The History of Ireland, from the Treaty of Limerick to the present time; being a continuation of the History of the Abbé Macgeoghegan. Compiled by J. Mitchel

Front matter

/ _, THE HISTORY OF IRELAND, FROM THE TREATY OF LIMERICK TO THE PRESENT TIME : BEING A CONTINUATION OP THE HISTORY OF THE ABBE MACGEOGHEGAN. COMPILED BY JOHN MITCHEL. NEW YORK: D. & J. SADLIER & CO., 31 BARCLAY STREET. MONTREAL t CORNER NOTREDAME AND ST. FRANCIS XAVIER STREETS. MES. BICKET, 19 II IOH BTEEET, BOSTON. 1868. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, By D. & J. Sadlier & Co., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New Yoris. Stereotyped by VINCENT DILL,. 25 & 11 New Chambers St , N. Y.

Introduction

. In preparing a Continuation of tho valuable History of Ireland by the Abbe MacGeoghegan, the compiler has aimed only to reduce and condense into a co herent narrative the materials 'which exist in abundance in a great number of publications of every date within she period included in the Continuation. That period of a century and a half embraces a series of deeply interesting events in the annals of our country — the deliberate Breach of the Treaty of Limerick — the long series of Penal Laws — the exile of the Irish soldiery to France — their achievements in the French and other services — the career of Dean Swift — the origin of a Colonial Nationality among the English of Ireland— the Agitations of Lucas — the Volunteering — the Declaration of Independence — the history of the Independent Irish Parliament — the Plot to bring about the Union — the United Irishmen — the Negotiations with France — the Insurrection of 1198 — the French Expeditions to Ireland — the "Union" (so called) — the decay of Trade — the fraudu lent Imposition of Debt upon Ireland — the Orangemen — the beginning of O'Con nell's power — the Veto Agitation — the Catholic Association — Clare Election — Emancipation — the series of Famines — the Repeal Agitation — th* Monster Meet ings — the State Trials — the Great Famine — the Death of O'Connell — the Irish Con federation — the fate of Smith O'Brien and his comrades — the Legislation of the United Parliament for Ireland — Poor-Laws — National Education — the Tenant- Right Agitation — the present condition of the country, etc.

The mere enumeration of these principal heads of the narrative will show how very wide a field has had to be traversed in this Continuation ; and what a large number of works — Memoirs, Correspondence — Parliamentary Debates — Speeches and local histories must have been collated, in order to produce a continuous story. There exist, indeed, some safe and useful guides, in the works oT writers who have treated special parts or limited periods of the general History ; and the compiler has had no scruple in making very large use of the collections

INTRODUCTION.

. of certain diligent writers who may be said to have almost, exhausted their respective parts of the subject. It may aid the reader who desires to make a more minute examination of any part of the History, if we here set down the titles of the principal works which have been used in preparing the present : Doctor John Curry's " Historical Review of the Civil Wars," and " State of the Irish Catholics"— Mr. Francis Plowden's elaborate and conscientious " Historical Review of the State of Ireland," before the Union :— the same author's " History of Ireland" from the Union till 1810 — the Letters and Pamphlets of Dean Swift— Harris's " Life of William the Third"— Arthur Young's " Tour in Ireland" — the Irish " Parliamentary Debates" — Mr. Scul ly's excellent " State of the Penal Laws"— Thomas MacNevin's " History of the Volunteers," in the " Library of Ireland" — Hardy's " Life of Lord Charlemont" — . the Four Series of Dr. Madden's collections on the " Lives and Times of the United Irishmen" — Hay's " History of the Rebellion in Wexford" — the Rev. Mr. Gordon's " History of the Irish Rebellion" [the work of Sir Richard Musgrave, as being wholly untrustworthy, is purposely excluded] — The " Papers and Corre spondence" of Lord Cornwallis — and of Lord Castlereagh ; — the " Memoirs of Miles Byrne, an Irish Exile in Fiance," and a French officer of rank, lately deceased — the Lives and Speeches of Grattan and Curran — Sir Jonah Barrington's " Rise and Fall of the Irish Nation" — Memoirs and Journals of Theobald Wolfe Tone — Richard Lalor Shiel's " Sketches of the Irish Bar"— Wyse's "History of the Catho lic Association" — O'Connell's Speeches and Debates in the United Parliament.

