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Luby - Daniel O Connell PDF
Luby - Daniel O Connell PDF
THE LIFE,
OPINIONS, CONVERSATIONS AND ELOQUENCE
<~F
Daniel O'Connell.
WITH A PRELIMINARY SKETCH OF IRISH HISTORY.
Esq., A.B.T.C.D.
Is
MAC DAVITT
NEW
YORK.
&
CO.,
Ue
o'Jlce of
1872,
by
CO.,
Co&/&>
Relations of Ireland to England the source of Irish misery Independence necessary to Ireland's happiness Aims of O'Connell's life How far he succeeded
Where he failed, and why Exaggeration of his theory of moral force Ireland's capabilities Rapid survey of Irish history down to the year 1775.
>fT is now more than seven hundred years since the day on which
Ever
English invaders first set foot upon the soil of Ireland.
cM
\k>fl
and more
more or
less subject to
or less miserable.
by
friend
and
At
foe,
times,
as the
most unfortunate island of the sea, though, from the gifts lavished
alike on her soil and people by the bounteous hand of Nature, she might
And wretched
be reasonably expected to prove the most fortunate.
her destiny must ever remain while her connection with England lasts.
There are many who ask, Why must this be so? Does she not share
Is she
the benefits of the glorious and envied constitution of Britain ?
Are not the Irish people, in
not represented in the British legislature?
participators in
short, now part and parcel of the great British nation
Most Englishmen,
all the blessing's of British law and British justice?
and Irishmen of the West-British stamp, would fain answer these questions in the affirmative
but the views of all such on " the Irish ques-
piness.
similar
If,
in race,
feeling,
character,
traditions
or without
members
their hap-
Ul
and
66
for,
11
O'CUJS'KELL.
The representatives of Shropshire and Sussex would be as solicitous about the honor and interests of Tyrone and Tipperary as about
those of Durham and Dorset, or even their own.
But the two nations
not being homogeneous on the contrary, differing widely in race, feeling, character, traditions and interests
are altogether incapable of
amalgamation. The representation of the weaker in the united legislaEven if Ireland had an
ture must ever be a delusion and a sham.
equal number of representatives with England (and this she could not
reasonably claim), England, being wealthier and more powerful, would
have the advantage in various ways. But Ireland having, as a matter
of course, only a small minority in the united legislature, it necessarily
follows that, whenever a conflict 0/ interests takes place between the two
countries, her representatives must be swamped and her interests must
This would be inevitable if Irish members of Parliament
go the wall.
were all as incorruptible as Aristides. But it is hardly necessary to
point out the facilities England possesses for corrupting Irish members
of Parliament
and her desire to corrupt equals her ability.
sented.
it
if
for the
their
own
may be
and beneficent to
a population whose
just
people will always trample under foot whatever interests come in collision
with
its
own.
An
chance, like Trajan and a few others, to be a father of his people, the
blessings of his paternal rule will thine on
all
for
liis
interest
uj
of every part of
'
his empire.
In truth, Ireland, being a distinct nation, can never be happy pr prosNo matter what
perous while her connection with England subsists.
common
to the
her place
among
Through the whole of his long career, Daniel O'Connell, the marvelous and instructive story of whose active and varied life I am about to
narrate, was manifestly actuated by a strong conviction of the truth of
the principles which I have been endeavoring to enunciate. Setting aside
-
for
the present all his lesser aims, this illustrious Irishman, from the be-
He
life,
view
1st.
desired
to
again.
He
The method
by which he conquered was original. Instead of resorting to arms and
overthrowing his opponents in the field, he assembled his countrymen
in vast public meetings, and brought an immense pressure of public
opinion to bear on the hostile government and legislature.
But let us
bear in mind that ever and anon, behind this peaceful array of popular
might, was heard the half-uttered menace of war.
If, by a delay of
succeeded in accomplishing the
redress of grievances,
worn
out.
why
first of
these objects.
and would
strike.
Amid
all
IV
*
'
---
when
demands
much
so that,
duke
of
may
When
come
to relate
it
to fight for
way
in
it,
some
evil con-
it
tion
Besides, a rich
and
in the straggle.
it
to
surrender her
force.
.J
And what
force, adequate to the task of wresting the legislative independence of Ireland from England, could be found in the mere expression of the public opinion of trampled Ireland ?
No portion of the English people would help to strengthen this array of Irish public opinion
on the hostile majority in parliament. The English populace, supposing they had possessed the power,
would have served themselves at the expense of Ireland, and, perhaps,
trampled on her rights even more readily than the English aristocracy
or middle classes.
good
faith,
should necessarily deprive the " agitation " system of the only
had
that
The proposition
was to the effect, "that, under no circumstances, would an oppressed
nation be justified in resorting to arms against the oppressor unless
first attacked."
In short, the Irish people, naturally one of the most
martial upon God'& earth, were called upon to swallow the monstrous
and even laughable delusion that England could be induced by mere
force of reason and persuasion to give up her hold on Ireland.
If the
Irish people could possibly have come to believe and act on this principle, the British government need only avoid attacking and they might
continue oppressing the Irish to the end of time. His determination to
force it ever
act on this exaggerated theory of " moral force " blighted the closing
scenes of O'Connell' s career and ruined the cause of Ireland for the
time
so
much
so that
life
success or a failure.
we must
of this
most
hesitate whether,
sion are to be found the saddest, but not the least instructive, lessons
of his extraordinary
life
to
is,
be inde-
pendent she must place her sole trust in the God of battles and her
own manhood marshaled in the field
Nor can any one reasonably doubt or deny that Ireland has all the
elements requisite to form an important independent state. Indeed, few
countries are more richly endowed by nature than Ireland with the elements of prosperity and even greatness. She boasts, in the first place,
the excellence of her geographical position, so admirably fitted for com-
VI
Indeed,
if it
in vain.
Perhaps,
position,
if
we duly
we may be enabled
Had
denied to Ireland.
to see
why
But Ireland has numerous other advantages. She boasts her splendid harbors, unequaled by those of most other lands her noble rivers
a favorable climate a fertile soil scenery of the most varied loveliness
a vast amount of unemployed resources but, above all, she boasts the
;
common
have much
it is
order.
inter-
course with the Irish, and not to perceive that they are a people singularly gifted
by nature.
of their ideas,
facility of
It is
expression can-
no exaggeration
to
say that the most educated mind might occasionally derive valuable
hints and suggestions from the conversation of an Irish peasant, prompted
happy combination
of natural
Viewing
this
is blessed,
Vli
come
when it will, for a career of unexampled glory and good fortune though
up to the present, all her blessings have been turned to no account, and
it is
(he contrast between the brilliant gifts of Ireland and her people and the
all
history.
I shall
those
who
not waste
much
Ireland be able to throw off the yoke of England? has been discussed
From
Emmet
numbers
to
additional observations
1st.
Ireland
is
still,
recuperative power of the Irish race), relatively one of the most popu-
Absolutely, she
is still
and
Africa.
also
As
many barbarous
or
semi-barbarous
Ireland exceeds all the states I have mentioned, save the kingdoms of
Sweden and Norway, and perhaps Portugal. She is even nearly a fourth
larger than Holland and Belgium taken together.
2d. I shall shortly observe that, even to the most careless and superficial of historical students, from numerous examples of past history, the
broad general principle must be manifest, that' nations of less extent
than Ireland, or less populous, or both, when fired by patriotic enthusiasm, can resist the might of colossal empires and wrest from them, not
merely privileges and rights more or less important, but even independence
itself.
Vlll
permanently.
When
Great, bore up, for the most part single-handed, against all continental
Europe, and not merely maintained her independence, but held fast her
conquests in an iron gripe, her population and resources were as nothing
compared
to
ration of Prussia, so far from being, like that of Ireland, favorable for
defensive purposes,
is
deem
it
necessary, before
commence
but more especially from the Enginvasion, in the twelfth century, to the year 1775
the year when
commence the biography properly so called, reflection and disquisition must give way to narrative.
As far as it may be practicable, I shall make O'Connell tell his own tale,
and, for the most part, leave the reader to draw from the story his own
O'Connell was born.
Once, however,
moral.
'
Nearly
all
is
The history
of Ireland for
on
all occasions, to
The ard-righ
strife,
So hopelessly
was himself frequently the chief promoter of discord.
unsettled was the state of society, so devoid were the chiefs and people
of just notions of subordination and government, of obedience in ex-
change
supporting the ruler out of the national resources, that it is possible the
supreme monarchs came, at length, to view it as a matter of interest
ix
little
He
occasionally
one.
Long periods
present
little
God
In truth, even to a very recent period the Irish people have seldom
or never
been able
to grasp in their
of a united
The want
of this
the
is at
own countrymen,
themselves by so doing.
if
They seemed
merely in the light of an additional clan with which they might, from
time to time, have to join battle or strike up a league.
find
Occasionally
we
tion, in
their clans.
No
many
periods, has
come to
conquest by the
and subdue
it
Romans, consolidated in
Europe.
have abol-
ished the independent jurisdiction of the chiefs and the almost separate
existence of the clans.
Even
if
xi
our forefathers,
stances in
support of
equally to the
my
as concisely as
assertions,
which
will
can,
among
a few in-
be found to apply
histoiy.
may
our
of
we
periods,
monarchs
Ugony
succession
in
we
little after, of
thirteen
Coming down
to
aged
to die in his bed, in the old seat of Milesian royalty, Tara, after
He
met
all
violent deaths.
who
is
generally
won
Xll
O'CCXNNELL.
of violence,
authentic.
The life of St. Patrick extends over the latter part of the fourth cenHis apostleship in Ireland
tury and the greater portion of the fifth.
year
our
Lord
in
the reign of King Leaghof
commenced about the
432,
aire, and he died toward the end of the fifth century, at an extreme old
His life was one of singular sanctity and of extraordinary labors
age.
for the conversion of the Irish people, nearly all of which were crowned
with success the most complete and glorious. There is one peculiarity
about the religious revolution which this saint brought about. Strange
to say, considering the fierce and stormy scenes and events of our secular history, from beginning to end it was altogether peaceful in its progSingular contrast!
ress.
saint's mission,
when
but so
it
was.
pagans made no
An
had almost
What
jan,
its
early struggles in
and wise
Church with no
less
than
siii
oi
and
its results
apostle.
on the
He
calls it
He
dwells
and on the
earnest
men
are
lips of the
still
Is it
Irish people?
of the early ages are the heroes that live longest in the
of eld are loved as real men, for they, at least, represent earnest
and
and even deeds. When the names of numberless highlyvaunted heroes of the more artificial jieriods, of whose lives volumes of
minute detail have been written, sound in men's ears only as faint and
heroic ideas,
far-off
name
of St. Patrick, of
still
whose
life
humanizing
monk
in Iona.
life
at
Armagh.
But nearly all are slain. Of course we have any amount of internecine
raids and combats.
We hear of O'Neills ravaging Leinster five times
in one year.
Ard-righ Congall makes a raid, on a large scale, on his
tributaries of Leinster, and paternally exacts tribute and spoil from
them he also defeats his liegeman of Cinel Eoghain. Ard-righ Aedh
Allan vanquishes the Ulidians and kills their prince at Faughard, in
;
Louth.
far
He
from Kilcullen,
in
Kildare county.
His forces
kill,
they say,
Finally,
Aedh Allan
loses
of his
life
and
"
with
fire
XV
districts
and
By
this
till
age of sixty-
dinavian pirates had begun to visit our shores, and of course matters
grew
wherever they came, ravaged without mercy, sparing neither sex nor age, and the Irish, Aveakcned and
worn-out by domestic strife and disorders, were hardly in a condition to
infinitely worse, for the Danes,
repel invaders.
them against
and sometimes
e\ en rival them in pillaging churches.
Such a one was Cineadh, lord
of Cianachta-Breagh.
He, aided by these sea-rovers, rose against King
Malachy, in 848, and robbed the churches and ravaged the lands of the
Hy-Niall from the Shannon to the sea. Next year, however, he met
with fitting poetic justice, for he was drowned in the Nanny, a small
river of Meath that flowed through his own land, by the followers of
the king.
We find even supreme monarchs, during this gloomy time,
instead of trying to band their people against the stranger, still warring
against and wasting their tributaries.
Thus, in 804, King Aedh OirIn 815 he overran
nidhe devastates Leinster twice in one month.
It may be here
Meath and Ulidia, and again invaded Leinster.
remarked that not till this prince's reign were Irish ecclesiastics
exempted from miltary service in these predatory hostings. Flan Sinna,
another ard-righ, and apparently a prince not without high and generous qualities, was not even content with plundering his tributaries he
went so far as to join the foreigners in ravaging expeditions against
Battles, massacres, burnings, maraudings and
Minister and the North.
Learning, indeed, though declinsacrilege fill the picture of the times.
ing fast, sometimes tried to rally.
It was in the year 908 that Cormac
Mac Cuileannan, the learned and good though rash king and bishop
repeatedly join with
their countrymen,
X\l
internecine
strife.
They were
often provoked
for these
by insubordina-
fully.
weak
ard-righ Donchad.
was
slain
the
We
indeed, a
man
of
Malachy sometimes
but we see him more frefind
For a while we
latter,
find
him
in alliance
two.
But the
star
of
Brian
becomes the lord of the ascendant after a struggle for a time of varying fortune, Brian compels Aedh O'Neill, heir-apparent to the throne, to
confess his supremacy and Malachy to yield him the crown of Ireland.
Brian Boroihme seems to have made a nearer approach to the consolidation of the monarchy than any former king.
The petty princes
were reduced to subordination. Many wise and good regulations were
made. The tributes necessary to sustain his power were exacted, but,
on the other hand, obedience was conciliated by profuse hospitably and
;
liberal gifts.
He
fell,
XY11
was worthy
alike of a
on Good Friday, the 23d of April, 1014. On this day of triumph and of grief for Ireland, which witnessed sueh a glorious termination of Brian's reign and life, the power of the Danes in Ireland and
their hopes of conquest were broken for eYer.
A few of their settlements on the coasts remained, but. they were no longer menacing, and
no successful, or even very formidable, Danish in\ asion occurred alter
Clontarf,
Clontarf.
Indeed, long before the close of the century the Danes had
o other
permanent good
result,
reign of Brian.
went
bond
to,
it
interrupted, or
and had established the succession in his family, and if his posterity had possessed anything like his own vigor of character, his socalled usurpation would have been a blessing to Ireland for generations, perhaps for ever.
But, unfortunately, he established no dynasty.
land,
On
those
who
2d of September, 1022.
But after the death of Malachy it became perfectly plain that the
regular succession was at an end for ever.
Indeed, there were scarcely
any more supreme monarchs. We read of an interregnum occurring
more than once between the death of Malachy and the English invasion;
and when, during this period, princes did assume the title of ard-righ,
their right to the supreme authority appears, in most instances, not to
have been universally acknowledged. They are generally styled nomi-
XV111
nor during this period was the Feis or national assembly called
together.
The mutual
were more inveterate than ever. In short, the old story is repeated in
a worse form. Teigue, son of Brian, is slain through the perfidious
prompting of his brother Donchadh. This last prince, after a life of
ambition and rapine, retires to a monastery in Borne. We read
Diarmid Mac Mael-na-mbo, king of Leinster, called by some a
supreme monarch a Turlough O'Brien, king of Minister, also claiming
the title of monarch of Ireland later we read of Muircheartach O'Brian
and his powerful rival Domlmall O'Lochlinn, two princes who, along
with the fierceness characteristic of the times, possessed many fine and
selfish
of a
manly
qualities.
in Ireland is
righ.
It
is
manifest,
then,
flowed from the reign of Brian Boiroihme, or the great crowning victory
of his life at Clontarf.
It
may
not be
much
that a whimsical, though clover, English writer of the present day, the
know
not.
What
and rancorous.
many
is
may be
xix
Students
still
came
land from other lands, and Ireland could yet boast bards and chroni-
and sainted sages like St. Malachy, the friend of St. Bernard.
It has ever been a trait in the Irish character deserving of unqualified
praise that, even in an unsettled state of society, and amid civil discord
and disturbances of all sorts, the Irish are inclined to respect and proclers
tect
men
It is not, then,
riors,
unerring marksmen,
it is
the archers
in our
own time
first
of Ireland
must have been at that date, the conclusion is inevitable that their
numbers have been absurdly exaggerated. To crown the misfortunes
of Ireland, she had no patriot leader to whom the whole island could
XX
The character
he was, at
all events,
to
have
When,
crisis.
of
large force,
in 1171,
fatal
day of
present hour the history of Ireland and the Irish race has been a
to the
surprise
and panic,
Irish valor
began
to rally
and
The
rebel.
man
down
The Nor-
barons, too, from time to time rose in rebellion against the king
England; but for a long period these barons sought, in their revolts,
mere selfish, not national, objects. In truth, the English kings were, if
of
chieftains of Ireland.
many
of the
Norman
ing their language and customs, are said to have gradually become
"more
Irish
Donald O'Brien was one of the earchiefs who curbed the invaders.
He is the most prominent figure
among
thirteenth century
and other
we
O'Connors
find O'Neills,
In the
O'Briens, O'Donnells
combating the English, sometimes victorious, sometimes vanquished; but, unhappily, we also find
them repeatedly fighting with each other, and even frequently in alliIrish chieftains repeatedly
In the
first
Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, flushed with his glorious victory of Bannockburn, by which he had delivered his country from the same cruel
for
the latter
who
proposed,
if
he
his brother,
about G000 men. The northern Irish rallied round him. lister M-as
won.
He was proclaimed king of Ireland, and afterward solemnly
crowned at Dundalk. His brother, King Robert, came to his aid. For
to
came
to nothing.
power
1377,
arose.
when he succeeded
Macmorough.
From
when
own
against the
assisted
chieftains
making base
begins to manifest
itself.
Xli
show some occasional signs of disaffection to England. When Sir Eichard Edgecomb came to Ireland as king's commissioner in 1488, he presumed to remonstrate, in a menacing tone, with certain refractory lords
of the pale, upon which they made the spirited answer that, rather than
yield to any arbitrary proposals or restraints, they would take part with
the native Irish against their king.
Singular to say, London itself was
filled with rude alarms by an Irishman during the disturbed reign of
Henry VI. Shakespeare has given, in the second part of Henry VI., a
wonderfully vivid picture of the revolt, headed by Jack Cade, which for
a brief season terrified the citizens of London. As might be expected,
Shakespeare's scenes are not merely true as the old chronicles to the
r
PRELIMINARY SKETCH OF IRISH HISTORY.
called
"Black Rent,"
to the victors.
XX1U
felt their
hold on
military brotherhood
of fourteen loyal
men
Dublin, Kildare,
of St.
George"
consisting
But at
had under his command a standing power of 200 men.
a later period, from lack of means, it was reduced to 120 troopers, and
for the support of even this small band the English settlers were obliged
ternity
England.
Indeed, the English pale about 1531, or near four centuries from the
sway
in Ireland.
Many
of the
Norman
XXIV
is
usages, to observe
and
how
lives of
more or
less,
our people.
A new and
terrible
allude to
what
is
styled
fect
To
JS
own
From
filled
his lifetime, or
comprehending
and above
all
have been vexed, and nearly all the events that have taken place in Ireland during the present century, derive their origin; so that, if we want
to find out their lifting solution or true significance, we can only do so by
tearing in mind and learning to interpret properly our dark and bloodI
stained past.
Henry
VIII.,
to the king's
religion.
any one guilty of persistent refusal to acknowledge the religious supremacy of the king was liable to the penalties of high treason. Those
who refused to attend the novel worship were liable to fines and cenNumbers were enriched by the confiscation and plunder of church
sures.
But, in the teeth of every threat and danger, the vast majorproperty
XXV
ilv of
which
It
was quite
In-
their re-
when they
men
knew
while they
anny,
it
if
not murdered,
same
race and
tin
tyr-
rule
that imposed those tyrannous laws upon their country should be intensified
day
after day.
It is in
no way wonderful
that,
the secret negotiations of the Irish chiefs with foreign potentates should
to
Tudor we
In the reigns
negotiating with the emperor Charles V., the kings of France and Scot-
land and the Holy Father, on other occasions negotiating with one or
other of these monarchs separately.
We
with England, occasionally inviting and getting the aid of Scotch auxiliaries,
troops.
and
still
Minister, obtaining
of
in
XXVI
without the least scruple broke his Irish engagements, and, flinging
away
air,
What
is
is that,
unlike
all
members
sect.
fires of
reign, while in
of the hos-
unknown
in Ireland.
Some Protestant
toleration
for
when
the accession of
Hugh
O'JSTeill,"
tyranny
that,
Elizabeth
officials of
"
How
never-ending scenes of horror, the deeds of unsparing tyranny, sometimes on religious and sometimes on civil grounds, " that fill the spacious times of great Elizabeth," in Ireland at least, form, taken as a
XXVli
way astonishing
It is in
no
made
hospitality,
by the
all
earl of Sussex.
At
the
titles offered in
same time he
name
visited the
his "
down
the queen's
their shoulders,
armed with
battle-axes and arrayed in their saffron doublets;" but out of this visit
destruction.
r~
XXV111
so deeply injured.
him on
seeking refuge
Mac
Donnells.
lant
Shane
fidiously slaughtered
fierce
but gal-
was
per-
The miscreant
exchange blood-monej^ to the tune of one thousand marks. The lorddeputy basely caused the chieftain's ghastly head to be "gibbeted high
on a pole," where it "long grinned over the towers of Dublin Castle."
The reigns of all these Tudor sovereigns are disgraced by repeated
instances of the blackest cruelty and treachery on the part of the EngIn the reign of Edward VI. we have, on one
lish authorities in Ireland.
in
partisans.
short,
we have abundance
earl of
it
and
and
desolation,
sore oppres-
sion of
beth
of slaughter
we
may be
says, "
sup
full of
horrors."
Radcliffe,
of Eliza-
In this place
which
British
sway demanded
cult position
mission.
in
thought a
little
a somewhat
diffi-
him
in his civilizing
ally,
Con O'Donnell,
and
sent,
him prisoner
to
Dublin
them in a
The Englishdistrust and
Then
Brian and his wife and brother were brought to Dublin, and there ruthlessly cut
up
in quarters.
filled
humane
nobly on the
who
all
ever
field of
who
Zutphen.
of the ablest
an admirable
men
ruler, at
events, from the English point of view, but things look quite different
viewed from the Irish point. Doubtless, Sir Henry, like the JSormanbys
and Carlisles and Spencers and Gladstones of our own century, knew
full
well
how
He was
he could even,
cled
by a
escaped to
tell
the tale.
Catherine
II.,
who were
Hardly one
of the entire body
man
amount
of hu-
SOWS
IFHDllLIPffiT
GUffilSA^.,
XXXI
The gallant and enduring Fitzmaurice, after pushing on to Tipperary, is finally surrounded in a thick and lonely wood by the brothers
Theobald and Ulick'Bourkc of Castleconnell and some of the O'Briens
Irishmen (alas!) again pursuing Irishmen to the death, and
of Arra.
But the brave Munster Gcraldine,
that, too, for the accursed stranger!
John.
like the heroic Leinster Gcraldine of '98, sells his life right dearly.
but ere he
in the chest,
l;ill
falls
is
In
wounded by a
false
Bourkes
of
indomitable.
And
now,
when
too late,
we
open revolt and joining his outlawed brothers and kinsfolk reluctantly, however, and not till the thanklessness of the English governors
He had
for his adhesion to the queen's side was made too manifest.
of
given his only son and heir, James, as a hostage for his loyalty to the
had been promised a protection. The English fulfilled this promise by destroying the cattle of his tenants, plun1
dering his crops, laying waste his lands and burning his castles.
the
incidents
of
have not space to give any very lengthened detail of
of
Ireland
into
south-west
whole
this calamitous war, which turned the
The English destroyed all the
a melancholy scene of utter desolation.
houses and corn within their reach. The Geraldincs themselves, anxlord-justice,
and
in return
ious to lessen the resources of the foe, helped to increase the devastation
of their country.
hereditary
enemy
Throughout
Hugh
its
sex.
It is still
O'Neill assisting
XXX11
a dreary and almost hopeless struggle for the Irish, checkered with few'
slaughter a
made by
number
of the marauders.
seasonable diversion,
enaghs and
was
O'Kav-
too,
captains.
war
Ireland.
The deputy ere long found an
opportunity of taking a cruel and ignoble revenge for his discomfiture.
Ormond besieged in Fort-del-ore 700 Spaniards and Italians who had
landed in Smerwick Harbor in September, 1580, and compelled them to
surrender at discretion, according to English authorities, but according
to the Irish on sworn articles.
Be this as it may, Lord Grey caused
them all to be slaughtered in cold blood. Speaking himself of their surrender and the atrocious deed of wholesale murder that followed, he
coolly says,
"Then put
I in
certeyne bandes
who
streighte
fell
to execu-
tion;"
faith "
Ireland.
Some
war
is little else
XXXUI
atrocities.
In the
southern war, Zouch and (sad to say) the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh
signalize themselves
Geraldines
The hunted
still,
enemies.
of
Cashel, captures
and plunders
it.
of
Desmond
for three
night,
is
it is
blown
James
The head
Desmond and
is
of
his
XXXIV
of his adherents
were attainted
Though
The dead
earl of Des-
had hoped
it
equal the misery of the Irish race in Minister and the ruin of their
by
Roman
old,
He in
And
utterly foredone,
Was
fly
apace:
And
"
shall
dy
in starved den."
them lay dead, being famished." Here is another quotation from Spenser: "The end will (I assure me) be very short, and much sooner than
can be hoped for; although there should none of them fall by the sword,
nor be slain by the souldiours, yet thus being kept from manurance, and
their cattle from running abroad, by this hard restraint they would
Again: "in a
quickly consume themselves and devour one another."
ZLJ
XXXV
left,
mothers' hair."
or,
like beasts,
when
the
on roots or
is
not very
much
Considering his
afflicted to
own somewhat
and
some
of
and
Arabia, others, such as the custom of having hereditary bards and brehons,
etc.,
way
were
giving
had only been styled lords of Ireland. There were idle pomp and foolish
Soon after quite a number of Irish
joy in Dublin on this occasion.
chiefs were cajoled into surrendering their territories and their Celtic
appellations of chieftaincy.
In return, their estates were given back,
and Anglo-Norman titles conferred on them by letters-patent.
Murrough O'Brien was made earl of Thomond Mac Giolla Patrick became
baron of Upper Ossory; Mac William (De Burgo), earl of Clanrickard;
;
Some
of inferior dignity.
XXXVI
of tanistry,
and,
himself O'Brien.
Qght
ior
St.
Some
Many
oaron of Ely.
them.
In
superior dynasts.
and Offaly are metamorphosed into the Queen's and King's counties, the
new names being in honor of Mary and her husband, Don Philip of
Spain.
New colonists, to keep down the natives, are introduced, and
several contumacious Celtic chiefs are hanged or otherwise executed.
In 1560 we find writs to return members of Parliament issued to the
counties of Dublin, Louth, Kildare, Meath,
Kil-
In 1569 a Parliament
Mr.
Mitchel has the following passage toward the close of his sketch of the
"Thus
Geraldine war:
fell
and
ready
for
Leland has
it,
for-
'for
effectually regulating
each undertaker to
and modelling
-plant so
many
this country
families
be admitted.' "
This progress of the conquest continues steadily
through the years immediately following the termination of the Gerto
inclined to treat
inant race.
at least he
all
wants
to
laws more
easily,
John must do a
little
With
all his
An
rebels.
attainder of
Desmond and
is
even
lish legislature.
act
XXXV U
insulted and
Had
Still,
He
up
crashed.
Irish
"
As
to
Queen Elizabeth
now
of the
most formidable and glorious, of all those fierce struggles against England's power that occurred in the long reign of Elizabeth. I need scarcely
add I refer to the war in which the politic and renowned Hugh O'Neill
and the gallant Red Hugh O'Donnell were the leaders of the Irish race
and cause.
In all probability, Hugh O'Neill meditated a supreme effort to throw
off the yoke of England for years before he thought proper to throw off
the mask.
Possessing, as Camden says, " a profound dissembling heart/
L_
XXXVlil
he dissimulated long.
Having
He
how
who were
to
life,
much
of his
fathom thoroughly
could even return them wile for wile, and circumvent them
own
He
arts.
went
so far as to serve
murder, by a
mock
Hugh MacMahon,
a northern
chief,
on a trumped-up charge of treason, the whole villainy having been concocted by the corrupt and rapacious lord-deputy, Sir William Fitzwilliam, filled the entire north with indignation and a fierce thirst for vengeance.
Other villainies of Fitzwilliam fanned the flame. During this
period, too, some vessels of the storm-tossed Spanish Armada were
XXXIX
wrecked on various points of the Irish coasts. Nearly all the chiefs on
whose lands the Spaniards were cast treated the war-and-tempest-worn
strangers hospitably, and protected them against the English governors;
but no one treated the strangers so kindly or paid them such honors as
Hugh
He
O'Neill.
way
for
a Spanish alliance, and no doubt he took good care to explain the state
of affairs
this
and healing
all
of
In 1591 he
first
O'Donnell
Hugh
of peril,
Xl
and alliance. He next goes home to Tyrconnell, where his tribe welcome him joyously but he is hardly home when he hurries, with sonic
of his father's warriors, to chastise the ruffian soldiery of Bingham, who
had just taken and spoiled the Franciscan monastery of Donegal, the
abode of learned chroniclers. On the 3d of the ensuing May, at the rock
of Dovne in Kilmacrenan, " the nursing-place of Columkille," his father
renounces the chieftaincy of the clan, and Red Hugh, now nineteen
years of age, is solemnly made The O'Donnell, with the accustomed ceremonies of his race. Thus the two great tribes of the Kinnell Connell
and the Kinnell Eoghain were at length under the sway of two Avarlike
and vigorous princes, sworn friends of each other and sworn foes of the
;
Saxon.
first in
the
field.
He
hastened to
fit
to dissimulate
a while longer.
'
To throw dust
in the
to
lord-marshal, Sir
him
to
hand upon
Tyr-Owen
its
xli
snow-white
folds."
both
combatants
first
each other's mail, and then rolling in deadly embrace from their horses
in spite of
of
Glendalough, Fiach
Mac Hugh
leaving, however,
men
of
Connaught,
too,
aspect of affairs
combined.
Norman
embraced the
By
families of Minister.
O'Neill's
authority, James,
Desmond.
Saxon queen's
of
minds
Of
and others
our Irish victories in those days, the most glorious was that
On
Armagh
Irish.
way through
all
obstacles
till
he was able
to
caused to be dug in front of his defences and covered over nicely with
wattles and grass, seriously check the ardor of the British onset.
Loudly shouting " St. George for merry England !" the English press on
with dauntless obstinacy, battering the intrenchments with cannon.
But if the attack is terrible and hard to be resisted, so the defence is
Hatred of race inflames both armies; personal
fierce and stubborn.
animosity also incites O'Neill and Bagnal.
of the English succeeds in forcing, not
without great
sacrifice,
valor
the Irish
But
main
The bagpipes sound the charge. Wildly and terribly the
Irish battle-cries, " Lamh-dcarg !" and " O'Donnell aboo!" ring in the
O'Neill in person " pricks forward " with
ears of the Saxon foemen.
rage and rancor in his heart, seeking on all sides his deadly foe that
he might slay him. But Bagnal falls by a hand less noble. The mar-
now
O'Neill's
the rescue.
mark
the aspect
And
now,
of.
the
for the
glasses,
flies
in wild disorder
Before
'Tis
it
and hideous
the
rout,
at last the
whole of that
fine
army was
utterly routed,
and
fled pell-mell
Amidst
'
hundred wounded."
After three days' investment in Armagh, 1500 fugitive English sur-
Some
of the chieftains
would
fain
have slaught-
Of course
it is
summary
sex,
all
bravery and
skill,
Clifford, failed
igno-
subdue the banded tribes of Ireland. England's star of conquest seemed about to pale before the morning star of
miniously in every
effort to
a united Ireland.
In Mr. Mitchel's
find
ample
life
of
Hugh
and animation,
of the
many
glorious
xliv
and wiles, from the account given of the singular mock-combat between
two bodies of his own troops (one, in the clothes of slaughtered Englishmen, simulating an English party on their march to relieve leaguered
Armagh), which drew forth the garrison to help their imagined friends,
whereupon an ambuscade that O'Neill had planted in a monastery on
the east of Armagh cut them off from the city.
In Mr. Mitchel's book
all O'Neill's victories on the Blackwater and elsewhere, from Clontibret
to Beal-an-atha-Buidhe, rise vividly before us.
We have vivid pictures, too, of the victories and fierce raids of O'Donnell, especially of the
battle of the Curlew Mountains, where fell his brave antagonist, Sir
Conyers Clifford and of the terrible foray on the lands of Thomond, on
which occasion, during his march homewards, he generously restored to
The
the suppliant bard, Maoilin Oge, his plundered flocks and herds.
of Norman
brilliant exploit of the brave and faithful Richard Tyrrell
in the defile that ever
extraction, indeed, yet an Irishman true as steel
tsince has borne his name, where he all but annihilated the Meathian
detachment of young Barnewall of Trimleston; the equally brilliant
exploit of the O'Mores in the Pass of Plumes, where five hundred of Lord
;
showy
O'Neill's
the sketches of
all
other scenes and events, with occasional glimpses of the arms and cos-
tume
Meagre as
must
yet devote a few pages to the scenes disastrous to the Irish cause that
fill
many proud
it for
Ireland so
insight,
xlv
many
and military leaders had reaped nothing in their conflicts with O'Neill and O'Donnell save utter defeat and consequent death
or disgrace, at last there came on the scene to assume control over English affairs in Ireland a man of altogether different stamp of intellect.
This was the celebrated Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy, at once a man
of learning and an experienced soldier in short, a man of superior craft
and superior energy, though many, even O'Neill himself, with all his
penetration, had, before Mountjoy was tested, been deceived into thinking
him too indolent for successful action. In February of the year 1600
Mountjoy was appointed lord-deputy. From the moment he landed in
Ireland the fortune of war and of the old race began to change.
In the
south, where the motives of resistance to England were probably more
religious than national, he sapped the confederation and seduced men
from its ranks by his apparently tolerant views. He showed, in Mr
chief governors
Mitehel's words,
olics,
Irish
wrath was
crushed."
He
cepts of Bacon
to
when a storm
to
of
be
weaken the
to
Irish
support
xlvi
dodge."
He
"
lit
by means
which the Engglish governors gradually undermined the Irish league in Minister and
elsewhere, so that O'Neill could no longer hide from himself the gloomy
hend
fully
some
of
national party
it
to
all,
reduce,
.XI
VII
by
the castles of Askeaton, Glynn, Carrig-a-foyle, Ardart, Liscaghan, Loughgwire, and many others, everywhere driving off the cattle and burning the
Mountjoy this same year cut down green corn which would have
Some Leinster chiefs were
grown to be worth ten thousand pounds.
Treachery
seduced to become traitors to the cause of their country.
was in the patriot councils confidence had vanished.
Indeed, the military measures of Mountjoy were on a par with his
civil policy.
They were characterized by consummate skill and conLarge bodies of troops built forts and established
summate cruelty.
slain.
Deny and
garrisons at
Ballyshannon.
of so
many
defiles
between Newrv
more
The advance
indeed, but
of
Mountjoy
is
sure.
steady
slow,
soil
of
Ulster.
still
'
vice, especially
landing as
it
had died out completely. Had it landed in the north, it might even yet
have given some chance of final victory to O'Neill.
It is true that
O'Neill and O'Donnell had concurred in the selection of a southern port,
doubtless considering such a one most accessible to a Spanish fleet; but
it can hardly be doubted that they had expected a much more formidable expedition.
They had also relied on the fidelity of the clan Carrha
and their chief, the MacCarthy More never dreaming that without one
manly blow the entire southern confederacy would in so brief a time
have yielded to the corrupt and fraudulent arts of Mountjoy and Carew.
;
The worst feature of the Spanish expeditionary force was that Don
Juan d'Aguila, the general commanding it, unlike most of the Spanish
military chiefs of the sixteenth and early part of the seventeenth centuries
the proud and palmy period of the Spanish monarchy, when Spain
and incompetent.
He was
was,
if
not faint-hearted,
at once discouraged
when
~1
xlix
he saw that none of the people of Minister, save O'Sullivan Beare, O'Connor Kerry and O'Driscol, had the patriotism or courage to rise and join
Indeed, some of the high-toned Spaniards conceived an unreason-
him.
able contempt for the southern Irish, thinking even that "Christ had
never died
" for
Don Juan
such a people.
of fifteen
who
sat
The towns
Thomond and
English army.
The
latter, in
some
for
"VYe find
command
of
the
in the
bravery and
ferocity,
else
is
Mountjoy, like a
skillful
general, detaches Carew with a strong force to try and crush O'Donnell
reluctant to give
on Ulster
yet
how
O'Donnell
he to
too
weak
to give battle,
and
up the object
is
is
of his
Felim into Limerick, when recent heavy rains have made the mountains
and morasses impassable for horses and carriages ? Most luckily, one
night's hard frost renders even the boggy places for a brief time passable; O'Donnell waits for darkness, and then marches all night; by
morn O'Donnell is far away. The escape and prodigious celerity of
" this light-footed general" amaze the baffled Carew.
However, he fails
not to
all
his energy is
thrown away.
be redeemed 'tis vain any longer to think of interCbtow admits that the one day's march of O'Doncepting O'Donnell.
The
loss is not to
ncll
greatest
of."
High praise
this,
"the
is
coming
from so
O'Donnell reaches Castlehaven in time to join seven hundred newly-
signs
The Spaniards
numbers are killed
on both
sides.
they
make
The English
it
if
Wostmeath
to
O'Neill
and the Irish army now cut Mountjoy off from his supplies the besieger
Still, the odds against the Irish are too great;,
is himself besieged.
against Mountjoy's fifteen thousand the Irish cannot muster seven thou;
sand
men
between two
fires,
the frequent desertions of their soldiers of Irish race thin the ranks of
the English
army
waste them.
own
till
their
O'Neill's plan
was
strength should be
to persevere in
exhausted
(his
destruction.
to adopt,
to bide his
time patiently,
and Don John, lacking the indomitable will and endurance of a heroic
commander, was unwilling to bear the brunt of the siege any longer.
false representations.
O'Neill, impor-
tuned on
all sides,
was compelled
li
There
is
attempt
reason to believe
that an officer high in his confidence betrayed his plans to the enemy.
On
the fatal night of the 3d of January, 1602 (new style), the Irish
there he
he did
all
king,
At
first,
Meanwhile,
Hugh
O'jSTeill after
his defeat
van Beare and O'Neill's active lieutenant, the valiant and faithful Tyrrell,
and the noble defence of O'Sullivan Beare's castle of Dunbuidhe by the
indomitable Mac Geoghegan. Once more Munster saw its lands and corn
Hi
by
struggle
territory
And backward
"
to the
The forest-monarch
But
it is
den of
shrinks,
his despair
and
finds
no
lair."
if it
had succeeded, would have made Ireland compact and strong for, as I
have already said, this great O'Neill had in his capacious soul the large
;
There
would,
if
is little
victorious,
discipline,
queen's Maguires
and leaving
it
cut
to rot,
down
it
under
foot
In the woods
home
of famine.
Moryson,
tells
us "that
mouths
all
colored green
by eating
nettles,
dock and
all
things
liii
"
royal "letters-patent."
full
carouse of sack
but the state was advertised thereof a few hours after." It was hard for
the proud spirit of O'Neill to have to endure a state of things like this
still,
till,
and
in 1607, he
their country.
Here they
Rome.
finally,
lived
king of Spain.
blind
Flanders;
all their
of Scottish blood
which we
To
this
bis exclusive or absolute property, Avere the property of the entire tribe,
and
liable
system like
this,
BUB.
r'
l
agri-
culture.
regretted
by the
Celtic
customs
wise.
to
might be expected,
but it is somewhat
if
trifle
she should succeed in throwing off the yoke and driving out her
civilizing oppressors, her own sons might compensate her for the loss of
that
if
modem
new
way
of
what
is
nicknamed
adapted
portion of his
"Norman Conquest"
to
In the
more than seven hundred years against the English sway, the great
French historian Thierry shows a far profounder insight and knowledge
of the real spirit and teaching of Irish history, and manifests broader and
more generous sympathies with our people, than any other historian,
whether foreign or Irish. He glorifies that noble struggle of our race,
only paralleled by the Spanish struggle of nine hundred years against
the Moors
to
a cause ever
bearing aloft
Irishmen
lost,
little
W'
of his sire,
Thierry,
turn,
still
unconquerable tenacity
old
of
the Irish, this immortal clinging to the hopes of one day winning theii
He
all history.
lettei
From
became more and more envenomed. Religious rage and hate, too, waxed
bitterer.
The only actual rebellion, however, during James I.'s reign,
was the revolt of the gallant young chief of Innishowen, Sir Cahii
O'Dogherty, who met with considerable success at first, but was killed
a few months after he took the field.
I have dwelt on the rebellions of Queen Elizabeth's reign, and the
consequences that flowed from them, longer than to some may appeal
warrantable in a brief summary like the present. If I have done so, it
is because I am inclined to think that in these wars all the glorious
and all the hideous features of Irish history are more conspicuous than
in any of the struggles of earlier or more recent date.
In the Elizabethan wars you have the most shining examples of Irish patriotic
resistance, the most striking illustrations of that great curse of the Irish
race, dissension, and the most vivid pictures of English fraud and feroMoreover, in the events of Elizabeth's and James's reigns the
city.
seeds of the most important occurrences of later generations were sown.
In the reigns of the Tudor sovereigns and in that of James I. a total
revolution gradually took place in the forms of Irish society.
The old
Celtic usages and manners and costume disappeared, and the foundations of our modern society, with its very different customs, were laid.
English laws superseded the Brehon code. The English language began
its struggle with the Gaelic.
The distinction between the pale and the
though we
sometimes hear
the lords of the pale spoken of.
Theoretically, at least, the mere Irish
are at length presumed to be entitled to the rights and privileges of the
king's subjects of English blood.
In short, in James's reign, for the
Irish territories virtually disappeared,
still
first
ivil
subdued
and Anglicised country. I may here observe that the union of the Scottish and English crowns was undoubtedly a great misfortune for the cause
of Irish independence.
An independent Scotland would occasionally
prove
ail
for
insurgents a seasonable
Irish
diversion.
by no means necessary,
It is
then, that
should do
much more
than
refer to the
worth, better
known
of intolerable
wrong
in the hearts
and souls
way
for the
outbreak of
16-11.
House
of
Commons
him
and tyran-
to swell the
to the scaffold
when they commenced their memorable quarrel with his equally ill-starred
The wars in Ireland which followed the insurrection
master, Charles I.
of
1641
are, in
have
We
on both
We
sides.
We
have a section of the so-called Irish rebels professing loyalty to the king and hostility to the English Parliament.
We have another section open enemies to every person and thing English.
The pope's legate, Rinuccinni, is chiefly sustained by this subdivision.
I omit to notice all minute shades and distinctions of party.
The myth of the famous "Kilkenny cats" is almost realized. At one
time, in the course of this struggle, we find in Ireland about fourteen
lish
Puritan Parliament.
armies in the
field.
"
the plantation
Among
who
THE LIFE OF
lvJii
DAJS'IEL
Of the
Irish,
COIS JS*ELL.
Two
the race of the Butlers, fights for the king of England against the cause
of Ireland.
British troops
won
Benburb, achieved on the 5th of June, 1616, which gave Owen Boe possession of all Ulster.
At one period of this war Ireland seemed indeed
on the point of assuming the aspect of a nation. The Confederation of
of settleit is
said
that about this period live thousand Catholic Irish, never outlawed, were
murder
of the venerable
among
we begin
to
There are
many
rees
tories,
rappa-
in their heads.
Captain Adam Loftus and Lieutenant Franearned
Rowleston
money
in this diabolical way; Johnstone, of the
cis
Fews, in Armagh, and one Pepper, the murderer of Patrick Fleming,
and bring
lx
cutters.
The Williamite wars present to our view most of the principal features of former Irish wars against the English. In the first place, we see
a portion of the Irish nation contending once more for freedom against
the might of England, assisted by a different section of Irishmen on
this occasion England has also a powerful auxiliary force of foreigners
yet against all these odds Ireland for three years bore up so gallantly
that it was with the utmost difficulty England finally prevailed over
When in all these Irish wars we see a fraction, greater or less, of
her.
the Irish race contending with the whole power of England, assisted by
other Irish, and yet winning many victories and keeping the English
forces at bay for long years, and in the end hardly conquered, the question irresistibly forces itself on us, What would have been the result of
any one of those struggles if Ireland had been united? If the Irish
were to-day, or at any period, united as one man against the English,
England's hold on Ireland would not be worth one month's purchase,
seeing that a mere fraction of the race can always put British supremacy in the greatest peril. We have even seen the small tribe of the
O'Byrnes in the glens of Wicklow, under Fiach Mac Hugh, maintaining
;
independence in the
their
teeth, so to speak, of
Henry II.'s invasion, and even during the vigorous reign of ElizSchamyTs defiance for years in our own century of 200,000
abeth.
Muscovite soldiers in the Caucasus was not a greater feat than this, relatively.
A district equal to the whole of Wicklow would not be missed
out of Rhode Island, the smallest State of the American Union, and
It
of Wicklow the territory of the O'Byrnes formed only a portion.
after
may
tune.
first
still
more, the
The second
first siege of
The
siege of Limerick
tle of Aughrim, in spite of the final event in each case, are perhaps
Aughrim, it
victory but for the chance
Irish
is
next to
ball, if
cer-
chance
it
moments
oft*
lie
few
him
what less bloody and cruel than in their other Irish wars. However, it
was followed by the usual amount of confiscations. The treaty of Limerick, which brought the struggle to a close, seemed at first to secure
protection and the free exercise of their religion to the Catholies of IreBut its conditions were subsequently most shamefully violated.
land.
In breach of all good faith the terrible penal code was established, which
for almost a century deprived the Catholic body of Ireland of all civil
rights.
During the greater part of the eighteenth century they were absolutely deprived of political existence
time the real Irish nation disappears from history, except as soldiers in
was
born, in 1755.
Reverting
for
moment
eighty years since the flight of their last chief, Earl Roderick,
is
singu-
and memories.
gives an account
a dynasty, as he sneeringly
ridicule,
felt
by the
calls
it.
He
says,
Baldeargh
kii
O'tJONNELL.
work whom
is
this Lesage
Macaulay never once denies the manliness, honor, generosity, patriotism and courage of Sarsfield, while for nearly all the remarkable English soldiers and sailors and statesmen and divines he has little better
appellations to bestow than liar, rogue, scoundrel, double-dyed traitor
and coward. In truth, his book might justly be called a sort of historical Gil Bias, for its
main
of the
Whig
all
the English
"happy and
And
indeed,
the only
way
it
to
may be reasonably
make
is
not
falls into.
is
tries to lash
hardly genuine.
trial of the
himself into an
How could
it
be so ?
Those bishops did not care one sixpence for popular liberty in truth,
as their subsequent conduct showed, they disliked it, and we're prepared
;
them
to
and he hits on the true method of making his history of the Revolution of 1688 interesting when he imitates
the subject-matter and style of a Spanish pkaresco novel.
the genuine ring of sincerity
times over.
whole
soil of
may remark
new landed
some
that, according to
lxii'
proprietors,
civil strife
would naturally feel the possession of their ill-got estates inseHence they would make haste to wring all they could from their
cure.
wretched tenants.
No sentiments of sympathy or kindliness would
grow up between landlord and tenant. The mutual bad feeling would
be inherited from their sires by succeeding generations of proprietors
and tenants. The antagonism of race would thrive more and more each
day.
And thus it came to pass in Ireland that even when the time
arrived in which his possession was perfectly secure, the Irish landlord
continued to oppress and extort from his tenant, and at the same time
to fear the "wild justice" of his revenge.
lution,
FamilyScenery
I.
ANIEL O'CONNELLone
of the
most
Kerry
in particular.
illustrious, if
not the
most illustrious, of the public men of Ireland was born in Carhen House, the residence of his father, Mr. Morgan O'Connell,
^|H near the small town of Cahirciveen, in the county of Kerry, on the
w? Oth of August, 1775. When, long years after, the flippant "Times "
commissioner said derisively of Cahirciveen that "there wasn't a pane
of glass in the whole town," O'Connell replied humorously in behalf of
a town that might almost be called his birthplace, " If the commissioner
had as many pains in his belly, his tongue would be more veracious and
his wanderings less erratic."
There now remains not a vestige of the
house in which O'Connell was born.
One morning, when already an
old man, he stood with his friend and secretary, Mr. O'Neill Daunt, on
the high ground at Hilgrove, overlooking the spot where he first saw the
He pointed to the crumbling ruins of Carhen House, and spoke
light.
thus "I was born there, but not in the house whose ruins you see.
I
was born in a house of which there is now no vestige, and of which the
materials were .used in constructing the edifice now dilapidated.
Do
you see that stream ? Many a trout I have caught in it in my youthful
Those meadows near the river were always good land, but beyond
days.
was very unprofitable, boggy soil. My father always grew enough of wheat
for the use of the family.
Those ash trees behind the house on the other
side of the river stand where there was once an old grove of much grosser
ash trees. They were worth one hundred pounds, and my father one day
thought proper to sell them for fifteen pounds. My uncle, General O'Connell, left Ireland to enter the French service at the age of fourteen, and
:
was inspired by
his
to
do something
for Ireland.
My
my
ambitious views,
Jacobites, as
suf-
fered.
zeal
When
emancipation acts passed, in 1778 and 1782, their speculative JaCobitism was very much melted away as they saw the prospect opening to them of doing well under the reigning dynasty."
the
first
who
much
He
anonymous
was very ancient, and that his mother was a lady of the
O'Connell was a Celt of pure blood his mother's maiden
first rank.
name was Kate O'Mullane; she was the daughter of Mr. O'Mullane of
Whitechurch, near Cork, the representative of an old Catholic family and
proprietor of a fair estate, which subsequently passed by purchase into the
father's family
hands
felt all
of the
O'Connells.
He
Long
" Yes, I
ought
am
my
He
leon held
much
that
the
the
men
his mother.
believed
believed
that they
Indeed, though
it
owed a
be not
universally the case, the instances in biography and history are striking
and
of frequent occurrence in
mother for
intellectual and moral.
Yet, however large may have been the share of his solid or more
brilliant qualities which O'Connell owed to his mother, he must likewise
have derived many strong features of his character from the paternal
side, for the O'Connclls who came before him were no common stock.
They possessed both energy and shrewdness in a high degree.
The
latter quality appears to have enabled them to steer their way rather
adroitly through the long ages of strife and intrigue and warfare and
proscriptions and confiscations and penal laws that passed away from
their
the
invasion of
Henry
II.
to
the
birth
of
the future
"liberator."
in general,
We
MacMahons,
and numbers of other
servers
The
and
worldly prudence,
serpent.
if
or,
reduce to
wisdom of the
Limerick, they became
good deal of
Edward
submission, by force
III.
authorizing
Hugh
O'Connell
In
to
Limerick.
mixes the blood of the O'Connells with the illustrious race of Brian
Boiroihme, by contracting a marriage with Marguerita, daughter of the
prince of Thomond.
Jeffery O'Connell (the son of Hugh and Marguerita), whose name appears as chief of his "nation " in a royal order
on the Irish exchequer bearing date 1372, married Catherine O'Connor,
whose father was chieftain of Traghty O'Connor.
Their son Daniel is
mentioned as chief in a treaty dated 1421. He married a daughter of
the gallant house of 0' Sullivan Beare.
Their son, a third Hugh, was
knighted by Sir Richard Nugent, who subsequently became lord-deputy
of Ireland.
King Henry VII. rewarded this chief for promoting the
interests of England.
By Hugh's marriage the house of O'Connell was
able to boast another splendid family alliance, for Mary, his bride, was
the daughter of MacCarthy More.
Maurice, their son, took sides
against King Henry VII. with Perkin Warbeck when that impostor or
adventurer landed in Ireland to assert his claim to the sovereignty of
England and Ireland, in his assumed character of duke of York and
son to King Edward IV.
Somehow, Maurice managed to procure a
Later we
pardon from Henry VII. on the 24th of August, 1496.
rind Morgan O'Connell paying crown-rent in acknowledgment of the
authority of Henry VIII., and figuring as Edward VI.'s highsheriff for the county Kerry.
Richard, son of Morgan, served in the
During the
army of Queen Elizabeth during the wars of Desmond.
commotions and wars that followed the outbreak of 1641, Daniel O'Connell of
It is agreeable to
befits
In
fit
of transform-
by which he characterized
beastly
their vocife-
On
commanded a company
one of his
of infantry in
who
'
'
Protestant,
evaded.
priest
him by a
w ho expressed wonder
T
who was
is
veiy honorable to
human
ulars,
which I may here observe I am indebted for the above particand to which I shall be under a large amount of indebtedness
to
tells
us that
O'Connell had an estate called Glencara, near the lake of Cahara, which
had been in the O'Connell family from days anterior to those of the penal
When Mr. Daunt expressed astonishment that Glencara had
code.
escaped confiscation, O'Connell replied, " Oh, they did not find it out. It
is hidden among Avild mountains in a very remote situation, which was
wholly inaccessible in those days from the want of roads, and thus
On
took a
title it
would be
earl of Glencara."
for.
it
is
hardly any
satisfactorily
accounted
appears that Dr. Smith once visited Darrynane, and spent some
and family
history.
communi-
entreated
But
his host
"We
have peace in these glens, Mr. Smith," said old Mr. O'Connell, "and
amid their seclusion enjoy a respite from persecution. We can still in
these solitudes profess the beloved faith of our fathers.
us,
God
assists us.
He
If
man is
against
but
if
"I
saw
his escutcheon,"
says O'Connell, speaking towards the end of the year 1840, "on the wall
of St.
if it
be there
But
it
I don't
know
still."
was
reign of "
lldefonso,
One
Spain.
descendants of
own days
many
of these distinguished
in our
in
and commander of her army in the field, reviving the old Castilian g!o
and carrying her victorious arms into the barbaric empire of Morocco.
ries
The greatest
won
renown.
The Abbe MacGeoghegan, in the eloquent
dedication of his history of Ireland " to the Irish troops in the service
everlasting
I cannot
from quoting here the greater portion of this animated address
"Gentlemen," writes the abbe, "to you I owe the homage of my
labor you owe to it the honor of your protection.
The history of Ireland belongs to you as being that of your ancestors it is their shades
refrain
that
and
it is
virtues,
The
which
fill
many
a space of so
ages,
Europe, towards the end of the last century, was surprised to see
fertile
vantages which an illustrious birth had given them in their native land,
and tear themselves from their possessions, from kindred, friends, and
from
all
ished to behold
them deaf
made dear
to
them
she
was aston-
and
fol-
lowing the fortunes of a fugitive king, to seek with him in foreign climes
fatigues
fidelity to
The
unhappy masters."
#
H:
'';
H=
on to say that France "gladly opened to them a generous bosom, being persuaded that men so devoted to their princes
would not be less so to their benefactors, and felt a pleasure in seeing
them march under her banners your ancestors have not disappointed
her hopes; "Nervinde, Marseilles, Barcelona, Cremona, Luzara, Spires,
Castiglione, Almanza, Villa Viciosa and many other places, witnesses of
their immortal valor, consecrated their devotedness to the new country
which had adopted them. France applauded their zeal, and the greatest of monarchs raised their praise to the highest pitch by honoring them
with the flattering title of his brave Irishmen.'
" The example of their chiefs animated their courage
the viscounts
Mountcashel (MacCarthy) and Clare (O'Brien), the count of Lucan (Sarsfield), the Dillons, Lees, Eoches, O'Donnells, Fitzgeralds, Nugents and
Galmoys (Butlers) opened to them on the banks of the Meuse, the Rhine
and the Po the career of glory whilst the O'Mahonys, MacDonnells, Lawabbe* goes
'
lesses,
of the
Tagus.
have in their services the children of those great men. Spain retained some of you near her throne
Naples invited you to her fertile country Germany called you to the
The Taaffes, the Hamiltons, O'Dwyers (General
defence of her eagles.
O'Dwyer commanded at Belgrade), Browns, Wallaces and O'Neills supported the majesty of the empire, and were entrusted with its most imThe ashes of Marshal Brown are every day watered with
portant posts.
the tears of the soldiers to whom he was so dear, whilst the O'Donnells,
Maguires, Lacys and others endeavored to form themselves after the
to
man.
Russia, that vast and powerful empire
example
"
of that great
dis-
to
which
is
war
could
to the
But why
your recollection that great clay, for ever memorable in the annals of
France let me remind you of the plains of Fontenoy, so precious to your
glory
those plains where, in concert with chosen French troops, the
to
valiant count of
valor
an enemy
Thomond being
so formidable.
much
of the august
who
10
at
Velletri.
"
Fitzjames)
is
(the regiment of
is
the
British.
" Behold,
gentlemen, what
it.
Honor with your support a history which the love for my country has
caused me to undertake your protection and patronage will render this
work respectable, and may merit some indulgence for its defects; it
should have none were my labor and zeal capable of rendering it worthy
"
of those to
No
whom
dedicate
it."
one can reasonably assert that the glowing praises which the abbe
in
many
of his
The celebrated
battles and vic-
He
even confessed that he felt surprise at some of the tremendous deeds of arms
which he saw " those army-butchers " (as he was wont to call them) perform.
The number of Irishmen said to have been entered on the mustories,
ter-rolls of
the French
first
is
In
Morgan
chamberlain
to the emperor,
highest estimation.
O'Connells
who
But
served in
a dignity held
of
all
the
O'Connell,
This able
officer
army
at
The
12
and he executed the arduous duty so perfectly that his tactics were those followed in the early campaigns of revolutionized France, adhered to by Napoleon and adopted by Prussia,
Austria, Russia and England."
General Count O'Connell commanded the foreign regiments that
were brought up to Paris in 1789 for the protection of the monarchy
;
during the opening scenes of the terrible drama of the great Revolution.
The action
of the
ment in the majority of the courtiers who surrounded and misled him.
The populace and their leaders were neither conciliated nor suppressed.
The career of the Revolution went on with ever-increasing velocity and
violence
a monarchy venerable and illustrious with the old age and
heroic associations of thirteen hundred years was prostiated in the dust;
four royal heads belonging to a dynasty that had reigned with great
renown for eight centuries fell on the scaffold. During those scenes of
more than tragic horror Count O'Connell and the Irish Brigade preserved
their military fidelity inviolate; years after these momentous occurrences the count was wont to say that if the foreign troops in the service
of France had been permitted to act with vigor in obedience to the
promptings alike of their inclinations and courage, they would have succeeded in restraining the revolutionary movement and preserving the
;
monarchy.
became
it
clear that
For a hundred years the exiled warriors of Iregloriously on more than a hundred bloody and famous
it
had earned them double pay, but the hour of parting from the royal
family and the French service had now arrived the king was represented by his brother; the farewell scene was interesting and even
affecting
the prince advanced to the front of the gallant band of Irishmen the officers encircled him his manner towards them was full of
courtesy, and it was not without generous emotion that he uttered his
;
final adieux.
"We
13
in-
services
shamrock.
After this General Count O'Connell served for a brief space in the
allied forces against the revolutionary
army
this
We
next find the count inducing the British government to receive the heroic brigade into the service of England;
first
anti-Gallican coalition.
was probably the most unlucky proceeding of his entire life at all
events, in its final issue it was fraught with ruin to the noble band of
warriors whom it chiefly concerned.
The rulers of England, with that
utter lack of magnanimous sentiment, or rather with that Machiavellian
this
policy
whom
they
w ant
T
the
fever-
Soon the veterans, who had passed unscathed through the fiery ordeal of many a terrible field of fight, were
decimated by the angel of death that for ever breathes destruction over
fiend of that tropical clime.
At
breathing, fever-laden gales blew over the graves of nearly all those Irish
soldiers.
Their standard
still
waved
or drooped in lonely
to shoulder,"
of the battle
swept by, were gone for ever. England had achieved one more success
an unmistakable one, too, if ignoble. Henceforward there
over Ireland
ment
Domingo
St.
his wife
He
ft,
married
sleep in peace
O'Connell
tells
and half
Of some
of
them
lived
had ten.
and his
occasion
we
find,
"judgment and power." The family claim to derive their name from an
Old- World prince of the royal house of Heber, one of the sons of Milesius.
According to the old Irish method of spelling it, the name is O'Conal.
On
life,
O'Connell himself, in
r~
r
i
15
name:
" I regret that when emancipation passed I did not henceforth write
my name O'Conal; it is the original Irish mode of spelling it.'
to
"
'
mode
of
vation.'
"
the family
name
in print.
felt
It
was
in
first
time
lie
fol-
Dela-
cherrois,
"
'
'
'
'
said Fitzpatrick.
"
'
he added, laughing,
"The
liberator"
'I
am
far better
happened
till
if
known than
now, and
if I
was
in 1830.
If
"
think I'd run the fellow close enough.'
was the
finest
lect; in his
commanding
will; in his
now
thunder-crashing,
now
silver-
huge and loving heart; in his humor-twinkling, insinuating eyes of richest luminous blue; in his well-curved, plastic, kindlynatured mouth; in his jovial, beaming face and sly but sunniest smile,
and in his stalwart, kingly form.
No doubt too the traditions of the O'Connell clan influenced the growth
in his generous,
16
wondrous Killarney
district.
Indeed,
it
may
to
have more or
less
own day
for
the
deemed
character and
of Ireland are
and
of the
whole
representative man.
17
glens of Wicldow
the
How
cliffs.
Glen
of the
who rush
off to
18
seeking beauties in foreign lands, while they neglect the ten thousand
enchantments of their own isle of beauty, resembling nothing so much
as those coxcombs with lovely wives whose fickle eyes are constantly
seeking out charms in objects of far inferior attraction.
This extraordinary variety of Irish scenery has been dwelt on by John
Fisher Murray and other Irish writers.
But in no part of Ireland is this
variety more wonderful than in 0' Council's native Kerry, and particularly
the Killarney district.
I once heard one who had an admirable eye for
scenery, and who had seen many countries, remark that that portion of
the south-west of M'unster lying between Dingle and Bantry Bays, which
includes the lakes of Killarney and other scenes of ravishing loveliness
in Kerry, and the fairy scenery of Glengariff in Cork, contains natural
beauties in greater profusion and in more endless and amazing variety
than any district of similar size throughout the spacious earth. When I
first viewed the surpassing loveliness of this part of Ireland myself, I
could not help exclaiming that if the Irish were pagans and worshipped
natural objects
as the Peruvians and the ancient Persians worshipped
he sun, and the old Arabians the stars they could not imagine divinity
in any works of the Creator more unearthly in their beauty than the
enchantment,
by
might gradually glide into nature-worship, so as finally to confound the Deity with His divine creation. And indeed, without being in
the slightest degree tainted with pagan superstition, one might well view
cess
of old
lifts
all its
to
make a
life to
surrounded and hallowed by the loveliest scenes in his natire isle, while
his Christian fidelity would "moult no feather," but rather wax stronger,
and loyalty to his country and her cause would for the rest of
Even Lord Macaulay, in
soar aloft on prouder and bolder wing.
his love
his
life
his
Kerry
of
is
now
well
1U
known
as the most
stretching far into the Atlantic, the crags on which the eagles build, the
rivulets brawling
down rocky
by groves
summer crowds
of
in
wan
The
beauties of that country are, indeed, too often hidden in the mist and
rain which the west wind brings up from the boundless ocean but on
derers sated with the business
of great cities.
he rare days when the sun shines out in all his glory, the landscape has
a freshness and a warmth of coloring seldom found in our latitude the
soil,
dise
was as
little
known
is of livelier
to the civilized
land."
upon every
in the islands that dot the waters, in the glancing and flashing of the
effect.
inspiring, if not
sublime
in
more than
magical
In the
yen have
Isle
attraction to delight the eye, but its weird music entrances the ear.
and on
seem
to die out
it
amid
sion of strange
from
its
surprises,
all
these features
21
its
beauties
and
is
more
known,
mdeed, and celebrated, but which in any other district might be deemed
almost unrivalled.
Such are sequestered Glounaheely, lonely Comasarn,
boast of
its
all beautiful,
of poet's song
beyond some
of the
in
foreign lands.
The
principal writers to
whom
am
first
Mr. O'Neill Daunt ("Personal Recollections of O'Connell"), Fagan ("Life of O'Connell"), the
abb6 MacGeoghegan, Lord Macaulay, John Fisher Murray, Thomas McNevin (" Plantation of
Ulster "), Sir Bernard Burke.
lished
by John Mullany,
assisted by an able " Life of O'Connell," pubDublin, written, I have heard, by a gentleman long
Parliament
street,
and well known on the Irish Press, who suffered some years of imprisonment on a charge of
" treason-felony."
CHAPTEE U
The penal laws
First
RECANTATION
CVRjt.->N'a
J.'s
W(|?p|
UCH
1,/fclPli
Is^f
fejP"
jjj
in
if
the
political
world around
were
not merely a dominant race they monopolized everything. The Catholics, although they were to the Protestants as five to one, were excluded
If a few of them, indeed, contrived
from every honorable walk in life.
;
to retain
of water, degraded
I shall
commence
this
chapter with some account of the growth of the penal laws, and then
shall give a variety of anecdotes illustrative of the state of society
and
of
gloomy reign.
No doubt Irish Catholics had been obliged to endure more or less
religious persecution during the generations that passed away between
the epoch of what is called the Reformation and the date of the treaty
life
22
ri
of Limerick.
any
sit in
or medicine in
Ireland,
till
made by
Protestants against Catholics lias ever been that they arc prone
Dean Synge
lic
faith;
also,
24
articles
robbed.
In 1692 the
first Irish
Parliament of William
III.'s reign
met; some
picion.
its
worst days
mark
for sus-
ghegan's history, says, " Any neighboring magistrate might visit him at
any hour of the night and search his bed for arms; no papist was safe
from suspicion
to
pay
in fines,
and woe
to the papist
!"
"
that
if
any
or deed of gift; and, besides, should forfeit all their estates, both real
and personal during their lives." It was also enacted that "no papist,
after the 20th of January, 1695, shall be capable to have or keep in bis
possession, or in the possession of any other to his use or at his disposition, any horse, gelding or mare of the value of five pounds or more."
Clauses were added to tempt Protestants to become informers and tc
cause searches to be made.
The horses were to become the property
of the finders.
all
and
and
all
all
remain after
that, or return,
If they returned again, they became liable to the penalties of high treason. The
same Parliament passed a law imposing a fine of two shillings (and in
default of
Also an act
was passed
an amusing
" to
It is
instance of the hypocrisy of the British faction in Ireland that this infamous Parliament, while violating the treaty of Limerick " by so many
welfare of
much
thereof as
may
and
in these kingdoms."
it
TIIE LIFE
20
OF DANIEL O'CONNELL.
Kingston, and the bishops of Deny, Elphin, Clonfort, Kildare and Kib
summary
the
Butlers.
which he justly
the second formal breach of the treaty of Limerick "
designates as
" The third clause enacts that if the son of a papist shall at any time
become a Protestant, his father may not sell or mortgage his estate, or
The fourth clause provides
dispose of it or any portion of it by will.
guardian
his
own
child, and further, that
to
that a papist shall not be
if his child, no matter how young, conforms to the Protestant religion, he
reduces his father at once to a tenant for life the child is to be taken
from its father, and placed under the guardianship of the nearest ProtThe sixth clause renders papists incapable of purestant relation.
chasing any landed estates or rents or profits arising out of land, or
holding any lease of lives or any other lease for any term exceeding
thirty-one years, and even in such leases the reserved rent must be at
least one-third of the improved annual value ;' any Protestant who disThe seventh clause
covers being entitled to the interest in the lease.
the following
"
'
estate of a papist
who
The
office or
and seventeenth
clauses carefully deprive the citizens of Limerick and Galway of the
poor privilege promised them in the treaty of living in their own towns
and carrying on their trade there, which, it will be remembered," adds
Mr. Mitchel, " was grievously complained of by the Protestant residents
as a wrong and oppression upon them."
To this infernal piece of legislation a clause was added, at the express
suggestion of Queen Anne's government in England, leveled against the
Irish Protestant dissenters, who had grown to be numerous and wealthy
This clause declared that, to qualify any person in Ireland
in Ulster.
for
fifteenth, sixteenth
27
for any public office or any position "in the magistracy of any city,"
was necessary he should receive the sacrament according to the rites of
the Church of England.
This was in accordance with the English Test
Act, which up to this had never been imposed upon Ireland.
In spite of the diabolical cruelty of its provisions, and in spite of the
able pleadings at the bar of the Commons of Sir Toby Butler, Counsellor
Malone and Sir Stephen Rice three Catholic lawyers who had hitherto
been "protected persons" within the meaning of the Articles of Limerick, and who on this occasion were pleading their own as much as the
cause of the clients who had retained them in spite of everything, the
shocking bill became law. It was in vain Sir Toby denounced it as unnatural and unjust.
"Is not this," cried he, "against the laws of God and
man against the rules of reason and justice, by which all men ought to
it-
be governed
way
in the world to
make
children
become uhdutiful, and to bring the gray head of the parent to the
grave with grief and tears ?" Sir Toby also calls the act " such a law as
was never heard of before, and against the law of right and the law of
nations."
places, pro-
vided there were no clergy in the kingdom but simple secular priests,
who were
'
the
penalty
for
'
of
which
late writer
system of persecution
estant code (or
it
makes the
may
" It
may be
not), that
made a
pretext of
Also,
if
only
we may
28
"
on that monarch (Louis XI Y.) such a torrent of invective and reproach, and which threw so dark a cloud over all the splendor of a most illustrious reign, falls far short of the case in Ireland.
"which
The
let loose
which the Protestants of that kingdom enjoyed antecedent to this revocation were far greater than the Roman Catholics of
Ireland ever aspired to under a contrary establishment.
The number
privileges
of their sufferers,
if
considered absolutely,
is
it is
if
not perhaps
a twentieth part and then the penalties and incapacities which grew
from that revocation are not so grievous in their nature, nor so certain
;
by a great
for
unhappy country."
worthy of remark here that whenever the fortune of war on the
Continent seemed adverse to England in fact, whenever any difficulty or
danger of any sort menaced her interests at home or abroad the representatives and supporters of her rule in Ireland would be sure to show
some slight tendency to relax the severity of the penal code, but the
It is
crisis
for
eager as ever.
is
disaster.
Protestants
fidelity
risk
by
and honor
it
tells
Captain Eock,"
own
Thomas Moore,
property. did not exceed a few pounds in value, actually held in fee
on perfidy, this Protestant barber was never known to betray his trust,
but remained the faithful depository of this proscribed wealth, which an
honorable hint to the law-officers would have made his own for ever."
This is a creditable set-off to other Protestant conduct in the penal
'
damaged in
and praying
greatly
their trade
of abjuration tended
advance the interests of the Pretender; the magnanimous Commons next resolved, unanimously this time also, " that the prosecuting
and informing against papists was an honorable service to the government." In this reign of Queen Anne, who, like Bess, has, I believe,
been facetiously termed "good," a pitifully mean act of Parliament
was passed against pilgrimages to holy wells or those assemblages
to
30
fine (whip-
till
payment
to
of the fine.
to
be im-
all
mag-
and inscriptions that are anywhere publicly set up, and are the occasions of popish superstitions." Another act of 1708 enacts "that from the first of Michaelmas term, 1708,
no papist shall serve or be returned to serve on any grand jury in the
queen's bench, or before justices of assize, oyer and terminer, or jail
delivery or quarter sessions, unless it appear to the court that a sufficient
number of Protestants cannot then be had for the service and in all
trials of issues (by petty juries) on any presentment, indictment or information, or action on any statute, for any offence committed by papists
in breach of such laws, the plaintiff or prosecutor may challenge any
papist returned as juror, and assign as a cause that he is a papist, which
challenge shall be allowed."
Mr. Mitchel very justly remarks that the
spirit and practice of this enactment, as also the spirit and practice of
the disarming act already referred to, survive in Ireland still, though in
The Irish Catholic Celt is still disarmed by British law,
altered shapes.
and during the state prosecutions of recent years the Irish Catholic juror,
unless he were " a lion-and-unicorn " trader, was almost invariably challenged by the Crown and set aside.
But Ave now come to the second "act to prevent the further growth of
popery."
It was an act to explain and enlarge the powers and sweep
of the former one.
A papist is not any longer to be capable of holding
" Upon the conI quote Mr. Mitchel
or enjoying an annuity for life.
version of the child of any Catholic, the chancellor was to compel the
father to discover upon oath the full value of his estate, real and personal, and thereupon make an order for the independent support of such
conforming child, and for securing to him, after his father's death, such
share of the property as to the court should seem fit also to secure
istrates to demolish all crosses, pictures
who
faith.
'
This act was to plant the seeds of distrust and discord in every family
and
to
fireside.
papist
31
annum
to
any popish
Any
fifty
pounds.
For
any secular clergyman not duly registered, twenty pounds; and ten pounds for discovering a popish schoolmaster or tutor. Justices could summon all papists over eighteen years
of age, examine them on oath as to when they last heard mass, names
of parties present, and the names of any popish. priest or schoolmaster.
Should the witness refuse to give evidence, he was liable to a fine of
twenty pounds or a year's imprisonment.
In the same year a proclamation was issued commanding all registered priests to take the abjuration oath before the 25th of March, 1710, under the penalty of premaFor a first violation
nire.
These were the days of the priest-hunters.
of these laws priests were transported, but any bishop who had once
been transported was hanged if caught again. The profligate viceroy,
Lord Wharton, was thanked by the Commons for his zeal in hastening
this infamous "explaining and amending" act.
In 1709 a colony of
871 Protestant Palatine families from Germany were settled in Ireland.
Some of their descendants still remain. But, in spite of colonies and
persecutions, the Catholic Irish of the old race arc still the overwhelmfriar,
or
privileges,
Commons
them
recoiled
all
32
objects of punishment.
II.,
Lord Chancellor
Bowes declared from the bench "that the law does not suppcse any
such person to exist as an Irish
son spoke to the same
effect.
Roman
Catholic."
With regard
Chief-Justice Robin-
"To the
it
must be remarked
that the description of miscreants usually termed priest-catchers weregenerally Jews Avho pretended to be converts to the Christian religion,
of
time nearly every priest in Ireland, regular or secular, must have been
liable to transportation and death, inasmuch as out of one thousand and
eighty " registered " priests, only thirty-three ever took the oath of abju-
law
is
allowed."
He recommends new
ing more effectually the eluding of those in being against popish priests."
In truth, the courage and constancy of the Irish priests gave these hateful
Rome communications
The
priests,
and France in fishingsmacks and in the disguise of fishermen. They braved alike the tempests of ocean and the penalty of high-treason under British law, inevitWhen in Ireland they were at one
able if they were once caught.
or hesitated to cross the seas between Ireland
time flying from the priest-hunter, at another lurking like wild beasts
And now, under the auspices of this Grafton, a measure of
in caves.
unheard-of and almost incredible atrocity was proposed.
resolutions
in the
Commons
series of
popery had increased, that penal laws had been evaded, that magis-
33
to
"conversion."
nature
itself
all
effects.
human
This infernal
It
XV.
moral England " always winces under foreign criticism. Decent appearances must be maintained, or else England's character for respecta"
might sink
He remarked
that the
preservation of the public peace " would be greatly promoted by the
vigorous execution of the laws against popish priests, and that he would
34
by giving
proper directions that such persons only should be put into the commission
of the
When
George
II.,
reputation for liberality and tolerance, ascended the throne in 1727, the
Lord Delvin and some other individuals of the highest quality among them, sent a humble congratulatory address to His
Majesty; it was treated with the utmost contempt, not even noticed,
perhaps never even transmitted to the king. In the very year of this
liberal king's accession, Primate Boulter, the chief manager of England's
business in Ireland at this time, wishing to deprive the representatives
of the sort of patriotism that was gradually growing up among the
Catholics, through
approaching
elections, hurried
This
disfranchisement of "papists."
bill
through Parliament
bill
for
the entire
it
enacted that
At
An
and their posterity to beggary. The Commons, fearing Geora;e II. might wish to redress the grievances of the Catholic sufferers, present a petition to him; in this they tell His Majesty "that
nothing could enable them to defend his right and title to his crown so
effectually as the enjoyment of those estates which have been the forfeitures of the rebellious Irish, and were then in the possession of his Protestant subjects; and therefore that they were fully assured that he
families of Ireland
would discourage
all
made
in
kingdom."
The
35
and
at once assured them " that he would, for the future, discourage all such
applications and attempts." The Commons, " to make assurance doubly
sure," brought in a bill "absolutely disqualifying all Roman Catholics
from practicing as solicitors, the only branch of the law profession which
they were then permitted to practice.
The Commons now no longer
interest of this
liberal
solicitors
might prevail on
Avishes,
their clients to
renew their applications for a reversal of the unjust outlawries and forfeitures at some more favorable opportunity.
The Catholics of Ireland
were at length, indeed, under the heel of the oppressor it was only in
foreign lands they could now achieve rank or distinction
at home they
were scarcely treated as human beings. Frequent resolutions of the
Commons continued to urge on the enforcement of the hellish penal
code inflammatory and mendacious sermons were thundered against
the heads of the devoted Catholics from the Anglican pulpits this was
the way chosen by preachers to ingratiate themselves with Primate
" If,"
Boulter, the malignant persecutor of the prostrated Irish race.
says Mr. Mitchel, "any pamphleteer desired to make himself conspicuous as a 'king's servant,' and so gain a profitable place, he set to
work to prove that all Catholics are by nature and necessity murderers,
perjurers and adulterers."
On the 9th of March, 1731, it was unanimously resolved by the House of Commons "that it is the indispensable
duty of all magistrates and officers to put the laws made to prevent the
further growth of popery in Ireland in due execution," and " that the
members of that house, in their respective counties and stations, would
use their utmost endeavors to put the several laws against popery in
due execution."
Such were the terrible penal laws. Is it any wonder that Dr. Samuel
Johnson should describe them as more grievous than all the ten pagan
;
Edmund Burke
Is
it
it
"a
machine of wise and deliberate contrivance, as well fitted for the oppression, impoverishment and degradation of a people, and the debasement
in them of human nature itself, as ever proceeded from the perverted
ingenuity of man " ?
The penal code was the boon which the " glorious
Revolution" of 1688 conferred on thi unfortunate Irish race.
At the
some
of these hideous
dition
and
"The advantages
it
is
well
individuals.
erosity,
He
and even
can do an
infinite
He can
of public spirit.
indemnity from public burdens, preferences in local competitions, pardons for offences he can obtain a thousand favors and avert a thousand evils he may, while he betrays every valuable public interest, be
;
at the
same time a
gentleman or trader?
ment
On
how stands
office,
the Catholic
no power, no emolu-
may
think proper to
flictions of
inflict
the professional
personal humiliation
man
and mechanical
"
On
skill is
ished
o7
allowed, every
is
a competence and
commands
name
want
cher-
is
supplied,
The following passages from one of the able election-speeches delivered by the illustrious Burke at Bristol is pertinent to our present subject " It is but too true that the love, and even the very idea, of genuine
liberty is extremely rare
it is but too true that there are many whose
whole scheme of freedom is made up of pride, perverseness and inso:
lence
they
feel
and cabined in, unless they have some man or some body
This desire of having some one below
of men dependent on their mercy.
them descends to those who are the very lowest of all, and a Protestant
cobbler, debased by his poverty, but exalted by his share of the ruling
Church, feels a pride in knowing it is by his generosity alone that the
peer whoso footman's instep he measures is able to keep his chaplain
souls are cooped
from a
jail."
If this is
become rich.
cution into one view, and this state of the case is so true that they
actually do not seem to be so much levelled at the religion as at the
property that is found in it.
The domineering aristocracy of five
hundred thousand Protestants feel the sweets of having two millions oi
have the inducement
to
"
38
slaves
they have not the least objection to the tenets of that religion
slavery are too incompatible to live together; hence the especial care
Ireland"
vol.
ii.,
among them."
p. 48.
Elsewhere he says
" I
upon them.'
Dr. Curry,
who
fol-
"So entirely were some of the lower northern dissenters possessed and influenced by this prevailing prepossession and
rancor against Catholics that in the same year, and for the same declared purpose of prevention, a conspiracy was actually formed by some
of the inhabitants of Lurgan to rise in the night-time and destroy all
But this inhuman
their neighbors of that denomination in their beds.
purpose was also frustrated by an information of the honest Protestant
lowing statement:
"F'H
Jj
by
-JoJin.
'1B1SIOT
C.McRae
ISMMJETF,
39
publican in whose house the conspirators hud met to settle the execution of their scheme,
peace in the
district,
These were the darkest days of the penal laws. The fate of an effort
made by the earl of Clancarty, the head of a once-powerful branch of
the great house of Maearthy, and others to recover the properties of
which they had been robbed in the course of the struggle between William and James after the Revolution of 1688, affords an illustration of
the almost hopeless prostration of the Catholic body in Ireland at this
period.
For a time, indeed, in 17-12, the earl seemed to have some
chance of procuring a reversal of the iniquitous attainder which kept
him out of possession of his honors and vast estates, even then valued
Several other persons, unjustly dispossessed,
at '()i\0Q0 P er annum.
following his example, instituted proceedings for the recovery of houses
have restored
and causing
to
them.
made.
restitution to be
had
originally
to
indulge in
so, for
some time
and
became
extinct,
As
and
their title
40
of-
Trench.
It
" there
regime of the penal laws, at home in his own land the Catholic
Irishman was civilly a nonentity, whether he were highly born or lowly
the
fell
whether he were poor or rich (and in those evil days few Catholics could
be rich) whether he were endowed with the light of genius and the treasures of learning (and few Catholics under such laws could acquire learn;
ing), or the
most ignorant
of brainless blockheads.
But the darkest hour is that before dawn. This old familiar saying
I have already observed that
was verified in the present instance.
English difficulty or disaster generally produced some slight relaxation
"England's diffiOn Tuesday, the 11th of May (new
culty was
style), 17-15, the English were not merely in difficulty, but their army
was totally defeated on the memorable battle-field of Fontenoy there
the " Saxon soldier " learned by bitter experience that, if his government
had trampled under foot the Irish serf at home, on the other hand the
Irish warrior abroad could plant foot on his neck and trample his vaunted
On that glorious day of Fontenoy " the Irish Brigade "
flag in the dust.
Ireland's opportunity."
umn
of
"Butcher Cumberland's"
them
terrible col-
"Revenge! remember Limerick dash down the Sassenach " But additional causes of vexation and dismay to the English "powers that be"
In the same year that witnessed Fontenoy, Charles
quickly follow.
Edward, "the young Pretender," grandson of James II., attended by
only seven companions, among whom were three Irish officers, makes his
adventurous descent on the coast of Scotland, determined to strike a
Joined by the hardy
final blow to recover the throne of his ancestors.
Gaelic tribes of the Scotch Highlands, he swoops down on the English
army, under Cope, at Prestonpans, takes Edinburgh, marches into England, and even when finally obliged to retire into Scotland punishes
The English governanother English army, under Hawley, at Falkirk.
!
mcnt
are in consternation
till
his defeat
"Ah!"
o'clock
viceregal wag,
time
them
for
to rise."
What a provoking
viceroy, indifferent
whom
As soon
was
terfield
he greatly admired.
had passed over, the conciliatory Chesand some inclination was manifested to renew the
as England's danger
recalled,
From
to time,
We
almost as bad
find such acts
He
who was
Anglican Church
to
who was a
no
relative of hers.
kingdom,
nor could they so much as breathe there without the connivance of
government."
At
new
had
to exist in the
at last
to
disorganized
which Charles O'Connor of Balanagar, Dr. Curry, author of the " Historical Review of the Civil Wars," Mr. Wyse, a merchant of Waterford,
and Lords Fingal, Taafe and Dclvin were present they founded the first
"Catholic Committee."
This occurred in the year 1758, and may be
called the commencement of the Catholic "agitation" which O'Connel]
long after directed with so much renown and made triumphant in 1829.
In 1750 this committee, when some apprehension of a Jacobite invasion
arose, prepared an address of loyalty, written by Charles O'Connor, and
signed by three hundred of the most respectable Catholics of Dublin, to
be presented to the House of Commons. For the first time since the
close of the seventeenth century, Catholic advances were received without insult the address and those presenting it were even treated with
civility
the lord-lieutenant sent them a gracious answer, which he
caused to be printed in the Dublin Gazette, thus "officially recognizing," to use the words of Mr. Mitchel, " the existence (though hum;
Mr. Ponsonby,
House
of
Commons,
McDermot and
public and
official
King George
II.
towards
its close
his reign
was a
terrible
it
their condition
one
little
for
better
was wretched
43
and degraded beyond all conception and precedent. Mr. Mitehel justly
remarks that "on the whole this was the era of priest-hunting, of 'discoveries,' and of a universal plunder of such property as remained in
the hands of the Catholics.
In this pitiful struggle the wild humor of
the race would sometimes break out, and often desperate deeds were
done by beggared men." We shall presently give some illustrations of
this.
of
George
IT.
and control of their properties by undutiwho would make a hypocritical show of con-
free possession
stamp brought ruin and despair on many ancient and wealthy families,
and, in the words of a very " humble petition and remonstrance " addressed by the Irish Catholics to George II.
which, however, it is probable he never received
"
brought
many a parent's
"These and many other cruel restrictions (such as no Christian people under heaven but ourselves are made liable to) are, and have long
been, greatly detrimental not only to us in particular, but also to the
commerce, culture and eveiy other improvement of this kingdom in
general; and, what is surely a melancholy consideration, are chiefly
beneficial to the discoverers and informers before mentioned, who, under
color of these laws, plunder indiscriminate])' parents, brethren, kins-
men and
fidence, in
in this or
all
former
human laws
and conenacted
property since
The
can be pleaded
observe
petitioners then
for the
of necessity
in
viz.,
their tendency to
any degree
by them.
make
now
left for
proselytes to the
For, alas
and
but too much reason to believe that proselytes so made are, for the
most part, such in appearance only, in order to become what all sincere
Christians condemn and detest, undutiful children, unnatural brethren
is
encouraged."
were somewhat
less
exposed
more
secure.
As
had
it
The parochial
danger than other ecclesiastics. libin their power to render their existence
to
who
if
priests
were
such as
and unintellectual, their society was, in numbers of cases, sought and relished by
those of the gentry who had literary tastes and polished manners and
this circumstance would naturally be a source of additional protection
It was far more dangerous for the regular clergy to venture to
to them.
live in Ireland
yet they braved the danger, and in the face of the suspicion and hatred of the Ascendency faction were to be found in Ireland
during the most perilous days of the penal laws. It required no small
amount of courage to defy the bigoted fury that raged against monks,
The archbishops and
friars and priests in those "no-popery" days.
As they were
bishops, too, were in a special manner exposed to danger.
penalty
and
the
of
])reiminire,
it was
at all times liable to transportation
only by a sort of connivance that they were permitted to confirm and
estant rectors,
confer orders.
fidelity,
45
quired to be unsleeping.
In Brennan's
" Ecclesiastical
History" we are
Bernard MacMahon, Roman Catholic primate, " resided in a retired place named Bally mascanlon, in the
His habitation was little superior to a farmhouse,
county of Louth.
and for many years he was known through the country by the name of
Mr. Ennis.
In this disguise, which personal safety so strongly prompted,
told that in the reign of
George
II.,
make
named Michael
O'Reilly,
dwelling at Turfegin, near Drogheda, and died here about the year
1758."
It
is
Catholic writers
among
Hanover as friends
Nothing could be more hideous than the
when
be regularly
indicted at assizes, " for that they had, at such times and places, nol
having the fear of God before their eyes, but moved and seduced by the
that intolerant and brutal dynasty,
priests used to
of
George
I.,
James
Cahir and
III.,
the earls of
Dillon,
An-
with a great
were suddenly pounced upon and imprisoned in Dublin Castle "on suspicion." They were released when the
These peers and gentlemen were Catholics
Scotch rebellion was over.
number
of untitled gentlemen,
coercion and landlord violence far more lawless than the worst out-
them
It
of these troubles
Few
incidents in Irish history have sunk deeper into the hearts and
memories
generous
of the peasantry
fate of this
brave and
priest.
many
of
r
i
47
Thus,
in general
had
yet on
the
maintain
itself,
that
it
bill
48
but in such a manner that they could never meddle with the possession
Thus we find that
thereof, was at once negatived by a majority of 44.
procure
diabolical
penal code
some relaxation of the
the first attempt to
was a failure and yet in this failure a certain element of virtual success
was involved, for it was a sign, unmistakable though faint, of a certain
advance in liberality of views and sentiments to see a bill for even so
;
all,
and
insult at least
was
ning to
lift
up
their
But
it
suited
An
to
was passed. By
any Catholic was allowed "to, take a lease of fifty plantation acres of.
such bog, and one-half an acre of arable land adjoining thereto, as a site
for
a house, or
purpose of delving
for the
for gravel or
limestone
for
manure, at such rent as should be agreed upon between him and the
owner of the soil, as also from ecclesiastical or other bodies corporate;
and
for further
least
to
he reclaimed ten plantation acres and the act was not to extend to any
bog within one mile of a city or market-town." This was the first slight
;
when
make
boon
too,
act,
no respect a
49
sufficient
made
The
encouragement for
]><>]>ish
priests
to
become
converts.'''
Nor did
Townshend's golden drops," as the Irish nicknamed the
new stipends, encourage the priests to become renegades a whit better.
In the year 1773 leave was given to bring in the heads of two bills
favorable to the Catholics
one, on the 9th of November, to empower
papists, upon certain terms and provisoes, to take leases of lives of
lands, .tenements and hereditaments
the other, on the 10th of November, to secure the repayment of money that should be really lent and
advanced by papists to Protestants on mortgages of lands, tenements
But the bigotry and injustice of the Protestant
and hereditaments.
these "
bills
Next
Revolution was every day growing blacker and more menacing
time.
England, the British ministry sent the viceroy, Lord Harcourt, absolute commands to force through the Irish legislature some measure calculated to
The ministers of England began to dread lest
conciliate the Catholics.
the heart of the old race of Ireland might be so roused by the example of the American colonists as to kindle with something of its prisIrish Catholics might at last lose patience, pluck up their
tine glow.
courage suddenly and strive to snatch, by force of arms, the justice
O'Connell's maxim
refused to respectful and even humble petitions.
was as true of those as of later clays "England's difficulty is Ireland's
to
opportunity."
On
in a bill to enable
It remitted in
penal code.
whatever persuasion, to
This paltry bill passed without oppo-
His Majesty's
Still, it
him."
subjects, of
was a
of the infernal
Hence
it
tended, in
some small
50
No
tr-iumph.
farther relaxation of the penal code took place prior to the birth of
O'Connell.
During his
all
sure
them
civil
and
am
not uncharitable in saying, though they are dead, that they would
become papists in order to oppress Protestants, if being Protestants it
was not
in their
dom and a
Edmund
and one of the profoundest, if not the profoundest, of political philosophers; and Henry Grattan, the most glorious of modern orators and the
soul of high-toned, chivalrous honor,
all
these illustrious
men
hated the
On
its
existence.
as
make
In order to
side of bigotry.
days complete,
I shall
now
related in a
work
entitled
"The
Irish
Abroad and
at
Home."
'
"He
and professed, in
ties,
all its
he saw no
He expressed admiration of
reason for mauvaise horde,' as he called it.
the same principle of convenient apostasy which governed Henri
'Paris vaut bien une inesse'
IV.'s acceptance of the French crown.
"
('
He
Paris
is
unscrupulous monarch.
ot
Catholicism,
God
for
'
Thus,
Geoghegan
a day than
my
when asked
replied
'
:
somewhat
my
soul to
for ever.'
"
52
wine being presented to him, he drank off the entire contents of the
You need not
The officiating clergyman rebuked his indecorum.
cup.
grudge it me/ said the neophyte; 'it's the dearest glass of wine I ever
'
drank.'
"
Essex
street,
to his
sword and
right
'
is
"A
have read
a
my
man who
says I did
rascal.'
whom
'
'
'
am
capable.'
The story
of the other
of the
Roman
grand
juror,
common
with other gentlemen of Westmeath, and dined with the grand jurors.
"
On
man
'
:
of considerable
Geoghegan, that
is
'
'
moved towards
The
still
Geoghe-
put up.
can and
have them.'
"'You can't. I have shot them; and, Stepney, unless you are as
great a coward as you are a scoundrel, I will do my best to shoot you.
Here, choose your weapon and take your ground.
Gentlemen, open if
you please, and see fair play.'
"
'
He
will
pair of pistols.
and overwhelmed with their expressions of symregret for the perversion of the law of which Mr. Stepney
pathy and of
to
make him
ments
of greater value
"
visit
the object.
than
was only
five
of a horse
pounds.
to
to
have already referred to the terrible tragedy which involves the fate
of the brave Father Sheehy.
No picture of life in Ireland under the penal
rigime can be complete without at least an outline of the story of this
Nicholas Sheehy was the priest of the parish of which
priest's murder.
The village is situated in a valley
the village of Clogheen forms the heart.
that lies between the Galtees and the Knockmeildown Mountains in the
I
county Tipperary.
Much
of the
surrounding scenery
is
wdd
indeed the
54
scenery
have seldom
looked on a gloomier or lonelier lake than that named Baylough, which is
not far from the little town or village of Clogheen.
Father Sheehy came
of a good Irish stock, and had the advantages of a French education.
He
had defied British law, both in going to France to be educated, and in
He had a generous precipireturning to go on the mission at home.
which
timid
soul,
your
or
over-prudent
tance of
folks would call rashDr. Curry calls it " a Quixotic cast of mind towards relieving all
ness.
those within his district whom he fancied to be injured or oppressed."
In short, his blood boiled at the acts of oppression he saw perpetrated
by the Cromwellian brood all around him. If he felt strongly, he denounced as strongry the villainies he witnessed. He said openly and manfully that there should be no church-rates in the neighboring parish of
Newcastle, where there were no Protestant parishioners. Why should
Protestant clergymen take tithes from Catholics, when they could return
them no value for their money ? Why should tithe-proctor Dobbyn, who
farmed the tithes of Parsons Foulkes and Sutton, assert a novel claim,
demanding from the Catholics of the district five shillings for every marThe people resisted this imposition. It
riage performed by a priest ?
fell heavily on Father Sheehy's flock, and therefore he was the more
is
eager to denounce
it
publicly.
they
These sanguinary
local tyrants
55
priest."
after fol-
lowed."
Father Sheehy's
life for
Crown
to
want
of sufficient evidence
hide in the wild glens of the mountains, like a hunted outlaw as he was.
All this time a reign of terror prevailed throughout the surrounding districts
by military
crammed the
save when their vic-
coercion,
against
of
'The witnesses
thief
But
his enemies
still
A vile
is
worse, were
determined to have
was
believe he
had
it.
informer
supposed murderers
named
what
never be found.
Bridge,
body could
the murder of this
for
to
56
day
of trial,
who kept
Sir
Thomas Maude
at the head of other troopers scoured the streets, breaking into inns and
who
lit,
On
Aery evidence, which sufficed to condemn him, was rejected as contradictory and
unworthy
Keating at Kilkenny.
Father Sheehy's persecu-
against
him
to the last.
At the place
of execution,
among
other things,
he
the generous and brave Father Sheehy it was his love for his
1'ock and the peasantry of the neighboring districts, and his courageous
fidelity to what he deemed their interests, that roused the implacable
fate of
Hence
it
may be
who never
rested
till
they
for his
people; his
name
indeed,
still
it is
fondly
Prendergast, Esq.,
-James
it
impossible that he
day morning,
May
3d,
1766, the
On
Satur-
quartered at Clogheen; they denied firmly that they were guilty; they
whose names they mentioned, had tampered with them, trying to induce them to earn their pardon by making
" useful discoveries," and by accusing certain Catholics of being engaged
in a conspiracy and a scheme of massacre, but, above all, by saying that
Father Nicholas Sheehy died with a lie in his mouth. The prisoners in
stated that certain gentlemen,
53
their last
moments showed a
mies;
all
Edmond
from the death-cart with something of the fervid spirit of the old
By
martyrs.
known Lady
But
if
doubted
the way,
Blessington.
at the time of
their
person
was
set
at
anything he knew
before-mentioned
Edmond
Sheehy,
which they had suffered death and that nothing in this world but the
preservation of his own life, which he saw was in the most imminent
;
him
to
trials,
sums
of
money
in order to procure
jail or
on the informers'
lists,
that
the greatest part of the rest fled through fear, so that the land lay untitled for
want
apprehended.
of
As
hands
for
to cultivate
it
who
5U
for
were at the utmost loss how to dispose of themthe country, their absence was construed into a
selves.
they
left
if
they remained in
it,
lives
jails
rummaged
in search of evidence,
to give
whom
with
nay, to
confronted at their
"
to
be strangers when
trial.
for
that villainous fiction of Oates's plot, that the former seem to have been
planned and carried on entirely on the model of the latter, and the same
just observation that hath been made on the English sanguinary proceedings is perfectly applicable to those which I have now in part
related
viz.,
'
it
to
if
so shameful
and
and
all
to fall into
so barbarous a delusion."
The story of one of the earliest forensic triumphs of that most humorous, witty and eloquent of all our advocates, the celebrated John Phil pot
Curran, presents a most striking illustration of what a member of the
Ascendency- faction might dare do to a Catholic, and of what a Catholic, however venerable and sacred by reason of his years and office,
might be obliged to endure in the clays of the penal laws. The incident
I
am
about to relate
stances in which
is
remarkable,
too,
first in-
was redressed
still,
60
Well might
llio
feel
imperious voice
summoned
man
He
stood submissively
commanded him
by Lord Done-
his lordship
to
of his order,
and
finally
creant raised his horsewhip, rained blows upon the defenceless old
and drove him into his cabin staggering and covered with blood.
The old man sought protection from the laws. He commenced proceedAt first his chances of gaining any redress
ings against Lord Doneraile.
seemed all but hopeless. Every barrister on the circuit refused to plead
such and so narrow-minded, so lost to all sense of justice, so
for him
ignoble in every way was the bigoted feeling of the time, till the brave
and fiery-souled Curran volunteered to take up his cause.
And right nobly and manfully he struggled in the cause of justice,
priest,
He
boldly de-
"
dmmmod-out
Out
dragoon."
of their
His words, rushing forth full of life and all aglow from the generous heart and tiretouched lips of genius and true manhood, were irresistible. Appealing
to the jury as men
Protestants and partisans of the Ascendency as
shame and
they were
he
made them
Forgetting
indignation at
thrill
priest against a powerful peer, the jury full of all the prejudices of the
the triumph
demon
who
listened to him.
of this trial.
Captain
St.
Under the
The
of Cur-
him
little
little
trouble.
On
Better
still,
he
felt
spoken and acted right bravely and nobly, and the solemn dying blessing of the aged priest, which he received a few weeks later, was something also to prize and to remember
I shall
now
for ever.
1840, of which
we
Kecollections of O'Connell
"
:"
Although at
this time
he totally abstained from wine himself, yet he hospitably pressed its cirA party to the islands of Scarculation among all who chose to drink.
riff
was proposed
in the
62
named
islands were
as being worth a
some
visit.
was murdered
for
l>y
top of the skull, and the piece has been ever since preserved in the
O'Connell family.
"
The
fate of the
poor
friar led
ing the operation of which O'Connell detailed some very curious anecdotes.
mentioned an incident
laws
Mr. Jervois, a
'bill of
discovery.'
The misfortune
and broke his collar-bone against a tombstone.
appeared to him ominous, and deterred him from renouncing the Cathbut although he shrank from the spiritual risks of such a
olic religion
step himself, he made his eldest son abjure popery, and thus contrived
fell
to preserve
'
'
only Protestant
and
it is
this:
is
Mr.
's
tomb.' "
'
"
'
f&
r
i
Go
who chanced
for
own
him
to the care of
country
in the
the pious convert arranged to dine every day until the ensuing Sunday.
short,
it
permitted him to
popery and
make
his
sacrament.
In order to celebrate
happy
excellent knowledge in a very short time of the basis of the Protestant re-
sand
Roscommon."
appears that "The Dublin University Magazine," some years ago,
five
It
hundred acres
number
fact,
but
how were they converted ? Did their conversion arise from sincere conviction ? No such thing. These gentlemen, as a rule, conformed through
fear of losing their property or through some other worldly motive, either
of ambition or avarice. After Catholics began to be admitted into Trinity
College quite a multitude of students abandoned the Catholic religion for
" The University Magazine "
the sake of scholarships and fellowships.
has little reason to boast of Irish conversions to Protestantism any one
who cares for the dignity of human nature ought rather to blush at the
;
consideration of principle.
indifference to every
to "
to observe
on
tht;
:"
Church-of-Englandism
That " under these iniquitous laws it was not sufficient that a man
born of Catholic parents should merely }yrofess Protestantism it was
also necessary that the convert should go through the legal forms of
abjuring popery and receiving the sacrament during * service in some
Protestant church.
I heard of a very curious case, in which the son of
Catholic parents, early in the last century, entered Dublin College, professing to be a Protestant,
His talents in due time procured for him a
fellowship, from which he retired upon a rich college living.
He amassed
great wealth, bought an estate, and left it at his death to his son, when,
subject of these conversions
behold
bill of
man who in
had made
discovery
was
filed
a college
standing
all
was
his Protestantism,
leyat/y
living,
life,
this
a papist,
happened,
too,
conforming party
in the certifi-
is
service,'
whereas
to
watch
"'
which during
I
believe this
all
was the
had held
show for it.
lower down,
it
will
be seen, he
On
65
his
"
who was
was a
boy,
was
to his
my
uncle here
when
'
"
'
"
'
'
sir,'
my
" 'Yes,
"
tried in Tralee
lord.'
