DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16876#0010
INTRODUCTION.
[July xo December, I860,
Vol. XLIX.]
PAGE
solemnly reprobated by the Catholic bishops, both in Ireland and America,
and denounced from the altar in the strongest language by the parochial
priests, as the worst foes alike to religion and society. The views and inten-
tions avowed by the chiefs of the movement fully justified such imputations.
These men had ‘ drunk deeply,’ as the Attornev-General for Ireland said
on the trial of one of them, ‘ of the spirit of the French Revolution ; and were
prepared to imbrue their hands in blood for the attainment of their ends.’
It appears clear from the documents put in evidence before the Special Com-
mission at Cork and Dublin, that the massacre of the upper classes, of the
owners of land and property, and of all who held power in Church and
State, together with a confiscation of estates, were the steps by which they
intended to carry out, in the event of a successful invasion and a defeat of
the British Government, their deliberate scheme for the establishment of an
Irish republic. In the words of Mr. Justice Keogh, describing the cha-
racter of the insurrection, which were fully substantiated by the evidence
adduced before the Court, ‘ the object of its leaders was to extend it through
all classes of the people, but especially the artisans in towns and the culti-
vators of the soil; its ramifications existed not only in this country, but in
the States of America; supplies of money and of arms for the purposes of a
general insurrection were being collected, not only here, but on the other
side of the Atlantic ; and, finally, the object of this confederation was the
overthrow of the Queen’s authority, the separation of tbis country from Great
Britain, the destruction of eur present Constitution, the establishment of
some democratic or military despotism, and the general division of every
description of property as the result of a successful civil war.”
: three o’clock in the evening, and while the vestry was still sitting, a band
; of music was heard, and shorty after from about 400 to 500 men appeared,
armed with sticks, cutlasses, spears, guns, and other deadly weapons. The
Custos then appeared on the steps of the Court-house, and entreated the
people not to come into the square of the Court-house, and requested to
know of what they complained. At this time the volunteers, eighteen in
number, were drawn up in front of the Court-house; the mob still persisted
in entering the square, and when about fifty yards from the volunteers the
Riot Act was read by the Custos, but which had no effect on the rioters.
On the rioters coming within ten yards of the volunteers they fired a volley
of stones at them ; the order was then given to fire, and several of the rioters
were killed. The fury of the rioters was such that every one had to take refuge
inside the Court-house ; several shots were fired into the Court-house, the
windows were all smashed to pieces, and ultimately fired and burnt down;
his Honour the Custos was murdered in the most brutal and savage manner,
with other magistrates and gentlemen of the parish.’
“ Almost the whole of the small band of volunteers was cut to pieces,
after making a gallant and determined resistance to the attack. After their
victory at the Court-house, the negroes dispersed in various directions and
committed acts of violence and murder elsewhere, entering plantations,
from which the proprietors had to fly for their lives, and causing the utmost
terror to the whole white population, which is outnumbered by the black in
an immense proportion. Amongst other documents, the following was
found, which shows that the outbreak was premeditated, and shows also its
character and objects :—
“ ‘ Mr. Graham and other gentleman, it is time now for us to help our-
selves. Skin for skin, the iron bars is now broken in this parish, the white
people send a proclamation to the Governor to make war against us, which
we all must put our shoulder to the wheels and pull together. The Maroons
sent the proclamation to us to meet them at Hayfield at once without delay,
that they will put us in a way how to act. Every one of you must leave
your house, takes your guns, who don’t have guns take your cutlasses down
at once. Come over to “ Stony Gut ” that we might march over to meet the
Maroons at once without delay. Blow your shells, real your drums, house
to house take out. every man march them down to Stoney Gut, any that
you find in the way takes them down with there arms ; war is at us, my
black skin war is at hand from to-day to to-morrow. Every black man
must turn at once for the oppression is too great, the white people are now
cleaning up they guns for us, which we must prepare to meet them too.