These are the chief authorities for all the time previous to the Catholic Relief Act. As to the sketch which follows, of transactions still later, it would be obviously impossible to enumerate the multifarious authorities : but the speeches of O'Connell and of William Smith O'Brien are still, for the Irish history of their own time, what the orations of Grattan were for his ; and what the vivid writings of Swift were for the earlier part of the eighteenth century. The newspapers and Parliamentary Blue Books also come in, as essential materials (though sometimes questionable) for this later period : and for the Repeal Agitation, the State Trials, the terrible scenes of the Famine, and the consequent extirpation of millions of the Irish people, we have, without scruple, made use (along with other materials) of the facts contained in " The Last Conquest of Ireland (perhaps)"— excluding gen erally the inferences and opinions of the writer, and his estimate of his contempo raries. Indeed, the reader will find in the present work very few opinions or theories put forward at all ; the genuine object of the writer being simply to

INTRODUCTION.

. V present a clear narrative of the events as they evolved themselves one out of the others. Neither does this History need comment ; and indignant declamation would but weaken the effect of the dreadful facts we shall have to tell. If the writer has succeeded — as he has earnestly desired to do — in arranging those facts in good order, aud exhibiting the naked truth concerning English domination since the Treaty of Limerick, as our fathers saw it, aud felt it ; — if he has been enabled to picture, iu some degree like life, the long agony of the Penal Days, when the pride of the ancient Irish race was stung by daily, hourly humiliations, and their passions goaded to madness by brutal oppression ; — and further to picture the still more destructive devastations perpetrated upon our country in this enlightened nine teenth century ; then it is hoped that every reader will draw for himself such general conclusions as the facts will warrant, without any declamatory appeals to patriotic resentment, or promptings to patriotic aspiration : — the conclusion, in short, that, while England lives and flourishes, Ireland must die a daily death, and suffer an endless martyrdom ; and that if Irishmen are ever to enjoy the rights of human beings, the British Empire must first perish.

As the learned Abbe MacGeoghegan was for many years a chaplain to the Irish Brigade in Fiance, aud dedicated his work to that renowned corps of exiles, whose dearest wish and prayer was always to encounter and overthrow the British power upon any field, it is presumed that the venerable author would wish his work to be continued in the same thoroughly Irish spirit which actuated his noble warrior congregation ; — and he would desire the dark record of English atrocity in Ire land, which he left unfinished, to be duly brought down through all its subsequent scenes of horror and slaughter, which have been still more terrible after his day than they were before. And this is what the present Continuation professes to do. J. M. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. From The Treaty Of Limerick To The Esd Of

1691. FAOB treaty of Limeriek — Violated or not? — Arguments of Macaulay — Doctor Dopping, Bishop of Meath — No faith to be kept with Papists— First act in violation of the treaty— Situation of ths Catholics — Charge against Sarsfield 1

Chapter II

1692— 1G93. ■William III. not bigoted— Practical toleration for four years— First Parliament in this reign- Catholics excluded by a resolution — Extinction of civil existence for Catholics — Irish Protestant Nationality— Massacre of Glencoe — Battle of Steinkirk — Court of St. Germains — " Declaration'- — Battle of Landen, and death of Sarsfield 7

Chapter III

1G93— 1698. Capel Lord-Lieutenant— War in the Netherlands — Capture of Namur — Grievances of the Protestant Colonists — Act for disarming Papists — Laws against education — Against priests — Against intermarrying with Papists — Act to " confirm " Articles of Limerick — Irish on the Continent 13 CHAPTER IY. 1698—1702. Predominance of the English Parliament — Molyneux— Decisive action of the English Parliament — Court and country parties — Suppression of woolen manufacture — Commission of confiscated estates — Its revelations — Vexation of King William — Peace of Ryswick — Act for establishing the Protestant succession — Death of William 17

