The Kentucky Gazette

YORK, (Pa.) May 31.

Extract of a letter from a person in the county of Armagh, Ireland, to his friend in this town.

You have doubtless heard various reports of the situation of this country, it is indeed in a critical one at present, and I am afraid before this reaches you we shall have bloody work; the minds of the people are much agitated for Liberty and a Parliamentary reform. Some time ago we had Break of day men, Orange men, and Defenders, now they are all cemented into what they call United Irishmen, they are not actuated by a religious enthusiasm but for the glorious cause of Liberty. This country is filling with arms and armed men: at one time there passed through Market hill to Charlemont, sixty-six cars and thirteen waggons laden with arms and ammunition, and a few days after there followed to the same place thirteen pieces of cannon and thirty-two cars laden with arms, &c. God only knows what will be the fatal consequence.

Every gentleman is raising troops of yeomanry to guard themselves and their property against the French and the United Irishmen. They expect those yeomanry will prove a strong guard as they are chiefly their own tenants. But I think differently. I think they will never support the present government, although, I myself am one of them. A number of the United Irishmen are taken up and confined in prisons, thirty-two dozen of loaves are required weekly to serve the prisoners now in Armagh gaol.

No person is suffered to be out of his lodgings after sunset, or before sunrise without being liable to be taken up and sent on board one of his majesty's ships: Your friend and relation, has been confined in the prison in Dublin for drinking a toast since last November. The toast was in these words, "May I live to see the skins of Kings and queens made into umbrellas, to make a covering for the Tree of Liberty" This was certainly a rash and unqualified toast, however, Irishman like, OUT it came--and IN he went.

Yarn that some time ago sold at one shilling per dozen, now sells at 5d, and cloth in proportion; whilst I write this, I hear a heavy firing of guns above Market hill, I understand an engagement is now actually taking place between a party of troops who went out of Market hill, and the United Irishmen in the parish of Loughgilly. How it will terminate God knows.