some high-spoken gentry held the generality of the people, whom they now condescend to respect through these their relatives; nay, they treat with more reserve some of the very insurgents who have returned from transportation, after having obliterated all stain of previous political delinquency by their subsequent exploits in the service of their country— and thus do the brave ever awe cowards into shame and submission ! The rooted aversion, however, which has been by various means encouraged and inculcated against the great body of the people, has led many to adopt the most illiberal expressions; and I am sorry to learn, that both in high and low life it is a prevalent notion to deplore the existence of the amnesty bill, as it precludes the accomplishment of the views of exterminating those who are protected by it from indiscriminating vengeance. Those who make use of such language seem to have no notion of the crimes which call to heaven for vengeance! I would recommend to those who express such an illiberal and shocking sentiment to reflect seriously, whether they are not protected by the indemnity bills, as they might otherwise be exhibited on the gibbet. Let these unreflecting assertors of prejudice look to the fate of Governor Wall of Goree. The recurrence of their own deeds to their minds, by such a contemplation, may, perhaps, produce hearty contrition for their past misconduct, and may induce them to make what reparation remains in their power for the many injuries, in various shapes, which they have committed! Though justice did not overtake the governor of Goree for twenty years, yet then the recital of his horrid crime of ordering a soldier, whom he considered refractory, to be lashed, which produced death, roused the English nation, and exem plary punishment was the consequence! If this

solitary case, which regarded a distant colony, excited so much indignation in the breasts of Englishmen, can the same people overlook similar and greater deeds of atrocity committed a thousand times over against the Irish, now incorporated with themselves? Can the feelings of any wise, just, and good man be withheld from most earnest endeavors to contribute all in his power to the coalescence and harmony of all parts, as well as of all ranks of the united kingdom? and if that desirable object be attainable—and I do believe that by proper management it can be effected-who is the monster that will oppose its accomplishment? But it must not, it cannot be opposed. A merciful and benevolent sovereign, whose throne is now supported by consolidated dominion, and the united attachment of all his people, will not suffer so valuable a portion of them, as the great majority of the Irish, to be debased and degraded by thraldom the most intolerable, while they are deemed to man his fleets and armies in a proportion greater than the one-half, and display the most unrivalled bravery in his service, bearing terror and dismay to his enemies. He will certainly recommend them for relief from oppression to his imperial parliament, who will not forfeit the character of wisdom and justice, or the name of the most dignified legislature on earth, by being swayed by the tales of rancor, misrepresentation, and prejudice. They will redress, as truth and reason direct, a magnanimous and virtuous people, groaning under a partial tyranny, in the midst of an empire denominated free, to which they would be an incalculable accession of strength, if protected from oppression, persecution, torture, and the dread of threatened and meditated extermination-if secured effectually in their lives, liberties, and properties, without impeachment of their religion

350

HISTORY OF THE IRISH REBELLION.

and principles; but should this be neglected and their grievances left a galling incumbrance upon them, in consequence of malevolent and fabricated calumnies, there will surely abide a rankling discontent, likely at all times to produce disturbance and distraction, which must necessarily weaken and paralyze the energies of the state, and perhaps eventually annihilate the connection between these countries. I would earnestly advise the most violent and unthinking supporters of division to consider their own real interests as connected and involved with the peace and happiness of the nation, (which an impartial picture of the miseries experienced can best inculcate,) as well as to dissipate the misconceptions of error, and to disprove the false representations which have been sent abroad, with zealous industry, to impose on and mislead public feeling.

My real object and earnest wishes are for conciliation; but if a doubt can possibly arise respecting my statements, I can only say that I could detail more numerous enormities than I have, and of which I entertain as little doubt as of those I have related. I have therefore confined myself to facts and circumstances vouched to me beyond the possibility of doubt, for which I can produce good authorities, and on this occasion limit my narrative to my native district, where my local and personal knowledge were least liable to deception or misinformation; and should the members of both houses of the imperial parliament deem it necessary, in their wisdom, to investigate the truth decisively, I will stake my existence that my relation shall be found, on an impartial scrutiny, extremely moderate.

THE FOLLOWING ARE ABSTRACTS FROM PLOW. DEN, TEELING, GORDON, AND MADDEN.

THE French entered the bay of Killala under English colors, commanded by General Humbert, on the 22d of August, and the feint succeeded so well, that two sons of the bishop of Killala threw themselves into a fishing-boat, with the port surveyor, Mr. Jas. Rutledge, and were presently surprised to find themselves prisoners. Some alarm had been given in the morning of the 22d, to the people of Killala, by the unusual appearance of ships of that size in their bay; insomuch that the only magistrate of the town, Mr. Kirkwood, who commanded the yeomanry, had kept his corps under arms the whole day at the seahouse,

called the castle, as did also Lieutenant Sells, of the Prince of Wales' Fencibles, with 20 militiamen. Yeomen and fencibles together formed a corps of 50 men, all Protestants. Intelligence having arrived that near 300 of them were within a mile of the town, the cavalry officer rode off directly, in full speed, with the intelligence to Ballina. The yeomanry and fencibles drew up before the castle gate, and resolutely advanced into the main street to meet the French advance guard. Borne down by numbers, and seeing two of their corps fall, they were seized with a panic, and fled. Kirkwood and 19 yeomen were taken, and ordered into close custody at the castle. All opposition being now at an end, the French general marched into the castle yard at the head of his officers, and demanded to see the bishop, who, fortunately, was conversant with the French language. Humbert desired him to be under no apprehension for himself or his people; they should be treated with respectful attention, and noth

ing should be taken by the French troops, but what was absolutely necessary for their support; a promise which, as long as those troops continued in Killala, was most religiously observed. On the morning after his arrival, Humbert began his military operations, by pushing forward to Ballina a detachment of 100 men, 40 of whom he had mounted on the best horses he could seize. A green flag was mounted over the castle gate, with the inscription, Erin go Bragh, importing to invite the country people to join the French. Their cause was to be forwarded by the immediate delivery of arms, ammunition, and clothing to the new levies of the country. Property was to be inviolable. Ready money was to come over in the ships expected every day from France. Humbert left Killala with a quantity of ammunition in the possession of 200 men and 6 officers, and on the 25th, about 7 o'clock in the evening, took possession of Ballina, from whence the garrison fred on his approach. Here he left behind him an officer named Truc, with a very small part of the French, and several of the Irish recruits. Humbert was sensible of the advantage of pushing forward with vigor, and that a rapid progress into the interior could alone bring the natives to his standard. At Ballina, many hundred peasants repaired to the French standard, and with eagerness received arms and uniforms. The French commander determined to attack the forces at Castlebar, and began his march on the morning of the 26th, with 800 of his own men, and less than 1500 Irish. He advanced through mountains, by ways generally deemed impassable to an army, with two small curricle guns, the repairing of the carriage of one of which, broken by the ruggedness of the roads, caused, fortunately for our army, some hours delay in their march. The