Chapter V

. 1702—1701. Queen Anne — Rochester Lord-Lieutenant — Ormond Lord-Lieutenant — War on the Continent- Successes under Marlborough — Second formal breach of the Treaty of Limerick — Bill to prevent the further growth of Popery — Clause against the Dissenters — Catholic lawyers heard against the bill — Pleading of Sir Toby Butler — Bill passed — Object of the Penal laws — To get hold of the property of Catholics — Recall of the Edict of Nantes — Irish on the Continent — Cremona 22

Chapter VI

170-1— 1714. Enforcement of the Penal Laws — Making informers honorable — Pembroke Lord-Lieutenant — Union of England and Scotland — Means by which it was carried — Irish House of Lords in favor of an Union — Laws against meeting at Holy Wells — Catholics excluded from Juries — Wharton Lord-Lieutenant — Second act to prevent growth of Popery — Rewards for "discoverers " — Jonathan Swift — Nature of his Irish Patriotism — Papists the "common enemy" — The Dissenters — Colony of the Palatines — Disasters of the French, and Peace of Utrecht — The " Pretender " 3i

Chapter VII

1714—1723. George I. — James III. — Perils of Dean Swift — Tories dismissed — Ormond, Oxford, and Bolingbroke impeached — Insurrection in Scotland — Calm in Ireland — Arrests — Irish Parliament — "Loyalty'' of the Catholics — "No Catholics exist in Ireland'- — Priest-catchers — Bolton Lord- Lieutenant — Cause of Sherlock and Annesley — Conflict of jurisdiction — Declaratory act establishing dependence of the Irish Parliament — Swift's pamphlet — State of the country— Grafton Lord-Lieutenant — Courage of the priests — Atrocious Bill CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII

1723—1727. Paoe. Swift and Wood's Copper— Drapier's Letters— Claim of Independence— Primate Boulter— Swift popular with the Catholics— His feeling towards Catholics— Desolation of the Country — Rack-rents— Absenteeism— Great Distress— Swift's modest proposal — Death of George I 49

Chapter IX

1727—1741. Lord Carteret Lord-Lieutenant — Primate Boulter ruler of Ireland — His policy— Catholic Address — Not noticed — Papists deprived of elective franchise — Insolence of the "Ascendancy "— *■ Famine — Emigration — Dorset Lord-Lieutenant — Agitation of Dissenters — Sacramental Test —Swift's virulence against the Dissenters — Boulter's policy to extirpate Papists — Rage against the Catholics — Debates on money bills — "Patriot Party" — Duke of Devonshire Lord-Lieutenant — Corruption — Another famine — Berkeley — English commercial policy in Ireland 54

Chapter X

1741—1745. War on the Continent — Doctor Lucas — Primate Stone — Battle of Dettingen — Lally — Fontenoy— The Irish Brigade '. '. 61

Chapter XI

1745-1753. Alarm in England — Expedition of Prince Charles Edward — "A Message of Peace to Ireland " — Viceroyalty of Chesterfield — Temporary toleratiou of the Catholics — Berkeley — The Scottish Insurrection — Culloden — "Loyalty of the Irish — Lucas and the Patriots — Debates on the Supplies — Boyle and Malone — Population of Ireland C8

CHAPTER XI

t. 1753—1760. Unpopularity of the Duke of Dorset — Earl of Kildare — His address — Patriots in power — Pension List — Duke of Bedford Lord-Lieutenant — Case of Saul — Catholic meeting in Dublin — Commencement of Catholic agitation — Address of the Catholics received — First recognition of the Catholics as subjects — Lucasian mobs — Project of Union — Thurot's expedition — Death of George II. — Population — Distress of the country — Operation of the Penal Laws — The Geoghehans — Catholic Petition — Berkeley's " Querist " 75

