he overwhelming pressure of their own
difficulties--to follow the example. It is vain to expect mercy to be
shown under such circumstances. All is done in the sacred name of the
law. The sheriff, the representative of the majesty of the law, is the
actual exterminator. The officers of the law execute the process. The
constabulary, acting under the orders of the magistracy, stand by to
prevent resistance; and if any is expected, the queen's troops are
brought to the spot, to quell with all the power of the throne what
would amount to an act of rebellion. It is absurd, then, to cast the
blame of these foul deeds, and their horrible results, upon a few
reckless, bankrupt, wretched landlords. It is to the law, or rather to
the government and legislature which uphold it, and refuse to mitigate
its ferocity, that the crime rightly attaches; and they will be held
responsible for it by history, by posterity--ay, and perhaps before
long, by the retributive justice of God, and the vengeance of a people
infuriated by barbarous oppression, and brought at last to bay by their
destroyers." It is difficult to read such statements and wonder that
agrarian outrage prevailed extensively in Ireland, and that all over the
land murder stained the soil with blood.

It is impossible to write the history of Ireland in any given year
without having to record assassinations springing from religious
discord, and 1849 was no exception.

Political disturbance was only kept down by the arm of the law. Early in
the session, Earl Grey moved in the house of lords for a renewal of the
"suspension of the _Habeas Corpus_ act," and in doing so he stated that
although there was no reason to fear an insurrection, yet disaffection
existed extensively, and especially in the districts which had been the
scenes of insurgency in the previous year. His lordship never knew
much of Ireland in any respect--her people, the philosophy of her
turbulence, or the policy which ought to be pursued towards her; had he
formed acquaintance with such subjects he would hardly have spoken
of disaffection existing in certain districts, for it is chronic in
Ireland. The masses of the people have been disaffected since the
English first obtained the ascendancy in Ireland; but independent of
any hostility of race or nationality, a deep-rooted religious animosity
towards the creed of England rankles in the hearts of all in Ireland who
differ from that creed.

The Young Ireland part