the genuine Protestants of the empire-particularly the middle and lower classes, which it was the author's chief object to benefit. For many of the details, we are indebted to "Sir Richard Musgrave's History of the Rebellion," and to the "Narrative of the Rev. George Taylor." And our earnest prayer is, that the God of all grace will grant His blessing on our efforts, the great aim of which is to inculcate loyalty, and induce, if possible, our fellow-subjects to "fear God and honour the Queen."

INTRODUCTION.

AT a time like the present, the Author conceives a work of this kind imperatively called for; and, in compliance with various solicitations, has, for some time, been gathering information from numerous authentic sources for the prosecution of his design. The subjects which will, in the course of the work, come under consideration, shall be handled dispassiona ely, fearlessly, and truthfully. But, though truth shall fully characterise these pages, there is no doubt but enemies will find fault, and even deny the best corroborated statements. This has ever been a characteristic of Popery in all lands, but most particularly in this country. No matter, however: we have our work to perform, and it shall be done in the fear of God; and, hoping that the following pages may tend to open the eyes of Protestants, and lead them forward in the cause of truth, we commence our 66 Narrative:"

Early in the year 1759, a great spirit of insurgency appeared through many parts of the South of Ireland. Thousands of well-armed Romanists bound themselves together, by oaths, to continue their nocturnal depredations until all their grievances were redressed. They were dressed in white uniforms, and were denominated" The White Boys." The pretext of complaint appeared to be the enclosure of commons, the enormous fees of the priests, and the extortion of tithe collectors. The true motive which actuated the White Boys appears from the sworn

B

testimony of Matthias O'Brien, a Popish priest, that their sole end and purpose was "to raise in this country a spirit of sedition and dissatisfaction against the King, and give confidence to any foreign power that might wish to espouse the cause of the Pretender."

Though the White Boys were checked for a time, in 1762, by the Marquis of Drogheda, yet the spirit of rebellion was organised, matured, and carried on, under various pretences.

In 1798, the clearest testimony came before the various Courts of Judicature through Ireland, that a deep-rooted conspiracy was laid in this country. Numerous cases were tried, from which it appeared that there were 8,100 men, fully organised in Dublin and its vicinity. The trial of Henry and John Shears, at the Commission held there, July 12, 1798, for high treason,* has exhibited some of the leading springs which laid our country prostrate for a time under the blood-thirsty tyrants of Rome.

In accordance with all that had been elicited at these Courts, the following proclamation, fixing the real nature of the conspiracy, was widely circulated through all parts of the kingdom:

"Irishmen! your country is free, and you are about to be avenged. That vile Government which has so long and so cruelly oppressed you is no more! Some of its most atrocious monsters have already paid the forfeit of their lives, and the rest are in our hands. The national flag-the sacred green-is at this moment flying over the ruins of despotism; and that capital which, a few hours. past, had witnessed the debauchery, the plots and crimes of your tyrants, is now the citadel of triumphant patriotism and virtue! Arise, the united sons of Ireland: arise, like a great and powerful people, determined to live free, or die! Arm yourselves by every means in your power, and rush like lions on your foes. Consider, that for every enemy you disarm, you arm a friend, and thus become doubly powerful. In the cause of liberty, inaction is

* These brothers were found guilty, and executed, July 14,

1798.

cowardice, and the coward shall forfeit the property he has not the courage to protect. Let his arms be seized, and transferred to those gallant spirits who want and will use them. Yes, Irishmen! we swear by the Eternal Justice, in whose cause we fight, that the brave patriot who survives the present glorious struggle, and the family of him who has fallen, or shall fall hereafter in it, shall receive from the hands of a grateful nation an ample recompense out of that property which the crimes of our enemies have forfeited into our hands, and his name shall be inscribed on the great national record of Irish revolu tion, as a glorious example to posterity; but we likewise swear to punish robbers with death and infamy. We also swear, that we will never sheath the sword until every being in the country is restored to those equal rights which the God of nature has given to all men—until an order of things shall be established in which no superiority shall be acknowledged among the citizens of Erin but that of virtue and talent.

"Rouse all the energies of your souls; heed not the glare of a hired soldiery or aristocratic yeomanry; they cannot stand the vigorous shock of freemen; their trappings and arms shall soon be yours, and the detested Government of England, to which we vow eternal hatred, shall learn that the treasures it exhausts on its accoutered slaves, for the purpose of butchering Irishmen, shall but farther enable us to turn their swords on its devoted head.

"Many of the military feel the love of liberty glow within their breasts, and have already joined the national standard. Receive, with open arms, such as shall follow so glorious an example; they can render signal service to the cause of freedom, and shall be rewarded according to their deserts.* But, for the wretch who turns his sword against his native country, let the national vengeance be visited on him-let him find no quarter. Attack them, by day and by night, in every direction. Avail yourselves of the natural advantages of your country, which are innumerable, and with which you are better acquainted than they are. When you cannot attack them in fair force, constantly harass their rear and flanks, cut off their pro

* Similar expressions have lately been used by O'Connell.

visions and magazines, and prevent them, as much as possible, from uniting their forces. Let whatever moment you cannot devote to fighting for your country be passed in learning how to fight for it, or preparing the means of war; for war, war alone, must occupy every mind and every hand in Ireland, until its soil be purged of all its

enemies.

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Vengeance! Irishmen! vengeance on your oppressors! Remember what thousands of your dearest friends have perished by their merciless orders! Remember their burnings, their rackings, their torturings, their military massacres, and their legal murders-remember Orr!"

How far this proclamation was acted upon, it is now our duty to detail. The reader will here perceive the animus of the rebellion, as there can be no question but the proclamation is a sanguinary incentive to every species of massacre and aggression on Protestant life and property, together with a loud call for the overthrow of all the PROTESTANT Institutions of Britain. It speaks of Political Liberty, while Romish Ascendancy breathes throughout every line of the intolerant document.

The accession of the noble House of Brunswick produced a glorious era in Irish affairs; but most particularly, in the reign of George III. The famous Volunteers, having appeared in arms, caused a great sensation in favour of Ireland; and in 1792, the Penal Laws were nearly abolished, and Papists were allowed to enjoy all the rights and privileges to which they could properly be restored. This kindness on the part of Government was viewed by the Romanists as the effect merely of fear; and, therefore, they determined to try their strength against the heretics of this country, who, they knew, were favourable to the King and loyal to the cause of truth. The plans laid for the destruction of our glorious Constitution being fully developed, by the arrest of thirteen French delegates in Dublin, enabled the Protestants in that part of Ireland to prepare against the worst.

We must view the hand of an Overruling Providence throughout the whole of this plot; for, though the conspiracy was carried on under the superintendence of men of great natural powers, aided by the promises of assist