Chapter XIII

1760—1762. George III.— Speech from the Throne— " Toleration " — France and England in India— Lally'a campaign there — State of Ireland — The Revenue — Distress of Trade — Distress in the Country—Oppression of the Farmers— White-Boys— Riots— "A Popish Conspiracy "—Steel-Boys and Oak-Boys — Emigration from Ulster— Halifax, Viceroy— Flood and the Patriots— Extravagance and Corruption — Agitation for Septennial Parliaments 85

Chapter XIV

1762—1768. Tory Ministry— Failures of the Patriots— Northumberland, Viceroy— Mr. Fitzgerald's speech on Pension List— Mr. Perry's address on same subject— Effort for mitigation of the Penal Laws —Mr. Mason's argument for allowing Papists to take mortgages— Rejected— Death of Stone and Earl of Shannon— Lord Hartford, Viceroy— Lucas and the Patriots —Their continued failures— Increase of National Debt— Townshend, Viceroy— New system— The "Undertakers "—Septennial bill changed into Octennial— And passed— Joy of the people— Consequences of this measure— Ireland still " standing on her smaller end "—Newspapers of Dublin — Grattan go

Chapter XV

1762—1767. Reign of Terror in Munster— Murder of Father Sheehy— " Toleration," under the House of Hanover—Precarious condition of Catholic clergy— Primates in hiding— Working of the Penal Laws — Testimony of Arthur Young go CONTENTS.

Chapter XVI

1767—1773. paob Townshend, Viceroy — Augmentation of the army — Embezzlement — Parliament prorogued — Again prorogued — Townshend buys his majority — Triumph of the "English Interest" — New attempt to bribe the Priests— Townshend's 'Golden Drops" — Bill to allow Papists to reclaim bogs — Townshend recalled — Harcourt. Viceroy — Proposal to tax absentees — Defeated — Degraded condition of the Irish Parliament— American revolution, and new era 107

Chapter XVII

1774—1777. American affairs — Comparison between Ireland and the Colonies — Contagion of American opinions in Ireland — Paltry measure of relief to Catholics — Congress at Philadelphia — Address of Congress to Ireland — Encouragement to Fisheries — Four thousand " armed negotiators " — Financial distress — First Octennial Parliament dissolved — Grattan — Lord Buckingham, Viceroy — Successes of the Americans 114 CHATTER XVIII. 1777—1779. Buckingham. Viceroy — Misery, and Decline of Trade — Discipline of Government Supporters — Lord North's first measure in favor of Catholics — Passed in England — Opposed in Ireland — AVhat it amounted to — Militia bill — The Volunteers — Defenceless state of the country — Loyalty of the Volunteers — Their uniforms — Volunteers Protestant at first — Catholics desirous to join — Volunteers get the Militia arms — Their aims — Military system — Numbers in 1780 120

Chapter XIX

1779— 17S0. Free Trade and Free Parliament — Meaning of "Free Trade" — Non-importation agreements- Rage of the English — Grattan's motion for free trade — Hussey Burgh — Thanks to the Volunteers- — Parade in Dublin — Lord North yields — Free Trade act — Next step — Mutiny bill — The liuh of April — Declaration of Right — Defeated in Parliament, but successful in the country — General determination — Organizing — Arming — Reviews — Charlemont — Briberies of Buckingham — Carlisle, Viceroy 128 CHATTER XX. 1781—1782. Parliament — Thanks to the Volunteers — Habeas Corpus — Trade with Portugal — Grattan's financial expose — Gardiner's measure for Catholic relief — Dungannon — The 15th of February, 1782 — Debates on Gardiner's bill — Grattan's speech — Details of this measure — Burke's opinion of it — Address to the King asserting Irish independence — England yields at once — Act repealing the (ith George I. — Repeal of Poynings' law — Irish independence 13!)

