400 LORD CORNWALLIS.--AMNESTY BILL. [CHAP. XI.

which he likewise proposed, was also negatived. The Duke of Leinster moved an address somewhat similar in the Lords; and, as if the members were afraid that the report of the conduct of Mr. Pitt and the Irish Government should obtain publicity, Lord Sydney cleared the house, and declared that if any person presumed to publish an account of their proceedings, he hoped the House would punish him in the severest manner. The motion was rejected by 51 to 18.

In the month of June, Lord Cornwallis came to Ireland as successor to Lord Camden. The latter had prepared the way for the projects of the former; he came to finish what the other beganhe came to carry the Union,-he came on a mission which no man of honour should have undertaken-no man of character attempted,-to destroy the constitution of a free country. He strove to be impartial, to protect the Catholics, and to restrain* the Orangemen ; but the former did not trust, and the latter did not like him.

On the 17th of July, Lord Castlereagh delivered to Parliament a message from His Majesty, expressing his desire to exercise his prerogative of mercy, and pass an Amnesty bill, which shortly after was carried into effect. The leading persons concerned in the insurrection thought it was now advisable to make the best terms they could with the Government. It appears that they wished to save the lives of two of their party-Oliver Bond

even to accept of concessions without distrust, or of benefits with gratitude.

Nothing, in our opinion, but a total change of men, as well as measures, can prevent the otherwise certain alienation, and more than possible separation of that country from Great Britain."

* In the case of Woolaghan, where an unfortunate peasant boy was shot almost in the arms of his mother, he directed that the President of the court-martial before whom the yeoman was tried and acquitted, should never in future be allowed to sit on another, and most severely condemned such wicked proceedings.

CHAP. XI.] MR. DOBBS' ARRANGEMENT.

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and W. J. Byrne. Accordingly, Mr. Dobbs, a member of Parliament, a man of a singular turn of mind, but of a kindly disposition, undertook to intercede on their behalf. He procured a written paper, signed by seventy of the state prisoners, declaring that they would give all the information in their power respecting the proceedings of the United Irishmen,-that they would consent to emigrate to some foreign country (as should be agreed on by Government) not at war with Great Britain, and give security not to return.

Bond and Byrne were to have the benefit of this arrangement, though under sentence of death; the latter, however, was executed, the former died suddenly in prison. After much delay, evasion, and recrimination, the arrangement was effected, and a detailed memoire of the origin and progress of the insurrection was given to Government, signed by Emmett, O'Connor, and M'Nevin. However, the Government subsequently put upon the agreement an interpretation very different from that of the prisoners, and contended that they should not be liberated during the war; and they were ultimately sent to Fort George,† where they remained for a great length of time.

This arrangement had just been effected, and the disturbances had begun to subside, when a part of the succour from France arrived. About one thousand men, commanded by General Humbert, escaping the vigilance of the British fleets, landed in the month of August in Killala Bay. They captured the town, taking prisoners the bishop and

* Arthur O'Connor's Letter to Lord Castlereagh from prison, Jan. 4, 1799.

On the 18th of March, 1799, the King issued a proclamation, stating, that persons engaged in the treasonable conspiracy in Ireland had not abandoned their designs, and that no one should pass from Ireland to Great Britain without a passport from the authorities.' He communicated this to the British Parliament, and also sent a message, stating, that in consequence of the representations of the Lord-lieutenant, VOL. IV.

D D

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FRENCH INVASION DEFEATED, [CHAP. XI.

his family, defeated the Royal troops under General Lake and Lord Hutchinson, took all their artillery, and fearlessly advanced towards the metropolis. Upon this, Lord Cornwallis assumed the command of the army, and with 20,000 men marched in person against the French, who, though mustering not more than 900 men, had already proceeded almost to the centre of the kingdom. They met at Ballynahinch; an action there took place, after which they surrendered themselves prisoners of war. Some of the peasantry and some of the militia had joined them, but not in any very great numbers.

Thus ended an abortive insurrection and a posthumous invasion, both of which ruined the kingdom.

