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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14468-0.txt b/14468-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd19c43 --- /dev/null +++ b/14468-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9995 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14468 *** + +[Illustration: Michael Doheny] + + + + +THE FELON'S TRACK + +OR + +HISTORY OF THE ATTEMPTED OUTBREAK + +IN + +IRELAND + +Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle from +the year 1843 to the close of 1848 + + +BY + +MICHAEL DOHENY + +Author of "The American Revolution." + + + Hurrah for the mountain side! + Hurrah for the bivouac! + Hurrah for the heaving tide! + If rocking the Felon's Track! + + +_ORIGINAL EDITION_ + +WITH D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848, A PREFACE, +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR'S CONTEMPORARIES, +AN INDEX, AND ILLUSTRATIONS + + +DUBLIN + +M.H. GILL & SON, LTD. + +1920 + + + +_Printed and Bound in Ireland by +M.H. Gill & Son, Ltd. +50 Upper O'Connell Street +Dublin_ + + +_First Edition_ 1914 +_Second Impression_ 1916 +_Third Impression_ 1918 +_Fourth Impression_ 1920 + + + + +[Illustration: General Shields] + + +_Dedication._ + +TO + +GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS + +UNITED STATES SENATOR, ETC. + + +DEAR SIR,-- + +In dedicating to you this narrative, I have been influenced by one +consideration only. I have no title to your friendship. I cannot claim +the most remote affinity with your career in arms. There is nothing +connected with this sad fragment of history, either in fact or hope, to +suggest any association with your name or achievements. But as my main +object is to show that Ireland's failure was not owing to native +recreancy or cowardice, I feel satisfied that of all living men, your +position and character will best sustain the sole aim of my present +labour and ambition. + +In past history, Ireland holds a high place; but her laurels were won on +foreign fields, and the jealous literary ambition which raised adequate +monuments to these stormy times denied to her swords the distinction +they vindicated for themselves in the hour of combat. The most +brilliant, unscrupulous and daring historian of France degraded the +niggard praise he accorded them by making it the medium of a false and +contemptible sneer. "The Irish soldier," says Voltaire, "fights bravely +everywhere but in his own country." + +Without pausing here to vindicate that country from such ungrateful +slander, it is enough to say that you were not placed in the same +unhappy position as the illustrious exiles from the last Irish +army--soldiers of fortune in the service of a foreign prince. You were a +citizen of this free Republic, and a volunteer in its ranks; it was +_your_ country, and you and your compatriots who followed the same +standard did no dishonour to those who were bravest among the brave on +the best debated fields in Europe. + +In the wreck of every hope, all who yet cherish the ambition of +realising for Ireland an independent destiny, point to your career as an +encouraging augury, if not a complete justification for not despairing +of their country. It is because I am among those that I have claimed the +honour of inscribing your name on the first page of this, my latest +labour in her cause. + +I remain, dear Sir, + +Very respectfully and sincerely yours, + +MICHAEL DOHENY. + +_New York, Sept. 20, 1849._ + + + + +PREFACE + + +The Irish Confederation still awaits its historian. Three of its leaders +have left narratives of its brief and momentous career, but, of the +three, Doheny alone participated in the Insurrection that dug the +political grave of Young Ireland. In "The Felon's Track," written hot on +his escape from the stricken land, he tells the story vividly and +passionately. It has morals deducible for all manner of Irishmen, and +one for those English statesmen who comfort themselves with the illusion +that Irish Nationalism, like Jacobitism, is a platonic sentiment. The +man who, roused from his bed at midnight by tapping fingers on his +window and a voice whispering that insurrection was afoot, rose and rode +away in the darkness to join himself to its desperate fortunes was no +young man ardent for adventure. Michael Doheny, when he left his home +and his career to engage in the fatal enterprise, was a sober +middle-aged barrister, a man of weight and fortune into which he had +built himself by the hard toil of twenty years. His social anchorages +were deep-cast--and no mere sentiment provokes such a man to throw aside +the hard-won harvest of his life and risk the rebel's or the felon's +fate. + +In the leadership of the Young Ireland party Michael Doheny was, save +Smith O'Brien, the oldest man and, like O'Brien, his counsels while +courageous were always restrained. There was little other likeness +between the men. Doheny sprang from the poorest class of the Irish +farmers. At Brookfield, near Fethard in Tipperary, where he was born in +May, 1805, he followed the plough on his father's little holding, +earning literally his bread in the sweat of his brow, and educating +himself how he could, for his people were too poor to pay for his +schooling. His indomitable perseverance and his thirst for knowledge +overcame the formidable obstacles of fortune, and at thirty years of age +the poor peasant boy had become a barrister of reputation for ability +and fearlessness. He returned to his native county to become the most +popular and trusted of its "counsellors"--the advocate who did not fear +to face and beard Influence and Ascendancy in its courts. The city of +Cashel had had much of its property alienated and long enjoyed by local +magnates whom none were willing to offend. Doheny fought and defeated +them and regained the purloined estates for the people. He was made +Legal Adviser to the Borough of Cashel and when later the pestilence +fell upon the place, and even the men employed to carry the sick to +hospital lost courage and fled, Doheny showed the same manly example of +citizenship and duty which years later forced him "on the Felon's path," +by carrying in his strong arms to shelter and relief the deserted +victims of the plague. Davis who marked his character, and knew that on +such men a free and self-respecting Ireland must be rebuilt induced him +to enter the Repeal movement of 1842, and in its councils he swayed the +influence of a strong, sincere, able and incorruptible man until the +Association fell into the toils of the English Whigs. Then he quitted +it and formally adhered to the Young Irelanders. To them he was +invaluable for his eloquence--less brilliant and polished than that of +Meagher, but more effective in its appeal to the heart of the peasantry +whom Doheny knew better than any of his colleagues. On a platform he +triumphed, but with the pen he was often ineffective. His admiration and +reverence for Davis misled him into laboriously imitating Davis's style, +and the result was what it must always be when one man attempts to +express his ideas not in his own way but as he thinks a greater man +would express them. Much that would have been impressive and lucid as +Doheny becomes unimpressive and clouded as Doheny-Davis. In a few of his +verses and "The Felon's Track" Doheny the writer will survive. As a man +who gave up all to help his country and served her like a gallant son, +his memory must be honoured while Ireland has virtue. + +The Irish Confederation, on whose council Doheny sat, was noble in +conception, true in policy and able and honest in its membership. Never +in the leadership of the modern Nationalist movement has there been the +peer in genius and character of the men who founded and inspired that +brilliant and short-lived organisation. In its career it went nearer to +bridging the differences of class and creed in Ireland than any previous +organisation since the Volunteers at Dungannon proclaimed themselves +Irishmen and hailed their oppressed Catholic countrymen fellow-citizens. +But the Confederation was not yet six months old when it was called on +to face a situation in Ireland as terrible as that which confronted +Irishmen when Eoghan Ruadh O'Neill lay dead and Cromwell marched at the +head of his iron legions to the conquest of a distracted country. The +failure of the potato-crop which menaced Ireland with serious loss at +the birth of the Confederation in January, 1847, threatened the +destruction of the people by the middle of 1847. The Relief measures +provided by the English Whig Government set up a system under which +places, large and small, were provided for some thousands of persons of +political influence. Their tenure of employment depending upon the +ministry, they used that influence to the end of sustaining the +ministry, while the unfortunate small farmers who had hitherto kept on +the right side of the line between poverty and pauperism were forced to +the wrong side. Of all the measures passed under the guise of relieving +"the famine-stricken Irish" the most infamous was that measure which +provided that no farmer should be accorded relief if, the produce of his +farm having gone to discharge his rents, rates and taxes, he hungered +and yet strove to hold his farm. Before he was permitted to receive any +help from the public funds he was required to surrender his land and +become a pauper. Thus under pretext of relieving famine, pauperism was +propagated. + +Be it remembered that all this time there was no _famine_ in Ireland. +The potato-crop, indeed, had failed as it had failed in Great Britain, +France, Germany and other countries at the same period, but the corn +crop was fat and abundant. Each year of the so-called famine, food to +maintain double the whole population was raised from the Irish soil. It +was exported to England to feed the English people. Nobody starved in +Germany. The German governments ordered the ports to be closed to the +export of food until the danger had passed. The Irish Confederation +demanded the same measure. "Close the Irish ports," it called to the +British Government, "and no man can die of hunger in Ireland." The +British Government, instead, flung the ports wide open. The great +principle of Free Trade required that the Irish should export their food +freely. Relief ships from foreign countries laden with the food +subscribed by charitable people to succour the starving Irish met +occasionally ships sailing out of the Irish ports laden with food reaped +by the starving Irish. On the quays of Galway the unhappy people wailed +as they saw their harvests borne away from them, and were admonished by +the butt-ends of British muskets, the British Government meantime +passing Relief measures which provided employment for hordes of English +officials and Irish understrappers, and pauper-relief for those who +surrendered their manhood and their property--the cost of this relief, +like the cost of the passage of the Act of Union, being debited to +Ireland--a generous loan in fact. + +No doubt a union of the whole Irish people would have rendered all this +impossible. The Irish Confederation worked hard to bring about this +essential union. Directly and indirectly it achieved for a moment a +semblance of national unity. The Irish Council, composed largely of the +resident landlords--who mostly endeavoured to alleviate the +distress--came into being, reasoned with the Government and, when the +Government ignored reason, fell to pieces. George Henry Moore, a young +sporting landlord and a Tory (afterwards, as a result, to become a +Nationalist leader), conceived the design of getting all the Irish +members of the British Parliament to act together against the existing +British Government or any British Government which did not deal honestly +and effectively with the crisis. With the Marquis of Sligo, a nobleman +who did his duty to his tenantry during the Famine, Moore travelled +around Ireland and secured between sixty and seventy Irish members of +Parliament and forty-five Irish peers to subscribe to his independence +programme. They met in Dublin, resolved boldly, departed for London +cheered by the nation, and crumbled there at the Premier's frown. When +the Tory Lord George Bentinck proposed that instead of pauperising the +Irish by a vote of four or five millions for relief there should be a +vote of sixteen millions for railway construction, the Premier, Lord +John Russell, threatened the Irish members with his displeasure if they +supported Bentinck, and the majority of them thereupon opposed the +proposal of reproductive work for the people in lieu of pauper relief. + +It was in these circumstances Mitchel put forward his policy in the +Confederation of arming the people and bidding them hold their harvests. +The Confederation rejected the policy, still hoping to effect a national +union. Through such a union alone, it declared, could national +independence be achieved. Doheny strongly opposed Mitchel on this +ground. Mitchel's reply was simple. He had been and was ready to follow +the aristocrats of Ireland if they would lead. They would not lead, and +meanwhile the people perished. Therefore he would urge the people to +save themselves. The policy of the Confederation in normal times would +have been nationally sound. The circumstances had become abnormal, and +Mitchel's policy was suited to the abnormal circumstances. His +conviction that the British Government was deliberately using the +potato-crop failure for the purpose of reducing the Irish +population--which then was equal to more than half the population of +England and a menace to that country, as one of its statesmen +incautiously admitted--was a conviction not shared by the bulk of his +colleagues. They shrank from it as men will shrink from a conclusion +that horrifies the human nature in them. Mitchel went outside the +Confederation to preach his policy, and he might have preached it +without result had not the French Revolution turned men's minds to the +contemplation of arms and armed opinion. The arrest, indictment and +conviction of Mitchel, Doheny has described graphically. The reasons +that prevailed against attempting Mitchel's rescue, Doheny cogently +states. There is no reason to doubt that an attempt to rescue Mitchel +would have been a failure in its object. But there are occasions when it +is wiser to attempt the impossible than to acquiesce. The unchallenged +removal of Mitchel in chains from Ireland had a moral effect on the +country that was worth 20,000 additional troops to the Government. + +Thereafter, the Confederation vacillated in its policy and finally +permitted itself, in its desire for Unity as the potent weapon, to be +extinguished in favour of an Irish League which was to combine +O'Connellites and Young Irelanders. The Irish League met once, and died. +The Confederation had been hoodwinked. Doheny who opposed the +amalgamation, retired to Cashel, severing his connection with the former +Confederation. He was, therefore, free in honour to have taken no part +in the insurrection, since it was begun by men from whom he had +withdrawn. But when the voice in the night whispered through his window +that his former colleagues had crossed the Rubicon, Doheny, like the man +he was, rose and rode forth to make the fatal passage and stand or fall +with them. + +From this point, Doheny's narrative may be supplemented and corrected by +information that was not at the time he wrote available to him. Meagher, +Leyne, M'Gee, O'Mahony and MacManus, have left in newspaper articles and +in MS. accounts of what happened in the light of which Doheny's +narrative must be read. + +On Thursday, July 20th, 1848, the British Government issued a +proclamation ordering the people of Ireland to surrender their arms. +Thomas Francis Meagher, who was at the time in Waterford, issued a +counter-proclamation to the people of that city bidding them to hold +them fast. He then hurried to Dublin to consult with his colleagues and +he arrived in the metropolis the next day. There had been a strong +division of opinion in the Confederate clubs as to how the Government +proclamation should be treated, the general feeling of the rank-and-file +inclining to open resistance. The leaders counselled a waiting policy +until the harvest had been gathered, the arms to be concealed meanwhile. +This counsel prevailed against the remonstrance of one of the Dublin +leaders that if heaven rained down loaded rifles they would wait for +angels to pull the triggers. If the insurrection could have been +postponed until the harvest the counsel would have been sound. The +Young Ireland leaders forgot, however, that the Government had one +powerful weapon in reserve with which it might force their hands--the +Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. On July 21st Meagher and his +comrades and the Dublin leaders discussed and arranged the outline of a +contingent insurrectionary plan for the autumn. O'Brien left for Wexford +and O'Gorman for Limerick to organise those counties. The next morning +the news reached those who remained in Dublin that the Habeas Corpus Act +had been suspended, and that a warrant was on its way to Ireland for the +arrest of Smith O'Brien. The choice left was to fight, to become +fugitives, or to surrender. Dillon, M'Gee, Reilly, P.J. Smyth and +Meagher decided hurriedly on the first course. They rejected the +proposal to begin the fight in Dublin, as they believed it would be +hopeless with the resources at their disposal to contend against a +disciplined garrison of 11,000 men in a city a large proportion of whose +population was hostile. Kilkenny was regarded as a stronghold of the +Confederation, and Dillon suggested it should be the objective. Dillon +and Meagher quitted Dublin to seek O'Brien; Reilly and Smyth started for +Tipperary, and M'Gee for Scotland where it was hoped the Glasgow Irish +could be induced to rise, seize some of the Clyde steamers and effect a +landing in Sligo or Mayo which might rouse Connacht and western Ulster +to the assistance of the South. + +Dillon and Meagher left Dublin on the night of the 22nd of July by the +mailcoach for Enniscorthy. Neither had the slightest hope of a +successful insurrection, but they felt that honour and its future +survival demanded that a nation must reply to the command of a foreign +power to gag its mouth and throw down its arms by drawing the sword. +They found Smith O'Brien at Enniscorthy and he joined in their views. +Father Parle and the people of Enniscorthy undertook to defend O'Brien +by force of arms if any attempt were made to arrest him there, and +agreed that if he went into Kilkenny and Tipperary and succeeded in +arousing those counties Wexford would take up arms. O'Brien and his +colleagues moved towards Kilkenny through Graiguenamanagh where the +people received them with enthusiasm, and they arrived in what they +hoped to make again the provisional capital of Ireland in the evening of +the 23rd of July. + +[Illustration: Terence Bellew MacManus] + +The considerations in favour of beginning the insurrection in Kilkenny +were sound. It was the one Irish city of importance inaccessible to +British naval power, it offered a convenient rallying-centre for the +counties of Tipperary, Waterford, and Wexford upon which the Young +Ireland leaders relied, the country around it was well-adapted for +defensive fighting against superior forces, and it had an historic +appeal to the Irish imagination. The arrival of the insurgent leaders +was hailed with joy by the people, and there was no doubt of the +readiness of the populace to fight. But an examination of the military +resources of the place showed that the British forces consisted of 1,000 +troops in a strongly-defended position, while amongst the Irish there +were but 200 armed men and the gunsmiths' shops in the city could not +arm a hundred more. The decision not to strike the first blow at +Kilkenny in the circumstances was inevitable. It was agreed to make +for Carrick-on-Suir, another Young Ireland town, seize the place and +march at the head of the elated Tipperarymen on Kilkenny. On Monday, +July 24th, O'Brien, Meagher and Dillon left for Carrick-on-Suir, and on +the way they were received with enthusiasm at Callan, where the 8th +Hussars--mainly composed of Irishmen--manifested sympathy with the +insurrectionary propaganda. Near Carrick they were joined by John +O'Mahony, a landed proprietor of the neighbourhood, afterwards to become +famous as the founder of Fenianism. By descent, education and character +a leader of men, O'Mahony had thousands of followers among the people +ready to rally to any venture for Ireland at his call. "His square, +broad frame," wrote Meagher, "his frank, gay, fearless look; the warm +forcible headlong earnestness of his manner; the quickness and +elasticity of his movements; the rapid glances of his clear full eye; +the proud bearing of his head; everything about him struck us with a +brilliant and exciting effect, as he threw himself from his saddle and, +tossing the bridle on his arm, hastened to meet and welcome us. At a +glance we recognised in him a true leader for the generous, passionate, +intrepid peasantry of the South." O'Mahony strongly advised them to +begin the insurrection that night in Carrick, and he left to collect the +peasantry. O'Brien and his comrades proceeded to the town where the +people received them with frenzied enthusiasm, calling out to be led +immediately to the fray. "A torrent of human beings rushing through +lanes and narrow streets"--such is Meagher's description of the +scene--"surging and boiling against the white basements ... wild, +half-stifled, passionate, frantic prayers of hope ... curses on the red +flag: scornful delirious defiances of death.... It was the Revolution if +we had accepted it." But it was not accepted. The local leaders were +unworthy of the people. They persuaded O'Brien to go elsewhere. It was a +cardinal and egregious mistake which he regretted within twenty-four +hours. Had he brushed the quavering local leaders aside and given the +word to the imploring people of Carrick the insurrection of 1848 would +have become respectable. O'Mahony's followers to the number of 12,000 +were on the march to Carrick when the news reached them of O'Brien's +departure. Disheartened they broke up and returned to their homes. + +Doheny's account of what happened after the fatal retreat from Carrick +needs to be amplified in connection with the final error of O'Brien's +leadership. At the Council of War on the 28th of July O'Brien rejected +the proposal to seize for the use of his followers all things needful, +paying for them with drafts on the future Irish Government, and he +declined the other practical proposal to offer farms rent-free to all +who fought for Ireland. Neither would he assent to the suggestion that +he and the other leaders should go into hiding until the harvest was +reaped. Willing to fight and ready to die, he would not consent to +conduct a revolution on revolutionary lines. The departure of Doheny and +others--save Devin Reilly, who urged the abandonment of the insurrection +as hopeless--was in pursuance of their plan to await the gathering of +the harvest. + +O'Brien's attitude at the Council of War destroyed the last hope of the +insurrection. He expected to get men to fight under his standard while +he essayed no adequate provision for their support in the field, and +interdicted them from interference with private property to supply them +with the necessaries of the campaign. No nobler and braver man has +appeared in modern Irish history than William Smith O'Brien, but at the +head of an insurrectionary movement he was incompetent. There was none +of his lieutenants who, in his position, could not have made the +insurrection to some extent formidable. + +That it could have been successful, few will believe. Mitchel and +Meagher agreed that 1848 would not have been the year of Liberation. But +the former held very justly that the insurrection if it grew to +respectable dimensions might have forced terms from England. The +attitude of France at the time was a factor in the situation. The +pro-Irish minister, Ledru-Rollin, had been checked by the pro-English +minister, Lamartine, but General Cavaignac and Louis Napoleon were, for +divergent reasons, inclined to help Ireland against England, and +assurances had been given that if an Irish insurrection gained +considerable initial successes the French Government would exert +influence on England. A successful blow at Carrick and a subsequent +seizure of Kilkenny and proclamation of Irish independence from that +city was possible, and if realised would have probably led to the +counties of Waterford and Tipperary rising en masse. How far the +insurrection would have spread outside those counties is problematical, +but in the year 1848 they were counties which presented difficulties to +regular troops and advantages to insurgent forces. According to M'Gee, +Sligo was willing to rise if the South made a good beginning and the +Bishop of Derry, Dr. Maginn, sent a message to Gavan Duty that he was +willing to join in the insurrection at the head of his priests once the +harvest was reaped. Doheny's criticism of the action of some of the +Tipperary priests is justified. But of others it is to be remembered +that they were not in sympathy with Young Ireland, that they were not +bound to support an insurrection undertaken irrespective of them, and +that they could not be expected to take the initiative. There were at +least two priests in Tipperary prepared to lead their parishioners to +the insurgent standard if O'Brien struck at any point a successful blow. +O'Brien's indecision was the real cause why the insurrection died in its +birth. + +If courage and devotion could have saved Ireland in 1848, O'Brien and +his comrades would have saved the land. No braver gentlemen could any +nation produce. They asked their countrymen to take no risks they did +not take themselves in the forefront. But courage and devotion alone can +never make an insurrection into a revolution. 1848 was a failure--in one +sense--because there was no second Mitchel in Ireland when the first +Mitchel was hurried off on a British gunboat. + +But 1848 was not a failure in the true sense of failure. For years the +Irish people had submitted to any and every imposition of foreign +tyranny, taught to believe that forcible resistance to outrage on their +national liberties was in itself immoral. The sneer of the satirist +that the Irish were:-- + + "A nation of abortive men + Who shoot the tongue and wield the pen," + +seemed to have grown a reality. Young Ireland evoked the fighting +tradition of the nation once again. Without 1848 the spirit that freed +the Irish Catholic from being tributary to another Church and regained +the land for the farmers would have slept for a century--perhaps for +ever. + +Driven from his country, Doheny with the companion of his fugitive +wanderings, James Stephens, and the chivalrous O'Mahony, founded the +Fenian brotherhood in the United States. Once more before his sudden +death in April, 1862, he saw Ireland--on the occasion of the MacManus +Funeral. + +Let me, said a wise man, always be surrounded by men of sanguine +temperament. Defeat and exile could not dim the faith of Doheny in his +country. The fugitive who had wrecked his fortunes in Ireland's cause +and witnessed a failure which English statesmen believed ended for ever +the dream of Irish independent nationhood, set his foot in exile only to +begin anew to plan Ireland Independent. So long as the sanguine heart +that carried Michael Doheny undaunted along the Felon's Track beats in +the breast of his country the Irish Nation will be indestructible. + +ARTHUR GRIFFITH. + + + + +_This Edition is reprinted from the Original Edition published in New +York by W.H. Holbrooke, Fulton Street, in October, 1849. The portraits +of the Young Ireland leaders are mainly from the daguerreotypes by +Professor Gluckmann, and the illustrations of Tipperary in 1848 are +reproduced from the "Illustrated London News" of that year._ + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. Page +RETROSPECT.--COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE--EARLY DAYS OF +THE ASSOCIATION 1 + +CHAPTER II. +THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS.--THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER-- +PROGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION.--CLONTARF MEETING.--THE STATE +TRIALS.--THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY.--SMITH O'BRIEN.--FEDERALISM. +--THE BEQUESTS ACT 16 + +CHAPTER III. +FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT.--DIFFERENCES +BETWEEN MR. O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE.--FINANCIAL REFORMS IN +THE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION.-- +'82 CLUB.--THE COLLEGES BILL.--DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES +CONSEQUENT UPON IT.--QUARREL WITH MR. DAVIS.--THE GREAT LEVEE +AT THE ROTUNDA.--DECLINE OF THE AGITATION.--CLOSING LABOURS +AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS 42 + +CHAPTER IV. +IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS.-- +CONDUCT OF THE ASSOCIATION.--DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB.-- +MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS TO IRELAND.--DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE 73 + +CHAPTER V +DEFEAT OF PEEL.--ACCESSION OF THE WHIGS.--MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE.--DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL.--MR. O'CONNELL +DENOUNCES THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY.--CONTINUED DEBATES.-- +QUESTIONS AT ISSUE.--PHYSICAL FORCE.--THE SECESSION.--WHIG +ALLIANCE.--DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE.--FORMATION OF THE +CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER.--MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH.--CLOSE OF +THE YEAR 1847. 98 + +CHAPTER VI +THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL.--HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE, +AND SPEECH.--THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED.--ARREST OF +MESSRS. MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS, AND DUFFY.--CONVICTION OF +MR. MARTIN.--HIS SPEECH.--CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF +MR. O'DOHERTY.--DISSOLUTION OF THE CONFEDERATION.--THE LEAGUE 118 + +CHAPTER VII. +THE OUTBREAK.--MR. O'BRIEN IN CARRICK.--CASHEL.--KILLENAULE, +MULLINAHONE, BALLINGARRY.--AFFAIR AT KILLENAULE.--DEFEAT +OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMONS.--PERSONAL ADVENTURES OF +THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. O'BRIEN'S +ARREST 159 + +CHAPTER VIII. +ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE.-- +ARREST OF TERENCE BELLEW M'MANUS.--CLONMEL SPECIAL +COMMISSION.--TRIAL, CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE +REBELS.--WRIT OF ERROR.--COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.-- +TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES 187 + +CHAPTER IX. +CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS.--DUNGARVAN.--THE +COMERAGHS.--MOUNT MELLERAY.--KILWORTH.--CROSS.-- +DUNMANWAY.--GOUGANE BARRA.--BANTRY BAY.--THE PRIEST'S +LEAP.--KENMARE.--THE REEKS.--KILLARNEY.--TEMPLENOE.-- +DEPARTURE.--CORK.--BRISTOL.--LONDON.--PARIS 201 + +CONCLUSION 283 + +APPENDICES 289 + +LIST OF CONTEMPORARIES 302 + +INDEX 317 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + Facing page + +MICHAEL DOHENY _frontispiece_ + +GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS _dedication_ + +TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS xvi + +WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN xxxii + +THOMAS DAVIS 16 + +JOHN BLAKE DILLON 32 + +CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY 48 + +RICHARD O'GORMAN, JUNIOR 64 + +PATRICK O'DONOHOE 64 + +THOMAS DEVIN REILLY 80 + +JOHN MITCHEL 96 + +ROBERT HOLMES 112 + +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER 128 + +JOHN MARTIN 128 + +KEVIN IZOD O'DOHERTY 144 + +BALLINGARRY, SLIEVENAMON IN THE DISTANCE (1848) 160 + +A STREET IN BALLINGARRY (1848) 176 + +THE WIDOW MCCORMACK'S HOUSE, NEAR BALLINGARRY. (1848) 192 + +THE KNOCKMELDOWN MOUNTAINS FROM ARDFINAN (1848) 208 + +DUNMANWAY PROM THE BRIDGE ON THE CORK ROAD (1848) 224 + +THURLES ON MARKET DAY (August, 1848) 240 + +JOHN O'MAHONY 256 + +JAMES STEPHENS 256 + +AHENY HILL, SHOWING THE CONSTABULARY POLICE BARRACK DESTROYED + BY THE INSURGENTS (1848) 272 + +JOHN SAVAGE 288 + +LOUIS NAPOLEON 308 + +LEDRU-ROLLIN, GENERAL CAVAIGNAC, LAMARTINE (1848) 316 + + + + +AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION + + +There are few facts detailed in the following pages that need +explanation here. If my motive in writing them were personal +gratification, or simply a desire to preserve a memorial of scenes in +which I took an anxious part, I might labour to make the narration more +interesting to my readers, without any care for future consequences. + +But through every disaster I preserved unbroken faith in the purpose and +courage of my country. I believed, and still believe that her true heart +is faithful to liberty and hopeful for the future; and this conviction +involved me in a struggle with the apparently opposite tendency of the +facts I was bound to narrate. Had I to write for a new generation, upon +whom these facts could have made no false impressions, my task would be +easy. I am persuaded that a simple statement of all that occurred would +satisfy any candid mind that no disgrace attached to Ireland in her +recent discomfiture. But I must needs confess that it is a task of +extreme difficulty to reconcile her fall with the pre-conceived notions +or present prejudices of those who read her story through the false +medium of the press; nor do I hope for more than partial success from +the details I have been able to give of the circumstances of which she +was the victim and the dupe. + +It is impossible fully to appreciate the pernicious effect of Mr. +O'Connell's teaching, without reviewing in minute detail the leading +circumstances of his wonderful career and the matchless and countless +resources with which he upheld his fatal system. In dealing with this +part of my subject my difficulties have been multiplied and enhanced by +a strong desire to do him no injustice, and to leave untouched by doubt +or suspicion a character so intertwined with my country's love. But it +became necessary to refer to those acts which chiefly tended to increase +the obstacles which beset our endeavours. In doing this, whether here or +elsewhere in my narrative, if I use phrases which would seem to imply +harshness to his memory, I wish them to be understood as applied in +reference to the attempt to effect the deliverance of Ireland by force +of arms, and establishing her entire and perfect independence. I have +avoided this question, assuming that I wrote only for those who agreed +with me in the belief that such is her true destiny, and the end for +which her children ought to strive. + +In this view of her recent struggle, there can be no doubt of the +tendency of Mr. O'Connell's policy to demoralise, disgrace, enfeeble and +corrupt the Irish people, and it is in that sense, and that only, I have +always spoken of him. + +Another subject, of perhaps greater delicacy and difficulty, was the +part taken by the Catholic clergy. On my arrival in America, I found a +fierce contest agitating, dividing and enfeebling the Irish-American +population. It was asserted on one side that the entire failure was +attributable to the Catholic priests, and that in opposing the +liberation of Ireland they acted in accordance with some recognised +radical principle of the Church. + +I could not assent to either of these propositions. I knew several +priests who were fully prepared to take their share in an armed +conflict; in fact, the vast majority of those I met at the time. And +again, with respect to such as did interfere, and opposed the efforts of +the people's chiefs, I do not believe that one man was influenced by +considerations connected with, or emanating from the Church, in its +corporate capacity. Of Mr. O'Connell's policy, already referred to, +none were blinder victims than some of the priests. It had made such an +impression on them that they scarcely could believe anything was real, +or any sentiment was true; and when they admitted its truth it was only +to prove its madness. Of other and more questionable motives I shall say +nothing here. + +But while I feel the injustice of the sweeping charge made against the +whole body of the priesthood, I would be unfaithful to my purpose and my +convictions if I concealed the acts and language of those among them, +who interposed and unhappily exercised baneful influence on the abortive +attempt of their unfortunate country. I shall only say further that what +relates to them is the only part of my narrative which gave me shame to +tell. + +I have only a word to add in reference to certain proceedings in the +Committee of the Association now made public for the first time. It may +be said, and, I doubt not, will be said, that these were matters which +we were morally pledged to keep secret. I readily admit that, although +there was no obligation whatever, either expressed or implied, as to any +subject discussed in committee any more than in the public hall, still, +I should not disclose any part of its proceedings if I were not +compelled by an imperative necessity. Upon one subject, and that the +most important to the character of my illustrious friend, no other proof +was available. And the tacit understanding, in virtue of which I would +be disposed to admit any obligation of secrecy, does not and could not +extend beyond such matters as would, if divulged, endanger the safety or +impair the efficiency of the Association. What I tell of the proceedings +of the Committee, even if it yet existed, would scarcely have any such +effect. But every one knows it not only does not exist, but that is has +left no memory which it would be possible to degrade. Its physical +existence long survived the last spark of moral vitality, and its +efficiency now consists in this, if it warn all men against the species +of terrorism which finally prevailed in its councils and effected its +overthrow. + +In certain circumstances which I relate, I may possibly make some +mistakes in the dates, owing to the difficulty of finding those dates in +odd numbers and broken volumes of the Journals to which alone I have had +access. + +It would have given me the sincerest pleasure to add to the collection +of heads, which I have been able to procure, those of others who took an +honourable part in the Irish struggle. Foremost among them are John +Martin and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, who followed in the footsteps and +shared the fate of John Mitchel. But I am not aware that there are any +likenesses of them in existence; at all events they are not to be +obtained in this country.[1] + +There are others, too, mentioned in my narrative, whose likenesses I +would feel delighted to present to my readers, and some, who although +cursorily or not at all mentioned, acted a noble and devoted part. Of +the first, are the companions of my wanderings, James Stephens and John +O'Mahony; and of the second, Doctor Antisel, Richard Dalton Williams, +James Cantwell, Richard Hartnet, Patrick O'Dea, and indeed many others, +of whose efforts and sacrifices it would be a source of pride to me to +make honourable mention.[2] + +I may be permitted to take this opportunity to assure them and others of +whom I have not spoken that no name has been omitted by me from any +feelings of dislike or any desire to depreciate the services and +sacrifices of a single man among the hundreds, whose exile or ruin +attests the sincerity of their convictions and the purity of their +patriotism. Even with men who do not take the same view of last year's +history as I do, their names and characters will go far to redeem its +darkest traces from shame and obloquy. They are now scattered over the +wide earth, and there is not one among them from the highest to the +humblest, whom I do not hold in the utmost honour and esteem. + +_New York, September 21, 1849._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: I am glad it has been found easy to supply these in this +edition of the work.--Ed.] + +[Footnote 2: Some of these will also be found in the present +gallery--Ed.] + +[Illustration: William Smith O'Brien] + + + + +CHAPTER I + +RETROSPECT--COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE.--EARLY DAYS OF THE +ASSOCIATION. + + +The appearance of this narrative will surprise no one. For apology, if +any be needed, the writer may trust to his own share in the transactions +with which it deals; and still more so perhaps to the misrepresentation +to which, during their progress, he had been personally subjected. But +personal vindication imparts neither interest nor importance to history, +while it necessarily detracts from its dignity and good faith. Besides, +time with the disastrous events marking its more recent course, have +silenced the voice of calumny; and the writer undertakes his task with +no personal feeling to gratify or even to consult. The character of +others, now unable to be heard, is far dearer to him than his own: and +while he aspires to justify, before the world, their singular career, +distinguished throughout by generous and lofty passions, surpassing +intellect and measureless love of their country and countrymen--a +career so brilliant and instructive even in the last hours of gloom--he +will endeavour to infuse into the history of their struggles and their +fate, that generous tenderness toward others, that spirit of +self-sacrifice and supreme love of truth, which were among their noblest +characteristics. + +The undertaking suggests but one painful consideration--the +impossibility of treating the subject fully and fairly without +investigating facts far anterior to the late struggle, but coincident in +their effect with its progress and development, and stamping their +pernicious and fatal influence upon the spirit and conduct that led to a +final overthrow. This will necessarily involve an inquiry into the late +conduct and teaching of Mr. O'Connell, which the writer would most +willingly avoid. Mr. O'Connell's name and character fill a mighty space +in history. They are the most cherished recollections in his country's +memory; and she clings to them with loving pride in this her hour of +utter desolation. The hand that traces these recollections would be the +last to aim a blow at the object of her sacred affections; and if in +obedience to a more binding obligation, Mr. O'Connell's policy be +questioned and condemned, his influencing motive shall be unchallenged +and unarraigned. What his final purpose was, and how he had determined +to effect it, had his life been spared, and his course left unimpeded, +now rest with him in his grave. It is for others to write his history +and vindicate his career. By me even his mistakes shall be treated with +forbearance. + +A brief reference to the struggle for Catholic Emancipation becomes here +imperative. That struggle has had no equal in history--nor for its moral +grandeur, nor for its triumph--but for the singular difficulties which +the position of the Irish Catholic imposed on those who engaged in it. +It is an error to call it emancipation. It was neither the first nor the +last, nor even the most important in the train of concessions, which are +entitled to the name of emancipation. The pains and penalties of the +"_penal laws_" had been long abolished, and that barbarous code had been +compressed into cold and stolid exclusiveness. But the vices which a +long and unrelenting slavery had burned into the character of the +country, remained. The lie of law, which assumed the non-existence of +the Catholic had infused itself into his nature, and while it was erased +from the statute book, it was legible on his heart. That terrible +necessity of denying his feelings, his property, his religion and his +very being, had stamped its degrading influence on his nature. In a +moral sense the law had become a truth--there was no people. The +Catholic gentry, giddy by their recent elevation, had only changed for +that semblance of liberty their old stern spirit of resistance and +revenge. Their new concessions hung gracefully around them, but they +were like grafts on an ash stock--their growth was downward, and they +wanted the stature and dignity of the native tree. Such were the means +at Mr. O'Connell's disposal. His enemies on the other hand were false, +powerful, dexterous and unscrupulous. His efforts necessarily partook of +the character both of the weapons he was obliged to wield and the foes +he struck down. As he advanced to eminence and strength, means, the most +crafty and cruel, were taken to overthrow him, every one of which he +foiled by a sagacity infinitely above that of his oppressors. So +successful had he been in deceiving the champions of intolerance, that +of all the great qualities displayed in that wonderful struggle, that +which was most prized was the cunning of evasion. It left behind it an +enduring and destructive influence. Dissimulation in political action +began to be regarded as a public virtue, and long afterwards, when men +sought to assert the dignity of truth, their candour was charged against +them as a heinous crime. It will be seen hereafter how fatally this fact +operated against their efforts. + +The very character of Emancipation has assumed an exaggerated and false +guise. The joy of the nation was boundless--its gratitude immeasurable. +In the shout that hailed the deliverer, earlier deliverers were +forgotten. No one remembered the men whose stupendous exertions wrung +from the reluctant spirit of a far darker time the right of living, of +worship, of enjoying property, and exercising the franchise. All these, +and more, which were once, and not very remotely, denied to the +Catholics had been before this accorded to them. Yet the interest and +importance of winning access to Parliament, to the higher ranks of the +army, and, perhaps a stray seat at the Privy Council, acquired the name +of Emancipation, and Mr. O'Connell monopolised its entire renown. He was +styled the "Liberator," and his achievement designated as "striking the +fetters from the limbs of the slave, and liberating the altar." In +truth, the import of Emancipation was so exaggerated, and its history so +warped, that even now at a distance of more than twenty years, both the +act and the actors are so misunderstood that it requires no little +daring to approach a question involving the sensibilities, prejudices +and passions of an entire generation. + +A truer appreciation might have given Mr. O'Connell a different and +higher destiny. Not alone the boundless exultation of the Catholic but +the mortified pride of the baffled Protestant also stamped its influence +on his fortunes, prospects and career. In proportion as he was to the +former an object of adulation and pride did the latter hoard up in his +heart for him enduring envy and insatiable hate. Another circumstance, +too, which Mr. O'Connell did not create and could not in the beginning +control, contributed to mar his future glory. This was the pecuniary +compensation which the emancipated Catholics kneeled to present him. It +is far from being intended here to disparage the offering or decry its +acceptance. On the contrary, if this were the proper place, both would +be vindicated with zealous pride. But the effect of the continued +collection, on Mr. O'Connell's conduct and efficiency was baneful in the +extreme. And it was among the most prominent circumstances in shaping +his career. + +Mr. O'Connell entered the House of Commons under auspices more +flattering and encouraging than ever smiled on the advent to that +assembly of any other man. In whatever light he was regarded, he was far +the foremost personage of his time. How his subsequent career might +justify the hushed awe with which a proud senate received him if he had +devoted himself to the broad and comprehensive questions of imperial +jurisprudence, for which he seemed so eminently fitted, it would be idle +now to conjecture. Certain it is that no act of his after life, varied +and wonderful as it was, realised the promise of that glad and glorious +morning. + +Lord Anglesea, who had been removed from the viceroyalty for suspected +treachery to the cause of intolerance, was restored to his office, by +more distinguished converts, and was received by the people with +tumultuous acclaim. His popularity was short-lived. The present Chief +Justice, Doherty, was then Attorney-General. He incurred the wrath of +Mr. O'Connell in consequence of treachery which he had exhibited in +conducting a trial at Clonmel. This led to a fierce encounter in the +House of Commons--the first great trial of Mr. O'Connell's powers--in +which Doherty's friends claimed for their champion a decisive victory. +However unjust may be that judgment, Mr. O'Connell's admirers were +compelled to admit that he failed in his impeachment and principally in +consequence of a letter written by Mr. Shiel, then second to no other +Irishman. Mr. Shiel had been associated with the Attorney-General in the +prosecution at Clonmel, and his letter boldly justified the conduct +which the great popular tribune vehemently and indignantly impugned. +This was quite unexpected, and greatly affected Mr. O'Connell's cause. +But whether Mr. Doherty failed or succeeded, he was rewarded, and almost +avowedly, by the Chief Justiceship of the Common Pleas. The appointment +was a direct insult to Mr. O'Connell, and scarcely a less direct insult +to the Irish bar, and the Irish nation. Mr. Doherty was regarded as a +man of great forensic ability, but no legal attainments. He had scarcely +acquired any practice, and no distinction whatever: so that his +elevation to a post he was so inadequate to fill gave universal +dissatisfaction, and was read as evidence that the Government of Ireland +was subservient to an unscrupulous and audacious faction. + +Soon after the date of this appointment the first Repeal Association +was established by Mr. O'Connell. His motives were at once bitterly +assailed. By some he was charged with being influenced by personal +mortification. By some his conduct was attributed to a love of +turbulence and money. By some it was said he only intended the agitation +as a threat, by means of which he could enforce a wiser, more liberal, +and just administration of the law and government in Ireland. Few, if +any, believed him to be in earnest and sincere. But the condition of the +country and the principles of Mr. O'Connell's early life would suggest +higher motives; and the perseverance and intensity of feeling and +purpose, with which he urged the deliverance of his country in after +times, proves that he was a stranger to the sordid considerations which +envy or fear coupled with his first labours in that direction. Certain +it is that, whatever were his motives, it could be no tempting ambition +that determined him to transfer the exercise of his abilities to the +tribune of angry agitation from that more legitimate and loftier arena +which, with unsurpassed energy, he had won. + +The agitation succeeded rapidly. The Government became at once +intolerant and impotent. They proclaimed down the agitation; but this +only imparted to it activity, energy and strength. The Government gave +way to a furious storm which had been long gathering elsewhere. The +great Reform Ministry succeeded with Earl Grey at its head; and in the +struggle for Imperial parliamentary Reform, Ireland and her independence +were forgotten. + +During the intellectual conflict that followed, Mr. O'Connell asserted +his pre-eminence, and won a lofty name. He made far the most successful +speech on the question of Reform. It not only exceeded the ablest +orations of the British leaders, but was, perhaps, the most triumphant +he himself had ever delivered. But his position soon changed. From being +the unanswerable champion of the ministerial majority in the House of +Commons, he took the lead of a small opposition which resisted the +Government on the Irish Bill. Although the minister was the exponent and +stern advocate of the widest liberality, in applying the reform to +England, he undertook to defend, on the very opposite principle, the +niggard liberty he was prepared in the same measure to extend to +Ireland. In this unnatural and unexpected turn of affairs, Mr. O'Connell +took a proud and bold stand, against the Government, and for his +country. The ministry succeeded, but he had more than ever acquired the +confidence and unbounded gratitude of his countrymen. Thenceforward, he +was their acknowledged chief, and his words expressed not more his own +than the public will. + +His remonstrances were vehement and angry, but they were vain. The +ministry disregarded the claims of justice, as well as the voice of the +orator. The quarrel became personal and vindictive to so great an +extent, that Mr. O'Connell's support would almost ensure the defeat of +any measure at the hands of the English Whig faction. + +While this was his position in the House of Commons, he was preparing +the elements of an organisation which was destined to embrace the whole +island. He started the first great Repeal Association, which was at once +attended with marvellous success. Forty-four members of Parliament were +under its control if not in its ranks. A discussion of the merits of +Repeal was forced in the House of Commons by the intemperate zeal of the +member for Cork.[3] The motion was resisted by the whole weight and +influence of the Ministry. But in a resolution proposed as an amendment, +both Houses concurred in acknowledging that Ireland's complaint was +founded in justice, and in solemnly pledging themselves to the practical +redress of her grievances. The resolution was carried to the foot of the +throne, and there received the sanction of royalty. + +But that resolution remained and remains unfulfilled. The ministry which +proposed it, redeemed their promise by an Algerine measure of coercion, +which Mr. O'Connell denounced as "base, bloody and brutal." His +opposition, and their own recreancy of principle, tended rapidly to +their overthrow. Lord Stanley, in hatred to Mr. O'Connell and his +country, abandoned the Government, which he charged with truckling to +the great demagogue's will. The country, on the other hand, withdrew its +confidence from them on the ground that they truckled to their +hereditary foes, and allowed the principles of the Tories to influence +Parliament in the name and through the agency of the Whigs. Division and +weakness followed; and the result was a break-up of the administration, +which was remodelled, with Lord Melbourne for its chief, on the +understanding that more liberal views should govern its future course. +An alliance was entered into with Mr. O'Connell, whose support the Prime +Minister openly claimed and as openly boasted of. Then was formed what +was known as the "Litchfield House Compact." This compact, if such the +understanding that existed can be called, was based upon the assurance +that the most liberal measures of justice should be extended to Ireland, +and that in the administrative department, the Government should apply +itself diligently to the reform and purifying of all public functions +and functionaries. What was the nature or extent of Mr. O'Connell's +engagement, I do not pretend to know. But whether he pledged himself to +abandon for ever the struggle for independence, or only to place it in +abeyance for a season to facilitate the action of the Government in +reference to their good intentions and favourable promises, he so far +fulfilled his engagement as to dissolve the Association. + +That Association was composed of various and very conflicting elements. +The motives which influenced many of its leaders were equally varied. +Many joined it merely because Mr. O'Connell was its founder and its +guide. Many among the middle ranks of society had acquired a sort of +interest in agitation they could not easily surrender. It had gained +them local distinction, and gratified a morbid vanity. Profuse votes of +thanks were their incentive and reward. To correspond with Mr. Ray, or +perhaps the Liberator, consummated their ambition, and for aught beyond +that they felt no concern. Others there were, corrupt by nature and +cunning in design, whose political exertions had personal advancement +for their sole aim; and others still who never believed Mr. O'Connell +sincere, but joined the Association and shouted their approval, because +too contemptible and feeble to acquire distinction except through the +echo of his voice or under shelter of his fame. To the false and the +sordid and the indifferent, the dissolution of the confederacy was a +welcome event: but the people, yet uncorrupted, looked on passively with +agonised hearts. + +Physical contagion generally begins at the bases of society, and trails +its way slowly to the upper ranks, occasionally dealing doom to some +hard hearts that mocked, it may be, its first uncared-for victims. But +moral corruption begins with the highest, and embraces the whole circle +of society in its descent. So it was in this instance. Members of +Parliament who had solemnly pledged themselves to the disenthrallment of +their country, accepted the wages, and entered into the service of the +Government who had one and all vowed they would prevent the fulfilment +of the hustings pledge, even at the risk of a civil war. Among them was +Mr. O'Connell's son, who had taken that pledge before the assembled +people of Meath, his son-in-law, Mr. Fitzsimon, who had sworn it to the +freeholders of the metropolitan county, Mr. Carew O'Dwyer who, in virtue +of the same pledge, obtained the unanimous suffrage of Drogheda, and +several others. Many relatives and friends of Mr. O'Connell obtained +rewards adequate to their services. Agents who had been successful +against Whig candidates now retired into Whig places. The corporate +towns were made over to the Whigs, who held out the understanding that +the sons, nephews and kindred of the leading and deserving citizens +would be provided for in the departments suited to their different +capacities, and varying from the post of tide-waiter, to that of +stipendiary magistrate. Fierce was the struggle which followed, and sore +the disappointment, and many a scalding tear of baffled ambition watered +the way to the aspirant's ruin. + +This is not said for the purpose of disparaging the legitimate ambition +of those who sought advancement in the altered circumstances and +sentiments of the time. But the effect of such a state of things on the +morality of the nation was incalculably injurious. The most solemn +resolution was openly violated, and that by the very men who were +foremost in recommending the national vow. Nor would its tendency be +less fatal, assuming that Mr. O'Connell was correct in supposing that +the experiment would be vain, and that its failure could not fail to +supply new and more urgent reasons for the nation's independence. The +compact, if even entered into with that view, would shake all faith in +public men; because it would only change the parties with whom a false +obligation was contracted, leaving the obligation itself and its +violation exactly where they were. + +Mr. O'Connell's support was doomed to be as fatal to the Whigs as his +opposition. He unhappily assisted them during his period to carry one +measure, against which they had recorded several solemn decisions in +Parliament, namely, the Tithe Bill, without an appropriation clause, +which was a direct falsification of their own resolution, whereby they +defeated Sir Robert Peel's short-lived administration, in 1835. And what +was still more lamentable, he supported them in renewing in a modified +form the very Coercion Act for the introduction of which he designated +them as "_base, bloody and brutal_." + +But other elements were secretly sapping the influences for which he +made these sacrifices. The storm of disaffection, a long while gathering +among open foes and disappointed retainers, was about to burst on the +devoted heads of the Whigs. With their accustomed fickleness and +treachery of character they prepared to sacrifice, for the sake of +power, the man whom they conciliated and deceived in the same hope of +retaining it. If he foresaw that this would be the result of his +experiment, never was augury more fully realised. Whatever may be the +exact engagements of the Whigs, he was able to allege that not one was +fulfilled, while he was in a position to prove that he more than kept +his own: unless indeed, it could be assumed that for the few places +obtained by his friends, and others, some of them honourable men, he +surrendered the lofty and nearly impregnable position he occupied in +1834, and which, in one sense at least, he never afterwards attained. + +From whatever cause, his influence over the Whigs visibly declined, and +his counsels no longer swayed their Irish policy. Once more they relied +on the false expedient of yielding to their enemies and allowing them to +wield the _power_, while they were themselves content with the spoils of +the country. Again the quarrel with Mr. O'Connell became bitter and +personal, and again had he recourse to Repeal. + +From the time of the first Repeal Association to that of the Precursor +Society several other associations or societies were established, which +have left behind them scarcely the memory of their very names--that of +the second association alone excepted. Yet each had an ample treasury, +and was composed of the same or nearly the same elements, and the same +members. There is many an honest man and many a fool, whose boast it is +that they contributed a pound to each of them, and had their respective +cards. + +At last the late Repeal Association was formed. Its birth was received +with sneers. Mr. O'Connell's sincerity was questioned, and his motives +canvassed with vindictive vigilance. The warmest Nationalists looked on +with doubt and coldness. Not one man of rank, outside the members of the +defunct society, joined its ranks. The routine of business, the receipt +of money, the resolutions, the speeches, were exactly identical with +those of its predecessors. The Government seemed neither to dread it nor +care for it. It lingered on, unsustained by the country and despised by +its enslavers. The contributions of the members did not suffice to pay +half the ordinary expenses of its machinery. Debts accumulated, and the +revenue did not increase. While the body was thus situated, Mr. +O'Connell had recourse to an expedient at once singular and decisive. It +was to build Conciliation Hall. The Association was at the time +seriously in debt, and he proposed to multiply that debt four-fold by +engaging in this costly undertaking. + +While persons who affected to be in his confidence were amazed at this +step, the Government regarded it as an evidence of purpose which it was +indispensable at once to check. They saw that their opponents had +formerly menaced and coerced in vain, and they determined to proscribe. +Accordingly the newly appointed viceroy, Lord Ebrington, being waited on +by the Dublin Corporation with some address of congratulation, +delivered them a lecture on the disloyalty of the Corn Exchange, and +announced his purpose never to employ in the service of the Government +any one who frequented that pestilent locality. The corporation returned +abashed to their council-rooms to record the viceregal threat. But from +end to end of the land rose one shout of indignant defiance. Suspicion, +doubt and hesitation gave way to the taunt involved in the insolent +challenge. The ranks of the Association were filled, and its treasury +replenished; and the viceroy soon discovered how little was to be gained +by a vulgar appeal to the meanest passion when it was addressed to the +Irish people. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 3: Mr. Feargus O'Connor, afterwards leader of the English +Chartists.--Ed] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS.--THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER.--PROGRESS OF +THE ASSOCIATION.--CLONTARF MEETING.--THE STATE TRIALS.--THE YOUNG +IRELAND PARTY.--SMITH O'BRIEN.--FEDERALISM.--THE BEQUEST ACT. + + +Even before this great occasion, gifted spirits were insensibly moulding +the character and destiny of the Association. The hurried but firm step +of a pale student of Trinity College might be daily seen pacing the +unfrequented flagways that led to the Corn Exchange. His penetrating +glance, half shrouded by its own shyness, his face averted from the +crowd, and his mind turned within, he would come, and sit, and hear, and +suppress the emotions that swelled his proud young heart as he caught +glimpses of a bright future for his country. He had the richest store of +practical knowledge, an imagination fruitful as a sunny clime: faith, +hope and courage boundless as immortal love. That he could realise all +things which came within the scope of his own fond yearnings, he had no +doubt. But most of the men with whom he took his place were stinted in +acquirements, and not over-gifted in intellect, and had no conception or +ambition beyond admiring or applauding the behests of one predominant +and controlling will. With the passionate aspirations of the young +student they felt no kindred sympathies. In their hands, political +action, for whatever end, sank into a traffic or parade. Even with such +materials he determined to work out his country's redemption, though +already satisfied that before such a thing were possible, their habits, +feelings, passions and hearts should be entirely changed. In order to do +this, it was necessary he should stoop to the level of their conceptions +and capacities. Thus for many weary months, with his energies, as it +were, chained down to a cold stone, toiled and strove Thomas Davis. His +influence first began to be felt as chairman of a sub-committee on the +registers. This position afforded him an opportunity of entering into +correspondence with the leading politicians of the party, and whenever +he saw in any man's replies evidence of depth, capacity or earnestness, +he at once entered into friendly and unreserved communication, exhorting +him in language full of passionate entreaty. In these, his early +efforts, John Dillon shared his labours, his ambition and his heart. + +[Illustration: Truly yours, Thomas Davis.] + +About this time Mr. Stanton, proprietor of the _Morning Register_, +committed to the two young graduates the writing of his journal. His +preference was not so much owing to their character as politicians as it +was to their pre-eminence in literary attainments. The press of Dublin +had then sunk to the lowest level. Newspaper literature had even fallen, +too. It was divided into three sections, each of which was the whining +slave of one or other of the great predominating factions of the +country. The _Register_ was generally regarded as ranking among the +mercenaries of the Castle. But no sooner did it fall into the hands of +the college friends than all Dublin was startled by the originality, +vigour and brilliancy of its articles. When the Whigs were about +retiring they determined on a gross and scandalous abuse of power for +the purpose of rewarding an unscrupulous partisan, even though it +involved an affront to one of their oldest and ablest friends, the then +Irish Chancellor. That man was Lord Plunket, who had served the Whigs so +faithfully, honourably and fearlessly. He was commanded to retire in +order to make room for Sir John Campbell, who was thereby to be +qualified for the English peerage. + +The stipendiaried journals of the Castle exhausted their adulation, and +had received their last reward for upholding the appointment. The Tory +press, hungry for the spoil which it maddened the others to lose, paid +back the compliments by intense vituperation. The slang of party warfare +was bandied in the usual fashion, without thought or a care beyond the +interest of party. The _Register_, to everybody's astonishment, took up +the one cause not represented, namely, that of the country. Davis +denounced the appointment as an insult to that country, and with a bold +hand vindicated the superiority of its Bar, without any reference to +party, above the adventurers whom each faction placed over it in turn. + +Soon after he and his friend ceased to write for that paper; but not +until satisfied by the experiment that a journal devoted to Ireland, +guided by truth, and sustained with earnest ability, would supersede the +whole jaundiced literature of the metropolis, and create a new era in +the progress of the country's civilisation and ambition. They +immediately busied themselves to establish such an organ. Charles Gavan +Duffy, late editor of the _Belfast Vindicator_, entered into the spirit +of the enterprise, and after an evening's ramble in the Park, during +which the terms and the principles of the paper and the spirit in which +it should be conducted were canvassed, the publication of the _Nation_ +was determined on. Mr. Duffy was convicted for having written a libel in +the _Vindicator_, and his friends earnestly advised him to compromise +the matter with a view of bringing more powerful energies to the same +task in a wider field. + +The first number of the new journal appeared on the 12th of October, +1842. It had been announced under auspices calculated to ensure its +success, but its unexpected ability, the ground it broke in the national +policy, and the vast intellectual resources it developed eclipsed the +prestige under which it was deemed necessary to usher it into existence. +It was at once a proof of greater powers than the country had yet +witnessed, and a prophecy of a different fate from what she hoped for. +The aims, the logic, the very language of factious diplomacy were +eschewed. It seemed as if a light had streamed down from heaven, fresh +from God, to give the people hope, comfort and assurance. The genius of +Davis seized the opportunity as though he were His deputed messenger in +the great work of regeneration. For the first time men awoke to the +consciousness of what they were or might be. Harnessed to the triumphant +car of one gigantic intellect, they had forgotten the dignity of their +own nature, and were astonished to find how transcendant its resources +and sufficient its strength. The publication of the _Nation_ was really +an epoch which marked a wonderful change, and from that day forth +self-reliance and self-respect began to take the place of grateful but +stultified obedience and blind trust. + +The change became more marked as the publication proceeded. In speech, +article, song and essay, the spell of Davis's extraordinary genius and +embracing love was felt. Historic memories, forgotten stories, fragments +of tradition, the cromlech on the mountain and the fossil in the bog +supplied him substance and spirit wherewith to mould and animate +nationality. Native art, valour, virtue and glory seemed to grow under +his pen. All that had a tendency to elevate and ennoble, he rescued from +the past to infuse into the future. His songs, so soft and tender, and +yet so redolent of manliness and hope, inspired the ambition to compose +a minstrelsy as wild and vigorous as themselves. They were read and +learned and sung with an avidity and pride heretofore unknown. + +The monster meetings were long a design of Thomas Davis, John Dillon and +the present writer. One great object with them was to train the country +people to military movements and a martial tread. This object it would +be unsafe to announce, and it was to be effected through other agencies +than drill. The people should necessarily come to such rendezvous in +baronial, parochial or town processions, and under the guidance of local +leaders. Order is a law of nature; and, without much trouble on the part +of those leaders, it would establish itself. The present writer left +Dublin early in the spring of 1843 to carry this design into effect. Sir +Robert Peel, then Prime Minister of England, alluding to the fact in the +House of Commons, said that the first Monster Meeting was purposely +held on the anniversary of the very day, the 22nd of May, destined for +the rising of '98. Sir Robert was wrong in his inference, though it was +a natural and nearly justifiable one; for at that Cashel meeting were +offered unmistakable evidences of the tendency of the agitation. Upwards +of £1,100 were handed to Mr. O'Connell. Each parish came in procession, +headed by a band and commanded by some local leader; and those who took +part in the public procession marched in excellent order for upwards of +eight miles. A military and magisterial meeting had been previously held +in the barracks of Cashel to consider whether the people should not be +routed at the point of the bayonet. But though the committee were fully +aware of this consultation, they decided unanimously that the meeting +should go on. The meeting itself passed the strongest resolutions, and +adopted a petition to the Legislature, consisting of a single line, +something to this effect: "You have robbed us of our Parliament by fraud +and blood; pray restore it, or ----." And finally, Mr. O'Connell said at +the dinner that evening, alluding to an armed strife; "Give me Tipperary +for half a day." This simple wish, enunciated in accents familiar to +that great ruler of men, elicited a cheer, a shout, a wild burst of +enthusiasm, so long and loud as almost to suggest the idea that it would +be seconded by naked steel and a deadly blow. One would think it had a +significant meaning, and yet there was no wrathful ban. Not one +pronounced that terrible anathema against shedding a single drop of +blood, which afterwards became the canon of peaceful men. Nay, if memory +be not very treacherous, amidst that roar was loudly distinguishable +the voice of him who on an after day, yet to be spoken of, cursed from +God's altar those who wished to realise his simulated aspirations and in +the endeavour had forfeited their lives. A doggerel ballad had been +written for the occasion by Thomas Davis, to the air of the "Gallant +Tipperary," over which himself and his friends afterwards indulged in +many a hearty laugh. One verse runs as follows:-- + + The music's ready, the morning's bright, + Step together left, right, left, right, + We carry no gun, + Yet devil a one + But knows how to march in Tipperary O! + By twelves and sixteens on we go, + Rank'd four deep in close order O! + For order's the way + To carry the day, + March steadily, men of Tipperary O! + +It is here introduced as a proof and a justification of what has been +stated in reference to one great object of the projectors of the monster +meetings. Possibly it will be said that this is an admission of the +truth of a charge frequently urged by Mr. O'Connell against the _Nation_ +and its writers, namely, that they having intentions of which he knew +nothing, had committed him to breaches of the law, of which he was not +only not guilty but not cognisant, but which by a perversion of judgment +were given in proof against him at the celebrated State Trials. It is +quite true that they did entertain the intentions which he afterwards so +vehemently repudiated. But they never once concealed them. In the +Association, and where Mr. O'Connell was committed with them, they +abstained from giving them utterance; but they did so because they felt +bound to act in accordance with the resolution of that body. And with +respect to the proceedings of the Cashel meeting and the more wonderful +and significant meetings that followed, they always submitted to him and +had his entire sanction for every act done at and every line written for +these meetings. In fact, if he were in any way mistaken as to them, they +were still more grievously deceived as to him. All their acts and +speeches were in the direction of their intentions; all his acts and +speeches were in the same direction, and went further. In truth, they +believed that he fully concurred in the sentiments which they cared not +to conceal, but which he had the cunning or caution not to avow. One +justification of this belief has been already given; another and a more +pregnant one was the Mallow defiance which the greatest poet and the +greatest sculptor of our time and nation have immortalised. In reference +to proofs not published, however conclusive, this history shall be +silent. + +Succeeding events shall be briefly glanced at only. Some of them have +already attained a place in history; and the scope of my narrative only +embraces the facts, incidents and tendencies which led to an armed +crisis and governed its explosion. Meeting followed meeting in rapid +succession, and each was marked by some signal manifestation of a +healthier, holier and more resolute national purpose. Numbers, calmness, +order, obedience, bespoke an advanced discipline, and prefigured future +victory. The crowds that attended the Halls of the Association no longer +consisted of idle brawlers; they were listening, thoughtful mechanics, +conscious of the toil and danger that lay before them, and braced for +the encounter. Dignitaries of the church and the ablest men among the +second order of the clergy appeared on the platform, and added sanctity +and dignity to the proceedings. Members of Corporations through the +country, and private gentlemen of rank brought to the imposing +confederacy the weight of their office, rank and name. The existing +Government in a splenetic attempt to crush it, had dismissed certain +magistrates for having their names enrolled on its books. This new +aggression gave a fresh impetus to its progress. Men who had previously +looked on it with doubt or fear, now embraced it as the only safeguard +for the remaining liberties of the island. The parliamentary committee +which had been instituted by Mr. O'Brien, had exhausted every source of +information within the reach of industry in developing the resources and +capacities of the country. The committee of the Association counted +within its members one hundred lawyers who preferred the fortunes of +Ireland to professional or political advancement. Many of these and +others who were not of the party brought to the popular tribune rare +endowments, the most generous passions, and the noblest eloquence. +Poetry, fresh, vigorous and full of heart, shed her harmonising and +ennobling influence upon the whole, and imparted to patriotism the last +pre-requisite of success. Amidst this grand movement stood Mr. +O'Connell, erect, alone, its centre and its heart. He was not its guide, +but its god, until he slept within a prison, and came forth less than +man. + +During this period two events occurred deserving particular notice--the +only facts upon which Mr. O'Connell's supremacy was questioned, or his +advice audibly condemned. These were, first, his refusal of French +contributions and French sympathy, of which M. Ledru Rollin, since so +celebrated, was to be the bearer; and secondly, his acceptance of +contributions from America under protest, against the "infamous +institution" of slavery. He rejected the first with indignant scorn, +because it was the offering of "republicans," and spoke of the latter +with contempt, as "smelling of blood." + +These two acts alienated from his cause the only foreigners in the world +who were willing to espouse it. His wisdom was questioned and condemned. +It was urged upon him that he should not intermeddle with foreign +institutions or with the political predilections of individuals. Enough +for Ireland, he was told, to find that Frenchmen and Americans were +ready to do battle in her cause, and it ill became her to spurn their +advances with indignity and a sneer. The argument failed, his hatred of +slavery and republicanism out-weighed all other considerations. + +I have fixed upon the State Trials as an epoch in this history, marking +a distinct phase in the character of the Repeal Association. The +proceedings of that extraordinary inquest are familiar to most men. It +is not my intention to refer to them, except as a sort of pivot upon +which public sentiment veered. When they were commenced there was +untold wealth in the coffers of the Association. There was still a +greater store of public purpose in the country. Threats, hot and +violent, had been uttered. Pledges had been made which could only be +violated in shame and death. A challenge had been given from which it +would be baseness to shrink. The world looked on in wonder and awe. Each +successive act was more and more gigantic; each resolution bolder. When +the meeting at Clontarf was projected, the heart of the nation beat +quick and hotly. Yet no man was surprised; none condemned. The +associations of the spot suggested a perilous future. Still the hazards +it prefigured created no alarm; the directions of a sub-committee +respecting the military order of the processions towards the place of +meeting was but the expression of the public hope that lay at every +heart. + +While the bustle of preparation was at its height; while the flushed +capital was dizzy with wild excitement, a proclamation appeared on the +walls--'twas nearly evening's dusk--forbidding the proposed +demonstration. For that proclamation there was no law; scarcely any +object. It could not render the meeting illegal. It would not entitle +the chief magistrate to disperse it; for if it were proved to be +constitutional, he would be answerable before the laws of his country. +It was simply a warning utterly inefficient for good or ill in any trial +that may follow. In this state of things, a responsibility of the +greatest magnitude devolved on the Association, or its committee. They +were hastily summoned or came together spontaneously. Alarm, surprise, +disappointment, chagrin, swayed their hurried consultation. The +decision was weak, and it was fatal. It was only carried by a small +majority, but in that majority was the great spirit of the confederacy. +Never after did he stand on equal terms with his adversary. He was +driven before him amidst broken hopes, and broken promises--his +challenge, a boast unfulfilled, his prestige withered. + +What the issue might have been if the decision were different, it would +be rash to conjecture. It might have been carnage; it might have been a +triumph. The historian has nothing to do with conjecture. But in this +case was involved a mighty question, palpable, self-created and +conclusive. The wisest forethought may fail to arrive at a sound +conclusion as to the result of holding the meeting. The risk existed, no +doubt, that some ill-disposed or hired villains, or even rash +enthusiasts may provoke the troops, and thus afford a pretext for +carnage. But opposed to that were the dictates of prudence, honour and +fear on the part of those in command of the army; and it seemed a more +probable result that either the meeting would be allowed to proceed, or +it would be illegally dispersed in the usual way by reading the Riot +Act. Even if the weight of conjecture were the other way, the +consequences should be risked rather than falsify the national pledge. +To recede was cowardice; not the vulgar cowardice arising from personal +weakness, but the moral cowardice which shrinks from an imperious +obligation, because it is perilous. The meeting should be held; every +possible precaution should be taken to prevent an armed conflict. If +Power, drunk with its own advantage, risked an outrage, the people +should be taught to yield; but only to yield with the purpose of +entering a court of law, as prosecutors and avengers. Even if worse +consequences ensued after every effort to prevent them had been +exhausted, the issue should be left to God. Recriminations, painfully +petty in their nature, followed. The Government were charged with a +premeditated design to commit wide and indiscriminate slaughter, and the +weakness, in which were shrouded deep national shame and guilt, was made +matter of indecent boast. The Government, aware of the unexpected +advantage, followed up the blow. Mr. O'Connell took shelter in the +sacredness of the Hall, which, he imagined, he had guarded against the +encroachments of arbitrary power, and thither they followed him. Having +abandoned a position where he could act on the offensive, he was forced +to contend against the aggressive attacks of Government flushed with its +first success. + +The trial that followed already occupies a large space in history. Its +effects were immediate and disastrous. The personnel of the accused +assumed the nation's place. Exhortations full of intense eloquence were +addressed to the people from which the question of the country's +deliverance was entirely excluded. Technicalities of law absorbed the +attention which was due to Liberty. A demurrer, a motion in abatement, +or in arrest of judgment, was canvassed with a deeper interest by the +people of the provinces than by even the distinguished Bar, which were +arrayed on either side. Mr. O'Connell's infallibility in law engaged the +anxious solicitude, the pride, the passions of Ireland. Yet throughout +that long trial the question which would test it was not mooted. The +indictment was a subtle net-work, which excluded such argument. The +objections to the indictment also were objections of form merely, and +the final issue upon which the judgment was reversed was not even +remotely connected with the main enquiry, whether or not the charge of +conspiracy was sustainable in point of constitutional law. During the +progress of the trial, a fraud, a swindle, a petty theft, was +perpetrated by the officers of government, which more than one man, high +in office, had a hand in suborning. This fact had supreme influence on +the decision of the House of Lords. But the plain truth is, the judgment +was reversed as an essential move in a great party game. + +Ireland triumphed. Her triumph was a just and a great one. + +But her exultation was on a fallacious basis. She believed Mr. +O'Connell's infallibility was re-established. No one cared, or perhaps +dared to correct the error. In itself it seemed little worthy of notice, +yet it had its share of evil influence. First, it diverted men's minds +from the one question; secondly, it left behind it the demoralising +effect inseparable from untruth. Were it even what the public eagerness +chose to shape it, its relative value, weighed against the triumph of +courage and virtue, would be contemptible. + +Mr. O'Connell himself did not seem to share in the nation's pride. His +spirit was broken. He anticipated the glad wishes of the metropolis, and +walked home from the penitentiary clouded and gloomy. It was evident +something within him had died. However, he went back the next day, and +left the prison the second time in the midst of public rejoicings never +surpassed on any occasion in his life. His addresses on that day, and +subsequently while in town, were not such as they were wont to be; and +he soon retired to his wild mountain home to invigorate a mind and body, +borne down by gigantic labours, fearful responsibilities, some alarms, +and perhaps a chilling sense of defeat and weakness. His health was soon +restored, but his political vigour never. The first time his voice was +heard from that retreat, it was to recommend a compromise; and, for the +first time, his advice was openly opposed. Charles Duffy answered his +letter, which recommended to fall back on Federalism--a question in the +mouths of many, but in the brain of none--respectfully and firmly +remonstrating against such a course. In a great many circles, Mr. Duffy +could not be looked at with more wonder if he had recommended to cut off +Mr. O'Connell's head. + +Hitherto, this condensed retrospect has been almost exclusively confined +to the name and fortunes of O'Connell. It is time now to revert to other +actors in the scene. Even before the trial, elements of antagonism had +begun to manifest themselves. With the party since called "Young +Ireland," every consideration was subordinate to the great question of +national deliverance. They laboured incessantly to elevate the morals, +the literature, the taste, passions, genius, intellect and heart of the +country to the sublime eminence of a free destiny. Far the foremost man +in urging and encouraging this glorious endeavour was Thomas Davis. From +sources the most extraordinary, and the least known, there welled forth +abundant and seductive inspiration. He struck living fire from inert +wayside stones. To him the meanest rill, the rugged mountain, the barren +waste, the rudest fragment of barbaric history, spoke the language of +elevation, harmony and hope. The circle, of which he was the beloved +centre, was composed of men equally sincere, resolute and hopeful; there +was not one of them undistinguished. Some of them had now the first +literary distinction. The character of each was remarkable for some +distinctive and bold feature of originality. I, of course, exclude +myself from this description. I know not to what circumstance I owe the +happiness of their trust and friendship. My habits, my education, my +former political connections, disqualified me for such association. +Since first I took my place among them, seven or eight years have now +rolled by. They have been years of severest trial, years of suffering +and sorrow, years of passion and prejudice and calumny, years of rude +and bitter conflict, years of suspicion and acrimony, and finally of +defeat and shame; still, in that eventful course of time, to me at +least, there has occurred no moment wherein I would exchange the +faintest memory of our mutual trust, unreserved enjoyment and glad hope +for the hoarse approval of an unthinking world. There was no subject we +did not discuss together; revolution, literature, religion, history, the +arts, the sciences--every topic, and never yet was there spoken among us +one reproachful word, never felt one distrustful sentiment. Our +confidence in one another was precisely that of each in himself; our +love of one another deeper than brotherly. When we met, which was at +least weekly, and felt alone, shut in from the rude intrusion of the +world, how we used to people the future with beauty and happiness and +love. Little did we dream that those for whom we toiled, and thought, +and wove such visions of glory, would shun and scorn, and curse us. But +had that bitter cup, which afterwards we were forced to empty to the +dregs, been then presented to us, there was not one of us who would not +have drunk it to the last drop; drunk it willingly and cheerfully, +without further hope or purpose than our own deep conviction that we +owed the sacrifice to truth. + +Those who took immediate part in the proceedings of our circle before +the State Trials, were Thomas Davis, John Dillon, Thomas MacNevin, +Michael Joseph Barry, Charles Duffy, David Cangley, John O'Hagan, Denis +F. MacCarthy, Denny Lane, Richard Dalton Williams, with one or two +others whose names I cannot mention. To this list was afterwards added +Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard O'Gorman, John Mitchel, Thomas Devin +Reilly, and Thomas Darcy M'Gee. I do not include several distinguished +men who lived in the provinces with whom we communicated, and from whom +we received sympathy and sustainment; and I omit others who took a +leading part, in deference to the position they are now placed in. + +[Illustration: John Blake Dillon] + +With the first section above named, originated the idea of publishing +the _Library of Ireland_. It was proposed, discussed, and determined on +one evening, at the house of Thomas MacNevin, while some one sat at the +piano, playing the lovely Irish airs, of which the soft strains of Davis +suggested the conception to William Elliot Hudson. The music was as +true to the Celtic genius as the lays of Davis to its character and +hopes; and amidst the entrancing seductiveness of their association, was +born the generous resolution of rescuing the country's literature from +the darkness in which it had long lain. The _Library of Ireland_ was +proposed as a beginning, and so diffident did its promoters feel, that +they deemed it indispensable to engage the recognised genius of William +Carleton, whose name and abilities they pledged to the public, as an +assurance for the undertaking. Mr. Carleton promptly undertook his share +of the task, and James Duffy, the enterprising bookseller, assumed all +the risk and responsibility of the enterprise. + +John Mitchel, then known to few, and appreciated only by Thomas Davis, +was by him associated with those who were willing to engage in the new +and difficult labour. He pledged himself for him, and selected his +subject. Most nobly was that pledge redeemed; but its fulfilment dawned +on the fresh grave of him who made it. Other men, and first in order, as +well as eminent in ability, was Thomas MacNevin, who has also sunk into +a too early grave, more than realised the most sanguine hopes of an +exulting country. Death first interrupted this new current of life, even +in its day of most sparkling promise. Disunion haunted the petty +jealousies of little and narrow minds; famine, pestilence and defeat +have done the rest. The labourers are dead, exiled, immured in dungeons, +or scattered over the face of the earth as fugitives; and how far they +had capacity to fulfil their inspiring promise, can never be tested +more. A few, however, remained, and amid greater gloom, and nearer to +utter death, they stand out redeeming beacons to the future. + +I have not mentioned the name of Mr. O'Brien, as associated with us at +this early stage. He joined the Association in a time of great +excitement. The _Nation_ hailed the accession with the fondest joy. The +consistency of his politics, the purity of his intentions, and the +unvarying rectitude of his life gave abundant assurance, not alone that +he was deeply sincere, but that his purpose could only be changed by +death. But to those who looked beyond the expediency of the hour, those +who had cherished fervently the passionate aspirations for true liberty +his name and character became an augury of success: nor would they +intrude for any consideration on the attitude of lofty dignity he +assumed. + +It has already been stated that elements of antagonism between Mr. +O'Connell and the Young Ireland Party had at this time (the period of +the State Trials) manifested themselves. It will be remembered that this +period embraced a space of nine months, from the date of Mr. O'Connell's +being held to bail in September, 1843, to that of his sentence the 30th +of May, 1844. As the events of this or the previous year do not, +properly speaking, range within the historical scope of my narrative, I +have excluded chronological and historical order. My object has been to +group together the great features of the confederacy without other +reference than that of pointing out their moral influence, operating +through a long space of time. Thus I have referred to the Parliamentary +Committee instituted by Mr. O'Brien among incidents which belong to an +anterior period, because the vigour of these incidents, which left +moral seeds in their track, continued to co-exist and blend with the +powerful agencies of that Committee. As I now approach the period when +the differences with Mr. O'Connell, which hitherto developed themselves +in the distinctive characteristics of the respective opinions of both +parties rather than in any direct collision, became tangible, it is +necessary to observe strict historical and chronological accuracy. + +Before proceeding to details of succeeding events, a brief +recapitulation of important facts, with the dates of their occurrences, +become necessary. A few others, not heretofore alluded to, must needs be +added. + +The date of the imprisonment is the 30th of May, 1844: that of the +release the 6th of September in the same year. + +In the intermediate period the amount received in the Repeal treasury +during four weeks was, £12,379 14s. 9d. + +About the close of August was passed the Charitable Bequest Act, against +the indignant remonstrances of the priesthood and Catholic population of +Ireland. This Bill was obnoxious in all it's provisions, but the +enactment which was received with most scorn was the clause that +annulled a Catholic charitable bequest, unless it had been duly made six +months at least before the decease of the testator. The prohibition was +attributed to an insulting assumption that the Catholic clergymen abused +their influence over dying penitents, for sacerdotal or religious, if +not for personal aggrandisement, and the impeachment was repelled with +bitter execrations. Others objected to the Bill on grounds involving +more alarming considerations. They regarded it as the first infringement +on the liberty of the Catholic Church--the first criminal attempt to +fetter her free action and sow dissent among her prelates and priests. +The Repeal Association offered, from the beginning, its undivided, +unqualified and indeed vehement opposition. But amidst the storm and +rage of the nation, it became the law, and three Roman Catholic prelates +of the highest reputation undertook the duty of its administration. + +One party there was who regretted the Bill still more deeply, but in a +different point of view. At the head of these was Thomas Davis. He +regarded it as an instrument of dissension and weakness, cunningly +adapted to that end by Sir Robert Peel, and he deplored the diversion of +the public mind and energy from the grand national object. Mr. O'Brien, +to a certain extent, shared this feeling, but never obtruded the opinion +or ventured to check the Association, while Mr. Davis confined his +efforts to passionate warnings addressed through the columns of the +_Nation_. + +This question is introduced here because it was important and fatal in +its consequences. A still more important one taken in the same light +must interrupt its discussion for a moment: Mr. O'Connell's Federal +letter, already referred to. The leading sentiments of that letter are +subjoined. It is dated the 2nd of October, 1844. + +After stating what Simple Repeal and what Federalism respectively meant, +he proceeded to contrast their value. + +"The Simple Repealers are of the opinion that the reconstructed Irish +Parliament should have precisely the same power and authority which the +former Irish Parliament had. + +"The Federalists, on the contrary, appear to me to require more for the +people of Ireland than the Simple Repealers do; for besides the local +parliament in Ireland having full and perfect authority, the Federalists +require that there should be, for questions of imperial concern, +colonial, naval and military, and of foreign alliance and policy, a +Congressional or Federal Parliament, in which Ireland should have her +fair share and proportion of representatives and power. + +"It is but just and right to confess that in this respect the +Federalists would give Ireland more weight and importance in imperial +concerns than she could acquire by means of the plan of Simple +Repealers. + + * * * * * + +"For my own part, I will own that since I have come to contemplate the +specific differences such as they are, between Simple Repeal and +Federalism, I do at present feel a preference for the Federative plan, +as tending more to the utility of Ireland and the maintenance of the +connection with England than the plan of Simple Repeal. + + * * * * * + +"The Federalists cannot but perceive that there has been upon my part a +pause in the agitation for Repeal since the period of our release from +unjust imprisonment." + +I have only extracted from Mr. O'Connell's most elaborate letter, his +distinctly expressed preference for Federalism, and the single reason +upon which the preference is founded. The remainder consists for the +most part of a sort of logical equation, balancing the component +elements of both plans, from which is deduced the above conclusion. + +Charles Duffy's answer, dated October the 18th, was triumphant and +conclusive, at least in Mr. O'Connell's own mind, for he did not +afterwards repeat the same sentiments. But a blow had been given the +Association from which it never recovered. The newspaper press, taken +under three distinct heads, first the blind and heedless echoers of Mr. +O'Connell's doctrines, secondly the Whig organs in Ireland, and thirdly +the papers in the English interest, gave way to unrestrained exultation. +The wisdom, the prudence, the holiness of the "great Liberator," were +extolled as unmatched in the annals of statesmanship. A few whose +self-interest constrained their subserviency, shrugged wisely and said +nothing, while several provincial journals stoutly maintained the +undoubted and enduring supremacy of the great national aim over every +weak expedient. + +Whatever hopes may be entertained by Mr. O'Connell, his suggestions met +with no sustainment and no response, save the empty echoes of an +adulating press. Among the great party to whom he appealed, not one +voice was heard to suggest a practical step in the direction intimated. +The project fell, if indeed it were ever seriously entertained, leaving +no memory and no regret. The first place Mr. O'Connell afterwards +appeared in a public capacity, was at the Limerick banquet, given on' +the 20th of November. His speech on that occasion contained scarcely a +reference to Federalism, and both his sentiments and those of the other +speakers, including John, Archbishop of Tuam, as well as the Toasts and +Mottoes, were distinguished for loftiness of tone, unflinching purpose +and highest enthusiasm. But other elements were at work furtively +sapping that purpose and dimming that enthusiasm. + +Prominent among these was the spirit of religious dissension already +under discussion, to which it is now time to recur. + +At and after the period when the Roman Catholic prelates accepted the +functions of administering a law insulting and obnoxious to the +Catholics generally, much angry controversy prevailed. A report was rife +that the Government not alone succeeded in deluding the Irish Bishops, +but had accredited a minister plenipotentiary, whose mission was to +conciliate the Court of Rome to a "Concordat" with England. A rescript +said to be received by the Most Reverend Doctor Crolly, the Primate, was +adduced to prove not alone the existence of the intrigue, but its +partial success. The rescript contained an admonition to restrain the +intemperate violence of political priests, and an advice to confine +themselves more generally to the sacred functions of their holy office. +The English press magnified the advice into a command, and exulted over +the failure of the Repeal movement whose extinction they augured from +the withdrawal of the Catholic priesthood. + +Mr. O'Connell, alarmed at the import of a command so fatal, pronounced +the rescript "uncanonical." This led to greater dissensions and bitterer +recriminations. The prelates who condemned the Bequest Act, denounced +those who accepted the task of administering it. One of the body thus +writes:-- + + "The resolution [referring to one passed at a meeting of the + prelates, which was pronounced by the ministerial press a vote + of unanimous approval of the bishops' acceptance of the office + of Commissioners] did not meet the approval of all the Bishops, + neither could it convey to any one of the Episcopal + Commissioners the most distant notion that in accepting the + office he did not oppose the views and wishes of many of his + Episcopal brethren. When the resolution was moved, there were + six of the protesting Bishops absent, and a moment was not + allowed to pass after it was seconded, when it was denounced in + the strongest manner by two of the Bishops present. They + solemnly declared before the assembled prelates that, in the + event of any prelate accepting the odious office, they would + never willingly hold any communication with him in his capacity + as Commissioner."[4] + +But, while disunion reigned at the council board of the Catholic +Hierarchy, the Government plied their task of seducing, dividing and +misrepresenting bishops, priests, people and nation. Out of all the +elements of disunion, distraction and disaster over which they in turn +gloated, the British newspapers, with wonderful accord, predicted and +boasted of the complete overthrow of the Repeal Party. It was amidst +these circumstances of gloom and evil augury the year 1844, a year +within which range the most startling, extraordinary and trying events +of Ireland's recent history, came to a close. + +Before I conclude this chapter, I must revert to a fact which, although +unimportant in relation to the view of the question under consideration, +deserves to be remembered in connection with future events. The date I +cannot fix, as it was confined to the private circle of the Association +Committee, and no record of it remains. Immediately after the close of +the State trials, as well as I can remember, Mr. O'Connell proposed the +dissolution of the Association, with a view of establishing a new body, +from which should be excluded all the "illegal" attributes and accidents +of the old. The suggestion was resisted by Mr. O'Brien, and all those +understood to belong to what was called the Young Ireland Party. They +protested against such a course as false, craven and fatal, and Mr. +O'Connell at once yielded to their vehement remonstrances. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 4: Doctor Cantwell to Mr. O'Connell. Given in the _Nation_, +Vol. III., No. 119.] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT--DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MR. +O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE.--FINANCIAL REFORMS IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE +ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION.--'82 CLUB.--THE COLLEGES +BILL.--DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES CONSEQUENT UPON IT. QUARREL WITH MR. +DAVIS.--THE GREAT LEVEE AT THE ROTUNDA.--DECLINE OF THE +AGITATION.--CLOSING LABOURS AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS. + + +Thus wrote Thomas Davis at the opening of the new year:-- + + "Hitherto our dangers have been few and transient. The product + of mistake or enthusiasm, they were remedied by explanation and + kindliness. There are dangers threatened now, and against them + we shall try the same prompt and frank policy which never failed + us yet. Already the English press are quarrelling for the spoils + of the routed Repealers. They are almost unanimous in describing + the people as disgusted, the leaders as exhausted, and the + policy of the ministers as rapidly levelling the defences of the + once great party. + + "We do not quail. We remember that whenever the rent[5] has + fallen, the same press cried out the people are sick of the + agitation. Whenever righteous discussion took place in our + councils, they exulted over our 'fatal divisions,' and at the + beginning of each new blunder of the cabinet, they sang victory. + + "If the Irish be a hot or capricious race, who plunge into a new + policy because it is new, and abandon their dearest interests + and most solemn vows because their success needs time, then + indeed Repeal was hopeless and was always so. If the leaders + have not sagacity enough to embrace the business of an empire + and pierce through time, unwearied industry, pure hands and + resolute spirits, then to repeal is hopeless until a new race of + chiefs appears." + +Almost contemporaneously with this article, the Catholic Primate +contradicted Mr. O'Connell's assertion respecting the rescript, and laid +rescript and contradiction before the public. "I was surprised and +sorry," he writes, "to find that you had ventured to assert that a +letter sent to me some time past from the Propaganda was not a canonical +document." He adds that he laid the document before the assembled +prelates, and appends the resolution in which they acknowledged its +authenticity and approval of its counsel.[6] + +Mr. O'Connell at once expressed his entire acquiescence and deep +contrition. He bowed reverentially to the resolution of the prelates, +retracted the hasty opinion, and apologised for his error, which, he +said, resulted from his great anxiety of mind, caused by the avowal of +the _Morning Chronicle_ that the Whigs had a secret agent in Rome. + +But the prelates were far from unanimous in their construction of the +rescript which they promised unanimously to obey. With the resolution +among his papers, the Archbishop of Tuam proceeded directly from the +Episcopal meeting to the Repeal banquet at Limerick, where he delivered +a speech stronger in language and more violent in character than any he +had ever uttered. Some passages in that speech, wherein he eulogised the +heroism of the women of Limerick who cut their long hair to supply the +defenders of the city with strings for their bows, excited the wildest +enthusiasm and most rapturous applause. Doctor Cantwell, in the letter +already referred to, gives his construction, which he says was that of +the majority. + + "The Cardinal only evidently censures violent and intemperate + language, in either priest or bishop, whether they address their + flocks in their temples, or mix with their fellow-countrymen in + banquets or public meetings. We inferred, and I think we were + justified in the inference, that conduct and language at all + times unbecoming our sacred character, and not our presence on + such legitimate occasions, were the object of this salutary + caution." + +His construction was sustained more clearly and forcibly by Thomas +Davis. "It [the rescript] announces the undoubted truth that the main +duty of a Christian priest is to care for the souls of his flock, and +both by precept and example to teach mildness, piety and peace. It does +not denounce a Catholic clergyman for aiding the Repeal movement in all +ways becoming a minister of peace. Nowhere in the rescript is the +agitation as a system, or repeal as a demand, censured; but some +reported violence of speech is disapproved." + +The coincidence seems a strange one, that in the same paper, which thus +disposes of the rescript, the same paper wherein appear the letters of +Doctor Crolly, Doctor Cantwell, and Mr. O'Connell, the same paper in +which is published the official denial of a Concordat with the Pope, +under the viceregal seal, are also published the proceedings of the +Repeal Association, which consisted, to a great extent, of a violent +attack on the exploded Concordat. At the meeting held on the 13th of +January, it was denounced especially by two of Mr. O'Connell's friends, +Mr. O'Neill Daunt and Mr. John Reilly, in terms the most vehement and +indignant. Mr. Daunt used these words. "On that day fortnight he had +proclaimed from the chair of the Association, that if a rescript should +emanate from Rome denouncing the national movement, the Catholics of +Ireland would treat it as so much waste paper." This statement was made +on the 13th, Doctor Crolly's letter is dated on the 11th, Mr. +O'Connell's on the 14th, and Lord Heytesbury's denial of the Concordat +on the 15th of January. Contemporaneously with all these was also +published an address of his clergy to the Archbishop of Dublin, +deprecating in the strongest language certain calumnies against him, +which they attribute to priests and people, Protestant and Catholic. + +From these proceedings one inference is inevitable, namely, that they +who have so strongly inculcated obedience to the Holy See, and +denounced as an infidel any Catholic who refused blind obedience to its +decisions, in reference to secular education, were not then troubled +with the same sensitiveness or scrupulousness of conscience in regard to +the authority of the Roman Pontiff. But of that one word hereafter. I +here reproduce the historical facts connected with these letters, for +another object. Although the excitement about the threatened Concordat +was allayed, and the invectives against the Archbishop of Dublin abated +in intemperance, the bitterness of feeling which swept over the country +like an avenging scourge, left behind it germs of discord and weakness. + +Publicly or privately the Seceders did not interfere. At the meeting of +the Association already alluded to, Mr. O'Brien made a most noble +speech, inculcating education, self-reliance, organisation and progress, +without stooping to refer to the perplexed question, which filled his +audience with angry passions, and supplied the other speakers with +intemperate enthusiasm. + +The whole endeavours of the Seceders were at this time devoted to the +organisation of clubs or reading rooms on an educational basis. +Connected with this object was the augmentation of the Repeal revenue, +which was anticipated from the extended action of these political and +social schools. The funds were greatly diminished, and the weekly +collections had fallen to an average of about £150. It became necessary, +as much as possible, to curtail the expenses, and a reduction of a very +serious amount was effected during Mr. O'Connell's absence at Derrynane. +The effort was continued after his arrival in town, which led to +differences of opinion with him, in committee. Sinecure situations, +created by him, were abolished, and inquiries were instituted which gave +him great annoyance. He particularly resented and resisted the removal +from one of those offices of Doctor Nagle. Doctor Nagle was appointed to +be "curator of manuscripts", the ostensible duty of which was to +superintend the reports (then daily issuing from the press, and written +for the most part by the Seceders) for the purpose of preventing the +publication of anything illegal or dangerous. In effect, he was +nominally, literary, legal and moral censor. But the unanimous and loud +indignation of the essayists rendered his task a light one. He was +content to accept the salary and leave those gentlemen the guardians of +their own safety, their character and literary fame. Doctor Nagle +continued to act as librarian and, weekly, delivered to the secretary +certain lists of contributions that had been previously furnished him by +that gentleman. His salary and certain fees given to other "patriots," +came under the cognisance of a sub-committee consisting, as well as I +remember, of the present member for Dublin,[7] a Mr. O'Meara and someone +whose name I now forget. Their report adjudged the office useless, and +recommended its immediate abolition. A motion was accordingly made in +committee for Doctor Nagle's dismissal. Mr. O'Connell was in the chair. +All his sons were present, one of whom, I think, moved an amendment to +the effect that he be continued at his then salary. A division took +place, when the majority against the amendment was considerably over two +to one. Mr. + +O'Connell expressed himself deeply mortified at this result. Another +amendment to the same effect was then proposed and negatived by a +majority numerically somewhat less, when Sir Colman O'Loghlen moved, and +John Loyd Fitzgerald seconded, an amendment to the effect that he be +continued as clerk of the library at half his salary, that is £50 a +year. The result would have been the same as before but that many of the +majority had withdrawn under the impression that the question was +disposed of; the number for the amendment was twenty-two, and the number +against only twenty-three. Mr. O'Connell assumed the right to give two +votes, one as member, which made the numbers equal, and a casting vote +as chairman. It was then proposed and carried that every chairman should +in future have two votes, and Sir Colman's amendment was allowed to pass +in the affirmative. Doctor Nagle continued to fill his office until his +appointment to a more lucrative one under the Whig Government. + +The Eighty-Two Club which was projected in prison was finally organised +in January, 1845. The differences which manifested themselves in +Conciliation Hall imperceptibly extended to this body. The original +members constituted the committee and were self-appointed. The others +had to submit to a ballot. Some few were rejected, at which Mr. +O'Connell's friends took umbrage, and the rejected aspirants were sure +to attribute their decision to their devotion to the "Liberator." Thus +it happened that most objectionable candidates could not be resisted +without incurring the imputation of opposing and thwarting the "saviour +of his country." + +[Illustration: Charles Lavan Duffy (1846)] + +Mr. O'Connell himself, although he warmly approved of the club in the +commencement, soon ceased to feel an interest in its proceedings. For +the first year, its action was confined to some routine dinners, which +attracted a very fashionable attendance, and furnished an occasion for +some brilliant speaking. Yet the fame and respectability of such a body +were seductions which few of the leading men in the confederacy could +resist. The Eighty-Two Club became a standard toast at public dinners, +and its members were received as distinguished guests or visitors +wherever they appeared. Without having yet performed any distinct +service, or realised the promise involved in its establishment, the club +became a very important and imposing body. + +Mr. O'Connell was its president, and Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Grattan, Sir +Colman O'Loghlen and others, vice-presidents. The first committee was +composed of the Members of Parliament, Mayors of cities, and men eminent +in the different professions and literary pursuits. Complaints of +inattention were made against some of its members, and at the election +for officers after the expiration of the first year, others were +substituted for the inattentive and inefficient. The change for the most +part was made by unanimous consent; but when a ballot was called for, +other names were substituted for those on the house list, recommended by +the former committee, and the contest resulted in the rejection of +Richard Barrett and one or two others. This was taken as an affront to +Mr. O'Connell, though personally he neither took part in, nor was +present at, the meeting. Whether it was owing to Mr. O'Connell's +aversion to the green-and-gold uniform, to which he sometimes expressed +his dislike, or his objection to the rejection of his soi-disant +friends, or to his consciousness that the club was not subservient to +his control, he took very little interest in its progress, and +frequently spoke of it in terms of derision. + +But that which produced the first sensible and vital difference between +Mr. O'Connell and the Seceders was the Colleges Bill. Education had long +been a subject of anxious solicitude with Mr. Davis, and he was in +continual communication with Mr. Wyse, its great parliamentary champion. +He had repeatedly urged upon him the indispensable necessity of the +principle of mixed education, as the basis of any collegiate system for +Ireland. That basis was recognised in the system of national education +which was accepted and approved of by the whole Catholic Hierarchy, with +one exception, and most warmly sanctioned by the Catholic priesthood and +laity. Extreme bigots of the Protestant school opposed and denounced it +as unscriptural and Godless, and one extreme bigot of the Catholic +school echoed the objurgation. It was not to be supposed that a +principle thus sanctioned, tried, and efficient as applicable to the +children of the poor, would be objected to when applied to those who +were higher in station and older in years. When, therefore, the Bill was +introduced and its principal provisions announced, it was received with +the utmost delight and, even, triumph. Mr. O'Connell proclaimed in a +meeting of the committee his emphatic approval of the principle of the +Bill. + +As soon as its details were published, it was submitted to the +parliamentary committee, and, during its discussion there, he expressed +for the first time some doubts as to the practicability of a mixed +system of education. Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Davis and others expostulated, and +deprecated in unmistakable terms the fatality of engaging the +Association to a principle so sectarian, narrow and illiberal. He said +he would take time to consider, and would meantime consult with Doctor +MacHale. He was reminded that Doctor MacHale could not approve of the +system without gross inconsistency, and requested to take the opinion of +all the other Bishops as well. How far he was governed by this advice is +unimportant and impossible to tell. But the bishops met in solemn synod +and published the result of their deliberations in the following +memorial:-- + + "That memorialists are disposed to co-operate on fair and + reasonable terms with her majesty's government and the + legislature, in establishing a system for the further extension + of academical education in Ireland. + + "That a fair proportion of the professors and other + office-bearers in the new colleges should be members of the + Roman Catholic Church, whose moral conduct shall have been + properly certified by testimonials of character, signed by their + respective prelates. And that all the office-bearers in those + colleges should be appointed by a board of trustees, of which + the Roman Catholic prelates of the provinces in which any of + those colleges shall be erected shall be members. + + "That the Roman Catholic pupils could not attend the lectures on + history, logic, metaphysics, moral philosophy, geology, or + anatomy, without exposing their faith or morals to imminent + danger, unless a Roman Catholic professor will be appointed for + each of those chairs. + + "That if any president, vice-president, professor, or + office-bearer, in any of the new colleges shall be convicted + before the board of trustees of attempting to undermine the + faith or injure the morals of any student in those institutions, + he shall be immediately removed from his office by the same + board." + +It will be observed that the principle of mixed education is not here +directly approved or condemned. But approval is an inference, as clear +and emphatic as words could express. The memorial prays for distinct and +specific alterations in the details of the Bill. It demands that certain +branches of secular education should be taught to the Catholic students +by Catholic professors approved of by the prelates, and it insists upon +other guarantees to secure the Catholic youth from the danger of all and +every species of interference with the tenets of their faith. + +How far the demands of the bishops were just or extravagant, is not a +fit subject of inquiry here. But the fact of making the demands stamps +the principle of the bill with their incontrovertible approval. The +argument which denies it involves an accusation against those Most +Reverend and Right Reverend divines, of evasion, treachery and untruth. +Any defence which implies that they avoided the direct condemnation of +the principle because they knew their memorial would be disregarded, +which would enable them to interdict the whole Bill, principle and +details, on the ground of the immorality of the latter, involves an +implication that moral and Christian turpitude is synonymous with +Catholic zeal. Such an implication, inevitable from the premises assumed +by the opponents of the mixed system, would be foulest calumny. The +Catholic prelates were eminently sincere; and had they been warmly +seconded they might have obtained such ameliorations in the details of +the system as would be satisfactory to every rational, liberal and +honest man. But the old jealousy, division and calumny which had grown +out of the Bequests Act, obtruded themselves on every attempt at calm +consideration, and scattered the elements indispensable to successful +moral combination. The principle and details of the academic project +became confused and confounded, and while some clamorously opposed, +others unthinkingly supported, the entire. Thus the minister was enabled +to balance the voice of public opinion as he found it arrayed for and +against his measure, and under pretence of indifference to despise both +parties. For a long while, the action of the Association was paralysed. +There were deeper questions at issue there than even those which +appeared on the face of the bill. The educational party insisted that +any measure which did not embrace the University was scanty and +illiberal. They claimed its honours, advantages and emoluments for all +the youth of Ireland alike; and they sought to make the academic +subordinate to and parcel of the collegiate system. The Dublin +University and Trinity College are separate and distinct foundations and +establishments. They proposed that Maynooth and Trinity College should +be both sufficiently endowed for all purposes of ecclesiastical +education, without any interference, direct or indirect, from each other +or the Government, while the University should be open alike to all who +had obtained distinction in the provincial colleges. Any measure of +narrower scope would, they contended, leave dullness and bigotry where +it found them. + +Mr. O'Connell, on the other hand, insisted on the inviolability of +Dublin College as a Protestant institution, inaccessible to Catholics, +except through the slough of perverted and perjured faith. He would then +have new colleges purely Catholic and entirely under the control of the +Catholic bishops, but endowed by the State, and chartered to confer +literary degrees. He would extend the same right to the members of other +religious persuasions. It was answered that these positions and his +arguments addressed to the academic question were irreconcilable and +incompatible. Catholics were already admissible to Dublin College, and +entitled to certain degrees and a vote. He either intended that they +should be thenceforth excluded or he did not. If not, then the argument +against mixed education would hold for nothing: if he did, then he +attempted what was impracticable, or, if not impracticable, preposterous +and absurd. It is not conceivable that Catholic young men, of laudable +ambition, would be deterred from entering the lists with their +Protestant contemporaries where most honour was won by superior +eminence, or that they would be swayed by a warning that a college +course would be attended with risk to their faith and morals, when they +remembered that for the past century, while the risk was infinitely more +imminent, no such warning had been ever heard from council, synod or +conference. It is a strange fact in the history of these troubled times +that no voice of denunciation against Dublin College could be heard in +the polemical din, although it was well known that its literary honours +stamped preliminary degradation on the Catholic aspirant, and were used +at once to mock his political condition and pervert his faith--no voice +was heard although one at least of the prelates had obtained degrees in +the University, while the bishop and priests of an entire diocese, in +conclave assembled, solemnly resolved that they would refuse sacraments +to any Catholic parent who sent his son to one of the Godless colleges. +But supposing it were practicable to exclude Roman Catholics from the +University, and that the system of exclusive education among the middle +and upper classes were applied in all its rigour, when were Protestant +and Catholic to meet? If it were dangerous to faith and morals that they +should discuss together the properties of an angle or the altitude of a +star, it could hardly be safe to have them decide together a principle +of law or determine the value or limits of a political franchise. All +this was urged on Mr. O'Connell, and sometimes apparently with success, +for he more than once consented to forego the discussion of the question +in the Hall; and he would have strictly adhered to that engagement had +he not been goaded by the intemperate counsels of others. + +In the desultory history of this question, two facts have been stated +requiring distinct proof. They are:--First, that Mr. O'Connell was +favourable to the principle of mixed education in the commencement. + +And, secondly, that the Seceders--those who were afterwards so glibly +denounced as infidels for their support of the Godless bill--were as +much opposed to that bill as he was. + +How Mr. O'Connell expressed himself when the bill was first announced +has been already stated. It is at once conceded that the writer's memory +of a conversation, in its nature almost private, were he even above all +suspicion, would not be a safe authority. In this instance there is no +need to rely on it--the statement is more than sustained by Mr. +O'Connell's recorded words. From a number of occasions, equally +available, I select one, because of its solemnity and importance. + +In a prolonged and most earnest debate in the House of Commons, on +motion for going into Committee on the Bill, June 2nd, Mr. O'Connell, +after eulogising the Maynooth grant, says:-- + + "Take one step more, and consider whether this bill may not be + made to accord with the feelings of the Catholic ecclesiastics + of Ireland. I ought not to detain you: I am not speaking here in + any spirit of hostility. I should be most happy to give any + assistance in my humble power to make this bill work well. I + have the most anxious wish to have this bill work well, because + I am desirous of seeing education promoted in Ireland; but even + education may be misapplied power. I admit that at one time I + thought the plan of a mixed education proper, and I still think + that a system of mixed education in literature and science would + be proper, but not with regard to religious education." + + And further on: "Again I repeat I am most anxious for the + success of this bill, but I fairly tell you it cannot succeed + without the Catholic bishops.... + + "There may have been harsh expressions in the public papers, but + depend upon it great anxiety exists in Ireland to have such a + measure." + +The second proposition would be abundantly sustained by a single +sentence in Thomas Davis's commentary on the speech from which I +extract the above. + + "On our part we had feared O'Connell conceded almost too far." + +But the testimony of Mr. O'Connell himself will be considered more +conclusive. + +Speaking in the Association on the 6th of July, he said:-- + + "I may remark for the present that on this subject a question of + difference has arisen among ourselves. Some of the members of + the Association are for what is called mixed education, and + others of us are against it, but that difference of opinion + ought not to create any division among us, for neither the one + nor the other of us is gratified by the bill as it stands." + +Again, in the course of the same speech, he said: + + "We (Mr. O'Brien and himself) did our best to avert such a + calamity. We called upon the Government not to persist in + working out this bill in all its details of blackness and + horror." + +He concluded by lauding Lord John Russell for his valuable assistance in +the attempt to amend the bill, and finally said that, having failed in +this attempt, he "flung the bill to the ministry, to deal with it as +they pleased." + +Mr. O'Brien continued in London, and proposed amendments to the bill in +every stage of its progress. It was during that time he was assailed by +Mr. Roebuck with all the little malevolence of his envenomed nature. He +failed in every attempt to remedy the defects of the bill, which passed +its last stage in the Commons on the 10th day of July. On the 17th of +the same month, Mr. O'Connell, speaking in the Association, said: + + "In the resolution I am about submitting to the Association, we + have not inserted one word about mixed education. This is a + question upon which there exists some differences of opinion. I + have my opinions upon the subject, I am the decided enemy of + mixed education.... + + "I fully respect the contrary convictions entertained by others, + and I am the more ready to proclaim that respect because at + present all possibility of discussion on the matter is out of + the question." + +It will be observed that Mr. O'Connell's opinions underwent a serious +and important change during the time over which these speeches range. +That change was produced gradually, and not without infinite trouble on +the part of his son whose inveterate zeal knew no bounds. In his +father's presence, and more particularly so in his absence, he denounced +the bill, and held up any Catholic who dared to support it to public +indignation. He called on the people of Waterford to demand Mr. Wyse's +resignation, not because he was an unfaithful representative, but +because he was unchristian. If he had not determined to divide the +Association on this question, he did all a man could do who had so +determined. + +I shall only trouble the reader with two quotations more. They refer to +the question immediately under discussion, namely, that the Seceders +were as much opposed to the obnoxious clauses of the bill as those with +whom they differed. But while they are unequivocal and conclusive on +that branch of the subject, they go still further and attest the sincere +forbearance with which they treated language and conduct which appeared +to them in the utmost degree narrow and intolerant. Discussion among the +bishops naturally produced discussion among the chiefs of the +Association, and it was agreed that the Association should confine its +objections to those provisions of the bill upon which there could be no +disagreement. The first petition of the Association was confided to me. +I endeavoured to embody in the petition what appeared to me the true +basis of a comprehensive system of education. Some persons on the +Committee objected to certain phrases as susceptible of an inference +favourable to the principle of mixed education. Mr. O'Connell joined in +the objection and succeeded in reducing the petition to a single +paragraph, deprecatory of the Tenth Clause of the Bill. I refused to +have any more to do with the petition, and it was dropped. After the +lapse of a fortnight, Mr. Maurice O'Connell proposed another, simply +praying that the tenth clause, which vested the appointment of the +professors of the college in the Government, should be rejected. + +Upon the occasion of this petition being submitted to the Association +(9th June, 1845), Mr. J. O'Connell delivered one of his usual invectives +against the bill and its abettors. Mr. O'Brien deprecated the +ill-feeling and discord such language was calculated to provoke. In the +course of his observations he said:-- + + "In seconding the motion of my hon. friend, the member for + Kilkenny, for the adoption of this petition, it is not my + intention to follow into any of the polemical questions which, + in the course of his protracted speech, he has raised in this + Association. I am obliged, however, to say in candour that in + some of the views he has put forward I cannot agree.... We have + given a general concurrence in this Hall to the recommendation + that has emanated from the Catholic Hierarchy.... I am not + disposed to assist the Government in making those seminaries, + which ought to be seats of learning, filthy sties of corruption. + It is because I believe that such would become their character + if this tenth clause were to remain a legislative enactment that + I shall oppose it to the utmost." + +The Reverend John Kenyon, then little known, rose to protest against the +course pursued by Mr. J. O'Connell, which he characterised as not only +uncatholic but unchristian. Mr. J. O'Connell, in the blandest tones, +deprecated any discussion tending to division, which induced Mr. Kenyon +to sit down. Having spread with dexterous industry the most baleful +elements of discord, he begged they should not be disturbed. + +I will be pardoned for transcribing here a few observations of my own on +that occasion. + + "I am exceedingly anxious, having the misfortune to differ most + widely from my honourable friend the member for Kilkenny, on the + subject of academical education, to express my cordial + concurrence with him in reference to the subject of this + petition. I shall not say one word about our difference of + opinion. I shall enter into no disturbing or dividing + discussion, and the more so because any difference we may + express could not fail to impair the efficiency of our action + where we are thoroughly agreed. I condemn this clause as + strongly as the hon. member can. Nay, I will go a step further, + and say that if there be no provision made by the bill for + religious instruction and moral culture, Protestant and Catholic + ought to unite in struggling for its rejection. No matter how + splendid may be the accommodations provided by these + academies--no matter how richly they may be endowed--if there be + no provision made for the religious education of the pupils, I + trust they will remain silent, unattended Halls." + +Numerous other proofs to the same facts are accessible, but these are +abundantly conclusive. The history of the struggle itself, the slow and +evidently reluctant change in Mr. O'Connell's opinions, and the +intolerant spirit with which the enemies of the bill pursued the name +and character of those who, although they approved of the mixed system, +were as inveterately inimical to the dangerous provisions of the bill as +they were themselves, sufficiently attest that faction swayed the +troubled movement of clerical and popular passion alike. The vulgar and +virulent anathemas of some tongues and pens not only swept unsparingly +over the unhappy crowd, but aimed at the lofty sphere of Episcopal +authority, even where most identical with purity and piety. A malignant +charity extended to the errors of the Primate that palliation which +perverted reason otherwise refused to admit. Too lofty to be accused of +treachery, he was not too sacred to be pronounced mad. + +The Committee of the Association alone nearly escaped the influence of +the fierce spirit of the times. There the voice of reason for a while +held sway. The forbearance and respect for conflicting opinions which +preserved its dignity were, with the one exception, extended to the +proceedings in the Hall, where even the most unscrupulous were checked +by a petition which recognised and welcomed the principle of united +education, but strongly deprecated the objectionable provisions of the +"Godless Bill." To this petition was affixed the signature of almost +every educated lay Catholic in Dublin. The number of Catholic barristers +alone whose names are found among those signatures amounts to +seventy-two. At the same time, a remonstrance addressed personally to +Mr. O'Connell was signed by the leading Catholics of the Association. +Its object was to preclude all discussion on the subject of the disputed +principle in Conciliation Hall. It was signed for the most part by men +who theretofore had taken but little part in the dispute. But against +all these precautions passion by degrees prevailed, and when Mr. +O'Connell was reminded by Mr. Barry, of Cork, that in reply to the +remonstrance he had pledged himself to abstinence from the irritating +discussion, his apology was, that he thought the document in question +and all proceedings connected with it were strictly private; as if the +privacy of a solemn pledge dispensed with its obligation. + +An episode in this strife deserves specific notice. At a meeting of the +Association, held on the 26th of May, the question was incidentally +introduced. Mr. Michael George Conway, a man of considerable literary +and oratorical powers, but not distinguished for any very rigid piety, +introduced the subject, evidently with the view of exciting Mr. +O'Connell's impulsive character against the species of restraint under +which his sinister friends were continually hinting he was held. The +speech breathed the most fervent spirit of Catholic piety, seasoned +with bitter invectives against what Mr. Conway described as a baffled +faction in the Association. Mr. O'Connell took off his cap, waved it +repeatedly over his head, and cheered vociferously. Few, if any, of the +Catholic gentlemen who were opposed to Mr. O'Connell, were present. Mr. +Davis rose, and commenced by saying: "My Catholic friend, my _very_ +Catholic friend." The allusion was intelligible to almost every man in +the assembly, but the practised and dexterous advocate saw and seized +the advantage it presented for exciting the active prejudices of the +audience. He started up and exclaimed, "I hope it is no _crime_ to be a +Catholic." The whole meeting burst into a tumultuous shout which bespoke +a triumph rather than admiration. Mr. O'Connell did triumph, but not in +the sense understood by his applauders. He apprehended the effect of the +honest, frank and manly exposure which, if he were not rudely +interrupted, would be made by Mr. Davis, and he was too keen to allow an +opportunity, so tempting to his object, to pass, though he should +violate all the observances of good feeling and decorum. Mr. Davis, on +the other hand, felt the blow to be a stunning one. He was shocked at +the same time by Mr. O'Connell's disregard, not alone of friendship, but +of common courtesy, and by the intemperate exultation of the audience. +To his loving nature, both seemed, especially in such a place, utterly +unintelligible and grossly unkind. He was the last living man to offer +insult to the belief or even the prejudice of a Catholic, and he felt +that this was thoroughly known to Mr. O'Connell, and that it ought to be +known to his audience. The disappointment and the rudeness were too +much for his susceptible heart, and he so far yielded to wounded +feelings as to shed tears. Mr. O'Connell, whether gratified by success +or influenced by his better impulse, caught him by the hand and +exclaimed: "Davis, I love you." Although the first struggle closed +amidst cheers, there were carried away from that meeting in the breasts +of many, seeds of bitterness and hate which ripened in after times and +under gloomier auspices. I dwell on it as important, although a casual +incident, frequent and almost inevitable in political excitement. There +were two parties from whose memory the scene never passed. These were +the blind followers of Mr. O'Connell, to whom it seemed blackest guilt +to question his supremacy or infallibility, on the one hand, and on the +other, all who sympathised with genuine and lofty emotions, and regarded +the attack on Mr. Davis as wanton, brutal and contemptible. The +miserable little faction that existed on the spoils of the Association +magnified the difference and fanned the discontent. That Young Ireland +had received its death-blow passed into a watch-word among them. + +An event of mighty augury and most trifling results, which distinguished +the year 1845, must not be passed unmentioned. This was the celebrated +levee, held in the Round Room of the Rotunda, on the 30th of May, the +anniversary of the imprisonment. It was referred to a sub-committee, on +which Mr. Davis and Sir Colman O'Loghlen were principals, to devise the +most appropriate celebration for that important day. They determined on +a public levee, to which were summoned whatever there was of +respectability, authority, genius and worth in the island, which +recognised the wisdom, justice and holiness of the struggle for +Nationhood. All the corporations, every delegation which derived public +authority from the popular voice, besides citizens of the unincorporated +towns, answered the summons with alacrity. That day witnessed a scene +the most extraordinary, imposing and formidable of the kind in modern +annals. The Round Room was thronged to excess, but preconcerted +arrangements had provided for the convenience of its favoured visitors, +while the public streets, abandoned to chance, presented an immovable +mass of human beings, swaying to and fro, but governed by a single and +omnipotent impulse, which steeled them to the pressure and broil as if +they felt themselves in presence of a speedy deliverance and free +destiny. + +[Illustration: Richard O'Gorman, Jun. (1848)] + +[Illustration: Patrick O'Donohoe (1848)] + +The preparations engaged the vigilant activity of a large committee for +two entire days and nights. Yet these preparations bore an infinite +disproportion to the display of wealth of mind, of energy of thought, +and national pomp, which ushered in the glorious morning. Those who +scoffed at the project when it was first announced came to mock the +scene but went away admiring. The spirit of the hour infused itself into +the public heart, which appeared to throb but to one impulse and one +aim: at all events no one was, no one could be, found obdurate enough to +question the significance or importance of the proceeding. + +Mr. O'Connell's fellow-prisoners shared his state and the homage which +was paid to him. But in the outward crowd no one dissociated him +personally from the minutest detail of the day's proceedings, or +admitted for a moment that any other human being partook of its glory, +or directed its end. High above the multitude they saw him receive the +nation's homage, which seemed but the expression of the liberty he had +already achieved. How he felt the influence of the scene there is no +record to tell. His demeanour while exercising the prerogatives of his +position was such as became a man conscious that he occupied a throne +loftier than ever yet was decked by a kingly crown. But when his +official functions were discharged, he addressed the impassioned throng +in language too tame for the most ordinary occasion. + +The great act of the day was the adoption of the following pledge. It +had been prepared and approved by the Committee of the Association, and +every word was canvassed with the most scrupulous regard to the trying +circumstances which the committee found themselves in presence of. The +virulent hostility of the Tory Government had been baffled, and its +utmost strength discomfited. It was understood at the time that a Whig +Government was in the advent of power, and the great object of the +pledge was to record the solemn conviction of the Nation that they were +faithless and treacherous as the others were unscrupulous and +vindictive, and that to the corrupting influence of the one and the +unmasked hostility of the other the same resistance should be shown. The +pledge was preceded by this resolution:-- + + "Resolved, That in commemorating this first anniversary of the + 30th of May, we deem it our duty to record a solemn pledge that + corruption shall not seduce, nor deceit cajole, nor intimidation + deter us from seeking to obtain for Ireland the blessings of + self-government through a national legislature, and we recommend + that the following pledge be taken:-- + + "We, the undersigned, being convinced that good government and + wise legislation can be permanently secured to the Irish people + only through the instrumentality of an Irish Legislature, do + hereby pledge ourselves to our country that we will never desist + from seeking the Repeal of the Union with England by all + peaceable, moral and constitutional means, until a parliament be + restored to Ireland. + + "Dated this 30th day of May, 1845." + +This pledge was adopted formally in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda, in +presence of most of the Irish mayors, the leading delegates of the +country, the members of the Eighty-Two Club, and a vast concourse of +gentlemen both from the metropolis and the provinces. It was proposed by +William Smith O'Brien, seconded by Henry Grattan, and put to the meeting +from the chair by the eldest son of Daniel O'Connell. The cheer that +hailed its adoption was a shout not of approval, but defiance. But alas! +many voices mingled in the chorus which have since been attuned to the +meanest whine of mendicancy. That they vilely belied their solemn +promise were of little moment. Nay, more, it is bootless to consider +whether they were more false-tongued and false-hearted in that great +pageant, or on the recent occasion of their kneeling in their own shame +to pledge a faith they do not feel, in expectation of some royal notice +or royal favour. What is mournful in both instances is this, that a show +of wealth, a practice of successful chicanery called good sense, or +public trust won by intrigue and falsehood, should so blind the world +to the _man's_ rotten and vulgar heart as to raise them to a position +where their acts should be regarded as indicative of the feeling or +important to the destiny of a nation. + +With the 30th of May, passed off the excitement of which it was the +cause and scene. Those who arranged the grand pageant of that day, and +invested it with attributes, suggestive, imposing and useful as ever +decked a public spectacle, would have wrought it out into a sterner +purpose: but the heart upon which they counted had, even then, died. Mr. +O'Connell's speech too painfully bespoke his utter inability to guide +the nation in any higher effort. The energy that should have seized the +occasion to confirm the people in their strong purpose, and elevate +their hopes to the level of the great stake at issue, exhausted itself +in balancing the routine details of cold and empty statistics. The +curtain fell, and nothing remained but grotesque figures, withered +garlands, broken panels and desolate dust, which mingled confusedly +behind the scene, over the dark, deserted stage. The journals, of +course, preserved, for a few days, very glittering reminiscences of the +scene. With one accord, they pronounced it surpassing in interest and +importance. Great results were anticipated in the newspaper world; and +many imagined they had fulfilled the last obligations they owed their +country. But with the men, who had fondly hoped to date therefrom a new +era and begin a nobler task, the 30th of May, was of dark, despairing +augury. They clearly saw that from that hour forth there remained but +the alternative of abandoning their cherished hopes, or attempting to +realise them without the aid, perhaps in opposition to the wishes, of +Mr. O'Connell. It was a gloomy and sad conviction, but it was no longer +to be blinked. + +Meantime, Mr. O'Connell returned to the Hall, and repeated to a jaded +audience, week after week, the same stale list of grievances. From any +other man the repetition would be intolerable. But the public ear had +become attuned to his accents, to which, whatever the sense of his +language, men listened as to a messenger of heavenly tidings. Mr. Duffy +strongly urged upon his fellow labourers the improbability of success, +and advised a distinct change of policy. In this he was overborne by +their united opinion, and the _Nation_ continued to promulgate the same +bold, unwavering course. By degrees the feeling of bitterness +entertained by the anti-education section of the priests found +utterance, and the paper was, almost openly, denounced as an infidel +publication. At first indeed, the charge was shrouded in mysterious +insinuations; but it soon gained strength and audacity, and received the +unblushing sanction of at least one prelate. The answer of the _Nation_ +was confined to one indignant line. Proof was demanded and was not +offered; but its very absence only deepened the malignity of the +slanderers. Even in the midst of this storm the muse of Thomas Davis +sang no discordant strain, nor did his pen trace one angry word. On the +contrary, he summoned his whole energies to the task of harmonising the +jarring elements around him. His inspiration rose to that unearthly +height, whereon guidance becomes prophecy. Great, strong and unselfish +convictions, entertained holily and uttered sincerely, are assurances +of new creations, pledges of the destiny to which they tend. In this +spirit, spoke and sang Thomas Davis during a time of bitterness and +dissension. And his counsels had been successful, but alas! in that last +effort his fond, faithful, trusting heart was broken. + +There was a perceptible lull in the agitation. The country gradually +relapsed into a state of inactive and vague hope, which centred in the +mental resources of Mr. O'Connell. The difficulties which the people +should have appreciated and learned to overcome, they transferred, with +easy and trusting indifference, to the energies of the "Liberator," +which they not only deemed boundless but immortal. From all educated and +thoughtful men, however, hope in those energies had passed away. Davis +seduously endeavoured during the summer months of 1845, to gather these, +and others of the same class from the Conservative ranks, round some +common object or endeavour, outside Mr. O'Connell's path, and not +calculated to wake their prejudice or jealousies. The Art Union, the +Archaeological Society, the Royal Irish Academy, the Library of Ireland, +the Cork School of Design, the Mechanics' Institute and every effort and +institution, having for their aim the encouragement of the nation in +arts, literature and greatness, engaged his vigilant and embracing care. +Of each of these institutions he became the great attraction, the real +centre and head. While he successfully wrought to give a national and +steady direction to Irish intellect and enterprise--Hogan, in Italy, +Maclise, in London, and others like them, who were bravely struggling +and nobly emulating the highest efforts of the genius of other lands, +were vindicated, encouraged and applauded by his pen. Among the sterner +natures, who urged their way through the stormy elements of agitation, +his accents, though low and diffident, commanded the deepest attention +and most lasting memory. While thus engaged, compassing by his "circling +soul," every sunward effort and immortal tendency of the country, death +came, sudden and inexorable, and struck him down in his day of utmost +might. His last work on earth was the brief dedication of the memoir of +Curran, and edition of his select speeches, which he had prepared, to +his friend, William Elliot Hudson. This he wrote during a pause of +delirium, and soon afterwards passed to a brighter world. He died on the +16th of September, 1845, when yet but thirty-one years old. How sincere +and deep was the public grief, no pen can ever tell. In the mourning +procession that followed his hearse there was no parade of woe, but +every eye was wet and every tongue silent. If ever sorrow was too deep +for utterance, it was that which settled above the early grave of Thomas +Davis. + +During the summer, no effort of the Association rose above the hacknied +level of the usual weekly meetings and the repetition of the same stale +grievances, except a gathering of Tipperary at Thurles, which took place +on the 23rd of September. This was the largest of the monster meetings: +but, although the crowd was enormous and the shouting loud, it seemed +without purpose or heart. During the preparations for that meeting I had +to encounter difficulties of the most extraordinary kind. First, the +meeting was opposed by certain influential clergymen; and when they +found themselves too feeble to resist, they transferred all their +opposition to me. There is no petty cavil they had not recourse to, to +thwart and discourage, and even when all had succeeded I was treated +with personal discourtesy and annoyance at the public dinner. The seeds +of strife, afterwards destined to bear such deadly fruit, had already +begun to manifest themselves, and petty calumnies were insinuated in the +name of religion and morality. From that great meeting the crowd retired +quickly, and, almost as instantaneously, its effect faded from the +public heat. All that remained was soreness and distrust. + +No event worth a memory marked the close of 1845, or the first months of +1846. The Colleges Bill had passed, without a single important +amendment, and a Roman Catholic priest accepted the nomination of +Government, as president of one of the institutions. Some of the +prelates, too, were said to be favourable to the colleges, even as they +were then constituted, and the divisions supposed to exist among them +were imparting their acridity to the deepening distractions of the time, +when an event occurred--the advent of the Whigs to office--which broke +up the great confederacy on which the hopes of the nation were staked. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 5: The Repeal "Rent." The weekly contributions to the funds of +Conciliation Hall.--Ed.] + +[Footnote 6: Moved by the Right Reverend Dr. Brown of Elphin; seconded +by the Right Reverend Dr. McNally of Clogher. Resolved: That the Most +Reverend Dr. Crolly be requested to reply to the letter received from +the Holy Father, stating that the instructions therein contained have +been received by the assembled prelates of Ireland with that degree of +profound respect, obedience and veneration that should ever be paid to +any document emanating from the Apostolic See, and that they all pledge +themselves to carry the spirit thereof into effect." + +Dr. Crolly had previously explained what he considered true obedience to +the rescript. He writes in reference to a former one in 1839: "In +obedience to the injunction of the Holy See, I endeavoured to reclaim +those misguided clergymen;" adding that the present was "in order that I +should _more efficaciously_ admonish such priests or prelates as I +might find taking a prominent or imprudent part in political +proceedings."] + +[Footnote 7: John Reynolds.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS.--CONDUCT OF +THE ASSOCIATION.--DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB.--MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS +TO IRELAND.--DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE. + + +Before proceeding to detail the circumstances which led to the +celebrated secession, it is essential to dispose of an episode in the +struggle, which, more than any other, stamped its impress on the acts +and feelings of that unfortunate period; I allude to the imprisonment, +by the House of Commons, of William Smith O'Brien. There is no act of +his life upon which there has been so much acrimonious criticism; none +on account of which he has been subjected to so much intemperate +misrepresentation. And yet, perhaps, his great career, fruitful in good +actions, never furnished a purer or more unselfish example of sound +judgment as well as intrepidity and devotion. The history of his +incarceration ranges over a great portion of the time which has been +already passed, and enters largely into the leading events, hereafter to +be related. A clear understanding of the whole--of Mr. O'Brien's +influencing motives and his tenacity of principle--would be impossible +without a distinct recital of the circumstances out of which his purpose +first grew, and which, to the end, controlled his resolution. + +In the spring of 1845, the committee of the Association passed a vote to +the effect that the Parliamentary representatives, who were members of +that body, should withdraw from the British Parliament. It was proposed +by Mr. Davis and received Mr. O'Connell's entire approval. Though at +first sneered at, it had a stunning effect. The supercilious British +Commons, who would have answered the just remonstrance of the Irish +Repealers with a jeer, shrank from the consequences of legislating for +the country in the absence of the men, whose efforts, if present, they +would not hesitate to scoff at. The disturbing influence of the +resolution became at once perceptible, and the earliest means were taken +to bring the question to an issue. Mr. Hume, a parsimonious economist, +of niggard principle and grovelling sentiment, undertook the office of +coercing the Irish. He gave notice of a motion for a call of the House. +This man, a mean utilitarian, had been rejected by the country of his +birth and the country of his adoption, and found refuge in an Irish +constituency, that returned him without solicitation and without +expense. He repaid them and the country by a vulgar jest, and now +assumed the responsibility of their public prosecutor. + +The Association heard his threat with calm indignation and resolved at +once to defy him. The great importance of the position in which it was +placed suggested the necessity of a deliberate consideration; first, of +the constitutional question at stake and, secondly, of the steps proper +to vindicate its own dignity and resolution. As on all such occasions, a +sub-committee was appointed to whom the question was referred. Mr. +O'Connell had to some extent formed an opinion favourable to the object +of the Association. He stated that he had considered the question in a +two-fold point of view. + +First, "Whether the controlling power of the English House of Commons +over its members, which admittedly it possessed before the Act of Union, +was extended to the Irish portion of the members by that Act, there +being no express provision creating it?" + +And secondly, "Whether even if the House possessed the power, it was +competent to enforce it, or, in other words, whether the Speaker's +warrant would receive Ireland?" + +To report on these two questions, thus framed, the following gentlemen +were elected as a sub-committee: James O'Hea, Sir Colman O'Loghlen, +Robert Mullen, James O'Dowd and myself. Of that committee, each +approached his task with that instinctive bias, inseparable from ardent +minds, excited by a darling hope. They read the precedents, the cases, +the arguments and judgments applicable to their enquiry with the aid of +such a hope, and still they came to the reluctant decision that the +ground taken against the authority of the British Parliament was not +maintainable. With regard to the first branch they were unanimous. With +regard to the second, Sir Colman O'Loghlen alone entertained some +doubts. As chairman of the committee, I drew up a brief report, +embodying our opinion. One reason alone we thought conclusive, namely, +that the formidable jurisdiction claimed by the House of Commons was +indispensable to the unimpeded fulfilment of its functions, as a +coordinate branch of the supreme power and controlling authority of the +State. In its very danger and extravagance consisted its supremacy; for +it showed that it was only admitted from its overruling and +overmastering necessity. And as the Parliament was recognised in Ireland +in all things else we thought it would be absurd to deny it functions +indispensable to its vitality. + +On handing in the report, I mentioned the doubts entertained by Sir +Colman O'Loghlen. Mr. O'Connell suggested that the report should be +deferred until he could consult Sir Colman. The suggestion was agreed +to, and time given for reconsideration. Mr. O'Connell himself examined +the question, he said, with great attention. He was assisted by Mr. +Clements in his researches, and at the end of the fortnight he came down +to the committee with a report of his own, distinctly and emphatically +contradicting ours, upon both branches of the case. He delivered it to +the chairman (Mr. S. O'Brien), with exultation, as a great +constitutional discovery of unspeakable importance to the liberties of +Ireland. The committee received it in the same spirit. I ventured to +question the soundness of his opinion, and maintain my own, it was +considered a daring thing to do in those times; but the question seemed +to me so clear that I could not abandon my views without treachery to my +conviction. The discussion was very short, and ended in personality, +wherein he insinuated something about unworthy motives. No scene of my +life made the same impression on me. I felt keenly his reproaches, but +still more keenly the impolicy and imprudence of the step into which the +country was precipitated. I requested that the question should be again +postponed, and the opinion of some eminent men outside the Association +taken. I was overruled, and even laughed at--it was "doubting Mr. +O'Connell." Mr. O'Connell said, "I'll test this question '_meo +periculo_.'" The resolution passed amid cheers, and was recorded next +day amid the louder and more vehement cheers of the Association. The +country re-echoed the boast, and the House of Commons was, by a formal +and solemn vote of the entire nation, set at defiance. The conflict was +pre-arranged, even to its minute details. Mr. O'Brien was to proceed to +London, where disobedience would be more marked and decisive; and Mr. +John O'Connell was to remain in Ireland, where he could take advantage +of an additional obstacle to the exercise of its authority to the House. +So the matter stood when Mr. Hume, through what motive it is not easy to +see, neglected or abandoned his notice. The country regarded this as a +confession of weakness by the House, and gloried in a new triumph +achieved by the genius of Mr. O'Connell. He himself thought he had found +a great and solid basis for future action, and hinted at the prospect of +being able to raise upon it a parliamentary structure, having +imprescriptible and indefeasible authority, and only requiring the +sanction of the crown. + +A short time after the withdrawal of Mr. Hume's motion, the question was +again raised in another form. The chairman of the Committee of Selection +for Railways addressed a circular, among others, to Messrs. S. O'Brien +and John O'Connell, requiring their attendance at the selection of +special Railway Committees. The correspondent of the _Freeman's +Journal_, thus writes in forwarding their replies:-- + + _London, Monday, June 30._ + + "The authority of the British Senate over Irish representatives + is now fairly placed at issue. By my letter of yesterday + evening, you were apprised of the determination of Smith O'Brien + and John O'Connell, to refuse to comply with the summons of the + parliamentary selection committee. + + "The course I suggested as that which it was probable would be + adopted, has been since finally resolved upon, and in part + carried into execution. John O'Connell, for the purpose of + taking the chances of a judgment in the Irish court, will not + forward his answer till he shall have reached Ireland. Smith + O'Brien delivered his reply to the clerk of the House of Commons + this day, at one o'clock." + +Here follows Mr. O'Brien's letter:-- + + OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CLUB, PALL-MALL. + + "_June 30, 1845._ + + "Sir.--I had the honour of receiving on Saturday afternoon a + letter dated 28th June, and signed 'Henry Creed,' to the + following effect: 'I am directed by the committee of selection + to inform you that your name is on the list for which members + will be selected to serve on the railway committees, which will + commence their sittings in the week beginning Monday, the 14th + July, during which week it will be necessary for you to be in + attendance, for the purpose of serving, if requested, on a + railway committee.' + + "I trust that the committee of selection will not think that I + am prompted by any feeling of disrespect towards them, or + towards the House of Commons, when I inform them that it is my + intention not to serve on any committees except such as may be + appointed with reference to the affairs of Ireland. + + "I accepted a seat in the House of Commons, in the hope of + being thereby enabled to assist in improving the condition of + the land of my birth. So long as I continued to believe that I + could serve Ireland effectually in the House of Commons, I + shrank from none of the labours which are connected with the + varied functions of that assembly. During twelve years I + attended Parliament with an assiduity of which I might feel + disposed to boast, if the time so consumed by the House and by + myself had been productive of results useful to my native + country. + + "Experience and observation at length forced upon my mind the + conviction that the British Parliament is incompetent through + want of knowledge, if not, through want of inclination, to + legislate wisely for Ireland, and that our national interests + can be protected and fostered only through the instrumentality + of an Irish legislature. + + "Since this conviction has established itself in my mind I have + felt persuaded that the labours of the Irish members, though of + little avail in the British Parliament, might, if applied in + Ireland with prudence and energy, be effectual in obtaining for + the Irish people their national rights. + + "I have reason to believe that in this opinion a very large + majority of my constituents concur. To them alone I hold myself + responsible for the performance of my parliamentary duty. If + they had disapproved of my continued absence from the House of + Commons, I should have felt it my duty to have withdrawn from + the representation of the county of Limerick; but I have the + satisfaction of thinking that I not only consult the interests, + but also comply with the wishes of my constituents in declining + to engage in the struggles of English party, or to involve + myself in the details of English legislation. + + "While such have been the general impressions under which I have + absented myself during nearly two years from the House of + Commons, I yet do not feel myself at liberty to forego whatever + power of resistance to the progress of pernicious legislation my + office of representative may confer upon me. Upon the present + occasion, I have come to London for the purpose of endeavouring + to induce the House of Commons, or rather the Government, who + appear to command the opinions of a large majority of the House, + to modify some of the Irish measures now before Parliament in + such a manner as to render them beneficial, instead of + injurious, to Ireland. + + "Desiring that none but the representatives of the Irish nation + should legislate for Ireland, we have no wish to intermeddle + with the affairs of England, or Scotland, except in so far as + they may be connected with the interest of Ireland or with the + general policy of the empire. + + "In obedience to this principle I have abstained from voting on + English and Scotch questions of a local nature, and the same + motive now induces me to decline attendance on committees on any + private bills, except such as relate to Ireland. + + "I am prepared to abide with cheerfulness the personal + consequences which may result from the course of conduct which I + feel it my duty to adopt. + + "I speak with great diffidence upon any question of a legal + kind, but I am supported by very high professional authority + when I suggest to the committee that no power was delegated to + the House of Commons by the Act of Union, or by subsequent + statutes, to compel to attendance Irish members on the + deliberations of the British Parliament. Neither do I find that + any authority has been given by statutory enactment to the House + (except in the case of election petitions) to enforce the + attendance of members upon committees. + + "I refrain, however, from arguing legal questions which may be + raised before another tribunal, in case it should become + necessary and advisable to appeal from the decision of the House + of Commons to the courts of judicature, and conclude by assuring + the committee that I take the course which I propose to + adopt, not from any desire to defy the just authority of the + House of Commons, but in obedience to my sense of the duty which + I owe to my constituents and my country. + + "I have the honour to be, your obedient servant, + + "WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN. + + "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection." + +[Illustration: Thomas Devin Reilly] + +Mr. O'Connell's letter bears date on the next day, as announced in the +correspondent's notice, because it was intended it should not be +delivered until the honourable gentleman was beyond the pale of English +jurisdiction. + + "BRITISH HOTEL, JERMYN STREET, + + 8 a.m., _July 1st._ + + "Sir.--I have to acknowledge the receipt of a notification by + order of your committee, to the effect that my attendance in + Parliament will be required during the week beginning Monday, + 14th July, for the purpose of serving, if chosen, on a + parliamentary committee. + + "With every respect to you, Sir, and the gentlemen of your + committee, I absolutely decline attending. + + "I, like some others, came to London the first time this session + about a fortnight ago to remonstrate against and endeavour to + resist the plan of infidel education which the Government are + forcing upon Ireland. We had not, nor for some years have had, + the slightest hope of obtaining any measure of good from a + foreign parliament; but we came against our better judgment, + that it might not be said we had not gone all lengths to + endeavour to deter the Government from a scheme so redolent of + political corruption, social profligacy and religious + infidelity. + + "We came armed with multitudinous petitions of the people, and + the strong, unanimous and most decided protest from our revered + prelacy and clergy. + + "We were of course mocked at, derided and refused; but, what is + of infinitely more consequence, the voice of our prelates and of + the faithful people of Ireland have been treated with utter + contempt--even Irish Catholics (yielding to the unwholesome + influences around them) joining in the contemptuous refusal. + + "Under these circumstances, Sir, I certainly will not suffer + that portion of the people of Ireland who have entrusted their + representation to my charge to be further mocked at and insulted + in my person. I go to where I can best discharge my duty to them + and to Ireland--_in Ireland_. There struggling, with doubtless + as little ability, but with more energy and, if possible, more + whole-hearted devotion than ever, to put an end to the present + degradation of my country and obtain for her that which can + alone ensure protection to her interests, relief to her many + wants, and peace, freedom and happiness to her long oppressed + and long enduring people, + + "I have the honour to be, Sir, + + "Your obedient servant, + + "JOHN O'CONNELL. + + "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection." + +These documents were entered on the minutes of the Association, and +remained on its records with the original resolution. But no more was +done in the matter until the beginning of April, 1846. + +Mr. O'Connell and his son were in London, and Mr. O'Brien remained in +Ireland. They had been all summoned to attend on committees. When Mr. +O'Brien reached London, he found that the Messrs. O'Connell, without any +previous communication with him or with the Association, and without +reference to the solemn resolution, to the contrary, of that body, were +acting on committees. This deeply disappointed and mortified him, and he +at once resolved to remain faithful, at all risks, and though he stood +alone, to the obligation which he had contracted with the sanction and +approval of his country. Whatever may be the temper and resolution of +the House of Commons, had it been resisted by the unbroken strength of +the Association, it felt confident of its power to crush Mr. O'Brien +alone, separate from, nay, abandoned by, the great leader of the Irish +people. It must be acknowledged that the course pursued by the Commons +was considerate and moderate. A principle involving their liberty of +action was in issue; to vindicate it was indispensable; but finding +themselves only opposed by a single man, of all those who had provoked +the encounter, they proceeded with caution and forbearance. They +forewarned, counselled and remonstrated during the time that intervened; +and several members of the House, including Mr. O'Connell, urged Mr. +O'Brien to give way. He refused, determinedly, and it may be supposed +not the less sternly, when he found, among those who advised him to +falsify his solemn promise, the man upon whose authority and through +whose influence he had made it. The result was, his arrest and +imprisonment, for disobedience to the House. Circumstances more trying +never beset the fortitude of a great man. Personal liberty was his +slightest loss. The sneers of his enemies, the pity of his personal, and +the desertion of his political, friends poisoned[A] the very air of the +miserable cell to which he was consigned, and what completed his agony +was a notion that he had been abandoned by his country. + +During the early part of his imprisonment, a motion was made questioning +the authority of the House. In the course of the discussion, Sir Thomas +Wilde, then Attorney-General, dared any constitutional lawyer to impugn +the jurisdiction assumed by the House. Every member felt that the +challenge was offered to Mr. O'Connell, who replied as follows:-- + + "I am sure that the House will give credit to my assurance that + I should not rise to advocate the cause of my honourable friend, + if I thought he had had the slightest intention of being + disrespectful towards the House. It has not been his intention + to be guilty of any contempt towards it: he thought he was + entitled to make the exception to which he adheres. He has acted + from a strong sense of duty, and I am sorry to see it is a sense + of duty he is not likely to give up." + +I add to this an extract from his speech delivered at the Corn Exchange, +when, in spite of the most earnest remonstrance, the Association offered +its defiance in solemn form to the British Parliament. + + "Mr. O'Connell rose amid loud cheers, and said:--Our usual + course of proceeding in this hall is to commence with handing in + money, and then to go on with business of inferior importance, + the business of making speeches (hear! hear! and laughter); but + among the passing events of the day, there is one of such signal + importance, that I am sure you will readily admit that I am + right when I claim for it, on the present occasion, a right of + precedence over any donation or subscription, no matter from + what quarter they may come. The matter I allude to is a menace + held out for the intimidation (as it is supposed) of the Irish + members who are given to understand that there is about to be a + call of the House, and that it is intended that the Speaker's + warrant shall issue to compel them to go over to London. Now, + sir, I think it right to apprise the Association and the country + that, having considered this question attentively, I have made + up my mind that the Speaker has no constitutional authority + whatever to issue any such warrant." + +But what pained Mr. O'Brien the deepest was the apparent coldness, +apathy or cowardice of the Irish people. Among them, and them only, he +calculated an enthusiastic sustainment. But those who felt the deepest +in his regard were constrained by the responsibility of coming to an +open rupture with Mr. O'Connell, at a time when union in the ranks of +the Association was indispensable to even partial success. A vote was +proposed to the committee, approving of Mr. O'Brien's act, and pledging +the Association to an identification with the principle by which his +conduct was governed. That vote was resisted by the whole of Mr. +O'Connell's family, and personal friends and by all the pensioners and +employes of the body. It was carried, nevertheless. But a motion to +consult Mr. O'Connell as to its legality was passed, and the resolution +was transmitted to him accordingly. His reply was an urgent remonstrance +against the resolution on the ground of illegality. Meantime, +representations were made that a certain party in the Association, +intolerant of Mr. O'Connell's sway, were using that occasion to +undermine his authority and overthrow his power. The great +responsibility of causing disunion determined the supporters of the +resolution to compromise with its opponents, and it was finally shaped +thus:-- + + "Resolved, That having learned with deep regret, that by a + resolution of the House of Commons the country has been deprived + of the eminent services of Mr. William Smith O'Brien, and that + illustrious member of this Association himself committed to + prison, we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without + conveying to him the assurance of our undiminished confidence in + his integrity, patriotism and personal courage, and our + admiration for the high sense of duty and purity of purpose + which prompted him to risk his personal liberty in assertion of + a principle which he believed to be inherent in the constitution + of his country." + +It was again, in its modified form, transmitted to Mr. O'Connell, and +returned with his disapprobation. Captain Broderick read a letter from +him, to that effect, at a meeting of the committee, suddenly summoned on +Monday, the 4th of May, a few hours only previous to the public meeting +of the Association, deprecating the passing of the resolution in any +form. The present writer was the proposer of the resolution, and, +feeling that he had already made too great a compromise, he refused to +accede to this last request of Mr. O'Connell. The resolution was +proposed and adopted with acclamation, and a letter was read from Mr. +O'Connell, by Mr. Ray, in which he stated that the resolution did not go +far enough. + +In the provinces, the timid policy of the Association was decried with +bitterness, and the men who struggled, against great odds, to identify +the whole island with Mr. O'Brien, and pledge it to sustain him to the +last, were subjected to the most virulent denunciations. Because the +compromised resolution was moved, seconded, and spoken to by them, the +whole country regarded them as the betrayers of their own avowed chief, +and the violence with which they were attacked was unmeasured and +unscrupulous. + +They made no reply. No unjust aspersions from a people in ignorance of +the resistance offered to them, and the motives that influenced them, +could induce them to explain the position they had taken. But when they +saw while they were subjected to the storm that Mr. O'Connell's friends, +on the authority of his published letter, took credit for neutrality, +they resolved once more to test the question in a body, whose +proceedings were of a more private character, and where the most marked +difference of opinion could lead to no fatal result--the Eighty-Two +Club. Mr. O'Connell was the president of this club, and Mr. O'Brien one +of its vice-presidents. A meeting was called. The attendance was +unusually large. Men who had never before, and have never since, +appeared at its meetings, were present. The question proposed was that +an address be presented to Mr. O'Brien, in which his principles and his +conduct would be fully recognised, approved of and adopted. This led to +a discussion that lasted two days, but the motion was carried in the +end by a majority of two to one. One man, and one only, unconnected with +Mr. O'Connell, either by personal friendship or personal obligations, +voted against the resolution. That man is Sir Colman O'Loghlen. His name +is mentioned, because he was the only member of the minority whose +motives could be regarded as unquestionable. For the rest, the minority +was composed of Mr. O'Connell's sons and relatives, with Mr. Ray and Mr. +Crean, officers of the Association, and one or two members whom he had +caused to be returned to Parliament, amounting to twelve. A committee +was appointed to prepare the address and resolutions, which were written +by John Mitchel, and adopted by the committee without the change of a +word. They also determined that the address should be adopted in its +integrity by the club, or not at all. When it was proposed, objection +was again taken to its principle, on the ground that it would commit the +club, and involve it in a hopeless conflict with the House of Commons +which of itself, it was averred, would be a misdemeanour at common law. +The proposition was eminently absurd in common sense, as well as law, +but it was sustained by the practised ingenuity and great skill of Mr. +O'Hea, who, to do him justice, seemed deeply to feel the hopelessness +and shamefulness of the task that was assigned him. But no other +argument could prevail, and this appeal to the fears or selfishness of +its wealthiest members was had recourse to in consequence of the utter +poverty of reason and argument, which could otherwise be presented +against the principle of the address. But such an obligation led to a +novel difficulty and bitterer conflict. A discussion involving +principles of the greatest moment narrowed into a technical disquisition +of abstract law. Mr. O'Hea was driven from his position by the unanimous +and unqualified opinion of every barrister present, and even by his own +silence, when dared to allow the address to pass in the negative, and +assume the responsibility of its rejection on the avowed ground of his +legal opinion, as expressed to the meeting. The address was adopted by a +greater majority than that which had confirmed the principle on the +previous day, and a deputation was appointed to present it to Mr. +O'Brien in his prison. + +The members of that deputation, who proceeded to fulfil their mission, +were William Bryan, of Raheny Lodge; John Mitchel, Richard O'Gorman, +Thomas Francis Meagher and the present writer. They were accompanied by +Terence Bellew MacManus and John Pigot, who joined them in London. They +waited on Mr. O'Connell, as the president of the club, produced the +address and requested he would proceed with them to present it. He +admitted, without question, that as it was adopted by so very large and +influential a majority, he was bound to do so. But he added that Mr. +O'Brien refused to receive a visit from him, owing to the part he had +taken, and further said, if Mr. O'Brien expressed a wish to see him, +that he would accompany us. The deputation on their way to the House of +Commons consulted for a moment, and, as well as I remember, Doctor Gray +and some others were present: the result was a determination to present +the address without Mr. O'Connell, feeling that an explanation between +him and Mr. O'Brien, could not fail to lead to unpleasant +recriminations, if not to more serious differences. The address and +answer were as follows:-- + + "TO WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN, ESQ. + + "RESPECTED VICE-PRESIDENT AND BROTHER. + + "Heartily approving of the course you have taken in refusing to + devote to the concerns of another people any of the time which + your own constituents and countrymen feel to be of so much value + to them, we, your brethren of the '82 Club, take this occasion + of recording our increased confidence in, and esteem for you, + personally and politically, and our determination to sustain and + stand by you in asserting the right of Ireland to the + undistracted labours of our own representatives in Parliament. + + "We, sir, like yourself, have long since 'abandoned for ever all + hope of obtaining wise and beneficial legislation for Ireland + from the Imperial Parliament'; nor would such legislation, even + if attainable, satisfy our aspirations. We are confederated + together in the '82 Club upon the plain ground that no body of + men ought to have power to make laws binding this kingdom, save + the Monarch, Lords, and Commons of Ireland. From that principle + we shall never depart, and with God's help it shall soon find + recognition by a parliament of our own. + + "Upon the mode in which the House of Commons has thought fit to + exercise the privilege it asserts in the present instance--upon + the personal discourtesy which has marked all the late + proceedings in your regard, we shall make but one comment, that + every insult to you is felt as an insult to us and to the people + of Ireland. + + "It would be idle and out of place to offer condolence to you, + confined in an English prison for such an offence. We + congratulate you that you have made yourself the champion of + your country's rights, and submitted to ignominy for a cause + which you and we know shall one day triumph. + + "(Signed) + + "COLMAN M. O'LOGHLEN, Vice-President, Chairman. + + + "May 9th, 1846." + + "BROTHERS OF THE '82 CLUB.--I receive this address with pride + and satisfaction. + + "I recognise in the '82 Club a brotherhood of patriots, who have + volunteered to take the foremost place in contending for the + liberties of Ireland, and who may vie, in regard of ability, + integrity and sincerity of purpose, with any political + association, consisting of equal numbers, which has ever been + united in voluntary confederation. + + "The unqualified approval accorded to my conduct by such a body + justifies me in entertaining a sentiment of honourable pride, + which I am not ashamed to avow. + + "Nor shall I attempt to disguise the satisfaction with which I + receive this address. + + "If you had approached me with language of condolence, I could + scarcely have dissembled my grief and disappointment; but you + have justly felt that such language would be unsuited to the + occasion, and unworthy both of yourselves and of me. + + "On the contrary, you _congratulate_ me upon being subjected to + reproach and indignity for having aspired to vindicate the + rights of my native land; you deem, as I deem, that to suffer + for Ireland is a privilege rather than a penalty. + + "In acknowledging your address, I shall not dwell upon the many + important considerations which are involved in my present + contest with the House of Commons. I cannot but think, indeed, + that the constitutional questions at issue are of the highest + moment, not alone to the Irish people, but also to each member + of the legislature, and to every parliamentary elector in the + United Kingdom. Upon the present occasion, however, I am + contented to waive all reference to collateral issues, and to + justify my conduct upon the simple ground upon which it has + received your approval--namely, that until a domestic + legislature shall be obtained for Ireland, my own country + demands my undivided exertions. + + "Be assured that those exertions will not be withheld so long as + life and liberty remain to me, until Ireland shall again _fiat_ + the Declaration of 1782: 'That no body of men is entitled to + make laws to bind the Irish nation save only the Monarch, the + Lords, and the Commons of Ireland.'" + +On my way home I was invited to address a public meeting of Repealers in +Liverpool. I accepted the invitation, and in the course of my +observations, emphatically repudiated all compromise on the subject of +my country's deliverance. I disclaimed the idea that any concessions, +any equalization with England in political franchises, any amelioration +of our political or social condition, could ever be accepted by Ireland +in compromise of her inalienable independence. When I arrived in Dublin, +I attended the Association, and, happening to read a letter from the +Rev. Mr. Walshe, of Clonmel, couched in the warmest terms of admiration +of Mr. O'Brien's purity and heroism, the cowardice or jealousy of a +certain party in the Hall found expression through its proper organs, +and I was called to order in the name of the law. A violation of law to +_praise_ William Smith O'Brien! The chairman decided it was. To such +decision I scorned to submit, and I read the letter to the end, amidst +the most enthusiastic cheers of the audience. I was proceeding to read +another letter from another clergyman of the same town, written in a +very different spirit, when I was besought to withhold it, and entreated +not to read it. I complied. It is but fair to add here that on the +Saturday previous, an article was published in the _Nation_, some +expressions of which Mr. O'Connell considered personally insulting. + +Whether Mr. O'Connell was influenced by one or all of these occurrences, +cannot be affirmed here. But he proceeded to Ireland in the course of +the week, and suddenly called a meeting of the Committee of the +Association, before which he arraigned us of discourtesy to him in +London, found fault with the meeting at Liverpool, accused the _Nation_ +of attacking him, and, finally, expressed his unequivocal disapprobation +of my resistance to the order of the chairman in the Hall. The +deputation explained their conduct in London, and the motives that +governed them, with which he appeared to be satisfied. All connection +with the proceeding in Liverpool with which he took offence, was +disclaimed, and, finally, Mr. Duffy satisfied him that no offence was +meant him in the _Nation_, and that the passage of which he complained +had no reference to him. + +The discussion was a long and, to some extent, an angry one. It ended, +however, as we thought, amicably. Mr. O'Connell had proposed at the +outset two objects, namely, to express a solemn condemnation of the +proceedings in Liverpool, and to expel the _Nation_ from the +Association. The rule of the Association was to send to every locality, +at the expense of the body, whatever papers the subscribers of a +certain sum desired. There were then three other weekly papers in +Dublin, The _Register_, the _Freeman_, and the _Old Irelander_. The +_Nation_ had a circulation nearly equal to that of all the others. Its +expulsion from the Association would at once deprive it of all the +circulation it had through its agency, thus involving a very serious +pecuniary loss to Mr. Duffy. + +The two positions were abandoned, and the Committee separated on +amicable terms. Another subject of importance was under discussion. This +was, what suitable mark of national respect should be offered to Mr. +O'Brien; and it was proposed that the committee should re-assemble on +the following day (Sunday), at two o'clock. At the second meeting the +disagreeable topics of the former evening were revived and discussed in +a more acrimonious spirit and tone. The Committee was differently +composed, most of the treasurers connected with the Committee being +present, and most of the professional men, who attended on Saturday, +being absent, Mr. O'Connell saw his advantage, or those under whose +guidance he unfortunately was, saw it, and urged him on. He clearly had +a majority. But having satisfied himself he could succeed, with a +resolution refusing to circulate the _Nation_, he generously conceded +the whole matter; and once more the Committee separated on good terms. + +It was hoped that, as the concession was entirely voluntary, Mr. +O'Connell would be content. This was a vain hope. On the next day, he +referred to the subject in terms of unmitigated animosity; and on +Tuesday the resolution of exclusion, in effect, though not formally, +passed in the absence of most of those who were well known to be opposed +to it. + +One word of concession would have saved the _Nation_ at this juncture; +but that one word would not be written, had the consequence of refusal +been the loss of every subscriber it had in the world. It maintained its +high position in face of the two despotisms which had combined to crush +it. The resolution of the Association was not formally recorded, but it +remained in readiness to be re-asserted as soon as the trial in the +Queen's Bench would be over. + +That trial was for the celebrated railroad article, written by John +Mitchel. When the article first appeared, Mr. O'Connell came to the +_Nation_ office. He seated himself familiarly, and, seeing all its +contributors around him, he said: "I came to complain of this article." +He then read through until where certain principles, previously +promulgated, were recommended to Repeal wardens as the catechism they +should teach. "I do not object," said he, "to your principles; but I +object to your coupling them with the duties of Repeal wardens who are +the officers of the Association." Mr. Duffy promised, at once, to +explain the matter, to Mr. O'Connell's satisfaction, in the next number. +He did so accordingly, and no more was said of it until after the +prosecution was commenced. + +On the 17th of June, Mr. Duffy was placed at the bar, on an information +or indictment setting forth the entire of the obnoxious article. The +Government was vehement and imperative, and the Bench constitutionally +jealous of the law. The prosecution was conducted with malevolent +ability, and the court charged, with pious zeal, for the crown. Robert +Holmes was counsel for the accused and, in an impassioned speech, on +every word of which was stamped the impress of originality, vigour and +beauty, vindicated not the "liberty of the press," but the truth of the +startling propositions Mr. Mitchel had propounded. + +In the Hall, the speech was regarded as triumphant for the country, but +conclusive against Mr. Duffy. It was said that for sake of his client he +should confuse, confound and deny. The fact, however, justified the +advocate. When Mr. Mitchel first promulgated his principles, they grated +strongly on the public ear. Men openly pronounced the doctrines +pernicious and bloody. But the veteran of the bar, speaking in the +spirit of the more glorious times he remembered, denounced as a slave +and a toward any one who thought them too strong for the occasion on +which they were used, and the provocation to which they applied. For a +brief moment he awoke in other hearts the spirit that lived in his own. +The jury refused to convict, and were discharged. But the prosecution in +which the Attorney-General failed, was transferred before a more loyal +tribunal, and Mr. Duffy was condemned by the judgment of _Conciliation_ +Hall; a judgment of which something remains to be said hereafter. + +It has been stated that the subject of testifying the respect of the +_Nation_ for its chivalrous advocate, after his release from the prison +of the House of Commons--he was discharged without compromise or +submission on the 26th of May--was under discussion. + +A public and triumphal entry was determined on. But Mr. Smith O'Brien, +desirous that the State prisoners of 1844 should be participators in +any tribute of respect offered to him, requested that the 6th of +September, the day of their release from prison, should be fixed on for +a public triumph, in which all alike could share. + +[Illustration: John Mitchell] + +Mr. O'Brien passed through the metropolis quietly on his way home; but +in Limerick and Newcastle was received by hundreds of thousands with +boundless joy. When he returned to town, it was to be expelled from that +body to which he, of all living men, gave most firmness, and for which +he alone acquired most respect. In the events which followed, the public +dinner was forgotten. + +It is now time to recur to those events, some of which at least range +behind those already detailed--to which the following preliminary may be +necessary. Early in June, a meeting was held at Lord John Russell's, +when the minister-expectant explained the grounds on which he claimed +the support of the entire Liberal Party. The English Liberals, generally +and enthusiastically, acquiesced. The correspondent of the _Evening +Mail_, writing from London, stated that Mr. O'Connell added to his +adhesion, a voluntary promise to sink the cause of Repeal provided +measures of a truly liberal character were carried into effect. He, +moreover, said that he never meant more by Repeal than a thorough +identification of the two countries. The _Nation_ indignantly repelled +the insinuations of the correspondence, and pronounced it a lie. Mr. +O'Connell and his friends passed the _Mail_ by unnoticed, but bestowed +on the _Nation_ their measureless wrath. It was never afterwards +forgiven. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +DEFEAT OF PEEL.--ACCESSION or THE WHIGS.--MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE.--DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL.--MR. O'CONNELL DENOUNCES THE +YOUNG IRELAND PARTY.--CONTINUED DEBATES.--QUESTIONS AT ISSUE.--PHYSICAL +FORCE.--THE SECESSION.--WHIG ALLIANCE.--DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE.--FORMATION +OF THE CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER.--MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH.--CLOSE OF THE +YEAR 1847. + + +On the 25th of June, Sir Robert Peel was defeated in the House of +Commons on a motion that the Irish Coercion Bill be read a second time. + +The majority against him was seventy-three, and was composed of the Whig +party, the extreme Conservatives, the ultra-Radicals and Irish +Repealers. In ten days after, Lord John Russell assumed the seals of +office. During the preliminary arrangements that led to Peel's defeat, +there was much coquetting between the Whig and Irish leaders. Alarmed by +this startling aspect of affairs, and somewhat, perhaps, by the +uncontradicted correspondence of the _Mail_, heretofore alluded to, Mr. +Meagher, in the midst of vociferous cheering, announced from the tribune +of Conciliation Hall, "that Irish Repealers would teach an honest lesson +to the Whigs." This took place on the 15th of June. A short discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, O'Gorman and Barry took part, +denouncing in the strongest language all idea of compromise with the +Whigs. On the next day of meeting (June 22nd) a letter was read from Mr. +O'Connell, expressing "the bitterest regret at the efforts being made +by some of their juvenile members to create dissension in the +Association." "To silence all unworthy cavilling," he desired that the +solemn pledge of the Rotunda be read after his letter, and copies +thereof posted in the Hall. This letter was the signal for an attack on +the Seceders by James Fitzpatrick, who is now enjoying his reward in +shape of a lucrative office on the coast of Africa. Another discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, Barry, O'Gorman and myself repelled +the charge urged against us by Lord John Russell, to the effect that we +were separatists. + +The discussion which followed was an angry one. Fierce denunciations +against the Whigs proceeded from the Seceders, which were answered by +the Old Irelanders, as they called themselves, with clap-trap allusions +to the name and fame of the "Liberator." The audience were indisposed to +be duped, and so strong and general was the aversion to a Whig +compromise, that Mr. D. O'Connell, jun. was denied a hearing, and even +the Secretary found it difficult to command a moment's attention. + +The next letter from Mr. O'Connell, was written after the accession of +the Whigs. It, too, evidently bore the impress of that controlling fact. +The writer enumerated twelve measures (excluding Repeal) "without which +no British minister should dream of bidding for the people of Ireland." +On the whole, the letter, which was long and elaborate, was an +unmistakable though very guarded advice to give another trial to the +Whigs. Mr. O'Brien, in moving that it be inserted on the minutes, +pressed his conviction that the "millions would never abandon Repeal." +He concluded by reading a resolution, pro posed in 1842 and seconded by +Mr. O'Connell himself, to the effect that the Whigs were as inimical to +Repeal as the Tories; and that no honest Repealer could vote for a Whig +representative. Mr. O'Brien, on this occasion, took a wrong course. +Instead of moving that the letter be inserted on the minutes, he should +have moved its rejection, as containing doctrines subversive of +principle and inconsistent with the solemn pledges of the nation. He +was, no doubt, influenced by a desire to preserve unanimity; but the +unanimity which is based on the disruption of most binding obligations +is weaker and more fatal than any division. One paramount advantage +would result from at once joining issue with Mr. O'Connell--the question +would be placed on its true ground, and the preposterous folly of the +physical and moral force abstractions would never have been heard of. + +Mr. O'Connell appeared in Conciliation Hall on Monday, the 6th of July. +He stated that his object was to ascertain the state of the registries, +so as to resist the return of the anti-Repealers in any of the towns +where a vacancy was likely to occur. But he added, "I will give no +vexatious opposition." Here a voice cried "Dungarvan," with significant +emphasis, a question Mr. O'Connell evaded with his usual dexterity. Four +seats were then actually vacant; Dungarvan, Drogheda, Dundalk and +Roscommon county. In the three former, there were clear majorities in +favour of Repeal. That question admitted of no earthly doubt. It had +been long before enquired into, and assurances the most unequivocal were +transmitted to the Association. On motion of Mr. O'Connell, the +question was referred to the committee. + +Daniel O'Connell, jun., was a candidate for Dundalk, where a public +dinner was given him on the 7th. His father attended, and said, "_I tell +you there is another experiment to be made, in which every honest and +rational man, of every party, will join._" Similar doctrines were to be +found in his former letter and speech, above referred to; and the other +members of the Association awoke to a sense of the danger that +threatened the body. Meantime, the Dungarvan committee proceeded with +its labours. A deputation from that town waited on them--the parish +priest and two others. They paid their first visit, however, to the +Secretary, at the Castle. They found it as easy to satisfy the +committee, or its majority, as the Secretary found it to satisfy +themselves. They advised there should be no opposition given to Mr. +Shiel on these two grounds: First, because success was then impossible, +owing to the shortness of the time for preparation. And secondly, +because a failure then would endanger the cause at the general election +which was to take place in a few months. The sincerity of these reasons +was tested by the facts, that, at the general election, the same parish +priest stood at the hustings to propose and sustain the same official of +the Whigs, insolently proclaiming his steadfastness in O'Connell's +_glorious principles_, while he was huckstering away the honour and +independence of his country; and that at that general election, when the +people of Dungarvan were more openly betrayed and trafficked on by John +O'Connell, and when they had to contend against the treachery of the +priest, the treachery of the Association and the whole strength of the +Whigs, they were only defeated in their opposition to Mr. Shiel by three +votes. But, sincere or not, absurd or not, they were conclusive with the +committee, or its chairman, who reported that it was not advisable to +oppose Mr. Shiel, and this report was published just two days after Mr. +Shiel had been returned unopposed. + +No wonder that the actual return of Mr. Shiel, which the committee was +charged to resist, had escaped its vigilance; for the celebrated Peace +Resolutions were, at the same time, under discussion, and produced +simultaneously with the Dungarvan report. Mr. Mitchel, Mr. O'Gorman and +Mr. Meagher, who attended the committee, vainly remonstrated against the +betrayal of Dungarvan, as well as the Peace Resolutions. They saw that +the real object of the resolutions was to blind the country to the other +important question, whether the Irish constituencies were to be +transferred once more to Whig placemen; and they confined their +opposition principally to the Dungarvan case. It must be admitted, too, +that the falsehood involved in the Peace Resolutions, escaped their +attention in the first instance; and they were under the impression that +the pledge they contained extended no farther than the action of the +Association itself was concerned. On consideration, they found it was of +far wider scope, and would engage them to a false principle, embracing +all men, all countries and all tunes; and having stated this at the +public meeting of the Association, they allowed the resolutions to pass +without further opposition. + +The original resolution on which the Association was framed is this:-- + + "The total disclaimer of, and absence from, all physical force, + violence or breach of the law." + +The resolution, reported on the 13th of July, 1846, is as follows:-- + + "That, to promote political amelioration, peaceable means alone + should be used, to the exclusion of all others, save those that + are peaceful, legal and constitutional." + +Sometimes, it has been averred lately that these two resolutions are, in +principle and effect, the same. Mr. O'Connell himself declared the +latter was introduced by him, "_to draw a line of demarcation between +Old and Young Ireland_." Indeed, if there were no distinction, the +introduction would be eminently absurd as well as pernicious. And if +they be different, as essentially they are, there must be some strong +justification for the adoption of the latter. + +But before proceeding to this enquiry, it may not be amiss to point out +the exact distinction between the original and the new resolution. The +former embraced a rule of action whereby the members of the Association +engaged their faith and honour to each other and the country that they +would not use its agency to cause or promote physical force or violence +of any kind, or commit one another to any act of illegality. But it went +no farther--it enunciated no moral dogma--a rule of conscience rather +than a pledge of conduct such as the other--and it claimed no sacrifice +of one's own convictions. As a mutual guarantee, it was not only just +but essential to the perfect safety of the Association. + +On the other hand, the new resolution excluded the question of practical +action altogether. Neither in itself nor in its preamble was there an +averment, or even an assumption of its necessity, as a rule of guidance. +It was a mere abstract opinion, utterly irrespective of the object or +conduct of the Association, and only applicable as a test of certain +speculative theories. But not alone was it inapplicable and +preposterous; it was utterly untrue: at least, there are many men who +could not subscribe to it without, according to their own convictions, +being guilty of a lie. Supposing, however, that the seceders had +attempted to violate the old constitution of the confederacy, it may be +argued that Mr. O'Connell would be justified in preparing the most +stringent tests for the purpose of restraining them. But no such attempt +was ever made; no one proposed in the Association, no one hinted outside +it, that it ought to violate one of its rules. No one complained of +these rules, or said they ought to be changed, modified or, to the least +extent, relaxed. Neither directly nor indirectly, openly nor covertly, +was there a word spoken, nor an act done, nor a suggestion offered to +that effect. The resolution was, therefore, uncalled for and +unnecessary, as it was unsound and untrue. + +Of this there is the clearest proof. First, the negative proof is +conclusive. Mr. O'Connell did not name an act, or refer to a word of one +single seceder, which would justify the imputation that they sought or +desired to involve the Association in any expedient inconsistent with +its fundamental rules. His only proof was this, and he did not then rely +on it: Lord John Russell stated in the House, "I am told that one party +among the Repealers are anxious for a separation from England." This is +his solitary proof, nor does it appear that he was not himself the +informant of the minister. But the positive proofs at the other side are +numerous and incontestable. I select a few. On the 13th of July Mr. +O'Gorman, in presence of Mr. O'Connell, said: "In order that there shall +be no misconception on the subject, as far as I am concerned, I say, at +once, I am no advocate for physical force. As a member of the +Association I am bound by its laws. One of these is, that its object is +not to be attained by the use of physical force, but by moral means +only." Mr. Mitchel, on that occasion, said: "This is a legally organised +and constitutional society seeking to attain its object, as all the +world knows, by peaceable means and none other. Constitutional agitation +is the very basis of it; and nobody who contemplates any other mode of +bringing about the independence of the country has a right to come here, +or consider himself a fit member of our Association." On the 28th of +July, Mr. Meagher said: "I do advocate the peaceful policy of the +Association. It is the only policy we can and should adopt. If it be +pursued with truth, with courage and with firmness of purpose, I do +firmly believe it will succeed." + +Mr. M.J. Barry, on the 7th of June, said, "It is perfectly plain to all +that the purpose of the Association is to work out its object by means +of moral force, and that only." In my letter to Mr. Ray, written long +after the secession, I used these words: "The first (original rule of +the Association) implies a pledge and an obligation to which every +member of the Association bound himself. Any member, who violates it, or +would induce the Association to infringe it, must be false to his own +vow and treacherous to the Association, whence he should be expelled +with every mark of infamy." + +These proofs are taken at random: they range over the time before, after +and contemporaneous with the secession. They could be multiplied one +hundredfold, and taken from the speeches and writings of every one of +the seceders. Yet that fact availed nothing--they were told, because +"they differed from the rules laid down by the Liberator, they ceased to +be members of the Association." + +This is, in some sort, a digression. I return to the events which +directly precipitated the division. It will be remembered that the +objections of the seceders to the Peace Resolutions were confined to an +emphatic expression of dissent. They were not, then, informed that they +ceased to be members. They attended the next meeting; and, having +repeated the same dissent, they expressed their fervent wish for a +perfect understanding, and pledged themselves to continue their +co-operation, as if the resolution had not been passed. Mr. John Reilly +repudiated these advances, and charged them with treachery to Ireland, +as the natural complement of disobedience to O'Connell. He gave notice +that he would put certain interrogatories to Mr. O'Brien, in reference +to a speech delivered by him at Clare On the next day of meeting, Mr. +O'Brien attended (July 26), and a letter from Mr. O'Connell, containing +the bitterest complaints, against the "advocates of physical force," as +he pleased to call them, "_who_," he said, "_continued members of our +body, in spite of our resolutions_," was read. + +A discussion, acrimonious and prolonged, followed. The debate was +adjourned to the next day, when it was again renewed. Mr. John O'Connell +spoke for nearly three hours, directing most of his arguments against +some admissions of the _Nation_ as to the purpose entertained by the +writers in 1843. A casual expression--"_we had promises of aid from +Ledru Rollin, and many a surer source._"--supplied him with abundant +material for loyal indignation. He was heard without interruption. Mr. +Meagher rose to reply. He delivered that most impassioned oration, in +which occurs the apostrophe to the sword. The meeting yielded to the +frankness, sincerity, enthusiasm and supreme eloquence of the young +orator, and rewarded him by its uncontrollable and unanimous applause. +Mr. J. O'Connell rose, and, in the midst of a scene of universal +rapture, coldly said, "either Mr. Meagher or myself must leave the +Association." Too generous to avail himself of the enthusiasm he +excited, Mr. Meagher withdrew. So did Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Mitchel and the +others, with more than three-fourths of the meeting. + +Thus occurred the secession. Mr. J. O'Connell simulated some stage +grief, expressing his ardent hope that the "Liberator," on his arrival, +would heal the wounds he had himself inflicted. How sincere was that +hope is proved by the fact that, when Mr. O'Connell did arrive, which +was on the Saturday following, he was prevented from proceeding farther +than Kingstown, where he was detained until the hour of meeting on +Monday; thus rendering it impossible to have an interview with Mr. +O'Brien, or any one who could facilitate an arrangement. On Monday, +instead of using soothing language and kind advice, he probed the wounds +to the bottom, and infused into them subtlest poison. It is needless, as +it would be painful, to recount the details of bitterness and hate with +which on that day he dashed the hopes of the country. The result was +deep and irreconcilable estrangement. Those who left the hall, rather +than drive therefrom the son of Daniel O'Connell, finding themselves +repaid by calumny, yielded to the conviction which every successive act +of Mr. O'Connell conduced to establish, namely, that the country, and +her great hope of destiny, were handed over to the Whigs. + +The proofs of this belief were, first: The statement in the _Mail_, +which remained undenied, and must, therefore, be taken to be undeniable. + +Secondly: The expression used by Mr. O'Connell, in his speech at +Conciliation Hall, that he would give no "vexatious opposition" to the +Whig nominee. + +Thirdly: His statement, at Dundalk, that "one experiment more was to be +made, in which every honest man would join." + +Fourthly: The following passage, which occurred in Mr. O'Connell's +letter, dated London, 27th of June, 1846: "There is an opportunity to +consider the Irish question as if on neutral grounds; there is a +glorious opportunity (the return of the Whigs to power) of deciding if +the Repealers be right in believing that no substantial relief can be +given to Ireland in a British Parliament; or that they are wrong, to the +demonstration that would result from PRACTICAL JUSTICE being afforded by +that Parliament." + +Fifthly: The assertion of Mr. Lawless, in a letter to Mr. O'Connell, +dated 18th July, which the latter published, without contradiction or +comment, namely: "And yet it was with difficulty you (Mr. O'Connell) +prevented his (Mr. Shiel) being opposed in his election for Dungarvan," + +Sixthly: Mr. Shiel's election, without opposition, when his defeat, if +opposed, was perfectly certain. + +Seventhly: Mr. O'Connell's eulogy on The O'Conor Don for "accepting an +office, which would enable him to serve his country."--(_Speech in +Conciliation Hall, July 13th._) + +Eighthly: Mr. O'Connell's assertion, in his speech at Conciliation Hall: +"I did not begin this quarrel; in my absence in London, an attack was +made on the Whig ministry." + +And, finally: The boasted acceptance by Mr. O'Connell of the +distribution of Whig patronage, and the appointment of his personal +friends to lucrative employment. + +All that followed was one unvaried scene of distraction, division and +enmity. Week after week, the seceders were held up to public odium, +derision and scorn. One day, they were "blasphemous," one day, +"revolutionary," one day, they "sang small," and one day "their nobles +were come to ninepence." Now, they were challenged to establish a +society of their own principles; now, they were recommended to the +mercy of the Attorney-General, and again commended to the hatred of the +people. Meantime a blight had fallen on the earth, and a whole people's +food, in one night, perished. To the new Government, the famine that +ensued was an assurance of subsistence and success. Hunger would waste +the bodies of the people, as the dearth of truth had wasted their souls. +The ministry affected great sympathy, great diligence, and great +impotence. Among other wants of theirs, the want of practical engineers +was felt the deepest. They knew and lamented that many died of +starvation; but the thing was inevitable as long as they were unprovided +with practical engineers. Mr. O'Connell, from the platform of the hall, +announced the good intentions of the Government, and proclaimed, at the +same time, his own commission to supply them with engineers. How many +applied and were refused, I am not in a position to say; but there is no +disputing the records of the church-yard, where many an uncoffined +corpse attested the care of the "_paternal government_." The people were +guaranteed against death, and yet death came, and took them at his will; +but what was left of life was taught to exhaust itself in curses against +those who would save it at every risk. Wherever the seceders appeared +they were hooted. Prostitutes of both sexes regarded them as fit +subjects for their insolent raillery. The avowed foes of nationality +looked on them as fools; its pretended friends as knaves; and the common +herd of indifferent villains as a butt. The low retainers of the English +garrison, who had sold their souls to the enemy but were kept in awe by +bodily fear, became outrageously patriotic; and with insulted gratitude +they scouted the traducers of the "saviour of their country." Alas! in +Ireland, nothing was saved but death's agencies. Doom had come upon +all--her produce, her people, her hopes and her morality. + +The same report, which contained the Peace Resolutions, set out with a +statement dissevering the Association from the _Nation_ newspaper. If +the statement were embodied in a resolution of expulsion, it would clash +directly with the failure of the prosecution against it, and brand the +jurors who refused to find a verdict with perjury. But the admission of +the _Nation_ that, in 1843, it inculcated principles having a remote +tendency to effect the redemption of the country, by arms if need were, +supplied the Association with a pretext for expelling it altogether. Two +rules had been adopted for the circulation of newspapers. The first was, +when £10 were forwarded to the Secretary, the subscribers had the +privilege of naming two weekly or one evening paper, which the Secretary +was to forward and pay for. By the second rule, adopted after the State +trials, the subscribers retained the drawback, and selected and paid for +their own paper. For several weeks, the _Nation_ was the only theme of +Mr. O'Connell's abhorrence. He exhausted all his eloquence in warning +the people against it, but in vain. The people continued to insist on it +in return for their subscriptions. Accordingly, on the 10th of August, a +resolution was proposed to the effect that no money subscribed for +Repeal Purposes should be allocated to the payment of a subscription for +the _Nation_, on the sole ground that, in 1843, it inculcated doctrines +which were in their tendency treasonable. Mr. O'Connell said, after the +resolution was passed, that he did not wish to injure the paper in a +pecuniary point of view; and on the next day of meeting, he brought down +to the Association some twenty law authorities, which he read, to prove +that treason had actually been committed; and thus stamped the conduct +of the Attorney-General as not alone justifiable, but lenient to excess. + +The seceders determined to abide the issue. They had the fullest +confidence that the insensate cry raised against them would eventually +subside, and that truth would again prevail. They contented themselves, +therefore, with appealing to their countrymen, through the columns of +the _Nation_, then interdicted and banned through every parish in the +island. But, in those appeals, there was no word of allusion to the +storm of calumny and denunciation then raging against them. They sought +to fix public attention on subjects of vast national importance, and to +awake the energies of the people to some becoming effort where the stake +was their lives. Meantime, week after week, the Government was praised, +the Board of Works were praised, and the people--"_the faithful and +moral people, who died, peacefully, of hunger_"--were praised, in the +Repeal Association. + +[Illustration: Robert Holmes (1848)] + +Late in the autumn of 1846, some men, few in number and humble in +condition, undertook the desperate task of remonstrating with the Repeal +Association. Among them, Mr. Keeley and Mr. Holywood, Mr. Crean and Mr. +Halpin, were prominent. Their undertaking was gigantic, considering the +formidable obstacles they proposed to encounter. They proceeded silently +and sedulously; and, in a few weeks, a remonstrance against the +course pursued by the Association was signed by fifteen hundred citizens +of Dublin. It was presented to the Chairman of the Association on the +24th of October, and ordered by Mr. J. O'Connell to be flung into the +gutter. The remonstrants and the public resented this indignity alike. +It was determined to hold a meeting in the Rotunda, where they proposed +to defend themselves against every species of assault. The meeting was +held on the 3rd of November, and was allowed to pass off without +disturbance. Mr. M'Gee attended. He had never appeared in the struggle +in the hall, nor was he a member at the time. His speech at the Rotunda +was calm, forcible and conclusive on the points in issue; and the +excitement it created was, in no small degree, enhanced by the fact that +the speaker was a young man theretofore unknown. The success of the +meeting suggested the practicability and safety of an experiment upon a +large scale preparatory to the formation of the Confederation. The +meeting was fixed for the 2nd of December. The remonstrant committee +offered to defend it against any assailants. The main object was to +reply to the calumnies which, for nearly six months, had been urged +against the leading seceders. The meeting was one of the most important +ever held in the metropolis. It was intelligent, numerous and +fashionable. The entire ability of the seceders was put forth; and such +was the sensation created by the proceedings that two publishers, one in +Dublin and one in Belfast, brought out reports, in pamphlet form, which +were read all over the country with the greatest avidity. It was that +night stated, only casually, that the seceders would meet in January to +announce to the nation the course of political action they would +recommend. On the 13th of January, the promise was redeemed. The +seceders met as before, and their deliberations were guarded by the same +men, who thus a third time risked their lives--the hazard was nothing +less--to secure to the seceders freedom of speech and of action. On the +13th of January, the Confederation was fully established. The bases, if +the phrase be applicable, were freedom, tolerance and truth. There was +no avowal of war, and no pledge of peace. The great object was the +independence of the Irish nation; and no means to attain that end were +abjured, save such as were inconsistent with honour, morality and +reason. + +During the intervening time, between the first and second meetings, +overtures of peace were made by Mr. O'Connell. A sudden and singular +change was observable in his tone and language. He said with chagrin, +and acknowledged with reluctance, that the position and strength of the +party defied alike his power and his address. Every art and every effort +to crush them had been exhausted in vain. The question between them, he +now loudly proclaimed, was one purely of law; and he referred to several +barristers, by whose judgment he was ready to abide. The question he was +prepared to submit suggests the most mournful considerations. If it were +not painful, it would be amusing to see to what painful absurdities he +was compelled to have recourse. He would leave it to anyone at the bar, +whether the "physical force principle" would not make the Association +illegal; and then he would indulge in a hollow triumph over the +certainty and security of his position. But that was not the question +in issue. None of the seceders ever recommended the principle of +physical force, in practice or theory, to the Association. On the +contrary, they disavowed it, in reference to that body, and their own +connection with it. The real question was this--whether it was necessary +to the legality of any political society, to disavow, formally and +forever, under all circumstances, and at all times, the right of men to +strike down the cruellest tyranny with the strong hand. It would be +absurd to submit such a proposition to a lawyer, which could only be +answered by a laugh. It had been sufficiently settled by the fact that, +without it, the Catholic Association, the Corn-law League, and the +Repeal Association itself, up to the 13th of July, 1846, were perfectly +safe and perfectly legal. But no man knew better than Mr. O'Connell that +this was a feigned issue, the real one being the mendicancy of the +Association, and the treachery with which it abandoned the national +constituencies to Whig officials. The overtures on this occasion +eventuated in some negotiations, of which the Rev. Mr. Miley was the +medium. His mission was singularly unfortunate, for it led to greater +misunderstanding; and the negotiations terminated in mutual charges of +misconception or misrepresentation. + +The history of the Confederation, such as its importance deserves, is +beyond the scope of my present purpose. Others may undertake to +vindicate for its proceedings that enduring place in the annals of the +country to which they are eminently entitled. Here, but a few words can +be said. + +As soon as the eclat of the first meetings had subsided, and the +business began to assume a more routine character, the moral-force +disciples, hitherto kept in awe by the mustered strength of the seceders +and their followers, determined to give a practical illustration of the +sincerity of their pledge by breaking the skulls of their opponents. On +the first occasion, their onslaught was vigorous and successful. Blood +was shed, and heads opened. This was deemed no infraction of the holy +vow recorded in the books of the Association; for the body held its +meetings without exercising its undoubted prerogative of "blotting out" +the scene of outrage "from the map of Ireland." On the second occasion, +the wreckers of Conciliation Hall were met as they deserved, and after a +short skirmish fled through the city. + +The success of the new Confederacy was certain, but slow. But, in the +same proportion as their principles obtained predominance, the hatred of +the Old Irelanders became unscrupulous and implacable. Often in the +house of prayer, they heard themselves denounced; often in the streets, +they heard their names used as by-words of scorn. Mr. O'Connell +disappeared from the scene of his glory, which relapsed to the guidance +of his intolerant and intemperate son. Some attempts were made to force +him to a reconciliation, which in public he appeared to yield to, but +which in private he exercised his utmost cunning to baffle. In the midst +of this scene of distraction, Mr. O'Connell died. The news was a +stunning blow to the nation. A great reaction, for a short time, ensued. +Added to the other crimes of the seceders, was that of being O'Connell's +murderers. They, on the other hand, resolved to treat O'Connell's +memory with the greatest respect. They resolved to attend his funeral +procession, in deep mourning; and they gave orders for expensive sashes, +of Irish manufacture, which the members of the council were to wear. Mr. +O'Brien communicated this purpose to Mr. J. O'Connell. The answer was +too plainly a prohibition; and the Confederation reluctantly abandoned +their design. Mr. O'Connell died at Genoa, on the 15th of May, 1847, and +was buried in Glasnevin, on the 5th of August. His corpse, which was +delayed some days in Liverpool, was conveyed through the streets of +Dublin, during the election scene which resulted in the return of Mr. +John Reynolds; being thus made subservient to the success of the man, to +whom, of all his followers, he was most opposed during his life. It was +a strange end, surely. Mr. O'Connell was buried with great pomp. The +trustees of the Glasnevin Cemetery were generous in appropriating the +fund at their disposal to the purposes of the funeral; but when the +sincerity of the mourners' grief came to be tested, by the claim for a +contribution to erect a suitable monument to the great champion of the +age, it was found how hollow was their woe, and how lying their +adulation. Daniel O'Connell is yet without a monument, save that which +his own genius has raised in the liberalised institutions of his +country. + +The reaction in the public mind, consequent on his death, was +short-lived; and the Confederation progressed rapidly, during the +closing months of the year 1847. Although not formally acknowledged, +every one saw that it was the only public body in the country deserving +or enjoying anything like public confidence. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL.--HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND +SPEECH.--THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED.--ARREST OF MESSRS. +MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS AND DUFFY.--CONVICTION OF MR. MARTIN.--HIS +SPEECH.--CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF MR. O'DOHERTY.--DISSOLUTION +OF THE CONFEDERATION.--THE LEAGUE + + +At the opening of the new year, which was destined to be its last, the +Confederation, though yet regarded with coldness by the Catholic +Hierarchy, was in full career. Its members had won the respect of every +educated man in the land, however widely most of them may have differed +from it in political faith. Among the middle classes of the Catholics, +all that were left uncorrupted fell into its ranks, and embraced its +belief. Men began to regard as possible everything which enthusiasm +advanced with such unhesitating courage and devoted self-sacrifice. Mr. +Mitchel delivered some lectures on land tenure and the poor-law system, +which startled thoughtful and unthinking men alike. He had previously +made an able and sincere effort in the Irish Council to compel the +landlord class to some redeeming act of good sense and good will, which +their own true interests required as well as the agonies of the starving +tenantry. He was met by ignorance, stolidity and scorn. A timid and +narrow measure of improvement in the relation between landlord and +tenant had been proposed, and ably supported by Messrs. Ferguson, +Ireland and O'Loghlen; and such was the obstinate aversion to all +amelioration, on the part of the landlords, that they abstained from +resisting Mr. Mitchel's amendment, lest they would be thereby committed +to the milder reform proposed by Mr. Ferguson. His motion was lost only +by a majority of two several of the five-pound Repeal representatives, +who brawled at tenant-right meetings, and one member of the +Confederation, Mr. M'Gee, being included in the majority. + +The result of the division produced a marked change in Mr. Mitchel's +career. His lectures on land-tenure in Europe, displayed the bold +outlines and distinctive characteristics of his principles. His hopes +from the Irish landlords, of whatever shade of politics, had ever +afterwards vanished. He believed them incapable of being influenced by +commonsense or good feeling; and he turned to the people, with full +confidence in their fidelity and strength. All further attempts to +conciliate the upper classes, he regarded as foolish, feeble and +cowardly. He continued to reassert the substance of his lectures in +another form, in the pages of the _Nation_, of which he was at the time +editor-in-chief--that is, of which he wrote the greatest portion, +especially of its leading articles. Some of these articles gave rise to +a difference of opinion between him and Mr. Duffy, who, as responsible +owner and editor, had the sole control of the _Nation_. There were not +wanting men to take advantage of the difference and fan the flame. +Charles Duffy had messages conveyed to him, to the effect that a rumour +was abroad charging him with treachery; and to John Mitchel, perhaps by +the same agents of dissension, it was stated that he, too, was +suspected. It is unfortunately characteristic of Irishmen to be +suspicious; and it was the object of one of Mr. O'Connell's eternal +lessons to perpetuate and extend this degrading national vice. Whether +the representations made to either of these friends were the result of +national prejudice, or proceeded from a baser motive, it is scarce worth +while to inquire. A separation ensued. Mr. Reilly adopted the resolution +of his friend Mr. Mitchel. Mr. M'Gee adhered to Mr. Duffy; and a new +career and distinct fortunes opened to the enterprise of the four men, +whose united efforts elevated the popularity of the _Nation_ to a height +never before enjoyed by an Irish journal. + +The early differences between the two great journalists suggested to Mr. +Duffy, and to others, the necessity of drawing up a programme for the +guidance of the Confederation. A committee was appointed, consisting of +several members, including all the leading advocates of both the policy +of Mr. Duffy and that of Mr. Mitchel. The report was principally the +production of Mr. Duffy. It was in part modified by others; but Mr. +Mitchel, who objected to its principle, refused to take any part in its +modification. It was afterwards submitted to the council of the +Confederation; and there gave rise to a long, earnest and, to some +extent, an angry discussion. It was under consideration for several +successive nights, the debate lasting sometimes until three o'clock in +the morning. The principle of the report embraced the belief that moral +means and agencies to effect Ireland's liberties were not yet exhausted, +and should be further tried; and the agencies through which the +experiment was to be tested were indicated in detail. The principle of +the amendment proposed by Mr. Mitchel involved a preparation for and an +appeal to arms as the only resource available to the country. After a +long and anxious debate, the question of adopting the report passed in +the affirmative by a considerable majority. The details then came under +discussion, and, paragraph by paragraph, alterations were proposed and +adopted. The discussion on these matters was still more prolonged and +vehement. The principle of the entire was questioned indirectly by +various amendments of form; but it was always affirmed by a majority. +The report had, however, undergone such modifications and alterations +that its original promoters lost all interest in its passing; and at the +final stage, it was rejected, as well as I remember, without a division. +At all events, it was rejected, and, I believe, with the concurrence of +Mr. Duffy, who afterwards published the original draft in the _Nation_. + +It was on that occasion the celebrated resolutions, afterwards the +subject of the three nights' discussion at the Rotunda, were drafted and +proposed by Mr. O'Brien. They were at once adopted, Mr. Mitchel alone +dissenting. This may be the fittest opportunity distinctly and +definitely to settle the question, which has recently arisen, in +reference to these resolutions. On the several occasions of Mr. Duffy's +trial, they have been given in evidence as proof of his loyalty, on the +assumption that they emanated from him, and that it was through his +influence the body was led to adopt them. Again, it seems to have been +inferred--indeed, it has been so stated repeatedly, by persons who boast +of his confidence--that it was owing to his arrest and absence from the +council of the Confederation, that measure of fatal rashness was +adopted, of which he became the first victim; although it was his +discretion and ability that kept the "Jacquerie," who then obtained the +ascendant, in check from the beginning. + +This is partly a statement of fact, and partly an inference. The fact is +not true, and the inference is fallacious. The resolutions were not Mr. +Duffy's. On the contrary, one main object with those who adopted them, +without discussion, was to avoid the expression of an opinion on several +abstract principles forming the groundwork of his report. Secondly, he +exercised little or no influence in the debate which led to their +adoption by the Confederation. Thirdly, they were warmly sustained by +the influence, personal and otherwise, as well as by the exertion and +ability of the very men who, according to a recent contemptible sneer, +"improvised a revolution." Every one of them, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Meagher, +Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, and myself, spoke in favour of them, and +against Mr. Mitchel's amendment. And, finally, even if this were not so +and that the rashness of the outbreak really involved deep culpability, +Mr. Duffy cannot claim exemption from his share of the blame. + +I subjoin the Resolutions and Amendment. The division took place at ten +o'clock, on Saturday morning, February the 5th, 1848, when the former +were adopted, by a majority of 318 to 188:-- + + "Resolved: That inasmuch as letters, published by two members of + this Council, have brought into question the principles of the + Irish Confederation, and have given rise to an imputation that + we are desirous to produce a general disorganisation of society + in this country, and to overthrow social order, we deem it right + again to place before the public the following fundamental rule, + as that which constitutes the basis of action proposed to our + fellow-countrymen, by the Irish Confederation:-- + + RULE + + "That a society be now formed, under the title of 'The Irish + Confederation,' for the purpose of protecting our national + interests, and obtaining the legislative independence of + Ireland, by the force of opinion, by the combination of all + classes of Irishmen, and the exercise of all the political, + social and moral influences within our reach. + + "II. That (under present circumstances) the only hope of the + liberation of this country lies in a movement in which all + classes and creeds of Irishmen shall be fairly represented, and + by which the interests of none shall be endangered. + + "III. That inasmuch as English legislation threatens all + Irishmen with a common ruin, we entertain a confident hope their + common necessities will speedily unite Irishmen in an effort to + get rid of it. + + "IV. That we earnestly deprecate the expression of any + sentiments in the Confederation, calculated to repel or alarm + any section of our fellow-countrymen. + + "V. That we disclaim, as we have disclaimed, any intention of + involving our country in civil war, or of invading the just + rights of any portion of its people. + + "VI. That the Confederation has not recommended, nor does it + recommend, resistance to the payment of rates and rents, but, on + the contrary, unequivocally condemns such recommendations. + + "VII. That, in protesting against the disarmament of the Irish + people, under the Coercion Bill lately enacted, and in + maintaining that the right to bear arms, and to use them for + legitimate purposes, is one of the primary attributes of + liberty, we have had no intention or desire to encourage any + portion of the population of this country in the perpetration of + crimes, such as those which have recently brought disgrace upon + the Irish people; and which have tended, in no trifling degree, + to retard the success of our efforts in the cause of national + freedom. + + "VIII. That to hold out to the Irish people the hope that, in + this present broken and divided condition, they can liberate + their country by an appeal to arms, and consequently to divert + them from constitutional action, would be, in our opinion, a + fatal misdirection of the public mind. + + "IX. That this Confederation was established to obtain an Irish + Parliament by the combination of classes, and by the force of + opinion, exercised in constitutional operations; and that no + means of a contrary character can be recommended or promoted + through its organisation, while its present fundamental rules + remain unaltered. + + "X. That while we deem it right thus emphatically to disavow the + principles propounded in the publications referred to in the + resolutions, we at the same time equally distinctly repudiate + all right to control _the private opinions_ of any member of our + body, provided they do not affect the legal or moral + responsibility of the Irish Confederation." + + AMENDMENT + + "That this Confederation does not feel called upon to promote + either a condemnation or approval of any doctrines promulgated + by any of its members, in letters, speeches, or otherwise; + because the seventh fundamental rule of the Confederation + expressly provides, 'That inasmuch as the essential bond of + union amongst us is the assertion of Ireland's right to an + independent legislature, no member of the Irish Confederation + shall be bound to the adoption of any principle involved in any + resolution, or promulgated by any speaker in the society, or + any journal advocating its policy, to which he has not given his + special consent, save only the foregoing fundamental principles + of the society.'" + +But nothing could be more remote from the fact than the assumption that +those who supported the Rotunda resolutions were opposed to Mr. Mitchel +in principle. If that ground were not expressly repudiated, Mr. Mitchel +would have been sustained by a majority of two to one. Every speaker who +exercised any influence on the meeting, took occasion emphatically to +disclaim it. They did not deprecate the right or the duty of taking up +arms against the English Government; but they said: While we approve of +the end in view, we condemn the means, and precisely because we think +them the most surely calculated of any that could be devised, to +frustrate the object. This was the distinct ground, specifically, +clearly and unmistakably stated, on which the amendment of Mr. Mitchel +was opposed and it was the only ground on which it could be opposed; +with sincerity or success. The use, therefore, which was made of the +resolutions on Mr. Duffy's trial was false and unsustainable in every +point of view. + +There is no disposition and no desire to quarrel with the line of +defence adopted by Mr. Duffy. It is conceded freely that any defence +which his counsel, some of the ablest and most honourable men at the bar +in Ireland, or elsewhere recommended was justifiable. But coupling that +part of the defence with the evidence given on the same trial, by +pensioners and parasites[8] of the British Government, and with the +commentaries that afterwards appeared from the pens of some of Mr. +Duffy's friends, the whole was calculated to leave on the public mind an +impression, not only utterly inconsistent with the truth, but pernicious +and fatal in its influence on the future of the country, if indeed she +is ever to have a future. + +This impression inevitably would be that Mr. Duffy modelled and moulded +the proceedings of the Confederation at his mere pleasure; that Mr. +Duffy was not alone averse to revolution, but actually conservatively +loyal; and that, in the spirit of that loyalty, he controlled the whole +body, and kept an insensate "Jacquerie," which existed within it, in +check--that it was only when he was sent to prison this Jacquerie +obtained the ascendant, and that Mr. Duffy was the victim of their +intemperate folly. However agreeable all this may be to personal vanity, +Mr. Duffy must feel compelled to reject it as audacious and unmeaning +flattery. There is much more at stake than the estimate of private +character--the highest interests of truth. They require that it should +be made known and incontestably established that every word of the +above--fact and inference--is unfounded. As to the statement that Mr. +Duffy was made the victim of others' intemperance, its converse could be +much more easily sustained. But it satisfies every requirement of truth +simply to state that, morally speaking, Mr. Duffy was equally +responsible for the late outbreak, with those who perilled their lives +and lost their liberty forever in the struggle. + +The _United Irishman_ started under auspices more flattering than ever +cheered the birth of a similar enterprise. The man in Dublin, who did +not read the first number, might indeed be pronounced a bigot or a +fool. Every word struck with the force and terror of lightning. So great +was the sale of the first number that the press was kept busy for three +days and nights. When the second was announced, a guard of police was +necessary to keep order and peace among the newsvendors around the +office door. In every corner of the island the influence of the _United +Irishman_ was instant and simultaneous. The letters to the Ulster +farmers caused a sensation as universal and profound as the letters to +Lord Clarendon excited sentiments of wonder and alarm. Thomas Devin +Reilly's powers, too, never before tested in this range of literature, +astonished even the warmest admirers of his genius. The journal at once +attained a standard of eminence, political, literary and poetical, never +accorded to a production of the kind, published in Ireland. For the days +in which they were written, the songs and essays of Thomas Davis +contained greater depth, and a holier purpose. They seemed to flow, too, +from a diviner inspiration; were of a wider, calmer and more generous +scope. But the times were different; and it was as if the spirit of +fire, burning at the bases of man's social hopes throughout Europe, +breathed its prophetic glow on the heart of John Mitchel, conscious that +he, of all men, in a prostrate land, could find it befitting utterance. +It must not be omitted that the muse of "Mary," of "Eva," and of poor +Clarence Mangan, considerably enhanced the high estimate of the _United +Irishman_. + +In the presence of such an oracle of defiance and vengeance, the +Government for a while stood aghast. But the urgency of the times +admitted of no temporising policy. Messrs. O'Brien, Meagher and +Mitchel, were selected for prosecution; but the latter was honoured with +a double suit--one for an article, and the other for a speech. The +morning they were called upon to enter into security, all Dublin was +startled as if by a spell. The streets were crowded by a dense and +anxious mass of men. The police-office in a short time became +inaccessible. Mr. O'Connell's two sons, and the staff of the old +Association, anticipated the crowd, and occupied the seats around the +bench. When Mr. O'Brien was called on, the O'Connells offered to become +his security. The fact was trumpeted by the journals, yet living on the +garbage of Conciliation Hall. But the offer, if sincere, might then be +productive of important consequences. It was not sincere; a fact +sufficiently attested by the Messrs. O'Connell's necessary consciousness +that Mr. O'Brien would not come without his bail. In truth, it was known +to all Dublin that he even found a difficulty in reconciling the +conflicting claims of several gentlemen who aspired to that honour. So +it was, too, with Mr. Meagher and Mr. Mitchel. All those gentlemen +hurried to tender their services, as soon as they heard that bail would +be required, the Messrs. O'Connell alone selecting the public court for +the display of their magnanimity. It is needless to add that their +courtesy was declined; and they must have left the police-office that +day in the wake of the crowd, oppressed with the conviction that the +confidence of the Irish people had passed for ever from their house. + +[Illustration: Thomas Francis Meagher (A Sketch in May: 1848)] + +[Illustration: John Martin (About 1865)] + +This prosecution marked a new epoch in the Irish movement. It was +determined at once to meet it boldly--to extenuate nothing, to +retract nothing--to take advantage of no legal subterfuge; but dare the +issue promptly, openly and fully. Mr. O'Brien at first refused to be +defended by counsel. He was with great difficulty prevailed upon to +change his determination; and, when it was known that he was willing to +accept professional assistance, at least twenty of the ablest young men +at the bar volunteered their services; and the traversers saw arrayed at +their side an amount of professional ability and chivalry such as was +never united on such an occasion. The most respectable solicitors in the +profession, too, contended for the honour of being their recorded +attorneys. The juries disagreed in both cases; and the charge against +Mitchel lapsed into that more formidable prosecution which sealed his +fate. + +Mitchel's arrest under the Treason Felony Act was not unexpected. But as +soon as it was ascertained that he was lodged in Newgate, his fate +engaged the entire care of his co-Confederates. The question at once +arose whether, if a rescue were attempted, there were resources to +ensure even a decent stand. It was ascertained that the supply of arms +and ammunition was scanty and imperfect, and the supply of food still +scantier. The people had been decimated by three years of famine: and no +want could be more appalling than the want of food. On inquiry, it was +found that there was not provision for three days in the capital, which +depended on daily arrivals for its daily bread. Throughout the country, +the supply was even more precarious. The Government had in their own +hands the uncontrolled power of preventing the arrival of a single grain +of corn; and, if so minded, could starve the island in a fortnight, +supposing the people were even able to possess themselves of all the +cattle in the country. + +These were some of the considerations which influenced the decision of +Mr. Mitchel's comrades. Whether the opinion were or were not a correct +one, they acted on the conviction that, under all circumstances, any +attempt to rescue him would eventuate in a street row which would entail +not only defeat but disgrace. If they could but persuade themselves that +a blow might be struck, even though defeat and death followed, they most +certainly would have attempted it. It was generally understood, on the +day before the trial, that the idea of a rescue was abandoned; and the +trial commenced amidst gloomy presentiments and blighted hopes. After +hours of quibbling and legal fencing, a jury was selected, by the crown, +to convict. From the moment they went through the blasphemous process of +swearing to give a true verdict, John Mitchel's fate was sealed. + +I pass over the details, and come to the last act in the infamous drama, +called his trial. + +The following account of the closing scene is not mine. Feeling +inadequate to describe a scene of which even a distant recollection is +exciting, I asked a friend who felt the deepest interest in the trial to +describe it. With what he has written I entirely agree, save one +sentence. He says that it was owing to the action of the council of the +Confederation John Mitchel's personal friends were allowed to be +assaulted, with impunity, by the police. I do not think so. With respect +to the decision of the council, I feel bound to assume my share of its +responsibility, although I yielded to it with the utmost reluctance and +regret:-- + +On the morning of Saturday, the 27th May, 1849, the court was crowded to +a greater excess than usual, even in those days. About the empty dock +were the personal friends of Mr. Mitchel, those who agreed with him, and +those who did not. A little retired on either side sat John Martin, and +John Kenyon--in front were William H. Mitchel, brother of the prisoner +and his only relative in court, T. Devin Reilly, Thomas F. Meagher, John +B. Dillon, Michael Doheny, Richard O'Gorman, Martin O'Flaherty (Mr. +Mitchel's attorney), Charles O'Hara and others whom we have forgotten. + +A little in advance, on the left of the dock, were the stalls reserved +during the sham trial for the counsel for the defence. As yet they were +only occupied by the junior advocates, Sir Colman O'Loghlen and John +O'Hagan. The benches at the right of the dock, and nearer to the bench, +reserved for the Attorney-General and his retainers, were vacant. The +Sheriff and his white stick occupied their box, and the galleries to the +right and left were crowded with jurymen--those who "had done their +business," and those who were eager for employment to do more. The bench +of the judges held two empty chairs. And police officers and other +mercenaries, dotted thickly over the court, "concluded and set off the +arrangements." + +An old man, low of stature, and stooped, passed through a side door, and +walked slowly and decrepidly into the benches of the prisoner's counsel. +Whispers, and then applause from the galleries, were heard and passed +by him unheeded. Quietly and unostentatiously he moved to his seat--the +junior advocates, and all the Confederates in the body of the court, +rising and bowing to him in silence. It was the solitary Republican of +the United Irish day, Robert Holmes, coming to discharge his last duty +to the great Republican of a younger century. + +The applause of the galleries was hushed by the crier's voice--"Silence! +take off your hats"; and on the right stalked in the gaunt figure of +James Henry Monahan. Triumph, animosity and fear marked his night-bird +face. Even yet it was hoped the great opponent of his "government," whom +by rascality alone he could convict, would strike his colours, and sue +for mercy. Even yet it was feared that a rescue would be attempted. How +possible the former was, the reader may judge. The latter was rendered +impossible by the council of the Confederation, and the few who +cherished the design in the council's despite, had attempted an _emeute_ +the night previous, and were beaten and placed _hors de combat_. As +Monahan and his retainers entered, the red face of Lefroy oozed through +the bench curtains, and followed by the pale Moore, "the court was +seated." + +As yet the dock was empty, save that the jailor of Newgate and his +deputy occupied each a corner. + +There was a dead silence. + +"Jailor, put forward John Mitchel," said the official, whose duty is to +make such orders. + +A grating of bolts--a rustling of chains, were heard behind. The low +door-way at the back of the dock opened, and between turnkeys Mitchel +entered. + +Ascending the steps to the front of the dock, and lifting, as he +advanced, the glazed dark cap he wore during his imprisonment, as +gracefully as if he entered a drawing-room, he took his stand in a firm +but easy attitude. His appearance was equally removed from bravado and +fear. His features, usually placid and pale, had a rigid clearness about +them that day we can never forget. They seemed, from their transparency +and firmness, like some wondrous imagination of the artist's chisel, in +which the marble, fancying itself human, had begun to breathe. The eye +was calm and bright--the mouth, the feature round which danger loves to +play, though easy, motionless, and with lips apart, had about it an air +of immobility and quiet scorn, which was not the effect of muscular +action, but of nature in repose. And in his whole appearance, features, +attitude and look, there was a conscious pride and superiority over his +opponents, which, though unpresuming and urbane, seemed to speak louder +than words--"I am the victor here to-day." + +He saluted quietly those friends about the dock he had not that day +seen, conversing with one or two, and bowing to those at a distance. He +then directed his eyes to the court. + +After some preliminary forms, Baron Lefroy commenced operations, by +stating that he had called the case the first that morning, in order to +give time for any application to be made in court by, or on behalf of, +the prisoner of the crown. + +Again there was a silence of some minutes. The judges looked at each +other inquiringly. The crown prosecutor watched the prisoner's counsel. +Upon the prisoner himself all other eyes were fixed. + +There was no reply. + +"Business proceeded." The "Clerk of the Crown," rising to ask the usual +question--"If Mr. Mitchel had anything to say why judgment should not be +passed upon him?" + +"I _have_," he answered, and after a momentary look at judges, jury-box +and sheriff, he slowly continued: "I have to say that I have been tried +by a packed jury--by the jury of a partisan sheriff--by a jury not +empanelled, even according to the law of England, I have been found +guilty by a packed jury obtained by a juggle--a jury not empanelled by a +sheriff, but by a juggler." + +Here he was interrupted by the sheriff rising, and, in high indignation, +claiming the protection of the court. + +"That is the reason," continued Mitchel, "that is the reason why I +object to the sentence being passed on me." + +"That imputation," interrupted Lefroy, "upon the conduct of the sheriff +I must pronounce to be most unwarranted and unfounded." And this +discriminating judge continued to show that the imputation was +so--concluding with the assertion that the sheriff "had done his duty in +the case." Then without pausing, he proceeded to the usual lecture, full +of hypocritical cant with which British judges usually preface their +awards, however infamous. He alluded to the personal condition of Mr. +Mitchel, and expressed his regrets that a person of such merits should +be in such circumstances, Then having dilated on the enormity of the +offence, he assured Mr. Mitchel that he had been found guilty of many +heinous charges against the Queen and the Imperial Crown, and among +others, of felonious intending to levy war upon that gentlewoman, and +that the evidence was furnished by the prisoner's self. "How, +therefore," he continued, "you think yourself justified in calling it +the verdict of a packed jury, and thus imputing perjury to twelve of +your countrymen--deliberate and wilful perjury--" + +"No," interrupted the prisoner, "I did not impute perjury to the jury." + +"I understood," said the speaker on the bench, "that you had stated, in +arrest of judgment, that you had been found guilty by a packed jury." + +"I did," was the reply. + +Robert Holmes rose, during the judge's speech, and said, "My lords, with +the greatest respect, what I said was, that though he might be +statutably guilty, he was not, in my opinion, morally guilty. I repeat +that opinion now." + +This avowal, so boldly and firmly made by the veteran Republican, was +answered by all the audience, not pensioned, with plaudits. + +Baron Lefroy would say no more on that point, only that the court could +not acquiesce in a line of defence "which appeared to it very little +short of, or amounting to, as objectionable matter as that for which the +prisoner had been found guilty. + +"I," replied the aged advocate, "I am answerable for that under your Act +of Parliament." + +Loud applause followed. "Are there no policemen in court?" shouted +Baron Lefroy. The High Sheriff "had given strict orders," he said, "to +have all removed who would interrupt." "Make prisoners of them," said +the judge. "I wish you to understand," he continued, still excited, and +addressing Mr. Mitchel, who during these episodes, stood unmoved, "that +we have with the utmost anxiety and with a view to come to a decision +upon the measure of punishment which it would be our duty to impose, +postponed the passing of sentence on you until this morning." Then, +having stated the various considerations which induced him to believe +that the punishment should be lenient, and the equally various +considerations which induced him to believe the contrary, Lefroy +concluded as follows: "We had to consider all this--to look at the +magnitude of the crime, and to look also at the consideration, that if +this were not the first case brought under the Act, our duty might have +obliged us to carry out the penalty it awards to the utmost extent; but, +taking into consideration, that this is the first conviction under the +Act--though the offence has been as clearly proved as any offence under +the Act could be--the sentence of the court is, that you be transported +beyond the seas for the term of fourteen years." + +The listeners to the hypocritical sentence which concluded Lefroy's +speech, heard the sentence with astonishment and indignation. Mr. +Mitchel merely asked, apparently without any astonishment, if he might +now address some remarks to the court. The leave asked was granted, and +a silence still as death awaited the prisoner. + +"The law," he said, in his usual manly tone, and unexcited manner, "the +law has now done its part, and the Queen of England, her crown and +government in Ireland are now secure--'pursuant to Act of Parliament.' I +have done my part, also. Three months ago I promised Lord Clarendon and +his government in this country, that I would provoke him into his +'courts of justice,' as places of this kind are called, and that I would +force him publicly and notoriously to pack a jury against me to convict +me, or else that I would walk out a free man from this dock to meet him +in another field. + +"My lord, I knew I was setting my life on that cast; but I warned him +that, in either case, the victory would be with me; and the victory is +with me. Neither the jury, nor the judges, nor any other man in this +court, presumes to imagine that it is a criminal who stands in this +dock." + +He was interrupted with the plaudits of the auditory; and again +continued:-- + +"I have kept my word. I have shown what the law is made of in Ireland. I +have shown that her majesty's government sustains itself in Ireland by +packed juries, by partisan judges, by perjured sheriffs--" + +Here he was interrupted by Lefroy, who said, "the court could not sit +there to hear him arraign the jurors of the country, the sheriffs of the +country, the administration of justice, the tenure by which the crown of +England holds that country. The trial was over. Everything the prisoner +had to say previous to the judgment, the court was ready to hear, and +did hear. They could not suffer him (Mr. Mitchel) to stand at that bar +to repeat, very nearly, a repetition of the offence for which he had +been sentenced." + +"I will not say," Mr. Mitchel continued, "anything more of that kind. +But I say this--" + +Lefroy again interrupted him, to the effect that, within certain limits +the prisoner might proceed. + +"I have acted," he then said, "I have acted all through this business, +from the first, under a strong sense of duty. I do not regret anything I +have done, and I believe that the course which I have opened is only +commenced. The Roman," he continued in one of those bursts of eloquence, +with which he used to electrify men, stretching forth his clenched hand +and arm, "the Roman who saw his hand burning to ashes before the tyrant, +promised that three hundred should follow out his enterprise. Can I not +promise for one, for two, for three, aye for hundreds?" + +Here he pointed to his friends, Reilly, Martin, and Meagher. A burst of +wild enthusiasm followed. + +"Officer! officer! remove Mr. Mitchel," was heard from Lefroy. A rush +was made on the dock, and the foremost ranks sprung from the galleries, +with out-stretched arms to vow with him too. The judges rushed in terror +from the benches--the turnkeys seized the hero, and in a scene of wild +confusion he half walked, and was half forced through the low, dark +door-way in the rear, waving his hand in a quiet farewell. The bolts +grated, the gate slammed, and he was seen no more. + +Men stood in affright, and looked in each others' faces wonderingly. +They had seen a Roman sacrifice in this modern world, and they were +mute. + +An hour elapsed--the excited crowd had passed away; and the partisan +judges, nervous and ill at ease, ventured upon the bench again. + +They were seated, and seemed to be settling down to get through +"business" as well as they could, when Mr. Holmes, whose defence of Mr. +Mitchel had been so offensive to them, rose. "My lords," he said, "I +think I had a perfect right to use the language I did yesterday. I wish +now to state that what I said yesterday as an advocate, I adopt to-day, +as my own opinion. I here avow all I have said; and, perhaps, under this +late Act of Parliament, her Majesty's Attorney-General, if I have +violated the law, may think it his duty to proceed against me in that +way. But if I have violated the law in anything I said, I must, with +great respect to the court, assert that I had a perfect right to state +what I stated; and now I say in deliberation, that the sentiments I +expressed with respect to England, and her treatment of this country, +are my sentiments, and I here openly avow them. The Attorney-General is +present--I retract nothing--these are my well-judged sentiments--these +are my opinions, as to the relative position of England and Ireland, and +if I have, as you seem to insinuate, violated the law by stating those +opinions, I now deliberately do so again. Let her Majesty's +Attorney-General do _his_ duty to his government, I have done _mine_ to +my country." + +Such was the conclusion of the trial of John Mitchel. The brother-in-law +and friend of Robert Emmet, the republican of our fathers' days, came to +attest the justice of the republican of our own, and to vie with him in +defying and scorning the infamous laws of England. + +It is needless to say that the English officials did not dare accept the +challenge so nobly and defiantly flung down before the very dock whence +one victim had just been borne. + + +I feel tempted to add a word of a scene that intervened, in which I took +a part. When the sheriff recovered his self-possession, he ordered +several to be arrested; among others, Mr. Meagher. The officer who +seized him acted rudely and violently, which led to further confusion, +and the exchange of blows. At last Mr. Meagher and myself were secured +and removed to prison. When order was restored, we were brought out +before the court, and asked for an expression of regret. I answered, +that having heard Mr. Mitchel express, in the dock, sentiments in which +I entirely concurred, I took immediate occasion to mark my most distinct +and emphatic approval. In doing this I had no intention of an affront to +the court. But as to retract, or regret, no punishment in the power of +that or any other court to inflict, would compel me to do either one or +the other. + +Mr. Meagher repeated the same thing. We were then reprimanded and sent +back. Soon after we were recalled, and upon motion of Mr. Dillon and Sir +Colman O'Loghlen, on behalf of Mr. Meagher, who stated that he would +express his regret for the contempt of court, but nothing else, we were +both released, although I persisted in refusing even to join in the +expression of regret made _for_ but not _by_ Mr. Meagher. + +On the same day on which the above scene took place, John Mitchel was +borne in irons from the land of his love, the wife of his bosom, and the +children of his heart. + +Immediately after, the council of the Confederation was reduced to +twenty-one; and everything wore a sterner aspect, as if, whether they +willed it or no, an imperious obligation required fulfilment at their +hands. The slight disunion, which the fate of John Mitchel created, +between those who favoured and opposed his rescue, quickly disappeared, +and both parties only emulated each other in the activity and +earnestness of preparation. Among the agencies of progress, suggested by +the crisis, were two new journals--the _Felon_, edited by John Martin +and T.D. Reilly, assisted by Mr. Brenan, and the _Tribune_, edited by +Richard Dalton Williams and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, of which Mr. Savage +and Dr. Antisell were joint proprietors, and to which they were joint +contributors, with S.J. Meany and myself. The great object of the first +was to follow in the footsteps of the _United Irishman_, and that of the +latter was to urge the same principles upon a more republican basis. The +_Felon_ soon acquired additional interest from the daring principles and +extraordinary ability of Mr. James F. Lalor, who had become a joint +contributor with the recognised editors. Of the _Tribune_ it would not +become me to speak; perhaps no more is needed than that in the race to +doom it was not outsped. + +On the 8th of July, John Martin surrendered. Messrs. Duffy and O'Doherty +were arrested on the same evening, and Mr. Williams on the following +morning. + +Although the trials that followed did not take place until long after +the events which form the principal subject of this narrative, a brief +account of them will not be inappropriate here. + +Mr. O'Doherty was the first placed on his trial. The jury was of the +stamp usual in such cases in Ireland. But a point of great importance +was raised by his counsel, as to the publisher's _intention_ to commit +the felony, which they insisted should be proved, to bring his case +within the provision of the Treason Felony Act. The court, composed of +Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, gave an opinion favourable to +this construction, and the jury refused to convict, for which the Castle +Organ did not hesitate to pronounce them perjurers. Every one supposed +and rejoiced that Mr. O'Doherty had escaped; but the vengeance of the +Attorney-General was far from satisfied, and he had ample satisfaction +on a future day. + +On the 16th of August, John Martin was placed at the bar, before the +same judges. The instincts of the official, exasperated by defeat, +exercised a keener vigilance in selecting a jury; and one was finally +sworn that did not disappoint his sagacity. They found a verdict of +guilty without hesitation; but recommended the prisoner to mercy, which +in that case was a distinct contradiction of their oaths. The +composition of the jury, and the character of the prosecution, will be +best understood by a perusal of the subjoined speech. No higher proof +could be given of his purity of purpose, elevation of sentiment, and +goodness of heart. On the 19th of August he was called up to receive +sentence He stood in the spot hallowed by the footprints of Robert +Emmet and John Mitchel; nor was the heart he brought to the same +sacrifice less worthy than theirs. Upon his benevolent countenance or +stout heart, the appliances of terror around him had no effect. He stood +unmoved and unawed, in the glorious consciousness that he had fulfilled +his duty to his friend and to his country. + +When asked what he had to say why sentence should not be passed upon +him, he replied:-- + + "MY LORDS: I have no imputation to cast upon the bench, neither + have I anything of unfairness toward myself to charge the jury + with. I think the judges desired to do their duty fairly, as + upright judges and men, and that the twelve men who were put + into the box, not to try, but to convict me, voted honestly + according to their prejudices. I have no personal enmity against + the sheriff, sub-sheriff, or any other gentleman connected with + the arrangements of the jury panel, nor against the + Attorney-General, or any other person engaged in the proceedings + called my trial. But, my lords, I consider _I have not yet been + tried!