Memoirs of the Life and Times of the Rt. Hon. Henry Grattan Volume 4 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 edition. Excerpt: ...commanded by Sir Thomas, then Major Molyneux, relieved a regiment of Irish militia stationed at Armagh. The county of Armagh was then in a very disturbed state, arising from the feuds between the Protestant and Catholic population, unhappily too much encouraged by the dominant party; but of these religious dissensions the Orange Societies, fostered and encouraged by the father of the present Colonel Verner, had their origin. The avowed object of the Protestant party was to drive the Catholics out of the country. "In the course of the following year, the whole regiment took up its quarters at Armagh, and the neighbourhood. It so happened that I commanded a detachment of the f The name is in the Army List of that year. 236 RECENT ATTESTATION OF THE CHAP. VIII. regiment at Loughall, in the very centre of that part of the county of Armagh where the disturbances most prevailed, and not very far distant from the spot where the Battle of the Diamond took place. There I remained several months, and during that period I had witnessed the excesses committed by the Orange party, who now began to form themselves into lodges, and the dreadful persecutions to which the Catholic inhabitants were subjected. Night after night I have seen the sackings and burnings of the dwellings of these poor people. And notwithstanding the active exertions of the Sovereign of Armagh, under whose orders the military frequently scoured the country, our movements were so closely watched, that these depredations were continued almost with impunity. When we arrived at a burning dwelling, the perpetrators had fled across the country, and their course could only be traced by the fires they left in their progress. "Many of the Orangemen, however, notwithstanding the...