370

ANECDOTE OF NEILSON.

[CHAP. X. him: "Your life!-I scorned to take it—I did not resist till I was nearly torn to pieces-and in defence of myself I resisted-I would scorn to take your life"-and he looked at him with savage contempt. He refused to engage counsel to defend him; his trial, however, did not come on, and he was included in the list of exiles that went into banishment.

Curran, who had undertaken his defence, went to see him in prison. He was loaded with chains, but his mind was firm and undaunted, and his spirits as buoyant as in the days of prosperity : fear never entered into his composition. Curran exclaimed, "Neilson, I am sorry to see you thus." "Oh!" said he, kicking off his chains, "do you think I wear these always? I sent for John the inspector. John, do you see that bottle?-do you see this half-crown?-what should be done with this half-crown and that bottle?' 'Fill it with whiskey, Sir,' said he. Now, John, I have been kind to you heretofore-look here, take notice of these pins-I will break that bottle on your head; so make your election, either fetch the whiskey or have the bottle broken on your head."" "But," said Curran, "are you not afraid to speak thus?-don't you know they may chain you to the ground? - not able to stir ?" "What of that?" Neilson replied; "it is but for a time;-my limbs will feel more pleasant when they get out of them.

Curran used to relate another anecdote of him and Reynolds the informer. The latter was in the pay of Government, and at length began to be suspected. Neilson one day saw him in College Green, and coming up, he seized him with Her

After his liberation from Fort George, he went, in 1802, to Altona, and subsequently to Van Dieman's Land, where he died, as I heard, from dissipation.

CHAP. X.] NEILSON'S THREAT TO REYNOLDS.

66

371

culean force, and kept his arm under him as if in a vice; he hurried him along without opening his lips, until he got him into a dark entry off Thomasstreet; and having got him in there, he exclaimed, Reynolds! what punishment do you think should be inflicted upon a villain who would betray you?" Reynolds was frightened, but having had time to collect himself, looking at Neilson he exclaimed, "Bring me to the atrocious villain, and with this hand I will blow his brains out"he acted it well. Neilson said, "Ah! you are doubted; I shall have you watched-if you go away, depend on it you will fall." A few days after Reynolds betrayed them all.

CHAPTER XI.

Mr. Grattan remains at Tinnehinch-Visit by Neilson and the Government spy Mr. Grattan's statement-Conduct of GovernmentReynolds the informer-Lord Edward Fitzgerald - Lord Clonmell The Ancient Britons-Lord Dufferin's visit- O'Connor's trialNarrative by Mrs. Grattan-Excesses by the Yeomanry and Ancient Britons-French tutor's escape from hanging-Mr. Grattan arrested in London-Free quarters at Mrs. Bermingham's-Mrs. Grattan goes to Wales-Sir Ralph Abercromby resigns the command of the troops in Ireland-Cruel orders of Sir James Stuart-Arrest and death of Lord Edward Fitzgerald-Conduct of Lord Camden-Lady Louisa Conolly and Lord Clare-Insurrection breaks out 23rd of May-Martial law proclaimed-Conduct of John Claudius Beresford and Colonel Maxwell (afterwards Lord Farnham)-Proposals of execution and confiscation discouraged-Excesses of the military-Burning Maynooth, Kilcock, Celbridge-Conduct in the county of Wicklow-Sir John Moore's remarks on the Yeomanry-Various conflicts during the Insurrection-General Nugent's cruel proclamation-The chieftains Holt and Dwyer, traits of Mr. Sheridan's motion in the British House of Commons on behalf of Ireland-Lord Cornwallis sent to Ireland-Landing and capture of the French under Humbert-Dr. Duigenan's pamphlet, attacks Mr. Grattan-The latter proceeds to Dublin-Narrow escape at Tinnehinch-Letters to Mr. Berwick and M'Can-Report of Secret Committee of the House of Lords-Neilson and Hughes' evidence-Difference between the Reports of the Commons and the Lords-Mr. Grattan disfranchised by the corporation of Dublin-His name struck from the privy council-Letters of Dowdall and Neilson-Mr. Grattan's letters to Mr. Fox, Mr. Bermingham, and Mr. M'Can-Statement by Mr. Grattan submitted to Mr. (afterwards Lord) Erskine-Opinion of the latter-Mr. Grattan's letter to the Courier newspaper on his disfranchisement by the Dublin corporation-Letters of Mr. Berwick and Mr. Fox-Dowdall and Bird's singular letters to Mr. Grattan.

