Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/488

 484 PONSONBY. amongst the middling and lower orders ;-the recent me mory of former grievances, to which the ruling party had obstinately refused redress; the marked reluctance with which any advantage was ceded to the country by the British government;—and the powerful eloquence of the Opposition, which failing of i t s effect i n Parliament, yet forcibly excited the national feelings;–all tended t o one fearful issue. The old volunteer system, t o which Ireland attributed a l l she had obtained, though i t had long sunk into repose, was still kept alive i n the metropolis b y self armed and self-officered associations o f tradesmen, which included many o f the old volunteer army, and con verted their Sunday amusements into military exercises, parades, field-days, sham battles, sometimes i n detached corps, and sometimes i n brigades, under the celebrated Napper Tandy, Archibald Hamilton Rowan, and other popular chiefs. These corps were allowed t o proceed, i f not without notice, a t least with n o interruption from government, though drums, fifes, and military ensigns were constantly heard and seen i n a l l directions; and every square within, and field about the metropolis, presented an active school o f tactics. The claims before mentioned, and the manifestoes o f the United Irishmen, fomented the smothering flame; a civil war was kindled between the Orangemen and Catholics i n the north, under the appel lations o f Peep-of-day Boys and Defenders; and many bloody battles were fought, and houses plundered, demo lished, and burnt, without any interference from the local magistrates t o check these disorders, which, o n the con trary, were supposed t o b e encouraged b y the Orange gentry o f the district. Thousands o f poor Catholic fami lies, farmers o r artisans, were expelled b y fire and sword from their native homes i n the northern counties, and forced t o travel southward i n search o f a n asylum, pro pagating, a s they journied, their tales o f woe. I n the mean time, the Catholics i n the metropolis held conven tions, and the Presbyterians i n Ulster political synods, for the promotion o f their reciprocal objects; while, o n the side