Star.
London, England, 1820-03-11 00:00:00

IRELAND.

The Ribhonmen are unquestionably " a great an-
noyance to the country," to use Lord CASTLEREAGH'S.
langiage, but they differ not in acts or designs from
the majority of the rustic confederacies of which the
present Irish, or their fathers, have been hearing these
sixty years, and all were suppressed by ordinary
means. The first of them were the White Boys.—
These disturbers sprung up in 1701. They were per-
sons of all religious persuasions, belonging to the Agri-
cultural Districts. They assembled by night in great
numbers, dressed in white shirts, and houghed cattle,
turned up new made roads, seized arms and horses,
burned houses, levelled enclosures, and bound people
by oaths to resist the demands of tithe proctors and
racking landlords. Their proceedings occasioned
much consternation, but there was nothing in them
aimed at the Government or the Constitution, and
the existing laws, put in force with suitable activity,
were adequate to restore tranquillity.
In 1764, there was a rising of the People of the
North. The Insurgents in this quarter, who gave
themselves the title of Hearts of Oak, were Dissenters,
and their chief object was to get rid of the oppressive
road-making system which then existed—but they
also aimed at lowering tithes and rack rents. The
next disturbers were the Hearts of Sled, who were
principally the tenants of an absentee Nobleman of
vast possessions, who caused much discontent and
suffering throughout an extensive district, by adopt-
ing a system of letting his lands for low rents and,
large fines, and turning out all who had not money
to comply with his terms. The object .in the begin-
ning was to deter Capitalists from dealing with him
—but when a Confederacy was organised and had,
acquired considerable strength, new designs, as usu-
ally happens, sprung up—and the Hearts 9f Steel
became general Reformers and Levellers. Their
career, however, was not long-lived. The Army was
brought to act upon them, and after a few were eze..
cuted, the brotherhood gaveno more trouble to the
absentee, or any of his Majesty's liege subjects.
In 1785 the Right Boys raised their heads in Mun-
ster. These worthy revivers of Whiteboyism were
chiefly inimical to tithes. Besides the Right Boys,
much was heard in these times of the Peep-of-Day-
Boys and prfenders. The modern Thrashers, Shona-
vests, and Caravuts, are legitimate successors to the
ancient White and Rieit Boys, 4114 hearts of Oak
and Hearts of Steel ; but mighty as they seemed in
their day, they were suppressed with similar ease.—
The Ribbomnen, like the White and Right Boys, aim
pt►t:cipallyatalowerinefreats and tithes. The 1 uani

that a number of the landlords in

that vicinity havelound it necessary to grant large
seductions in the rent. The earliest, the latest, and
most formidable of the confederacies have had the
same origin, the same tendency, and the same fortune.
They all sprung from popular suffering ; they were
.an illegal and desperate agency, through which de-
sirable ends were sought to be achieved; and they
all ended in speedy, and most exemplary discom-
fiture and disgrace. There is no reason to suppose
that a more triumphant or auspicious destiny awaits
the disturbers of Galway, than any of the factions
that arose and were extinguished before them. The
reinforcement of troops that has been sent to the
scene of commotion will do much, and the ap-
proaching Assizes more.—This is obviously, the im-
pression of the Ministry, who have declared that
no extraordinary measures are requisite to restore
tranquillity.

BROM THE DUBLIN JOURNAL OF WEDNESDAY.
By our intelligence, this morning, from the West,
it appears, that the banditti are still pursuing their
measures, but not With impunity. Oa Friday night,
about five hundred of them met at Culieen-bridge, in
the County of Clare, near the boundary between the
Parish of Feakle and Kilne, and marched into tin::
Parish of Kilno, where they commenced administer-
ing oaths, and robbin for arms. Mr. Tliorrias
Sampson was apprized 'RI their intention of attacking
his house on that night ; he immediately wrote to Sir
William Read for assistance. Sir William came to
Mr. Sampson's at about half-past one o'clock, accom-
panied by Sir John Read, with a detachment of the
19. th from Tomgreany, and a party, of the 77th from
Mountshannon. On their arrival, the soldiers were
formed inside the road, contiguous to Mr. Sampson's
house. In a short time the Ribbonmen came up,
when Sir William Read ordered them to surrender,
upon which they fired two shots, which fortunately
did no injury. The military immediately returned
their fire with some effect: one of the ruffians had his
leg broken, and another was made prisoner. The
darkness of the night prevented'any more from being
taken, but there is no doubt that some of them weer
severely wounded, as the blood was traced next morn-
ing on the fields. It has been ascertained, that four
men are missing in Feakle, and that two were pi
i-
vately buried on Saturday night.
Friday last, in consequence of private informatior,
TONIKINS BREW and MICHAEL KENNY, Esqrs. ac-
companied by two confidential servants, went ten
miles into the interior of the Barony of Inchiquin, in
the County of Clare, and apprehended a man, charged
with being a Ribbonman, and administering unlaw,
ful oaths. We mention this circumstance with con-
siderable satisfaction, as it shews how easily and
effectually the Gentlemen of the country can, with
very little trouble and no risk, put in force the law
of the land. •

A numerous Meeting of the Gentry of the County
of Clare, took place on Saturday last, when they
formed themselves into 4n Ennis Loyal Association,
for maintaining the tranquillity of that district.
fifteen men were on Sunday evening committed
to the Mayo County jail, by the Marquis of Sligo,
the Right Hon, Denis Brown; and the other Ala,
gistrates now in Clare, charged with having taken
the Ribbonmen's Oath, apd also having assembled
with them.
. The Crown prosecutions at the Roscommon As-
sizes, closed on Saturday last. Not one of the Rib-
boomen indicted have escaped conviction, so ably
and judiciously were the several indictments on
which they were tried framed by the Crown Solicitor
for the Connaught Circuit.