fallen into the hands of the insurgents, and so far misconceived the state of affairs as to imagine his property more secure under the protection of the United Irish than of the existing government: Unhappy misconception! The success of the rebels * would have involved the destruction of both his property and life. and life. He, however, through fear of the loss at least of the former, had consented to take the United oath, and to promise to act as commissary to the rebel army." Yet, such is the inconsistency of human nature, this man, whose only guilt, with regard to treason, had been caused by his timidity, met his fate with courage, when he found death inevitable. Harvey betrayed more fear of death at the place of execution, though he was well known to have been a man of personal courage, having exposed his life with intrepidity in duels. This gentleman was possessed of a landed property of between two and three thousand pounds a year, and had in many respects borne an amiable, character, particularly that of a most humane landlord-a character unfortunately not very common in Ireland! Seduced, like some other men of benevolent hearts, by the fallacious hope that See Appendix, No. 4. That Mr. Grogan should have been deceived into a belief of the universal success of the rebels, is not to be accounted surprising, when those who were about him, gave him confidently that information, and he had ne means of knowing the truth. such a revolution might be effected in Ireland by a popular insurrection, as would cure the defects of the political system, and prodigiously augment the prosperity of the island, he had entered into the united conspiracy; but soon convinced, after the insurrection had taken place, of the utter impracticability of such a revolution, by such instruments, and of the certain destruction of himself and other protestant chiefs, in case of success on the side of the rebels, he would most gladly have renounced all connexion with them; but, as no alternative was allowed, he was obliged to remain among them while they were able to retain the post of Wexford. Harvey and Grogan suffered execution together on the 28th; Colclough alone in the evening of the same day. Colclough was a man of very amiable character; of a naturally good understanding, enlarged by culture, and of engaging manners. By education and profession a Romanist: he was a protestant in principle.* Influ * I mean not to say that he preferred the forms and ceremonies of the protestant to those of the Romish religion, to which he had been habituated. I believe the contrary to have been the case. But he was so far a protestant as to reject all those persecuting doctrines of the Romish church, adverse alike to reason and christianity, which have caused so much bloodshed and calamity among mankind. I am assured, however, by a protestant gentleman of credit and respectability, that Colclough, who protected him in the rebellion, repeatedly protested to him in the most solemn enced in his matrimonial speculation solely by the personal merit of the object, he married a lady of a congenial soul, whose endowments of mind and amiable qualities fully justified the wisdom of his choice. So void was he of religious bigotry, that he recommended to his wife not to conform to his mode of worship, since to follow the dictates of her conscience in adhering to the protestant religion (in which she had been educated) would be more pleasing to him. This will be attributed to a deistical indifference in religious matters, by those who allow liberality to deism and deny it to Christian charity, of which I cannot suppose any Romanist of a cultivated and discerning mind to be divested, be the adventitious rules of his religion what they may. Seduced by the like fallacious idea as Harvey, he had embarked on that tempestuous ocean, whence was so seldom permitted a return; . and made too late the horrible discovery, that the instruments of political reform were an ungovernable mob of outrageous bigots, among whom none except the instigators of sanguinary violence, could have effective influence. After his mission to Enniscorthy, already related, in conjunction with Fitzgerald, he went manner, that if he should survive the then existing troubles, he never would again in the course of his life enter a Romish chappel so greatly was he shocked by the bigotry of the people. immediately to his house, and, accompanied by his wife, took the road to Wexford, with intention to re-enter his prison according to his engagement. His detention there not being then thought necessary by the magistrates, he returned to his house, and taking his wife with him in a carriage, was going back to Wexford, as a place of safety under the protection of the king's forces-when he was met on the road by the panic-struck troops of captains Cornock and Snowe, hastening to Duncannon. He was instantly seized as a hostage, at the instigation of the former, and carried with them, in their march, by these terrified men, who declared with oaths that they would shoot him whenever they should be attacked.* How far their fears were vain or well-founded, I cannot ascertain, as the peasants in those parts had not as yet risen in rebellion.† After marching in this manner a considerable way, he was dismissed by the troops; and the insurrection extending to these. districts soon after, he was appointed to a command among the rebels. In the flight of the chiefs from the unbridled host which they had vainly hoped to command, * I am authorised by Mr. Colclough to say that Mr. Snowe behaved with humanity and politeness. † On their arrival, however, within a few miles of Duncannon, in a dark night, some rebels (who were only then beginning to rise in these parts) were induced by circumstances to attack the scattered troops, and take about fifty of them prisoners. he retired with his wife and child to one of the Saltee islands, of which he was landlord, five miles from the coast of the county of Wexford, and chose for his temporary abode a cave, which he furnished with provisions, and where he hoped to remain concealed until the fervour of prosecu tion should abate. But Harvey, knowing his place of retreat, and wishing to avail himself of the same opportunity of concealment, embarked so incautiously to follow him, as to afford a foundation for conjecture and discovery. He and Harvey surrendered without resistance; though from the nature of the place they, might have made for some time a defence.-At his trial and execution he displayed a calm intrepidity, of spirit, and a dignity of deportment attempered with mildness, which commanded the admiration and esteem of the spectators; and died so strongly impressed with the horror of atrocities attendant on revolutionary attempts in Ireland, that doubtless, if he had been pardoned, he would have become as loyal a subject as, with exception of his political conduct, he had always been an excellent member of society. Harvey, Grogan, Keugh, and Perry, were the only protestants put to death as leaders of the Wexfordian rebels. Among the many Romanists who suffered on this accusation, were two priests of totally different characters-Father John Murphy, of Boulavogue, and Father John |