Star.
London, England, 1830-10-12 00:00:00

STATE OF THE COUNTY OF MEATH-HELLS

We copied into our last a statement setting forth that the magistrates
of Meath, assembled at Hells on the 26th ult. had come to the resolu-
tion that additional police stations should be placed in the baronies of
Upper and Lower Hells, particularly the latter; and that an active
chief constable should be stationed at Moynalty ;—that, in the hope
these arrangements would be found sufficient to maintain order and
tranquillity, " no application for a stipendiary magistrate should be
made to the Lord Lieutenant" Now, we are given to understand that
the expense of a stipendiary magistrate was the true motive which
swayed with the nobility, magistrates, and gentry of Upper and Lower
Hells, to forbear applying for one. That district is exceedingly dis-
turbcd, and its inhabitants were most anxious for a stipendiary magis-
trate, provided the expense were to be thrown on the county at large.
But when the magistrates and proprietors of other districts, not so dis-
turbed, resisted this, the gentry of Upper and Lower Hells were quite
satisfied with augmenting the police stations. Penny wise and pound
foolish I.—as will appear from a detail of the subsequent events. On
Saturday last, the 2d inst. a vast mob, collected from the mullets, of
Hells town, and the neighbouring country, seized themselves of the
Commons of Lloyd, divided it into portions of an English acre to each
family, and distributed the land amongst themselves as far as it would
go. They next proceeded to build houses—sod, being furnished with
the requisite tools and materials, and no lack of handy and willing
workmen, they in a short time completed many tolerably comfort-
able residences. Our informant states that, when he last visited the
scene, there were at least three hundred cabins, in
The Commons of Lloyd, being the Lord's waste of the 172:711es of
Headfort, has from time immemorial been in possession of the Corpora-
tion of Kells. Part thereof was inclosed and cultivated for the use of
certain of the corporate officers and burgesses ;—and the remainder, un-
enclosed, was a common on which the members of the Corporation had
a right to pasture so many head of cattle each ;—what title the corpora-
tion can show, we are not aware of. But it should appear that there is
some uncertainty amongst the magistrates as to the line of conduct to
be pursued on the occasion. Thougitelsere are two troops of Lancers in
Hells and a strong party of police, the invader, have been suffered to
hold quiet and undisuarbed possession for several days s and they
resolutely maintain that they cannot be put out and will not give up
their acquisition. Several have been arrested and after undergoing a
lengthened examination set at liberty. We need not say that " the
nobility, magistrates, and gentry," are in the -utmost consternations s
consternation from which they might ham been spared bad they en
time !therm such a degree of unanimity—decision and prudence, as
would have deterred the lawless, ignorant, and misguided rabble, from
acts of aggression, and had selected a chief.magistrate with knowledge to
guide and determination to act. In other respects the conduct of this
multitude is quiet. It is said they have no arms. 'Certainly they ex-
hibit none, except the epodes, shovels, inattotte, ke. with'
which they are furnished, tem bodied sr. It is thoughs.they • were
acting under the advice and guidance of a troublesome fellow well
known in the County of Meath as "The March of Intellect." Is
this the promised fruit of the healing measure P—Dub:in £rening