Chapter XXI

1783—1784. Effects of independence — Settlement not final — English plots for the Union — Corruption of Irish Parliaments — Enmity of Flood and Grattan — Question between them — Renunciation act — Second Dungannou Convention — Convention of delegates in Dublin — Catholics excluded from all civil rights — Lord Kenmare — Lord Kenmare disavowed — Lord Temple— Knights of St. Patrick — Portland, Viceroy — Judicature bill — Hapeas Corpus — Bank of Ireland — Repeal of Test act — Proceedings of Convention — Flood's Reform bill — Rejected — Convention dissolved — End of the Volunteers — Militia 152

Chapter XXII

1784—1786. Improvement of the country — Political position anomalous — Rutland, Viceroy — Petitions for Parliamentary reform — Flood's motion — Rejected — Grattan's bill to regulate the revenue — Protective duties demanded — National Congress — Dissensions as to rights of Catholics — Charlemont's intolerance — Orde's commercial propositions — New propositions of Mr. Pitt — Burke and Sheridan — Commercial propositions defeated— Mr. Conolly — The national debt — General corruption — Court majorities — Patriots defeated— Ireland after five years of independence CONTENTS. X

CHAPTER XXI

1 1. 1787—1789. PAG* Alarms and rumors of disturbances-Got up by Government-Act against illegal combinations -Mr Grattan on tithes-Failure of his efforts-Death of Duke ot Rutland-Marquis of Buckingham, Viceroy-Independence of Mr. Curran-Mr. Forbes and the Pension hst-Fa.1- ure of his motion-Triumph of corruption-Troubles in Armagh County-" 1 eep ot Day Boys"— "Defenders"— Insanity of the King— The Regency l"

Chapter XXIV

1789. Unpopularity of Buckingham— Formation of an Irish character-Efforts of Patriots in Parliament— All in vain— Purchasing votes— Corruption— Whig Club— Lord Clare on Whig Club —Buckingham leaves Ireland— Pension list— Peep of Day Boys and Defenders -Westmoreland, Viceroy— Unavailing efforts against corruption— Material prosperity— King Williams birthday— French revolution

Chapter XXV

1790—1791. New election— New peers— Sale of peerages— Motion against Police bill— Continualdefeats of patriots— Insolence of the Castle— Progress of French revolution— Horror of Prench principles—Burke—Divisions amongst Irish Catholics— Wolfe Tone— General Committee of Catholics— Tone goes to Belfast— Establishes first United Irish Club— Parliamentary patriots avoid them— Progress of Catholic Committee— Project of a Convention— Troubles in County Armagh J 99

Chapter XXVI

1791—1792. Principles of United Irish Society — Test — Addresses — Meeting of Parliament — Catholic relief — Trifling measure of that kind — Petition of the Catholics — Rejected — Steady majority of two-thirds for the Castle — Placeholding members — Violent agitation upon the Catholic claims — Questions put to Catholics Universities of the Continent — Their answers — Opposition to project of Convention — Catholic question in the Whig Club — Catholic Convention in Dublin National Guard 211

Chapter XXVII

1792—1793. The Catholic Convention — Reconciliation of differences amongst the Catholics — Their ucputa- - tion to the King — Successes of the French fortunate for the Catholics — Dumouriez and Jemappes — Gracious reception of the Catholic deputation — Belfast mob draw the carriage of Catholic delegates — Secret Committee of the Lords — Report on Defenders and United Irishmen — Attempt of committee to connect the two — Lord Clare creates "alarm among the better classes" — Proclamation against unlawful assemblies— Lord Edward Fitzgerald — French republic declares war against England — Large measure of Catholic relief immediately proposed — Moved by Secretary Hobart — Act carried — Its provisions — What it yields, and what it withholds — Arms and Gunpowder act — Act against conventions— Lord Clare the real author of British policy in Ireland as now established — Effect and intention of the " Convention act" — No such law in England — Militia bill — Catholic Committee — No reform — Close of session 220

