XLIV. count. CHAP. far from the truth. Many of even the lowest were men of humanity; but amid fo wild a commotion the modest and feeble voice of pity was drowned by the arrogant and loud clamour of revenge on the bloody Orange dogs! The greatest cowards, and those who were the most fcrupulously observant of the bare ceremonial of religion, were the most addicted to acts of cruelty. Superftition, cowardice, and inhumanity are all congenial with littleness of foul. For another fact we cannot fo eafily acThose who had been the boldest in fighting with the cudgel at fairs and other popular affemblies, were uncommonly backward in battle with fire-arms or pikes; and in general were comparatively not mifchievous or cruel. The men who had been moft quiet and induftrious in times of peace, were generally found the most resolute and fteady under arms in war. Such in particular were the people of Bargy and Forth baronies. Those habits of order, the concomitants of industry, on which the civil prosperity of a state so much depends, are the best preparatives to form an efficient foldiery for its defense. That fome maffacres were committed, particularly on Vinegar-hill, from religious rancour, and that others arose from a fpirit of revenge, feems hardly to admit a doubt. By the royal troops were great numbers put to death without any apparent act of rebellion. Men imprisoned from private information, fufpicion, malice, affectation of loyalty, or caprice, were fometimes indifcriminately flaugh tered XLIV. tered without the leaft form of trial or inquiry, by CHAP. licencious daftards of the military denomination, who dared never to face the rebels in battle. Many more fuch maffacres would have had place, if they had not been prevented by men of bravery. Atrocities were perpetrated on both fides, but the chaftity of the fair sex was refpected by the rebels. I have not been able to ascertain one inftance to the contrary in the county of Wexford, though many beautiful young women were long abfolutely in their power. One confideration may diminish the wonder, but not annihilate the merit of this conduct. They were every where accompanied by numbers of women of their own party, who, in the general diffolution of regular government, and the joy of imagined victory, were perhaps lefs fcrupulous than at other times of their favours. The want of fuch an accompaniment to the royal troops may in fome degree account for an oppofite behaviour. Whenever they gained poffeffion, the female peafantry of both parties, without diftinction, fuffered with refpect to chastity, many in respect of health. The Irish peafantry, howfoever great may be their bigoted fuperftition and other defects, are poffeffed of fome amiable qualities, a fimple politenefs, or civility of manners, perhaps not exceeded by gentlemen of fome other countries, and a spirit of gallantry, or refpectful attention to the fair fex, not everywhere common to people of their clafs. Of fuperftitious credulity they afforded in this rebellion a powerful XLIV. CHAP. inftance. They believed Father John, and another priest, Michael Murphy, to be invulnerable, when leaden bullets were fhewn them by these leaders, which they affirmed to have been shot against them by the enemy, and to have ftruck them without hurt. CHAP. CHAP. XLV. State of Dublin -Cornwallis viceroy-Executions at Wexford--Grogan, Harvey, &c.-Fate of Perry Bill of amnesty-Capitulation of leaders -O'Connor's pamphlet-Profecutions-BandittiDevastations of the rebellion-Compenfations to Suffering loyalists-Eftimate of lofs to the kingdomDepravation of morals-Frauds in claims of compenfation-Embarassment of clergymen-Neglect of the French government-Arrangement of Cornwallis- Killala's narrative. WITH the final difperfion of the Wexfordian infur- CHAP. XLV. State of Dublin. of 1798. gents the rebellion was terminated, and this had been Gg CHAP. confifted of its own citizens, formed into yeoman XLV. companies, whofe conduct on this occafion merits much applause. The grand and royal canals, fifty feet broad and twelve deep, formed a defense round the city, in the nature of a wet ditch, the numerous bridges of which, fortified with palifades, were conftantly guarded by yeomen. Trials and executions had early commenced. Among the executed were Henry and John Sheares, John Mac-Cann, who had been secretary to the provincial committee of Leinster, and Michael William Byrne, delegate from the county committee of Wicklow. Oliver Bond was condemned, but reprieved, as a judicious and neceffary fyftem of mercy was adopted after the arrival of a new chief governor. Cornwallis viceroy. 1798. That a viceroy of military talents, of political knowlege and activity, vefted with ftrong powers, had not been fent fooner into this kingdom, where a widely extended infurrection had been fo long known to have been planned, seems an unaccountable conduct in the British cabinet. The confequence might have been fatal if the infurgents had been well conducted, and fupplied with arms and ammunition from France. As if to make atonement for paft inattention one of the fitteft perfons was at length appointed to this most important office, the marquis Cornwallis, who had eminently displayed talents of a general and statesman, not lefs when inevitably overcome in America than when victorious in the Eaft. His earlier appointment might have faved the lofs of fome thousand lives and of immenfe property. His activity ནཱ |