W H I T E B O Y S. 105 



expeditions to difcover them in arms.; but 

 their intelligence was fo uncommonly good 

 by their influence over the common people, 

 that not one party that ever went in queft of 

 them was fuccefsful. 'Government offered 

 large rewards for informations, which brought 

 a few every year to the gallows, without any 

 radical cure for the evil. The reafon why it 

 was not more effe&ive was, the neceflky of 

 any perfon that gave evidence againft them, 

 quitting their houfes and country, or remain- 

 ing expofed to their refentment. At laft their 

 violence arofe to a heighth which brought on 

 their fuppreflion. The popifh inhabitants of 

 Ballyragget, fix miles from Kilkenny, were 

 the firft of the lower people who dared openly 

 to affociate againft them •, theythreatened de- 

 finition to the town, gave notice that they 

 would attack it, were as good as their word, 

 came 200 ftrong, drew up before a houfe in 

 which were 15 armed men, and fired in at 

 the windows : the 1 5 men handled their arms 

 fo well, that in a few rounds they killed 40 

 or qo. They fled immediately, and ever after 

 left Ballyragget in peace — indeed they have 

 never been refifted at all, without (hewing a 

 great want of both fpirit and difcipline. It 

 fhould, however, be obferved, that they had 

 but very few arms, thofe in bad order, and 

 no cartridges. Soon after this they attacked 

 the houfe" of Mr. Power, in Tipperary, the 

 hiftory of which is well known. His murder 

 fpirited up the gentlemen to exert themfelves 

 in fuppreffing the evil, efpecially in raifing 



fubferiptions 



