stport, where carbines are
sold, more have been disposed of in the last five months than in the
ten previous years, and revolvers are also in great demand. The
favourite weapon of the peasantry, on account of its low price and
other good qualities, is the old Enfield rifle bought out of the
Government stores, shortened and rebored to get rid of the rifling.
The work of refashioning the superannuated rifles and adapting them
for slugs and buckshot has, I hear, been performed for the most part
in America, whence the guns have been re-imported into this country
in large quantities. It is believed that the suppression of arms on
the occasion of large gatherings is due to the judgment of popular
leaders, who are naturally averse to any display which would afford
the Government a pretext for disarming the inhabitants. There is,
however, no doubt that the people of this district are more completely
armed than at any previous period of Irish history. A ten-shilling gun
license enables any idle person to walk about anywhere with a gun on
his shoulder, but this privilege is rarely exercised. Two mornings ago
four men passed in front of the Railway Hotel at Westport with guns on
their shoulders, but such occurrences are very rare, the only
individuals who carry weapons ostentatiously being landlords, agents,
and the Royal Irish Constabulary affording them "protection." This
protection is always granted when asked for, but many landlords have
an almost invincible repugnance to go everywhere attended by armed
police. Lord Ardilaun, I hear, has organised a little bodyguard of his
own people, in preference to being followed about by the tall dark
figures now frequent everywhere in county Mayo from Achill to Newport,
from Ballina to Ballinrobe, and from Claremorris to Westport. Still,
anything like a "rising in the West" is regarded here as chimerical;
and the arming of the people as aimed only at the terrifying of
landlords. No apprehension of any immediate outbreak or collision
with the authorities is entertained in the very centre of disturbance.
It may be added that, owing to the firm yet gentle grip of the
Resident Magistrate, Major A.G. Wyse, late of the 48th Regiment, a
veteran of the Crimea and of the war of the Indian Mutiny, the
Government has this district well in hand, and is kept perfectly
informed as to every occurrence of the slightest importance.
Meanwhile, the possibility of armed resistance to the serving of
civil-bil