ON TITHES IN IRELAND.
41 there were emissaries sent from Dublin all through the county; in fact, there was J<wq»A Green, Esq.
one for every barony; I think they inflamed the minds of the people, for there were ~ no subjects they could address the people upon to inflame their minds that they did 24 January 1832.
not employ.
488.
Have the Roman-catholic priests used any influence to instigate the people to refuse payment of tithe?—Not
to my knowledge; but I understand that when the people have asked their advice, they have generally advised them not to pay ; but I can mention an instance to the contrary, in the case of a gentleman who rents lay-tithes from the corporation of Kilkenny; and he, who took those tithes under very peculiar circumstances, which were to save his neighbours from having them Jet to a proctor or a tithe-jobber; he told the parishioners so, and said, you have only to make up the amount of the tithe, and no charge of any kind for collecting, and no fees whatsoever will be demanded ; notwithstanding which, that gentleman has been obliged, to my certain knowledge, last September, to pay three half-years' rent to the corporation; the parishioners refused, and continue to refuse, paying him.
Mr.
Bayley is the gentleman I allude to, and the parish is Jerpoint; the priest of which has exerted himself to have Mr.
Bayley re-paid, but all to no purpose.
, 489.
You have stated that you are not aware of any general influence used by the Catholic priests ; have any other influential persons instigated the people to the non-payment of tithes ?—Yes,
I am confident, many.
I spoke to a Roman-catholic priest very lately myself, and asked him why he did not interfere, and advise his parishioners to pay their tithes ; he assured me that he had no weight on the subject of tithes with them ; it had goue to such an excess now, that he could not control the people.
490.
Have any inflammatory publications been circulated in the county of Kil-kenny ?—Many,
exciting the people not to pay tithes.
491.
Are you aware from whence those came?—I
cannot say from my own knowledge; but since that unfortunate catastrophe near Knoctopher there was a notice posted on the chapel of Kells, which I will read to the Committee.
*' Notice,—Brave hurJers of the county Kilkenny hold up your courage and persevere : there are 40,000 men well prepared and firmly determined to join you in the counties of Wexford and Carlow.
Send notices to New Ross and Graigue, and they shall be with you in 24 hours.
Any man that pays tithes, or does not join you to defeat the supporters of that damnable imposition, is a traitor and an enemy to the country, and you ought to pour the vial of your vengeance immediately upon him.
Inniscorthy, 4th January 1832.—JV".
J?.
Any person that takes down this will incur the displeasure of the Supreme Degree."
492.
You stated that you sent out 40 police to act against a body jbat were in arms and resisted the payment of tithes; did that police consist of Roman-catholics and Protestants, or Protestants only?—Both.
493.
Was there any peculiar degree of hostility shown by the mob against the Protestants?—I
cannot say; there were more Protestants killed and wounded than Catholics.
494.
Have you any return of the number of police killed and wounded upon that occasion ?—I
have.
495.
What proportion did the Catholics bear to the Protestants ?--The
return that was made to me was as follows :
" Constabulary party under the late Chief Constable James Gibbons, on the 14th of Decernber 1831, 38 police; 24 Pro-testants; 9 of them killed, besides the chief constable, 13 wounded, 2 unhurt, making 24: 14 Catholics; 2 killed, 4 wounded, 8 unhurt."
496.
Is there any personal hostility on the part of the Roman-catholic tenantry towards the Protestant clergy in the county of Kilkenny generally?—I
think not.
497.
Is there apy opinion that the Protestant clergy exact from the people a larger payment of tithes than they ought to do?—Yes;
in some parishes they complain.
498.
Is that a general feeling, or is it a partial feeling?—I
think it is a partial feeling.
499.
To what extent does it prevail ?—I
cannot say the number of parishes; but in some parishes they say the clergyman demands too much, in others they do not find fault; but I do not think that makes any difference as to the payment, for if a clergyman had a parish that was.
worth 500/.
a year, and he offered to take 50/.,
I do not think it would be paid now.
500.
Are there any lay-impropriations in the county of Kilkenny ?—*
Yes; I have just mentioned the parish of Jerpoint, and there are some others, but tithe is not now paid.
177.
F 501.
