. until the whole kingdom shall be in such a state of organization as will by their joint co-operation, effect without loss their desirable point, which is hourly drawing to a crisis."* We remarked, that the immediate consequences of the existence of the volunteer force were not unhappy. The following extract from a paper circulated by the concocters of the rebellion will show the use to which the organization and proceedings of that body were shortly afterwards applied. We print the capitals and italics as in the original" And we do call on and most earnestly exhort our brethren THE VOLUNTEERS OF IRELAND, who may in fact establish, as they have in theory restored, the independence of their native land: we call upon all our countrymen in general to follow our example, and to form similar societies in every quarter of the kingdom for the promotion of constitutional knowledge and the dispensation of genuine Whig principles; the people when thus collected will feel their own weight and secure that power which theory has already admitted as their portion, and to whichifthey be not aroused by their present provocations to vindicate it, they deserve to forfeit their pretensions for EVER."+ Nothing can more clearly demonstrate, than the preceding passage, the pernicious, baneful consequences arising from the advocacy of wild, undefined notions of popular liberty. The mind of the unthinking multitude thus receives an impetus, which hurries them on to lengths, from which, perhaps, the beginners or fomenters of the work would themselves recoil. Let the Whigs behold what were considered their genuine principles; let them learn, that they have been preached up as sanctioning revolution, republicanism, and rebellion. The first lodge of the Orange Institution was founded in the county of Armagh, on the 21st September, 1795. The name of Orangeman, however, previously existed. "They were," says Sir Richard Musgrave," merely a society of loyal Protestants, associated and bound together, solely for the purpose of maintaining and defending the constitution in church and state, as established by the Prince of Orange, at the glorious revolution, which they regarded as a solemn and sacred duty." This body was and is purely DEFENSIVE in its principles. Its members are men attached to a limited monarchical form of government; they are supporters of genuine civil and religious liberty; they are admirers of the British constitution; they are attached to British connection: they are not wild theorists; they are not lovers of revolution; they are not fond of innovation; they are not inclined to republican principles. They reckoned all, or nearly all the Protestant yeomanry of 1798 in their body, and were mainly the saviours of the country at that important crisis. They are the men whom a sound and wise British government would cherish and support.-The county of Carlow is indebted to John Staunton Rochfort, Esq., of Cloghgrenan, captain of the Cloydagh yeomanry, for the introduction • Journal H. Commons, Vol. XVII., Part 2. Appendix. † Journals of the House of Commons. Vol, 17. Part 2. Appen, p. 845, 1 (in 1798) of that bond of loyalty, the Orange system, within its limits.* By "An account of the sums of money claimed by the suffering loyalists in the different counties in Ireland, for their losses sustained in the rebellion of 1798, and laid before the commissioners appointed by act of parliament for compensating them," we find the sum claimed by the county of Carlow was 24,854L 14s. 7d. Parliament met on the 22nd January, 1799. MEMBERS. County of Catherlogh-William Burton, Esq. Sir Richard Butler, Baronet. Borough of Catherlogh.-Henry Sadlier Prittie, Esq. Borough of Old Leighlin.-Edward Cooke, Esq. Sir Boyle Roche, Baronet. 1st March, 1799.-Ordered-That leave be given to bring in a bill for the division of the barony of Idrone, in the county of Carlow; and that Mr. John Staunton Rochfort, (of Cloghgrenan, member for the borough of Fore, county Westmeath), colonel Barry, Sir Richard Butler, Bart., Mr. William Burton and Mr, Cornwall do prepare and bring in the same. 2nd March, 1799.-Mr. John Staunton Rochfort presented to the house, according to order, A bill for the division of the barony of Idrone in the county of Carlow; which was received and read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. [Said bill passed, March 6. Agreed to by the lords, March 12. Assent, March 25.1 Parliament was prorogued on the 1st June, 1799, and again assembled on the 15th January, 1800, when the members for our district were as last stated. 14th February, 1800.-Petition of the freeholders of the county of Carlow against a legislative union with Great Britain, presented. Ordered That the said petition do lie on the table for the perusal of the members. 4th March, 1800.-Petition of the freeholders of the county of Carlow against a legislative union with Great Britain, presented. Ordered-That the said petition do lie on the table for the perusal of the members. 7th June, 1800,-The house was moved that the order of the day, that an engrossed bill for the union of Great Britain and. Ireland, be read the third time, might be read. And the said order being read accordingly, * The author's father, (a member of the Tullow yeoman cavalry in 1798) joined the Orange Society. He was a member of the Tullow lodge. J A motion was made, and the question being put, that the said bill be read a third time on Friday the 2nd day of January next, It passed in the negative. Then the said bill, according to order, was read a third time. A motion was made, and the question being put, that the said bill do pass; and that the title be, An act for the union of Great Britain and Ireland. It was carried in the affirmative. A motion was made and the question being put, that the Right Hon. lord viscount Castlereagh do carry the said bill to the lords and desire their concurrence, It was carried in the affirmative. [Said bill agreed to by the lords, August 16. Received the royal assent on the 1st August, 1800.] 