'"A little.'
" What words
'
"
"
"
"
'
'
Ave
is
Yes,
my
Here
is
'
Maria.''
'That
'
was the
is it
fellow's answer.
is
so
!'
my
clothes,
the
66
child,
"
'
"
'
"
'
Going
an hour ?'
Anywhere
some
spite
Mrs.
till
if
stay here
she'll
McSweeney has
be horning young
morning.'
"At
He
which were
Presently
war-whoop
afterwards a faction-fight took place, the Lynes
On the following day one
of 'Five pounds for the head of an Eager!'
raising the
attempted to quiz the priest for his simplicity in selling his heifers so much below their real value.
"
there were very tine prices for
I hear, Father Grady,' said he,
'
'
beasts at the
"
'
fair,
'
I can't
say
found
heard
it so.
live
Ali
pounds a
67
and,
of
Father
sake gave the priest the means of proceeding to Ireland.
I
Mahony
Grady used always to say, God be merciful to poor Denis
try's
'
troth, dear,
it
might not
to
gift
was
can hardly be said to have any direct connection with the subject of the penal laws, but as O'Connell related
them on the particular evening referred to, and as they are rather
amusing, I thought that I might as well give them here.
The spirit begotten of the penal laws, as every one is aware, lived far
Indeed, it is far from being quite extinct
into the nineteenth century.
On another occasion O'Connell told the following story, which
to-day.
The two
last anecdotes
In the earlier part of the century there lived a poor, half-witted Creature nicknamed "Jack of the Roads," who used to run alongside
In the words of O'Connell, "He once made a
the Limerick coaches.
Ireland.
bet of fourpence and a pot of porter that he would run to Dublin from
He did so and when he was
Limerick, keeping pace with the mail.
;
stroyed,
he lingered and
"Was the
"Oh no!"
ruffian
died,
replied O'Connell;
of poor Jack."
affair as
that was
Well,
G8
they
he Book
of
Common
England as a mere political machine, and that, so far from ever having
been zealous for what is called the conversion of the Catholic population,
they had, in point of fact, been rather inclined to throw obstacles in its
way. If this were the bishop's meaning, I quite agree with him. As the
English government wish the Irish people to be divided, they naturally
desire to see a certain portion of our population profess the creed of the
Church
of
England, but they would no more like to see the whole popu-
Catholics or Presbyterians;
they know
would
that
like to see
if
them Roman
one creed British power would soon be at an end. The Irish Protestants, who act on the belief that English sway over Ireland is the bulwark of their religion, are really the "catspaws" of their own enemies
of
and
their country's.
In short,
all
Ire-
more
f,<)
England could
be cared
to
for, all
to
many
and convivialists
than
instances unbur-
in
of holiness
Roman
Cath-
be looked on as a mere
field for
supplying
blockheads or ignoramuses,
of livelihood
whom
for
theological
mended him
pursue a further course of sacred study shortly afterwards Barry was ordained, and Lord Barrymore appointed him to the
living.
to
friend,
thoroughly, inquired
"
by no means wonderful
able to a degree
r
l
i
i
71
jacent places hath been incredible; the nation probably will not recover
The other day I heard one from the county of
this loss in a century.
Limerick say that whole villages were entirely dispeopled; about two
months since I heard Sir Richard Cox say that five hundred were dead
It were
in the parish, though in a county, I believe, not very populous.
to
end."
The good bishop in those days wrote a patriotic little pamphlet called
"The Querist," which is very famous among Irishmen who hold the
It may be remarked here that Berkeley, though his
national creed.
near progenitors were English, looked upon himself as an Irishman.
"The Querist," in the form of unanswered questions, puts the bishop's
views of the grievances under which his country suffered, and the measures best calculated to redress those grievances, in a sufficiently clear
light.
He asks, among other queries, "Whether there be upon earth
any Christian or
common
Irish?"
cubits high round this kingdom, our natives might not, nevertheless,
live cleanly
"
Whether a
starving in
"Whether
beef
is
it
and comfortably,
till
"
Whether trade
"Whether the
quantities of beef
72
cipal duties of that exalted office in those days consisted, not in per-
all
Such were
the terrible
days of
the
penal laivs!*
The works to which I am chiefly indebted for the materials of the foregoing chapter are
John Mitchel's "Continuation of MacGeoghegan," a work which Mr. Mitchel modestly calls a
compilation, but which may safely be termed the most interesting and valuable work on Irish his*
Laws
;"
Edmund
Brennan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland ;" Curry's " Historical Review of the Civil Wars ;"
Young's "Tour in Ireland;" Maddea's " United Irishmen;" " The Irish Abroad and at Home;"
Davis's
works.
'
;"
Berkeley's
CHAPTER
III.
Childhood of O'Connell Paul Jones off the coast of Kerry O'Connell masters
THE ALPHABET QUICKLY His FEAR OF DISGRACE CAPTAIN Cook's " VOYAGE ROUND THE
World " Nomadic gentry Early Anticipations of greatness O'Connell's uncle
Maurice, surnamed "Hunting-Cap" His love of old ballads Encounter with a
mad bull Active habits The Crelaghs and the Kerry " colonels " His father
attacked by a band of robbers Private theatricals His early religious training
Protestant visitors and holy water His uncle Maurice's coffin MacCarthy More and the priest The American war.
By a
JfofN" a former chapter I said O'Connell was born in 1775.
|^|l^)| remarkable coincidence this was the year that the illustrious
MIr%
Henry Grattan,
Ireland's
\l0fl
most splendid
too, first
orator,
and perhaps
of
of
Bunker's
England's difficulty
is
if
he cannot,
7.1
74
be said to have been the first who hoisted the " star-spangled " banner on board an American ship-of-war, was at least the first
in strictness,
who made
lics.
off
nurse's
arms
Paul
little
fellow
and wondering
eyes, the
two
boats' crews
whom
Paul had sent off with towing-ropes to get his vessel out of shallow water these fellows had been prisoners of war at Brest the choice
had been offered them of either sailing with Jones or staying in prison;
they had agreed to sail with the bold sea-rover, with a mental reserva;
tion to escape at the earliest opportunity that presented itself; here, off
have a
some
them, and the sailors were arrested by orders of Mr. Hassett and brought
to the jail of Tralee, the
of the laws,
No
legal charge, of
The
tall fellow
party."
Magellan,
Gama,
of
7,1
Columbus and
his companions, of
roamings of the long series of hardy and enterprising navigators, beginning towards the close of the fifteenth century and ending with Ross,
MacClure and MacClintock (the two last Irishmen) in our own day have
Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver or Sinbad. The sea-fights of the old Scandinavian sea-kings the exploits of Drake, Raleigh and Cavendish in the
sixteenth century; the daring deeds of Montbar ''the exterminator,"
;
Sir
by Commodore
more regular engagements of such heroes as Van Tromp, Tourville, Rodare as deliney, Nelson, Cochrane, Barry, Macdonough, Perry or Farragut
cious to the mind of an eager-hearted boy as the incidents of the most
may
In
fact,
one
pretty safely assert that every lively boy, at one period or other of
We may without
of every place
stacks with
his
alarms of this
guns
sort);
(I
have talked
to
and setting tire to the shipping anchored in the harbors of seaWhen, in the earlier years of the war,
port-towns like White Haven.
he cruised near the shores of America, he harassed and distressed the
enemy all the same by capturing rich prizes. Did he not even seize on
batteries
board a large armed ship called the Mellisli two British naval
land captain, a company of soldiers and
all
officers,
Now
plate,
he would cany
himself there,
Lord Selkirk's
from St. Mary's Isle.
off
Anon, off Carrickfergus, this daring captain of the Kanger, after a fierce
and sanguinary fight, captures the Drake sloop-of-war, astonishing the
boat-loads of spectators who came out to see the Ranger captured.
Again,
off
Flamborough Head,
Bonhomme
with
much
less
combed and
far
weight of metal
more dangerous
many
to friends
than enemies
its
the bold
ad-
obstinacy in the
all
dispute!
in their
of Britain, a brigand.
to quote the
Flamborough Head, British nurses, in all probability, frightened froward children by threatening to bring Paul Jones to carry them
away To the mind's eye of little O'Connell, no doubt, Paul assumed
combat
off
would work up the marvellous incidents of Paul's stormy career, magnified tenfold by terror and the rumors of the hour into a sort of
historic romance of the ocean, wild and thrilling as boys' romances
usually are.
This
is
own
lips
what intense
and
chapter
shall
have occasion
for
we
shall
delight he took
a subsequent
in
once at
least,
Napoleon
is
to
owing
of vomiting.
may
owed
Cook's 'Voyage
He Was
be remarked that
it
who came
Late in
this to
my
Round
life
attention."
When
It
fit
was one
school
first big
the World.'
to the
me
book
read
is
used to run
now converted
into a press
to play
window that
it
with them,
of
me
there
don't think I
I
used to
sit
sometimes crying over it, whilst the other boys were playing."
In the old times people in most countries estimated the value of a
This system
district of land as supporting so many head of cattle, etc.
reading
it,
78
was the
According
to O'Con-
economical
for
move
to the food
than to
it.
live in
The means
were neither cars nor anything worthy of being called roads in those
days; so that, where a proprietor's farms were, at any great distance
from each other, obviously the simplest and best plan was to mount the
whole household on horses and transport them all, "bag and baggage,''
Of this plan of living O'Connell had ample experito the provisions.
move
tells
'
'
'
'
'
'
r
i
stir in
79
cious genius.
stuck to old Maurice on account of his fondness for that style of head-
As Charles XII.
gear.
of
Sweden seldom
boots and coarse soldier's coat, or Frederick the Great his blue military
coat
and cocked
hunting-cap.
hat, so
It
whom
Cork.
him
It is said that,
owing
what
and
cold
to his
when a
Harrington
this school
distant.
"
Personal Recollections,"
tells
us that
silence,
Irish
" I leaned
I
But
in
my
thought
first
of
it
when
was a boy.
" I liked
was brought
ballads
to the Tralec
amusements, and
It was then I heard two
I was greatly taken with the ballad- singers.
ballad-singers, a man and a woman, chanting out the ballad from which
you heard me sing that verse he sang the first two lines, she sang the
third line both sang together the fourth, and so on through the whole
assizes.
all sorts of
ballad."
man
80
in Paris,
strain of
was recommended
Here
panegyric.
to
is
first
To
couplet
my
poitrine
Between Hillgrove and Cahirciveen, O'Connell, when a lad, very narrowly escaped losing his life in an encounter with an infuriated bull.
The hull, like his namesake, John Bull, in after times, was seized with a
mighty great desire to annihilate poor Dan. He ran at him, and Dan's
The career of the future Liberator
retreat was cut off by a high ditch.
seemed about to be prematurely cut short. But it was written in the
book of fate, as the great Napoleon would say, that Dan was to speak
At the moment that his destruction appeared
and do great things.
inevitable the brave little fellow faced the taurine monster pretty much
in the same courageous Avay he used to face and outface the other formidable
He threw a good-sized stone at the bull's forehead,
Hull in after years.
and stunned him. This gave Dan breathing-time before the brute could
Meanwhile, a troop of boys came to the assistance of
recover himself.
our juvenile hero and pelted the discomfited bull out of the field; and
thus Dan was rescued, and lived on to enjoy before he died almost the
It were curious enough, if one
highest earthly greatness and renown.
had time and inclination, to speculate on the very considerable difference it would have made to Ireland and the Irish if that mad bull had
succeeded in carrying out his wicked will, and had incontinently tossed
young Daniel on his horns and out of existence.
One can easily guess, after hearing this anecdote, that O'Connell was
from his earliest years blessed with a
fair
with me a habit.
I
He
mental energy.
I rewas always active, and my brother John was always active.
member one morning, when John A\as a lad, seeing him prepare to set
off on a walk of several miles at sunrise, after having sat up the whole
I said to him.
night dancing and without having gone to bed at all.
Oh,' said John, I'll spare the
'John, you had better take your mare.'
mare the walk will do me good.' So off he set, and his mare expired
How often have I heard the
of fat in the stable the very same day.
voice of old John O'Connell calling out at cockcrow under our gate, Car
says of himself, " Activity is
'
'
'
the
81
out
greyhound").
we
have occasion to
see Daniel O'Connell, even in his old days, on foot, with a leaping-pole
in his hand, hunting the deer over his native mountains of Kerry, and
with a vigor and activity unsurpassed by the most youthful and indefatigable of his companions in the chase.
O'Connell used to tell some very curious and amusing particulars of
a class of cow-stealers that existed in Kerry in the days of his childThese anecdotes will give the reader a curious picture of the
hood.
state of society in Kerry in those wild times antecedent to the repeal of
In a subsequent portion of this biography
shall
When
was a
child "
O'Connell
is
speaking
" there
was a horde
mountains of GlanThey used to steal cows in Gralway and Clare and sell them in
cara.
this part of the country
and then, with admirable impartiality, they
would steal cows here and sell them in Clare or Galway. They were a
terrible nuisance to the peasantry, but they received a sort of negative
protection
that is, they were left unmolested by the leading Protestant
gentry, who then were popularly called 'colonels.'
To these 'colonels'
of cow-stealers called the Crelaghs inhabiting the
they occasionally
made
"The Crelaghs
when
his mare,
my
father,
who
upon
to go
82
liim.
fired
again,
him.
" It
for
heck,
one
of the
rest escaped."'
The Crelaghs, we
see,
made
tly,
ever they pleased to be, and so were objects of terror to these outlaws.
The Catholic gentry, on the other hand, few in numbers and deprived of
all civil rights, were in no degree formidable
on the contrary, they were
The Crelaghs, then,
alike incapable of protecting themselves or others.
them the gift
offering
did not think it worth while to conciliate them by
of course, if the Catholic gentry had posof any portion of their spoils
sessed the same inlluence that the "colonels" had, they too would have
been tempted to forget their duties to society. Would they have yielded
Truly it was a sinto the bribes of the Crelaghs in the same manner?
;
men
of
am
referring
to,
the minds
of the peo-
ple
in illustration of this
A man
Mr.
was con-
SH
of
lord is saying,
omadhawn?"
"To be
same surprising
Colonel
air
you stupid
Blennerhassett
sure
is
me
looking at
all
nothing."
man
make
it
if
moved
in then
move to-day
pretty
much
in the
same
worth speaking of in
Mr. Gladstone's new law of landlord and
cases of the agrarian kind.
tenant, though doubtless it has made some improvement on the past
of justice
x~
34
in
ever,
slightest trouble.
by
Some
heart.
Sometimes the stupidity is very droll. When our hero, in his young
days, along with some companions, got up a private play in Tralee, his
All he had to say was,
friend, Ralph Hickson, was to take a part.
" Put the horses to the coach ;" and yet he contrived to make a stupendous blunder in trying to repeat on the stage even that little sentence of six short words.
"How
could he
"Why, he
manage
said 'Put
asked O'Connell.
most
He
seems to have been a primitive, merrysouled, kind-hearted old man, characterized by a sort of quaint and
guileless simplicity altogether pleasant to meet with. While there can be
O'Connell's early years.
est religious principles, so that in every period of his after-life "the Lib-
erator's" devotion to
and reverence
who have
is
remained
asserted that he
was
hood.
1
T
JS
man
It is
I;
but
for the
termine the religious destiny of their children and being an eldest son,
born to an independence, the story of my having been intended for the
;
Church
is
a pure fabrication.
Be
it
known
gust,
to all
1775
whom
the
may
it
concern that
85
of
Au-
tell
it
has shed
were visitors on one occasion at Darrynane Abbey, the seat of his uncle
Our hero himself was stopping there at the time. " On Sunday," says O'Connell, "as there was no Protestant place of worship
near, they were reduced to the alternative of going to mass or doing
without public worship. They chose to go to mass, and on entering the
chapel they fastidiously kept clear of the holy water which the clerk was
The clerk observed this, and feeling
sprinkling copiously on all sides.
his own dignity and that of the holy water compromised by their Protestant squeamishness, he quietly watched them after service, and planting himself behind the sanctuary door, through which they had to pass,
Maurice.
1m3
their faces.
thought
You
when
telling
it,
He
used to
tell
"Hunting-cap."
tree to
make
his
own
coffin,
to a carpenter.
In the evening the butler entered, after dinner, to say that the carpenter
wanted
to
coffin,'
'
For what
my
uncle said,
Oh,
let
my
uncle.
'
To talk
asked
?'
him
in
by
wanted
I
all
means.
but
what do
I'll saw up
Well, friend,
'
Only,
that
sir,
'
'
am
"
sure,
or so
you blockhead
;
well,
but
make my
coffin
me room enough.'
"We may feel satisfied
of romantic Kerry,
I'll
stretch,
of inches
will give
many
parts
mind
of O'Con-
inexplicable.
life
to the
having asked a clergyman if he had seen the old church of Kilkee, near
Greena, on the road from Killarney, he told the following traditional
anecdote of an act of sacrilege committed by one of the fierce and haughty
chiefs of
Desmond.
and similar wild deeds in his boyhood. Speaking of the old church, he
the
said, " It was unroofed and desecrated over three centuries ago
Macarthy Mhor of the day was in the habit of attending mass there,
and ordered the officiating priest to delay the celebration of mass every
Sunday until he should arrive. The priest complied for some Sundays,
but one day the chief was so late that the priest, in order no longer to
detain the congregation, commenced divine service he had not proceeded
far v. hen Macarthy Mhor entered the church, and being enraged at the
;
and
in neglecting to
wait
for
the scene of such a crime should continue the centre of parochial devo-
and accordingly
tion,
in a
lie
87
built
It
named
many
in this old
ting a license, it
many
was necessary
for
them
to
mouldering Kilkec, where they would be safe from all prying intrusion
during the matrimonial ceremony, to the staring and curious crowds sure
to gather around all wedding-parties in the church of Killarney.
of
He
how
strange
present generation
it is
nobody ever
is
by the
they have been disused so long ago that not even a tradition exists
among
:>f
O'Connell's childhood.
,98
'What!' said her companion, 'will you not come to the window to
look at the king's triumphant entry?'
"' No,' replied the lady; 'I have seen Macarthy Mhor's triumphant
"
entry into Blarney, and what can Paris furnish equal to that?'
It
was probably
life
hymns
"
Church;
them when
some
Lauda Duceiu
also the grand
hymn
et
Pastorem
;"
Duin pendebat
filius."
During these early years of O'Connell's life the events of the AmerIn 1776, the year
ican war followed each other in rapid succession.
after O'Connell's birth, the
ever-memorable Declaration of Independence; in the same year, Washington, who, immediately after Bunker's Hill, had been appointed commandercaptured or destroyed at Trenton, on the Delaware, a large body
In 1777 the surrender
of the Hanoverian auxiliaries in the British pay.
of General Burgoync's army took place, which was a desperate if not
in-chief,
still,
the
war continued
with varying fortune for some years longer. The credit of the thirteen
republics was at times sunk to the very lowest ebb; their papnr-money
depreciated
till
it
was
of hardly
any value
their soldiery
were often
without shoes, without clothes, food or regular pay discouraged, moreThe integrity, patriotism and constancy of
over, by frequeut defeats.
Washington, together with his rare power of influencing the minds of the
&\)
command, barely saved the army from complete dissolution and the fortunes of the young commonwealths from total ruin.
At last, however, brighter hopes dawned on the Continentals, and inspired
them to carry on their struggle for national existence with fresh-strung
energy.
The French monarchy recognized the independence of the newborn republics, and on the 6th of February, 1778, a treaty of alliance
was signed at Paris, by which France bound herself to aid America in
troops under his
off'
fleet
More than three years later, on the 19th of October, 1781, the army of Lord Cornwallis was forced to capitulate, at
Yorktown, to the combined French and American forces under Count
Rochambeau and General Washington. After this momentous event the
war was virtually at an end; preliminary articles of peace between
Great Britain and the United States were signed at Paris on the 30th of
November, 1782; a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed throughout
the American colonies on the U)th of April, 1783; and finally, a definitive treaty of peace was signed at Paris on the 3d of September, 1783.
In a word, the pride of England was humbled in the dust, and a giant
young republic, or rather confederation of republics, started into independent existence full armed.
The temporary prostration of British power was as usual a Godsend
During these early years of O'Connell's life public changes of
to Ireland.
The revolution of 1782, which
vast importance took place in Ireland.
for a time made Ireland, formally and technically at least, an independent
nation, was carried by the mere terror with which the guns and bayonets of more than 70,000 Irish volunteers inspired England in her crestfallen and exhausted state at the close of this American Revolution.
Within the period extending from the year of our hero's birth to the
with the patriot
forces.
As
career in after-life
short outline of
upon O'Connell's
for
me
to give a
* The bonks to which I am chiefly indebted for the materials of the above chapter are O'.Ncill
Diumt'i " Personal Recollections" and Fagaa's " Life of O'Counell."
CHAPTER
IV.
Brief sketch of the Irish volunteer movement and the revolution of 1782 This
Reform ConventionFlood and Grattan Further relaxations of the penal laks
Reflections on England's concessions in 1782 O'Conneli.'s opinion of Grattan
His opinion on the question of "simple repeal."
f/JFp^ROM
Vv
"
For centuries, however, tliev were confined
falR3ai existed in Ireland.
\m^\ i
The ancient race, conby the Norman and Saxon colony "the
(g^%2
fZffj)
temptuously styled
mere
Irish,"
all
part of the island, and when, theoretically at least, the old race were
regarded as entitled to the same privileges with the rest of the king's
subjects, still religious enactments of a penal kind, generally speaking,
amounted
from
all
to
.;
-,""j!ir-.
--
commonly known
as Poynings's laws
providing,
first,
(if
period of
its
committee of the English Parliament was appointed to examine the treatise, and on the report of that committee, it was unanimously
resolved "That the said book was of dangerous consequence to the Crown
land.
England,
to the people of
courage
all
'
etc.
The spirit of Molyneux's book lived and influenced the men who
came after him. The next remarkable man who protested against the
His first pamphlet on
English influence in Ireland was Dean Swift.
Irish affairs was published in 1720, the year after the passing of the
declaratory act of George I.
It was "A Proposal for the Use of Irish
No man did more to create an Irish feeling among the
Manufacture."
Protestants of Ireland than the celebrated dean in the series of pamphin
lets, replete with wit, ironical humor, scathing satire, argument
with which for years he assailed
short, the most varied literary ability
The author of the " Drapier's Letters"the abuses of English rule.
(hose letters in which he develops his real sentiments on the absolute
Parliament
popular
became, and
man
in Ireland.
whom,
manifested no sympathy.
if
They
They
that
felt intuitively
if
state of
ever,
lie
was
a strenuous
For his principies he was persecuted by the English government, and the venal and
servile Irish
became the
instruments of the patriot's persecution; after forcing him to liy from
The famous Dr.
Ireland, they voted him to be an enemy of his country.
Johnson honored him thus " The Irish ministers drove him from his
native country by a proclamation in which they charged him with crimes
which they never intended to be called to the proof, and oppressed him
by methods equally irresistible by guilt and innocence. Let the man,
liberty,
lent themselves
enemies, and
to their country's
thus driven into exile for having been the friend of his country, be
received in every other place as a confessor of liberty, and let the tools
power be
The original
which in its
were due, in
of
ence of Lucas.
"
He
when
all
Lucas had sprung from the ranks of the people; Flood was an aristocrat.
He succeeded in rousing to life and action a strong opposition party against
those tools of British power miscalled the Irish government he intended
;
principles,
which
"
among
the people."
This period
have
was probably the noblest period of Flood's life before this the
opposition to England had only been desultory henceforward it was
After 1770 Flood's career was for a time anysteady and progressive.
thing but glorious; he accepted office, and consequently his opposition
The most patriotic Irish writers, however
to government was silenced.
John Mitchel, for example are inclined to acquit him of the charge of
The time was unfavorable for
being influenced by corrupt motives.
aggressive action; perhaps by taking office for awhile he could best serve
In the days of '82 we again find him in the patriot ranks.
his country.
specified
Much
too, is
at least questionable
and
1)1
prevent
all
countrymen, as
it
helped
to
so
it
deserves the
pi"
But
"
was the
the noblest
Roman
of
them
all,"
Henry Grattan.
No
march
illustrious
to
for the
brave
efforts of his
every age.
He was
refined,
man
not of
almost every
if
was
but the
gift in
which ho excelled
and thoroughly Irish eloquence; he was the first great orator whose "thoughts
that breathe and words that burn" were really "racy of the Irish soil."
He came, at once the deliverer of his country and the type and truest
exponent of her genius. Was it any marvel that this man, whose broad
and sympathetic genius embraced within its advocacy the wrongs and
rights of his Catholic countrymen, should soar far aloft above the great
and brilliant Irishmen who in that day of our evanescent splendor surrounded him? Was it any wonder that he was the magician who first
succeeded in evoking the soul of Ireland from her long slumber? or that
Henry Grattan was then, as he is now, acknowledged to be the true
guiding spirit and hero of the Irish revolution of 1782?
At the close of the American war the might of England for a time
seemed paralyzed. She was unable to supply Ireland with troops to
The Irish resolved to trust for security in their own
defend her shores.
right arms.*
Up sprang as if by magic the host of Irish Volunteers.
Catholics at first were only admitted to their ranks by connivance.
gestive, rhythmical, imaginative, picturesque, entirely original
Even
in
Commons
by a vote of
106 against 68, to allow 4000 Hessian soldiers to be introduced into the garrisons of Ireland.
This, in fact, was the
first
wax
stronger,
minions in Ireland, looked on in abject and helpless dismay. The ''powers that be" were even obliged to have recourse to hypocrisy (an easy
task with English rulers), and fawn on and compliment the patriot
army.
though deprived of
all
all
still
and that the Protestants were beginning to see that, however they might be tyrants over the oppressed
Catholics, they were not permitted to be the masters of Ireland, but
longed for
its
independence
own country
England.
"Your
in
one of
his speeches in the Irish Parliament, " thought themselves the oppressors of their fellow-subjects,
Lord North was once more compelled to yield to a people against his
will.
Free trade, in the sense of the men of '82, simply meant the
In the
freedom of Irish trade from all control on the part of England.
course of this struggle for free trade no orator distinguished himself
more on the patriot side than the celebrated Hussey Burgh. On the
29th of November, 1779, he said: "The usurped authority of a foreign
Parliament has kept up the most wicked laws that a jealous, monopolizing, ungrateful spirit could devise to restrain the bounty of Providence, and enslave a nation whose inhabitants are recorded to be a
brave, loyal and generous people by the English code of laws, to answer
the most sordid views, they have been treated with a savage cruelty.
The words penalty, punishment and Ireland are synonymous. They are
marked in blood on the margin of their statutes; and, though time may
have softened tlie calamities of the nation, the baneful and destructive influences of those laws have borne her down to a state of Egyptian bond;
9P>
On
moved
and they
The
of right.
The
men
of Ireland
some
teer officers.
all,
fire.
Her enemies
the earth
minister,
general
hands
no
ally,
whom
no admiral, none in
of Ireland.
the sea
whom
is
quarters of
all
not hers
she has no
The balance
damp and
You
for
is
the
now
Nor do
friends of
liberty rejoice
redemption.
at these
means
of
safety
and
this
hour of
young appetite
for freedom,
<J7
power
which not
out of your
tire,
it
new
it
discontent;
it
your chain,
We may talk
to
The
claims of the one go against the liberty of the other, and the sentiments
of the latter
After arguing the cause of Ireland at length and with great power, the
orator concludes his wondrous speech with this magnificent peroration
"
Do not
suffer the
liate
will
tween them and their Maker, robbing them of an immense occasion, and
losing an opportunity which you did not create and can never restore.
" Hereafter, when these things shall be history, your age of thraldom
98
and poverty, your sudden resurrection, commercial redress and miraculous armament, shall the historian stop at liberty, and observe that
here the principal men among us fell into mimic trances of gratitude
they were awed by a weak ministry and bribed by an empty treasury
and when liberty was within their grasp, and the temple opened her
folding-doors, and the arms of the people clanged, and the zeal of the
nation urged and encouraged them on, that they fell down and were prostituted at the threshold
" I
do
demand my
upon
call
you,
by the laws
of the land
and
liberty.
their violation,
by the
moment,
tell
declare the
for
lie
in the shape of
am
an amend-
to hear of faction.
common with my
have no ambition, unless it be the
ambition to break your chain and contemplate your glory. I never will
be satisfied so long as the meanest cottager in Ireland has a link of the
British chain clanking to his rags; he may be naked, he shall not be in
iron
and I do see the time is at hand, the spirit is gone forth, the declaration is planted, and though great men should apostatize, yet the cause
will live
and though the public speaker should die, yet the immortal
I
wish
for
tire
like the
word
of
him.
" I shall
Lords and
Commons
G rattan
fired the
power competent
and the
to
make
of
its
their
The day
letter
after the
in
Ire-
debate the
to Lord Hillsborough
in
\)\)
which the following words occur: " It is with the utmost concern I must
acquaint your lordship that, although so many gentlemen expressed their
concern that the subject had been introduced, the sense of the House
against the obligation of any statutes of the Parliament of Great Britain
within this kingdom
is
represented to
The English were at last beginning to fear lest the Irish should follow'
the example of the American colonists and seek separation they knew
that in the course of the war considerable sympathy had grown up
between Ireland and America, The first general Congress of the colonies
had even directed one of their addresses from Philadelphia, in the year
;
humane; we
We
with the true state of our motives and objects, the better to enable you
to judge of our conduct with accuracy and determine the merits of the
controversy with impartiality and precision.
Your Parliament had
done us no wrong; you had ever been friendly to the rights of mankind,
and we acknowledge with pleasure and gratitude that your nation has
produced patriots who have nobly distinguished themselves in the cause
of humanity and America."
All this alarmed the English interest the
more when the volunteers and the people began to show such a deter-
mined spirit of patriotism in 1780. Indeed, long before this "the Castle " had been rendered uneasy, if not terrified, by the menacing demeanor
and hints of the volunteers: So early as the 4th of November, 1779,
the anniversary of the birth of William III., the volunteers had assembled round his statue in College Green.
The City of Dublin Volunteer
Artillery, commanded by the well-known James Napper Tandy, had
labels with the inscription "Free Trade or Speedy Revolution " hung
round the necks of their cannon. The duke of Leinster was there in
command of the volunteers of Dublin and its neighborhood. Other political inscriptions decorated the sides of the pedestal, on which stood the
statue of the so-called "Deliverer."
On one side of the pillar was inscribed "Relief to Ireland;" on another, " A Short Money-bill, a Free
Trade, or else
on a
"The Volunteers
quinquaginta millia
parati pro patria mori" ("fifty thousand united, prepared to die
country ") and in front of the statue were two cannons, each having
;"
third,
functi,
for
this inscription
"
The
THE
100
OF DANIEL O'CONNELL.
LIFF.
of their
artillery.
In the middle of the year 1780 the hitherto independent troops and
companies of the Irish Volunteers were linked together in a closer organization than
They became a consolidated army with unity of command. James Caulfield, earl of Charlemont, an amiable, cultured and patriotic, but at the
same time rather vacillating, nobleman, was appointed commander-inchief of all the patriot forces.
It was unfortunate that this excellent
and honorable gentleman entertained narrow prejudices towards his
Catholic countrymen.
However, for the present, all went well the earl
was not merely a dignified chief, but even a very active military organizer.
He held some imposing provincial reviews, and his arrival at Bel;
fast
and
Sir
harbor.
it
dom
Commons
of Ireland, to
and a grievance.
"Resolved (with one dissenting voice only), That the powers exercised
by the privy councils of both kingdoms, under or under color or pretence
of the law of Poynings, are unconstitutional, and a grievance.
is
unconstitutional, illegal
101
open
king,
of
and a grievance.
bill
not
and a grievance.
"Resolved (unanimously), That the independence of judges
is
equally
Eng-
and that the refusal or delay of this right to Ireland makes a distinction where there should be no distinction, may excite jealousy where
land,
and
is
in itself unconstitutional
and a
grievance.
we pledge
and men
we
and
of honor, that
and
and
we
will, at
redress speedy
our decided
low-citizens
it is
means
to
and
pursuit of
effectual.
resolution),
religion to
and as Protestants, we
our
to
Roman
we
102
use of said wines, "save and except the wines at present in this king-
dom, until such time as our exports shall be received in the kingdom of
Portugal as the manufactures of part of the British empire."
The Convention terminated by the adoption of an address to the
we doubted
if
William
Signed by order,
of success.
Irvine, Chairman.''''
The
ceedings of
all
may
it will
than democratic or
The various
were unanimous.
of '82
social.
But the crisis was now approaching fast. Lord North and his cabinet most deservedly fell from power soon after the Dungannon Convention.
After some delay all sections of the Whigs were united.
The
marquis of Eockingham became prime minister; Lord Shelbourne and
the celebrated Charles James Fox were the new secretaries of state the
illustrious Irishman, Edmund Burke, was made paymaster of the forces
and the duke of Portland was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland, with
;
And now
it
effort of
erous English secretary, Fox, to gain time, to try and cajole the Irish
Patriot leaders to relax their efforts.
If
in
over Charlemont and some of the others to agree to delay, he might find
some opportunity
land.
He
of baffling
and
hopes of
Ire-
103
The
and others
are seduced by Fox's graceful blandishments, but Grattan was not to be
On his sick bed his
deluded from his onward course by Belial himself.
glowing spirit still kept him firm of purpose. Vehemently he cries to
No time !" Charlemont is tired once more with
Charlemont, " Xo time
patriotic ardor.
At the dictation of Grattan he writes to the English
minister "that they (the Irish leaders) could not delay; that they wore
earl
pledged to the people; that they could not postpone the question,
for
it
''
An Eng-
der frame appeared, his noble spirit shone brighter than ever.
says that his speech on this great day was distinguished "for
lish critic
Charlemont used
often to say, "If ever spirit could be said to act independent of body, it
was on that occasion." All were electrified and lost in admiration
Grattan stated Ireland's grounds of complaint the declaratory statute
of George I., the perpetual mutiny bill, and the unconstitutional powers
its
tire,
Thus
began:
now to address a free people. Ages have passed away, and his
moment in which you could be distinguished by that appellation.
am
the first
" I
own
deliverance.
prevailed
Ireland
is
now a
nation
She
is
In that
I say,
new
character
I hail her,
Esto perpetual
to
her gov
ernor for bis rapine and to her king for his oppression.
little
mit
and war.
Europe, and contemplate
to posterity insignificance
"Look
to the rest of
and be
yourself,
satis-
Shortly after,
to
Grattan.
He
said that
Fox
He would
rather see Ireland wholly separated from the crown of England than
kept
in
subjection
by
force.
"
Unwilling subjects,"
said
he,
" are
than enemies."
Ireland triumphed completely at that
While
time.
the declaratory act of the 6th of George I. was repealed in
the English House, Poynings's laws were swept away in the Irish.
The
lost appellate jurisdiction was restored to the Irish House of Lords.
The perpetual mutiny bill was repealed. Later, when Flood questioned
the sufficiency of " simple repeal" to secure the independence of the
Irish Parliament, an express "renunciatory act" Avas passed by the
English legislature.
The Irish people also got a "habeas corpus act"
similar to that possessed by the English.
In short, Ireland was now
beyond all dispute, technically at least, an independent nation. She
had no longer to submit to the humiliation of sending over the heads
Her prosperity
of all her "bills" to England before passing them.
during
the
grew apace
years of her independent existence, in spite of
the corrupt and defective constitution of her Parliament.
The Bank of
Ireland and other banks were established, manufactures increased, commerce flourished. In short, Ireland in eighteen years attained a state
of well-being hardly paralleled " in the annals of any other nation in so
If, indeed, she had then thoroughly reformed her House
short a period."
of Commons, sweeping away those rotten boroughs that returned such a
little
better
and
if
making the
all
legislature necessa-
might and
l()o
(lie
ble of
being aroused
for
a question of time.
the idea of their dictating the adoption of their reform bill to the Parliament, Flood defended
"
will
all
if
By whom were
recovered ?
By the
the world.
of this country
the
vol-
unteers.
"Why
against them
when they
when
men
men at
to
make
a declaration
Parliament passed
demand
the rights of
brave, less ardent in their country's cause, or has their admirable con-
made him
enemy?
May
We
their
in.
rather, he
the
to bring
"And
own work;
it
it is
movement
itself.
unnecessary to describe, in
may
tc
107
picion
was broken."
in their ranks.
But
un-
it is
bishop of Deny, to
the idol of the
whom
more
made
fiery spirits
few-
no
earl-
became
him in his
On
Tyranny is not
government, and allegiance is due only to protection." At last a day
comes and that not a very remote one from the palmy days of their
their drooping vigor.
great success
when this
said, "
Some
is
heard of no
began to
more among
dream of more perilous roads to freedom. It is melancholy to be obliged
to admit here that our two greatest men of that age, while they deserve,
and will enjoy immortal glory for the share they each had in securing
what of success and honor Ireland derived from the movement of '82.
are both, at the same time, more or less to blame both for the shortcomings of that most promising revolution and for the final discomfiture and
dissolution of the gallant and faithful and patriotic army of the Irish
the things that exist.
Volunteers.
While the
century
if I
forgot to give
them
108
means unwelcome
to the Catholics.
May
after
been given in
of
to Sir
motion in favor of
of
Irish House, that leave be given to bring in heads of a
of the Catholics of Ireland
in
the relief
bill for
However, the
bill
of
parental
right.
of their country
by these paltry, peddling, pitiful measures of relief; all through the volunteer movement they Avere true to Ireland.
Many of them, in spite
of penal laws,
These felt
thoroughly that if Ireland should become really independent, it would
be impossible for the Irish legislature to deny them complete emancipa-
any long period; like Grattan, they saw that if Ireland should
stand upon her smaller end/' she would not long be able to
stand against her old enemy and oppressor. The Catholics of Limerick,
denied the use of arms, subscribed eight hundred pounds to the treasury
tion for
of the volunteers.
How
unfortunate
it
was, at this
crisis,
that so
many
of 1781, Mr.
Catholics.
same time
to
foreign lands,
la;
con-
TII LIFE OF
fessed,
DANIEL O'COXNELL.
109
with shame, that she was the most intolerant country, Protestant
When
House
in
an Irish legislature
since the fall of Limerick, startled the Cromwellians and other bigots of the
Ascendency. Sir Richard Johnson nervously protested " that he would
In this
oppose any bill by which papists were permitted to bear arms."
"
It had
debate Grattan uttered the following wise and weighty remarks
been well observed by a gentleman of first-rate understanding (a member
in
till its
inhab-
try's
it.
Finally, indeed,
when
lie
it
olics
first,
religion
education
fourth, of
marriage
and fifth,
to draw a
of carrying arms.
.110
If
code at once, and maintained that such an act of justice to the Catholic
body would be a benefit to the whole nation. Such were Sir Lucius
O'Brien, Mr. Forbes, Hussey Burgh, Yelverton, Mr. Dillon, Captain Hall
and Mr. Mossom. Fitzgibbon, Mason, Bushe and others resisted the
clause which permitted Catholics to go abroad for education.
Grattan
fought for the whole
bill.
"When
"had
resolved
when she armed in defence of her rights, and a highspirited people demanded a free trade, did the Roman Catholics desert
their fellow-countrymen?
No, they were found among the foremost.
When it was afterwards thought necessary to assert a free constitution
laid
the
upon
her,
Roman
make terms
to
we
asunder or perish in
it.
...
shall confine
give
my
consent to
it
(the
clause
would not keep two millions of my fellow-subjects in a state of slavery, and because, as the mover of the declaration
of rights, I should be ashamed of giving freedom to but six hundred
under debate) because
my
thousand of
^
- A\
...
11
gave Catholics the power of taking and holding, just like Protestants, any lands and hereditaments except advowIt removed
his, manors and boroughs returning members to Parliament.
The
very moderate.
first
.-.i
various penalties from such of the registered clergy as had taken the
oath.
abroad,
its
operation
Any
kingdom.
was confined
liable
I.
to
however,
viz.,
Those,
who should
presume
to receive
ians to their
own
or
child.
These two
bills passed,
and
The third
bill
of eight.
It
had been
il:c illustrious
Edmund
lord,
thus ex-
ments
"To
look at the
bill in
the abstract,
it is
renewed act of universal, unmitigated, indispensable, exceptionless disOne would imagine that a bill inflicting such a multitude
qualification.
of incapacities had followed on the heels of a conquest made by a very
fierce enemy under the impression of recent animosity and resentment.
No man on
bill
112
and
even the
office of trust
"
or
soli-
This has surely more the air of a table of proscriptions than an act
of grace.
jects to
a relaxation
When
and
medium
of
a very great
by the state
offices, and in this
is
circuitous progress from the public to the private fund indemnities the
families from
whom
it is
who
established.
But
if
all
the prizes,
own
who
industry.
This
is
the thing
look
on the public revenue only as a spoil, and will naturally wish to have as
few as possible concerned in the division of the booty.
a state should
If
themselves by
others
if
money
Why
in their suits?
offices
Why may
some
into
by
they may,
whom
The exclusion
may
all
that
is
beneficial
and ex-
pose
liberality
113
all
forms of
religious worship.
was
illustrated in a stronger
meant
to
and more
If
fatal
have made
it
for the
all
emanci-
pation of the Catholics, so that the interests and feelings and sympathies
and
inhabitants of this
and
lo learn
country
for
"Resolved,
of reform provided
many
dominant countrymen, to
become gradually reconciled with the ruinous notion of union with England.
They were led to imagine that emancipation would be more easily
conceded to them by the English legislature than by their own. A foolish and fatal idea for, in spite of all its bigotry, the Irish Parliament was
slowly but surely knocking off link after link of their fetters, and would
assuredly, had it remained in existence, have been obliged to emancipate
them completely long before 1829.
Unluckily, the folly and meanness of some of the Catholic body played
into the hands of the bigots of the convention.' The friends of the Cath*
thus insulted
their
114
olics in
felt
embarrassed,
if
not dis-
comfited, when, a few days after the assembly of that body, Sir Boyle
Roche, renowned for his amazing Irish bulls, a few specimens of which
make some
and got leave, though not a member of the conmake a statement on the part of the earl of Kenmare, a Catholic nobleman: "That noble lord," said Sir Boyle, "and others of his
creed, disavowed any wish of being concerned in the business of elections,
and, fully sensible of the favors already bestowed upon them by Parliament, felt but one desire, to enjoy them in peace, without seeking in the
present distracted state of affairs to raise jealousies and further embarrass the nation by asking for more."
Fortunately for the Catholics and the honor of human nature, other
members of the persecuted body were very different in temper and cast
of mind from the coroneted slave of Kenmare.
His abject declaration
(which, in justice, I should observe is called by the historian Plowdeii
"a pretended letter of Lord Kenmare") excited intense disgust and
indignation amongst the Catholics of Dublin.
Later, on the very day of
Sir Boyle's strange announcement of Kenmare's lack of all manhood,
that lordly demagogue or popular leader, the earl of Bristol and bishop
of Deny, who seems to have always been a really sincere and resolute
appeared on the
floor,
vention, to
"a paper
of consequence,
every privilege in
which referred
common with
to a class of
their country-
effect:
"
Roman
it
for their
Sir P. Bellew
generous
be requested
efforts
on our behalf.
Resolve;},
That
Roman
115
communicate them
to the National
Convention."
Next
rear, 1784, a
Protestant patriots.
liberal spirit
of the
rejection
began
more
Many
of these
dream of revolutionary plans. A national congress was proThe sheriffs of Dublin called a preparatory meeting, which" took
to
posed.
At
this
safety.
"
And
while
tional rights
we thus
and
contend, as far as in us
privileges,
we recommend
to
Roman
lies, for
our constitu-
dom, whose emancipation from the restraints under which they still labor
we consider not only as equitable, but essentially conducive to the general union
and prosperity
of the
kingdom."
still
to
"We
oppresses our
to prohibit education
Roman
and
of
Catholic fellow-
liberality, restrain
certain privileges
16
O' COS
K ELL.
not
he.
time.
Oh
no!
He had
He had
no
all
he entreated the
securing Ireland's independence
but
first
still
This is the
and prosperity by any efforts for Catholic emancipation.
meaning of what lie said in somewhat different and balmier phraseology.
Tliis was a severe blow both to the Catholic cause and that of reform.
Charlemont was an object of veneration. Those who resembled himself
The
were swayed by his opinion.
viz., the timid and vacillating
with joy.
him
thanks
and nar-
row-minded conduct.
The attorney-general proceeded, by attachment from the court of
King's Bench, against Mr. Riley, the high-sheriff of Dublin county, for
presiding over an assemblv of freeholders who met on the 19th of AnThe
gust, 1781, to choose and instruct delegates for the congress.
assembly and their resolutions, signed by Mr. Riley, were declared illegal.
Mr. Riley was sentenced to a week's imprisonment and a fine of five merks
3 6s. 8d. Attachments were granted against magistrates who called
meetings and signed resolutions of freeholders in Leitrim and Roscom-
mon.
The
newspapers suffered
Congress met on the 25th of October
and publishers
of
too.
;
but
Printers
government
caused some clamor, but there arose no opposition to it worth speaking
The government profited by the divisions that sprang up in the
of.
finally
nothing came of
it.
of the
ranks of the reformers on the question of admitting Catholics to exerIn the year before (1783), in the short
cise the right of the franchise.
viceroyalty of Lord Temple, other tactics had been employed against
reform.
the public
to
geous tom-foolerv had little effect on the minds of the people beyond
affording them a passing amusement somewhat livelier and more novel
all
dwell a
little
117
tools
may
mate the extent of the Catholic grievances that remained unredressed till
'29, and the consequent value of the great measure wrung from England
in that year, chiefly by the abilities and energy of O'Connell.
as
the
first article I
wrote
for "
The
Irish People."
It
first
half of
them
in
portion of
dictment
to
it,
for
if
remember
" '82
and
'29,"
The
me
in the in-
consigned
article is
me
headed
"Since the twelfth century England has been the unsleeping enemy
of Ireland.
itself in
oppression.
"Whenever
IIS
pendence of the Irish Parliament in 1782; the second was the concession of Catholic emancipation in 1829.
."These concessions have generally been looked upon as unalloyed
benefits.
Yet we assert that, owing to the manner in which they were
gained, they have really proved curses rather than blessings to our
country.
"
Had England
martial
That,
at that
independence.
But no war-struggle took place. England struck at once and conThus the parliamentary independence of '82 was won, if not
ceded.
altogether ingloriously, at least peacefully; and the consequence was, it
turned out, not independence, but a mockery and phantom. True national
independence never Avas and never will be anywhere achieved save by
The revolution of '82 was, after all, a plausible, solemn,
the sword.
deluding humbug a clever manoeuvre of the English government to
transform a national movement of glorious promise into a mere imposing"
piece of pageantry.
selves, the
deaths.
service, or really
The volunteer
organization, as might be
fell
to pieces.
resisted
Flood's
more
make
119
by that
united
absurdity,
both legislatures, mark, having the power to impeach the king's minThus, the king's Irish ministers might, in obedience to the pres-
isters.
it
at the
same
time his English ministers might have advised him, as king of England,
remain at peace, the interests of England, in the supposed case, requiring and the feelings of the English legislature being in favor of
peace.
What charming confusion worse confounded should in such
t'
'
'
'
'
of
the
insidious nature of
occasion to quote
It
may
England's concessions
At a
to
Ireland fully as
biography
I shall
have
it.
illus-
trious predecessor,
120
But
was.
lie
On
it is
my
firm
If the Irish
all
ernment."
When
moment
that the
by the Parliament
of
1783.
am
Owen Madden,
life
Henry
of
The question
political.
df
is
of
it
own
words,
'
its
nature
enforced or
legal
11,
1782).
No
and
asserted
'
(June
could
be
:;
12]
maintained by sane lawyers unless (as was the case in 1782) several of
them had their minds inflamed by spleen or excited by fanaticism. If a
legal principle survives the repeal of
How is
it
operative
cognizable, but
is
when
Mr. Flood's
mode
is
it
exist in tangible
shape?
legal
In truth,
were
correct,
who
all
'
charter.'
"As a
What
is
It
makes law
it
Omnipotence
unmakes law it de?
122
member propose ?
liament.'
"
In truth,
all
to save Ireland
Whatever
different opinions
may be formed
On
ly-wedded
wife,
it,
likely
to the
her noble husband and of the illustrious Geraldine stock from which she
sprang.
Young
as O'Connell
123
on the occurrences of this revolution at considerably greater length than I originally intended, chiefly owing to two confirst, in the closing and perhaps the most remarkable and
siderations
even glorious portion of O'Connell's career all his energies were directed
to dwell
to achieving for his country the restoration of this very constitution of '82.
One
club, the
members
of
which were
attired in a
an '82
ment
necessarily opens
up
all
between Great Britain and Ireland that were vexed in the days of our
grandfathers and our great-grandfathers.
I shall end this chapter with a conversation of O'Connell's about
Henry Grattan. Speaking to Mr. Daunt, he contrasted his style of oraHe described Pitt as havtory with that of the younger William Pitt.
ing a grand majestic march of language and a full, melodious voice. He
said that Grattan's eloquence
was
full of tire,
melody and dignity of Pitt's. Still, nobody quoted the sayings of Pitt,
while Grattan was always uttering sentences that everybody quoted and
"I did not," said O'Connell, "hear Grattan make any
held in memory.
He had great
of his famous speeches, but I have heard him in public.
power and great oddity he almost swept the ground with his odd
action."
"Was
man?"
His conversation contained much humor of a dry,
antithetical kind, and he never relaxed a muscle whilst his hearers were
He abounded with anecdotes of the men with
convulsed with laughter.
whom he politically acted, and told them very well. I met him at dinner at the house of an uncle of O'Connor Don, and the conversation
"Very much
so.
124
ton,
aged
fifteen
used
who married
to dress like a
Roundhead
own
'
ballad.'
" I
ask
me
to dinner.
like to see
* I
am
to
be talked
of,
and people
indebted for the materials of the above chapter chiefly to Mitchel's "Continuation of
McGeoghegan
;"
"Works
Owen Madden's
Edmund Burke;"
of
" Grattan's
Speeches;" Daniel
Irish
"Tr-"-.-
.'
'
*-
i-i
etc.
--
"
'-
-~
CHAPTER
V.
Youth and early manhood of O'Connell O'Connell at Louvain, St. Omer's and Dor ay
In danger during the French Revolution Anecdote of John and Henry Sheared
and the execution of Louis XVI. O'Connell and the crowns of France and Belgium Dan and the banker Jeffreys of Blarney Castle Further relaxations
of the penal laws Catholics admitted to the bar O'Connell a law-student in
London Anecdotes of George IV., Mrs. Fitzherbert and Charles James Fox
O'Connell sees George III. in danger Slow travelling of the last century Pitt
and Fox as orators Drinking habits of the last century resisted by O'Connell
Cousin Kane, an odd character O'Connell in the yeomanry He attends a
political meeting in '97Sees Lord Edward Fitzgerald O'Connell gets a fever
from sleeping in wet clothes, and is near dying Sallies forth on his first circuit O'Connell, Harry Deane Grady and the soldiers Robbers Anecdote cf
Grady Journey with II. D. Grady Passing the Kilwortii Mountains Suddendeath of a cousin of O'Connell's Inns when O'Connell was a young man He
travels with John Philpot Curran Arthur O'Connor Humorous bar anecdotes
Robber incident Death of Brennan the robber O'Connell thinks of writing a novel O'Connell's courtship and marriage Anecdote of Collins Auto-
U% 'CORNELL
^ ne
of Scots
Milstref/i
(r^-'W
on
"
re P u tation for
ability
; -;*?-''
125
120
terror
velocity.
On one
who poured
met
in a dil-
am
saying, sir 9
"
hear you;
country?"
my
"
You
and you very properly remark that no habit can be worse than that
the instructors of youth
their care
really
who
of
125
you can afford to hear the real truth respecting their abilities and deIt is
ficiencies.
not
my
my
fect candor.
Franciscan friars!")
Panic-stricken,
Our hero
used long after this to repeat occasionally the verses composed at the
time of the sanguinary Marat's death
Luckily, they were not pursued.
Car anjourd'hui
Demain
("Marat
Satan!
is
respire;
Prends garde de
s'il
toi,
dead! Marat
is
dead!
for
!"
128
life,
'
'
for their
devotion to Ireland
ill
the
and
The bishop of Ardagh, probably Dr. O'Higgins, told O'Neill Daunt a
whimsical circumstance that a French captain of artillery said to him
shortly after "the three glorious days of July" in 1830, "Some of us
Ah if he had
imagined that your O'Connell was born at St. Omer.
been a native of our country, we should have made him king of the
fatal
We
have his own authority for the fact that at the election
at which Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg was chosen king of the Belgians, shortly after the revolt of the citizens of Brussels in 1830 against
their Dutch masters, three votes were given to place O'Connell on the
French."
purchase a lottery-ticket.
Barnewall accordingly
"
when
was a younker,
did.
my
recollect,"
uncle gave
me 300
in gold to get
changed
nate.
At
who came
had got 100 too
told
him
130
He
much.
'Now
ing,
my
it is all right.'
begged he would
off
let
me
it
man
100
note, say-
uncle
you
the
to take his
it
won
at the Cork
more
weakened the
efforts of
aristocratic Catholics,
had
for
131
a considerable time
1
"the United Irishmen," who, though a Protestant, was. on the recommendation of Keogh, appointed their secretary in 1702, the Catholic
committee was beginning to put forth more energy. But what chiefly
of
to
make
They began
was the
territic
Already Tone had founded the society of "United Irishmen" that afterwards became so famous. Here was something, indeed, menacing to
The
becoming sworn brothers
senters
of the
it
Irish Catholics
and the
Irish dis-
1705,
when
it
when
was necessary
it did,
in
Manifestly, the
England to make a strenuous effort to conciliate the Catholics of Ireland, and draw them away
from the influence of those who might lead them into the road to com-
it
for
by the government, The objects of this bill were fourfold First, it gave
them the practice and profession of the law. Second, it proposed to
restore the Catholics the right of education, entire and unrestrained.
The necessity for a license, as enjoined by the act of 1782, was taken
off.
Third, intermarriage between Protestants and Catholics was to be
permitted.
Fourth, Sir Hercules would remove those obstructions to
arts and manufactures that limited the number of apprentices.
This
bill, which was prepared in concert with Edmund Burke, passed.
Sir
Hercules congratulated the House on the growth of the spirit of liberality manifested by the passing of this paltry act.
This Sir Hercules
Langrishe is celebrated for two very amusing bon-mots, which John
Mitchel describes "as being, in fact, short essays on the politics of Ireland."
He was riding in the Park one day with Lord Townshend when
:
132
was
viceroy.
His Excellency complained that his predecessors had left it very damp
and marshy. Sir Hercules at once observed " that they were too much
engaged in draining the rest of the kingdom." Being asked on another
occasion where
he answered,
At
" in
the continuation of
Rapin"
Catholics, in
petit juries
fence,
bench
police,
public
public de-
from
what
from
The
faith
to
133
The declaration
denied contemptuously the existence of any such Catholic tenets. " The
answers of six Catholic universities on the Continent to the queries which
had been propounded to them at the request of Mr. Pitt, three years
men
to free
manca and
great dis-
of the fac-
its
natives."
The bigots
all
up a howling-chorus
Most
of the
at these
demon-
intolerant kind
life,
they concen-
by order
of conspiracies
afloat.
The
Bodies of
Rumors
134
December
to celebrate the
triumph
French
of
liberty.
On
king graciously received the petition of the convention, setting forth the grievances of the Catholic body, from the deputaIn fact, England
tion of Catholic gentlemen appointed to present it.
of France.
still,
many
parts of Ulster.
up
in
to
them as
On
yet.
against England
and
in the
This
bill
for
Protestant
members
of Parlia-
ment, admitted Catholics to the outer bar; they could not be king's counIt
sel, or enjoy any of the high dignities or honors of the profession.
for Protestant
municipal
officers;
permitted them
by
this act, it
was necessary
to take
most
CAHOLAN
f/virsYr/ffr
<
//'/<>//
'
JjrrYfi
Protestant Ascendency
by England's
bribed
it
humbled.
felt
concession,
135
showed themselves
less disposed
to
countenance the ultra-liberal and national views of "the United Irishmen." And yet the Catholics were still subjected to the grossest insults
and to exclusion from positions, to which they were now legally eligible,
by the malignant faction of the Ascendency.
At
As Mr. Mitchel
tion.
it
'
'
managed the
the narrowness
be seen that, while they demanded general relief, including admission to both Houses of Parliament, they would be content to take much
After this, the question with the government became, not how
less.
let it
much was
to
O'Connell, speaking of
"He
of 1793, says:
member
of
much
Pitt
'
What would
Dundas on the
to
who had an
seemed inclined
five persons,
He was
?'
Keogh
replied,
'
Equal-
of the deputation,
but Dundas started several objections. Pitt then said, 'Would you be
satisfied with the bar, the elective franchise and eligibility to the municipalities ?'
Keogh replied, They would be great boons.' Pitt immediately
pinned him to that, and would concede no more. Now, had a lawyer
'
136
find
him
in
'93,
to the
London
We
He
sometimes saw, during his residence there, the prince of "Wales, afterwards George IV. His opinion of that worthless scion of royalty seems
to
years
after,
Was
"When
"a handsome,
princely
saw him
ably handsome-faced
man
his figure
enormous
But when
was
faulty,
fellow.
'
'
'
137
Referring to the praise which some writers had given George IV. for
conversational talent, O'Connell
tion
"
Why. from
made
whom
there
and he
is
usu-
some curiosity felt. That kind of talk might have passed for agreeable, but his favorite conversation was like that of a profligate, halfdrunken trooper."
In 1795, while O'Connell was over in London, he witnessed one day
a very singular tumult in the streets of that Babylonish metropolis, in
the course of which King George III. had a narrow escape from the fury
of a mob, and O'Connell himself an equally narrow one from the sabre
On one occasion O'Connell was led to relate all the parof a trooper.
ticulars of the occurrence in this manner: He was in the company of
some friends, when the conversation turned on the odd knack some sovereigns had of rewarding their foes and neglecting to do anything for
To illustrate the truth of this, one of the party told a
th?ir friends.
somewhat humorous story of an Irish colonel who, though he had fought
for the Stuarts, was completely neglected by the Second Charles on his
What chagrined the worthy colonel
restoration to his ancestral throne.
heaping
favors on numbers who had been
more was to see His Majesty
downright opponents of that restoration. He couldn't help saying to
the king one day, "Please, Your Majesty, I have fought in your service
and got nothing. An't please you, I can perhaps plead a merit that will
" I pray ou, friend, what is that?"
find more favor in your royal eyes."
}
demanded the king. "Why, that I fought against your sacred Majesty
for two years in the service of Cromwell." replied this strange courtier.
ally
"Oddsfish,
man!
Irishman's whimsical
way
of
recommending himself
in short, before long the lucky colonel was provided for by "the merry
The
comme on e'erit Vhistoire! (And behold how justly they write history!) I
was witness to the whole transaction, and I can state that nobody forced
into his carriage, although his life was certainly in imminent danger.
138
was in 1795 I was over here in London. Richard Newton Bennett and
I went down through St. James's Park to see the king returning from the
House of Lords. On passing through Whitehall there was a tumultuous crowd, and some person flung a penny at the king's carriage and
broke the glass.
The dragoons immediately began to clear their way
with drawn sabres through the crowd, advancing with great speed along
It
As
the place where I stood, I pressed forward to get a sight of the king, and
one of the dragoons made a furious cut at me with his sabre, which
deeply notched the tree about an inch or two over my head. The mob
were
all this
clear of
St.
however, he got
He
off
his
At
tall,
determined-looking
man
presented a pis-
through the opposite window at the fellows who were going to open
the door.
They shrank back, the mob relaxed their grasp on the wheels
for one moment, the postilion flogged away and the carriage went off
tol
at a gallop to
escape.
men were
full of
Jacobinism.
men who
Richardson was,
think, the
name
of
one of the
among
tried to
history
if
young
Irish
the
139
hands of the infuriated Cockneys, the other cloven down by the fierce
sweep of the English horseman's sabre
It is wonderful to contrast the slow travelling of those days with the
manner in which railway-trains annihilate space in our own times.
Even the mail and day coaches, immediately prior to the introduction
!
'
navigation
is of infinite utility in
In a sailing-vessel you often got almost to land, and yet were tantalized
very
dodging
When
ill,
threaten
and
life
for
remember
on shore
we
could
was taken
my
illness
These long journeys are suggestive of any amount of incidents and adventures on the way. They call to mind at once the strange wanderings
in " Don Quixote " and " Gil Bias," so replete with variety and whimsical
140
adventure; or perhaps
still
more
so the
many days and so full of humorous and groFielding's "Tom Jones" and " Joseph Andrews " and
tesque incidents, in
Smollett's "Roderick
novels.
him
to
Indeed, so fond
was he
of this
some inconvenience.
In 1704 he
He
described the
same
fish."
to
advert presently
may
141
Per-
etc.
refer to
biographical writer,
well-informed
1794 he
became a law-student in Lincoln's Inn.
As O'Connell's family was
ancient and comparatively wealthy, he might prefer Lincoln's Inn as
being the most aristocratic of the inns.
Gray's Inn is not considered so
respectable as it or the Temple but, on the other hand, Gray's Inn is
greatly frequented by the Irish students on account of certain advanIt is, if I remember rightly, cheaper than the
tages it offers them.
other inns, and to keep each term a student there is required to dine a
find
stated
it
that
in
less
in
number
of days.
"
bar in that
At
to.
then, of determining
city, it is of less
to
con-
have no means,
Lincoln's Inn, one
I
him
O'Connell
tells
us that Pitt
" as
fall
at the
end
is
completely round the House that every syllable he uttered was distinctly
heard by every
man
in the House."
Fox
in the debate to
which
he was referring ?
felicity of
phrase.
man
ever kriew
to
142
lence
happy."
"We have seen that the atrocities that stained the French Revolution
his lodgings in
air
From
he writes the following letter to his uncle Maurice O'Connell of Darrynane: " I pay the same price for board and lodging as I should ii. Lon-
whom
spend
my
law-books
me 1
143
on the
They
cost
10s.,
and fortune
and
know
and as for the motives of ambition which you suggest, I assure you that
no man can possess more of it than I do. I have indeed a glowing and
an enthusiastic ambition, which converts
if I may use the expression
every toil into a pleasure and every study into an amusement.
" Though nature may have given me subordinate talents, I never will
be
satisfied
my
profession.
No man
is
am
If I
tion.
my own
of
I
do not
conscience.
It is
not because
I assert
now
these things
I flatter
myself
that
I refer
hope-
my
efforts
bad habits which you pointed out to me will be appaIndeed, as for my knowledge in the professional line, that cannot
rent.
be discovered for some years to come but I have time in the interim to
prepare myself to appear with great eclat on the grand theatre of the
to correct those
world."
The above
speaks for
it
to
my
letter is
itself,
pregnant with
many
indications of character.
It
readers to
make
their
it.
an
O'Connell
tells
us
10
144
he was the
first
O'COXN'ELL.
while a youth could drink more than three glasses of wine without being
sick, so
that
had
my
"On
in Irish society.
side-table at Darrynane.
everybody
called
him
I
'
remember a jolly
Cousin Kane.'
He
fellow of the
name
of
Kane
to
and kept two horses and twelve couple of dogs at other people's
expense.
One day there was a large dinner at Darrynane, and Kane
was one of the guests at my side-table. A decanter of whisky stood
before me, and I, thinking it was sherry
which it exactly resembled in
color
rilled Cousin Kane's
glass.
He drank it off, but immediately got
He gave
into a rage with me for giving him whisky instead of wine.
me a desperate scolding, which he ended by holding out his glass and
house,
'
saying, ferociously,
"
tall,
'
'
Fill
it
again, sir!'
'
He
lived
upon
all
who would
let
145
him
in,
and being a
And am I to be bound
and told him the clock had only struck two.
?'
If it
retorted Cousin Kane.
by a blackguard clock, you blockhead
reason
I
should
in
bed
that
any
stay
one
moment
struck twenty-two, is
He used to mingle prayers and curses in the most
after I can't sleep?'
'
'
outlandish wa}r
would
tremendous oath.
On
the whole, he
was a noble
and sincere, but brutally uncouth and choleric to the last degree. He
had seventy-six actions for assault and battery against him, yet he
would venture to go to Tralee in assizes time. He had kicked up a row
in court, and Judge Kelly reproved him in as gentle language as the
case permitted.
He cursed and swore at the judge for presuming to
Kelly pretended to think he was mad, and said
lecture a gentleman.
this
gentleman got on much faster than his servant, who lagged behind near
Cousin Kane. At a point where their roads parted, 'Who's your master,
Bad luck to me,' cried Kane,
Judge Kelly, sir.'
friend ?' asked Kane.
A'n't I the unluckiest devil
'that didn't know him without his Avig!
Give my best respects
that ever was born that I didn't thrash him ?
to your master, friend, and tell him that if I had known who he was I'd
'
'
have licked and leathered him as long as I could stand over him.'
In later life, as O'Connell was one day passing the corner of Grafton
He immediately said to the
street, a child stopped to stare at him.
friend accompanying him, "That's just the spot where I stopped to
stare at
about
to enjoy
was
The time
He was
and
;
ill-
at all
events, not very long before the fierce death-grapple of the noble patriot.
146
many
a meeting
of the lawyers.
of
O'Con-
As he
for
me
felt
probability hanged.
all
much by being
learned
My
was an adjunct
to the directory of
United Irishman.
lesson
to
As
friend,
United Irishmen.
have no secrets in
politics.
was myself a
secret,
danger
of
hanging."
It
was
of Ireland's darkest
147
After such
a long and iniquitous exclusion of the Catholic body from the field of
legal distinction, the time had at length arrived when a young Catholic
Irishman of the highest forensic genius was to commence his career as
In this year
renown over
Irish race.
of '98, so full of
melancholy recollections
for Ireland,
we
"
a laughing-stock.
148
day he goes forth to the chase, but his hunting-exercise soon fatigues
him, and he falls asleep in a ditch beneath the rays of the sun. He gets
worse and worse every day. He spends a fortnight in a miserable state
of discomfort, wandering about and unable to eat anything.
At last,
feeling that he can battle against the disease no longer, he gives in and
Now
takes to bed.
" I
that
was
around me.
declare that
my
show
I felt
my
backbone
who was
father,
at
'Unknown I
Some noble
May
And
'
my
life
'
in such
fancied
and
tire
positively
During
my
illness I
used to
these lines
no tongue
shall speak of
me;
judging by themselves,
spirits,
yet conjecture
think
ravings
at
the effort I
bedside, that I
Douglas
die,
my
In
was
me was
He
what
only wanting to
my
fame.'
used to quote these lines under the full belief that my illness
would end fatally. Indeed, long before that period when I was seven
r
years old
es, indeed, as long as I can recollect, I always felt a presentiment that I should write my name on the page of history. I hated
" I
Saxon domination.
part of
my
whole army
"
'That
have
is
illness, Dr.
to
Moriarty told
me
starved.'
"
'
Oh
no,' replied
whole army
would
of little use
if
it in.'
My
arty said to
my
remember the
rumor
of
is
Dr. Mori-
untouched.'
an engagement between
and the
royalists at Ballinamuck,
149
then transpired."
After this severe wrestling-match with "that most excellent fellow
the
however,
is
old,
he
sallies forth
abode where he
first circuit.
Our
on
first
cavalier,
steel,
nor does he, like the antique knights-errant, expect to redress the wrongs
Yet is our adventurer strongly
of injured damozels by the wayside.
with a powerful frame and constitution, a stout, hopeheart, and, above all, a vigorous, domineering brain, full of all the
armed,
ful
too,
serfs.
from his
paternal home to fight the battle of life is intensely interesting. It would
After mentioning that on his
be a pity not to give it in his own words.
recovery "he prepared to go off circuiteering," he thus proceeds: "It
was at four o'clock on a fine sunny morning that I left Carhen on horseback.
My brother John came part of the way with me. and oh how I
did envy
off
among
the mountains,
But we parted.
on the drudgery of my profession
looked after him from time to time until he was out of sight, and then
cheered up my spirits as well as I could. I had left home at such an
whilst
I
had
to enter
drove
me under
a bridge
for shelter.
150
Robert Hickson also under the bridge. He saluted me, and asked
where I was going. I answered, To Tarbert.'
me
'
"
'
Why
" 'I
am
so late
not
said Hickson.
?'
late,'
said
'I
I.
morning.'
"
'
"
'
near
fifty Irish
miles
warm
was
approval of
my
activity.
"
Yoxill do,
'
'
(Here either
dancing."
Dan
'
or Mr. Daunt,
At
the
seen
my
fifty
young counsel do
to
and I
cross-examined him right well.
I remember he stated that he had his
share of a pint of whisky, whereupon I asked him whether his share was
not all except the pewter.
He confessed that it was and the oddity of
my mode of putting the question was very successful and created a general and hearty laugh.
Jerry Keller repeated the encouragement Robert
Hickson had already bestowed upon my activity in the very same words
"
'You'll do, young gentleman you'll do.'
It may be remarked here, for the edification of American readers of
senior.
thought
it
due
to myself to
attempt
it,
hit or miss,
much
151
llobert
152
Soldier, will
" I believe the fellows that are licensed to sell it here are very chary
of it."
Remember,
this
after the
sanguinary rebellion of
still
'98.
pervaded the
island.
go yourself;
am no man's
first
still
who have
so
much
been guilty of the blunder of calling the corporal Soldier.' Did you not
see the mark of his rank upon his sleeve ? You have grievously wounded
'
his pride
am
your brave fellows here had not the trouble of escorting the judges this
wet day. It was excellent business for those yeomanry chaps."
"
Ay, indeed,
sir,"
and manifestly highly nattered at having been styled " Sergeant " by our
hero " it was well for those that were not under these torrents of rain."
" Perhaps, sergeant," resumes the bland and insinuating diplomatist,
" you would have the kindness to procure me some powder and ball in
town we are to pass the Kilworth Mountains, and shall want ammuYou can of course have no difficulty in purchasing, but it is
nition.
;
sell
these matters."
This clever proceeding by method of sap and mine on the part of the
oily
irresistible.
My
153
fit
your
who came
across
Dan
We
have seen a
from
In the same manner his instructors at Douay had already
St. Omer's.
prophesied his future renown from the uncommon talent he manifested
lier,
to his uncle
all,
come
off;
comedy of "The Beaux' Stratagem," the night was a beautiful one for
such an enterprise, for it was fearfully wet as O'Connell and Grady
crossed the Kilworth Mountains, and it may be presumed pretty safely
it was also, to use the words of Gibbet's excellent colleague in roguery,
Hounslow, "dark as hell;" and possibly, if their comrade Bagshot, the
member
third
admirably typical of a
Worthies," had been there, he would have added
blows like the devil."
and
it
an
may
"And
ill
it
more or
this night
is
no
less.
from
all
ill
If
ill
know
But it is also
wind or weather but does somebody some harm,
O'Connell and his friend Grady escaped scot-free
consequences of foul weather or mishaps from
be very true
be
to the contrary.
deeds of robbers, or other mischances of the road, the day and the
weather were fatal to a cousin of Dan's. Captain Henessey, his cousin,
fouler
commanded the company that escorted the judges from the city of Cork
to Fermoy on that day.
By the time he arrived at Fermoy he was wet
When
to the skin.
154
mind
"
it;"
On
off
your
wet clothes and get between blankets at once. Thus you become warm
all over in an instant.
To rinse the mouth once or twice with spirits
and water is useful."
This Harry Deane Grady, O'Connell' s fellow-traveller on this occasion, was,
He
in O'Connell's opinion,
"
"Why,
indeed,
sir, I
"Ah,
thought
so.
155
first circuit.
may not be
fifty;
he got no
less
man
for
five or six
after
" I
neighborhood was
cuit.
My
much
to that
gentleman
"Some
years ago,
was
when
this
travelling on cir-
saw a man
156
with his back against the wall and his hand in the breast of his coat, as
stir,
was when on
lin that
O'Connell gave
anecdote.
is
his
it to
It
Dub-
an attorney) was
by Brennan at that spot. Brennan presented his pistol, crying, 'Stand!'
Hold cried Jerry Connor.
Don't fire here's my purse.' The robber,
thrown off his guard by these words, lowered his weapon, and Jerry,
instead of a purse, drew a pistol from his pocket and shot Brennan in
the chest.
Brennan's back was supported at the time against the ditch,
did
so he
not fall.
He took deliberate aim at Jerry, but feeling himself
mortally wounded, dropped liis pistol, crawled over the ditch and walked
slowly along, keeping parallel with the road.
He then crept over another ditch, under which he was found dead the next morning."
Such
was the fate of Brennan the robber.
I remember having heard and read in my boyhood some other anecdotes of this unlucky knight of the road, Brennan
how on one occasion he was chased into a wood by some militia soldiers
how he concealed himself in some tangled undergrowth how, when they were
beating about and searching for him, the sergeant, thrusting all round
with his bayonet, stuck him three times
how Brennan's endurance
was so great as to enable him to refrain from uttering a cry till the pain
Tralee,
'
!'
'
him
to give in.
Also, I
certain
whose notes people were not over fond of receiving as payment, came,
like
numbers
15-i
"
by stariug
at
member
Four Courts.
old Leonard, 'did you hear of
'Parsons! Parsons,
sons, quietly,
'
did not.
my son's robbery?'
Whom did he rob?' "
my dear fellow
'No,'
!'
said
answered Par-
O'Connell used sometimes to indulge in pleasant and genial reminiscences of the inns where weary and travel-stained guests found their
"
when on
circuit,
its
continual flashes of
w it and
T
and revelry
firelight that
would find
in the
county Clare
"was
it,
Tom,
close to the
158
bridge."
squire,
elled
Tom
Steele.)
"What
less
a person than
many
years.
Maryborough; how often I have seen the old trooper who kept it
smoking his pipe on the stone bench at the door, and his fat old wife
They kept a right good house. She inherited
sitting opposite to him
the inn from her father and mother, and was trained up early to the
business.
She was an only child, and had displeased her parents by a
runaway-match with a dragoon soldier. However, they soon relented,
and received her and her husband into favor. The worthy trooper took
charge of the stable department, for which his habits well adapted him,
and the in-door business was admirably managed by his wife.
"Then there was that inn at Naas most comfortably kept and
I remember stopping to dine there one day, posting up
excellent wine.
from the Limerick assizes. There were three of us in the chaise, and
was tipsy; his eyes were bloodshot and his features swollen from
hard drinking on the previous night, besides which he had tippled a little
As he got out of the chaise I called him Parson,' to
in the morning.
the evident delight of a Methodist preacher who was haranguing a
crowd in the street, and who deemed his own merits enhanced by the
!
'
It
for
(it
clean, well-furnished parlor, the whitest table-linen, the best beef, the
sweetest and tenderest mutton, the fattest fowl, the most excellent wines
and Madeira were the high wines then they knew nothing about
champagne), and the most comfortable beds. In my early days it was
by far the best inn in Munster. But the new roads have enabled the
travellers from Kerry to get far beyond Milstreet in a day, and the inn
being therefore less frequented than of old, is, of course, not so well
looked after by its present proprietor."
Between Milstreet and Macroom, O'Connell used to point out the
(claret
159
were obliged
cuit
to travel.
If
went
cir-
for wheel-carriages,
when on
circuit
them
on horseback.
"More no than
" I had, indeed,
that
it
That, I
greatly cooled
among
all
saw
my
admiration of him."
conjecture that
it
may,
after
all,
land
He seems
for a
inclined
small allot-
ment system, calculated to promote " the comfort of the humbler classes
without encroaching upon the interests or rights of the landed aristocracy," involving, in short, no "anti-social results."
We have seen O'Connell travelling with Harry Deane Grady, but in
the earlier portion of his career he sometimes had far more distinguished
fellow-travellers.
Cork mail.
He
At the period
crowded more on the top of the luggage on the roof). The passengers got off the coach and walked two or three miles on the rising ground
on the Dublin side of Clonmel. It was during that walk that Curran
talked to O'Connell of Arthur O'Connor's supposed agrarian scheme.
In the course of a conversation, in which the name of Arthur O'Connor chanced to turn up, that gentleman's celebrated letter to Lord Cas"Do you know," said O'Contle-reagh, written in 1798, was spoken of.
often
11
160
nell to Mr.
Daunt,
"who
was your
He was walking past Kilmainham
It
friend,
prison,
and was hailed by Arthur O'Connor from a window. Arthur threw his
manuscript out, saying, 'Will you do me the service of getting that
printed?'
'If I find on perusal that it merits publication, I will,'
said McLoughlin.
'Promise me positively!'
'No; but if I like the
production I shall gladly bear the expense of printing it.'
So saying,
McLoughlin took it home, read, approved, and got it printed. For acting thus, Cornelius was brought before the select committee of the
House of Commons. When asked who got the pamphlet printed, he
boldly answered, It was I
Why did you do so ?' Because I ap.'
'
'
'
We
won't
it.'
inflict
much good
"
his lordship
had
so
in him."
"
spirit in others.
Union was
virtually car-
O'Connell, contrasting the reputation for wit which the Irish bar
much
sessed at a
life,
it
pos-
more recent period the profession could boast no such wit as Curran,
but that still it had within its ranks members largely endowed with the
"Holmes," said he, "has a great share of
talent for provoking laughter.
As for myself, to the last hour of my practice at
very clever sarcasm.
the bar, I kept the court alternately in tears and in roars of laughter.
Plunket had great wit. He was a creature of exquisite genius. Nothing could be happier than his hit in reply to Lord Redesdale [Mitford,
a dry Englishman sent over to be Irish
the historian of Greece's brother
chancellor)
about
the kites.
'
kites
'
Lord Redesdale,
to
'
whom
the phrase
stand your meaning, Mr. Plunket; in England kites are paper playthings used
by boys
in Ireland they
seem
to
transaction.'
is
my
another difference,
161
lord,'
'in
said
Plunket;
witicV
legislative
flagitious imposition:
'is
'
It is not
a penny a
letter
/'
And
Cur-
ran' s reply to
sir,'
'
'
lord
!'
retorted Curran.
"Wilson Croker, too, had humor. When the crier wanted to expel
the dwarf O'Leary, who was about two feet four inches high, from the
jury-box in Tralee, Croker said, Let him stay where he is De minibus
'
non curat
Tom
'
lex.''
you
may
conscientiously do
so.
sides,
'
Keep them
You can be
And when
"
was probably during the early days of his professional life that
O'Connell was about to write a novel. When asked what his story was
to have been, he said, "Why, as to the story, I had not that fully determined on. But my hero was to have been a natural son of George III.
by Hannah Lightfoot, his Quaker mistress. The youth was to have been
early taken from his mother, and I meant to make him a student at
Douay, and thence to bring him through various adventures to the West
Indies.
He was to be a soldier of fortune to take part in the American
war and to come back finally to England imbued with republican
principles."
Mr. Daunt failed to remember clearly whether O'Connell
intended that this young adventurer, on his return to his native land,
It
and aspersions
levelled
fair
fame.
In
162
fact,
he seems to have
felt
for
the
mem-
ory of the hapless queen, and to have almost reverenced any relics of her
remaining.
Few
least.
all events,
could be
made
to
if
not
delicious enchantment,
'
deserved that
piness that
much
should
man
ever enjoyed.
larger fortune,
Had
his uncle
me
she gave
My
uncle
was desirous
should obtain
and other
relatives,
163
make
him independent.
The lovers were privately married on the 23d of June, 1802, in Dame
street, Dublin, at the lodgings of Mr. James Connor, the lady's brotherThe bride was the daughter of a physician in Tralee, who was
in-law.
indeed skilful in his profession, but not sufficiently rich to give a mar-
was which caused the resentment of O'Connell's family when they came to know of the marriage,
The Reverend Mr. Finn, then
for it was kept secret for several months.
parish priest of Irishtown, was the clergyman who pronounced the nupriage-portion with his daughter.
tial
This
it
benediction.
would do very
in Tralee
"Cross, sir?" the old lady would hastily reply, in the greatest state
of
amazement and
my
little girl
"My Mary
vexation.
Sir,
cross?
Sir,
born
fault.
Sir,
!"
And
courtesy to him.
all
imaginable expe-
and ran away to school to get out of his sight as fast as possible."
Here is a specimen of O'Connell's style of responding to a toast given
in honor of Mrs. O'Connell: "There are some topics of so sacred and
sweet a nature that they may be comprehended by those who are happy,
but cannot possibly be described by any human being. All that I shall
do is to thank you in the name of her who was the disinterested choice
of my youth, and who was the ever-cheerful companion of my manly
And this you may readily believe
In her name I thank you.
years.
for experience, I think, will show to us all that a man cannot battle and
dition,
"
164
struggle with the malignant enemies of his country unless his nest at
home is warm and comfortable unless the honey of human life is commended by a hand he loves.
With the above contrast the following passage, which was delivered
at a temperance soiree that was given to him in Belfast, in the year 1841,
by four hundred and fifty ladies of various religious sects. It was re"But
ported in " The Belfast Yindicator " of the 20th of January, 1841
:
me back
No,
profanation of words.
who
to
I will
is
what my
say was? Oh,
idea of
'
Yes, I
a friend
duities of
served
him
"
(I
believe
Tom
fellow
made
he ob-
many
him.
ledge of
it
'
perhaps
overrate
my
of
know-
am
open-
prospects of success in
public
life
But instead
of thus delicately feeling his way, the fellow blurted out his
JG5
trashy brag of successful ambition and fame and his offer of marriage
all at
Then
once.
laughs at raptures
as to the raptures
had
fine opportunities,
past girlhood
upon
own
time to his
exertions,
aroused that he might be able the better to place his beloved one in
among
and
the public
activity, his
of
of his
own country
for his
of resources.
men
men
Ere long
details, his
amazing
fertility
it
marvellous industry
life.
remember once hearing or reading an account of some rich individual who went to Lord Chief-justice Kenyon, I believe, to ask him as
a friend what were likely to be the chances of his son at the bar.
The
"
chief-justice made the following reply:
Sir, your son must spend his fortune; let him marry and spend his wife's and then he may be expected
to apply in earnest."
In " Curran's Life," too, we find that he attributes
I
ficidUs quinaissent
les miracles.'"
(" It is difficulties
to
miracles.")
Rather different was the advice given, some years ago, by one of the
senior fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, who was a lay-fellow and a barrister, to a friend who came to consult him about the law-books his son
should study in order to secure success at the bar.
"Books!"
cries the
"
old fellow.
for
a year.
That's the
way
bar in Ireland."
to rise at the
life for
The
old gen-
In his
learned retreat he had failed to observe the changes that had taken place
in Ireland, both in society in general
and
166
that
rising lawyers
owed
might
still
when
pistol,
be able to
their success in
all
life
was
of far
it
had come
He had
make
not, good,
forensic distinction to be
of legal lore
He was
life
had glided on into a dull prosaic age, when even the fate of Irish elections was wont to be decided without the occurrence of a single " affair
of honor " between either the rival candidates or their counsel or any of
their supporters, and when a man might become the most prominent of
Irish politicians without having once in his whole life pulled a hairtrigger in anger.
To return
seen before
to O'Connell.
him the
Perhaps
if
sloth.
Something
life
he had
own
exer-
like this
hap-
tions,
pened in the case of a talented barrister named Colbs, with whom our
hero was intimate during the early portion of his career at the bar. This
Collis, in 1800, wrote an anti-union pamphlet, in which he predicted that
the ruin of Ireland would result from that baleful measure. Afterwards,
in 1826, he insisted that things had turned out just as he had foretold.
O'Connell, in speaking of Collis, described him as " a clever fellow.
He
had talent enough to have made a figure at the bar if it had not been
for the indolence induced by his comfortable property.
His wife was a
Miss Kashleigh, an uncommonly beautiful woman. He and I went circuit together.
Going down to the Monster circuit by the Tullamore
boat, we amused ourselves on deck firing pistols at the elms along the
canal.
There was a small party of soldiers on board, and one of them
authoritatively desired us to stop our firing.
"
"
"
'
I,
167
and he slunk
off to
This
fallen."
On
and
puns were
guilty of an indifferent one enough.
They
that he had been a
long time thinking of marrying, and at last he married RashMgh.' "
Among O'Connell's earlier contemporaries was a young barrister who
on one occasion was retained as counsel against a eow-stealer. He burst
into a vehement denunciation of the rogue, who had branded his own
name on the horns of the stolen cow. The closing words of the peroration of the advocate's harangue were a singularly happy instance of unconscious burlesque: "If, my lord, the cow were a cow of any feeling,
how could she bear to have such a name branded on her horns?"
It was Bully Egan, I believe, who in those days uttered a sentence of
magnificently-audacious nonsense that can hardly be paralleled, not to
say surpassed, even in the speeches of our old friend. "Mine Ancient
Interrupted on some occasion or other by one of the opposing
Pistol."
counsel, who happened to have black eyebrows and a hot temper, Egan
turned on him with a glare of theatric fierceness and exclaimed, " I
would have my learned friend to know that, in the fulfilment of my
tiful
said "
'
sacred duty to
my
client, I
am
man
be intimidated by the
Egan," whispered one of his colleagues
not the
to
limest effrontery,
"but
it is
good enough
for
a jury!"
Some of my readers will be astonished to learn that Daniel O'Connell became a member of the society of Free and Accepted Masons in
the year 1799.
His lodge met in Dublin, and consisted of one hundred
and eighty-nine members.
lodge.
He writes
O'Connell was,
it
life
" It is true, I
was
my
life,
168
Ireland
may
save so far as
and useful
it
may
its
institutions, the
temperance
societies.
The important
objec-
tion is the profane taking in vain the awful name of the Deity in the
wanton and multiplied oaths oaths administered on the book of God
" I
when a
fire
have disturbed the paving-stones all over the street if I had not been
There was a large crowd. Sheriff Macready (an old aucprevented.
tioneer) kept order, with the aid of a party of the Buckinghamshire
I was rather an unruly customer, being a little under the influmilitia.
ence of a good batch of claret, and on my refusing to desist from picking up the street one of the soldiers ran a bayonet at me, which was
If I had not had the
intercepted by the cover of my hunting- watch.
agitators.
country so aggrieved could not have lacked patriot leaders, though they
might not have agitated prudently or wisely."
1G9
sold himself.
appointment
utter insignificance,
to
think of buying:
"My
government
markets of corruption."
As you travel from Killarney to Milstreet, on the left-hand side of
Pointing this out to a friend,
the road stands the farm of Lisnababie.
O'Connell once exclaimed, " I may say with honest pride that I was a
good help to keep that farm in the hands of its rightful owner, Lalor of
Killarney.
I was yet very young at the bar when Jeny Connor (the
attorney concerned for Lalor) gave me two ten-guinea fees in the LisnaLalor remonstrated with Connor, stating that the latter had
babie case.
no right to pay so expensive a compliment out of his money to so young
finds a ready sale in the
a barrister.
bill,
rose
the triumph."
months
after
my
down
in
my own
cue you!
parish,
Whoop!
easily be believed,
and maybe
Long
life
first
opportu-
immensely amused at
of gratitude.
cial
conclude
this
O'Connell, on one of
170
was
in
it,
but as
am not quite
name without
He was coming
think Lord
sure, I don't
stating
my uncer-
to the
of the continued
my
it,
sir,'
who ordhered me
ment
down
'
considerably.
Mr. Nagle, the owner of the bullocks, was, and having satisfied himself
that the drove were intended by that gentleman as a douceur for his
lordship previously to the pending
trial,
When
the trial
came on he took
On
excel-
own
abode after the circuit had closed, the first question he asked was,
But bullocks, alas there were
"Where the drove of bullocks were ?'
'
171
for
for
him.
The instant Denis gained his point he sent in a bill to the judge for the
lull value of the horses.
His lordship called Denis aside to expostulate
privately with him.
Oh, Mr. O'Brien,' said he, I did not think you
meant to charge me for those horses. Come now, my dear friend, why
'Upon my word that's curious talk,' reshould I pay you for them?'
I'd like to know why your lordtorted Denis in a tone of defiance
To this inquiry of course a reply
ship should not pay me for them ?'
was impossible; all the judge had for it was to hold his peace and
pay the money." *
'
'
'
The books
to
which I
am
Daunt's
Geoghegan," "Curran's Life," by
his son,
etc.
CHAPTEE
VI.
Theobald Wolfe Tone and the "United Irishmen" Peep-o'-Day Boys and Defenders Orange atrocities Tone in Bantry Bay Injustice and tyranny of Lord
Camden's government' Secession of Grattan and his friends from the House of
Commons O'Connell's comments on this step The Texel expedition Arrests at
Bond's house Death of Lord Edward Fitzgerald Rebellion of '98 horrorsJohn P. CURRAN DEFENDS THE UNITED IRISHMEN DEATH OF WOLFE TONE AND OTHERS
The Union Clare and Castlereagh Daniel O'Connell's first appearance on
THE POLITICAL STAGE AS AN ORATOR HlS ANTI-UNION SPEECH HENRY GrATTAN's SUDDEN REAPPEARANCE IN PARLIAMENT HlS FIERCE INVECTIVE AGAINST CoRRY DUEL BETWEEN Grattan and Corry Grattan's Anti-Union speeches The Union carried
Insurrection of 1803 Robert Emmett's speech in the dock His execution O'Con-
UKING
thing here.
ted Irishmen
Tone.
"
Soon, however, so
forward to occupy
the leading positions that he Avas completely in the shade for a time.
This, of course, pleased him, as he
"My
my
single-
minded man,
of
object,"
I left
my
nature that
it
was rather an
my own
system, which
was
luckily
men who
viewed the question on a broader and juster scale than I did at the time
Indeed, the professed objects of the society did not at that
I mention."
The opening senperiod go the length even of national independence.
tence of the constitution of the
its
language
172
first
club at Belfast
is
very moderate in
for-
178
Buck
lane,
was shortly
after
invaded by the
police, the
meeting dispersed and their papers seized. The timid now fell off, but
the determined members of the society resolved on reorganizing it on a
bolder and more revolutionary basis.
with arsenic
for
the purpose.
to his advo-
were those spoken by the chief conspirator Pierre" to his friend Jaffier in the tragedy of " Venice Preserved," when the latter stabs Pierre to
save him from being broken on the wheel "We have deceived the senate !"
Tone had to quit the country to avoid a similar conviction on Cockcate,
ayne's testimony.
the
new
them through.
effect,
the people would have been satisfied and the rebellion of '98
might never have occurred. But all these -ardent hopes that had been
raised in the minds of the people were doomed to bitter disappointment.
The partisans of the faction of Ascendency began to tremble for their
174
houses
the revenue.
self,
Protestant
of commissioner of
not without
ister,
most
their
effect.
rebellion, that
he might the
175
North had formed an association called the " Defenders." The two hostile bodies came into sanguinary collision at the village of the Diamond,
This is the enin the county Armagh, on the 21st of September, 1795.
counter known as "the Battle of the Diamond." The Catholics, who
were almost totally unarmed, were, as might be expected, defeated by
weapons and were sure of magA few Defenders were hilled and several
isterial protection to boot,
This miserable and shameful affair, magnilomore were wounded.
quently styled by the Orangemen a battle, has been boastfully toasted
at their drunken orgies and celebrated in doggerel ballads, the sanguinary spirit of which is disgraceful not merely to the Orange Society, but
the Orangemen,
to
human
nature
of
itself.
It is calculated that in
that year not less than seven thousand of the unresisting Catholics were
homes in the one small county of Armagh. These wretched outcasts had no place of shelter to fly to. They
wandered about the mountains some died, others were lodged in prison.
The younger men, in pursuance of a suggestion of the Irish commandereither slain or expelled from their
was,
by a
12
delicate
Lein-
176
ster
this year.
Ulster,
We
can learn even from that rabid partisan of the Protestant Ascendency,
Sir Richard Musgrave, how the Catholic peasantry were treated by Lord
Carhampton and the squirearchy " In each county he (Lord Carhamp:
who were
in prison,
but defied
with the concurrence of these gentlemen, sent the most nefarious of them on board a tender stationed at Sligo to serve in His MaIs it any way wonderful that every day the masses of
jesty's navy."
justice, he,
became more and more disaffected towards the king's government, that connived at and tolerated, if it did not actually prompt,
these atrocities of the Orange brigands and of Lord Carhampton and
the squirearchy ? Or is it any wonder that the people so hunted and tortured should begin to long for a complete separation of the two islands,
which would necessarily place them on an equal footing with their Protestant countrymen ?
The tyranny went on. Lord Camden, the new viceroy, called for laws
An insurrection act was passed
against dangerous secret societies.
"
Defenders."
An
of
indemnity was passed to indemact
against The
nify magistrates and officers of the army against the consequences of any
of their illegal and unconstitutional outrages upon the Catholics. But no
bill was passed against the Orange banditti who were the real distuibMr. Grattan denounced
ers of the peace and well-being of the country.
this gross partiality of the government in his usual splendid style of
He then showed that the Orangemen had robbed, massacred
eloquence.
and endeavored to exterminate the Catholics that these lawless brigands
had, in point of fact, "repealed by their own authority all the laws
recently passed in favor of the Catholics;" that they had established
the Catholics
them
masters,
by
and surpassing them far in persedenounced the system of terror they had
in outrage,
He
by
these "
Catholic wea-
name
that
of
is,
God and
name
177
tried
by a
of liberty."
Commit-
if
"
many
In
houses of the tenantry, or what they called racked the house, so that the
family must
fly
of Catholics
had been
inhabitants of
own
In
cabin."
fact,
Murders
"the Catholic
out against
it."
Catholic inhabitants of
persons unknown,
threaten
who
Armagh
" are
Roman
their lands
and habitations."
"
178
By
iting the
other of
and
color of outrage.
of
restraint
latter
without privilege."
No wonder
and multiply. I may here observe that the " Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood" in Iceland, commonly but incorrectly called the "Fenian Organization " (the " Fenian Brotherhood " was, in reality, merely
an American-Irish society affiliated with the home or purely Irish movement originally, indeed, it was a subordinate branch of the home movement"), the "Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood," I say, seems to be in
our own days the legitimate successor of the society of "United Irishmen " in '98. Mr. Mitchel is certainly mistaken in the following pas-
flourish
MacGeoghegan
:"
ization,
'
'
'
has little or nothing, properly speaking, of a political or revolutionary complexion whereas, both the " Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood " and the " Fenian Brotherhood " are unsectarian and purely political
and revolutionary, precisely like the " United Irishmen " of '98. Possibly,
ryalts," it
members
may
179
him in his efforts to gain a favorable hearing from the French statesmen.
Although imperfectly acquainted with French at the time, he managed
to produce a great impression on the minds of De la Croix, General
Clarke, afterwards one of the great Napoleon's ministers and duke of Feltre, and, above all, the illustrious "organizer of victory," Carnot, then at
the head of the French Directory.
the
state
and resources
of Ireland, which,
"
memorials
"
upon
He became
inti-
who seems all through to have entertained for him the most friendly
feelings.
At a much later period he was introduced to the still more
renowned Bonaparte, who also appears to have been most favorably
impressed by him, and to have even desired, when he was meditating
his romantic expedition to Egypt, to take him along with him to that
country.
French service
The
first
fine, thirteen
five corvettes,
and arms for 45,000 men. The army was commanded by the
Unfortunately, as events turned out, the
brave and talented Hoche.
unskillful, or irresolute, or unlucky Grouchy (perhaps he was all three
some have even accused him, though probably unjustly, of treachery)
was the second in command. Tone was on board the line-of-battle-ship
All were on board the fleet on the 15th of
the Indomptable, of 80 guns.
December, 1796. Tone's journal, which is in the highest degree interesting, gives us a full account of all the hopes and fears and anxieties
and unlucky accidents and incidents of this expedition, which seemed at
Almost immediately after
first to promise so well for Ireland's freedom.
leaving Brest water, in fact the first night the fleet was at sea, the frigate, on board which were both the admiral and the general-in-chief, parted
company with the rest of the fleet, nor was she " sighted " again while
This was the first instance of the fatality that
the expedition lasted.
continued to dog them.
On December the 21st the Indomptable was under Cape Clear. Thirtyseven or eight were absent, amongst
five vessels were now in company
them, unfortunately, the frigate of the admiral and general. Tone says,
" It is most delicious weather, with a favorable wind, and everything, in
At the moment
short, that we can desire, except our absent comrades.
I write this we are under easy sail, within three leagues, at most, of the
coast, so that I can discover here and there patches of snow on the mounWhat if the general should not join us? If we cruise here five
tains.
days, according to our instructions, the English will be upon us, and
Again Tone very naturally exclaims "I am in indethen all is over."
There cannot be imagined a situation more proscribable anxiety.
vokingly tantalizing than mine at this moment, within view, almost
within reach, of my native land, and uncertain Avhether I shall ever set
my foot on it." He cannot bear the idea of leaving the coast of Ireland
without attempting a landing it fills him with rage to think of such a
He says: "At half-after one the Atalanta, one of
thing for a moment.
nition,
Oh,
if
so
now again we
hope he
may
On
the 22d
says
lie
Tone goes on
him."
181
it.
he succeeds,
If
it
he
me
if
will immortalize
"They
am
so
this
happy
as to arrive there.
commanding
on
...
castles, yet
it.
Morand
[the
I
I
admiral
'
de Galles)
if
we were once
my
...
situation just
continue very
now
is
my
rather a
mind,
thing at last."
to officers
commanding
vessels
off
had been
There was, of course, danger of the Engcoming upon them, which would ruin everything. Accordingly,
182
teen
fleet
sail,
in consequence of a gale
east.
There were
line,
still,
which the
however, six-
persed that there are not two together in any spot save one, and there
now
so close that
every hour."
He
if it
due precau-
Looking over the returns with Waudre, the chief of staff of the
artillery, he finds such a diminution of their means as causes him to
think the success cf an attempt there almost hopeless.
He now proposes a daring, if not desperate, plan to General Cherin, the military
commander on board the Indom/ptable. " I proposed to him to give me
the Legion des Francs, a company of the artillerie legere (light artillery),
and as many officers as desired to come volunteers in the expedition,
with what arms and stores remained, which are now reduced by our separation to four field-pieces, twenty thousand firelocks at most, one thousand pounds of powder and three million cartridges, and to land us in
Finally, I added,
Sligo Bay, and let us make the best of our way.
that though I asked the command, it was on the supposition that none
of the generals would risk their reputation on such a desperate enterprise, and that if another was found I would be content to go as a simtion.
ple volunteer."
He
....^.
T.
Fafdl
4"
**,
i/i
C7<ri'
jJW ^ /H*
v'
17
i A
i-*Jir-> Dt-t
<y~
r.
1S3
manner
strongest
miral.
and
in
to proceed
Accordingly we
scattered army.
man
of spirit.
He
in-
and we
We are not more than 6500 strong, but they
finished it without delay.
are tried soldiers who have seen fire, and I have the strongest hopes that,
stantly set about preparing the ordre dc battaillc (order of
after
all,
we
battle),
It is
ordre dc battaille
original.
believe,
it
war that was ever held but des chevaliers Francais tel est le
caractere (of French chevaliers such is the character). Grouchy, the commander-in-chief, never had so few men under his orders since he was
Waudre, who is lieutenant-colonel, finds himself now
adjutant-general.
at the head of the artillery, which is a furious park, consisting of cue
When he was
piece of eight, one of four and two of six-inch howitzers.
commanded
never
fewer
than
ten
pieces,
he
but
now that he
a captain
is in fact general of the artillery, he prefers taking the field with four.
He is a gallant fellow, and offered, on my proposal last night, to remain
with me and command his company, in case General Grouchy had agreed
It is altogether an enterprise truly
to the proposal I made to Cherin.
unique; we have not one guinea; Ave have not a tent; we have not a
horse to draw our four pieces of artillery the general-in-chief marches
on foot; we leave all our baggage behind us; we have nothing but the
arms in our hands, the clothes on our backs and a good courage bu
council of
'
'
that
lieve
that
is sufficient.
With
all
fc
be-
we
we
never saw
134
not
mind
it.
We
when we
pose
which, with
we will
From Ban try
for Cork, as if
all
our
efforts, will
Cork
about
is
fortyI
sup-
with any force that can at a week's notice be brought against us."
The next morning, the 2oth, however, he was " devoured by the most
gloomy reflections." The wind continuing right ahead prevented them
from working up to the landing-place the same wind would be favorable
;
in short,
was
Tone says:
"
Had we
been
first
it
we
find
it
18i)
l>e
is
not the
first
misfortune resulting
Had
from this arrangement.
board the Indomptable with his etat major, he would not have been sepGeneral Hoche remained, as he ought, on
separation of the
taken), and,
is
all.
sail,
all this,
and which
never to be recovered.
fleet,
above
and now
is
to-day."
Daring the night the admiral's frigate ran under the quarter
of the
affairs
Cherin will
command
we
all
if so,
events,
there is
We
lost
On
their anchors,
and
it
difficulty that
In short, the state of the squadron on the 27th was such that
Commodore Bedout (a good seaman, according to Tone) made signal to
the gale.
During
hour a council of
war was held, consisting of the principal military officers, including Tone
the ships required an hour to get read)'.
this
was
himself and
invited to assist.
agreed at
being
It
and especially as
the enemy, having seven days' notice, together witli three more which it
would require to reach Cork, supposing we even met with no obstacle,
had time more than sufficient to assemble his forces in numbers sufcient to crush our little army; considering, moreover, that this province is the only one of the four which has testified no disposition to
revolt; that it is the most remote from the party which is ready for
horses,
187
instructions,
ing to the
means
in our hands,
what part we
shall take.
am
the more
substantially the
Bantry Bay.
