Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/447

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436 CAULFIELD. a recal of their old companions to join their ranks. His lordship's military attentions were now divided between the volunteers of the metropolis, and those of the north- and the rest of his time was filled up by literary or personal intercourse with his friends. The country, with some few slight exceptions, was now quiet, and began to manifest the happy effects of its new-born liberties by rapid ad- vances in agriculture and commerce. After the close of the session of 1787, the Duke of Rutland died, universally lamented, and his remains were attended to the sea-side, on their way to England, with the most honourable marks of sorrow and funereal respeet. The Marquis of Bucking- ham, formerly Earl Temple, returned once more to Ireland as viceroy, and his administration for some time moved with unusual tranquillity. On the 16th July, Lord Char- lemont once more reviewed the volunteers near Belfast: and at this period the flames of discord broke out in the county of Armagh, of which his lordship was governor. This feud originated in a petty quarrel between two pres- byterians, in which a Roman catholic espoused one of the parties. This affray lighted up a religious war through the whole county. The protestant and presbyterian par- ties assumed the appellation of " Peep-o' day Boys,"-and the catholics that of " Defenders" and much blood was spilled. But by the benign influence of Lord Charlemont,at least a temporary peace was restored-but unfortunately, that peace was delusive; and the seeds of mutual hostility sown by this quarrel, afterwards sprung forth with mis- chievous luxuriance. In the ensuing session, the most prominent topie whiclh occupied the discussions of parliament, was the question of regency, arising from the unhappy illness of his ma- jesty. The arduous debates which took place on this oceasion in, both parliaments, are how matter of history, and not necessary for detail here. It will be sufficient to notice, that the two parliaments materially differed from each other. That of England -declared its own power to provide for the temporary incompetency of the reigning