_ There have been certain formalities carried on here for + three days, _but I have not been put upon my country, according + to the constitution said to exist in Ireland!_ + + "Twelve of my countrymen, 'indifferently chosen,' have not been + put into the jury-box to try me, but twelve men, who, I believe, + have been selected by the parties who represent the crown, for + the purpose of _convicting_, and not of _trying_ me. + + "Every person knows that what I have stated is the fact; and I + would represent to the judges, most respectfully, that they, as + honourable judges, and as upright citizens, ought to see that + the administration of justice in this country is above + suspicion. I have nothing more to say with regard to the trial; + but I would be thankful to the court for permission to say a few + words after sentence is passed." + +Chief Baron and Baron Pennefather: "No. We cannot hear anything from you +after sentence is pronounced." + + "Then, my lords, permit me to say, that admitting the narrow and + confined constitutional doctrines, which I have heard preached + in this court, to be right, _I am not guilty of the charge + according to this Act!_ In the article of mine, on which the + jury framed their verdict, which was written in prison, and + published in the last number of my paper, what I desired to do + was this, to advise and encourage my countrymen to keep their + arms; because that is their inalienable right, which no Act of + Parliament, no proclamation can take away from them. It is, I + repeat, their inalienable right. I advised them to keep their + arms; and further, I advised them to use their arms in their own + defence against all assailants--even assailants that might come + to attack them unconstitutionally and improperly, using the + Queen's name as their sanction. + + "My object in all my proceeding has been simply to establish the + independence of Ireland for the benefit of all the people of + Ireland--noblemen, clergymen, judges, professional men--in fact, + all Irishmen. I sought that object first, because I thought it + was our right; because I thought, and think still, national + independence was the right of the people of this country. And + secondly, I admit, that being a man who loves retirement, I + never would have engaged in politics did I not think it + necessary to do all in my power to make an end of the horrible + scenes the country presents--the pauperism, and starvation, and + crime, and vice, and the hatred of all classes against each + other. I thought there should be an end to that horrible system, + which while it lasted, gave me no peace of mind, for I could + not enjoy anything in my country, so long as I saw my countrymen + forced to be vicious, forced to hate each other, and degraded to + the level of paupers and brutes. This is the reason I engaged in + politics. + +[Illustration: Kevin Izod O'Doherty] + + "I acknowledge, as the Solicitor-General has said, that I was + but a weak assailant of the English power. I am not a good + writer, and I am no orator. I had only two weeks' experience in + conducting a newspaper until I was put into jail. But I am + satisfied to direct the attention of my countrymen to everything + I have ever written, and to rest my character on a fair + examination of what I have put forward as my opinions. I shall + say nothing in vindication of my motives but this, that every + fair and honest man, no matter how prejudiced he may be, if he + calmly considers what I have written and said, will be satisfied + that my motives were pure and honourable. I have nothing more to + say." + +The Chief Baron, in passing sentence, alluded to the jury's +"recommendation to mercy." + +Mr. Martin: "I cannot condescend to accept mercy where I believe I have +been morally right. I want justice, not mercy." + +He was then sentenced to ten years' transportation. + +On two successive occasions, the jury empanelled by the Government, and +carefully packed to serve their end, refused to convict Mr. O'Doherty. +He was placed on his trial, a third time, on the 30th of October, +prosecuted with the same enduring malignity, and a verdict of guilty, +suspected to be the result of a fraud practised on the jury, was +returned. Mr. Williams, who was joint proprietor of the _Tribune_, and +jointly responsible, was acquitted after a protracted trial on the 3rd +of November, the jury being of opinion that although the articles given +in evidence were felonious, there was no proof to satisfy them that the +proprietors, when publishing them, did so with a felonious intent. This +distinction arose in consequence of the fair and candid construction of +the Felony Act, given by Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, on Mr. +O'Doherty's first trial, to the effect that the jury should be satisfied +of the publisher's felonious intent; a construction which the present +judges 'Crampton and Torrens' would not dare to contradict. + +Notwithstanding this, just as the words, "Not guilty," were pronounced +by the jury, in Mr. Williams' case, despite the most flagrant and +audacious bullying of the bench, Mr. O'Doherty was called up for +judgment. Among all the martyr-band whom this year consigned to doom, +not one behaved himself with truer or nobler heroism; not one, either, +whose fate commands a deeper sympathy. Under thirty years of age, +largely gifted, with most respectable connections, a high place in +society, brilliant prospects, and so unostentatious in his enthusiasm +that it was only then his country heard of his devotion, and learned his +worth; there he stood with as lofty consciousness and as brave a heart +as ever consecrated the scaffold or the battle-plain. + +Judge Crampton pronounced the sentence. Nature has supplied his lordship +with characteristics of countenance admirably befitting such a scene. +Had he been only elevated to the kindred office of actual executioner, +he would have been spared the expense of a mask; for without it, no one +could look into his eyes. Of course, he was teeming with compassion and +regret, which jointly resulted in a sentence of transportation for TEN +YEARS. Mr. O'Doherty, who stood unmoved, after a few preliminary +observations in reference to the unfairness of his trial, spoke as +follows:-- + + "I would feel much obliged if your lordship would permit me to + mention a few more words with reference to my motives throughout + this affair. I had but one object and purpose in view. I did + feel deeply for the sufferings and privations endured by my + fellow-countrymen. I did wish, by all means, consistent with a + manly and honourable resistance, to assist in putting an end to + that suffering. It is very true, and I will confess it, that I + desired an open resistance of the people to that government, + which, in my judgment, entailed these sufferings upon them. I + have used the words open and honourable resistance in order that + I might refer to one of the articles brought in evidence against + me, in which the writer suggests such things as flinging burning + hoops on the soldiery. My lords, these are no sentiments of + mine. I did not write that article. I did not see it or know of + it until I read it when published in the paper. But I did not + bring the writer of it here on the table. Why? I knew that if I + were to do so, it would be only handing him over at the + court-house doors to what one of the witnesses has very properly + called the fangs of the Attorney-General. With respect to myself + I have no fears. I trust I will be enabled to bear my sentence + with all the forbearance due to what I believe to be the opinion + of twelve conscientious enemies to me, and I will bear with due + patience the wrath of the Government whose mouthpiece they were; + but I will never cease to deplore the destiny that gave me birth + in this unhappy country, and compelled me, as an Irishman, to + receive at your hands a felon's doom for discharging what I + conceived, and what I still conceive, to be my duty." + +Mr. Duffy's trial was postponed. His final escape is known to most of my +readers; but as I cannot approve of the character of his defence, I +prefer saying no more of it in this place. + +It is here needful to refer to myself, a topic always disagreeable to +others, but painfully so on this occasion to me. The proposal to form a +league with the remaining members of the Association originated with +certain gentlemen, among whom the Rev. Mr. Miley held a prominent place, +who personally waited on Mr. O'Brien to testify their abhorrence of the +outrages offered to him in Limerick. Some very questionable politicians, +who watched with the eye of traffic the current of public opinion, and +sought to make the same profit of the reflux they had formerly made of +its unimpeded tide, attended on those occasions. Others, of purer +motives, and loftier patriotism, joined in these interviews, and +contrived to have them repeated. Among these were the poet, Samuel +Ferguson, and Richard Ireland, two recent and brilliant converts to the +cause of nationality. There were others, whom I need not name, of +equally unquestionable purity. But for several weeks, while these +interviews were held, there was no exact delegation from either the +Confederation or Association. I am not, indeed, aware whether any such +delegation was ever formally given or assumed. However, negotiations +proceeded, and though they were never brought to a satisfactory +adjustment, the dissolution of the Confederation was formally proposed +and adopted. On that day the greatest hope of Ireland perished. + +The generosity of the suicide on the part of the Confederation was met +by a new chicane. Though every member, whose character and talents could +for a moment redeem the deformity, dulness and decrepitude of the Repeal +Association, had passed from its ranks and enrolled themselves in the +new League, it resolved to struggle on, acting as a check and a stain by +its anility and crookedness, on the rising hopes of the country. During +the discussions that led to the formation of the league, it was +emphatically announced by certain members of the Confederation that on +no ground and for no purpose would they abjure one principle they ever +announced. Above all, they avowed their purpose to urge on the country +the duty of armed resistance whenever its success appeared probable. The +Government heard of these avowals, and the time spent in captious +discussions about moral nonentities and legal quibbles, when the stake +was a nation's death or life, was diligently employed by the Government +in accumulating means of defence. + +The motives of the principal promoters of the league are by no means +questioned here. On the contrary, it is freely admitted their +convictions were as sincere as they were fatal. The due appreciation of +that movement requires that a few leading facts and inferences upon +which it was based should be calmly considered. The first and most +important is the great change which had taken place in the feelings of +the country. The vast majority of the thinking population were ranged at +the side of the Confederation. So, too, was that of the people of the +rural districts. The intellectual leaders of the great Protestant party +had actually identified themselves with it, and a reconciliation with +the entire body of the Orangemen had been nearly effected. Most of the +men whose integrity and ability had preserved the lingering existence of +the Association, openly avowed their approval of its principles, and +such of them whose hearts were not mere empty sounds, would join its +members at a crisis. + +Thus stood the facts. The considerations in favour of the junction were +these: Certain men of influence, who, contrary to their own convictions, +adhered to the Association, in the commencement through fear, and still +adhered to it through an unintelligible hankering after consistency, +pressed for an opportunity where they might abandon their former +associates without the appearance of abandoning their old principles. +There were others who followed a middle course, and were always with the +greater crowd and the more intense enthusiasm, who demanded the same +means of escape. + +There was a consideration of some weight which no doubt influenced the +decision of the Confederates. It was this: the Roman Catholic clergymen +had given unmitigated opposition to the Confederation. Their hostility +had been the most formidable obstacle in its way; and it was assumed +that the presence of some leading churchmen among the Confederates, +would remove the distrust which the former opposition of the priesthood +had mainly tended to create. + +These were the chief considerations at the affirmative side. On a less +pressing occasion, and at a former period, they might have been +forcible, nay, even conclusive. But the issue had been then narrowed to +one of actual force. John Mitchel was transported, and the most trusted +of his comrades had pledged their lives to redeem their brother felon at +any cost. Every consideration connected with the question should be +examined and determined on in reference to that position and that +pledge. Tested by them, the first above presented would thus resolve +itself: either these men whose characteristic had been indecision, were +sincere in seeking for an opportunity to redeem their patriotism by +their blood, or they were not. If they were, they would never be +restrained by the miserable fear of being charged with inconsistency. If +they were not, the cause would be cursed by their adhesion. The same +argument would apply to the priesthood with still more imperious force; +such of them as were actually sincere would be found at their post at +the hour of trial, in obedience to no form, but influenced by their own +conscientiousness. Such of them as were insincere would be true to no +obligation imposed by conventionality. Untrue to their convictions, they +could not be faithful to their words. And finally--an argument which +appears unanswerable and insuperable--Mr. John O'Connell and his +immediate followers had so solemnly abjured, denounced and cursed the +principles of the great majority with whom they were asked to league, +that they could not comply without such a debasement of character as to +compel the scorn of all men, not only to themselves, but all those with +whom they were united. It could not fail to strike any ordinary observer +that materials so incongruous and repulsive were incapable of cohesion; +and the consequence must be the distrust of the more ardent of their +followers at both sides. + +These were my opinions. I pressed them at the time as strongly as I +could, and perhaps more urgently than I ought. But I was absent from +Dublin, and my remonstrances were vain. I would have retired in despair +had I not been too deeply engaged. The Rev. John Kenyon did actually +retire, influenced by the same motives which I refused to yield to, +solely because retirement would brand me with an imputation of +cowardice, which no explanation could ever efface. I refused all +connection with the League, but continued to act in concert with my +confederates, in establishing clubs and training the manhood of the +country for the stern trial before it. My position rendered bold, +undisguised and explicit language indispensable. This led to prosecution +and arrest. The charge was supposed to be high treason and Mr. Richard +O'Gorman wrote to me to inquire what I wished to have done in my behalf. +My answer was a distinct refusal to accept any aid from a body whose +constitution I could not approve. This circumstance is mentioned, not +because it deserves distinct attention, or even a place in this +narrative, but to prove that my objections to the dissolution of the +Confederation, and my feeling that it was a fatal step, are not of +recent growth, or founded on ex-post facto opinions. I feel bound to +add, however, that I stood alone, or almost alone, as far as I have been +able to hear. I dismiss the subject now, anxious to claim no praise, and +ready to submit to the blame that may attach to my course, such as it +was. I am only desirous, that in whatever memory of me my country may +preserve, the truth alone should determine the public estimation of my +conduct and character. + +The League met, resolutions were adopted, and speeches made that meant +nothing. New men came together, looked each other in the face, and +turned away as if at the heart of each there was something with which he +could not trust the other. There was a short, feeble and false flourish, +and no more. Those who augured so sanguinely for its action and effect +were disappointed. But they shamed openly to relinquish a project for +sake of which they had made such sacrifices. By degrees, however, they +sought to rekindle the embers of that fire which with thoughtless hand +they aided to extinguish. The Government availing themselves of the +inactivity that prevailed, and acting on the information they received, +resolved to strike a second blow. Charles Duffy was arrested for an +article which the Castle Organ branded as shrinking and cowardly, and +which evidently lacked the burning spirit of the time. Immediately the +clubs, which continued a precarious and unintelligible existence, came +together and elected a directory of five from among their own members. +This directory consisted of Messrs. Dillon, Meagher, O'Gorman, Reilly, +and M'Gee. What their exact duty was does not sufficiently appear. But I +believe the fact to be that they never took counsel together. + +Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Gorman left town immediately. About that time I +was actively engaged in Tipperary. On the same day and hour Mr. Meagher +was arrested in Waterford and I in Cashel. An attempt was made to +rescue both of us, and by us both the effort was checked. I knew nothing +of what had occurred. I had been acting since the formation of the +League on my own judgment and responsibility. Independent of the fact +that the harvest was yet remote, and that we were tacitly pledged to +await its coming, my experience for the previous month satisfied me that +the people were far from being prepared; and I could not allow any +personal considerations to influence the country at such a crisis. Mr. +Meagher was governed by similar motives. It might have been better had +we acted otherwise, but with our then convictions, the least risk on our +own account would have been selfish and criminal; and rather than be +guilty of it we yielded to our fate. At the time each of us thought the +charge against him was at least felony. It turned out otherwise, and +though the magistrates who arrested and committed us refused to +entertain the question whether or not the offence was bailable, and +though we were both paraded through the country under an escort of +several hundred men, the Government directed we should be admitted to +bail. Mr. Meagher proceeded from Dublin to Limerick, where the +indictment against him was found; and on the same day I was liberated +from Nenagh Jail. Previous to my arrest, I had arranged to hold a +meeting on the summit of Slievenamon mountain. It was fixed for the day +after that on which I was liberated at Nenagh, which is at least fifty +miles from the place of meeting. I was not liberated until late in the +evening; but I resolved to be present at the meeting, and immediately +proceeded on my journey. I travelled all night, partly on horseback and +partly on foot, arriving at Cashel early in the morning. I there +learned that Mr. Meagher and some friends of his from Limerick had also +arrived with the same object as myself. We rode together to the +mountain, followed by several thousands, a distance of twenty miles. +Fifty thousand men at least clambered that steep mountain side, under a +scorching July sun. Four times as many would have been there to meet us, +but it had been widely rumoured none of us would be there; and in fact +most of those who came believed we were both in our prison-cells. +Besides this, efforts were made by men high in the confidence of the +leaders and the country to prevent the meeting altogether. To fix their +motives was difficult, but it would be hazardous to attribute to them +any but the best. Facts have since proved, however, that their +patriotism had even then begun to halt. The Rev. Mr. Byrne, of whom much +shall be said, hereafter, was foremost in this endeavour, and actually +dissuaded the people of Waterford, Carrick and Wexford from proceeding +to the mountain. These people all remained in Carrick, and Mr. Meagher +was informed that they were in a state of extreme excitement. This +intelligence determined him to leave the mountain suddenly and proceed +to meet his fellow-townsmen. Had all these been allowed to attend the +meeting, our resolution might have been very different from what it was. +But we were, in fact, disappointed and chagrined. The mountain-top had +been selected for many reasons. Principal among them were these: Public +meetings in Ireland had actually become a farce. We determined to hold +one from which all senseless and idle brawlers would be excluded. The +difficulty of ascending the hill would, we thought, sufficiently test +the courage and sincerity of our followers. Secondly, we wished for a +spot not accessible to her majesty's troops, so as to avoid a chance of +a collision. Thirdly, we thought it would be a precaution against +detectives; and finally, it was possible we might determine on some +bolder step when we saw our strength. The excitement in Carrick had +nearly become uncontrollable, when Mr. Meagher arrived there, and it was +deemed advisable to lead the people out of the town. The distance to +Waterford is twelve Irish miles, over the entire of which the procession +stretched; and so dense was the crowd that Mr. Meagher did not arrive in +Waterford sooner than three o'clock, next morning. It may well be +supposed that such a scene of excitement, heat and tumult, afforded but +little opportunity for deliberation. I was able to speak with my friend +only in brief snatches; and I did not afterward see him until it was too +late to take counsel for the future. + +The meeting on that day, the evening scene at Carrick, and the arrival +in Waterford, were relied on by the English minister, as a perfect +justification for the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. Others and +more powerful ones influenced the Cabinet; and foremost among these was +the great meeting at New York, which too clearly evidenced the purpose +of America, should the struggle proceed. I had no communication, +directly or indirectly, with any of my comrades after that day, save one +letter from Mr. O'Brien. This letter had reference solely to my +approaching trial, which he signified his wish to be present at. To this +letter I replied, informing him that it had been intimated to me that a +number of men would assemble, armed, near Nenagh, during the trial; and +I besought him to be there for the purpose of preventing an outbreak, +which I regarded as disastrous, unprepared as the people then were. +Neither the trial nor the meeting took place, and other events shaped +our destiny.[9] A few days after the Slievenamon meeting, it was +intimated to me that I was to be arrested on a second charge, the exact +nature of which was not stated. I could not doubt the accuracy of my +information, and being fully determined to preserve my liberty for the +coming struggle, which under any circumstances could not be long +delayed, I left home on the 22nd day of July, and proceeded through the +country to the foot of Slievenamon. Here I took up my quarters at a +farmer's house, where I remained two days and nights, in total ignorance +of the circumstances then rapidly hurrying the crisis wherein our fondly +cherished hopes were blasted. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 8: From the position in which Mr. Carleton is now placed, it +may be necessary to say that I do not allude to him.] + +[Footnote 9: Since the above was written, I have heard it said that a +report, current about the time of Mr. O'Brien's conviction, had been +recently received here. The report was, that I promised Mr. O'Brien to +have 50,000 men to meet him; which was his principal inducement to act +as he did; and that I not only had not one man, but was myself absent +when he came. The absurdity of the rumour was sufficiently proved by the +fact that Mr. O'Brien did not come to me, or my part of the country, in +the first instance. The real truth is that I never directly or +indirectly, by word or letter, counselled the outbreak. Nay, more: I was +as ignorant of Mr. O'Brien's purpose as the President of these States. +At the time of Mr. Mitchel's trial, I believe I expressed a very strong +opinion in favour of rescuing him; and that opinion was grounded on the +belief that the whole people would rise up _en masse_, and in one wild +burst of vengeance, sweep their oppressors from the land. But neither +then nor afterwards, did Mr. O'Brien give me the least reason to believe +that he was prepared to resist the government in arms, save as far as he +concurred in acts which had a tendency to that end. + +When first the report above referred to was circulated, I wrote the +strongest contradiction of it, and Mr. Meagher, with Mr. O'Brien's +sanction, addressed the following note to the editor of the Tipperary +_Vindicator_. I am sorry it should be in any way necessary to produce it +here; but as this is the last time I shall ever refer to this subject, I +thought it best to add this testimony to my own. + + CLONMEL GAOL + + "MR. MEAGHER fully authorises his friend, Mr. Lenihan, to state + that the exculpation which appeared in a recent number of his + paper, from Mr. Doheny, is the perfect truth. + + "Mr. Meagher is most anxious to have this stated, for he has + felt for a long time deeply pained at many of the false reports + that have appeared against his friend--his dear and trusted + friend, Michael Doheny. + + "One of the most grievous of these reports has been that very + false one, charging Mr. Doheny with having invited Mr. Smith + O'Brien to the county Tipperary. Nothing could have been more + false than this. + + "Mr. Doheny, so far from inviting Mr. O'Brien to Tipperary, did + not, in fact, know of his being in the county at all, until Mr. + Meagher told him, and that was on Tuesday, July 25th. + + (Signed) "THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER. + + "Written a few hours after the passing of the sentence of death. + + "_October 23, 1848._"] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE OUTBREAK.--MR. O'BRIEN IN +CARRICK.--CASHEL.--KILLENAULE.--MULLINAHONE.--BALLINGARRY.--AFFAIR AT +KILLENAULE.--DEFEAT OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMON.--PERSONAL +ADVENTURES OF THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. +O'BRIEN'S ARREST + + +On the night of the 24th of July, I was awakened, where I was staying, +by a rapping at my window. I recognised the voice of my sister-in-law, +and learned from her, in a few seconds, how matters stood. Her +information, in brief, was this that: Messrs. O'Brien, Dillon and +Meagher had left Dublin on learning that the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended; and that it was supposed their object was to throw themselves +on the courage of the country. This intelligence rested on the authority +of two trusted members of the council of the Confederation, Messrs. +James Cantwell, and P.J. Smyth. The fact was all which I then cared to +know. I parted from my sister in half-an-hour, and rode off in the +direction of Carrick-on-Suir, where I was certain Mr. O'Brien would +direct his way, whether he came alone or followed by his countrymen in +arms. 'Mid the lone silence of that journey, while there was leisure to +revolve all the difficulties and hazards of the future, the idea never +once occurred to me that, supposing my information correct, the step was +rashly taken. On such occasions, when centuries gather into moments, +some one overmastering feeling, hope or passion absorbs and controls the +whole understanding. That which was then present to my mind, and +occupied all its faculties, was the hope of satisfaction, or vengeance, +if you will, for so many ages of guilty tyranny. The tears, the burning +and blood of nearly one thousand years seemed to letter the eastern sky, +as day dawned upon my way. Apprehension, I had none. From earliest +childhood to that hour, I never met one Irishman whose hope of hope it +was not to deliver the country forever from English thrall. I had lived +amidst all ranks (at least in their characters of politicians), had +known the sentiments of all, from the most ignorant peasant to the very +highest official of government; and then or now, I would find it +difficult to say where hatred to English domination--English power in +Ireland is neither government nor dominion--reigned the most intensely. +Some men there are by nature cowards, and they would shrink from the +perils of national deliverance; but if any sentiment could be said to +live in natures so grovelling, the grudge against England, even though +too craven to make itself audible, constitutes the essence of their +mental vitality. Some there are, too, so selfish as to sell their own +and their families' honour for gold; but as they count their sordid +gains, if they fall short by a scruple, whether in fact or in +anticipation, the deficiency becomes a heap of hoarded spite against +England. One man of that class, whom I had known, will furnish a +conclusive example. Trusted and paid by the Whigs, he was a supreme West +Briton, who saw in his country but a prey for meaner cormorants; +distrusted and dismissed by the Tories, he would storm the Castle, even +with the baton of the English office from which, he had been discarded. +Others, also, of a loftier stamp, were reined in, in the path of +allegiance[B], by considerations more justifiable, yet more or less +cowardly in character. + +[Illustration: Ballingarry, Slievenamon in the distance, 1848] + +Some doubted the ability of their country to effect her redemption. Some +doubted the capacity, and perhaps the sincerity, of the chiefs. Some +were schooled in duplicity, and under the ermine, or under the privy +councillor's robe, carried fierce hearts, benumbed by mendicancy and +seared by shame. But the first flash of their country's liberty would +see them ranged at that country's side, repaying with the fiercest hate +the beggar crumbs which England had flung from the fragments of her +overloaded table. It is true enough that a long course of corruption, +beginning with the perjured peer and ending with the tidewaiter, had +created a class of conditional loyalists, with nine-tenths of which the +condition is always unfulfilled; while, in its very fulfilment, the +other one-tenth has found but bitterness, the "sauce piquante" of their +daily bread. But as a general rule, such a thing as a pure Irish +loyalist does not exist. Its possible existence presupposes an absurdity +in nature. An Irishman cannot become loyal to English domination, +without divesting himself of the last attribute of his nature, not as an +Irishman, but as a man. + +The knowledge of this fact was my "base of operations." Ten thousand +armed men successful against a garrison of five hundred would produce a +more abundant crop of avenging warriors than the fabled dragon's teeth, +and that simultaneously through every square mile of the island. In ten +days there would be two millions of Irishmen in arms. It may well be +asked, what arms? But even instinct will reply, what arms would be +needed? England had in Ireland less than forty thousand men, and, +without hazarding the question, how many of them could she rely on, it +requires no consummate military genius to suggest how they could be +dealt with by a simultaneous rising of the country. The arms of her +enemies would then be hers. She would have time to form a regular army +to aid her undisciplined strength. England's position at home, where she +had not a soldier to spare; her condition abroad, where she was beaten +to the wall; and her relations with foreign powers would achieve the +rest. To a successful Irish revolution, a _coup-de-main_ is +indispensable; and a _coup-de-main_ would be incompatible with any +organised plan other than existed. It will be seen at once that for this +place details are unfit. The above sketch rather comprehends the bolder +outlines of an insurrection in action, and they suggest nothing to warn +the enemy as to future operations. The prospect they presented to me--a +prospect which long contemplation seemed to have realised into +fact--excluded from my mind the preliminary and intermediate +considerations of time, place, and other circumstances. There was but +one of any importance, the success of the commencement; and that seemed +beyond all question if, as I hoped, the neighbourhood of Carrick-on-Suir +were selected. As I approached that town in the grey of morning, and the +past and the future in burning recollection thronged on my brain, I +envied the destiny which God had awarded to its inhabitants, in breaking +the first link of the slavery of nearly twenty generations. This, alas, +was a dream. The people of Carrick had already, with shrinking hand, +marred their own immortal lot. + +Arriving at the house of John O'Mahony, one of the truest of living +Irishmen, I heard what follows. On the previous day Messrs. O'Brien, +Dillon and Meagher had arrived at Carrick. Their arrival was unexpected, +sudden and startling. They had apprised no one of their approach; and no +counsel had been taken or decision come to. It is needless to say that +the crowd which gathered to see them, when the intelligence of their +arrival spread, came unarmed and unprepared. The speeches addressed to +them were brief, determined, and to this effect: "We learned," said the +chiefs, "that an act was passed authorising the Irish Government to +seize our persons without even the imputation of a crime. You have vowed +to strive with us in every extremity, and die with us if need be. We are +here to demand the redemption of your pledge, in the name of your +enslaved country. The hour has come when the truth of that country is to +be tested; and first among her children the trust of her honour is +committed to you." How much more might have been said, and how far short +of the passionate appeal made by the most gifted of men the above +language may fall, this is not the place to inquire. The crowd answered +with a loud shout. With the leaders of that crowd other thoughts were +busy. Some of them waited on the "Traitors"; others, and the most +influential, absented themselves. Among the latter was the Rev. Mr. +Byrne, who, up to that hour, had taken an advanced position among those +who were most forward in the cause of the country. Not a fortnight +before, he delivered a speech to nearly one hundred thousand persons in +the town of Carrick, pre-eminently insurrectionary in its tendency; and +he had acted more than once as controller and regulator of the violent +passions his own vehemence aroused. For this duty, which he effectively +discharged because of his known disloyalty, he received the public +approval of England's Prime Minister. From all these circumstances, the +responsibilities of his position were such as it would require great +hardihood of character to shrink from. It was reported at the time that +he did not rest content with abandoning a post which he had attained +with intense ambition, but exerted his utmost influence with the people +against an enterprise which he designated as rash, ill-designed, and +fraught with ruin to the town. This report has been repeated as a fact +by the present writer, and has not been contradicted by the Rev. Mr. +Byrne. But it is right to add that a very respectable gentleman, a +witness of that day's proceedings, has distinctly contradicted it. He +added that the Rev. Mr. Byrne remained a passive spectator; and he +defended the conduct of those who really influenced the people, on the +ground that the preparations seemed of their very nature to preclude the +possibility of success; and that it was the sacred duty of every man +capable of appreciating the position and resources of the people, the +difficulties of the enterprise and the consequences of failure, not +alone to Carrick but the entire island, at all hazards to prevent a +useless wreck and slaughter. The great argument relied upon by every one +was, why should Carrick be selected? The same question would apply +everywhere else; and if the consideration it involves were to avail, +there never could be a revolution. However, in Carrick it seems to have +prevailed. Other arguments, no doubt, were urged, such as want of +provisions, want of arms and want of ammunition. The moment of +indecision is the harvest of evil passions--avarice, selfishness, +cowardice cloud the intellect, and blast the destiny of man. There is +some doubt as to who principally superinduced this indecision and the +judgment which here ranks it with a faulty weakness and a fearful +fatality refuses to question the motives upon which it was based. + +One singular fact, attested by all, deserves particular notice. It is +this: The other Roman Catholic clergymen of Carrick did not then +interfere. They had been always opposed, on other grounds, to the Irish +Confederation; but in that hour of fate they were silent. + +Mr. O'Brien and his comrades left the town deeply disappointed, if not +in actual disgust and despair. They were ignorant of my absence from +Cashel and determined to join me there. When I had learned this, I was +thirty miles from that town and knew that they had arrived there during +the night, and had, long before then, taken some decisive course. My +hope was that the town was in their hands. But, before I could decide on +what it became me to do, a messenger arrived from Cashel, directing me +to remain where I was, and conveying an assurance that Cashel was by +that time captured. Mr. Meagher immediately followed, confirming the +intelligence. He was on his way to Waterford. We immediately determined +on scouring the country along the bases of Slievenamon and the +Slatequarry hills, which stretch into the county Kilkenny. During that +journey the enthusiasm of the people was measureless. At every forge, +pikes were manufactured, the carpenter was at work fitting the handles, +and the very women were employed in polishing and sharpening these +weapons on the rough mountain stones. We called at several villages, and +were surrounded by the young men and the aged, by matron and maid, and +from no lips did one sound of complaint, or discouragement, or fear +fall. Everywhere hope and resolution and courage lit up the hearts and +eyes of young and old. We rode, at least a distance of twenty miles, and +returned assured that there was not one man within that district who was +not then prepared and would not be armed ere night came. We appointed +the chapel of Ballyneal, within two miles of Carrick, as the place of +rendezvous, determined to act according to the intelligence which we +might receive from Cashel. Meantime deputations from Carrick waited upon +us, to assure us the people there would follow us notwithstanding any +advice they might have received. We agreed that we would not attack the +town, and required five hundred men for another enterprise. A short time +afterwards some directions were required, and I wrote one or two +sentences on a scrap of paper which was taken from the messenger by the +Rev. Mr. Byrne and torn. What his influencing motives might have been I +know not, nor do I care to inquire. My first impulse was immediately to +appear in the town and throw myself on the protection of the people. My +friend dissuaded me from this attempt and proposed to go into town +himself, which he could do without danger, to ascertain what would be +the probability of my proposal's success. After two or three anxious +hours, he returned, impressed with the conviction that such an attempt +would be fatal. + +By this time crowds began to assemble at the place of rendezvous before +alluded to, and word was brought us that the Reverend Mr. Morrissey, the +parish priest of that place, was endeavouring to disperse them. Owing to +his character, there was not much to be apprehended from his influence +with the people. His associations had been with the aristocracy, and +most of his friendships and sympathies contracted at the fox-covert, or +on the "Stand House." This is mentioned, not in disparagement of the +man, but for the purpose of rescuing his Order from imputations +attaching to his conduct alone. The very fact of his interference would +suggest the conclusion that the course he recommended was opposed to the +general sentiments of his brethren; so we felt at this time. But we +mistook his influence with the people. It was reported to us that he +used certain arguments, incredible, because blasphemous. But the +argument which succeeded, and which all alike attested, was this, "that +he would put himself at the head of the people if they but waited three +weeks." + +Influenced by this promise, the people had dispersed before my friend +arrived at the place of rendezvous. He returned to me sadly discouraged, +after a day and night of labour and agitation as intense as ever +strained the energies of man. I then determined to ride on to Cashel, to +learn the fate of Mr. O'Brien and his comrades. I was accompanied by two +young farmers, well armed. We arrived about midnight at Brookhill, +where I was made acquainted with all that had occurred at Cashel. + +The history was more melancholy than our own. My absence was used as an +argument, sincere or pretended, against any effort in that town. Mr. +O'Brien, in ignorance of whom to apply to, took counsel with one man at +least, since accused of the darkest treachery. Others, from whom I had +different hopes, shrank from an encounter which, at other times, they +seemed to long for as the dearest blessing Heaven could bestow. There no +clergymen interfered--the people were left to act for themselves; but it +must be admitted that the actual people never had an opportunity of +proving their courage. A young friend of mine, who had all my trust, and +justified it by unshaken fidelity through many a trial, was despatched +to the country to procure assistance, but he applied to the wrong +source, and, deluded by the character of him to whom he had spoken, +returned under the mistaken conviction that from the country nothing was +to be expected. + +This decided Mr. O'Brien and his friends. He had been joined at Cashel +by P.J. Smyth, and James Cantwell, now in the United States, by James +Stephens, now at Paris, and by Patrick O'Donohoe, now sharing the doom +of his chief. As an episode in this history, the fate of Mr. O'Donohoe +is singular and startling. He was much relied on by his friends in the +Confederation, and was entrusted with the dispatches to Mr. O'Brien. He +proceeded on his mission to Kilkenny, and there applied to one of the +clubs. He was known to none of the members, and became at once the +object of suspicion. It was, accordingly, determined to send him for +the rest of the journey, under arrest, and Stephens and another member +were appointed to that duty. They proceeded in execution of their +mission to Cashel, where Mr. O'Donohoe was warmly welcomed by Mr. +O'Brien, whose fate he thenceforth determined to share. Mr. Stephens +came to the same resolution; but the other guard of Mr. O'Donohoe, +refused to commit himself to fortunes which appeared so desperate. With +Messrs. Stephens and O'Donohoe, their very desperation acted as the most +ennobling and irresistible inducement. They clung to him to the last +with a fidelity the more untiring in proportion as his circumstances +portended imminent disaster and ruin. + +Their departure from Cashel compelled a feeling of gloomier forebodings +and deeper despair than they had yet experienced. The darkest +consciousness that ever clouded the hopes of man began to darken upon +them. Where they expected that every man would make a fortress for them +in his very heart, they were almost abandoned. But their resolution +remained unchanged. They, therefore, resolved as a final resource to +take up their position in the most inaccessible part of the country. As +they proceeded through the hilly grounds, skirting the Tipperary +collieries, a crowd began to gather around them, and they saw what they +hoped would form the nucleus of an army. Braver hearts never beat +beneath a cuirass, but they were not armed, disciplined or even taught. +On that day they took the road to the village of Mullinahone, situate +about seventeen miles south-east of Cashel. As they entered Mullinahone, +the chapel bell was rung, and a crowd of some thousands collected. + +Mr. O'Brien addressed them with the same brevity and force as at +Carrick-on-Suir, where his hopes were far brighter. The two clergymen, +Rev. Mr. Corcoran and Rev. Mr. Cahill, appeared by his side, and openly +resisted his advice. But, with the people, their influence totally +failed. Three thousand persons at least formed their bivouac that night. +Mr. O'Brien remained up with them most of the night. Notwithstanding the +disappointments of former trials, he once more entertained most sanguine +hopes of his country's resurrection. But, ere morning, the counsels of +the clergymen prevailed so far as to introduce discussion and disunion; +and next day he was abandoned by more than half his followers. Once more +the priests interfered and openly remonstrated against the course Mr. +O'Brien had proposed. They tried every means, entreaty, expostulation, +remonstrance, menace, but without any considerable effect; and Mr. +O'Brien left the town with a large multitude, directing his way to +Ballingarry. The village of Ballingarry is about four miles distant from +Mullinahone; and the inhabitants of the latter accompanied Mr. O'Brien +to the boundaries of the former parish, whose inhabitants in turn +assumed the duty of his escort and, if need be, of his defence. When the +cavalcade reached the village, they took up their position in the +chapel-yard, and summoned the neighbouring people by the ringing of the +chapel bell. A great number of people answered the signal, and Mr. +O'Brien explained to them his purpose and his hopes. He did not then +propose any plan of immediate offensive operations, but stated in +general terms that his object was to protect himself from arrest, while +the country would be engaged in organisation, and the crop coming to +maturity. An idea prevailed among the people that he only wished to be +protected for a time, and they seemed incapable of appreciating either +his object or his motives. I reached the spot as the assembly was +breaking up and the people retiring in small groups to their respective +districts, some four or five hundred who were partially armed, remaining +in the village. I was accompanied by Thos. D. Reilly, who made his way +to me on that morning. We had entered into arrangements with certain men +whom we met in the morning as to a joint movement, for which the +followers of Mr. O'Brien seemed but ill-adapted and prepared. Our first +care was to take counsel as to the future. We detailed mutually to each +other the respective circumstances which had shaped our movements so +far, and with which it was our duty then to contend. But one thing +seemed quite clear; namely, that the country demanded a delay of at +least a month. Although the sincerity of the motive on which this demand +was founded seemed questionable to many, there was no way of +counteracting its effect or denying its universality. The question then +was, how was the demand to be complied with without compromising our +liberty or the position we occupied? It was argued that the necessity of +our condition would justify any act which would reassure the minds of +the people in reference to the apprehension of starvation, which was so +sedulously inculcated, and that a proclamation should forthwith be +published confiscating the landed property of the country, and offering +it as the gage of battle and reward of victory, and another proclamation +directing the people to live at the expense of the enemy. This proposal +was resisted on the ground that it required an aggressive act on the +part of the Government to justify so sweeping a proceeding, which, if +attempted by us in our then position, would be regarded as an act of +mere plunder, unredeemed by any of the stern necessities of war. So +decided the majority. It was then proposed that we should scatter, and +take shelter individually as best we could until harvest time. But Mr. +O'Brien refused to hear counsel which involved, as its first principle, +the idea of becoming fugitives. A middle course was therefore decided +on. It could not fairly be said that the country had been tested, and we +were not, at the time, aware how far people at a distance were prepared +to second our efforts. The strength of the Government, too, seemed +paralysed. For miles on miles around, one solitary soldier or policeman +was not to be found. The small garrisons had been withdrawn, and all the +available forces stationed in the county had been concentrated in the +large towns. The idea of maintaining our position for a few weeks seemed +not at all improbable; and, meantime, we would have an opportunity of +organising the distant parts of the country, and of preparing those then +around us for active service. When men differ, a compromise is sure to +prevail. It did so on that occasion, and it was accordingly resolved, +that we should return to the neighbourhood of Carrick, wait the arrival +of the expected assistance from Waterford, and keep the neighbouring +garrison of Clonmel in awe, by signal-fires by night and scattered +parties by day. We immediately returned and rode most part of the night +on our way back. We slept a few hours at Brookhill and had interviews +next morning with men who, on the previous day, were in high heart and +hopes. We at once saw the effect that delay and indecision had produced +on their minds. Reports, the most contradictory and false, respecting +what Mr. O'Brien proposed and stated, had found their way among them, +and it took hours to reassure them. They again promised us to be ready, +however, and we proceeded across Slievenamon. On our journey we had +interviews with the leaders of clubs and of other bodies, and at each +step we found the difficulties of our position and the weakness of +public confidence fearfully increased. We still hoped that the arrival +of assistance which we expected from Waterford would restore unanimity +and confidence. + +When we reached Kilcash, at the southern base of Slievenamon, we learned +that all hope of the expected assistance was at an end. Mr. Meagher had +returned; and having despatched O'Mahony to Mr. O'Brien, to request he +would once more return to the neighbourhood of the mountain, where he +either could be more safely concealed for a time, or a last desperate +effort could be made under better auspices, he waited several hours +after the time appointed for his return, and then departed towards the +direction of Borrisoleigh, in the northern riding of Tipperary, +accompanied by Mr. Maurice Leyne, with whom unhappily he fell in, and to +whose weak counsel, according to the information I received, much of his +subsequent ill fate was owing. The distance to Borrisoleigh could not be +less than forty miles. Mr. Meagher must have been persuaded by +O'Mahony's delay, that Mr. O'Brien had been driven from his position, +and perhaps captured, or he would not have undertaken so long a journey, +the sole motive of which could only be the hope of rousing, with the aid +of the Rev. Mr. Kenyon, that district of the country, so as to rescue +his chief or avenge him. It was then apparent that our position had +become desperate. We instantly proceeded to the house of our friend, who +recounted the particulars of his visit to Ballingarry, and its results. +He agreed in the propriety of going a second time to meet Mr. O'Brien, +and urging upon him the necessity of some decisive course. The startling +events of the two preceding days too clearly proved that his position +was not tenable, and that whatever might be resolved on, it was +indispensable to remove from Ballingarry. It was then night, and we were +all sorely taxed by long riding and want of rest. Not one of us was able +to mount, so we placed hay in a car on which we flung ourselves, and +trusted to the guidance of the boy who led the horse. We travelled about +nine miles in this way, one endeavouring to act as sentinel while the +others were asleep; but we found that unless we trusted to blind chance, +we could not continue our journey. So, half by force and half by +persuasion, we obtained liberty to stretch on a pallet in an empty room. +Mr. O'Brien was then snatching a little broken rest in a field, not four +miles away from us, without our being aware of the fact. In the morning +we learned that he remained there only while a car was procured at +Mullinahone, and then returned to the neighbourhood of the collieries. +He left Ballingarry on the advice contained in Mr. Meagher's message, +and, accompanied by some hundreds of his followers, proceeded towards +Carrick through the town of Mullinahone where for the third time he had +to encounter the open hostility of the Catholic clergymen, who on this +occasion had recourse to threats and even blows. Owing to their +interference, one-fourth of those who followed him so far, did not +accompany him outside the town. He was nearly deserted, when he changed +his resolution of falling back on his former position. When the car +arrived he proceeded directly to the town of Killenaule, which might be +said to be the head-quarters of the colliery. There he and his +companions entered the hotel, where they remained till morning. Early +that day the chapel bell was rung, and a great multitude flocked into +the town. They were, as usual in that quarter, miserably armed. But they +were enthusiastic, and the Catholic priests did not interfere. While the +bell was tolling, intelligence was received that a troop of dragoons was +approaching. The people immediately erected a barricade at the farthest +extremity of the principal street. It was constructed of empty carts and +baulks of timber. The moment the troop entered the street, a similar +barricade was constructed in the rear. The hotel was situated between +the two barricades. The officer in command made no demonstration of +active resistance; and as he approached the last barricade he was +surrounded by a great multitude. A few of the people were armed with +rifles and muskets, others with pitchforks, scythes and slanes, and +others had no weapons but stones. John Dillon stood at the barricade. +The officer asked why his passage was interrupted, and stated he was +only on an ordinary march. Mr. Dillon demanded whether his object was +to arrest Smith O'Brien? He said emphatically, No. Mr. Dillon then asked +if he would pledge his honour as a soldier, that he had no intention of +arresting Mr. O'Brien, adding, that if he did so, the troop would be +allowed to pass unmolested. He unhesitatingly pledged his honour, and +immediately the barricade was partially removed. Mr. Dillon took his +horse by the bridle and led him out of the town. + +We were approaching Killenaule by another route when Mr. O'Brien and his +party left it by the high road to the collieries. We followed, and after +a race of some ten miles overtook them near Lisnabrock. Thence we +proceeded in cars to Boulagh, and thence to the Commons. This was on +Friday evening, the 28th day of July. We retired to an upper room in a +publichouse. There were then present Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Dillon, Mr. +Stephens, Mr. Cantwell, Mr. Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, Mr. Maurice Leyne, +Mr. Reilly, Mr O'Mahony and myself, with others whose names I cannot +mention, fourteen, as well as I remember, in all.[10] The same questions +that were discussed on the former day were again revived, and we, who +felt the necessity of the bold course we recommended then, were much +more convinced of it under the altered circumstances of our position. + +The debate was long and warm, but Mr. O'Brien's objections were even +more immovable than ever. It will not be expected that all the proposals +of that evening should be reproduced here. Suffice it, therefore, to +add that as far as the principles by which Mr. O'Brien's conduct was +guided, he adhered to them the more steadfastly in proportion as ruin +became more inevitable. Many calumnies have been circulated respecting +that meeting. It has been said that the discussion was acrimonious and +the separation final. The truth is, there was not one word, even, of an +angry tone, and we separated just as on the former occasion, determined +to cope as best we could with a doom we were unable to avert. Often +afterwards it was a source of melancholy pleasure to some of his +comrades that he had not been induced to incur what he regarded as +guilt. The lofty consciousness of unerring rectitude which sustained his +fortitude could not fail to be chequered by the recollection of acts +which in his own estimation were not purely blameless. Had success +attended the suggested proposals, they would receive the world's +unqualified approval; while failure, explained through the medium of a +malicious law, and a warped and cowardly public opinion, would brand +them as iniquitous. But Mr. O'Brien's scrupulous sense of honour escaped +the hazards of such feeble probabilities; and in the hour of deepest +gloom his own unsullied conscience shed peace, light and glory on his +fate. + +[Illustration: A Street in Ballingarry, 1848] + +Some of his companions exulted in the morning scene at Killenaule. To +_seem_ able to capture a troop of her majesty's dragoons, they regarded +as a victory. But others, more thoughtful and correct, mourned over the +escape of the military, which was only to be justified on the ground +that the incongruous force around the feeble barricades, would be +unequal to the task. It is a singular thing that while Captain Longmore +utterly despaired of forcing his way, Mr. Dillon was fully conscious of +his inability to resist him. The latter assumed a superiority he was +unable to sustain, the former abjured a design which it was criminal +according to the civil, and cowardly according to the military code, not +to attempt the execution of Mr. Dillon, who led his horse, was a +proclaimed "traitor." So was Mr. O'Brien, whose presence was avowed; by +virtue of his allegiance, and still more, by virtue of his commission he +was bound to arrest them. To neglect it was cowardice, cognisable by a +court-martial and punishable by death. There could be but one +justification--utter inability to effect the service. The evidence, +then, that could alone satisfy a court-martial must directly contradict +that which Captain Longmore offered at the trial in Clonmel. But while +Mr. O'Brien viewed the conduct of Captain Longmore as cowardly +submission, it would be unjust to conclude that it imparted a single +shade of inflexibility to his principles or purpose. On the contrary, +they assumed their attributes of most rigid sternness as his fortunes +became clouded by a deeper gloom. He was averse to everything which bore +the stamp of desperation, or could possibly imply a shrinking from fate. + +Of those who took part in the deliberations of that evening, Messrs. +Dillon, Stephens, MacManus and O'Donohoe resolved to continue with Mr. +O'Brien. There seemed a possibility, though a desperate one, that they +could baffle the enemy for the time the country required, and maintain +their position of open defiance, whilst we, in different parts of the +country, should keep up an appearance of force, so as to distract +attention and check any attempt to despatch a force from the garrison of +Clonmel. Meantime we were to endeavour to organise a force, and, if +strong enough, act on our own responsibilities and according to our own +principles. We left him about nine o'clock in the evening, after the +best dispositions available out of the number with us were made to +prevent surprise during the night. Soon after our departure he strongly +advised Mr. Dillon to leave for another part of the country. I proposed +to take up my post on Slievenamon, where I would be in the best position +to fulfil Mr. O'Brien's wishes; where, at all events, I could escape +arrest, in spite of any efforts to capture me, and where I expected, in +a few days, to rally a considerable force. Mr. Meagher said he would +take his stand on the Comeragh mountains, in the county of Waterford, +with similar views and purposes. Mr. Meagher and Mr. Leyne, with three +or four others, travelled together on a car. We dismissed ours, and +crossed the country. Next day we arrived once more at Brookhill, which +is within about one mile of Fethard, where we were able to procure a car +that brought Mr. Reilly as far as Kilkenny. The first care of us who +remained was to fulfil the commission assigned us. A young friend, of +whom mention has been already made, joined me that evening. He had been +two days in search of me, and was greatly exhausted by anxiety and +fatigue. Rumours of various kinds were rife. But, what was most +disheartening was that the courage of the people was fast subsiding. Men +who were most eager for deeds of any daring two days previously, began +to exhibit symptoms of hesitation, doubt, and even indifference. But a +far sadder disaster had elsewhere befallen. Mr. O'Brien, after a night +of anxious care, was still full of hope. He was even then engaged in +drawing up a manifesto, embracing, as far as possible in such a +document, the motives and causes which suggested and justified an armed +revolt, and the principles upon which it was to be conducted. Whether +the draft was destroyed or fell into the hands of the Government, is not +now clear, save in as far as the non-production of the paper at his +trial, is evidence that it never reached his persecutors. The leading +principle of his entire conduct was, that the property, the liberty, the +destiny of the island belonged to the entire people, and that the +institutions which guaranteed them should be the calm embodiment of the +nation's deliberate judgment, ascertained through the medium of a free +assembly, deriving its authority from universal suffrage. This was one +potent reason why he refused to assume, either as military leader, or as +the chief of a provisional government, the responsibility of an act +which could be regarded as the basis of the future government of +Ireland. He was scrupulously anxious that the great principles upon +which the future liberty of Ireland was to be based, should emanate from +the free will of the people, uncontrolled by dictatorial power or +personal prestige. + +But Mr. O'Brien was not destined to accomplish the object of his +solicitude. About twelve o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 29th +day of July, he was apprised of the approach of a body of police, under +command of Captain Trant. Simultaneously with the appearance of the +police, an indiscriminate crowd, composed for the most part of women +and boys with a few armed men, ranged themselves around him. They +occupied an eminence in front of the road by which the police +approached. Another road crossed this at right angles, and Captain +Trant, instead of leading his men directly against Mr. O'Brien's +position, denied along the cross-road to the right hand--that which led +to the Widow M'Cormick's. The motive of this manoeuvre was obvious. +Either from personal cowardice, or from cool judgment, he determined to +await further reinforcements, and, meantime, to secure some place of +shelter and defence. The crowd, with Mr. O'Brien, immediately rushed +from their position and hung fiercely on the policemen's rear. Captain +Trant ordered a retreat, or those under his command adopted that +precaution without his authority. The armed leaders among the people, +Messrs. MacManus, Stephens and Cavanagh, hesitated to fire on troops +flying for their lives. But they urged the pursuit so rapidly, that, by +the time the police took shelter in Mrs. M'Cormick's house, they were +hot upon their track. The crowd surrounded the house, and Mr. O'Brien, +approaching one of the front windows, called on Captain Trant to +surrender. The latter demanded half an hour to consider, which Mr. +O'Brien unhappily granted. Pending the half hour, the crowd became +furious and began to fling stones in through the windows. Some of the +men inside were knocked down by the stones, and the officer hurt. Seeing +that their own leaders could no longer control the people, and believing +the destruction of himself and his party to be inevitable, Captain Trant +gave orders to his men to fire, which presented his only chance of +escape. Mr. O'Brien immediately rushed between the people and the +window, on one of which he jumped up, and once more demanded the officer +to surrender. But the order to fire had been given and executed with +deadly effect. Two men fell dead, and several were badly wounded. The +crowd fell back; but Mr. O'Brien remained still in front of the house. +There were several windows in front and two small ones only in the rear; +parallel with the rear was a barn, in which there were two still smaller +windows. Messrs. Stephens and MacManus took possession of this house, +and, placing three or four sure marksmen inside for the purpose of +taking down any of the police who should appear at the back windows, +they proposed to burn the house in which the police took shelter. They +carried bundles of hay and placed them against the back door and roof. +The police seized on Mrs. M'Cormick's children, and held them up to the +windows, to terrify or appease the people. At this juncture the Catholic +clergymen appeared on the scene. Either, being appalled by the scene of +death before them, or being personally cowardly, or feeling that to +continue the conflict would be productive of useless slaughter, they +exerted themselves to the utmost to disperse the crowd. Whatever may +have been their motives, it is certain that, although Mr. O'Brien was in +the neighbourhood since the previous Wednesday, they had not in any way +interfered, and only came upon the scene to attend to the dying and the +dead. Mr. O'Brien and his comrades, finding themselves beset by this +unexpected difficulty, retired a short distance, to consider what was +best to be done. The people were again quickly forming around them, and +all were hurriedly preparing to storm the house, when a fresh body of +police was seen approaching from the opposite direction. This force +consisted of sixty men; the first only amounted to forty-five. Constable +Carroll rode on considerably in advance of his party. He found himself +suddenly surrounded, and was forced to surrender and dismount. He and +two others of the advance-guard were removed. But the main body +continued to approach rapidly; and Mr. O'Brien was not in a position and +had not strength to intercept their junction with the other body. His +friends pressed Mr. O'Brien to retreat, which he refused. Admitting, +fully, his inability to cope with these forces, he declined to avail +himself of the means of escape at his disposal. His comrades impressed +on him that his life belonged to the country; that another effort was +yet within the range of possibility, and that it was incumbent on him to +save himself for the final issue. By long and passionate entreaty, they +induced him to mount the police-officer's horse and retire. When he had +left, Messrs. Stephens and MacManus led off the remainder of their +party, without being pursued or molested. + +After a short consultation, they determined to separate. Mr. Stephens +proposed to go on to Urlingford, where a large force was collecting, and +MacManus accepted the duty of bearing to us the intelligence of the +disaster, and taking chance with us for the future. He came up with Mr. +Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, and Mr. Leyne, who were then on their way to the +Comeragh mountains, but changed their purpose on hearing this sad +intelligence. They remained that night at the house of a man named +Hanrahan, near Nine-mile House, a small village on the high road from +Kilkenny to Cork. + +I was all this time ignorant of what occurred. After Mr. Reilly had left +me, and I was joined by the young friend already mentioned, I summoned +as many of the farmers of the neighbourhood as I could collect, and it +was agreed that ten of them, who would represent each one hundred men, +should meet me next day, after divine service, at the wood of +Keilavalla, situate near the western base of Slievenamon. We were to be +joined by two others from the neighbourhood of Carrick-on Suir, from +which we were distant about ten miles. On that morning the news of Mr. +O'Brien's disaster spread far, and was, of course, exaggerated. I had +slept the previous night not far from the mountain, where I was watched +by two brothers named Walsh, who lived at Brookhill, but have since +removed to the United States. I gladly avail myself of this occasion to +attest their fidelity and bravery. At the time appointed, my friend and +I proceeded to the place of rendezvous. We remained for hours, and +remained in vain. At last one only of the ten arrived. He told us that +at the chapel the Rev. Patrick Laffan read the names of the proscribed +traitors for whose persons a reward was offered.... + +We continued on the mountain during the remainder of the day; and toward +evening about fifty men came up to us, who, one and all, expressed the +utmost indignation at what had happened. Once more our hopes revived. If +Mr. O'Brien could avoid arrest for a few weeks only, we expected that a +sense of shame would sting the country to desperate exertion. + +After night-fall we descended, and slept at a farmer's house at the +southern base of the mountain, where we were most kindly entertained and +sedulously guarded. We there heard of the Ballingarry disaster. Next +morning we once more ascended Slievenamon, where we endeavoured to +dissipate the heavy hours and the still heavier consciousness at our own +hearts by firing at a mark. The day suddenly darkened, and we had to +seek shelter under rocks from a pitiless mountain shower. We had +dispatched a messenger to O'Mahony to demand an interview that evening; +and, after he had returned, we were invited to partake of some new +potatoes (then beginning to exhibit the blight), milk, eggs and butter. +I remember lying down in a bed, and getting so feverish that I believed +my doom was sealed. My noble young friend sat at my bedside, with a +rifle and two pistols, prepared to defend my rest with his life. The +illness was, however, but trifling and temporary, and the necessity of +acting enabled me at once to shake it off. After nightfall, we proceeded +to the appointed interview. We travelled in a common car, accompanied by +four others, all armed. Our haunt was a poor cabin on the roadside, near +a place called Moloch, in the neighbourhood of Carrick. There I bid my +faithful young friend good night, but was doomed not to see him +afterwards. Mr. O'Mahony and myself slept on some straw, but we had +scarcely closed our eyes when we learned that the cabin was surrounded +by the military and police. We were apprised of our perilous position +just in time to escape: this we effected, after a struggle, aided by +extreme darkness. We spent the remainder of the night in a field, where +I slept very soundly. At break of day we retired to a farmer's house +near the Suir, where, after partaking of some refreshments, we went to +bed, and slept, one or two hours. The breakfast scene of that morning is +not easily forgotten. Perhaps there is no place in the world where a +more substantial breakfast can be produced than at a comfortable Irish +farmer's. On this occasion the silent, watchful, anxious grace of our +young hostess, in her attentions, enhanced the flavour of the repast. It +is only by those who have partaken of such hospitality that the +speechless tenderness of the females among that class of farmers can be +appreciated. But on the occasion to which I refer, there was added to +the customary delicacy a deep anxiety for our fate. Save hushed words of +pressing and eloquent looks of sympathy, the meal passed off without +conversation; and we rose from the table to depart, as if conscious we +had exchanged our last earthly greeting. It was not so, however, and our +hostess shared much of our after fortune, and now shares our exile. Her +fate, too, is harder than ours. We are occasionally cheered by public +approval, by the sympathy and admiration of every lover of liberty, +whereas her name is never spoken. She has fallen from a position of +comparative affluence, lost her independence (I use the word in its +practical worldly sense), and is doomed to toil for her daily bread. Of +all the vicissitudes of fortune in which the attempt of which I write +resulted, there is not one that has given me more pain than that of +Margaret Quinlan, the lady (who has higher claims to that title?) to +whom I have alluded. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 10: The other four were Terence Bellew MacManus, John +Cavanagh, J.D. Wright (a T.C.D. student, afterwards a lawyer in +America), and D.P. Cunningham, afterwards a journalist in New +York.--Ed.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE.--ARREST OF +TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS.--CLONMEL SPECIAL COMMISSION.--TRIAL, +CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE REBELS.--WRIT OF +ERROR.--COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.--TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES. + + +Before proceeding further with the details of my own wanderings, I wish +to follow out to its conclusion the fate of those whom we parted with at +Ballingarry, and were destined to see no more, though, in doing so, I +must anticipate the order of time, in which the events took place. My +task here is more difficult and painful than any detail of facts, +however gloomy. There are always in the reverses of the brave, some +glimpses of glory to reconcile us to the dark disasters on our way; but +when calumny pursues their path, gnawing, with ceaseless tooth, the +priceless jewel of their character, the historian must shudder to find +his labour beset by the filth and rubbish the viper has left behind. In +this instance, that lesson of Mr. O'Connell's which was the most fatal +in its influence, found many believers. It was said, and said +unscrupulously, that Mr. O'Brien and his followers were actual agents of +the British Government, suborned to precipitate the country into +revolution, for which they were to receive large possessions and +lucrative employment beyond the sea. It was the constant habit of Mr. +O'Connell, when any one proposed a course bolder than his own, to +suggest that he was doing the business of the enemy. He may have +adopted this course in his self-assumed character of Dictator, as the +surest and speediest means of clearing all obstructions out of his way. +Whatever his motive, it was an unworthy resource; for it supplied the +meanest minds with an example and a pretext for the gratification of +their own vile propensities. Their voice was heard, amid the silence of +mourning and death, when in an hour of universal dismay, John Mitchel +was borne from his loved fatherland; and still more audibly when the +dungeon closed on Smith O'Brien and his illustrious comrades. In the +latter instance, slander availed itself of an incident connected with +their arrest to justify its infamous conclusions. "If," it croaked, +"they were in earnest, why suffer themselves to be arrested so +easily?--Why come to the railway terminus?--Why parade on the high road +in front of a police barrack? In effect, why surrender?" But in Ireland +this was little heeded; nor should I deem it worthy of the least notice, +if it were not revived in the new world, under circumstances calculated +to give it credence and durability. At one time it is insinuated that +they "surrendered," such as "it was said they gave themselves up," and +immediately afterwards, in reference to the period or the fact, is to be +found "at the time of Mr. O'Brien's surrender." And again, in the same +breath, it is positively stated as a mere matter of course. + +The propagator of this malignity knows it to be false. He knows also +that it serves the purpose of those who would charge the country's +truest and bravest with vilest treachery. + +I shall pursue the theme no further. The truth is, Mr. O'Brien remained +among a people who were sorely stricken by terror. Their friends were +dead or scattered; and rumour, with a thousand tongues, multiplied the +most awful horrors which were said to be approaching them. Although they +received and sheltered Mr. O'Brien, he evidently saw that their +generosity cost them dearly, and that they were in the utmost alarm. His +own privations he could endure; but not the fear and suffering his +presence caused to others. This, and this only, determined him in the +first instance. He might also have hoped that if he could reach the +neighbourhood of his own home, he would be defended with desperate +fidelity. He was aware that Mr. Richard O'Gorman was in that district, +and he had been informed that he was followed by thousands. That he did +not seek to reach the county Limerick by some other means of +conveyance--by a car, on foot, or on horseback--may be a mistake of +judgment; but none would be free from peril: and had he escaped +detection at Thurles, there would not be the least danger, until he +reached Cahermoyle, as the rest of the journey would be entirely by +night. His sagacity may be questioned, perhaps, but it is extreme +villainy to question his purpose. He took that course only and solely +because he thought it the safest; and he had no more intention of +surrendering than I had when I crossed by the packet to Boulogne. + +Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Donohoe were arrested under circumstances over +which they had still less control. They were utterly unacquainted with +the country, and did not know, if they left the high road, but the first +house they might approach would be a police barrack. They had made every +attempt desperation could suggest to rouse the people, but in vain. +They were opposed by some, shunned by some, and from some they received +false counsel. They had exhausted the welcome of all who were inclined +to receive them, and they knew not one step of their way. Previously, +too, Mr. Meagher had peremptorily refused to avail himself of a mode of +escape provided for him and he equally peremptorily refused to listen to +any terms from Government, which did not include all his comrades. His +object, on the night he was arrested, was to make another trial at +Cashel, which he designed to approach by a circuitous route. + +The 6th day of August was the date of Mr. O'Brien's arrest; the 13th of +August that of Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, and the 7th of September +that of Mr. MacManus. Mr. O'Brien was taken at the Thurles railway +station; Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, near Rathgannon, on the road +between Clonoulty and Holycross, about five miles from Thurles, and Mr. +MacManus on board the ship _N.D. Chase_, in the bay of Cove, on the 7th +of September. They were each conveyed to Kilmainham Jail, in the first +instance, where they remained until within a few days of the opening of +the special commission at Clonmel. This took place on Thursday, the 21st +of Sept., when the bills were found, but six days were allowed to Mr. +O'Brien and the rest of the prisoners to peruse the indictment, with +copies of which they were respectively furnished. On Thursday, the 28th, +the trial of Mr. O'Brien commenced; that of Mr. MacManus on the 9th of +October; that of Mr. O'Donohoe on the 13th, and that of Mr. Meagher on +the 16th. + +Juries were empanelled in each case, from whose prejudice and bad faith +verdicts for high treason were expected, even though the evidence only +sustained a charge of common assault. Roman Catholics were, in the first +instance, scrupulously excluded; but after the first two verdicts one or +two were admitted, upon whose weakness of character, or genteel +aspirations, the Government might safely rely. It is but justice to say +that, according to the law expounded by the Bench, and the evidence +given on the table, any other verdict was not to be expected. But a jury +differently composed, a jury of Englishmen, with their country, their +liberties and their lives perilled to the last extremity by +misgovernment and maladministration of law, would have spurned the law +and the evidence, and relied on the great fundamental rights of humanity +so flagrantly outraged by the Government that then appeared as +prosecutors. + +The scene presented by Clonmel excited much public surprise. Newspaper +correspondents magnified the sullen gloom that prevailed into popular +apathy or national cowardice, as suited the bent or purpose of their +employers. The truth was, the people exhibited during the trial a decent +and respectful forbearance. Empty parade or vociferous sorrow would only +mock the lofty purpose of the sufferers; and besides, the mortification +which rankled in the public heart was too deep for utterance. The hopes +of the people had been dashed, and they were stunned and stupefied by +their fall. But so far from being apathetic, nightly assemblages were +held to consider if, even in that extremity, something was not yet +possible to be done. + +But, if there were a show of popular indifference on the streets, the +courthouse presented a very different spectacle. There everything +manifested an intense bitterness of purpose; the court, composed of the +two most unscrupulous partisans, Chief Justices Blackbourne and Doherty, +and the weakest or falsest political convert, Mr. Justice Moore, +simulated the uncontrollable emotions which an overweening loyalty awoke +in the bosom of the Catholic Attorney-General. So far were their +lordships swayed by the spirit of imitativeness, that the most polished +speakers, mistaking the incoherent jargon of the official for the broken +utterance of overwrought zeal and shocked loyalty, mimicked his +distempered language as the only befitting medium of expression for +disturbed feelings such as theirs. The simplest and most usual +facilities accorded to murderers and pickpockets on their trial were +rudely denied the counsel for the defence. The principles of law, +recognised in England as sacred, were scouted from the bench, and the +farce of trial proceeded through its different stages to the final +_denouement_ with perfect regularity, every one performing the part +assigned him with unerring accuracy. + +Of the intrepid ability which struggled against this fearful combination +of bigotry, prejudice and passion, at the bar, on the bench and in the +box, I do not purpose to speak here. But I would be unfaithful to my +trust, and unjust to the rarest heroism, if I did not record the +fortitude and fidelity of O'Donnell, from whom the menaces of the crown, +or the frown of the bench, could not wring one word of evidence. In an +ordinary man, this would be singular intrepidity; but circumstanced +as O'Donnell was, it amounted to a Roman virtue. One brother of his, a +doctor, was in jail at Liverpool, charged with political felony; another +was hunted through the country, and another was in irons, involved in +the same charge as the illustrious accused; for them all he could +command his own terms, for much depended on his testimony; but though +doom were upon them, and a word of his could avert it, he refused to +speak. Honour be his. His integrity almost cancelled the shame and +darkness of those disastrous times. + +[Illustration: The Widow McCormack's House, near Ballingarry] + +I can add nothing to the testimony that established the fortitude, +manliness and dignity of the prisoners, as beyond precedent or example. +That their bearing, one and all, was truly noble, friends and foes took +pride in attesting.[11] It was a solemn and a glorious sight; and men, +through all time, will turn to that Clonmel dock to learn the +inestimable and imperishable value of sincere and lofty convictions and +a truly heroic soul. + +Of the speeches that follow, it will be observed that Mr. O'Brien's was +delivered before the fate of his comrades was known. No man had ever +greater need of vindicating others if not himself. No man ever possessed +in a higher degree the capacity and strength to do so. He was satisfied +it was the last opportunity he would ever have on earth for +explanation. Yet, lest any sentiment of his might injuriously affect +those that were then, or might thereafter be on their trial, he forebore +to assert the principles of which he was there the martyr, and of which +he was more than ever proud. It was to the same unselfish sentiment he +yielded, when consenting to say, "Not guilty," to a charge he would have +felt the greatest glory in avowing. + +I despair of conveying to my readers an adequate idea of the gloom and +horror of the scene in which those immortal words were spoken. Death, +near and terrible, was in the future. The recollection of ten days' +infamy peopled the present with ghastly images of evil. Vindictiveness +inexorable glared from the bench. The dust around the feet of the +speakers was laden with guilt. It would not rise to the briskest breeze, +beneath the clearest sky, in light summer air, so heavy had the tread of +murder been upon it. And oh, to think when they closed their eyes upon +this world, what deeper death they left their country ... Will no day of +vengeance come, O God! . . . + +One of those benefits of the British constitution, which excites the +mortal envy of benighted "surrounding nations," is this, that the law +lies to the face of death, in the usual question addressed to the +condemned: "Whether he had anything to say why sentence of death and +execution should not be passed upon him?" when the most conclusive +reasons that ever innocence had to offer would be worse than vain. On +the morning of the 9th of October, 1848, this barbarous mockery was +addressed to William Smith O'Brien, and he answered thus:-- + + MR. O'BRIEN.--"My lords, it is not my intention to enter into + any vindication of my conduct, however much I might have desired + to avail myself of this opportunity of so doing. I am perfectly + satisfied with the consciousness that I have performed my duty + to my country--that I have done only that which, in my opinion, + it was the duty of every Irishman to have done, and I am now + prepared to abide the consequences of having performed my duty + to my native land. Proceed with your sentence." (Cheers in the + gallery.) + +On the morning of the 23rd of the same month, the same formula was +repeated to Terence Bellew MacManus, Patrick O'Donohoe, and Thomas +Francis Meagher, who replied respectively as follows:-- + + MR. M'MANUS.--"My lords, I trust I am enough of a Christian and + enough of a man to understand the awful responsibility of the + question that has been put to me. My lords, standing on this my + native soil--standing in an Irish court of justice, and before + the Irish nation--I have much to say why the sentence of death, + or the sentence of the law, should not be passed upon me. But, + my lords, on entering this court, I placed my life, and what is + of much more importance to me--my honour--in the hands of two + advocates; and, my lords, if I had ten thousand lives, and ten + thousand honours, I would be content to place them under the + watchful and the glorious genius of the one and the high legal + ability of the other. My lords, I am content. In that regard I + have nothing to say. But I have a word to say, which no + advocate, however anxious, can utter for me. I have this to say, + my lords, that whatever part I may have taken through any + struggle for my country's independence--whatever part I may have + acted in that short career--I stand before your lordships now + with a free heart, and with a light conscience, ready to abide + the issue of your sentences. And now, my lords, perhaps this is + the fittest time that I might put one sentiment on record, and + it is this: Standing as I do between this dock and the scaffold; + it may be now, or to-morrow, or it may be never; but whatever + the result may be, I have this sentiment to put on record. That + in any part I have taken, I have not been actuated by animosity + to Englishmen. For I have spent some of the happiest and most + prosperous days of my life in England; and in no part of my + career have I been actuated by enmity to Englishmen, however + much I may have felt the injustice of English rule on this + island. My lords, I have nothing more to say. It is not for + having loved England less, but for having loved Ireland more, + that I stand now before you." + +Mr. O'Donohoe confined himself to a few words concerning his trial. + + MR. MEAGHER.--"My lords, it is my intention to say a few words + only. I desire that the last act of a proceeding which has + occupied so much of the public time should be of short duration. + Nor have I the indelicate wish to close the dreary ceremony of a + State prosecution with a vain display of words. Did I fear that + hereafter when I shall be no more the country I have tried to + serve would think ill of me, I might, indeed, avail myself of + this solemn moment to vindicate my sentiments and my conduct. + But I have no such fear. The country will judge of those + sentiments and that conduct in a light far different from that + in which the jury by which I have been convicted have viewed + them; and by the country, the sentence which you, my lords, are + about to pronounce, will be remembered only as the severe and + solemn attestation of my rectitude and truth. Whatever be the + language in which that sentence be spoken, I know that my fate + will meet with sympathy, and that my memory will be honoured. In + speaking thus, accuse me not, my lords, of an indecorous + presumption. To the efforts I have made in a just and noble + cause, I ascribe no vain importance--nor do I claim for those + efforts any high reward. But it so happens, and it will ever + happen so, that they who have tried to serve their country, no + matter how weak the effort may have been, are sure to receive + the thanks and the blessings of its people. With my country, + then, I leave my memory--my sentiments--my acts--proudly feeling + that they require no vindication from me this day. A jury of my + countrymen, it is true, have found me guilty of the crime of + which I stood indicted. For this I entertain not the slightest + feeling of resentment toward them. Influenced as they must have + been by the charge of the Lord Chief Justice, they could have + found no other verdict. What of that charge? Any strong + observations on it, I feel sincerely, would ill befit the + solemnity of this scene; but I would earnestly beseech of you, + my lord--you, who preside on that bench--when the passions and + the prejudices of this hour have passed away to appeal to your + conscience, and ask of it was your charge as it ought to have + been, impartial and indifferent between the subject and the + Crown. My lords, you may deem this language unbecoming in me, + and perhaps it may seal my fate. But I am here to speak the + truth, whatever it may cost. I am here to regret nothing I have + ever done--to retract nothing I have ever said. I am here to + crave with no lying-lip the life I consecrate to the liberty of + my country. Far from it: even here--here, where the thief, the + libertine, the murderer, have left their footprints in the dust; + here, on this spot, where the shadows of death surround me, and + from which I see my early grave in an unanointed soil opened to + receive me--even here, encircled by these terrors, the hope + which has beckoned me to the perilous sea upon which I have + been wrecked, still consoles, animates, enraptures me. No I do + not despair of my poor old country, her peace her liberty, her + glory. For that country I can do no more than bid her hope. To + lift up this island--to make her a benefactor to humanity, + instead of being the meanest beggar in the world--to restore to + her her native Powers and her ancient constitution--this has + been my ambition, and this ambition has been my crime. Judged by + the law of England, I know this crime entails the Penalty of + death; but the history of Ireland explains this crime, and + justifies it. Judged by that history, I am no criminal--you + (addressing Mr. MacManus) are no criminal--you (addressing Mr + O'Donohoe) are no criminal--I deserve no punishment--we deserve + no punishment. Judged by that history the treason of which I + stand convicted loses all its guilt, is sanctified as a duty, + will be ennobled as a sacrifice. With these sentiments, my lord + I await the sentence of the court. Having done what I felt to be + my duty--having spoken what I felt to be the truth, as I have + done on every other occasion of my short career, I now bid + farewell to the country of my birth, my passion and my + death--the country whose misfortunes have invoked my + sympathies--whose factions I have sought to still--whose + intellect I have prompted to a lofty aim--whose freedom has been + my fatal dream. I offer to that country, as a proof of the love + I bear her, and the sincerity with which I thought, and spoke, + and struggled for her freedom--the life of a young heart, and + with that life, all the hopes, the honours, the endearments, of + a happy and an honourable home. Pronounce then, my lords, the + sentence which the law directs, and I will be prepared to hear + it. I trust I shall be prepared to meet its execution. I hope to + be able, with a pure heart and perfect composure, to appear + before a higher Tribunal--a tribunal where a Judge of infinite + goodness, as well as of justice will preside, and where, my + lords, many--many of the judgments of this world will be + reversed." + +The sentence of the court was then pronounced, as it had been previously +on Mr. O'Brien. It was in the following words:-- + + "That sentence is, that you Terence Bellew MacManus, you Patrick + O'Donohoe, and you Thomas Francis Meagher, be taken hence to the + place from whence you came, and be thence drawn on a hurdle to + the place of execution; that each of you be there hanged by the + neck until you are dead, and that afterward the head of each of + you shall be severed from the body, and the body of each divided + into four quarters, to be disposed of as her Majesty may think + fit. And may Almighty God have mercy upon your souls." + +A writ of error was sued out principally on the ground that the +principles of constitutional law were violated. The House of Lords +finally quashed the error and confirmed the judgment. Meantime, the +country, or a great portion of the people, took the last step in the +direction of debasement by praying the Queen and the Lord Lieutenant for +a free pardon. The petitions were spurned; but her Majesty, yielding to +the powerful sentiment of abhorrence against the punishment of death for +political offences, commuted the sentence into transportation for life. +This final sentence was carried into effect on the 9th day of July, +1849, when the ship of war _Swift_ spread her sails and hoisted her +felon flag, bearing out to sea, and having on board the four illustrious +exiles. + +Martin and O'Doherty had been conveyed to Cork on board the _Triton_, +on the 16th of June, whence they were sent to herd with common +malefactors on board the _Mount Stewart Elphinstone_--at the time +infested with the plague. This vessel remained off Spike Island while +the cholera was doing its ravages among her passengers, and finally put +to sea, with the patriots and pestilence, a few days before the +departure of the _Swift_. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 11: The following is from the _Freeman's Journal_:--An eminent +Queen's counsel, who was present during the awful ordeal, was heard to +give utterance to a sentiment so truthfully graphic that we record it in +full:--"Well," said he, his eyes full and his countenance flushed with +emotion, "never was there such a scene--never such true heroism +displayed before. Emmet and Fitzgerald, and all combined did not come up +to that--so dignified, so calm, so heroic. HE _is_ a hero."] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS.--DUNGARVAN.--THE COMERAGHS.--MOUNT +MELLARY.--KILWORTH.--CROSS. DUNMANWAY.--GOUGANE BARRA.--BANTRY +BAY.--THE PRIEST'S LEAP.--KENMARE.--THE REEKS.--KILLARNEY.--TEMPLENOE.-- +DEPARTURE.--CORK.--BRISTOL.--LONDON.--PARIS. + + +After leaving Quinlan's, as detailed in a former chapter, O'Mahony and +myself agreed to separate for a few days. No reward had then been +offered for him, and my presence only impeded his movements. We crossed +the river Suir, and remained most of the day in Coolnamuck wood. Toward +evening I was conducted far into the county Waterford, where I was to +remain until I heard what progress he was able to make. My host was the +chief of one of the fierce factions of county Waterford, and bore many a +mark of desperate fray. I do not remember having met any man, before or +since, who felt so acutely the fate of the country. He procured the best +fare he could, and prepared my bed with his own hands. After I retired +to rest, he continued pacing the room for several hours, sometimes +sighing deeply, sometimes muttering curses between his clenched teeth, +and sometimes suggesting plans which he thought might be even then +available and efficient to redeem the past. These plans were all of a +character more or less desperate; but some were exceedingly ingenious. A +truer type of a Celt could not easily be found; his very caution was +stamped with vehemence. + +Next day but one I proceeded to meet O'Mahony, to learn his success in +his nocturnal interviews. I was unable to meet him; but encountered a +faithful follower of Thomas Francis Meagher, who was the bearer of a +message to the effect that if he could be prevailed upon to attempt +escaping, means could be procured for him. I expressed at once my entire +concurrence, and desired the messenger should return to say that on +condition the same means would be made available for those who were not +yet arrested, we would all gladly accept of them. I ventured into a +house, where, in early life, I spent many a happy day. Those of the +family whom I had known and loved, had passed out of the world. They +were a brother and sister, the former educated for the Church, and the +latter highly gifted and educated far above her condition. I never knew +a woman, in any rank of life, of nobler character or a more heroic +nature. She had the richest store of womanly tenderness and kindly +affections. She took the veil at the Dungarvan Convent in very early +youth, where she died two years afterwards. I asked for some food, and +while it was being prepared I wrote the following lines on a blank leaf +of a book belonging to my dead friend:-- + + Bliss to thy spirit, gentlest maid, + Fond, faithful and beloved; how oft, + Within the circle of this glowing glade, + Our mingling souls had soared aloft; + And wooed the knowledge of our destiny-- + What is it? I a fugitive, and thou on high. + + Yet hopeless of the land I'd save, + Nay, spurned by those for whom I'd die, + Unknown where your fond welcome gave, + There's still a throb of ecstasy. + Even though the latest I may feel on earth. + In lingering o'er the scene where thou hadst birth. + + Where wrapt by evening's crimson flush, + We hoped, and felt, and breathed together, + Beside the broad Suir's silent gush, + Or resting on yon mountain heather; + And dared to look beyond the narrow span, + That circumscribed the hope of man. + + How sweet, if from the blessed spheres, + Thou didst bestow one look of love, + To cheer the hearts and dry the tears + Of those whose only hope's above; + And win, beloved one, from the throne of light, + One saving ray for our long slavery's night. + + Or if this may not be, and yet + Her old doom clings unto the land; + If on her brow the brand be set, + And she must bear the chastening hand + For longer years, O grant, sweet saint, to me, + To die as if my arm had made her free. + + GLENN, _August 3, 1848._ + +I left Glenn next morning, with still some hope remaining, and sought +out my friend to learn his success and prospects. He came, according to +appointment, to a farmer's house in the direction of Rathgormack, +bringing with him James Stephens, who was destined to be thenceforth the +companion of my wanderings, privations and dangers. He detailed to us, +nearly as I have repeated it, the affair at Ballingarry. When he +reached the village of Urlingford, he found some difficulty in escaping +from the very men he hoped to lead back to the conflict. After vainly +making every effort first to urge them on, and secondly to satisfy them +of his own identity, he travelled a distance of thirty miles, and took +shelter in the house of a private friend, where he hoped he could remain +until something definite would be known of his comrades' fate. That his +stay was not of long duration, his appearance with us on Thursday, forty +miles from the place of his concealment, amply testifies. That distance +he travelled on foot on the preceding day, after having slept a night +with a drunken man in a brake. He was even more averse than we were to +giving up the struggle, and it was agreed on finally that he should be +allowed to rest in a place of safety; that the messenger who had come +from Mr. Meagher's friend should be despatched with my proposal, and +meantime, that I should betake me to the Comeragh mountains in search of +Mr. Meagher, while our other comrade should make a final effort to rally +the remaining strength of the people. We would then be in a position to +determine finally what we should do. Stephens and myself proceeded +together as far as my former host's in the mountains, where I left him, +and continued my route as far as the Comeraghs, I rested that evening at +a place called Sradavalla, and early next day recommenced my search +around and over the mountains. After crossing several minor hills, I +ascended the summit of the Comeragh, called Cuimshinane, which commands +a prospect of nearly the whole counties of Waterford and Kilkenny, with +a great part of Tipperary. That prospect was at once grand, beautiful +and mournful. The corn crop began to be tinged with coming ripeness; but +the potato was blighted, and presented a spectacle as black and dismal +as the country's hopes. This widespread ruin was the dread work of an +hour. On the morning, when Mr. O'Brien appeared in Carrick, that crop +was the most abundant, promising and healthy that had been seen for +years. Then it appeared from sea to sea one mass of unvaried rottenness +and decay. Notwithstanding this, I spent hours looking down on the +landscape, and mourning more over the mental and moral blight, which +shed its influence on the public heart, than the plague spot whose dark +circumference embraced the circle of the island. From heat, fatigue and +the effects of weak food, I discharged my stomach more than once, while +descending the ranges of the Comeraghs. I again took up my station for +the night at the village of Sradavalla. It was deemed prudent I should +not sleep in the same house as on the previous night, and about eleven +o'clock, accompanied by five or six men of the village, I proceeded to a +house farther up the mountain. Here the accommodation was not such as we +expected, and we were forced to return. On our arrival, I found my +sister-in-law who was escorted by two boatmen from Carrick-on-Suir, and +who reached this wild sequestered and almost inaccessible mountain +village, after a journey of fifty miles. A sad change had come over our +circumstances since last we parted. My hopes were then nearly a +conviction, and I went on my way not alone without remonstrance or +regret on her part, but with intense encouragement. She had heard of +Mr. O'Brien's disaster, and a rumour of his arrest, had witnessed the +prostration of the people, had heard I had means of escape proposed for +me, and came with what money could be provided. We spent that night +together at the house of a woman who had been lately confined. She +endeavoured to provide tea and eggs, and we enjoyed our supper with as +keen a relish and as high a zest as possible. I learned that Meagher was +in the other extremity of the county Tipperary, and she undertook to +convey my message to his friend a second time, while his faithful scout +would endeavour to discover his retreat, and induce him to join us. She +departed on her mission, having to walk ten miles over the mountain +roads. I returned to the place where I parted from Stephens, whom I +found greatly recovered. We remained that night at the house of his +entertainer, where we were joined the following morning by O'Mahony. We +spent the three succeeding days in and about the woods at Coolnamuck. +Three more anxious days and nights never darkened the destiny of baffled +rebels. Every morning arose upon a new hope which was blasted ere night +came on by some sad intelligence. The news that reached us was partly +true and partly false: of the former character was the account of our +beloved chief's arrest, which took place on the evening of Sunday, the +6th of August. In proportion as it nerved our purpose and urged us to +desperation, did that fatal information scatter the agencies on which we +were to depend. The most desperate hazards would be readily undertaken +in that hour of gloom. One more effort we decided on, and the experiment +was to be tried the next night. We heard Mr. Meagher also was arrested, +and we resolved, in order to satisfy ourselves of the correctness of +this and other reports, to put ourselves in direct communication with +some person in the town of Clonmel. We accordingly proceeded to the +neighbourhood of that town, within a mile of which, at the Waterford +side, we established ourselves, and remained two days. Each day we sent +in a messenger who brought us correct intelligence of what occurred; and +satisfied us not alone that Mr. O'Brien was then in gaol, but that he +was allowed to be torn from the midst of a people for whom he had +perilled his life, without a hand being raised in his defence. We then +returned to the scene of our former meetings, and met, for the last +time, beside a little brook near the Waterford slate-quarries. My +ambassadress had also returned, and there were present three or four +others. The reunion was gloomy. But one question remained for +discussion: Was there any hope left? The message I received as to the +means of escape was dark and discouraging. Nothing remained but the +hazards of some desperate enterprise. What had chiefly animated our +hopes for the few days was the knowledge that disaffection and +conspiracy existed in the ranks of the British army. But among other +intelligence of evil omen that reached us was this, that the conspiracy +had been discovered. Whether this were true or not, our means of +communication were suspended; and, unable to learn what had occurred, we +naturally concluded it was the worst. It is not quite correct to say, +_we_, as far as the proceedings of these days in that neighbourhood were +concerned. Neither Stephens nor myself was in communication with more +than the one friend, to whose honour and heroism we would commit the +liberty of the world. Never yet lived a man of more sanguine hope or +intense patriotism. All the vigour of a gigantic intellect, aided by the +endurance of great physical strength was tasked to the uttermost in +attempting to rouse the broken energies of the country. He generally +spent his nights in interviews with the chief men of the surrounding +districts, while his duty by day was to communicate the result to us, +and secure a place of safety for the ensuing night. Our last conference +was of course the longest and most anxious. There was no chance within +the range of possibility we did not discuss. Of the intensity of our +feelings, some idea may be formed by the fact, that the one woman who +was of the party, whose sole stay on this earth I was, as well as the +sole stay of her sister and a most helpless little family, never uttered +one word of remonstrance against any project, however desperate, which +was proposed. We concluded an interview of several hours, by referring +the entire question to the sole decision of our friend. After a short +silence, during which the agony of his mind was extreme, he solemnly +advised and adjured us to provide as best we could for our own safety, +while he, who was not so deeply compromised, would maintain his +position, and still struggle against our common destiny. If he +succeeded, and that we had not left the country, we could return. But to +advise us to continue in our then position where an iron circle was +closing around us, relying on the slender chances that then presented +themselves, involved a responsibility which would be no longer +endurable. We then partook of a comfortable dinner which he had +provided, and parted with sad hearts. + +[Illustration: The Knockmeldown Mountains from Ardfinan] + +The place which, as far as we could form an opinion, presented the +greatest facilities for escape, was the town and neighbourhood of +Dungarvan. Thither we resolved to repair; and about three o'clock, on +the 13th day of August, we set off across the nearest range of the +Comeraghs--Stephens and myself, accompanied by my sister-in-law, whom we +hoped to employ in negotiating for a passage to France. A farmer and two +women of the place undertook to conduct us the shortest way across the +mountains, and provide us an asylum for the night, which we reached +after a forced journey of six hours. We there parted from our guides; +and the people to whom they recommended us were exceedingly kind, and +much more hospitable than their means would permit. On the following day +our host became our guide for several miles across the declining +Comeraghs, until we came in view of Dungarvan. We purchased some bread, +eggs and tea at a village called Tubbernaheena; but while in the village +we learned that the military and police were scouring the country far +and wide, in search of arms, which compelled us to change our route and +take an easterly direction. We crossed several miles of bog, and had to +pass many a ravine; but the worst trial was before us. We applied in +several houses for the means of preparing our dinner, having travelled +at least twenty miles over moor and mountain. We applied in twenty +places in vain. At last, half by force and half by entreaty, we +prevailed on a woman, whose circumstances seemed comfortable. We were, +of course, unknown; and though we met many a rebuff, we determined to +endure them, rather than reveal our names and character. During the +progress of our meal we established ourselves in the good graces of the +housewife, but she obstinately refused to allow us to remain for the +night. She directed us to a publichouse, where, on our arrival, we found +a proclamation menacing any one who entertained, harboured or assisted +us, with the direst punishment. In answer to our inquiry the owner, who +was a woman, pointed to the proclamation, as an argument against which +all remonstrance was vain. We made three or four other attempts equally +fruitless; and when the night had closed around us, on a bleak, desolate +road, I determined to call on the Roman Catholic priest, and state who +we were; for while, if alone, we would infinitely prefer taking such +rest as we could in the nearest brake, or under shelter of a wall, we +could not think of submitting our delicate companion to the trials of a +night in the open air, during an exceedingly inclement season. With some +hesitation and great alarm, he procured a lodging for us at a farmer's +house in the neighbourhood. We saw him next morning, and his most +earnest injunction was that we should leave the locality, which, +according to him, was altogether unsafe. To escape arrest there for +twelve hours was, he said, impossible. Similar advice was pressed on us +afterwards in many a safer asylum; but we learned to mock at others' +fears, whereas, on this occasion, we yielded to an impression we felt to +be sincere. + +Before venturing nearer to Dungarvan, we determined to bespeak the +services of another clergyman, who lived a distance of six or seven +miles in the direction of Waterford. A ridge of the Comeraghs lay +between us and his lonely dwelling. Along this ridge lay a winding +bridle-road, skirted by patches of green sward, and occasionally crossed +by a sparkling mountain rill. Above us, on the hill-side, was a +considerable bog, where crowds of country people were collecting to +their daily toil. A merry laugh or boisterous joke occasionally rang +clear in the morning air. The mirth went heavily to our hearts. The +snatch of song, the unrestrained laugh, the merry glee, broke upon the +ear of the wayfarers like the mocking of demons. The consciousness that +they then sped, without a beacon or a guide, over the flinty path of +flight, to end perhaps at the gibbet, imparted to the voice of mirth the +sound of ingratitude. However, the day was brilliant; above us the +clear, blue, unfathomable sky; around us the bracing mountain air, laden +with the breath of hare-bell and heather, and far below the calm sea, +sleeping in the morning light; and weariness, hunger and apprehension +yielded to the influence of the scene. Many a time, ere passed the sunny +noon, did we sit down to enjoy the glad prospect, unconscious, for a +moment, of the fate that tracked our footsteps. At length we descended +the eastern slope of the hill; and after proceeding some distance, +through cornfields and meadows, we reached the mansion of the clergyman, +wayworn and half-famished. He, whom we sought, had won a character for +truth, manliness and courage, and we calculated upon his unrestrained +sympathies, if not generous hospitality. He was absent from his house, +which is situate in a lonely gorge of the Comeraghs. + +We waited his arrival for more than an hour, and, through delicacy for +his position, we remained concealed in a grove some distance from the +door. He at length appeared, and I proceeded alone to meet him and make +known my name. He started involuntarily and retreated a few paces from +me. After repeating my name for a few seconds, he said, "Surely you are +not so unmanly as to compromise me?" I replied, that so sensible was I +of the danger of committing him, that I refused to enter his house, +though we all, and particularly my female companion, sadly needed rest +and shelter. After some time, he began to pace up and down in front of +his door, repeating at every turn that it was indiscreet and +dishonourable to compromise him. Among the many trials to which fate had +doomed me, through hours of gloom, of peril and disaster, and even +during reveries of still darker chances, which fear or fancy often +evoked, I never felt a pang so keen as that which those unfeeling words +sent through my heart. For a while I was unable to articulate, but at +length I said: "You are one of those who urged us to this fate. You gave +us every assurance that, in any crisis, you would be at our side. We +made the desperate trial which you recommended. We have failed, because +we were abandoned by those who were foremost in urging us on; and even +now--here, where God alone sees us--you meet with reproaches one who has +sacrificed his all on earth in a cause you pretended to bless. Is not +that fate worse than defeat--than flight--than death?" "Tis a sad fate, +no doubt," said he. My object, I said, was to escape to France, and I +called on him, believing he could assist me, as he must be acquainted +with the boatmen around that part of the coast. He answered it was +possible he could, but not then; asked how he could communicate with me; +pointed to a shorter route across the mountains than that by which we +had descended, and turned in to his dinner, which was just announced. + + * * * * * + +We faced towards the mountain, hungry and exhausted, without being asked +to taste food or drink. It need not be detailed how sore at heart we +felt as we recommenced our dreary journey. It was already evening. +Censer masses of fog had gathered on the hill, and lurid streaks +spreading far out on the sea, portended a night of storm and gloom. +However, we had no resource but to regain the house where we had slept +two nights before, which we supposed might be distant about seven miles; +and by gaining the summit of the hill before dark, we hoped to make our +way easily down the other side. To obtain some food, of whatever kind, +was an indispensable preliminary. The house nearest to the mountain +appeared to be that of a comfortable farmer. We entered it trembling, +and found our expectations not disappointed. But the housewife +peremptorily refused our first request, evidently suspecting there was +something wrong, and unable to reconcile our appearance with the idea of +hunger or distress. She bestowed a peculiarly sinister scrutiny on my +poor sister. After some parley, we said we should have something to eat, +either for love or money, and while saying so, we began to examine the +locks of our pistols. Either admonished by these stern intercessors, or +by a look of compassion from her beautiful daughter, who stood at some +distance, she replied we should have what we asked for, but only for +love. Her daughters, of whom there were two, busied themselves in +producing new barley bread and skimmed milk, of which we partook +immoderately. We parted on better terms, and my friend Stephens was +greeted with a smile from each of the lovely girls, which so influenced +him that he insisted upon revealing our character and asking their +hospitality for the night. After a good deal of discussion it was agreed +he should make the experiment alone. He returned and produced the +military cap which he always wore inside his shirt. This at once +produced the desired effect, and one of the young girls came bounding up +the hill to invite us to return. It was arranged, however, that we +should remain on a hay-loft until quite dusk, which we gladly agreed to. +The host entered with us, and stayed until we were admitted to the +dwelling-house. To me, at least, that hay-loft imparted a sense of +unutterable enjoyment. I was there enabled to support the drooping head +of my sister, as overcharged with weariness and pain of mind, she sank +into unconscious sleep. + +As night fell, we were introduced into a comfortable parlour. There we +had tea and eggs, with some punch. The family felt the warmest interest +in us; but at the same time they occasionally manifested evident alarm. +The utmost precaution was observed so as to prevent our being noticed, +and we only retired to bed when the hour of midnight had struck, and the +house was sunk in silence and solitude. During all that night the storm +roared pitilessly and the rain fell heavily. Had it surprised us on the +bleak hill, our wandering had that night ended, and the ravens of +Cumshinane had feasted on our flesh. Next day the storm did not cease to +howl nor the rain to sweep on the angry winds. About five o'clock, +during a brief pause of the rain, preparations were made which +significantly intimated that we were expected to leave. Our host was +well acquainted with the fishermen of Dungarvan and he solemnly warned +us against treating with any of them. Betrayal, he said, would be +certain. But he promised to accompany my sister next day to the town, +where he would make every inquiry; and if he failed, as he anticipated, +would see her away on the car; in which case we were to try another and +a far remote sea-board. A certain newspaper of high Liberal character, +affected to bestow upon us intense consideration and deep compassion. It +had a guard of mobile reporters, some of whom contrived to be everywhere +and hear everything--especially what did not occur. One of them, with a +keener scent than his fellows, discovered my sister's track--made +himself familiar with her person and apparel--and announced her +movements with a mournful accuracy. He conjectured, not unjustly, that +my haunts must be near the scene of her wanderings. Completely absorbed +by the one idea of gratifying the curiosity of his readers, he seemed +indifferent to the conclusion, which, to a mind less engaged, would +appear palpable, and inevitable--namely, that what was information to +our anxious friends would equally serve the purpose of our watchful +pursuers. + +It became, therefore, dangerous to have her continue any longer with or +near us. A hasty dinner was prepared, and we arranged to meet our host +next day within a mile of Dungarvan. Never did parting look more like a +last one than mine with my sister, on that occasion. For some time I +thought she would be the first victim of our hard destiny. She seemed +incapable of withstanding the agony that shook her frame. While sharing +in the hardships and the hazards of my struggle for life, her heart, +sustained by its own deep enthusiasm, triumphed over every obstacle. But +she was returning to a house of mourning and of woe, where life would be +one blank of desolation and stupor, to be wakened to bitter +consciousness by intelligence of our doom. The sense of my +responsibility, the full appreciation of the living death which, through +my agency, had fallen upon a home as hallowed as ever love and joy +consecrated to happiness, had burned up my eyeballs and my brain. I went +forth into the recommencing storm, utterly unconscious of its rage and +equally indifferent to fate. My comrade, who had no life to lose but his +own, and who of that was recklessly prodigal, provided he could dispose +of it to good account, stepped blithely along and uttered no complaint, +although he left behind him traces marked with blood. His terrible +indifference soon restored my self-possession, and we found shelter for +the night in a house near the spot designated for the next day's +interview. Just as we arrived there, the chief magistrate and police had +completed a search of the house. We entered as they retired, told who we +were, and claimed hospitality, which we readily obtained. The night +passed as many a similar one did afterwards. Let our hardships be what +they might during the day, we invariably enjoyed ourselves at night, and +went to bed without a fear. On the following morning we sent our hostess +into the town for shoes and other matters which were indispensable to +our further progress. She returned, evidently alarmed to death, having +read on the walls the viceregal threats against all who harboured the +"traitors." She scarcely allowed us to remain until the time appointed +for the interview, which was of short duration. We were informed that +there was no hope from that quarter, and that our safety for one hour +was extremely precarious. This intelligence and a copy of the _World_ +newspaper, completed the information communicated by our former host. + +Having laughed heartily over the _World_, and no less heartily at the +alarm of our host and hostess, we set out on our long journey, about +four o'clock in the evening, under very heavy rain. Our first effort was +at the publichouse, already mentioned, where we again failed. We had +some bread and punch, while drying our clothes at the fire. My comrade +became very ill; but even this did not overcome the obstinate repugnance +of the hostess to receive us. We were compelled to leave at about nine +o'clock; and having travelled some miles, 'midst cold and rain, my +comrade shivering from fever and suffering, we determined to sleep in +freshly-saved hay. While making ourselves a resting-place in the hay, we +were surprised by some countrymen, who recognised us as the persons who +dined on a former evening, but were coldly received and rudely expelled. +Upon consulting with the women, who had seen us, they conjectured we +were some of the fugitives, and followed for the purpose of inviting us +to the hospitalities of their home. We accepted the offer gladly, and +were received by our friends of the former evening with the warmest +welcome. The principal apartment contained two beds, one of which was +usually occupied by the man and his wife, and the other by their grown +daughters. They gave both up to us, treated us most kindly, and the +whole family, men, women and children, watched over our sleep until +morning. The eldest son displayed considerable information and still +greater energy of character. He evinced the deepest interest in our +fate, and accompanied us for several miles next morning. It was Sunday; +the cold and wet of the previous evening had given way to calm and +sunshine; and we made rapid way along the slopes of the +Comeraghs--thence to the Knockmeldown mountains, having one main object +in view--to place the greatest distance possible between where we were +to rest that night and where we had last slept. The greatest difficulty +we experienced was in passing deep ravines. The steep ascent and descent +were usually wooded and covered with furze and briars. Far below gurgled +a rapid and swollen mountain stream, which we crossed without +undressing, and always experienced the greatest relief from the cold +running water. But toiling our upward way, through trees and thorny +shrubs, was excessively fatiguing. About three o'clock in the evening we +reached the picturesque grounds of Mountmellary Abbey. We had then +travelled thirty miles of mountain without any refreshments. The +well-known hospitality of the good brothers was a great temptation to +men in our situation, pressed by toil and hunger. But we felt that we +possibly might compromise the Abbot and the brethren, and determined on +not making ourselves known. We entered the beautiful chapel of the +Abbey, and ascended the gallery while vespers were sung. We were alone +on the gallery, and had an opportunity of changing our stockings and +wiping the blood from our feet. We remained upwards of an hour, and then +set out, but little refreshed. We hoped to find refreshments in a small +publichouse, on the road leading from Clogheen to Lismore. I entered the +house rather hurriedly, and the first object that met my view was a +policeman. I turned quickly round and disappeared. The rapidity of my +movement attracted his attention, and, calling to his comrades and some +countrymen who were in the house, they commenced a pursuit. At first +they appeared little concerned, but walked quickly. We accordingly +quickened our pace, and they, in turn, began to run, when it became a +regular chase, which continued four miles, until we disappeared in the +blue mists of the Mitchelstown mountains, as night was falling around +us. When we saw our pursuers retiring, we ventured to descend, and +entered a cabin where we found a few cold half-formed new potatoes and +some sour milk which we ravenously devoured. I do not remember ever +enjoying a dinner as I did this. My comrade, who had suffered much from +illness, was unable to eat with the same relish. It was night when we +finished our repast, and we set off in search of some place to lay our +heads. We met several refusals, and succeeded, with great difficulty at +last, in a very poor cabin. We saw a lone hen on a cross-beam, which we +proposed to purchase, and bought at last for two shillings. In less +than an hour she was disposed of; and, as was invariably the case, we +got the only bed in the house, where we slept a long and dreamless +sleep. It rained incessantly the next day, and we were forced repeatedly +to take shelter in cabins by the wayside. But, being excessively anxious +to get as far as possible beyond the circle enclosed by our foes, we +descended several miles along the Kilworth mountains. Towards the close +of evening we crossed the River Funcheon, near Kilworth, by means of a +fir-tree, the roots of which had been undermined by the rapid flood. We +had spent the whole day in wet clothes. We mounted this tree, +Indian-like, in the midst of rain, and dropped in the shallow part of +the river from the branches. We were unable to procure lodgings +afterwards until nearly eleven o'clock, and then not without difficulty. +We succeeded, at length, within about a quarter of a mile of Kilworth, +whence we were able to procure bread, tea and beefsteaks. We were very +kindly treated, and next day accompanied to the Blackwater, at Castle +Hyde, by the eldest brother of the family. + +I shall not easily forget the delicacy with which this young man +requested, if we thought it compatible with our safety, to tell him our +names. There are few requests which either of us would feel greater +reluctance in refusing. He saw our evident struggle, and said he would +be satisfied with a promise that when our fate would be decided one way +or the other, we would write to him; a promise which I redeemed the day +after I reached Paris. + +This day I think, August the 20th, we travelled over forty miles, along +bog and mountain, passed within a few miles of the city of Cork, and +then, taking a north-western direction, proceeded to the village of +Blarney; where we slept on a loft with a number of carmen who were on +their way to Cork with corn. + +It is known to most people, at all familiar with the traditions of +Ireland, that this village is one of her most classic spots. There is +deposited the celebrated Blarney stone, a touch of which imparts to the +tongue of the pilgrim the gift of persuasion. So famous has this stone +become, not only in Ireland but in England, that the most plausible +fluency is characterised by its name, which at once confers on such +oratory the stamp of unapproachable eloquence. It must be confessed, +however, that in many instances "Blarney" conveys doubts of the +speaker's sincerity, as well as admiration for his capacity. To see this +talisman would be with me, on another occasion, an object of deep +anxiety and most eager curiosity. But I was compelled to forego the +pleasure, by the fact that a police-barrack loomed in its immediate +vicinity, and at the other side was posted a proclamation offering a +reward for my person. We could scarcely sleep, owing to the noise and +bustle of the carmen, as they came and went, and loudly snored in +various parts of our dormitory. But we were allowed to rest until seven +in the morning, when we took a hasty breakfast and departed. It was a +point with us never to walk along a road, and never to ask our way. We +were now travelling through an open corn country, and our progress was +accordingly slow. We felt, too, the necessity of not departing far from +our intended route, and accordingly we called in occasionally to +national schools to make the necessary observations on the maps. +Sometimes we examined the children, and sometimes the master; generally +one of us was so employed while the other was noting down carelessly on +the map the points of observation to direct our path. We crossed the Lee +undressed, near the village of "Cross," and slept soundly in a +churchyard on a neighbouring hill the name of which has passed from my +memory. We then directed our footsteps to a small village called +Crookstown, situated in a romantic spot on a branch of the Lee. We +experienced much difficulty, and narrowly escaped detection, in entering +this village, which is surrounded by beautiful country seats, through +the grounds of some of which we were obliged to grope our way. We +obtained lodgings, after one or two fruitless trials, in a very +comfortable house kept by a farmer. The young family seemed to be rather +tastefully educated, and we soon became fast friends. We passed as +whimsical tourists, and delighted our entertainers with glowing accounts +of the scenery of Connemara, Wicklow and Kerry. We remained with them +two nights, on pretence of being engaged in sketching the enchanting +views in the neighbourhood; and left, promising, that if we returned by +the same road, we would delay a week. Our destination was Dunmanway, +near which a friend of mine lived, in whose house I hoped we might +remain concealed, while means of escape would be procured somewhere +among the western headlands. A short journey brought us to this house. +My friend was absent, but daughters of his, whom I had not seen since +childhood, recognised and welcomed us. We had then travelled 150 miles, +and fancied that, as no one could think of our making such a journey +without walking one half-mile of road, we would be safe there for many +days. In this we were disappointed. It was communicated to us next +morning early that our persons were recognised, and that half the +inhabitants of Dunmanway were by that time aware of our whereabouts. It +was added, that the people were venal and treacherous; a character which +the inhabitants of that region of Cork invariably attribute to each +other. We remained a second and most of a third day, notwithstanding, +and enjoyed ourselves heartily, although our little festivities had all +the air of a wake. We set out at length on the evening of the third day, +having made one glorious friend, whose exertions afterwards tended +mainly to secure my escape. We had expected letters from home before we +reached Dunmanway, and received them there on the day after. They +contained the concentrated and compressed agony of weeks, but no word of +complaint or regret. They also confirmed the intelligence which we had +heard ere we set out, namely, that all our comrades were arrested, +except Dillon, O'Gorman, and a few others, of whose fate we remained +uncertain. Certain friends of the family undertook to communicate with +clergymen, near the seashore, who were supposed to be in a position to +facilitate our escape, while we proposed to visit Gougane Barra and +Ceimeneagh, and, if practicable, Killarney, before we returned to learn +the success of their applications. We followed the stream that passes +Dunmanway for several miles through an almost inaccessible valley, +until we reached the southwestern base of Shehigh, the highest mountain +in the range which stretches between Mallow and Cape Clear. + +Here we purchased some good new potatoes, butter, eggs and milk, on +which we dined satisfactorily. We then faced the mountain which we +crossed near the summit, being desirous to gain Gougane Barra by the +shortest possible route. A steep ascent gives the traveller fresh +impulses and an irrepressible desire to bound down at the other side. It +seems to spring from that principle of action and reaction pervading all +nature. At the northern base of Shehigh, after traversing some miles of +bog, we found ourselves entering the pass of Ceimenagh. Though that Pass +had been recently immortalised in the unequalled verses of Denis +Florence M'Carthy,[12] and I had learned to love a spot where echoes of +minstrelsy so soft and passionate had found a "local habitation," I was +ignorant of its locality and entirely unprepared for the surpassing +grandeur of the scene, which, in the full blaze of a harvest moon burst +upon my view. My comrade was even more startled than I, and we paused at +every turn of that enchanting passage to gaze upon the masses of rock +projecting over our heads hundreds of feet in the air, and casting their +dark rude outlines upon the clear autumn sky. The pass is a mile long, +while in no one spot can many yards' distance be seen on either side. +The road seems to lose itself every moment in the bowels of the +mountain, but as you proceed, you find a new avenue of escape, and a +more fantastic group of impending rocks of a yet more entrancing +beauty than that you had left behind. In such a scene one could have no +feeling of weariness and no sense of fear. Neither could he doubt man's +truth any more than God's omnipotence. We lingered in the solitude and +drank the moonbeams as they strayed through disjointed rocks and fell +silvery and glowing on our path. Our reverie ended in a mistake, for we +unconsciously passed the point where we should turn to Gougane Barra, +then the scene of a ceremony, half religious, half superstitious, as it +has been during the autumn season from time immemorial. People come +great distances to perform "stations" on the ruins of a very ancient +church on poor Callanan's "green little island." We were advised against +returning, but told to seek shelter in a publichouse at a place called +Ballingeary, on the banks of Lough Lua through which the infant Lee +runs. We found the house quite full, in consequence of a fair which was +to be held the Monday following at Bantry. We were accordingly refused; +but we insisted on remaining in the house. We had some milk and whisky, +in which we asked the host to join us, and after one or two potations, +he and his wife offered to give us their own bed and remain up. We +thankfully and gladly accepted the offer. I know not whether they +recognised us, and if not, it is not easy to account for the generous +kindness that prompted such a sacrifice. The next day being Sunday, we +proposed to spend it wandering about the lovely lake in the bosom of the +hill, and to return in the evening to dinner. The day was an anxious +one; but we left no spot on the island or near the lake which we did not +explore. + +[Illustration: Dunmanway from the Bridge on the Cork Road, 1848] + +The "Green Little Island," is surpassingly romantic. The old ruin of a +monastery, God knows how old, gigantic forest trees, bowing their aged +limbs into the clear water, the shadows of the frowning mountain thrown +fantastically on the bosom of the lake, form a _tout ensemble_ of lonely +loveliness rarely equalled. Then the play of + + "The thousand wild fountains + Rushing down to that lake from their home in the mountains," + +the scream of the eagle on the crags of Mailoc, far, far on high, all +justify Callanan's preference for the spot which was meetest for the +bard. We endeavoured to recall his tender strains, and thought +mournfully of his sad prophecy--alas! when shall it be fulfilled? + + I too shall be gone, but my name shall be spoken, + When Erin awakes and her fetters are broken + Some minstrel shall come in the summer's eve gleaming, + When Freedom's young light on his spirit is beaming, + And bend o'er my grave with a tear of emotion, + Where calm Avonbui seeks the kisses of ocean, + Or plant a wild wreath from the banks of that river, + O'er the heart and the harp that are sleeping for ever. + +We saw at a short distance, the pass which so enraptured us the night +before, but we resisted the temptation to revisit it, lest the glare of +light might disenchant us of those sublime impressions of beauty it had +made on our minds. + +We found a most comfortable dinner on our arrival, for which we could +not account. In the course of the evening we learned casually from our +host that he had spent several years of his life where it was impossible +he should not have seen and known me. This was a disturbing conviction +wherewith to retire to rest, but we trusted to our propitious stars, in +which we had begun to feel a superstitious confidence. We were not +disappointed then or afterwards, and next morning we slept in +unquestioning security. We rose late and reluctantly, and left a scene +where we enjoyed more undisturbed rest and real comfort than had fallen +to our lot for weeks before. The day became dark and showery. Crossing +the bogs in the recesses of Shehigh, we were overtaken by a storm, from +which we took shelter in some hay gathered on the bleak moor, where I +wrote the following:-- + + Hurrah for the outlaw's life! + Hurrah for the felon's doom! + Hurrah for the last death-strife! + Hurrah for an exile's tomb! + Come life or death, 'tis still the same, + So we preserve our stainless name + From losel of the coward's shame. + Hurrah for the mountain side! + Hurrah for the bivouac! + Hurrah for the heaving tide! + If rocking the felon's track. + + Hurrah for the scanty meal! + If served by th' ungrudging hand, + Hurrah for the hearts of steel, + Still true to this fallen land! + Still true, though every hazard brings + Some new disaster on its wings, + Which o'er her last faint hope it flings. + Hurrah, etc. + + Hurrah; though the gibbet loom! + Hurrah; though the brave be low! + Hurrah; though a villain doom! + The true to the headsman's blow. + As long as one life-throb remain, + We'll spurn the tyrant's gyve and chain + On gallows-tree or bloody plain. + Hurrah, etc. + + Hurrah for that smile of light, + Which like a prophetic star, + Illumined the long, lone night + Of the wanderers from afar. + Give us for resting-place the rath, + Give us to brave the foeman's wrath, + So that dear smile be o'er our path. + Hurrah for the mountain side! + Hurrah for the bivouac! + Hurrah for the heaving tide! + If rocking the felon's track. + +Being apprehensive that our former retreat near Dunmanway was +discovered, and that we would be looked for there, we determined to try +another district, from which we might be able to communicate with her +who had evinced such sympathy for us. We sought the house of a friend of +hers, but found him so terrified that we could not think of forcing +ourselves on his hospitality. He promised, however, to call on her and +learn if she had any letters or other information for us. On our return, +next day, he was somewhat reassured. He brought us a note from her, and +letters from home. My comrade's was a sad, sad blow. Where he had most +trusted on earth, his application had been coldly received, and his most +unlimited confidence utterly disappointed. Money was forwarded to him +from other sources; but the spirit that braved every disaster up to +that, broke under disappointed affection and blighted love. For some +time he refused to take another step, but yielding himself up to the +agony of shattered feelings, he ardently desired to abandon a struggle +involving nothing but the life he no longer desired to save. From my +knowledge of the country, and other resources, he regarded my chances of +escape as favourable, and his own presence as an impediment and a check. +He was therefore anxious to relieve me of a burden, at the same time +that he would free himself from a weight still more intolerable. In that +he was mistaken. His imperturbable equanimity, and ever daring hope, had +sustained me in moments of perplexity and alarm when no other resource +could have availed. During the whole time which we spent, as it were, in +the shadow of the gibbet, his courage never faltered, and his temper +never once ruffled. The arrival of our enthusiastic friend, who had +stolen to see us, revived his spirits, and her persuasions reassured his +resolution. We drove for some time in her car, and after nightfall +returned to the house where we had slept on the previous night. A +practice which prevailed in that part of the county Cork greatly +facilitated our efforts. It was this: in the vicinity of the great +routes of travel, the farmers are in the habit of giving lodgings for +payment, the amount of which generally depends on the traveller's +ability to pay. As our means, for purposes of at least this kind were +not stinted, we were sure of welcome a second time. But this fact had a +tendency to frustrate our aim in another point of view; for it always +excited curiosity, so that it was doubtful whether we would not be +safer with persons who would provide for us at the cost of their last +morsel, by confiding to them who and what we were. But in this district +of Cork, the centre of which is the notorious town of Bandon, were +scattered several families of Orangemen, who were intensely inimical to +the cause and people of Ireland. In this very instance we lodged with +one of those families. A letter that I tore near the house was picked +up, put together, and read, so as to lead to suspicion, which was +immediately communicated to the magistrate. This caused the most +vigilant surveillance to be exercised over the homes and persons of our +friends. But before the discovery was made we were far beyond the reach +of our pursuers. We had learned that the efforts made for our escape +were unsuccessful, and that time would be required to effect anything, +so as not to arouse the suspicion of those who guarded the coast; and we +agreed to conceal ourselves as best we could in some distant part of the +country, for three weeks, and then return or communicate with our +friend, who promised, meantime, to leave no effort untried on our +behalf. A second time, we set out by the same route. When we found +ourselves on a hill-top, far from human haunts, we sat down as was our +wont, to consider our future course. We determined to visit some obscure +watering-place in the vicinity of Cape Clear. With that view we skirted +the picturesque mountains that surround Dunmanway. These mountains +present features to which the eye of one living in the inland country is +little accustomed. The mountains of the midland and eastern counties are +generally enormous clumps with little inequality of surface, and +covered over with heath and weeds. Here, on the contrary, the mountains +seemed to be carved out into the most fantastic shapes, covered with +white granite stones, whose reflections in the watery surface gave the +scene an appearance of singular beauty. However strange it may appear, +we lingered over these picturesque scenes in intense delight; the more +so because there seemed no limit to our journey, and no definite aim to +which our efforts led. And a mountain-top has always an assurance of +safety stamped upon it. There we could indulge our admiration for the +beautiful; there we could snatch an hour of fearless and unbroken sleep. + +But elements of danger began to lower over our loved haunts. The grouse +season had just set in, and occasionally the report of a musket broke +our reverie, or startled our deepest sleep. Yet, even from this cup of +bitterness did we derive some sparkles of happiness. We could easily +avoid the sportsman's eye; and when we wanted anything from the lower +regions, the vicinity of the mountains, and the business of the fowler, +accounted for our presence and our wants, and readily gained us a +supply. But the potato crop had failed, and the disease had already +destroyed all the tubers which had approached maturity. This rendered it +necessary to look to other resources, and we contrived to procure bread +and sometimes meat, which we were able to get prepared easily under +pretence of being catering for shooting parties. + +On the first day we made this experiment, we found ourselves descending +into that dreary plain that stretches out to the doomed district of +Skibbereen. Under cover of night we sought to penetrate this desolate +region in the remotest direction of the sea, where we hoped we might +remain unnoticed as country bathers. We obtained shelter at a small +farmers, and made a great many inquiries concerning the neighbouring +watering-places, whither we said we were going for the benefit of our +health. There were two young girls, the confidence of one of whom my +comrade contrived to win during the evening. She told him that her +sister had a courtship with the sergeant of police, who usually visited +there every day. This hastened our departure next morning. We set out in +the grey dawn, and once again reascended the mountain, to rest and take +thought. The communication of the young girl; the sister's long delay, +when she went to procure refreshments at the village, where the +police-sergeant was stationed; the father's pursuits, and other +circumstances, induced us to believe that to follow the plan which, to a +certain extent, we had unfolded, would be dangerous. We therefore +determined to change our course. We were then about fifteen miles +south-southwest of Dunmanway. Adhering to our resolution of settling for +a few weeks in some village on the seaside, we purposed to substitute +the Kerry side of Bantry Bay for the district we had at first fixed on. +The distance was about fifty miles, and we had to cross a plain several +miles wide. We swept over this plain with a rapidity that taxed severely +our exhausted energies, and lay down to sleep on the first patch of +heath we gained on the Bantry mountains. + +We bathed our feet in a mountain stream, and having partaken of a slight +meal, resumed our weary journey. Night fell on us in the midst of a +desolate bog on a mountain top. We travelled several miles in search of +shelter, first in cabins and next in haycocks. It was a dark, gloomy and +threatening night. After lying for some time on the roadside, where +alone a dry spot was to be found, I forced Stephens to consent to make a +trial of the town of Bantry, then a mile distant. The darkness and gloom +were favourable to the experiment. We entered the town, and traversed +one or two streets, we knew not in what direction. On inquiring for a +lodging-house, we were directed to the house of Mrs. Barry, who kept a +large grocery establishment. We found accommodation and comfort. Next +day, having made some small purchases through the agency of the servant, +and posted some letters, we deliberately walked out of Bantry, by the +road which seemed to lead the most directly to the country. The day was +miserable, and we found our journey through the mountains, which +overhang the beautiful bay, very unpleasant. We determined to reach a +place called the Priest's Leap, which is consecrated by a holy tradition +in the estimation of the people. They tell that in the times of +persecution a priest was set and sold in these fastnesses. Having +discovered that he was betrayed, he effected his escape through a circle +of enclosing pursuers, which it was deemed impossible to break through; +the country people believed that he floated invisibly through the air, +and alighted on the deck of a Spanish frigate then coasting these +shores. + +An impenetrable fog descended the mountain, and the rain deepened into a +torrent. Moored in the bay were two war-steamers, with screw propellers; +but they had all their sails unfurled, and swung uneasily to and fro. +We, who were ignorant of their character, frequently paused to regard +them, utterly unable to account for their extraordinary movements. +Believing them American packets, which had put in through stress of +weather, we would have given worlds even for an opportunity of swimming +to them through the waters of the bay. But the coast was strictly +guarded by police and revenue officers. Notwithstanding this the vessels +had for us an irresistible attraction, and we entered a mountain cabin, +where we learned their real character. A second attempt to reach the +Priest's Leap, of whose exact bearing we were ignorant, involved us in +deeper mist and a heavier shower, from which we took shelter in a +wretched hut, directly over the bay, and within about one mile of an +hotel of great fame, frequented by travellers who are attracted to these +districts to view the magnificent bay and the singular beauty of +Glengarriff. Here we spent the remainder of the day. Eggs and potatoes +were provided for us; and when, as evening approached, we prepared to +depart to the hotel, the woman pressed us to remain, and produced clean +sheets, telling us they would give up their bed, and adding that she +would be satisfied with the fifth of what we should pay in the hotel, +where, she slyly hinted, our reception would be very doubtful in our +then trim. We readily consented to her arrangement; and it was further +agreed that her husband should go to the hotel and provide some bacon, +bread, tea, and whisky. + +We had not, during our wanderings, met two such characters as this man +and woman, nor had we taken shelter in so extraordinary an abode. They +had a single child, a girl about four years of age, whose dark eyes and +compressed lip Akkad evidenced the presence of those terrible passions +which had burned deep channels along the brow and cheek of her mother. +The cabin was ten feet square, with no window and no chimney. The floor, +except where the bed was propped in a corner, was composed of a sloping +mountain rock, somewhat polished by human feet and the constant tread of +sheep, which were always shut up with the inmates at night. The fire, +which could be said to burn and smoke, but not to light, consisted of +heath sods, dug fresh from the mountain. A splinter of bog-wood, lurid +through the smoke, supplied us with light for our nightly meal. The tea +was drawn in a broken pot, and drunk from wooden vessels, while the +sheep chewed the cud in calm and happy indifference. They were about +twelve in number, and occupied the whole space of the cabin between the +bed and the fire-place. + +In that singular picture, the figure of the woman stood out bold, +prominent and alone, absorbing, in its originality, every character of +the entire. Neither she nor her husband could be said to wear any dress. +Neither wore shoes or stockings, or any covering whatever on the head; +shreds of flannel, which might once have borne the shape of drawers, a +tattered shirt of unbleached linen, with an old blanket drawn uncouthly +around his waist and shoulders, completed the costume of the man. His +wife's was equally scant and rude, but so arranged as to present the +idea that even in her breast the sense of fitness, the last feeling of +froward womanhood, was not quite extinguished. The squalid rags and +matted hair, by a single touch of the hand, a gesture, or a shake of the +head, assumed such shape as she fancied would display to greatest +advantage what remained of a coarse and masculine beauty. The +consciousness that she once possessed such beauty fired at once her +heart and eye. Her foot and ankle, which had been rudely tested by +flinty rocks and many a winter's frost, were faultless; her step was +firm; her form erect and tall; her hair black as ebony; her features +coarse, but regular; her brow lofty, but furrowed and wrinkled; and her +terrible eyes dilated with pride, passion and disdain. Her lip's slight +curl, or a shade of crimson suddenly suffusing her dark complexion, +bespoke her feelings towards her husband. He was her drudge, her slave, +her horror and her convenience. Her ruling idea was a wish to have it +understood that the match was ill-assorted and compelled by necessity; +though the last idea bespoke a youth of shame. The child alone was +dressed, and with some care, as if she wished to assert its claim to a +superior paternity or better destiny. Among the predominant passions +which swayed her, avarice seemed uppermost; and she scowled ominously on +her stupid husband, whose rigid impassable stolidity seemed impervious +to all prospects and chances of pleasure and of gain. + +The rain continued to pour without abatement during the whole night and +until sunset the succeeding day. The next night passed nearly in the +same way as the first, save that I could not rest from a vague sense of +apprehension with which this woman inspired me. Both the people of the +house slept on the hearth-stone, without any bed, or, as far as I know, +any covering, save their rags. I had an opportunity of overhearing their +connubial colloquy, which was in Irish, and had reference solely to +conjectures respecting us, our character, our object and our money. It +convinced me that our safety would be compromised by any longer delay. +During the pauses of their conversation, I endeavoured to string +together a rough draft of the stanzas that follow, or a considerable +part of them. I give them here, with the accompanying notes, as they +were published in the _People_ newspaper. In the notes or in the text, +there is nothing I wish to alter. + + Air: "_Gradh mo Chroidhe_." + + The long, long-wished for hour had come, + Yet came, mo stór, in vain, + And left thee but the wailing hum + Of sorrow and of pain. + My light of life, my lonely love, + Thy portion sure must be, + Man's scorn below, God's wrath above + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + 'Twas told of thee, the world around, + 'Twas hoped from thee by all, + That, with one gallant sunward bound, + Thou'dst burst long ages thrall. + Thy faith was tried, alas! and those + Who perilled all for thee, + Were cursed, and branded as thy foes; + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + What fate is thine, unhappy isle, + That even the trusted few[13] + Should pay thee back with hate and guile, + When most they should be true? + 'Twas not _thy_ strength or spirit failed; + And those that bleed for thee, + And love thee truly, have not quailed; + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + I've given thee manhood's early prime, + And manhood's waning years; + I've blest thee in thy sunniest time, + And shed with thee my tears; + And mother, though thou'st cast away + The child who'd die for thee, + My latest accents still shall pray + For Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + I've tracked for thee the mountain sides, + And slept within the brake, + More lonely than the swan that glides + O'er Lua's fairy lake.[14] + The rich have spurned me from their door, + Because I'd set thee free; + Yet do I love thee more and more, + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + I've run the outlaw's brief career, + And borne his load of ill, + His troubled rest, his ceaseless fear, + With fixed sustaining will; + And should his last dark chance befall, + E'en that shall welcome be, + In death, I'll love thee, most of all, + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + +I was awakened next morning by a strange voice, with an accent, as I +thought, different from that which we had been accustomed to. Our +immediate conclusion was that we were betrayed. But a short time +convinced us that our visitor had come to warn us that if we remained +many hours where we were, our fate would be sealed. He represented +"Finey" (as our hostess was familiarly called, in derision of her +affected pride) in colours not very flattering to her virtue. He said he +could positively furnish us with the means of escape; described his +resources as unlimited, and his interest in us as paramount to every +consideration he had on earth. He was an ecclesiastical student, and had +left college to take part in the struggle of his country. He bitterly +lamented that Dillon and O'Gorman were not in the way, that he might +have the happiness of assisting in saving them also. Agreeably to his +advice, we left our den and proceeded up the mountain. It was Sunday +morning, and there was not a cloud darkening the azure sky. Below us +slept the waters of the bay, reflecting, in their crystal depths, the +superincumbent mountains and overarching sky. The sun rose majestically, +broad, unclouded, full of effulgence, and shed his yellow beams, on a +scene as lovely as ever met his burning eye. The mountains around the +bay form very nearly a complete circle; the numerous peaks, from south +to north, range at an average height of about 500 feet above the water's +level, while a few ascend as high as 1,000. We stood on the loftiest of +all. Immediately below us, a little to the right, embosomed in the +mountains, lay the unmatched beauties of Glengarriff. There are few +spots on earth of wilder attractions. The hills around form a complete +amphitheatre. On an island in the centre of the valley is the cottage of +the noble proprietor, accessible only by one narrow pathway which winds +through hillocks and passes various rivulets on rustic bridges. The +grounds about the cottages are tastefully laid out in shrubberies, +flower-knots, green pastures, and artificial lakes. That which +constitutes the chief feature of beauty in other landscapes, namely, an +extensive prospect, is wanting here. From the cottage, or any part of +the grounds, you can only command a view of the limited demesne, and the +craggy and bleak mountain rising almost perpendicularly from its +outskirts. But the view is unique, and the contrast exquisite between +the rich green of the arbutus, amidst clumps of which sparkle the +impeded mountain waters, and the barren hill-sides whose blue summits +seem blended with the skies giving to the scene such an air of calm +serenity and soft repose as to leave the beholder almost without a wish +to look beyond. + +[Illustration: Market Day in Thurles, August, 1848] + +By this time we had learned to lose all consciousness of our own fate in +contemplating lines of beauty such as then marked the outline and +radiated through every minor detail of mountain, ocean, and cosy lawn. +We dwelt on the scene with enraptured eye and heart, and scarcely felt +the time glide by, which was to bring us our promised deliverer. He was +with us at the appointed moment, and only preceded his sisters by about +half an hour. They came, three in number, and toiled up to the summit +under a hot sun, bringing each a basket with abundant and delicate +provisions for a picnic. They were joined soon after by two other +brothers, who kept watch while we enjoyed the delicacies of our meal, +which we finished with some bottles of excellent claret. While we were +thus engaged, Lord Bantry was at the cabin we had left, gnashing his +teeth at the misfortune of missing such a prey. My comrade sang the +newly-composed verses and others of more exquisite melody and far higher +sentiment, within less than half a mile of the frowning and fuming lord. +At four o'clock we took leave of our kind entertainers, the student +promising to use the coming night in efforts to secure our flight, and a +younger brother undertaking to act as our guide across the mountain and +round the base of the Glengarriff ridge of hills to a dark gorge, at the +County Kerry side. This was a most trying journey, at least twenty +miles long, over precipitous mountains, and performed, for the most +part, during night. It was necessary that we should not rest until we +travelled far out of range of the locality where our persons had been +known and our retreat discovered. Our young guide left us with friends +or dependents of his family, and returned to be in readiness to +communicate any tidings from his brother. Those tidings came fast on our +footsteps; but the message was to warn us that we were not even there +safe; for that Lord Bantry had all his tenantry engaged in searching for +us. The despatch added that, if able, we were to be at the "Priest's +Leap" at a certain hour in the evening, where we would hear the result +of the efforts made for us. The tone of the letter left us nothing to +hope; still we determined to test the doubtful promise to the last. +Accordingly we set out for the new rendezvous. The distance was very +long unless we crossed through Glengarriff. This we determined to do, +feeling satisfied that the last place we would be looked for would be +his lordship's pleasure-grounds. We paused to examine more minutely the +exquisite serenity of that scene, and learned from a game-keeper several +matters illustrative of our pursuer's character, while his adherents +were tracking our supposed footsteps, over moor and mountain, far away. +Arrived at our destination, we had to wait several hours, during which +we were amused by our guide claiming fraternity with us, on the ground +of being banned by the law, in consequence of a suspicion (a false one, +he averred) of having mistaken another man's sheep for his own. He had +an idea that we, too, must have infringed the law, but in what +particular he did not concern himself to inquire. The fact sufficed for +the establishment of a good understanding between us. + +We at last saw our female friends approach. They brought us another +excellent dinner, for which we had a still more excellent appetite. +During the time we dined, they informed us that everything was +proceeding as favourably as we could expect, and that they had no doubt +of success. When taking leave of us, however, one of them pressed a +little note into my hand, and they disappeared in the darkness. I burned +to learn what the note contained. With the assistance of our new friend +we found lodgings in the neighbourhood, where I read that the student +failing in his enterprise, and being afraid to compromise himself +further, left that very night for college. He had to consult a +clergyman, a very near friend of his, and we made no doubt the present +step resulted from his considerate advice. + +This is written here, not for the purpose of disparaging the clergyman's +counsel or the student's resolution. On the contrary, no doubt was then +entertained of the sincerity of either, nor has there ever since been. +There could be no one more disposed to make allowance for the difficult +position in which both were placed, as well as all others who ventured +to serve us: nor could we blame men for shrinking from peril, which at +the best, presented no rational chance for us, while the effort involved +those who made it in almost certain ruin. I had other opportunities of +satisfying myself afterward that this clergyman, who visited us in the +mountains, never relaxed in his exertions to save us. + +We found ourselves next morning in an exceedingly romantic valley to +the north of the "Priest's Leap," the property of Lord Lansdowne, where +there are many comfortable farmers' houses, and many others, whose showy +exterior is sadly belied by the filth and discomfort of the inside. We +spent the day with the man of the sheep, who promised to obtain lodgings +for us at a publichouse, where he was refused. But during our stay there +we met a farmer's son, who took us home and travelled with us the whole +of the next day. We proposed to him and his sister to accompany us to +the United States, having for some time entertained seriously a project +of trying our chances to escape as emigrants. He consented to be of the +party, although we fully explained to him the risk of being taken in our +company. He guessed from this that we were engaged in the attempted +outbreak, and being sent in to the town of Kenmare to make some +purchases, he could not conceal so important a secret, but sought out a +friend, a true man, to whom he unburdened himself. We had appointed to +meet him at a place called Cross, about two miles from Kenmare. We were +repairing thither at the appointed hour, and were met, not by our trusty +messenger, but the friend to whom he had revealed his important secret. +This friend, alarmed at our temerity in approaching so near the town, +had come to forewarn us. His advances were met by distrust and menace, +which pained him deeply. He remonstrated and referred to the fact of +coming to meet us alone, when if he meant us injury he could easily +secure us. Satisfied, at length, that his friendship was sincere, we +consented to accompany him to meet another friend who had taken a +different road in the direction of the mountain. He was known to us by +character, but that knowledge, with me at least, tended to increase +rather than to allay distrust. I had formed an idea of the man from +reading speeches of his which appeared of an unscrupulously partisan +character. I was very soon disabused, but not however until I +communicated to him my feelings in his regard. The best proof of my +mistake is furnished by the fact that my unnecessary frankness did not +in the least check the enthusiasm with which he was prepared to risk +fortune, liberty and life in our service. Our interview was short. We +dismissed the ambassador who had acquired for us these new allies. They, +or rather he, of whom I have last spoken offered us money which we +declined. In opposition to his remonstrance, we insisted on remaining +for the night at a publichouse in the village of Cross. He, to whom +peril was new, could not understand our "audacity." But we who had +experienced the disadvantages of asking for entertainment in quarters +where such things were unusual, preferred the chance of escaping +unobserved among crowds of persons similar in appearance and, applying +only for ordinary accommodation. In this and many such instances we +determined aright. We obtained a comfortable bed and passed unnoticed. +Next morning we set out for the southern slope of the Killarney +mountains. As soon as we attained a safe elevation, we took a western +direction, skirting those mountains and crossing the road which leads +from Killarney to Kenmare, about five miles from the latter town. We +then kept a westerly direction, and turned round the vast bog situated +at the western side of the road. This bog contains several thousand +acres, and seems quite susceptible of reclamation and improvement. We +ascended the steep hill at the north-western boundary where we slept for +an hour or so, and then resumed our journey in the direction of the +Reeks. We purposed ascending the loftiest of these mountains, and not +wishing to take the route by the Gap of Dunloe, we crossed the +intermediate valley and began to ascend the mountain to the north, +believing it to be that which we had determined to climb. After having +toiled to the summit, we discovered in the distance the peak we were in +search of, its wonderful elevation leaving no manner of doubt as to its +identity. Between us and its base lay another broad valley. Before +attempting the ascent, we secured a lodging at the foot, and leaving our +coats behind, we began our task about four o'clock in the evening, +having then travelled upwards of twenty miles and crossed two large +mountains. The southern acclivity is more steep than the northern, and +we lost much by our ignorance of the best routes; but we reached +Carn-Tuathail, far the highest spot in Ireland, about sunset. The view +that presents itself from that peak is of the most extraordinary +character. Stretching out into the sea a distance of thirty miles, is a +jumble of mountains tossed together in the wildest confusion, and +exhibiting no definite outline. At the east, far inland, lay the long +ridge of which Mangerton is the loftiest point. At the north alone could +we discern an extensive view, where a rich and well cultivated valley +extended along Dingle Bay as far as Ballyheige. But the grandeur of the +scene Jay at our feet. Beneath us yawned at every side chasms of +seemingly unfathomable depth, whose darkness it was impossible to +penetrate, as the sun was sinking in the Atlantic. It was really a +spectacle full of grandeur and of awe, and we remained enjoying it till +the last ray of the sun ceased to glimmer on the distant waters. + +At that hour, we were well assured, many a brain was busy, and many an +eye set to discover our retreat. By the side of the public +thoroughfares, on great bridges, and frequented cross-roads, detective +vigilance kept sleepless watch, and fancied in every approaching form, +the doomed victims, who were at once to satisfy the angry gallows and +its own excited avarice. Equally well assured were we that the most +inventive and hazardous scrutiny would never track our footsteps to the +dizzy height of Carn-Tuathail. One motive with us was to baffle all +calculation on the part of our pursuers. When we found we were tracked +and discovered, our first care was to consider how our enemies would be +likely to judge respecting our future movements. If we had reason to +suspect that we were recognised on a mountain, we sought shelter in or +near a town, and after we appeared in public places for a day or an +hour, we kept the mountain-side for a week following. + +We had, too, another, and it must needs be confessed, a more powerful +motive. In either alternative which our fate presented, there was no +hope of ever beholding these scenes again, and we could not omit this +last opportunity of minutely examining and enjoying what was grandest +and loveliest in our native land. We resolved, therefore, to leave no +glorious spot unvisited, whatever toil it cost, or risk it exposed us +to. Mountains, indeed, never did involve a risk, but the Lakes of +Killarney, which were much frequented at the time, could not be seen +without imminent danger, unless by overcoming great physical +difficulties. After we descended from Carn-Tuathail, we were so utterly +exhausted as to be obliged to lie down in hay, within one field of the +cabin where we were to sleep, from which nothing could tempt us to stir +for the night; but we were assailed by swarms of small flies of the +mosquito species, that stung us to further exertion. Although the owners +of the cabin gave us their only bed, and provided the best supper for +us, we were so persecuted by these flies, that we were forced to quit +our bed before day dawned, and endeavour to shake off our tormentors by +rolling in the dew and shaking our shirts in the wind. We set out early, +finding the place utterly intolerable, owing to these terrible +tormentors, although we had resolved the evening before, to remain a few +days fishing in the lovely lakes collected in the gorges of the reeks. +The day was misty and wet. This, we hoped, would afford us a good +opportunity of seeing the lakes unobserved; for such weather would +necessarily confine the tourists to their hotels. We accordingly +directed our way to the Upper Lake, along ledges of rocks covered with +tall wet grass, wading or swimming through outlets of the lake. We +obtained a tolerable view of the Upper Lake, and minutely examined the +several accesses to it through the wood on the southern side. After +spending most of the fore-noon in this wood, we attempted to cross the +upper neck of the lake for the purpose of skirting the base of +Mangerton and gaining the summit of Turc Mountain, from which are to be +seen the Middle and Lower Lake in their most varied and seductive +loveliness. Few travellers ever see the lakes from this point, because +it is difficult to attain; but I had been there, and knowing its +superiority over every other, I wished to give my comrade a taste of the +exquisite pleasure derivable from a scene of beauty unsurpassed in the +world. There is no spot, in or near Killarney, from which its wonderful +scenery can be seen to such advantage. On the water, at Ross Island, at +Mucross or Glena, the view is confined to the scenery immediately +around, with an occasional glimpse of the nearer mountains, which indeed +may well satisfy the most exacting curiosity and fastidious taste, while +from the summit of Mangerton (the great mountain attraction of +travellers) but miniature forms of beauty present themselves, the great +distance and height contracting the circle of beauty, and depriving +every object of its fulness and natural proportions. From Turc mountain, +on the other hand, you see the lake at your feet--all its islets, curls, +cascades are within ken, entrancing your senses. Standing on that green +hill, it is impossible to divest the mind of the idea, that the scene is +one of pure enchantment. + +But we were destined not to realise it. There was a police-station +immediately on our way. In our first effort to avoid it, we found +ourselves, after much trouble, within one field of the door. We then +made a still wider circuit, keeping, as we thought, far clear of it; but +following a valley which led round a clump of hill, we once more very +nearly stepped into its back yard. To avoid similar mistakes we +ventured along the public road direct towards Kenmare; but when we were +clear of the police-barrack, we had to travel several miles of mountain +to gain the intended spot. Our feet were all cut and bleeding, and we +lay down on a rock in our wet clothes, where we slept soundly, and I +suppose sweetly, until near sunset. When we awoke we were obliged, from +the lateness of the hour, to abandon our project. + +During our stay near Killarney, we fondly indulged the last dream for +our country. In the remote regions of the counties of Cork and Kerry, +the people seemed possessed of no political information. They had a +vague notion that an effort was made to free the country from foreign +thrall, and that the patriots and their cause were lost through the +Catholic priests. It was easy to perceive, by the bitterness with which +they cursed, that they--although never reached by a speech of Mr. +O'Connell's, or an article or song of the _Nation's_--had cherished in +their hearts the same imperishable purpose and hope of overturning the +dominion of the stranger. We calculated on collecting between fifty and +one hundred of the hardiest and most desperate mountaineers, whom we +could easily place in ambush near the lakes, to seize on Lord John +Russell, who was at the time announced as a visitor to Killarney. Once +in our possession, we could have him conveyed to some inaccessible +fastness where we could dictate terms to him concerning our imprisoned +comrades. We had scarcely a doubt of putting our plan into execution, +and our sojourn near Killarney was prolonged for the purpose of becoming +more familiar with the pathways whereby to escape to the mountains with +our prisoner. How success in that enterprise might have suggested or +shaped a further course of aggression, it is now bootless to conjecture. +The project was marred by the Premier's abandonment of his intention. + +Having appointed to meet a person this evening, near Kenmare, who was to +bring us the latest papers and otherwise inform us of his lordship's +movements, we proceeded in that direction, determined to return to +Killarney next day to prosecute our examination of the locality. But the +current news informed us that Lord John Russell had left for Scotland. + +We remained several days in the neighbourhood of Kenmare, where we had +daily interviews with the friend to whom I have already alluded. He +spent all his time in endeavouring to devise some means of escape, and +intermediately provided resting-places for us at various distances. We +had the guidance of a young country lad of fine intelligence and true +fidelity, who was acquainted with every foot of bog and mountain for +miles around. We spent several days rather agreeably, perambulating the +ranges of hills between Kilfademore and Templenoe, embracing a district +about fifteen miles square. One night we slept in an empty cabin within +a field of Kilfademore House, a fine old mansion, belonging to the +father of Christabel,[15] the mountain poetess, which is now only +inhabited by the tenant of the farm, while the whole available military +and police force of the district were drawing their lines of +circumvallation around this old house, which, as soon as they made the +proper dispositions to prevent our escape, they burst into with the +stealth and precipitancy of a robber band. + +We were most kindly received and cared for wherever our friend or his +guide bespoke a night's hospitality. But although we unquestioningly +reposed on the truth of all to whom our safety was committed, we felt +the circle of our armed foes was closing and contracting around us, and +it became indispensable to break through it. It was clear that our steps +were tracked, for every night a search was made for us in one or other +of the houses over which the influence of our friend extended. But our +information respecting their arrangements was always earlier and surer +than theirs concerning our movements. During this interval when, +although we travelled an average of fifteen miles a day, we considered +ourselves resting, we received the kindest attentions everywhere; +frequently finding a rude mountain cabin furnished with excellent beds +and every delicacy. But we pined to be more at large. We had interviews +with clergymen and others, who discussed various projects of escape. +Among the rest, it was proposed to my comrade to accompany a lady--who +was about leaving for London--in the dress and character of a +servant-maid. He was well fitted for such disguise, being extremely +young and having very delicate features. Besides this, he was supposed +to be dead, having received a slight wound in the skirmish at +Ballingarry. He obstinately refused to adopt the disguise, but consented +to that of a servant boy. When the matter was finally arranged, it was +proposed to us to sleep at Templenoe, on the north side of Kenmare Bay, +where he was to be furnished with suitable clothes. Since the +commencement, I did not feel the same sense of desolation as when these +arrangements were completed, and an hour was appointed for his departure +next morning. It was on the evening of the 23rd of September. We spent +the day with one of the noblest of fellows. He had beds brought far into +the neighbouring mountains, where he remained with us for the night. A +cloud of sadness, and I believe chagrin, enveloped all my senses. I +could not help feeling myself utterly abandoned. It seemed fated that +even from the most kindly efforts my unfortunate position utterly +excluded me. Stephens sang as usual, and endeavoured to rally me; but my +mind had set in impenetrable gloom. One idea was uppermost with me, +namely, that within the circle that was then drawn around me, there was +no further possible safety. We parted before daylight, and I immediately +determined on my own course. It was this: to assume the disguise of a +clergyman and attempt to cross to France. The trials at Clonmel were +approaching, and I concluded that they would engross the entire +attention of Government, and would even require the presence of the +whole corps of detectives who were acquainted with my person and were +then on my track. I communicated my intention to the friend to whose +hospitality I was then indebted. He combatted it with great earnestness, +and could not be persuaded of its practicability. I, however, +persevered, and he offered to place a horse, upon which he set great +value, at my disposal. Just as we made our final arrangements and had +despatched a messenger to Kenmare to provide the disguise, Stephens +returned, wet, weary and hungry. He was in the worst spirits: but the +case admitted of no delay. The lady with whom he was to travel had to +stay one day in Cork, and to overtake her there was the only chance +left. There was only one possible way to effect this--to give him the +horse and let him ride on to Cork. I at once agreed, and he immediately +set off. The loss of the horse imposed on me the difficulty of a journey +on foot to Cork, and this rendered the assistance of a man to carry my +disguise--who would take a different route from myself--indispensable. +Our friend who, in giving his favourite horse to Stephens, told him to +try and sell him in Cork and put the money in his pocket, provided me +with another horse and car, by which my baggage was to be brought about +forty miles. Having settled all preliminaries, he conveyed me to a cabin +on the hills, where he provided an excellent dinner, and left me to my +musings. + +They were, it may be well conceived, not of the gayest character. The +responsibility and hazards of the attempt before me, narrowed the +chances of my destiny to the one alternative, and I could not shake off +gloomy phantoms which represented every phase of the last bloody drama +which was to close the career of those who loved, too dearly, our +ill-fated land. But, come what might, my purpose was definitely fixed. I +spent the evening in the deepest gloom, which I endeavoured to dissipate +by composing the following stanzas, suggested at the time by involuntary +visions of my wife and children at the foot of the gallows:-- + + THE OUTLAW'S WIFE + + Sadly silent she sits, with her head on her hand, + While she prays, in her heart, to the Ruler above, + To protect, and to guide to some happier land, + The joy of her soul and the spouse of her love: + And she marks by her pulses, so wild in their play, + The slow progress of time, as it straggles along; + And she lists to the wind, as 'tis moaning away, + And she deems it the chaunt of some funeral song. + + Then anon does she start in her struggles with fear, + And she strains at the whispers of every one round, + While she brushes away, half indignant, the tear, + That will gush, tho' unbidden, at every fresh sound; + And she strives to conceal--oh! how idle the task-- + The deep lines in her cheek, and the rent in her heart; + But her neighbours grow pale as they gaze on the mask, + And more lowly and slowly they talk, as they part. + + When her babes are at rest will she breathe to their breath, + And keep vigil, how wistfully, over their sleep, + As it mirrors, poor mourner, the stillness of death, + And she stirs them, and calls, for she deems it too deep; + But again does she hush them, first telling them pray, + Till at length overcharged by the tears yet unshed, + Will she sink, and as consciousness passes away, + O'er her pale furrowed cheek, see the hectic o'erspread. + + Slowly thus, day by day, does the fever-fire trace + Its incessant course down her fast-withering cheek, + Till the smile that made light in the glow of her face, + But the faint, fading glimpses of vigour bespeak, + And her reason will fitfully pass into night-- + Into night even deeper than that of the blind, + As the shade of the gibbet-tree looms in her sight. + And she fancies a death-scream in th' echoing wind. + +In the house where I slept--as indeed in every house of the same +character in the county--the whole stock of the family, consisting +chiefly of cows and sheep, were locked in at night. Such was the extreme +poverty of the people that they would not be otherwise safe. The weather +was excessively wet, and, for the season, cold. There was a slight +partition between the room where my bed was and the kitchen, where there +were three cows, a man, his wife and four children. It is impossible to +convey any idea of the sensations which crowd upon one in such a scene. +I fell asleep at last, lulled by the heavy breathing and monotonous +ruminating of the cows. Never was deeper sleep. On being awakened next +morning by my watchful friend, it required some time before I could +satisfy myself of my position. An excellent breakfast was provided for +me, and I parted from my stout-hearted and magnanimous ally. He had sent +my baggage, and also provided me with a guide who would lead me across +the mountains. He taught me the password of his clan, which I was to use +on certain contingencies. The morning was fearfully wet, and we did not +travel many miles before we were wet to the skin. The circumstance was +the most auspicious that could occur, as it enabled us to pass +unobserved. + +[Illustration: James Stephens (Circa 1867)] + +[Illustration: John O'Mahony (Circa 1868)] + +Besides this, it facilitated the task of crossing streams, which we +always did precisely as if they were dry land. One river only opposed a +serious barrier to us--that, which enters Kenmare Bay. It was greatly +swollen, and rushed fiercely over precipitous rocks. At the same time, +even in the rain and tempest, to cross the bridge was not to be thought +of. The guide pointed out a house belonging to one of our friend's +clan who immediately provided a horse and accompanied us to a ford. When +we reached the ford he hesitated to cross, so deep and rapid was the +flood. No persuasion could induce him to make the experiment. I had no +choice left but to trust myself to chance. I faced the animal against +the current, and forcing him to make his best efforts to mount the +stream, we were carried directly across. The owner of the horse said he +would come back of his own accord. I turned him into the stream, and +when half way across, he was borne headlong over a precipice, where I +concluded he was dashed to pieces. Another horse was immediately +procured, by a man who had no fears, to bring the guide across; but the +latter was so terrified that he made himself drunk ere he attempted the +dangerous passage. As he was essential to me in consequence of the +arrangements made about my luggage, I endeavoured to rouse him. He +staggered on for several miles, but seemed utterly unconscious where he +was going. When I found him incapable of directing me, I endeavoured to +procure some food for him, and with that view proceeded to a mountain +hut, but before I reached it, he sank down utterly exhausted and +powerless. He was unable even to articulate the name of the man to whose +house he was directed to take me, or the locality where he lived. It was +only from circumstances and a dim recollection of the name that I was +able to apprise the owner of the cabin whither I was bound; and after +all, much remained for the exercise of his sagacity, which was not long +at fault. We brought my old guide to the cabin, thrown across a pony, +and I set out anew, guided by the dweller on the hills. He forced me to +mount the pony, and led the way over the crags. He bounded from rock to +rock with the agility of a deer, though the stones were sharp as flint, +and he barefooted. He was a man of powerful proportions and extreme +activity. My pony, on the other hand, crept his way through narrow +pathways, worn by the rain. In this way we crossed two considerable +mountains, and, leaving the pony at the summit of the last, I pursued my +companion's flight down the slope with the best speed my stiffened limbs +could be forced to. Arriving over a valley which is called, I think, +Branlieu, situated in a western direction from Gougane Barra, he pointed +to a lone house at the extremity of the valley, as my destination. It +was about four o'clock, but the rays of the sun had ceased to irradiate +this gloomy valley, over which hung the shades of night. At the western +side the mountain was steep as a wall, and down from the summit dashed +headlong torrents, swelled by the morning's rain. The waters gleamed +like sheeted ice through the haze, and their roar fell upon the ear with +a dull sense of loneliness and pain. On the eastern slope wound a new +road, one of those heartless experiments which the inventive genius of +the Board of Works in Ireland substituted for the exploded trial of +prolonging beggars' lives by Soyer soup and chained spoons. On these +roads the people were to perform the greatest possible amount of work, +and live on the least possible quantity of food. But, although these +operations cost much waste of blood, the roads opened no new and +fruitful sources of industry in these mountain valleys, only frequented +by the footsteps of the sportsman, or scanned by the eye of the +votaries of pleasure. The house where I called was intended for my +guide. However, I found my claim for hospitality at once recognised on +pronouncing the password of my host by the sea. The cabin--it was +literally such--was in the most filthy state. The dung of the cattle had +not been removed for days, and half-naked children squatted in it as +joyously as if they rolled on richest carpets. The housewife merely +replied to my question in the affirmative. But she immediately +proceeded, with the help of two little girls, to remove the filth. I was +so fatigued and hungry that I could willingly postpone the process of +cleaning for the sake of providing any sort of food. I was doomed to +disappointment. No appearance of supper interrupted the busy operation, +until the dung was removed, and the floor drained. I retired, and +endeavoured to ascend the eastern hill, to a point where I could catch a +glimpse of the setting sun. + +On my return I found the owner of the house, a man of giant frame and +noble features. His dress bespoke a taste or pursuit incompatible with +the wild mountain destiny stamped upon the external aspect of his home +and family. His wife spoke a few words in Irish, explaining my presence, +to which he answered that I was welcome. Supper was at length prepared, +when he drew from a basket a few of the finest trout I ever saw. He +cleaned and fried them with his own hands, as if the operation were +above the capacity of his wife, who performed the other culinary duties +with silent assiduity. It might be owing to hunger, it might be owing to +the actual superiority of the fish, or it might be owing to the mode of +cooking, but it seemed to me as if I never tasted anything of equal +flavour to those trout. The entertainment was ended with some boiled new +milk, slightly curdled, a delicacy little known in the circle of +fashion, but never surpassed either in that or any other. Some fresh hay +was procured and strewn on an article of furniture common in the houses +of the Kerry peasantry, called a "settle." It is a sort of a rude sofa, +made of common deal timber. On this "settle" my host prepared my bed of +new-mown hay, barricaded with old chairs and a table against the +assaults of the hungry animals. I had not long lain down when a man +entered (the door consisted of a pair of tongs, so placed as to prevent +the egress of the cattle), lay at full length on the table, and fell +fast asleep. In an hour or so afterwards, there came another, who groped +his way over the cattle, and, sweeping the fire from the hearth, lay +down to sleep in peace. This man slept uneasily, and groaned heavily, as +if some terrible sense of guilt or fear pressed against his heart. + +I had a vague feeling of uneasiness, not free from alarm, but the hearty +snoring of the one, and the fitful complaints of the other of my +bedfellows died away on my ear, and I, too, shared their unconsciousness +in deep sleep. The man who brought my baggage arrived early next +morning. My host soon provided a good substantial breakfast--excellent +new potatoes, which had escaped the blight, butter, new milk, and a +slice of the flesh of fried badger. He then proposed to accompany us +with his son, aged about thirteen, who by some inexplicable privilege +seemed exempt from any portion of the drudgery which was the lot of the +family. The other man who brought the baggage was persuaded to leave his +horse and car, and accompany us with my bundle, as far as the summit of +the hill. To climb the steepest mountain side had become an amusement to +me, and we ascended the one then before us, merrily, our host relating +many anecdotes of sportsmanship, and detailing the startling incidents +and wild rapture of badger-hunting. From the summit we commanded a view +of the country for miles around. "Here we are," said our host, "higher +than the proudest of your enemies." He then traced the route of the man +with the bundle, through the open plain, and by the nearest way; and +turning to me, he said: "You must not go in the same direction, for +every yard of it is set. Follow my son," he said, and turning to the +boy, he named several points in the path whereby he should conduct me. +"Lead Mr. Doheny safely," he concluded, "and remember you are the son of +----." In utter astonishment I inquired how he knew me, and he answered +by waving his hand in the direction of the boy, who had bounded off and +was scarcely perceptible above the tall heath. I soon overtook him, and +as we went along, I learned that my two companions during the night were +also evading the law's pursuit. One of them he described as having +killed a man by accident, and ever after leading, the life of a "poor +wild goose." I made no doubt but this was he whose spirit seemed so +heavily laden. We had a couple of terriers of the truest breed, whose +sudden discovery of a badger interrupted our conversation and impeded +our journey. The young hunter became delirious with joy. His +encouraging cries to the dogs were broken outbursts of wildest rapture; +and when the game took shelter in his inaccessible den, he would dash +himself against the rocks with the same reckless vehemence as his dogs, +who, in their rage, attempted to bite away the hard mountain stones. + +He left the spot with the utmost reluctance, after venting an oath of +vengeance against the head of the poor badger, to which he promised sure +destruction on the occasion of their next meeting. We quickly descended +in the direction of Gougane Barra, where he parted from me, indignantly +refusing a half-crown which I offered him. + +Once more I found myself on the slopes of Shehigh, in sight of Lough +Lua. My immediate object was to place myself in communication with my +lady friend at Dunmanway. I was extremely anxious to see her. I wanted +to procure through her some things to complete my costume as a disguised +priest, and finally I expected to learn through her some news of my +family. With the view of seeing her in the safest retreat, I determined +to conceal myself in a wood belonging to a Mr. O'Leary, at a place +called Coolmountain. I endeavoured to gain the friendship of a man in +the neighbourhood, of whom I had learned the highest character for +probity. It was necessary to confide in him fully; for his fidelity to +his employer might induce him to betray me, if he suspected that my +flight was occasioned by moral guilt. He did not disappoint me. At once +he entered into all my plans, and immediately sent his wife with a +message to Dunmanway. The distance was about six miles; and the utmost +caution was necessary, for the police authorities, baffled in all their +calculations, concerning my retreat, and deceived in every word of the +information they were able to purchase, had determined on making +simultaneous searches in all quarters of the country, so that scarcely a +house remained in this vicinity that had not the honour of a domicilary +visit. My friend, too, who during the past three weeks had made various +attempts to see me, and had gone on to Kenmare for that purpose, was +continually dogged, and arrested three or four times. On one occasion +they stripped her nearly naked, searching for papers. She at once saw +that to see me would be attended with danger; but she wrote a hurried +note, and despatched it by another messenger, as well as a large packet +of letters from home. In these letters I was adjured to continue the +disguise of a peasant in whatever attempts I made. She, too, strongly +objected to my proposed plan, and communicated to me a project of +escaping which was suggested by a friend of hers at Cork, whither she +had gone in her anxiety. His plan was that I should proceed to Cork, +that very night, and take up my residence at some obscure lodging-house, +until he could find means of stowing me in a coal vessel, which would +take me as far as Wales. If I agreed to this proposal, I was to be at +Crookstown (already mentioned in this narrative) at six o'clock that +evening, where I would meet three men who were to conduct me by a safe +route to Cork. + +When I received this information, it was four o'clock, and the distance +to Crookstown was at least seventeen miles. The plan was one of which I +could not approve; but it would be invaluable to me to have a safe +asylum in Cork, for any project I might finally decide on. I accordingly +communicated to my man of confidence the difficulty I found myself in, +and requested he would procure a horse and car which I could drive along +the high road, hoping to reach Crookstown before the promised guide +would have left. He suggested the man at whose house I stopped on a +former evening. Thither both of us repaired, after having completed my +costume, such as is generally worn by the lowest Cork +peasants--literally rags. We got the horse and car, but before the +arrangements for our departure were made it was past the hour when I +should be at Crookstown. A servant boy who led the horse was my +companion. When we arrived at Crookstown it was eleven o'clock, and we +found no trace of the messengers. Nothing remained but to try and get on +to Cork. I proposed the journey to the boy; but he resolutely refused. I +affected to acquiesce, and asked him to drink something in a +publichouse, which was kept open for the accommodation of carriers, of +whom there are large numbers at that season of the year. He soon yielded +to the influence of milk punch, and allowed me to do as I pleased. We +proceeded along the great thoroughfare, having an empty butter cask in +the car. We passed several patrolling parties in the road, and at grey +dawn we were entering the city of Cork; the boy sleeping in the car, and +the horse led by me. I paid at the custom-gate for my butter, and passed +on through the city unnoticed. A few gentle taps brought the gentleman, +who undertook to have me conveyed out of the country, to the door. I +introduced myself; was admitted, and conducted to a bedroom, where +everything was prepared for my reception. Thus I found myself in the +very heart of the city of Cork, while the strictest search was made for +me in every cabin on the mountains of Kerry and the western shore. + +I felt quite secure in my then retreat. During the day I learned that +the men who were to conduct me safely to Cork were arrested three +several[C] times on their way back. + +In my sojourn for two days and nights in the woods of Coolmountain, I +received attentions for which it would be shameful not to express my +gratitude. Although the crisis of my fate was so near at hand, I felt +some hours of unalloyed pleasure in its shade. I had leisure to peruse +my letters from home, so full of courage, hope and love; and to consider +well the different proposals and means of escape, suggested by others +and contemplated by myself. The weather had cleared up and there was a +succession of brilliant harvest days. I employed my evenings in +composing the following two pieces; and after nightfall I was visited by +some friends, with whom I sipped delicious champagne, till a late hour, +'neath the calm watchfulness of a brilliant harvest moon. + + EIBLIN A RUIN + + I sang thee other lays, + Eiblin a ruin, + But these were happy days, + Eiblin a ruin, + When mount and vale and grove, + Where we were wont to rove, + Were beautified by love, + Eiblin a ruin. + + I said I loved thee well, + Eiblin a ruin. + Too fondly far to tell, + Eiblin a ruin. + I loved thee as the day, + Serener for the ray, + Thy smile shed o'er my way, + Eiblin a ruin. + + But day has turned to night, + Eiblin a ruin. + With clouds and gloom and blight, + Eiblin a ruin, + Yet here an outlaw lone, + My heart else, like a stone, + Is more and more thy own, + Eiblin a ruin. + + When in some rocky glen, + Eiblin a ruin. + I share the wild dog's den, + Eiblin a ruin, + Oppressed with woe and care, + As sleep comes o'er me there, + Methinks I hear thy prayer, + Eiblin a ruin. + + Throughout that troubled rest, + Eiblin a ruin + Thy image fills my breast, + Eiblin a ruin, + And ere the vision's fled, + My cold and flinty bed + Seems down unto my head, + Eiblin a ruin. + + As night's dark shadow flies, + Eiblin a ruin, + Along the opening skies, + Eiblin a ruin, + In the soft purpling ray, + That heralds early day, + I see thy fond smile play, + Eiblin a ruin. + + When, dangers thick'ning fast, + Eiblin a ruin, + My fate seemed sealed at last, + Eiblin a ruin. + A low voice ever near, + Still whispers in mine ear-- + "For her sake do not fear"-- + Eiblin a ruin, + + And oh, 'tis that lone hope, + Eiblin a ruin, + That nerves this heart to cope, + Eiblin a ruin. + With peril and with pain, + And surging of the brain, + More boisterous than the main, + Eiblin a ruin. + + + TO MY WIFE + + And what was the world to me, love, + Or why should its honours divide + The feelings that centred in thee, love, + As fondly you clung to my side; + Or why should ambition or glory, + E'er tempt me to wander so far, + For sake of distinction in story, + From thee, my heart's faithfulest star. + + Or why should I call thee mine own, love, + To sport with the life that was thine, + Or risk for a land overthrown, love, + A stake that no longer was mine; + Or why should I pledge for the fallen + What only belonged to the free; + For had I not gauged life and all on + The faith that was plighted to thee? + + And here, while I wander alone, love, + Beneath the cold shadows of night, + Or lie with my head on a stone, love, + Awaiting the dawning of light, + My spirit unthralled is returning, + Where far from the coward and slave, + Her beacon of love is still burning, + To light, to direct me and save. + + And she, too, who watches beside thee, + And loves as none other could love, + To counsel, to cherish and guide thee. + To weep with, but never reprove-- + Yes, she too, is lone and unguarded, + The reed she had leant on in twain, + And though her trust thus be rewarded, + She'd love that love over again. + + +COOLMOUNTAIN WOOD. + +At Cork two families were compromised by my prolonged stay, one of them +irretrievably, if I were arrested. However, they placed themselves +entirely and unconditionally at my disposal. I stated my objections to +the proposed conveyance of a coal boat to Wales, where I would be +equally exposed as in Ireland, and have infinitely less sympathy or +assistance. I suggested one of the London steamers instead, which they +agreed to. After some preliminary negotiations, a person connected with +one of those vessels promised to secrete me and have me landed at +Southampton, where I could easily procure a passage to France. Just as +this arrangement was concluded, news arrived that Tipperary was again in +arms, under the command of my friend, O'Mahony. The report added that I +was associated with him in command. Hour after hour brought some story +stranger than that which preceded it; but in each and all I found myself +figuring in some character or other, all, of course, contrary to the +truth. This fact led at once to a suspicion of the accuracy of the +whole. But I was aware that caution was a leading characteristic of +O'Mahony's genius, and I felt assured he would not attempt any open +movement without strong probabilities of success. The fabrications about +myself I reconciled to the belief that he wished it to appear he had my +sanction and support. The vessel was to sail next day, and I should +determine at once, or risk the safety of the family who protected me. I +endeavoured to find a middle course, and suggested the impossibility of +leaving the country while even a vague report confirmed the belief that +some at least of its people were prepared to vindicate her liberty, or +die nobly in its assertion. They acquiesced, and the vessel was allowed +to sail. I insisted, however, that after nightfall I should leave the +house and take up my quarters in some obscure lodging house. Meantime it +was arranged that if the next mail confirmed the accounts from +Tipperary, I should be provided with a horse and car, and be able to +leave Cork as I entered it. When night came, the lady of the house +sternly and resolutely opposed my leaving it. She would not consent to +free herself from a risk she took so much honest pleasure in +encountering. Another day and night left us in the same uncertainty. The +reports were still more unsatisfactory and contradictory. But that there +should be reports at all, satisfied my mind, and I finally prepared to +start for Tipperary on the morning of the 29th of September. + +Information at length reached me that the party under O'Mahony were +dispersed and himself fled. The difficulty of my position, with respect +to my protectors, left me no alternative. Any chance that presented +itself should be embraced. The Bristol boat was in the river, panting to +escape her anchorage; and following the horse, which was to bear me to +Tipperary, to the quay, I walked on board the _Juverna_, just as she was +loosing her cables. My baggage, made up in a small box, was put on board +as a parcel addressed to a young friend of mine in London. The few +moments that intervened were fraught with most intense suspense. I stood +on the fore deck among cattle, covered with rags and dirt, my eyes fixed +on two detectives who stood at the cabin entrance, scrutinising narrowly +the figure and features of every cabin passenger. The bell rang, the +detectives stepped on shore, one of my friends who watched my movements +from a distance, waved a kind adieu, the _Juverna_ slipped her cables, +and by one bound was out in the river. The first motion of her paddles +sounded to me like the assurance of fate, and I looked on the curling +foam with measureless exultation. The _Juverna_ made a momentary halt at +Passage, and then glanced gaily through Cove harbour out into the sea. +As she cleared the road I turned back to look for the last time upon my +fatherland. Her prospects, her promise, her strength, her hopes, her +failure and her fall rushed in burning memory through my brain. I +endeavoured to embody in the following verses the feelings that agitated +and almost paralysed my every faculty of body and mind. I wrote them on +a piece of paper that had been wrapped round some cheese:-- + + Away, away, the good ship swings; + One heave, one bound, and off she's dashing, + Expanding wide her snowy wings, + The white foam round her paddles flashing. + Away, away, the land recedes, + Far into dim and dreary distance, + As gallantly our packet speeds. + Unconscious of the gale's resistance. + Away, away, how oft before, + With paling cheek and aching stomach, + I've trembled at the billow's roar. + And crouched me in my narrow hammock. + But now, I bless the wildest waves + That bear me from a land of slaves. + + Away, away, yon crimson cloud, + Which, mounting the blue vault of Heaven, + Soars calmly o'er the murky shroud + That palls the close of boisterous even, + Is scarcely fairer than the form, + The light, the grace, from stem to stern--a + Fairy riding on the storm-- + Of the fleet, trusty, dight _Juverna_, + Away, away, one last look more: + One blessing on the naked land-- + Though the too glorious dream be o'er-- + One blessing for her truthful hand, + Her proud old faith, though darkly grown, + Still lingering by each cold hearth-stone. + + Away, away; poor fool of fate, + Couldst thou but dream this mournful end, + This midnight of a hope so great, + Where shame and sorrow darkly blend-- + Couldst thou divine that thus bedecked, + With rags and dirt, thine eyes downturned: + Thou'dst flee, thy whole life's labour wrecked. + Thy very heart within thee burned. + --Away, away, in all the past, + There's not an act I would recall, + I bow me to the o'erwhelming blast, + But 'tis the heart alone can fall, + And mine may once again defy. + The fate that mocks it scoffingly. + + Away, away, if o'er the sea, + My voice could reach the prison grate. + Where daylight creeping gloomily, + Comes to deride the captives' fate; + Could I but prove by word or act, + How firm my heart and purpose still, + Their life's worst pang to counteract, + Before their proud young hearts were still-- + To live but that the land they loved + Should yet assert its native right, + That the immortal faith they proved, + Should yet be robed in victory's light, + And, oh, to feel such promise high, + Were last to light their dying eye. + +If apology were to be offered for the change of measure of the above, +and its somewhat conflicting sentiments, it would be found in the tumult +of passions, excitement, fear, hope, rage, disappointment and regret +with which, standing among cattle on the deck, and disguised in meanest +rags, I looked upon my country's shores for, it may be the last time, +and thought of her hopes, her misery and fall. Both faults may be +amended here, but I cannot help regarding it as irreligious toward +thoughts suggested by the circumstances then around me to remodel even +the structure into which they spontaneously shaped themselves. + +[Illustration: Aheny Hill, showing the Constabulary Barrack destroyed by +the Insurgents. 1848] + +Night soon fell drearily upon the water. I engaged a berth from one of +the sailors, and before half an hour, lost all consciousness of country +and friends, of wind and tide, and hope, and shame, and peril, in +tranquil repose. On ascending next morning, the shores of England were +in view, and we sailed up the channel to the mouth of the Avon under a +calm and mellow sky. I had some breakfast with one of the cowherds. We +were delayed several hours waiting for the tide, which were spent for +the most part in making difficult evolutions; and exhibiting to the +cabin passengers the peculiar qualities of the _Juverna_. Night had +fallen before we reached Bristol, and I slipped away from the boat, amid +the confusion and bustle which checked the progress of the gay and rich, +around whose footsteps avarice had gathered an eager and jostling crowd. +Rude contact with, and unsavoury odours from, the unclean multitude +shocked their nervous sensibility, as they made their way to their +hotels amidst obtrusive obsequiousness, while the lone outlaw's pathway +lay free through the open street and uncontaminated air. But a wretched +exterior has its disadvantages also. I dared not present myself at a +hotel, and many of the humbler hostelries refused me admittance, +believing, no doubt, either that the seeds of pestilence were in my +rags, or not a copper in my pocket. Indeed, to no brain but that of a +very imaginative genius would the possibility of such a superfluity as +a pocket suggest itself. All the beds were "full." At last I thought me +of an expedient. I called for a glass of ale, for which payment in +advance was duly demanded. I handed a sovereign, which at once emptied a +bed, provided I slept in a room with another person which I refused, +feeling that I had acquired a footing. I had something to eat, and +finally found that there was a vacant room. + +The next day was Sunday. No trains travelled to London except third +class. This was rather unlucky, for I was aware that certain straitened +gentlemen were often obliged, by stress of circumstances--the pressure +of business which brooked not a moment's delay--reluctantly to avail +themselves of this mode of conveyance. I felt, too, that the loyalty of +these slender aristocrats, was on a par with the unhappy incidents which +compelled them to consort with vulgar people, that is to say, so +constrained, that however much against the impulses of their generous +natures, they could not omit any opportunity of manifesting the +sentiment in its full intensity, I selected my company on this occasion, +being only anxious to exclude the "_arbiters elegantiarum_," Of my +"_compagnons de voyage_," some were in gin, some in fumes and some in +glee, and the journey passed off without an incident. + +On arriving at the Paddington terminus, an unlooked-for difficulty +presented itself. My costume attracted universal attention. It was, in +fact, _outre_ even in comparison with the most outlandish; for every +article had been carefully selected for its singularity. My "caubeen" +especially excited the risibility of the merry boys who thronged the +streets. I was soon followed by an uproarious crowd of most +incorrigible young rascals, who made lunges at my unfortunate head-gear. +They peered at me round lamp-posts, and occasionally, "Teigue," and +"Phelim," pronounced in a broad English accent, grated on my ear. +Although not indisposed to be merry, I grasped one of my tormentors and +handed him over to a policeman. The sentinel of city morals dismissed +him with a harsh rebuke, and threatened to "haul up" whoever gave me +further annoyance. We were then near Oxford street. I told him I wanted +to go to Tottenham Court road; but after making several fruitless +attempts to pronounce the name, his own fertile genius had to supply my +deficiency. He walked with me until the last unruly boy had disappeared, +and then he sent me on my way rejoicing, after having spent some minutes +in teaching me to articulate distinctly "Tottenham Court Road." It was +already nightfall. I felt as if all danger were passed. I could not +anticipate the check I was about to receive. + +I knew a man named Parker, who resided in Museum Street. I thought his +house that to which I could easiest find access without exciting notice. +I made my way to it unobserved, rapped, and to my great relief the door +was opened by the man himself. He did not recognise me for some time, +but as soon as he did, he fell into a paroxysm half hysterical, half +frantic. I had completed his ruin, he exclaimed, and his unhappy family +would have to curse me as the cause of his destruction. He was ready to +sink on the floor in sheer terror, and with difficulty could he utter a +request that I should instantly leave his house. This was a command, +however harsh and heartless, which I dared not resist, for I was forced +to admit to myself that under his terrified exterior might lurk a +sentiment baser than fear. + +I left the place in utter dismay. I could not venture into a house such +as I had lodged in at Bristol, the night before, because my person was +well known in London, and because those places are frequented by +characters of all sorts. I could not venture, in my then guise, to the +house of my young friend to whom I had addressed the parcel, because my +appearance there would inevitably attract the notice of the policeman. I +dare not, of course, venture to a respectable hotel. Thus perplexed, I +bethought of a woman with whom I used formerly to lodge, and I repaired +to her rooms (she had herself become a lodger). I met her on the stairs, +where she nearly fainted. She hurried me into the street, and there told +me that a person who lived in the house was actually watching to betray +me. She suggested the house of an Irishwoman who lived in a court hard +by. I had no alternative. The poor woman received me with tears. Such +was her emotion that I could not hesitate to trust her with my life: Her +son and daughter-in-law, who spent the day with her, were about +returning home. They lived in the suburbs, at the Surrey side. They +proposed to take me to their cottage, and I readily consented. We got a +coach and drove home. The kindliest attentions were lavished on me by +these people. As soon as I arrived, I shaved and cleansed myself; no +small task, considering that I had on a fortnight's beard, and had +rubbed my face over with soot and grease. + +I had a shirt and clothes from my host, with whom, in my new trim, I +sat down to a comfortable supper. Early next morning he informed my +friend of my arrival, and I was at once surrounded by several who would +risk their lives for my safety. I had by this time begun to regard many +singular escapes of mine as preordained by Providence, and I ceased to +feel much concern in my fate. I cherished a presentiment of safety until +it grew into a conviction, and acting on its assurance, I gave way to an +unconcern that was quite inexplicable to those around me. But one +feeling of fear lingered with me: it was lest Parker should add treason +to cowardice, which certain ominous expressions that were said to fall +from him, confirmed. I otherwise felt so secure, and so thankful to my +entertainers, that I would gratify their wishes to remain a day or two +longer with them; but the tide answered so well--the whole journey to +Boulogne being by night, that I determined to avail myself of the +opportunity. I donned my clerical costume, got me a sleek wig, folded a +stole round my breviary, and with Christian patience awaited the hour of +departure. I was to be accompanied to Paris by my young friend, who +spoke the French language perfectly, and was well acquainted with the +etiquette of the journey. We entered the express train at London Bridge +at half-past eight. When it was just starting, my host, who had +accompanied us, clung to the panel of the door, and warned me, with +provoking warmth, to "write, write, as soon as I was safe." As the train +drove off and his boisterous adieus died on my ear, I lost the last +feeling of anxiety on my own account. The carriage was full--a German +with a toothache--two gossiping old bachelors--a jolly English resident +of the sunny south--my friend and myself occupied the six seats. However +fluttered may be the hearts of the passengers, whatever may be the +pressure of guilt, or fear, or remorse upon their souls, the heart of +the mighty engine, on its fiery course, throbs only with one passion, +namely how to outspeed the flight of time. Our fellow-travellers +conversed upon all subjects, and wished for my opinion upon each; but I +was so reserved and pious, and my friend so ready and witty, and +exuberant in his gaiety, that my obstinate silence was pardoned or +forgotten. We were able to make our way on board Her Majesty's mail +packet by the light of a clouded moon, then fast waning. I did not +trouble myself to learn the name of the boat, but she appeared endued +with more than the speed of fire. She flew over her allotted trip in one +hour and three-quarters, and about two o'clock I set my foot on the free +soil of the young Republic. + +I had longed for such an event with an intensity of feeling not to be +described; nay, I had often enjoyed anticipated exultation from +indulging in a vague dream of its bare possibility, which absorbed all +the gloom and horror of my situation. Yet when I stepped securely on +what, to me, was hallowed ground, an adequate appreciation of the +circumstance was far from realised in my feelings. New sights and sounds +began to share my thoughts and engross my comprehension. In a moment the +past vanished, with all its disquietude and alarm; and I entered on the +new scene with a taste akin to the appetite of a convalescent. If I felt +any deep emotion, it was only when my mind recurred to the fate of my +comrades, or the feelings of joy with which my family would learn the +tidings of my safety. We left our baggage at the Custom house--mine +consisted of a pair of boots stowed away in a rather capacious +valise--handed the keys, in due form, to the commissionaire of police, +and directed them to be sent after us to our hotel. A commissionaire, so +they call themselves, appeared in the morning with the keys, which he +handed us bowing, adding that all was right. + +There was a fete at Boulogne. Nothing was to be seen but glittering +bayonets, and nothing to be heard but the harsh monotonous sound of the +drum. Flags floated in the breeze, and cheers echoed from the distant +hills, and everything proclaimed the festivity of liberty. It was a +grand sight, and yet a sad one for me. I could not help contrasting with +the scene before me the fate of my own unfortunate country. At ten +o'clock we were on our way to Paris. + +Such was the anxiety with which I gazed on the glad face of that sunny +land during the entire of the journey that I could at this moment +recognise every object that attracted my attention. But the scope of +this narrative, now drawing rapidly to a close, does not embrace a +description of France or Paris. Many pens have plied the task, and were +mine more adequate than any, it were unfit to interweave so bright a +theme with the gloomy details of this mournful history. + +There remains to be told but one incident. On our arrival at the Paris +terminus, we got into an English omnibus which brought us to an English +hotel--the Hotel de Louvre in the Rue St. Thomas. There we dined +together, some dozen or so of the passengers. After dinner my friend +and I had champagne. While discussing its merits the conversation turned +on Ireland. Opinions, of course, varied. Mine, it need scarcely be +added, to an Englishman's ear sounded bloodily, and I urged them with +the vehemence of baffled hope. An old English gentleman of that quiet +school which affects liberality and moderation, but entertains deepest +animosity, deprecated the violence of my language and sentiments, and +expressed his painful astonishment at hearing such opinions from the +mouth of a clergyman; "They would not be unbecoming," added he, with +great bitterness of tone, "in that sanguinary brigand, Doheny." +Involuntarily and simultaneously my friend and myself burst into an +immoderate fit of laughter, The gentleman could not at all comprehend +our mirth. He had, he thought, delivered himself of very sound and very +gentlemanly philosophy, and he was really shocked to find it had made an +impression so different from what he had expected. He had travelled +much, he said, and met men of many lands, of whom Irishmen were ever the +most polite and best bred gentlemen; a fact which rendered our laughing +in his face rather inexplicable. The conversation was again resumed and +again waxed warm. I expressed my opinion of English paupers in Ireland, +and said they ought to be transported in a convict ship back to +Liverpool, in the same fashion as Irish paupers of a different class are +transmitted to Dublin by the Liverpool guardians. To this he replied by +saying that there would be no peace in Ireland until the Mitchels and +Dohenys were hanged, a fate which the latter was hastening to with +irresistible impetus. At this self-satisfied prophecy we laughed louder +than before, whereupon he waxed wrathful, and repeating his experience +of the world in general, and of Irishmen in particular, demanded an +explanation of the laugh. I said, "That is a straightforward question, +and demands a direct answer. It shall be given, although you have +refused to answer, as all Englishmen of your class invariably do, to +several direct questions which I have put to you. I laughed because I am +that same sanguinary Doheny": and pulling off my wig, I added, "Me +_voila_ at your service." The sudden appearance of him who answered the +incantations of the weird sisters could not produce a greater panic. +Chairs tumbled in every direction, and their occupiers fled the room, +leaving myself and my friend ample space to enjoy the joke and the +champagne in undisturbed quiet. + +I have nothing further to relate in connection with myself. Paris +appeared to me clothed with a grandeur, a glory, and a beauty, +infinitely surpassing every description of them I had ever read or +heard. Standing in any commanding spot surrounded by the monuments of +her splendour and magnificence, upon each of which the genius of the +land shed its immortal lustre, one feels coerced to the conviction that +the high command and abiding destiny of France must be equally +imperishable. But these considerations belong not to my story, and I +renounce the idea of commemorating the sensations of gratified pride +which that gorgeous capital awakened in my bosom. Her architecture and +her art, her memorials of glory, and the triumphs of her progress, +require to be scanned by the eye and portrayed by the ability of +artistic genius. I must content myself with preserving a delighted +recollection of the French metropolis which no scene or circumstance, +possible in life can ever efface. The companion of all my hazards in +Ireland, whom I again joined in Paris, more than shared my enthusiasm. +He spent all his days wandering among the galleries of the Louvre or the +statues of Versailles, forgetting in the sublime presence of their +unmatched _chefs d'ouvres_ all the shame and perils of the past. I hope +he may be induced to give the result of his long examinations and fond +reveries to the public. