270

IMPRISONMENTS.

[CHAP. IX. and sedition, and again incarcerated; spies and informers were encouraged, fostered, and protected by Government; they quickly multiplied, and established every where a reign of terror. The prisons overflowed, guard-houses and barracks were converted into gaols. The people, however, were not quieted; discontent and outrage still continued; arrest and incarceration on one side,-riot, disorder, and excess of all sorts on the other. Mr. Pitt's Government had passed a convention Act, a Riot Act, an Arms Act, a Gunpowder Act, an Insurrection Act, an Indemnity Act, and a Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act; they imprisoned without bail, and transported without trial, and indemnified without compensation, and yet they found these numerous, various, and excessive powers were unavailing disorder and discontent not only continued, but increased.†

At length, finding themselves incapable of securing the affections of the people, unwilling to remedy their grievances, and unable to controul their excesses, they determined to solve the difficulty by the sword, and place the whole North of Ireland under military government. On the 3d March, 1797, Mr. Pelham, the Secretary, wrote to General Lake, who commanded in the Province of Ulster, stating that, as in the counties of Down,

* Several arrested by General Lake and Colonel Barber under a warrant from the Lord Lieutenant, were imprisoned in the artillery barracks in Belfast, and after a long confinement, brought up by Habeas Corpus to the King's Bench in November 1797. The case of Thomas Huson and twelve others was argued; the court decided that their imprisonment was illegal-that they did not come within the law suspending the Habeas Corpus Act, and that as the charge of treasonable practices was a bailable offence, they should be released and bound to appear at the assizes. Messrs. Emmett and Sampson were counsel for the prisoners. Thus, numbers of persons were for months illegally deprived of their liberty, and this under the warrant and sign manual of the Lord Lieutenant.

† Emmett, in his Evidence, says, that the first communication the United Irishmen had with France was not till after the Insurrection and Indemnity Acts had passed.-Pieces of Irish History, p. 215.

CHAP. IX.] GEN. LAKE'S PROCLAMATION.

271

Antrim, Derry, Donegal, and Tyrone, secret associations existed, and great outrages had been committed, he should dispose of his men so as to deprive all persons of their arms, and to disperse all assemblies, that were not in arms, without waiting for the civil authority, and should stop all persons travelling the high ways at night. In consequence, on the 13th March, General Lake issued his proclamation, whereby he placed the people without the pale of the law.*

Mr. Grattan immediately called the attention of * By order of the Officer commanding the Northern District. Belfast, March 13, 1797. Whereas the daring and horrid outrage in many parts of this province, evidently perpetrated with a view to supersede the laws and the administration of justice, by an organized system of murder and robbery, have increased to such an alarming degree, as from their atrocity and extent to bid defiance to the civil power, and to endanger the lives and properties of his Majesty's faithful subjects. And whereas the better to effect their traitorous purposes, several persons who have been enrolled under the authority of his Majesty's commission, and others have been forcibly and traitorously deprived of their arms; it is therefore become indispensably necessary for the safety and protection of the well disposed, to interpose the king's troops under my command and I do hereby give notice that I have received authority and directions to act in such manner as the public safety may require. I do therefore hereby enjoin and require all persons in this district (peace-officers and those serving in a military capacity excepted) forthwith to bring in and surrender up all arms and ammunition which they may have in their possession, to the officer commanding the king's troops in their neighbourhood.

I trust that an immediate compliance with this order may render any act of mine to enforce it unnecessary.

Let the people seriously reflect before it is too late, on the ruin into which they are rushing; let them reflect upon their present prosperity, and the miseries in which they will inevitably be involved by persisting in acts of positive rebellion; let them instantly, by surrendering up their arms, and by restoring those traitorously taken from the king's forces, rescue themselves from the severity of military authority. Let all the loyal and well-intentioned act together with energy and spirit, in enforcing subordination to the laws, and restoring tranquillity in their respective neighbourhoods, and they may be assured of protection and support from me.

And I do hereby invite all persons who are enabled to give information touching arms or ammunition which may be concealed, immediately to communicate the same to the several officers commanding his majesty's forces in their respective districts; and for their encouragement and reward, I do hereby promise and engage that strict and inviolate secrecy shall be observed with respect to all persons who shall make such confmunication; and that every person who shall make it

272 LORD LIEUTENANT'S MESSAGE. [CHAP. IX.

the House to the subject, and asked if this proclamation was issued by order of the Government. The Secretary, Mr. Pelham, declined to avow it. Mr. Grattan gave notice he would next day move for a copy of it. The ministers absented themselves from the House; but on the 18th the Lord Lieutenant sent down a message,* stating he had authorized this measure.

shall receive as a reward, the full value of all`such arms and ammunition as shall be seized in consequence thereof.

(Signed by) G. LAKE, Lieut. Gen. Commanding the Northern District. * Mr. Pelham delivered the following Message from His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant :

"CAMDEN.

