plundered, burned, without requiring any mark of guilt but religion and their proceedings, if not encouraged, were at least connived at; until the earl of Bellamont, by his authority, restrained those of the county of Cavan; and their brethren of Meath, finding themselves abandoned by those who formed the greatest strength of the party, soon became also quiet. Thus was the progress of the Defenders effectually stopped on that side; but their cause was entirely ruined in the barony of Kells. The Catholics, though openly and avowedly pointed at during those transactions, never complained of the outrages of the Scots, lest even their complaints might seem to encourage the unprincipled wretches who had disturbed the peace of the country. The multiplication of political societies in Ireland was an unequivocal symptom of the malignancy of the fever in which the public mind was at this time kept. Besides those already mentioned, there had been recently instituted the Society of the Friends of the Constitution, Liberty, and Peace.* The duke of Leinster, and many of the leading men of the opposition, were members. Of this even the great libeller of his country admits, that there were many men of principle and good fortunes, who wished for nothing but a simple reform of parliament, were members of it, but did not know the latent designs of the rebels. The spirit of this association will appear from their declaration, which every member was obliged to subscribe: and which with an impressive address to the public upon the necessity of checking the efforts of government to undermine the constitution, were agreed to, whilst the duke of Leinster was in the chair, on the 27th of December, 1792. DECLARATION. "I SOLEMNLY promise and declare, that I will, by all lawful means, promote a radical and effectual reform in the representation of the people in "parliament, including persons of all religious persuasions; and that I will "unceasingly pursue that object until it shall have been unequivocally obtained: "and, seriously apprehending the dangerous consequences of certain levelling tenets, and seditious principles, which have lately been disseminated, I do "further declare, that I will resist all attempts to introduce any new form of "government into this country, or in any manner to subvert or impair our con"stitution, consisting of king, lords and commons.” They also published the following resolutions:-"That this society, conscious of its good intentions, but diffident of its ability to judge of the best "means of attaining an object of such magnitude and difficulty, as that which "it has been proposed, deems it essential to that object, and therefore respect"fully recommends that similar associations should be formed in every county "and principal town throughout the kingdom. With such associations, and "with every individual friend to the constitution, liberty, and peace in these "kingdoms, this society will be happy to communicate, and will thankfully re"ceive every species of information concerning facts, or even hints, concerning plans and principles which may assist in deciding on matters either of "propriety or expediency. Such materials the society will deem it a duty to arrange and digest; and as it shall be enabled to select, or to form a plan of "representation, which may appear worthy the attention of the public, it will, "with the utmost deference, lay such plan before the people of Ireland, for "their consideration and correction, previous to its being submitted to the "wisdom of the legislature." In the mean while the Catholic convention, having been convened in Dublin, met in Tailor's-hall in Back-lane, and frequently assembled: they were called in derision the Back-lane Parliament, Several of the leading members of the former committee had like other of their countrymen caught the general flame of liberty, and professed themselves as anxious for carrying the great national object of parliamentary reform through all its branches, as they were for their own emancipation: and it was for a time doubted, whether they should address the parliament as Roman Catholics, or as Irishmen. In the course of the summer a reconciliation or coalition had been generally effected between the committee and several of the sixty-four addressers. Convinced that his majesty's ministers in England were disposed to favour their pretensions, it was found political in the body to act in concert; and to this accommodating disposition and desire of internal union, is to be attributed the moderation of the public acts of that convention. They framed a petition* to the king, which was a firm though modest representation of their grievances: it was signed by Dr. Troy and Dr. Moylan on behalf of themselves and the other Roman Catholic prelates and clergy of Ireland, and by the several delegates for the different districts, which they respectively represented. They then proceeded to chuse five delegates to present it to his majesty: the choice fell upon sir Thos. French, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Keogh, Mr. Devereux, and Mr. Bellew. These gentlemen went by short seas: in their road to Donnaghadee they passed through Belfast in the morning, and some of the most respectable inhabitants waited upon them at the Donegal Arms, where they remained about two hours: upon their departure, the populace took their horses from their carriages and dragged them through the town amidst the liveliest shouts. of joy and wishes for their success. The delegates returned these expressions of affection and sympathy, by the most grateful acknowledgments and assurances of their determination to maintain that union, which formed the strength of Ireland. On the 2d of January, 1793, the gentlemen