The Sun. — 1847-12-06 (London, England)

IRELAND. STATE OF THE COUNTRY.  DUBLIN, DEC. 3.—This day's post brings nothing more striking than the particulars of an ineffectual attempt to assassinate a magistrate in the county of Monaghan, Mr. Johnston, of Ivy-hill. The Fermanagh Reporter gives the following version of the affair : " On the night of Thursday last, the 25th of November, at about the hour of six o'c'oek, Mr. J. W. Johnston, justice of the peace, was fired at from behind a ditch, convenient to his own residence, Ivy-hill, while returning from Einyvale Petty Sessions; but it is fortunate, that being enveloped in a strong thick woollen cloak, the shot, which consisted of slugs, only took effect on the gentleman's arm, above the elbow, which, although seriously injured, is not in such a state as to cause any apprehensions to be entertained as to the wound proving fatal. No reason can be assigned for this diabolical attempt upon the life of a respectable magistrate, and one who is beloved and esteemed by all who know him. And no clue has'hitherto been found that might lead to the discovery of the bloodthirsty perpetrator ; but it is to be hoped, however, that through the vigilant exertions of the police, and the peaceable disposition of the people of the neighbourhood, he may yet be brought to condign punishment." The Erne Packet, however, assigns a reason for the commission of this atrocious attempt on life. It is as follows : "It appears that Mr. Johnston had been lately employed in his magisterial capacity at the petty sessions of Emyvale, hearing several cases of complaints on the part of the collect3rs for levying the rate for repayment of the loans under the Relief Act. The people had arrayed themselves in opposition to the collector, and offered the strongest resistance to the payment; and it would seem that a preconcerted plan had been formed from the beginning to oppose the levying of the rate, under various pleas, some from inability, and being characters of reckless desperation who have nothing to lose ; others under the plea of the extravagant and careless manner in which the relief was distributed. This led to the litigation and disputes between the parties, and in which Mr. Johnston, as one of the magistrates, was called on to preside, and in which capacity he endeavoured to arrange and amicably settle the matter in dispute ; in which, however, he failed ; and the business of the court over, he was returning home, it being somewhat late he was riding fast, and when but a short distance from his own house he was fired at from behind a thickset hedge." Amongst other reports rife during the week, it was said that an attempt had been made upon the life of Lord Crofton, and it now turns out that there was a solid foundation for this statement, inasmuch as his Lordship has been obliged, by the interposition of his friends, to leave Ireland, and thus escape the otherwise inevitable doom that was, beyond all doubt, known to await him here. Lord rofton's estates are situated in the county of Roscommon. With respect to the state of the above-named county the following sketch is furnished by a correspondent of the Evening Mail:— " The late Rev. Mr. Lloyd ejected no tenants. lie told an intimate friend, a short time since, he would not, but would rest on his oars for a while, till matters came round. In order to feed the neighbouring poor, last winter and spring, he killed his own sheep ; and his wife, while assisting in dressing and distributing the food, caught an almost fatal illness ; whilst his sister, who resided with him, has devoted the whole of her time, for many years past, in the most active benevolence; she, last season, distributed several hundred pounds to the poor of Elphin and its neighbourhood. Such is the family that has had its head murdered within an English mile of his own house.