Glasgow Courier. — 1853-08-04 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MOO.  PE4SECIITI.ON—BRUT4L 4.TTACK. By a report which slipeared a few icy. since, it was seen that the Rev. Messrs. Henry and Scully were put on their trial at the late assizes in this town (Mayo), in a ease in which • jury had disagreed in March lest. The Crown, on the present occasion, did not press the prosecution, owing to the fact that the defendants have conducted themselves better, and the peace of Achill was not disturbed since those gentlemen were arraigned before. We hope that it was supposed, on the part of the government, that this act of forbearance would, tend to pacify the country. We regret to say that it has had just the contrary effect. It gave boldness and courage to a mob of those gentlemen's followers to commit a dastardly and murderous attack on a Scripture reader in Westport on last Friday. Patrick Walsh Jotee, the principal nitness against the rev, gentlemen, was returning to Achill by he mail, and reached Westport about 9 o'clock. The Rev. Mr. Henry, one of the defendants, was on the coach with hint. As the Achill snail did got start for some time after the arrival of that from Dublin on which he came, Joyce went through the town buying seine things, and, as he thought, 'total stranger. But on his return to the coach he Man attacked. He ran to the coach office and took shelter in an upper room, inhere lie was kept till the police came. At this time about 509 persons had collected and attacked the car with stones, with one of which a lady was struck. Instead of driving on directly with the mail, as it was his duty to do, the driver frequently stopped, owing to which the mob got opportunity again and again to collect and attack the car. The Rev. Mr. Henry having at last got up beside the driver the car started, but had only proceeded about a quarter of • mile when it was again assailed by the mob. Joyce was pulled off ! and beaten cruelly, and only for the efforts of two gentlemen who were passengers he would, in all probability, have been murdered. The Rev. Mr. Henry was, in the meantime, beside the driver. Joyce having lied some delay to get hie wounde dressed in Newport, the car went on without him, but he overtook it with a hired car, and then requested to be taken up, which the aforesaid driver refused to do. A gentleman said he ought to take him up as he had paid for kin fare in Westport. The other replied, if we be correctly informed, I would drive you and hint to Such is the state of things to which the sacerdotal demagogues have reduced this country, and such is an incident of no very uncommon kind, of missionary life in the Western Highlands. It is only an act of simple justice to say, that Dean Bourke endeavoured to save the life of Joyce in Westport. A large number of the chief actors in thie outrage can be identified by tb4 police. Will the government take no steps to inflict condign and exempl .ry punishment on these fanatical savages? Besides the ordinary call of simpliejustice, thereare two other demands on the authorities in the preseia case. It was they that brought Joyce where he was beaten. Only for a crown summons that he received he would have been in Achill. Again the leniency of the government, 110 doubt, emboldened the mob to commit this outrage. What will the authorities do? Has it brooms the duty of the executive government in the country to find out excuses whereby to shield riotous and intolerant priests from the arm of justice, end then aid them in their work of tyranny, by dragging away front their homes those men who are opposed by the priests, end handing them over to the tender ntercues of those whom ignorant superstition and insane bigotry have made fierce and brutal? If so the machinery of law sad civil power in Ireland has become a frightful engine of Papal despotism. The public will look to see what another party will do. Is Mr. Bianeoni, who receives so much Protestant money, prepared to keep this driver and such fel:ows in his employment.— Mayo Comeritution.