380 MRS. GRATTAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE [CHAP. XI.

* *

"It was very fortunate for me that Mr. Grattan was sent for to England—if he had remained here, he certainly would have been put to death-the rebels would have seized him as they did Mr. Grogan,* or the Orangemen would have killed him. After he had gone to Maidstone, I remained alone at Tinnehinch-the people frightened me exceedingly, and behaved extremely ill. Some of the yeomen wanted to get money-one of them, *, desired I should come to his house, and that he would show me proofs of Mr. Grattan's treason-the conversations he had with the rebels, and the plan he had taken of the Dargle. I asked for the plan, and he said he had it not about him. He then asked me for money; however, I paid no attention to them. Another yeoman, * took two of our horses, saying that he also had proofs of Mr. Grattan's treason he turned his stock into our grounds-destroyed our garden and an entire orchard of trees. At length Stevenson Blackwood came again his kindness I can never forget he told me it was I should pretend to be ill and go to Bath, and keep Mr. Grattan with me, for if he returned he certainly would be put to death!!' [The reply was worthy the descendant of a Fitzgerald.] On this I told Stevenson, that in all my life I never stooped to any meanness or trick, and that certainly I should not do so now; that Mr. Grattan had not implicated

necessary

* Mr. Grogan belonged to one of the oldest and most respectable families in the county of Wexford: he was aged upwards of seventy, was weak and infirm, when he was forced by the insurgents into their ranks, and on pain of death was compelled to act in the capacity of commissary; for this he was taken up, tried, and executed. On the passing of the bill of attainder by which his large estates were confiscated, his innocence very clearly appeared, and after heavy legal expenses (near 10,000l. costs to (Lord Norbury) the attorney-general and the crown officers) the landed property was restored to the surviving brother.

Sir William Crosbie might also have been mentioned above; he too, was perfectly innocent of any disloyalty, but was taken when Wexford was attacked,-accused by wretched and terrified witnesses,— those who came to give evidence in his behalf were forcibly kept from the court by the military. The decision of the court martial was prompt, partial, and inexorable; the execution instantaneous. Both these unfortunate persons were most foully murdered. See Lady Crosbie's Letter; that of Mr. Downes (chief justice); and the case published by her ladyship.

† On Mr. Grattan's return to Ireland, he applied to his law agent, Mr. Kemmis, the crown solicitor, and directed him to prosecute this person. Mr. Kemmis thought he ought to be punished, but advised Mr. Grattan not to prosecute, for, he said, if he did, the jury would certainly acquit him.

CHAP. XI.]

OUTRAGES IN 1798.

381

himself; but that if he had violated the laws of his country, he must undergo the consequence. Meantime Mr. Grattan was delayed in England, O'Connor's trial not coming on as early as he expected; he went from Maidstone to London, and amused himself dining with Fox, Sheridan, and the Opposition. I shortly afterwards found affairs getting worse I was extremely uncomfortable. Lord Powerscourt and Mr. (afterwards Lord) Monck, who commanded the yeomanry, the former in particular,―gave orders to the corps not to injure the place, or frighten me. These orders they did not obey: at night I used to hear the sound of footsteps about the house, and I was kept in perpetual alarm. At last, one day, when I intended going to breakfast with my sister at the Black Rock, our postilion, a good and faithful creature, came to inform me that the Ancient Britons were to come down that night and surround the house-that I would be frightened-that something disagreeable might happen-and that I had better take my children with me. The French governess, away however, would not come-she was afraid the Ancient Britons would rob the house, and steal all that she had— so she was left with M. Mativet, the tutor. That night the Ancient Britons accordingly came; they searched the place, terrified the servants exceedingly, seized on our steward, beat him very much, and ill-treated him extremely: they suspected that he belonged to the United Party, and that he used to meet them in the Glen of the Downs at night; however, they did not kill him, or put him to the

* A circumstance occurred here, which afforded some amusement to Mr. Grattan's friends. Mr. Lawless (afterwards Lord Cloncurry), who had been chairman at a meeting in Dublin that had passed some resolutions complimentary to Mr. Grattan, was at this time in London, and Mr. Grattan paid him a visit; just at that moment, and to their mutual surprise they were both arrested. Mr. Grattan was brought to the Privy Council, where, on enquiry, it appeared that Mr. Lawless had written to Ireland about O'Coigley, who wanted friends and money for his trial. And in mentioning the names of those who subscribed, he stated, "Little Harry has put down 50l. This letter falling into the hands of Government, they conceived the "Little Harry" meant Mr. Grattan. But the mistake was soon cleared up, as the individual in question was Mr. Henry of Straffan, who answered the description in name and figure.

In a paper laid before Parliament, the list and names of the United Irish Committee, for the parish of Powerscourt, happened to be published, but the name of this individual does not appear among them; and, probably, it would have been inserted if, as the Ancient Britons supposed, he was one of the rebel officers.

382

ESCAPE OF THE FRENCH TUTOR. [CHAP. XI.

torture. M. Mativet's life was preserved by an instance of kindness not unusual among the lower orders of Irisha poor woman, who used to receive some acts of kindness and charity at our house, overheard the soldiers talking about the Frenchman, and that half an hour's hanging would do him no harm!!' and, accordingly, they arranged to come to Tinnehinch at night, and seize him for that purpose. Luckily she informed him of their intentions, and put him on his guard. At first he determined to remain and defend himself-he prepared his pistols and his sword, and barricaded his room; but, as night came on, he thought it more prudent to seek some better place of safety, though he was very brave; for,' as he said, 'J'en aurois tué trois au moins; so he took refuge at the house of the serjeant of yeomanry, whom he knew he could depend on. He remained there that night, got a pass by his means, and the next day came off, as he said, 'bride abattue,' to the Black Rock. He entered the room where we were, covered with dust and heat, and in a state of terror and exhaustion, exclaimed, Ah! Madame, ils allaient me pendre.' Many people were now leaving the country; my residence grew very uncomfortable,+ and I determined to join Mr. Grattan. With difficulty we obtained passports, and got to Holyhead, and took up our abode at Llanrwst, in North Wales."

