have been mistaken by them for errors of the writer. This would have been obviated by an accurate statement of errata, which I sent, but which has not been inserted; but I hope that the second edition will on this account be less objectionable. Apamphlet has appeared, written by Sir Richard Musgrave, in reply to one of Doctor Caulfield, Roman catholic bishop of Ferns, in which he says, "that the Rev. Mr. Gordon, knowing the "set of savages he had to deal with, has, with "more regard to policy than accuracy, written 86 a history of the rebellion, for the obvious purpose of conciliating the priests and the popish "multitude, and to secure the punctual pay"ment of his tythes; and for that purpose he "abuses the military and yeomen, &c." I have only to wish, that they had swallowed the flattery, or somehow better digested it. But Sir Richard's keen and perspicacious head is good at a hit, and has very appositely discovered, that my flattery of popery is an indignant expression and abhorrence of popish butchery. To a plain, unrefined mind, unlike Sir Richard's, this tribute of flattery, the more easily to collect tythes, might, by no very perplexed or devious induction of the understanding, appear an equal lesson of instruction, exciting mutual shame and horFor at atrocious deeds-not hardening the heart, by a flagitious and criminal partiality-not ascrib ing all virtue to one side, all vice to the opposite-but roundly, and in general terms, of unmeasured length, of broad, plain and homely meaning, holding the mirror of truth as discovered by diligent and fair inquiry, alike to all factions. If my object had been of a sycophantic nature, I had clearly no alternative. I must have embraced the very part which Sir Richard himself has embraced. All interest lies there. The most violent abuse may, with the utmost impunity, be poured on the Roman catholic and croppy party, while every moderate expression is furiously reprobated by men conscious of powerful support and favour. I mean not to insinuate that this gentleman's motive is of the sycophantic kind. If I were convinced of its being so, I should not be afraid to declare it. But not having the least personal acquaintance with him, t I know not his principles, and cannot form a decisive judgment. My conjecture-is, that he is a man of humanity, acute sensibility, and a warm imagination; and, that the cruel treatment, the partial massacres, and intended extirpation of the protestants of Ireland, together with the persecutions and massacres, committed formerly by Roman catholics in other countries, excited so keen an indignation in his breast against those religionists in general, as induced him to think every weapon justifiable which could be wielded against them. Virtue, unrestrained by a curb of moderation, runs into or produces its opposite. Insani sapiens nomen ferat, æquus iniqui, In his laudable exertions to collect materials, men of honour and integrity gave him true statements, according to their knowledge and conceptions. Others gave him such as were supposed by them agreeable to his temper and their own interest. From the whole he has formed a compilation, of some value, even as it is, for the information of posterity, but vastly less valuable than it would have been, if it had been compiled with discernment and dispassionate impartiality. When a reader finds none but saints and heroes on one side of the contest, and none, but monsters on the other, he is apt most justly to suspect the fidelity of a representation, so little consistent with the ordinary course of human manners, and to regard the whole as a doubtful work, embellished by the fictions of an overwarm imagination. Atque ita mentitur, sic veris falsa remiscet, Primo ne medium, medio ne discrepet imum. Much truth has he recorded-much has been concealed from him-still more doubtless by him-and many mistakes has he committed.-Of these I have given a very slight specimen in the appendix of my history. Far greater speci mens could I have given, and could now give, if I should find an adequate inducement for the reading of his quarto again, for that purpose but I have long been employed in a study vastly more agreeable to me than that of the Irish rebellion; and it is not without painful reluctance that I am at any time drawn from it to this gloomy subject, of which I rid my hands with as much dispatch as possible. Sir Richard says that I abuse the military and yeomen. I cannot hinder him to use whatever terms he finds most agreeable. I have praised such regiments as I found to deserve it—as the Marquis of Huntley's, and the Prince of Wales's fensibles.I should have most heartily wished that I could with truth have praised all; but most unfortunately for my temporal prosperity, truth has been to me an insurmountable impediment. If I ardently wished the destruction of the British empire, and, among other causes of this destruction, should wish the most wretched discipline of its troops, with the most dishonourable sentiments and ignorance of its officers; or if I courageously preferred my temporal interest to all other considerations, I should boldly, in defiance of the Searcher of Hearts, who sees my thoughts, declare that the army of his Britannic majesty is so perfectly modeled and admirably officered, that it neither requires, nor could admit any improvement. General Needham could procure addresses enough signed by officers, of their own excellent conduct, and consequently of that of the men under their command. If in a fensible regiment, on the point of being disbanded, some captains should be found who had been tailors and pedlars, and were on their return to these occupations, and some lieutenants who had been common drummers, fifers, and common soldiers, in other regiments, such officers might be extremely happy to gratify a general officer of high interest, by the signature of any declaration, however diametrically opposite to their former frequently repeated oral declarations, well known to hundreds of persons. say Sir Richard says thus: "I am authorised to that the bishop of Ferns, Doctor Cleaver, very much censures Mr. Gordon's history, and "that the magistrates and clergy of the county "of Wexford, and many of the most respectable "officers, who campaigned there in the year "1798, unanimously declare that it contains many gross misstatements, and that its ten"dency in general is to palliate the horrors of "the late rebellion." To this objection of his magistrates, clergy, and officers, an answer has been already given in the foregoing part of this pamphlet. The horrors committed by the armed See Appendix, No. IX. 7 |