to repress the rebellious movements of the disaffected, that information
was received yesterday morning by the authorities, that two sons of
Hyland, the notorious pike-maker of Dublin, arrived from that city in
Liverpool on Monday last. The magistrates of Birkenhead have requested
the inhabitants of that town 'to act as special constables for six
months.' A summons, signed by four magistrates--Colonel Gregg, Mr.
W. Hall, Mr. J. W. Harden, and Mr. J. S. Jackson--was served to every
householder, requiring them to attend on Monday at the Town Hall
and take the necessary oath, and by half-past ten every respectable
inhabitant was sworn. Accompanying the summons was a notice, signed by
Messrs. Townsend and Kent, clerics to the magistrates, informing the
parties that 'by disobedience to the precept a penalty of L5 would be
incurred.'"

On the 27th the London _Times_ contained the following startling
telegraphic communication, which caused the funds to fall, and created
alarm throughout the provinces:--

"The whole of the south of Ireland is in rebellion.

"The station at Thurles is on fire, the rails for several miles torn up,
and the mob intend detaining the engines as they arrive.

"At Clonmel the fighting is dreadful. The people arrived in masses. The
Dublin club leaders are there. The troops were speedily overpowered;
many refused to act.

"The military at Carrick have shown disaffection, and have been driven
back, and their quarters fired.

"At Kilkenny the contest is proceeding, and here the mob are also said
to be successful.

"No news from Waterford or Cork."

The writer of this History was in Dublin at that time, and remembers the
city being thrown into a state of great excitement by the foregoing
intelligence. The alarm was, however, of short duration, as the citizens
of the Irish capital were better acquainted with the disposition of the
people, and the probability of their sustaining a close contest with the
troops. Besides, there existed confidence in the loyalty of the police,
whether Roman Catholic or Protestant. An incident occurred in Dublin
which greatly strengthened that confidence; it was thus related in the
papers of the day:--"A policeman who attempted to arrest three of the
club-men, who were armed, was stabbed in several places, and now lies
dangerously wounded at Mercer's hospital. The brave fellow never let go
his grasp of two of the fellows, and they and a third are in custody,
and will,