the anger of disappointment should have en sued.

Had the healing balm been applied at the critical moment, the fever of commotion had long since passed its crisis.

Had the benevolent measures, intended by that nobleman, as the basis of his administration, been effected, the rankling wounds of division and distraction were forever closed, nor. would the poison of prejudice and party spirit. still threaten convulsion and confusion; but harmony, confidence, and peace, would reign. throughout the land.

Nothing could now prevent the bursting of the long impending storm. Catholic discontents became insupportable: speeches and resolutions, of a seditious nature, were published by the authority of the committee,* and dis

* With them was printed and circulated Mr. Erskine's famous pamphlet wherein he says, "That the spirit of reform': is at present high in Ireland. The recent zeal of that BRAVE AND VIRTUOUS people, has completely detected the false and pernicious calumnies on both countries. It has demonstrated, that a desire to reform abuses in Government, is not at all connected with disloyalty to its establishment; and that the restoration of a free constitution, by the wisdom and spirit of a nation, has no alliance with, but on the contrary is abhorrent na submission to foreign force."

turbances increased in several parts of the

country.

Backed and encouraged by the ferment, and the forward state of their preparations, the society of United Irishmen issued declarations, inviting a "compact of presbyterian and catholic;" that "provincial conventions should assemble, and elect delegates to confer with those chosen by protestant bodies of a similar nature and organization." They avowed that nothing would satisfy them but "immediate, ample, and substantial justice to the catholics, and even went so far, as to require the restoration of those estates of which their ancestors had formerly been plundered; but they declared, at the same time they considered that merely as the "portal to the temple of national freedom."

After the grand junction of these three bodies, the profound and terrible conspiracy, in a short time spread its ramifications throughout the whole Island, and greatly endangered the established government.

A spirit of disinterested patriotism and magmanimity, seems now to have incited many of

the most exalted personages for rank, fortune, and literary talents, in the kingdom, to join the association, who hoped from the numbers engaged, that, without much bloodshed, a new government might be established, of so liberal a nature as to leave no shackles on industry or merit, and render Ireland a flourishing and happy country. Others, again, of the primé promoters, were actuated, most probably by private ambition, who aspired at an eminence of power and fame, through the medium of a revolution, regardless of slaughter and devastation, its inevitable concomitants.

The confidence of this great and elevated band of reforming politicians, was raised to that degree, that they assumed in the same year, 1795, with little disguise, a revolutionary cast.

The declaration, offered for signature, to each man on his admission into the society, was this: "I, *** in the presence of God,

do pledge myself to my country, that I "will use all my abilities and influence in "the attainment of an impartial and adequate "representation of the Irish nation in parlia

ment; and, as a means of absolute and. "immediate necessity in the establishment of "this chief good of Ireland, I will endeavour,. "as much as lies in my ability, to for"ward a brotherhood of affection, an identity "of interests, a communion of rights, and a "union of power among Irishmen of all reli

gious persuasions, without which every re"form in parliament, must be partial, not na"tional inadequate to the wants, delusive to "the wishes, and insufficient for the freedom. "and happiness of this country."

But now the mention of parliament was omitted in the new test, or oath of admission, which was expressed in these words: "In the awful

presence of God, I, *** do voluntarily de"clare, that I will perservere in endeavouring "to form a brotherhood of affection among "Irishmen of every religious persuasion; and "that I will also persevere in my endeavours "to obtain an equal, full and adequate repre"sentation of all the people of Ireland. I do "further declare, that neither hopes, fears, re

Universal emancipation, with a representative legislature, was now declared to be their "polar principle." The King and House of Peers, together with the ecclesiastical estab tishment, was therefore left to their fate.

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wards, or punishments, shall ever induce me, "directly or indirectly, to inform on, or give " evidence against, any member or members "of this or similar societies, for any act or ex

pression of theirs, done. or made, collectively "or individually, in or out of this society, in pursuance of the spirit of this obligation."*

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That not merely a reform. of parliament, however, but a total overthrow of the existing system of government, and the erection of the Irish nation into an independent republic unconnected with Britain, was from the beginning an object with some of the original framers of the Society, we have reason to suppose, particularly from their own declarations and correspondence.

In their original declaration are the following words:" In the present great æra of reform, "when unjust governments are falling in

every quarter of Europe; when religious per"secution is compelled to abjure her tyranny

over conscience; when the rights of men "are ascertained in theory, and that theory "substantiated by practice; when antiquity

Appendix to the report, &c. No. 24, of the House of Lords.