Mr. Grattan had retired to England, but was not allowed to remain there in tranquillity. Dr. Duigenan published a pamphlet, in which he inveighed against him. It was rather a long satire, comprising 200 pages: it attacked the Catholics, contained great abuse of Ireland, and adulation of England. It had been sent to London for publication the year before (1797), but the printer prudently returned it, and at length it made its appearance. Mr. Grattan, upon this, came back to Dublin; he sought for Doctor Duigenan, but in vain; and now he found party spirit raged so very fiercely against him, that even his appearing in the streets was a matter of danger, and a confidential friend advised him to be on his guard, and get some one to accompany him. This he found not very easy to do; and such was the mutability of fortune, that the man who had assisted in giving liberty to his country, and from a province raised her to a nation, he had directed that the persons in custody in Dublin and Belfast should be removed to Great Britain, and confined in Fort George.

It is to be observed, that of all these prisoners, only three were Roman Catholics, the rest were Protestants or Presbyterians.-See Appendix, No. 6.

CHAP. XI.] DR. DUIGENAN'S PAMPHLET.

403

promoting her trade and constitution, was left with scarcely a supporter, and even walked at some risk in the streets of his native city. He went to Curran ; but Curran said he was such an object of dislike to Government, and so marked a man, that it would be better for him not to take any further part, and accordingly left Mr. Grattan at his house in Ely-place, and retired to his residence at Rathfarnam. His early friend (Mr. Cuffe, afterwards Lord Tyrawly) was applied to, but he was connected with Government; he held a place under them, and when he found that Mr. Grattan resolved to meet Duigenan, he said he could no longer stay with him. However, one honest, faithful, and fearless friend, appeared; this was Mr. Richard Grace, a gentlemen of the Queen's County, who had been in the Irish Parliament, was educated for the bar, a man of great courage, and warmly attached to Mr. Grattan. To him Mr. M'Can applied; and when he heard of Mr. Grattan's arrival, and how he was situated, he lost not a moment, but at once sallied forth to meet him. He offered his services, and expressed his willingness to accompany Mr. Grattan whereever he pleased. Accordingly, they walked together three or four days, but no where could they meet with Doctor Duigenan. Mr. Grattan was then advised to write to him, and if he could get neither a reply nor a meeting, to take no farther notice of the learned Doctor. Accordingly, the following letter was delivered:

MR. GRATTAN TO DOCTOR DUIGENAN.

Dublin, 7th August, 1798. Mr. Grattan has seen a very gross, a very unprovoked, and a very ludicrous performance, written against him, and signed "Patrick Duigenan." Mr. Grattan does not explain his conduct to individuals; the statute book and the Journals of the House of Commons are open. Were he to make his public conduct a subject of explanation, it would

404

DOMICILIARY VISIT.

[CHAP. XI.

not be to such a person as Doctor Duigenan; but as the above mentioned attack mixes in its folly much personal rudeness, Mr. Grattan judges it not wholy beneath him to take some sort of notice of it; and he is very sorry to be forced to observe, that the author has departed from the manners and language of a gentleman, and has thought proper to adopt a strain so false, so vile, and so disgusting, as to render Dr. Duigenan a public buffoon, too low and ludicrous to give an affront or make an apology.

P.S. Mr. Grattan remains in Dublin for three days, and is to be heard of at Kearns's Hotel, Kildare-street.

No answer whatever being sent to this, Mr. Grattan determined on returning to England; but he wished once again to visit Tinnehinch; and though unwell and suffering much from a severe nervous complaint, he left Dublin very early, on foot and unaccompanied; but here again he was destined to meet with some danger. The news of his arrival quickly circulated. As he was sitting in the parlour, two cavalry soldiers rode up to the door with drawn sabres, knocked somewhat roughly, and calling for the servant in a rude and violent manner, desired him to send out Mr. Grattan to them. The servant was somewhat alarmed, and having brought in the message, Mr. Grattan laid a case of pistols on the table, and sent his reply "to beg the gentlemen would walk in." This answer having been delivered, and perhaps some friendly intimation from the servant of what might be expected, the soldiers departed. Mr. Grattan then returned to England, but here a greater annoyance awaited him.

MR. GRATTAN TO THE REV. M. BERWICK.

London, 19th Sept., 1798. DOCTOR BERWICK;-So far we have advanced-qui bene incipit. I could have wished you had employed me on a commission to purchase for you books of divinity in London. You cannot conceive what bargains I could have gotten at every stall, at the corner of every street-Fathers of the Church-Sermons-controversial Theology—almost for nothing-Dr. Clarke himself, and his Attributes. I