Chapter XXVIII

1793—1795. Small results of Catholic Relief bill — Distinctions still kept up — Excitement against the Catholics — Trials of Defenders — Packing Juries— Progress of United Irishism — Opposed by Cattholic Bishops — Arrests of Bond and Butler — Prosecution of A. Hamilton Rowan— Last effort for Parliamentary reform— Defeated— United Irish meeting in Dublin dispersed by the police — Rev. William Jackson and Wolfe Tone — Rowan charged with treason — Rowan escapes — Tone allowed to quit the country — Vow of the Cave Hill — Fitzwilliam's administration — Fitzwilliam deceived by Pitt — Dismissal of Mr. Beresford— Plan of Mr. Pitt— Insurrection first — " Union " afterwards — Fitzwilliam recalled — Great despondency — " The " Orangemen " — Beginning of coercion and anarchy CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XXIX

1793—1797. paos "To Hell or Connaught"— "Vigor beyond the Law "—Lord Carhampton's Vigor— Insurrection Act— Indemnity Act— The latter an invitation to Magistrates to break the law— Mr. Grattan on the Orangemen— His resolution— The Acts Passed— Opposed by Grattan, Parsons, and Lord Edward Fitzgerald— Insurrection Act destroys Liberty of the Press— Suspension of Habeas Corpus— U. I. Society— New Members— Lord E. Fitzgerald— MacNeven— Emmet— Wolfe Tone at Paris— His Journal— Clarke— Cnrnot— Hoche— ISantry Bay Expedition- Account of, in Tone's Journal— Fleet Anchors in Bantry Bay — Account of the affair by Secret Committee of the Lords— Government fully Informed of all the Projects 240

Chapter XXX

1797. Reign of Terror in Armagh County — No Orangemen ever Punished — "Defenders" called Banditti—" Faulkner's Journal," Organ of the Castle — Cheers on (he Orangemen — Mr. Curran's Statement of the Havoc in Armagh— Increased Rancor against Catholics and U. I. after the Bantry Bay Affair — Efforts of Patriots to Establish Permanent Armed Force — Opposed by Government — And Why — Proclamation of Counties — Bank Ordered to Suspend Specie Payments—Alarm — Dr. Duiginan— Secession from Parliament of Grattan. Currnn, &c. — General Lake ir. the North — " Northern Star" — Office Wrecked by Troops— Proclamation — Outrages in the Year 1707 — Salutary Effect of the United Irish System on the Peace of the Country- Armagh Assizes — Slanderous Report of a Secret Committee— Good Effects of United Irishism in the South — Miles Byrne — Wexford Couuty 257

Chapter XXXI

1797—1798. ssolfe Tone's Negotiations in France and Holland— Lewins — Expedition of Dutch Government Destined for Ireland — Tone at the Texel— His Journal — Tone's Uneasiuess about Admitting Foreign Dominion over Ireland — MacNeven's Memoir— Discussion as to Proper Point for a Landing — Tone on Board the Vryhcid— Adverse Winds — Rage and Impatience of Tone — Disastrous Fate of the Batavian Expedition — Camperdown 268

Chapter XXXII

1798. Spies — Secret Service Money — Press Prosecution — "Remember Orr!" — Account of Orr — Curran"s Speech — His Description of Informers — Arts ot Government — Sowing Dissensions — Forged Assassination List — -Union'' Declines — Addresses of "Loyalty" — Maynooth Grant Enlarged — Catholic Bishops " Loyal " — Forcing a •• Premature Explosion " — Camden and Carhampton — Outrages on the People, to Force Insurrection — Testimony of Lord Moira — Inquiry Demanded in Parliament — Repulsed and Defeated by Clare and Castlereagh — Insolence and Unlimited Power of Ministers — General Abercrombie Resigns— Remarkable General Order — Pelham Quits Ireland — Castlereagh 's Secretary — The Hessians' Free Quarters — The Ancient Britons — Proclamation of Martial Law— Graitan's Picture of the Times- Horrible Atrocities in Wexford — Massacres — The Orangemen— Their Address of Loyalty — All these Outrages before any Insurrection 277

