from this, there were other causes which
produced disturbances in this unhappy country. About the year 1784, a
set of insurgents, called "Defenders," succeeded the White Boys. These
arose from a quarrel between some Catholics and Protestants, in the
county of Armagh, the former of whom, being possessed of arms, overcame
their opponents. Enraged at this defeat the Protestants began to take
arms from the Catholics; styling themselves "Peep-of-day Boys," from
their breaking into the houses of their opponents at break of day.
On the contrary, those who strove to prevent them called themselves
"Defenders;" but these, in 1789, seem to have been regularly organised,
prepared for assault as well as defence, and, becoming private
aggressors, committed some atrocious murders. Their outrages attracted
the notice of parliament, and a secret committee of the lords in this
session was appointed to make a report of their proceedings and also
of the "United Irishmen." At the time when this committee made their
report, they had extended their associations through several counties,
which associations assembled by night to learn the use of arms, and also
for the purpose of plundering houses and murdering the protestants, and
especially the established clergy. In many parts of the country, indeed,
gentlemen were obliged to quit their houses, or to place soldiers
therein for defence. It was hoped that the Catholic Relief Bill would
have the effect of conciliating the marauders, but it failed to produce
this effect. The principle of contention, in fact, still remained in
full force. By this bill the Catholics were vested with the elective
franchise; and now the question between them and the Protestants was,
whether they should form a part of the government. They had gained much,
but they wanted more, and so the system of agitation and outrage was
still continued.

PROSPECTS OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, &c.

At the commencement of this campaign, France had to combat 55,000
Austro-Sardinians from the Alps; 50,000 Spaniards from the Pyrenees;
66,000 Austrians, reinforced by 38,000 Anglo-Batavians, on the Lower
Rhine and in Belgium; 33,000 Austrians, between the Meuse and the
Moselle; and 112,000 Russians, Austrians, Prussians, and Imperialists,
of the Middle and Upper Rhine. Against these formidable enemies the
convention ordered a levy of 300,000 troops, and at the same time
established a committee of public safety, with dictatorial power ov