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"In the county of Louth a clergyman, having "served nearly two hundred processes in his parish, and finding it impossible to procure a 66 proctor to levy the execution, called, in his "capacity as a magistrate, on a troop of Dragoons "stationed in the neighbourhood, to aid the col"lection. The Dragoons came to the spot, and

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on inquiring how they were to proceed, they "were surrounded by the peasantry, one of “whom, a Stalworth Presbyterian, offered himself "to the captain, stating that he had been served "regularly with the process that he had no 66 money; but that he offered his person, and was "ready to proceed to Dundalk goal, if the officer "chose to arrest him. This was a signal for the "rest, and a number of them made a similar "tender."

The Dragoons (what servants of the apostles of Christ!) faced about, and nothing was done. Nor can any thing be done; for, as Mr O'Connell has stated, there is no violence in the resistance of the people. The law is allowed to take its course; but when the cattle are distrained, there are no bidders. Against this passive resistance force is unavailable. Let Earl Grey take his measures for improving the condition of the Clergy-let Lord Ellenborough give up the bodies of the miserable debtors to the Church creditors-let the men of mercy fill the gaols with them, and call upon the Government to provide a dozen more

gaols for every Church without a congregation:let all this happen, and more, and out of this bruising of humanity a precious and redeeming essence shall come,

"Like crush'd perfumes exhaling to the skies."

Out of oppression is squeezed retribution, or, as Sheridan finely says," Wherever the heel of oppression is raised, trodden misery springs up, and glares around for vengeance.”

Lord Grey declares, in contradiction of the benign sentiment of the King's Speech, which prefers peace to all other considerations, that obedience to the law, coute qu'il coute, shall first be compelled. But is the justice of the law not to be considered, before severe compulsion be attempted? Gesler, when he condemned Tell for not doing reverence to his cap on a spear, only punished lawlessness; he doubtless argued with Lord Grey's apologists, the law must be vindicated, whatever it is, the habits of obedience must not be disturbed; but in the issue, he found

"The might that slumbers in a peasant's arm.

NEW MODE OF DOING JUSTICE.

LORD ALTHORP has given a more distinct explanation of the intention of Ministers with regard to the tithe system in Ireland. The design is simply, first, to compel obedience to the existing law, and afterwards to do justice. The resistance to the law is to be borne down, and then the causes justifying the resistance are to be removed. Ministers admit that the system is vicious, and must be amended: but, first, they allege it is necessary to teach people the duty of conforming to a system, no matter how vicious and indefensible it may be. To pursue the example in our last paper, this is as if Gesler had said, "I don't justify having decreed

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reverence to my cap on a pole; it was absurd, ❝ insolent, and tyrannical to exact it; but lawless

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ness I cannot abide,—and before I consent to "retract my commands, I must insist on universal "obedience to them, and make an example of "William Tell, the precedent of whose contempt "of law would be so dangerous."

Mr Stanley, with infinite simplicity, observed, that they designed the measures of coercion first, because coercion is easier than remedy. Supposing the patient be bound hand and foot, we admit that

it is easier to cut his throat than to cure a fester; but this is not the posture of Ireland, which will be very apt to make its hands guard its head against Mr Stanley's ready knife. The plan of Ministers is an improvement on the procedure of Rhadamanthus, who punished first and heard afterwards, for they have heard and determined in favor of the parties whom they design to punish for resisting an iniquitous system. They announce,-" We "shall give judgment in your favour, but it is first necessary that we should crush you, for having so effectually resisted the abuses we cannot "defend."

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The morality of this is extremely curious, and would call for much observation, but for the circumstance that the thing proposed is impossible.* The law is set aside by the people, abrogated by the will of a nation, and condemned by the Government, and it can never be restored to authority. The people are unanimous in refusing to pay tithes, and no one will resume the practice as tribute to extortion. If they ever were to pay them again, they would pay them for ever; and this they well know. The system is condemned, not because it is vicious and mischievous in every possible way, but because it can no longer be enforced. The maxim at the heart of rulers is this: "omnia ferre, si potes et debes"-all-endurance should all endure. When oppression becomes impracticable, when the * The event has proved the correctness of this judgment.

load is flung down, redress is at hand; but let not the Minister be trusted who says, "Just take up "the burthen again on your galled shoulders, and "then, I vow, I'll lighten it; and if you refuse, "I'll signalise the justice of my purpose by knock66 ing your brains out."

Such instances of misconception of powers as that under consideration should soften any angry feelings towards his Majesty's Ministers, who show an infantine simplicity which disarms grave resentment. As we see, in humble life, one child carrying another almost as large as itself in its arms, so we see Lord Althorp in charge of Lord Grey, and dandling him through an explanation. The babe crows, and the little nurse interprets what it means to say. Any apparent cruelty in their designs is referable not to malignant purpose, but to the thoughtlessness of children who know not what they do. They talk of putting down a people as the babe crushes the fly. Poor innocents! they will know better in time. They are little Cupids, whose darts carry not destruction, but desires. They aim an arrow at disobedience, and inflame with the love of justice.