After some very stormy weather, the commodore, rinding that there
was no chance
on the 28th several vessels parted company with him, tins being the
sixth
separation),
made
astonished that
we
On
Tone makes
this suggestive
sail,
remark
the 1st of
reached the
"I am utterly
war going or
gay nation they belonged to: when they were not speaking of the
expedition, they were always playing cards or laughing.
of the
chances of invasion.
impregnable against
all
to
show that
Tone
hostile ships, or
even
fleets,
Bay
be considered
Indeed,
many
expedition, suffice to
of
a landing."
We
Committee
of the
House
proceedings of
other.
"
to the
It appears, too,
vihkh was
to the sail-
Irish Direct-
dominion in Ireland from destruction, for the Irish Directory, thrown off
their guard by contradictory communications, neglected to prepare the
In
people of the south-west for the reception of the liberating army.
ISO
to despair.
Armagh was
Thousands
vailed.
all
Orange banditti.
A hireling print
called Faulkner's Journal applauded to the shies all the bloody and lawless deeds of this league of blind besotted bigots, who were wont to sally
forth on excursions of cold-blooded murder and mutilation, or even to
burn whole hamlets. While Faulkner's Journal was doing this base
work for government pay, The Northern Star, an able and patriotic Belfast journal, was suppressed, like the patriotic papers of '48 and The
Irish People in these latter days, by military violence
its office Avas
ransacked Samuel Neilson, the editor, and several others were arrested,
brought to Dublin, cast into prison and kept there for more than a year
without trial.
In vain Grattan lifted his voice to demand justice, and
that such laws should be enacted as would "ensure to all His Majesty's
subjects the blessings and privileges of the constitution without any
distinction of religion."
In vain the eloquent and patriotic Curran
demanded that evidence should be heard at the bar of the Common
which would satisfy the House that not less than fourteen hundred families had been barbarously driven in open day from house and home to
wander miserable outcasts about the neighboring counties. Some, indeed, had been butchered or burned in their cabins fatigue and famine
had ended the sufferings of others. This was the substance of Cumin's
testimony.
But the voice of an angel would have failed to move the fell
government of Lord Camden or the corrupted legislature that sustained
and abetted him in his tyranny. Had not the Parliament suspended
ment and
=>,
the habeas corpus act this session, thereby placing outside the pale of
When
the
'97,
190
The
it,
it.
During December '96, and the early months of '97, several districts
of Ulster were proclaimed under the insurrection act.
The terrible reign
of martial law had commenced.
General Lake was dragooning the people.
Vainly Grattan uttered eloquent protests in behalf of justice and
reform, and maintained that the government severities only increased
the influence of the ''United Irishmen."
He concluded his speech and
the debate thus: "We have offered you our measure; you will reject it.
We deprecate yours you will persevere. Having no hopes left to persuade or dissuade, and having discharged our duty, we shall trouble you
no more, and after this day shall not attend the House of Commons."
Filled with despair of effecting any further good for their country in
that corrupt and venal assembly, Grattan and Lord Henry Fitzgerald
refused to allow themselves to be re-elected for Dublin at the next general election.
Curran, Arthur O'Connor and Lord Edward Fitzgerald
adopted a similar course. When Tone heard of this secession, he ob;
" I see
the people, as
"
just of any.
was expressed
may
in a conversation
versation here
" It
cedent.
was a false move," said O'Connell " a bad copy of a worse preFox and seventy other members had quitted the British House
;
before.'.'
"Their Irish imitators," said Mr. Daunt, "quitted the only place
191
where they could have then been of the least use for they had then no
popular organization out of doors to fall back upon."
"None," rejoined O'Connell, "except an organization of treason.
Grattan could use liberty of speech in the House, which he could not
;
previous occasions?"
"Ay; but
my
secession,
have not
moment
that
To return to the year 1797. Every day the state of Ireland became
more horrible. The revived Morning Star, because its directors did not
print in obedience to military command an article reflecting on the loyalty of the people of Belfast,
was now
violently suppressed.
detach-
marched out of the barracks, attacked the printingoffice, and made a total wreck of the whole concern, smashing the
presses, scattering the types and seizing the books.
This was the final
eclipse of the Morning Star.
Military violence from this time forth had
full swing.
It was assumed that the disaffection was too deeply rooted
In May Lord Carhampton pubto yield to the ordinary rule of law.
lished the following order: "In obedience to the order of the lord-lieu-
ment
of soldiers
tenant in council,
it
is
the commander-in-chiefs
command
that the
military do act without waiting for directions from the civil magistrates
any tumultuous or unlawful assemblies of persons threatening the peace of the realm and the safety of the lives and properties
of His Majesty's loyal subjects, wheresoever collected."
Thus, to use the
words of the infamous Castlereagh, " means were taken to make the
'United Irish' system explode." The pamphlet entitled "Views of the
Present State of Ireland," published in '97 in London (no printer in Ireland dared publish it), and reprinted by the author of " The Lives of the
United Irishmen," gives numerous instances of the atrocities perpetrated
under the military despotism that then raged throughout the length and
In May a party of Essex Fencibles and Enniskillen
breadth of Ireland.
in dispersing
13
192
Yeoman
killen, in
"
Farmer Potter's house, five miles from Ennisthe county Fermanagh, to arrest him on the charge of being a
Infantry
came
to
United Irishman."
To be a United Irishman,' " says his wife boldly, " is an honor, not
a disgrace.
But my husband went from home yesterday on business;
"
'
burn his house." Such was the reply of the ruffian soldiery.
" I do not exactly know," rejoins Mrs. Potter, " where he now is, but
even if I did know, I believe it would be impossible to have him home
in so short a time."
The three hours have not expired when the miscreants set fire to the
house, which is comparatively new and neat.
The servants bring out
whatever property they think it possible to save, but the soldiers fling
everything back into the dames. The loss may be estimated at about
seven hundred pounds sterling. Mrs. Potter and her seven children, one
not a month old, are driven out into the fields at the hour of midnight.
In June the Ancient Britons (Welsh fencibles, commanded by Sir
Watkin "William Wynne), searching in vain for arms in the house of Mr.
Rice, innkeeper of the town of Coolavil, Armagh county, hear some
The soldiers damn
country-people talking Irish as they sit drinking.
"
denial Irish souls" insist that their talk is treasonous, fall upon
their
them with their swords and wound several desperately. Miss Pice's life
her father barely escapes, having received many sabreis despaired of
;
cuts.
In June,
too,
At two
They break
it
in the
193
discharges his musket through the roof of the house, and an officer
One
men
are lying,
wounding both.
difficulty.
frantic
fires
with
bowels.
His
mother runs to support him, but sinks to earth covered with the
it
on
tire.
extinguish
the
Welsh
old
man
Pursued by the
mercy, but one
soldiers,
of the
house of
Hugh McFay,
cut-throats.
An
children.
it.
all sides
he
moments
some
knees and
on his
to
of Mr.
On
off
was a reputed
and daughter.
fell
They killed
same pretence the
Catholic.
the
was attacked
his furni-
which could not be burned without endangerThese they gtdted and consumed their contents."
{"View of
11
of Ireland. )
The ferocious John Claudius Beresford admitted shortly before this
sealed rebellion
had stated
north of Ireland in a state of conand that he wished those places were rather in a state
194
of
open
crush
rebellion,
it."
The
North.
It
spread elsewhere
began
too.
to
absorb
"
" in the
Defenderism
all their
persecutions, and
mons seem to have been deceived into a temporary notion that the disIn reality, it was spreading fast.
The fabaffection was subsiding.
rication of pikes was going on everywhere.
Soon the partisans of
government were undeceived, and saw that treason, so far from dying
out, was waxing stronger than ever.
The committee slanderously
murder of those who refused to join
attributed an increase of crimes
the "United Irish" Society and a revival of the agrarian offences oi
" burning the corn and houghing the cattle of those against whom their
resentment was directed "to the spread of the " union " conspiracy. In
reality, wherever the " United Irishmen " got a footing all these crimes
diminished.
Mr. Mitchel justly observes that "it may be laid down as
universally true that the Irish people, on the eve of an insurrection or in
any violent political excitement, are always free from crime to a most
exemplary extent, which is always considered an alarming symptom by
the authorities."
Memoirs
were soon
'
felt
warrants to
settle
many months.
Such
was the sanctity of our cause." Even the hostile Plowden admits the
freedom of the United Irishmen from ordinary crimes. When the slanfor
was presented
195
"Mr.
Fletcher said that if coercive measures were to be pursued, the whole
country must be coerced, for the spirit of insurrection had pervaded
deroiis report of
every part of
it.
was instantly
cleared.
it
Mr.
in the House, a
J. C.
still
When
down
these
strangers were
fallen
shite facts."
vol.
i.,
murders that so
often,
p. 240.)
we find
a striking exam-
commanding
officer of this
detachment, on his
way from
196
lucky fugitive, they hacked his body with sixteen sabre wounds of these
nine were declared to be mortal when the coroner's inquest took place.
:
Having accomplished this bloody and inhuman deed, the two military
murderers galloped back to their cam]).
The coroner's inquest returned a verdict of "wilful murder" against
Captain Frazer, but when a magistrate went to the camp with a warrant for his apprehension, the Frazer Fencibles showed their lawless
determination to protect their unworthy commander by driving away
Nor did an application to the commander-inthe civil functionary.
chief, Lord Carhampton, to surrender the body of the assassin, meet
His Excellency coolly refused to do so.
with greater respect or success.
However, at the ensuing assizes Frazer went to the county-town of KilHe had the monstrous effrontery to ride into
dare and gave himself up.
the town in a sort of triumphant fashion, with a band playing before
him.
But if his impudence or audacity was outrageous, that of the
judge who tried him was more outrageous still. The solicitor-general,
the infamous Toler, afterwards earl of Norbury, Avas on this occasion
The
on this occasion almost defies belief that any one, in the position of a
judge, could, even in those all-evil times, deliver a charge to a jury so
He said that Frazer was a gallant
utterly senseless and inhuman.
that if Dixon was a good man, as he
officer, who had only made a mistake
li
was represented to be, it was well for him to be out of this wicked world;
but if he was as bad as many others in the neighborhood, it was well
for
During the summer of this year the " United Irish " organization spread
It
vigorously through almost every county of the province of Leinster.
was strong in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath, the King's county and
Carlow.
There were
many
sworn in
still.
It
too.
But
has been
frequently stated that the gallant county of Wexford, which bore the
was
when
197
They
autumn
ster to
of 1796,
when
institution, consisted
and the
The
what was
called
its insti-
mem-
198
assumed and exercised the superintendence and direction of all the lower
baronial committees in the several counties.
The next superior committees were, in populous towns, distinguished by the name of district committees, and in counties by the name of county committees, and were
composed of members delegated by the upper baronials. Each upper
baronial committee delegated one of its members to the district or
county committee, and these district or county committees had the
superintendence and direction of all the upper baronials who contributed to their institution.
Having thus organized the several counties
and populous towns, a subordinate directory was erected in each of the
four provinces, which superintended the county and district committees
in each province, and a general executive directory, composed of five persons, was elected by the provincial directories
but the election was so
managed that none but the secretaries of the provincials knew on whom
the election fell.
It was made by ballot, but not reported to the electors
the appointment was notified only to those on whom the election devolved, and the executive directory thus composed assumed and exercised
the supreme and uncontrolled command of the whole body of the union.
"The manner of communicating the orders issued by the executive
directory was peculiarly calculated to baffle detection.
One member of
the executive alone communicated with one member of each provincial
committee or directory. The order was transmitted by him to the see
retary of each county or district committee in his province.
The secretaries of the county and district committees communicated with the secretaries of the upper baronials in each county
they communicated with
;
members
of the union.
It
who gave
whom
it
the order tp
was given
to
and directors of this conspiracy, having completed this their revolutionary system in the province of Ulster so early as the 10th of May, 1795,
and having made considerable progress in establishing it in the autumn
and winter of 1 796 in the province of Leinster, proceeded at that period
to convert it into
for
of rebellion.
as they
termed
subordi-
it,
was appointed
109
commissioned officer; that the delegate of five societies was commonly appointed captain of a company composed of the five societies
who had
so delegated him,
of
names
whom was
it
was
appointed by them
to receive
and com-
was
called, to co-operate
rection in case
it
if
it
ance."
The
essential difference
200
by the
state of mutiny and absolute disorganization in which the English navy
and we both
is at this moment, in which Lewines heartily concurred
observed that it ivas not a strong military force that we wanted at this
moment, but arms and ammunition, with troops sufficient to serve as a
noyau oVarmee [a kernel of an army), and protect the people in their first
assembling adding that five thousand men sent now, when the thing
was feasible, would be far better than twenty-five thousand in three
months, when perhaps we might find ourselves again blocked up in Brest
harbor; and I besought the general to remember that the mutiny aboard
the English fleet would most certainly be soon quelled, so that there was
not a moment to lose that if we were lucky enough to arrive in Ireland
before that took place, I looked upon it as morally certain that, by
proper means, we might gain over the seamen, who have already spoken
of steering the fleet into the Irish harbors, and so settle the business perhaps without striking a blow." Tone here referred to the famous mutiny
Hoche agreed with Tone's opinions, and showed him a
of the Nore.
letter containing an assurance from the French Directory "that they
would make no peace with England wherein the interests of Ireland
Hoclie, " the necessity of
an immediate exertion
in order to profit
He
made
appear that the second great expedition for the deliverance of Ireland
was, after all, likely to sail from Holland.
He said " that preparations
were making also in Holland for an expedition, the particulars of which
he would communicate to us in two or three days, and in the mean time
it
desired us to attend
him
to
"
June 24th. Cologne, for which place we set off; arrived the 24th.
"June 25th. At nine o'clock at night the general sent us a letter
from General Daendels, commander-in-chief of the army of the Batavian republic."
This letter told Hoche that the army and navy were
ready for the descent on Ireland, and in the highest spirits that the
committee for foreign affairs desired to see him without loss of time, and
also desired to see the deputy of the Irish people.
Hoche at once sent
off Tone and Lewines to wait for him at The Hague.
I resume Tone's
;
journal
"
trav-
In the evening
we went
201
to the
Comedie, where we
and money
for three
making unjust
it
distinctions
that their country has been forgotten in Europe, and they are risk-
The demand
of the
French
202
and midriff
whom
It
went
to
my
to give
lads, three
thousand
ernment at perfect
sidered that
for
fame
When it is con-
made
all
the glory
own conduct, I confess his renounwhich he might command is an effort of very great
citizen
own
It is true,
ought to do
private views.
he
is
he
man and
a good
my
regarding his
conduct in this instance with great admiration, and I shall never forget
This important difficulty being removed, after a good deal of genit.
eral discourse on our business, we parted late, perfectly satisfied with
each other, and having fixed to wait on the committee to-morrow in the
On
203
more
if it
has
its
hereafter."
wont
to the
Tone says
ernment.
on
all their
" It
was easy
to see the
most
lively satisfaction
which certainly
draw
off at least
if
possible,
fleet,
put
to sea, in order to
Dutch
was
be attacked in detail in sailand even if they beat the enemy, it would not be
To this Genpossible for them to proceed, as they must return to refit.
eral Hoche replied that the French fleet could not, he understood, be
ready before two months, which put it out of the question and as to
the necessity of returning to refit,- he observed that during the last war
the British and French fleets had often fought, both in the East and
West Indies, and kept the seas after all that was necessary being to
have on board the necessary articles of rechange; besides, it was certainly the business of the Dutch fleet to avoid an action by all possible
General Daendels observed that Admiral de Winter desired
means.
nothing better than to measure himself with the enemy but we all
that is to say, General Hoche, Lewines and myself cried out against it,
of the Texel, the
fleet
liable to
his only business being to bring his convoy safe to its destination.
member
of the
committee
believe
it
L.'U4
luxury of the rich and the misery of the poor, no country in Europe had
so crying a necessity for a revolution.
as
is
most
I replied,
this business
205
them.
parte's,
thought most
'
He
206
is
on the best terms both with General Daendels and the admiral
manners which
is
says,
There
highly interesting."
He
''
is
highly
He
sailors.
tlieii
best pos-
" in
very
At
first
fleet at Brest."
But, alas
some malignant
tion,
seemed
very
moment when
fate,
Bay
expedi-
hopes at the
appeared on the point of vanishing
Adverse winds set in steadily, con-
'
207
Twice within nine months has England been saved by the winds.
It seems as if the very elements had conspired to perpetuate our slavery
and protect the insolence and oppression of our tyrants. What can do
dble.
moment ? Nothing." General Daendels charges Tone, in September, with a mission to the head-quarters of the army of the Sambre and
Meuse to confer with Hoche. Tone's diary now becomes doubly melan-
at this
and even painful, for the gallant and generous and single-minded
Hoche is dying fast: " September 15, 16, 17. The general's health is in
a most alarming state, and nobody Lore seems to suspect it, at least to the
extent that I do.
I look on it as a moral impossibility that he should
hold out long if he persists to remain at the army, as he seems determined to do. As for his physician, I have no great faith in his skill, and,
in short, I have the most serious alarms for his life.
I should be sincerely sorry, for every reason public and private, that we should lose
him.
Urgent as the affair is on which I am here, I have found it impossible to speak to him about it, and God knows when or whether I may
ever find an opportunity; which, in addition to my personal regard and
choly,
umny
"
ot
a rabble of miscreants
My
fears
were but too well founded. He died this morning at four o'clock. His
lungs seemed to me quite gone. This most unfortunate event has so
confounded and distressed me that I know not what to think nor what
will be the consequences.
Wrote to my wife and to General Daendels
instantly."
208
was suddenly ordered to put to sea, the English fleet having gone to
Yarmouth Eoads to refit. Duncan hastened to sea again. The two
fleets met and engaged off Camperdown on the coast of Holland.
The English had the advantage in weight of metal. The Dutch and
their admiral fought with desperate bravery.
When De
Winter's ship
was a sinking wreck. The Dutch lost ten ships of the line and
two frigates. Duncan was ennobled by the title of Lord Camperdown.
Thus ended the Texel expedition and the naval career of Holland.
Here I cannot refrain from briefly relating an amusing anecdote of
Admiral de Winter. After the battle he sat down to play a game of
chess with Admiral Duncan, who won the game.
De Winter good-humoredly observed to Duncan that "it was too bad he should give him
struck
it
He was an
down England.
enthusiast in
Even when he
was dying be was meditating fresh plans for the invasion of Ireland.
Tone lost a true friend in Hoche. Bonaparte, with whom he now became
acquainted, only amused him with visionary hopes.
Soon that great
warrior went off to Egypt.
In St. Helena he seems afterwards to have
regretted his neglect of the project for the liberation of Ireland.
too he spoke of his rival Hoche as
"
one of the
first of
There
French generals,"
and gave it as his opinion that, if he had succeeded in landing in Ireland, he would have certainly expelled the English.
I have dwelt on the details of the two great foreign expeditions for
Ireland's deliverance at considerable length, because
consider
them
were determined that it should burst forth, in order that they might have
an excuse for keeping up such a military regime, as would enable them
to carry the union by violence in conjunction with fraud and corruption.
Hence every measure that could be adopted to goad the people into
Judicial murders, like that of the gallant
insurrection was resorted to.
and much-loved William Orr, condemned on palpably perjured testimony,
and whose memory was kept alive in the hearts and on the lips of all by
the words, " Remember On-!" awoke the desire of vengeance in the pop-
200
letter signed
Arthur O'Connor was arrested. General Lake was named comLord Carhampton and his successor, the
mander-in-chief provisionally.
England.
because his
humane nature
hands
the
may
of the minister
its
disorganization,
Two
regiments of
intro-
"
From
to
be blown
and
all
means
of
their families.
and
women
were now continually forced to submit to the grossest insults and brutalThese were
ities from the military ruffians quartered in their homes.
the days of free-quarters, half-hangings, picketing*, pitch-caps, floggings,
Carlow and Wicklow. These were the days of the infamous torturing magistrates, Hawtry White, Solomon Richards and Parson Owens, the latter.
210
above
all,
us
this,
and
also
how
Miles Byrne
and massacred in the Ball Alley of Carnew without trial. Mi. Cope, the
Protestant minister, was one of the principal magistrates who presided
at this execution.
I knew several of the murdered men, particularly
Pat Murphy of Knockbrandon, at whose wedding I was two years
before.
He was a brave and worthy man, and much esteemed. William Young, a Protestant, was amongst the slaughtered."
He
tells
how
us also
" at
men were
officers, to their
and sanctioning these proceedings." I myself remember hearing an aged countrywoman, some years ago, tell with what hordisgrace, presiding
ror she
gazed in
of, I
think, fourteen
Such was the miserable condition of parts at least of Ireland at the beginning of May, 1708.
To maintain this terrible reign of martial law General Lake had now in
the island a force of more than 130,000 men, including regular troops,
English, Welsh and Scotch feneible regiments, Irish militia and the fell
Hessians.
The Orange yeomanry were among the most ferocious torfarmers' sons, all
green.
But while Pitt and Castlereagh desired a rebellion in order that they
might afterwards the more easily carry the Act of Union, they knew that
such a policy was attended with risk. The rebellion might chance to
succeed Ireland might in the struggle shake oft' the yoke of England.
To guard against this, in the words of the cold-blooded Castlereagh himself, "measures were taken by government to cause its premature explosion."
Then disunion was stirred up among the patriots by means of lies
and calumnies and forgeries some of which remind us of "the miserable
man
Barry's"
false
sown
In
in the
fact,
minds
many
of
and
some
who were
of the Protestant
members
of the
"Union."
it
is
As Mr. Mitchel
Some
211
says, "
From one
college
10,000.
for the
education
to
was referred to to justify their servility by selfish and timeserving members of that persuasion.
A speedy complete emancipation
too was promised, if not expressly, at least by implication.
But while the vigor of the " union " had in some degree broken up in
the North, in some other parts of the island it was still augmenting in
strength.
The conspiracy might after all prove too strong for the Macchiavellian statesmen, who, in order to carry out their sinister policy, had
so long connived at its existence.
It was above all desirable then that,
rebellion
would
when the
burst forth, the people should be deprived of
leaders.
To attain this end the services of informers were called into
requisition.
The first of these wretches, who demands notice, was the
notorious Thomas Reynolds.
He was a Dublin silk-mercer, and possessor by purchase of an estate in the county Kildare called Kilkea Castle.
His wealth gave him considerable influence over his Catholic co-religionHe was in the confidence of Oliver Bond and Lord Edward Fitzists.
gerald.
He had been sworn in as a " United Irishman " at the house of
the former, and had successively filled in the organization the offices of
colonel, treasurer and representative of Kildare, and delegate for Lei lister.
It happened, in the early part of '98, that he and a Dublin merto a
chant, named Cope, had occasion to travel together to the country
olics,
and
it
on
212
make atonement
In short, Reynolds
first
On
to society
by
defeat-
given bv this miscreant, Oliver Bond and fourteen other Leinster del-
they, receiving timely notice, escaped for the present at all events.
few days after these arrests the principal committee met at the
"Brazen Head Hotel." It was there and then proposed by one Reynolds, a distant relative of his, that the traitor Reynolds should be made
away
with.
him through the heart !" replied Reynolds without flinchBond was staggered, and began to think he had been misinformed.
and to keep the people quiet till the arThe brothers, Henry and John Sheares,
rival of a French auxiliary force.
both barristers, stepped into the vacant post of leadership. They took
A circular, said to have been written by Lord
steps to rally the nation.
Edward Fitzgerald, was handed round among the people. Its last words
ers
into prison,
"Be
firm, Irishmen,
to,
was doing
its
21!
work; also the manifesto of the 3d of April, which Sir Ralph Abercrombie had been obliged to issue from his head-quarters at Kildare,
requiring the inhabitants of the county to surrender their arms within
quarters."
some individuals by
Any
course outraged.
Any
torture.
"a croppy, and subjected to the grossest insults." Malevolent individuals, under pretence of loyalty, would gratify private malice
by fixing on the heads of those to whom they might bear some grudge,
if they. chanced to wear short hair, "pretended loyalist caps of coarse
linen or strong brown paper, smeared with pitch on the inside, which
in some instances, adhered so firmly as not to be disengaged without a
laceration of the hair and even skin."
The "croppies" sometimes, with
a sort of grim humor, retaliated on the loyalists by cropping their hair
short, thus rendering them liable to outrages from other loyalists, real or
We have the authority of persons altogether in the interests
counterfeit.
of the British government for the atrocities inflicted on the Irish people
by the sustainers of English rule. The gallant and humane Sir John
lutionist, called
Moore,
opinion
who
"
held a
command
it
as his
young at the time yet, being connected with the army, Ave Ave re continually amongst the soldiers, listening with boyish eagerness to their conand with horror to this day the
versation, and Ave Avell remember
the record of their oavii actions
tales of lust and blood and pillage
;
214
to relate."
All this,
it
tells
the following:
"Thomas
name
of Wright, against
whom
no grounds
of suspicion could be conjectured by his neighbors, caused five hundred
lashes to be inflicted on him in the severest manner, and confined him
several days without permitting his wounds to be dressed, so that his
recovery from such a state of torture and laceration could hardly be
In a
expected.
trial at
an action of dam-
appeared so manifest, even at a time when prejudice ran amazingly high against persons accused of disloyalty, that the defendant was
plaintiff
was
was
On one
was an unfortunate man tied up and undergoing the torment of the lash.
The street was lined with country-folks on their knees. Sir John was
informed that the high-sheriff, Sir Thomas Judkin Fitzgerald, was making great discoveries by Hogging the truth out of many respectable perHis plan, it appears, was " to flog each person till he told the
sons.
Sir John Moore was filled with intense disgust, both towards
truth."
the sheriff and his infallible method of arriving at "the truth."
It is almost unnecessary to add that the memory of this wretch is
embalmed in the traditional hatred of the people of Tipperary; so much
so that a few years ago, when his grandson, under the pressure of some
private misfortunes, committed suicide by tying a heavy stone round his
neck and drowning himself, the rage of the peasantry would hardly suffer his remains to receive human, not to say Christian, burial.
It was
with the utmost difficulty that the unfortunate man's body finally found
ft
grave.
It
Avltli
215
misses
fire,
with him.
Murphy's expression)
is
hand
closes
but Lord
Edward, perceiving the motion, strikes at him with the dagger he has
his
drawn from beneath the pillow, pinioning his hand to his breast. Swan
loses three fingers and receives a superficial wound in the side, but manages in the struggle to lire his pistol and hit Lord Edward in the shoulLord Edward staggers and falls against the bed, but, rousing all
der.
his energies, immediately rallies, springs again upon his antagonist, and
by a grand sudden effort flings him to the other side of the room. Swan
21G
him as
aims his
now he
so
pistol, pulls
deadly
He
fire.
is
next mahes a
still
engaged with
Edward does
He
dagger."
teen,
wound
after
wound on Ryan
Ryan under
Lord Edward
tries to
make
his
his feet.
number
of four-
bowels
way
tramp-
to the
to the door,
clings to
to escape.
him with
tena-
According to
the account of Captain Ryan's son, Mr. D. F. Ryan, of the excise in Lon-
Sirr
up
my
first
dred men, and had been busy placing guards round the house to prevent
"When he came up the stairs he was accomthe possibility of escape.
Even
In truth,
it
217
little
more than a minute. He was carried down stairs in a sheet taken off
the bed in which he lay.
The soldiers brutally kicked him a wretched
drummer wounded him in the back of the neck. This wound was the
:
from an attack of
At
cold,
to follow
morning.
Swedish king,
Charles XII., after his fiercs combat against overwhelming numbers of
Turks and Tartars in the house at Bender, became immediately allsmiling and serene how, when he was lodged in Newgate prison, the
under-jailer having been heavily bribed, he enjoyed the last delight of
one brief stolen interview with his young French wife, the gentle and
lovely Pamela, illegitimate daughter of the duke of Orleans bv the eelebrated Madame de Genlis, and half-sister to King Louis Philippe how
the mean British viceroy and his meaner Irish advisers forced Lady Pamela
Fitzgerald into exile while he was still lingering on his dungeon deathbed (but when did British statesmen show aught like magnanimity to a
fallen foe, especially if that foe were Irish?); how his wounds, which at
how,
first appeared not to show fatal symptoms, at last grew worse
to the castle,
when raging
fever set in the night before his death, in his wild delirium
craven vindictiveness.
to
pass a
bill of
subsistence.
examined on
They were
fierce
grapple of
life
manhood
all means
as
of
witness
ought
to
its principles.
If loy-
reverence for the noble blood that flowed in his veins, nobler than the
royalty that first ennobled
hid
its
fountain,
if,
it,
till it
tunate father, his heart melted over the calamities of the child,
if
his
hand were
stretched out by his pity or his gratitude to the poor excommunicated
sufferers, how could he justify the rebel tear or the traitorous humanity?"
He then conjures them to reflect that the fact "of guilt or innocence,
which must be the foundation of this bill, is not now, after the death of
heart swelled,
if
if
the party, capable of being tried, consistently with the liberty of a free
for-
1'IIE
2L J
(
ican war.
No
Amer-
military leader of
were able
to
whether,
all
efforts, till
to
the rescue with forces adequate to the task of securing Ireland's libera-
which nerved Lord Edward in his desperate strugagainst his captors, he showed all through life on every occasion cal-
tion.
gle
The
intrepidity,
culated to call
woods
it
forth.
On
Irish
"
who
Lord Edward
among
you,
can say
is,
here
As
stand;
to this necklet
any man
dares,
to oblige
them
or
meet their wishes halfway, but, singular to say, not a man of the British heIf they didn't exactly stand with their linroes budged an inch forward.
gers in their mouths, at least their faces looked wondrous blank and foolish.
220
Bat
make
if
"
O'C-OjSNELL.
to
do everything in reason
to
pistol to
in all
such disputes, at once himself proposed that they should select two
of
number.
"
Just
and
nation
at "
suddenly
" cool
felt their
down a
bit.
generous indig-
Thev
felt their
in
or both.
retreat
"
to see
In
fact,
!"
In almost every age of Irish history some one or other of the Ger-
rule.
great, albeit absurd, into the hearts of the English people as the appear-
in '98,
little
221
my
have crowded
this chapter, I
may
be
moment
means
of subsistence.
His base ingratitude need not in the slightest degree excite our astonishment.
The man, who is a traitor to his country, will be equally faithless to his friends, if by his faithlessness he can promote his seeming selfinterest.
Indeed, this base ingratitude is one of the most salient characWe find the infamous Nagle, the informer
teristics of the informer tribe.
222
of
our
own
COX:s"FLL.
two situations
his daily bread, in short
to the writer of these pages, whom he had
just helped to consign to penal servitude under a sentence of twenty
of
years.
For long years the source, whence the English government derived
their knowledge of Lord Edward's place of concealment, was a complete
mystery.
Some
fell
many
who
It
was unchari-
imprisonment
and was utterly ruined in consequence of his connection with Lord Edward, was the traitor.
Honest, rough, manly Samuel Neilson. who dined
with him the very day on which he was captured, was by others suspected of having done this deed of perfidy.
Time and research and the
publication of certain letters and state papers, bearing on the events of
'08, have at last brought the truth to light.
The innocent Murphy and
tably whispered by
home
suffered
to all
is,
Dr.
Fitzpatrick
may
claim
The
lan-
'
;'
" the
sham
fatal to
secretly in the
pay
223
end of their
We have already heard O'Connell tell a
ard MacNally,
[imnorous anecdote, in which he and his son figure more comically than
creditably.
This man was associated with the illustrious Curran in the
ceal (heir rascality to the very
the barrister.
those days.
for
fact,
n<
it
refrain
from impulsively throwing his arm round the rascal's neck and saying, with
My old
emotion, "
and excellent
friend, I
abilities."
W. H.
was
acquainted
life
fidelity " of
make on the old sinner, Leonard. Perwonderful that men were deceived by MacNally's
haps
it is
not so very
pion
of the "
United Irishmen
"
He
when
Sir
life,
humorous knight,
thought
it
side,
during Leon-
His
friend, Curran,
Whigs came
Bedford to get him
when
the
duke of
made a king's counsel. But His Grace, for some private reason, resoIn 1807, General Sir Arthur
lutely refused to call him to the inner bar.
Wellesley, afterwards the famous "Iron Duke" of Wellington, wrote the
" I enfollowing letter to Mr. Trail, an officer of the Irish government
Such
tirely agree with you respecting the employment of our informer.
It would disgust the loyal of all
a measure would do much mischief.
descriptions; at the same time it would render useless our private cominto power, used all his influence with the
224
munieation with
disloyal."
Mm,
This letter
is
him by
the
The
Hawkesbury, writ-
ten in 1808, also throws a lurid light on the ghastly spy-system of those
their dealings.
if
mugger."
Here
is
his death, in 1820, when, his family claiming the reversion of his reg-
a faithful friend.
From MacNally's
all
case,
and others
like
He
it,
used
make
"
Davy Jones's
conspiracies, in
locker."
some shape
But
this
able circumstances.
free a nation
225
ways? In this
You can hardly walk down the
life
in various
nolds.
Armstrong.
He was
man
of
interview
(May
company
of their
refer-
by Miss Steele was entertained with music the wife of the unfortunate man, whose children he was to leave in a few days fatherless,
These things are almost too
playing on the harp for his entertainment
red to
their house
no more.
to
On
tims, sat in social intercourse with their families a few hours only before
he was aware his treachery would have brought ruin on that household
is
unparalleled."
This miscreant, in his old age, had an interview with tlic author of the
"Lives of the United Irishmen" touching some alleged inaccuracies in
that work.
to
"
mation."
Upon
"Perhaps the
his-
wanted.
He
'
ing them quiet under such intolerable tyranny, had decided on a general
The United Irishmen of Leinster were to
rising for the 23d of May."
act in concert.
for
The stopping
of
all
the mail-coaches
commence
was
to
the war.
be the signal
The camp
of
night.
camp
at Loughlinstown
to
and the
artillery at Chapel-izod,
and an hour
and a half between the seizure of the artillery and the surprise of the
Castle.
The different bands of insurgents from the country were to enter
Dublin at the same moment. Simultaneously a great insurrection was
Among the leaders there was some disagreement
to take place at Cork.
Neilson and others were bent upon first attacking
regarding the plans.
the county prison of Kilmainham and Newgate jail in order to set free
These attacks, then, were also fixed for the night of the
Seeing the danger of complicating their plans by trying to effect
their comrades.
23d.
much
227
tempts on the
In truth,
jails
till
was impossible
it
the at-
for
human
same time, to get rid of Mr. Secretary Pelliam, who, though somewhat time-serving, was a good-natured and a prudent man. Indeed,
surrounded as they were with burning cottages, tortured backs and frequent executions, they were yet full of their sneers at what they whimsically termed the clemency of the government and the weak character
of the viceroy, Lord Camden.
The fact is incontrovertible that the
the
'
'
to resistance,
and expenses of
which were
an enemy s country.
the soldiery,
in
martial law.
It often
officers
composed the
court,
and that, of the three, two were under age and the third an officer of the
yeomanry
or militia,
who had
whom
Floggings,
pieketings, death were the usual sentences, and these were sometimes
commuted
eign service.
Other more
by
si
Many were
legal,
sold at so
lleet,
much
or trarsference to a for-
reels of
Dublin a
man was
228
TITE LIFE
OF DAXIEL O'COXXELL.
spread cruelty."
The contrast between the manner in which the rebels and that in
which the king's soldiery demeaned themselves towards females in '98 is
The Kev. Mr. Gorvery striking, and altogether in favor of the former.
don, a Protestant clergyman, though in no degree partial to the rebels or
their cause,
any way the respect due to female honor. "In one point," he says,
" I think we must allow same praise to the re'bels.
Amid all their atrocities, the chastity of ths fair S3x was respected.
I have not been able to
ascertain one instance to the contrary in the county of Wexford, though
many beautiful young Avomen were absolutely in their power." Indeed,
without vouching for its accuracy, I have seen it stated in more places
than one that some of the fair royalist ladies "dames exuberant with
complained of
tingling blood," to borrow Thomas Davis's expression
the coldness and insensibility to female charms of the United Irishmen.
In short, they are asserted to have accused " the Croppies " of want of
in
gallantry.
It is not possible in
United Irishmen," like the present, to give the reader any adequate idea
of the atrocious means by which the government succeeded in precipita"
subject the reader will find ample details of the baleful arts of Pitt, Cas-
set,
and notices
* Kilcullcn. (?)
OT'OXXF.LL.
225)
to
do
little
gallows."
230
effected.
23d
of
May
of
Dundas.
commanded
men
took advantage of
this, fell
it
up.
sisting crowd,
giatai;
mt
-m\i vb&bib.
'.
TISL3E
BmAVlS"
renee,
which
tlie
On
ivith
the 26th of
May
2ol
if
it
were a
fair battle
another repulse and considerable loss at Tara, the old scat cf Mile-
By
stamped out
in Kildare,
was out
No
wellni; h
was
insurrection
men than
fell
in battle
But
in the
perhaps the most peaceful county in Ireland, and in which the United
system had made far less way than in the other counties of Leinster. a
nicknamed Tom
was most ingenious in inventing novel torMoistened gunpowder was frequently rubbed into the close-cut
tures.
hair and set on fire.
During the process of cropping, persons suspected
sometimes bits of
of disaffection sometimes had the tips of their ears
the devil,
their noses
snipped off. Retaliations would ensue.
May a cold-blooded massacre took place in Carnew.
officers.
On
the 25th of
party of pris-
house and chapel by the cowardly yeomanry, who, thinking the people had surrendered all their arms, had
now commenced burning and destroying all around them, that drove;
It
of his
priest,
head of his persecuted flock. He had exerted himself to the utmost to preserve peace and to oblige the people to surrender their arms.
But now he felt it his duty to tell his suffering flock,
who crowded round him in the woods asking for advice, that it was better for them to die bravely in the field than be butchered in their houses.
They all promised to follow him. Almost immediately he defeats the
Their acting commander, Lieutenant Bookev, is
Camolin veomanrv.
killed.
On the 27th of May he defeats Colonel Footc and the North Cork
His skirmishers retire
militia in the memorable combat of Oulart Hill.
up the hill before the royalists, who are blown and disordered in the pursuit.
As the North Cork approach the summit of the hill, Father John
and his merry men jump up from behind a ditch which serves them as
an intrenchment. The North Cork fire a volley. Before they can reload
In a few minutes
the insurgents dash forward and swarm round them.
The persecuting North Cork are cut to pieces. N'one of
all is over.
them escape save Colonel Foote, a sergeant, a drummer and two privates.
The different cavalry corps, who are mere helpless spectators of the fight,
retreat precipitately some to Wexford, some to Gorey, some to EnnisThey commit atrocities of every kind on their retreat, shooting
corthy.
men and burning houses. The next victory gained by Father John wjis
After some hard fighting the
that of Enniscorthy on the 28th of May.
into rebellion, at the
town was left in the hands of the insurgents. Some additional royalist
checks having followed, the garrison of Wexford became panic-stricken
and abandoned the town, which was surrendered to the peasant army.
Before the close of the month of May, the whole of the county Wexford
was in open insurrection.
The space at my disposal does not permit me to enter into any lengthened details regarding the events of this rebellion, or even to mention the
names of all the combats that were fought. The battle of Tubberneering
or Clough was a complete victory for the insurgents of the camp of Corrigrua.
As they were inarching towards Gorey they suddenly met the
column of Colonel Walpole, who was on his way to attack their camp.
r
THE LIFE OF DANIEL 0C0XNELL.
23:1
Some
horrible deed
the burn-
fugitives from
New
Ross, headed
by John Mur-
prisoners,
and consumed
it
and
its
inmates by way of
retaliation.
Bar-
234
O'.COXXELL.
clearly,
New Ross,
horrified
and
command, and Father Philip Roche was elected in his stead. Harvey
was an amiable and patriotic man clever, too, but he wanted military
talent and energy.
He had sat up carousing the night before the battle.
Though personally brave, during the conflict he showed himself
alike destitute of decision and mental resources.
On the 9th of June twenty thousand insurgents, about five thousand
of whom had guns of some sort or other, the rest being armed with pikes,
with three pieces of cannon, commanded by Fathers John and Michael
Murphy, attacked on all sides, at four o'clock in the evening, the kind's
These insurgents were the men who had totally deforces in Arklow.
This battle
feated the unfortunate Walpole's column at Tubberneering.
General Needham, the king's general,
also was obstinately contested.
was only prevented from retreating by his second in command. Skerrih
These officers, be it remarked here in passing, were both Irishmen.
Both sides claim the victory. Sir Jonah Barrington terms the light "a
drawn battle." Miles Byrne says the insurgents won, but admits that
Possibly their ardor was
they did. not follow up their victory with vigor.
damped by the death of Father Michael Murphy, who fell as he was
The brave Esmond Ryan, who skilbravely leading them to the attack.
Possibly,
fully directed the three pieces of rebel artillery, was wounded.
if they had possessed an energetic commander to lead them on to Dublin, it might have been all over with British rule in Ireland.
Much has been said by the partisans of England of the cruelties perpetrated by the insurgents in Wexford town while their short-lived repubThese cruelties have been grossly exaggerated, but
lic had sway there.
if all that has been asserted against them by their enemies were true,
their crimes would not equal in number a third of those perpetrated y
the English and the Orange Ascendency faction against the Irish people.
The Rev. Mr. Gordon is inclined to set down the number of persons exe1
c-uted
235
country-people had been, during the same three weeks, murdered in cold
blood by the yeomanry."
Owing
to this
in the pursuit.
-_..
THE LIFE
23(5
Of DANIEL 0C0XXELL.
The battle of Vinegar Hill was the last engagement that took place
On this occasion atrocities were committed on
of any great importance.
During the days preceding the battle the insurgents in the
both sides.
camp at Vinegar Hill, maddened at seeing the track of the royal columns everywhere marked by havoc, conflagration and ruin, shot or
piked about eighty-four (some say more) of their prisoners.
On
the
evening of the day of battle the royal troops, especially the Hessian
mercenaries, committed fearful excesses in Enniscorthy, treating loyal
"
as badly as rebels.
Their
dental.
have not space to enter into any details of the horrors that now
took place.
We have British breach of faith and British cruelty as of
yore.
We have our anti-Irish countrymen of the Ascendency faction
I
Of
emulating and outstripping the English in the race of atrocity.
course we have occasional sanguinary reprisals by the rebels.
The for-
savage of
all.
These brutal
En-
niscorthy, at her
"
how
(Mitehel.)
all,
The
jitst to
by
In those terrible days you might have seen along the roads dead men
with their skulls split asunder, their bowels ripped open and their
;"
there,
287
ing this notice of the We&ford outbreak, refer to one more notable skirmish,
" that infernal
which
out by constant marches and half starved, were on their march to Car-
new.
all
"
At
Ballyellis,
full gallop,
one mile
charging, and as
stopped by a barricade of cars thrown across the road, and at the same
moment that the head of the column was thus stopped, the rear was
attacked by a mass of pikemen,
who
sallied out
of
an
tlie
cavalry had
on the right-
was an immense
men
for
ditch,
with
swampy
make
use of their carbines and pistols, for with their sabres they were unable
to ward off the thrusts of our pikemen, who sallied out on them in the
who
for all
quit their horses and got into the fields were followed and piked
of the
which accompanied the Ancient Britons kept on the rising ground, to the
right side of the road, at some distance, during the battle, and as soon as
the result of it was known they fled in the most cowardly way in every
direction, both dismayed and disappointed that they had no opportunity
on this memorable day of murdering the stragglers, as was their custom
on such occasions. I say memorable,' for during the war no action
'
occurred which
made
as
it
proved
238
bats." *
and
desire of our
men
to
be led forthwith
to
new com-
could not deny mvself the pleasure of savins the reader these
Their
was an instance of true poetic justice. I remember my father telling me how he had met a retired trooper of the Ancient Britons in Wales,
years after these events.
The fellow had probably saved his life by beingabsent on the day of the combat of Ballyellis. My father amused himself by getting this survivor of the ruffian band to talk of his Irish campaign.
The old sinner complained bitterly that the government had
deceived his comrades and himself.
He romanced about some promise
having been made to them, to the effect that they should each get an
fate
deeds of
my
eyes in astonishment.
"Didn't every
all
Your comrades
father.
"Estates!
at
licentious
all sorts.
"And
said
and
man
"
of
What
them get
six feet of
ground
his own
length
events?"
Mr. Mitchel
makes
"It
is to
be remarked of this
leaders were United
an insurrection, but
"Next
it
result of a conspiracy to
government
although every
effort
was made
to give
it
to
make
provoke one.
a sectarian character
rebellion,
first,
by
239
we have
seen,
but not
It
till
may
be affirmed that
whatever there were of religious rancor in the contest was the work of
the government through its Orange allies, and with the express purpose
a thing which is felt to
of preventing a union of Irishmen of all creeds
be incompatible with British government in Ireland."
when
considered in relation to
its
ultimate
consequences,
the,
is
direst calamities.
aml-pudding patriots!
bravely for their
and have deserved well, whether their efforts have been crowned with
triumph or lost in ruin and it is a mistake to believe that good results
;
efforts.
men
up proportionate
to their heroic
open their eyes to the dangers and difficulties before them. They
should measure their own strength and that of their antagonists, and
make every preparation possible under the circumstances ere risking the
Thus they may most reasonably hope to brave and overissue of battle.
come the trials and contingencies of a perilous crisis. But, on the other
to
hand,
for
if
they wait
till
match
those of the enemy, they will have to wait for ever, for the visible
the duty of patriots, in short, daringly to strike for freedom whenever fortune gives them a decent opportunity, and whenever they feel the
spirit of manhood alive and strong in their hearts and in the hearts of
It is
their followers.
patriotic
enthusiasm
tires
the soul,
in
it
"
"
God
to perforin prod-
eives not the race to the swift nor the battle to the strong.
In truth, the nations or individuals who, at all hazards, strike boldly and
off better in
the long
of
"They are a peculiar people, these Wexford men. Their blood is for
the most part English and Welsh, though mixed with the Danish and
Gaelic, yet they are Irish in thought and feeling.
They are a Catholicpeople, yet. on excellent terms with their Protestant landlords.
Outrages are unknown, for though the rents are high enough, they are not
unbearable by a people so industrious and skilled in farming.
" Go to the fair, and you will meet honest dealing and a look that
heeds no lordling's frown, for the Wexford men have neither the base
bend nor the baser craft of slaves. Go to the hustings, and you will see
"Nor
of its
little
it is
it
will be.
Yet, take
it for all
in
.
all, it
we
indifferent to the
_J
it
taught
its
aristocracy
but
far
2-11
harder to be forgotten
a lesson that popular anger could strike hard as well as sigh deeply,
and that it was better to conciliate than provoke those who even lor an
hour had
grow.
theirs
felt
their strength.
no pale mutiny.
They
rose in mass,
riot,
sheer force.
Nor in their sinking fortunes is there anything to blush at. Scullabogue was not burned by the lighting men.
"Yet nowhere did the copper sun of that July burn upon a more
"
He
'03
camp
of
Wexford peasants
in
" scattered
on a hilltop or screened
wrongs
and
tortures, hope dying
in a gap," with memories maddened by
Then they are ill-armed
oat, "their brows full of gloomy resignation."
"They have no potatoes ripe, and they
and almost destitute of powder.
have no bread their food is the worn cattle they have crowded there,
There are women
and which the first skirmish may rend from them.
and children seeking shelter seeking those they love." Worst of all,
Each peasant
of that woe-stricken
steel.
242
we
Your
have dwelt so often already in the preMere fractions of the Irish people conliminary portion of this work.
tended for freedom against the whole might of England, assisted (alas!)
by other sections of the Irish nation, chiefly the Orange yeomanry and
militia
in other words, the selfish, sordid faction of the Ascendency.
At the first glance this appears an altogether gloomy and depressing fact,
without the slightest redeeming element and gloomy beyond all doubt
revolts
and
civil wars,
on which
it is
Still,
after
all,
divisions,
if
county Wexford.
The
mediately suppressed.
shire,
Even the
insurrections in
delayed for a couple of weeks after the risings elsewhere, were suppressed
The men of Antrim county attacked the town of that name on the 7th of June; they
were victorious at first, but finally defeated. The men of Downshire
were near succeeding in the skirmish of Saintfield. They were finally
defeated, under the command of Henry Munroe of Lisburn, near BallinaLord O'Neill (a king's O'Neill) was killed at Antrim. Shortly
hinch.
after the northern insurrection was suppressed, Henry Joy McCracken,
the gallant Presbyterian, who led the men of Antrim, was executed in
The brave Presbyterian, Munroe, who commanded the
Belfast,
Downshire rebels, was hung at his own door in Lisburn, his wife and
long before the termination of the Wexford struggle.
meath
It
is
militia,
obvious, then, that, during the greater portion of the time the
to
rebellion lasted,
in Ireland
For various
would be impossible
it
for lier to
muster such a
2-13
force in Ireland
human bungs
perished, of
whom
Irishmen, at a time
to
when
If the
United
to
'-13
or, to
if,
was able
to
put British
in
Ireland in jeopardy,
till
English
supremacy would even have been in a critical position if the rebels had at
once followed up their success over Walpole at Tubberneering, or if, at the
battle of Arklow, they had possessed a skilful and energetic commander.
In the writings of Dr. Madden and others the reader will find the
fullest and most minute details of the terrible events of those times;
how, after the insurrection was crushed, a reign of terror prevailed for a
few weeks in New Ross, Enniscorthy, Gorey, Newtownbarry and Wexford town; how multitudes were hung and transported, among these
Father John Redmond, who, so far from having taken a part in the rebellion, was looked on by the rebels as an enemy of their cause; how this
priest's body, after death, underwent the most indecent mutilation
how Dublin was kept under military law while the insurrection lasted
how, indeed, it was terrorized and virtually ruled over by the detestable
"triumvirate" of Sirr, Swan and Sandys, the "three majors," as they
244
were called
how
band
of informers, called
who
took up their
Beresford, a
member
of the powerful
house of Waterford.
trials,
or rather the
fire,
them, fearless of
all
During the
trial of Oliver
Bond a clash
of
midsummer, he was
but
the weight of
feel I
it.
am now
We
all
called on to
"My
commence
his speech in
address
to
know
am
sinking under
must be
of their separation
separate them.
on, the court
go on until
protest
short, if it
24
must g.:
bear with me; I will
If I
trial.
tc
should hope
would not be
it
for repose,
"What
Attorney-general ?"
Mr. Attorney-general (the sanguinary Toler,
attorney-general a day or two before):
"My
lords,
The counsel
the prosecution.
If
feel
such public
cannot consent.
we
for
shall
up our right to speak, and leave the matter to the court altogether.
They have had two speeches already" (Mr. Ponsonby had opened for
Henry and the celebrated Plunket for John Sheares), " and leaving them
give
unreplied to
is
a great concession."
sible.
am
"We
would be glad to accommodate as much as posas much exhausted as any other, but we think it better to
Lord Carleton:
go on."
into noble
and consuming
it
has held up
to execration,
and
whom
will hold
they were
up through
infamy of those who in '98 sat in the " high places " in Ireland.
Curran is the real victor.
"Gentlemen of the jury, it seems that much," he thus began, "has
been conceded to us.
God help us! I do not know what has been
conceded to me, if so insignificant a person may have extorted the
remark.
Perhaps it is concession that I rise in such a state of mind
and body, of collapse and deprivation, as to feel but a little spark of
indignation raised by the remark that much has been conceded to the
counsel for the prisoners much has been conceded to the prisoners.
Almighty and merciful God, who lookest down upon us! what are the
times to which we are reserved, when we are told that much has been
all
time, the
are put
this, of
of the
who
upon
of the
their trial at a
human
intellect
moment
like
than a darkness
who
and that much has been conceded to the advocate, almost exhausted in the poor remarks which he has endeavored to make upon it.
"My countrymen, I do pray you, by the awful duty which you owe
your country, by that sacred duty which you owe your character (and I
know how you feel it), I do obtest you, by the almighty God, to have
mercy upon my client to save him, not from guilt, but from the baseness of his accusers, and the pressure of the treatment under which I
lives,
am
sinking."
Wh
fell
guilty
'ii
'98,
He
age it?
to the grave,
who
and
with Lord Edward Fitzgerald, whose premature death leaves his guilt a
matter upon which justice dares not to pronounce, lie has never told
you that he has spoken to any of them in the presence of the prisoner.
Are you then prepared in a case of life and death, of honor and of
infamy to credit a vile informer, the perjurer of a hundred oaths, a
whom
memory
pride,
by the
growing authority.
and
He measures
his value
appreciates
emn
washed
own
in his
He
atrocities.
has promised
raid
betrayed; he
as
hell
1
He
un interest in both.
upon a jury
to credit a
own motion
much encouragement
own
accusation.
call
Vile,
feel
to his
Lopes
for,
sit
to
of
jects of martial
ister that
My
old friends,
I tell
you,
mean and disgraceful insi uyour own condemnation, you will mark yourselves fit ob-
nientality of
I tell
lawyou
you arc
fit
for.
will give
martial law, and your liberties will be flown, never, never to return
Your country
2 i8
the informer
to suffer.
make on
me what
regardeth not
It
judge to condemn.,
impressions your
it
much
regard-
to
who
dis-
trial,
by
human debasement,
if it
you took upon either side?" A. "I will give the particulars."
A. "No; I will mention the
Q. No; you may mention the gross?"
an oath
I took an oath of secresy in the county meeting
particulars.
After this I took an oath, it has been said
to my captains, as colonel.
nor
do
say
I took it, I was so alarmed, but I would
I
I do not deny it,
have taken one if required when the United Irishmen were designing to
kill me, I took an oath before that I had not betrayed the meeting at
Bond's.
Q. "
this.
After this
Had you
And many
A. "After
have taken
I
I
took any of
dent as to write a
came
life
to
an end.
named
is it
George Luby of Ovidstown and the gallant Aylmer, the nephew of Sir
Fenton Aylmer, led the rebels at the battle of Ovidstown, cursed his
On
name
polluted
249
by such a wretch as
this thrice-
lie
was to spare the ladies the shock of even suspecting that he left it to
mount the scaffold. After his death the negotiations were resumed, and
The government, however,
the compact was finally settled on the 29th.
By means of their venal press and
violated it in more ways than one.
in their indemnity act they represented the chiefs of the United Irish-
men
they did.
exile,
neither of which
,eo
into
they held them prisoners in Dublin for a year, then sent them
till
to
the treaty of
250
Amiens, in 1802.
Bond,
lie
As
suffered to go abroad.
for Oliver
derived no benefit from the compact, any more than his yoimq
He
friend.
murdered,
if
credence
is to
be given
to a
rumor that was widely prevalent among the people of Dublin. Aithui
O'Connor, in his celebrated letter to Lord Castlereagh, denounced tin
perfidious conduct of the government.
plied
to.
We
nection with
re-
in con-
it.
The infamous
battle of
Vinegar
rule of
Hill.
Many
this
praise.
ministration.
It
who chose
to submit.
An amnesty
bill,
clogged.
The machinations
ri<
251
in
it
was about
to take place.
Some
of the
com-
account
humane conduct
officers
own
letters,
r~
252
French Directory was a feeble government. The affairs of the republic were at this period in a state of
The most energetic and ablest of all her military chiefs.
great confusion.
It was only towards
the renowned Bonaparte, was far away in Egypt.
the close of June, when the insurrection was almost crushed, that Tone
was summoned to Paris to consult with the ministers on the organizatoymen.
Unluckily
new
expedition.
It
"The
Hum-
imprudent
officer.
is
is
to prevail in the
that Tone's brother, Matthew, along with a few other Irishmen, accom-
by ransacking
histories
253
>o
the Protestant bishop of Killala, that notliing could surpass the disci-
Humbert's Frenchmen.
He
tells
us that they
Not a
arti-
was touched. Their indifference, indeed, about religious sentiments and ceremonies, as contrasted with the devotion of their
allies to the Catholic faith, was curious.
Here is a passage from the
bishop's description of the invaders.
The bishop's candid testimony, it
seems, offended the English authorities, and prevented him from being
" Intelligence, activity, temperance,
translated to a more lucrative see
patience, to a surprising degree, appeared to be combined in the soldiery
that came over with Humbert, together with the exactest obedience to
discipline
yet, if you except the grenadiers, they had nothing to cate'.i
Their stature, for the most part, was low, their complexion
the eye.
pale and sallow, their clothes much the worse for the wear.
To a superficial observer they would have appeared almost incapable of enduring
any hardship. These were the men, however, of whom it was presently
single article
make
to
of heaven.
One-half of their
number
were from the
army of the Rhine."
A green flag was hoisted over the castle gate with the inscription,
Erin go Bragh {Ireland for ever). Some Irish recruits at once joined the
The first comers, about a thousand, got full clothing and arms;
French.
had served in Italy under Bonaparte
the rest
the second batch the same, minus, however, boots and shoes; the third
money were
pected from France; meanwhile, whatever was purchased was paid
arms
alone.
supplies of
He
interior,
exfor
with a
The garrison
254
French and Irish deployed from the pass of Barnagcc they found that
the English
of Castlebar.
It
seemed,
Indeed,
lor
if
a moment,
the
Knglkh
had done their duty that morning, the French would have been driven
back into the pass, perhaps compelled to make an immediate surrender;
but the royal troops were demoralized and disorganized by their licentious habits.
arrived
their favorite.
Sir
irregular
movements.
as that of a
mob;
all
army
tied to
Castlebar; the heavy cavalry galloped amongst the infantry and Lord
Jocelyn's Light Dragoons, and
and thin
to Castlebar
made
way through
of the
thick
French
of
who were
soon destroyed."
Boden's Foxhunters learned, in this brief battle, that it was one thing
to ride down defenceless peasants in Meath, and another to fight troops
like the war-bronzed veterans of the armies of Italy and the Rhine.
The panic-stricken fugitives never halted till they had put forty miles
between themselves and Castlebar. Even at Tuam they did not think
They hurried on to Athlonc.
themselves quite safe from the French.
In short, fear, as
sniles in
it
were, giving
255
twenty-seven hours.
Immediately after the battle the French gave a ball and a su]
decorum observed.
It was well attended
the ladies of Castlebar.
French, says Sir Jonah Barrington, "paid ready money for every thii
in fact, the French army established the French character wherever they
;
occupied."
But they
and
of
The English and their party in Ireland were now thoroughly alarmed.
The reism of cruelty recommenced. Cornwallis drew together a great
army to crush Humbert. It is unnecessary to follow this officer's footAfter various movements and some further successes,
steps in detail.
he penetrated into the heart of the island. He passed the Shannon
with the view of reaching Granard, in the county Longford, where an
It was rumored, about the same
insurrection had already broken out.
time, that forty
Wood, in Westmeath, and join the French on their arrival in that county,
and then march with them on Dublin. All might, indeed, have turned
out well and gloriously if Humbert's force had been somewhat larger;
Lake and Crawbut, small as it was, it was now speedily surrounded.
were in Humbert's rear; Cornwallis cut him off from Granard.
At least thirty thousand troops were investing him on all sides. For
the honor of the French arms he made a last stand at Ballinanmek, in
He combated against overwhelming odds for more than half
Longford.
an hour, and then surrendered. Early in the fight he had taken Lord
ford
OF DANIEL O'CONXELL,
TITE LIFE
256
About
five
on the
8tli of
to pieces.
September.
on the
field,
leaders,
had
to go into exile.
against the savagery of British tyranny, and sympathy for the struggle
of the oppressed race against such desperate odds.
While these events were taking place in Ireland, the French Directory,
by Humbert's sudden attempt, and then
encouraged by his early successes, were making desperate efforts to hurry
off the division of General Hardv, at Brest, three thousand stromr. to his
support.
The navy and arsenals of France, however, were in such a
state of disorder at this time, that the 20th of September had arrived
before a squadron consisting of one ship of the line and eight frigates,
commanded by Commodore Bompart, and having on board General
Hardy and his three thousand men, was ready to sail from Camarei
Bay. Before this, indeed, some Irish had sailed in a last-sailing vessel
Arriving at Rathlin Isle, off the
with Napper Tandy at their head.
northern coast of Ireland, they heard of Humbert's surrender.
They
contented themselves with scattering some proclamations, and escaped
to Norway.
But now, in an evil hour for Ireland, the expedition of
Bompart and Hardy sailed, with Tone on hoard Bompart's ship, the
Hoche, of seventy-four guns.
So little precaution had the French government taken to preserve due secresy, that, even before he had sailed,
Tone read in the Bim Informe, a Parisian newspaper, full particulars of
the preparations.
His own name was even mentioned in full also the
in the first instance perplexed
fact of his
that
if
he had
He saw little
little faith in
be overcome were
so great.
Still,
as he
had always
said,
Ireland, he
would deem
it
his duty to
Hardy.
comparatively
little
skilful
county Donegal.
lie
Sir
in the squadron,
;
sed in escaping.
had the best chance of escape. In effect, she did sueAll the French officers earnestly besought Tone to get
on board of her.
officers
man
(so the
French
258
Many
a time, long
after,
came
across.
Before I
tell
think
it
and descents, to quote a paragraph from Mr. Mitchel's "Continuation cf MacGeoghegan," containing
the account of the French expeditions
And now
two
devoting a page
j;
greatest
of action
own melancholy
tial
my
late.
in other words,
Owen Roe
"
admit the fact. From my earliest youth I have regarded the connect ion between Ireland and Great Britain as the curse of the Irish
nation; and felt convinced that while it lasted this country could never
I
be
My mind
nor happy.
free
all
have
fact before
to
to
poverty
my
it
was
man
in
my
remained
In honorable
be found.
to
circumstances, might be
faithful to
what
thought
my
countrymen from
this
language
was not relevant to the charge, nor such as should be delivered in court.
Another member of the court thought it inflammatory. The judge-advocate childishly or knavishly said, that if Tone meant it to lie laid before
His Excellency in way of extenuation, if must have quite a contrary
effect, if any of the preceding portion were suffered to remain.
Some further conversation passed between Tone and General Loftus,
the president of the court-martial.
Tone was desirous of expressing his
gratitude "towards the Catholic body, in whose cause he was engaged."
General Loftus wished him to confine himself to the charge against
him.
was
suffered to proceed as
follows
"1
shall,
some points
relative to
my
con-
its
armies.
approbation of
lion of
my
my
generals, and,
brave comrades.
When
affee>
I
feel
my own
country.
for
that pur-
freedom,
my
is
hear
effort
day
at this
to
add,
'
the sacrifice
of
life.'
"
all
no great
it
But
it
sorts of horrors.
sincerely
lament
it.
beg, however,
it
may
be
remembered that
know my character and sentiments, I may safely appeal for the truth
this assertion.
With them I need no justification.
"In a cause like this success is everything. Success, in the eyes
the vulgar, fixes
its
merits.
of
of
failed.
sympathy
of
for
me
am
indifferent to it; I
of those
I
who gave
mention this
am aware
the order
for the
of the fate
sake
which
awaits me, and scorn equally the tone of complaint and that of supplication.
"As
am
prepared
for
it.
Its
members
will
202
shall take
in
mine."
were his sentiments and so serenely noble the voice in which they were
observations.
adjudge
me
grenadiers.
condemned
are
before you,
to
be shot.
me be
shot by a platoon of
service."
Judije-adcocate:
"You must
feel
now admit
it
the papeis as
well.
full
facts,
and
proofs of conviction."
had refused to
Cornwallis, with the magnanimity of an Englishman, refused the prisoner's last demand.
He was condemned to be hanged on the 12th of
November. All the proceedings in connection with this court-martial
the portions which he
EmiuranU that
is,
the royalists
the republic.
illegal.
And
that one
He
Curran.
ment
if
John Philpct
fiery
with a threat of
On
all,
determined,
to interpose
or,
so to
November
sat
in the
raging,
to
man
In times
with
is
me
whilst I
My
execution whilst
and move
This
for
address you.
I call
is
not,
client
must appear
He may
on the court
to
however, (he
be ordered
in
for
to
Tone."
Chief-justice:
"Mr.
Sheriff,
is
tion,
your orders.
done while the soldiers were erecting a gibbet for his execution in the
He had first written a letter to the French
yard before his window.
The wound was not skilDirectory, and a pathetic farewell to his wife.
fully inflicted. Tone lingered in dreadful torment seven days and nights.*
According to some, no one was permitted to see him save the prison-surgeon, Dr. Lentaigne, who is "said to have been humane," and a French
emigrant.
was allowed
of
Capel
street
to see
one, a slab over his grave, the other, one of his immortal ballads.
melancholy
fate
of
the
most formidable
enemy
great organizer,
minds of men of all classes and of various countries differing in language, manners and habits of thought, he was likewise brave, cheerful amid disasters, full of resources, indefatigable.
With these great qualities he was in his private and domestic relations
Dr. Madden, speaking of the
pleasant, amiable, genial and endearing.
skilled to influence the
think erroneously, have doubted that Tone perished by his own hand
260
melancholy clos-3 of his career, says: ''Thus passed away one of the
master spirits of his time. The carse of Swift was upon this man he
Had
was an Irishman.
name
memory
lives,
is
him
to look
This
men), in which the rare merits of Tone are freely acknowledged.
passage, while it does no more than justice to Theobald Wolfe Tone in
Surely Lord
United Irishmen.
a hot-
headed enthusiast. And there were other able men in the party besides
Both Thomas Addis Emmet and Arthur O'Connor, not to menTone.
Speaking of the men of
tion others, were undoubtedly men of mark.
movement
Goldwin Smith
says; 'Most of these men were not in any respect above the average
Lord Edward seems to have been a
level of the French Jacobin Club.
the lush revolutionary
played Egalite to the Irish sans culottes. The only man of real mark in
Tone was not a first-class man of action,
the party was Wolfe Tone.
but he was a first-rate
man
brave,
adventurous,
Nation"
in '43,
during the
repeal "agitation,"
more war
Memory
when
the young
of independence,
and
men
of Ireland
their hearts
Dublin
were burning
for
one
26(5
O'COXXF.LL.
and eager expectancy. This soug: was signally honored by the British
government. "When O'Connell and his co-traverscrs were prosecuted, in
January, '44, on the charge of seditious conspiracy, the publication of
this song by the editor of the "Nation," Charles Gavan Duffy, was one
of the seditious acts alleged against the prisoners, and accordingly the
sons: was read by the attorney-general, Thomas Berry Cusack Smith
(nicknamed Alphabet Smith, from the troop of initial letters in his
name), with sufficiently good emphasis, in the course of his long-winded
Reverend Thomas
As
monotony of
may enliven what some
relieved the
it
so
it
may deem
apology
quoting
for
it
here in
full
When
Who
He's
all
Who
But a
hangs
fate,
true
Will
his
till
man,
like you,
man,
us.
o.
"We
All
all
arc gone
The fame
but
of those
lives
still
who
on
died
Remember them
with pride.
3.
"Some
And by
lie
laid,
shall
make no
LIFE OF DA XI EL
T!!F,
though their
lint,
Beyond
OCO:v."F.I.L.
e'-.iv
far
l>c
2G7
away
spirit's still at
home.
4.
"The
dust of some
is
Irish earth;
to
birtb
her breast;
Full
Of
many a
race
may
start
To
"
Alas
"Then
here's their
For
To cheer our
And
memory
may
it
be
us a guiding light,
strife for liberty
teach us to unite.
still,
And
And
was
To
set in motion.
Every method
was
resorted
1 lie people.
Meetings to
measure
were
protest against the government
dispersed by military violence.
Sir John Parnell, the chancellor of the exchequer, and Mi'. Fitzgerald, the prime-sergeant, and others were dismissed from (heir offices
io in
On
and Castlereagli
and talented body, the Ear
of Ireland, the former created a host of new legal offices, which lie expected would tempt numbers of the lawyers to sell themselves and tlieii
Lures, too, were held out to the Catholics to draw
country to the Castle.
them away from the patriot ranks. The nature of the arguments erafor
ployed to seduce
tiie
may
lics
Commons,
of
in 1799,
own
olics
them everything
olic
the//
wmdd
desired."
vanish,
and he should
see
none in granting
bishops and cleigy, nobility and gentry, were cajoled by the agents
of the
An
Irish
The majority
their country.
ical career,
Many
Presently
we
it
long before
remained loyal
commencing
to
his polit-
independence.
would put an end to the corruption of Irish members of ParliaEven Hamilton Rowan in his American exile seems to have
ment.
Doubtless the Irish Parliament, in its deabsurdly taken this view.
pendent state before *82, had been corrupt to a degree, and even afloi
'82 it had remained shamefully corrupt.
In truth, nothing but total
ing
it
But
Irish legislators
liable to corn:})-
Hon
in
in
London.
Had
a reform of
of rotten
bor-
to the life:
<
the legislature of
my own
unfortunate country
the scoundrels!"
In
'09, at
union.
the
of the world
mouth.
Several other meetings were held in Dublin in '99.
On December 17th
TIIK LIFE
','70
lie
lord-mayor,
slievifiy,
OF DANIEL O'CONNFLL.
commons and
citizens
met
to
He
had anything
to be
robbed
of."
violently
nounce:!
i.
an
last
and
when
eldest son
and snug
with this
heroic; oration.
cifully in the
his interest
rolls
and then
When Plunket
Irish chancellor
all
Hannibal number
Hannibals" "Hannibal number
and announced the "snug berths" which had
two,
one,
three," etc.
each.
for his
number
fallen to
Romans
to rule
was magnificent.
In
In the second
'
nell,
271
the eldest son of Sir Neil O'Donnell of the county Mayo, a gallant
command
of his regiment.
stumbled happily on a
government policy. He said " he was for a union
to put an end to uniting between Presbyterians, Protestants and Catholics to overturn the constitution."
When the division was called for
there was a majority of six against the union.
Sir Jonah Barrington
tells us, that as they walked in one bv one to be counted, "the eager
true description of the
women
opposition
man
members
of the court,
and
Lady Castlereagh,
air of the
'
And
moved "That
House
will ever
!'
maintain
first
The
delay gave time to the venal portion of Mr. Ponsonby's followers to cool
fact,
reflect.
When
if
the Speaker read the resolution and put the question a second
time, a loud
18
forth
of the
272
county Lowth, interposed and spoke " He was adverse to the unionhad voted against it but did not wish to bind himself for ever: possible
:
the empire."
and caught at
Several hesitated
this suggestion.
now
some
honest,
some rogues
The corrupt
Henry Cavendish
Sir
sarcastically
ment
owed
of
of govern-
for
union
Mr. Pitt did his best to prove that the union would be a source
He
tal
"Among
tion.
means
273
and distinctions
of the
em-
known
prominent features was its want of industry and of capital. How were
those wants to be supplied but by blending more closely with Ireland
Of course he made his bid
the industry and capital of Great Britain ?"
The concessions they sought, he said, could not be
for the Catholics.
made
Commons
to
by the union, he
He
union might be some injury to Ireland; but it would be more than compensated by the numerous advantages that would result from that beneficial
As
measure.
for
was monstrous. The two invinbe amalgamated on terms of the most perfect
equality.
were
to
It is needless to
mary
deadly irony.
Pitt
in prosperity.
It
enumerated
to Ireland.
If
all
Mr
England was
by
it,
That most brilliant and versatile Irishman, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, opposed the union strenuously in the English House of Commons.
" Let no suspicion," said he, " be entertained that we gained our object
by intimidation or corruption. Let our union be a union of affection
and attachment, of plain dealing and free will. Let it be a union of
mind and spirit as well as of interest and power. Let it not resemble
274
ulation."
woman and
a boy.
A man was
Among
feet
He
Tllr.
cure the
fifty
he does
The
Orangemen, indeed, because he showed any mercy at all to rebels, nicknamed him "Croppy Corney." However, at best, he was, like nearly all
his predecessors,
when
if
The marquis
not himself
Downshire
Seeing the determination of the government to
soon experienced this.
carry the union by any and every means, foul or fair, this nobleman, the
venerable earl of Charlemont, and William Brabazon Ponsonby, member
for Kilkenny county, sent circulars abroad calling on the people to express their sentiments on the question of the legislative union in petiIn consequence of this step, the marquis of Downtions to Parliament.
shire was at once dismissed from the government of his county and the
colonelcy of the Royal Downshire regiment of twelve hundred men; his
name, too, was erased from the list of privy councillors. In spite of all
the efforts of the government, however, countless petitions poured in
scarcely any for it.
Protestants and Catholics
against the union
indiscriminately signed the anti-union petitions.
Most of the Orangemen, indeed, were for the union the grand master and grand secretary,
who were both members of Parliament, voted for it, I have already
intimated that the government had succeeded in winning over to their
Others
side a large proportion of the Catholic aristocracy and clergy.
were simply indifferent to the national cause. Mr. Plowden accounts for
this by "the severities and indignities practiced upon them after the rebellion by many of the Orange party, and the offensive confusion in the use
of the terms papist and rebel producing fresh soreness in the minds of
corrupt
false,
unscrupulous, tyrannical.
of
many."
Mr. Mitchel
is
He remarks
way
of accounting for
if
the Catholics
some Orangemen in the national ranks, "they also saw there all
old and tried friends and advocates."
Probably the true method
did see
their
pursued in this
t'.e
minds by the
276
"
he turned
the priests
bowed
before
The
titular
arch-
bishop was led to believe he would instantly become a real prelate, and,
before the negotiation concluded, Dr. Troy
unionist,
promote
to
to
it."
"
some
of the persons
assuming
to
an audience in order to
inquire from Marquis Cornwallis, What would be the advantage to the
Catholics if an union should happen to be effected in Ireland ?'
"Mr. Bellow (brother to Sir Patrick Bellew), Mr. Lynch, and some
others, had several audiences with the viceroy; the Catholic bishops
were generally deceived into the most disgusting subservience; rewards
were not withheld; Mr. Bellew was to be appointed a county judge, but
that being found impracticable, he got a secret pension, which he has
themselves the
title
'
weak and
were violently hostile to the bare idea of the union. On the 13th of
January, 1800, a meeting of the Catholic citizens of Dublin was held in
the hall of the Royal Exchange to pro-test against the union.
This meet-
memorable as being the occasion on which Daniel O'Connell commenced his political career. On this day he delivered his first speech at a
ing
is
public meeting.
specially interesting to
his public
close.
As
life
mark how
because
it is
his last
full,
at life's
so
legislative
any public
struggle.
It
was
difficult lor
he were willing
to
277
enough that strong reasons existed which counselled him to keep himself
out of political strife; and that, by engaging in the turmoil of politics,
he would expose himself to man) disadvantages and obstacles, if not
absolute dangers.
But, at the same time, he saw just as clearly that a
crisis in the affairs of his country and his co-religionists had arrived,
when, if he were a true Irishman, all mere prudential considerations
should be Hung to the winds, and his only course should be to step
boldly into the arena.
The "natural leaders" of the Catholics, as they
were styled, hung back timidly, or they were bribed or deluded into a
The bulk of the Cathshort- sighted acquiescence in the fatal measure.
though sound in their views on the vital question of legislative
It was absolutely
independence, were unaccustomed to act in concert.
necessary, then, that some one should come forward and show them the
way to maintain the reputation and the independence of the Catholic
body.
Fortunately, the requisite man for the hour was there to do his
olics,
duty.
man was
Daniel O'Connell.
The first impulse of the tyrannical Clare was to prevent the meeting by that military violence which was still of every-day occurrence,
although the alleged necessity for it had ceased with the extinction,
more than a year previously, of the last embers of the civil war. HowStill, in
ever, it was finally resolved to suffer the meeting to proceed.
the earhr part of the proceedings, a panic was created by the arrival of
Major Sirr at the head of a band of soldiers. The rumor of the meditated interference on the part of government had already got abroad.
When, then, the measured tramp of the soldiery was heard, and the red
uniforms became visible under the portico of the Exchange, which faces
Parliament street, when they halted suddenlv and brought their rauskets to the flag-stones with a clash, a sensible diminution took place on
the outskirts of the meeting,
of O'Connell
main body
Let
me
demanded that
sinister-looking func-
tion a ly.
"
Here they
Ambrose Moore.
.1
27S
growled
forth, "
There
is
no harm in them."
down
rose,
He
off.
men
amongst
Irish-
sion to
make
enlightened mind of the Catholics had taught them the impolicy, the
any occasion
The Catholics had therefore
from the rest of the people of Ireland.
under the cirand
they
had
more than once resolved
wisely resolved
cumstances of the present day and the systematic calumnies flung at the
Catholic character, never more to appear before the public in political
discussion as a mere sect
as a distinct and separate body; but they
illiberality
and the
did not, they could not, then foresee the unfortunately existing circum-
would be
the disgraceful imputa-
tion of
to
This resolution which they had entered into gave rise to an exten-
sive
rn^i by J
279
on the Catholic character was strengthened b) the partial declarations of some mean and degenerate members
of the communion, wrought upon by corruption or by fear, and, unfortuThis
liberties of Ireland.
libel
nately, it
"
There was no
with which
it
was
man
name
In
of their country.
it,
umny was
repeated.
It
was printed
was
it
was uttered
the cal;
it
Avas
in speech
still,
as freemen or
How this
the
it
clam-
motives of
were apparent.
"
torrent.
fruitless
"
efforts,
and
it collectively.
it
ted than denied, so that at length the Catholics themselves were obliged
break through the resolution which they had formed, in order to guard
against misrepresentation, for the purpose of repelling this worst of misto
To
refute a
was attributed
motives
280
calumny? This
it was incumbent on the whole
yes, they will show every friend
so horrible a
even were
if
it
emancipation
"Let us show
to Ireland that
offered
man who
him
with
feels
we have
union a benefit
after the
they
me
proclaim, that,
if
affection;
in fine,
approbation.)
seduce
him from
may
be
"Yes,
know
do know, that
to the
Irish
know
had been
said, so
impossible any
much
man
"
still
much
it
was
opinion of
it.
He would
name
of Ireland, he
would
call
281
management
of his
Ambrose Moore,
"Resolved, That
we
bound by
the making
have no
by laws
in
efficient participation
legis-
and taxed
country would
which
this
whatsoever.
ish connection.
"Resolved,
That we are
independency should
we must
and misery, and that Ireland must inevitably lose, with her liberty,
all that she has acquired in wealth and industry and civilization.
"Resolved, That we are firmly convinced that the supposed advantages
of such a surrendei are unreal and delusive, and can never arise in fact
and that even if they should arise, they would be only the bounty of the
master to the slave, held by his courtesy, and resumable at his pleasure.
"Resolved, That, having heretofore determined not to come forward any
ever be surrendered,
sion
282
we now think
it right,
tion, to
subjects,
that
we
and
fatal
our
common
led to believe,
by a
a project
them that we
to assure
false representation
and
is
all
of
na-
legal resistance
and that we
sa-
we have
life.
" Signed,
When
by
order,
Such was Daniel O'ConneH's first appearance in public as a politIt would appear from a statement made by
ical orator and a patriot.
Mr. Daunt that O'Couuell never wrote a speech beforehand.
Of this
his maiden speech, however, he wrote the heads, a mode of preparation
not unusual with him during the subsequent part of his oratorical career.
After the close of the anti-union meeting he gave a full report of his first
O'Connell used to contrast his
speech to the "Dublin Evening Post.'''
natural embarrassment in delivering this maiden effort of his faculty for
swaying popular masses by eloquence with the matchless ease and selfpossession which constant practice in public speaking and long experience of the varying tempers of audiences bestowed upon him later
"My face," he would say, "glowed and my ears tingled at the
in life.
sound of my own voice, but I got more courage as I went on." O'Connell also declared repeatedly that this maiden speech of his, denouncing
as it did the accursed Act of Union, should be looked on as the text- book
up.
Here
is
his
life.
own account
union
was
"
The year
of the
was raging
283
was wild and gloomy. That desert district, too, was congenial
impressions of solemnity and sadness.
There was not a human hab-
the day
to
" It
My
to
come forward
my
in politics.
the Catholics."
passed
if
settled
My
But
this is anticipating.
if I
down
if it
into
sulky
St. Patrick's
was a
glorious
it."
complete
my
bought
These (somewhat analogous to the stewardships of the Chiltern Hundreds in England) were nominal offices
with salaries of forty shillings, on acceptance of which members should
ster,
Leinster or Connaught.
promised
fifteen
thousand pounds.
O'Connell,
in his
tion early in 1843, estimates the bribes paid out of the secret service-
money
at
sterling.
About
forty
new peerages
office
worth
these bribes, I say, certain noisy patriots of '99 were brought round to
admit
in
cock,
member
for
Athlone.
his
own
"still
He
received
a large money-bribe.
title
was added
to the
He
his vows, his declaration, his song, all vanished before vanity,
and the
to the
to the
Castle.
Violent
ment.
means
of intimidation
military force.
column
of troops,
it,
of unionist
members,
a quarrel, should
member
of the opposition.
seem
it
seem expedient
to
do
to
so,
to
make
be always
a House or
on any obnoxious
should
to
286
The name of Grattan, who, since his secession from Parliament, had been an invalid and most of the time away
from Ireland trying to recruit his broken health, was mentioned. But
an expression of incredulity was visible on the faces of nearly all who
were present. The ministerialists even smiled derisively. Presently,
Mr. George Ponsonby and Arthur Moore stood up, and left the House.
Suddenly, along College Green a tremendous shout arose; an instant
after it was taken up within the walls of the Parliament House, and
rang through the corridors. The doors of the chamber of the Commons
The inspired countenance of Henry Grattan is
are flung wide open.
His emaciated form and his eye, kindling preternatseen once more.
to
urally as he surveys the theatre of his former glory on the eve of being
closed for ever, give
him an unearthly
aspect.
As he
ward towards the table, supported by Ponsonby and Moore, the Avhole
House rises respectfully; cheer follows cheer. There are tears in the
Even the ministerialists feel themselves compelled to do
eyes of many.
him honor. Castlereagh himself, cold as he usually is, rises at the head
287
occurred, the
to
In
fact, it
possible, in order
till
officer.
made
to
still
going on.
street.
when he heard
him
die
in
peace?"
But
Grattan exclaimed
at once that
House."
me
let
to tlie
When
House
in a sedan chair.
personal quarrel with the bravoes of the Castle, others would take the
"My husband
Grattan
to
rise,
to
splendor
19
speak
eloquence
is
about
of spears,"
ask permission
and tempest,
that he
feels the
attempts to
And now
Willingly
sitting.
His
before
the
House with
blazes
when he
he is obliged
rising supreme over his
to stand at first
soul,
Still,
288
" Sir, the
the
last
and
differs
constitution.
is
easy; the
editices of the mind, like the fabrics of marble, require an age to build,
no time, so neither
common
to precipitate;
is it
little
lawyer, a
little
pimp, a wicked
"The
ii
systematic falsehood
tution he destroys
walk round it
must he admire
is
we
of
Parliament
liberty,
where she
had hung up the sword of the volunteer her temple of fame as well as
where she had seated herself, as she vainly thought, in
of freedom
modest security and in a long repose.
"I have done with the pile which the minister batters; I come to
lie
and
union
it is
secondly,
289
it
fbst, it is
no
it is
that
is to say,
Well, he
say he
Thus he reasons
may
how), they
(lie
if
That
hereafter, in
for this
a course
if
he
a period he
immortal for
this inane
which, as
it
by a union,
it
destroys
the relative proportion of the Catholic inhabitants, and thus they become
'You
'
four.'
Thus he founds
their hopes of
ambition.
in argument, here he
bribes;
whatever economy he
Parson,
priest (I think one of his advocates hints the Presbyterians) are not for-
and now the mercantile body are all to be bribed, that all may
be ruined.
He holds out commercial benefits for political annihilation
he offers you an abundance of capital, but first he taxes it away he takes
away a great portion of the landed capital of the country by the necessary
gotten
290
operation of union
place
but
It
seems
it is
its
only necessary to
break the barriers of liberty and the tides of commerce will flow in of
course; take away her rival in landed capital, and then commercial
capital advances without fear. Commerce only wants weight
i. e., taxes
it
new
speech
a course of surprises
is
spirit.
He
His whole
also.
incumbrance and harvests sown and gathered by the absence of the proprietors of the soil and of their property.
All these things are to come.
When ?
He
does not
tell
you.
Where ?
He
does not
tell
you.
You
matter-of-fact
poetic
man
and prophetic
but where he
no longer a
"He
ment
financier,
[the minister)
make
was
too
much exhausted
291
to notice
spoke that able and celebrated, but unscrupulous, libel on his country"His idea," said
men, to which Grattan afterwards wrote an answer.
Grattan, " was to
tors, in
On
make
constitutional
the
greatest
He
proportion
it
reduces the
numbers
reduces the
Commons
Commons
the superior
It
where
of another Parliament.
it is
He
merged and
it
lost in
to
for
countenance, for
circulate
and
" I therefore
it
to be omnipotent.
deny
is
for,
in substance, he
main-
it
292
not the proprietor, but the trustee, and the people the proprietor, and
not the property.
Parliament
is
called to
make
makers."
He
fortifies
Edmund
more it
bill,
not a reform
bill
your being
it is
it is
your
to come,
life
'
lie
men who
Such an epitaph is a
it is a glory which the
The faction of the
14th of February the
nobility
Castle
now
On
To
this
the
made another
and most scathing invectives in any language " Has the gentleman done ? Has he completely done ?" thus Grattan bursts forth. " He
was unparliamentary from the beginning to the end of his speech.
why ? because the limited talents of some
I did not call him to order
finest
men
render
it
But before
mentary.
I sit
down
I will
to
be severe and
the right
conscious
would answer
it
manner I shall do
when not made by an
in the
honest man.
"The
traitor.'
ask
why
me
'an unimpeached
I will
293
him
it
how high
care not
would be a blow.
"The
how low
his situation,
his character,
how contempt-
my
answer
right honorable
member has
told
me
deserted a profession
where wealth and station were the reward of industry and talent. If I
mistake not, that gentleman endeavored to obtain those rewards by the
same means but he soon deserted the occupation of a barrister for
those of a parasite and a pander.
He fled from the labor of study to
;
He
the great.
sphere for his exertions than the hall of the Four Courts
a great
man
was easier
for
a more convenient
for
to
power and
the house of
to place
a lawyer of no talents to
"The
way
sell his
and that
friends than
thing.
false.
left
The charge is
the kingdom, and
On
have returned
The
civil
to raise another.
T
IS o
such
of the rebel,
than that
rebel.
The stronghold
of the
was nowhere
constitution
to
honorable gentleman.
Two
was
rises
scaf-
neither.
it
to
be
"Many
respect
THE
294
their opinions,
but
I/IFE
keep
OF DANIEL O'CONNELL.
my own
and
think now, as
thought then,
infi-
" I
raise
gratitude to
am
my
proud
was not
my
for
past services,
have
returned to protect that constitution, of which I was the parent and the
founder, from the assassination of such men as the honorable gentleman
and his unworthy associates. They are corrupt they are seditious
and they, at this very moment, are in a conspiracy against their
country.
T have returned to refute a libel, as false as it is malicious,
given to the public under the appellation of a report of the committee
of the Lords.
Here I stand ready for impeachment or trial. I dare
accusation.
I defy the honorable gentleman
I defy the government
I defy their whole phalanx
let them come forth.
I tell the ministers I
which,
to say,
greater than
desert.
my constitution
my country."
tered remains of
the liberties of
on the
it.
am
floor of this
House
in defence of
left
the
Suddenly there
is
a cry of "the
tire
unscathed.
is
that Corry
Grattan
is
tells
wounded
place.
The
if
he willed
to
do
tan
so.
fires in
the
any harm
air,
295
befel Grattan,
to believe
fallen a sacrifice to
As he
passes
in Brighton.
for
the visitor
is
Grattan's old
foe.
to the heart.
He
crawls away.
On
this
meet no more.
Mr. Ponsonby's proposal that an address should be presented to the
king, stating that twenty-six counties and various cities and towns had
petitioned against the union, was insolently rejected.
The proposals of
Mr. Saurin and Sir John Parnell, that an appeal should be made to the
people by a dissolution of Parliament, had no better fate.
Still the
patriots hoped against hope
they fought the government inch by inch.
side of the grave they
On
oration.
said,
"that
is
The
absolutely suicidal.
Irish peers
296
peers.
The
who
An
for Ireland.
He
Commons
half
lord, half
commoner.
not be chosen legislators where they had connections, property and dwell-
all
native land. Mr. Grattan, after appealing to the Lords, asks the
who remember
'82,
Commons,
and renounce publicly and deliberately for ever your constitution and
renown ? ... Do not now scandalize your own professions on that occasion, as well as renounce your former achievements, and close a political
life of seven hundred years by one monstrous, self-surrendering, selfdebasing act of relinquishment, irretrievable, irrecoverable, flagitious
and abominable." He even appeals to the king not to sink his house
"to the level of other kings by corrupt and unconstitutional victories obtained over the liberties and charters of his subjects."
c.f
It
was the
spirit
in battle;
it
was
this that
made His
which you are going in Ireland, along with the constitution from whence it emanated, to extinguish for ever.
"I conclude, in these moments they seem to be the closing moments
of your existence
by a supplication to that Power whom I tremble to
name, that Power who has favored you for seven hundred years with the
rights and image of a free government, and who has lately conducted
you out of that desert where for a century you had wandered, that He
will not desert you now, but will be pleased to permit our beloved constitution to remain a little longer among us, and interpose His mercy
between the stroke of death and the liberties of the people."
The Houses of Parliament
All was now gloom and terror in Dublin.
and
it is
this
soldiers, skilfully
posted in Col-
lege
Green and in
Dame and
Westmoreland,
way
manifestly to crush or
feeling.
This was by
streets.
207
Lanigan
(like
body.
them laugh
of his eyes
till
:
nervous way.
it
in the servile
document made
for their
in
some grotesque,
Lanigan and his clergy had never seen His Excellency. Wherefore they
oddly and awkwardly commenced their abject address in these somewhat
inappropriate terms: "Your Excellency has always kept a steady eye on
the interests of Ireland." The marquis forgot to thank his right- reverend
and reverend admirers for this graeefal compliment.
In the Lords everything went smoothly for the government. Two
amendments to the act were carried by Chancellor Clare. One was to the
effect that always, on the extinction of three Irish peerages, one might be
created, till the number of Irish peers should be reduced to one hundred,
after which a new one might be created in place of every peerage that
should become extinct the other amendment declared that the qualifications of Irish members in the United Parliament should be the same
with those of the English members.
In the last days of March, after
the articles of union had been separately argued and assented to, both
Houses addressed the king in favor of the union of the two kingdoms.
;
After this the business rested in the Irish Parliament, while the British
its
Lord Hol-
such an insult
298
-
men whose
measure.
It is
which
am
We
places
crisis of
her fate
"
upon me
my
make
ability."
v., p.
Commons
Some weak
old
'
'
till
some pledge
On
moved
bring in his
bill for
in the Irish
Commons, formally
Grattan
wards a peer of the empire and Irish chancellor, Bushe, afterwards chiefjustice of Ireland, and Saurin, afterwards Irish attorney-general, spoke
TIIE LIFE OF
DANIEL O'CONNELL.
2 CJ'J
Plunket
said,
to alter it
.
Sir, I
"You
and
if
you do
your act
so,
is
under the
constitution,
but
and not
on the immutable
and
under which the House of Hanover derives its title to the throne." He
would not sacriiice British connection to revolutionary projects. "But,"
wanton
ambition of a minister should assail the freedom of Ireland, and compel
me to the alternative, I would fling the connection to the winds and clasp
the independence of my country to my heart." The year before, Plunket
had said, when denying the competency of the Irish Parliament to transsays
he,
"I have as
little
hesitation in
saying that,
may
if
the
extinguish, but
protects.
it
As
hope that the act which destroys his miserable body should extinguish
his immortal soul.
Again, I therefore warn you, do not dare to lay your
hands on the constitution it is above your power." At the same time
:
He
also,
while the
husband
led
by
" levellers
barbarous people.
Bushe says, " I see nothing in it (the union) but one question, Will
you give up the country ?
I look upon it simply as England reclaiming in a moment of your weakness that dominion which you extorted
from her in a moment of your virtue a dominion which she uniformly
abused, which invariably oppressed and impoverished you, and from the
cessation of which you date all your prosperity.''
He then speaks of the
" fraud and oppression and unconstitutional practice," which were re.
oOO
Somers was
liam
III.
factious,
He
refusal of obedience to
it.
rebellion."
It will be
you cannot make it obligatory on conscience.
England
is
strong,
but
resistance
it
will
be in the
to
long
as
obeyed so
abstract a duty, and the exhibition of that resistance will be a mere
law, but
question of prudence."
But our
illustrious
May
surpassed himself.
she
is
not dead."
In this marvel:
"From
the bad
terms which attend the union, I am naturally led to the foul means by
which it has been obtained dismissals from office perversions of the
place bill; sale of peerage; purchase of boroughs; appointment of
sheriffs
for
tive union,
in short, the
strata-
He
measure:
"We
Parliament
is
number
In
of Irish representa-
of little consequence.
This doctrine
is to
that the union was a "merger of her (Ireland's) Parliament in the legislature of the other." He next shows that all the
talk of the identification of the two nations is an impudent piece of
He
shows, in
fact,
mockery.
on,
301
sufficient,
fied.
Thus he speaks as if identification was at once a cause to flow
from representation, and an event which preceded it.
You are one
people such is his argument because you are represented, and what
signifies
how,
or,
(if
numbers
is
fact
is,
But the
identification
distinct in inter-
The
beauty
and pathos
"The
constitution
country cannot be
may be
lost.
The ministers
crown
of the
will or
may
per-
haps at length find that it is not so easy to put down for ever an ancient
and respectable nation by abilities, however great, and by power and
by corruption, however irresistible liberty may repair her golden beams,
and with redoubled heat animate the country the cry of loyalty will
;
loyalty
is
a noble, a
from
"The
cry of the connection will not, in the end, avail against the
Connection
is
should attend
"The
it,
is
innovation,
is peril, is
honor that
cry of disaffection will not, in the end, avail against the prin-
ciples of liberty.
" Identification is
with a separate government, and without a separate Parliament, identification is extinction, is dishonor, is conquest, not identifiof hearts,
cation.
"
Yet
not dead
is
I
;
I see
is
though in her tomb she lies helpless and motionless, still there
life, and on her cheek a glow of beauty.
302
'
Thou
Is crimson
And
"
While a plank
on thy
with every
new breath
her
is
in
thy cheeks,
and
lips
my
of
sail,
wind
fall."
On
all
fidelity,
patriotism
and
valor.
the
House
left
of
trymen.
It
but
London
are,
to-day,
far
appointed to carry the provisions of the compensation statute into exeThe records of their scandalous proceedings, Barrington tells
cution.
us,
30o
more was expended, some years ago, to break an opposition the same,
or a greater sum, may be necessary now." Mr* Grattan is our authority
In his "answer to Lord
for these audacious words of Castlereagh.
or
"
"
What
Parliament or
scale,
He
may
never be sub
million
dollars,
" If
bribery
were now
obtained which would annex the three kingdoms to the United States."
In spite of the undeniable corruptness of the majority in both Houses of
the Irish Parliament,
am
Had
it
not been
so,
then ready to be thrust into every man's hand would have ensured to the
Castle a much greater majority, and Ave should not have seen the noble
304
THE LIFE OF
DA2TIEL O'CONNELL.
and purest patriots of Ireland against the union, during the long and
fierce debates on that question, are a noble set-off to the infamy of the
false and parricidal Irishmen, who betrayed and destroyed their country's
independence, and those glorious words live and will live to influence
In the words of John Mitchel,
succeeding patriots to redeem Ireland.
muniment
of
title,
on behalf of
referring to them.
When
upper House,
The dissenting peers also signed an
several lords voted against it.
Here is the concluding paragraph: "Because the
indignant protest,
the bill
we know
and under
is in its favor,
to
judgment against
it,
we
have, together
with the sense of the country, the authority of the minister, to enter our
protest against the project of union, against the yoke which
it inflicts,
it
imposes,
age, the
ciple of
expense
it
introduces, the
means employed
to effect
it,
the dis-
contents
it
we transmit
names
which it protected, the connection which it preserved, and the constitution which it supplied and
fortified.
This we feel ourselves called upon to do in support of our
characters, our honor and whatever is left to us worthy to be transmitted
This document is signed by the following peers:
to our posterity."
"Leinster, Arran, Mountcashel, Farnham, Belmore, by proxy, Massy,
by proxy, Strangford, Granard, Ludlow, by proxy, Moira, by proxy,
Rev. Waterford and Lismore, Powerscourt, De Vesci, Charlemont, Kingston, by proxy, Eiversdale. by proxy, Meath, Lismore, by proxy, SunIn the English House of Lords the marquis of Downshire,
derlin."
who, like many other Irish peers, had an English peerage also, said
"that his opinion of the measure remained unaltered, and that he
realm, the liberty which
it
The scenes
bill his
in the Irish
decided negative."
Commons on
the night
when
306
passed there
that
of
June 7th
were solemn and impressive, yet,
there was a certain element of the ludicrous
was
lost.
am
inclined to think that, on the whole, Sir Jonah's account gives us a true
and vivid idea of what really took place. He particularly describes the
grief and embarrassment of the Speaker, Foster, who was an uncompromising enemy of the measure, yet obliged by his office to proclaim its
consummation. Mr. Foster's disturbed feelings were visible in the agiThe
tated expression of his countenance and in the tones of his voice.
following paragraphs from Barriugton cannot fail to interest, at least,
every Irish reader whose mind is animated by a single spark of
patriotism
The
galleries
307
Nobody seemed
"At length
for the third
moment
the expected
reading of the
bill for
for
at ease
a short time
Unvaried, tame,
cold-blooded, the words seemed frozen as they issued from his lips,
as
if,
and
the subject.
most vehement opponents of the union from first to last, would have risen and left the House
with his friends, if he could; but this would have availed nothing.
With grave dignity he presided over 'the last agony of the expiring
Parliament.'
He held up the bill for a moment in silence, then asked
the usual question, to which the response, Ay, was languid, but unmistakable. Another momentary pause ensued. Again his lips seemed
At length, with an eye averted from the object
to decline their office.
which he hated, he proclaimed, with a subdued voice, 'The ayes have it.'
For an instant he stood statue-like, then, indignantly and in disgust,
flung the bill upon the table and sunk into his chair with an exhausted
Foster,
of the
'
spirit."
is
the picture, be
it
night's
proceedings:
many
"Doubtless to
somewhat
fault.
Mr. Mitchel
many
readers this
and melodramatic.
Yet, in sad and bitter earnest, that scene was deep tragedy
and its
catastrophe is here with us at this day, in thousands upon thousands
histrionic
of ruined
cabins,
Though the Irish bill had passed before the English, yet the royal
assent was not given in Ireland till the 1st of August, the anniversary
of the accession of "brutal
Brunswick's"
kingdoms.
adds, will "not only entitle you to the full approbation of your sovereign
and
to the
This speech
When
new
a perfectly
was over,
the Parliament House
is
of January, 1801.
all
On
that day a
imperial standard (the one ever since in use) floated over the Tower
of
employed
to
26,841,219.
of her sons
carry the
union,
Ireland, in short,
had,
had
in
to
three
pay the
years,
bill for
of her nationality.
swelled
it
to
the slaughtei
Referring to this,
309
O'Connell observed, with bitter, sarcastic humor, "It was strange that
[reland
to
pay
own
throat."
Under Eng-
two conditions
fashion
fulfilled,
of
was henceforward
"Woe
remained so
till
He
Pitt
peace might be made with France, which his pride prevented him from
negotiating himself.
It would not do, however, to admit his real motives.
He
They
{the Catholics)
now beheld
its
full
deformity."
310
was drawn np by
Lord Castlereagh." He denied "that any pledge had been given to the
Catholics by himself, Lord Cornwallis, or the noble lord near him (CasMr. Plowden wrote to Cornwallis, who replied that the
tlereagh)."
paper "was hastily given by him to Dr. Troy, to be circulated amongst
his friends with a view of preventing any immediate disturbances or
Such was the infamous manner in which these honother bad effects."
"he had no part
It
But
if
the ministers delayed not to give them a fresh act to suspend the
Thus by Castlereagh's
alarms were excited by the report of a secret com-
management
mittee.
If
fresh
had
to
complain of ministerial
infidelity in the
But the
story of the
brook from their own equals, much less from the upstart pride of chance
In vain Clare pandered to English prejudice by running
nobility."
down his own country. He was allowed no voice in the new ministerial
arrangements. The cravings of his inordinate ambition were left wholly
unsatisfied.
He had
of baffled ambition, he
where he played
He
had
The rage
Clare's retreat
of his
to
so poor a part,
determined
311
lie
proud
spirit
Irish chan-
was only a
wasted his
in
His
his country
The end of the other arch-traitor to Ireland, Castlereagh, was miserable also. Twenty-two years later than the passing of the act of union,
driven on by the furies of insanity, he inflicted on himself a mortal
wound in the neck. His countrymen in London assembled around
Westminster Abbey on the day of his burial, and welcomed the betrayer of their country to his grave with three vociferous cheers.
Mr.
men who
were,
is
within the present century, borne to their graves amidst the hootings
evil
immortality in
"Don Juan,"
him
"Carotid artery-cutting Castlereagh."
where he
calls
b'12
thing of Robert
Emmet and
it is
Robert Emmet,
of the
College, Dublin,
was
all
of the
itself to all
assuming a change
as of one suddenly inspired."
So great was the effect produced among
the students by his eloquence that the heads of the college, on several
occasions, sent one of the ablest of their body to the debates of the Historical Society in order to refute the arguments of the "young Jacobin."
They did not deem even this measure of precaution sufficient, for in
February, 1798, they expelled Robert and several of his political associates from the university.
After '98, as he had participated in the acts
of the leaders of the conspiracy, he was obliged to take refuge on the
Continent.
He traveled through the south of France, Switzerland and
part of Spain.
He also visited Amsterdam and Brussels, to which city
his brother had repaired on his release.
Some of the other political
prisoners, who had been released from Fort George, were in France now.
He burned
there were
strike another
to
many
blow
independence.