Chear men, chear, in heart we looking for you a part of the night or before
daybreak.
“ ‘ We are, &c.,
(Signed) “‘Paul Bogle,
“ ‘ J. G. McLarren,
“‘B. Clarke,
“ ‘ P. Cameron.’
“ Nothing could exceed the brutality with which the infuriated negroes
perpetrated their atrocities. At the Court-house the eyes and hearts of some
of their victims were tom out, and the women showed themselves even more
cruel than the men."
The means employed by Governor Eyre to put an imme-
diate and effectual stop to these atrocities gave rise to pro-
ceedings against him, which Mr. Punch, having regard to
the exigences of the occasion, has stigmatised as the persecu-
tion of a brave man, daring to do his duty to his countrymen
and countrywomen at a time when to have hesitated, would
have been to have invited butchery and something worse.
The state of the money-market at the close of the year was
productive of much mischief, especially in the fluctuating
prices of cotton, and the balance of trade was undoubtedly
against us. The principle of “ Limited Liability ” came
largely into favour—no less than 287 new companies came
into existence, and many old private firms of the highest
respectability also accepted the new form of partnership.
On the 9th of December died Leopold the First, King of
the Belgians, after a life of much usefulness. He was a lover
of peace, and industry, and a peace-maker.
Our space forbids us to follow this subject to its close,
indeed, it has occupied its place in the history of Ireland
during the two last years, and will have to receive further
notice in our succeeding volumes.
As the outbreak in Jamaica will occupy a remarkable place
in history, not only on its own account but also from the ex-
traordinary proceedings to which it led, we shall again avail
ourselves of the pages of the Annual Register :—
‘ ‘ In the month of October this year, an outbreak of the negroes took
place in Jamaica, which was followed by deplorable consequences. For
some time previously there had been a good deal of discontent amongst the
black population, which had been fostered by the harangues of agitators
and the addresses of Baptist ministers, who attributed the distress from
which the island suffered to the misgovernment of its rulers. That there
were grievances which required redress, we are not disposed to deny; but
the poverty which had overtaken a great part of the community was chiefly
caused by the indolent and thoughtless character of the negro, who abhors
labour and thinks idleness the most precious boon of liberty.
“ The disturbance began on the 7th of October, at Morant Bay, in the
district of St. Thomas-in-the-East, about twenty miles east from Kingston,
and we will give an account of its commencement in the words of Baron
von Ketelhodt, the Custos of the district, who himself fell a victim to the
murderous violence of the blacks. He says, in a dispatch addressed to the
ecretary of the Governor :—
“ ' A number of over 150 men, armed with sticks, and preceded by a band
of music came on Saturday, the 7th October, with the openly expressed in-
ention to rescue a man who was that day to be tried for some offence, if
found guilty. Leaving the band of music outside the town, they proceeded
to the square in front of the Court-house. A man having been ordered into
custody on account of the noise he was making in the Court-house, a rush
was made by a body of the men referred to, and the man rescued from the
hands of the .police, one of whom was left with his finger broken, and several j
others beaten and ill-treated.
“ ‘ In consequence of this outrage, warrants were issued yesterday against
twenty-eight individuals who bad been identified, and the warrants placed
to-day in the hands of six policemen and three rural constables for execution.
" ‘ On, however, the attempt being made by tbis force to arrest one Paul
Bogle, I am informed by the policemen, who have just returned, that on a
signal being given, a body of over 150 men, armed with cutlasses, bayonets,
and pikes, appeared, and made prisoners of three of the policemen, on two
of whom they placed handcuffs, and only suffered them to leave after having
obtained an oath from them that they (the police) would join them.
“ ‘ The oath was administered by Paul Bogle on a Bible he had at band.’
“ The next day, to quote the language of the Cleric of the Peace of St.
Thomas-in-the-East, ‘ there was a meeting of the vestry at Morant Bay, at
which his Honour the Custos and several magistrates were present. About
PAOK
1
[July xo December, I860,
Vol. XLIX.]