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 12: "Alice and Uua."] + +[Footnote 13: This may be a harsh and unjust opinion; if so, no one +could regret it more than myself. In any case I wish to disclaim the +idea of making a charge against the body of the Roman Catholic clergy, +to some of whose members it applies. I yet fully believe that the great +majority of the priesthood would willingly die with the rest of their +countrymen in struggling for the liberty of their common home. Even of +those who acted against us with such deadly success, I am sure some were +influenced by pure and honourable motives: there were others, however, +whose conduct the noblest motives would fail to justify, or even +extenuate.] + +[Footnote 14: I hope my friend "Desmond" (a true poet and genuine +Irishman, whom God long preserve) will allow me to borrow his "graceful +spirit people" to elevate to poetical dignity the otherwise unattractive +and straggling waters of Lough Lua. It is near the lone and lovely +passes of Ceimeneagh, which his genius has invested with graceful +immortality, and his + + "Children of the earth and sea." + +may be sometimes tempted to lave therein. + +Lough Lua loses in the comparison suggested by the sublime scenery +around it, of which the "green little island," and the pass are +immeasurably the greatest. I saw it in no happy frame of mind, as I +dragged my weary limbs along the rugged slopes of Shehigh. The only real +feature of interest I could discover, was the solitary swan above +alluded to, to which an intellect less fanciful than that of my friend +could not refuse a claim to be recognised as the genius loci, or spirit +of the spot.] + +[Footnote 15: Mr. Daniel MacCarthy] + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +A word remains to be said in reference to the fate of those who were the +special objects of the Government's attention. Of the six for whom a +reward was offered, four escaped, namely, Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. +O'Mahony and myself. Mr. Dillon was the first who left Ireland. Late in +August he sailed from Galway, and landed at New York after a voyage of +seven weeks. In the same vessel sailed P.J. Smyth, who was despatched +from Cashel to Dublin with directions from Mr. O'Brien. Richard +O'Gorman, accompanied by John O'Donnell and Daniel Doyle, sailed from +the mouth of the Shannon on board a vessel bound for Constantinople. +After landing in the Turkish capital, they were obliged to lie concealed +until able to procure passports for Algiers. Many foolish stories have +been circulated in reference to Mr. O'Gorman's adventures and disguises +in Ireland. Not one of them has the least truth in it. He or his +companions never assumed any disguise, and though their adventures were +more perilous, they were not so romantic as those that have been +related. A more detailed account of their wanderings would no doubt be +as interesting to my readers as it would be agreeable to myself. But +both the time and the limits I have proposed to myself for this +publication exclude it here. I could not, without too long a delay, +acquire that minute and accurate knowledge of facts and dates, which +would be indispensable to such a history. + +But of succeeding events in Ireland, and the men who controlled them, +it is imperative to speak more in detail. John O'Mahony was their chief, +and John Savage his principal counsellor and comrade. The former, +although not compromised by any act previous to the arrest of Mr. +O'Brien, evaded the vigilance of the detectives, and continued moving +about from place to place, being generally guarded while he slept by a +large number of faithful followers. No man was ever followed with truer +devotion or served with more unwavering fidelity. He might have +continued in the same district with perfect safety up to the present +hour. But every moment of his time was engrossed by the endeavour to +rouse the country to some becoming effort. John Savage, who had come to +Carrick on a visit to a relation, partook of his enthusiasm and shared +his toil. They spent many anxious nights in counsel together when it was +supposed all spirit had left the country. The first ostensible object +that brought the people together under their immediate guidance and +control was the reaping of a field of wheat belonging to O'Mahony. A +vast crowd amounting to several hundred stalwart men assembled. They had +scarcely entered on their labour when the approach of a troop of horse +was announced. O'Mahony and Savage were compelled to retire. The +military cavalcade entered the field, and rode rudely among the men and +ripe corn. Still the reapers desisted not. They proceeded with their +labours sedulously and silently. But there was no pretext for arresting +any of the men, and no pretext afforded for further outrage, and the +business of the day went on without further outrage from the soldiers. +This occurred on the 22nd of August. Some days later, sullen crowds were +seen ascending Aheny Hill, about five miles to the north of +Carrick-on-Suir. By what mysterious agency they were directed none could +tell. About a similar distance from the town, in the opposite direction, +near the village of Portlaw, another camp was formed with equal rapidity +and mystery. With these men John Savage took his station. He was +entirely unknown to the people; and owed his influence over them to his +singular resolution. The understanding was that these two bodies, and a +third consisting of an equal number of men which was promised from +Kilkenny, should march simultaneously on the town of Carrick and the +fort at Besborough where five hundred men were encamped. He who +undertook to lead the Kilkenny men went on the execution of his mission, +leaving O'Mahony at one side, and Savage on the other, to contend with +the impetuosity of their respective followers who demanded with violence +to be led on. As much perhaps from the precariousness of their situation +as from a reckless daring, they could not brook the least delay. Their +leaders, on the other hand, urged the necessity of steadiness and +prudence. It was too late for such policy. The time between the first +step in revolution and action is the most trying to the courage and +faith of undisciplined men. In this instance it produced fatal results. +The weakness of the timid increased, and the courage of the boldest was +quelled. Suspicion was aroused, and desertion was the inevitable +consequence. O'Mahony found it impossible to withstand the clamorous +urgency of the men, and all his preparations were necessarily of a +hasty and imperfect character. The arrival of the party from Kilkenny +was the utmost limit of inaction that would be endured; and the leaders +saw with regret that they had yielded too soon to the demands of those +who precipitated the rising. The true guarantee of success would consist +in perfect preparation under cover of secrecy, so as that the assembling +could be followed by an immediate blow. + +Scouring parties from each rendezvous, proceeded through the country in +search of arms. Provisions were liberally supplied by the neighbouring +farmers, and numbers were hourly arriving from distant parts of the +country. But those who were engaged in the search for arms attacked +police barracks and private houses. In general, these enterprises were +rash, ill-advised and ill-arranged. In some instances they were +successful, and in some they were repulsed with loss of life, while the +police were able to effect a safe retreat. At the Tipperary side, two +men were killed in the attack on the Glenbour barracks; and at the +Waterford side, one man was shot at Portlaw in the assault on the +police-barrack, and two in the attack on the Reverend Mr. Hill's house. +These repulses checked the ardour of the boldest, and gave rise to +disunion and distrust. Meantime, the promised reinforcements from +Kilkenny failed to redeem the pledge that was given in their name. A +whole day and night passed, and no tidings of them arrived. Several of +those who were loudest and most urgent left the camp. A very large +force, however, remained; but after delaying two days without hearing of +the Kilkenny men, they determined to disperse. The party at Portlaw +adopted the same resolution, and O'Mahony and Savage had to shift for +themselves. A reward was offered for O'Mahony, but he eluded his +pursuers, and in a few days was beyond their reach. He embarked at +Bonmahon in the county of Waterford and crossed to Wales, where he was +concealed for some time until he found an opportunity of escaping to +France. Savage, whose person was not much known, made his way to Dublin, +whence he sailed for America direct. + +The Kilkenny men arrived at Aheny on the morning after those under +O'Mahony had dispersed and finding the place deserted, they immediately +returned. This accident once more baffled all hope of a struggle. From +beginning to end, some mischance marred every propitious circumstance +that presented itself. It seemed as if the failure had been predestined. +But to yield to such a fate, to abjure the great and true faith which +the attempt of the last unhappy year quickened in the hearts of all men, +would be distrust of God's mercy and justice. In the struggle that +preceded the outbreak a great victory was won. The most formidable power +that ever fettered the consciences of men was struck to the earth. +Truth, long lost sight of, was again restored as one of the great +agencies of national deliverance and national elevation. The question +between England and Ireland assumed its real character; and although +huxtering politicians have since endeavoured to set up the honour of the +island for sale, they have only been able to dispose of their own +characters. The people have not debased themselves. In the lying homage +to the Queen of England they took no part. They have preserved through +the severest trials the old immortal yearning of their race, and the +arms they had provided themselves with in '48 they have guarded +religiously, in the hope of using them on some day of brighter auspices +and loftier destiny. + +[Illustration: John Savage (1848)] + + + + +APPENDICES + + +I + +THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848 + +Early on Saturday the 22nd of July I left my pleasant home in +Cullenswood, near Dublin, to which I was never to return. On reaching +the city I found a telegraphic despatch from London had been just +published, announcing the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and that +the "extraordinary powers" to be conferred on the Lord Lieutenant would +be forwarded to Dublin on the following Monday. It was contended on all +hands that the hour for action or submission or flight for the +Confederates was now come. Of "The Council of Five,"[16] there were then +in Dublin but three members. One is now in Van Diemen's Land; the others +were Mr. Dillon and myself. We had a hasty meeting in the old Council +Rooms of the Irish Confederation. They decided to proceed that evening +to Enniscorthy to advise with Smith O'Brien, and, as I understood, to +proceed with him to the district between the Suir and the Shannon, and +to operate from that basis according to circumstances and their own best +judgment. + +A gentleman had arrived in Dublin that morning with a proposition which +decided my movements and led me into some singular situations. + +He was a professional man, by birth an Irishman who had resided a long +time in Scotland. He had one only son, two rifles, and £120 in money, +which he brought as his offering to the country. He informed us that +several hundred Irishmen in Scotland had been all the year preparing for +this event, that they had a good share of arms and ammunition, and that +if any plan could be devised to bring them into Ireland, they could be +relied on for courage and endurance. I do not mention this gentleman's +name, because I do not know but he is still under the laws of England. + +We perceived, on consultation, that if it were possible to land 400 or +500 staunch men in the north-west--say, at Sligo or Killala--where the +Government were completely off their guard (all their anxieties being +centred on the south), an important movement might follow in Sligo, +Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo. It would be like hitting the enemy in the +back of the head. It would necessarily draw off some of the forces from +Munster, through the valley of the Upper Shannon, which, with its +continuous chain of lake, bog and mountain frontier, would be difficult +ground for the movements of a regular army. + +It was necessary, as our informant said, that "someone with a name" +should go over and concert with the Irishmen in Scotland the mode and +time of action, and I was the only person at hand willing for that +service. For my encouragement, Meagher assured me I would be "as famous +as Paul Jones" if I got the men out of the Clyde, and Mr. Dillon +suggested as a landing-place "the old ground, Killala." + +That afternoon I left Dublin, and on Tuesday morning I was in Scotland. + +I cannot give the exact particulars of my movements while there. All who +were in my confidence are still in Scotland, with the exception of Mr. +Peter M'Cabe of Glasgow, now in the United States. I will only say that +I visited and consulted our friends in four of the principal +towns--Edinburgh included. I attended meetings of the clubs and in each +instance instituted committees. I obtained in a few days a list of +nearly 400 men, pretty well equipped, ready for the risk. A +sub-committee surveyed the Broomielaw and the Clyde, and although their +report was unfavourable to the attempt of getting out in one body, a +gentleman, now in America, gained over the crew and officers of an Irish +steamer to take us as passengers from Greenock where the tides in a few +days would answer for departure about ten o'clock at night. The arms +were to be previously shipped as merchandise or luggage, and the +destination was to be Sligo. + +These arrangements occupied from Tuesday till Friday of the last week of +July. In the meanwhile, the London Journals arrived with news that +O'Brien and his friends had been received with open arms in the south, +and great excitement and suspicion of strangers arose in Scotland. In +the Reading Room at Paisley I read myself in _The Hue and Cry_. One +paper stated I was in Waterford, another said I was "revelling among the +clubs in the Co. Dublin." The _Times_ did me the honour to couple me +with Meagher, calling us "the two most dangerous men now abroad." No one +suspected my real locality. + +On Friday I was in Edinburgh intending to return to Glasgow, when +Mr. ----, accompanied by a friend suddenly joined me. I saw they were a +good deal agitated. They told me a Scotch mechanic who had been formerly +in Dublin had seen me in the streets of Glasgow opposite Wellington +statue, and that the news was "all round town." They added that the +magistrates were in secret sitting, and as the writ of Habeas Corpus is +unknown to the law of Scotland, I would be certainly arrested and +summarily imprisoned if I returned. They were instructed to advise me to +go to Ireland through the north of England, to prepare our friends in +and about Sligo, and that they would complete the project which they had +begun, and which was now in promising forwardness. I complied and Mr. +---- handed me a purse, as a personal gift from the Committee. This +purse contained twelve or thirteen sovereigns, the only public money I +received in this enterprise. After purposely driving to the West of +Scotland depot [railway terminus] we returned to the North British, and +my friends saw me off a station or two on the way to Newcastle-on-Tyne. +I slept that night in Newcastle. + +Between Newcastle and Carlisle the next day (Saturday) I had for a +fellow passenger the Rev. Thresham Gregg[17] who was on a lecturing +excursion against the Pope in the north of England. I had been +introduced to him a year or two before and supposed he knew me. He +certainly looked very hard at me from under his travelling-cap, with his +half-shut cunning eyes. I had in my hand "Bradshaw's Railway Guide," +which he asked to see. At the way stations he kept constantly inquiring +the distance to Carlisle, and I sorely suspected he meant to "peach." He +did not, however, though I still think he must have known me. + +In Carlisle I met at dinner two Dublin priests (one from Westland Row +chapel). They were bound on a pleasure-trip for Loch Katrine and the +Trossachs. They informed me that I was "proclaimed," and seemed +surprised at my returning. We parted very cordially and that night I +went to Whitehaven where I had to wait over Sunday for the Belfast +steamer. + +In Whitehaven (by accident) I met with Mr. James Leach, the well-known +Chartist, with whom I had some conversation unnecessary here to be +repeated. + +On Tuesday morning I arrived in Belfast. Two policemen entered the cabin +as I was leaving it, and having been at the meeting which occasioned the +Hercules Street riot,[18] I thought they would recognise me. They did +not, however, and at 8 o'clock (after leaving a note for a dear and +trusted friend of Mr. Duffy's, to mark my whereabouts) I was safely +embarked on the Ulster railway for Armagh. At Aughnacloy a detective +gave me a light, and before I went to bed (in Enniskillen) had read the +proclamations against the leaders of the Southern movement, on the gates +of the Barrack. The next morning I reached Sligo by the Leitrim road. + +This was Wednesday morning, August 2nd. + +At the Hibernia Hotel, where I stopped as Mr. Kelly (my travelling +baptism), I saw for the first time in ten days the Irish papers. The +Dublin _Freeman_ and _Saunder's News Letter_ were on the table. I read +the list of the places where, and the clergymen by whom, the Southern +movement had been "denounced," on Sunday, July 23rd and Sunday, July +30th. The same papers contained Lord Clarendon's wily letter to +Archbishop Murray, offering to alter the statutes of the new colleges +and to remodel the Bequests Bill so as to content the Catholic clergy, +and artfully complimenting Pius IX. The game of the Government was +clear--it was to separate the clergy from the people in the coming +struggle. + +The evening of my arrival in Sligo, I conferred with a few friends. The +place chosen was "a shell house" in the demesne of Hazelwood on the +shores of Lough Gill. Of those[D] who formed that conference one at +least, Mr. William M'Garahan, is now in America. We ascertained the +garrison of Sligo to be but ninety men--the barrack to be surrounded by +a common eight-foot wall, and the local authorities to be completely +lulled to sleep. The circumstances were as favourable as could be +expected. + +But there never had been in Sligo or Leitrim any local Confederate or +even "Repeal" organisation. The only local societies were secret--Molly +Maguires and Ribbonmen. It was necessary to get into communication with +them and late the next night Dr. ----, a Confederate, introduced me to +one of their leaders, on a road which crosses a hill to the south of the +town. This gentleman I found wary, resolute, and intelligent. He said: +"I have no doubt of what you say, but I must have certain facts to lay +before our district chiefs. At present we don't know what to believe. +One day we hear one thing--another, another. Bring us by this day week +assurances that the South is going to rise or has risen, and we will +raise two thousand before the week is out." I agreed to do so and he in +the meantime went to prepare his friends. + +I returned to my confidants of the first conference and "reported +progress." It was rather difficult to find a trusty messenger. I +volunteered to go myself, but they would not hear of it. At last a man +who could be depended on was obtained, and, armed with certain passwords +(unintelligible except to those for whom they were intended) he left to +go through Roscommon and Westmeath into Tipperary by Borrisokane and +Nenagh. + +Simultaneously with this, agents went abroad in the country, and I, by +the advice of the local leaders, went to lodge under Benbulben in the +character of a Dublin student in search of health and exercise during +the summer vacation. Within a week we expected to be openly arrayed +against the authorities, and no man that I saw shrank from the prospect. + +From my lodgings under Benbulben I made a visit to Bundoran to meet some +friends from Donegal who were anxious to consult me as to the state of +the county. By an odd chance I lodged in the same house with the +stipendiary magistrate, Sir Thomas Blake, and had to go through his +bedroom to my own. We met frequently but he was quite unsuspicious. He +has, I find since, been dismissed from his office, after an ineffectual +search for me through the county, a month from the time we had lived +under the same roof. + +While our messenger had gone south there arrived one from our friends in +Scotland. Him I sent back the same night to expedite affairs there. In +the meanwhile, on such maps as we had, my friends and I studied the +roads and the formation of the country. There is in this part of Ireland +a plateau of about twenty-five miles square of broken or mountainous +ground. Of this district Ballinamore in Leitrim might be considered the +centre; there are but three main roads leading through it--the Boyle +road, the Red Lion road, and the Ballysodare road--which could all be +easily rendered impassable, passing as they do over rapid streams, +through narrow defiles or across extensive marshes. There is no great +military depot within the district--Enniskillen, Athlone, and even +Castlebar being within the spurs of the mountains. Sligo, its chief town +was, as we saw, poorly garrisoned, and yet as a seaport of the second +class it contained many things of the greatest use in a military +movement--as lead, arms, canvas, tools, money, ships' stores, +breadstuffs, types for proclamations and even some small cannon. From +three to five thousand men it was calculated, could be well-equipped and +could maintain themselves for three months within this district, with +tolerable prudence and exertion. Before the time expired we hoped to +receive help and officers from abroad, and afterwards to be able to +undertake greater things. + +We could not but remember that this was the district chosen by Owen +O'Neill after his arrival from Spain in 1645 and that it was here he +"nursed up" by slow degrees the army which fought at Benburb, and which +in Napoleon's opinion, but for the premature death of Owen, would have +checkmated Cromwell. The ground once chosen by a great general for its +natural capabilities may safely be chosen again, and usually is, as in +Hungary for instance. The very posts and battlefields held and fought by +Bem and Dembinski were the same whereon Huniad and Corvinus, four and +five hundred years ago, fought against the Turks and Bosmens. Thus we +had the sanction of a great example and the stimulus of an inspiriting +tradition to point to for the choice of the ground. + +We had not long to wait for news from the South--it came of itself. On +Saturday the 5th of August Mr. O'Brien was arrested in Thurles. His +companions, it was said, were fled hither and thither; but, at all +events, his arrest had proved that, at that time, the South would not +rise in arms against the Government. + +This was the interpretation universally put upon it in the north-west. +It was in vain I said, "There are other men as brave and as good who are +still free and from whom we will hear better news." Those to whom I +spoke were incredulous. Still I must do the people of the county the +justice to say that in a meeting of their district-leaders at ---- it +was discussed for two successive nights with great animation whether or +not the district should rise even then. The parties for and against a +rising were nearly balanced, but the latter prevailed on the argument +that unless it was general it would be fruitless. + +For ten dismal days I remained in this neighbourhood, hoping against +hope and endeavouring to make others do the same. The proposals I then +made, the result of desperation, I will not repeat, for now, even to +myself, I confess they look wild and extravagant. But I felt the whole +futurity of shame that awaited us for abandoning the country without a +blow. It was well advanced in August before I could persuade myself that +no hope remained. The Treasurer of our Scotch Committee came to Ireland +expressly to urge me to consult my own safety in flight, in which he was +joined by the whole of my local associates. Successively arrived the +news of Meagher, Leyne and MacManus being taken. Then indeed I knew "all +was up." Then, indeed, I felt the force of what I had long before +prophesied--"What if we fail?" I resolved not to be taken if I could +help it, and acted accordingly. After some personal adventures in +Donegal and Derry (with which I will not trouble the reader) I saw the +last of the Irish shore early in September, and on the 10th of October +reached Philadelphia. + +I close here with this reflection: Had I been transported or hanged, I +have no doubt full justice would be done me, because it would be +nobody's interest to do me injustice. Had I kept silent, I might have +lived an easy, prudent, reputable sort of life enough. But I established +a journal on reaching America, and whereas my spine is not made of +whalebone nor my conscience of indiarubber, I spoke the truth as I knew +it in all things freely--thereby offending divers parties. This, I +believe, could not be helped. After nearly a year of silence[19] I have +at last (in self-defence) written this narrative, of which I assure the +readers they never would have heard a word from me, but that +misrepresentations not to be borne demanded its publicity. Those who +from want of information misrepresented me hitherto can do so no more; +and those who, knowing these facts, yet wilfully maligned me, I have now +deprived of the power to do me further injury. Truth is powerful, and +this is truth. + + +II + +THE PROCLAMATION OF DOHENY AND HIS COLLEAGUES + +By the Lord Lieutenant General and General-Governor of Ireland + +A PROCLAMATION + +CLARENDON-- + +Whereas we have received information that THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN +B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY have been guilty of treasonable practices, +now we the Lord Lieutenant being determined to bring the said THOMAS +FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY to justice, do hereby +offer a reward of + + THREE HUNDRED POUNDS + +to any person or persons who shall secure and deliver up to safe custody +the person of any one of them, the said THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. +DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY. + +And we do hereby strictly charge and command all justices of the peace, +mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables and all other of her Majesty's +loyal subjects to use their utmost-diligence in apprehending the said +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY. + +Given at her Majesty's Castle of Dublin, this 28th day of July, 1848. + + By his Excellency's Command, + + T.N. REDINGTON. + + +III + +"THE HUE AND CRY" + +The official description of himself read by Thomas Darcy M'Gee was more +accurate and less intentionally insulting than the official descriptions +of most of his colleagues compiled in Dublin Castle and published in the +_Hue and Cry_ of July 27th, 1848. Probably no other official document +issued to the public in the last hundred years by Dublin Castle has +equalled this stupid malignity. "Sketches of Doheny and some of the +Confederate leaders, modelled upon the descriptions of burglars and +murderers, that ordinarily adorn the _Hue and Cry_ were," wrote Sir +Charles Gavan Duffy, a generation later, "issued for the enjoyment of +loyal persons." The _Freeman's Journal_ of the day wrote that the public +who were acquainted with the appearance of the gentlemen described will +read with feelings of contempt the malignant effort to insult and wound +the relatives of the men proscribed by the issue of a written caricature +of their persons. This remarkable production of the genius and spirit of +Dublin Castle, read as follows:-- + +DESCRIPTION OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH +TREASONABLE PRACTICES + +WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN.--No occupation; forty-six years of age; six feet +in height; sandy hair; dark eyes; sallow, long face; has a sneering +smile constantly on his face; full whiskers; sandy; a little grey; +well-set man; walks erect; dresses well. + +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.--No occupation; twenty-five years of age; five +feet nine inches; dark, nearly black hair; light blue eyes; pale face; +high cheekbones; peculiar expression about the eyes; cocked nose; no +whiskers; well-dressed. + +JOHN B. DILLON.--Barrister; thirty-two years of age; five feet eleven +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; thin sallow face; rather thin +black whiskers; dressed respectable; has bilious look. + +MICHAEL DOHENY.--Barrister; forty years of age; five feet eight inches +in height; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; coarse red face like a man +given to drink; high cheekbones; wants several of his teeth; very vulgar +appearance; peculiar coarse unpleasant voice; dress respectable; small +short red whiskers. + +MICHAEL CREAN.--Shopman at a shoe-shop; thirty-five years of age; five +feet eight inches; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; full face; light +whiskers; high fore-head; well-set person; dress, dark shooting frock or +grey tweed, and grey tweed trousers. + +FRANCIS MORGAN.[20]--Solicitor; forty-three years of age; five feet +eight inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; sallow broad face; +nose a little cocked; the upper lip turns out when speaking; rather +stout; smart gait; black whiskers. + +PATRICK JAMES SMITH.[21]--Studying for the bar; twenty-nine years of +age; five feet nine inches in height; fair hair; dark eyes; fair +delicate face and of weak appearance; long back; weak in his walk; small +whiskers; clothing indifferent. + +JOHN HETHERINGTON DRUMM.[22]--Medical student; twenty years of age; five +feet three inches in height; very black and curly hair; black eyes; pale +delicate face; rather thin person; delicate appearance; no whiskers; +small face and nose; dressed respectably; Methodist. + +THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE.--Connected with the _Nation_ newspaper; +twenty-three years of age; five feet three inches in height; black hair; +dark face; delicate, pale, thin man; dresses generally black shooting +coat, plaid trousers, light vest. + +JOSEPH BRENNAN.--Sub-Editor of the _Felon_ newspaper; five feet six +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; pale, sallow face; very stout; +round shoulders; Cork accent; no whiskers; hair on the upper lip; soft, +sickly face; rather respectably dressed, a little reduced. + +THOMAS DEVIN REILLY.--Sub-editor of the _Felon_ newspaper; twenty-four +years of age; five feet seven inches in height; sandy coarse hair; grey +eyes; round freckled face; head remarkably broad at the top; broad +shoulders; well-set; dresses well. + +JOHN CANTWELL.--Shopman at a grocer's; thirty-five years of age; five +feet ten inches in height; sandy hair; grey eyes; fair face; good +looking; short whisker, light; rather slight person, dresses ... +Supposed a native of Dublin. + +STEPHEN J. MEANY.--Sub-editor of _Irish Tribune_; twenty-six years of +age; five feet eleven inches in height; dark hair; full blue eyes; dark +face; small whiskers growing under the chin; smart appearance; was a +constable of the C Division of Police, discharged for dirty habits; +stout person; generally dressed in black. + +RICHARD O'GORMAN, Junior.--Barrister; thirty years of age; five feet +eleven inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; thin long face; +large dark whiskers; well-made and active; walks upright; dresses black +frock coat, tweed trousers. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 16: After the merging of the Irish Confederation in the +abortive Irish League, and the consequent dissolution of the Executive +of the Confederation, a Council of Five was elected to direct the +Confederate Clubs until the new organisation was perfected. The five +elected were John Blake Dillon, Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard +O'Gorman, Junior, Thomas D'Arcy M'Gee, and Thomas Devin Reilly. The five +never met. O'Gorman was out of Dublin when the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended.] + +[Footnote 17: The Rev. Thresham Gregg was a notorious and blatant +"anti-Popery" preacher of the period whom the wits of Young Ireland +frequently made the butt of their jests. Apart from his bigoted +sectarian obsession, he was, however, in several respects decidedly +nationalistic, and steadily preached support of home trade and +manufactures to his audiences. There can be no reasonable doubt that he +recognised M'Gee. In this connection it may be stated that the Orangemen +expelled from membership of their body Stephenson Dobbyn, an Orangeman +who acted as a spy for Dublin Castle upon the Young Irelanders--drawing +a clear and proper line between forcibly opposing their fellow +countrymen and acting as spies for England upon them.] + +[Footnote 18: Hercules Street in Belfast, now swept away, was chiefly +inhabited by butchers who were almost all Catholics and fervent +O'Connellites. When the Young Irelanders attempted to hold a meeting in +Belfast shortly after O'Connell's death, the butchers made a fierce +attack upon them.] + +[Footnote 19: This narrative was written at the beginning of 1850] + +[Footnote 20: Law Agent to the Dublin Corporation.] + +[Footnote 21: Patrick Joseph Smyth] + +[Footnote 22: Sub-editor of the _Nation_; afterwards a clergyman.] + + + + +CONTEMPORARIES MENTIONED IN "THE FELON'S TRACK" + + +ANGLESEY, LORD (1768-1854).--Henry William Paget, who lost a leg at +Waterloo and erected a monument to its memory. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1828-9, 1830-3. + +ANTISELL, DR. THOMAS.--A Dublin surgeon and chemist of distinction, +author of various pamphlets and addresses to the Royal Dublin Society on +the geology of Ireland, reafforestation, and the sanitary conditions of +Irish town-life. He supplied a large part of the capital to found the +_Irish Tribune_. After the failure of the insurrection he went to the +United States where he had a distinguished scientific career. + +BANTRY, LORD.--(1801-1884) William Hare White, third earl, Lieut-Col, of +the West Cork Artillery. The title became extinct in 1891. + +BARRY, MICHAEL JOSEPH (1817-1889).--A Cork barrister, editor of "The +Songs of Ireland" in the Library of Ireland, and author of several +martial pieces, including "The Flag of Green." After the failure of the +insurrection he renounced Nationalism and subsequently became a Dublin +Police Magistrate. + +BARRETT, RICHARD (17-- -1855).--Brother of Eaton Stannard Barrett of +Cork, the once famous author of "All the Talents." A journalist of +fortune who changed sides with agility and enlisted under O'Connell in +his latter years, having formerly vilified him. + +BRENAN, JOSEPH (1828-1857).--The youngest of the Young Ireland leaders. +Edited Fullam's _Irishman_ in 1849 and unsuccessfully attempted to +revive the insurrection in Waterford and Tipperary. On his failure he +emigrated to the United States and died in New Orleans. + +BRODERICK, CAPTAIN.--Inspector-General of Repeal Reading Rooms. He +quitted Conciliation Hall after the death of O'Connell and died mentally +afflicted. + +BRYAN, MAJOR.--Of Raheny Lodge, Co. Dublin. Major Bryan acquired a +moderate fortune in Tasmania and returned to Ireland where he joined the +Repeal movement. He left Conciliation Hall with the Young Irelanders. + +CAMPBELL, SIR JOHN (1779-1861).--Author of the "Lives of the Lord +Chancellors." A Scots Tory politician, raised to the peerage subsequent +to his connection with Ireland, and finally Lord Chancellor of England. + +CANGLEY, DAVID (18-- -1847).--A barrister and one of the hopes of Young +Ireland. Ill-health pursued him through life and ended it prematurely. + +CANTWELL, JAMES.--A Dublin mercantile assistant and, later, a +restaurant-proprietor. One of the Council of the Confederation who +supported Mitchel's policy. + +CARLETON, WILLIAM (1794-1869).--Author of "Traits and Stories of the +Irish Peasantry." + +CAVAIGNAC, LOUIS EUGENE (1802-1857).--One of the most distinguished of +the French Generals in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. On +the establishment of the second Republic he was appointed Minister for +War, and when the "Reds" threatened its stability he was invested with +the dictatorship and speedily crushed the insurrection. In the contest +for the Presidency the glamour of Louis Napoleon's name defeated +Cavaignac. After Napoleon's _coup-d'etat_ Cavaignac retired into private +life. He had sympathies with Ireland, and in 1848 gave private +assurances that in the event of an Irish insurrection winning initial +successes, he would bring the influence of France to bear on England to +force her to concede terms to Ireland. + +CAVANAGH, JOHN.--President of the Fitzgerald Confederate Club, Harold's +Cross, Dublin. Wounded at Ballingarry, he was brought to Kilkenny, where +he was concealed and cured by Dr. Cane, and later smuggled to France, +whence he proceeded to the United States, became an officer in the army +and was slain in the Civil War. + +"CHRISTABEL" (1815-1881).--Miss M'Carthy, of Kilfademore House, Kenmare, +afterwards Mrs. Downing. A Popular poetess of the period, usually using +the _nom-de-guerre_ of "Christabel." Her best-known poem is "The Grave +of MacCaura." She assisted Doheny and Stephens to escape. + +CLARENDON, EARL OF (1804-1870).--George Villiers, the fourth earl, +according to his English biographers, represented the highest type of +English politician and English gentleman. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, +1846-1852. He hired the editor of an obscene journal in Dublin to +publish libels upon the moral character of the Young Irelanders, and +conducted the affairs of the country from March to June, 1848, under +this man's advice. He paid £3,400 for the services rendered and a demand +for further payments led to a public disclosure of the facts. At the +time Clarendon hired James Birch, Birch had completed a sentence of +imprisonment for criminal libel. + +CLEMENTS, EDWARD.--A barrister. One of O'Connell's "tail" in +Conciliation Hall. The attempt of O'Connell to provide "poor Ned +Clements" with a Government situation precipitated the rupture with +Young Ireland. + +CONWAY, M.G.--A journalist of ability and no principle who followed the +path of fortune. He professed ultra-Catholic views while O'Connell was +in the ascendant. After O'Connell's death he abjured Catholicism to +ingratiate himself with the Ascendancy element. + +CRAMPTON, JUDGE (17-- -1858).--Philip Crampton, called to the Bar 1810, +Solicitor-General 1832, and raised to the Bench 1834. One of the judges +at O'Connell's trial, a strong Tory but a clever lawyer. + +CREAN, MICHAEL.--Like M.G. Conway, a Clare man, but of the opposite +type. Crean worked in Dublin as a shopman and with Hollywood was one of +the two trades-union leaders on the Council of the Confederation, where +he opposed Mitchel's policy. After the failure of the insurrection he +went to the United States. + +CROLLY, DR. (1780-1849).--Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All +Ireland from 1835 until his death. + +DAUNT, W.J. O'NEILL.--A Co. Cork gentleman, one of O'Connell's first +Protestant supporters in the Repeal Movement. He was elected for Mallow, +but unseated. He ceased to attend Conciliation Hall after the rupture +with the Young Irelanders. Many years later he took a prominent part in +the Home Rule movement. + +DAVIS, THOMAS (1814-1845).--The founder and inspiration of the Young +Ireland movement. Son of an English father of Welsh descent and an Irish +mother. From the inception of _The Nation_ newspaper until his death he +was the chief writer of that journal. + +DILLON, JOHN BLAKE (1816-1866).--The close personal friend of Thomas +Davis and with him one of the founders of the _Nation_. On his return +from exile he attempted to found an Irish Party in alliance with the +British Radicals and sat in the British Parliament for Tipperary. + +DOYLE, DANIEL.--A Limerick solicitor who acted with John O'Donnell and +O'Gorman in inciting Limerick county to insurrection in July, 1848. +After the failure he escaped across the water. + +DUFFY, CHARLES GAVAN (1816-1903).--One of the three founders of the +_Nation_ and its editor from 1842 to 1854, when he left Ireland for +Australia where he became Prime Minister of Victoria. In 1873 he +received a knighthood. + +"EVA" (1825-1910).--Miss Mary Kelly of Galway, afterwards Mrs. Kevin +Izod O'Doherty. One of the chief poets of the _Nation_. + +FERGUSON, SAMUEL (1810-1886).--A Belfast barrister and, save Edward +Walsh, the most Gaelic of Irish poets in the English language. Ferguson +took a leading part in the Protestant Repeal Association in 1848 and +afterwards became one of the first of Irish archaeologists. In 1878 he +was knighted. + +FITZGERALD, JOHN LOYD.--Of Newcastle West, Limerick. A lawyer of high +standing. + +FITZSIMON, CHRISTOPHER.--Son-in-law of Daniel O'Connell, elected to the +British Parliament for Co. Dublin. He deserted Repeal to support the +Government and was rewarded with the post of Clerk of the Hanaper. His +desertion caused the representation of the Co. Dublin to revert to the +Unionists for half-a-century. + +GRAY, SIR JOHN (1815-1875).--A medical doctor and owner of the +_Freeman's Journal_, publicly supporting O'Connell, but personally in +sympathy with Young Ireland. He sat in the British Parliament +subsequently for Kilkenny and was an active member of the Dublin +Corporation. + +GRATTAN, HENRY, JUN.--Son of the great Grattan and member for Meath, +1831-52. An honest but weak politician. + +GREY, EARL (1802-1894).--Third Earl. Colonial Secretary in the British +Liberal Government, 1846 to 1852. + +HALPIN, THOMAS M.--Secretary of the Confederation, and a Dublin +working-man. According to Meagher he failed to transmit instructions to +the Dublin Confederate Clubs to rise in insurrection in the streets of +the capital when the fight opened in Tipperary. Halpin denied +emphatically having received such orders. After the insurrection he made +his way to the United States. + +HEYTESBURY, LORD (1779-1860).--William A'Court, British Envoy in Spain +and Naples, and Ambassador in Portugal and Russia. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1844-6. + +HOGAN, JOHN (1800-1858).--One of the greatest of modern sculptors. With +MacManus and other artists he presented O'Connell with the "Repeal +Cap," modelled on the Irish Crown. + +HOLLYWOOD, EDWARD.--A silk-weaver and, with Michael Crean, an artisan +leader. He acted as treasurer of the Davis Confederate Club. Arrested in +Wicklow with D'Arcy M'Gee for sedition, but the prosecution was +abandoned. After the insurrection he escaped to France, and some years +later returned to Dublin. + +HOLMES, ROBERT (1765-1859).--Brother-in-law of Thomas Addis and Robert +Emmet, and a vehement opponent of the Union in 1799-1800. He declined to +accept promotion at the Bar while the Union endured. + +HUDSON, WILLIAM ELIOT (1797-1853).--Described by Thomas Davis as the +best man and the best Irishman he ever knew. A man of fortune and +culture who devoted his leisure and his wealth to helping every movement +for the betterment of Ireland. + +HUME, JOSEPH (1777-1855).--An English politician who sat in the British +Parliament for English, Irish, and Scotch constituencies as Tory and +later as Radical. Chief author of the Radical shibboleth, "Peace, +Retrenchment and Reform." + +IRELAND, RICHARD.--A barrister, one of the founders of the Protestant +Repeal Association in 1848. He emigrated to Australia afterwards and +became Attorney-General of Victoria. + +KENYON, FATHER (18-- -1869).--Curate and afterwards Parish Priest of +Templederry in Tipperary. A strong opponent of the "Old Irelanders" and +the close political and personal friend of John Mitchel. + +LALOR, JAMES FINTAN (1810-49).--Son of Patrick Lalor, M.P. of Queen's +Co. A vigorous writer whose agrarian doctrine was converted by Henry +George into Land Nationalisation--which it was not. He contributed to +the _Nation_ and the _Felon_, 1847-8, and attempted an insurrectionary +conspiracy, 1849. + +LAMARTINE, ALPHONSE DE (1790-1869).--Minister for Foreign Affairs in the +French Republican Government. The British Ministry through Lord +Normanby threatened him with the possible rupture of diplomatic +relations if he gave an encouraging reply to the Young Ireland +deputation. Politically Lamartine was more of the school of the British +Whigs of his period than of any native French school. His high character +and literary abilities were held in deserved esteem by his countrymen, +but as a man of affairs he was never really successful. + +LANE, DENNY (1818-95).--A Cork commercial man who identified himself +prominently with the Young Ireland cause in Munster. Author of +"Carrigdhoun" and some other popular ballads. + +LAWLESS, HON. CECIL.--Son of Lord Cloncurry. An O'Connellite Repealer +and somewhat virulent opponent of the Young Irelanders who nicknamed him +"Artful Cecil." + +LEDRU-ROLLIN, ALEXANDRE (1808-74).--Minister of the Interior in the +French Republican Government of 1848. He was connected with Ireland by +marriage and strongly sympathised with its people. + +LEFROY, BARON (1776-1869).--One-time member for Trinity College in the +British Parliament. Subsequent to 1848 promoted Lord Chief Justice of +the Queen's Bench, and although he became incapable of discharging the +office he refused to resign it until he had passed his ninetieth year. + +LEYNE, MAURICE RICHARD (1820-1854).--The only member of the O'Connell +family who identified himself with Young Ireland. He was an occasional +contributor to the _Nation_ from 1844 to 1848 and in June of that year, +on the eve of the insurrection, formally joined Young Ireland. On the +revival of the _Nation_ in 1849 he joined Duffy in its editorship. + +LOUIS NAPOLEON (1808-1873).--Son of the King of Holland, nephew of the +great Napoleon, President of the second Republic and, after the _coup +d'etat_ and the plebescite, Emperor of France. Napoleon while in +exile manifested some sympathy with Ireland, and as a member of the +French Republic was, like Cavaignac, willing to intervene on this +country's behalf with England if the Young Irelanders had succeeded in +winning initial engagements against the British forces in the field. + +[Illustration: Louis Napoleon (1848)] + +MACHALE, ARCHBISHOP (1791-1881).--"John of Tuam"--the greatest of the +Irish prelates of his time. He was in partial sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, but opposed to them on several educational questions. + +MACNEVIN, THOMAS (1810-1848).--A leading Young Irelander and college +friend of Davis. Author, in the Library of Ireland, of "The Confiscation +of Ulster" and "The History of the Volunteers." + +MACMANUS, TERENCE BELLEW (1823-60).--A prosperous Irish merchant in +Liverpool who relinquished his prosperity to join in the insurrection. +He escaped from the British penal colonies to the United States and died +there in poor circumstances. + +MACLISE, DANIEL (1806-1870).--One of the first painters of his time. He +refused the presidency of the British Royal Academy. + +M'CARTHY, DENIS FLORENCE (1817-1882).--One of the chief poets of the +_Nation_, afterwards Professor of English Literature in the Catholic +University. + +M'GEE, THOMAS DARCY (1825-1868).--Son of a coast-guard at Carlingford, +Louth. M'Gee between the ages of seventeen and twenty won a remarkable +reputation as a journalist in the United States and came back to Ireland +to take up the editorship of the _Freeman's Journal_, which he +relinquished to join the _Nation_ staff. After the failure in 1848 +Bishop Maginn procured his escape to America disguised as a priest. +M'Gee, Devin Reilly and Doheny quarrelled in the United States, and +M'Gee's political views gradually modified. He proceeded to Canada, +entered politics, and became one of the first statesmen of the dominion +and a member of the Government. In that position he was continually +attacked by a section of the Irish as a renegade, and the bitterness of +his replies inflamed feeling. In April, 1868, he was assassinated by an +alleged Fenian. Local and sectional political hatreds appear, however, +to have had more to do with the murder of M'Gee than his virulent +denunciations of the Fenians. + +MAGINN, EDWARD, D.D. (1802-1849).--Son of a farmer at Fintona, Tyrone, +Dr. Maginn entered the Church and speedily became noted for his vigour +of intellect and strength of character. In 1845 he was appointed +coadjutor-Bishop of Derry, and created Bishop of Ortosia in the +Archbishopric of Tyre. A strong advocate of Repeal and tenant-right, he +gradually attorned to the Young Irelanders when he discovered that the +Whig Government had bought up Conciliation Hall. In 1848 he sent Sir +John Gray to Gavan Duffy offering to take the field at the head of the +priests of his diocese if the insurrection were held back until the +harvest had been reaped. The sudden suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, +however, forced the Young Irelanders' hands two months too soon. + +MANGAN, JAMES CLARENCE (1803-49).--The first of the poets of the Young +Ireland period. He declined to write for any but the Irish public, and +died in poverty. + +MARTIN, JOHN (1812-1875).--A landed proprietor of Co. Down. On his +return from transportation, he re-entered Irish politics; was elected in +1870 to the British Parliament, for Meath, and played a leading part in +founding the Home Rule movement. + +"MARY" (1828-69).--With "Eva" and "Speranza" one of the triumvirate of +the women-poets of the _Nation_: Miss Ellen Mary Downing of +Cork--afterwards a nun, Sister Mary Alphonsus. + +MEAGHER, THOMAS FRANCIS (1823-67).--Son of the O'Connellite member of +the British Parliament for Waterford. He escaped from the British Penal +colonies to the United States in 1852 and served as Brigadier-General +on the Federal side during the civil war. When Acting-Governor of +Montana he was drowned in the Mississippi. + +MEANY, STEPHEN JOSEPH.--A journalist, imprisoned in 1848 under the +Habeas Corpus Suspension Act. In the United States he became a leader of +one of the wings of the Fenian Brotherhood and, returning to Ireland in +1866, he was arrested on the way in London and sentenced to a term of +penal servitude. + +MELBOURNE, LORD (1779-1848).--William Lamb, second Viscount, Chief +Secretary of Ireland, 1827-8, and Premier of England with brief +intervals from 1834 to 1841. + +MILEY, JOHN, D.D. (1805-1861).--Curate at the Catholic Pro-Cathedral, +Dublin, and private chaplain to O'Connell. He was the intermediary in +arranging the reunion of the O'Connellites with the Young Irelanders in +the stillborn Irish League. In 1849 he was made Rector of the Irish +College at Paris. On his return to Ireland he was appointed parish +priest of Bray. He was an eloquent preacher, and author of several works +on the Papacy. + +MITCHEL, JOHN (1818-75).--A solicitor of Banbridge, and one of the first +Irish Protestants of note to join the Repeal Association. From the death +of Davis until the end of 1847 he was the chief writer of the _Nation_ +newspaper. On his escape from the British penal colonies in 1853 he +settled in the United States, and took an active part on the Confederate +side in the civil war. He returned to Ireland a few months before his +death, and was elected member of the British Parliament for Tipperary, +as a demonstration of hostility to British Government in Ireland. + +MOORE, JUDGE.--Richard Moore, called to the Bar in 1807, acted for the +defence in the trial of O'Connell and the Traversers, Liberal +Attorney-General in 1846 and "almost Lord Chancellor." He was raised to +the Bench in 1847 and died in 1858. + +MONAHAN, JAMES HENRY (1804-78).--Attorney-General in 1848, +Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas, 1850. + +NAGLE, DR.--"A Dublin doctor without patients," who acted as a handyman +for John O'Connell. He was devoid of ability. Subsequently he received a +small Government post. + +O'CONNELL, DANIEL (1775-1847).--Successor to John Keogh in the +leadership of the Irish Catholics, and although his actual achievements +were not so much greater than those of Keogh and Sweetman, their +brilliancy threw the fame of his predecessors into the shade, where it +still rests. + +O'CONNELL, MAURICE (1802-53).--Eldest son of Daniel O'Connell, and a +member of the British Parliament. He was the cleverest and most national +of O'Connell's children. + +O'CONNELL, MORGAN JOHN (1804-85).--Second son to Daniel O'Connell. He +served under General Devereux in South America, entered the British +Parliament as a Repealer, deserted Repeal, and was appointed +Assistant-Registrar of Deeds. + +O'CONNELL, JOHN (1810-1858).--The chief political assistant of his +father, Daniel O'Connell. After the collapse of the Repeal Association +he received a place from the British Government. + +O'CONNELL, DANIEL, JUN. (1815-1897).--The youngest of O'Connell's sons. +He sat in the British Parliament until 1863, when he was appointed to a +Government post. + +O'CONOR DON, THE (1794-1847).--Repeal M.P. for Roscommon. He deserted to +the Liberals, and was made a Lord of the Treasury. + +O'DEA, PATRICK.--The Young Ireland leader in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. + +O'DOHERTY, KEVIN IZOD (1823-1895).--Son of a Dublin solicitor. After his +release from transportation he settled in Australia and became prominent +in its politics and medical science. In 1885 he returned temporarily to +Ireland, and sat for a brief period in the British Parliament as +Parnellite member for Meath. + +O'DONNELL, JOHN.--A Limerick solicitor and an ardent Young Irelander. +When Richard O'Gorman came to Limerick to urge the people to arms, +O'Donnell travelled through the county with him as his aide-de-camp. On +the news of the outbreak in Tipperary, O'Donnell, Doyle and Daniel +Harnett raised the country around Abbeyfeale, cut off the mails and +pitched an insurgent camp outside the town where the Abbeyfeale men +waited for O'Gorman, who was elsewhere in the county, to take command. +Before his arrival the news of the collapse at Ballingarry arrived and +the Abbeyfeale Camp broke up. O'Donnell escaped from the country with +O'Gorman. + +O'DOWD, JAMES.--A Conciliation Hall lawyer. Afterwards appointed to a +legal position in connection with the London Custom house. + +O'DWYER, CAREW.--Repeal M.P. for Louth, 1832-5. He deserted Repeal and +received a minor position in the Exchequer Court. + +O'FLAHERTY, MARTIN.--A Galway solicitor and a member of the Irish +Confederation. + +O'GORMAN, RICHARD, JUN. (1826-1895).--Son of Richard O'Gorman of the +Woollen Hall, one of the foremost Dublin merchants and Catholic leaders +in the Emancipation struggle. O'Gorman settled in New York after his +escape and became a judge of the Superior Court. + +O'HEA, JAMES.--A lawyer described by Davis as of "vast abilities." + +O'LOGHLEN, SIR COLMAN (1819-1877).--Second baronet, son of the Master of +the Rolls. Afterwards M.P. for Clare, a Privy Councillor and +Judge-Advocate-General. + +O'MAHONY, JOHN (1816-1877).--A gentleman-farmer of ancient lineage and +high scholarship. After the second attempt to kindle insurrection he +fled to the Continent and later proceeded to the United States, where +with Doheny and Stephens he founded Fenianism. + +PEEL, SIR ROBERT (1788-1850).--Chief Secretary for Ireland and organiser +of the "new police"--hence "peelers." In politics an opportunist, +opposing and supporting Catholic Emancipation and Free Trade. Premier of +England, 1834-5, 1841-6. + +PENNEFATHER, BARON (1773-1859).--Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, +1821, and for thirty-eight years a judge. + +PIGOT, CHIEF BARON (1797-1872).--Son of Dr. Pigot of Mallow and one of +the founders of the attempted National Whig Party in the period 1820-30. +He was a cultured man and an upright judge. + +PIGOT, JOHN E. (1822-1871).--Eldest son of Chief Baron Pigot and the +intimate comrade of Thomas Davis. Author of many ballads and articles in +the _Nation_ and other National journals, and an ardent collector of +Irish music. + +PLUNKET, LORD (1764-1854).--William Conyngham Plunket, member for +Charlemont in the Irish Parliament and a bitter opponent of the Union. +Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1830 to 1841. + +RAY, THOMAS MATTHEW (1801-1881).--A Dublin trades-union leader of great +organising ability, appointed by O'Connell secretary of the Repeal +Association. Subsequently Assistant-Registrar of Deeds. + +REILLY, THOMAS DEVIN (1823-1854).--One of the _Nation_ staff and one of +the few leading Young Irelanders who supported Mitchel on the division +in the Confederation in 1848. In the United States he won a foremost +position as a political writer. + +REYNOLDS, JOHN.--An Alderman of the Dublin Corporation and M.P. for +Dublin City in the British Parliament, 1847-52. Subsequently Lord Mayor. +He was utterly corrupt and a mob-leader. + +ROEBUCK, J.A. (1801-79).--An English politician who professed +Independent views, and from the violence of his denunciation of his +opponents was nicknamed "Tear 'em." + +RUSSELL, LORD JOHN (1792-1878).--Liberal Prime Minister of England, +1846-52, and again, 1865. He successfully opposed Lord George Bentinck's +proposal to preserve the Irish from famine and pauperism by undertaking +the construction of railways. + +SAVAGE, JOHN (1828-1888).--One of the founders of the _Irish Tribune_. +After the complete failure of the insurrection, he escaped to the United +States where he became eminent in literature and for a time head of the +Fenian movement. + +SHEIL, RICHARD LALOR (1791-1851).--Dramatist, orator and politician. +Deserted Repeal and was made British minister at Florence. Subsequently +Master of the Mint. + +SHIELDS, JAMES, GENERAL (1807-1879).--Born near Dungannon, Shields +emigrated in early life to the United States, where he attained +distinction in journalism and subsequently celebrity as a lawyer. On the +outbreak of war with Mexico, he forsook the Bar for arms, and as a +soldier acquired even higher renown. In 1848 he was chosen as governor +of Oregon, and was considered one of the ablest of the United States +Generals. His political views being in sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, several of them looked towards Shields as another Eoghan +Ruadh, who would accept the call of his country and return to lead the +Irish once they had taken the field. Subsequently Shields engaged in the +Civil War on the Northern side, and, although a comparatively old man, +distinguished himself by defeating General Stonewall Jackson at the +Battle of Winchester, although his army was inferior in numbers and he +had been wounded at the opening of the fight. + +SMYTH, P.J. (1826-1885).--One of the youngest of the Young Ireland +leaders. He escaped from Ireland to the United States after the +collapse of the insurrection, and carried out the rescue of Mitchel from +Van Diemen's Land. On his return to Ireland he re-entered politics, and +sat in the British Parliament successively for Westmeath and Tipperary. + +STANLEY, LORD (1802-1869).--Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the British +Liberal Government, 1846-52. + +STAUNTON, MICHAEL.--Proprietor of the _Morning Register_ newspaper and +an alderman of the Dublin Corporation. His memory survives as the +involuntary agent of bringing Duffy and Davis together--and thus leading +to the foundation of _The Nation_. + +STEPHENS, JAMES (1825-1901).--A Kilkenny railway employe. Afterwards +chief organiser of the Fenian movement, of which, with O'Mahony and +Doheny, he was one of the founders. + +TORRENS, JUDGE.--Called to the Bar, 1798, raised to the Bench, 1823, +where he sat for thirty-three years. + +WILDE, SIR THOMAS (1782-1855).--Lord Truro, Attorney-General to the +British Liberal Government in England, 1846; afterwards Chief Justice of +the Common Pleas and Lord Chancellor of England, 1850-2. + +WILLIAMS, RICHARD DALTON (1822[E]-1862).--One of the most popular of the +poets of the _Nation_. The Government prosecution failed in his case, +and he emigrated to the United States where he became Professor of +Belles Lettres in the University of Mobile. + +WYSE, SIR THOMAS (1791-1862).--One of O'Connell's lieutenants in the +Catholic Association, of which he wrote a history. He declined to +support Repeal, but favoured what is now known as Federal Home Rule, +served as a Lord of the Treasury in Melbourne's administration, and +afterwards for many years as British minister at Athens. He was a man of +superior character to the ordinary type of place-seekers, and his +writings won him a temporary European reputation. + +[Illustration: General Cavaignac (1848)] + +[Illustration: Ledru-Rollin (1848)] + +[Illustration: Lamartine (1848)] + + + + +INDEX HOMINUM + + +Anglesea, Lord, 5, 302. + +Antisell Dr., xxx, 141, 302. + + +Bantry, Lord, 241, 242, 302. + +Barrett, Richard, 49, 302. + +Barrett, Eaton Stannard, 302. + +Barry, Michael Joseph, 32, 62, 98, 99, 105, 106, 302. + +Bem, General, 296. + +Bentinck, Lord George, xii, 315. + +Birch, James, 303. + +Blake, Sir Thomas, 295. + +Blackburne, Chief Justice, 192, 197. + +Brenan, Joseph, 301, 302. + +Broderick, Captain, 86, 303. + +Brown, Bishop, 43. + +Bryan, Major, 89, 303. + +Byrne, Rev. Father, 155, 163, 164, 166. + + +Callanan, Jeremiah Joseph, 225. + +Campbell, Sir John, 18, 303. + +Cane, Dr., 304. + +Cangley, David, 32, 303. + +Cantwell, Bishop, 40, 42, 44, 45. + +Cantwell, James, xxx, 159, 168, 176, 301, 303. + +Carleton, William, 33, 125, 303. + +Cavanagh, John, 176, 181, 303, 304. + +Cavaignac, General, xix, 303, 308. + +"Christabel" (Mrs. Downing), 251, 304. + +Clarendon, Lord, 127, 137, 199, 293, 298, 304. + +Clements, Edward, 76, 304. + +Cloncurry, Lord, 307. + +Conway, Michael George, 62, 304. + +Corvinus, Matthias, 296. + +Crampton, Judge, 146, 304. + +Crean, Michael, 112, 300, 304, 305, 307. + +Crolly, Archbishop, 39, 43, 45, 61, 305. + +Cromwell, Oliver, x, 296. + +Curran, John Philpot, 71. + +Cunningham, D.P., 176. + + +Daunt, W.J. O'Neill, 45, 305. + +Davis, Thomas, viii, ix, 16-20, 22, 23, 30-33, 36, 42, 44, 50, 51, 56, + 57, 63, 64, 69-71, 74, 127, 305, 309, 311, 316. + +Dembinski, General, 296. + +Devereux, General, 312. + +Dillon, John Blake, xv-xvii, 17-20, 32, 122, 131, 140, 153, 159, 163, + 175, 176, 178, 179, 223, 240, 283, 289, 290, 298, 300, 305. + +Dobbyn, Stephenson, 292. + +Doherty, Chief-Justice, 6, 192, 305. + +Doyle, Daniel, 283, 305, 313. + +Drumm, J.H., 300. + +Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan, xx, 18, 19, 30, 32, 38, 69, 93-95, 119-122, + 125, 126, 141, 148, 153, 299, 305, 308, 310, 316. + +Duffy, James, 33. + + +Ebrington, Lord, 14, 15. + +"Eva" (Mrs. Kevin Izod O'Doherty), 127, 305, 310. + +Emmet, Thomas Addis, 307. + +Emmet, Robert, 139, 143, 193, 307. + +Ferguson, Sir Samuel, 118, 148, 305, 306. + +Fitzgerald, John Loyd, 48, 306. + +Fitzgerald, Lord Edward, 193. + +Fitzpatrick, James, 99. + +Fitzsimon, Christopher, 11, 306. + +French, Henry Sneyd (High Sheriff of Dublin), 134, 136. + +Fullam, Bernard, 302. + + +George, Henry, 307. + +Gray, Sir John, 89, 299, 306, 310. + +Grattan, Henry, Jun., 49, 67, 306. + +Grey, Earl, 7, 306. + +Gregg, Rev. Thresham, 292. + + +Halpin, Thomas, M. 112, 306. + +Harnett, Daniel, 313. + +Hartnett, Richard, xxx. + +Hatchell, John, Solicitor-General, 145. + +Heytesbury, Lord, 45, 306. + +Hogan, John, 23, 70, 306, 307. + +Hollywood, Edward, 112, 305, 307. + +Holmes, Robert, 96, 131, 132, 135, 139, 140, 307. + +Hudson, William Eliot, 32, 33, 71, 307. + +Hume, Joseph, 74, 77, 307. + +Huniad, Matthias, 296. + + +Ireland, Richard, 118, 148, 307. + + +Jackson, General "Stonewall," 315. + +Jones, Paul, 290. + + +Kenyon, Father, 60, 131, 152, 174, 307. + +Keeley, James, 112. + + +Lalor, Patrick, 307. + +Lalor, James Fintan, 141, 307. + +Lamartine, Alphonse de, xix, 307, 308. + +Lane, Denny, 32, 308. + +Lawless, Hon. Cecil, 109, 308. + +Leach, James, 293. + +Ledru-Rollin, Alexandre de, xix, 25, 107, 308. + +Lefroy, Baron, 132-139, 307. + +Leyne, Maurice, xiv, 173, 176, 179, 183, 297, 308. + +Longmore, Captain, 178. + +Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III.) xix, 303, 308, 309. + + +MacHale, Archbishop, 38, 44, 51, 309. + +Maclise, Daniel 70, 309. + +MacManus, Terence Bellew, xiv, xxi, 89, 176, 178, 181-183, 190-196, 198, + 199, 297, 305, 309. + +MacNally, Bishop, 43. + +MacNevin, Thomas, 32, 33, 309. + +Maginn, Bishop, xx, 309, 310. + +Mangan, James Clarence, 127, 310. + +Martin, John, xxx, 131, 138, 141-145, 200, 309, 310. + +"Mary" (Miss Ellen Downing), 310. + +M'Cabe, Peter, 292. + +M'Carthy, Denis Florence, 32, 224, 238, 239, 309. + +Meagher, Thomas Francis, ix, xiv-xix, 32, 89, 98, 102, 105, 107, 122, + 128, 131, 138, 140, 153-159, 163, 165, 173-176, 179, 183, 189-199, + 202, 204, 207, 289-291, 297-299, 305, 309, 310. + +Meany, Stephen Joseph, 141, 301, 311. + +Melbourne, Lord, 9, 10, 311. + +M'Garahan, Wm., 294. + +M'Gee, Thomas D'Arcy, xiv, xv, xx, 32, 113, 119, 120, 153, 289-297, 299, + 300, 306, 307, 309, 310. + +Miley, Rev. Dr., 115, 148, 311. + +Mitchel, John, xii, xiii, xix, xx, xxx, 32, 33, 88, 89, 95, 96, 98, 99, + 102, 105, 107, 118-122, 125, 127-141, 143, 151, 157, 188, 280, 311, + 314, 316. + +Mitchel, William Henry, 131. + +Monahan, Chief Justice, 132, 139, 142, 143, 192, 312. + +Moore, George Henry, xi, xii, 310. + +Moore, Judge, 132, 133, 138, 139, 192, 311. + +Morgan, Francis, 300. + +Mullen, Robert, 75. + +Murray, Archbishop, 45, 46, 295. + + +Nagle, Dr., 47, 48, 312. + +Napoleon I., 298. + +Normanby, Lord, 308. + + +O'Brien, William Smith, vii, xv-xx, 24, 34, 36, 41, 46, 49, 51, 57, 59, + 67, 73, 76-81, 83-94, 96, 97, 99-101, 106-108, 117, 121, 122, 128, + 129, 148, 156-159, 163, 165, 167-184, 187-195, 205-207, 284, 291, + 296, 299. + +O'Connell, Daniel, xxvii-xxix, 2-14, 21-25, 27-30, 34-41, 43, 45-50, + 54-59, 61-70, 74-77, 83-89, 93-95, 97-101, 103-111, 114-117, 120, + 187, 188, 250, 293, 302-304, 311, 312, 316. + +O'Connell, Daniel (Jun.) 47, 88, 99, 101, 312. + +O'Connell, John, 47, 59, 60, 77, 78, 81-83, 88, 101, 107, 113, 117, 128, + 151, 312. + +O'Connell, Maurice, 45, 59, 67, 88, 128, 312. + +O'Connell, Morgan, 11, 312. + +O'Conor Don, The, 109, 312. + +O'Connor, Feargus, 9. + +O'Dea, Patrick, xxx, 312. + +O'Doherty, Kevin Izod, xxx, 141, 142, 145-147, 200, 312, 313. + +O'Donohoe, Patrick, 168, 169,176, 178, 183, 189-196, 198, 199. + +O'Donnell, John, 283, 305, 313. + +O'Donnell, Richard, 192-193. + +O'Dowd, James, 75, 313. + +O'Dwyer, Andrew Carew, 11, 313. + +O'Flaherty, Martin, 131, 313. + +O'Gorman, Richard (Jun.), xv, 32, 89, 98, 99, 102, 105, 122, 131, 152, + 153, 189, 223, 240, 283, 289, 301, 305, 312, 313. + +O'Gorman, Richard (Sen.), 313. + +O'Hagan, John, 32, 131. + +O'Hara, Charles, 131. + +O'Hea, James, 75, 88, 89, 313. + +O'Loghlen, Sir Colman, 48, 49, 64, 75, 76, 88, 90-92, 118, 131, 140, + 313. + +O'Mahony, John, xiv, xvii, xviii, xxi, xxx, 163, 173, 176, 185, 186, + 201, 202, 206, 269, 270, 283-287, 313, 314, 316. + +O'Neill, Eoghan Ruadh, ix, 296, 315. + + +Parle, Father, xvi. + +Peel, Sir Robert, 12, 20, 21, 36, 98, 314. + +Pennefather, Baron, 142, 144, 146, 314. + +Pigot, Chief Baron, 142, 144-146, 314. + +Pigot, Dr., 314. + +Pigot, John Edward, 89, 314. + +Pius IX., Pope, 295. + +Plunket, Lord, 18, 314. + + +Quinlan, Margaret, 186, 201. + + +Ray, Thomas Matthew, 10, 87, 88, 106, 314. + +Reilly, John, 45, 106. + +Reilly, Thomas Devin, xv, xviii, 32, 120, 127, 131, 138, 141, 153, 171, + 176, 179, 184, 289, 301, 309, 314. + +Reynolds, John, 47, 117, 314. + +Roebuck, J.A., 57, 315. + +Russell, Lord John, xii, 57, 97-99, 164, 250, 251, 315. + + +Savage, John, 141, 284-287, 315. + +Shiel, Richard Lalor, 6, 101, 102, 109, 315. + +Shields, General, v, vi, 315. + +Sligo, Marquis of, xii. + +Smyth, Patrick Joseph, xv, 159, 168, 283, 300, 315, 316. + +Stanley, Lord, 9, 316. + +Staunton, Michael, 17, 316. + +Stephens, James, xxi, xxx, 168, 169, 176, 178, 181-183, 203-254, 314, + 316. + + +Torrens, Judge, 316. + +Trant, Captain, 180-183. + + +Victoria, Queen, 137, 199, 287. + + +Walsh, Edward, 305. + +Wilde, Sir Thomas, 84, 316. + +Wilde, Lady ("Speranza"), 310. + +Williams, Richard Dalton, xxx, 32, 141, 145, 146, 316. + +Wright, J.D., 176. + +Wyse, Sir Thomas, 50, 58, 316. + + + + +[Transcriber's Note A: printed "posioned" in original.] + +[Transcriber's Note B: spelled "alleigance" in original.] + +[Transcriber's Note C: sic.] + +[Transcriber's Note D: Printed "hose" in original.] + +[Transcriber's Note E: Misprinted as "1882" in original.] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Felon's Track, by Michael Doheny + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14468 *** diff --git a/14468-h/14468-h.htm b/14468-h/14468-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c65321 --- /dev/null +++ b/14468-h/14468-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10207 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Felon's Track, by Michael Doheny. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; 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text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + + .titlepagehuge {font-size:200%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;} + .titlepagebig {font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;} + .titlepagesmall {font-weight:bold; text-align:center;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14468 ***</div> + +<p><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i" /></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-01" /><a id="image01" href="images/image01-big.jpg"><img src="images/image01.jpg" width="334" height="400" alt="Michael Doheny" title="Michael Doheny" /></a> +<p class="caption">Michael Doheny</p> +</div> + + + + +<h1><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii" />THE FELON'S TRACK</h1> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">OR</p> + +<p class="titlepagebig">HISTORY OF THE ATTEMPTED OUTBREAK</p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">IN</p> + +<p class="titlepagehuge">IRELAND</p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle from<br /> +the year 1843 to the close of 1848</p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="titlepagesmall">BY</p> + +<h2>MICHAEL DOHENY</h2> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">Author of "The American Revolution."</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p style="margin-left: 15em;"> +Hurrah for the mountain side!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hurrah for the bivouac!<br /></span> +Hurrah for the heaving tide!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If rocking the Felon's Track!<br /></span> +</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="titlepagebig"><i>ORIGINAL EDITION</i></p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">WITH D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848, A PREFACE, +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR'S CONTEMPORARIES, +AN INDEX, AND ILLUSTRATIONS</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="titlepagebig">DUBLIN</p> + +<p class="titlepagebig">M.H. GILL & SON, LTD.</p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">1920</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p> </p> + +<p style="text-align:center;"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii" /><i>Printed and Bound in Ireland by<br /> +M.H. Gill & Son, Ltd.<br /> +50 Upper O'Connell Street<br /> +Dublin</i></p> + +<table style="text-align:center;" summary="List of printing dates for the First through Fourth impressions."> +<tr><td style="text-align:left;"><i>First Edition</i></td><td> </td><td> 1914</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align:left;"><i>Second Impression</i></td><td> </td><td> 1916</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align:left;"><i>Third Impression</i></td><td> </td><td> 1918</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align:left;"><i>Fourth Impression</i></td><td> </td><td> 1920</td></tr> +</table> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv" /> +<a name="illus-02" /><a id="image02" href="images/image02-big.jpg"><img src="images/image02.jpg" width="353" height="400" alt="General Shields" title="General Shields" /></a> +<p class="caption">General Shields</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="titlepagebig"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v" /><i>Dedication.</i></p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">TO</p> + +<p class="titlepagebig">GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS</p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">UNITED STATES SENATOR, ETC.</p> + + +<p>DEAR SIR,—</p> + +<p>In dedicating to you this narrative, I have been influenced by one +consideration only. I have no title to your friendship. I cannot claim +the most remote affinity with your career in arms. There is nothing +connected with this sad fragment of history, either in fact or hope, to +suggest any association with your name or achievements. But as my main +object is to show that Ireland's failure was not owing to native +recreancy or cowardice, I feel satisfied that of all living men, your +position and character will best sustain the sole aim of my present +labour and ambition.</p> + +<p>In past history, Ireland holds a high place; but her laurels were won on +foreign fields, and the jealous literary ambition which raised adequate +monuments to these stormy times denied to her swords the distinction +they vindicated for themselves in the hour of combat. The most +brilliant, unscrupulous and daring historian of France degraded the +niggard praise he accorded them by making it the medium of a false and +contemptible sneer. "The Irish soldier," says Voltaire, "fights bravely +everywhere but in his own country."</p> + +<p>Without pausing here to vindicate that country from such ungrateful +slander, it is enough to say that you <a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi" />were not placed in the same +unhappy position as the illustrious exiles from the last Irish +army—soldiers of fortune in the service of a foreign prince. You were a +citizen of this free Republic, and a volunteer in its ranks; it was +<i>your</i> country, and you and your compatriots who followed the same +standard did no dishonour to those who were bravest among the brave on +the best debated fields in Europe.</p> + +<p>In the wreck of every hope, all who yet cherish the ambition of +realising for Ireland an independent destiny, point to your career as an +encouraging augury, if not a complete justification for not despairing +of their country. It is because I am among those that I have claimed the +honour of inscribing your name on the first page of this, my latest +labour in her cause.</p> + +<p> +I remain, dear Sir,<br /> +<br /> +Very respectfully and sincerely yours,<br /> +<br /> +MICHAEL DOHENY.<br /> +<br /> +<i>New York, Sept. 20, 1849.</i><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE" /><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii" />PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>The Irish Confederation still awaits its historian. Three of its leaders +have left narratives of its brief and momentous career, but, of the +three, Doheny alone participated in the Insurrection that dug the +political grave of Young Ireland. In "The Felon's Track," written hot on +his escape from the stricken land, he tells the story vividly and +passionately. It has morals deducible for all manner of Irishmen, and +one for those English statesmen who comfort themselves with the illusion +that Irish Nationalism, like Jacobitism, is a platonic sentiment. The +man who, roused from his bed at midnight by tapping fingers on his +window and a voice whispering that insurrection was afoot, rose and rode +away in the darkness to join himself to its desperate fortunes was no +young man ardent for adventure. Michael Doheny, when he left his home +and his career to engage in the fatal enterprise, was a sober +middle-aged barrister, a man of weight and fortune into which he had +built himself by the hard toil of twenty years. His social anchorages +were deep-cast—and no mere sentiment provokes such a man to throw aside +the hard-won harvest of his life and risk the rebel's or the felon's +fate.</p> + +<p>In the leadership of the Young Ireland party Michael Doheny was, save +Smith O'Brien, the oldest man and, like O'Brien, his counsels while +courageous were always <a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii" />restrained. There was little other likeness +between the men. Doheny sprang from the poorest class of the Irish +farmers. At Brookfield, near Fethard in Tipperary, where he was born in +May, 1805, he followed the plough on his father's little holding, +earning literally his bread in the sweat of his brow, and educating +himself how he could, for his people were too poor to pay for his +schooling. His indomitable perseverance and his thirst for knowledge +overcame the formidable obstacles of fortune, and at thirty years of age +the poor peasant boy had become a barrister of reputation for ability +and fearlessness. He returned to his native county to become the most +popular and trusted of its "counsellors"—the advocate who did not fear +to face and beard Influence and Ascendancy in its courts. The city of +Cashel had had much of its property alienated and long enjoyed by local +magnates whom none were willing to offend. Doheny fought and defeated +them and regained the purloined estates for the people. He was made +Legal Adviser to the Borough of Cashel and when later the pestilence +fell upon the place, and even the men employed to carry the sick to +hospital lost courage and fled, Doheny showed the same manly example of +citizenship and duty which years later forced him "on the Felon's path," +by carrying in his strong arms to shelter and relief the deserted +victims of the plague. Davis who marked his character, and knew that on +such men a free and self-respecting Ireland must be rebuilt induced him +to enter the Repeal movement of 1842, and in its councils he swayed the +influence of a strong, sincere, able and incorruptible man until the +Association fell into the toils of the English Whigs.<a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix" /> Then he quitted +it and formally adhered to the Young Irelanders. To them he was +invaluable for his eloquence—less brilliant and polished than that of +Meagher, but more effective in its appeal to the heart of the peasantry +whom Doheny knew better than any of his colleagues. On a platform he +triumphed, but with the pen he was often ineffective. His admiration and +reverence for Davis misled him into laboriously imitating Davis's style, +and the result was what it must always be when one man attempts to +express his ideas not in his own way but as he thinks a greater man +would express them. Much that would have been impressive and lucid as +Doheny becomes unimpressive and clouded as Doheny-Davis. In a few of his +verses and "The Felon's Track" Doheny the writer will survive. As a man +who gave up all to help his country and served her like a gallant son, +his memory must be honoured while Ireland has virtue.</p> + +<p>The Irish Confederation, on whose council Doheny sat, was noble in +conception, true in policy and able and honest in its membership. Never +in the leadership of the modern Nationalist movement has there been the +peer in genius and character of the men who founded and inspired that +brilliant and short-lived organisation. In its career it went nearer to +bridging the differences of class and creed in Ireland than any previous +organisation since the Volunteers at Dungannon proclaimed themselves +Irishmen and hailed their oppressed Catholic countrymen fellow-citizens. +But the Confederation was not yet six months old when it was called on +to face a situation in Ireland as terrible as that which confronted +Irishmen when Eoghan Ruadh O'Neill lay <a name="Page_x" id="Page_x" />dead and Cromwell marched at the +head of his iron legions to the conquest of a distracted country. The +failure of the potato-crop which menaced Ireland with serious loss at +the birth of the Confederation in January, 1847, threatened the +destruction of the people by the middle of 1847. The Relief measures +provided by the English Whig Government set up a system under which +places, large and small, were provided for some thousands of persons of +political influence. Their tenure of employment depending upon the +ministry, they used that influence to the end of sustaining the +ministry, while the unfortunate small farmers who had hitherto kept on +the right side of the line between poverty and pauperism were forced to +the wrong side. Of all the measures passed under the guise of relieving +"the famine-stricken Irish" the most infamous was that measure which +provided that no farmer should be accorded relief if, the produce of his +farm having gone to discharge his rents, rates and taxes, he hungered +and yet strove to hold his farm. Before he was permitted to receive any +help from the public funds he was required to surrender his land and +become a pauper. Thus under pretext of relieving famine, pauperism was +propagated.</p> + +<p>Be it remembered that all this time there was no <i>famine</i> in Ireland. +The potato-crop, indeed, had failed as it had failed in Great Britain, +France, Germany and other countries at the same period, but the corn +crop was fat and abundant. Each year of the so-called famine, food to +maintain double the whole population was raised from the Irish soil. It +was exported to England to feed the English people. Nobody starved <a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi" />in +Germany. The German governments ordered the ports to be closed to the +export of food until the danger had passed. The Irish Confederation +demanded the same measure. "Close the Irish ports," it called to the +British Government, "and no man can die of hunger in Ireland." The +British Government, instead, flung the ports wide open. The great +principle of Free Trade required that the Irish should export their food +freely. Relief ships from foreign countries laden with the food +subscribed by charitable people to succour the starving Irish met +occasionally ships sailing out of the Irish ports laden with food reaped +by the starving Irish. On the quays of Galway the unhappy people wailed +as they saw their harvests borne away from them, and were admonished by +the butt-ends of British muskets, the British Government meantime +passing Relief measures which provided employment for hordes of English +officials and Irish understrappers, and pauper-relief for those who +surrendered their manhood and their property—the cost of this relief, +like the cost of the passage of the Act of Union, being debited to +Ireland—a generous loan in fact.</p> + +<p>No doubt a union of the whole Irish people would have rendered all this +impossible. The Irish Confederation worked hard to bring about this +essential union. Directly and indirectly it achieved for a moment a +semblance of national unity. The Irish Council, composed largely of the +resident landlords—who mostly endeavoured to alleviate the +distress—came into being, reasoned with the Government and, when the +Government ignored reason, fell to pieces. George Henry Moore, a young +sporting landlord and a <a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii" />Tory (afterwards, as a result, to become a +Nationalist leader), conceived the design of getting all the Irish +members of the British Parliament to act together against the existing +British Government or any British Government which did not deal honestly +and effectively with the crisis. With the Marquis of Sligo, a nobleman +who did his duty to his tenantry during the Famine, Moore travelled +around Ireland and secured between sixty and seventy Irish members of +Parliament and forty-five Irish peers to subscribe to his independence +programme. They met in Dublin, resolved boldly, departed for London +cheered by the nation, and crumbled there at the Premier's frown. When +the Tory Lord George Bentinck proposed that instead of pauperising the +Irish by a vote of four or five millions for relief there should be a +vote of sixteen millions for railway construction, the Premier, Lord +John Russell, threatened the Irish members with his displeasure if they +supported Bentinck, and the majority of them thereupon opposed the +proposal of reproductive work for the people in lieu of pauper relief.</p> + +<p>It was in these circumstances Mitchel put forward his policy in the +Confederation of arming the people and bidding them hold their harvests. +The Confederation rejected the policy, still hoping to effect a national +union. Through such a union alone, it declared, could national +independence be achieved. Doheny strongly opposed Mitchel on this +ground. Mitchel's reply was simple. He had been and was ready to follow +the aristocrats of Ireland if they would lead. They would not lead, and +meanwhile the people perished. Therefore he would urge the people to +save themselves. The <a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii" />policy of the Confederation in normal times would +have been nationally sound. The circumstances had become abnormal, and +Mitchel's policy was suited to the abnormal circumstances. His +conviction that the British Government was deliberately using the +potato-crop failure for the purpose of reducing the Irish +population—which then was equal to more than half the population of +England and a menace to that country, as one of its statesmen +incautiously admitted—was a conviction not shared by the bulk of his +colleagues. They shrank from it as men will shrink from a conclusion +that horrifies the human nature in them. Mitchel went outside the +Confederation to preach his policy, and he might have preached it +without result had not the French Revolution turned men's minds to the +contemplation of arms and armed opinion. The arrest, indictment and +conviction of Mitchel, Doheny has described graphically. The reasons +that prevailed against attempting Mitchel's rescue, Doheny cogently +states. There is no reason to doubt that an attempt to rescue Mitchel +would have been a failure in its object. But there are occasions when it +is wiser to attempt the impossible than to acquiesce. The unchallenged +removal of Mitchel in chains from Ireland had a moral effect on the +country that was worth 20,000 additional troops to the Government.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, the Confederation vacillated in its policy and finally +permitted itself, in its desire for Unity as the potent weapon, to be +extinguished in favour of an Irish League which was to combine +O'Connellites and Young Irelanders. The Irish League met once, and died. +The Confederation had been hoodwinked.<a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv" /> Doheny who opposed the +amalgamation, retired to Cashel, severing his connection with the former +Confederation. He was, therefore, free in honour to have taken no part +in the insurrection, since it was begun by men from whom he had +withdrawn. But when the voice in the night whispered through his window +that his former colleagues had crossed the Rubicon, Doheny, like the man +he was, rose and rode forth to make the fatal passage and stand or fall +with them.</p> + +<p>From this point, Doheny's narrative may be supplemented and corrected by +information that was not at the time he wrote available to him. Meagher, +Leyne, M'Gee, O'Mahony and MacManus, have left in newspaper articles and +in MS. accounts of what happened in the light of which Doheny's +narrative must be read.</p> + +<p>On Thursday, July 20th, 1848, the British Government issued a +proclamation ordering the people of Ireland to surrender their arms. +Thomas Francis Meagher, who was at the time in Waterford, issued a +counter-proclamation to the people of that city bidding them to hold +them fast. He then hurried to Dublin to consult with his colleagues and +he arrived in the metropolis the next day. There had been a strong +division of opinion in the Confederate clubs as to how the Government +proclamation should be treated, the general feeling of the rank-and-file +inclining to open resistance. The leaders counselled a waiting policy +until the harvest had been gathered, the arms to be concealed meanwhile. +This counsel prevailed against the remonstrance of one of the Dublin +leaders that if heaven rained down loaded rifles they would wait for +angels to pull the triggers. If the insurrection could have been +post<a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv" />poned until the harvest the counsel would have been sound. The +Young Ireland leaders forgot, however, that the Government had one +powerful weapon in reserve with which it might force their hands—the +Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. On July 21st Meagher and his +comrades and the Dublin leaders discussed and arranged the outline of a +contingent insurrectionary plan for the autumn. O'Brien left for Wexford +and O'Gorman for Limerick to organise those counties. The next morning +the news reached those who remained in Dublin that the Habeas Corpus Act +had been suspended, and that a warrant was on its way to Ireland for the +arrest of Smith O'Brien. The choice left was to fight, to become +fugitives, or to surrender. Dillon, M'Gee, Reilly, P.J. Smyth and +Meagher decided hurriedly on the first course. They rejected the +proposal to begin the fight in Dublin, as they believed it would be +hopeless with the resources at their disposal to contend against a +disciplined garrison of 11,000 men in a city a large proportion of whose +population was hostile. Kilkenny was regarded as a stronghold of the +Confederation, and Dillon suggested it should be the objective. Dillon +and Meagher quitted Dublin to seek O'Brien; Reilly and Smyth started for +Tipperary, and M'Gee for Scotland where it was hoped the Glasgow Irish +could be induced to rise, seize some of the Clyde steamers and effect a +landing in Sligo or Mayo which might rouse Connacht and western Ulster +to the assistance of the South.</p> + +<p>Dillon and Meagher left Dublin on the night of the 22nd of July by the +mailcoach for Enniscorthy. Neither had the slightest hope of a +successful insurrection, but <a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi" />they felt that honour and its future +survival demanded that a nation must reply to the command of a foreign +power to gag its mouth and throw down its arms by drawing the sword. +They found Smith O'Brien at Enniscorthy and he joined in their views. +Father Parle and the people of Enniscorthy undertook to defend O'Brien +by force of arms if any attempt were made to arrest him there, and +agreed that if he went into Kilkenny and Tipperary and succeeded in +arousing those counties Wexford would take up arms. O'Brien and his +colleagues moved towards Kilkenny through Graiguenamanagh where the +people received them with enthusiasm, and they arrived in what they +hoped to make again the provisional capital of Ireland in the evening of +the 23rd of July.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-03" /><a id="image03" href="images/image03-big.jpg"><img src="images/image03.jpg" width="299" height="400" alt="Terence Bellew MacManus" title="Terence Bellew MacManus" /></a> +<p class="caption">Terence Bellew MacManus</p> +</div> + +<p>The considerations in favour of beginning the insurrection in Kilkenny +were sound. It was the one Irish city of importance inaccessible to +British naval power, it offered a convenient rallying-centre for the +counties of Tipperary, Waterford, and Wexford upon which the Young +Ireland leaders relied, the country around it was well-adapted for +defensive fighting against superior forces, and it had an historic +appeal to the Irish imagination. The arrival of the insurgent leaders +was hailed with joy by the people, and there was no doubt of the +readiness of the populace to fight. But an examination of the military +resources of the place showed that the British forces consisted of 1,000 +troops in a strongly-defended position, while amongst the Irish there +were but 200 armed men and the gunsmiths' shops in the city could not +arm a hundred more. The decision not to strike the first blow at +Kilkenny in the <a name="Page_xvii" id="Page_xvii" />circumstances was inevitable. It was agreed to make +for Carrick-on-Suir, another Young Ireland town, seize the place and +march at the head of the elated Tipperarymen on Kilkenny. On Monday, +July 24th, O'Brien, Meagher and Dillon left for Carrick-on-Suir, and on +the way they were received with enthusiasm at Callan, where the 8th +Hussars—mainly composed of Irishmen—manifested sympathy with the +insurrectionary propaganda. Near Carrick they were joined by John +O'Mahony, a landed proprietor of the neighbourhood, afterwards to become +famous as the founder of Fenianism. By descent, education and character +a leader of men, O'Mahony had thousands of followers among the people +ready to rally to any venture for Ireland at his call. "His square, +broad frame," wrote Meagher, "his frank, gay, fearless look; the warm +forcible headlong earnestness of his manner; the quickness and +elasticity of his movements; the rapid glances of his clear full eye; +the proud bearing of his head; everything about him struck us with a +brilliant and exciting effect, as he threw himself from his saddle and, +tossing the bridle on his arm, hastened to meet and welcome us. At a +glance we recognised in him a true leader for the generous, passionate, +intrepid peasantry of the South." O'Mahony strongly advised them to +begin the insurrection that night in Carrick, and he left to collect the +peasantry. O'Brien and his comrades proceeded to the town where the +people received them with frenzied enthusiasm, calling out to be led +immediately to the fray. "A torrent of human beings rushing through +lanes and narrow streets"—such is Meagher's description of the +scene—"surging and boiling against the <a name="Page_xviii" id="Page_xviii" />white basements ... wild, +half-stifled, passionate, frantic prayers of hope ... curses on the red +flag: scornful delirious defiances of death.... It was the Revolution if +we had accepted it." But it was not accepted. The local leaders were +unworthy of the people. They persuaded O'Brien to go elsewhere. It was a +cardinal and egregious mistake which he regretted within twenty-four +hours. Had he brushed the quavering local leaders aside and given the +word to the imploring people of Carrick the insurrection of 1848 would +have become respectable. O'Mahony's followers to the number of 12,000 +were on the march to Carrick when the news reached them of O'Brien's +departure. Disheartened they broke up and returned to their homes.</p> + +<p>Doheny's account of what happened after the fatal retreat from Carrick +needs to be amplified in connection with the final error of O'Brien's +leadership. At the Council of War on the 28th of July O'Brien rejected +the proposal to seize for the use of his followers all things needful, +paying for them with drafts on the future Irish Government, and he +declined the other practical proposal to offer farms rent-free to all +who fought for Ireland. Neither would he assent to the suggestion that +he and the other leaders should go into hiding until the harvest was +reaped. Willing to fight and ready to die, he would not consent to +conduct a revolution on revolutionary lines. The departure of Doheny and +others—save Devin Reilly, who urged the abandonment of the insurrection +as hopeless—was in pursuance of their plan to await the gathering of +the harvest.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_xix" id="Page_xix" />O'Brien's attitude at the Council of War destroyed the last hope of the +insurrection. He expected to get men to fight under his standard while +he essayed no adequate provision for their support in the field, and +interdicted them from interference with private property to supply them +with the necessaries of the campaign. No nobler and braver man has +appeared in modern Irish history than William Smith O'Brien, but at the +head of an insurrectionary movement he was incompetent. There was none +of his lieutenants who, in his position, could not have made the +insurrection to some extent formidable.</p> + +<p>That it could have been successful, few will believe. Mitchel and +Meagher agreed that 1848 would not have been the year of Liberation. But +the former held very justly that the insurrection if it grew to +respectable dimensions might have forced terms from England. The +attitude of France at the time was a factor in the situation. The +pro-Irish minister, Ledru-Rollin, had been checked by the pro-English +minister, Lamartine, but General Cavaignac and Louis Napoleon were, for +divergent reasons, inclined to help Ireland against England, and +assurances had been given that if an Irish insurrection gained +considerable initial successes the French Government would exert +influence on England. A successful blow at Carrick and a subsequent +seizure of Kilkenny and proclamation of Irish independence from that +city was possible, and if realised would have probably led to the +counties of Waterford and Tipperary rising en masse. How far the +insurrection would have spread outside those counties is problematical, +but in the year 1848 they were counties <a name="Page_xx" id="Page_xx" />which presented difficulties to +regular troops and advantages to insurgent forces. According to M'Gee, +Sligo was willing to rise if the South made a good beginning and the +Bishop of Derry, Dr. Maginn, sent a message to Gavan Duty that he was +willing to join in the insurrection at the head of his priests once the +harvest was reaped. Doheny's criticism of the action of some of the +Tipperary priests is justified. But of others it is to be remembered +that they were not in sympathy with Young Ireland, that they were not +bound to support an insurrection undertaken irrespective of them, and +that they could not be expected to take the initiative. There were at +least two priests in Tipperary prepared to lead their parishioners to +the insurgent standard if O'Brien struck at any point a successful blow. +O'Brien's indecision was the real cause why the insurrection died in its +birth.</p> + +<p>If courage and devotion could have saved Ireland in 1848, O'Brien and +his comrades would have saved the land. No braver gentlemen could any +nation produce. They asked their countrymen to take no risks they did +not take themselves in the forefront. But courage and devotion alone can +never make an insurrection into a revolution. 1848 was a failure—in one +sense—because there was no second Mitchel in Ireland when the first +Mitchel was hurried off on a British gunboat.</p> + +<p>But 1848 was not a failure in the true sense of failure. For years the +Irish people had submitted to any and every imposition of foreign +tyranny, taught to believe that forcible resistance to outrage on their +national <a name="Page_xxi" id="Page_xxi" />liberties was in itself immoral. The sneer of the satirist +that the Irish were:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"A nation of abortive men<br /></span> +<span>Who shoot the tongue and wield the pen,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>seemed to have grown a reality. Young Ireland evoked the fighting +tradition of the nation once again. Without 1848 the spirit that freed +the Irish Catholic from being tributary to another Church and regained +the land for the farmers would have slept for a century—perhaps for +ever.</p> + +<p>Driven from his country, Doheny with the companion of his fugitive +wanderings, James Stephens, and the chivalrous O'Mahony, founded the +Fenian brotherhood in the United States. Once more before his sudden +death in April, 1862, he saw Ireland—on the occasion of the MacManus +Funeral.</p> + +<p>Let me, said a wise man, always be surrounded by men of sanguine +temperament. Defeat and exile could not dim the faith of Doheny in his +country. The fugitive who had wrecked his fortunes in Ireland's cause +and witnessed a failure which English statesmen believed ended for ever +the dream of Irish independent nationhood, set his foot in exile only to +begin anew to plan Ireland Independent. So long as the sanguine heart +that carried Michael Doheny undaunted along the Felon's Track beats in +the breast of his country the Irish Nation will be indestructible.</p> + +<p>ARTHUR GRIFFITH.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center"><i><a name="Page_xxii" id="Page_xxii" />This Edition is reprinted from the Original Edition published in New +York by W.H. Holbrooke, Fulton Street, in October, 1849. The portraits +of the Young Ireland leaders are mainly from the daguerreotypes by +Professor Gluckmann, and the illustrations of Tipperary in 1848 are +reproduced from the "Illustrated London News" of that year.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Page_xxiii" id="Page_xxiii" /><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS" />CONTENTS</h2> + + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">RETROSPECT. — COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE—EARLY DAYS OF +THE ASSOCIATION +</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_1">1</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS. — THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER— +PROGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION. — CLONTARF MEETING. — THE STATE +TRIALS. — THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY. — SMITH O'BRIEN. — FEDERALISM. +—THE BEQUESTS ACT</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_16">16</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT. — DIFFERENCES +BETWEEN MR. O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE. — FINANCIAL REFORMS IN +THE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION. — +'82 CLUB. — THE COLLEGES BILL. — DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES +CONSEQUENT UPON IT. — QUARREL WITH MR. DAVIS. — THE GREAT LEVEE +AT THE ROTUNDA. — DECLINE OF THE AGITATION. — CLOSING LABOURS +AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_42">42</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS. — +CONDUCT OF THE ASSOCIATION. — DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB. — +MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS TO IRELAND. — DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_73">73</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">DEFEAT OF PEEL. — ACCESSION OF THE WHIGS. — MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE. — DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL. — MR. O'CONNELL +DENOUNCES THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY. — CONTINUED DEBATES. — +QUESTIONS AT ISSUE. — PHYSICAL FORCE. — THE SECESSION. — WHIG +ALLIANCE. — DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE. — FORMATION OF THE +CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER. — MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH. — CLOSE OF +THE YEAR 1847. </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_98">98</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a name="Page_xxiv" id="Page_xxiv" /><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL. — HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE, +AND SPEECH. — THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED. — ARREST OF +MESSRS. MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS, AND DUFFY. — CONVICTION OF +MR. MARTIN. — HIS SPEECH. — CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF +MR. O'DOHERTY. — DISSOLUTION OF THE CONFEDERATION. — THE LEAGUE </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_118">118</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">THE OUTBREAK. — MR. O'BRIEN IN CARRICK. — CASHEL. — KILLENAULE, +MULLINAHONE, BALLINGARRY. — AFFAIR AT KILLENAULE. — DEFEAT +OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMONS. — PERSONAL ADVENTURES OF +THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. O'BRIEN'S +ARREST </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE. — +ARREST OF TERENCE BELLEW M'MANUS. — CLONMEL SPECIAL +COMMISSION. — TRIAL, CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE +REBELS. — WRIT OF ERROR. — COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE. — +TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_187">187</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS. — DUNGARVAN. — THE +COMERAGHS. — MOUNT MELLERAY. — KILWORTH. — CROSS. — +DUNMANWAY. — GOUGANE BARRA. — BANTRY BAY. — THE PRIEST'S +LEAP. — KENMARE. — THE REEKS. — KILLARNEY. — TEMPLENOE. — +DEPARTURE. — CORK. — BRISTOL. — LONDON. — PARIS</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_201">201</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CONCLUSION">CONCLUSION</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#APPENDICES">APPENDICES</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_289">289</a></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTEMPORARIES">LIST OF CONTEMPORARIES</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_302">302</a></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#INDEX">INDEX</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_317">317</a></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS<a name="Page_xxv" id="Page_xxv" /></h2> +<p style="text-align:right; margin-right: 1em;">Facing page</p> + +<p><a href="#illus-01">MICHAEL DOHENY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#illus-01"><i>frontispiece</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-02">GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#illus-02"><i>dedication</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-03">TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_xvi">xvi</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-04">WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_xxxii">xxxii</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-05">THOMAS DAVIS</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-06">JOHN BLAKE DILLON</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-07">CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-08">RICHARD O'GORMAN, JUNIOR</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-08">PATRICK O'DONOHOE</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-09">THOMAS DEVIN REILLY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-10">JOHN MITCHEL</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-11">ROBERT HOLMES</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-12">THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-13">JOHN MARTIN</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-14">KEVIN IZOD O'DOHERTY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-15">BALLINGARRY, SLIEVENAMON IN THE DISTANCE (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-16">A STREET IN BALLINGARRY (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-17">THE WIDOW MCCORMACK'S HOUSE, NEAR BALLINGARRY. (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-18">THE KNOCKMELDOWN MOUNTAINS FROM ARDFINAN (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-19">DUNMANWAY PROM THE BRIDGE ON THE CORK ROAD (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_224">224</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-20">THURLES ON MARKET DAY (August, 1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-22">JOHN O'MAHONY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_256">256</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-21">JAMES STEPHENS</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_256">256</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-23">AHENY HILL, SHOWING THE CONSTABULARY POLICE BARRACK<br /> DESTROYED +BY THE INSURGENTS (1848)</a></p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_272">272</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-24">JOHN SAVAGE</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_288">288</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-25">LOUIS NAPOLEON</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_308">308</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-26">LEDRU-ROLLIN, GENERAL CAVAIGNAC, LAMARTINE (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Page_xxvi" id="Page_xxvi" /><a name="AUTHORS_INTRODUCTION" id="AUTHORS_INTRODUCTION" /><a name="Page_xxvii" id="Page_xxvii" />AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>There are few facts detailed in the following pages that need +explanation here. If my motive in writing them were personal +gratification, or simply a desire to preserve a memorial of scenes in +which I took an anxious part, I might labour to make the narration more +interesting to my readers, without any care for future consequences.</p> + +<p>But through every disaster I preserved unbroken faith in the purpose and +courage of my country. I believed, and still believe that her true heart +is faithful to liberty and hopeful for the future; and this conviction +involved me in a struggle with the apparently opposite tendency of the +facts I was bound to narrate. Had I to write for a new generation, upon +whom these facts could have made no false impressions, my task would be +easy. I am persuaded that a simple statement of all that occurred would +satisfy any candid mind that no disgrace attached to Ireland in her +recent discomfiture. But I must needs confess that it is a task of +extreme difficulty to reconcile her fall with the pre-conceived notions +or present prejudices of those who read her story through the false +medium of the press; nor do I hope for more than partial success from +the details I have been able to give of the circumstances of which she +was the victim and the dupe.</p> + +<p>It is impossible fully to appreciate the pernicious effect of Mr. +O'Connell's teaching, without reviewing in minute detail the leading +circumstances of his wonderful career and the matchless and countless +resources with which he upheld his fatal system. In dealing with <a name="Page_xxviii" id="Page_xxviii" />this +part of my subject my difficulties have been multiplied and enhanced by +a strong desire to do him no injustice, and to leave untouched by doubt +or suspicion a character so intertwined with my country's love. But it +became necessary to refer to those acts which chiefly tended to increase +the obstacles which beset our endeavours. In doing this, whether here or +elsewhere in my narrative, if I use phrases which would seem to imply +harshness to his memory, I wish them to be understood as applied in +reference to the attempt to effect the deliverance of Ireland by force +of arms, and establishing her entire and perfect independence. I have +avoided this question, assuming that I wrote only for those who agreed +with me in the belief that such is her true destiny, and the end for +which her children ought to strive.</p> + +<p>In this view of her recent struggle, there can be no doubt of the +tendency of Mr. O'Connell's policy to demoralise, disgrace, enfeeble and +corrupt the Irish people, and it is in that sense, and that only, I have +always spoken of him.</p> + +<p>Another subject, of perhaps greater delicacy and difficulty, was the +part taken by the Catholic clergy. On my arrival in America, I found a +fierce contest agitating, dividing and enfeebling the Irish-American +population. It was asserted on one side that the entire failure was +attributable to the Catholic priests, and that in opposing the +liberation of Ireland they acted in accordance with some recognised +radical principle of the Church.</p> + +<p>I could not assent to either of these propositions. I knew several +priests who were fully prepared to take their share in an armed +conflict; in fact, the vast majority of those I met at the time. And +again, with respect to such as did interfere, and opposed the efforts of +the people's chiefs, I do not believe that one man was influenced by +considerations connected with, or emanating from the Church, in its +corporate capacity.<a name="Page_xxix" id="Page_xxix" /> Of Mr. O'Connell's policy, already referred to, +none were blinder victims than some of the priests. It had made such an +impression on them that they scarcely could believe anything was real, +or any sentiment was true; and when they admitted its truth it was only +to prove its madness. Of other and more questionable motives I shall say +nothing here.</p> + +<p>But while I feel the injustice of the sweeping charge made against the +whole body of the priesthood, I would be unfaithful to my purpose and my +convictions if I concealed the acts and language of those among them, +who interposed and unhappily exercised baneful influence on the abortive +attempt of their unfortunate country. I shall only say further that what +relates to them is the only part of my narrative which gave me shame to +tell.</p> + +<p>I have only a word to add in reference to certain proceedings in the +Committee of the Association now made public for the first time. It may +be said, and, I doubt not, will be said, that these were matters which +we were morally pledged to keep secret. I readily admit that, although +there was no obligation whatever, either expressed or implied, as to any +subject discussed in committee any more than in the public hall, still, +I should not disclose any part of its proceedings if I were not +compelled by an imperative necessity. Upon one subject, and that the +most important to the character of my illustrious friend, no other proof +was available. And the tacit understanding, in virtue of which I would +be disposed to admit any obligation of secrecy, does not and could not +extend beyond such matters as would, if divulged, endanger the safety or +impair the efficiency of the Association. What I tell of the proceedings +of the Committee, even if it yet existed, would scarcely have any such +effect. But every one knows it not only does not exist, but that is has +left no memory which it would be possible to degrade. Its physical +existence long survived the last spark of moral vitality, and its +<a name="Page_xxx" id="Page_xxx" />efficiency now consists in this, if it warn all men against the species +of terrorism which finally prevailed in its councils and effected its +overthrow.</p> + +<p>In certain circumstances which I relate, I may possibly make some +mistakes in the dates, owing to the difficulty of finding those dates in +odd numbers and broken volumes of the Journals to which alone I have had +access.</p> + +<p>It would have given me the sincerest pleasure to add to the collection +of heads, which I have been able to procure, those of others who took an +honourable part in the Irish struggle. Foremost among them are John +Martin and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, who followed in the footsteps and +shared the fate of John Mitchel. But I am not aware that there are any +likenesses of them in existence; at all events they are not to be +obtained in this country.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1" /><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>There are others, too, mentioned in my narrative, whose likenesses I +would feel delighted to present to my readers, and some, who although +cursorily or not at all mentioned, acted a noble and devoted part. Of +the first, are the companions of my wanderings, James Stephens and John +O'Mahony; and of the second, Doctor Antisel, Richard Dalton Williams, +James Cantwell, Richard Hartnet, Patrick O'Dea, and indeed many others, +of whose efforts and sacrifices it would be a source of pride to me to +make honourable mention.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2" /><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>I may be permitted to take this opportunity to assure them and others of +whom I have not spoken that no name has been omitted by me from any +feelings of dislike or any desire to depreciate the services and +sacrifices of a single man among the hundreds, whose exile or ruin +attests the sincerity of their convictions <a name="Page_xxxi" id="Page_xxxi" />and the purity of their +patriotism. Even with men who do not take the same view of last year's +history as I do, their names and characters will go far to redeem its +darkest traces from shame and obloquy. They are now scattered over the +wide earth, and there is not one among them from the highest to the +humblest, whom I do not hold in the utmost honour and esteem.</p> + +<p><i>New York, September 21, 1849.</i></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1" /><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> I am glad it has been found easy to supply these in this +edition of the work.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2" /><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Some of these will also be found in the present +gallery—Ed.</p></div> + +</div> +<p><a name="Page_xxxii" id="Page_xxxii" /> </p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-04" /><a id="image04" href="images/image04-big.jpg"><img src="images/image04.jpg" width="338" height="400" alt="William Smith O'Brien" title="William Smith O'Brien" /></a> +<p class="caption">William Smith O'Brien</p> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1" /><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I" />CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p>RETROSPECT—COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE. — ARLY DAYS OF THE +ASSOCIATION.</p> + + +<p>The appearance of this narrative will surprise no one. For apology, if +any be needed, the writer may trust to his own share in the transactions +with which it deals; and still more so perhaps to the misrepresentation +to which, during their progress, he had been personally subjected. But +personal vindication imparts neither interest nor importance to history, +while it necessarily detracts from its dignity and good faith. Besides, +time with the disastrous events marking its more recent course, have +silenced the voice of calumny; and the writer undertakes his task with +no personal feeling to gratify or even to consult. The character of +others, now unable to be heard, is far dearer to him than his own: and +while he aspires to justify, before the world, their singular career, +distinguished throughout by generous and lofty passions, surpassing +intellect and measureless love of their country and countrymen—a +career so brilliant and instructive even in the last hours of gloom—he +will endeavour to infuse into the history of their struggles and their +fate, that generous tenderness toward others, that spirit of +self-sacrifice and supreme love of truth, which were among their noblest +characteristics.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2" />The undertaking suggests but one painful consideration—the +impossibility of treating the subject fully and fairly without +investigating facts far anterior to the late struggle, but coincident in +their effect with its progress and development, and stamping their +pernicious and fatal influence upon the spirit and conduct that led to a +final overthrow. This will necessarily involve an inquiry into the late +conduct and teaching of Mr. O'Connell, which the writer would most +willingly avoid. Mr. O'Connell's name and character fill a mighty space +in history. They are the most cherished recollections in his country's +memory; and she clings to them with loving pride in this her hour of +utter desolation. The hand that traces these recollections would be the +last to aim a blow at the object of her sacred affections; and if in +obedience to a more binding obligation, Mr. O'Connell's policy be +questioned and condemned, his influencing motive shall be unchallenged +and unarraigned. What his final purpose was, and how he had determined +to effect it, had his life been spared, and his course left unimpeded, +now rest with him in his grave. It is for others to write his history +and vindicate his career. By me even his mistakes shall be treated with +forbearance.</p> + +<p>A brief reference to the struggle for Catholic Emancipation becomes here +imperative. That struggle has had no equal in history—nor for its moral +grandeur, nor for its triumph—but for the singular difficulties which +the position of the Irish Catholic imposed on those who engaged in it. +It is an error to call it emancipation. It was neither the first nor the +last, nor even the most important in the train of concessions, which are +entitled <a name="Page_3" id="Page_3" />to the name of emancipation. The pains and penalties of the +"<i>penal laws</i>" had been long abolished, and that barbarous code had been +compressed into cold and stolid exclusiveness. But the vices which a +long and unrelenting slavery had burned into the character of the +country, remained. The lie of law, which assumed the non-existence of +the Catholic had infused itself into his nature, and while it was erased +from the statute book, it was legible on his heart. That terrible +necessity of denying his feelings, his property, his religion and his +very being, had stamped its degrading influence on his nature. In a +moral sense the law had become a truth—there was no people. The +Catholic gentry, giddy by their recent elevation, had only changed for +that semblance of liberty their old stern spirit of resistance and +revenge. Their new concessions hung gracefully around them, but they +were like grafts on an ash stock—their growth was downward, and they +wanted the stature and dignity of the native tree. Such were the means +at Mr. O'Connell's disposal. His enemies on the other hand were false, +powerful, dexterous and unscrupulous. His efforts necessarily partook of +the character both of the weapons he was obliged to wield and the foes +he struck down. As he advanced to eminence and strength, means, the most +crafty and cruel, were taken to overthrow him, every one of which he +foiled by a sagacity infinitely above that of his oppressors. So +successful had he been in deceiving the champions of intolerance, that +of all the great qualities displayed in that wonderful struggle, that +which was most prized was the cunning of evasion. It left behind it an +enduring and destructive influence.<a name="Page_4" id="Page_4" /> Dissimulation in political action +began to be regarded as a public virtue, and long afterwards, when men +sought to assert the dignity of truth, their candour was charged against +them as a heinous crime. It will be seen hereafter how fatally this fact +operated against their efforts.</p> + +<p>The very character of Emancipation has assumed an exaggerated and false +guise. The joy of the nation was boundless—its gratitude immeasurable. +In the shout that hailed the deliverer, earlier deliverers were +forgotten. No one remembered the men whose stupendous exertions wrung +from the reluctant spirit of a far darker time the right of living, of +worship, of enjoying property, and exercising the franchise. All these, +and more, which were once, and not very remotely, denied to the +Catholics had been before this accorded to them. Yet the interest and +importance of winning access to Parliament, to the higher ranks of the +army, and, perhaps a stray seat at the Privy Council, acquired the name +of Emancipation, and Mr. O'Connell monopolised its entire renown. He was +styled the "Liberator," and his achievement designated as "striking the +fetters from the limbs of the slave, and liberating the altar." In +truth, the import of Emancipation was so exaggerated, and its history so +warped, that even now at a distance of more than twenty years, both the +act and the actors are so misunderstood that it requires no little +daring to approach a question involving the sensibilities, prejudices +and passions of an entire generation.</p> + +<p>A truer appreciation might have given Mr. O'Connell a different and +higher destiny. Not alone the boundless <a name="Page_5" id="Page_5" />exultation of the Catholic but +the mortified pride of the baffled Protestant also stamped its influence +on his fortunes, prospects and career. In proportion as he was to the +former an object of adulation and pride did the latter hoard up in his +heart for him enduring envy and insatiable hate. Another circumstance, +too, which Mr. O'Connell did not create and could not in the beginning +control, contributed to mar his future glory. This was the pecuniary +compensation which the emancipated Catholics kneeled to present him. It +is far from being intended here to disparage the offering or decry its +acceptance. On the contrary, if this were the proper place, both would +be vindicated with zealous pride. But the effect of the continued +collection, on Mr. O'Connell's conduct and efficiency was baneful in the +extreme. And it was among the most prominent circumstances in shaping +his career.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell entered the House of Commons under auspices more +flattering and encouraging than ever smiled on the advent to that +assembly of any other man. In whatever light he was regarded, he was far +the foremost personage of his time. How his subsequent career might +justify the hushed awe with which a proud senate received him if he had +devoted himself to the broad and comprehensive questions of imperial +jurisprudence, for which he seemed so eminently fitted, it would be idle +now to conjecture. Certain it is that no act of his after life, varied +and wonderful as it was, realised the promise of that glad and glorious +morning.</p> + +<p>Lord Anglesea, who had been removed from the viceroyalty for suspected +treachery to the cause of intolerance, was restored to his office, by +more <a name="Page_6" id="Page_6" />distinguished converts, and was received by the people with +tumultuous acclaim. His popularity was short-lived. The present Chief +Justice, Doherty, was then Attorney-General. He incurred the wrath of +Mr. O'Connell in consequence of treachery which he had exhibited in +conducting a trial at Clonmel. This led to a fierce encounter in the +House of Commons—the first great trial of Mr. O'Connell's powers—in +which Doherty's friends claimed for their champion a decisive victory. +However unjust may be that judgment, Mr. O'Connell's admirers were +compelled to admit that he failed in his impeachment and principally in +consequence of a letter written by Mr. Shiel, then second to no other +Irishman. Mr. Shiel had been associated with the Attorney-General in the +prosecution at Clonmel, and his letter boldly justified the conduct +which the great popular tribune vehemently and indignantly impugned. +This was quite unexpected, and greatly affected Mr. O'Connell's cause. +But whether Mr. Doherty failed or succeeded, he was rewarded, and almost +avowedly, by the Chief Justiceship of the Common Pleas. The appointment +was a direct insult to Mr. O'Connell, and scarcely a less direct insult +to the Irish bar, and the Irish nation. Mr. Doherty was regarded as a +man of great forensic ability, but no legal attainments. He had scarcely +acquired any practice, and no distinction whatever: so that his +elevation to a post he was so inadequate to fill gave universal +dissatisfaction, and was read as evidence that the Government of Ireland +was subservient to an unscrupulous and audacious faction.</p> + +<p>Soon after the date of this appointment the first<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7" /> Repeal Association +was established by Mr. O'Connell. His motives were at once bitterly +assailed. By some he was charged with being influenced by personal +mortification. By some his conduct was attributed to a love of +turbulence and money. By some it was said he only intended the agitation +as a threat, by means of which he could enforce a wiser, more liberal, +and just administration of the law and government in Ireland. Few, if +any, believed him to be in earnest and sincere. But the condition of the +country and the principles of Mr. O'Connell's early life would suggest +higher motives; and the perseverance and intensity of feeling and +purpose, with which he urged the deliverance of his country in after +times, proves that he was a stranger to the sordid considerations which +envy or fear coupled with his first labours in that direction. Certain +it is that, whatever were his motives, it could be no tempting ambition +that determined him to transfer the exercise of his abilities to the +tribune of angry agitation from that more legitimate and loftier arena +which, with unsurpassed energy, he had won.</p> + +<p>The agitation succeeded rapidly. The Government became at once +intolerant and impotent. They proclaimed down the agitation; but this +only imparted to it activity, energy and strength. The Government gave +way to a furious storm which had been long gathering elsewhere. The +great Reform Ministry succeeded with Earl Grey at its head; and in the +struggle for Imperial parliamentary Reform, Ireland and her independence +were forgotten.</p> + +<p>During the intellectual conflict that followed, Mr. O'Connell asserted +his pre-eminence, and won a lofty <a name="Page_8" id="Page_8" />name. He made far the most successful +speech on the question of Reform. It not only exceeded the ablest +orations of the British leaders, but was, perhaps, the most triumphant +he himself had ever delivered. But his position soon changed. From being +the unanswerable champion of the ministerial majority in the House of +Commons, he took the lead of a small opposition which resisted the +Government on the Irish Bill. Although the minister was the exponent and +stern advocate of the widest liberality, in applying the reform to +England, he undertook to defend, on the very opposite principle, the +niggard liberty he was prepared in the same measure to extend to +Ireland. In this unnatural and unexpected turn of affairs, Mr. O'Connell +took a proud and bold stand, against the Government, and for his +country. The ministry succeeded, but he had more than ever acquired the +confidence and unbounded gratitude of his countrymen. Thenceforward, he +was their acknowledged chief, and his words expressed not more his own +than the public will.</p> + +<p>His remonstrances were vehement and angry, but they were vain. The +ministry disregarded the claims of justice, as well as the voice of the +orator. The quarrel became personal and vindictive to so great an +extent, that Mr. O'Connell's support would almost ensure the defeat of +any measure at the hands of the English Whig faction.</p> + +<p>While this was his position in the House of Commons, he was preparing +the elements of an organisation which was destined to embrace the whole +island. He started the first great Repeal Association, which was at once +attended with marvellous success. Forty-four members <a name="Page_9" id="Page_9" />of Parliament were +under its control if not in its ranks. A discussion of the merits of +Repeal was forced in the House of Commons by the intemperate zeal of the +member for Cork.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3" /><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> The motion was resisted by the whole weight and +influence of the Ministry. But in a resolution proposed as an amendment, +both Houses concurred in acknowledging that Ireland's complaint was +founded in justice, and in solemnly pledging themselves to the practical +redress of her grievances. The resolution was carried to the foot of the +throne, and there received the sanction of royalty.</p> + +<p>But that resolution remained and remains unfulfilled. The ministry which +proposed it, redeemed their promise by an Algerine measure of coercion, +which Mr. O'Connell denounced as "base, bloody and brutal." His +opposition, and their own recreancy of principle, tended rapidly to +their overthrow. Lord Stanley, in hatred to Mr. O'Connell and his +country, abandoned the Government, which he charged with truckling to +the great demagogue's will. The country, on the other hand, withdrew its +confidence from them on the ground that they truckled to their +hereditary foes, and allowed the principles of the Tories to influence +Parliament in the name and through the agency of the Whigs. Division and +weakness followed; and the result was a break-up of the administration, +which was remodelled, with Lord Melbourne for its chief, on the +understanding that more liberal views should govern its future course. +An alliance was entered into with Mr. O'Connell, whose support the Prime +Minister <a name="Page_10" id="Page_10" />openly claimed and as openly boasted of. Then was formed what +was known as the "Litchfield House Compact." This compact, if such the +understanding that existed can be called, was based upon the assurance +that the most liberal measures of justice should be extended to Ireland, +and that in the administrative department, the Government should apply +itself diligently to the reform and purifying of all public functions +and functionaries. What was the nature or extent of Mr. O'Connell's +engagement, I do not pretend to know. But whether he pledged himself to +abandon for ever the struggle for independence, or only to place it in +abeyance for a season to facilitate the action of the Government in +reference to their good intentions and favourable promises, he so far +fulfilled his engagement as to dissolve the Association.</p> + +<p>That Association was composed of various and very conflicting elements. +The motives which influenced many of its leaders were equally varied. +Many joined it merely because Mr. O'Connell was its founder and its +guide. Many among the middle ranks of society had acquired a sort of +interest in agitation they could not easily surrender. It had gained +them local distinction, and gratified a morbid vanity. Profuse votes of +thanks were their incentive and reward. To correspond with Mr. Ray, or +perhaps the Liberator, consummated their ambition, and for aught beyond +that they felt no concern. Others there were, corrupt by nature and +cunning in design, whose political exertions had personal advancement +for their sole aim; and others still who never believed Mr. O'Connell +sincere, but joined the Association and shouted their approval, <a name="Page_11" id="Page_11" />because +too contemptible and feeble to acquire distinction except through the +echo of his voice or under shelter of his fame. To the false and the +sordid and the indifferent, the dissolution of the confederacy was a +welcome event: but the people, yet uncorrupted, looked on passively with +agonised hearts.</p> + +<p>Physical contagion generally begins at the bases of society, and trails +its way slowly to the upper ranks, occasionally dealing doom to some +hard hearts that mocked, it may be, its first uncared-for victims. But +moral corruption begins with the highest, and embraces the whole circle +of society in its descent. So it was in this instance. Members of +Parliament who had solemnly pledged themselves to the disenthrallment of +their country, accepted the wages, and entered into the service of the +Government who had one and all vowed they would prevent the fulfilment +of the hustings pledge, even at the risk of a civil war. Among them was +Mr. O'Connell's son, who had taken that pledge before the assembled +people of Meath, his son-in-law, Mr. Fitzsimon, who had sworn it to the +freeholders of the metropolitan county, Mr. Carew O'Dwyer who, in virtue +of the same pledge, obtained the unanimous suffrage of Drogheda, and +several others. Many relatives and friends of Mr. O'Connell obtained +rewards adequate to their services. Agents who had been successful +against Whig candidates now retired into Whig places. The corporate +towns were made over to the Whigs, who held out the understanding that +the sons, nephews and kindred of the leading and deserving citizens +would be provided for in the departments suited to their different +capacities, and varying from the post of tide-waiter, <a name="Page_12" id="Page_12" />to that of +stipendiary magistrate. Fierce was the struggle which followed, and sore +the disappointment, and many a scalding tear of baffled ambition watered +the way to the aspirant's ruin.</p> + +<p>This is not said for the purpose of disparaging the legitimate ambition +of those who sought advancement in the altered circumstances and +sentiments of the time. But the effect of such a state of things on the +morality of the nation was incalculably injurious. The most solemn +resolution was openly violated, and that by the very men who were +foremost in recommending the national vow. Nor would its tendency be +less fatal, assuming that Mr. O'Connell was correct in supposing that +the experiment would be vain, and that its failure could not fail to +supply new and more urgent reasons for the nation's independence. The +compact, if even entered into with that view, would shake all faith in +public men; because it would only change the parties with whom a false +obligation was contracted, leaving the obligation itself and its +violation exactly where they were.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell's support was doomed to be as fatal to the Whigs as his +opposition. He unhappily assisted them during his period to carry one +measure, against which they had recorded several solemn decisions in +Parliament, namely, the Tithe Bill, without an appropriation clause, +which was a direct falsification of their own resolution, whereby they +defeated Sir Robert Peel's short-lived administration, in 1835. And what +was still more lamentable, he supported them in renewing in a modified +form the very Coercion Act for the introduction of which he designated +them as "<i>base, bloody and brutal</i>."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13" />But other elements were secretly sapping the influences for which he +made these sacrifices. The storm of disaffection, a long while gathering +among open foes and disappointed retainers, was about to burst on the +devoted heads of the Whigs. With their accustomed fickleness and +treachery of character they prepared to sacrifice, for the sake of +power, the man whom they conciliated and deceived in the same hope of +retaining it. If he foresaw that this would be the result of his +experiment, never was augury more fully realised. Whatever may be the +exact engagements of the Whigs, he was able to allege that not one was +fulfilled, while he was in a position to prove that he more than kept +his own: unless indeed, it could be assumed that for the few places +obtained by his friends, and others, some of them honourable men, he +surrendered the lofty and nearly impregnable position he occupied in +1834, and which, in one sense at least, he never afterwards attained.</p> + +<p>From whatever cause, his influence over the Whigs visibly declined, and +his counsels no longer swayed their Irish policy. Once more they relied +on the false expedient of yielding to their enemies and allowing them to +wield the <i>power</i>, while they were themselves content with the spoils of +the country. Again the quarrel with Mr. O'Connell became bitter and +personal, and again had he recourse to Repeal.</p> + +<p>From the time of the first Repeal Association to that of the Precursor +Society several other associations or societies were established, which +have left behind them scarcely the memory of their very names—that of +the second association alone excepted. Yet each had an ample treasury, +and was composed of the same or <a name="Page_14" id="Page_14" />nearly the same elements, and the same +members. There is many an honest man and many a fool, whose boast it is +that they contributed a pound to each of them, and had their respective +cards.</p> + +<p>At last the late Repeal Association was formed. Its birth was received +with sneers. Mr. O'Connell's sincerity was questioned, and his motives +canvassed with vindictive vigilance. The warmest Nationalists looked on +with doubt and coldness. Not one man of rank, outside the members of the +defunct society, joined its ranks. The routine of business, the receipt +of money, the resolutions, the speeches, were exactly identical with +those of its predecessors. The Government seemed neither to dread it nor +care for it. It lingered on, unsustained by the country and despised by +its enslavers. The contributions of the members did not suffice to pay +half the ordinary expenses of its machinery. Debts accumulated, and the +revenue did not increase. While the body was thus situated, Mr. +O'Connell had recourse to an expedient at once singular and decisive. It +was to build Conciliation Hall. The Association was at the time +seriously in debt, and he proposed to multiply that debt four-fold by +engaging in this costly undertaking.</p> + +<p>While persons who affected to be in his confidence were amazed at this +step, the Government regarded it as an evidence of purpose which it was +indispensable at once to check. They saw that their opponents had +formerly menaced and coerced in vain, and they determined to proscribe. +Accordingly the newly appointed viceroy, Lord Ebrington, being waited on +by the Dublin Corporation with some address of con<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15" />gratulation, +delivered them a lecture on the disloyalty of the Corn Exchange, and +announced his purpose never to employ in the service of the Government +any one who frequented that pestilent locality. The corporation returned +abashed to their council-rooms to record the viceregal threat. But from +end to end of the land rose one shout of indignant defiance. Suspicion, +doubt and hesitation gave way to the taunt involved in the insolent +challenge. The ranks of the Association were filled, and its treasury +replenished; and the viceroy soon discovered how little was to be gained +by a vulgar appeal to the meanest passion when it was addressed to the +Irish people.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3" /><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Mr. Feargus O'Connor, afterwards leader of the English +Chartists.—Ed</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II" /><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16" />CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p>THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS. — THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER. — PROGRESS OF +THE ASSOCIATION. — CLONTARF MEETING. — THE STATE TRIALS. — THE YOUNG +IRELAND PARTY. — SMITH O'BRIEN. — FEDERALISM. — THE BEQUEST ACT.</p> + + +<p>Even before this great occasion, gifted spirits were insensibly moulding +the character and destiny of the Association. The hurried but firm step +of a pale student of Trinity College might be daily seen pacing the +unfrequented flagways that led to the Corn Exchange. His penetrating +glance, half shrouded by its own shyness, his face averted from the +crowd, and his mind turned within, he would come, and sit, and hear, and +suppress the emotions that swelled his proud young heart as he caught +glimpses of a bright future for his country. He had the richest store of +practical knowledge, an imagination fruitful as a sunny clime: faith, +hope and courage boundless as immortal love. That he could realise all +things which came within the scope of his own fond yearnings, he had no +doubt. But most of the men with whom he took his place were stinted in +acquirements, and not over-gifted in intellect, and had no conception or +ambition beyond admiring or applauding the behests of one predominant +and controlling will. With the passionate aspirations of the young +student they felt no kindred sympathies. In their hands, political +action, for whatever end, sank into a traffic or parade. Even with such +materials he <a name="Page_17" id="Page_17" />determined to work out his country's redemption, though +already satisfied that before such a thing were possible, their habits, +feelings, passions and hearts should be entirely changed. In order to do +this, it was necessary he should stoop to the level of their conceptions +and capacities. Thus for many weary months, with his energies, as it +were, chained down to a cold stone, toiled and strove Thomas Davis. His +influence first began to be felt as chairman of a sub-committee on the +registers. This position afforded him an opportunity of entering into +correspondence with the leading politicians of the party, and whenever +he saw in any man's replies evidence of depth, capacity or earnestness, +he at once entered into friendly and unreserved communication, exhorting +him in language full of passionate entreaty. In these, his early +efforts, John Dillon shared his labours, his ambition and his heart.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-05" /><a id="image05" href="images/image05-big.jpg"><img src="images/image05.jpg" width="249" height="400" alt="Truly yours, Thomas Davis." title="Truly yours, Thomas Davis." /></a> +<p class="caption">Truly yours, Thomas Davis.</p> +</div> + +<p>About this time Mr. Stanton, proprietor of the <i>Morning Register</i>, +committed to the two young graduates the writing of his journal. His +preference was not so much owing to their character as politicians as it +was to their pre-eminence in literary attainments. The press of Dublin +had then sunk to the lowest level. Newspaper literature had even fallen, +too. It was divided into three sections, each of which was the whining +slave of one or other of the great predominating factions of the +country. The <i>Register</i> was generally regarded as ranking among the +mercenaries of the Castle. But no sooner did it fall into the hands of +the college friends than all Dublin was startled by the originality, +vigour and brilliancy of its articles. When <a name="Page_18" id="Page_18" />the Whigs were about +retiring they determined on a gross and scandalous abuse of power for +the purpose of rewarding an unscrupulous partisan, even though it +involved an affront to one of their oldest and ablest friends, the then +Irish Chancellor. That man was Lord Plunket, who had served the Whigs so +faithfully, honourably and fearlessly. He was commanded to retire in +order to make room for Sir John Campbell, who was thereby to be +qualified for the English peerage.</p> + +<p>The stipendiaried journals of the Castle exhausted their adulation, and +had received their last reward for upholding the appointment. The Tory +press, hungry for the spoil which it maddened the others to lose, paid +back the compliments by intense vituperation. The slang of party warfare +was bandied in the usual fashion, without thought or a care beyond the +interest of party. The <i>Register</i>, to everybody's astonishment, took up +the one cause not represented, namely, that of the country. Davis +denounced the appointment as an insult to that country, and with a bold +hand vindicated the superiority of its Bar, without any reference to +party, above the adventurers whom each faction placed over it in turn.</p> + +<p>Soon after he and his friend ceased to write for that paper; but not +until satisfied by the experiment that a journal devoted to Ireland, +guided by truth, and sustained with earnest ability, would supersede the +whole jaundiced literature of the metropolis, and create a new era in +the progress of the country's civilisation and ambition. They +immediately busied themselves to establish such an organ. Charles Gavan<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19" /> +Duffy, late editor of the <i>Belfast Vindicator</i>, entered into the spirit +of the enterprise, and after an evening's ramble in the Park, during +which the terms and the principles of the paper and the spirit in which +it should be conducted were canvassed, the publication of the <i>Nation</i> +was determined on. Mr. Duffy was convicted for having written a libel in +the <i>Vindicator</i>, and his friends earnestly advised him to compromise +the matter with a view of bringing more powerful energies to the same +task in a wider field.</p> + +<p>The first number of the new journal appeared on the 12th of October, +1842. It had been announced under auspices calculated to ensure its +success, but its unexpected ability, the ground it broke in the national +policy, and the vast intellectual resources it developed eclipsed the +prestige under which it was deemed necessary to usher it into existence. +It was at once a proof of greater powers than the country had yet +witnessed, and a prophecy of a different fate from what she hoped for. +The aims, the logic, the very language of factious diplomacy were +eschewed. It seemed as if a light had streamed down from heaven, fresh +from God, to give the people hope, comfort and assurance. The genius of +Davis seized the opportunity as though he were His deputed messenger in +the great work of regeneration. For the first time men awoke to the +consciousness of what they were or might be. Harnessed to the triumphant +car of one gigantic intellect, they had forgotten the dignity of their +own nature, and were astonished to find how transcendant its resources +and sufficient its strength. The publication of the <i>Nation</i> was really +an epoch which marked a wonderful change, <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20" />and from that day forth +self-reliance and self-respect began to take the place of grateful but +stultified obedience and blind trust.</p> + +<p>The change became more marked as the publication proceeded. In speech, +article, song and essay, the spell of Davis's extraordinary genius and +embracing love was felt. Historic memories, forgotten stories, fragments +of tradition, the cromlech on the mountain and the fossil in the bog +supplied him substance and spirit wherewith to mould and animate +nationality. Native art, valour, virtue and glory seemed to grow under +his pen. All that had a tendency to elevate and ennoble, he rescued from +the past to infuse into the future. His songs, so soft and tender, and +yet so redolent of manliness and hope, inspired the ambition to compose +a minstrelsy as wild and vigorous as themselves. They were read and +learned and sung with an avidity and pride heretofore unknown.</p> + +<p>The monster meetings were long a design of Thomas Davis, John Dillon and +the present writer. One great object with them was to train the country +people to military movements and a martial tread. This object it would +be unsafe to announce, and it was to be effected through other agencies +than drill. The people should necessarily come to such rendezvous in +baronial, parochial or town processions, and under the guidance of local +leaders. Order is a law of nature; and, without much trouble on the part +of those leaders, it would establish itself. The present writer left +Dublin early in the spring of 1843 to carry this design into effect. Sir +Robert Peel, then Prime Minister of England, alluding to the fact in the +House of Commons, said <a name="Page_21" id="Page_21" />that the first Monster Meeting was purposely +held on the anniversary of the very day, the 22nd of May, destined for +the rising of '98. Sir Robert was wrong in his inference, though it was +a natural and nearly justifiable one; for at that Cashel meeting were +offered unmistakable evidences of the tendency of the agitation. Upwards +of £1,100 were handed to Mr. O'Connell. Each parish came in procession, +headed by a band and commanded by some local leader; and those who took +part in the public procession marched in excellent order for upwards of +eight miles. A military and magisterial meeting had been previously held +in the barracks of Cashel to consider whether the people should not be +routed at the point of the bayonet. But though the committee were fully +aware of this consultation, they decided unanimously that the meeting +should go on. The meeting itself passed the strongest resolutions, and +adopted a petition to the Legislature, consisting of a single line, +something to this effect: "You have robbed us of our Parliament by fraud +and blood; pray restore it, or ——." And finally, Mr. O'Connell said at +the dinner that evening, alluding to an armed strife; "Give me Tipperary +for half a day." This simple wish, enunciated in accents familiar to +that great ruler of men, elicited a cheer, a shout, a wild burst of +enthusiasm, so long and loud as almost to suggest the idea that it would +be seconded by naked steel and a deadly blow. One would think it had a +significant meaning, and yet there was no wrathful ban. Not one +pronounced that terrible anathema against shedding a single drop of +blood, which afterwards became the canon of peaceful men. Nay, if memory +be not very <a name="Page_22" id="Page_22" />treacherous, amidst that roar was loudly distinguishable +the voice of him who on an after day, yet to be spoken of, cursed from +God's altar those who wished to realise his simulated aspirations and in +the endeavour had forfeited their lives. A doggerel ballad had been +written for the occasion by Thomas Davis, to the air of the "Gallant +Tipperary," over which himself and his friends afterwards indulged in +many a hearty laugh. One verse runs as follows:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>The music's ready, the morning's bright,<br /></span> +<span>Step together left, right, left, right,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">We carry no gun,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Yet devil a one<br /></span> +<span>But knows how to march in Tipperary O!<br /></span> +<span>By twelves and sixteens on we go,<br /></span> +<span>Rank'd four deep in close order O!<br /></span> +<span class="i4">For order's the way<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To carry the day,<br /></span> +<span>March steadily, men of Tipperary O!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is here introduced as a proof and a justification of what has been +stated in reference to one great object of the projectors of the monster +meetings. Possibly it will be said that this is an admission of the +truth of a charge frequently urged by Mr. O'Connell against the <i>Nation</i> +and its writers, namely, that they having intentions of which he knew +nothing, had committed him to breaches of the law, of which he was not +only not guilty but not cognisant, but which by a perversion of judgment +were given in proof against him at the celebrated State Trials. It is +quite true that they did entertain the intentions which he afterwards so +vehemently repudiated. But they never once concealed <a name="Page_23" id="Page_23" />them. In the +Association, and where Mr. O'Connell was committed with them, they +abstained from giving them utterance; but they did so because they felt +bound to act in accordance with the resolution of that body. And with +respect to the proceedings of the Cashel meeting and the more wonderful +and significant meetings that followed, they always submitted to him and +had his entire sanction for every act done at and every line written for +these meetings. In fact, if he were in any way mistaken as to them, they +were still more grievously deceived as to him. All their acts and +speeches were in the direction of their intentions; all his acts and +speeches were in the same direction, and went further. In truth, they +believed that he fully concurred in the sentiments which they cared not +to conceal, but which he had the cunning or caution not to avow. One +justification of this belief has been already given; another and a more +pregnant one was the Mallow defiance which the greatest poet and the +greatest sculptor of our time and nation have immortalised. In reference +to proofs not published, however conclusive, this history shall be +silent.</p> + +<p>Succeeding events shall be briefly glanced at only. Some of them have +already attained a place in history; and the scope of my narrative only +embraces the facts, incidents and tendencies which led to an armed +crisis and governed its explosion. Meeting followed meeting in rapid +succession, and each was marked by some signal manifestation of a +healthier, holier and more resolute national purpose. Numbers, calmness, +order, obedience, bespoke an advanced discipline, and <a name="Page_24" id="Page_24" />prefigured future +victory. The crowds that attended the Halls of the Association no longer +consisted of idle brawlers; they were listening, thoughtful mechanics, +conscious of the toil and danger that lay before them, and braced for +the encounter. Dignitaries of the church and the ablest men among the +second order of the clergy appeared on the platform, and added sanctity +and dignity to the proceedings. Members of Corporations through the +country, and private gentlemen of rank brought to the imposing +confederacy the weight of their office, rank and name. The existing +Government in a splenetic attempt to crush it, had dismissed certain +magistrates for having their names enrolled on its books. This new +aggression gave a fresh impetus to its progress. Men who had previously +looked on it with doubt or fear, now embraced it as the only safeguard +for the remaining liberties of the island. The parliamentary committee +which had been instituted by Mr. O'Brien, had exhausted every source of +information within the reach of industry in developing the resources and +capacities of the country. The committee of the Association counted +within its members one hundred lawyers who preferred the fortunes of +Ireland to professional or political advancement. Many of these and +others who were not of the party brought to the popular tribune rare +endowments, the most generous passions, and the noblest eloquence. +Poetry, fresh, vigorous and full of heart, shed her harmonising and +ennobling influence upon the whole, and imparted to patriotism the last +pre-requisite of success. Amidst this grand movement stood Mr.<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25" /> +O'Connell, erect, alone, its centre and its heart. He was not its guide, +but its god, until he slept within a prison, and came forth less than +man.</p> + +<p>During this period two events occurred deserving particular notice—the +only facts upon which Mr. O'Connell's supremacy was questioned, or his +advice audibly condemned. These were, first, his refusal of French +contributions and French sympathy, of which M. Ledru Rollin, since so +celebrated, was to be the bearer; and secondly, his acceptance of +contributions from America under protest, against the "infamous +institution" of slavery. He rejected the first with indignant scorn, +because it was the offering of "republicans," and spoke of the latter +with contempt, as "smelling of blood."</p> + +<p>These two acts alienated from his cause the only foreigners in the world +who were willing to espouse it. His wisdom was questioned and condemned. +It was urged upon him that he should not intermeddle with foreign +institutions or with the political predilections of individuals. Enough +for Ireland, he was told, to find that Frenchmen and Americans were +ready to do battle in her cause, and it ill became her to spurn their +advances with indignity and a sneer. The argument failed, his hatred of +slavery and republicanism out-weighed all other considerations.</p> + +<p>I have fixed upon the State Trials as an epoch in this history, marking +a distinct phase in the character of the Repeal Association. The +proceedings of that extraordinary inquest are familiar to most men. It +is not my intention to refer to them, except as a sort of pivot upon +which public sentiment veered. When <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26" />they were commenced there was +untold wealth in the coffers of the Association. There was still a +greater store of public purpose in the country. Threats, hot and +violent, had been uttered. Pledges had been made which could only be +violated in shame and death. A challenge had been given from which it +would be baseness to shrink. The world looked on in wonder and awe. Each +successive act was more and more gigantic; each resolution bolder. When +the meeting at Clontarf was projected, the heart of the nation beat +quick and hotly. Yet no man was surprised; none condemned. The +associations of the spot suggested a perilous future. Still the hazards +it prefigured created no alarm; the directions of a sub-committee +respecting the military order of the processions towards the place of +meeting was but the expression of the public hope that lay at every +heart.</p> + +<p>While the bustle of preparation was at its height; while the flushed +capital was dizzy with wild excitement, a proclamation appeared on the +walls—'twas nearly evening's dusk—forbidding the proposed +demonstration. For that proclamation there was no law; scarcely any +object. It could not render the meeting illegal. It would not entitle +the chief magistrate to disperse it; for if it were proved to be +constitutional, he would be answerable before the laws of his country. +It was simply a warning utterly inefficient for good or ill in any trial +that may follow. In this state of things, a responsibility of the +greatest magnitude devolved on the Association, or its committee. They +were hastily summoned or came together spontaneously. Alarm, surprise, +disappointment, chagrin, swayed their hurried <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27" />consultation. The +decision was weak, and it was fatal. It was only carried by a small +majority, but in that majority was the great spirit of the confederacy. +Never after did he stand on equal terms with his adversary. He was +driven before him amidst broken hopes, and broken promises—his +challenge, a boast unfulfilled, his prestige withered.</p> + +<p>What the issue might have been if the decision were different, it would +be rash to conjecture. It might have been carnage; it might have been a +triumph. The historian has nothing to do with conjecture. But in this +case was involved a mighty question, palpable, self-created and +conclusive. The wisest forethought may fail to arrive at a sound +conclusion as to the result of holding the meeting. The risk existed, no +doubt, that some ill-disposed or hired villains, or even rash +enthusiasts may provoke the troops, and thus afford a pretext for +carnage. But opposed to that were the dictates of prudence, honour and +fear on the part of those in command of the army; and it seemed a more +probable result that either the meeting would be allowed to proceed, or +it would be illegally dispersed in the usual way by reading the Riot +Act. Even if the weight of conjecture were the other way, the +consequences should be risked rather than falsify the national pledge. +To recede was cowardice; not the vulgar cowardice arising from personal +weakness, but the moral cowardice which shrinks from an imperious +obligation, because it is perilous. The meeting should be held; every +possible precaution should be taken to prevent an armed conflict. If +Power, drunk with its own advantage, risked an outrage, the people +should be taught to yield; but <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28" />only to yield with the purpose of +entering a court of law, as prosecutors and avengers. Even if worse +consequences ensued after every effort to prevent them had been +exhausted, the issue should be left to God. Recriminations, painfully +petty in their nature, followed. The Government were charged with a +premeditated design to commit wide and indiscriminate slaughter, and the +weakness, in which were shrouded deep national shame and guilt, was made +matter of indecent boast. The Government, aware of the unexpected +advantage, followed up the blow. Mr. O'Connell took shelter in the +sacredness of the Hall, which, he imagined, he had guarded against the +encroachments of arbitrary power, and thither they followed him. Having +abandoned a position where he could act on the offensive, he was forced +to contend against the aggressive attacks of Government flushed with its +first success.</p> + +<p>The trial that followed already occupies a large space in history. Its +effects were immediate and disastrous. The personnel of the accused +assumed the nation's place. Exhortations full of intense eloquence were +addressed to the people from which the question of the country's +deliverance was entirely excluded. Technicalities of law absorbed the +attention which was due to Liberty. A demurrer, a motion in abatement, +or in arrest of judgment, was canvassed with a deeper interest by the +people of the provinces than by even the distinguished Bar, which were +arrayed on either side. Mr. O'Connell's infallibility in law engaged the +anxious solicitude, the pride, the passions of Ireland. Yet throughout +that long trial the question which would <a name="Page_29" id="Page_29" />test it was not mooted. The +indictment was a subtle net-work, which excluded such argument. The +objections to the indictment also were objections of form merely, and +the final issue upon which the judgment was reversed was not even +remotely connected with the main enquiry, whether or not the charge of +conspiracy was sustainable in point of constitutional law. During the +progress of the trial, a fraud, a swindle, a petty theft, was +perpetrated by the officers of government, which more than one man, high +in office, had a hand in suborning. This fact had supreme influence on +the decision of the House of Lords. But the plain truth is, the judgment +was reversed as an essential move in a great party game.</p> + +<p>Ireland triumphed. Her triumph was a just and a great one.</p> + +<p>But her exultation was on a fallacious basis. She believed Mr. +O'Connell's infallibility was re-established. No one cared, or perhaps +dared to correct the error. In itself it seemed little worthy of notice, +yet it had its share of evil influence. First, it diverted men's minds +from the one question; secondly, it left behind it the demoralising +effect inseparable from untruth. Were it even what the public eagerness +chose to shape it, its relative value, weighed against the triumph of +courage and virtue, would be contemptible.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell himself did not seem to share in the nation's pride. His +spirit was broken. He anticipated the glad wishes of the metropolis, and +walked home from the penitentiary clouded and gloomy. It was evident +something within him had died. However, he went back the next day, and +left the prison the second <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30" />time in the midst of public rejoicings never +surpassed on any occasion in his life. His addresses on that day, and +subsequently while in town, were not such as they were wont to be; and +he soon retired to his wild mountain home to invigorate a mind and body, +borne down by gigantic labours, fearful responsibilities, some alarms, +and perhaps a chilling sense of defeat and weakness. His health was soon +restored, but his political vigour never. The first time his voice was +heard from that retreat, it was to recommend a compromise; and, for the +first time, his advice was openly opposed. Charles Duffy answered his +letter, which recommended to fall back on Federalism—a question in the +mouths of many, but in the brain of none—respectfully and firmly +remonstrating against such a course. In a great many circles, Mr. Duffy +could not be looked at with more wonder if he had recommended to cut off +Mr. O'Connell's head.</p> + +<p>Hitherto, this condensed retrospect has been almost exclusively confined +to the name and fortunes of O'Connell. It is time now to revert to other +actors in the scene. Even before the trial, elements of antagonism had +begun to manifest themselves. With the party since called "Young +Ireland," every consideration was subordinate to the great question of +national deliverance. They laboured incessantly to elevate the morals, +the literature, the taste, passions, genius, intellect and heart of the +country to the sublime eminence of a free destiny. Far the foremost man +in urging and encouraging this glorious endeavour was Thomas Davis. From +sources the most extraordinary, and the least known, there welled forth +abundant and <a name="Page_31" id="Page_31" />seductive inspiration. He struck living fire from inert +wayside stones. To him the meanest rill, the rugged mountain, the barren +waste, the rudest fragment of barbaric history, spoke the language of +elevation, harmony and hope. The circle, of which he was the beloved +centre, was composed of men equally sincere, resolute and hopeful; there +was not one of them undistinguished. Some of them had now the first +literary distinction. The character of each was remarkable for some +distinctive and bold feature of originality. I, of course, exclude +myself from this description. I know not to what circumstance I owe the +happiness of their trust and friendship. My habits, my education, my +former political connections, disqualified me for such association. +Since first I took my place among them, seven or eight years have now +rolled by. They have been years of severest trial, years of suffering +and sorrow, years of passion and prejudice and calumny, years of rude +and bitter conflict, years of suspicion and acrimony, and finally of +defeat and shame; still, in that eventful course of time, to me at +least, there has occurred no moment wherein I would exchange the +faintest memory of our mutual trust, unreserved enjoyment and glad hope +for the hoarse approval of an unthinking world. There was no subject we +did not discuss together; revolution, literature, religion, history, the +arts, the sciences—every topic, and never yet was there spoken among us +one reproachful word, never felt one distrustful sentiment. Our +confidence in one another was precisely that of each in himself; our +love of one another deeper than brotherly. When we met, which was at +least <a name="Page_32" id="Page_32" />weekly, and felt alone, shut in from the rude intrusion of the +world, how we used to people the future with beauty and happiness and +love. Little did we dream that those for whom we toiled, and thought, +and wove such visions of glory, would shun and scorn, and curse us. But +had that bitter cup, which afterwards we were forced to empty to the +dregs, been then presented to us, there was not one of us who would not +have drunk it to the last drop; drunk it willingly and cheerfully, +without further hope or purpose than our own deep conviction that we +owed the sacrifice to truth.</p> + +<p>Those who took immediate part in the proceedings of our circle before +the State Trials, were Thomas Davis, John Dillon, Thomas MacNevin, +Michael Joseph Barry, Charles Duffy, David Cangley, John O'Hagan, Denis +F. MacCarthy, Denny Lane, Richard Dalton Williams, with one or two +others whose names I cannot mention. To this list was afterwards added +Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard O'Gorman, John Mitchel, Thomas Devin +Reilly, and Thomas Darcy M'Gee. I do not include several distinguished +men who lived in the provinces with whom we communicated, and from whom +we received sympathy and sustainment; and I omit others who took a +leading part, in deference to the position they are now placed in.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-06" /><a id="image06" href="images/image06-big.jpg"><img src="images/image06.jpg" width="283" height="400" alt="John Blake Dillon" title="John Blake Dillon" /></a> +<p class="caption">John Blake Dillon</p> +</div> + +<p>With the first section above named, originated the idea of publishing +the <i>Library of Ireland</i>. It was proposed, discussed, and determined on +one evening, at the house of Thomas MacNevin, while some one sat at the +piano, playing the lovely Irish airs, of which the soft strains of Davis +suggested the conception to William <a name="Page_33" id="Page_33" />Elliot Hudson. The music was as +true to the Celtic genius as the lays of Davis to its character and +hopes; and amidst the entrancing seductiveness of their association, was +born the generous resolution of rescuing the country's literature from +the darkness in which it had long lain. The <i>Library of Ireland</i> was +proposed as a beginning, and so diffident did its promoters feel, that +they deemed it indispensable to engage the recognised genius of William +Carleton, whose name and abilities they pledged to the public, as an +assurance for the undertaking. Mr. Carleton promptly undertook his share +of the task, and James Duffy, the enterprising bookseller, assumed all +the risk and responsibility of the enterprise.</p> + +<p>John Mitchel, then known to few, and appreciated only by Thomas Davis, +was by him associated with those who were willing to engage in the new +and difficult labour. He pledged himself for him, and selected his +subject. Most nobly was that pledge redeemed; but its fulfilment dawned +on the fresh grave of him who made it. Other men, and first in order, as +well as eminent in ability, was Thomas MacNevin, who has also sunk into +a too early grave, more than realised the most sanguine hopes of an +exulting country. Death first interrupted this new current of life, even +in its day of most sparkling promise. Disunion haunted the petty +jealousies of little and narrow minds; famine, pestilence and defeat +have done the rest. The labourers are dead, exiled, immured in dungeons, +or scattered over the face of the earth as fugitives; and how far they +had capacity to fulfil their inspiring promise, can never be tested +more. A few, however, remained, and amid greater <a name="Page_34" id="Page_34" />gloom, and nearer to +utter death, they stand out redeeming beacons to the future.</p> + +<p>I have not mentioned the name of Mr. O'Brien, as associated with us at +this early stage. He joined the Association in a time of great +excitement. The <i>Nation</i> hailed the accession with the fondest joy. The +consistency of his politics, the purity of his intentions, and the +unvarying rectitude of his life gave abundant assurance, not alone that +he was deeply sincere, but that his purpose could only be changed by +death. But to those who looked beyond the expediency of the hour, those +who had cherished fervently the passionate aspirations for true liberty +his name and character became an augury of success: nor would they +intrude for any consideration on the attitude of lofty dignity he +assumed.</p> + +<p>It has already been stated that elements of antagonism between Mr. +O'Connell and the Young Ireland Party had at this time (the period of +the State Trials) manifested themselves. It will be remembered that this +period embraced a space of nine months, from the date of Mr. O'Connell's +being held to bail in September, 1843, to that of his sentence the 30th +of May, 1844. As the events of this or the previous year do not, +properly speaking, range within the historical scope of my narrative, I +have excluded chronological and historical order. My object has been to +group together the great features of the confederacy without other +reference than that of pointing out their moral influence, operating +through a long space of time. Thus I have referred to the Parliamentary +Committee instituted by Mr. O'Brien among incidents which belong to an +anterior period, <a name="Page_35" id="Page_35" />because the vigour of these incidents, which left +moral seeds in their track, continued to co-exist and blend with the +powerful agencies of that Committee. As I now approach the period when +the differences with Mr. O'Connell, which hitherto developed themselves +in the distinctive characteristics of the respective opinions of both +parties rather than in any direct collision, became tangible, it is +necessary to observe strict historical and chronological accuracy.</p> + +<p>Before proceeding to details of succeeding events, a brief +recapitulation of important facts, with the dates of their occurrences, +become necessary. A few others, not heretofore alluded to, must needs be +added.</p> + +<p>The date of the imprisonment is the 30th of May, 1844: that of the +release the 6th of September in the same year.</p> + +<p>In the intermediate period the amount received in the Repeal treasury +during four weeks was, £12,379 14s. 9d.</p> + +<p>About the close of August was passed the Charitable Bequest Act, against +the indignant remonstrances of the priesthood and Catholic population of +Ireland. This Bill was obnoxious in all it's provisions, but the +enactment which was received with most scorn was the clause that +annulled a Catholic charitable bequest, unless it had been duly made six +months at least before the decease of the testator. The prohibition was +attributed to an insulting assumption that the Catholic clergymen abused +their influence over dying penitents, for sacerdotal or religious, if +not for personal aggrandisement, and the impeachment was repelled with +bitter <a name="Page_36" id="Page_36" />execrations. Others objected to the Bill on grounds involving +more alarming considerations. They regarded it as the first infringement +on the liberty of the Catholic Church—the first criminal attempt to +fetter her free action and sow dissent among her prelates and priests. +The Repeal Association offered, from the beginning, its undivided, +unqualified and indeed vehement opposition. But amidst the storm and +rage of the nation, it became the law, and three Roman Catholic prelates +of the highest reputation undertook the duty of its administration.</p> + +<p>One party there was who regretted the Bill still more deeply, but in a +different point of view. At the head of these was Thomas Davis. He +regarded it as an instrument of dissension and weakness, cunningly +adapted to that end by Sir Robert Peel, and he deplored the diversion of +the public mind and energy from the grand national object. Mr. O'Brien, +to a certain extent, shared this feeling, but never obtruded the opinion +or ventured to check the Association, while Mr. Davis confined his +efforts to passionate warnings addressed through the columns of the +<i>Nation</i>.</p> + +<p>This question is introduced here because it was important and fatal in +its consequences. A still more important one taken in the same light +must interrupt its discussion for a moment: Mr. O'Connell's Federal +letter, already referred to. The leading sentiments of that letter are +subjoined. It is dated the 2nd of October, 1844.</p> + +<p>After stating what Simple Repeal and what Federalism respectively meant, +he proceeded to contrast their value.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37" />The Simple Repealers are of the opinion that the reconstructed Irish +Parliament should have precisely the same power and authority which the +former Irish Parliament had.</p> + +<p>"The Federalists, on the contrary, appear to me to require more for the +people of Ireland than the Simple Repealers do; for besides the local +parliament in Ireland having full and perfect authority, the Federalists +require that there should be, for questions of imperial concern, +colonial, naval and military, and of foreign alliance and policy, a +Congressional or Federal Parliament, in which Ireland should have her +fair share and proportion of representatives and power.</p> + +<p>"It is but just and right to confess that in this respect the +Federalists would give Ireland more weight and importance in imperial +concerns than she could acquire by means of the plan of Simple +Repealers.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"For my own part, I will own that since I have come to contemplate the +specific differences such as they are, between Simple Repeal and +Federalism, I do at present feel a preference for the Federative plan, +as tending more to the utility of Ireland and the maintenance of the +connection with England than the plan of Simple Repeal.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"The Federalists cannot but perceive that there has been upon my part a +pause in the agitation for Repeal since the period of our release from +unjust imprisonment."</p> + +<p>I have only extracted from Mr. O'Connell's most elaborate letter, his +distinctly expressed preference for Federalism, and the single reason +upon which the preference is founded. The remainder consists for the +most part of a sort of logical equation, balancing the component +elements of both plans, from which is deduced the above conclusion.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38" />Charles Duffy's answer, dated October the 18th, was triumphant and +conclusive, at least in Mr. O'Connell's own mind, for he did not +afterwards repeat the same sentiments. But a blow had been given the +Association from which it never recovered. The newspaper press, taken +under three distinct heads, first the blind and heedless echoers of Mr. +O'Connell's doctrines, secondly the Whig organs in Ireland, and thirdly +the papers in the English interest, gave way to unrestrained exultation. +The wisdom, the prudence, the holiness of the "great Liberator," were +extolled as unmatched in the annals of statesmanship. A few whose +self-interest constrained their subserviency, shrugged wisely and said +nothing, while several provincial journals stoutly maintained the +undoubted and enduring supremacy of the great national aim over every +weak expedient.</p> + +<p>Whatever hopes may be entertained by Mr. O'Connell, his suggestions met +with no sustainment and no response, save the empty echoes of an +adulating press. Among the great party to whom he appealed, not one +voice was heard to suggest a practical step in the direction intimated. +The project fell, if indeed it were ever seriously entertained, leaving +no memory and no regret. The first place Mr. O'Connell afterwards +appeared in a public capacity, was at the Limerick banquet, given on' +the 20th of November. His speech on that occasion contained scarcely a +reference to Federalism, and both his sentiments and those of the other +speakers, including John, Archbishop of Tuam, as well as the Toasts and +Mottoes, were distinguished for loftiness of tone, unflinching purpose +and highest enthusiasm.<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39" /> But other elements were at work furtively +sapping that purpose and dimming that enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Prominent among these was the spirit of religious dissension already +under discussion, to which it is now time to recur.</p> + +<p>At and after the period when the Roman Catholic prelates accepted the +functions of administering a law insulting and obnoxious to the +Catholics generally, much angry controversy prevailed. A report was rife +that the Government not alone succeeded in deluding the Irish Bishops, +but had accredited a minister plenipotentiary, whose mission was to +conciliate the Court of Rome to a "Concordat" with England. A rescript +said to be received by the Most Reverend Doctor Crolly, the Primate, was +adduced to prove not alone the existence of the intrigue, but its +partial success. The rescript contained an admonition to restrain the +intemperate violence of political priests, and an advice to confine +themselves more generally to the sacred functions of their holy office. +The English press magnified the advice into a command, and exulted over +the failure of the Repeal movement whose extinction they augured from +the withdrawal of the Catholic priesthood.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell, alarmed at the import of a command so fatal, pronounced +the rescript "uncanonical." This led to greater dissensions and bitterer +recriminations. The prelates who condemned the Bequest Act, denounced +those who accepted the task of administering it. One of the body thus +writes:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The resolution [referring to one passed at a meeting of the + prelates, which was pronounced by the ministerial press a vote + of unanimous approval of the <a name="Page_40" id="Page_40" />bishops' acceptance of the office + of Commissioners] did not meet the approval of all the Bishops, + neither could it convey to any one of the Episcopal + Commissioners the most distant notion that in accepting the + office he did not oppose the views and wishes of many of his + Episcopal brethren. When the resolution was moved, there were + six of the protesting Bishops absent, and a moment was not + allowed to pass after it was seconded, when it was denounced in + the strongest manner by two of the Bishops present. They + solemnly declared before the assembled prelates that, in the + event of any prelate accepting the odious office, they would + never willingly hold any communication with him in his capacity + as Commissioner."<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4" /><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p></div> + +<p>But, while disunion reigned at the council board of the Catholic +Hierarchy, the Government plied their task of seducing, dividing and +misrepresenting bishops, priests, people and nation. Out of all the +elements of disunion, distraction and disaster over which they in turn +gloated, the British newspapers, with wonderful accord, predicted and +boasted of the complete overthrow of the Repeal Party. It was amidst +these circumstances of gloom and evil augury the year 1844, a year +within which range the most startling, extraordinary and trying events +of Ireland's recent history, came to a close.</p> + +<p>Before I conclude this chapter, I must revert to a fact which, although +unimportant in relation to the view of the question under consideration, +deserves to be remembered in connection with future events. The date I +cannot fix, as it was confined to the private <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41" />circle of the Association +Committee, and no record of it remains. Immediately after the close of +the State trials, as well as I can remember, Mr. O'Connell proposed the +dissolution of the Association, with a view of establishing a new body, +from which should be excluded all the "illegal" attributes and accidents +of the old. The suggestion was resisted by Mr. O'Brien, and all those +understood to belong to what was called the Young Ireland Party. They +protested against such a course as false, craven and fatal, and Mr. +O'Connell at once yielded to their vehement remonstrances.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4" /><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Doctor Cantwell to Mr. O'Connell. Given in the <i>Nation</i>, +Vol. III., No. 119.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III" /><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42" />CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p>FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT—DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MR. +O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE. — FINANCIAL REFORMS IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE +ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION.—'82 CLUB. — THE COLLEGES +BILL. — DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES CONSEQUENT UPON IT. QUARREL WITH MR. +DAVIS. — THE GREAT LEVEE AT THE ROTUNDA. — DECLINE OF THE +AGITATION. — CLOSING LABOURS AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS.</p> + + +<p>Thus wrote Thomas Davis at the opening of the new year:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Hitherto our dangers have been few and transient. The product + of mistake or enthusiasm, they were remedied by explanation and + kindliness. There are dangers threatened now, and against them + we shall try the same prompt and frank policy which never failed + us yet. Already the English press are quarrelling for the spoils + of the routed Repealers. They are almost unanimous in describing + the people as disgusted, the leaders as exhausted, and the + policy of the ministers as rapidly levelling the defences of the + once great party.</p> + +<p> "We do not quail. We remember that whenever the rent<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5" /><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> has + fallen, the same press cried out the people are sick of the + agitation. Whenever righteous discussion took place in our + councils, they exulted over our 'fatal divisions,' and at the + beginning of each new blunder of the cabinet, they sang victory.</p> + +<p> "If the Irish be a hot or capricious race, who plunge into a new + policy because it is new, and abandon their <a name="Page_43" id="Page_43" /> dearest interests + and most solemn vows because their success needs time, then + indeed Repeal was hopeless and was always so. If the leaders + have not sagacity enough to embrace the business of an empire + and pierce through time, unwearied industry, pure hands and + resolute spirits, then to repeal is hopeless until a new race of + chiefs appears."</p></div> + +<p>Almost contemporaneously with this article, the Catholic Primate +contradicted Mr. O'Connell's assertion respecting the rescript, and laid +rescript and contradiction before the public. "I was surprised and +sorry," he writes, "to find that you had ventured to assert that a +letter sent to me some time past from the Propaganda was not a canonical +document." He adds that he laid the document before the assembled +prelates, and appends the resolution in which they acknowledged its +authenticity and approval of its counsel.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6" /><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell at once expressed his entire acquiescence and deep +contrition. He bowed reverentially to the resolution of the prelates, +retracted the hasty opinion, and apologised for his error, which, he +said, resulted <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44" />from his great anxiety of mind, caused by the avowal of +the <i>Morning Chronicle</i> that the Whigs had a secret agent in Rome.</p> + +<p>But the prelates were far from unanimous in their construction of the +rescript which they promised unanimously to obey. With the resolution +among his papers, the Archbishop of Tuam proceeded directly from the +Episcopal meeting to the Repeal banquet at Limerick, where he delivered +a speech stronger in language and more violent in character than any he +had ever uttered. Some passages in that speech, wherein he eulogised the +heroism of the women of Limerick who cut their long hair to supply the +defenders of the city with strings for their bows, excited the wildest +enthusiasm and most rapturous applause. Doctor Cantwell, in the letter +already referred to, gives his construction, which he says was that of +the majority.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Cardinal only evidently censures violent and intemperate + language, in either priest or bishop, whether they address their + flocks in their temples, or mix with their fellow-countrymen in + banquets or public meetings. We inferred, and I think we were + justified in the inference, that conduct and language at all + times unbecoming our sacred character, and not our presence on + such legitimate occasions, were the object of this salutary + caution."</p></div> + +<p>His construction was sustained more clearly and forcibly by Thomas +Davis. "It [the rescript] announces the undoubted truth that the main +duty of a Christian priest is to care for the souls of his flock, and +both by precept and example to teach mildness, piety and peace. It does +not denounce a Catholic <a name="Page_45" id="Page_45" />clergyman for aiding the Repeal movement in all +ways becoming a minister of peace. Nowhere in the rescript is the +agitation as a system, or repeal as a demand, censured; but some +reported violence of speech is disapproved."</p> + +<p>The coincidence seems a strange one, that in the same paper, which thus +disposes of the rescript, the same paper wherein appear the letters of +Doctor Crolly, Doctor Cantwell, and Mr. O'Connell, the same paper in +which is published the official denial of a Concordat with the Pope, +under the viceregal seal, are also published the proceedings of the +Repeal Association, which consisted, to a great extent, of a violent +attack on the exploded Concordat. At the meeting held on the 13th of +January, it was denounced especially by two of Mr. O'Connell's friends, +Mr. O'Neill Daunt and Mr. John Reilly, in terms the most vehement and +indignant. Mr. Daunt used these words. "On that day fortnight he had +proclaimed from the chair of the Association, that if a rescript should +emanate from Rome denouncing the national movement, the Catholics of +Ireland would treat it as so much waste paper." This statement was made +on the 13th, Doctor Crolly's letter is dated on the 11th, Mr. +O'Connell's on the 14th, and Lord Heytesbury's denial of the Concordat +on the 15th of January. Contemporaneously with all these was also +published an address of his clergy to the Archbishop of Dublin, +deprecating in the strongest language certain calumnies against him, +which they attribute to priests and people, Protestant and Catholic.</p> + +<p>From these proceedings one inference is inevitable, namely, that they +who have so strongly inculcated <a name="Page_46" id="Page_46" />obedience to the Holy See, and +denounced as an infidel any Catholic who refused blind obedience to its +decisions, in reference to secular education, were not then troubled +with the same sensitiveness or scrupulousness of conscience in regard to +the authority of the Roman Pontiff. But of that one word hereafter. I +here reproduce the historical facts connected with these letters, for +another object. Although the excitement about the threatened Concordat +was allayed, and the invectives against the Archbishop of Dublin abated +in intemperance, the bitterness of feeling which swept over the country +like an avenging scourge, left behind it germs of discord and weakness.</p> + +<p>Publicly or privately the Seceders did not interfere. At the meeting of +the Association already alluded to, Mr. O'Brien made a most noble +speech, inculcating education, self-reliance, organisation and progress, +without stooping to refer to the perplexed question, which filled his +audience with angry passions, and supplied the other speakers with +intemperate enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The whole endeavours of the Seceders were at this time devoted to the +organisation of clubs or reading rooms on an educational basis. +Connected with this object was the augmentation of the Repeal revenue, +which was anticipated from the extended action of these political and +social schools. The funds were greatly diminished, and the weekly +collections had fallen to an average of about £150. It became necessary, +as much as possible, to curtail the expenses, and a reduction of a very +serious amount was effected during Mr. O'Connell's absence at Derrynane. +The effort was continued after his arrival in town, which led to +<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47" />differences of opinion with him, in committee. Sinecure situations, +created by him, were abolished, and inquiries were instituted which gave +him great annoyance. He particularly resented and resisted the removal +from one of those offices of Doctor Nagle. Doctor Nagle was appointed to +be "curator of manuscripts", the ostensible duty of which was to +superintend the reports (then daily issuing from the press, and written +for the most part by the Seceders) for the purpose of preventing the +publication of anything illegal or dangerous. In effect, he was +nominally, literary, legal and moral censor. But the unanimous and loud +indignation of the essayists rendered his task a light one. He was +content to accept the salary and leave those gentlemen the guardians of +their own safety, their character and literary fame. Doctor Nagle +continued to act as librarian and, weekly, delivered to the secretary +certain lists of contributions that had been previously furnished him by +that gentleman. His salary and certain fees given to other "patriots," +came under the cognisance of a sub-committee consisting, as well as I +remember, of the present member for Dublin,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7" /><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> a Mr. O'Meara and someone +whose name I now forget. Their report adjudged the office useless, and +recommended its immediate abolition. A motion was accordingly made in +committee for Doctor Nagle's dismissal. Mr. O'Connell was in the chair. +All his sons were present, one of whom, I think, moved an amendment to +the effect that he be continued at his then salary. A division took +place, when the majority against the amendment was considerably over two +to one. Mr.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48" />O'Connell expressed himself deeply mortified at this result. Another +amendment to the same effect was then proposed and negatived by a +majority numerically somewhat less, when Sir Colman O'Loghlen moved, and +John Loyd Fitzgerald seconded, an amendment to the effect that he be +continued as clerk of the library at half his salary, that is £50 a +year. The result would have been the same as before but that many of the +majority had withdrawn under the impression that the question was +disposed of; the number for the amendment was twenty-two, and the number +against only twenty-three. Mr. O'Connell assumed the right to give two +votes, one as member, which made the numbers equal, and a casting vote +as chairman. It was then proposed and carried that every chairman should +in future have two votes, and Sir Colman's amendment was allowed to pass +in the affirmative. Doctor Nagle continued to fill his office until his +appointment to a more lucrative one under the Whig Government.</p> + +<p>The Eighty-Two Club which was projected in prison was finally organised +in January, 1845. The differences which manifested themselves in +Conciliation Hall imperceptibly extended to this body. The original +members constituted the committee and were self-appointed. The others +had to submit to a ballot. Some few were rejected, at which Mr. +O'Connell's friends took umbrage, and the rejected aspirants were sure +to attribute their decision to their devotion to the "Liberator." Thus +it happened that most objectionable candidates could not be resisted +without incurring the imputation of opposing and thwarting the "saviour +of his country."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-07" /><a id="image07" href="images/image07-big.jpg"><img src="images/image07.jpg" width="281" height="400" alt="Charles Lavan Duffy (1846)" title="Charles Lavan Duffy (1846)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Charles Lavan Duffy (1846)</p> +</div> + +<p><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49" />Mr. O'Connell himself, although he warmly approved of the club in the +commencement, soon ceased to feel an interest in its proceedings. For +the first year, its action was confined to some routine dinners, which +attracted a very fashionable attendance, and furnished an occasion for +some brilliant speaking. Yet the fame and respectability of such a body +were seductions which few of the leading men in the confederacy could +resist. The Eighty-Two Club became a standard toast at public dinners, +and its members were received as distinguished guests or visitors +wherever they appeared. Without having yet performed any distinct +service, or realised the promise involved in its establishment, the club +became a very important and imposing body.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell was its president, and Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Grattan, Sir +Colman O'Loghlen and others, vice-presidents. The first committee was +composed of the Members of Parliament, Mayors of cities, and men eminent +in the different professions and literary pursuits. Complaints of +inattention were made against some of its members, and at the election +for officers after the expiration of the first year, others were +substituted for the inattentive and inefficient. The change for the most +part was made by unanimous consent; but when a ballot was called for, +other names were substituted for those on the house list, recommended by +the former committee, and the contest resulted in the rejection of +Richard Barrett and one or two others. This was taken as an affront to +Mr. O'Connell, though personally he neither took part in, nor was +present at, the meeting. Whether it was owing to Mr. O'Connell's +aversion to the green-and-gold uniform, to which he <a name="Page_50" id="Page_50" />sometimes expressed +his dislike, or his objection to the rejection of his soi-disant +friends, or to his consciousness that the club was not subservient to +his control, he took very little interest in its progress, and +frequently spoke of it in terms of derision.</p> + +<p>But that which produced the first sensible and vital difference between +Mr. O'Connell and the Seceders was the Colleges Bill. Education had long +been a subject of anxious solicitude with Mr. Davis, and he was in +continual communication with Mr. Wyse, its great parliamentary champion. +He had repeatedly urged upon him the indispensable necessity of the +principle of mixed education, as the basis of any collegiate system for +Ireland. That basis was recognised in the system of national education +which was accepted and approved of by the whole Catholic Hierarchy, with +one exception, and most warmly sanctioned by the Catholic priesthood and +laity. Extreme bigots of the Protestant school opposed and denounced it +as unscriptural and Godless, and one extreme bigot of the Catholic +school echoed the objurgation. It was not to be supposed that a +principle thus sanctioned, tried, and efficient as applicable to the +children of the poor, would be objected to when applied to those who +were higher in station and older in years. When, therefore, the Bill was +introduced and its principal provisions announced, it was received with +the utmost delight and, even, triumph. Mr. O'Connell proclaimed in a +meeting of the committee his emphatic approval of the principle of the +Bill.</p> + +<p>As soon as its details were published, it was submitted to the +parliamentary committee, and, during its dis<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51" />cussion there, he expressed +for the first time some doubts as to the practicability of a mixed +system of education. Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Davis and others expostulated, and +deprecated in unmistakable terms the fatality of engaging the +Association to a principle so sectarian, narrow and illiberal. He said +he would take time to consider, and would meantime consult with Doctor +MacHale. He was reminded that Doctor MacHale could not approve of the +system without gross inconsistency, and requested to take the opinion of +all the other Bishops as well. How far he was governed by this advice is +unimportant and impossible to tell. But the bishops met in solemn synod +and published the result of their deliberations in the following +memorial:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That memorialists are disposed to co-operate on fair and + reasonable terms with her majesty's government and the + legislature, in establishing a system for the further extension + of academical education in Ireland.</p> + +<p> "That a fair proportion of the professors and other + office-bearers in the new colleges should be members of the + Roman Catholic Church, whose moral conduct shall have been + properly certified by testimonials of character, signed by their + respective prelates. And that all the office-bearers in those + colleges should be appointed by a board of trustees, of which + the Roman Catholic prelates of the provinces in which any of + those colleges shall be erected shall be members.</p> + +<p> "That the Roman Catholic pupils could not attend the lectures on + history, logic, metaphysics, moral philosophy, geology, or + anatomy, without exposing their faith or morals to imminent + danger, unless a Roman Catholic professor will be appointed for + each of those chairs.</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52" /><p>"That if any president, vice-president, professor, or + office-bearer, in any of the new colleges shall be convicted + before the board of trustees of attempting to undermine the + faith or injure the morals of any student in those institutions, + he shall be immediately removed from his office by the same + board."</p></div> + +<p>It will be observed that the principle of mixed education is not here +directly approved or condemned. But approval is an inference, as clear +and emphatic as words could express. The memorial prays for distinct and +specific alterations in the details of the Bill. It demands that certain +branches of secular education should be taught to the Catholic students +by Catholic professors approved of by the prelates, and it insists upon +other guarantees to secure the Catholic youth from the danger of all and +every species of interference with the tenets of their faith.</p> + +<p>How far the demands of the bishops were just or extravagant, is not a +fit subject of inquiry here. But the fact of making the demands stamps +the principle of the bill with their incontrovertible approval. The +argument which denies it involves an accusation against those Most +Reverend and Right Reverend divines, of evasion, treachery and untruth. +Any defence which implies that they avoided the direct condemnation of +the principle because they knew their memorial would be disregarded, +which would enable them to interdict the whole Bill, principle and +details, on the ground of the immorality of the latter, involves an +implication that moral and Christian turpitude is synonymous with +Catholic zeal. Such an implication, inevitable from the premises assumed +by the opponents of the mixed system, <a name="Page_53" id="Page_53" />would be foulest calumny. The +Catholic prelates were eminently sincere; and had they been warmly +seconded they might have obtained such ameliorations in the details of +the system as would be satisfactory to every rational, liberal and +honest man. But the old jealousy, division and calumny which had grown +out of the Bequests Act, obtruded themselves on every attempt at calm +consideration, and scattered the elements indispensable to successful +moral combination. The principle and details of the academic project +became confused and confounded, and while some clamorously opposed, +others unthinkingly supported, the entire. Thus the minister was enabled +to balance the voice of public opinion as he found it arrayed for and +against his measure, and under pretence of indifference to despise both +parties. For a long while, the action of the Association was paralysed. +There were deeper questions at issue there than even those which +appeared on the face of the bill. The educational party insisted that +any measure which did not embrace the University was scanty and +illiberal. They claimed its honours, advantages and emoluments for all +the youth of Ireland alike; and they sought to make the academic +subordinate to and parcel of the collegiate system. The Dublin +University and Trinity College are separate and distinct foundations and +establishments. They proposed that Maynooth and Trinity College should +be both sufficiently endowed for all purposes of ecclesiastical +education, without any interference, direct or indirect, from each other +or the Government, while the University should be open alike to all who +had obtained distinction in the provincial colleges. Any <a name="Page_54" id="Page_54" />measure of +narrower scope would, they contended, leave dullness and bigotry where +it found them.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell, on the other hand, insisted on the inviolability of +Dublin College as a Protestant institution, inaccessible to Catholics, +except through the slough of perverted and perjured faith. He would then +have new colleges purely Catholic and entirely under the control of the +Catholic bishops, but endowed by the State, and chartered to confer +literary degrees. He would extend the same right to the members of other +religious persuasions. It was answered that these positions and his +arguments addressed to the academic question were irreconcilable and +incompatible. Catholics were already admissible to Dublin College, and +entitled to certain degrees and a vote. He either intended that they +should be thenceforth excluded or he did not. If not, then the argument +against mixed education would hold for nothing: if he did, then he +attempted what was impracticable, or, if not impracticable, preposterous +and absurd. It is not conceivable that Catholic young men, of laudable +ambition, would be deterred from entering the lists with their +Protestant contemporaries where most honour was won by superior +eminence, or that they would be swayed by a warning that a college +course would be attended with risk to their faith and morals, when they +remembered that for the past century, while the risk was infinitely more +imminent, no such warning had been ever heard from council, synod or +conference. It is a strange fact in the history of these troubled times +that no voice of denunciation against Dublin College could be heard in +the polemical din, <a name="Page_55" id="Page_55" />although it was well known that its literary honours +stamped preliminary degradation on the Catholic aspirant, and were used +at once to mock his political condition and pervert his faith—no voice +was heard although one at least of the prelates had obtained degrees in +the University, while the bishop and priests of an entire diocese, in +conclave assembled, solemnly resolved that they would refuse sacraments +to any Catholic parent who sent his son to one of the Godless colleges. +But supposing it were practicable to exclude Roman Catholics from the +University, and that the system of exclusive education among the middle +and upper classes were applied in all its rigour, when were Protestant +and Catholic to meet? If it were dangerous to faith and morals that they +should discuss together the properties of an angle or the altitude of a +star, it could hardly be safe to have them decide together a principle +of law or determine the value or limits of a political franchise. All +this was urged on Mr. O'Connell, and sometimes apparently with success, +for he more than once consented to forego the discussion of the question +in the Hall; and he would have strictly adhered to that engagement had +he not been goaded by the intemperate counsels of others.</p> + +<p>In the desultory history of this question, two facts have been stated +requiring distinct proof. They are:—First, that Mr. O'Connell was +favourable to the principle of mixed education in the commencement.</p> + +<p>And, secondly, that the Seceders—those who were afterwards so glibly +denounced as infidels for their support of the Godless bill—were as +much opposed to that bill as he was.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56" />How Mr. O'Connell expressed himself when the bill was first announced +has been already stated. It is at once conceded that the writer's memory +of a conversation, in its nature almost private, were he even above all +suspicion, would not be a safe authority. In this instance there is no +need to rely on it—the statement is more than sustained by Mr. +O'Connell's recorded words. From a number of occasions, equally +available, I select one, because of its solemnity and importance.</p> + +<p>In a prolonged and most earnest debate in the House of Commons, on +motion for going into Committee on the Bill, June 2nd, Mr. O'Connell, +after eulogising the Maynooth grant, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Take one step more, and consider whether this bill may not be + made to accord with the feelings of the Catholic ecclesiastics + of Ireland. I ought not to detain you: I am not speaking here in + any spirit of hostility. I should be most happy to give any + assistance in my humble power to make this bill work well. I + have the most anxious wish to have this bill work well, because + I am desirous of seeing education promoted in Ireland; but even + education may be misapplied power. I admit that at one time I + thought the plan of a mixed education proper, and I still think + that a system of mixed education in literature and science would + be proper, but not with regard to religious education."</p> + +<p> And further on: "Again I repeat I am most anxious for the + success of this bill, but I fairly tell you it cannot succeed + without the Catholic bishops....</p> + +<p> "There may have been harsh expressions in the public papers, but + depend upon it great anxiety exists in Ireland to have such a + measure."</p></div> + +<p>The second proposition would be abundantly sustained by a single +sentence in Thomas Davis's <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57" />commentary on the speech from which I +extract the above.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"On our part we had feared O'Connell conceded almost too far."</p></div> + +<p>But the testimony of Mr. O'Connell himself will be considered more +conclusive.</p> + +<p>Speaking in the Association on the 6th of July, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I may remark for the present that on this subject a question of + difference has arisen among ourselves. Some of the members of + the Association are for what is called mixed education, and + others of us are against it, but that difference of opinion + ought not to create any division among us, for neither the one + nor the other of us is gratified by the bill as it stands."</p></div> + +<p>Again, in the course of the same speech, he said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We (Mr. O'Brien and himself) did our best to avert such a + calamity. We called upon the Government not to persist in + working out this bill in all its details of blackness and + horror."</p></div> + +<p>He concluded by lauding Lord John Russell for his valuable assistance in +the attempt to amend the bill, and finally said that, having failed in +this attempt, he "flung the bill to the ministry, to deal with it as +they pleased."</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Brien continued in London, and proposed amendments to the bill in +every stage of its progress. It was during that time he was assailed by +Mr. Roebuck with all the little malevolence of his envenomed nature. He +failed in every attempt to remedy the defects of <a name="Page_58" id="Page_58" />the bill, which passed +its last stage in the Commons on the 10th day of July. On the 17th of +the same month, Mr. O'Connell, speaking in the Association, said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In the resolution I am about submitting to the Association, we + have not inserted one word about mixed education. This is a + question upon which there exists some differences of opinion. I + have my opinions upon the subject, I am the decided enemy of + mixed education....</p> + +<p> "I fully respect the contrary convictions entertained by others, + and I am the more ready to proclaim that respect because at + present all possibility of discussion on the matter is out of + the question."</p></div> + +<p>It will be observed that Mr. O'Connell's opinions underwent a serious +and important change during the time over which these speeches range. +That change was produced gradually, and not without infinite trouble on +the part of his son whose inveterate zeal knew no bounds. In his +father's presence, and more particularly so in his absence, he denounced +the bill, and held up any Catholic who dared to support it to public +indignation. He called on the people of Waterford to demand Mr. Wyse's +resignation, not because he was an unfaithful representative, but +because he was unchristian. If he had not determined to divide the +Association on this question, he did all a man could do who had so +determined.</p> + +<p>I shall only trouble the reader with two quotations more. They refer to +the question immediately under discussion, namely, that the Seceders +were as much opposed to the obnoxious clauses of the bill as those with +whom they differed. But while they are un<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59" />equivocal and conclusive on +that branch of the subject, they go still further and attest the sincere +forbearance with which they treated language and conduct which appeared +to them in the utmost degree narrow and intolerant. Discussion among the +bishops naturally produced discussion among the chiefs of the +Association, and it was agreed that the Association should confine its +objections to those provisions of the bill upon which there could be no +disagreement. The first petition of the Association was confided to me. +I endeavoured to embody in the petition what appeared to me the true +basis of a comprehensive system of education. Some persons on the +Committee objected to certain phrases as susceptible of an inference +favourable to the principle of mixed education. Mr. O'Connell joined in +the objection and succeeded in reducing the petition to a single +paragraph, deprecatory of the Tenth Clause of the Bill. I refused to +have any more to do with the petition, and it was dropped. After the +lapse of a fortnight, Mr. Maurice O'Connell proposed another, simply +praying that the tenth clause, which vested the appointment of the +professors of the college in the Government, should be rejected.</p> + +<p>Upon the occasion of this petition being submitted to the Association +(9th June, 1845), Mr. J. O'Connell delivered one of his usual invectives +against the bill and its abettors. Mr. O'Brien deprecated the +ill-feeling and discord such language was calculated to provoke. In the +course of his observations he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In seconding the motion of my hon. friend, the member for + Kilkenny, for the adoption of this petition, it is not my + intention to follow into any of the polemical <a name="Page_60" id="Page_60" />questions which, + in the course of his protracted speech, he has raised in this + Association. I am obliged, however, to say in candour that in + some of the views he has put forward I cannot agree.... We have + given a general concurrence in this Hall to the recommendation + that has emanated from the Catholic Hierarchy.... I am not + disposed to assist the Government in making those seminaries, + which ought to be seats of learning, filthy sties of corruption. + It is because I believe that such would become their character + if this tenth clause were to remain a legislative enactment that + I shall oppose it to the utmost."</p></div> + +<p>The Reverend John Kenyon, then little known, rose to protest against the +course pursued by Mr. J. O'Connell, which he characterised as not only +uncatholic but unchristian. Mr. J. O'Connell, in the blandest tones, +deprecated any discussion tending to division, which induced Mr. Kenyon +to sit down. Having spread with dexterous industry the most baleful +elements of discord, he begged they should not be disturbed.</p> + +<p>I will be pardoned for transcribing here a few observations of my own on +that occasion.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I am exceedingly anxious, having the misfortune to differ most + widely from my honourable friend the member for Kilkenny, on the + subject of academical education, to express my cordial + concurrence with him in reference to the subject of this + petition. I shall not say one word about our difference of + opinion. I shall enter into no disturbing or dividing + discussion, and the more so because any difference we may + express could not fail to impair the efficiency of our action + where we are thoroughly agreed. I condemn this clause as + strongly as the hon. member can. Nay, I will go a step further, + and say that if there be no provision <a name="Page_61" id="Page_61" />made by the bill for + religious instruction and moral culture, Protestant and Catholic + ought to unite in struggling for its rejection. No matter how + splendid may be the accommodations provided by these + academies—no matter how richly they may be endowed—if there be + no provision made for the religious education of the pupils, I + trust they will remain silent, unattended Halls."</p></div> + +<p>Numerous other proofs to the same facts are accessible, but these are +abundantly conclusive. The history of the struggle itself, the slow and +evidently reluctant change in Mr. O'Connell's opinions, and the +intolerant spirit with which the enemies of the bill pursued the name +and character of those who, although they approved of the mixed system, +were as inveterately inimical to the dangerous provisions of the bill as +they were themselves, sufficiently attest that faction swayed the +troubled movement of clerical and popular passion alike. The vulgar and +virulent anathemas of some tongues and pens not only swept unsparingly +over the unhappy crowd, but aimed at the lofty sphere of Episcopal +authority, even where most identical with purity and piety. A malignant +charity extended to the errors of the Primate that palliation which +perverted reason otherwise refused to admit. Too lofty to be accused of +treachery, he was not too sacred to be pronounced mad.</p> + +<p>The Committee of the Association alone nearly escaped the influence of +the fierce spirit of the times. There the voice of reason for a while +held sway. The forbearance and respect for conflicting opinions which +preserved its dignity were, with the one exception, extended to the +proceedings in the Hall, where even the <a name="Page_62" id="Page_62" />most unscrupulous were checked +by a petition which recognised and welcomed the principle of united +education, but strongly deprecated the objectionable provisions of the +"Godless Bill." To this petition was affixed the signature of almost +every educated lay Catholic in Dublin. The number of Catholic barristers +alone whose names are found among those signatures amounts to +seventy-two. At the same time, a remonstrance addressed personally to +Mr. O'Connell was signed by the leading Catholics of the Association. +Its object was to preclude all discussion on the subject of the disputed +principle in Conciliation Hall. It was signed for the most part by men +who theretofore had taken but little part in the dispute. But against +all these precautions passion by degrees prevailed, and when Mr. +O'Connell was reminded by Mr. Barry, of Cork, that in reply to the +remonstrance he had pledged himself to abstinence from the irritating +discussion, his apology was, that he thought the document in question +and all proceedings connected with it were strictly private; as if the +privacy of a solemn pledge dispensed with its obligation.</p> + +<p>An episode in this strife deserves specific notice. At a meeting of the +Association, held on the 26th of May, the question was incidentally +introduced. Mr. Michael George Conway, a man of considerable literary +and oratorical powers, but not distinguished for any very rigid piety, +introduced the subject, evidently with the view of exciting Mr. +O'Connell's impulsive character against the species of restraint under +which his sinister friends were continually hinting he was held. The +speech breathed the most fervent spirit of<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63" /> Catholic piety, seasoned +with bitter invectives against what Mr. Conway described as a baffled +faction in the Association. Mr. O'Connell took off his cap, waved it +repeatedly over his head, and cheered vociferously. Few, if any, of the +Catholic gentlemen who were opposed to Mr. O'Connell, were present. Mr. +Davis rose, and commenced by saying: "My Catholic friend, my <i>very</i> +Catholic friend." The allusion was intelligible to almost every man in +the assembly, but the practised and dexterous advocate saw and seized +the advantage it presented for exciting the active prejudices of the +audience. He started up and exclaimed, "I hope it is no <i>crime</i> to be a +Catholic." The whole meeting burst into a tumultuous shout which bespoke +a triumph rather than admiration. Mr. O'Connell did triumph, but not in +the sense understood by his applauders. He apprehended the effect of the +honest, frank and manly exposure which, if he were not rudely +interrupted, would be made by Mr. Davis, and he was too keen to allow an +opportunity, so tempting to his object, to pass, though he should +violate all the observances of good feeling and decorum. Mr. Davis, on +the other hand, felt the blow to be a stunning one. He was shocked at +the same time by Mr. O'Connell's disregard, not alone of friendship, but +of common courtesy, and by the intemperate exultation of the audience. +To his loving nature, both seemed, especially in such a place, utterly +unintelligible and grossly unkind. He was the last living man to offer +insult to the belief or even the prejudice of a Catholic, and he felt +that this was thoroughly known to Mr. O'Connell, and that it ought to be +known to his audience. The disappoint<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64" />ment and the rudeness were too +much for his susceptible heart, and he so far yielded to wounded +feelings as to shed tears. Mr. O'Connell, whether gratified by success +or influenced by his better impulse, caught him by the hand and +exclaimed: "Davis, I love you." Although the first struggle closed +amidst cheers, there were carried away from that meeting in the breasts +of many, seeds of bitterness and hate which ripened in after times and +under gloomier auspices. I dwell on it as important, although a casual +incident, frequent and almost inevitable in political excitement. There +were two parties from whose memory the scene never passed. These were +the blind followers of Mr. O'Connell, to whom it seemed blackest guilt +to question his supremacy or infallibility, on the one hand, and on the +other, all who sympathised with genuine and lofty emotions, and regarded +the attack on Mr. Davis as wanton, brutal and contemptible. The +miserable little faction that existed on the spoils of the Association +magnified the difference and fanned the discontent. That Young Ireland +had received its death-blow passed into a watch-word among them.</p> + +<p>An event of mighty augury and most trifling results, which distinguished +the year 1845, must not be passed unmentioned. This was the celebrated +levee, held in the Round Room of the Rotunda, on the 30th of May, the +anniversary of the imprisonment. It was referred to a sub-committee, on +which Mr. Davis and Sir Colman O'Loghlen were principals, to devise the +most appropriate celebration for that important day. They determined on +a public levee, to which were summoned whatever there was of +respectability, authority, genius <a name="Page_65" id="Page_65" />and worth in the island, which +recognised the wisdom, justice and holiness of the struggle for +Nationhood. All the corporations, every delegation which derived public +authority from the popular voice, besides citizens of the unincorporated +towns, answered the summons with alacrity. That day witnessed a scene +the most extraordinary, imposing and formidable of the kind in modern +annals. The Round Room was thronged to excess, but preconcerted +arrangements had provided for the convenience of its favoured visitors, +while the public streets, abandoned to chance, presented an immovable +mass of human beings, swaying to and fro, but governed by a single and +omnipotent impulse, which steeled them to the pressure and broil as if +they felt themselves in presence of a speedy deliverance and free +destiny.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-08" /><a id="image08" href="images/image08-big.jpg"><img src="images/image08.jpg" width="619" height="400" alt="Richard O'Gorman, Jun. (1848) & Patrick O'Donohoe (1848)" title="Richard Gorman, Jun. (1848) and Patrick Donohoe (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Richard O'Gorman, Jun. (1848) & Patrick O'Donohoe (1848)</p> +</div> + +<p>The preparations engaged the vigilant activity of a large committee for +two entire days and nights. Yet these preparations bore an infinite +disproportion to the display of wealth of mind, of energy of thought, +and national pomp, which ushered in the glorious morning. Those who +scoffed at the project when it was first announced came to mock the +scene but went away admiring. The spirit of the hour infused itself into +the public heart, which appeared to throb but to one impulse and one +aim: at all events no one was, no one could be, found obdurate enough to +question the significance or importance of the proceeding.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell's fellow-prisoners shared his state and the homage which +was paid to him. But in the outward crowd no one dissociated him +personally from the minutest detail of the day's proceedings, or +admitted <a name="Page_66" id="Page_66" />for a moment that any other human being partook of its glory, +or directed its end. High above the multitude they saw him receive the +nation's homage, which seemed but the expression of the liberty he had +already achieved. How he felt the influence of the scene there is no +record to tell. His demeanour while exercising the prerogatives of his +position was such as became a man conscious that he occupied a throne +loftier than ever yet was decked by a kingly crown. But when his +official functions were discharged, he addressed the impassioned throng +in language too tame for the most ordinary occasion.</p> + +<p>The great act of the day was the adoption of the following pledge. It +had been prepared and approved by the Committee of the Association, and +every word was canvassed with the most scrupulous regard to the trying +circumstances which the committee found themselves in presence of. The +virulent hostility of the Tory Government had been baffled, and its +utmost strength discomfited. It was understood at the time that a Whig +Government was in the advent of power, and the great object of the +pledge was to record the solemn conviction of the Nation that they were +faithless and treacherous as the others were unscrupulous and +vindictive, and that to the corrupting influence of the one and the +unmasked hostility of the other the same resistance should be shown. The +pledge was preceded by this resolution:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Resolved, That in commemorating this first anniversary of the + 30th of May, we deem it our duty to record a solemn pledge that + corruption shall not seduce, nor deceit cajole, nor intimidation + deter us from seeking <a name="Page_67" id="Page_67" />to obtain for Ireland the blessings of + self-government through a national legislature, and we recommend + that the following pledge be taken:—</p> + +<p> "We, the undersigned, being convinced that good government and + wise legislation can be permanently secured to the Irish people + only through the instrumentality of an Irish Legislature, do + hereby pledge ourselves to our country that we will never desist + from seeking the Repeal of the Union with England by all + peaceable, moral and constitutional means, until a parliament be + restored to Ireland.</p> + +<p> "Dated this 30th day of May, 1845."</p></div> + +<p>This pledge was adopted formally in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda, in +presence of most of the Irish mayors, the leading delegates of the +country, the members of the Eighty-Two Club, and a vast concourse of +gentlemen both from the metropolis and the provinces. It was proposed by +William Smith O'Brien, seconded by Henry Grattan, and put to the meeting +from the chair by the eldest son of Daniel O'Connell. The cheer that +hailed its adoption was a shout not of approval, but defiance. But alas! +many voices mingled in the chorus which have since been attuned to the +meanest whine of mendicancy. That they vilely belied their solemn +promise were of little moment. Nay, more, it is bootless to consider +whether they were more false-tongued and false-hearted in that great +pageant, or on the recent occasion of their kneeling in their own shame +to pledge a faith they do not feel, in expectation of some royal notice +or royal favour. What is mournful in both instances is this, that a show +of wealth, a practice of successful chicanery called good sense, or +public trust <a name="Page_68" id="Page_68" />won by intrigue and falsehood, should so blind the world +to the <i>man's</i> rotten and vulgar heart as to raise them to a position +where their acts should be regarded as indicative of the feeling or +important to the destiny of a nation.</p> + +<p>With the 30th of May, passed off the excitement of which it was the +cause and scene. Those who arranged the grand pageant of that day, and +invested it with attributes, suggestive, imposing and useful as ever +decked a public spectacle, would have wrought it out into a sterner +purpose: but the heart upon which they counted had, even then, died. Mr. +O'Connell's speech too painfully bespoke his utter inability to guide +the nation in any higher effort. The energy that should have seized the +occasion to confirm the people in their strong purpose, and elevate +their hopes to the level of the great stake at issue, exhausted itself +in balancing the routine details of cold and empty statistics. The +curtain fell, and nothing remained but grotesque figures, withered +garlands, broken panels and desolate dust, which mingled confusedly +behind the scene, over the dark, deserted stage. The journals, of +course, preserved, for a few days, very glittering reminiscences of the +scene. With one accord, they pronounced it surpassing in interest and +importance. Great results were anticipated in the newspaper world; and +many imagined they had fulfilled the last obligations they owed their +country. But with the men, who had fondly hoped to date therefrom a new +era and begin a nobler task, the 30th of May, was of dark, despairing +augury. They clearly saw that from that hour forth there remained but +the alternative of abandoning their <a name="Page_69" id="Page_69" />cherished hopes, or attempting to +realise them without the aid, perhaps in opposition to the wishes, of +Mr. O'Connell. It was a gloomy and sad conviction, but it was no longer +to be blinked.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Mr. O'Connell returned to the Hall, and repeated to a jaded +audience, week after week, the same stale list of grievances. From any +other man the repetition would be intolerable. But the public ear had +become attuned to his accents, to which, whatever the sense of his +language, men listened as to a messenger of heavenly tidings. Mr. Duffy +strongly urged upon his fellow labourers the improbability of success, +and advised a distinct change of policy. In this he was overborne by +their united opinion, and the <i>Nation</i> continued to promulgate the same +bold, unwavering course. By degrees the feeling of bitterness +entertained by the anti-education section of the priests found +utterance, and the paper was, almost openly, denounced as an infidel +publication. At first indeed, the charge was shrouded in mysterious +insinuations; but it soon gained strength and audacity, and received the +unblushing sanction of at least one prelate. The answer of the <i>Nation</i> +was confined to one indignant line. Proof was demanded and was not +offered; but its very absence only deepened the malignity of the +slanderers. Even in the midst of this storm the muse of Thomas Davis +sang no discordant strain, nor did his pen trace one angry word. On the +contrary, he summoned his whole energies to the task of harmonising the +jarring elements around him. His inspiration rose to that unearthly +height, whereon guidance becomes prophecy. Great, strong and unselfish +convictions, entertained <a name="Page_70" id="Page_70" />holily and uttered sincerely, are assurances +of new creations, pledges of the destiny to which they tend. In this +spirit, spoke and sang Thomas Davis during a time of bitterness and +dissension. And his counsels had been successful, but alas! in that last +effort his fond, faithful, trusting heart was broken.</p> + +<p>There was a perceptible lull in the agitation. The country gradually +relapsed into a state of inactive and vague hope, which centred in the +mental resources of Mr. O'Connell. The difficulties which the people +should have appreciated and learned to overcome, they transferred, with +easy and trusting indifference, to the energies of the "Liberator," +which they not only deemed boundless but immortal. From all educated and +thoughtful men, however, hope in those energies had passed away. Davis +seduously endeavoured during the summer months of 1845, to gather these, +and others of the same class from the Conservative ranks, round some +common object or endeavour, outside Mr. O'Connell's path, and not +calculated to wake their prejudice or jealousies. The Art Union, the +Archaeological Society, the Royal Irish Academy, the Library of Ireland, +the Cork School of Design, the Mechanics' Institute and every effort and +institution, having for their aim the encouragement of the nation in +arts, literature and greatness, engaged his vigilant and embracing care. +Of each of these institutions he became the great attraction, the real +centre and head. While he successfully wrought to give a national and +steady direction to Irish intellect and enterprise—Hogan, in Italy, +Maclise, in London, and others like them, who were bravely struggling +and nobly emulating <a name="Page_71" id="Page_71" />the highest efforts of the genius of other lands, +were vindicated, encouraged and applauded by his pen. Among the sterner +natures, who urged their way through the stormy elements of agitation, +his accents, though low and diffident, commanded the deepest attention +and most lasting memory. While thus engaged, compassing by his "circling +soul," every sunward effort and immortal tendency of the country, death +came, sudden and inexorable, and struck him down in his day of utmost +might. His last work on earth was the brief dedication of the memoir of +Curran, and edition of his select speeches, which he had prepared, to +his friend, William Elliot Hudson. This he wrote during a pause of +delirium, and soon afterwards passed to a brighter world. He died on the +16th of September, 1845, when yet but thirty-one years old. How sincere +and deep was the public grief, no pen can ever tell. In the mourning +procession that followed his hearse there was no parade of woe, but +every eye was wet and every tongue silent. If ever sorrow was too deep +for utterance, it was that which settled above the early grave of Thomas +Davis.</p> + +<p>During the summer, no effort of the Association rose above the hacknied +level of the usual weekly meetings and the repetition of the same stale +grievances, except a gathering of Tipperary at Thurles, which took place +on the 23rd of September. This was the largest of the monster meetings: +but, although the crowd was enormous and the shouting loud, it seemed +without purpose or heart. During the preparations for that meeting I had +to encounter difficulties of the most extraordinary kind. First, the +meeting was opposed <a name="Page_72" id="Page_72" />by certain influential clergymen; and when they +found themselves too feeble to resist, they transferred all their +opposition to me. There is no petty cavil they had not recourse to, to +thwart and discourage, and even when all had succeeded I was treated +with personal discourtesy and annoyance at the public dinner. The seeds +of strife, afterwards destined to bear such deadly fruit, had already +begun to manifest themselves, and petty calumnies were insinuated in the +name of religion and morality. From that great meeting the crowd retired +quickly, and, almost as instantaneously, its effect faded from the +public heat. All that remained was soreness and distrust.</p> + +<p>No event worth a memory marked the close of 1845, or the first months of +1846. The Colleges Bill had passed, without a single important +amendment, and a Roman Catholic priest accepted the nomination of +Government, as president of one of the institutions. Some of the +prelates, too, were said to be favourable to the colleges, even as they +were then constituted, and the divisions supposed to exist among them +were imparting their acridity to the deepening distractions of the time, +when an event occurred—the advent of the Whigs to office—which broke +up the great confederacy on which the hopes of the nation were staked.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5" /><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> The Repeal "Rent." The weekly contributions to the funds of +Conciliation Hall.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6" /><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Moved by the Right Reverend Dr. Brown of Elphin; seconded +by the Right Reverend Dr. McNally of Clogher. Resolved: That the Most +Reverend Dr. Crolly be requested to reply to the letter received from +the Holy Father, stating that the instructions therein contained have +been received by the assembled prelates of Ireland with that degree of +profound respect, obedience and veneration that should ever be paid to +any document emanating from the Apostolic See, and that they all pledge +themselves to carry the spirit thereof into effect." +</p><p> +Dr. Crolly had previously explained what he considered true obedience to +the rescript. He writes in reference to a former one in 1839: "In +obedience to the injunction of the Holy See, I endeavoured to reclaim +those misguided clergymen;" adding that the present was "in order that I +should <i>more efficaciously</i> admonish such priests or prelates as I +might find taking a prominent or imprudent part in political +proceedings."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7" /><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> John Reynolds.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV" /><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73" />CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p>IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS. — CONDUCT OF +THE ASSOCIATION. — DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB.—MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS +TO IRELAND. — DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE.</p> + + +<p>Before proceeding to detail the circumstances which led to the +celebrated secession, it is essential to dispose of an episode in the +struggle, which, more than any other, stamped its impress on the acts +and feelings of that unfortunate period; I allude to the imprisonment, +by the House of Commons, of William Smith O'Brien. There is no act of +his life upon which there has been so much acrimonious criticism; none +on account of which he has been subjected to so much intemperate +misrepresentation. And yet, perhaps, his great career, fruitful in good +actions, never furnished a purer or more unselfish example of sound +judgment as well as intrepidity and devotion. The history of his +incarceration ranges over a great portion of the time which has been +already passed, and enters largely into the leading events, hereafter to +be related. A clear understanding of the whole—of Mr. O'Brien's +influencing motives and his tenacity of principle—would be impossible +without a distinct recital of the circumstances out of which his purpose +first grew, and which, to the end, controlled his resolution.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1845, the committee of the Association passed a vote to +the effect that the Parliamentary <a name="Page_74" id="Page_74" />representatives, who were members of +that body, should withdraw from the British Parliament. It was proposed +by Mr. Davis and received Mr. O'Connell's entire approval. Though at +first sneered at, it had a stunning effect. The supercilious British +Commons, who would have answered the just remonstrance of the Irish +Repealers with a jeer, shrank from the consequences of legislating for +the country in the absence of the men, whose efforts, if present, they +would not hesitate to scoff at. The disturbing influence of the +resolution became at once perceptible, and the earliest means were taken +to bring the question to an issue. Mr. Hume, a parsimonious economist, +of niggard principle and grovelling sentiment, undertook the office of +coercing the Irish. He gave notice of a motion for a call of the House. +This man, a mean utilitarian, had been rejected by the country of his +birth and the country of his adoption, and found refuge in an Irish +constituency, that returned him without solicitation and without +expense. He repaid them and the country by a vulgar jest, and now +assumed the responsibility of their public prosecutor.</p> + +<p>The Association heard his threat with calm indignation and resolved at +once to defy him. The great importance of the position in which it was +placed suggested the necessity of a deliberate consideration; first, of +the constitutional question at stake and, secondly, of the steps proper +to vindicate its own dignity and resolution. As on all such occasions, a +sub-committee was appointed to whom the question was referred. Mr. +O'Connell had to some extent formed an opinion favourable to the object +of the Association. He stated <a name="Page_75" id="Page_75" />that he had considered the question in a +two-fold point of view.</p> + +<p>First, "Whether the controlling power of the English House of Commons +over its members, which admittedly it possessed before the Act of Union, +was extended to the Irish portion of the members by that Act, there +being no express provision creating it?"</p> + +<p>And secondly, "Whether even if the House possessed the power, it was +competent to enforce it, or, in other words, whether the Speaker's +warrant would receive Ireland?"</p> + +<p>To report on these two questions, thus framed, the following gentlemen +were elected as a sub-committee: James O'Hea, Sir Colman O'Loghlen, +Robert Mullen, James O'Dowd and myself. Of that committee, each +approached his task with that instinctive bias, inseparable from ardent +minds, excited by a darling hope. They read the precedents, the cases, +the arguments and judgments applicable to their enquiry with the aid of +such a hope, and still they came to the reluctant decision that the +ground taken against the authority of the British Parliament was not +maintainable. With regard to the first branch they were unanimous. With +regard to the second, Sir Colman O'Loghlen alone entertained some +doubts. As chairman of the committee, I drew up a brief report, +embodying our opinion. One reason alone we thought conclusive, namely, +that the formidable jurisdiction claimed by the House of Commons was +indispensable to the unimpeded fulfilment of its functions, as a +coordinate branch of the supreme power and controlling authority of the +State. In its very danger and extrava<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76" />gance consisted its supremacy; for +it showed that it was only admitted from its overruling and +overmastering necessity. And as the Parliament was recognised in Ireland +in all things else we thought it would be absurd to deny it functions +indispensable to its vitality.</p> + +<p>On handing in the report, I mentioned the doubts entertained by Sir +Colman O'Loghlen. Mr. O'Connell suggested that the report should be +deferred until he could consult Sir Colman. The suggestion was agreed +to, and time given for reconsideration. Mr. O'Connell himself examined +the question, he said, with great attention. He was assisted by Mr. +Clements in his researches, and at the end of the fortnight he came down +to the committee with a report of his own, distinctly and emphatically +contradicting ours, upon both branches of the case. He delivered it to +the chairman (Mr. S. O'Brien), with exultation, as a great +constitutional discovery of unspeakable importance to the liberties of +Ireland. The committee received it in the same spirit. I ventured to +question the soundness of his opinion, and maintain my own, it was +considered a daring thing to do in those times; but the question seemed +to me so clear that I could not abandon my views without treachery to my +conviction. The discussion was very short, and ended in personality, +wherein he insinuated something about unworthy motives. No scene of my +life made the same impression on me. I felt keenly his reproaches, but +still more keenly the impolicy and imprudence of the step into which the +country was precipitated. I requested that the question should be again +postponed, and the opinion <a name="Page_77" id="Page_77" />of some eminent men outside the Association +taken. I was overruled, and even laughed at—it was "doubting Mr. +O'Connell." Mr. O'Connell said, "I'll test this question '<i>meo +periculo</i>.'" The resolution passed amid cheers, and was recorded next +day amid the louder and more vehement cheers of the Association. The +country re-echoed the boast, and the House of Commons was, by a formal +and solemn vote of the entire nation, set at defiance. The conflict was +pre-arranged, even to its minute details. Mr. O'Brien was to proceed to +London, where disobedience would be more marked and decisive; and Mr. +John O'Connell was to remain in Ireland, where he could take advantage +of an additional obstacle to the exercise of its authority to the House. +So the matter stood when Mr. Hume, through what motive it is not easy to +see, neglected or abandoned his notice. The country regarded this as a +confession of weakness by the House, and gloried in a new triumph +achieved by the genius of Mr. O'Connell. He himself thought he had found +a great and solid basis for future action, and hinted at the prospect of +being able to raise upon it a parliamentary structure, having +imprescriptible and indefeasible authority, and only requiring the +sanction of the crown.</p> + +<p>A short time after the withdrawal of Mr. Hume's motion, the question was +again raised in another form. The chairman of the Committee of Selection +for Railways addressed a circular, among others, to Messrs. S. O'Brien +and John O'Connell, requiring their attendance at the selection of +special Railway Committees. The correspondent of the <i>Freeman's +Journal</i>, thus writes in forwarding their replies:—<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78" /></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>London, Monday, June 30.</i></p> + +<p> "The authority of the British Senate over Irish representatives + is now fairly placed at issue. By my letter of yesterday + evening, you were apprised of the determination of Smith O'Brien + and John O'Connell, to refuse to comply with the summons of the + parliamentary selection committee.</p> + +<p> "The course I suggested as that which it was probable would be + adopted, has been since finally resolved upon, and in part + carried into execution. John O'Connell, for the purpose of + taking the chances of a judgment in the Irish court, will not + forward his answer till he shall have reached Ireland. Smith + O'Brien delivered his reply to the clerk of the House of Commons + this day, at one o'clock."</p></div> + +<p>Here follows Mr. O'Brien's letter:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CLUB, PALL-MALL.</p> + +<p> "<i>June 30, 1845.</i></p> + +<p> "Sir.—I had the honour of receiving on Saturday afternoon a + letter dated 28th June, and signed 'Henry Creed,' to the + following effect: 'I am directed by the committee of selection + to inform you that your name is on the list for which members + will be selected to serve on the railway committees, which will + commence their sittings in the week beginning Monday, the 14th + July, during which week it will be necessary for you to be in + attendance, for the purpose of serving, if requested, on a + railway committee.'</p> + +<p> "I trust that the committee of selection will not think that I + am prompted by any feeling of disrespect towards them, or + towards the House of Commons, when I inform them that it is my + intention not to serve on any committees except such as may be + appointed with reference to the affairs of Ireland.</p> + +<p> "<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79" />I accepted a seat in the House of Commons, in the hope of + being thereby enabled to assist in improving the condition of + the land of my birth. So long as I continued to believe that I + could serve Ireland effectually in the House of Commons, I + shrank from none of the labours which are connected with the + varied functions of that assembly. During twelve years I + attended Parliament with an assiduity of which I might feel + disposed to boast, if the time so consumed by the House and by + myself had been productive of results useful to my native + country.</p> + +<p> "Experience and observation at length forced upon my mind the + conviction that the British Parliament is incompetent through + want of knowledge, if not, through want of inclination, to + legislate wisely for Ireland, and that our national interests + can be protected and fostered only through the instrumentality + of an Irish legislature.</p> + +<p> "Since this conviction has established itself in my mind I have + felt persuaded that the labours of the Irish members, though of + little avail in the British Parliament, might, if applied in + Ireland with prudence and energy, be effectual in obtaining for + the Irish people their national rights.</p> + +<p> "I have reason to believe that in this opinion a very large + majority of my constituents concur. To them alone I hold myself + responsible for the performance of my parliamentary duty. If + they had disapproved of my continued absence from the House of + Commons, I should have felt it my duty to have withdrawn from + the representation of the county of Limerick; but I have the + satisfaction of thinking that I not only consult the interests, + but also comply with the wishes of my constituents in declining + to engage in the struggles of English party, or to involve + myself in the details of English legislation.</p> + +<p> "While such have been the general impressions under which I have + absented myself during nearly two years from the House of + Commons, I yet do not feel myself <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80" />at liberty to forego whatever + power of resistance to the progress of pernicious legislation my + office of representative may confer upon me. Upon the present + occasion, I have come to London for the purpose of endeavouring + to induce the House of Commons, or rather the Government, who + appear to command the opinions of a large majority of the House, + to modify some of the Irish measures now before Parliament in + such a manner as to render them beneficial, instead of + injurious, to Ireland.</p> + +<p> "Desiring that none but the representatives of the Irish nation + should legislate for Ireland, we have no wish to intermeddle + with the affairs of England, or Scotland, except in so far as + they may be connected with the interest of Ireland or with the + general policy of the empire.</p> + +<p> "In obedience to this principle I have abstained from voting on + English and Scotch questions of a local nature, and the same + motive now induces me to decline attendance on committees on any + private bills, except such as relate to Ireland.</p> + +<p> "I am prepared to abide with cheerfulness the personal + consequences which may result from the course of conduct which I + feel it my duty to adopt.</p> + +<p> "I speak with great diffidence upon any question of a legal + kind, but I am supported by very high professional authority + when I suggest to the committee that no power was delegated to + the House of Commons by the Act of Union, or by subsequent + statutes, to compel to attendance Irish members on the + deliberations of the British Parliament. Neither do I find that + any authority has been given by statutory enactment to the House + (except in the case of election petitions) to enforce the + attendance of members upon committees.</p> + +<p> "I refrain, however, from arguing legal questions which may be + raised before another tribunal, in case it should become + necessary and advisable to appeal from the decision of the House + of Commons to the courts of judicature, and conclude by assuring + the committee <a name="Page_81" id="Page_81" />that I take the course which I propose to + adopt, not from any desire to defy the just authority of the + House of Commons, but in obedience to my sense of the duty which + I owe to my constituents and my country.</p> + +<p> "I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,</p> + +<p> "WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN.</p> + +<p> "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection."</p></div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-09" /><a id="image09" href="images/image09-big.jpg"><img src="images/image09.jpg" width="325" height="400" alt="Thomas Devin Reilly" title="Thomas Devin Reilly" /></a> +<p class="caption">Thomas Devin Reilly</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell's letter bears date on the next day, as announced in the +correspondent's notice, because it was intended it should not be +delivered until the honourable gentleman was beyond the pale of English +jurisdiction.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"BRITISH HOTEL, JERMYN STREET,</p> + +<p> 8 a.m., <i>July 1st.</i></p> + +<p> "Sir.—I have to acknowledge the receipt of a notification by + order of your committee, to the effect that my attendance in + Parliament will be required during the week beginning Monday, + 14th July, for the purpose of serving, if chosen, on a + parliamentary committee.</p> + +<p> "With every respect to you, Sir, and the gentlemen of your + committee, I absolutely decline attending.</p> + +<p> "I, like some others, came to London the first time this session + about a fortnight ago to remonstrate against and endeavour to + resist the plan of infidel education which the Government are + forcing upon Ireland. We had not, nor for some years have had, + the slightest hope of obtaining any measure of good from a + foreign parliament; but we came against our better judgment, + that it might not be said we had not gone all lengths to + endeavour to deter the Government from a scheme so <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82" />redolent of + political corruption, social profligacy and religious + infidelity.</p> + +<p> "We came armed with multitudinous petitions of the people, and + the strong, unanimous and most decided protest from our revered + prelacy and clergy.</p> + +<p> "We were of course mocked at, derided and refused; but, what is + of infinitely more consequence, the voice of our prelates and of + the faithful people of Ireland have been treated with utter + contempt—even Irish Catholics (yielding to the unwholesome + influences around them) joining in the contemptuous refusal.</p> + +<p> "Under these circumstances, Sir, I certainly will not suffer + that portion of the people of Ireland who have entrusted their + representation to my charge to be further mocked at and insulted + in my person. I go to where I can best discharge my duty to them + and to Ireland—<i>in Ireland</i>. There struggling, with doubtless + as little ability, but with more energy and, if possible, more + whole-hearted devotion than ever, to put an end to the present + degradation of my country and obtain for her that which can + alone ensure protection to her interests, relief to her many + wants, and peace, freedom and happiness to her long oppressed + and long enduring people,</p> + +<p> "I have the honour to be, Sir,</p> + +<p> "Your obedient servant,</p> + +<p> "JOHN O'CONNELL.</p> + +<p> "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection."</p></div> + +<p>These documents were entered on the minutes of the Association, and +remained on its records with the original resolution. But no more was +done in the matter until the beginning of April, 1846.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83" />Mr. O'Connell and his son were in London, and Mr. O'Brien remained in +Ireland. They had been all summoned to attend on committees. When Mr. +O'Brien reached London, he found that the Messrs. O'Connell, without any +previous communication with him or with the Association, and without +reference to the solemn resolution, to the contrary, of that body, were +acting on committees. This deeply disappointed and mortified him, and he +at once resolved to remain faithful, at all risks, and though he stood +alone, to the obligation which he had contracted with the sanction and +approval of his country. Whatever may be the temper and resolution of +the House of Commons, had it been resisted by the unbroken strength of +the Association, it felt confident of its power to crush Mr. O'Brien +alone, separate from, nay, abandoned by, the great leader of the Irish +people. It must be acknowledged that the course pursued by the Commons +was considerate and moderate. A principle involving their liberty of +action was in issue; to vindicate it was indispensable; but finding +themselves only opposed by a single man, of all those who had provoked +the encounter, they proceeded with caution and forbearance. They +forewarned, counselled and remonstrated during the time that intervened; +and several members of the House, including Mr. O'Connell, urged Mr. +O'Brien to give way. He refused, determinedly, and it may be supposed +not the less sternly, when he found, among those who advised him to +falsify his solemn promise, the man upon whose authority and through +whose influence he had made it. The result was, his arrest and +imprisonment, for disobedience to the House. Circumstances more <a name="Page_84" id="Page_84" />trying +never beset the fortitude of a great man. Personal liberty was his +slightest loss. The sneers of his enemies, the pity of his personal, and +the desertion of his political, friends <ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'posioned'"> +poisoned</ins> the very air of the +miserable cell to which he was consigned, and what completed his agony +was a notion that he had been abandoned by his country.</p> + +<p>During the early part of his imprisonment, a motion was made questioning +the authority of the House. In the course of the discussion, Sir Thomas +Wilde, then Attorney-General, dared any constitutional lawyer to impugn +the jurisdiction assumed by the House. Every member felt that the +challenge was offered to Mr. O'Connell, who replied as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I am sure that the House will give credit to my assurance that + I should not rise to advocate the cause of my honourable friend, + if I thought he had had the slightest intention of being + disrespectful towards the House. It has not been his intention + to be guilty of any contempt towards it: he thought he was + entitled to make the exception to which he adheres. He has acted + from a strong sense of duty, and I am sorry to see it is a sense + of duty he is not likely to give up."</p></div> + +<p>I add to this an extract from his speech delivered at the Corn Exchange, +when, in spite of the most earnest remonstrance, the Association offered +its defiance in solemn form to the British Parliament.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mr. O'Connell rose amid loud cheers, and said:—Our usual + course of proceeding in this hall is to commence with handing in + money, and then to go on with business of inferior importance, + the business of making speeches<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85" /> (hear! hear! and laughter); but + among the passing events of the day, there is one of such signal + importance, that I am sure you will readily admit that I am + right when I claim for it, on the present occasion, a right of + precedence over any donation or subscription, no matter from + what quarter they may come. The matter I allude to is a menace + held out for the intimidation (as it is supposed) of the Irish + members who are given to understand that there is about to be a + call of the House, and that it is intended that the Speaker's + warrant shall issue to compel them to go over to London. Now, + sir, I think it right to apprise the Association and the country + that, having considered this question attentively, I have made + up my mind that the Speaker has no constitutional authority + whatever to issue any such warrant."