Chapter XXXIII

1798. Reynolds, the Informer — Arrests of U. I. Chiefs in Dublin — The Brothers Shearcs— Their Efforts to Delay Explosion — Clare and Castlereagh Resolve to nun-y it — Advance of the Military — Halfllanging — Pitch Caps — Scourging Judkin Fitzgerald — Sir John Moore's Testimony— His Disgust at the Atrocities — General Napier's Testimony — Catholic Bishop's and Peers Profess their " Loyalty " — Armstrong, Informer— Arrest of the Sheares — Arrest and Death of Lord Edward — Mr. Emmet's Evidence before Secret Committee— Insurrection Breaks Out — The 23d of May — Naas— Prosperous— Kilcullen — Proclamation of Lake — Of the Lord Mayor of Dublin — Skirmishes at Carlow — Hacketstown, &c. — Insurgents have the Advantage at Dunboyne — Attack on Carlow — Executions — Sir E Crosbie — Massacre at Gibbet Rath of Kildare— Slaughter on Tara Hill— Suppression of Insurrection in Kildare, Dublin and Meath CONTENTS.

Chapter XXXIV

1798. P*G* Wexford a Peaceable County— Lord Castlereagh 's Judicious Measures— Catholics Driven out of Yeomanry Corps— Treatment of Mr. Fitzgerald— United Irish in Wexford— The Priests Oppose that Society— How they were Requited— Miles Byrne— Torture in Wexford— Orangemen in Wexford— North Cark Militia— Hay's Account of the Ferocity of the Magistrates- Massacre of Carnew— Father John Murphy— Burning of his Chapel— Miles Byrne's Account of First Rising— Oulard— Storm of Enniscorthy— Wexford Evacuated by the King's Troops —Occupied by Insurgents— All the County now in Insurrection— Estimated Numbers of Insurgents — Population of the County , 307

Chapter XXXV

1798. Camp on Vinegar Hill — Actions at Ballycannoo — At Newtownbarry — Tubberneering — Fall of Walpole — Two Columns — Bagenal Harvey Commands Insurgents — Summons New Ross to Surrender — Battle of New Ross — Slaughter of Prisoners — Retaliation — Scullabogue — Bagenal Harvey Shocked by Affair of Scullybogue — Resigns Command — Father Philip Koche General — Fight at Arklow — Claimed as a Victory by King's Troops — Account of it by Miles Byrne — The Insurgents Execute some Loyalists in Wexford Town — Dixon— Retaliation — Proclamation by '-People of Wexford" — Lord Kingsborough a Prisoner — Troops Concentrated round Vinegar Hiil — Battle of Vinegar Hill — Enniscorthy and Wexford Recovered — Military Executions — Ravage of the Country— Chiefs Executed in Wexford — Treatment of Women — Outrages in the North of the County — Fate of Father John Murphy's Column — Of Antony Perry's — Combat at Ballyellis — Miles Byrne's Account of it— Extermination of Ancient Britons — Character of Wexford Insurrection — Got up by the Government 310

Chapter XXXVI

1798. Rising in Ulster — Antrim — Saintfield— Ballinahinch — Insurgents Defeated — McCracken and Monroe Hanged — Skirmish in Cork County — Courts-Martial — Many Executions — Hanging of Father Redmond — Surrender of Fitzgerald and Aylmer — Compact between Prisoners and Government— In order to Save the Lives of Byrne and Bond — Compact Violated by Government — Byrne Hanged — Bond Dies Suddenly in Prison — Reign of Terror in Dnbliu — Brothers Sheares Tried — Hanged— Other State Trials— Curran in Court — " The Three Majors" — Sirr, Swan, and Sandys— The "Major's People"— John Claudius Beresford — Tortures in Dublin — Country in Wild Alarm — Spiked Heads — Fit Time to Propose Legislative Union — Marquis Cornwallis comes as Viceroy — To bring about the Union — " Impression ot Horror '' — Apparent Measures to End the Devastations — Offers of " Protection " — Not Efficacious — Testimony of Lord Camden himself— True Account of the "Compact" — United Irishmen sent to Fort George 332

