The 11th Lord Blayney as a reformer
Report by Lord Blayney accompanying his list of yeomanry [221] cavalry, enlisted near Castleblaney dated Nov. 15, 1796 where he contrasted the
'shameful state of riot which has so long existed in more northern counties,'
with the perfect quiet of his own county of Monaghan.
'There is there, the greatest tranquillity and happiness. No soldier is ever permitted to interfere with the laws; and during three assizes and quarter sessions, there never has been occasion to have an examination returned.'
'In the North, the inhabitants are generally wealthy and obstinate; therefore, all require a plain and proper explanation of all matters from Government, and to be able to place some degree of confidence in their landlords. I am sorry to observe, that confidence between landlord and tenant throughout Ireland in general, is very much lost from the shameful abuse on the part of the former. It will, therefore, behove Government, this session of Parliament, to adopt some wise and salutary laws which meet the approbation of the people, and whatever the laws are, let them be rigidly enforced.'
Source: Lecky, William Edward Hartpole "A History of England in the Eighteenth Century" Volume VII, Second Edition, London, Longmans, Green, and Co.
(on line at www.chapters.eiretek.org/currentbook/V7Ch27.htmS).