agreed to, and what he would do himself; the question was then put a second time, which was received with acclamation, nobody said "no" thinks they were more thau an hour; Mr. Blanchfield was on the window-stool when he put the question the first time,

Counseller Dixon objected to any inquiry as to the return of those persons on a subsequent day, unless it were connected with the traversers.

Mr. Scott said it was for this purpose he was proceeding to prove the conspiracy. The Court would not permit it.

perate. He claimed the privilege of replying at the close of the evidence, if necessary, Whitworth Butler, Esq. was then sworn: Is son to Dr. Butler, who holds the parish of Burnchurch; was at home on the 20th of December last; early on that day heard shouting, and the blowing of horns, at some distance; continued for nearly the whole day; about two o'clock saw a vast number of people proceeding from Bennet's Bridge, towards his father's residence; a short time after saw seven or eight persons going towards the house from his father's entrance gate; they went up to the house; had been expecting their appearance; Examination resumed: Was at home a few when they reached the house, his father, from days after when the second party came to the a window in front, asked them what they house; saw neither of the traversers there; wanted? As he could not hear their reply, he saw none of the seven or eight there; saw went down to admit them; his father asked persons there who had been at the first them in; they declined, and he was again in- meeting; witness's father is in England quiring what they wanted, when witness saw went there because he did not feel himself a crowd going oown the avenue, which made comfortable at home; at the first meeting him draw in his father and fasten the door; heard the crowd speak of Droban, his father's saw the traverser Blanchfield, who was one of proctor; his name was mentioned while Mr. B. the seven or eight who first went down; can- was in the crowd. (Mr. Scott asked this not say he saw Mr. Byrne; the crowd might question to show the character of the meeting.) consist of 1,000 or 1,500 persons; his father Heard the crowd say, "Send Lannan and asked them a second time from the window Drohan out here;" thinks this was before what they wanted; after some time a reply Mr. B. put the resolution; Drohan is not now was given that they came to demand a re- living; he was murdered since last Assizes; duction of tithe from witness's father; during it is since that time his father has left his this time the crowd was shouting and flourish-home. ing sticks and burls, and calling out "No tithes ;" Mr. Blanchfield was among the crowd at the time; he was one step off his father's door, and one of the seven or eight who made the answer to witness's father; the reply of his father to that answer was, he had not power to make the laws, neither had those who made the demand, and that he never had or would oppress any person in the collection of his tithe; this was received with a groan; the people said they would have an answer; I said they had one, and that my father would exact tithe as long as the law allowed him; I then closed the windows, thinking the people would go away; shortly after I heard some person addressing them, when I looked out and saw Mr. Blanchard standing on the window-stool in front of the house, addressing the people; could hear what he said, it was to the following purport: That as my father would not give any satisfaction, he would propose a Resolution to them; the Resolution was, that they should not pay tithes to Dr. Butler, or any other person, until distrained for them; he said, whoever is of this opinion will say Aye, and those who were not would say No; five or six said no; said I was glad to see some honest persons in the crowd.

Judge JOHNSON remarked that this was quite unparliamentary.

The leaders seemed not by any means satisfied with that; I believe none of those were, at least the traversers were not, parishioners. Mr. Blanchfield said there must have been some mistake as to the noes. He said he would put the question again, and that not to pay was what they knew they had all before

Cross-examined by Mr. Dixon: Is a magistrate; is anxious to direct disorderly persons to peace and good order; has said Mr. Blanchfield is not a parishioner; does not know his parish; heard not of such a meeting being held in Mr. Blanchfield's parish; Mr. Byrne is not a parishioner of his father's; never heard of such a meeting in Byrne's parish, but a vast number took place in different parishes; cannot say whether he heard of any such meetings; before the seven or eight persons went up to the house, he heard on that morning that a mob would call on his father; did not hear it before that morning.

To Mr. Scott: Does not think that, except the seven or eight, there was a person in the crowd who had not a stick.

To Mr. Dixon: Was at an open window when the seven or eight persons entered the avenue; his father had addressed those before the crowd entered; neither himself or his father felt alarm at seeing the seven or eight persons only approaching; when those were at the door does not recollect having heard shouting from the road; shouting commenced in the morning, and continued to within a few minutes of the deputation going up; his father asked them in; their conduct and demeanor was peaceable and respectful to his father; the deputation said, they came on the part of the oppressed people to demand a reduction of tithe; is sure they used the word demand his father was here last assizes, and went to England since; from the day of meeting to last assizes, his father remained at home. [Mr. Dixon here said, "So much for the can. dour of the insinuation given, which the

direct examination was calculated to give."] It is a fact, that Blanchfield did everything he could to make the people go away quietly, and desired them to commit no violence or wrong.