</p></div> + +<p>But what pained Mr. O'Brien the deepest was the apparent coldness, +apathy or cowardice of the Irish people. Among them, and them only, he +calculated an enthusiastic sustainment. But those who felt the deepest +in his regard were constrained by the responsibility of coming to an +open rupture with Mr. O'Connell, at a time when union in the ranks of +the Association was indispensable to even partial success. A vote was +proposed to the committee, approving of Mr. O'Brien's act, and pledging +the Association to an identification with the principle by which his +conduct was governed. That vote was resisted by the whole of Mr. +O'Connell's family, and personal friends and by all the pensioners and +employes of the body. It was carried, nevertheless. But a motion to +consult Mr. O'Connell as to its legality was passed, and the resolution +was transmitted to him accordingly. His reply was an urgent remonstrance +against the resolution on the ground of illegality.<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86" /> Meantime, +representations were made that a certain party in the Association, +intolerant of Mr. O'Connell's sway, were using that occasion to +undermine his authority and overthrow his power. The great +responsibility of causing disunion determined the supporters of the +resolution to compromise with its opponents, and it was finally shaped +thus:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Resolved, That having learned with deep regret, that by a + resolution of the House of Commons the country has been deprived + of the eminent services of Mr. William Smith O'Brien, and that + illustrious member of this Association himself committed to + prison, we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without + conveying to him the assurance of our undiminished confidence in + his integrity, patriotism and personal courage, and our + admiration for the high sense of duty and purity of purpose + which prompted him to risk his personal liberty in assertion of + a principle which he believed to be inherent in the constitution + of his country."</p></div> + +<p>It was again, in its modified form, transmitted to Mr. O'Connell, and +returned with his disapprobation. Captain Broderick read a letter from +him, to that effect, at a meeting of the committee, suddenly summoned on +Monday, the 4th of May, a few hours only previous to the public meeting +of the Association, deprecating the passing of the resolution in any +form. The present writer was the proposer of the resolution, and, +feeling that he had already made too great a compromise, he refused to +accede to this last request of Mr. O'Connell. The resolution was +proposed and adopted with acclamation, and a letter was read from<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87" /> Mr. +O'Connell, by Mr. Ray, in which he stated that the resolution did not go +far enough.</p> + +<p>In the provinces, the timid policy of the Association was decried with +bitterness, and the men who struggled, against great odds, to identify +the whole island with Mr. O'Brien, and pledge it to sustain him to the +last, were subjected to the most virulent denunciations. Because the +compromised resolution was moved, seconded, and spoken to by them, the +whole country regarded them as the betrayers of their own avowed chief, +and the violence with which they were attacked was unmeasured and +unscrupulous.</p> + +<p>They made no reply. No unjust aspersions from a people in ignorance of +the resistance offered to them, and the motives that influenced them, +could induce them to explain the position they had taken. But when they +saw while they were subjected to the storm that Mr. O'Connell's friends, +on the authority of his published letter, took credit for neutrality, +they resolved once more to test the question in a body, whose +proceedings were of a more private character, and where the most marked +difference of opinion could lead to no fatal result—the Eighty-Two +Club. Mr. O'Connell was the president of this club, and Mr. O'Brien one +of its vice-presidents. A meeting was called. The attendance was +unusually large. Men who had never before, and have never since, +appeared at its meetings, were present. The question proposed was that +an address be presented to Mr. O'Brien, in which his principles and his +conduct would be fully recognised, approved of and adopted. This led to +a discussion that lasted two days, but the motion was carried in <a name="Page_88" id="Page_88" />the +end by a majority of two to one. One man, and one only, unconnected with +Mr. O'Connell, either by personal friendship or personal obligations, +voted against the resolution. That man is Sir Colman O'Loghlen. His name +is mentioned, because he was the only member of the minority whose +motives could be regarded as unquestionable. For the rest, the minority +was composed of Mr. O'Connell's sons and relatives, with Mr. Ray and Mr. +Crean, officers of the Association, and one or two members whom he had +caused to be returned to Parliament, amounting to twelve. A committee +was appointed to prepare the address and resolutions, which were written +by John Mitchel, and adopted by the committee without the change of a +word. They also determined that the address should be adopted in its +integrity by the club, or not at all. When it was proposed, objection +was again taken to its principle, on the ground that it would commit the +club, and involve it in a hopeless conflict with the House of Commons +which of itself, it was averred, would be a misdemeanour at common law. +The proposition was eminently absurd in common sense, as well as law, +but it was sustained by the practised ingenuity and great skill of Mr. +O'Hea, who, to do him justice, seemed deeply to feel the hopelessness +and shamefulness of the task that was assigned him. But no other +argument could prevail, and this appeal to the fears or selfishness of +its wealthiest members was had recourse to in consequence of the utter +poverty of reason and argument, which could otherwise be presented +against the principle of the address. But such an obligation led to a +novel difficulty and bitterer <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89" />conflict. A discussion involving +principles of the greatest moment narrowed into a technical disquisition +of abstract law. Mr. O'Hea was driven from his position by the unanimous +and unqualified opinion of every barrister present, and even by his own +silence, when dared to allow the address to pass in the negative, and +assume the responsibility of its rejection on the avowed ground of his +legal opinion, as expressed to the meeting. The address was adopted by a +greater majority than that which had confirmed the principle on the +previous day, and a deputation was appointed to present it to Mr. +O'Brien in his prison.</p> + +<p>The members of that deputation, who proceeded to fulfil their mission, +were William Bryan, of Raheny Lodge; John Mitchel, Richard O'Gorman, +Thomas Francis Meagher and the present writer. They were accompanied by +Terence Bellew MacManus and John Pigot, who joined them in London. They +waited on Mr. O'Connell, as the president of the club, produced the +address and requested he would proceed with them to present it. He +admitted, without question, that as it was adopted by so very large and +influential a majority, he was bound to do so. But he added that Mr. +O'Brien refused to receive a visit from him, owing to the part he had +taken, and further said, if Mr. O'Brien expressed a wish to see him, +that he would accompany us. The deputation on their way to the House of +Commons consulted for a moment, and, as well as I remember, Doctor Gray +and some others were present: the result was a determination to present +the address without Mr. O'Connell, feeling that an explanation between +him and Mr. O'Brien, could not fail <a name="Page_90" id="Page_90" />to lead to unpleasant +recriminations, if not to more serious differences. The address and +answer were as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"TO WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN, ESQ.</p> + +<p> "RESPECTED VICE-PRESIDENT AND BROTHER.</p> + +<p> "Heartily approving of the course you have taken in refusing to + devote to the concerns of another people any of the time which + your own constituents and countrymen feel to be of so much value + to them, we, your brethren of the '82 Club, take this occasion + of recording our increased confidence in, and esteem for you, + personally and politically, and our determination to sustain and + stand by you in asserting the right of Ireland to the + undistracted labours of our own representatives in Parliament.</p> + +<p> "We, sir, like yourself, have long since 'abandoned for ever all + hope of obtaining wise and beneficial legislation for Ireland + from the Imperial Parliament'; nor would such legislation, even + if attainable, satisfy our aspirations. We are confederated + together in the '82 Club upon the plain ground that no body of + men ought to have power to make laws binding this kingdom, save + the Monarch, Lords, and Commons of Ireland. From that principle + we shall never depart, and with God's help it shall soon find + recognition by a parliament of our own.</p> + +<p> "Upon the mode in which the House of Commons has thought fit to + exercise the privilege it asserts in the present instance—upon + the personal discourtesy which has marked all the late + proceedings in your regard, we shall make but one comment, that + every insult to you is felt as an insult to us and to the people + of Ireland.</p> + +<p> "It would be idle and out of place to offer condolence to you, + confined in an English prison for such an offence.<a name="Page_91" id="Page_91" /> We + congratulate you that you have made yourself the champion of + your country's rights, and submitted to ignominy for a cause + which you and we know shall one day triumph.</p> + +<p> "(Signed)</p> + +<p> "COLMAN M. O'LOGHLEN, Vice-President, Chairman.</p></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"May 9th, 1846."</p> + +<p> "BROTHERS OF THE '82 CLUB.—I receive this address with pride + and satisfaction.</p> + +<p> "I recognise in the '82 Club a brotherhood of patriots, who have + volunteered to take the foremost place in contending for the + liberties of Ireland, and who may vie, in regard of ability, + integrity and sincerity of purpose, with any political + association, consisting of equal numbers, which has ever been + united in voluntary confederation.</p> + +<p> "The unqualified approval accorded to my conduct by such a body + justifies me in entertaining a sentiment of honourable pride, + which I am not ashamed to avow.</p> + +<p> "Nor shall I attempt to disguise the satisfaction with which I + receive this address.</p> + +<p> "If you had approached me with language of condolence, I could + scarcely have dissembled my grief and disappointment; but you + have justly felt that such language would be unsuited to the + occasion, and unworthy both of yourselves and of me.</p> + +<p> "On the contrary, you <i>congratulate</i> me upon being subjected to + reproach and indignity for having aspired to vindicate the + rights of my native land; you deem, as I deem, that to suffer + for Ireland is a privilege rather than a penalty.</p> + +<p> "In acknowledging your address, I shall not dwell upon the many + important considerations which are involved in my present + contest with the House of Commons. I cannot but think, indeed, + that the <a name="Page_92" id="Page_92" />constitutional questions at issue are of the highest + moment, not alone to the Irish people, but also to each member + of the legislature, and to every parliamentary elector in the + United Kingdom. Upon the present occasion, however, I am + contented to waive all reference to collateral issues, and to + justify my conduct upon the simple ground upon which it has + received your approval—namely, that until a domestic + legislature shall be obtained for Ireland, my own country + demands my undivided exertions.</p> + +<p> "Be assured that those exertions will not be withheld so long as + life and liberty remain to me, until Ireland shall again <i>fiat</i> + the Declaration of 1782: 'That no body of men is entitled to + make laws to bind the Irish nation save only the Monarch, the + Lords, and the Commons of Ireland.'"</p></div> + +<p>On my way home I was invited to address a public meeting of Repealers in +Liverpool. I accepted the invitation, and in the course of my +observations, emphatically repudiated all compromise on the subject of +my country's deliverance. I disclaimed the idea that any concessions, +any equalization with England in political franchises, any amelioration +of our political or social condition, could ever be accepted by Ireland +in compromise of her inalienable independence. When I arrived in Dublin, +I attended the Association, and, happening to read a letter from the +Rev. Mr. Walshe, of Clonmel, couched in the warmest terms of admiration +of Mr. O'Brien's purity and heroism, the cowardice or jealousy of a +certain party in the Hall found expression through its proper organs, +and I was called to order in the name of the law. A violation of law to +<i>praise</i> William Smith O'Brien! The chairman decided it was. To such +decision I scorned to submit, and I read the <a name="Page_93" id="Page_93" />letter to the end, amidst +the most enthusiastic cheers of the audience. I was proceeding to read +another letter from another clergyman of the same town, written in a +very different spirit, when I was besought to withhold it, and entreated +not to read it. I complied. It is but fair to add here that on the +Saturday previous, an article was published in the <i>Nation</i>, some +expressions of which Mr. O'Connell considered personally insulting.</p> + +<p>Whether Mr. O'Connell was influenced by one or all of these occurrences, +cannot be affirmed here. But he proceeded to Ireland in the course of +the week, and suddenly called a meeting of the Committee of the +Association, before which he arraigned us of discourtesy to him in +London, found fault with the meeting at Liverpool, accused the <i>Nation</i> +of attacking him, and, finally, expressed his unequivocal disapprobation +of my resistance to the order of the chairman in the Hall. The +deputation explained their conduct in London, and the motives that +governed them, with which he appeared to be satisfied. All connection +with the proceeding in Liverpool with which he took offence, was +disclaimed, and, finally, Mr. Duffy satisfied him that no offence was +meant him in the <i>Nation</i>, and that the passage of which he complained +had no reference to him.</p> + +<p>The discussion was a long and, to some extent, an angry one. It ended, +however, as we thought, amicably. Mr. O'Connell had proposed at the +outset two objects, namely, to express a solemn condemnation of the +proceedings in Liverpool, and to expel the <i>Nation</i> from the +Association. The rule of the Association was to send to every locality, +at the expense of the body, whatever <a name="Page_94" id="Page_94" />papers the subscribers of a +certain sum desired. There were then three other weekly papers in +Dublin, The <i>Register</i>, the <i>Freeman</i>, and the <i>Old Irelander</i>. The +<i>Nation</i> had a circulation nearly equal to that of all the others. Its +expulsion from the Association would at once deprive it of all the +circulation it had through its agency, thus involving a very serious +pecuniary loss to Mr. Duffy.</p> + +<p>The two positions were abandoned, and the Committee separated on +amicable terms. Another subject of importance was under discussion. This +was, what suitable mark of national respect should be offered to Mr. +O'Brien; and it was proposed that the committee should re-assemble on +the following day (Sunday), at two o'clock. At the second meeting the +disagreeable topics of the former evening were revived and discussed in +a more acrimonious spirit and tone. The Committee was differently +composed, most of the treasurers connected with the Committee being +present, and most of the professional men, who attended on Saturday, +being absent, Mr. O'Connell saw his advantage, or those under whose +guidance he unfortunately was, saw it, and urged him on. He clearly had +a majority. But having satisfied himself he could succeed, with a +resolution refusing to circulate the <i>Nation</i>, he generously conceded +the whole matter; and once more the Committee separated on good terms.</p> + +<p>It was hoped that, as the concession was entirely voluntary, Mr. +O'Connell would be content. This was a vain hope. On the next day, he +referred to the subject in terms of unmitigated animosity; and on +Tuesday the resolution of exclusion, in effect, though not <a name="Page_95" id="Page_95" />formally, +passed in the absence of most of those who were well known to be opposed +to it.</p> + +<p>One word of concession would have saved the <i>Nation</i> at this juncture; +but that one word would not be written, had the consequence of refusal +been the loss of every subscriber it had in the world. It maintained its +high position in face of the two despotisms which had combined to crush +it. The resolution of the Association was not formally recorded, but it +remained in readiness to be re-asserted as soon as the trial in the +Queen's Bench would be over.</p> + +<p>That trial was for the celebrated railroad article, written by John +Mitchel. When the article first appeared, Mr. O'Connell came to the +<i>Nation</i> office. He seated himself familiarly, and, seeing all its +contributors around him, he said: "I came to complain of this article." +He then read through until where certain principles, previously +promulgated, were recommended to Repeal wardens as the catechism they +should teach. "I do not object," said he, "to your principles; but I +object to your coupling them with the duties of Repeal wardens who are +the officers of the Association." Mr. Duffy promised, at once, to +explain the matter, to Mr. O'Connell's satisfaction, in the next number. +He did so accordingly, and no more was said of it until after the +prosecution was commenced.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of June, Mr. Duffy was placed at the bar, on an information +or indictment setting forth the entire of the obnoxious article. The +Government was vehement and imperative, and the Bench constitutionally +jealous of the law. The prosecution was conducted with malevolent +ability, and the court <a name="Page_96" id="Page_96" />charged, with pious zeal, for the crown. Robert +Holmes was counsel for the accused and, in an impassioned speech, on +every word of which was stamped the impress of originality, vigour and +beauty, vindicated not the "liberty of the press," but the truth of the +startling propositions Mr. Mitchel had propounded.</p> + +<p>In the Hall, the speech was regarded as triumphant for the country, but +conclusive against Mr. Duffy. It was said that for sake of his client he +should confuse, confound and deny. The fact, however, justified the +advocate. When Mr. Mitchel first promulgated his principles, they grated +strongly on the public ear. Men openly pronounced the doctrines +pernicious and bloody. But the veteran of the bar, speaking in the +spirit of the more glorious times he remembered, denounced as a slave +and a toward any one who thought them too strong for the occasion on +which they were used, and the provocation to which they applied. For a +brief moment he awoke in other hearts the spirit that lived in his own. +The jury refused to convict, and were discharged. But the prosecution in +which the Attorney-General failed, was transferred before a more loyal +tribunal, and Mr. Duffy was condemned by the judgment of <i>Conciliation</i> +Hall; a judgment of which something remains to be said hereafter.</p> + +<p>It has been stated that the subject of testifying the respect of the +<i>Nation</i> for its chivalrous advocate, after his release from the prison +of the House of Commons—he was discharged without compromise or +submission on the 26th of May—was under discussion.</p> + +<p>A public and triumphal entry was determined on. But Mr. Smith O'Brien, +desirous that the State prisoners <a name="Page_97" id="Page_97" />of 1844 should be participators in +any tribute of respect offered to him, requested that the 6th of +September, the day of their release from prison, should be fixed on for +a public triumph, in which all alike could share.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-10" /><a id="image10" href="images/image10-big.jpg"><img src="images/image10.jpg" width="275" height="400" alt="John Mitchell" title="John Mitchell" /></a> +<p class="caption">John Mitchell</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. O'Brien passed through the metropolis quietly on his way home; but +in Limerick and Newcastle was received by hundreds of thousands with +boundless joy. When he returned to town, it was to be expelled from that +body to which he, of all living men, gave most firmness, and for which +he alone acquired most respect. In the events which followed, the public +dinner was forgotten.</p> + +<p>It is now time to recur to those events, some of which at least range +behind those already detailed—to which the following preliminary may be +necessary. Early in June, a meeting was held at Lord John Russell's, +when the minister-expectant explained the grounds on which he claimed +the support of the entire Liberal Party. The English Liberals, generally +and enthusiastically, acquiesced. The correspondent of the <i>Evening +Mail</i>, writing from London, stated that Mr. O'Connell added to his +adhesion, a voluntary promise to sink the cause of Repeal provided +measures of a truly liberal character were carried into effect. He, +moreover, said that he never meant more by Repeal than a thorough +identification of the two countries. The <i>Nation</i> indignantly repelled +the insinuations of the correspondence, and pronounced it a lie. Mr. +O'Connell and his friends passed the <i>Mail</i> by unnoticed, but bestowed +on the <i>Nation</i> their measureless wrath. It was never afterwards +forgiven.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V" /><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98" />CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p>DEFEAT OF PEEL. — ACCESSION or THE WHIGS.—MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE. — DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL.—MR. O'CONNELL DENOUNCES THE +YOUNG IRELAND PARTY. — CONTINUED DEBATES. — QUESTIONS AT ISSUE. — PHYSICAL +FORCE. — THE SECESSION. — WHIG ALLIANCE. — DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE. — FORMATION +OF THE CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER.—MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH. — CLOSE OF THE +YEAR 1847.</p> + + +<p>On the 25th of June, Sir Robert Peel was defeated in the House of +Commons on a motion that the Irish Coercion Bill be read a second time.</p> + +<p>The majority against him was seventy-three, and was composed of the Whig +party, the extreme Conservatives, the ultra-Radicals and Irish +Repealers. In ten days after, Lord John Russell assumed the seals of +office. During the preliminary arrangements that led to Peel's defeat, +there was much coquetting between the Whig and Irish leaders. Alarmed by +this startling aspect of affairs, and somewhat, perhaps, by the +uncontradicted correspondence of the <i>Mail</i>, heretofore alluded to, Mr. +Meagher, in the midst of vociferous cheering, announced from the tribune +of Conciliation Hall, "that Irish Repealers would teach an honest lesson +to the Whigs." This took place on the 15th of June. A short discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, O'Gorman and Barry took part, +denouncing in the strongest language all idea of compromise with the +Whigs. On the next day of meeting (June 22nd) a letter was read from Mr. +O'Connell, expressing "the bitterest regret at the <a name="Page_99" id="Page_99" />efforts being made +by some of their juvenile members to create dissension in the +Association." "To silence all unworthy cavilling," he desired that the +solemn pledge of the Rotunda be read after his letter, and copies +thereof posted in the Hall. This letter was the signal for an attack on +the Seceders by James Fitzpatrick, who is now enjoying his reward in +shape of a lucrative office on the coast of Africa. Another discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, Barry, O'Gorman and myself repelled +the charge urged against us by Lord John Russell, to the effect that we +were separatists.</p> + +<p>The discussion which followed was an angry one. Fierce denunciations +against the Whigs proceeded from the Seceders, which were answered by +the Old Irelanders, as they called themselves, with clap-trap allusions +to the name and fame of the "Liberator." The audience were indisposed to +be duped, and so strong and general was the aversion to a Whig +compromise, that Mr. D. O'Connell, jun. was denied a hearing, and even +the Secretary found it difficult to command a moment's attention.</p> + +<p>The next letter from Mr. O'Connell, was written after the accession of +the Whigs. It, too, evidently bore the impress of that controlling fact. +The writer enumerated twelve measures (excluding Repeal) "without which +no British minister should dream of bidding for the people of Ireland." +On the whole, the letter, which was long and elaborate, was an +unmistakable though very guarded advice to give another trial to the +Whigs. Mr. O'Brien, in moving that it be inserted on the minutes, +pressed his conviction that the "millions would never abandon<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100" /> Repeal." +He concluded by reading a resolution, pro posed in 1842 and seconded by +Mr. O'Connell himself, to the effect that the Whigs were as inimical to +Repeal as the Tories; and that no honest Repealer could vote for a Whig +representative. Mr. O'Brien, on this occasion, took a wrong course. +Instead of moving that the letter be inserted on the minutes, he should +have moved its rejection, as containing doctrines subversive of +principle and inconsistent with the solemn pledges of the nation. He +was, no doubt, influenced by a desire to preserve unanimity; but the +unanimity which is based on the disruption of most binding obligations +is weaker and more fatal than any division. One paramount advantage +would result from at once joining issue with Mr. O'Connell—the question +would be placed on its true ground, and the preposterous folly of the +physical and moral force abstractions would never have been heard of.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell appeared in Conciliation Hall on Monday, the 6th of July. +He stated that his object was to ascertain the state of the registries, +so as to resist the return of the anti-Repealers in any of the towns +where a vacancy was likely to occur. But he added, "I will give no +vexatious opposition." Here a voice cried "Dungarvan," with significant +emphasis, a question Mr. O'Connell evaded with his usual dexterity. Four +seats were then actually vacant; Dungarvan, Drogheda, Dundalk and +Roscommon county. In the three former, there were clear majorities in +favour of Repeal. That question admitted of no earthly doubt. It had +been long before enquired into, and assurances the most unequivocal were +transmitted to the Associa<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101" />tion. On motion of Mr. O'Connell, the +question was referred to the committee.</p> + +<p>Daniel O'Connell, jun., was a candidate for Dundalk, where a public +dinner was given him on the 7th. His father attended, and said, "<i>I tell +you there is another experiment to be made, in which every honest and +rational man, of every party, will join.</i>" Similar doctrines were to be +found in his former letter and speech, above referred to; and the other +members of the Association awoke to a sense of the danger that +threatened the body. Meantime, the Dungarvan committee proceeded with +its labours. A deputation from that town waited on them—the parish +priest and two others. They paid their first visit, however, to the +Secretary, at the Castle. They found it as easy to satisfy the +committee, or its majority, as the Secretary found it to satisfy +themselves. They advised there should be no opposition given to Mr. +Shiel on these two grounds: First, because success was then impossible, +owing to the shortness of the time for preparation. And secondly, +because a failure then would endanger the cause at the general election +which was to take place in a few months. The sincerity of these reasons +was tested by the facts, that, at the general election, the same parish +priest stood at the hustings to propose and sustain the same official of +the Whigs, insolently proclaiming his steadfastness in O'Connell's +<i>glorious principles</i>, while he was huckstering away the honour and +independence of his country; and that at that general election, when the +people of Dungarvan were more openly betrayed and trafficked on by John +O'Connell, and when they had to contend against the treachery of the +priest, the <a name="Page_102" id="Page_102" />treachery of the Association and the whole strength of the +Whigs, they were only defeated in their opposition to Mr. Shiel by three +votes. But, sincere or not, absurd or not, they were conclusive with the +committee, or its chairman, who reported that it was not advisable to +oppose Mr. Shiel, and this report was published just two days after Mr. +Shiel had been returned unopposed.</p> + +<p>No wonder that the actual return of Mr. Shiel, which the committee was +charged to resist, had escaped its vigilance; for the celebrated Peace +Resolutions were, at the same time, under discussion, and produced +simultaneously with the Dungarvan report. Mr. Mitchel, Mr. O'Gorman and +Mr. Meagher, who attended the committee, vainly remonstrated against the +betrayal of Dungarvan, as well as the Peace Resolutions. They saw that +the real object of the resolutions was to blind the country to the other +important question, whether the Irish constituencies were to be +transferred once more to Whig placemen; and they confined their +opposition principally to the Dungarvan case. It must be admitted, too, +that the falsehood involved in the Peace Resolutions, escaped their +attention in the first instance; and they were under the impression that +the pledge they contained extended no farther than the action of the +Association itself was concerned. On consideration, they found it was of +far wider scope, and would engage them to a false principle, embracing +all men, all countries and all tunes; and having stated this at the +public meeting of the Association, they allowed the resolutions to pass +without further opposition.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103" />The original resolution on which the Association was framed is this:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The total disclaimer of, and absence from, all physical force, + violence or breach of the law."</p></div> + +<p>The resolution, reported on the 13th of July, 1846, is as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That, to promote political amelioration, peaceable means alone + should be used, to the exclusion of all others, save those that + are peaceful, legal and constitutional."</p></div> + +<p>Sometimes, it has been averred lately that these two resolutions are, in +principle and effect, the same. Mr. O'Connell himself declared the +latter was introduced by him, "<i>to draw a line of demarcation between +Old and Young Ireland</i>." Indeed, if there were no distinction, the +introduction would be eminently absurd as well as pernicious. And if +they be different, as essentially they are, there must be some strong +justification for the adoption of the latter.</p> + +<p>But before proceeding to this enquiry, it may not be amiss to point out +the exact distinction between the original and the new resolution. The +former embraced a rule of action whereby the members of the Association +engaged their faith and honour to each other and the country that they +would not use its agency to cause or promote physical force or violence +of any kind, or commit one another to any act of illegality. But it went +no farther—it enunciated no moral dogma—a rule of conscience rather +than a pledge of conduct such as the other—and it claimed no <a name="Page_104" id="Page_104" />sacrifice +of one's own convictions. As a mutual guarantee, it was not only just +but essential to the perfect safety of the Association.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the new resolution excluded the question of practical +action altogether. Neither in itself nor in its preamble was there an +averment, or even an assumption of its necessity, as a rule of guidance. +It was a mere abstract opinion, utterly irrespective of the object or +conduct of the Association, and only applicable as a test of certain +speculative theories. But not alone was it inapplicable and +preposterous; it was utterly untrue: at least, there are many men who +could not subscribe to it without, according to their own convictions, +being guilty of a lie. Supposing, however, that the seceders had +attempted to violate the old constitution of the confederacy, it may be +argued that Mr. O'Connell would be justified in preparing the most +stringent tests for the purpose of restraining them. But no such attempt +was ever made; no one proposed in the Association, no one hinted outside +it, that it ought to violate one of its rules. No one complained of +these rules, or said they ought to be changed, modified or, to the least +extent, relaxed. Neither directly nor indirectly, openly nor covertly, +was there a word spoken, nor an act done, nor a suggestion offered to +that effect. The resolution was, therefore, uncalled for and +unnecessary, as it was unsound and untrue.</p> + +<p>Of this there is the clearest proof. First, the negative proof is +conclusive. Mr. O'Connell did not name an act, or refer to a word of one +single seceder, which would justify the imputation that they sought or +desired to <a name="Page_105" id="Page_105" />involve the Association in any expedient inconsistent with +its fundamental rules. His only proof was this, and he did not then rely +on it: Lord John Russell stated in the House, "I am told that one party +among the Repealers are anxious for a separation from England." This is +his solitary proof, nor does it appear that he was not himself the +informant of the minister. But the positive proofs at the other side are +numerous and incontestable. I select a few. On the 13th of July Mr. +O'Gorman, in presence of Mr. O'Connell, said: "In order that there shall +be no misconception on the subject, as far as I am concerned, I say, at +once, I am no advocate for physical force. As a member of the +Association I am bound by its laws. One of these is, that its object is +not to be attained by the use of physical force, but by moral means +only." Mr. Mitchel, on that occasion, said: "This is a legally organised +and constitutional society seeking to attain its object, as all the +world knows, by peaceable means and none other. Constitutional agitation +is the very basis of it; and nobody who contemplates any other mode of +bringing about the independence of the country has a right to come here, +or consider himself a fit member of our Association." On the 28th of +July, Mr. Meagher said: "I do advocate the peaceful policy of the +Association. It is the only policy we can and should adopt. If it be +pursued with truth, with courage and with firmness of purpose, I do +firmly believe it will succeed."</p> + +<p>Mr. M.J. Barry, on the 7th of June, said, "It is perfectly plain to all +that the purpose of the Association is to work out its object by means +of moral force, and <a name="Page_106" id="Page_106" />that only." In my letter to Mr. Ray, written long +after the secession, I used these words: "The first (original rule of +the Association) implies a pledge and an obligation to which every +member of the Association bound himself. Any member, who violates it, or +would induce the Association to infringe it, must be false to his own +vow and treacherous to the Association, whence he should be expelled +with every mark of infamy."</p> + +<p>These proofs are taken at random: they range over the time before, after +and contemporaneous with the secession. They could be multiplied one +hundredfold, and taken from the speeches and writings of every one of +the seceders. Yet that fact availed nothing—they were told, because +"they differed from the rules laid down by the Liberator, they ceased to +be members of the Association."</p> + +<p>This is, in some sort, a digression. I return to the events which +directly precipitated the division. It will be remembered that the +objections of the seceders to the Peace Resolutions were confined to an +emphatic expression of dissent. They were not, then, informed that they +ceased to be members. They attended the next meeting; and, having +repeated the same dissent, they expressed their fervent wish for a +perfect understanding, and pledged themselves to continue their +co-operation, as if the resolution had not been passed. Mr. John Reilly +repudiated these advances, and charged them with treachery to Ireland, +as the natural complement of disobedience to O'Connell. He gave notice +that he would put certain interrogatories to Mr. O'Brien, in reference +to a speech delivered by him at Clare<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107" /> On the next day of meeting, Mr. +O'Brien attended (July 26), and a letter from Mr. O'Connell, containing +the bitterest complaints, against the "advocates of physical force," as +he pleased to call them, "<i>who</i>," he said, "<i>continued members of our +body, in spite of our resolutions</i>," was read.</p> + +<p>A discussion, acrimonious and prolonged, followed. The debate was +adjourned to the next day, when it was again renewed. Mr. John O'Connell +spoke for nearly three hours, directing most of his arguments against +some admissions of the <i>Nation</i> as to the purpose entertained by the +writers in 1843. A casual expression—"<i>we had promises of aid from +Ledru Rollin, and many a surer source.</i>"—supplied him with abundant +material for loyal indignation. He was heard without interruption. Mr. +Meagher rose to reply. He delivered that most impassioned oration, in +which occurs the apostrophe to the sword. The meeting yielded to the +frankness, sincerity, enthusiasm and supreme eloquence of the young +orator, and rewarded him by its uncontrollable and unanimous applause. +Mr. J. O'Connell rose, and, in the midst of a scene of universal +rapture, coldly said, "either Mr. Meagher or myself must leave the +Association." Too generous to avail himself of the enthusiasm he +excited, Mr. Meagher withdrew. So did Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Mitchel and the +others, with more than three-fourths of the meeting.</p> + +<p>Thus occurred the secession. Mr. J. O'Connell simulated some stage +grief, expressing his ardent hope that the "Liberator," on his arrival, +would heal the wounds he had himself inflicted. How sincere was that +hope is proved by the fact that, when Mr. O'Connell <a name="Page_108" id="Page_108" />did arrive, which +was on the Saturday following, he was prevented from proceeding farther +than Kingstown, where he was detained until the hour of meeting on +Monday; thus rendering it impossible to have an interview with Mr. +O'Brien, or any one who could facilitate an arrangement. On Monday, +instead of using soothing language and kind advice, he probed the wounds +to the bottom, and infused into them subtlest poison. It is needless, as +it would be painful, to recount the details of bitterness and hate with +which on that day he dashed the hopes of the country. The result was +deep and irreconcilable estrangement. Those who left the hall, rather +than drive therefrom the son of Daniel O'Connell, finding themselves +repaid by calumny, yielded to the conviction which every successive act +of Mr. O'Connell conduced to establish, namely, that the country, and +her great hope of destiny, were handed over to the Whigs.</p> + +<p>The proofs of this belief were, first: The statement in the <i>Mail</i>, +which remained undenied, and must, therefore, be taken to be undeniable.</p> + +<p>Secondly: The expression used by Mr. O'Connell, in his speech at +Conciliation Hall, that he would give no "vexatious opposition" to the +Whig nominee.</p> + +<p>Thirdly: His statement, at Dundalk, that "one experiment more was to be +made, in which every honest man would join."</p> + +<p>Fourthly: The following passage, which occurred in Mr. O'Connell's +letter, dated London, 27th of June, 1846: "There is an opportunity to +consider the Irish question as if on neutral grounds; there is a +glorious opportunity (the return of the Whigs to power) of <a name="Page_109" id="Page_109" />deciding if +the Repealers be right in believing that no substantial relief can be +given to Ireland in a British Parliament; or that they are wrong, to the +demonstration that would result from PRACTICAL JUSTICE being afforded by +that Parliament."</p> + +<p>Fifthly: The assertion of Mr. Lawless, in a letter to Mr. O'Connell, +dated 18th July, which the latter published, without contradiction or +comment, namely: "And yet it was with difficulty you (Mr. O'Connell) +prevented his (Mr. Shiel) being opposed in his election for Dungarvan,"</p> + +<p>Sixthly: Mr. Shiel's election, without opposition, when his defeat, if +opposed, was perfectly certain.</p> + +<p>Seventhly: Mr. O'Connell's eulogy on The O'Conor Don for "accepting an +office, which would enable him to serve his country."—(<i>Speech in +Conciliation Hall, July 13th.</i>)</p> + +<p>Eighthly: Mr. O'Connell's assertion, in his speech at Conciliation Hall: +"I did not begin this quarrel; in my absence in London, an attack was +made on the Whig ministry."</p> + +<p>And, finally: The boasted acceptance by Mr. O'Connell of the +distribution of Whig patronage, and the appointment of his personal +friends to lucrative employment.</p> + +<p>All that followed was one unvaried scene of distraction, division and +enmity. Week after week, the seceders were held up to public odium, +derision and scorn. One day, they were "blasphemous," one day, +"revolutionary," one day, they "sang small," and one day "their nobles +were come to ninepence." Now, they were challenged to establish a +society of their own principles; now, they were recommended to the +<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110" />mercy of the Attorney-General, and again commended to the hatred of the +people. Meantime a blight had fallen on the earth, and a whole people's +food, in one night, perished. To the new Government, the famine that +ensued was an assurance of subsistence and success. Hunger would waste +the bodies of the people, as the dearth of truth had wasted their souls. +The ministry affected great sympathy, great diligence, and great +impotence. Among other wants of theirs, the want of practical engineers +was felt the deepest. They knew and lamented that many died of +starvation; but the thing was inevitable as long as they were unprovided +with practical engineers. Mr. O'Connell, from the platform of the hall, +announced the good intentions of the Government, and proclaimed, at the +same time, his own commission to supply them with engineers. How many +applied and were refused, I am not in a position to say; but there is no +disputing the records of the church-yard, where many an uncoffined +corpse attested the care of the "<i>paternal government</i>." The people were +guaranteed against death, and yet death came, and took them at his will; +but what was left of life was taught to exhaust itself in curses against +those who would save it at every risk. Wherever the seceders appeared +they were hooted. Prostitutes of both sexes regarded them as fit +subjects for their insolent raillery. The avowed foes of nationality +looked on them as fools; its pretended friends as knaves; and the common +herd of indifferent villains as a butt. The low retainers of the English +garrison, who had sold their souls to the enemy but were kept in awe by +bodily fear, became outrageously patriotic; and with insulted gratitude +<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111" />they scouted the traducers of the "saviour of their country." Alas! in +Ireland, nothing was saved but death's agencies. Doom had come upon +all—her produce, her people, her hopes and her morality.</p> + +<p>The same report, which contained the Peace Resolutions, set out with a +statement dissevering the Association from the <i>Nation</i> newspaper. If +the statement were embodied in a resolution of expulsion, it would clash +directly with the failure of the prosecution against it, and brand the +jurors who refused to find a verdict with perjury. But the admission of +the <i>Nation</i> that, in 1843, it inculcated principles having a remote +tendency to effect the redemption of the country, by arms if need were, +supplied the Association with a pretext for expelling it altogether. Two +rules had been adopted for the circulation of newspapers. The first was, +when £10 were forwarded to the Secretary, the subscribers had the +privilege of naming two weekly or one evening paper, which the Secretary +was to forward and pay for. By the second rule, adopted after the State +trials, the subscribers retained the drawback, and selected and paid for +their own paper. For several weeks, the <i>Nation</i> was the only theme of +Mr. O'Connell's abhorrence. He exhausted all his eloquence in warning +the people against it, but in vain. The people continued to insist on it +in return for their subscriptions. Accordingly, on the 10th of August, a +resolution was proposed to the effect that no money subscribed for +Repeal Purposes should be allocated to the payment of a subscription for +the <i>Nation</i>, on the sole ground that, in 1843, it inculcated doctrines +which were in their tendency treasonable. Mr. O'Connell said, after the +<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112" />resolution was passed, that he did not wish to injure the paper in a +pecuniary point of view; and on the next day of meeting, he brought down +to the Association some twenty law authorities, which he read, to prove +that treason had actually been committed; and thus stamped the conduct +of the Attorney-General as not alone justifiable, but lenient to excess.</p> + +<p>The seceders determined to abide the issue. They had the fullest +confidence that the insensate cry raised against them would eventually +subside, and that truth would again prevail. They contented themselves, +therefore, with appealing to their countrymen, through the columns of +the <i>Nation</i>, then interdicted and banned through every parish in the +island. But, in those appeals, there was no word of allusion to the +storm of calumny and denunciation then raging against them. They sought +to fix public attention on subjects of vast national importance, and to +awake the energies of the people to some becoming effort where the stake +was their lives. Meantime, week after week, the Government was praised, +the Board of Works were praised, and the people—"<i>the faithful and +moral people, who died, peacefully, of hunger</i>"—were praised, in the +Repeal Association.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-11" /><a id="image11" href="images/image11-big.jpg"><img src="images/image11.jpg" width="370" height="420" alt="Robert Holmes (1848)" title="Robert Holmes (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Robert Holmes (1848)</p> +</div> + +<p>Late in the autumn of 1846, some men, few in number and humble in +condition, undertook the desperate task of remonstrating with the Repeal +Association. Among them, Mr. Keeley and Mr. Holywood, Mr. Crean and Mr. +Halpin, were prominent. Their undertaking was gigantic, considering the +formidable obstacles they proposed to encounter. They proceeded silently +and sedulously; and, in a few weeks, a remonstrance <a name="Page_113" id="Page_113" />against the +course pursued by the Association was signed by fifteen hundred citizens +of Dublin. It was presented to the Chairman of the Association on the +24th of October, and ordered by Mr. J. O'Connell to be flung into the +gutter. The remonstrants and the public resented this indignity alike. +It was determined to hold a meeting in the Rotunda, where they proposed +to defend themselves against every species of assault. The meeting was +held on the 3rd of November, and was allowed to pass off without +disturbance. Mr. M'Gee attended. He had never appeared in the struggle +in the hall, nor was he a member at the time. His speech at the Rotunda +was calm, forcible and conclusive on the points in issue; and the +excitement it created was, in no small degree, enhanced by the fact that +the speaker was a young man theretofore unknown. The success of the +meeting suggested the practicability and safety of an experiment upon a +large scale preparatory to the formation of the Confederation. The +meeting was fixed for the 2nd of December. The remonstrant committee +offered to defend it against any assailants. The main object was to +reply to the calumnies which, for nearly six months, had been urged +against the leading seceders. The meeting was one of the most important +ever held in the metropolis. It was intelligent, numerous and +fashionable. The entire ability of the seceders was put forth; and such +was the sensation created by the proceedings that two publishers, one in +Dublin and one in Belfast, brought out reports, in pamphlet form, which +were read all over the country with the greatest avidity. It was that +night stated, only casually, that the seceders would meet <a name="Page_114" id="Page_114" />in January to +announce to the nation the course of political action they would +recommend. On the 13th of January, the promise was redeemed. The +seceders met as before, and their deliberations were guarded by the same +men, who thus a third time risked their lives—the hazard was nothing +less—to secure to the seceders freedom of speech and of action. On the +13th of January, the Confederation was fully established. The bases, if +the phrase be applicable, were freedom, tolerance and truth. There was +no avowal of war, and no pledge of peace. The great object was the +independence of the Irish nation; and no means to attain that end were +abjured, save such as were inconsistent with honour, morality and +reason.</p> + +<p>During the intervening time, between the first and second meetings, +overtures of peace were made by Mr. O'Connell. A sudden and singular +change was observable in his tone and language. He said with chagrin, +and acknowledged with reluctance, that the position and strength of the +party defied alike his power and his address. Every art and every effort +to crush them had been exhausted in vain. The question between them, he +now loudly proclaimed, was one purely of law; and he referred to several +barristers, by whose judgment he was ready to abide. The question he was +prepared to submit suggests the most mournful considerations. If it were +not painful, it would be amusing to see to what painful absurdities he +was compelled to have recourse. He would leave it to anyone at the bar, +whether the "physical force principle" would not make the Association +illegal; and then he would indulge in a hollow triumph over the +certainty and <a name="Page_115" id="Page_115" />security of his position. But that was not the question +in issue. None of the seceders ever recommended the principle of +physical force, in practice or theory, to the Association. On the +contrary, they disavowed it, in reference to that body, and their own +connection with it. The real question was this—whether it was necessary +to the legality of any political society, to disavow, formally and +forever, under all circumstances, and at all times, the right of men to +strike down the cruellest tyranny with the strong hand. It would be +absurd to submit such a proposition to a lawyer, which could only be +answered by a laugh. It had been sufficiently settled by the fact that, +without it, the Catholic Association, the Corn-law League, and the +Repeal Association itself, up to the 13th of July, 1846, were perfectly +safe and perfectly legal. But no man knew better than Mr. O'Connell that +this was a feigned issue, the real one being the mendicancy of the +Association, and the treachery with which it abandoned the national +constituencies to Whig officials. The overtures on this occasion +eventuated in some negotiations, of which the Rev. Mr. Miley was the +medium. His mission was singularly unfortunate, for it led to greater +misunderstanding; and the negotiations terminated in mutual charges of +misconception or misrepresentation.</p> + +<p>The history of the Confederation, such as its importance deserves, is +beyond the scope of my present purpose. Others may undertake to +vindicate for its proceedings that enduring place in the annals of the +country to which they are eminently entitled. Here, but a few words can +be said.</p> + +<p>As soon as the eclat of the first meetings had subsided, <a name="Page_116" id="Page_116" />and the +business began to assume a more routine character, the moral-force +disciples, hitherto kept in awe by the mustered strength of the seceders +and their followers, determined to give a practical illustration of the +sincerity of their pledge by breaking the skulls of their opponents. On +the first occasion, their onslaught was vigorous and successful. Blood +was shed, and heads opened. This was deemed no infraction of the holy +vow recorded in the books of the Association; for the body held its +meetings without exercising its undoubted prerogative of "blotting out" +the scene of outrage "from the map of Ireland." On the second occasion, +the wreckers of Conciliation Hall were met as they deserved, and after a +short skirmish fled through the city.</p> + +<p>The success of the new Confederacy was certain, but slow. But, in the +same proportion as their principles obtained predominance, the hatred of +the Old Irelanders became unscrupulous and implacable. Often in the +house of prayer, they heard themselves denounced; often in the streets, +they heard their names used as by-words of scorn. Mr. O'Connell +disappeared from the scene of his glory, which relapsed to the guidance +of his intolerant and intemperate son. Some attempts were made to force +him to a reconciliation, which in public he appeared to yield to, but +which in private he exercised his utmost cunning to baffle. In the midst +of this scene of distraction, Mr. O'Connell died. The news was a +stunning blow to the nation. A great reaction, for a short time, ensued. +Added to the other crimes of the seceders, was that of being O'Connell's +murderers. They, on the other hand, resolved to <a name="Page_117" id="Page_117" />treat O'Connell's +memory with the greatest respect. They resolved to attend his funeral +procession, in deep mourning; and they gave orders for expensive sashes, +of Irish manufacture, which the members of the council were to wear. Mr. +O'Brien communicated this purpose to Mr. J. O'Connell. The answer was +too plainly a prohibition; and the Confederation reluctantly abandoned +their design. Mr. O'Connell died at Genoa, on the 15th of May, 1847, and +was buried in Glasnevin, on the 5th of August. His corpse, which was +delayed some days in Liverpool, was conveyed through the streets of +Dublin, during the election scene which resulted in the return of Mr. +John Reynolds; being thus made subservient to the success of the man, to +whom, of all his followers, he was most opposed during his life. It was +a strange end, surely. Mr. O'Connell was buried with great pomp. The +trustees of the Glasnevin Cemetery were generous in appropriating the +fund at their disposal to the purposes of the funeral; but when the +sincerity of the mourners' grief came to be tested, by the claim for a +contribution to erect a suitable monument to the great champion of the +age, it was found how hollow was their woe, and how lying their +adulation. Daniel O'Connell is yet without a monument, save that which +his own genius has raised in the liberalised institutions of his +country.</p> + +<p>The reaction in the public mind, consequent on his death, was +short-lived; and the Confederation progressed rapidly, during the +closing months of the year 1847. Although not formally acknowledged, +every one saw that it was the only public body in the country deserving +or enjoying anything like public confidence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI" /><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118" />CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p>THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL. — HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND +SPEECH. — THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED. — ARREST OF MESSRS. +MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS AND DUFFY. — CONVICTION OF MR. MARTIN. — HIS +SPEECH. — CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF MR. O'DOHERTY. — DISSOLUTION +OF THE CONFEDERATION. — THE LEAGUE</p> + + +<p>At the opening of the new year, which was destined to be its last, the +Confederation, though yet regarded with coldness by the Catholic +Hierarchy, was in full career. Its members had won the respect of every +educated man in the land, however widely most of them may have differed +from it in political faith. Among the middle classes of the Catholics, +all that were left uncorrupted fell into its ranks, and embraced its +belief. Men began to regard as possible everything which enthusiasm +advanced with such unhesitating courage and devoted self-sacrifice. Mr. +Mitchel delivered some lectures on land tenure and the poor-law system, +which startled thoughtful and unthinking men alike. He had previously +made an able and sincere effort in the Irish Council to compel the +landlord class to some redeeming act of good sense and good will, which +their own true interests required as well as the agonies of the starving +tenantry. He was met by ignorance, stolidity and scorn. A timid and +narrow measure of improvement in the relation between landlord and +tenant had been proposed, and ably supported by Messrs. Ferguson, +Ireland and O'Loghlen; and such <a name="Page_119" id="Page_119" />was the obstinate aversion to all +amelioration, on the part of the landlords, that they abstained from +resisting Mr. Mitchel's amendment, lest they would be thereby committed +to the milder reform proposed by Mr. Ferguson. His motion was lost only +by a majority of two several of the five-pound Repeal representatives, +who brawled at tenant-right meetings, and one member of the +Confederation, Mr. M'Gee, being included in the majority.</p> + +<p>The result of the division produced a marked change in Mr. Mitchel's +career. His lectures on land-tenure in Europe, displayed the bold +outlines and distinctive characteristics of his principles. His hopes +from the Irish landlords, of whatever shade of politics, had ever +afterwards vanished. He believed them incapable of being influenced by +commonsense or good feeling; and he turned to the people, with full +confidence in their fidelity and strength. All further attempts to +conciliate the upper classes, he regarded as foolish, feeble and +cowardly. He continued to reassert the substance of his lectures in +another form, in the pages of the <i>Nation</i>, of which he was at the time +editor-in-chief—that is, of which he wrote the greatest portion, +especially of its leading articles. Some of these articles gave rise to +a difference of opinion between him and Mr. Duffy, who, as responsible +owner and editor, had the sole control of the <i>Nation</i>. There were not +wanting men to take advantage of the difference and fan the flame. +Charles Duffy had messages conveyed to him, to the effect that a rumour +was abroad charging him with treachery; and to John Mitchel, perhaps by +the same agents of dissension, it was stated that he, too, <a name="Page_120" id="Page_120" />was +suspected. It is unfortunately characteristic of Irishmen to be +suspicious; and it was the object of one of Mr. O'Connell's eternal +lessons to perpetuate and extend this degrading national vice. Whether +the representations made to either of these friends were the result of +national prejudice, or proceeded from a baser motive, it is scarce worth +while to inquire. A separation ensued. Mr. Reilly adopted the resolution +of his friend Mr. Mitchel. Mr. M'Gee adhered to Mr. Duffy; and a new +career and distinct fortunes opened to the enterprise of the four men, +whose united efforts elevated the popularity of the <i>Nation</i> to a height +never before enjoyed by an Irish journal.</p> + +<p>The early differences between the two great journalists suggested to Mr. +Duffy, and to others, the necessity of drawing up a programme for the +guidance of the Confederation. A committee was appointed, consisting of +several members, including all the leading advocates of both the policy +of Mr. Duffy and that of Mr. Mitchel. The report was principally the +production of Mr. Duffy. It was in part modified by others; but Mr. +Mitchel, who objected to its principle, refused to take any part in its +modification. It was afterwards submitted to the council of the +Confederation; and there gave rise to a long, earnest and, to some +extent, an angry discussion. It was under consideration for several +successive nights, the debate lasting sometimes until three o'clock in +the morning. The principle of the report embraced the belief that moral +means and agencies to effect Ireland's liberties were not yet exhausted, +and should be further tried; and the agencies through which the +experiment was to be tested were indicated <a name="Page_121" id="Page_121" />in detail. The principle of +the amendment proposed by Mr. Mitchel involved a preparation for and an +appeal to arms as the only resource available to the country. After a +long and anxious debate, the question of adopting the report passed in +the affirmative by a considerable majority. The details then came under +discussion, and, paragraph by paragraph, alterations were proposed and +adopted. The discussion on these matters was still more prolonged and +vehement. The principle of the entire was questioned indirectly by +various amendments of form; but it was always affirmed by a majority. +The report had, however, undergone such modifications and alterations +that its original promoters lost all interest in its passing; and at the +final stage, it was rejected, as well as I remember, without a division. +At all events, it was rejected, and, I believe, with the concurrence of +Mr. Duffy, who afterwards published the original draft in the <i>Nation</i>.</p> + +<p>It was on that occasion the celebrated resolutions, afterwards the +subject of the three nights' discussion at the Rotunda, were drafted and +proposed by Mr. O'Brien. They were at once adopted, Mr. Mitchel alone +dissenting. This may be the fittest opportunity distinctly and +definitely to settle the question, which has recently arisen, in +reference to these resolutions. On the several occasions of Mr. Duffy's +trial, they have been given in evidence as proof of his loyalty, on the +assumption that they emanated from him, and that it was through his +influence the body was led to adopt them. Again, it seems to have been +inferred—indeed, it has been so stated repeatedly, by persons who boast +of his confidence—that it was owing to his <a name="Page_122" id="Page_122" />arrest and absence from the +council of the Confederation, that measure of fatal rashness was +adopted, of which he became the first victim; although it was his +discretion and ability that kept the "Jacquerie," who then obtained the +ascendant, in check from the beginning.</p> + +<p>This is partly a statement of fact, and partly an inference. The fact is +not true, and the inference is fallacious. The resolutions were not Mr. +Duffy's. On the contrary, one main object with those who adopted them, +without discussion, was to avoid the expression of an opinion on several +abstract principles forming the groundwork of his report. Secondly, he +exercised little or no influence in the debate which led to their +adoption by the Confederation. Thirdly, they were warmly sustained by +the influence, personal and otherwise, as well as by the exertion and +ability of the very men who, according to a recent contemptible sneer, +"improvised a revolution." Every one of them, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Meagher, +Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, and myself, spoke in favour of them, and +against Mr. Mitchel's amendment. And, finally, even if this were not so +and that the rashness of the outbreak really involved deep culpability, +Mr. Duffy cannot claim exemption from his share of the blame.</p> + +<p>I subjoin the Resolutions and Amendment. The division took place at ten +o'clock, on Saturday morning, February the 5th, 1848, when the former +were adopted, by a majority of 318 to 188:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Resolved: That inasmuch as letters, published by two members of + this Council, have brought into question the principles of the + Irish Confederation, and have given rise to an imputation that + we are desirous to produce <a name="Page_123" id="Page_123" />a general disorganisation of society + in this country, and to overthrow social order, we deem it right + again to place before the public the following fundamental rule, + as that which constitutes the basis of action proposed to our + fellow-countrymen, by the Irish Confederation:—</p> + +<p> RULE</p> + +<p> "That a society be now formed, under the title of 'The Irish + Confederation,' for the purpose of protecting our national + interests, and obtaining the legislative independence of + Ireland, by the force of opinion, by the combination of all + classes of Irishmen, and the exercise of all the political, + social and moral influences within our reach.</p> + +<p> "II. That (under present circumstances) the only hope of the + liberation of this country lies in a movement in which all + classes and creeds of Irishmen shall be fairly represented, and + by which the interests of none shall be endangered.</p> + +<p> "III. That inasmuch as English legislation threatens all + Irishmen with a common ruin, we entertain a confident hope their + common necessities will speedily unite Irishmen in an effort to + get rid of it.</p> + +<p> "IV. That we earnestly deprecate the expression of any + sentiments in the Confederation, calculated to repel or alarm + any section of our fellow-countrymen.</p> + +<p> "V. That we disclaim, as we have disclaimed, any intention of + involving our country in civil war, or of invading the just + rights of any portion of its people.</p> + +<p> "VI. That the Confederation has not recommended, nor does it + recommend, resistance to the payment of rates and rents, but, on + the contrary, unequivocally condemns such recommendations.</p> + +<p> "VII. That, in protesting against the disarmament of the Irish + people, under the Coercion Bill lately enacted, and in + maintaining that the right to bear arms, and to use them for + legitimate purposes, is one of the primary attributes of + liberty, we have had no intention or desire <a name="Page_124" id="Page_124" />to encourage any + portion of the population of this country in the perpetration of + crimes, such as those which have recently brought disgrace upon + the Irish people; and which have tended, in no trifling degree, + to retard the success of our efforts in the cause of national + freedom.</p> + +<p> "VIII. That to hold out to the Irish people the hope that, in + this present broken and divided condition, they can liberate + their country by an appeal to arms, and consequently to divert + them from constitutional action, would be, in our opinion, a + fatal misdirection of the public mind.</p> + +<p> "IX. That this Confederation was established to obtain an Irish + Parliament by the combination of classes, and by the force of + opinion, exercised in constitutional operations; and that no + means of a contrary character can be recommended or promoted + through its organisation, while its present fundamental rules + remain unaltered.</p> + +<p> "X. That while we deem it right thus emphatically to disavow the + principles propounded in the publications referred to in the + resolutions, we at the same time equally distinctly repudiate + all right to control <i>the private opinions</i> of any member of our + body, provided they do not affect the legal or moral + responsibility of the Irish Confederation."</p> + +<p> AMENDMENT</p> + +<p> "That this Confederation does not feel called upon to promote + either a condemnation or approval of any doctrines promulgated + by any of its members, in letters, speeches, or otherwise; + because the seventh fundamental rule of the Confederation + expressly provides, 'That inasmuch as the essential bond of + union amongst us is the assertion of Ireland's right to an + independent legislature, no member of the Irish Confederation + shall be bound to the adoption of any principle involved in any + resolution, or promulgated by any speaker in the <a name="Page_125" id="Page_125" />society, or + any journal advocating its policy, to which he has not given his + special consent, save only the foregoing fundamental principles + of the society.'"</p></div> + +<p>But nothing could be more remote from the fact than the assumption that +those who supported the Rotunda resolutions were opposed to Mr. Mitchel +in principle. If that ground were not expressly repudiated, Mr. Mitchel +would have been sustained by a majority of two to one. Every speaker who +exercised any influence on the meeting, took occasion emphatically to +disclaim it. They did not deprecate the right or the duty of taking up +arms against the English Government; but they said: While we approve of +the end in view, we condemn the means, and precisely because we think +them the most surely calculated of any that could be devised, to +frustrate the object. This was the distinct ground, specifically, +clearly and unmistakably stated, on which the amendment of Mr. Mitchel +was opposed and it was the only ground on which it could be opposed; +with sincerity or success. The use, therefore, which was made of the +resolutions on Mr. Duffy's trial was false and unsustainable in every +point of view.</p> + +<p>There is no disposition and no desire to quarrel with the line of +defence adopted by Mr. Duffy. It is conceded freely that any defence +which his counsel, some of the ablest and most honourable men at the bar +in Ireland, or elsewhere recommended was justifiable. But coupling that +part of the defence with the evidence given on the same trial, by +pensioners and parasites<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8" /><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> of the British Government, and with the +commentaries <a name="Page_126" id="Page_126" />that afterwards appeared from the pens of some of Mr. +Duffy's friends, the whole was calculated to leave on the public mind an +impression, not only utterly inconsistent with the truth, but pernicious +and fatal in its influence on the future of the country, if indeed she +is ever to have a future.</p> + +<p>This impression inevitably would be that Mr. Duffy modelled and moulded +the proceedings of the Confederation at his mere pleasure; that Mr. +Duffy was not alone averse to revolution, but actually conservatively +loyal; and that, in the spirit of that loyalty, he controlled the whole +body, and kept an insensate "Jacquerie," which existed within it, in +check—that it was only when he was sent to prison this Jacquerie +obtained the ascendant, and that Mr. Duffy was the victim of their +intemperate folly. However agreeable all this may be to personal vanity, +Mr. Duffy must feel compelled to reject it as audacious and unmeaning +flattery. There is much more at stake than the estimate of private +character—the highest interests of truth. They require that it should +be made known and incontestably established that every word of the +above—fact and inference—is unfounded. As to the statement that Mr. +Duffy was made the victim of others' intemperance, its converse could be +much more easily sustained. But it satisfies every requirement of truth +simply to state that, morally speaking, Mr. Duffy was equally +responsible for the late outbreak, with those who perilled their lives +and lost their liberty forever in the struggle.</p> + +<p>The <i>United Irishman</i> started under auspices more flattering than ever +cheered the birth of a similar enterprise. The man in Dublin, who did +not read the first <a name="Page_127" id="Page_127" />number, might indeed be pronounced a bigot or a +fool. Every word struck with the force and terror of lightning. So great +was the sale of the first number that the press was kept busy for three +days and nights. When the second was announced, a guard of police was +necessary to keep order and peace among the newsvendors around the +office door. In every corner of the island the influence of the <i>United +Irishman</i> was instant and simultaneous. The letters to the Ulster +farmers caused a sensation as universal and profound as the letters to +Lord Clarendon excited sentiments of wonder and alarm. Thomas Devin +Reilly's powers, too, never before tested in this range of literature, +astonished even the warmest admirers of his genius. The journal at once +attained a standard of eminence, political, literary and poetical, never +accorded to a production of the kind, published in Ireland. For the days +in which they were written, the songs and essays of Thomas Davis +contained greater depth, and a holier purpose. They seemed to flow, too, +from a diviner inspiration; were of a wider, calmer and more generous +scope. But the times were different; and it was as if the spirit of +fire, burning at the bases of man's social hopes throughout Europe, +breathed its prophetic glow on the heart of John Mitchel, conscious that +he, of all men, in a prostrate land, could find it befitting utterance. +It must not be omitted that the muse of "Mary," of "Eva," and of poor +Clarence Mangan, considerably enhanced the high estimate of the <i>United +Irishman</i>.</p> + +<p>In the presence of such an oracle of defiance and vengeance, the +Government for a while stood aghast. But the urgency of the times +admitted of no temporising <a name="Page_128" id="Page_128" />policy. Messrs. O'Brien, Meagher and +Mitchel, were selected for prosecution; but the latter was honoured with +a double suit—one for an article, and the other for a speech. The +morning they were called upon to enter into security, all Dublin was +startled as if by a spell. The streets were crowded by a dense and +anxious mass of men. The police-office in a short time became +inaccessible. Mr. O'Connell's two sons, and the staff of the old +Association, anticipated the crowd, and occupied the seats around the +bench. When Mr. O'Brien was called on, the O'Connells offered to become +his security. The fact was trumpeted by the journals, yet living on the +garbage of Conciliation Hall. But the offer, if sincere, might then be +productive of important consequences. It was not sincere; a fact +sufficiently attested by the Messrs. O'Connell's necessary consciousness +that Mr. O'Brien would not come without his bail. In truth, it was known +to all Dublin that he even found a difficulty in reconciling the +conflicting claims of several gentlemen who aspired to that honour. So +it was, too, with Mr. Meagher and Mr. Mitchel. All those gentlemen +hurried to tender their services, as soon as they heard that bail would +be required, the Messrs. O'Connell alone selecting the public court for +the display of their magnanimity. It is needless to add that their +courtesy was declined; and they must have left the police-office that +day in the wake of the crowd, oppressed with the conviction that the +confidence of the Irish people had passed for ever from their house.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-12" /><a id="image12" href="images/image12-big.jpg"><img src="images/image12.jpg" width="261" height="400" alt="Thomas Francis Meagher (A Sketch in May: 1848)" title="Thomas Francis Meagher (A Sketch in May: 1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Thomas Francis Meagher (A Sketch in May: 1848)</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-13" /><a id="image13" href="images/image13-big.jpg"><img src="images/image13.jpg" width="337" height="400" alt="John Martin (About 1865)" title="John Martin (About 1865)" /></a> +<p class="caption">John Martin (About 1865)</p> +</div> + +<p>This prosecution marked a new epoch in the Irish movement. It was +determined at once to meet it <a name="Page_129" id="Page_129" />boldly—to extenuate nothing, to +retract nothing—to take advantage of no legal subterfuge; but dare the +issue promptly, openly and fully. Mr. O'Brien at first refused to be +defended by counsel. He was with great difficulty prevailed upon to +change his determination; and, when it was known that he was willing to +accept professional assistance, at least twenty of the ablest young men +at the bar volunteered their services; and the traversers saw arrayed at +their side an amount of professional ability and chivalry such as was +never united on such an occasion. The most respectable solicitors in the +profession, too, contended for the honour of being their recorded +attorneys. The juries disagreed in both cases; and the charge against +Mitchel lapsed into that more formidable prosecution which sealed his +fate.</p> + +<p>Mitchel's arrest under the Treason Felony Act was not unexpected. But as +soon as it was ascertained that he was lodged in Newgate, his fate +engaged the entire care of his co-Confederates. The question at once +arose whether, if a rescue were attempted, there were resources to +ensure even a decent stand. It was ascertained that the supply of arms +and ammunition was scanty and imperfect, and the supply of food still +scantier. The people had been decimated by three years of famine: and no +want could be more appalling than the want of food. On inquiry, it was +found that there was not provision for three days in the capital, which +depended on daily arrivals for its daily bread. Throughout the country, +the supply was even more precarious. The Government had in their own +hands the uncontrolled power of preventing the arrival of a single grain +of <a name="Page_130" id="Page_130" />corn; and, if so minded, could starve the island in a fortnight, +supposing the people were even able to possess themselves of all the +cattle in the country.</p> + +<p>These were some of the considerations which influenced the decision of +Mr. Mitchel's comrades. Whether the opinion were or were not a correct +one, they acted on the conviction that, under all circumstances, any +attempt to rescue him would eventuate in a street row which would entail +not only defeat but disgrace. If they could but persuade themselves that +a blow might be struck, even though defeat and death followed, they most +certainly would have attempted it. It was generally understood, on the +day before the trial, that the idea of a rescue was abandoned; and the +trial commenced amidst gloomy presentiments and blighted hopes. After +hours of quibbling and legal fencing, a jury was selected, by the crown, +to convict. From the moment they went through the blasphemous process of +swearing to give a true verdict, John Mitchel's fate was sealed.</p> + +<p>I pass over the details, and come to the last act in the infamous drama, +called his trial.</p> + +<p>The following account of the closing scene is not mine. Feeling +inadequate to describe a scene of which even a distant recollection is +exciting, I asked a friend who felt the deepest interest in the trial to +describe it. With what he has written I entirely agree, save one +sentence. He says that it was owing to the action of the council of the +Confederation John Mitchel's personal friends were allowed to be +assaulted, with impunity, by the police. I do not think so. With respect +to the decision of the council, I feel bound to assume my share <a name="Page_131" id="Page_131" />of its +responsibility, although I yielded to it with the utmost reluctance and +regret:—</p> + +<p>On the morning of Saturday, the 27th May, 1849, the court was crowded to +a greater excess than usual, even in those days. About the empty dock +were the personal friends of Mr. Mitchel, those who agreed with him, and +those who did not. A little retired on either side sat John Martin, and +John Kenyon—in front were William H. Mitchel, brother of the prisoner +and his only relative in court, T. Devin Reilly, Thomas F. Meagher, John +B. Dillon, Michael Doheny, Richard O'Gorman, Martin O'Flaherty (Mr. +Mitchel's attorney), Charles O'Hara and others whom we have forgotten.</p> + +<p>A little in advance, on the left of the dock, were the stalls reserved +during the sham trial for the counsel for the defence. As yet they were +only occupied by the junior advocates, Sir Colman O'Loghlen and John +O'Hagan. The benches at the right of the dock, and nearer to the bench, +reserved for the Attorney-General and his retainers, were vacant. The +Sheriff and his white stick occupied their box, and the galleries to the +right and left were crowded with jurymen—those who "had done their +business," and those who were eager for employment to do more. The bench +of the judges held two empty chairs. And police officers and other +mercenaries, dotted thickly over the court, "concluded and set off the +arrangements."</p> + +<p>An old man, low of stature, and stooped, passed through a side door, and +walked slowly and decrepidly into the benches of the prisoner's counsel. +Whispers, and then applause from the galleries, were heard and <a name="Page_132" id="Page_132" />passed +by him unheeded. Quietly and unostentatiously he moved to his seat—the +junior advocates, and all the Confederates in the body of the court, +rising and bowing to him in silence. It was the solitary Republican of +the United Irish day, Robert Holmes, coming to discharge his last duty +to the great Republican of a younger century.</p> + +<p>The applause of the galleries was hushed by the crier's voice—"Silence! +take off your hats"; and on the right stalked in the gaunt figure of +James Henry Monahan. Triumph, animosity and fear marked his night-bird +face. Even yet it was hoped the great opponent of his "government," whom +by rascality alone he could convict, would strike his colours, and sue +for mercy. Even yet it was feared that a rescue would be attempted. How +possible the former was, the reader may judge. The latter was rendered +impossible by the council of the Confederation, and the few who +cherished the design in the council's despite, had attempted an <i>emeute</i> +the night previous, and were beaten and placed <i>hors de combat</i>. As +Monahan and his retainers entered, the red face of Lefroy oozed through +the bench curtains, and followed by the pale Moore, "the court was +seated."</p> + +<p>As yet the dock was empty, save that the jailor of Newgate and his +deputy occupied each a corner.</p> + +<p>There was a dead silence.</p> + +<p>"Jailor, put forward John Mitchel," said the official, whose duty is to +make such orders.</p> + +<p>A grating of bolts—a rustling of chains, were heard behind. The low +door-way at the back of the dock opened, and between turnkeys Mitchel +entered.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133" />Ascending the steps to the front of the dock, and lifting, as he +advanced, the glazed dark cap he wore during his imprisonment, as +gracefully as if he entered a drawing-room, he took his stand in a firm +but easy attitude. His appearance was equally removed from bravado and +fear. His features, usually placid and pale, had a rigid clearness about +them that day we can never forget. They seemed, from their transparency +and firmness, like some wondrous imagination of the artist's chisel, in +which the marble, fancying itself human, had begun to breathe. The eye +was calm and bright—the mouth, the feature round which danger loves to +play, though easy, motionless, and with lips apart, had about it an air +of immobility and quiet scorn, which was not the effect of muscular +action, but of nature in repose. And in his whole appearance, features, +attitude and look, there was a conscious pride and superiority over his +opponents, which, though unpresuming and urbane, seemed to speak louder +than words—"I am the victor here to-day."</p> + +<p>He saluted quietly those friends about the dock he had not that day +seen, conversing with one or two, and bowing to those at a distance. He +then directed his eyes to the court.</p> + +<p>After some preliminary forms, Baron Lefroy commenced operations, by +stating that he had called the case the first that morning, in order to +give time for any application to be made in court by, or on behalf of, +the prisoner of the crown.</p> + +<p>Again there was a silence of some minutes. The judges looked at each +other inquiringly. The crown <a name="Page_134" id="Page_134" />prosecutor watched the prisoner's counsel. +Upon the prisoner himself all other eyes were fixed.</p> + +<p>There was no reply.</p> + +<p>"Business proceeded." The "Clerk of the Crown," rising to ask the usual +question—"If Mr. Mitchel had anything to say why judgment should not be +passed upon him?"</p> + +<p>"I <i>have</i>," he answered, and after a momentary look at judges, jury-box +and sheriff, he slowly continued: "I have to say that I have been tried +by a packed jury—by the jury of a partisan sheriff—by a jury not +empanelled, even according to the law of England, I have been found +guilty by a packed jury obtained by a juggle—a jury not empanelled by a +sheriff, but by a juggler."</p> + +<p>Here he was interrupted by the sheriff rising, and, in high indignation, +claiming the protection of the court.</p> + +<p>"That is the reason," continued Mitchel, "that is the reason why I +object to the sentence being passed on me."</p> + +<p>"That imputation," interrupted Lefroy, "upon the conduct of the sheriff +I must pronounce to be most unwarranted and unfounded." And this +discriminating judge continued to show that the imputation was +so—concluding with the assertion that the sheriff "had done his duty in +the case." Then without pausing, he proceeded to the usual lecture, full +of hypocritical cant with which British judges usually preface their +awards, however infamous. He alluded to the personal condition of Mr. +Mitchel, and expressed his regrets that a person of such merits should +be in such circumstances,<a name="Page_135" id="Page_135" /> Then having dilated on the enormity of the +offence, he assured Mr. Mitchel that he had been found guilty of many +heinous charges against the Queen and the Imperial Crown, and among +others, of felonious intending to levy war upon that gentlewoman, and +that the evidence was furnished by the prisoner's self. "How, +therefore," he continued, "you think yourself justified in calling it +the verdict of a packed jury, and thus imputing perjury to twelve of +your countrymen—deliberate and wilful perjury—"</p> + +<p>"No," interrupted the prisoner, "I did not impute perjury to the jury."</p> + +<p>"I understood," said the speaker on the bench, "that you had stated, in +arrest of judgment, that you had been found guilty by a packed jury."</p> + +<p>"I did," was the reply.</p> + +<p>Robert Holmes rose, during the judge's speech, and said, "My lords, with +the greatest respect, what I said was, that though he might be +statutably guilty, he was not, in my opinion, morally guilty. I repeat +that opinion now."</p> + +<p>This avowal, so boldly and firmly made by the veteran Republican, was +answered by all the audience, not pensioned, with plaudits.</p> + +<p>Baron Lefroy would say no more on that point, only that the court could +not acquiesce in a line of defence "which appeared to it very little +short of, or amounting to, as objectionable matter as that for which the +prisoner had been found guilty.</p> + +<p>"I," replied the aged advocate, "I am answerable for that under your Act +of Parliament."</p> + +<p>Loud applause followed. "Are there no policemen <a name="Page_136" id="Page_136" />in court?" shouted +Baron Lefroy. The High Sheriff "had given strict orders," he said, "to +have all removed who would interrupt." "Make prisoners of them," said +the judge. "I wish you to understand," he continued, still excited, and +addressing Mr. Mitchel, who during these episodes, stood unmoved, "that +we have with the utmost anxiety and with a view to come to a decision +upon the measure of punishment which it would be our duty to impose, +postponed the passing of sentence on you until this morning." Then, +having stated the various considerations which induced him to believe +that the punishment should be lenient, and the equally various +considerations which induced him to believe the contrary, Lefroy +concluded as follows: "We had to consider all this—to look at the +magnitude of the crime, and to look also at the consideration, that if +this were not the first case brought under the Act, our duty might have +obliged us to carry out the penalty it awards to the utmost extent; but, +taking into consideration, that this is the first conviction under the +Act—though the offence has been as clearly proved as any offence under +the Act could be—the sentence of the court is, that you be transported +beyond the seas for the term of fourteen years."</p> + +<p>The listeners to the hypocritical sentence which concluded Lefroy's +speech, heard the sentence with astonishment and indignation. Mr. +Mitchel merely asked, apparently without any astonishment, if he might +now address some remarks to the court. The leave asked was granted, and +a silence still as death awaited the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"The law," he said, in his usual manly tone, and <a name="Page_137" id="Page_137" />unexcited manner, "the +law has now done its part, and the Queen of England, her crown and +government in Ireland are now secure—'pursuant to Act of Parliament.' I +have done my part, also. Three months ago I promised Lord Clarendon and +his government in this country, that I would provoke him into his +'courts of justice,' as places of this kind are called, and that I would +force him publicly and notoriously to pack a jury against me to convict +me, or else that I would walk out a free man from this dock to meet him +in another field.</p> + +<p>"My lord, I knew I was setting my life on that cast; but I warned him +that, in either case, the victory would be with me; and the victory is +with me. Neither the jury, nor the judges, nor any other man in this +court, presumes to imagine that it is a criminal who stands in this +dock."</p> + +<p>He was interrupted with the plaudits of the auditory; and again +continued:—</p> + +<p>"I have kept my word. I have shown what the law is made of in Ireland. I +have shown that her majesty's government sustains itself in Ireland by +packed juries, by partisan judges, by perjured sheriffs—"</p> + +<p>Here he was interrupted by Lefroy, who said, "the court could not sit +there to hear him arraign the jurors of the country, the sheriffs of the +country, the administration of justice, the tenure by which the crown of +England holds that country. The trial was over. Everything the prisoner +had to say previous to the judgment, the court was ready to hear, and +did hear. They could not suffer him (Mr. Mitchel) to stand at <a name="Page_138" id="Page_138" />that bar +to repeat, very nearly, a repetition of the offence for which he had +been sentenced."</p> + +<p>"I will not say," Mr. Mitchel continued, "anything more of that kind. +But I say this—"</p> + +<p>Lefroy again interrupted him, to the effect that, within certain limits +the prisoner might proceed.</p> + +<p>"I have acted," he then said, "I have acted all through this business, +from the first, under a strong sense of duty. I do not regret anything I +have done, and I believe that the course which I have opened is only +commenced. The Roman," he continued in one of those bursts of eloquence, +with which he used to electrify men, stretching forth his clenched hand +and arm, "the Roman who saw his hand burning to ashes before the tyrant, +promised that three hundred should follow out his enterprise. Can I not +promise for one, for two, for three, aye for hundreds?"</p> + +<p>Here he pointed to his friends, Reilly, Martin, and Meagher. A burst of +wild enthusiasm followed.</p> + +<p>"Officer! officer! remove Mr. Mitchel," was heard from Lefroy. A rush +was made on the dock, and the foremost ranks sprung from the galleries, +with out-stretched arms to vow with him too. The judges rushed in terror +from the benches—the turnkeys seized the hero, and in a scene of wild +confusion he half walked, and was half forced through the low, dark +door-way in the rear, waving his hand in a quiet farewell. The bolts +grated, the gate slammed, and he was seen no more.</p> + +<p>Men stood in affright, and looked in each others' faces wonderingly. +They had seen a Roman sacrifice in this modern world, and they were +mute.<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139" /></p> + +<p>An hour elapsed—the excited crowd had passed away; and the partisan +judges, nervous and ill at ease, ventured upon the bench again.</p> + +<p>They were seated, and seemed to be settling down to get through +"business" as well as they could, when Mr. Holmes, whose defence of Mr. +Mitchel had been so offensive to them, rose. "My lords," he said, "I +think I had a perfect right to use the language I did yesterday. I wish +now to state that what I said yesterday as an advocate, I adopt to-day, +as my own opinion. I here avow all I have said; and, perhaps, under this +late Act of Parliament, her Majesty's Attorney-General, if I have +violated the law, may think it his duty to proceed against me in that +way. But if I have violated the law in anything I said, I must, with +great respect to the court, assert that I had a perfect right to state +what I stated; and now I say in deliberation, that the sentiments I +expressed with respect to England, and her treatment of this country, +are my sentiments, and I here openly avow them. The Attorney-General is +present—I retract nothing—these are my well-judged sentiments—these +are my opinions, as to the relative position of England and Ireland, and +if I have, as you seem to insinuate, violated the law by stating those +opinions, I now deliberately do so again. Let her Majesty's +Attorney-General do <i>his</i> duty to his government, I have done <i>mine</i> to +my country."</p> + +<p>Such was the conclusion of the trial of John Mitchel. The brother-in-law +and friend of Robert Emmet, the republican of our fathers' days, came to +attest the justice of the republican of our own, and to vie with <a name="Page_140" id="Page_140" />him in +defying and scorning the infamous laws of England.</p> + +<p>It is needless to say that the English officials did not dare accept the +challenge so nobly and defiantly flung down before the very dock whence +one victim had just been borne.</p> + + +<p>I feel tempted to add a word of a scene that intervened, in which I took +a part. When the sheriff recovered his self-possession, he ordered +several to be arrested; among others, Mr. Meagher. The officer who +seized him acted rudely and violently, which led to further confusion, +and the exchange of blows. At last Mr. Meagher and myself were secured +and removed to prison. When order was restored, we were brought out +before the court, and asked for an expression of regret. I answered, +that having heard Mr. Mitchel express, in the dock, sentiments in which +I entirely concurred, I took immediate occasion to mark my most distinct +and emphatic approval. In doing this I had no intention of an affront to +the court. But as to retract, or regret, no punishment in the power of +that or any other court to inflict, would compel me to do either one or +the other.</p> + +<p>Mr. Meagher repeated the same thing. We were then reprimanded and sent +back. Soon after we were recalled, and upon motion of Mr. Dillon and Sir +Colman O'Loghlen, on behalf of Mr. Meagher, who stated that he would +express his regret for the contempt of court, but nothing else, we were +both released, although I persisted in refusing even to join in the +expression of regret made <i>for</i> but not <i>by</i> Mr. Meagher.<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141" /></p> + +<p>On the same day on which the above scene took place, John Mitchel was +borne in irons from the land of his love, the wife of his bosom, and the +children of his heart.</p> + +<p>Immediately after, the council of the Confederation was reduced to +twenty-one; and everything wore a sterner aspect, as if, whether they +willed it or no, an imperious obligation required fulfilment at their +hands. The slight disunion, which the fate of John Mitchel created, +between those who favoured and opposed his rescue, quickly disappeared, +and both parties only emulated each other in the activity and +earnestness of preparation. Among the agencies of progress, suggested by +the crisis, were two new journals—the <i>Felon</i>, edited by John Martin +and T.D. Reilly, assisted by Mr. Brenan, and the <i>Tribune</i>, edited by +Richard Dalton Williams and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, of which Mr. Savage +and Dr. Antisell were joint proprietors, and to which they were joint +contributors, with S.J. Meany and myself. The great object of the first +was to follow in the footsteps of the <i>United Irishman</i>, and that of the +latter was to urge the same principles upon a more republican basis. The +<i>Felon</i> soon acquired additional interest from the daring principles and +extraordinary ability of Mr. James F. Lalor, who had become a joint +contributor with the recognised editors. Of the <i>Tribune</i> it would not +become me to speak; perhaps no more is needed than that in the race to +doom it was not outsped.</p> + +<p>On the 8th of July, John Martin surrendered. Messrs. Duffy and O'Doherty +were arrested on the same evening, and Mr. Williams on the following +morning.<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142" /></p> + +<p>Although the trials that followed did not take place until long after +the events which form the principal subject of this narrative, a brief +account of them will not be inappropriate here.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Doherty was the first placed on his trial. The jury was of the +stamp usual in such cases in Ireland. But a point of great importance +was raised by his counsel, as to the publisher's <i>intention</i> to commit +the felony, which they insisted should be proved, to bring his case +within the provision of the Treason Felony Act. The court, composed of +Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, gave an opinion favourable to +this construction, and the jury refused to convict, for which the Castle +Organ did not hesitate to pronounce them perjurers. Every one supposed +and rejoiced that Mr. O'Doherty had escaped; but the vengeance of the +Attorney-General was far from satisfied, and he had ample satisfaction +on a future day.</p> + +<p>On the 16th of August, John Martin was placed at the bar, before the +same judges. The instincts of the official, exasperated by defeat, +exercised a keener vigilance in selecting a jury; and one was finally +sworn that did not disappoint his sagacity. They found a verdict of +guilty without hesitation; but recommended the prisoner to mercy, which +in that case was a distinct contradiction of their oaths. The +composition of the jury, and the character of the prosecution, will be +best understood by a perusal of the subjoined speech. No higher proof +could be given of his purity of purpose, elevation of sentiment, and +goodness of heart. On the 19th of August he was called up to receive +sentence He stood in the spot hallowed by the footprints of<a name="Page_143" id="Page_143" /> Robert +Emmet and John Mitchel; nor was the heart he brought to the same +sacrifice less worthy than theirs. Upon his benevolent countenance or +stout heart, the appliances of terror around him had no effect. He stood +unmoved and unawed, in the glorious consciousness that he had fulfilled +his duty to his friend and to his country.</p> + +<p>When asked what he had to say why sentence should not be passed upon +him, he replied:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"MY LORDS: I have no imputation to cast upon the bench, neither + have I anything of unfairness toward myself to charge the jury + with. I think the judges desired to do their duty fairly, as + upright judges and men, and that the twelve men who were put + into the box, not to try, but to convict me, voted honestly + according to their prejudices. I have no personal enmity against + the sheriff, sub-sheriff, or any other gentleman connected with + the arrangements of the jury panel, nor against the + Attorney-General, or any other person engaged in the proceedings + called my trial. But, my lords, I consider <i>I have not yet been + tried!</i> There have been certain formalities carried on here for + three days, <i>but I have not been put upon my country, according + to the constitution said to exist in Ireland!</i></p> + +<p> "Twelve of my countrymen, 'indifferently chosen,' have not been + put into the jury-box to try me, but twelve men, who, I believe, + have been selected by the parties who represent the crown, for + the purpose of <i>convicting</i>, and not of <i>trying</i> me.</p> + +<p> "Every person knows that what I have stated is the fact; and I + would represent to the judges, most respectfully, that they, as + honourable judges, and as upright citizens, ought to see that + the administration of justice in this country is above + suspicion. I have <a name="Page_144" id="Page_144" />nothing more to say with regard to the trial; + but I would be thankful to the court for permission to say a few + words after sentence is passed."</p></div> + +<p>Chief Baron and Baron Pennefather: "No. We cannot hear anything from you +after sentence is pronounced."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Then, my lords, permit me to say, that admitting the narrow and + confined constitutional doctrines, which I have heard preached + in this court, to be right, <i>I am not guilty of the charge + according to this Act!</i> In the article of mine, on which the + jury framed their verdict, which was written in prison, and + published in the last number of my paper, what I desired to do + was this, to advise and encourage my countrymen to keep their + arms; because that is their inalienable right, which no Act of + Parliament, no proclamation can take away from them. It is, I + repeat, their inalienable right. I advised them to keep their + arms; and further, I advised them to use their arms in their own + defence against all assailants—even assailants that might come + to attack them unconstitutionally and improperly, using the + Queen's name as their sanction.</p> + +<p> "My object in all my proceeding has been simply to establish the + independence of Ireland for the benefit of all the people of + Ireland—noblemen, clergymen, judges, professional men—in fact, + all Irishmen. I sought that object first, because I thought it + was our right; because I thought, and think still, national + independence was the right of the people of this country. And + secondly, I admit, that being a man who loves retirement, I + never would have engaged in politics did I not think it + necessary to do all in my power to make an end of the horrible + scenes the country presents—the pauperism, and starvation, and + crime, and vice, and the hatred of all classes against each + other. I thought there should be an end to that horrible system, + which while it lasted, gave me <a name="Page_145" id="Page_145" />no peace of mind, for I could + not enjoy anything in my country, so long as I saw my countrymen + forced to be vicious, forced to hate each other, and degraded to + the level of paupers and brutes. This is the reason I engaged in + politics.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-14" /><a id="image14" href="images/image14-big.jpg"><img src="images/image14.jpg" width="308" height="400" alt="Kevin Izod O'Doherty" title="Kevin Izod O'Doherty" /></a> +<p class="caption">Kevin Izod O'Doherty</p> +</div> + +<p> "I acknowledge, as the Solicitor-General has said, that I was + but a weak assailant of the English power. I am not a good + writer, and I am no orator. I had only two weeks' experience in + conducting a newspaper until I was put into jail. But I am + satisfied to direct the attention of my countrymen to everything + I have ever written, and to rest my character on a fair + examination of what I have put forward as my opinions. I shall + say nothing in vindication of my motives but this, that every + fair and honest man, no matter how prejudiced he may be, if he + calmly considers what I have written and said, will be satisfied + that my motives were pure and honourable. I have nothing more to + say."</p></div> + +<p>The Chief Baron, in passing sentence, alluded to the jury's +"recommendation to mercy."</p> + +<p>Mr. Martin: "I cannot condescend to accept mercy where I believe I have +been morally right. I want justice, not mercy."</p> + +<p>He was then sentenced to ten years' transportation.</p> + +<p>On two successive occasions, the jury empanelled by the Government, and +carefully packed to serve their end, refused to convict Mr. O'Doherty. +He was placed on his trial, a third time, on the 30th of October, +prosecuted with the same enduring malignity, and a verdict of guilty, +suspected to be the result of a fraud practised on the jury, was +returned. Mr. Williams, who was joint proprietor of the <i>Tribune</i>, and +jointly responsible, was acquitted after a protracted trial on the 3rd +of November, the jury being of opinion that although the <a name="Page_146" id="Page_146" />articles given +in evidence were felonious, there was no proof to satisfy them that the +proprietors, when publishing them, did so with a felonious intent. This +distinction arose in consequence of the fair and candid construction of +the Felony Act, given by Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, on Mr. +O'Doherty's first trial, to the effect that the jury should be satisfied +of the publisher's felonious intent; a construction which the present +judges 'Crampton and Torrens' would not dare to contradict.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this, just as the words, "Not guilty," were pronounced +by the jury, in Mr. Williams' case, despite the most flagrant and +audacious bullying of the bench, Mr. O'Doherty was called up for +judgment. Among all the martyr-band whom this year consigned to doom, +not one behaved himself with truer or nobler heroism; not one, either, +whose fate commands a deeper sympathy. Under thirty years of age, +largely gifted, with most respectable connections, a high place in +society, brilliant prospects, and so unostentatious in his enthusiasm +that it was only then his country heard of his devotion, and learned his +worth; there he stood with as lofty consciousness and as brave a heart +as ever consecrated the scaffold or the battle-plain.</p> + +<p>Judge Crampton pronounced the sentence. Nature has supplied his lordship +with characteristics of countenance admirably befitting such a scene. +Had he been only elevated to the kindred office of actual executioner, +he would have been spared the expense of a mask; for without it, no one +could look into his eyes. Of course, he was teeming with compassion and +<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147" />regret, which jointly resulted in a sentence of transportation for TEN +YEARS. Mr. O'Doherty, who stood unmoved, after a few preliminary +observations in reference to the unfairness of his trial, spoke as +follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I would feel much obliged if your lordship would permit me to + mention a few more words with reference to my motives throughout + this affair. I had but one object and purpose in view. I did + feel deeply for the sufferings and privations endured by my + fellow-countrymen. I did wish, by all means, consistent with a + manly and honourable resistance, to assist in putting an end to + that suffering. It is very true, and I will confess it, that I + desired an open resistance of the people to that government, + which, in my judgment, entailed these sufferings upon them. I + have used the words open and honourable resistance in order that + I might refer to one of the articles brought in evidence against + me, in which the writer suggests such things as flinging burning + hoops on the soldiery. My lords, these are no sentiments of + mine. I did not write that article. I did not see it or know of + it until I read it when published in the paper. But I did not + bring the writer of it here on the table. Why? I knew that if I + were to do so, it would be only handing him over at the + court-house doors to what one of the witnesses has very properly + called the fangs of the Attorney-General. With respect to myself + I have no fears. I trust I will be enabled to bear my sentence + with all the forbearance due to what I believe to be the opinion + of twelve conscientious enemies to me, and I will bear with due + patience the wrath of the Government whose mouthpiece they were; + but I will never cease to deplore the destiny that gave me birth + in this unhappy country, and compelled me, as an Irishman, to + receive at your hands a felon's doom for discharging what I + conceived, and what I still conceive, to be my duty."</p></div> + +<p><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148" />Mr. Duffy's trial was postponed. His final escape is known to most of my +readers; but as I cannot approve of the character of his defence, I +prefer saying no more of it in this place.</p> + +<p>It is here needful to refer to myself, a topic always disagreeable to +others, but painfully so on this occasion to me. The proposal to form a +league with the remaining members of the Association originated with +certain gentlemen, among whom the Rev. Mr. Miley held a prominent place, +who personally waited on Mr. O'Brien to testify their abhorrence of the +outrages offered to him in Limerick. Some very questionable politicians, +who watched with the eye of traffic the current of public opinion, and +sought to make the same profit of the reflux they had formerly made of +its unimpeded tide, attended on those occasions. Others, of purer +motives, and loftier patriotism, joined in these interviews, and +contrived to have them repeated. Among these were the poet, Samuel +Ferguson, and Richard Ireland, two recent and brilliant converts to the +cause of nationality. There were others, whom I need not name, of +equally unquestionable purity. But for several weeks, while these +interviews were held, there was no exact delegation from either the +Confederation or Association. I am not, indeed, aware whether any such +delegation was ever formally given or assumed. However, negotiations +proceeded, and though they were never brought to a satisfactory +adjustment, the dissolution of the Confederation was formally proposed +and adopted. On that day the greatest hope of Ireland perished.</p> + +<p>The generosity of the suicide on the part of the<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149" /> Confederation was met +by a new chicane. Though every member, whose character and talents could +for a moment redeem the deformity, dulness and decrepitude of the Repeal +Association, had passed from its ranks and enrolled themselves in the +new League, it resolved to struggle on, acting as a check and a stain by +its anility and crookedness, on the rising hopes of the country. During +the discussions that led to the formation of the league, it was +emphatically announced by certain members of the Confederation that on +no ground and for no purpose would they abjure one principle they ever +announced. Above all, they avowed their purpose to urge on the country +the duty of armed resistance whenever its success appeared probable. The +Government heard of these avowals, and the time spent in captious +discussions about moral nonentities and legal quibbles, when the stake +was a nation's death or life, was diligently employed by the Government +in accumulating means of defence.</p> + +<p>The motives of the principal promoters of the league are by no means +questioned here. On the contrary, it is freely admitted their +convictions were as sincere as they were fatal. The due appreciation of +that movement requires that a few leading facts and inferences upon +which it was based should be calmly considered. The first and most +important is the great change which had taken place in the feelings of +the country. The vast majority of the thinking population were ranged at +the side of the Confederation. So, too, was that of the people of the +rural districts. The intellectual leaders of the great Protestant party +had actually <a name="Page_150" id="Page_150" />identified themselves with it, and a reconciliation with +the entire body of the Orangemen had been nearly effected. Most of the +men whose integrity and ability had preserved the lingering existence of +the Association, openly avowed their approval of its principles, and +such of them whose hearts were not mere empty sounds, would join its +members at a crisis.</p> + +<p>Thus stood the facts. The considerations in favour of the junction were +these: Certain men of influence, who, contrary to their own convictions, +adhered to the Association, in the commencement through fear, and still +adhered to it through an unintelligible hankering after consistency, +pressed for an opportunity where they might abandon their former +associates without the appearance of abandoning their old principles. +There were others who followed a middle course, and were always with the +greater crowd and the more intense enthusiasm, who demanded the same +means of escape.</p> + +<p>There was a consideration of some weight which no doubt influenced the +decision of the Confederates. It was this: the Roman Catholic clergymen +had given unmitigated opposition to the Confederation. Their hostility +had been the most formidable obstacle in its way; and it was assumed +that the presence of some leading churchmen among the Confederates, +would remove the distrust which the former opposition of the priesthood +had mainly tended to create.</p> + +<p>These were the chief considerations at the affirmative side. On a less +pressing occasion, and at a former period, they might have been +forcible, nay, even conclusive.<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151" /> But the issue had been then narrowed to +one of actual force. John Mitchel was transported, and the most trusted +of his comrades had pledged their lives to redeem their brother felon at +any cost. Every consideration connected with the question should be +examined and determined on in reference to that position and that +pledge. Tested by them, the first above presented would thus resolve +itself: either these men whose characteristic had been indecision, were +sincere in seeking for an opportunity to redeem their patriotism by +their blood, or they were not. If they were, they would never be +restrained by the miserable fear of being charged with inconsistency. If +they were not, the cause would be cursed by their adhesion. The same +argument would apply to the priesthood with still more imperious force; +such of them as were actually sincere would be found at their post at +the hour of trial, in obedience to no form, but influenced by their own +conscientiousness. Such of them as were insincere would be true to no +obligation imposed by conventionality. Untrue to their convictions, they +could not be faithful to their words. And finally—an argument which +appears unanswerable and insuperable—Mr. John O'Connell and his +immediate followers had so solemnly abjured, denounced and cursed the +principles of the great majority with whom they were asked to league, +that they could not comply without such a debasement of character as to +compel the scorn of all men, not only to themselves, but all those with +whom they were united. It could not fail to strike any ordinary observer +that materials so incongruous and repulsive were incapable of cohesion; +and the conse<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152" />quence must be the distrust of the more ardent of their +followers at both sides.</p> + +<p>These were my opinions. I pressed them at the time as strongly as I +could, and perhaps more urgently than I ought. But I was absent from +Dublin, and my remonstrances were vain. I would have retired in despair +had I not been too deeply engaged. The Rev. John Kenyon did actually +retire, influenced by the same motives which I refused to yield to, +solely because retirement would brand me with an imputation of +cowardice, which no explanation could ever efface. I refused all +connection with the League, but continued to act in concert with my +confederates, in establishing clubs and training the manhood of the +country for the stern trial before it. My position rendered bold, +undisguised and explicit language indispensable. This led to prosecution +and arrest. The charge was supposed to be high treason and Mr. Richard +O'Gorman wrote to me to inquire what I wished to have done in my behalf. +My answer was a distinct refusal to accept any aid from a body whose +constitution I could not approve. This circumstance is mentioned, not +because it deserves distinct attention, or even a place in this +narrative, but to prove that my objections to the dissolution of the +Confederation, and my feeling that it was a fatal step, are not of +recent growth, or founded on ex-post facto opinions. I feel bound to +add, however, that I stood alone, or almost alone, as far as I have been +able to hear. I dismiss the subject now, anxious to claim no praise, and +ready to submit to the blame that may attach to my course, such as it +was. I am only desirous, that in whatever memory of <a name="Page_153" id="Page_153" />me my country may +preserve, the truth alone should determine the public estimation of my +conduct and character.</p> + +<p>The League met, resolutions were adopted, and speeches made that meant +nothing. New men came together, looked each other in the face, and +turned away as if at the heart of each there was something with which he +could not trust the other. There was a short, feeble and false flourish, +and no more. Those who augured so sanguinely for its action and effect +were disappointed. But they shamed openly to relinquish a project for +sake of which they had made such sacrifices. By degrees, however, they +sought to rekindle the embers of that fire which with thoughtless hand +they aided to extinguish. The Government availing themselves of the +inactivity that prevailed, and acting on the information they received, +resolved to strike a second blow. Charles Duffy was arrested for an +article which the Castle Organ branded as shrinking and cowardly, and +which evidently lacked the burning spirit of the time. Immediately the +clubs, which continued a precarious and unintelligible existence, came +together and elected a directory of five from among their own members. +This directory consisted of Messrs. Dillon, Meagher, O'Gorman, Reilly, +and M'Gee. What their exact duty was does not sufficiently appear. But I +believe the fact to be that they never took counsel together.</p> + +<p>Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Gorman left town immediately. About that time I +was actively engaged in Tipperary. On the same day and hour Mr. Meagher +was arrested in Waterford and I in Cashel. An attempt was made <a name="Page_154" id="Page_154" />to +rescue both of us, and by us both the effort was checked. I knew nothing +of what had occurred. I had been acting since the formation of the +League on my own judgment and responsibility. Independent of the fact +that the harvest was yet remote, and that we were tacitly pledged to +await its coming, my experience for the previous month satisfied me that +the people were far from being prepared; and I could not allow any +personal considerations to influence the country at such a crisis. Mr. +Meagher was governed by similar motives. It might have been better had +we acted otherwise, but with our then convictions, the least risk on our +own account would have been selfish and criminal; and rather than be +guilty of it we yielded to our fate. At the time each of us thought the +charge against him was at least felony. It turned out otherwise, and +though the magistrates who arrested and committed us refused to +entertain the question whether or not the offence was bailable, and +though we were both paraded through the country under an escort of +several hundred men, the Government directed we should be admitted to +bail. Mr. Meagher proceeded from Dublin to Limerick, where the +indictment against him was found; and on the same day I was liberated +from Nenagh Jail. Previous to my arrest, I had arranged to hold a +meeting on the summit of Slievenamon mountain. It was fixed for the day +after that on which I was liberated at Nenagh, which is at least fifty +miles from the place of meeting. I was not liberated until late in the +evening; but I resolved to be present at the meeting, and immediately +proceeded on my journey. I travelled all night, partly on horseback and +partly <a name="Page_155" id="Page_155" />on foot, arriving at Cashel early in the morning. I there +learned that Mr. Meagher and some friends of his from Limerick had also +arrived with the same object as myself. We rode together to the +mountain, followed by several thousands, a distance of twenty miles. +Fifty thousand men at least clambered that steep mountain side, under a +scorching July sun. Four times as many would have been there to meet us, +but it had been widely rumoured none of us would be there; and in fact +most of those who came believed we were both in our prison-cells. +Besides this, efforts were made by men high in the confidence of the +leaders and the country to prevent the meeting altogether. To fix their +motives was difficult, but it would be hazardous to attribute to them +any but the best. Facts have since proved, however, that their +patriotism had even then begun to halt. The Rev. Mr. Byrne, of whom much +shall be said, hereafter, was foremost in this endeavour, and actually +dissuaded the people of Waterford, Carrick and Wexford from proceeding +to the mountain. These people all remained in Carrick, and Mr. Meagher +was informed that they were in a state of extreme excitement. This +intelligence determined him to leave the mountain suddenly and proceed +to meet his fellow-townsmen. Had all these been allowed to attend the +meeting, our resolution might have been very different from what it was. +But we were, in fact, disappointed and chagrined. The mountain-top had +been selected for many reasons. Principal among them were these: Public +meetings in Ireland had actually become a farce. We determined to hold +one from which all senseless and idle brawlers <a name="Page_156" id="Page_156" />would be excluded. The +difficulty of ascending the hill would, we thought, sufficiently test +the courage and sincerity of our followers. Secondly, we wished for a +spot not accessible to her majesty's troops, so as to avoid a chance of +a collision. Thirdly, we thought it would be a precaution against +detectives; and finally, it was possible we might determine on some +bolder step when we saw our strength. The excitement in Carrick had +nearly become uncontrollable, when Mr. Meagher arrived there, and it was +deemed advisable to lead the people out of the town. The distance to +Waterford is twelve Irish miles, over the entire of which the procession +stretched; and so dense was the crowd that Mr. Meagher did not arrive in +Waterford sooner than three o'clock, next morning. It may well be +supposed that such a scene of excitement, heat and tumult, afforded but +little opportunity for deliberation. I was able to speak with my friend +only in brief snatches; and I did not afterward see him until it was too +late to take counsel for the future.</p> + +<p>The meeting on that day, the evening scene at Carrick, and the arrival +in Waterford, were relied on by the English minister, as a perfect +justification for the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. Others and +more powerful ones influenced the Cabinet; and foremost among these was +the great meeting at New York, which too clearly evidenced the purpose +of America, should the struggle proceed. I had no communication, +directly or indirectly, with any of my comrades after that day, save one +letter from Mr. O'Brien. This letter had reference solely to my +approaching trial, which he signified his wish to be present at. To this +<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157" />letter I replied, informing him that it had been intimated to me that a +number of men would assemble, armed, near Nenagh, during the trial; and +I besought him to be there for the purpose of preventing an outbreak, +which I regarded as disastrous, unprepared as the people then were. +Neither the trial nor the meeting took place, and other events shaped +our destiny.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9" /><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> A few days after the Slievenamon meeting, it was +intimated to me that I was to be arrested on a second charge, the exact +nature of which was not stated. I could not doubt the accuracy of my +information, and being fully determined to preserve my liberty for the +coming struggle, which under any circumstances could not be long +delayed, I left home on the 22nd day of July, and proceeded through the +country to the foot of <a name="Page_158" id="Page_158" />Slievenamon. Here I took up my quarters at a +farmer's house, where I remained two days and nights, in total ignorance +of the circumstances then rapidly hurrying the crisis wherein our fondly +cherished hopes were blasted.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8" /><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> From the position in which Mr. Carleton is now placed, it +may be necessary to say that I do not allude to him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9" /><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Since the above was written, I have heard it said that a +report, current about the time of Mr. O'Brien's conviction, had been +recently received here. The report was, that I promised Mr. O'Brien to +have 50,000 men to meet him; which was his principal inducement to act +as he did; and that I not only had not one man, but was myself absent +when he came. The absurdity of the rumour was sufficiently proved by the +fact that Mr. O'Brien did not come to me, or my part of the country, in +the first instance. The real truth is that I never directly or +indirectly, by word or letter, counselled the outbreak. Nay, more: I was +as ignorant of Mr. O'Brien's purpose as the President of these States. +At the time of Mr. Mitchel's trial, I believe I expressed a very strong +opinion in favour of rescuing him; and that opinion was grounded on the +belief that the whole people would rise up <i>en masse</i>, and in one wild +burst of vengeance, sweep their oppressors from the land. But neither +then nor afterwards, did Mr. O'Brien give me the least reason to believe +that he was prepared to resist the government in arms, save as far as he +concurred in acts which had a tendency to that end. +</p><p> +When first the report above referred to was circulated, I wrote the +strongest contradiction of it, and Mr. Meagher, with Mr. O'Brien's +sanction, addressed the following note to the editor of the Tipperary +<i>Vindicator</i>. I am sorry it should be in any way necessary to produce it +here; but as this is the last time I shall ever refer to this subject, I +thought it best to add this testimony to my own. +</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +CLONMEL GAOL +</p><p> + "MR. MEAGHER fully authorises his friend, Mr. Lenihan, to state + that the exculpation which appeared in a recent number of his + paper, from Mr. Doheny, is the perfect truth. +</p><p> + "Mr. Meagher is most anxious to have this stated, for he has + felt for a long time deeply pained at many of the false reports + that have appeared against his friend—his dear and trusted + friend, Michael Doheny. +</p><p> + "One of the most grievous of these reports has been that very + false one, charging Mr. Doheny with having invited Mr. Smith + O'Brien to the county Tipperary. Nothing could have been more + false than this. +</p><p> + "Mr. Doheny, so far from inviting Mr. O'Brien to Tipperary, did + not, in fact, know of his being in the county at all, until Mr. + Meagher told him, and that was on Tuesday, July 25th. +</p><p> + (Signed) "THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.</p> +<p> +"Written a few hours after the passing of the sentence of death. +</p><p> +"<i>October 23, 1848.</i>"</p> +</div> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII" /><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159" />CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p>THE OUTBREAK.—MR. O'BRIEN IN +CARRICK. — CASHEL. — KILLENAULE. — MULLINAHONE. — BALLINGARRY. — AFFAIR AT +KILLENAULE. — DEFEAT OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMON. — PERSONAL +ADVENTURES OF THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. +O'BRIEN'S ARREST</p> + + +<p>On the night of the 24th of July, I was awakened, where I was staying, +by a rapping at my window. I recognised the voice of my sister-in-law, +and learned from her, in a few seconds, how matters stood. Her +information, in brief, was this that: Messrs. O'Brien, Dillon and +Meagher had left Dublin on learning that the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended; and that it was supposed their object was to throw themselves +on the courage of the country. This intelligence rested on the authority +of two trusted members of the council of the Confederation, Messrs. +James Cantwell, and P.J. Smyth. The fact was all which I then cared to +know. I parted from my sister in half-an-hour, and rode off in the +direction of Carrick-on-Suir, where I was certain Mr. O'Brien would +direct his way, whether he came alone or followed by his countrymen in +arms. 'Mid the lone silence of that journey, while there was leisure to +revolve all the difficulties and hazards of the future, the idea never +once occurred to me that, supposing my information correct, the step was +rashly taken. On such occasions, when centuries gather into moments, +some one overmastering feeling, hope or passion absorbs and controls the +whole understanding. That which was then <a name="Page_160" id="Page_160" />present to my mind, and +occupied all its faculties, was the hope of satisfaction, or vengeance, +if you will, for so many ages of guilty tyranny. The tears, the burning +and blood of nearly one thousand years seemed to letter the eastern sky, +as day dawned upon my way. Apprehension, I had none. From earliest +childhood to that hour, I never met one Irishman whose hope of hope it +was not to deliver the country forever from English thrall. I had lived +amidst all ranks (at least in their characters of politicians), had +known the sentiments of all, from the most ignorant peasant to the very +highest official of government; and then or now, I would find it +difficult to say where hatred to English domination—English power in +Ireland is neither government nor dominion—reigned the most intensely. +Some men there are by nature cowards, and they would shrink from the +perils of national deliverance; but if any sentiment could be said to +live in natures so grovelling, the grudge against England, even though +too craven to make itself audible, constitutes the essence of their +mental vitality. Some there are, too, so selfish as to sell their own +and their families' honour for gold; but as they count their sordid +gains, if they fall short by a scruple, whether in fact or in +anticipation, the deficiency becomes a heap of hoarded spite against +England. One man of that class, whom I had known, will furnish a +conclusive example. Trusted and paid by the Whigs, he was a supreme West +Briton, who saw in his country but a prey for meaner cormorants; +distrusted and dismissed by the Tories, he would storm the Castle, even +with the baton of the English office from which, he had been discarded. +Others, also, of a loftier stamp, <a name="Page_161" id="Page_161" />were reined in, in the path of +<ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'alleigance'"> +allegiance</ins>, by considerations more justifiable, yet more or less +cowardly in character.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-15" /><a id="image15" href="images/image15-big.jpg"><img src="images/image15.jpg" width="673" height="400" alt="Ballingarry, Slievenamon in the distance, 1848" title="Ballingarry, Slievenamon in the distance, 1848" /></a> +<p class="caption">Ballingarry, Slievenamon in the distance, 1848</p> +</div> + +<p>Some doubted the ability of their country to effect her redemption. Some +doubted the capacity, and perhaps the sincerity, of the chiefs. Some +were schooled in duplicity, and under the ermine, or under the privy +councillor's robe, carried fierce hearts, benumbed by mendicancy and +seared by shame. But the first flash of their country's liberty would +see them ranged at that country's side, repaying with the fiercest hate +the beggar crumbs which England had flung from the fragments of her +overloaded table. It is true enough that a long course of corruption, +beginning with the perjured peer and ending with the tidewaiter, had +created a class of conditional loyalists, with nine-tenths of which the +condition is always unfulfilled; while, in its very fulfilment, the +other one-tenth has found but bitterness, the "sauce piquante" of their +daily bread. But as a general rule, such a thing as a pure Irish +loyalist does not exist. Its possible existence presupposes an absurdity +in nature. An Irishman cannot become loyal to English domination, +without divesting himself of the last attribute of his nature, not as an +Irishman, but as a man.</p> + +<p>The knowledge of this fact was my "base of operations." Ten thousand +armed men successful against a garrison of five hundred would produce a +more abundant crop of avenging warriors than the fabled dragon's teeth, +and that simultaneously through every square mile of the island. In ten +days there would be two millions of Irishmen in arms. It may well <a name="Page_162" id="Page_162" />be +asked, what arms? But even instinct will reply, what arms would be +needed? England had in Ireland less than forty thousand men, and, +without hazarding the question, how many of them could she rely on, it +requires no consummate military genius to suggest how they could be +dealt with by a simultaneous rising of the country. The arms of her +enemies would then be hers. She would have time to form a regular army +to aid her undisciplined strength. England's position at home, where she +had not a soldier to spare; her condition abroad, where she was beaten +to the wall; and her relations with foreign powers would achieve the +rest. To a successful Irish revolution, a <i>coup-de-main</i> is +indispensable; and a <i>coup-de-main</i> would be incompatible with any +organised plan other than existed. It will be seen at once that for this +place details are unfit. The above sketch rather comprehends the bolder +outlines of an insurrection in action, and they suggest nothing to warn +the enemy as to future operations. The prospect they presented to me—a +prospect which long contemplation seemed to have realised into +fact—excluded from my mind the preliminary and intermediate +considerations of time, place, and other circumstances. There was but +one of any importance, the success of the commencement; and that seemed +beyond all question if, as I hoped, the neighbourhood of Carrick-on-Suir +were selected. As I approached that town in the grey of morning, and the +past and the future in burning recollection thronged on my brain, I +envied the destiny which God had awarded to its inhabitants, in breaking +the first link of the slavery of nearly twenty generations. This, alas, +was a dream. The people of<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163" /> Carrick had already, with shrinking hand, +marred their own immortal lot.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the house of John O'Mahony, one of the truest of living +Irishmen, I heard what follows. On the previous day Messrs. O'Brien, +Dillon and Meagher had arrived at Carrick. Their arrival was unexpected, +sudden and startling. They had apprised no one of their approach; and no +counsel had been taken or decision come to. It is needless to say that +the crowd which gathered to see them, when the intelligence of their +arrival spread, came unarmed and unprepared. The speeches addressed to +them were brief, determined, and to this effect: "We learned," said the +chiefs, "that an act was passed authorising the Irish Government to +seize our persons without even the imputation of a crime. You have vowed +to strive with us in every extremity, and die with us if need be. We are +here to demand the redemption of your pledge, in the name of your +enslaved country. The hour has come when the truth of that country is to +be tested; and first among her children the trust of her honour is +committed to you." How much more might have been said, and how far short +of the passionate appeal made by the most gifted of men the above +language may fall, this is not the place to inquire. The crowd answered +with a loud shout. With the leaders of that crowd other thoughts were +busy. Some of them waited on the "Traitors"; others, and the most +influential, absented themselves. Among the latter was the Rev. Mr. +Byrne, who, up to that hour, had taken an advanced position among those +who were most forward in the cause of the country. Not a fortnight +before, he delivered a <a name="Page_164" id="Page_164" />speech to nearly one hundred thousand persons in +the town of Carrick, pre-eminently insurrectionary in its tendency; and +he had acted more than once as controller and regulator of the violent +passions his own vehemence aroused. For this duty, which he effectively +discharged because of his known disloyalty, he received the public +approval of England's Prime Minister. From all these circumstances, the +responsibilities of his position were such as it would require great +hardihood of character to shrink from. It was reported at the time that +he did not rest content with abandoning a post which he had attained +with intense ambition, but exerted his utmost influence with the people +against an enterprise which he designated as rash, ill-designed, and +fraught with ruin to the town. This report has been repeated as a fact +by the present writer, and has not been contradicted by the Rev. Mr. +Byrne. But it is right to add that a very respectable gentleman, a +witness of that day's proceedings, has distinctly contradicted it. He +added that the Rev. Mr. Byrne remained a passive spectator; and he +defended the conduct of those who really influenced the people, on the +ground that the preparations seemed of their very nature to preclude the +possibility of success; and that it was the sacred duty of every man +capable of appreciating the position and resources of the people, the +difficulties of the enterprise and the consequences of failure, not +alone to Carrick but the entire island, at all hazards to prevent a +useless wreck and slaughter. The great argument relied upon by every one +was, why should Carrick be selected? The same question would apply +everywhere else; and if the consideration it involves were to <a name="Page_165" id="Page_165" />avail, +there never could be a revolution. However, in Carrick it seems to have +prevailed. Other arguments, no doubt, were urged, such as want of +provisions, want of arms and want of ammunition. The moment of +indecision is the harvest of evil passions—avarice, selfishness, +cowardice cloud the intellect, and blast the destiny of man. There is +some doubt as to who principally superinduced this indecision and the +judgment which here ranks it with a faulty weakness and a fearful +fatality refuses to question the motives upon which it was based.</p> + +<p>One singular fact, attested by all, deserves particular notice. It is +this: The other Roman Catholic clergymen of Carrick did not then +interfere. They had been always opposed, on other grounds, to the Irish +Confederation; but in that hour of fate they were silent.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Brien and his comrades left the town deeply disappointed, if not +in actual disgust and despair. They were ignorant of my absence from +Cashel and determined to join me there. When I had learned this, I was +thirty miles from that town and knew that they had arrived there during +the night, and had, long before then, taken some decisive course. My +hope was that the town was in their hands. But, before I could decide on +what it became me to do, a messenger arrived from Cashel, directing me +to remain where I was, and conveying an assurance that Cashel was by +that time captured. Mr. Meagher immediately followed, confirming the +intelligence. He was on his way to Waterford. We immediately determined +on scouring the country along the bases of Slievenamon and the +Slatequarry hills, which stretch into the county Kilkenny.<a name="Page_166" id="Page_166" /> During that +journey the enthusiasm of the people was measureless. At every forge, +pikes were manufactured, the carpenter was at work fitting the handles, +and the very women were employed in polishing and sharpening these +weapons on the rough mountain stones. We called at several villages, and +were surrounded by the young men and the aged, by matron and maid, and +from no lips did one sound of complaint, or discouragement, or fear +fall. Everywhere hope and resolution and courage lit up the hearts and +eyes of young and old. We rode, at least a distance of twenty miles, and +returned assured that there was not one man within that district who was +not then prepared and would not be armed ere night came. We appointed +the chapel of Ballyneal, within two miles of Carrick, as the place of +rendezvous, determined to act according to the intelligence which we +might receive from Cashel. Meantime deputations from Carrick waited upon +us, to assure us the people there would follow us notwithstanding any +advice they might have received. We agreed that we would not attack the +town, and required five hundred men for another enterprise. A short time +afterwards some directions were required, and I wrote one or two +sentences on a scrap of paper which was taken from the messenger by the +Rev. Mr. Byrne and torn. What his influencing motives might have been I +know not, nor do I care to inquire. My first impulse was immediately to +appear in the town and throw myself on the protection of the people. My +friend dissuaded me from this attempt and proposed to go into town +himself, which he could do without danger, to ascertain what would be +the probability of <a name="Page_167" id="Page_167" />my proposal's success. After two or three anxious +hours, he returned, impressed with the conviction that such an attempt +would be fatal.</p> + +<p>By this time crowds began to assemble at the place of rendezvous before +alluded to, and word was brought us that the Reverend Mr. Morrissey, the +parish priest of that place, was endeavouring to disperse them. Owing to +his character, there was not much to be apprehended from his influence +with the people. His associations had been with the aristocracy, and +most of his friendships and sympathies contracted at the fox-covert, or +on the "Stand House." This is mentioned, not in disparagement of the +man, but for the purpose of rescuing his Order from imputations +attaching to his conduct alone. The very fact of his interference would +suggest the conclusion that the course he recommended was opposed to the +general sentiments of his brethren; so we felt at this time. But we +mistook his influence with the people. It was reported to us that he +used certain arguments, incredible, because blasphemous. But the +argument which succeeded, and which all alike attested, was this, "that +he would put himself at the head of the people if they but waited three +weeks."</p> + +<p>Influenced by this promise, the people had dispersed before my friend +arrived at the place of rendezvous. He returned to me sadly discouraged, +after a day and night of labour and agitation as intense as ever +strained the energies of man. I then determined to ride on to Cashel, to +learn the fate of Mr. O'Brien and his comrades. I was accompanied by two +young farmers, well armed. We arrived about midnight at Brookhill, +<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168" />where I was made acquainted with all that had occurred at Cashel.</p> + +<p>The history was more melancholy than our own. My absence was used as an +argument, sincere or pretended, against any effort in that town. Mr. +O'Brien, in ignorance of whom to apply to, took counsel with one man at +least, since accused of the darkest treachery. Others, from whom I had +different hopes, shrank from an encounter which, at other times, they +seemed to long for as the dearest blessing Heaven could bestow. There no +clergymen interfered—the people were left to act for themselves; but it +must be admitted that the actual people never had an opportunity of +proving their courage. A young friend of mine, who had all my trust, and +justified it by unshaken fidelity through many a trial, was despatched +to the country to procure assistance, but he applied to the wrong +source, and, deluded by the character of him to whom he had spoken, +returned under the mistaken conviction that from the country nothing was +to be expected.</p> + +<p>This decided Mr. O'Brien and his friends. He had been joined at Cashel +by P.J. Smyth, and James Cantwell, now in the United States, by James +Stephens, now at Paris, and by Patrick O'Donohoe, now sharing the doom +of his chief. As an episode in this history, the fate of Mr. O'Donohoe +is singular and startling. He was much relied on by his friends in the +Confederation, and was entrusted with the dispatches to Mr. O'Brien. He +proceeded on his mission to Kilkenny, and there applied to one of the +clubs. He was known to none of the members, and became at once the +object of suspicion. It was, accordingly, determined to send <a name="Page_169" id="Page_169" />him for +the rest of the journey, under arrest, and Stephens and another member +were appointed to that duty. They proceeded in execution of their +mission to Cashel, where Mr. O'Donohoe was warmly welcomed by Mr. +O'Brien, whose fate he thenceforth determined to share. Mr. Stephens +came to the same resolution; but the other guard of Mr. O'Donohoe, +refused to commit himself to fortunes which appeared so desperate. With +Messrs. Stephens and O'Donohoe, their very desperation acted as the most +ennobling and irresistible inducement. They clung to him to the last +with a fidelity the more untiring in proportion as his circumstances +portended imminent disaster and ruin.</p> + +<p>Their departure from Cashel compelled a feeling of gloomier forebodings +and deeper despair than they had yet experienced. The darkest +consciousness that ever clouded the hopes of man began to darken upon +them. Where they expected that every man would make a fortress for them +in his very heart, they were almost abandoned. But their resolution +remained unchanged. They, therefore, resolved as a final resource to +take up their position in the most inaccessible part of the country. As +they proceeded through the hilly grounds, skirting the Tipperary +collieries, a crowd began to gather around them, and they saw what they +hoped would form the nucleus of an army. Braver hearts never beat +beneath a cuirass, but they were not armed, disciplined or even taught. +On that day they took the road to the village of Mullinahone, situate +about seventeen miles south-east of Cashel. As they entered Mullinahone, +the chapel bell was rung, and a crowd of some thousands collected.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170" />Mr. O'Brien addressed them with the same brevity and force as at +Carrick-on-Suir, where his hopes were far brighter. The two clergymen, +Rev. Mr. Corcoran and Rev. Mr. Cahill, appeared by his side, and openly +resisted his advice. But, with the people, their influence totally +failed. Three thousand persons at least formed their bivouac that night. +Mr. O'Brien remained up with them most of the night. Notwithstanding the +disappointments of former trials, he once more entertained most sanguine +hopes of his country's resurrection. But, ere morning, the counsels of +the clergymen prevailed so far as to introduce discussion and disunion; +and next day he was abandoned by more than half his followers. Once more +the priests interfered and openly remonstrated against the course Mr. +O'Brien had proposed. They tried every means, entreaty, expostulation, +remonstrance, menace, but without any considerable effect; and Mr. +O'Brien left the town with a large multitude, directing his way to +Ballingarry. The village of Ballingarry is about four miles distant from +Mullinahone; and the inhabitants of the latter accompanied Mr. O'Brien +to the boundaries of the former parish, whose inhabitants in turn +assumed the duty of his escort and, if need be, of his defence. When the +cavalcade reached the village, they took up their position in the +chapel-yard, and summoned the neighbouring people by the ringing of the +chapel bell. A great number of people answered the signal, and Mr. +O'Brien explained to them his purpose and his hopes. He did not then +propose any plan of immediate offensive operations, but stated in +general terms that his object was to protect himself from arrest, while +the country <a name="Page_171" id="Page_171" />would be engaged in organisation, and the crop coming to +maturity. An idea prevailed among the people that he only wished to be +protected for a time, and they seemed incapable of appreciating either +his object or his motives. I reached the spot as the assembly was +breaking up and the people retiring in small groups to their respective +districts, some four or five hundred who were partially armed, remaining +in the village. I was accompanied by Thos. D. Reilly, who made his way +to me on that morning. We had entered into arrangements with certain men +whom we met in the morning as to a joint movement, for which the +followers of Mr. O'Brien seemed but ill-adapted and prepared. Our first +care was to take counsel as to the future. We detailed mutually to each +other the respective circumstances which had shaped our movements so +far, and with which it was our duty then to contend. But one thing +seemed quite clear; namely, that the country demanded a delay of at +least a month. Although the sincerity of the motive on which this demand +was founded seemed questionable to many, there was no way of +counteracting its effect or denying its universality. The question then +was, how was the demand to be complied with without compromising our +liberty or the position we occupied? It was argued that the necessity of +our condition would justify any act which would reassure the minds of +the people in reference to the apprehension of starvation, which was so +sedulously inculcated, and that a proclamation should forthwith be +published confiscating the landed property of the country, and offering +it as the gage of battle and reward of victory, and another proclamation +directing the <a name="Page_172" id="Page_172" />people to live at the expense of the enemy. This proposal +was resisted on the ground that it required an aggressive act on the +part of the Government to justify so sweeping a proceeding, which, if +attempted by us in our then position, would be regarded as an act of +mere plunder, unredeemed by any of the stern necessities of war. So +decided the majority. It was then proposed that we should scatter, and +take shelter individually as best we could until harvest time. But Mr. +O'Brien refused to hear counsel which involved, as its first principle, +the idea of becoming fugitives. A middle course was therefore decided +on. It could not fairly be said that the country had been tested, and we +were not, at the time, aware how far people at a distance were prepared +to second our efforts. The strength of the Government, too, seemed +paralysed. For miles on miles around, one solitary soldier or policeman +was not to be found. The small garrisons had been withdrawn, and all the +available forces stationed in the county had been concentrated in the +large towns. The idea of maintaining our position for a few weeks seemed +not at all improbable; and, meantime, we would have an opportunity of +organising the distant parts of the country, and of preparing those then +around us for active service. When men differ, a compromise is sure to +prevail. It did so on that occasion, and it was accordingly resolved, +that we should return to the neighbourhood of Carrick, wait the arrival +of the expected assistance from Waterford, and keep the neighbouring +garrison of Clonmel in awe, by signal-fires by night and scattered +parties by day. We immediately returned and rode most part of the night +<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173" />on our way back. We slept a few hours at Brookhill and had interviews +next morning with men who, on the previous day, were in high heart and +hopes. We at once saw the effect that delay and indecision had produced +on their minds. Reports, the most contradictory and false, respecting +what Mr. O'Brien proposed and stated, had found their way among them, +and it took hours to reassure them. They again promised us to be ready, +however, and we proceeded across Slievenamon. On our journey we had +interviews with the leaders of clubs and of other bodies, and at each +step we found the difficulties of our position and the weakness of +public confidence fearfully increased. We still hoped that the arrival +of assistance which we expected from Waterford would restore unanimity +and confidence.</p> + +<p>When we reached Kilcash, at the southern base of Slievenamon, we learned +that all hope of the expected assistance was at an end. Mr. Meagher had +returned; and having despatched O'Mahony to Mr. O'Brien, to request he +would once more return to the neighbourhood of the mountain, where he +either could be more safely concealed for a time, or a last desperate +effort could be made under better auspices, he waited several hours +after the time appointed for his return, and then departed towards the +direction of Borrisoleigh, in the northern riding of Tipperary, +accompanied by Mr. Maurice Leyne, with whom unhappily he fell in, and to +whose weak counsel, according to the information I received, much of his +subsequent ill fate was owing. The distance to Borrisoleigh could not be +less than forty miles. Mr. Meagher must have been persuaded by +O'Mahony's delay, that<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174" /> Mr. O'Brien had been driven from his position, +and perhaps captured, or he would not have undertaken so long a journey, +the sole motive of which could only be the hope of rousing, with the aid +of the Rev. Mr. Kenyon, that district of the country, so as to rescue +his chief or avenge him. It was then apparent that our position had +become desperate. We instantly proceeded to the house of our friend, who +recounted the particulars of his visit to Ballingarry, and its results. +He agreed in the propriety of going a second time to meet Mr. O'Brien, +and urging upon him the necessity of some decisive course. The startling +events of the two preceding days too clearly proved that his position +was not tenable, and that whatever might be resolved on, it was +indispensable to remove from Ballingarry. It was then night, and we were +all sorely taxed by long riding and want of rest. Not one of us was able +to mount, so we placed hay in a car on which we flung ourselves, and +trusted to the guidance of the boy who led the horse. We travelled about +nine miles in this way, one endeavouring to act as sentinel while the +others were asleep; but we found that unless we trusted to blind chance, +we could not continue our journey. So, half by force and half by +persuasion, we obtained liberty to stretch on a pallet in an empty room. +Mr. O'Brien was then snatching a little broken rest in a field, not four +miles away from us, without our being aware of the fact. In the morning +we learned that he remained there only while a car was procured at +Mullinahone, and then returned to the neighbourhood of the collieries. +He left Ballingarry on the advice contained in Mr.<a name="Page_175" id="Page_175" /> Meagher's message, +and, accompanied by some hundreds of his followers, proceeded towards +Carrick through the town of Mullinahone where for the third time he had +to encounter the open hostility of the Catholic clergymen, who on this +occasion had recourse to threats and even blows. Owing to their +interference, one-fourth of those who followed him so far, did not +accompany him outside the town. He was nearly deserted, when he changed +his resolution of falling back on his former position. When the car +arrived he proceeded directly to the town of Killenaule, which might be +said to be the head-quarters of the colliery. There he and his +companions entered the hotel, where they remained till morning. Early +that day the chapel bell was rung, and a great multitude flocked into +the town. They were, as usual in that quarter, miserably armed. But they +were enthusiastic, and the Catholic priests did not interfere. While the +bell was tolling, intelligence was received that a troop of dragoons was +approaching. The people immediately erected a barricade at the farthest +extremity of the principal street. It was constructed of empty carts and +baulks of timber. The moment the troop entered the street, a similar +barricade was constructed in the rear. The hotel was situated between +the two barricades. The officer in command made no demonstration of +active resistance; and as he approached the last barricade he was +surrounded by a great multitude. A few of the people were armed with +rifles and muskets, others with pitchforks, scythes and slanes, and +others had no weapons but stones. John Dillon stood at the barricade. +The officer asked why his passage was interrupted, and stated he was +<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176" />only on an ordinary march. Mr. Dillon demanded whether his object was +to arrest Smith O'Brien? He said emphatically, No. Mr. Dillon then asked +if he would pledge his honour as a soldier, that he had no intention of +arresting Mr. O'Brien, adding, that if he did so, the troop would be +allowed to pass unmolested. He unhesitatingly pledged his honour, and +immediately the barricade was partially removed. Mr. Dillon took his +horse by the bridle and led him out of the town.</p> + +<p>We were approaching Killenaule by another route when Mr. O'Brien and his +party left it by the high road to the collieries. We followed, and after +a race of some ten miles overtook them near Lisnabrock. Thence we +proceeded in cars to Boulagh, and thence to the Commons. This was on +Friday evening, the 28th day of July. We retired to an upper room in a +publichouse. There were then present Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Dillon, Mr. +Stephens, Mr. Cantwell, Mr. Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, Mr. Maurice Leyne, +Mr. Reilly, Mr O'Mahony and myself, with others whose names I cannot +mention, fourteen, as well as I remember, in all.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10" /><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> The same questions +that were discussed on the former day were again revived, and we, who +felt the necessity of the bold course we recommended then, were much +more convinced of it under the altered circumstances of our position.</p> + +<p>The debate was long and warm, but Mr. O'Brien's objections were even +more immovable than ever. It will not be expected that all the proposals +of that evening <a name="Page_177" id="Page_177" />should be reproduced here. Suffice it, therefore, to +add that as far as the principles by which Mr. O'Brien's conduct was +guided, he adhered to them the more steadfastly in proportion as ruin +became more inevitable. Many calumnies have been circulated respecting +that meeting. It has been said that the discussion was acrimonious and +the separation final. The truth is, there was not one word, even, of an +angry tone, and we separated just as on the former occasion, determined +to cope as best we could with a doom we were unable to avert. Often +afterwards it was a source of melancholy pleasure to some of his +comrades that he had not been induced to incur what he regarded as +guilt. The lofty consciousness of unerring rectitude which sustained his +fortitude could not fail to be chequered by the recollection of acts +which in his own estimation were not purely blameless. Had success +attended the suggested proposals, they would receive the world's +unqualified approval; while failure, explained through the medium of a +malicious law, and a warped and cowardly public opinion, would brand +them as iniquitous. But Mr. O'Brien's scrupulous sense of honour escaped +the hazards of such feeble probabilities; and in the hour of deepest +gloom his own unsullied conscience shed peace, light and glory on his +fate.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-16" /><a id="image16" href="images/image16-big.jpg"><img src="images/image16.jpg" width="756" height="400" alt="A Street in Ballingarry, 1848" title="A Street in Ballingarry, 1848" /></a> +<p class="caption">A Street in Ballingarry, 1848</p> +</div> + +<p>Some of his companions exulted in the morning scene at Killenaule. To +<i>seem</i> able to capture a troop of her majesty's dragoons, they regarded +as a victory. But others, more thoughtful and correct, mourned over the +escape of the military, which was only to be justified on the ground +that the incongruous force around the feeble barricades, would be +unequal to the task. It is <a name="Page_178" id="Page_178" />a singular thing that while Captain Longmore +utterly despaired of forcing his way, Mr. Dillon was fully conscious of +his inability to resist him. The latter assumed a superiority he was +unable to sustain, the former abjured a design which it was criminal +according to the civil, and cowardly according to the military code, not +to attempt the execution of Mr. Dillon, who led his horse, was a +proclaimed "traitor." So was Mr. O'Brien, whose presence was avowed; by +virtue of his allegiance, and still more, by virtue of his commission he +was bound to arrest them. To neglect it was cowardice, cognisable by a +court-martial and punishable by death. There could be but one +justification—utter inability to effect the service. The evidence, +then, that could alone satisfy a court-martial must directly contradict +that which Captain Longmore offered at the trial in Clonmel. But while +Mr. O'Brien viewed the conduct of Captain Longmore as cowardly +submission, it would be unjust to conclude that it imparted a single +shade of inflexibility to his principles or purpose. On the contrary, +they assumed their attributes of most rigid sternness as his fortunes +became clouded by a deeper gloom. He was averse to everything which bore +the stamp of desperation, or could possibly imply a shrinking from fate.</p> + +<p>Of those who took part in the deliberations of that evening, Messrs. +Dillon, Stephens, MacManus and O'Donohoe resolved to continue with Mr. +O'Brien. There seemed a possibility, though a desperate one, that they +could baffle the enemy for the time the country required, and maintain +their position of open defiance, whilst we, in different parts of the +country, should <a name="Page_179" id="Page_179" />keep up an appearance of force, so as to distract +attention and check any attempt to despatch a force from the garrison of +Clonmel. Meantime we were to endeavour to organise a force, and, if +strong enough, act on our own responsibilities and according to our own +principles. We left him about nine o'clock in the evening, after the +best dispositions available out of the number with us were made to +prevent surprise during the night. Soon after our departure he strongly +advised Mr. Dillon to leave for another part of the country. I proposed +to take up my post on Slievenamon, where I would be in the best position +to fulfil Mr. O'Brien's wishes; where, at all events, I could escape +arrest, in spite of any efforts to capture me, and where I expected, in +a few days, to rally a considerable force. Mr. Meagher said he would +take his stand on the Comeragh mountains, in the county of Waterford, +with similar views and purposes. Mr. Meagher and Mr. Leyne, with three +or four others, travelled together on a car. We dismissed ours, and +crossed the country. Next day we arrived once more at Brookhill, which +is within about one mile of Fethard, where we were able to procure a car +that brought Mr. Reilly as far as Kilkenny. The first care of us who +remained was to fulfil the commission assigned us. A young friend, of +whom mention has been already made, joined me that evening. He had been +two days in search of me, and was greatly exhausted by anxiety and +fatigue. Rumours of various kinds were rife. But, what was most +disheartening was that the courage of the people was fast subsiding. Men +who were most eager for deeds of any daring two days previously, began +to exhibit symptoms <a name="Page_180" id="Page_180" />of hesitation, doubt, and even indifference. But a +far sadder disaster had elsewhere befallen. Mr. O'Brien, after a night +of anxious care, was still full of hope. He was even then engaged in +drawing up a manifesto, embracing, as far as possible in such a +document, the motives and causes which suggested and justified an armed +revolt, and the principles upon which it was to be conducted. Whether +the draft was destroyed or fell into the hands of the Government, is not +now clear, save in as far as the non-production of the paper at his +trial, is evidence that it never reached his persecutors. The leading +principle of his entire conduct was, that the property, the liberty, the +destiny of the island belonged to the entire people, and that the +institutions which guaranteed them should be the calm embodiment of the +nation's deliberate judgment, ascertained through the medium of a free +assembly, deriving its authority from universal suffrage. This was one +potent reason why he refused to assume, either as military leader, or as +the chief of a provisional government, the responsibility of an act +which could be regarded as the basis of the future government of +Ireland. He was scrupulously anxious that the great principles upon +which the future liberty of Ireland was to be based, should emanate from +the free will of the people, uncontrolled by dictatorial power or +personal prestige.</p> + +<p>But Mr. O'Brien was not destined to accomplish the object of his +solicitude. About twelve o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 29th +day of July, he was apprised of the approach of a body of police, under +command of Captain Trant. Simultaneously with the appearance of the +police, an indiscriminate crowd, com<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181" />posed for the most part of women +and boys with a few armed men, ranged themselves around him. They +occupied an eminence in front of the road by which the police +approached. Another road crossed this at right angles, and Captain +Trant, instead of leading his men directly against Mr. O'Brien's +position, denied along the cross-road to the right hand—that which led +to the Widow M'Cormick's. The motive of this manoeuvre was obvious. +Either from personal cowardice, or from cool judgment, he determined to +await further reinforcements, and, meantime, to secure some place of +shelter and defence. The crowd, with Mr. O'Brien, immediately rushed +from their position and hung fiercely on the policemen's rear. Captain +Trant ordered a retreat, or those under his command adopted that +precaution without his authority. The armed leaders among the people, +Messrs. MacManus, Stephens and Cavanagh, hesitated to fire on troops +flying for their lives. But they urged the pursuit so rapidly, that, by +the time the police took shelter in Mrs. M'Cormick's house, they were +hot upon their track. The crowd surrounded the house, and Mr. O'Brien, +approaching one of the front windows, called on Captain Trant to +surrender. The latter demanded half an hour to consider, which Mr. +O'Brien unhappily granted. Pending the half hour, the crowd became +furious and began to fling stones in through the windows. Some of the +men inside were knocked down by the stones, and the officer hurt. Seeing +that their own leaders could no longer control the people, and believing +the destruction of himself and his party to be inevitable, Captain Trant +gave orders to his men to fire, which <a name="Page_182" id="Page_182" />presented his only chance of +escape. Mr. O'Brien immediately rushed between the people and the +window, on one of which he jumped up, and once more demanded the officer +to surrender. But the order to fire had been given and executed with +deadly effect. Two men fell dead, and several were badly wounded. The +crowd fell back; but Mr. O'Brien remained still in front of the house. +There were several windows in front and two small ones only in the rear; +parallel with the rear was a barn, in which there were two still smaller +windows. Messrs. Stephens and MacManus took possession of this house, +and, placing three or four sure marksmen inside for the purpose of +taking down any of the police who should appear at the back windows, +they proposed to burn the house in which the police took shelter. They +carried bundles of hay and placed them against the back door and roof. +The police seized on Mrs. M'Cormick's children, and held them up to the +windows, to terrify or appease the people. At this juncture the Catholic +clergymen appeared on the scene. Either, being appalled by the scene of +death before them, or being personally cowardly, or feeling that to +continue the conflict would be productive of useless slaughter, they +exerted themselves to the utmost to disperse the crowd. Whatever may +have been their motives, it is certain that, although Mr. O'Brien was in +the neighbourhood since the previous Wednesday, they had not in any way +interfered, and only came upon the scene to attend to the dying and the +dead. Mr. O'Brien and his comrades, finding themselves beset by this +unexpected difficulty, retired a short distance, to consider what was +best to be done. The people were again <a name="Page_183" id="Page_183" />quickly forming around them, and +all were hurriedly preparing to storm the house, when a fresh body of +police was seen approaching from the opposite direction. This force +consisted of sixty men; the first only amounted to forty-five. Constable +Carroll rode on considerably in advance of his party. He found himself +suddenly surrounded, and was forced to surrender and dismount. He and +two others of the advance-guard were removed. But the main body +continued to approach rapidly; and Mr. O'Brien was not in a position and +had not strength to intercept their junction with the other body. His +friends pressed Mr. O'Brien to retreat, which he refused. Admitting, +fully, his inability to cope with these forces, he declined to avail +himself of the means of escape at his disposal. His comrades impressed +on him that his life belonged to the country; that another effort was +yet within the range of possibility, and that it was incumbent on him to +save himself for the final issue. By long and passionate entreaty, they +induced him to mount the police-officer's horse and retire. When he had +left, Messrs. Stephens and MacManus led off the remainder of their +party, without being pursued or molested.</p> + +<p>After a short consultation, they determined to separate. Mr. Stephens +proposed to go on to Urlingford, where a large force was collecting, and +MacManus accepted the duty of bearing to us the intelligence of the +disaster, and taking chance with us for the future. He came up with Mr. +Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, and Mr. Leyne, who were then on their way to the +Comeragh mountains, but changed their purpose on hearing this sad +intelligence. They remained that night at the <a name="Page_184" id="Page_184" />house of a man named +Hanrahan, near Nine-mile House, a small village on the high road from +Kilkenny to Cork.</p> + +<p>I was all this time ignorant of what occurred. After Mr. Reilly had left +me, and I was joined by the young friend already mentioned, I summoned +as many of the farmers of the neighbourhood as I could collect, and it +was agreed that ten of them, who would represent each one hundred men, +should meet me next day, after divine service, at the wood of +Keilavalla, situate near the western base of Slievenamon. We were to be +joined by two others from the neighbourhood of Carrick-on Suir, from +which we were distant about ten miles. On that morning the news of Mr. +O'Brien's disaster spread far, and was, of course, exaggerated. I had +slept the previous night not far from the mountain, where I was watched +by two brothers named Walsh, who lived at Brookhill, but have since +removed to the United States. I gladly avail myself of this occasion to +attest their fidelity and bravery. At the time appointed, my friend and +I proceeded to the place of rendezvous. We remained for hours, and +remained in vain. At last one only of the ten arrived. He told us that +at the chapel the Rev. Patrick Laffan read the names of the proscribed +traitors for whose persons a reward was offered....</p> + +<p>We continued on the mountain during the remainder of the day; and toward +evening about fifty men came up to us, who, one and all, expressed the +utmost indignation at what had happened. Once more our hopes revived. If +Mr. O'Brien could avoid arrest for a few weeks only, we expected that a +sense of shame would sting the country to desperate exertion.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185" />After night-fall we descended, and slept at a farmer's house at the +southern base of the mountain, where we were most kindly entertained and +sedulously guarded. We there heard of the Ballingarry disaster. Next +morning we once more ascended Slievenamon, where we endeavoured to +dissipate the heavy hours and the still heavier consciousness at our own +hearts by firing at a mark. The day suddenly darkened, and we had to +seek shelter under rocks from a pitiless mountain shower. We had +dispatched a messenger to O'Mahony to demand an interview that evening; +and, after he had returned, we were invited to partake of some new +potatoes (then beginning to exhibit the blight), milk, eggs and butter. +I remember lying down in a bed, and getting so feverish that I believed +my doom was sealed. My noble young friend sat at my bedside, with a +rifle and two pistols, prepared to defend my rest with his life. The +illness was, however, but trifling and temporary, and the necessity of +acting enabled me at once to shake it off. After nightfall, we proceeded +to the appointed interview. We travelled in a common car, accompanied by +four others, all armed. Our haunt was a poor cabin on the roadside, near +a place called Moloch, in the neighbourhood of Carrick. There I bid my +faithful young friend good night, but was doomed not to see him +afterwards. Mr. O'Mahony and myself slept on some straw, but we had +scarcely closed our eyes when we learned that the cabin was surrounded +by the military and police. We were apprised of our perilous position +just in time to escape: this we effected, after a struggle, aided by +extreme darkness. We spent the remainder of the night in a <a name="Page_186" id="Page_186" />field, where +I slept very soundly. At break of day we retired to a farmer's house +near the Suir, where, after partaking of some refreshments, we went to +bed, and slept, one or two hours. The breakfast scene of that morning is +not easily forgotten. Perhaps there is no place in the world where a +more substantial breakfast can be produced than at a comfortable Irish +farmer's. On this occasion the silent, watchful, anxious grace of our +young hostess, in her attentions, enhanced the flavour of the repast. It +is only by those who have partaken of such hospitality that the +speechless tenderness of the females among that class of farmers can be +appreciated. But on the occasion to which I refer, there was added to +the customary delicacy a deep anxiety for our fate. Save hushed words of +pressing and eloquent looks of sympathy, the meal passed off without +conversation; and we rose from the table to depart, as if conscious we +had exchanged our last earthly greeting. It was not so, however, and our +hostess shared much of our after fortune, and now shares our exile. Her +fate, too, is harder than ours. We are occasionally cheered by public +approval, by the sympathy and admiration of every lover of liberty, +whereas her name is never spoken. She has fallen from a position of +comparative affluence, lost her independence (I use the word in its +practical worldly sense), and is doomed to toil for her daily bread. Of +all the vicissitudes of fortune in which the attempt of which I write +resulted, there is not one that has given me more pain than that of +Margaret Quinlan, the lady (who has higher claims to that title?) to +whom I have alluded.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10" /><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> The other four were Terence Bellew MacManus, John +Cavanagh, J.D. Wright (a T.C.D. student, afterwards a lawyer in +America), and D.P. Cunningham, afterwards a journalist in New +York.—Ed.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII" /><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187" />CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p>ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE. — ARREST OF +TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS. — CLONMEL SPECIAL COMMISSION. — TRIAL, +CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE REBELS. — WRIT OF +ERROR. — COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE. — TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES.</p> + + +<p>Before proceeding further with the details of my own wanderings, I wish +to follow out to its conclusion the fate of those whom we parted with at +Ballingarry, and were destined to see no more, though, in doing so, I +must anticipate the order of time, in which the events took place. My +task here is more difficult and painful than any detail of facts, +however gloomy. There are always in the reverses of the brave, some +glimpses of glory to reconcile us to the dark disasters on our way; but +when calumny pursues their path, gnawing, with ceaseless tooth, the +priceless jewel of their character, the historian must shudder to find +his labour beset by the filth and rubbish the viper has left behind. In +this instance, that lesson of Mr. O'Connell's which was the most fatal +in its influence, found many believers. It was said, and said +unscrupulously, that Mr. O'Brien and his followers were actual agents of +the British Government, suborned to precipitate the country into +revolution, for which they were to receive large possessions and +lucrative employment beyond the sea. It was the constant habit of Mr. +O'Connell, when any one proposed a course bolder than his own, to +suggest that he was doing the business of the enemy. He may have +<a name="Page_188" id="Page_188" />adopted this course in his self-assumed character of Dictator, as the +surest and speediest means of clearing all obstructions out of his way. +Whatever his motive, it was an unworthy resource; for it supplied the +meanest minds with an example and a pretext for the gratification of +their own vile propensities. Their voice was heard, amid the silence of +mourning and death, when in an hour of universal dismay, John Mitchel +was borne from his loved fatherland; and still more audibly when the +dungeon closed on Smith O'Brien and his illustrious comrades. In the +latter instance, slander availed itself of an incident connected with +their arrest to justify its infamous conclusions. "If," it croaked, +"they were in earnest, why suffer themselves to be arrested so +easily?—Why come to the railway terminus?—Why parade on the high road +in front of a police barrack? In effect, why surrender?" But in Ireland +this was little heeded; nor should I deem it worthy of the least notice, +if it were not revived in the new world, under circumstances calculated +to give it credence and durability. At one time it is insinuated that +they "surrendered," such as "it was said they gave themselves up," and +immediately afterwards, in reference to the period or the fact, is to be +found "at the time of Mr. O'Brien's surrender." And again, in the same +breath, it is positively stated as a mere matter of course.</p> + +<p>The propagator of this malignity knows it to be false. He knows also +that it serves the purpose of those who would charge the country's +truest and bravest with vilest treachery.</p> + +<p>I shall pursue the theme no further. The truth is, Mr. O'Brien remained +among a people who were sorely <a name="Page_189" id="Page_189" />stricken by terror. Their friends were +dead or scattered; and rumour, with a thousand tongues, multiplied the +most awful horrors which were said to be approaching them. Although they +received and sheltered Mr. O'Brien, he evidently saw that their +generosity cost them dearly, and that they were in the utmost alarm. His +own privations he could endure; but not the fear and suffering his +presence caused to others. This, and this only, determined him in the +first instance. He might also have hoped that if he could reach the +neighbourhood of his own home, he would be defended with desperate +fidelity. He was aware that Mr. Richard O'Gorman was in that district, +and he had been informed that he was followed by thousands. That he did +not seek to reach the county Limerick by some other means of +conveyance—by a car, on foot, or on horseback—may be a mistake of +judgment; but none would be free from peril: and had he escaped +detection at Thurles, there would not be the least danger, until he +reached Cahermoyle, as the rest of the journey would be entirely by +night. His sagacity may be questioned, perhaps, but it is extreme +villainy to question his purpose. He took that course only and solely +because he thought it the safest; and he had no more intention of +surrendering than I had when I crossed by the packet to Boulogne.</p> + +<p>Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Donohoe were arrested under circumstances over +which they had still less control. They were utterly unacquainted with +the country, and did not know, if they left the high road, but the first +house they might approach would be a police barrack. They had made every +attempt despera<a name="Page_190" id="Page_190" />tion could suggest to rouse the people, but in vain. +They were opposed by some, shunned by some, and from some they received +false counsel. They had exhausted the welcome of all who were inclined +to receive them, and they knew not one step of their way. Previously, +too, Mr. Meagher had peremptorily refused to avail himself of a mode of +escape provided for him and he equally peremptorily refused to listen to +any terms from Government, which did not include all his comrades. His +object, on the night he was arrested, was to make another trial at +Cashel, which he designed to approach by a circuitous route.</p> + +<p>The 6th day of August was the date of Mr. O'Brien's arrest; the 13th of +August that of Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, and the 7th of September +that of Mr. MacManus. Mr. O'Brien was taken at the Thurles railway +station; Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, near Rathgannon, on the road +between Clonoulty and Holycross, about five miles from Thurles, and Mr. +MacManus on board the ship <i>N.D. Chase</i>, in the bay of Cove, on the 7th +of September. They were each conveyed to Kilmainham Jail, in the first +instance, where they remained until within a few days of the opening of +the special commission at Clonmel. This took place on Thursday, the 21st +of Sept., when the bills were found, but six days were allowed to Mr. +O'Brien and the rest of the prisoners to peruse the indictment, with +copies of which they were respectively furnished. On Thursday, the 28th, +the trial of Mr. O'Brien commenced; that of Mr. MacManus on the 9th of +October; that of Mr. O'Donohoe on the 13th, and that of Mr. Meagher on +the 16th.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191" />Juries were empanelled in each case, from whose prejudice and bad faith +verdicts for high treason were expected, even though the evidence only +sustained a charge of common assault. Roman Catholics were, in the first +instance, scrupulously excluded; but after the first two verdicts one or +two were admitted, upon whose weakness of character, or genteel +aspirations, the Government might safely rely. It is but justice to say +that, according to the law expounded by the Bench, and the evidence +given on the table, any other verdict was not to be expected. But a jury +differently composed, a jury of Englishmen, with their country, their +liberties and their lives perilled to the last extremity by +misgovernment and maladministration of law, would have spurned the law +and the evidence, and relied on the great fundamental rights of humanity +so flagrantly outraged by the Government that then appeared as +prosecutors.</p> + +<p>The scene presented by Clonmel excited much public surprise. Newspaper +correspondents magnified the sullen gloom that prevailed into popular +apathy or national cowardice, as suited the bent or purpose of their +employers. The truth was, the people exhibited during the trial a decent +and respectful forbearance. Empty parade or vociferous sorrow would only +mock the lofty purpose of the sufferers; and besides, the mortification +which rankled in the public heart was too deep for utterance. The hopes +of the people had been dashed, and they were stunned and stupefied by +their fall. But so far from being apathetic, nightly assemblages were +held to consider if, even in that extremity, something was not yet +possible to be done.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192" />But, if there were a show of popular indifference on the streets, the +courthouse presented a very different spectacle. There everything +manifested an intense bitterness of purpose; the court, composed of the +two most unscrupulous partisans, Chief Justices Blackbourne and Doherty, +and the weakest or falsest political convert, Mr. Justice Moore, +simulated the uncontrollable emotions which an overweening loyalty awoke +in the bosom of the Catholic Attorney-General. So far were their +lordships swayed by the spirit of imitativeness, that the most polished +speakers, mistaking the incoherent jargon of the official for the broken +utterance of overwrought zeal and shocked loyalty, mimicked his +distempered language as the only befitting medium of expression for +disturbed feelings such as theirs. The simplest and most usual +facilities accorded to murderers and pickpockets on their trial were +rudely denied the counsel for the defence. The principles of law, +recognised in England as sacred, were scouted from the bench, and the +farce of trial proceeded through its different stages to the final +<i>denouement</i> with perfect regularity, every one performing the part +assigned him with unerring accuracy.</p> + +<p>Of the intrepid ability which struggled against this fearful combination +of bigotry, prejudice and passion, at the bar, on the bench and in the +box, I do not purpose to speak here. But I would be unfaithful to my +trust, and unjust to the rarest heroism, if I did not record the +fortitude and fidelity of O'Donnell, from whom the menaces of the crown, +or the frown of the bench, could not wring one word of evidence. In an +ordinary man, this would be singular intrepidity; but <a name="Page_193" id="Page_193" />circumstanced +as O'Donnell was, it amounted to a Roman virtue. One brother of his, a +doctor, was in jail at Liverpool, charged with political felony; another +was hunted through the country, and another was in irons, involved in +the same charge as the illustrious accused; for them all he could +command his own terms, for much depended on his testimony; but though +doom were upon them, and a word of his could avert it, he refused to +speak. Honour be his. His integrity almost cancelled the shame and +darkness of those disastrous times.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-17" /><a id="image17" href="images/image17-big.jpg"><img src="images/image17.jpg" width="567" height="400" alt="The Widow McCormack's House, near Ballingarry" title="The Widow McCormack's House, near Ballingarry" /></a> +<p class="caption">The Widow McCormack's House, near Ballingarry</p> +</div> + +<p>I can add nothing to the testimony that established the fortitude, +manliness and dignity of the prisoners, as beyond precedent or example. +That their bearing, one and all, was truly noble, friends and foes took +pride in attesting.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11" /><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> It was a solemn and a glorious sight; and men, +through all time, will turn to that Clonmel dock to learn the +inestimable and imperishable value of sincere and lofty convictions and +a truly heroic soul.</p> + +<p>Of the speeches that follow, it will be observed that Mr. O'Brien's was +delivered before the fate of his comrades was known. No man had ever +greater need of vindicating others if not himself. No man ever possessed +in a higher degree the capacity and strength to do so. He was satisfied +it was the last opportunity <a name="Page_194" id="Page_194" />he would ever have on earth for +explanation. Yet, lest any sentiment of his might injuriously affect +those that were then, or might thereafter be on their trial, he forebore +to assert the principles of which he was there the martyr, and of which +he was more than ever proud. It was to the same unselfish sentiment he +yielded, when consenting to say, "Not guilty," to a charge he would have +felt the greatest glory in avowing.</p> + +<p>I despair of conveying to my readers an adequate idea of the gloom and +horror of the scene in which those immortal words were spoken. Death, +near and terrible, was in the future. The recollection of ten days' +infamy peopled the present with ghastly images of evil. Vindictiveness +inexorable glared from the bench. The dust around the feet of the +speakers was laden with guilt. It would not rise to the briskest breeze, +beneath the clearest sky, in light summer air, so heavy had the tread of +murder been upon it. And oh, to think when they closed their eyes upon +this world, what deeper death they left their country ... Will no day of +vengeance come, O God! . . .</p> + +<p>One of those benefits of the British constitution, which excites the +mortal envy of benighted "surrounding nations," is this, that the law +lies to the face of death, in the usual question addressed to the +condemned: "Whether he had anything to say why sentence of death and +execution should not be passed upon him?" when the most conclusive +reasons that ever innocence had to offer would be worse than vain. On +the morning of the 9th of October, 1848, this barbarous mockery was +addressed to William Smith O'Brien, and he answered thus:—<a name="Page_195" id="Page_195" /></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>MR. O'BRIEN.—"My lords, it is not my intention to enter into + any vindication of my conduct, however much I might have desired + to avail myself of this opportunity of so doing. I am perfectly + satisfied with the consciousness that I have performed my duty + to my country—that I have done only that which, in my opinion, + it was the duty of every Irishman to have done, and I am now + prepared to abide the consequences of having performed my duty + to my native land. Proceed with your sentence." (Cheers in the + gallery.)</p></div> + +<p>On the morning of the 23rd of the same month, the same formula was +repeated to Terence Bellew MacManus, Patrick O'Donohoe, and Thomas +Francis Meagher, who replied respectively as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>MR. M'MANUS.—"My lords, I trust I am enough of a Christian and + enough of a man to understand the awful responsibility of the + question that has been put to me. My lords, standing on this my + native soil—standing in an Irish court of justice, and before + the Irish nation—I have much to say why the sentence of death, + or the sentence of the law, should not be passed upon me. But, + my lords, on entering this court, I placed my life, and what is + of much more importance to me—my honour—in the hands of two + advocates; and, my lords, if I had ten thousand lives, and ten + thousand honours, I would be content to place them under the + watchful and the glorious genius of the one and the high legal + ability of the other. My lords, I am content. In that regard I + have nothing to say. But I have a word to say, which no + advocate, however anxious, can utter for me. I have this to say, + my lords, that whatever part I may have taken through any + struggle for my country's independence—whatever part I may have + acted in that short career—I stand before your lordships now + with a free heart, and with a light <a name="Page_196" id="Page_196" />conscience, ready to abide + the issue of your sentences. And now, my lords, perhaps this is + the fittest time that I might put one sentiment on record, and + it is this: Standing as I do between this dock and the scaffold; + it may be now, or to-morrow, or it may be never; but whatever + the result may be, I have this sentiment to put on record. That + in any part I have taken, I have not been actuated by animosity + to Englishmen. For I have spent some of the happiest and most + prosperous days of my life in England; and in no part of my + career have I been actuated by enmity to Englishmen, however + much I may have felt the injustice of English rule on this + island. My lords, I have nothing more to say. It is not for + having loved England less, but for having loved Ireland more, + that I stand now before you."</p></div> + +<p>Mr. O'Donohoe confined himself to a few words concerning his trial.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>MR. MEAGHER.—"My lords, it is my intention to say a few words + only. I desire that the last act of a proceeding which has + occupied so much of the public time should be of short duration. + Nor have I the indelicate wish to close the dreary ceremony of a + State prosecution with a vain display of words. Did I fear that + hereafter when I shall be no more the country I have tried to + serve would think ill of me, I might, indeed, avail myself of + this solemn moment to vindicate my sentiments and my conduct. + But I have no such fear. The country will judge of those + sentiments and that conduct in a light far different from that + in which the jury by which I have been convicted have viewed + them; and by the country, the sentence which you, my lords, are + about to pronounce, will be remembered only as the severe and + solemn attestation of my rectitude and truth. Whatever be the + language in which that sentence be spoken,<a name="Page_197" id="Page_197" /> I know that my fate + will meet with sympathy, and that my memory will be honoured. In + speaking thus, accuse me not, my lords, of an indecorous + presumption. To the efforts I have made in a just and noble + cause, I ascribe no vain importance—nor do I claim for those + efforts any high reward. But it so happens, and it will ever + happen so, that they who have tried to serve their country, no + matter how weak the effort may have been, are sure to receive + the thanks and the blessings of its people. With my country, + then, I leave my memory—my sentiments—my acts—proudly feeling + that they require no vindication from me this day. A jury of my + countrymen, it is true, have found me guilty of the crime of + which I stood indicted. For this I entertain not the slightest + feeling of resentment toward them. Influenced as they must have + been by the charge of the Lord Chief Justice, they could have + found no other verdict. What of that charge? Any strong + observations on it, I feel sincerely, would ill befit the + solemnity of this scene; but I would earnestly beseech of you, + my lord—you, who preside on that bench—when the passions and + the prejudices of this hour have passed away to appeal to your + conscience, and ask of it was your charge as it ought to have + been, impartial and indifferent between the subject and the + Crown. My lords, you may deem this language unbecoming in me, + and perhaps it may seal my fate. But I am here to speak the + truth, whatever it may cost. I am here to regret nothing I have + ever done—to retract nothing I have ever said. I am here to + crave with no lying-lip the life I consecrate to the liberty of + my country. Far from it: even here—here, where the thief, the + libertine, the murderer, have left their footprints in the dust; + here, on this spot, where the shadows of death surround me, and + from which I see my early grave in an unanointed soil opened to + receive me—even here, encircled by these terrors, the hope + which <a name="Page_198" id="Page_198" />has beckoned me to the perilous sea upon which I have + been wrecked, still consoles, animates, enraptures me. No I do + not despair of my poor old country, her peace her liberty, her + glory. For that country I can do no more than bid her hope. To + lift up this island—to make her a benefactor to humanity, + instead of being the meanest beggar in the world—to restore to + her her native Powers and her ancient constitution—this has + been my ambition, and this ambition has been my crime. Judged by + the law of England, I know this crime entails the Penalty of + death; but the history of Ireland explains this crime, and + justifies it. Judged by that history, I am no criminal—you + (addressing Mr. MacManus) are no criminal—you (addressing Mr + O'Donohoe) are no criminal—I deserve no punishment—we deserve + no punishment. Judged by that history the treason of which I + stand convicted loses all its guilt, is sanctified as a duty, + will be ennobled as a sacrifice. With these sentiments, my lord + I await the sentence of the court. Having done what I felt to be + my duty—having spoken what I felt to be the truth, as I have + done on every other occasion of my short career, I now bid + farewell to the country of my birth, my passion and my + death—the country whose misfortunes have invoked my + sympathies—whose factions I have sought to still—whose + intellect I have prompted to a lofty aim—whose freedom has been + my fatal dream. I offer to that country, as a proof of the love + I bear her, and the sincerity with which I thought, and spoke, + and struggled for her freedom—the life of a young heart, and + with that life, all the hopes, the honours, the endearments, of + a happy and an honourable home. Pronounce then, my lords, the + sentence which the law directs, and I will be prepared to hear + it. I trust I shall be prepared to meet its execution. I hope to + be able, with a pure heart and perfect composure, to appear + before a higher Tribunal—a tribunal where a Judge of infinite + goodness, <a name="Page_199" id="Page_199" />as well as of justice will preside, and where, my + lords, many—many of the judgments of this world will be + reversed."</p></div> + +<p>The sentence of the court was then pronounced, as it had been previously +on Mr. O'Brien. It was in the following words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That sentence is, that you Terence Bellew MacManus, you Patrick + O'Donohoe, and you Thomas Francis Meagher, be taken hence to the + place from whence you came, and be thence drawn on a hurdle to + the place of execution; that each of you be there hanged by the + neck until you are dead, and that afterward the head of each of + you shall be severed from the body, and the body of each divided + into four quarters, to be disposed of as her Majesty may think + fit. And may Almighty God have mercy upon your souls."</p></div> + +<p>A writ of error was sued out principally on the ground that the +principles of constitutional law were violated. The House of Lords +finally quashed the error and confirmed the judgment. Meantime, the +country, or a great portion of the people, took the last step in the +direction of debasement by praying the Queen and the Lord Lieutenant for +a free pardon. The petitions were spurned; but her Majesty, yielding to +the powerful sentiment of abhorrence against the punishment of death for +political offences, commuted the sentence into transportation for life. +This final sentence was carried into effect on the 9th day of July, +1849, when the ship of war <i>Swift</i> spread her sails and hoisted her +felon flag, bearing out to sea, and having on board the four illustrious +exiles.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200" />Martin and O'Doherty had been conveyed to Cork on board the <i>Triton</i>, +on the 16th of June, whence they were sent to herd with common +malefactors on board the <i>Mount Stewart Elphinstone</i>—at the time +infested with the plague. This vessel remained off Spike Island while +the cholera was doing its ravages among her passengers, and finally put +to sea, with the patriots and pestilence, a few days before the +departure of the <i>Swift</i>.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11" /><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> The following is from the <i>Freeman's Journal</i>:—An eminent +Queen's counsel, who was present during the awful ordeal, was heard to +give utterance to a sentiment so truthfully graphic that we record it in +full:—"Well," said he, his eyes full and his countenance flushed with +emotion, "never was there such a scene—never such true heroism +displayed before. Emmet and Fitzgerald, and all combined did not come up +to that—so dignified, so calm, so heroic. HE <i>is</i> a hero."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX" /><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201" />CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p>CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS. — DUNGARVAN. — THE COMERAGHS. — MOUNT +MELLARY. — KILWORTH. — CROSS. DUNMANWAY. — GOUGANE BARRA. — BANTRY +BAY. — THE PRIEST'S LEAP. — KENMARE. — THE REEKS. — KILLARNEY. — TEMPLENOE.— +DEPARTURE. — CORK. — BRISTOL. — LONDON. — PARIS.</p> + + +<p>After leaving Quinlan's, as detailed in a former chapter, O'Mahony and +myself agreed to separate for a few days. No reward had then been +offered for him, and my presence only impeded his movements. We crossed +the river Suir, and remained most of the day in Coolnamuck wood. Toward +evening I was conducted far into the county Waterford, where I was to +remain until I heard what progress he was able to make. My host was the +chief of one of the fierce factions of county Waterford, and bore many a +mark of desperate fray. I do not remember having met any man, before or +since, who felt so acutely the fate of the country. He procured the best +fare he could, and prepared my bed with his own hands. After I retired +to rest, he continued pacing the room for several hours, sometimes +sighing deeply, sometimes muttering curses between his clenched teeth, +and sometimes suggesting plans which he thought might be even then +available and efficient to redeem the past. These plans were all of a +character more or less desperate; but some were exceedingly ingenious. A +truer type of a Celt could <a name="Page_202" id="Page_202" />not easily be found; his very caution was +stamped with vehemence.</p> + +<p>Next day but one I proceeded to meet O'Mahony, to learn his success in +his nocturnal interviews. I was unable to meet him; but encountered a +faithful follower of Thomas Francis Meagher, who was the bearer of a +message to the effect that if he could be prevailed upon to attempt +escaping, means could be procured for him. I expressed at once my entire +concurrence, and desired the messenger should return to say that on +condition the same means would be made available for those who were not +yet arrested, we would all gladly accept of them. I ventured into a +house, where, in early life, I spent many a happy day. Those of the +family whom I had known and loved, had passed out of the world. They +were a brother and sister, the former educated for the Church, and the +latter highly gifted and educated far above her condition. I never knew +a woman, in any rank of life, of nobler character or a more heroic +nature. She had the richest store of womanly tenderness and kindly +affections. She took the veil at the Dungarvan Convent in very early +youth, where she died two years afterwards. I asked for some food, and +while it was being prepared I wrote the following lines on a blank leaf +of a book belonging to my dead friend:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>Bliss to thy spirit, gentlest maid,<br /></span> +<span>Fond, faithful and beloved; how oft,<br /></span> +<span>Within the circle of this glowing glade,<br /></span> +<span>Our mingling souls had soared aloft;<br /></span> +<span>And wooed the knowledge of our destiny—<br /></span> +<span>What is it? I a fugitive, and thou on high.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203" /> +<span>Yet hopeless of the land I'd save,<br /></span> +<span>Nay, spurned by those for whom I'd die,<br /></span> +<span>Unknown where your fond welcome gave,<br /></span> +<span>There's still a throb of ecstasy.<br /></span> +<span>Even though the latest I may feel on earth.<br /></span> +<span>In lingering o'er the scene where thou hadst birth.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Where wrapt by evening's crimson flush,<br /></span> +<span>We hoped, and felt, and breathed together,<br /></span> +<span>Beside the broad Suir's silent gush,<br /></span> +<span>Or resting on yon mountain heather;<br /></span> +<span>And dared to look beyond the narrow span,<br /></span> +<span>That circumscribed the hope of man.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>How sweet, if from the blessed spheres,<br /></span> +<span>Thou didst bestow one look of love,<br /></span> +<span>To cheer the hearts and dry the tears<br /></span> +<span>Of those whose only hope's above;<br /></span> +<span>And win, beloved one, from the throne of light,<br /></span> +<span>One saving ray for our long slavery's night.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Or if this may not be, and yet<br /></span> +<span>Her old doom clings unto the land;<br /></span> +<span>If on her brow the brand be set,<br /></span> +<span>And she must bear the chastening hand<br /></span> +<span>For longer years, O grant, sweet saint, to me,<br /></span> +<span>To die as if my arm had made her free.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>GLENN, <i>August 3, 1848.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I left Glenn next morning, with still some hope remaining, and sought +out my friend to learn his success and prospects. He came, according to +appointment, to a farmer's house in the direction of Rathgormack, +bringing with him James Stephens, who was destined to be thenceforth the +companion of my wanderings, privations and dangers. He detailed to us, +nearly as<a name="Page_204" id="Page_204" /> I have repeated it, the affair at Ballingarry. When he +reached the village of Urlingford, he found some difficulty in escaping +from the very men he hoped to lead back to the conflict. After vainly +making every effort first to urge them on, and secondly to satisfy them +of his own identity, he travelled a distance of thirty miles, and took +shelter in the house of a private friend, where he hoped he could remain +until something definite would be known of his comrades' fate. That his +stay was not of long duration, his appearance with us on Thursday, forty +miles from the place of his concealment, amply testifies. That distance +he travelled on foot on the preceding day, after having slept a night +with a drunken man in a brake. He was even more averse than we were to +giving up the struggle, and it was agreed on finally that he should be +allowed to rest in a place of safety; that the messenger who had come +from Mr. Meagher's friend should be despatched with my proposal, and +meantime, that I should betake me to the Comeragh mountains in search of +Mr. Meagher, while our other comrade should make a final effort to rally +the remaining strength of the people. We would then be in a position to +determine finally what we should do. Stephens and myself proceeded +together as far as my former host's in the mountains, where I left him, +and continued my route as far as the Comeraghs, I rested that evening at +a place called Sradavalla, and early next day recommenced my search +around and over the mountains. After crossing several minor hills, I +ascended the summit of the Comeragh, called Cuimshinane, which commands +a prospect of nearly the whole counties of Waterford and Kilkenny, <a name="Page_205" id="Page_205" />with +a great part of Tipperary. That prospect was at once grand, beautiful +and mournful. The corn crop began to be tinged with coming ripeness; but +the potato was blighted, and presented a spectacle as black and dismal +as the country's hopes. This widespread ruin was the dread work of an +hour. On the morning, when Mr. O'Brien appeared in Carrick, that crop +was the most abundant, promising and healthy that had been seen for +years. Then it appeared from sea to sea one mass of unvaried rottenness +and decay. Notwithstanding this, I spent hours looking down on the +landscape, and mourning more over the mental and moral blight, which +shed its influence on the public heart, than the plague spot whose dark +circumference embraced the circle of the island. From heat, fatigue and +the effects of weak food, I discharged my stomach more than once, while +descending the ranges of the Comeraghs. I again took up my station for +the night at the village of Sradavalla. It was deemed prudent I should +not sleep in the same house as on the previous night, and about eleven +o'clock, accompanied by five or six men of the village, I proceeded to a +house farther up the mountain. Here the accommodation was not such as we +expected, and we were forced to return. On our arrival, I found my +sister-in-law who was escorted by two boatmen from Carrick-on-Suir, and +who reached this wild sequestered and almost inaccessible mountain +village, after a journey of fifty miles. A sad change had come over our +circumstances since last we parted. My hopes were then nearly a +conviction, and I went on my way not alone without remonstrance or +regret on her part, but with intense encouragement. She had <a name="Page_206" id="Page_206" />heard of +Mr. O'Brien's disaster, and a rumour of his arrest, had witnessed the +prostration of the people, had heard I had means of escape proposed for +me, and came with what money could be provided. We spent that night +together at the house of a woman who had been lately confined. She +endeavoured to provide tea and eggs, and we enjoyed our supper with as +keen a relish and as high a zest as possible. I learned that Meagher was +in the other extremity of the county Tipperary, and she undertook to +convey my message to his friend a second time, while his faithful scout +would endeavour to discover his retreat, and induce him to join us. She +departed on her mission, having to walk ten miles over the mountain +roads. I returned to the place where I parted from Stephens, whom I +found greatly recovered. We remained that night at the house of his +entertainer, where we were joined the following morning by O'Mahony. We +spent the three succeeding days in and about the woods at Coolnamuck. +Three more anxious days and nights never darkened the destiny of baffled +rebels. Every morning arose upon a new hope which was blasted ere night +came on by some sad intelligence. The news that reached us was partly +true and partly false: of the former character was the account of our +beloved chief's arrest, which took place on the evening of Sunday, the +6th of August. In proportion as it nerved our purpose and urged us to +desperation, did that fatal information scatter the agencies on which we +were to depend. The most desperate hazards would be readily undertaken +in that hour of gloom. One more effort we decided on, and the experiment +was to be tried the next night. We heard<a name="Page_207" id="Page_207" /> Mr. Meagher also was arrested, +and we resolved, in order to satisfy ourselves of the correctness of +this and other reports, to put ourselves in direct communication with +some person in the town of Clonmel. We accordingly proceeded to the +neighbourhood of that town, within a mile of which, at the Waterford +side, we established ourselves, and remained two days. Each day we sent +in a messenger who brought us correct intelligence of what occurred; and +satisfied us not alone that Mr. O'Brien was then in gaol, but that he +was allowed to be torn from the midst of a people for whom he had +perilled his life, without a hand being raised in his defence. We then +returned to the scene of our former meetings, and met, for the last +time, beside a little brook near the Waterford slate-quarries. My +ambassadress had also returned, and there were present three or four +others. The reunion was gloomy. But one question remained for +discussion: Was there any hope left? The message I received as to the +means of escape was dark and discouraging. Nothing remained but the +hazards of some desperate enterprise. What had chiefly animated our +hopes for the few days was the knowledge that disaffection and +conspiracy existed in the ranks of the British army. But among other +intelligence of evil omen that reached us was this, that the conspiracy +had been discovered. Whether this were true or not, our means of +communication were suspended; and, unable to learn what had occurred, we +naturally concluded it was the worst. It is not quite correct to say, +<i>we</i>, as far as the proceedings of these days in that neighbourhood were +concerned. Neither Stephens nor myself was in communication with <a name="Page_208" id="Page_208" />more +than the one friend, to whose honour and heroism we would commit the +liberty of the world. Never yet lived a man of more sanguine hope or +intense patriotism. All the vigour of a gigantic intellect, aided by the +endurance of great physical strength was tasked to the uttermost in +attempting to rouse the broken energies of the country. He generally +spent his nights in interviews with the chief men of the surrounding +districts, while his duty by day was to communicate the result to us, +and secure a place of safety for the ensuing night. Our last conference +was of course the longest and most anxious. There was no chance within +the range of possibility we did not discuss. Of the intensity of our +feelings, some idea may be formed by the fact, that the one woman who +was of the party, whose sole stay on this earth I was, as well as the +sole stay of her sister and a most helpless little family, never uttered +one word of remonstrance against any project, however desperate, which +was proposed. We concluded an interview of several hours, by referring +the entire question to the sole decision of our friend. After a short +silence, during which the agony of his mind was extreme, he solemnly +advised and adjured us to provide as best we could for our own safety, +while he, who was not so deeply compromised, would maintain his +position, and still struggle against our common destiny. If he +succeeded, and that we had not left the country, we could return. But to +advise us to continue in our then position where an iron circle was +closing around us, relying on the slender chances that then presented +themselves, involved a responsibility which would be no longer +endurable. We then partook <a name="Page_209" id="Page_209" />of a comfortable dinner which he had +provided, and parted with sad hearts.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-18" /><a id="image18" href="images/image18-big.jpg"><img src="images/image18.jpg" width="750" height="400" alt="The Knockmeldown Mountains from Ardfinan" title="The Knockmeldown Mountains from Ardfinan" /></a> +<p class="caption">The Knockmeldown Mountains from Ardfinan</p> +</div> + +<p>The place which, as far as we could form an opinion, presented the +greatest facilities for escape, was the town and neighbourhood of +Dungarvan. Thither we resolved to repair; and about three o'clock, on +the 13th day of August, we set off across the nearest range of the +Comeraghs—Stephens and myself, accompanied by my sister-in-law, whom we +hoped to employ in negotiating for a passage to France. A farmer and two +women of the place undertook to conduct us the shortest way across the +mountains, and provide us an asylum for the night, which we reached +after a forced journey of six hours. We there parted from our guides; +and the people to whom they recommended us were exceedingly kind, and +much more hospitable than their means would permit. On the following day +our host became our guide for several miles across the declining +Comeraghs, until we came in view of Dungarvan. We purchased some bread, +eggs and tea at a village called Tubbernaheena; but while in the village +we learned that the military and police were scouring the country far +and wide, in search of arms, which compelled us to change our route and +take an easterly direction. We crossed several miles of bog, and had to +pass many a ravine; but the worst trial was before us. We applied in +several houses for the means of preparing our dinner, having travelled +at least twenty miles over moor and mountain. We applied in twenty +places in vain. At last, half by force and half by entreaty, we +prevailed on a woman, whose circumstances seemed comfortable. We were, +of course, unknown; and though we met many a rebuff, <a name="Page_210" id="Page_210" />we determined to +endure them, rather than reveal our names and character. During the +progress of our meal we established ourselves in the good graces of the +housewife, but she obstinately refused to allow us to remain for the +night. She directed us to a publichouse, where, on our arrival, we found +a proclamation menacing any one who entertained, harboured or assisted +us, with the direst punishment. In answer to our inquiry the owner, who +was a woman, pointed to the proclamation, as an argument against which +all remonstrance was vain. We made three or four other attempts equally +fruitless; and when the night had closed around us, on a bleak, desolate +road, I determined to call on the Roman Catholic priest, and state who +we were; for while, if alone, we would infinitely prefer taking such +rest as we could in the nearest brake, or under shelter of a wall, we +could not think of submitting our delicate companion to the trials of a +night in the open air, during an exceedingly inclement season. With some +hesitation and great alarm, he procured a lodging for us at a farmer's +house in the neighbourhood. We saw him next morning, and his most +earnest injunction was that we should leave the locality, which, +according to him, was altogether unsafe. To escape arrest there for +twelve hours was, he said, impossible. Similar advice was pressed on us +afterwards in many a safer asylum; but we learned to mock at others' +fears, whereas, on this occasion, we yielded to an impression we felt to +be sincere.</p> + +<p>Before venturing nearer to Dungarvan, we determined to bespeak the +services of another clergyman, who lived a distance of six or seven +miles in the direction of<a name="Page_211" id="Page_211" /> Waterford. A ridge of the Comeraghs lay +between us and his lonely dwelling. Along this ridge lay a winding +bridle-road, skirted by patches of green sward, and occasionally crossed +by a sparkling mountain rill. Above us, on the hill-side, was a +considerable bog, where crowds of country people were collecting to +their daily toil. A merry laugh or boisterous joke occasionally rang +clear in the morning air. The mirth went heavily to our hearts. The +snatch of song, the unrestrained laugh, the merry glee, broke upon the +ear of the wayfarers like the mocking of demons. The consciousness that +they then sped, without a beacon or a guide, over the flinty path of +flight, to end perhaps at the gibbet, imparted to the voice of mirth the +sound of ingratitude. However, the day was brilliant; above us the +clear, blue, unfathomable sky; around us the bracing mountain air, laden +with the breath of hare-bell and heather, and far below the calm sea, +sleeping in the morning light; and weariness, hunger and apprehension +yielded to the influence of the scene. Many a time, ere passed the sunny +noon, did we sit down to enjoy the glad prospect, unconscious, for a +moment, of the fate that tracked our footsteps. At length we descended +the eastern slope of the hill; and after proceeding some distance, +through cornfields and meadows, we reached the mansion of the clergyman, +wayworn and half-famished. He, whom we sought, had won a character for +truth, manliness and courage, and we calculated upon his unrestrained +sympathies, if not generous hospitality. He was absent from his house, +which is situate in a lonely gorge of the Comeraghs.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212" />We waited his arrival for more than an hour, and, through delicacy for +his position, we remained concealed in a grove some distance from the +door. He at length appeared, and I proceeded alone to meet him and make +known my name. He started involuntarily and retreated a few paces from +me. After repeating my name for a few seconds, he said, "Surely you are +not so unmanly as to compromise me?" I replied, that so sensible was I +of the danger of committing him, that I refused to enter his house, +though we all, and particularly my female companion, sadly needed rest +and shelter. After some time, he began to pace up and down in front of +his door, repeating at every turn that it was indiscreet and +dishonourable to compromise him. Among the many trials to which fate had +doomed me, through hours of gloom, of peril and disaster, and even +during reveries of still darker chances, which fear or fancy often +evoked, I never felt a pang so keen as that which those unfeeling words +sent through my heart. For a while I was unable to articulate, but at +length I said: "You are one of those who urged us to this fate. You gave +us every assurance that, in any crisis, you would be at our side. We +made the desperate trial which you recommended. We have failed, because +we were abandoned by those who were foremost in urging us on; and even +now—here, where God alone sees us—you meet with reproaches one who has +sacrificed his all on earth in a cause you pretended to bless. Is not +that fate worse than defeat—than flight—than death?" "Tis a sad fate, +no doubt," said he. My object, I said, was to escape to France, and I +called on him, believing he could assist me, as he must be <a name="Page_213" id="Page_213" />acquainted +with the boatmen around that part of the coast. He answered it was +possible he could, but not then; asked how he could communicate with me; +pointed to a shorter route across the mountains than that by which we +had descended, and turned in to his dinner, which was just announced.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>We faced towards the mountain, hungry and exhausted, without being asked +to taste food or drink. It need not be detailed how sore at heart we +felt as we recommenced our dreary journey. It was already evening. +Censer masses of fog had gathered on the hill, and lurid streaks +spreading far out on the sea, portended a night of storm and gloom. +However, we had no resource but to regain the house where we had slept +two nights before, which we supposed might be distant about seven miles; +and by gaining the summit of the hill before dark, we hoped to make our +way easily down the other side. To obtain some food, of whatever kind, +was an indispensable preliminary. The house nearest to the mountain +appeared to be that of a comfortable farmer. We entered it trembling, +and found our expectations not disappointed. But the housewife +peremptorily refused our first request, evidently suspecting there was +something wrong, and unable to reconcile our appearance with the idea of +hunger or distress. She bestowed a peculiarly sinister scrutiny on my +poor sister. After some parley, we said we should have something to eat, +either for love or money, and while saying so, we began to examine the +locks of our pistols. Either admonished by these stern intercessors, or +by a look of compassion from her <a name="Page_214" id="Page_214" />beautiful daughter, who stood at some +distance, she replied we should have what we asked for, but only for +love. Her daughters, of whom there were two, busied themselves in +producing new barley bread and skimmed milk, of which we partook +immoderately. We parted on better terms, and my friend Stephens was +greeted with a smile from each of the lovely girls, which so influenced +him that he insisted upon revealing our character and asking their +hospitality for the night. After a good deal of discussion it was agreed +he should make the experiment alone. He returned and produced the +military cap which he always wore inside his shirt. This at once +produced the desired effect, and one of the young girls came bounding up +the hill to invite us to return. It was arranged, however, that we +should remain on a hay-loft until quite dusk, which we gladly agreed to. +The host entered with us, and stayed until we were admitted to the +dwelling-house. To me, at least, that hay-loft imparted a sense of +unutterable enjoyment. I was there enabled to support the drooping head +of my sister, as overcharged with weariness and pain of mind, she sank +into unconscious sleep.</p> + +<p>As night fell, we were introduced into a comfortable parlour. There we +had tea and eggs, with some punch. The family felt the warmest interest +in us; but at the same time they occasionally manifested evident alarm. +The utmost precaution was observed so as to prevent our being noticed, +and we only retired to bed when the hour of midnight had struck, and the +house was sunk in silence and solitude. During all that night the storm +roared pitilessly and the rain fell <a name="Page_215" id="Page_215" />heavily. Had it surprised us on the +bleak hill, our wandering had that night ended, and the ravens of +Cumshinane had feasted on our flesh. Next day the storm did not cease to +howl nor the rain to sweep on the angry winds. About five o'clock, +during a brief pause of the rain, preparations were made which +significantly intimated that we were expected to leave. Our host was +well acquainted with the fishermen of Dungarvan and he solemnly warned +us against treating with any of them. Betrayal, he said, would be +certain. But he promised to accompany my sister next day to the town, +where he would make every inquiry; and if he failed, as he anticipated, +would see her away on the car; in which case we were to try another and +a far remote sea-board. A certain newspaper of high Liberal character, +affected to bestow upon us intense consideration and deep compassion. It +had a guard of mobile reporters, some of whom contrived to be everywhere +and hear everything—especially what did not occur. One of them, with a +keener scent than his fellows, discovered my sister's track—made +himself familiar with her person and apparel—and announced her +movements with a mournful accuracy. He conjectured, not unjustly, that +my haunts must be near the scene of her wanderings. Completely absorbed +by the one idea of gratifying the curiosity of his readers, he seemed +indifferent to the conclusion, which, to a mind less engaged, would +appear palpable, and inevitable—namely, that what was information to +our anxious friends would equally serve the purpose of our watchful +pursuers.</p> + +<p>It became, therefore, dangerous to have her continue <a name="Page_216" id="Page_216" />any longer with or +near us. A hasty dinner was prepared, and we arranged to meet our host +next day within a mile of Dungarvan. Never did parting look more like a +last one than mine with my sister, on that occasion. For some time I +thought she would be the first victim of our hard destiny. She seemed +incapable of withstanding the agony that shook her frame. While sharing +in the hardships and the hazards of my struggle for life, her heart, +sustained by its own deep enthusiasm, triumphed over every obstacle. But +she was returning to a house of mourning and of woe, where life would be +one blank of desolation and stupor, to be wakened to bitter +consciousness by intelligence of our doom. The sense of my +responsibility, the full appreciation of the living death which, through +my agency, had fallen upon a home as hallowed as ever love and joy +consecrated to happiness, had burned up my eyeballs and my brain. I went +forth into the recommencing storm, utterly unconscious of its rage and +equally indifferent to fate. My comrade, who had no life to lose but his +own, and who of that was recklessly prodigal, provided he could dispose +of it to good account, stepped blithely along and uttered no complaint, +although he left behind him traces marked with blood. His terrible +indifference soon restored my self-possession, and we found shelter for +the night in a house near the spot designated for the next day's +interview. Just as we arrived there, the chief magistrate and police had +completed a search of the house. We entered as they retired, told who we +were, and claimed hospitality, which we readily obtained. The night +passed as many a similar one did afterwards. Let our hardships be <a name="Page_217" id="Page_217" />what +they might during the day, we invariably enjoyed ourselves at night, and +went to bed without a fear. On the following morning we sent our hostess +into the town for shoes and other matters which were indispensable to +our further progress. She returned, evidently alarmed to death, having +read on the walls the viceregal threats against all who harboured the +"traitors." She scarcely allowed us to remain until the time appointed +for the interview, which was of short duration. We were informed that +there was no hope from that quarter, and that our safety for one hour +was extremely precarious. This intelligence and a copy of the <i>World</i> +newspaper, completed the information communicated by our former host.</p> + +<p>Having laughed heartily over the <i>World</i>, and no less heartily at the +alarm of our host and hostess, we set out on our long journey, about +four o'clock in the evening, under very heavy rain. Our first effort was +at the publichouse, already mentioned, where we again failed. We had +some bread and punch, while drying our clothes at the fire. My comrade +became very ill; but even this did not overcome the obstinate repugnance +of the hostess to receive us. We were compelled to leave at about nine +o'clock; and having travelled some miles, 'midst cold and rain, my +comrade shivering from fever and suffering, we determined to sleep in +freshly-saved hay. While making ourselves a resting-place in the hay, we +were surprised by some countrymen, who recognised us as the persons who +dined on a former evening, but were coldly received and rudely expelled. +Upon consulting with the women, who had seen us, they conjectured we +were some of the <a name="Page_218" id="Page_218" />fugitives, and followed for the purpose of inviting us +to the hospitalities of their home. We accepted the offer gladly, and +were received by our friends of the former evening with the warmest +welcome. The principal apartment contained two beds, one of which was +usually occupied by the man and his wife, and the other by their grown +daughters. They gave both up to us, treated us most kindly, and the +whole family, men, women and children, watched over our sleep until +morning. The eldest son displayed considerable information and still +greater energy of character. He evinced the deepest interest in our +fate, and accompanied us for several miles next morning. It was Sunday; +the cold and wet of the previous evening had given way to calm and +sunshine; and we made rapid way along the slopes of the +Comeraghs—thence to the Knockmeldown mountains, having one main object +in view—to place the greatest distance possible between where we were +to rest that night and where we had last slept. The greatest difficulty +we experienced was in passing deep ravines. The steep ascent and descent +were usually wooded and covered with furze and briars. Far below gurgled +a rapid and swollen mountain stream, which we crossed without +undressing, and always experienced the greatest relief from the cold +running water. But toiling our upward way, through trees and thorny +shrubs, was excessively fatiguing. About three o'clock in the evening we +reached the picturesque grounds of Mountmellary Abbey. We had then +travelled thirty miles of mountain without any refreshments. The +well-known hospitality of the good brothers was a great temptation to +men in our situation, <a name="Page_219" id="Page_219" />pressed by toil and hunger. But we felt that we +possibly might compromise the Abbot and the brethren, and determined on +not making ourselves known. We entered the beautiful chapel of the +Abbey, and ascended the gallery while vespers were sung. We were alone +on the gallery, and had an opportunity of changing our stockings and +wiping the blood from our feet. We remained upwards of an hour, and then +set out, but little refreshed. We hoped to find refreshments in a small +publichouse, on the road leading from Clogheen to Lismore. I entered the +house rather hurriedly, and the first object that met my view was a +policeman. I turned quickly round and disappeared. The rapidity of my +movement attracted his attention, and, calling to his comrades and some +countrymen who were in the house, they commenced a pursuit. At first +they appeared little concerned, but walked quickly. We accordingly +quickened our pace, and they, in turn, began to run, when it became a +regular chase, which continued four miles, until we disappeared in the +blue mists of the Mitchelstown mountains, as night was falling around +us. When we saw our pursuers retiring, we ventured to descend, and +entered a cabin where we found a few cold half-formed new potatoes and +some sour milk which we ravenously devoured. I do not remember ever +enjoying a dinner as I did this. My comrade, who had suffered much from +illness, was unable to eat with the same relish. It was night when we +finished our repast, and we set off in search of some place to lay our +heads. We met several refusals, and succeeded, with great difficulty at +last, in a very poor cabin. We saw a lone hen on a cross-beam, which we +<a name="Page_220" id="Page_220" />proposed to purchase, and bought at last for two shillings. In less +than an hour she was disposed of; and, as was invariably the case, we +got the only bed in the house, where we slept a long and dreamless +sleep. It rained incessantly the next day, and we were forced repeatedly +to take shelter in cabins by the wayside. But, being excessively anxious +to get as far as possible beyond the circle enclosed by our foes, we +descended several miles along the Kilworth mountains. Towards the close +of evening we crossed the River Funcheon, near Kilworth, by means of a +fir-tree, the roots of which had been undermined by the rapid flood. We +had spent the whole day in wet clothes. We mounted this tree, +Indian-like, in the midst of rain, and dropped in the shallow part of +the river from the branches. We were unable to procure lodgings +afterwards until nearly eleven o'clock, and then not without difficulty. +We succeeded, at length, within about a quarter of a mile of Kilworth, +whence we were able to procure bread, tea and beefsteaks. We were very +kindly treated, and next day accompanied to the Blackwater, at Castle +Hyde, by the eldest brother of the family.</p> + +<p>I shall not easily forget the delicacy with which this young man +requested, if we thought it compatible with our safety, to tell him our +names. There are few requests which either of us would feel greater +reluctance in refusing. He saw our evident struggle, and said he would +be satisfied with a promise that when our fate would be decided one way +or the other, we would write to him; a promise which I redeemed the day +after I reached Paris.</p> + +<p>This day I think, August the 20th, we travelled over <a name="Page_221" id="Page_221" />forty miles, along +bog and mountain, passed within a few miles of the city of Cork, and +then, taking a north-western direction, proceeded to the village of +Blarney; where we slept on a loft with a number of carmen who were on +their way to Cork with corn.</p> + +<p>It is known to most people, at all familiar with the traditions of +Ireland, that this village is one of her most classic spots. There is +deposited the celebrated Blarney stone, a touch of which imparts to the +tongue of the pilgrim the gift of persuasion. So famous has this stone +become, not only in Ireland but in England, that the most plausible +fluency is characterised by its name, which at once confers on such +oratory the stamp of unapproachable eloquence. It must be confessed, +however, that in many instances "Blarney" conveys doubts of the +speaker's sincerity, as well as admiration for his capacity. To see this +talisman would be with me, on another occasion, an object of deep +anxiety and most eager curiosity. But I was compelled to forego the +pleasure, by the fact that a police-barrack loomed in its immediate +vicinity, and at the other side was posted a proclamation offering a +reward for my person. We could scarcely sleep, owing to the noise and +bustle of the carmen, as they came and went, and loudly snored in +various parts of our dormitory. But we were allowed to rest until seven +in the morning, when we took a hasty breakfast and departed. It was a +point with us never to walk along a road, and never to ask our way. We +were now travelling through an open corn country, and our progress was +accordingly slow. We felt, too, the necessity of not departing far from +our intended route, and accordingly we called in <a name="Page_222" id="Page_222" />occasionally to +national schools to make the necessary observations on the maps. +Sometimes we examined the children, and sometimes the master; generally +one of us was so employed while the other was noting down carelessly on +the map the points of observation to direct our path. We crossed the Lee +undressed, near the village of "Cross," and slept soundly in a +churchyard on a neighbouring hill the name of which has passed from my +memory. We then directed our footsteps to a small village called +Crookstown, situated in a romantic spot on a branch of the Lee. We +experienced much difficulty, and narrowly escaped detection, in entering +this village, which is surrounded by beautiful country seats, through +the grounds of some of which we were obliged to grope our way. We +obtained lodgings, after one or two fruitless trials, in a very +comfortable house kept by a farmer. The young family seemed to be rather +tastefully educated, and we soon became fast friends. We passed as +whimsical tourists, and delighted our entertainers with glowing accounts +of the scenery of Connemara, Wicklow and Kerry. We remained with them +two nights, on pretence of being engaged in sketching the enchanting +views in the neighbourhood; and left, promising, that if we returned by +the same road, we would delay a week. Our destination was Dunmanway, +near which a friend of mine lived, in whose house I hoped we might +remain concealed, while means of escape would be procured somewhere +among the western headlands. A short journey brought us to this house. +My friend was absent, but daughters of his, whom I had not seen since +childhood, recognised <a name="Page_223" id="Page_223" />and welcomed us. We had then travelled 150 miles, +and fancied that, as no one could think of our making such a journey +without walking one half-mile of road, we would be safe there for many +days. In this we were disappointed. It was communicated to us next +morning early that our persons were recognised, and that half the +inhabitants of Dunmanway were by that time aware of our whereabouts. It +was added, that the people were venal and treacherous; a character which +the inhabitants of that region of Cork invariably attribute to each +other. We remained a second and most of a third day, notwithstanding, +and enjoyed ourselves heartily, although our little festivities had all +the air of a wake. We set out at length on the evening of the third day, +having made one glorious friend, whose exertions afterwards tended +mainly to secure my escape. We had expected letters from home before we +reached Dunmanway, and received them there on the day after. They +contained the concentrated and compressed agony of weeks, but no word of +complaint or regret. They also confirmed the intelligence which we had +heard ere we set out, namely, that all our comrades were arrested, +except Dillon, O'Gorman, and a few others, of whose fate we remained +uncertain. Certain friends of the family undertook to communicate with +clergymen, near the seashore, who were supposed to be in a position to +facilitate our escape, while we proposed to visit Gougane Barra and +Ceimeneagh, and, if practicable, Killarney, before we returned to learn +the success of their applications. We followed the stream that passes +Dunmanway for several miles through an almost inaccessible valley, +<a name="Page_224" id="Page_224" />until we reached the southwestern base of Shehigh, the highest mountain +in the range which stretches between Mallow and Cape Clear.</p> + +<p>Here we purchased some good new potatoes, butter, eggs and milk, on +which we dined satisfactorily. We then faced the mountain which we +crossed near the summit, being desirous to gain Gougane Barra by the +shortest possible route. A steep ascent gives the traveller fresh +impulses and an irrepressible desire to bound down at the other side. It +seems to spring from that principle of action and reaction pervading all +nature. At the northern base of Shehigh, after traversing some miles of +bog, we found ourselves entering the pass of Ceimenagh. Though that Pass +had been recently immortalised in the unequalled verses of Denis +Florence M'Carthy,<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12" /><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> and I had learned to love a spot where echoes of +minstrelsy so soft and passionate had found a "local habitation," I was +ignorant of its locality and entirely unprepared for the surpassing +grandeur of the scene, which, in the full blaze of a harvest moon burst +upon my view. My comrade was even more startled than I, and we paused at +every turn of that enchanting passage to gaze upon the masses of rock +projecting over our heads hundreds of feet in the air, and casting their +dark rude outlines upon the clear autumn sky. The pass is a mile long, +while in no one spot can many yards' distance be seen on either side. +The road seems to lose itself every moment in the bowels of the +mountain, but as you proceed, you find a new avenue of escape, and a +more fantastic group of impending rocks of a yet more <a name="Page_225" id="Page_225" />entrancing +beauty than that you had left behind. In such a scene one could have no +feeling of weariness and no sense of fear. Neither could he doubt man's +truth any more than God's omnipotence. We lingered in the solitude and +drank the moonbeams as they strayed through disjointed rocks and fell +silvery and glowing on our path. Our reverie ended in a mistake, for we +unconsciously passed the point where we should turn to Gougane Barra, +then the scene of a ceremony, half religious, half superstitious, as it +has been during the autumn season from time immemorial. People come +great distances to perform "stations" on the ruins of a very ancient +church on poor Callanan's "green little island." We were advised against +returning, but told to seek shelter in a publichouse at a place called +Ballingeary, on the banks of Lough Lua through which the infant Lee +runs. We found the house quite full, in consequence of a fair which was +to be held the Monday following at Bantry. We were accordingly refused; +but we insisted on remaining in the house. We had some milk and whisky, +in which we asked the host to join us, and after one or two potations, +he and his wife offered to give us their own bed and remain up. We +thankfully and gladly accepted the offer. I know not whether they +recognised us, and if not, it is not easy to account for the generous +kindness that prompted such a sacrifice. The next day being Sunday, we +proposed to spend it wandering about the lovely lake in the bosom of the +hill, and to return in the evening to dinner. The day was an anxious +one; but we left no spot on the island or near the lake which we did not +explore.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-19" /><a id="image19" href="images/image19-big.jpg"><img src="images/image19.jpg" width="694" height="400" alt="Dunmanway from the Bridge on the Cork Road, 1848" title="Dunmanway from the Bridge on the Cork Road, 1848" /></a> +<p class="caption">Dunmanway from the Bridge on the Cork Road, 1848</p> +</div> + +<p><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226" />The "Green Little Island," is surpassingly romantic. The old ruin of a +monastery, God knows how old, gigantic forest trees, bowing their aged +limbs into the clear water, the shadows of the frowning mountain thrown +fantastically on the bosom of the lake, form a <i>tout ensemble</i> of lonely +loveliness rarely equalled. Then the play of</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">"The thousand wild fountains<br /></span> +<span>Rushing down to that lake from their home in the mountains,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>the scream of the eagle on the crags of Mailoc, far, far on high, all +justify Callanan's preference for the spot which was meetest for the +bard. We endeavoured to recall his tender strains, and thought +mournfully of his sad prophecy—alas! when shall it be fulfilled?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>I too shall be gone, but my name shall be spoken,<br /></span> +<span>When Erin awakes and her fetters are broken<br /></span> +<span>Some minstrel shall come in the summer's eve gleaming,<br /></span> +<span>When Freedom's young light on his spirit is beaming,<br /></span> +<span>And bend o'er my grave with a tear of emotion,<br /></span> +<span>Where calm Avonbui seeks the kisses of ocean,<br /></span> +<span>Or plant a wild wreath from the banks of that river,<br /></span> +<span>O'er the heart and the harp that are sleeping for ever.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We saw at a short distance, the pass which so enraptured us the night +before, but we resisted the temptation to revisit it, lest the glare of +light might disenchant us of those sublime impressions of beauty it had +made on our minds.</p> + +<p>We found a most comfortable dinner on our arrival, for which we could +not account. In the course of the <a name="Page_227" id="Page_227" />evening we learned casually from our +host that he had spent several years of his life where it was impossible +he should not have seen and known me. This was a disturbing conviction +wherewith to retire to rest, but we trusted to our propitious stars, in +which we had begun to feel a superstitious confidence. We were not +disappointed then or afterwards, and next morning we slept in +unquestioning security. We rose late and reluctantly, and left a scene +where we enjoyed more undisturbed rest and real comfort than had fallen +to our lot for weeks before. The day became dark and showery. Crossing +the bogs in the recesses of Shehigh, we were overtaken by a storm, from +which we took shelter in some hay gathered on the bleak moor, where I +wrote the following:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the outlaw's life!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the felon's doom!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the last death-strife!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for an exile's tomb!<br /></span> +<span>Come life or death, 'tis still the same,<br /></span> +<span>So we preserve our stainless name<br /></span> +<span>From losel of the coward's shame.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the mountain side!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the bivouac!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the heaving tide!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If rocking the felon's track.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the scanty meal!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If served by th' ungrudging hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the hearts of steel,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Still true to this fallen land!<br /></span> +<span>Still true, though every hazard brings<br /></span> +<span>Some new disaster on its wings,<br /></span> +<span>Which o'er her last faint hope it flings.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Hurrah, etc.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228" /> +<span class="i2">Hurrah; though the gibbet loom!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah; though the brave be low!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah; though a villain doom!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The true to the headsman's blow.<br /></span> +<span>As long as one life-throb remain,<br /></span> +<span>We'll spurn the tyrant's gyve and chain<br /></span> +<span>On gallows-tree or bloody plain.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah, etc.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for that smile of light,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which like a prophetic star,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Illumined the long, lone night<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of the wanderers from afar.<br /></span> +<span>Give us for resting-place the rath,<br /></span> +<span>Give us to brave the foeman's wrath,<br /></span> +<span>So that dear smile be o'er our path.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the mountain side!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the bivouac!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the heaving tide!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If rocking the felon's track.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Being apprehensive that our former retreat near Dunmanway was +discovered, and that we would be looked for there, we determined to try +another district, from which we might be able to communicate with her +who had evinced such sympathy for us. We sought the house of a friend of +hers, but found him so terrified that we could not think of forcing +ourselves on his hospitality. He promised, however, to call on her and +learn if she had any letters or other information for us. On our return, +next day, he was somewhat reassured. He brought us a note from her, and +letters from home. My comrade's was a sad, sad blow. Where he had most +trusted on earth, his application had been coldly received, and his most +unlimited confidence utterly <a name="Page_229" id="Page_229" />disappointed. Money was forwarded to him +from other sources; but the spirit that braved every disaster up to +that, broke under disappointed affection and blighted love. For some +time he refused to take another step, but yielding himself up to the +agony of shattered feelings, he ardently desired to abandon a struggle +involving nothing but the life he no longer desired to save. From my +knowledge of the country, and other resources, he regarded my chances of +escape as favourable, and his own presence as an impediment and a check. +He was therefore anxious to relieve me of a burden, at the same time +that he would free himself from a weight still more intolerable. In that +he was mistaken. His imperturbable equanimity, and ever daring hope, had +sustained me in moments of perplexity and alarm when no other resource +could have availed. During the whole time which we spent, as it were, in +the shadow of the gibbet, his courage never faltered, and his temper +never once ruffled. The arrival of our enthusiastic friend, who had +stolen to see us, revived his spirits, and her persuasions reassured his +resolution. We drove for some time in her car, and after nightfall +returned to the house where we had slept on the previous night. A +practice which prevailed in that part of the county Cork greatly +facilitated our efforts. It was this: in the vicinity of the great +routes of travel, the farmers are in the habit of giving lodgings for +payment, the amount of which generally depends on the traveller's +ability to pay. As our means, for purposes of at least this kind were +not stinted, we were sure of welcome a second time. But this fact had a +tendency to frustrate our aim in another point of view; for it always +excited <a name="Page_230" id="Page_230" />curiosity, so that it was doubtful whether we would not be +safer with persons who would provide for us at the cost of their last +morsel, by confiding to them who and what we were. But in this district +of Cork, the centre of which is the notorious town of Bandon, were +scattered several families of Orangemen, who were intensely inimical to +the cause and people of Ireland. In this very instance we lodged with +one of those families. A letter that I tore near the house was picked +up, put together, and read, so as to lead to suspicion, which was +immediately communicated to the magistrate. This caused the most +vigilant surveillance to be exercised over the homes and persons of our +friends. But before the discovery was made we were far beyond the reach +of our pursuers. We had learned that the efforts made for our escape +were unsuccessful, and that time would be required to effect anything, +so as not to arouse the suspicion of those who guarded the coast; and we +agreed to conceal ourselves as best we could in some distant part of the +country, for three weeks, and then return or communicate with our +friend, who promised, meantime, to leave no effort untried on our +behalf. A second time, we set out by the same route. When we found +ourselves on a hill-top, far from human haunts, we sat down as was our +wont, to consider our future course. We determined to visit some obscure +watering-place in the vicinity of Cape Clear. With that view we skirted +the picturesque mountains that surround Dunmanway. These mountains +present features to which the eye of one living in the inland country is +little accustomed. The mountains of the midland and eastern counties are +generally enormous clumps with <a name="Page_231" id="Page_231" />little inequality of surface, and +covered over with heath and weeds. Here, on the contrary, the mountains +seemed to be carved out into the most fantastic shapes, covered with +white granite stones, whose reflections in the watery surface gave the +scene an appearance of singular beauty. However strange it may appear, +we lingered over these picturesque scenes in intense delight; the more +so because there seemed no limit to our journey, and no definite aim to +which our efforts led. And a mountain-top has always an assurance of +safety stamped upon it. There we could indulge our admiration for the +beautiful; there we could snatch an hour of fearless and unbroken sleep.