The Late Outrage in Erris (1850)

“The report of an attack on the English colonists at Belmullet, county Mayo, is untrue.” — Limerick Chronicle, Wednesday, October 16.

NOTWITHSTANDING the positive assertion of our sober and matter-of-fact contemporary, the Government have offered a reward of one hundred pounds for the discovery of the perpetrators of so audacious and wicked an act; and further, all the respectable inhabitants of Erris have come forward as one man, and expressed their abhorrence of the disgraceful act, and demonstrated their earnestness by subscribing a sum of £55, to be added to that already offered by Government as a reward for the detection of the guilty parties.

We, therefore, lay before our readers the following resolutions adopted at a highly respectable and numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Erris, in the court-house, Belmullet, on the 15th inst., to express their detestation against the perpetration of the outrage on the property of Messrs Woods and Wilson at Tallagh, on the night of the 7th inst. Amongst those present were — Denis Bingham, Esq., J.P.; John T.C. Walshe, Esq., J.P.; Matthew Atkinson, Esq., R.F. HAmilton, Esq., T.P.L.I.; Samuel Burns, Esq., Jas. O’Donel, Esq., Rev. James McMurry, R.C.C.; P. McAndrew, Esq., Thomas J. Reilly, Esq., Hugh Early, Esq., D. O’Donel, Esq., Henry Bingham, Esq.; Captain Dawson, R.N.; J.F.G. O’Connor, Esq., C.I.; A. Walker, Esq., S.I.; J.R. Mulcahy, Esq., L.R.P.; Messrs. J. Reilly, P. Jordan, F. Harte, W. Gibbons, M. Lavelle, T. Crampton, J. Rowan.

Proposed by John T.C. Walshe, Esq., and seconded by Samuel Burns, Esq.: — That we cannot avoid expressing our detestation and deep abhorrence of the crime committed on the 7th of this month, on the lands of Tallagh, by a stack of oats, the property of the Messrs. Woods and Wilson, being set fire to and consumed.

Proposed by James O’Donel, Esq., and seconded by the Rev. James McMurry: — That, for the better being able to discover the perpetrator or perpetrators of the above-mentioned outrage, a subscription be opened to obtain funds to reward such persons as may be concerned in the planning and carrying into execution the burning of the Messrs. Woods and Wilson’s corn.

Proposed by John McLoughlin, Esq., and seconded by Wm. Burns, Esq.: — That it is our decided opinion, from long acquaintance with the peasantry in this country, that they join us, as a body, in the feeling of satisfaction of having persons come to reside in Erris who will afford employment to the labouring population.

Proposed by P. McAndrew, Esq., and seconded by E.B. Fergus, Esq.: — That it is our unanimous opinion, that very few persons knew of the intention or were concerned in the outrage committed on Messrs. Woods and Wilson’s property; and that we have heard, from all parts of the country, expressions of indignation from the peasantry against the persons who, by such an act, have brought disgrace on it.

Proposed by Matthew Atkinson, Esq., and seconded by John T.C. Walshe, Esq.: — That we hail with delight the presence of English capitalists coming amongst us and taking lands; and that we will, by every means in our power, encourage their settling in this country, and support and give the right hand of friendship to such Englishmen and Scotchmen as may come to reside in this country.

We have not the slightest doubt that the concoctors of the vile threats used towards these respectable gentlemen, as well as the felons who fired their haggards, will be brought to justice, for we are glad to learn that some of them are more than suspected. It is a pleasing reflection, that the bulk of the peasantry — in fact, the entire of that class — are believed, even by the sufferers and those conversant with the whole affair, not to have had any part in the outrage, as they seem to appreciate too highly the advantages of employment for themselves and food for their families; and that the commission of the crime is thought to be the act of a few discontented, malicious scoundrels, who are unfit to work and envious of the industrial pursuits of others.

The Constitution, 22 October 1850, 2.