John Butler examined: Remembers the 30th of December; knows both traversers; saw them both there; both were of the party of seven or eight that first went up to the house.

Cross-examined by Mr. James: Mr. Blanchfield told them not to injure the property, and not even to walk on the grass.

The testimony of this witness closed the case for the Crown; and

be, could collect together, and not shout and flourish their sticks; or is this to be taken as evidence of the criminality of my clients? But the worst of it is, that the crowd called out for Lannan and Drohan; though it appears that if this were a crime, the traversers bad nothing to do with it; and it rather appeared that the call was made in consequence of Dr. Butler's assertion, that he had not been apprised for the purpose of laying some acts of oppression at the doors of the proctors themselves. Mr. Blanchfield put a resolution, not saying that we will pay no tithe, but that we will wait till ordered to do so by due course of law. Do the Quakers pay? What would the Mr. Dixon commenced the defence in an grand Jury say to Dr. Butler if he sent up able and eloquent speech, of which the fol- bills for their consideration against two lowing is a faint outline :-He said it was far Quakers for advising the country against the from being in his instructions, and he believed payment of tithe till distrained? Yet they do far from the wishes of the gentlemen (and so openly, and yet they are not prosecuted, gentlemen they certainly were) who were his nor is it asserted that their refusal constitutes clients, to impute to Dr. Butler or his sons a threat to compel the Minister to abandon his any but the best and most praiseworthy mo- claim. Will the Jury consider the Quakers tives for proceeding with this case. Neither not culpable, and at the same time find a was it their wish that he, in defending them, verdict against the traversers for coming to should utter a word that could tend to en- the same resolution, and that not till after courage the holding of such meetings. He they had peaceably complained to and remon would even say that the traversers' selection strated with the Clergyman. But, indeed, the of a man of his own known principles to be Quakers were the most guilty party, for let us their counsel should be taken as some evidence look to the plain meaning of the resolution. that they had not been actuated, in their par- It was not that the people denied the right ticipation in the business of the Bennett to collect the tithes at all, but they conBridge meeting, by a spirit of disturbance. sidered that tithes were exacted to an illegal Neither of the gentlemen was a parishioner amount; and that as their petition to have of Dr. Butler-no meetings of a similar kind them reduced to a fair standard was refused, had taken place in their own parish, he pre- they would refer to the law to decide between sumed, because Mr. W. Butler had sworn he them and the Minister, whether the ainount did not hear of any such; and he (Mr. Dixon) demanded was what was fair and just. They could not impute a wrong assertion to Mr. knew that though the evidence of the proctor Whitworth Butler, nor imagine any such might be conclusive in the Bishop's Court, meeting was held without the knowledge of yet in the open and common Courts of Law him who was an active magistrate, and cer- the people would have an opportunity of tainly should be considered an interested showing whether the Clergyman's claims person on those occasions. Neither would he were just. The Resolution, therefore, only impute to Mr. Butler a wish to insinuate that said-do not pay till by due course of law you such meetings might have been held without be convinced that the tithes be due; and this his knowledge, though that gentleman's testi- surely was not proof of a conspiracy to withmony could be so construed; but, as Mr. hold from Dr. Butler any tithes that he could Butler did not venture to say he heard of any, show he was legally entitled to. Suppose it Mr. Dixon would infer that none were held in shall be proved that they attended at Bennet'sthe traversers' parish. What, then, brought bridge before the meeting went to Dr. Butler, them into a parish where they were strangers? and there advised the people to comport themIf no respectable persons attended that meet-selves peaceably, and not to go at all to Dr. ing, I ask you what might have been the consequence? The country might on that day have been disgraced by some desperate act, and I think I am entitled to tell you, that you cannot consider such conduct on their part as an attempt to compel the clergyman to a reduction of his tithes. What is the worst thing against them? Why, that they demanded a reduction of tithes on the part of those who sent them, and that the crowd by which they were surrounded were guilty of shouting, and of rattling their sticks and hurlers! I ask you, Is it possible to suppose that a large body of "the finest peasantry in the world," (laughter,) such as you and I know them to

Butler's, but to send a deputation to state their wishes, and that they offered to be of this deputation themselves, provided none but those so appointed would go, and that it was at their instance the people were restrained; suppose those things shall be proved (and, unless my instructions deceive me much, they shall be satisfactorily proved in evidence), will the jury then convict the traversers, or will they not rather be of opinion that they merit the gratitude of Dr. Butler, and thanks as the guardians of the public peace? If these facts shall appear in evidence, we shall be certain of your verdict. You will have to say to one another, we will convict them, though pos

Not cross-examined.

