stances connected with them, and stated in the introductory remarks. Long may the Shamrock, "The plant that blooms for ever, And the Thistle twined, Defy the strength of foes to sever. So says the "Irish Hudibras." The Loyal Volunteers of Cork appear to have contented themselves by merely wearing the shamrock as a national decoration, on the occasion of their public appearance in honour of St. Patrick. Fitzgerald thus chronicles the matter in his "Cork Remembrancer:”—“ 1780, March 17. The armed societies of this city paraded on the Mall with shamrock cockades, and fired three volleys in honour of the day. A noble train, most gorgeously array'd To hail St. Patrick, and a new free trade." A dinner, with a liberal allowance of whisky-punch and patriotic speeches, of course followed upon this occasion, when the song now printed from a manuscript copy, in the autograph of Mr. John Shears,* was sung. The era of the Volunteers is an important one in Irish history. The origin of these armed associations may be traced to the declaration of Sir Richard Heron, the secretary to Lord Buckinghamshire, who, in answer to applications from the inhabitants of Cork and Belfast for military protection, candidly stated" that Government could afford them none," and "that they must arm and defend themselves." In Cork, the first Volunteer Associations were formed; and the local chronicle, before quoted from, informs us that on the 4th November, 1777, the Boyne Society was first reviewed by Colonel Bagwell in White's bowling-green; and that, in consequence of some outrages committed by a mob in Cork on the 12th March following, the Boyne Society, for the first time, mounted guard at the Market-house, on Friday the 13th, "in order to preserve peace and suppress the riots." The 26th of March, 1778, is recorded by Fitzgerald to have been the anniversary of the Cork Union; and on the 12th of April, he tells us, "the True Blues, Boyne, Aughrim, Union, and Culloden Societies, walked in procession to Christ Church, according to seniority, being the first general public appearance made by these Sons of Liberty."+ On the Sunday fortnight, the following not very pro * Executed in Dublin, for high treason, in 1798. + Fitzgerald's volume was published in 1783, and in the slang of the day thus concludes:-" The first dawn of Irish liberty broke out in 1779. Ireland obtained her legislative INDEPENDENCE (with the consent of the British Senate) the 16th day of April, 1783. HAIL! GLORIOUS VOLUNTEERS!" phetic entry occurs in the journal of the celebrated John Wesley:-" At Peter's Church (Cork) I saw a pleasing sight, the Independent Companies raised by private persons associating together, without any expense to the Government. They exercised every day, and if they answer no other end, at least keep the Papists in order, who were exceedingly alert ever since the army was removed to America." The ensuing Sunday, Wesley, about whom there then was considerable curiosity in Cork, writes-" I was a little surprised at a message from the gentlemen of the Aughrim Society (a company of Volunteers so called), that if I had no objection, they would attend at the New Room in the evening.' They did so, with another independent company who were just raised-the True Blues. A body of so personable men I never saw together before. The gentlemen in scarlet filled the side gallery; those in blue, the front gallery; but both galleries would not contain them all; some were constrained to stand below. All behaved admirably well, though I spoke exceeding plain on 'We preach Christ crucified.' No laughing, no talking, all seemed to hear as for life. Surely this is token of good." September 7, 1778, was the first general fieldday of all the armed societies belonging to the city of Cork. "They were drawn up in Ballyphehane field, where they went through the manual exercise, and performed the different evolutions with a facility and precision that," according to Fitzgerald, "would do honour to an army of veterans. In short, these Volunteers (or Sons of Liberty) formed one of the most pleasing and agreeable sights that ever presented itself to public view in this city, to the great satisfaction of several thousand spectators." It is remarked by Mr. Hardy, in his life of Lord Charlemont, that "the year 1778 furnishes not only ample, but splendid materials for the historian of Ireland." This is an unhappy assertion; for the ample materials are the personal feelings of ambitious and interested individuals, and the period derives its splendour from the fearful lightning-flash which reveals a host of armed men in the darkness of a political storm. In 1780, the Volunteer army of Ireland amounted to 42,000 men; and to their proceedings in pursuit of the ignis fatuus, Liberty, may be traced the origin of the melancholy Rebellion of 1798. A copy of the button worn by the Irish Volunteers is, perhaps, worth preserving as a national relic. The motto in the Irish character signifies" God save the King." None need be told Our Saint so bold Will think that dog a damn'd rogue, Would keep away, And does not mount his shamrock. O rally, O rally, O rally round, then: Has kept away, Be sure they are not sound men. Should French invaders dare to come In ruffles full of starch, sir; A ruffle beat upon our drum, Like Patrick's month-'tis March, sir. 'Mong Union* men, And Culloden,+ There's not one man a damn'd rogue; With Aughrim || join, To mount a verdant shamrock. O rally, O rally, &c. And then, in memory of this day * Henry Hickman, Esq., captain commandant. + Benjamin Bousfield, Esq., colonel. Cavalry and Infantry; the Earl of Shannon, colonel. § John Bagnell, Esq., colonel. Richard Longfield, Esq., colonel. |