Chapter XXXVII

1798. Parliament — The Acts of Attainder— French Landing under Humbert— Killala— Conduct of the little French Army— Ballina— The Races of Castlebar— Panic and Rout of the British Force —French give a Ball— Lord Cornwallis Collects a Great Army— Marches to meet the French —Encounters them at Ball inamuck— Defeat and Capture of the French— Recovery of Ballina — Slaughter— Courts-Martial, &c— End of the Insurrections of 1798— New French Expedition—Commodore Bompart— T. W. Tone— Encounter British Fleet at mouth of Lough Swilly— Battle— The Hoche Captured— Tone a Prisoner— Recognized by Sir George Hill- Carried to Dublin in Irons— Tried by Court-Martial— Condemned to be Hanged— His Address to the Court— Asks as a Favor to be Shot— Refused by Cornwallis— Suicide in Prison 318

Chapter Xxxviii

1798—1799.. Examination of O'Connor, Emmet, and MacNeven— Lord Enniskillen and his Court-Martial— Project of Union— Bar Meeting— Speech from the Throne— Union Proposed— Reception in the Lords— Iu the Commons— Ponsonby— Fitzgerald— Sir Jonah Barrington— Castlereacrh's Explanation— Speech of Plunket— First Division on the Union— Majority of One— Mr. Trench and Mr. Fox— Methods of Conversion to Unionism— First Contest a drawn Battle- Excitement in Dublin _ ggo CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter XXXIX

1799. PAGE Second Debate on Union — Sir Lawrence Parsons — Mr. Smith — Ponsonby and Plunket. — Division — Majority Against Government — Ponsonby 's Resolution for Perpetual Independence — Defection of Fortescue and Others — Resolution Lost — "Possible Circumstances" — Tumult — Danger of Lord Clare — Second Debate in the Lords— Lord Clare Triumphant — " Loyalists' Claim-Bill -" — " Rebels Disqualification Bill "— " Flogging Fitzgerald "—Asks Indemnity — Regency Act — Opposed by Castlereagh 374

Chapter XL

1799. Union Proposed in British Parliament — Opposed by Sheridan — Supported by Canning — Great Speech of Mr. Pitt — Ireland to be Assured of English Protection — Of English Capital — Promises to the Catholics — Mr. Pitt's Resolutions for Union — Sheridan — Dundas — Resolutions Passed — In the House of Lords — Labors of Cornwallis and Castlereagh — Corruption- Intimidation — Onslaught of Troops in Dublin — Lord Cornwallis makes a Tour — Lord Downshire Disgraced — Handcock of Athlone — His Song and Palinode — Opposition Inorganic — The Orangemen — The Catholics — Arts to Delude Them — Dublin Catholics against Union — ■ O'Connell — System of Terror — County Meeting Dispersed by Troops— Castlereagh's Announcement of " Compensation " 381

Chapter XLI

1799—1800. Progress of Union Conspiracy — Grand Scale of Bribery — Castlereagh Organizes " Fighting Men" — Dinner at his House — Last Session of the Irish Parliament — Warm Debate the First Day — Daly Attacks Bushe and Plunket — Reappearance of Grattan — His Speech — Corry Attacks Him — Division — Majority for Government — Castlereagh Proposes "Articles " of Union — His Speech — Promises Great Gain to Ireland from Union — Ireland to "Save a Million a Year" — Proposed Constitution of United Parliament — Irish Peerage— Ponsonby — Grattan — Again a Majority for the Castle — Lord Clare's Famous Speech— Duel of Grattan and Corry — Torpor and Gloom in Dublin — The Catholics — "Articles " finally Adopted — By Commons —By Lords 391