We cannot suppose that these horrid massacres and conflagrations, were committed in revenge for the infernal abomination perpetrated at Scullabogue, of which we shall have occasion presently to make mention, as no intelligence of that lamentable event could have reached Ross at the time; but be that as it may, officers of the first rank were not only present, but even promoted and encouraged those deeds of dreadful enormity, of which every breast not dead to humane feeling must shudder at. the recital!

It is an invariable maxim, that cowardice and cruelty are very closely allied. This was most strongly exemplified by the barbarous conduct of the run-away murderers who fled. from the battle of Ross to Scullabogue, where a number of prisoners were confined in a barn, to which these savage miscreants (having overpowered and murdered some of the guards, who resisted them as long as they could) set fire, and made every person within its walls, nearly one hundred in number, perish in the flames !!

It is alledged on the part of the sanguinary ruffians, concerned in this most detestable transaction, that it was in retaliation for like

deeds of desperate cruelty practised against themselves, and irritated as they were from recent experience of persecutions and tortures of every kind;-whippings, strangulations, and hangings without trial, which some of the party had narrowly escaped a few days before in Ross, where these measure were very prevalent but no incentive, no persecution, no experience of cruelty, can palliate, much less excuse such unnatural and detestable atrocity. It is but justice, however, to observe, that in this horrid transaction, no person of superior condition, none above the mere canaille, or lowest description of men, was at all concerned; but infamy of this indelible nature, should never so much as glance but at its proper ob jects. Were the fact otherwise than as here stated, it must have been notoriously manifested in the course of the several trials since had in consequence of the very enormity, and for which some miscreants have been justly doomed to execution. But truth imposes the task of mentioning also, that it has appeared, from solemn evidence given on those trials, that in consequence of the United Irish being disappointed in their expectation of taking quiet possession of Ross, their flag of truce

being shot, and after the attack, the fugitives from the town communicating accounts of the tortures practised there, and that no quarter would be given to the people, an infuriate multitude of men and women rushed to Scullabogue, vociferating revenge, forced the guards, (who did all in their power to protect their charge) and set fire to the prison, which was a thatched house; and for this transaction, General Johnson has not escaped animadversion, as it is said he was repeatedly warned to spare the people, or they would resort to retaliation, by executing all the prisoners in their hands; and if giving quarter would have prevented the fatality at Scullabogue, humanity excites a wish it had been given !-It is material to observe, also, that these trials have disclosed information manifesting a very strong feature characteristic of popular commotion, which is, that the unbridled multitude are as precipitate as indiscriminate in their deeds of outrage, putting them into exe⚫ution as soon as conceived, to prevent the pos sibility of counteraction.. This is, in fact, so true, that very often the greatest favourites eannot escape the instantaneous violence of popular fury. Although this cannot be considered as an excuse, nothing being capable of

palliating, much less excusing the crime at Scullabogue, yet its guilt would be greatly aggravated, did it appear a deliberate or premeditated action, in which any one above the meanest vulgar was concerned.

Scullabogue is situated at the foot of the eminence of Carrick-byrne, whither the United Irish, defeated at Ross, retreated as has been observed, and upon being made acquainted with the enormity, which all brave men must reprobate, they universally and loudly expressed their horror and detestation of the barbarous deed! Surely, it is easy to conceive, that the men who had so lately displayed such a dauntless spirit of courage and consummate bravery, could not be destitute of its general concomitant, humanity..

An investigation of this horrid transaction,. was entered into the following day, when many of the lower class were apprehended, on suspicion of being concerned in it. On the same day, a proclamation, in the form of resolu tions, by the whole United army, was published by the Commander in Chief, signed by himself, and countersigned by the Adjutant-General, with intention to curb all excesses against life

and property, and encouraging, by every pos sible means, union and harmony among all descriptions of the people. It is as follows:

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"At a meeting of the General, and several Officers of the United Army of Ireland, the fol lowing Resolutions were agreed upon :

"RESOLVED, That the Commander in Chief "shall send guards to certain baronies, for the

purpose of bringing in all men they shall "find loitering and delaying at home, or else"where; and if any resistance be given to those

guards, so to be sent by the Commanding "Officer's orders, it is our desire and orders, "that such persons so giving resistance, shall "be liable to be put to death by the guards, "who are to bear a commission for that pur"6 pose; and all such persons found to be so

loitering and delaying at home, when brought "in by the guards, shall be tried by a court"martial, appointed and chosen from among "the Commanders of all the different corps, "and be punished with death.

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Resolved, that all officers shall immedi "ately repair to their respective quarters, "and remain with their different corps, and

not depart therefrom under pain of death,