pelled the inhabitants to take those illegal oaths?—The numbers were variously described to me; sometimes three and four, seldom more than six went into a house at any place; I have heard there were more voices outside the door, but the people generally said they were in those numbers.

"Can you state to the Committee what extent of country may have been sworn in one night by those bands?—I think, in one instance, there was an extent of country of three or four miles sworn in one night.

"Can you state to the Committee whether the mode in which this is done is not so regular and systematic that it would appear that the line of march for those bodies was laid down by some authority and direction, in consequence of its never being transgressed, or passed over in a particular line?— I know we considered it so at the time the swearing took place, that it was done with a great deal of order, a great deal of system.

"Can you state an instance, in which the line appeared so distinctly marked, that it would appear that the swearing was performed in consequence of some systematic orders that those bands had received; and if you recollect such an instance, will you state it ?—I think I recollect an instance, when they came in by Rock Forest, in the county of Clare, in which that occurred, that they appeared to go in a certain direction, and swear all the young men in the houses in that certain direction, and they were met the night following, in consequence of following up that system.

"How were they met ?-They were met by the magistrates, in consequence of following up that line, and some of them were taken.

"From whence did they appear to come?-From the county of Galway.

"Was the county of Galway much disturbed at that time? -Exceedingly disturbed at that time.

"In a state of open war almost ?—Yes.

"Does not that confirm your opinion, that the disturbances in the counties of Ireland are generally spread by the circum

stances of the adjacent counties being also disturbed?-Generally speaking, that is the case.

"Although the same causes which may have produced insurrection in one, may not have produced it in the adjacent county?—Yes.

"Will you state any other instance, in the year 1819-20, in which the swearing of parishes, by union bands at night, took place, to a great extent?-In the parish of Scariff and the barony of Tullagh, I recollect a district being sworn, in which the road appeared to be the line of demarcation, and no person was sworn, except on one side of the road in that particular direction.

66 How many do you suppose were sworn in the line which you describe, of about four miles, that was effected in one night?—The population were not sworn, generally speaking; they swore only some individuals; the adults and rather the young men; I suppose that the night I allude to, there could not have been less than from 150 to 200; I cannot speak with accuracy, but I know there was a considerable number.

"As far as you recollect, did it not appear to you, that the swearing in the two baronies on the eastern side of the county of Clare, the barony of Bunratty, and the barony of Tullagh, was effected by individuals who were strangers to the county, and, in general, to the population ?—It certainly was, from everything I could learn on the subject.

"Did you not find, that from whatever motive it might have been, the population were extremely reluctant to take the obligations imposed upon them?—At that time they certainly were very reluctant to be sworn, and many, I understood from the local magistracy, apprized them and asked their protection; but we also found, that as soon as they were sworn, they were completely ranked in the system, and that they ceased, either to apprehend any consequence from it, or to communicate with those that they had before spoken to upon the subject.

"Have you not found, in general, that those who had, by any means, endeavoured to avoid being sworn, became, when sworn, the ready instruments of introducing others into the

association ?-There have been numberless instances of that." -H. C., 1824, p. 132-4.

It appears indeed that the emissaries frequently go to a sufficient distance to prevent being recognised, and that the persons sworn are ignorant of those who administer the oath to them.

Mr. Blackburne:

"Have you not known instances in which the population which has been engaged in insurrectionary practices are the reluctant agents of those who lead them to the act?—I believe intimidation and terror are a very principal means by which these conspiracies are established and diffused.

"Are they not frequently acting under the influence of a secret oath, and often in ignorance of the person who leads them, and of the object which they are to accomplish ?—I believe they almost uniformly act under the influence of a compulsory oath; and I believe that this oath has been administered with so much secrecy, that, in the first instance, the persons who are sworn in know not the names of those who administer the oaths. I consider secrecy one of the most powerful auxiliaries of the system.

"And are not the persons who are frequently guilty of the worst acts, acting under the influence of those who are unknown to them?—I do not believe that, when they come to the perpetration of outrage, they are ignorant; outrages that required combination must have a leader, and the party must know that they are under the command of some particular individual; but at the time they are incorporated by being sworn, I believe, generally speaking, they do not know where the conspiracy originated, or who the person is who swears them, or who are their associates."-H. C., 1824, p. 19.

Matthew Barrington, Esq.:

"Can you state what means are taken by these gangs to propagate these systems, as you have given the Committee to

understand that there is a willingness on the part of the peasantry to commit crime?-I do not wish the Committee to understand any such thing: I believe the greater number join through terror and necessity, from the kind of houses they inhabit, and the retired situation in which they are placed. The parties to the murder of Mr. Blood went to the houses of many poor farmers to compel them to go with them. Some of these farmers told me that they were delighted to hear of their execution; they said so secretly, knowing I would not disclose it: they frequently made them join when they went out at night. Captain Rock (the man Delane, whom I have alluded to) told me that he has been obliged to threaten to fire at his own men to make them attack a house.

"What are the means by which they exercise these systems of intimidation over the lower orders?-By going to their houses at night, and swearing them to join, and be ready whenever they may be called on to take arms or to attack houses. If they refuse, or their wives or families should in any way prevent them, they were formerly carded, but latterly wounded or flogged, or some other punishment inflicted on them.

66

Is punishment nearly certain to follow the non-execution of what is ordered to be done? -Most certainly; and the consequence is, the whole peasantry of a county, not having any means of resistance, are obliged to join. When this system commences, the whole country is soon in a flame if it is not discovered and instantly checked.

"In the first instance the gang obtains the support of a great number of individuals?—Yes.

"Do you make any difference between seduction and intimidation?—There is very little seduction; it is a willingness to join, or intimidation; they compel them by going to their houses at night.

"When these men take the oaths, does it appear to you that they continue among the disturbed people through the influence of the oath, or the intimidation that is continued?— Through intimidation; they do not mind the oath much."H. C., 1832, Nos. 32-5; 58-60.

"Has it not fallen within your knowledge, that the approvers, in murders for instance, complained bitterly of the slackness of people under them, and the difficulty they found in bringing them to a point ?-Frequently; they have told me, that they have been obliged to threaten the people they brought out, for not going out to attack a house, that they have been obliged to go behind them. A man called Captain Rock, whose name is Delane, a principal in the murder of young Hoskins, son of Lord Courtenay's agent, has told me that he had been frequently obliged to follow them with a pistol, and threaten to shoot them if they did not attack the house."H. L., 1824, p. 305.

W. W. Despard, Esq. :

"You have mentioned being bound together by an oath; have you ever seen the oath ?—Yes, the Whitefeet oath I have. "What is the character of it?-They are sworn to go as far as twelve miles to assist a brother; for instance, if a man 'took land, and another person thought he had a better claim to it than he, this man would go twelve miles away and bring strangers to attack that man, and sometimes burn his house.

"The oath implies an extended confederacy?—Yes.

"In what way are they able to extend their associations in regard to the number?-By administering that oath; and I am firmly persuaded there are many people who have taken that oath who have done it through fear.

"They exercise a system of intimidation over persons of their own class throughout the country?—Yes."-H. C., Nos. 394-5; 398-400.

"What class of people are they?-People of the poorest description.

"How do they carry on their plan of operations?-They increase their numbers by a system of terror; those that are not willing to join them they compel by force.

"Is there a considerable number of those who appear to be