Ireland's
for
And
attempt might be crowned with success. It was evident that the English
had not made the Peace of Amiens with France in good faith -that they
had only agreed to it to gain a little breathing-time to recover from their
They
exhaustion.
perfidiously refused to
fulfil
their
engagement
to give
up Malta.
to
hope
for assistance
Thomas Addis
cially
entered
into
from France.
Later,
Bonaparte.
Indeed, there
is
reason to believe that the project of Robert Emmet's attempt did not
originate with himself.
We
have proof positive, too, that at this time a great panic prevailed
Lord Charles Bentinck writes, on the 2d June, 1802, to
in England.
" If Ireland
his brother, Lord William Bentinck, governor of Madras
:
be not attended to
it will
be
lost
pet-name for the Irish) "are as ripe as ever for rebellion." A letter to
General Clinton, of the same date, states that if the French troops could
land "in the north of Ireland, they would be received with satisfaction,
at that
still
a country
to revisit.'''
to General Lake, July 11th, says the invasion "will certainly take place."
Mr.
Thomas
the
3d August,
effect
or.
sand Irish."
Robert
mained
Emmet
He
re-
314
O'CXDXNELL.
extreme enthusiasm
"
Emmet
He was
down
his fore-
revolutionary society
ever,
spoke of
was
This,
was broken up
in
The
how-
London.
colonel
was convicted and hung. The government had been coanizant of his
proceedings six months previous to his arrest.
Indeed, there can be
little doubt that they were cognizant of Emmet's conspiracy, too, long
before it exploded.
In 1802 he dined at Mount Jerome, then the residence of Mr. John Keogh (O'Connell's predecessor in the leadership of
the Catholic body), along with John Philpot Curran.
Emmet spoke
vehemently of the probability
attempted.
Keogh
asked,
of success
How many
if
Emmet
The
Emmet.
wake
All
of the union
had remained unfulfilled. The crops of 1801 had failed. Want of food
and suffering produced discontent among the masses, and, in some localities, disturbances.
Trade and commerce were decaying. According to a
statement of ex-Speaker Foster in the Imperial Parliament, the decrease
of exported linen in 1801 was five million yards.
Ireland's debt, and
consequently her taxes, were increasing.
for
having broken
faith
of the nation
especially indignant
'615
all
all
it
spirit of dis-
Emmet's plan was suddenly to seize the Castle of Dublin and the
British authorities, and then give the signal for a general insurrection.
Chef de BattaiUon Miles Byrne, who was engaged with Emmet in the
affair, approves of Emmet's plans.
He says: "They were only frustrated by accident and the explosion of a depot, and, as 1 have always
said, whenever Irishmen think of obtaining freedom, Robert Emmet's
First to take the capital, and then the
plans will be their best guide.
provinces will burst out and raise the same standard immediately."
Many men of mark, and some even of high position, are said to have
favored Emmet's plans.
Be this as it may, he pushed on his preparations actively.
He collected arms and established depots of them in
and blunderbusses were manufactured,
pikes were forged and mounted, and ammunition laid in.
The pikes
were placed in hollow logs and drawn through the streets to the depots
like ordinary lumber.
Emmet himself invented an ingenious kind of
explosive machine, filled with powder and small stones, intended to be
exploded in the face of advancing columns of soldiers. At this time Emmet's excellent father died.
The necessity of trying to keep his presence in Dublin a secret prevented him from attending the funeral.
One Saturday night, a little more than a week before the evening
appointed for the attempt, an explosion of combustibles took place in the
Patrick street depot, which alarmed the neighborhood.
Sirr examined
the house next day.
Previous to his coming everything likely to awake
suspicion was removed or concealed.
He made no discovery. The explosion was judged to be the accidental result of some chemical process.
various parts of Dublin.
It is
Pistols
how much
doubt their
Emmet
316
false, it is
boy that
was always
became
at last
devour him.
After this explosion
Emmet
His position was every day becoming more and more dangerous.
His life was at the mercy of more than forty persons. Yet he
was full of confidence his enthusiasm made light of all the difficulties
that stood in his path.
The wrongs of his country kindled a sacred
wrath in his soul. If treachery, as Miles Byrne alleges, were really
"tracking his footsteps, dogging him from place to place," his noble
" It never occurred to him," says
heart seems not to have suspected it.
Dr. Madden, " that he was betrayed
that every design of his was frustrated, every project neutralized, as effectually as if an enemy had stolen
into the camp."
At last the appointed day, the 23d of July, arrives. There is
division in his councils.
Some call for postponement. Others are in
favor of an immediate rising.
Emmet himself declares for the bolder
Miles Byrne tells us: "Now the final plan to be executed concourse.
sisted principally in taking the Castle, whilst the Pigeon House, Island
Bridge, the Royal Barracks and the Old Custom House Barracks were
to be attacked, and if not surprised and taken, they were to be blockaded
and intrenchments thrown up before them. Obstacles of every kind to
be created through the streets to prevent the English cavalry from
charging.
The Castle once taken, undaunted men, materials, implements of every description would be easily found in all the streets in the
city, not only to impede the cavalry, but to prevent infantry from passing
through them." But everything went wrong. The Wicklow men, who
were expected in, failed to arrive for the man who was to bear the
order to their leader, the valiant outlaw, Michael Dwyer, neglected his
duty and went no farther than Rathfarnham. The Kildare men arrived
indeed, but a traitor told them that Emmet had postponed his enterprise
so they all went back at five o'clock in the afternoon.
At least
Dublin
hundred
came
into
and
remained
picked Wexford men
under
two
the orders of Miles Byrne, in a house on Coal Quay, during the early part
of the night, with a view to co-operate with Emmet in his attack on the
lane depot.
No
317
men
in the
in
with the
named
Stafford,
rear speedily
all
insubordinate.
commenced
him
stragglers in the
The
Their
first
for
of
in
But now the coach of Lord Kilwarden, the chief-justice, is seen approaching.
He was an excellent and humane judge. He had saved
many an
We
and
called out,
One Shannon,
man
is
it is
I,
They stopped
he did his
"You
are the
man
want."
humane
This
judge.
318
Lord Carleton, the judge who had sentenced the Sheareses. Others state
Be this as
that his first assailant had had a relative sentenced by him.
it may, the deed was a dreadful and wanton crime.
Emmet had halted his party at the market-house with the view of
restoring order.
But they had become a mere insubordinate mob. It
was at this moment that he heard of the murder. He then retraced his
Finally, seeing that all was irretrievably lost, he and some of
steps.
the leaders around him gave up their project.
A detachment of troops
appear at the corner of Cut-purse row. They fire on the insurgents,
who scatter at once. The whole affair is over in less than an hour from
its commencement.
On the street called the Combe, indeed, some resistance is made. Colonel Brown and two members of the Liberty Rangers
are killed. The guard-house on the Combe had been resolutely attacked.
Numerous dead bodies lie around it. Next day the depots are searched
quantities of arms and uniforms and eight thousand copies of two proclamations are seized.
O'Connell was in the yeomanry at this time.
he states,
if I
remember
23d
rightly, that
he was
of July, 1803.
in
1
.
O'Neill Daunt, he
pointed out to his companion "a dusky-red brick house, with stone cor-
'
me
310
croppyism if I mount
guard, it will be the death of me.'
So I took his place, and thus stood
guard for six consecutive nights. One night a poor boy was taken up
in Dame street after midnight; he said, in his defence, that he was
going on a message from his master, a notary public, to give notice for
protest of a bill.
The hour seemed a very unlikely one for such a purand
we
searched
his person for treasonable documents. We found
pose,
in his waistcoat pocket a sheet of paper, on which were rudely scrawled
several drawings of pikes.
He turned pale with fright and trembled
all over, but persisted in the account he had given us of himself.
It
was easily tested, and a party immediately went to his master's house
to make inquiry.
His master confirmed his statement, but the visitors,
whose suspicions were excited by the drawing, rigidly searched the
whole house for pikes prodded the beds to try if there were any concealed in them
found all light, and returned to our guard-house about
three in the morning."
If
accuse
refuse, they'll
of cowardice or
anxious that he should take steps, without further loss of time, to make
his escape out of the country.
Would he had taken their friendly and
prudent advice
to
inter-
view with his beloved Sarah Curran before leaving Ireland. She was
the youngest daughter of the illustrious advocate.
In an evil hour he
returned to his former lodgings at Mrs. Palmer's, in Harold's Cross.
Here he hoped
to
It
was
for the
Anne
Devlin,
proved her
know
he was
did not
Castle
fidelity to
21
him.
his person.
to the
This
320
genthmcm, according to Dr. Madden, was no less a person than the wellknown Dr. Ellington, who, before he died, was successively provost of
Trinity College
On
Emmet was
Daly.
Norbury
Emmet was
(Toler),
resolved on
of Ferns.
tried, at
a special com-
making no
defence; so that
it
was
little
matter when Curran (who, though he defended Kirwan, one of the insurgents, spoke scornfully of the attempt) refused to act as his counsel.
But, as Thomas Davis says, "his refusal to see him was framed too
harshly."
Of
this
Emmet
himself said,
"A man
death on him need not be made to feel any other coldness." Some allowance, however, is to be made for Curran, who was all through his life
one of our truest patriots, and who, according to the younger Tone, had
"expressed his anxiety for a separation from England." In the words
of Davis,
"He was
politically indignant at
by
it,
"Robert had Avon Sarah Curran's heart, and some of his letters
were found in Curran's house. The rash chieftain had breathed out
Curran had to undergo the inquiries of the
his Avhole soul to his love.
Privy Council and accept the generosity of the attorney-general.
"What was still worse than any selfish suffering, he saw his daughter
smitten as with an edged sword by the fate of her betrothed."
Mr. Standish 0' Grady, the attorney-general, who was a humane man,
in
prosecuting
Emmet made
but the
321
speech in
My
make no apology
for
giving his
full
am
Lords
pronounce and
to
say
why my
and calumny which has been cast upon it, I do not imagine
that, seated where you are, your minds can be so free from prejudice as
I have
to receive the least impression from what I am going to utter.
the
breast
of
a
court
constianchor
my
character
in
no hopes that I can
and that is the utmost that
tuted and trammelled as this is. I only wish
I expect
that your lordships may suffer it to float down your memories
untainted by the foul breath of prejudice, until it finds some more hospitable harbor to shelter it from the storms by which it is buffeted.
Was I only to suffer death, after being adjudged guilty by your tribunal,
I should bow in silence, and meet the fate that awaits me without a
murmur; but the sentence of the law which delivers my body to the
sation
executioner
will,
cation to consign
where
my
must determine.
its
own
vindi-
A man
in
my
time
it
may
my
countrymen,
seize
upon
this oppor-
tunity to vindicate myself from some of the charges alleged against me.
When my spirit
shall
when my shade
have joined the bands of those martyred heroes who have shed
their blood on the scaffold and in the field in defence of their country
and of virtue this is my hope I wish that my memory and name may
animate those who survive me, while I look down with complacency on
shall
man
by blasphemy
of the
and
lifts
who
believes or doubts a
which
which
Most High
name
displays
sets
its
man upon
its
domin-
power over
his brother
who never
lie,
323
for
your
whose situation I commiserate rather than envy; my expressions were for my countrymen.
If there is a true Irishman present, let
my words cheer him in the hour of his affliction."
[Here he was again interrupted. Lord Norbury said he did not sit
lordship,
it
when a
sometimes think
it
their
duty
to
pris-
have
hear with
patience and to speak with humanity; to exhort the victim of the laws,
and
to offer
where
is
it
his duty so to
have done,
That a
have no doubt; but
where is the vaunted
clemency and mildness of your courts of justice, if an unwhom your policy, and not justice, is about to deliver
into the hands of the executioner, is not suffered to explain his motives
sincerely and truly, and to vindicate the principles by which he was
actuated? My lords, it may be a part of the system of angry justice to
bow a man's mind by humiliation to the purposed ignominy of the scaffold; but worse to me than the purposed shame or the scaffold's terrors
would be the shame of such foul and unfounded imputations as have
been laid against me in this court. You, my lord, are a judge I am
the supposed culprit.
I am a man
you are a man also. By a revolution of power we might change places, though we never could change
If I stand at the bar of this court and dare not vindicate
characters.
my character, what a farce is your justice If I stand at this bar and
dare not vindicate my character, how dare you calumniate it ? Does the
sentence of death, which your unhallowed policy inflicts on my body,
condemn my tongue to silence and my reputation to reproach ? Your
executioner may abridge the period of my existence, but while I exist I
shall not forbear to vindicate my character and motives from your aspersions; and, as a man to whom fame is dearer than life, I will make the
last use of that life in doing justice to that reputation which is to live
after me, and which is the only legacy I can leave to those I honor and
impartiality,
fortunate prisoner,
"
324
love,
and
whom
for
for the
Searcher of
am proud
As men, my
to perish.
common
one
da)* at
tribunal,
and
it
lords,
who was
all
we must
country's oppressors or
en-
my
"My
lords, will
a dying
man
and attempting
ties of his
Why
country?
insult justice, in
to cast
for
demanding
pronounced against
away
trial,
me ?
of
you should ask the question. The form also presents the right of answering.
This, no doubt, may be dispensed with, and so might the
whole ceremony of the trial, since sentence was already pronounced at
Your lordships are but the
the Castle before the jury were empaneled.
priests of the oracle, and I insist on the whole of the forms."
[Here Mr.
li
am
Emmet
him
to proceed.]
An
emissary of
France
And for what end ? It is alleged that I wished to sell the
independence of my country; and for what end? Was this the object
And is this the mode by which a tribunal of justice
of my ambition?
T
]S o;
I am bo emissary, and my ambition
reconciles contradiction?
was to hold a place among the deliverers of my country- not in power
!
independence to France
No, but for
my
And
what?
for
my
ambition.
Was
country!
it
was
Sell
my
country's
a change of masters
it
personal ambition
My
Country was
my
me ?
Idol.
it I
Had
To
it
it I
now
offer
up
myself,
yoke of a foreign
God
my
No,
my
lords;
of
from
and perpetrator
joint partner
in the par-
conscious depravity.
try from
is its
It
of
my heart
to extricate
wished
to place
my
coun-
her inde-
We
obtain
it
as
it
and we
auxiliaries in
it
as
not do myself,
if
should
fall, I
my
526
an enemy, could not be more implacable than the enemy already in the
oosom of my country."
[Here he was interrupted by the court,]
" I have been charged with that importance in the emancipation of
my country as to be considered the keystone of the combination of
Irishmen, or, as your lordship expressed it, the life and blood of the
You do me honor over much you have given to the subconspiracy.'
There are men engaged in this conaltern all the credit of a superior.
'
spiracy
who
my
own concep-
lord
of
What, my lord, shall you tell me, on the passage to the scaffold
which that tyranny (of which you are only the intermediary executioner)
has erected for my murder, that I am accountable for all the blood that
has and will be shed in this struggle of the oppressed against the opshall you tell me this, and must I be so very a slave as not to
pressor
I do not fear to approach the Omnipotent Judge to answer
repel it ?
and am I to be appalled and falsified
for the conduct of my whole life
"
by a mere remnant
of mortality here
By
if it
were
possible to collect all the innocent blood that you have shed in your unhallowed ministry in one great reservoir, your lordship might swim in it."
"Let no man
no
man
attaint
dare,
T T
-~V'
TOO I L&WTfEG&.'S
M D QJL.
?'
IDEAS'
SWIFTo
tlie
my
suffered to resent it
327
am
No; God
my
to
countrymen
their rights,
and
forbid!"
own
'
my
friend!' "
jargon,
and
Emmet was
interruption:]
" If
cares of those
to
them
in this transitory
life,
ever dear
upon
the conduct of your suffering son, and see if I have, even for a moment,
deviated from those principles of morality and patriotism which it was
your care to instil into my youthful mind, and for which I am now about
My lords, you are impatient for the sacrifice. The
to offer up my life.
and venerated shade of
scrutiny
328
is
circulates
nels
to
it
warmly and
artificial terrors
and
silent grave
my lamp
Let no
say.
am
me, and
to receive
sur-
now bent
Heaven Be yet
for
patient
which
my departure
man write my
sink into
epitaph
for as
going to
it is
no
my
my race
bosom.
its
is
cold
run
have but
the charity of
my motives dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse
them. Let them and me rest in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, and my memory in oblivion, until other times and
other men can do justice to my character.
When my country takes her
place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epihave done."
This noble address was Robert Emmet's last precious bequest to his
country.
Few dying words of martyred patriots have been so prized by
taph be written.
Emmet
in behalf of Ireland's
to find
Irish people
There are in existence more likenesses of him than of any other Irish
There are more copies of his speech extant than of any other
patriot.
specimen of Irish oratory. Even in America the American-born children
of Irish parents find extracts
books.
From the
grave,
still
from
it
in
some
with far more potency than the utterances of even the best
and bravest of our living patriots, Robert Emmet, it may be said, yet
continues to struggle against British rule, and never ceases to urge his
in our ears
countrymen
Dr.
to strike, again
Madden
tells
us that
Emmet
for freedom.
house;
and
yet,
tone, there
was nothing
boisterous in his
manner
liis
o2 J
{
trary,
its
voice.
He
is
warmed
in his
its
for
chains.
him.
On
trial,
was pronounced.
He
Im-
after,
is
and
air.
When
the guards
old
many
him
hini
to the grave.
Thomas Davis
in the
same
lamented."
struggle,
At
the
"The
says:
hand soon
cold
Greater
seized
men
died
Macmanus
funeral in '61,
impressive proof of the tenacity with which his countrymen cling to his
tiles
uncovered.
All followed
made
in Ireland, a ban-
words, "Remembek
Emmet!"
Nor is it wonderful that to this hour, wherever over the spacious
earth, whether in their own sacred isle or in regions far away from home,
Irishmen and their children are gathered together, his name is honored
and his ideas have sway, for even his worst opponents have been obliged
to pay unwilling homage to his worth.
Even Lord Castlereao;h, while
he described him as "a young man of a heated and enthusiastic imagination," had in the same breath to bear testimony to his disinterestedness.
We have his authority for the fact that Emmet devoted the whole of the
three thousand pounds which his father had bequeathed to him to his
country's cause.
Death on the scaffold was Emmet's reward. Castlereagh, on the other hand, destroyed his country, and he was rewarded
with wealth, power and honors.
Even the harsh jailers who guarded
him almost loved Emmet's gentle nature, and were softened to tears
when he was led to execution. jTis courage, too, was of the noblest
kind.
Indeed, his self-possession in the face of danger was singular.
His brother, Thomas Addis Emmet, '.showed the same trait of character
on the day when, defending persons charged with having taken the
him
to account,
t:;c
Bench that
son,
ool
Thomas Emmet's
on another occasion.
secretary of
brother,
end.
state,
the
first
he was ready
for the
left
as
this
to.
by
means
organ of
with the
men
all
Downshire in
of
durance during
till
'98.
trial,
produce evidence against him, because his military abilities rendered him
specially formidable.
am
equally sure
basis of liberty
it
is
will succeed.
morality,
trust
men
of morality is
religion."
He had
failed to recognize
him:
the
later
all
he had gone
He had
to Bel-
333
know
lay
my
debts
When
it
my
remains with
owe.
the country
is free, I
beg they
may
have only
to
beg
of
my
is
words:
did
my
best for
my
have no
in such a cause, had I a
I
after his
nocence of
my
conduct
of opposite witnesses, or
of those
modes
secondly,
by
calling
by proving an
them
to
As
alibi.
331
part of the
Crown"
for the
finement, to the jury even for their patience, to the judges for their
him during his trial, we find the following elevated sentiments and language "As to my political sentiments, I shall, in as brief
a manner as possible (for I do not wish to engross the time of the court),
politeness to
my
life,
the
The Saviour
Soman
laws
by
to the torture
conduct
the grave,
what
now
say
weight."
He
then exhorts
meaning thereby
tenantry and dependants.
advise
in
them
their
for their
and
distress,
dwellings.
around them
if
If
good
sympathize
to
tli< h'
it,
shall
and
am
sure
now appeal
to
the right honorable gentleman in whose hands the lives of the other
prisoners are,
let
my
death,
and
to
trust the
my
may
may
may be
faithful few
may have
my
parents are
laid,
they
permitted to grieve.
memory
336
'
forgetfiilness
a prey."
The
O'COXNEI.L,
mortal career
tools
to
im-
some
Russell
to the
Steadily he
scaffold.
stature
and noble,
beat in
human
gentleman.
what
Once more he
for-
without a struggle.
intellect of O'Connell.
necessary that
To make
my
picture faithful
moment
hesitate to
and complete,
deem
it
is
the blemishes
One day in the year 1841, at O'Connell's house in Dublin, Mr. Daunt
met two gentlemen from America, one of whom was a native American,
They had come to enjoy the honor of
the other originally from Ulster.
an interview with "the Liberator." In the course of the conversation
that took place, the American visitors reproached Mr. O'Connell with
having condemned the insurgents of '98. He replied, "that the scheme
of rebellion
tors,
whom
schemes of self-aggrandizement."
I may remark here that the
truth,
purity,
disinterestedness
and
heroic devotion of a large proportion of the '98 leaders contrast marvellously with the falseness, self-seeking,
mean
trickery, petty
political
dodging and
hung on the
skirts
The American
visitors,
organization.
"Not
as such.
Their
officers
was
little
reality.
made
valiant
"The
and saw everything coulcur de rose" {rose-colored).
commanded
were
They
Presbyterians fought badly at Ballinahinch.
soon
as the fellows were
and
as
there by one Dickie, an attorney;
resolutions,
This
is far
is
the tone of
it
as liberal as
it
might
be.
The Presbyterians did not fight badly at Ballinahinch. If their discipline had borne any fair proportion to their valor, the victory would cerIt was Henry Munroe who comtainly .have remained in their hands.
manded
Many
and
sires.
The Americans next said, interrogatively, " But the people had great
provocation to take up arms?"
"Oh, indeed they had! In Wexford they were actually driven into
insurrection by the insane cruelty of Lord Kingston, who since then has
There was a sergeant of the North Cork
died in a strait-waistcoat.
militia, nicknamed Tom the Devil, from the unheard-of atrocities he
perpetrated on the peasantry.
Oh, the cruelty of the administrators.
338
it.
Why,
am
compiling a book
to
I'll
the
spirit
always identical."
and Elizabeth.
"And
this
one of the
"Poh!
visitors.
it
is
continued to this
"If they do
not slaughter with the sword as they formerly did, they massacre by ex-
termination.
them
moral! so intelligent!
place
my
reliance.
And
whole world!
am
proud
They are
so
They have thing away drunkenness; they frewhere they instruct and inform their minds with
The
me,
'We read
the prices
first,
339
and
sir.
then
the
"
facts
and
figures
Indeed, the
Upon
the concluding
deem
it
necessary to
may
what judgment he
With respect
to
do not
them the
pleases.
340
such
societies,
own
and either
for
their
preservation,
informers, incurred
to secret societies.
think
affix to their
doors a
list of
other strict regulations, the sovereign of Belfast ordered the inhabitants of that town to remain within their houses after eight in the
Among
evening.
The magistrates
of Dublin,
cided that Dublin should be divided into forty-eight sections, each section
to be separated from the neighboring ones by a chevaux-de-frise, which
would
suffice to
man
to
imprisonment,
in his History
O'COXJfELL.
o41
general charge and invective come not within the province of the historian,
the author
felt it
many
Suffice
inhuman
and unwarrantable confinements, who, without having been charged with
any crime or tried for any offence, have from this period undergone years
of confinement and incredible afflictions and sufferings, under the full
it
them
and
for
of life."
leave behind
to grind the
peasantry; vanishing
from
its
was
forced
perished.
It is little
wonder that
it
all
3i2
through
life,
it.
who
off
Augereau,
some reason or other was a favorite with the Irish people, was
appointed commander-in-chief. Arthur O'Connor, created general of
division, was placed on his staff.
An official paper, still in existence,
proves that the French army were to land in Ireland simply as auxiliaries
in fact, on terms precisely similar to those on which Bochambcau's
army landed in America. This was Bobcrt Emmet's view of the relations that should subsist between the French and Irish.
He had said
to Miles Byrne (who, having effected his escape, was now in France in
communication with Thomas Addis Emmet) that he was convinced that
Bonaparte " would find it his interest to deal fairly by the Irish nation
as the best and surest way to obtain his ends with England."
A new
Irish leaion was also organized in the French service at Morlaix in
T
At the coronation of the emperor JS apoleon (May, 1804) the
Bretagne.
legion was represented by two of its officers, Captain Tennant and CapThe emperor presented to it, as well as to the
tain William Corbet,
French regiments, colors and an eagle. On one side of the colors was
inscribed "Napoleon I.. Empereurdes Frangais, a la Legion Irlandaise"
["Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, to t/ie Irish Lee/ion'''); on the
reverse was a crownless harp: the inscription was " L'indepcndance
dTrlande" (" The independence of Ireland"). It is said that this Irish
legion was the only foreign corps in the French army to which the great
emperor ever entrusted an eagle.
But neither Marshal Augereau nor his army, including the " Irish
Unfortunately for Ireland and for himLegion," ever sailed for Ireland.
self, the emperor was induced to give up the project of invading that
The " Legion," however, served France bravely in the wars of
island.
for
the empire.
Many
of the officers
won
considerable distinction.
Emmet's
insurrection for a
long time discouraged and tended to prevent any fresh attempts in Ire-
The
343
failure
uell's
of deliverance
was tem-
porarily shaken.
failure
means
"moral-force" system.
If this conjecture
may
we
many
mere lawless riot for purposes of robbery and murder. Such is the evil
that must ever result even to the noblest cause, if its partisans consent
to crime.*
*
The
is
Madden 's
Musjrrave's 'History of the Rebellion of '98
Journals;" " Grattan's Life," by his son; " Grattan's Life," by D. O.
l>v
;"
;"
Madden
"Curran's Life,"
his son; "Curran's Life," by Davis; "Curran's Speeches;" "Grattan's Speeches;" "Shiel's
;"
Thierry's
;"
"
Sham
"Norman Conquest;"
Alison's
" Essays;"
Gordon's " His-
"Europe;" Davis's
Dock
"
"
historical notices,
by
;"
his son,
Lord Clare,"
Eoey
"
;"
O'Neill Daurit's
M.
;"
edited, with
" Grattan's
me-
Answer
CHAPTER
VII.
Daniel O'Connell's recollections and anecdotes of the Rebellion of "JS and the
Union A model trimmer: changing sides four times in one day Noble conduct
of Tim Driscoll O'Connell's account of Taafe in 'OS O'Connell's anecdote of
O'Connor, the rebel schoolmaster "The Liberator" relates several other interesting anecdotes of 9S Lord Clare on the point of being assassinated in '98
by Baron Power; double suicide Bush and Cesar Colci.ough Rewards for proUnion votes O'Connell's reminiscences of Union Judges; Judge Daly
Dan's
strange and amusing anecdotes of Lord Norbury A whimsical charge from the
Bench the celebrated case of Guthrie versus Sterne Norbury's epigram on
"two strange" and "Little Alice" -Norbury's racket court Dan's queer story
of Norbury's funeral Time and eternity Hung beef Firing at a wig O'Connell's boldness in Court "Hope from the past."
^tf SHALL
;'|
am
stop-
ping
for
There was,
it
It
of
the well-disputed
who
"Although he did not take the field," said Cloney. "yet he was not
quite unoccupied, for he changed his uniform four or five times while
He kept scouts to let him know, from time to time,
the battle lasted.
how the fortunes of the day went. Whenever he heard that the rebels
were getting the bettor of it, on with his green regimentals
The next
scout, perhaps, would announce that the king's troops were making
head: on with my prudent friend's yeomanry suit! And so on, from
red to green, and green to red, according to each shadow of veering in
!
The anecdote
345
mind
of the -old
between the beasts and the birds, the bat sometimes appears on wing
with the birds, sometimes goes with the beasts, according as the scales
of victory
seem
if
remember
Madden
Dr. R. R.
many
farmers,
of our
tells
Wex-
air.
We
ford
of
rightlv,
sides,
winded denizens
conflict,
managed
what the
would
retire
Thomas Devin
Some small
sort.
Every now
humorously called
"an unfathomable drink." Immediately the votary of Mars and Bacchus would hasten back to the strife with redoubled ardor. Another
combatant would then relieve him at the cask, and he, too, after recruiting his courage, would hurry again to the fight.
"Another and another
and another" repeated this convivial and military manoeuvre. In short,
during the entire of the long and fiercely- con tested fight each individual
of this jolly band of martial Wexford farmers was alternately imbibing
deep draughts and dealing hard knocks to "the Saxon."
The reader, however, is impatient to hear one of O'Connell's reminisWithout further delay or preface, I shall give an anecdote, told
cences.
by him of a certain Tim Driscoll, for many years known upon the Miniulate himself with
late
Reilly
remember an
Dungarvan during
most old men, he had at this time, in all probability, begun to take
even more than his usual pleasure in relating anecdotes of old times;
"I remember an occasion," quoth he, "when Tim behaved nobly, llis
brother, who was a blacksmith, was to be tried for his life for the part
he had taken in the rebellion of 1798, and Tim's unfriends among the
barristers predicted that Tim would shirk his brother, and contrive to
(like
when
come
on, in order to
Bets were offered upon the course Tim would take. He nobly
He waited till his brother
disappointed the predictions of his enemies.
smith.
was brought to the bar, sprang into the dock and embraced him, remained at his side during the whole trial, and cross-examined the witnesses for the prosecution, invariably styling the prisoner 'my brother.'
He
carried the sympathies of the jury entirely with him, got a verdict
one of those
himself.
silk
"
deal of
spoiled him.
He was
gown
Mais qui
{'Who shine in
l'eclipsent
who
au premier.'
"
among
and
In-
deed, he lays claim to the credit of the manoeuvre that caused the
felt
"
He was
confined in
was more honorable, it was also more dangerous, beingset apart for those who had been ringleaders in the rebellion, and
who knew not, from hour to hour, at what moment they might be
ordered out for execution.
But Taaffe' s vanity so far got the better of
If the first table
claim to the
first,
sit
who
of the chiefs
VA~,
Passing through
iS
aas,
'
,148
may God
bless you!"'
of '98,
liberator" relate one evening that they dined at the cottage of his son,
John O'Connell,
cities of
style:
"Many
of the
Orange scoundrels,
In
in
'97,
message."
the same Sneyd, the winewas
merchant, who, many a long year later,
himself shot dead by an
assassin on the steps of the Bank of Ireland.
As for Coote, to whose
If
is
of Ireland in 1798.
"
"
my
friend
were taken prisoners by a magistrate who owed their mother two thousand
pounds.
The worthy justice went to that lady and said, If you don't
'
my bond,
I'll
as
mother.'
who was
OF DANIEL 0X0XXELL.
TIIK LIFE
H4U
In pronouncing
he discharged them by proclamation.
their discharge, Day gave the young men a sort of moral and political
lecture, in which he congratulated them on their escape and advised loyal
against the
conduct
s,
The youngest
brother,
my
lord.'
we were
if
us as
who was
Day,
if
"VVe
guilty of disloyalty.
my
lord,
a thorough gentleman,
bowed and
said,
'
You
arc quite
Mr.
'
'
latter.
'Then,
my
'before
will
thrash
him any
longer.
who
The
jailer
When
con-
irons,
was
loaded poor
ironed,
laid
was
utterly astonished
how
he had received.
Finding that there was not the shadow of any accusation against him,
exclaimed
scene!
him
free
upon
his
own
responsibility.
when
travelling,
"
!
some
3'ears
subsequent
with a friend
posting
hero of
"Hollo!
my
"
Take
the
!"
take a citadel
One day
indebted
for
am
its
Daunt
us),
tells
making use
tilled
office of
He
accountant.
of the
to
ruin,
and
the
it,
after
many
ineffectual efforts
he at last resolved, in a
lit
of
and asked to see Fitzgibbon, who, proviBaron Power then resolved on suicide, and
dentially, was from home.
When he had got
ordered his coachman to drive along the north wall.
351
coachman
to
He
tied his
of these events through the town, crying out, 'Great times for Ireland!
They had
also,
!'
much more
vile,
Castlereagh, although as
commanding energy
of Clare,
have succeeded
Clare
was a monster
was a barrister
He
He was
His father
of considerOld Fitzgibbon and his brother were the first persons
able eminence.
who introduced the system of reporting the proceedings of the English
law-courts in the public newspapers, without the authority of the presiding judge.
time,
and Lord
Mansfield tried to put a stop to the practice, but the Fitzgibbons perse-
who
met him
Protestant
an old dowager, told me nothing could possibly exceed the contemptuous acerbity
with which, on these occasions, he spoke of the Catholics.
The scum
of the earth!' and such like phrases, were the epithets he habitually
friend of mine,
often
'
applied to them."
23
O'GOXN'ELL.
Common
Pleas
perilous
tunes!"
It is
circumstances "Courage!
an amusing parody
for-
While meaner
'
O'Connell remarked.
chief-justice
may have
ol
Mr.
On
'Oh,
'
my
lord,' cried
Counsellor Powel,
as a
"
in those
days elevated
to the Irish
they were distinguished for great legal abilities and knowledge, not for
the possession of a judicial mind, but simply because a seat on the bench
for
The
lives
353
who
Nor
there
up naturally enough.
"
He
siderable parrot-sort of
enormous number
of
"
To be sure, his
was once engaged before him
upon an executory devise involving a point of the most abstract and
difficult nature.
I made a speech of an hour and a half upon the point,
and was ably sustained, and as ably opposed, by brother counsel. We
all quoted largely from the work of Fearne (pro7iounced 'Fen/') On Remaindtrs, in which many authorities and cases in point are collected.
The cause was adjourned until next day, when Lord Nbrbury charged
charges were the strangest effusions
"'Gentlemen
of the jury.
My
their decision.
important as
ness
lo
it
the delight
and,
who was
best.
In
fact,
all best!
Gen-
354
tlemen, the authorities and precedents they have advanced in this most
Fearne!
to be
found in
{fern).'
"Now," continued
some years
stranger charges
still.
When
to come,
if
for
criminal conversation
"
'Gentlemen of the jury: The defendant in this case is Henry William Godfrey Baker Sterne and there, gentlemen of the jury, you have
him from stem to stern
I am free to observe, gentlemen, that if this
Mr. Henry William Godfrey Baker Sterne had as many Christian virtues
as he has Christian names, we never should see the honest gentleman
figuring here as a defendant in an action for crim. con.'
" The usual style of quoting law authorities, some years ago, was not
as at present, 'second volume of Strange, page ten,' but briefly, 'two
Strange, ten.'
A barrister, known by the sobriquet of Little Alick,'
was opposed to Blackburne in some case, in which he relied on the pre-
'
thus quoted against him were conclusive, threw up the cause, leaving
But the
deeming the precedent contained in 'two Strange' so conclusive for Alick as Blackburne considered
it, gave judgment against Alick' s client, and of course in favor of Blackburne's.
In announcing this decision, Lord Norbury threw off, on the
bench, the following impromptu
the victory to
little
Alick.
court, not
'
still,
!'
"The seemly
when committed
It
that jest
at the
of a butcher's apprentice
The
remained hanging at
somebody was sent for more rope.
'Ay,' cried a
butcher's 'prentice, give him rope enough
don't stint him
He was
coitin did
it.
coffin
mid-depth, while
'
One
Nbrbury
is that,
of
egad
you caught
"
My
good
fellow,
Eternity.'''
"And back
worst."
"Thank
you,
my
lord;
Another stock anecdote is that which gives his reply to the sporting
gentleman on circuit, who boasted that he had recently shot thirty-three
hares
before breakfast.
"Thirty-three
hares!"
exclaimed
Norbury.
sir!
r
3o8
The hoary, but by no means venerable, chief-justice would then generally cry out, "A very promising young man!
Jackson" (Mr. Peter
"
Jackson was Ms lordship's registrar), what is that young gentleman's
name?" "Mr. So-and-so, my lord." "What! of the county Cork? I
knew -it by his air. Sir, you are a gentleman of very high pretensions,
and I protest I have never heard the many counts stated in a more dignified manner in all my life.
I hope I shall find you, like the paper
before me, a daily freeman in my court."
Supposing the grounds of the
action were altogether trifling, still his eccentric lordship, puffing and
blowing and swelling with bustle and importance, would exclaim, "A
very important action, indeed
If you make out your facts in evidence,
Mr. Grady, there will be serious matter for the jury.'*
Then the case
would proceed. Perhaps some witness would be brought up arrayed in
new "toggery'" provided by the party on whose side he appeared, the
Underneath the novel finery, however, might lurk
plaintiff, for instance.
soap
and
water.
linen innocent of
The humorous and able cross-examiner, Harry Deane Grady, of whose skill in extracting what he wanted
from unwilling witnesses we have already had a specimen, would force
the poor tormented devil of a witness to unbutton and unveil the soiled
shirt.
In fact, the witness, when turned inside out, would have to join
in the merriment and laugh at his own expense.
Norbury, who always
had a leaning to the plaintiff's side, would then come to the rescue in
This would put the
person, and would help the discomfited vagabond.
A battle royal would ensue between
defendant's counsel on his metal.
sides.
A chaos of noisy sophistries, and
the counsel employed on both
dogmatic assertions, and contradictions, and points of law, and universal
wrangling would swell to a roar, the bellowings of Norbury, puffing and
blowing, and with an apoplectic hue empurpling his distended visage,
being heard over the whole Babel din. By this time the satisfactory
result attained would be confusion of ideas worse confounded in the
minds of every one present, especially those of the intelligent jury and
Norbury himself. Nor would his extraordinary charge to the jury tend
He would begin by extravto make the turbid stream run any clearer.
agant praises of the party against whom he wished the jury to find their
The defendant was one of the most honorable and estimable
verdict.
at this expected
of living men; he knew his father and loved him; but
!
all
357
forth.
The
judicial
jumble of anecdotes of his early life jokes partly original, partly borrowed from Joe Miller or other jest-books, quotations not always apposite,
but well
recited,
outrageous antics.
by rocking himself
oddly and growling; Johnson would groan in angry disgust and turn
was
358
"My
is
treated so discourteously."
JSTorbury,
Pardon me, my lord," rejoined O'Connell, "you have not heard him.
The young gentleman has not been allowed to explain his case an explanation which, I am quite sure, he is capable of giving if your lordships
"
afford
in
My
"
am
lord, I
not;
merely
rise to
my own
or the person
"Well, well; well. well," interposed old Norbury, "we'll hear Mr.
Martley.
Sit
sit
down."
He
felt
Martley,
We
proceedings on the part of judges during the earlier portion of his career,
we must
call to
emancipated
tury
memory
that they had been treated as slaves for more than a cen-
that they were only beginning to recover and assert the spirit of
Ascendencv was
still
un-
scrupulous
insolence
its
incredible.
One
winning a
He
succeeded
verdict, carrying
He
Dublin.
all
"That
that began,
think, thus
'Hark
forward,
Kilmainham
die.'
"
After this odd snatch from an odd ditty, he began to talk to Mr.
Daunt
made
his
speech in
maiden speech
full to
the reader.
pearance in public
life
was made
first
ap-
" It is
man, "that
tained in
all
my
the principles of
very
first
speech.
my
subsequent
Exchange
to
* Norbury.
360
He
in them.'
then walked
off
table, saying,
'
There
no harm
is
left
us undis-
turbed."
In another conversation he
He had
and every
clerk was an attorney
Great as were his gains, his expenditure was
greater.
Whenever he travelled to Dublin, he used to engage all the
post-chaises at every inn where he slept along the road, and if he found
any gentlemen of his acquaintance going to Dublin, he invariably gave
them seats gratis! His own personal suite always filled two or three
attorney of his time.
office,
of the carriages."
"
What a
has got!"
to O'Connell's
anecdote.
"A
happens
to be also
him
an attorney,
it
is
If
man who
"Attorneys
is
a rogue
facilities for
harshness."
have now finished the story of '98 and the union, and given the
reader some of O'Connell's reminiscences of those events and of persons
concerned therein, I do not think it would be out of place to introduce
here an article of mine, which appeared in the (Dublin) "Irish People,"
November 5, 1864, containing some reflections on the gloomiest fea-
As
tures of our past history, viewed, however, from a hopeful point of view.
The
article is called
little
that
is
only find
annals
of.
in
it
In
fact,
to the
What can
there are
And,
in
imagination such
never-ending horrors?
Yet, in spite of
all this,
story, in
we think
short, of
has been justly remarked, that periods of adthe end seldom lost to nations any more than individuals.'
aational happiness.
versity are in
Evil
is
It
'
root of
permanent good.
If
we were
real.
to
Temporary
evil
may
be the
our notion
may be
intelligible,
we
shall
of
Every one can see the dark side of the British conquest. Yet even
may be something redeeming. In many ways it may have
prepared the way for the greatness that may follow the achievement of
Inland's independence.
While Ireland was divided into so many petty
principalities, waging constant war one with the other, she could hardly
"
in this there
hope
to
civilized.
rind shelter
society.
Then no one of
was likely ever to become sufficiently powerful to
and create Irish unity. The English conquest at least
the rule of the petty chieftains, and made Ireland one
the principalities
an end
and
indivisible.
to
3G2
is
of national greatness.
"The
ferocious
the other Italian states during the earlier centuries of her existence, that
"Even
of the dissensions
and degradation
of
depending on a foreign
make
bitter ex-
The
legislature.
Even
it
back.
if
entirely dark,
should Ave
days
of the past.
in the
less
that
most dismal
may
!"
Thus examining the gloomy results of the past, we find some elements of goods in those very results. There is yet another way to draw
forth
to
more or
less
for
all cases,
but fractions,
Is
it
too
much
to
say
any one of our great rebellions of the past in any one of the
wars of Elizabeth's reign, in the wars that followed 1641, in the Wilthat, in
unanimous
do,
if
swept in a brief space of time the whole hosts and power of their oppressors into the sea
Surely
it
is
not too
much
for
a certain truth
I
believe
it to be.
on by all
maintain this,
do not
The books
O'Coimell,"
etc.,
;"
in writing the above chapter are O'Neill Daunt's "PerFajran's "Life of O'Connell ;" "Life and Times of Daniel
etc.
CHAPTER
VIII.
Pictures, anecdotes
f-Ww4
:.'.'
inee ti u g ne
ik accursed,
"'.'-
""
M m
political debut at
a public
it,
act of union.
This
was creditable
His speech on the occasion was manly and
i^g to his generous nature.
effective.
In short, bearing in mind that it was his first appearance on
the stage of public life, his success may be deemed even brilliant.
*.<&
patriotic
commencement
Nevertheless, he took
little
fol-
of professional reputation.
He had
far greater
contend with than those which Protestants of equal abilNot to speak of the semi-contemptities had at that time to encounter.
uous manner in which Catholics were still regarded by the potent taction
difficulties to
of the
attorneys
briefs to give, it is to be
was not
many an
remembered
that,
till
number
elo-
to confine himself
on the political
of O'Connell,
life
it
may
be as well to devote a
In these chapters
as a lawyer.
life
to his bar-life,
do not think
it
am
about to
give, relating
ing the stories and incidents in their exact order of time, nor do
to confine
I
myself rigidly
shall
to the earlier
intend
Sliiel's
of the country.
Casting
my
beheld a chariot-'
window
and beheld
it
still
of the street
toward the inn with increased violence. If my reader has been much
used to travelling, he will be aware that the moment a postilion comes
in sight of an inn he is sure to call forth the mettle of his horses
per-
haps to show off" the blood of his cattle. This was the case at present,
and a quick gallop brought the vehicle in thundering noise to the door,
where Shenstone says is to be found 'the warmest welcome.' The animals were sharply checked, the door was flung open, and the occupier
hurriedly threw himself out.
J.
3G6
"
in
and authority.
"The inmate of the carriage was about five feet eleven and a half
inches high, and wore a portly, stout, hale and agreeable appearance.
His shoulders were broad and his legs stoutly buiit; and as he at that
the loud voice of haste
moment
stood,
one arm in his side pocket, the other thrust into a waist-
which was almost completely unbuttoned from the heat of the day,
he would have made a good figure for the rapid but tine finishing touch
His head was covered with a light fur cap, which, partly
of Harlowe.
thrown back, displayed that breadth of forehead which I have never yet
seen absent from real talent.
His eyes appeared to me, at that instant,
His face was pale and
to be between a light blue and a gray color.
sallow, as if the turmoil of business, the shade of care or the study of
midnight had chased away the glow of health and youth. Around his
coat,
Altogether,
He was
His cravat was carelessly tied the knot almost undone from the heat of the day and as he stood with his hand across
his bosom, and his eyes bent on the ground, he was the very picture of
a public character hurrying away on some important matter, which
Often as I have
required all of personal exertion and mental energy.
seen him since, I have never beheld him in so striking or pictorial an
black waistcoat.
attitude.
"
Cromwell
'
367
ered himself from his reverie and flung himself into his carriage.
The
whip was cracked, and away went the chariot with the same cloud of
dust and the same tremendous pace.
" [ did not see him pay any money.
He did not enter the inn. He
called for no refreshment, nor did he utter a word to any person around
him he seemed to be obeyed by instinct. And while I marked the
chariot thundering along the street, which had all its then spectators
turned on the cloud-enveloped vehicle, my curiosity was intensely excited, and I instantly descended to learn the name of this extraordinary
;
stranger.
^aiiie
grayish eye, broad forehead, portly figure and strong tone of voice
arrested
jury,
my
and
He was
attention.
just on the
of addressing the
moment
tion:
"
"
lifelike
and entertaining
pictures
and
in the
courts.
my
'
five
and
six o'clock
is
fail to
that
is to say,
be-
observe that,
among
those splendid
The halfopened parlor shutter, and the light within, announce that some :ne
dwells there whose time is too precious to permit him to regulate his
Should your curiosity tempt you to ascend the
rising with the sun's.
materially from those of his fashionable neighbors.
differ
steps and, under cover of the dark, to reconnoitre the interior, you will
see a
tall,
able-bodied
occupation.
From
Upon
man
him
and from the calm attitude of the person within, and from a
certain monastic rotundity about his neck and shoulders, your first impression will be that he must be some pious dignitary of the Church of
Rome absorbed in his matin devotions. But this conjecture will be
T
\ o sooner can the eye take in the
rejected almost as soon as formed.
the bookcases clogged with tomes in
other furniture of the apartment
plain calfskin binding and blue-covered octavos that lie about on the
(ioor, the reams of manuscript in oblong folds and begirt Avith crimson
tape than it becomes evident that the party meditating amidst such
objects must be thinking far more of the law than of the prophets.
" He is, unequivocally, a barrister, but apparently of that homely,
chamber-keeping, plodding caste who labor hard to make up by assiduity
what they want in wit who are up and stirring before the bird of the
morning has sounded the retreat to the wandering spectre, and are
already brain-deep in the dizzying vortex of mortgages, and crossremainders, and mergers, and remitters, while his clients, still lapped
in sweet oblivion of the law's delay, are fondly dreaming that their
this,
cause
is
peremptorily set
conclusion, you
push on
down
for
for
final hearing.
Having come
to this
of the
agape
in
;i
to
3G9
what the
You
at hand.
if
lor a
him not
above
all,
his versatility.
By
when
you
will
once seen in the preceding situation the able-bodied, able-minded, acting, talking,
multifarious person
370
name
may
and can be
no other than 'Kerry's pride and Minister's glory,' the far-famed and
indefatigable Daniel O'Connell.
His frame is tall, expanded and musoccasion to inquire his
cular
precisely
lie
such as befits a
be assured that he
man
is
affection
by
These popular
which
it is
upon his
man
inclination, to control.
and deportment or, perthat the same hand which has moulded the
gifts of
it is
is
necessarily expended
but the labors of the most laborious of professions cannot tame him to repose; after deducting the daily drains of
the study and the courts, there remains tin ample residuum of animal
legal avocations;
were a pike.
As he marches
He
flings out
to court
'
Ireland her
own
or the world
his bonds,
if it
if
he
371
is
it is
not only
seem
to press
upon his heart the same Erin-go-bragh feeling follows him into the
most technical details of his forensic occupations. Give him the most
dry and abstract position of law to support, the most remote that imagination can conceive from the violation of the Irish Parliament, and ten
to one but he will contrive to interweave a patriotic episode upon those
examples of British domination. The people are never absent from his
thoughts.
He tosses up a bill of exceptions to a judge's charge in the
name of Ireland, and pockets a special retainer with the air of a man
that doats upon his country.
There is, perhaps, some share of exagbut much less, I do believe, than is generally susapprehend that he would scarcely pass for a patriot without
it, for, in fact, he has been so successful and looks so contented, and his
elastic, unbroken spirits are so disposed to bound and frisk for very joy
in a word, he has naturally so bad a face for a grievance, that his
geration in
all this,
pected; and
Daunt
came
was he who,
had prosecutpd Emmet. His speech, however, on that occasion was by no means
The sight of Cahir-Guillamore (so his place was named)
intemperate.
called forth some of O'Connell's reminiscences of the old chief-baron.
He told Mr. Daunt how, in 1813, some person having remarked to
O'Grady that Lord Castlereagh, by his ministerial management, "had
made a great character for himself,'' "Has he?" said O'Grady. "Faith,
Baron O'Grady.
if
It
as attorney-general in 1803,
to restore order.
He
(the high-sheriff)
bore
would
it
quietly
interfere
in his
'-
372
riot,
'
novel in quiet
!'
"After O'Grady had retired from the bench, some person placed a
hriie stuffed owl on the sofa beside him.
of
enormous
size,
of peevish impatience,
you
don't,
"Those who have seen Baron Foster on the bench can best appreciate the felicitous resemblance traced by his venerable brother-judge
between his lordship and an old stuffed owl.
"I remember," said O'Connell, continuing his anecdotes, "a witness
who was called on to give evidence to the excellent character borne by
man whom O'Grady was trying on a charge of cow-stealing. The
witness got on the table with the confident air of a fellow who had a
right good opinion of himself. He played a small trick, too, that amused
me: he had but one glove, which he used sometimes to put on his right
hand, keeping the left in his pocket; and again, when he thought he
was not watched, he would put it on his left hand, slipping the right
'Well,' said O'Grady to this genius, 'do you know the
into his pocket.
;s
my
"
'
"
'And what
"
land,
I do,
right well,
which
all
is
lord.'
He
'
is
my
only
accused
of!' cried
O'Grady, inter-
witness to character.'
is
among
and
We have
ready seen "Cousin Kane's" addiction to the bottle, and, farther on,
have
al-
shall
"
me
'
to
hope,
sir,
remove
my
did,
after
it.'
if it
n me, but
I'd
may be
sure
have kicked
it
it
doesn't
out of
!'
it
myself
off."
One
of O'Connell's conversations
practice in general,
quietly put
mind
my
as to the neces-
hat
and took
on,
of roguish attorne}*s in
particular."
of,
'
defence.
" 'Yes,
my
lord,' said
374
and
gilt buttons,
my
lord,' said
Checkley.
him
his
name and
residence,
'
You know
the prisoner in
'
"
'
And what
a worse
"
is
was a gorsoon
!'
!'
'Why, what
sort of a witness
passionately, Hinging
down
is
his brief
alibi,
to alibi, as instructed in
" Keller accordingly
your
brief.'
pris-
it
so
field,
'
EGSEg
ttw
MS M
IF
MFE.,
'
Troth
I will,
my lord
with
all
the pleasure in
375
life, if
I'm tould
'
Go
your lordship
I
to the
can
for the
Crown
office
The prisoner was of course discharged, the alibi having clearly been
In an hour's time some inquiry was made as to whether
established.
Checkley's rural witness had sworn informations in the Crown office.
That gentleman was not to be heard of: the prisoner also had vanished
immediately on being discharged, and of course resumed his malpracIt needs hardly be told that Lord Shannon's soi-disant
tices forthwith.
(self-sti/lcd) tenant dealt a little in fiction, and that the whole story of
his farm from that nobleman, and of the prisoner's thefts of the spade
and the vegetables, was a pleasant device of Mr. Checkley's. I told this
story," added O'Connell, "to a coterie of English barristers with whom
I dined, and it was most diverting to witness their astonishment at Mr.
Stephen Rice, the assistant barCheckley's unprincipled ingenuity.
rister, had so high an admiration of this clever rogue that he declared
he would readily walk fifty miles to see Checkley."
"
which Curran, Yelverton and so many other clever lawyers and politicians of the brilliant pre-union days had been " shining lights." When
Yelverton became chief-baron and Lord Avonmore, it was "a good time"
for his old boon-companion Jerry, who gained complete possession of his
The brief-bag was plethoric with briefs. But Avonmore died, and
ear.
then came a dismal change in his affairs. The lawyer's bag suddenly
collapsed.
He compensated
His acute
eyes,
"
376
of the bar-mess.
Referring to his
own
first
It
was a
mock
when
this
pompous
was
jocularly said,
of his health,
At a
later period,
constantly taken by the Parisians for the spectre of Trois Echelles, the
ghastly, gravc-visaged executioner in Sir Walter Scott's
"Quentin Dur-
ward."
When
"George,
usual form
etc.,
etc.,
377
evening.
we
He was
name
"was an
an excellent
classical scholar,
named
when he went
Keleher, which
to the bar.
He was
had a good deal of business at the bar, his success was far from being what he might have attained, had he given his
whole soul to his profession. His readiness of retort was great. At a
Cork county election, at which Colonel Tonson (the fruit of an adulterous
intercourse) was candidate, Jerry was trying to break down one of the
In those days voters were
colonel's voters by a long cross-examination.
liable to cross-examinations, like witnesses at Nisi Prius. Colonel Tonson
saw matters were going hard with his voter, and thinking to check, and at
I say, Mr. Keller,
the same time to mortify, Jerry, he called out to him
city
but, although he
'
or Keleher, or
"
Call
me
colonel,'
!'
/'
meekly up, 'provided you dorit call me the son of a w
" Baron Smith once tried to annoy him on his change of name at a
They were talking of the Irish language.
bar-dinner.
"'Your Irish name, Mr. Keller,' said the baron, 'is Diarmuidh-naCeallcachair (Dermid or Jeremiah 0'' Keleher).'
"'It is,' answered Jerry, nothing daunted; "and yours is Lliamh
There was a great laugh at the
[hand) goto (or yab/ta, meaning smith).'
(The ba?*on s
baron's expense a sort of thing that nobody liked less."
Keller seems to have punned in Irish on his
Christian name was William.
1
name.)
in
your
belly
!'
378
'
eternally exhibiting
came up
attorney
brother-attorney,
itself.
One
an
'I
do not want
so*
much;
it,
take
it,'
replied Parsons;
'I
!'
'
'
of
.'
your case
affray, is
Your
yet
379
By the
only man
yon
clean napkin,
and
use the affecting and poetical language of the witness) you laid
him
took
(to
it
it.
him
to
down with
a vacant
seat,
little child.
In consideration
renegade.
And, in point of
fact,
there he
was
380
to
lowest state of
want
and misery.
Woeful
downward
letters
It
was
amid
The appearance
of the
air,
his back
woe-begone wretch,
clad in ragged white, with a tattered turban on his head, attracted the
traveller from the
first, for
!"
He now drew
it
had
still
something of the
traveller.
said the hope-abandoned outcast, hiding his face with his hands,
am
The termination
of this lost,
the extreme.
tragical in
streets of
corner a sorry
He dreamed
relief,
of again
making a
livelihood in
some
fold.
of the countries of
He
of the
escape from the clutches of the law, the fellow wished to see O'Connell
"
knocked down in
rescue
reader
ebullitions of gratitude
still
more whimsical.
for
He begged
all,
my
it,"
life
indeed.
was engaged
The substance
worthy
O'Connell
to defend this
is
an aggravated
The ruffian again
had Dan for his counsel; and again witnesses, adverse counsel, judge
and jury were puzzled and confounded, law was hopelessly entangled,
and the scoundrel sent back to seek excitement and pocket-money at
the expense of his countrymen.
He
stole
a collier-brig, sold
the freebooter.
of the
admiralty court.
Is it
382
this
may
thief,
to
one!
almost
common among
The evidence
the will and the suc-
which
this witness, in
phrase, "the
life
when O'Connell
He was
of their witnesses.
was
of the validity of
to the
in him."
mind.
"On
"By
my
oath, the
life
alive?"
Now
at your peril
his
was
of
your Maker,
solemnly ask
who
will
one day
and answer me
mouth when
O'Connell.")
This was one of those sudden flashes of intuition which are seldom
men
man
383
despaired of by less
disengaged
DO in the nick of time
last stage of despair,
when he
;
7
his learned
He was
25
384
difficulty.
He
He
of his client.
disposed sum-
the slough, and, informing the court that the remainder of the argument
its
was summoned.
'
He
found,' said
them on their legs.' The incident is but another illustration of his commanding powers as a lawyer,
and the facility and readiness with which he could apply the acquisitions
of a practical, sagacious and extraordinary intellect.
of children;
and
" It
stated
it
set
an
in
in the Edinburgh
article
by two
senior,
but far
less
competent,
officers,
On an
occur-
Lord Brougham,
Mr. O'Connell, with instant happiness of thought, applied the remedy
which had evaded the learned peer's sagacity. Engaged in a case, the
success of which mainly depended on his examination of the most maa department of the profession in which he had no supeterial witness
rior
he found to his surprise, on entering the court, that his destined
the client having
station and consequent task were occupied by another
without communication, and wholly unconscious of the etiquette of the
bar or its consequences in this instance to himself, privately retained an
old friend of more moral than intellectual merit, but Mr. O'Connell's
senior.
ployer,
cause,
him
and
informant
O'Connell, chiding
to ascertain the
my
when Mr.
of Cork,
name
of a
him
for his
gaping clown
despondency, directed
whom
a pertinent answer.
385
end was attained, and the leader, his part being accomplished, stood no
longer in the way of Mr. O'Connell, who succeeded him, and failed not
to achieve the expected result." *
*
The books
which
;"
lections of
to
am
Barrington's
"
Personal Sketches
;"
street, etc.
CHAPTER IX.
Lady Morgan's sketch of O'ConnellMore of O'Connell's bar-anecdotes and othee
reminiscences value of an ugly nose a lesson in cow-stealing unpremeditated
oratory o'connell on the scotch and english jury-systems and capital punish Queer anecdote of Sir Jonah Barrington; the pawnbroker outwitted
MENT,
Escape of a robberAn Orangeman who always liked to have O'Connell as his
counsel Odd story of a physician Anecdotes of Judges Boyd and Lefroy; O'Connell saves the life of a clientHe defies Baron McCleland A judge sternly
reproved Anecdotes about Judge Day and Bully Egan O'Connell humbugs
Judge Day His opinion on the subject of judges' wigs Dan overhauls a client's
accounts to the great advantage of the latter He receives a challenge from
an angry litigant A high-sheriff's providential thickness of skull O'Connell
sitting for his portrait Kerry dexterity; a smart newsboy Blake's duel
Breach-of-promise case; Miss Fitzgerald versus Parson Hawkeswortii Grose
THE ANTIQUARY DuKE O'Neill's WILLA WITTY EPIGRAM OF HuSSEY BuRGn ON THE
ARISTOCRATIC FEMALE SHOPLIFTERS FURTHER
LADIES OF THE STRATFORD FAMILY'
STANCES of O'Connell's legal acuteness Cases of Mr. Justice Johnson and Mr.
Justice Fox Manners and customs in Ireland at the end of the eighteenth and
commencement of the nineteenth centuryThe Irish character King Bagenal Election duels "Tiger" Roche Wild conviviality Catholic lords Officers of the "Irish Brigade" Prodigality and corruption Titled tricksters
One coffin for a company Military patronage A true gentleman De Beaumont on our aristocracy Dan and Biddy' Moriarty' A combative attorney.
etc.
IN-
"
"
shall
Irish
perhaps equally
writer,
Sis'
lively,
who have
Lady Morgan.
"Bacon, Shakespeare, Milton
fited
the world
their genius.
have been
no
all
less
Physical activity
remarkable
may
than
for
man
he is mastered by his
of talent cannot be idle even though he desire it
moral energy, and pushed into activity whether he will or not. Vitality
:
There
is
O'Connell
the
what we
call
all agitation,
When we
387
eloquent and powerful speeches in which the spectres of Ireland's oppression are called
of history,
and
forth as from
and puzzled
a j udge by some point of law not dreamed of in his philosophy, that, all
weary and exhausted as he must be, he mounts the rostrum of the
committee, the Jupiter tonans {thundering Jove) of the Catholic senate,
'
ities
as a lawyer
many an
risters, to
may
inveterate Ascendency
hawk
their
man
courts, while
he assigns
to
an end we
shall
see
an instance
Lady Morgan's.
am
388
now about
is
When
'
'
On
was once counsel for a cow-stealer, who was clearly conAt the end
victed
the sentence was transportation for fourteen years.
happening
to
meet
me,
he
began
to talk
of that time he returned, and
about the trial. I asked him how he always had managed to steal the
Why, then, I'll tell your
to which he gravely answered
fat cows
cow-stealer
" I
'
always know the fat cattle in the dark is by this token that the
fat cows always stand out in the more exposed places, but the lean ones
always go into the ditch for shelter.' So I got," added O'Connell, "that
lesson in cow-stealing gratis from my worthy client."
Mr. Daunt happening to observe to our hero "that when a speaker
you'll
averred with
never
" I
felt
much
remember a young
barrister,
named B
and
said, in reply:
me
to read,
'Gentlemen
you
my
honor as a gentleman
I did
not
know
until this
389
to
that
to require
criminal juries
way
do not think
it
necessary here to
on criminals guilty of certain black and enormous crimes. O'Connell " told
me," says Daunt, "of an instance where an innocent life was all but
lost
the prosecutrix
(a
woman whose
of the offence.
He
evidence.
inal.
trix,
The
latter
she fainted with horror at her mistake, which had been so nearlv fatal
390
By
the
mony
"My
good
sir,"
new
trial."
were once admitted, the injustice on the other side would be infinitely greater.
If the accused could be tried over again on the appearance of a fresh witness, pray where could you limit the danger to inno-
trial
At the expiration
of
months or
years,
Once,
391
O'Connell told his friend Mr. Daunt an anecdote of the humorous and
eccentric historian of the union. Sir
if
is
is
true,
This
"Sir Jonah," said O'Connell, "had pledged his family plate for a
large sum of money to one Stevenson, a Dublin pawnbroker, and feeling
desirous to recover the plate without paying back the money, he hit
He
upon
Council,
my
Come
and
off
the plate
dinner.
Sir
gone
too
dining in aristocratic
company
Skinner's Bow, the former pointed out the ruins of the old Four Courts
and showed him where the old jail had stood. " Father
Lube," said O'Connell, "informed me of a curious escape of a robber
from that jail. The rogue was rich, and gave the jailer one hundred and
twenty pounds to let him out. The jailer then prepared for his prisoner's escape in the following manner: he announced that the fellow
had a spotted fever, and the rogue shammed sick so successfully that no
one suspected any cheat. Meanwhile the jailer procured a fresh corpse,
to his friend,
392
and smuggled
it
was
robber,
with paint,
to imitate the
"You've got seven counsel without him," quoth this bigoted block"and why should you give your money to that Papist rascal?"
Hedges kept silent but the two stayed in court, watching the progress of the trial. The counsel opposed to Eyre pressed a point for nonsuit; the judge (Johnson) seemed to incline to their view. O'Connell protested against the nonsuit as a great injustice. The judge was stubborn.
head,
me
"Well, hear
"No,
counsel."
"But
am
my
brethren.
inti-
I entreat,
of the nonsuit.
"Now"
u
said
now do you
see
why
gave
my money
his brother
Orangeman,
number
who was
which he had
been subpoenaed as a witness. He pressed the judge to order him his expenses. " On what plea do you claim your expenses ?" demanded the judge.
"
On
the plea of
my heavy
my
I know
if I
am
my lord,"
On
the
393
to enable
him
all
an agreeable host or a
that he was a most amusing
pleasant travelling-companion
story-teller.
above
all,
own
presiding at his
table.
Of him
it
may be
said, as
when
Lockhart has
making
amusement
of
his
guests.
tives
come
time to
desk,
"One day
it
to convict
a witness of having
Mr. Harry
Deane Grady labored hard, upon the other hand, to show that the man
had been sober.
" 'Come now, my good man,' said Judge Boyd, 'it is a very important
consideration
tell the court truly, were you drunk or were you sober
upon that occasion ?'
394
"
'
Oh
my lord
quite sober,
!'
as a judge P
"
On
by
all
came
on,
When
fact,
the trial
chance of getting
off,
it
was necessary
oung.
He was
The counsel
and
ular judge,
witness
In
the matter.
for the
Crown
O'Connell
to the chief
at once objected
and Sergeant Lefroy quickly cut him short, deciding in the most positive manner that he could not suffer him to proceed
with such an illegal line of cross-examination. This was just what O'Connell wanted; his opponents and the judge had alike fallen into his trap.
With every appearance of uncontrollable indignation, he exclaimed,
"As you refuse me permission to defend my client, I leave his fate in
your hands; his blood will be on your head, if he be condemned."
O'Connell then rushed impetuously out of court, and commenced walking up and down outside.
About half an hour goes by; O'Connell is still promenading with
hurried steps, when, all of a sudden, he sees his client's attorney rushing out of the court-house hatless and excited
'He's acquitted! he's
acquitted!" cries the limb of law, full of delight and gasping for breath.
O'Connell gives a comical grin. All his calculations had proved correct.
He had shrewdly guessed that an unhackneyed judge, like Lefroy, would
shrink back, if it were at all possible, from being in any way instrumental in causing a capital conviction.
"My only chance," said O'Connell, "was to throw the responsibility on the judge, who had a natural
timidity of incurring a responsibility so serious."
In short, Lefroy had
insensibly acted as the prisoner's advocate, had cross-examined the witnesses brought against him, and had ended by charging the jury in his
to O'Connell's questions,
favor.
We
insc-
He was
lence of Norbury.
395
have
not,
my
lord,
but
shall
to the assizes."
"
When / was
it
to
anticipate briefs."
"
When
for
a model, and
now
'that
During a
trial
it
protracted one, the judge addressed our hero in the following terms
my
present
is,
rejected.
my
You can
by
Most
"Had
your lordship
known
as
396
somewhat
this
stern rebuke,
November
of
or in the beginning of
with a rolling-pin.
" He once said to
me
make a speech
allow you to
'My
lord,' said
I,
the fact
is,
'
Mr. O'Connell,
am
must not
I will
why
I'll let
nobody
Somebody
Egan
in the
company asked
O'Connell,
"Was
lawyer ?"
"
He was
was a desperate
who
duellist.
" 'Well, at
"'Is
it
a successful one.
any
word was
rate,
so?' said
my
Egan.
given.
effect.
'Egad,
I'll
all that.'
"And Egan
at Reilly,
suspense."
whom
he kept
for that
kill
397
him?"
Exchequer that
man
so,
in a fever,
Egan
shuffled
fear of infection.
off.
room with a
The instant
said
at elections."
of the pistol.
for success as
an
was an indispensable
days
Irish clectioneerino;
* counsel in those
"
qualification
When
long
ago,
but in the days of Bully Egan, Tiger Roche, Fighting Fitzgerald, Brian
the storied heroes of many a neat
Maguire, "et hoc genus omne"
exchange
I
may
months
above conversation. It
his death that (some further reference being made to the old wiseacre)
after the date of the
havdly surpass
As we
this.
of his agita-
398
One
tions.
who is my
name of this
memory
the
"The judges
of the land,
to preside in
your courts
all their
it
had become wild with alarm lest O'Connell's reckless impiety in thus
blaspheming judicial horse-hair should at once loosen "the entire cohesion of things," and bring back the anarchy "of primeval night and
chaos."
Returning
way
in which,
when a
a specimen of
rising
young lawyer,
It is easy to perceive that his suche looked after his client's interests.
Such a man could not do
cess at the bar was inevitable from the first.
But
life.
to our illustration
During the year in which "the liberator" was lord-mayor, Mr. John
O'Neill (a survivor of the volunteers of 1782) on one occasion solicited
his good offices in behalf of the children of an unfortunate man, who
"The Dutch
"
"I
399
We
was young
were trying to
my
my
place im-
all
When my
turn came,
made
it
himself
to
of seven
hundred pounds
Mr.
for
important branch of
my
?'
'if
profession."
proud
of;
and, secondly,
if I
be a blockhead,
it is
I'm counsel against you. However, just to save you the trouble of saying so again, I'll administer a slight rebuke;' whereupon I whacked
him soundly on the back with the president's cane. Next day he sent
me a challenge by William Ponsonby, of Crottoe; but very shortly after
he wrote to me to state, that since he had challenged me he had discovUnder these
ered that my life was inserted in a valuable lease of his.
'
circumstances,' he continued,
then hey
for
'
first
powder and
ball!
yet
Now
this
seems
it is literally true.
4()0
yet
lie
in fact, he fought
have taken
that gentleman were
is
what actually
occurred.
Bob was
'
Oh,
let
them
light it out!'
and another on the left, crying out all the while, I'm the highA fellow who did not care for dignitaries
sheriff! I'm the high-sheriff!'
soon made a loiv sheriff of him, by bestowing a blow on his head that
stunned him. Poor Bob was brought back into the house insensible
but his head, when examined, was found not to have sustained the least
When he revived, Archdeacon Day congratulated him, saying,
fracture.
"
'How providential, Bob, that your skull was so thick V
right
'
a brief space
'
401
somewhat
of a
different complexion.
or
shall
must confess, that in introducing this sketch at this part of my biography I am anticipating events considerably for the sitting, which I am
;
many
a long year
lighter importance.
"One morning
present when H
in
,
tells
us,
"I was
'
And
a long speech
was
excellent!'
by and
by, the
"
'And
"
'Cheer too?
to the
"
'
capital!'
left, sir
No
doubt, no doubt
that's just
if
Very good.
too.'
Please turn a
little
it.'
had a
still
stronger proof of
my
success.'
" 'Ay,
"
'
ay; so
should suppose.'
'
And
a great leader
anions: the
Catholics,
offered to
priest
Ha
!'
"
402
"
'
"
'
"
'
'
'
No
Bless
my
And the
priest,
doubt
soul
!'
!'
"
'
Expressed
upon
it.
There
precisely
left of
your face
it reflects
the light
so.'
'
'
first-rate corporal.'
it
was
subject which did not elicit an anecdote from the stores of O'Connell's
Here
is
and
the
The Post!
to-night's post!'
The arrival of the packets was at that time irregular,
and eagerly looked for. We all were impatient for the paper, and Mahony gave a five-penny piece to his servant, a Kerry lad, and told him
calling out,
'
to
go
the Post.
was a
grin,
fortnight old.
we
in a
minute with a
nor and
403
Mr.
Mahony
off
an
stormed, Con-
"'I wonder, gossoon, how you let the fellow cheat you? Has not
your master a hundred times told you that the dry papers are always
old and good for nothing, and that the new papers are always w et from
the printing-office?
Here's another five-penny. Be off, now, and take
T
PosV
"'Oh, never mind the five-penny, sir,' said the boy; 'I'll get the
paper without it;' and he darted out of the room, while Mahony cried
out,
Hang that young blockhead, he'll blunder the business again.'
"But in less than five minutes the lad re-entered with a fresh wet
'
We were
newspaper.
to get it without
"
money.
'
and buys
my
all surprised,
a gentleman meets
fool of
So
whips across
over the
the
I shall
duellist,
next present
named
Blake.
wet,
to a
new Post
for
me
at the corner
newsman
I sees
a Connaught
met
at the
nobles in "Lara" waiting for the appearance of Sir Ezzelin, they delayed the proceedings some minutes, but
all in
put in an appearance.
a pity," quoth Blake, " to keep you waiting any longer, gentlemen ;" and opening his pistol-case (which had been placed in his carriage by the absent second), he deliberately snapped one of the pistols
failed to
" It is
at his opponent.
On
away
finding that
at the
time!"
flint,
it
did not go
off,
I'll
be ready
for
hammer
you in no
404
While be spoke, his second came galloping up, with many apologies
absence; but on seeing that the parties had already commenced
hostilities, he not unnaturally expressed great astonishment.
"Egad, I snapped my pistol," said Blake, upbraidingly, "and it
for his
missed
fire."
"Of
course
it
"you know
it
was not
charged."
"Not charged?"
cried Blake;
"and pray
of
what use
is
a case of
charged?"
tell
of a case in
my
"Head Pacificator,"
who was one of his trav-
Tom
Steele,
n
ivoidd stare at their columns of " intcrvieivings'
and
before
and who were along with me. and how we were received on board, just
But to return to Hawkesworth. The correas if we were princes!
spondence read upon the trial was comical enough. The lady, it appeared, had at one period doubted his fidelity whereupon the parson
Don't believe any one who says
writes to reassure her in these words
They lie who say so; and I pray that all such liars may
I'll jilt you.
;
'
405
decamped
to
!"
During this same journey, when approaching from the village of Ashbourne to Dublin, some objects of antiquity which Grose had illustrated
recalled that antiquary to "the liberator's" mind.
full of
way beneath
He was very much teased, while walking through the Dublin markets,
by the butchers besetting him for his custom. At last he got angry, and
told them all to go about their business
when a sly, waggish butcher,
;
fat,
'
Duke
O'Neill's will."
somewhat laughable
which for
a time inspired a lot of gullible mortals with visionary hopes of becomThe cheat originated in
ing rich by the division of a colossal fortune.
this wise
himself to a pleasant
forged a document,
of a certain
fraud,
summer
which purported
to
who had
died without
leaving offspring in that land of romance, after having amassed the vast
sum
of one million
will,
was
be divided, share
and share
alike,
himself at
magnificent bequest.
The
406
amount
the moderate
crown
of half a
for
a neatly-engrossed duplicate.
and presently
sev-
had better
humbugged
let
chateaux en Espagne
"Nothing," said
Spain or in
(castles in
the air).
he,
when
assured
"
"
us.
"
'
Indeed
I do,' said
I.
'Indeed,
it is all
they had ever put faith in the tale of the 'ould duke.'
On one occasion, as O'Connell was passing Belan, the deserted abode
family (Stratford
notorious for
or
is
what
is
now
Promethean
Then
it
fix,
of the
Aldboroughs) were
Give
command
warm that hand,
could I
fire to
tenacity
and
feeling,
Upon my
Oh! what a hand
fist
sympathetic wrist,
'twould be for stealing 1"
407
were not out of place, some odd tales of the Stratford ladies
might be told here.
If it
"Some
ladies of
theft.
thievish disposition.
upon the
and the honorable thieves were pursued by shopboys, who would say, You have taken such or such articles, ladies, but you have forgotten to pay for them.'
An exorbitant
price was then always demanded, which the ladies were glad to pay in
counters
'
two additional instances of O'Connell's legal acumen, and of his rapid power of seizing hold of trifles the most minute
to save his client.
A farmer was caught in the act of killing game on
the estate of a landlord.
Three of the gentleman's servants, who had
secured the poacher, were prepared to swear to his guilt.
O'Connell
thought the chance of a successful defence so slight that at first he
I
declined taking a
fee.
client
taking
"but you
is
undeniable," said
me by
under-
it."
It required
reluctance to accept the fee and undertake the defence. However, he finally
408
effect.
By
the virtue of
my
Such was the strange response of the witness. The miserable sinner,
seeing that he couldn't carry off the whole credit of the capture himself,
was determined, if he could at any cost, to deprive his two fellow-servants of their due share of praise. The upshot of the trial was that the
poacher was acquitted.
The
was a
chief witness,
of a skilful cross-examination.
"
How
is
the
mark on
the
left
the
had a
cheek.
"
confusion of ideas,
was the cheek opposed to his right hand in other words, the left cheek.
But O'Connell took advantage of his verbal blunder and contrived to
The real criminal, it appears, who Avas afterward
save the prisoner.
brought to light, was marked on the right cheek.
Conspicuous among O'Connell's forensic recollections was the memorable case of Judge Johnson, who was tried in 1805 for a libel signed
"
On
a strained con-
409
Johnson
in the following
words
eminent breeder of
sheep in Cambridgeshire,' and Lord-Chancellor Redesdale 'a very able
and stout-built special pleader from Lincoln's Inn.' Johnson's great
He sued out his habeas corpus in every one of
object was to gain time.
"It
(the libel)
Hardwicke
called Lord
'a very
The last was the Common Pleas. One of his counsel was
He acScriven, whose instructions were to be as lengthy as possible.
cordingly opened by stating that he had eighteen distinct propositions
Lord Norbury soon got tired, and tried to cut the matter
to enunciate.
short by occasionally saying, 'That will do, Mr. Scriven; the court is
with you on that point, so you need not occupy your time by demonstraI must assist your lordThat won't do, my lord,' said Scriven
tion.'
I well know the great ability of my
ship with some additional reasons.
the courts.
'
'
learned friends
who
will follow
on the other
side, so I
cannot possibly
The
first
he
said,
'
D n
those fellows
them
to interrupt
THE LIFE OF
410
JJAMIEL O'CONNELL.
The
first
lish attorney-general,
unable in the
first
him by Plunket,
libels.
viper,
action
was
"That
An
also taken
thus:
whom my
Emmet
father nourished.
trial.
In
as describing Plunket
He
it
false
"that viper,
etc.,"
this, calling
At
all
Plunket
Burrowcs, Robert
much.
On the first trial Cobbett was found guilty by the jury, after ten
In Plunket' s civil suit, after twenty minutes,
minutes' deliberation.
they found a verdict for the plaintiff and 500 damages. In this action
Adam defended Cobbett with
the famous Erskine opened for Plunket.
great ability, quoting the memorable words uttered by Plunket on the
These trials occurred in May, 1804.
nullity of the union.
In the second trial the manuscript of Johnson's letter was produced.
It appears Cobbett gave it up, acknowledging that Johnson was the
Witnesses swore that the handwriting was his. The English
author.
government now resolved to prosecute Johnson and to bring him over to
London for trial. As, however, there existed no law at that time empowering the authorities to remove offenders from Ireland to England,
Emmet's
counsel, stated as
"An
act to
entitled
to trial
in Great Britain
might be
411
for
Thomas Davis says " That all the persons concerned in pushing this
act knew its object, it would be wrong to say; but it was brought in by
:
Johnson."
Surely, then,
First
Johnson.
the libel
it
was
we know, on
(Indeed,
was on bad
evidence.
Satisfied
by obliging him
heavy expenses of
teaching him and others the
to incur the
all,
any one
up
to
412
Later, indeed,
bett.
Austerlitz,
them up
quietly.
of his
(though Davis,
if I
remember
rightly, considers
it
somewhat
defective)
was
The story
tion of
less
pursued subsequently.
much about
Fox,
law and
justice, grievously
Ireland,
posal
is
case.
The reader
still
me
of the
whole
for releasing
man
offence
without bail
how he
censured the marquis of Abercorn (and this was his great offence
for
was not the marquis the patron of the Orange brigands?) for a neglect
of duty, which occasioned a shameful fraud on the public; how the
marquis, in a malignant speech, brought the conduct of the just and
413
how
on a criminal
charge;" how Judge Fox was persecuted for three years, at an expense
to the public of thirty thousand pounds, to himself of health and fortune and how, finally, when Charles James Fox and the Whigs came
into power, the Lords opened their eyes to the foulness of the whole
business, got ashamed (better late than never), and quashed the vexatious proceedings.
The lesson, read by the Tory government in Fox's
strously turned "itself into a court to try the judge
them
that,
if
they cared
for
Orange
offenders,
if
we have
many specimens in the present and in former chapthrow a valuable light both on the manners and customs and on
the character of the Irish nation in the days of his youth and manhood.
The manners and customs of almost every country vary in every age
given the reader so
ters,
what
was sixty
it
many
Our
remarkable abduction was that of Miss Arbuthnot by the late notorious John Carden of Barnane.
We no longer see Irish fortune-hunters
last
not think
it
at
all
Abbe McGeoghegan,"
in
which he
that
was developed
duke
of
After speak-
thus:
"In
for
short,
414
and
still
neighbors.
and
of
The ancestors
of these families, in
abandoning their Catholic faith, could not let out all their Celtic blood,
and that blood permeated the whole mass of the population, and often
broke out and showed its origin, even in men partly of English descent,
Grattan, for example" (but is " Grattan"
or at least of English names.
certainly a name of English origin?), "in the character of his intellect
and temperament, was as purely Celtic as Curran himself. In truth, it
had become very difficult to determine the ethnological distinction between the inhabitants of the island; and surnames had long ceased to
be a safe guide, because ever since the statutes of Kilkenny, in the
fifteenth century, thousands of Irish families, especially of those residing
near or in the English pale, had changed their names in obedience to
those statutes, that they might have the benefit of the English law in
some
color,
clan-names were
lost
and
it
415
Of one of the families in this category undoubtedly came Oliver Goldsmith, whose intensely Irish nature
is a much surer guide to his origin than the trade-surname of Goldsmith
adopted under the statute.
" It has been said that surnames are no sure guide to origin; but in
one direction surnames were, and are, nearly infallible a Celtic surname
is a sure indication of Celtic blood, because nobody ever had any interest
in assuming or retaining such a patronymic, all the interests and temptations being the other way.
But an English surname is no indication
first under the
at all of English descent, because for several centuries
statutes of Kilkenny, afterwards under the more grievous pressure of the
penal code all possible worldly inducements were held out to Irishmen
to take English names, and forget their own.
" From so large a mingling of the Celtic element, even in the exclusive* Protestant colony, had resulted the very marked Irish character
which was noticed, though not with complacency, by English writers of
and to this character the cold, dry, and narrow marquis of
that period
tradition even of their Irish descent.
Buckingham was
altogether abhorrent."
"
English settlers coming to enjoy the plunder of the forfeited estates, and
very
much by
who
had recanted their faith to save their property or their position in society,
and who generally altered or disguised their family names when these
had too Celtic a sound." In fact, by the end of the eighteenth century,
throughout the whole population of Ireland the characteristics of the
Celt predominated.
to the
above passage
" It
to
Norman invasion
under Henry the Second, the movement was quite in an opposite direction, and De Burghs became
Mac Williams De Berminghams, MacFeorais the Fitzurses, MacMahons and Norman barons
trace the history of Irish family names.
became
lip
unshaven."
27
For the
first
stirrups,
416
showed features
cipation,
common
still
But
survives.
maintained
as, in
that, along
its
own; and even within these smaller tracts the variety of scenery is
sometimes endless and marvellous beyond all expectation," so, in addition to the general characteristics of our people, the Irishman of each
it
The stalwart, Romanfeatured, stern to strangers, reserved but, at bottom, warm-hearted Tip
perary-man; the lithe-formed, subtle and fiery Celt of Cork and Kerry;
the hardy, much-enduring, naturally courteous and hospitable Celt of
Connaught, ever clinging tenaciously to the customs and traditions and
language of his forefathers the man of Leinster with an admixture in his
veins of almost equal proportions of Danish and Norman and Saxon
displays itself in the different localities of the
isle.
still
have a certain broad family resemblance to each other, at the same time
boast, each of them, strongly-marked individualisms.
Of the changes that have gradually taken place in our manners and
customs since the days Avhen O'Connell was winning his forensic laurels,
one of the most striking
is
the passing
No
away
all
417
reader one or tAvo sketches of the whimsical duels and duellists charac-
teristic of
same time
His
cellar
Luckily
for
the lady,
all
King George the Third of Engfair one by making her queen of Great Britain
and Ireland.
In his old days,
if
oung men
rank bowed to his authority on all subjects connected with drinking, hunting and duelling.
He delighted in holding
forth, at his own table, on these congenial topics to the uprising generaBagenal,
tion.
of
Nothing could be more paternal and benignant than his voice and
manner when pouring forth the lessons of his sage experience to his
admiring young disciples, somewhat in the following style
" In truth, my young friends, it behooves a youth entering the world
to
make
racter.
person
world
tells
me
am
;
not a quarrelsome
of
(By the way, he was fond of having sawhandles beside him on the dinner-table; after dinner he would tap a
solution is the saw-handle.'
''
418
of
Dunleckny it wasn't quite safe for a guest "to shirk his drink.") " Rest
upon your pistols, my boys. Occasions will arise in which the use of
them is absolutely indispensable to character. A man, I repeat, must
in this world courage will never be taken upon trust.
show, his proofs
I protest to Heaven, my dear young friends, that I advise you exactly as
should advise
my own
son."
it
of the patriarch of
That
to the
His
The mild-
suavity of
ness of
Dunleckny
Was
the mildest-manner'd
itself.
mau
a throat,"
life,
He
it
was
flowers.
tail.
resolved to
wreak vengeance
410
dishonored pigs.
which nevei
ball,
On the other hand, Bagenal wounded his anThat night, at Dunleckny, the carousal and the jollity "grew
and furious." When, after dinner, the unbroached claret-cask was
brought into the dining-room, be sure the stout old host performed his
customary feat of tapping it with a pistol-bullet.
As
cent
as the ordeal
of battle
a gentleman beyond
his
all
to
be considered
"king" ordered
The county families lost no time in
-the old
men politicians
and lawyers
had
All public
man."
alike
Before he
made
to tight,
men of
"fire-eating" proclivities.
eering business,
duels.
is
said
by some
Bully Egan,
to
who
have fought no
less
than fourteen
At a
420
Clare election, long after the union, one of these usually belligerent barristers,
Mr.
Tom O'M
Because
my client
hasn't paid
me my fighting
quiet.
How
does
it
Probably the
moment
Probably
The immediate
this
followers or suite of a
chieftainship.
liis
shook his
feet,
fist
at
421
(hat he'd
make him
The sequel may easily be guessed how, in the course of the day,
Baker sent a hostile message how Casserly was only too glad to give
him gentlemanly satisfaction how they fought, Casserly hitting Baker
in the hip, giving the surgeons a neat job, and Baker, to the best of my
recollection, a permanent limp.
The moment he hit his antagonist, Casserly turned to Browne, who (I am almost sure) was his second, and said,
with a peculiar leer, "Didn't I do that pretty well, Mr. Browne?"
;
It is
affairs of
Browne and Somers went on swimmingly. The interests of their opponents fell into confusion and collapsed no tallies ready at the proper
Voters weren't brought up to the scratch no one to keep up the
time.
legal quibblings and wranglings.
Henceforward the conservatives were
nowhere at the poll. It was all but a walk over the course. In fine,
Messrs. Browne and Somers were declared duly elected.
At the county Wexford election, in 1810, the rival candidates, Alcock
and Colclough, fought a duel which ended tragically. Alcock had threat-
them."
many
spirit,
422
means
of self-assertion
Indeed,
it
was
and
of
main-
bravery
may be
home even
pistol.
tion with the admitted excitability of the Irish race, are perhaps
to account for the terrible frequency of duels in Ireland
up
to
enough
a recent
period.
would
hung for
Brookes's club in London
relate
how
his share in
to elect
how Brian
him
Maguire, self-styled
descendant of kings, used to entertain himself and friends with the exciting pastime of snuffing with a pistol-bullet a candle held in his wife's
hand how at other times he used to lean out of a window and spit on
;
how another
of his kingly
enjoyments was
where the scavengers had collected a dirtheap, and tumble into this pile of mud any crosser who would be unreasonable and foolhardy enough not to step aside and plunge knee-deep in
it quietly; how, in Carrick-on-Suir, another hero of the same stamp used
to stand at a street-crossing,
L]ifLUi
..
IK)EE)(SE
K!L.
to
parade the
streets,
sho#(ing defiantly to
all
423
comers," "
Who
dare say
would also fain relate the varying fortunes of the showy and
audacious "Tiger" Roche, Sir Boyle Roche's younger brother; how he
fought a number of duels; how he distinguished himself l>v his dei erate valor as a volunteer in a storming-party how he was ignominious!}'
driven out of the regiment, with which he had so gallantly served, on a
how he sought redress in vain, and was forfttls3 accusation of theft
saken and scorned by all his acquaintances; how publicly, on the paradeground, he horsewhipped the colonel of his regiment; how on his deathbed, seized with terror and remorse, the miscreant, who had clandestinely
boo?"
perfidy
of
Dublin late
ped
off
o'
for,
having chop-
whom
midnight sons of
riot were not unlike the courtiers of Nero in the days of old imperial Home;
Prince Henri/ of England and his boon companions in London of the fif-
streets
till
(these
etc.,
of London in the days of the Scottish Solomon, James the First ; the Mohawks, bloods, etc., of the same capital and of later generations ; and many
more hordes of night-roisterers in various countries and ages. Perhaps
Hoodlums of
and
California,
other
when some
man
.friend
in the
more particulars
duellists in detail,
would
fain relate;
to other works.
"Monks of the Screw," for example, the choicest delimind wit, humor, fancy, racy anecdote and eloquence
gatherings of the
cacies of the
assemblages of
men
The
fact that
much
of the
Avonmore and
interrupted.
which, however,
himself,
I
cannot
from
refrain
425
quoting
the
slightly
delicious
entire
passage
"But
I cherish, too,
shall
he able
to tell
had an old and learned friend, whom I would put above all
the sweepings of their hail, * who was of a different opinion; who had
derived his ideas of civil liberty from the purest fountains of Athens
and of Home; who had fed the youthful vigor of his studious mind with
the theoretic knowledge of their wisest philosophers and statesmen;
and who had refined that theory into the quick and exquisite sensibility of moral instinct by contemplating the practice of their most illustrious examples
by dwelling on the sweet-souled piety of Cimon, on
the anticipated Christianity of Socrates, on the gallant and pathetic
patriotism of Epaminondas, on that pure austerity of Fabricius, whom
to move from his integrity would have been more difficult than to have
pushed the sun from his course.
"I would add, that if he had seemed to hesitate, it was but for a
them that
moment; that
was
his hesitation
it
for
moment
it,
shed."
my
good
lord, I see
memory
into tears.)
1
and
happy meetings, where the innocent enjoyment of social mirth became expanded into the nobler warmth of social
virtue, and the horizon of the board became enlarged into the horizon
of man
where the swelling heart conceived and communicated the pure
softened fancy recalling those
yours.
my
Yes,
lord,
we can remember
more return;
We
We
my
for
or wine,
friend,
were thine.'"
learn from a note in the Life of Ciirran, by his son, that "Lord
Avonmore,
in
whose breast
political
his heart.
of
intercourse
ship sent for his friend, and threw himself into his arms, declaring that
unworthy
artifices
to separate them,
which the
Irish
Maxwell we have an image more or less vivid of the old jolly, convivial
circles, in which ludicrous and graphic sketches Hew around in rapid
succession.
Sir William Temple, who lived in Ireland for some time
during the days of the Commonwealth, in the seventeenth century, thus
refers in his essays to the fondness of the old race, at all times, for story-
telling:
of their septs,
among
the
many
offices of their
establishment which continued always in the same family, had not only
by Mullany, of Parliament
Christopher
Manns
street,
believe,
tl
some
I:
ad
help us
to ecu-
42/
about
to give a rapid
"The cause"
civil
and
am
The son
of a peer, trained in
was
less en-
gence which was, in his collision with men, necessarily struck out, while
the young peer who vegetated in a dozing, dreaming, Lethean state of
half-consciousness in the country,
When
was
the two
cratic dignity,
O'Connor of Ballinagare
'the
man who
intelligence, Dr.
never told a
lie'
and
Dr.
Currie, the author of the 'History of the Civil Wars in Ireland,' were
At that time,
too,
the influence of Lord Trimleston and some of his brethren in the peerage
was
and shut him out from the world. Generally educated abroad, the solitary peer, of course, spoke French, or Spanish, or German, without havand from these
ing an opportunity of thoroughly mastering English
;
manner of
code.
and the Protestant aristocracy were too prejudiced to associate with him.
His brother-peer of the Established Church passed him silently on the
road with a high protective bow.
The Catholic lord and the parish
priest were sometimes asked to dinner, especially before Lady Day, that
the tenants might be in good humor when the rent was collecting; or
when the brother of the Catholic peer happened to be on a visit from
the Continent, and the young Protestant ladies were solicitous to see the
tall cap or the hussar uniform, the long sword or the brilliant cross of
St. Louis or Maria Theresa, sparkling on the breast of the Catholic count
in the military service of some despotic power."
In the amusing "Reminiscences of Michael Kelly," the opera-singer
and composer, which, if I remember rightly, were arranged by Theodore
Hook, there is a very graphic sketch of an officer of the Irish Brigade,
that illustrates the "diversified mosaic" of languages referred to in the
preceding extract: "Walking," says Kelly, "on the Parade the second
morning of my arrival in Cork, Mr. Townsend of the Correspondent
newspaper pointed out a Very line-looking elderly gentleman standing
at the club-house door, and told me that he was one of the most eccenHis name was O'Reilly; he had served many
tric men in the world.
years in the Irish Brigade in Germany and Prussia, where he had
been distinguished as an excellent officer. Mr. Townsend added: 'We
reckon him here a great epicure, and he piques himself on being a great
judge of the culinary art as well as of wines. His good nature and
pleasantry have introduced him to the best society, iiarticularly
among
He speaks
the Roman Catholics, where he is always a welcome guest.
French, German and Italian, and constantly, while speaking Efiglisli
with a determined Irish brogue, mixes
tence.
It is
all
on
lie
goes, stop
him who
can.'
is
talking to
'
to
me by
am
Mirk! Je
very glad
J' do is
fache
Dublin
ofticer
(I
but
who
the
to see
you), as
we say
An
in France.
my
Bon
'
jour,
dear Mick!
bhfhuil tu go month,*
me
in
Germany
as
let
bella, e bella
"
'
Now,
it
ma
we
captain,' said
'
I,
say in Italian
11011 e bella,
quel cti e
'
but
my
furthermore, that he had been cheated, some years before, out of a small
by
* I
"f
friend.
him
in the
county Meath, by a
cm del (thanks
to
Heaven)\
have never
sullied
hope the reader can translate Captain O'Reilly's Irish and German.
An
man whom
'I had my
calling
left
exclamation equivalent
to "
Zounds
1" in
English.
my
reputation
I regret to say,
I can't,
430
O'COXXELl,.
nor injured mortal; and for that "the gods will take care of Cato.''
In
would appear that it was this Captain O'Reilly who uttered the
ban mot that makes the point of the following oft-repeated anecdote.
The captain happened to bo in the streets of Clonmel once when the
gallant Tipperary militia were marching out of the town in all the
It
"pride,
of glorious war,"
if I
veteran of the "far foreign iields" sharply scanned the raw, undecded
militia
and
their chief,
home.
nell,
We
Count O'Con-
Many
TIIS LIFE
OF DAXIEI, O'COXXF.LL.
431
Even what
the passages quoted from Lord Macaulay in the chapter on the penal
the truth of
my
of such
men
am
The manner
in
Lord.
Where was
aristocracy then?
uted
money
subscribe.
to pay him
the Catholic aristocracy actually refused to
The services of this printer, named Lord, and of John
;
all
the an-
cestry of the Catholic nobility from the time of StrongboAv to the days
2S
432
of
Daniel O'Connell
that
Catholic nobility,
they could not prevail on the people to accept the vetoistical relief
bill
encumber
their estates
who were
their profit
free,
so
some
thrifty
knew how
to
make
to
and accumulating money, occasionally
rising
Catholics,
shrewd,
by contraband traffic. Some of the
all their
I shall
now
and absence
of all principle,
that characterized so
combined with a
many members
days of
Doubtless one might find similar traits in members of the Irish aristocracy even to-day; but they were much more
which
am
speaking.
433
Lord
nobility.
parliamentary votes.
man
He was
of the
Irish
sale of
some
had money upon only two days in the year, the 25th of March and
Lord M
the 29th of September."
y, then, made it the supreme
object and effort of his life to "put money in his purse" every day of
rents
the year.
When
"My
have not got any pew, as far as I am aware, in St. Anne's church."
"Oh, my lord, I know very well that you have and, if you have got
no objection, I am most anxious to purchase it."
This model nobleman made no further difficulty.
A large sum was
forthwith agreed on as the price of the pew, and, that she might render
her bargain as binding as possible, Mrs. Keating got the agreement of
She paid
sale drawn out in the most stringent form by an attorney.
Lord M
y the money down, and, on the ensuing Sunday, she repaired
to St. Anne's and marched statelily to the pew, magnificently arrayed in
To her utter amazement and indignation,
rustling silks and brocades.
the beadle refused to let her into the pew.
"My good man," quoth the lady in an excited manner, "this pew is
"
mine."
"Yours,
"Yes;
have bought
"Madam,"
you, Lord
madam?"
it
>
from Lord
y."
Kerry pew;
do assure
in this church."
^
I
hastened to Lord
's
to
pew
"My
St.
to
you
Anne's"
"My
sell
if
you've a fancy
for
them!"
"Oh! my
ning smile.
"And
the
I trust,
money
"
my
lord,"
paid you
my
me
for it."
"But,
will refund
my
" Really,
dear
"your lordship's
character!"
"Oh!
that's
gone
too,
y,
laughing
heartily,
must
tell
operations.
He
smallest chance of
wrongfully).
right
He was
let slip
ting the
him
never
money
in his
own
greater
effect,
pocket.
all
of selling the
all
position, and, to
bring
do so with
When
the cloth
by saying that
to
opened
lire
This
one of the militia regiments, had recently been made to him.
indeed, it seemed wellnigh
statement had given him the utmost pain
of
incredible; but
still it
colonel in
A?,b
The whole
All
announcement.
from any such stains at once
this extraordinary
In short, every guest, save one, vehemently disclaimed the imputation of being guilty of so corrupt a traffic.
The exception
v.
when
silent,
he
rough
all
"was
Lord
/ always
sell
the commissions in
my
regi-
ment,"
colonels
"
"
much
of the line?"
"
Why
yes,
undoubtedly
said so."
y,
sevenfold
in
and
thought
!"
racy.
At length he contrived
pounds.
to strike a bargain
title for
in
became a
butterfly.
to
He
could not help feeling indignant with the secretary for entertaining
for
one moment.
the
O'Connell's days.
very minute.
satirists,
For
all
However,
to
know
to the contrary,
Alexander Pope
"
Mark by what
From dirt and
descending from poetic diction to plain prose, let us listen to O'Connell's matter-of-fact anecdote of the rise of old Bruen, the father of his
or,
county magnate,
Colonel Bruen.
"Old Bruen," quoth O'Connell, at the dinner-table of the parish" Old Bruen started in life
priest of St. Mullins, in the county Carlow
with extremely limited finances, and derived his wealth chiefly from
He also
successful and lucrative commissariat contracts in America.
lent
new rum.
The
account, by the novel device of making one
coffin contract
who
he turned
to excel-
He had
437
which was
withdrawn when over the grave, into which the deceased occupant then
dropped, and was instantly earthed up, leaving the coffin quite available
for future interments.
As the worthy contractor checked his own accounts, he is said to have availed himself of all his contracts to an
extent which, in the present day, would be impossible, and which is
of a
whole company.
coffin,
almost incredible."
O'Connell used also to
tell
member
elector,
marquis
Now, this Wexford elector had a son,
see a sergeant of artillery. Lord Loftus,
ambitious to
head
on demanding this post for the young lad, was told that it was quite
impossible to comply with his request, inasmuch as a previous service
was necessary to qualify a candidate for the post of sergeant in the artillery. "Does it require six years' service to qualify him
for a lieutenancy?" demanded Lord Loftus.
" Certainly not," was the answer.
'Well, can't you make him a lieutenant, then?" rejoined my lord.
"Whereupon," O'Connell used to add, laughing heartily as he would
finish the story, "the fellow was made a lieutenant, for no better reason
of six years
fit
to
be a sergeant!"
or honest to describe
it
4oo
country,
presumed
avIio
to offer
it.
O'COXXF.LL.
And, in doing
so,
he indignantly
exclaimed
corrupt a legislator."
"Do
you
if
do, J
House
I will declare, upon my honor, that you have uttered a falsehood; and
I shall follow up that declaration by demanding satisfaction as soon as
Ave are beyond the reach of the sergeant-at-arms!"
Carew ordered the noble secretary to get out of his house as quickly
will
as possible,
if
Ids footman.
think
it
of the
Commons.
portion of O'Connell's public career, find their proper place here, for they
assist us to
had
all
comprehend soma
of the difficulties
and
it is
every case
what
is
we
democratic.
enemy
it
is
and
essentially
sity.
He
the
man
of the aristocracy.
of the Irish
400
which his passions suggested and his interests did not forbid. Nor must
we be astonished if O'Connell, the idol of the people, provoked the bitter
hostility of the
man
aristocracy
was vcrv
natural."
abused
man
any amount
respect to
just as
it
they like
in the world."
it
of hostility,
The
to aristocracy.
If
Irish
they had
worse,
it
is
It is for
the most
Ireland
in
is,
now Anglicized by continual intermarriages with the English and by their thorough English
training.
Hence, then, the bitter hatred between O'Connell and his
people on the one side and these anti-Irish Irishmen of the upper classes
on the other.
As this chapter has been, in a great degree, one of light, humorous
sketches and anecdotes, and as we are about to commence the more
feeling.
serious,
may
if
by another specimen
of
O'Connell's
passage
all
to
I fear I shall
At
be discour-
440
enough
to
characteristic
(I
teous
laugh heartily.
have
little
O'COjS'XELI*
cannot
doubt of
its
sacrifice
a scene that
deem
delicacy.
tory, as
up"
to sacrifice to
an effeminate
or " stuck-
illustrative of character,
because they
may have
certain elements of
proceed to
Moriarty.
This most whimsical and droll adventure took place in the earlier part
of our hero's life.
As I have, I trust, sufficiently demonstrated ere this,
his great abilities were rapidly recognized after he
was
if
he "tackled" her, he would prove more than a match for the redoubtable Biddy at her own weapons.
Dan himself, indeed, having already
had the advantage of hearing her give a slight "taste of her quality"
on one or two occasions, was modest enough to entertain some misgiv-
One
441
day, however,
ment.
Dan on
anything or the possibility of his being defeated; he declared himself equally ready to meet the Amazon and to bet that he
would Moor her. Bets were at once made, and it was decided that the
inferiority in
strife of
The whole company sallied forth and hurried to the huckster's stall.
