The Sun.
London, England, 1823-07-08 00:00:00

IRELAND.

[Prom the Cork Coitatitutionl

DESPERATE ATTACK ON THE POLICE, AND

SEVERAL PERSONS KILLED.
On Wednesday morning (2d inst.), at a very early hour, one
of those daring violations of the law, so peculiar to the ower
orders of this distracted country, attended With the loss of
several lives, occurred in the parish of Castlehaven, within three
miles of Skibbereen, in the west of this county. The facts,
which we have from very competent authority, ate as follow :
—The rector of the parish, the Rev. It. Mont, finding it im-
misible to obtaiti his tithes, their being 3.years due, and in the
lust year having experienced mneli opposition in obtaining them,
he was determined to submit his case to the bench of Magistrates
assembled in iSetty session, from whom he received a warrant
of distress, which was intrusted to his prottor, who, with
five other meri, Were appointed special constables, to execute it
on the parties ; and for the more effecteal preservation of the
peace, a party of the police, consisting of Lieut. Ilackshavt,
four mounted and seven diatnounted, stationed at Skibbereen,
were Ordered to assist. Accordingly, they proceeded to the
ground, where they seized some cattle, which, the country people,
who assembled in great numbers, resisted, with showers of
stones, when' a dreadful' scene ensued. The police and con-
stables Were obliged, in their own defence, having given up the
idea of the cattle, to keep up a constant fire, which was as de-
terminedly resisted by• the country people with vollies of
stones, which were kept up with such determination on their
part, that the police and constables were obliged to retreat, leas,
mg one of the police named Bowen, and the proctor, named
Driscoll, killed, and several of the party were wounded. The
country people had two shot dead, and ten or twelve wounded ;
five arc reported to be dangerously so. Such was the rapi-
dity' of the retreat, that Lieutenant Ilackshaw lost his cap,
which was knocked off by a stone. On the account reaching
Skibbereen, Capt. Baldwin, a Magistrate, with a party of the rifle
brigade and such of the police as were able, hastened to the place,
but we have not heard of any persons being taken. The ferocity
ofthe country people wasexhibittsl inn most disgraceful manner,
having wedged a stone into the dead policeman's mouth, which
they forced in with another ! Letterti, were received in town
from the Magistrates, requiring the attendance' of a Coroner, to
holden inquest, which is appointed for this day, when we have
no doubt, from the spirit and intelligence of the Magistrates
of that part of the county, that a strict investigation of this dis-
tressing affair will take place. On the intelligence of the affray
having reached this city, Mr. Morritt, who had arrived only a
day or two before, returned with all possible speed. We can-
not close this article without adverting to the system' pursued ,1
towards the clergymen of the Established Church, in the col-,
lection of their tidies. In some places the disinclination to pay
them is such, that the lower orders- have bound themselves by
oath to resist and we haVe been informed, that the parish of
CaitlehaVen forms a striking, and', We are sorry to say,- a la-
mentable example of the truth of o'd remarks. ,
[Front the Newry Telegraph.]
We hafe heretofore thine testimony to the loyalty and peace-
able dispoSition of the generalitY of the loWer order§ in tint town
and neighbotirhood ; and sorry We are to have this day the task
of noticingoecurrences such as took place on the nights of Sa-
turday and Monday (28th and 30th ult.) On the former night
(being St. Peter's eve), an immense Multitude assembled, to
the amount of 400 or 500, and abotit ten o'clock began to peram-
bulate the streets, accompanied by music, and carrying on a
pole what they called a garland. We ourselves witnessed the
disorderly and riotous conduct of thiii• mob, whose noisy pro-
gress carried alarm to every family.. But what we most depre-
cate in such a tumultuous procession—which some May con-
sider quite harmless and innocent—is the fact that it irritated
and provoked another party, and thereby engendered animosity
and strife. ,
On Monday night, a motley concourse of persons, including
men, women, and children, amotinting, (as we are informed) to
several hundreds, assembled in procession, with drums and
music, to celebrate the Ist of July. A Randier of them' were pro-
vided with muskets and other lire-ants, With which they con-
tinued firing for several hourg, to the great annoyance of the in-
habitants who had retired to rest. This great multitude conti-
nued to traverse the town during a part of the night, playing
party tunes, and tiring at intervals.' Here we have to men-
tion a most attrocious affair. About two o'clock, White they
were passing over Canal-street bridge, a shot was fired among
the multitude, which took effect on one or two individuals,
who were wounded slightly. It was not observed from what
direction the shot came t but Mr. Bloxham, who was at hand,
concealed himself at the corner of the bridge, for the purpose
of discovering the dastardly villains who had fired. He had
not been an instant there, when he petceived the flash of a pis-
tol from the bow of a sloop called the Victory, which was lying
at the left of the bridge. The sloop was immediately boarded
by Illoxliani and several others, when Henry Sherry, Bernard
Duffy, (two of the most infamous characters), and Hugh
Rinny, none of whom belonged to the sloop; Daniel Quinn
(the mate), and a boy were found on board. When Bloxham
and his assistant were going down the companion-ladder, a shot
was fired from the cabin, which only scorched the coat of one
of the party.- Bloxham then rushed forward, and arrested the
individuals above-named, after some opposition on the part of
Sherry and Duffy.
Great credit is due to Mr. Bloxham, as but for his exertions
the multitude would themselves have taken ample vengeance
upon those ruffians. Informations have since been sworn against
them, and they were on Wednesday committed to jail by Mr.
Corry, to take their trials at the ensuing Armagh Assizes.
ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN A VARTY OF DRAGOON,' AND