ation, termed Ribbonmen. This commenced in Donegal; and so closely did these deluded men imitate their implacable opponents, that they had organized, in an incredibly short time, not less than ninety one lodges affiliated. Their Grand Ribbon Lodge was at Derry. At first, they took the oath of allegiance, and an oath of brotherhood, over a green emblem, to protect themselves and their clergy from the attacks of the Orangemen. But, as all associations of this kind, are dangerous to a government, they, shortly afterwards, added to the oath of allegiance, a condition, that they would be loyal, so long as the government protected them from schismatics, heretics, and infidels; and, as they proceeded, left out the oath of allegiance altogether; and, if there was at that moment (when he was speaking) a Ribbon Lodge in Ireland, that oath was put out, and they were sworn only to defend each other against all outrages. He had great pleasure, indeed, in stating, that he believed, the address of the Board, published last June, had torn up the system by its roots. The person from whom the learned gentleman had received such precise information, had strongly recommended the expediency of another address, as the effects of the former had been so salutary, and as the Orangemen were all known to use every means to tempt these poor people into acts of violence, sensible, that while they should, themselves, escape punishment, their unfortunate victims were doomed to meet the utmost rigour of the law. It was to caution the people against taking their defence into their own hands, and to assure them, that their wrongs should, at least, meet a legal investigation, that were the chief objects of the proposed address.

Mr. O'Connell now mentioned the different Acts of Parliament, which so expressly declare all secret associations and badges illegal; and alluded to the late Orange triumphs which were held during three whole days at Derry, and which he said, should yet be examined by the test of the law. He had heard, that the aut! ors of the forged signatures

to the Anti-Catholic petition, had contemplated a three days Orange Boven in this city, but afterwards, durst not attempt it; for here is a Whitworth, who could not permit a wanton outrage in his very presence. The dread of united Irishmen was passed over; the fury of republicanism was now extinguished in Europe, by the transformation of Holland into a monarchy, (to gratify the wishes of the people, to be sure, as we are told), and why should other distinctions be still permitted to embroil the people of these countries? The learned gentleman, (after some other observations), moved that a committee of seven, be appointed to prepare an address to the people.-Carried unanimously.

At the meeting of the Catholic Board, Feb. 5, 1814, Mr. O'Connell read the following Address to the People :

"Fellow-countrymen and Fellow-sufferers,

"The General Board of the Catholics of Ireland, to whom you have confided your Petitions to the Legislature, once more address you. They claim the continuance of your confidence only, because they feel that they deserve it, by the zeal and purity of their intentions and exertions in the cause of your Religion and Country.

"Fellow-countrymen-The object of your petitions is sanctioned by justice-it is enforced by wisdom; it must be attained, unless the artifices of your enemies shall triumph over justice and wisdom; we say their artifices, because their arguments have failed; and their calumnies are forgotten, or despised.

"Among their artifices we dread but one; it is that which has been already practised with success on former occasions, it is one to which you are exposed by your situation, your sufferings and your feelings; your enemies wish to betray you into illegal Associations and Combinations; they wish to bring upon you punishment, aggravated by its being merited, and they still more earnestly desire to ruin your cause, and that of Ireland.

"The emissaries of your enemies become more cautious by

detections, are likely to assume a deeper disguise. It is our duty to expose to you the evils which must ensue to yourselves and to the Catholic cause, if you enter into any illegal or Secret Combination or Association.

Repeated Acts of Parliament have pronounced Associations for almost any imaginable purpose, to be illegal. A recent Statute, called the 50th of the King, chapter 102, besides more Associations, which are plainly criminal, as for seditious purposes, or to disturb the public peace, has declared every Association, Brotherhood, Committee, Society or Brotherhood whatsoever, to be unlawful, if formed to injure any person, or the property of any person; or to compel any person to do, or omit, or refuse to do any act whatsoever. That Statute has declared any oath or engagement to be illegal, which imports to bind any person to obey the rules, or orders, or commands of any committee, or body of men not lawfully constituted; or of any captain, leader, or commander, not appointed by the King; or binding any persons to assemble at the command of any such captain, leader, commander, or committee; or of any person not having lawful authority; or binding any person not to inform or give evidence, or not to reveal or discover having taken an illegal oath, or having done any illegal act; or to conceal any illegal oath thereafter to be taken.