There was the notorious Biddy presiding over the sale of her small merchandise.
A few staring idlers, some of them innocent of soap and
water, and tattered of garb, lounged around.
Biddy, as a renowned
"character" and one of the "sights" of the Irish metropolis, was of
course the object of their curiosity or interest.
The audience, including
O'Connell's companions, was now quite numerous enough to excite the
heroine, once
provoked
flowers of rhetoric.
fident of triumph.
O'Connell was
He had
now eager
full
for the
What's-your-name?"
" Moriarty, sir, is my name, and a good one it is
and what have
you to say agen it? and one-and-sixpence's the price of the stick.
Troth, it's chape as dirt
so it is."
"Onc-and-sixpence! whew! Why, you are no better than an impostor, to ask eighteen pence for what cost you two pence."
"Two pence! your grandmother!" replied Biddy, at one waxing
of this walking-stick, Mrs.
irascible.
am?
Impostor, indeed!"
"Ay, impostor;
and
it's
that
call
O'Connell.
"
';
442
"By
the hokey,
dirty hide,
if
old
Biddy
is
in!
I'll
soil
I protest,
tan your
my
lists
as I'm a
good-humor
!"
"What's that you call me. you murderin' villain?" shouted Mrs.
Moriarty, by this time goaded into perfect fury.
"I call you," answered O'Connell, "a -parallelogram,; and a Dublin
judge and jury will say that it's no libel to call you so."
Biddy!" screamed Mrs. Moriarty, her
eyes flaming like those of a tigress robbed of her whelps; "that an
honest woman, like me, should be called a parrybellygrum to her lace
I'm none of your parrybellygrum s, you rascally gallows-bird you cow-
"Oh, tare-an-ouns
oh, holy
'
Oh
!"
blaguard!"
retorted O'Connell.
"
Why,
suppose
you'll
wants
Oh!
there's
!
"
O'
COX X ELL.
443
make
celeiy-saucc of your
scold,
"go
rinse your
mouth
in the
you nasty tickle-pitcher! After all the bad words you spake, it
ought to be filthier than your face, you dirty chicken of Beelzebub!"
"Rinse your own mouth, you wicked-minded old polygon! To the
Liffey,
deuce
You saucy
tinker's apprentice
if
While I have a tongue I'll abuse you, you most inimitable periphLook at her, boys! There she stands, a convicted perpendicular
ery!
There's contamination in her circumference, and she tremin petticoats
"
down
Ah
fly
you're
'Tis
with
bisection
this
cataract
of vituperation,
Still,
it
game
to the last.
dumb by
it flies
There can be
little
all
events, "dis-
cretion
444
quickness and
often stood
life.
A man
him
of
Biddy with an exact imitation of her own customary style of Billingsgate, and his tirades would, as a necessary consequence, have been overwhelmed, in a few moments, by the furious ebullitions of the foul-mouthed
virago.
But O'Connell knew better than to be guilty of so stupid a
blunder.
He rightly calculated that the surest way to disconcert and
confound her was to pour forth an unceasing torrent of loud-sounding
S3squipedalian jargon, which to Dame Biddy's ears would necessarily be
as unintelligible as "the unknown tongues" of the celebrated Edward
In her ignorance, she would be sure to fancy the
Irving' s disciples.
uncouth mathematical terminology some dark and unheard-of words of
opprobriousness.
In short, the collapse of Biddy's Billingsgate under
the weight of Dan's jawbreakers somewhat resembled the fate of soldiery, who, having long fought with good fortune on ground of a certain
contour, with foes using arms and tactics like their own, are, at last,
suddenly assailed on ground of a different configuration by antagonists
employing novel arms and unusual manoeuvres. Lo! completely taken
by surprise, in the twinkling of an eye they lose all presence of mind,
and, wanting resources to grapple with the unfamiliar difficulties, abandon the field a panic-stricken rout
It was my intention to close this chapter with the scene of Biddy
However, I may as well, before commencing anMoriarty's overthrow.
other, add one more anecdote illustrative of our hero's incomparable power
of putting down instantaneously a troublesome opponent by giving out, in
one short nervous sentence, a good round volley of abusive epithets. A
few words of his derisive drollery often outweighed another less popular
advocate's elaborate speech of an hour.
At nisi prius this turn for
comical satire aided him immensely.
He would often so cover with
mockery and ridicule both witnesses and the cause in behalf of which
they were called up to testify, that real substantial grounds of complaint
would be wholly lost sight of or appear simply absurd. The anecdote
which I am about to give will make an excellent pendant to that of
Biddy Moriarty. As the story of Biddy's discomfiture seems to me
authentic, so 1 think is this.
But even if I had doubts of their, an then-
TilF.
44.">
would still 1)3 inclined to give these anecdotes, for in any case
they have a biographical value, as impressing on our minds a vivid
picture of the Irish popular conception of Dan and his comical humors.
ticity, I
But enough
of this
to our story
O'Connell was once engaged in a case at the assizes of one of the towns
circuit.
The attorney, on the side opposed to O'Conncll's,
was the most combative of mortals. Nothing delighted him so much
on the Minister
as having a good fight; this taste he always took care to gratify by being
His external appearance was significant of his moral and intelHis face generally wore an audacious, threatening,
lectual qualities.
contemptuous expression. He looked like some dogged pugilist. His
hair was as contrarious as his disposition no amount of blushing could
smooth it. Two eccentric locks, one on each temple, stood erect like
horns, and were far from tending to mollify the fighting expression of
This fiery, spunky, wrangling limb of the law, whenever he
his face.
town.
Being an Orangeman,
this
O'Connell in the cause, take him to task roughly; vainly did the judge
repeatedly order
him
to
keep this choleric Orange attorney at rest for five consecutive minutes.
Finally, even while O'Connell was in the very act of urging a most important question, he leaped up once more, quite unabashed, for the mere
purpose of repeating
for the
thunder,
THE LIFE OF
446
meter
of the
D.'VXIEL OX'OXXKl.T.
and
all
were convulsed
that
filled
till
was inextinguishable
down
lips,
shouts of
Judge, barris-
their cheeks.
Homeric
when Vulcan
got
up
In
to restore
to
him.*
*
to
which
am
;"
Times of O'Connell," etc., Dublin, John Mullany, 1 Parliament street "Curran's Speeches, edited,
with Memoir and Historical Notices," by Thomas Davis, Esq., M. R. I. A., Bsrrister-at-Law
Cash el Hoey's "Memoir of Plunket;" "The History of Ireland from its Union with Great
Mitchel's "History of
Britain, in January, 1801, to January, 1810," by Francis Plowden, Esq.
;
;"
;"
Barring-
Beaumont's "Irluude."
^ ..--^-^j .~^.
-.
--
-->^~
-^flwmwrr
Do
CHAPTER
X.
populace.
Tc?|
EFOKE
SUI
teHl
commencing the
political
-life
of O'Connell, it is neces-
first
began
to
be one of
its
most prominent
We
"CIS.
29
447
448
movement began
men were
Commons.
This minister had returned
to the
House
of
to office
May
on
It
was
up opposition
helm
for incapacity.
The king,
to Pitt.
of old.
He
too,
used
all his
insult of
influence
to
of state.
on returning
to power,
ure.
measures of defence and coercion which the minThere was an encampment of fifteen
isters resorted to in Ireland.
thousand men on the Curragh. Martello towers and other defensive
works were pushed forward. Besides the prisoners already held, without
visible cause, under the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, the rigor
meant
of
to justify the
arrested.
As
the Catholics
rejoice publicly
" in
had been
foolish
many
office, to
characters of emi-
449
To prevent
this,
Fingal, the highest in rank of the Irish Catholics, to iniluence his co-religionists to bold
back their
petition.
The
com-
there
saw
that,
even
if
But
it
was
all in
vain.
Pitt fore-
The
crafty minister
now
tried to excite
Fox.
it
was
to
be determined.
have referred
in the
opening paragraph
to
450
London.
The
viceroy,
lie
tactics,
minister's
by discountenancing
the Catholics
cerity,
counter-petitions.
some violent
To prove
for
his sin-
having carried
He
March, 1805.
of
duty
to resist
it
his
it,
This was the reward the "leading Catholics" received from Pitt for
consenting to the accursed union.
He
They deserved little pity. They were not ashamed to merit one compliment, which on this occasion he deigned to pay them when he said
" that he had read with satisfaction a copy of their petition, in ivhich they
very judiciously refrained from insisting upon the object of it as a matter
of right and justice." Clearly, neither the hour nor the man for the achievement of Catholic deliverance had yet come forth the true leader, however,
who was destined to demand in thunder-tones the emancipation of his
countrymen, not as a matter of expediency, but "as a matter of right and
no other than our hero, Daniel
Conjustice" was even then on his way
nell, then the most rising young lawyer at the Irish bar!
;
451
Repulsed by Pitt, the Catholic delegates applied to Mr. Fox and Lord
Grenville with better success.
It was presented in both Houses; by
Lord Grenville in the Lords and Mr. Fox in the Commons, on the 2oth
of
March.
Commons on
same month.
In tne
maps
ation "of
amount
of
The former
said that
bred, educated
Ormond denied
life
in
Ireland,
He
said
"he could
sit silent
to
when he
should return to the bench, he would learn to divest himself of his antipathies
and
partialities.
The
ter of a judge,
of local experience
452
that,
in
House
made
of
Commons was
election from
noble poet
any constituency.
tells
us,
commenced speaking,
was he
to
own
if I
off
a better idea
"I rise"
the
if I
:"
thus
of
three
So strongly does
453
lie
that printer
might be indicted
for treason, as
a stimulative to
rise,
and advancing
olic
when he thinks
lie is
Thus
speech, Providence seems to govern his lips, so that they shall prove
false to his purposes,
gentleman
literally
it is
to
it
is
mere Catholicism,
is so
inconsistent with
that religion
is
all
Now,
evil.
Christendom
it fol-
lows then, according to the learned doctor, that the Christian religion
in general a curse.
depraved by
is
He
religion,
deemer.
Christian,
meant
as an advocate,
whom
to defend."
many
and
the consequences of those battles to the defeated and the triumphantto the slave that tied
and
if
not, I submit,
fate,
454
OF DANIEL O'COXXELL.
TIIE LIFE
standing, which would render not only the blessings of Providence, but
its visitations, fruitless,
of our fathers
to misstate a pcricd of
enc hun-
among
when
and the holiday becomes a riot, and the petty magistrate turns chapman
and dealer in politics, theologian and robber, makes for himself a situation in the country by monstrous lies, fabricates false panics of insurrections and invasion, then walks forth the little man of blood; his creditors tremble
the French do not and atrocities, which, he durst not
;
commit
in the
in his
name
own name, he
of his Maker.
"I have heard of the uncivilization of Ireland; too much has been
but if anything, however,
said on that subject: I deny the fact;
.
it is
principally
4o5
recollection.
vice,
becomes a
I sate
by her
cradle, I
have a parental
followed her hearse.
That the
I
who
am
not
men
in all
barriers against the French, this surprises; and, in addition to this, that
you should have set up the pope in Italy to tremble at him in Ireland
and further, that you should have professed to have placed yourself at
the head of a Christian, not a Protestant, league, to defend the civil and
religious liberty of Europe,
lifth of
me; and
buy allies by subsidies, rather than fellowsubjects by privileges; and that you should now stand, drawn out, as it
were, in battalion, sixteen millions against thirty-six millions, and should
at the same time paralyze a fifth of your own numbers, by excluding
them from some of the principal benefits of your constitution, at the
very time you say all your numbers are inadequate unless inspired by
also that
to
...
tell
lost,
ingloriously expended.
Half Europe
is in bat-
and we are damning one another on account of mysteries, when we should form against the enemy and march."
The saintly, or rather sanctimonious, Spencer Perceval, while he
450
elo-
him
in such a
ruffianly style as
Sir
of
power in the
papal supremacy over
positions of
of
state,
one of the most prominent champions of the proposal to give the king
a veto on the appointment of Catholic bishops. Mr. C. H. Hutchinson
supported the motion and vindicated the character of his traduced coun-
TITE LIFE
OF DANIEL O'CONNELL.
457
lie
He
all
away with in his country. But, however painful it might be to do so, he must oppose the motion, in obedience
to the instructions of his constituents (the citizens of Dublin).
One of
the most remarkable speeches in the debate was that of Mr. Pitt: "He
was favorably disposed to the general principle of the question; but he
had never considered it as involving any claim of right. Eight was
civil distinctions
totally
should be done
guards; checks against the evil influence which the bigotry of the priests
might prompt them to exercise over the lower orders. Such were his
general views.
But he stated them not as the result of any pledge
though he admitted they were the consequences of the general reasoning
in favor of the union, and that a very natural expectation was entertained that emancipation would have been immediately brought forward
after the union.
a measure, to the
let
them
much
subjects,
qucnces as followed the disappointment of those hopes, which Lord Fitzwilliam had encouraged in 1795. made him lament the agitation of the
question at that moment.
of duty,
if
He
sense
all
would always
much
to
In his opening
were assured, they never should participate equally with their fellowHe now replied triumphantly to the arguments of the bigots.
subjects."
He pointed out that the advocates of the Catholics might retort on the
"
'
Church
England?
phrase,
to
of
of
glass."
At half-past four
House
divided.
Its intellect
and principle were on the side of Fox and emancipation. But bigotry
The ayes were 124, the noe^s, 336; majority, 212. And
carried the day.
so, for a time, vanished the hopes of the Catholics
His friend Dundas,
In the year 1806 the power of Pitt declined.
Lord Melville, was disgraced in spite of all his efforts. Lord Sidmouth
deserted him on this occasion, and intrigued, not unsuccessfully, to turn
the royal mind against him. Mr. Foster tendered his resignation. Lord
Hardwicke was resolved to tender his. A defeat, which Castlereagh suffered at this time in Downshire, was another mortification to the minIn the cabinet changes, Castlereagh had
ister in his sinking fortunes.
accepted the office of secretary of state for the colonies and war departHe had consequently to seek re-election. It will be remembered
ment.
that he had dismissed the marquis of Downshire from his command in
This had produced a strong feeling against him in the
the union days.
he
now
sought to be re-elected. Accord in e;lv, the interest
county where
of the marquis of Downshire prevailed against the interest of the family
OF DAXIEL O'COXXELL.
TITE LIFE
of Stewart,
But the
450
The imperial
On
star triumphed.
three days after the meeting of Parliament, William Pitt {the younger)
might he said, of the battle of Austerlitz, which tremendous victory had struck down the might of Austria and Russia on the 2d of the
died,
it
bitter foe.
office
of the
He
the treasury.
only
Cinque Ports.
against
first lord of
his
administration.
It
was a
of the treasury;
much
It
lord
first
the celebrated
first,
to indulge
fell
in all probability,
meant well
if
were
is
which
life,
finally failed.
make
in anxious
and
difficult negotiations
It
4G0
TITE LIFE OF
DANIEL OCOXXELL.
amongst the earliest parliamentary proceedings, an incident occurred that seemed of favorable omen
to Ireland.
Mr. O'Hara, with patriotic spirit, objected to Lord Castlereagh's vote for monumental honors to Marquis Cornwallis, on the ground
of that viceroy's instrumentality in carrying the union, -which measure
he, Mr. O'Hara, hoped would now be, if not utterly rescinded, at least
greatly modified and ameliorated.
Though Fox concurred with the
motion, he agreed with Mr. O'Hara in characterizing the union "as one
of the most disgraceful transactions in which the government of any
country had been involved." When called to account by Mr. Alexander,
a few days later, for these words, "he adhered to every syllable he had
uttered relative to the union.
But when he had reprobated a thing
done, he said nothing prospectively.
However bad the measure, an
attempt to repeal it, without the most urgent solicitation from the
parties interested, should not be made."
His reprobation of the accursed act had already encouraged several of the Dublin corporations to
This was the first whisper of the demand
prepare petitions for repeal.
However, some of them resolved not just then to embarrass
for repeal.
Indeed, most of the ministers
ministers with Irish national claims.
would have proved determined opponents to any proposal for repeal.
The premier, Grenville, had been an active agent in carrying it, and was
Sidmouth was the decided enemy of the
in no wise friendly to Ireland.
Though to his own no small mortification, but to the great
Catholics.
joy of the people, the bigoted Bedesdale had been at once, even before
the arrival of his successor, removed from the chancellorship, some of his
Alexander Marsden, one of the worst creafriends and tools remained.
bigoted hostility to Catholic claims.
Castle yard.
Still,
office.
at length reluctantly
party malignity of
generous patriotism.
Irish bar triumphed.
certainly
for his
of the profes-
sion.
made
chief-justice,
letter to
which
if
possible,
and,
if
office
not,
lie
had expected
attorney-general.
had acted
4G1
"When
to
be
In his
come at
have been stuck up into
The expiration
about this time, without any attempt having been made to renew it,
gave universal satisfaction to all true Irishmen. All state-prisoners who
could bear the expenses of habeas corpus, or who had been in jail for two
or three years, were set free.
ferers called forth great feelings
The restoration to
of sympathy. The
to the
On
fort,
efforts to
procure the
Out
House
was
but while
his replies to the loyal, milk-and-water addresses of the Catholics were
courteous, they were also ambiguous.
An address from the Catholics of
Dublin, signed by Lords Fingal, Southwell, Kenmare, Gormanstown, etc.,
was presented at the Castle on the 29th of April, 1806. It abjectly talks
of the Catholics being "bound to the fortunes of the empire, by a remembrance of ivhat is past and the hope of future benefits," and adds
that they would, if emancipated, feel pride in " remunerating their beneThese, it says also, are " senfactors with the sacrifice of their lives."
timents in which all Irish Catholics can have but one voice." To this
precious Irish servility he replies, in still more precious English cant,
"In the high situation in which His Majesty has been graciously pleased
The duke
to place me, it is
my first
and descriptions
wish, as
it is
my
well received;
first
terests.
It
of
warned
402
Hie rival Catholic leaders that their meetings "were in danger of bringing
of the
Convention Act.
It
must be admitted,
if
they possessed
by their bigoted colleagues and the still more bigoted and obstinate king.
Meanwhile, wretched jealousies prevailed in the Catholic councils.
Mr. Ryan, a young merchant, a connection of Mr. Randal McDonnell,
house in Marlborough
street,
rise of
his large
He had
These un-
warranted proceedings, when they came to light, and also some unauthorized acts of his friend, Mr. McDonnell, excited no inconsiderable
amount
of discontent
and bad
blood,
and helped
movement. It was no
wonder, then, that the hopes excited in the minds of Catholics by the
accession of the "Whigs to office proved illusory.
At this time they had
not strength or organization to conquer. The true leader had not climbed
Jealousies continued even long after O'Connell began
into the saddle.
Fagan, speaking of this early
to take a prominent part in their affairs.
" There was an enormous amount of jealperiod of the struggle, says
ousy existing among the leaders, and they were not willing to allow the
genius of one man to outstep the limits suited to their tamer and less
expanded intellects. There was an aristocratic feeling about them little
sions
and weakness
in
O'Con-
nell himself gives the following description of the position in which the
1
Catholic cause stood at this time: ''The 'natural leaders,' as they were
to control
exertions.
what
th-ey
were pleased
to
violence of our
"
savored
suspiciously of
Castle influence.
office.
emancipation merely
Peter's speech
He
'
was
if I
under-
inside his
to gain.
I tell
to gain.
him
dishonest.
is
chastise
in
head.
remember that he
had a stout
for
403
I tell
in the
who have
personal objects
boldly declare
my
conviction
only
and give us no further trouble, yet I ivould hesitate just as tittle to chasThe
tise him 2)ersonaUy if he should come here again on a similar errand.''
intruder took the hint and decamped.
Peter Bodkin Hussey," continued
"
was in general as rough-tongued a fellow as ever I met, saying
O'Connell,
He
ill-natured things of everybody and good-natured things of nobody.
piqued himself on his impertinence. It was not, however, a bad reply
he made to another impertinent fellow who hailed him one day in the Four
Courts, saying, Peter, I'll bet you a guinea that you are a more impertinent rascal than I am.'
'You'd win your guinea,' answered Peter. 'I
am certainly the more impertinent. You are only impertinent to those
who, you know, won't knock you down for it but /am impertinent to
off
'
everybody.'
At a meeting
in reply, "is it
an injury
and
Can the
to the
and
(the
total de-
their blood,
Expediency as well as
right,
...
I tell
them
empire
Our Protestant countrymen, in our domestic parliament, would have long since conceded what remained to be
union with their legislature.
J
; .n
464
granted.
violence,
"
'
Lord
Finrjal
"begged
full
of woe
!'
"
Mr.
0' Council
"would submit
to the chair,
were aware that emancipation was promised if the union were carried
but that was an argument he would not use. He never would consent
he despised the man who would accept any
to the sale of his country
;
boon as
"Away,
its price."
should be no delay.
The
man
there
The generous and large-hearted Charles James Fox died on the 13th
Perhaps his death was hastened by the failure of
of September, 1806.
His ministry was not destined
his negotiations for peace with France.
This was of little consequence to Ireland. Even
to survive him long.
during Fox's life it had done little for Ireland and now that he was
gone, the hopes of the Catholics, if they survived, had no reasonable
Chancellor Ponsonby had dissatisfied his friends by his
foundation.
Under his rule, also, the Orange magistracy
exercise of patronage.
;
were
still
suffered to
Orange outrages;
have sway.
The persons
Orangemen seem, in some
Mr. Wilson of
O'Neill.
Owna
own door. One fine night his range of offices, filled with hay, was
and, finally, his persistent championing of oppressed
burned down
Catholics caused the government, who no doubt regarded him as a
to his
still
to deprive
retained in
office,
counties.
object whatever.
46G
make many
learn to
But the official career of "all the talents" was rapidly drawing to a
close.
The ministry brought in a bill, entitled the "Catholic Officers'
Bill." to enable Catholics to hold commissions in the army.
An anomalous
By
state
of
things
officers.
At that time
Ireland.
it
was
passed by the English legislature; but this had never been done, so that
in 1807,
and long
after,
the
bigots,
however, thought
sacraments, should
it
command
British troops.
who
believed in seven
The dukes
of
York and
Plunket, in his
-first
speech in the
Immediately the
yell of
was
Per-
in danger."
At
first
the
4G7
half-ddiotic old
mind
when
(at best
his
who had
two
to the bill,
made him
look at
it
showed an invincible repugnance to the measure and a thorough distrust of his ministers.
He asked Lord Howick one day, "What
was going on in the House of Commons?" On being told that the bill
was to come on, he gave vent to his dislike.
of view, he
Next day, he graciously told the ministers that he must look out for
new servants. The ministers subsequently proposed to drop the bill
altogether.
In the nervous state of irritation, to which he had been
worked up by his bigoted sons and others, this was not enough to satisfy
him.
He
"
Though the
all
events,
to declare their
ion,
all
things to be moved,
The famous " No Popery " cabinet sucPortland became first lord of the treasury,
The duke
of
and war department, George Canning, secretary for foreign affairs (melancholy to find a man so brilliant and generous in his aspirations in such evil company) Camden was president of the privy council,
Eldon, chancellor of England. The duke of Richmond became viceroy of
Ireland, with Lord Manners as Irish chancellor, and Sir Arthur Wellesley,
already distinguished for his Asiatic campaigns, and destined to win far
greater renown in Europe and to see the imperial star of Napoleon pale
colonies
felt
by numbers
of
members
of both
Houses
Ef-
were made against the principle of the required pledge. But all in
vain.
The king and his " No Popery " friends prevailed. Mr. Tighe,
an Irish member, thought the tranquillity of Ireland would be effected
by the removal of the duke of Bedford.
He said few recruits were got
forts
468
for
the
army
who were
to give
ineffectual votes
for
the
House and
Catholics of Ireland.
On
the
it
18th of April,
1807,
a Catholic
meeting took place at the Exhibition Room, William street. Lord FinThe debate was as to the propriety of forwardgal was in the chair.
ing the petition for presentation.
subject
was
considerable.
The
their cause in
mittee to
erence to the advice of Mr. Grattan and other friends, the presentation
Mr. O'Gorman
of their petition for emancipation should be postponed.
opposed Mr. Keoglvs motion. But Mr. O'Connell gave it his powerful
He spoke of the veteran Catholic leader, John Keogh, and
support.
He said
his services to their cause, in terms of almost tilial veneration.
he would call him "the venerable father of the Catholic cause; for he
was the oldest, as well as the most useful, of her champions he had
;
and his
old age
was
Sustained
by the vigorous advocacy of O'Connell, Mr. Keogh's resolution to postpone carried the day; the committee was dissolved, after Lord Fingal
had been deputed to present a respectful address to the duke of Bedford,
prior to his departure from Dublin.
It is
had
O' CORNELL.
to entitle
him
469
to such a
compliment
still
the Dublin populace, on the day of the viceroy's embarkation for England,
some
of
whom,
away by a
carried
the horses from the viceregal carriages, and, yoking themselves in their
drew the duke and duchess to the water's edge. The viceroy, so
far from having done anything for their cause to merit this exaggerated
manifestation of popular regret and gratitude, had, in reality, during
the whole course of his administration, endeavored to keep back the
place,
Catholic claims.*
*
The
its
of Europe," by Sir A. Alison, Bart.; Moore's "Life of Byron;" "Grattau's Speeches;" Duvis's
'
by his son,
etc.
CHAPTER XI.
The "No-Popery Ministry" show their teeth Jack Giffard, "the dog in office "'
Grattan's invective against Giffard Insurrection and Arms acts Noble conduct
of Richard Brinsley Sheridan The bishop of Quimper's pastoral Furious intolerance The "Shanavests" and "Caravats"Liberal Protestants Divisions of
the Catholic Committee; O'Connell's views prevail Catholic petition Dr.
duigenan made a privy counselor the catholic leaders lords flngal,
O'Connell John Keogh Denis Scully Counsellor
Ffrench, Trimleston,
Clinche and Dr. Dromgoole Nicholas Purcell O'Gorman O'Connell's amusing
ANECDOTES ABOUT HIM An AMUSING ANECDOTE TOLD BY THE LATE FATHER KeNYON
O'Connell on Jack Lawless Lord Fingal, Dr. Milker, Grattan and the veto
Great agitation on the question of the veto Secret Understanding in 1790
etc.
between Pitt. Castlereagii and the bishops Declaration of the bishops against
THE VETO A FRIAR'S EXPLANATION OF THE MEANING OF THE VETO SlR ARTHUR Wf.LLESLEY "DOING THE DIRTY WORK" AS IRISH SECRETARY O'CONNELI.'s OPINION OF WELLINGTON Edmund Burke on the relations of the Catholic clergy to the English
government Parliament refuses the smallest concession to the Catholics
O'Connell becomes more and more famous and powerful.
new
city to the
new
viceroy, the
duke
of
Richmond, in a
gold,
and
to his
This Giffard was one whom, at a somewhat later period, our hero used
470
.AMJES
MTEE
471
"When
was
at the
Dublin University," says Sir Jonah, "the students were wild and lawless.
Any offence to one was considered an offence to all; and as the
most men of rank and fortune in Ireland were then educated in Dublin College, it was dangerous to meddle with so powerful a
set of students, who consequently did precisely what they chose (outside
elder sons of
If
it
way annoyed
He
we
windows.
assailed,
breaking
all his
pump
He
importance on every
trifling subject,
made him-
'
472
Giffarcl,
when
not astonished at
It
it.
the excommunicated
am
of his country,
unpun-
a firebrand; in the
court, a liar; in the streets, a bully; in the field, a coward! and so despicable is he to the very party he wishes to espouse, that he is only tolerated by them for performing those execrable offices the less vile refuse
All Giffarcl could utter in reply was, " I would spit upon
to execute."
him in a desert," It was with difficulty, next day, that Barrington
ished ruffian, the bigoted agitator!
in the city,
a message, as
if
isfaction"
to secure a majority in
new
Parliament.
For
example, Mr. Ormsby, the solicitor for the forfeited estates in Ireland,
personally waited on Mr. James Grogan to bribe him to support the
ministerial candidates at the "Wexford election, by promising to restore
to the family all the forfeited estates of his late brother, Cornelius Gro-
ville,
Sir
pass them previous to the resignaSecretary Elliott and the popular Bedford had
to
473
who have
so
power
for
parties;.
passed.
It
is
Arms
bill.
He
ridiculed
it,
saying,
"Nothing
474
him
of
men
have
A new persecution has
protested against the tyrannical oppression.
ravished from them even the hope of seeing an end to their calamities.
An inflamed and misled people [the English) dares applaud such injus-
and
civil rights.
of that nation
Roman
Catholics.
artifices of
475
These two
less true
societies, so far
was
all
be found on the calendar of sedition or rnsitrCompetitors for the farms of old occugency at the preceding assizes."
piers were the real objects of the hostility of both organizations; they
not a single charge
to
and
rent.
arm
In truth the
tution.
To the
itself,
human
fell
nature
spirit
lowed
Cumberland
the duke of
feeling,
House
Good
of Lords.
them
From nine
of the Catholics.
seems to
me
if
facts,
lung before
'29.
The
free Irish
it
was an
up that stronghold
of
itself to
the odious
work
On
the
to the
of building
inhuman tyranny.
47G
ject of debate at a
Some of the aristocratic leaders of the Catholics beThe more demothat the time was unfavorable for petitioning.
leaders, among whom O'Connell was every day becoming more
for
thought that a petition should be forwarded to London at once. O'Connell said, "The Catholics of every part of Ireland had been consulted.
had not only the good wishes of our liberal and enlightened
Protestant brethren of Ireland, but some of them had expressed their
sentiments by a public resolution he alluded to that of the gentry of
petition
... He
and care
for
reminded him, however, of that affectionate attenthe rights of Irishmen, which had induced the Irish
It
and
mous
totally to
why
power
of
Napoleon was
The
The
British
seemed
We
bill
The
"
Protestant
and a crowd
of other
wealthy proprietors.
London.
He went
and more
liberal grant.
Among
duke
of
Cumberland.
Maynooth grant
at this time
478
He was
not without
vulgar,
Revolution
still,
Stranger
His person somewhat resembled his mind. His figure was stout, his
face, clever-looking but coarse, was expressive of the dogmatism of his
disposition.
The intemperate virulence of his abuse of the Catholics
rather tended, in the end, to serve their cause and to damage that of
In
their antagonists, which he advocated with so much apparent zeal.
other words, he put forward the principles of intolerance in their naked
hideousness.
usual
Sir
felicity, I
Jonah Barrington,
am
to
47<j
often genial
each
leaf,
away
Folding a
to the printers
He was
determined to
without reading
it
print whatever
and sure
to
Duigenan.
To return
to the Catholic
Committee.
men who
It
may
two sections of the Catholic body. I shall begin with the aristocratic party, who were less vigorous in their plans of action than the
democratic section, were averse to going too fast, were generally desirous
that the committee should keep back their petitions till the arrival of
some more favorable time, and who also, when the veto question came
up, recommended the concession to the king of the right of having a
of the
veto
earl of Fingal
of the old
Ireland
ostensibly
Norman
of the
invasion,
Scandinavian sea-kings
He seems
earl of
to
have
been a highly -polished and amiable gentleman, high-minded and patrinot wanting in personal courage, but at the same time
otically inclined
weak and credulous. He was in frequent communication with the leading statesmen of the time, who probably were sometimes able to play
;
upon
and influence
any valid reason
do
not,
however, see
As
it
480
was
all
olics, to
was
along his interest, more perhaps than that of most other Cathsee emancipation achieved, so
his sincere
and constant
it is
it
Two
The former
Upon
He was
fierce
sioned counsellor.
It is scarcely
much
If,
all
his associates, as
chieftains, still
siderable,
if
some
whom
John Keogh, of
481
The
liberator
does not deny that his predecessor in the leadership of the Catholics
of ability,
and courage.
Another Catholic leader of distinguished ability, in those days, was
Denis Scully, a barrister and author of the valuable " Statement of the
Penal Laws," a man of grave, thoughtful and statesman -like intellect.
Then the gay and combative Peter Bodkin Hussey contrasted strikingly
with the solid counsellor Scully.
Of the character of the red-haired
Hussey the reader has already seen a sketch from the lips of O'Connell.
James Bernard Ciinche and Dr. Dromgoole were influential in the
Catholic councils from their extensive learning.
The reading of both
was chiefly of an abstruse and out-of-the-way kind. Mr. Ciinche was
a black-letter lawyer.
He was not merely deep in the science of jurisprudence, but in that of theology also.
He was an able writer, though
his style seems to have been occasionally vicious in point of taste and
swollen with forced conceits and metaphors.
Mr. Ciinche was the
author of many of the addresses and resolutions, that in those times
were issued in the name of the Catholic bishops. He spoke almost as
ably as he wrote, but his oratory had pretty much the same defects as
his writings.
It had little about it that could attract a popular audiintegrity
ence.
Indeed,
his eloquence
we
are told
and learning,
listeners often
words of Shakespeare,
deemed
and unprofitable."
demonstrated to their
intellects.
Many a
deemed
light
and
flimsy, outstripped
him
and probably regarded him as a ponderous jiedant. The intelbushy-browed Dr. Dromgoole was cast in a
somewhat similar mould. The logic of the schools was his delight;
Thomas Aquinas his favorite author. He was nicknamed the Duigcnan of the Catholic party. Perhaps (premising, however, that he was
somewhat more a man of the world than Adams) his learned eccentricities bore some partial resemblance to those of Fielding's hero, Parson
Adams. At all events, he was, in many respects, a man of another age
success,
482
He was
lived.
between
him and the learned Clinche they differed about church-government.
On this subject Mr. Clinche had written a work of ponderous erudition,
with a view chielly to prove that bishops should have the right of
appointing their own successors whenever the pope waived his prerogain
tive of appointing
them
himself.
O'Gorman
(the uncle, as
said before,
life.
He was
a large, ungraceful-looking
to emancipation,
of
was one
We
of the
He
often
book
483
'
He
musician.
"A jury,"
room
of the
'
'
such
ferent aliases
replied Purcell.
'Come,
sir,
recollect yourself.
By
?'
and Crampton,
He was
if I
remember rightly
It
during some
happened
to
assizes,
Doghperhaps
be a day of absti-
coolly,
and
said,
you just do what Mr. 0' Gorman asks you to do? Just help him to some
The other ceased his apologies; in a few
of that salmon before you."
seconds they all began to laugh heartily, and the judge, relieved from
his embarrassment, helped Mr. 0' Gorman to a portion of the salmon
before him.
was not
It
till
may
in the Catholic
him
movement.
How-
Later
I shall
here.
"He began
His
edly.
first four
the
lan-
"
'Now, Jack, you'll be sure to hold your tongue about that affair?'
Do you mean to doubt my word ?' retorted Jack, rather angrily.
'Have I not promised to be silent? I consider my honor as pledged.'
I moved somebody into the chair,
[ was quite satisfied, and we went in.
and sat down to look over a letter, when up started Jack, and dashed
"
'
"
full
I
485
am
ski]) into
the com-
'Well,
by the House of Commons on account of the informality of the signatures, was now sent back
from Ireland, properly signed, and presented to the House on the 25th
of May, 1808, by Henry Grattan.
He showed the absurd inconsistency
of the English government in having conceded to the Catholics the right
to vote for members of Parliament and to hold all military and civil
offices, except about fifty situations and seats in either house of Parliament, and to exclude them from those seats in Parliament on the ground
that they were perjurers on principle and did not respect the obligations
of oaths; .... "that is to say, that those persons so admitted by the
law into the constitution, forming a part of your army and navy, arc
destitute of the principles which hold together the social order, and
which form the foundation of government, and that they are thus
depraved by their religion."
But the important part of Mr. Grattan' s speech, which it is absorejected
bringing about events in which our hero took the most conspicuous part,
is
"And
here
have a proposition
me
make;
to
to
may
make
it is
this:
interfere
and
name
in
it is
by no means incompatible
with the Catholic religion that our king should name; and
any great
This
difficulty
is
sioned so
do not see
veto,
which occa-
much
controversy
many
on this head."
number
and
so
much
of years.
in
London
if
He had
he had
let
himself
the
offer as this of
veto.
offer,
ment
may
be satisfied of the loyalty of the person appointed is just, and ought to be agreed to." This statement was accompanied with an admission, "That a provision through government for the
Roman Catholic clergy of this kingdom, competent and secured, ought
as
enable
it
to
seems to think
it
transaction, especially
Pitt
"
swindled," by Mr.
"virtuous hierarchy."
to
Roman
487
" It is
Roman
mode
in
it
is
inexpedient to
bishops,
veto
people
w ere
T
press
name
to
The
the veto
Dr. Milncr,
he
veto.
biography reaches
this
I
We
its
conclusion.
shall here, for the sake of a little variety, give a comical explana-
THE
488
that
that the
LI FE
OF DANIEL O'COXNELL.
meeting on Monday
is to
take
up any more
of
now; but
it
I'll
veto, I
needn't
!'
"
of
Hawkesburv on
Arthur writes
" I
Sir
more willing
little
than the
Irish,
and
as,
favorable to democratic
more than probable that Lord Fingal's readiness to concede to the Crown the right of interference with episcopal appointments
was mainly brought about by the influence of their views. In fact, we
have seen that he took the advice of Dr. Milner, an English bishop,
before he committed himself.
Sir Arthur Wellesley did not remain much longer in his post of chief
principles,
it is
secretary of Ireland.
victory in Spain
renown.
win,
lie
commenced that
career of
any share
countrymen.
He made
himself a
a nature as that which prevailed under the rule of some of his predecessors, but, at the same time, unnecessarily harsh and unjust.
But
what
most surprising
is
of all
to get
being a
ited) of
man
which he showed, while Irish secretary, for doing the dirty work of corruption.
He engages con amove in the task of purchasing the foul services of spies and informers, superintending and directing himself the
necessary negotiations.
He also seems to have undertaken the chief
management
He
influence.
Here
bad or
simply
indifferent.
is
press.
It
April,
1809
" I
am
it will
itself,
be very dan-
particularly as
some others
of
increase the
sum they
eye fixed on, the congenial business of corrupting the Irish press.
On
the 12th of January, in the same year, that secret agent in dirty
chapter, J.
whom
affairs of state, to
490
Walter Cox, who keeps a small book-shop in Anglesea street, he can let
yon into the whole object of sending this book" ("Pieces of Irish History," by William James McNevin, New York) "to Ireland at this time;
and further, if you have not Cox, believe me, no sum of money, at all
within reason, would be amiss in riveting him to government.
man
Edward
have
before to Sir
Littlehales
Wellington
as,
have two faults to find with him," says O'Connell. " One is, that
I never yet heard of his promoting any person in the army from mere
The second fault is, that the
merit, unless backed by some interest.
duke has declared that the only misfortune of his life is his being an
Irishman. There is a meanness, a paltriness, in this, incompatible with
But abstractedly from sentiment he may be right
greatness of soul.
enough; for, great as his popularity and power have been in England,
I have no doubt they would have been infinitely greater if he had been
an Englishman. John Bull's adoration would have been even more
intense and devoted if the idol had not been a Paddy."
" I
to Mr.
Mockler
491
But
to quote
some remarks
of the illustrious
It
were the members of one religious sect fit to appoint pastors to another.
Those who have no regard for their welfare, reputation or internal quiet
will not appoint
The
we
seraglio of Constantinople is
are,
all
is
nearly equal to
all
the other
unhappy mem-
It is
with a religious regard for its welfare. Perhaps they cannot, perhaps
Again, in a letter to Dr. Hussey, the Catholic bishop
dare not, do it."
of
enough
to
make common
you
off
sure that the constant meddling of your bishops and clergy with
Castle,
body.
and
them
if
ill
with their
had
to
keep the
At
you will have a marked schism, and more than one kind, and
greatly mistaken
if
the
own
best
am
pursued."
Some individuals
492
Catholic clergy and
make them a
salaried body.
clergy would, in that case, lose all political influence whatsoever, and
who
But
It is
way
of
a
and
if
it
At the close of
made a motion that
Bank
made
of Ireland.
eligible to the
Against this
lature.
493
But
if
new
new
eighteen
its
little
The
by Lord
amount
This
police bill.
jobbing, as
bill,
created
it
session of Parliament
Grenville,
for Ireland,
of British oppression.
Meanwhile the
mind
of Ireland
Church!"
In the midst of all this turmoil, our hero grew daily both in power
and in fame. In the next chapter we shall see him at length the recognized leader of his countrymen.
His policy was not, like that of the
aristocratic section of the Catholics, one of delay and of withholding
of the Galilean
On
petitions.
diate
cry,
*
the contrary,
and untiring
effort
and
it
was
aggressive,
action.
was a
it
policy of
imme-
to
which
Plowden, Esq.
oghegan
;"
its
am
;"
;"
"
Works
of
Edmund Burke;"
"
The His-
by Francis
"
McGe-
Wellington Correspondence;"
Speeches of Daniel O'Connell," by his son John; Fagau's "Life of O'Connell;" O'Neill Daunt's
'Personal Recollections;" "Life and Times of Daniel O'Connell,"
Parliament
etc.,
CHAPTEE XII.
Orange murders and massacres Fight between the Kings county militia and the
Orange yeomanryThe No-Popery government connive at the Orange atrocities Insurrection acts Assemblage of Orange delegates in 1808 Disingenuousness of the leading orangemen o'connell on the orangemen government parTIALITY
Double-dealing and hypocrisy of the duke of Richmond His tour
THROUGH MUNSTER He OFFENDS THE BaNDON ORANGE LEGION BY HIS MOCK CONCILIATION of Catholics Viceregal smooth talk and Catholic gullibility Religious
PERSECUTION OF CATHOLICS IN THE ARMY O'CONNELL SPEAKS AGAINST TITHES IN HIS
NATIVE COUNTY REORGANIZATION OF THE CATHOLIC COMMITTEE IN 1S09 O'CONNELL's
FORESIGHT THE VETO QUESTION AGITATED AGAIN TlIE CATHOLIC PETITION REJECTED BY
Parliament Chief-Baron Woulfe His elaborate oration on the veto demol"
"
the demand for repeal great meeting in the exchange o'connell's powerFUL SPEECH IN FAVOR OF REPEAL JOHN KeOGH RETIRES FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
Catholic body, and Daniel O'Connell succeeds him New programme O'Connell
on his own frequent repetitions hopeless insanity of george the third tlie
Prince of Wales becomes prince-regent
Great hopes of emancipation Bitter
disappointment of the catholics; the regent breaks his pledges
lady hertWeLLESLEY Pole's CIRCULAR STATE PROSECUTION OF Dr.
FORD'S EVIL INFLUENCE
Sheridan Spirited conduct of the Catholic Committee Meeting in Fishamble
street Theatre.
^|4^ KIIILE the Catholic Committee, during the years between 1803
rap^K an d 1809, Ave re thus endeavoring, with more or less energy, to
;
M? ^
feeling
'
Henry
street, at
the
and especially
During the adminof the Orangemen, remained as inveterate as ever.
istration of the duke of Richmond several outrages of the most lawless
description were perpetrated by the Orangemen against the Catholics.
elsewhere
494
Ascendency
faction,
At
495
Corinshiga, a mile and a half from the- town of Newiy, on the evening
guarded with so
little
Orangemen
feel,
managed
to escape.
same
So
corps,
which the assassins belonged, took occasion one day, when returning
from parade, to fire a volley, in a spirit of bravado, over the house of the
murdered person's father. The report of the volley threw his hapless
to
government
them
to the Castle,
reward
for
the apprehen-
On
tion, if it
Is it
any
496
marvel
that, in
many
Kevin
dled a bonfire.
itself.
of the 1st
Some
boughs and
They
in those times
At Mountrath,
in July of the
same
dered a
same
and
in his
year, the
Orangemen murdered
own
four children.
On
the
first
day
of this
Orangemen
vio-
lently attacked the dwelling of the parish priest, fired several shots at
him and
left
him
for dead.
this,
wounded and
4lU
that day.
to the
There
is
when
the Catholic
met
in
Dawson
Dublin, to coun-
street,
Orangemen remodelled
to arrive at
their society.
" It is
not easy
degrees of this mischievous body; the precise forms have been from
time to time altered, and their 'grand masters' and their organs of the
press have boldly denied what is alleged against the society, although
such allegation had been true very shortly before, and was substantially
498
true
when
denied, even
if
some
exclusively
who
also,
form
altered to
Orangemen
of education
and
fortune,
who
upon the
incorrigible ignorance
artifice to disguise or
Orange
trifling
Mr. Plowden
and
and bigotry
of every persuasion.
of the rabble,
have uniformly and unceasingly received from government. If the obligations and oaths of Orangemen were of a virtuous
and beneficial tendency, why not proclaim them aloud ? If illegal and
dangerous, why criminally conceal them ?
Whilst the Orange aristocsocieties
on
foot is
own
supereminently criminal."
of
government
of
impunity in
all
their meeting in
to
to
many
he made a conciliatory
exclusive or
marked displays
of
At Bandon in Cork, the southern strongwhen the loyal Bandon legion paraded on
the 1st of July to celebrate the anniversary of the battle of the Boyne,
their
At once they
dispersed,
On
full of
indignation.
man
defiantly, every
On
men
doing.
of the legion,
made
the gov-
ernment for a long time afraid of opposing the "loyal" displays of the
Orange society, lest they should in any degree offend and alienate that
strongest " garrison " for the maintenance of English dominion in
Ireland.
by the
not wholly
cursion.
drawback
fail
He
to.
viceroy did
F"
r
5Q0
Though
Munster.
lie
It Avas still
more
delightfully soothing
when he assured the bishop that he had special instructions from His
Majesty to make no distinction between Protestant and Catholic, and
when he lamented that he had no power to deviate from the laws that
imposed disabilities on the Catholics. At the dinner given to him at
the Mansion House in Cork, when the toast of " The Protestant Ascendwas announced, he declared he wished to see no ascendency in Ireland but that of loyalty. At another dinner, given by the
merchants, traders and bankers of the same city, his beautiful sentiments
ency of Ireland"
of toleration
"He
of eternal concern,
men
"
was
Richmond."
Be
first
this as
it
common
Mr. Mitchel
style of Irish
"At
less,
to disgrace
him
for refusing to
effectually prevented
to
501
but
that,
under
all
for
the cir-
and had ordered the man to be liberated and to join his regiWhen Spence arrived in Dublin, he was confined several days,
ment.
and then discharged altogether from the army. The copy of Spence's
letter, which he vouched to be authentic, contained nothing in it either
disrespectful or mutinous.
The original letter was often called for, and
always refused by those who had it in their possession, and might, consequently, by its production determine the justice of the sentence of
nine hundred and ninety-nine lashes."
No officer was ever punished or reprimanded for any one of the many
excessive,
may
From
this
tried, in
mode
the
House
of
Commons,
to
In the debate which followed, Sir John Newport accused Lord Castleall the pledges he had made at the time of the union
promote the public welfare of Ireland. Castlereagh stated that he
knew of no pledge made, either by Mr. Pitt or himself, about tithes or
reagh of forgetting
to
He
502
peasantry as
tithe,
who
peasant of the
He
staff of
life,
they
Mr. O'Gorman
this.
He
spoke
enemies or lukewarm
friends.
into office on
Their predecessors
to
their claims.
new
503
seem
to speak the general sense of the Catholic body, because, whenever
Grattan would present a Catholic petition in the House of Commons, he
would be met invariably with the objection "that such petition did not
speak the general sense of the Catholics," it was, at the same time,
necessary to guard against the snares and perils of the Convention Act.
But after all, in spite of O'Connell's ingenuity, a packed jury could
Thus, while
mously.
it
was
members
of the
Still, for
veto
it.
question
The
its prestige.
came up
Irish
again.
The English
strenuously opposed
it.
veto
on the appointment
same
was enclosed by
tempting as
equally
it
spumed
was,
it.
was
petition
for
This project,
504
he presented
it
citizen, could
than supporting
weak and
it.
It is
not
surprising that the motion in favor of the Catholics was lost by a majorIn the upper House, Lord Donoughmore
ity of one hundred and four.
than Grattan's.
No
one,
he
it
said, Avas
by a majority
of eighty-six.
In the course of the disputes on the veto question, which ranged over
several years, O'Connell Avas opposed
after distinguishing himself
yers
to
indeed, one
of
now one
man
who,
most promising of the Catholic lawthe most intellectual men, Catholic or Protestant,
He was
"Woulfe,
estate.
by Stephen
He
of the
man
nance that bespoke his mental power. In the early period of his professional career he took so much interest in the strife of politics that
his friends thought he Avas neglectine: his oaaii affairs for the concerns
However, he Avas destined, years after, Avhen emancipaof his country.
tion
was achieved,
rolls,
and
he,
were the
first
Sir
Catholic
judges.
empire
for
its
505
mind
as that of
"
The Balance of
famous apophthegm, "Property has its duties as well as its rights," the
credit of which has been given to the Scotchman Drummond, in reality
treatise entitled
'
shrill,
Woulfe had
I have
his oratory.
"Nation."
its
higher notes.
The writer says, apparently without any intention to be funny, " Scald
an eagle in melted lead, and his scream will give you some idea of the
I quote this from memory.
tones of Woulfe in a state of excitement,"
I may
It is well that the writer didn't pun on the name of Wolfe Tone.
add that O'Conncll esteemed Woulfe highly, in spite of their difference
on the question of the
of opinion
On
veto.
the morning of the 20th of January, 1843 (the repeal year), the
own
breakfast-table,
question."
the
speech
veto.
body
was
we came
of
of the house;
fested
some
that.
When
of
in
was mani-
to
little
and
easily prevented
rose in reply, I told the story of the sheep that were fat-
when an address
to
them
to
was presented by the wolves. I said that the leading Woulfe (pronounced ivolf) came forward to the front of the gallery
and persuaded the sheep to give up the dogs; they obeyed him, and
were instantly devoured; and I then expressed a hope that the Catholics
get rid of their dogs
506
"I well recollect that occasion," said Dr. Coll to Mr. Daunt; "and
afterward Woulfe observed
How useless it is to contend with O'Connell
Here I have made an oration that I had been elaborating for three weeks
previously' and this man entirely demolishes the effect of all my rhetoric
by a flash of humor and a pun upon my name.' "
.Although this may have been O'Connell's only direct collision with
Woulfe on the veto question, he had, nevertheless, other encounters
with Woulfe that had reference to subjects of debate, which arose out
of the divisions, among the emancipationists, on this angrily-vexed
:
'
question.
summer
of the year
cry.
city.
that repeal
for all
His resolutions
to the effect
by a majority
of
thirty.
Next
two high-sheriffs, Sir Edward Stanley and Sir James Puddall, to call a
meeting of freemen and freeholders to consider "the necessity that exists
of presenting a petition to His Majesty and the imperial Parliament
Stanley refused to summon the meetfor a repeal of the act of union."
Riddall, however,
ing; "it would agitate," said he, "the public mind."
called it, and, on the 18th of September, 1810, Protestants and Cathowere unanimous in ascribing the misery of their country to the operation of the baneful union. On this occasion O'Connell made a powerful
lics
give from
I shall
507
it
life.
her inhabitants
after
quoting the
after
authorities of the greatest lawyers against its legality, the orator thus
proceeds:
therefore,
unless
inal,
was a
it
crime,
and must be
it
still
concrim-
shall
it
improves by old age, and that time mollifies injustice into innocence.
You may
convinced that we daily suffer injustice, that every succeeding day adds
only another sin to the catalogue of British vice, and that
continues
We
make crime
will only
the union
my
right,
to
it
if
Alas
England,
evil
!
was perfected ?
How,
then,
whom we
her,
What
does he
"Reflect, then,
mean by
my
friends,
on the
the sacred ermine of justice and the holy altars of God, were all profaned
By
and our
of union services.
508
but
is
quite obvious.
It is to
which the enemies of Ireland have created and continued, and seek to
perpetuate, amongst ourselves, by telling us of, and separating us into,
wretched sections and miserable subdivisions.
They separated the
Protestant from the Catholic, and the Presbyterian from both; they
revived every antiquated cause of domestic animosity, and they invented new pretexts of rancor; but above all, my countrymen, they
belied and calumniated us to each other they falsely declared that we
hated each other, and they continued to repeat the assertion until we
came to believe it; they succeeded in producing all the madness of party
and religious distinctions and, while we were lost in the stupor of insanity, they plundered us of our country, and left us to recover at our
leisure from the horrid delusion into which Ave had been so artfully
;
conducted.
" Such, then,
It
name
make our
we
by foreigners foreigners
laws, for were the one hundred members who nominally represent Irewere they really our
land in what is called the imperial Parliament,
representatives, what influence could they, although unbought and
of our country
are governed
But what
know nothing
five
of us,
are,
that
affairs,
country,
to us.
of
of
and
the one
more than
one-fifth
the
Sir,
members
the
when
it.
perity of Ireland.
Sir,
I
talk of
of the imperial
ministers themselves
undertake to
they have presumed to speak of the growing pros-
demonstrate
English
fifty-eight
the fact?
Parliament,
is
hundred and
know them
to
be
vile
yet, vile as
and
they
profligate
are, I
cannot be
was
in abject
and
that expression,
increasing poverty.
When
that, in fact,
50!)
has
it
Cape Clear
raised from
to the Giants'
if
Causeway,
if
the
come forward as the leaders of the public voice, the nation would,
in an hour, grow too great for the chains that now shackle you, and the
union must be repealed without commotion and without difficulty. Let
the most timid amongst us compare the present probability of repealing
will
the union with the prospect that, in the year 1795, existed of that meas-
Who
attempt
repealing
its
it
repeal
to
it,
make
in
and he succeeded
it
it
hope of
But
that pleasing hope can never exist whilst the infernal dissensions on
the
expect to liberate his country the Roman Catholic alone could not do
it; neither could the Presbyterian; but amalgamate the three into the
;
Learn discretion from your enemies they have crushed your country by fomenting religious discord
Let each man give up his share
serve her by abandoning it for ever.
But I
of the mischief; let each man forsake every feeling of rancor.
say not this to barter with you, my countrymen I require no equivalent
Irishman, and the union
is
repealed.
from you.
shall take,
my mind
is fixed.
trample
under foot the Catholic claims, if they can interfere with the repeal I
abandon all wish for emancipation, if it delays the repeal. Nay, were
Mi Perceval to-morrow to offer me the repeal of the union upon the terms
of re-enacting the entire penal code, I declare it from my heart, and in the
;
presence of
my
offer.
Let
510
as then,
my
animosities on the altar of our country; let that spirit which, heretofore
emanating from Dungannon, spread all over the island and gave light
and liberty to the land, be again cherished amongst us; let us rally
around the standard of old Ireland, and we shall easily procure that
greatest of political blessings, an Irish king, an Irish House of Lords
and an Irish House of Commons." Long-continued applause followed
the close of this noble peroration.
effect
His appeals
trymen.
From
the
moment
hero as their future leader; and, in truth, before the close of that very
at least
year, O'Connell was the recognized leader of the Irish people
own
short nar-
me
But
511
"made
that
splendid
let to rust.
madman!"
deal about everything except Catholic politics for the greatest portion of
when
we pressed him
accompany us to the
meeting, the worthy old man harangued us for a quarter of an hour to
demonstrate the impolicy of publicly assembling at all, and ended by
coming to the meeting. He drew up a resolution, which denounced the
our visit; and
at length
to
was
tion,
proceeding as
lose
it
passed
my
Thenceforward,
at
my
may
it
say, I
my
then
whom
un-
had
to
Keogh's!
carried.
all to incessant,
This resolu-
was
the leader.
Keogh
called
I refused to
was resolved upon and taken.
yield.
He departed in bad humor, and I never saw him afterwards.
" Keogh was undoubtedly useful in his day.
But he was one who
would rather that the cause should fail than that anybody but himself
inexorable;
course
it."
leader.
to
vote of thanks
emancipation."
had been issued by the same body, urging the people to adopt a new and
more combined form of political action. The continual rejection of the
33
512
by the Houses
of Parliament
"what
might not
result
What
infinite
good
annually exhibited of the mischief flowing from the want of this cohe-
be peaceful and
rence!"
to
legal
threat, or at least
hint,
long,
might at
if
and seek
win
to
their rights
by
violent
methods.
Though
dearer to the hearts of the majority of the Irish people, than emancipation, yet, as
why
(I
by peaceful
of the preliminary
and why,
according to my judgment, the former could not), so he deemed it the
Emancipation
practical question to grapple with in the first instance.
once achieved, he might begin to look for repeal.
In carrying on his agitations O'Connell w as not ashamed of repeatIt was impossible for a man,
ing himself frequently in his speeches.
speaking so often on the same subjects, to avoid this repetition. Besides, in politics, as in religion, the broad and grand essential truths are
T
comparatively few in number, and they need constant iteration. ]S apo-^
leon and Fox believed in the efficacy. of repetition to saturate the mind
with conviction. When The Dublin Evening Mail sneered at O'Connell
sketch,
agitation,
for
many
Now
there are
feel
good argument, just because they have delivered that sentiment or that
not by advancing a polit-
argument
before.
ical truth
once or twice, or even ten times, that the public will take
This
is
very foolish.
It is
it
tion,
once remarked to Mr. O'Neill Daunt, " Mr. O'Connell always wears
he gives us another."
In October, 1810, King George the Third became a lunatic once
more, or perhaps it would be more correct to say he sank into drivelling
idiotcy.
e.'-er
From
possessed
for ever.
From
The
little
stock of wits he
514
like
Lis mental, the aged king dragged along tLe remaining years of Lis
now
mad,
helpless,
it
hopes.
In
fact,
was
they believed
at length re-
515
and signed by these noble men shortly after the termination of the royal interview.
Whatever disputes might arise about
particular cases of alleged promises on his part, there was no doubt
down
in writing
whatever that the prince had bound himself in honor to the sustainment
of the Catholic cause on more than one occasion.
Nevertheless, this
base and thoroughly-depraved wretch, whose whole
life
proves him to
have been utterly destitute of faith and truth and honor, yet who has
been styled, with pretty general acceptance (such is the innate flunkeyism of the majority of mankind), "the finest gentleman of his age," no
sooner found himself in possession of the regal power than he resolved,
all his
pledges.
In short, he
It
has been stated that he was influenced to this violation of his plighted
faith and honor chiefly by the persuasions and fascinations of the marchioness of Hertford, the lady who was his mistress at the time he
This bewitching siren was then somewhat more
became prince-regent.
than
fifty
The
years of age.
ferred lady-loves
less full-blown
who were
charmers.
"fat, fair
On
and forty"
to
still
olic interference.
Catholics.
resolved
well to tolerate
like
it
veto, too,
but,
with a
affairs,
the
committee was likely to become too formidable to " the powers that be."
Accordingly, on the 12th of February, 1811, Wellesley Pole, who had
succeeded his brother, Sir Arthur Wellesley (the latter was now com-
manding the
British
army
principal magistrates
of Ireland.
and
51
mittee
is
sitting in
Dublin."
members
of the
His
cir-
cular contains the following not very lucid directions to the sheriffs
"You
of the king,
c.
29, to cause to
who
shall be
manager as
aforesaid; or
if
attending, voting or
manner
in the
we have
seen,
same county."
had exercised
His
your power,
The imprudence
of
some
secure
foresight,
of his associates
even when meeting for the bond fide [genuine, in good faith) purpose of
petitioning, came under the prohibitions of the Convention Act.
The
counsel for the traverser maintained that
if
was
baffled.
not, indeed,
The
He was
legal.
a leading counsel.
disabilities
from the inner bar, of course the king's counsel took precedence of him.
him a series
him into the
to
skill in
cross-examination.
off his guard,
by
No man
first
asking
The escape
of Dr. Sheridan
was
The
Catholics, elated
by
meeting
and Nicholas Purcell 0' Gorman, barrister, seconded the resolution, that
" the Catholic petition be now read."
At this stage of the proceedings
the police magistrate began taking a part in the scene, and the action of
the drama became interesting and lively.
Police Magistrate. "My Lord Fingal, I beg to state my object in coming here.
His Excellency the lord-lieutenant has been informed that
this is a meeting of the Catholic Committee, composed of the peers,
prelates, country gentlemen and persons chosen in the different parishes
of Ireland.
I come here by direction of the lord-lieutenant, and as a
magistrate of the city of Dublin I ask you, the chairman of this meeting, if that be the case, and if so, what is your object?"
Lord Fingal. "Our purpose in coining here is perfectly legal and
constitutional."
Magistrate.
Lord
"
Fingal.
That
"
is
What
not an answer to
is
my
question."
518
"
Magistrate.
I
My lord,
that
is
not an answer to
my question.
hope
proceedings.
the magistrate
Magistrate.
ing of the
the people
stopped,
it
when
" I
had occurred
Hear
!"
is this
a meet-
Catholic
than that
" I
structions
Magistrate.
me
"My
lord,
am
fully
Lord
Fingal.
"We
I to
wish to be distinctly understood. Am I to understand that you will give no other answer to my question ? Do you give
no other answer?"
Magistrate.
" I
My
"
of Ireland."
O'Connell.
"As what
passes here
may
be given in evidence,
beg
leave to say that the magistrate has received a distinct answer to his
question.
It is
not for
him
he
to distort
is to
cation."
Magistrate.
"
My
lord,
fact of this
519
mittee."
0' Council.
it is
of
to tell
We
is
your
belief,
"
"My
Magistrate, doggedly.
are not to be
Committee?"
olic
Counsellor Finn.
nor denial."
"We
Conned
meanings for
'
by any
us.
Magistrate.
"Then
me
answer is an admission that this meeting is the Catholic Committee, and being such, it is an unlawful assembly.
As such I require
it to disperse.
It is my wish to discharge my duty in as mild a manner
as possible.
I hope no resistance will be offered.
I hope that I need
not have recourse to the means I am intrusted with for the purpose of
direct
Lord Fingal,
" I
am
forced to do
so,
that
may
shall not
bring an action
"
My
lord, I shall
chair.
My
doing
an arrest."
Taking Lord Fingal by the arm, the magistrate, with a gentle violence, so to speak, pushed him out of the chair.
Immediately Counsellor
O'Gorman moved Lord Netterville into the chair; but this nobleman, in
his turn, was expelled by the magistrate.
Finally, when a third chairman, the Hon. Mr. Barnewell, was proposed, the meeting separated at
the recommendation of Sir Edward Bellew.*
The
Ireland, from
Esq.
its
Mitchel's "Continuation of
"The History
of
by Francis Plowden,
Mullany,
etc.;
CHAPTEE
XIII.
^W^MMEDIATELY
(W.VM CUK et^ ^ ie
^
with which
con-
by three hundred
k^MM
who had
said,
520
521
had stood
before.
It,
was not the Catholics, it w as the government, that shrank. The Catholics had always contended for the right of petition; they did not now
shrink from a trial of its legality.
It was the Crown lawyers who
r
shrank from
He
it.
firm
to
make
was needed
end
successful.
by one of the most celebrated English poets of those days the benevolent, but mistaken, Percy Bysshe Shelley
doomed, alas! to find, not
many years later, an untimely death in the waters of the gulf of Spezzia.
The tone which he adopted at this meeting was one of moderation. At
this time he seems to have taken considerable interest in Irish affairs.
Some observations of his remain, which along with a certain visionary
wildness and extravagance, a certain mingling of the jargon of pseudophilanthropy and progress, so prevalent in this canting nineteenth century; a certain Utopianism, in short
show manifest signs of a heart
and imagination and intellect better able to realize the peculiar features
and difficulties of the Irish question, than Englishmen in general, even
At
many of
all events,
quoting here
" It is
land,
if
my opinion
liberty or happiness.
The
this emancipation,
am
because
benefit,
but
am
inimical to
all
disqualifications Cr
522
opinion.
It will
one from the dark dungeon, will root out not one
Yet
pang.
it is
not one
vice, alleviate
for it
lie
whose throne has tottered for two hundred years. I hear the
beldam Superstition chatter, and I see her descendthe grave.
Reason points to the open gates of the temple of
Bigotry,
ing to
religious freedom
I
common
God.
regard the admission of the Catholic claims and the repeal of the Union
Act as blossoms of that fruit, which the summer sun of improved intellect and progressive virtue are destined to mature.
I will not pass
without reflection the legislative union between Great Britain and Ireland; nor will I speak of it as a grievance so tolerable or unimportant
The latter affects few,
in its nature as that of Catholic disqualification.
the union affects thousands; the one disqualifies the rich from power,
the other impoverishes the peasant, adds beggary to the city, famine to
the country, multiplies abjectness, whilst misery and crime play into
its
withering auspices.
esteem
aristocracy of Ireland
it
be in
(much as
to
itself
a substantial benefit.
consider
it useless,
The
the
aristocracy of
in
England."
All these proceedings, however, ended in the suppression of the
Catholic Committee.
Chief-Justice
Downes
the Catholic leaders, the illegality of which the verdict in Dr. Sheridan's
efforts.
In short, the government had gained its point in suppressing the CathThat body was succeeded by the Catholic Board, which
olic Committee.
and energy.
in this critical position
remained
While the affairs of the Catholics
O'Connell was increasing his reputation both as a lawyer and a political
at first manifested
an equal share
of courage
leader.
When
sonable intents
him
in
thanks "to our friends in Parliament, Earl Grey and Lord Grenville."
In this harangue O'Connell covered with ridicule the jury, the judges
and the prosecuting counsel who had taken part in Mr. Kirwan's case.
He also denounced the secretary, Sir Charles Saxton, who had been
guilty of shameful interference with the arrangement of the jury-list. I
shall give some extracts from this speech
"The first topic that presented itself was the late trial of Mr. Kirwan. That trial had proved only what was already well known namely,
that it was possible for the Irish administration, with all its resources,
to find a single jury to take upon itself to swear that pretence means
purpose, and that the man who was admitted, by his prosecutors and
judges, to be innocent in act and intention, was in law and fact guilty.
" It, however, proved that one such jury was possible, for those who
saw that jury must admit that it was not in human nature to afford
such another. Whv, the administration had been so diligent in the
search of originals, that they had actually found out a Mr. Donovan,
who keeps or kept a crockery-ware shop on the Quays, and who, until
the second day of the trial, never had heard of the subject-matter of the
trial!
So he declared before he was sworn on the jury. What think
you of any man, not absolutely deaf, who had been for three preceding
months in Dublin, and had never before heard of that prosecution ?
" But a verdict obtained in the manner that had been was of no importance. The public mind was in nowise affected by it. It was anticipated, from the commencement of the pieces of plain prose with which
the prosecution was opened, to the morsel of brilliant hypocrisy with
which it was closed. The verdict was of no estimation, even in the
who
felt
524
To
abandonment
'
'
He
list
him
as a 'friend;'
we know him
well.''
next attacks the interference of Sir Charles Saxton with the jury-
own
was
was solemn
and sanctified about the chief-justice would have been roused into the
semblance of animation when he heard that the Crown solicitor and Sir
I, in
Charles Saxton hunted in couples for the knowledge of the jury.
constitutional
the
spark
should
call
honest
of what I
vain, hoped to see
fire illumine all that was dark and delightful in the pomp of religious
display; but no, alas! no; the interference, whatever it was, of the
525
sift the
Those were his words we idly believed him, when he comOf course we were deceived but why,
pelled Sir Charles to attend.
nell says
"
must confess I
cannot tell. It passed over, and we all felt our error. Would to God
Would to God we had sifted him on his oath
we had examined him
where, from whom, when he got the jury-list? how it happened that the
numbers were altered ? was it corruption ? was it a miracle ?
"Allow me to say one word more as to the late trial. The prosecutors iusulted us by excluding every Catholic from the jury; they injured
How I thank them for the
us, too, by excluding every Presbyterian.
then, did
we not
trial,
men
any community
To all that is generous and warm in the Irish character, they add a firmness and a discretion which improves every manly virtue. I do greatly
admire the friends of religious and civil liberty, the Presbyterians of
the Irish Presbyterians
class of
in
Ireland."
the of
Catholics,
regret
are seldom heard among leading
which,
our own day O'Connell
and scarcely ever among English Catholics,
After these broad and generous sentiments of toleration
I
like
Irish
to say,
in
among
certain
His harangue next tore to pieces, in his most slashing and merciless style, a wretched speech delivered by Wellesley Pole
in the British House of Commons which described the Catholics as
disaffected persons.
526
to
O'Connell begins his onslaught on this speech by affecting to disbelieve in the genuineness of the report " contained in a
" I
name
such a discourse.
The
of
'
man
.
paper bearing,
PatrioV " He
could pronounce
.
which demonstrate that no man of common education could have composed it.
But it would be absurd to waste time
in censuring more of this composition
it is the absence of truth and
decency which distinguishes it and entitles it to some notice amongst
thousand phrases in
it
our calumnies.
"
me
Let
racity.
be pardoned whilst
It is
leave to confute these calumnies, not because they are talented or skilful,
He
of detraction."
tion?
fact.
an assertion
Lord Ffrench was in the chair when Mr. Pole sent his police-justice to
disperse that committee.
Loi-d Ffrench entered into a correspondence
with Mr. Pole to maintain that committee. He lent his character, his
W.
to support that
"I wish
my
noble friend
for
so I
am
He
calumny!
assure Mr.
sume
527
proud
to call
how he would
him
were.
refute this
W. W.
can
pre-
"Yes, this article illustrates the active genius of the speech. Unfounded assertion, ridiculous argument, paltry self-sufficiency and ludicrous quotation. ... I have to apologize for attaching so much importance to matters so insignificant.
" I hasten to conclude by expressing
pation
is
certain,
and
will
my conviction
be immediate.
cordial
the
every Catholic has scrupulously avoided the least interference
Protestant petition has, at this moment, more signatures to it than were
any petition
of our own.
It
our Protestant
subjects."
"
We
friends,
"
528
calumny and
to
length exhausted.
uncer-
to
be the
entertaining of a doubt.
"
Oh
but there
is
one objection
He
still
He might
our accent
Sir
Ireland.
men
is disliked.
who
object.
and
my
lord,
and
poleon.)
Yes,
may
We
impending on a divided
the menacing might of Na-
[Here he alludes
to
"We, my
lord,
men who
terrify the
it for
we
and who
invader;
We
talk as
men
should
who dread
'
And was
Shall
there none
it
slavery
be asked,
no
Irish
and
if
arm
And was
529
warm ?
Why
my
yes,
lord,
we
tear,'
we shown
that had
are told
if
silent in oppression,
proving,
public policy.
We
we
find
him
friends, in this
the Catholic
movement
In
he partially deceived
Before long
fact,
we
the aristocratic
members
of
the popular section, and especially towards O'Connell and other aspiring
young lawyers, who were gradually taking the leadership of the Catholic
body out of their hands. In a meeting which had taken place nearly a
year before the present one, Lord Ffrench had assailed the lawyers,
describing them as "men who ought to be suspected, as having more to
530
expect than any other description of Catholics;" and, with a view "to
put down the lawyers" by an appeal to the people, on the same occasion
he had moved " that the Catholic concerns be referred to an aggregate
meeting to be held that day fortnight." O'Connell had replied, " That
for his part he should be most grateful if the bar were altogether excluded from Catholic politics. And if the noble lord could attend exclusively to the affairs of the Catholics he, for one, should rejoice at their
He
He had
no
difficulty in calling
an
afflicted
The
O'Connell's speech
c;oes
politics,
thus
" The
more popular section of the Catholic Committee
original managers of the Catholic cause were men of singular prudence
and moderation of high rank and acknowledged abilities. The distinct-ion they obtained by their judicious and well-concerted endeavors naturally excited the jealousy of some members of the body, who had nut exactly
the same qualifications; and the very success which had crowned their
efforts produced, in the most sanguine and impetuous spirits, a degree
of impatience at those slow and regulated movements, to which in realIn the crowded
ity they had been principally indebted for their success.
meetings of the Dublin Catholics, accordingly, there had recently arisen
a set of rash, turbulent, ambitious or bigoted men, who evidently aimed
at getting the management of this great cause, and, in some measure,
the command of this great population, into their own hands, and em-
assailed the
resorted to
by
all
who
common
warmer
much more
much
lofty deter-
mination to bring the cause to a speedy issue, than had suited the cautious policy of their more experienced leaders. The success of these arts
was neither to be wondered at, nor in common times very much to be
The assembled multitudes in Dublin might applaud the vehement and bombastic harangues of a few ambitious counsellors and attorneys, but the Catholic prelacy and aristocracy were likely to maintain a
dreaded.
management
of their
common
cause.
In
under public discussion, and the measure being furiously cried out
against by those who trembled at the thought of a real conciliation, the
was rashly taken up by the rash and sanguine, who spurned at the
idea of compromise, and by the ambitious, who sought only for an
cry
By
and their
clamors they confounded some and infected others, and, appearing by
their noise and activity to be far more numerous than they actually
opportunity to distinguish themselves.
their impetuosity
Houses
of Parliament.
Upon
the whole, he
...
whom
is
if
of
However, he maintains that they are deplorably ignorant of the condition of Ireland and the Irish.
He says: "I
am prepared to prove that there are twelve hundred and fifty-four
offices from which the Catholics are excluded by the direct operation of
the law, and thirty thousand places from which they are excluded by
writers of that article."
its
consequences.
In Parliament, 900
army, 9000;
in corporations,
3981
in the law,
2251
1058 in the
amounting in
;
from the collection and management of the public money. ... In Eng
&
532
If
officers.
they went to England with their regiments, they must violate their prin
ciples or quit the service.
Why
German
legion,
and persecute
work
it
among
who
hirelings
way
The
the
watchword
be
of dissension.
for
am
'No
cry of
anxious to place
petition!'
was supFor-
of party in Dublin.
silence,'
and
of
'frowning upon their enemies,' and of 'muttering curses deep, not loud.'
Now, indeed, their faces are decked with smiles; they are smoothing
remarks
of the
Edinburgh
But
for
his
persistent
to the
veto,
have remained
all probability,
for years
without
reached.
opposition "absurd."
is
"But allowing
fit
to administer the
paternal authority
among them?"
This
letter,
of
the veto dispute, and produced a greater impression than any other of the
numerous pamphlets that appeared on the question.
Even
had been no veto question, it is probable that misunderstandings would have arisen between O'Connell and the aristocratic
leaders of the Catholics.
His bold, uncompromising policy and mode
if
there
534
of
action,
vehement, outspoken,
his
quence, above
all,
impassioned,
denunciatory
and
elo-
minions,
its
members
of the
government.
ill
and intriguing ways. In short, the alliance was an unnatural one, and
sure, in any event, to be speedily ruptured.
There is nothing, for which O'Connell has been more condemned by
many, than for the excessive license which he allowed his tongue. Very
few, if any, great orators, ancient or modern, have indulged so frequently
in invective.
It must be admitted that his severity was sometimes
hardly justifiable, and that his ridicule frequently degenerated into
downright scurrility and buffoonery. Still, upon the whole, I am inclined to agree with those,
who think
highest merits.
At a time when
among
his
had made crouching slaves of too many of his coreligionists, when the
iron had sunk so deeply into their souls, it was well that they should
have had one of their own race and creed a sufferer under the same
ban, a Catholic pleading for Catholics
free
from
all
subserviency, at
tell
When
all
the tyrant
the trampled
that,
on
535
which measured, mincing, cautious, convenlanguage prevail, are more than likely to he feeble,
amusing,
too, to find
Dan
at times speaking as
if
he wasn't at
aware that he had the slightest turn for abusing people. Thus, when
pleading, in mitigation of punishment, on behalf of the notorious Watty
all
Cox, in 1811,
we
tyrant
davit,
France
of-
find
:
"
my
client, in
In May, 1811,
was proposed
to
which, in his
I would
be
affi-
under-
any man.'"
An
it
to
militia,
might
hand
arise from
and
them be once
no longer be
civil
religious privileges.
called in question."
If
At an aggregate meeting
in
bill
Fishamble
and intention
proposed
was an annihilation
it
street,
An
address,
thanking him
"We
native county:
was sent
you have developed the tendency of the intended transfer of our militia,
and displayed the machinations of those deluded men who style them-
"
all
own.
was
for pre-
it
House
of
Commons, and
For myself,
bill,
" It
to such an authority
due.
On
the rights and liberties of his Catholic countrymen with his accus-
tomed
subtlety,
veteran orator,
r
THE LIFE OF DANIEL O'CONXELL.
537
lation of Ireland."
is
since its
man-
try,
But
of our Saviour.
let
me
ask you
if
laws will battle against Providence, there can be no doubt of the issue
of our policy
is,
that
it
53S
may be
The duke
of
Cumberland, son
of
What
it
countrymen.
"
When
ually,
it
it
was
against Scotland, Irish trade was interdicted, and the union violated.
mitting, however, that the Irish distiller did reap
Ad-
was she
Bod
therefore to be deprived of
If so,
The speaker
member
will
becomes
solemn act
it
An
of
all sides.
the
is
to use, in
this
House
him
to hear or
"The honorable
said:
of Parliament."
When
was a
at length there
lull in
inson said
"Sir,
trust
place or of myself.
tates of feelings of
to
be
am
In saying what
have
said, I
which
know not
just, I
of
know them
them
to be
suppressed."
England could not by any means contrive to digest this plain and truthful way of putting the case.
The
colonel's truths were abhorrent to the souls of these magnanimous
Britons.
So "the hurly-burly" recommenced, and they relieved their
outraged feelings by the sort of parliamentary howling usual on similar
"The
collective
occasions.
wisdom"
of
mob
The
will
"Hear!
hear!
hear!
hear!"
wisdom
veiled
forth
the
several
hundred
of Great Britain
(Cries of
"
Order! order!")
member
of this House, I
" If liberty of
know
speech
not what
is.
540
right of complaining that she has been tricked out of her independence
If,
all
violated
And
time (that
is,
if
English House of
it is
came
all large
behave almost,
believe
to
an end.
assemblies
be enti-
must, how-
from time to
are,
Commons
who
to.
An
may
all
may
be, are
apt occasion-
in
in
corpse.
"
Where
is
the villain
who
fired ?"
541
"You
see,
my lords,
the consequence
Between Catholic
O'Connell, in speaking on the subject of the " No- Popery " premier's
been convicted
convicted
trial.
of
had
streets,
and
in
the
little
little
increase of hope
He was
age.
He
period he carefully studied the character and wants of the Irish nation.
"Of
all
may be
Robert Peel
bitter cost."
though all through his career he was a bitter political opponent and even enemy of O'Connell, had yet a high opinion of 0' Council's
parliamentary abilities and eloquence. Long after 1812, the date we
have arrived at, while the Reform Bill was under discussion, the merits
of the harangues of the supporters and opponents of that measure were
one day canvassed at Lady Beauchamp's. Our hero's name happening
Peel,
to turn up,
some
Irish fellow
when he opens
"Oh, a broguing
always walk out of the House
who would
listen to
Mm ?
his lips."
me
hear your
if I
wanted an
opinion."
"My
'
effort,
the vigor and elevation of his ideas gave animation and beauty
to his diction.
He was
and prompt and adroit in reply; but when he "hurled his high
and haughty defiance" at tyrants, and poured out his vials of burning
wrath and scorn on their despicable tools, he was frequently magnificent.
I have admitted that
Indeed, his invectives were sometimes terrible.
he too often indulged in scurrilous personalities and intemperate abuse
eloquent Billingsgate, in short unworthy of his great powers.
In
truth, though his heart was warm and good-natured, his disposition
soning,
?:V
m-i
-'1WEJL IFISM.f&WSOSS'o
543
was
irritable as that
a poet.
" His easy humor, blossoming
it
His pathos,
of sins."
of the speaker, so it
too,
was
mastered the
says
"
much
as a rule, seem
efforts,
his parliamentary
inferior to his
human
To me
level of the
"
On
the
Crown"
if
we
(the masterpiece of
is
The
neli,"
of Daniel O'Connell,
"
"
" Life and Times of Daniel O'Conof McGeoghegan ;" "The Select Speeches
Dublin, J. Mullany,
M.
etc.
Works
of
P., edited,
"
Association," etc.
T~T-
IV
CHAPTEE
XIV.
SHALL
O'Connell's eloquence.
As they embody
The break
add
As
critic
am
take precedency.
I shall let
the American
New Hampshire
eloquence
"You have
Is
ment
it
now
an Irishman.
ing
all
the opinions
it
contains
by popular sentiment, we do
not hesitate to assign to O'Connell a prominent place amongst the best
orators of any age.
He cannot, indeed, be compared in detail to any
particular one who is worthy of him.
In man}' features, however, and
these the most noble, he bears a striking resemblance to Demosthenes
and Brougham. In strength and clearness he is equal to either. Of all
the three, the grand characteristic is energy; but the energy of the Celt,
though more active, is less intense, than that of the Greek, and more
Of
intense than that of the Scot, though not so durable or expansive.
method which, although less an endowment than an acquisition, is
yet albeit a property of great wit they had an equal share, but from
different sources, and displaying a different organism.
In his arrangement, Demosthenes observes the rhetorical rules without being burdened
Brougham, early fashioned by mathematical disor narrowed by them.
"Without being
cipline, is
He
always in view, but this severity does not impoverish or straiten him,
for
the stores of his learning are so vast, so rich and so various that the
abundance
of his materials
disposing them.
gent of method.
O'Connell
He
it
skill in
down a
When
Some
546
over almost
all
the public
men
know-
common channel
so that
if,
and while he
is
philosophical dignity.
with
he
force,
is
is less in
on a
level
but above both in acuteness and subtlety; whilst in the matargument there may be much parity, in the conduct of it there
either,
ter of the
is little.
Demosthenes
is
Brougham,
The
first
is
is
generally
in
which results from it, does not always compensate for the trifles
employed to support it. Given to grave enjoyments, yet we feel Demosthenes dry for want of those jets of vivacity with which O'Connell
sprinkles his parterre and refreshes his flowers but, on the other hand,
the former imparts an enthusiasm which lenders us insensible of fatigue
and compels us to persevere with him to the end. O'Connell understood, but perhaps undervalued, connection and continuity.
He freever,
quently breaks
off to
contemplate the landscape; and then calls you back to resume the
journey with regaled senses and revived energy. Brougham does not
to
547
that most
In imagina-
rare
human
he did not understand mankind better, he accommodated himself to them more, and was
better fitted to do so by the pliancy of his passions and the bent of his
Consequently, he used men, and especially the untaught,
opinions.
more successfully. In his sway over the affections he is approached by
neither; and taking into consideration the different audience and differ-
If
he stands conspicuous
he
is
man
mocracy and visibly improved it, Each attains to the same height, but
Demosthenes leaves the earth
not with the same facility or grandeur.
most naturally, mounts most swiftly, moves with the ease of instinct, but
When his rivals soar,
at every cleaving of his wings the poles thunder.
they gain the empyrean by a succession of mighty efforts, and with the
resounding as of mighty waters Brougham keeping his undazzled eye
fixed
* This
may
be true of his design, but his style was often very harsh and rugged.
548
nell,
warm
manly
festivity."
is
sits
supreme.
sits
it
of
hardly
quence,
satisfied.
I
may
As
am
own profession of
human nature in all
its strength,
and especially in
all
its
! ;
o4D
" St.
Stephen's
:"
"
Your pence
your
to-day,
Erin-go-bragh
liberties
next year,
And
felt his
his
Athenian play,
And Whigs
*
But not
Large
if his faults,
Our
Hate
rights
and
blessings, Ireland's
false,
sincere.
To hate
Had
the
Saxon was
His creed a
No blander
Had graced
Pass by his
Pollio
whom
:;
!
'my
lords.'
be here allowed,
And wave
Methought no
Even
human ocean
lay,
sound
its
around;
sonorous swell,
bell.
To
may
glide;
Now
stirr'd
And
the uproar,
now
the
it
went;
murmur
it
still'd,
willed.
seas."
be much questioned whether Mr. O'Connell's oratory is natIt is insisted, on the one side, that he throws so
ural or artificial.
much of his internal soul into every word he utters, that the words are
the expression of his feelings at the time, and nothing more; while, on
the other hand, it is maintained that his fine and accurate modulations
It
seems
to
551
common
Sir
man
of
But no man
an
His eloquence is
more to be felt than admired, although it has much even of literary
merit and he is more like that ancient orator after whose address the
audience cried out, 'Let us march against Philip!' than him of whom
Many orators of
they merely said, 'How well the orator has spoken!'
the present day issue speeches which, after being printed, show in many
respects better taste, greater beauty of language, and even more emphatic declamation, than are sometimes to be found in those of O'ConThat he could meet them on their own ground there is little doubt,
nell.
eloquent speaker.
but the critical merits of a speech, when printed, are nothing to him in
comparison with its effect on the hearts of the multitude around him;
and hence what may appear vapid or untasteful to the reader, has, by a
glance, a curl of the lip, or a change of the voice, produced an electric
effect
on the
listener.
Thus,
when he
was nothing
'
man
might have used but the triumphant glance of the eye, and the bold
menacing attitude of defiance suddenly assumed by so powerful a looking man, whose eventful history was fresh in the mind of every listener,
had a startling and rousing effect. A man of slight physical powers, or
of little influence in the political world, would have made the attempt
Mr. O'Connell's
indeed, lie would only have been ludicrous.
in vain
extremely
pleasing
private manners and conversation are of an
and fasWhen he is for the first time followed from the
cinating description.
hustings to the parlor, he gains on the heart of the individual by the
;
exchange.
meet him
we expect
man whose
to
him
intellect inspires
mul-
man, who has organized millions in his own country, in private life unassuming, gentle and
pleasing, is something so completely unexpected that, by itself, it tends
titudes,
whether
for
good or bad.
But
to find the
552
more
to attract the
mind than
all
his oratory.
elo-
much
member
of the
is
member
man who
is
stooping for a
moment from
He seems by
around him,
no means the
lie
558
how
he requires to shine
in this department thai has made him appear by no means anxious to
display his powers, while he never keeps pompously aloof from the subject
It
tion.
is.
it
may
easily
is in
in the
little
He
be.
to its interest
soon
make
the
lis-
fair
made on
his admiration."
human
have
some recollection of an account, which 1 read, some years ago, in one of
the first-class British magazines, of a dinner-party in London, where he
was one of the guests. Amongst these were a good many literary men,
owing to which circumstance much of the conversation turned upon
literary topics.
I remember, the writer makes the remark that evidently
of
man
agitator's forte.
Still, it
could
of such vast
nell,
shall
now
which
appended to the
by the Viscount
give him the nom de phone by which he is
orator,
is
de Cormenin, or Timon
to
O'Connell
is
whom
the very
was accorded.
Timon appears
understand
why he
popular oratory.
It is
not
difficult,
exem-
then, to
As
554
I shall
make
use of
J. T.
Head-
icy's translation
full
new
memorable
my
" If
scenes.
might compare the British nation with oars, and our tribune
I might say that the latter has more country gentlemen of eccentric and inveterate prejudices, and the former contains
more special pleaders and pretentious judgers that the English deputy
does everything for his party, the French deputy everything for himself;
that the one is an aristocrat even in his democracy, and the other democratic even in his aristocracy; that the one is more proud of great things,
the other more boastful of small; that the one is always systematic in
his opposition, and the other almost always individual; that the one is
more sensible to interest, to calculation, to expediency, to reason, and
the other to imagery, to eloquence, to the surprises and adventures of
political tactics; that the one is more sarcastic and more harsh, and the
other more inclined to personality of the keen and scoffing kind that
the one is more grave and more religious, and the other more volatile
and more unbelieving; that the one stuffs his harangues with citations
from Virgil, Homer, the Bible, Shakespeare, Milton, and that the other
could not mention the names and events of his own national history
orator, I
yawn
;
effort, slowly,
upon heads of much solidity, but massive and heavy, while the other is
divined by the intelligence, prompt and penetrative, of his auditoi-s,
before the phrase has quite left his lips
lei-
bristling with
science, jurisprudence
and
other would shock the simple and delicate taste of our nation by a heap
of
555
" I
might add that the English nation has more force and the French
more grace. There more genius, here more intellect, There more character, here more imagination.
There more political prudence, here
more impulsive generosity. There more forecast, here more actuality.
There more profundity of philosophical speculation and more respect for
the dignity of the
one's
self
human
coquettishly
species, here
in
the
glass
more propensity
of
his
contemplate
without taking
oratory,
to
The
one, in tine, of
vain.
all things.
its cause,
The one
The one besotted with bigotry, the
The one capable of preparing and
"But
is
it is
Athens;
it is
own cause
off
am
here to draw;
it
forum of
the splendors of his magnifin the oligarchical
icent language in the hall of Versailles, before the three orders of clergy,
nobility
and commons;
it is
not Burke,
Pitt,
demical eloquence
it is
upon the
for tribune,
it
is
O'Connell,
55G
and
for
subject that people, incessantly that people, and for echo the
an empire
man obtained
Ireland impersonates
He
herself in O'Connell.
is,
in
some
sort,
parliament, her ambassador, her prince, her liberator, her apostle, her god.
of Ireland,
the
falchion of eloquence,
more redoubtable
"Behold O'Connell with his people, for they are veritably his: he
lives in their life, he smiles in their joys, he bleeds in their wounds, he
weeps in their sorrows. He transports them from fear to hope, from
servitude to liberty, from the fact to the law, from law to duty, from
supplication to invective, and from anger to mercy and commiseration.
He orders this whole people to kneel down upon the earth and pray, and
instantly they kneel and pray; to lift their eyes to heaven, and they lift
them; to execrate their tyrants, and they execrate; to chant hymns
to liberty, and they chant them; to sign petitions for the reform of
abuses, to unite their forces, to forget their feuds, to embrace their
brothers, to pardon their enemies, and they sign, unite, forget, embrace,
pardon
felt
beatings.
its
in the
He
cordially popular!
How
entirely Irish
ible
How
nobly he bears his head upon that muscular neck, his head
551
pendence
proud inde-
"What
renders
is,
orators of his
own coun-
by
it
bounds, by
it.
over, it
moves by
pulsation.
which touches every subject without tarnishing it, which never tires, and which amplifies itself by all the space
it has traversed, which does not divide but multiply itself by diffusion,
which draws new vigor and force from its very exhaustion, which wastes
constantly without the necessity of repairing itself, which surrenders
and abandons itself to the impetuosity of passion, without losing for an
instant its self-possession that phenomenon of an old age so green and
so vigorous, that puissant life which has the vitality of several others,
that inexhaustible efflux of an exceptional nature without parallel and
lect of so incredible
an
agility,
without precedent ?
"
Had
despotism, he would have been crushed beneath the forces of the British
558
selves
from
its
entangling meshes.
wily,
hair-splitting,
Scholastic,
him from
"
his impetuosity.
of his
He
it
is
"He
is
He
justice,
the spectators.
He
action or recitation.
judgment,
attracts to
He
him
his auditory,
He
for
commands
the audience to
affairs.
He
He
seats himself
ratify, lift
hands
of the family to
of the people.
sit,
moment without
The people
orders; he
con-
simplicity.
in
it is
human
He
expedites his
he assumes the direction of the debates and the police of the assemblage; he presides, be reads, he reports, he offers motions, petitions,
requisitions; he arranges, he improvisates narrations, monologues, dia-
body the lords of Parliament, and, chasing them from their aristocratic
covert, he tracks them one by one as the hunter does the wild beast.
lie rallies them unmercifully, abuses them, travesties and delivers them
over, stuck with horns and ludicrous gibbosities, to the hootings and
hisses of the crowd.
If interrogated by any of the auditors, he stops,
grapples his interrupter, floors him, and returns briskly to his speech.
thus that, with marvellous suppleness, he follows the undulations
It is
now
now
ruffled
by the breath
now placid,
lucent and golden with the sunbeams, like a bath of the luxurious
sirens.
"O'Connell
sense.
is
him that
invet-
and that haughty scorn of a conquering people for the subject of the conquered
of an Englishman for the Irishman, of a Prot-
erate hatred
But
House
of
Commons, looking
his
adversaries
and even
faith,
in the
the face, he
firmly in
exclaims
"
and
'
I will
to-day, after
two centuries of
my
country
amidst you in
!'
all
"Speak not
to this
capacious as
it is,
SG
man
of a different subject.
He
is
560
and
He
in the
is
"Am
ing,
memory, on
says he, 'day after day, the plaintive voice of Ireland cry-
I to
be kept
for
left to suffer
$o,
(Humbug!)
England
is no longer that country of prejudices where the mere name of Fopery
excited every breast, and impelled to iniquitous cruelties.
The representatives of Ireland have carried the Reform Bill, which has enlarged
in vain asked justice from a people of brothers.'
'
it
prayer, then
too,
we
still
should suffer
itself to
be blinded by
and
its prejudices,
solely
'But
(Fudge!)
we
if
the nation,
and
to
under
this cupola, of the English Parliament, like a huge vegetable under a
That his breast may distend, his stature tower and his voice
bell-glass.
"
But you
thunder, he
feel
air,
is
straitened, is stifled,
soil of Ireland.
It is
only on touching that sacred land, that land of his country, that he
respires
It is
but
aloft,
its
sacrificer,
"He
when he recounts
5G1
parliaments
sold,
the palaces
and without
nationality proscribed
the administra-
religion incapaci-
tating for either judges, or juries, or witnesses, or landholders, or schoolteachers, or even constables, under penalty of radical nullity and even
punishment; the Catholic churches empty, bare, without ornaments; their priests beggars, wanderers, outlaws; the Anglican Church,
the while, with joyous brow and heart, having her hands stuck deep in
capital
day
of vengeance.
Meanwhile, let England, from the elevation of her palaces, and upon
her beds of purple and down, give trembling ear to the moanings of that
Enceladus who mutters beneath the mountain which holds him imprisHe traverses its subterranean recesses, he mounts upon his legs,
oned.
he upheaves with his back the kindling furnaces of democracy; and, in
"
What
tains,
air.
for Aristotle
proprieties of
mounfor
the
people,
562
He
re-
heart
that beats through every pulse for his beloved Ireland, a heart that hates
with
all its
trates,
how he merges
how he pene-
and feel?
How he puts himself in their shackles, how he binds around him the
irons of their servitude, that he may the better blush with them for
their bondage, and the better burst its chain? How he plunges into the
Then leads them back to their livingglories of their bygone days?
trymen, in order to
and
feel
How
he reanimates again, how he refreshes them with the religions breathings of his hopes! How he cheers
them with the proud accents of liberty, and overwhelms them so effectdestitution, their degradation
ually with his voice, his exclamations, his denunciations, his soul, his
arms and his whole body, that at the end of the discourse this orator
and this entire audience of fifty thousand men have but one body, one
soul,
one cry of
"Yes,
an
it is
altar, in
'
01d Ireland
for ever!'
upon
the centre of
all
He
sees
her,
Yes, thou
it is,
the seas, whose cincture he unbinds upon the sands of the beach.
who appearest
to
Catholicism, thou,
him
whom
fertile
Thou,
he hears in the
Thou, whom
he respires in the perfumed breeze of the zephyrs
anon he imagines drawing against the Saxon thy formidable claymore
Thou, whom he prefers, poor
to the sound of the thunder of battles
beggar though thou art, with thy rags, thy shrivelled body and thy straw-
whom
queen
of the ocean
Thou, of
whom
he contemplates, with
because thou art the tomb of his ancestors, the cradle of his sons, the
glory of his life, the immortality of his name, the palm tree blossomed
with his eloquence; because thou lovest thy children and lovest him,
the greatest of them because thou sufferest for them, for him because
;
many
ministries,
They are
many
revolutions, served so
governments, subverted so
But
in
no
for O'Connell,
art;
He
they believe
believes in the
God
and
of the Christians,
it is
flight
because he believes,
sublime in the upper
many
winters.
He
He
triumph of liberty!
thrills
with delight, he
and
is
transported, wrapt
words have
his inspired
In presence of
my
but in you.
The men of Clare well know that the only basis of liberty is religion.
They have triumphed, because the voice which was raised for the counNow, hymns of libtry had first been breathed in prayer to the Lord.
erty are heard throughout the land; they play around the
murmur
hills,
they
till
and the
in our streams,
'
"Etudes snr
les Oratettrs
Par-
;;
564
O'Connell's eloquence
"
all its
its strong,
Look
at O'Con-
influence
nell,
What
How
am I more moved by
maimed, stripped of the
allurements of style, gesture and voice than by all those heard in my
own country? It is because they bear no resemblance to our rhetoric,
which is disfigured by paraphrase
because passion, true passion',
inspires him
the passion which can say everything.
It is because he
tears me from the ground, rolls and drags me into his torrent; that he
trembles, and I tremble
that he kindles, and I feel myself burning
that he weeps, and tears fill my eyes that his soul utters cries, which
ravish mine that he carries me off upon his wings, and sustains me in
the hallowed transports of liberty. Under the impression of his mighty
eloquence, I abhor and detest with a furious hatred the tyrants of that
unfortunate country, as if I were the countryman of O'Connell; and I
take to loving the green island as much as if it was my own country."
In the year 1812, the period of O'Connell's life at which we have
arrived, he had many opportunities of displaying his vast command
understand were
his discourses
to listen to him.
badly
Why,
then,
translated, discolored,
over
all
finest
shall
now
Dublin had
"No Popery"
secution,
cry,
which seemed
to
menace a
On
5G5
He
them
by
He reminded
their enemies.
its
They should
sentation of their city, drive out the opponent of their liberties, Colonel
made
But
the close of the oration was what drew forth the highest applause, and
won for the orator a special resolution of admiration and gratitude. As
a close borough.
the present chapter has been wholly devoted to the subject of our hero's
eloquence, it will be in perfect keeping to terminate it with the peroration of this Limerick speech.
It will
"Yes,
freedom,
if
all
safe.
the
Bomans
conquered her; the Saxons conquered her; the Normans conquered her;
in short, whenever she was invaded, she was conquered.
But our counwe never lost our liberties in battle, nor did we
try was never subdued
;
men who
inhabitants lost
new
and mixed race has sprung up, in dissension and discord but the Irish
heart and soul still predominate and pervade the sons of the oppressors
The generosity, the native bravery, the innate fidelity, the
themselves.
enthusiastic love of whatever is great and noble,
those splendid characteristics of the Irish mind remain as the imperishable relics of our coun;
try's
former greatness
the light
Continued cheering. )
"You
my
You may
die,
how
they
may
ible prejudice
worship their
on the altar
I shall
conclude,
'
Still shalt
thou be
Thy
still
my
midnight dream,
my
waking theme,
And every thought and wish of mine,
Unconquered Erin, shall be thine!'"
glory
by his son,
John OConnell,
Esq.,
etc.)
No-
yT^euo^i^i
tn art
J-
of the district CV
<>t
of the
If.
S.
district
of N.
CHAPTER
The Famous "Witchery"
XV.
Commotion
and fury caused by them O'CoxDENOUNCES THE REGENT'S VIOLATION OF HIS PLEDGES TO THE CATHOLICS
HlS
REGRET ON ACCOUNT OF LORD MoiRA's WEAKNESS MoiRA's NOBLENESS IN '98 HE DISAPPOINTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CATHOLICS IN 1812 O'CoNNELL TELLS THE PEOPLE
TO DISTRUST THE MINISTRY, TO TRUST THEMSELVES ALONE APPARENT PROSPECT OF IMMEDIATE EMANCIPATION IN 1S12 FAVORABLE VOTES IN PARLIAMENT O'CoNNELL ENUMERATES THE OPPORTUNITIES OF FREEDOM LET SLIP CaSTLEREAGII's " HITCHES " ABSURD
ARGUMENTS OF THE OPPONENTS OF EMANCIPATION CHEVALIER McCaRTHY TRIES TO GET
UP A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE LIVERPOOL MINISTRY, BUT FAILS "LIBERTY Hall"
Gross
Sensational anecdote of the prince-regent's mistress, Lady Hertford
PROFLIGACY OF THE REGENT'S COURT The REGENT'S NAME HISSED AT A St. Patrick's
DAY BANQUET IN LONDON SHERIDAN HISSED FOR TRYING TO DEFEND HIM GENERAL
ELECTION OF 1812 O'CoNNELL's LEGAL PENETRATION HlS POWERFUL SPEECH ON THE
resolutions
NEI.L
Enthusiastic popular admiration of "the Man of the People" O'CoxNELL PRAISES THE GALLANT LORD COCHRANE AND JOHN PlIILrOT C'URRAN, AND INVEIGHS bitterly against Lord Castlereagh and other enemies of Ireland The
GAINS AND LOSSES OF THE ELECTION
C'URRAN DEFEATED BY GENERAL NeEDHAM, THE
Ascendency candidate, at Newry A few recreant Catholics basely vote against
Curran Admirable speech of Curran Lawless's vote of censure on those members of the Catholic Board who acted against Curran Vote of censure first
carried, afterwards qualified by a motion of Dr. Dromgoole Politic course of
O'Connell O'Connell's speech repudiating all designs of establishing Catholic
elections
AiCENDENCY.
ROBABLY
this
"No Popery"
which arose
in 1812,
had
cry,
of
sent to
Mr.
London on the
how
royal highness should be presented at one of his public levees, "in the
5R7
THE LIFE
usiiiil
01-'
DAXIEL 0'COXXELL.
way;" bow thoso presenting it were only allowed to state its purand how it was handed over to a lord in waiting to be
consigned to oblivion.
The regent had expressed no opinion on the occasion of the presentation; "but," added Mr. Hnssey, "this melancholy fact is sufficiently
understood, that his royal highness did not think fit to offer any recommendation to Parliament upon the subject and it is notorious that the
minister seemed to have acquired new zeal in propagating his old insinuations against the Catholic people, and in repeating his old experiment
;
imme-
by dishonor."
These
"witchery"
supposed
to
i.
duke
of
Richmond, was
were furious.
5G9
the bigoted
furious,
"No-Popery" partisans
deceitful
or would-be
friends
member
of
for'
"I have,
my
lord,
much
to say,
my
but
eloquent friend
cannot ven-
We
do, indeed,
my
was about to regret that he was not a Catholic, I was so pleased with
him, and so anxious that we might have the credit of such talents; but
I
when
for it
must
consider,
think
it
new
it
we
are engaged.
for
they
Bedford.
