reform; and on the most effectual measures for carrying it into execution.

PRINCIPLES.

I. A Constitution composed of the King, Lords, and People, the latter fully and equally represented in a House of Commons, we prefer to every other, as admirably suited to the genius, wishes and interests of Ireland.

II. The present mode of representation is absurd, unequal, and inadequate; contrary to the spirit of our own and of every free government.

III. We assert, that the basis of election should be extended to the people of every religious denomination.

With a constitution so modelled, as to restore the just rights of the collective body, without infringing on the prerogative of the Crown, or on the dignities of the peerage, we think this nation, whose loyalty has ever kept pace with their love of freedom, will be satisfied and rest content. To obtain it therefore, it is the duty of every individual in the most remote part of the realm to come forward, as the voice of the whole people cannot be raised without redress. It is the interest of all orders in the state, from the Sovereign through every gradation of the constituted powers, to submit to the demands of justice; for that government is uncertain, fluctuating, and liable to eternal convulsions which is founded on principles opposed to the public will. A government to which the consent of the community is wanting verges on despotism, and will terminate in anarchy.

AT the third meeting of the society, held January 19, 1793;

NARCISSUS BATT IN THE CHAIR:

RESOLVED, That a correspondence be opened with the Friends of the Constitution, of Liberty and Peace in Dublin;

and that copies of these and future public transactions of this society be regularly transmitted to them.

Signed by order,

NARCISSUS BATT, CHAIRMAN.

MILITARY RIOT IN BELFAST,

ON SATURDAY, 9th OF MARCH, 1793.

THIS town, after having been for time immemorial on the best footing with his Majesty's forces quartered here, on Saturday night presented a scene subversive of the order, decency, and safety of the community.

About three quarters of an hour after six o'clock in the evening, a body of the 17th dragoons, intermixed with a few others of the military, rushed out from their quarters and drove furiously through most of the principal streets, with their sabres drawn, cutting at any one that came in their way, and attacking houses. This lasted near an hour, when, through the interference of magistrates, and some military officers, the party were dispersed. In the course of this business, the windows of a number of the inhabitants were broken; and some signs torn down. A great number of persons were slightly wounded, though none took any part in giving opposition to the affray. Charles Ranken, Esq. a justice of the peace for the county of Antrim, in endeavouring to take an artillery man, and after commanding his Majesty's peace by virtue of his office, was repeatedly stabbed at, and in a slight degree wounded. Mr. Campbell, surgeon, happening to be in a street through which the party were driving, one of them ran across it, and made several cuts at him, some of which penetrated through his clothes, and slightly wounded him. The windows of a milliner's shop were broken, in which cockades were hung up for sale. A man had his ear and his hand cut with a sword. Happily no lives were lost; and to the

prudence and quiet demeanor of the town's people it was owing.

The houses which suffered most were those of Mr, McCabe, watch-maker; Mr. Orr, chandler; Mr. Watson on the quay; Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Sinclair, public-house keepers in Northstreet; and the shop of Miss Wills, a milliner, in High-street. Their malice seemed principally leveled at the volunteers, Two of the dragoons received ample punishment from the swords of their officers. The consternation of the town may be easily supposed.

Two causes have been assigned for this unprovoked disturbance: viz. that there was a sign of Dumourier at a small public-house in North-street; and that a blind fidler who plays through the streets at night, happened to be playing Ca Ira, a French air. With respect to the sign, it was erected before there was any prospect of a war with France; and the circumstance of its being there could not be countenanced by the people, for few had ever heard of it till the riot brought it into notice. As to a tune played by a blind mendicant, it is too trifling a cause to be seriously mentioned, though he de◄ posed on oath that he never knew the tune in question.

As soon as intelligence of the riot reached the officers of the troops, at the barrack-mess, they used much activity in suppressing it. Great praise is due to the exertions of the magistrates; but the rapidity with which the party forced their way through the town, made it impracticable to suppress it till the injury was done. The gentleman who commands the regiment now in barracks, Captain M'Donnel, signalized himself by the most active exertions; and his regiment, the 55th, behaved extremely well. The circumstance of General Whyte's absence on other necessary duty, was much regretted; but he returned to town instantly on hearing of the matter. A guard of 450 Volunteers sat up during the night, and no farther harm ensued.

On Sunday, the Sovereign, by request, called a meeting of the town at three o'clock, to consider of the best means of preserving the peace, and bringing the offenders to punishment. In the mean time Major General Whyte had arrived from Carrickfergus, and gave assurances of his earnest desire to co-operate with the civil power in bringing the offenders to punishment, and promoting the security and peace of the town. A committee was appointed by the town-meeting to inquire into the cause of the disturbances, and report to a future one, to be convened by them as soon as their report was ready. This committee consisted of 22, amongst whom were the Sovereign, High Constable, and all the magistrates resident in town. This committee, according to instruction, sat at a quarter past six on Sunday evening. General Whyte was invited to attend as a member, which he seemed rather to decline, but desired an interview with the committee, to whom he repeated his good wishes for the peace of the town, and expressed his wish and his reasons for desiring that the volunteers who were assembled, to the number of 450, would disperse; as he had ordered a patrole of officers, and a strong guard of the 55th regiment, who have always behaved with order and regularity; and at same time pledged himself to call upon the inhabitants and join them himself, if any necessity required it. A deputation was immediately sent from the committee to the volunteers, with a paper stating these facts, and requesting them to separate, which they instantly complied with.

The horsemen by whom principally this affair was conducted, were entire strangers, having only come in on the morning of the riot, though they seemed very well acquainted with the streets and houses before night-fall.

On Monday morning the committee sat by adjournment, at ten o'clock, and proceeded to examine witnesses upon oath especting the rioters, for the purpose of bringing the aggres

sors, whether soldiers or others, to justice; but a fresh assault being made by a trooper, on a poor unoffending boy, with many expressions of menace which had been heard, shewed the necessity of removing them from a place which they had already so much insulted. Upon the committee representing this new fact to the General, he with a readiness that does him great honor, and deserves the warmest applause, ordered not only the four troops which came into town on Saturday, but also the remaining two of their regiment, which had marched 17 miles that morning, instantly to leave town. Two troops he had previously ordered to parade in the morning, that such persons as could identify any of the rioters, might have an opportunity of doing so, and three of them were accordingly turned over to the civil power; but as the darkness of the hour, the similarity of their dress, and the rapidity with which they executed their purpose, made it difficult to bring conviction home to any who had been guilty of the most aggravated assaults, they were suffered to depart with their com rades.

MONDAY, MARCH 11.-3 o'CLOCK.

THE Committee of the town of Belfast, appointed by the inhabitants at large, for the purpose of taking into consideration the riotous proceedings of several troopers and others, on Saturday night last;

Think it proper to declare, that there is a perfect co-operation between the very respectable character who commands his Majesty's forces in this part of the kingdom, Major General Whyte, and this committee-and that such steps have, with the General's concurrence, and with this committee's, been taken, as will, it is believed, completely preserve quiet and peace.

The public may rest assured that every measure will be adopted to bring the matter to a proper conclusion.