In such circumstances the people were impatient of delay. The north especially-the men of Ulster-demanded to be led into immediate battle.* Then was their time. Never was there a fairer prospect of Revolution. Had the flag been unfurled, the insurrection would have swept from the Giants' Causeway to Cape Clear.

It is now seen that a great opportunity was missed. But it appeared otherwise then. The councils of the Directory were divided. The commander-in-chief and the more ardent spirits longed to be in the field. But on the other hand, cooler men thought that they put every thing to risk by drawing the sword too soon. Emmet dreaded the idea of a premature insurrection. McNeven, who was personally as brave as a lion, says, "I was always opposed to our beginning by ourselves." Tone wrote from France, entreating them to remain quiet, and not by a premature explosion give the government a pretext to let loose their dragoons upon them. Talleyrand had given the strongest

* While thus impatiently waiting the word of command, "the Northern insurrection had been nearly precipitated by a daring exploit, which if attempted would probably have succeeded. At a splendid ball given in Belfast, the magistrates of the county and the military officers had met to enjoy the festivities without the remotest suspicion of danger; the principal leaders of the United Irishmen stood in the crowd looking at the gay assembly; one of them proposed to seize so favorable an opportunity, to anticipate the day appointed for the signal of revolt; at once assemble their men, arrest and detain the magistrates and officers as hostages, and establish a provisional government in Ulster. The bold counsel was rejected by the majority, but the wiser minority saw that the timidity which rejected such an opportunity was unworthy of reliance, and either made their peace with the government or quitted the country."-Madden's Lives of the United Irishmen. First Series. Vol. i. p. 22.

FATAL RELIANCE ON FRANCE.

173

assurances that an expedition was in forwardness; and it really seemed that they had but to wait a few months, to make success certain.

These arguments prevailed. The leaders postponed the day of rising, in the hope that a French army, marching in the van of their revolutionary soldiers, would render the movement irresistible. Two vast armaments had been fitted out, but had failed, as we have seen, from causes beyond human control. And now postponing the day of -battle damped the ardor of the armies of the insurrection. Month after month they looked for a French fleet off their coast. Thus waiting for foreign assistance, the rising was deferred for a whole year.

In truth, as the event proved, this reliance upon France, from which they hoped so much, prevented the success of their plans. Had they thrown off this dependence altogether, they were strong enough to have effected the revolution themselves. Said Emmet, "Had Ireland never relied at all on France, her prospects might have been better realized. The French, however, having once promised, the reliance on this promise embarrassed every thing." Napoleon he pronounced the worst foe that Ireland ever had.

It is a remarkable instance of retribution, that this monarch twice held out the hope of independence to a subject nation, and twice. disappointed their hopes. And these two nations, Ireland and Poland, were the two best situated to be a check on his most powerful enemies, England and Russia, and to break the violence of his fall.

But though deferred, it was evident that a great struggle could not be averted. This war of factions must end in blood. As the contest was seen to be approaching, the eyes of the nation were turned upon one man, a young and gallant soldier. But the history of this hero demands a more particular notice.

CHAPTER XIII.

LORD EDWARD FITZGERALD.-HIGH BIRTH, SERVES IN THE AMERICAN WAR.-WOUNDED AT THE BATTLE OF EUTAW SPRINGS. TRAVELS IN SPAIN. REJOINS HIS REGIMENT IN CANADA.-TOUR TO THE FALLS OF NIAGARA, THE GREAT LAKES AND THE MISSISSIPPI-RETURNS TO ENGLAND.-ASSOCIATED WITH FOX AND SHERIDAN.-VISITS PARIS DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.-MARRIES A DAUGHTER OF MADAME DE GENLIS.— ENTERS PARLIAMENT.-JOINS THE UNITED IRISHMEN. IS APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.-TALENTS FOR WAR.-MILITARY TACTICS.

A MORE romantic character, and a life more full of adventure, can hardly be found even in the history of this romantic people, than that of Lord Edward Fitzgerald. He was descended from the most ancient British family in the island, and the most distinguished in Irish history. His ancestor, Maurice Fitzgerald, landed with the first English invasion in 1170. Yet though of English descent, this family had always espoused the cause of the oppressed natives of the soil, so much that they had been known as Hibernis ipsis Hiberniores. The father of Lord Edward was the Duke of Leinster; his mother a daughter of the Duke of Richmond, so that he was on this side descended from Charles II. This son was born in 1763. At the age of seventeen he went out to Charleston, as a lieutenant in the American war. He soon became the idol of the army. His high rank and polished manners gave him access to

any society, while his warm Irish heart made him a universal favorite. Those associated with him declared that they never knew so lovable a person. His open manner, his gayety, his bravery, and at the same time, his modesty, attached every body about him.

He shortly distinguished himself in an action at Monk's Corner, and was appointed on Lord Rawdon's staff. He accompanied him in his rapid and successful march for the relief of Ninety Six, always in the van of the army, by which his person was greatly exposed. At the battle of Eutaw Springs he received a severe wound in the thigh, and when the armies drew off, he was lying on the field, insensible. When he awoke, the sound of battle was gone. The first living sight which met his eyes was a poor negro, bending over him. This faithful creature raised the wounded officer on his back, and carried him off to his hut, and there nursed him until he was well enough to be removed to Charleston. This negro's name was Tony, whom Fitzgerald in gratitude for his kindness, took to Charleston as his servant, and afterward to Ireland. And thenceforth in all his wanderings, the "faithful Tony" was never absent from his side.

It has been questioned by those who have followed the subsequent career of Lord Edward, whether he did not imbibe some of his liberal principles during the American war. His biographer thinks not. Yet it would seem that a person of his ardent mind could hardly avoid being struck with the chivalrous daring of the rebel foe. The war in South Carolina was, in some respects, more full of instances of romantic daring than in any other part of the