2d.
1st.
He
3d.
of
written
fourth
"
The fourth and last pledge, which, for the present, I shall mention,
was that given by his royal highness to a noble lord" [Fingafy "now
present.
At the conversation I allude to, that noble lord was accompanied by the late Lord Pet re and the present Lord Clifden. After
retiring from the presence of his royal highness, the declarations which
he was so graciously pleased to make were, from a loyal and affectionate
impulse of gratitude, committed to writing, and signed by the three noble
lords."
It is
In this speech,
too,
he speaks of the
570
After
but
for
for
what?
Lord Moira.
"Lord Moira
speak
it
name
but
that
when
affright
oppressors.
"Good God!
if
been punished
his advice
and oh
how many
in 1797,
what innocent
would have
have a name and be a
cruel oppressors
still
nation
"Can
bered
He
still
the truth
must be
told
this is
Lord
Maims
administration.
it
given his protection, not to Ireland or the Catholics, but to Lord Yar-
mouth and
his family.
It
is
single
word from
Lord Moira would have dismissed the minions, and placed Earl Grey
and Lord Grenville at the head of affairs. "Why was not that fated
571
word pronounced? Alas! I know not. Full sure, however, I am, that
the intention which restrained it was pure and honorable; but I, at the
same
effects-.
We
my
are,
lord, to
continue slaves,
"It
may
may
present ministry
"But,
in
believe the
word
of Castlereagh
From
relief.
My lord,
the
Are we
to confide?
to
It
them at the union, and uniformly voting upon every question against
us and he has reformed the parliament by selling it to the British minister.
May this Walcheren minister be suitably rewarded in the execration of his country
and may he have engraved on his tomb for an
of
epitaph,
"'Vendidit hie auro patriam' ('He sold
"No,
my
lord,
his country
for gohV)\
can his colleague, Lord Sidmouth, expect that the friends of toleration
can contide in his promises. Lord Sidmouth, who declared to Parliament that he would prefer the re-enactment of the penal code to the
extension of one other privilege to the Catholics; Lord Sidmouth,
who
home department.
He
it
is
who
he
it
is
is
to
regulate the
that
is
to cheer the
His natural
allies aie
who manage
men
maidens and
decayed matrons by gravity of deportment and church-wardening piety,
but who all their lives have been discounting religion and the Deity into
promotion and the pay and plunder of office those men, together with
into reputation with ancient
572
in
rather to expect
if
be prepared
possible,
upon
still
of eternal justice.
if
If they
in the
the public attention would be distracted and turned from the principal
object,
little real
unbounded
liberality.
convince anv
man
must
an administration that
had for its only recommendations intolerance and incapacity.
" Indeed, the indiscretion of the party has already betrayed itself.
It is not twenty-four hours since a friend of mine had occasion to converse with one of those right honorablcs who do the business of the
Castle, who are always as ready to pack juries as to obtain pardon for
an assassin, or to write paragraphs in the Patriot. My friend said,
'Why, you are going, I find, to emancipate the Catholics at length.'
'Oh no; Canning's motion will entangle the
'We!' replied the other.
rascals completely; Ave shall easily get rid of them without committing
that such
of
ourselves.'
"Of
I
selves
if
resources;
of
wo have them
for us;
Ireland.
be distrustful.
It is
impos-
But
Ave
are
in ourselves; Ave
men
to
Ave
as
"
tiro
f)73
We have
of courts
to other slaves, in
is
and ministers.
a
poem
that
it is
of ours,
'
Hereditary bondsmen
know ye
not,
Who
True, they
But not
for
may
you
o'er
Thy
(This quotation
all
through his
erty,
is
foe.
the same
life.)
anything
ivas
that there
your
still
is
common
another ground has been long since taken, and from time to time
on
its
hand
of confiding generosity
secutors were
if
countrymen
minister,
Moira
574
by
of the legislature,
"
In
it
The voice
of
the
House
of
Commons
is,
at
all
events, certain.
the Irish people have a distinct pledge that the question of their
freedom
is
to
for
the
purpose of
The House
of
final
Com-
mons
is
to
be the
first
THE
OF DANIEL O'ewXXELL.
[.!!';:
r>t<j
and emancipation
over,
itself, full
nec3ssary, consequence
'
I
'!
my
rejoice,
lord, at
our victory
of
one party
an other, nor with the view to any triumph over any other denomi-
nation of
my
own
look niton
it
as a victory ob-
It is
it
He
is
This
lished."
is
to the point;
still
is
estab-
of his
next sentences
"I may, without any allusion to its military import, which I dislike"
{humbug!), "remind my countrymen of the advice of Cromwell to his
soldiers.
The night was wet, and they, as usual, were engaged in prayer.
put
loud cheering.)
to
steej)
The version
all
uj)ott
Stewart
as follows
trust in
God,
my
boys,
own
history teaches
them Cromwell's
emancipated,
"
Twenty
17
if
years, however,
still
slaves.
My
my
my manhood, have
In this my native land
In
he
'93,
tells
At
"We
and public.
my
of my political life; and, second!}', I feel some comthat the Catholics did not barter the constitution of their native land
God for
fort
because
First,
it)
advantages to themselves. I blame no person for the failure of emancipation on that occasion; on the contrary, I proudly rejoice that the
Catholics, even those of them who supported that baleful and degrading
for
miseries of Ireland.
"
My
pated in the sale of their country; and this benefit results, that they
Nay, the existare bound by no contract to continue their thraldom.
ence of the penal code is soothed by the recollection that, in the efforts made
to procure redress, a popular spirit is roused, which, if not soon laid by the
voice
of emancipation,
may
e/cne rede
a determination
to
constitution
"
last period, at
was the commencement of Mr. Fox's adminisMr. Scully was present as a delegate at those declarations.
tration.
when Mr. Fox proclaimed the restrictive code as a crime religious lib-
it
erty as a right.
'
'
cannot con-
o7 i
for yourselves.'
'We
other
should be unwor-
thy to obtain
gladly
you require
all
it,
could
reply.
"Upon
this
avowed
of the Catholics;
in
could have prevented that principle from being carried into action?"
"The noble
(o
mere language
gratitude, the
favorable
moment
pate or to resign,
of conciliation.
The
boon, deserving of
result was, that the
was passed
by,
to
this
hour.
by those lessons
But shall we fail? Think
you, are we to owe our freedom to Lord Castlercagh and to Lord Sidmouth? Let us, my lord, beware of raising too high the expectations
"Let us
profit
of the country.
ment may be
Lord Fitzwilliam, the hopes then raised, and the dire consequences that
followed from the disappointment of those hopes, he thus continues
"Let us spare our country from the horrid consequences of outraged
feelings.
This
is
country where the sword alone, the tyrant's law, does not prevail.
my
am determined
I,
We
fidence.
who
hackneyed
are
and treachery.
in duplicity
"The opposition
assumed
new shape;
bigotry and intolerance have been put to the blush or covered with ridicule
everybody laughs at Jack Giffard and Paddy Duigenan, and their worthy
compeer and colleague in England, Sir William Scott'' (Lord Eldorfs
brother,
He may,
tion at rest
but
olics;
any
let
him
so long as the
question
It
never can,
it
never shall
it
if
he have
by law on any
be impossible to put the
Cath-
rest,
save in unqualified,
unconditional emancipation."
Having indulged
in a
veto,
style:
ties,'
"
in
two
dif-
after the
other,
conceding emancipation.
Having disposed
same question
of 'veto,
He
then proceeds
this
in
there remains but one resource for intolerance: the classic Castle-
it
out
consists in
it
Yes, 'hitches'
is
what do
It
is
in
Why,
you think?
is
now
in
destined to
in-
creased; in vain have our foes been converted; in vain has William
warm
admirer.
lie
must
have looked advocating the Catholic cause! And his conversion, too,
has been so satisfactory he has accounted for it upon such philosophic
Yes, he has gravely informed us that he was all his life a
principles!
man detesting committees you might see by him that the name of a
c mmittee discomposed his nerves and excited his most irritable feelNow,
ings; at the sound of a committee he was roused to madness.
committee
the naughty
the Catholics had insisted upon acting by a
and,
committees;
of course, he
but
Papists had used nothing
profane
proclaimed his hostility.
But in proportion as he disliked commit te< s.
si:
resjzsl able
aggregate
Had
meetings.
there been a
chamber
enough
an
lor
is
would have given it. AYho does not see that
quite, right to d oat upon aggregate meetings and detest committees, by
All recommend the
law, logic, philosophy and science of legislation?
one and condemn the other; and at length the Catholics have had (he
aggregate meeting,
it
lie
make
their aggregate
it
on them!
(Laugh-
and cheers.)
"But, seriously,
let
is
the brother of
who
tion, aral
has,
of
unfading laurel and the eternal affection of the Irish people by his moLord Castlereagh, too, has declared
tion in the House of Lords.
.
in
our favor,
he
our
is
and has been so these last twenty years our secret friend ; as
he says so upon his honor as a gentleman, we are bound to believe him.
friend,
If it
be a merit,
discretion,
degree.
Who
this
in the
merit
in
supereminci.t
utmost success.
admirable contriver!
most discreet
may
give
they
may
it
attempt
to the
contempt of the
The government
give
it
cannot procure
if
strength
otiy.
of Ireland
who
and
their
sympathy
their sense
The
have
Irish Protest-
ants of every denomination arc too just and too wise to be duped into
the yell of bigotry.
The
making laws
to
pend the habeas corpus, for the purpose of crushing emancipation here.
The new laws occasioned by English rioters will pass harmless
over their heads, and fall only upon you.
The 'hitches,' the
.
'hitches' plainly
and
all
mean
all
us,
"Still, still
we have resources
Irish
in those affec-
Protestant brethren
have proudly exhibited during the present year. The Irish Protestants
will not abandon or neglect their own work; it is they who have placed
us on our present elevation; their support has rendered the common
cause of our
common
Our
country triumphant.
oppressors, yielding an
may com-
style us agi-
lose
Protestant agitators are the best friends to the security and peace of the
an
agitator,
for
own
to
be
How
the Catholics,
terrified at
it,
we
are
become too
.
as
lord,
am
to us, agitators
much accustomed
my
among
it,
to
calumny
island,
in
Let the Catholic combine with the Protestant, and the Protestant with
the Catholic, and one generous exertion sets every angry feeling at rest,
and banishes,
ludicrous style of
to
by
Indeed, puerilities as absurd
the very day on which it was
to
conceded, in 1829.
On
in the
House
of Lords:
all
to the Catholics, of
reduced to this
"After
still
made
Their complaint
is
offices.
Will their advocates contend that they can claim, as a matter of right,
their admissibility to those offices?
it is
Is it
for
one
not tenable."
established by law
which the true religion is held, if they so far countenance the mass
as to put it on a level with the Established Church? if they allow it to
be regarded as a matter of indifference whether persons go to mass, to
church, or to the synagogue?"
Castlereagh affected to dread that the power of the pope in Ireland
would be used against the interests of the British empire. The pope
was now a prisoner in the hands of Napoleon. Referring to this, Castlereagh observed: "But, although it (the see of Rome) had hitherto
conducted itself in a way that no fault could be found with it, it did not
follow that if a future pope should be absolutely nominated by Bonaparte, that the ecclesiastical influence of the Pope might not be very
much abused in Ireland. This was a danger that should be guarded
against; and in that case, without denying the pope to be their spiritual head (which was a main tenet of their religion), the correspondence
between the bishops and the pope ought to be carried on in so open and
undisguised a manner as not to give reasonable alarm to the state."
in
He
why an
such a case,
5S2
At an aggregate meeting of
alier McCarthy appeared in the
He
endeavored
to
Coun-
selor
of
the ministry as
it
have been
'
vetoes,'
'
for
restrictions.' and, as
"bitter
now
they
call
fences,'
'
them.
'
it.
'
They
guards,'
and they
They
do.
hitches,'
And
men you
to these
chevalier's attempt
One
was
members composing
it.
The
was
tin
was nicknamed by
an open question. Mr. Canning might lean towards emancipation; Lord Eldon be its bitter foe.
The political squibs of the day made
be
left
merry with
fellows to
till,
and opinions
for this is
to himself.
"
One
may
Here Castlereagh
calls
may
on the
2;ood
sit.*,
In telling us everything
else
wind
and, released from his pledge to enslave Ireland, his place being sure,
he
may
From
May
And
Sidmouth may
\
snsittart
It
is
is
dispensation
lull
trim, since to
it
do so
in
is
Liberty Hall."
to
him; and
he's about."
Big-
otry
and rampant
was
Popery" cry
vehement.
was
too strong
still
The "No
583
to listen to justice
No
and
toleration.
may
olics.
"It
Memoirs
is
of the
Lady Hertford
yet
all
the aristocracy in
when
it
was convenient
to
Lady Hertford
she had the kid disinterred in proof of the deception which she had
and informed the father that she sent him back his daughter
The shock proved too great for the unhappy man, who
alive and well.
went mad and shot himself; and the villainy has hitherto remained
unpunished the perpetrator of this tragedy can walk about in peace.
he was a
People generally end this tragic tale by saying, Poor
It will be better at the day of judgment to be that great
great fool.'
fool, than the woman who is dignified with the false epithet of clever."
Of this lady Mr. Mitchel says: "Her husband and her son were the
closest boon companions of the lover of the father's wife and of the son's
These famous 'witchery' resolutions were supposed to have so
mother.
practised,
'
many
all
for
years,
The
Irish in
London had
contempt
for that
most
worthless voluptuary, the prince regent, in the course of this same year,
584
1812.
When celebrating the festival of St. Patrick, on the 17th of
March, they had drunk the aged king's health with applause, but the
regent's was received with partial applause and loud and repeated
felt
shocked at the sulky coldness and surly discontent with which they
had, on that evening, drunk the health of the prince regent (disappro-
... He knew
well
well satisfied
'
became
became
inaudible)."
The celebrated
"Oh, poor Sheridan! hissed down by his own countrymen, hooted down by those very persons who formerly heard him
with such raptures. Here he ends, then or if not, what is he reserved
for?
Perhaps there is not, in the history of man, so complete an
or.
at least, sorrow:
we have
speeches eloquent
We now
having
come
Perceval,
and
after
The ministry,
after
585
in the
startled
Lord Ellenborough
"
by the aid of a lie a false, posknowingly by the Courier, a London paper "in
the permanent pay of peculation and corruption," and " worthy of the
meridian of Constantinople at its highest tide of despotism. This pajustice),
itive,
palpable
lie," told
per," he continues,
"was
peers,
sons of peers, and baronets had retracted the resolutions of the 18th
June"
(the "witchery" resolutions), "that those resolutions were carby surprise, and that they had been actually rescinded at a subsequent meeting." O'Connell goes on to denounce this statement as a
" But the Courier received its pay, and it
gross and unfounded lie.
was ready to earn the wages of its prostitution." He next points out
the enormous bribes given by government to purchase the services of
one miserable paper in Dublin; and he asks: "If the bribe here be so
high, what must it be in England, where the toil is so much greater?
of
ried
And
its
which, especially our hero, exerted themselves with the utmost zeal,
Parliament.
They resolved on a
newly- roused
"No Popery"
dissolution.
proclamation
for
"On
was held
at
Kilmainham, osten-
586
during the struggle and the general state and prospect of the
cause. William Gerald Baggott, of Castle Baggott, took the chair. The
proceedings were commenced by Randal McDonnell, who, after praising
localities
the conduct of the poorer classes of electors during the recent contest,
every
day
side,
tell
But
Man
Then
arose,
The journals
on
of the
of the People
came
effect."
wish
to observe,
we are noticing, driven from the representmust be owned, however, that Thomas Spring
It
He was
probably the
first
" a
West Briton."
But the reader and the populace are alike impatient to hear the
opening of O'Connell's harangue. As a rule, you cannot measure the
The old saying, that you
greatness of O'Connell by isolated extracts.
can judge of the strength and stature of Hercules from his foot [exp'de
not so often verified in O'Connell's case as in that of
To see and comprehend the massivencss and
Gr.ittan or Curran, etc.
might of O'Connell, you must review all his speeches, take his eloHcrculem),
is
its
totality.
;;
587
"I could not be an Irishman, if T did not feel grateful, if I was not
overpowered at the manner in which you have received me. Sony,
sunk and degraded as my country is, I still glory in the title of Irishman." (Bursts of applause.) " Even to contend for Ireland's liberties is
a delightful duty to me."
"And
(Enthusiastic plaudits.)
pendence, to evince
in, for
anything
if
efforts as I
is
have
my devotion
my
to the cause of
country,
do swear,
by the kindness you have shown me now, by any I have ever experienced at your hands, and by all that I hold valuable or worthy of
desire,
that
heavy hand
dearest to
my
life
is
at her service."
of adversity fall
me
the
children of
my
we
are
now
heart
own
religion,
if
ever
all
but
when we
for
the
that are
arrived at a period
our
"And may
(Applause.)
"Gen-
first
made
erty
allude
was ever
lib-
men
in the senate.
was
It is the first
were allowed
hear
to
!)
"The
period
is
all
the watchfulness,
zeal
588
behooves every
man
crisis.
of us to
whom
am
speaking, notwithstanding
all
have been busily employed in throwing new impedBut those impediments shall do
we do our duty. They certainly are our natural ene-
iments in our
us
way
little injury, if
ligate;'
He
olic
(Hear! hear!)
Westminster.
slavish doctrines of
"It
O'Connell says:
is
some consolation, gentlemen, that there is some person who can assure
ministers there is no danger in granting us emancipation
we are not
too fond of liberty."
(Laughter.)
"But, gentlemen, see the consistency
and rationality of our calumniators! At one time they say we are agi-
Lord Cochrane
recollect
round, and
(Loud
what the
first
tell
us that
we have a marvel-
"Let
of Hear! hear!)
Irishman that ever was born said
cries
Newiy."
(Here the learned, gentleman was interrupted for several minutes by the acclamations of the assembly.)
at
"I
again
am
restored
" I
am
when
was
the most
silence
when
" It recalls to
mable
name
of posterity."
(Loud applause.) "I know the
John Philpot Curran has conducted you back involuntarily to
in the
of
minds
589
most awful era in our annals when we were deprived of our independence, and metamorphosed into the colony of a people who were not and
that
aids,
by the assistance
more
"
" I
we may,
I say,
just
friend,
John Philpot
to
[Long-continued applause.
of
my
"In the
commit murder."
we have predilections: we do not
it
lawful to
(A laugh.)
"But we are told
deny the charge. As for my part, I do not value the man who has
not his predilections and resentments; but at the same time, Lord
Cochrane may be as much afraid of our predilections for the grand
lama of Tartary as for the Pope of Rome." (Hear! hear!)
" Those imputations upon our value for an oath evince only the miserable ignorance of our opponents, with regard to our principles and
uniform conduct. They bring to my recollection, again, the words of
the great Curran at Newry, and serve to convince me still more of their
entire justice, when he said 'that they are unfit to rule us, making laws,
(Longlike boots and shoes for exportation, to fit us as they may.' "
.
continued applause.
proceeds to review the gains and losses to the Catholic cause in the elections.
As much
porary nature,
complains that
Cork."
But
shall
"
590
olic
He
is
even John Wilson Croker" (the Quarterly reviewer, the Rigby the man
of Disraeli's novel of "Coningsby") "of the
for "the dirty work"
(Laughter
and- cheers.)
this
gentleman
and I were going circuit together, his Protestantism did not keep my
Popery much in the background." [Laughter and cheers.) " If, however,
he were not a Protestant, I verily believe he would have been doomed to
drudge all his life at the bar, though he has been, since that time, in
Parliament, and is now rewarded with a situation in the admiralty.
In Trinity College ... we have had an accession to our strength, in
that credit to Ireland, that ornament to the bar and that honor to
human intelligence, William Conyngham Plunket." (Lmtd applause.)
In Dublin, "Jack Giffard, the police magistrates and Billy McAuley"
could not get a man in opposition to Mr. Shaw. " The 'felonious rabble'
.
may
of the corporation, if I
its
lowed
it
who
'
to its tomb.'
"Such
is
its
cradle,
and
fol-
is
Is it not demonstrative,
many
if
was not
for
in fact, "it
He
then took
occasion to say that the Catholics of Clare (destined also to glorify themselves in 1829, at the Clare election, the
life)
591
are experienced by an
applause.)
"
To counterbalance the gloom that is thrown over the mind when the
success of an enemy to the cause of Ireland is contemplated, I might
exhibit the prospects that are presented by the residence of the young
duke of Leinster amongst us." (Loud acclamations.) "Inheriting such
a load of the virtues of his ancestry, his promises are great.
Indeed,
is
to that
Then we
have a Mr. Counsellor Webber, who was an assistant-barrister" (assistantbarristers, a class of Inferior judges, are now called chairmen of counties),
"or, in the
'refuge for
tried,
the author of a
"But
pompous
was worst
of
all!"
(Near!
"Catholics were
hear!)
their
loving
desire us to
the taxes;
!"
to
themselves!"
care,
with them
tion,
"
signed
Roscommon and
Longford, to contrast
by every one
was
to
sentiment among
ing, I
all classes
33
592
ica,
sat
Mr. O'Connell
acclamations.
election of
wished chiefly
to
1812,
olic claims.
'98.
In this con-
of "agitation."
I
to
merited
:
in
the
poll,
when
'
this business.
Sad, indeed,
transaction, but
it is
"When
my
is
'
59o
who had
'served
three Parliaments
it' for
that
is,
in other
"And
its
guilt, or
to look angry, as
if
conscious shame, or
felt all
those sensa-
but the internal horror that he must feel, when thrust forward
the bar of his own conscience, and the dreadful sentence of expiatory
trayed,
to
every respectable
man
and his two associates, were in the former class. But why do
I except them ?
They do not belong to that class of public spirit or
honor; you saw the class to which these unfortunate men properly
belong.
You saw a succession of poor creatures, without clothes upon
their back, naked as if they had been stripped for execution, naked as
if they had been landed from their mothers, consigned to the noble general at the moment of their birth
no part of them covered but their
Caulfield
:
;
594.
if
was
if
captives he locks up, merely because he carries the key of the prison in
his pocket.
"By
dition of the
levied
of the purchase;
we
we gave up
and we
the right
wasted in
internal corruption, as profusely as our best blood has been
our
the madness of her aggressions or the feeble folly of her resistance;
has accordingly been increased more than tenfold the common
debt
comforts of
life
hangman.
our
length, after this long night of suffering, the morning-star of
men
and
all
redemption cast its light upon us; the mist was dissolved,
"At
whom
We have
were, in reality, their fellow-sufferers and their friends.
the tyrant
a discovery of the grand principle in politics that
than that
Mr. Mitchel's reading of tlie foregoing sentence, rather
Curran's speeches, which seems to me altogether unmeaning.
* I follow
in
my
made
is
in
copy of
I,
therefore,
lie
made and
595
a cowardly and a
is
he calculates between
do not hesitate
wretched island of
Man, that refagium peccatorum, had sense and spirit to see the force of this
The
truth, she could not be enslaved by the whole power of England.
oppressor would see that the necessary expenditure in whips, and chains,
and gibbets, would infinitely countervail the ultimate value of the
acquisition
and it is owing to the ignorance of this unquestionable
truth that so much of this agitated globe has, in all ages, been crawled
over by a Manx population.
This discovery, at last, Ireland has made
the Catholic claimed his rights; the Protestant generously and nobly
felt as he ought, and seconded the claim.
A silly government was
courage
driven to the despicable
of cowardice, and resorted to the odious
;
artillery of prosecutions
way
the question
made
its
I,
demand
sit
down.
"
wish
patri-
596
men
of
Newiy
in farewell
meet again
you
relinquish the attestations which
Our enemy
parture.
he
in this place.
reels,
retire
feel as
I
kindly to
me
fallen,
do to you,
uncheered by a single
A-oicc,
my
de-
though
God
reserved for
the blessing of
as
he has not
scale, of the
If
and unaccompanied by a
single
man.
May
Curran was only beaten by the small majority of two. If the masses
of the enthusiastic populace of Newry, who, on his arrival, a few days
before, had taken the horses from his carriage and, with their own hands,
had drawn him into their town in "anticipated triumph," had possessed
the right of suffrage, he would have won by an overwhelming majority.
But restricted as the number of electors was, it was in the power of a
few false, cowardly Catholics, who were creeping into petty rural importance and inclined to crook the servile knee to government intluence, to
Curran's parting words
turn the scale against the illustrious patriot.
held out some hope to the men of Newry that he might meet them at
But they never saw him again this was his
the hustings once more.
Indeed, his health began to break down soon after;
last election contest.
;
had
body.
smother
it
597
Board who had acted against John Philpot Cumin, at his recent contest
for Newiy.
Against these delinquents, in particular, honest Jack was
furious.
This was, in all probability, the occasion on which Jack Lawless manifested that whimsical and surprising oblivion of the promise
just
to bring forward
plighted faith."
that gentleman, having been under the impression that Mr. Cony,
had delayed
for ten
times of
was
'98,
days an order
to be a candidate
Newry
who
at this election,
appeared in the
field.
whose ears continued to drink in with avidity satirical street-songs, the burden of which
told "the boys" to "push about the glasses 0," and promised support
to corruption, "while Caulfield's whiskey passes 0!"
I shall quote one or two additional sentences from O'Connell's sen" If an
sible speech on the vote of censure of the 14th of November
indiscriminate stigma of this nature were to be sent abroad, it would be
easily converted into the instrument of private malignity. ... It was
But the Board should, at least,
true there had been room for censure.
give those persons an opportunity of satisfying themselves before it
it should hear before it decided."
inflicted punishment upon them
They should deliberate coolly, not when "doubly excited by a description
598
He shows
On
renew the discussion. O'Connell complained of the unwarrantable exercise of authority by certain individuals, who had taken on them to
issue
summons
the following
till
In spite of O'Connell's
below.
efforts,
"
had deserted the tried friends of the Catholics at the last general election were no longer deserving of their confidence."
After several animated speeches for and against the motion, Nicholas Purcell 0' Gorman
moved, as an amendment, that they should add a sentence expressing
approval of the explanations given by Mr. Lalor of Cranagh and some
of the others originally inculpated.
This
ported,
...
was
acknowledging vindications, to send out to the world a vague and general censure, that might
be turned against the best men in the community.
"Another gentleman (a Mr. Costigin) had said, 'Let those the cap
satisfied public opinion.
It
unfair, after
wear it;' but it was not always the person whom the cap best fitted
that it was placed upon by the public.
It seldom happened that the
individual whom the cloak of infamy best suited would of himself put
fits
it on.
" It
Being
so, its
it
were,
ered,
590
dismay around any man they attacked but it behooved them to prove
that the moderation and justice with which they exercised that power
were commensurate with its magnitude. Whatever might he the decision of that day, he would take upon himself to assert, that no Catholic
;
in the land
him
would venture
to their displeasure.
"He
to vote again in a
.
subject
hi;
:
,
reprehensible, and certain to be attended with the very worst consequences. It would be nothing less than transforming the Catholic Board
which possessed the dear, invaluable, unbought confidence of the Irish
people into a terrible inquisition. ... No one, however conscious of
He claimed for himhis own innocence, could feel or could be safe.
yet, if this system were to be established,
self sincerity at least
he knew not how soon he might be unjustly and summarily condemned;
should a faction, who could muster twenty or twenty-five votes, have it
;
power to act in
might come forward and
in
their
this
say, 'Daniel
'
He
"Resolved, That, in
order to meet the public and private calumnies which the enemies of
religious liberty have circulated, we feel ourselves bound to declare, that
the resolutions of last spring and summer, respecting candidates for
Parliament, could not be, and were not intended, to enjoin or sanction
the violation of promises entered into at any time previous to their
adoption."
is
GOO
hearers,
had
to pass
any such
resolution.
If
declared that he
was no longer
Newry
Catholics of
to
to
might have
Mi'.
but when
you passed a vote of censure you clearly travelled out of your authority,
and into the hands of the attorney-general you abandoned, for a moment, the conduct of your petition, for which alone you are appointed,
and you committed yourselves to the tender mercies of your friends in
;
am
ready,
if
It
is,
and
after
having been,
an attack which,
am
convinced, he would have already commenced, but that he and your othci
"There
is
an unhappy
spirit
for
them, and to
it is
the inev-
'
sure.'
"And have we
Have we not
Lord Manners and his grace of Richmond in front, whilst the attorneyHave we not on
general and the Dublin grand-jury hang on our rear?
our flank the bigoted Liverpool and that Castlcreagh, long exercised in
every dark stratagem of ruin,
in heaven,
if
who
At
this
moment
bigotry
in
G01
is
lured by the beloved voice of interest has aroused in every part of the
land.
the
The
first in
station
command which
in the
land
is
and
rank
in
set the
little village
bigot
Mark
office.
the active
Every
of obedience to
example
He
and misrepresentations.
"I
do,
room, to waive
all
many
let
sacrifice
CAUSE
On
Let us
every angry feeling, turn from the past with the temper of
IS
of that afflicted
poor Ireland,
name
own
for-
all
body.
in
speeches.
It
put from the chair that a loud and general call for O'Connell arose.
On
He
From
two passages
But their absurdities shall not be the ground on which we shall
The accusation"
defend ourselves.
to our opinions
we have
"is
already expressed
am
no event which
should consider more fatal to the liberties of Ireland than what they
become otherwise
the minister, then
of
made
to
the Catholics by the last Parliament, and suggests the danger which
their violation.
He
says:
"Let them"
(the
member;:
when
now
the Irish
House
fortifies his
unredeemed
views with
left
of
said, in
B03
may
'and
if
he persisted, every
live
"And
many
was
true;
He wishes
(to
for in
make
am
houses
that such
is
it
to
afford
him an opportunity of
temptation
Certain
to join in disturbances.
inter-
Passing by a speech delivered by O'Connell on the 13th of February, 1813, in reference to the conduct of the English Catholics, and more
particularly of one of their agents,
named
veto,
dOi
hear!)
"
which the}
have ever detested of adopting positions and principles which they
have ever abhorred. Charges were brought forward and repeated against
them, which could be aptly contradicted only in the broad vulgarity of
Lord Ellenborough's language 'Charges false as hell!' "
But it is to the more humorous portions of this speech that I wish
of entertaining opinions
estants of Ireland petitioned last year on our behalf; the wealth, the
and
and
noble,
intelligent,
claimed them.
we
There
are, in short,
who have
some hundreds
indignantly dis-
Need
of forgeries.
He
dis-
and presented it to the House as genuine." (Hear! hear!) "When forgery was exhausted, mere fiction was resorted to. There was danger in
giving names which, being in common use, might be disavowed by individuals bearing them.
The fabricators of this petition set disavowal at
defiance
they produced names which no man ever bore or will bear
(Hear! hear!)] they invented John Hedpath, and coupled him with
John Ridpath they attached James Hedpath to James Ridpath they
;
united the noble families of the Feddlies to the illustrious race of Fiddlier; they created the Jonneybones, and added the McCooliens to the
five
Ladds and
605
Talks
live
the
Leaps and the Zealthams; the Hnzies and the Hozies; the Sparlings
and the Sporlings; the Fitzgetts and the Fibgetts; the Hoftins and the
Phantons; and the Giritrows, and the Hockleys, and the Bi'eakleys; the
Russinghams, and the Favuses, and the Sellhews, and the Mograts and
all, poor innocents, are made to combine against as, and to
Calyells
chime with the Pithams and Paddams, the Cliimnicks, and Rimnicks,
They threw in the
and Gimmicks, and the Rowings and Riotters.
fantastic
denominations,
they
vulgar Bawns, and, after a multitude of
concluded with Zachariah Diamond." {Great laughter.)
" In short, a more tasteless group of imaginary beings was never
To the tune of 'Jonny Armconjured up by the delusions of magic.
strong,' they gave us five-and- twenty Armstrongs, and placed eighteen
It ought to have been four-and-twenty tailors, all
Taylors on the list.
In short, by
in a row;' there would have been some pleasantry in it.
these means, by the force of mere invention, upwards of one thousand
names have been added to this petition, and one thousand children of
the brain of those worthy managers of intolerance appeared in formidable array against us at the bar of the House of Commons, covered with
'
of emancipation.
" If we are mistaken, our
Dandy."
606
mies
if
supposition
if
royal highness?
of
they
is to
exist,
they live
If those
for
our ene-
the prince-
following resolution
That a sub-committee of twenty-one members be appointed to take into consideration the most proper method of investigating and respectfully submitting to Parliament the alleged forged and
"Resolved,
presented
to the
House
of
Commons
This resolu-
may
The books
to
which I
am
indebted for the materials of the foregoing chapter are, " The Select
etc.,
by
his son,
John O'Con-
nell, Esq.;" "Life and Times of Daniel O'Connell, etc., Dublin, J. Mullany, 1 Parliament street;"
"History of Ireland," by John Mitchel "The Speeches of the Right Honorable John Philpot
;
-~.~--~ ~- w
.~----
imiii
"^
.-.
.-,.- -..
........
CHAPTER XVI.
Plan of the remainder of this biography O'Connell's memorable defence of Magee
on a charge for libel His terrible invectives against Saurin, the attorneygeneral His bold defiance of the judges His noble appeal to the Orange
jury; their baseness and servility O'Connell threatens the attorney-general
in court with personal chastisement The judges astounded at his daring
Magee meanly disavows O'Connell Magee's sentenceMoral triumph of O'Connell Meetings in approval of his conductNotices of the case of Hugh Fitzpatrick and other forensic efforts of O'Connell.
|S
HAVE
incidents of so
But, after
noticed.
many
all,
such unprecedented
to comprehend one of the most
one that illustrates, perhaps
character of the
all
men
associated with
him
movement which he
of his career
di-
need
along with
The public
between
1813 and 1823 may be sketched very slightly. So also may those of the
years between 1829 and 1813, the memorable year of the monster meetOn the other hand, his wonderful and
ings for "repeal of the union."
famous defence of Magee, his reconstruction of the Catholic Association
in 1823, his triumph of '29, his last repeal movement, and the closingclays of his
life,
graphical value,
39
must be reproduced
or given in
some
detail.
mean,
G07
608
too, to
and habits
during his periodical relaxations from public cares at Darrynane Abbey.
illustrative of his opinions
As
I have, in
and
fancies,
and
of his sports
on
mean
complete
one to extracts from his forensic masterpiece, the noble defence of Magee.
This chapter once concluded, few other incidents or passages shall be
allowed to trespass unduly on the reader's attention.
economize
my
shall rigidly
remaining space.
The celebrated
state-trial of the
an alleged libel
in his paper con-
for
of
The attorney-general had already told the judges "they would be shocked
to hear that the defendant was indicted and charged, by this indictment,
with charging bis grace of Eichmond with being a 'murderer.' " On the
days of postponement and during some preliminary proceedings, that
followed the entrance of the lord chief-justice, shortly after eleven o'clock
on the morning of the trial, sharp altercations had arisen between the
attorney-general and O'Connell, who was leading counsel for the traIn truth, there was black and bitter blood between the two.
verser.
At
length,
arrived"
The
009
It
me
you
a task which would
it is a cheerless, a hopeless task to address you
require all the animation and interest to be derived from the working
of a mind fully fraught with the resentment and disgust created in mine,
yesterday, by that farrago of helpless absurdity with which Mr. Attorneypels us to postpone pain.
It
is,
indeed, painful to
to address
"But
am now
Whatever
in
compensate for in discretion. That which yesterday excited my anger, now appears to me to be an object of pity, and that
which then roused my indignation, now only moves to contempt. I can now
address you with feelings softened, and I trust subdued and I do, from
my soul, declare, that I now cherish no other sensations than those
which enable me to bestow on the attorney-general, and on his discourse,
pure and unmixed compassion.
" It was a discourse in which you could not discover either order, or
method, or eloquence; it contained very little logic, and no poetry at all.
Violent and virulent, it was a confused and disjointed tissue of bigotry,
amalgamated with congenial vulgarity. He accused my client of using
Billingsgate, and he accused him of it in language suited exclusively for
that meridian. He descended even to the calling of names he called this
young gentleman a 'malefactor,' a 'Jacobin' and a 'ruffian,' gentlemen
vivacity, I trust I shall
of the jury;
tionary,'
'ruffian' again,
'seditious,'
cannot repress
its
native purity.
and 'revolu-
bawd
in breeches,'
He
for
nearly thirty years in the class of polished society; he has, for some
years,
in the state
610
honor to belong
the
belong the
world
to
military,
pity.
"
upon
But not
for
his advice,
and
Becollect that
instigator, those
silly,
The pupil
general's tuition.
worthy
is
611
master
is
just
now
and
its
matter.
ety of topics.
has invited
me
shall follow
to a
wide
him
at
my
field of discussion.
He
mean
first to discuss,
but
for
my
colleagues
my
inferiors in
"All
career.
He
of
Why,
it
sheriff,
you
rose to
How
when he
quite two.
Take
when
for four
we
612
may
they
my
be,
made
and
professional conduct;
if
shall
avoided.
"Yes,"
am
He
of
My
lord,
I collected
meaning
know
there
is
There
not.
is
On
He seemed
it
me most
distinctly
wards,
to
my
brief,
took
and
for his
down a
yet, after-
that, he forgot he had ever used those words, and he disclaimed the idea
It is clear, therefore,
do here,
613
the
field,
seek?"
Chief-Justice.
this
have
to
do with the
Mr. O'Connell. " You heard the attorney-general traduce and calumniate
us ; you heard him with patience and with temper; listen now to our vindication.
"I
ask,
what
is it
What
we seek?
is it
Why,
We
to
we
incessantly and,
if
you
If
we
desired to destroy
it,
"The attorney-general
and
'
wisest
best
Committee
This boast
is
will
'
avowed that
we gave up
that
name
the
moment
that
it
was
He told us that
Had it been
him
'pretence.'
common
sense, to the
He brought his
appeal
your lordship, and your brethren, unanimously decided
that, in point of law
mark, mark, gentlemen of the jury, the sublime
to this court;
wisdom of law
mean purpose V
!
'
does
'
"
Fully contented with this very reasonable and more satisfactory de-
remained a matter of fact between us the attorneygeneral charged us with being representatives.
We denied all representation.
He had two witnesses to prove the fact for him they swore
cision, there still
to it
trial,
An
gentlemen
speak
for
us on
"You know
know
sequence was,
force.
We
that,
that
it
was
Sir
a representative body.
we rendered
it
We
we newwe formed
of pretext
law-officer living, to
us.
That, even
He
prohibits.
cannot possibly
call
us
business
we do
Committee
"Next, he
glorifies
Catholic Board.
calls
unnecessary
for
him
you
that,
much
the
as he
we
injure our
own cause
so
We
He
much.
015
we
says that
folly servos
'
it
it
violated
him
to allege a
law or a
statute, or
if
I tell
him he knows not the law, if he thinks as he says and if he thinks so,
I tell him to his beard, that he is not honest in not having sooner prosecuted us, and I challenge him to that prosecution.
;
616
"It
is
of course, I
him
inflate
is
to talk as
composed
of
At
and mis-
What
in birth, in
is
head is
rank stoops beneath the superior station of his virtues, whom even the
venal minions of power must respect. We are engaged, patiently and
perseveringly engaged, in a struggle, through the open channels of the
constitution, for our liberties.
The son of the ancient earl whom I have
mentioned cannot, in his native land, attain any of the honorable distinctions of the state and yet Mr. Attorney-General knows that they are open
to every son of every bigoted and intemperate stranger that may settle
amongst us.
"But this system cannot last; he may insult, he may calumniate, he
may prosecute, but the Catholic cause is on its majestic march; its
progress is rapid and obvious it is cheered in its advance, and aided
by all that is dignified and dispassionate, by everything that is patriotic,
by all the honor, all the integrity of the empire; and its success is just
as certain as the return of to-morrow's sun and the close of to-morrow's
lightly?
their
eve.
"
We
we must, soon be emancipated, in despite of the attorneygeneral, aided as he is by his august allies, the aldermen of Skinner's
alley.
In despite of the attorney-general and the aldermen of Skinner's
alley, our emancipation is certain, and not distant.
" I have no difficulty in perceiving the motive of the attorney-general
in devoting so much of his medley oration to the Catholic question, and
to the expression of his bitter hatred to us, and of his determination to
ruin our hopes.
It had, to be sure, no connection with the cause, but it
had a direct and natural connection with you. He has been, all his life,
reckoned a man of consummate cunning and dexterity and whilst one
wonders that he has so much exposed himself upon those prosecutions,
and accounts for it by the proverbial blindness of religious zeal, it is
Genstill easy to discover much of his native cunning and dexterity.
tlemen, he thinks he knows his men
he knows you. Many of you
signed the no-Popery petition
he heard one of you boast of it he
toill,
617
knows you would not have been summoned on this jury if you had entertained liberal sentiments he knows all this, and, therefore, it is that
he, with the artifice and cunning of an experienced nisi prius advocate,
endeavors to win your confidence and command your affections by the
display of his congenial illiberality and bigotry.
" You are all, of course, Protestants.
See what a compliment he
pays to your religion and his own when he endeavors thus to procure a
verdict on your oaths when he endeavors to seduce you to what, if you
were so seduced, would be perjury, by indulging your prejudices and
flattering you by the coincidence of his sentiments and wishes.
Will
he succeed, gentlemen ? Will you allow him to draw you into a perjury
out of zeal for your religion ? And will you violate the pledge you have
;
commit,
if
it,
you
Oh, gentlemen,
it is
what
it is
it is
avail
my
client
would
it
was
be to
little
You
you came
thus address
disposed to offer
flatter, if
it
to you.
Besides,
too plain that you are not selected for this jury from
any notion
of
your impartiality ?
"But when
618
professes a faith
"The
weak
in his cause,
and
satisfied
judgment.
sciences
may be
and the
sole
interfere
there
is
call
How difficult
in the
on you
same
to separate
is it
direction!
If
you be
to listen to
of your oath
Gentlemen, this
libel in his
is
"Mr.
Of Charles, duke
administration of
respect.
is
of
then
safe,
now
Evening Post.
duke
O'Connell
Magee
upon the
men
If
is still
stronger.
of
"The duke
is
here in this
libel,
my
gentlemen
called an honorable man and a
lords
in this libel,
Richmond is
respectable soldier. Could more nattering expressions be invented?
It" (the jJiiblication) "does not involve any reproach against the duke of
Richmond in any other than in his public and official character.
The word seditious is, indeed, used as a kind of make-weight in the
introductory part of the indictment.
But mark! and recollect that this
of the jury, the
is
duke
of
nor for any offence against the constitution, that Mr. Magee
now
stands
case
libel,
is
it,
is
not charged in
This
of falsehood
omission to be attributed
much
619
believe to be the
To what
Is it that
an experiment
instance
first
to
is
be made how
drawn
to
this
is
Attend
and yon will find yon are not to try Mr. Magee for sedition
which may endanger the state, or for private defamation which may
press sorely upon the heart and blast the prospects of a private family,
and that the subject-matter for your decision is not characterized as
false or described as untrue.
The case is with you it belongs to
you exclusively to decide it. His lordship may advise, but he cannot
control your decision, and it belongs to you alone to say whether or not,
upon the entire matter, you conceive it to be evidence of guilt and deThe statute law gives or recognizes this your
serving of punishment.
right, and, therefore, imposes this on you as your duty.
The solicitorgeneral cannot now venture to promulgate the slavish doctrine which he
addressed to Dr. Sheridan's jury, when he told them 'not to presume to
differ from the court in matter of law.'
The law and the fact are here
the same namely, the guilty or innocent design of the publication.
The verdict which is required from a jury in any criminal case has
to the case,
nothing special in
negative;
it
it
it is
is
charge
is
proved or not
proved.
620
not to be bribed with money, but rendered partial by his bigotry and
corrupted by his prejudices.
bloated in his dignity,
to
may
Such a man,
trial
flattery
and
and at the
by
inflated
be a partisan
to
may
hew down
the strug-
(if
an
honest jury were again found), listen with safety to the dictates of such
a judge?
It
that of an alleged
He
goes into
to
punish
false
make some
He shows
its history.
trine of construction, it
made
to
came
rumors
"a law
At con-
the press,"
it
adopted the
civil
new enemy
code
He
tells
to prejudice
how, to aid
and oppression,
good principles of
all rejected),
was suppressed by
the hatred and vengeance of an outraged people, and it has since, and
until our days, lived only in the recollection of abhorrence and contempt.
But Ave have fallen upon bad days and evil times, and in our days we
have seen a lawyer, long of the prostrate and degraded bar of England,
presume to suggest an high eulogium on the Star-chamber, and regret its
downfall; and he has done this in a book dedicated, by permission, to
"This is, perhaps, an
Lord Ellenborough " {chief-justice of England).
ominous circumstance; and as Star-chamber punishments have been
I know not
revived
as two years' imprisonment has become familiar
how soon the useless lumber of even well-selected juries may be abolished and a new Star-chamber created.
" From the Star-chamber, gentlemen, the prevention and punishment
of libels descended to the courts of common law, and with the power
they seem to have inherited much of the spirit of that tribunal. Ser-
after abolished.
It
621
He
declares
dicta of
He
it
overbearing judges
is solely
and
based on the
servile lawyers.
" I
men, truth
"
press
He
You
;
is
my
is
as unintelligible as contradictory.
libel
it
was a crime
in point of fact,
a special pleader.
And
that
'
it
was a crime
in that county.
'a
of the
022
Reason and justice equally recognize it, and genuine law is much
more closely connected with reason and justice than some persons will
avow."
tion.
The
libel "is
make
by government patronage,
if
" if
he
he
went over to the other side and praised the duke of Richmond if
had sufficient gravity to talk, without a smile, of the sorrow of the
people of Ireland at his grace's departure; if he had a visage suffi;
so,
'
a solemn coun-
tenance and pick up a grave and narcotic accent, and have the resolution to assert the sorrow of the people for losing so sweet
lord-lieutenant
why,
in
know
and
civil a
the
conse-
quences.
him
to
close.
it is
a dungeon
I
for
not in
is
is
bound
to dis-
a protection, but
upon
which
is
first
"He"
(the attorney-general),
you manfully.
it;
read
it
its
producing a
it
with
G2c
"The attorney-general
included,
of course, himself.
mean-
How
man
it
but never, never of the heart. Would I could say so much for the attorHis blunder is not to be attributed to his cool and cautious
ney-general
it sprung, I much fear, from the misguided bitterness of the
head
!
He
says
"
Until
pub-
Leland and of Hume brought to your bar, I defy you to conHe then talks of "the commission to inquire into
vict my client."
defective titles" to property, during Strafford's administration, in the
reign of Charles the First, when the bestowal "of four shillings in the
lishers of
pound" on the
and the
lord chief-justice
lord chief-baron
made
it
the
He
of landed property.
proceedings,
and continues
machinery and
and
quotes from
all
was ready
for the
mockery
of
law
me
let
him have
let
me
let it
be of
less
40
for
624
sir,
to
"But
The
" I
libel.
is this
experience
would
you
call
that profligacy?
If
blushingly
if
a proverb
The women
call
of Ireland
if
this scene,
if
own
these
have
all
been beauteous
still
as chaste
r.s
in former days,
but the depraved example of a depraved court has furnished some exceptions, and the action for criminal conversation, before the time of
Westmoreland unknown, has since become more familiar to our courts
of justice.
" Call
of you,
what
charnel-houses?
and,
how I
to know
oh,
require
and great ?
The churchwarden ? why
Who
will assist
he, I
believe,
The constable ?
hat they might lovingly hear divine service together
Absurd! The justice of the peace? No, upon his honor! As to the
f
it
to interfere
and
my
lords the
name
"
under the
of vices
depends
broken reed ?
cerity
of the poor,
may have
my
the
name
of being religious.
client's prospect of
verdict.
G2G
" I
terly addressed,
and
I call
all to
the
have
lat-
next member
of the sentence:
<:
you prevent him from being called cold and cruel ? Alas to-day. why
have I not men to address who would listen to me for the sake of impartial justice
But even with you the case is too powerful to allow me
!
to despair.
"Well,
Why, on
one circuit,
Of
ninety-eight
these,
ninety-seven hanged I
In the
mean
time,
it
was necessary,
for the
... In
the
mean time
was no*
"
the
brothers, of friends, of
plead ignorance,
Moore,
Moore
may
in
left his
has, in
documents
of
too,
sons, of
soul of
which you
O'CONKELL."
G21
Camden's administration. But you all have heard of Aberfor it amounted to that; he proclaimed that
erombie's proclamation
he stated to the soldiery and to
cruelty in terms the most unequivocal
the nation that the conduct of the Camden administration had rendered
cruelty of
"Was
all
And
an easy
task.
All,
gentlemen, that
is
this
'
is
have
and superin-
it
unhappy period which was contrived and seized on to carry it into effect;
one year sooner, and it would have made a revolution one year later,
and it would have been for ever impossible to carry it. The moment
was artfully and treacherously seized on, and our country, that was a
nation for countless ages, has dwindled into a province, and her name
and her glory are extinct for ever.
"Indeed, Mr. Magee deserves no verdict from any Irish jury who can
.
so little animosity
is
for
much
speaking with
Cornwallis administration.
also, that
was
In humble and obscure distance
I rejoice,
present adversaries."
my first
introduction
to the
my
"If their
628
This
ning.' "
'
is
the union, published a pamphlet, full of wit and talent, bearing as its
title
"The charge
of
present attorney-general
truth, as
'
it
was an
opposition
to the ivill
it
of the
British minister.''
'So says Mr. Magee.
But, gentlemen,
my
'
it
was
in these
words
have quoted
tations,
"
the goods."
(Mnch laughing.)
"
and
I
'
to his family to
felt it his
duty
to the
of the dreadful
consequences of
"
'
He,
And
again
for one,
and boldly declare in the face of the nation, that when the sovereign
power dissolved the compact that existed between the government and
the people, that
"
'
Whether
moment
it
would be prudent
But
if
themselves of
would be a
nullity,
and resistance
would be a
to it
629
and
May
own
all this
official
of attorney-general
office
thousands,
Crown
is
ready to
call
for
doing
little
thousands
am
of the
from the
is
against usurpation ?
"
man, and
calls
him a
and
the usur-
ruffian, for
but as
if
artful,
treacherous men!
Gentlemen, pity the situation in which he has placed himself; and pray
do not think of inflicting punishment upon my client for his extreme
moderation.
it will, I
You
arc not
you
know you
are not
of the selection of
my
client.
G30
Had
lie
to his royal
master.
"As
plete
duke
to the
of
is
intended to be com-
He did
not murder
Essex and Grey, but he did not render any splendid services. In
It has
short, his administration has been directly the reverse of these.
like
been marked by
they did, and
errors,
It
duke
of
Richmond a murderer.
He
libel
that " the attorney-general talked with a gloating pleasure of the mis-
eries
jail
miseries
nancy and zest to the enjoyments of his prosecutor. I will make him
happy; let him return from this court to his luxuries, and when he
finds himself at his table, surrounded with every delicacy and every
I envy
profusion, remember that his prisoner, Walter Cox, is starving.
him not
tiful
this relish.
culogium on
And
Magna
There we agree.
Charta.
makes a beau-
I should, indeed,
prefer seeing the principles of that great charter called into practical
effect to
its
merits.
"The next
"was
He
in prison;
distorted
he
is,
called
Hugh
to the publisher,
He
it
a con-
Fitzpatrick)
Scully),
"and he
spirit
admit, in
had the pleasure of tearing a respectable citizen, of irreproachable character and conduct, from his wife and little children, who were rendered
him
in
a dungeon.
Is to
ivould
the author, he
wish him
him on his
reverse of what
only congratulate
to be:
is
he
just the
is
man
lie
lias
immured
victory.
the attorney-general
of fortune; he is
an able lawyer,
his country,
is
really ludicrous to
thus:
"
My
lords, I
prominent ground in your lordship's learned argument, when you decided that the passage was a libel
per ee." (This axis in Hinjli Fit:qxd rick's case, February, 1812.)
"Yes,
marks
sending a
and
law.
man
to prison.
a half lines,
It
has
detied,
and continues
speaking of Barry's
fate,
in a feeling mind,
human
blood
is
sometimes shed,
"May
nate
man"
He
!"
"And now
see
guished
for 'talents;'
thirdly,
This
quite intelligible
is
begin to under-
stand what the attorney- general means by the liberty of the press
Thus, the
means a prohibition of printing anything except praise.
;
it.
You may,
powers of visage
all
Here
is
you may
may
aou may,
if
is
imagin-
an
idol
the
flattery,
the
most
most
you have
"
possible chief-justices
That, gentlemen,
able governors.
its
lie
also
its
it;
it
is, it
must
against what
a verdict
for
is
for
man who
gravely
it is
is
no such thing
in existence as that
G33
He
judge in Canada, or
for
know what
an aide-de-camp
"'Although his
in
for
On
a lord-lieutenant.' "
this
"This appears
eral,
to
the venerator of
much
for
As
it is
to the aide-
spurs, the polish of his boots or the precise angle of his cocked hat, are
refer to you.
[there is
of
qualifications.
his
there
is
The
old
pray you.
to his
But as
to the
grace to be ignorant
far
the
if
libel."
The alleged
upon
he accompanied
it
the uni-
preaching
first
And
their Credulity."
flatten*,
he continued
it
to
with
it
in
false-
hood."
Is it
libel to
to the Catholics,
"And
prophesy?
is
and then
he
First,
tells
ernors; and thus he forbids the detail of the occurrences of the present
And,
day.
what
is
thirdly,
all
attempts
to
are
all
thing else?
Yes,
Would
gentlemen,
present,
and
all
Is there any-
having forbidden
all
matter of history,
past and
same
And
or principles of government.
the press!
is
the
Can you be
his
conscience where
amongst you?
Has
is
but party
who
dupes?
Where
manhood?
feeling, I would,
with the
air
if
all
of triumph, call
TIIE LIFE
you
OF DANIEL O'COXXELL.
spread on
tlie
G3">
divide
it
you already;
for
first
came
over, or
been
into two
lias
it.
read
hostility,
tician,
man and
a respectable
soldier.'
"Would
to
God
require of that unprejudiced jury, whether this sentence does not de-
hostility.
Does not this sentence prove a kindly disposition towards the individual,
mixing and mingling with that discussion which freedom sanctions and
Contrast this sentence with
requires respecting his political conduct?
the prosecutor's accusation of private malignity, and decide between
Mr.
'
oration.
He
as "
and
its
it is,
in substance
and
effect,
is
an usurpation
of
the people's
G3G
ment
of the
by tlie law
Crown) "attempt
mond
affixed
to this treason.
to
"Will
they"
{the law-officers
He who
of Rich-
executive to control the choice of the representatives of the people violates the first principles of the constitution, is guilty of political sacri-
and profanes the very sanctuary of the people's rights and liberties
he should not be called a partisan, it is only because some harsher
and more appropriate term ought to be applied to his delinquency.
" I will recall to your mind an instance of the violation of the constitution, which will illustrate the situation of my client, and the protection which, for your own sakes, you owe him.
When, in 1687, King
James removed several Protestant rectors in Ireland from their churches,
against law and justice, and illegally and unconstitutionally placed
Roman Catholic clergymen in their stead, would any of you be content
that he should be simply called a partisan ?
No, gentlemen, my client
and I, Catholic and Protestant though we be, agree perfectly in this,
that partisan would have been too mild a name for him, and that he
should have been branded as a violator of law, as an enemy to the constitution, and as a crafty tyrant who sought to gratify the prejudices of
one part of his subjects that he might trample upon the liberties of all.
And what, I would fain learn, could you think of the attorney-general
who prosecuted, or of the judge who condemned, or of the jury who conlege,
and
if
victed,
a printer
violation
roused
if
for
partisan a Popish jury had been packed, a Popish judge had been se-
and the printer, who, you will admit, deserved applause and
reward, met condemnation and punishment
"Of you, of you, shall this story be told if you convict Mr. Magee.
The duke has interfered in elections he has violated the liberties of the
subject; he has profaned the very temple of the constitution; and he
who has said that, in so doing, he was a partisan, from your hands
lected,
expects punishment.
"
offences
James deprived
the Protestant
for tithes,
and
oblations,
and
glebes,
and church-lands.
037
appendages
The Protestant
solid
religion.
to
ofjiuman nature, I
mind without the aid of those extrinsic advantages. Its pastors would,
I trust and believe, have remained true to their charge, without the adventitious benefits of temporal rewards, and, like the
Church,
it
forth a glorious
religion,
Protestant religion
repeat
it
Roman
example
James
Catholic
of firmness in
he violated the law and the constitution, in depriving men of their property by his individual authority, to which they
had precisely the same right with that by which he wore his crown.
But is not the controlling the election of members of Parliament a more
Protestant Church
attachment to
to punish it,
.
my
client
use?
direct
What
gentler phrase,
The constitution
is
what
But what protection can it" [the press) "afford, if you convict in this
instance? for, by doing so, you will decide that nothing ought to be said
against that want of honesty, or of attention, or of understanding" {in
"The more necessary will the protection of the press
the administration).
become, the more unsafe will it be to publish the truth and in the
exact proportion in which the press might be useful, will it become
;
liable to
trine,
punishment.
when
the press
is
'best employed
and wanted
most,'
it
will
be the
G38
most dangerous to use it. And thus, the move corrupt :md profligate
any administration may be, the more clearly can the public prosecutor
ascertain the sacrifice of his selected victim.
And call you this protection?
Is this a protector, who must be disarmed the moment danger
threatens, and is bound a prisoner the instant the light has commenced ?
" Has the attorney-general succeeded ?
Has he procured a jury
so fitted to his object as to be ready to bury in oblivion every fault and
every crime, every error and every imperfection of public men, past,
present and future, and who shall, in addition, silence any dissertation
on the theory or principle of legislation ? Do, gentlemen, go this length
.
charge you to
venture to talk to your families of the venerable liberty of the press-the protection of the people against the vices of the government."
'
...
But
An
obvious del-
any man,
loving, as
to Dr. Sheridan.
639
He
candidly
c*'
comfortable
It really is
tells
upon
major of
'
'98),
"as an
assist-
man
I do
of you
open
court,
not exactly
next to the
who were
suggesting
fit
jurors for
by.
"were
aside
set
salaried
O'Connell next asserts that "the attorney-general has also avowed his
"It
is
delightful,"
O'Connell says, "to understand the entire machinery," and "the reason
why Sir Charles Saxton was not examined on the part of the Crown.
He would now, you plainly see, have traced the arrangement to
the
your antipathy
alas
publication innocent,
if
you
not useful, in
any
relief
to the
as
of
Popish petitioners as a
capable
Papists.
man
who
640
knows you
best, claims
your verdict
in
on your oaths and attested by and in the name of the God of the
Christians.
For
my
avow that
shudder at these scenes I cannot, without horror, view this interfering and intermeddling with judges
and juries, and my abhorrence must be augmented when I find it avowed
."
part, I frankly
all
moved by
his wires
his control.
system
maybe
its source,
silent,
We
a new
live in
melancholy
era, in
says
single
"
My
Roman
purpose."
If
when
fit
how
gladly
"Why
one
Oh
libe-
many
Catholics.
Who
shall ven-
would
blindly
It is, in truth, a high compliment, which
persecution, in spite of itself, pays to independent integrity.
" It is, in fact, a compliment.
It is intended for a reproach, for a
It
is
libel.
meant to insinuate that such a man, for example, as Randal
ture to
upon
because he
man were
is
would refuse
to
do
Roman
Catholic.
641
Just such a
libel
man
of the attorney-general
to precisely such a
to speak,
calumny.
and endeavors
He
amount
acts a part
silently to inflict a
shame as to assert in
words.
And here, gentlemen, is a libel for which there is no punishment; here is a profligate calumny, for which the law furnishes no
redress.
He can continue to calumniate us by his rejection see wheLay your
ther he does not offer you a greater insult by his selection.
hands to your hearts, and in private communion with yourselves ask
censure which no
the reason
sought
for
and selected
Will you discover that you have been selected because of admitted
impartiality?
"Would
to
acquittal."
Towards the
close of this
forensic masterpiece
indeed, one
for,
642
too,
"Let me transport you from the heat and fury of domestic politics;
You are Protestants with your
let me place you in a foreign land.
good leave, you shall, for a moment, be Portuguese and Portuguese is
now an honorable name, for right well have the people of Portugal fought
;
for their
"
mean time
In the
Let us suppose
in Portugal.
government
is
;
has not reigned, but that Portugal is still governed by the viceroy of a
foreign nation, from whom no kindess, no favor has ever flowed, and from
whom justice has rarely been obtained, and upon those unfrequent occasions not conceded generously, but extorted
by
terror
manner.
You
tress
and apprehension
by
in a stinted
force, or
wrung from
dis-
we do
in Ireland, nine-
you
"Only
think,
you because you are Protestants. With what scorn, with what contempt, do you not listen to the stale pretences, to the miserable excuses,
by which, under the name of state reasons and political arguments, your
Your reply is
exclusion and degradation are sought to be justified.
ready: 'Perform your iniquity; men of crimes,' you exclaim, 'be unjust;
punish us for our fidelity and honest adherence to truth, but insult us
not by supposing that your reasoning can impose upon a single indiIn this situation let me give you
vidual either of us or of yourselves.'
a viceroy; he shall be a man who may be styled, by some person dis-
643
man and
a respectable
him more
flatter
soldier,' but, in
point
kingdom
of Algarve
as one amongst us
Protestants.
and good-will
to the
Upon
poor suffering
of the inquisitorial
triumphs of
former days shall be for a season abandoned, and over our inherent hostility
Enmity
"The
it
to
will be
for
shows himself
men
he selects
for office,
miserable in intellect,
if
and prefers
for
from his
Jack
Giffard),
rious
and
Paddy Duigenan)
entire bride,
now
"
man
This
belief.
This
man
644
against the Protestants, and has turned his ravings into large personal
emoluments.
But whilst he
is
believe himself; he has selected for the partner of his tenderest joys,
of his
most
ecstatic
"Next
we will
and
parsimony at which even his enemies blush. See the paltry sum of a
single joe refused to any Protestant charity, whilst his bounty is unknown even at the Popish institutions for benevolent purposes. See
the most wasteful expenditure of the public money every job patron-
ized,
ished.
and, lastly,
gentlemen
relief
645
it is
own
man
conscience
to worship
to state re-
The
is to
first
step in
it
pxirpose.
"To
first
inquisitor the descendant" {lie comes doivn once more on Saurin; indeed,
the inveteracy with which he pursues unlucky Saurin is amusing) "of some
Popish refugee some man with an hereditary hatred to Protestants he
is
is
not the son of an Irishman, this refugee inquisitor no, for the fact
notorious, that the Irish refugee Papists were ever distinguished for
we
the Popish
sense,
Do you
Orangemen
and common
tlemen
fit
of the city,
their enemies
;
hired calumniators;
their blood
parsimoniously spared
squandered
for
to
the state
accumulate
the
emblems
for
(546
"Yes, gentlemen, place yourselves as Protestants under such a persecution; behold before you this chief inquisitor, with his prejudiced
gambler with a loaded die and now say what are your
feelings, what are your sensations of disgust, abhorrence, affright ?
But
if, at such a moment, some ardent and enthusiastic Papist" (the reader
should bear in mind that Magee was a Protestant), "regardless of his interests, and roused by the crimes that were thus committed against you,
should describe, in measured and cautious and cold language, scenes of
oppression and iniquity if he were to describe them, not as I have done,
but in feeble and mild language, and simply state the facts for your
benefit and the instruction of the public
if this liberal Papist, for this,
were dragged to the Inquisition, as for a crime, and menaced with a
dungeon for years good and gracious God how would you revolt at
With
and abominate the men who could consign him to that dungeon
what an eye of contempt, and hatred, and despair, would you not look
at the packed and profligate tribunal which could direct punishment
against him Avho deserved rewards
What pity would you not feel for
the advocate who, heavily and without hope, labored in his defence and
with what agonized and frenzied despair would you not look to the
future destinies of a land in which perjury was organized and from AAhich
humanity and justice had been for ever banished
tribunal
this
come home to us in
Ireland say, is that a crime, when applied to Protestants, which is a
Behold how we suffer
virtue and a merit when applied to Papists?
here; and then reflect that it is. principally by reason of your prejudices
against us that the attorney-general hopes for your verdict.
The good
"With
man
has talked of his impartiality; he will suppress, he says, the licentiousness of the press.
I have, I hope, shown you the right of my client
647
have persecuted the loyalists in this county last year, when they even
murdered some of them for no other reason than their being yeomen and
to
Protestants.''
"And, again:
" It was at Ballybay that
'
man
by a Catholic
the Catholics
at the assizes
ivitness.''
"I have read this passage from the Hibernian Journal of the 7th
of this month.
I know not whether you can hear, unmoved, a paragraph
which makes my blood boil to read, but I shall only tell you that the
Gentlemen, there
attorney-general refused to prosecute this libeller.
have been several murders committed in the county of Monaghan, in
which Ballybay lies. The persons killed happened to be Roman CathSeveral of the persons accused
their murderers are Orangemen.
olics
The agent
of these murders are to be tried at the ensuing assizes.
applied to me personally, with this newspaper; he stated that the obvious intention was to create a prejudice upon the approaching trials
favorable to the murderers and against the prosecutors. He stated what
you even you -will easily believe, that there never was a falsehood more
I advised him,
flagitiously destitute of truth than the entire paragraph.
gentlemen, to wait on the attorney-general in the most respectful manner
possible; to show him this paragraph, then request to be allowed to
satisfy him as to the utter falsehood of the assertions which this paragraph contained, which could be more easily done, as the judges who
went that circuit could prove part of it to be false and I directed him
;
when
this,
which,
think,
may
call
an
atrocious libel.
he
Gentlemen, the attorney-general was accordingly waited on
was respectfully requested to prosecute upon the terms of having the
I need not tell you he
falsehood of these assertions first proved to him.
refused.
These are not the libellers he prosecutes. Gentlemen, this not
"
for
what
648
"
On
libel.
the contrary,
this
cost.
very limited
but
it
It is
pounds
money
of the
of the
man
fact,
round to where
" would I could
of the constitution?
is
prosecuted with
all
the
weight and influence of the Crown, the other pensioned by the ministers of the Crown
the one dragged to your bar for the sober discussion
;
most horrid
cal-
umnies
Let the attorney-general now boast of his impartiality can
you credit him on your oaths ? Let him talk of his veneration for the
liberty of the press; can you believe him in your consciences? Let him
!
call
Yes,
verdict for
and
I,
"
him that
when he
says
he admits that
so.
it
049
ought
to
be
so.
is
bound by
is
this admission.
is
upon which he
the prosecutor.
it
is
It is
a part of the
Then, gentlemen,
it
is
your duty to act upon that evidence, and to allow the press to afford
Mr.
constitution?
Magee appeals
one
to his
man who
hates
oppression?
If
there be,
acquittal.
"There are amongst you men of great religious zeal, of much public
Are you sincere? Do you believe what you profess? With all
piety.
Is
this zeal, with all this piety, is there any conscience amongst you?
Be ye hypocrites, or does
there any terror of violating your oaths?
genuine religion inspire ye ? If you be sincere, if you have conscience,
if your oaths can control your interests, then Mr. Magee confidently
expects an acquittal.
" If amongst you there be cherished one ray of pure religion, if
amongst you there glow a single spark of liberty, if I have alarmed
religion or roused the spirit of freedom in one breast amongst you, Mr.
Magee is safe, and his country is served but if there be none, if you be
slaves and hypocrites, he will await your verdict, and despise it!"
Such was the powerful speech in defence of Magee. But slaves and
hypocrites the poor bigoted creatures on that well-packed jury proved
The writer of the so-called
themselves, for they found Magee guilty.
libel was Counsellor Denis Scully, the author of that celebrated Statement of the Penal Laivs so virulently assailed by Saurin in his openingThe famous "witchery resolutions" were also
speech against Magee.
supposed to be Mr. Scully's composition. Though this gentleman is, by
;ome, accused of having had a tendency to recommend intemperate
;
650
man
The
two poor slavish creatures, named Moylan and McSweeny, who basely
to that "invaluable Irishman, John
called him a "convicted libeller!"
Dublin
Evening Post, for his undeviating
Magee, Esq., proprietor of the
support" of the Catholic cause. Another resolution was passed at this
meeting expressive of admiration for "the worth of that great and good
Irishman, the strong pillar of our cause and the pride of our land, CounThe same miserable creatures, who opposed the resosellor O'Connell."
lution of gratitude to Magee, vainly resisted this expression of admiration
But "the Kilkenny resolutions," passed at a Catholic
for O'Connell.
meeting held in that city, were even more emphatic in their hostility to
Speaking
the government and their approval of Magee and O'Connell.
Catholic
leaders
time,
of
the
about
this
of a suggestion made by some
that the Catholics of Ireland should apply to Spain for sympathy and
interference in their behalf, the Irishmen present at the Kilkenny meeting resolved that "the measure of applying to the Spanish Cortes met
If we suffer, at least let England be put
our most decided approbation.
to shame." They then congratulated their countrymen on the approach-
of
Richmond."
and
to
shame the
big-
an injured nation."
These resolutions created a great excitement amongst all parties.
who
On
He
said:
051
"My
traverser can
lord,
show
he has the
If
right, I shall
bow
of
made by our
by
feel-
am
my
thus
"I
which
sure,
lords"
extremely
is
difficult to
G52
language suited to
in nothing to
its
the attorney-general.
I yield
and ventured to address me in this court in the unhandsome language he has used because my profound respect for this temple of the
law enables me here to overcome the infirmity of my nature, and to
listen with patience to an attack which, had it been made elsewhere,
would have met merited chastisement !"
Justice Daly. " Eh
what is that you say?"
Justice Osborne, with much apparent emotion. "I at once declare, 1
will not sit here to listen to such a speech as I have seen reported.
Take care of what you say, sir!"
Mr. O'Connell. "My lord, what I say is, that I am delighted at the
prudence of the attorney-general, in having made that foul assault upon
mc here, and not elsewhere, because my profound respect for the bench
overcomes now those feelings which, elsewhere, would lead me to do
what I should regret to break the peace in chastising him."
The attorney-general! If a criminal
Justice Daly. "Chastising!
information were applied for on that word, we should be bound to
last,
grant
it."
which
am
to inflict corporal
punishment
thus assailed,
should regret
for that offence
Justice Osborne.
shall not
my
" I will
be committed."
we must
call
same
side to
proceed."
653
The attorney- general could not mean you offence in the line of argument
he pursued to enhance the punishment, in every way, of your client. It
is unnecessary for you to throw off, or to repel, aspersions that are not
made on
you."
"My
Mr. O'Connell.
relieves
my mind
lord, I
thank you;
And
yet,
my
lord,
It
me.
thank you.
sincerely
it
is
me
All
with.
"We
Justice Osborne.
Attorney -General,
gentleman.
To state that
my
charge
it
I rejoice,
so.
my
mean
the
meaning,
however, that
is
who
any attack made upon me.
of those
made upon
comment on what
"And now
let
me
first
my
client's case.
it
may
be desired by him, as
trial.
it
certainly
is safe for
him,
654
to
make bad
my
honest,
precedents
my
independent protest.
My
enter
my earnest,
against
"
it,
for
their clients?
of counsel,
If it
We
politics
religion.
shall be subject to a
[a libel on
? )]
have mind at complete liberty to look for all the topics to serve the cause
of his clients and to confute the arguments of his adversary, he will in
future be fettered and encumbered by the dread of exposing himself to
the imputations of the adverse attorney and the compliments o( the
I do not think any gentleman ought to condescend to advocate
bench.
a cause under such circumstances, or that he could continue high-minded
and worthy of his rank in society, if he were to submit to such degrato
dation.
"Against this practice now, for the first time, attempted to be introduced, against the first but mighty stride to lessen the dignity of an
honorable profession, I proclaim my distinct, unequivocal and solemn
But the privileges of the bar, however interesting to a numerdissent.
ous and respectable class of men, sink into insignificance when conThe public have a right to the
trasted with the rights of the public.
free,
If the
bar be controlled,
attorney-general
if tlic
may
which he
sibility in
655
at present placed,
is
and
cali
censure on the
'
power
mockery
How
his client.
bo quite
to
insolent
ii:
manly advocate,
he
if
is to
sa
In vain
be exposed
to the
How
by the
barrister
who has
been prevented
pendence
may
remain,
it
will
if
the
be enslaved
if
therefore,
again enter
my
who may
easily
solemn protest
and determined
to
do
my
duty
and public the enemy of every oppression and fraud, the unalterable friend to freedom.
I have a fault
1 know it well
in the eyes of the attorney-general.
The spirit that
invented the Inquisition exists in human nature; that there was an
Inquisition proves the existence in nature of an inquisitorial spirit.
Nature is not calumniated when she is charged with all the atrocity of
bigotry in design and action; and towards me that design has an object
that is easily understood. To check the Popish advocate may, in the
eyes of the attorney-general, be a work equally pious and prudent, but
the proudest feelings of contempt may defeat his intention and place me
above the reach of malevolence.
" From myself and from this strange precedent, I come to the case
of my client."
O'Connell then goes into an elaborate argument against
the attorney-general's motion in aggravation of sentence, quoting and
analyzing cases to show "that nothing is a libel, or can become the subject-matter of a criminal prosecution as such, which occurs in the course
of proceeding in a court of justice." He dwells upon various other parin despite of every risk, personal
antagonist Saurin
"
The avowal and approbation of Mr. Magee are referable only to the
topics of defence, and not to the matters contained in the affidavit to
aggravate the punishment. To his defence no objection has been stated;
and beyond what is purely his defence" {viz., the portion of O'CmineWs
speech called forth by SaurirCs "extravagant attack" on the Irish Catholics),
is
of this subject,
he cannot
be confounded with his counsel. In short, the object, the plain object,
of the present proceedings is, under pretence of seeking punishment on
the client, to attack the counsel.
personal to
any attack
put his
case,
in this
justice.
may
bad times.
we have everything
"At such a
G58
O'COSTNELL.
courage, and he will talk of those falsely, and where a reply would not
be permitted.
"If such times arrive,
sure not to meet
what
my
lords, the
I so
my
No,
lords, the
oft*
adversary
him.
would
listen to
me.
were he
to
he
know
is
it
a gentleman
they cannot,
have only
whatever
relates to him in my speech at the trial, was imperatively called for by
his conduct there.
As to him, I have no apology to make. With respect
to his colleague, the attorney-general, I
to
him,
should repeat
retract nothing;
sions.
my
former assertions.
repent nothing;
do now, as
never will
to say, that
do now, as
G59
did then, despise and treat with perfect contempt every false calumny
it
considered
itself in safety."
say the
least,
creditable to Magee.
It
However,
November
indictment
for
"tigers"
All
this, if it
may
at least in
some degree
palliate,
He
then de-
to
my
propriety."
G60
"the sins and crimes of counsel," "abuse of the forensic robe," etc. He
even went so far as to call on the bench to punish O'Connell for his
speech,
But they
all
most vehement and violent parts of his oration, he had only hurled at
In fine, while the
the tools of power the thunders of truth and justice.
abettors of the atrocious system which mocked government in Ireland,
and which O'Connell mercilessly stripped naked in his speech and held
up to public scorn, would have liked to see him humbled and punished,
if not absolutely disbar'd, they were all "fearful," as John O'Connell
"
a homely but expressive proverb, "of 'catching a Tartar.'
The solicitor-general the brilliant and accomplished Bushe accordingly, refused to draw the distinction, argued for by Mr. Wallace, between
says, quoting
Dan
alone,
he called
for
the rigor
government persecution,
his adoption, by a printed
avowal
in his
own
and
its
aggravation
impetuous onslaught
highly amusing.
661
were
certain!}'
all
combined.
I
shall
now
for,
this occasion,
whatever his
faults
It
was not
is
mere technical defence of Magee, but as the glowing, impassioned vindication of a persecuted creed and a trampled race.
It was even more,
for, turning the tables on the government, he made his speech a terrible
impeachment, a burning, scathing denunciation of all their tyrannous
GG2
elegance and
finish,
best speeches.
is,
to
indeed, at least to
my
While
it
something like the state of feeling that animated those who listened to
Then we may have some
him, or at least those who read him, in 1813.
slanderer,
and the
rest of
It
it
was
was
it
not incredible?
such a torrent of denunciation before his friends, before his own sons
The commander-in-chief, Secretary Peele and other high governeven.
ment
him
appeared in the Post, while Magee lay in prison, taunting the viceroy
with the manner in which lie prided himself on his illegitimate descent
from King Charles the Second, and his French mistress, the duchess of
One passage
Portsmouth.
duke had
evi-
it is
Another passage
said: "The Catholics are no more justly chargeable with the crime and
bigotry of a coward king, than you could be justly chargeable with the
compound turpitude of a perjured English tyrant and a prurient Gallic
."
The antipathy of the Irish people fastened several nicknames
w
They
called
him
the
"duke
of Poteen."
"This
is
The duke
of Poteen,
Determined
With
Magee's
trial
Counsellor Denis
"The English
The
Mogherow
whom
its fifty
Board,
was published
in
book form.
nobility is English.
is
Scotch.
of
many
GG4
at
He
could
when
a fourth prated about "the hereditary atrocities and recent bold criminalities of the
away
Popish faction."
" It
would be
Ions; to tell you the series of legal battles he fought in the Four Courts
and at county assizes. His tone and manner were always defiant and
contemptuous.
If he knew the judges were predetermined and the
jury well and truly packed, he condescended to argue no points of law;
but launched out into denunciation of the whole system of law and
following vivid description of O'Connell as an advocate:
government in Ireland informed the jurors that they knew they Avere
packed; charged the judges with having advised and urged on the
prosecution which they pretended to try in short, set his client and his
client's case at one side as a minor and collateral affair; took all Ireland
for his client, and often. made judges, sheriffs and juries feel that they
were the real criminals on trial.
;
" It
is
All Ireland
if it
was proud
and
felt
otry,
GG5
dwelt upon,
al'ly
if
had space
to
spare.
prosecuted for libel the notorious Watty Cox, proprietor of The Irish or
O'Connell, as
It
this matter, were even so arrogant as not to give the slightest acknowledg-
ment
of
life
never lived."
for
connection with
name has
P>66
made by a
number
of citizens of
and Mr. Disney. A crowd attended, anxious to hear the case, which
was of considerable interest to the citizens. To the astonishment of all
present, the two government commissioners announced that they had
resolved not
to
permit
the interference
of counsel.
"on the
Moore.
He
insisted
were
He
by Commissioner
If
them no harm
they
if
it
was
to
There were no
of performing the
He
less
solemnly protested "against the foul play of not allowing the benefits
side as
and properties."
administration of justice.
exposed
to
view
Dublin in their
lives,
of gross mal-
whim-
sicality,
"high and
House
he claimed
to
be
Commons
itself,
the
assistance of barristers
and according
to
was admitted.
what maxims
"How,
then,
by what
authority,
and that court alone, reject?" Neither the energy of O'Counell, nor the
able argument by which Mr. Finlay supported him, availed to move
Sergeant Moore and Mr. Disney from their dogged purpose.
I pass by O'Connell's able legal argument in the case of Taafe (the
eccentric '98 hero, cf whom some whimsical anecdotes have already been
narrated in this work) and others against the chief-justice of the King's
who became,
1-lth,
The Dublin
1812, speaking of
in court this
hearings,
judgment was
After
the Catholics."
I
some notice
of
ford, in
good circumstances.
668
may
He abused
the alleged
"Statement
of the Penal Laws."
This audacious book had no "regard to truth and
decency."
It calumniated the administration of justice under evensuccessive lord-lieutenant.
It was full of "libels," ay, of "infamous"
libels; it was "a tissue of libels the most shocking and mischievous
that could be invented."
It was an "abomination"; it was full of
"Jesuitical art"
"it was a call upon the people to break out into civil
and religious Avar." One of Saurin's statements was undoubtedly true
that wherein he told the jury that the note referring to the victim of
libel in furious
Indeed, he
language.
fell foul
of the entire
madness."
He was
was
mind
to
all
for
Those, he insisted,
who
that the judges would not permit the Court of King's Bench to be converted "into a Court of Parliament to try the King's government on the
It is
his
resolved, before
he sat down,
to
its
have a
publisher,
the
who, he well
knew, was Counsellor Scully, then sitting in court. As the scene now
becomes dramatic, I give the concluding passage of Saurin's address
without curtailment
little
"
thority to say
it is
But
not so!
am
if it
sorry for
If
libel.
he be a barrister,
trust
he will learn, from the verdict of that jury and the judgment of the
court, to appreciate the magnitude of the crime of which he has been
may
who
Sheltered as he
be,
and malefactor, and the remainder of his life cannot be so well employed
as in making the best atonement possible for this violation of the law
and the wicked attempt which he has made to disturb the peace and
happiness of the country."
"My
observation to
make on
this subject.
"I have an
un-
am now
confirmed in
my
Code.'
"When the government officials had concluded their case, the celebrated Peter Burrowes (a Protestant advocate) spoke ably for the defence.
He pronounced a panegyric on Scully's book. He admitted the warmth
of some passages.
"But no man," said he. "whose mind is not heated
with prejudice upon this subject, can examine the book without feeling
a sympathy with the author. ... I never knew a cold-hearted man do
a noble act.
This work is written with the ardor and spirit of a man
N'ho felt what he described, and the intent and bearing of the entire
work is to be taken into consideration.
The object of the write]
.
(J7U
was a condemnation
much
to
alarm as
to
make an impression on
and
individual that he
...
so
It is not calculated
It is
to the benignity
of
men; that
Is
not this a
fair
it
will
may
be
Does it reflect
Mr. Burrowes
He
of this
affidavit.)
"My
on the
first
first
day
on that
affidavit,
"was made
which the judge had judicial cognizance namely, the short time that
the prisoner was in the county" (Kilkenny), "having been transmitted to
take his trial from the last assize town" (Clonmel), "and the impractica-
of
bility of
071
"
to
affidavit.
asked Mr.
Elliott, in
open
court,
ponement,
enable
to
my client
if
I
therefore
moved a
post-
"What
"
Some
will not
"However unpleasant,
me
answer or
to ask,
when
knew
my
man
me
"
Yes
my
however,
brief
to request
maybe
you
to
an answer."
and
left
man
himself.
accordingly
"Anything more?"
mandate to attend the trial, which,
the court."
received an authoritative
contemptuously rejected."
"He
to
threw up
if
duty compels
judge that
the
sir,"
"which
ask me,
affidavit?"
to
put
Did you,
had
/ asked
been defective."
who
mercy?"
"After the conviction
who were
to
have been
"
me
upon
to say
attorney-general;
told
it
"
to
talked publicly of
everybody
otherwise?"
met."
In speaking of
it in
any person?"
the hall of the Four Courts, and
to
it,
as an ordinary occurrence or
it
Mr. Justice
Day observed
was a
sufficient
it
Mr. Solicitor-
new
particular.
elicited
"
to
He
Catholics,
and hope
for their
emancipation, yet
don't
know
that they
made
it
Were
named
the one
in the affidavit
fifty
till
of his being
with the
was acquainted."
to every
gentleman
of the
bar with
whom
673
Mr. Justice Day. "In what manner did yon speak of it?"
Mr. Campbell. "I always spoke of it as a most shocking event."
Mr. Q'ConneM, "Yon had no doubt it was a shocking circumstance?"
to the gov-
erni>.ent?"
said so."
Mr. 0' Council. "Did you not, by your letter to the attorney-general,
offer to attend him, and give every further explanation concerning this
illegal transaction,
to or call
upon
you ?"
offer;
'
sophistical disquisitions
far as
in
'
G74
them
prisoner guilty.
ments."
When
the court sat next day, February the 11th, 1813, in pursuance
Still
fling at the
judges:
that requisition
"You were
fair
terms.
The
bail
shall
be
. '
helpless,
He
refused to
any notice
Accordingly,
libel.
Hugh
to
thousand pounds,
said
it is
by a stroke of paralysis?
complete his misfortunes, his business, formerly so extensive, which, in
consequence of the broken health of his excellent wife who, I may
woman
and energy
had dwindled away more and more, every week and every month, during
observe,
is
now
finally
feel
As
some
on both
borne.
geants
lace,
the
Magee
curiosity to
have a
list
He
of intellect
O'Connell
memorable of the
may
also the
sides.
The judges were, the chief-justice,
The counsel for the Crown were, Attorney-General Saurin, Solicitor-General Bushe, SerMoore, Ball and McMahon. The counsel for the defendant were, Messrs. O'Connell, Wal-
high-flown eloquence.
of,
it
may
for his
somewhat
too ornate
and
The
Palmer, Thomas Rochibrt, Alexander Montgomery, Martin Keene, Benjamin Darley, William
676
He
sustained
it
but
it
present long one, go pretty far to supply materials for a complete refuta-
and ingenious misrepresentations, regarding the relations between England and Ireland, woven by the cunning brain of that
arch-sophist and outrageous enemy of the Irish race, James Anthony
Fronde.
Indeed,
may
I flatter
be found in
many
have chiefly drawn the materials of the foregoing chapter are, " The
Select Speeches of Daniel O'Connell, M. P., edited, with Historical Notices, etc.," by his son, John
O'Connell, Esq.; "The History of Ireland from the Treaty of Limerick to the Present Time," by
*
John Mitchel; "The Last Conquest of Ireland (perhaps)," by John Mitchel; "The Life and Times
of Daniel O'Connell, with Sketches of his Contemporaries, Dublin, John Mullany, 1 Parliament
street ;" etc.
CHAPTER
XVII.
l&l^irAVING
fame and
fpTb
progress
into
unfavorable circumstances,
many
many
of his
will
full
of deep
my
little
minute student
made
in
most
As
in
of those to
proceed in
be
made
manifest.
least of these
678
power
of
The imperial
England.
fast falling
He had
army amid the snows of Russia. In 1813 another splendid host, after
the most brilliant efforts and tremendous victories, had been shattered
and all but annihilated during the closing months of the campaign
Everywhere the French
The old Castilian fierceeagles were being driven back on old France.
ness against invaders was in a blaze. Already the bones of near five hunIn all
dred thousand Frenchmen were whitening on the hills of Spain.
quarters disaster was making dim the lustre of French renown. England
was at the head of the victorious coalition of the uprisen powers of
"England's difficulty is always Ireland's opportunity." EngEurope.
land's prosperity and glory are invariably Ireland's ignominy and bane!
especially in the gigantic struggle at Leipzig.
It is necessary,
however, that
should
first
1813 besides the state-prosecuOf these the most important was the
tions noticed in the last chapter.
It was a very imintroduction into Parliament of Grattan's relief bill.
Catholics, indeed, were to sit in Parliament, to possess
perfect measure.
Cathcorporate rights and to be eligible for civil and military offices.
several other events that filled the year
olics,
or lord-chancellor.
ing to Catholics.
But the
As
bill
offices of lord-lieutenant
it
was
insult-
They were
further to swear that they would support the Protestant succession, and
the existing state of property; that they would discover all treasons
within their cognizance; that they would net attempt to injure the
that, unless they were constate or overthrow the Protestant Church
and
clergy)
would not nominate or
vinced of his loyalty, they (laymen
the principle that no faith should be kept with heretics.
elect
But even
this
apostolic.
worst.
by
Sir
079
all
candi-
with the proviso that they should not betray the secrets of the Catholic
When
Church.
at last an
amendment was
clause that gave the Catholics the privilege of sitting and voting in
Parliament, the
bill
While this
But
power.
bill
was
all his
May
in progress,
finally lost.
11, 1813.)
Grattan advocated
it
it
to his
countrymen.
The Irish Catholics were thrown into the greatest commotion. Clergy
and people, almost unanimously, rejected emancipation on such terms.
The insidious "Canning clauses," the tendency of which was to subject
the Catholic hierarchy and clergy to state control, kindled especial indignation.
The aristocratic section, indeed, of the Irish Catholics were
favorable to the bill.
Lord Trimleston bewailed its loss. I may also
observe that "the English Catholics" (to nse the words of Mr. Mitchel),
"not having any national interest at stake in the matter, were quite
favorable to the project, and used their utmost endeavors to have it
English influence
accepted at Rome, and recommended from thence.
was then very strong at Rome. The pope was a prisoner in France;
and it was to the coalition of European sovereigns against Bonaparte
that the court of
Rome
looked
for its
re-establishment."
We
shall
Meanwhile,
vetoists as
an argument
While the bill was pending, various Catholic meetings took place in
Dublin, and various speeches were delivered by O'Connell, for the most
part bearing reference to the
topic of interest.
bill,
some
of those meetings
and
harangues.
On
the 29th of May, 1813, our hero read in the Catholic Board the
"securities."
He
680
length,
He assumed
bill.
that Peel,
whom
live
commissioners.
He
O'Connell retorts
"
We
whether
appear in the newsshall see
a fortnight
and so
he concludes most logically that the bishops were wrong, and that he and Mr. Hussey are right."
Sir Edward Bellew's "learned and lengthened distinction between essenPresently he says,
tial and non-essential discipline" is now ridiculed.
other which
is
unintelligible;
"And now
baronet,"
Counsellor Bellew,
it
;i
single prayer.
681
and do just as
me
one
once!'"
request,
desire, fortius
man's claim
namely, because
first
His aristocratic birth and connecAt one time he had the lion's share
tions gave
him
great advantages.
He was
list of
name of Bellew.
"I thank God I am not
read the
say,
The English
private pensioners among them O'Connell
From that moment O'Connell had only to
;
and
This
was the more mortifying to Counsellor Bellew on account of his punctilious disposition.
His favorite motto was, "Touch my honor, touch
my eye." It is stated, however, that this did not prevent him from
accepting an additional pension of
shortly
At a meeting
regent's
after the
of the Catholic
pledges with
respect to
Catholic
emancipation.
O'Connell
682
that
was about
Why
the fact.
to
be made
to
him
nay, he
of Ireland."
He showed
were
calling
full of "
him
was then,
that they had been
warm
affections,
it
met by a
state-prosecution.
...
It
others."
of the
viduals, of
The pledge
referred to
was not
fit
in his possession."
on the other.
At
On
still less is it
it
ever were,
a matter of importance.
Theatre,
the
name
day
083
us he was interrupted by
tell
acclamations.
name.
of Ireland in
when moved
The
distinct resolution
G rattan's
bill,
Canning
any administration.
and Castlereagh had fought a duel, in which the former had been
wounded. Of Castlereagh, he asked, "Does not Grattan know that Lord
Castlereagh first dyed his country in blood and then sold her?" Immedihas found
it difficult
to obtain a niche in
he observed. "Ireland,
'
in the connection
with England,
has but too constantly shared the fate of the prodigal's dog I mean no
"she has been kicked in the insolence of
personal allusion" (a luiujh)
prosperity, and she has borne all the famine and distress of adversity."
He next traces the history of the penal laws, after which he vigorously
sect,
air,
imagines he can lay hold of a limb of the Deity, like Macbeth snatchHe would be simply ridicuing at the air-drawn dagger of his fancy.
mischievous malignity of his holy piety, which desires
to convert Papists from their errors through the instrumentality of dagOf Lord Yarmouth, O'Connell adds, " If I could, I would
gers of steel."
lous,
but
for the
684
was
greeted at
with
its close
warm and
general
applause.
At
was
to
'
him little favor with the aristocratic section of the Irish Catholics.
With the English Catholics he became absolutely unpopular. These
last, indeed, were, for the most part, all along favorable to the veto.
It
even said that in 1791, in their anxiety to be speedily emancipated,
they had entertained some design of making themselves independent of
is
went
"The views
Mr. Plowden,
manner
Eighth downwards."
At
this
Caroline, the
warm
unhappy
To the end
On
of her
take the
field in
persecuted
O'Connell
made a
life
to the
to the succession.
" I
am
to interfere
"and
for
succession,
at
fail to
the princess."
If this
side."
shall
and
683
young
for the
princess,
provoke the reader to smile, at least he will not refuse the meed
"
The
it
is
is
gone by.
The
taste of
life.
even
if
to
remark
enough
may
just
faithless Sybarite,
all title to
On
"When Love
And
of
Gray
do not desire
to restore precisely
Henry
gospel light
first
eyes."
such
G86
Desiring as
of restoration necessarily
see
I rejoice to
they
its
how
our
inevitable
Catholic, but they compensate us most anqily, because they advance the resto-
ration of Ireland.
and they
will
public
spirit.
" I
repeat
in that
it;
delay
ultimate object
is
of
my
my great, my
1
''
native land.'
There
is
consider-
Why
feel
whom
whom
lie
may
individual."
of the
monstrous
lies
to
Have English
What of
hour?
especially,
GS7
was about
etc. etc.?)
century
"The no-Popery
cloth manufactory.
Yorkshire
fraet, in
cry
It
and
"Why,
which persecution
let
it,
is
for
me
but that
is
it
not material.
It
(Load
laughter.)
roofs!
Two regiments
of
three regiments of
horse,
foot,
the Flying
and the regiment of artillery from Chapeland, at length, the main body
ixod, all shared in the honor of the day
retired
the
Wicklow
rebels
to
Mountains,
and the residue of them
of the
went to bed in town. Fortunately no person was killed or wounded, and
Artillery from Island Bridge,
tranquillity
was
restored
by a
miracle.
Do you imagine
jest with
it
688
tion of
the
administra-
to prove,
"in
theii
in their petitions;
to
he was rejected
Giffard,
how
Messrs.
laments that
"
he
is
If
He
He
He
Irish heart."
in-
to,
every
On
letters of Sir
"A
person in India,"
"The
individuals thus
Donnell.
of Grattan's bill,
had the highest veneration for the illustrious patriot himself. Accordingly, when the address was so altered that, while being in the highest
degree complimentary to Grattan, it could not be said to express the
smallest approval of the "securities" of his "Eelief"
bill, its
adoption
"
GS9
us, then,
gratitude to Grattan;
fidelity,
unalterable
fidelity, to
time,
we
eternal
concur in the
our country."
" 1st.
That no member
who
and not
to introduce
any
other.
" 3d.
ciation,
the horse."
may
use an old, vulgar phrase, " like putting the car before
when
it
combine and pour in goods for little or nothing to crush Irish rivals.
Such branches of manufactures, indeed, as don't interfere with the
English manufacturers, may possibly thrive more or less in Ireland, even
in her existing state.
Yet I remember, some score of years ago, even a
poor match manufactory in Dublin, which one might have imagined
hardly worth interfering with, deliberately and pitilessly crushed by a
combination of English competitors.
Two or three boxes of English
matches might for a time be had in Dublin for the "ridiculously small
to
As soon
In short,
if
win
the Irish
let
them
G90
bod) the" (Presbyterian) "synod of Ulster, for the late vole of the
7
bers composing
it in
sion^ at all
us that
tell
lie
of the
characterized
The reporters
mem-
After
who
all
them
effect:
"He
was" willing to
efforts,
and the
efforts
set
in motion,
of his country."
On
thai,
he was
little
regretted.
Richmond
There
is
left Ireland.
mond, outside the city of Dublin, at the left side of Ballybough Bridge.
During Richmond's viceroy alty the populace at public meetings, while
waiting for the commencement, or during the intervals, of the proceedings,
were wont to amuse themselves by proposing " Three groans for the left
side of Ballybough Bridge!" This masked insult to the unpopular viceroy
would invariably elicit hearty explosions of laughter. Richmond was
This
succeeded by an astute and wily diplomatist, Lord Whitworth.
nobleman was the English ambassador with whom Napoleon had a
rather violent scene shortly before the rupture of the Peace of Amiens.
His aim, on becoming lord-lieutenant of Ireland, was, at least, twofold
The first
to corrupt the Dublin press and break up the Catholic Board.
The sum of 10,500 purchased
pint of his task was not very difficult.
much more valuable to Whitworth the pens of the
the souls and
During Lord Whitworth's administration government pamphleteers had "a good time of it," also. How "His Excellency" prospered in his machinations against the Catholic Board will
and Correspondent.
be seen.
Soon
after
he landed
C91
John Magee,
Some
of the
members
of the
Cork board were inclined to concede the veto to the Crown; others not.
At this meeting, held on the 30th of August, at the Lancastrian school,
John G-alway of Lota who had voted, at the General
a gentleman
Board
for their
resistance to the
veto,
was moved
to the chair
by Mr. James
But a general outcry arose against Mr. Galway. He persisted in keeping his place; the mass of the meeting persisted in their refusal to
Some attempts were next made to appoint
accept him as chairman.
another chairman.
As
members
be-
among themselves
some minutes,
the meeting, Mr. Roche promising, amid loud cheers,
now
Mr.
Barry of Barry's Lodge, one of the board, then called out in a loud
Some
voice, "Will you suffer the proceedings of the day to go on?"
crowd exclaim, " No not until you have another chairman." On this the board retire abruptly; their secession excites violent agitation and disgust. Counsellor McDonnell entreats the assembly
While they are busy about the appointment of anto maintain order.
other chairman our hero appears upon the troubled scene. He is greeted
with acclamations and blessings in a word, with an uncontrollable
uproar of patriotic exultation and conducted to the chair. Presently,
however having talked the meeting into good-humor and a desire for
Meanwhile,
reunion he goes out for the purpose of seeing the board.
the heat and pressure in the room become insupportable. Besides, several
thousands outside, who cannot get in, clamor for adjournment. Accordingly, by a unanimous vote, the meeting adjourns to a large open plain,
Counsellor O'Leary now takes the chair;
adjoining the school-room.
voices from the
order prevails.
was expressed
Liz
to
692
glorious
"warm and
ardent"
of the Cath-
they did not like identifying themselves with either section, while
"No," said
Mr. Dennis; "those steady and long-tried friends to your cause
will not attach themselves to any party,
Stowell, Beamish, Crawford
on resolutions perfectly without qualification of any kind, and unequivocally demanding Simple Repeal,' as it
an unanimous agreement come
to
'
was phrased, that is, the unconditional abrogation of the penal code."
He announced also that "the Board, obedient to the manifestations of
popular feeling that day witnessed, would now consider their office at
an end;" but would offer themselves "for re-election as members of a
Board" to consist of sixty-eight members, double the number of the last.
He in conclusion, begged them to forgive the repentant members of the
Board and admit Mr. Galway to preside over the meeting. "Will you
refuse forgiveness to persons repenting their errors?"
""No," responded
"
693
his seconder.
After a generous remonstrance from Mr. Dennis, the Protestant barrister already noticed,
in
feel,
who
it
may
gloriously
he warmly
in his presence,
and
am
of
more than
authorized to transact,"
Sir
B94
whom
boasting with an insane exultation of the ignoble deed they had done.
I pass over other insults perpetrated against Dr. Milner by the
English Catholics, of a piece with the strange conduct
and return to O'Connell's speech. After defending Dr. Milner and heaping scorn on his enemies, after sneering at those "erudite
politicians"
those "modest, meek, humble and enlightened independents," "those two youths," Moylan and McSweeny, who, when "the population of Ireland declare against all vetoism, under all and every shape
and form," come forward " for provisional securities "he next expresses
scribed,
He
John Magee.
tells
we
will not,
we
will notl")
"Then, beforehand,
it
encourages,
it
cheers
/ wiU stand
feelings.
me
on.
here
by you while
want language
lire;
icill
thank you;
to express
my
Ireland^
When
a liberal
servations.
He derided
who pretended
that dangers
G9o
and
"
the Church
He
first
member
(I
Shee-
by law
Remmy
many
believe
it
exists
still),
came
of that
me
may
season.
departed this
to speak,
shall retire."
life, if
Exit
Remmy at
some years
ago,
least for
Remmy
many
an-
other renegade before and probably since, in the bosom of the ancient
South Carolina.
He
Roman
undue influence over the people and packing meetings, that had been
made against the clergy of Cork, and himself especially. Fagan, in his
life of O'Connell, asserts that "the principal mover in the whole of this
democratic insurrection against aristocratic pretension in Cork was
the celebrated Dr. England.
He was a man of great powers of mind,
amazing intellectual energy, possessing, too, a masculine eloquence,
and a stern, unflinching determination, well suited to a popular leader.
GOG
He had
all
sary to the
him
office,
an agitator.
of
No
literary labor
He was
was
from the
a decided
anti-yetoist,
anti-Quarantotti
shortly).
Chronicle,
...
It
of
'
cutting
mind's eye Harry Dcane Grady, amidst the profoundest silence, giving
expression to those biting sentences that are, even to this day, repeated
by the descendants
I
of that generation."
spoken
of,
which John
Pe-
moment,
verting, for a
amendment, 0; for
the Bight Rev. Dr. Milner, John Magee and
After
this,
our hero.
Majority indisputable.
crowd
of
of his
entreaties
607
was aroused.
The crowd halted at Lallan the hatter's, on the parade, where O'Connel]
From a window of the house he warmly thanked the admiring
lodged.
thousands, recommending them to attend carefully to the registrations.
From all this hubbub the extent of the discord created by the angrilyvexed veto question may be estimated. Nor did the dissensions speedily
cease. The clergy were abused by the vetoists. They published a reply.
A large number of vetoists signed a protest against the meeting of the
30th of August. They held a meeting, too, at the Bush tavern, and
it
is said,
to
opinion,
we found
it
it
to
city
by which property
is
made
the standard of
ignorant
by design
The whole
county."
" the
many
With
life,
when he
of the
We
as
such must
fail,
till
with the money and rich consumers of the country, by the repeal of the
emaciating Act of Union."
of the
'
if
3d
of
September.
"
Be
it so.
He was
willing to
meet them upon every fair ground. They say, if Cardinal Fesch was
the Pope, he would be the creature of Bonaparte, and subject to his
control; and having the nomination of the Catholic bishops of Ireland,
he would only appoint such men to that dignity as would be disaffected
(398
to the British
parte.
"Cardinal Feseh
who
is
and would
because he opposed,
in disgrace
exile
wife!"
