A NEW AND IMPROVED HISTORY OF THE REBELLION IN IRELAND, IN THE YEAR 1798, ABRIDGED FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES. WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING A HISTORY OF THE ORANGE ASSOCIATION, &c. &c. BY S. L. CORRIGAN. BELFAST: PRINTED BY JAMES WILSON, 70, HIGH STREET. MDCCCXLIV. PREFACE. IN offering to the public the following "Narrative" of one of the most eventful periods in the annals of Ireland, the Author has been careful to select the most accurate and authentic details of the principal marked and striking incidents connected therewith, not only from the best authors already extant, but from sources which, he may say, have been available to himself alone. He has been an attentive observer, for a series of years, of the passing political events which have distracted this unhappy country, and he can trace in them the same elements that, in their explosion of 1798, spread desolation throughout the land, and ruined thousands of families, whose descendants have not since recovered the shock, nor have the families of the chief insurgents who suffered been able, as yet, to wipe off the disgrace. These are the unhappy consequences of civil war in any country, and which leave behind them regrets and rancorous feelings which, when opportunities offer, burst out into party spirit, and not unfrequently lead to the same unfortunate and sanguinary results. And we here assure our readers that, were England engaged in war with continental nations, as at the above period, the same spirit that invoked the fiends who enacted the sanguinary scenes of Wexford Bridge, Scullabogue Barn, Vinegar Hill, &c., would be again at work, and follow the blood-thirsty example of the monsters in human shape that went before them. Of this we have authentic evidence in the pains taken by O'Connell and his rebel myrmidons to inculcate a spirit of hatred and persecution of everything English, or, in other words, of everything Protestant. The Repeal organs have not disguised the fact, that the now wellorganised Popish Repealers are only waiting the hour of England's embarrassment to strike a decisive blow, and, if possible, make, as they say, Ireland "Great, glorious, and free;" that is, establish Popish ascendancy, and hand over all who dissent from her to the tender mercies of the Inquisition. One of the great objects, therefore, of the Author of this work is, to set before the Protestants of the empire the persecutions they may expect, should they, in their supineness, suffer Popery to obtain that further increase of political power in this country that would facilitate her intolerant and unconstitutional designs. Let them look at the use Romanists have made of the confidence reposed in them by the legislature, when enlarging their political privileges. They have violated the most sacred bonds imposed on them, particularly the Parliamentary test, framed for them in 1829, which it was supposed would prevent them using the power then vested in them to weaken the interests of the Protestant Church. They took the test, and, in a short time after, voted for the abolition of ten of our Protestant Bishoprics; for the curtailment of the tithes of the clergy; for the abolition of church rates and parish cess; and, where they could effect it, for the curtailment or total abolition of the salaries of organists, parish clerks, and sextons; yet, when Emancipation was granted, they were supposed-and Popish members of Parliament were sworn-not to use the power intrusted to them to weaken the interests of the Protestant Church Establishment. O Popery! thou art a bitter draught, and stultified indeed must that man be who can swallow thee. But another great object of the Author in these pages is, to inculcate in the Protestant mind of the rising generation principles of loyalty towards the Altar, the Throne, and the Constitution. For this purpose, and by way of stimulus, he has set forth in their proper light the glorious exploits of their ancestors in crushing sedition, and stemming the torrent of rebellion. He has dwelt on the gallant achievements of the brave yeomanry of Ireland, whose Spartan heroism, on many occasions, when a handful was opposed to thousands, has scarcely a parallel in history. He has given an original history of the Orange Institution, not only from its first formation, and of its noble bearing and exploits throughout the rebellion, but of its progress "through good report and evil report," down to the present time, which will be found most interesting, and in which important facts and original documents are given, which have never been before published. We recommend this portion of our work to the serious consideration of our readers, and will say to those of them whose loyalty may be wavering, "go thou and do likewise." Join the ranks of this noble Institution, where your principles of loyalty will be cherished and improved, and where you will find a rallying-post and tower of strength in the day and hour of danger. We have little else to say in commendation of our little work. We will let it stand or fall on its own merits. It cost us some labour to prevent it being elaborate in its details, and to bring it into that compass, and cheap form, so as to secure it a ready sale and wide circulation amongst |