DURING these melancholy and eventful times, Mr. Grattan remained in the country, well aware, however, of the danger that surrounded him ; having seen by the disclosures made to Lord Moira, what the informers and spies of Government were capable of doing what desperate courses they pursued, and how ready they were to take away a man's reputation, his liberty, or his life.

CHAP. XI.] PLOTS AGAINST MR. GRATTAN.

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An event occurred at this period, which, though in appearance trivial, might have proved fatal to him in times of civil commotion, where party rage and passion so strongly prevailed, and where reason and justice were wholly lost sight of. This circumstance was the visit of Samuel Neilson to Tinnehinch, in company with Hughes, the spy of Government. The proceeding, if not preconcerted so as to affect Mr. Grattan's life, was certainly done in order to injure his character, and was purposely set forth with much parade by the Government party, in the Report of the House of Lords. Passion blinded Lord Clare, and he inserted the evidence; but Mr. Foster (the Speaker), seeing at once the glaring perjury of the informer, objected to have it introduced in the evidence of the Commons, and hence the difference that exists between the two reports. Unquestionably, if Neilson had followed the example of Hughes, he might (in part at least) have corroborated his perjury; but Neilson was a man not to be seduced or intimidated; and as will subsequently be seen, he declared the truth, as far as he was concerned, and exposed the falsehood and baseness of the Government party.

The account which Mr. Grattan gave to me of the transaction was as follows:

"The conversation and interview with Neilson was nothing-it was quite accidental. I was in my study, and Neilson was shown up along with a Mr. Hughes, whom I did not know. They complained very much of the excesses in the north of Ireland, and of the murders of the Catholics; and I remember Hughes saying that the phrase used by the anti-Catholics was, 'To Connaught or to hell with you!' They stated their numbers to be very great, and I then asked,' How does it come, then, that they are always beat?' I did not ask the question with a view to learn their force, as the examination would lead one to believe, but in consequence of these two individuals boasting of the numbers of those men who could not protect themselves.

374 MR. GRATTAN'S POSITION REVIEWED. [CHAP. XI.

Hughes then went down stairs, and Neilson asked me to become a United Irishman. I declined. He produced the constitution, and left it in the room. This was nothing new; I had seen it long before, and it was generally printed and published. Hughes then returned, and they both went away. That was the entire of the transaction to which so much importance was attached."

I believe Mr. Grattan knew very little about the individuals who composed the United Party. He did not associate with them; they kept clear of him

-they feared him-and certainly they did not like him. Tone stated so, and Neilson likewise. Mr. Grattan did not know the Sheares, even by sight. Of Sampson he had a very slight knowledge. O'Connor he knew merely from being in Parliament: with Emmett (the son), he had little acquaintance. He entertained a better opinion of Neilson, thinking him a practical man, who had shown his readiness to support a rational reform, and lay aside the wild notions of universal suffrage and annual parliaments.

Mr. Grattan was by far too experienced a person to place himself in that distressing situation, where he would be privy to proceedings which would have been disagreeable to him to know, and dangerous not to reveal. I believe he had a very inferior opinion of the United Men, and of their abilities. He thought that the insurrection could have been stopped if Government had chosen; but that they fermented it for their own views. Men without a treasury,—with a deficient armoury, without rank, or weight, or consequence: an undisciplined mass of people, devoid of military leaders, and experience. Their proceedings he considered not only mischievous, but ridiculous; and he was to the last degree provoked, when he beheld the triumph over the country and the Constitution, which he had assisted to procure, given by such misguided men as the insurgents, to such designing and wicked men