superiority meets the native proprietor in every walk and station of life, and the most insidious means are employed to debase him in the world's estimation and his own. It is only in foreign states that his merits have obtained for him the proud distinction which intolerance denies him in the land of his birth. Where has Irish fidelity been wanting, or generous confidence been met by an ungrateful return? Neither in the ranks of the Germanic empire, nor in the heroic legions of France. The distinguished honours conferred by the Empress Maria Theresa are proud testimonials of the chivalrous fidelity of our countrymen, while the field of Fontenoy proclaims to Britain the fatal effects of violated faith *. But we need not travel to foreign

* "The field of Fontenoy was contested with the most obstinate courage by the allied troops of England, Hanover, &c. under the command of the Duke of Cumberland, and those of France under the veteran, Marshal Saxe. The battle was long and doubtful, but the fortune of the day promised victory to the allies. The troops of France were worsted in every quarter, and the attention of the commander was now chiefly directed to the personal safety of the monarch. In this hour of discomfiture and impending ruin, the French king addressed the veteran Saxe, and eagerly inquired, was there nothing left to uphold the honour of the day. I have yet,' replied the gallant Saxe, a small reserve. The Irish troops are fresh, but their numbers are few.' They were led to immediate action, and the stimulating cry of Cieniegeg er Louimeneigh

states for examples of Irish fidelity and valour. Britain cannot forget the lavish expenditure of

augus er faule ne Sassinagh'*, was re-echoed from man to man. The fortune of the field was no longer doubtful, and victory the most decisive crowned the arms of France."'Curse on the laws', exclaimed the British monarch, which deprive me of such subjects.'

I have extracted the foregoing anecdote from a journal of the campaigns of my maternal grand uncle, who bore a distinguished share in the honours of that day; and the following I report on the authority of his son, who served in the Irish brigade until its final departure from France in the early years of the revolution.

"We were under arms and about to march from France, after a century of military service, covered with military glory. We halted to receive the last salutations of the unfortunate Lewis the Sixteenth, in the person of Monsieur his brother. The scene was an affecting one. He advanced to the front of the brigade. The officers formed a circle round him. He addressed us under evident feelings of agitation,—many were honoured by the most flattering marks of his personal attention. We acknowledge, gentlemen,' said he, the invaluable services which France, during the lengthened period of a hundred years, has received from the Irish brigade; services which we shall never forget, though totally unable to repay. Receive this standard,' (it was embroidered with the shamrock and fleur de lis), 'a pledge of our remembrance, a token of our admiration and respect; and this, generous Hibernians, shall be the motto on your spotless colours,—

1692- -1792.'

Semper et ubique fidelis.""

*Remember Limerick and British faith.'

Irish blood that has floated her to conquest, or buoyed her in distress. And must the heart for ever recoil with disgust on opening the black statutes which sully the glory of England's brightest page, and brand with suspicion a generous people whose arm was her stay in the hour of peril, and whose breast was her shield till victory was won?-Base ingratitude of a nation which conquers to enslave, and would bind in eternal bondage the arm that, nerved with freedom, would render her invincible to the combined assaults of the world.

CHAPTER XI.

View of the United Irish System towards the close of the year 1797-Transportation without trial-Friendly communications from confidential departments of the state -Irritating measures of government-Torture- Motion of Lord Moira in the British House of Peers, for an address to the Throne-rejected-In the Irish, to the Viceroy-rejected-Motion of Mr. Fox in the British House of Commons, for an address to the Throne-rejected-Determination to goad Ireland to resistance— Preparations on either side for a hostile struggle.

PRIOR TO 1798 the United Irish System seemed to have reached its acme; indeed, strictly speaking, about that period it might rather have been considered on the wane. This may be accounted for in two ways.

The passions of man are not stationary, and having reached the point of elevation they either recede or burst every barrier opposed to their action. It was impossible that the public mind could have acquired a higher pitch of excitement than was generally experienced in the year 1797. Hence it naturally lowered, because

an immediate appeal to arms was resisted by those who had not formed a just estimate of human nature, in the fluctuating passions of the human mind. It is not the present subject of inquiry, what were the motives which influenced the adoption of this measure; the result was a less ardent feeling in some quarters, which it was afterwards found more difficult to rally.

Another cause for the apparent supineness of some, and the partial defection of others, was the pacific system which government for a moment seemed disposed to adopt; in which, as I have already observed, had they been sincere, conciliation, no doubt, could have been effected with the people. This favourable disposition, however, was soon interrupted, and the angry passions on either side were rekindled with increased fury.

The unconstitutional proceeding of transporting men without trial had long been a favourite measure with the Irish administration, and the merciless hand of a Lutterell had already depopulated whole districts, tearing asunder the tenderest bonds of nature, severing husband from wife, parent from child. "I was unable," said a gallant British officer with whom I lately conversed, "I was unable to bear the horror of