OF THE IRISH REBELLION IN 1798; WITH MEMOIRS OF THE UNION, AND EMMETT'S INSURRECTION IN 1803. BY W. H. MAXWELL, Esq., Author of "The Life of the Duke of Wellington," &c. &c. "Take heed How you awake the sleeping sword of war; Without much fall of blood." SHAKSPEARE. LONDON: BAILY, BROTHERS, CORNHILL. Printed by J. & H. COX, BROTHERS (late Cox & SONS), 74 & 75, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields. OTHECA PREFACE. A FEW remarks will be necessary in placing, in its completed state, before the public, a memoir already issued in a serial form. From works long since given to the world-documentary papers-manuscripts for the first time printed--and private details of men still living, and who themselves enacted a leading part during that troubled era, this history has been compiled. The records of the Insurrection of 1798, with rare exceptions, have been written by ardent partisans-who, yielding to a political bias, have coloured the narrative of the transactions of these distracted times, and detailed events, rather as they wished they should have been, than in reality as they were. Care has been taken to collate these conflicting statements, and, by strict impartiality, reach truth as nearly as it can be arrived at. That the author has been successful in the attempt, he would infer by an Irish conclusion. Ultra partisans-Tyrian and Trojan-have expressed dissatisfaction, and impugned his impartiality; Protestant remonstrances been accompanied by Roman Catholic complaints; one party arraigning him of a secret leaning to the principles of ascendancy, met, on the other side, by a countercharge of indulgency towards the disaffected. 'Every man in Ireland is a partisan," was the observation of an intelligent foreigner-and the observation is correct. For the moderate of both sections, this work has been compiled; and, small as that section may be, their approval will be perfectly satisfactory to LONDON, March, 1845. THE AUTHOR. |