delegated by the Catholics of Ireland attended the levee at St. James's, were introduced to his majesty by Mr. Dundas, secretary of state for the home department, and had the honour of presenting their humble petition to his majesty, who was pleased most graciously to receive it. Without loss of time they returned to Dublin the welcome heralds of the benign countenance and reception they had received from the father of his people. This petition is to be seen in the Appendix, No. XCV. with a list of the names of the delegates who signed it. Since Ireland had gained a constitution, no year was so pregnant with great events to that kingdom as the year 1793. The parliament met on the 10th of January, and as the session, which lasted to the 16th of August, was most interesting and important, it will be proper to prepare the reader for the effects of that session, by submitting to him the faithful and authentic account of the state of the nation at the time of its opening. So alarming did the state of the nation appear to the lords, that very early in the session they appointed a secret committee to inquire into the causes of the disorders and disturbances, which prevailed in several parts of the kingdom, to prevent their extension, and report the result of their inquiries to that house: their report was that the people at that time called Defenders* were The purport of this report seems calculated to impress the reader with an idea that the collections made by the Catholics at the desire of their committee, were, if not intended, at least in part applied to the support, encouragement, or defence of these lawless banditti. The following proceedings of that committee was published with a view to counteract that effect, and shews the actual levy as well as the application of the money. That a committee of six be appointed to inspect and examine our accounts, and that the following gentlemen be the said committee : Sir T. H. French, Bart. Luke Teeling, Esq. Edward Sweetman, Esq. T. Fitzgerald, jun. Esq. Co. Galway Co. Antrim Co. Wexford City of Limerick Co. Waterford and And the said committee having sat from day to day, and minutely examined the accounts, report as follows: Report of the Committee of Accounts, 22d April, 1793. We the committee of accounts, having examined the different vouchers laid before us, which we present herewith, have, for the purpose of stating them in the clearest and concisest manner, compressed them in the annexed schedule, under the different titles to which they were invariably applied. The result of the whole is : That on the 1st January, 1792, a balance remained in your Together with nine government debentures, since sold for £. s. d. 18 13 5 899 14 6 2022 4 6 2256 11 3 5193 3 8 That the several sums paid on account of the Catholics of 5488 5 91 295 2 11 Which leaves a balance against the Catholic body of Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the General Committee of the Catholics of Ireland, April 22d, 1793. March, 1792. £. S. d. Dr. 56 17 6 2264 12 11 11 7 6 -2332 17 11 very different from those who had originally assumed that appellation, and were all, as far as the committee could discover, of the Roman Catholic persuasion; in general, poor ignorant labouring men, sworn to secrecy, and impressed with an opinion, that February, 1793. 500 0 0 £.5488 5 9 Cr. 18 13 5 899 14 6 2022 4 6 By subscriptions paid into the treasurer from the several counties and towns. they were assisting the Catholic cause; in other respects they did not appear to have any distinct particular object in view, but they talked of being relieved from hearth-money, tithes, county cesses, and of lowering their rents. They first appeared in the 4442 1 41 Brought forward Thomas Bennet, Esq. Stradbally, Queen's co. Town of Wexford Co. of Dublin Rowland Norris, Esq. Arklow, co. Wicklow Mr. Wise Co. Roscommon Balance against the Catholics s. d. 34 2 6 62 11 3 82 15 0 30 0 0 S00 0 0 11 7 6 38 8 1 11 7 6 153 5 0 751 2 3 £. 5193 3 8 295 214 £- 5488 5 92 That by the foregoing report of the committee, specially appointed to inspect the accounts of the expenditure of money raised by voluntary subscription, in order to defray the necessary expenses of our constitutional and legal exertions, it appears, that said monies have been invariably applied with the strictest regard to the peace and happiness of the country, and for well-known and legal purposes. That notwithstanding the earnest endeavours and frequent exhortations of the general and sub-committees, it appears that many of the lower orders of Catholics have persisted in associating with those deluded people called "DEFENDERS." We take this opportunity again to repeat what we have so often, collectively and individually, endeavoured to impress on their minds, our utmost detestation and abhorrence of such illegal and criminal proceedings; and we once more call on those unhappy men, if such yet remain, by every thing dear to them, to us and to posterity, to desist from such unwarrantable acts of violence, which have already proved fatal to so many of themselves, and to return to their obedience to the laws, and the laudable pursuits of honest industry. That a committee be appointed to examine, and report what honourable engagements the Catholics of Ireland lie under, for services received. The following gentlemen were accordingly chosen of the committee: Morgan Kavanagh, Esq. Patrick Mullarky, Esq. James Edward Devereux, Esq. Luke Teeling, Esq. Hugh O'Reilly, Esq. Edward Forestall, Esq. Owen O'Connor, Esq. Christopher Nugent, Esq. Hugh Savage, Esq. Thomas Richard Geraghty, Esq. Walter Byrne, Esq. Sir Thomas Ham. French, Bart. Co. Kildare Co. Kilkenny Co. Longford Co. Down Co. Tyrone Co. Wicklow Co. Louth Co. Galway |