrage will be brought to justice. It was a most daring one, as the Whiteboys must have expected a determined resistance from the young gentlemen, if the latter were aware of their coming. The Messrs. Keane also made a noble and gallant defence to retain their arms; but, being overpowered by numbers, were at last forced to part with them. There were two or three men-servants in the barn, and I have not heard that they took any part in the proceedings, which must be regretted, as their assistance would certainly have defeated the attacking party."

STATE OF ROSCOMMON.

DUBLIN, Nov. 9.-A letter received to-day from Strokestown states, that two men, charged with the murder of Major Mahon, have been arrested, and are now lying in Roscommon gaol for further examination, evidence having been already elicited which affords. strong suspicion of both prisoners being implicated in the transaction. The country, it is added, is in a frightful state; no man's life is worth a pin's purchase. Not twelve, but nearly as many more names, have been placed on the doomed list, and, amongst others, that of a lady VOL. IX.―December, 1847. New Series, No. 24.

с с

who lately had the temerity to distrain upon some tenants who would neither pay rents nor give up possession of the land. The towns and villages are filled with strangers-idle-looking ruffians, who lounge about all day, do no work, and yet, by some mysterious means, have no appearance of lacking either food or raiment. The military and police are completely foot sore with the weight of duty imposed upon them.*

PROTESTANT PETITIONS.

To the Editor of the Protestant Magazine.

SIR, I beg leave to subjoin a sketch or outline of petitions to the Legislature or Government on questions of the highest importance in the present critical situation of the British empire :

1st. Petition against Romish Bishoprics in England.

"That your petitioners have heard, with great alarm and concern, that it is in contemplation to establish Romish bishoprics in England, and that too, as there is too much reason to fear, with the concurrence of Her Majesty's responsible advisers.

"That your petitioners feel it to be their duty to protest most solemnly against such a proceeding, which, by encouraging and setting up again a false and idolatrous religion, from which our fathers had been so mercifully delivered, would bring down the judgments of Almighty God upon the land.

"That your petitioners feel themselves in duty bound further to protest against such a measure, as being an invasion of the rights of our Sovereign Queen Victoria, who by the law of the land is the supreme temporal head of the Established Church of these realms.

"That your petitioners also consider such establishment of Romish bishoprics to be a daring attack upon the religion and liberties of a free people, an attempt to subvert the Christian principles of our constitution, and a violation of that Article of our Church which maintains that the Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this realm of England.

"Your petitioners, therefore, earnestly entreat your Honourable House that no such jurisdiction may in any degree or manner whatsoever be suffered to be exercised in England by the Papal power. "And your petitioners will ever pray," &c., &c., &c.

2d. Petition against Romish Schools in England. "That since the State has provided a system of education for all classes of Her Majesty's subjects, without exception, based upon the Holy Scriptures, there can be no just plea for departing from

*We might add to this list several murders, and murderous attacks, which have since been perpetrated. We do not say that Popery is the sole and entire cause of all these; but we do ask, were there no Popery in Ireland, and no dark system of auricular confession, and "priestly absolution," if the land would so oftentimes be stained with the blood of her peaceful citizens ?-ED. PROT. MAG.

« PreviousContinue »