h the assembly dispersed.
The intention of holding the meeting having been made known to the
authorities, steps were taken to prevent any disorder."

In Liverpool, and on the opposite side of the Mersey at Birkenhead, it
was necessary to resort to very extraordinary precautions. The following
extracts from letters written from these places at that time, describe a
state of considerable apprehension in the public mind, and the necessity
of great exertions to intimidate the Irish population:--"There being
reason to apprehend a movement in Liverpool, to act as a diversion
in favour of the insurgents, should a rising take place in Ireland,
preparations are accordingly being made by our local authorities to
guard against a surprise. From the Liverpool papers of Tuesday we learn
that twenty thousand special constables have been sworn in in the several
wards of that town. Steps have also been taken to organise the corps and
to appoint leaders. A place of rendezvous has been taken in each ward,
and there a guard is placed night and day, to give the alarm, should the
necessity for so doing arise. About one thousand men belonging to
the dock works have been sworn in, and amply provided with formidable
weapons, and all the public buildings in the town are guarded day and
night. There can be no doubt, it is stated, that confederate clubs are
being formed in Liverpool, for the avowed purpose of aiding the people
of Ireland in any insurrectionary movements which may be originated.
The idea is, that by rising in Liverpool, Glasgow, and other places,
whenever a rebellion breaks out in Ireland, troops, instead of being
sent across the water, will be kept at home to put down disturbances,
and thus the forces of the government in Ireland will be considerably
weakened. It is stated that clubs to the number of fifty have been
established in the former town--that they number one hundred men each.
The subscription of each member is 1s. a-week. The money is spent in the
purchase of fire-arms, the general price being about 12s. 6d. a-piece.
Every night for the payment of subscriptions, a raffle takes place
for the muskets, which the members are enabled to procure with the
subscriptions. Several arrests have taken place; and it is hoped that
the bold front displayed by the authorities will have the effect of
preventing the contemplated outbreak. It may be stated here, as a
circumstance showing how much on the alert are those who are endeavouring