"by submitting
How
contributed to
first to
man would
all
have so
this
far
commotion
nephew.
is
He seems
at
the conductors of the Evening Post as to induce them, shortly after his
accession to the Viceregal dignity, to compliment
However, the
On
the 23d
of
main
him on
his reply to
Post, directed
and right
by Denis
in those days.
a vote of
thanks
to
To
this the
which the
"They
it,
two things evidently false: first, that there is a principle in the constitution by which property is made the standard of
Property is a good standard of contractors; but it is no more
opinion.
the standard of opinion than it is the standard of law or of Latin.
state
Why, whom do you think those men that declared that property
is
the
690
friend of mine,
poor as
richest
thought
Off
I,
the five
for, sir, I
my
of
honest earn-
'
in
and that
to return.
make
They"
for
populace 'ignorant
my
that
live
we
pounds.
But
so silly printed?
Why,
fact a
no
there could be no wealthy
if it
were
true,
fool
blockhead
man who
talked
'
700
prisoned six months at hard labor, to teach you the great principle
of
our constitution
Mr. Magee,
that
property
is
some
Dear
It is called, I believe,
During the autumn of this year various other Catholic meetings were
held in Ireland, at which resolutions, approving of O'Connell's opposition
to the veto and his conduct at the trial of Magee, were passed.
At the successful storming of St. Sebastian, in Spain, on the 31st
the brave Lieutenant John
of August, O'Connell lost a near relative
At the
young man had volunteered on the forlorn hope and been severely
wounded. At St. Sebastian, he sought the post of danger, where he
fell combating bravely.
sowing dissensions among
Doubtless some of those, who first threw down this
the popular party.
Burke understood well the machiapple of discord, intended mischief.
In November we find the
veto
question
still
"You
have a schism,"
says he, "and I am greatly mistaken if this is not intended and systemThe Board, alarmed at the progress which this veto
atically pursued."
or "securities" question seemed to have made in England, and the apparent acquiescence in it of the English Catholics, had pledged them-
any question
will
of a design of
of the prelates.
dictating to parliament.
On
the 20th of
November
He
So
far
mitting a draft of a bill (though that, he argued, would not involve any
dictation), confining themselves to mere suggestions: "Who," he asked,
spoke of dictation when Mr. Charles Butler, last year, prepared the
Who spoke of dictation when Mr. Grattan proframe of a bill?
"
bill to
701
"whether
be the Irish
it,
On
answers
to the letters of
December we
On
the 1st of
Board rallying round him affectionately to defend him against the numerous attacks made on him at this
time by the open enemies and the weak or false friends of Ireland. Mr.
0' Gorman brought the matter forward and spoke of his "transcendent
he thought it was
desert." Nicholas Mahon agreed with Mr. O'Gorman
upon
O'Connell
of
Catholics
to
repel
the
attacks
"by some
the duty
the
lasting memorial, which he could hand down to his latest posterity." He
also styled O'Connell "the best and dearest friend of his country." Mr.
find his friends in the
Plunket considered that every Catholic was bound to support the undaunted, incorruptible and inflexible supporter of the Catholic cause.
of the Board,
first of
life
and
It
fortune.
would be
it otherwise.
He had labored to expose, at the risk of
and fortune, the errors and corruptions of the enemies of
He had created an unconquerable spirit in the country. His
Ireland.
object had been to rally men of all persuasions, parties and habits under
one title, that of Irishmen. The Board, he (Mr. Plunket) thought, should
Mr. O'Connor
manifest by a resolution their conviction of his merits.
(the chairman) regretted that it should be deemed necessary to delay
such a measure. Mr. Scully dwelt on O'Connell's claims to the gratitude
of Ireland, and the failure of all malignant efforts to injure him in his
profession. O'Connell did more business than any lawyer, without a silk
gown, had ever before succeeded in doing, yet he found more time, than
almost any other man, to devote to the public good and for acts of private
benevolence. Of course Mr. Scully approved of the notice respecting the
Mr. Scully referred to
testimonial of the feeling of the Board to him.
wonderful were
his person
members
who were
themselves placed.
702
"When
first
warm
in the
He
On the
street,
If his professional
...
tit
style.
to O'Connell,
think
it
'
only fair to add the remark which the late John O'Connell
its
poetic quo-
703
to
matical structure.
for
On
the
new
and
services.
n<
because
it.
my
crate]
of
my
Among
it
"
existence to Ireland.
have conse-
all
the faculties
had
munificent;
gift is too
still
he
is
"glad that
who gave
and
it
am
will
capabilities are, I
it
him
as
my
Their
my
enemies,
day
The man who dedicates himself to the cause of his
country must calculate on meeting the hostility and calumny of her
enemies the envy and false-heartedness even of her friends.
He must
reckon on the hatred and active malignity of every idolater of bigotry,
of every minion of power, of every agent of corruption.
But that is
little
he will have to encounter the hollow and treacherous support of
occasion for
witnessed here.
this
is
pretended friends
in vain exclaim,
God
from
my
enemies.'
"You
one so
'
whom
protect
me
from
my
friends
he will
little
may
You have
fanned the flame of pure patriotism, and I trust enlisted in your service
the juvenile patriots of the land with talents superior oh beyond comparison
to
my
pretensions."
to
Richard Lalor
Sliiel,
"
And he and
country.
doxdtt) I shall
widowed
say nothing.
You
her interests!"
704
think
it
remark on
"Fort}
this sentence.
"Forty years have elapsed since this protestation; nearly seven since
the death of him who made it.
Let Ireland now calmly review his life
and
acts,
The consideration
dictation.
melancholy
of these letters
Thomas Moore,
employ his
brilliant pen,
was postponed.
so far seduced
which he spent
It is
by the
so
much
thrown over the attack, we can see that he hits at O'Connell and Scully
" Those orators and authors who
in such expressions as the following
live but by flattering your prejudices," and "This is the measure, which
the wrong-headed politicians amongst you, in contempt of their spiritual
He labors
guides, have branded as impious, deadly and apostatical."
hard to prove that the concession of the veto is hardly worth disputing
about, and opposition to it frivolous or even foolish.
About this period O'Connell undertook a very amusing and quixotic
:
adventure.
1811,
was
annum
The Kildare
in the receipt of
for the
The
society,
Of course the
Thus
Catholics refused to countenance or comply with this regulation.
the facilities for acquiring education were grievously diminished in the
the Bible should be read in
all
by them.
of the
Some persons protested against this usurparight to make Catholic education to a great
by the bigots
degree impracticable.
system of the
society,
its
Cooperites
and others
in short,
ilio
705
under the evangelical banner of this Kildare street society and giving
His brain
them, in his customary outspoken style, a piece of his mind.
had not long been big with this generous idea, ere he set about putting
it in practice.
In short, he coolly entered the hostile camp alone, and
commenced arguing
and
tact
skill,
With great
argument advanced by
without properly authorized notes and comments, by the young and the
ignorant.
of
such persons
in
fit
condition to under-
read and
pic-
and narratives of vice, side by side with divine truths, suited alike
for every eye and ear ?
No doubt he asked his strange auditory quessomeAvhat
effect.
It is not surprising that, while he was
tions
to this
tures
New
members
of this
[this
assembly of the
However,
baron of the Exchequer and lord chief-justice of the Queen's Bench; he was
"the purple old Branswicker" who passed, sentence on John Mitchel), begged
that a patient hearing should be given to Mr. O'Connell.
But before
long our whimsical Daniel went such extreme lengths as to utterly wear
He told them they had no right, in the
out the patience of the saints.
exercise of the trust committed to their charge, to gratify their peculiar
whims and
crotchets
faces that, in
706
The
faces of the
whom
compares Neptune
"this pillar of state," and
Virgil
his
Before he sat
of the
and on the
other, of the
man
of sin,
to
the saints.
It is to
admitted
of.
As
of saints
on the
infinite
was
espe-
O'Connell, however,
full
as ever of
short-lived.
He dwelt
t.*ase
of the Bible.
As might be
ever,
and
It
frantic than
of O'Connell's.
707
As
am
saints, I
may
amusing resolution, said to have been innocently passed, about this time,
by one of these pious societies: 'Resolved, that to prevent mirepresentation, all the
important objects of the society were in future to be carby a committee, to consist of twelve gentlemen and as
many
New
York
Citizen, in
for
It
Magrath, standing on his ground, pistol in hand, should state aloud that
he was sorry the altercation had taken place.
Before this was exactly
708
agreed
to,
O' CORNELL.
it
too,
stand-
man
for
whom
he
felt
no
ill-will.
long pause
but
finally, after
both parties, Nicholas Purcell 0' Gorwas brought to agree to the arrangement. Then the principals
man
more stepped forward and resumed their places, still holding the
Magrath, elevating his voice, declared
loaded weapons in their hands.
manfully that he regretted the occurrence of the quarrel.
Our hero, in
once'
Advancing
together, the
and warmly shook hands amidst the joyful shouts of all the spectators.
The two immediately got into the same carriage, and chatted together
in
a pleasant, friendly
manner
lated treaty."
those
and anxiety were felt in Limerick while the unpleasant affair was pending, and congratulations, the most sincere, were expressed at its pacilic
and hearty termination.
I regret very much that want of space will prevent me from giving
here extracts at any length from an extraordinary and public-spirited
charge, delivered by Baron Fletcher, an Irish judge of exceptional integrity, and good-will towards the poor oppressed peasantry, to the grand-jury
of the county Wexford, in this year, 1813.
body.
Doubtless,
its
locks from their propriety, and caused the wrong-doers of the Ascendency
faction to
It is
All
it
709
should
hand
for
from intruding upon their farms, and to extort from the weakness and
terror of their landlords (from
failed to
win
it)
One
passage like this gives more real insight into the causes of Ireland's
misery, the true case of Ireland before the world,
ments
of
Ireland,
than
all
the tomes of
vicious
Baron Fletcher next touches on the jury laws. He points out the
system of fraud and peculation that prevailed owing to the abuse of the
Even in the present day grand-juries are, in
county presentment code.
some instances, chiefly in the hands of the Ascendency faction. After
speaking of other deep-rooted causes of immorality, he dwells at considerable length on the evils of absenteeism.
He
vations he notices the ignorance of the English about Irish affairs.
says that they, "generally speaking, know about as much of the Irish
as they do of the Hindoos."
among
those
An
"handed about"
concealing from him the true
English traveller
interest in
is
all
bus}r in
pouring falsehood into his ears touching the disturbed state of the counHe returns to England "with
try and the vicious habits of the people."
his prejudices doubled," " in a kind of moral despair of the welfare of
such a wicked race, having made up his mind that nothing ought to be
done for this lawless, degraded country." The judge adds, he would not
wonder
'
Oceana,' calls
and prejudices of a
the people of Ireland an untam-
able race, declaring that they ought to be exterminated and the country
colonized by Jews."
England be extended.
He expatiates on the neglect of the tenantry. In England landlords
rebuild the dilapidated cottages of their tenantry.
Nothing is done for
of
What interest,
he make them?
then,
With respect
is
to
"the equal and impartial administration of justhe personnel of the magistracy, he says: "The
if
any
of these various
Much
hour.
I
may
favor of
SilPllllI!
711
ing memorial to the Spanish Cortes, stating to them the enslaved and
its
sentatives to
emanimportance and
itself,
Parliamentary repre-
constitution."
bill,
should
that Catholic college that nestles under the wing of the British govern-
ment.
He
explains
it
thus
"
The incubus
of jealous
and
rival intol-
upon its walls, and genius, taste and talent fly from the sad
dormitory where sleeps the spirit of dulness." He adds: "The bigot
erance
may
sits
but
still
there
no conflicting principle of
Irish genius is not smothered
is
there as in Maynooth."
In
Orange linen-weavers
were guilty of a shameful deed of vandalism. The venerable cross of
St. Patrick, curiously sculpture! with prelates and canonized virgins of
the olden times and other interesting figures, was attacked and hurled
to the earth by these wretched barbarians.
The pedestal was blown up
with gunpowder, and the shaft of this relic of antiquity, which had stood
in the market-place of Armagh for seven hundred years, was converted
the city of
of July, a
band
of
712
the thigh.
tried
'
and acquitted;
some
Catholics,
punished.
In Dublin,
lics
men
displayed
too,
itself.
On
decorated with gaudy flags and ribbons the statue of King William
round
it
emblem
fire-
of the national
"
'Orangemen' and
'
'United Irishmen.'"
were to be traced to
which had
risen in opposition to them
the well-known society of Ribbonmen.
Tins year the second war between America and England was raging.
The American brig Argus was capturing numbers of English merchantbody,
lie
men
At
in
Tnscar Rock, she encountered the Pelican, a British man-ofAlter a desperate tight of forty-live minutes, maintained against
last,
war.
overwhelming odds, the Argus struck her flag. Her captain's leg was
carried off by a cannon-ball.
His officers and crew suffered severely.
This occurrence may have recalled to O'Connell's mind,the incident of
his childhood, when he saw the deserters from Paul Jones' vessel.
Meanwhile O'Connell's professional career was successful beyond
example. In the autumn assizes of 1813, at Limerick, O'Connell had a
brief in every one of twenty-six cases that
court, an.l
At Tralee
him
politihave already seen
borhood.
Its
and merchants
of the city
and neigh-
The people were not admitted, and the Board, as a matter of course,
was very genteel and very unpopular." O'Connell revolutionized all
this.
But his professional triumphs in "the beautiful city" were even
still more splendid.
His brief-bag was plethoric beyond that of any
The great "counsellor" was an
other "gentleman of the long robe."
object of interest to curious gazers, and saluted with popular acclaim
wherever he appeared. To anticipate a little, his son John, speaking
in his second volume of the year 1817, has the following passage: "We
have not alluded to Mr. O'Connell's professional career as yet in this
volume, as no reports, except of the most meagre and scanty description, are to
it
embraces.
unprecedented.
effective address
father's speeches.
I
an odd
case, in
which our hero appeared as the champion of a poor girl against a wellto-do oppressor.
On the 25th of May, 1813, he moved, in the Court of
Common Pleas, for a conditional order against the Rev. William Hamilton for illegal and oppressive conduct as a magistrate of the county of
Tipperary " The facts of the case," said he, addressing the judges, " are
really curious, and would be merely ludicrous but for the sufferings
inflicted on my client.
The affidavits stated that a peasant girl, named
Hennessev,
had a hen which laid not g
but eggs
golden esirs
v
c
CO strangely
O
marked with red lines and figures.
She, on the 21st April, 1813.
brought her hen and eggs to the town of Roscrea, near which she lived,
and of which the defendant was the Protestant curate. It appeared by
the result that she brought her eggs to a bad market, though at fiist
she had some reason to think differently; for the curiosity excited by
those eggs attracted some attention to the owner and as she was the
child of parents who were miserably poor, her wardrobe was in such a
state that she might almost literally be said to be clothed in nakedness.
My lords, a small subscription to buy her a petticoat was suggested by
the person who makes the present affidavit, himself a working weaver
of the town, James Murphy and the sum of fifteen shillings was
speedily collected.
It was a little fortune to the poor creatine
she
kissed her hen, thanked her benefactors, and with a light heart started
on her return home. But diis aliter visum (to the gods it seemed otherwise,
At the moment two constables arrived with a warrant signed
fitting).
by the Reverend William Hamilton. This warrant charged her with
the strange offence of a foul imposition.
It would appear as if it were
issued in some wretched jest arising from the sound not the sense.
But
it proved no joke to the girl, for she was arrested.
Her hen, her eggs,
and her fifteen shillings were taken into custody and carried before L',>
:
'
i^
was not
lie
committed
715
The
girl
was
When
shillings.
Murphy had
Why,
literally,
under that
But
act,
was, indeed,
my
lords,
wherever
no,
money
He
punished.
satisfied.
he was therefore to be
first tried
it is
that
to be found,
was Murphy
tried,
Yes,
convicted
to
Such
is
'for his
good behavior.'
was
be
hoped that those details would turn out to be imaginary; but they are
sworn to -positively sworn to, and require investigation the more espe-
cially as
It
to the
gentleman.
to
he (Mr.
He was
charged
on oath with having been actuated by malice toward this wretched girl
because she was a Catholic. It was sworn that his object was to establish some charge of superstition against her, upon no better ground
than this, that one of those eggs had a mark on it nearly resembling a
cross."
injured.
71G
0' CORNELL.
This was not the only odd exploit by which this eccentric parson
On
distinguished himself.
weariness of the
way with
pleasant conversation.
He
"
some
told
He
divert-
laughed
informs us,
'.'at
Crampton
in the act of
Two
of the police,
The reverend
But
if
fact,
we probably
should never have heard a single word of this 'ingenious device.' "
may
human
be
'Reynard the Fox," in the old mediaeval fable of that name, O'Connell
told Mr. Daunt a still more cunning and far-fetched contrivance of that
edifying parson and precious justice of the peace, the thrice reverend hen-
decapitating Hamilton.
hero, "occasionally
seemed
window
to be intently studying.
at the figure.
It
it,
and a
He
Bible,
then stole
it
named
at table,
of Popish atrocity
Word
a pious
of God, brutally
tired at
was
in the
member
of the
Egan
family.
nell
717
told Mr.
action
the
for
liament street;"
etc.,"
by
lliluer,
his son,
"The
" Grattau's
Plowden.
M.
Par-
CHAPTER
XVIII.
Chequered fortunes op O'Connell axd the Catholic cause ix 1S13 Catholic meetings THROUGHOUT IRELAND BITTERNESS AND FURY OF THE GOVERNMENT PRESS AGAINST
O'CONNELL O'Co.NNELl's DAUNTLESS AXD DEFIANT BEARING IN THE TEETn OF ADVERSE
CIRCUMSTANCES LUDICROUS ANECDOTE OF A TAILOR PRESEXTATIOX OF A SPLENDID SILVER
CUP TO O'CONNELL BY THE MANUFACTURERS OF THE DUBLIN LIBERTIES FALLEN CONDITION OF THE LIBERTIES TlIE RUIN OF THE CATHOLIC BOARD COMMENCES WITH ARISTOCRATIC secession
The breach between Henry Grattan axd O'Coxnell grows
wider Government reporters at Catholic meetings The " Knockloftiness " of
THE EARL OF DonOUGIIMORE's LETTER O'CONNELL ROUTS A " PACKED " MEETING OF THE
BECEDKBS; LUDICROUS CONSTERNATION OF THE ARISTOCRATS AT O'CONNELL's SUDDEN APPARITION AMONG THEM TlIE FAMOUS RESCRIPT OF QuARANTOTTI DlSMAY AND SUBSEQUENT INDIGNATION AND HIGH SPIRIT OF THE CATHOLICS BOLD ATTITUDE OF O'CONNELL
AND THE CLERGY AXD PEOPLE TlIE TOPE DISAVOWS QuARANTOTTI UNPLEASANT AFFAIR
of Major Bryan A stage-struck agitator Strange characters and queer duels
The vote of censure ox Dr. Dromgoole Lord Whitworth suppresses the Catholic Board by proclamation Noble conduct of John PuiLroT Curran.
wolpMlIS
called a
fool, is
O'Connell
O'Connell
is
71 J
(
grows
too,
cold, is inclined
dance."
The Board,
too, is at
to
He had
be daunted.
faith in
His
spirit
remained
proud and high; his bearing was still defiant and aggressive. No doubt
his enemies deemed all this insolent and provoking to a degree; but
what could they do, poor devils ? Chafe as they might, they had finally
The brilliant Shiel, in his animated sketch of
to "grin and bear it."
O'Connell, tells us:
a
man
"The admirers
of
is
for
Then
and the
feeling is duly
communicated
to the public
of
720
Dublin teems with the most astounding imputations upon his character
and motives." Mr. Mitchel remarks amusingly on this: ''The provoca-
pavement' was
more serious than it may now appear, for the pavement was strictly
Protestant, and so were the street-lamps.
No Catholic, though lie might
drive a coach-and-four, could be admitted upon any paving or lighting
tion of the 'Popish horses prancing over a Protestant
Dublin."
to this
town
councillor,
lord, these
ment, they
who was
may
Papists
may
tailor,
said, at
a corporation dinner
One
and
My
'
them
set foot
"
of
warm
more or less, frown across the path of every man who devotes himself
to an arduous struggle in vindication of the rights of a downtrodden
people, occurred to cheer O'Connell amid the somewhat discouraging
On the 14th of the January of
events that heralded in the year 1814.
that year, the manufacturers of the liberty of the city of Dublin pre-
On
His two boys, Maurice and Morgan, stood beside him and shook hands
with the Dublin artisans. The address to our hero, signed J. Talbot
and C. Dowdal, speaking of the gift and givers, contained these and
other words: "It is but the widow's mite; yet they [the givers) hope
not less acceptable, as it overflows with their affections." They wished
O'Connell replied with grateful warmth he told
their country was "widowed, too," that the independence of
'82 gave Ireland manufactures and freedom
that independence alone
"My gratitude to the manufacturers," said he, "will
could revive both.
him long
them that
life
also.
if I
721
he said in his more formal reply, "he declared, in allusion to their sub-
'
city,
has
it
long-
'
'
facturing
employment
time been
known
and has
for
a long
"What
Parliament?"
had any natural " inferiority "
in the Irish
securities did
ings.
L
i
to O'Con-
At the
all
perfectly fair,"
and promised
date as
many
fit
to send.
On
to
accommo-
this
conduct
least,
during
the course of his agitation, similar occasions have arisen for similar
greatly
lics,
to the
doomed never
full
members
federacy, over
Thirdly,
made an
with having
and
" Fourthly,
(Lcuujhtcr.)
This
"'unfortunate witticism'
tins
723
from
'
The Belfast
it
to the
!"
many
"
Eeminiscenccs of a
in the Irish
Monthly
of
and the
Too
polite to
offered,
expressive
opponents of the cause, they Avere also too refined in their selection of
language to be either spirited or independent in their sentiments; and
when they touched upon the feeling of the civil degradation which they
were enduring, it was calculated more to excite compassion for their
privations than applause for the indignant sense of wrong they should
have displayed.
away
The proceedings
of the Seceders
724
tlieir
cause.
was resolved
to
I'll
appear
brave them.'
to prepare
an address
to the
which transactions emanated from Lord Trimleston's drawing-room. At the latter end of March, a circular was issued
by Le Chevalier De McCarthy, their secretary of state, to those who
were supposed to sanction the secession, inviting them to attend, for the
purpose of hearing the report of the committee appointed to prepare
the address to his royal highness the prince-regent, and to receive a
The chevalier also
communication from the earl of Donoughmore.'
requested that 'you would be so good as to mention this, with my comof the year 1814;
all
'
All those
who
still
the petition
Board (the model of the association) were passed over, and the
seeders imagined that, as the meeting was to take place in the mansion of a nobleman, no tribune of the people would dare to intrude
olic
upon
Wrapped
members of
knock at the hall-door startled the slumbering echoes in Trimleston House and attracted the attention of its drawThe noble president looked embarrassed the
ing-room convention.
The
hectic of a moment passed over his cheek, but did not tarry.
climax
and
terminated
in
a
of
sound
a
knock was both loud and long,
that
there
was
pervade
the
assembly
seemed
to
presentiment
general
but one person who would have the audacity to demand admittance in
The chevalier, more courageous than the rest, rose from
that manner.
his place at the table and went to reconnoitre from a position on the
staircase,
TIIE LTFE OF
DAMEL OXOXXELL.
72")
Hundred was
with
this
Ireland.
But,
first,
it
is
At once the belief spread like wildfire that not merely the
who had been appointed to administer ecclesiastical affairs
prelates,
at
Kome
72G
while the pope was a prisoner in the hands of Napoleon, had given
their approval to the
"securities" of Grattan's
bill of
the preceding
but that Pius the Seventh himself had assented to them also.
This appeared the more probable, as His Holiness was naturally grateful
year,
to the allied
conquest and invasion against the great emperor after his disastrous
retreat from Leipzig, in 1813, had brought about the pontiff's release
from captivity.
All the apprehensions, however, of the Irish Catholics
seemed
a
to
letter,
be
fully justified,
merely of Grattan's
cording to
bill
but of Canning's clauses. The Catholics, acthis precious document, ought "to receive and embrace the
with a grateful
It
may
bill,
spirit."
It
tainly hard hitting at the English Catholic primate; but then our un-
"As
of those
who
government
ment
of those points,
of those
who
shall
ment
to
O'C'OXNELL.
727
have none admitted to those dignities who either are not natwho have not been residents in the kingdom for
ural-born subjects, or
four years preceding,
merely
political,
as
all
all
indulgence.
that they
that
of their integrity,
who
It is better,
iii.
for
Upon
7) 'even to
full
indeed,
who
are elected to
and proposed for bishoprics and deaneries by the clergy may be admitted
or rejected by the king, according to the law proposed.
When, therefore,
the clergy shall have, according to the usual custom, elected those
whom
they shall judge most worthy in the Lord to possess those dignities, the
approbation or dissent
may
but
if
approved
of,
be had thereupon.
be proposed who
may
If
the candidates be
be acceptable
to the
king;
Sacred
whereof, having duly weighed the merits of each, shall take measures
for the
another duty
is
power
to
any
of
all letters
per-
mentioned
whether they contain anything which may be injurious to the government or anywise disturb the public tranquillity. Inasmuch as a communication on ecclesiastical or spiritual affairs with the head of the
Church is not forbidden, and as the inspection of the board relates to
political subjects only, this also must be submitted to.
It is right that
the government should not have cause to entertain any suspicion with
What we
of
of a political
728
Those matters only are to be kept under the seal of silence which pertain to the jurisdiction of conscience within us; and of this it appears
to me sufficient care has been taken in the chaises of the law alluded to.
We are perfectly convinced that so wise a government as that of Great
Britain, while
it
that account wish to compel the Catholics to desert their religion, but
ing" (I am borrowing
lic,
the
words of John O'Connell), "in the Irish Catho[Quarantotti). in allusion to a wild story
about the derivation of his patronymic, said to have been from the
number
He was
father's fortune."
huge hamper, which he was bringing into the presence of His Holiness.
The hamper was crammed with the mitres of Irish bishops, huddled
together confusedly; while George the Third, with covetous eye, was
standing in a comer eagerly stretching forth his hands to grasp the
Irish priests, who remembered having seen Quarantotti at
mitres.
Rome in their student days, described him as a dunce. As the English
papers took care to represent him as a cardinal, the fact that he was
At a
only a prelate was dwelt on in Ireland with some satisfaction.
but in mean time the
later period, indeed, he received a cardinal's hat
Irish were glad in any way to lower his pretensions.
Nothing could equal the disgust and rage with which Irishmen, both
lay and clerical, read the praises of the English government in this
Thomas Kenned)", in his "Reminiscences of a Silent Agirescript.
tator," says: "One of the proudest and most gratifying recollections of
the agitators is connected with the dignified resistance which the Irish
;
729
like wildfire
moaned
all
Some cursed
my
commands
of mine, accosted
old servant-
me
the
complained.
"An
of
rescript
Pod
Evening
in the Dublin
that the
I shall
abruptly
it
be true
The
Nay, as
it
Propaganda."
The
" Irish
much
He
announcement
itself
an understrapper of the
Priest" then amuses himself with some critiless
make
through
so important an
730
His Holiness from his French captivity did not take place till the 2d
of April.
No wonder, then, that the resentment against the presumptuous prelate and the resistance to his audacious rescript grew stronger
each day.
On
to their flocks:"
we consider
upon the Catholic Church in Ireland, particularly as it wants those authoritative marks whereby the mandates of
the Holy See are known and recognized, and esjycciallg the signature of the
antotti,' as non-obligatory
pope.
"That, circumstanced as
we
and dearest
interests of religion,
among
the clergy of
of
Ireland as will
made
by the Parliament."
The clergy then respectfully
The signatures of all the priests " at that moment in the city of
Dublin," some of which (those, for instance, of Dr. Blake, subsequently
land.
who
Father Walter
Dublin
up to a comMyler, Father Yore, etc.) were familiar names in
resolutions.
appended
these
recent
date,
were
to
paratively
bishop of Dromore,
and
701
from ecclesiastics,
full
(lie
letters
Quaran-
totti.
Post of
May
chievous document,"
read
it
with feelings of
was
O'Shaughnessy wrote
it;
"
The
document,
if
hasten
acted
to pro-
it,
and while
same supposition,
throughout Ireland?
How
"How
stand the
civil
liberties of
the Catholics
the
manner
of their emancipation."
He
also,
at this meeting,
made
" I
receive
it
732
Thomas Wyse,
authorship of the
cipation, he
created Sir
This
After eman-
was
for
of various sects,
of
"Ah!
same
religion."
Sir
Thomas
As
had some share of the arbitrary temper of her impeit may be doubted whether Sir Thomas's domestic felicity
proportionate to the honor he derived from so illustrious an
uncle,
was at
all
alliance.
at this
meeting
"
How
We
He
of Parliament.
of gratitude to
making us accept
By
us?
his orders
we
How
it.
are to accept
it
of
an act
dare he talk
as beggars
like
with our hats in our hands and a submissive bend of the body!
Never will we obey such orders; we will as much allow his right to interfere with the act of Parliament as we will allow the king or the king's
aliens,
by his father on
this
first,
favor of the veto; next, a vindication of the conduct of" the clergy of
Dublin, and
"an expression
"
;
and
finally,
would soon
a contemptuous
Talk-
73.)
Let our answer be, I know you well, Moll Doyle!' "
[Laughter.)
He then speaks of the grand-juries of Antrim. Armagh and
Wexford. Apparently, the magnates of the last county had accused the
Board of treason or sedition, or both. I shall give O'ConnelFs remarks
well, Moll Doyle!'
'
He
grammar and ignorance of the " sweet county Wexford gentlemen," and
then says " Can any one point out an instance of treason or sedition
:
Catholic Board, or a
gentleman at large." O'Connell concluded by moving certain resolutions, which were carried unanimously.
His son gives what he calls
"the pith and marrow" of these resolutions:
"Resolved, that
we deem
it
decree,
mandate, rescript or
decision tvhatsoever of
ought
not,
jiolitical
Ireland,
and
them
to await
" Resolved,
that
we do most
earnestly
and
Church!"
All
was unanimity.
all rivalry
between them was buried, save an emulation of zeal against the presumptuous rescript of Quarantotfi. Besides the Catholic orators, Protestant advocates of the Catholic cause were listened to with applause
the able Counsellor Finlay, the more eloquent Charles Philips.
But the excitement against Quarantotti did not terminate with this
meeting.
The Catholic bishops of Ireland agreed to the following protest on the 27th of May, after a conference of two days at Maynooth
"Resolved, that a congratulatory letter be addressed to His Holiness
from captivity.
Propaganda, we are
that
it
is
fully
convinced
not mandatory.
Resolved, that
we do now open
satisfaction.
Donoughmore, and
to the Eight
when
that,
Hon.
the question of
bill,
relief,
as severely penal to us
our religion."
after
in the
same mixed
Lord
style of
eompliuien: and remonstrance until early in June, when, without warning to those
who had
entrusted
him with
lower House, and without consultation with any one, Mr. Grattan,
it
was
when
deliberations.
Not long
London on a
Rome,
to
prevent
its
thing be in contemplation."
far
eyes,
him
of
In truth,
for a
and anxiety.
The
against
it.
by the
clergy
in a
were kept
affair
veto,
stubborn as ever.
73/
may
that of
towards
He was even
pontiff,
arrested,
feeling prevalent
among
last four
the
first
by
whom
It
and the
rescript of Quarantotti,
no matter
sanctioned.
am
speaking
of,
to
hear that
Bryan
of Jen-
kinstown, and to a vote of censure that was passed on the learned Dr.
The new
In
"You cannot
effect,
what passed
may
make
criminate yourself."
himself responsible
at the meeting.
sureties of
Up
500
to the
each.
and well-born.
He was
creature,''
He was
he was
very wealthy
style of
still
more popular; indeed, even independent of the strong claims which the
extraordinary amount of government persecution he had endured gave
him on the
a favorite.
public,
liis
make
liim
Major
Bryan should follow the example of the other aristocratic seceders, which
had damaged the prestige of the Board in the popular estimation. The
for
lest
Dublin Evening Post (not unnaturally, as having been Magee's paper) was
especially bitter against O'Connell for having twice
moved "his
gallant
Whereupon
his
up
shaggy brows,
cries,
amid loud
740
cheering,
expect that
What
" I
is,
affair, is that,
in the course
of
it,
right to hiss a
member
of the Board."
He was
O'Connell begged to
not displeased.
differ
from
]S o doubt he liked
be admonished
did not consider himself infallible he knew
But
it
was well
"He
by disapprobation.
impute his mistakes, not
countryinen
would
his
but of his judgment."
of O'Connell served
{Great
and prolonged
people,
to
applause.)
when
This moderation
see
erating from imprisonment that venerable patriot Mr. Todd Jones fully
Major
infamy?
Bryan has acted from error in judgment alone; he is punished he is
suffering under public opinion. Will it enrich the tribute to John Magec
to commix your vote with drops from the bleeding heart of a man once
Finally, Counsellor McDonnell hits upon an ingenious plan
his friend?"
evinced.
And
him
to
to
agreed
pure,
man."
Jack Lawless at once embraced
this resolution,
it
and
Did not
effusion.
Bryan "had
lie,
"in
liis
introduc-
fallen a victim to an
Post
is
heart,
of the
Board
amount
unconquerable fidelity
resolutions were carried unanimously.
tleman
for his
to
of the characters
Portmarnock, a
some outrageous
skilfully,
for St.
eccentricities, possessed
which he managed
style,
and a brick-manufactory,
would at one moment terrify his audience, while, the next, his exaggerated grotesqueness and absurdities of all sorts, especially his outlandish readings, would convulse the whole house with irrepressible
laughter.
For a while his histrionic extravagances drew crowded
houses.
Never was the audience more dense than on the night when
ing,
was announced in the playbills that he was to sing "Scots, wha hae."
a grotesque
IIo went through this extraordinary vocal performance
ami weird chant, that could only he called singing by courtesy arrayed
in Caledonian costume and brandishing, "with huge two-handed sway,"
i naked sword, to the imminent peril of the terror-stricken orchestra
and the intense astonishment of the rest of the audience. He inspired
too much dismay to be ever completely ludicrous.
At times his performances gave him so much the aspect of a dangerous bedlamite that
the spectators would bo seized with a well-nigh uncontrollable impulse
it
to
betake themselves to
flight.
whether addressed to
reason he had preserved or to his sense of shame,
whatever remnant of
intervals
his infatuation.
between the
acts, to
Accordingly,
again, to his
As Don
of
and judicious speech of the whole lot delivered was that spoken
by this half-crazy amateur of the stage. Nor was this the sole occasion
on which a speech of his Mas such as might not have misbecome the
lips of an orator of far higher reputation.
Luke Plunket had a sort of leaning towards the Catholic aristocracy,
lie was sometimes vexed with O'Connell's sarcasms at the expense of
Thus, on the 8th of March, when, as a conciliatory lure,
the Seoeders.
the name of Lord Fingal was placed by the Board on one of the committees for despatch of business (a similar course was often adopted in
the cases of the absent noblemen), O'Connell turned to the chairman and
sible
demanded,
74a
"
in a tone of irony,
may be imposing
If not, it
too
Luke Plunket
at once
condemned O'Connell's
sarcastic allusion to
He
who
he
man
"
would not
back.
...
cially bitter
a particle of
sacrifice
One
safe."
"
espe-
Since Eng-
land has become so strong abroad, she does not want the assistance of
the great people of the Catholic Board
a circumstance which
savage sarcasm
this, if
will,
per-
unmerited.
"a potched egg." "I said 'poached egg,' sir," replied Ogle, quietly.
Hot Barney flamed up, touched Ogle with his cane and told him he was
horsewhipped.
Of course, a duel followed. It was not easy for unruly
Barney
to find
celebrated
a second.
for
T
JS
him the
ed Lysaght.
The angry duellists met near Coldblow lane, and exchanged shots four
times without effect.
As they were returning home, Lysaght saw a
Sticking his head out of
friend of Barney's on Leeson street bridge.
the carriage-window, Lysaght cried out, "I have your cock here; the
next time he must take the pike, for he's the devil at the pistol."
Ned Lysaght also accompanied, in the capacity of second, the
in-
744
trepid
patriotic
in boards."
I
shall
now
was passed on Dr. Dromgoole. On the 13th of November, 1813, O'Con" Having taken into
nell moved the following resolution in the Board
:
measure
we deem
it
Church
be proposed to the legislature without having been
of Ireland
ought to
previously sanctioned
by the approbation
Ireland."
His son tells us " His object was to endeavor to smoothen the way
the mistaken security '-men to return to Catholic agitation; and so
:
to
'
harmony
But a
it
it
involved
viz..
"that
"unless
when
most consistent
to
a general council
Dr. Dromgoole
of the auti-vetoists.
was
cer
In withdrawing
his resolution with so good a grace, O'Connell at least merited the praise
of
magnanimity.
Dr.
to
He
of those
whom
745
by the
sacrifice of prin-
gown
or the
bench.
So far the learned doctor only proved himself wiser and more farseeing than the majority of his colleagues.
But at the meeting of
the Board, on Wednesday, the 8th of December, 1813, in a speech of
solid learning, great power,
ponderous
style,
he said
many
in his
own massive
or
be misrepresented, consequently sure, however logically true, to produce mischievous effects. As usual, he was the great enemy of the veto;
to
for
them ever
so slightly.
and created a perfect uproar, was his ridiculing the idea of Cathbinding themselves by "an oath not to seek directly or indirectly
the subversion of the Protestant Church." He argued that "this would
offence
olics
abuse the divine command, which says, 'Go ye and teach all
nations.'
It would be to proscribe the writings and spiritual labors of
a Bossuet, an Arnot, a Lingard and a Milner.
Even the virtues and
be
to
and persecution
The only persons pleased were
the Catholic cause, who thought they saw a justification
terrible sentiments of intolerance
No
746
and Demoniacs 01
Diabolics.
It was in vain for Dr. Droingoole, after this, "to disavow any
disrespect to any sect of Christians." His theology had kindled a flame
sure to burn him up.
One of the most remarkable features of this meeting was the first
appearance of Richard Lalor Shiel as a popular orator. Shiel on this
entes,
Weepers or Holders,
Davidians, Polygamists,
'
oratory,
though
it failed
little
was
so
much
"
praise.
From
shall
"The
Musgrave."
Hume
to the stupid
John O'Connell
and malignant
tells
us that this
chair."
Nicholas Pur-
cell 0'
Gorman
styled
it
On
was held, Edward Blake of French fort in the chair. Mr. O'Gorman
demanded a vote of disavowal or even censure of the learned doctor.
He talked of "the folly and guilt of a speech which amounts to a complete verification of all the calumnies of Sir Richard Musgrave
for
silence is, in this instance, acquiescence."
He spoke also of Dr. Drom-
against
what
will
be the
...
said
as a precedent.
it
He
it.
If
'(
exclaim at every sentence that sounds harsh to their ears, 'Why, this
the sentiment of the Catholic Board.'
it
is
own
the reply
will in future
Dr. Dromgoole.
it
case
"
It will
Yet
gives
be decisive:
allude to
my
It
would disavow
it,
as they disavowed
me
is
but vote
for this
motion, because
my
feud which changed the inhabitants of this land from countrymen and
brothers,
down
to
the ancient
kingdom
of Ireland
that
from her
rank as a nation, leaving her nothing but the name of the paltry and
pitiful province in which we vegetate rather than live."
In a preceding
part of this speech he had declared that he would not give up "a single
hour" or "a single exertion to procure the victory of one sect over the
others.
No, my object is of a loftier nature. / am an agitator with
ulterior views I
I wish for liberty
real liberty."
The vote of censure passed. Dr. Dromgoole had vainly asked " for
On
He
enemy
argued that
it
moved
it
748
of pusillanimity."
of censure
surprise.
man and
is
" I
know," said
he. "of
but one
is
his God,
is
thank himself for it:" He then moved, as an amendment, that " the
Catholic Board was responsible only for its resolutions;" but he subsequently withdrew this amendment at the request of several of his
colleagues.
Dennis Scully spoke in favor of rescinding the resolution; but Nicholas Purcell O'Gorman spoke vehemently against Dr. Dromgoole's speech.
At a previous meeting O'Gorman had roundly asserted that even Ma-
749
seems now),
Mr. 0' Gorman thought it necessary to defend himself against the imputation: "I am not a Mahometan," he roared; "I assure the Catholic
was a Mahometan.
it
so
Board that
it is
usual toast of the 'glorious, pious and immortal memory,' they next
"The
gave as a toast, 'Dr. Dromgoole, long life to him!' " (Laughter.)
speech of Dr. Dromgoole was posted on the walls of the houses. Yes,
so great was the zeal of the Orangemen to disseminate the speech of
(Here
'Gorman's bull drew
Dr. Dromgoole, that it was sold gratis!"
"The moment the speech was disclaimed,
the news produced an instantaneous effect on the minds of the people
of Derry."
Mr. O'Gorman added, that his liberality towards the Mahometans had carried him a little too far.
forth a burst of laughter.)
All this time O'Connell sat with his hat cocked on the side of his
head in an Irish, " devil-may-carish " style, and with a humorous look.
He rose, uncovered his head and delivered a speech, which bore some
analogy to an Irish stew at least its ingredients were of the most mis;
cellaneous description
all sorts of
certain, it
He
sup;
at
same time he begged to differ more or less from most of the speakers
on both sides. The oath, which Grattan's bill required, according to
O'Connell, " would hinder a Catholic priest from preaching, because his
sermons must be an indirect means of subverting the Protestant religion."
It was worse than the oath devised "by their implacable
enemy, Dr. Duigenan," which "only bound the person who took it not
He was far
to substitute another in place of the Protestant religion.
the
What
disrespectfully of
religion
right
750
had decided him to vote for the reversal of their former resolution. They
had banished Dr. Dromgoole by their vote, and he would ask, who was
the next person that was to be proscribed
who was to be called a
public criminal? Who was the obnoxious person who was to be guillotined in public opinion, and to be cut off from society?
Who was the
person that must next fall, when neither the soundness of his head nor
the integrity of his heart could protect him? He was sorry to find that
the greatest patriots were as ready to abuse the honest and talented
Catholic, who boldly repelled the calumnies of his persecutors, as the
veriest reptiles of the Orange faction." (Laughter.)
Barney Coile told the meeting, amid mingled hisses and applause,
that " they should not be led astray by the two Solomons of the Board
Counsellors O'Connell and Scully whose advice would make them lose
At
this
Madam Johanna
raise
up a new
that
it
all religions
are alike
that, provided a
man
hometan.
But
will
is
Johanna Southcote
said she
was
"
-4
man whether he be
universe.
a Christian or a Mahometan
Board, at
it
751
ay,
everything in the
all.
"Here," says
McDonnell,
"I
opposed by a Mahom-
find myself
opponents of
my
that,
of
the leading
his
Mahom-
me upon
These
I have
change
my
not heard any
argument 'to induce
opinion
as to the necessity of rescinding the hasty and unworthy resolution
which I seek to rescind." yEneas McDonnell pronounced a panegyric
on the learned doctor
but it was all in vain the Board refused to
me
reason or
to
Dromgoole seems
mount to expulsion. Ere
have regarded this vote as almost tantalong, the inflexible old physician and theologian of the schools ceased to deliver his solemn harangues at Catholic
meetings, leaning on his massive gold-headed cane, and, from time to
time, striking it on the earth to emphasize the close of each ponderous
Dr.
to
period.
life,
of 'these
discharging:,
some
men
of little faith.'
He
persevered
which
he had brandished so boldly in the earlier part of his career. His latter
days were spent in the shadow of the Vatican. Finding few ears for
his truths in Ireland,
'
army
of
the faith
'
It
was not
without a smile that the Irish student sometimes met him in the learned
48
752
"I remember well," says another writer, "years after all discussion
upon the veto had subsided, when I was in Paris on a visit at the house
of a friend of the doctor's and my own, he suddenly dropped in, just
after his arrival from Eome.
I had not seen him for a considerable time,
but I had scarcely asked him how he was, when he reverted to the veto.
A debate was immediately opened on the subject. Some Irish gentlemen dropped casually in they all took their share in the argument
;
The win-
dows towards the streets had been left unhappily open a crowd of
Frenchmen collected outside, and the other inhabitants of the house
gathered at the doors to hear the discussion.
It was only after the
doctor, who was still under the influence of vetophobia, had taken his
leave, that I perceived the absurdity of the incident,
A volume of Gil
Bias' was on the table where we happened to have assembled, and by
accident I lighted on the passage in which he describes the Irish disputants at Salamanca: Je rencontrois quelquefois des figures Hibernoises.
IlfaUoit nous voir dispute)*, etc.'* We are a strange people, and deserve
our reputation at the foreign universities, where it was said of the Irish
;
'
And
the
veto,
was one
of the
now
I shall
" the
shadow
of the Vatican."
my
turned
back to relate the episode of Major Bryan and Dr. Dromgoole. On the
3d of June, 1814, the English government, now at length victorious
over their great imperial enemy, who, reduced to a phantom royalty in
the little island of Elba, seemed more an object of mockery than terror,
felt themselves secure enough to strike a sudden and startling blow at
the Catholic movement.
It was three o'clock in the afternoon.
O'Connell had arrived in the Board-room.
Gradually members dropped in to
*
Here
Irisbinen,
aces
is
who
What
by Smollet,
gestures
believe
" I sometimes
Every
the
number
of sixteen.
As the
753
and hands our hero a viceregal proclamation. Appealing to the Convention Act, this document declares the Catholic Board
an unlawful assembly, though artifice had been employed to make it
appear lawful. The law, indeed, was not enforced sooner "against the
said assembly, in the expectation that those who had been misled by
such artifice would become sensible of their error," and that the Board
"would be discontinued without the necessity of legal interposition."
The viceroy, being satisfied "that the further continuance of said assembly can only tend to serve the ends of factious and seditious persons
and to the violation of the public peace," cautions "all such of His
Majesty's- subjects as are members of the said assembly" to abstain
from any further attendance at or on it.
If they defy the proclamation,
they must expect to be prosecuted.
When O'Connell had read aloud, in deep, unwavering tones, this
in in hot haste
it
illegal,
that
it
outstripped the
If
twenty-
members
of the
There
it
was resolved
to
abstain, for the present, from assembling the Catholic Board, but to lose
Spirited resolutions
petitions "
the religious
all
" sincerely
freedom of
thanked the
754
members
of the Catholic
and gratitude
of
But one touching incident will render this meeting for ever interesting and memorable, especially to the Irish people.
At the commencement of the proceedings, as O'Connell, standing in front of the platform,
with his arms folded across his breast, was addressing the audience, an
interruption at one of the small doors at the side of the altar (for the
was
silence.
to turn round.
For a moment
outside.
But suddenly the immortal name of Currax rang through the sacred
edifice.
Many a stout arm was extended to help the dying patriot as
he feebly advanced to the front of the stage where O'Connell and the
other Catholic leaders stood. Tremendous acclamations shook the building as O'Connell sprang towards him, seized his hand and led him forward. The excitement was almost too much for his shattered frame; he
sank into a chair and for a few moments covered his face with his hands.
An eye-witness of the scene says: "I never shall forget the sharp, penetrating glance he threw over the assemblv, when he seemed to rally
from the transient debility which at first oppressed him, and the fixed
His apregard he cast upon O'Connell when he resumed his address."
pearance among the Catholics at the moment when everything seemed
to look black and menacing to their hopes, when tyrant power proscribed
and denounced them, when false or lukewarm friends betrayed or fell
off from them, not merely touched their hearts and gratified them, but
Their memories went
rekindled in their souls fresh spirit and energy.
back to the dark days of '98, when, with a patriot's words of flame, the
dauntless advocate of the United Irishmen, in his zeal for his lost clients,
struggled against despair, never once shrinking before the face of threat-
of his genius
of his fascinating
755
At
and high-flying
Charles
indeed, altogether
too eloquent
!'
that
self,
tion,
Fox with
much
himThe Jews surrounded his habitathe window, with this question- 'Gen-
who was
as
in debt as
756
"His pleasantry mitigated the very Jews: '"Well, well, Fox, you have
always admitted the principle, but always protested against the time
we will give you your own time only fix some final day for our repay-
'
too
let
us settle
it
us.'
'
the day
war inexpediency
after.'
(Laughter.)
all
Curran appeared.
death not very far
for the
probability, the
The traces
off.
payment
of his creditors."
last political
(Laughter.)
meeting at which
when he
tried to
when,
overcome by the heat and excitement, now too much for his shattered
constitution, he rose, during the reading of a petition, and, taking the
arm
figure,
"The
M.
P., edited
by
by John Mitchel
Silent Agitator,"
by Thomas Kennedy;
etc.
CHAPTER XIX.
The Catholic cause languishes for some years after the
in the National camp Fatal duel between O'Connell and D'Esterre Depart
ure of Lord Whitworth from Ireland Strange affair between O'Connell and
Secretary Peel Duel between Lidwill and Sir Charles SaxtonCollision with
the vetoists Efforts at conciliation Father Hayes's letter from Rome O'Connell co-operates with "the friends of reform in Parliament" JEneas McDonnell FINED AND IMPRISONED THE RllEMISH TESTAMENTANSWER TO THE IRISH CaTH
OLICS FROM THE COURT OF ROME DINNER TO THOMAS MoORE DINNER TO O'CONNEI L
at Tralee Catholic meetings General D'Evereux Death of Grattan O'Connell supports young Grattan at the Dublin election.
^Ip^OR several years after the suppression of the Board the Catholic
iM^S cai,se ma d e little progress. Indeed, the general fortunes of
ip&'k?-
Ireland
to Paris
was one
of the
most
him
joyfully
went over
to
"under the wings of his victorious eagles." Paris, the provinces, all
France, once more confessed his imperial sway, and prepared to sustain
But this suctheir chosen chief against the banded hosts of Europe.
At Waterloo his might went down
cess was only an ephemeral gleam.
England
for ever before the combined armies of England and Prussia.
of greatness.
Mean
loi
triumph, she not merely insisted that the twice-restored Bourbons should
more brigades
for
a time some
to Ireland that
seminary in Paris.
England no longer feared the triumph of French principles in Ireland. The second American war had come to an end. A treaty of peace
with the United States had been concluded on the 24th of December,
1814.
The British oligarchy, church and state, " the Orange Ascendency" were now so firmly enthroned that they could afford to be insolent and spurn the idea of anything like concession.
The Catholic
aristocracy, more and more every day, withdrew from all participation
in Irish political affairs.
O'Connell still swayed the democracy; but for
long his efforts to achieve emancipation were productive of hardly any
perceptible results.
"The hopes of the Catholics," says Richard Lalor
Shiel, "fell with the peace.
A long interval elapsed in which nothing
very important or deserving of record took place.
spread
itself
political lethargy
a period
of such little
force, in reality
At
of the
Thus a network
of
men, partly
a national uprising became general, these men, who, after all, are for the most part
sons of Irish small farmers and peasants, might be absorbed in the
spies, partly soldiers, covers the island.
Doubtless,
if
FATHER BURKE.
759
bands of
peasantry assembling from various points, and in intercepting them so
This unpopular corps
as to prevent their junction in any great force.
has received from the country-people the nickname of Peelers, after the
name
own hands
the mis-
the only source of a livelihood for the vast majority, the competition for
be spoken
of.
began now
wretched tenants-at-will com-
The extermination
of
of Ireland
barrister the
ment
power
later act
yet to arrive.
Their time of
760
The
committee to inquire into the state of Ireland. His resistance was successful. He took good care, also, to procure
the renewal of the Insurrection Act in 181-1; he caused it to be mainHe who could not give a good account
tained in force in 1815 and 1816.
The peasant who was caught in
of himself was rammed into prison.
Peel had even meditated
possession of a fowling-piece was transported.
in 1816, for a Parliamentary
the introduction of a
bill to
olics,
tracy.
Protestant functionaries.
let drop.
Perhaps
now
was down
in the dust.
Manchester.
One
unless
it
of things
cratic,
may add
was
aristo-
7G1
the fair of Shercock, in the county Cavan, the Orange banditti had perpetrated another
inhuman massacre.
the town, the corpses of twenty-four men and two women had been stretched
The
in their blood.
now
shall
briefly notice
some
home
to O'Connell's heart.
few or no beneficial
This
meetings
They were
results.
who
minds
taunted them.
For a time the Dublin meetings consisted only of a few persons assembled in a drawing-room of Lord Fingal's town-house.
These
meetings at which few were allowed to be present, and from which
applause.
the press
was excluded
were
Dublin
for
these snug
little
be negatived.
English Parliament.
bilities
his return
On
"Divan" survived
It praised
It
made
Shiel ad-
762
it
them
for after
all,
though Catholics,
feel as
Englishmen!"
On
Fingal's.
by the
lie
said
An
at this meeting.
" I
agreed to
too,
immunities."
Protestant Parliament."
civil
for
the sake
Commons.
763
views
even those
pliment to him.
An awkward
by a
fine,
after
one o'clock,
Owen O'Connor
(the O'Con-
many
regret at being obliged to decline that honor, and of the goodness of his
"It was, he
When
the earl
became
silent, there
Rome had
was a pause
thought he would
yet,
mind was made up, and begged not to be pressed further. " He was
but he thought
not wedded to any particular mode of emancipation
it was agreed that nothing should be said on questions of Church discipline until some official communication was had from Rome and as he
conceived that gentlemen did not recognize this arrangement by the
measures they proposed, he thought he was called upon to remain
his
neutral."
Lord Fingal "respecting a contract or compact," now begged to "distinctly and emphatically deny that he ever was a party to any compact,
which could directly or indirectly tend to sanction any alteration by
Parliament in our ecclesiastical concerns. He never heard that any
such compact existed." He remonstrated with the earl at some length,
requesting him, in conclusion, to take the chair.
764
Lord Fingal
felt
was right, but he could not surmount the difficulties which his opinions
The earl then moved towards the door.
had thrown in his way."
O'Connell, standing with folded arms, looked after him with a glance
of regret.
But when little Richard Lalor Shiel got up hastily and followed the great Lord Fingal, the expression of O'Connell's face became
.
of laughter from the assemblage, "There goes the lion with his jackal!"
At
"We
made a second
have the glory
shall
emancipation
The ceremony
be
was simple
The journals
submitted
of the
day
tell
no instructions
us
"
offered
No
chair
no
was taken
no proposition
but every gentleman who chose entered his name in a book, which Mr.
Secretary Hay held open (and will continue to keep open from eleven
till
and the
rites-
On
and solemnities
of installation
were
pate
when
He
and
also
English Catholics."
On
same
year, at
an adjourned meeting
of
765
earl of
Donoughmore, on the
other, as to
the terms on which the Catholic petitions should be presented, were considered.
isfactory.
letter
made a
O'Con-
reverse.
by Grattan.
Still, however, his old feeling of admiration for that great Irishman was
too strong to be obliterated by any sentiments of temporary vexation.
Towards the end of his address, he said " I recall to mind his early
and his glorious struggles for Ireland. I know he raised her from degradation and exalted her to her rank as a nation.
I recollect, too, that if
she is now a pitiful province, Grattan struggled and fought for her whilst
life or hope remained.
I know all this, and more, and my gratitude and
nell
enthusiasm
for
"But I know, too, that, to use his own phrase of another, 'he was
an oak of the forest too old to be transplanted.' " This was what Grattan had said of Flood, referring to his having, in the evening of his life,
got a seat in the English
House
of
Commons, where
his success as an
orator
I
speech, delivered
by our
hero, at a
Laws
is
stated
On
21th of August, in the same year, the Catholic prelates met, under the
presidency of the Most Rev. Dr. Oliver Kelly, and unanimously passed
some
which
of
..J
766
O' CORNELL.
and denying (the fourth resolution did this) that the pope
had, or ought to have, any temporal or civil jurisdiction within the realm
of Ireland.
To this resolution, which of course strongly denounced the
veto arrangement, O'Connell spoke.
In this speech he made some
remarks on Mr. Peel which produced odd consequences. I shall recur
to these expressions and their results before I conclude this chapter.
He also mentioned that Dr. Milner, strangely enough, had gone round
to the veto side again.
This statement, however, was contradicted by
Dr. Milner; for, on the 14th of September, a letter appeared from that
eminent prelate, "repeating his disclaimers of vetoistical inclinations."
Indeed, at a meeting held on the 15th of March in the following year,
of the clergy
had
fallen
many
expressions of profound
had since learned that his lordship was steadily adverse to the veto, and
had lately opposed it at the court of Rome with his well-known energy
and ability." Yet, in his former speech, O'Connell had actually quoted
passages, to all appearance advocating the veto, from a letter written by
Dr. Milner to the Irish bishops.
It
would
be,
particulars of
1815 and 1816. There were, indeed, several other meetings committees
were appointed for certain purposes there was a deputation to Rome
on the "securities" question; there were subscriptions set on foot to
defray the expenses of the deputation there was a remonstrance to His
Holiness Pope Pius the Seventh, drawn up by O'Connell, which, after
vexatious delays, it was found would not be received officially; there
were fresh resolutions against the veto; but from all these efforts nothing
definite resulted.
"The year 1816," says John O'Connell, "closed without any formal condemnation of the veto by the head of the Catholic
;
Rome
camp was
The
767
same time
in
Dublin
the
Mr. Grattan
The
first
unqualified emancipation to
Sir
Henry
Parnell.
I
may
Lord Donoughmore
was unpaid,
put
Resigning them as too
expensive, he took smaller rooms in Crow street, and for a long time
discharged all expenses connected with them, and with all that remained
hi
hand
in his
own pocket
During
had the
been actively pushed, there is much reason to believe they would have
been successful. But where human help failed, Divine Providence interposed to save us.
In the high-flushed pride of her extraordinary successes, England, as it were, forgot Ireland and the schemes for corrupting the Irish mind and heart, which had seemed so important while a
chance remained of foreign interference; or, if she remembered these
49
"
768
past
human
help,
of hell' for a
to
'prevail.'
on account of the condemnation of their conduct by that body. Thomas Kennedy, who lived
in those days, tells us: "Their spleen arose from a double cause
opposition to the course adopted by the Board, and wounded pride at their
own discomfiture and a discomfiture produced by the individual whose
influence in that assembly was supposed to be paramount, rendered it
the more humiliating to themselves."
If,
however, the general history of the Catholic body during the years
1815 and 1816 be not very striking or animating, yet one of the most
remarkable incidents of O'Connell's life, from a biographical point of
view, took place in the former of these years
I shall
now
full narrative.
meetings that took place in the month of January, 1815, O'Connell made use of these words: "I am convinced that
Had the pethe Catholic cause has suffered by neglect of discussion.
At one
tition
of the Catholic
been
we
should not
now
see the
by a petition of an
opposite tendency. The duke of Sussex in the Lords, and Mr. Whitbread
in the Commons, appear to me persons worthy to be entrusted with our
beggarly corporation of Dublin anticipating our efforts
petition."
These words were big with doom to a brave but ill-advised man.
At the time they were uttered, the representative of the guild of merchants in the Dublin corporation was a gentleman named D'Esterre.
His small, but lithe and wiry, form was animated by an intrepid spirit.
He had been in earlier life an officer in the British navy. During the
Mutiny of the Nore his bold spirit had saved him from being hung by
The rope was already around his neck the menacing
the mutineers.
" Hang away,
desperadoes offered him life, if he would be one of them.
and be d d !" was his fierce reply, and the brave defiance preserved his
This reckless partisan now determined to call 'our hero to account
life.
for his application of the contemptuous epithet "beggarly" to the Dublin
corporation.
Mr. D'Esterre's own fortunes at the time were in a despe;
He
rate condition.
769
and
his
knowledge
own
affairs
Possibly
human
he uttered them.
me
This seems to
am
him while
who
many
of the
were glad
of O'Connell
to
Doubt-
take advantage
Certainly,
with commendable caution: " On what precise evidence Mr. D'Esterre was charged with undertaking the base job of a
mercenary assassin we have not been able to satisfy ourselves. At any
John Mitchel
rate,
says,
affair
to further speculation
let me confine myself to a
melancholy occurrence.
D'Esterre, on the 26th of January, wrote to O'Connell to know
whether he had really called the Dublin corporation "beggarly," as Car-
puted."
But a truce
narrative of the
corporate capacity
to
although, doubtless,
(I
it
contains
many
valuable per-
770
must
close
our correspondence on
this
have only
subject.
I am,
I
Daniel
O'CONNELL."
was
settled,
cially.
he would
call
him
to
account
for his
affair
He
sent
with Daniel
not hearing from Mr. D'Esterre in what he conceived the proper way.
D'Esterre seems to have been urged to provoke O'Connell, by some
public deed of insult, to become the challenger.
through the
city, for
the rumor
Dawson
771
Tuthill's hotel in
street,
my
duty as a duellist," said our hero, "to be the aggressor; I therefore pledge my honor that I shall not be the aggressorfurther, however, I must tell you, no human consideration will induce me
not
to go."
retiring,
" It is
very extraor-
dinary, Mr. Day, that a ruffian should be allowed to parade the streets
Dublin during two days, in order to assault a worthy man who is the
father of six children, and this without any hindrance or interruption
of
you are satisfied," said Judge Day, " that the laws are
competent to reach all such offenders."
"By my soul," replied Barney Coile, in his broad northern accent,
" I am very well satisfied the laws can reach us if we transgress, but
during the two days he has been seeking to effect a breach of the peace,
the laws have not reached that fellow." The judge retired without making
"
any
hope,
sir,
reply.
street,
affair.
tion with
desire."
"Oh
772
O'Connell
made an imperious
gesture
of refusal,
Sir
explanation.
Major MacNamara, "you expect an apology or explanation from O'Connell, you must be disappointed
he has given no offence
to D'Esterre, he has done him no injury; therefore I must tell you it will
be a waste of words and loss of time to speak further on a topic which
has already, and for so long a time, engaged the public attention."
"If," said
"
Then,
sir, it is
my duty to
"Very
I fix
Edward
Sir
on
this
"it is
my
privilege to appoint a
He
first
begged to have the affair postponed till two o'clock next day, then till
the next morning, both which requests the major sternly refused to
accede
delay
to.
till
inexorable
Finally, however,
a
he yielded
for
if
they fired five-and-twenty shots each, Mr. D'Esterre will never leave the
G d !"
O'Connell could not have placed himself in better hands than those
man
was one
sonally he
773
of the finest-looking
men
in Ireland
Per-
six feet in
height, bearing,
"Was
fall
of
way
to Bishop's Court,
his
The
about twelve miles from the city, and constitutes a portion of Lord Ponsonby's demesne.
The hour appointed was half-past
three o'clock. At three precisely
we can speak confidently, for we now
speak from personal knowledge Mr. O'Connell, attended by his second
This place
is
Sir
safety of himself
nell.
He
as to the
fatal to
O'Con-
in that place
Here a
named
friends.
"This
affair
fighting, I
Sir
additional insult."
and preliminaries settled. The two seconds tossed up a coin for choice
of ground, which Major MacNamara won.
That gentleman ably dis-
774
charged
all
He
He
like-
He was
that might attract the eye and guide the aim of his friend's adversary.
Sir
clearly
no match
for
Major MacNamara in
cool-
nate D'Esterre took occasion to say that his quarrel with Mr. O'Connell
was not of a religious nature he had no animosity whatsoever to the Catholics or their leaders. Both duellists showed the utmost coolness and courage.
The Evening Post says: "It would be injustice to Mr. D'Esterre,
whatever opinion we may have of the part he espoused, or rather the
party who stimulated him to this act, to deny that he seemed perfectly
self-possessed."
Of our hero the same journal observes: "As to Mr.
O'Connell, we never saw him in better spirits or more composed indeed,
his cheerfulness was the astonishment of every spectator."
O'Connell,
having recognized his tailor, Jeremiah McCarthy of Dawson street, among
the spectators, saluted him gayly, and said, with an air of jocularity,
" Well, Jerry, I never missed you at an aggregate meeting."
The fatal moment was fast approaching. O'Connell's friends stood
there in breathless anxiety.
Many of them were, like himself, fine, imposing-looking men.
The great duellist George Lidwill seems to have
got back to Dublin, for he is said to have been present he had the tall
form of a Tipperary man. Counsellor Richard Nugent Bennett, of fair
stature also, loaded the pistols for O'Connell.
He had lent our hero
these pistols for the occasion.
their
stocks the notches of
They had on
former duels; two men had been already killed with them.
Subsequently they became the property of William Sterne Hart of Fitzwilliani
;
Square, a
warm
Bennett, like
friend of O'Connell's.
MacNamara, were
man
may
gentleman with a
pistol or to drive a mob before him with a shillelah.
Full of jest and
gayety, these bright and stalwart men had come to the field they were
of powerful frame,
to shoot a
775
Another anxious
was waiting
And
afar
in
off,
he might be at
now, at about forty minutes past four o'clock, the two antago-
nists stand
Though
so
He was
gazer's admiration.
prime forty
afterwards became.
His cosHe wore a broad-tailed body-
it
many manly
command the
In short, he looked his best, though his dress was slightly soiled
with mire.
an incident
omen but he
fallen,
when
in short all
was ready
may be no
is
of pistols."
These
final
776
fire.
They
and
Mr. D'Esterre was
levelled,
and missed."
influenced
"
fell,
'
777
visible effect
'
will
The oil-lamps, that dimly lit the streets of Dublin in those days,
threw their dull gleams on the faces of an excited populace that night.
Although a light fall of snow was on the ground, the public ways
swarmed with crowds anxiously discussing the conflicting statements
ing.
When
Still,
of different points connected with the tragedy, so that the general excite-
of quickly subsiding.
778
It
the people were, they tried to restrain the demonstrations of their delight
in pity for that unfortunate victim of his
own
passions.
mean
was past
his widow,
time,
young and
beautiful,
was
all
in her
it is said,
first,
fresh
agony
of grief,
furniture,
He was
hastily
this period.
pistol,
779
to
be an unerring
shot.
I shall
make some
" In
some respects the accounts we have given from the papers differ
from the version communicated to us, as the statement of one who had
been present during the whole transaction. For instance, the papers
say that the parties did not meet in the streets. The circumstances
detailed to us do not justify that statement.
It
of addressing
when his brother came in and intiMr. D'Esterre was on the quay opposite the Courts,
mated
to
him
that
with a whip in his hand, waiting to meet him. Mr. O'Connell requested
his brother to wait until he had concluded his observations, and he then
ashed him where D'Esterre was, in order that he might proceed in that
The excitement
in Dublin,
when
780
Liberator's escape
'
;
Ireland
is safe
;'
'Heaven be
moment
only of the
even then regard the life and future services of O'Connell. On his return
from Dr. Murray's, Mr. James O'Connell was requested by his brother to
retain Mr. Richard Pennefather, now Baron Pennefather, to defend him
in case of need.
of the deceased
"
"To
believe me,
if I
person can
feel
for
sir,
demeanor
your
letter
do.
Allow
me
a courtesy quite
of
781
which made afterwards so deep an impression on O'Connell's mind, and influenced in so decided a manner his
future career.
It created a lasting and universal sensation, and the
It is a fact
details at this day will be read with the deepest interest.
known to many that O'Connell offered to secure a handsome annual
provision for Mr. D'Esterre's widow.
Indeed, his words were, 'to share
his income with her.'
But the offer was refused. He acted, however,
"
Thus terminated an
affair
manner
to a
mother he was ever ready to afford any kindness in his power. A short
time previous to an assizes at Cork, having been specially retained to go
another circuit, pressing letters were written to him in order to induce
him to come down to Cork. Some important cases were to be tried there,
T.
He
declined
England, P.
P.,
and that
to her
obtaining a verdict."
old saying, " It is
wind that blows nobody good," was singularly verified on this occasion.
At the time of the duel, term was
going on, and Michael O'Loghlen (afterwards Sir Michael and master of
the rolls, the first Catholic judge appointed after emancipation) was
engaged in a most important case in the King's Bench with O'Connell.
When it came on, the court echoed a dozen times to the cry, "Call Daniel
O'Connell, Esq."
But Daniel O'Connell made no reply Avas nowhere
O'Loghlen told the court that his senior happened to
to be found.
be engaged in a very unfortunate affair which prevented his appearance there on that day. But the judges would not listen to his
request for a postponement.
He had to take O'Connell's place and
Reluctantly and diffidently, he entered the lists against some
proceed.
Gradually he gained
of the ablest opponents the bar could produce.
His modesty and youthful appearance appealed strongly to
courage.
The bench encouraged him. His talents susthe court in his favor.
The
an
ill
782
tamed him and astonished all present. The case lasted for several days.
O'Connell was still absent.
The young lawyer had the opportunity of
making a reply, in which he surpassed his first effort. In short, he laid
the foundation of his subsequent fortunes.
"We may
For
house.
left
way
the navy,
to the
lived
Four Courts
it
ever O'Connell passed the house he always lifted his hat, but not in a
manner
as
The
lips
in silent prayer.
if
and his
affair.
"
than in exhorting a
Upon
them
tive
his
lignant
If
own hands.
lie's,
and upon
vindic-
England can so well inflict. Is this mait be, the magistrates of Dublin have the remedy in their
They are forty in number. They make the juries. We
of
defy them!"
The
The two chief features in this transaction are its extraordinary publicity and delay.
Had Mr. O'Connell been assailed
in the street, there was every appearance that confusion and violence
would be the result. Had he been killed or wounded in the field, many
duels would have been the consequence.
Were all the members of
our system of distributive justice ignorant of that which everybody
knew?
Shall I be told that measures were taken to restrain O'Connell?
It is true; and that exertion still proves that our distributors of
justice had knowledge of the transaction.
But when they did proceed
of bitter letters
to restrain
the parties,
why
My
and
The writer
783
and
filled
of the corporation,
any
poral mischief
member
must be the
man
result."
It
to them.
Lord Whitworth was recalled from his viceroyalty a few days after
He left Ireland a more discontented land even
the death of D'Esterre.
than he found it. He returned to England to find equal discontent and
greater disorders prevailing there.
This year, 1815, was peculiarly trying to the patience and temper
of O'Connell.
Many
combined
things, indeed,
to irritate him.
Govern-
what he
said.
50
784
his
him
in
verses
"
The
As
Counsellor's
tall,
Kerry they'd
in
be sure
to
Who
But
specimen will
this
suffice.
Brennan
also
compared him
to
Dan
Donnelly the pugilist, and asserted that Donnelly was the better man.
All these and other annoyances, great and small, tended to make our
hero's
Besides, as
irritable.
I
;
have already
though, even
enough
affair of
unhappy
D'Esterre.
Indeed,
in this
second
The
of the Catholics
It
affair there
is,
perhaps,
Commons, was,
by a large majority.
in spite of
many
votes in favor of
it,
hero,
I said, at
police,
who
are paid
to attack
me
in
my
presence.
ize
them
dare, in
I see
my
my
author-
And now
785
was
my
liable to personal
interest or
my
honor.
have done with the man, who is just fit to be nothing but
the champion of Orangeism.
I have done with him, perhaps for ever."
I cannot spare space to give quite as minute an account of this
somewhat confused and intricate affair between our hero and Peel as I
have given of the duel between him and D'Esterre.
Sir Charles Saxton, on the part of Peel, called on O'Connell for an
explanation of his words.
Peel apparently disavowed having said anything offensive to O'Connell in Parliament; at the same time, anything
he saw in the reports of his speeches he "unequivocally avowed and
Sir Charles Saxton having stated this,
held himself responsible for."
O'Connell said " In that case, I consider it incumbent on me to send a
And again: "Any friend who should advise me
friend to Robert Peel."
not to do so would disappoint my hopes and wishes."
Lidwill, O'Connell's friend, thought that it was Peel should send the
message. He considered O'Connell "the aggressor," and that his sending a hostile message to Peel would be "an unjustifiable prodigality of
He even
his own life and a wanton aggression on that of another."
"candidly acknowledged to Saxton that he had seen no report which
Next day Lidwill waited
could justify Mr. O'Connell's attack on Peel."
The latter called after he had gone out,
at his hotel for Saxton till one.
and left a note. On returning and reading Saxton's note, Lidwill at
once wrote to O'Connell that he expected Sir Charles every minute, that
he would appoint "an immediate hour" for the hostile meeting, and
"the first field near Celbridge, in the county Kildare," as the place. To
" Do just as you please," etc.
this O'Connell promptly replied
"What was O'Connell's surprise to read in the next day's (Saturday's)
Correspondent a letter, signed Charles Saxton, detailing the whole affair
He at once writes a sharp letter to the Freeman, denouncing "the paltry
trick" of getting "one day's talking at him" by the publication on SatHe impeaches the accuracy of Saxton's statement. He ends
urday.
" For the rest, I leave the case to the Irish public.
his hasty letter thus
I
have refused
786
have only
have ultimately
He
lost
no
from the dinner-table to a mysterious stranger, who, she found from the
servant, was an official from the Castle, was seized with sudden terror
her husband's
life.
he had gone to bed on the night of the 4th, at the instance of Mrs.
O'Connell.
However, he will make arrangements for the fight as soon
after
as possible.
At two
o'clock that
day (the
O'Connell's recognizance
was 10,000;
while Peel and Saxton were lucky enough to escape any such restriction.
The
he had repaired
in the Phoenix Park, with the view to arrest Peel, but that neither that
787
those of the
mere personal
dispute.
At all events, it was the subject of universal discussion and
wrangling for the time. Some maintained that O'Connell would equally
forfeit his bail by fighting a duel on the Continent or in the British
opposite party tried to lower
it
isles.
On
Dublin
who
for
had,
it
to the
Con-
England.
On
from London, to say that O'Connell and he are getting their passports and
shall proceed without delay.
police
who
nell,
788
On Tuesday
of our hero.
who had
a look
guineas a man,
if
No wonder
Irish chieftain.
Bow
Street.
2500 each
to
He was
subsequently bound in
in
himself
Mr. Becket,
Mr. Peel,"
he
men
of the
up the character
is
too,
"the informer"
of a
man whom
it
making any
to tarnish the
who
Peel, to pass to
an
France without
arrest."
who
Lodge in the Park, that his kinsman, George Lidwill, awaited him
in Calais, telling Sir Charles, at the same time, that his own name was
Michael Lidwill.
Sir Charles began to talk in a rambling style, on
at the
irrelevant topics.
"My
have just commu"In that case," replied Sir Charles, "I shall wait
789
The baronet
my
forbid
my mind
arrest excited in
elapsed since
my
arrest.
understand
think
it
imputed
to raise
my arm
wit-
situation enables
me
feelings
which
my
my own mind
my
conduct, lest
was
that I
it
might be
in error in
my
Lidwill,
life
feelings of
enmity sub-
got
up by the Trimleston
clique.
In February, 1817,
we
find O'Connell
'
790
bound by
this private
concern,
remain."
Nicholas
Mahon opened
fire
on
the astounded
assertion
arrangement."
clique,
little
by
telling
He
"entirely denied
the right of any portion of the Catholic body to form themselves into a
an Orange
privileged class, or
lodge, out of
was "to
out of a
list
or lists forwarded to
and the clergy of the vacant diocese." Dr. Kernan, bishop of Clogher,
had recently been elected in this way. About this period, a letter from
Rome, written by the Rev. Richard Hayes, stated that the hopes of the
vetoistical party at Rome, with Cardinal Gonsalvi at their head, had
been revived by the coming of "young Wyse, late of Waterford, and a
Counsellor Ball;" that "these youths had repeated to the cardinal, to
the pope, to Cardinal Litta and other officials that all the property,
education and respectability of the Catholics of Ireland were favorable
that the clergy were secretly inclined to it, but were overto the veto
'
ruled
by the mob,'
etc.
etc.
...
It is true that
Cardinal Litta
now
if
possible,
791
Father Hayes
"of misfortunes
Italian
villainy,
corruption,
and sharply censuring the conduct of the Seceders. O'Conaway a mistake of Mr. Woulfe's: "Domestic nomination was
of the veto,
nell
explains
not a
new
and
Sir
Donoughmore
Church."
Henry
to
Grattan
him
but
was made
in the
House
of
Commons
olic claims.
"domestic nomination," were explained but, as the war was now at an end, Irish affairs were of secondary interest to the British legislature and so the motion was negatived.
its substitute,
by the Catholics
to their bishops,
may
was
veto.
as well briefly record the fact, that in the January of this year,
all
society of "
was composed
but few and
of Protestants
its
and Catholics.
Though
its
This society
members were
John O'Connell claims for it the merit of being the first body, since the
Union, in which Irishmen of different creeds "associated on something
like
terms of equality."
792
can only glance in the most cursory manner at several other inciIn
dents that occurred between the year 1815 and the close of 1820.
I
Mercantile Chronicle, was prosecuted for an article denouncing the maladministration of justice. Saurin and O'Connell were again pitted against
each other in this case.
O'Connell triumphed so far as to procure a
postponement of the trial; but finally McDonnell was fined 100 and
imprisoned for six months. That bloodhound pursuer of journalists,
Saurin, denounced the liberal press, particularly the Dublin Chronicle,
praised the Evening Post for its estrangement from the Catholic movement, called the Catholic body a "dark confederacy" and raved about
"the last effort of expiring Jacobinism." Norbury, too, at the special
commission held in Tipperary in January, which cost the public 10,000,
had been furious against the Dublin Chronicle for its just attacks on the
When foolish old Judge Day, in passing sentence
public prosecutions.
on McDonnell, assailed him for his bold questioning of the purity of the
administration of justice and his denunciation of the special commission, McDonnell resolutely interrupted him and said: "There is not a
particle of evidence to support your imputations.
Yes, my lords,
that charge
you have charged me with encouraging assassination;
is wholly unfounded. ... I am at least as incapable of entertaining such
a disposition as the individual who has imputed it to me."
On the 4th of December, 1817, O'Connell moved "for a committee to
draw up a disavowal of the very dangerous and uncharitable doctrines
contained in certain notes to the Rhemish Testament." They should
record, he said, their "abhorrence of the bigoted and intolerant doctrines
The notes were of English growth."
promulgated in that work.
He reminded the meeting that the work was denounced by Dr. Troy.
The last business of the Catholics in 1817 was to forward their remonthe year 1816, ^Eneas McDonnell,
Richard Hayes.
was
Rome and
Rev.
Rome and
read at a meeting of
This docu-
ment stated the reasons why an earlier answer had not been given: 1st.
" The sentiments of the court of Rome had been made known to the
2d.
bishops," as "the more proper channel for the communication."
However
793
there were
trition,"
earl of
eral.
It
was refreshing
to see
men
banquet.
There would be more harmony "if Irishmen would recollect that there
were generous, kindly, brave and good men of every party." Noble
qualities "did in fact live and reside, as in a chosen home, in the bosoms
of Irishmen of every faction, sect and persuasion." [Loud cheers.) Moore
he
styled,
be sure
but
it
was
all
and
Irishmen.
"
He was
a party man,
He, how-
so.
and if he
vowed
Madrid
Constantinople,
he
to
had been born in
or in
God he
would in either place be more intemperate and violent for the protection
ever,
794
of
the persecuted
[Continued applause.)
into one.
had
there
Still
was want
O'Connell
enthusiastically
room
for the
When
of
rose to respond, he
About
company.
thirty
nell
He
proposed this one at the close of his response to his own health.
amid great applause, in spite of their political differences, responded warmly when the health of his brother-Kerry man, old "Judge
Day, as an excellent landlord, an affectionate friend and a good man,"
was drunk. The healths of " The Rev. Stephen Creagh Sandes and the
Protestants of Kerry" and "The Right Rev. Dr. Sugrue and the Roman
The name of Stephen
Catholic clergy of Kerry" were drunk heartily.
Henry Rice was coupled with "the pure and impartial administration
"Sir Samuel Romilly
of justice." [Three times three; great applause.)
and the persecuted Protestants of France," and "The patriots of South
America and a speedy and eternal extinction to the Inquisition."
These two toasts were drunk with acclamations but when " The bard
also,
was simply
man
indescribable.
795
of the
company-
present would have shed the last drop of his blood on the spot for
Tommy,
man
for
"
The duke
of Leinster
and the
resi-
John Philpot Curran;" "Charles Philips, coupled with the independence of the Irish bar;" "The president and free people of North Amermay they be bound in the bonds of eternal unity with these
ica
countries;" "Universal benevolence;" O'ConnelFs uncle, "Old Huntingcap"; his more distinguished uncle, "Lieutenant-General Daniel Count
O'Connell ;"
all these and many more toasts, good, bad and indifferent,
were drunk rapturously, in o'erflowing glasses, on that jovial and harmonious night. If, haply, "the mirth and fun grew fast and furious"
after
presided.
of Ballyconry, Esq.
No
doubt, both fulfilled their duties worthily, not without a due share of
Irish jollity.
At the general
cure the return of the Right Hon. Maurice Fitzgerald, the knight of
Townsend
796
"
dawn
of friendship
Irishmen.
He
and
affection
He
which has
broken in upon
at length
the viceroy)
mo
all
man
as their friend
tute of virtue."
on him, "the
He
Alderman McKenny
Instead of the
man has
office of
office.
Let Catholics
of Ireland in future
be
'
"
797
Ire-
798
which he complimented Alderman McKenny as the first lordmayor of Dublin who had presided at a meeting " calculated to promote
cordial conciliation."
On the 24th of February, 1820, he gave it as his
land, in
This
O'Connell, forgetting
many hard
warmly supported,
life,
service,
and he
died, I
may even
say, a
ated the idea of the statue of Grattan, by Sir Francis Chantrey, that
now
Exchange
to
promote
He moved
a resolution, which the wealthy Catholic salesMurphy, seconded. On the 22d of June, 1820, at the
adjourned Catholic meeting held at D'Arcy's, in Essex street, O'Connell
made some objections to the celebrated Plunket's being entrusted with
their petition, on account of his extreme advocacy of the " securities."
At this meeting O'Connell complained of the use by the liberal Edinburgh Review of such expressions as the "harlot embraces" of the Catholic Church.
While he was speaking, some one in the body of the meetits erection.
master, Billy
"Why go to them"
(meaning
to the
lives, in
greater
ing for the day of total separation from England by force of arms.
On
799
was true
to
humanity and
He
lamented as a disgrace
to Ire-
land (a disgrace wiped out now, however), that there was "not a stone
to
mark
then
*
The books
The memory
to
which
am
of
is
nothing, as yet, to
John
M. P.,
of
gave, "
Mitchel's "Continuation of
Bar;" etc
CHAPTER XX.
The Kilmainham court-house meeting; outrageous and
unconstitutional proceedings
amusing controversy with rlchard lalor sliiel
o'connell threatens to join the english radical reformers wllliam conyngham plunket's relief bills o'connell opposes them rude interruption of
o'connell at a catholic meeting advances from the orange corporation to
the Catholics Orange breach of faith The visit of King George the Fourth
to Ireland; his enthusiastic reception by the people
The visit turns out a
MOCKERY AND DELUSION; DISAPPOINTMENT OF CATHOLIC HOPES The IrISH AVATAR
Arrival of an Irish viceroy, the Marquis Wellesley His conciliatory demeanor
A confused meeting Famine in the south and west of Ireland Coercive measures Orange display Repeal of the union Suicide of Lord Londonderry (Castlereagh) Bottle riot Public indignation Trial of the Handbidges and Graham Colonel White's election for the county Dublin great popular excitement
-Law-cases O'Connell visits France An unpleasant night-adventure.
of the sheriff
o'connell's
sheriff, to
the great
amusement
of the
who
who
actually were
so.
was
He
asked
he a free-
800
solved.
He
prison,
when
801
by the
people, said he
was quite
manded
Some
violence
was used
to individ-
made
open-air meetings
illegal.
An amended
hero, Avas
by acclamation. This address, referring to "the late proceedings in the House of Lords" against the unfortunate Caroline, expressed
a sincere hope "that proceedings so dangerous and unconstitutional
would never be revived in any shape." O'Connell moved that a comcarried
mittee should be appointed to lay before the viceroy, Earl Talbot, "the
On
the 2d
__.j
802
cluded with that one of his favorite quotations from Moore beginning,
" The nations have fallen, but thou art still young," etc.
At an adjourned meeting, a few days after, he spoke again to the same effect, A
large
number
of gentlemen, Protestants
and compliment
to O'Connell.
O'Connell
now began
Kilmainham
court-house.
all
"our
O'Connell's
arguments
its feeble
and
fretful fire, is
seen behind.
It is clear as glass;
it
covers but
it
scale"
all
this
profusion of far-fetched
maze
taste.
The conclusion
beyond which
compare him" (O'Con-
of fantastic imagery,
borne are regulated by the painted maon them, as to suppose that a person swelled out with
of air
803
is
fiery
he has allowed the thin and combustible mateof his buoyancy to ignite, and comes tumbling down in a volume of
vapor, composed of the veto, the union and Parliamentary reform."
still
rials
ballast
flag,
all his
risen
He had
To
more
lofty region,
this extraordinary
specimen of Shiel's
good-humored.
sufficiently
" I
sentences.
am really,"
full of
know how
have
provoked the tragic wrath and noble ire of this iambic rhapsodist."
" I would venture
This is a humorous hit at Shiel's dramatic attempts.
to
wager
mad
animal in the
as he pretends to be.
fragment,' next
am
'lava,'
how
and which
lastly
is
He
Mr. Shiel
begins by calling
"Again he denominates me
fretful fire,' then,
fable,
terrific
is
me
not half so
'a flaming
materials.'
quite sublime
'a
volume of
O'Con-
and
tinsel decorations of
man
am
melodramatic oratory.
'
little
gentle-
"
804
fool
how admirable
candor! With this
it.
"I
be not an
empty boast, I consent to be called a balloon, and a vane, and a fiery
vapor for the rest of my life. ... I have neither leisure nor inclination
single observation,
feathers
...
and the
may now
If it
'volcanoes,''
which
and puny
glitter in labored
conceits.
may
dis-
miss him
and Dublin Journal." These were journals prone to calumniating our
hero.
O'Connell ends this letter, which is dated 12th January, 1821, by
to the association of his fellow-laborers in the Correspondent
" faithful,
suffering
the long-
of Ireland."
government and
Measures were adopted to divert his attention from the reform movement, which was agitating Englishmen.
Plunket carried a Catholic relief bill through the Commons. It was
lost,
legislature.
The
in the
Commons
fact of
passing
relief bill
them were glad that this particular measure failed to become law.
O'Connell, in long and able letters to the people, pronounced Plunket's
of
two
bills,
taken together
(for
The
first,
indeed,
if
unaccom-
panied by the second, would give relief; but the second was "more
strictly, literally and emphatically a penal and persecuting bill than any
reign of
An
Queen Anne,
act to
or of the first
1
'
decatliolicize'
is
On
the
Catholics.
We
But Lords
for
visit to
of their
Fingal, Netterville,
Gormanstown and
affairs.
John
Burke, Mr. Bagot and others, published a protest against "connecting the
805
general question of Catholic affairs with the object of voting a congratulatory address" to the king.
and adopted
and
deceitful
show
of
good feeling
their advances in a
made by
to their Catholic
warm and
the Orange
made
mayor
countrymen.
generous
of Dublin,
for
Even
spirit.
that the
izens
among them,
mob groaned
the
and vociferating "Down with the Papists!" "To hell with the pope!"
"To hell with popish defenders!" "The pope in a pillory in hell, and
the devil pelting O'Connell at him!" "To hell with O'Gorman!" etc.
In spite of all this, the irritation of the Catholics was apparently but of
momentary duration. At two meetings they debated concerning this
outrage with considerable moderation, and even gave the lord-mayor
credit for sincerity, to use Lord Fingal's expression, "in his original
offer of conciliation."
806
the
mayor consented
After a parley,
were crowded.
"The post-office," to quote another life of O'Connell,
"even to the most perilous projection of the building, was black with
human beings. The very architrave was crowded with well-dressed
females and on the summit of Nelson's monument men were perched
;
upon the veiy capstan which supports the statue of the naval victor."
The king had always professed a kindly feeling towards his Irish
subjects.
He was almost the only English sovereign who ha'd ever come
to Ireland in friendly guise.
The people, too, were just then deluded
into believing that they were on the point of being emancipated.
sides,
Is
it,
pomp"
Beeasily
on the balconies, in the windows, on the roofs, were wild with insane
delight and what seemed genuine enthusiasm ?
Nor is it even astonishing that the withered heart and worn-out feelings of the royal profligate
seemed for an instant, as if he had drained some charmed cup, to show
signs of reviving freshness, when he heard such glad and lusty cheering
as had never rung through his ears before, when he saw the hats and
handkerchiefs of innumerable devoted subjects, stalwart men and fairest
women, waving "cead mille failthe" saw, in short, joy at his cominggleaming on thousands and myriads of eager faces. This was the one
triumphant day of his worthless life. He was deeply moved ay, almost
That hour, in his self-delusion, he may have fancied himself
to tears.
almost a demigod. And, no doubt, in mere outward semblance, he was
"every inch a king." Right royally he saluted the admiring myriads,
who felt a treble foolish joy and shouted like the very thunder, when
they saw the huge bunch of shamrocks decorating the military hat
which their sovereign lifted at short intervals with such princely grace.
uk^'hy nu.vnw^
.
M.IR
807
Many
visit.
He seems
was necessary
king.
"For the
it
to
make
first
to think it
was "most
He
con-
success-
seems to think
olics received
808
written
O' CORNELL.
by Lord Sidmouth
"
palavering"
letter,
recommending them to be united, and tickling them a little with "humbugging" praises of their "generosity and warmth of heart." O'Connell,
meanwhile, remained perfectly satisfied with his own management on
this occasion.
He considered himself entitled to "the gratitude and
confidence" of his countrymen for his triumph over "the difficulties he
had to encounter," and for "the mode in which he was enabled to convert the king's visit to Ireland from being a source of weakness and discomfiture to the Catholics into a future claim for practical relief and
political
He
equalization."
also
says,
first
and
Many
will regard
much
of O'Connell's
admiration.
It
was
all
It
to squeeze a million of
O'Connell
(it is
money from
hard to
tell it
809
who attended
when
It
it
was time
to
impossible to
Human
make one
of the judges
pay
course, the
Of
means
of regen-
In Dublin, however, the King's Bridge, over the Liffey, was erected to
commemorate the royal visit. O'Connell took an active part in urging
on
tin's
He recommended
a bridge in
it
810
He seemed
He
even shed
As the royal yacht conveyed him away, the old dandy, in his
tears.
blue frock-coat and white vest and sealskin cap with the gold band, was
profoundly affected.
He saw
seen gazing through his telescope at the shores of Ireland.
thousands upon thousands of the Irish blackening the hills, while they
wafted good wishes after him on the winds. The royal squadron sailed
The king to
past Brayhead and the bold coast of romantic Wicklow.
see again.
never
to
the last kept his gaze fixed on the shores he was
though we
at one
learn from
measures
for his
departure."
signalized
'glorious,
realities of
island.
On
some
this visit of
verses,
"
811
"But he comes!
He
comes
in the
To perform
But long live
in the
him
o'er,
And
"Is
this shout of
skies.
it
Were he
With
Such
servile devotion
m
"
Kiss his
pala'ce.
foot,
Lo
his ruin
would hide)
O'Connell, proclaim
'
Till, like
Babel, the
new
;'
let
royal
dome hath
And
arisen;
unite,
And
The
last,
'
George
!'
812
to say
their blood
to flow."
He wonders
the
fire
that Ireland,
now
of that
without one ray of her genius, without "the fancy, the manhood,
of her race."
She might well doubt she ever produced such "a
" If she did," it
reptile."
This
"Till
their sh'ore:
their liberties fled,
My
my bosom
On
servile,
though
sore,
was
marquis of Wellesley. Lord Fingal was in the chair. O'Connell proposed and Shiel seconded an address submitted by the latter gentleman.
The arrival of the marquis had given unbounded satisfaction to the vast
majority of the Irish people, both on account of his being the first Irishman appointed for centuries to the viceregal office, and because of his
The Orangemen, indeed, were furious at his
shining personal qualities.
appointment. O'Connell dwelt on the " classical eloquence " and "splendid talents" of the marquis, also on the fact that "at the interesting
and eventful period of 1782" the marquis "was the first person to raise
a volunteer corps, in which a principle of exclusion to persons professing
their creed was not acted upon, countenanced and cherished." (Much
applause.)
offensive
augmented claims
newecl and
to their gratitude.
moment,
if
was
at that
first officer of
the law
in Ireland.
813
much
reason
men."
he sometimes helped to prosecute individuals, on such occasions in him were "always found united the talents of the orator and
the feelings of the gentleman.
He never left a sting of angry sentiment
behind. ... It had been even said in the House of Commons by the
official organ of government that, 'if the Catholics were to be persecuted,
he was not the man to do it.' " The Catholic address was graciously
received by the marquis of Wellesley.
If
the People"
made
viceregal levee,
"
the
Man
of
was
It
was
said that
he even asked "the Agitator," in a style of courtly compliment, to cooperate with him in his endeavors to tranquillize Ireland, at that time
sorely tormented with distress and agitated by "Captain Rock" and his
merry men. O'Connell may have been lulled for the moment, as it were,
by the honeyed words, but he was far too shrewd to succumb to the influence of the viceregal "blarney" for any length of time.
Besides, the
Catholics were soon offended by the circumstance that John Kingston
James, the "noted," or "notorious," lord-mayor of Dublin, as the Times
called him, "who had the courage to set the king's letter at defiance"
by proposing a toast insulting to the Catholics, was created a baronet
A clever Catholic member of the English bar, a Conof Great Britain.
naught man named Blake, who was supposed to have great influence
with Lord Wellesley, and had followed in his train from England, sue-
814
of
friend,
honor on James.
O'Connell about this time published an address to the Catholics of
Ireland.
It begins with his favorite quotation from Byron
" Hereditary
Who
title of
bondsmen
would be
free,
know ye
not,
He
admits that, the year before, he and others had come to the conclusion that it was useless to petition the British Parliament again, while
However, subsequent events, such
it was so unpopularly constituted.
monarch and
people in new and favorable lights," should, he says, cause them to alter
their resolution.
He accuses the Catholics of Dublin of "apathy or
inconsistency" on the subject of the veto, "while the last bill was in
discussion."
He even insistsreferring to a hastily got up meeting,
where silence on the subject of the veto had been preserved that " by
dexterity, and a species of side-wind, the Catholics of Dublin are at this
moment committed to an approval of that measure, which they often so
unanimously and so loudly condemned." He then speaks of a plan devised by himself in order "to obviate the mischief of a vetoistical bill,"
which he had submitted to Mr. Plunket, This is, in point of fact, a
as the king's visit and letter, which showed "both the
the superior courts of Dublin, and had discharged clerical duties " for
vote for
conduct."
and peaceable
in his principles
and
815
if
tion against
"a charge
of disloyalty or disaffec-
before the
Roman
all Irish
Catholic arch-
new nomination;"
with any pope, prince, prelate, potentate or any other person" abroad,
"upon any political subject whatever," and that, if any foreign potentate or other person should write to him, he should transmit to govern-
ment a
much
of the
On Wednesday, February
olics,
gible,
was held
Denmark
at
"
Street Chapel.
Resolved, that
we deem
it
essential to our
Donoughmore,
to
be presented
for discussion in
moved an amendment
to the
may
of the necessity of
guished friend."
When
he was, as
it
who
called
him
to order.
"The
816
petition
had been passed and should not now be made the subject
of
discussion."
Mr. O'Connell. "I am not out of order. I assert that that petition
requires the meeting to pass my resolution."
Mr. James
'Gorman. "I call Mr. O'Connell to order; we are not
now
Mr. O'Connell.
on the meeting to
call for
a speedy discussion
on our petition."
Confusion
now
arose
Sir
Thomas Esmonde,
con-
why
He
Do you come
here to abuse
members
of
Parliament?"
"The marquis
of
nell
claims ?
remained neuter?"
for foreign
in Ireland
if
to order.
amendment and
817
let
amendment
To
this O'Connell assented.
The original resolution was then carried amid
cries of "No, no;" after which Hugh O'Connor's amendment was also
carried as a resolution.
A committee was finally appointed to prepare
an address from the Catholics to the king, begging him to recommend
a repeal of the penal laws that still affected them. Jack Lawless, a
that he would not oppose their
few days
after,
as a separate resolution.
all
intention of charging
Some
by unusual
is
Among
of all persuasions,
interfere
and west, in this year, 1822. Sir John Newport of Waterford, in the House of Commons, described one parish in his neighborhood where fifteen persons had already died of hunger, twenty-eight
more were past hope of recovery, one hundred and twenty prostrated by
famine-fever.
In another parish, upon the inhabitants of which fell
famine had "scowled a baleful smile," the priest had gone round and
administered extreme unction to every man, woman and child.
Colonel
in the south
Patricson, quartered
many
fifty
miles,
of
818
tistics
of the time
consequent
fall
All through the war, from the closing years of the last century, there
of cash
payments.
legal tender.
men-
priation, like
This appro-
was grossly
and unpro-
or
such disorders.
also passed.
"An
To carry
It
was
819
men."
[Cheers.)
"
820
" to
felt
'Twas true he differed, most widely differed, from that gentleman in politics, but he would forgive any man his injuries towards himself, or his
general political line of conduct, provided he redeemed them by a sincere and substantial service towards his country." He also spoke against
"secret confederacies and private associations," and ended by proposing
the health of the duke of Leinster.
What he
Alderman Nugent
merchants, or "The
said of
referred to a
of
Merchants, or
This
rejection of
all
motions
for
inquiry,
The
means
attend
is
wants
was the
petition of this
Orange
guild.
In truth,
many
of the
Ascendency
faction,
out for the maintenance of the exclusive rule of Protestants, would fain
have seen the national legislature of Ireland restored. This very Alder-
man
same year,
821
Thomas
for
"To the
and immortal memory of the great and good king William, who saved us from popery, slavery, arbitrary laws, wooden shoes
and brass money. May he who would not drink the toast on his bare
knees be damned, crammed and rammed, with flints and sparables, into
the great gun of Athlone, blown into the air and fall into the bottomless
pit of hell
the key in an Orangeman's pocket!" The reader had better
refer to Barrington and see the toast complete.
On the 12th of August, this year, an Irishman, who was all through
life a worse enemy to his country than the worst Orangeman, executed
justice on himself by severing his carotid artery with a knife.
I allude
Castlereagh.
In
to the suicide of the baleful and infamous
a former
chapter I have already referred to this self-inflicted deed of retributive
justice.
Alison, speaking of the yell of execration with which a London
crowd (probably chiefly composed of Irishmen) welcomed the destroyer
of Ireland's independence to his grave in Westminster Abbey, says that
"savage miscreants raised a horrid shout." Mr. Mitchel remarks on
glorious, pious
But future ages will probably pronounce, that in all the mob of
London was no such dreadful miscreant as the man then borne to his
grave."
Even though I have little space to spare, I cannot refrain from
giving some of Lord Byron's remarks on the death of this wretched
traitor to his country: "As to lamenting his death," says the noble
bard, " it will be time enough when Ireland has ceased to mourn for his
birth.
As a minister, I, for one of millions, looked upon him as the
most despotic in intention, and the weakest in intellect, that ever tyrannized over a country.
It is the first time, indeed, since the Normans,
that England has been insulted by a minister (at least) who could not
speak English, and that Parliament permitted itself to be dictated to in
the language of Mrs. Malaprop." The wretch, in addressing Parliament,
this
"
hinges."
embark
822
" In his life
for years to
he was
what
all
it will feel
Sejani of Europe.
may
'
at least serve as
the people that he had come "to administer the laws, not change them."
recommended the "Insurrection Act" and the suspension of the habeas corpus.
If Saurin had been driven from power,
"the mildest, kindest and best public man Ireland had ever yet seen
Mr. Grant" had also been removed.
"As you cannot alter, I respectfully, but firmly, call upon you to administer the law, and to suppress an
illegal and insulting nuisance.
To-morrow decides the character of
also
who
great "Agitator."
Ellis
and
Sir
He
tried to
Abraham
failed.
The statue
of
The favored Orange band were allowed not merely to undress it, but to
yell and shout and force the drivers of all vehicles to uncover their
heads in passing the idol. Accidents happened in the confusion. Peaceable citizens were alarmed.
It is in no degree wonderful that religious
animosity now grew as strong as ever. A sentence in an address of the
823
"have a
"The
and
Controversies buzzed
on all sides about men's ears. The famous Catholic bishop of Kildare
and Leighlin, Dr. Doyle (whose signature, J. K. L., meaning James Kildare and Leighlin, appended to many an able letter and pamphlet, afterwards became famous), was at this time one of the most formidable of
the antagonists of Dr. Magee.
When
it
who was
Besides,
it
now appeared,
them
beau made an American
Then his household had
willing to prevent
shamrocks on their gold buttons. No wonder, then, that that odd little
square-built lunatic, in a spencer, the Eev. Sir Harcourt Lees, whose
enlightened mission it was to discover Popish plots for the general massacre of Protestants, to denounce in the newspapers those three dreadful
potentates, "O'Connell, the pope and the devil," to petition Parliament
"to put clown popery and send O'Connell to the Tower," while his crazy
824
fancy was for ever haunted by visions of Jesuit conspiracies, and brooding
over the tales of "Fox's Book of Martyrs"
the bigots of the Ascendency faction were
fire
with rage.
all
war of pamphlets increased the flame. The Orange mob only burned
for an opportunity to give their lawless fury vent.
The 14th of December, 1822, was a command-night at the theatre.
Every part of the house was crowded to suffocation. The dress boxes
were radiant with female loveliness.
The marquis of Wellesley, his
small, but graceful, person arrayed in scarlet, his intellectual head un-
velvet and gold, and, after bowing repeatedly to the audience, the major-
whom
rose
''
825
indignation.
on which, as if in response,
similar ones were brandished in the gallery with loud cries.
Suddenly
a huge lump of wood was dashed from the top gallery down on the
pit,
cushion of the box next to the viceroy's, which, rebounding, passed be-
tween him and the chandelier, struck the proscenium and finally fell on
the stage.
