CAULFIELD was fast approaching, which was greatly accelerated by the traitorous obstinacy of government in resisting all measures of conciliation towards- popular feelings. The old system of sectarious division had long subsided, and the two great bodies of dissenters, the presbyterians and catholics, long hostile to each other from religious pre- judices, were now become firm allies in political interest. The former, in the north, avowed themselves the devoted friends of total emancipation to the catholics; and the latter, in the south, east, and west, pledged themselves to unite with the former in their efforts for parliamentary reform; and never to lose sight of those two great objects so indispensable to their mutual views for the freedom and prosperity of the country. Indeed every sympton of reli- gious antipathy had been rapidly subsiding in the country from 1782; which circumstance was viewed with alarm by the old partisans of division; and an attempt made in the north to revive the system. An opportunity was offered by the revival of an old religious quarrel, which has been before-mentioned, and which was then calmed by the influence of Charlemont. It recommenced in a desperate cudgel fight, between some catholie peasants and weavers and some protestants and dissenters of the same class, at a funeral; and so far from being put down by the inter- ference and authority of the magistrates, there was strong grounds to believe it was rather fomented by many of them. Numerous and desperate pitched battles were fought, The protestant party, under the assumed appel- lation of Peep-o'-day Boys, attacked the houses of the catholics at night, broke open their doors, destroyed their looms and little furniture, and abused their wives and daughters. The catholics armed for their defence under the name of Defenders; and, the former party being ulti- mately victorious, commenced this short system of expul sion to their antagonists. A placard was affixed in the night on the door of the catholic, iu these words,To hell, or Connaught, in three days." And, if he failed to obey this manifesto, his house was pulled down, his pro-
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