PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. Mr Mitchel's Preface not having yet arrived from America, we shall be obliged to issue it with Vol. 2, or supply it by itself, as we may consider best. We have left out, at Mr Mitchel's request, an incorrect Index, which is published in other Editions. Mr Mitchel says in his letter to us-"I beg you to omit the Index at the end, which was prepared by some printer, and is a blemish to the book. The table of contents and headings of chapters, prepared by myself, are the best and only Index." THE HISTORY OF IRELAND, FROM THE TREATY OF LIMERICK TO THE PRESENT TIME: BEING A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE ABBÉ MACGEOGHEGAN. COMPILED BY JOHN MITCHEL. GLASGOW: CAMERON & FERGUSON. 88 WEST NILE STREET. LONDON: CHARLES GRIFFIN & CO. MDCCCLXIX. 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 Colonial 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. |