HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
Other lost the city ef Norwich. 
Westminster was the scene of a 
most violent contest between a 
friend of government anda on 
tented whig; and one of the stats 
for Middlesex was lost to the 
popular party, by 4 wanton and 
personal attack of sir Francis Bur- 
dett on the memory of Mr. Fox. 
Ireland enjoyed tranquillity du- 
ring the greater part of the present 
year, under the mild and concilia- 
tory government of the duke of 
Bedford. It may be questioned, 
indeed, whether the system of con- 
ciliation, pursued by that amiable 
and excellent nobleman, was not 
carried farther than prudence justi- 
fied, or popular discontent could 
bear. Since the catholics could 
not be gratified with the restoration 
of their privileges, they ought to 
have been soothed by the public 
263—352 
and marked disgrace of their 
enemies, and relieved from future 
apprehension by purging, without 
delay, the magistracy of their tor- 
turers and persecutors. Towards 
the close of the year, disturbances 
broke out in the north-west of 
Ireland, occasioned by a banditti, 
who went about in the night time 
under the name of Threshers, com- 
mitting every sort of crime and out- 
rage. Strong applications were 
made to the Castle, to have these 
disturbances put down by the ine 
surrection Jaw, the usual remedy in 
Ireland on such occasions; but the 
duke of Bedford refused to have 
recourse, without necessity, to so 
violent a remedy, and by proper 
use of the ordinary and regular 
authority of government, he suc- 
ceeded in repressing and putting 2 
stop to these excesses. 