The confusion was now tremendous. All started to their
Ladies were fainting or hastily flinging their shawls round them
feet.
and rushing from the theatre. The gentlemen were furious. The marquis
was standing
some one
in the gallery to
He
ad-
dressed the audience, denouncing the "paltry" ruffian crew "that had
that corner."
Several,
now
"I
am
sure there
panic-stricken, got
down from
He
is
is in
and escaped through the lower. The soldiers were called in. They
found it hard to force their way through the narrow entrance, which only
admitted one at a time. However, finally five men were captured two
tall, stalwart brothers Handbidge, carpenters; George Graham, a printer;
a baker named Bernard Tuite, and a servant named Patrick Bedford.
Such was the memorable bottle-row. I have hardly space to give
lery
at the outrage
by the majority
was held
full derail.
all parties,
826
these meetings O'Connell took a prominent part, spoke with great ability,
and received loud and general applause from those assembled. At the
second he had signal success in bringing opponents round to his views.
At the first he praised the marquis of Wellesley and the lord-mayor.
On both occasions he uttered many liberal sentiments, tending to promote union and harmony among Irishmen of different sects. Numbers
of addresses were voted to the lord-lieutenant in consequence of the
bottle riot.
O'Connell and the Orange Sir Abraham Bradley King were
brought into friendly contact for the first, but not the last, time at the
city of Dublin meeting.
O'Connell moved, and Sir Abraham seconded,
the adoption of the address to Lord Wellesley.
This address was received by that nobleman in the most gracious
manner. It was almost open house at the Castle on the day of its presentation.
Great numbers were there in court-dresses, but, as any one
of moderately respectable appearance was admitted on this peculiar
occasion, multitudes who, under ordinary circumstances, would have
been excluded from the charmed circle, thronged the viceregal halls.
During the interval between two o'clock, the hour appointed for the presentation of the address, and four, when the viceroy arrived, costly wines
in profusion were served to all comers.
place.
When His
had an
He seemed
At
its
his stature
address.
Though
brilliant lights
greatly moved.
was
lordfor
ively,
There was, perhaps, something theatrical in some of his sentiments and in his delivery.
He declared himself to have attained to
auditory.
such a point of
again
felicity
he added, that
would bid the assassin strike." This use of the word "assassin" probably galled the Orange faction still more, and added fresh venom to their
spiteful feelings.
O'
CONN ELL.
827
sort,"
ignored the
bills.
Mr. Plunket,
ex-officio in-
and a day was appointed for the trial of the accused. The
capital charge, however, was withdrawn.
On the day of trial the excitement and interest, felt throughout
Dublin about this outrage and the different parties concerned, were at
formation,
and Justices Burton, Jebb and Vandeleur took their seats on the bench
at nine o'clock a. m. The moment the doors were thrown open, a fearful
rush of the expectant mass of human beings, that stood around, filled
the spectators' galleries and all the approaches to the body of the court.
There was some inclination to mirth, when Sheriff Thorpe found no small
difficulty in extricating Lefroy and another Crown lawyer from the
pressure of the densely-packed crowd and getting them into court. The
countenances of the Orangemen present wore a look of confidence, as if
they were troubled by few or no misgivings as to the fate of their accused brethren.
It appeared,
two lodges
had conspired
paid
of
for
Orange banditti.
for this
certed
was
rioters,
of the latter
The demand
for
"Now
be wicked!"
When
at Daly's tavern, in
who were
they got
street, before
payment.
it
The admittance
by the former,
Werburgh
The
is
"Here we are!"
It
home
out of
which
appears that the "Purple" men,
out,
boys!"
to
828
bottle's not
said,
Yet,
when
on the afternoon of the second day of the trial, they were unable to agree
They were locked up for the night. Next day, however,
to a verdict.
Subsequently the case was brought to London
they were discharged.
but
in short,
As
for the
marquis of Wellesley injured their cause and served the Catholics in the
long run (who can tell what influence it may have had on the mind of
the duke of Wellington, the marquis's younger brother, at the crisis of
shortly after this
the fortunes of Catholics and Orangemen, in '29 ?)
829
Ascendency."
As
lent
come
defied their
to the polling-booth of
became
fears,
petty
Kilmainham
enthusiasm
and other prominent Catholics. As for the Whites, like the thane of
Cawdor, they became "prosperous gentlemen." The head of the family
is now Lord Annally.
830
can only make brief mention of the libel case of Wallace versus
Staunton, in which O'Connell defended Michael Staunton, who was arI
libel,
in the Weekly
became
by O'Connell
to the
ment
brief,
but
lucid, expla-
was counsel," he
Crowe
by hini'in the Court of Exchequer,
the summer assizes, 1819.
He was unsuccessful,
"He
cery.
afterwards
filed
In that cause
me
bill
for either
party
to leave
out,
"
in spite of
O'Connell and
Hickman went
together to Mr.
On Hickman's
I was bound
ant's retainer.
831
to accept the
defend-
O'Connell
acquiesced."
touches on a few other points, to which the Freeman had referred inaccurately, but
the
any particular
of
interest in
letter.
Early in the
summer
for
had sent
They
had
sailed from
of doing so.
He
first
instance,
The
political creeds of
let his
unbounded veneration
by Dover and
But the
and kindness of the reception he gave the great popular chieftain, his
nephew. In spite of his eighty years and old woimds, of which he bore
the numerous scars (forty years before, at the memorable siege of Gibraltar,
in a
"
left
journey, according to
breach."
It
was on
this
in the
was explained
to him,
when he showed
all
832
ness of a Frenchman.
Daunt (and
life.
incident,
of this biography.
During the
had
to post.
He
still
occasionally liable
to,
when railway communication was not, they might meet at any time
without any need to be much surprised. By some misconception of his
orders (probably some provincial speaker of patois misunderstood O'Connell's excellent
French), he
to
Bayonne instead
them
public and
left
833
Morgan, who had been back from his South American expedition for about
two years, and was now on his way to join the Austrian army as a cadet
in a light dragoon regiment, accompanied him as far as Paris. No doubt
the gallant veteran, Count O'Connell, was especially rejoiced to see a
young
Morgan proceeded
to Austria
and
"The
M.
P.,
Fagan's "Life of O'Conedited, with Historical Notices, etc., by his Son, John O'Connell, Esq.;"
"
O'Connell,
with Sketches
Daniel
"
of
Times
Life
and
Life of Dr. Doyle," by Fitzpatrick
nell ;"
;" " The History of Ireland,
Parliament
street
1
Mullany,
of his Contemporaries, etc., Dublin, John
" History of Europe since
from the Treaty of Limerick to the Present Time," by John Mitchel
;
"Memoirs
etc.
of
CHAPTER
XXI.
jE are
nell's
now
fast
career.
Glencullen, in the
He
consist of
shilling,
two classes
of
835
committee should be selected from the former class. Eichard Lalor Shiel,
present, gave expression to some doubts as to the practicability of the plan.
He thought the time also unsuitable for such an
who was
experiment.
make
effort for
in
mutual
friend in Wicklow.
most conspicuous part, and at one of which he tells his audience that
"some persons must take the trouble of managing the affairs of the
Catholics," and at another of which we find him warmly defending William Cunningham Plunket "as a perfect martyr to his public duty," in
obedience to a numerously and influentially signed requisition, Nicholas
O'Gorman summons the Catholics of Dublin to assemble in genmeeting at Townsend Street Chapel. At this meeting, which took
Purcell
eral
the Catholics
was
carried.
He
dwelt ably on
"We
there
no
"And why
their country
that he
Theresa founded a
who
new
received the
made
When Maria
less
is
and
fair play.'
insultingly refused."
But that
clear
It
836
0'CONNELL."
may
Parliament that
may
little of this
medicine"
fall in
his way."
may here
members
of
Lord Norbury was more lucky. The governPeel and Goulbourn, the Irish chief-secretary, especially had
ment
of Plunket.
"Why,
837
and cruel Camden, there were one hundred indiof these ninety-eight were capitally convicted, and ninety-seven hanged!
One escaped, but he was a soldier,
who murdered a peasant, or something of that trivial nature. Ninetyseven victims in one circuit! /"
Though Toler (Norbury) had not been
as yet elevated to the bench in '98, even then he was sometimes (I have
possibly said so before) put on the commission and went circuit in place
tion of the cold-hearted
whom
tleman."
He
Burdett,
he on another occasion styled "a faded and foolish gendemanded, amid general and animated applause that
"And
will you,
millions of
men
be
Let
If
we
countrymen, submit
Will you, like torpid
are not free, let us
left to
vocates in Parliament
management
my
faithful,
it be,
when he commenced
still
clings to
great, contented
It
first
presided,
Accordingly,
838
of the 12th
and 13th, Lord Killeen, the eldest son of Lord Fingal, occupied the chair.
This nobleman, who possessed more than ordinary abilities, was free
from the prejudices and fears of the old earl, his father. He was also
superior to the habits of submission, which the penal oppression had
taught to most of the Catholic aristocracy.
He had for some time
eagerly longed to join O'Connell in making another earnest effort to win
emancipation. His hearty co-operation with O'Connell gave good assurance that the time had arrived when that combination of all sections of
Catholics in the struggle, which was the indispensable condition of success, might be at length effected.
The worthy example of Lord Killeen
was followed by other nobles. Soon the premier viscount of Ireland,
Lord Gorman stown, in spite of his retiring habits, emerged from the
seclusion of his woods near Balbriggan and joined the Association. The
earl of Kenmare, having an unconquerable dislike to appearing in public,
did not, indeed, join that body formally, but he sent in the authority of
his name and his subscription.
The Catholic clergy, also, gradually
gave in their adhesion. The celebrated Dr. Doyle was the first bishop
who openly joined the Association. Before very long other prelates and
The clergy felt
the great body of the clergy were enrolled members.
that the cause at issue
was peculiarly
and
their
own
its fortunes.
contributed
which
In every parish
was
collected
He
sition.
Many
who
could
which
839
Probably
it
would be correct
drawn
bound the
during
priests
and
fidelity,
being
The
may
here
right,
and
without payment."
The progress
of the Association
was slow
at
first.
Eichard Lalor
its triumph.
He says the contrast between the two meetwas most striking. At the first, held in a narrow room, the returns
of money were scanty, the communications from the country few, the
business got through in a hasty, informal manner, the members "captious, uncertain, half-timid."
At the second, held in the far more commodious Corn Exchange, you might see crowds filling to suffocation
room, passages, stairs and all, "the Catholic rent" pouring in by hun-
the year of
ings
840
dreds
you might
listen,
conducted with gravity and due observance of forms, and the actors on
the scene were bold, enthusiastic, self-reliant.
In the
first of
these years
the
first
Henry Brougham.'
justice should be
.
name
"
'
ing been set free from his forensic duties by the long vacation, found
From
several
Tours, where
After a sojourn
1o
stay for a few months. Late in October, he returned himself to Ireland, accompanied only by his son John, then on his way to the Jesuits' College,
at Clongowes.
who think
it
It
dered
world.
him
many
a diverting
jest, ren-
gifts in this
w ay
r
it
long."
was
in the year
;
841
from being encouraged to proceed with his plan, obstacles had even been
thrown in his way. By a rule of the Association, if ten members were
not present on days of meeting at half-past three (the hour of meeting
was
three o'clock
rule.
It
other in surprise.
Was
whom
been held in the house of Mr. Coyne, the Catholic bookseller, 4 Capel
street), he luckily found two young Maynooth priests, buying some
theological works before setting out for the parishes to which they had
been appointed. By the rule they were ex-qfficio members of the Association.
Not without difficulty, O'Connell prevailed on these timid and
hesitating young men, who had just emerged from the seclusion of an
ecclesiastical seminary, and who were ignorant of current topics and
startled at the idea of taking part in a political meeting (nearly the
whole body of clergy at the time shrank nervously from putting themselves forward in politics), to help
him out
of his difficulty.
However,
842
came
nell,
in, so
at a subsequent meeting,
O'Con-
future at any hour between three and five o'clock, as soon as ten
mem-
have just related was the turningpoint in the fortunes of the Association.
O'Connell more than once, in
after times, referred to it, when commencing movements with few adherents and feeble resources, as an encouragement to "patience and
bers were assembled.
This incident
perseverance."
He now
the best
He
means
of increasing the
developed his plans in an able speech, and his motions were agreed
The proposal to establish the rent received the sanction of an aggregate meeting, on Friday, the 27th of February, by a formal resolution
recommending it for general adoption throughout the country. The
sacred building (the old chapel in Townsend street) in which the meeting took place was gloomy.
At four o'clock the crowds in the aisle and
to.
galleries completely shut out the last feeble rays of the wintry sun.
darkness visible."
It
"
own
for his
parish
he also
let
843
himself be appointed
But the
James Sugrue
as his assistant-
first tried
all
in the
towns
first,
was inclined
it
Friends as
as childish.
John
at
by several
he himself was
'
and young,
of every class
and creed,
were silenced. Friends were equally astonished and delighted, enemies
equally astonished and chagrined, or even alarmed.
The sanguine mind
of O'Connell himself, in its soberer mood, in all probability, had hardly
anticipated the success that resulted from his project. Within two years
from its commencement, the sum of 500 a week, which represented
half a million of associates, was the average income arising from the
penny subscriptions. Previous to the establishment of the rent, the
Association had, indeed, debated on various questions of the day besides
emancipation on Catholic chaplains of Newgate on church-rates on
the tithe-commutation
in
bill
as,
Protestant ecclesiastics
84-4
On
of the Association
idle
"The
1st, to
meet Parliamentary expenses 2dly, for the services of the press 3dly,
for law proceedings, in preserving the legal privileges of the Catholics,
and prosecuting Oranges aggressors 4thly, for the purpose of education
;
vice of America.
likely to prove
poor
of the Association
seemed
other objects.
and many
priests.
it
was
said, in originating
1
all delegation'
''
(the
it,
or Board.
Convention Act
Committee
to the Catholic
845
should
still
haunted him)
O'Cormell
Downes precluded
"all former plans
be adopted."
Protestants, also,
might be simple
spectators of their
meetings (Catholics
"upon
his being
made
846
and
brisk,
without
spirit,"
others.
By
that failing."
was a coward.
said
however, Moore
and unfounded.
for
ively foolish
Thomas Moore
(for so
was
"
also called)
was
established,
we
him mingling the lightest anecdotes and jests with serious business.
Thus he tells how the Odd-Fellows drubbed a man, who " reminded them
find
for
first
have a
treasury,
being an odd fellow amongst them, as he was the only one that
had common
sense.
who voted
847
through the length and breadth of the island. Publications in aid of the
cause were disseminated.
The sum of 5000 was devoted to provide
50,000.
He
to the Irish
sum be
to
This
He had
life.
shilling received
the
moment
the
faction,
848
Even
certain of the
Speak-
"The minister
thus:
of
would ever
be
Doyle's
was nicknamed, was disapproved of by Dr. Crotty, president of Maynooth, and the students.
Indeed, it was laughed at by the Irish priest-
it
hood in general.
"The
con-
would involve
his
injured them.
Irish Catholics
849
which was attempted on the other side, in the shape either of argument
or satire.
Most of the wisest and wittiest pens of the two islands were
Trenchant reasoning from Jeffrey, in
wielded in favor of emancipation.
the Edinburgh Review; the piquant humor of Sidney Smith, in 'Peter
Plymley's Letters
the brawny might of William Cobbett, who, wherever tyranny and intolerance showed their head, smote it amain with
;
'
and drew
blood,
movement, as if in play,
high places, and made him howl; Shiel's brilliant shafts of wit, shot from
the Neiv Monthly Magazine && these were aimed at the monster called
Protestant Ascendency in Church and State, and there was nothing of
the kind to oppose them nothing but the raving letters of Sir Harcourt
Lees and his friends, or the bitter spite of the Tories in Blackwoo and
Frazer and the Quarterly.."
Probably, too, all this intemperance and fury of the Orange party at
the progress of the Association and the Catholics these insane dreams
and prophesyings of Sir Harcourt Lees the curses of the other Ascendency fanatics; their absurd petitions to Parliament "to put down
graceful
as to
Ulster,
and
to say that
force" of that province; to talk also "of protecting the island for his
He
defies at the
850
Other papers followed its example in this respect. O'Connell not merely kept a careful eye on the Dublin journals, but he spoke
even of influencing the London press. Referring to the Scotchman who
reporters."
then edited the Morning Chronicle (that paper had passed from the
hands
of the
may
number
was a
of years it
it is
favorite
been for many a year, defunct, while the Dublin Evening Post, the Freeman's Journal, and the bigoted Evening Mail all papers in existence
long before
I snail
also
its first
alive, if
forth conspicuously.
Probably, however, no
may
body.
We
find
him on
example, he
for
The Courier
is
also took
up
this
calumny.
851
discharged.
Was
all this
consistent with
up the manuscript? and acids, that "party spirit should not carry men"
to such a "monstrous length beyond truth, with the view of defamation."
Our hero next states, that, while Tracy was imprisoned, "he" (O'Connell) "paid forty shillings a week for his board at the same table with
Mr. JEneas McDonnell and he shared the same bottle and table with
that respectable gentleman, at his expense, though Dr. England said he
should not do so." The fact that O'Connell supported him was concealed even from Tracy himself, lest Saurin should learn it, and keep
Tracy in to punish O'Connell. iEneas McDonnell, to whom O'Connell
had paid the money for Tracy's support, could prove all this. As for the
printer's wife and family, Dr. England had made provision that Mrs.
Tracy should receive "the full wages to which her husband would have
been entitled if at work." With regard to Tracy's death, " it had not
;
852
taken place
not from an
" for
it
was
life
sums
of
money
once
for five
and
receipts.
guineas
and
O'Connell with
a specimen of the
and sorrow
believe, higher
my
of
countrymen.
one
evil
perhaps
charged with
" I
life
an enemy.
know
had and have many, very many,, warm, cordial, affectionate, attached friends. Yet here I stand, beyond controversy the most and the
best abused man in the universal world
And, to cap the climax of
that
853
calumny, you come with a lath at your side instead of the sword of a
Talbot, and you throw Peel's scurrility along with your own into my cup
of bitterness.
for Ireland.
her pay, wants the vulgar elements of morality which teach that the
laborer
is
rewards.
" Yes, I
and
I glory
am I say it proudly I am
in my servitude."
under the presidency of that bigoted Irishman, the late earl of Roden.
He shows the earl's want of fair play in not allowing an English priest
to
He
Catholic Dissenter.
ecclesiastics
ought
to
make a
and other
Irish
He
poor" and
to disabuse the
English
the most depraved, malignant and infuriated minds seem to have been
sedulously ransacked in order to supply a sufficient store of
filth
and
for the
in traversing
chapels of Dublin."
is,
for
many
reasons, incredible
above
all, it is
both said and written by Lord Redesdale that ex-chancellor had regretted "being obliged to leave Ireland," thought his removal an act of
ill-usage, and had then "passed an eulogium" upon the Irish people,
;
854
manner."
sellor
He
also
The
moved that a
letter
we
in tone and
by Coun-
his,
within the degree of second cousin, who, before the Kevolution, had been
in the
French
service,
now
in
the
HI
'
office
HOMEWAED BOUND.
THE RETURN OF THE IRISH EXILE.
dit>t.
ofN. Y
855
in securing the
last sentence.
by him on
this occasion,
our hero sneers at the hypocrisy of the Northern Whig, a Belfast paper.
He
jests
upon
its
management by
"who
can understand, their best inspirations from 'mountain dew,' known by the vulgar appellation of 'pot teen.'"
[Loud
laughter.)
He differs from his friend Lawless about the liberality of
borrow, as far as
Belfast, which,
my worthy
and
in
first
He
denies that
it
was
in Belfast
" I totally
deny
In Con-
Deny
claim credit
Irishmen.
for liberality
commanded the
hung shortly after, was Joy's
who, in
'98,
He
classic, the
cousin.
and was
He
have
be a wagon
says,
hired to carry
856
also,
Two
olics.
by applying
sum
to the
Board
None
office.
olics
cannot take.
vide bread,
etc.,
fill
for the
church-warden
What
responsible.
be astonished?
and
for
the
him
he is held
Will they not
to act, yet
seems
him
spite, elect
moment
of justice
man."
bler.
He cannot express
He is a traduccr of
his "detestation
and horror"
of this scrib-
priest.
ing, to gloat
over the skibbereen pastor; they did not seek, curiously, to inquire what
857
and he de-
to that cause,
much
to their
retaries of the
Catholic Association.
commended warmly,
Some London
The British Traveller, The Morning Chronicle (he had some time previously regretted the death of
Examiner are
friendly,
its
and the Eepeal cause, which provoked this retaliation on the Examiner, were caused by some censures
that had been uttered by our hero "on the malpractices of a person connected by family with the leading writer" [Albany Fonblanqite, I suppose)
tures that the attacks on O'Connell
Dublin, observes:
some
"Bad
as the
London prints
are.
it
existed in
London and
feeling, like
Star, of Dublin."
we
and
find
religious societies of
doing
so,
of the clergy.
West
Parliament;
inconsistency in petitioning
&
India slaves," while they remained "utterly
for their
own
country."
more
find
We
Some
bondsmen
liberal
858
man who
says
lie
On
accordance
my
Indeed,
to act in
Young
late friend,
Ireland party,
condemned
to
understand
that the Catholics intended their petition should pray "for a reformation
in the temporalities of the
Church establishment
in Ireland
for
ing rotten borough corporations," as well as "for the removal of the disqualifications to
named
with the last prayer (regretting that the Catholics had increased their
Our
hero's attention
is
also occupied
by recent Orange
riots
and
up
energies.
He
in
He
Mcath."
859
As we
that O'Connell
may
letters
on the most
ridic-
New
New
York."
it,
and,
if
for his
writes to
amount
Dan
to
me
that he
conversion to Protestantism.
The
8(30
is
"Thick
as
In Vallombrosa."
for places,
me
tell
me
Oh,
One word!
them what they want.
"
how I am sick of that 'one word V
Some were even impertinent enough to offer him a "hand-over" for
One of these scamps he threatened with a prosecution.
his patronage.
When another impudent rascal promised to call for a reply, O'Connell
told his servant to kick him out of doors as soon as he came to the house.
Country-folks sometimes addressed him in a singularly grotesque style.
One of these commenced an epistle to him with "Awful sir!" Anonymous letters he condemned to the flames unread. "I just look to see
what signature the letter bears, and if I find none, I fling it into the
In all the anonymous communications he ever got, he found but
tire."
of
mine
'
it
education in Ireland."
He
objects to several of
the commissioners,
John Leslie Foster, on account of his being "the professed and unyielding opponent of the rights of six millions of his countrymen." At the same time he admits the honorable way in which Mr.
especially to Mr.
is,
officer."
serious disadvantage of
8G1
Our hero
is
for
the revenue."
Some
annum.
John O'Connell
.
often very
ical moves,
much
calculated to
manifested
itself
...
in respect to the
He
was
man wanted
finally carried.
life,
management
the
way
of
of
to
people's money."
winning notoriety.
for
two bodies
of English Catholics.
He
discusses
He
ridicules the
assump-
Still
he was
Shortly after
we
and O'Connell pointing out to the Engprovincial associations the way to evade the act against correspondIrish Association,
"Had
too
much
to say, that
sell
his services, is
it
chased in the market of corruption, what would they not lane civen
for
862
.1
Register
certainty.
" Religious liberty for Catholics
education
and
kind
r,f
abolition of corporation
and party
lition of the
all
this year.
At a public meeting,
tolls
let slip
went a change
f<>
On
863
of advocating the
In
fact,
he was vehemently
o-ppo;
In addi-
unaccepted.
senters
L'ffioile"
one-third
offices of trust
(t/ie
Star)
of the population
were
inadmissible by law to
it
who
did not
amount
to one-fiftieth
mitted."
and power
(Cheers.)
He
-were
all
all
also expresses
patriots of Greece
him in
Rue de
Grenelle,
who proposes
to
French and other Continental papers. Tevers suggests "that his proposal should not be made public, as the advocacy of the French press,
O'Connell, howif considered spontaneous, would be more serviceable."
ever, is
be
make an onslaught on
He
the Morning
numerous
this year.
we have
Colonel White,
encloses 20.
lords (his
55
864
this
nine years in the Austrian army and had seen thirty-four campaigns,"
member
of the Association.
In November, 10 are handed in
from the good Lord Cloncurry, with a patriotic letter, in which the following passage occurs " The last wish I ever heard from Grattan was
as a
place
my
best,
lic prelates,
member
my
In that repeal
The Catho-
of Dromore), con-
Though
we
On
James,
his heart as
Irish liberty
warm
and
to the
Irish rights, as
when
affections, the
cause of
had
first
been aroused against the injustices and oppressions which had so long
been the order of the day against those professing the Catholic
"But
religion.
Alas! poor old "Hunting-cap" lived not to see that brighter day.
Shortly after this incident, he died, at the advanced age of ninety-six
He
left
credit
chiefly on
written to Mr.
life
O'Gorman with
of O'Connell, published
his
letter,
own hand
by Mullany,
865
which he seems
a statement
of Dublin, that
to
have
in the clever
he was totally
some years before liis death. The people of Kerry tell stories,,
which seem to show that, like many others of the Irish gentry of those
wild times, he made a good deal of his money by contraband dealings.
To speak plainly, he is said to have smuggled tea and wine to a great
extent to have had men in his employment to bring the smuggled
goods to Cork.
O'ConneH's own father is reported to have made a considerable deal of money by the same pursuits.
"Hunting-cap" is also
said to have had frequent quarrels and lawsuits with a family called the
Segersons about these contraband commodities, and about ships wrecked
near his and their lands. The factions that rallied round each family
would take part in these quarrels. Curious traditions, illustrative of manners in those days, and having more or less foundation in fact, exist in
Kerry about the wreck of a ship called the Hercules, in all probability
a Spanish vessel, laden with gold and silver doubloons.
The drowned
sailors, it would appear, had for buttons Spanish gold coins covered with
cloth.
A man, burying the corpses, is said to have discovered this by
perceiving the edge of a coin protruding through the cloth.
The
peasantry talk of expensive diving-gear having been got by a coastguard's son named Quailing to fish up the sunken treasures.
As the
story goes, money "galore" was rescued from the deep.
Tales are told
of firkins of gold sent to Tralce and kept there for a year without any
claimant turning up. It is added that somehow the O'Connells finally got
possession of the treasure. Whether there be any amount of truth, much
or little, in these confused local traditions, or whether they be all mere
romance of the peasantry, it is impossible to say. I merely notice them
as presenting a curious picture of the notions and beliefs which the
Kerry peasantry entertain about the origin of the renewed prosperity
blind for
period,
Maurice seems
the Association.
of O'Connell's sons
the
to
ability,
is,
and
promise.
hostility
that,
"And
terms:
in the following-
when
He
him a claim
to the title of
bill
bene-
hope
for better
It is
bill
framed
for the
He
also, referring to
the House of
tlie
Catholic relief
our hero's invitation; but, at the meeting of the 22d, he appeared once
more, and, after a conversation that took place respecting the Quakers,
8G7
mob
to violence
and
to the
of Protestants, etc.
close.
how
life,
weakness
But I
shall wonder no more.
Oh, Heavens! in what society has this young
lad been reared, that at his age, and with his education, he should have
acquired opinions and feelings, the mere expression of which makes
humanity shudder?" O'Connell contrasts powerfully the legal positions
of Protestants and Catholics, as exemplified in this young stranger, with
his " shallow mind, perverted intellect and habitual prejudices," and
himself.
To O'Connell, "the descendant of the ancient proprietors of
the soil," himself a large proprietor, at the head of his profession by his
own energies, this presumptuous "lad" may hold the language of a
superior to an inferior, and say, "But you are
a Catholic, and because
I came reeking from the drunken orgies of a secret and swor-n band of
fanatics, I am entitled, without any other qualification or merit than
may be
"maybe
the mere
young exclusionist."
Oramre club to assail my
when " mere personal ribaldry can make me
this
me
868
my Maker
owe
I
liad ever
tells
and
of
my
duty
to
my
family,
who
sent
him that
effect;
me
drew
forth
"their pity."
The
On
moved "That
all
students of Trinity
Collcsre
In admit-
In
fact,
On
it
was
for
a time
Mr. O'Connell had taken for the Association the premises afterwards
known
as
purpose.
such force
Finally he transferred
its
subsequently called the Corn Exchange, which was situated "in a more
men.
is
(I
who saved
it
He
am
coal-porters
THE
Indeed,
lie
Ln-tL
OK DANIEL 0'COXXELL.
8G!)
movement under
the grim
The conduct
of
Mr.
Conway
of their bigotry
and riotous
spirit.
snug trade had grown up between London and Dublin bibliopoles, for
which the State had to furnish the capital. The Bibles and other books
which the Kildare street society published and offered for sale in Ireland
for twopence and fourpence a piece, were sent in quantities to London
was one way of accounting for the disposition of the 10,000 grant, and
Here a
that it was a matter which should be laid before Parliament."
tumult arose, owing to a violent irruption of the college scamps bent
on disturbance and the overthrow, if possible, of the new popular organization.
A struggle ensued, when the college men, finding themselves
overmatched, effected a hasty and disordered retreat. The people wanted
to follow up their victory and inflict punishment on the scholastic "rowdies;" but O'Connell refused to sanction this, and soon succeeded in
restoring order.
Counsellor Finlay, for " his untainted principle and independent spirit,"
of other business,
which
have already
noticed in this chapter, our hero informed the meeting "that the
mem-
In spite of the
temporary disorder on this occasion, the ladies present had remained for
the conclusion of the proceedings.
Previous to the taking of the chair,
Mrs. O'Connell and her two daughters afterwards Mrs. Fitzsimon and
had
Mrs. Ffrench
Thirty
new members
were enrolled. Long before the hour of meeting the avenues of approach
were blocked up by the expectant crowd. To obtain entrance was difri-
S70
From time
cult.
to time, those
screams and wailings occasioned by the pressure outside the door, which
at length burst open;
and
yet,
among
all
life,
Indeed.
the crowded
there
was not
one in which any accident of any consequence was even reported to have
occurred."
may
which took place at the great room of the Corn Exchange on November
the 18th, was marked by rent remittances from three of the Catholic
hierarchy, "with their clergy," headed by the Catholic primate, Dr.
Curtis.
On
of
in Dublin.
Sir
Thomas Esmonde, a
Catholic
at" the hostile press in his usual style; abuses "the frantic ribaldry
tion."
[Laughter.)
He
want
of talent,
"New
and of which I shall presently give some account the Honorable and Reverend Baptist Noel, a notoriety for many years in the
" One word with resjiect to
Evangelical circles, and Captain Gordon.
my friend, Mr. Noel" (a lavgh), "and that good Scotch hulk, the Gordon"
(applause), "come over to instruct the deluded Irish. The Scotch captain
in Ireland
"
S71
praised Scotland and abused Ireland most unsparingly, and after abus-
them he came
quality;
"It
[Laughter.)
in
them." (A laugh.)
to convert
a very nice
fit
man
"Mr.
on ladies
to attend
of
a small tea-party."
for
is,
If I
have been
make
that
it
was not
came
although
it
for
to
certainly
my
may
ears
a precipitate retreat
authority."
I princi-
pally notice this aggregate meeting, because, at the next day of the
Association, the weekly return of Catholic rent
1032
75.
amounted
to
no
less
than
did.
down
Our hero was toasted as "the honest and uncompromising champion of civil and religious liberty." He said, in his eloquent
speech, " I will, while I have breath, struggle to make Ireland what she
to dinner.
ought to be
'
He
and
first
gem
of the
sea.'
puts Lord Eldon, Ferdinand the Seventh of Spain and the Grand
Turk together
same boat of
Lord Eldon a present of him they
in the
applause.)
Court of
He
make
{Laughter and
says:
"As
bigotry.
(A
laugh.)
his doubts
Colonel Butler
as "
a Protestant gentleman
who
anxious to come
Oh, what a country lie], nd
felt
(Lend
872
applause.)
ardstown Patriotic Society this year. The friends of the societ3T amounting to three hundred, dined in a magnificent pavilion.
In returning
,
thanks
company
had enthusiastically drunk Mrs. O'Connell's health as "the pattern of wives and mothers
a lady -whose charitable and exemplary conduct sheds lustre upon her sex and station,"
O'Connell said " It did not become him to say much on that occasion,
yet his feelings did not allow him to remain silent.
To the lady whose
health had been so given, he owed much of the happiness of his life.
The home made delightful by his family was, after the cares and agitations of professional and public life, the scene of the happiness he ento the
after they
He
joyed.
was, indeed,
happy
home
in that
happy in
[Applause.)
those children
a rev-
instilled
their country."
Welle si ey.
In this year, 1824,
we
have just referred to the movement which was called "the second RefAccording to Mr. William J. Fitzpatrick, it was the celebrated William Conyngham Plunket who was absurd enough to originate
ormation."
He
that
if
in theological
and
little
if
The
Irish could
Pope,
nell,
O'Con-
wordy battle with them. The prepossessing and mildlypersuasive Noel, at this so-called meeting of "The Cork Hibernian School
Society," talked of the filthy dwellings of the Irish and their minds void
assembly
to join
The want
of religious instruction.
all their wretchedness.
Apparently,
all
of Bible-reading
it
tion.
to
ever,
Scotch newspaper;
it
ran thus:
'We
number
and want
"Take
at the
say,
mote
the
beam
in ours."
it
was
called.
own
out of your
eye, before
pathos,
lie
As
Shiel
had ad-
vised "the amiable itinerant," Noel, and his associates, to go and preach
Christianity to the higher classes, to the oppressive landlords of the
He
talked of Taffy
Scot,
He
rose,
and thundered
forth
the
hundredth Psalm.'"
O'Connell was great on the opinions of the fathers, the real presence
and
points theological
to agree
some
rest.
He
fair
referred to the
a giant refreshed
with wine."
Toleration prevailed
now
in France.
In
God
"Something had
was not
... He
it
spirit of the
it
arrived.
who had
charity.
religion;
beggarly charity.
Orangemen
try,'
to the
" 'sister
humanize that great moral and political monster, the sanguinary and
anti-social Orangeman." [Thunders of applause.)
"Oh, no! here the
to
to live
and die
[Immense applause.)
closed
that the
into the
privacy of domestic
life.
before thought proper "to introduce his conjugal happiness as one of the
had spoken
of
all
Mrs. O'Connell as
sides,
which
he"
while an infinite
it
went on
Here shouts
"If
in
of
to say,
to
make
his
way
He
of
but that
had
if
37G
my
"
lan-
He
family
guage
is
cer-
(_
admitted
said
of.
At a meeting
"New
gentleman named
while admitting his surprise "that the Catholics did not/<fetlie Orange-
men, instead of simply contemning them," at the same time "deprecated the opposition given by Catholics to the establishment of Bible
societies in Ireland," asserting that
England."
if
and
when
enforced
against
the
it
TITE LIFE OF
8000
known
DAXIEL O'CONNELL.
877
for the
when
it
was
character had acquired that facility by means of the English language; and
when it was equally notorious that not one of the peasantry could read
On
Irish at all!"
his "enlarged
and
in remaining a
Catholic.'' "
"
promise.
He came
man
of great
which he was called about the year 1819." He was honest and
energetic, a forcible and effective speaker in spite of too broad a brogue.
His figure was large and somewhat clumsy.
At the meeting of the Association, on the 10th of November, O'Connell
strongly denounced the conduct of the Trench family, one of the great
houses of the " souper " aristocracy, at a recent Bible meeting at Loughrea.
bar, to
"Souperism"
is
of the principal
one of the
titles
forfeited
is earl of
Clancarty,
bishop would not allow a Catholic clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Daly, to
Finally, however, his grace had to leave the chair, and a Protspeak.
estant barrister, Mr. Guthrie, was
passed.
O'Connell justifies
moved
all this;
and counter-resolutions
denies that there was any "outinto
it,
He
New
numerous
applied
for
to'
summary
persecution),"
affairs.
(vl laugh.)
seen
as a naval
much more
laugh.)
who had
Street
and by water-rats" (a
and mischievous vermin were directed
rats
"The Kildare
"
to
undermine the
religion
and
to
who, with
little
glory,
On
879
were now guilty of a piece of impotent spite and rage utterly contemptible.
Indeed, to make a concession to Ireland with a good grace, or magnanimously, is a thing the English government has hardly ever been able
In one of the speeches
to do.
made by him
London Examiner
which resembled that which
Irish Catholics,
for its
it
had
to pass,
may
another Bolivar"
(the president-liberator
of Spanish South
"and the example of Greece animate their efforts." The verAccordsion given by Saunders Neivs Letter varied slightly from this.
ing to it, his language was fiercer: "If she" {Ireland) "were driven
mad by persecution, he wished that a new Bolivar might arise that the
spirit of the Greeks and of the South Americans might animate the
In order to give a more seditious coloring to its
people of Ireland."
Amerieet)
report,
The
alder-
man, after the usual salutation, said: "I come, Mr. O'Connell, to save
you the trouble of attending at the office, as I have been directed by the
attorney-general to call on you to enter into a recognizance to appear at
the next sessions." In reply to O'Connell's demand, " On what charge ?"
" Upon a charge of having spoken seditious words
the alderman said
:
at the last
meeting
of
the Association."
who was
refused to state
what
would
He
take his
own
recognizance,
880
is
one thing
you'll admit,
and part
for
the night,
street,
who cannot
get a
writes an indignant
Kemmis.
demand
for
Dan.
So
when
now
black enough
the commission
sits,
for
Justice
was obliged, on being closely questioned, to confess that he was asleep when the alleged seditious passage
was spoken; that a blow on the table had startled him from slumber
and that he took his report from the person near him, of whom he had
ignoble reporter, Saunders's man,
"What
asked,
ally,
Even
Hugh
any evidence
to sustain
it,
"that Catholic priests of Ireland were, at that very time, actually engaged in placarding Pastorini's Prophecies' in every quarter of that
'
it
with Protestant
O'Connell accuses the archbishop of being a party to this calumny, sneers at his writing himself down "a poor, persecuted man,"
and asks, mockingly, "When did we ever hear of one of the apostles
blood."
offer of twenty-seven
[Great laughter.)
882
that
'biblical'
spot.
widely circulated."
Scotchman's advertisement
for ash-poles,
the managers of that journal "understood they were intended for pike-
handles." Resolutions were passed at this meeting expressive of astonishment and indignation at the recent prosecution of O'Conncll.
At the meeting of December the 16th, the Association had appointed
gentleman
England.
On
their
way
lit;
" of
to
and
O'Connell an-
own
it
was "a
making such a
and some
named
improvement."
Chief-Secretary Goul-
bourn succeeded in carrying through both Houses a bill for the "Suppression of Unlawful Associations in Ireland." This was intended to destroy
the Catholic Associatiov, though a perfectly legal body.
In vain, on the
against
while the Irish deputation were sitting below the bar listening with
how
own
We
At the same time that the government introduced this arbitrary bill,
they brought forward a meagre measure of emancipation, accoinpanii
<1
883
called
disfranchised,
subserviency.
Luckily, this
bill,
after
The heir-presumptive to
the crown, the Duke of York, signalized himself by his hostility to the
He solemnly declared that he would never
Catholics on this occasion.
!"
"never, so help him God
give his consent to their claims
Meanwhile the Catholic deputation spent a pleasant time in EngShicl has written a most amusing sketch of their journey to
land.
London and their doings in that Babylonish metropolis. He tells us
how the party of deputies, to which he had annexed himself, travelled
feated on the second reading in the Lords.
in a barouche of O'Connell's;
how people
at inns asked
"Who
the gen-
of his barouche,
to
"with
be a revival of the
famous Irish mantle," attracted the larger portion of the public gaze;
how, on arriving at Wolverhampton, in a spirit of enthusiastic heroHe relates how hard it
worship, they -wont in search of Dr. Milner.
was to rind him out; how "a damsel of thirty, with a physiognomy
which was at once comely and demure, replied to us at first with a mixture of affected ignorance
Esmonde,
'
a marvellous proper
man
'
until Sir
Thomas
you had asked me for the popish priest instead of the Cathbishop, I should have told you that he lived yonder,' pointing to a
reply, 'If
olic
884
\
He
its frigidity;
man
he told him who he was; how the decaviimof his spirit were only kindled up by the "odium theologieum"
(theological hatred),
tioned
he
name
when
Shiel,
These and
Butler.
in Shiel's
till
many
).
Is.
Whig
ilic
royal
duke
emancipation.
of Sussex, the
erful nobles,
O'Connell
for
His antagonism
ments.
88<"j
life."
to
be
dukes of Norfolk, Devonshire and other powa moment yielded to their insidious blandish-
to
He began
to think-
more favorable than those now apparently within reach. The most influential Catholics of England were far from being hostile to " the wings."
The Whigs wished the bill to pass with "the wings," expecting that it
would give them additional Parliamentary partisans. Of course, Shiel,
even more easily than O'Connell, fell into this way of viewing the prospects of the Catholic question.
Referring to an
"
Archibald
on
He
bigoted feeling.
whom
asked Peel,
"How dare
had
Mr. Rowan.
his sovereign
gracious reception of
Brougham
easily
883
taming
an opportunity
of
which the duke of Norfolk, England's premier duke, presided. O'Connell was very solicitous about the impression he should produce on this
occasion. Even Charles Butler, a severe but excellent critic, was greatly
struck with his eloquence; and Butler was scarcely likely to be a judge
O'Connell was also examined before the House of
Lords on the subject of " Pastorini's prophecies." As evidence of their
disloyalty, the Catholic clergy were accused of circulating this book.
The
1529
it is
proper to
is,
calculation, then,
humbug is a
make this slight
whole monstrous
that
subject of
little interest
reference to
it,
now.
This
However,
put
to
him created
was
far
On
and reverend
think in
in the
all
signiors
my
life I
:"
feeling.
He
rather coin-
"Pshaw! such
silly
fools."
This "journey to London," however, produced, at the time, no favorOn the contrary, while the emancipation bill,
able practical result,
even with
its
two "wings"
payment
the
was
He was
these negotiations.
tain,
provided
it
'
887
the wings.'
of political
since often
was
of
Blake, the
settled.
was carried
the duke of York.'"
deceit
would appear, from a statement of the late Richard Barrett, proprietor of the Dublin Pilot, that,
while the fate of the bill was pending, O'Connell called very early one
morning at Plunket's residence in London, by appointment; that
Blanket rose hurriedly, came out to him, shook him heartily by the
attend the levee of
It
congratulate you
broken up an hour. I got up to tell you all is decided Catholic emancipation will be granted before a fortnight, and without any of the conditions to which 3'ou objected." These were no doubt some of the eccle;
siastical ones.
been won over. At this time a Mr. Pendergast was stopping in the
In some manner he became cognizant of the
house with Plunket.
nature of the interview. He told all about it in the clubs. When Lord
Eldon heard what had been resolved on, he hastened to the duke of
his bigotry.
furious
speech against emancipation, the duke followed his brother, the king, t(
The king and the heirthe theatre, where he was warmly received.
Its failure
was the
was accustomed
sense
;" "
Commons
that
it
as to
to take ether
became law "the Protestant succession would not be worth live farthings," and other extravagancies in the same style.
The Edinburgh Rcvieio gave high praise to the conduct of the deleIt also contended that the debate in Parliament had
gation in London.
clearly brought out the fact that the Association had restored and main"Of eleven counties," writes the reviewer,
tained the peace of Ireland.
"half a year before proclaimed by the Curfew Act, not one now remained
Rents were peacefully paid, Captain Rock no longer trained
disturbed.
The Association, acting under
the nightly bands of depredators," etc.
the legal advice of O'Connell, to satisfy the law, dissolved
was
wards
it
itself.
This
Of
of
ciation."
an act of Parliament."
In truth, the
its
triumphant
members published a
for the
bill
letter.
career.
suppression of the
The establishment of "the rent" alone formed a substanAt this period they had more than 12,000
tial claim to that gratitude.
The weekly income of the Associover their expenses lodged in bank.
ation had sometimes approached 2000.
O'Connell's popularity was temporarily shaken by his consenting to
the country.
We
find
who
889
all
His popularity, however, was speedily re-estabWhen he found that it was likely to be weakened by his facility
lished.
and compliance on the question of "the wings," he promptly and frankly
retracted, and took his stand once more with the vast, majority of his
countrymen for unqualified emancipation. "It had been well, indeed,"
says Mr. Mitchel, "if he had firmly held his ground against both those
English veomanry.
wings
to the last."
glimpse of "the
man
Ireland."
At
the
full
890
torate
of Hanover)
hand his
not at
to
who had
British army
commissions in the
had burst
warm when he
... In
into tears.
required to be paid so
was not so
prodigious a sum as 10,000 a
His
filial
affection
Coppinger also
for his
House
of Lords."
making
He was
straitened.
O'Connell once
said, referring to
Coppinger had
They squabbled on
the question of Catholic burial-grounds, Coppinger objecting to some
The great man at once retaliated in a
points insisted on by O'Connell.
is
humorous, half savage: "Boys," said he, addressing an audiwhich his pretorian guard of coal-porters was fully represented
style half
ence in
see such
rueful countenance."
Coppinger used
ment
of emancipation, O'Connell
half in joke
and half
notwithstanding
all
your
Mr. Coppinger
emancipation."
At
this
we succeeded
is
in
said to
obtaining
have been
lie
full
blessings of
of anecdotes
an exclusive character."
a resolution, which
was intended
we
ceived,
and
He
said,
get a hearing.
He was
re-
which was
to
me
London delegation.
voice was drowned
He
in
earnestly denounced
Still
he blamed the
"the wings."
many
But
Charles
louder.
Finally, Lawless
his
so.
withdrew his
resolution.
After several other speakers had been heard, O'Connell rose to ad-
22,000 a year.
management
of
will look,
with their eyes turned up and their hands in their empty breeches
pockets!"
His droll mimicry of the saints set the whole meeting in a
roar.
He
liberty.
called on
Association."
He
Commons, with which "he traffics as cattle are sold in SmithIt was "alive and
field market," to put down the Catholic question.
merry," notwithstanding.
He artfully passed over "the wings" without
any notice, in spite of Lawless's provocations. Cheers arose when he
House
of
we have been
defeated, but
we
we
have been betrayed, but arc unconquered still." He also referred lo the
extraordinary conversion of Mr. Brownlow, the head of the Orange
party in Ireland, to the Catholic cause, as a hopeful symptom.
ing of that gentleman's victory over his
own
Speak-
"Mr. Brownlow was too honorable, too honest, not to retract his error
openly, generously and nobly, when he discovered it."
At this meeting
Shiel proposed a census of the Catholics of Ireland to show their
strength
he also suggested aggregate meetings in all the parish
throughout
Ireland, and petitions from all the parishes. O'Conchapels
nell's horses were taken from his carnage on this day also.
The bill which suppressed the Catholic Association prohibited any
;
To evade
was declared that the Association should not act under the pretence or for the purpose of procuring redress of grievances in Church
this, it
1st,
civil
or criminal causes.
Its
professed
made
against Catholics in
admission
fee,
become one, in addition to that payThe new Assoment, should be proposed and seconded by a member.
O'Connell caused Counsellor Belciation embraced men of all sects.
lew's
name
to
Catholics appointed to frame this society, boldly casting in his teeth his
unknown
services.
"The undergrowl
of poor
bill
could not
'
,
IH. .-lLf
'
II
l'
in
89>
"and
his tew
Who
Who
called on
'
(He
of
is
Hie niger
est
hunc tu Romanc
caveto.'
"
bkicJc-hcartcd ; do you,
twenty-one sat
fifteen
Mahon
Mahon
the merchant,
for
the course he
At a meeting in
had pursued in London respecting "the wings."
Bridge Street Chapel, in July, 1825, from which this clique (nicknamed
by our hero "the Bridge street gang'*) wanted to exclude all persons
not inhabitants of St. Audeon's parish, O'Connell suddenly appears in
John Reynolds afterthe gallery while the discussion is going on.
wards a loud Dublin demagogue, one year lord-mayor of that city, and
makes
its
representative in the
House
of
Commons
The
He
latter,
Nicholas
Mahon
reflections
upon one
of
Here
that those
who
anxious to
lakes
Ills
The flow
ators."
checked
for
a moment.
His conduct with regard to. the forty-shilling freeholders he almost admits
to be blameworthy.
He tells the meeting that the report of the committee of twenty-one is just ready, and that it condemns the introduction of the
At
measure
of disfranchisement.
Street Chapel a few days after this scene, O'Connell skilfully evaded the
York
it
was
duke
of
"He
throne."
Shiel,
eloquent,
on the other
Against the
The duke's
brothers,
may he
pointment
little
It pre-
orator's ap-
'
'
life is
on the
lees,'
because wine
is
which, while
if
flowed copiously
is
S95
and
now but
is
tl
nd intoxi-
clearly, w:
muddy residuum,
product
He
meeting.
"Do
not
shuffle,
Cobbett."
my
so
vile
what he
vagabond," he says,
he shall."
"
He
un-
shall be a
be regretted.
lous,
hammer
"If
(\il
if
not unscrupu-
events,
it
to
irri-
at
least permanently.
and Wexford.
He had
to go
him.
flotilla of
boats on
first-rate rowers,
Ap-
its folds
896
welcome him.
at
a public
dinner.
I
year 1825.
said,
when speaking
at one
of the Catholic
own
now be goaded
O'Connell
him personal
offer
insult,
find bail.
much more
ances.
In addition to the
members accustomed
all
to
897
Dublin from
discussions.
all
clerical, flocked
up
The authority
of a national convention
was
virtually
added
gestures,
and
shrill voice,
At
this
to its fullest
to restrict the
independence of
meetings.
pate in these.
of the towns.
him on behalf
He
of the reporters:
"We
SOS
{of
Ms
speeches)
"did not
he
in length go
much beyond
seventy columns."
said, for
print."
What
are any
number
of minutes'
speaking
to
Mm ?
"
In a five
and
tlie
"a
Catholic
dream of refusing to vote for the nominees of the Ascendency magnates amounted to "a palpable insurrection." What were the
voters should
The agents
of their
George Beresford, abused the Association, the priests and the people,
calling the latter superstitious slaves, and yet expecting them to vote
Beresford.
of Iiis friends,
hundred guineas,
99
nicknamed the
vessel
city.
He
the county."
For the
lirst
ability for
two
The Beresfords
by
of
some
their most strenuous supporters.
were deserted
They were
whom
who
shame
by
men
bribed,
and
now held
put
they
had
even
to
up the purchase-money in open court. Lord George Beresford, feeling
hours, he withdrew his claims in favor of Mr. Stuart,
fifth
day,
in
common
inn,
he breathed his
last.
It is painful to
be obliged
to
add
that,
according to statements
)00
is
in peril;
my
we
shall be massacred,
if
candidates,
had
little
who
consternation.
It
was
all
As
they were in
Harcourt Lees demanded, Would Parliament at length give ear to his prognostications, "put down" Popery and
Sir
90i
At a Catholic meeting, held in Dublin before the close of the elections, O'Connell said "he came to read his recantation on the subject of
the forty-shilling freeholders.
They had burst the bonds and fetters
which had previously held them in slavery." He thanked them for
their "boundless patriotism."
His "delusion" was "gone for ever."
The error was his; the merit theirs. He moved, "that we deem it our
duty, publicly and solemnly, to declare that we will not accept of emancipation accompanied by any infringement whatsoever of the forty-shilling
.
franchise."
green coat and an orange cravat, would allow no one to second the
motion, in favor of "the heroic and
holders," but himself.
magnanimous
forty-shilling free-'
"by the
proposition of this
had achieved one of his noblest victories. Shiel then elohow these degraded serfs, "driven to the hustings as
the beasts that perish to the shambles," had suddenly thrown off "their
debasement" and risen "up to the great level of full and independent
resolution,"
quently described
citizenship."
man
of seventy sovereigns
in Waterford,
riches
named
Casey,
domains."
As soon
as the elections
to
of
woe
to the peasantry.
sisting of
The Older
Cross.
of Liberators
man
Two
was
established, con-
Cross,"
seven years
third, the
to
He now
1823
his
established, in
addition to the old rent, a fund for the protection of the freeholders, and
the increase of their strength, called "the
new
Catholic rent."
Our
002
"advance loans to
ids shall
all
rent,
"Daniel
be directed.''
cation rages.
new
pcrse-r
much about
Dominiek Eonayne
Cork
nounced
of
tried
for the
Konayne
de-
He demanded, How
burden of
or redress the evils arising from absenteeism ?
Fling, then, away
your vain pursuit of an exclusive measure, and join those who will give
you the real emancipation and the true equality of the law." The blandishments of Earl Filzuilliam, who took the chair at a Calholic meeting
in Wateiford, and of other members of the alarmed aristocracy, prevented O'Connell, who always had a hankering after the great old families, from giving a favorable hearing to these views of Mr. Ponavne,
though, some years before, he had himself declared, at a meeting held
in Harold's Cross, Dublin, "that the only remedy for Irish calamities
tion "diminish the
ernment, took up
L Etoilc,
But
to Paris, spread
abroad the
up not merely
in France,
Farmtl tylSons,
tn Cieth'g vjii>e
of
f)i*t.
CL of U.
S.
for
Soid/iertt
Dirt,of N.
903
pleasure O'Connell and his powerful agitation shaking the British em-
pire.
praise.
theme
of
were con-
England, but at the same time taught her the impossibility of delay-
ing emancipation
But
much
longer.
American
republic.
feelings of
The love
of
side,
nearly
all
very promising and rising young friend, Counsellor Brie, one evening got
into an idle altercation with a Mr. Hayes, who had just stepped off the
Cork mail-coach, about the merits of Mr. Callaghan, one of the candidates
at the Cork election,
relation.
overheard Mr. Brie call Callaghan "a rascal." Hot words ensued. Cards
were exchanged. They met, next morning, in a field near Glasnevin.
Mr. Brie
fell
at the first
fire,
mortally wounded.
"God
forgive
me!"
down
the fatal
we
If
find O'Connell
announcing
that,
magistrate."
the 5th of January, 1827, that royal opponent of the Catholic
claims, the duke of York, expired, after a long and painful illness.
Though a very imperfect character, still this prince was a more generous
On
all, is
not
incurred a good deal of odium by the fierce invectives which they had
O'Connell
uttered against him after his " so-help-me-God " harangue.
had openly declared, "It is a mockery to tell me that the .people of lieland have not an interest in his ceasing to live ;" and speaking of the
contingency of his death, he had added, amidst laughter and cheers,
I am perfectly resigned to the will of God, and shall abide the result
''
TIIE LIFE OF
Noav, however,
when
the duke
both Shiel and O'Connell expressed a genhis death and a keen regret for the bitter words they
905
DANIEL O'CONNELL.
to exist,
"The
auger.
Catholics of
O'Connell,
Ireland," said
We
a fellow-creature called from this earthly scene to render the great account
to his
we
Maker.
estant."
may have
forgive.
an army.
Whatever
O'Connell then
tells
officer of his
acquaintance,
and Holland.
who had
Germany
What
was ?"
He replied, that, having never been asked that question before, "he
scarcely recollected his religion; but that now, as it was put to him, he
was a Catholic." He expected to hear no more from the duke, "but by
return of post he received a commission with full pay in the British
British army.
service."
Moore,
letter
also,
came
in
immortal
verse,
his religion
This year,
too,
the dull prime minister, the earl of Liverpool, another bitter opponent
of the Catholic claims,
many months.
affairs.
He
seizure from
of
of valor,"
police-office
Dan
scene ensued.
" I
even wish
it for
want none
am
rage; "I
of
"Bah! bah!
the same time make
altogether unreasonably,
tion,
he should at
tendency to discursiveness.
Remmy
to
wound
the
feel-
Ireland
five million
On
on the people
the 12th of
to
and
907
Jack Lawless,
man
to
have O'Connell's
Their hopes
mother, had been entrusted by the king with the task of forming a min-
see a
As he was known
man
to
Peel,
affairs.
was
if
possible, to
is out.
908
have got rid of the jailer" (Earl Bathurst) "who presided over
the captivity of Napoleon, and who was so well qualified to design what
And better
Sir Hudson Lowe was so eminently calculated to execute.
than all better than the presumption of Wellington, the narrow-heartedness of Bathurst, the arrogance of Westmoreland, the ostentations
manliness and elaborate honesty of Mr. Peel we have got rid of Lord
.
We
Eldon's tears
!"
Everything seemed
to
As
promise well.
in
Dogherty (afterwards
cliief-justice of the
Common
Pleas),
who was
repre-
"he called
now
in the
New World
to redress the
to be rudel*
of
circumvented by an unholy combination of jealous rivals. The aristocratic section of the Whigs, headed by Earl Gray, who is said not to
have forgotten or forgiven some satirical sallies of Canning's wicked wit,
him
to
smart years
before,
Meanwhile, Sir Robert assailed the great orator for going over
to the Catholic side, while he was even then fully resolved to do the
same tiling himself, whenever an opportunity to advance his views of
ambition by such a change of tactics should arise. This was a favorite
power.
TIIE LIFE
OF DANIEL O'COXNELL.
office,
life
909
to oppose certain
measures
Canning,
Between them
if fully
vindictive as Peel's,
all,
He
"They have
killed him,"
struggling Greece
many
a gallant
by
of
ing.
In South"
and
and,
sacrificing at his
in
La
Plata,
by mourn-
anguish
the sounds of sorrow will ascend to the summits of the Andes; and
throughout
all
name
of
Canning
will
be
a Leitrim parish-priest,
who now
strife
the
known as an
sledge-hammers, met in
disputants wrangled
many were
Maguire,
time became
wordy
Tom
Roman
The reverend
together with commendable courtesy.
Though
Catholics.
logians,
it.
910
to
"new
or
"
of
f'V
the Ascendency
As
for
Fathei
this occasion
was one
of his
same
of
people of Ireland met in their several parishes all through the island.
When the session of Parliament opened the Association had a petition
pressed Catholics petitioning for the rights of the much less proscribed
and oppressed nonconformists." On the other hand, there were many
petitions from Protestants in favor of Catholics; though, unhappily, too,
numbers of influential Protestant petitions from the British universi-
example, from various corporations of towns and cities, espedeprecated all concessions to Catholics.
cially that of Dublin
Anglesea remained viceroy under the feeble and short-lived ministry
ties,
for
Lord Goderich, and also when the duke of Wellington became prime
Contrary to the hopes of the
minister, on the 22d of January, 1828.
bigots, Anglesea became a favorite with the good-natured, credulous
of
He
TTTE LIFE
'
Poor Anglcsea!
tlic
OF DAXIEL O'COXXELL.
unfortunate
man
O'Gorman
Dan: "That unfortunate O'Connell means
appears that Anglesea said
It
iglesea
foolishly
was home
'Jll
to
precisely the
well,
but
lie
same thing
is
had no influence
of
misguided."
in
Ireland.
secretary,
we
will consider
shall
measure.''
to
forward to the Association reports about "the rent," the census, amount
of tithes
Authorities:
Mitcliel's
etc.
CHAPTER
XXII.
preparations for the clare election o'connell offers himself to the electors as
a candidate for parliamentary honors sets out for clare his triumphal
Steel, O'Gorman Mahox, Shiel, Father
Exciting canvass in Clare
progress
Murphy, Father Tom Maguire, Jack Lawless all canvassixg for O'Coxnell
The election Sheriff Malony and O'Gorman
Indignation of the landlords
Mahox Sir Edward O'Brien's tears Speeches of the two candidates, Vesey
The humors of an iRisn election
Exciting scexes
Fitzgerald and O'Coxnell
forty-three years ago "The first max in the county" A bill of ixdictmext
against a priest's physiognomy Colonel Vaxdei.eur deserted by his voters "The
wolf is ox the walk " devotion of the peasantry defeat of the cabinet minister axd the aristocracy gexerous feeling of o'connell magnanimity of vesey
Fitzgerald "The max of the people" the member for Clare He is chaired ix
Exnis; his triumphal progress to Dublin Lawless at Ballibay Revolutionary
measures proposed in the association aristocratic meeting at tne rotunda in
"BRUNSWICK CLUBS " THE
FAVOR OF EMANCIPATION " DeRRY DaWSON's" SPEECH
He IS RECALLED; VAST CROWDS
VICEROY, ANGLESEA, FAVORABLE TO EMANCIPATION
ATTEND HIM TO KlNGSTOWX THE IRISH SOLDIERY IN FAVOR OF O'CoNNELL EMANCIPA-
TION BROUGHT
FORWARD
IX
HWlE^HE
"W
I
proximate cause of Catholic emancipation was the celeThat extraordinary event came to pass
brated Clare election.
Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald, having been advanced to a
in this way.
Board
for the
of Trade,
county Clare.
as he possessed great
influence in Clare with all classes from his personal merits, his liberal
distribution of government patronage and his family connections; as his
John
duke
of Wellington
913
they should strive to prevent the return of every candidate not pledged
O'Connell was at
weakly
inclined to comply with this request, in the interest of the Whigs, but
his proposal to suspend the resolution met with a stormy opposition,
which showed the strong dislike felt by Irish Catholics towards Wellington and Peel. The resolution remained in force and soon O'Connell
had good reason to rejoice that his compliance was of no avail.
to
first
When
the Association
came
to the
first
that he would
come forward.
nessy of Ennis,
when
who was a
Doubts,
also,
Nor,
unexpectedly entered the room where the Association sat in council, was
the
the
with a view
to
smooth any
difficulties
might place in the way of the major's acceptance of the offered candidature.
At the same time Mr. O'Gorman Mahon and Mr. Steele, two
Clare gentlemen of considerable property, who, on the appearance of
signs of panic, had insisted that the people of Clare might be roused
and that the priests were not lukewarm, were sent post to Clare to learn
In two days O'Gorthe real feelings of the people and to see the major.
man came back with the major's refusal his family were under such obliAll
gations to Mr. Fitzgerald that he could not honorably oppose him.
seemed lost. Not merely the Ascendency party, but the liberal ProtThe former, indeed,
estants, were already hard at work for Fitzgerald.
vaunted that no Clare gentleman would stoop so low as to accept the pa;
settling
914
was
was
nol
by the appearance,
in
How
did this
come about?
Tory friend of our hero, Sir David Roose, meeting Vincent Fitzpatrick
(the son of Hugh the publisher) in Nassau street, said to him, "O'Connell
ought to
offer
He
had observed
at once called to
to him.
when
moment he
Fitzpatrick was
exclaimed,
of
"You
are
Mount Jerome
to
between our hero and Conway, the successor of Magce. O'Connell, advancing with his "smile of witchery" and proffered hand, said
The coolness vanished in a moment.
to Conway, "Let us be friends.*'
Our hero, in the public office (noise was no disturbance to him, so he
"Modrefused to go into the quiet inner room), dashed off his address.
arisen
ify it
Conway
it
that
It
by pecuniary embarrassments
the
Andrew Ennis,
own names down for
if
915
the Association to excite the minds of the people and to prepare the
way
for his
coming.
The
priests,
too,
the O'Briens,
The aristocracy
others
never
dreamt that
McNamaras, Fitzareralds, Vandeleurs and
their "serf-freeholders would dare to vote contrary to their mandates.
It was then a principle amongst the Irish gentry that, if any gentleman
canvassed the tenants of another with a view to induce them to vote
contrary to the will of their landlord, such interference was to be looked
on as a personal insult. Hence the magnates were no doubt startled
and furious, when Mr. Thomas Steele amiably declared his perfect readiness to fight any landlord who should think himself aggrieved by interference with his tenants, and then, assisted by his friend, Mr. O'Gorman
Mahon, commenced operations by setting to work and canvassing the
These two gentlemen were probably the most active of all the
county.
They traversed Clare incessantly, veheemissaries of the Association.
their influence
with
the tenantry.
hill-side, in
the market-places, at
Tom
much
in his
for
Spanish constitutional
916
some notice
is
his
Tom
in the chapel
Shiel,
whom
assembled.
What
Mr. Butler
is
justly proud.
Toby Butler had been, Mr. O'Connell was; and he adjured him " not to oppose one "whom he was bound to sustain by a sort
of hereditary obligation."
Father Tom triumphed, and secured one
hundred and fifty votes for O'Connell. Counsellor Dominick Ronayne's
.
Sir
having arrived
in Clare the
election,
proceeded at once to
name
Sir
Edward
Sir
Edward
resolved to antici-
pate the agitator, and set out in his splendid equipage, drawn by four
horses, for the mountains.
On
his
way he met
his tenantry,
who had
descended from their rocky homes, inarching along "in large bands,
As
the
Murphy,
tall,
slender,
priest,
Father
now
soft,
now
Generally he was
"
impassioned
and solemn," but at times "the tinest spirit of sarcasm gleamed over
his features, and shouts of laughter attended his description of a miserable, recreant Catholic."
Towards the
who should
sacrifice his
down
hand on the
to
man
altar
Dean O'Shaughnessy,
Fitzgerald's kinsman,
Coffey,
on the side of
of
918
you might meet a priest in every street who would pledge himself that
the battle should be won.
Thirty thousand people, crowded into the
streets of Ennis, welcomed "the man of the people" with incessant
acclamations.
Banners hung from every window.
"Women;" s;iys
Shiel, "of great beauty were everywhere seen waving handkerchiefs,
with the figure of the patriot stamped upon them.
marched
fused
money
police
was gone.
No
Processions of free-
order prevailed
like troops to
;
vintners re-
victory.
and the other towns through which he had passed on his way to Clare.
On the day of his departure from Dublin, too, when he left the Court of
Exchequer to get into his carriage, which waited for him in the east yard
Four Courts, the news having got abroad that he was about to
start for Clare, barristers in wigs and gowns, flocking from all the courts,
surrounded him in the hall. A multitude rilled the yard likewise. He,
N". P. O'Gorman and two other gentlemen, who accompanied him, could
hardly get through the crowd to the carriage.
At last, however, they
our
drove off,
hero uncovering his head and bowing in acknowledgment
of the enthusiastic cheers and blessings, warm from the heart, that
followed him on his way.
While O'Connell's supporters were thus eager in his cause, some of
Fitzgerald's friends backed up their candidate with a zeal worthy of a
better cause.
To aid in defraying his election expenses, 4000 were
subscribed by live of the aristocracy.
One of Fitzgerald's partisans,
named Hickman, who had been an old acquaintance of our hero's, said
of the
And
it
so.
On
upon the
919
The sheriff,
a. solemn, dingy-faced, prim-looking individual, who had spent most of his
life at Canton, in the service of the East India Company, and had apparently acquired his chief notions of magisterial demeanor and authority
sical incident occurred before the
proceedings commenced.
up
saw a
gentleman perched in
on one of the
seats in the gallery, he had leaped over it, and, suspending himself above
the crowd" on a ledge, astonished the whole assembly.
If his position
was outlandish, his costume was unique. A coat of Irish tabinet, trowsers of the same material, no vest, a blue shirt, lined with streaks of
white, open at the neck, a broad green sash, with a medal of "the Order
of Liberators" at the end of it, hanging over his breast
such was the
costume of "the aerial gentleman," whose "handsome and expressive
countenance" boasted bushy whiskers and was shadowed by "a proing
at the gallery,
fantastically attired
"Who,
you?" demanded the sheriff, imperiously. This great functionary, it may be remarked, pronounced his English on the model of the
monosyllabic Chinese, "imparting the cadences of "Wesley to the accentuation of Confucius."
The fantastic-looking gentleman at once replied,
with an agreeable air of assurance, "My name is O'Gorman Mahon."
"I tell that gentleman," said the mighty Malony, "to take off that
badge." There was a moment's pause, when the "chivalrous dandy"
"slowly and articulately," answered: "This gentleman" {laying his
hand on his breast) "tells that gentleman" (pointing with the other to the
sheriff), "that if that gentleman presumes to touch this gentleman, that
this gentleman will defend himself against that gentleman or an) other
gentleman, while he has got the arm of a gentleman to protect him.'
At the close of this singular address, a burst of applause shook the
court-house.
The pompous sheriff looked aghast, and, after a pause of
sir,
are
irresolution, sat
down
quite discomfited.
920
medal
to his heart.
As.
for
them, and a pitched battle even had once been fought between the tenBesides, Sir Edward's second son, William
Smith O'Brien, then member for Ennis, destined to be the leader of the
Young Ireland attempt at insurrection in '48 for which he received sentence of death, "was a member of the Catholic Association, and had
recently
made
But the
magnate, ever
by the defection
full of
though
of his
The
of Fitzgerald.
House
of
Commons
by bursting into tears while describing the misery of the Clare people)
as " he complained that he had been deserted by his tenants, although
he had deserved well at their hands, and exclaimed that the country
was not one fit for a gentleman to reside in, when property lost all its
influence and things were brought to such a pass."
Sir A. Fitzgerald
seconded Mr. Fitzgerald in a few words. Mr. Gore, an extensive landed
proprietor, supposed by the people to be the descendant of a Cromwellian nailor, also spoke in favor of the cabinet minister.
Mahon, a
Catholic, proposed,
and
Tom
Then O'Gorman
Daniel O'Connell.
The
gerald, a
rival candidates
man
had now
Mr. Fitz-
however, from
all
exasperating expressions.
graceful melancholy."
Had
"
He
spoke at
first
with
of their cause
He
life,
He became
921
the court-house.
All,
who understood
to reply, that
he was collecting
all
his
might
for
a great effort to do
away
bore Mr.
such vital
He
ill-will,
is
the
"This, too,"
is
everybody's
922
friend
and
The
the friend of
is
when
O'Connell, in ruthless
On
Above
mockery of
this fair?"
aged
father, said,
all,
he
felt
Often he
in public."
and getting a magistrate's certificate of their having done so. This oath was usually dispensed
with by consent of both candidates. Now Fitzgerald's committee insisted
on its being administered, thereby completely taking O'Connell's by surprise.
Next
into a yard
the British
bounded by four
walls.
Twenty-five were
If this
legislature
obli-
gation of taking this absurd oath, chiefly relating "to the Pretender,"
deserved
of
God
all
who
name
in vain."
Soon it became clear that Mr. Fitzgerald had not the slightest chance
of being returned.
That gentleman would fain have withdrawn from
the contest, but his friends insisted on polling to their last man.
The
humors of this strange election were many and diverting. The highsheriff, who was always in solemn tones of unconscious burlesque announcing that he was "the first man in the county," became the butt
of the lawyers.
Playing on this lunatic's fantastic vanity, they would
preface every legal
myself to the
man
mockery, the
"an
air of
first
official
in the county."
Malvolio condescension."
" I
feel
that
address
Then some
Shiel styles
923
O'Connell
and
must
say,
when
lie
paid
me
proper respect.
let
virtue of
my
office, I
am
the
first
man
in the county."
my
parishioners."
that," cries
laughter at
spectral aspect of
Father Murphy. "Lotus see," says Shiel, O'Connell's counsel, "if there
be an act of Parliament which prescribes that a Jesuit shall wear a
look?"
physiognomy and
to
be found guilty of a
after,
for
admonition."
hundred of his tenants. He stands behind a carriage, with his hat off,
vehemently addressing his serfs. He stamps, waves his hat, shakes his
Thousands of voices from the crowd through which
clenched hands.
Vote for the old
they pass shout aloud, "Vote for your country, boys!
924
religion!
Three cheers
for liberty
Down with
the house.
He
The
A tremendous
shout soars
serfs
It
was
who had
In a
for the
moment
He had
just died.
925
look of despair with which he surveyed this unrelenting foe to convivialMeanity was almost as ghastly as that of his merciless disturber."
were employed in giving the peasantvoters, who lived too far from Ennis to return home, orders to victuallers
and tavern-keepers to furnish the bearers with meat and beer. The use
while,
below
of
In truth, the self-denial of the Clare peasantry, their spurning the temptation of bribes, above all their devotion
and moral courage in braving the vengeance of their offended landlords,
at whose mercy most of them lay so completely, appealed forcibly to
speak
to
"his reverence."
The
began
soldiery
sympathy
House
of
Commons
itself to
exclude a representative,
if
On
crowded.
He made no
of
effort to
but he gained the respect alike of friends and foes by the high-bred
calmness with which he bore his overthrow. O'Connell made a speech
he begged Mr. Fitzgerald
full of generous feeling and admirable taste
to forgive him for any offence he might have given him the first day.
felt,
be forgotten.
"
He was
"
said should
926
elamation, and delivered a speech which could not surpass in good judg-
ment and persuasiveness that with which he had opened the contest,
Mr. Shiel also tells us that during the conbut was not inferior to it."
test Mr. Fitzgerald could not conceal his
bodings.
"Where
is
all
of
and seem
fore-
lost in
elections.
it
dlesex election in the last century, in which the demagogue Jack Wilkes
is
House
of
Commons.
The Clare
elec-
Of
than ever.
When
Sixty thousand
men
(probably this
is
surrounded and followed him, bearing green boughs. Houses, great and
In Limerick
small, were decorated with evergreens or other boughs.
he was received enthusiastically. His whole progress to Dublin was a
triumphal march.
that "the
man
sible to give
of the people"
for Clare.
It is
impos-
and triumph
027
much
less
When
of
peasantry.
lie
this retreat
first
and won
signalized himself
its
con-
were established.
named
clusive dealing; that the people should not "deal with notorious Orange-
men and
;
Catholics to those
who
dissent from
them
in religion,
Eoman
may have
be given by
but who
proved by their acts that they are friendly to civil and religious liberty."
Lord Cloncurry argued against this. N. P. O'Gorman, too, opposed it.
It
was
finally negatived.
Forde's resolution
Wyse
says
it
was
would,
to
if
ganized Irish society speedily, "and reduced the minister to the alternative of
Catholic claims."
In truth,
it
of these revolution-
928
all probability, caused that emancipation meeting in the Rotunda which was presided over by the duke of Leinster,
dukes, twenty-seven
the
demands
earls,
of the Catholics.
Shortly after the Clare election another occurrence took place, which
He
it
by
The
temper by interruptions of every
kind.
His novel sentiments of toleration made them frantic. They
hissed and hooted when he regretted "the degraded state of his Catholic
countrymen." Nothing would content them but the violent suppression
of the Association.
Dawson was, at length, goaded to say, "I cannot
express too strongly the contempt I feel for the persons who thus attempt
to put me down."
He would not "condescend to ask their votes though
their suffrages would secure his return."
Dawson lost his seat in Parliament, in consequence of this oration. The Orange party never forgave
bigots,
who
the time by
many
him
to
make
made
it
as
It
was believed
to order;
"a
feeler,"
at
thereby to test
oppose
it,
920
O'COICNELL.
to the meeting.
The
sheriff
officer,
for
sion, "
980
for
moment
"to forward''
January, 1829.
him
It is
it.
As
but resort
to
He was
farewell.
for
credulous Irish.
military force against the Irish cause, for the troops could not be de-
pended on
the Irish
in
such a
conflict.
ing on
tion,
him
to
The sergeant, a young man named Ryan according to our hero, " as
handsome a fellow as ever he saw'' walked away from his men and
" In acting as I now
asked "the Liberator" to shake hands with him.
maybe
flogged for
it;
am
but
don't care.
Perhaps
me
in
any
way they
please
let
pation.
first
Though
arrived.
931
of emancipation had at
last
Roman
any kind of safety, as his personal knowledge told him that no king,
however Catholic, could govern his Catholic subjects without the aid of the
pope," he had now determined that emancipation should be conceded.
After
the Rotundo meeting of the aristocracy he had been closeted with the king
lature with
difficulty
wrung
a reluctant con-
ami worn-out
that worthless
who now
profligate,
to
My
how
to relieve
" I hardly
knew what
intended
be so or not,
to
silent,
usage he received
look
to,
what
express."
Hanover.
also
I'll
'Go on
!'
"
sinner's
the hard
he did not know what to
that he was miserable beyond what he could
that
back upon
romanced about leaving England
am
to fall
He
" I
I said to
state in
in his old
and manhood.
"I'll
" If I
do give
my
consent,"
and successor, William the Fourth) " for a king ;" " I'll
create no Catholic peers."
Lord Eldon does not seem to have felt anything like
implicit belief in the sincerity of His Majesty's jeremiads.
Once the king read
him a letter which he said he had written. It would seem as if Eldon had considerable doubts whether what his royal master read to him were really written at all.
In spite, however, of all this vexation, whether real or simulated, the royal
speech, which opened the session of Parliament, recommended the suppression of
the Catholic Association and the subsequent consideration of Catholic disabilities
done
Shiel,
liers,
easily
its
The
now thoroughly
and
dissolve
itself.
afterwards earl of Clarendon, and viceroy in '48, with whose views he was
induced
to concur,
made an
O'Connell
932
last
beyond
other
all
men
we do
declare that
we
achievement of
its
land."
not to
is
commence any
Its essential
action.
its
similar agitation,
if
He
only
promised that the Association should be dissolved, and that, in seeking for tbe
redress of other grievances, all exclusively Catholic agitation should be avoided.
Such an object as repeal, for example, could only be won by a national movement representing Irishmen of all races and of every sect and denomination.
Even now, in his moment of triumph, with emancipation within his grasp, O'Con" To accomplish repeal, I would give up every other measure, and
nell exclaimed
my exertions for such an object would meet with the co-operation of all sects and
:
parties in Ireland."
On
moved
jects."
carried
for a
Roman
His Majesty's
by a large majority
after a
warm
Catholic sub-
"And
debate.
now," says Mr. Mitchel, "arose the most tremendous clamor of alarmed Protestantism that had been heard in the three kingdoms since the days of James the
Second
the
last
from Irish Protestants, but from Scottish presbyteries, from English universities,
from corporations of British towns, from private individuals, came pouring into
Parliament, praying that the great and noble Protestant state of England should
not be handed over a prey to the Jesuits, the Inquisitors and the Propaganda.
vested
cession;
lightermen
Apocalypse
eternal
all
peti-
French principles
tithes
Great Britain."
legislators of
Some
the inquisition;
topics, sacred
Dr. Jebb, Protestant bishop of Limerick, had written to Sir Robert Peel on the
11th of February.
and dangers
defence of
In
this letter
all
necessary, as
that
many
is
of
my
difficulties
am
cheerfully prepared, if
down
life
itself."
Contrast with this Dr. Doyle's prayer for the success of O'Connell, setting out for
"May
God
the
"
93C
What
!"
He
tried
March
him and his colleagues to withdraw their resignation, and giving them liberty to proceed with the measures of
which notice had been given to Parliament. Meanwhile O'Connell, seeing that
emancipation was now assuredly about to become law, though he had arrived in
London to claim his seat for Clare, decided on not urging his claim for the present,
of
lest
And now
at last, almost
Commons.
by a majority of
Peel, in a letter to Bishop Jebb, says: "I can with truth affirm, that
and promoting the measures of 1829, I was swayed by no fear, except
of public calamity." On the 31st, the bill was sent up to the House of
On the 2d of April, the duke of Wellington moved the second reading.
thirty-six.
in advising
the fear
Lords.
He
conceded not in a
spirit of
it
Thus
it
was
In a word,
was wrested from the British government merely by the force of circumstances. Hence it is no wonder that succeeding English cabinets have endeavored to elude its spirit and make it as little
beneficial to the Irish people as possible.
debates
it
it
However, such as
it
On
the 13th
of April the ignoble monarch, after a most theatric display of reluctance, after
delays and tears, after breaking and trampling on the
(poor, petulant, diseased
worm
first
pen handed
to
him
bill,
upon a
statue, standing
lofty
.j
934
He
said, "
There
King Arthur" (Wellington), "King George and
are three kings in this country
most powerful, and will oust the other two."
is
the
King Dan but King Dan
Wellington observed, that of the Catholic question "the king never heard or
spoke without being disturbed." The fanatics, both of Great Britain and Ireland,
the power, might have adopted the views of the sage baronet.
in their rage,
seemed
to believe
During the excitement kindled by the struggle, the earl of Winchelsea even went
He absurdly accused
so far as to call the duke a traitor to his king and country.
the great captain of having had a design all along to break down the constitution
of England and insidiously to introduce "Popery" into every department of the
state.
The duke challenged this intemperate nobleman, and they met in Battersea
Fields.
Lord AVinchelsea, having by this time become somewhat sensible of the
outrageous nature of his conduct, after manfully standing a shot from the prime
minister, fired in the air
and apologized.
field.
off the
letter of retractation.
" 1st.
memorable struggle
An
2d.
In England the
fatal act
any provision
substantiation,
Catholics, on taking which any member of that persuasion might, if elected, take
Catholics, on taking it, might also be members of any lay
his seat in Parliament.
acts
and vote
at corporate elections,
any corporation.
The Church
Any
one taking
England still
promising to maintain the
the new oath had to swear allegiance to the Crown
Hanoverian settlement and succession; declaring that it is no article of the Catholic faith "that princes excommunicated by the pope may be deposed or murdered
by their subjects that neither the pope nor any other foreign prince has any
of
promising
to
935
He
also controls
and cancels
is
the
first
who has
Catholic
The
Irish
a long
office
accompanied emancipation
many
generation.
their parents.
chancellor,
by
left
commissions of magistrates.
friars
Provis-
this,
force.
benefits of emancipation.
A county
in Ireland
franchise caused the landlords to subdivide their lands too minutely, that
The
it
now gave
much
it
had
it
to seek
It
is
many
if
whom
the
bill
'
to
936
acted
for Clare.
On
May
the 15th of
he proceeded
to the
House
Crowds
filled
the public ways from Charing Cross to St. Stephen's, anxious to see the great Irish
agitator.
were
full
The House
of
of spectators.
to retire.
Kerryman, Pierce Mahony the attorney, O'Connell asserted his claim in a long
and powerful argument. His temperate address produced a favorable effect on the
minds of his hearers. He said, at the close, that it was his desire to address thai
House with befitting courtesy, but that still he was there to demand his seat as a
After the close of his speech, the question was argued by the ablest lawyers
right.
of England.
Though their arguments were ingenious and powerful, they have
Suffice it to say, O'Connell and his
interest
for the general reader.
now little
The duke
eldest son,
doomed
On
Commons.
"Are you
which
know
to
be
was issued
"In
him
to his
"Allow me
When
he had glanced
at it for a
one assertion as
to a
few moments,
matter of
false.
who had
nell,
King Louis
rejected.
the next day our hero appeared for the third time
to a
to sit
937
retired.
county Clare.
fact,
which
Forthwith a writ
He
appealed to Clare, insulted in his person, from the unjust decision of the House
of
To
Commons.
the people of Clare was due the glory of converting Peel and
conquering Wellington.
Another victory
men who,
who have
science."
in Clare
false to their
was necessary
own party"
{the Tories),
to us,
and
He
hoped
paltry institution of
to be the
He would
struggle for the repeal of the disfranchisement act, which was " a direct
violation of the union," of the subletting act, which made " the destitute more
grand-jury assessment."
He
He
bill.
would seek
church property between the poor and the working clergy, also law reform and
parliamentary reform. He expresses disapproval of the English system of poorlaws.
It
is
members of the
aristocracy,
who
was submitted
to
and
less,
idolized hero.
it
is
said,
As
He
O'Connell
" liberator"
sum of nut
To this sum Cornelius
500, Jeremiah Murphy of Cork 300, Denis
to
him.
Scully
made
him by
his
countrymen.
One day
938
up
He now
gradually gave
him
Thousands, on
in Kingstown.
his balcony.
At an
This, I think,
foot,
is
remaining
still
Meanwhile the crowds in the street talked in low tones lest, they
should disturb his repose. At the same time a huge tree with fresh green boughs
was planted in front of his hotel. And now musicians sitting on the branches
played national tunes. When O'Connell came forth, a tremendous cheer greeted
thti
afternoon.
him.
He
triumphal
About
car, in the
this
city.
The
trades of Limerick,
He
entered Ennis in a
letter,
had not been the chief cause of its delay." O'Connell called this letter "a very foolish and somewhat ferocious address ;" also, "an apish and presumptuous manifesto."
He revenged himself by discovering an absurd pedigree for Smith O'Brien. The
four baronets, his progenitors, were a tinker's apprentice, a horse-jockey, a jdace-
man and
a hypocrite.
All this
O'Brien
any of the gentry of Clare.
end here.
is
Now Steele
fiery Tom Steele
Nor
by
Urj'J
intended,
short of ammunition at all events, for he brought a flask of powder and a bag of
bullets to the ground.
satisfied.
future
gentleman, expected satisfaction from Mr. O'Brien, that gentleman at once said,
" My language did not apply to Mr. Mahon."
was given
attorney,
"
to
Something he
him.
have
public banquet
like
to
about
O'Connell thought
streets.
bound over
He roamed
it
In the
high time to
police-office,
when our hero spoke of the threat that the servant should perform the work of
flagellation, Toby said all Europe would grin at his learned adversary's statement.
Then he untied his attorney's bag, from which a little grinning black servant, in
green livery, came forth the terror of " the Colossus."
All present were con" This," said Toby, " is my servant, who has caused so much
vulsed with mirth.
who
man more
or
less discomfited.
to
In vain Peel had hurried on the new registration, with a view, if possible, to defeat him.
O'Connell began to speak of repeal of the union. Ah if
the Irish people had only then been a united j)eople, what might not O'Connell
nation.
at that crisis
alas
have achieved
One good
to Catholics
But,
*
result of emancipation
gradually ceased.
It
to the Protestant
to
940
them
and generous protection and patronage, not a little galling to some of the proud
O'Connell and others chafed under "these assumpspirits" among the Catholics.
tions of exalted superiority, and longed for emancipation from this petty degradation and annoyance as heartily and earnestly" as from the yoke of British
O'Neill
bigotry.
I have here quoted some expressions from John O'Connell.
'
Daunt speaks
'
same purpose.
to the
In spite of the greatness of his achievement, however, O'Connell and his more
Catholics were still looked on by law as
thoughtful friends were dissatisfied.
civilly
were
and
still,
By
to Protestants.
politically inferior
Crown
the
from
lawyers, Catholics
More, in short,
juries.
was required to make the victory complete. At Ennis and Youghal, O'Connell
enforced the necessity of repeal of the union, promising never to rest till it
should be won
life to
Even
redeem."
agrarian troubles.
proctors were
Mr. Mitchel,
"
he labored
all his
made
off.
The
Alarmed
agricultural
produce of the people was ever} day carried off in ships; no custom-house accounts
1-
amount borne away from Ireland were kept, for in 1826 the export of agricultural produce had been cunningly placed on the footing of a coasling-trade.
Chairmen of quarter sessions, sheriffs and bailiffs were then, as since, busy with
Is it any wonder, then, that agrarian crime is perennial in Ireland ?
ejectments.
It is, indeed, some slight consolation that the murders in Ireland are usually agrarian, such as are looked on by the people as deeds of irregular warfare agains-t
oppressors that those murders banned by the common morality of mankind
such as " murders for money, from jealousy, or in personal quarrel have been at
Mr. Mitchel omits menall times much more rare in Ireland than in England."
of children and the
laudanum-poisonings
from,
the
quote
passage
I
in
the
tioning,
of the
common
model country.
the triumphal bansome
of
It is
quets given to him, almost denounced the Emancipation Act for its flaws and
He observes " The Catholic Association, consisting of 1400 Protshortcomings.
estant members and 13,000 Catholic members, forced the ministers to grant emanThe details of this bill
cipation, and the ministers put the Association down.
particularly Mr. Leslie Foster's clause, the twenty-seventh, where
are ludicrous
Michael O'Loghlen, for instance can go to mass, but his wig and
a Catholic judge
gown must stay at home. The judge may continue a Catholic, but the powdered
wife-murderings, by poison or otherwise, so
in that
still
remain Protestant.
also be a Catholic,
941
the sage, grave and profound legislation of Leslie Foster that his mace
is
(Laugliter.)
in his Essay
Lord Macaulay,
on Sir
and branch, but a great man would never emancipate them and, at
the same time, be so little in his j>olicy as to deny them the petty privileges just
Catholics, root
referred
to.
I shall conclude this chapter with the substance of a portion of the article
called " '82
and
emancipation
'29,"
freest,
insidiously
and
heroism."
unlucky
Its
it
of
But England,
many
and
feature.
"and the subsequent corporation reforms opened up the paths of profesand parliamentary distinction to the wealthy and educated Catholics in
miserjr,
sional
This deprived
struck."
it
hopes of Ireland.
community
The
class gratified
is,
042
with England
who
sentences
him
landlordism to
know
so impressively to be hanged,
that
is
of
One
other drawback to
and
greater grievances
away
"
emancipation
is
appearing
that,
it
to
have removed
really did,
it
takes
minds of the
have sunk or
swum
together,
and
O'Connell
;"
;"
it
by John O'Connell
Eldon
;"
Alison's "
Europe
;"
"
Dublin
;"
"Memoirs" by
Sir
It.
Irish People,"
1863
:"
Macaulay's
"
etc.
Essays
;"
CONCLUDING SUMMARY.
O'CONNELL AT DaRRYXAXE VARIETIES PARLIAMENTARY CAREERLAST RePEAJ AGITATION
The Famine O'Connell's last illness and death His character.
HE
my
space at
life.
my
It was, indeed, at
first,
my
intention to relate at
mature
reflection, I arrived
at the conclusion that, being limited in space, I should better succeed in presenting
xh
5gj)
0f?*
ment of
his
life.
am
more reconciled
emancipation, O'Connell's
history of Cortes
of an epic poem.
up
up
to the victory of
my
canvas, I
to the
life,
plan I
like the
After emancipation, just as with the closing years of the career of Cortes, the
unity of O'Connell's
'o
that,
the
life is
at an end.
many
Many of
life are,
tale.
The same features are constantly reappearing. Besides, in his career in the British Parliament, up
to the commencement of the final repeal agitation, we recognize comparatively few of the distinguishing characteristics of the great Irish agitator he becomes more like the British politician.
In the last repeal agitation, indeed, he is something like the O'Connell of his palmy days, his aspirations are perhaps nobler than ever, but his policy is less bold.
Some fatal mistakes are made.
The movement is not only incomplete, but absolutely a failure; his death takes place before the
melancholy national drama of repeal reaches its ignominious close. This biography, then, only
professes to give a detailed history of the
is
due
Let us
however, glance at him in his moments of relaxation, at Darrynane Abbey, after the glorious
any regard
to uniformity of plan,
but quite capable of accommodating the numerous guests his warm-hearted hospitality gathers
happy and beloved in the bosom of his family and people as any patriarchal
Nothing could equal the love he bore his children and grandchildren
save their affection for him. Once Peter Hussey said to him, " Dan, you should not bring in your
children after dinner; it is a heavy tax upon the admiration of the company."
"Never mind,
Peter," said O'Connell, gayly; "I admire them so much myself, that I don't require any one to
help me." His eldest daughter playfully said she was afraid he should spoil her Mary. His reply
was, " I don't think I shall I know I did my best to spoil you, my love, and I could not succeed."
around him, he
is
as
In a speech at Belfast, in January, 1841, from which I have quoted already, he talks of his "angel
daughters," always "dutiful and kind" to him, whose "affection soothes every harsher
his life."
He
BO
also calls
moment
of
944
speaks of "the chirping of his darling granddaughters sounding sweetly in his ears," and says thai
whenever they appeal to him, right or wrong, he decides in their favor. Nothing can be more engaging than the picture of O'Connell's home-life at Darrynane. His children and grandchildrer.
were merry and happy as the day was long. All his dependants were enthusiastically attached to
him.
to see him hare-hunting in the mountains even before breakfast, using his leapyoung
man's activity, joyously drinking in the full cry of the shaggy Irish beagles
ing-pole with a
shouts
of men and boys, sent back by the myriad echoes of the hills. The
enlivening
and the
huntsmen, in their gay red jackets, were not more alive and merry than O'Connell himself. There
he was, now eagerly bounding along from rock to rock to keep the chase in view, anon pouring
forth a stream of anecdote and jest, or laughing, as he quizzed some London guests, unaccustomed
Then after the chase, with appetites sharpened by the
to mountain-life, for their lack of agility.
sport and the mountain air, the whole company would breakfast on a fragment of rock, in a shelThe delight which
tered nook, a glorious sky overhead, wildly-magnificent scenery around.
It
was glorious
O'Connell took in the natural beauties of his native Kerry is well described by himself in an eloquent letter written in October, 1838, to Walter Savage Laudor, the poet, in which he says that
"so often called a ferocious demagogue
man
the
is,
in truth,
in his
made
in the art
was not
of flying
in the least
in
a bigot.
In
fact,
When
a bigoted Catholic said that it was impossible any Protestant could have the plea of "invincible ignorance," O'Connell remarked, "The fellow has no
right to judge his neighbor's conscience he does not know what goes to constitute invincible ignorO'Connell was unwilling that his eldest son's wife, a Protestant lady, should conform to
ance."
row
to
and, on the other hand, some of the most eminent members of that persuasion had the highest
respect for him, as had also the celebrated Scotch Presbyterian divine, Dr. Chalmers, who, in spite
of their very different religious and political creeds, said of him, "
gallant
and
He
is
its fine
old hollies,
else.
sit-
turret,
perched high on an ivy-festooned rock in the middle of the shrubbery, which commanded a
wide prospect of the ocean and the neighboring hills, to which he oft retired to meditate in solitudo
too,
pon his
political schemes.
that were
wont
to pester
him
time their property; rapturous and patriotic admirers belonging to that sex, which in his gallant
moods he used to call " the fairer and better " one (" How I hate to have those women pelting in upon
his
exit of
a talkative dame of
this class);
male savans,
like
him who
him on one of
his
946
autograph.
Wilkie and
Du
Val found
it
Of autographs he was
you want."
He
was;
more complaisant to Louis, the poe'eal king of Bavaria, who himself wrote a letter in English to
Mr. O'Meara, in which he says, " I request you to say my thanks especially to Mr. D. O'Connell.
my
who was
way."
To conclude
in difiicult circumstances,
this brief
account
on the strength of
and
his
sisters " to
two
to
make Darrynaue
'
He
but his acuteness detects that author's legal blunder in supposing that Philip Beaufort, the hero,
his
.
Philip's
sufficient witness in
Philip need only have levied distress on the estate for his rents.
He
such errors."
know nothing
also says,
"This
is
her son's
This comes of
men
about.
Sir
which he got
off
by
He
heart, declaring
At Darrynane, O'Connell
it
memory,
too,
946
me was
me down if
so trivial.
among
they can."
to be
common
accord
down content with emancipation and seeking office, he was determined still
Accordingly, we hear of the Times hurling three hundred of its
From Darrynane he
is
all
foi.-s.
is
admit
to
He is
his merit.
announces
his
en-
House with Dogherty and Lord Leveson Gowcr, the latter of whom he calls "the
shave-beggar."
The stout soldier, Sir Henry Hardinge, he stiugs by calling him "the chance
child of fortune and of war."
If he had accepted the challenges of all those anxious to fight, he
counters in the
He
lives.
expires.
He
Bill.
defends the tithe conspirators in the days of the tithe war; denounces
and combats, inch by inch, "Scorpion" Stanley's coercion bill. He is great all through life at nicknames for example, " Spinning Jenny Peel," " Surface Peel," "Lord Mountgoose" (Spring Rice,
Lord Monteagle), "Peter Piggery Purcell," the patron of agricultural shows. Wellington he called
;
"a
to
even brings the London reporters, who garble his speeches, to reason, by moving their expulsion
is
Shiel and
half-mad Fergus O'Connor, afterwards leader of the English Chartists, support him.
large majority.
patronage.
Of
course, repeal
is
defeated by a
In 1835 he makes an engagement with the Whigs under Lord Melbourne and
is
He
House compact."
now
Those
Lords defeat
bills
favorable to Ireland.
Irish
members,
in
England and Scotland calls Lord Alvanley a "bloated buffoon." Alvanley sends a
message to Dan, who does not deign to notice him. Morgan O'Connell, however, obliges Alvanley
by taking up his father's quarrel. The duellists exchange three shots without a hit. Benjamin
Disraeli not long since prime minister of England) next assailed Dan most wantonly, at Taunton
but Dau speedily gave him far more than he bargained fox
He not merely calls Benjamin "a
miscreant,' whose life is "a living lie," "a disgrace to his species," but he insists that he is the descendant of "the impenitent thief," whose "qualities he possesses." Dan concludes his speed amid
the towns of
"And
lie in, I
947
now
who
!"
Is
it
mons,
felt
himself constrained
to
'
all
imagin-
able vagabonds."
'Twere long to
tell all
dents of O'Conuell's
life
the curious quarrel?, both with enemies and old associates, and other inci-
1836, his beloved wife (beloved as few wives are loved) died at
In
Darrynane.
In 1838 he was
hooted from a meeting and threatened with assassination for opposing the trades' unions and their
He was also reprimanded by the Commons, on the motion of Lord
exclusive apprentice laws.
Maidstone, for having said at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, amid great cheering, "and reiterated
iu the House of Commons," that Ireland was not safe from the perjury of English and Scotch
members.
the House.
bill
in the
eud he had
passed.
this year.
The
if
trial of the
of Shrewsbury," which the late Frederick Lucas considered his ablest literary effort. Father
Mathew's tee-total movement had now been in existence for some time; O'Connell admired it and
deemed
it
ancillary to repeal.
corporation.
in the
Dublin
Isauc Butt,
now
newspaper was now firing the youth of the country with eloquent articles and noble war-ballads.
Davis, Duffy, Dillon, Doheny, McNevin
Its writers also preached down pernicious sectarianism.
"
and others had formed the Young Ireland party." Later, John Mitchel became the most conspicu-
member of it.
than '43. When,
ous
Father Kenyon and James Fintau Lalor also became prominent at a period later
at length, O'Connell was cast into prison (the government, frightened at the vast
meetings, their semi-warlike aspect, O'Connell's arbitration courts and the martial literature of
" Young Ireland," had proclaimed the Clontarf meeting and arrested O'Connell and several others),
" Young
at this crisis Smith O'Brien chivalrously joined the movement and became the leader of the
Ireland" section. O'Connell is now found guilty of conspiracy and sentenced to a year's imprison-
-J
mcnt, but he
is let
comes of
This
in '44.
is
The
Club
'82
shortly
is
it.
the way of his favorite project of summoning a national council of three hundred. In '45 the
generous and enlightened Davis, the thinker of the " Young Ireland party," dies prematurely.
O'Connell is deeply grieved, though from the first he has mistrusted and feared the warlike tend-
Now come
"\oung
Ireland."
The
mixed education;
commencement of
who
But
Famine and
second time.
now
is
fast
on the
biography.
this
"Old" and
is
at hand.
fails
Never again will he make Ids countrymen laugh by saying " Na"Moryah;" "Thank you for nothing, says the gallipot;" "Stick a wisp of hay in that
calf's mouth ;" " They accuse me of having promised the repeal in six months
I did, and here
I am again to promise it in six months more;" "This is a great day for Ireland,'" etc.
The most
jovial of men now at length bowed his head in Conciliation Hall and wept.
He was powerless iu
Dublin. He was powerless in London. His people died in thousands and in myriads, and numbers
were buried without coffins. "The uncrowned king" becomes weak in body and his buoyant spirits
desert him for ever.
In 1847 he is ordered to a warmer climate. His old antagonist, Disraeli,
in his life of Lord George Bentinck, gives a touching picture of "the Liberator's" last appearance
in the House of Commons
his feebleness of frame and voice as, for the last time, he besought aid
bocklish;"
As he
countrymen.
way
To
received the visits of the illustrious advocate Berryer and Count Montalembert.
he
the former
he said, on welcoming him, " I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of pressing your hand." But he
was unable to converse. To a Catholic society headed by the latter he said, in French, " Sickness
and emotion
my
close
gratitude."
my
Mr.
lips.
J. P. Leonard,
who was
all
recently sent me, from that city, a short but most interesting sketch, entitled "O'Connell in Paris,"
which
He
biography.
great
men
in
a dying
and awed
state,
side.
A "young
priest
medical
his existence.
Like most
skill
He
"
left
active,
and
it
to
set in.
faltering.
As he
"
The
state of his
His
figure
his left
in all the
mind was
clear,
hand and
He
for
had now a
but not
said,
"I
presenti-
left foot
churches of Lyons.
To
illustrious patient's
sad reflections."
The
step
insertion in this
He still wore the repeal cap and button, and a long green coat with pockets cut at each
He looked thoughtful and sad." Mr. Leonard also says that there "was no apparent cause
you.'
am
its
his
for
says that even then, in the expression of O'Connell's "gray eyes, there was a power
passed from the hotel to the steamboat, cro\\ds in the streets of Lyons uncovered
949
He had
honors.
said, in
bury me
am
life is
really departed.
You
me have
to
dead."
Grand
"Young
it.
in
his
memory
in
of colossal intellect.
and
full
ary,
now
city.
and death of Daniel O'Connell a man of majestic form, large of heart, and
His character, like the grand scenery of his native mountains, was irregular
contrasts.
He was good-natured, yet irritable; now courteous and compliment-
life
of startling
vituperative to excess.
While he doated on
it
again profusely.
his wife
and children, he
is
said to
have
personally brave in the face of physical danger, but he lacked the peculiar enterprise of the military character.
He was defiant, yet capable of submission. He removed badges of ignominy
from the
He
Irish race,
many
longed for the independence of Ireland, yet in the end drew aside the national
efforts into
wrong paths. He inspired the people with courage to face their enemies, yet, if we are to believe
some generally sound thinkers, he taught them to like political dodging. When he died, the
masses of his people were most miserable. In the long run, however, good will certainly accrue
from his career. He was one of the greatest popular orators that ever lived, but also one of the
most unfinished. His voice was in the highest degree seductive, in spite of the broadest Kerry
brogue.
His inimitable humor and fun sometimes degenerated into arrant buffoonery. He found
it
spirits
prone to deliberate.
A sincere believer
In
He
man
of impulse, yet
Grand of
soul,
but occa-
THE END.
<^
Date Due
BOSTON COLLEGE
3 9031
01656851