United Irishmen. At the assizes of Armagh, for instance, Colonel Sparrow was tried and found guilty of murdering a Mr. Lucas: he was called up to receive sentence, when he produced his majesty's pardon to the court and was instantly liberated. The Orange Men also were specially countenanced by government.

It was necessary, however, that some decided course should be adopted; and the formation of armed corps of yeomanry was, this year, (1796) encouraged. The catholics were scarcely permitted to join these associations, and when they waited upon the secretary to request permission to form themselves into corps, they were told they might join the corps then raising by their protestant fellow-subjects. Some few did so: but their reception was not such as to encourage many to follow their example.

" I

Parliament met on the 13th Oct. 1796, and were informed by the lord lieutenant that his majesty had required their attendance, thus early, in consequence of a threatened descent on the coast of Ireland by the French. The speech also, took notice of the disturbances in Armagh Lave, however, to lament, that in one part of the country good order has not been entirely restored; and that in other districts a treasonable system of secret confederation, by the administering of illegal oaths, still continues, although no meaus within the reach of government have been left untried to counteract it." Mr. Grattan objected to the

speech because it contained no conciliatory matter, and moved an amendment which was rejected. One of the most important measures transacted this session, was the suspension of the Habeas Corpus act; 7 only voted against this proceeding, and 137 with the minister. Certainly, if there ever could be a moment when the suspension of so important a security to individual freedom and justice might be attempted, it was precisely that moment of danger and peril, when the thing was actually done both in England and Ireland. :

The French invasion of this country was so long talked of, that at last it became a common topic of ridicule. The rumor was not without foundation, however. In consequence of a representation of the state of affairs from an Irish emigrant (supposed to be Theobald Wolf Tone,) to the French directory, a proposal was made of an armament from France for the political disruption of this island from the British government. After a consultation in the summer of 1796, the leaders of the Irish Union notified by an agent, (supposed to be the unhappy Lord Edward Fitzgerald) their acceptance of the offer on condition that the invading army should act as auxiliaries under the direction and pay of the society, which, on becoming possessed of the dominion, should be bound to reimburse the whole expences of the armament. Preparations were made for an expedition from Brest, but the cordial and effective cooperation of the traitors at home was partially

defeated by two different accounts which they received as to the time when their treasonable. succour would be wanted.

Besides fifteen frigates, with sloops and transports; the whole calculated to transport an army of '25,000 men, the squadron destined for Ireland: is stated as consisting of 25 ships of the line, including seven under Admiral Richery, who had: orders to form a junction as soon as possible. Hoche, the commander of the land forces, was one of the ablest officers in the French service. This formidable armament at length set sail on the 16th Dec. 1796. But here a similar seeming inter! position of Providence took place to what occurred when another power (the Spanish Armada) dared to menace with invasion, the shores of England. The elements were the primary foes of the enemy. Some of the ships were disabled, and others wholly destroyed, by striking against the rocks at the harbour's mouth as they were sailing out; and on the next day a violent tempest arose, which continued with more or less fury during the whole time of the expedition, and dispersed many of the vessels. On the 24th, however, the chief Admiral Bouvet, anchored vin Bantry Bay, in the County of Cork, with seventeen vessels, ten of which were ships of the line. He dispatched a boat to the shore with a recon. noitring party who were immediately made prisoners by the peasants. The French officers were eager to land with what troops had arrived; but

the admiral, deterred by the hostile aspect of the country would not consent until the general should come who had been separated by a gale from his part of the fleet. After a delay of some days, the admiral despairing of the general's arrival, returned to Brest; and all the divisions of the scattered navy regained that port with the loss of two ships of the line, and three frigates, one of which was captured, one run on shore in France, and three foundered. Thus happily was frustrated, more by the elements than any disposition of means by the government at home, this first attempt of republican France to injure England through the sides of Ireland. Had the troops been all landed, and the uncertain loyalty of the people in the South left to the arts of factious agitators or the coercion of military law, it is difficult to say what might have been the result. It is notorious that ministers, though expecting such an attempt, had suffered the defences of the country to be shamefully inefficient.

The sudden display of loyalty manifested by the Irish in defeating the meditated attack upon their country, was held out as a cause why conciliatory measures should and would be adopted in their favour. At the same time also a strong persuasion existed that the Prince of Wales would be sent over as viceroy, that illustrious personage having made an offer of his services to ministers, in the hope that his popularity in Ireland, might be able to calm the troubled condition of that country. He proposed

taking out with him Earl Moira as commander in chief, but the proposition was finally rejected. It seemed, indeed, as if nothing should be done to conciliate; but every thing left to the dangerous expedient of force. On the 17th of Feb. 1797, Mr. Grattan again introduced the question of catholic emancipation, but it was now opposed by many who had formerly supported it, and who were confessedly favourable to the principle of conces sion, only they thought that an improper moment for introducing the discussion. This was the last time that question was brought before the Irish parliament. The next business of importance was a communication to the house by Mr. Secretary Pelham," that two committees of United Irishmen in Belfast, had been arrested and their papers seized; which contained matter of so much importance to the public welfare, that his excellency had directed them to be laid before the house of commons for their consideration. That he should in the mean time pursue those mea sures, which had received their sanction and approbation with unremitting vigour, and employ the force entrusted to him in the most efficient manner, for the protection of his majesty's faithful subjects against all treasonable designs, and for bringing to condign punishment these who were endeavouring to overturn the constitution, and betray that country into the hands of her enemies." Mr. Pelham then proposed that they should be referred to a secret committee. Mr. Grattan objected to