Rev. Theobald Butler: Is a Clergyman of the Established Church, and a Magistrate; knows Mr. Blanchfield for seven or eight years; lives in his neighbourhood; never heard he was implicated in any charge that would render him to believe he would implicate himself in unlawful assemblies; does not know Mr. Byrne so well, but never heard of anything but this against him.

sessed of abundant proofs of their innocence, thinks, the day before; believes a proposal and in this case you will find the traversers was made to Mr. Blanchfield to attend the guilty; or you will do justice to their motives, meeting, as a measure of great utility to the and acquit them; but whatever will be your public peace. decision, I am confident it will be come to with a conviction that you administer justice, and as such to defy even malice. You will recollect that there are persons who think themselves justified in discussing the motives of jurors; you will scrutinize the facts that come before you; you will take the state of the country into consideration; you will look both to the actions and the motives of my clients; you will not suffer yourself to be misled by your feelings; you will fearlessly pronounce a verdict of guilty, if conscience bid you do so-and, if otherwise, you will feel a pleasure in sending the traversers home cleared in character, the good things effected being acknowledged, and rich in the possession of an unspotted fame.

P. Costelloe sworn: Resides in Dublin; knows traversers; recollects the meeting at Bennet's-bridge: saw Mr. Blanchfield in Kilkenny the day before the meeting; at that time there had been other meetings of the kind; heard there would be one at Bennett'sbridge; Mr. Blanchfield mentioned the circumstance in Kilkenny before Messrs. Warren, Mullins, &c. in Mr. Maxwell's shop, and regretted, with other persons present, that the meeting would be held. I went to the meeting, after advising with the Catholic Bishop and others, and 1 met Bishop Beresford and Captain Power on the road, both of whom said that they were glad to see me go out. From what took place the day before, I expected to see Mr. Blanchfield and the other gentlemen at the meeting; I entreated the people not to go to Dr. Butler's; in consequence of my address, telling them it was wrong to cut timber, as had been done at former meetings, they threw hundreds of sticks into the river; they did so at his instance and that of Blanchfield; Mr. Byrne exerted himself to the same effect; I wanted them not to go to Dr. Butler's; I proposed to have Blanchfield put in the chair; did so as a measure of precaution; Mr. Blanchfield said it would be hopeless to try to make them disperse, but proposed that a deputation should be sent; I offered to go up; Blanchfield desired me not, as it might be misconstrued; I did not go up, and do not know of myself whether the people went into the grounds.

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott. Does not think there are men of traversers' class in life would enter into any combination against tithes.

Captain Power: Knows Mr. Blanchfield several years; knows Mr. Byrne's general character; considers Mr. Blanchfield not only a respectable man, but an extremely wellconducted and industrious man; believes Mr. Byrne's character not less excellent. Case closed for the defence.

Mr. Scott replied at great length. He said the traversers were charged with a misdemeanor, and with having taken part in tumultuous proceedings and combinations to compel the clergy to reduce their tithes. It had been felt by the Attorney-General that if those proceedings were overlooked, there would be an end put so all social order, and the security of property, because they would soon cease to terminate in the peaceable manner this particular meeting had done. The object in the prosecution was not so much to punish as to convince the people of the illegality of these meetings, and the Crown was not sorry to have this opportunity of bringing home snch a charge to men of the rank and education of the traversers, who should have known that they could not take the part they did with any security to them. selves or the public peace.

The judge in charging the jury, read over the indictment; and, before commenting on the evidence, favoured the court with his opinions on the tithe system. In recapitulating the evidence, he said, that "no man who heard it could doubt there had been a tumultuous and unlawful assembly," but that "the guilt of the prisoners was another question." Their well-supported defence established the fact that they possessed influence. It was fair Cross-examined by Mr. Scott, who said he to concede that that influence was used for the would not do so at much length, as he was prevention of personal violence; and, in that certain Mr. Costelloe had made correct state-respect, they behaved in a manner highly ments: a great number of the crowd remained at the bridge; there was a flag with "Repeal of the Union" on it; many of the people went into the public-houses, and did not go up; the day was inclement; members of the government thanked Mr. C. for his exertions; headed no vestry about not paying tithes.

