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Archiver > IRL-GALWAY > 2001-12 > 1008635030


From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [GALWAY] !! Connaught Journal; June 30, 1823
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 18:24:13 -0600


Connaught Journal
published Galway, Ireland
Monday, June 30, 1823

STATE OF THE COUNTRY
(From the Dublin Evening Mail)
We regret to state that the neighbourhood of Galway has, within a few days,
become the scene of outrage, and that threatening notices have been served
upon several of the Gentry residing within a short distance of the town. On
Sunday morning, Mr. MAUNSELL, of Shantalla, received a notice cautioning him
against demanding rents on the Barna estate, to which he is agent, and
threatening himself and family with destruction, should he presume, after
that intimation, to enforce the rents.
On Monday night, a large concourse of persons assembled in the streets of
Galway, under pretence of celebrating in the usual manner, by bonfires, &c.
the ever of St. John's Day. The Magistrates understanding that a riot was
expected, ordered the bonfires to be extinguished, the mob resisted, when it
was found expedient to call out the Military.- The crowd was at length
dispersed, but not until the ringleaders had been taken into custody. We
have not heard of any serious accident, though some trifling casualties
occurred.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The above is copied from the Dublin Evening Mail of the 27th instant. We
trust it is unnecessary for us to say, after what has been already advanced,
that this Town and County [Galway] enjoy, at this moment, the most
uninterruped tranquillity. True, indeed, both have been represented at the
Castle as in a state of insurrection, by some vile incendiary, or
calculating miscreant, who wished to rise into place on the lifeloss bodies
of his fellow-men. But the united voice of the Magistrates and loyal people
gave a direct tie to one of the most ruffianly falsehoods that ever
disgraced the invention of man. But we beg of the reader to hear a curious-
most curious story! We heard a few days ago of the Shantalla affair; we
never noticed it, because we did not believe it, and, indeed, even the
assertion of the Dublin Evening Mail will scarcely remove our incredulity.
It is "passing strange" that no one can get a peep at the "threatening
notice" that was served on Mr. MAUNSELL's premises. Indeed, an underling in
the house found it in the garden. We ask any man of candour what would be
his conduct if placed in a mental situation, and knowing how to read and
write, if he discovered a threatening notice in his master's garden? We will
place him above a menial situation. We will suppose him to be a tutor in
this family, who found the notice. Surely his first step would be to shew it
to the heads of the family, and to give it into their possession. How
stands the matter in the present instance? The person who found the
threatening notice shewed it en passant merely to a boy of sixteen years of
age, and nobody else. The heads of the family could never get a view of it.
It was torn into a thousand pieces, and we dare be sworn, that if one
thousand pounds were offered for a single piece, it would not be
forthcoming. This is the modus in which things are managed here. It would be
idle for us to pay any attention to the connection which is sought to be
formed between the bonfires and the pretended outrage. Bonfires have blazed
in Galway time immemorial, and we dare predict will be lighted again,
without any mischievous concomitants.- The children of respectable persons
have danced round these fires, and some of the younger branches of our
respectable Port Collector's amiable family enjoyed the sport in a similar
manner; but it will require very efficient exertions to silence the
babbling of those who are professionally inclined to malign a peaceable
population.



Cathy Joynt Labath
Celtic Cousins
http://www.celticcousins.net/
Ireland Newspaper Abstracts
http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/Ireland/


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