</p> + +<p>But elements of danger began to lower over our loved haunts. The grouse +season had just set in, and occasionally the report of a musket broke +our reverie, or startled our deepest sleep. Yet, even from this cup of +bitterness did we derive some sparkles of happiness. We could easily +avoid the sportsman's eye; and when we wanted anything from the lower +regions, the vicinity of the mountains, and the business of the fowler, +accounted for our presence and our wants, and readily gained us a +supply. But the potato crop had failed, and the disease had already +destroyed all the tubers which had approached maturity. This rendered it +necessary to look to other resources, and we contrived to procure bread +and sometimes meat, which we were able to get prepared easily under +pretence of being catering for shooting parties.</p> + +<p>On the first day we made this experiment, we found ourselves descending +into that dreary plain that stretches out to the doomed district of +Skibbereen. Under cover <a name="Page_232" id="Page_232" />of night we sought to penetrate this desolate +region in the remotest direction of the sea, where we hoped we might +remain unnoticed as country bathers. We obtained shelter at a small +farmers, and made a great many inquiries concerning the neighbouring +watering-places, whither we said we were going for the benefit of our +health. There were two young girls, the confidence of one of whom my +comrade contrived to win during the evening. She told him that her +sister had a courtship with the sergeant of police, who usually visited +there every day. This hastened our departure next morning. We set out in +the grey dawn, and once again reascended the mountain, to rest and take +thought. The communication of the young girl; the sister's long delay, +when she went to procure refreshments at the village, where the +police-sergeant was stationed; the father's pursuits, and other +circumstances, induced us to believe that to follow the plan which, to a +certain extent, we had unfolded, would be dangerous. We therefore +determined to change our course. We were then about fifteen miles +south-southwest of Dunmanway. Adhering to our resolution of settling for +a few weeks in some village on the seaside, we purposed to substitute +the Kerry side of Bantry Bay for the district we had at first fixed on. +The distance was about fifty miles, and we had to cross a plain several +miles wide. We swept over this plain with a rapidity that taxed severely +our exhausted energies, and lay down to sleep on the first patch of +heath we gained on the Bantry mountains.</p> + +<p>We bathed our feet in a mountain stream, and having partaken of a slight +meal, resumed our weary journey.<a name="Page_233" id="Page_233" /> Night fell on us in the midst of a +desolate bog on a mountain top. We travelled several miles in search of +shelter, first in cabins and next in haycocks. It was a dark, gloomy and +threatening night. After lying for some time on the roadside, where +alone a dry spot was to be found, I forced Stephens to consent to make a +trial of the town of Bantry, then a mile distant. The darkness and gloom +were favourable to the experiment. We entered the town, and traversed +one or two streets, we knew not in what direction. On inquiring for a +lodging-house, we were directed to the house of Mrs. Barry, who kept a +large grocery establishment. We found accommodation and comfort. Next +day, having made some small purchases through the agency of the servant, +and posted some letters, we deliberately walked out of Bantry, by the +road which seemed to lead the most directly to the country. The day was +miserable, and we found our journey through the mountains, which +overhang the beautiful bay, very unpleasant. We determined to reach a +place called the Priest's Leap, which is consecrated by a holy tradition +in the estimation of the people. They tell that in the times of +persecution a priest was set and sold in these fastnesses. Having +discovered that he was betrayed, he effected his escape through a circle +of enclosing pursuers, which it was deemed impossible to break through; +the country people believed that he floated invisibly through the air, +and alighted on the deck of a Spanish frigate then coasting these +shores.</p> + +<p>An impenetrable fog descended the mountain, and the rain deepened into a +torrent. Moored in the bay were two war-steamers, with screw propellers; +but <a name="Page_234" id="Page_234" />they had all their sails unfurled, and swung uneasily to and fro. +We, who were ignorant of their character, frequently paused to regard +them, utterly unable to account for their extraordinary movements. +Believing them American packets, which had put in through stress of +weather, we would have given worlds even for an opportunity of swimming +to them through the waters of the bay. But the coast was strictly +guarded by police and revenue officers. Notwithstanding this the vessels +had for us an irresistible attraction, and we entered a mountain cabin, +where we learned their real character. A second attempt to reach the +Priest's Leap, of whose exact bearing we were ignorant, involved us in +deeper mist and a heavier shower, from which we took shelter in a +wretched hut, directly over the bay, and within about one mile of an +hotel of great fame, frequented by travellers who are attracted to these +districts to view the magnificent bay and the singular beauty of +Glengarriff. Here we spent the remainder of the day. Eggs and potatoes +were provided for us; and when, as evening approached, we prepared to +depart to the hotel, the woman pressed us to remain, and produced clean +sheets, telling us they would give up their bed, and adding that she +would be satisfied with the fifth of what we should pay in the hotel, +where, she slyly hinted, our reception would be very doubtful in our +then trim. We readily consented to her arrangement; and it was further +agreed that her husband should go to the hotel and provide some bacon, +bread, tea, and whisky.</p> + +<p>We had not, during our wanderings, met two such characters as this man +and woman, nor had we taken <a name="Page_235" id="Page_235" />shelter in so extraordinary an abode. They +had a single child, a girl about four years of age, whose dark eyes and +compressed lip Akkad evidenced the presence of those terrible passions +which had burned deep channels along the brow and cheek of her mother. +The cabin was ten feet square, with no window and no chimney. The floor, +except where the bed was propped in a corner, was composed of a sloping +mountain rock, somewhat polished by human feet and the constant tread of +sheep, which were always shut up with the inmates at night. The fire, +which could be said to burn and smoke, but not to light, consisted of +heath sods, dug fresh from the mountain. A splinter of bog-wood, lurid +through the smoke, supplied us with light for our nightly meal. The tea +was drawn in a broken pot, and drunk from wooden vessels, while the +sheep chewed the cud in calm and happy indifference. They were about +twelve in number, and occupied the whole space of the cabin between the +bed and the fire-place.</p> + +<p>In that singular picture, the figure of the woman stood out bold, +prominent and alone, absorbing, in its originality, every character of +the entire. Neither she nor her husband could be said to wear any dress. +Neither wore shoes or stockings, or any covering whatever on the head; +shreds of flannel, which might once have borne the shape of drawers, a +tattered shirt of unbleached linen, with an old blanket drawn uncouthly +around his waist and shoulders, completed the costume of the man. His +wife's was equally scant and rude, but so arranged as to present the +idea that even in her breast the sense of fitness, the last feeling of +froward womanhood, was not quite extinguished. The squalid <a name="Page_236" id="Page_236" />rags and +matted hair, by a single touch of the hand, a gesture, or a shake of the +head, assumed such shape as she fancied would display to greatest +advantage what remained of a coarse and masculine beauty. The +consciousness that she once possessed such beauty fired at once her +heart and eye. Her foot and ankle, which had been rudely tested by +flinty rocks and many a winter's frost, were faultless; her step was +firm; her form erect and tall; her hair black as ebony; her features +coarse, but regular; her brow lofty, but furrowed and wrinkled; and her +terrible eyes dilated with pride, passion and disdain. Her lip's slight +curl, or a shade of crimson suddenly suffusing her dark complexion, +bespoke her feelings towards her husband. He was her drudge, her slave, +her horror and her convenience. Her ruling idea was a wish to have it +understood that the match was ill-assorted and compelled by necessity; +though the last idea bespoke a youth of shame. The child alone was +dressed, and with some care, as if she wished to assert its claim to a +superior paternity or better destiny. Among the predominant passions +which swayed her, avarice seemed uppermost; and she scowled ominously on +her stupid husband, whose rigid impassable stolidity seemed impervious +to all prospects and chances of pleasure and of gain.</p> + +<p>The rain continued to pour without abatement during the whole night and +until sunset the succeeding day. The next night passed nearly in the +same way as the first, save that I could not rest from a vague sense of +apprehension with which this woman inspired me. Both the people of the +house slept on the hearth-<a name="Page_237" id="Page_237" />stone, without any bed, or, as far as I know, +any covering, save their rags. I had an opportunity of overhearing their +connubial colloquy, which was in Irish, and had reference solely to +conjectures respecting us, our character, our object and our money. It +convinced me that our safety would be compromised by any longer delay. +During the pauses of their conversation, I endeavoured to string +together a rough draft of the stanzas that follow, or a considerable +part of them. I give them here, with the accompanying notes, as they +were published in the <i>People</i> newspaper. In the notes or in the text, +there is nothing I wish to alter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Air: "<i>Gradh mo Chroidhe</i>."</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>The long, long-wished for hour had come,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet came, mo stór, in vain,<br /></span> +<span>And left thee but the wailing hum<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of sorrow and of pain.<br /></span> +<span>My light of life, my lonely love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy portion sure must be,<br /></span> +<span>Man's scorn below, God's wrath above<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>'Twas told of thee, the world around,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Twas hoped from thee by all,<br /></span> +<span>That, with one gallant sunward bound,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou'dst burst long ages thrall.<br /></span> +<span>Thy faith was tried, alas! and those<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who perilled all for thee,<br /></span> +<span>Were cursed, and branded as thy foes;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238" /> +<span>What fate is thine, unhappy isle,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That even the trusted few<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13" /><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a><br /></span> +<span>Should pay thee back with hate and guile,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When most they should be true?<br /></span> +<span>'Twas not <i>thy</i> strength or spirit failed;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And those that bleed for thee,<br /></span> +<span>And love thee truly, have not quailed;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>I've given thee manhood's early prime,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And manhood's waning years;<br /></span> +<span>I've blest thee in thy sunniest time,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And shed with thee my tears;<br /></span> +<span>And mother, though thou'st cast away<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The child who'd die for thee,<br /></span> +<span>My latest accents still shall pray<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>I've tracked for thee the mountain sides,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And slept within the brake,<br /></span> +<span>More lonely than the swan that glides<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O'er Lua's fairy lake.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14" /><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a><br /></span> +<span>The rich have spurned me from their door,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Because I'd set thee free;<br /></span> +<span>Yet do I love thee more and more,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239" /> +<span>I've run the outlaw's brief career,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And borne his load of ill,<br /></span> +<span>His troubled rest, his ceaseless fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With fixed sustaining will;<br /></span> +<span>And should his last dark chance befall,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">E'en that shall welcome be,<br /></span> +<span>In death, I'll love thee, most of all,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I was awakened next morning by a strange voice, with an accent, as I +thought, different from that which we had been accustomed to. Our +immediate conclusion was that we were betrayed. But a short time +convinced us that our visitor had come to warn us that if we remained +many hours where we were, our fate would be sealed. He represented +"Finey" (as our hostess was familiarly called, in derision of her +affected pride) in colours not very flattering to her virtue. He said he +could positively furnish us with the means of escape; described his +resources as unlimited, and his interest in us as paramount to every +consideration he had on earth. He was an ecclesiastical student, and had +left college to take part in the struggle of his country. He <a name="Page_240" id="Page_240" />bitterly +lamented that Dillon and O'Gorman were not in the way, that he might +have the happiness of assisting in saving them also. Agreeably to his +advice, we left our den and proceeded up the mountain. It was Sunday +morning, and there was not a cloud darkening the azure sky. Below us +slept the waters of the bay, reflecting, in their crystal depths, the +superincumbent mountains and overarching sky. The sun rose majestically, +broad, unclouded, full of effulgence, and shed his yellow beams, on a +scene as lovely as ever met his burning eye. The mountains around the +bay form very nearly a complete circle; the numerous peaks, from south +to north, range at an average height of about 500 feet above the water's +level, while a few ascend as high as 1,000. We stood on the loftiest of +all. Immediately below us, a little to the right, embosomed in the +mountains, lay the unmatched beauties of Glengarriff. There are few +spots on earth of wilder attractions. The hills around form a complete +amphitheatre. On an island in the centre of the valley is the cottage of +the noble proprietor, accessible only by one narrow pathway which winds +through hillocks and passes various rivulets on rustic bridges. The +grounds about the cottages are tastefully laid out in shrubberies, +flower-knots, green pastures, and artificial lakes. That which +constitutes the chief feature of beauty in other landscapes, namely, an +extensive prospect, is wanting here. From the cottage, or any part of +the grounds, you can only command a view of the limited demesne, and the +craggy and bleak mountain rising almost perpendicularly from its +outskirts. But the view is unique, and the <a name="Page_241" id="Page_241" />contrast exquisite between +the rich green of the arbutus, amidst clumps of which sparkle the +impeded mountain waters, and the barren hill-sides whose blue summits +seem blended with the skies giving to the scene such an air of calm +serenity and soft repose as to leave the beholder almost without a wish +to look beyond.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-20" /><a id="image20" href="images/image20-big.jpg"><img src="images/image20.jpg" width="690" height="400" alt="Market Day in Thurles, August, 1848" title="Market Day in Thurles, August, 1848" /></a> +<p class="caption">Market Day in Thurles, August, 1848</p> +</div> + +<p>By this time we had learned to lose all consciousness of our own fate in +contemplating lines of beauty such as then marked the outline and +radiated through every minor detail of mountain, ocean, and cosy lawn. +We dwelt on the scene with enraptured eye and heart, and scarcely felt +the time glide by, which was to bring us our promised deliverer. He was +with us at the appointed moment, and only preceded his sisters by about +half an hour. They came, three in number, and toiled up to the summit +under a hot sun, bringing each a basket with abundant and delicate +provisions for a picnic. They were joined soon after by two other +brothers, who kept watch while we enjoyed the delicacies of our meal, +which we finished with some bottles of excellent claret. While we were +thus engaged, Lord Bantry was at the cabin we had left, gnashing his +teeth at the misfortune of missing such a prey. My comrade sang the +newly-composed verses and others of more exquisite melody and far higher +sentiment, within less than half a mile of the frowning and fuming lord. +At four o'clock we took leave of our kind entertainers, the student +promising to use the coming night in efforts to secure our flight, and a +younger brother undertaking to act as our guide across the mountain and +round the base of the Glengarriff ridge of hills to a dark gorge, at the +County Kerry side. This was a most trying <a name="Page_242" id="Page_242" />journey, at least twenty +miles long, over precipitous mountains, and performed, for the most +part, during night. It was necessary that we should not rest until we +travelled far out of range of the locality where our persons had been +known and our retreat discovered. Our young guide left us with friends +or dependents of his family, and returned to be in readiness to +communicate any tidings from his brother. Those tidings came fast on our +footsteps; but the message was to warn us that we were not even there +safe; for that Lord Bantry had all his tenantry engaged in searching for +us. The despatch added that, if able, we were to be at the "Priest's +Leap" at a certain hour in the evening, where we would hear the result +of the efforts made for us. The tone of the letter left us nothing to +hope; still we determined to test the doubtful promise to the last. +Accordingly we set out for the new rendezvous. The distance was very +long unless we crossed through Glengarriff. This we determined to do, +feeling satisfied that the last place we would be looked for would be +his lordship's pleasure-grounds. We paused to examine more minutely the +exquisite serenity of that scene, and learned from a game-keeper several +matters illustrative of our pursuer's character, while his adherents +were tracking our supposed footsteps, over moor and mountain, far away. +Arrived at our destination, we had to wait several hours, during which +we were amused by our guide claiming fraternity with us, on the ground +of being banned by the law, in consequence of a suspicion (a false one, +he averred) of having mistaken another man's sheep for his own. He had +an idea that we, too, must have infringed the law, but in what +<a name="Page_243" id="Page_243" />particular he did not concern himself to inquire. The fact sufficed for +the establishment of a good understanding between us.</p> + +<p>We at last saw our female friends approach. They brought us another +excellent dinner, for which we had a still more excellent appetite. +During the time we dined, they informed us that everything was +proceeding as favourably as we could expect, and that they had no doubt +of success. When taking leave of us, however, one of them pressed a +little note into my hand, and they disappeared in the darkness. I burned +to learn what the note contained. With the assistance of our new friend +we found lodgings in the neighbourhood, where I read that the student +failing in his enterprise, and being afraid to compromise himself +further, left that very night for college. He had to consult a +clergyman, a very near friend of his, and we made no doubt the present +step resulted from his considerate advice.</p> + +<p>This is written here, not for the purpose of disparaging the clergyman's +counsel or the student's resolution. On the contrary, no doubt was then +entertained of the sincerity of either, nor has there ever since been. +There could be no one more disposed to make allowance for the difficult +position in which both were placed, as well as all others who ventured +to serve us: nor could we blame men for shrinking from peril, which at +the best, presented no rational chance for us, while the effort involved +those who made it in almost certain ruin. I had other opportunities of +satisfying myself afterward that this clergyman, who visited us in the +mountains, never relaxed in his exertions to save us.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244" />We found ourselves next morning in an exceedingly romantic valley to +the north of the "Priest's Leap," the property of Lord Lansdowne, where +there are many comfortable farmers' houses, and many others, whose showy +exterior is sadly belied by the filth and discomfort of the inside. We +spent the day with the man of the sheep, who promised to obtain lodgings +for us at a publichouse, where he was refused. But during our stay there +we met a farmer's son, who took us home and travelled with us the whole +of the next day. We proposed to him and his sister to accompany us to +the United States, having for some time entertained seriously a project +of trying our chances to escape as emigrants. He consented to be of the +party, although we fully explained to him the risk of being taken in our +company. He guessed from this that we were engaged in the attempted +outbreak, and being sent in to the town of Kenmare to make some +purchases, he could not conceal so important a secret, but sought out a +friend, a true man, to whom he unburdened himself. We had appointed to +meet him at a place called Cross, about two miles from Kenmare. We were +repairing thither at the appointed hour, and were met, not by our trusty +messenger, but the friend to whom he had revealed his important secret. +This friend, alarmed at our temerity in approaching so near the town, +had come to forewarn us. His advances were met by distrust and menace, +which pained him deeply. He remonstrated and referred to the fact of +coming to meet us alone, when if he meant us injury he could easily +secure us. Satisfied, at length, that his friendship was sincere, we +consented to accompany him to meet <a name="Page_245" id="Page_245" />another friend who had taken a +different road in the direction of the mountain. He was known to us by +character, but that knowledge, with me at least, tended to increase +rather than to allay distrust. I had formed an idea of the man from +reading speeches of his which appeared of an unscrupulously partisan +character. I was very soon disabused, but not however until I +communicated to him my feelings in his regard. The best proof of my +mistake is furnished by the fact that my unnecessary frankness did not +in the least check the enthusiasm with which he was prepared to risk +fortune, liberty and life in our service. Our interview was short. We +dismissed the ambassador who had acquired for us these new allies. They, +or rather he, of whom I have last spoken offered us money which we +declined. In opposition to his remonstrance, we insisted on remaining +for the night at a publichouse in the village of Cross. He, to whom +peril was new, could not understand our "audacity." But we who had +experienced the disadvantages of asking for entertainment in quarters +where such things were unusual, preferred the chance of escaping +unobserved among crowds of persons similar in appearance and, applying +only for ordinary accommodation. In this and many such instances we +determined aright. We obtained a comfortable bed and passed unnoticed. +Next morning we set out for the southern slope of the Killarney +mountains. As soon as we attained a safe elevation, we took a western +direction, skirting those mountains and crossing the road which leads +from Killarney to Kenmare, about five miles from the latter town. We +then kept a westerly direction, and turned round the <a name="Page_246" id="Page_246" />vast bog situated +at the western side of the road. This bog contains several thousand +acres, and seems quite susceptible of reclamation and improvement. We +ascended the steep hill at the north-western boundary where we slept for +an hour or so, and then resumed our journey in the direction of the +Reeks. We purposed ascending the loftiest of these mountains, and not +wishing to take the route by the Gap of Dunloe, we crossed the +intermediate valley and began to ascend the mountain to the north, +believing it to be that which we had determined to climb. After having +toiled to the summit, we discovered in the distance the peak we were in +search of, its wonderful elevation leaving no manner of doubt as to its +identity. Between us and its base lay another broad valley. Before +attempting the ascent, we secured a lodging at the foot, and leaving our +coats behind, we began our task about four o'clock in the evening, +having then travelled upwards of twenty miles and crossed two large +mountains. The southern acclivity is more steep than the northern, and +we lost much by our ignorance of the best routes; but we reached +Carn-Tuathail, far the highest spot in Ireland, about sunset. The view +that presents itself from that peak is of the most extraordinary +character. Stretching out into the sea a distance of thirty miles, is a +jumble of mountains tossed together in the wildest confusion, and +exhibiting no definite outline. At the east, far inland, lay the long +ridge of which Mangerton is the loftiest point. At the north alone could +we discern an extensive view, where a rich and well cultivated valley +extended along Dingle Bay as far as Ballyheige. But the grandeur of the +scene Jay at <a name="Page_247" id="Page_247" />our feet. Beneath us yawned at every side chasms of +seemingly unfathomable depth, whose darkness it was impossible to +penetrate, as the sun was sinking in the Atlantic. It was really a +spectacle full of grandeur and of awe, and we remained enjoying it till +the last ray of the sun ceased to glimmer on the distant waters.</p> + +<p>At that hour, we were well assured, many a brain was busy, and many an +eye set to discover our retreat. By the side of the public +thoroughfares, on great bridges, and frequented cross-roads, detective +vigilance kept sleepless watch, and fancied in every approaching form, +the doomed victims, who were at once to satisfy the angry gallows and +its own excited avarice. Equally well assured were we that the most +inventive and hazardous scrutiny would never track our footsteps to the +dizzy height of Carn-Tuathail. One motive with us was to baffle all +calculation on the part of our pursuers. When we found we were tracked +and discovered, our first care was to consider how our enemies would be +likely to judge respecting our future movements. If we had reason to +suspect that we were recognised on a mountain, we sought shelter in or +near a town, and after we appeared in public places for a day or an +hour, we kept the mountain-side for a week following.</p> + +<p>We had, too, another, and it must needs be confessed, a more powerful +motive. In either alternative which our fate presented, there was no +hope of ever beholding these scenes again, and we could not omit this +last opportunity of minutely examining and enjoying what was grandest +and loveliest in our native land. We resolved, therefore, to leave no +glorious <a name="Page_248" id="Page_248" />spot unvisited, whatever toil it cost, or risk it exposed us +to. Mountains, indeed, never did involve a risk, but the Lakes of +Killarney, which were much frequented at the time, could not be seen +without imminent danger, unless by overcoming great physical +difficulties. After we descended from Carn-Tuathail, we were so utterly +exhausted as to be obliged to lie down in hay, within one field of the +cabin where we were to sleep, from which nothing could tempt us to stir +for the night; but we were assailed by swarms of small flies of the +mosquito species, that stung us to further exertion. Although the owners +of the cabin gave us their only bed, and provided the best supper for +us, we were so persecuted by these flies, that we were forced to quit +our bed before day dawned, and endeavour to shake off our tormentors by +rolling in the dew and shaking our shirts in the wind. We set out early, +finding the place utterly intolerable, owing to these terrible +tormentors, although we had resolved the evening before, to remain a few +days fishing in the lovely lakes collected in the gorges of the reeks. +The day was misty and wet. This, we hoped, would afford us a good +opportunity of seeing the lakes unobserved; for such weather would +necessarily confine the tourists to their hotels. We accordingly +directed our way to the Upper Lake, along ledges of rocks covered with +tall wet grass, wading or swimming through outlets of the lake. We +obtained a tolerable view of the Upper Lake, and minutely examined the +several accesses to it through the wood on the southern side. After +spending most of the fore-noon in this wood, we attempted to cross the +upper neck of the lake for the purpose of skirting the base of<a name="Page_249" id="Page_249" /> +Mangerton and gaining the summit of Turc Mountain, from which are to be +seen the Middle and Lower Lake in their most varied and seductive +loveliness. Few travellers ever see the lakes from this point, because +it is difficult to attain; but I had been there, and knowing its +superiority over every other, I wished to give my comrade a taste of the +exquisite pleasure derivable from a scene of beauty unsurpassed in the +world. There is no spot, in or near Killarney, from which its wonderful +scenery can be seen to such advantage. On the water, at Ross Island, at +Mucross or Glena, the view is confined to the scenery immediately +around, with an occasional glimpse of the nearer mountains, which indeed +may well satisfy the most exacting curiosity and fastidious taste, while +from the summit of Mangerton (the great mountain attraction of +travellers) but miniature forms of beauty present themselves, the great +distance and height contracting the circle of beauty, and depriving +every object of its fulness and natural proportions. From Turc mountain, +on the other hand, you see the lake at your feet—all its islets, curls, +cascades are within ken, entrancing your senses. Standing on that green +hill, it is impossible to divest the mind of the idea, that the scene is +one of pure enchantment.</p> + +<p>But we were destined not to realise it. There was a police-station +immediately on our way. In our first effort to avoid it, we found +ourselves, after much trouble, within one field of the door. We then +made a still wider circuit, keeping, as we thought, far clear of it; but +following a valley which led round a clump of hill, we once more very +nearly stepped into its back <a name="Page_250" id="Page_250" />yard. To avoid similar mistakes we +ventured along the public road direct towards Kenmare; but when we were +clear of the police-barrack, we had to travel several miles of mountain +to gain the intended spot. Our feet were all cut and bleeding, and we +lay down on a rock in our wet clothes, where we slept soundly, and I +suppose sweetly, until near sunset. When we awoke we were obliged, from +the lateness of the hour, to abandon our project.</p> + +<p>During our stay near Killarney, we fondly indulged the last dream for +our country. In the remote regions of the counties of Cork and Kerry, +the people seemed possessed of no political information. They had a +vague notion that an effort was made to free the country from foreign +thrall, and that the patriots and their cause were lost through the +Catholic priests. It was easy to perceive, by the bitterness with which +they cursed, that they—although never reached by a speech of Mr. +O'Connell's, or an article or song of the <i>Nation's</i>—had cherished in +their hearts the same imperishable purpose and hope of overturning the +dominion of the stranger. We calculated on collecting between fifty and +one hundred of the hardiest and most desperate mountaineers, whom we +could easily place in ambush near the lakes, to seize on Lord John +Russell, who was at the time announced as a visitor to Killarney. Once +in our possession, we could have him conveyed to some inaccessible +fastness where we could dictate terms to him concerning our imprisoned +comrades. We had scarcely a doubt of putting our plan into execution, +and our sojourn near Killarney was prolonged for the purpose of becoming +more familiar with the pathways <a name="Page_251" id="Page_251" />whereby to escape to the mountains with +our prisoner. How success in that enterprise might have suggested or +shaped a further course of aggression, it is now bootless to conjecture. +The project was marred by the Premier's abandonment of his intention.</p> + +<p>Having appointed to meet a person this evening, near Kenmare, who was to +bring us the latest papers and otherwise inform us of his lordship's +movements, we proceeded in that direction, determined to return to +Killarney next day to prosecute our examination of the locality. But the +current news informed us that Lord John Russell had left for Scotland.</p> + +<p>We remained several days in the neighbourhood of Kenmare, where we had +daily interviews with the friend to whom I have already alluded. He +spent all his time in endeavouring to devise some means of escape, and +intermediately provided resting-places for us at various distances. We +had the guidance of a young country lad of fine intelligence and true +fidelity, who was acquainted with every foot of bog and mountain for +miles around. We spent several days rather agreeably, perambulating the +ranges of hills between Kilfademore and Templenoe, embracing a district +about fifteen miles square. One night we slept in an empty cabin within +a field of Kilfademore House, a fine old mansion, belonging to the +father of Christabel,<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15" /><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> the mountain poetess, which is now only +inhabited by the tenant of the farm, while the whole available military +and police force of the district were drawing their lines <a name="Page_252" id="Page_252" />of +circumvallation around this old house, which, as soon as they made the +proper dispositions to prevent our escape, they burst into with the +stealth and precipitancy of a robber band.</p> + +<p>We were most kindly received and cared for wherever our friend or his +guide bespoke a night's hospitality. But although we unquestioningly +reposed on the truth of all to whom our safety was committed, we felt +the circle of our armed foes was closing and contracting around us, and +it became indispensable to break through it. It was clear that our steps +were tracked, for every night a search was made for us in one or other +of the houses over which the influence of our friend extended. But our +information respecting their arrangements was always earlier and surer +than theirs concerning our movements. During this interval when, +although we travelled an average of fifteen miles a day, we considered +ourselves resting, we received the kindest attentions everywhere; +frequently finding a rude mountain cabin furnished with excellent beds +and every delicacy. But we pined to be more at large. We had interviews +with clergymen and others, who discussed various projects of escape. +Among the rest, it was proposed to my comrade to accompany a lady—who +was about leaving for London—in the dress and character of a +servant-maid. He was well fitted for such disguise, being extremely +young and having very delicate features. Besides this, he was supposed +to be dead, having received a slight wound in the skirmish at +Ballingarry. He obstinately refused to adopt the disguise, but consented +to that of a servant boy. When the matter was finally arranged, it was +proposed to us <a name="Page_253" id="Page_253" />to sleep at Templenoe, on the north side of Kenmare Bay, +where he was to be furnished with suitable clothes. Since the +commencement, I did not feel the same sense of desolation as when these +arrangements were completed, and an hour was appointed for his departure +next morning. It was on the evening of the 23rd of September. We spent +the day with one of the noblest of fellows. He had beds brought far into +the neighbouring mountains, where he remained with us for the night. A +cloud of sadness, and I believe chagrin, enveloped all my senses. I +could not help feeling myself utterly abandoned. It seemed fated that +even from the most kindly efforts my unfortunate position utterly +excluded me. Stephens sang as usual, and endeavoured to rally me; but my +mind had set in impenetrable gloom. One idea was uppermost with me, +namely, that within the circle that was then drawn around me, there was +no further possible safety. We parted before daylight, and I immediately +determined on my own course. It was this: to assume the disguise of a +clergyman and attempt to cross to France. The trials at Clonmel were +approaching, and I concluded that they would engross the entire +attention of Government, and would even require the presence of the +whole corps of detectives who were acquainted with my person and were +then on my track. I communicated my intention to the friend to whose +hospitality I was then indebted. He combatted it with great earnestness, +and could not be persuaded of its practicability. I, however, +persevered, and he offered to place a horse, upon which he set great +value, at my disposal. Just as we made our final arrangements and had +despatched a <a name="Page_254" id="Page_254" />messenger to Kenmare to provide the disguise, Stephens +returned, wet, weary and hungry. He was in the worst spirits: but the +case admitted of no delay. The lady with whom he was to travel had to +stay one day in Cork, and to overtake her there was the only chance +left. There was only one possible way to effect this—to give him the +horse and let him ride on to Cork. I at once agreed, and he immediately +set off. The loss of the horse imposed on me the difficulty of a journey +on foot to Cork, and this rendered the assistance of a man to carry my +disguise—who would take a different route from myself—indispensable. +Our friend who, in giving his favourite horse to Stephens, told him to +try and sell him in Cork and put the money in his pocket, provided me +with another horse and car, by which my baggage was to be brought about +forty miles. Having settled all preliminaries, he conveyed me to a cabin +on the hills, where he provided an excellent dinner, and left me to my +musings.</p> + +<p>They were, it may be well conceived, not of the gayest character. The +responsibility and hazards of the attempt before me, narrowed the +chances of my destiny to the one alternative, and I could not shake off +gloomy phantoms which represented every phase of the last bloody drama +which was to close the career of those who loved, too dearly, our +ill-fated land. But, come what might, my purpose was definitely fixed. I +spent the evening in the deepest gloom, which I endeavoured to dissipate +by composing the following stanzas, suggested at the time by involuntary +visions of my wife and children at the foot of the gallows:—</p> + +<p><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255" />THE OUTLAW'S WIFE</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>Sadly silent she sits, with her head on her hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">While she prays, in her heart, to the Ruler above,<br /></span> +<span>To protect, and to guide to some happier land,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The joy of her soul and the spouse of her love:<br /></span> +<span>And she marks by her pulses, so wild in their play,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The slow progress of time, as it straggles along;<br /></span> +<span>And she lists to the wind, as 'tis moaning away,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And she deems it the chaunt of some funeral song.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Then anon does she start in her struggles with fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And she strains at the whispers of every one round,<br /></span> +<span>While she brushes away, half indignant, the tear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That will gush, tho' unbidden, at every fresh sound;<br /></span> +<span>And she strives to conceal—oh! how idle the task—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The deep lines in her cheek, and the rent in her heart;<br /></span> +<span>But her neighbours grow pale as they gaze on the mask,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And more lowly and slowly they talk, as they part.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>When her babes are at rest will she breathe to their breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And keep vigil, how wistfully, over their sleep,<br /></span> +<span>As it mirrors, poor mourner, the stillness of death,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And she stirs them, and calls, for she deems it too deep;<br /></span> +<span>But again does she hush them, first telling them pray,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Till at length overcharged by the tears yet unshed,<br /></span> +<span>Will she sink, and as consciousness passes away,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O'er her pale furrowed cheek, see the hectic o'erspread.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Slowly thus, day by day, does the fever-fire trace<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Its incessant course down her fast-withering cheek,<br /></span> +<span>Till the smile that made light in the glow of her face,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But the faint, fading glimpses of vigour bespeak,<br /></span> +<span>And her reason will fitfully pass into night—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Into night even deeper than that of the blind,<br /></span> +<span>As the shade of the gibbet-tree looms in her sight.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And she fancies a death-scream in th' echoing wind.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256" />In the house where I slept—as indeed in every house of the same +character in the county—the whole stock of the family, consisting +chiefly of cows and sheep, were locked in at night. Such was the extreme +poverty of the people that they would not be otherwise safe. The weather +was excessively wet, and, for the season, cold. There was a slight +partition between the room where my bed was and the kitchen, where there +were three cows, a man, his wife and four children. It is impossible to +convey any idea of the sensations which crowd upon one in such a scene. +I fell asleep at last, lulled by the heavy breathing and monotonous +ruminating of the cows. Never was deeper sleep. On being awakened next +morning by my watchful friend, it required some time before I could +satisfy myself of my position. An excellent breakfast was provided for +me, and I parted from my stout-hearted and magnanimous ally. He had sent +my baggage, and also provided me with a guide who would lead me across +the mountains. He taught me the password of his clan, which I was to use +on certain contingencies. The morning was fearfully wet, and we did not +travel many miles before we were wet to the skin. The circumstance was +the most auspicious that could occur, as it enabled us to pass +unobserved.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-21" /><a id="image21" href="images/image21-big.jpg"><img src="images/image21.jpg" width="236" height="400" alt="James Stephens (Circa 1867)" title="James Stephens (Circa 1867)" /></a> +<p class="caption">James Stephens (Circa 1867)</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-22" /><a id="image22" href="images/image22-big.jpg"><img src="images/image22.jpg" width="233" height="400" alt="John O'Mahony (Circa 1868)" title="John O'Mahony (Circa 1868)" /></a> +<p class="caption">John O'Mahony (Circa 1868)</p> +</div> + +<p>Besides this, it facilitated the task of crossing streams, which we +always did precisely as if they were dry land. One river only opposed a +serious barrier to us—that, which enters Kenmare Bay. It was greatly +swollen, and rushed fiercely over precipitous rocks. At the same time, +even in the rain and tempest, to cross the bridge was not to be thought +of. The guide pointed <a name="Page_257" id="Page_257" />out a house belonging to one of our friend's +clan who immediately provided a horse and accompanied us to a ford. When +we reached the ford he hesitated to cross, so deep and rapid was the +flood. No persuasion could induce him to make the experiment. I had no +choice left but to trust myself to chance. I faced the animal against +the current, and forcing him to make his best efforts to mount the +stream, we were carried directly across. The owner of the horse said he +would come back of his own accord. I turned him into the stream, and +when half way across, he was borne headlong over a precipice, where I +concluded he was dashed to pieces. Another horse was immediately +procured, by a man who had no fears, to bring the guide across; but the +latter was so terrified that he made himself drunk ere he attempted the +dangerous passage. As he was essential to me in consequence of the +arrangements made about my luggage, I endeavoured to rouse him. He +staggered on for several miles, but seemed utterly unconscious where he +was going. When I found him incapable of directing me, I endeavoured to +procure some food for him, and with that view proceeded to a mountain +hut, but before I reached it, he sank down utterly exhausted and +powerless. He was unable even to articulate the name of the man to whose +house he was directed to take me, or the locality where he lived. It was +only from circumstances and a dim recollection of the name that I was +able to apprise the owner of the cabin whither I was bound; and after +all, much remained for the exercise of his sagacity, which was not long +at fault. We brought my old guide to the cabin, thrown across a pony, +and I set out anew, guided by <a name="Page_258" id="Page_258" />the dweller on the hills. He forced me to +mount the pony, and led the way over the crags. He bounded from rock to +rock with the agility of a deer, though the stones were sharp as flint, +and he barefooted. He was a man of powerful proportions and extreme +activity. My pony, on the other hand, crept his way through narrow +pathways, worn by the rain. In this way we crossed two considerable +mountains, and, leaving the pony at the summit of the last, I pursued my +companion's flight down the slope with the best speed my stiffened limbs +could be forced to. Arriving over a valley which is called, I think, +Branlieu, situated in a western direction from Gougane Barra, he pointed +to a lone house at the extremity of the valley, as my destination. It +was about four o'clock, but the rays of the sun had ceased to irradiate +this gloomy valley, over which hung the shades of night. At the western +side the mountain was steep as a wall, and down from the summit dashed +headlong torrents, swelled by the morning's rain. The waters gleamed +like sheeted ice through the haze, and their roar fell upon the ear with +a dull sense of loneliness and pain. On the eastern slope wound a new +road, one of those heartless experiments which the inventive genius of +the Board of Works in Ireland substituted for the exploded trial of +prolonging beggars' lives by Soyer soup and chained spoons. On these +roads the people were to perform the greatest possible amount of work, +and live on the least possible quantity of food. But, although these +operations cost much waste of blood, the roads opened no new and +fruitful sources of industry in these mountain valleys, only frequented +by the footsteps of the <a name="Page_259" id="Page_259" />sportsman, or scanned by the eye of the +votaries of pleasure. The house where I called was intended for my +guide. However, I found my claim for hospitality at once recognised on +pronouncing the password of my host by the sea. The cabin—it was +literally such—was in the most filthy state. The dung of the cattle had +not been removed for days, and half-naked children squatted in it as +joyously as if they rolled on richest carpets. The housewife merely +replied to my question in the affirmative. But she immediately +proceeded, with the help of two little girls, to remove the filth. I was +so fatigued and hungry that I could willingly postpone the process of +cleaning for the sake of providing any sort of food. I was doomed to +disappointment. No appearance of supper interrupted the busy operation, +until the dung was removed, and the floor drained. I retired, and +endeavoured to ascend the eastern hill, to a point where I could catch a +glimpse of the setting sun.</p> + +<p>On my return I found the owner of the house, a man of giant frame and +noble features. His dress bespoke a taste or pursuit incompatible with +the wild mountain destiny stamped upon the external aspect of his home +and family. His wife spoke a few words in Irish, explaining my presence, +to which he answered that I was welcome. Supper was at length prepared, +when he drew from a basket a few of the finest trout I ever saw. He +cleaned and fried them with his own hands, as if the operation were +above the capacity of his wife, who performed the other culinary duties +with silent assiduity. It might be owing to hunger, it might be owing to +the actual superiority of the fish, or it might <a name="Page_260" id="Page_260" />be owing to the mode of +cooking, but it seemed to me as if I never tasted anything of equal +flavour to those trout. The entertainment was ended with some boiled new +milk, slightly curdled, a delicacy little known in the circle of +fashion, but never surpassed either in that or any other. Some fresh hay +was procured and strewn on an article of furniture common in the houses +of the Kerry peasantry, called a "settle." It is a sort of a rude sofa, +made of common deal timber. On this "settle" my host prepared my bed of +new-mown hay, barricaded with old chairs and a table against the +assaults of the hungry animals. I had not long lain down when a man +entered (the door consisted of a pair of tongs, so placed as to prevent +the egress of the cattle), lay at full length on the table, and fell +fast asleep. In an hour or so afterwards, there came another, who groped +his way over the cattle, and, sweeping the fire from the hearth, lay +down to sleep in peace. This man slept uneasily, and groaned heavily, as +if some terrible sense of guilt or fear pressed against his heart.</p> + +<p>I had a vague feeling of uneasiness, not free from alarm, but the hearty +snoring of the one, and the fitful complaints of the other of my +bedfellows died away on my ear, and I, too, shared their unconsciousness +in deep sleep. The man who brought my baggage arrived early next +morning. My host soon provided a good substantial breakfast—excellent +new potatoes, which had escaped the blight, butter, new milk, and a +slice of the flesh of fried badger. He then proposed to accompany us +with his son, aged about thirteen, who by some <a name="Page_261" id="Page_261" />inexplicable privilege +seemed exempt from any portion of the drudgery which was the lot of the +family. The other man who brought the baggage was persuaded to leave his +horse and car, and accompany us with my bundle, as far as the summit of +the hill. To climb the steepest mountain side had become an amusement to +me, and we ascended the one then before us, merrily, our host relating +many anecdotes of sportsmanship, and detailing the startling incidents +and wild rapture of badger-hunting. From the summit we commanded a view +of the country for miles around. "Here we are," said our host, "higher +than the proudest of your enemies." He then traced the route of the man +with the bundle, through the open plain, and by the nearest way; and +turning to me, he said: "You must not go in the same direction, for +every yard of it is set. Follow my son," he said, and turning to the +boy, he named several points in the path whereby he should conduct me. +"Lead Mr. Doheny safely," he concluded, "and remember you are the son of +----." In utter astonishment I inquired how he knew me, and he answered +by waving his hand in the direction of the boy, who had bounded off and +was scarcely perceptible above the tall heath. I soon overtook him, and +as we went along, I learned that my two companions during the night were +also evading the law's pursuit. One of them he described as having +killed a man by accident, and ever after leading, the life of a "poor +wild goose." I made no doubt but this was he whose spirit seemed so +heavily laden. We had a couple of terriers of the truest breed, whose +sudden discovery of a badger interrupted our conversation and impeded +our journey.<a name="Page_262" id="Page_262" /> The young hunter became delirious with joy. His +encouraging cries to the dogs were broken outbursts of wildest rapture; +and when the game took shelter in his inaccessible den, he would dash +himself against the rocks with the same reckless vehemence as his dogs, +who, in their rage, attempted to bite away the hard mountain stones.</p> + +<p>He left the spot with the utmost reluctance, after venting an oath of +vengeance against the head of the poor badger, to which he promised sure +destruction on the occasion of their next meeting. We quickly descended +in the direction of Gougane Barra, where he parted from me, indignantly +refusing a half-crown which I offered him.</p> + +<p>Once more I found myself on the slopes of Shehigh, in sight of Lough +Lua. My immediate object was to place myself in communication with my +lady friend at Dunmanway. I was extremely anxious to see her. I wanted +to procure through her some things to complete my costume as a disguised +priest, and finally I expected to learn through her some news of my +family. With the view of seeing her in the safest retreat, I determined +to conceal myself in a wood belonging to a Mr. O'Leary, at a place +called Coolmountain. I endeavoured to gain the friendship of a man in +the neighbourhood, of whom I had learned the highest character for +probity. It was necessary to confide in him fully; for his fidelity to +his employer might induce him to betray me, if he suspected that my +flight was occasioned by moral guilt. He did not disappoint me. At once +he entered into all my plans, and immediately sent his wife with a +message to Dunmanway. The distance was about <a name="Page_263" id="Page_263" />six miles; and the utmost +caution was necessary, for the police authorities, baffled in all their +calculations, concerning my retreat, and deceived in every word of the +information they were able to purchase, had determined on making +simultaneous searches in all quarters of the country, so that scarcely a +house remained in this vicinity that had not the honour of a domicilary +visit. My friend, too, who during the past three weeks had made various +attempts to see me, and had gone on to Kenmare for that purpose, was +continually dogged, and arrested three or four times. On one occasion +they stripped her nearly naked, searching for papers. She at once saw +that to see me would be attended with danger; but she wrote a hurried +note, and despatched it by another messenger, as well as a large packet +of letters from home. In these letters I was adjured to continue the +disguise of a peasant in whatever attempts I made. She, too, strongly +objected to my proposed plan, and communicated to me a project of +escaping which was suggested by a friend of hers at Cork, whither she +had gone in her anxiety. His plan was that I should proceed to Cork, +that very night, and take up my residence at some obscure lodging-house, +until he could find means of stowing me in a coal vessel, which would +take me as far as Wales. If I agreed to this proposal, I was to be at +Crookstown (already mentioned in this narrative) at six o'clock that +evening, where I would meet three men who were to conduct me by a safe +route to Cork.</p> + +<p>When I received this information, it was four o'clock, and the distance +to Crookstown was at least seventeen miles. The plan was one of which I +could not approve; <a name="Page_264" id="Page_264" />but it would be invaluable to me to have a safe +asylum in Cork, for any project I might finally decide on. I accordingly +communicated to my man of confidence the difficulty I found myself in, +and requested he would procure a horse and car which I could drive along +the high road, hoping to reach Crookstown before the promised guide +would have left. He suggested the man at whose house I stopped on a +former evening. Thither both of us repaired, after having completed my +costume, such as is generally worn by the lowest Cork +peasants—literally rags. We got the horse and car, but before the +arrangements for our departure were made it was past the hour when I +should be at Crookstown. A servant boy who led the horse was my +companion. When we arrived at Crookstown it was eleven o'clock, and we +found no trace of the messengers. Nothing remained but to try and get on +to Cork. I proposed the journey to the boy; but he resolutely refused. I +affected to acquiesce, and asked him to drink something in a +publichouse, which was kept open for the accommodation of carriers, of +whom there are large numbers at that season of the year. He soon yielded +to the influence of milk punch, and allowed me to do as I pleased. We +proceeded along the great thoroughfare, having an empty butter cask in +the car. We passed several patrolling parties in the road, and at grey +dawn we were entering the city of Cork; the boy sleeping in the car, and +the horse led by me. I paid at the custom-gate for my butter, and passed +on through the city unnoticed. A few gentle taps brought the gentleman, +who undertook to have me conveyed out of the country, to the door. I +introduced myself; <a name="Page_265" id="Page_265" />was admitted, and conducted to a bedroom, where +everything was prepared for my reception. Thus I found myself in the +very heart of the city of Cork, while the strictest search was made for +me in every cabin on the mountains of Kerry and the western shore.</p> + +<p>I felt quite secure in my then retreat. During the day I learned that +the men who were to conduct me safely to Cork were arrested <ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: sic."> +three several</ins> times on their way back.</p> + +<p>In my sojourn for two days and nights in the woods of Coolmountain, I +received attentions for which it would be shameful not to express my +gratitude. Although the crisis of my fate was so near at hand, I felt +some hours of unalloyed pleasure in its shade. I had leisure to peruse +my letters from home, so full of courage, hope and love; and to consider +well the different proposals and means of escape, suggested by others +and contemplated by myself. The weather had cleared up and there was a +succession of brilliant harvest days. I employed my evenings in +composing the following two pieces; and after nightfall I was visited by +some friends, with whom I sipped delicious champagne, till a late hour, +'neath the calm watchfulness of a brilliant harvest moon.</p> + +<p>EIBLIN A RUIN</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>I sang thee other lays,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>But these were happy days,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>When mount and vale and grove,<br /></span> +<span>Where we were wont to rove,<br /></span> +<span>Were beautified by love,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266" /> +<span>I said I loved thee well,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>Too fondly far to tell,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>I loved thee as the day,<br /></span> +<span>Serener for the ray,<br /></span> +<span>Thy smile shed o'er my way,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>But day has turned to night,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>With clouds and gloom and blight,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>Yet here an outlaw lone,<br /></span> +<span>My heart else, like a stone,<br /></span> +<span>Is more and more thy own,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>When in some rocky glen,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>I share the wild dog's den,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>Oppressed with woe and care,<br /></span> +<span>As sleep comes o'er me there,<br /></span> +<span>Methinks I hear thy prayer,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Throughout that troubled rest,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin<br /></span> +<span>Thy image fills my breast,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>And ere the vision's fled,<br /></span> +<span>My cold and flinty bed<br /></span> +<span>Seems down unto my head,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267" /> +<span>As night's dark shadow flies,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>Along the opening skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>In the soft purpling ray,<br /></span> +<span>That heralds early day,<br /></span> +<span>I see thy fond smile play,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>When, dangers thick'ning fast,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>My fate seemed sealed at last,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>A low voice ever near,<br /></span> +<span>Still whispers in mine ear—<br /></span> +<span>"For her sake do not fear"—<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And oh, 'tis that lone hope,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>That nerves this heart to cope,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>With peril and with pain,<br /></span> +<span>And surging of the brain,<br /></span> +<span>More boisterous than the main,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>TO MY WIFE</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>And what was the world to me, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or why should its honours divide<br /></span> +<span>The feelings that centred in thee, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As fondly you clung to my side;<br /></span> +<span>Or why should ambition or glory,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">E'er tempt me to wander so far,<br /></span> +<span>For sake of distinction in story,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From thee, my heart's faithfulest star.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268" /> +<span>Or why should I call thee mine own, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To sport with the life that was thine,<br /></span> +<span>Or risk for a land overthrown, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A stake that no longer was mine;<br /></span> +<span>Or why should I pledge for the fallen<br /></span> +<span class="i2">What only belonged to the free;<br /></span> +<span>For had I not gauged life and all on<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The faith that was plighted to thee?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And here, while I wander alone, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Beneath the cold shadows of night,<br /></span> +<span>Or lie with my head on a stone, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Awaiting the dawning of light,<br /></span> +<span>My spirit unthralled is returning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where far from the coward and slave,<br /></span> +<span>Her beacon of love is still burning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To light, to direct me and save.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And she, too, who watches beside thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And loves as none other could love,<br /></span> +<span>To counsel, to cherish and guide thee.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To weep with, but never reprove—<br /></span> +<span>Yes, she too, is lone and unguarded,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The reed she had leant on in twain,<br /></span> +<span>And though her trust thus be rewarded,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She'd love that love over again.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>COOLMOUNTAIN WOOD.</p> + +<p>At Cork two families were compromised by my prolonged stay, one of them +irretrievably, if I were arrested. However, they placed themselves +entirely and unconditionally at my disposal. I stated my objections to +the proposed conveyance of a coal boat to Wales, where I would be +equally exposed as in Ireland, and have infinitely less sympathy or +assistance. I suggested one of the London steamers instead, which they +agreed to. After some preliminary negotiations, <a name="Page_269" id="Page_269" />a person connected with +one of those vessels promised to secrete me and have me landed at +Southampton, where I could easily procure a passage to France. Just as +this arrangement was concluded, news arrived that Tipperary was again in +arms, under the command of my friend, O'Mahony. The report added that I +was associated with him in command. Hour after hour brought some story +stranger than that which preceded it; but in each and all I found myself +figuring in some character or other, all, of course, contrary to the +truth. This fact led at once to a suspicion of the accuracy of the +whole. But I was aware that caution was a leading characteristic of +O'Mahony's genius, and I felt assured he would not attempt any open +movement without strong probabilities of success. The fabrications about +myself I reconciled to the belief that he wished it to appear he had my +sanction and support. The vessel was to sail next day, and I should +determine at once, or risk the safety of the family who protected me. I +endeavoured to find a middle course, and suggested the impossibility of +leaving the country while even a vague report confirmed the belief that +some at least of its people were prepared to vindicate her liberty, or +die nobly in its assertion. They acquiesced, and the vessel was allowed +to sail. I insisted, however, that after nightfall I should leave the +house and take up my quarters in some obscure lodging house. Meantime it +was arranged that if the next mail confirmed the accounts from +Tipperary, I should be provided with a horse and car, and be able to +leave Cork as I entered it. When night came, the lady of the house +sternly and resolutely opposed my leaving it.<a name="Page_270" id="Page_270" /> She would not consent to +free herself from a risk she took so much honest pleasure in +encountering. Another day and night left us in the same uncertainty. The +reports were still more unsatisfactory and contradictory. But that there +should be reports at all, satisfied my mind, and I finally prepared to +start for Tipperary on the morning of the 29th of September.</p> + +<p>Information at length reached me that the party under O'Mahony were +dispersed and himself fled. The difficulty of my position, with respect +to my protectors, left me no alternative. Any chance that presented +itself should be embraced. The Bristol boat was in the river, panting to +escape her anchorage; and following the horse, which was to bear me to +Tipperary, to the quay, I walked on board the <i>Juverna</i>, just as she was +loosing her cables. My baggage, made up in a small box, was put on board +as a parcel addressed to a young friend of mine in London. The few +moments that intervened were fraught with most intense suspense. I stood +on the fore deck among cattle, covered with rags and dirt, my eyes fixed +on two detectives who stood at the cabin entrance, scrutinising narrowly +the figure and features of every cabin passenger. The bell rang, the +detectives stepped on shore, one of my friends who watched my movements +from a distance, waved a kind adieu, the <i>Juverna</i> slipped her cables, +and by one bound was out in the river. The first motion of her paddles +sounded to me like the assurance of fate, and I looked on the curling +foam with measureless exultation. The <i>Juverna</i> made a momentary halt at +Passage, and then glanced gaily through Cove harbour out into the sea. +As she cleared the road I turned <a name="Page_271" id="Page_271" />back to look for the last time upon my +fatherland. Her prospects, her promise, her strength, her hopes, her +failure and her fall rushed in burning memory through my brain. I +endeavoured to embody in the following verses the feelings that agitated +and almost paralysed my every faculty of body and mind. I wrote them on +a piece of paper that had been wrapped round some cheese:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>Away, away, the good ship swings;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One heave, one bound, and off she's dashing,<br /></span> +<span>Expanding wide her snowy wings,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The white foam round her paddles flashing.<br /></span> +<span>Away, away, the land recedes,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Far into dim and dreary distance,<br /></span> +<span>As gallantly our packet speeds.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Unconscious of the gale's resistance.<br /></span> +<span>Away, away, how oft before,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With paling cheek and aching stomach,<br /></span> +<span>I've trembled at the billow's roar.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And crouched me in my narrow hammock.<br /></span> +<span>But now, I bless the wildest waves<br /></span> +<span>That bear me from a land of slaves.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Away, away, yon crimson cloud,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which, mounting the blue vault of Heaven,<br /></span> +<span>Soars calmly o'er the murky shroud<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That palls the close of boisterous even,<br /></span> +<span>Is scarcely fairer than the form,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The light, the grace, from stem to stern—a<br /></span> +<span>Fairy riding on the storm—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of the fleet, trusty, dight <i>Juverna</i>,<br /></span> +<span>Away, away, one last look more:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One blessing on the naked land—<br /></span> +<span>Though the too glorious dream be o'er—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One blessing for her truthful hand,<br /></span> +<span>Her proud old faith, though darkly grown,<br /></span> +<span>Still lingering by each cold hearth-stone.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272" /> +<span>Away, away; poor fool of fate,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Couldst thou but dream this mournful end,<br /></span> +<span>This midnight of a hope so great,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where shame and sorrow darkly blend—<br /></span> +<span>Couldst thou divine that thus bedecked,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With rags and dirt, thine eyes downturned:<br /></span> +<span>Thou'dst flee, thy whole life's labour wrecked.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy very heart within thee burned.<br /></span> +<span>—Away, away, in all the past,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">There's not an act I would recall,<br /></span> +<span>I bow me to the o'erwhelming blast,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But 'tis the heart alone can fall,<br /></span> +<span>And mine may once again defy.<br /></span> +<span>The fate that mocks it scoffingly.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Away, away, if o'er the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My voice could reach the prison grate.<br /></span> +<span>Where daylight creeping gloomily,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Comes to deride the captives' fate;<br /></span> +<span>Could I but prove by word or act,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How firm my heart and purpose still,<br /></span> +<span>Their life's worst pang to counteract,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Before their proud young hearts were still—<br /></span> +<span>To live but that the land they loved<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Should yet assert its native right,<br /></span> +<span>That the immortal faith they proved,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Should yet be robed in victory's light,<br /></span> +<span>And, oh, to feel such promise high,<br /></span> +<span>Were last to light their dying eye.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>If apology were to be offered for the change of measure of the above, +and its somewhat conflicting sentiments, it would be found in the tumult +of passions, excitement, fear, hope, rage, disappointment and regret +with which, standing among cattle on the deck, and disguised in meanest +rags, I looked upon my country's shores for, it may be the last time, +and thought of her <a name="Page_273" id="Page_273" />hopes, her misery and fall. Both faults may be +amended here, but I cannot help regarding it as irreligious toward +thoughts suggested by the circumstances then around me to remodel even +the structure into which they spontaneously shaped themselves.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-23" /><a id="image23" href="images/image23-big.jpg"><img src="images/image23.jpg" width="400" height="324" alt="Aheny Hill, showing the Constabulary Barrack destroyed by +the Insurgents. 1848" title="" /></a> +<p class="caption">Aheny Hill, showing the Constabulary Barrack destroyed by +the Insurgents. 1848</p> +</div> + +<p>Night soon fell drearily upon the water. I engaged a berth from one of +the sailors, and before half an hour, lost all consciousness of country +and friends, of wind and tide, and hope, and shame, and peril, in +tranquil repose. On ascending next morning, the shores of England were +in view, and we sailed up the channel to the mouth of the Avon under a +calm and mellow sky. I had some breakfast with one of the cowherds. We +were delayed several hours waiting for the tide, which were spent for +the most part in making difficult evolutions; and exhibiting to the +cabin passengers the peculiar qualities of the <i>Juverna</i>. Night had +fallen before we reached Bristol, and I slipped away from the boat, amid +the confusion and bustle which checked the progress of the gay and rich, +around whose footsteps avarice had gathered an eager and jostling crowd. +Rude contact with, and unsavoury odours from, the unclean multitude +shocked their nervous sensibility, as they made their way to their +hotels amidst obtrusive obsequiousness, while the lone outlaw's pathway +lay free through the open street and uncontaminated air. But a wretched +exterior has its disadvantages also. I dared not present myself at a +hotel, and many of the humbler hostelries refused me admittance, +believing, no doubt, either that the seeds of pestilence were in my +rags, or not a copper in my pocket. Indeed, to no brain but that of a +very imaginative genius would the <a name="Page_274" id="Page_274" />possibility of such a superfluity as +a pocket suggest itself. All the beds were "full." At last I thought me +of an expedient. I called for a glass of ale, for which payment in +advance was duly demanded. I handed a sovereign, which at once emptied a +bed, provided I slept in a room with another person which I refused, +feeling that I had acquired a footing. I had something to eat, and +finally found that there was a vacant room.</p> + +<p>The next day was Sunday. No trains travelled to London except third +class. This was rather unlucky, for I was aware that certain straitened +gentlemen were often obliged, by stress of circumstances—the pressure +of business which brooked not a moment's delay—reluctantly to avail +themselves of this mode of conveyance. I felt, too, that the loyalty of +these slender aristocrats, was on a par with the unhappy incidents which +compelled them to consort with vulgar people, that is to say, so +constrained, that however much against the impulses of their generous +natures, they could not omit any opportunity of manifesting the +sentiment in its full intensity, I selected my company on this occasion, +being only anxious to exclude the "<i>arbiters elegantiarum</i>," Of my +"<i>compagnons de voyage</i>," some were in gin, some in fumes and some in +glee, and the journey passed off without an incident.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the Paddington terminus, an unlooked-for difficulty +presented itself. My costume attracted universal attention. It was, in +fact, <i>outre</i> even in comparison with the most outlandish; for every +article had been carefully selected for its singularity. My "caubeen" +especially excited the risibility of the merry boys who thronged the +streets. I was soon <a name="Page_275" id="Page_275" />followed by an uproarious crowd of most +incorrigible young rascals, who made lunges at my unfortunate head-gear. +They peered at me round lamp-posts, and occasionally, "Teigue," and +"Phelim," pronounced in a broad English accent, grated on my ear. +Although not indisposed to be merry, I grasped one of my tormentors and +handed him over to a policeman. The sentinel of city morals dismissed +him with a harsh rebuke, and threatened to "haul up" whoever gave me +further annoyance. We were then near Oxford street. I told him I wanted +to go to Tottenham Court road; but after making several fruitless +attempts to pronounce the name, his own fertile genius had to supply my +deficiency. He walked with me until the last unruly boy had disappeared, +and then he sent me on my way rejoicing, after having spent some minutes +in teaching me to articulate distinctly "Tottenham Court Road." It was +already nightfall. I felt as if all danger were passed. I could not +anticipate the check I was about to receive.</p> + +<p>I knew a man named Parker, who resided in Museum Street. I thought his +house that to which I could easiest find access without exciting notice. +I made my way to it unobserved, rapped, and to my great relief the door +was opened by the man himself. He did not recognise me for some time, +but as soon as he did, he fell into a paroxysm half hysterical, half +frantic. I had completed his ruin, he exclaimed, and his unhappy family +would have to curse me as the cause of his destruction. He was ready to +sink on the floor in sheer terror, and with difficulty could he utter a +request that I should instantly leave his house. This <a name="Page_276" id="Page_276" />was a command, +however harsh and heartless, which I dared not resist, for I was forced +to admit to myself that under his terrified exterior might lurk a +sentiment baser than fear.</p> + +<p>I left the place in utter dismay. I could not venture into a house such +as I had lodged in at Bristol, the night before, because my person was +well known in London, and because those places are frequented by +characters of all sorts. I could not venture, in my then guise, to the +house of my young friend to whom I had addressed the parcel, because my +appearance there would inevitably attract the notice of the policeman. I +dare not, of course, venture to a respectable hotel. Thus perplexed, I +bethought of a woman with whom I used formerly to lodge, and I repaired +to her rooms (she had herself become a lodger). I met her on the stairs, +where she nearly fainted. She hurried me into the street, and there told +me that a person who lived in the house was actually watching to betray +me. She suggested the house of an Irishwoman who lived in a court hard +by. I had no alternative. The poor woman received me with tears. Such +was her emotion that I could not hesitate to trust her with my life: Her +son and daughter-in-law, who spent the day with her, were about +returning home. They lived in the suburbs, at the Surrey side. They +proposed to take me to their cottage, and I readily consented. We got a +coach and drove home. The kindliest attentions were lavished on me by +these people. As soon as I arrived, I shaved and cleansed myself; no +small task, considering that I had on a fortnight's beard, and had +rubbed my face over with soot and grease.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277" />I had a shirt and clothes from my host, with whom, in my new trim, I +sat down to a comfortable supper. Early next morning he informed my +friend of my arrival, and I was at once surrounded by several who would +risk their lives for my safety. I had by this time begun to regard many +singular escapes of mine as preordained by Providence, and I ceased to +feel much concern in my fate. I cherished a presentiment of safety until +it grew into a conviction, and acting on its assurance, I gave way to an +unconcern that was quite inexplicable to those around me. But one +feeling of fear lingered with me: it was lest Parker should add treason +to cowardice, which certain ominous expressions that were said to fall +from him, confirmed. I otherwise felt so secure, and so thankful to my +entertainers, that I would gratify their wishes to remain a day or two +longer with them; but the tide answered so well—the whole journey to +Boulogne being by night, that I determined to avail myself of the +opportunity. I donned my clerical costume, got me a sleek wig, folded a +stole round my breviary, and with Christian patience awaited the hour of +departure. I was to be accompanied to Paris by my young friend, who +spoke the French language perfectly, and was well acquainted with the +etiquette of the journey. We entered the express train at London Bridge +at half-past eight. When it was just starting, my host, who had +accompanied us, clung to the panel of the door, and warned me, with +provoking warmth, to "write, write, as soon as I was safe." As the train +drove off and his boisterous adieus died on my ear, I lost the last +feeling of anxiety on my own account. The carriage was full—a German +with <a name="Page_278" id="Page_278" />a toothache—two gossiping old bachelors—a jolly English resident +of the sunny south—my friend and myself occupied the six seats. However +fluttered may be the hearts of the passengers, whatever may be the +pressure of guilt, or fear, or remorse upon their souls, the heart of +the mighty engine, on its fiery course, throbs only with one passion, +namely how to outspeed the flight of time. Our fellow-travellers +conversed upon all subjects, and wished for my opinion upon each; but I +was so reserved and pious, and my friend so ready and witty, and +exuberant in his gaiety, that my obstinate silence was pardoned or +forgotten. We were able to make our way on board Her Majesty's mail +packet by the light of a clouded moon, then fast waning. I did not +trouble myself to learn the name of the boat, but she appeared endued +with more than the speed of fire. She flew over her allotted trip in one +hour and three-quarters, and about two o'clock I set my foot on the free +soil of the young Republic.</p> + +<p>I had longed for such an event with an intensity of feeling not to be +described; nay, I had often enjoyed anticipated exultation from +indulging in a vague dream of its bare possibility, which absorbed all +the gloom and horror of my situation. Yet when I stepped securely on +what, to me, was hallowed ground, an adequate appreciation of the +circumstance was far from realised in my feelings. New sights and sounds +began to share my thoughts and engross my comprehension. In a moment the +past vanished, with all its disquietude and alarm; and I entered on the +new scene with a taste akin to the appetite of a convalescent. If I felt +any deep emotion, it was only when my mind <a name="Page_279" id="Page_279" />recurred to the fate of my +comrades, or the feelings of joy with which my family would learn the +tidings of my safety. We left our baggage at the Custom house—mine +consisted of a pair of boots stowed away in a rather capacious +valise—handed the keys, in due form, to the commissionaire of police, +and directed them to be sent after us to our hotel. A commissionaire, so +they call themselves, appeared in the morning with the keys, which he +handed us bowing, adding that all was right.</p> + +<p>There was a fete at Boulogne. Nothing was to be seen but glittering +bayonets, and nothing to be heard but the harsh monotonous sound of the +drum. Flags floated in the breeze, and cheers echoed from the distant +hills, and everything proclaimed the festivity of liberty. It was a +grand sight, and yet a sad one for me. I could not help contrasting with +the scene before me the fate of my own unfortunate country. At ten +o'clock we were on our way to Paris.</p> + +<p>Such was the anxiety with which I gazed on the glad face of that sunny +land during the entire of the journey that I could at this moment +recognise every object that attracted my attention. But the scope of +this narrative, now drawing rapidly to a close, does not embrace a +description of France or Paris. Many pens have plied the task, and were +mine more adequate than any, it were unfit to interweave so bright a +theme with the gloomy details of this mournful history.</p> + +<p>There remains to be told but one incident. On our arrival at the Paris +terminus, we got into an English omnibus which brought us to an English +hotel—the Hotel de Louvre in the Rue St. Thomas. There we dined +together, some dozen or so of the passengers.<a name="Page_280" id="Page_280" /> After dinner my friend +and I had champagne. While discussing its merits the conversation turned +on Ireland. Opinions, of course, varied. Mine, it need scarcely be +added, to an Englishman's ear sounded bloodily, and I urged them with +the vehemence of baffled hope. An old English gentleman of that quiet +school which affects liberality and moderation, but entertains deepest +animosity, deprecated the violence of my language and sentiments, and +expressed his painful astonishment at hearing such opinions from the +mouth of a clergyman; "They would not be unbecoming," added he, with +great bitterness of tone, "in that sanguinary brigand, Doheny." +Involuntarily and simultaneously my friend and myself burst into an +immoderate fit of laughter, The gentleman could not at all comprehend +our mirth. He had, he thought, delivered himself of very sound and very +gentlemanly philosophy, and he was really shocked to find it had made an +impression so different from what he had expected. He had travelled +much, he said, and met men of many lands, of whom Irishmen were ever the +most polite and best bred gentlemen; a fact which rendered our laughing +in his face rather inexplicable. The conversation was again resumed and +again waxed warm. I expressed my opinion of English paupers in Ireland, +and said they ought to be transported in a convict ship back to +Liverpool, in the same fashion as Irish paupers of a different class are +transmitted to Dublin by the Liverpool guardians. To this he replied by +saying that there would be no peace in Ireland until the Mitchels and +Dohenys were hanged, a fate which the latter was hastening to with +irresistible impetus. At this self-satisfied prophecy we laughed <a name="Page_281" id="Page_281" />louder +than before, whereupon he waxed wrathful, and repeating his experience +of the world in general, and of Irishmen in particular, demanded an +explanation of the laugh. I said, "That is a straightforward question, +and demands a direct answer. It shall be given, although you have +refused to answer, as all Englishmen of your class invariably do, to +several direct questions which I have put to you. I laughed because I am +that same sanguinary Doheny": and pulling off my wig, I added, "Me +<i>voila</i> at your service." The sudden appearance of him who answered the +incantations of the weird sisters could not produce a greater panic. +Chairs tumbled in every direction, and their occupiers fled the room, +leaving myself and my friend ample space to enjoy the joke and the +champagne in undisturbed quiet.</p> + +<p>I have nothing further to relate in connection with myself. Paris +appeared to me clothed with a grandeur, a glory, and a beauty, +infinitely surpassing every description of them I had ever read or +heard. Standing in any commanding spot surrounded by the monuments of +her splendour and magnificence, upon each of which the genius of the +land shed its immortal lustre, one feels coerced to the conviction that +the high command and abiding destiny of France must be equally +imperishable. But these considerations belong not to my story, and I +renounce the idea of commemorating the sensations of gratified pride +which that gorgeous capital awakened in my bosom. Her architecture and +her art, her memorials of glory, and the triumphs of her progress, +require to be scanned by the eye and portrayed by the ability of +artistic genius. I must content myself <a name="Page_282" id="Page_282" />with preserving a delighted +recollection of the French metropolis which no scene or circumstance, +possible in life can ever efface. The companion of all my hazards in +Ireland, whom I again joined in Paris, more than shared my enthusiasm. +He spent all his days wandering among the galleries of the Louvre or the +statues of Versailles, forgetting in the sublime presence of their +unmatched <i>chefs d'ouvres</i> all the shame and perils of the past. I hope +he may be induced to give the result of his long examinations and fond +reveries to the public.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12" /><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> "Alice and Uua."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13" /><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> This may be a harsh and unjust opinion; if so, no one +could regret it more than myself. In any case I wish to disclaim the +idea of making a charge against the body of the Roman Catholic clergy, +to some of whose members it applies. I yet fully believe that the great +majority of the priesthood would willingly die with the rest of their +countrymen in struggling for the liberty of their common home. Even of +those who acted against us with such deadly success, I am sure some were +influenced by pure and honourable motives: there were others, however, +whose conduct the noblest motives would fail to justify, or even +extenuate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14" /><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> I hope my friend "Desmond" (a true poet and genuine +Irishman, whom God long preserve) will allow me to borrow his "graceful +spirit people" to elevate to poetical dignity the otherwise unattractive +and straggling waters of Lough Lua. It is near the lone and lovely +passes of Ceimeneagh, which his genius has invested with graceful +immortality, and his +</p><p> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">"Children of the earth and sea."</span><br /> +</p> +<p> +may be sometimes tempted to lave therein. +</p><p> +Lough Lua loses in the comparison suggested by the sublime scenery +around it, of which the "green little island," and the pass are +immeasurably the greatest. I saw it in no happy frame of mind, as I +dragged my weary limbs along the rugged slopes of Shehigh. The only real +feature of interest I could discover, was the solitary swan above +alluded to, to which an intellect less fanciful than that of my friend +could not refuse a claim to be recognised as the genius loci, or spirit +of the spot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15" /><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Mr. Daniel MacCarthy</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONCLUSION" id="CONCLUSION" /><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283" />CONCLUSION</h2> + + +<p>A word remains to be said in reference to the fate of those who were the +special objects of the Government's attention. Of the six for whom a +reward was offered, four escaped, namely, Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. +O'Mahony and myself. Mr. Dillon was the first who left Ireland. Late in +August he sailed from Galway, and landed at New York after a voyage of +seven weeks. In the same vessel sailed P.J. Smyth, who was despatched +from Cashel to Dublin with directions from Mr. O'Brien. Richard +O'Gorman, accompanied by John O'Donnell and Daniel Doyle, sailed from +the mouth of the Shannon on board a vessel bound for Constantinople. +After landing in the Turkish capital, they were obliged to lie concealed +until able to procure passports for Algiers. Many foolish stories have +been circulated in reference to Mr. O'Gorman's adventures and disguises +in Ireland. Not one of them has the least truth in it. He or his +companions never assumed any disguise, and though their adventures were +more perilous, they were not so romantic as those that have been +related. A more detailed account of their wanderings would no doubt be +as interesting to my readers as it would be agreeable to myself. But +both the time and the limits I have proposed to myself for this +publication exclude it here. I could not, without too long a delay, +acquire that minute and accurate knowledge of facts and dates, which +would be indispensable to such a history.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284" />But of succeeding events in Ireland, and the men who controlled them, +it is imperative to speak more in detail. John O'Mahony was their chief, +and John Savage his principal counsellor and comrade. The former, +although not compromised by any act previous to the arrest of Mr. +O'Brien, evaded the vigilance of the detectives, and continued moving +about from place to place, being generally guarded while he slept by a +large number of faithful followers. No man was ever followed with truer +devotion or served with more unwavering fidelity. He might have +continued in the same district with perfect safety up to the present +hour. But every moment of his time was engrossed by the endeavour to +rouse the country to some becoming effort. John Savage, who had come to +Carrick on a visit to a relation, partook of his enthusiasm and shared +his toil. They spent many anxious nights in counsel together when it was +supposed all spirit had left the country. The first ostensible object +that brought the people together under their immediate guidance and +control was the reaping of a field of wheat belonging to O'Mahony. A +vast crowd amounting to several hundred stalwart men assembled. They had +scarcely entered on their labour when the approach of a troop of horse +was announced. O'Mahony and Savage were compelled to retire. The +military cavalcade entered the field, and rode rudely among the men and +ripe corn. Still the reapers desisted not. They proceeded with their +labours sedulously and silently. But there was no pretext for arresting +any of the men, and no pretext afforded for further outrage, and the +business of the day went on without further outrage from the <a name="Page_285" id="Page_285" />soldiers. +This occurred on the 22nd of August. Some days later, sullen crowds were +seen ascending Aheny Hill, about five miles to the north of +Carrick-on-Suir. By what mysterious agency they were directed none could +tell. About a similar distance from the town, in the opposite direction, +near the village of Portlaw, another camp was formed with equal rapidity +and mystery. With these men John Savage took his station. He was +entirely unknown to the people; and owed his influence over them to his +singular resolution. The understanding was that these two bodies, and a +third consisting of an equal number of men which was promised from +Kilkenny, should march simultaneously on the town of Carrick and the +fort at Besborough where five hundred men were encamped. He who +undertook to lead the Kilkenny men went on the execution of his mission, +leaving O'Mahony at one side, and Savage on the other, to contend with +the impetuosity of their respective followers who demanded with violence +to be led on. As much perhaps from the precariousness of their situation +as from a reckless daring, they could not brook the least delay. Their +leaders, on the other hand, urged the necessity of steadiness and +prudence. It was too late for such policy. The time between the first +step in revolution and action is the most trying to the courage and +faith of undisciplined men. In this instance it produced fatal results. +The weakness of the timid increased, and the courage of the boldest was +quelled. Suspicion was aroused, and desertion was the inevitable +consequence. O'Mahony found it impossible to withstand the clamorous +urgency of the men, and all his prepara<a name="Page_286" id="Page_286" />tions were necessarily of a +hasty and imperfect character. The arrival of the party from Kilkenny +was the utmost limit of inaction that would be endured; and the leaders +saw with regret that they had yielded too soon to the demands of those +who precipitated the rising. The true guarantee of success would consist +in perfect preparation under cover of secrecy, so as that the assembling +could be followed by an immediate blow.</p> + +<p>Scouring parties from each rendezvous, proceeded through the country in +search of arms. Provisions were liberally supplied by the neighbouring +farmers, and numbers were hourly arriving from distant parts of the +country. But those who were engaged in the search for arms attacked +police barracks and private houses. In general, these enterprises were +rash, ill-advised and ill-arranged. In some instances they were +successful, and in some they were repulsed with loss of life, while the +police were able to effect a safe retreat. At the Tipperary side, two +men were killed in the attack on the Glenbour barracks; and at the +Waterford side, one man was shot at Portlaw in the assault on the +police-barrack, and two in the attack on the Reverend Mr. Hill's house. +These repulses checked the ardour of the boldest, and gave rise to +disunion and distrust. Meantime, the promised reinforcements from +Kilkenny failed to redeem the pledge that was given in their name. A +whole day and night passed, and no tidings of them arrived. Several of +those who were loudest and most urgent left the camp. A very large +force, however, remained; but after delaying two days without hearing of +the Kilkenny men, they <a name="Page_287" id="Page_287" />determined to disperse. The party at Portlaw +adopted the same resolution, and O'Mahony and Savage had to shift for +themselves. A reward was offered for O'Mahony, but he eluded his +pursuers, and in a few days was beyond their reach. He embarked at +Bonmahon in the county of Waterford and crossed to Wales, where he was +concealed for some time until he found an opportunity of escaping to +France. Savage, whose person was not much known, made his way to Dublin, +whence he sailed for America direct.</p> + +<p>The Kilkenny men arrived at Aheny on the morning after those under +O'Mahony had dispersed and finding the place deserted, they immediately +returned. This accident once more baffled all hope of a struggle. From +beginning to end, some mischance marred every propitious circumstance +that presented itself. It seemed as if the failure had been predestined. +But to yield to such a fate, to abjure the great and true faith which +the attempt of the last unhappy year quickened in the hearts of all men, +would be distrust of God's mercy and justice. In the struggle that +preceded the outbreak a great victory was won. The most formidable power +that ever fettered the consciences of men was struck to the earth. +Truth, long lost sight of, was again restored as one of the great +agencies of national deliverance and national elevation. The question +between England and Ireland assumed its real character; and although +huxtering politicians have since endeavoured to set up the honour of the +island for sale, they have only been able to dispose of their own +characters. The people have not debased themselves. In the lying homage +to the Queen of England they took no part. They have <a name="Page_288" id="Page_288" />preserved through +the severest trials the old immortal yearning of their race, and the +arms they had provided themselves with in '48 they have guarded +religiously, in the hope of using them on some day of brighter auspices +and loftier destiny.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-24" /><a id="image24" href="images/image24-big.jpg"><img src="images/image24.jpg" width="293" height="400" alt="John Savage (1848)" title="John Savage (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">John Savage (1848)</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDICES" id="APPENDICES" /><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289" />APPENDICES</h2> + +<p class="center"><b>I</b></p> + +<p class="center">THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848</p> + + +<p>Early on Saturday the 22nd of July I left my pleasant home in +Cullenswood, near Dublin, to which I was never to return. On reaching +the city I found a telegraphic despatch from London had been just +published, announcing the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and that +the "extraordinary powers" to be conferred on the Lord Lieutenant would +be forwarded to Dublin on the following Monday. It was contended on all +hands that the hour for action or submission or flight for the +Confederates was now come. Of "The Council of Five,"<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16" /><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> there were then +in Dublin but three members. One is now in Van Diemen's Land; the others +were Mr. Dillon and myself. We had a hasty meeting in the old Council +Rooms of the Irish Confederation. They decided to proceed that evening +to Enniscorthy to advise with Smith O'Brien, and, as I understood, to +proceed with him to the district between the Suir and the Shannon, and +to operate from that basis according to circumstances and their own best +judgment.</p> + +<p>A gentleman had arrived in Dublin that morning with a proposition which +decided my movements and led me into some singular situations.</p> + +<p>He was a professional man, by birth an Irishman who had resided a long +time in Scotland. He had <a name="Page_290" id="Page_290" />one only son, two rifles, and £120 in money, +which he brought as his offering to the country. He informed us that +several hundred Irishmen in Scotland had been all the year preparing for +this event, that they had a good share of arms and ammunition, and that +if any plan could be devised to bring them into Ireland, they could be +relied on for courage and endurance. I do not mention this gentleman's +name, because I do not know but he is still under the laws of England.</p> + +<p>We perceived, on consultation, that if it were possible to land 400 or +500 staunch men in the north-west—say, at Sligo or Killala—where the +Government were completely off their guard (all their anxieties being +centred on the south), an important movement might follow in Sligo, +Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo. It would be like hitting the enemy in the +back of the head. It would necessarily draw off some of the forces from +Munster, through the valley of the Upper Shannon, which, with its +continuous chain of lake, bog and mountain frontier, would be difficult +ground for the movements of a regular army.</p> + +<p>It was necessary, as our informant said, that "someone with a name" +should go over and concert with the Irishmen in Scotland the mode and +time of action, and I was the only person at hand willing for that +service. For my encouragement, Meagher assured me I would be "as famous +as Paul Jones" if I got the men out of the Clyde, and Mr. Dillon +suggested as a landing-place "the old ground, Killala."</p> + +<p>That afternoon I left Dublin, and on Tuesday morning I was in Scotland.</p> + +<p>I cannot give the exact particulars of my movements while there. All who +were in my confidence are still in Scotland, with the exception of Mr. +Peter M'Cabe of Glasgow, now in the United States. I will only say that +I visited and consulted our friends in four of the principal +towns—Edinburgh included. I attended meetings of the clubs and in each +instance instituted <a name="Page_291" id="Page_291" />committees. I obtained in a few days a list of +nearly 400 men, pretty well equipped, ready for the risk. A +sub-committee surveyed the Broomielaw and the Clyde, and although their +report was unfavourable to the attempt of getting out in one body, a +gentleman, now in America, gained over the crew and officers of an Irish +steamer to take us as passengers from Greenock where the tides in a few +days would answer for departure about ten o'clock at night. The arms +were to be previously shipped as merchandise or luggage, and the +destination was to be Sligo.</p> + +<p>These arrangements occupied from Tuesday till Friday of the last week of +July. In the meanwhile, the London Journals arrived with news that +O'Brien and his friends had been received with open arms in the south, +and great excitement and suspicion of strangers arose in Scotland. In +the Reading Room at Paisley I read myself in <i>The Hue and Cry</i>. One +paper stated I was in Waterford, another said I was "revelling among the +clubs in the Co. Dublin." The <i>Times</i> did me the honour to couple me +with Meagher, calling us "the two most dangerous men now abroad." No one +suspected my real locality.</p> + +<p>On Friday I was in Edinburgh intending to return to Glasgow, when +Mr. ——, accompanied by a friend suddenly joined me. I saw they were a +good deal agitated. They told me a Scotch mechanic who had been formerly +in Dublin had seen me in the streets of Glasgow opposite Wellington +statue, and that the news was "all round town." They added that the +magistrates were in secret sitting, and as the writ of Habeas Corpus is +unknown to the law of Scotland, I would be certainly arrested and +summarily imprisoned if I returned. They were instructed to advise me to +go to Ireland through the north of England, to prepare our friends in +and about Sligo, and that they would complete the project which they had +begun, and which was now in promising forwardness. I complied and<a name="Page_292" id="Page_292" /> Mr. +---- handed me a purse, as a personal gift from the Committee. This +purse contained twelve or thirteen sovereigns, the only public money I +received in this enterprise. After purposely driving to the West of +Scotland depot [railway terminus] we returned to the North British, and +my friends saw me off a station or two on the way to Newcastle-on-Tyne. +I slept that night in Newcastle.</p> + +<p>Between Newcastle and Carlisle the next day (Saturday) I had for a +fellow passenger the Rev. Thresham Gregg<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17" /><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> who was on a lecturing +excursion against the Pope in the north of England. I had been +introduced to him a year or two before and supposed he knew me. He +certainly looked very hard at me from under his travelling-cap, with his +half-shut cunning eyes. I had in my hand "Bradshaw's Railway Guide," +which he asked to see. At the way stations he kept constantly inquiring +the distance to Carlisle, and I sorely suspected he meant to "peach." He +did not, however, though I still think he must have known me.</p> + +<p>In Carlisle I met at dinner two Dublin priests (one from Westland Row +chapel). They were bound on a pleasure-trip for Loch Katrine and the +Trossachs. They informed me that I was "proclaimed," and seemed +surprised at my returning. We parted very cordially and that night I +went to Whitehaven where I had to wait over Sunday for the Belfast +steamer.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293" />In Whitehaven (by accident) I met with Mr. James Leach, the well-known +Chartist, with whom I had some conversation unnecessary here to be +repeated.</p> + +<p>On Tuesday morning I arrived in Belfast. Two policemen entered the cabin +as I was leaving it, and having been at the meeting which occasioned the +Hercules Street riot,<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18" /><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> I thought they would recognise me. They did +not, however, and at 8 o'clock (after leaving a note for a dear and +trusted friend of Mr. Duffy's, to mark my whereabouts) I was safely +embarked on the Ulster railway for Armagh. At Aughnacloy a detective +gave me a light, and before I went to bed (in Enniskillen) had read the +proclamations against the leaders of the Southern movement, on the gates +of the Barrack. The next morning I reached Sligo by the Leitrim road.</p> + +<p>This was Wednesday morning, August 2nd.</p> + +<p>At the Hibernia Hotel, where I stopped as Mr. Kelly (my travelling +baptism), I saw for the first time in ten days the Irish papers. The +Dublin <i>Freeman</i> and <i>Saunder's News Letter</i> were on the table. I read +the list of the places where, and the clergymen by whom, the Southern +movement had been "denounced," on Sunday, July 23rd and Sunday, July +30th. The same papers contained Lord Clarendon's wily letter to +Archbishop Murray, offering to alter the statutes of the new colleges +and to remodel the Bequests Bill so as to content the Catholic clergy, +and artfully complimenting Pius IX. The game of the Government was +clear—it was to separate the clergy from the people in the coming +struggle.</p> + +<p>The evening of my arrival in Sligo, I conferred with a few friends. The +place chosen was "a shell house" <a name="Page_294" id="Page_294" />in the demesne of Hazelwood on the +shores of Lough Gill. Of <ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'hose'"> +those</ins> who formed that conference one at +least, Mr. William M'Garahan, is now in America. We ascertained the +garrison of Sligo to be but ninety men—the barrack to be surrounded by +a common eight-foot wall, and the local authorities to be completely +lulled to sleep. The circumstances were as favourable as could be +expected.</p> + +<p>But there never had been in Sligo or Leitrim any local Confederate or +even "Repeal" organisation. The only local societies were secret—Molly +Maguires and Ribbonmen. It was necessary to get into communication with +them and late the next night Dr. ——, a Confederate, introduced me to +one of their leaders, on a road which crosses a hill to the south of the +town. This gentleman I found wary, resolute, and intelligent. He said: +"I have no doubt of what you say, but I must have certain facts to lay +before our district chiefs. At present we don't know what to believe. +One day we hear one thing—another, another. Bring us by this day week +assurances that the South is going to rise or has risen, and we will +raise two thousand before the week is out." I agreed to do so and he in +the meantime went to prepare his friends.</p> + +<p>I returned to my confidants of the first conference and "reported +progress." It was rather difficult to find a trusty messenger. I +volunteered to go myself, but they would not hear of it. At last a man +who could be depended on was obtained, and, armed with certain passwords +(unintelligible except to those for whom they were intended) he left to +go through Roscommon and Westmeath into Tipperary by Borrisokane and +Nenagh.</p> + +<p>Simultaneously with this, agents went abroad in the country, and I, by +the advice of the local leaders, went to lodge under Benbulben in the +character of a Dublin student in search of health and exercise during +the summer vacation. Within a week we expected to be <a name="Page_295" id="Page_295" />openly arrayed +against the authorities, and no man that I saw shrank from the prospect.</p> + +<p>From my lodgings under Benbulben I made a visit to Bundoran to meet some +friends from Donegal who were anxious to consult me as to the state of +the county. By an odd chance I lodged in the same house with the +stipendiary magistrate, Sir Thomas Blake, and had to go through his +bedroom to my own. We met frequently but he was quite unsuspicious. He +has, I find since, been dismissed from his office, after an ineffectual +search for me through the county, a month from the time we had lived +under the same roof.</p> + +<p>While our messenger had gone south there arrived one from our friends in +Scotland. Him I sent back the same night to expedite affairs there. In +the meanwhile, on such maps as we had, my friends and I studied the +roads and the formation of the country. There is in this part of Ireland +a plateau of about twenty-five miles square of broken or mountainous +ground. Of this district Ballinamore in Leitrim might be considered the +centre; there are but three main roads leading through it—the Boyle +road, the Red Lion road, and the Ballysodare road—which could all be +easily rendered impassable, passing as they do over rapid streams, +through narrow defiles or across extensive marshes. There is no great +military depot within the district—Enniskillen, Athlone, and even +Castlebar being within the spurs of the mountains. Sligo, its chief town +was, as we saw, poorly garrisoned, and yet as a seaport of the second +class it contained many things of the greatest use in a military +movement—as lead, arms, canvas, tools, money, ships' stores, +breadstuffs, types for proclamations and even some small cannon. From +three to five thousand men it was calculated, could be well-equipped and +could maintain themselves for three months within this district, with +tolerable prudence and exertion. Before the time expired we hoped to +<a name="Page_296" id="Page_296" />receive help and officers from abroad, and afterwards to be able to +undertake greater things.</p> + +<p>We could not but remember that this was the district chosen by Owen +O'Neill after his arrival from Spain in 1645 and that it was here he +"nursed up" by slow degrees the army which fought at Benburb, and which +in Napoleon's opinion, but for the premature death of Owen, would have +checkmated Cromwell. The ground once chosen by a great general for its +natural capabilities may safely be chosen again, and usually is, as in +Hungary for instance. The very posts and battlefields held and fought by +Bem and Dembinski were the same whereon Huniad and Corvinus, four and +five hundred years ago, fought against the Turks and Bosmens. Thus we +had the sanction of a great example and the stimulus of an inspiriting +tradition to point to for the choice of the ground.</p> + +<p>We had not long to wait for news from the South—it came of itself. On +Saturday the 5th of August Mr. O'Brien was arrested in Thurles. His +companions, it was said, were fled hither and thither; but, at all +events, his arrest had proved that, at that time, the South would not +rise in arms against the Government.</p> + +<p>This was the interpretation universally put upon it in the north-west. +It was in vain I said, "There are other men as brave and as good who are +still free and from whom we will hear better news." Those to whom I +spoke were incredulous. Still I must do the people of the county the +justice to say that in a meeting of their district-leaders at —— it +was discussed for two successive nights with great animation whether or +not the district should rise even then. The parties for and against a +rising were nearly balanced, but the latter prevailed on the argument +that unless it was general it would be fruitless.</p> + +<p>For ten dismal days I remained in this neighbourhood, hoping against +hope and endeavouring to make others do the same. The proposals I then +made, the result <a name="Page_297" id="Page_297" />of desperation, I will not repeat, for now, even to +myself, I confess they look wild and extravagant. But I felt the whole +futurity of shame that awaited us for abandoning the country without a +blow. It was well advanced in August before I could persuade myself that +no hope remained. The Treasurer of our Scotch Committee came to Ireland +expressly to urge me to consult my own safety in flight, in which he was +joined by the whole of my local associates. Successively arrived the +news of Meagher, Leyne and MacManus being taken. Then indeed I knew "all +was up." Then, indeed, I felt the force of what I had long before +prophesied—"What if we fail?" I resolved not to be taken if I could +help it, and acted accordingly. After some personal adventures in +Donegal and Derry (with which I will not trouble the reader) I saw the +last of the Irish shore early in September, and on the 10th of October +reached Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>I close here with this reflection: Had I been transported or hanged, I +have no doubt full justice would be done me, because it would be +nobody's interest to do me injustice. Had I kept silent, I might have +lived an easy, prudent, reputable sort of life enough. But I established +a journal on reaching America, and whereas my spine is not made of +whalebone nor my conscience of indiarubber, I spoke the truth as I knew +it in all things freely—thereby offending divers parties. This, I +believe, could not be helped. After nearly a year of silence<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19" /><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> I have +at last (in self-defence) written this narrative, of which I assure the +readers they never would have heard a word from me, but that +misrepresentations not to be borne demanded its publicity. Those who +from want of information misrepresented me hitherto can do so no more; +and those who, knowing these facts, yet wilfully maligned me, I have now +deprived of the power to do me further injury. Truth is powerful, and +this is truth.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298" /><b>II</b></p> + +<p class="center">THE PROCLAMATION OF DOHENY AND HIS COLLEAGUES</p> + +<p class="center">By the Lord Lieutenant General and General-Governor of Ireland</p> + +<p class="center">A PROCLAMATION</p> + + +<p>CLARENDON—</p> + +<p>Whereas we have received information that THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN +B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY have been guilty of treasonable practices, +now we the Lord Lieutenant being determined to bring the said THOMAS +FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY to justice, do hereby +offer a reward of</p> + +<p class="center">THREE HUNDRED POUNDS</p> + +<p>to any person or persons who shall secure and deliver up to safe custody +the person of any one of them, the said THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. +DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY.</p> + +<p>And we do hereby strictly charge and command all justices of the peace, +mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables and all other of her Majesty's +loyal subjects to use their utmost-diligence in apprehending the said +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY.</p> + +<p>Given at her Majesty's Castle of Dublin, this 28th day of July, 1848.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">By his Excellency's Command,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">T.N. REDINGTON.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299" /><b>III</b></p> + +<p class="center">"THE HUE AND CRY"</p> + + +<p>The official description of himself read by Thomas Darcy M'Gee was more +accurate and less intentionally insulting than the official descriptions +of most of his colleagues compiled in Dublin Castle and published in the +<i>Hue and Cry</i> of July 27th, 1848. Probably no other official document +issued to the public in the last hundred years by Dublin Castle has +equalled this stupid malignity. "Sketches of Doheny and some of the +Confederate leaders, modelled upon the descriptions of burglars and +murderers, that ordinarily adorn the <i>Hue and Cry</i> were," wrote Sir +Charles Gavan Duffy, a generation later, "issued for the enjoyment of +loyal persons." The <i>Freeman's Journal</i> of the day wrote that the public +who were acquainted with the appearance of the gentlemen described will +read with feelings of contempt the malignant effort to insult and wound +the relatives of the men proscribed by the issue of a written caricature +of their persons. This remarkable production of the genius and spirit of +Dublin Castle, read as follows:—</p> + +<p class="center"> +DESCRIPTION OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH<br /> +TREASONABLE PRACTICES<br /> +</p> + +<p>WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN.—No occupation; forty-six years of age; six feet +in height; sandy hair; dark eyes; sallow, long face; has a sneering +smile constantly on his face; full whiskers; sandy; a little grey; +well-set man; walks erect; dresses well.</p> + +<p>THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.—No occupation; twenty-five years of age; five +feet nine inches; dark, nearly black hair; light blue eyes; pale face; +high cheekbones; peculiar expression about the eyes; cocked nose; no +whiskers; well-dressed.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300" />JOHN B. DILLON.—Barrister; thirty-two years of age; five feet eleven +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; thin sallow face; rather thin +black whiskers; dressed respectable; has bilious look.</p> + +<p>MICHAEL DOHENY.—Barrister; forty years of age; five feet eight inches +in height; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; coarse red face like a man +given to drink; high cheekbones; wants several of his teeth; very vulgar +appearance; peculiar coarse unpleasant voice; dress respectable; small +short red whiskers.</p> + +<p>MICHAEL CREAN.—Shopman at a shoe-shop; thirty-five years of age; five +feet eight inches; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; full face; light +whiskers; high fore-head; well-set person; dress, dark shooting frock or +grey tweed, and grey tweed trousers.</p> + +<p>FRANCIS MORGAN.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20" /><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a>—Solicitor; forty-three years of age; five feet +eight inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; sallow broad face; +nose a little cocked; the upper lip turns out when speaking; rather +stout; smart gait; black whiskers.</p> + +<p>PATRICK JAMES SMITH.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21" /><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a>—Studying for the bar; twenty-nine years of +age; five feet nine inches in height; fair hair; dark eyes; fair +delicate face and of weak appearance; long back; weak in his walk; small +whiskers; clothing indifferent.</p> + +<p>JOHN HETHERINGTON DRUMM.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22" /><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a>—Medical student; twenty years of age; five +feet three inches in height; very black and curly hair; black eyes; pale +delicate face; rather thin person; delicate appearance; no whiskers; +small face and nose; dressed respectably; Methodist.</p> + +<p>THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE.—Connected with the <i>Nation</i> newspaper; +twenty-three years of age; five feet three inches in height; black hair; +dark face; <a name="Page_301" id="Page_301" />delicate, pale, thin man; dresses generally black shooting +coat, plaid trousers, light vest.</p> + +<p>JOSEPH BRENNAN.—Sub-Editor of the <i>Felon</i> newspaper; five feet six +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; pale, sallow face; very stout; +round shoulders; Cork accent; no whiskers; hair on the upper lip; soft, +sickly face; rather respectably dressed, a little reduced.</p> + +<p>THOMAS DEVIN REILLY.—Sub-editor of the <i>Felon</i> newspaper; twenty-four +years of age; five feet seven inches in height; sandy coarse hair; grey +eyes; round freckled face; head remarkably broad at the top; broad +shoulders; well-set; dresses well.</p> + +<p>JOHN CANTWELL.—Shopman at a grocer's; thirty-five years of age; five +feet ten inches in height; sandy hair; grey eyes; fair face; good +looking; short whisker, light; rather slight person, dresses ... +Supposed a native of Dublin.</p> + +<p>STEPHEN J. MEANY.—Sub-editor of <i>Irish Tribune</i>; twenty-six years of +age; five feet eleven inches in height; dark hair; full blue eyes; dark +face; small whiskers growing under the chin; smart appearance; was a +constable of the C Division of Police, discharged for dirty habits; +stout person; generally dressed in black.</p> + +<p>RICHARD O'GORMAN, Junior.—Barrister; thirty years of age; five feet +eleven inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; thin long face; +large dark whiskers; well-made and active; walks upright; dresses black +frock coat, tweed trousers.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16" /><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> After the merging of the Irish Confederation in the +abortive Irish League, and the consequent dissolution of the Executive +of the Confederation, a Council of Five was elected to direct the +Confederate Clubs until the new organisation was perfected. The five +elected were John Blake Dillon, Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard +O'Gorman, Junior, Thomas D'Arcy M'Gee, and Thomas Devin Reilly. The five +never met. O'Gorman was out of Dublin when the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17" /><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> The Rev. Thresham Gregg was a notorious and blatant +"anti-Popery" preacher of the period whom the wits of Young Ireland +frequently made the butt of their jests. Apart from his bigoted +sectarian obsession, he was, however, in several respects decidedly +nationalistic, and steadily preached support of home trade and +manufactures to his audiences. There can be no reasonable doubt that he +recognised M'Gee. In this connection it may be stated that the Orangemen +expelled from membership of their body Stephenson Dobbyn, an Orangeman +who acted as a spy for Dublin Castle upon the Young Irelanders—drawing +a clear and proper line between forcibly opposing their fellow +countrymen and acting as spies for England upon them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18" /><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Hercules Street in Belfast, now swept away, was chiefly +inhabited by butchers who were almost all Catholics and fervent +O'Connellites. When the Young Irelanders attempted to hold a meeting in +Belfast shortly after O'Connell's death, the butchers made a fierce +attack upon them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19" /><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> This narrative was written at the beginning of 1850</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20" /><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Law Agent to the Dublin Corporation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21" /><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Patrick Joseph Smyth</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22" /><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Sub-editor of the <i>Nation</i>; afterwards a clergyman.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="LIST_OF_CONTEMPORARIES" id="LIST_OF_CONTEMPORARIES" /><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302" />CONTEMPORARIES MENTIONED IN "THE FELON'S TRACK"</h2> + + +<p>ANGLESEY, LORD (1768-1854).—Henry William Paget, who lost a leg at +Waterloo and erected a monument to its memory. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1828-9, 1830-3.</p> + +<p>ANTISELL, DR. THOMAS.—A Dublin surgeon and chemist of distinction, +author of various pamphlets and addresses to the Royal Dublin Society on +the geology of Ireland, reafforestation, and the sanitary conditions of +Irish town-life. He supplied a large part of the capital to found the +<i>Irish Tribune</i>. After the failure of the insurrection he went to the +United States where he had a distinguished scientific career.</p> + +<p>BANTRY, LORD.—(1801-1884) William Hare White, third earl, Lieut-Col, of +the West Cork Artillery. The title became extinct in 1891.</p> + +<p>BARRY, MICHAEL JOSEPH (1817-1889).—A Cork barrister, editor of "The +Songs of Ireland" in the Library of Ireland, and author of several +martial pieces, including "The Flag of Green." After the failure of the +insurrection he renounced Nationalism and subsequently became a Dublin +Police Magistrate.</p> + +<p>BARRETT, RICHARD (17— -1855).—Brother of Eaton Stannard Barrett of +Cork, the once famous author of "All the Talents." A journalist of +fortune who changed sides with agility and enlisted under O'Connell in +his latter years, having formerly vilified him.</p> + +<p>BRENAN, JOSEPH (1828-1857).—The youngest of the Young Ireland leaders. +Edited Fullam's <i>Irishman</i> in 1849 and unsuccessfully attempted to +revive the insurrection in Waterford and Tipperary. On his failure he +emigrated to the United States and died in New Orleans.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303" />BRODERICK, CAPTAIN.—Inspector-General of Repeal Reading Rooms. He +quitted Conciliation Hall after the death of O'Connell and died mentally +afflicted.</p> + +<p>BRYAN, MAJOR.—Of Raheny Lodge, Co. Dublin. Major Bryan acquired a +moderate fortune in Tasmania and returned to Ireland where he joined the +Repeal movement. He left Conciliation Hall with the Young Irelanders.</p> + +<p>CAMPBELL, SIR JOHN (1779-1861).—Author of the "Lives of the Lord +Chancellors." A Scots Tory politician, raised to the peerage subsequent +to his connection with Ireland, and finally Lord Chancellor of England.</p> + +<p>CANGLEY, DAVID (18— -1847).—A barrister and one of the hopes of Young +Ireland. Ill-health pursued him through life and ended it prematurely.</p> + +<p>CANTWELL, JAMES.—A Dublin mercantile assistant and, later, a +restaurant-proprietor. One of the Council of the Confederation who +supported Mitchel's policy.</p> + +<p>CARLETON, WILLIAM (1794-1869).—Author of "Traits and Stories of the +Irish Peasantry."</p> + +<p>CAVAIGNAC, LOUIS EUGENE (1802-1857).—One of the most distinguished of +the French Generals in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. On +the establishment of the second Republic he was appointed Minister for +War, and when the "Reds" threatened its stability he was invested with +the dictatorship and speedily crushed the insurrection. In the contest +for the Presidency the glamour of Louis Napoleon's name defeated +Cavaignac. After Napoleon's <i>coup-d'etat</i> Cavaignac retired into private +life. He had sympathies with Ireland, and in 1848 gave private +assurances that in the event of an Irish insurrection winning initial +successes, he would bring the influence of France to bear on England to +force her to concede terms to Ireland.</p> + +<p>CAVANAGH, JOHN.—President of the Fitzgerald Confederate Club, Harold's +Cross, Dublin. Wounded at Ballingarry, he was brought to Kilkenny, where +he was <a name="Page_304" id="Page_304" />concealed and cured by Dr. Cane, and later smuggled to France, +whence he proceeded to the United States, became an officer in the army +and was slain in the Civil War.</p> + +<p>"CHRISTABEL" (1815-1881).—Miss M'Carthy, of Kilfademore House, Kenmare, +afterwards Mrs. Downing. A Popular poetess of the period, usually using +the <i>nom-de-guerre</i> of "Christabel." Her best-known poem is "The Grave +of MacCaura." She assisted Doheny and Stephens to escape.</p> + +<p>CLARENDON, EARL OF (1804-1870).—George Villiers, the fourth earl, +according to his English biographers, represented the highest type of +English politician and English gentleman. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, +1846-1852. He hired the editor of an obscene journal in Dublin to +publish libels upon the moral character of the Young Irelanders, and +conducted the affairs of the country from March to June, 1848, under +this man's advice. He paid £3,400 for the services rendered and a demand +for further payments led to a public disclosure of the facts. At the +time Clarendon hired James Birch, Birch had completed a sentence of +imprisonment for criminal libel.</p> + +<p>CLEMENTS, EDWARD.—A barrister. One of O'Connell's "tail" in +Conciliation Hall. The attempt of O'Connell to provide "poor Ned +Clements" with a Government situation precipitated the rupture with +Young Ireland.</p> + +<p>CONWAY, M.G.—A journalist of ability and no principle who followed the +path of fortune. He professed ultra-Catholic views while O'Connell was +in the ascendant. After O'Connell's death he abjured Catholicism to +ingratiate himself with the Ascendancy element.</p> + +<p>CRAMPTON, JUDGE (17— -1858).—Philip Crampton, called to the Bar 1810, +Solicitor-General 1832, and raised to the Bench 1834. One of the judges +at O'Connell's trial, a strong Tory but a clever lawyer.</p> + +<p>CREAN, MICHAEL.—Like M.G. Conway, a Clare man, but of the opposite +type. Crean worked in Dublin as <a name="Page_305" id="Page_305" />a shopman and with Hollywood was one of +the two trades-union leaders on the Council of the Confederation, where +he opposed Mitchel's policy. After the failure of the insurrection he +went to the United States.</p> + +<p>CROLLY, DR. (1780-1849).—Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All +Ireland from 1835 until his death.</p> + +<p>DAUNT, W.J. O'NEILL.—A Co. Cork gentleman, one of O'Connell's first +Protestant supporters in the Repeal Movement. He was elected for Mallow, +but unseated. He ceased to attend Conciliation Hall after the rupture +with the Young Irelanders. Many years later he took a prominent part in +the Home Rule movement.</p> + +<p>DAVIS, THOMAS (1814-1845).—The founder and inspiration of the Young +Ireland movement. Son of an English father of Welsh descent and an Irish +mother. From the inception of <i>The Nation</i> newspaper until his death he +was the chief writer of that journal.</p> + +<p>DILLON, JOHN BLAKE (1816-1866).—The close personal friend of Thomas +Davis and with him one of the founders of the <i>Nation</i>. On his return +from exile he attempted to found an Irish Party in alliance with the +British Radicals and sat in the British Parliament for Tipperary.</p> + +<p>DOYLE, DANIEL.—A Limerick solicitor who acted with John O'Donnell and +O'Gorman in inciting Limerick county to insurrection in July, 1848. +After the failure he escaped across the water.</p> + +<p>DUFFY, CHARLES GAVAN (1816-1903).—One of the three founders of the +<i>Nation</i> and its editor from 1842 to 1854, when he left Ireland for +Australia where he became Prime Minister of Victoria. In 1873 he +received a knighthood.</p> + +<p>"EVA" (1825-1910).—Miss Mary Kelly of Galway, afterwards Mrs. Kevin +Izod O'Doherty. One of the chief poets of the <i>Nation</i>.</p> + +<p>FERGUSON, SAMUEL (1810-1886).—A Belfast barrister and, save Edward +Walsh, the most Gaelic of Irish poets <a name="Page_306" id="Page_306" />in the English language. Ferguson +took a leading part in the Protestant Repeal Association in 1848 and +afterwards became one of the first of Irish archaeologists. In 1878 he +was knighted.</p> + +<p>FITZGERALD, JOHN LOYD.—Of Newcastle West, Limerick. A lawyer of high +standing.</p> + +<p>FITZSIMON, CHRISTOPHER.—Son-in-law of Daniel O'Connell, elected to the +British Parliament for Co. Dublin. He deserted Repeal to support the +Government and was rewarded with the post of Clerk of the Hanaper. His +desertion caused the representation of the Co. Dublin to revert to the +Unionists for half-a-century.</p> + +<p>GRAY, SIR JOHN (1815-1875).—A medical doctor and owner of the +<i>Freeman's Journal</i>, publicly supporting O'Connell, but personally in +sympathy with Young Ireland. He sat in the British Parliament +subsequently for Kilkenny and was an active member of the Dublin +Corporation.</p> + +<p>GRATTAN, HENRY, JUN.—Son of the great Grattan and member for Meath, +1831-52. An honest but weak politician.</p> + +<p>GREY, EARL (1802-1894).—Third Earl. Colonial Secretary in the British +Liberal Government, 1846 to 1852.</p> + +<p>HALPIN, THOMAS M.—Secretary of the Confederation, and a Dublin +working-man. According to Meagher he failed to transmit instructions to +the Dublin Confederate Clubs to rise in insurrection in the streets of +the capital when the fight opened in Tipperary. Halpin denied +emphatically having received such orders. After the insurrection he made +his way to the United States.</p> + +<p>HEYTESBURY, LORD (1779-1860).—William A'Court, British Envoy in Spain +and Naples, and Ambassador in Portugal and Russia. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1844-6.</p> + +<p>HOGAN, JOHN (1800-1858).—One of the greatest of modern sculptors. With +MacManus and other artists <a name="Page_307" id="Page_307" />he presented O'Connell with the "Repeal +Cap," modelled on the Irish Crown.</p> + +<p>HOLLYWOOD, EDWARD.—A silk-weaver and, with Michael Crean, an artisan +leader. He acted as treasurer of the Davis Confederate Club. Arrested in +Wicklow with D'Arcy M'Gee for sedition, but the prosecution was +abandoned. After the insurrection he escaped to France, and some years +later returned to Dublin.</p> + +<p>HOLMES, ROBERT (1765-1859).—Brother-in-law of Thomas Addis and Robert +Emmet, and a vehement opponent of the Union in 1799-1800. He declined to +accept promotion at the Bar while the Union endured.</p> + +<p>HUDSON, WILLIAM ELIOT (1797-1853).—Described by Thomas Davis as the +best man and the best Irishman he ever knew. A man of fortune and +culture who devoted his leisure and his wealth to helping every movement +for the betterment of Ireland.</p> + +<p>HUME, JOSEPH (1777-1855).—An English politician who sat in the British +Parliament for English, Irish, and Scotch constituencies as Tory and +later as Radical. Chief author of the Radical shibboleth, "Peace, +Retrenchment and Reform."</p> + +<p>IRELAND, RICHARD.—A barrister, one of the founders of the Protestant +Repeal Association in 1848. He emigrated to Australia afterwards and +became Attorney-General of Victoria.</p> + +<p>KENYON, FATHER (18— -1869).—Curate and afterwards Parish Priest of +Templederry in Tipperary. A strong opponent of the "Old Irelanders" and +the close political and personal friend of John Mitchel.</p> + +<p>LALOR, JAMES FINTAN (1810-49).—Son of Patrick Lalor, M.P. of Queen's +Co. A vigorous writer whose agrarian doctrine was converted by Henry +George into Land Nationalisation—which it was not. He contributed to +the <i>Nation</i> and the <i>Felon</i>, 1847-8, and attempted an insurrectionary +conspiracy, 1849.</p> + +<p>LAMARTINE, ALPHONSE DE (1790-1869).—Minister for Foreign Affairs in the +French Republican Govern<a name="Page_308" id="Page_308" />ment. The British Ministry through Lord +Normanby threatened him with the possible rupture of diplomatic +relations if he gave an encouraging reply to the Young Ireland +deputation. Politically Lamartine was more of the school of the British +Whigs of his period than of any native French school. His high character +and literary abilities were held in deserved esteem by his countrymen, +but as a man of affairs he was never really successful.</p> + +<p>LANE, DENNY (1818-95).—A Cork commercial man who identified himself +prominently with the Young Ireland cause in Munster. Author of +"Carrigdhoun" and some other popular ballads.</p> + +<p>LAWLESS, HON. CECIL.—Son of Lord Cloncurry. An O'Connellite Repealer +and somewhat virulent opponent of the Young Irelanders who nicknamed him +"Artful Cecil."</p> + +<p>LEDRU-ROLLIN, ALEXANDRE (1808-74).—Minister of the Interior in the +French Republican Government of 1848. He was connected with Ireland by +marriage and strongly sympathised with its people.</p> + +<p>LEFROY, BARON (1776-1869).—One-time member for Trinity College in the +British Parliament. Subsequent to 1848 promoted Lord Chief Justice of +the Queen's Bench, and although he became incapable of discharging the +office he refused to resign it until he had passed his ninetieth year.</p> + +<p>LEYNE, MAURICE RICHARD (1820-1854).—The only member of the O'Connell +family who identified himself with Young Ireland. He was an occasional +contributor to the <i>Nation</i> from 1844 to 1848 and in June of that year, +on the eve of the insurrection, formally joined Young Ireland. On the +revival of the <i>Nation</i> in 1849 he joined Duffy in its editorship.</p> + +<p>LOUIS NAPOLEON (1808-1873).—Son of the King of Holland, nephew of the +great Napoleon, President of the second Republic and, after the <i>coup +d'etat</i> and the plebescite, Emperor of France. Napoleon while in +<a name="Page_309" id="Page_309" />exile manifested some sympathy with Ireland, and as a member of the +French Republic was, like Cavaignac, willing to intervene on this +country's behalf with England if the Young Irelanders had succeeded in +winning initial engagements against the British forces in the field.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-25" /><a id="image25" href="images/image25-big.jpg"><img src="images/image25.jpg" width="265" height="400" alt="Louis Napoleon (1848)" title="Louis Napoleon (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Louis Napoleon (1848)</p> +</div> + +<p>MACHALE, ARCHBISHOP (1791-1881).—"John of Tuam"—the greatest of the +Irish prelates of his time. He was in partial sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, but opposed to them on several educational questions.</p> + +<p>MACNEVIN, THOMAS (1810-1848).—A leading Young Irelander and college +friend of Davis. Author, in the Library of Ireland, of "The Confiscation +of Ulster" and "The History of the Volunteers."</p> + +<p>MACMANUS, TERENCE BELLEW (1823-60).—A prosperous Irish merchant in +Liverpool who relinquished his prosperity to join in the insurrection. +He escaped from the British penal colonies to the United States and died +there in poor circumstances.</p> + +<p>MACLISE, DANIEL (1806-1870).—One of the first painters of his time. He +refused the presidency of the British Royal Academy.</p> + +<p>M'CARTHY, DENIS FLORENCE (1817-1882).—One of the chief poets of the +<i>Nation</i>, afterwards Professor of English Literature in the Catholic +University.</p> + +<p>M'GEE, THOMAS DARCY (1825-1868).—Son of a coast-guard at Carlingford, +Louth. M'Gee between the ages of seventeen and twenty won a remarkable +reputation as a journalist in the United States and came back to Ireland +to take up the editorship of the <i>Freeman's Journal</i>, which he +relinquished to join the <i>Nation</i> staff. After the failure in 1848 +Bishop Maginn procured his escape to America disguised as a priest. +M'Gee, Devin Reilly and Doheny quarrelled in the United States, and +M'Gee's political views gradually modified. He proceeded to Canada, +entered politics, and became one of the first statesmen of the dominion +and a member of the Government. In that position he was con<a name="Page_310" id="Page_310" />tinually +attacked by a section of the Irish as a renegade, and the bitterness of +his replies inflamed feeling. In April, 1868, he was assassinated by an +alleged Fenian. Local and sectional political hatreds appear, however, +to have had more to do with the murder of M'Gee than his virulent +denunciations of the Fenians.</p> + +<p>MAGINN, EDWARD, D.D. (1802-1849).—Son of a farmer at Fintona, Tyrone, +Dr. Maginn entered the Church and speedily became noted for his vigour +of intellect and strength of character. In 1845 he was appointed +coadjutor-Bishop of Derry, and created Bishop of Ortosia in the +Archbishopric of Tyre. A strong advocate of Repeal and tenant-right, he +gradually attorned to the Young Irelanders when he discovered that the +Whig Government had bought up Conciliation Hall. In 1848 he sent Sir +John Gray to Gavan Duffy offering to take the field at the head of the +priests of his diocese if the insurrection were held back until the +harvest had been reaped. The sudden suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, +however, forced the Young Irelanders' hands two months too soon.</p> + +<p>MANGAN, JAMES CLARENCE (1803-49).—The first of the poets of the Young +Ireland period. He declined to write for any but the Irish public, and +died in poverty.</p> + +<p>MARTIN, JOHN (1812-1875).—A landed proprietor of Co. Down. On his +return from transportation, he re-entered Irish politics; was elected in +1870 to the British Parliament, for Meath, and played a leading part in +founding the Home Rule movement.</p> + +<p>"MARY" (1828-69).—With "Eva" and "Speranza" one of the triumvirate of +the women-poets of the <i>Nation</i>: Miss Ellen Mary Downing of +Cork—afterwards a nun, Sister Mary Alphonsus.</p> + +<p>MEAGHER, THOMAS FRANCIS (1823-67).—Son of the O'Connellite member of +the British Parliament for Waterford. He escaped from the British Penal +colonies to the United States in 1852 and served as Brigadier-<a name="Page_311" id="Page_311" />General +on the Federal side during the civil war. When Acting-Governor of +Montana he was drowned in the Mississippi.</p> + +<p>MEANY, STEPHEN JOSEPH.—A journalist, imprisoned in 1848 under the +Habeas Corpus Suspension Act. In the United States he became a leader of +one of the wings of the Fenian Brotherhood and, returning to Ireland in +1866, he was arrested on the way in London and sentenced to a term of +penal servitude.</p> + +<p>MELBOURNE, LORD (1779-1848).—William Lamb, second Viscount, Chief +Secretary of Ireland, 1827-8, and Premier of England with brief +intervals from 1834 to 1841.</p> + +<p>MILEY, JOHN, D.D. (1805-1861).—Curate at the Catholic Pro-Cathedral, +Dublin, and private chaplain to O'Connell. He was the intermediary in +arranging the reunion of the O'Connellites with the Young Irelanders in +the stillborn Irish League. In 1849 he was made Rector of the Irish +College at Paris. On his return to Ireland he was appointed parish +priest of Bray. He was an eloquent preacher, and author of several works +on the Papacy.</p> + +<p>MITCHEL, JOHN (1818-75).—A solicitor of Banbridge, and one of the first +Irish Protestants of note to join the Repeal Association. From the death +of Davis until the end of 1847 he was the chief writer of the <i>Nation</i> +newspaper. On his escape from the British penal colonies in 1853 he +settled in the United States, and took an active part on the Confederate +side in the civil war. He returned to Ireland a few months before his +death, and was elected member of the British Parliament for Tipperary, +as a demonstration of hostility to British Government in Ireland.</p> + +<p>MOORE, JUDGE.—Richard Moore, called to the Bar in 1807, acted for the +defence in the trial of O'Connell and the Traversers, Liberal +Attorney-General in 1846 and "almost Lord Chancellor." He was raised to +the Bench in 1847 and died in 1858.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312" />MONAHAN, JAMES HENRY (1804-78).—Attorney-General in 1848, +Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas, 1850.</p> + +<p>NAGLE, DR.—"A Dublin doctor without patients," who acted as a handyman +for John O'Connell. He was devoid of ability. Subsequently he received a +small Government post.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, DANIEL (1775-1847).—Successor to John Keogh in the +leadership of the Irish Catholics, and although his actual achievements +were not so much greater than those of Keogh and Sweetman, their +brilliancy threw the fame of his predecessors into the shade, where it +still rests.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, MAURICE (1802-53).—Eldest son of Daniel O'Connell, and a +member of the British Parliament. He was the cleverest and most national +of O'Connell's children.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, MORGAN JOHN (1804-85).—Second son to Daniel O'Connell. He +served under General Devereux in South America, entered the British +Parliament as a Repealer, deserted Repeal, and was appointed +Assistant-Registrar of Deeds.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, JOHN (1810-1858).—The chief political assistant of his +father, Daniel O'Connell. After the collapse of the Repeal Association +he received a place from the British Government.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, DANIEL, JUN. (1815-1897).—The youngest of O'Connell's sons. +He sat in the British Parliament until 1863, when he was appointed to a +Government post.</p> + +<p>O'CONOR DON, THE (1794-1847).—Repeal M.P. for Roscommon. He deserted to +the Liberals, and was made a Lord of the Treasury.</p> + +<p>O'DEA, PATRICK.—The Young Ireland leader in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.</p> + +<p>O'DOHERTY, KEVIN IZOD (1823-1895).—Son of a Dublin solicitor. After his +release from transportation he settled in Australia and became prominent +in its politics <a name="Page_313" id="Page_313" />and medical science. In 1885 he returned temporarily to +Ireland, and sat for a brief period in the British Parliament as +Parnellite member for Meath.</p> + +<p>O'DONNELL, JOHN.—A Limerick solicitor and an ardent Young Irelander. +When Richard O'Gorman came to Limerick to urge the people to arms, +O'Donnell travelled through the county with him as his aide-de-camp. On +the news of the outbreak in Tipperary, O'Donnell, Doyle and Daniel +Harnett raised the country around Abbeyfeale, cut off the mails and +pitched an insurgent camp outside the town where the Abbeyfeale men +waited for O'Gorman, who was elsewhere in the county, to take command. +Before his arrival the news of the collapse at Ballingarry arrived and +the Abbeyfeale Camp broke up. O'Donnell escaped from the country with +O'Gorman.</p> + +<p>O'DOWD, JAMES.—A Conciliation Hall lawyer. Afterwards appointed to a +legal position in connection with the London Custom house.</p> + +<p>O'DWYER, CAREW.—Repeal M.P. for Louth, 1832-5. He deserted Repeal and +received a minor position in the Exchequer Court.</p> + +<p>O'FLAHERTY, MARTIN.—A Galway solicitor and a member of the Irish +Confederation.</p> + +<p>O'GORMAN, RICHARD, JUN. (1826-1895).—Son of Richard O'Gorman of the +Woollen Hall, one of the foremost Dublin merchants and Catholic leaders +in the Emancipation struggle. O'Gorman settled in New York after his +escape and became a judge of the Superior Court.</p> + +<p>O'HEA, JAMES.—A lawyer described by Davis as of "vast abilities."</p> + +<p>O'LOGHLEN, SIR COLMAN (1819-1877).—Second baronet, son of the Master of +the Rolls. Afterwards M.P. for Clare, a Privy Councillor and +Judge-Advocate-General.</p> + +<p>O'MAHONY, JOHN (1816-1877).—A gentleman-farmer of ancient lineage and +high scholarship. After the <a name="Page_314" id="Page_314" />second attempt to kindle insurrection he +fled to the Continent and later proceeded to the United States, where +with Doheny and Stephens he founded Fenianism.</p> + +<p>PEEL, SIR ROBERT (1788-1850).—Chief Secretary for Ireland and organiser +of the "new police"—hence "peelers." In politics an opportunist, +opposing and supporting Catholic Emancipation and Free Trade. Premier of +England, 1834-5, 1841-6.</p> + +<p>PENNEFATHER, BARON (1773-1859).—Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, +1821, and for thirty-eight years a judge.</p> + +<p>PIGOT, CHIEF BARON (1797-1872).—Son of Dr. Pigot of Mallow and one of +the founders of the attempted National Whig Party in the period 1820-30. +He was a cultured man and an upright judge.</p> + +<p>PIGOT, JOHN E. (1822-1871).—Eldest son of Chief Baron Pigot and the +intimate comrade of Thomas Davis. Author of many ballads and articles in +the <i>Nation</i> and other National journals, and an ardent collector of +Irish music.</p> + +<p>PLUNKET, LORD (1764-1854).—William Conyngham Plunket, member for +Charlemont in the Irish Parliament and a bitter opponent of the Union. +Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1830 to 1841.</p> + +<p>RAY, THOMAS MATTHEW (1801-1881).—A Dublin trades-union leader of great +organising ability, appointed by O'Connell secretary of the Repeal +Association. Subsequently Assistant-Registrar of Deeds.</p> + +<p>REILLY, THOMAS DEVIN (1823-1854).—One of the <i>Nation</i> staff and one of +the few leading Young Irelanders who supported Mitchel on the division +in the Confederation in 1848. In the United States he won a foremost +position as a political writer.</p> + +<p>REYNOLDS, JOHN.—An Alderman of the Dublin Corporation and M.P. for +Dublin City in the British Parliament, 1847-52. Subsequently Lord Mayor. +He was utterly corrupt and a mob-leader.<a name="Page_315" id="Page_315" /></p> + +<p>ROEBUCK, J.A. (1801-79).—An English politician who professed +Independent views, and from the violence of his denunciation of his +opponents was nicknamed "Tear 'em."</p> + +<p>RUSSELL, LORD JOHN (1792-1878).—Liberal Prime Minister of England, +1846-52, and again, 1865. He successfully opposed Lord George Bentinck's +proposal to preserve the Irish from famine and pauperism by undertaking +the construction of railways.</p> + +<p>SAVAGE, JOHN (1828-1888).—One of the founders of the <i>Irish Tribune</i>. +After the complete failure of the insurrection, he escaped to the United +States where he became eminent in literature and for a time head of the +Fenian movement.</p> + +<p>SHEIL, RICHARD LALOR (1791-1851).—Dramatist, orator and politician. +Deserted Repeal and was made British minister at Florence. Subsequently +Master of the Mint.</p> + +<p>SHIELDS, JAMES, GENERAL (1807-1879).—Born near Dungannon, Shields +emigrated in early life to the United States, where he attained +distinction in journalism and subsequently celebrity as a lawyer. On the +outbreak of war with Mexico, he forsook the Bar for arms, and as a +soldier acquired even higher renown. In 1848 he was chosen as governor +of Oregon, and was considered one of the ablest of the United States +Generals. His political views being in sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, several of them looked towards Shields as another Eoghan +Ruadh, who would accept the call of his country and return to lead the +Irish once they had taken the field. Subsequently Shields engaged in the +Civil War on the Northern side, and, although a comparatively old man, +distinguished himself by defeating General Stonewall Jackson at the +Battle of Winchester, although his army was inferior in numbers and he +had been wounded at the opening of the fight.</p> + +<p>SMYTH, P.J. (1826-1885).—One of the youngest of the Young Ireland +leaders. He escaped from Ireland to <a name="Page_316" id="Page_316" />the United States after the +collapse of the insurrection, and carried out the rescue of Mitchel from +Van Diemen's Land. On his return to Ireland he re-entered politics, and +sat in the British Parliament successively for Westmeath and Tipperary.</p> + +<p>STANLEY, LORD (1802-1869).—Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the British +Liberal Government, 1846-52.</p> + +<p>STAUNTON, MICHAEL.—Proprietor of the <i>Morning Register</i> newspaper and +an alderman of the Dublin Corporation. His memory survives as the +involuntary agent of bringing Duffy and Davis together—and thus leading +to the foundation of <i>The Nation</i>.</p> + +<p>STEPHENS, JAMES (1825-1901).—A Kilkenny railway employe. Afterwards +chief organiser of the Fenian movement, of which, with O'Mahony and +Doheny, he was one of the founders.</p> + +<p>TORRENS, JUDGE.—Called to the Bar, 1798, raised to the Bench, 1823, +where he sat for thirty-three years.</p> + +<p>WILDE, SIR THOMAS (1782-1855).—Lord Truro, Attorney-General to the +British Liberal Government in England, 1846; afterwards Chief Justice of +the Common Pleas and Lord Chancellor of England, 1850-2.</p> + +<p>WILLIAMS, RICHARD DALTON (<ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: Misprinted as '1882' in original.">1822</ins>-1862).—One of the most popular of the +poets of the <i>Nation</i>. The Government prosecution failed in his case, +and he emigrated to the United States where he became Professor of +Belles Lettres in the University of Mobile.</p> + +<p>WYSE, SIR THOMAS (1791-1862).—One of O'Connell's lieutenants in the +Catholic Association, of which he wrote a history. He declined to +support Repeal, but favoured what is now known as Federal Home Rule, +served as a Lord of the Treasury in Melbourne's administration, and +afterwards for many years as British minister at Athens. He was a man of +superior character to the ordinary type of place-seekers, and his +writings won him a temporary European reputation.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-26" /><a id="image26" href="images/image26-big.jpg"><img src="images/image26.jpg" width="398" height="600" alt="General Cavaignac (1848), Ledru-Rollin (1848), Lamartine (1848)" title="General Cavaignac (1848), Ledru-Rollin (1848), Lamartine (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">General Cavaignac (1848), Ledru-Rollin (1848), Lamartine (1848)</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317" /><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX" />INDEX HOMINUM</h2> + + +<p> +<br /> +<br /> +Anglesea, Lord, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Antisell Dr., <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Bantry, Lord, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barrett, Richard, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barrett, Eaton Stannard, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barry, Michael Joseph, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bem, General, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bentinck, Lord George, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Birch, James, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blake, Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blackburne, Chief Justice, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brenan, Joseph, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Broderick, Captain, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brown, Bishop, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bryan, Major, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Byrne, Rev. Father, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Callanan, Jeremiah Joseph, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Campbell, Sir John, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cane, Dr., <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cangley, David, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cantwell, Bishop, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cantwell, James, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Carleton, William, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cavanagh, John, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cavaignac, General, <a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +"Christabel" (Mrs. Downing), <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Clarendon, Lord, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Clements, Edward, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cloncurry, Lord, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Conway, Michael George, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Corvinus, Matthias, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crampton, Judge, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crean, Michael, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crolly, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cromwell, Oliver, <a href="#Page_x">x</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Curran, John Philpot, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cunningham, D.P., <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Daunt, W.J. O'Neill, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Davis, Thomas, <a href="#Page_viii">viii</a>, <a href="#Page_ix">ix</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>-<a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>-<a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>-<a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dembinski, General, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Devereux, General, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dillon, John Blake, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>-<a href="#Page_xvii">xvii</a>, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>-<a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dobbyn, Stephenson, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Doherty, Chief-Justice, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Doyle, Daniel, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Drumm, J.H., <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan, <a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-<a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>-<a href="#Page_122">122</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Duffy, James, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ebrington, Lord, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +"Eva" (Mrs. Kevin Izod O'Doherty), <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Emmet, Thomas Addis, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318" /> +<br /> +Emmet, Robert, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ferguson, Sir Samuel, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fitzgerald, John Loyd, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fitzgerald, Lord Edward, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fitzpatrick, James, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fitzsimon, Christopher, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +French, Henry Sneyd (High Sheriff of Dublin), <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fullam, Bernard, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +George, Henry, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gray, Sir John, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grattan, Henry, Jun., <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grey, Earl, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gregg, Rev. Thresham, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Halpin, Thomas, M. 112, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Harnett, Daniel, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hartnett, Richard, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hatchell, John, Solicitor-General, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Heytesbury, Lord, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hogan, John, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hollywood, Edward, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Holmes, Robert, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hudson, William Eliot, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hume, Joseph, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Huniad, Matthias, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ireland, Richard, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Jackson, General "Stonewall," 315.<br /> +<br /> +Jones, Paul, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Kenyon, Father, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Keeley, James, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Lalor, Patrick, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lalor, James Fintan, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lamartine, Alphonse de, <a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lane, Denny, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lawless, Hon. Cecil, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Leach, James, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ledru-Rollin, Alexandre de, <a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lefroy, Baron, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>-<a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Leyne, Maurice, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Longmore, Captain, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III.) xix, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +MacHale, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maclise, Daniel 70, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +MacManus, Terence Bellew, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>, <a href="#Page_xxi">xxi</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>-<a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>-<a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +MacNally, Bishop, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.<br /> +<br /> +MacNevin, Thomas, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maginn, Bishop, <a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mangan, James Clarence, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Martin, John, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>-<a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +"Mary" (Miss Ellen Downing), <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +M'Cabe, Peter, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.<br /> +<br /> +M'Carthy, Denis Florence, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Meagher, Thomas Francis, <a href="#Page_ix">ix</a>, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>-<a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>-<a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>-<a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>-<a href="#Page_199">199</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>-<a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>-<a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Meany, Stephen Joseph, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Melbourne, Lord, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +M'Garahan, Wm., <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.<br /> +<br /> +M'Gee, Thomas D'Arcy, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>, <a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>-<a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Miley, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mitchel, John, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>, <a href="#Page_xiii">xiii</a>, <a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>-<a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>-<a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319" /> +<br /> +Mitchel, William Henry, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Monahan, Chief Justice, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Moore, George Henry, <a href="#Page_xi">xi</a>, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Moore, Judge, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Morgan, Francis, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mullen, Robert, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Murray, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Nagle, Dr., <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Napoleon I., <a href="#Page_298">298</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Normanby, Lord, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +O'Brien, William Smith, <a href="#Page_vii">vii</a>, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>-<a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>-<a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>-<a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>-<a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>-<a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>-<a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>-<a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>-<a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>-<a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, Daniel, <a href="#Page_xxvii">xxvii</a>-<a href="#Page_xxix">xxix</a>, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>-<a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>-<a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>-<a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>-<a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>-<a href="#Page_50">50</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_54">54</a>-59, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>-<a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>-<a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>-<a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-<a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>-<a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>-<a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>-<a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>-<a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, Daniel (Jun.) 47, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, John, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>-<a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, Maurice, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, Morgan, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Conor Don, The, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Connor, Feargus, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Dea, Patrick, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Doherty, Kevin Izod, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>-<a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Donohoe, Patrick, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>-<a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Donnell, John, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Donnell, Richard, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>-<a href="#Page_193">193</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Dowd, James, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Dwyer, Andrew Carew, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Flaherty, Martin, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Gorman, Richard (Jun.), <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Gorman, Richard (Sen.), <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Hagan, John, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Hara, Charles, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Hea, James, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Loghlen, Sir Colman, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>-<a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Mahony, John, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>, <a href="#Page_xvii">xvii</a>, <a href="#Page_xviii">xviii</a>, <a href="#Page_xxi">xxi</a>, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>-<a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Neill, Eoghan Ruadh, <a href="#Page_ix">ix</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Parle, Father, <a href="#Page_xvi">xvi</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peel, Sir Robert, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pennefather, Baron, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pigot, Chief Baron, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>-<a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pigot, Dr., <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pigot, John Edward, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pius IX., Pope, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Plunket, Lord, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Quinlan, Margaret, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ray, Thomas Matthew, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reilly, John, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reilly, Thomas Devin, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>, <a href="#Page_xviii">xviii</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Reynolds, John, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Roebuck, J.A., <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Russell, Lord John, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>-<a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Savage, John, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>-<a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Shiel, Richard Lalor, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320" /> +<br /> +Shields, General, <a href="#Page_v">v</a>, <a href="#Page_vi">vi</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sligo, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Smyth, Patrick Joseph, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stanley, Lord, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Staunton, Michael, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stephens, James, <a href="#Page_xxi">xxi</a>, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>-<a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>-<a href="#Page_254">254</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Torrens, Judge, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Trant, Captain, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>-<a href="#Page_183">183</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Victoria, Queen, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Walsh, Edward, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wilde, Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wilde, Lady ("Speranza"), <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Williams, Richard Dalton, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wright, J.D., <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wyse, Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +</p> + + +<p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p> </p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14468 ***</div> +</body> +</html> 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cacb9c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14468 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14468) diff --git a/old/14468-8.txt b/old/14468-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf2ed8b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14468-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10387 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Felon's Track, by Michael Doheny + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Felon's Track + History Of The Attempted Outbreak In Ireland, Embracing The Leading + Events In The Irish Struggle From The Year 1843 To The Close Of 1848 + + +Author: Michael Doheny + +Release Date: December 26, 2004 [EBook #14468] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FELON'S TRACK *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Aaron Reed and the PG Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + +[Illustration: Michael Doheny] + + + + +THE FELON'S TRACK + +OR + +HISTORY OF THE ATTEMPTED OUTBREAK + +IN + +IRELAND + +Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle from +the year 1843 to the close of 1848 + + +BY + +MICHAEL DOHENY + +Author of "The American Revolution." + + + Hurrah for the mountain side! + Hurrah for the bivouac! + Hurrah for the heaving tide! + If rocking the Felon's Track! + + +_ORIGINAL EDITION_ + +WITH D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848, A PREFACE, +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR'S CONTEMPORARIES, +AN INDEX, AND ILLUSTRATIONS + + +DUBLIN + +M.H. GILL & SON, LTD. + +1920 + + + +_Printed and Bound in Ireland by +M.H. Gill & Son, Ltd. +50 Upper O'Connell Street +Dublin_ + + +_First Edition_ 1914 +_Second Impression_ 1916 +_Third Impression_ 1918 +_Fourth Impression_ 1920 + + + + +[Illustration: General Shields] + + +_Dedication._ + +TO + +GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS + +UNITED STATES SENATOR, ETC. + + +DEAR SIR,-- + +In dedicating to you this narrative, I have been influenced by one +consideration only. I have no title to your friendship. I cannot claim +the most remote affinity with your career in arms. There is nothing +connected with this sad fragment of history, either in fact or hope, to +suggest any association with your name or achievements. But as my main +object is to show that Ireland's failure was not owing to native +recreancy or cowardice, I feel satisfied that of all living men, your +position and character will best sustain the sole aim of my present +labour and ambition. + +In past history, Ireland holds a high place; but her laurels were won on +foreign fields, and the jealous literary ambition which raised adequate +monuments to these stormy times denied to her swords the distinction +they vindicated for themselves in the hour of combat. The most +brilliant, unscrupulous and daring historian of France degraded the +niggard praise he accorded them by making it the medium of a false and +contemptible sneer. "The Irish soldier," says Voltaire, "fights bravely +everywhere but in his own country." + +Without pausing here to vindicate that country from such ungrateful +slander, it is enough to say that you were not placed in the same +unhappy position as the illustrious exiles from the last Irish +army--soldiers of fortune in the service of a foreign prince. You were a +citizen of this free Republic, and a volunteer in its ranks; it was +_your_ country, and you and your compatriots who followed the same +standard did no dishonour to those who were bravest among the brave on +the best debated fields in Europe. + +In the wreck of every hope, all who yet cherish the ambition of +realising for Ireland an independent destiny, point to your career as an +encouraging augury, if not a complete justification for not despairing +of their country. It is because I am among those that I have claimed the +honour of inscribing your name on the first page of this, my latest +labour in her cause. + +I remain, dear Sir, + +Very respectfully and sincerely yours, + +MICHAEL DOHENY. + +_New York, Sept. 20, 1849._ + + + + +PREFACE + + +The Irish Confederation still awaits its historian. Three of its leaders +have left narratives of its brief and momentous career, but, of the +three, Doheny alone participated in the Insurrection that dug the +political grave of Young Ireland. In "The Felon's Track," written hot on +his escape from the stricken land, he tells the story vividly and +passionately. It has morals deducible for all manner of Irishmen, and +one for those English statesmen who comfort themselves with the illusion +that Irish Nationalism, like Jacobitism, is a platonic sentiment. The +man who, roused from his bed at midnight by tapping fingers on his +window and a voice whispering that insurrection was afoot, rose and rode +away in the darkness to join himself to its desperate fortunes was no +young man ardent for adventure. Michael Doheny, when he left his home +and his career to engage in the fatal enterprise, was a sober +middle-aged barrister, a man of weight and fortune into which he had +built himself by the hard toil of twenty years. His social anchorages +were deep-cast--and no mere sentiment provokes such a man to throw aside +the hard-won harvest of his life and risk the rebel's or the felon's +fate. + +In the leadership of the Young Ireland party Michael Doheny was, save +Smith O'Brien, the oldest man and, like O'Brien, his counsels while +courageous were always restrained. There was little other likeness +between the men. Doheny sprang from the poorest class of the Irish +farmers. At Brookfield, near Fethard in Tipperary, where he was born in +May, 1805, he followed the plough on his father's little holding, +earning literally his bread in the sweat of his brow, and educating +himself how he could, for his people were too poor to pay for his +schooling. His indomitable perseverance and his thirst for knowledge +overcame the formidable obstacles of fortune, and at thirty years of age +the poor peasant boy had become a barrister of reputation for ability +and fearlessness. He returned to his native county to become the most +popular and trusted of its "counsellors"--the advocate who did not fear +to face and beard Influence and Ascendancy in its courts. The city of +Cashel had had much of its property alienated and long enjoyed by local +magnates whom none were willing to offend. Doheny fought and defeated +them and regained the purloined estates for the people. He was made +Legal Adviser to the Borough of Cashel and when later the pestilence +fell upon the place, and even the men employed to carry the sick to +hospital lost courage and fled, Doheny showed the same manly example of +citizenship and duty which years later forced him "on the Felon's path," +by carrying in his strong arms to shelter and relief the deserted +victims of the plague. Davis who marked his character, and knew that on +such men a free and self-respecting Ireland must be rebuilt induced him +to enter the Repeal movement of 1842, and in its councils he swayed the +influence of a strong, sincere, able and incorruptible man until the +Association fell into the toils of the English Whigs. Then he quitted +it and formally adhered to the Young Irelanders. To them he was +invaluable for his eloquence--less brilliant and polished than that of +Meagher, but more effective in its appeal to the heart of the peasantry +whom Doheny knew better than any of his colleagues. On a platform he +triumphed, but with the pen he was often ineffective. His admiration and +reverence for Davis misled him into laboriously imitating Davis's style, +and the result was what it must always be when one man attempts to +express his ideas not in his own way but as he thinks a greater man +would express them. Much that would have been impressive and lucid as +Doheny becomes unimpressive and clouded as Doheny-Davis. In a few of his +verses and "The Felon's Track" Doheny the writer will survive. As a man +who gave up all to help his country and served her like a gallant son, +his memory must be honoured while Ireland has virtue. + +The Irish Confederation, on whose council Doheny sat, was noble in +conception, true in policy and able and honest in its membership. Never +in the leadership of the modern Nationalist movement has there been the +peer in genius and character of the men who founded and inspired that +brilliant and short-lived organisation. In its career it went nearer to +bridging the differences of class and creed in Ireland than any previous +organisation since the Volunteers at Dungannon proclaimed themselves +Irishmen and hailed their oppressed Catholic countrymen fellow-citizens. +But the Confederation was not yet six months old when it was called on +to face a situation in Ireland as terrible as that which confronted +Irishmen when Eoghan Ruadh O'Neill lay dead and Cromwell marched at the +head of his iron legions to the conquest of a distracted country. The +failure of the potato-crop which menaced Ireland with serious loss at +the birth of the Confederation in January, 1847, threatened the +destruction of the people by the middle of 1847. The Relief measures +provided by the English Whig Government set up a system under which +places, large and small, were provided for some thousands of persons of +political influence. Their tenure of employment depending upon the +ministry, they used that influence to the end of sustaining the +ministry, while the unfortunate small farmers who had hitherto kept on +the right side of the line between poverty and pauperism were forced to +the wrong side. Of all the measures passed under the guise of relieving +"the famine-stricken Irish" the most infamous was that measure which +provided that no farmer should be accorded relief if, the produce of his +farm having gone to discharge his rents, rates and taxes, he hungered +and yet strove to hold his farm. Before he was permitted to receive any +help from the public funds he was required to surrender his land and +become a pauper. Thus under pretext of relieving famine, pauperism was +propagated. + +Be it remembered that all this time there was no _famine_ in Ireland. +The potato-crop, indeed, had failed as it had failed in Great Britain, +France, Germany and other countries at the same period, but the corn +crop was fat and abundant. Each year of the so-called famine, food to +maintain double the whole population was raised from the Irish soil. It +was exported to England to feed the English people. Nobody starved in +Germany. The German governments ordered the ports to be closed to the +export of food until the danger had passed. The Irish Confederation +demanded the same measure. "Close the Irish ports," it called to the +British Government, "and no man can die of hunger in Ireland." The +British Government, instead, flung the ports wide open. The great +principle of Free Trade required that the Irish should export their food +freely. Relief ships from foreign countries laden with the food +subscribed by charitable people to succour the starving Irish met +occasionally ships sailing out of the Irish ports laden with food reaped +by the starving Irish. On the quays of Galway the unhappy people wailed +as they saw their harvests borne away from them, and were admonished by +the butt-ends of British muskets, the British Government meantime +passing Relief measures which provided employment for hordes of English +officials and Irish understrappers, and pauper-relief for those who +surrendered their manhood and their property--the cost of this relief, +like the cost of the passage of the Act of Union, being debited to +Ireland--a generous loan in fact. + +No doubt a union of the whole Irish people would have rendered all this +impossible. The Irish Confederation worked hard to bring about this +essential union. Directly and indirectly it achieved for a moment a +semblance of national unity. The Irish Council, composed largely of the +resident landlords--who mostly endeavoured to alleviate the +distress--came into being, reasoned with the Government and, when the +Government ignored reason, fell to pieces. George Henry Moore, a young +sporting landlord and a Tory (afterwards, as a result, to become a +Nationalist leader), conceived the design of getting all the Irish +members of the British Parliament to act together against the existing +British Government or any British Government which did not deal honestly +and effectively with the crisis. With the Marquis of Sligo, a nobleman +who did his duty to his tenantry during the Famine, Moore travelled +around Ireland and secured between sixty and seventy Irish members of +Parliament and forty-five Irish peers to subscribe to his independence +programme. They met in Dublin, resolved boldly, departed for London +cheered by the nation, and crumbled there at the Premier's frown. When +the Tory Lord George Bentinck proposed that instead of pauperising the +Irish by a vote of four or five millions for relief there should be a +vote of sixteen millions for railway construction, the Premier, Lord +John Russell, threatened the Irish members with his displeasure if they +supported Bentinck, and the majority of them thereupon opposed the +proposal of reproductive work for the people in lieu of pauper relief. + +It was in these circumstances Mitchel put forward his policy in the +Confederation of arming the people and bidding them hold their harvests. +The Confederation rejected the policy, still hoping to effect a national +union. Through such a union alone, it declared, could national +independence be achieved. Doheny strongly opposed Mitchel on this +ground. Mitchel's reply was simple. He had been and was ready to follow +the aristocrats of Ireland if they would lead. They would not lead, and +meanwhile the people perished. Therefore he would urge the people to +save themselves. The policy of the Confederation in normal times would +have been nationally sound. The circumstances had become abnormal, and +Mitchel's policy was suited to the abnormal circumstances. His +conviction that the British Government was deliberately using the +potato-crop failure for the purpose of reducing the Irish +population--which then was equal to more than half the population of +England and a menace to that country, as one of its statesmen +incautiously admitted--was a conviction not shared by the bulk of his +colleagues. They shrank from it as men will shrink from a conclusion +that horrifies the human nature in them. Mitchel went outside the +Confederation to preach his policy, and he might have preached it +without result had not the French Revolution turned men's minds to the +contemplation of arms and armed opinion. The arrest, indictment and +conviction of Mitchel, Doheny has described graphically. The reasons +that prevailed against attempting Mitchel's rescue, Doheny cogently +states. There is no reason to doubt that an attempt to rescue Mitchel +would have been a failure in its object. But there are occasions when it +is wiser to attempt the impossible than to acquiesce. The unchallenged +removal of Mitchel in chains from Ireland had a moral effect on the +country that was worth 20,000 additional troops to the Government. + +Thereafter, the Confederation vacillated in its policy and finally +permitted itself, in its desire for Unity as the potent weapon, to be +extinguished in favour of an Irish League which was to combine +O'Connellites and Young Irelanders. The Irish League met once, and died. +The Confederation had been hoodwinked. Doheny who opposed the +amalgamation, retired to Cashel, severing his connection with the former +Confederation. He was, therefore, free in honour to have taken no part +in the insurrection, since it was begun by men from whom he had +withdrawn. But when the voice in the night whispered through his window +that his former colleagues had crossed the Rubicon, Doheny, like the man +he was, rose and rode forth to make the fatal passage and stand or fall +with them. + +From this point, Doheny's narrative may be supplemented and corrected by +information that was not at the time he wrote available to him. Meagher, +Leyne, M'Gee, O'Mahony and MacManus, have left in newspaper articles and +in MS. accounts of what happened in the light of which Doheny's +narrative must be read. + +On Thursday, July 20th, 1848, the British Government issued a +proclamation ordering the people of Ireland to surrender their arms. +Thomas Francis Meagher, who was at the time in Waterford, issued a +counter-proclamation to the people of that city bidding them to hold +them fast. He then hurried to Dublin to consult with his colleagues and +he arrived in the metropolis the next day. There had been a strong +division of opinion in the Confederate clubs as to how the Government +proclamation should be treated, the general feeling of the rank-and-file +inclining to open resistance. The leaders counselled a waiting policy +until the harvest had been gathered, the arms to be concealed meanwhile. +This counsel prevailed against the remonstrance of one of the Dublin +leaders that if heaven rained down loaded rifles they would wait for +angels to pull the triggers. If the insurrection could have been +postponed until the harvest the counsel would have been sound. The +Young Ireland leaders forgot, however, that the Government had one +powerful weapon in reserve with which it might force their hands--the +Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. On July 21st Meagher and his +comrades and the Dublin leaders discussed and arranged the outline of a +contingent insurrectionary plan for the autumn. O'Brien left for Wexford +and O'Gorman for Limerick to organise those counties. The next morning +the news reached those who remained in Dublin that the Habeas Corpus Act +had been suspended, and that a warrant was on its way to Ireland for the +arrest of Smith O'Brien. The choice left was to fight, to become +fugitives, or to surrender. Dillon, M'Gee, Reilly, P.J. Smyth and +Meagher decided hurriedly on the first course. They rejected the +proposal to begin the fight in Dublin, as they believed it would be +hopeless with the resources at their disposal to contend against a +disciplined garrison of 11,000 men in a city a large proportion of whose +population was hostile. Kilkenny was regarded as a stronghold of the +Confederation, and Dillon suggested it should be the objective. Dillon +and Meagher quitted Dublin to seek O'Brien; Reilly and Smyth started for +Tipperary, and M'Gee for Scotland where it was hoped the Glasgow Irish +could be induced to rise, seize some of the Clyde steamers and effect a +landing in Sligo or Mayo which might rouse Connacht and western Ulster +to the assistance of the South. + +Dillon and Meagher left Dublin on the night of the 22nd of July by the +mailcoach for Enniscorthy. Neither had the slightest hope of a +successful insurrection, but they felt that honour and its future +survival demanded that a nation must reply to the command of a foreign +power to gag its mouth and throw down its arms by drawing the sword. +They found Smith O'Brien at Enniscorthy and he joined in their views. +Father Parle and the people of Enniscorthy undertook to defend O'Brien +by force of arms if any attempt were made to arrest him there, and +agreed that if he went into Kilkenny and Tipperary and succeeded in +arousing those counties Wexford would take up arms. O'Brien and his +colleagues moved towards Kilkenny through Graiguenamanagh where the +people received them with enthusiasm, and they arrived in what they +hoped to make again the provisional capital of Ireland in the evening of +the 23rd of July. + +[Illustration: Terence Bellew MacManus] + +The considerations in favour of beginning the insurrection in Kilkenny +were sound. It was the one Irish city of importance inaccessible to +British naval power, it offered a convenient rallying-centre for the +counties of Tipperary, Waterford, and Wexford upon which the Young +Ireland leaders relied, the country around it was well-adapted for +defensive fighting against superior forces, and it had an historic +appeal to the Irish imagination. The arrival of the insurgent leaders +was hailed with joy by the people, and there was no doubt of the +readiness of the populace to fight. But an examination of the military +resources of the place showed that the British forces consisted of 1,000 +troops in a strongly-defended position, while amongst the Irish there +were but 200 armed men and the gunsmiths' shops in the city could not +arm a hundred more. The decision not to strike the first blow at +Kilkenny in the circumstances was inevitable. It was agreed to make +for Carrick-on-Suir, another Young Ireland town, seize the place and +march at the head of the elated Tipperarymen on Kilkenny. On Monday, +July 24th, O'Brien, Meagher and Dillon left for Carrick-on-Suir, and on +the way they were received with enthusiasm at Callan, where the 8th +Hussars--mainly composed of Irishmen--manifested sympathy with the +insurrectionary propaganda. Near Carrick they were joined by John +O'Mahony, a landed proprietor of the neighbourhood, afterwards to become +famous as the founder of Fenianism. By descent, education and character +a leader of men, O'Mahony had thousands of followers among the people +ready to rally to any venture for Ireland at his call. "His square, +broad frame," wrote Meagher, "his frank, gay, fearless look; the warm +forcible headlong earnestness of his manner; the quickness and +elasticity of his movements; the rapid glances of his clear full eye; +the proud bearing of his head; everything about him struck us with a +brilliant and exciting effect, as he threw himself from his saddle and, +tossing the bridle on his arm, hastened to meet and welcome us. At a +glance we recognised in him a true leader for the generous, passionate, +intrepid peasantry of the South." O'Mahony strongly advised them to +begin the insurrection that night in Carrick, and he left to collect the +peasantry. O'Brien and his comrades proceeded to the town where the +people received them with frenzied enthusiasm, calling out to be led +immediately to the fray. "A torrent of human beings rushing through +lanes and narrow streets"--such is Meagher's description of the +scene--"surging and boiling against the white basements ... wild, +half-stifled, passionate, frantic prayers of hope ... curses on the red +flag: scornful delirious defiances of death.... It was the Revolution if +we had accepted it." But it was not accepted. The local leaders were +unworthy of the people. They persuaded O'Brien to go elsewhere. It was a +cardinal and egregious mistake which he regretted within twenty-four +hours. Had he brushed the quavering local leaders aside and given the +word to the imploring people of Carrick the insurrection of 1848 would +have become respectable. O'Mahony's followers to the number of 12,000 +were on the march to Carrick when the news reached them of O'Brien's +departure. Disheartened they broke up and returned to their homes. + +Doheny's account of what happened after the fatal retreat from Carrick +needs to be amplified in connection with the final error of O'Brien's +leadership. At the Council of War on the 28th of July O'Brien rejected +the proposal to seize for the use of his followers all things needful, +paying for them with drafts on the future Irish Government, and he +declined the other practical proposal to offer farms rent-free to all +who fought for Ireland. Neither would he assent to the suggestion that +he and the other leaders should go into hiding until the harvest was +reaped. Willing to fight and ready to die, he would not consent to +conduct a revolution on revolutionary lines. The departure of Doheny and +others--save Devin Reilly, who urged the abandonment of the insurrection +as hopeless--was in pursuance of their plan to await the gathering of +the harvest. + +O'Brien's attitude at the Council of War destroyed the last hope of the +insurrection. He expected to get men to fight under his standard while +he essayed no adequate provision for their support in the field, and +interdicted them from interference with private property to supply them +with the necessaries of the campaign. No nobler and braver man has +appeared in modern Irish history than William Smith O'Brien, but at the +head of an insurrectionary movement he was incompetent. There was none +of his lieutenants who, in his position, could not have made the +insurrection to some extent formidable. + +That it could have been successful, few will believe. Mitchel and +Meagher agreed that 1848 would not have been the year of Liberation. But +the former held very justly that the insurrection if it grew to +respectable dimensions might have forced terms from England. The +attitude of France at the time was a factor in the situation. The +pro-Irish minister, Ledru-Rollin, had been checked by the pro-English +minister, Lamartine, but General Cavaignac and Louis Napoleon were, for +divergent reasons, inclined to help Ireland against England, and +assurances had been given that if an Irish insurrection gained +considerable initial successes the French Government would exert +influence on England. A successful blow at Carrick and a subsequent +seizure of Kilkenny and proclamation of Irish independence from that +city was possible, and if realised would have probably led to the +counties of Waterford and Tipperary rising en masse. How far the +insurrection would have spread outside those counties is problematical, +but in the year 1848 they were counties which presented difficulties to +regular troops and advantages to insurgent forces. According to M'Gee, +Sligo was willing to rise if the South made a good beginning and the +Bishop of Derry, Dr. Maginn, sent a message to Gavan Duty that he was +willing to join in the insurrection at the head of his priests once the +harvest was reaped. Doheny's criticism of the action of some of the +Tipperary priests is justified. But of others it is to be remembered +that they were not in sympathy with Young Ireland, that they were not +bound to support an insurrection undertaken irrespective of them, and +that they could not be expected to take the initiative. There were at +least two priests in Tipperary prepared to lead their parishioners to +the insurgent standard if O'Brien struck at any point a successful blow. +O'Brien's indecision was the real cause why the insurrection died in its +birth. + +If courage and devotion could have saved Ireland in 1848, O'Brien and +his comrades would have saved the land. No braver gentlemen could any +nation produce. They asked their countrymen to take no risks they did +not take themselves in the forefront. But courage and devotion alone can +never make an insurrection into a revolution. 1848 was a failure--in one +sense--because there was no second Mitchel in Ireland when the first +Mitchel was hurried off on a British gunboat. + +But 1848 was not a failure in the true sense of failure. For years the +Irish people had submitted to any and every imposition of foreign +tyranny, taught to believe that forcible resistance to outrage on their +national liberties was in itself immoral. The sneer of the satirist +that the Irish were:-- + + "A nation of abortive men + Who shoot the tongue and wield the pen," + +seemed to have grown a reality. Young Ireland evoked the fighting +tradition of the nation once again. Without 1848 the spirit that freed +the Irish Catholic from being tributary to another Church and regained +the land for the farmers would have slept for a century--perhaps for +ever. + +Driven from his country, Doheny with the companion of his fugitive +wanderings, James Stephens, and the chivalrous O'Mahony, founded the +Fenian brotherhood in the United States. Once more before his sudden +death in April, 1862, he saw Ireland--on the occasion of the MacManus +Funeral. + +Let me, said a wise man, always be surrounded by men of sanguine +temperament. Defeat and exile could not dim the faith of Doheny in his +country. The fugitive who had wrecked his fortunes in Ireland's cause +and witnessed a failure which English statesmen believed ended for ever +the dream of Irish independent nationhood, set his foot in exile only to +begin anew to plan Ireland Independent. So long as the sanguine heart +that carried Michael Doheny undaunted along the Felon's Track beats in +the breast of his country the Irish Nation will be indestructible. + +ARTHUR GRIFFITH. + + + + +_This Edition is reprinted from the Original Edition published in New +York by W.H. Holbrooke, Fulton Street, in October, 1849. The portraits +of the Young Ireland leaders are mainly from the daguerreotypes by +Professor Gluckmann, and the illustrations of Tipperary in 1848 are +reproduced from the "Illustrated London News" of that year._ + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. Page +RETROSPECT.--COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE--EARLY DAYS OF +THE ASSOCIATION 1 + +CHAPTER II. +THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS.--THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER-- +PROGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION.--CLONTARF MEETING.--THE STATE +TRIALS.--THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY.--SMITH O'BRIEN.--FEDERALISM. +--THE BEQUESTS ACT 16 + +CHAPTER III. +FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT.--DIFFERENCES +BETWEEN MR. O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE.--FINANCIAL REFORMS IN +THE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION.-- +'82 CLUB.--THE COLLEGES BILL.--DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES +CONSEQUENT UPON IT.--QUARREL WITH MR. DAVIS.--THE GREAT LEVEE +AT THE ROTUNDA.--DECLINE OF THE AGITATION.--CLOSING LABOURS +AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS 42 + +CHAPTER IV. +IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS.-- +CONDUCT OF THE ASSOCIATION.--DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB.-- +MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS TO IRELAND.--DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE 73 + +CHAPTER V +DEFEAT OF PEEL.--ACCESSION OF THE WHIGS.--MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE.--DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL.--MR. O'CONNELL +DENOUNCES THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY.--CONTINUED DEBATES.-- +QUESTIONS AT ISSUE.--PHYSICAL FORCE.--THE SECESSION.--WHIG +ALLIANCE.--DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE.--FORMATION OF THE +CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER.--MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH.--CLOSE OF +THE YEAR 1847. 98 + +CHAPTER VI +THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL.--HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE, +AND SPEECH.--THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED.--ARREST OF +MESSRS. MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS, AND DUFFY.--CONVICTION OF +MR. MARTIN.--HIS SPEECH.--CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF +MR. O'DOHERTY.--DISSOLUTION OF THE CONFEDERATION.--THE LEAGUE 118 + +CHAPTER VII. +THE OUTBREAK.--MR. O'BRIEN IN CARRICK.--CASHEL.--KILLENAULE, +MULLINAHONE, BALLINGARRY.--AFFAIR AT KILLENAULE.--DEFEAT +OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMONS.--PERSONAL ADVENTURES OF +THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. O'BRIEN'S +ARREST 159 + +CHAPTER VIII. +ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE.-- +ARREST OF TERENCE BELLEW M'MANUS.--CLONMEL SPECIAL +COMMISSION.--TRIAL, CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE +REBELS.--WRIT OF ERROR.--COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.-- +TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES 187 + +CHAPTER IX. +CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS.--DUNGARVAN.--THE +COMERAGHS.--MOUNT MELLERAY.--KILWORTH.--CROSS.-- +DUNMANWAY.--GOUGANE BARRA.--BANTRY BAY.--THE PRIEST'S +LEAP.--KENMARE.--THE REEKS.--KILLARNEY.--TEMPLENOE.-- +DEPARTURE.--CORK.--BRISTOL.--LONDON.--PARIS 201 + +CONCLUSION 283 + +APPENDICES 289 + +LIST OF CONTEMPORARIES 302 + +INDEX 317 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + Facing page + +MICHAEL DOHENY _frontispiece_ + +GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS _dedication_ + +TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS xvi + +WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN xxxii + +THOMAS DAVIS 16 + +JOHN BLAKE DILLON 32 + +CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY 48 + +RICHARD O'GORMAN, JUNIOR 64 + +PATRICK O'DONOHOE 64 + +THOMAS DEVIN REILLY 80 + +JOHN MITCHEL 96 + +ROBERT HOLMES 112 + +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER 128 + +JOHN MARTIN 128 + +KEVIN IZOD O'DOHERTY 144 + +BALLINGARRY, SLIEVENAMON IN THE DISTANCE (1848) 160 + +A STREET IN BALLINGARRY (1848) 176 + +THE WIDOW MCCORMACK'S HOUSE, NEAR BALLINGARRY. (1848) 192 + +THE KNOCKMELDOWN MOUNTAINS FROM ARDFINAN (1848) 208 + +DUNMANWAY PROM THE BRIDGE ON THE CORK ROAD (1848) 224 + +THURLES ON MARKET DAY (August, 1848) 240 + +JOHN O'MAHONY 256 + +JAMES STEPHENS 256 + +AHENY HILL, SHOWING THE CONSTABULARY POLICE BARRACK DESTROYED + BY THE INSURGENTS (1848) 272 + +JOHN SAVAGE 288 + +LOUIS NAPOLEON 308 + +LEDRU-ROLLIN, GENERAL CAVAIGNAC, LAMARTINE (1848) 316 + + + + +AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION + + +There are few facts detailed in the following pages that need +explanation here. If my motive in writing them were personal +gratification, or simply a desire to preserve a memorial of scenes in +which I took an anxious part, I might labour to make the narration more +interesting to my readers, without any care for future consequences. + +But through every disaster I preserved unbroken faith in the purpose and +courage of my country. I believed, and still believe that her true heart +is faithful to liberty and hopeful for the future; and this conviction +involved me in a struggle with the apparently opposite tendency of the +facts I was bound to narrate. Had I to write for a new generation, upon +whom these facts could have made no false impressions, my task would be +easy. I am persuaded that a simple statement of all that occurred would +satisfy any candid mind that no disgrace attached to Ireland in her +recent discomfiture. But I must needs confess that it is a task of +extreme difficulty to reconcile her fall with the pre-conceived notions +or present prejudices of those who read her story through the false +medium of the press; nor do I hope for more than partial success from +the details I have been able to give of the circumstances of which she +was the victim and the dupe. + +It is impossible fully to appreciate the pernicious effect of Mr. +O'Connell's teaching, without reviewing in minute detail the leading +circumstances of his wonderful career and the matchless and countless +resources with which he upheld his fatal system. In dealing with this +part of my subject my difficulties have been multiplied and enhanced by +a strong desire to do him no injustice, and to leave untouched by doubt +or suspicion a character so intertwined with my country's love. But it +became necessary to refer to those acts which chiefly tended to increase +the obstacles which beset our endeavours. In doing this, whether here or +elsewhere in my narrative, if I use phrases which would seem to imply +harshness to his memory, I wish them to be understood as applied in +reference to the attempt to effect the deliverance of Ireland by force +of arms, and establishing her entire and perfect independence. I have +avoided this question, assuming that I wrote only for those who agreed +with me in the belief that such is her true destiny, and the end for +which her children ought to strive. + +In this view of her recent struggle, there can be no doubt of the +tendency of Mr. O'Connell's policy to demoralise, disgrace, enfeeble and +corrupt the Irish people, and it is in that sense, and that only, I have +always spoken of him. + +Another subject, of perhaps greater delicacy and difficulty, was the +part taken by the Catholic clergy. On my arrival in America, I found a +fierce contest agitating, dividing and enfeebling the Irish-American +population. It was asserted on one side that the entire failure was +attributable to the Catholic priests, and that in opposing the +liberation of Ireland they acted in accordance with some recognised +radical principle of the Church. + +I could not assent to either of these propositions. I knew several +priests who were fully prepared to take their share in an armed +conflict; in fact, the vast majority of those I met at the time. And +again, with respect to such as did interfere, and opposed the efforts of +the people's chiefs, I do not believe that one man was influenced by +considerations connected with, or emanating from the Church, in its +corporate capacity. Of Mr. O'Connell's policy, already referred to, +none were blinder victims than some of the priests. It had made such an +impression on them that they scarcely could believe anything was real, +or any sentiment was true; and when they admitted its truth it was only +to prove its madness. Of other and more questionable motives I shall say +nothing here. + +But while I feel the injustice of the sweeping charge made against the +whole body of the priesthood, I would be unfaithful to my purpose and my +convictions if I concealed the acts and language of those among them, +who interposed and unhappily exercised baneful influence on the abortive +attempt of their unfortunate country. I shall only say further that what +relates to them is the only part of my narrative which gave me shame to +tell. + +I have only a word to add in reference to certain proceedings in the +Committee of the Association now made public for the first time. It may +be said, and, I doubt not, will be said, that these were matters which +we were morally pledged to keep secret. I readily admit that, although +there was no obligation whatever, either expressed or implied, as to any +subject discussed in committee any more than in the public hall, still, +I should not disclose any part of its proceedings if I were not +compelled by an imperative necessity. Upon one subject, and that the +most important to the character of my illustrious friend, no other proof +was available. And the tacit understanding, in virtue of which I would +be disposed to admit any obligation of secrecy, does not and could not +extend beyond such matters as would, if divulged, endanger the safety or +impair the efficiency of the Association. What I tell of the proceedings +of the Committee, even if it yet existed, would scarcely have any such +effect. But every one knows it not only does not exist, but that is has +left no memory which it would be possible to degrade. Its physical +existence long survived the last spark of moral vitality, and its +efficiency now consists in this, if it warn all men against the species +of terrorism which finally prevailed in its councils and effected its +overthrow. + +In certain circumstances which I relate, I may possibly make some +mistakes in the dates, owing to the difficulty of finding those dates in +odd numbers and broken volumes of the Journals to which alone I have had +access. + +It would have given me the sincerest pleasure to add to the collection +of heads, which I have been able to procure, those of others who took an +honourable part in the Irish struggle. Foremost among them are John +Martin and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, who followed in the footsteps and +shared the fate of John Mitchel. But I am not aware that there are any +likenesses of them in existence; at all events they are not to be +obtained in this country.[1] + +There are others, too, mentioned in my narrative, whose likenesses I +would feel delighted to present to my readers, and some, who although +cursorily or not at all mentioned, acted a noble and devoted part. Of +the first, are the companions of my wanderings, James Stephens and John +O'Mahony; and of the second, Doctor Antisel, Richard Dalton Williams, +James Cantwell, Richard Hartnet, Patrick O'Dea, and indeed many others, +of whose efforts and sacrifices it would be a source of pride to me to +make honourable mention.[2] + +I may be permitted to take this opportunity to assure them and others of +whom I have not spoken that no name has been omitted by me from any +feelings of dislike or any desire to depreciate the services and +sacrifices of a single man among the hundreds, whose exile or ruin +attests the sincerity of their convictions and the purity of their +patriotism. Even with men who do not take the same view of last year's +history as I do, their names and characters will go far to redeem its +darkest traces from shame and obloquy. They are now scattered over the +wide earth, and there is not one among them from the highest to the +humblest, whom I do not hold in the utmost honour and esteem. + +_New York, September 21, 1849._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: I am glad it has been found easy to supply these in this +edition of the work.--Ed.] + +[Footnote 2: Some of these will also be found in the present +gallery--Ed.] + +[Illustration: William Smith O'Brien] + + + + +CHAPTER I + +RETROSPECT--COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE.--EARLY DAYS OF THE +ASSOCIATION. + + +The appearance of this narrative will surprise no one. For apology, if +any be needed, the writer may trust to his own share in the transactions +with which it deals; and still more so perhaps to the misrepresentation +to which, during their progress, he had been personally subjected. But +personal vindication imparts neither interest nor importance to history, +while it necessarily detracts from its dignity and good faith. Besides, +time with the disastrous events marking its more recent course, have +silenced the voice of calumny; and the writer undertakes his task with +no personal feeling to gratify or even to consult. The character of +others, now unable to be heard, is far dearer to him than his own: and +while he aspires to justify, before the world, their singular career, +distinguished throughout by generous and lofty passions, surpassing +intellect and measureless love of their country and countrymen--a +career so brilliant and instructive even in the last hours of gloom--he +will endeavour to infuse into the history of their struggles and their +fate, that generous tenderness toward others, that spirit of +self-sacrifice and supreme love of truth, which were among their noblest +characteristics. + +The undertaking suggests but one painful consideration--the +impossibility of treating the subject fully and fairly without +investigating facts far anterior to the late struggle, but coincident in +their effect with its progress and development, and stamping their +pernicious and fatal influence upon the spirit and conduct that led to a +final overthrow. This will necessarily involve an inquiry into the late +conduct and teaching of Mr. O'Connell, which the writer would most +willingly avoid. Mr. O'Connell's name and character fill a mighty space +in history. They are the most cherished recollections in his country's +memory; and she clings to them with loving pride in this her hour of +utter desolation. The hand that traces these recollections would be the +last to aim a blow at the object of her sacred affections; and if in +obedience to a more binding obligation, Mr. O'Connell's policy be +questioned and condemned, his influencing motive shall be unchallenged +and unarraigned. What his final purpose was, and how he had determined +to effect it, had his life been spared, and his course left unimpeded, +now rest with him in his grave. It is for others to write his history +and vindicate his career. By me even his mistakes shall be treated with +forbearance. + +A brief reference to the struggle for Catholic Emancipation becomes here +imperative. That struggle has had no equal in history--nor for its moral +grandeur, nor for its triumph--but for the singular difficulties which +the position of the Irish Catholic imposed on those who engaged in it. +It is an error to call it emancipation. It was neither the first nor the +last, nor even the most important in the train of concessions, which are +entitled to the name of emancipation. The pains and penalties of the +"_penal laws_" had been long abolished, and that barbarous code had been +compressed into cold and stolid exclusiveness. But the vices which a +long and unrelenting slavery had burned into the character of the +country, remained. The lie of law, which assumed the non-existence of +the Catholic had infused itself into his nature, and while it was erased +from the statute book, it was legible on his heart. That terrible +necessity of denying his feelings, his property, his religion and his +very being, had stamped its degrading influence on his nature. In a +moral sense the law had become a truth--there was no people. The +Catholic gentry, giddy by their recent elevation, had only changed for +that semblance of liberty their old stern spirit of resistance and +revenge. Their new concessions hung gracefully around them, but they +were like grafts on an ash stock--their growth was downward, and they +wanted the stature and dignity of the native tree. Such were the means +at Mr. O'Connell's disposal. His enemies on the other hand were false, +powerful, dexterous and unscrupulous. His efforts necessarily partook of +the character both of the weapons he was obliged to wield and the foes +he struck down. As he advanced to eminence and strength, means, the most +crafty and cruel, were taken to overthrow him, every one of which he +foiled by a sagacity infinitely above that of his oppressors. So +successful had he been in deceiving the champions of intolerance, that +of all the great qualities displayed in that wonderful struggle, that +which was most prized was the cunning of evasion. It left behind it an +enduring and destructive influence. Dissimulation in political action +began to be regarded as a public virtue, and long afterwards, when men +sought to assert the dignity of truth, their candour was charged against +them as a heinous crime. It will be seen hereafter how fatally this fact +operated against their efforts. + +The very character of Emancipation has assumed an exaggerated and false +guise. The joy of the nation was boundless--its gratitude immeasurable. +In the shout that hailed the deliverer, earlier deliverers were +forgotten. No one remembered the men whose stupendous exertions wrung +from the reluctant spirit of a far darker time the right of living, of +worship, of enjoying property, and exercising the franchise. All these, +and more, which were once, and not very remotely, denied to the +Catholics had been before this accorded to them. Yet the interest and +importance of winning access to Parliament, to the higher ranks of the +army, and, perhaps a stray seat at the Privy Council, acquired the name +of Emancipation, and Mr. O'Connell monopolised its entire renown. He was +styled the "Liberator," and his achievement designated as "striking the +fetters from the limbs of the slave, and liberating the altar." In +truth, the import of Emancipation was so exaggerated, and its history so +warped, that even now at a distance of more than twenty years, both the +act and the actors are so misunderstood that it requires no little +daring to approach a question involving the sensibilities, prejudices +and passions of an entire generation. + +A truer appreciation might have given Mr. O'Connell a different and +higher destiny. Not alone the boundless exultation of the Catholic but +the mortified pride of the baffled Protestant also stamped its influence +on his fortunes, prospects and career. In proportion as he was to the +former an object of adulation and pride did the latter hoard up in his +heart for him enduring envy and insatiable hate. Another circumstance, +too, which Mr. O'Connell did not create and could not in the beginning +control, contributed to mar his future glory. This was the pecuniary +compensation which the emancipated Catholics kneeled to present him. It +is far from being intended here to disparage the offering or decry its +acceptance. On the contrary, if this were the proper place, both would +be vindicated with zealous pride. But the effect of the continued +collection, on Mr. O'Connell's conduct and efficiency was baneful in the +extreme. And it was among the most prominent circumstances in shaping +his career. + +Mr. O'Connell entered the House of Commons under auspices more +flattering and encouraging than ever smiled on the advent to that +assembly of any other man. In whatever light he was regarded, he was far +the foremost personage of his time. How his subsequent career might +justify the hushed awe with which a proud senate received him if he had +devoted himself to the broad and comprehensive questions of imperial +jurisprudence, for which he seemed so eminently fitted, it would be idle +now to conjecture. Certain it is that no act of his after life, varied +and wonderful as it was, realised the promise of that glad and glorious +morning. + +Lord Anglesea, who had been removed from the viceroyalty for suspected +treachery to the cause of intolerance, was restored to his office, by +more distinguished converts, and was received by the people with +tumultuous acclaim. His popularity was short-lived. The present Chief +Justice, Doherty, was then Attorney-General. He incurred the wrath of +Mr. O'Connell in consequence of treachery which he had exhibited in +conducting a trial at Clonmel. This led to a fierce encounter in the +House of Commons--the first great trial of Mr. O'Connell's powers--in +which Doherty's friends claimed for their champion a decisive victory. +However unjust may be that judgment, Mr. O'Connell's admirers were +compelled to admit that he failed in his impeachment and principally in +consequence of a letter written by Mr. Shiel, then second to no other +Irishman. Mr. Shiel had been associated with the Attorney-General in the +prosecution at Clonmel, and his letter boldly justified the conduct +which the great popular tribune vehemently and indignantly impugned. +This was quite unexpected, and greatly affected Mr. O'Connell's cause. +But whether Mr. Doherty failed or succeeded, he was rewarded, and almost +avowedly, by the Chief Justiceship of the Common Pleas. The appointment +was a direct insult to Mr. O'Connell, and scarcely a less direct insult +to the Irish bar, and the Irish nation. Mr. Doherty was regarded as a +man of great forensic ability, but no legal attainments. He had scarcely +acquired any practice, and no distinction whatever: so that his +elevation to a post he was so inadequate to fill gave universal +dissatisfaction, and was read as evidence that the Government of Ireland +was subservient to an unscrupulous and audacious faction. + +Soon after the date of this appointment the first Repeal Association +was established by Mr. O'Connell. His motives were at once bitterly +assailed. By some he was charged with being influenced by personal +mortification. By some his conduct was attributed to a love of +turbulence and money. By some it was said he only intended the agitation +as a threat, by means of which he could enforce a wiser, more liberal, +and just administration of the law and government in Ireland. Few, if +any, believed him to be in earnest and sincere. But the condition of the +country and the principles of Mr. O'Connell's early life would suggest +higher motives; and the perseverance and intensity of feeling and +purpose, with which he urged the deliverance of his country in after +times, proves that he was a stranger to the sordid considerations which +envy or fear coupled with his first labours in that direction. Certain +it is that, whatever were his motives, it could be no tempting ambition +that determined him to transfer the exercise of his abilities to the +tribune of angry agitation from that more legitimate and loftier arena +which, with unsurpassed energy, he had won. + +The agitation succeeded rapidly. The Government became at once +intolerant and impotent. They proclaimed down the agitation; but this +only imparted to it activity, energy and strength. The Government gave +way to a furious storm which had been long gathering elsewhere. The +great Reform Ministry succeeded with Earl Grey at its head; and in the +struggle for Imperial parliamentary Reform, Ireland and her independence +were forgotten. + +During the intellectual conflict that followed, Mr. O'Connell asserted +his pre-eminence, and won a lofty name. He made far the most successful +speech on the question of Reform. It not only exceeded the ablest +orations of the British leaders, but was, perhaps, the most triumphant +he himself had ever delivered. But his position soon changed. From being +the unanswerable champion of the ministerial majority in the House of +Commons, he took the lead of a small opposition which resisted the +Government on the Irish Bill. Although the minister was the exponent and +stern advocate of the widest liberality, in applying the reform to +England, he undertook to defend, on the very opposite principle, the +niggard liberty he was prepared in the same measure to extend to +Ireland. In this unnatural and unexpected turn of affairs, Mr. O'Connell +took a proud and bold stand, against the Government, and for his +country. The ministry succeeded, but he had more than ever acquired the +confidence and unbounded gratitude of his countrymen. Thenceforward, he +was their acknowledged chief, and his words expressed not more his own +than the public will. + +His remonstrances were vehement and angry, but they were vain. The +ministry disregarded the claims of justice, as well as the voice of the +orator. The quarrel became personal and vindictive to so great an +extent, that Mr. O'Connell's support would almost ensure the defeat of +any measure at the hands of the English Whig faction. + +While this was his position in the House of Commons, he was preparing +the elements of an organisation which was destined to embrace the whole +island. He started the first great Repeal Association, which was at once +attended with marvellous success. Forty-four members of Parliament were +under its control if not in its ranks. A discussion of the merits of +Repeal was forced in the House of Commons by the intemperate zeal of the +member for Cork.[3] The motion was resisted by the whole weight and +influence of the Ministry. But in a resolution proposed as an amendment, +both Houses concurred in acknowledging that Ireland's complaint was +founded in justice, and in solemnly pledging themselves to the practical +redress of her grievances. The resolution was carried to the foot of the +throne, and there received the sanction of royalty. + +But that resolution remained and remains unfulfilled. The ministry which +proposed it, redeemed their promise by an Algerine measure of coercion, +which Mr. O'Connell denounced as "base, bloody and brutal." His +opposition, and their own recreancy of principle, tended rapidly to +their overthrow. Lord Stanley, in hatred to Mr. O'Connell and his +country, abandoned the Government, which he charged with truckling to +the great demagogue's will. The country, on the other hand, withdrew its +confidence from them on the ground that they truckled to their +hereditary foes, and allowed the principles of the Tories to influence +Parliament in the name and through the agency of the Whigs. Division and +weakness followed; and the result was a break-up of the administration, +which was remodelled, with Lord Melbourne for its chief, on the +understanding that more liberal views should govern its future course. +An alliance was entered into with Mr. O'Connell, whose support the Prime +Minister openly claimed and as openly boasted of. Then was formed what +was known as the "Litchfield House Compact." This compact, if such the +understanding that existed can be called, was based upon the assurance +that the most liberal measures of justice should be extended to Ireland, +and that in the administrative department, the Government should apply +itself diligently to the reform and purifying of all public functions +and functionaries. What was the nature or extent of Mr. O'Connell's +engagement, I do not pretend to know. But whether he pledged himself to +abandon for ever the struggle for independence, or only to place it in +abeyance for a season to facilitate the action of the Government in +reference to their good intentions and favourable promises, he so far +fulfilled his engagement as to dissolve the Association. + +That Association was composed of various and very conflicting elements. +The motives which influenced many of its leaders were equally varied. +Many joined it merely because Mr. O'Connell was its founder and its +guide. Many among the middle ranks of society had acquired a sort of +interest in agitation they could not easily surrender. It had gained +them local distinction, and gratified a morbid vanity. Profuse votes of +thanks were their incentive and reward. To correspond with Mr. Ray, or +perhaps the Liberator, consummated their ambition, and for aught beyond +that they felt no concern. Others there were, corrupt by nature and +cunning in design, whose political exertions had personal advancement +for their sole aim; and others still who never believed Mr. O'Connell +sincere, but joined the Association and shouted their approval, because +too contemptible and feeble to acquire distinction except through the +echo of his voice or under shelter of his fame. To the false and the +sordid and the indifferent, the dissolution of the confederacy was a +welcome event: but the people, yet uncorrupted, looked on passively with +agonised hearts. + +Physical contagion generally begins at the bases of society, and trails +its way slowly to the upper ranks, occasionally dealing doom to some +hard hearts that mocked, it may be, its first uncared-for victims. But +moral corruption begins with the highest, and embraces the whole circle +of society in its descent. So it was in this instance. Members of +Parliament who had solemnly pledged themselves to the disenthrallment of +their country, accepted the wages, and entered into the service of the +Government who had one and all vowed they would prevent the fulfilment +of the hustings pledge, even at the risk of a civil war. Among them was +Mr. O'Connell's son, who had taken that pledge before the assembled +people of Meath, his son-in-law, Mr. Fitzsimon, who had sworn it to the +freeholders of the metropolitan county, Mr. Carew O'Dwyer who, in virtue +of the same pledge, obtained the unanimous suffrage of Drogheda, and +several others. Many relatives and friends of Mr. O'Connell obtained +rewards adequate to their services. Agents who had been successful +against Whig candidates now retired into Whig places. The corporate +towns were made over to the Whigs, who held out the understanding that +the sons, nephews and kindred of the leading and deserving citizens +would be provided for in the departments suited to their different +capacities, and varying from the post of tide-waiter, to that of +stipendiary magistrate. Fierce was the struggle which followed, and sore +the disappointment, and many a scalding tear of baffled ambition watered +the way to the aspirant's ruin. + +This is not said for the purpose of disparaging the legitimate ambition +of those who sought advancement in the altered circumstances and +sentiments of the time. But the effect of such a state of things on the +morality of the nation was incalculably injurious. The most solemn +resolution was openly violated, and that by the very men who were +foremost in recommending the national vow. Nor would its tendency be +less fatal, assuming that Mr. O'Connell was correct in supposing that +the experiment would be vain, and that its failure could not fail to +supply new and more urgent reasons for the nation's independence. The +compact, if even entered into with that view, would shake all faith in +public men; because it would only change the parties with whom a false +obligation was contracted, leaving the obligation itself and its +violation exactly where they were. + +Mr. O'Connell's support was doomed to be as fatal to the Whigs as his +opposition. He unhappily assisted them during his period to carry one +measure, against which they had recorded several solemn decisions in +Parliament, namely, the Tithe Bill, without an appropriation clause, +which was a direct falsification of their own resolution, whereby they +defeated Sir Robert Peel's short-lived administration, in 1835. And what +was still more lamentable, he supported them in renewing in a modified +form the very Coercion Act for the introduction of which he designated +them as "_base, bloody and brutal_." + +But other elements were secretly sapping the influences for which he +made these sacrifices. The storm of disaffection, a long while gathering +among open foes and disappointed retainers, was about to burst on the +devoted heads of the Whigs. With their accustomed fickleness and +treachery of character they prepared to sacrifice, for the sake of +power, the man whom they conciliated and deceived in the same hope of +retaining it. If he foresaw that this would be the result of his +experiment, never was augury more fully realised. Whatever may be the +exact engagements of the Whigs, he was able to allege that not one was +fulfilled, while he was in a position to prove that he more than kept +his own: unless indeed, it could be assumed that for the few places +obtained by his friends, and others, some of them honourable men, he +surrendered the lofty and nearly impregnable position he occupied in +1834, and which, in one sense at least, he never afterwards attained. + +From whatever cause, his influence over the Whigs visibly declined, and +his counsels no longer swayed their Irish policy. Once more they relied +on the false expedient of yielding to their enemies and allowing them to +wield the _power_, while they were themselves content with the spoils of +the country. Again the quarrel with Mr. O'Connell became bitter and +personal, and again had he recourse to Repeal. + +From the time of the first Repeal Association to that of the Precursor +Society several other associations or societies were established, which +have left behind them scarcely the memory of their very names--that of +the second association alone excepted. Yet each had an ample treasury, +and was composed of the same or nearly the same elements, and the same +members. There is many an honest man and many a fool, whose boast it is +that they contributed a pound to each of them, and had their respective +cards. + +At last the late Repeal Association was formed. Its birth was received +with sneers. Mr. O'Connell's sincerity was questioned, and his motives +canvassed with vindictive vigilance. The warmest Nationalists looked on +with doubt and coldness. Not one man of rank, outside the members of the +defunct society, joined its ranks. The routine of business, the receipt +of money, the resolutions, the speeches, were exactly identical with +those of its predecessors. The Government seemed neither to dread it nor +care for it. It lingered on, unsustained by the country and despised by +its enslavers. The contributions of the members did not suffice to pay +half the ordinary expenses of its machinery. Debts accumulated, and the +revenue did not increase. While the body was thus situated, Mr. +O'Connell had recourse to an expedient at once singular and decisive. It +was to build Conciliation Hall. The Association was at the time +seriously in debt, and he proposed to multiply that debt four-fold by +engaging in this costly undertaking. + +While persons who affected to be in his confidence were amazed at this +step, the Government regarded it as an evidence of purpose which it was +indispensable at once to check. They saw that their opponents had +formerly menaced and coerced in vain, and they determined to proscribe. +Accordingly the newly appointed viceroy, Lord Ebrington, being waited on +by the Dublin Corporation with some address of congratulation, +delivered them a lecture on the disloyalty of the Corn Exchange, and +announced his purpose never to employ in the service of the Government +any one who frequented that pestilent locality. The corporation returned +abashed to their council-rooms to record the viceregal threat. But from +end to end of the land rose one shout of indignant defiance. Suspicion, +doubt and hesitation gave way to the taunt involved in the insolent +challenge. The ranks of the Association were filled, and its treasury +replenished; and the viceroy soon discovered how little was to be gained +by a vulgar appeal to the meanest passion when it was addressed to the +Irish people. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 3: Mr. Feargus O'Connor, afterwards leader of the English +Chartists.--Ed] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS.--THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER.--PROGRESS OF +THE ASSOCIATION.--CLONTARF MEETING.--THE STATE TRIALS.--THE YOUNG +IRELAND PARTY.--SMITH O'BRIEN.--FEDERALISM.