Memoirs of Captain Rock: The Celebrated Irish Chieftain, with Some Account of His Ancestors

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Longman, Hurst, Rees, Brown and Green, 1824 - Botany Bay (N.S.W.) - 376 pages

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Page 122 - I must do it justice : it was a complete system, full of coherence and consistency ; well digested and well composed in all its parts. It was a machine of wise and elaborate contrivance ; and 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.
Page 55 - ... as the very carcasses they spared not to scrape out of their graves ; and if they found a plot of watercresses or shamrocks, there they flocked as to a feast for the time, yet not able long to continue there withal; that, in short space, there were none almost left, and a most populous and plentiful country suddenly left void of man and beast...
Page 101 - So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: 24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
Page 193 - And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
Page 58 - Should we exert ourselves", said they, "in reducing this country to order and civility, it must soon acquire power, consequence, and riches. The inhabitants will be thus alienated from England; they will cast themselves into the arms of some foreign power, or perhaps erect themselves into an independent and separate State. Let us rather connive at their disorders; for a weak and disordered people never can attempt to detach themselves from the crown of England.
Page 99 - Among other amiable enactments against the Catholics at this period, the price of five pounds was set on the head of a Romish priest — being exactly the same sum offered by the same legislators for the head of a wolf.
Page 25 - Every inconsiderable party, who, under the pretence of loyalty, received the king's commission to repel the adversary in some particular district, became pestilent enemies to the inhabitants. Their properties, their lives, the chastity of their families, were all exposed to barbarians, who sought only to glut their brutal passions; and by their horrible excesses purchased the curse of God and man.
Page 55 - Out of every corner of the woods and glens they came creeping forth upon their hands, for their legs could not bear them ; they looked like anatomies of death, they spake like ghosts crying out of their graves...
Page 54 - Ah, how I fear lest it be objected to us, as it was to Tiberius by Bato, concerning the Dalmatian commotions! You it is that are in fault, who have committed your flocks, not to shepherds, but to wolves.
Page 288 - Half a million, or more, was expended some years ago, to break an opposition, the same, or a greater sum, may be necessary now ;" so said the principal servant of the Crown.

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