Michael Warren, Esq. sworn: Remembers the meeting; thinks he was in Kilkenny the day before; was in Mr. Maxwell's shop, he

creditable to themselves; but was that influence also used for the purpose of compelling Dr. Butler to reduce his tithes; and if so, they were guilty of the charge. His Lordship laid down the law of the case on the several counts of the indictment, and spoke warmly in praise of the manner in which the traversers exerted themselves to prevent mischief to life or property.

After a consultation of about an hour, the

jury brought in a verdict of Guilty on the first count, and of Acquittal on the two last.

thousands, who are now morally dead, and cause them to burn with that feeling which The Kilkenny Journal states, that the sen- hereditary injury should inspire. The opprestence passed upon Messrs. Byrne and Blanch-sion of workmen is now become quite syste field was twelve months' imprisonment, and a fine of 501. each.

CALICO-PRINTERS.

smatic,-a mere matter of course, The ear of the public are become so familiar with facts and complaints of starvation, that reductions of 25 and 50 per cent. are accounted a mere bagatelle. But why, tell us, English operatives, we appeal not to the low dastardly hireling wretches, who prowl about this manufacturing neighbourhood, but ye who

I TAKE the following article from the have yet a remembrance of former comforts; VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (Manches-ye, in whose breasts there is yet a chord from which the calls of liberty may expect a response, ter paper), which calls on the working-tell us, why should not such systematic op classes to stand firm by one another, and see themselves righted. As the editor observes, it is high time. Tradesmen, shop-keepers, are all in the same boat, as to this matter. The tailors, shoemakers, drapers, grocers, &c. in the country towns, have all greatly profited from the rise in the labourers' wages. How is a shop-keeper to live amongst a starving working people? I heartily agree in all the sentiments expressed in this article, and do most sincerely hope that the precepts and advice of the able and spirited writer will be acted upon.

WM. COBBETT.

pressions rouse you to an effort in your be half? Count your numbers, and you may boast of your millions. Cast up your pecuniary rescources-they are inexhaustible. Estimate your strength-it is omnipotent. Yet, in every contest, you are but as grasshoppers. Vanquished, humbled, and subdued, by the feeble but well-directed energies of pressors. Domination! domination! is the only your leagued and mammon-worshipping op. motto they recognise. They talk of morals, of justice, and of right; in their actions they blaspheme them. Strangers to humanity, in any of its applications to their own workmen, they can behold with complaisance the misery which their own wanton destruction of the commerce of the country is bringing upon their unfortunate labourers. After all, these men manage to keep up a reputation. But Kensington, 4th August, 1831. how is it? It is by a feigned show of liberality it is by bestowing a driblet of the vast THE JOURNEYMEN CALICO-PRINTERS. emoluments, torn from the flesh and blood, Again we have to appeal to the friends of and emaciated bodies of their dependents, justice and the assailed rights of the working upon charitable institutions! Oh! were the man, in behalf of a trade, certainly one of the country in that state in which such asylums most deserving of the many which grace the would be unnecessary; where-how would long catalogue of wealth producers. We are they find a cover to shield themselves from sorry for the necessity which has urged us to disgrace? But, charitable institutions! Are make this appeal; because among the many we indebted to them for the pittance they dole sufferers from low wages, and the fluctuations out for the support of such establishments? of trade, the calico-printers have been before No! 'tis they and their slave-driving practices the greatest, and, because of all who have who have created a necessity for them. It is ever contributed to the necessities of others, intolerable toil, and inadequate support that they have been the most prompt and efficient. have filled up our asylums with the halt, But these are not the only or least claims the lame, and the blind;" that have made which they posess upon the sympathy and many a poor man's back to bend, and his liberality of their brother-operatives. When hair, while yet in the meridian of life, like an appeal was made to the operatives to form the cameleon, thrice to change its colour. an association for their own protection the Operatives! you know this; but why not, by calico-printers were early in the ranks; they your actions, manifest your knowledge of it? were warm in their support of it; and, to the Why stand you idle, while there is a war of moment of their turn-out, they never relin- extermination raging against your race? We quished the duty which they had undertaken. repeat it; the late and present attempt to reCould we say as much for other trades, fully duce, by wholesale, the wages of workmen is as numerous and powerful, the present appeal a war of extermination. A war, in which cawould not have been needed; and the beggary-pital, and the influence it confers are arrayed spreading reductions which these very trades have suffered, could never have been carried into effect. Oh! the morbid apathy of many of the working classes has brought upon them a woeful retribution. Blest should we feel could we, by any effort, touch the souls of

against the flesh and blood-the bones and sinews-the rights and the liberties-the present comforts, and the future prospects of the working man. And we know that, if workmen do not, by the moral force of a great national union of their body, avert the intended blow,