"The dangerous and the daring outrages committed in many parts of the Province of Ulster, evidently perpetrated with a view to supersede the law, and prevent the administration of justice by an organized system of murder and robbery, have lately increased to so alarming a degree in some parts of that province, as to bid defiance to the exertions of the civil power, and to endanger the lives and properties of his majesty's subjects in that part of the kingdom.

"These outrages are encouraged and supported by treasonable associations to overturn our happy constitution.

"Threats have been held out against the lives of all persons who shall venture to discover such their treasonable intentions. The frequent treasonable assemblage of persons, and their proceeding by threats and force to disarm the peaceable inhabitants, their endeavour to collect great quantities of arms in obscure hiding-places, their assembling by night to exercise the practice of arms, their intimidations, accompanied by the most horrid murders, to prevent his majesty's faithful subjects from joining the yeomanry corps established by law, their having fired on some of his majesty's justices of the peace, and threatened with murder any who should have the spirit to stand forth in support of the laws, which threats have been recently exemplified, their attacks on the military, by firing on them in the execution of their duty, have so totally bid defiance to the ordinary exertions of civil power, that I found myself obliged by every tie of duty to his majesty, and of regard to the welfare of his faithful subjects, to provide for the public safety by the most effectual and immediate application of the military force entrusted to me.

"I have accordingly ordered the General commanding in that province, to dispose of and employ those troops under his command, with the assistance and co-operation of the Yeomanry, to suppress these outrages, and by seizing upon all arms and ammunition, to recover such as had been traitorously taken from his majesty's troops and others, and more effectually to defeat the evil designs of those who had endangered the public safety.

"I have the satisfaction of informing you that by the firm and temperate conduct of the General, and the troops under him, and the zealous

CHAP. IX. MR. GRATTAN MOVES AN AMENDMENT. 273

On the 20th, it was taken into consideration. Mr. Grattan remonstrated with the Minister for placing an entire province under military execution without inquiry. The people were attainted on the charge of Government without proof. The dissatisfaction, he conceived, had been occasioned by the acts of the Minister, and the same system would continue it. The order of the Government was illegal; it was an invitation for the French, almost a preparation to receive them; irreconcileable with the genius of a free people, and more likely to give spirit to France, than subdue the spirit of Ireland. It was an admission that the strong measures had not succeeded, and that military law must be resorted to. "The system, however, would fail if the people did not suffer themselves to be provoked into violence; a partial insurrection was the only thing that would uphold it." He concluded a most animated and able expostulation with the Government, by moving an amendment expressing their regret "that the Lord Lieutenant should have been advised to issue an order contrary to the law of the land, and the principles of the Constitution, which could not be enforced without violating every thing that was dear to a free people, and without the introduction of military government and military execution, and entreating him to recall the same.

The law officers of the Crown, Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Toler, admitted that the proceeding was illegal, but justified it on the ground that the people were almost in a state of insurrection. Mr. John Claudius Beresford said he wished they were in open

co-operation of the Yeomanry Corps, a very considerable number of arms has been taken; and I am encouraged to hope that a continuance of the same vigorous measures will give confidence to the well-disposed, and restore to the civil power its constitutional authority, which it has ever been my wish, and shall be my strenuous endeavour to support with energy and effect.

"C."

274

MILITARY LAW.

[CHAP. IX. rebellion, to meet them face to face! Such was the spirit of the times, that these words passed unreprehended by the House. It was in vain to reason with a body of men actuated by feelings such as these: the order of the day was to denounce every man as disloyal, and stigmatize him as a traitor, if he dared to oppose the measures of Government, or suggest those of leniency; yet Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Hoare, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Ponsonby, and Mr. Curran fearlessly resisted the measure, and, exposed to abuse and vituperation, they supported Mr. Grattan, but could only muster 16 to oppose 127.*

Thus was the final blow struck, and a military despotism established. This measure of the Government was the most ill-advised and unfortunate that had yet been resorted to, and from the evidence of the United Irishmen, served greatly to increase their numbers. It was certain to inflame the people; to confound innocent and guilty; gratify the low passions of a licentious soldiery, and destroy military discipline, as well as domestic security. In a short time, the order was grossly abused, and led to every species of outrage and excess; a man's house was no longer his castle;

In this debate a practice was commenced, which was more fully carried into effect at the period of the Union--to let loose a set of Government bravos, to intimidate the members of the Oppositionstigmatising them by charges of disaffection and sedition—and as causing by their speeches the discontent among the people. Mr. Egan, who, as before stated, was one of the Opposition, now took part with Government, and attacked his old friends, and among them Mr. Grattan. If he had been successful, he would probably have been well rewarded; but the rebuke he received, damped the ardour of that party, and the practice was for a time discontinued. After a humorous allusion to Mr. Egan's grotesque figure and manner, Mr. Grattan applied these lines :— There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats

For I am armed so strong in honesty,

That they pass by me as the idle wind,

Which I respect not.

The Speaker, apprehending some evil consequences, sent for the parties, and on searching for Mr. Egan, he was found reposing very quietly in bed.