*This person was tutor in Mr. Grattan's family for several years, and, as I recollect, his principles were certainly not republican; but he was a Frenchman and a Roman Catholic, and this was sufficient for the Ancient Britons and the Orangemen. He was a worthy and a virtuous man-moral and religious. On his return to his own country, he was elected professor at the College of Sorêze, in the south of France; but here he nearly fell a victim to his supposed attachment to Buonaparte, as he had at Tinnehinch, being called upon to serve in the army of the North. To avoid the Conscription, he had recourse to matrimony, as the least evil of the two; and, though an old man, he married a very young wife: thus he fell from Scylla into Charybdis, and never afterwards forgot either Buonaparte or the Ancient Britons.

† An instance of the meaning and process of free-quarters may here be given. At Mrs. Bermingham's there were about sixteen children, and with the elder branches, amounted to twenty-four in family; just as they were going to dine one day, a party of military came in, and proceeded without ceremony to appropriate to themselves the whole of the dinner. The establishment was of necessity thrown into confusion and dismay, and would probably have been left to fast for the next twenty-four hours if it had not fortunately happened that Mrs. Bermingham's eldest son entered at the time. He was in a corps of cavalry, a man of valour, courage, and high spirit; and seeing what the military were engaged

CHAP. XI.] SIR R. ABERCROMBY RESIGNS.

MR. GRATTAN TO MR. M'CAN.

MY DEAR M'CAN;

383

Llanrwst, 27th June, 1798. * I got your letter-I don't ask about news-every thing looks melancholy. If any new publication comes out worth reading, send it to me.-I see advertised a pamphlet of Doctor Duigenan, in answer to me-let me have it-direct to Llanrwst, Conway.

MRS. GRATTAN TO MR. M'CAN.

DEAR SIR; I am sure you will be glad to hear that we are all well. Mr. Grattan met us at Holyhead, and we have travelled on to this place seeking a lodging or house in vain. The country is beautiful, and we all enjoy it— it reminds us of Tinnehinch-and we walk much, as the weather is uncommonly fine-our abode is at the inn. If I had had time I should have seen you before I left Ireland, to take my leave-being truly your friend,

HENRIETTA GRATTAN.

After the proclamation by Government on the 30th of March, Sir Ralph Abercromby established his head-quarters at Kildare; and on the 3rd April he issued an order calling on the people to give up all their arms within ten days, and unless they did so, that troops would be sent among them in large bodies, to live at free quarters, and that other very severe measures would be used to enforce obedience to that notice, and the troops were authorized to act without waiting for the civil magistrate. These orders, it was said, were issued contrary to the real sentiments and the feelings of Sir Ralph Abercromby, and determined him to retire. He accordingly wrote to England, praying to be removed from the command of the army; and on the 25th of April, General Lake in, he very speedily arrested their career, and sent them to the right about, and by his interference the house was cleared of these troublesome guests. When such things happened among the high, what must not have been the fate of those below! At Curran's seat, in the country, a number of soldiers came with their wives, many of whom promised to lye-in at the Priory, and he was forced to purchase their forbearance at no inconsiderable cost.

384

MILITARY OUTRAGES.

- more

[CHAP. XI. was appointed in his stead. The latter had acquired in the North more experience in these matters, and his proclamation of the year before had probably smoothed all scruples. Accordingly, orders still more extraordinary cruel-at once the height of wickedness and absurdity-were now issued; there is scarcely a parallel to them to be found in the history of any country. I have looked through the detail of Buonaparte's conquest of Italy in 1799, and the march of the French republicans, and in none of their orders is there to be found a proclamation similar to that which was now issued. It is to be observed, that this took place on the 7th of May, more than three weeks before the insurrection broke out in that quarter;-free quarters were not only to be continued, but the number of soldiers was to be doubled, trebled, and quadrupled upon the people, and regular foraging parties sent out, until all the gentlemen of landed property and the collectors of public and church revenues reported that

ALL RENTS, TAXES, AND TITHES, WERE COMPLETELY PAID UP!!! It may truly be said of Lord Camden and Lord Clare's Government, "quos Deus vult perdere prior dementat." This extraordinary document is subjoined, and well might Sir Ralph Abercromby retire in disgust from the service of a Government that could act in such a manner.

"Whereas, it has been reported to Lieutenant-General Sir James Stuart, that in some parts of the county, where it has been necessary to place troops at free quarters for the restoration of public tranquillity, that general subscriptions of money have been entered into by the inhabitants, to purchase provisions for the troops, by which means the end proposed of making the burthen fall as much as possible on the guilty, is entirely defeated, by making it fall in a light proportion on the whole; and thereby easing and protecting the guilty. It has been thought proper to direct, that, whenever the practice has been adopted, or shall be attempted, the general officers commanding divisions of the southern district, shall immediately double, triple, and quadruple, the number of soldiers so stationed, and shall send out regular foraging parties, to provide provisions for the troops, in the quantities mentioned in the former