--THE BEQUEST ACT. + + +Even before this great occasion, gifted spirits were insensibly moulding +the character and destiny of the Association. The hurried but firm step +of a pale student of Trinity College might be daily seen pacing the +unfrequented flagways that led to the Corn Exchange. His penetrating +glance, half shrouded by its own shyness, his face averted from the +crowd, and his mind turned within, he would come, and sit, and hear, and +suppress the emotions that swelled his proud young heart as he caught +glimpses of a bright future for his country. He had the richest store of +practical knowledge, an imagination fruitful as a sunny clime: faith, +hope and courage boundless as immortal love. That he could realise all +things which came within the scope of his own fond yearnings, he had no +doubt. But most of the men with whom he took his place were stinted in +acquirements, and not over-gifted in intellect, and had no conception or +ambition beyond admiring or applauding the behests of one predominant +and controlling will. With the passionate aspirations of the young +student they felt no kindred sympathies. In their hands, political +action, for whatever end, sank into a traffic or parade. Even with such +materials he determined to work out his country's redemption, though +already satisfied that before such a thing were possible, their habits, +feelings, passions and hearts should be entirely changed. In order to do +this, it was necessary he should stoop to the level of their conceptions +and capacities. Thus for many weary months, with his energies, as it +were, chained down to a cold stone, toiled and strove Thomas Davis. His +influence first began to be felt as chairman of a sub-committee on the +registers. This position afforded him an opportunity of entering into +correspondence with the leading politicians of the party, and whenever +he saw in any man's replies evidence of depth, capacity or earnestness, +he at once entered into friendly and unreserved communication, exhorting +him in language full of passionate entreaty. In these, his early +efforts, John Dillon shared his labours, his ambition and his heart. + +[Illustration: Truly yours, Thomas Davis.] + +About this time Mr. Stanton, proprietor of the _Morning Register_, +committed to the two young graduates the writing of his journal. His +preference was not so much owing to their character as politicians as it +was to their pre-eminence in literary attainments. The press of Dublin +had then sunk to the lowest level. Newspaper literature had even fallen, +too. It was divided into three sections, each of which was the whining +slave of one or other of the great predominating factions of the +country. The _Register_ was generally regarded as ranking among the +mercenaries of the Castle. But no sooner did it fall into the hands of +the college friends than all Dublin was startled by the originality, +vigour and brilliancy of its articles. When the Whigs were about +retiring they determined on a gross and scandalous abuse of power for +the purpose of rewarding an unscrupulous partisan, even though it +involved an affront to one of their oldest and ablest friends, the then +Irish Chancellor. That man was Lord Plunket, who had served the Whigs so +faithfully, honourably and fearlessly. He was commanded to retire in +order to make room for Sir John Campbell, who was thereby to be +qualified for the English peerage. + +The stipendiaried journals of the Castle exhausted their adulation, and +had received their last reward for upholding the appointment. The Tory +press, hungry for the spoil which it maddened the others to lose, paid +back the compliments by intense vituperation. The slang of party warfare +was bandied in the usual fashion, without thought or a care beyond the +interest of party. The _Register_, to everybody's astonishment, took up +the one cause not represented, namely, that of the country. Davis +denounced the appointment as an insult to that country, and with a bold +hand vindicated the superiority of its Bar, without any reference to +party, above the adventurers whom each faction placed over it in turn. + +Soon after he and his friend ceased to write for that paper; but not +until satisfied by the experiment that a journal devoted to Ireland, +guided by truth, and sustained with earnest ability, would supersede the +whole jaundiced literature of the metropolis, and create a new era in +the progress of the country's civilisation and ambition. They +immediately busied themselves to establish such an organ. Charles Gavan +Duffy, late editor of the _Belfast Vindicator_, entered into the spirit +of the enterprise, and after an evening's ramble in the Park, during +which the terms and the principles of the paper and the spirit in which +it should be conducted were canvassed, the publication of the _Nation_ +was determined on. Mr. Duffy was convicted for having written a libel in +the _Vindicator_, and his friends earnestly advised him to compromise +the matter with a view of bringing more powerful energies to the same +task in a wider field. + +The first number of the new journal appeared on the 12th of October, +1842. It had been announced under auspices calculated to ensure its +success, but its unexpected ability, the ground it broke in the national +policy, and the vast intellectual resources it developed eclipsed the +prestige under which it was deemed necessary to usher it into existence. +It was at once a proof of greater powers than the country had yet +witnessed, and a prophecy of a different fate from what she hoped for. +The aims, the logic, the very language of factious diplomacy were +eschewed. It seemed as if a light had streamed down from heaven, fresh +from God, to give the people hope, comfort and assurance. The genius of +Davis seized the opportunity as though he were His deputed messenger in +the great work of regeneration. For the first time men awoke to the +consciousness of what they were or might be. Harnessed to the triumphant +car of one gigantic intellect, they had forgotten the dignity of their +own nature, and were astonished to find how transcendant its resources +and sufficient its strength. The publication of the _Nation_ was really +an epoch which marked a wonderful change, and from that day forth +self-reliance and self-respect began to take the place of grateful but +stultified obedience and blind trust. + +The change became more marked as the publication proceeded. In speech, +article, song and essay, the spell of Davis's extraordinary genius and +embracing love was felt. Historic memories, forgotten stories, fragments +of tradition, the cromlech on the mountain and the fossil in the bog +supplied him substance and spirit wherewith to mould and animate +nationality. Native art, valour, virtue and glory seemed to grow under +his pen. All that had a tendency to elevate and ennoble, he rescued from +the past to infuse into the future. His songs, so soft and tender, and +yet so redolent of manliness and hope, inspired the ambition to compose +a minstrelsy as wild and vigorous as themselves. They were read and +learned and sung with an avidity and pride heretofore unknown. + +The monster meetings were long a design of Thomas Davis, John Dillon and +the present writer. One great object with them was to train the country +people to military movements and a martial tread. This object it would +be unsafe to announce, and it was to be effected through other agencies +than drill. The people should necessarily come to such rendezvous in +baronial, parochial or town processions, and under the guidance of local +leaders. Order is a law of nature; and, without much trouble on the part +of those leaders, it would establish itself. The present writer left +Dublin early in the spring of 1843 to carry this design into effect. Sir +Robert Peel, then Prime Minister of England, alluding to the fact in the +House of Commons, said that the first Monster Meeting was purposely +held on the anniversary of the very day, the 22nd of May, destined for +the rising of '98. Sir Robert was wrong in his inference, though it was +a natural and nearly justifiable one; for at that Cashel meeting were +offered unmistakable evidences of the tendency of the agitation. Upwards +of £1,100 were handed to Mr. O'Connell. Each parish came in procession, +headed by a band and commanded by some local leader; and those who took +part in the public procession marched in excellent order for upwards of +eight miles. A military and magisterial meeting had been previously held +in the barracks of Cashel to consider whether the people should not be +routed at the point of the bayonet. But though the committee were fully +aware of this consultation, they decided unanimously that the meeting +should go on. The meeting itself passed the strongest resolutions, and +adopted a petition to the Legislature, consisting of a single line, +something to this effect: "You have robbed us of our Parliament by fraud +and blood; pray restore it, or ----." And finally, Mr. O'Connell said at +the dinner that evening, alluding to an armed strife; "Give me Tipperary +for half a day." This simple wish, enunciated in accents familiar to +that great ruler of men, elicited a cheer, a shout, a wild burst of +enthusiasm, so long and loud as almost to suggest the idea that it would +be seconded by naked steel and a deadly blow. One would think it had a +significant meaning, and yet there was no wrathful ban. Not one +pronounced that terrible anathema against shedding a single drop of +blood, which afterwards became the canon of peaceful men. Nay, if memory +be not very treacherous, amidst that roar was loudly distinguishable +the voice of him who on an after day, yet to be spoken of, cursed from +God's altar those who wished to realise his simulated aspirations and in +the endeavour had forfeited their lives. A doggerel ballad had been +written for the occasion by Thomas Davis, to the air of the "Gallant +Tipperary," over which himself and his friends afterwards indulged in +many a hearty laugh. One verse runs as follows:-- + + The music's ready, the morning's bright, + Step together left, right, left, right, + We carry no gun, + Yet devil a one + But knows how to march in Tipperary O! + By twelves and sixteens on we go, + Rank'd four deep in close order O! + For order's the way + To carry the day, + March steadily, men of Tipperary O! + +It is here introduced as a proof and a justification of what has been +stated in reference to one great object of the projectors of the monster +meetings. Possibly it will be said that this is an admission of the +truth of a charge frequently urged by Mr. O'Connell against the _Nation_ +and its writers, namely, that they having intentions of which he knew +nothing, had committed him to breaches of the law, of which he was not +only not guilty but not cognisant, but which by a perversion of judgment +were given in proof against him at the celebrated State Trials. It is +quite true that they did entertain the intentions which he afterwards so +vehemently repudiated. But they never once concealed them. In the +Association, and where Mr. O'Connell was committed with them, they +abstained from giving them utterance; but they did so because they felt +bound to act in accordance with the resolution of that body. And with +respect to the proceedings of the Cashel meeting and the more wonderful +and significant meetings that followed, they always submitted to him and +had his entire sanction for every act done at and every line written for +these meetings. In fact, if he were in any way mistaken as to them, they +were still more grievously deceived as to him. All their acts and +speeches were in the direction of their intentions; all his acts and +speeches were in the same direction, and went further. In truth, they +believed that he fully concurred in the sentiments which they cared not +to conceal, but which he had the cunning or caution not to avow. One +justification of this belief has been already given; another and a more +pregnant one was the Mallow defiance which the greatest poet and the +greatest sculptor of our time and nation have immortalised. In reference +to proofs not published, however conclusive, this history shall be +silent. + +Succeeding events shall be briefly glanced at only. Some of them have +already attained a place in history; and the scope of my narrative only +embraces the facts, incidents and tendencies which led to an armed +crisis and governed its explosion. Meeting followed meeting in rapid +succession, and each was marked by some signal manifestation of a +healthier, holier and more resolute national purpose. Numbers, calmness, +order, obedience, bespoke an advanced discipline, and prefigured future +victory. The crowds that attended the Halls of the Association no longer +consisted of idle brawlers; they were listening, thoughtful mechanics, +conscious of the toil and danger that lay before them, and braced for +the encounter. Dignitaries of the church and the ablest men among the +second order of the clergy appeared on the platform, and added sanctity +and dignity to the proceedings. Members of Corporations through the +country, and private gentlemen of rank brought to the imposing +confederacy the weight of their office, rank and name. The existing +Government in a splenetic attempt to crush it, had dismissed certain +magistrates for having their names enrolled on its books. This new +aggression gave a fresh impetus to its progress. Men who had previously +looked on it with doubt or fear, now embraced it as the only safeguard +for the remaining liberties of the island. The parliamentary committee +which had been instituted by Mr. O'Brien, had exhausted every source of +information within the reach of industry in developing the resources and +capacities of the country. The committee of the Association counted +within its members one hundred lawyers who preferred the fortunes of +Ireland to professional or political advancement. Many of these and +others who were not of the party brought to the popular tribune rare +endowments, the most generous passions, and the noblest eloquence. +Poetry, fresh, vigorous and full of heart, shed her harmonising and +ennobling influence upon the whole, and imparted to patriotism the last +pre-requisite of success. Amidst this grand movement stood Mr. +O'Connell, erect, alone, its centre and its heart. He was not its guide, +but its god, until he slept within a prison, and came forth less than +man. + +During this period two events occurred deserving particular notice--the +only facts upon which Mr. O'Connell's supremacy was questioned, or his +advice audibly condemned. These were, first, his refusal of French +contributions and French sympathy, of which M. Ledru Rollin, since so +celebrated, was to be the bearer; and secondly, his acceptance of +contributions from America under protest, against the "infamous +institution" of slavery. He rejected the first with indignant scorn, +because it was the offering of "republicans," and spoke of the latter +with contempt, as "smelling of blood." + +These two acts alienated from his cause the only foreigners in the world +who were willing to espouse it. His wisdom was questioned and condemned. +It was urged upon him that he should not intermeddle with foreign +institutions or with the political predilections of individuals. Enough +for Ireland, he was told, to find that Frenchmen and Americans were +ready to do battle in her cause, and it ill became her to spurn their +advances with indignity and a sneer. The argument failed, his hatred of +slavery and republicanism out-weighed all other considerations. + +I have fixed upon the State Trials as an epoch in this history, marking +a distinct phase in the character of the Repeal Association. The +proceedings of that extraordinary inquest are familiar to most men. It +is not my intention to refer to them, except as a sort of pivot upon +which public sentiment veered. When they were commenced there was +untold wealth in the coffers of the Association. There was still a +greater store of public purpose in the country. Threats, hot and +violent, had been uttered. Pledges had been made which could only be +violated in shame and death. A challenge had been given from which it +would be baseness to shrink. The world looked on in wonder and awe. Each +successive act was more and more gigantic; each resolution bolder. When +the meeting at Clontarf was projected, the heart of the nation beat +quick and hotly. Yet no man was surprised; none condemned. The +associations of the spot suggested a perilous future. Still the hazards +it prefigured created no alarm; the directions of a sub-committee +respecting the military order of the processions towards the place of +meeting was but the expression of the public hope that lay at every +heart. + +While the bustle of preparation was at its height; while the flushed +capital was dizzy with wild excitement, a proclamation appeared on the +walls--'twas nearly evening's dusk--forbidding the proposed +demonstration. For that proclamation there was no law; scarcely any +object. It could not render the meeting illegal. It would not entitle +the chief magistrate to disperse it; for if it were proved to be +constitutional, he would be answerable before the laws of his country. +It was simply a warning utterly inefficient for good or ill in any trial +that may follow. In this state of things, a responsibility of the +greatest magnitude devolved on the Association, or its committee. They +were hastily summoned or came together spontaneously. Alarm, surprise, +disappointment, chagrin, swayed their hurried consultation. The +decision was weak, and it was fatal. It was only carried by a small +majority, but in that majority was the great spirit of the confederacy. +Never after did he stand on equal terms with his adversary. He was +driven before him amidst broken hopes, and broken promises--his +challenge, a boast unfulfilled, his prestige withered. + +What the issue might have been if the decision were different, it would +be rash to conjecture. It might have been carnage; it might have been a +triumph. The historian has nothing to do with conjecture. But in this +case was involved a mighty question, palpable, self-created and +conclusive. The wisest forethought may fail to arrive at a sound +conclusion as to the result of holding the meeting. The risk existed, no +doubt, that some ill-disposed or hired villains, or even rash +enthusiasts may provoke the troops, and thus afford a pretext for +carnage. But opposed to that were the dictates of prudence, honour and +fear on the part of those in command of the army; and it seemed a more +probable result that either the meeting would be allowed to proceed, or +it would be illegally dispersed in the usual way by reading the Riot +Act. Even if the weight of conjecture were the other way, the +consequences should be risked rather than falsify the national pledge. +To recede was cowardice; not the vulgar cowardice arising from personal +weakness, but the moral cowardice which shrinks from an imperious +obligation, because it is perilous. The meeting should be held; every +possible precaution should be taken to prevent an armed conflict. If +Power, drunk with its own advantage, risked an outrage, the people +should be taught to yield; but only to yield with the purpose of +entering a court of law, as prosecutors and avengers. Even if worse +consequences ensued after every effort to prevent them had been +exhausted, the issue should be left to God. Recriminations, painfully +petty in their nature, followed. The Government were charged with a +premeditated design to commit wide and indiscriminate slaughter, and the +weakness, in which were shrouded deep national shame and guilt, was made +matter of indecent boast. The Government, aware of the unexpected +advantage, followed up the blow. Mr. O'Connell took shelter in the +sacredness of the Hall, which, he imagined, he had guarded against the +encroachments of arbitrary power, and thither they followed him. Having +abandoned a position where he could act on the offensive, he was forced +to contend against the aggressive attacks of Government flushed with its +first success. + +The trial that followed already occupies a large space in history. Its +effects were immediate and disastrous. The personnel of the accused +assumed the nation's place. Exhortations full of intense eloquence were +addressed to the people from which the question of the country's +deliverance was entirely excluded. Technicalities of law absorbed the +attention which was due to Liberty. A demurrer, a motion in abatement, +or in arrest of judgment, was canvassed with a deeper interest by the +people of the provinces than by even the distinguished Bar, which were +arrayed on either side. Mr. O'Connell's infallibility in law engaged the +anxious solicitude, the pride, the passions of Ireland. Yet throughout +that long trial the question which would test it was not mooted. The +indictment was a subtle net-work, which excluded such argument. The +objections to the indictment also were objections of form merely, and +the final issue upon which the judgment was reversed was not even +remotely connected with the main enquiry, whether or not the charge of +conspiracy was sustainable in point of constitutional law. During the +progress of the trial, a fraud, a swindle, a petty theft, was +perpetrated by the officers of government, which more than one man, high +in office, had a hand in suborning. This fact had supreme influence on +the decision of the House of Lords. But the plain truth is, the judgment +was reversed as an essential move in a great party game. + +Ireland triumphed. Her triumph was a just and a great one. + +But her exultation was on a fallacious basis. She believed Mr. +O'Connell's infallibility was re-established. No one cared, or perhaps +dared to correct the error. In itself it seemed little worthy of notice, +yet it had its share of evil influence. First, it diverted men's minds +from the one question; secondly, it left behind it the demoralising +effect inseparable from untruth. Were it even what the public eagerness +chose to shape it, its relative value, weighed against the triumph of +courage and virtue, would be contemptible. + +Mr. O'Connell himself did not seem to share in the nation's pride. His +spirit was broken. He anticipated the glad wishes of the metropolis, and +walked home from the penitentiary clouded and gloomy. It was evident +something within him had died. However, he went back the next day, and +left the prison the second time in the midst of public rejoicings never +surpassed on any occasion in his life. His addresses on that day, and +subsequently while in town, were not such as they were wont to be; and +he soon retired to his wild mountain home to invigorate a mind and body, +borne down by gigantic labours, fearful responsibilities, some alarms, +and perhaps a chilling sense of defeat and weakness. His health was soon +restored, but his political vigour never. The first time his voice was +heard from that retreat, it was to recommend a compromise; and, for the +first time, his advice was openly opposed. Charles Duffy answered his +letter, which recommended to fall back on Federalism--a question in the +mouths of many, but in the brain of none--respectfully and firmly +remonstrating against such a course. In a great many circles, Mr. Duffy +could not be looked at with more wonder if he had recommended to cut off +Mr. O'Connell's head. + +Hitherto, this condensed retrospect has been almost exclusively confined +to the name and fortunes of O'Connell. It is time now to revert to other +actors in the scene. Even before the trial, elements of antagonism had +begun to manifest themselves. With the party since called "Young +Ireland," every consideration was subordinate to the great question of +national deliverance. They laboured incessantly to elevate the morals, +the literature, the taste, passions, genius, intellect and heart of the +country to the sublime eminence of a free destiny. Far the foremost man +in urging and encouraging this glorious endeavour was Thomas Davis. From +sources the most extraordinary, and the least known, there welled forth +abundant and seductive inspiration. He struck living fire from inert +wayside stones. To him the meanest rill, the rugged mountain, the barren +waste, the rudest fragment of barbaric history, spoke the language of +elevation, harmony and hope. The circle, of which he was the beloved +centre, was composed of men equally sincere, resolute and hopeful; there +was not one of them undistinguished. Some of them had now the first +literary distinction. The character of each was remarkable for some +distinctive and bold feature of originality. I, of course, exclude +myself from this description. I know not to what circumstance I owe the +happiness of their trust and friendship. My habits, my education, my +former political connections, disqualified me for such association. +Since first I took my place among them, seven or eight years have now +rolled by. They have been years of severest trial, years of suffering +and sorrow, years of passion and prejudice and calumny, years of rude +and bitter conflict, years of suspicion and acrimony, and finally of +defeat and shame; still, in that eventful course of time, to me at +least, there has occurred no moment wherein I would exchange the +faintest memory of our mutual trust, unreserved enjoyment and glad hope +for the hoarse approval of an unthinking world. There was no subject we +did not discuss together; revolution, literature, religion, history, the +arts, the sciences--every topic, and never yet was there spoken among us +one reproachful word, never felt one distrustful sentiment. Our +confidence in one another was precisely that of each in himself; our +love of one another deeper than brotherly. When we met, which was at +least weekly, and felt alone, shut in from the rude intrusion of the +world, how we used to people the future with beauty and happiness and +love. Little did we dream that those for whom we toiled, and thought, +and wove such visions of glory, would shun and scorn, and curse us. But +had that bitter cup, which afterwards we were forced to empty to the +dregs, been then presented to us, there was not one of us who would not +have drunk it to the last drop; drunk it willingly and cheerfully, +without further hope or purpose than our own deep conviction that we +owed the sacrifice to truth. + +Those who took immediate part in the proceedings of our circle before +the State Trials, were Thomas Davis, John Dillon, Thomas MacNevin, +Michael Joseph Barry, Charles Duffy, David Cangley, John O'Hagan, Denis +F. MacCarthy, Denny Lane, Richard Dalton Williams, with one or two +others whose names I cannot mention. To this list was afterwards added +Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard O'Gorman, John Mitchel, Thomas Devin +Reilly, and Thomas Darcy M'Gee. I do not include several distinguished +men who lived in the provinces with whom we communicated, and from whom +we received sympathy and sustainment; and I omit others who took a +leading part, in deference to the position they are now placed in. + +[Illustration: John Blake Dillon] + +With the first section above named, originated the idea of publishing +the _Library of Ireland_. It was proposed, discussed, and determined on +one evening, at the house of Thomas MacNevin, while some one sat at the +piano, playing the lovely Irish airs, of which the soft strains of Davis +suggested the conception to William Elliot Hudson. The music was as +true to the Celtic genius as the lays of Davis to its character and +hopes; and amidst the entrancing seductiveness of their association, was +born the generous resolution of rescuing the country's literature from +the darkness in which it had long lain. The _Library of Ireland_ was +proposed as a beginning, and so diffident did its promoters feel, that +they deemed it indispensable to engage the recognised genius of William +Carleton, whose name and abilities they pledged to the public, as an +assurance for the undertaking. Mr. Carleton promptly undertook his share +of the task, and James Duffy, the enterprising bookseller, assumed all +the risk and responsibility of the enterprise. + +John Mitchel, then known to few, and appreciated only by Thomas Davis, +was by him associated with those who were willing to engage in the new +and difficult labour. He pledged himself for him, and selected his +subject. Most nobly was that pledge redeemed; but its fulfilment dawned +on the fresh grave of him who made it. Other men, and first in order, as +well as eminent in ability, was Thomas MacNevin, who has also sunk into +a too early grave, more than realised the most sanguine hopes of an +exulting country. Death first interrupted this new current of life, even +in its day of most sparkling promise. Disunion haunted the petty +jealousies of little and narrow minds; famine, pestilence and defeat +have done the rest. The labourers are dead, exiled, immured in dungeons, +or scattered over the face of the earth as fugitives; and how far they +had capacity to fulfil their inspiring promise, can never be tested +more. A few, however, remained, and amid greater gloom, and nearer to +utter death, they stand out redeeming beacons to the future. + +I have not mentioned the name of Mr. O'Brien, as associated with us at +this early stage. He joined the Association in a time of great +excitement. The _Nation_ hailed the accession with the fondest joy. The +consistency of his politics, the purity of his intentions, and the +unvarying rectitude of his life gave abundant assurance, not alone that +he was deeply sincere, but that his purpose could only be changed by +death. But to those who looked beyond the expediency of the hour, those +who had cherished fervently the passionate aspirations for true liberty +his name and character became an augury of success: nor would they +intrude for any consideration on the attitude of lofty dignity he +assumed. + +It has already been stated that elements of antagonism between Mr. +O'Connell and the Young Ireland Party had at this time (the period of +the State Trials) manifested themselves. It will be remembered that this +period embraced a space of nine months, from the date of Mr. O'Connell's +being held to bail in September, 1843, to that of his sentence the 30th +of May, 1844. As the events of this or the previous year do not, +properly speaking, range within the historical scope of my narrative, I +have excluded chronological and historical order. My object has been to +group together the great features of the confederacy without other +reference than that of pointing out their moral influence, operating +through a long space of time. Thus I have referred to the Parliamentary +Committee instituted by Mr. O'Brien among incidents which belong to an +anterior period, because the vigour of these incidents, which left +moral seeds in their track, continued to co-exist and blend with the +powerful agencies of that Committee. As I now approach the period when +the differences with Mr. O'Connell, which hitherto developed themselves +in the distinctive characteristics of the respective opinions of both +parties rather than in any direct collision, became tangible, it is +necessary to observe strict historical and chronological accuracy. + +Before proceeding to details of succeeding events, a brief +recapitulation of important facts, with the dates of their occurrences, +become necessary. A few others, not heretofore alluded to, must needs be +added. + +The date of the imprisonment is the 30th of May, 1844: that of the +release the 6th of September in the same year. + +In the intermediate period the amount received in the Repeal treasury +during four weeks was, £12,379 14s. 9d. + +About the close of August was passed the Charitable Bequest Act, against +the indignant remonstrances of the priesthood and Catholic population of +Ireland. This Bill was obnoxious in all it's provisions, but the +enactment which was received with most scorn was the clause that +annulled a Catholic charitable bequest, unless it had been duly made six +months at least before the decease of the testator. The prohibition was +attributed to an insulting assumption that the Catholic clergymen abused +their influence over dying penitents, for sacerdotal or religious, if +not for personal aggrandisement, and the impeachment was repelled with +bitter execrations. Others objected to the Bill on grounds involving +more alarming considerations. They regarded it as the first infringement +on the liberty of the Catholic Church--the first criminal attempt to +fetter her free action and sow dissent among her prelates and priests. +The Repeal Association offered, from the beginning, its undivided, +unqualified and indeed vehement opposition. But amidst the storm and +rage of the nation, it became the law, and three Roman Catholic prelates +of the highest reputation undertook the duty of its administration. + +One party there was who regretted the Bill still more deeply, but in a +different point of view. At the head of these was Thomas Davis. He +regarded it as an instrument of dissension and weakness, cunningly +adapted to that end by Sir Robert Peel, and he deplored the diversion of +the public mind and energy from the grand national object. Mr. O'Brien, +to a certain extent, shared this feeling, but never obtruded the opinion +or ventured to check the Association, while Mr. Davis confined his +efforts to passionate warnings addressed through the columns of the +_Nation_. + +This question is introduced here because it was important and fatal in +its consequences. A still more important one taken in the same light +must interrupt its discussion for a moment: Mr. O'Connell's Federal +letter, already referred to. The leading sentiments of that letter are +subjoined. It is dated the 2nd of October, 1844. + +After stating what Simple Repeal and what Federalism respectively meant, +he proceeded to contrast their value. + +"The Simple Repealers are of the opinion that the reconstructed Irish +Parliament should have precisely the same power and authority which the +former Irish Parliament had. + +"The Federalists, on the contrary, appear to me to require more for the +people of Ireland than the Simple Repealers do; for besides the local +parliament in Ireland having full and perfect authority, the Federalists +require that there should be, for questions of imperial concern, +colonial, naval and military, and of foreign alliance and policy, a +Congressional or Federal Parliament, in which Ireland should have her +fair share and proportion of representatives and power. + +"It is but just and right to confess that in this respect the +Federalists would give Ireland more weight and importance in imperial +concerns than she could acquire by means of the plan of Simple +Repealers. + + * * * * * + +"For my own part, I will own that since I have come to contemplate the +specific differences such as they are, between Simple Repeal and +Federalism, I do at present feel a preference for the Federative plan, +as tending more to the utility of Ireland and the maintenance of the +connection with England than the plan of Simple Repeal. + + * * * * * + +"The Federalists cannot but perceive that there has been upon my part a +pause in the agitation for Repeal since the period of our release from +unjust imprisonment." + +I have only extracted from Mr. O'Connell's most elaborate letter, his +distinctly expressed preference for Federalism, and the single reason +upon which the preference is founded. The remainder consists for the +most part of a sort of logical equation, balancing the component +elements of both plans, from which is deduced the above conclusion. + +Charles Duffy's answer, dated October the 18th, was triumphant and +conclusive, at least in Mr. O'Connell's own mind, for he did not +afterwards repeat the same sentiments. But a blow had been given the +Association from which it never recovered. The newspaper press, taken +under three distinct heads, first the blind and heedless echoers of Mr. +O'Connell's doctrines, secondly the Whig organs in Ireland, and thirdly +the papers in the English interest, gave way to unrestrained exultation. +The wisdom, the prudence, the holiness of the "great Liberator," were +extolled as unmatched in the annals of statesmanship. A few whose +self-interest constrained their subserviency, shrugged wisely and said +nothing, while several provincial journals stoutly maintained the +undoubted and enduring supremacy of the great national aim over every +weak expedient. + +Whatever hopes may be entertained by Mr. O'Connell, his suggestions met +with no sustainment and no response, save the empty echoes of an +adulating press. Among the great party to whom he appealed, not one +voice was heard to suggest a practical step in the direction intimated. +The project fell, if indeed it were ever seriously entertained, leaving +no memory and no regret. The first place Mr. O'Connell afterwards +appeared in a public capacity, was at the Limerick banquet, given on' +the 20th of November. His speech on that occasion contained scarcely a +reference to Federalism, and both his sentiments and those of the other +speakers, including John, Archbishop of Tuam, as well as the Toasts and +Mottoes, were distinguished for loftiness of tone, unflinching purpose +and highest enthusiasm. But other elements were at work furtively +sapping that purpose and dimming that enthusiasm. + +Prominent among these was the spirit of religious dissension already +under discussion, to which it is now time to recur. + +At and after the period when the Roman Catholic prelates accepted the +functions of administering a law insulting and obnoxious to the +Catholics generally, much angry controversy prevailed. A report was rife +that the Government not alone succeeded in deluding the Irish Bishops, +but had accredited a minister plenipotentiary, whose mission was to +conciliate the Court of Rome to a "Concordat" with England. A rescript +said to be received by the Most Reverend Doctor Crolly, the Primate, was +adduced to prove not alone the existence of the intrigue, but its +partial success. The rescript contained an admonition to restrain the +intemperate violence of political priests, and an advice to confine +themselves more generally to the sacred functions of their holy office. +The English press magnified the advice into a command, and exulted over +the failure of the Repeal movement whose extinction they augured from +the withdrawal of the Catholic priesthood. + +Mr. O'Connell, alarmed at the import of a command so fatal, pronounced +the rescript "uncanonical." This led to greater dissensions and bitterer +recriminations. The prelates who condemned the Bequest Act, denounced +those who accepted the task of administering it. One of the body thus +writes:-- + + "The resolution [referring to one passed at a meeting of the + prelates, which was pronounced by the ministerial press a vote + of unanimous approval of the bishops' acceptance of the office + of Commissioners] did not meet the approval of all the Bishops, + neither could it convey to any one of the Episcopal + Commissioners the most distant notion that in accepting the + office he did not oppose the views and wishes of many of his + Episcopal brethren. When the resolution was moved, there were + six of the protesting Bishops absent, and a moment was not + allowed to pass after it was seconded, when it was denounced in + the strongest manner by two of the Bishops present. They + solemnly declared before the assembled prelates that, in the + event of any prelate accepting the odious office, they would + never willingly hold any communication with him in his capacity + as Commissioner."[4] + +But, while disunion reigned at the council board of the Catholic +Hierarchy, the Government plied their task of seducing, dividing and +misrepresenting bishops, priests, people and nation. Out of all the +elements of disunion, distraction and disaster over which they in turn +gloated, the British newspapers, with wonderful accord, predicted and +boasted of the complete overthrow of the Repeal Party. It was amidst +these circumstances of gloom and evil augury the year 1844, a year +within which range the most startling, extraordinary and trying events +of Ireland's recent history, came to a close. + +Before I conclude this chapter, I must revert to a fact which, although +unimportant in relation to the view of the question under consideration, +deserves to be remembered in connection with future events. The date I +cannot fix, as it was confined to the private circle of the Association +Committee, and no record of it remains. Immediately after the close of +the State trials, as well as I can remember, Mr. O'Connell proposed the +dissolution of the Association, with a view of establishing a new body, +from which should be excluded all the "illegal" attributes and accidents +of the old. The suggestion was resisted by Mr. O'Brien, and all those +understood to belong to what was called the Young Ireland Party. They +protested against such a course as false, craven and fatal, and Mr. +O'Connell at once yielded to their vehement remonstrances. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 4: Doctor Cantwell to Mr. O'Connell. Given in the _Nation_, +Vol. III., No. 119.] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT--DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MR. +O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE.--FINANCIAL REFORMS IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE +ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION.--'82 CLUB.--THE COLLEGES +BILL.--DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES CONSEQUENT UPON IT. QUARREL WITH MR. +DAVIS.--THE GREAT LEVEE AT THE ROTUNDA.--DECLINE OF THE +AGITATION.--CLOSING LABOURS AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS. + + +Thus wrote Thomas Davis at the opening of the new year:-- + + "Hitherto our dangers have been few and transient. The product + of mistake or enthusiasm, they were remedied by explanation and + kindliness. There are dangers threatened now, and against them + we shall try the same prompt and frank policy which never failed + us yet. Already the English press are quarrelling for the spoils + of the routed Repealers. They are almost unanimous in describing + the people as disgusted, the leaders as exhausted, and the + policy of the ministers as rapidly levelling the defences of the + once great party. + + "We do not quail. We remember that whenever the rent[5] has + fallen, the same press cried out the people are sick of the + agitation. Whenever righteous discussion took place in our + councils, they exulted over our 'fatal divisions,' and at the + beginning of each new blunder of the cabinet, they sang victory. + + "If the Irish be a hot or capricious race, who plunge into a new + policy because it is new, and abandon their dearest interests + and most solemn vows because their success needs time, then + indeed Repeal was hopeless and was always so. If the leaders + have not sagacity enough to embrace the business of an empire + and pierce through time, unwearied industry, pure hands and + resolute spirits, then to repeal is hopeless until a new race of + chiefs appears." + +Almost contemporaneously with this article, the Catholic Primate +contradicted Mr. O'Connell's assertion respecting the rescript, and laid +rescript and contradiction before the public. "I was surprised and +sorry," he writes, "to find that you had ventured to assert that a +letter sent to me some time past from the Propaganda was not a canonical +document." He adds that he laid the document before the assembled +prelates, and appends the resolution in which they acknowledged its +authenticity and approval of its counsel.[6] + +Mr. O'Connell at once expressed his entire acquiescence and deep +contrition. He bowed reverentially to the resolution of the prelates, +retracted the hasty opinion, and apologised for his error, which, he +said, resulted from his great anxiety of mind, caused by the avowal of +the _Morning Chronicle_ that the Whigs had a secret agent in Rome. + +But the prelates were far from unanimous in their construction of the +rescript which they promised unanimously to obey. With the resolution +among his papers, the Archbishop of Tuam proceeded directly from the +Episcopal meeting to the Repeal banquet at Limerick, where he delivered +a speech stronger in language and more violent in character than any he +had ever uttered. Some passages in that speech, wherein he eulogised the +heroism of the women of Limerick who cut their long hair to supply the +defenders of the city with strings for their bows, excited the wildest +enthusiasm and most rapturous applause. Doctor Cantwell, in the letter +already referred to, gives his construction, which he says was that of +the majority. + + "The Cardinal only evidently censures violent and intemperate + language, in either priest or bishop, whether they address their + flocks in their temples, or mix with their fellow-countrymen in + banquets or public meetings. We inferred, and I think we were + justified in the inference, that conduct and language at all + times unbecoming our sacred character, and not our presence on + such legitimate occasions, were the object of this salutary + caution." + +His construction was sustained more clearly and forcibly by Thomas +Davis. "It [the rescript] announces the undoubted truth that the main +duty of a Christian priest is to care for the souls of his flock, and +both by precept and example to teach mildness, piety and peace. It does +not denounce a Catholic clergyman for aiding the Repeal movement in all +ways becoming a minister of peace. Nowhere in the rescript is the +agitation as a system, or repeal as a demand, censured; but some +reported violence of speech is disapproved." + +The coincidence seems a strange one, that in the same paper, which thus +disposes of the rescript, the same paper wherein appear the letters of +Doctor Crolly, Doctor Cantwell, and Mr. O'Connell, the same paper in +which is published the official denial of a Concordat with the Pope, +under the viceregal seal, are also published the proceedings of the +Repeal Association, which consisted, to a great extent, of a violent +attack on the exploded Concordat. At the meeting held on the 13th of +January, it was denounced especially by two of Mr. O'Connell's friends, +Mr. O'Neill Daunt and Mr. John Reilly, in terms the most vehement and +indignant. Mr. Daunt used these words. "On that day fortnight he had +proclaimed from the chair of the Association, that if a rescript should +emanate from Rome denouncing the national movement, the Catholics of +Ireland would treat it as so much waste paper." This statement was made +on the 13th, Doctor Crolly's letter is dated on the 11th, Mr. +O'Connell's on the 14th, and Lord Heytesbury's denial of the Concordat +on the 15th of January. Contemporaneously with all these was also +published an address of his clergy to the Archbishop of Dublin, +deprecating in the strongest language certain calumnies against him, +which they attribute to priests and people, Protestant and Catholic. + +From these proceedings one inference is inevitable, namely, that they +who have so strongly inculcated obedience to the Holy See, and +denounced as an infidel any Catholic who refused blind obedience to its +decisions, in reference to secular education, were not then troubled +with the same sensitiveness or scrupulousness of conscience in regard to +the authority of the Roman Pontiff. But of that one word hereafter. I +here reproduce the historical facts connected with these letters, for +another object. Although the excitement about the threatened Concordat +was allayed, and the invectives against the Archbishop of Dublin abated +in intemperance, the bitterness of feeling which swept over the country +like an avenging scourge, left behind it germs of discord and weakness. + +Publicly or privately the Seceders did not interfere. At the meeting of +the Association already alluded to, Mr. O'Brien made a most noble +speech, inculcating education, self-reliance, organisation and progress, +without stooping to refer to the perplexed question, which filled his +audience with angry passions, and supplied the other speakers with +intemperate enthusiasm. + +The whole endeavours of the Seceders were at this time devoted to the +organisation of clubs or reading rooms on an educational basis. +Connected with this object was the augmentation of the Repeal revenue, +which was anticipated from the extended action of these political and +social schools. The funds were greatly diminished, and the weekly +collections had fallen to an average of about £150. It became necessary, +as much as possible, to curtail the expenses, and a reduction of a very +serious amount was effected during Mr. O'Connell's absence at Derrynane. +The effort was continued after his arrival in town, which led to +differences of opinion with him, in committee. Sinecure situations, +created by him, were abolished, and inquiries were instituted which gave +him great annoyance. He particularly resented and resisted the removal +from one of those offices of Doctor Nagle. Doctor Nagle was appointed to +be "curator of manuscripts", the ostensible duty of which was to +superintend the reports (then daily issuing from the press, and written +for the most part by the Seceders) for the purpose of preventing the +publication of anything illegal or dangerous. In effect, he was +nominally, literary, legal and moral censor. But the unanimous and loud +indignation of the essayists rendered his task a light one. He was +content to accept the salary and leave those gentlemen the guardians of +their own safety, their character and literary fame. Doctor Nagle +continued to act as librarian and, weekly, delivered to the secretary +certain lists of contributions that had been previously furnished him by +that gentleman. His salary and certain fees given to other "patriots," +came under the cognisance of a sub-committee consisting, as well as I +remember, of the present member for Dublin,[7] a Mr. O'Meara and someone +whose name I now forget. Their report adjudged the office useless, and +recommended its immediate abolition. A motion was accordingly made in +committee for Doctor Nagle's dismissal. Mr. O'Connell was in the chair. +All his sons were present, one of whom, I think, moved an amendment to +the effect that he be continued at his then salary. A division took +place, when the majority against the amendment was considerably over two +to one. Mr. + +O'Connell expressed himself deeply mortified at this result. Another +amendment to the same effect was then proposed and negatived by a +majority numerically somewhat less, when Sir Colman O'Loghlen moved, and +John Loyd Fitzgerald seconded, an amendment to the effect that he be +continued as clerk of the library at half his salary, that is £50 a +year. The result would have been the same as before but that many of the +majority had withdrawn under the impression that the question was +disposed of; the number for the amendment was twenty-two, and the number +against only twenty-three. Mr. O'Connell assumed the right to give two +votes, one as member, which made the numbers equal, and a casting vote +as chairman. It was then proposed and carried that every chairman should +in future have two votes, and Sir Colman's amendment was allowed to pass +in the affirmative. Doctor Nagle continued to fill his office until his +appointment to a more lucrative one under the Whig Government. + +The Eighty-Two Club which was projected in prison was finally organised +in January, 1845. The differences which manifested themselves in +Conciliation Hall imperceptibly extended to this body. The original +members constituted the committee and were self-appointed. The others +had to submit to a ballot. Some few were rejected, at which Mr. +O'Connell's friends took umbrage, and the rejected aspirants were sure +to attribute their decision to their devotion to the "Liberator." Thus +it happened that most objectionable candidates could not be resisted +without incurring the imputation of opposing and thwarting the "saviour +of his country." + +[Illustration: Charles Lavan Duffy (1846)] + +Mr. O'Connell himself, although he warmly approved of the club in the +commencement, soon ceased to feel an interest in its proceedings. For +the first year, its action was confined to some routine dinners, which +attracted a very fashionable attendance, and furnished an occasion for +some brilliant speaking. Yet the fame and respectability of such a body +were seductions which few of the leading men in the confederacy could +resist. The Eighty-Two Club became a standard toast at public dinners, +and its members were received as distinguished guests or visitors +wherever they appeared. Without having yet performed any distinct +service, or realised the promise involved in its establishment, the club +became a very important and imposing body. + +Mr. O'Connell was its president, and Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Grattan, Sir +Colman O'Loghlen and others, vice-presidents. The first committee was +composed of the Members of Parliament, Mayors of cities, and men eminent +in the different professions and literary pursuits. Complaints of +inattention were made against some of its members, and at the election +for officers after the expiration of the first year, others were +substituted for the inattentive and inefficient. The change for the most +part was made by unanimous consent; but when a ballot was called for, +other names were substituted for those on the house list, recommended by +the former committee, and the contest resulted in the rejection of +Richard Barrett and one or two others. This was taken as an affront to +Mr. O'Connell, though personally he neither took part in, nor was +present at, the meeting. Whether it was owing to Mr. O'Connell's +aversion to the green-and-gold uniform, to which he sometimes expressed +his dislike, or his objection to the rejection of his soi-disant +friends, or to his consciousness that the club was not subservient to +his control, he took very little interest in its progress, and +frequently spoke of it in terms of derision. + +But that which produced the first sensible and vital difference between +Mr. O'Connell and the Seceders was the Colleges Bill. Education had long +been a subject of anxious solicitude with Mr. Davis, and he was in +continual communication with Mr. Wyse, its great parliamentary champion. +He had repeatedly urged upon him the indispensable necessity of the +principle of mixed education, as the basis of any collegiate system for +Ireland. That basis was recognised in the system of national education +which was accepted and approved of by the whole Catholic Hierarchy, with +one exception, and most warmly sanctioned by the Catholic priesthood and +laity. Extreme bigots of the Protestant school opposed and denounced it +as unscriptural and Godless, and one extreme bigot of the Catholic +school echoed the objurgation. It was not to be supposed that a +principle thus sanctioned, tried, and efficient as applicable to the +children of the poor, would be objected to when applied to those who +were higher in station and older in years. When, therefore, the Bill was +introduced and its principal provisions announced, it was received with +the utmost delight and, even, triumph. Mr. O'Connell proclaimed in a +meeting of the committee his emphatic approval of the principle of the +Bill. + +As soon as its details were published, it was submitted to the +parliamentary committee, and, during its discussion there, he expressed +for the first time some doubts as to the practicability of a mixed +system of education. Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Davis and others expostulated, and +deprecated in unmistakable terms the fatality of engaging the +Association to a principle so sectarian, narrow and illiberal. He said +he would take time to consider, and would meantime consult with Doctor +MacHale. He was reminded that Doctor MacHale could not approve of the +system without gross inconsistency, and requested to take the opinion of +all the other Bishops as well. How far he was governed by this advice is +unimportant and impossible to tell. But the bishops met in solemn synod +and published the result of their deliberations in the following +memorial:-- + + "That memorialists are disposed to co-operate on fair and + reasonable terms with her majesty's government and the + legislature, in establishing a system for the further extension + of academical education in Ireland. + + "That a fair proportion of the professors and other + office-bearers in the new colleges should be members of the + Roman Catholic Church, whose moral conduct shall have been + properly certified by testimonials of character, signed by their + respective prelates. And that all the office-bearers in those + colleges should be appointed by a board of trustees, of which + the Roman Catholic prelates of the provinces in which any of + those colleges shall be erected shall be members. + + "That the Roman Catholic pupils could not attend the lectures on + history, logic, metaphysics, moral philosophy, geology, or + anatomy, without exposing their faith or morals to imminent + danger, unless a Roman Catholic professor will be appointed for + each of those chairs. + + "That if any president, vice-president, professor, or + office-bearer, in any of the new colleges shall be convicted + before the board of trustees of attempting to undermine the + faith or injure the morals of any student in those institutions, + he shall be immediately removed from his office by the same + board." + +It will be observed that the principle of mixed education is not here +directly approved or condemned. But approval is an inference, as clear +and emphatic as words could express. The memorial prays for distinct and +specific alterations in the details of the Bill. It demands that certain +branches of secular education should be taught to the Catholic students +by Catholic professors approved of by the prelates, and it insists upon +other guarantees to secure the Catholic youth from the danger of all and +every species of interference with the tenets of their faith. + +How far the demands of the bishops were just or extravagant, is not a +fit subject of inquiry here. But the fact of making the demands stamps +the principle of the bill with their incontrovertible approval. The +argument which denies it involves an accusation against those Most +Reverend and Right Reverend divines, of evasion, treachery and untruth. +Any defence which implies that they avoided the direct condemnation of +the principle because they knew their memorial would be disregarded, +which would enable them to interdict the whole Bill, principle and +details, on the ground of the immorality of the latter, involves an +implication that moral and Christian turpitude is synonymous with +Catholic zeal. Such an implication, inevitable from the premises assumed +by the opponents of the mixed system, would be foulest calumny. The +Catholic prelates were eminently sincere; and had they been warmly +seconded they might have obtained such ameliorations in the details of +the system as would be satisfactory to every rational, liberal and +honest man. But the old jealousy, division and calumny which had grown +out of the Bequests Act, obtruded themselves on every attempt at calm +consideration, and scattered the elements indispensable to successful +moral combination. The principle and details of the academic project +became confused and confounded, and while some clamorously opposed, +others unthinkingly supported, the entire. Thus the minister was enabled +to balance the voice of public opinion as he found it arrayed for and +against his measure, and under pretence of indifference to despise both +parties. For a long while, the action of the Association was paralysed. +There were deeper questions at issue there than even those which +appeared on the face of the bill. The educational party insisted that +any measure which did not embrace the University was scanty and +illiberal. They claimed its honours, advantages and emoluments for all +the youth of Ireland alike; and they sought to make the academic +subordinate to and parcel of the collegiate system. The Dublin +University and Trinity College are separate and distinct foundations and +establishments. They proposed that Maynooth and Trinity College should +be both sufficiently endowed for all purposes of ecclesiastical +education, without any interference, direct or indirect, from each other +or the Government, while the University should be open alike to all who +had obtained distinction in the provincial colleges. Any measure of +narrower scope would, they contended, leave dullness and bigotry where +it found them. + +Mr. O'Connell, on the other hand, insisted on the inviolability of +Dublin College as a Protestant institution, inaccessible to Catholics, +except through the slough of perverted and perjured faith. He would then +have new colleges purely Catholic and entirely under the control of the +Catholic bishops, but endowed by the State, and chartered to confer +literary degrees. He would extend the same right to the members of other +religious persuasions. It was answered that these positions and his +arguments addressed to the academic question were irreconcilable and +incompatible. Catholics were already admissible to Dublin College, and +entitled to certain degrees and a vote. He either intended that they +should be thenceforth excluded or he did not. If not, then the argument +against mixed education would hold for nothing: if he did, then he +attempted what was impracticable, or, if not impracticable, preposterous +and absurd. It is not conceivable that Catholic young men, of laudable +ambition, would be deterred from entering the lists with their +Protestant contemporaries where most honour was won by superior +eminence, or that they would be swayed by a warning that a college +course would be attended with risk to their faith and morals, when they +remembered that for the past century, while the risk was infinitely more +imminent, no such warning had been ever heard from council, synod or +conference. It is a strange fact in the history of these troubled times +that no voice of denunciation against Dublin College could be heard in +the polemical din, although it was well known that its literary honours +stamped preliminary degradation on the Catholic aspirant, and were used +at once to mock his political condition and pervert his faith--no voice +was heard although one at least of the prelates had obtained degrees in +the University, while the bishop and priests of an entire diocese, in +conclave assembled, solemnly resolved that they would refuse sacraments +to any Catholic parent who sent his son to one of the Godless colleges. +But supposing it were practicable to exclude Roman Catholics from the +University, and that the system of exclusive education among the middle +and upper classes were applied in all its rigour, when were Protestant +and Catholic to meet? If it were dangerous to faith and morals that they +should discuss together the properties of an angle or the altitude of a +star, it could hardly be safe to have them decide together a principle +of law or determine the value or limits of a political franchise. All +this was urged on Mr. O'Connell, and sometimes apparently with success, +for he more than once consented to forego the discussion of the question +in the Hall; and he would have strictly adhered to that engagement had +he not been goaded by the intemperate counsels of others. + +In the desultory history of this question, two facts have been stated +requiring distinct proof. They are:--First, that Mr. O'Connell was +favourable to the principle of mixed education in the commencement. + +And, secondly, that the Seceders--those who were afterwards so glibly +denounced as infidels for their support of the Godless bill--were as +much opposed to that bill as he was. + +How Mr. O'Connell expressed himself when the bill was first announced +has been already stated. It is at once conceded that the writer's memory +of a conversation, in its nature almost private, were he even above all +suspicion, would not be a safe authority. In this instance there is no +need to rely on it--the statement is more than sustained by Mr. +O'Connell's recorded words. From a number of occasions, equally +available, I select one, because of its solemnity and importance. + +In a prolonged and most earnest debate in the House of Commons, on +motion for going into Committee on the Bill, June 2nd, Mr. O'Connell, +after eulogising the Maynooth grant, says:-- + + "Take one step more, and consider whether this bill may not be + made to accord with the feelings of the Catholic ecclesiastics + of Ireland. I ought not to detain you: I am not speaking here in + any spirit of hostility. I should be most happy to give any + assistance in my humble power to make this bill work well. I + have the most anxious wish to have this bill work well, because + I am desirous of seeing education promoted in Ireland; but even + education may be misapplied power. I admit that at one time I + thought the plan of a mixed education proper, and I still think + that a system of mixed education in literature and science would + be proper, but not with regard to religious education." + + And further on: "Again I repeat I am most anxious for the + success of this bill, but I fairly tell you it cannot succeed + without the Catholic bishops.... + + "There may have been harsh expressions in the public papers, but + depend upon it great anxiety exists in Ireland to have such a + measure." + +The second proposition would be abundantly sustained by a single +sentence in Thomas Davis's commentary on the speech from which I +extract the above. + + "On our part we had feared O'Connell conceded almost too far." + +But the testimony of Mr. O'Connell himself will be considered more +conclusive. + +Speaking in the Association on the 6th of July, he said:-- + + "I may remark for the present that on this subject a question of + difference has arisen among ourselves. Some of the members of + the Association are for what is called mixed education, and + others of us are against it, but that difference of opinion + ought not to create any division among us, for neither the one + nor the other of us is gratified by the bill as it stands." + +Again, in the course of the same speech, he said: + + "We (Mr. O'Brien and himself) did our best to avert such a + calamity. We called upon the Government not to persist in + working out this bill in all its details of blackness and + horror." + +He concluded by lauding Lord John Russell for his valuable assistance in +the attempt to amend the bill, and finally said that, having failed in +this attempt, he "flung the bill to the ministry, to deal with it as +they pleased." + +Mr. O'Brien continued in London, and proposed amendments to the bill in +every stage of its progress. It was during that time he was assailed by +Mr. Roebuck with all the little malevolence of his envenomed nature. He +failed in every attempt to remedy the defects of the bill, which passed +its last stage in the Commons on the 10th day of July. On the 17th of +the same month, Mr. O'Connell, speaking in the Association, said: + + "In the resolution I am about submitting to the Association, we + have not inserted one word about mixed education. This is a + question upon which there exists some differences of opinion. I + have my opinions upon the subject, I am the decided enemy of + mixed education.... + + "I fully respect the contrary convictions entertained by others, + and I am the more ready to proclaim that respect because at + present all possibility of discussion on the matter is out of + the question." + +It will be observed that Mr. O'Connell's opinions underwent a serious +and important change during the time over which these speeches range. +That change was produced gradually, and not without infinite trouble on +the part of his son whose inveterate zeal knew no bounds. In his +father's presence, and more particularly so in his absence, he denounced +the bill, and held up any Catholic who dared to support it to public +indignation. He called on the people of Waterford to demand Mr. Wyse's +resignation, not because he was an unfaithful representative, but +because he was unchristian. If he had not determined to divide the +Association on this question, he did all a man could do who had so +determined. + +I shall only trouble the reader with two quotations more. They refer to +the question immediately under discussion, namely, that the Seceders +were as much opposed to the obnoxious clauses of the bill as those with +whom they differed. But while they are unequivocal and conclusive on +that branch of the subject, they go still further and attest the sincere +forbearance with which they treated language and conduct which appeared +to them in the utmost degree narrow and intolerant. Discussion among the +bishops naturally produced discussion among the chiefs of the +Association, and it was agreed that the Association should confine its +objections to those provisions of the bill upon which there could be no +disagreement. The first petition of the Association was confided to me. +I endeavoured to embody in the petition what appeared to me the true +basis of a comprehensive system of education. Some persons on the +Committee objected to certain phrases as susceptible of an inference +favourable to the principle of mixed education. Mr. O'Connell joined in +the objection and succeeded in reducing the petition to a single +paragraph, deprecatory of the Tenth Clause of the Bill. I refused to +have any more to do with the petition, and it was dropped. After the +lapse of a fortnight, Mr. Maurice O'Connell proposed another, simply +praying that the tenth clause, which vested the appointment of the +professors of the college in the Government, should be rejected. + +Upon the occasion of this petition being submitted to the Association +(9th June, 1845), Mr. J. O'Connell delivered one of his usual invectives +against the bill and its abettors. Mr. O'Brien deprecated the +ill-feeling and discord such language was calculated to provoke. In the +course of his observations he said:-- + + "In seconding the motion of my hon. friend, the member for + Kilkenny, for the adoption of this petition, it is not my + intention to follow into any of the polemical questions which, + in the course of his protracted speech, he has raised in this + Association. I am obliged, however, to say in candour that in + some of the views he has put forward I cannot agree.... We have + given a general concurrence in this Hall to the recommendation + that has emanated from the Catholic Hierarchy.... I am not + disposed to assist the Government in making those seminaries, + which ought to be seats of learning, filthy sties of corruption. + It is because I believe that such would become their character + if this tenth clause were to remain a legislative enactment that + I shall oppose it to the utmost." + +The Reverend John Kenyon, then little known, rose to protest against the +course pursued by Mr. J. O'Connell, which he characterised as not only +uncatholic but unchristian. Mr. J. O'Connell, in the blandest tones, +deprecated any discussion tending to division, which induced Mr. Kenyon +to sit down. Having spread with dexterous industry the most baleful +elements of discord, he begged they should not be disturbed. + +I will be pardoned for transcribing here a few observations of my own on +that occasion. + + "I am exceedingly anxious, having the misfortune to differ most + widely from my honourable friend the member for Kilkenny, on the + subject of academical education, to express my cordial + concurrence with him in reference to the subject of this + petition. I shall not say one word about our difference of + opinion. I shall enter into no disturbing or dividing + discussion, and the more so because any difference we may + express could not fail to impair the efficiency of our action + where we are thoroughly agreed. I condemn this clause as + strongly as the hon. member can. Nay, I will go a step further, + and say that if there be no provision made by the bill for + religious instruction and moral culture, Protestant and Catholic + ought to unite in struggling for its rejection. No matter how + splendid may be the accommodations provided by these + academies--no matter how richly they may be endowed--if there be + no provision made for the religious education of the pupils, I + trust they will remain silent, unattended Halls." + +Numerous other proofs to the same facts are accessible, but these are +abundantly conclusive. The history of the struggle itself, the slow and +evidently reluctant change in Mr. O'Connell's opinions, and the +intolerant spirit with which the enemies of the bill pursued the name +and character of those who, although they approved of the mixed system, +were as inveterately inimical to the dangerous provisions of the bill as +they were themselves, sufficiently attest that faction swayed the +troubled movement of clerical and popular passion alike. The vulgar and +virulent anathemas of some tongues and pens not only swept unsparingly +over the unhappy crowd, but aimed at the lofty sphere of Episcopal +authority, even where most identical with purity and piety. A malignant +charity extended to the errors of the Primate that palliation which +perverted reason otherwise refused to admit. Too lofty to be accused of +treachery, he was not too sacred to be pronounced mad. + +The Committee of the Association alone nearly escaped the influence of +the fierce spirit of the times. There the voice of reason for a while +held sway. The forbearance and respect for conflicting opinions which +preserved its dignity were, with the one exception, extended to the +proceedings in the Hall, where even the most unscrupulous were checked +by a petition which recognised and welcomed the principle of united +education, but strongly deprecated the objectionable provisions of the +"Godless Bill." To this petition was affixed the signature of almost +every educated lay Catholic in Dublin. The number of Catholic barristers +alone whose names are found among those signatures amounts to +seventy-two. At the same time, a remonstrance addressed personally to +Mr. O'Connell was signed by the leading Catholics of the Association. +Its object was to preclude all discussion on the subject of the disputed +principle in Conciliation Hall. It was signed for the most part by men +who theretofore had taken but little part in the dispute. But against +all these precautions passion by degrees prevailed, and when Mr. +O'Connell was reminded by Mr. Barry, of Cork, that in reply to the +remonstrance he had pledged himself to abstinence from the irritating +discussion, his apology was, that he thought the document in question +and all proceedings connected with it were strictly private; as if the +privacy of a solemn pledge dispensed with its obligation. + +An episode in this strife deserves specific notice. At a meeting of the +Association, held on the 26th of May, the question was incidentally +introduced. Mr. Michael George Conway, a man of considerable literary +and oratorical powers, but not distinguished for any very rigid piety, +introduced the subject, evidently with the view of exciting Mr. +O'Connell's impulsive character against the species of restraint under +which his sinister friends were continually hinting he was held. The +speech breathed the most fervent spirit of Catholic piety, seasoned +with bitter invectives against what Mr. Conway described as a baffled +faction in the Association. Mr. O'Connell took off his cap, waved it +repeatedly over his head, and cheered vociferously. Few, if any, of the +Catholic gentlemen who were opposed to Mr. O'Connell, were present. Mr. +Davis rose, and commenced by saying: "My Catholic friend, my _very_ +Catholic friend." The allusion was intelligible to almost every man in +the assembly, but the practised and dexterous advocate saw and seized +the advantage it presented for exciting the active prejudices of the +audience. He started up and exclaimed, "I hope it is no _crime_ to be a +Catholic." The whole meeting burst into a tumultuous shout which bespoke +a triumph rather than admiration. Mr. O'Connell did triumph, but not in +the sense understood by his applauders. He apprehended the effect of the +honest, frank and manly exposure which, if he were not rudely +interrupted, would be made by Mr. Davis, and he was too keen to allow an +opportunity, so tempting to his object, to pass, though he should +violate all the observances of good feeling and decorum. Mr. Davis, on +the other hand, felt the blow to be a stunning one. He was shocked at +the same time by Mr. O'Connell's disregard, not alone of friendship, but +of common courtesy, and by the intemperate exultation of the audience. +To his loving nature, both seemed, especially in such a place, utterly +unintelligible and grossly unkind. He was the last living man to offer +insult to the belief or even the prejudice of a Catholic, and he felt +that this was thoroughly known to Mr. O'Connell, and that it ought to be +known to his audience. The disappointment and the rudeness were too +much for his susceptible heart, and he so far yielded to wounded +feelings as to shed tears. Mr. O'Connell, whether gratified by success +or influenced by his better impulse, caught him by the hand and +exclaimed: "Davis, I love you." Although the first struggle closed +amidst cheers, there were carried away from that meeting in the breasts +of many, seeds of bitterness and hate which ripened in after times and +under gloomier auspices. I dwell on it as important, although a casual +incident, frequent and almost inevitable in political excitement. There +were two parties from whose memory the scene never passed. These were +the blind followers of Mr. O'Connell, to whom it seemed blackest guilt +to question his supremacy or infallibility, on the one hand, and on the +other, all who sympathised with genuine and lofty emotions, and regarded +the attack on Mr. Davis as wanton, brutal and contemptible. The +miserable little faction that existed on the spoils of the Association +magnified the difference and fanned the discontent. That Young Ireland +had received its death-blow passed into a watch-word among them. + +An event of mighty augury and most trifling results, which distinguished +the year 1845, must not be passed unmentioned. This was the celebrated +levee, held in the Round Room of the Rotunda, on the 30th of May, the +anniversary of the imprisonment. It was referred to a sub-committee, on +which Mr. Davis and Sir Colman O'Loghlen were principals, to devise the +most appropriate celebration for that important day. They determined on +a public levee, to which were summoned whatever there was of +respectability, authority, genius and worth in the island, which +recognised the wisdom, justice and holiness of the struggle for +Nationhood. All the corporations, every delegation which derived public +authority from the popular voice, besides citizens of the unincorporated +towns, answered the summons with alacrity. That day witnessed a scene +the most extraordinary, imposing and formidable of the kind in modern +annals. The Round Room was thronged to excess, but preconcerted +arrangements had provided for the convenience of its favoured visitors, +while the public streets, abandoned to chance, presented an immovable +mass of human beings, swaying to and fro, but governed by a single and +omnipotent impulse, which steeled them to the pressure and broil as if +they felt themselves in presence of a speedy deliverance and free +destiny. + +[Illustration: Richard O'Gorman, Jun. (1848)] + +[Illustration: Patrick O'Donohoe (1848)] + +The preparations engaged the vigilant activity of a large committee for +two entire days and nights. Yet these preparations bore an infinite +disproportion to the display of wealth of mind, of energy of thought, +and national pomp, which ushered in the glorious morning. Those who +scoffed at the project when it was first announced came to mock the +scene but went away admiring. The spirit of the hour infused itself into +the public heart, which appeared to throb but to one impulse and one +aim: at all events no one was, no one could be, found obdurate enough to +question the significance or importance of the proceeding. + +Mr. O'Connell's fellow-prisoners shared his state and the homage which +was paid to him. But in the outward crowd no one dissociated him +personally from the minutest detail of the day's proceedings, or +admitted for a moment that any other human being partook of its glory, +or directed its end. High above the multitude they saw him receive the +nation's homage, which seemed but the expression of the liberty he had +already achieved. How he felt the influence of the scene there is no +record to tell. His demeanour while exercising the prerogatives of his +position was such as became a man conscious that he occupied a throne +loftier than ever yet was decked by a kingly crown. But when his +official functions were discharged, he addressed the impassioned throng +in language too tame for the most ordinary occasion. + +The great act of the day was the adoption of the following pledge. It +had been prepared and approved by the Committee of the Association, and +every word was canvassed with the most scrupulous regard to the trying +circumstances which the committee found themselves in presence of. The +virulent hostility of the Tory Government had been baffled, and its +utmost strength discomfited. It was understood at the time that a Whig +Government was in the advent of power, and the great object of the +pledge was to record the solemn conviction of the Nation that they were +faithless and treacherous as the others were unscrupulous and +vindictive, and that to the corrupting influence of the one and the +unmasked hostility of the other the same resistance should be shown. The +pledge was preceded by this resolution:-- + + "Resolved, That in commemorating this first anniversary of the + 30th of May, we deem it our duty to record a solemn pledge that + corruption shall not seduce, nor deceit cajole, nor intimidation + deter us from seeking to obtain for Ireland the blessings of + self-government through a national legislature, and we recommend + that the following pledge be taken:-- + + "We, the undersigned, being convinced that good government and + wise legislation can be permanently secured to the Irish people + only through the instrumentality of an Irish Legislature, do + hereby pledge ourselves to our country that we will never desist + from seeking the Repeal of the Union with England by all + peaceable, moral and constitutional means, until a parliament be + restored to Ireland. + + "Dated this 30th day of May, 1845." + +This pledge was adopted formally in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda, in +presence of most of the Irish mayors, the leading delegates of the +country, the members of the Eighty-Two Club, and a vast concourse of +gentlemen both from the metropolis and the provinces. It was proposed by +William Smith O'Brien, seconded by Henry Grattan, and put to the meeting +from the chair by the eldest son of Daniel O'Connell. The cheer that +hailed its adoption was a shout not of approval, but defiance. But alas! +many voices mingled in the chorus which have since been attuned to the +meanest whine of mendicancy. That they vilely belied their solemn +promise were of little moment. Nay, more, it is bootless to consider +whether they were more false-tongued and false-hearted in that great +pageant, or on the recent occasion of their kneeling in their own shame +to pledge a faith they do not feel, in expectation of some royal notice +or royal favour. What is mournful in both instances is this, that a show +of wealth, a practice of successful chicanery called good sense, or +public trust won by intrigue and falsehood, should so blind the world +to the _man's_ rotten and vulgar heart as to raise them to a position +where their acts should be regarded as indicative of the feeling or +important to the destiny of a nation. + +With the 30th of May, passed off the excitement of which it was the +cause and scene. Those who arranged the grand pageant of that day, and +invested it with attributes, suggestive, imposing and useful as ever +decked a public spectacle, would have wrought it out into a sterner +purpose: but the heart upon which they counted had, even then, died. Mr. +O'Connell's speech too painfully bespoke his utter inability to guide +the nation in any higher effort. The energy that should have seized the +occasion to confirm the people in their strong purpose, and elevate +their hopes to the level of the great stake at issue, exhausted itself +in balancing the routine details of cold and empty statistics. The +curtain fell, and nothing remained but grotesque figures, withered +garlands, broken panels and desolate dust, which mingled confusedly +behind the scene, over the dark, deserted stage. The journals, of +course, preserved, for a few days, very glittering reminiscences of the +scene. With one accord, they pronounced it surpassing in interest and +importance. Great results were anticipated in the newspaper world; and +many imagined they had fulfilled the last obligations they owed their +country. But with the men, who had fondly hoped to date therefrom a new +era and begin a nobler task, the 30th of May, was of dark, despairing +augury. They clearly saw that from that hour forth there remained but +the alternative of abandoning their cherished hopes, or attempting to +realise them without the aid, perhaps in opposition to the wishes, of +Mr. O'Connell. It was a gloomy and sad conviction, but it was no longer +to be blinked. + +Meantime, Mr. O'Connell returned to the Hall, and repeated to a jaded +audience, week after week, the same stale list of grievances. From any +other man the repetition would be intolerable. But the public ear had +become attuned to his accents, to which, whatever the sense of his +language, men listened as to a messenger of heavenly tidings. Mr. Duffy +strongly urged upon his fellow labourers the improbability of success, +and advised a distinct change of policy. In this he was overborne by +their united opinion, and the _Nation_ continued to promulgate the same +bold, unwavering course. By degrees the feeling of bitterness +entertained by the anti-education section of the priests found +utterance, and the paper was, almost openly, denounced as an infidel +publication. At first indeed, the charge was shrouded in mysterious +insinuations; but it soon gained strength and audacity, and received the +unblushing sanction of at least one prelate. The answer of the _Nation_ +was confined to one indignant line. Proof was demanded and was not +offered; but its very absence only deepened the malignity of the +slanderers. Even in the midst of this storm the muse of Thomas Davis +sang no discordant strain, nor did his pen trace one angry word. On the +contrary, he summoned his whole energies to the task of harmonising the +jarring elements around him. His inspiration rose to that unearthly +height, whereon guidance becomes prophecy. Great, strong and unselfish +convictions, entertained holily and uttered sincerely, are assurances +of new creations, pledges of the destiny to which they tend. In this +spirit, spoke and sang Thomas Davis during a time of bitterness and +dissension. And his counsels had been successful, but alas! in that last +effort his fond, faithful, trusting heart was broken. + +There was a perceptible lull in the agitation. The country gradually +relapsed into a state of inactive and vague hope, which centred in the +mental resources of Mr. O'Connell. The difficulties which the people +should have appreciated and learned to overcome, they transferred, with +easy and trusting indifference, to the energies of the "Liberator," +which they not only deemed boundless but immortal. From all educated and +thoughtful men, however, hope in those energies had passed away. Davis +seduously endeavoured during the summer months of 1845, to gather these, +and others of the same class from the Conservative ranks, round some +common object or endeavour, outside Mr. O'Connell's path, and not +calculated to wake their prejudice or jealousies. The Art Union, the +Archaeological Society, the Royal Irish Academy, the Library of Ireland, +the Cork School of Design, the Mechanics' Institute and every effort and +institution, having for their aim the encouragement of the nation in +arts, literature and greatness, engaged his vigilant and embracing care. +Of each of these institutions he became the great attraction, the real +centre and head. While he successfully wrought to give a national and +steady direction to Irish intellect and enterprise--Hogan, in Italy, +Maclise, in London, and others like them, who were bravely struggling +and nobly emulating the highest efforts of the genius of other lands, +were vindicated, encouraged and applauded by his pen. Among the sterner +natures, who urged their way through the stormy elements of agitation, +his accents, though low and diffident, commanded the deepest attention +and most lasting memory. While thus engaged, compassing by his "circling +soul," every sunward effort and immortal tendency of the country, death +came, sudden and inexorable, and struck him down in his day of utmost +might. His last work on earth was the brief dedication of the memoir of +Curran, and edition of his select speeches, which he had prepared, to +his friend, William Elliot Hudson. This he wrote during a pause of +delirium, and soon afterwards passed to a brighter world. He died on the +16th of September, 1845, when yet but thirty-one years old. How sincere +and deep was the public grief, no pen can ever tell. In the mourning +procession that followed his hearse there was no parade of woe, but +every eye was wet and every tongue silent. If ever sorrow was too deep +for utterance, it was that which settled above the early grave of Thomas +Davis. + +During the summer, no effort of the Association rose above the hacknied +level of the usual weekly meetings and the repetition of the same stale +grievances, except a gathering of Tipperary at Thurles, which took place +on the 23rd of September. This was the largest of the monster meetings: +but, although the crowd was enormous and the shouting loud, it seemed +without purpose or heart. During the preparations for that meeting I had +to encounter difficulties of the most extraordinary kind. First, the +meeting was opposed by certain influential clergymen; and when they +found themselves too feeble to resist, they transferred all their +opposition to me. There is no petty cavil they had not recourse to, to +thwart and discourage, and even when all had succeeded I was treated +with personal discourtesy and annoyance at the public dinner. The seeds +of strife, afterwards destined to bear such deadly fruit, had already +begun to manifest themselves, and petty calumnies were insinuated in the +name of religion and morality. From that great meeting the crowd retired +quickly, and, almost as instantaneously, its effect faded from the +public heat. All that remained was soreness and distrust. + +No event worth a memory marked the close of 1845, or the first months of +1846. The Colleges Bill had passed, without a single important +amendment, and a Roman Catholic priest accepted the nomination of +Government, as president of one of the institutions. Some of the +prelates, too, were said to be favourable to the colleges, even as they +were then constituted, and the divisions supposed to exist among them +were imparting their acridity to the deepening distractions of the time, +when an event occurred--the advent of the Whigs to office--which broke +up the great confederacy on which the hopes of the nation were staked. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 5: The Repeal "Rent." The weekly contributions to the funds of +Conciliation Hall.--Ed.] + +[Footnote 6: Moved by the Right Reverend Dr. Brown of Elphin; seconded +by the Right Reverend Dr. McNally of Clogher. Resolved: That the Most +Reverend Dr. Crolly be requested to reply to the letter received from +the Holy Father, stating that the instructions therein contained have +been received by the assembled prelates of Ireland with that degree of +profound respect, obedience and veneration that should ever be paid to +any document emanating from the Apostolic See, and that they all pledge +themselves to carry the spirit thereof into effect." + +Dr. Crolly had previously explained what he considered true obedience to +the rescript. He writes in reference to a former one in 1839: "In +obedience to the injunction of the Holy See, I endeavoured to reclaim +those misguided clergymen;" adding that the present was "in order that I +should _more efficaciously_ admonish such priests or prelates as I +might find taking a prominent or imprudent part in political +proceedings."] + +[Footnote 7: John Reynolds.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS.--CONDUCT OF +THE ASSOCIATION.--DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB.--MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS +TO IRELAND.--DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE. + + +Before proceeding to detail the circumstances which led to the +celebrated secession, it is essential to dispose of an episode in the +struggle, which, more than any other, stamped its impress on the acts +and feelings of that unfortunate period; I allude to the imprisonment, +by the House of Commons, of William Smith O'Brien. There is no act of +his life upon which there has been so much acrimonious criticism; none +on account of which he has been subjected to so much intemperate +misrepresentation. And yet, perhaps, his great career, fruitful in good +actions, never furnished a purer or more unselfish example of sound +judgment as well as intrepidity and devotion. The history of his +incarceration ranges over a great portion of the time which has been +already passed, and enters largely into the leading events, hereafter to +be related. A clear understanding of the whole--of Mr. O'Brien's +influencing motives and his tenacity of principle--would be impossible +without a distinct recital of the circumstances out of which his purpose +first grew, and which, to the end, controlled his resolution. + +In the spring of 1845, the committee of the Association passed a vote to +the effect that the Parliamentary representatives, who were members of +that body, should withdraw from the British Parliament. It was proposed +by Mr. Davis and received Mr. O'Connell's entire approval. Though at +first sneered at, it had a stunning effect. The supercilious British +Commons, who would have answered the just remonstrance of the Irish +Repealers with a jeer, shrank from the consequences of legislating for +the country in the absence of the men, whose efforts, if present, they +would not hesitate to scoff at. The disturbing influence of the +resolution became at once perceptible, and the earliest means were taken +to bring the question to an issue. Mr. Hume, a parsimonious economist, +of niggard principle and grovelling sentiment, undertook the office of +coercing the Irish. He gave notice of a motion for a call of the House. +This man, a mean utilitarian, had been rejected by the country of his +birth and the country of his adoption, and found refuge in an Irish +constituency, that returned him without solicitation and without +expense. He repaid them and the country by a vulgar jest, and now +assumed the responsibility of their public prosecutor. + +The Association heard his threat with calm indignation and resolved at +once to defy him. The great importance of the position in which it was +placed suggested the necessity of a deliberate consideration; first, of +the constitutional question at stake and, secondly, of the steps proper +to vindicate its own dignity and resolution. As on all such occasions, a +sub-committee was appointed to whom the question was referred. Mr. +O'Connell had to some extent formed an opinion favourable to the object +of the Association. He stated that he had considered the question in a +two-fold point of view. + +First, "Whether the controlling power of the English House of Commons +over its members, which admittedly it possessed before the Act of Union, +was extended to the Irish portion of the members by that Act, there +being no express provision creating it?" + +And secondly, "Whether even if the House possessed the power, it was +competent to enforce it, or, in other words, whether the Speaker's +warrant would receive Ireland?" + +To report on these two questions, thus framed, the following gentlemen +were elected as a sub-committee: James O'Hea, Sir Colman O'Loghlen, +Robert Mullen, James O'Dowd and myself. Of that committee, each +approached his task with that instinctive bias, inseparable from ardent +minds, excited by a darling hope. They read the precedents, the cases, +the arguments and judgments applicable to their enquiry with the aid of +such a hope, and still they came to the reluctant decision that the +ground taken against the authority of the British Parliament was not +maintainable. With regard to the first branch they were unanimous. With +regard to the second, Sir Colman O'Loghlen alone entertained some +doubts. As chairman of the committee, I drew up a brief report, +embodying our opinion. One reason alone we thought conclusive, namely, +that the formidable jurisdiction claimed by the House of Commons was +indispensable to the unimpeded fulfilment of its functions, as a +coordinate branch of the supreme power and controlling authority of the +State. In its very danger and extravagance consisted its supremacy; for +it showed that it was only admitted from its overruling and +overmastering necessity. And as the Parliament was recognised in Ireland +in all things else we thought it would be absurd to deny it functions +indispensable to its vitality. + +On handing in the report, I mentioned the doubts entertained by Sir +Colman O'Loghlen. Mr. O'Connell suggested that the report should be +deferred until he could consult Sir Colman. The suggestion was agreed +to, and time given for reconsideration. Mr. O'Connell himself examined +the question, he said, with great attention. He was assisted by Mr. +Clements in his researches, and at the end of the fortnight he came down +to the committee with a report of his own, distinctly and emphatically +contradicting ours, upon both branches of the case. He delivered it to +the chairman (Mr. S. O'Brien), with exultation, as a great +constitutional discovery of unspeakable importance to the liberties of +Ireland. The committee received it in the same spirit. I ventured to +question the soundness of his opinion, and maintain my own, it was +considered a daring thing to do in those times; but the question seemed +to me so clear that I could not abandon my views without treachery to my +conviction. The discussion was very short, and ended in personality, +wherein he insinuated something about unworthy motives. No scene of my +life made the same impression on me. I felt keenly his reproaches, but +still more keenly the impolicy and imprudence of the step into which the +country was precipitated. I requested that the question should be again +postponed, and the opinion of some eminent men outside the Association +taken. I was overruled, and even laughed at--it was "doubting Mr. +O'Connell." Mr. O'Connell said, "I'll test this question '_meo +periculo_.'" The resolution passed amid cheers, and was recorded next +day amid the louder and more vehement cheers of the Association. The +country re-echoed the boast, and the House of Commons was, by a formal +and solemn vote of the entire nation, set at defiance. The conflict was +pre-arranged, even to its minute details. Mr. O'Brien was to proceed to +London, where disobedience would be more marked and decisive; and Mr. +John O'Connell was to remain in Ireland, where he could take advantage +of an additional obstacle to the exercise of its authority to the House. +So the matter stood when Mr. Hume, through what motive it is not easy to +see, neglected or abandoned his notice. The country regarded this as a +confession of weakness by the House, and gloried in a new triumph +achieved by the genius of Mr. O'Connell. He himself thought he had found +a great and solid basis for future action, and hinted at the prospect of +being able to raise upon it a parliamentary structure, having +imprescriptible and indefeasible authority, and only requiring the +sanction of the crown. + +A short time after the withdrawal of Mr. Hume's motion, the question was +again raised in another form. The chairman of the Committee of Selection +for Railways addressed a circular, among others, to Messrs. S. O'Brien +and John O'Connell, requiring their attendance at the selection of +special Railway Committees. The correspondent of the _Freeman's +Journal_, thus writes in forwarding their replies:-- + + _London, Monday, June 30._ + + "The authority of the British Senate over Irish representatives + is now fairly placed at issue. By my letter of yesterday + evening, you were apprised of the determination of Smith O'Brien + and John O'Connell, to refuse to comply with the summons of the + parliamentary selection committee. + + "The course I suggested as that which it was probable would be + adopted, has been since finally resolved upon, and in part + carried into execution. John O'Connell, for the purpose of + taking the chances of a judgment in the Irish court, will not + forward his answer till he shall have reached Ireland. Smith + O'Brien delivered his reply to the clerk of the House of Commons + this day, at one o'clock." + +Here follows Mr. O'Brien's letter:-- + + OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CLUB, PALL-MALL. + + "_June 30, 1845._ + + "Sir.--I had the honour of receiving on Saturday afternoon a + letter dated 28th June, and signed 'Henry Creed,' to the + following effect: 'I am directed by the committee of selection + to inform you that your name is on the list for which members + will be selected to serve on the railway committees, which will + commence their sittings in the week beginning Monday, the 14th + July, during which week it will be necessary for you to be in + attendance, for the purpose of serving, if requested, on a + railway committee.' + + "I trust that the committee of selection will not think that I + am prompted by any feeling of disrespect towards them, or + towards the House of Commons, when I inform them that it is my + intention not to serve on any committees except such as may be + appointed with reference to the affairs of Ireland. + + "I accepted a seat in the House of Commons, in the hope of + being thereby enabled to assist in improving the condition of + the land of my birth. So long as I continued to believe that I + could serve Ireland effectually in the House of Commons, I + shrank from none of the labours which are connected with the + varied functions of that assembly. During twelve years I + attended Parliament with an assiduity of which I might feel + disposed to boast, if the time so consumed by the House and by + myself had been productive of results useful to my native + country. + + "Experience and observation at length forced upon my mind the + conviction that the British Parliament is incompetent through + want of knowledge, if not, through want of inclination, to + legislate wisely for Ireland, and that our national interests + can be protected and fostered only through the instrumentality + of an Irish legislature. + + "Since this conviction has established itself in my mind I have + felt persuaded that the labours of the Irish members, though of + little avail in the British Parliament, might, if applied in + Ireland with prudence and energy, be effectual in obtaining for + the Irish people their national rights. + + "I have reason to believe that in this opinion a very large + majority of my constituents concur. To them alone I hold myself + responsible for the performance of my parliamentary duty. If + they had disapproved of my continued absence from the House of + Commons, I should have felt it my duty to have withdrawn from + the representation of the county of Limerick; but I have the + satisfaction of thinking that I not only consult the interests, + but also comply with the wishes of my constituents in declining + to engage in the struggles of English party, or to involve + myself in the details of English legislation. + + "While such have been the general impressions under which I have + absented myself during nearly two years from the House of + Commons, I yet do not feel myself at liberty to forego whatever + power of resistance to the progress of pernicious legislation my + office of representative may confer upon me. Upon the present + occasion, I have come to London for the purpose of endeavouring + to induce the House of Commons, or rather the Government, who + appear to command the opinions of a large majority of the House, + to modify some of the Irish measures now before Parliament in + such a manner as to render them beneficial, instead of + injurious, to Ireland. + + "Desiring that none but the representatives of the Irish nation + should legislate for Ireland, we have no wish to intermeddle + with the affairs of England, or Scotland, except in so far as + they may be connected with the interest of Ireland or with the + general policy of the empire. + + "In obedience to this principle I have abstained from voting on + English and Scotch questions of a local nature, and the same + motive now induces me to decline attendance on committees on any + private bills, except such as relate to Ireland. + + "I am prepared to abide with cheerfulness the personal + consequences which may result from the course of conduct which I + feel it my duty to adopt. + + "I speak with great diffidence upon any question of a legal + kind, but I am supported by very high professional authority + when I suggest to the committee that no power was delegated to + the House of Commons by the Act of Union, or by subsequent + statutes, to compel to attendance Irish members on the + deliberations of the British Parliament. Neither do I find that + any authority has been given by statutory enactment to the House + (except in the case of election petitions) to enforce the + attendance of members upon committees. + + "I refrain, however, from arguing legal questions which may be + raised before another tribunal, in case it should become + necessary and advisable to appeal from the decision of the House + of Commons to the courts of judicature, and conclude by assuring + the committee that I take the course which I propose to + adopt, not from any desire to defy the just authority of the + House of Commons, but in obedience to my sense of the duty which + I owe to my constituents and my country. + + "I have the honour to be, your obedient servant, + + "WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN. + + "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection." + +[Illustration: Thomas Devin Reilly] + +Mr. O'Connell's letter bears date on the next day, as announced in the +correspondent's notice, because it was intended it should not be +delivered until the honourable gentleman was beyond the pale of English +jurisdiction. + + "BRITISH HOTEL, JERMYN STREET, + + 8 a.m., _July 1st._ + + "Sir.--I have to acknowledge the receipt of a notification by + order of your committee, to the effect that my attendance in + Parliament will be required during the week beginning Monday, + 14th July, for the purpose of serving, if chosen, on a + parliamentary committee. + + "With every respect to you, Sir, and the gentlemen of your + committee, I absolutely decline attending. + + "I, like some others, came to London the first time this session + about a fortnight ago to remonstrate against and endeavour to + resist the plan of infidel education which the Government are + forcing upon Ireland. We had not, nor for some years have had, + the slightest hope of obtaining any measure of good from a + foreign parliament; but we came against our better judgment, + that it might not be said we had not gone all lengths to + endeavour to deter the Government from a scheme so redolent of + political corruption, social profligacy and religious + infidelity. + + "We came armed with multitudinous petitions of the people, and + the strong, unanimous and most decided protest from our revered + prelacy and clergy. + + "We were of course mocked at, derided and refused; but, what is + of infinitely more consequence, the voice of our prelates and of + the faithful people of Ireland have been treated with utter + contempt--even Irish Catholics (yielding to the unwholesome + influences around them) joining in the contemptuous refusal. + + "Under these circumstances, Sir, I certainly will not suffer + that portion of the people of Ireland who have entrusted their + representation to my charge to be further mocked at and insulted + in my person. I go to where I can best discharge my duty to them + and to Ireland--_in Ireland_. There struggling, with doubtless + as little ability, but with more energy and, if possible, more + whole-hearted devotion than ever, to put an end to the present + degradation of my country and obtain for her that which can + alone ensure protection to her interests, relief to her many + wants, and peace, freedom and happiness to her long oppressed + and long enduring people, + + "I have the honour to be, Sir, + + "Your obedient servant, + + "JOHN O'CONNELL. + + "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection." + +These documents were entered on the minutes of the Association, and +remained on its records with the original resolution. But no more was +done in the matter until the beginning of April, 1846. + +Mr. O'Connell and his son were in London, and Mr. O'Brien remained in +Ireland. They had been all summoned to attend on committees. When Mr. +O'Brien reached London, he found that the Messrs. O'Connell, without any +previous communication with him or with the Association, and without +reference to the solemn resolution, to the contrary, of that body, were +acting on committees. This deeply disappointed and mortified him, and he +at once resolved to remain faithful, at all risks, and though he stood +alone, to the obligation which he had contracted with the sanction and +approval of his country. Whatever may be the temper and resolution of +the House of Commons, had it been resisted by the unbroken strength of +the Association, it felt confident of its power to crush Mr. O'Brien +alone, separate from, nay, abandoned by, the great leader of the Irish +people. It must be acknowledged that the course pursued by the Commons +was considerate and moderate. A principle involving their liberty of +action was in issue; to vindicate it was indispensable; but finding +themselves only opposed by a single man, of all those who had provoked +the encounter, they proceeded with caution and forbearance. They +forewarned, counselled and remonstrated during the time that intervened; +and several members of the House, including Mr. O'Connell, urged Mr. +O'Brien to give way. He refused, determinedly, and it may be supposed +not the less sternly, when he found, among those who advised him to +falsify his solemn promise, the man upon whose authority and through +whose influence he had made it. The result was, his arrest and +imprisonment, for disobedience to the House. Circumstances more trying +never beset the fortitude of a great man. Personal liberty was his +slightest loss. The sneers of his enemies, the pity of his personal, and +the desertion of his political, friends poisoned[A] the very air of the +miserable cell to which he was consigned, and what completed his agony +was a notion that he had been abandoned by his country. + +During the early part of his imprisonment, a motion was made questioning +the authority of the House. In the course of the discussion, Sir Thomas +Wilde, then Attorney-General, dared any constitutional lawyer to impugn +the jurisdiction assumed by the House. Every member felt that the +challenge was offered to Mr. O'Connell, who replied as follows:-- + + "I am sure that the House will give credit to my assurance that + I should not rise to advocate the cause of my honourable friend, + if I thought he had had the slightest intention of being + disrespectful towards the House. It has not been his intention + to be guilty of any contempt towards it: he thought he was + entitled to make the exception to which he adheres. He has acted + from a strong sense of duty, and I am sorry to see it is a sense + of duty he is not likely to give up." + +I add to this an extract from his speech delivered at the Corn Exchange, +when, in spite of the most earnest remonstrance, the Association offered +its defiance in solemn form to the British Parliament. + + "Mr. O'Connell rose amid loud cheers, and said:--Our usual + course of proceeding in this hall is to commence with handing in + money, and then to go on with business of inferior importance, + the business of making speeches (hear! hear! and laughter); but + among the passing events of the day, there is one of such signal + importance, that I am sure you will readily admit that I am + right when I claim for it, on the present occasion, a right of + precedence over any donation or subscription, no matter from + what quarter they may come. The matter I allude to is a menace + held out for the intimidation (as it is supposed) of the Irish + members who are given to understand that there is about to be a + call of the House, and that it is intended that the Speaker's + warrant shall issue to compel them to go over to London. Now, + sir, I think it right to apprise the Association and the country + that, having considered this question attentively, I have made + up my mind that the Speaker has no constitutional authority + whatever to issue any such warrant." + +But what pained Mr. O'Brien the deepest was the apparent coldness, +apathy or cowardice of the Irish people. Among them, and them only, he +calculated an enthusiastic sustainment. But those who felt the deepest +in his regard were constrained by the responsibility of coming to an +open rupture with Mr. O'Connell, at a time when union in the ranks of +the Association was indispensable to even partial success. A vote was +proposed to the committee, approving of Mr. O'Brien's act, and pledging +the Association to an identification with the principle by which his +conduct was governed. That vote was resisted by the whole of Mr. +O'Connell's family, and personal friends and by all the pensioners and +employes of the body. It was carried, nevertheless. But a motion to +consult Mr. O'Connell as to its legality was passed, and the resolution +was transmitted to him accordingly. His reply was an urgent remonstrance +against the resolution on the ground of illegality. Meantime, +representations were made that a certain party in the Association, +intolerant of Mr. O'Connell's sway, were using that occasion to +undermine his authority and overthrow his power. The great +responsibility of causing disunion determined the supporters of the +resolution to compromise with its opponents, and it was finally shaped +thus:-- + + "Resolved, That having learned with deep regret, that by a + resolution of the House of Commons the country has been deprived + of the eminent services of Mr. William Smith O'Brien, and that + illustrious member of this Association himself committed to + prison, we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without + conveying to him the assurance of our undiminished confidence in + his integrity, patriotism and personal courage, and our + admiration for the high sense of duty and purity of purpose + which prompted him to risk his personal liberty in assertion of + a principle which he believed to be inherent in the constitution + of his country." + +It was again, in its modified form, transmitted to Mr. O'Connell, and +returned with his disapprobation. Captain Broderick read a letter from +him, to that effect, at a meeting of the committee, suddenly summoned on +Monday, the 4th of May, a few hours only previous to the public meeting +of the Association, deprecating the passing of the resolution in any +form. The present writer was the proposer of the resolution, and, +feeling that he had already made too great a compromise, he refused to +accede to this last request of Mr. O'Connell. The resolution was +proposed and adopted with acclamation, and a letter was read from Mr. +O'Connell, by Mr. Ray, in which he stated that the resolution did not go +far enough. + +In the provinces, the timid policy of the Association was decried with +bitterness, and the men who struggled, against great odds, to identify +the whole island with Mr. O'Brien, and pledge it to sustain him to the +last, were subjected to the most virulent denunciations. Because the +compromised resolution was moved, seconded, and spoken to by them, the +whole country regarded them as the betrayers of their own avowed chief, +and the violence with which they were attacked was unmeasured and +unscrupulous. + +They made no reply. No unjust aspersions from a people in ignorance of +the resistance offered to them, and the motives that influenced them, +could induce them to explain the position they had taken. But when they +saw while they were subjected to the storm that Mr. O'Connell's friends, +on the authority of his published letter, took credit for neutrality, +they resolved once more to test the question in a body, whose +proceedings were of a more private character, and where the most marked +difference of opinion could lead to no fatal result--the Eighty-Two +Club. Mr. O'Connell was the president of this club, and Mr. O'Brien one +of its vice-presidents. A meeting was called. The attendance was +unusually large. Men who had never before, and have never since, +appeared at its meetings, were present. The question proposed was that +an address be presented to Mr. O'Brien, in which his principles and his +conduct would be fully recognised, approved of and adopted. This led to +a discussion that lasted two days, but the motion was carried in the +end by a majority of two to one. One man, and one only, unconnected with +Mr. O'Connell, either by personal friendship or personal obligations, +voted against the resolution. That man is Sir Colman O'Loghlen. His name +is mentioned, because he was the only member of the minority whose +motives could be regarded as unquestionable. For the rest, the minority +was composed of Mr. O'Connell's sons and relatives, with Mr. Ray and Mr. +Crean, officers of the Association, and one or two members whom he had +caused to be returned to Parliament, amounting to twelve. A committee +was appointed to prepare the address and resolutions, which were written +by John Mitchel, and adopted by the committee without the change of a +word. They also determined that the address should be adopted in its +integrity by the club, or not at all. When it was proposed, objection +was again taken to its principle, on the ground that it would commit the +club, and involve it in a hopeless conflict with the House of Commons +which of itself, it was averred, would be a misdemeanour at common law. +The proposition was eminently absurd in common sense, as well as law, +but it was sustained by the practised ingenuity and great skill of Mr. +O'Hea, who, to do him justice, seemed deeply to feel the hopelessness +and shamefulness of the task that was assigned him. But no other +argument could prevail, and this appeal to the fears or selfishness of +its wealthiest members was had recourse to in consequence of the utter +poverty of reason and argument, which could otherwise be presented +against the principle of the address. But such an obligation led to a +novel difficulty and bitterer conflict. A discussion involving +principles of the greatest moment narrowed into a technical disquisition +of abstract law. Mr. O'Hea was driven from his position by the unanimous +and unqualified opinion of every barrister present, and even by his own +silence, when dared to allow the address to pass in the negative, and +assume the responsibility of its rejection on the avowed ground of his +legal opinion, as expressed to the meeting. The address was adopted by a +greater majority than that which had confirmed the principle on the +previous day, and a deputation was appointed to present it to Mr. +O'Brien in his prison. + +The members of that deputation, who proceeded to fulfil their mission, +were William Bryan, of Raheny Lodge; John Mitchel, Richard O'Gorman, +Thomas Francis Meagher and the present writer. They were accompanied by +Terence Bellew MacManus and John Pigot, who joined them in London. They +waited on Mr. O'Connell, as the president of the club, produced the +address and requested he would proceed with them to present it. He +admitted, without question, that as it was adopted by so very large and +influential a majority, he was bound to do so. But he added that Mr. +O'Brien refused to receive a visit from him, owing to the part he had +taken, and further said, if Mr. O'Brien expressed a wish to see him, +that he would accompany us. The deputation on their way to the House of +Commons consulted for a moment, and, as well as I remember, Doctor Gray +and some others were present: the result was a determination to present +the address without Mr. O'Connell, feeling that an explanation between +him and Mr. O'Brien, could not fail to lead to unpleasant +recriminations, if not to more serious differences. The address and +answer were as follows:-- + + "TO WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN, ESQ. + + "RESPECTED VICE-PRESIDENT AND BROTHER. + + "Heartily approving of the course you have taken in refusing to + devote to the concerns of another people any of the time which + your own constituents and countrymen feel to be of so much value + to them, we, your brethren of the '82 Club, take this occasion + of recording our increased confidence in, and esteem for you, + personally and politically, and our determination to sustain and + stand by you in asserting the right of Ireland to the + undistracted labours of our own representatives in Parliament. + + "We, sir, like yourself, have long since 'abandoned for ever all + hope of obtaining wise and beneficial legislation for Ireland + from the Imperial Parliament'; nor would such legislation, even + if attainable, satisfy our aspirations. We are confederated + together in the '82 Club upon the plain ground that no body of + men ought to have power to make laws binding this kingdom, save + the Monarch, Lords, and Commons of Ireland. From that principle + we shall never depart, and with God's help it shall soon find + recognition by a parliament of our own. + + "Upon the mode in which the House of Commons has thought fit to + exercise the privilege it asserts in the present instance--upon + the personal discourtesy which has marked all the late + proceedings in your regard, we shall make but one comment, that + every insult to you is felt as an insult to us and to the people + of Ireland. + + "It would be idle and out of place to offer condolence to you, + confined in an English prison for such an offence. We + congratulate you that you have made yourself the champion of + your country's rights, and submitted to ignominy for a cause + which you and we know shall one day triumph. + + "(Signed) + + "COLMAN M. O'LOGHLEN, Vice-President, Chairman. + + + "May 9th, 1846." + + "BROTHERS OF THE '82 CLUB.--I receive this address with pride + and satisfaction. + + "I recognise in the '82 Club a brotherhood of patriots, who have + volunteered to take the foremost place in contending for the + liberties of Ireland, and who may vie, in regard of ability, + integrity and sincerity of purpose, with any political + association, consisting of equal numbers, which has ever been + united in voluntary confederation. + + "The unqualified approval accorded to my conduct by such a body + justifies me in entertaining a sentiment of honourable pride, + which I am not ashamed to avow. + + "Nor shall I attempt to disguise the satisfaction with which I + receive this address. + + "If you had approached me with language of condolence, I could + scarcely have dissembled my grief and disappointment; but you + have justly felt that such language would be unsuited to the + occasion, and unworthy both of yourselves and of me. + + "On the contrary, you _congratulate_ me upon being subjected to + reproach and indignity for having aspired to vindicate the + rights of my native land; you deem, as I deem, that to suffer + for Ireland is a privilege rather than a penalty. + + "In acknowledging your address, I shall not dwell upon the many + important considerations which are involved in my present + contest with the House of Commons. I cannot but think, indeed, + that the constitutional questions at issue are of the highest + moment, not alone to the Irish people, but also to each member + of the legislature, and to every parliamentary elector in the + United Kingdom. Upon the present occasion, however, I am + contented to waive all reference to collateral issues, and to + justify my conduct upon the simple ground upon which it has + received your approval--namely, that until a domestic + legislature shall be obtained for Ireland, my own country + demands my undivided exertions. + + "Be assured that those exertions will not be withheld so long as + life and liberty remain to me, until Ireland shall again _fiat_ + the Declaration of 1782: 'That no body of men is entitled to + make laws to bind the Irish nation save only the Monarch, the + Lords, and the Commons of Ireland.'" + +On my way home I was invited to address a public meeting of Repealers in +Liverpool. I accepted the invitation, and in the course of my +observations, emphatically repudiated all compromise on the subject of +my country's deliverance. I disclaimed the idea that any concessions, +any equalization with England in political franchises, any amelioration +of our political or social condition, could ever be accepted by Ireland +in compromise of her inalienable independence. When I arrived in Dublin, +I attended the Association, and, happening to read a letter from the +Rev. Mr. Walshe, of Clonmel, couched in the warmest terms of admiration +of Mr. O'Brien's purity and heroism, the cowardice or jealousy of a +certain party in the Hall found expression through its proper organs, +and I was called to order in the name of the law. A violation of law to +_praise_ William Smith O'Brien! The chairman decided it was. To such +decision I scorned to submit, and I read the letter to the end, amidst +the most enthusiastic cheers of the audience. I was proceeding to read +another letter from another clergyman of the same town, written in a +very different spirit, when I was besought to withhold it, and entreated +not to read it. I complied. It is but fair to add here that on the +Saturday previous, an article was published in the _Nation_, some +expressions of which Mr. O'Connell considered personally insulting. + +Whether Mr. O'Connell was influenced by one or all of these occurrences, +cannot be affirmed here. But he proceeded to Ireland in the course of +the week, and suddenly called a meeting of the Committee of the +Association, before which he arraigned us of discourtesy to him in +London, found fault with the meeting at Liverpool, accused the _Nation_ +of attacking him, and, finally, expressed his unequivocal disapprobation +of my resistance to the order of the chairman in the Hall. The +deputation explained their conduct in London, and the motives that +governed them, with which he appeared to be satisfied. All connection +with the proceeding in Liverpool with which he took offence, was +disclaimed, and, finally, Mr. Duffy satisfied him that no offence was +meant him in the _Nation_, and that the passage of which he complained +had no reference to him. + +The discussion was a long and, to some extent, an angry one. It ended, +however, as we thought, amicably. Mr. O'Connell had proposed at the +outset two objects, namely, to express a solemn condemnation of the +proceedings in Liverpool, and to expel the _Nation_ from the +Association. The rule of the Association was to send to every locality, +at the expense of the body, whatever papers the subscribers of a +certain sum desired. There were then three other weekly papers in +Dublin, The _Register_, the _Freeman_, and the _Old Irelander_. The +_Nation_ had a circulation nearly equal to that of all the others. Its +expulsion from the Association would at once deprive it of all the +circulation it had through its agency, thus involving a very serious +pecuniary loss to Mr. Duffy. + +The two positions were abandoned, and the Committee separated on +amicable terms. Another subject of importance was under discussion. This +was, what suitable mark of national respect should be offered to Mr. +O'Brien; and it was proposed that the committee should re-assemble on +the following day (Sunday), at two o'clock. At the second meeting the +disagreeable topics of the former evening were revived and discussed in +a more acrimonious spirit and tone. The Committee was differently +composed, most of the treasurers connected with the Committee being +present, and most of the professional men, who attended on Saturday, +being absent, Mr. O'Connell saw his advantage, or those under whose +guidance he unfortunately was, saw it, and urged him on. He clearly had +a majority. But having satisfied himself he could succeed, with a +resolution refusing to circulate the _Nation_, he generously conceded +the whole matter; and once more the Committee separated on good terms. + +It was hoped that, as the concession was entirely voluntary, Mr. +O'Connell would be content. This was a vain hope. On the next day, he +referred to the subject in terms of unmitigated animosity; and on +Tuesday the resolution of exclusion, in effect, though not formally, +passed in the absence of most of those who were well known to be opposed +to it. + +One word of concession would have saved the _Nation_ at this juncture; +but that one word would not be written, had the consequence of refusal +been the loss of every subscriber it had in the world. It maintained its +high position in face of the two despotisms which had combined to crush +it. The resolution of the Association was not formally recorded, but it +remained in readiness to be re-asserted as soon as the trial in the +Queen's Bench would be over. + +That trial was for the celebrated railroad article, written by John +Mitchel. When the article first appeared, Mr. O'Connell came to the +_Nation_ office. He seated himself familiarly, and, seeing all its +contributors around him, he said: "I came to complain of this article." +He then read through until where certain principles, previously +promulgated, were recommended to Repeal wardens as the catechism they +should teach. "I do not object," said he, "to your principles; but I +object to your coupling them with the duties of Repeal wardens who are +the officers of the Association." Mr. Duffy promised, at once, to +explain the matter, to Mr. O'Connell's satisfaction, in the next number. +He did so accordingly, and no more was said of it until after the +prosecution was commenced. + +On the 17th of June, Mr. Duffy was placed at the bar, on an information +or indictment setting forth the entire of the obnoxious article. The +Government was vehement and imperative, and the Bench constitutionally +jealous of the law. The prosecution was conducted with malevolent +ability, and the court charged, with pious zeal, for the crown. Robert +Holmes was counsel for the accused and, in an impassioned speech, on +every word of which was stamped the impress of originality, vigour and +beauty, vindicated not the "liberty of the press," but the truth of the +startling propositions Mr. Mitchel had propounded. + +In the Hall, the speech was regarded as triumphant for the country, but +conclusive against Mr. Duffy. It was said that for sake of his client he +should confuse, confound and deny. The fact, however, justified the +advocate. When Mr. Mitchel first promulgated his principles, they grated +strongly on the public ear. Men openly pronounced the doctrines +pernicious and bloody. But the veteran of the bar, speaking in the +spirit of the more glorious times he remembered, denounced as a slave +and a toward any one who thought them too strong for the occasion on +which they were used, and the provocation to which they applied. For a +brief moment he awoke in other hearts the spirit that lived in his own. +The jury refused to convict, and were discharged. But the prosecution in +which the Attorney-General failed, was transferred before a more loyal +tribunal, and Mr. Duffy was condemned by the judgment of _Conciliation_ +Hall; a judgment of which something remains to be said hereafter. + +It has been stated that the subject of testifying the respect of the +_Nation_ for its chivalrous advocate, after his release from the prison +of the House of Commons--he was discharged without compromise or +submission on the 26th of May--was under discussion. + +A public and triumphal entry was determined on. But Mr. Smith O'Brien, +desirous that the State prisoners of 1844 should be participators in +any tribute of respect offered to him, requested that the 6th of +September, the day of their release from prison, should be fixed on for +a public triumph, in which all alike could share. + +[Illustration: John Mitchell] + +Mr. O'Brien passed through the metropolis quietly on his way home; but +in Limerick and Newcastle was received by hundreds of thousands with +boundless joy. When he returned to town, it was to be expelled from that +body to which he, of all living men, gave most firmness, and for which +he alone acquired most respect. In the events which followed, the public +dinner was forgotten. + +It is now time to recur to those events, some of which at least range +behind those already detailed--to which the following preliminary may be +necessary. Early in June, a meeting was held at Lord John Russell's, +when the minister-expectant explained the grounds on which he claimed +the support of the entire Liberal Party. The English Liberals, generally +and enthusiastically, acquiesced. The correspondent of the _Evening +Mail_, writing from London, stated that Mr. O'Connell added to his +adhesion, a voluntary promise to sink the cause of Repeal provided +measures of a truly liberal character were carried into effect. He, +moreover, said that he never meant more by Repeal than a thorough +identification of the two countries. The _Nation_ indignantly repelled +the insinuations of the correspondence, and pronounced it a lie. Mr. +O'Connell and his friends passed the _Mail_ by unnoticed, but bestowed +on the _Nation_ their measureless wrath. It was never afterwards +forgiven. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +DEFEAT OF PEEL.--ACCESSION or THE WHIGS.--MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE.--DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL.--MR. O'CONNELL DENOUNCES THE +YOUNG IRELAND PARTY.--CONTINUED DEBATES.--QUESTIONS AT ISSUE.--PHYSICAL +FORCE.--THE SECESSION.--WHIG ALLIANCE.--DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE.--FORMATION +OF THE CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER.--MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH.--CLOSE OF THE +YEAR 1847. + + +On the 25th of June, Sir Robert Peel was defeated in the House of +Commons on a motion that the Irish Coercion Bill be read a second time. + +The majority against him was seventy-three, and was composed of the Whig +party, the extreme Conservatives, the ultra-Radicals and Irish +Repealers. In ten days after, Lord John Russell assumed the seals of +office. During the preliminary arrangements that led to Peel's defeat, +there was much coquetting between the Whig and Irish leaders. Alarmed by +this startling aspect of affairs, and somewhat, perhaps, by the +uncontradicted correspondence of the _Mail_, heretofore alluded to, Mr. +Meagher, in the midst of vociferous cheering, announced from the tribune +of Conciliation Hall, "that Irish Repealers would teach an honest lesson +to the Whigs." This took place on the 15th of June. A short discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, O'Gorman and Barry took part, +denouncing in the strongest language all idea of compromise with the +Whigs. On the next day of meeting (June 22nd) a letter was read from Mr. +O'Connell, expressing "the bitterest regret at the efforts being made +by some of their juvenile members to create dissension in the +Association." "To silence all unworthy cavilling," he desired that the +solemn pledge of the Rotunda be read after his letter, and copies +thereof posted in the Hall. This letter was the signal for an attack on +the Seceders by James Fitzpatrick, who is now enjoying his reward in +shape of a lucrative office on the coast of Africa. Another discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, Barry, O'Gorman and myself repelled +the charge urged against us by Lord John Russell, to the effect that we +were separatists. + +The discussion which followed was an angry one. Fierce denunciations +against the Whigs proceeded from the Seceders, which were answered by +the Old Irelanders, as they called themselves, with clap-trap allusions +to the name and fame of the "Liberator." The audience were indisposed to +be duped, and so strong and general was the aversion to a Whig +compromise, that Mr. D. O'Connell, jun. was denied a hearing, and even +the Secretary found it difficult to command a moment's attention. + +The next letter from Mr. O'Connell, was written after the accession of +the Whigs. It, too, evidently bore the impress of that controlling fact. +The writer enumerated twelve measures (excluding Repeal) "without which +no British minister should dream of bidding for the people of Ireland." +On the whole, the letter, which was long and elaborate, was an +unmistakable though very guarded advice to give another trial to the +Whigs. Mr. O'Brien, in moving that it be inserted on the minutes, +pressed his conviction that the "millions would never abandon Repeal." +He concluded by reading a resolution, pro posed in 1842 and seconded by +Mr. O'Connell himself, to the effect that the Whigs were as inimical to +Repeal as the Tories; and that no honest Repealer could vote for a Whig +representative. Mr. O'Brien, on this occasion, took a wrong course. +Instead of moving that the letter be inserted on the minutes, he should +have moved its rejection, as containing doctrines subversive of +principle and inconsistent with the solemn pledges of the nation. He +was, no doubt, influenced by a desire to preserve unanimity; but the +unanimity which is based on the disruption of most binding obligations +is weaker and more fatal than any division. One paramount advantage +would result from at once joining issue with Mr. O'Connell--the question +would be placed on its true ground, and the preposterous folly of the +physical and moral force abstractions would never have been heard of. + +Mr. O'Connell appeared in Conciliation Hall on Monday, the 6th of July. +He stated that his object was to ascertain the state of the registries, +so as to resist the return of the anti-Repealers in any of the towns +where a vacancy was likely to occur. But he added, "I will give no +vexatious opposition." Here a voice cried "Dungarvan," with significant +emphasis, a question Mr. O'Connell evaded with his usual dexterity. Four +seats were then actually vacant; Dungarvan, Drogheda, Dundalk and +Roscommon county. In the three former, there were clear majorities in +favour of Repeal. That question admitted of no earthly doubt. It had +been long before enquired into, and assurances the most unequivocal were +transmitted to the Association. On motion of Mr. O'Connell, the +question was referred to the committee. + +Daniel O'Connell, jun., was a candidate for Dundalk, where a public +dinner was given him on the 7th. His father attended, and said, "_I tell +you there is another experiment to be made, in which every honest and +rational man, of every party, will join._" Similar doctrines were to be +found in his former letter and speech, above referred to; and the other +members of the Association awoke to a sense of the danger that +threatened the body. Meantime, the Dungarvan committee proceeded with +its labours. A deputation from that town waited on them--the parish +priest and two others. They paid their first visit, however, to the +Secretary, at the Castle. They found it as easy to satisfy the +committee, or its majority, as the Secretary found it to satisfy +themselves. They advised there should be no opposition given to Mr. +Shiel on these two grounds: First, because success was then impossible, +owing to the shortness of the time for preparation. And secondly, +because a failure then would endanger the cause at the general election +which was to take place in a few months. The sincerity of these reasons +was tested by the facts, that, at the general election, the same parish +priest stood at the hustings to propose and sustain the same official of +the Whigs, insolently proclaiming his steadfastness in O'Connell's +_glorious principles_, while he was huckstering away the honour and +independence of his country; and that at that general election, when the +people of Dungarvan were more openly betrayed and trafficked on by John +O'Connell, and when they had to contend against the treachery of the +priest, the treachery of the Association and the whole strength of the +Whigs, they were only defeated in their opposition to Mr. Shiel by three +votes. But, sincere or not, absurd or not, they were conclusive with the +committee, or its chairman, who reported that it was not advisable to +oppose Mr. Shiel, and this report was published just two days after Mr. +Shiel had been returned unopposed. + +No wonder that the actual return of Mr. Shiel, which the committee was +charged to resist, had escaped its vigilance; for the celebrated Peace +Resolutions were, at the same time, under discussion, and produced +simultaneously with the Dungarvan report. Mr. Mitchel, Mr. O'Gorman and +Mr. Meagher, who attended the committee, vainly remonstrated against the +betrayal of Dungarvan, as well as the Peace Resolutions. They saw that +the real object of the resolutions was to blind the country to the other +important question, whether the Irish constituencies were to be +transferred once more to Whig placemen; and they confined their +opposition principally to the Dungarvan case. It must be admitted, too, +that the falsehood involved in the Peace Resolutions, escaped their +attention in the first instance; and they were under the impression that +the pledge they contained extended no farther than the action of the +Association itself was concerned. On consideration, they found it was of +far wider scope, and would engage them to a false principle, embracing +all men, all countries and all tunes; and having stated this at the +public meeting of the Association, they allowed the resolutions to pass +without further opposition. + +The original resolution on which the Association was framed is this:-- + + "The total disclaimer of, and absence from, all physical force, + violence or breach of the law." + +The resolution, reported on the 13th of July, 1846, is as follows:-- + + "That, to promote political amelioration, peaceable means alone + should be used, to the exclusion of all others, save those that + are peaceful, legal and constitutional." + +Sometimes, it has been averred lately that these two resolutions are, in +principle and effect, the same. Mr. O'Connell himself declared the +latter was introduced by him, "_to draw a line of demarcation between +Old and Young Ireland_." Indeed, if there were no distinction, the +introduction would be eminently absurd as well as pernicious. And if +they be different, as essentially they are, there must be some strong +justification for the adoption of the latter. + +But before proceeding to this enquiry, it may not be amiss to point out +the exact distinction between the original and the new resolution. The +former embraced a rule of action whereby the members of the Association +engaged their faith and honour to each other and the country that they +would not use its agency to cause or promote physical force or violence +of any kind, or commit one another to any act of illegality. But it went +no farther--it enunciated no moral dogma--a rule of conscience rather +than a pledge of conduct such as the other--and it claimed no sacrifice +of one's own convictions. As a mutual guarantee, it was not only just +but essential to the perfect safety of the Association. + +On the other hand, the new resolution excluded the question of practical +action altogether. Neither in itself nor in its preamble was there an +averment, or even an assumption of its necessity, as a rule of guidance. +It was a mere abstract opinion, utterly irrespective of the object or +conduct of the Association, and only applicable as a test of certain +speculative theories. But not alone was it inapplicable and +preposterous; it was utterly untrue: at least, there are many men who +could not subscribe to it without, according to their own convictions, +being guilty of a lie. Supposing, however, that the seceders had +attempted to violate the old constitution of the confederacy, it may be +argued that Mr. O'Connell would be justified in preparing the most +stringent tests for the purpose of restraining them. But no such attempt +was ever made; no one proposed in the Association, no one hinted outside +it, that it ought to violate one of its rules. No one complained of +these rules, or said they ought to be changed, modified or, to the least +extent, relaxed. Neither directly nor indirectly, openly nor covertly, +was there a word spoken, nor an act done, nor a suggestion offered to +that effect. The resolution was, therefore, uncalled for and +unnecessary, as it was unsound and untrue. + +Of this there is the clearest proof. First, the negative proof is +conclusive. Mr. O'Connell did not name an act, or refer to a word of one +single seceder, which would justify the imputation that they sought or +desired to involve the Association in any expedient inconsistent with +its fundamental rules. His only proof was this, and he did not then rely +on it: Lord John Russell stated in the House, "I am told that one party +among the Repealers are anxious for a separation from England." This is +his solitary proof, nor does it appear that he was not himself the +informant of the minister. But the positive proofs at the other side are +numerous and incontestable. I select a few. On the 13th of July Mr. +O'Gorman, in presence of Mr. O'Connell, said: "In order that there shall +be no misconception on the subject, as far as I am concerned, I say, at +once, I am no advocate for physical force. As a member of the +Association I am bound by its laws. One of these is, that its object is +not to be attained by the use of physical force, but by moral means +only." Mr. Mitchel, on that occasion, said: "This is a legally organised +and constitutional society seeking to attain its object, as all the +world knows, by peaceable means and none other. Constitutional agitation +is the very basis of it; and nobody who contemplates any other mode of +bringing about the independence of the country has a right to come here, +or consider himself a fit member of our Association." On the 28th of +July, Mr. Meagher said: "I do advocate the peaceful policy of the +Association. It is the only policy we can and should adopt. If it be +pursued with truth, with courage and with firmness of purpose, I do +firmly believe it will succeed." + +Mr. M.J. Barry, on the 7th of June, said, "It is perfectly plain to all +that the purpose of the Association is to work out its object by means +of moral force, and that only." In my letter to Mr. Ray, written long +after the secession, I used these words: "The first (original rule of +the Association) implies a pledge and an obligation to which every +member of the Association bound himself. Any member, who violates it, or +would induce the Association to infringe it, must be false to his own +vow and treacherous to the Association, whence he should be expelled +with every mark of infamy." + +These proofs are taken at random: they range over the time before, after +and contemporaneous with the secession. They could be multiplied one +hundredfold, and taken from the speeches and writings of every one of +the seceders. Yet that fact availed nothing--they were told, because +"they differed from the rules laid down by the Liberator, they ceased to +be members of the Association." + +This is, in some sort, a digression. I return to the events which +directly precipitated the division. It will be remembered that the +objections of the seceders to the Peace Resolutions were confined to an +emphatic expression of dissent. They were not, then, informed that they +ceased to be members. They attended the next meeting; and, having +repeated the same dissent, they expressed their fervent wish for a +perfect understanding, and pledged themselves to continue their +co-operation, as if the resolution had not been passed. Mr. John Reilly +repudiated these advances, and charged them with treachery to Ireland, +as the natural complement of disobedience to O'Connell. He gave notice +that he would put certain interrogatories to Mr. O'Brien, in reference +to a speech delivered by him at Clare On the next day of meeting, Mr. +O'Brien attended (July 26), and a letter from Mr. O'Connell, containing +the bitterest complaints, against the "advocates of physical force," as +he pleased to call them, "_who_," he said, "_continued members of our +body, in spite of our resolutions_," was read. + +A discussion, acrimonious and prolonged, followed. The debate was +adjourned to the next day, when it was again renewed. Mr. John O'Connell +spoke for nearly three hours, directing most of his arguments against +some admissions of the _Nation_ as to the purpose entertained by the +writers in 1843. A casual expression--"_we had promises of aid from +Ledru Rollin, and many a surer source._"--supplied him with abundant +material for loyal indignation. He was heard without interruption. Mr. +Meagher rose to reply. He delivered that most impassioned oration, in +which occurs the apostrophe to the sword. The meeting yielded to the +frankness, sincerity, enthusiasm and supreme eloquence of the young +orator, and rewarded him by its uncontrollable and unanimous applause. +Mr. J. O'Connell rose, and, in the midst of a scene of universal +rapture, coldly said, "either Mr. Meagher or myself must leave the +Association." Too generous to avail himself of the enthusiasm he +excited, Mr. Meagher withdrew. So did Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Mitchel and the +others, with more than three-fourths of the meeting. + +Thus occurred the secession. Mr. J. O'Connell simulated some stage +grief, expressing his ardent hope that the "Liberator," on his arrival, +would heal the wounds he had himself inflicted. How sincere was that +hope is proved by the fact that, when Mr. O'Connell did arrive, which +was on the Saturday following, he was prevented from proceeding farther +than Kingstown, where he was detained until the hour of meeting on +Monday; thus rendering it impossible to have an interview with Mr. +O'Brien, or any one who could facilitate an arrangement. On Monday, +instead of using soothing language and kind advice, he probed the wounds +to the bottom, and infused into them subtlest poison. It is needless, as +it would be painful, to recount the details of bitterness and hate with +which on that day he dashed the hopes of the country. The result was +deep and irreconcilable estrangement. Those who left the hall, rather +than drive therefrom the son of Daniel O'Connell, finding themselves +repaid by calumny, yielded to the conviction which every successive act +of Mr. O'Connell conduced to establish, namely, that the country, and +her great hope of destiny, were handed over to the Whigs. + +The proofs of this belief were, first: The statement in the _Mail_, +which remained undenied, and must, therefore, be taken to be undeniable. + +Secondly: The expression used by Mr. O'Connell, in his speech at +Conciliation Hall, that he would give no "vexatious opposition" to the +Whig nominee. + +Thirdly: His statement, at Dundalk, that "one experiment more was to be +made, in which every honest man would join." + +Fourthly: The following passage, which occurred in Mr. O'Connell's +letter, dated London, 27th of June, 1846: "There is an opportunity to +consider the Irish question as if on neutral grounds; there is a +glorious opportunity (the return of the Whigs to power) of deciding if +the Repealers be right in believing that no substantial relief can be +given to Ireland in a British Parliament; or that they are wrong, to the +demonstration that would result from PRACTICAL JUSTICE being afforded by +that Parliament." + +Fifthly: The assertion of Mr. Lawless, in a letter to Mr. O'Connell, +dated 18th July, which the latter published, without contradiction or +comment, namely: "And yet it was with difficulty you (Mr. O'Connell) +prevented his (Mr. Shiel) being opposed in his election for Dungarvan," + +Sixthly: Mr. Shiel's election, without opposition, when his defeat, if +opposed, was perfectly certain. + +Seventhly: Mr. O'Connell's eulogy on The O'Conor Don for "accepting an +office, which would enable him to serve his country."--(_Speech in +Conciliation Hall, July 13th._) + +Eighthly: Mr. O'Connell's assertion, in his speech at Conciliation Hall: +"I did not begin this quarrel; in my absence in London, an attack was +made on the Whig ministry." + +And, finally: The boasted acceptance by Mr. O'Connell of the +distribution of Whig patronage, and the appointment of his personal +friends to lucrative employment. + +All that followed was one unvaried scene of distraction, division and +enmity. Week after week, the seceders were held up to public odium, +derision and scorn. One day, they were "blasphemous," one day, +"revolutionary," one day, they "sang small," and one day "their nobles +were come to ninepence." Now, they were challenged to establish a +society of their own principles; now, they were recommended to the +mercy of the Attorney-General, and again commended to the hatred of the +people. Meantime a blight had fallen on the earth, and a whole people's +food, in one night, perished. To the new Government, the famine that +ensued was an assurance of subsistence and success. Hunger would waste +the bodies of the people, as the dearth of truth had wasted their souls. +The ministry affected great sympathy, great diligence, and great +impotence. Among other wants of theirs, the want of practical engineers +was felt the deepest. They knew and lamented that many died of +starvation; but the thing was inevitable as long as they were unprovided +with practical engineers. Mr. O'Connell, from the platform of the hall, +announced the good intentions of the Government, and proclaimed, at the +same time, his own commission to supply them with engineers. How many +applied and were refused, I am not in a position to say; but there is no +disputing the records of the church-yard, where many an uncoffined +corpse attested the care of the "_paternal government_." The people were +guaranteed against death, and yet death came, and took them at his will; +but what was left of life was taught to exhaust itself in curses against +those who would save it at every risk. Wherever the seceders appeared +they were hooted. Prostitutes of both sexes regarded them as fit +subjects for their insolent raillery. The avowed foes of nationality +looked on them as fools; its pretended friends as knaves; and the common +herd of indifferent villains as a butt. The low retainers of the English +garrison, who had sold their souls to the enemy but were kept in awe by +bodily fear, became outrageously patriotic; and with insulted gratitude +they scouted the traducers of the "saviour of their country." Alas! in +Ireland, nothing was saved but death's agencies. Doom had come upon +all--her produce, her people, her hopes and her morality. + +The same report, which contained the Peace Resolutions, set out with a +statement dissevering the Association from the _Nation_ newspaper. If +the statement were embodied in a resolution of expulsion, it would clash +directly with the failure of the prosecution against it, and brand the +jurors who refused to find a verdict with perjury. But the admission of +the _Nation_ that, in 1843, it inculcated principles having a remote +tendency to effect the redemption of the country, by arms if need were, +supplied the Association with a pretext for expelling it altogether. Two +rules had been adopted for the circulation of newspapers. The first was, +when £10 were forwarded to the Secretary, the subscribers had the +privilege of naming two weekly or one evening paper, which the Secretary +was to forward and pay for. By the second rule, adopted after the State +trials, the subscribers retained the drawback, and selected and paid for +their own paper. For several weeks, the _Nation_ was the only theme of +Mr. O'Connell's abhorrence. He exhausted all his eloquence in warning +the people against it, but in vain. The people continued to insist on it +in return for their subscriptions. Accordingly, on the 10th of August, a +resolution was proposed to the effect that no money subscribed for +Repeal Purposes should be allocated to the payment of a subscription for +the _Nation_, on the sole ground that, in 1843, it inculcated doctrines +which were in their tendency treasonable. Mr. O'Connell said, after the +resolution was passed, that he did not wish to injure the paper in a +pecuniary point of view; and on the next day of meeting, he brought down +to the Association some twenty law authorities, which he read, to prove +that treason had actually been committed; and thus stamped the conduct +of the Attorney-General as not alone justifiable, but lenient to excess. + +The seceders determined to abide the issue. They had the fullest +confidence that the insensate cry raised against them would eventually +subside, and that truth would again prevail. They contented themselves, +therefore, with appealing to their countrymen, through the columns of +the _Nation_, then interdicted and banned through every parish in the +island. But, in those appeals, there was no word of allusion to the +storm of calumny and denunciation then raging against them. They sought +to fix public attention on subjects of vast national importance, and to +awake the energies of the people to some becoming effort where the stake +was their lives. Meantime, week after week, the Government was praised, +the Board of Works were praised, and the people--"_the faithful and +moral people, who died, peacefully, of hunger_"--were praised, in the +Repeal Association. + +[Illustration: Robert Holmes (1848)] + +Late in the autumn of 1846, some men, few in number and humble in +condition, undertook the desperate task of remonstrating with the Repeal +Association. Among them, Mr. Keeley and Mr. Holywood, Mr. Crean and Mr. +Halpin, were prominent. Their undertaking was gigantic, considering the +formidable obstacles they proposed to encounter. They proceeded silently +and sedulously; and, in a few weeks, a remonstrance against the +course pursued by the Association was signed by fifteen hundred citizens +of Dublin. It was presented to the Chairman of the Association on the +24th of October, and ordered by Mr. J. O'Connell to be flung into the +gutter. The remonstrants and the public resented this indignity alike. +It was determined to hold a meeting in the Rotunda, where they proposed +to defend themselves against every species of assault. The meeting was +held on the 3rd of November, and was allowed to pass off without +disturbance. Mr. M'Gee attended. He had never appeared in the struggle +in the hall, nor was he a member at the time. His speech at the Rotunda +was calm, forcible and conclusive on the points in issue; and the +excitement it created was, in no small degree, enhanced by the fact that +the speaker was a young man theretofore unknown. The success of the +meeting suggested the practicability and safety of an experiment upon a +large scale preparatory to the formation of the Confederation. The +meeting was fixed for the 2nd of December. The remonstrant committee +offered to defend it against any assailants. The main object was to +reply to the calumnies which, for nearly six months, had been urged +against the leading seceders. The meeting was one of the most important +ever held in the metropolis. It was intelligent, numerous and +fashionable. The entire ability of the seceders was put forth; and such +was the sensation created by the proceedings that two publishers, one in +Dublin and one in Belfast, brought out reports, in pamphlet form, which +were read all over the country with the greatest avidity. It was that +night stated, only casually, that the seceders would meet in January to +announce to the nation the course of political action they would +recommend. On the 13th of January, the promise was redeemed. The +seceders met as before, and their deliberations were guarded by the same +men, who thus a third time risked their lives--the hazard was nothing +less--to secure to the seceders freedom of speech and of action. On the +13th of January, the Confederation was fully established. The bases, if +the phrase be applicable, were freedom, tolerance and truth. There was +no avowal of war, and no pledge of peace. The great object was the +independence of the Irish nation; and no means to attain that end were +abjured, save such as were inconsistent with honour, morality and +reason. + +During the intervening time, between the first and second meetings, +overtures of peace were made by Mr. O'Connell. A sudden and singular +change was observable in his tone and language. He said with chagrin, +and acknowledged with reluctance, that the position and strength of the +party defied alike his power and his address. Every art and every effort +to crush them had been exhausted in vain. The question between them, he +now loudly proclaimed, was one purely of law; and he referred to several +barristers, by whose judgment he was ready to abide. The question he was +prepared to submit suggests the most mournful considerations. If it were +not painful, it would be amusing to see to what painful absurdities he +was compelled to have recourse. He would leave it to anyone at the bar, +whether the "physical force principle" would not make the Association +illegal; and then he would indulge in a hollow triumph over the +certainty and security of his position. But that was not the question +in issue. None of the seceders ever recommended the principle of +physical force, in practice or theory, to the Association. On the +contrary, they disavowed it, in reference to that body, and their own +connection with it. The real question was this--whether it was necessary +to the legality of any political society, to disavow, formally and +forever, under all circumstances, and at all times, the right of men to +strike down the cruellest tyranny with the strong hand. It would be +absurd to submit such a proposition to a lawyer, which could only be +answered by a laugh. It had been sufficiently settled by the fact that, +without it, the Catholic Association, the Corn-law League, and the +Repeal Association itself, up to the 13th of July, 1846, were perfectly +safe and perfectly legal. But no man knew better than Mr. O'Connell that +this was a feigned issue, the real one being the mendicancy of the +Association, and the treachery with which it abandoned the national +constituencies to Whig officials. The overtures on this occasion +eventuated in some negotiations, of which the Rev. Mr. Miley was the +medium. His mission was singularly unfortunate, for it led to greater +misunderstanding; and the negotiations terminated in mutual charges of +misconception or misrepresentation. + +The history of the Confederation, such as its importance deserves, is +beyond the scope of my present purpose. Others may undertake to +vindicate for its proceedings that enduring place in the annals of the +country to which they are eminently entitled. Here, but a few words can +be said. + +As soon as the eclat of the first meetings had subsided, and the +business began to assume a more routine character, the moral-force +disciples, hitherto kept in awe by the mustered strength of the seceders +and their followers, determined to give a practical illustration of the +sincerity of their pledge by breaking the skulls of their opponents. On +the first occasion, their onslaught was vigorous and successful. Blood +was shed, and heads opened. This was deemed no infraction of the holy +vow recorded in the books of the Association; for the body held its +meetings without exercising its undoubted prerogative of "blotting out" +the scene of outrage "from the map of Ireland." On the second occasion, +the wreckers of Conciliation Hall were met as they deserved, and after a +short skirmish fled through the city. + +The success of the new Confederacy was certain, but slow. But, in the +same proportion as their principles obtained predominance, the hatred of +the Old Irelanders became unscrupulous and implacable. Often in the +house of prayer, they heard themselves denounced; often in the streets, +they heard their names used as by-words of scorn. Mr. O'Connell +disappeared from the scene of his glory, which relapsed to the guidance +of his intolerant and intemperate son. Some attempts were made to force +him to a reconciliation, which in public he appeared to yield to, but +which in private he exercised his utmost cunning to baffle. In the midst +of this scene of distraction, Mr. O'Connell died. The news was a +stunning blow to the nation. A great reaction, for a short time, ensued. +Added to the other crimes of the seceders, was that of being O'Connell's +murderers. They, on the other hand, resolved to treat O'Connell's +memory with the greatest respect. They resolved to attend his funeral +procession, in deep mourning; and they gave orders for expensive sashes, +of Irish manufacture, which the members of the council were to wear. Mr. +O'Brien communicated this purpose to Mr. J. O'Connell. The answer was +too plainly a prohibition; and the Confederation reluctantly abandoned +their design. Mr. O'Connell died at Genoa, on the 15th of May, 1847, and +was buried in Glasnevin, on the 5th of August. His corpse, which was +delayed some days in Liverpool, was conveyed through the streets of +Dublin, during the election scene which resulted in the return of Mr. +John Reynolds; being thus made subservient to the success of the man, to +whom, of all his followers, he was most opposed during his life. It was +a strange end, surely. Mr. O'Connell was buried with great pomp. The +trustees of the Glasnevin Cemetery were generous in appropriating the +fund at their disposal to the purposes of the funeral; but when the +sincerity of the mourners' grief came to be tested, by the claim for a +contribution to erect a suitable monument to the great champion of the +age, it was found how hollow was their woe, and how lying their +adulation. Daniel O'Connell is yet without a monument, save that which +his own genius has raised in the liberalised institutions of his +country. + +The reaction in the public mind, consequent on his death, was +short-lived; and the Confederation progressed rapidly, during the +closing months of the year 1847. Although not formally acknowledged, +every one saw that it was the only public body in the country deserving +or enjoying anything like public confidence. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL.--HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND +SPEECH.--THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED.--ARREST OF MESSRS. +MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS AND DUFFY.--CONVICTION OF MR. MARTIN.--HIS +SPEECH.--CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF MR. O'DOHERTY.--DISSOLUTION +OF THE CONFEDERATION.--THE LEAGUE + + +At the opening of the new year, which was destined to be its last, the +Confederation, though yet regarded with coldness by the Catholic +Hierarchy, was in full career. Its members had won the respect of every +educated man in the land, however widely most of them may have differed +from it in political faith. Among the middle classes of the Catholics, +all that were left uncorrupted fell into its ranks, and embraced its +belief. Men began to regard as possible everything which enthusiasm +advanced with such unhesitating courage and devoted self-sacrifice. Mr. +Mitchel delivered some lectures on land tenure and the poor-law system, +which startled thoughtful and unthinking men alike. He had previously +made an able and sincere effort in the Irish Council to compel the +landlord class to some redeeming act of good sense and good will, which +their own true interests required as well as the agonies of the starving +tenantry. He was met by ignorance, stolidity and scorn. A timid and +narrow measure of improvement in the relation between landlord and +tenant had been proposed, and ably supported by Messrs. Ferguson, +Ireland and O'Loghlen; and such was the obstinate aversion to all +amelioration, on the part of the landlords, that they abstained from +resisting Mr. Mitchel's amendment, lest they would be thereby committed +to the milder reform proposed by Mr. Ferguson. His motion was lost only +by a majority of two several of the five-pound Repeal representatives, +who brawled at tenant-right meetings, and one member of the +Confederation, Mr. M'Gee, being included in the majority. + +The result of the division produced a marked change in Mr. Mitchel's +career. His lectures on land-tenure in Europe, displayed the bold +outlines and distinctive characteristics of his principles. His hopes +from the Irish landlords, of whatever shade of politics, had ever +afterwards vanished. He believed them incapable of being influenced by +commonsense or good feeling; and he turned to the people, with full +confidence in their fidelity and strength. All further attempts to +conciliate the upper classes, he regarded as foolish, feeble and +cowardly. He continued to reassert the substance of his lectures in +another form, in the pages of the _Nation_, of which he was at the time +editor-in-chief--that is, of which he wrote the greatest portion, +especially of its leading articles. Some of these articles gave rise to +a difference of opinion between him and Mr. Duffy, who, as responsible +owner and editor, had the sole control of the _Nation_. There were not +wanting men to take advantage of the difference and fan the flame. +Charles Duffy had messages conveyed to him, to the effect that a rumour +was abroad charging him with treachery; and to John Mitchel, perhaps by +the same agents of dissension, it was stated that he, too, was +suspected. It is unfortunately characteristic of Irishmen to be +suspicious; and it was the object of one of Mr. O'Connell's eternal +lessons to perpetuate and extend this degrading national vice. Whether +the representations made to either of these friends were the result of +national prejudice, or proceeded from a baser motive, it is scarce worth +while to inquire. A separation ensued. Mr. Reilly adopted the resolution +of his friend Mr. Mitchel. Mr. M'Gee adhered to Mr. Duffy; and a new +career and distinct fortunes opened to the enterprise of the four men, +whose united efforts elevated the popularity of the _Nation_ to a height +never before enjoyed by an Irish journal. + +The early differences between the two great journalists suggested to Mr. +Duffy, and to others, the necessity of drawing up a programme for the +guidance of the Confederation. A committee was appointed, consisting of +several members, including all the leading advocates of both the policy +of Mr. Duffy and that of Mr. Mitchel. The report was principally the +production of Mr. Duffy. It was in part modified by others; but Mr. +Mitchel, who objected to its principle, refused to take any part in its +modification. It was afterwards submitted to the council of the +Confederation; and there gave rise to a long, earnest and, to some +extent, an angry discussion. It was under consideration for several +successive nights, the debate lasting sometimes until three o'clock in +the morning. The principle of the report embraced the belief that moral +means and agencies to effect Ireland's liberties were not yet exhausted, +and should be further tried; and the agencies through which the +experiment was to be tested were indicated in detail. The principle of +the amendment proposed by Mr. Mitchel involved a preparation for and an +appeal to arms as the only resource available to the country. After a +long and anxious debate, the question of adopting the report passed in +the affirmative by a considerable majority. The details then came under +discussion, and, paragraph by paragraph, alterations were proposed and +adopted. The discussion on these matters was still more prolonged and +vehement. The principle of the entire was questioned indirectly by +various amendments of form; but it was always affirmed by a majority. +The report had, however, undergone such modifications and alterations +that its original promoters lost all interest in its passing; and at the +final stage, it was rejected, as well as I remember, without a division. +At all events, it was rejected, and, I believe, with the concurrence of +Mr. Duffy, who afterwards published the original draft in the _Nation_. + +It was on that occasion the celebrated resolutions, afterwards the +subject of the three nights' discussion at the Rotunda, were drafted and +proposed by Mr. O'Brien. They were at once adopted, Mr. Mitchel alone +dissenting. This may be the fittest opportunity distinctly and +definitely to settle the question, which has recently arisen, in +reference to these resolutions. On the several occasions of Mr. Duffy's +trial, they have been given in evidence as proof of his loyalty, on the +assumption that they emanated from him, and that it was through his +influence the body was led to adopt them. Again, it seems to have been +inferred--indeed, it has been so stated repeatedly, by persons who boast +of his confidence--that it was owing to his arrest and absence from the +council of the Confederation, that measure of fatal rashness was +adopted, of which he became the first victim; although it was his +discretion and ability that kept the "Jacquerie," who then obtained the +ascendant, in check from the beginning. + +This is partly a statement of fact, and partly an inference. The fact is +not true, and the inference is fallacious. The resolutions were not Mr. +Duffy's. On the contrary, one main object with those who adopted them, +without discussion, was to avoid the expression of an opinion on several +abstract principles forming the groundwork of his report. Secondly, he +exercised little or no influence in the debate which led to their +adoption by the Confederation. Thirdly, they were warmly sustained by +the influence, personal and otherwise, as well as by the exertion and +ability of the very men who, according to a recent contemptible sneer, +"improvised a revolution." Every one of them, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Meagher, +Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, and myself, spoke in favour of them, and +against Mr. Mitchel's amendment. And, finally, even if this were not so +and that the rashness of the outbreak really involved deep culpability, +Mr. Duffy cannot claim exemption from his share of the blame. + +I subjoin the Resolutions and Amendment. The division took place at ten +o'clock, on Saturday morning, February the 5th, 1848, when the former +were adopted, by a majority of 318 to 188:-- + + "Resolved: That inasmuch as letters, published by two members of + this Council, have brought into question the principles of the + Irish Confederation, and have given rise to an imputation that + we are desirous to produce a general disorganisation of society + in this country, and to overthrow social order, we deem it right + again to place before the public the following fundamental rule, + as that which constitutes the basis of action proposed to our + fellow-countrymen, by the Irish Confederation:-- + + RULE + + "That a society be now formed, under the title of 'The Irish + Confederation,' for the purpose of protecting our national + interests, and obtaining the legislative independence of + Ireland, by the force of opinion, by the combination of all + classes of Irishmen, and the exercise of all the political, + social and moral influences within our reach. + + "II. That (under present circumstances) the only hope of the + liberation of this country lies in a movement in which all + classes and creeds of Irishmen shall be fairly represented, and + by which the interests of none shall be endangered. + + "III. That inasmuch as English legislation threatens all + Irishmen with a common ruin, we entertain a confident hope their + common necessities will speedily unite Irishmen in an effort to + get rid of it. + + "IV. That we earnestly deprecate the expression of any + sentiments in the Confederation, calculated to repel or alarm + any section of our fellow-countrymen. + + "V. That we disclaim, as we have disclaimed, any intention of + involving our country in civil war, or of invading the just + rights of any portion of its people. + + "VI. That the Confederation has not recommended, nor does it + recommend, resistance to the payment of rates and rents, but, on + the contrary, unequivocally condemns such recommendations. + + "VII. That, in protesting against the disarmament of the Irish + people, under the Coercion Bill lately enacted, and in + maintaining that the right to bear arms, and to use them for + legitimate purposes, is one of the primary attributes of + liberty, we have had no intention or desire to encourage any + portion of the population of this country in the perpetration of + crimes, such as those which have recently brought disgrace upon + the Irish people; and which have tended, in no trifling degree, + to retard the success of our efforts in the cause of national + freedom. + + "VIII. That to hold out to the Irish people the hope that, in + this present broken and divided condition, they can liberate + their country by an appeal to arms, and consequently to divert + them from constitutional action, would be, in our opinion, a + fatal misdirection of the public mind. + + "IX. That this Confederation was established to obtain an Irish + Parliament by the combination of classes, and by the force of + opinion, exercised in constitutional operations; and that no + means of a contrary character can be recommended or promoted + through its organisation, while its present fundamental rules + remain unaltered. + + "X. That while we deem it right thus emphatically to disavow the + principles propounded in the publications referred to in the + resolutions, we at the same time equally distinctly repudiate + all right to control _the private opinions_ of any member of our + body, provided they do not affect the legal or moral + responsibility of the Irish Confederation." + + AMENDMENT + + "That this Confederation does not feel called upon to promote + either a condemnation or approval of any doctrines promulgated + by any of its members, in letters, speeches, or otherwise; + because the seventh fundamental rule of the Confederation + expressly provides, 'That inasmuch as the essential bond of + union amongst us is the assertion of Ireland's right to an + independent legislature, no member of the Irish Confederation + shall be bound to the adoption of any principle involved in any + resolution, or promulgated by any speaker in the society, or + any journal advocating its policy, to which he has not given his + special consent, save only the foregoing fundamental principles + of the society.'" + +But nothing could be more remote from the fact than the assumption that +those who supported the Rotunda resolutions were opposed to Mr. Mitchel +in principle. If that ground were not expressly repudiated, Mr. Mitchel +would have been sustained by a majority of two to one. Every speaker who +exercised any influence on the meeting, took occasion emphatically to +disclaim it. They did not deprecate the right or the duty of taking up +arms against the English Government; but they said: While we approve of +the end in view, we condemn the means, and precisely because we think +them the most surely calculated of any that could be devised, to +frustrate the object. This was the distinct ground, specifically, +clearly and unmistakably stated, on which the amendment of Mr. Mitchel +was opposed and it was the only ground on which it could be opposed; +with sincerity or success. The use, therefore, which was made of the +resolutions on Mr. Duffy's trial was false and unsustainable in every +point of view. + +There is no disposition and no desire to quarrel with the line of +defence adopted by Mr. Duffy. It is conceded freely that any defence +which his counsel, some of the ablest and most honourable men at the bar +in Ireland, or elsewhere recommended was justifiable. But coupling that +part of the defence with the evidence given on the same trial, by +pensioners and parasites[8] of the British Government, and with the +commentaries that afterwards appeared from the pens of some of Mr. +Duffy's friends, the whole was calculated to leave on the public mind an +impression, not only utterly inconsistent with the truth, but pernicious +and fatal in its influence on the future of the country, if indeed she +is ever to have a future. + +This impression inevitably would be that Mr. Duffy modelled and moulded +the proceedings of the Confederation at his mere pleasure; that Mr. +Duffy was not alone averse to revolution, but actually conservatively +loyal; and that, in the spirit of that loyalty, he controlled the whole +body, and kept an insensate "Jacquerie," which existed within it, in +check--that it was only when he was sent to prison this Jacquerie +obtained the ascendant, and that Mr. Duffy was the victim of their +intemperate folly. However agreeable all this may be to personal vanity, +Mr. Duffy must feel compelled to reject it as audacious and unmeaning +flattery. There is much more at stake than the estimate of private +character--the highest interests of truth. They require that it should +be made known and incontestably established that every word of the +above--fact and inference--is unfounded. As to the statement that Mr. +Duffy was made the victim of others' intemperance, its converse could be +much more easily sustained. But it satisfies every requirement of truth +simply to state that, morally speaking, Mr. Duffy was equally +responsible for the late outbreak, with those who perilled their lives +and lost their liberty forever in the struggle. + +The _United Irishman_ started under auspices more flattering than ever +cheered the birth of a similar enterprise. The man in Dublin, who did +not read the first number, might indeed be pronounced a bigot or a +fool. Every word struck with the force and terror of lightning. So great +was the sale of the first number that the press was kept busy for three +days and nights. When the second was announced, a guard of police was +necessary to keep order and peace among the newsvendors around the +office door. In every corner of the island the influence of the _United +Irishman_ was instant and simultaneous. The letters to the Ulster +farmers caused a sensation as universal and profound as the letters to +Lord Clarendon excited sentiments of wonder and alarm. Thomas Devin +Reilly's powers, too, never before tested in this range of literature, +astonished even the warmest admirers of his genius. The journal at once +attained a standard of eminence, political, literary and poetical, never +accorded to a production of the kind, published in Ireland. For the days +in which they were written, the songs and essays of Thomas Davis +contained greater depth, and a holier purpose. They seemed to flow, too, +from a diviner inspiration; were of a wider, calmer and more generous +scope. But the times were different; and it was as if the spirit of +fire, burning at the bases of man's social hopes throughout Europe, +breathed its prophetic glow on the heart of John Mitchel, conscious that +he, of all men, in a prostrate land, could find it befitting utterance. +It must not be omitted that the muse of "Mary," of "Eva," and of poor +Clarence Mangan, considerably enhanced the high estimate of the _United +Irishman_. + +In the presence of such an oracle of defiance and vengeance, the +Government for a while stood aghast. But the urgency of the times +admitted of no temporising policy. Messrs. O'Brien, Meagher and +Mitchel, were selected for prosecution; but the latter was honoured with +a double suit--one for an article, and the other for a speech. The +morning they were called upon to enter into security, all Dublin was +startled as if by a spell. The streets were crowded by a dense and +anxious mass of men. The police-office in a short time became +inaccessible. Mr. O'Connell's two sons, and the staff of the old +Association, anticipated the crowd, and occupied the seats around the +bench. When Mr. O'Brien was called on, the O'Connells offered to become +his security. The fact was trumpeted by the journals, yet living on the +garbage of Conciliation Hall. But the offer, if sincere, might then be +productive of important consequences. It was not sincere; a fact +sufficiently attested by the Messrs. O'Connell's necessary consciousness +that Mr. O'Brien would not come without his bail. In truth, it was known +to all Dublin that he even found a difficulty in reconciling the +conflicting claims of several gentlemen who aspired to that honour. So +it was, too, with Mr. Meagher and Mr. Mitchel. All those gentlemen +hurried to tender their services, as soon as they heard that bail would +be required, the Messrs. O'Connell alone selecting the public court for +the display of their magnanimity. It is needless to add that their +courtesy was declined; and they must have left the police-office that +day in the wake of the crowd, oppressed with the conviction that the +confidence of the Irish people had passed for ever from their house. + +[Illustration: Thomas Francis Meagher (A Sketch in May: 1848)] + +[Illustration: John Martin (About 1865)] + +This prosecution marked a new epoch in the Irish movement. It was +determined at once to meet it boldly--to extenuate nothing, to +retract nothing--to take advantage of no legal subterfuge; but dare the +issue promptly, openly and fully. Mr. O'Brien at first refused to be +defended by counsel. He was with great difficulty prevailed upon to +change his determination; and, when it was known that he was willing to +accept professional assistance, at least twenty of the ablest young men +at the bar volunteered their services; and the traversers saw arrayed at +their side an amount of professional ability and chivalry such as was +never united on such an occasion. The most respectable solicitors in the +profession, too, contended for the honour of being their recorded +attorneys. The juries disagreed in both cases; and the charge against +Mitchel lapsed into that more formidable prosecution which sealed his +fate. + +Mitchel's arrest under the Treason Felony Act was not unexpected. But as +soon as it was ascertained that he was lodged in Newgate, his fate +engaged the entire care of his co-Confederates. The question at once +arose whether, if a rescue were attempted, there were resources to +ensure even a decent stand. It was ascertained that the supply of arms +and ammunition was scanty and imperfect, and the supply of food still +scantier. The people had been decimated by three years of famine: and no +want could be more appalling than the want of food. On inquiry, it was +found that there was not provision for three days in the capital, which +depended on daily arrivals for its daily bread. Throughout the country, +the supply was even more precarious. The Government had in their own +hands the uncontrolled power of preventing the arrival of a single grain +of corn; and, if so minded, could starve the island in a fortnight, +supposing the people were even able to possess themselves of all the +cattle in the country. + +These were some of the considerations which influenced the decision of +Mr. Mitchel's comrades. Whether the opinion were or were not a correct +one, they acted on the conviction that, under all circumstances, any +attempt to rescue him would eventuate in a street row which would entail +not only defeat but disgrace. If they could but persuade themselves that +a blow might be struck, even though defeat and death followed, they most +certainly would have attempted it. It was generally understood, on the +day before the trial, that the idea of a rescue was abandoned; and the +trial commenced amidst gloomy presentiments and blighted hopes. After +hours of quibbling and legal fencing, a jury was selected, by the crown, +to convict. From the moment they went through the blasphemous process of +swearing to give a true verdict, John Mitchel's fate was sealed. + +I pass over the details, and come to the last act in the infamous drama, +called his trial. + +The following account of the closing scene is not mine. Feeling +inadequate to describe a scene of which even a distant recollection is +exciting, I asked a friend who felt the deepest interest in the trial to +describe it. With what he has written I entirely agree, save one +sentence. He says that it was owing to the action of the council of the +Confederation John Mitchel's personal friends were allowed to be +assaulted, with impunity, by the police. I do not think so. With respect +to the decision of the council, I feel bound to assume my share of its +responsibility, although I yielded to it with the utmost reluctance and +regret:-- + +On the morning of Saturday, the 27th May, 1849, the court was crowded to +a greater excess than usual, even in those days. About the empty dock +were the personal friends of Mr. Mitchel, those who agreed with him, and +those who did not. A little retired on either side sat John Martin, and +John Kenyon--in front were William H. Mitchel, brother of the prisoner +and his only relative in court, T. Devin Reilly, Thomas F. Meagher, John +B. Dillon, Michael Doheny, Richard O'Gorman, Martin O'Flaherty (Mr. +Mitchel's attorney), Charles O'Hara and others whom we have forgotten. + +A little in advance, on the left of the dock, were the stalls reserved +during the sham trial for the counsel for the defence. As yet they were +only occupied by the junior advocates, Sir Colman O'Loghlen and John +O'Hagan. The benches at the right of the dock, and nearer to the bench, +reserved for the Attorney-General and his retainers, were vacant. The +Sheriff and his white stick occupied their box, and the galleries to the +right and left were crowded with jurymen--those who "had done their +business," and those who were eager for employment to do more. The bench +of the judges held two empty chairs. And police officers and other +mercenaries, dotted thickly over the court, "concluded and set off the +arrangements." + +An old man, low of stature, and stooped, passed through a side door, and +walked slowly and decrepidly into the benches of the prisoner's counsel. +Whispers, and then applause from the galleries, were heard and passed +by him unheeded. Quietly and unostentatiously he moved to his seat--the +junior advocates, and all the Confederates in the body of the court, +rising and bowing to him in silence. It was the solitary Republican of +the United Irish day, Robert Holmes, coming to discharge his last duty +to the great Republican of a younger century. + +The applause of the galleries was hushed by the crier's voice--"Silence! +take off your hats"; and on the right stalked in the gaunt figure of +James Henry Monahan. Triumph, animosity and fear marked his night-bird +face. Even yet it was hoped the great opponent of his "government," whom +by rascality alone he could convict, would strike his colours, and sue +for mercy. Even yet it was feared that a rescue would be attempted. How +possible the former was, the reader may judge. The latter was rendered +impossible by the council of the Confederation, and the few who +cherished the design in the council's despite, had attempted an _emeute_ +the night previous, and were beaten and placed _hors de combat_. As +Monahan and his retainers entered, the red face of Lefroy oozed through +the bench curtains, and followed by the pale Moore, "the court was +seated." + +As yet the dock was empty, save that the jailor of Newgate and his +deputy occupied each a corner. + +There was a dead silence. + +"Jailor, put forward John Mitchel," said the official, whose duty is to +make such orders. + +A grating of bolts--a rustling of chains, were heard behind. The low +door-way at the back of the dock opened, and between turnkeys Mitchel +entered. + +Ascending the steps to the front of the dock, and lifting, as he +advanced, the glazed dark cap he wore during his imprisonment, as +gracefully as if he entered a drawing-room, he took his stand in a firm +but easy attitude. His appearance was equally removed from bravado and +fear. His features, usually placid and pale, had a rigid clearness about +them that day we can never forget. They seemed, from their transparency +and firmness, like some wondrous imagination of the artist's chisel, in +which the marble, fancying itself human, had begun to breathe. The eye +was calm and bright--the mouth, the feature round which danger loves to +play, though easy, motionless, and with lips apart, had about it an air +of immobility and quiet scorn, which was not the effect of muscular +action, but of nature in repose. And in his whole appearance, features, +attitude and look, there was a conscious pride and superiority over his +opponents, which, though unpresuming and urbane, seemed to speak louder +than words--"I am the victor here to-day." + +He saluted quietly those friends about the dock he had not that day +seen, conversing with one or two, and bowing to those at a distance. He +then directed his eyes to the court. + +After some preliminary forms, Baron Lefroy commenced operations, by +stating that he had called the case the first that morning, in order to +give time for any application to be made in court by, or on behalf of, +the prisoner of the crown. + +Again there was a silence of some minutes. The judges looked at each +other inquiringly. The crown prosecutor watched the prisoner's counsel. +Upon the prisoner himself all other eyes were fixed. + +There was no reply. + +"Business proceeded." The "Clerk of the Crown," rising to ask the usual +question--"If Mr. Mitchel had anything to say why judgment should not be +passed upon him?" + +"I _have_," he answered, and after a momentary look at judges, jury-box +and sheriff, he slowly continued: "I have to say that I have been tried +by a packed jury--by the jury of a partisan sheriff--by a jury not +empanelled, even according to the law of England, I have been found +guilty by a packed jury obtained by a juggle--a jury not empanelled by a +sheriff, but by a juggler." + +Here he was interrupted by the sheriff rising, and, in high indignation, +claiming the protection of the court. + +"That is the reason," continued Mitchel, "that is the reason why I +object to the sentence being passed on me." + +"That imputation," interrupted Lefroy, "upon the conduct of the sheriff +I must pronounce to be most unwarranted and unfounded." And this +discriminating judge continued to show that the imputation was +so--concluding with the assertion that the sheriff "had done his duty in +the case." Then without pausing, he proceeded to the usual lecture, full +of hypocritical cant with which British judges usually preface their +awards, however infamous. He alluded to the personal condition of Mr. +Mitchel, and expressed his regrets that a person of such merits should +be in such circumstances, Then having dilated on the enormity of the +offence, he assured Mr. Mitchel that he had been found guilty of many +heinous charges against the Queen and the Imperial Crown, and among +others, of felonious intending to levy war upon that gentlewoman, and +that the evidence was furnished by the prisoner's self. "How, +therefore," he continued, "you think yourself justified in calling it +the verdict of a packed jury, and thus imputing perjury to twelve of +your countrymen--deliberate and wilful perjury--" + +"No," interrupted the prisoner, "I did not impute perjury to the jury." + +"I understood," said the speaker on the bench, "that you had stated, in +arrest of judgment, that you had been found guilty by a packed jury." + +"I did," was the reply. + +Robert Holmes rose, during the judge's speech, and said, "My lords, with +the greatest respect, what I said was, that though he might be +statutably guilty, he was not, in my opinion, morally guilty. I repeat +that opinion now." + +This avowal, so boldly and firmly made by the veteran Republican, was +answered by all the audience, not pensioned, with plaudits. + +Baron Lefroy would say no more on that point, only that the court could +not acquiesce in a line of defence "which appeared to it very little +short of, or amounting to, as objectionable matter as that for which the +prisoner had been found guilty. + +"I," replied the aged advocate, "I am answerable for that under your Act +of Parliament." + +Loud applause followed. "Are there no policemen in court?" shouted +Baron Lefroy. The High Sheriff "had given strict orders," he said, "to +have all removed who would interrupt." "Make prisoners of them," said +the judge. "I wish you to understand," he continued, still excited, and +addressing Mr. Mitchel, who during these episodes, stood unmoved, "that +we have with the utmost anxiety and with a view to come to a decision +upon the measure of punishment which it would be our duty to impose, +postponed the passing of sentence on you until this morning." Then, +having stated the various considerations which induced him to believe +that the punishment should be lenient, and the equally various +considerations which induced him to believe the contrary, Lefroy +concluded as follows: "We had to consider all this--to look at the +magnitude of the crime, and to look also at the consideration, that if +this were not the first case brought under the Act, our duty might have +obliged us to carry out the penalty it awards to the utmost extent; but, +taking into consideration, that this is the first conviction under the +Act--though the offence has been as clearly proved as any offence under +the Act could be--the sentence of the court is, that you be transported +beyond the seas for the term of fourteen years." + +The listeners to the hypocritical sentence which concluded Lefroy's +speech, heard the sentence with astonishment and indignation. Mr. +Mitchel merely asked, apparently without any astonishment, if he might +now address some remarks to the court. The leave asked was granted, and +a silence still as death awaited the prisoner. + +"The law," he said, in his usual manly tone, and unexcited manner, "the +law has now done its part, and the Queen of England, her crown and +government in Ireland are now secure--'pursuant to Act of Parliament.' I +have done my part, also. Three months ago I promised Lord Clarendon and +his government in this country, that I would provoke him into his +'courts of justice,' as places of this kind are called, and that I would +force him publicly and notoriously to pack a jury against me to convict +me, or else that I would walk out a free man from this dock to meet him +in another field. + +"My lord, I knew I was setting my life on that cast; but I warned him +that, in either case, the victory would be with me; and the victory is +with me. Neither the jury, nor the judges, nor any other man in this +court, presumes to imagine that it is a criminal who stands in this +dock." + +He was interrupted with the plaudits of the auditory; and again +continued:-- + +"I have kept my word. I have shown what the law is made of in Ireland. I +have shown that her majesty's government sustains itself in Ireland by +packed juries, by partisan judges, by perjured sheriffs--" + +Here he was interrupted by Lefroy, who said, "the court could not sit +there to hear him arraign the jurors of the country, the sheriffs of the +country, the administration of justice, the tenure by which the crown of +England holds that country. The trial was over. Everything the prisoner +had to say previous to the judgment, the court was ready to hear, and +did hear. They could not suffer him (Mr. Mitchel) to stand at that bar +to repeat, very nearly, a repetition of the offence for which he had +been sentenced." + +"I will not say," Mr. Mitchel continued, "anything more of that kind. +But I say this--" + +Lefroy again interrupted him, to the effect that, within certain limits +the prisoner might proceed. + +"I have acted," he then said, "I have acted all through this business, +from the first, under a strong sense of duty. I do not regret anything I +have done, and I believe that the course which I have opened is only +commenced. The Roman," he continued in one of those bursts of eloquence, +with which he used to electrify men, stretching forth his clenched hand +and arm, "the Roman who saw his hand burning to ashes before the tyrant, +promised that three hundred should follow out his enterprise. Can I not +promise for one, for two, for three, aye for hundreds?" + +Here he pointed to his friends, Reilly, Martin, and Meagher. A burst of +wild enthusiasm followed. + +"Officer! officer! remove Mr. Mitchel," was heard from Lefroy. A rush +was made on the dock, and the foremost ranks sprung from the galleries, +with out-stretched arms to vow with him too. The judges rushed in terror +from the benches--the turnkeys seized the hero, and in a scene of wild +confusion he half walked, and was half forced through the low, dark +door-way in the rear, waving his hand in a quiet farewell. The bolts +grated, the gate slammed, and he was seen no more. + +Men stood in affright, and looked in each others' faces wonderingly. +They had seen a Roman sacrifice in this modern world, and they were +mute. + +An hour elapsed--the excited crowd had passed away; and the partisan +judges, nervous and ill at ease, ventured upon the bench again. + +They were seated, and seemed to be settling down to get through +"business" as well as they could, when Mr. Holmes, whose defence of Mr. +Mitchel had been so offensive to them, rose. "My lords," he said, "I +think I had a perfect right to use the language I did yesterday. I wish +now to state that what I said yesterday as an advocate, I adopt to-day, +as my own opinion. I here avow all I have said; and, perhaps, under this +late Act of Parliament, her Majesty's Attorney-General, if I have +violated the law, may think it his duty to proceed against me in that +way. But if I have violated the law in anything I said, I must, with +great respect to the court, assert that I had a perfect right to state +what I stated; and now I say in deliberation, that the sentiments I +expressed with respect to England, and her treatment of this country, +are my sentiments, and I here openly avow them. The Attorney-General is +present--I retract nothing--these are my well-judged sentiments--these +are my opinions, as to the relative position of England and Ireland, and +if I have, as you seem to insinuate, violated the law by stating those +opinions, I now deliberately do so again. Let her Majesty's +Attorney-General do _his_ duty to his government, I have done _mine_ to +my country." + +Such was the conclusion of the trial of John Mitchel. The brother-in-law +and friend of Robert Emmet, the republican of our fathers' days, came to +attest the justice of the republican of our own, and to vie with him in +defying and scorning the infamous laws of England. + +It is needless to say that the English officials did not dare accept the +challenge so nobly and defiantly flung down before the very dock whence +one victim had just been borne. + + +I feel tempted to add a word of a scene that intervened, in which I took +a part. When the sheriff recovered his self-possession, he ordered +several to be arrested; among others, Mr. Meagher. The officer who +seized him acted rudely and violently, which led to further confusion, +and the exchange of blows. At last Mr. Meagher and myself were secured +and removed to prison. When order was restored, we were brought out +before the court, and asked for an expression of regret. I answered, +that having heard Mr. Mitchel express, in the dock, sentiments in which +I entirely concurred, I took immediate occasion to mark my most distinct +and emphatic approval. In doing this I had no intention of an affront to +the court. But as to retract, or regret, no punishment in the power of +that or any other court to inflict, would compel me to do either one or +the other. + +Mr. Meagher repeated the same thing. We were then reprimanded and sent +back. Soon after we were recalled, and upon motion of Mr. Dillon and Sir +Colman O'Loghlen, on behalf of Mr. Meagher, who stated that he would +express his regret for the contempt of court, but nothing else, we were +both released, although I persisted in refusing even to join in the +expression of regret made _for_ but not _by_ Mr. Meagher. + +On the same day on which the above scene took place, John Mitchel was +borne in irons from the land of his love, the wife of his bosom, and the +children of his heart. + +Immediately after, the council of the Confederation was reduced to +twenty-one; and everything wore a sterner aspect, as if, whether they +willed it or no, an imperious obligation required fulfilment at their +hands. The slight disunion, which the fate of John Mitchel created, +between those who favoured and opposed his rescue, quickly disappeared, +and both parties only emulated each other in the activity and +earnestness of preparation. Among the agencies of progress, suggested by +the crisis, were two new journals--the _Felon_, edited by John Martin +and T.D. Reilly, assisted by Mr. Brenan, and the _Tribune_, edited by +Richard Dalton Williams and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, of which Mr. Savage +and Dr. Antisell were joint proprietors, and to which they were joint +contributors, with S.J. Meany and myself. The great object of the first +was to follow in the footsteps of the _United Irishman_, and that of the +latter was to urge the same principles upon a more republican basis. The +_Felon_ soon acquired additional interest from the daring principles and +extraordinary ability of Mr. James F. Lalor, who had become a joint +contributor with the recognised editors. Of the _Tribune_ it would not +become me to speak; perhaps no more is needed than that in the race to +doom it was not outsped. + +On the 8th of July, John Martin surrendered. Messrs. Duffy and O'Doherty +were arrested on the same evening, and Mr. Williams on the following +morning. + +Although the trials that followed did not take place until long after +the events which form the principal subject of this narrative, a brief +account of them will not be inappropriate here. + +Mr. O'Doherty was the first placed on his trial. The jury was of the +stamp usual in such cases in Ireland. But a point of great importance +was raised by his counsel, as to the publisher's _intention_ to commit +the felony, which they insisted should be proved, to bring his case +within the provision of the Treason Felony Act. The court, composed of +Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, gave an opinion favourable to +this construction, and the jury refused to convict, for which the Castle +Organ did not hesitate to pronounce them perjurers. Every one supposed +and rejoiced that Mr. O'Doherty had escaped; but the vengeance of the +Attorney-General was far from satisfied, and he had ample satisfaction +on a future day. + +On the 16th of August, John Martin was placed at the bar, before the +same judges. The instincts of the official, exasperated by defeat, +exercised a keener vigilance in selecting a jury; and one was finally +sworn that did not disappoint his sagacity. They found a verdict of +guilty without hesitation; but recommended the prisoner to mercy, which +in that case was a distinct contradiction of their oaths. The +composition of the jury, and the character of the prosecution, will be +best understood by a perusal of the subjoined speech. No higher proof +could be given of his purity of purpose, elevation of sentiment, and +goodness of heart. On the 19th of August he was called up to receive +sentence He stood in the spot hallowed by the footprints of Robert +Emmet and John Mitchel; nor was the heart he brought to the same +sacrifice less worthy than theirs. Upon his benevolent countenance or +stout heart, the appliances of terror around him had no effect. He stood +unmoved and unawed, in the glorious consciousness that he had fulfilled +his duty to his friend and to his country. + +When asked what he had to say why sentence should not be passed upon +him, he replied:-- + + "MY LORDS: I have no imputation to cast upon the bench, neither + have I anything of unfairness toward myself to charge the jury + with. I think the judges desired to do their duty fairly, as + upright judges and men, and that the twelve men who were put + into the box, not to try, but to convict me, voted honestly + according to their prejudices. I have no personal enmity against + the sheriff, sub-sheriff, or any other gentleman connected with + the arrangements of the jury panel, nor against the + Attorney-General, or any other person engaged in the proceedings + called my trial. But, my lords, I consider _I have not yet been + tried!_ There have been certain formalities carried on here for + three days, _but I have not been put upon my country, according + to the constitution said to exist in Ireland!_ + + "Twelve of my countrymen, 'indifferently chosen,' have not been + put into the jury-box to try me, but twelve men, who, I believe, + have been selected by the parties who represent the crown, for + the purpose of _convicting_, and not of _trying_ me. + + "Every person knows that what I have stated is the fact; and I + would represent to the judges, most respectfully, that they, as + honourable judges, and as upright citizens, ought to see that + the administration of justice in this country is above + suspicion. I have nothing more to say with regard to the trial; + but I would be thankful to the court for permission to say a few + words after sentence is passed." + +Chief Baron and Baron Pennefather: "No. We cannot hear anything from you +after sentence is pronounced." + + "Then, my lords, permit me to say, that admitting the narrow and + confined constitutional doctrines, which I have heard preached + in this court, to be right, _I am not guilty of the charge + according to this Act!_ In the article of mine, on which the + jury framed their verdict, which was written in prison, and + published in the last number of my paper, what I desired to do + was this, to advise and encourage my countrymen to keep their + arms; because that is their inalienable right, which no Act of + Parliament, no proclamation can take away from them. It is, I + repeat, their inalienable right. I advised them to keep their + arms; and further, I advised them to use their arms in their own + defence against all assailants--even assailants that might come + to attack them unconstitutionally and improperly, using the + Queen's name as their sanction. + + "My object in all my proceeding has been simply to establish the + independence of Ireland for the benefit of all the people of + Ireland--noblemen, clergymen, judges, professional men--in fact, + all Irishmen. I sought that object first, because I thought it + was our right; because I thought, and think still, national + independence was the right of the people of this country. And + secondly, I admit, that being a man who loves retirement, I + never would have engaged in politics did I not think it + necessary to do all in my power to make an end of the horrible + scenes the country presents--the pauperism, and starvation, and + crime, and vice, and the hatred of all classes against each + other. I thought there should be an end to that horrible system, + which while it lasted, gave me no peace of mind, for I could + not enjoy anything in my country, so long as I saw my countrymen + forced to be vicious, forced to hate each other, and degraded to + the level of paupers and brutes. This is the reason I engaged in + politics. + +[Illustration: Kevin Izod O'Doherty] + + "I acknowledge, as the Solicitor-General has said, that I was + but a weak assailant of the English power. I am not a good + writer, and I am no orator. I had only two weeks' experience in + conducting a newspaper until I was put into jail. But I am + satisfied to direct the attention of my countrymen to everything + I have ever written, and to rest my character on a fair + examination of what I have put forward as my opinions. I shall + say nothing in vindication of my motives but this, that every + fair and honest man, no matter how prejudiced he may be, if he + calmly considers what I have written and said, will be satisfied + that my motives were pure and honourable. I have nothing more to + say." + +The Chief Baron, in passing sentence, alluded to the jury's +"recommendation to mercy." + +Mr. Martin: "I cannot condescend to accept mercy where I believe I have +been morally right. I want justice, not mercy." + +He was then sentenced to ten years' transportation. + +On two successive occasions, the jury empanelled by the Government, and +carefully packed to serve their end, refused to convict Mr. O'Doherty. +He was placed on his trial, a third time, on the 30th of October, +prosecuted with the same enduring malignity, and a verdict of guilty, +suspected to be the result of a fraud practised on the jury, was +returned. Mr. Williams, who was joint proprietor of the _Tribune_, and +jointly responsible, was acquitted after a protracted trial on the 3rd +of November, the jury being of opinion that although the articles given +in evidence were felonious, there was no proof to satisfy them that the +proprietors, when publishing them, did so with a felonious intent. This +distinction arose in consequence of the fair and candid construction of +the Felony Act, given by Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, on Mr. +O'Doherty's first trial, to the effect that the jury should be satisfied +of the publisher's felonious intent; a construction which the present +judges 'Crampton and Torrens' would not dare to contradict. + +Notwithstanding this, just as the words, "Not guilty," were pronounced +by the jury, in Mr. Williams' case, despite the most flagrant and +audacious bullying of the bench, Mr. O'Doherty was called up for +judgment. Among all the martyr-band whom this year consigned to doom, +not one behaved himself with truer or nobler heroism; not one, either, +whose fate commands a deeper sympathy. Under thirty years of age, +largely gifted, with most respectable connections, a high place in +society, brilliant prospects, and so unostentatious in his enthusiasm +that it was only then his country heard of his devotion, and learned his +worth; there he stood with as lofty consciousness and as brave a heart +as ever consecrated the scaffold or the battle-plain. + +Judge Crampton pronounced the sentence. Nature has supplied his lordship +with characteristics of countenance admirably befitting such a scene. +Had he been only elevated to the kindred office of actual executioner, +he would have been spared the expense of a mask; for without it, no one +could look into his eyes. Of course, he was teeming with compassion and +regret, which jointly resulted in a sentence of transportation for TEN +YEARS. Mr. O'Doherty, who stood unmoved, after a few preliminary +observations in reference to the unfairness of his trial, spoke as +follows:-- + + "I would feel much obliged if your lordship would permit me to + mention a few more words with reference to my motives throughout + this affair. I had but one object and purpose in view. I did + feel deeply for the sufferings and privations endured by my + fellow-countrymen. I did wish, by all means, consistent with a + manly and honourable resistance, to assist in putting an end to + that suffering. It is very true, and I will confess it, that I + desired an open resistance of the people to that government, + which, in my judgment, entailed these sufferings upon them. I + have used the words open and honourable resistance in order that + I might refer to one of the articles brought in evidence against + me, in which the writer suggests such things as flinging burning + hoops on the soldiery. My lords, these are no sentiments of + mine. I did not write that article. I did not see it or know of + it until I read it when published in the paper. But I did not + bring the writer of it here on the table. Why? I knew that if I + were to do so, it would be only handing him over at the + court-house doors to what one of the witnesses has very properly + called the fangs of the Attorney-General. With respect to myself + I have no fears. I trust I will be enabled to bear my sentence + with all the forbearance due to what I believe to be the opinion + of twelve conscientious enemies to me, and I will bear with due + patience the wrath of the Government whose mouthpiece they were; + but I will never cease to deplore the destiny that gave me birth + in this unhappy country, and compelled me, as an Irishman, to + receive at your hands a felon's doom for discharging what I + conceived, and what I still conceive, to be my duty." + +Mr. Duffy's trial was postponed. His final escape is known to most of my +readers; but as I cannot approve of the character of his defence, I +prefer saying no more of it in this place. + +It is here needful to refer to myself, a topic always disagreeable to +others, but painfully so on this occasion to me. The proposal to form a +league with the remaining members of the Association originated with +certain gentlemen, among whom the Rev. Mr. Miley held a prominent place, +who personally waited on Mr. O'Brien to testify their abhorrence of the +outrages offered to him in Limerick. Some very questionable politicians, +who watched with the eye of traffic the current of public opinion, and +sought to make the same profit of the reflux they had formerly made of +its unimpeded tide, attended on those occasions. Others, of purer +motives, and loftier patriotism, joined in these interviews, and +contrived to have them repeated. Among these were the poet, Samuel +Ferguson, and Richard Ireland, two recent and brilliant converts to the +cause of nationality. There were others, whom I need not name, of +equally unquestionable purity. But for several weeks, while these +interviews were held, there was no exact delegation from either the +Confederation or Association. I am not, indeed, aware whether any such +delegation was ever formally given or assumed. However, negotiations +proceeded, and though they were never brought to a satisfactory +adjustment, the dissolution of the Confederation was formally proposed +and adopted. On that day the greatest hope of Ireland perished. + +The generosity of the suicide on the part of the Confederation was met +by a new chicane. Though every member, whose character and talents could +for a moment redeem the deformity, dulness and decrepitude of the Repeal +Association, had passed from its ranks and enrolled themselves in the +new League, it resolved to struggle on, acting as a check and a stain by +its anility and crookedness, on the rising hopes of the country. During +the discussions that led to the formation of the league, it was +emphatically announced by certain members of the Confederation that on +no ground and for no purpose would they abjure one principle they ever +announced. Above all, they avowed their purpose to urge on the country +the duty of armed resistance whenever its success appeared probable. The +Government heard of these avowals, and the time spent in captious +discussions about moral nonentities and legal quibbles, when the stake +was a nation's death or life, was diligently employed by the Government +in accumulating means of defence. + +The motives of the principal promoters of the league are by no means +questioned here. On the contrary, it is freely admitted their +convictions were as sincere as they were fatal. The due appreciation of +that movement requires that a few leading facts and inferences upon +which it was based should be calmly considered. The first and most +important is the great change which had taken place in the feelings of +the country. The vast majority of the thinking population were ranged at +the side of the Confederation. So, too, was that of the people of the +rural districts. The intellectual leaders of the great Protestant party +had actually identified themselves with it, and a reconciliation with +the entire body of the Orangemen had been nearly effected. Most of the +men whose integrity and ability had preserved the lingering existence of +the Association, openly avowed their approval of its principles, and +such of them whose hearts were not mere empty sounds, would join its +members at a crisis. + +Thus stood the facts. The considerations in favour of the junction were +these: Certain men of influence, who, contrary to their own convictions, +adhered to the Association, in the commencement through fear, and still +adhered to it through an unintelligible hankering after consistency, +pressed for an opportunity where they might abandon their former +associates without the appearance of abandoning their old principles. +There were others who followed a middle course, and were always with the +greater crowd and the more intense enthusiasm, who demanded the same +means of escape. + +There was a consideration of some weight which no doubt influenced the +decision of the Confederates. It was this: the Roman Catholic clergymen +had given unmitigated opposition to the Confederation. Their hostility +had been the most formidable obstacle in its way; and it was assumed +that the presence of some leading churchmen among the Confederates, +would remove the distrust which the former opposition of the priesthood +had mainly tended to create. + +These were the chief considerations at the affirmative side. On a less +pressing occasion, and at a former period, they might have been +forcible, nay, even conclusive. But the issue had been then narrowed to +one of actual force. John Mitchel was transported, and the most trusted +of his comrades had pledged their lives to redeem their brother felon at +any cost. Every consideration connected with the question should be +examined and determined on in reference to that position and that +pledge. Tested by them, the first above presented would thus resolve +itself: either these men whose characteristic had been indecision, were +sincere in seeking for an opportunity to redeem their patriotism by +their blood, or they were not. If they were, they would never be +restrained by the miserable fear of being charged with inconsistency. If +they were not, the cause would be cursed by their adhesion. The same +argument would apply to the priesthood with still more imperious force; +such of them as were actually sincere would be found at their post at +the hour of trial, in obedience to no form, but influenced by their own +conscientiousness. Such of them as were insincere would be true to no +obligation imposed by conventionality. Untrue to their convictions, they +could not be faithful to their words. And finally--an argument which +appears unanswerable and insuperable--Mr. John O'Connell and his +immediate followers had so solemnly abjured, denounced and cursed the +principles of the great majority with whom they were asked to league, +that they could not comply without such a debasement of character as to +compel the scorn of all men, not only to themselves, but all those with +whom they were united. It could not fail to strike any ordinary observer +that materials so incongruous and repulsive were incapable of cohesion; +and the consequence must be the distrust of the more ardent of their +followers at both sides. + +These were my opinions. I pressed them at the time as strongly as I +could, and perhaps more urgently than I ought. But I was absent from +Dublin, and my remonstrances were vain. I would have retired in despair +had I not been too deeply engaged. The Rev. John Kenyon did actually +retire, influenced by the same motives which I refused to yield to, +solely because retirement would brand me with an imputation of +cowardice, which no explanation could ever efface. I refused all +connection with the League, but continued to act in concert with my +confederates, in establishing clubs and training the manhood of the +country for the stern trial before it. My position rendered bold, +undisguised and explicit language indispensable. This led to prosecution +and arrest. The charge was supposed to be high treason and Mr. Richard +O'Gorman wrote to me to inquire what I wished to have done in my behalf. +My answer was a distinct refusal to accept any aid from a body whose +constitution I could not approve. This circumstance is mentioned, not +because it deserves distinct attention, or even a place in this +narrative, but to prove that my objections to the dissolution of the +Confederation, and my feeling that it was a fatal step, are not of +recent growth, or founded on ex-post facto opinions. I feel bound to +add, however, that I stood alone, or almost alone, as far as I have been +able to hear. I dismiss the subject now, anxious to claim no praise, and +ready to submit to the blame that may attach to my course, such as it +was. I am only desirous, that in whatever memory of me my country may +preserve, the truth alone should determine the public estimation of my +conduct and character. + +The League met, resolutions were adopted, and speeches made that meant +nothing. New men came together, looked each other in the face, and +turned away as if at the heart of each there was something with which he +could not trust the other. There was a short, feeble and false flourish, +and no more. Those who augured so sanguinely for its action and effect +were disappointed. But they shamed openly to relinquish a project for +sake of which they had made such sacrifices. By degrees, however, they +sought to rekindle the embers of that fire which with thoughtless hand +they aided to extinguish. The Government availing themselves of the +inactivity that prevailed, and acting on the information they received, +resolved to strike a second blow. Charles Duffy was arrested for an +article which the Castle Organ branded as shrinking and cowardly, and +which evidently lacked the burning spirit of the time. Immediately the +clubs, which continued a precarious and unintelligible existence, came +together and elected a directory of five from among their own members. +This directory consisted of Messrs. Dillon, Meagher, O'Gorman, Reilly, +and M'Gee. What their exact duty was does not sufficiently appear. But I +believe the fact to be that they never took counsel together. + +Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Gorman left town immediately. About that time I +was actively engaged in Tipperary. On the same day and hour Mr. Meagher +was arrested in Waterford and I in Cashel. An attempt was made to +rescue both of us, and by us both the effort was checked. I knew nothing +of what had occurred. I had been acting since the formation of the +League on my own judgment and responsibility. Independent of the fact +that the harvest was yet remote, and that we were tacitly pledged to +await its coming, my experience for the previous month satisfied me that +the people were far from being prepared; and I could not allow any +personal considerations to influence the country at such a crisis. Mr. +Meagher was governed by similar motives. It might have been better had +we acted otherwise, but with our then convictions, the least risk on our +own account would have been selfish and criminal; and rather than be +guilty of it we yielded to our fate. At the time each of us thought the +charge against him was at least felony. It turned out otherwise, and +though the magistrates who arrested and committed us refused to +entertain the question whether or not the offence was bailable, and +though we were both paraded through the country under an escort of +several hundred men, the Government directed we should be admitted to +bail. Mr. Meagher proceeded from Dublin to Limerick, where the +indictment against him was found; and on the same day I was liberated +from Nenagh Jail. Previous to my arrest, I had arranged to hold a +meeting on the summit of Slievenamon mountain. It was fixed for the day +after that on which I was liberated at Nenagh, which is at least fifty +miles from the place of meeting. I was not liberated until late in the +evening; but I resolved to be present at the meeting, and immediately +proceeded on my journey. I travelled all night, partly on horseback and +partly on foot, arriving at Cashel early in the morning. I there +learned that Mr. Meagher and some friends of his from Limerick had also +arrived with the same object as myself. We rode together to the +mountain, followed by several thousands, a distance of twenty miles. +Fifty thousand men at least clambered that steep mountain side, under a +scorching July sun. Four times as many would have been there to meet us, +but it had been widely rumoured none of us would be there; and in fact +most of those who came believed we were both in our prison-cells. +Besides this, efforts were made by men high in the confidence of the +leaders and the country to prevent the meeting altogether. To fix their +motives was difficult, but it would be hazardous to attribute to them +any but the best. Facts have since proved, however, that their +patriotism had even then begun to halt. The Rev. Mr. Byrne, of whom much +shall be said, hereafter, was foremost in this endeavour, and actually +dissuaded the people of Waterford, Carrick and Wexford from proceeding +to the mountain. These people all remained in Carrick, and Mr. Meagher +was informed that they were in a state of extreme excitement. This +intelligence determined him to leave the mountain suddenly and proceed +to meet his fellow-townsmen. Had all these been allowed to attend the +meeting, our resolution might have been very different from what it was. +But we were, in fact, disappointed and chagrined. The mountain-top had +been selected for many reasons. Principal among them were these: Public +meetings in Ireland had actually become a farce. We determined to hold +one from which all senseless and idle brawlers would be excluded. The +difficulty of ascending the hill would, we thought, sufficiently test +the courage and sincerity of our followers. Secondly, we wished for a +spot not accessible to her majesty's troops, so as to avoid a chance of +a collision. Thirdly, we thought it would be a precaution against +detectives; and finally, it was possible we might determine on some +bolder step when we saw our strength. The excitement in Carrick had +nearly become uncontrollable, when Mr. Meagher arrived there, and it was +deemed advisable to lead the people out of the town. The distance to +Waterford is twelve Irish miles, over the entire of which the procession +stretched; and so dense was the crowd that Mr. Meagher did not arrive in +Waterford sooner than three o'clock, next morning. It may well be +supposed that such a scene of excitement, heat and tumult, afforded but +little opportunity for deliberation. I was able to speak with my friend +only in brief snatches; and I did not afterward see him until it was too +late to take counsel for the future. + +The meeting on that day, the evening scene at Carrick, and the arrival +in Waterford, were relied on by the English minister, as a perfect +justification for the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. Others and +more powerful ones influenced the Cabinet; and foremost among these was +the great meeting at New York, which too clearly evidenced the purpose +of America, should the struggle proceed. I had no communication, +directly or indirectly, with any of my comrades after that day, save one +letter from Mr. O'Brien. This letter had reference solely to my +approaching trial, which he signified his wish to be present at. To this +letter I replied, informing him that it had been intimated to me that a +number of men would assemble, armed, near Nenagh, during the trial; and +I besought him to be there for the purpose of preventing an outbreak, +which I regarded as disastrous, unprepared as the people then were. +Neither the trial nor the meeting took place, and other events shaped +our destiny.[9] A few days after the Slievenamon meeting, it was +intimated to me that I was to be arrested on a second charge, the exact +nature of which was not stated. I could not doubt the accuracy of my +information, and being fully determined to preserve my liberty for the +coming struggle, which under any circumstances could not be long +delayed, I left home on the 22nd day of July, and proceeded through the +country to the foot of Slievenamon. Here I took up my quarters at a +farmer's house, where I remained two days and nights, in total ignorance +of the circumstances then rapidly hurrying the crisis wherein our fondly +cherished hopes were blasted. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 8: From the position in which Mr. Carleton is now placed, it +may be necessary to say that I do not allude to him.] + +[Footnote 9: Since the above was written, I have heard it said that a +report, current about the time of Mr. O'Brien's conviction, had been +recently received here. The report was, that I promised Mr. O'Brien to +have 50,000 men to meet him; which was his principal inducement to act +as he did; and that I not only had not one man, but was myself absent +when he came. The absurdity of the rumour was sufficiently proved by the +fact that Mr. O'Brien did not come to me, or my part of the country, in +the first instance. The real truth is that I never directly or +indirectly, by word or letter, counselled the outbreak. Nay, more: I was +as ignorant of Mr. O'Brien's purpose as the President of these States. +At the time of Mr. Mitchel's trial, I believe I expressed a very strong +opinion in favour of rescuing him; and that opinion was grounded on the +belief that the whole people would rise up _en masse_, and in one wild +burst of vengeance, sweep their oppressors from the land. But neither +then nor afterwards, did Mr. O'Brien give me the least reason to believe +that he was prepared to resist the government in arms, save as far as he +concurred in acts which had a tendency to that end. + +When first the report above referred to was circulated, I wrote the +strongest contradiction of it, and Mr. Meagher, with Mr. O'Brien's +sanction, addressed the following note to the editor of the Tipperary +_Vindicator_. I am sorry it should be in any way necessary to produce it +here; but as this is the last time I shall ever refer to this subject, I +thought it best to add this testimony to my own. + + CLONMEL GAOL + + "MR. MEAGHER fully authorises his friend, Mr. Lenihan, to state + that the exculpation which appeared in a recent number of his + paper, from Mr. Doheny, is the perfect truth. + + "Mr. Meagher is most anxious to have this stated, for he has + felt for a long time deeply pained at many of the false reports + that have appeared against his friend--his dear and trusted + friend, Michael Doheny. + + "One of the most grievous of these reports has been that very + false one, charging Mr. Doheny with having invited Mr. Smith + O'Brien to the county Tipperary. Nothing could have been more + false than this. + + "Mr. Doheny, so far from inviting Mr. O'Brien to Tipperary, did + not, in fact, know of his being in the county at all, until Mr. + Meagher told him, and that was on Tuesday, July 25th. + + (Signed) "THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER. + + "Written a few hours after the passing of the sentence of death. + + "_October 23, 1848._"] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE OUTBREAK.--MR. O'BRIEN IN +CARRICK.--CASHEL.--KILLENAULE.--MULLINAHONE.--BALLINGARRY.--AFFAIR AT +KILLENAULE.--DEFEAT OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMON.--PERSONAL +ADVENTURES OF THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. +O'BRIEN'S ARREST + + +On the night of the 24th of July, I was awakened, where I was staying, +by a rapping at my window. I recognised the voice of my sister-in-law, +and learned from her, in a few seconds, how matters stood. Her +information, in brief, was this that: Messrs. O'Brien, Dillon and +Meagher had left Dublin on learning that the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended; and that it was supposed their object was to throw themselves +on the courage of the country. This intelligence rested on the authority +of two trusted members of the council of the Confederation, Messrs. +James Cantwell, and P.J. Smyth. The fact was all which I then cared to +know. I parted from my sister in half-an-hour, and rode off in the +direction of Carrick-on-Suir, where I was certain Mr. O'Brien would +direct his way, whether he came alone or followed by his countrymen in +arms. 'Mid the lone silence of that journey, while there was leisure to +revolve all the difficulties and hazards of the future, the idea never +once occurred to me that, supposing my information correct, the step was +rashly taken. On such occasions, when centuries gather into moments, +some one overmastering feeling, hope or passion absorbs and controls the +whole understanding. That which was then present to my mind, and +occupied all its faculties, was the hope of satisfaction, or vengeance, +if you will, for so many ages of guilty tyranny. The tears, the burning +and blood of nearly one thousand years seemed to letter the eastern sky, +as day dawned upon my way. Apprehension, I had none. From earliest +childhood to that hour, I never met one Irishman whose hope of hope it +was not to deliver the country forever from English thrall. I had lived +amidst all ranks (at least in their characters of politicians), had +known the sentiments of all, from the most ignorant peasant to the very +highest official of government; and then or now, I would find it +difficult to say where hatred to English domination--English power in +Ireland is neither government nor dominion--reigned the most intensely. +Some men there are by nature cowards, and they would shrink from the +perils of national deliverance; but if any sentiment could be said to +live in natures so grovelling, the grudge against England, even though +too craven to make itself audible, constitutes the essence of their +mental vitality. Some there are, too, so selfish as to sell their own +and their families' honour for gold; but as they count their sordid +gains, if they fall short by a scruple, whether in fact or in +anticipation, the deficiency becomes a heap of hoarded spite against +England. One man of that class, whom I had known, will furnish a +conclusive example. Trusted and paid by the Whigs, he was a supreme West +Briton, who saw in his country but a prey for meaner cormorants; +distrusted and dismissed by the Tories, he would storm the Castle, even +with the baton of the English office from which, he had been discarded. +Others, also, of a loftier stamp, were reined in, in the path of +allegiance[B], by considerations more justifiable, yet more or less +cowardly in character. + +[Illustration: Ballingarry, Slievenamon in the distance, 1848] + +Some doubted the ability of their country to effect her redemption. Some +doubted the capacity, and perhaps the sincerity, of the chiefs. Some +were schooled in duplicity, and under the ermine, or under the privy +councillor's robe, carried fierce hearts, benumbed by mendicancy and +seared by shame. But the first flash of their country's liberty would +see them ranged at that country's side, repaying with the fiercest hate +the beggar crumbs which England had flung from the fragments of her +overloaded table. It is true enough that a long course of corruption, +beginning with the perjured peer and ending with the tidewaiter, had +created a class of conditional loyalists, with nine-tenths of which the +condition is always unfulfilled; while, in its very fulfilment, the +other one-tenth has found but bitterness, the "sauce piquante" of their +daily bread. But as a general rule, such a thing as a pure Irish +loyalist does not exist. Its possible existence presupposes an absurdity +in nature. An Irishman cannot become loyal to English domination, +without divesting himself of the last attribute of his nature, not as an +Irishman, but as a man. + +The knowledge of this fact was my "base of operations." Ten thousand +armed men successful against a garrison of five hundred would produce a +more abundant crop of avenging warriors than the fabled dragon's teeth, +and that simultaneously through every square mile of the island. In ten +days there would be two millions of Irishmen in arms. It may well be +asked, what arms? But even instinct will reply, what arms would be +needed? England had in Ireland less than forty thousand men, and, +without hazarding the question, how many of them could she rely on, it +requires no consummate military genius to suggest how they could be +dealt with by a simultaneous rising of the country. The arms of her +enemies would then be hers. She would have time to form a regular army +to aid her undisciplined strength. England's position at home, where she +had not a soldier to spare; her condition abroad, where she was beaten +to the wall; and her relations with foreign powers would achieve the +rest. To a successful Irish revolution, a _coup-de-main_ is +indispensable; and a _coup-de-main_ would be incompatible with any +organised plan other than existed. It will be seen at once that for this +place details are unfit. The above sketch rather comprehends the bolder +outlines of an insurrection in action, and they suggest nothing to warn +the enemy as to future operations. The prospect they presented to me--a +prospect which long contemplation seemed to have realised into +fact--excluded from my mind the preliminary and intermediate +considerations of time, place, and other circumstances. There was but +one of any importance, the success of the commencement; and that seemed +beyond all question if, as I hoped, the neighbourhood of Carrick-on-Suir +were selected. As I approached that town in the grey of morning, and the +past and the future in burning recollection thronged on my brain, I +envied the destiny which God had awarded to its inhabitants, in breaking +the first link of the slavery of nearly twenty generations. This, alas, +was a dream. The people of Carrick had already, with shrinking hand, +marred their own immortal lot. + +Arriving at the house of John O'Mahony, one of the truest of living +Irishmen, I heard what follows. On the previous day Messrs. O'Brien, +Dillon and Meagher had arrived at Carrick. Their arrival was unexpected, +sudden and startling. They had apprised no one of their approach; and no +counsel had been taken or decision come to. It is needless to say that +the crowd which gathered to see them, when the intelligence of their +arrival spread, came unarmed and unprepared. The speeches addressed to +them were brief, determined, and to this effect: "We learned," said the +chiefs, "that an act was passed authorising the Irish Government to +seize our persons without even the imputation of a crime. You have vowed +to strive with us in every extremity, and die with us if need be. We are +here to demand the redemption of your pledge, in the name of your +enslaved country. The hour has come when the truth of that country is to +be tested; and first among her children the trust of her honour is +committed to you." How much more might have been said, and how far short +of the passionate appeal made by the most gifted of men the above +language may fall, this is not the place to inquire. The crowd answered +with a loud shout. With the leaders of that crowd other thoughts were +busy. Some of them waited on the "Traitors"; others, and the most +influential, absented themselves. Among the latter was the Rev. Mr. +Byrne, who, up to that hour, had taken an advanced position among those +who were most forward in the cause of the country. Not a fortnight +before, he delivered a speech to nearly one hundred thousand persons in +the town of Carrick, pre-eminently insurrectionary in its tendency; and +he had acted more than once as controller and regulator of the violent +passions his own vehemence aroused. For this duty, which he effectively +discharged because of his known disloyalty, he received the public +approval of England's Prime Minister. From all these circumstances, the +responsibilities of his position were such as it would require great +hardihood of character to shrink from. It was reported at the time that +he did not rest content with abandoning a post which he had attained +with intense ambition, but exerted his utmost influence with the people +against an enterprise which he designated as rash, ill-designed, and +fraught with ruin to the town. This report has been repeated as a fact +by the present writer, and has not been contradicted by the Rev. Mr. +Byrne. But it is right to add that a very respectable gentleman, a +witness of that day's proceedings, has distinctly contradicted it. He +added that the Rev. Mr. Byrne remained a passive spectator; and he +defended the conduct of those who really influenced the people, on the +ground that the preparations seemed of their very nature to preclude the +possibility of success; and that it was the sacred duty of every man +capable of appreciating the position and resources of the people, the +difficulties of the enterprise and the consequences of failure, not +alone to Carrick but the entire island, at all hazards to prevent a +useless wreck and slaughter. The great argument relied upon by every one +was, why should Carrick be selected? The same question would apply +everywhere else; and if the consideration it involves were to avail, +there never could be a revolution. However, in Carrick it seems to have +prevailed. Other arguments, no doubt, were urged, such as want of +provisions, want of arms and want of ammunition. The moment of +indecision is the harvest of evil passions--avarice, selfishness, +cowardice cloud the intellect, and blast the destiny of man. There is +some doubt as to who principally superinduced this indecision and the +judgment which here ranks it with a faulty weakness and a fearful +fatality refuses to question the motives upon which it was based. + +One singular fact, attested by all, deserves particular notice. It is +this: The other Roman Catholic clergymen of Carrick did not then +interfere. They had been always opposed, on other grounds, to the Irish +Confederation; but in that hour of fate they were silent. + +Mr. O'Brien and his comrades left the town deeply disappointed, if not +in actual disgust and despair. They were ignorant of my absence from +Cashel and determined to join me there. When I had learned this, I was +thirty miles from that town and knew that they had arrived there during +the night, and had, long before then, taken some decisive course. My +hope was that the town was in their hands. But, before I could decide on +what it became me to do, a messenger arrived from Cashel, directing me +to remain where I was, and conveying an assurance that Cashel was by +that time captured. Mr. Meagher immediately followed, confirming the +intelligence. He was on his way to Waterford. We immediately determined +on scouring the country along the bases of Slievenamon and the +Slatequarry hills, which stretch into the county Kilkenny. During that +journey the enthusiasm of the people was measureless. At every forge, +pikes were manufactured, the carpenter was at work fitting the handles, +and the very women were employed in polishing and sharpening these +weapons on the rough mountain stones. We called at several villages, and +were surrounded by the young men and the aged, by matron and maid, and +from no lips did one sound of complaint, or discouragement, or fear +fall. Everywhere hope and resolution and courage lit up the hearts and +eyes of young and old. We rode, at least a distance of twenty miles, and +returned assured that there was not one man within that district who was +not then prepared and would not be armed ere night came. We appointed +the chapel of Ballyneal, within two miles of Carrick, as the place of +rendezvous, determined to act according to the intelligence which we +might receive from Cashel. Meantime deputations from Carrick waited upon +us, to assure us the people there would follow us notwithstanding any +advice they might have received. We agreed that we would not attack the +town, and required five hundred men for another enterprise. A short time +afterwards some directions were required, and I wrote one or two +sentences on a scrap of paper which was taken from the messenger by the +Rev. Mr. Byrne and torn. What his influencing motives might have been I +know not, nor do I care to inquire. My first impulse was immediately to +appear in the town and throw myself on the protection of the people. My +friend dissuaded me from this attempt and proposed to go into town +himself, which he could do without danger, to ascertain what would be +the probability of my proposal's success. After two or three anxious +hours, he returned, impressed with the conviction that such an attempt +would be fatal. + +By this time crowds began to assemble at the place of rendezvous before +alluded to, and word was brought us that the Reverend Mr. Morrissey, the +parish priest of that place, was endeavouring to disperse them. Owing to +his character, there was not much to be apprehended from his influence +with the people. His associations had been with the aristocracy, and +most of his friendships and sympathies contracted at the fox-covert, or +on the "Stand House." This is mentioned, not in disparagement of the +man, but for the purpose of rescuing his Order from imputations +attaching to his conduct alone. The very fact of his interference would +suggest the conclusion that the course he recommended was opposed to the +general sentiments of his brethren; so we felt at this time. But we +mistook his influence with the people. It was reported to us that he +used certain arguments, incredible, because blasphemous. But the +argument which succeeded, and which all alike attested, was this, "that +he would put himself at the head of the people if they but waited three +weeks." + +Influenced by this promise, the people had dispersed before my friend +arrived at the place of rendezvous. He returned to me sadly discouraged, +after a day and night of labour and agitation as intense as ever +strained the energies of man. I then determined to ride on to Cashel, to +learn the fate of Mr. O'Brien and his comrades. I was accompanied by two +young farmers, well armed. We arrived about midnight at Brookhill, +where I was made acquainted with all that had occurred at Cashel. + +The history was more melancholy than our own. My absence was used as an +argument, sincere or pretended, against any effort in that town. Mr. +O'Brien, in ignorance of whom to apply to, took counsel with one man at +least, since accused of the darkest treachery. Others, from whom I had +different hopes, shrank from an encounter which, at other times, they +seemed to long for as the dearest blessing Heaven could bestow. There no +clergymen interfered--the people were left to act for themselves; but it +must be admitted that the actual people never had an opportunity of +proving their courage. A young friend of mine, who had all my trust, and +justified it by unshaken fidelity through many a trial, was despatched +to the country to procure assistance, but he applied to the wrong +source, and, deluded by the character of him to whom he had spoken, +returned under the mistaken conviction that from the country nothing was +to be expected. + +This decided Mr. O'Brien and his friends. He had been joined at Cashel +by P.J. Smyth, and James Cantwell, now in the United States, by James +Stephens, now at Paris, and by Patrick O'Donohoe, now sharing the doom +of his chief. As an episode in this history, the fate of Mr. O'Donohoe +is singular and startling. He was much relied on by his friends in the +Confederation, and was entrusted with the dispatches to Mr. O'Brien. He +proceeded on his mission to Kilkenny, and there applied to one of the +clubs. He was known to none of the members, and became at once the +object of suspicion. It was, accordingly, determined to send him for +the rest of the journey, under arrest, and Stephens and another member +were appointed to that duty. They proceeded in execution of their +mission to Cashel, where Mr. O'Donohoe was warmly welcomed by Mr. +O'Brien, whose fate he thenceforth determined to share. Mr. Stephens +came to the same resolution; but the other guard of Mr. O'Donohoe, +refused to commit himself to fortunes which appeared so desperate. With +Messrs. Stephens and O'Donohoe, their very desperation acted as the most +ennobling and irresistible inducement. They clung to him to the last +with a fidelity the more untiring in proportion as his circumstances +portended imminent disaster and ruin. + +Their departure from Cashel compelled a feeling of gloomier forebodings +and deeper despair than they had yet experienced. The darkest +consciousness that ever clouded the hopes of man began to darken upon +them. Where they expected that every man would make a fortress for them +in his very heart, they were almost abandoned. But their resolution +remained unchanged. They, therefore, resolved as a final resource to +take up their position in the most inaccessible part of the country. As +they proceeded through the hilly grounds, skirting the Tipperary +collieries, a crowd began to gather around them, and they saw what they +hoped would form the nucleus of an army. Braver hearts never beat +beneath a cuirass, but they were not armed, disciplined or even taught. +On that day they took the road to the village of Mullinahone, situate +about seventeen miles south-east of Cashel. As they entered Mullinahone, +the chapel bell was rung, and a crowd of some thousands collected. + +Mr. O'Brien addressed them with the same brevity and force as at +Carrick-on-Suir, where his hopes were far brighter. The two clergymen, +Rev. Mr. Corcoran and Rev. Mr. Cahill, appeared by his side, and openly +resisted his advice. But, with the people, their influence totally +failed. Three thousand persons at least formed their bivouac that night. +Mr. O'Brien remained up with them most of the night. Notwithstanding the +disappointments of former trials, he once more entertained most sanguine +hopes of his country's resurrection. But, ere morning, the counsels of +the clergymen prevailed so far as to introduce discussion and disunion; +and next day he was abandoned by more than half his followers. Once more +the priests interfered and openly remonstrated against the course Mr. +O'Brien had proposed. They tried every means, entreaty, expostulation, +remonstrance, menace, but without any considerable effect; and Mr. +O'Brien left the town with a large multitude, directing his way to +Ballingarry. The village of Ballingarry is about four miles distant from +Mullinahone; and the inhabitants of the latter accompanied Mr. O'Brien +to the boundaries of the former parish, whose inhabitants in turn +assumed the duty of his escort and, if need be, of his defence. When the +cavalcade reached the village, they took up their position in the +chapel-yard, and summoned the neighbouring people by the ringing of the +chapel bell. A great number of people answered the signal, and Mr. +O'Brien explained to them his purpose and his hopes. He did not then +propose any plan of immediate offensive operations, but stated in +general terms that his object was to protect himself from arrest, while +the country would be engaged in organisation, and the crop coming to +maturity. An idea prevailed among the people that he only wished to be +protected for a time, and they seemed incapable of appreciating either +his object or his motives. I reached the spot as the assembly was +breaking up and the people retiring in small groups to their respective +districts, some four or five hundred who were partially armed, remaining +in the village. I was accompanied by Thos. D. Reilly, who made his way +to me on that morning. We had entered into arrangements with certain men +whom we met in the morning as to a joint movement, for which the +followers of Mr. O'Brien seemed but ill-adapted and prepared. Our first +care was to take counsel as to the future. We detailed mutually to each +other the respective circumstances which had shaped our movements so +far, and with which it was our duty then to contend. But one thing +seemed quite clear; namely, that the country demanded a delay of at +least a month. Although the sincerity of the motive on which this demand +was founded seemed questionable to many, there was no way of +counteracting its effect or denying its universality. The question then +was, how was the demand to be complied with without compromising our +liberty or the position we occupied? It was argued that the necessity of +our condition would justify any act which would reassure the minds of +the people in reference to the apprehension of starvation, which was so +sedulously inculcated, and that a proclamation should forthwith be +published confiscating the landed property of the country, and offering +it as the gage of battle and reward of victory, and another proclamation +directing the people to live at the expense of the enemy. This proposal +was resisted on the ground that it required an aggressive act on the +part of the Government to justify so sweeping a proceeding, which, if +attempted by us in our then position, would be regarded as an act of +mere plunder, unredeemed by any of the stern necessities of war. So +decided the majority. It was then proposed that we should scatter, and +take shelter individually as best we could until harvest time. But Mr. +O'Brien refused to hear counsel which involved, as its first principle, +the idea of becoming fugitives. A middle course was therefore decided +on. It could not fairly be said that the country had been tested, and we +were not, at the time, aware how far people at a distance were prepared +to second our efforts. The strength of the Government, too, seemed +paralysed. For miles on miles around, one solitary soldier or policeman +was not to be found. The small garrisons had been withdrawn, and all the +available forces stationed in the county had been concentrated in the +large towns. The idea of maintaining our position for a few weeks seemed +not at all improbable; and, meantime, we would have an opportunity of +organising the distant parts of the country, and of preparing those then +around us for active service. When men differ, a compromise is sure to +prevail. It did so on that occasion, and it was accordingly resolved, +that we should return to the neighbourhood of Carrick, wait the arrival +of the expected assistance from Waterford, and keep the neighbouring +garrison of Clonmel in awe, by signal-fires by night and scattered +parties by day. We immediately returned and rode most part of the night +on our way back. We slept a few hours at Brookhill and had interviews +next morning with men who, on the previous day, were in high heart and +hopes. We at once saw the effect that delay and indecision had produced +on their minds. Reports, the most contradictory and false, respecting +what Mr. O'Brien proposed and stated, had found their way among them, +and it took hours to reassure them. They again promised us to be ready, +however, and we proceeded across Slievenamon. On our journey we had +interviews with the leaders of clubs and of other bodies, and at each +step we found the difficulties of our position and the weakness of +public confidence fearfully increased. We still hoped that the arrival +of assistance which we expected from Waterford would restore unanimity +and confidence. + +When we reached Kilcash, at the southern base of Slievenamon, we learned +that all hope of the expected assistance was at an end. Mr. Meagher had +returned; and having despatched O'Mahony to Mr. O'Brien, to request he +would once more return to the neighbourhood of the mountain, where he +either could be more safely concealed for a time, or a last desperate +effort could be made under better auspices, he waited several hours +after the time appointed for his return, and then departed towards the +direction of Borrisoleigh, in the northern riding of Tipperary, +accompanied by Mr. Maurice Leyne, with whom unhappily he fell in, and to +whose weak counsel, according to the information I received, much of his +subsequent ill fate was owing. The distance to Borrisoleigh could not be +less than forty miles. Mr. Meagher must have been persuaded by +O'Mahony's delay, that Mr. O'Brien had been driven from his position, +and perhaps captured, or he would not have undertaken so long a journey, +the sole motive of which could only be the hope of rousing, with the aid +of the Rev. Mr. Kenyon, that district of the country, so as to rescue +his chief or avenge him. It was then apparent that our position had +become desperate. We instantly proceeded to the house of our friend, who +recounted the particulars of his visit to Ballingarry, and its results. +He agreed in the propriety of going a second time to meet Mr. O'Brien, +and urging upon him the necessity of some decisive course. The startling +events of the two preceding days too clearly proved that his position +was not tenable, and that whatever might be resolved on, it was +indispensable to remove from Ballingarry. It was then night, and we were +all sorely taxed by long riding and want of rest. Not one of us was able +to mount, so we placed hay in a car on which we flung ourselves, and +trusted to the guidance of the boy who led the horse. We travelled about +nine miles in this way, one endeavouring to act as sentinel while the +others were asleep; but we found that unless we trusted to blind chance, +we could not continue our journey. So, half by force and half by +persuasion, we obtained liberty to stretch on a pallet in an empty room. +Mr. O'Brien was then snatching a little broken rest in a field, not four +miles away from us, without our being aware of the fact. In the morning +we learned that he remained there only while a car was procured at +Mullinahone, and then returned to the neighbourhood of the collieries. +He left Ballingarry on the advice contained in Mr. Meagher's message, +and, accompanied by some hundreds of his followers, proceeded towards +Carrick through the town of Mullinahone where for the third time he had +to encounter the open hostility of the Catholic clergymen, who on this +occasion had recourse to threats and even blows. Owing to their +interference, one-fourth of those who followed him so far, did not +accompany him outside the town. He was nearly deserted, when he changed +his resolution of falling back on his former position. When the car +arrived he proceeded directly to the town of Killenaule, which might be +said to be the head-quarters of the colliery. There he and his +companions entered the hotel, where they remained till morning. Early +that day the chapel bell was rung, and a great multitude flocked into +the town. They were, as usual in that quarter, miserably armed. But they +were enthusiastic, and the Catholic priests did not interfere. While the +bell was tolling, intelligence was received that a troop of dragoons was +approaching. The people immediately erected a barricade at the farthest +extremity of the principal street. It was constructed of empty carts and +baulks of timber. The moment the troop entered the street, a similar +barricade was constructed in the rear. The hotel was situated between +the two barricades. The officer in command made no demonstration of +active resistance; and as he approached the last barricade he was +surrounded by a great multitude. A few of the people were armed with +rifles and muskets, others with pitchforks, scythes and slanes, and +others had no weapons but stones. John Dillon stood at the barricade. +The officer asked why his passage was interrupted, and stated he was +only on an ordinary march. Mr. Dillon demanded whether his object was +to arrest Smith O'Brien? He said emphatically, No. Mr. Dillon then asked +if he would pledge his honour as a soldier, that he had no intention of +arresting Mr. O'Brien, adding, that if he did so, the troop would be +allowed to pass unmolested. He unhesitatingly pledged his honour, and +immediately the barricade was partially removed. Mr. Dillon took his +horse by the bridle and led him out of the town. + +We were approaching Killenaule by another route when Mr. O'Brien and his +party left it by the high road to the collieries. We followed, and after +a race of some ten miles overtook them near Lisnabrock. Thence we +proceeded in cars to Boulagh, and thence to the Commons. This was on +Friday evening, the 28th day of July. We retired to an upper room in a +publichouse. There were then present Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Dillon, Mr. +Stephens, Mr. Cantwell, Mr. Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, Mr. Maurice Leyne, +Mr. Reilly, Mr O'Mahony and myself, with others whose names I cannot +mention, fourteen, as well as I remember, in all.