PAGE
solemnly reprobated by the Catholic bishops, both in Ireland and America,
and denounced from the altar in the strongest language by the parochial
priests, as the worst foes alike to religion and society. The views and inten-
tions avowed by the chiefs of the movement fully justified such imputations.
These men had ‘ drunk deeply,’ as the Attornev-General for Ireland said
on the trial of one of them, ‘ of the spirit of the French Revolution ; and were
prepared to imbrue their hands in blood for the attainment of their ends.’
It appears clear from the documents put in evidence before the Special Com-
mission at Cork and Dublin, that the massacre of the upper classes, of the
owners of land and property, and of all who held power in Church and
State, together with a confiscation of estates, were the steps by which they
intended to carry out, in the event of a successful invasion and a defeat of
the British Government, their deliberate scheme for the establishment of an
Irish republic. In the words of Mr. Justice Keogh, describing the cha-
racter of the insurrection, which were fully substantiated by the evidence
adduced before the Court, ‘ the object of its leaders was to extend it through
all classes of the people, but especially the artisans in towns and the culti-
vators of the soil; its ramifications existed not only in this country, but in
the States of America; supplies of money and of arms for the purposes of a
general insurrection were being collected, not only here, but on the other
side of the Atlantic ; and, finally, the object of this confederation was the
overthrow of the Queen’s authority, the separation of tbis country from Great
Britain, the destruction of eur present Constitution, the establishment of
some democratic or military despotism, and the general division of every
description of property as the result of a successful civil war.”
: three o’clock in the evening, and while the vestry was still sitting, a band
; of music was heard, and shorty after from about 400 to 500 men appeared,
armed with sticks, cutlasses, spears, guns, and other deadly weapons. The
Custos then appeared on the steps of the Court-house, and entreated the
people not to come into the square of the Court-house, and requested to
know of what they complained. At this time the volunteers, eighteen in
number, were drawn up in front of the Court-house; the mob still persisted
in entering the square, and when about fifty yards from the volunteers the
Riot Act was read by the Custos, but which had no effect on the rioters.
On the rioters coming within ten yards of the volunteers they fired a volley
of stones at them ; the order was then given to fire, and several of the rioters
were killed. The fury of the rioters was such that every one had to take refuge
inside the Court-house ; several shots were fired into the Court-house, the
windows were all smashed to pieces, and ultimately fired and burnt down;
his Honour the Custos was murdered in the most brutal and savage manner,
with other magistrates and gentlemen of the parish.’
“ Almost the whole of the small band of volunteers was cut to pieces,
after making a gallant and determined resistance to the attack. After their
victory at the Court-house, the negroes dispersed in various directions and
committed acts of violence and murder elsewhere, entering plantations,
from which the proprietors had to fly for their lives, and causing the utmost
terror to the whole white population, which is outnumbered by the black in
an immense proportion. Amongst other documents, the following was
found, which shows that the outbreak was premeditated, and shows also its
character and objects :—
“ ‘ Mr. Graham and other gentleman, it is time now for us to help our-
selves. Skin for skin, the iron bars is now broken in this parish, the white
people send a proclamation to the Governor to make war against us, which
we all must put our shoulder to the wheels and pull together. The Maroons
sent the proclamation to us to meet them at Hayfield at once without delay,
that they will put us in a way how to act. Every one of you must leave
your house, takes your guns, who don’t have guns take your cutlasses down
at once. Come over to “ Stony Gut ” that we might march over to meet the
Maroons at once without delay. Blow your shells, real your drums, house
to house take out. every man march them down to Stoney Gut, any that
you find in the way takes them down with there arms ; war is at us, my
black skin war is at hand from to-day to to-morrow. Every black man
must turn at once for the oppression is too great, the white people are now
cleaning up they guns for us, which we must prepare to meet them too.
