“Three years ago; why we had peace and quietness then compared to what we have at present,” replied Purcel.
“And what have we now, pray?”
“Why, sir, the combinations against tithes is quite general over the whole country.”
“Well; so was it then upon your own showing. Go on.”
“As I said, sir, it was nothing at that time. There is little now but threatening notices that breathe of blood and murder.”
“Very good; so was it then upon your own showing. Go on.”
“But of late, sir, lives have been taken. Clergymen have been threatened and fired at.”
“Very good; so was it then upon you! own showing. Go on, I say.”
“Fired at I say, and shot, sir. The whole White boy system has turned itself into a great tithe conspiracy. The farmers, the landholders of all descriptions, the cottiers, the daily laborers, and the very domestic servants, have all joined this conspiracy, and sworn neither to pay tithes themselves nor to allow others to pay them. They compare the established church to a garrison; and although the law prevents them from openly destroying it by force, they swear that they'll starve it out.”
“Eh!” said Turbot, starting, “what's that you say? Starve us out! What an infamous and unconstitutional project! What a diabolical procedure! But I forgot—bravo, Purcel! This was all the case before upon your own showing.”