INTRODUCTION. IN preparing a Continuation of the valuable History of Ireland by the Abbé MacGeoghegan, the compiler has aimed only to reduce and condense into a coherent narrative the materials which exist in abundance in a great number of publications of every date within the period included in the Continuation. That period of a century and a-half embraces a series of deeply interesting events in the annals of our country-the deliberate Breach of the Treaty of Limerick-the long series of Penal Laws-the exile of the Irish soldiery to France-their achievements in the French and other services the career of Dean Swift-the origin of a Colonia Nationality among the English of Ireland-the Agitations of Lucas-the Volunteering-the Declaration of Independence the history of the Independent Irish Parliament-the Plot to bring about the Union--the United Irishmen-the Negotiations with France-the Insurrection of 1798-the French Expeditions to Ireland-the "Union" (so-called)-the decay of Trade-the fraudulent Imposition of Debt upon Ireland—the Orangemen-the beginning of O'Connell's power-the Veto Agitation-the Catholic Association-Clare Election-Emancipation-the series of Famines-the Repeal Agitation-the Monster Meetings-the State Trials -the Great Famine-the Death of O'Connell-the Irish Confederation -the fate of Smith O'Brien and his comrades-the Legislation of the United Parliament for Ireland-Poor-Laws-National Education-the Tenant-Right Agitation-the present condition of the country, etc. The mere enumeration of these principal heads of the narrative will show how very wide a field has had to be traversed in this Continuation; and what a large number of works-Memoirs, Correspondence-Parlia mentary Debates-Speeches and local histories must have been collected, in order to produce a continuous story. There exist, indeed, some safe and useful guides, in the works of writers who have treated special parts or limited periods of the general History; and the compiler has had no scruple in making very large use of the collections of certain diligent writers who may be said to have almost exhausted their respective parts of the subject. It may aid the reader who desires to make a more minute examination of any part of the History, if we here set down the titles of the principal works which have been used in preparing the present: Doctor John Curry's "Historical Review of the Civil Wars," and "State of the Irish Catholics"-Mr. Francis Plowden's elaborate and conscientious “Historical Review of the State of Ireland," before the Union :-the same author's "History of Ireland" from the Union till 1810-the Letters and Pamphlets of Bean Swift Harris's "Life of William the Third"— Arthur Young's "Tour in Ireland "the Irish "Parliamentary Debates" Mr. Scully's excellent State of the Penal Laws”—Thomas Macnevin's "History of the Volunteers," in the "Library of Ireland"Hardy's "Life of Lord Charlemont "-the Four Series of Dr. Madden's collections on the "Lives and Times of the United Irishmen "-Hay's History of the Rebellion in Wexford "-the Rev. Mr. Gordon's "History of the Irish Rebellion" [the work of Sir Richard Musgrave, as being wholly untrustworthy, is purposely excluded]-The "Papers and Correspondence" of Lord Cornwallis-and of Lord Castlereagh ;— the "Memoirs of Miles Byrne, an Irish Exile in France," and a French officer of rank, lately deceased-the Lives and Speeches of Grattan and Curran Sir Jonah Barrington's "Rise and Fall of the Irish Nation "— Memoirs and Journals of Theobald Wolfe Tone-Richard Lalor Shiel's |