[10] The same questions +that were discussed on the former day were again revived, and we, who +felt the necessity of the bold course we recommended then, were much +more convinced of it under the altered circumstances of our position. + +The debate was long and warm, but Mr. O'Brien's objections were even +more immovable than ever. It will not be expected that all the proposals +of that evening should be reproduced here. Suffice it, therefore, to +add that as far as the principles by which Mr. O'Brien's conduct was +guided, he adhered to them the more steadfastly in proportion as ruin +became more inevitable. Many calumnies have been circulated respecting +that meeting. It has been said that the discussion was acrimonious and +the separation final. The truth is, there was not one word, even, of an +angry tone, and we separated just as on the former occasion, determined +to cope as best we could with a doom we were unable to avert. Often +afterwards it was a source of melancholy pleasure to some of his +comrades that he had not been induced to incur what he regarded as +guilt. The lofty consciousness of unerring rectitude which sustained his +fortitude could not fail to be chequered by the recollection of acts +which in his own estimation were not purely blameless. Had success +attended the suggested proposals, they would receive the world's +unqualified approval; while failure, explained through the medium of a +malicious law, and a warped and cowardly public opinion, would brand +them as iniquitous. But Mr. O'Brien's scrupulous sense of honour escaped +the hazards of such feeble probabilities; and in the hour of deepest +gloom his own unsullied conscience shed peace, light and glory on his +fate. + +[Illustration: A Street in Ballingarry, 1848] + +Some of his companions exulted in the morning scene at Killenaule. To +_seem_ able to capture a troop of her majesty's dragoons, they regarded +as a victory. But others, more thoughtful and correct, mourned over the +escape of the military, which was only to be justified on the ground +that the incongruous force around the feeble barricades, would be +unequal to the task. It is a singular thing that while Captain Longmore +utterly despaired of forcing his way, Mr. Dillon was fully conscious of +his inability to resist him. The latter assumed a superiority he was +unable to sustain, the former abjured a design which it was criminal +according to the civil, and cowardly according to the military code, not +to attempt the execution of Mr. Dillon, who led his horse, was a +proclaimed "traitor." So was Mr. O'Brien, whose presence was avowed; by +virtue of his allegiance, and still more, by virtue of his commission he +was bound to arrest them. To neglect it was cowardice, cognisable by a +court-martial and punishable by death. There could be but one +justification--utter inability to effect the service. The evidence, +then, that could alone satisfy a court-martial must directly contradict +that which Captain Longmore offered at the trial in Clonmel. But while +Mr. O'Brien viewed the conduct of Captain Longmore as cowardly +submission, it would be unjust to conclude that it imparted a single +shade of inflexibility to his principles or purpose. On the contrary, +they assumed their attributes of most rigid sternness as his fortunes +became clouded by a deeper gloom. He was averse to everything which bore +the stamp of desperation, or could possibly imply a shrinking from fate. + +Of those who took part in the deliberations of that evening, Messrs. +Dillon, Stephens, MacManus and O'Donohoe resolved to continue with Mr. +O'Brien. There seemed a possibility, though a desperate one, that they +could baffle the enemy for the time the country required, and maintain +their position of open defiance, whilst we, in different parts of the +country, should keep up an appearance of force, so as to distract +attention and check any attempt to despatch a force from the garrison of +Clonmel. Meantime we were to endeavour to organise a force, and, if +strong enough, act on our own responsibilities and according to our own +principles. We left him about nine o'clock in the evening, after the +best dispositions available out of the number with us were made to +prevent surprise during the night. Soon after our departure he strongly +advised Mr. Dillon to leave for another part of the country. I proposed +to take up my post on Slievenamon, where I would be in the best position +to fulfil Mr. O'Brien's wishes; where, at all events, I could escape +arrest, in spite of any efforts to capture me, and where I expected, in +a few days, to rally a considerable force. Mr. Meagher said he would +take his stand on the Comeragh mountains, in the county of Waterford, +with similar views and purposes. Mr. Meagher and Mr. Leyne, with three +or four others, travelled together on a car. We dismissed ours, and +crossed the country. Next day we arrived once more at Brookhill, which +is within about one mile of Fethard, where we were able to procure a car +that brought Mr. Reilly as far as Kilkenny. The first care of us who +remained was to fulfil the commission assigned us. A young friend, of +whom mention has been already made, joined me that evening. He had been +two days in search of me, and was greatly exhausted by anxiety and +fatigue. Rumours of various kinds were rife. But, what was most +disheartening was that the courage of the people was fast subsiding. Men +who were most eager for deeds of any daring two days previously, began +to exhibit symptoms of hesitation, doubt, and even indifference. But a +far sadder disaster had elsewhere befallen. Mr. O'Brien, after a night +of anxious care, was still full of hope. He was even then engaged in +drawing up a manifesto, embracing, as far as possible in such a +document, the motives and causes which suggested and justified an armed +revolt, and the principles upon which it was to be conducted. Whether +the draft was destroyed or fell into the hands of the Government, is not +now clear, save in as far as the non-production of the paper at his +trial, is evidence that it never reached his persecutors. The leading +principle of his entire conduct was, that the property, the liberty, the +destiny of the island belonged to the entire people, and that the +institutions which guaranteed them should be the calm embodiment of the +nation's deliberate judgment, ascertained through the medium of a free +assembly, deriving its authority from universal suffrage. This was one +potent reason why he refused to assume, either as military leader, or as +the chief of a provisional government, the responsibility of an act +which could be regarded as the basis of the future government of +Ireland. He was scrupulously anxious that the great principles upon +which the future liberty of Ireland was to be based, should emanate from +the free will of the people, uncontrolled by dictatorial power or +personal prestige. + +But Mr. O'Brien was not destined to accomplish the object of his +solicitude. About twelve o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 29th +day of July, he was apprised of the approach of a body of police, under +command of Captain Trant. Simultaneously with the appearance of the +police, an indiscriminate crowd, composed for the most part of women +and boys with a few armed men, ranged themselves around him. They +occupied an eminence in front of the road by which the police +approached. Another road crossed this at right angles, and Captain +Trant, instead of leading his men directly against Mr. O'Brien's +position, denied along the cross-road to the right hand--that which led +to the Widow M'Cormick's. The motive of this manoeuvre was obvious. +Either from personal cowardice, or from cool judgment, he determined to +await further reinforcements, and, meantime, to secure some place of +shelter and defence. The crowd, with Mr. O'Brien, immediately rushed +from their position and hung fiercely on the policemen's rear. Captain +Trant ordered a retreat, or those under his command adopted that +precaution without his authority. The armed leaders among the people, +Messrs. MacManus, Stephens and Cavanagh, hesitated to fire on troops +flying for their lives. But they urged the pursuit so rapidly, that, by +the time the police took shelter in Mrs. M'Cormick's house, they were +hot upon their track. The crowd surrounded the house, and Mr. O'Brien, +approaching one of the front windows, called on Captain Trant to +surrender. The latter demanded half an hour to consider, which Mr. +O'Brien unhappily granted. Pending the half hour, the crowd became +furious and began to fling stones in through the windows. Some of the +men inside were knocked down by the stones, and the officer hurt. Seeing +that their own leaders could no longer control the people, and believing +the destruction of himself and his party to be inevitable, Captain Trant +gave orders to his men to fire, which presented his only chance of +escape. Mr. O'Brien immediately rushed between the people and the +window, on one of which he jumped up, and once more demanded the officer +to surrender. But the order to fire had been given and executed with +deadly effect. Two men fell dead, and several were badly wounded. The +crowd fell back; but Mr. O'Brien remained still in front of the house. +There were several windows in front and two small ones only in the rear; +parallel with the rear was a barn, in which there were two still smaller +windows. Messrs. Stephens and MacManus took possession of this house, +and, placing three or four sure marksmen inside for the purpose of +taking down any of the police who should appear at the back windows, +they proposed to burn the house in which the police took shelter. They +carried bundles of hay and placed them against the back door and roof. +The police seized on Mrs. M'Cormick's children, and held them up to the +windows, to terrify or appease the people. At this juncture the Catholic +clergymen appeared on the scene. Either, being appalled by the scene of +death before them, or being personally cowardly, or feeling that to +continue the conflict would be productive of useless slaughter, they +exerted themselves to the utmost to disperse the crowd. Whatever may +have been their motives, it is certain that, although Mr. O'Brien was in +the neighbourhood since the previous Wednesday, they had not in any way +interfered, and only came upon the scene to attend to the dying and the +dead. Mr. O'Brien and his comrades, finding themselves beset by this +unexpected difficulty, retired a short distance, to consider what was +best to be done. The people were again quickly forming around them, and +all were hurriedly preparing to storm the house, when a fresh body of +police was seen approaching from the opposite direction. This force +consisted of sixty men; the first only amounted to forty-five. Constable +Carroll rode on considerably in advance of his party. He found himself +suddenly surrounded, and was forced to surrender and dismount. He and +two others of the advance-guard were removed. But the main body +continued to approach rapidly; and Mr. O'Brien was not in a position and +had not strength to intercept their junction with the other body. His +friends pressed Mr. O'Brien to retreat, which he refused. Admitting, +fully, his inability to cope with these forces, he declined to avail +himself of the means of escape at his disposal. His comrades impressed +on him that his life belonged to the country; that another effort was +yet within the range of possibility, and that it was incumbent on him to +save himself for the final issue. By long and passionate entreaty, they +induced him to mount the police-officer's horse and retire. When he had +left, Messrs. Stephens and MacManus led off the remainder of their +party, without being pursued or molested. + +After a short consultation, they determined to separate. Mr. Stephens +proposed to go on to Urlingford, where a large force was collecting, and +MacManus accepted the duty of bearing to us the intelligence of the +disaster, and taking chance with us for the future. He came up with Mr. +Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, and Mr. Leyne, who were then on their way to the +Comeragh mountains, but changed their purpose on hearing this sad +intelligence. They remained that night at the house of a man named +Hanrahan, near Nine-mile House, a small village on the high road from +Kilkenny to Cork. + +I was all this time ignorant of what occurred. After Mr. Reilly had left +me, and I was joined by the young friend already mentioned, I summoned +as many of the farmers of the neighbourhood as I could collect, and it +was agreed that ten of them, who would represent each one hundred men, +should meet me next day, after divine service, at the wood of +Keilavalla, situate near the western base of Slievenamon. We were to be +joined by two others from the neighbourhood of Carrick-on Suir, from +which we were distant about ten miles. On that morning the news of Mr. +O'Brien's disaster spread far, and was, of course, exaggerated. I had +slept the previous night not far from the mountain, where I was watched +by two brothers named Walsh, who lived at Brookhill, but have since +removed to the United States. I gladly avail myself of this occasion to +attest their fidelity and bravery. At the time appointed, my friend and +I proceeded to the place of rendezvous. We remained for hours, and +remained in vain. At last one only of the ten arrived. He told us that +at the chapel the Rev. Patrick Laffan read the names of the proscribed +traitors for whose persons a reward was offered.... + +We continued on the mountain during the remainder of the day; and toward +evening about fifty men came up to us, who, one and all, expressed the +utmost indignation at what had happened. Once more our hopes revived. If +Mr. O'Brien could avoid arrest for a few weeks only, we expected that a +sense of shame would sting the country to desperate exertion. + +After night-fall we descended, and slept at a farmer's house at the +southern base of the mountain, where we were most kindly entertained and +sedulously guarded. We there heard of the Ballingarry disaster. Next +morning we once more ascended Slievenamon, where we endeavoured to +dissipate the heavy hours and the still heavier consciousness at our own +hearts by firing at a mark. The day suddenly darkened, and we had to +seek shelter under rocks from a pitiless mountain shower. We had +dispatched a messenger to O'Mahony to demand an interview that evening; +and, after he had returned, we were invited to partake of some new +potatoes (then beginning to exhibit the blight), milk, eggs and butter. +I remember lying down in a bed, and getting so feverish that I believed +my doom was sealed. My noble young friend sat at my bedside, with a +rifle and two pistols, prepared to defend my rest with his life. The +illness was, however, but trifling and temporary, and the necessity of +acting enabled me at once to shake it off. After nightfall, we proceeded +to the appointed interview. We travelled in a common car, accompanied by +four others, all armed. Our haunt was a poor cabin on the roadside, near +a place called Moloch, in the neighbourhood of Carrick. There I bid my +faithful young friend good night, but was doomed not to see him +afterwards. Mr. O'Mahony and myself slept on some straw, but we had +scarcely closed our eyes when we learned that the cabin was surrounded +by the military and police. We were apprised of our perilous position +just in time to escape: this we effected, after a struggle, aided by +extreme darkness. We spent the remainder of the night in a field, where +I slept very soundly. At break of day we retired to a farmer's house +near the Suir, where, after partaking of some refreshments, we went to +bed, and slept, one or two hours. The breakfast scene of that morning is +not easily forgotten. Perhaps there is no place in the world where a +more substantial breakfast can be produced than at a comfortable Irish +farmer's. On this occasion the silent, watchful, anxious grace of our +young hostess, in her attentions, enhanced the flavour of the repast. It +is only by those who have partaken of such hospitality that the +speechless tenderness of the females among that class of farmers can be +appreciated. But on the occasion to which I refer, there was added to +the customary delicacy a deep anxiety for our fate. Save hushed words of +pressing and eloquent looks of sympathy, the meal passed off without +conversation; and we rose from the table to depart, as if conscious we +had exchanged our last earthly greeting. It was not so, however, and our +hostess shared much of our after fortune, and now shares our exile. Her +fate, too, is harder than ours. We are occasionally cheered by public +approval, by the sympathy and admiration of every lover of liberty, +whereas her name is never spoken. She has fallen from a position of +comparative affluence, lost her independence (I use the word in its +practical worldly sense), and is doomed to toil for her daily bread. Of +all the vicissitudes of fortune in which the attempt of which I write +resulted, there is not one that has given me more pain than that of +Margaret Quinlan, the lady (who has higher claims to that title?) to +whom I have alluded. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 10: The other four were Terence Bellew MacManus, John +Cavanagh, J.D. Wright (a T.C.D. student, afterwards a lawyer in +America), and D.P. Cunningham, afterwards a journalist in New +York.--Ed.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE.--ARREST OF +TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS.--CLONMEL SPECIAL COMMISSION.--TRIAL, +CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE REBELS.--WRIT OF +ERROR.--COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.--TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES. + + +Before proceeding further with the details of my own wanderings, I wish +to follow out to its conclusion the fate of those whom we parted with at +Ballingarry, and were destined to see no more, though, in doing so, I +must anticipate the order of time, in which the events took place. My +task here is more difficult and painful than any detail of facts, +however gloomy. There are always in the reverses of the brave, some +glimpses of glory to reconcile us to the dark disasters on our way; but +when calumny pursues their path, gnawing, with ceaseless tooth, the +priceless jewel of their character, the historian must shudder to find +his labour beset by the filth and rubbish the viper has left behind. In +this instance, that lesson of Mr. O'Connell's which was the most fatal +in its influence, found many believers. It was said, and said +unscrupulously, that Mr. O'Brien and his followers were actual agents of +the British Government, suborned to precipitate the country into +revolution, for which they were to receive large possessions and +lucrative employment beyond the sea. It was the constant habit of Mr. +O'Connell, when any one proposed a course bolder than his own, to +suggest that he was doing the business of the enemy. He may have +adopted this course in his self-assumed character of Dictator, as the +surest and speediest means of clearing all obstructions out of his way. +Whatever his motive, it was an unworthy resource; for it supplied the +meanest minds with an example and a pretext for the gratification of +their own vile propensities. Their voice was heard, amid the silence of +mourning and death, when in an hour of universal dismay, John Mitchel +was borne from his loved fatherland; and still more audibly when the +dungeon closed on Smith O'Brien and his illustrious comrades. In the +latter instance, slander availed itself of an incident connected with +their arrest to justify its infamous conclusions. "If," it croaked, +"they were in earnest, why suffer themselves to be arrested so +easily?--Why come to the railway terminus?--Why parade on the high road +in front of a police barrack? In effect, why surrender?" But in Ireland +this was little heeded; nor should I deem it worthy of the least notice, +if it were not revived in the new world, under circumstances calculated +to give it credence and durability. At one time it is insinuated that +they "surrendered," such as "it was said they gave themselves up," and +immediately afterwards, in reference to the period or the fact, is to be +found "at the time of Mr. O'Brien's surrender." And again, in the same +breath, it is positively stated as a mere matter of course. + +The propagator of this malignity knows it to be false. He knows also +that it serves the purpose of those who would charge the country's +truest and bravest with vilest treachery. + +I shall pursue the theme no further. The truth is, Mr. O'Brien remained +among a people who were sorely stricken by terror. Their friends were +dead or scattered; and rumour, with a thousand tongues, multiplied the +most awful horrors which were said to be approaching them. Although they +received and sheltered Mr. O'Brien, he evidently saw that their +generosity cost them dearly, and that they were in the utmost alarm. His +own privations he could endure; but not the fear and suffering his +presence caused to others. This, and this only, determined him in the +first instance. He might also have hoped that if he could reach the +neighbourhood of his own home, he would be defended with desperate +fidelity. He was aware that Mr. Richard O'Gorman was in that district, +and he had been informed that he was followed by thousands. That he did +not seek to reach the county Limerick by some other means of +conveyance--by a car, on foot, or on horseback--may be a mistake of +judgment; but none would be free from peril: and had he escaped +detection at Thurles, there would not be the least danger, until he +reached Cahermoyle, as the rest of the journey would be entirely by +night. His sagacity may be questioned, perhaps, but it is extreme +villainy to question his purpose. He took that course only and solely +because he thought it the safest; and he had no more intention of +surrendering than I had when I crossed by the packet to Boulogne. + +Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Donohoe were arrested under circumstances over +which they had still less control. They were utterly unacquainted with +the country, and did not know, if they left the high road, but the first +house they might approach would be a police barrack. They had made every +attempt desperation could suggest to rouse the people, but in vain. +They were opposed by some, shunned by some, and from some they received +false counsel. They had exhausted the welcome of all who were inclined +to receive them, and they knew not one step of their way. Previously, +too, Mr. Meagher had peremptorily refused to avail himself of a mode of +escape provided for him and he equally peremptorily refused to listen to +any terms from Government, which did not include all his comrades. His +object, on the night he was arrested, was to make another trial at +Cashel, which he designed to approach by a circuitous route. + +The 6th day of August was the date of Mr. O'Brien's arrest; the 13th of +August that of Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, and the 7th of September +that of Mr. MacManus. Mr. O'Brien was taken at the Thurles railway +station; Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, near Rathgannon, on the road +between Clonoulty and Holycross, about five miles from Thurles, and Mr. +MacManus on board the ship _N.D. Chase_, in the bay of Cove, on the 7th +of September. They were each conveyed to Kilmainham Jail, in the first +instance, where they remained until within a few days of the opening of +the special commission at Clonmel. This took place on Thursday, the 21st +of Sept., when the bills were found, but six days were allowed to Mr. +O'Brien and the rest of the prisoners to peruse the indictment, with +copies of which they were respectively furnished. On Thursday, the 28th, +the trial of Mr. O'Brien commenced; that of Mr. MacManus on the 9th of +October; that of Mr. O'Donohoe on the 13th, and that of Mr. Meagher on +the 16th. + +Juries were empanelled in each case, from whose prejudice and bad faith +verdicts for high treason were expected, even though the evidence only +sustained a charge of common assault. Roman Catholics were, in the first +instance, scrupulously excluded; but after the first two verdicts one or +two were admitted, upon whose weakness of character, or genteel +aspirations, the Government might safely rely. It is but justice to say +that, according to the law expounded by the Bench, and the evidence +given on the table, any other verdict was not to be expected. But a jury +differently composed, a jury of Englishmen, with their country, their +liberties and their lives perilled to the last extremity by +misgovernment and maladministration of law, would have spurned the law +and the evidence, and relied on the great fundamental rights of humanity +so flagrantly outraged by the Government that then appeared as +prosecutors. + +The scene presented by Clonmel excited much public surprise. Newspaper +correspondents magnified the sullen gloom that prevailed into popular +apathy or national cowardice, as suited the bent or purpose of their +employers. The truth was, the people exhibited during the trial a decent +and respectful forbearance. Empty parade or vociferous sorrow would only +mock the lofty purpose of the sufferers; and besides, the mortification +which rankled in the public heart was too deep for utterance. The hopes +of the people had been dashed, and they were stunned and stupefied by +their fall. But so far from being apathetic, nightly assemblages were +held to consider if, even in that extremity, something was not yet +possible to be done. + +But, if there were a show of popular indifference on the streets, the +courthouse presented a very different spectacle. There everything +manifested an intense bitterness of purpose; the court, composed of the +two most unscrupulous partisans, Chief Justices Blackbourne and Doherty, +and the weakest or falsest political convert, Mr. Justice Moore, +simulated the uncontrollable emotions which an overweening loyalty awoke +in the bosom of the Catholic Attorney-General. So far were their +lordships swayed by the spirit of imitativeness, that the most polished +speakers, mistaking the incoherent jargon of the official for the broken +utterance of overwrought zeal and shocked loyalty, mimicked his +distempered language as the only befitting medium of expression for +disturbed feelings such as theirs. The simplest and most usual +facilities accorded to murderers and pickpockets on their trial were +rudely denied the counsel for the defence. The principles of law, +recognised in England as sacred, were scouted from the bench, and the +farce of trial proceeded through its different stages to the final +_denouement_ with perfect regularity, every one performing the part +assigned him with unerring accuracy. + +Of the intrepid ability which struggled against this fearful combination +of bigotry, prejudice and passion, at the bar, on the bench and in the +box, I do not purpose to speak here. But I would be unfaithful to my +trust, and unjust to the rarest heroism, if I did not record the +fortitude and fidelity of O'Donnell, from whom the menaces of the crown, +or the frown of the bench, could not wring one word of evidence. In an +ordinary man, this would be singular intrepidity; but circumstanced +as O'Donnell was, it amounted to a Roman virtue. One brother of his, a +doctor, was in jail at Liverpool, charged with political felony; another +was hunted through the country, and another was in irons, involved in +the same charge as the illustrious accused; for them all he could +command his own terms, for much depended on his testimony; but though +doom were upon them, and a word of his could avert it, he refused to +speak. Honour be his. His integrity almost cancelled the shame and +darkness of those disastrous times. + +[Illustration: The Widow McCormack's House, near Ballingarry] + +I can add nothing to the testimony that established the fortitude, +manliness and dignity of the prisoners, as beyond precedent or example. +That their bearing, one and all, was truly noble, friends and foes took +pride in attesting.[11] It was a solemn and a glorious sight; and men, +through all time, will turn to that Clonmel dock to learn the +inestimable and imperishable value of sincere and lofty convictions and +a truly heroic soul. + +Of the speeches that follow, it will be observed that Mr. O'Brien's was +delivered before the fate of his comrades was known. No man had ever +greater need of vindicating others if not himself. No man ever possessed +in a higher degree the capacity and strength to do so. He was satisfied +it was the last opportunity he would ever have on earth for +explanation. Yet, lest any sentiment of his might injuriously affect +those that were then, or might thereafter be on their trial, he forebore +to assert the principles of which he was there the martyr, and of which +he was more than ever proud. It was to the same unselfish sentiment he +yielded, when consenting to say, "Not guilty," to a charge he would have +felt the greatest glory in avowing. + +I despair of conveying to my readers an adequate idea of the gloom and +horror of the scene in which those immortal words were spoken. Death, +near and terrible, was in the future. The recollection of ten days' +infamy peopled the present with ghastly images of evil. Vindictiveness +inexorable glared from the bench. The dust around the feet of the +speakers was laden with guilt. It would not rise to the briskest breeze, +beneath the clearest sky, in light summer air, so heavy had the tread of +murder been upon it. And oh, to think when they closed their eyes upon +this world, what deeper death they left their country ... Will no day of +vengeance come, O God! . . . + +One of those benefits of the British constitution, which excites the +mortal envy of benighted "surrounding nations," is this, that the law +lies to the face of death, in the usual question addressed to the +condemned: "Whether he had anything to say why sentence of death and +execution should not be passed upon him?" when the most conclusive +reasons that ever innocence had to offer would be worse than vain. On +the morning of the 9th of October, 1848, this barbarous mockery was +addressed to William Smith O'Brien, and he answered thus:-- + + MR. O'BRIEN.--"My lords, it is not my intention to enter into + any vindication of my conduct, however much I might have desired + to avail myself of this opportunity of so doing. I am perfectly + satisfied with the consciousness that I have performed my duty + to my country--that I have done only that which, in my opinion, + it was the duty of every Irishman to have done, and I am now + prepared to abide the consequences of having performed my duty + to my native land. Proceed with your sentence." (Cheers in the + gallery.) + +On the morning of the 23rd of the same month, the same formula was +repeated to Terence Bellew MacManus, Patrick O'Donohoe, and Thomas +Francis Meagher, who replied respectively as follows:-- + + MR. M'MANUS.--"My lords, I trust I am enough of a Christian and + enough of a man to understand the awful responsibility of the + question that has been put to me. My lords, standing on this my + native soil--standing in an Irish court of justice, and before + the Irish nation--I have much to say why the sentence of death, + or the sentence of the law, should not be passed upon me. But, + my lords, on entering this court, I placed my life, and what is + of much more importance to me--my honour--in the hands of two + advocates; and, my lords, if I had ten thousand lives, and ten + thousand honours, I would be content to place them under the + watchful and the glorious genius of the one and the high legal + ability of the other. My lords, I am content. In that regard I + have nothing to say. But I have a word to say, which no + advocate, however anxious, can utter for me. I have this to say, + my lords, that whatever part I may have taken through any + struggle for my country's independence--whatever part I may have + acted in that short career--I stand before your lordships now + with a free heart, and with a light conscience, ready to abide + the issue of your sentences. And now, my lords, perhaps this is + the fittest time that I might put one sentiment on record, and + it is this: Standing as I do between this dock and the scaffold; + it may be now, or to-morrow, or it may be never; but whatever + the result may be, I have this sentiment to put on record. That + in any part I have taken, I have not been actuated by animosity + to Englishmen. For I have spent some of the happiest and most + prosperous days of my life in England; and in no part of my + career have I been actuated by enmity to Englishmen, however + much I may have felt the injustice of English rule on this + island. My lords, I have nothing more to say. It is not for + having loved England less, but for having loved Ireland more, + that I stand now before you." + +Mr. O'Donohoe confined himself to a few words concerning his trial. + + MR. MEAGHER.--"My lords, it is my intention to say a few words + only. I desire that the last act of a proceeding which has + occupied so much of the public time should be of short duration. + Nor have I the indelicate wish to close the dreary ceremony of a + State prosecution with a vain display of words. Did I fear that + hereafter when I shall be no more the country I have tried to + serve would think ill of me, I might, indeed, avail myself of + this solemn moment to vindicate my sentiments and my conduct. + But I have no such fear. The country will judge of those + sentiments and that conduct in a light far different from that + in which the jury by which I have been convicted have viewed + them; and by the country, the sentence which you, my lords, are + about to pronounce, will be remembered only as the severe and + solemn attestation of my rectitude and truth. Whatever be the + language in which that sentence be spoken, I know that my fate + will meet with sympathy, and that my memory will be honoured. In + speaking thus, accuse me not, my lords, of an indecorous + presumption. To the efforts I have made in a just and noble + cause, I ascribe no vain importance--nor do I claim for those + efforts any high reward. But it so happens, and it will ever + happen so, that they who have tried to serve their country, no + matter how weak the effort may have been, are sure to receive + the thanks and the blessings of its people. With my country, + then, I leave my memory--my sentiments--my acts--proudly feeling + that they require no vindication from me this day. A jury of my + countrymen, it is true, have found me guilty of the crime of + which I stood indicted. For this I entertain not the slightest + feeling of resentment toward them. Influenced as they must have + been by the charge of the Lord Chief Justice, they could have + found no other verdict. What of that charge? Any strong + observations on it, I feel sincerely, would ill befit the + solemnity of this scene; but I would earnestly beseech of you, + my lord--you, who preside on that bench--when the passions and + the prejudices of this hour have passed away to appeal to your + conscience, and ask of it was your charge as it ought to have + been, impartial and indifferent between the subject and the + Crown. My lords, you may deem this language unbecoming in me, + and perhaps it may seal my fate. But I am here to speak the + truth, whatever it may cost. I am here to regret nothing I have + ever done--to retract nothing I have ever said. I am here to + crave with no lying-lip the life I consecrate to the liberty of + my country. Far from it: even here--here, where the thief, the + libertine, the murderer, have left their footprints in the dust; + here, on this spot, where the shadows of death surround me, and + from which I see my early grave in an unanointed soil opened to + receive me--even here, encircled by these terrors, the hope + which has beckoned me to the perilous sea upon which I have + been wrecked, still consoles, animates, enraptures me. No I do + not despair of my poor old country, her peace her liberty, her + glory. For that country I can do no more than bid her hope. To + lift up this island--to make her a benefactor to humanity, + instead of being the meanest beggar in the world--to restore to + her her native Powers and her ancient constitution--this has + been my ambition, and this ambition has been my crime. Judged by + the law of England, I know this crime entails the Penalty of + death; but the history of Ireland explains this crime, and + justifies it. Judged by that history, I am no criminal--you + (addressing Mr. MacManus) are no criminal--you (addressing Mr + O'Donohoe) are no criminal--I deserve no punishment--we deserve + no punishment. Judged by that history the treason of which I + stand convicted loses all its guilt, is sanctified as a duty, + will be ennobled as a sacrifice. With these sentiments, my lord + I await the sentence of the court. Having done what I felt to be + my duty--having spoken what I felt to be the truth, as I have + done on every other occasion of my short career, I now bid + farewell to the country of my birth, my passion and my + death--the country whose misfortunes have invoked my + sympathies--whose factions I have sought to still--whose + intellect I have prompted to a lofty aim--whose freedom has been + my fatal dream. I offer to that country, as a proof of the love + I bear her, and the sincerity with which I thought, and spoke, + and struggled for her freedom--the life of a young heart, and + with that life, all the hopes, the honours, the endearments, of + a happy and an honourable home. Pronounce then, my lords, the + sentence which the law directs, and I will be prepared to hear + it. I trust I shall be prepared to meet its execution. I hope to + be able, with a pure heart and perfect composure, to appear + before a higher Tribunal--a tribunal where a Judge of infinite + goodness, as well as of justice will preside, and where, my + lords, many--many of the judgments of this world will be + reversed." + +The sentence of the court was then pronounced, as it had been previously +on Mr. O'Brien. It was in the following words:-- + + "That sentence is, that you Terence Bellew MacManus, you Patrick + O'Donohoe, and you Thomas Francis Meagher, be taken hence to the + place from whence you came, and be thence drawn on a hurdle to + the place of execution; that each of you be there hanged by the + neck until you are dead, and that afterward the head of each of + you shall be severed from the body, and the body of each divided + into four quarters, to be disposed of as her Majesty may think + fit. And may Almighty God have mercy upon your souls." + +A writ of error was sued out principally on the ground that the +principles of constitutional law were violated. The House of Lords +finally quashed the error and confirmed the judgment. Meantime, the +country, or a great portion of the people, took the last step in the +direction of debasement by praying the Queen and the Lord Lieutenant for +a free pardon. The petitions were spurned; but her Majesty, yielding to +the powerful sentiment of abhorrence against the punishment of death for +political offences, commuted the sentence into transportation for life. +This final sentence was carried into effect on the 9th day of July, +1849, when the ship of war _Swift_ spread her sails and hoisted her +felon flag, bearing out to sea, and having on board the four illustrious +exiles. + +Martin and O'Doherty had been conveyed to Cork on board the _Triton_, +on the 16th of June, whence they were sent to herd with common +malefactors on board the _Mount Stewart Elphinstone_--at the time +infested with the plague. This vessel remained off Spike Island while +the cholera was doing its ravages among her passengers, and finally put +to sea, with the patriots and pestilence, a few days before the +departure of the _Swift_. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 11: The following is from the _Freeman's Journal_:--An eminent +Queen's counsel, who was present during the awful ordeal, was heard to +give utterance to a sentiment so truthfully graphic that we record it in +full:--"Well," said he, his eyes full and his countenance flushed with +emotion, "never was there such a scene--never such true heroism +displayed before. Emmet and Fitzgerald, and all combined did not come up +to that--so dignified, so calm, so heroic. HE _is_ a hero."] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS.--DUNGARVAN.--THE COMERAGHS.--MOUNT +MELLARY.--KILWORTH.--CROSS. DUNMANWAY.--GOUGANE BARRA.--BANTRY +BAY.--THE PRIEST'S LEAP.--KENMARE.--THE REEKS.--KILLARNEY.--TEMPLENOE.-- +DEPARTURE.--CORK.--BRISTOL.--LONDON.--PARIS. + + +After leaving Quinlan's, as detailed in a former chapter, O'Mahony and +myself agreed to separate for a few days. No reward had then been +offered for him, and my presence only impeded his movements. We crossed +the river Suir, and remained most of the day in Coolnamuck wood. Toward +evening I was conducted far into the county Waterford, where I was to +remain until I heard what progress he was able to make. My host was the +chief of one of the fierce factions of county Waterford, and bore many a +mark of desperate fray. I do not remember having met any man, before or +since, who felt so acutely the fate of the country. He procured the best +fare he could, and prepared my bed with his own hands. After I retired +to rest, he continued pacing the room for several hours, sometimes +sighing deeply, sometimes muttering curses between his clenched teeth, +and sometimes suggesting plans which he thought might be even then +available and efficient to redeem the past. These plans were all of a +character more or less desperate; but some were exceedingly ingenious. A +truer type of a Celt could not easily be found; his very caution was +stamped with vehemence. + +Next day but one I proceeded to meet O'Mahony, to learn his success in +his nocturnal interviews. I was unable to meet him; but encountered a +faithful follower of Thomas Francis Meagher, who was the bearer of a +message to the effect that if he could be prevailed upon to attempt +escaping, means could be procured for him. I expressed at once my entire +concurrence, and desired the messenger should return to say that on +condition the same means would be made available for those who were not +yet arrested, we would all gladly accept of them. I ventured into a +house, where, in early life, I spent many a happy day. Those of the +family whom I had known and loved, had passed out of the world. They +were a brother and sister, the former educated for the Church, and the +latter highly gifted and educated far above her condition. I never knew +a woman, in any rank of life, of nobler character or a more heroic +nature. She had the richest store of womanly tenderness and kindly +affections. She took the veil at the Dungarvan Convent in very early +youth, where she died two years afterwards. I asked for some food, and +while it was being prepared I wrote the following lines on a blank leaf +of a book belonging to my dead friend:-- + + Bliss to thy spirit, gentlest maid, + Fond, faithful and beloved; how oft, + Within the circle of this glowing glade, + Our mingling souls had soared aloft; + And wooed the knowledge of our destiny-- + What is it? I a fugitive, and thou on high. + + Yet hopeless of the land I'd save, + Nay, spurned by those for whom I'd die, + Unknown where your fond welcome gave, + There's still a throb of ecstasy. + Even though the latest I may feel on earth. + In lingering o'er the scene where thou hadst birth. + + Where wrapt by evening's crimson flush, + We hoped, and felt, and breathed together, + Beside the broad Suir's silent gush, + Or resting on yon mountain heather; + And dared to look beyond the narrow span, + That circumscribed the hope of man. + + How sweet, if from the blessed spheres, + Thou didst bestow one look of love, + To cheer the hearts and dry the tears + Of those whose only hope's above; + And win, beloved one, from the throne of light, + One saving ray for our long slavery's night. + + Or if this may not be, and yet + Her old doom clings unto the land; + If on her brow the brand be set, + And she must bear the chastening hand + For longer years, O grant, sweet saint, to me, + To die as if my arm had made her free. + + GLENN, _August 3, 1848._ + +I left Glenn next morning, with still some hope remaining, and sought +out my friend to learn his success and prospects. He came, according to +appointment, to a farmer's house in the direction of Rathgormack, +bringing with him James Stephens, who was destined to be thenceforth the +companion of my wanderings, privations and dangers. He detailed to us, +nearly as I have repeated it, the affair at Ballingarry. When he +reached the village of Urlingford, he found some difficulty in escaping +from the very men he hoped to lead back to the conflict. After vainly +making every effort first to urge them on, and secondly to satisfy them +of his own identity, he travelled a distance of thirty miles, and took +shelter in the house of a private friend, where he hoped he could remain +until something definite would be known of his comrades' fate. That his +stay was not of long duration, his appearance with us on Thursday, forty +miles from the place of his concealment, amply testifies. That distance +he travelled on foot on the preceding day, after having slept a night +with a drunken man in a brake. He was even more averse than we were to +giving up the struggle, and it was agreed on finally that he should be +allowed to rest in a place of safety; that the messenger who had come +from Mr. Meagher's friend should be despatched with my proposal, and +meantime, that I should betake me to the Comeragh mountains in search of +Mr. Meagher, while our other comrade should make a final effort to rally +the remaining strength of the people. We would then be in a position to +determine finally what we should do. Stephens and myself proceeded +together as far as my former host's in the mountains, where I left him, +and continued my route as far as the Comeraghs, I rested that evening at +a place called Sradavalla, and early next day recommenced my search +around and over the mountains. After crossing several minor hills, I +ascended the summit of the Comeragh, called Cuimshinane, which commands +a prospect of nearly the whole counties of Waterford and Kilkenny, with +a great part of Tipperary. That prospect was at once grand, beautiful +and mournful. The corn crop began to be tinged with coming ripeness; but +the potato was blighted, and presented a spectacle as black and dismal +as the country's hopes. This widespread ruin was the dread work of an +hour. On the morning, when Mr. O'Brien appeared in Carrick, that crop +was the most abundant, promising and healthy that had been seen for +years. Then it appeared from sea to sea one mass of unvaried rottenness +and decay. Notwithstanding this, I spent hours looking down on the +landscape, and mourning more over the mental and moral blight, which +shed its influence on the public heart, than the plague spot whose dark +circumference embraced the circle of the island. From heat, fatigue and +the effects of weak food, I discharged my stomach more than once, while +descending the ranges of the Comeraghs. I again took up my station for +the night at the village of Sradavalla. It was deemed prudent I should +not sleep in the same house as on the previous night, and about eleven +o'clock, accompanied by five or six men of the village, I proceeded to a +house farther up the mountain. Here the accommodation was not such as we +expected, and we were forced to return. On our arrival, I found my +sister-in-law who was escorted by two boatmen from Carrick-on-Suir, and +who reached this wild sequestered and almost inaccessible mountain +village, after a journey of fifty miles. A sad change had come over our +circumstances since last we parted. My hopes were then nearly a +conviction, and I went on my way not alone without remonstrance or +regret on her part, but with intense encouragement. She had heard of +Mr. O'Brien's disaster, and a rumour of his arrest, had witnessed the +prostration of the people, had heard I had means of escape proposed for +me, and came with what money could be provided. We spent that night +together at the house of a woman who had been lately confined. She +endeavoured to provide tea and eggs, and we enjoyed our supper with as +keen a relish and as high a zest as possible. I learned that Meagher was +in the other extremity of the county Tipperary, and she undertook to +convey my message to his friend a second time, while his faithful scout +would endeavour to discover his retreat, and induce him to join us. She +departed on her mission, having to walk ten miles over the mountain +roads. I returned to the place where I parted from Stephens, whom I +found greatly recovered. We remained that night at the house of his +entertainer, where we were joined the following morning by O'Mahony. We +spent the three succeeding days in and about the woods at Coolnamuck. +Three more anxious days and nights never darkened the destiny of baffled +rebels. Every morning arose upon a new hope which was blasted ere night +came on by some sad intelligence. The news that reached us was partly +true and partly false: of the former character was the account of our +beloved chief's arrest, which took place on the evening of Sunday, the +6th of August. In proportion as it nerved our purpose and urged us to +desperation, did that fatal information scatter the agencies on which we +were to depend. The most desperate hazards would be readily undertaken +in that hour of gloom. One more effort we decided on, and the experiment +was to be tried the next night. We heard Mr. Meagher also was arrested, +and we resolved, in order to satisfy ourselves of the correctness of +this and other reports, to put ourselves in direct communication with +some person in the town of Clonmel. We accordingly proceeded to the +neighbourhood of that town, within a mile of which, at the Waterford +side, we established ourselves, and remained two days. Each day we sent +in a messenger who brought us correct intelligence of what occurred; and +satisfied us not alone that Mr. O'Brien was then in gaol, but that he +was allowed to be torn from the midst of a people for whom he had +perilled his life, without a hand being raised in his defence. We then +returned to the scene of our former meetings, and met, for the last +time, beside a little brook near the Waterford slate-quarries. My +ambassadress had also returned, and there were present three or four +others. The reunion was gloomy. But one question remained for +discussion: Was there any hope left? The message I received as to the +means of escape was dark and discouraging. Nothing remained but the +hazards of some desperate enterprise. What had chiefly animated our +hopes for the few days was the knowledge that disaffection and +conspiracy existed in the ranks of the British army. But among other +intelligence of evil omen that reached us was this, that the conspiracy +had been discovered. Whether this were true or not, our means of +communication were suspended; and, unable to learn what had occurred, we +naturally concluded it was the worst. It is not quite correct to say, +_we_, as far as the proceedings of these days in that neighbourhood were +concerned. Neither Stephens nor myself was in communication with more +than the one friend, to whose honour and heroism we would commit the +liberty of the world. Never yet lived a man of more sanguine hope or +intense patriotism. All the vigour of a gigantic intellect, aided by the +endurance of great physical strength was tasked to the uttermost in +attempting to rouse the broken energies of the country. He generally +spent his nights in interviews with the chief men of the surrounding +districts, while his duty by day was to communicate the result to us, +and secure a place of safety for the ensuing night. Our last conference +was of course the longest and most anxious. There was no chance within +the range of possibility we did not discuss. Of the intensity of our +feelings, some idea may be formed by the fact, that the one woman who +was of the party, whose sole stay on this earth I was, as well as the +sole stay of her sister and a most helpless little family, never uttered +one word of remonstrance against any project, however desperate, which +was proposed. We concluded an interview of several hours, by referring +the entire question to the sole decision of our friend. After a short +silence, during which the agony of his mind was extreme, he solemnly +advised and adjured us to provide as best we could for our own safety, +while he, who was not so deeply compromised, would maintain his +position, and still struggle against our common destiny. If he +succeeded, and that we had not left the country, we could return. But to +advise us to continue in our then position where an iron circle was +closing around us, relying on the slender chances that then presented +themselves, involved a responsibility which would be no longer +endurable. We then partook of a comfortable dinner which he had +provided, and parted with sad hearts. + +[Illustration: The Knockmeldown Mountains from Ardfinan] + +The place which, as far as we could form an opinion, presented the +greatest facilities for escape, was the town and neighbourhood of +Dungarvan. Thither we resolved to repair; and about three o'clock, on +the 13th day of August, we set off across the nearest range of the +Comeraghs--Stephens and myself, accompanied by my sister-in-law, whom we +hoped to employ in negotiating for a passage to France. A farmer and two +women of the place undertook to conduct us the shortest way across the +mountains, and provide us an asylum for the night, which we reached +after a forced journey of six hours. We there parted from our guides; +and the people to whom they recommended us were exceedingly kind, and +much more hospitable than their means would permit. On the following day +our host became our guide for several miles across the declining +Comeraghs, until we came in view of Dungarvan. We purchased some bread, +eggs and tea at a village called Tubbernaheena; but while in the village +we learned that the military and police were scouring the country far +and wide, in search of arms, which compelled us to change our route and +take an easterly direction. We crossed several miles of bog, and had to +pass many a ravine; but the worst trial was before us. We applied in +several houses for the means of preparing our dinner, having travelled +at least twenty miles over moor and mountain. We applied in twenty +places in vain. At last, half by force and half by entreaty, we +prevailed on a woman, whose circumstances seemed comfortable. We were, +of course, unknown; and though we met many a rebuff, we determined to +endure them, rather than reveal our names and character. During the +progress of our meal we established ourselves in the good graces of the +housewife, but she obstinately refused to allow us to remain for the +night. She directed us to a publichouse, where, on our arrival, we found +a proclamation menacing any one who entertained, harboured or assisted +us, with the direst punishment. In answer to our inquiry the owner, who +was a woman, pointed to the proclamation, as an argument against which +all remonstrance was vain. We made three or four other attempts equally +fruitless; and when the night had closed around us, on a bleak, desolate +road, I determined to call on the Roman Catholic priest, and state who +we were; for while, if alone, we would infinitely prefer taking such +rest as we could in the nearest brake, or under shelter of a wall, we +could not think of submitting our delicate companion to the trials of a +night in the open air, during an exceedingly inclement season. With some +hesitation and great alarm, he procured a lodging for us at a farmer's +house in the neighbourhood. We saw him next morning, and his most +earnest injunction was that we should leave the locality, which, +according to him, was altogether unsafe. To escape arrest there for +twelve hours was, he said, impossible. Similar advice was pressed on us +afterwards in many a safer asylum; but we learned to mock at others' +fears, whereas, on this occasion, we yielded to an impression we felt to +be sincere. + +Before venturing nearer to Dungarvan, we determined to bespeak the +services of another clergyman, who lived a distance of six or seven +miles in the direction of Waterford. A ridge of the Comeraghs lay +between us and his lonely dwelling. Along this ridge lay a winding +bridle-road, skirted by patches of green sward, and occasionally crossed +by a sparkling mountain rill. Above us, on the hill-side, was a +considerable bog, where crowds of country people were collecting to +their daily toil. A merry laugh or boisterous joke occasionally rang +clear in the morning air. The mirth went heavily to our hearts. The +snatch of song, the unrestrained laugh, the merry glee, broke upon the +ear of the wayfarers like the mocking of demons. The consciousness that +they then sped, without a beacon or a guide, over the flinty path of +flight, to end perhaps at the gibbet, imparted to the voice of mirth the +sound of ingratitude. However, the day was brilliant; above us the +clear, blue, unfathomable sky; around us the bracing mountain air, laden +with the breath of hare-bell and heather, and far below the calm sea, +sleeping in the morning light; and weariness, hunger and apprehension +yielded to the influence of the scene. Many a time, ere passed the sunny +noon, did we sit down to enjoy the glad prospect, unconscious, for a +moment, of the fate that tracked our footsteps. At length we descended +the eastern slope of the hill; and after proceeding some distance, +through cornfields and meadows, we reached the mansion of the clergyman, +wayworn and half-famished. He, whom we sought, had won a character for +truth, manliness and courage, and we calculated upon his unrestrained +sympathies, if not generous hospitality. He was absent from his house, +which is situate in a lonely gorge of the Comeraghs. + +We waited his arrival for more than an hour, and, through delicacy for +his position, we remained concealed in a grove some distance from the +door. He at length appeared, and I proceeded alone to meet him and make +known my name. He started involuntarily and retreated a few paces from +me. After repeating my name for a few seconds, he said, "Surely you are +not so unmanly as to compromise me?" I replied, that so sensible was I +of the danger of committing him, that I refused to enter his house, +though we all, and particularly my female companion, sadly needed rest +and shelter. After some time, he began to pace up and down in front of +his door, repeating at every turn that it was indiscreet and +dishonourable to compromise him. Among the many trials to which fate had +doomed me, through hours of gloom, of peril and disaster, and even +during reveries of still darker chances, which fear or fancy often +evoked, I never felt a pang so keen as that which those unfeeling words +sent through my heart. For a while I was unable to articulate, but at +length I said: "You are one of those who urged us to this fate. You gave +us every assurance that, in any crisis, you would be at our side. We +made the desperate trial which you recommended. We have failed, because +we were abandoned by those who were foremost in urging us on; and even +now--here, where God alone sees us--you meet with reproaches one who has +sacrificed his all on earth in a cause you pretended to bless. Is not +that fate worse than defeat--than flight--than death?" "Tis a sad fate, +no doubt," said he. My object, I said, was to escape to France, and I +called on him, believing he could assist me, as he must be acquainted +with the boatmen around that part of the coast. He answered it was +possible he could, but not then; asked how he could communicate with me; +pointed to a shorter route across the mountains than that by which we +had descended, and turned in to his dinner, which was just announced. + + * * * * * + +We faced towards the mountain, hungry and exhausted, without being asked +to taste food or drink. It need not be detailed how sore at heart we +felt as we recommenced our dreary journey. It was already evening. +Censer masses of fog had gathered on the hill, and lurid streaks +spreading far out on the sea, portended a night of storm and gloom. +However, we had no resource but to regain the house where we had slept +two nights before, which we supposed might be distant about seven miles; +and by gaining the summit of the hill before dark, we hoped to make our +way easily down the other side. To obtain some food, of whatever kind, +was an indispensable preliminary. The house nearest to the mountain +appeared to be that of a comfortable farmer. We entered it trembling, +and found our expectations not disappointed. But the housewife +peremptorily refused our first request, evidently suspecting there was +something wrong, and unable to reconcile our appearance with the idea of +hunger or distress. She bestowed a peculiarly sinister scrutiny on my +poor sister. After some parley, we said we should have something to eat, +either for love or money, and while saying so, we began to examine the +locks of our pistols. Either admonished by these stern intercessors, or +by a look of compassion from her beautiful daughter, who stood at some +distance, she replied we should have what we asked for, but only for +love. Her daughters, of whom there were two, busied themselves in +producing new barley bread and skimmed milk, of which we partook +immoderately. We parted on better terms, and my friend Stephens was +greeted with a smile from each of the lovely girls, which so influenced +him that he insisted upon revealing our character and asking their +hospitality for the night. After a good deal of discussion it was agreed +he should make the experiment alone. He returned and produced the +military cap which he always wore inside his shirt. This at once +produced the desired effect, and one of the young girls came bounding up +the hill to invite us to return. It was arranged, however, that we +should remain on a hay-loft until quite dusk, which we gladly agreed to. +The host entered with us, and stayed until we were admitted to the +dwelling-house. To me, at least, that hay-loft imparted a sense of +unutterable enjoyment. I was there enabled to support the drooping head +of my sister, as overcharged with weariness and pain of mind, she sank +into unconscious sleep. + +As night fell, we were introduced into a comfortable parlour. There we +had tea and eggs, with some punch. The family felt the warmest interest +in us; but at the same time they occasionally manifested evident alarm. +The utmost precaution was observed so as to prevent our being noticed, +and we only retired to bed when the hour of midnight had struck, and the +house was sunk in silence and solitude. During all that night the storm +roared pitilessly and the rain fell heavily. Had it surprised us on the +bleak hill, our wandering had that night ended, and the ravens of +Cumshinane had feasted on our flesh. Next day the storm did not cease to +howl nor the rain to sweep on the angry winds. About five o'clock, +during a brief pause of the rain, preparations were made which +significantly intimated that we were expected to leave. Our host was +well acquainted with the fishermen of Dungarvan and he solemnly warned +us against treating with any of them. Betrayal, he said, would be +certain. But he promised to accompany my sister next day to the town, +where he would make every inquiry; and if he failed, as he anticipated, +would see her away on the car; in which case we were to try another and +a far remote sea-board. A certain newspaper of high Liberal character, +affected to bestow upon us intense consideration and deep compassion. It +had a guard of mobile reporters, some of whom contrived to be everywhere +and hear everything--especially what did not occur. One of them, with a +keener scent than his fellows, discovered my sister's track--made +himself familiar with her person and apparel--and announced her +movements with a mournful accuracy. He conjectured, not unjustly, that +my haunts must be near the scene of her wanderings. Completely absorbed +by the one idea of gratifying the curiosity of his readers, he seemed +indifferent to the conclusion, which, to a mind less engaged, would +appear palpable, and inevitable--namely, that what was information to +our anxious friends would equally serve the purpose of our watchful +pursuers. + +It became, therefore, dangerous to have her continue any longer with or +near us. A hasty dinner was prepared, and we arranged to meet our host +next day within a mile of Dungarvan. Never did parting look more like a +last one than mine with my sister, on that occasion. For some time I +thought she would be the first victim of our hard destiny. She seemed +incapable of withstanding the agony that shook her frame. While sharing +in the hardships and the hazards of my struggle for life, her heart, +sustained by its own deep enthusiasm, triumphed over every obstacle. But +she was returning to a house of mourning and of woe, where life would be +one blank of desolation and stupor, to be wakened to bitter +consciousness by intelligence of our doom. The sense of my +responsibility, the full appreciation of the living death which, through +my agency, had fallen upon a home as hallowed as ever love and joy +consecrated to happiness, had burned up my eyeballs and my brain. I went +forth into the recommencing storm, utterly unconscious of its rage and +equally indifferent to fate. My comrade, who had no life to lose but his +own, and who of that was recklessly prodigal, provided he could dispose +of it to good account, stepped blithely along and uttered no complaint, +although he left behind him traces marked with blood. His terrible +indifference soon restored my self-possession, and we found shelter for +the night in a house near the spot designated for the next day's +interview. Just as we arrived there, the chief magistrate and police had +completed a search of the house. We entered as they retired, told who we +were, and claimed hospitality, which we readily obtained. The night +passed as many a similar one did afterwards. Let our hardships be what +they might during the day, we invariably enjoyed ourselves at night, and +went to bed without a fear. On the following morning we sent our hostess +into the town for shoes and other matters which were indispensable to +our further progress. She returned, evidently alarmed to death, having +read on the walls the viceregal threats against all who harboured the +"traitors." She scarcely allowed us to remain until the time appointed +for the interview, which was of short duration. We were informed that +there was no hope from that quarter, and that our safety for one hour +was extremely precarious. This intelligence and a copy of the _World_ +newspaper, completed the information communicated by our former host. + +Having laughed heartily over the _World_, and no less heartily at the +alarm of our host and hostess, we set out on our long journey, about +four o'clock in the evening, under very heavy rain. Our first effort was +at the publichouse, already mentioned, where we again failed. We had +some bread and punch, while drying our clothes at the fire. My comrade +became very ill; but even this did not overcome the obstinate repugnance +of the hostess to receive us. We were compelled to leave at about nine +o'clock; and having travelled some miles, 'midst cold and rain, my +comrade shivering from fever and suffering, we determined to sleep in +freshly-saved hay. While making ourselves a resting-place in the hay, we +were surprised by some countrymen, who recognised us as the persons who +dined on a former evening, but were coldly received and rudely expelled. +Upon consulting with the women, who had seen us, they conjectured we +were some of the fugitives, and followed for the purpose of inviting us +to the hospitalities of their home. We accepted the offer gladly, and +were received by our friends of the former evening with the warmest +welcome. The principal apartment contained two beds, one of which was +usually occupied by the man and his wife, and the other by their grown +daughters. They gave both up to us, treated us most kindly, and the +whole family, men, women and children, watched over our sleep until +morning. The eldest son displayed considerable information and still +greater energy of character. He evinced the deepest interest in our +fate, and accompanied us for several miles next morning. It was Sunday; +the cold and wet of the previous evening had given way to calm and +sunshine; and we made rapid way along the slopes of the +Comeraghs--thence to the Knockmeldown mountains, having one main object +in view--to place the greatest distance possible between where we were +to rest that night and where we had last slept. The greatest difficulty +we experienced was in passing deep ravines. The steep ascent and descent +were usually wooded and covered with furze and briars. Far below gurgled +a rapid and swollen mountain stream, which we crossed without +undressing, and always experienced the greatest relief from the cold +running water. But toiling our upward way, through trees and thorny +shrubs, was excessively fatiguing. About three o'clock in the evening we +reached the picturesque grounds of Mountmellary Abbey. We had then +travelled thirty miles of mountain without any refreshments. The +well-known hospitality of the good brothers was a great temptation to +men in our situation, pressed by toil and hunger. But we felt that we +possibly might compromise the Abbot and the brethren, and determined on +not making ourselves known. We entered the beautiful chapel of the +Abbey, and ascended the gallery while vespers were sung. We were alone +on the gallery, and had an opportunity of changing our stockings and +wiping the blood from our feet. We remained upwards of an hour, and then +set out, but little refreshed. We hoped to find refreshments in a small +publichouse, on the road leading from Clogheen to Lismore. I entered the +house rather hurriedly, and the first object that met my view was a +policeman. I turned quickly round and disappeared. The rapidity of my +movement attracted his attention, and, calling to his comrades and some +countrymen who were in the house, they commenced a pursuit. At first +they appeared little concerned, but walked quickly. We accordingly +quickened our pace, and they, in turn, began to run, when it became a +regular chase, which continued four miles, until we disappeared in the +blue mists of the Mitchelstown mountains, as night was falling around +us. When we saw our pursuers retiring, we ventured to descend, and +entered a cabin where we found a few cold half-formed new potatoes and +some sour milk which we ravenously devoured. I do not remember ever +enjoying a dinner as I did this. My comrade, who had suffered much from +illness, was unable to eat with the same relish. It was night when we +finished our repast, and we set off in search of some place to lay our +heads. We met several refusals, and succeeded, with great difficulty at +last, in a very poor cabin. We saw a lone hen on a cross-beam, which we +proposed to purchase, and bought at last for two shillings. In less +than an hour she was disposed of; and, as was invariably the case, we +got the only bed in the house, where we slept a long and dreamless +sleep. It rained incessantly the next day, and we were forced repeatedly +to take shelter in cabins by the wayside. But, being excessively anxious +to get as far as possible beyond the circle enclosed by our foes, we +descended several miles along the Kilworth mountains. Towards the close +of evening we crossed the River Funcheon, near Kilworth, by means of a +fir-tree, the roots of which had been undermined by the rapid flood. We +had spent the whole day in wet clothes. We mounted this tree, +Indian-like, in the midst of rain, and dropped in the shallow part of +the river from the branches. We were unable to procure lodgings +afterwards until nearly eleven o'clock, and then not without difficulty. +We succeeded, at length, within about a quarter of a mile of Kilworth, +whence we were able to procure bread, tea and beefsteaks. We were very +kindly treated, and next day accompanied to the Blackwater, at Castle +Hyde, by the eldest brother of the family. + +I shall not easily forget the delicacy with which this young man +requested, if we thought it compatible with our safety, to tell him our +names. There are few requests which either of us would feel greater +reluctance in refusing. He saw our evident struggle, and said he would +be satisfied with a promise that when our fate would be decided one way +or the other, we would write to him; a promise which I redeemed the day +after I reached Paris. + +This day I think, August the 20th, we travelled over forty miles, along +bog and mountain, passed within a few miles of the city of Cork, and +then, taking a north-western direction, proceeded to the village of +Blarney; where we slept on a loft with a number of carmen who were on +their way to Cork with corn. + +It is known to most people, at all familiar with the traditions of +Ireland, that this village is one of her most classic spots. There is +deposited the celebrated Blarney stone, a touch of which imparts to the +tongue of the pilgrim the gift of persuasion. So famous has this stone +become, not only in Ireland but in England, that the most plausible +fluency is characterised by its name, which at once confers on such +oratory the stamp of unapproachable eloquence. It must be confessed, +however, that in many instances "Blarney" conveys doubts of the +speaker's sincerity, as well as admiration for his capacity. To see this +talisman would be with me, on another occasion, an object of deep +anxiety and most eager curiosity. But I was compelled to forego the +pleasure, by the fact that a police-barrack loomed in its immediate +vicinity, and at the other side was posted a proclamation offering a +reward for my person. We could scarcely sleep, owing to the noise and +bustle of the carmen, as they came and went, and loudly snored in +various parts of our dormitory. But we were allowed to rest until seven +in the morning, when we took a hasty breakfast and departed. It was a +point with us never to walk along a road, and never to ask our way. We +were now travelling through an open corn country, and our progress was +accordingly slow. We felt, too, the necessity of not departing far from +our intended route, and accordingly we called in occasionally to +national schools to make the necessary observations on the maps. +Sometimes we examined the children, and sometimes the master; generally +one of us was so employed while the other was noting down carelessly on +the map the points of observation to direct our path. We crossed the Lee +undressed, near the village of "Cross," and slept soundly in a +churchyard on a neighbouring hill the name of which has passed from my +memory. We then directed our footsteps to a small village called +Crookstown, situated in a romantic spot on a branch of the Lee. We +experienced much difficulty, and narrowly escaped detection, in entering +this village, which is surrounded by beautiful country seats, through +the grounds of some of which we were obliged to grope our way. We +obtained lodgings, after one or two fruitless trials, in a very +comfortable house kept by a farmer. The young family seemed to be rather +tastefully educated, and we soon became fast friends. We passed as +whimsical tourists, and delighted our entertainers with glowing accounts +of the scenery of Connemara, Wicklow and Kerry. We remained with them +two nights, on pretence of being engaged in sketching the enchanting +views in the neighbourhood; and left, promising, that if we returned by +the same road, we would delay a week. Our destination was Dunmanway, +near which a friend of mine lived, in whose house I hoped we might +remain concealed, while means of escape would be procured somewhere +among the western headlands. A short journey brought us to this house. +My friend was absent, but daughters of his, whom I had not seen since +childhood, recognised and welcomed us. We had then travelled 150 miles, +and fancied that, as no one could think of our making such a journey +without walking one half-mile of road, we would be safe there for many +days. In this we were disappointed. It was communicated to us next +morning early that our persons were recognised, and that half the +inhabitants of Dunmanway were by that time aware of our whereabouts. It +was added, that the people were venal and treacherous; a character which +the inhabitants of that region of Cork invariably attribute to each +other. We remained a second and most of a third day, notwithstanding, +and enjoyed ourselves heartily, although our little festivities had all +the air of a wake. We set out at length on the evening of the third day, +having made one glorious friend, whose exertions afterwards tended +mainly to secure my escape. We had expected letters from home before we +reached Dunmanway, and received them there on the day after. They +contained the concentrated and compressed agony of weeks, but no word of +complaint or regret. They also confirmed the intelligence which we had +heard ere we set out, namely, that all our comrades were arrested, +except Dillon, O'Gorman, and a few others, of whose fate we remained +uncertain. Certain friends of the family undertook to communicate with +clergymen, near the seashore, who were supposed to be in a position to +facilitate our escape, while we proposed to visit Gougane Barra and +Ceimeneagh, and, if practicable, Killarney, before we returned to learn +the success of their applications. We followed the stream that passes +Dunmanway for several miles through an almost inaccessible valley, +until we reached the southwestern base of Shehigh, the highest mountain +in the range which stretches between Mallow and Cape Clear. + +Here we purchased some good new potatoes, butter, eggs and milk, on +which we dined satisfactorily. We then faced the mountain which we +crossed near the summit, being desirous to gain Gougane Barra by the +shortest possible route. A steep ascent gives the traveller fresh +impulses and an irrepressible desire to bound down at the other side. It +seems to spring from that principle of action and reaction pervading all +nature. At the northern base of Shehigh, after traversing some miles of +bog, we found ourselves entering the pass of Ceimenagh. Though that Pass +had been recently immortalised in the unequalled verses of Denis +Florence M'Carthy,[12] and I had learned to love a spot where echoes of +minstrelsy so soft and passionate had found a "local habitation," I was +ignorant of its locality and entirely unprepared for the surpassing +grandeur of the scene, which, in the full blaze of a harvest moon burst +upon my view. My comrade was even more startled than I, and we paused at +every turn of that enchanting passage to gaze upon the masses of rock +projecting over our heads hundreds of feet in the air, and casting their +dark rude outlines upon the clear autumn sky. The pass is a mile long, +while in no one spot can many yards' distance be seen on either side. +The road seems to lose itself every moment in the bowels of the +mountain, but as you proceed, you find a new avenue of escape, and a +more fantastic group of impending rocks of a yet more entrancing +beauty than that you had left behind. In such a scene one could have no +feeling of weariness and no sense of fear. Neither could he doubt man's +truth any more than God's omnipotence. We lingered in the solitude and +drank the moonbeams as they strayed through disjointed rocks and fell +silvery and glowing on our path. Our reverie ended in a mistake, for we +unconsciously passed the point where we should turn to Gougane Barra, +then the scene of a ceremony, half religious, half superstitious, as it +has been during the autumn season from time immemorial. People come +great distances to perform "stations" on the ruins of a very ancient +church on poor Callanan's "green little island." We were advised against +returning, but told to seek shelter in a publichouse at a place called +Ballingeary, on the banks of Lough Lua through which the infant Lee +runs. We found the house quite full, in consequence of a fair which was +to be held the Monday following at Bantry. We were accordingly refused; +but we insisted on remaining in the house. We had some milk and whisky, +in which we asked the host to join us, and after one or two potations, +he and his wife offered to give us their own bed and remain up. We +thankfully and gladly accepted the offer. I know not whether they +recognised us, and if not, it is not easy to account for the generous +kindness that prompted such a sacrifice. The next day being Sunday, we +proposed to spend it wandering about the lovely lake in the bosom of the +hill, and to return in the evening to dinner. The day was an anxious +one; but we left no spot on the island or near the lake which we did not +explore. + +[Illustration: Dunmanway from the Bridge on the Cork Road, 1848] + +The "Green Little Island," is surpassingly romantic. The old ruin of a +monastery, God knows how old, gigantic forest trees, bowing their aged +limbs into the clear water, the shadows of the frowning mountain thrown +fantastically on the bosom of the lake, form a _tout ensemble_ of lonely +loveliness rarely equalled. Then the play of + + "The thousand wild fountains + Rushing down to that lake from their home in the mountains," + +the scream of the eagle on the crags of Mailoc, far, far on high, all +justify Callanan's preference for the spot which was meetest for the +bard. We endeavoured to recall his tender strains, and thought +mournfully of his sad prophecy--alas! when shall it be fulfilled? + + I too shall be gone, but my name shall be spoken, + When Erin awakes and her fetters are broken + Some minstrel shall come in the summer's eve gleaming, + When Freedom's young light on his spirit is beaming, + And bend o'er my grave with a tear of emotion, + Where calm Avonbui seeks the kisses of ocean, + Or plant a wild wreath from the banks of that river, + O'er the heart and the harp that are sleeping for ever. + +We saw at a short distance, the pass which so enraptured us the night +before, but we resisted the temptation to revisit it, lest the glare of +light might disenchant us of those sublime impressions of beauty it had +made on our minds. + +We found a most comfortable dinner on our arrival, for which we could +not account. In the course of the evening we learned casually from our +host that he had spent several years of his life where it was impossible +he should not have seen and known me. This was a disturbing conviction +wherewith to retire to rest, but we trusted to our propitious stars, in +which we had begun to feel a superstitious confidence. We were not +disappointed then or afterwards, and next morning we slept in +unquestioning security. We rose late and reluctantly, and left a scene +where we enjoyed more undisturbed rest and real comfort than had fallen +to our lot for weeks before. The day became dark and showery. Crossing +the bogs in the recesses of Shehigh, we were overtaken by a storm, from +which we took shelter in some hay gathered on the bleak moor, where I +wrote the following:-- + + Hurrah for the outlaw's life! + Hurrah for the felon's doom! + Hurrah for the last death-strife! + Hurrah for an exile's tomb! + Come life or death, 'tis still the same, + So we preserve our stainless name + From losel of the coward's shame. + Hurrah for the mountain side! + Hurrah for the bivouac! + Hurrah for the heaving tide! + If rocking the felon's track. + + Hurrah for the scanty meal! + If served by th' ungrudging hand, + Hurrah for the hearts of steel, + Still true to this fallen land! + Still true, though every hazard brings + Some new disaster on its wings, + Which o'er her last faint hope it flings. + Hurrah, etc. + + Hurrah; though the gibbet loom! + Hurrah; though the brave be low! + Hurrah; though a villain doom! + The true to the headsman's blow. + As long as one life-throb remain, + We'll spurn the tyrant's gyve and chain + On gallows-tree or bloody plain. + Hurrah, etc. + + Hurrah for that smile of light, + Which like a prophetic star, + Illumined the long, lone night + Of the wanderers from afar. + Give us for resting-place the rath, + Give us to brave the foeman's wrath, + So that dear smile be o'er our path. + Hurrah for the mountain side! + Hurrah for the bivouac! + Hurrah for the heaving tide! + If rocking the felon's track. + +Being apprehensive that our former retreat near Dunmanway was +discovered, and that we would be looked for there, we determined to try +another district, from which we might be able to communicate with her +who had evinced such sympathy for us. We sought the house of a friend of +hers, but found him so terrified that we could not think of forcing +ourselves on his hospitality. He promised, however, to call on her and +learn if she had any letters or other information for us. On our return, +next day, he was somewhat reassured. He brought us a note from her, and +letters from home. My comrade's was a sad, sad blow. Where he had most +trusted on earth, his application had been coldly received, and his most +unlimited confidence utterly disappointed. Money was forwarded to him +from other sources; but the spirit that braved every disaster up to +that, broke under disappointed affection and blighted love. For some +time he refused to take another step, but yielding himself up to the +agony of shattered feelings, he ardently desired to abandon a struggle +involving nothing but the life he no longer desired to save. From my +knowledge of the country, and other resources, he regarded my chances of +escape as favourable, and his own presence as an impediment and a check. +He was therefore anxious to relieve me of a burden, at the same time +that he would free himself from a weight still more intolerable. In that +he was mistaken. His imperturbable equanimity, and ever daring hope, had +sustained me in moments of perplexity and alarm when no other resource +could have availed. During the whole time which we spent, as it were, in +the shadow of the gibbet, his courage never faltered, and his temper +never once ruffled. The arrival of our enthusiastic friend, who had +stolen to see us, revived his spirits, and her persuasions reassured his +resolution. We drove for some time in her car, and after nightfall +returned to the house where we had slept on the previous night. A +practice which prevailed in that part of the county Cork greatly +facilitated our efforts. It was this: in the vicinity of the great +routes of travel, the farmers are in the habit of giving lodgings for +payment, the amount of which generally depends on the traveller's +ability to pay. As our means, for purposes of at least this kind were +not stinted, we were sure of welcome a second time. But this fact had a +tendency to frustrate our aim in another point of view; for it always +excited curiosity, so that it was doubtful whether we would not be +safer with persons who would provide for us at the cost of their last +morsel, by confiding to them who and what we were. But in this district +of Cork, the centre of which is the notorious town of Bandon, were +scattered several families of Orangemen, who were intensely inimical to +the cause and people of Ireland. In this very instance we lodged with +one of those families. A letter that I tore near the house was picked +up, put together, and read, so as to lead to suspicion, which was +immediately communicated to the magistrate. This caused the most +vigilant surveillance to be exercised over the homes and persons of our +friends. But before the discovery was made we were far beyond the reach +of our pursuers. We had learned that the efforts made for our escape +were unsuccessful, and that time would be required to effect anything, +so as not to arouse the suspicion of those who guarded the coast; and we +agreed to conceal ourselves as best we could in some distant part of the +country, for three weeks, and then return or communicate with our +friend, who promised, meantime, to leave no effort untried on our +behalf. A second time, we set out by the same route. When we found +ourselves on a hill-top, far from human haunts, we sat down as was our +wont, to consider our future course. We determined to visit some obscure +watering-place in the vicinity of Cape Clear. With that view we skirted +the picturesque mountains that surround Dunmanway. These mountains +present features to which the eye of one living in the inland country is +little accustomed. The mountains of the midland and eastern counties are +generally enormous clumps with little inequality of surface, and +covered over with heath and weeds. Here, on the contrary, the mountains +seemed to be carved out into the most fantastic shapes, covered with +white granite stones, whose reflections in the watery surface gave the +scene an appearance of singular beauty. However strange it may appear, +we lingered over these picturesque scenes in intense delight; the more +so because there seemed no limit to our journey, and no definite aim to +which our efforts led. And a mountain-top has always an assurance of +safety stamped upon it. There we could indulge our admiration for the +beautiful; there we could snatch an hour of fearless and unbroken sleep. + +But elements of danger began to lower over our loved haunts. The grouse +season had just set in, and occasionally the report of a musket broke +our reverie, or startled our deepest sleep. Yet, even from this cup of +bitterness did we derive some sparkles of happiness. We could easily +avoid the sportsman's eye; and when we wanted anything from the lower +regions, the vicinity of the mountains, and the business of the fowler, +accounted for our presence and our wants, and readily gained us a +supply. But the potato crop had failed, and the disease had already +destroyed all the tubers which had approached maturity. This rendered it +necessary to look to other resources, and we contrived to procure bread +and sometimes meat, which we were able to get prepared easily under +pretence of being catering for shooting parties. + +On the first day we made this experiment, we found ourselves descending +into that dreary plain that stretches out to the doomed district of +Skibbereen. Under cover of night we sought to penetrate this desolate +region in the remotest direction of the sea, where we hoped we might +remain unnoticed as country bathers. We obtained shelter at a small +farmers, and made a great many inquiries concerning the neighbouring +watering-places, whither we said we were going for the benefit of our +health. There were two young girls, the confidence of one of whom my +comrade contrived to win during the evening. She told him that her +sister had a courtship with the sergeant of police, who usually visited +there every day. This hastened our departure next morning. We set out in +the grey dawn, and once again reascended the mountain, to rest and take +thought. The communication of the young girl; the sister's long delay, +when she went to procure refreshments at the village, where the +police-sergeant was stationed; the father's pursuits, and other +circumstances, induced us to believe that to follow the plan which, to a +certain extent, we had unfolded, would be dangerous. We therefore +determined to change our course. We were then about fifteen miles +south-southwest of Dunmanway. Adhering to our resolution of settling for +a few weeks in some village on the seaside, we purposed to substitute +the Kerry side of Bantry Bay for the district we had at first fixed on. +The distance was about fifty miles, and we had to cross a plain several +miles wide. We swept over this plain with a rapidity that taxed severely +our exhausted energies, and lay down to sleep on the first patch of +heath we gained on the Bantry mountains. + +We bathed our feet in a mountain stream, and having partaken of a slight +meal, resumed our weary journey. Night fell on us in the midst of a +desolate bog on a mountain top. We travelled several miles in search of +shelter, first in cabins and next in haycocks. It was a dark, gloomy and +threatening night. After lying for some time on the roadside, where +alone a dry spot was to be found, I forced Stephens to consent to make a +trial of the town of Bantry, then a mile distant. The darkness and gloom +were favourable to the experiment. We entered the town, and traversed +one or two streets, we knew not in what direction. On inquiring for a +lodging-house, we were directed to the house of Mrs. Barry, who kept a +large grocery establishment. We found accommodation and comfort. Next +day, having made some small purchases through the agency of the servant, +and posted some letters, we deliberately walked out of Bantry, by the +road which seemed to lead the most directly to the country. The day was +miserable, and we found our journey through the mountains, which +overhang the beautiful bay, very unpleasant. We determined to reach a +place called the Priest's Leap, which is consecrated by a holy tradition +in the estimation of the people. They tell that in the times of +persecution a priest was set and sold in these fastnesses. Having +discovered that he was betrayed, he effected his escape through a circle +of enclosing pursuers, which it was deemed impossible to break through; +the country people believed that he floated invisibly through the air, +and alighted on the deck of a Spanish frigate then coasting these +shores. + +An impenetrable fog descended the mountain, and the rain deepened into a +torrent. Moored in the bay were two war-steamers, with screw propellers; +but they had all their sails unfurled, and swung uneasily to and fro. +We, who were ignorant of their character, frequently paused to regard +them, utterly unable to account for their extraordinary movements. +Believing them American packets, which had put in through stress of +weather, we would have given worlds even for an opportunity of swimming +to them through the waters of the bay. But the coast was strictly +guarded by police and revenue officers. Notwithstanding this the vessels +had for us an irresistible attraction, and we entered a mountain cabin, +where we learned their real character. A second attempt to reach the +Priest's Leap, of whose exact bearing we were ignorant, involved us in +deeper mist and a heavier shower, from which we took shelter in a +wretched hut, directly over the bay, and within about one mile of an +hotel of great fame, frequented by travellers who are attracted to these +districts to view the magnificent bay and the singular beauty of +Glengarriff. Here we spent the remainder of the day. Eggs and potatoes +were provided for us; and when, as evening approached, we prepared to +depart to the hotel, the woman pressed us to remain, and produced clean +sheets, telling us they would give up their bed, and adding that she +would be satisfied with the fifth of what we should pay in the hotel, +where, she slyly hinted, our reception would be very doubtful in our +then trim. We readily consented to her arrangement; and it was further +agreed that her husband should go to the hotel and provide some bacon, +bread, tea, and whisky. + +We had not, during our wanderings, met two such characters as this man +and woman, nor had we taken shelter in so extraordinary an abode. They +had a single child, a girl about four years of age, whose dark eyes and +compressed lip Akkad evidenced the presence of those terrible passions +which had burned deep channels along the brow and cheek of her mother. +The cabin was ten feet square, with no window and no chimney. The floor, +except where the bed was propped in a corner, was composed of a sloping +mountain rock, somewhat polished by human feet and the constant tread of +sheep, which were always shut up with the inmates at night. The fire, +which could be said to burn and smoke, but not to light, consisted of +heath sods, dug fresh from the mountain. A splinter of bog-wood, lurid +through the smoke, supplied us with light for our nightly meal. The tea +was drawn in a broken pot, and drunk from wooden vessels, while the +sheep chewed the cud in calm and happy indifference. They were about +twelve in number, and occupied the whole space of the cabin between the +bed and the fire-place. + +In that singular picture, the figure of the woman stood out bold, +prominent and alone, absorbing, in its originality, every character of +the entire. Neither she nor her husband could be said to wear any dress. +Neither wore shoes or stockings, or any covering whatever on the head; +shreds of flannel, which might once have borne the shape of drawers, a +tattered shirt of unbleached linen, with an old blanket drawn uncouthly +around his waist and shoulders, completed the costume of the man. His +wife's was equally scant and rude, but so arranged as to present the +idea that even in her breast the sense of fitness, the last feeling of +froward womanhood, was not quite extinguished. The squalid rags and +matted hair, by a single touch of the hand, a gesture, or a shake of the +head, assumed such shape as she fancied would display to greatest +advantage what remained of a coarse and masculine beauty. The +consciousness that she once possessed such beauty fired at once her +heart and eye. Her foot and ankle, which had been rudely tested by +flinty rocks and many a winter's frost, were faultless; her step was +firm; her form erect and tall; her hair black as ebony; her features +coarse, but regular; her brow lofty, but furrowed and wrinkled; and her +terrible eyes dilated with pride, passion and disdain. Her lip's slight +curl, or a shade of crimson suddenly suffusing her dark complexion, +bespoke her feelings towards her husband. He was her drudge, her slave, +her horror and her convenience. Her ruling idea was a wish to have it +understood that the match was ill-assorted and compelled by necessity; +though the last idea bespoke a youth of shame. The child alone was +dressed, and with some care, as if she wished to assert its claim to a +superior paternity or better destiny. Among the predominant passions +which swayed her, avarice seemed uppermost; and she scowled ominously on +her stupid husband, whose rigid impassable stolidity seemed impervious +to all prospects and chances of pleasure and of gain. + +The rain continued to pour without abatement during the whole night and +until sunset the succeeding day. The next night passed nearly in the +same way as the first, save that I could not rest from a vague sense of +apprehension with which this woman inspired me. Both the people of the +house slept on the hearth-stone, without any bed, or, as far as I know, +any covering, save their rags. I had an opportunity of overhearing their +connubial colloquy, which was in Irish, and had reference solely to +conjectures respecting us, our character, our object and our money. It +convinced me that our safety would be compromised by any longer delay. +During the pauses of their conversation, I endeavoured to string +together a rough draft of the stanzas that follow, or a considerable +part of them. I give them here, with the accompanying notes, as they +were published in the _People_ newspaper. In the notes or in the text, +there is nothing I wish to alter. + + Air: "_Gradh mo Chroidhe_." + + The long, long-wished for hour had come, + Yet came, mo stór, in vain, + And left thee but the wailing hum + Of sorrow and of pain. + My light of life, my lonely love, + Thy portion sure must be, + Man's scorn below, God's wrath above + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + 'Twas told of thee, the world around, + 'Twas hoped from thee by all, + That, with one gallant sunward bound, + Thou'dst burst long ages thrall. + Thy faith was tried, alas! and those + Who perilled all for thee, + Were cursed, and branded as thy foes; + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + What fate is thine, unhappy isle, + That even the trusted few[13] + Should pay thee back with hate and guile, + When most they should be true? + 'Twas not _thy_ strength or spirit failed; + And those that bleed for thee, + And love thee truly, have not quailed; + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + I've given thee manhood's early prime, + And manhood's waning years; + I've blest thee in thy sunniest time, + And shed with thee my tears; + And mother, though thou'st cast away + The child who'd die for thee, + My latest accents still shall pray + For Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + I've tracked for thee the mountain sides, + And slept within the brake, + More lonely than the swan that glides + O'er Lua's fairy lake.[14] + The rich have spurned me from their door, + Because I'd set thee free; + Yet do I love thee more and more, + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + I've run the outlaw's brief career, + And borne his load of ill, + His troubled rest, his ceaseless fear, + With fixed sustaining will; + And should his last dark chance befall, + E'en that shall welcome be, + In death, I'll love thee, most of all, + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + +I was awakened next morning by a strange voice, with an accent, as I +thought, different from that which we had been accustomed to. Our +immediate conclusion was that we were betrayed. But a short time +convinced us that our visitor had come to warn us that if we remained +many hours where we were, our fate would be sealed. He represented +"Finey" (as our hostess was familiarly called, in derision of her +affected pride) in colours not very flattering to her virtue. He said he +could positively furnish us with the means of escape; described his +resources as unlimited, and his interest in us as paramount to every +consideration he had on earth. He was an ecclesiastical student, and had +left college to take part in the struggle of his country. He bitterly +lamented that Dillon and O'Gorman were not in the way, that he might +have the happiness of assisting in saving them also. Agreeably to his +advice, we left our den and proceeded up the mountain. It was Sunday +morning, and there was not a cloud darkening the azure sky. Below us +slept the waters of the bay, reflecting, in their crystal depths, the +superincumbent mountains and overarching sky. The sun rose majestically, +broad, unclouded, full of effulgence, and shed his yellow beams, on a +scene as lovely as ever met his burning eye. The mountains around the +bay form very nearly a complete circle; the numerous peaks, from south +to north, range at an average height of about 500 feet above the water's +level, while a few ascend as high as 1,000. We stood on the loftiest of +all. Immediately below us, a little to the right, embosomed in the +mountains, lay the unmatched beauties of Glengarriff. There are few +spots on earth of wilder attractions. The hills around form a complete +amphitheatre. On an island in the centre of the valley is the cottage of +the noble proprietor, accessible only by one narrow pathway which winds +through hillocks and passes various rivulets on rustic bridges. The +grounds about the cottages are tastefully laid out in shrubberies, +flower-knots, green pastures, and artificial lakes. That which +constitutes the chief feature of beauty in other landscapes, namely, an +extensive prospect, is wanting here. From the cottage, or any part of +the grounds, you can only command a view of the limited demesne, and the +craggy and bleak mountain rising almost perpendicularly from its +outskirts. But the view is unique, and the contrast exquisite between +the rich green of the arbutus, amidst clumps of which sparkle the +impeded mountain waters, and the barren hill-sides whose blue summits +seem blended with the skies giving to the scene such an air of calm +serenity and soft repose as to leave the beholder almost without a wish +to look beyond. + +[Illustration: Market Day in Thurles, August, 1848] + +By this time we had learned to lose all consciousness of our own fate in +contemplating lines of beauty such as then marked the outline and +radiated through every minor detail of mountain, ocean, and cosy lawn. +We dwelt on the scene with enraptured eye and heart, and scarcely felt +the time glide by, which was to bring us our promised deliverer. He was +with us at the appointed moment, and only preceded his sisters by about +half an hour. They came, three in number, and toiled up to the summit +under a hot sun, bringing each a basket with abundant and delicate +provisions for a picnic. They were joined soon after by two other +brothers, who kept watch while we enjoyed the delicacies of our meal, +which we finished with some bottles of excellent claret. While we were +thus engaged, Lord Bantry was at the cabin we had left, gnashing his +teeth at the misfortune of missing such a prey. My comrade sang the +newly-composed verses and others of more exquisite melody and far higher +sentiment, within less than half a mile of the frowning and fuming lord. +At four o'clock we took leave of our kind entertainers, the student +promising to use the coming night in efforts to secure our flight, and a +younger brother undertaking to act as our guide across the mountain and +round the base of the Glengarriff ridge of hills to a dark gorge, at the +County Kerry side. This was a most trying journey, at least twenty +miles long, over precipitous mountains, and performed, for the most +part, during night. It was necessary that we should not rest until we +travelled far out of range of the locality where our persons had been +known and our retreat discovered. Our young guide left us with friends +or dependents of his family, and returned to be in readiness to +communicate any tidings from his brother. Those tidings came fast on our +footsteps; but the message was to warn us that we were not even there +safe; for that Lord Bantry had all his tenantry engaged in searching for +us. The despatch added that, if able, we were to be at the "Priest's +Leap" at a certain hour in the evening, where we would hear the result +of the efforts made for us. The tone of the letter left us nothing to +hope; still we determined to test the doubtful promise to the last. +Accordingly we set out for the new rendezvous. The distance was very +long unless we crossed through Glengarriff. This we determined to do, +feeling satisfied that the last place we would be looked for would be +his lordship's pleasure-grounds. We paused to examine more minutely the +exquisite serenity of that scene, and learned from a game-keeper several +matters illustrative of our pursuer's character, while his adherents +were tracking our supposed footsteps, over moor and mountain, far away. +Arrived at our destination, we had to wait several hours, during which +we were amused by our guide claiming fraternity with us, on the ground +of being banned by the law, in consequence of a suspicion (a false one, +he averred) of having mistaken another man's sheep for his own. He had +an idea that we, too, must have infringed the law, but in what +particular he did not concern himself to inquire. The fact sufficed for +the establishment of a good understanding between us. + +We at last saw our female friends approach. They brought us another +excellent dinner, for which we had a still more excellent appetite. +During the time we dined, they informed us that everything was +proceeding as favourably as we could expect, and that they had no doubt +of success. When taking leave of us, however, one of them pressed a +little note into my hand, and they disappeared in the darkness. I burned +to learn what the note contained. With the assistance of our new friend +we found lodgings in the neighbourhood, where I read that the student +failing in his enterprise, and being afraid to compromise himself +further, left that very night for college. He had to consult a +clergyman, a very near friend of his, and we made no doubt the present +step resulted from his considerate advice. + +This is written here, not for the purpose of disparaging the clergyman's +counsel or the student's resolution. On the contrary, no doubt was then +entertained of the sincerity of either, nor has there ever since been. +There could be no one more disposed to make allowance for the difficult +position in which both were placed, as well as all others who ventured +to serve us: nor could we blame men for shrinking from peril, which at +the best, presented no rational chance for us, while the effort involved +those who made it in almost certain ruin. I had other opportunities of +satisfying myself afterward that this clergyman, who visited us in the +mountains, never relaxed in his exertions to save us. + +We found ourselves next morning in an exceedingly romantic valley to +the north of the "Priest's Leap," the property of Lord Lansdowne, where +there are many comfortable farmers' houses, and many others, whose showy +exterior is sadly belied by the filth and discomfort of the inside. We +spent the day with the man of the sheep, who promised to obtain lodgings +for us at a publichouse, where he was refused. But during our stay there +we met a farmer's son, who took us home and travelled with us the whole +of the next day. We proposed to him and his sister to accompany us to +the United States, having for some time entertained seriously a project +of trying our chances to escape as emigrants. He consented to be of the +party, although we fully explained to him the risk of being taken in our +company. He guessed from this that we were engaged in the attempted +outbreak, and being sent in to the town of Kenmare to make some +purchases, he could not conceal so important a secret, but sought out a +friend, a true man, to whom he unburdened himself. We had appointed to +meet him at a place called Cross, about two miles from Kenmare. We were +repairing thither at the appointed hour, and were met, not by our trusty +messenger, but the friend to whom he had revealed his important secret. +This friend, alarmed at our temerity in approaching so near the town, +had come to forewarn us. His advances were met by distrust and menace, +which pained him deeply. He remonstrated and referred to the fact of +coming to meet us alone, when if he meant us injury he could easily +secure us. Satisfied, at length, that his friendship was sincere, we +consented to accompany him to meet another friend who had taken a +different road in the direction of the mountain. He was known to us by +character, but that knowledge, with me at least, tended to increase +rather than to allay distrust. I had formed an idea of the man from +reading speeches of his which appeared of an unscrupulously partisan +character. I was very soon disabused, but not however until I +communicated to him my feelings in his regard. The best proof of my +mistake is furnished by the fact that my unnecessary frankness did not +in the least check the enthusiasm with which he was prepared to risk +fortune, liberty and life in our service. Our interview was short. We +dismissed the ambassador who had acquired for us these new allies. They, +or rather he, of whom I have last spoken offered us money which we +declined. In opposition to his remonstrance, we insisted on remaining +for the night at a publichouse in the village of Cross. He, to whom +peril was new, could not understand our "audacity." But we who had +experienced the disadvantages of asking for entertainment in quarters +where such things were unusual, preferred the chance of escaping +unobserved among crowds of persons similar in appearance and, applying +only for ordinary accommodation. In this and many such instances we +determined aright. We obtained a comfortable bed and passed unnoticed. +Next morning we set out for the southern slope of the Killarney +mountains. As soon as we attained a safe elevation, we took a western +direction, skirting those mountains and crossing the road which leads +from Killarney to Kenmare, about five miles from the latter town. We +then kept a westerly direction, and turned round the vast bog situated +at the western side of the road. This bog contains several thousand +acres, and seems quite susceptible of reclamation and improvement. We +ascended the steep hill at the north-western boundary where we slept for +an hour or so, and then resumed our journey in the direction of the +Reeks. We purposed ascending the loftiest of these mountains, and not +wishing to take the route by the Gap of Dunloe, we crossed the +intermediate valley and began to ascend the mountain to the north, +believing it to be that which we had determined to climb. After having +toiled to the summit, we discovered in the distance the peak we were in +search of, its wonderful elevation leaving no manner of doubt as to its +identity. Between us and its base lay another broad valley. Before +attempting the ascent, we secured a lodging at the foot, and leaving our +coats behind, we began our task about four o'clock in the evening, +having then travelled upwards of twenty miles and crossed two large +mountains. The southern acclivity is more steep than the northern, and +we lost much by our ignorance of the best routes; but we reached +Carn-Tuathail, far the highest spot in Ireland, about sunset. The view +that presents itself from that peak is of the most extraordinary +character. Stretching out into the sea a distance of thirty miles, is a +jumble of mountains tossed together in the wildest confusion, and +exhibiting no definite outline. At the east, far inland, lay the long +ridge of which Mangerton is the loftiest point. At the north alone could +we discern an extensive view, where a rich and well cultivated valley +extended along Dingle Bay as far as Ballyheige. But the grandeur of the +scene Jay at our feet. Beneath us yawned at every side chasms of +seemingly unfathomable depth, whose darkness it was impossible to +penetrate, as the sun was sinking in the Atlantic. It was really a +spectacle full of grandeur and of awe, and we remained enjoying it till +the last ray of the sun ceased to glimmer on the distant waters. + +At that hour, we were well assured, many a brain was busy, and many an +eye set to discover our retreat. By the side of the public +thoroughfares, on great bridges, and frequented cross-roads, detective +vigilance kept sleepless watch, and fancied in every approaching form, +the doomed victims, who were at once to satisfy the angry gallows and +its own excited avarice. Equally well assured were we that the most +inventive and hazardous scrutiny would never track our footsteps to the +dizzy height of Carn-Tuathail. One motive with us was to baffle all +calculation on the part of our pursuers. When we found we were tracked +and discovered, our first care was to consider how our enemies would be +likely to judge respecting our future movements. If we had reason to +suspect that we were recognised on a mountain, we sought shelter in or +near a town, and after we appeared in public places for a day or an +hour, we kept the mountain-side for a week following. + +We had, too, another, and it must needs be confessed, a more powerful +motive. In either alternative which our fate presented, there was no +hope of ever beholding these scenes again, and we could not omit this +last opportunity of minutely examining and enjoying what was grandest +and loveliest in our native land. We resolved, therefore, to leave no +glorious spot unvisited, whatever toil it cost, or risk it exposed us +to. Mountains, indeed, never did involve a risk, but the Lakes of +Killarney, which were much frequented at the time, could not be seen +without imminent danger, unless by overcoming great physical +difficulties. After we descended from Carn-Tuathail, we were so utterly +exhausted as to be obliged to lie down in hay, within one field of the +cabin where we were to sleep, from which nothing could tempt us to stir +for the night; but we were assailed by swarms of small flies of the +mosquito species, that stung us to further exertion. Although the owners +of the cabin gave us their only bed, and provided the best supper for +us, we were so persecuted by these flies, that we were forced to quit +our bed before day dawned, and endeavour to shake off our tormentors by +rolling in the dew and shaking our shirts in the wind. We set out early, +finding the place utterly intolerable, owing to these terrible +tormentors, although we had resolved the evening before, to remain a few +days fishing in the lovely lakes collected in the gorges of the reeks. +The day was misty and wet. This, we hoped, would afford us a good +opportunity of seeing the lakes unobserved; for such weather would +necessarily confine the tourists to their hotels. We accordingly +directed our way to the Upper Lake, along ledges of rocks covered with +tall wet grass, wading or swimming through outlets of the lake. We +obtained a tolerable view of the Upper Lake, and minutely examined the +several accesses to it through the wood on the southern side. After +spending most of the fore-noon in this wood, we attempted to cross the +upper neck of the lake for the purpose of skirting the base of +Mangerton and gaining the summit of Turc Mountain, from which are to be +seen the Middle and Lower Lake in their most varied and seductive +loveliness. Few travellers ever see the lakes from this point, because +it is difficult to attain; but I had been there, and knowing its +superiority over every other, I wished to give my comrade a taste of the +exquisite pleasure derivable from a scene of beauty unsurpassed in the +world. There is no spot, in or near Killarney, from which its wonderful +scenery can be seen to such advantage. On the water, at Ross Island, at +Mucross or Glena, the view is confined to the scenery immediately +around, with an occasional glimpse of the nearer mountains, which indeed +may well satisfy the most exacting curiosity and fastidious taste, while +from the summit of Mangerton (the great mountain attraction of +travellers) but miniature forms of beauty present themselves, the great +distance and height contracting the circle of beauty, and depriving +every object of its fulness and natural proportions. From Turc mountain, +on the other hand, you see the lake at your feet--all its islets, curls, +cascades are within ken, entrancing your senses. Standing on that green +hill, it is impossible to divest the mind of the idea, that the scene is +one of pure enchantment. + +But we were destined not to realise it. There was a police-station +immediately on our way. In our first effort to avoid it, we found +ourselves, after much trouble, within one field of the door. We then +made a still wider circuit, keeping, as we thought, far clear of it; but +following a valley which led round a clump of hill, we once more very +nearly stepped into its back yard. To avoid similar mistakes we +ventured along the public road direct towards Kenmare; but when we were +clear of the police-barrack, we had to travel several miles of mountain +to gain the intended spot. Our feet were all cut and bleeding, and we +lay down on a rock in our wet clothes, where we slept soundly, and I +suppose sweetly, until near sunset. When we awoke we were obliged, from +the lateness of the hour, to abandon our project. + +During our stay near Killarney, we fondly indulged the last dream for +our country. In the remote regions of the counties of Cork and Kerry, +the people seemed possessed of no political information. They had a +vague notion that an effort was made to free the country from foreign +thrall, and that the patriots and their cause were lost through the +Catholic priests. It was easy to perceive, by the bitterness with which +they cursed, that they--although never reached by a speech of Mr. +O'Connell's, or an article or song of the _Nation's_--had cherished in +their hearts the same imperishable purpose and hope of overturning the +dominion of the stranger. We calculated on collecting between fifty and +one hundred of the hardiest and most desperate mountaineers, whom we +could easily place in ambush near the lakes, to seize on Lord John +Russell, who was at the time announced as a visitor to Killarney. Once +in our possession, we could have him conveyed to some inaccessible +fastness where we could dictate terms to him concerning our imprisoned +comrades. We had scarcely a doubt of putting our plan into execution, +and our sojourn near Killarney was prolonged for the purpose of becoming +more familiar with the pathways whereby to escape to the mountains with +our prisoner. How success in that enterprise might have suggested or +shaped a further course of aggression, it is now bootless to conjecture. +The project was marred by the Premier's abandonment of his intention. + +Having appointed to meet a person this evening, near Kenmare, who was to +bring us the latest papers and otherwise inform us of his lordship's +movements, we proceeded in that direction, determined to return to +Killarney next day to prosecute our examination of the locality. But the +current news informed us that Lord John Russell had left for Scotland. + +We remained several days in the neighbourhood of Kenmare, where we had +daily interviews with the friend to whom I have already alluded. He +spent all his time in endeavouring to devise some means of escape, and +intermediately provided resting-places for us at various distances. We +had the guidance of a young country lad of fine intelligence and true +fidelity, who was acquainted with every foot of bog and mountain for +miles around. We spent several days rather agreeably, perambulating the +ranges of hills between Kilfademore and Templenoe, embracing a district +about fifteen miles square. One night we slept in an empty cabin within +a field of Kilfademore House, a fine old mansion, belonging to the +father of Christabel,[15] the mountain poetess, which is now only +inhabited by the tenant of the farm, while the whole available military +and police force of the district were drawing their lines of +circumvallation around this old house, which, as soon as they made the +proper dispositions to prevent our escape, they burst into with the +stealth and precipitancy of a robber band. + +We were most kindly received and cared for wherever our friend or his +guide bespoke a night's hospitality. But although we unquestioningly +reposed on the truth of all to whom our safety was committed, we felt +the circle of our armed foes was closing and contracting around us, and +it became indispensable to break through it. It was clear that our steps +were tracked, for every night a search was made for us in one or other +of the houses over which the influence of our friend extended. But our +information respecting their arrangements was always earlier and surer +than theirs concerning our movements. During this interval when, +although we travelled an average of fifteen miles a day, we considered +ourselves resting, we received the kindest attentions everywhere; +frequently finding a rude mountain cabin furnished with excellent beds +and every delicacy. But we pined to be more at large. We had interviews +with clergymen and others, who discussed various projects of escape. +Among the rest, it was proposed to my comrade to accompany a lady--who +was about leaving for London--in the dress and character of a +servant-maid. He was well fitted for such disguise, being extremely +young and having very delicate features. Besides this, he was supposed +to be dead, having received a slight wound in the skirmish at +Ballingarry. He obstinately refused to adopt the disguise, but consented +to that of a servant boy. When the matter was finally arranged, it was +proposed to us to sleep at Templenoe, on the north side of Kenmare Bay, +where he was to be furnished with suitable clothes. Since the +commencement, I did not feel the same sense of desolation as when these +arrangements were completed, and an hour was appointed for his departure +next morning. It was on the evening of the 23rd of September. We spent +the day with one of the noblest of fellows. He had beds brought far into +the neighbouring mountains, where he remained with us for the night. A +cloud of sadness, and I believe chagrin, enveloped all my senses. I +could not help feeling myself utterly abandoned. It seemed fated that +even from the most kindly efforts my unfortunate position utterly +excluded me. Stephens sang as usual, and endeavoured to rally me; but my +mind had set in impenetrable gloom. One idea was uppermost with me, +namely, that within the circle that was then drawn around me, there was +no further possible safety. We parted before daylight, and I immediately +determined on my own course. It was this: to assume the disguise of a +clergyman and attempt to cross to France. The trials at Clonmel were +approaching, and I concluded that they would engross the entire +attention of Government, and would even require the presence of the +whole corps of detectives who were acquainted with my person and were +then on my track. I communicated my intention to the friend to whose +hospitality I was then indebted. He combatted it with great earnestness, +and could not be persuaded of its practicability. I, however, +persevered, and he offered to place a horse, upon which he set great +value, at my disposal. Just as we made our final arrangements and had +despatched a messenger to Kenmare to provide the disguise, Stephens +returned, wet, weary and hungry. He was in the worst spirits: but the +case admitted of no delay. The lady with whom he was to travel had to +stay one day in Cork, and to overtake her there was the only chance +left. There was only one possible way to effect this--to give him the +horse and let him ride on to Cork. I at once agreed, and he immediately +set off. The loss of the horse imposed on me the difficulty of a journey +on foot to Cork, and this rendered the assistance of a man to carry my +disguise--who would take a different route from myself--indispensable. +Our friend who, in giving his favourite horse to Stephens, told him to +try and sell him in Cork and put the money in his pocket, provided me +with another horse and car, by which my baggage was to be brought about +forty miles. Having settled all preliminaries, he conveyed me to a cabin +on the hills, where he provided an excellent dinner, and left me to my +musings. + +They were, it may be well conceived, not of the gayest character. The +responsibility and hazards of the attempt before me, narrowed the +chances of my destiny to the one alternative, and I could not shake off +gloomy phantoms which represented every phase of the last bloody drama +which was to close the career of those who loved, too dearly, our +ill-fated land. But, come what might, my purpose was definitely fixed. I +spent the evening in the deepest gloom, which I endeavoured to dissipate +by composing the following stanzas, suggested at the time by involuntary +visions of my wife and children at the foot of the gallows:-- + + THE OUTLAW'S WIFE + + Sadly silent she sits, with her head on her hand, + While she prays, in her heart, to the Ruler above, + To protect, and to guide to some happier land, + The joy of her soul and the spouse of her love: + And she marks by her pulses, so wild in their play, + The slow progress of time, as it straggles along; + And she lists to the wind, as 'tis moaning away, + And she deems it the chaunt of some funeral song. + + Then anon does she start in her struggles with fear, + And she strains at the whispers of every one round, + While she brushes away, half indignant, the tear, + That will gush, tho' unbidden, at every fresh sound; + And she strives to conceal--oh! how idle the task-- + The deep lines in her cheek, and the rent in her heart; + But her neighbours grow pale as they gaze on the mask, + And more lowly and slowly they talk, as they part. + + When her babes are at rest will she breathe to their breath, + And keep vigil, how wistfully, over their sleep, + As it mirrors, poor mourner, the stillness of death, + And she stirs them, and calls, for she deems it too deep; + But again does she hush them, first telling them pray, + Till at length overcharged by the tears yet unshed, + Will she sink, and as consciousness passes away, + O'er her pale furrowed cheek, see the hectic o'erspread. + + Slowly thus, day by day, does the fever-fire trace + Its incessant course down her fast-withering cheek, + Till the smile that made light in the glow of her face, + But the faint, fading glimpses of vigour bespeak, + And her reason will fitfully pass into night-- + Into night even deeper than that of the blind, + As the shade of the gibbet-tree looms in her sight. + And she fancies a death-scream in th' echoing wind. + +In the house where I slept--as indeed in every house of the same +character in the county--the whole stock of the family, consisting +chiefly of cows and sheep, were locked in at night. Such was the extreme +poverty of the people that they would not be otherwise safe. The weather +was excessively wet, and, for the season, cold. There was a slight +partition between the room where my bed was and the kitchen, where there +were three cows, a man, his wife and four children. It is impossible to +convey any idea of the sensations which crowd upon one in such a scene. +I fell asleep at last, lulled by the heavy breathing and monotonous +ruminating of the cows. Never was deeper sleep. On being awakened next +morning by my watchful friend, it required some time before I could +satisfy myself of my position. An excellent breakfast was provided for +me, and I parted from my stout-hearted and magnanimous ally. He had sent +my baggage, and also provided me with a guide who would lead me across +the mountains. He taught me the password of his clan, which I was to use +on certain contingencies. The morning was fearfully wet, and we did not +travel many miles before we were wet to the skin. The circumstance was +the most auspicious that could occur, as it enabled us to pass +unobserved. + +[Illustration: James Stephens (Circa 1867)] + +[Illustration: John O'Mahony (Circa 1868)] + +Besides this, it facilitated the task of crossing streams, which we +always did precisely as if they were dry land. One river only opposed a +serious barrier to us--that, which enters Kenmare Bay. It was greatly +swollen, and rushed fiercely over precipitous rocks. At the same time, +even in the rain and tempest, to cross the bridge was not to be thought +of. The guide pointed out a house belonging to one of our friend's +clan who immediately provided a horse and accompanied us to a ford. When +we reached the ford he hesitated to cross, so deep and rapid was the +flood. No persuasion could induce him to make the experiment. I had no +choice left but to trust myself to chance. I faced the animal against +the current, and forcing him to make his best efforts to mount the +stream, we were carried directly across. The owner of the horse said he +would come back of his own accord. I turned him into the stream, and +when half way across, he was borne headlong over a precipice, where I +concluded he was dashed to pieces. Another horse was immediately +procured, by a man who had no fears, to bring the guide across; but the +latter was so terrified that he made himself drunk ere he attempted the +dangerous passage. As he was essential to me in consequence of the +arrangements made about my luggage, I endeavoured to rouse him. He +staggered on for several miles, but seemed utterly unconscious where he +was going. When I found him incapable of directing me, I endeavoured to +procure some food for him, and with that view proceeded to a mountain +hut, but before I reached it, he sank down utterly exhausted and +powerless. He was unable even to articulate the name of the man to whose +house he was directed to take me, or the locality where he lived. It was +only from circumstances and a dim recollection of the name that I was +able to apprise the owner of the cabin whither I was bound; and after +all, much remained for the exercise of his sagacity, which was not long +at fault. We brought my old guide to the cabin, thrown across a pony, +and I set out anew, guided by the dweller on the hills. He forced me to +mount the pony, and led the way over the crags. He bounded from rock to +rock with the agility of a deer, though the stones were sharp as flint, +and he barefooted. He was a man of powerful proportions and extreme +activity. My pony, on the other hand, crept his way through narrow +pathways, worn by the rain. In this way we crossed two considerable +mountains, and, leaving the pony at the summit of the last, I pursued my +companion's flight down the slope with the best speed my stiffened limbs +could be forced to. Arriving over a valley which is called, I think, +Branlieu, situated in a western direction from Gougane Barra, he pointed +to a lone house at the extremity of the valley, as my destination. It +was about four o'clock, but the rays of the sun had ceased to irradiate +this gloomy valley, over which hung the shades of night. At the western +side the mountain was steep as a wall, and down from the summit dashed +headlong torrents, swelled by the morning's rain. The waters gleamed +like sheeted ice through the haze, and their roar fell upon the ear with +a dull sense of loneliness and pain. On the eastern slope wound a new +road, one of those heartless experiments which the inventive genius of +the Board of Works in Ireland substituted for the exploded trial of +prolonging beggars' lives by Soyer soup and chained spoons. On these +roads the people were to perform the greatest possible amount of work, +and live on the least possible quantity of food. But, although these +operations cost much waste of blood, the roads opened no new and +fruitful sources of industry in these mountain valleys, only frequented +by the footsteps of the sportsman, or scanned by the eye of the +votaries of pleasure. The house where I called was intended for my +guide. However, I found my claim for hospitality at once recognised on +pronouncing the password of my host by the sea. The cabin--it was +literally such--was in the most filthy state. The dung of the cattle had +not been removed for days, and half-naked children squatted in it as +joyously as if they rolled on richest carpets. The housewife merely +replied to my question in the affirmative. But she immediately +proceeded, with the help of two little girls, to remove the filth. I was +so fatigued and hungry that I could willingly postpone the process of +cleaning for the sake of providing any sort of food. I was doomed to +disappointment. No appearance of supper interrupted the busy operation, +until the dung was removed, and the floor drained. I retired, and +endeavoured to ascend the eastern hill, to a point where I could catch a +glimpse of the setting sun. + +On my return I found the owner of the house, a man of giant frame and +noble features. His dress bespoke a taste or pursuit incompatible with +the wild mountain destiny stamped upon the external aspect of his home +and family. His wife spoke a few words in Irish, explaining my presence, +to which he answered that I was welcome. Supper was at length prepared, +when he drew from a basket a few of the finest trout I ever saw. He +cleaned and fried them with his own hands, as if the operation were +above the capacity of his wife, who performed the other culinary duties +with silent assiduity. It might be owing to hunger, it might be owing to +the actual superiority of the fish, or it might be owing to the mode of +cooking, but it seemed to me as if I never tasted anything of equal +flavour to those trout. The entertainment was ended with some boiled new +milk, slightly curdled, a delicacy little known in the circle of +fashion, but never surpassed either in that or any other. Some fresh hay +was procured and strewn on an article of furniture common in the houses +of the Kerry peasantry, called a "settle." It is a sort of a rude sofa, +made of common deal timber. On this "settle" my host prepared my bed of +new-mown hay, barricaded with old chairs and a table against the +assaults of the hungry animals. I had not long lain down when a man +entered (the door consisted of a pair of tongs, so placed as to prevent +the egress of the cattle), lay at full length on the table, and fell +fast asleep. In an hour or so afterwards, there came another, who groped +his way over the cattle, and, sweeping the fire from the hearth, lay +down to sleep in peace. This man slept uneasily, and groaned heavily, as +if some terrible sense of guilt or fear pressed against his heart. + +I had a vague feeling of uneasiness, not free from alarm, but the hearty +snoring of the one, and the fitful complaints of the other of my +bedfellows died away on my ear, and I, too, shared their unconsciousness +in deep sleep. The man who brought my baggage arrived early next +morning. My host soon provided a good substantial breakfast--excellent +new potatoes, which had escaped the blight, butter, new milk, and a +slice of the flesh of fried badger. He then proposed to accompany us +with his son, aged about thirteen, who by some inexplicable privilege +seemed exempt from any portion of the drudgery which was the lot of the +family. The other man who brought the baggage was persuaded to leave his +horse and car, and accompany us with my bundle, as far as the summit of +the hill. To climb the steepest mountain side had become an amusement to +me, and we ascended the one then before us, merrily, our host relating +many anecdotes of sportsmanship, and detailing the startling incidents +and wild rapture of badger-hunting. From the summit we commanded a view +of the country for miles around. "Here we are," said our host, "higher +than the proudest of your enemies." He then traced the route of the man +with the bundle, through the open plain, and by the nearest way; and +turning to me, he said: "You must not go in the same direction, for +every yard of it is set. Follow my son," he said, and turning to the +boy, he named several points in the path whereby he should conduct me. +"Lead Mr. Doheny safely," he concluded, "and remember you are the son of +----." In utter astonishment I inquired how he knew me, and he answered +by waving his hand in the direction of the boy, who had bounded off and +was scarcely perceptible above the tall heath. I soon overtook him, and +as we went along, I learned that my two companions during the night were +also evading the law's pursuit. One of them he described as having +killed a man by accident, and ever after leading, the life of a "poor +wild goose." I made no doubt but this was he whose spirit seemed so +heavily laden. We had a couple of terriers of the truest breed, whose +sudden discovery of a badger interrupted our conversation and impeded +our journey. The young hunter became delirious with joy. His +encouraging cries to the dogs were broken outbursts of wildest rapture; +and when the game took shelter in his inaccessible den, he would dash +himself against the rocks with the same reckless vehemence as his dogs, +who, in their rage, attempted to bite away the hard mountain stones. + +He left the spot with the utmost reluctance, after venting an oath of +vengeance against the head of the poor badger, to which he promised sure +destruction on the occasion of their next meeting. We quickly descended +in the direction of Gougane Barra, where he parted from me, indignantly +refusing a half-crown which I offered him. + +Once more I found myself on the slopes of Shehigh, in sight of Lough +Lua. My immediate object was to place myself in communication with my +lady friend at Dunmanway. I was extremely anxious to see her. I wanted +to procure through her some things to complete my costume as a disguised +priest, and finally I expected to learn through her some news of my +family. With the view of seeing her in the safest retreat, I determined +to conceal myself in a wood belonging to a Mr. O'Leary, at a place +called Coolmountain. I endeavoured to gain the friendship of a man in +the neighbourhood, of whom I had learned the highest character for +probity. It was necessary to confide in him fully; for his fidelity to +his employer might induce him to betray me, if he suspected that my +flight was occasioned by moral guilt. He did not disappoint me. At once +he entered into all my plans, and immediately sent his wife with a +message to Dunmanway. The distance was about six miles; and the utmost +caution was necessary, for the police authorities, baffled in all their +calculations, concerning my retreat, and deceived in every word of the +information they were able to purchase, had determined on making +simultaneous searches in all quarters of the country, so that scarcely a +house remained in this vicinity that had not the honour of a domicilary +visit. My friend, too, who during the past three weeks had made various +attempts to see me, and had gone on to Kenmare for that purpose, was +continually dogged, and arrested three or four times. On one occasion +they stripped her nearly naked, searching for papers. She at once saw +that to see me would be attended with danger; but she wrote a hurried +note, and despatched it by another messenger, as well as a large packet +of letters from home. In these letters I was adjured to continue the +disguise of a peasant in whatever attempts I made. She, too, strongly +objected to my proposed plan, and communicated to me a project of +escaping which was suggested by a friend of hers at Cork, whither she +had gone in her anxiety. His plan was that I should proceed to Cork, +that very night, and take up my residence at some obscure lodging-house, +until he could find means of stowing me in a coal vessel, which would +take me as far as Wales. If I agreed to this proposal, I was to be at +Crookstown (already mentioned in this narrative) at six o'clock that +evening, where I would meet three men who were to conduct me by a safe +route to Cork. + +When I received this information, it was four o'clock, and the distance +to Crookstown was at least seventeen miles. The plan was one of which I +could not approve; but it would be invaluable to me to have a safe +asylum in Cork, for any project I might finally decide on. I accordingly +communicated to my man of confidence the difficulty I found myself in, +and requested he would procure a horse and car which I could drive along +the high road, hoping to reach Crookstown before the promised guide +would have left. He suggested the man at whose house I stopped on a +former evening. Thither both of us repaired, after having completed my +costume, such as is generally worn by the lowest Cork +peasants--literally rags. We got the horse and car, but before the +arrangements for our departure were made it was past the hour when I +should be at Crookstown. A servant boy who led the horse was my +companion. When we arrived at Crookstown it was eleven o'clock, and we +found no trace of the messengers. Nothing remained but to try and get on +to Cork. I proposed the journey to the boy; but he resolutely refused. I +affected to acquiesce, and asked him to drink something in a +publichouse, which was kept open for the accommodation of carriers, of +whom there are large numbers at that season of the year. He soon yielded +to the influence of milk punch, and allowed me to do as I pleased. We +proceeded along the great thoroughfare, having an empty butter cask in +the car. We passed several patrolling parties in the road, and at grey +dawn we were entering the city of Cork; the boy sleeping in the car, and +the horse led by me. I paid at the custom-gate for my butter, and passed +on through the city unnoticed. A few gentle taps brought the gentleman, +who undertook to have me conveyed out of the country, to the door. I +introduced myself; was admitted, and conducted to a bedroom, where +everything was prepared for my reception. Thus I found myself in the +very heart of the city of Cork, while the strictest search was made for +me in every cabin on the mountains of Kerry and the western shore. + +I felt quite secure in my then retreat. During the day I learned that +the men who were to conduct me safely to Cork were arrested three +several[C] times on their way back. + +In my sojourn for two days and nights in the woods of Coolmountain, I +received attentions for which it would be shameful not to express my +gratitude. Although the crisis of my fate was so near at hand, I felt +some hours of unalloyed pleasure in its shade. I had leisure to peruse +my letters from home, so full of courage, hope and love; and to consider +well the different proposals and means of escape, suggested by others +and contemplated by myself. The weather had cleared up and there was a +succession of brilliant harvest days. I employed my evenings in +composing the following two pieces; and after nightfall I was visited by +some friends, with whom I sipped delicious champagne, till a late hour, +'neath the calm watchfulness of a brilliant harvest moon. + + EIBLIN A RUIN + + I sang thee other lays, + Eiblin a ruin, + But these were happy days, + Eiblin a ruin, + When mount and vale and grove, + Where we were wont to rove, + Were beautified by love, + Eiblin a ruin. + + I said I loved thee well, + Eiblin a ruin. + Too fondly far to tell, + Eiblin a ruin. + I loved thee as the day, + Serener for the ray, + Thy smile shed o'er my way, + Eiblin a ruin. + + But day has turned to night, + Eiblin a ruin. + With clouds and gloom and blight, + Eiblin a ruin, + Yet here an outlaw lone, + My heart else, like a stone, + Is more and more thy own, + Eiblin a ruin. + + When in some rocky glen, + Eiblin a ruin. + I share the wild dog's den, + Eiblin a ruin, + Oppressed with woe and care, + As sleep comes o'er me there, + Methinks I hear thy prayer, + Eiblin a ruin. + + Throughout that troubled rest, + Eiblin a ruin + Thy image fills my breast, + Eiblin a ruin, + And ere the vision's fled, + My cold and flinty bed + Seems down unto my head, + Eiblin a ruin. + + As night's dark shadow flies, + Eiblin a ruin, + Along the opening skies, + Eiblin a ruin, + In the soft purpling ray, + That heralds early day, + I see thy fond smile play, + Eiblin a ruin. + + When, dangers thick'ning fast, + Eiblin a ruin, + My fate seemed sealed at last, + Eiblin a ruin. + A low voice ever near, + Still whispers in mine ear-- + "For her sake do not fear"-- + Eiblin a ruin, + + And oh, 'tis that lone hope, + Eiblin a ruin, + That nerves this heart to cope, + Eiblin a ruin. + With peril and with pain, + And surging of the brain, + More boisterous than the main, + Eiblin a ruin. + + + TO MY WIFE + + And what was the world to me, love, + Or why should its honours divide + The feelings that centred in thee, love, + As fondly you clung to my side; + Or why should ambition or glory, + E'er tempt me to wander so far, + For sake of distinction in story, + From thee, my heart's faithfulest star. + + Or why should I call thee mine own, love, + To sport with the life that was thine, + Or risk for a land overthrown, love, + A stake that no longer was mine; + Or why should I pledge for the fallen + What only belonged to the free; + For had I not gauged life and all on + The faith that was plighted to thee? + + And here, while I wander alone, love, + Beneath the cold shadows of night, + Or lie with my head on a stone, love, + Awaiting the dawning of light, + My spirit unthralled is returning, + Where far from the coward and slave, + Her beacon of love is still burning, + To light, to direct me and save. + + And she, too, who watches beside thee, + And loves as none other could love, + To counsel, to cherish and guide thee. + To weep with, but never reprove-- + Yes, she too, is lone and unguarded, + The reed she had leant on in twain, + And though her trust thus be rewarded, + She'd love that love over again. + + +COOLMOUNTAIN WOOD. + +At Cork two families were compromised by my prolonged stay, one of them +irretrievably, if I were arrested. However, they placed themselves +entirely and unconditionally at my disposal. I stated my objections to +the proposed conveyance of a coal boat to Wales, where I would be +equally exposed as in Ireland, and have infinitely less sympathy or +assistance. I suggested one of the London steamers instead, which they +agreed to. After some preliminary negotiations, a person connected with +one of those vessels promised to secrete me and have me landed at +Southampton, where I could easily procure a passage to France. Just as +this arrangement was concluded, news arrived that Tipperary was again in +arms, under the command of my friend, O'Mahony. The report added that I +was associated with him in command. Hour after hour brought some story +stranger than that which preceded it; but in each and all I found myself +figuring in some character or other, all, of course, contrary to the +truth. This fact led at once to a suspicion of the accuracy of the +whole. But I was aware that caution was a leading characteristic of +O'Mahony's genius, and I felt assured he would not attempt any open +movement without strong probabilities of success. The fabrications about +myself I reconciled to the belief that he wished it to appear he had my +sanction and support. The vessel was to sail next day, and I should +determine at once, or risk the safety of the family who protected me. I +endeavoured to find a middle course, and suggested the impossibility of +leaving the country while even a vague report confirmed the belief that +some at least of its people were prepared to vindicate her liberty, or +die nobly in its assertion. They acquiesced, and the vessel was allowed +to sail. I insisted, however, that after nightfall I should leave the +house and take up my quarters in some obscure lodging house. Meantime it +was arranged that if the next mail confirmed the accounts from +Tipperary, I should be provided with a horse and car, and be able to +leave Cork as I entered it. When night came, the lady of the house +sternly and resolutely opposed my leaving it. She would not consent to +free herself from a risk she took so much honest pleasure in +encountering. Another day and night left us in the same uncertainty. The +reports were still more unsatisfactory and contradictory. But that there +should be reports at all, satisfied my mind, and I finally prepared to +start for Tipperary on the morning of the 29th of September. + +Information at length reached me that the party under O'Mahony were +dispersed and himself fled. The difficulty of my position, with respect +to my protectors, left me no alternative. Any chance that presented +itself should be embraced. The Bristol boat was in the river, panting to +escape her anchorage; and following the horse, which was to bear me to +Tipperary, to the quay, I walked on board the _Juverna_, just as she was +loosing her cables. My baggage, made up in a small box, was put on board +as a parcel addressed to a young friend of mine in London. The few +moments that intervened were fraught with most intense suspense. I stood +on the fore deck among cattle, covered with rags and dirt, my eyes fixed +on two detectives who stood at the cabin entrance, scrutinising narrowly +the figure and features of every cabin passenger. The bell rang, the +detectives stepped on shore, one of my friends who watched my movements +from a distance, waved a kind adieu, the _Juverna_ slipped her cables, +and by one bound was out in the river. The first motion of her paddles +sounded to me like the assurance of fate, and I looked on the curling +foam with measureless exultation. The _Juverna_ made a momentary halt at +Passage, and then glanced gaily through Cove harbour out into the sea. +As she cleared the road I turned back to look for the last time upon my +fatherland. Her prospects, her promise, her strength, her hopes, her +failure and her fall rushed in burning memory through my brain. I +endeavoured to embody in the following verses the feelings that agitated +and almost paralysed my every faculty of body and mind. I wrote them on +a piece of paper that had been wrapped round some cheese:-- + + Away, away, the good ship swings; + One heave, one bound, and off she's dashing, + Expanding wide her snowy wings, + The white foam round her paddles flashing. + Away, away, the land recedes, + Far into dim and dreary distance, + As gallantly our packet speeds. + Unconscious of the gale's resistance. + Away, away, how oft before, + With paling cheek and aching stomach, + I've trembled at the billow's roar. + And crouched me in my narrow hammock. + But now, I bless the wildest waves + That bear me from a land of slaves. + + Away, away, yon crimson cloud, + Which, mounting the blue vault of Heaven, + Soars calmly o'er the murky shroud + That palls the close of boisterous even, + Is scarcely fairer than the form, + The light, the grace, from stem to stern--a + Fairy riding on the storm-- + Of the fleet, trusty, dight _Juverna_, + Away, away, one last look more: + One blessing on the naked land-- + Though the too glorious dream be o'er-- + One blessing for her truthful hand, + Her proud old faith, though darkly grown, + Still lingering by each cold hearth-stone. + + Away, away; poor fool of fate, + Couldst thou but dream this mournful end, + This midnight of a hope so great, + Where shame and sorrow darkly blend-- + Couldst thou divine that thus bedecked, + With rags and dirt, thine eyes downturned: + Thou'dst flee, thy whole life's labour wrecked. + Thy very heart within thee burned. + --Away, away, in all the past, + There's not an act I would recall, + I bow me to the o'erwhelming blast, + But 'tis the heart alone can fall, + And mine may once again defy. + The fate that mocks it scoffingly. + + Away, away, if o'er the sea, + My voice could reach the prison grate. + Where daylight creeping gloomily, + Comes to deride the captives' fate; + Could I but prove by word or act, + How firm my heart and purpose still, + Their life's worst pang to counteract, + Before their proud young hearts were still-- + To live but that the land they loved + Should yet assert its native right, + That the immortal faith they proved, + Should yet be robed in victory's light, + And, oh, to feel such promise high, + Were last to light their dying eye. + +If apology were to be offered for the change of measure of the above, +and its somewhat conflicting sentiments, it would be found in the tumult +of passions, excitement, fear, hope, rage, disappointment and regret +with which, standing among cattle on the deck, and disguised in meanest +rags, I looked upon my country's shores for, it may be the last time, +and thought of her hopes, her misery and fall. Both faults may be +amended here, but I cannot help regarding it as irreligious toward +thoughts suggested by the circumstances then around me to remodel even +the structure into which they spontaneously shaped themselves. + +[Illustration: Aheny Hill, showing the Constabulary Barrack destroyed by +the Insurgents. 1848] + +Night soon fell drearily upon the water. I engaged a berth from one of +the sailors, and before half an hour, lost all consciousness of country +and friends, of wind and tide, and hope, and shame, and peril, in +tranquil repose. On ascending next morning, the shores of England were +in view, and we sailed up the channel to the mouth of the Avon under a +calm and mellow sky. I had some breakfast with one of the cowherds. We +were delayed several hours waiting for the tide, which were spent for +the most part in making difficult evolutions; and exhibiting to the +cabin passengers the peculiar qualities of the _Juverna_. Night had +fallen before we reached Bristol, and I slipped away from the boat, amid +the confusion and bustle which checked the progress of the gay and rich, +around whose footsteps avarice had gathered an eager and jostling crowd. +Rude contact with, and unsavoury odours from, the unclean multitude +shocked their nervous sensibility, as they made their way to their +hotels amidst obtrusive obsequiousness, while the lone outlaw's pathway +lay free through the open street and uncontaminated air. But a wretched +exterior has its disadvantages also. I dared not present myself at a +hotel, and many of the humbler hostelries refused me admittance, +believing, no doubt, either that the seeds of pestilence were in my +rags, or not a copper in my pocket. Indeed, to no brain but that of a +very imaginative genius would the possibility of such a superfluity as +a pocket suggest itself. All the beds were "full." At last I thought me +of an expedient. I called for a glass of ale, for which payment in +advance was duly demanded. I handed a sovereign, which at once emptied a +bed, provided I slept in a room with another person which I refused, +feeling that I had acquired a footing. I had something to eat, and +finally found that there was a vacant room. + +The next day was Sunday. No trains travelled to London except third +class. This was rather unlucky, for I was aware that certain straitened +gentlemen were often obliged, by stress of circumstances--the pressure +of business which brooked not a moment's delay--reluctantly to avail +themselves of this mode of conveyance. I felt, too, that the loyalty of +these slender aristocrats, was on a par with the unhappy incidents which +compelled them to consort with vulgar people, that is to say, so +constrained, that however much against the impulses of their generous +natures, they could not omit any opportunity of manifesting the +sentiment in its full intensity, I selected my company on this occasion, +being only anxious to exclude the "_arbiters elegantiarum_," Of my +"_compagnons de voyage_," some were in gin, some in fumes and some in +glee, and the journey passed off without an incident. + +On arriving at the Paddington terminus, an unlooked-for difficulty +presented itself. My costume attracted universal attention. It was, in +fact, _outre_ even in comparison with the most outlandish; for every +article had been carefully selected for its singularity. My "caubeen" +especially excited the risibility of the merry boys who thronged the +streets. I was soon followed by an uproarious crowd of most +incorrigible young rascals, who made lunges at my unfortunate head-gear. +They peered at me round lamp-posts, and occasionally, "Teigue," and +"Phelim," pronounced in a broad English accent, grated on my ear. +Although not indisposed to be merry, I grasped one of my tormentors and +handed him over to a policeman. The sentinel of city morals dismissed +him with a harsh rebuke, and threatened to "haul up" whoever gave me +further annoyance. We were then near Oxford street. I told him I wanted +to go to Tottenham Court road; but after making several fruitless +attempts to pronounce the name, his own fertile genius had to supply my +deficiency. He walked with me until the last unruly boy had disappeared, +and then he sent me on my way rejoicing, after having spent some minutes +in teaching me to articulate distinctly "Tottenham Court Road." It was +already nightfall. I felt as if all danger were passed. I could not +anticipate the check I was about to receive. + +I knew a man named Parker, who resided in Museum Street. I thought his +house that to which I could easiest find access without exciting notice. +I made my way to it unobserved, rapped, and to my great relief the door +was opened by the man himself. He did not recognise me for some time, +but as soon as he did, he fell into a paroxysm half hysterical, half +frantic. I had completed his ruin, he exclaimed, and his unhappy family +would have to curse me as the cause of his destruction. He was ready to +sink on the floor in sheer terror, and with difficulty could he utter a +request that I should instantly leave his house. This was a command, +however harsh and heartless, which I dared not resist, for I was forced +to admit to myself that under his terrified exterior might lurk a +sentiment baser than fear. + +I left the place in utter dismay. I could not venture into a house such +as I had lodged in at Bristol, the night before, because my person was +well known in London, and because those places are frequented by +characters of all sorts. I could not venture, in my then guise, to the +house of my young friend to whom I had addressed the parcel, because my +appearance there would inevitably attract the notice of the policeman. I +dare not, of course, venture to a respectable hotel. Thus perplexed, I +bethought of a woman with whom I used formerly to lodge, and I repaired +to her rooms (she had herself become a lodger). I met her on the stairs, +where she nearly fainted. She hurried me into the street, and there told +me that a person who lived in the house was actually watching to betray +me. She suggested the house of an Irishwoman who lived in a court hard +by. I had no alternative. The poor woman received me with tears. Such +was her emotion that I could not hesitate to trust her with my life: Her +son and daughter-in-law, who spent the day with her, were about +returning home. They lived in the suburbs, at the Surrey side. They +proposed to take me to their cottage, and I readily consented. We got a +coach and drove home. The kindliest attentions were lavished on me by +these people. As soon as I arrived, I shaved and cleansed myself; no +small task, considering that I had on a fortnight's beard, and had +rubbed my face over with soot and grease. + +I had a shirt and clothes from my host, with whom, in my new trim, I +sat down to a comfortable supper. Early next morning he informed my +friend of my arrival, and I was at once surrounded by several who would +risk their lives for my safety. I had by this time begun to regard many +singular escapes of mine as preordained by Providence, and I ceased to +feel much concern in my fate. I cherished a presentiment of safety until +it grew into a conviction, and acting on its assurance, I gave way to an +unconcern that was quite inexplicable to those around me. But one +feeling of fear lingered with me: it was lest Parker should add treason +to cowardice, which certain ominous expressions that were said to fall +from him, confirmed. I otherwise felt so secure, and so thankful to my +entertainers, that I would gratify their wishes to remain a day or two +longer with them; but the tide answered so well--the whole journey to +Boulogne being by night, that I determined to avail myself of the +opportunity. I donned my clerical costume, got me a sleek wig, folded a +stole round my breviary, and with Christian patience awaited the hour of +departure. I was to be accompanied to Paris by my young friend, who +spoke the French language perfectly, and was well acquainted with the +etiquette of the journey. We entered the express train at London Bridge +at half-past eight. When it was just starting, my host, who had +accompanied us, clung to the panel of the door, and warned me, with +provoking warmth, to "write, write, as soon as I was safe." As the train +drove off and his boisterous adieus died on my ear, I lost the last +feeling of anxiety on my own account. The carriage was full--a German +with a toothache--two gossiping old bachelors--a jolly English resident +of the sunny south--my friend and myself occupied the six seats. However +fluttered may be the hearts of the passengers, whatever may be the +pressure of guilt, or fear, or remorse upon their souls, the heart of +the mighty engine, on its fiery course, throbs only with one passion, +namely how to outspeed the flight of time. Our fellow-travellers +conversed upon all subjects, and wished for my opinion upon each; but I +was so reserved and pious, and my friend so ready and witty, and +exuberant in his gaiety, that my obstinate silence was pardoned or +forgotten. We were able to make our way on board Her Majesty's mail +packet by the light of a clouded moon, then fast waning. I did not +trouble myself to learn the name of the boat, but she appeared endued +with more than the speed of fire. She flew over her allotted trip in one +hour and three-quarters, and about two o'clock I set my foot on the free +soil of the young Republic. + +I had longed for such an event with an intensity of feeling not to be +described; nay, I had often enjoyed anticipated exultation from +indulging in a vague dream of its bare possibility, which absorbed all +the gloom and horror of my situation. Yet when I stepped securely on +what, to me, was hallowed ground, an adequate appreciation of the +circumstance was far from realised in my feelings. New sights and sounds +began to share my thoughts and engross my comprehension. In a moment the +past vanished, with all its disquietude and alarm; and I entered on the +new scene with a taste akin to the appetite of a convalescent. If I felt +any deep emotion, it was only when my mind recurred to the fate of my +comrades, or the feelings of joy with which my family would learn the +tidings of my safety. We left our baggage at the Custom house--mine +consisted of a pair of boots stowed away in a rather capacious +valise--handed the keys, in due form, to the commissionaire of police, +and directed them to be sent after us to our hotel. A commissionaire, so +they call themselves, appeared in the morning with the keys, which he +handed us bowing, adding that all was right. + +There was a fete at Boulogne. Nothing was to be seen but glittering +bayonets, and nothing to be heard but the harsh monotonous sound of the +drum. Flags floated in the breeze, and cheers echoed from the distant +hills, and everything proclaimed the festivity of liberty. It was a +grand sight, and yet a sad one for me. I could not help contrasting with +the scene before me the fate of my own unfortunate country. At ten +o'clock we were on our way to Paris. + +Such was the anxiety with which I gazed on the glad face of that sunny +land during the entire of the journey that I could at this moment +recognise every object that attracted my attention. But the scope of +this narrative, now drawing rapidly to a close, does not embrace a +description of France or Paris. Many pens have plied the task, and were +mine more adequate than any, it were unfit to interweave so bright a +theme with the gloomy details of this mournful history. + +There remains to be told but one incident. On our arrival at the Paris +terminus, we got into an English omnibus which brought us to an English +hotel--the Hotel de Louvre in the Rue St. Thomas. There we dined +together, some dozen or so of the passengers. After dinner my friend +and I had champagne. While discussing its merits the conversation turned +on Ireland. Opinions, of course, varied. Mine, it need scarcely be +added, to an Englishman's ear sounded bloodily, and I urged them with +the vehemence of baffled hope. An old English gentleman of that quiet +school which affects liberality and moderation, but entertains deepest +animosity, deprecated the violence of my language and sentiments, and +expressed his painful astonishment at hearing such opinions from the +mouth of a clergyman; "They would not be unbecoming," added he, with +great bitterness of tone, "in that sanguinary brigand, Doheny." +Involuntarily and simultaneously my friend and myself burst into an +immoderate fit of laughter, The gentleman could not at all comprehend +our mirth. He had, he thought, delivered himself of very sound and very +gentlemanly philosophy, and he was really shocked to find it had made an +impression so different from what he had expected. He had travelled +much, he said, and met men of many lands, of whom Irishmen were ever the +most polite and best bred gentlemen; a fact which rendered our laughing +in his face rather inexplicable. The conversation was again resumed and +again waxed warm. I expressed my opinion of English paupers in Ireland, +and said they ought to be transported in a convict ship back to +Liverpool, in the same fashion as Irish paupers of a different class are +transmitted to Dublin by the Liverpool guardians. To this he replied by +saying that there would be no peace in Ireland until the Mitchels and +Dohenys were hanged, a fate which the latter was hastening to with +irresistible impetus. At this self-satisfied prophecy we laughed louder +than before, whereupon he waxed wrathful, and repeating his experience +of the world in general, and of Irishmen in particular, demanded an +explanation of the laugh. I said, "That is a straightforward question, +and demands a direct answer. It shall be given, although you have +refused to answer, as all Englishmen of your class invariably do, to +several direct questions which I have put to you. I laughed because I am +that same sanguinary Doheny": and pulling off my wig, I added, "Me +_voila_ at your service." The sudden appearance of him who answered the +incantations of the weird sisters could not produce a greater panic. +Chairs tumbled in every direction, and their occupiers fled the room, +leaving myself and my friend ample space to enjoy the joke and the +champagne in undisturbed quiet. + +I have nothing further to relate in connection with myself. Paris +appeared to me clothed with a grandeur, a glory, and a beauty, +infinitely surpassing every description of them I had ever read or +heard. Standing in any commanding spot surrounded by the monuments of +her splendour and magnificence, upon each of which the genius of the +land shed its immortal lustre, one feels coerced to the conviction that +the high command and abiding destiny of France must be equally +imperishable. But these considerations belong not to my story, and I +renounce the idea of commemorating the sensations of gratified pride +which that gorgeous capital awakened in my bosom. Her architecture and +her art, her memorials of glory, and the triumphs of her progress, +require to be scanned by the eye and portrayed by the ability of +artistic genius. I must content myself with preserving a delighted +recollection of the French metropolis which no scene or circumstance, +possible in life can ever efface. The companion of all my hazards in +Ireland, whom I again joined in Paris, more than shared my enthusiasm. +He spent all his days wandering among the galleries of the Louvre or the +statues of Versailles, forgetting in the sublime presence of their +unmatched _chefs d'ouvres_ all the shame and perils of the past. I hope +he may be induced to give the result of his long examinations and fond +reveries to the public. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 12: "Alice and Uua."] + +[Footnote 13: This may be a harsh and unjust opinion; if so, no one +could regret it more than myself. In any case I wish to disclaim the +idea of making a charge against the body of the Roman Catholic clergy, +to some of whose members it applies. I yet fully believe that the great +majority of the priesthood would willingly die with the rest of their +countrymen in struggling for the liberty of their common home. Even of +those who acted against us with such deadly success, I am sure some were +influenced by pure and honourable motives: there were others, however, +whose conduct the noblest motives would fail to justify, or even +extenuate.] + +[Footnote 14: I hope my friend "Desmond" (a true poet and genuine +Irishman, whom God long preserve) will allow me to borrow his "graceful +spirit people" to elevate to poetical dignity the otherwise unattractive +and straggling waters of Lough Lua. It is near the lone and lovely +passes of Ceimeneagh, which his genius has invested with graceful +immortality, and his + + "Children of the earth and sea." + +may be sometimes tempted to lave therein. + +Lough Lua loses in the comparison suggested by the sublime scenery +around it, of which the "green little island," and the pass are +immeasurably the greatest. I saw it in no happy frame of mind, as I +dragged my weary limbs along the rugged slopes of Shehigh. The only real +feature of interest I could discover, was the solitary swan above +alluded to, to which an intellect less fanciful than that of my friend +could not refuse a claim to be recognised as the genius loci, or spirit +of the spot.] + +[Footnote 15: Mr. Daniel MacCarthy] + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +A word remains to be said in reference to the fate of those who were the +special objects of the Government's attention. Of the six for whom a +reward was offered, four escaped, namely, Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. +O'Mahony and myself. Mr. Dillon was the first who left Ireland. Late in +August he sailed from Galway, and landed at New York after a voyage of +seven weeks. In the same vessel sailed P.J. Smyth, who was despatched +from Cashel to Dublin with directions from Mr. O'Brien. Richard +O'Gorman, accompanied by John O'Donnell and Daniel Doyle, sailed from +the mouth of the Shannon on board a vessel bound for Constantinople. +After landing in the Turkish capital, they were obliged to lie concealed +until able to procure passports for Algiers. Many foolish stories have +been circulated in reference to Mr. O'Gorman's adventures and disguises +in Ireland. Not one of them has the least truth in it. He or his +companions never assumed any disguise, and though their adventures were +more perilous, they were not so romantic as those that have been +related. A more detailed account of their wanderings would no doubt be +as interesting to my readers as it would be agreeable to myself. But +both the time and the limits I have proposed to myself for this +publication exclude it here. I could not, without too long a delay, +acquire that minute and accurate knowledge of facts and dates, which +would be indispensable to such a history. + +But of succeeding events in Ireland, and the men who controlled them, +it is imperative to speak more in detail. John O'Mahony was their chief, +and John Savage his principal counsellor and comrade. The former, +although not compromised by any act previous to the arrest of Mr. +O'Brien, evaded the vigilance of the detectives, and continued moving +about from place to place, being generally guarded while he slept by a +large number of faithful followers. No man was ever followed with truer +devotion or served with more unwavering fidelity. He might have +continued in the same district with perfect safety up to the present +hour. But every moment of his time was engrossed by the endeavour to +rouse the country to some becoming effort. John Savage, who had come to +Carrick on a visit to a relation, partook of his enthusiasm and shared +his toil. They spent many anxious nights in counsel together when it was +supposed all spirit had left the country. The first ostensible object +that brought the people together under their immediate guidance and +control was the reaping of a field of wheat belonging to O'Mahony. A +vast crowd amounting to several hundred stalwart men assembled. They had +scarcely entered on their labour when the approach of a troop of horse +was announced. O'Mahony and Savage were compelled to retire. The +military cavalcade entered the field, and rode rudely among the men and +ripe corn. Still the reapers desisted not. They proceeded with their +labours sedulously and silently. But there was no pretext for arresting +any of the men, and no pretext afforded for further outrage, and the +business of the day went on without further outrage from the soldiers. +This occurred on the 22nd of August. Some days later, sullen crowds were +seen ascending Aheny Hill, about five miles to the north of +Carrick-on-Suir. By what mysterious agency they were directed none could +tell. About a similar distance from the town, in the opposite direction, +near the village of Portlaw, another camp was formed with equal rapidity +and mystery. With these men John Savage took his station. He was +entirely unknown to the people; and owed his influence over them to his +singular resolution. The understanding was that these two bodies, and a +third consisting of an equal number of men which was promised from +Kilkenny, should march simultaneously on the town of Carrick and the +fort at Besborough where five hundred men were encamped. He who +undertook to lead the Kilkenny men went on the execution of his mission, +leaving O'Mahony at one side, and Savage on the other, to contend with +the impetuosity of their respective followers who demanded with violence +to be led on. As much perhaps from the precariousness of their situation +as from a reckless daring, they could not brook the least delay. Their +leaders, on the other hand, urged the necessity of steadiness and +prudence. It was too late for such policy. The time between the first +step in revolution and action is the most trying to the courage and +faith of undisciplined men. In this instance it produced fatal results. +The weakness of the timid increased, and the courage of the boldest was +quelled. Suspicion was aroused, and desertion was the inevitable +consequence. O'Mahony found it impossible to withstand the clamorous +urgency of the men, and all his preparations were necessarily of a +hasty and imperfect character. The arrival of the party from Kilkenny +was the utmost limit of inaction that would be endured; and the leaders +saw with regret that they had yielded too soon to the demands of those +who precipitated the rising. The true guarantee of success would consist +in perfect preparation under cover of secrecy, so as that the assembling +could be followed by an immediate blow. + +Scouring parties from each rendezvous, proceeded through the country in +search of arms. Provisions were liberally supplied by the neighbouring +farmers, and numbers were hourly arriving from distant parts of the +country. But those who were engaged in the search for arms attacked +police barracks and private houses. In general, these enterprises were +rash, ill-advised and ill-arranged. In some instances they were +successful, and in some they were repulsed with loss of life, while the +police were able to effect a safe retreat. At the Tipperary side, two +men were killed in the attack on the Glenbour barracks; and at the +Waterford side, one man was shot at Portlaw in the assault on the +police-barrack, and two in the attack on the Reverend Mr. Hill's house. +These repulses checked the ardour of the boldest, and gave rise to +disunion and distrust. Meantime, the promised reinforcements from +Kilkenny failed to redeem the pledge that was given in their name. A +whole day and night passed, and no tidings of them arrived. Several of +those who were loudest and most urgent left the camp. A very large +force, however, remained; but after delaying two days without hearing of +the Kilkenny men, they determined to disperse. The party at Portlaw +adopted the same resolution, and O'Mahony and Savage had to shift for +themselves. A reward was offered for O'Mahony, but he eluded his +pursuers, and in a few days was beyond their reach. He embarked at +Bonmahon in the county of Waterford and crossed to Wales, where he was +concealed for some time until he found an opportunity of escaping to +France. Savage, whose person was not much known, made his way to Dublin, +whence he sailed for America direct. + +The Kilkenny men arrived at Aheny on the morning after those under +O'Mahony had dispersed and finding the place deserted, they immediately +returned. This accident once more baffled all hope of a struggle. From +beginning to end, some mischance marred every propitious circumstance +that presented itself. It seemed as if the failure had been predestined. +But to yield to such a fate, to abjure the great and true faith which +the attempt of the last unhappy year quickened in the hearts of all men, +would be distrust of God's mercy and justice. In the struggle that +preceded the outbreak a great victory was won. The most formidable power +that ever fettered the consciences of men was struck to the earth. +Truth, long lost sight of, was again restored as one of the great +agencies of national deliverance and national elevation. The question +between England and Ireland assumed its real character; and although +huxtering politicians have since endeavoured to set up the honour of the +island for sale, they have only been able to dispose of their own +characters. The people have not debased themselves. In the lying homage +to the Queen of England they took no part. They have preserved through +the severest trials the old immortal yearning of their race, and the +arms they had provided themselves with in '48 they have guarded +religiously, in the hope of using them on some day of brighter auspices +and loftier destiny. + +[Illustration: John Savage (1848)] + + + + +APPENDICES + + +I + +THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848 + +Early on Saturday the 22nd of July I left my pleasant home in +Cullenswood, near Dublin, to which I was never to return. On reaching +the city I found a telegraphic despatch from London had been just +published, announcing the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and that +the "extraordinary powers" to be conferred on the Lord Lieutenant would +be forwarded to Dublin on the following Monday. It was contended on all +hands that the hour for action or submission or flight for the +Confederates was now come. Of "The Council of Five,"[16] there were then +in Dublin but three members. One is now in Van Diemen's Land; the others +were Mr. Dillon and myself. We had a hasty meeting in the old Council +Rooms of the Irish Confederation. They decided to proceed that evening +to Enniscorthy to advise with Smith O'Brien, and, as I understood, to +proceed with him to the district between the Suir and the Shannon, and +to operate from that basis according to circumstances and their own best +judgment. + +A gentleman had arrived in Dublin that morning with a proposition which +decided my movements and led me into some singular situations. + +He was a professional man, by birth an Irishman who had resided a long +time in Scotland. He had one only son, two rifles, and £120 in money, +which he brought as his offering to the country. He informed us that +several hundred Irishmen in Scotland had been all the year preparing for +this event, that they had a good share of arms and ammunition, and that +if any plan could be devised to bring them into Ireland, they could be +relied on for courage and endurance. I do not mention this gentleman's +name, because I do not know but he is still under the laws of England. + +We perceived, on consultation, that if it were possible to land 400 or +500 staunch men in the north-west--say, at Sligo or Killala--where the +Government were completely off their guard (all their anxieties being +centred on the south), an important movement might follow in Sligo, +Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo. It would be like hitting the enemy in the +back of the head. It would necessarily draw off some of the forces from +Munster, through the valley of the Upper Shannon, which, with its +continuous chain of lake, bog and mountain frontier, would be difficult +ground for the movements of a regular army. + +It was necessary, as our informant said, that "someone with a name" +should go over and concert with the Irishmen in Scotland the mode and +time of action, and I was the only person at hand willing for that +service. For my encouragement, Meagher assured me I would be "as famous +as Paul Jones" if I got the men out of the Clyde, and Mr. Dillon +suggested as a landing-place "the old ground, Killala." + +That afternoon I left Dublin, and on Tuesday morning I was in Scotland. + +I cannot give the exact particulars of my movements while there. All who +were in my confidence are still in Scotland, with the exception of Mr. +Peter M'Cabe of Glasgow, now in the United States. I will only say that +I visited and consulted our friends in four of the principal +towns--Edinburgh included. I attended meetings of the clubs and in each +instance instituted committees. I obtained in a few days a list of +nearly 400 men, pretty well equipped, ready for the risk. A +sub-committee surveyed the Broomielaw and the Clyde, and although their +report was unfavourable to the attempt of getting out in one body, a +gentleman, now in America, gained over the crew and officers of an Irish +steamer to take us as passengers from Greenock where the tides in a few +days would answer for departure about ten o'clock at night. The arms +were to be previously shipped as merchandise or luggage, and the +destination was to be Sligo. + +These arrangements occupied from Tuesday till Friday of the last week of +July. In the meanwhile, the London Journals arrived with news that +O'Brien and his friends had been received with open arms in the south, +and great excitement and suspicion of strangers arose in Scotland. In +the Reading Room at Paisley I read myself in _The Hue and Cry_. One +paper stated I was in Waterford, another said I was "revelling among the +clubs in the Co. Dublin." The _Times_ did me the honour to couple me +with Meagher, calling us "the two most dangerous men now abroad." No one +suspected my real locality. + +On Friday I was in Edinburgh intending to return to Glasgow, when +Mr. ----, accompanied by a friend suddenly joined me. I saw they were a +good deal agitated. They told me a Scotch mechanic who had been formerly +in Dublin had seen me in the streets of Glasgow opposite Wellington +statue, and that the news was "all round town." They added that the +magistrates were in secret sitting, and as the writ of Habeas Corpus is +unknown to the law of Scotland, I would be certainly arrested and +summarily imprisoned if I returned. They were instructed to advise me to +go to Ireland through the north of England, to prepare our friends in +and about Sligo, and that they would complete the project which they had +begun, and which was now in promising forwardness. I complied and Mr. +---- handed me a purse, as a personal gift from the Committee. This +purse contained twelve or thirteen sovereigns, the only public money I +received in this enterprise. After purposely driving to the West of +Scotland depot [railway terminus] we returned to the North British, and +my friends saw me off a station or two on the way to Newcastle-on-Tyne. +I slept that night in Newcastle. + +Between Newcastle and Carlisle the next day (Saturday) I had for a +fellow passenger the Rev. Thresham Gregg[17] who was on a lecturing +excursion against the Pope in the north of England. I had been +introduced to him a year or two before and supposed he knew me. He +certainly looked very hard at me from under his travelling-cap, with his +half-shut cunning eyes. I had in my hand "Bradshaw's Railway Guide," +which he asked to see. At the way stations he kept constantly inquiring +the distance to Carlisle, and I sorely suspected he meant to "peach." He +did not, however, though I still think he must have known me. + +In Carlisle I met at dinner two Dublin priests (one from Westland Row +chapel). They were bound on a pleasure-trip for Loch Katrine and the +Trossachs. They informed me that I was "proclaimed," and seemed +surprised at my returning. We parted very cordially and that night I +went to Whitehaven where I had to wait over Sunday for the Belfast +steamer. + +In Whitehaven (by accident) I met with Mr. James Leach, the well-known +Chartist, with whom I had some conversation unnecessary here to be +repeated. + +On Tuesday morning I arrived in Belfast. Two policemen entered the cabin +as I was leaving it, and having been at the meeting which occasioned the +Hercules Street riot,[18] I thought they would recognise me. They did +not, however, and at 8 o'clock (after leaving a note for a dear and +trusted friend of Mr. Duffy's, to mark my whereabouts) I was safely +embarked on the Ulster railway for Armagh. At Aughnacloy a detective +gave me a light, and before I went to bed (in Enniskillen) had read the +proclamations against the leaders of the Southern movement, on the gates +of the Barrack. The next morning I reached Sligo by the Leitrim road. + +This was Wednesday morning, August 2nd. + +At the Hibernia Hotel, where I stopped as Mr. Kelly (my travelling +baptism), I saw for the first time in ten days the Irish papers. The +Dublin _Freeman_ and _Saunder's News Letter_ were on the table. I read +the list of the places where, and the clergymen by whom, the Southern +movement had been "denounced," on Sunday, July 23rd and Sunday, July +30th. The same papers contained Lord Clarendon's wily letter to +Archbishop Murray, offering to alter the statutes of the new colleges +and to remodel the Bequests Bill so as to content the Catholic clergy, +and artfully complimenting Pius IX. The game of the Government was +clear--it was to separate the clergy from the people in the coming +struggle. + +The evening of my arrival in Sligo, I conferred with a few friends. The +place chosen was "a shell house" in the demesne of Hazelwood on the +shores of Lough Gill. Of those[D] who formed that conference one at +least, Mr. William M'Garahan, is now in America. We ascertained the +garrison of Sligo to be but ninety men--the barrack to be surrounded by +a common eight-foot wall, and the local authorities to be completely +lulled to sleep. The circumstances were as favourable as could be +expected. + +But there never had been in Sligo or Leitrim any local Confederate or +even "Repeal" organisation. The only local societies were secret--Molly +Maguires and Ribbonmen. It was necessary to get into communication with +them and late the next night Dr. ----, a Confederate, introduced me to +one of their leaders, on a road which crosses a hill to the south of the +town. This gentleman I found wary, resolute, and intelligent. He said: +"I have no doubt of what you say, but I must have certain facts to lay +before our district chiefs. At present we don't know what to believe. +One day we hear one thing--another, another. Bring us by this day week +assurances that the South is going to rise or has risen, and we will +raise two thousand before the week is out." I agreed to do so and he in +the meantime went to prepare his friends. + +I returned to my confidants of the first conference and "reported +progress." It was rather difficult to find a trusty messenger. I +volunteered to go myself, but they would not hear of it. At last a man +who could be depended on was obtained, and, armed with certain passwords +(unintelligible except to those for whom they were intended) he left to +go through Roscommon and Westmeath into Tipperary by Borrisokane and +Nenagh. + +Simultaneously with this, agents went abroad in the country, and I, by +the advice of the local leaders, went to lodge under Benbulben in the +character of a Dublin student in search of health and exercise during +the summer vacation. Within a week we expected to be openly arrayed +against the authorities, and no man that I saw shrank from the prospect. + +From my lodgings under Benbulben I made a visit to Bundoran to meet some +friends from Donegal who were anxious to consult me as to the state of +the county. By an odd chance I lodged in the same house with the +stipendiary magistrate, Sir Thomas Blake, and had to go through his +bedroom to my own. We met frequently but he was quite unsuspicious. He +has, I find since, been dismissed from his office, after an ineffectual +search for me through the county, a month from the time we had lived +under the same roof. + +While our messenger had gone south there arrived one from our friends in +Scotland. Him I sent back the same night to expedite affairs there. In +the meanwhile, on such maps as we had, my friends and I studied the +roads and the formation of the country. There is in this part of Ireland +a plateau of about twenty-five miles square of broken or mountainous +ground. Of this district Ballinamore in Leitrim might be considered the +centre; there are but three main roads leading through it--the Boyle +road, the Red Lion road, and the Ballysodare road--which could all be +easily rendered impassable, passing as they do over rapid streams, +through narrow defiles or across extensive marshes. There is no great +military depot within the district--Enniskillen, Athlone, and even +Castlebar being within the spurs of the mountains. Sligo, its chief town +was, as we saw, poorly garrisoned, and yet as a seaport of the second +class it contained many things of the greatest use in a military +movement--as lead, arms, canvas, tools, money, ships' stores, +breadstuffs, types for proclamations and even some small cannon. From +three to five thousand men it was calculated, could be well-equipped and +could maintain themselves for three months within this district, with +tolerable prudence and exertion. Before the time expired we hoped to +receive help and officers from abroad, and afterwards to be able to +undertake greater things. + +We could not but remember that this was the district chosen by Owen +O'Neill after his arrival from Spain in 1645 and that it was here he +"nursed up" by slow degrees the army which fought at Benburb, and which +in Napoleon's opinion, but for the premature death of Owen, would have +checkmated Cromwell. The ground once chosen by a great general for its +natural capabilities may safely be chosen again, and usually is, as in +Hungary for instance. The very posts and battlefields held and fought by +Bem and Dembinski were the same whereon Huniad and Corvinus, four and +five hundred years ago, fought against the Turks and Bosmens. Thus we +had the sanction of a great example and the stimulus of an inspiriting +tradition to point to for the choice of the ground. + +We had not long to wait for news from the South--it came of itself. On +Saturday the 5th of August Mr. O'Brien was arrested in Thurles. His +companions, it was said, were fled hither and thither; but, at all +events, his arrest had proved that, at that time, the South would not +rise in arms against the Government. + +This was the interpretation universally put upon it in the north-west. +It was in vain I said, "There are other men as brave and as good who are +still free and from whom we will hear better news." Those to whom I +spoke were incredulous. Still I must do the people of the county the +justice to say that in a meeting of their district-leaders at ---- it +was discussed for two successive nights with great animation whether or +not the district should rise even then. The parties for and against a +rising were nearly balanced, but the latter prevailed on the argument +that unless it was general it would be fruitless. + +For ten dismal days I remained in this neighbourhood, hoping against +hope and endeavouring to make others do the same. The proposals I then +made, the result of desperation, I will not repeat, for now, even to +myself, I confess they look wild and extravagant. But I felt the whole +futurity of shame that awaited us for abandoning the country without a +blow. It was well advanced in August before I could persuade myself that +no hope remained. The Treasurer of our Scotch Committee came to Ireland +expressly to urge me to consult my own safety in flight, in which he was +joined by the whole of my local associates. Successively arrived the +news of Meagher, Leyne and MacManus being taken. Then indeed I knew "all +was up." Then, indeed, I felt the force of what I had long before +prophesied--"What if we fail?" I resolved not to be taken if I could +help it, and acted accordingly. After some personal adventures in +Donegal and Derry (with which I will not trouble the reader) I saw the +last of the Irish shore early in September, and on the 10th of October +reached Philadelphia. + +I close here with this reflection: Had I been transported or hanged, I +have no doubt full justice would be done me, because it would be +nobody's interest to do me injustice. Had I kept silent, I might have +lived an easy, prudent, reputable sort of life enough. But I established +a journal on reaching America, and whereas my spine is not made of +whalebone nor my conscience of indiarubber, I spoke the truth as I knew +it in all things freely--thereby offending divers parties. This, I +believe, could not be helped. After nearly a year of silence[19] I have +at last (in self-defence) written this narrative, of which I assure the +readers they never would have heard a word from me, but that +misrepresentations not to be borne demanded its publicity. Those who +from want of information misrepresented me hitherto can do so no more; +and those who, knowing these facts, yet wilfully maligned me, I have now +deprived of the power to do me further injury. Truth is powerful, and +this is truth. + + +II + +THE PROCLAMATION OF DOHENY AND HIS COLLEAGUES + +By the Lord Lieutenant General and General-Governor of Ireland + +A PROCLAMATION + +CLARENDON-- + +Whereas we have received information that THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN +B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY have been guilty of treasonable practices, +now we the Lord Lieutenant being determined to bring the said THOMAS +FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY to justice, do hereby +offer a reward of + + THREE HUNDRED POUNDS + +to any person or persons who shall secure and deliver up to safe custody +the person of any one of them, the said THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. +DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY. + +And we do hereby strictly charge and command all justices of the peace, +mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables and all other of her Majesty's +loyal subjects to use their utmost-diligence in apprehending the said +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY. + +Given at her Majesty's Castle of Dublin, this 28th day of July, 1848. + + By his Excellency's Command, + + T.N. REDINGTON. + + +III + +"THE HUE AND CRY" + +The official description of himself read by Thomas Darcy M'Gee was more +accurate and less intentionally insulting than the official descriptions +of most of his colleagues compiled in Dublin Castle and published in the +_Hue and Cry_ of July 27th, 1848. Probably no other official document +issued to the public in the last hundred years by Dublin Castle has +equalled this stupid malignity. "Sketches of Doheny and some of the +Confederate leaders, modelled upon the descriptions of burglars and +murderers, that ordinarily adorn the _Hue and Cry_ were," wrote Sir +Charles Gavan Duffy, a generation later, "issued for the enjoyment of +loyal persons." The _Freeman's Journal_ of the day wrote that the public +who were acquainted with the appearance of the gentlemen described will +read with feelings of contempt the malignant effort to insult and wound +the relatives of the men proscribed by the issue of a written caricature +of their persons. This remarkable production of the genius and spirit of +Dublin Castle, read as follows:-- + +DESCRIPTION OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH +TREASONABLE PRACTICES + +WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN.--No occupation; forty-six years of age; six feet +in height; sandy hair; dark eyes; sallow, long face; has a sneering +smile constantly on his face; full whiskers; sandy; a little grey; +well-set man; walks erect; dresses well. + +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.--No occupation; twenty-five years of age; five +feet nine inches; dark, nearly black hair; light blue eyes; pale face; +high cheekbones; peculiar expression about the eyes; cocked nose; no +whiskers; well-dressed. + +JOHN B. DILLON.--Barrister; thirty-two years of age; five feet eleven +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; thin sallow face; rather thin +black whiskers; dressed respectable; has bilious look. + +MICHAEL DOHENY.--Barrister; forty years of age; five feet eight inches +in height; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; coarse red face like a man +given to drink; high cheekbones; wants several of his teeth; very vulgar +appearance; peculiar coarse unpleasant voice; dress respectable; small +short red whiskers. + +MICHAEL CREAN.--Shopman at a shoe-shop; thirty-five years of age; five +feet eight inches; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; full face; light +whiskers; high fore-head; well-set person; dress, dark shooting frock or +grey tweed, and grey tweed trousers. + +FRANCIS MORGAN.[20]--Solicitor; forty-three years of age; five feet +eight inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; sallow broad face; +nose a little cocked; the upper lip turns out when speaking; rather +stout; smart gait; black whiskers. + +PATRICK JAMES SMITH.[21]--Studying for the bar; twenty-nine years of +age; five feet nine inches in height; fair hair; dark eyes; fair +delicate face and of weak appearance; long back; weak in his walk; small +whiskers; clothing indifferent. + +JOHN HETHERINGTON DRUMM.[22]--Medical student; twenty years of age; five +feet three inches in height; very black and curly hair; black eyes; pale +delicate face; rather thin person; delicate appearance; no whiskers; +small face and nose; dressed respectably; Methodist. + +THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE.--Connected with the _Nation_ newspaper; +twenty-three years of age; five feet three inches in height; black hair; +dark face; delicate, pale, thin man; dresses generally black shooting +coat, plaid trousers, light vest. + +JOSEPH BRENNAN.--Sub-Editor of the _Felon_ newspaper; five feet six +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; pale, sallow face; very stout; +round shoulders; Cork accent; no whiskers; hair on the upper lip; soft, +sickly face; rather respectably dressed, a little reduced. + +THOMAS DEVIN REILLY.--Sub-editor of the _Felon_ newspaper; twenty-four +years of age; five feet seven inches in height; sandy coarse hair; grey +eyes; round freckled face; head remarkably broad at the top; broad +shoulders; well-set; dresses well. + +JOHN CANTWELL.--Shopman at a grocer's; thirty-five years of age; five +feet ten inches in height; sandy hair; grey eyes; fair face; good +looking; short whisker, light; rather slight person, dresses ... +Supposed a native of Dublin. + +STEPHEN J. MEANY.--Sub-editor of _Irish Tribune_; twenty-six years of +age; five feet eleven inches in height; dark hair; full blue eyes; dark +face; small whiskers growing under the chin; smart appearance; was a +constable of the C Division of Police, discharged for dirty habits; +stout person; generally dressed in black. + +RICHARD O'GORMAN, Junior.--Barrister; thirty years of age; five feet +eleven inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; thin long face; +large dark whiskers; well-made and active; walks upright; dresses black +frock coat, tweed trousers. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 16: After the merging of the Irish Confederation in the +abortive Irish League, and the consequent dissolution of the Executive +of the Confederation, a Council of Five was elected to direct the +Confederate Clubs until the new organisation was perfected. The five +elected were John Blake Dillon, Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard +O'Gorman, Junior, Thomas D'Arcy M'Gee, and Thomas Devin Reilly. The five +never met. O'Gorman was out of Dublin when the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended.] + +[Footnote 17: The Rev. Thresham Gregg was a notorious and blatant +"anti-Popery" preacher of the period whom the wits of Young Ireland +frequently made the butt of their jests. Apart from his bigoted +sectarian obsession, he was, however, in several respects decidedly +nationalistic, and steadily preached support of home trade and +manufactures to his audiences. There can be no reasonable doubt that he +recognised M'Gee. In this connection it may be stated that the Orangemen +expelled from membership of their body Stephenson Dobbyn, an Orangeman +who acted as a spy for Dublin Castle upon the Young Irelanders--drawing +a clear and proper line between forcibly opposing their fellow +countrymen and acting as spies for England upon them.] + +[Footnote 18: Hercules Street in Belfast, now swept away, was chiefly +inhabited by butchers who were almost all Catholics and fervent +O'Connellites. When the Young Irelanders attempted to hold a meeting in +Belfast shortly after O'Connell's death, the butchers made a fierce +attack upon them.] + +[Footnote 19: This narrative was written at the beginning of 1850] + +[Footnote 20: Law Agent to the Dublin Corporation.] + +[Footnote 21: Patrick Joseph Smyth] + +[Footnote 22: Sub-editor of the _Nation_; afterwards a clergyman.] + + + + +CONTEMPORARIES MENTIONED IN "THE FELON'S TRACK" + + +ANGLESEY, LORD (1768-1854).--Henry William Paget, who lost a leg at +Waterloo and erected a monument to its memory. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1828-9, 1830-3. + +ANTISELL, DR. THOMAS.--A Dublin surgeon and chemist of distinction, +author of various pamphlets and addresses to the Royal Dublin Society on +the geology of Ireland, reafforestation, and the sanitary conditions of +Irish town-life. He supplied a large part of the capital to found the +_Irish Tribune_. After the failure of the insurrection he went to the +United States where he had a distinguished scientific career. + +BANTRY, LORD.--(1801-1884) William Hare White, third earl, Lieut-Col, of +the West Cork Artillery. The title became extinct in 1891. + +BARRY, MICHAEL JOSEPH (1817-1889).--A Cork barrister, editor of "The +Songs of Ireland" in the Library of Ireland, and author of several +martial pieces, including "The Flag of Green." After the failure of the +insurrection he renounced Nationalism and subsequently became a Dublin +Police Magistrate. + +BARRETT, RICHARD (17-- -1855).--Brother of Eaton Stannard Barrett of +Cork, the once famous author of "All the Talents." A journalist of +fortune who changed sides with agility and enlisted under O'Connell in +his latter years, having formerly vilified him. + +BRENAN, JOSEPH (1828-1857).--The youngest of the Young Ireland leaders. +Edited Fullam's _Irishman_ in 1849 and unsuccessfully attempted to +revive the insurrection in Waterford and Tipperary. On his failure he +emigrated to the United States and died in New Orleans. + +BRODERICK, CAPTAIN.--Inspector-General of Repeal Reading Rooms. He +quitted Conciliation Hall after the death of O'Connell and died mentally +afflicted. + +BRYAN, MAJOR.--Of Raheny Lodge, Co. Dublin. Major Bryan acquired a +moderate fortune in Tasmania and returned to Ireland where he joined the +Repeal movement. He left Conciliation Hall with the Young Irelanders. + +CAMPBELL, SIR JOHN (1779-1861).--Author of the "Lives of the Lord +Chancellors." A Scots Tory politician, raised to the peerage subsequent +to his connection with Ireland, and finally Lord Chancellor of England. + +CANGLEY, DAVID (18-- -1847).--A barrister and one of the hopes of Young +Ireland. Ill-health pursued him through life and ended it prematurely. + +CANTWELL, JAMES.--A Dublin mercantile assistant and, later, a +restaurant-proprietor. One of the Council of the Confederation who +supported Mitchel's policy. + +CARLETON, WILLIAM (1794-1869).--Author of "Traits and Stories of the +Irish Peasantry." + +CAVAIGNAC, LOUIS EUGENE (1802-1857).--One of the most distinguished of +the French Generals in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. On +the establishment of the second Republic he was appointed Minister for +War, and when the "Reds" threatened its stability he was invested with +the dictatorship and speedily crushed the insurrection. In the contest +for the Presidency the glamour of Louis Napoleon's name defeated +Cavaignac. After Napoleon's _coup-d'etat_ Cavaignac retired into private +life. He had sympathies with Ireland, and in 1848 gave private +assurances that in the event of an Irish insurrection winning initial +successes, he would bring the influence of France to bear on England to +force her to concede terms to Ireland. + +CAVANAGH, JOHN.--President of the Fitzgerald Confederate Club, Harold's +Cross, Dublin. Wounded at Ballingarry, he was brought to Kilkenny, where +he was concealed and cured by Dr. Cane, and later smuggled to France, +whence he proceeded to the United States, became an officer in the army +and was slain in the Civil War. + +"CHRISTABEL" (1815-1881).--Miss M'Carthy, of Kilfademore House, Kenmare, +afterwards Mrs. Downing. A Popular poetess of the period, usually using +the _nom-de-guerre_ of "Christabel." Her best-known poem is "The Grave +of MacCaura." She assisted Doheny and Stephens to escape. + +CLARENDON, EARL OF (1804-1870).--George Villiers, the fourth earl, +according to his English biographers, represented the highest type of +English politician and English gentleman. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, +1846-1852. He hired the editor of an obscene journal in Dublin to +publish libels upon the moral character of the Young Irelanders, and +conducted the affairs of the country from March to June, 1848, under +this man's advice. He paid £3,400 for the services rendered and a demand +for further payments led to a public disclosure of the facts. At the +time Clarendon hired James Birch, Birch had completed a sentence of +imprisonment for criminal libel. + +CLEMENTS, EDWARD.--A barrister. One of O'Connell's "tail" in +Conciliation Hall. The attempt of O'Connell to provide "poor Ned +Clements" with a Government situation precipitated the rupture with +Young Ireland. + +CONWAY, M.G.--A journalist of ability and no principle who followed the +path of fortune. He professed ultra-Catholic views while O'Connell was +in the ascendant. After O'Connell's death he abjured Catholicism to +ingratiate himself with the Ascendancy element. + +CRAMPTON, JUDGE (17-- -1858).--Philip Crampton, called to the Bar 1810, +Solicitor-General 1832, and raised to the Bench 1834. One of the judges +at O'Connell's trial, a strong Tory but a clever lawyer. + +CREAN, MICHAEL.--Like M.G. Conway, a Clare man, but of the opposite +type. Crean worked in Dublin as a shopman and with Hollywood was one of +the two trades-union leaders on the Council of the Confederation, where +he opposed Mitchel's policy. After the failure of the insurrection he +went to the United States. + +CROLLY, DR. (1780-1849).--Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All +Ireland from 1835 until his death. + +DAUNT, W.J. O'NEILL.--A Co. Cork gentleman, one of O'Connell's first +Protestant supporters in the Repeal Movement. He was elected for Mallow, +but unseated. He ceased to attend Conciliation Hall after the rupture +with the Young Irelanders. Many years later he took a prominent part in +the Home Rule movement. + +DAVIS, THOMAS (1814-1845).--The founder and inspiration of the Young +Ireland movement. Son of an English father of Welsh descent and an Irish +mother. From the inception of _The Nation_ newspaper until his death he +was the chief writer of that journal. + +DILLON, JOHN BLAKE (1816-1866).--The close personal friend of Thomas +Davis and with him one of the founders of the _Nation_. On his return +from exile he attempted to found an Irish Party in alliance with the +British Radicals and sat in the British Parliament for Tipperary. + +DOYLE, DANIEL.--A Limerick solicitor who acted with John O'Donnell and +O'Gorman in inciting Limerick county to insurrection in July, 1848. +After the failure he escaped across the water. + +DUFFY, CHARLES GAVAN (1816-1903).--One of the three founders of the +_Nation_ and its editor from 1842 to 1854, when he left Ireland for +Australia where he became Prime Minister of Victoria. In 1873 he +received a knighthood. + +"EVA" (1825-1910).--Miss Mary Kelly of Galway, afterwards Mrs. Kevin +Izod O'Doherty. One of the chief poets of the _Nation_. + +FERGUSON, SAMUEL (1810-1886).--A Belfast barrister and, save Edward +Walsh, the most Gaelic of Irish poets in the English language. Ferguson +took a leading part in the Protestant Repeal Association in 1848 and +afterwards became one of the first of Irish archaeologists. In 1878 he +was knighted. + +FITZGERALD, JOHN LOYD.--Of Newcastle West, Limerick. A lawyer of high +standing. + +FITZSIMON, CHRISTOPHER.--Son-in-law of Daniel O'Connell, elected to the +British Parliament for Co. Dublin. He deserted Repeal to support the +Government and was rewarded with the post of Clerk of the Hanaper. His +desertion caused the representation of the Co. Dublin to revert to the +Unionists for half-a-century. + +GRAY, SIR JOHN (1815-1875).--A medical doctor and owner of the +_Freeman's Journal_, publicly supporting O'Connell, but personally in +sympathy with Young Ireland. He sat in the British Parliament +subsequently for Kilkenny and was an active member of the Dublin +Corporation. + +GRATTAN, HENRY, JUN.--Son of the great Grattan and member for Meath, +1831-52. An honest but weak politician. + +GREY, EARL (1802-1894).--Third Earl. Colonial Secretary in the British +Liberal Government, 1846 to 1852. + +HALPIN, THOMAS M.--Secretary of the Confederation, and a Dublin +working-man. According to Meagher he failed to transmit instructions to +the Dublin Confederate Clubs to rise in insurrection in the streets of +the capital when the fight opened in Tipperary. Halpin denied +emphatically having received such orders. After the insurrection he made +his way to the United States. + +HEYTESBURY, LORD (1779-1860).--William A'Court, British Envoy in Spain +and Naples, and Ambassador in Portugal and Russia. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1844-6. + +HOGAN, JOHN (1800-1858).--One of the greatest of modern sculptors. With +MacManus and other artists he presented O'Connell with the "Repeal +Cap," modelled on the Irish Crown. + +HOLLYWOOD, EDWARD.--A silk-weaver and, with Michael Crean, an artisan +leader. He acted as treasurer of the Davis Confederate Club. Arrested in +Wicklow with D'Arcy M'Gee for sedition, but the prosecution was +abandoned. After the insurrection he escaped to France, and some years +later returned to Dublin. + +HOLMES, ROBERT (1765-1859).--Brother-in-law of Thomas Addis and Robert +Emmet, and a vehement opponent of the Union in 1799-1800. He declined to +accept promotion at the Bar while the Union endured. + +HUDSON, WILLIAM ELIOT (1797-1853).--Described by Thomas Davis as the +best man and the best Irishman he ever knew. A man of fortune and +culture who devoted his leisure and his wealth to helping every movement +for the betterment of Ireland. + +HUME, JOSEPH (1777-1855).--An English politician who sat in the British +Parliament for English, Irish, and Scotch constituencies as Tory and +later as Radical. Chief author of the Radical shibboleth, "Peace, +Retrenchment and Reform." + +IRELAND, RICHARD.--A barrister, one of the founders of the Protestant +Repeal Association in 1848. He emigrated to Australia afterwards and +became Attorney-General of Victoria. + +KENYON, FATHER (18-- -1869).--Curate and afterwards Parish Priest of +Templederry in Tipperary. A strong opponent of the "Old Irelanders" and +the close political and personal friend of John Mitchel. + +LALOR, JAMES FINTAN (1810-49).--Son of Patrick Lalor, M.P. of Queen's +Co. A vigorous writer whose agrarian doctrine was converted by Henry +George into Land Nationalisation--which it was not. He contributed to +the _Nation_ and the _Felon_, 1847-8, and attempted an insurrectionary +conspiracy, 1849. + +LAMARTINE, ALPHONSE DE (1790-1869).--Minister for Foreign Affairs in the +French Republican Government. The British Ministry through Lord +Normanby threatened him with the possible rupture of diplomatic +relations if he gave an encouraging reply to the Young Ireland +deputation. Politically Lamartine was more of the school of the British +Whigs of his period than of any native French school. His high character +and literary abilities were held in deserved esteem by his countrymen, +but as a man of affairs he was never really successful. + +LANE, DENNY (1818-95).--A Cork commercial man who identified himself +prominently with the Young Ireland cause in Munster. Author of +"Carrigdhoun" and some other popular ballads. + +LAWLESS, HON. CECIL.--Son of Lord Cloncurry. An O'Connellite Repealer +and somewhat virulent opponent of the Young Irelanders who nicknamed him +"Artful Cecil." + +LEDRU-ROLLIN, ALEXANDRE (1808-74).--Minister of the Interior in the +French Republican Government of 1848. He was connected with Ireland by +marriage and strongly sympathised with its people. + +LEFROY, BARON (1776-1869).--One-time member for Trinity College in the +British Parliament. Subsequent to 1848 promoted Lord Chief Justice of +the Queen's Bench, and although he became incapable of discharging the +office he refused to resign it until he had passed his ninetieth year. + +LEYNE, MAURICE RICHARD (1820-1854).--The only member of the O'Connell +family who identified himself with Young Ireland. He was an occasional +contributor to the _Nation_ from 1844 to 1848 and in June of that year, +on the eve of the insurrection, formally joined Young Ireland. On the +revival of the _Nation_ in 1849 he joined Duffy in its editorship. + +LOUIS NAPOLEON (1808-1873).--Son of the King of Holland, nephew of the +great Napoleon, President of the second Republic and, after the _coup +d'etat_ and the plebescite, Emperor of France. Napoleon while in +exile manifested some sympathy with Ireland, and as a member of the +French Republic was, like Cavaignac, willing to intervene on this +country's behalf with England if the Young Irelanders had succeeded in +winning initial engagements against the British forces in the field. + +[Illustration: Louis Napoleon (1848)] + +MACHALE, ARCHBISHOP (1791-1881).--"John of Tuam"--the greatest of the +Irish prelates of his time. He was in partial sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, but opposed to them on several educational questions. + +MACNEVIN, THOMAS (1810-1848).--A leading Young Irelander and college +friend of Davis. Author, in the Library of Ireland, of "The Confiscation +of Ulster" and "The History of the Volunteers." + +MACMANUS, TERENCE BELLEW (1823-60).--A prosperous Irish merchant in +Liverpool who relinquished his prosperity to join in the insurrection. +He escaped from the British penal colonies to the United States and died +there in poor circumstances. + +MACLISE, DANIEL (1806-1870).--One of the first painters of his time. He +refused the presidency of the British Royal Academy. + +M'CARTHY, DENIS FLORENCE (1817-1882).--One of the chief poets of the +_Nation_, afterwards Professor of English Literature in the Catholic +University. + +M'GEE, THOMAS DARCY (1825-1868).--Son of a coast-guard at Carlingford, +Louth. M'Gee between the ages of seventeen and twenty won a remarkable +reputation as a journalist in the United States and came back to Ireland +to take up the editorship of the _Freeman's Journal_, which he +relinquished to join the _Nation_ staff. After the failure in 1848 +Bishop Maginn procured his escape to America disguised as a priest. +M'Gee, Devin Reilly and Doheny quarrelled in the United States, and +M'Gee's political views gradually modified. He proceeded to Canada, +entered politics, and became one of the first statesmen of the dominion +and a member of the Government. In that position he was continually +attacked by a section of the Irish as a renegade, and the bitterness of +his replies inflamed feeling. In April, 1868, he was assassinated by an +alleged Fenian. Local and sectional political hatreds appear, however, +to have had more to do with the murder of M'Gee than his virulent +denunciations of the Fenians. + +MAGINN, EDWARD, D.D. (1802-1849).--Son of a farmer at Fintona, Tyrone, +Dr. Maginn entered the Church and speedily became noted for his vigour +of intellect and strength of character. In 1845 he was appointed +coadjutor-Bishop of Derry, and created Bishop of Ortosia in the +Archbishopric of Tyre. A strong advocate of Repeal and tenant-right, he +gradually attorned to the Young Irelanders when he discovered that the +Whig Government had bought up Conciliation Hall. In 1848 he sent Sir +John Gray to Gavan Duffy offering to take the field at the head of the +priests of his diocese if the insurrection were held back until the +harvest had been reaped. The sudden suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, +however, forced the Young Irelanders' hands two months too soon. + +MANGAN, JAMES CLARENCE (1803-49).--The first of the poets of the Young +Ireland period. He declined to write for any but the Irish public, and +died in poverty. + +MARTIN, JOHN (1812-1875).--A landed proprietor of Co. Down. On his +return from transportation, he re-entered Irish politics; was elected in +1870 to the British Parliament, for Meath, and played a leading part in +founding the Home Rule movement. + +"MARY" (1828-69).--With "Eva" and "Speranza" one of the triumvirate of +the women-poets of the _Nation_: Miss Ellen Mary Downing of +Cork--afterwards a nun, Sister Mary Alphonsus. + +MEAGHER, THOMAS FRANCIS (1823-67).--Son of the O'Connellite member of +the British Parliament for Waterford. He escaped from the British Penal +colonies to the United States in 1852 and served as Brigadier-General +on the Federal side during the civil war. When Acting-Governor of +Montana he was drowned in the Mississippi. + +MEANY, STEPHEN JOSEPH.--A journalist, imprisoned in 1848 under the +Habeas Corpus Suspension Act. In the United States he became a leader of +one of the wings of the Fenian Brotherhood and, returning to Ireland in +1866, he was arrested on the way in London and sentenced to a term of +penal servitude. + +MELBOURNE, LORD (1779-1848).--William Lamb, second Viscount, Chief +Secretary of Ireland, 1827-8, and Premier of England with brief +intervals from 1834 to 1841. + +MILEY, JOHN, D.D. (1805-1861).--Curate at the Catholic Pro-Cathedral, +Dublin, and private chaplain to O'Connell. He was the intermediary in +arranging the reunion of the O'Connellites with the Young Irelanders in +the stillborn Irish League. In 1849 he was made Rector of the Irish +College at Paris. On his return to Ireland he was appointed parish +priest of Bray. He was an eloquent preacher, and author of several works +on the Papacy. + +MITCHEL, JOHN (1818-75).--A solicitor of Banbridge, and one of the first +Irish Protestants of note to join the Repeal Association. From the death +of Davis until the end of 1847 he was the chief writer of the _Nation_ +newspaper. On his escape from the British penal colonies in 1853 he +settled in the United States, and took an active part on the Confederate +side in the civil war. He returned to Ireland a few months before his +death, and was elected member of the British Parliament for Tipperary, +as a demonstration of hostility to British Government in Ireland. + +MOORE, JUDGE.--Richard Moore, called to the Bar in 1807, acted for the +defence in the trial of O'Connell and the Traversers, Liberal +Attorney-General in 1846 and "almost Lord Chancellor." He was raised to +the Bench in 1847 and died in 1858. + +MONAHAN, JAMES HENRY (1804-78).--Attorney-General in 1848, +Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas, 1850. + +NAGLE, DR.--"A Dublin doctor without patients," who acted as a handyman +for John O'Connell. He was devoid of ability. Subsequently he received a +small Government post. + +O'CONNELL, DANIEL (1775-1847).--Successor to John Keogh in the +leadership of the Irish Catholics, and although his actual achievements +were not so much greater than those of Keogh and Sweetman, their +brilliancy threw the fame of his predecessors into the shade, where it +still rests. + +O'CONNELL, MAURICE (1802-53).--Eldest son of Daniel O'Connell, and a +member of the British Parliament. He was the cleverest and most national +of O'Connell's children. + +O'CONNELL, MORGAN JOHN (1804-85).--Second son to Daniel O'Connell. He +served under General Devereux in South America, entered the British +Parliament as a Repealer, deserted Repeal, and was appointed +Assistant-Registrar of Deeds. + +O'CONNELL, JOHN (1810-1858).--The chief political assistant of his +father, Daniel O'Connell. After the collapse of the Repeal Association +he received a place from the British Government. + +O'CONNELL, DANIEL, JUN. (1815-1897).--The youngest of O'Connell's sons. +He sat in the British Parliament until 1863, when he was appointed to a +Government post. + +O'CONOR DON, THE (1794-1847).--Repeal M.P. for Roscommon. He deserted to +the Liberals, and was made a Lord of the Treasury. + +O'DEA, PATRICK.--The Young Ireland leader in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. + +O'DOHERTY, KEVIN IZOD (1823-1895).--Son of a Dublin solicitor. After his +release from transportation he settled in Australia and became prominent +in its politics and medical science. In 1885 he returned temporarily to +Ireland, and sat for a brief period in the British Parliament as +Parnellite member for Meath. + +O'DONNELL, JOHN.--A Limerick solicitor and an ardent Young Irelander. +When Richard O'Gorman came to Limerick to urge the people to arms, +O'Donnell travelled through the county with him as his aide-de-camp. On +the news of the outbreak in Tipperary, O'Donnell, Doyle and Daniel +Harnett raised the country around Abbeyfeale, cut off the mails and +pitched an insurgent camp outside the town where the Abbeyfeale men +waited for O'Gorman, who was elsewhere in the county, to take command. +Before his arrival the news of the collapse at Ballingarry arrived and +the Abbeyfeale Camp broke up. O'Donnell escaped from the country with +O'Gorman. + +O'DOWD, JAMES.--A Conciliation Hall lawyer. Afterwards appointed to a +legal position in connection with the London Custom house. + +O'DWYER, CAREW.--Repeal M.P. for Louth, 1832-5. He deserted Repeal and +received a minor position in the Exchequer Court. + +O'FLAHERTY, MARTIN.--A Galway solicitor and a member of the Irish +Confederation. + +O'GORMAN, RICHARD, JUN. (1826-1895).--Son of Richard O'Gorman of the +Woollen Hall, one of the foremost Dublin merchants and Catholic leaders +in the Emancipation struggle. O'Gorman settled in New York after his +escape and became a judge of the Superior Court. + +O'HEA, JAMES.--A lawyer described by Davis as of "vast abilities." + +O'LOGHLEN, SIR COLMAN (1819-1877).--Second baronet, son of the Master of +the Rolls. Afterwards M.P. for Clare, a Privy Councillor and +Judge-Advocate-General. + +O'MAHONY, JOHN (1816-1877).--A gentleman-farmer of ancient lineage and +high scholarship. After the second attempt to kindle insurrection he +fled to the Continent and later proceeded to the United States, where +with Doheny and Stephens he founded Fenianism. + +PEEL, SIR ROBERT (1788-1850).--Chief Secretary for Ireland and organiser +of the "new police"--hence "peelers." In politics an opportunist, +opposing and supporting Catholic Emancipation and Free Trade. Premier of +England, 1834-5, 1841-6. + +PENNEFATHER, BARON (1773-1859).--Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, +1821, and for thirty-eight years a judge. + +PIGOT, CHIEF BARON (1797-1872).--Son of Dr. Pigot of Mallow and one of +the founders of the attempted National Whig Party in the period 1820-30. +He was a cultured man and an upright judge. + +PIGOT, JOHN E. (1822-1871).--Eldest son of Chief Baron Pigot and the +intimate comrade of Thomas Davis. Author of many ballads and articles in +the _Nation_ and other National journals, and an ardent collector of +Irish music. + +PLUNKET, LORD (1764-1854).--William Conyngham Plunket, member for +Charlemont in the Irish Parliament and a bitter opponent of the Union. +Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1830 to 1841. + +RAY, THOMAS MATTHEW (1801-1881).--A Dublin trades-union leader of great +organising ability, appointed by O'Connell secretary of the Repeal +Association. Subsequently Assistant-Registrar of Deeds. + +REILLY, THOMAS DEVIN (1823-1854).--One of the _Nation_ staff and one of +the few leading Young Irelanders who supported Mitchel on the division +in the Confederation in 1848. In the United States he won a foremost +position as a political writer. + +REYNOLDS, JOHN.--An Alderman of the Dublin Corporation and M.P. for +Dublin City in the British Parliament, 1847-52. Subsequently Lord Mayor. +He was utterly corrupt and a mob-leader. + +ROEBUCK, J.A. (1801-79).--An English politician who professed +Independent views, and from the violence of his denunciation of his +opponents was nicknamed "Tear 'em." + +RUSSELL, LORD JOHN (1792-1878).--Liberal Prime Minister of England, +1846-52, and again, 1865. He successfully opposed Lord George Bentinck's +proposal to preserve the Irish from famine and pauperism by undertaking +the construction of railways. + +SAVAGE, JOHN (1828-1888).--One of the founders of the _Irish Tribune_. +After the complete failure of the insurrection, he escaped to the United +States where he became eminent in literature and for a time head of the +Fenian movement. + +SHEIL, RICHARD LALOR (1791-1851).--Dramatist, orator and politician. +Deserted Repeal and was made British minister at Florence. Subsequently +Master of the Mint. + +SHIELDS, JAMES, GENERAL (1807-1879).--Born near Dungannon, Shields +emigrated in early life to the United States, where he attained +distinction in journalism and subsequently celebrity as a lawyer. On the +outbreak of war with Mexico, he forsook the Bar for arms, and as a +soldier acquired even higher renown. In 1848 he was chosen as governor +of Oregon, and was considered one of the ablest of the United States +Generals. His political views being in sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, several of them looked towards Shields as another Eoghan +Ruadh, who would accept the call of his country and return to lead the +Irish once they had taken the field. Subsequently Shields engaged in the +Civil War on the Northern side, and, although a comparatively old man, +distinguished himself by defeating General Stonewall Jackson at the +Battle of Winchester, although his army was inferior in numbers and he +had been wounded at the opening of the fight. + +SMYTH, P.J. (1826-1885).--One of the youngest of the Young Ireland +leaders. He escaped from Ireland to the United States after the +collapse of the insurrection, and carried out the rescue of Mitchel from +Van Diemen's Land. On his return to Ireland he re-entered politics, and +sat in the British Parliament successively for Westmeath and Tipperary. + +STANLEY, LORD (1802-1869).--Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the British +Liberal Government, 1846-52. + +STAUNTON, MICHAEL.--Proprietor of the _Morning Register_ newspaper and +an alderman of the Dublin Corporation. His memory survives as the +involuntary agent of bringing Duffy and Davis together--and thus leading +to the foundation of _The Nation_. + +STEPHENS, JAMES (1825-1901).--A Kilkenny railway employe. Afterwards +chief organiser of the Fenian movement, of which, with O'Mahony and +Doheny, he was one of the founders. + +TORRENS, JUDGE.--Called to the Bar, 1798, raised to the Bench, 1823, +where he sat for thirty-three years. + +WILDE, SIR THOMAS (1782-1855).--Lord Truro, Attorney-General to the +British Liberal Government in England, 1846; afterwards Chief Justice of +the Common Pleas and Lord Chancellor of England, 1850-2. + +WILLIAMS, RICHARD DALTON (1822[E]-1862).--One of the most popular of the +poets of the _Nation_. The Government prosecution failed in his case, +and he emigrated to the United States where he became Professor of +Belles Lettres in the University of Mobile. + +WYSE, SIR THOMAS (1791-1862).--One of O'Connell's lieutenants in the +Catholic Association, of which he wrote a history. He declined to +support Repeal, but favoured what is now known as Federal Home Rule, +served as a Lord of the Treasury in Melbourne's administration, and +afterwards for many years as British minister at Athens. He was a man of +superior character to the ordinary type of place-seekers, and his +writings won him a temporary European reputation. + +[Illustration: General Cavaignac (1848)] + +[Illustration: Ledru-Rollin (1848)] + +[Illustration: Lamartine (1848)] + + + + +INDEX HOMINUM + + +Anglesea, Lord, 5, 302. + +Antisell Dr., xxx, 141, 302. + + +Bantry, Lord, 241, 242, 302. + +Barrett, Richard, 49, 302. + +Barrett, Eaton Stannard, 302. + +Barry, Michael Joseph, 32, 62, 98, 99, 105, 106, 302. + +Bem, General, 296. + +Bentinck, Lord George, xii, 315. + +Birch, James, 303. + +Blake, Sir Thomas, 295. + +Blackburne, Chief Justice, 192, 197. + +Brenan, Joseph, 301, 302. + +Broderick, Captain, 86, 303. + +Brown, Bishop, 43. + +Bryan, Major, 89, 303. + +Byrne, Rev. Father, 155, 163, 164, 166. + + +Callanan, Jeremiah Joseph, 225. + +Campbell, Sir John, 18, 303. + +Cane, Dr., 304. + +Cangley, David, 32, 303. + +Cantwell, Bishop, 40, 42, 44, 45. + +Cantwell, James, xxx, 159, 168, 176, 301, 303. + +Carleton, William, 33, 125, 303. + +Cavanagh, John, 176, 181, 303, 304. + +Cavaignac, General, xix, 303, 308. + +"Christabel" (Mrs. Downing), 251, 304. + +Clarendon, Lord, 127, 137, 199, 293, 298, 304. + +Clements, Edward, 76, 304. + +Cloncurry, Lord, 307. + +Conway, Michael George, 62, 304. + +Corvinus, Matthias, 296. + +Crampton, Judge, 146, 304. + +Crean, Michael, 112, 300, 304, 305, 307. + +Crolly, Archbishop, 39, 43, 45, 61, 305. + +Cromwell, Oliver, x, 296. + +Curran, John Philpot, 71. + +Cunningham, D.P., 176. + + +Daunt, W.J. O'Neill, 45, 305. + +Davis, Thomas, viii, ix, 16-20, 22, 23, 30-33, 36, 42, 44, 50, 51, 56, + 57, 63, 64, 69-71, 74, 127, 305, 309, 311, 316. + +Dembinski, General, 296. + +Devereux, General, 312. + +Dillon, John Blake, xv-xvii, 17-20, 32, 122, 131, 140, 153, 159, 163, + 175, 176, 178, 179, 223, 240, 283, 289, 290, 298, 300, 305. + +Dobbyn, Stephenson, 292. + +Doherty, Chief-Justice, 6, 192, 305. + +Doyle, Daniel, 283, 305, 313. + +Drumm, J.H., 300. + +Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan, xx, 18, 19, 30, 32, 38, 69, 93-95, 119-122, + 125, 126, 141, 148, 153, 299, 305, 308, 310, 316. + +Duffy, James, 33. + + +Ebrington, Lord, 14, 15. + +"Eva" (Mrs. Kevin Izod O'Doherty), 127, 305, 310. + +Emmet, Thomas Addis, 307. + +Emmet, Robert, 139, 143, 193, 307. + +Ferguson, Sir Samuel, 118, 148, 305, 306. + +Fitzgerald, John Loyd, 48, 306. + +Fitzgerald, Lord Edward, 193. + +Fitzpatrick, James, 99. + +Fitzsimon, Christopher, 11, 306. + +French, Henry Sneyd (High Sheriff of Dublin), 134, 136. + +Fullam, Bernard, 302. + + +George, Henry, 307. + +Gray, Sir John, 89, 299, 306, 310. + +Grattan, Henry, Jun., 49, 67, 306. + +Grey, Earl, 7, 306. + +Gregg, Rev. Thresham, 292. + + +Halpin, Thomas, M. 112, 306. + +Harnett, Daniel, 313. + +Hartnett, Richard, xxx. + +Hatchell, John, Solicitor-General, 145. + +Heytesbury, Lord, 45, 306. + +Hogan, John, 23, 70, 306, 307. + +Hollywood, Edward, 112, 305, 307. + +Holmes, Robert, 96, 131, 132, 135, 139, 140, 307. + +Hudson, William Eliot, 32, 33, 71, 307. + +Hume, Joseph, 74, 77, 307. + +Huniad, Matthias, 296. + + +Ireland, Richard, 118, 148, 307. + + +Jackson, General "Stonewall," 315. + +Jones, Paul, 290. + + +Kenyon, Father, 60, 131, 152, 174, 307. + +Keeley, James, 112. + + +Lalor, Patrick, 307. + +Lalor, James Fintan, 141, 307. + +Lamartine, Alphonse de, xix, 307, 308. + +Lane, Denny, 32, 308. + +Lawless, Hon. Cecil, 109, 308. + +Leach, James, 293. + +Ledru-Rollin, Alexandre de, xix, 25, 107, 308. + +Lefroy, Baron, 132-139, 307. + +Leyne, Maurice, xiv, 173, 176, 179, 183, 297, 308. + +Longmore, Captain, 178. + +Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III.) xix, 303, 308, 309. + + +MacHale, Archbishop, 38, 44, 51, 309. + +Maclise, Daniel 70, 309. + +MacManus, Terence Bellew, xiv, xxi, 89, 176, 178, 181-183, 190-196, 198, + 199, 297, 305, 309. + +MacNally, Bishop, 43. + +MacNevin, Thomas, 32, 33, 309. + +Maginn, Bishop, xx, 309, 310. + +Mangan, James Clarence, 127, 310. + +Martin, John, xxx, 131, 138, 141-145, 200, 309, 310. + +"Mary" (Miss Ellen Downing), 310. + +M'Cabe, Peter, 292. + +M'Carthy, Denis Florence, 32, 224, 238, 239, 309. + +Meagher, Thomas Francis, ix, xiv-xix, 32, 89, 98, 102, 105, 107, 122, + 128, 131, 138, 140, 153-159, 163, 165, 173-176, 179, 183, 189-199, + 202, 204, 207, 289-291, 297-299, 305, 309, 310. + +Meany, Stephen Joseph, 141, 301, 311. + +Melbourne, Lord, 9, 10, 311. + +M'Garahan, Wm., 294. + +M'Gee, Thomas D'Arcy, xiv, xv, xx, 32, 113, 119, 120, 153, 289-297, 299, + 300, 306, 307, 309, 310. + +Miley, Rev. Dr., 115, 148, 311. + +Mitchel, John, xii, xiii, xix, xx, xxx, 32, 33, 88, 89, 95, 96, 98, 99, + 102, 105, 107, 118-122, 125, 127-141, 143, 151, 157, 188, 280, 311, + 314, 316. + +Mitchel, William Henry, 131. + +Monahan, Chief Justice, 132, 139, 142, 143, 192, 312. + +Moore, George Henry, xi, xii, 310. + +Moore, Judge, 132, 133, 138, 139, 192, 311. + +Morgan, Francis, 300. + +Mullen, Robert, 75. + +Murray, Archbishop, 45, 46, 295. + + +Nagle, Dr., 47, 48, 312. + +Napoleon I., 298. + +Normanby, Lord, 308. + + +O'Brien, William Smith, vii, xv-xx, 24, 34, 36, 41, 46, 49, 51, 57, 59, + 67, 73, 76-81, 83-94, 96, 97, 99-101, 106-108, 117, 121, 122, 128, + 129, 148, 156-159, 163, 165, 167-184, 187-195, 205-207, 284, 291, + 296, 299. + +O'Connell, Daniel, xxvii-xxix, 2-14, 21-25, 27-30, 34-41, 43, 45-50, + 54-59, 61-70, 74-77, 83-89, 93-95, 97-101, 103-111, 114-117, 120, + 187, 188, 250, 293, 302-304, 311, 312, 316. + +O'Connell, Daniel (Jun.) 47, 88, 99, 101, 312. + +O'Connell, John, 47, 59, 60, 77, 78, 81-83, 88, 101, 107, 113, 117, 128, + 151, 312. + +O'Connell, Maurice, 45, 59, 67, 88, 128, 312. + +O'Connell, Morgan, 11, 312. + +O'Conor Don, The, 109, 312. + +O'Connor, Feargus, 9. + +O'Dea, Patrick, xxx, 312. + +O'Doherty, Kevin Izod, xxx, 141, 142, 145-147, 200, 312, 313. + +O'Donohoe, Patrick, 168, 169,176, 178, 183, 189-196, 198, 199. + +O'Donnell, John, 283, 305, 313. + +O'Donnell, Richard, 192-193. + +O'Dowd, James, 75, 313. + +O'Dwyer, Andrew Carew, 11, 313. + +O'Flaherty, Martin, 131, 313. + +O'Gorman, Richard (Jun.), xv, 32, 89, 98, 99, 102, 105, 122, 131, 152, + 153, 189, 223, 240, 283, 289, 301, 305, 312, 313. + +O'Gorman, Richard (Sen.), 313. + +O'Hagan, John, 32, 131. + +O'Hara, Charles, 131. + +O'Hea, James, 75, 88, 89, 313. + +O'Loghlen, Sir Colman, 48, 49, 64, 75, 76, 88, 90-92, 118, 131, 140, + 313. + +O'Mahony, John, xiv, xvii, xviii, xxi, xxx, 163, 173, 176, 185, 186, + 201, 202, 206, 269, 270, 283-287, 313, 314, 316. + +O'Neill, Eoghan Ruadh, ix, 296, 315. + + +Parle, Father, xvi. + +Peel, Sir Robert, 12, 20, 21, 36, 98, 314. + +Pennefather, Baron, 142, 144, 146, 314. + +Pigot, Chief Baron, 142, 144-146, 314. + +Pigot, Dr., 314. + +Pigot, John Edward, 89, 314. + +Pius IX., Pope, 295. + +Plunket, Lord, 18, 314. + + +Quinlan, Margaret, 186, 201. + + +Ray, Thomas Matthew, 10, 87, 88, 106, 314. + +Reilly, John, 45, 106. + +Reilly, Thomas Devin, xv, xviii, 32, 120, 127, 131, 138, 141, 153, 171, + 176, 179, 184, 289, 301, 309, 314. + +Reynolds, John, 47, 117, 314. + +Roebuck, J.A., 57, 315. + +Russell, Lord John, xii, 57, 97-99, 164, 250, 251, 315. + + +Savage, John, 141, 284-287, 315. + +Shiel, Richard Lalor, 6, 101, 102, 109, 315. + +Shields, General, v, vi, 315. + +Sligo, Marquis of, xii. + +Smyth, Patrick Joseph, xv, 159, 168, 283, 300, 315, 316. + +Stanley, Lord, 9, 316. + +Staunton, Michael, 17, 316. + +Stephens, James, xxi, xxx, 168, 169, 176, 178, 181-183, 203-254, 314, + 316. + + +Torrens, Judge, 316. + +Trant, Captain, 180-183. + + +Victoria, Queen, 137, 199, 287. + + +Walsh, Edward, 305. + +Wilde, Sir Thomas, 84, 316. + +Wilde, Lady ("Speranza"), 310. + +Williams, Richard Dalton, xxx, 32, 141, 145, 146, 316. + +Wright, J.D., 176. + +Wyse, Sir Thomas, 50, 58, 316. + + + + +[Transcriber's Note A: printed "posioned" in original.] + +[Transcriber's Note B: spelled "alleigance" in original.] + +[Transcriber's Note C: sic.] + +[Transcriber's Note D: Printed "hose" in original.] + +[Transcriber's Note E: Misprinted as "1882" in original.] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Felon's Track, by Michael Doheny + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FELON'S TRACK *** + +***** This file should be named 14468-8.txt or 14468-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/4/6/14468/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Aaron Reed and the PG Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Felon's Track + History Of The Attempted Outbreak In Ireland, Embracing The Leading + Events In The Irish Struggle From The Year 1843 To The Close + Of 1848 + + +Author: Michael Doheny + +Release Date: December 26, 2004 [EBook #14468] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FELON'S TRACK *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Aaron Reed and the PG Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<p><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i" /></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-01" /><a id="image01" href="images/image01-big.jpg"><img src="images/image01.jpg" width="334" height="400" alt="Michael Doheny" title="Michael Doheny" /></a> +<p class="caption">Michael Doheny</p> +</div> + + + + +<h1><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii" />THE FELON'S TRACK</h1> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">OR</p> + +<p class="titlepagebig">HISTORY OF THE ATTEMPTED OUTBREAK</p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">IN</p> + +<p class="titlepagehuge">IRELAND</p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle from<br /> +the year 1843 to the close of 1848</p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="titlepagesmall">BY</p> + +<h2>MICHAEL DOHENY</h2> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">Author of "The American Revolution."</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p style="margin-left: 15em;"> +Hurrah for the mountain side!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hurrah for the bivouac!<br /></span> +Hurrah for the heaving tide!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If rocking the Felon's Track!<br /></span> +</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="titlepagebig"><i>ORIGINAL EDITION</i></p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">WITH D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848, A PREFACE, +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR'S CONTEMPORARIES, +AN INDEX, AND ILLUSTRATIONS</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="titlepagebig">DUBLIN</p> + +<p class="titlepagebig">M.H. GILL & SON, LTD.</p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">1920</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p> </p> + +<p style="text-align:center;"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii" /><i>Printed and Bound in Ireland by<br /> +M.H. Gill & Son, Ltd.<br /> +50 Upper O'Connell Street<br /> +Dublin</i></p> + +<table style="text-align:center;" summary="List of printing dates for the First through Fourth impressions."> +<tr><td style="text-align:left;"><i>First Edition</i></td><td> </td><td> 1914</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align:left;"><i>Second Impression</i></td><td> </td><td> 1916</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align:left;"><i>Third Impression</i></td><td> </td><td> 1918</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align:left;"><i>Fourth Impression</i></td><td> </td><td> 1920</td></tr> +</table> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv" /> +<a name="illus-02" /><a id="image02" href="images/image02-big.jpg"><img src="images/image02.jpg" width="353" height="400" alt="General Shields" title="General Shields" /></a> +<p class="caption">General Shields</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p class="titlepagebig"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v" /><i>Dedication.</i></p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">TO</p> + +<p class="titlepagebig">GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS</p> + +<p class="titlepagesmall">UNITED STATES SENATOR, ETC.</p> + + +<p>DEAR SIR,—</p> + +<p>In dedicating to you this narrative, I have been influenced by one +consideration only. I have no title to your friendship. I cannot claim +the most remote affinity with your career in arms. There is nothing +connected with this sad fragment of history, either in fact or hope, to +suggest any association with your name or achievements. But as my main +object is to show that Ireland's failure was not owing to native +recreancy or cowardice, I feel satisfied that of all living men, your +position and character will best sustain the sole aim of my present +labour and ambition.</p> + +<p>In past history, Ireland holds a high place; but her laurels were won on +foreign fields, and the jealous literary ambition which raised adequate +monuments to these stormy times denied to her swords the distinction +they vindicated for themselves in the hour of combat. The most +brilliant, unscrupulous and daring historian of France degraded the +niggard praise he accorded them by making it the medium of a false and +contemptible sneer. "The Irish soldier," says Voltaire, "fights bravely +everywhere but in his own country."</p> + +<p>Without pausing here to vindicate that country from such ungrateful +slander, it is enough to say that you <a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi" />were not placed in the same +unhappy position as the illustrious exiles from the last Irish +army—soldiers of fortune in the service of a foreign prince. You were a +citizen of this free Republic, and a volunteer in its ranks; it was +<i>your</i> country, and you and your compatriots who followed the same +standard did no dishonour to those who were bravest among the brave on +the best debated fields in Europe.</p> + +<p>In the wreck of every hope, all who yet cherish the ambition of +realising for Ireland an independent destiny, point to your career as an +encouraging augury, if not a complete justification for not despairing +of their country. It is because I am among those that I have claimed the +honour of inscribing your name on the first page of this, my latest +labour in her cause.</p> + +<p> +I remain, dear Sir,<br /> +<br /> +Very respectfully and sincerely yours,<br /> +<br /> +MICHAEL DOHENY.<br /> +<br /> +<i>New York, Sept. 20, 1849.</i><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE" /><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii" />PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>The Irish Confederation still awaits its historian. Three of its leaders +have left narratives of its brief and momentous career, but, of the +three, Doheny alone participated in the Insurrection that dug the +political grave of Young Ireland. In "The Felon's Track," written hot on +his escape from the stricken land, he tells the story vividly and +passionately. It has morals deducible for all manner of Irishmen, and +one for those English statesmen who comfort themselves with the illusion +that Irish Nationalism, like Jacobitism, is a platonic sentiment. The +man who, roused from his bed at midnight by tapping fingers on his +window and a voice whispering that insurrection was afoot, rose and rode +away in the darkness to join himself to its desperate fortunes was no +young man ardent for adventure. Michael Doheny, when he left his home +and his career to engage in the fatal enterprise, was a sober +middle-aged barrister, a man of weight and fortune into which he had +built himself by the hard toil of twenty years. His social anchorages +were deep-cast—and no mere sentiment provokes such a man to throw aside +the hard-won harvest of his life and risk the rebel's or the felon's +fate.</p> + +<p>In the leadership of the Young Ireland party Michael Doheny was, save +Smith O'Brien, the oldest man and, like O'Brien, his counsels while +courageous were always <a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii" />restrained. There was little other likeness +between the men. Doheny sprang from the poorest class of the Irish +farmers. At Brookfield, near Fethard in Tipperary, where he was born in +May, 1805, he followed the plough on his father's little holding, +earning literally his bread in the sweat of his brow, and educating +himself how he could, for his people were too poor to pay for his +schooling. His indomitable perseverance and his thirst for knowledge +overcame the formidable obstacles of fortune, and at thirty years of age +the poor peasant boy had become a barrister of reputation for ability +and fearlessness. He returned to his native county to become the most +popular and trusted of its "counsellors"—the advocate who did not fear +to face and beard Influence and Ascendancy in its courts. The city of +Cashel had had much of its property alienated and long enjoyed by local +magnates whom none were willing to offend. Doheny fought and defeated +them and regained the purloined estates for the people. He was made +Legal Adviser to the Borough of Cashel and when later the pestilence +fell upon the place, and even the men employed to carry the sick to +hospital lost courage and fled, Doheny showed the same manly example of +citizenship and duty which years later forced him "on the Felon's path," +by carrying in his strong arms to shelter and relief the deserted +victims of the plague. Davis who marked his character, and knew that on +such men a free and self-respecting Ireland must be rebuilt induced him +to enter the Repeal movement of 1842, and in its councils he swayed the +influence of a strong, sincere, able and incorruptible man until the +Association fell into the toils of the English Whigs.<a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix" /> Then he quitted +it and formally adhered to the Young Irelanders. To them he was +invaluable for his eloquence—less brilliant and polished than that of +Meagher, but more effective in its appeal to the heart of the peasantry +whom Doheny knew better than any of his colleagues. On a platform he +triumphed, but with the pen he was often ineffective. His admiration and +reverence for Davis misled him into laboriously imitating Davis's style, +and the result was what it must always be when one man attempts to +express his ideas not in his own way but as he thinks a greater man +would express them. Much that would have been impressive and lucid as +Doheny becomes unimpressive and clouded as Doheny-Davis. In a few of his +verses and "The Felon's Track" Doheny the writer will survive. As a man +who gave up all to help his country and served her like a gallant son, +his memory must be honoured while Ireland has virtue.</p> + +<p>The Irish Confederation, on whose council Doheny sat, was noble in +conception, true in policy and able and honest in its membership. Never +in the leadership of the modern Nationalist movement has there been the +peer in genius and character of the men who founded and inspired that +brilliant and short-lived organisation. In its career it went nearer to +bridging the differences of class and creed in Ireland than any previous +organisation since the Volunteers at Dungannon proclaimed themselves +Irishmen and hailed their oppressed Catholic countrymen fellow-citizens. +But the Confederation was not yet six months old when it was called on +to face a situation in Ireland as terrible as that which confronted +Irishmen when Eoghan Ruadh O'Neill lay <a name="Page_x" id="Page_x" />dead and Cromwell marched at the +head of his iron legions to the conquest of a distracted country. The +failure of the potato-crop which menaced Ireland with serious loss at +the birth of the Confederation in January, 1847, threatened the +destruction of the people by the middle of 1847. The Relief measures +provided by the English Whig Government set up a system under which +places, large and small, were provided for some thousands of persons of +political influence. Their tenure of employment depending upon the +ministry, they used that influence to the end of sustaining the +ministry, while the unfortunate small farmers who had hitherto kept on +the right side of the line between poverty and pauperism were forced to +the wrong side. Of all the measures passed under the guise of relieving +"the famine-stricken Irish" the most infamous was that measure which +provided that no farmer should be accorded relief if, the produce of his +farm having gone to discharge his rents, rates and taxes, he hungered +and yet strove to hold his farm. Before he was permitted to receive any +help from the public funds he was required to surrender his land and +become a pauper. Thus under pretext of relieving famine, pauperism was +propagated.</p> + +<p>Be it remembered that all this time there was no <i>famine</i> in Ireland. +The potato-crop, indeed, had failed as it had failed in Great Britain, +France, Germany and other countries at the same period, but the corn +crop was fat and abundant. Each year of the so-called famine, food to +maintain double the whole population was raised from the Irish soil. It +was exported to England to feed the English people. Nobody starved <a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi" />in +Germany. The German governments ordered the ports to be closed to the +export of food until the danger had passed. The Irish Confederation +demanded the same measure. "Close the Irish ports," it called to the +British Government, "and no man can die of hunger in Ireland." The +British Government, instead, flung the ports wide open. The great +principle of Free Trade required that the Irish should export their food +freely. Relief ships from foreign countries laden with the food +subscribed by charitable people to succour the starving Irish met +occasionally ships sailing out of the Irish ports laden with food reaped +by the starving Irish. On the quays of Galway the unhappy people wailed +as they saw their harvests borne away from them, and were admonished by +the butt-ends of British muskets, the British Government meantime +passing Relief measures which provided employment for hordes of English +officials and Irish understrappers, and pauper-relief for those who +surrendered their manhood and their property—the cost of this relief, +like the cost of the passage of the Act of Union, being debited to +Ireland—a generous loan in fact.</p> + +<p>No doubt a union of the whole Irish people would have rendered all this +impossible. The Irish Confederation worked hard to bring about this +essential union. Directly and indirectly it achieved for a moment a +semblance of national unity. The Irish Council, composed largely of the +resident landlords—who mostly endeavoured to alleviate the +distress—came into being, reasoned with the Government and, when the +Government ignored reason, fell to pieces. George Henry Moore, a young +sporting landlord and a <a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii" />Tory (afterwards, as a result, to become a +Nationalist leader), conceived the design of getting all the Irish +members of the British Parliament to act together against the existing +British Government or any British Government which did not deal honestly +and effectively with the crisis. With the Marquis of Sligo, a nobleman +who did his duty to his tenantry during the Famine, Moore travelled +around Ireland and secured between sixty and seventy Irish members of +Parliament and forty-five Irish peers to subscribe to his independence +programme. They met in Dublin, resolved boldly, departed for London +cheered by the nation, and crumbled there at the Premier's frown. When +the Tory Lord George Bentinck proposed that instead of pauperising the +Irish by a vote of four or five millions for relief there should be a +vote of sixteen millions for railway construction, the Premier, Lord +John Russell, threatened the Irish members with his displeasure if they +supported Bentinck, and the majority of them thereupon opposed the +proposal of reproductive work for the people in lieu of pauper relief.</p> + +<p>It was in these circumstances Mitchel put forward his policy in the +Confederation of arming the people and bidding them hold their harvests. +The Confederation rejected the policy, still hoping to effect a national +union. Through such a union alone, it declared, could national +independence be achieved. Doheny strongly opposed Mitchel on this +ground. Mitchel's reply was simple. He had been and was ready to follow +the aristocrats of Ireland if they would lead. They would not lead, and +meanwhile the people perished. Therefore he would urge the people to +save themselves. The <a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii" />policy of the Confederation in normal times would +have been nationally sound. The circumstances had become abnormal, and +Mitchel's policy was suited to the abnormal circumstances. His +conviction that the British Government was deliberately using the +potato-crop failure for the purpose of reducing the Irish +population—which then was equal to more than half the population of +England and a menace to that country, as one of its statesmen +incautiously admitted—was a conviction not shared by the bulk of his +colleagues. They shrank from it as men will shrink from a conclusion +that horrifies the human nature in them. Mitchel went outside the +Confederation to preach his policy, and he might have preached it +without result had not the French Revolution turned men's minds to the +contemplation of arms and armed opinion. The arrest, indictment and +conviction of Mitchel, Doheny has described graphically. The reasons +that prevailed against attempting Mitchel's rescue, Doheny cogently +states. There is no reason to doubt that an attempt to rescue Mitchel +would have been a failure in its object. But there are occasions when it +is wiser to attempt the impossible than to acquiesce. The unchallenged +removal of Mitchel in chains from Ireland had a moral effect on the +country that was worth 20,000 additional troops to the Government.</p> + +<p>Thereafter, the Confederation vacillated in its policy and finally +permitted itself, in its desire for Unity as the potent weapon, to be +extinguished in favour of an Irish League which was to combine +O'Connellites and Young Irelanders. The Irish League met once, and died. +The Confederation had been hoodwinked.