Nay, he is pretty well assured, that no sacrifice "he could make, either of his prospects in life, "his personal safety or liberty-no services he could render through the course of the longest "life-though he were to expose himself to the vengeance of the powerful, to the hatred and persecution of their numerous and vindictive "enemies though he should voluntarily 'encounter hunger, and thirst, and nakedness, "reject independence, and consume himself in "nocturnal vigils to serve the cause of humanity "-though he should face death in every shape, "in the field and on the scaffold, even to the - shedding of his blood-even then the impla"cable spirit of bigotry would not relent. Did "he actually fall, and offer up his life than "which no man can give a stronger proof of his "charity, according to the gospel, it would pursue his shade with maledictions, and persecute his memory, when his person was no 'longer in its power. It is a sore ulcer that will not admit the healing hand of the physician a serpent deaf to the voice of the charmer, a "concentrated venom which no oil can mollify. "If Jesus of Nazareth, in whom dwelt the spirit "of love, meekness, and beneficence, could not. assuage the frantic rage of this tiger, it must, be admitted incurable." I have been grieved in observing that all the protection and support afforded by the British J government to the French emigrant clergy, and all the kindness manifested to them by British protestants, never mitigated their bigotry, nor drew from them one sentiment in favour of toleration. But, how much soever I disapprove of the rubrick of catholicity, of a popish hierarchy, of doctrines and dogmas attributed to those who exclusively arrogate the vain title of catholics, I have sincerely rejoiced in the repeal of penal statutes enacted against Irish catholics, and, so far as an humble individual may express, I heartily wish the speedy annihilation of the residue of those disqualifying laws, by the imperial parliament, as a measure fraught with solid advantage to all parties in this as yet distracted country. P When ever the government shall have manifestly shewn a resolution for the concession of political emancipation to the catholics, counterfeit loyalists, above defined, will be seen completely changing sides, and courting those against whom they now rail, with marked assiduity. Such is the dignity of human nature. Those counterfeit loyalists on one side, and the monkish and monk-ridden catholics on the other, who appear mútually eager to cut each others throats, unite cordially in their attempts to calumniate my book. I wish them both á good night at present, informing them that two or three typographical errors, from which few books are free, have been mistaken by them for errors of the writer. This would have been obviated by an accurate statement of errata, which I sent, but which has not been inserted; but I hope that the second edition will on this account be less objectionable. says, A pamphlet has appeared, written by Sir Richard Musgrave, in reply to one of Doctor Caulfield, Roman catholic bishop of Ferns, in which he "that the Rev. Mr. Gordon, knowing the "set of savages he had to deal with, has, with more regard to policy than accuracy, written "a history of the rebellion, for the obvious purpose of conciliating the priests and the popish multitude, and to secure the punctual pay"ment of his tythes; and for that purpose he "abuses the military and yeomen, &c." I have only to wish, that they had swallowed the flattery, or somehow better digested it. But Sir Richard's keen and perspicacious head is good at a hit, and has very appositely discovered, that my flattery of popery is an indignant expression and abhorrence of popish butchery. To a plain, unrefined mind, unlike Sir Richard's, this tribute of flattery, the more easily to collect tythes, might, by no very perplexed or devious induction of the understanding, appear an equal lesson of instruction, exciting mutual shame and horror at atrocious deeds-not hardening the heart, by a flagitious and criminal partiality-not ascrib ing all virtue to one side, all vice to the opposite-but roundly, and in general terms, of unmeasured length, of broad, plain and homely meaning, holding the mirror of truth as discovered by diligent and fair inquiry, alike to all factions. If my object had been of a sycophantic nature, I had clearly no alternative. I must have embraced the very part which Sir Richard himself has embraced. All interest lies there. The most violent abuse may, with the utmost impunity, be poured on the Roman catholic and croppy party, while every moderate expression is furiously reprobated by men conscious of powerful support and favour. I mean not to insinuate that this gentleman's motive is of the sycophantic kind. If I were convinced of its being so, I should not be afraid to declare it. But not having the least personal acquaintance with him, I know not his principles, and cannot form a decisive judgment. My conjecture is, that he is a man of humanity, acute sensibility, and a warm imagination; and, that the cruel treatment, the partial massacres, and intended extirpation of the protestants of Ireland, together with the persecutions and massacres, committed formerly by Roman catholics in other countries, excited so keen an indignation in his breast against those religionists in general, as induced him to think every weapon justifiable which could be wielded against them. Virtue, unrestrained by a curb of moderation, runs into or produces its opposite. Insani sapiens nomen ferat, æquus iniqui, In his laudable exertions to collect materials, men of honour and integrity gave him true statements, according to their knowledge and conceptions. Others gave him such as were supposed by them agreeable to his temper and their own interest. From the whole he has formed a compilation, of some value, even as it is, for the information of posterity, but vastly less valuable than it would have been, if it had been compiled with discernment and dispassionate impartiality. When a reader finds none but saints and heroes on one side of the contest, and none, but monsters on the other, he is apt most justly to suspect the fidelity of a representation, so little consistent with the ordinary course of human manners, and to regard the whole as a doubtful work, embellished by the fictions of an overwarm imagina tion. Atque ita mentitur, sic veris falsa remiscet, Primo ne medium, medio ne discrepet imum. Much truth has he recorded-much has been concealed from him-still more doubtless by him—and many mistakes has he committed.—Of these I have given a very slight specimen in the appendix of my history. Far greater speci |