endors if they charged
more than one shilling a stone for it. Meantime Captain Sibthorpe, the
officer in command of the detachment of the 1st Royal Dragoons that had
gone to Kilmacthomas in the morning, finding the number of people there
assembled less than he had anticipated--only five hundred or so--and
being aware that a much larger body was expected at Dungarvan, asked
permission from the magistrates to return to that town. At first, they
were very loath to grant his request, but having at length yielded, he
left forty-eight policemen for their protection, and marched his men
back to Dungarvan. It was a journey of three or four hours. On their
arrival they found the people under Power had concluded their
preliminary business of visiting the stores and shops, and not being
provided with a commissariat to supply them with rations, they were
levying contributions from the bakers of the town. Seeing this, Captain
Sibthorpe ordered his dragoons to ride them down, and drive them off,
which they did. Some prisoners were taken, lame Pat Power, their leader,
being of the number. The prisoners having been secured, Mr. Howley, the
resident magistrate, addressed the people; he explained to them the
illegality and folly of their proceedings, and assured them he would
forward to the Government any document detailing what they considered as
their grievances, provided that it was couched in respectful language;
and further, that he would do all he could to have any reasonable
request of theirs complied with. Upon this they retired and drew up a
statement which they handed to him, and which he promised to send to the
Lord Lieutenant. So far so good. The day's proceedings might be fairly
supposed to have ended here--but no--what about the prisoners? The
people refused to go away without them. The magistrates would not
release them, but assured their comrades that their punishment should be
light. This did not satisfy them, and they commenced to use violent
language and to throw stones. Orders were given to clear the square,
which service was performed by the dragoons, who drove them into the
neighbouring streets; but as the stone-throwing was continued, the
police were sent to drive them away; failing to do this, the dragoons
were ordered to advance, whereupon, it is said, a shout was raised in
Irish by the people to "kill them," which was followed by a shower of
stones. Things began to look so critical, that Captain Sibthorpe asked
p