"For inducing or procuring by any means, the taking of any such oath, or engagement, the punishment is transportation for life; he who takes any such oath is liable to transportation for seven years; and it will not be received as an excuse, that the party has been compelled by force or menace to take such oaths, unless he makes full discovery to a magistrate, within seven days.

"By another Act of Parliament, called the 15th and 16th of the King, chapter 21, it is made a high misdemeanour, punishable by pillory or whipping, to wear any particular badge or dress, or to assume any particular name or denomination of party.

"Recollect too, we intreat of you, that not only it is unlaw

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ful and punishable to assume the name, or wear the colours or badge of any such Association, or to take or induce any person to enter into any engagement, or oath to belong thereto, but that almost every act, in pursuance of such oath or engagement, is made by various Statutes, felony of death. Even to assault a dwelling-house (strangely as the phrase may sound), is a capital felony in Ireland. And to raise the arm, even without a blow, or further violence, is an assault in law. So that he, who in pursuance of the plans of any such Association, raises his unarmed hand against a dwelling-house, may for that offence, be capitally convicted, and suffer death.

"We select this instance to shew you the extent to which capital punishments are applicable by law, to the consequences of illegal Associations.

"Transportation for seven years is the doom of him who enters into any illegal Association. Transportation for life is visited upon him who induces another to enter into an illegal Association; and finally, death is the punishment of him who does any one act, in pursuance of the design of an illegal Association.

"Such, Fellow-countrymen, are the punishments which the law denounces against illegal Associations, whether they be called White Boys, or Right Boys; Thrashers, or Carders; Ribbonmen, or Orangemen; they are all liable to punishment, and all deserve condemnation.

"It is quite true, that some delinquents may escape; but do not flatter yourselves that you can be of the fortunate number; if you transgress the law, you will meet, as you will deserve, all the zeal and activity of prosecution.

"Reflect upon those serious subjects for your consideration. If you offend against the laws, what favour can you expect what favour have you any ground for expecting?

"Reflect also upon the inutility of those Associations. What utility, what advantage has even been derived from them? None whatsoever. No redress has ever been obtained by their means. They have been quite useless-nay, worse, for

they have always produced crimes-robbery, outrage, and murder; and they have uniformly been followed by numerous executions, in which the innocent have often been taken for, and confounded with the guilty.

"Do you require any other arguments to induce you to restrain from those Associations? Perhaps you are careless of your own lives-you cannot be insensible to the blood of the innocent.

"There is, however, another inducement to refrain-you enemies, the men who would deny you the poor privileges of worshipping your God as your forefathers have worshipped; these men, all these men, anxiously desire that you should form criminal combinations and confederations; they want but a pretext for framing laws still stronger and more sanguinary; they want but a pretext to lay the heavy hand of power upon your country and religion. Your enemies seek to seduce or to drive you into illegal Associations. Your friends, the Catholic Board, ardently desire to prevent your forming any Association. They conjure you, if you confide in them, to hearken to advice, which can be dictated only by their affectionate attachment to you. They conjure you to respect the laws-to live in peace-to offer no outrage or injury to any man-to seek legal redress alone for every injury and outrage inflicted on you. That redress is, and shall be within your reach.' They beseech you to look for relief from your grievances, only through the lawful channel of petitioning ParliaAnd they confidentially promise you, that the wisdom of Parliament will speedily extend that belief, if you continue, by peaceable and dutiful conduct to deserve it-to gratify your friends, and disappoint your enemies.

ment.

"So will you afford us the happiness of seeing your Religion rescued from the calumnies and inflictions of centuries of persecution, and your countrymen, of all classes and persuasions, reconciled, coherent, and finally free."

This powerful address was no sooner circulated amongst that particular class, which chiefly formed the association of the Ribbonmen, than like the frost work of an April morning