Chear men, chear, in heart we looking for you a part of the night or before
daybreak.
“ ‘ We are, &c.,
(Signed) “‘Paul Bogle,
“ ‘ J. G. McLarren,
“‘B. Clarke,
“ ‘ P. Cameron.’
“ Nothing could exceed the brutality with which the infuriated negroes
perpetrated their atrocities. At the Court-house the eyes and hearts of some
of their victims were tom out, and the women showed themselves even more
cruel than the men."
The means employed by Governor Eyre to put an imme-
diate and effectual stop to these atrocities gave rise to pro-
ceedings against him, which Mr. Punch, having regard to
the exigences of the occasion, has stigmatised as the persecu-
tion of a brave man, daring to do his duty to his countrymen
and countrywomen at a time when to have hesitated, would
have been to have invited butchery and something worse.
The state of the money-market at the close of the year was
productive of much mischief, especially in the fluctuating
prices of cotton, and the balance of trade was undoubtedly
against us. The principle of “ Limited Liability ” came
largely into favour—no less than 287 new companies came
into existence, and many old private firms of the highest
respectability also accepted the new form of partnership.
On the 9th of December died Leopold the First, King of
the Belgians, after a life of much usefulness. He was a lover
of peace, and industry, and a peace-maker.
Our space forbids us to follow this subject to its close,
indeed, it has occupied its place in the history of Ireland
during the two last years, and will have to receive further
notice in our succeeding volumes.
As the outbreak in Jamaica will occupy a remarkable place
in history, not only on its own account but also from the ex-
traordinary proceedings to which it led, we shall again avail
ourselves of the pages of the Annual Register :—
‘ ‘ In the month of October this year, an outbreak of the negroes took
place in Jamaica, which was followed by deplorable consequences. For
some time previously there had been a good deal of discontent amongst the
black population, which had been fostered by the harangues of agitators
and the addresses of Baptist ministers, who attributed the distress from
which the island suffered to the misgovernment of its rulers. That there
were grievances which required redress, we are not disposed to deny; but
the poverty which had overtaken a great part of the community was chiefly
caused by the indolent and thoughtless character of the negro, who abhors
labour and thinks idleness the most precious boon of liberty.
“ The disturbance began on the 7th of October, at Morant Bay, in the
district of St. Thomas-in-the-East, about twenty miles east from Kingston,
and we will give an account of its commencement in the words of Baron
von Ketelhodt, the Custos of the district, who himself fell a victim to the
murderous violence of the blacks. He says, in a dispatch addressed to the
ecretary of the Governor :—
“ ' A number of over 150 men, armed with sticks, and preceded by a band
of music came on Saturday, the 7th October, with the openly expressed in-
ention to rescue a man who was that day to be tried for some offence, if
found guilty. Leaving the band of music outside the town, they proceeded
to the square in front of the Court-house. A man having been ordered into
custody on account of the noise he was making in the Court-house, a rush
was made by a body of the men referred to, and the man rescued from the
hands of the .police, one of whom was left with his finger broken, and several j
others beaten and ill-treated.
“ ‘ In consequence of this outrage, warrants were issued yesterday against
twenty-eight individuals who bad been identified, and the warrants placed
to-day in the hands of six policemen and three rural constables for execution.
" ‘ On, however, the attempt being made by tbis force to arrest one Paul
Bogle, I am informed by the policemen, who have just returned, that on a
signal being given, a body of over 150 men, armed with cutlasses, bayonets,
and pikes, appeared, and made prisoners of three of the policemen, on two
of whom they placed handcuffs, and only suffered them to leave after having
obtained an oath from them that they (the police) would join them.
“ ‘ The oath was administered by Paul Bogle on a Bible he had at band.’
“ The next day, to quote the language of the Cleric of the Peace of St.
Thomas-in-the-East, ‘ there was a meeting of the vestry at Morant Bay, at
which his Honour the Custos and several magistrates were present. About
PAOK
1