1st July, 1800. Ninth account of the Barrow navigation company to the 1st February, 1800, presented.* On the 2nd August, parliament was prorogued, and in consequence of the Act of Union, did not again assemble in Ireland The borough of Old Leighlin was abolished, and that of Carlow deprived of one member. A meeting of the freeholders of the county of Carlow, was held on the 21st January, 1799. EDWARD EUSTACE, Esq., high sheriff, in the chair; when the following resolutions were agreed to: Resolved unanimously-That no advantages this country could derive from a union, would be a compensation for the loss of its independence. Resolved unanimously-That our representatives have not the power to annihilate this parliament, and to transfer to that of another kingdom the right of legislating for this nation. Resolved unanimously-That it is highly dangerous and improper to agitate the question of a union in the present unsettled state of this kingdom. Resolved unanimously-That the high sheriff be requested to communicate as speedily as possible those resolutions to our representatives in parliament. Resolved unanimously-That the conduct of the speaker deserves our warmest thanks; and from his opposition to the measure, and his knowledge of the interests of this country, and constant attention to them, we are strengthened in our present opinion. EWD. EUSTACE, Sheriff. Copy of letter from Sir Richard Butler, Bart., M.P. for the county of Carlow : "To Edward Eustace, Esq., high sheriff of the county of Carlow. "Dear Sir,-I have had the honour of your letter, enclosing the resolutions of the freeholders of the county of Carlow. "I shall be always happy to receive and obey the instructions of • Journals of the House of Commons, vol, xix, my constituents. I lament extremely that I happened to be absent when the question of a legislative union between this kingdom and Great Britain was brought forward. Had I supposed that a measure of such importance would have been discussed in parliament, on the first day of the session, I certainly would have attended, notwithstanding the very precarious state of health of the dearest part of my family. My sentiments on that question perfectly coincide with those expressed in the resolutions-and if the measure shall be again brought forward, he assured I will oppose it to the utmost of my power. I am &c. 66 Garrykunden, January 27th, 1799. RICH. BUTLER." Such, it appears, were the sentiments of the freeholders of the county of Carlow on the subject of the legislative union with Great Britain. Matters are, however, so much changed since the occurrence of that event; the tremendous evils apprehended from the union not having arisen; the Romanists being since admitted into parliament; the pernicious revolutionary spirit at present abroad; these circumstances, as well as others, have placed the question in an aspect so different, that we are fully convinced, that not one of the land owners, gentry, or Protestants, who might formerly have opposed the Union, would now desire to behold its repeal. Walker's Hibernian Magazine for 1799. CHAP. XXXI. Present state of the Antiquities of the County of Carlow. AGHADE. The church of Aghade stands at the distance of about four miles south of Tullow, and adjoining the road leading to Newtown-Barry. It is prettily situated on gently elevated ground, in the midst of a highly cultivated district. A rivulet running close by the church-yard adds to the beauty of this tranquil scene. The church is a modern structure of plain architecture, and of the usual oblong shape, with square belfry and spire. TOMBS AND INSCRIPTIONS. On granite, cut in the rudest manner, in Roman capitals: I.H.S. HERE LIES THE BODY OF DENIS DONOGHUE (SON OF NICHOLAS DONOGHUE) WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 31st DAY OF MARCH IN THE 27th YEAR OF HIS AGE, 1738. DEUS SIT ILLI PROPITIUS. There are several other tombstones in granite of an old date, but the inseriptions contain nothing worthy of note. Within a handsome railed enclosure, planted with evergreens, is a raised monument on which are to be found these words: In In memory of the Rev. Henry St. George, late of Altamont, in the county of Carlow, during forty years rector of this parish; who died May the 30th, 1831, in the 88th year of his age. every station of his life, he executed its respective duties with judgment, diligence, and fidelity. The purity of his faith, the rectitude of his conduct, and his unwearied labours in the pastoral office testified his piety towards GOD; his kindness, humility, and candour, with his exemplary attention to the wants, temporal as well as spiritual, of his fellow creatures, proved his benevo lence towards MAN. Reader! behold the upright, for the end of THAT man is peace. The families of Baillie and Tomlinson have tombstones here.For further information relating to this parish, see the Appendix. (17). ARDRISTAN.-Within one mile of Tullow and in the parish and town-land of Ardristan, are the ruins of an old church. The walls yet standing are sixty-three feet long, twenty-four feet broad at west-end, and eighteen at east-end. Length of chancel twentyfour feet. One gable and part of side wall are standing. A stone pointed arch in good preservation divides the chancel from the nave. There are but few tombstones. The burial ground is surrounded by old thorn-trees. BALLYELLEN.-This burial ground is situate near the high road It may be observed, that possibly this and the following inscriptions may be here preserved, when decayed, or obliterated in their first situation. |