<a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv" /> Doheny who opposed the +amalgamation, retired to Cashel, severing his connection with the former +Confederation. He was, therefore, free in honour to have taken no part +in the insurrection, since it was begun by men from whom he had +withdrawn. But when the voice in the night whispered through his window +that his former colleagues had crossed the Rubicon, Doheny, like the man +he was, rose and rode forth to make the fatal passage and stand or fall +with them.</p> + +<p>From this point, Doheny's narrative may be supplemented and corrected by +information that was not at the time he wrote available to him. Meagher, +Leyne, M'Gee, O'Mahony and MacManus, have left in newspaper articles and +in MS. accounts of what happened in the light of which Doheny's +narrative must be read.</p> + +<p>On Thursday, July 20th, 1848, the British Government issued a +proclamation ordering the people of Ireland to surrender their arms. +Thomas Francis Meagher, who was at the time in Waterford, issued a +counter-proclamation to the people of that city bidding them to hold +them fast. He then hurried to Dublin to consult with his colleagues and +he arrived in the metropolis the next day. There had been a strong +division of opinion in the Confederate clubs as to how the Government +proclamation should be treated, the general feeling of the rank-and-file +inclining to open resistance. The leaders counselled a waiting policy +until the harvest had been gathered, the arms to be concealed meanwhile. +This counsel prevailed against the remonstrance of one of the Dublin +leaders that if heaven rained down loaded rifles they would wait for +angels to pull the triggers. If the insurrection could have been +post<a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv" />poned until the harvest the counsel would have been sound. The +Young Ireland leaders forgot, however, that the Government had one +powerful weapon in reserve with which it might force their hands—the +Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. On July 21st Meagher and his +comrades and the Dublin leaders discussed and arranged the outline of a +contingent insurrectionary plan for the autumn. O'Brien left for Wexford +and O'Gorman for Limerick to organise those counties. The next morning +the news reached those who remained in Dublin that the Habeas Corpus Act +had been suspended, and that a warrant was on its way to Ireland for the +arrest of Smith O'Brien. The choice left was to fight, to become +fugitives, or to surrender. Dillon, M'Gee, Reilly, P.J. Smyth and +Meagher decided hurriedly on the first course. They rejected the +proposal to begin the fight in Dublin, as they believed it would be +hopeless with the resources at their disposal to contend against a +disciplined garrison of 11,000 men in a city a large proportion of whose +population was hostile. Kilkenny was regarded as a stronghold of the +Confederation, and Dillon suggested it should be the objective. Dillon +and Meagher quitted Dublin to seek O'Brien; Reilly and Smyth started for +Tipperary, and M'Gee for Scotland where it was hoped the Glasgow Irish +could be induced to rise, seize some of the Clyde steamers and effect a +landing in Sligo or Mayo which might rouse Connacht and western Ulster +to the assistance of the South.</p> + +<p>Dillon and Meagher left Dublin on the night of the 22nd of July by the +mailcoach for Enniscorthy. Neither had the slightest hope of a +successful insurrection, but <a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi" />they felt that honour and its future +survival demanded that a nation must reply to the command of a foreign +power to gag its mouth and throw down its arms by drawing the sword. +They found Smith O'Brien at Enniscorthy and he joined in their views. +Father Parle and the people of Enniscorthy undertook to defend O'Brien +by force of arms if any attempt were made to arrest him there, and +agreed that if he went into Kilkenny and Tipperary and succeeded in +arousing those counties Wexford would take up arms. O'Brien and his +colleagues moved towards Kilkenny through Graiguenamanagh where the +people received them with enthusiasm, and they arrived in what they +hoped to make again the provisional capital of Ireland in the evening of +the 23rd of July.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-03" /><a id="image03" href="images/image03-big.jpg"><img src="images/image03.jpg" width="299" height="400" alt="Terence Bellew MacManus" title="Terence Bellew MacManus" /></a> +<p class="caption">Terence Bellew MacManus</p> +</div> + +<p>The considerations in favour of beginning the insurrection in Kilkenny +were sound. It was the one Irish city of importance inaccessible to +British naval power, it offered a convenient rallying-centre for the +counties of Tipperary, Waterford, and Wexford upon which the Young +Ireland leaders relied, the country around it was well-adapted for +defensive fighting against superior forces, and it had an historic +appeal to the Irish imagination. The arrival of the insurgent leaders +was hailed with joy by the people, and there was no doubt of the +readiness of the populace to fight. But an examination of the military +resources of the place showed that the British forces consisted of 1,000 +troops in a strongly-defended position, while amongst the Irish there +were but 200 armed men and the gunsmiths' shops in the city could not +arm a hundred more. The decision not to strike the first blow at +Kilkenny in the <a name="Page_xvii" id="Page_xvii" />circumstances was inevitable. It was agreed to make +for Carrick-on-Suir, another Young Ireland town, seize the place and +march at the head of the elated Tipperarymen on Kilkenny. On Monday, +July 24th, O'Brien, Meagher and Dillon left for Carrick-on-Suir, and on +the way they were received with enthusiasm at Callan, where the 8th +Hussars—mainly composed of Irishmen—manifested sympathy with the +insurrectionary propaganda. Near Carrick they were joined by John +O'Mahony, a landed proprietor of the neighbourhood, afterwards to become +famous as the founder of Fenianism. By descent, education and character +a leader of men, O'Mahony had thousands of followers among the people +ready to rally to any venture for Ireland at his call. "His square, +broad frame," wrote Meagher, "his frank, gay, fearless look; the warm +forcible headlong earnestness of his manner; the quickness and +elasticity of his movements; the rapid glances of his clear full eye; +the proud bearing of his head; everything about him struck us with a +brilliant and exciting effect, as he threw himself from his saddle and, +tossing the bridle on his arm, hastened to meet and welcome us. At a +glance we recognised in him a true leader for the generous, passionate, +intrepid peasantry of the South." O'Mahony strongly advised them to +begin the insurrection that night in Carrick, and he left to collect the +peasantry. O'Brien and his comrades proceeded to the town where the +people received them with frenzied enthusiasm, calling out to be led +immediately to the fray. "A torrent of human beings rushing through +lanes and narrow streets"—such is Meagher's description of the +scene—"surging and boiling against the <a name="Page_xviii" id="Page_xviii" />white basements ... wild, +half-stifled, passionate, frantic prayers of hope ... curses on the red +flag: scornful delirious defiances of death.... It was the Revolution if +we had accepted it." But it was not accepted. The local leaders were +unworthy of the people. They persuaded O'Brien to go elsewhere. It was a +cardinal and egregious mistake which he regretted within twenty-four +hours. Had he brushed the quavering local leaders aside and given the +word to the imploring people of Carrick the insurrection of 1848 would +have become respectable. O'Mahony's followers to the number of 12,000 +were on the march to Carrick when the news reached them of O'Brien's +departure. Disheartened they broke up and returned to their homes.</p> + +<p>Doheny's account of what happened after the fatal retreat from Carrick +needs to be amplified in connection with the final error of O'Brien's +leadership. At the Council of War on the 28th of July O'Brien rejected +the proposal to seize for the use of his followers all things needful, +paying for them with drafts on the future Irish Government, and he +declined the other practical proposal to offer farms rent-free to all +who fought for Ireland. Neither would he assent to the suggestion that +he and the other leaders should go into hiding until the harvest was +reaped. Willing to fight and ready to die, he would not consent to +conduct a revolution on revolutionary lines. The departure of Doheny and +others—save Devin Reilly, who urged the abandonment of the insurrection +as hopeless—was in pursuance of their plan to await the gathering of +the harvest.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_xix" id="Page_xix" />O'Brien's attitude at the Council of War destroyed the last hope of the +insurrection. He expected to get men to fight under his standard while +he essayed no adequate provision for their support in the field, and +interdicted them from interference with private property to supply them +with the necessaries of the campaign. No nobler and braver man has +appeared in modern Irish history than William Smith O'Brien, but at the +head of an insurrectionary movement he was incompetent. There was none +of his lieutenants who, in his position, could not have made the +insurrection to some extent formidable.</p> + +<p>That it could have been successful, few will believe. Mitchel and +Meagher agreed that 1848 would not have been the year of Liberation. But +the former held very justly that the insurrection if it grew to +respectable dimensions might have forced terms from England. The +attitude of France at the time was a factor in the situation. The +pro-Irish minister, Ledru-Rollin, had been checked by the pro-English +minister, Lamartine, but General Cavaignac and Louis Napoleon were, for +divergent reasons, inclined to help Ireland against England, and +assurances had been given that if an Irish insurrection gained +considerable initial successes the French Government would exert +influence on England. A successful blow at Carrick and a subsequent +seizure of Kilkenny and proclamation of Irish independence from that +city was possible, and if realised would have probably led to the +counties of Waterford and Tipperary rising en masse. How far the +insurrection would have spread outside those counties is problematical, +but in the year 1848 they were counties <a name="Page_xx" id="Page_xx" />which presented difficulties to +regular troops and advantages to insurgent forces. According to M'Gee, +Sligo was willing to rise if the South made a good beginning and the +Bishop of Derry, Dr. Maginn, sent a message to Gavan Duty that he was +willing to join in the insurrection at the head of his priests once the +harvest was reaped. Doheny's criticism of the action of some of the +Tipperary priests is justified. But of others it is to be remembered +that they were not in sympathy with Young Ireland, that they were not +bound to support an insurrection undertaken irrespective of them, and +that they could not be expected to take the initiative. There were at +least two priests in Tipperary prepared to lead their parishioners to +the insurgent standard if O'Brien struck at any point a successful blow. +O'Brien's indecision was the real cause why the insurrection died in its +birth.</p> + +<p>If courage and devotion could have saved Ireland in 1848, O'Brien and +his comrades would have saved the land. No braver gentlemen could any +nation produce. They asked their countrymen to take no risks they did +not take themselves in the forefront. But courage and devotion alone can +never make an insurrection into a revolution. 1848 was a failure—in one +sense—because there was no second Mitchel in Ireland when the first +Mitchel was hurried off on a British gunboat.</p> + +<p>But 1848 was not a failure in the true sense of failure. For years the +Irish people had submitted to any and every imposition of foreign +tyranny, taught to believe that forcible resistance to outrage on their +national <a name="Page_xxi" id="Page_xxi" />liberties was in itself immoral. The sneer of the satirist +that the Irish were:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"A nation of abortive men<br /></span> +<span>Who shoot the tongue and wield the pen,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>seemed to have grown a reality. Young Ireland evoked the fighting +tradition of the nation once again. Without 1848 the spirit that freed +the Irish Catholic from being tributary to another Church and regained +the land for the farmers would have slept for a century—perhaps for +ever.</p> + +<p>Driven from his country, Doheny with the companion of his fugitive +wanderings, James Stephens, and the chivalrous O'Mahony, founded the +Fenian brotherhood in the United States. Once more before his sudden +death in April, 1862, he saw Ireland—on the occasion of the MacManus +Funeral.</p> + +<p>Let me, said a wise man, always be surrounded by men of sanguine +temperament. Defeat and exile could not dim the faith of Doheny in his +country. The fugitive who had wrecked his fortunes in Ireland's cause +and witnessed a failure which English statesmen believed ended for ever +the dream of Irish independent nationhood, set his foot in exile only to +begin anew to plan Ireland Independent. So long as the sanguine heart +that carried Michael Doheny undaunted along the Felon's Track beats in +the breast of his country the Irish Nation will be indestructible.</p> + +<p>ARTHUR GRIFFITH.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center"><i><a name="Page_xxii" id="Page_xxii" />This Edition is reprinted from the Original Edition published in New +York by W.H. Holbrooke, Fulton Street, in October, 1849. The portraits +of the Young Ireland leaders are mainly from the daguerreotypes by +Professor Gluckmann, and the illustrations of Tipperary in 1848 are +reproduced from the "Illustrated London News" of that year.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Page_xxiii" id="Page_xxiii" /><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS" />CONTENTS</h2> + + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">RETROSPECT. — COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE—EARLY DAYS OF +THE ASSOCIATION +</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_1">1</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS. — THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER— +PROGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION. — CLONTARF MEETING. — THE STATE +TRIALS. — THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY. — SMITH O'BRIEN. — FEDERALISM. +—THE BEQUESTS ACT</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_16">16</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT. — DIFFERENCES +BETWEEN MR. O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE. — FINANCIAL REFORMS IN +THE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION. — +'82 CLUB. — THE COLLEGES BILL. — DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES +CONSEQUENT UPON IT. — QUARREL WITH MR. DAVIS. — THE GREAT LEVEE +AT THE ROTUNDA. — DECLINE OF THE AGITATION. — CLOSING LABOURS +AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_42">42</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS. — +CONDUCT OF THE ASSOCIATION. — DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB. — +MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS TO IRELAND. — DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_73">73</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">DEFEAT OF PEEL. — ACCESSION OF THE WHIGS. — MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE. — DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL. — MR. O'CONNELL +DENOUNCES THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY. — CONTINUED DEBATES. — +QUESTIONS AT ISSUE. — PHYSICAL FORCE. — THE SECESSION. — WHIG +ALLIANCE. — DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE. — FORMATION OF THE +CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER. — MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH. — CLOSE OF +THE YEAR 1847. </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_98">98</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a name="Page_xxiv" id="Page_xxiv" /><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL. — HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE, +AND SPEECH. — THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED. — ARREST OF +MESSRS. MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS, AND DUFFY. — CONVICTION OF +MR. MARTIN. — HIS SPEECH. — CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF +MR. O'DOHERTY. — DISSOLUTION OF THE CONFEDERATION. — THE LEAGUE </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_118">118</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">THE OUTBREAK. — MR. O'BRIEN IN CARRICK. — CASHEL. — KILLENAULE, +MULLINAHONE, BALLINGARRY. — AFFAIR AT KILLENAULE. — DEFEAT +OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMONS. — PERSONAL ADVENTURES OF +THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. O'BRIEN'S +ARREST </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE. — +ARREST OF TERENCE BELLEW M'MANUS. — CLONMEL SPECIAL +COMMISSION. — TRIAL, CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE +REBELS. — WRIT OF ERROR. — COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE. — +TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_187">187</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></p> +<p class="TOCSummary">CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS. — DUNGARVAN. — THE +COMERAGHS. — MOUNT MELLERAY. — KILWORTH. — CROSS. — +DUNMANWAY. — GOUGANE BARRA. — BANTRY BAY. — THE PRIEST'S +LEAP. — KENMARE. — THE REEKS. — KILLARNEY. — TEMPLENOE. — +DEPARTURE. — CORK. — BRISTOL. — LONDON. — PARIS</p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_201">201</a><br /></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#CONCLUSION">CONCLUSION</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#APPENDICES">APPENDICES</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_289">289</a></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTEMPORARIES">LIST OF CONTEMPORARIES</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_302">302</a></p> + +<p class="TOCChaphead"><a href="#INDEX">INDEX</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_317">317</a></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS<a name="Page_xxv" id="Page_xxv" /></h2> +<p style="text-align:right; margin-right: 1em;">Facing page</p> + +<p><a href="#illus-01">MICHAEL DOHENY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#illus-01"><i>frontispiece</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-02">GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#illus-02"><i>dedication</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-03">TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_xvi">xvi</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-04">WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_xxxii">xxxii</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-05">THOMAS DAVIS</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-06">JOHN BLAKE DILLON</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-07">CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-08">RICHARD O'GORMAN, JUNIOR</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-08">PATRICK O'DONOHOE</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-09">THOMAS DEVIN REILLY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-10">JOHN MITCHEL</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-11">ROBERT HOLMES</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-12">THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-13">JOHN MARTIN</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-14">KEVIN IZOD O'DOHERTY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-15">BALLINGARRY, SLIEVENAMON IN THE DISTANCE (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-16">A STREET IN BALLINGARRY (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-17">THE WIDOW MCCORMACK'S HOUSE, NEAR BALLINGARRY. (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-18">THE KNOCKMELDOWN MOUNTAINS FROM ARDFINAN (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-19">DUNMANWAY PROM THE BRIDGE ON THE CORK ROAD (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_224">224</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-20">THURLES ON MARKET DAY (August, 1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-22">JOHN O'MAHONY</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_256">256</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-21">JAMES STEPHENS</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_256">256</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-23">AHENY HILL, SHOWING THE CONSTABULARY POLICE BARRACK<br /> DESTROYED +BY THE INSURGENTS (1848)</a></p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_272">272</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-24">JOHN SAVAGE</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_288">288</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-25">LOUIS NAPOLEON</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_308">308</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-26">LEDRU-ROLLIN, GENERAL CAVAIGNAC, LAMARTINE (1848)</a> </p><p class="TOCpagenum"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Page_xxvi" id="Page_xxvi" /><a name="AUTHORS_INTRODUCTION" id="AUTHORS_INTRODUCTION" /><a name="Page_xxvii" id="Page_xxvii" />AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>There are few facts detailed in the following pages that need +explanation here. If my motive in writing them were personal +gratification, or simply a desire to preserve a memorial of scenes in +which I took an anxious part, I might labour to make the narration more +interesting to my readers, without any care for future consequences.</p> + +<p>But through every disaster I preserved unbroken faith in the purpose and +courage of my country. I believed, and still believe that her true heart +is faithful to liberty and hopeful for the future; and this conviction +involved me in a struggle with the apparently opposite tendency of the +facts I was bound to narrate. Had I to write for a new generation, upon +whom these facts could have made no false impressions, my task would be +easy. I am persuaded that a simple statement of all that occurred would +satisfy any candid mind that no disgrace attached to Ireland in her +recent discomfiture. But I must needs confess that it is a task of +extreme difficulty to reconcile her fall with the pre-conceived notions +or present prejudices of those who read her story through the false +medium of the press; nor do I hope for more than partial success from +the details I have been able to give of the circumstances of which she +was the victim and the dupe.</p> + +<p>It is impossible fully to appreciate the pernicious effect of Mr. +O'Connell's teaching, without reviewing in minute detail the leading +circumstances of his wonderful career and the matchless and countless +resources with which he upheld his fatal system. In dealing with <a name="Page_xxviii" id="Page_xxviii" />this +part of my subject my difficulties have been multiplied and enhanced by +a strong desire to do him no injustice, and to leave untouched by doubt +or suspicion a character so intertwined with my country's love. But it +became necessary to refer to those acts which chiefly tended to increase +the obstacles which beset our endeavours. In doing this, whether here or +elsewhere in my narrative, if I use phrases which would seem to imply +harshness to his memory, I wish them to be understood as applied in +reference to the attempt to effect the deliverance of Ireland by force +of arms, and establishing her entire and perfect independence. I have +avoided this question, assuming that I wrote only for those who agreed +with me in the belief that such is her true destiny, and the end for +which her children ought to strive.</p> + +<p>In this view of her recent struggle, there can be no doubt of the +tendency of Mr. O'Connell's policy to demoralise, disgrace, enfeeble and +corrupt the Irish people, and it is in that sense, and that only, I have +always spoken of him.</p> + +<p>Another subject, of perhaps greater delicacy and difficulty, was the +part taken by the Catholic clergy. On my arrival in America, I found a +fierce contest agitating, dividing and enfeebling the Irish-American +population. It was asserted on one side that the entire failure was +attributable to the Catholic priests, and that in opposing the +liberation of Ireland they acted in accordance with some recognised +radical principle of the Church.</p> + +<p>I could not assent to either of these propositions. I knew several +priests who were fully prepared to take their share in an armed +conflict; in fact, the vast majority of those I met at the time. And +again, with respect to such as did interfere, and opposed the efforts of +the people's chiefs, I do not believe that one man was influenced by +considerations connected with, or emanating from the Church, in its +corporate capacity.<a name="Page_xxix" id="Page_xxix" /> Of Mr. O'Connell's policy, already referred to, +none were blinder victims than some of the priests. It had made such an +impression on them that they scarcely could believe anything was real, +or any sentiment was true; and when they admitted its truth it was only +to prove its madness. Of other and more questionable motives I shall say +nothing here.</p> + +<p>But while I feel the injustice of the sweeping charge made against the +whole body of the priesthood, I would be unfaithful to my purpose and my +convictions if I concealed the acts and language of those among them, +who interposed and unhappily exercised baneful influence on the abortive +attempt of their unfortunate country. I shall only say further that what +relates to them is the only part of my narrative which gave me shame to +tell.</p> + +<p>I have only a word to add in reference to certain proceedings in the +Committee of the Association now made public for the first time. It may +be said, and, I doubt not, will be said, that these were matters which +we were morally pledged to keep secret. I readily admit that, although +there was no obligation whatever, either expressed or implied, as to any +subject discussed in committee any more than in the public hall, still, +I should not disclose any part of its proceedings if I were not +compelled by an imperative necessity. Upon one subject, and that the +most important to the character of my illustrious friend, no other proof +was available. And the tacit understanding, in virtue of which I would +be disposed to admit any obligation of secrecy, does not and could not +extend beyond such matters as would, if divulged, endanger the safety or +impair the efficiency of the Association. What I tell of the proceedings +of the Committee, even if it yet existed, would scarcely have any such +effect. But every one knows it not only does not exist, but that is has +left no memory which it would be possible to degrade. Its physical +existence long survived the last spark of moral vitality, and its +<a name="Page_xxx" id="Page_xxx" />efficiency now consists in this, if it warn all men against the species +of terrorism which finally prevailed in its councils and effected its +overthrow.</p> + +<p>In certain circumstances which I relate, I may possibly make some +mistakes in the dates, owing to the difficulty of finding those dates in +odd numbers and broken volumes of the Journals to which alone I have had +access.</p> + +<p>It would have given me the sincerest pleasure to add to the collection +of heads, which I have been able to procure, those of others who took an +honourable part in the Irish struggle. Foremost among them are John +Martin and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, who followed in the footsteps and +shared the fate of John Mitchel. But I am not aware that there are any +likenesses of them in existence; at all events they are not to be +obtained in this country.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1" /><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>There are others, too, mentioned in my narrative, whose likenesses I +would feel delighted to present to my readers, and some, who although +cursorily or not at all mentioned, acted a noble and devoted part. Of +the first, are the companions of my wanderings, James Stephens and John +O'Mahony; and of the second, Doctor Antisel, Richard Dalton Williams, +James Cantwell, Richard Hartnet, Patrick O'Dea, and indeed many others, +of whose efforts and sacrifices it would be a source of pride to me to +make honourable mention.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2" /><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>I may be permitted to take this opportunity to assure them and others of +whom I have not spoken that no name has been omitted by me from any +feelings of dislike or any desire to depreciate the services and +sacrifices of a single man among the hundreds, whose exile or ruin +attests the sincerity of their convictions <a name="Page_xxxi" id="Page_xxxi" />and the purity of their +patriotism. Even with men who do not take the same view of last year's +history as I do, their names and characters will go far to redeem its +darkest traces from shame and obloquy. They are now scattered over the +wide earth, and there is not one among them from the highest to the +humblest, whom I do not hold in the utmost honour and esteem.</p> + +<p><i>New York, September 21, 1849.</i></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1" /><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> I am glad it has been found easy to supply these in this +edition of the work.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2" /><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Some of these will also be found in the present +gallery—Ed.</p></div> + +</div> +<p><a name="Page_xxxii" id="Page_xxxii" /> </p> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-04" /><a id="image04" href="images/image04-big.jpg"><img src="images/image04.jpg" width="338" height="400" alt="William Smith O'Brien" title="William Smith O'Brien" /></a> +<p class="caption">William Smith O'Brien</p> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1" /><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I" />CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p>RETROSPECT—COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE. — ARLY DAYS OF THE +ASSOCIATION.</p> + + +<p>The appearance of this narrative will surprise no one. For apology, if +any be needed, the writer may trust to his own share in the transactions +with which it deals; and still more so perhaps to the misrepresentation +to which, during their progress, he had been personally subjected. But +personal vindication imparts neither interest nor importance to history, +while it necessarily detracts from its dignity and good faith. Besides, +time with the disastrous events marking its more recent course, have +silenced the voice of calumny; and the writer undertakes his task with +no personal feeling to gratify or even to consult. The character of +others, now unable to be heard, is far dearer to him than his own: and +while he aspires to justify, before the world, their singular career, +distinguished throughout by generous and lofty passions, surpassing +intellect and measureless love of their country and countrymen—a +career so brilliant and instructive even in the last hours of gloom—he +will endeavour to infuse into the history of their struggles and their +fate, that generous tenderness toward others, that spirit of +self-sacrifice and supreme love of truth, which were among their noblest +characteristics.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2" />The undertaking suggests but one painful consideration—the +impossibility of treating the subject fully and fairly without +investigating facts far anterior to the late struggle, but coincident in +their effect with its progress and development, and stamping their +pernicious and fatal influence upon the spirit and conduct that led to a +final overthrow. This will necessarily involve an inquiry into the late +conduct and teaching of Mr. O'Connell, which the writer would most +willingly avoid. Mr. O'Connell's name and character fill a mighty space +in history. They are the most cherished recollections in his country's +memory; and she clings to them with loving pride in this her hour of +utter desolation. The hand that traces these recollections would be the +last to aim a blow at the object of her sacred affections; and if in +obedience to a more binding obligation, Mr. O'Connell's policy be +questioned and condemned, his influencing motive shall be unchallenged +and unarraigned. What his final purpose was, and how he had determined +to effect it, had his life been spared, and his course left unimpeded, +now rest with him in his grave. It is for others to write his history +and vindicate his career. By me even his mistakes shall be treated with +forbearance.</p> + +<p>A brief reference to the struggle for Catholic Emancipation becomes here +imperative. That struggle has had no equal in history—nor for its moral +grandeur, nor for its triumph—but for the singular difficulties which +the position of the Irish Catholic imposed on those who engaged in it. +It is an error to call it emancipation. It was neither the first nor the +last, nor even the most important in the train of concessions, which are +entitled <a name="Page_3" id="Page_3" />to the name of emancipation. The pains and penalties of the +"<i>penal laws</i>" had been long abolished, and that barbarous code had been +compressed into cold and stolid exclusiveness. But the vices which a +long and unrelenting slavery had burned into the character of the +country, remained. The lie of law, which assumed the non-existence of +the Catholic had infused itself into his nature, and while it was erased +from the statute book, it was legible on his heart. That terrible +necessity of denying his feelings, his property, his religion and his +very being, had stamped its degrading influence on his nature. In a +moral sense the law had become a truth—there was no people. The +Catholic gentry, giddy by their recent elevation, had only changed for +that semblance of liberty their old stern spirit of resistance and +revenge. Their new concessions hung gracefully around them, but they +were like grafts on an ash stock—their growth was downward, and they +wanted the stature and dignity of the native tree. Such were the means +at Mr. O'Connell's disposal. His enemies on the other hand were false, +powerful, dexterous and unscrupulous. His efforts necessarily partook of +the character both of the weapons he was obliged to wield and the foes +he struck down. As he advanced to eminence and strength, means, the most +crafty and cruel, were taken to overthrow him, every one of which he +foiled by a sagacity infinitely above that of his oppressors. So +successful had he been in deceiving the champions of intolerance, that +of all the great qualities displayed in that wonderful struggle, that +which was most prized was the cunning of evasion. It left behind it an +enduring and destructive influence.<a name="Page_4" id="Page_4" /> Dissimulation in political action +began to be regarded as a public virtue, and long afterwards, when men +sought to assert the dignity of truth, their candour was charged against +them as a heinous crime. It will be seen hereafter how fatally this fact +operated against their efforts.</p> + +<p>The very character of Emancipation has assumed an exaggerated and false +guise. The joy of the nation was boundless—its gratitude immeasurable. +In the shout that hailed the deliverer, earlier deliverers were +forgotten. No one remembered the men whose stupendous exertions wrung +from the reluctant spirit of a far darker time the right of living, of +worship, of enjoying property, and exercising the franchise. All these, +and more, which were once, and not very remotely, denied to the +Catholics had been before this accorded to them. Yet the interest and +importance of winning access to Parliament, to the higher ranks of the +army, and, perhaps a stray seat at the Privy Council, acquired the name +of Emancipation, and Mr. O'Connell monopolised its entire renown. He was +styled the "Liberator," and his achievement designated as "striking the +fetters from the limbs of the slave, and liberating the altar." In +truth, the import of Emancipation was so exaggerated, and its history so +warped, that even now at a distance of more than twenty years, both the +act and the actors are so misunderstood that it requires no little +daring to approach a question involving the sensibilities, prejudices +and passions of an entire generation.</p> + +<p>A truer appreciation might have given Mr. O'Connell a different and +higher destiny. Not alone the boundless <a name="Page_5" id="Page_5" />exultation of the Catholic but +the mortified pride of the baffled Protestant also stamped its influence +on his fortunes, prospects and career. In proportion as he was to the +former an object of adulation and pride did the latter hoard up in his +heart for him enduring envy and insatiable hate. Another circumstance, +too, which Mr. O'Connell did not create and could not in the beginning +control, contributed to mar his future glory. This was the pecuniary +compensation which the emancipated Catholics kneeled to present him. It +is far from being intended here to disparage the offering or decry its +acceptance. On the contrary, if this were the proper place, both would +be vindicated with zealous pride. But the effect of the continued +collection, on Mr. O'Connell's conduct and efficiency was baneful in the +extreme. And it was among the most prominent circumstances in shaping +his career.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell entered the House of Commons under auspices more +flattering and encouraging than ever smiled on the advent to that +assembly of any other man. In whatever light he was regarded, he was far +the foremost personage of his time. How his subsequent career might +justify the hushed awe with which a proud senate received him if he had +devoted himself to the broad and comprehensive questions of imperial +jurisprudence, for which he seemed so eminently fitted, it would be idle +now to conjecture. Certain it is that no act of his after life, varied +and wonderful as it was, realised the promise of that glad and glorious +morning.</p> + +<p>Lord Anglesea, who had been removed from the viceroyalty for suspected +treachery to the cause of intolerance, was restored to his office, by +more <a name="Page_6" id="Page_6" />distinguished converts, and was received by the people with +tumultuous acclaim. His popularity was short-lived. The present Chief +Justice, Doherty, was then Attorney-General. He incurred the wrath of +Mr. O'Connell in consequence of treachery which he had exhibited in +conducting a trial at Clonmel. This led to a fierce encounter in the +House of Commons—the first great trial of Mr. O'Connell's powers—in +which Doherty's friends claimed for their champion a decisive victory. +However unjust may be that judgment, Mr. O'Connell's admirers were +compelled to admit that he failed in his impeachment and principally in +consequence of a letter written by Mr. Shiel, then second to no other +Irishman. Mr. Shiel had been associated with the Attorney-General in the +prosecution at Clonmel, and his letter boldly justified the conduct +which the great popular tribune vehemently and indignantly impugned. +This was quite unexpected, and greatly affected Mr. O'Connell's cause. +But whether Mr. Doherty failed or succeeded, he was rewarded, and almost +avowedly, by the Chief Justiceship of the Common Pleas. The appointment +was a direct insult to Mr. O'Connell, and scarcely a less direct insult +to the Irish bar, and the Irish nation. Mr. Doherty was regarded as a +man of great forensic ability, but no legal attainments. He had scarcely +acquired any practice, and no distinction whatever: so that his +elevation to a post he was so inadequate to fill gave universal +dissatisfaction, and was read as evidence that the Government of Ireland +was subservient to an unscrupulous and audacious faction.</p> + +<p>Soon after the date of this appointment the first<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7" /> Repeal Association +was established by Mr. O'Connell. His motives were at once bitterly +assailed. By some he was charged with being influenced by personal +mortification. By some his conduct was attributed to a love of +turbulence and money. By some it was said he only intended the agitation +as a threat, by means of which he could enforce a wiser, more liberal, +and just administration of the law and government in Ireland. Few, if +any, believed him to be in earnest and sincere. But the condition of the +country and the principles of Mr. O'Connell's early life would suggest +higher motives; and the perseverance and intensity of feeling and +purpose, with which he urged the deliverance of his country in after +times, proves that he was a stranger to the sordid considerations which +envy or fear coupled with his first labours in that direction. Certain +it is that, whatever were his motives, it could be no tempting ambition +that determined him to transfer the exercise of his abilities to the +tribune of angry agitation from that more legitimate and loftier arena +which, with unsurpassed energy, he had won.</p> + +<p>The agitation succeeded rapidly. The Government became at once +intolerant and impotent. They proclaimed down the agitation; but this +only imparted to it activity, energy and strength. The Government gave +way to a furious storm which had been long gathering elsewhere. The +great Reform Ministry succeeded with Earl Grey at its head; and in the +struggle for Imperial parliamentary Reform, Ireland and her independence +were forgotten.</p> + +<p>During the intellectual conflict that followed, Mr. O'Connell asserted +his pre-eminence, and won a lofty <a name="Page_8" id="Page_8" />name. He made far the most successful +speech on the question of Reform. It not only exceeded the ablest +orations of the British leaders, but was, perhaps, the most triumphant +he himself had ever delivered. But his position soon changed. From being +the unanswerable champion of the ministerial majority in the House of +Commons, he took the lead of a small opposition which resisted the +Government on the Irish Bill. Although the minister was the exponent and +stern advocate of the widest liberality, in applying the reform to +England, he undertook to defend, on the very opposite principle, the +niggard liberty he was prepared in the same measure to extend to +Ireland. In this unnatural and unexpected turn of affairs, Mr. O'Connell +took a proud and bold stand, against the Government, and for his +country. The ministry succeeded, but he had more than ever acquired the +confidence and unbounded gratitude of his countrymen. Thenceforward, he +was their acknowledged chief, and his words expressed not more his own +than the public will.</p> + +<p>His remonstrances were vehement and angry, but they were vain. The +ministry disregarded the claims of justice, as well as the voice of the +orator. The quarrel became personal and vindictive to so great an +extent, that Mr. O'Connell's support would almost ensure the defeat of +any measure at the hands of the English Whig faction.</p> + +<p>While this was his position in the House of Commons, he was preparing +the elements of an organisation which was destined to embrace the whole +island. He started the first great Repeal Association, which was at once +attended with marvellous success. Forty-four members <a name="Page_9" id="Page_9" />of Parliament were +under its control if not in its ranks. A discussion of the merits of +Repeal was forced in the House of Commons by the intemperate zeal of the +member for Cork.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3" /><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> The motion was resisted by the whole weight and +influence of the Ministry. But in a resolution proposed as an amendment, +both Houses concurred in acknowledging that Ireland's complaint was +founded in justice, and in solemnly pledging themselves to the practical +redress of her grievances. The resolution was carried to the foot of the +throne, and there received the sanction of royalty.</p> + +<p>But that resolution remained and remains unfulfilled. The ministry which +proposed it, redeemed their promise by an Algerine measure of coercion, +which Mr. O'Connell denounced as "base, bloody and brutal." His +opposition, and their own recreancy of principle, tended rapidly to +their overthrow. Lord Stanley, in hatred to Mr. O'Connell and his +country, abandoned the Government, which he charged with truckling to +the great demagogue's will. The country, on the other hand, withdrew its +confidence from them on the ground that they truckled to their +hereditary foes, and allowed the principles of the Tories to influence +Parliament in the name and through the agency of the Whigs. Division and +weakness followed; and the result was a break-up of the administration, +which was remodelled, with Lord Melbourne for its chief, on the +understanding that more liberal views should govern its future course. +An alliance was entered into with Mr. O'Connell, whose support the Prime +Minister <a name="Page_10" id="Page_10" />openly claimed and as openly boasted of. Then was formed what +was known as the "Litchfield House Compact." This compact, if such the +understanding that existed can be called, was based upon the assurance +that the most liberal measures of justice should be extended to Ireland, +and that in the administrative department, the Government should apply +itself diligently to the reform and purifying of all public functions +and functionaries. What was the nature or extent of Mr. O'Connell's +engagement, I do not pretend to know. But whether he pledged himself to +abandon for ever the struggle for independence, or only to place it in +abeyance for a season to facilitate the action of the Government in +reference to their good intentions and favourable promises, he so far +fulfilled his engagement as to dissolve the Association.</p> + +<p>That Association was composed of various and very conflicting elements. +The motives which influenced many of its leaders were equally varied. +Many joined it merely because Mr. O'Connell was its founder and its +guide. Many among the middle ranks of society had acquired a sort of +interest in agitation they could not easily surrender. It had gained +them local distinction, and gratified a morbid vanity. Profuse votes of +thanks were their incentive and reward. To correspond with Mr. Ray, or +perhaps the Liberator, consummated their ambition, and for aught beyond +that they felt no concern. Others there were, corrupt by nature and +cunning in design, whose political exertions had personal advancement +for their sole aim; and others still who never believed Mr. O'Connell +sincere, but joined the Association and shouted their approval, <a name="Page_11" id="Page_11" />because +too contemptible and feeble to acquire distinction except through the +echo of his voice or under shelter of his fame. To the false and the +sordid and the indifferent, the dissolution of the confederacy was a +welcome event: but the people, yet uncorrupted, looked on passively with +agonised hearts.</p> + +<p>Physical contagion generally begins at the bases of society, and trails +its way slowly to the upper ranks, occasionally dealing doom to some +hard hearts that mocked, it may be, its first uncared-for victims. But +moral corruption begins with the highest, and embraces the whole circle +of society in its descent. So it was in this instance. Members of +Parliament who had solemnly pledged themselves to the disenthrallment of +their country, accepted the wages, and entered into the service of the +Government who had one and all vowed they would prevent the fulfilment +of the hustings pledge, even at the risk of a civil war. Among them was +Mr. O'Connell's son, who had taken that pledge before the assembled +people of Meath, his son-in-law, Mr. Fitzsimon, who had sworn it to the +freeholders of the metropolitan county, Mr. Carew O'Dwyer who, in virtue +of the same pledge, obtained the unanimous suffrage of Drogheda, and +several others. Many relatives and friends of Mr. O'Connell obtained +rewards adequate to their services. Agents who had been successful +against Whig candidates now retired into Whig places. The corporate +towns were made over to the Whigs, who held out the understanding that +the sons, nephews and kindred of the leading and deserving citizens +would be provided for in the departments suited to their different +capacities, and varying from the post of tide-waiter, <a name="Page_12" id="Page_12" />to that of +stipendiary magistrate. Fierce was the struggle which followed, and sore +the disappointment, and many a scalding tear of baffled ambition watered +the way to the aspirant's ruin.</p> + +<p>This is not said for the purpose of disparaging the legitimate ambition +of those who sought advancement in the altered circumstances and +sentiments of the time. But the effect of such a state of things on the +morality of the nation was incalculably injurious. The most solemn +resolution was openly violated, and that by the very men who were +foremost in recommending the national vow. Nor would its tendency be +less fatal, assuming that Mr. O'Connell was correct in supposing that +the experiment would be vain, and that its failure could not fail to +supply new and more urgent reasons for the nation's independence. The +compact, if even entered into with that view, would shake all faith in +public men; because it would only change the parties with whom a false +obligation was contracted, leaving the obligation itself and its +violation exactly where they were.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell's support was doomed to be as fatal to the Whigs as his +opposition. He unhappily assisted them during his period to carry one +measure, against which they had recorded several solemn decisions in +Parliament, namely, the Tithe Bill, without an appropriation clause, +which was a direct falsification of their own resolution, whereby they +defeated Sir Robert Peel's short-lived administration, in 1835. And what +was still more lamentable, he supported them in renewing in a modified +form the very Coercion Act for the introduction of which he designated +them as "<i>base, bloody and brutal</i>."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13" />But other elements were secretly sapping the influences for which he +made these sacrifices. The storm of disaffection, a long while gathering +among open foes and disappointed retainers, was about to burst on the +devoted heads of the Whigs. With their accustomed fickleness and +treachery of character they prepared to sacrifice, for the sake of +power, the man whom they conciliated and deceived in the same hope of +retaining it. If he foresaw that this would be the result of his +experiment, never was augury more fully realised. Whatever may be the +exact engagements of the Whigs, he was able to allege that not one was +fulfilled, while he was in a position to prove that he more than kept +his own: unless indeed, it could be assumed that for the few places +obtained by his friends, and others, some of them honourable men, he +surrendered the lofty and nearly impregnable position he occupied in +1834, and which, in one sense at least, he never afterwards attained.</p> + +<p>From whatever cause, his influence over the Whigs visibly declined, and +his counsels no longer swayed their Irish policy. Once more they relied +on the false expedient of yielding to their enemies and allowing them to +wield the <i>power</i>, while they were themselves content with the spoils of +the country. Again the quarrel with Mr. O'Connell became bitter and +personal, and again had he recourse to Repeal.</p> + +<p>From the time of the first Repeal Association to that of the Precursor +Society several other associations or societies were established, which +have left behind them scarcely the memory of their very names—that of +the second association alone excepted. Yet each had an ample treasury, +and was composed of the same or <a name="Page_14" id="Page_14" />nearly the same elements, and the same +members. There is many an honest man and many a fool, whose boast it is +that they contributed a pound to each of them, and had their respective +cards.</p> + +<p>At last the late Repeal Association was formed. Its birth was received +with sneers. Mr. O'Connell's sincerity was questioned, and his motives +canvassed with vindictive vigilance. The warmest Nationalists looked on +with doubt and coldness. Not one man of rank, outside the members of the +defunct society, joined its ranks. The routine of business, the receipt +of money, the resolutions, the speeches, were exactly identical with +those of its predecessors. The Government seemed neither to dread it nor +care for it. It lingered on, unsustained by the country and despised by +its enslavers. The contributions of the members did not suffice to pay +half the ordinary expenses of its machinery. Debts accumulated, and the +revenue did not increase. While the body was thus situated, Mr. +O'Connell had recourse to an expedient at once singular and decisive. It +was to build Conciliation Hall. The Association was at the time +seriously in debt, and he proposed to multiply that debt four-fold by +engaging in this costly undertaking.</p> + +<p>While persons who affected to be in his confidence were amazed at this +step, the Government regarded it as an evidence of purpose which it was +indispensable at once to check. They saw that their opponents had +formerly menaced and coerced in vain, and they determined to proscribe. +Accordingly the newly appointed viceroy, Lord Ebrington, being waited on +by the Dublin Corporation with some address of con<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15" />gratulation, +delivered them a lecture on the disloyalty of the Corn Exchange, and +announced his purpose never to employ in the service of the Government +any one who frequented that pestilent locality. The corporation returned +abashed to their council-rooms to record the viceregal threat. But from +end to end of the land rose one shout of indignant defiance. Suspicion, +doubt and hesitation gave way to the taunt involved in the insolent +challenge. The ranks of the Association were filled, and its treasury +replenished; and the viceroy soon discovered how little was to be gained +by a vulgar appeal to the meanest passion when it was addressed to the +Irish people.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3" /><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Mr. Feargus O'Connor, afterwards leader of the English +Chartists.—Ed</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II" /><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16" />CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p>THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS. — THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER. — PROGRESS OF +THE ASSOCIATION. — CLONTARF MEETING. — THE STATE TRIALS. — THE YOUNG +IRELAND PARTY. — SMITH O'BRIEN. — FEDERALISM. — THE BEQUEST ACT.</p> + + +<p>Even before this great occasion, gifted spirits were insensibly moulding +the character and destiny of the Association. The hurried but firm step +of a pale student of Trinity College might be daily seen pacing the +unfrequented flagways that led to the Corn Exchange. His penetrating +glance, half shrouded by its own shyness, his face averted from the +crowd, and his mind turned within, he would come, and sit, and hear, and +suppress the emotions that swelled his proud young heart as he caught +glimpses of a bright future for his country. He had the richest store of +practical knowledge, an imagination fruitful as a sunny clime: faith, +hope and courage boundless as immortal love. That he could realise all +things which came within the scope of his own fond yearnings, he had no +doubt. But most of the men with whom he took his place were stinted in +acquirements, and not over-gifted in intellect, and had no conception or +ambition beyond admiring or applauding the behests of one predominant +and controlling will. With the passionate aspirations of the young +student they felt no kindred sympathies. In their hands, political +action, for whatever end, sank into a traffic or parade. Even with such +materials he <a name="Page_17" id="Page_17" />determined to work out his country's redemption, though +already satisfied that before such a thing were possible, their habits, +feelings, passions and hearts should be entirely changed. In order to do +this, it was necessary he should stoop to the level of their conceptions +and capacities. Thus for many weary months, with his energies, as it +were, chained down to a cold stone, toiled and strove Thomas Davis. His +influence first began to be felt as chairman of a sub-committee on the +registers. This position afforded him an opportunity of entering into +correspondence with the leading politicians of the party, and whenever +he saw in any man's replies evidence of depth, capacity or earnestness, +he at once entered into friendly and unreserved communication, exhorting +him in language full of passionate entreaty. In these, his early +efforts, John Dillon shared his labours, his ambition and his heart.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-05" /><a id="image05" href="images/image05-big.jpg"><img src="images/image05.jpg" width="249" height="400" alt="Truly yours, Thomas Davis." title="Truly yours, Thomas Davis." /></a> +<p class="caption">Truly yours, Thomas Davis.</p> +</div> + +<p>About this time Mr. Stanton, proprietor of the <i>Morning Register</i>, +committed to the two young graduates the writing of his journal. His +preference was not so much owing to their character as politicians as it +was to their pre-eminence in literary attainments. The press of Dublin +had then sunk to the lowest level. Newspaper literature had even fallen, +too. It was divided into three sections, each of which was the whining +slave of one or other of the great predominating factions of the +country. The <i>Register</i> was generally regarded as ranking among the +mercenaries of the Castle. But no sooner did it fall into the hands of +the college friends than all Dublin was startled by the originality, +vigour and brilliancy of its articles. When <a name="Page_18" id="Page_18" />the Whigs were about +retiring they determined on a gross and scandalous abuse of power for +the purpose of rewarding an unscrupulous partisan, even though it +involved an affront to one of their oldest and ablest friends, the then +Irish Chancellor. That man was Lord Plunket, who had served the Whigs so +faithfully, honourably and fearlessly. He was commanded to retire in +order to make room for Sir John Campbell, who was thereby to be +qualified for the English peerage.</p> + +<p>The stipendiaried journals of the Castle exhausted their adulation, and +had received their last reward for upholding the appointment. The Tory +press, hungry for the spoil which it maddened the others to lose, paid +back the compliments by intense vituperation. The slang of party warfare +was bandied in the usual fashion, without thought or a care beyond the +interest of party. The <i>Register</i>, to everybody's astonishment, took up +the one cause not represented, namely, that of the country. Davis +denounced the appointment as an insult to that country, and with a bold +hand vindicated the superiority of its Bar, without any reference to +party, above the adventurers whom each faction placed over it in turn.</p> + +<p>Soon after he and his friend ceased to write for that paper; but not +until satisfied by the experiment that a journal devoted to Ireland, +guided by truth, and sustained with earnest ability, would supersede the +whole jaundiced literature of the metropolis, and create a new era in +the progress of the country's civilisation and ambition. They +immediately busied themselves to establish such an organ. Charles Gavan<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19" /> +Duffy, late editor of the <i>Belfast Vindicator</i>, entered into the spirit +of the enterprise, and after an evening's ramble in the Park, during +which the terms and the principles of the paper and the spirit in which +it should be conducted were canvassed, the publication of the <i>Nation</i> +was determined on. Mr. Duffy was convicted for having written a libel in +the <i>Vindicator</i>, and his friends earnestly advised him to compromise +the matter with a view of bringing more powerful energies to the same +task in a wider field.</p> + +<p>The first number of the new journal appeared on the 12th of October, +1842. It had been announced under auspices calculated to ensure its +success, but its unexpected ability, the ground it broke in the national +policy, and the vast intellectual resources it developed eclipsed the +prestige under which it was deemed necessary to usher it into existence. +It was at once a proof of greater powers than the country had yet +witnessed, and a prophecy of a different fate from what she hoped for. +The aims, the logic, the very language of factious diplomacy were +eschewed. It seemed as if a light had streamed down from heaven, fresh +from God, to give the people hope, comfort and assurance. The genius of +Davis seized the opportunity as though he were His deputed messenger in +the great work of regeneration. For the first time men awoke to the +consciousness of what they were or might be. Harnessed to the triumphant +car of one gigantic intellect, they had forgotten the dignity of their +own nature, and were astonished to find how transcendant its resources +and sufficient its strength. The publication of the <i>Nation</i> was really +an epoch which marked a wonderful change, <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20" />and from that day forth +self-reliance and self-respect began to take the place of grateful but +stultified obedience and blind trust.</p> + +<p>The change became more marked as the publication proceeded. In speech, +article, song and essay, the spell of Davis's extraordinary genius and +embracing love was felt. Historic memories, forgotten stories, fragments +of tradition, the cromlech on the mountain and the fossil in the bog +supplied him substance and spirit wherewith to mould and animate +nationality. Native art, valour, virtue and glory seemed to grow under +his pen. All that had a tendency to elevate and ennoble, he rescued from +the past to infuse into the future. His songs, so soft and tender, and +yet so redolent of manliness and hope, inspired the ambition to compose +a minstrelsy as wild and vigorous as themselves. They were read and +learned and sung with an avidity and pride heretofore unknown.</p> + +<p>The monster meetings were long a design of Thomas Davis, John Dillon and +the present writer. One great object with them was to train the country +people to military movements and a martial tread. This object it would +be unsafe to announce, and it was to be effected through other agencies +than drill. The people should necessarily come to such rendezvous in +baronial, parochial or town processions, and under the guidance of local +leaders. Order is a law of nature; and, without much trouble on the part +of those leaders, it would establish itself. The present writer left +Dublin early in the spring of 1843 to carry this design into effect. Sir +Robert Peel, then Prime Minister of England, alluding to the fact in the +House of Commons, said <a name="Page_21" id="Page_21" />that the first Monster Meeting was purposely +held on the anniversary of the very day, the 22nd of May, destined for +the rising of '98. Sir Robert was wrong in his inference, though it was +a natural and nearly justifiable one; for at that Cashel meeting were +offered unmistakable evidences of the tendency of the agitation. Upwards +of £1,100 were handed to Mr. O'Connell. Each parish came in procession, +headed by a band and commanded by some local leader; and those who took +part in the public procession marched in excellent order for upwards of +eight miles. A military and magisterial meeting had been previously held +in the barracks of Cashel to consider whether the people should not be +routed at the point of the bayonet. But though the committee were fully +aware of this consultation, they decided unanimously that the meeting +should go on. The meeting itself passed the strongest resolutions, and +adopted a petition to the Legislature, consisting of a single line, +something to this effect: "You have robbed us of our Parliament by fraud +and blood; pray restore it, or ——." And finally, Mr. O'Connell said at +the dinner that evening, alluding to an armed strife; "Give me Tipperary +for half a day." This simple wish, enunciated in accents familiar to +that great ruler of men, elicited a cheer, a shout, a wild burst of +enthusiasm, so long and loud as almost to suggest the idea that it would +be seconded by naked steel and a deadly blow. One would think it had a +significant meaning, and yet there was no wrathful ban. Not one +pronounced that terrible anathema against shedding a single drop of +blood, which afterwards became the canon of peaceful men. Nay, if memory +be not very <a name="Page_22" id="Page_22" />treacherous, amidst that roar was loudly distinguishable +the voice of him who on an after day, yet to be spoken of, cursed from +God's altar those who wished to realise his simulated aspirations and in +the endeavour had forfeited their lives. A doggerel ballad had been +written for the occasion by Thomas Davis, to the air of the "Gallant +Tipperary," over which himself and his friends afterwards indulged in +many a hearty laugh. One verse runs as follows:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>The music's ready, the morning's bright,<br /></span> +<span>Step together left, right, left, right,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">We carry no gun,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Yet devil a one<br /></span> +<span>But knows how to march in Tipperary O!<br /></span> +<span>By twelves and sixteens on we go,<br /></span> +<span>Rank'd four deep in close order O!<br /></span> +<span class="i4">For order's the way<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To carry the day,<br /></span> +<span>March steadily, men of Tipperary O!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is here introduced as a proof and a justification of what has been +stated in reference to one great object of the projectors of the monster +meetings. Possibly it will be said that this is an admission of the +truth of a charge frequently urged by Mr. O'Connell against the <i>Nation</i> +and its writers, namely, that they having intentions of which he knew +nothing, had committed him to breaches of the law, of which he was not +only not guilty but not cognisant, but which by a perversion of judgment +were given in proof against him at the celebrated State Trials. It is +quite true that they did entertain the intentions which he afterwards so +vehemently repudiated. But they never once concealed <a name="Page_23" id="Page_23" />them. In the +Association, and where Mr. O'Connell was committed with them, they +abstained from giving them utterance; but they did so because they felt +bound to act in accordance with the resolution of that body. And with +respect to the proceedings of the Cashel meeting and the more wonderful +and significant meetings that followed, they always submitted to him and +had his entire sanction for every act done at and every line written for +these meetings. In fact, if he were in any way mistaken as to them, they +were still more grievously deceived as to him. All their acts and +speeches were in the direction of their intentions; all his acts and +speeches were in the same direction, and went further. In truth, they +believed that he fully concurred in the sentiments which they cared not +to conceal, but which he had the cunning or caution not to avow. One +justification of this belief has been already given; another and a more +pregnant one was the Mallow defiance which the greatest poet and the +greatest sculptor of our time and nation have immortalised. In reference +to proofs not published, however conclusive, this history shall be +silent.</p> + +<p>Succeeding events shall be briefly glanced at only. Some of them have +already attained a place in history; and the scope of my narrative only +embraces the facts, incidents and tendencies which led to an armed +crisis and governed its explosion. Meeting followed meeting in rapid +succession, and each was marked by some signal manifestation of a +healthier, holier and more resolute national purpose. Numbers, calmness, +order, obedience, bespoke an advanced discipline, and <a name="Page_24" id="Page_24" />prefigured future +victory. The crowds that attended the Halls of the Association no longer +consisted of idle brawlers; they were listening, thoughtful mechanics, +conscious of the toil and danger that lay before them, and braced for +the encounter. Dignitaries of the church and the ablest men among the +second order of the clergy appeared on the platform, and added sanctity +and dignity to the proceedings. Members of Corporations through the +country, and private gentlemen of rank brought to the imposing +confederacy the weight of their office, rank and name. The existing +Government in a splenetic attempt to crush it, had dismissed certain +magistrates for having their names enrolled on its books. This new +aggression gave a fresh impetus to its progress. Men who had previously +looked on it with doubt or fear, now embraced it as the only safeguard +for the remaining liberties of the island. The parliamentary committee +which had been instituted by Mr. O'Brien, had exhausted every source of +information within the reach of industry in developing the resources and +capacities of the country. The committee of the Association counted +within its members one hundred lawyers who preferred the fortunes of +Ireland to professional or political advancement. Many of these and +others who were not of the party brought to the popular tribune rare +endowments, the most generous passions, and the noblest eloquence. +Poetry, fresh, vigorous and full of heart, shed her harmonising and +ennobling influence upon the whole, and imparted to patriotism the last +pre-requisite of success. Amidst this grand movement stood Mr.<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25" /> +O'Connell, erect, alone, its centre and its heart. He was not its guide, +but its god, until he slept within a prison, and came forth less than +man.</p> + +<p>During this period two events occurred deserving particular notice—the +only facts upon which Mr. O'Connell's supremacy was questioned, or his +advice audibly condemned. These were, first, his refusal of French +contributions and French sympathy, of which M. Ledru Rollin, since so +celebrated, was to be the bearer; and secondly, his acceptance of +contributions from America under protest, against the "infamous +institution" of slavery. He rejected the first with indignant scorn, +because it was the offering of "republicans," and spoke of the latter +with contempt, as "smelling of blood."</p> + +<p>These two acts alienated from his cause the only foreigners in the world +who were willing to espouse it. His wisdom was questioned and condemned. +It was urged upon him that he should not intermeddle with foreign +institutions or with the political predilections of individuals. Enough +for Ireland, he was told, to find that Frenchmen and Americans were +ready to do battle in her cause, and it ill became her to spurn their +advances with indignity and a sneer. The argument failed, his hatred of +slavery and republicanism out-weighed all other considerations.</p> + +<p>I have fixed upon the State Trials as an epoch in this history, marking +a distinct phase in the character of the Repeal Association. The +proceedings of that extraordinary inquest are familiar to most men. It +is not my intention to refer to them, except as a sort of pivot upon +which public sentiment veered. When <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26" />they were commenced there was +untold wealth in the coffers of the Association. There was still a +greater store of public purpose in the country. Threats, hot and +violent, had been uttered. Pledges had been made which could only be +violated in shame and death. A challenge had been given from which it +would be baseness to shrink. The world looked on in wonder and awe. Each +successive act was more and more gigantic; each resolution bolder. When +the meeting at Clontarf was projected, the heart of the nation beat +quick and hotly. Yet no man was surprised; none condemned. The +associations of the spot suggested a perilous future. Still the hazards +it prefigured created no alarm; the directions of a sub-committee +respecting the military order of the processions towards the place of +meeting was but the expression of the public hope that lay at every +heart.</p> + +<p>While the bustle of preparation was at its height; while the flushed +capital was dizzy with wild excitement, a proclamation appeared on the +walls—'twas nearly evening's dusk—forbidding the proposed +demonstration. For that proclamation there was no law; scarcely any +object. It could not render the meeting illegal. It would not entitle +the chief magistrate to disperse it; for if it were proved to be +constitutional, he would be answerable before the laws of his country. +It was simply a warning utterly inefficient for good or ill in any trial +that may follow. In this state of things, a responsibility of the +greatest magnitude devolved on the Association, or its committee. They +were hastily summoned or came together spontaneously. Alarm, surprise, +disappointment, chagrin, swayed their hurried <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27" />consultation. The +decision was weak, and it was fatal. It was only carried by a small +majority, but in that majority was the great spirit of the confederacy. +Never after did he stand on equal terms with his adversary. He was +driven before him amidst broken hopes, and broken promises—his +challenge, a boast unfulfilled, his prestige withered.</p> + +<p>What the issue might have been if the decision were different, it would +be rash to conjecture. It might have been carnage; it might have been a +triumph. The historian has nothing to do with conjecture. But in this +case was involved a mighty question, palpable, self-created and +conclusive. The wisest forethought may fail to arrive at a sound +conclusion as to the result of holding the meeting. The risk existed, no +doubt, that some ill-disposed or hired villains, or even rash +enthusiasts may provoke the troops, and thus afford a pretext for +carnage. But opposed to that were the dictates of prudence, honour and +fear on the part of those in command of the army; and it seemed a more +probable result that either the meeting would be allowed to proceed, or +it would be illegally dispersed in the usual way by reading the Riot +Act. Even if the weight of conjecture were the other way, the +consequences should be risked rather than falsify the national pledge. +To recede was cowardice; not the vulgar cowardice arising from personal +weakness, but the moral cowardice which shrinks from an imperious +obligation, because it is perilous. The meeting should be held; every +possible precaution should be taken to prevent an armed conflict. If +Power, drunk with its own advantage, risked an outrage, the people +should be taught to yield; but <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28" />only to yield with the purpose of +entering a court of law, as prosecutors and avengers. Even if worse +consequences ensued after every effort to prevent them had been +exhausted, the issue should be left to God. Recriminations, painfully +petty in their nature, followed. The Government were charged with a +premeditated design to commit wide and indiscriminate slaughter, and the +weakness, in which were shrouded deep national shame and guilt, was made +matter of indecent boast. The Government, aware of the unexpected +advantage, followed up the blow. Mr. O'Connell took shelter in the +sacredness of the Hall, which, he imagined, he had guarded against the +encroachments of arbitrary power, and thither they followed him. Having +abandoned a position where he could act on the offensive, he was forced +to contend against the aggressive attacks of Government flushed with its +first success.</p> + +<p>The trial that followed already occupies a large space in history. Its +effects were immediate and disastrous. The personnel of the accused +assumed the nation's place. Exhortations full of intense eloquence were +addressed to the people from which the question of the country's +deliverance was entirely excluded. Technicalities of law absorbed the +attention which was due to Liberty. A demurrer, a motion in abatement, +or in arrest of judgment, was canvassed with a deeper interest by the +people of the provinces than by even the distinguished Bar, which were +arrayed on either side. Mr. O'Connell's infallibility in law engaged the +anxious solicitude, the pride, the passions of Ireland. Yet throughout +that long trial the question which would <a name="Page_29" id="Page_29" />test it was not mooted. The +indictment was a subtle net-work, which excluded such argument. The +objections to the indictment also were objections of form merely, and +the final issue upon which the judgment was reversed was not even +remotely connected with the main enquiry, whether or not the charge of +conspiracy was sustainable in point of constitutional law. During the +progress of the trial, a fraud, a swindle, a petty theft, was +perpetrated by the officers of government, which more than one man, high +in office, had a hand in suborning. This fact had supreme influence on +the decision of the House of Lords. But the plain truth is, the judgment +was reversed as an essential move in a great party game.</p> + +<p>Ireland triumphed. Her triumph was a just and a great one.</p> + +<p>But her exultation was on a fallacious basis. She believed Mr. +O'Connell's infallibility was re-established. No one cared, or perhaps +dared to correct the error. In itself it seemed little worthy of notice, +yet it had its share of evil influence. First, it diverted men's minds +from the one question; secondly, it left behind it the demoralising +effect inseparable from untruth. Were it even what the public eagerness +chose to shape it, its relative value, weighed against the triumph of +courage and virtue, would be contemptible.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell himself did not seem to share in the nation's pride. His +spirit was broken. He anticipated the glad wishes of the metropolis, and +walked home from the penitentiary clouded and gloomy. It was evident +something within him had died. However, he went back the next day, and +left the prison the second <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30" />time in the midst of public rejoicings never +surpassed on any occasion in his life. His addresses on that day, and +subsequently while in town, were not such as they were wont to be; and +he soon retired to his wild mountain home to invigorate a mind and body, +borne down by gigantic labours, fearful responsibilities, some alarms, +and perhaps a chilling sense of defeat and weakness. His health was soon +restored, but his political vigour never. The first time his voice was +heard from that retreat, it was to recommend a compromise; and, for the +first time, his advice was openly opposed. Charles Duffy answered his +letter, which recommended to fall back on Federalism—a question in the +mouths of many, but in the brain of none—respectfully and firmly +remonstrating against such a course. In a great many circles, Mr. Duffy +could not be looked at with more wonder if he had recommended to cut off +Mr. O'Connell's head.</p> + +<p>Hitherto, this condensed retrospect has been almost exclusively confined +to the name and fortunes of O'Connell. It is time now to revert to other +actors in the scene. Even before the trial, elements of antagonism had +begun to manifest themselves. With the party since called "Young +Ireland," every consideration was subordinate to the great question of +national deliverance. They laboured incessantly to elevate the morals, +the literature, the taste, passions, genius, intellect and heart of the +country to the sublime eminence of a free destiny. Far the foremost man +in urging and encouraging this glorious endeavour was Thomas Davis. From +sources the most extraordinary, and the least known, there welled forth +abundant and <a name="Page_31" id="Page_31" />seductive inspiration. He struck living fire from inert +wayside stones. To him the meanest rill, the rugged mountain, the barren +waste, the rudest fragment of barbaric history, spoke the language of +elevation, harmony and hope. The circle, of which he was the beloved +centre, was composed of men equally sincere, resolute and hopeful; there +was not one of them undistinguished. Some of them had now the first +literary distinction. The character of each was remarkable for some +distinctive and bold feature of originality. I, of course, exclude +myself from this description. I know not to what circumstance I owe the +happiness of their trust and friendship. My habits, my education, my +former political connections, disqualified me for such association. +Since first I took my place among them, seven or eight years have now +rolled by. They have been years of severest trial, years of suffering +and sorrow, years of passion and prejudice and calumny, years of rude +and bitter conflict, years of suspicion and acrimony, and finally of +defeat and shame; still, in that eventful course of time, to me at +least, there has occurred no moment wherein I would exchange the +faintest memory of our mutual trust, unreserved enjoyment and glad hope +for the hoarse approval of an unthinking world. There was no subject we +did not discuss together; revolution, literature, religion, history, the +arts, the sciences—every topic, and never yet was there spoken among us +one reproachful word, never felt one distrustful sentiment. Our +confidence in one another was precisely that of each in himself; our +love of one another deeper than brotherly. When we met, which was at +least <a name="Page_32" id="Page_32" />weekly, and felt alone, shut in from the rude intrusion of the +world, how we used to people the future with beauty and happiness and +love. Little did we dream that those for whom we toiled, and thought, +and wove such visions of glory, would shun and scorn, and curse us. But +had that bitter cup, which afterwards we were forced to empty to the +dregs, been then presented to us, there was not one of us who would not +have drunk it to the last drop; drunk it willingly and cheerfully, +without further hope or purpose than our own deep conviction that we +owed the sacrifice to truth.</p> + +<p>Those who took immediate part in the proceedings of our circle before +the State Trials, were Thomas Davis, John Dillon, Thomas MacNevin, +Michael Joseph Barry, Charles Duffy, David Cangley, John O'Hagan, Denis +F. MacCarthy, Denny Lane, Richard Dalton Williams, with one or two +others whose names I cannot mention. To this list was afterwards added +Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard O'Gorman, John Mitchel, Thomas Devin +Reilly, and Thomas Darcy M'Gee. I do not include several distinguished +men who lived in the provinces with whom we communicated, and from whom +we received sympathy and sustainment; and I omit others who took a +leading part, in deference to the position they are now placed in.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-06" /><a id="image06" href="images/image06-big.jpg"><img src="images/image06.jpg" width="283" height="400" alt="John Blake Dillon" title="John Blake Dillon" /></a> +<p class="caption">John Blake Dillon</p> +</div> + +<p>With the first section above named, originated the idea of publishing +the <i>Library of Ireland</i>. It was proposed, discussed, and determined on +one evening, at the house of Thomas MacNevin, while some one sat at the +piano, playing the lovely Irish airs, of which the soft strains of Davis +suggested the conception to William <a name="Page_33" id="Page_33" />Elliot Hudson. The music was as +true to the Celtic genius as the lays of Davis to its character and +hopes; and amidst the entrancing seductiveness of their association, was +born the generous resolution of rescuing the country's literature from +the darkness in which it had long lain. The <i>Library of Ireland</i> was +proposed as a beginning, and so diffident did its promoters feel, that +they deemed it indispensable to engage the recognised genius of William +Carleton, whose name and abilities they pledged to the public, as an +assurance for the undertaking. Mr. Carleton promptly undertook his share +of the task, and James Duffy, the enterprising bookseller, assumed all +the risk and responsibility of the enterprise.</p> + +<p>John Mitchel, then known to few, and appreciated only by Thomas Davis, +was by him associated with those who were willing to engage in the new +and difficult labour. He pledged himself for him, and selected his +subject. Most nobly was that pledge redeemed; but its fulfilment dawned +on the fresh grave of him who made it. Other men, and first in order, as +well as eminent in ability, was Thomas MacNevin, who has also sunk into +a too early grave, more than realised the most sanguine hopes of an +exulting country. Death first interrupted this new current of life, even +in its day of most sparkling promise. Disunion haunted the petty +jealousies of little and narrow minds; famine, pestilence and defeat +have done the rest. The labourers are dead, exiled, immured in dungeons, +or scattered over the face of the earth as fugitives; and how far they +had capacity to fulfil their inspiring promise, can never be tested +more. A few, however, remained, and amid greater <a name="Page_34" id="Page_34" />gloom, and nearer to +utter death, they stand out redeeming beacons to the future.</p> + +<p>I have not mentioned the name of Mr. O'Brien, as associated with us at +this early stage. He joined the Association in a time of great +excitement. The <i>Nation</i> hailed the accession with the fondest joy. The +consistency of his politics, the purity of his intentions, and the +unvarying rectitude of his life gave abundant assurance, not alone that +he was deeply sincere, but that his purpose could only be changed by +death. But to those who looked beyond the expediency of the hour, those +who had cherished fervently the passionate aspirations for true liberty +his name and character became an augury of success: nor would they +intrude for any consideration on the attitude of lofty dignity he +assumed.</p> + +<p>It has already been stated that elements of antagonism between Mr. +O'Connell and the Young Ireland Party had at this time (the period of +the State Trials) manifested themselves. It will be remembered that this +period embraced a space of nine months, from the date of Mr. O'Connell's +being held to bail in September, 1843, to that of his sentence the 30th +of May, 1844. As the events of this or the previous year do not, +properly speaking, range within the historical scope of my narrative, I +have excluded chronological and historical order. My object has been to +group together the great features of the confederacy without other +reference than that of pointing out their moral influence, operating +through a long space of time. Thus I have referred to the Parliamentary +Committee instituted by Mr. O'Brien among incidents which belong to an +anterior period, <a name="Page_35" id="Page_35" />because the vigour of these incidents, which left +moral seeds in their track, continued to co-exist and blend with the +powerful agencies of that Committee. As I now approach the period when +the differences with Mr. O'Connell, which hitherto developed themselves +in the distinctive characteristics of the respective opinions of both +parties rather than in any direct collision, became tangible, it is +necessary to observe strict historical and chronological accuracy.</p> + +<p>Before proceeding to details of succeeding events, a brief +recapitulation of important facts, with the dates of their occurrences, +become necessary. A few others, not heretofore alluded to, must needs be +added.</p> + +<p>The date of the imprisonment is the 30th of May, 1844: that of the +release the 6th of September in the same year.</p> + +<p>In the intermediate period the amount received in the Repeal treasury +during four weeks was, £12,379 14s. 9d.</p> + +<p>About the close of August was passed the Charitable Bequest Act, against +the indignant remonstrances of the priesthood and Catholic population of +Ireland. This Bill was obnoxious in all it's provisions, but the +enactment which was received with most scorn was the clause that +annulled a Catholic charitable bequest, unless it had been duly made six +months at least before the decease of the testator. The prohibition was +attributed to an insulting assumption that the Catholic clergymen abused +their influence over dying penitents, for sacerdotal or religious, if +not for personal aggrandisement, and the impeachment was repelled with +bitter <a name="Page_36" id="Page_36" />execrations. Others objected to the Bill on grounds involving +more alarming considerations. They regarded it as the first infringement +on the liberty of the Catholic Church—the first criminal attempt to +fetter her free action and sow dissent among her prelates and priests. +The Repeal Association offered, from the beginning, its undivided, +unqualified and indeed vehement opposition. But amidst the storm and +rage of the nation, it became the law, and three Roman Catholic prelates +of the highest reputation undertook the duty of its administration.</p> + +<p>One party there was who regretted the Bill still more deeply, but in a +different point of view. At the head of these was Thomas Davis. He +regarded it as an instrument of dissension and weakness, cunningly +adapted to that end by Sir Robert Peel, and he deplored the diversion of +the public mind and energy from the grand national object. Mr. O'Brien, +to a certain extent, shared this feeling, but never obtruded the opinion +or ventured to check the Association, while Mr. Davis confined his +efforts to passionate warnings addressed through the columns of the +<i>Nation</i>.</p> + +<p>This question is introduced here because it was important and fatal in +its consequences. A still more important one taken in the same light +must interrupt its discussion for a moment: Mr. O'Connell's Federal +letter, already referred to. The leading sentiments of that letter are +subjoined. It is dated the 2nd of October, 1844.</p> + +<p>After stating what Simple Repeal and what Federalism respectively meant, +he proceeded to contrast their value.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37" />The Simple Repealers are of the opinion that the reconstructed Irish +Parliament should have precisely the same power and authority which the +former Irish Parliament had.</p> + +<p>"The Federalists, on the contrary, appear to me to require more for the +people of Ireland than the Simple Repealers do; for besides the local +parliament in Ireland having full and perfect authority, the Federalists +require that there should be, for questions of imperial concern, +colonial, naval and military, and of foreign alliance and policy, a +Congressional or Federal Parliament, in which Ireland should have her +fair share and proportion of representatives and power.</p> + +<p>"It is but just and right to confess that in this respect the +Federalists would give Ireland more weight and importance in imperial +concerns than she could acquire by means of the plan of Simple +Repealers.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"For my own part, I will own that since I have come to contemplate the +specific differences such as they are, between Simple Repeal and +Federalism, I do at present feel a preference for the Federative plan, +as tending more to the utility of Ireland and the maintenance of the +connection with England than the plan of Simple Repeal.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"The Federalists cannot but perceive that there has been upon my part a +pause in the agitation for Repeal since the period of our release from +unjust imprisonment."</p> + +<p>I have only extracted from Mr. O'Connell's most elaborate letter, his +distinctly expressed preference for Federalism, and the single reason +upon which the preference is founded. The remainder consists for the +most part of a sort of logical equation, balancing the component +elements of both plans, from which is deduced the above conclusion.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38" />Charles Duffy's answer, dated October the 18th, was triumphant and +conclusive, at least in Mr. O'Connell's own mind, for he did not +afterwards repeat the same sentiments. But a blow had been given the +Association from which it never recovered. The newspaper press, taken +under three distinct heads, first the blind and heedless echoers of Mr. +O'Connell's doctrines, secondly the Whig organs in Ireland, and thirdly +the papers in the English interest, gave way to unrestrained exultation. +The wisdom, the prudence, the holiness of the "great Liberator," were +extolled as unmatched in the annals of statesmanship. A few whose +self-interest constrained their subserviency, shrugged wisely and said +nothing, while several provincial journals stoutly maintained the +undoubted and enduring supremacy of the great national aim over every +weak expedient.</p> + +<p>Whatever hopes may be entertained by Mr. O'Connell, his suggestions met +with no sustainment and no response, save the empty echoes of an +adulating press. Among the great party to whom he appealed, not one +voice was heard to suggest a practical step in the direction intimated. +The project fell, if indeed it were ever seriously entertained, leaving +no memory and no regret. The first place Mr. O'Connell afterwards +appeared in a public capacity, was at the Limerick banquet, given on' +the 20th of November. His speech on that occasion contained scarcely a +reference to Federalism, and both his sentiments and those of the other +speakers, including John, Archbishop of Tuam, as well as the Toasts and +Mottoes, were distinguished for loftiness of tone, unflinching purpose +and highest enthusiasm.<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39" /> But other elements were at work furtively +sapping that purpose and dimming that enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Prominent among these was the spirit of religious dissension already +under discussion, to which it is now time to recur.</p> + +<p>At and after the period when the Roman Catholic prelates accepted the +functions of administering a law insulting and obnoxious to the +Catholics generally, much angry controversy prevailed. A report was rife +that the Government not alone succeeded in deluding the Irish Bishops, +but had accredited a minister plenipotentiary, whose mission was to +conciliate the Court of Rome to a "Concordat" with England. A rescript +said to be received by the Most Reverend Doctor Crolly, the Primate, was +adduced to prove not alone the existence of the intrigue, but its +partial success. The rescript contained an admonition to restrain the +intemperate violence of political priests, and an advice to confine +themselves more generally to the sacred functions of their holy office. +The English press magnified the advice into a command, and exulted over +the failure of the Repeal movement whose extinction they augured from +the withdrawal of the Catholic priesthood.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell, alarmed at the import of a command so fatal, pronounced +the rescript "uncanonical." This led to greater dissensions and bitterer +recriminations. The prelates who condemned the Bequest Act, denounced +those who accepted the task of administering it. One of the body thus +writes:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The resolution [referring to one passed at a meeting of the + prelates, which was pronounced by the ministerial press a vote + of unanimous approval of the <a name="Page_40" id="Page_40" />bishops' acceptance of the office + of Commissioners] did not meet the approval of all the Bishops, + neither could it convey to any one of the Episcopal + Commissioners the most distant notion that in accepting the + office he did not oppose the views and wishes of many of his + Episcopal brethren. When the resolution was moved, there were + six of the protesting Bishops absent, and a moment was not + allowed to pass after it was seconded, when it was denounced in + the strongest manner by two of the Bishops present. They + solemnly declared before the assembled prelates that, in the + event of any prelate accepting the odious office, they would + never willingly hold any communication with him in his capacity + as Commissioner."<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4" /><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p></div> + +<p>But, while disunion reigned at the council board of the Catholic +Hierarchy, the Government plied their task of seducing, dividing and +misrepresenting bishops, priests, people and nation. Out of all the +elements of disunion, distraction and disaster over which they in turn +gloated, the British newspapers, with wonderful accord, predicted and +boasted of the complete overthrow of the Repeal Party. It was amidst +these circumstances of gloom and evil augury the year 1844, a year +within which range the most startling, extraordinary and trying events +of Ireland's recent history, came to a close.</p> + +<p>Before I conclude this chapter, I must revert to a fact which, although +unimportant in relation to the view of the question under consideration, +deserves to be remembered in connection with future events. The date I +cannot fix, as it was confined to the private <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41" />circle of the Association +Committee, and no record of it remains. Immediately after the close of +the State trials, as well as I can remember, Mr. O'Connell proposed the +dissolution of the Association, with a view of establishing a new body, +from which should be excluded all the "illegal" attributes and accidents +of the old. The suggestion was resisted by Mr. O'Brien, and all those +understood to belong to what was called the Young Ireland Party. They +protested against such a course as false, craven and fatal, and Mr. +O'Connell at once yielded to their vehement remonstrances.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4" /><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Doctor Cantwell to Mr. O'Connell. Given in the <i>Nation</i>, +Vol. III., No. 119.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III" /><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42" />CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p>FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT—DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MR. +O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE. — FINANCIAL REFORMS IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE +ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION.—'82 CLUB. — THE COLLEGES +BILL. — DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES CONSEQUENT UPON IT. QUARREL WITH MR. +DAVIS. — THE GREAT LEVEE AT THE ROTUNDA. — DECLINE OF THE +AGITATION. — CLOSING LABOURS AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS.</p> + + +<p>Thus wrote Thomas Davis at the opening of the new year:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Hitherto our dangers have been few and transient. The product + of mistake or enthusiasm, they were remedied by explanation and + kindliness. There are dangers threatened now, and against them + we shall try the same prompt and frank policy which never failed + us yet. Already the English press are quarrelling for the spoils + of the routed Repealers. They are almost unanimous in describing + the people as disgusted, the leaders as exhausted, and the + policy of the ministers as rapidly levelling the defences of the + once great party.</p> + +<p> "We do not quail. We remember that whenever the rent<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5" /><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> has + fallen, the same press cried out the people are sick of the + agitation. Whenever righteous discussion took place in our + councils, they exulted over our 'fatal divisions,' and at the + beginning of each new blunder of the cabinet, they sang victory.</p> + +<p> "If the Irish be a hot or capricious race, who plunge into a new + policy because it is new, and abandon their <a name="Page_43" id="Page_43" /> dearest interests + and most solemn vows because their success needs time, then + indeed Repeal was hopeless and was always so. If the leaders + have not sagacity enough to embrace the business of an empire + and pierce through time, unwearied industry, pure hands and + resolute spirits, then to repeal is hopeless until a new race of + chiefs appears."</p></div> + +<p>Almost contemporaneously with this article, the Catholic Primate +contradicted Mr. O'Connell's assertion respecting the rescript, and laid +rescript and contradiction before the public. "I was surprised and +sorry," he writes, "to find that you had ventured to assert that a +letter sent to me some time past from the Propaganda was not a canonical +document." He adds that he laid the document before the assembled +prelates, and appends the resolution in which they acknowledged its +authenticity and approval of its counsel.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6" /><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell at once expressed his entire acquiescence and deep +contrition. He bowed reverentially to the resolution of the prelates, +retracted the hasty opinion, and apologised for his error, which, he +said, resulted <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44" />from his great anxiety of mind, caused by the avowal of +the <i>Morning Chronicle</i> that the Whigs had a secret agent in Rome.</p> + +<p>But the prelates were far from unanimous in their construction of the +rescript which they promised unanimously to obey. With the resolution +among his papers, the Archbishop of Tuam proceeded directly from the +Episcopal meeting to the Repeal banquet at Limerick, where he delivered +a speech stronger in language and more violent in character than any he +had ever uttered. Some passages in that speech, wherein he eulogised the +heroism of the women of Limerick who cut their long hair to supply the +defenders of the city with strings for their bows, excited the wildest +enthusiasm and most rapturous applause. Doctor Cantwell, in the letter +already referred to, gives his construction, which he says was that of +the majority.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Cardinal only evidently censures violent and intemperate + language, in either priest or bishop, whether they address their + flocks in their temples, or mix with their fellow-countrymen in + banquets or public meetings. We inferred, and I think we were + justified in the inference, that conduct and language at all + times unbecoming our sacred character, and not our presence on + such legitimate occasions, were the object of this salutary + caution."</p></div> + +<p>His construction was sustained more clearly and forcibly by Thomas +Davis. "It [the rescript] announces the undoubted truth that the main +duty of a Christian priest is to care for the souls of his flock, and +both by precept and example to teach mildness, piety and peace. It does +not denounce a Catholic <a name="Page_45" id="Page_45" />clergyman for aiding the Repeal movement in all +ways becoming a minister of peace. Nowhere in the rescript is the +agitation as a system, or repeal as a demand, censured; but some +reported violence of speech is disapproved."</p> + +<p>The coincidence seems a strange one, that in the same paper, which thus +disposes of the rescript, the same paper wherein appear the letters of +Doctor Crolly, Doctor Cantwell, and Mr. O'Connell, the same paper in +which is published the official denial of a Concordat with the Pope, +under the viceregal seal, are also published the proceedings of the +Repeal Association, which consisted, to a great extent, of a violent +attack on the exploded Concordat. At the meeting held on the 13th of +January, it was denounced especially by two of Mr. O'Connell's friends, +Mr. O'Neill Daunt and Mr. John Reilly, in terms the most vehement and +indignant. Mr. Daunt used these words. "On that day fortnight he had +proclaimed from the chair of the Association, that if a rescript should +emanate from Rome denouncing the national movement, the Catholics of +Ireland would treat it as so much waste paper." This statement was made +on the 13th, Doctor Crolly's letter is dated on the 11th, Mr. +O'Connell's on the 14th, and Lord Heytesbury's denial of the Concordat +on the 15th of January. Contemporaneously with all these was also +published an address of his clergy to the Archbishop of Dublin, +deprecating in the strongest language certain calumnies against him, +which they attribute to priests and people, Protestant and Catholic.</p> + +<p>From these proceedings one inference is inevitable, namely, that they +who have so strongly inculcated <a name="Page_46" id="Page_46" />obedience to the Holy See, and +denounced as an infidel any Catholic who refused blind obedience to its +decisions, in reference to secular education, were not then troubled +with the same sensitiveness or scrupulousness of conscience in regard to +the authority of the Roman Pontiff. But of that one word hereafter. I +here reproduce the historical facts connected with these letters, for +another object. Although the excitement about the threatened Concordat +was allayed, and the invectives against the Archbishop of Dublin abated +in intemperance, the bitterness of feeling which swept over the country +like an avenging scourge, left behind it germs of discord and weakness.</p> + +<p>Publicly or privately the Seceders did not interfere. At the meeting of +the Association already alluded to, Mr. O'Brien made a most noble +speech, inculcating education, self-reliance, organisation and progress, +without stooping to refer to the perplexed question, which filled his +audience with angry passions, and supplied the other speakers with +intemperate enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The whole endeavours of the Seceders were at this time devoted to the +organisation of clubs or reading rooms on an educational basis. +Connected with this object was the augmentation of the Repeal revenue, +which was anticipated from the extended action of these political and +social schools. The funds were greatly diminished, and the weekly +collections had fallen to an average of about £150. It became necessary, +as much as possible, to curtail the expenses, and a reduction of a very +serious amount was effected during Mr. O'Connell's absence at Derrynane. +The effort was continued after his arrival in town, which led to +<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47" />differences of opinion with him, in committee. Sinecure situations, +created by him, were abolished, and inquiries were instituted which gave +him great annoyance. He particularly resented and resisted the removal +from one of those offices of Doctor Nagle. Doctor Nagle was appointed to +be "curator of manuscripts", the ostensible duty of which was to +superintend the reports (then daily issuing from the press, and written +for the most part by the Seceders) for the purpose of preventing the +publication of anything illegal or dangerous. In effect, he was +nominally, literary, legal and moral censor. But the unanimous and loud +indignation of the essayists rendered his task a light one. He was +content to accept the salary and leave those gentlemen the guardians of +their own safety, their character and literary fame. Doctor Nagle +continued to act as librarian and, weekly, delivered to the secretary +certain lists of contributions that had been previously furnished him by +that gentleman. His salary and certain fees given to other "patriots," +came under the cognisance of a sub-committee consisting, as well as I +remember, of the present member for Dublin,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7" /><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> a Mr. O'Meara and someone +whose name I now forget. Their report adjudged the office useless, and +recommended its immediate abolition. A motion was accordingly made in +committee for Doctor Nagle's dismissal. Mr. O'Connell was in the chair. +All his sons were present, one of whom, I think, moved an amendment to +the effect that he be continued at his then salary. A division took +place, when the majority against the amendment was considerably over two +to one. Mr.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48" />O'Connell expressed himself deeply mortified at this result. Another +amendment to the same effect was then proposed and negatived by a +majority numerically somewhat less, when Sir Colman O'Loghlen moved, and +John Loyd Fitzgerald seconded, an amendment to the effect that he be +continued as clerk of the library at half his salary, that is £50 a +year. The result would have been the same as before but that many of the +majority had withdrawn under the impression that the question was +disposed of; the number for the amendment was twenty-two, and the number +against only twenty-three. Mr. O'Connell assumed the right to give two +votes, one as member, which made the numbers equal, and a casting vote +as chairman. It was then proposed and carried that every chairman should +in future have two votes, and Sir Colman's amendment was allowed to pass +in the affirmative. Doctor Nagle continued to fill his office until his +appointment to a more lucrative one under the Whig Government.</p> + +<p>The Eighty-Two Club which was projected in prison was finally organised +in January, 1845. The differences which manifested themselves in +Conciliation Hall imperceptibly extended to this body. The original +members constituted the committee and were self-appointed. The others +had to submit to a ballot. Some few were rejected, at which Mr. +O'Connell's friends took umbrage, and the rejected aspirants were sure +to attribute their decision to their devotion to the "Liberator." Thus +it happened that most objectionable candidates could not be resisted +without incurring the imputation of opposing and thwarting the "saviour +of his country."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-07" /><a id="image07" href="images/image07-big.jpg"><img src="images/image07.jpg" width="281" height="400" alt="Charles Lavan Duffy (1846)" title="Charles Lavan Duffy (1846)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Charles Lavan Duffy (1846)</p> +</div> + +<p><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49" />Mr. O'Connell himself, although he warmly approved of the club in the +commencement, soon ceased to feel an interest in its proceedings. For +the first year, its action was confined to some routine dinners, which +attracted a very fashionable attendance, and furnished an occasion for +some brilliant speaking. Yet the fame and respectability of such a body +were seductions which few of the leading men in the confederacy could +resist. The Eighty-Two Club became a standard toast at public dinners, +and its members were received as distinguished guests or visitors +wherever they appeared. Without having yet performed any distinct +service, or realised the promise involved in its establishment, the club +became a very important and imposing body.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell was its president, and Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Grattan, Sir +Colman O'Loghlen and others, vice-presidents. The first committee was +composed of the Members of Parliament, Mayors of cities, and men eminent +in the different professions and literary pursuits. Complaints of +inattention were made against some of its members, and at the election +for officers after the expiration of the first year, others were +substituted for the inattentive and inefficient. The change for the most +part was made by unanimous consent; but when a ballot was called for, +other names were substituted for those on the house list, recommended by +the former committee, and the contest resulted in the rejection of +Richard Barrett and one or two others. This was taken as an affront to +Mr. O'Connell, though personally he neither took part in, nor was +present at, the meeting. Whether it was owing to Mr. O'Connell's +aversion to the green-and-gold uniform, to which he <a name="Page_50" id="Page_50" />sometimes expressed +his dislike, or his objection to the rejection of his soi-disant +friends, or to his consciousness that the club was not subservient to +his control, he took very little interest in its progress, and +frequently spoke of it in terms of derision.</p> + +<p>But that which produced the first sensible and vital difference between +Mr. O'Connell and the Seceders was the Colleges Bill. Education had long +been a subject of anxious solicitude with Mr. Davis, and he was in +continual communication with Mr. Wyse, its great parliamentary champion. +He had repeatedly urged upon him the indispensable necessity of the +principle of mixed education, as the basis of any collegiate system for +Ireland. That basis was recognised in the system of national education +which was accepted and approved of by the whole Catholic Hierarchy, with +one exception, and most warmly sanctioned by the Catholic priesthood and +laity. Extreme bigots of the Protestant school opposed and denounced it +as unscriptural and Godless, and one extreme bigot of the Catholic +school echoed the objurgation. It was not to be supposed that a +principle thus sanctioned, tried, and efficient as applicable to the +children of the poor, would be objected to when applied to those who +were higher in station and older in years. When, therefore, the Bill was +introduced and its principal provisions announced, it was received with +the utmost delight and, even, triumph. Mr. O'Connell proclaimed in a +meeting of the committee his emphatic approval of the principle of the +Bill.</p> + +<p>As soon as its details were published, it was submitted to the +parliamentary committee, and, during its dis<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51" />cussion there, he expressed +for the first time some doubts as to the practicability of a mixed +system of education. Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Davis and others expostulated, and +deprecated in unmistakable terms the fatality of engaging the +Association to a principle so sectarian, narrow and illiberal. He said +he would take time to consider, and would meantime consult with Doctor +MacHale. He was reminded that Doctor MacHale could not approve of the +system without gross inconsistency, and requested to take the opinion of +all the other Bishops as well. How far he was governed by this advice is +unimportant and impossible to tell. But the bishops met in solemn synod +and published the result of their deliberations in the following +memorial:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That memorialists are disposed to co-operate on fair and + reasonable terms with her majesty's government and the + legislature, in establishing a system for the further extension + of academical education in Ireland.</p> + +<p> "That a fair proportion of the professors and other + office-bearers in the new colleges should be members of the + Roman Catholic Church, whose moral conduct shall have been + properly certified by testimonials of character, signed by their + respective prelates. And that all the office-bearers in those + colleges should be appointed by a board of trustees, of which + the Roman Catholic prelates of the provinces in which any of + those colleges shall be erected shall be members.</p> + +<p> "That the Roman Catholic pupils could not attend the lectures on + history, logic, metaphysics, moral philosophy, geology, or + anatomy, without exposing their faith or morals to imminent + danger, unless a Roman Catholic professor will be appointed for + each of those chairs.</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52" /><p>"That if any president, vice-president, professor, or + office-bearer, in any of the new colleges shall be convicted + before the board of trustees of attempting to undermine the + faith or injure the morals of any student in those institutions, + he shall be immediately removed from his office by the same + board."</p></div> + +<p>It will be observed that the principle of mixed education is not here +directly approved or condemned. But approval is an inference, as clear +and emphatic as words could express. The memorial prays for distinct and +specific alterations in the details of the Bill. It demands that certain +branches of secular education should be taught to the Catholic students +by Catholic professors approved of by the prelates, and it insists upon +other guarantees to secure the Catholic youth from the danger of all and +every species of interference with the tenets of their faith.</p> + +<p>How far the demands of the bishops were just or extravagant, is not a +fit subject of inquiry here. But the fact of making the demands stamps +the principle of the bill with their incontrovertible approval. The +argument which denies it involves an accusation against those Most +Reverend and Right Reverend divines, of evasion, treachery and untruth. +Any defence which implies that they avoided the direct condemnation of +the principle because they knew their memorial would be disregarded, +which would enable them to interdict the whole Bill, principle and +details, on the ground of the immorality of the latter, involves an +implication that moral and Christian turpitude is synonymous with +Catholic zeal. Such an implication, inevitable from the premises assumed +by the opponents of the mixed system, <a name="Page_53" id="Page_53" />would be foulest calumny. The +Catholic prelates were eminently sincere; and had they been warmly +seconded they might have obtained such ameliorations in the details of +the system as would be satisfactory to every rational, liberal and +honest man. But the old jealousy, division and calumny which had grown +out of the Bequests Act, obtruded themselves on every attempt at calm +consideration, and scattered the elements indispensable to successful +moral combination. The principle and details of the academic project +became confused and confounded, and while some clamorously opposed, +others unthinkingly supported, the entire. Thus the minister was enabled +to balance the voice of public opinion as he found it arrayed for and +against his measure, and under pretence of indifference to despise both +parties. For a long while, the action of the Association was paralysed. +There were deeper questions at issue there than even those which +appeared on the face of the bill. The educational party insisted that +any measure which did not embrace the University was scanty and +illiberal. They claimed its honours, advantages and emoluments for all +the youth of Ireland alike; and they sought to make the academic +subordinate to and parcel of the collegiate system. The Dublin +University and Trinity College are separate and distinct foundations and +establishments. They proposed that Maynooth and Trinity College should +be both sufficiently endowed for all purposes of ecclesiastical +education, without any interference, direct or indirect, from each other +or the Government, while the University should be open alike to all who +had obtained distinction in the provincial colleges. Any <a name="Page_54" id="Page_54" />measure of +narrower scope would, they contended, leave dullness and bigotry where +it found them.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell, on the other hand, insisted on the inviolability of +Dublin College as a Protestant institution, inaccessible to Catholics, +except through the slough of perverted and perjured faith. He would then +have new colleges purely Catholic and entirely under the control of the +Catholic bishops, but endowed by the State, and chartered to confer +literary degrees. He would extend the same right to the members of other +religious persuasions. It was answered that these positions and his +arguments addressed to the academic question were irreconcilable and +incompatible. Catholics were already admissible to Dublin College, and +entitled to certain degrees and a vote. He either intended that they +should be thenceforth excluded or he did not. If not, then the argument +against mixed education would hold for nothing: if he did, then he +attempted what was impracticable, or, if not impracticable, preposterous +and absurd. It is not conceivable that Catholic young men, of laudable +ambition, would be deterred from entering the lists with their +Protestant contemporaries where most honour was won by superior +eminence, or that they would be swayed by a warning that a college +course would be attended with risk to their faith and morals, when they +remembered that for the past century, while the risk was infinitely more +imminent, no such warning had been ever heard from council, synod or +conference. It is a strange fact in the history of these troubled times +that no voice of denunciation against Dublin College could be heard in +the polemical din, <a name="Page_55" id="Page_55" />although it was well known that its literary honours +stamped preliminary degradation on the Catholic aspirant, and were used +at once to mock his political condition and pervert his faith—no voice +was heard although one at least of the prelates had obtained degrees in +the University, while the bishop and priests of an entire diocese, in +conclave assembled, solemnly resolved that they would refuse sacraments +to any Catholic parent who sent his son to one of the Godless colleges. +But supposing it were practicable to exclude Roman Catholics from the +University, and that the system of exclusive education among the middle +and upper classes were applied in all its rigour, when were Protestant +and Catholic to meet? If it were dangerous to faith and morals that they +should discuss together the properties of an angle or the altitude of a +star, it could hardly be safe to have them decide together a principle +of law or determine the value or limits of a political franchise. All +this was urged on Mr. O'Connell, and sometimes apparently with success, +for he more than once consented to forego the discussion of the question +in the Hall; and he would have strictly adhered to that engagement had +he not been goaded by the intemperate counsels of others.</p> + +<p>In the desultory history of this question, two facts have been stated +requiring distinct proof. They are:—First, that Mr. O'Connell was +favourable to the principle of mixed education in the commencement.</p> + +<p>And, secondly, that the Seceders—those who were afterwards so glibly +denounced as infidels for their support of the Godless bill—were as +much opposed to that bill as he was.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56" />How Mr. O'Connell expressed himself when the bill was first announced +has been already stated. It is at once conceded that the writer's memory +of a conversation, in its nature almost private, were he even above all +suspicion, would not be a safe authority. In this instance there is no +need to rely on it—the statement is more than sustained by Mr. +O'Connell's recorded words. From a number of occasions, equally +available, I select one, because of its solemnity and importance.</p> + +<p>In a prolonged and most earnest debate in the House of Commons, on +motion for going into Committee on the Bill, June 2nd, Mr. O'Connell, +after eulogising the Maynooth grant, says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Take one step more, and consider whether this bill may not be + made to accord with the feelings of the Catholic ecclesiastics + of Ireland. I ought not to detain you: I am not speaking here in + any spirit of hostility. I should be most happy to give any + assistance in my humble power to make this bill work well. I + have the most anxious wish to have this bill work well, because + I am desirous of seeing education promoted in Ireland; but even + education may be misapplied power. I admit that at one time I + thought the plan of a mixed education proper, and I still think + that a system of mixed education in literature and science would + be proper, but not with regard to religious education."</p> + +<p> And further on: "Again I repeat I am most anxious for the + success of this bill, but I fairly tell you it cannot succeed + without the Catholic bishops....</p> + +<p> "There may have been harsh expressions in the public papers, but + depend upon it great anxiety exists in Ireland to have such a + measure."</p></div> + +<p>The second proposition would be abundantly sustained by a single +sentence in Thomas Davis's <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57" />commentary on the speech from which I +extract the above.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"On our part we had feared O'Connell conceded almost too far."</p></div> + +<p>But the testimony of Mr. O'Connell himself will be considered more +conclusive.</p> + +<p>Speaking in the Association on the 6th of July, he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I may remark for the present that on this subject a question of + difference has arisen among ourselves. Some of the members of + the Association are for what is called mixed education, and + others of us are against it, but that difference of opinion + ought not to create any division among us, for neither the one + nor the other of us is gratified by the bill as it stands."</p></div> + +<p>Again, in the course of the same speech, he said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We (Mr. O'Brien and himself) did our best to avert such a + calamity. We called upon the Government not to persist in + working out this bill in all its details of blackness and + horror."</p></div> + +<p>He concluded by lauding Lord John Russell for his valuable assistance in +the attempt to amend the bill, and finally said that, having failed in +this attempt, he "flung the bill to the ministry, to deal with it as +they pleased."</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Brien continued in London, and proposed amendments to the bill in +every stage of its progress. It was during that time he was assailed by +Mr. Roebuck with all the little malevolence of his envenomed nature. He +failed in every attempt to remedy the defects of <a name="Page_58" id="Page_58" />the bill, which passed +its last stage in the Commons on the 10th day of July. On the 17th of +the same month, Mr. O'Connell, speaking in the Association, said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In the resolution I am about submitting to the Association, we + have not inserted one word about mixed education. This is a + question upon which there exists some differences of opinion. I + have my opinions upon the subject, I am the decided enemy of + mixed education....</p> + +<p> "I fully respect the contrary convictions entertained by others, + and I am the more ready to proclaim that respect because at + present all possibility of discussion on the matter is out of + the question."</p></div> + +<p>It will be observed that Mr. O'Connell's opinions underwent a serious +and important change during the time over which these speeches range. +That change was produced gradually, and not without infinite trouble on +the part of his son whose inveterate zeal knew no bounds. In his +father's presence, and more particularly so in his absence, he denounced +the bill, and held up any Catholic who dared to support it to public +indignation. He called on the people of Waterford to demand Mr. Wyse's +resignation, not because he was an unfaithful representative, but +because he was unchristian. If he had not determined to divide the +Association on this question, he did all a man could do who had so +determined.</p> + +<p>I shall only trouble the reader with two quotations more. They refer to +the question immediately under discussion, namely, that the Seceders +were as much opposed to the obnoxious clauses of the bill as those with +whom they differed. But while they are un<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59" />equivocal and conclusive on +that branch of the subject, they go still further and attest the sincere +forbearance with which they treated language and conduct which appeared +to them in the utmost degree narrow and intolerant. Discussion among the +bishops naturally produced discussion among the chiefs of the +Association, and it was agreed that the Association should confine its +objections to those provisions of the bill upon which there could be no +disagreement. The first petition of the Association was confided to me. +I endeavoured to embody in the petition what appeared to me the true +basis of a comprehensive system of education. Some persons on the +Committee objected to certain phrases as susceptible of an inference +favourable to the principle of mixed education. Mr. O'Connell joined in +the objection and succeeded in reducing the petition to a single +paragraph, deprecatory of the Tenth Clause of the Bill. I refused to +have any more to do with the petition, and it was dropped. After the +lapse of a fortnight, Mr. Maurice O'Connell proposed another, simply +praying that the tenth clause, which vested the appointment of the +professors of the college in the Government, should be rejected.</p> + +<p>Upon the occasion of this petition being submitted to the Association +(9th June, 1845), Mr. J. O'Connell delivered one of his usual invectives +against the bill and its abettors. Mr. O'Brien deprecated the +ill-feeling and discord such language was calculated to provoke. In the +course of his observations he said:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In seconding the motion of my hon. friend, the member for + Kilkenny, for the adoption of this petition, it is not my + intention to follow into any of the polemical <a name="Page_60" id="Page_60" />questions which, + in the course of his protracted speech, he has raised in this + Association. I am obliged, however, to say in candour that in + some of the views he has put forward I cannot agree.... We have + given a general concurrence in this Hall to the recommendation + that has emanated from the Catholic Hierarchy.... I am not + disposed to assist the Government in making those seminaries, + which ought to be seats of learning, filthy sties of corruption. + It is because I believe that such would become their character + if this tenth clause were to remain a legislative enactment that + I shall oppose it to the utmost."</p></div> + +<p>The Reverend John Kenyon, then little known, rose to protest against the +course pursued by Mr. J. O'Connell, which he characterised as not only +uncatholic but unchristian. Mr. J. O'Connell, in the blandest tones, +deprecated any discussion tending to division, which induced Mr. Kenyon +to sit down. Having spread with dexterous industry the most baleful +elements of discord, he begged they should not be disturbed.</p> + +<p>I will be pardoned for transcribing here a few observations of my own on +that occasion.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I am exceedingly anxious, having the misfortune to differ most + widely from my honourable friend the member for Kilkenny, on the + subject of academical education, to express my cordial + concurrence with him in reference to the subject of this + petition. I shall not say one word about our difference of + opinion. I shall enter into no disturbing or dividing + discussion, and the more so because any difference we may + express could not fail to impair the efficiency of our action + where we are thoroughly agreed. I condemn this clause as + strongly as the hon. member can. Nay, I will go a step further, + and say that if there be no provision <a name="Page_61" id="Page_61" />made by the bill for + religious instruction and moral culture, Protestant and Catholic + ought to unite in struggling for its rejection. No matter how + splendid may be the accommodations provided by these + academies—no matter how richly they may be endowed—if there be + no provision made for the religious education of the pupils, I + trust they will remain silent, unattended Halls."</p></div> + +<p>Numerous other proofs to the same facts are accessible, but these are +abundantly conclusive. The history of the struggle itself, the slow and +evidently reluctant change in Mr. O'Connell's opinions, and the +intolerant spirit with which the enemies of the bill pursued the name +and character of those who, although they approved of the mixed system, +were as inveterately inimical to the dangerous provisions of the bill as +they were themselves, sufficiently attest that faction swayed the +troubled movement of clerical and popular passion alike. The vulgar and +virulent anathemas of some tongues and pens not only swept unsparingly +over the unhappy crowd, but aimed at the lofty sphere of Episcopal +authority, even where most identical with purity and piety. A malignant +charity extended to the errors of the Primate that palliation which +perverted reason otherwise refused to admit. Too lofty to be accused of +treachery, he was not too sacred to be pronounced mad.</p> + +<p>The Committee of the Association alone nearly escaped the influence of +the fierce spirit of the times. There the voice of reason for a while +held sway. The forbearance and respect for conflicting opinions which +preserved its dignity were, with the one exception, extended to the +proceedings in the Hall, where even the <a name="Page_62" id="Page_62" />most unscrupulous were checked +by a petition which recognised and welcomed the principle of united +education, but strongly deprecated the objectionable provisions of the +"Godless Bill." To this petition was affixed the signature of almost +every educated lay Catholic in Dublin. The number of Catholic barristers +alone whose names are found among those signatures amounts to +seventy-two. At the same time, a remonstrance addressed personally to +Mr. O'Connell was signed by the leading Catholics of the Association. +Its object was to preclude all discussion on the subject of the disputed +principle in Conciliation Hall. It was signed for the most part by men +who theretofore had taken but little part in the dispute. But against +all these precautions passion by degrees prevailed, and when Mr. +O'Connell was reminded by Mr. Barry, of Cork, that in reply to the +remonstrance he had pledged himself to abstinence from the irritating +discussion, his apology was, that he thought the document in question +and all proceedings connected with it were strictly private; as if the +privacy of a solemn pledge dispensed with its obligation.</p> + +<p>An episode in this strife deserves specific notice. At a meeting of the +Association, held on the 26th of May, the question was incidentally +introduced. Mr. Michael George Conway, a man of considerable literary +and oratorical powers, but not distinguished for any very rigid piety, +introduced the subject, evidently with the view of exciting Mr. +O'Connell's impulsive character against the species of restraint under +which his sinister friends were continually hinting he was held. The +speech breathed the most fervent spirit of<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63" /> Catholic piety, seasoned +with bitter invectives against what Mr. Conway described as a baffled +faction in the Association. Mr. O'Connell took off his cap, waved it +repeatedly over his head, and cheered vociferously. Few, if any, of the +Catholic gentlemen who were opposed to Mr. O'Connell, were present. Mr. +Davis rose, and commenced by saying: "My Catholic friend, my <i>very</i> +Catholic friend." The allusion was intelligible to almost every man in +the assembly, but the practised and dexterous advocate saw and seized +the advantage it presented for exciting the active prejudices of the +audience. He started up and exclaimed, "I hope it is no <i>crime</i> to be a +Catholic." The whole meeting burst into a tumultuous shout which bespoke +a triumph rather than admiration. Mr. O'Connell did triumph, but not in +the sense understood by his applauders. He apprehended the effect of the +honest, frank and manly exposure which, if he were not rudely +interrupted, would be made by Mr. Davis, and he was too keen to allow an +opportunity, so tempting to his object, to pass, though he should +violate all the observances of good feeling and decorum. Mr. Davis, on +the other hand, felt the blow to be a stunning one. He was shocked at +the same time by Mr. O'Connell's disregard, not alone of friendship, but +of common courtesy, and by the intemperate exultation of the audience. +To his loving nature, both seemed, especially in such a place, utterly +unintelligible and grossly unkind. He was the last living man to offer +insult to the belief or even the prejudice of a Catholic, and he felt +that this was thoroughly known to Mr. O'Connell, and that it ought to be +known to his audience. The disappoint<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64" />ment and the rudeness were too +much for his susceptible heart, and he so far yielded to wounded +feelings as to shed tears. Mr. O'Connell, whether gratified by success +or influenced by his better impulse, caught him by the hand and +exclaimed: "Davis, I love you." Although the first struggle closed +amidst cheers, there were carried away from that meeting in the breasts +of many, seeds of bitterness and hate which ripened in after times and +under gloomier auspices. I dwell on it as important, although a casual +incident, frequent and almost inevitable in political excitement. There +were two parties from whose memory the scene never passed. These were +the blind followers of Mr. O'Connell, to whom it seemed blackest guilt +to question his supremacy or infallibility, on the one hand, and on the +other, all who sympathised with genuine and lofty emotions, and regarded +the attack on Mr. Davis as wanton, brutal and contemptible. The +miserable little faction that existed on the spoils of the Association +magnified the difference and fanned the discontent. That Young Ireland +had received its death-blow passed into a watch-word among them.</p> + +<p>An event of mighty augury and most trifling results, which distinguished +the year 1845, must not be passed unmentioned. This was the celebrated +levee, held in the Round Room of the Rotunda, on the 30th of May, the +anniversary of the imprisonment. It was referred to a sub-committee, on +which Mr. Davis and Sir Colman O'Loghlen were principals, to devise the +most appropriate celebration for that important day. They determined on +a public levee, to which were summoned whatever there was of +respectability, authority, genius <a name="Page_65" id="Page_65" />and worth in the island, which +recognised the wisdom, justice and holiness of the struggle for +Nationhood. All the corporations, every delegation which derived public +authority from the popular voice, besides citizens of the unincorporated +towns, answered the summons with alacrity. That day witnessed a scene +the most extraordinary, imposing and formidable of the kind in modern +annals. The Round Room was thronged to excess, but preconcerted +arrangements had provided for the convenience of its favoured visitors, +while the public streets, abandoned to chance, presented an immovable +mass of human beings, swaying to and fro, but governed by a single and +omnipotent impulse, which steeled them to the pressure and broil as if +they felt themselves in presence of a speedy deliverance and free +destiny.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-08" /><a id="image08" href="images/image08-big.jpg"><img src="images/image08.jpg" width="619" height="400" alt="Richard O'Gorman, Jun. (1848) & Patrick O'Donohoe (1848)" title="Richard Gorman, Jun. (1848) and Patrick Donohoe (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Richard O'Gorman, Jun. (1848) & Patrick O'Donohoe (1848)</p> +</div> + +<p>The preparations engaged the vigilant activity of a large committee for +two entire days and nights. Yet these preparations bore an infinite +disproportion to the display of wealth of mind, of energy of thought, +and national pomp, which ushered in the glorious morning. Those who +scoffed at the project when it was first announced came to mock the +scene but went away admiring. The spirit of the hour infused itself into +the public heart, which appeared to throb but to one impulse and one +aim: at all events no one was, no one could be, found obdurate enough to +question the significance or importance of the proceeding.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell's fellow-prisoners shared his state and the homage which +was paid to him. But in the outward crowd no one dissociated him +personally from the minutest detail of the day's proceedings, or +admitted <a name="Page_66" id="Page_66" />for a moment that any other human being partook of its glory, +or directed its end. High above the multitude they saw him receive the +nation's homage, which seemed but the expression of the liberty he had +already achieved. How he felt the influence of the scene there is no +record to tell. His demeanour while exercising the prerogatives of his +position was such as became a man conscious that he occupied a throne +loftier than ever yet was decked by a kingly crown. But when his +official functions were discharged, he addressed the impassioned throng +in language too tame for the most ordinary occasion.</p> + +<p>The great act of the day was the adoption of the following pledge. It +had been prepared and approved by the Committee of the Association, and +every word was canvassed with the most scrupulous regard to the trying +circumstances which the committee found themselves in presence of. The +virulent hostility of the Tory Government had been baffled, and its +utmost strength discomfited. It was understood at the time that a Whig +Government was in the advent of power, and the great object of the +pledge was to record the solemn conviction of the Nation that they were +faithless and treacherous as the others were unscrupulous and +vindictive, and that to the corrupting influence of the one and the +unmasked hostility of the other the same resistance should be shown. The +pledge was preceded by this resolution:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Resolved, That in commemorating this first anniversary of the + 30th of May, we deem it our duty to record a solemn pledge that + corruption shall not seduce, nor deceit cajole, nor intimidation + deter us from seeking <a name="Page_67" id="Page_67" />to obtain for Ireland the blessings of + self-government through a national legislature, and we recommend + that the following pledge be taken:—</p> + +<p> "We, the undersigned, being convinced that good government and + wise legislation can be permanently secured to the Irish people + only through the instrumentality of an Irish Legislature, do + hereby pledge ourselves to our country that we will never desist + from seeking the Repeal of the Union with England by all + peaceable, moral and constitutional means, until a parliament be + restored to Ireland.</p> + +<p> "Dated this 30th day of May, 1845."</p></div> + +<p>This pledge was adopted formally in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda, in +presence of most of the Irish mayors, the leading delegates of the +country, the members of the Eighty-Two Club, and a vast concourse of +gentlemen both from the metropolis and the provinces. It was proposed by +William Smith O'Brien, seconded by Henry Grattan, and put to the meeting +from the chair by the eldest son of Daniel O'Connell. The cheer that +hailed its adoption was a shout not of approval, but defiance. But alas! +many voices mingled in the chorus which have since been attuned to the +meanest whine of mendicancy. That they vilely belied their solemn +promise were of little moment. Nay, more, it is bootless to consider +whether they were more false-tongued and false-hearted in that great +pageant, or on the recent occasion of their kneeling in their own shame +to pledge a faith they do not feel, in expectation of some royal notice +or royal favour. What is mournful in both instances is this, that a show +of wealth, a practice of successful chicanery called good sense, or +public trust <a name="Page_68" id="Page_68" />won by intrigue and falsehood, should so blind the world +to the <i>man's</i> rotten and vulgar heart as to raise them to a position +where their acts should be regarded as indicative of the feeling or +important to the destiny of a nation.</p> + +<p>With the 30th of May, passed off the excitement of which it was the +cause and scene. Those who arranged the grand pageant of that day, and +invested it with attributes, suggestive, imposing and useful as ever +decked a public spectacle, would have wrought it out into a sterner +purpose: but the heart upon which they counted had, even then, died. Mr. +O'Connell's speech too painfully bespoke his utter inability to guide +the nation in any higher effort. The energy that should have seized the +occasion to confirm the people in their strong purpose, and elevate +their hopes to the level of the great stake at issue, exhausted itself +in balancing the routine details of cold and empty statistics. The +curtain fell, and nothing remained but grotesque figures, withered +garlands, broken panels and desolate dust, which mingled confusedly +behind the scene, over the dark, deserted stage. The journals, of +course, preserved, for a few days, very glittering reminiscences of the +scene. With one accord, they pronounced it surpassing in interest and +importance. Great results were anticipated in the newspaper world; and +many imagined they had fulfilled the last obligations they owed their +country. But with the men, who had fondly hoped to date therefrom a new +era and begin a nobler task, the 30th of May, was of dark, despairing +augury. They clearly saw that from that hour forth there remained but +the alternative of abandoning their <a name="Page_69" id="Page_69" />cherished hopes, or attempting to +realise them without the aid, perhaps in opposition to the wishes, of +Mr. O'Connell. It was a gloomy and sad conviction, but it was no longer +to be blinked.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Mr. O'Connell returned to the Hall, and repeated to a jaded +audience, week after week, the same stale list of grievances. From any +other man the repetition would be intolerable. But the public ear had +become attuned to his accents, to which, whatever the sense of his +language, men listened as to a messenger of heavenly tidings. Mr. Duffy +strongly urged upon his fellow labourers the improbability of success, +and advised a distinct change of policy. In this he was overborne by +their united opinion, and the <i>Nation</i> continued to promulgate the same +bold, unwavering course. By degrees the feeling of bitterness +entertained by the anti-education section of the priests found +utterance, and the paper was, almost openly, denounced as an infidel +publication. At first indeed, the charge was shrouded in mysterious +insinuations; but it soon gained strength and audacity, and received the +unblushing sanction of at least one prelate. The answer of the <i>Nation</i> +was confined to one indignant line. Proof was demanded and was not +offered; but its very absence only deepened the malignity of the +slanderers. Even in the midst of this storm the muse of Thomas Davis +sang no discordant strain, nor did his pen trace one angry word. On the +contrary, he summoned his whole energies to the task of harmonising the +jarring elements around him. His inspiration rose to that unearthly +height, whereon guidance becomes prophecy. Great, strong and unselfish +convictions, entertained <a name="Page_70" id="Page_70" />holily and uttered sincerely, are assurances +of new creations, pledges of the destiny to which they tend. In this +spirit, spoke and sang Thomas Davis during a time of bitterness and +dissension. And his counsels had been successful, but alas! in that last +effort his fond, faithful, trusting heart was broken.</p> + +<p>There was a perceptible lull in the agitation. The country gradually +relapsed into a state of inactive and vague hope, which centred in the +mental resources of Mr. O'Connell. The difficulties which the people +should have appreciated and learned to overcome, they transferred, with +easy and trusting indifference, to the energies of the "Liberator," +which they not only deemed boundless but immortal. From all educated and +thoughtful men, however, hope in those energies had passed away. Davis +seduously endeavoured during the summer months of 1845, to gather these, +and others of the same class from the Conservative ranks, round some +common object or endeavour, outside Mr. O'Connell's path, and not +calculated to wake their prejudice or jealousies. The Art Union, the +Archaeological Society, the Royal Irish Academy, the Library of Ireland, +the Cork School of Design, the Mechanics' Institute and every effort and +institution, having for their aim the encouragement of the nation in +arts, literature and greatness, engaged his vigilant and embracing care. +Of each of these institutions he became the great attraction, the real +centre and head. While he successfully wrought to give a national and +steady direction to Irish intellect and enterprise—Hogan, in Italy, +Maclise, in London, and others like them, who were bravely struggling +and nobly emulating <a name="Page_71" id="Page_71" />the highest efforts of the genius of other lands, +were vindicated, encouraged and applauded by his pen. Among the sterner +natures, who urged their way through the stormy elements of agitation, +his accents, though low and diffident, commanded the deepest attention +and most lasting memory. While thus engaged, compassing by his "circling +soul," every sunward effort and immortal tendency of the country, death +came, sudden and inexorable, and struck him down in his day of utmost +might. His last work on earth was the brief dedication of the memoir of +Curran, and edition of his select speeches, which he had prepared, to +his friend, William Elliot Hudson. This he wrote during a pause of +delirium, and soon afterwards passed to a brighter world. He died on the +16th of September, 1845, when yet but thirty-one years old. How sincere +and deep was the public grief, no pen can ever tell. In the mourning +procession that followed his hearse there was no parade of woe, but +every eye was wet and every tongue silent. If ever sorrow was too deep +for utterance, it was that which settled above the early grave of Thomas +Davis.</p> + +<p>During the summer, no effort of the Association rose above the hacknied +level of the usual weekly meetings and the repetition of the same stale +grievances, except a gathering of Tipperary at Thurles, which took place +on the 23rd of September. This was the largest of the monster meetings: +but, although the crowd was enormous and the shouting loud, it seemed +without purpose or heart. During the preparations for that meeting I had +to encounter difficulties of the most extraordinary kind. First, the +meeting was opposed <a name="Page_72" id="Page_72" />by certain influential clergymen; and when they +found themselves too feeble to resist, they transferred all their +opposition to me. There is no petty cavil they had not recourse to, to +thwart and discourage, and even when all had succeeded I was treated +with personal discourtesy and annoyance at the public dinner. The seeds +of strife, afterwards destined to bear such deadly fruit, had already +begun to manifest themselves, and petty calumnies were insinuated in the +name of religion and morality. From that great meeting the crowd retired +quickly, and, almost as instantaneously, its effect faded from the +public heat. All that remained was soreness and distrust.</p> + +<p>No event worth a memory marked the close of 1845, or the first months of +1846. The Colleges Bill had passed, without a single important +amendment, and a Roman Catholic priest accepted the nomination of +Government, as president of one of the institutions. Some of the +prelates, too, were said to be favourable to the colleges, even as they +were then constituted, and the divisions supposed to exist among them +were imparting their acridity to the deepening distractions of the time, +when an event occurred—the advent of the Whigs to office—which broke +up the great confederacy on which the hopes of the nation were staked.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5" /><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> The Repeal "Rent." The weekly contributions to the funds of +Conciliation Hall.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6" /><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Moved by the Right Reverend Dr. Brown of Elphin; seconded +by the Right Reverend Dr. McNally of Clogher. Resolved: That the Most +Reverend Dr. Crolly be requested to reply to the letter received from +the Holy Father, stating that the instructions therein contained have +been received by the assembled prelates of Ireland with that degree of +profound respect, obedience and veneration that should ever be paid to +any document emanating from the Apostolic See, and that they all pledge +themselves to carry the spirit thereof into effect." +</p><p> +Dr. Crolly had previously explained what he considered true obedience to +the rescript. He writes in reference to a former one in 1839: "In +obedience to the injunction of the Holy See, I endeavoured to reclaim +those misguided clergymen;" adding that the present was "in order that I +should <i>more efficaciously</i> admonish such priests or prelates as I +might find taking a prominent or imprudent part in political +proceedings."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7" /><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> John Reynolds.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV" /><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73" />CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p>IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS. — CONDUCT OF +THE ASSOCIATION. — DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB.—MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS +TO IRELAND. — DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE.</p> + + +<p>Before proceeding to detail the circumstances which led to the +celebrated secession, it is essential to dispose of an episode in the +struggle, which, more than any other, stamped its impress on the acts +and feelings of that unfortunate period; I allude to the imprisonment, +by the House of Commons, of William Smith O'Brien. There is no act of +his life upon which there has been so much acrimonious criticism; none +on account of which he has been subjected to so much intemperate +misrepresentation. And yet, perhaps, his great career, fruitful in good +actions, never furnished a purer or more unselfish example of sound +judgment as well as intrepidity and devotion. The history of his +incarceration ranges over a great portion of the time which has been +already passed, and enters largely into the leading events, hereafter to +be related. A clear understanding of the whole—of Mr. O'Brien's +influencing motives and his tenacity of principle—would be impossible +without a distinct recital of the circumstances out of which his purpose +first grew, and which, to the end, controlled his resolution.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1845, the committee of the Association passed a vote to +the effect that the Parliamentary <a name="Page_74" id="Page_74" />representatives, who were members of +that body, should withdraw from the British Parliament. It was proposed +by Mr. Davis and received Mr. O'Connell's entire approval. Though at +first sneered at, it had a stunning effect. The supercilious British +Commons, who would have answered the just remonstrance of the Irish +Repealers with a jeer, shrank from the consequences of legislating for +the country in the absence of the men, whose efforts, if present, they +would not hesitate to scoff at. The disturbing influence of the +resolution became at once perceptible, and the earliest means were taken +to bring the question to an issue. Mr. Hume, a parsimonious economist, +of niggard principle and grovelling sentiment, undertook the office of +coercing the Irish. He gave notice of a motion for a call of the House. +This man, a mean utilitarian, had been rejected by the country of his +birth and the country of his adoption, and found refuge in an Irish +constituency, that returned him without solicitation and without +expense. He repaid them and the country by a vulgar jest, and now +assumed the responsibility of their public prosecutor.</p> + +<p>The Association heard his threat with calm indignation and resolved at +once to defy him. The great importance of the position in which it was +placed suggested the necessity of a deliberate consideration; first, of +the constitutional question at stake and, secondly, of the steps proper +to vindicate its own dignity and resolution. As on all such occasions, a +sub-committee was appointed to whom the question was referred. Mr. +O'Connell had to some extent formed an opinion favourable to the object +of the Association. He stated <a name="Page_75" id="Page_75" />that he had considered the question in a +two-fold point of view.</p> + +<p>First, "Whether the controlling power of the English House of Commons +over its members, which admittedly it possessed before the Act of Union, +was extended to the Irish portion of the members by that Act, there +being no express provision creating it?"</p> + +<p>And secondly, "Whether even if the House possessed the power, it was +competent to enforce it, or, in other words, whether the Speaker's +warrant would receive Ireland?"</p> + +<p>To report on these two questions, thus framed, the following gentlemen +were elected as a sub-committee: James O'Hea, Sir Colman O'Loghlen, +Robert Mullen, James O'Dowd and myself. Of that committee, each +approached his task with that instinctive bias, inseparable from ardent +minds, excited by a darling hope. They read the precedents, the cases, +the arguments and judgments applicable to their enquiry with the aid of +such a hope, and still they came to the reluctant decision that the +ground taken against the authority of the British Parliament was not +maintainable. With regard to the first branch they were unanimous. With +regard to the second, Sir Colman O'Loghlen alone entertained some +doubts. As chairman of the committee, I drew up a brief report, +embodying our opinion. One reason alone we thought conclusive, namely, +that the formidable jurisdiction claimed by the House of Commons was +indispensable to the unimpeded fulfilment of its functions, as a +coordinate branch of the supreme power and controlling authority of the +State. In its very danger and extrava<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76" />gance consisted its supremacy; for +it showed that it was only admitted from its overruling and +overmastering necessity. And as the Parliament was recognised in Ireland +in all things else we thought it would be absurd to deny it functions +indispensable to its vitality.</p> + +<p>On handing in the report, I mentioned the doubts entertained by Sir +Colman O'Loghlen. Mr. O'Connell suggested that the report should be +deferred until he could consult Sir Colman. The suggestion was agreed +to, and time given for reconsideration. Mr. O'Connell himself examined +the question, he said, with great attention. He was assisted by Mr. +Clements in his researches, and at the end of the fortnight he came down +to the committee with a report of his own, distinctly and emphatically +contradicting ours, upon both branches of the case. He delivered it to +the chairman (Mr. S. O'Brien), with exultation, as a great +constitutional discovery of unspeakable importance to the liberties of +Ireland. The committee received it in the same spirit. I ventured to +question the soundness of his opinion, and maintain my own, it was +considered a daring thing to do in those times; but the question seemed +to me so clear that I could not abandon my views without treachery to my +conviction. The discussion was very short, and ended in personality, +wherein he insinuated something about unworthy motives. No scene of my +life made the same impression on me. I felt keenly his reproaches, but +still more keenly the impolicy and imprudence of the step into which the +country was precipitated. I requested that the question should be again +postponed, and the opinion <a name="Page_77" id="Page_77" />of some eminent men outside the Association +taken. I was overruled, and even laughed at—it was "doubting Mr. +O'Connell." Mr. O'Connell said, "I'll test this question '<i>meo +periculo</i>.'" The resolution passed amid cheers, and was recorded next +day amid the louder and more vehement cheers of the Association. The +country re-echoed the boast, and the House of Commons was, by a formal +and solemn vote of the entire nation, set at defiance. The conflict was +pre-arranged, even to its minute details. Mr. O'Brien was to proceed to +London, where disobedience would be more marked and decisive; and Mr. +John O'Connell was to remain in Ireland, where he could take advantage +of an additional obstacle to the exercise of its authority to the House. +So the matter stood when Mr. Hume, through what motive it is not easy to +see, neglected or abandoned his notice. The country regarded this as a +confession of weakness by the House, and gloried in a new triumph +achieved by the genius of Mr. O'Connell. He himself thought he had found +a great and solid basis for future action, and hinted at the prospect of +being able to raise upon it a parliamentary structure, having +imprescriptible and indefeasible authority, and only requiring the +sanction of the crown.</p> + +<p>A short time after the withdrawal of Mr. Hume's motion, the question was +again raised in another form. The chairman of the Committee of Selection +for Railways addressed a circular, among others, to Messrs. S. O'Brien +and John O'Connell, requiring their attendance at the selection of +special Railway Committees. The correspondent of the <i>Freeman's +Journal</i>, thus writes in forwarding their replies:—<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78" /></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>London, Monday, June 30.</i></p> + +<p> "The authority of the British Senate over Irish representatives + is now fairly placed at issue. By my letter of yesterday + evening, you were apprised of the determination of Smith O'Brien + and John O'Connell, to refuse to comply with the summons of the + parliamentary selection committee.</p> + +<p> "The course I suggested as that which it was probable would be + adopted, has been since finally resolved upon, and in part + carried into execution. John O'Connell, for the purpose of + taking the chances of a judgment in the Irish court, will not + forward his answer till he shall have reached Ireland. Smith + O'Brien delivered his reply to the clerk of the House of Commons + this day, at one o'clock."</p></div> + +<p>Here follows Mr. O'Brien's letter:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CLUB, PALL-MALL.</p> + +<p> "<i>June 30, 1845.</i></p> + +<p> "Sir.—I had the honour of receiving on Saturday afternoon a + letter dated 28th June, and signed 'Henry Creed,' to the + following effect: 'I am directed by the committee of selection + to inform you that your name is on the list for which members + will be selected to serve on the railway committees, which will + commence their sittings in the week beginning Monday, the 14th + July, during which week it will be necessary for you to be in + attendance, for the purpose of serving, if requested, on a + railway committee.'</p> + +<p> "I trust that the committee of selection will not think that I + am prompted by any feeling of disrespect towards them, or + towards the House of Commons, when I inform them that it is my + intention not to serve on any committees except such as may be + appointed with reference to the affairs of Ireland.</p> + +<p> "<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79" />I accepted a seat in the House of Commons, in the hope of + being thereby enabled to assist in improving the condition of + the land of my birth. So long as I continued to believe that I + could serve Ireland effectually in the House of Commons, I + shrank from none of the labours which are connected with the + varied functions of that assembly. During twelve years I + attended Parliament with an assiduity of which I might feel + disposed to boast, if the time so consumed by the House and by + myself had been productive of results useful to my native + country.</p> + +<p> "Experience and observation at length forced upon my mind the + conviction that the British Parliament is incompetent through + want of knowledge, if not, through want of inclination, to + legislate wisely for Ireland, and that our national interests + can be protected and fostered only through the instrumentality + of an Irish legislature.</p> + +<p> "Since this conviction has established itself in my mind I have + felt persuaded that the labours of the Irish members, though of + little avail in the British Parliament, might, if applied in + Ireland with prudence and energy, be effectual in obtaining for + the Irish people their national rights.</p> + +<p> "I have reason to believe that in this opinion a very large + majority of my constituents concur. To them alone I hold myself + responsible for the performance of my parliamentary duty. If + they had disapproved of my continued absence from the House of + Commons, I should have felt it my duty to have withdrawn from + the representation of the county of Limerick; but I have the + satisfaction of thinking that I not only consult the interests, + but also comply with the wishes of my constituents in declining + to engage in the struggles of English party, or to involve + myself in the details of English legislation.</p> + +<p> "While such have been the general impressions under which I have + absented myself during nearly two years from the House of + Commons, I yet do not feel myself <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80" />at liberty to forego whatever + power of resistance to the progress of pernicious legislation my + office of representative may confer upon me. Upon the present + occasion, I have come to London for the purpose of endeavouring + to induce the House of Commons, or rather the Government, who + appear to command the opinions of a large majority of the House, + to modify some of the Irish measures now before Parliament in + such a manner as to render them beneficial, instead of + injurious, to Ireland.</p> + +<p> "Desiring that none but the representatives of the Irish nation + should legislate for Ireland, we have no wish to intermeddle + with the affairs of England, or Scotland, except in so far as + they may be connected with the interest of Ireland or with the + general policy of the empire.</p> + +<p> "In obedience to this principle I have abstained from voting on + English and Scotch questions of a local nature, and the same + motive now induces me to decline attendance on committees on any + private bills, except such as relate to Ireland.</p> + +<p> "I am prepared to abide with cheerfulness the personal + consequences which may result from the course of conduct which I + feel it my duty to adopt.</p> + +<p> "I speak with great diffidence upon any question of a legal + kind, but I am supported by very high professional authority + when I suggest to the committee that no power was delegated to + the House of Commons by the Act of Union, or by subsequent + statutes, to compel to attendance Irish members on the + deliberations of the British Parliament. Neither do I find that + any authority has been given by statutory enactment to the House + (except in the case of election petitions) to enforce the + attendance of members upon committees.</p> + +<p> "I refrain, however, from arguing legal questions which may be + raised before another tribunal, in case it should become + necessary and advisable to appeal from the decision of the House + of Commons to the courts of judicature, and conclude by assuring + the committee <a name="Page_81" id="Page_81" />that I take the course which I propose to + adopt, not from any desire to defy the just authority of the + House of Commons, but in obedience to my sense of the duty which + I owe to my constituents and my country.</p> + +<p> "I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,</p> + +<p> "WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN.</p> + +<p> "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection."</p></div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-09" /><a id="image09" href="images/image09-big.jpg"><img src="images/image09.jpg" width="325" height="400" alt="Thomas Devin Reilly" title="Thomas Devin Reilly" /></a> +<p class="caption">Thomas Devin Reilly</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell's letter bears date on the next day, as announced in the +correspondent's notice, because it was intended it should not be +delivered until the honourable gentleman was beyond the pale of English +jurisdiction.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"BRITISH HOTEL, JERMYN STREET,</p> + +<p> 8 a.m., <i>July 1st.</i></p> + +<p> "Sir.—I have to acknowledge the receipt of a notification by + order of your committee, to the effect that my attendance in + Parliament will be required during the week beginning Monday, + 14th July, for the purpose of serving, if chosen, on a + parliamentary committee.</p> + +<p> "With every respect to you, Sir, and the gentlemen of your + committee, I absolutely decline attending.</p> + +<p> "I, like some others, came to London the first time this session + about a fortnight ago to remonstrate against and endeavour to + resist the plan of infidel education which the Government are + forcing upon Ireland. We had not, nor for some years have had, + the slightest hope of obtaining any measure of good from a + foreign parliament; but we came against our better judgment, + that it might not be said we had not gone all lengths to + endeavour to deter the Government from a scheme so <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82" />redolent of + political corruption, social profligacy and religious + infidelity.</p> + +<p> "We came armed with multitudinous petitions of the people, and + the strong, unanimous and most decided protest from our revered + prelacy and clergy.</p> + +<p> "We were of course mocked at, derided and refused; but, what is + of infinitely more consequence, the voice of our prelates and of + the faithful people of Ireland have been treated with utter + contempt—even Irish Catholics (yielding to the unwholesome + influences around them) joining in the contemptuous refusal.</p> + +<p> "Under these circumstances, Sir, I certainly will not suffer + that portion of the people of Ireland who have entrusted their + representation to my charge to be further mocked at and insulted + in my person. I go to where I can best discharge my duty to them + and to Ireland—<i>in Ireland</i>. There struggling, with doubtless + as little ability, but with more energy and, if possible, more + whole-hearted devotion than ever, to put an end to the present + degradation of my country and obtain for her that which can + alone ensure protection to her interests, relief to her many + wants, and peace, freedom and happiness to her long oppressed + and long enduring people,</p> + +<p> "I have the honour to be, Sir,</p> + +<p> "Your obedient servant,</p> + +<p> "JOHN O'CONNELL.</p> + +<p> "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection."</p></div> + +<p>These documents were entered on the minutes of the Association, and +remained on its records with the original resolution. But no more was +done in the matter until the beginning of April, 1846.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83" />Mr. O'Connell and his son were in London, and Mr. O'Brien remained in +Ireland. They had been all summoned to attend on committees. When Mr. +O'Brien reached London, he found that the Messrs. O'Connell, without any +previous communication with him or with the Association, and without +reference to the solemn resolution, to the contrary, of that body, were +acting on committees. This deeply disappointed and mortified him, and he +at once resolved to remain faithful, at all risks, and though he stood +alone, to the obligation which he had contracted with the sanction and +approval of his country. Whatever may be the temper and resolution of +the House of Commons, had it been resisted by the unbroken strength of +the Association, it felt confident of its power to crush Mr. O'Brien +alone, separate from, nay, abandoned by, the great leader of the Irish +people. It must be acknowledged that the course pursued by the Commons +was considerate and moderate. A principle involving their liberty of +action was in issue; to vindicate it was indispensable; but finding +themselves only opposed by a single man, of all those who had provoked +the encounter, they proceeded with caution and forbearance. They +forewarned, counselled and remonstrated during the time that intervened; +and several members of the House, including Mr. O'Connell, urged Mr. +O'Brien to give way. He refused, determinedly, and it may be supposed +not the less sternly, when he found, among those who advised him to +falsify his solemn promise, the man upon whose authority and through +whose influence he had made it. The result was, his arrest and +imprisonment, for disobedience to the House. Circumstances more <a name="Page_84" id="Page_84" />trying +never beset the fortitude of a great man. Personal liberty was his +slightest loss. The sneers of his enemies, the pity of his personal, and +the desertion of his political, friends <ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'posioned'"> +poisoned</ins> the very air of the +miserable cell to which he was consigned, and what completed his agony +was a notion that he had been abandoned by his country.</p> + +<p>During the early part of his imprisonment, a motion was made questioning +the authority of the House. In the course of the discussion, Sir Thomas +Wilde, then Attorney-General, dared any constitutional lawyer to impugn +the jurisdiction assumed by the House. Every member felt that the +challenge was offered to Mr. O'Connell, who replied as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I am sure that the House will give credit to my assurance that + I should not rise to advocate the cause of my honourable friend, + if I thought he had had the slightest intention of being + disrespectful towards the House. It has not been his intention + to be guilty of any contempt towards it: he thought he was + entitled to make the exception to which he adheres. He has acted + from a strong sense of duty, and I am sorry to see it is a sense + of duty he is not likely to give up."</p></div> + +<p>I add to this an extract from his speech delivered at the Corn Exchange, +when, in spite of the most earnest remonstrance, the Association offered +its defiance in solemn form to the British Parliament.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mr. O'Connell rose amid loud cheers, and said:—Our usual + course of proceeding in this hall is to commence with handing in + money, and then to go on with business of inferior importance, + the business of making speeches<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85" /> (hear! hear! and laughter); but + among the passing events of the day, there is one of such signal + importance, that I am sure you will readily admit that I am + right when I claim for it, on the present occasion, a right of + precedence over any donation or subscription, no matter from + what quarter they may come. The matter I allude to is a menace + held out for the intimidation (as it is supposed) of the Irish + members who are given to understand that there is about to be a + call of the House, and that it is intended that the Speaker's + warrant shall issue to compel them to go over to London. Now, + sir, I think it right to apprise the Association and the country + that, having considered this question attentively, I have made + up my mind that the Speaker has no constitutional authority + whatever to issue any such warrant."</p></div> + +<p>But what pained Mr. O'Brien the deepest was the apparent coldness, +apathy or cowardice of the Irish people. Among them, and them only, he +calculated an enthusiastic sustainment. But those who felt the deepest +in his regard were constrained by the responsibility of coming to an +open rupture with Mr. O'Connell, at a time when union in the ranks of +the Association was indispensable to even partial success. A vote was +proposed to the committee, approving of Mr. O'Brien's act, and pledging +the Association to an identification with the principle by which his +conduct was governed. That vote was resisted by the whole of Mr. +O'Connell's family, and personal friends and by all the pensioners and +employes of the body. It was carried, nevertheless. But a motion to +consult Mr. O'Connell as to its legality was passed, and the resolution +was transmitted to him accordingly. His reply was an urgent remonstrance +against the resolution on the ground of illegality.<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86" /> Meantime, +representations were made that a certain party in the Association, +intolerant of Mr. O'Connell's sway, were using that occasion to +undermine his authority and overthrow his power. The great +responsibility of causing disunion determined the supporters of the +resolution to compromise with its opponents, and it was finally shaped +thus:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Resolved, That having learned with deep regret, that by a + resolution of the House of Commons the country has been deprived + of the eminent services of Mr. William Smith O'Brien, and that + illustrious member of this Association himself committed to + prison, we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without + conveying to him the assurance of our undiminished confidence in + his integrity, patriotism and personal courage, and our + admiration for the high sense of duty and purity of purpose + which prompted him to risk his personal liberty in assertion of + a principle which he believed to be inherent in the constitution + of his country."</p></div> + +<p>It was again, in its modified form, transmitted to Mr. O'Connell, and +returned with his disapprobation. Captain Broderick read a letter from +him, to that effect, at a meeting of the committee, suddenly summoned on +Monday, the 4th of May, a few hours only previous to the public meeting +of the Association, deprecating the passing of the resolution in any +form. The present writer was the proposer of the resolution, and, +feeling that he had already made too great a compromise, he refused to +accede to this last request of Mr. O'Connell. The resolution was +proposed and adopted with acclamation, and a letter was read from<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87" /> Mr. +O'Connell, by Mr. Ray, in which he stated that the resolution did not go +far enough.</p> + +<p>In the provinces, the timid policy of the Association was decried with +bitterness, and the men who struggled, against great odds, to identify +the whole island with Mr. O'Brien, and pledge it to sustain him to the +last, were subjected to the most virulent denunciations. Because the +compromised resolution was moved, seconded, and spoken to by them, the +whole country regarded them as the betrayers of their own avowed chief, +and the violence with which they were attacked was unmeasured and +unscrupulous.</p> + +<p>They made no reply. No unjust aspersions from a people in ignorance of +the resistance offered to them, and the motives that influenced them, +could induce them to explain the position they had taken. But when they +saw while they were subjected to the storm that Mr. O'Connell's friends, +on the authority of his published letter, took credit for neutrality, +they resolved once more to test the question in a body, whose +proceedings were of a more private character, and where the most marked +difference of opinion could lead to no fatal result—the Eighty-Two +Club. Mr. O'Connell was the president of this club, and Mr. O'Brien one +of its vice-presidents. A meeting was called. The attendance was +unusually large. Men who had never before, and have never since, +appeared at its meetings, were present. The question proposed was that +an address be presented to Mr. O'Brien, in which his principles and his +conduct would be fully recognised, approved of and adopted. This led to +a discussion that lasted two days, but the motion was carried in <a name="Page_88" id="Page_88" />the +end by a majority of two to one. One man, and one only, unconnected with +Mr. O'Connell, either by personal friendship or personal obligations, +voted against the resolution. That man is Sir Colman O'Loghlen. His name +is mentioned, because he was the only member of the minority whose +motives could be regarded as unquestionable. For the rest, the minority +was composed of Mr. O'Connell's sons and relatives, with Mr. Ray and Mr. +Crean, officers of the Association, and one or two members whom he had +caused to be returned to Parliament, amounting to twelve. A committee +was appointed to prepare the address and resolutions, which were written +by John Mitchel, and adopted by the committee without the change of a +word. They also determined that the address should be adopted in its +integrity by the club, or not at all. When it was proposed, objection +was again taken to its principle, on the ground that it would commit the +club, and involve it in a hopeless conflict with the House of Commons +which of itself, it was averred, would be a misdemeanour at common law. +The proposition was eminently absurd in common sense, as well as law, +but it was sustained by the practised ingenuity and great skill of Mr. +O'Hea, who, to do him justice, seemed deeply to feel the hopelessness +and shamefulness of the task that was assigned him. But no other +argument could prevail, and this appeal to the fears or selfishness of +its wealthiest members was had recourse to in consequence of the utter +poverty of reason and argument, which could otherwise be presented +against the principle of the address. But such an obligation led to a +novel difficulty and bitterer <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89" />conflict. A discussion involving +principles of the greatest moment narrowed into a technical disquisition +of abstract law. Mr. O'Hea was driven from his position by the unanimous +and unqualified opinion of every barrister present, and even by his own +silence, when dared to allow the address to pass in the negative, and +assume the responsibility of its rejection on the avowed ground of his +legal opinion, as expressed to the meeting. The address was adopted by a +greater majority than that which had confirmed the principle on the +previous day, and a deputation was appointed to present it to Mr. +O'Brien in his prison.</p> + +<p>The members of that deputation, who proceeded to fulfil their mission, +were William Bryan, of Raheny Lodge; John Mitchel, Richard O'Gorman, +Thomas Francis Meagher and the present writer. They were accompanied by +Terence Bellew MacManus and John Pigot, who joined them in London. They +waited on Mr. O'Connell, as the president of the club, produced the +address and requested he would proceed with them to present it. He +admitted, without question, that as it was adopted by so very large and +influential a majority, he was bound to do so. But he added that Mr. +O'Brien refused to receive a visit from him, owing to the part he had +taken, and further said, if Mr. O'Brien expressed a wish to see him, +that he would accompany us. The deputation on their way to the House of +Commons consulted for a moment, and, as well as I remember, Doctor Gray +and some others were present: the result was a determination to present +the address without Mr. O'Connell, feeling that an explanation between +him and Mr. O'Brien, could not fail <a name="Page_90" id="Page_90" />to lead to unpleasant +recriminations, if not to more serious differences. The address and +answer were as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"TO WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN, ESQ.</p> + +<p> "RESPECTED VICE-PRESIDENT AND BROTHER.</p> + +<p> "Heartily approving of the course you have taken in refusing to + devote to the concerns of another people any of the time which + your own constituents and countrymen feel to be of so much value + to them, we, your brethren of the '82 Club, take this occasion + of recording our increased confidence in, and esteem for you, + personally and politically, and our determination to sustain and + stand by you in asserting the right of Ireland to the + undistracted labours of our own representatives in Parliament.</p> + +<p> "We, sir, like yourself, have long since 'abandoned for ever all + hope of obtaining wise and beneficial legislation for Ireland + from the Imperial Parliament'; nor would such legislation, even + if attainable, satisfy our aspirations. We are confederated + together in the '82 Club upon the plain ground that no body of + men ought to have power to make laws binding this kingdom, save + the Monarch, Lords, and Commons of Ireland. From that principle + we shall never depart, and with God's help it shall soon find + recognition by a parliament of our own.</p> + +<p> "Upon the mode in which the House of Commons has thought fit to + exercise the privilege it asserts in the present instance—upon + the personal discourtesy which has marked all the late + proceedings in your regard, we shall make but one comment, that + every insult to you is felt as an insult to us and to the people + of Ireland.</p> + +<p> "It would be idle and out of place to offer condolence to you, + confined in an English prison for such an offence.<a name="Page_91" id="Page_91" /> We + congratulate you that you have made yourself the champion of + your country's rights, and submitted to ignominy for a cause + which you and we know shall one day triumph.</p> + +<p> "(Signed)</p> + +<p> "COLMAN M. O'LOGHLEN, Vice-President, Chairman.</p></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"May 9th, 1846."</p> + +<p> "BROTHERS OF THE '82 CLUB.—I receive this address with pride + and satisfaction.</p> + +<p> "I recognise in the '82 Club a brotherhood of patriots, who have + volunteered to take the foremost place in contending for the + liberties of Ireland, and who may vie, in regard of ability, + integrity and sincerity of purpose, with any political + association, consisting of equal numbers, which has ever been + united in voluntary confederation.</p> + +<p> "The unqualified approval accorded to my conduct by such a body + justifies me in entertaining a sentiment of honourable pride, + which I am not ashamed to avow.</p> + +<p> "Nor shall I attempt to disguise the satisfaction with which I + receive this address.</p> + +<p> "If you had approached me with language of condolence, I could + scarcely have dissembled my grief and disappointment; but you + have justly felt that such language would be unsuited to the + occasion, and unworthy both of yourselves and of me.</p> + +<p> "On the contrary, you <i>congratulate</i> me upon being subjected to + reproach and indignity for having aspired to vindicate the + rights of my native land; you deem, as I deem, that to suffer + for Ireland is a privilege rather than a penalty.</p> + +<p> "In acknowledging your address, I shall not dwell upon the many + important considerations which are involved in my present + contest with the House of Commons. I cannot but think, indeed, + that the <a name="Page_92" id="Page_92" />constitutional questions at issue are of the highest + moment, not alone to the Irish people, but also to each member + of the legislature, and to every parliamentary elector in the + United Kingdom. Upon the present occasion, however, I am + contented to waive all reference to collateral issues, and to + justify my conduct upon the simple ground upon which it has + received your approval—namely, that until a domestic + legislature shall be obtained for Ireland, my own country + demands my undivided exertions.</p> + +<p> "Be assured that those exertions will not be withheld so long as + life and liberty remain to me, until Ireland shall again <i>fiat</i> + the Declaration of 1782: 'That no body of men is entitled to + make laws to bind the Irish nation save only the Monarch, the + Lords, and the Commons of Ireland.'"</p></div> + +<p>On my way home I was invited to address a public meeting of Repealers in +Liverpool. I accepted the invitation, and in the course of my +observations, emphatically repudiated all compromise on the subject of +my country's deliverance. I disclaimed the idea that any concessions, +any equalization with England in political franchises, any amelioration +of our political or social condition, could ever be accepted by Ireland +in compromise of her inalienable independence. When I arrived in Dublin, +I attended the Association, and, happening to read a letter from the +Rev. Mr. Walshe, of Clonmel, couched in the warmest terms of admiration +of Mr. O'Brien's purity and heroism, the cowardice or jealousy of a +certain party in the Hall found expression through its proper organs, +and I was called to order in the name of the law. A violation of law to +<i>praise</i> William Smith O'Brien! The chairman decided it was. To such +decision I scorned to submit, and I read the <a name="Page_93" id="Page_93" />letter to the end, amidst +the most enthusiastic cheers of the audience. I was proceeding to read +another letter from another clergyman of the same town, written in a +very different spirit, when I was besought to withhold it, and entreated +not to read it. I complied. It is but fair to add here that on the +Saturday previous, an article was published in the <i>Nation</i>, some +expressions of which Mr. O'Connell considered personally insulting.</p> + +<p>Whether Mr. O'Connell was influenced by one or all of these occurrences, +cannot be affirmed here. But he proceeded to Ireland in the course of +the week, and suddenly called a meeting of the Committee of the +Association, before which he arraigned us of discourtesy to him in +London, found fault with the meeting at Liverpool, accused the <i>Nation</i> +of attacking him, and, finally, expressed his unequivocal disapprobation +of my resistance to the order of the chairman in the Hall. The +deputation explained their conduct in London, and the motives that +governed them, with which he appeared to be satisfied. All connection +with the proceeding in Liverpool with which he took offence, was +disclaimed, and, finally, Mr. Duffy satisfied him that no offence was +meant him in the <i>Nation</i>, and that the passage of which he complained +had no reference to him.</p> + +<p>The discussion was a long and, to some extent, an angry one. It ended, +however, as we thought, amicably. Mr. O'Connell had proposed at the +outset two objects, namely, to express a solemn condemnation of the +proceedings in Liverpool, and to expel the <i>Nation</i> from the +Association. The rule of the Association was to send to every locality, +at the expense of the body, whatever <a name="Page_94" id="Page_94" />papers the subscribers of a +certain sum desired. There were then three other weekly papers in +Dublin, The <i>Register</i>, the <i>Freeman</i>, and the <i>Old Irelander</i>. The +<i>Nation</i> had a circulation nearly equal to that of all the others. Its +expulsion from the Association would at once deprive it of all the +circulation it had through its agency, thus involving a very serious +pecuniary loss to Mr. Duffy.</p> + +<p>The two positions were abandoned, and the Committee separated on +amicable terms. Another subject of importance was under discussion. This +was, what suitable mark of national respect should be offered to Mr. +O'Brien; and it was proposed that the committee should re-assemble on +the following day (Sunday), at two o'clock. At the second meeting the +disagreeable topics of the former evening were revived and discussed in +a more acrimonious spirit and tone. The Committee was differently +composed, most of the treasurers connected with the Committee being +present, and most of the professional men, who attended on Saturday, +being absent, Mr. O'Connell saw his advantage, or those under whose +guidance he unfortunately was, saw it, and urged him on. He clearly had +a majority. But having satisfied himself he could succeed, with a +resolution refusing to circulate the <i>Nation</i>, he generously conceded +the whole matter; and once more the Committee separated on good terms.</p> + +<p>It was hoped that, as the concession was entirely voluntary, Mr. +O'Connell would be content. This was a vain hope. On the next day, he +referred to the subject in terms of unmitigated animosity; and on +Tuesday the resolution of exclusion, in effect, though not <a name="Page_95" id="Page_95" />formally, +passed in the absence of most of those who were well known to be opposed +to it.</p> + +<p>One word of concession would have saved the <i>Nation</i> at this juncture; +but that one word would not be written, had the consequence of refusal +been the loss of every subscriber it had in the world. It maintained its +high position in face of the two despotisms which had combined to crush +it. The resolution of the Association was not formally recorded, but it +remained in readiness to be re-asserted as soon as the trial in the +Queen's Bench would be over.</p> + +<p>That trial was for the celebrated railroad article, written by John +Mitchel. When the article first appeared, Mr. O'Connell came to the +<i>Nation</i> office. He seated himself familiarly, and, seeing all its +contributors around him, he said: "I came to complain of this article." +He then read through until where certain principles, previously +promulgated, were recommended to Repeal wardens as the catechism they +should teach. "I do not object," said he, "to your principles; but I +object to your coupling them with the duties of Repeal wardens who are +the officers of the Association." Mr. Duffy promised, at once, to +explain the matter, to Mr. O'Connell's satisfaction, in the next number. +He did so accordingly, and no more was said of it until after the +prosecution was commenced.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of June, Mr. Duffy was placed at the bar, on an information +or indictment setting forth the entire of the obnoxious article. The +Government was vehement and imperative, and the Bench constitutionally +jealous of the law. The prosecution was conducted with malevolent +ability, and the court <a name="Page_96" id="Page_96" />charged, with pious zeal, for the crown. Robert +Holmes was counsel for the accused and, in an impassioned speech, on +every word of which was stamped the impress of originality, vigour and +beauty, vindicated not the "liberty of the press," but the truth of the +startling propositions Mr. Mitchel had propounded.</p> + +<p>In the Hall, the speech was regarded as triumphant for the country, but +conclusive against Mr. Duffy. It was said that for sake of his client he +should confuse, confound and deny. The fact, however, justified the +advocate. When Mr. Mitchel first promulgated his principles, they grated +strongly on the public ear. Men openly pronounced the doctrines +pernicious and bloody. But the veteran of the bar, speaking in the +spirit of the more glorious times he remembered, denounced as a slave +and a toward any one who thought them too strong for the occasion on +which they were used, and the provocation to which they applied. For a +brief moment he awoke in other hearts the spirit that lived in his own. +The jury refused to convict, and were discharged. But the prosecution in +which the Attorney-General failed, was transferred before a more loyal +tribunal, and Mr. Duffy was condemned by the judgment of <i>Conciliation</i> +Hall; a judgment of which something remains to be said hereafter.</p> + +<p>It has been stated that the subject of testifying the respect of the +<i>Nation</i> for its chivalrous advocate, after his release from the prison +of the House of Commons—he was discharged without compromise or +submission on the 26th of May—was under discussion.</p> + +<p>A public and triumphal entry was determined on. But Mr. Smith O'Brien, +desirous that the State prisoners <a name="Page_97" id="Page_97" />of 1844 should be participators in +any tribute of respect offered to him, requested that the 6th of +September, the day of their release from prison, should be fixed on for +a public triumph, in which all alike could share.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-10" /><a id="image10" href="images/image10-big.jpg"><img src="images/image10.jpg" width="275" height="400" alt="John Mitchell" title="John Mitchell" /></a> +<p class="caption">John Mitchell</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. O'Brien passed through the metropolis quietly on his way home; but +in Limerick and Newcastle was received by hundreds of thousands with +boundless joy. When he returned to town, it was to be expelled from that +body to which he, of all living men, gave most firmness, and for which +he alone acquired most respect. In the events which followed, the public +dinner was forgotten.</p> + +<p>It is now time to recur to those events, some of which at least range +behind those already detailed—to which the following preliminary may be +necessary. Early in June, a meeting was held at Lord John Russell's, +when the minister-expectant explained the grounds on which he claimed +the support of the entire Liberal Party. The English Liberals, generally +and enthusiastically, acquiesced. The correspondent of the <i>Evening +Mail</i>, writing from London, stated that Mr. O'Connell added to his +adhesion, a voluntary promise to sink the cause of Repeal provided +measures of a truly liberal character were carried into effect. He, +moreover, said that he never meant more by Repeal than a thorough +identification of the two countries. The <i>Nation</i> indignantly repelled +the insinuations of the correspondence, and pronounced it a lie. Mr. +O'Connell and his friends passed the <i>Mail</i> by unnoticed, but bestowed +on the <i>Nation</i> their measureless wrath. It was never afterwards +forgiven.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V" /><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98" />CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p>DEFEAT OF PEEL. — ACCESSION or THE WHIGS.—MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE. — DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL.—MR. O'CONNELL DENOUNCES THE +YOUNG IRELAND PARTY. — CONTINUED DEBATES. — QUESTIONS AT ISSUE. — PHYSICAL +FORCE. — THE SECESSION. — WHIG ALLIANCE. — DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE. — FORMATION +OF THE CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER.—MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH. — CLOSE OF THE +YEAR 1847.</p> + + +<p>On the 25th of June, Sir Robert Peel was defeated in the House of +Commons on a motion that the Irish Coercion Bill be read a second time.</p> + +<p>The majority against him was seventy-three, and was composed of the Whig +party, the extreme Conservatives, the ultra-Radicals and Irish +Repealers. In ten days after, Lord John Russell assumed the seals of +office. During the preliminary arrangements that led to Peel's defeat, +there was much coquetting between the Whig and Irish leaders. Alarmed by +this startling aspect of affairs, and somewhat, perhaps, by the +uncontradicted correspondence of the <i>Mail</i>, heretofore alluded to, Mr. +Meagher, in the midst of vociferous cheering, announced from the tribune +of Conciliation Hall, "that Irish Repealers would teach an honest lesson +to the Whigs." This took place on the 15th of June. A short discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, O'Gorman and Barry took part, +denouncing in the strongest language all idea of compromise with the +Whigs. On the next day of meeting (June 22nd) a letter was read from Mr. +O'Connell, expressing "the bitterest regret at the <a name="Page_99" id="Page_99" />efforts being made +by some of their juvenile members to create dissension in the +Association." "To silence all unworthy cavilling," he desired that the +solemn pledge of the Rotunda be read after his letter, and copies +thereof posted in the Hall. This letter was the signal for an attack on +the Seceders by James Fitzpatrick, who is now enjoying his reward in +shape of a lucrative office on the coast of Africa. Another discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, Barry, O'Gorman and myself repelled +the charge urged against us by Lord John Russell, to the effect that we +were separatists.</p> + +<p>The discussion which followed was an angry one. Fierce denunciations +against the Whigs proceeded from the Seceders, which were answered by +the Old Irelanders, as they called themselves, with clap-trap allusions +to the name and fame of the "Liberator." The audience were indisposed to +be duped, and so strong and general was the aversion to a Whig +compromise, that Mr. D. O'Connell, jun. was denied a hearing, and even +the Secretary found it difficult to command a moment's attention.</p> + +<p>The next letter from Mr. O'Connell, was written after the accession of +the Whigs. It, too, evidently bore the impress of that controlling fact. +The writer enumerated twelve measures (excluding Repeal) "without which +no British minister should dream of bidding for the people of Ireland." +On the whole, the letter, which was long and elaborate, was an +unmistakable though very guarded advice to give another trial to the +Whigs. Mr. O'Brien, in moving that it be inserted on the minutes, +pressed his conviction that the "millions would never abandon<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100" /> Repeal." +He concluded by reading a resolution, pro posed in 1842 and seconded by +Mr. O'Connell himself, to the effect that the Whigs were as inimical to +Repeal as the Tories; and that no honest Repealer could vote for a Whig +representative. Mr. O'Brien, on this occasion, took a wrong course. +Instead of moving that the letter be inserted on the minutes, he should +have moved its rejection, as containing doctrines subversive of +principle and inconsistent with the solemn pledges of the nation. He +was, no doubt, influenced by a desire to preserve unanimity; but the +unanimity which is based on the disruption of most binding obligations +is weaker and more fatal than any division. One paramount advantage +would result from at once joining issue with Mr. O'Connell—the question +would be placed on its true ground, and the preposterous folly of the +physical and moral force abstractions would never have been heard of.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Connell appeared in Conciliation Hall on Monday, the 6th of July. +He stated that his object was to ascertain the state of the registries, +so as to resist the return of the anti-Repealers in any of the towns +where a vacancy was likely to occur. But he added, "I will give no +vexatious opposition." Here a voice cried "Dungarvan," with significant +emphasis, a question Mr. O'Connell evaded with his usual dexterity. Four +seats were then actually vacant; Dungarvan, Drogheda, Dundalk and +Roscommon county. In the three former, there were clear majorities in +favour of Repeal. That question admitted of no earthly doubt. It had +been long before enquired into, and assurances the most unequivocal were +transmitted to the Associa<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101" />tion. On motion of Mr. O'Connell, the +question was referred to the committee.</p> + +<p>Daniel O'Connell, jun., was a candidate for Dundalk, where a public +dinner was given him on the 7th. His father attended, and said, "<i>I tell +you there is another experiment to be made, in which every honest and +rational man, of every party, will join.</i>" Similar doctrines were to be +found in his former letter and speech, above referred to; and the other +members of the Association awoke to a sense of the danger that +threatened the body. Meantime, the Dungarvan committee proceeded with +its labours. A deputation from that town waited on them—the parish +priest and two others. They paid their first visit, however, to the +Secretary, at the Castle. They found it as easy to satisfy the +committee, or its majority, as the Secretary found it to satisfy +themselves. They advised there should be no opposition given to Mr. +Shiel on these two grounds: First, because success was then impossible, +owing to the shortness of the time for preparation. And secondly, +because a failure then would endanger the cause at the general election +which was to take place in a few months. The sincerity of these reasons +was tested by the facts, that, at the general election, the same parish +priest stood at the hustings to propose and sustain the same official of +the Whigs, insolently proclaiming his steadfastness in O'Connell's +<i>glorious principles</i>, while he was huckstering away the honour and +independence of his country; and that at that general election, when the +people of Dungarvan were more openly betrayed and trafficked on by John +O'Connell, and when they had to contend against the treachery of the +priest, the <a name="Page_102" id="Page_102" />treachery of the Association and the whole strength of the +Whigs, they were only defeated in their opposition to Mr. Shiel by three +votes. But, sincere or not, absurd or not, they were conclusive with the +committee, or its chairman, who reported that it was not advisable to +oppose Mr. Shiel, and this report was published just two days after Mr. +Shiel had been returned unopposed.</p> + +<p>No wonder that the actual return of Mr. Shiel, which the committee was +charged to resist, had escaped its vigilance; for the celebrated Peace +Resolutions were, at the same time, under discussion, and produced +simultaneously with the Dungarvan report. Mr. Mitchel, Mr. O'Gorman and +Mr. Meagher, who attended the committee, vainly remonstrated against the +betrayal of Dungarvan, as well as the Peace Resolutions. They saw that +the real object of the resolutions was to blind the country to the other +important question, whether the Irish constituencies were to be +transferred once more to Whig placemen; and they confined their +opposition principally to the Dungarvan case. It must be admitted, too, +that the falsehood involved in the Peace Resolutions, escaped their +attention in the first instance; and they were under the impression that +the pledge they contained extended no farther than the action of the +Association itself was concerned. On consideration, they found it was of +far wider scope, and would engage them to a false principle, embracing +all men, all countries and all tunes; and having stated this at the +public meeting of the Association, they allowed the resolutions to pass +without further opposition.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103" />The original resolution on which the Association was framed is this:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The total disclaimer of, and absence from, all physical force, + violence or breach of the law."</p></div> + +<p>The resolution, reported on the 13th of July, 1846, is as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That, to promote political amelioration, peaceable means alone + should be used, to the exclusion of all others, save those that + are peaceful, legal and constitutional."</p></div> + +<p>Sometimes, it has been averred lately that these two resolutions are, in +principle and effect, the same. Mr. O'Connell himself declared the +latter was introduced by him, "<i>to draw a line of demarcation between +Old and Young Ireland</i>." Indeed, if there were no distinction, the +introduction would be eminently absurd as well as pernicious. And if +they be different, as essentially they are, there must be some strong +justification for the adoption of the latter.</p> + +<p>But before proceeding to this enquiry, it may not be amiss to point out +the exact distinction between the original and the new resolution. The +former embraced a rule of action whereby the members of the Association +engaged their faith and honour to each other and the country that they +would not use its agency to cause or promote physical force or violence +of any kind, or commit one another to any act of illegality. But it went +no farther—it enunciated no moral dogma—a rule of conscience rather +than a pledge of conduct such as the other—and it claimed no <a name="Page_104" id="Page_104" />sacrifice +of one's own convictions. As a mutual guarantee, it was not only just +but essential to the perfect safety of the Association.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the new resolution excluded the question of practical +action altogether. Neither in itself nor in its preamble was there an +averment, or even an assumption of its necessity, as a rule of guidance. +It was a mere abstract opinion, utterly irrespective of the object or +conduct of the Association, and only applicable as a test of certain +speculative theories. But not alone was it inapplicable and +preposterous; it was utterly untrue: at least, there are many men who +could not subscribe to it without, according to their own convictions, +being guilty of a lie. Supposing, however, that the seceders had +attempted to violate the old constitution of the confederacy, it may be +argued that Mr. O'Connell would be justified in preparing the most +stringent tests for the purpose of restraining them. But no such attempt +was ever made; no one proposed in the Association, no one hinted outside +it, that it ought to violate one of its rules. No one complained of +these rules, or said they ought to be changed, modified or, to the least +extent, relaxed. Neither directly nor indirectly, openly nor covertly, +was there a word spoken, nor an act done, nor a suggestion offered to +that effect. The resolution was, therefore, uncalled for and +unnecessary, as it was unsound and untrue.</p> + +<p>Of this there is the clearest proof. First, the negative proof is +conclusive. Mr. O'Connell did not name an act, or refer to a word of one +single seceder, which would justify the imputation that they sought or +desired to <a name="Page_105" id="Page_105" />involve the Association in any expedient inconsistent with +its fundamental rules. His only proof was this, and he did not then rely +on it: Lord John Russell stated in the House, "I am told that one party +among the Repealers are anxious for a separation from England." This is +his solitary proof, nor does it appear that he was not himself the +informant of the minister. But the positive proofs at the other side are +numerous and incontestable. I select a few. On the 13th of July Mr. +O'Gorman, in presence of Mr. O'Connell, said: "In order that there shall +be no misconception on the subject, as far as I am concerned, I say, at +once, I am no advocate for physical force. As a member of the +Association I am bound by its laws. One of these is, that its object is +not to be attained by the use of physical force, but by moral means +only." Mr. Mitchel, on that occasion, said: "This is a legally organised +and constitutional society seeking to attain its object, as all the +world knows, by peaceable means and none other. Constitutional agitation +is the very basis of it; and nobody who contemplates any other mode of +bringing about the independence of the country has a right to come here, +or consider himself a fit member of our Association." On the 28th of +July, Mr. Meagher said: "I do advocate the peaceful policy of the +Association. It is the only policy we can and should adopt. If it be +pursued with truth, with courage and with firmness of purpose, I do +firmly believe it will succeed."</p> + +<p>Mr. M.J. Barry, on the 7th of June, said, "It is perfectly plain to all +that the purpose of the Association is to work out its object by means +of moral force, and <a name="Page_106" id="Page_106" />that only." In my letter to Mr. Ray, written long +after the secession, I used these words: "The first (original rule of +the Association) implies a pledge and an obligation to which every +member of the Association bound himself. Any member, who violates it, or +would induce the Association to infringe it, must be false to his own +vow and treacherous to the Association, whence he should be expelled +with every mark of infamy."</p> + +<p>These proofs are taken at random: they range over the time before, after +and contemporaneous with the secession. They could be multiplied one +hundredfold, and taken from the speeches and writings of every one of +the seceders. Yet that fact availed nothing—they were told, because +"they differed from the rules laid down by the Liberator, they ceased to +be members of the Association."</p> + +<p>This is, in some sort, a digression. I return to the events which +directly precipitated the division. It will be remembered that the +objections of the seceders to the Peace Resolutions were confined to an +emphatic expression of dissent. They were not, then, informed that they +ceased to be members. They attended the next meeting; and, having +repeated the same dissent, they expressed their fervent wish for a +perfect understanding, and pledged themselves to continue their +co-operation, as if the resolution had not been passed. Mr. John Reilly +repudiated these advances, and charged them with treachery to Ireland, +as the natural complement of disobedience to O'Connell. He gave notice +that he would put certain interrogatories to Mr. O'Brien, in reference +to a speech delivered by him at Clare<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107" /> On the next day of meeting, Mr. +O'Brien attended (July 26), and a letter from Mr. O'Connell, containing +the bitterest complaints, against the "advocates of physical force," as +he pleased to call them, "<i>who</i>," he said, "<i>continued members of our +body, in spite of our resolutions</i>," was read.</p> + +<p>A discussion, acrimonious and prolonged, followed. The debate was +adjourned to the next day, when it was again renewed. Mr. John O'Connell +spoke for nearly three hours, directing most of his arguments against +some admissions of the <i>Nation</i> as to the purpose entertained by the +writers in 1843. A casual expression—"<i>we had promises of aid from +Ledru Rollin, and many a surer source.</i>"—supplied him with abundant +material for loyal indignation. He was heard without interruption. Mr. +Meagher rose to reply. He delivered that most impassioned oration, in +which occurs the apostrophe to the sword. The meeting yielded to the +frankness, sincerity, enthusiasm and supreme eloquence of the young +orator, and rewarded him by its uncontrollable and unanimous applause. +Mr. J. O'Connell rose, and, in the midst of a scene of universal +rapture, coldly said, "either Mr. Meagher or myself must leave the +Association." Too generous to avail himself of the enthusiasm he +excited, Mr. Meagher withdrew. So did Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Mitchel and the +others, with more than three-fourths of the meeting.</p> + +<p>Thus occurred the secession. Mr. J. O'Connell simulated some stage +grief, expressing his ardent hope that the "Liberator," on his arrival, +would heal the wounds he had himself inflicted. How sincere was that +hope is proved by the fact that, when Mr. O'Connell <a name="Page_108" id="Page_108" />did arrive, which +was on the Saturday following, he was prevented from proceeding farther +than Kingstown, where he was detained until the hour of meeting on +Monday; thus rendering it impossible to have an interview with Mr. +O'Brien, or any one who could facilitate an arrangement. On Monday, +instead of using soothing language and kind advice, he probed the wounds +to the bottom, and infused into them subtlest poison. It is needless, as +it would be painful, to recount the details of bitterness and hate with +which on that day he dashed the hopes of the country. The result was +deep and irreconcilable estrangement. Those who left the hall, rather +than drive therefrom the son of Daniel O'Connell, finding themselves +repaid by calumny, yielded to the conviction which every successive act +of Mr. O'Connell conduced to establish, namely, that the country, and +her great hope of destiny, were handed over to the Whigs.</p> + +<p>The proofs of this belief were, first: The statement in the <i>Mail</i>, +which remained undenied, and must, therefore, be taken to be undeniable.</p> + +<p>Secondly: The expression used by Mr. O'Connell, in his speech at +Conciliation Hall, that he would give no "vexatious opposition" to the +Whig nominee.</p> + +<p>Thirdly: His statement, at Dundalk, that "one experiment more was to be +made, in which every honest man would join."</p> + +<p>Fourthly: The following passage, which occurred in Mr. O'Connell's +letter, dated London, 27th of June, 1846: "There is an opportunity to +consider the Irish question as if on neutral grounds; there is a +glorious opportunity (the return of the Whigs to power) of <a name="Page_109" id="Page_109" />deciding if +the Repealers be right in believing that no substantial relief can be +given to Ireland in a British Parliament; or that they are wrong, to the +demonstration that would result from PRACTICAL JUSTICE being afforded by +that Parliament."</p> + +<p>Fifthly: The assertion of Mr. Lawless, in a letter to Mr. O'Connell, +dated 18th July, which the latter published, without contradiction or +comment, namely: "And yet it was with difficulty you (Mr. O'Connell) +prevented his (Mr. Shiel) being opposed in his election for Dungarvan,"</p> + +<p>Sixthly: Mr. Shiel's election, without opposition, when his defeat, if +opposed, was perfectly certain.</p> + +<p>Seventhly: Mr. O'Connell's eulogy on The O'Conor Don for "accepting an +office, which would enable him to serve his country."—(<i>Speech in +Conciliation Hall, July 13th.</i>)</p> + +<p>Eighthly: Mr. O'Connell's assertion, in his speech at Conciliation Hall: +"I did not begin this quarrel; in my absence in London, an attack was +made on the Whig ministry."</p> + +<p>And, finally: The boasted acceptance by Mr. O'Connell of the +distribution of Whig patronage, and the appointment of his personal +friends to lucrative employment.</p> + +<p>All that followed was one unvaried scene of distraction, division and +enmity. Week after week, the seceders were held up to public odium, +derision and scorn. One day, they were "blasphemous," one day, +"revolutionary," one day, they "sang small," and one day "their nobles +were come to ninepence." Now, they were challenged to establish a +society of their own principles; now, they were recommended to the +<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110" />mercy of the Attorney-General, and again commended to the hatred of the +people. Meantime a blight had fallen on the earth, and a whole people's +food, in one night, perished. To the new Government, the famine that +ensued was an assurance of subsistence and success. Hunger would waste +the bodies of the people, as the dearth of truth had wasted their souls. +The ministry affected great sympathy, great diligence, and great +impotence. Among other wants of theirs, the want of practical engineers +was felt the deepest. They knew and lamented that many died of +starvation; but the thing was inevitable as long as they were unprovided +with practical engineers. Mr. O'Connell, from the platform of the hall, +announced the good intentions of the Government, and proclaimed, at the +same time, his own commission to supply them with engineers. How many +applied and were refused, I am not in a position to say; but there is no +disputing the records of the church-yard, where many an uncoffined +corpse attested the care of the "<i>paternal government</i>." The people were +guaranteed against death, and yet death came, and took them at his will; +but what was left of life was taught to exhaust itself in curses against +those who would save it at every risk. Wherever the seceders appeared +they were hooted. Prostitutes of both sexes regarded them as fit +subjects for their insolent raillery. The avowed foes of nationality +looked on them as fools; its pretended friends as knaves; and the common +herd of indifferent villains as a butt. The low retainers of the English +garrison, who had sold their souls to the enemy but were kept in awe by +bodily fear, became outrageously patriotic; and with insulted gratitude +<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111" />they scouted the traducers of the "saviour of their country." Alas! in +Ireland, nothing was saved but death's agencies. Doom had come upon +all—her produce, her people, her hopes and her morality.</p> + +<p>The same report, which contained the Peace Resolutions, set out with a +statement dissevering the Association from the <i>Nation</i> newspaper. If +the statement were embodied in a resolution of expulsion, it would clash +directly with the failure of the prosecution against it, and brand the +jurors who refused to find a verdict with perjury. But the admission of +the <i>Nation</i> that, in 1843, it inculcated principles having a remote +tendency to effect the redemption of the country, by arms if need were, +supplied the Association with a pretext for expelling it altogether. Two +rules had been adopted for the circulation of newspapers. The first was, +when £10 were forwarded to the Secretary, the subscribers had the +privilege of naming two weekly or one evening paper, which the Secretary +was to forward and pay for. By the second rule, adopted after the State +trials, the subscribers retained the drawback, and selected and paid for +their own paper. For several weeks, the <i>Nation</i> was the only theme of +Mr. O'Connell's abhorrence. He exhausted all his eloquence in warning +the people against it, but in vain. The people continued to insist on it +in return for their subscriptions. Accordingly, on the 10th of August, a +resolution was proposed to the effect that no money subscribed for +Repeal Purposes should be allocated to the payment of a subscription for +the <i>Nation</i>, on the sole ground that, in 1843, it inculcated doctrines +which were in their tendency treasonable. Mr. O'Connell said, after the +<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112" />resolution was passed, that he did not wish to injure the paper in a +pecuniary point of view; and on the next day of meeting, he brought down +to the Association some twenty law authorities, which he read, to prove +that treason had actually been committed; and thus stamped the conduct +of the Attorney-General as not alone justifiable, but lenient to excess.</p> + +<p>The seceders determined to abide the issue. They had the fullest +confidence that the insensate cry raised against them would eventually +subside, and that truth would again prevail. They contented themselves, +therefore, with appealing to their countrymen, through the columns of +the <i>Nation</i>, then interdicted and banned through every parish in the +island. But, in those appeals, there was no word of allusion to the +storm of calumny and denunciation then raging against them. They sought +to fix public attention on subjects of vast national importance, and to +awake the energies of the people to some becoming effort where the stake +was their lives. Meantime, week after week, the Government was praised, +the Board of Works were praised, and the people—"<i>the faithful and +moral people, who died, peacefully, of hunger</i>"—were praised, in the +Repeal Association.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-11" /><a id="image11" href="images/image11-big.jpg"><img src="images/image11.jpg" width="370" height="420" alt="Robert Holmes (1848)" title="Robert Holmes (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Robert Holmes (1848)</p> +</div> + +<p>Late in the autumn of 1846, some men, few in number and humble in +condition, undertook the desperate task of remonstrating with the Repeal +Association. Among them, Mr. Keeley and Mr. Holywood, Mr. Crean and Mr. +Halpin, were prominent. Their undertaking was gigantic, considering the +formidable obstacles they proposed to encounter. They proceeded silently +and sedulously; and, in a few weeks, a remonstrance <a name="Page_113" id="Page_113" />against the +course pursued by the Association was signed by fifteen hundred citizens +of Dublin. It was presented to the Chairman of the Association on the +24th of October, and ordered by Mr. J. O'Connell to be flung into the +gutter. The remonstrants and the public resented this indignity alike. +It was determined to hold a meeting in the Rotunda, where they proposed +to defend themselves against every species of assault. The meeting was +held on the 3rd of November, and was allowed to pass off without +disturbance. Mr. M'Gee attended. He had never appeared in the struggle +in the hall, nor was he a member at the time. His speech at the Rotunda +was calm, forcible and conclusive on the points in issue; and the +excitement it created was, in no small degree, enhanced by the fact that +the speaker was a young man theretofore unknown. The success of the +meeting suggested the practicability and safety of an experiment upon a +large scale preparatory to the formation of the Confederation. The +meeting was fixed for the 2nd of December. The remonstrant committee +offered to defend it against any assailants. The main object was to +reply to the calumnies which, for nearly six months, had been urged +against the leading seceders. The meeting was one of the most important +ever held in the metropolis. It was intelligent, numerous and +fashionable. The entire ability of the seceders was put forth; and such +was the sensation created by the proceedings that two publishers, one in +Dublin and one in Belfast, brought out reports, in pamphlet form, which +were read all over the country with the greatest avidity. It was that +night stated, only casually, that the seceders would meet <a name="Page_114" id="Page_114" />in January to +announce to the nation the course of political action they would +recommend. On the 13th of January, the promise was redeemed. The +seceders met as before, and their deliberations were guarded by the same +men, who thus a third time risked their lives—the hazard was nothing +less—to secure to the seceders freedom of speech and of action. On the +13th of January, the Confederation was fully established. The bases, if +the phrase be applicable, were freedom, tolerance and truth. There was +no avowal of war, and no pledge of peace. The great object was the +independence of the Irish nation; and no means to attain that end were +abjured, save such as were inconsistent with honour, morality and +reason.</p> + +<p>During the intervening time, between the first and second meetings, +overtures of peace were made by Mr. O'Connell. A sudden and singular +change was observable in his tone and language. He said with chagrin, +and acknowledged with reluctance, that the position and strength of the +party defied alike his power and his address. Every art and every effort +to crush them had been exhausted in vain. The question between them, he +now loudly proclaimed, was one purely of law; and he referred to several +barristers, by whose judgment he was ready to abide. The question he was +prepared to submit suggests the most mournful considerations. If it were +not painful, it would be amusing to see to what painful absurdities he +was compelled to have recourse. He would leave it to anyone at the bar, +whether the "physical force principle" would not make the Association +illegal; and then he would indulge in a hollow triumph over the +certainty and <a name="Page_115" id="Page_115" />security of his position. But that was not the question +in issue. None of the seceders ever recommended the principle of +physical force, in practice or theory, to the Association. On the +contrary, they disavowed it, in reference to that body, and their own +connection with it. The real question was this—whether it was necessary +to the legality of any political society, to disavow, formally and +forever, under all circumstances, and at all times, the right of men to +strike down the cruellest tyranny with the strong hand. It would be +absurd to submit such a proposition to a lawyer, which could only be +answered by a laugh. It had been sufficiently settled by the fact that, +without it, the Catholic Association, the Corn-law League, and the +Repeal Association itself, up to the 13th of July, 1846, were perfectly +safe and perfectly legal. But no man knew better than Mr. O'Connell that +this was a feigned issue, the real one being the mendicancy of the +Association, and the treachery with which it abandoned the national +constituencies to Whig officials. The overtures on this occasion +eventuated in some negotiations, of which the Rev. Mr. Miley was the +medium. His mission was singularly unfortunate, for it led to greater +misunderstanding; and the negotiations terminated in mutual charges of +misconception or misrepresentation.</p> + +<p>The history of the Confederation, such as its importance deserves, is +beyond the scope of my present purpose. Others may undertake to +vindicate for its proceedings that enduring place in the annals of the +country to which they are eminently entitled. Here, but a few words can +be said.</p> + +<p>As soon as the eclat of the first meetings had subsided, <a name="Page_116" id="Page_116" />and the +business began to assume a more routine character, the moral-force +disciples, hitherto kept in awe by the mustered strength of the seceders +and their followers, determined to give a practical illustration of the +sincerity of their pledge by breaking the skulls of their opponents. On +the first occasion, their onslaught was vigorous and successful. Blood +was shed, and heads opened. This was deemed no infraction of the holy +vow recorded in the books of the Association; for the body held its +meetings without exercising its undoubted prerogative of "blotting out" +the scene of outrage "from the map of Ireland." On the second occasion, +the wreckers of Conciliation Hall were met as they deserved, and after a +short skirmish fled through the city.</p> + +<p>The success of the new Confederacy was certain, but slow. But, in the +same proportion as their principles obtained predominance, the hatred of +the Old Irelanders became unscrupulous and implacable. Often in the +house of prayer, they heard themselves denounced; often in the streets, +they heard their names used as by-words of scorn. Mr. O'Connell +disappeared from the scene of his glory, which relapsed to the guidance +of his intolerant and intemperate son. Some attempts were made to force +him to a reconciliation, which in public he appeared to yield to, but +which in private he exercised his utmost cunning to baffle. In the midst +of this scene of distraction, Mr. O'Connell died. The news was a +stunning blow to the nation. A great reaction, for a short time, ensued. +Added to the other crimes of the seceders, was that of being O'Connell's +murderers. They, on the other hand, resolved to <a name="Page_117" id="Page_117" />treat O'Connell's +memory with the greatest respect. They resolved to attend his funeral +procession, in deep mourning; and they gave orders for expensive sashes, +of Irish manufacture, which the members of the council were to wear. Mr. +O'Brien communicated this purpose to Mr. J. O'Connell. The answer was +too plainly a prohibition; and the Confederation reluctantly abandoned +their design. Mr. O'Connell died at Genoa, on the 15th of May, 1847, and +was buried in Glasnevin, on the 5th of August. His corpse, which was +delayed some days in Liverpool, was conveyed through the streets of +Dublin, during the election scene which resulted in the return of Mr. +John Reynolds; being thus made subservient to the success of the man, to +whom, of all his followers, he was most opposed during his life. It was +a strange end, surely. Mr. O'Connell was buried with great pomp. The +trustees of the Glasnevin Cemetery were generous in appropriating the +fund at their disposal to the purposes of the funeral; but when the +sincerity of the mourners' grief came to be tested, by the claim for a +contribution to erect a suitable monument to the great champion of the +age, it was found how hollow was their woe, and how lying their +adulation. Daniel O'Connell is yet without a monument, save that which +his own genius has raised in the liberalised institutions of his +country.</p> + +<p>The reaction in the public mind, consequent on his death, was +short-lived; and the Confederation progressed rapidly, during the +closing months of the year 1847. Although not formally acknowledged, +every one saw that it was the only public body in the country deserving +or enjoying anything like public confidence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI" /><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118" />CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p>THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL. — HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND +SPEECH. — THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED. — ARREST OF MESSRS. +MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS AND DUFFY. — CONVICTION OF MR. MARTIN. — HIS +SPEECH. — CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF MR. O'DOHERTY. — DISSOLUTION +OF THE CONFEDERATION. — THE LEAGUE</p> + + +<p>At the opening of the new year, which was destined to be its last, the +Confederation, though yet regarded with coldness by the Catholic +Hierarchy, was in full career. Its members had won the respect of every +educated man in the land, however widely most of them may have differed +from it in political faith. Among the middle classes of the Catholics, +all that were left uncorrupted fell into its ranks, and embraced its +belief. Men began to regard as possible everything which enthusiasm +advanced with such unhesitating courage and devoted self-sacrifice. Mr. +Mitchel delivered some lectures on land tenure and the poor-law system, +which startled thoughtful and unthinking men alike. He had previously +made an able and sincere effort in the Irish Council to compel the +landlord class to some redeeming act of good sense and good will, which +their own true interests required as well as the agonies of the starving +tenantry. He was met by ignorance, stolidity and scorn. A timid and +narrow measure of improvement in the relation between landlord and +tenant had been proposed, and ably supported by Messrs. Ferguson, +Ireland and O'Loghlen; and such <a name="Page_119" id="Page_119" />was the obstinate aversion to all +amelioration, on the part of the landlords, that they abstained from +resisting Mr. Mitchel's amendment, lest they would be thereby committed +to the milder reform proposed by Mr. Ferguson. His motion was lost only +by a majority of two several of the five-pound Repeal representatives, +who brawled at tenant-right meetings, and one member of the +Confederation, Mr. M'Gee, being included in the majority.</p> + +<p>The result of the division produced a marked change in Mr. Mitchel's +career. His lectures on land-tenure in Europe, displayed the bold +outlines and distinctive characteristics of his principles. His hopes +from the Irish landlords, of whatever shade of politics, had ever +afterwards vanished. He believed them incapable of being influenced by +commonsense or good feeling; and he turned to the people, with full +confidence in their fidelity and strength. All further attempts to +conciliate the upper classes, he regarded as foolish, feeble and +cowardly. He continued to reassert the substance of his lectures in +another form, in the pages of the <i>Nation</i>, of which he was at the time +editor-in-chief—that is, of which he wrote the greatest portion, +especially of its leading articles. Some of these articles gave rise to +a difference of opinion between him and Mr. Duffy, who, as responsible +owner and editor, had the sole control of the <i>Nation</i>. There were not +wanting men to take advantage of the difference and fan the flame. +Charles Duffy had messages conveyed to him, to the effect that a rumour +was abroad charging him with treachery; and to John Mitchel, perhaps by +the same agents of dissension, it was stated that he, too, <a name="Page_120" id="Page_120" />was +suspected. It is unfortunately characteristic of Irishmen to be +suspicious; and it was the object of one of Mr. O'Connell's eternal +lessons to perpetuate and extend this degrading national vice. Whether +the representations made to either of these friends were the result of +national prejudice, or proceeded from a baser motive, it is scarce worth +while to inquire. A separation ensued. Mr. Reilly adopted the resolution +of his friend Mr. Mitchel. Mr. M'Gee adhered to Mr. Duffy; and a new +career and distinct fortunes opened to the enterprise of the four men, +whose united efforts elevated the popularity of the <i>Nation</i> to a height +never before enjoyed by an Irish journal.</p> + +<p>The early differences between the two great journalists suggested to Mr. +Duffy, and to others, the necessity of drawing up a programme for the +guidance of the Confederation. A committee was appointed, consisting of +several members, including all the leading advocates of both the policy +of Mr. Duffy and that of Mr. Mitchel. The report was principally the +production of Mr. Duffy. It was in part modified by others; but Mr. +Mitchel, who objected to its principle, refused to take any part in its +modification. It was afterwards submitted to the council of the +Confederation; and there gave rise to a long, earnest and, to some +extent, an angry discussion. It was under consideration for several +successive nights, the debate lasting sometimes until three o'clock in +the morning. The principle of the report embraced the belief that moral +means and agencies to effect Ireland's liberties were not yet exhausted, +and should be further tried; and the agencies through which the +experiment was to be tested were indicated <a name="Page_121" id="Page_121" />in detail. The principle of +the amendment proposed by Mr. Mitchel involved a preparation for and an +appeal to arms as the only resource available to the country. After a +long and anxious debate, the question of adopting the report passed in +the affirmative by a considerable majority. The details then came under +discussion, and, paragraph by paragraph, alterations were proposed and +adopted. The discussion on these matters was still more prolonged and +vehement. The principle of the entire was questioned indirectly by +various amendments of form; but it was always affirmed by a majority. +The report had, however, undergone such modifications and alterations +that its original promoters lost all interest in its passing; and at the +final stage, it was rejected, as well as I remember, without a division. +At all events, it was rejected, and, I believe, with the concurrence of +Mr. Duffy, who afterwards published the original draft in the <i>Nation</i>.</p> + +<p>It was on that occasion the celebrated resolutions, afterwards the +subject of the three nights' discussion at the Rotunda, were drafted and +proposed by Mr. O'Brien. They were at once adopted, Mr. Mitchel alone +dissenting. This may be the fittest opportunity distinctly and +definitely to settle the question, which has recently arisen, in +reference to these resolutions. On the several occasions of Mr. Duffy's +trial, they have been given in evidence as proof of his loyalty, on the +assumption that they emanated from him, and that it was through his +influence the body was led to adopt them. Again, it seems to have been +inferred—indeed, it has been so stated repeatedly, by persons who boast +of his confidence—that it was owing to his <a name="Page_122" id="Page_122" />arrest and absence from the +council of the Confederation, that measure of fatal rashness was +adopted, of which he became the first victim; although it was his +discretion and ability that kept the "Jacquerie," who then obtained the +ascendant, in check from the beginning.</p> + +<p>This is partly a statement of fact, and partly an inference. The fact is +not true, and the inference is fallacious. The resolutions were not Mr. +Duffy's. On the contrary, one main object with those who adopted them, +without discussion, was to avoid the expression of an opinion on several +abstract principles forming the groundwork of his report. Secondly, he +exercised little or no influence in the debate which led to their +adoption by the Confederation. Thirdly, they were warmly sustained by +the influence, personal and otherwise, as well as by the exertion and +ability of the very men who, according to a recent contemptible sneer, +"improvised a revolution." Every one of them, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Meagher, +Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, and myself, spoke in favour of them, and +against Mr. Mitchel's amendment. And, finally, even if this were not so +and that the rashness of the outbreak really involved deep culpability, +Mr. Duffy cannot claim exemption from his share of the blame.</p> + +<p>I subjoin the Resolutions and Amendment. The division took place at ten +o'clock, on Saturday morning, February the 5th, 1848, when the former +were adopted, by a majority of 318 to 188:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Resolved: That inasmuch as letters, published by two members of + this Council, have brought into question the principles of the + Irish Confederation, and have given rise to an imputation that + we are desirous to produce <a name="Page_123" id="Page_123" />a general disorganisation of society + in this country, and to overthrow social order, we deem it right + again to place before the public the following fundamental rule, + as that which constitutes the basis of action proposed to our + fellow-countrymen, by the Irish Confederation:—</p> + +<p> RULE</p> + +<p> "That a society be now formed, under the title of 'The Irish + Confederation,' for the purpose of protecting our national + interests, and obtaining the legislative independence of + Ireland, by the force of opinion, by the combination of all + classes of Irishmen, and the exercise of all the political, + social and moral influences within our reach.</p> + +<p> "II. That (under present circumstances) the only hope of the + liberation of this country lies in a movement in which all + classes and creeds of Irishmen shall be fairly represented, and + by which the interests of none shall be endangered.</p> + +<p> "III. That inasmuch as English legislation threatens all + Irishmen with a common ruin, we entertain a confident hope their + common necessities will speedily unite Irishmen in an effort to + get rid of it.</p> + +<p> "IV. That we earnestly deprecate the expression of any + sentiments in the Confederation, calculated to repel or alarm + any section of our fellow-countrymen.</p> + +<p> "V. That we disclaim, as we have disclaimed, any intention of + involving our country in civil war, or of invading the just + rights of any portion of its people.</p> + +<p> "VI. That the Confederation has not recommended, nor does it + recommend, resistance to the payment of rates and rents, but, on + the contrary, unequivocally condemns such recommendations.</p> + +<p> "VII. That, in protesting against the disarmament of the Irish + people, under the Coercion Bill lately enacted, and in + maintaining that the right to bear arms, and to use them for + legitimate purposes, is one of the primary attributes of + liberty, we have had no intention or desire <a name="Page_124" id="Page_124" />to encourage any + portion of the population of this country in the perpetration of + crimes, such as those which have recently brought disgrace upon + the Irish people; and which have tended, in no trifling degree, + to retard the success of our efforts in the cause of national + freedom.</p> + +<p> "VIII. That to hold out to the Irish people the hope that, in + this present broken and divided condition, they can liberate + their country by an appeal to arms, and consequently to divert + them from constitutional action, would be, in our opinion, a + fatal misdirection of the public mind.</p> + +<p> "IX. That this Confederation was established to obtain an Irish + Parliament by the combination of classes, and by the force of + opinion, exercised in constitutional operations; and that no + means of a contrary character can be recommended or promoted + through its organisation, while its present fundamental rules + remain unaltered.</p> + +<p> "X. That while we deem it right thus emphatically to disavow the + principles propounded in the publications referred to in the + resolutions, we at the same time equally distinctly repudiate + all right to control <i>the private opinions</i> of any member of our + body, provided they do not affect the legal or moral + responsibility of the Irish Confederation."</p> + +<p> AMENDMENT</p> + +<p> "That this Confederation does not feel called upon to promote + either a condemnation or approval of any doctrines promulgated + by any of its members, in letters, speeches, or otherwise; + because the seventh fundamental rule of the Confederation + expressly provides, 'That inasmuch as the essential bond of + union amongst us is the assertion of Ireland's right to an + independent legislature, no member of the Irish Confederation + shall be bound to the adoption of any principle involved in any + resolution, or promulgated by any speaker in the <a name="Page_125" id="Page_125" />society, or + any journal advocating its policy, to which he has not given his + special consent, save only the foregoing fundamental principles + of the society.'"</p></div> + +<p>But nothing could be more remote from the fact than the assumption that +those who supported the Rotunda resolutions were opposed to Mr. Mitchel +in principle. If that ground were not expressly repudiated, Mr. Mitchel +would have been sustained by a majority of two to one. Every speaker who +exercised any influence on the meeting, took occasion emphatically to +disclaim it. They did not deprecate the right or the duty of taking up +arms against the English Government; but they said: While we approve of +the end in view, we condemn the means, and precisely because we think +them the most surely calculated of any that could be devised, to +frustrate the object. This was the distinct ground, specifically, +clearly and unmistakably stated, on which the amendment of Mr. Mitchel +was opposed and it was the only ground on which it could be opposed; +with sincerity or success. The use, therefore, which was made of the +resolutions on Mr. Duffy's trial was false and unsustainable in every +point of view.</p> + +<p>There is no disposition and no desire to quarrel with the line of +defence adopted by Mr. Duffy. It is conceded freely that any defence +which his counsel, some of the ablest and most honourable men at the bar +in Ireland, or elsewhere recommended was justifiable. But coupling that +part of the defence with the evidence given on the same trial, by +pensioners and parasites<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8" /><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> of the British Government, and with the +commentaries <a name="Page_126" id="Page_126" />that afterwards appeared from the pens of some of Mr. +Duffy's friends, the whole was calculated to leave on the public mind an +impression, not only utterly inconsistent with the truth, but pernicious +and fatal in its influence on the future of the country, if indeed she +is ever to have a future.</p> + +<p>This impression inevitably would be that Mr. Duffy modelled and moulded +the proceedings of the Confederation at his mere pleasure; that Mr. +Duffy was not alone averse to revolution, but actually conservatively +loyal; and that, in the spirit of that loyalty, he controlled the whole +body, and kept an insensate "Jacquerie," which existed within it, in +check—that it was only when he was sent to prison this Jacquerie +obtained the ascendant, and that Mr. Duffy was the victim of their +intemperate folly. However agreeable all this may be to personal vanity, +Mr. Duffy must feel compelled to reject it as audacious and unmeaning +flattery. There is much more at stake than the estimate of private +character—the highest interests of truth. They require that it should +be made known and incontestably established that every word of the +above—fact and inference—is unfounded. As to the statement that Mr. +Duffy was made the victim of others' intemperance, its converse could be +much more easily sustained. But it satisfies every requirement of truth +simply to state that, morally speaking, Mr. Duffy was equally +responsible for the late outbreak, with those who perilled their lives +and lost their liberty forever in the struggle.</p> + +<p>The <i>United Irishman</i> started under auspices more flattering than ever +cheered the birth of a similar enterprise. The man in Dublin, who did +not read the first <a name="Page_127" id="Page_127" />number, might indeed be pronounced a bigot or a +fool. Every word struck with the force and terror of lightning. So great +was the sale of the first number that the press was kept busy for three +days and nights. When the second was announced, a guard of police was +necessary to keep order and peace among the newsvendors around the +office door. In every corner of the island the influence of the <i>United +Irishman</i> was instant and simultaneous. The letters to the Ulster +farmers caused a sensation as universal and profound as the letters to +Lord Clarendon excited sentiments of wonder and alarm. Thomas Devin +Reilly's powers, too, never before tested in this range of literature, +astonished even the warmest admirers of his genius. The journal at once +attained a standard of eminence, political, literary and poetical, never +accorded to a production of the kind, published in Ireland. For the days +in which they were written, the songs and essays of Thomas Davis +contained greater depth, and a holier purpose. They seemed to flow, too, +from a diviner inspiration; were of a wider, calmer and more generous +scope. But the times were different; and it was as if the spirit of +fire, burning at the bases of man's social hopes throughout Europe, +breathed its prophetic glow on the heart of John Mitchel, conscious that +he, of all men, in a prostrate land, could find it befitting utterance. +It must not be omitted that the muse of "Mary," of "Eva," and of poor +Clarence Mangan, considerably enhanced the high estimate of the <i>United +Irishman</i>.</p> + +<p>In the presence of such an oracle of defiance and vengeance, the +Government for a while stood aghast. But the urgency of the times +admitted of no temporising <a name="Page_128" id="Page_128" />policy. Messrs. O'Brien, Meagher and +Mitchel, were selected for prosecution; but the latter was honoured with +a double suit—one for an article, and the other for a speech. The +morning they were called upon to enter into security, all Dublin was +startled as if by a spell. The streets were crowded by a dense and +anxious mass of men. The police-office in a short time became +inaccessible. Mr. O'Connell's two sons, and the staff of the old +Association, anticipated the crowd, and occupied the seats around the +bench. When Mr. O'Brien was called on, the O'Connells offered to become +his security. The fact was trumpeted by the journals, yet living on the +garbage of Conciliation Hall. But the offer, if sincere, might then be +productive of important consequences. It was not sincere; a fact +sufficiently attested by the Messrs. O'Connell's necessary consciousness +that Mr. O'Brien would not come without his bail. In truth, it was known +to all Dublin that he even found a difficulty in reconciling the +conflicting claims of several gentlemen who aspired to that honour. So +it was, too, with Mr. Meagher and Mr. Mitchel. All those gentlemen +hurried to tender their services, as soon as they heard that bail would +be required, the Messrs. O'Connell alone selecting the public court for +the display of their magnanimity. It is needless to add that their +courtesy was declined; and they must have left the police-office that +day in the wake of the crowd, oppressed with the conviction that the +confidence of the Irish people had passed for ever from their house.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-12" /><a id="image12" href="images/image12-big.jpg"><img src="images/image12.jpg" width="261" height="400" alt="Thomas Francis Meagher (A Sketch in May: 1848)" title="Thomas Francis Meagher (A Sketch in May: 1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Thomas Francis Meagher (A Sketch in May: 1848)</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-13" /><a id="image13" href="images/image13-big.jpg"><img src="images/image13.jpg" width="337" height="400" alt="John Martin (About 1865)" title="John Martin (About 1865)" /></a> +<p class="caption">John Martin (About 1865)</p> +</div> + +<p>This prosecution marked a new epoch in the Irish movement. It was +determined at once to meet it <a name="Page_129" id="Page_129" />boldly—to extenuate nothing, to +retract nothing—to take advantage of no legal subterfuge; but dare the +issue promptly, openly and fully. Mr. O'Brien at first refused to be +defended by counsel. He was with great difficulty prevailed upon to +change his determination; and, when it was known that he was willing to +accept professional assistance, at least twenty of the ablest young men +at the bar volunteered their services; and the traversers saw arrayed at +their side an amount of professional ability and chivalry such as was +never united on such an occasion. The most respectable solicitors in the +profession, too, contended for the honour of being their recorded +attorneys. The juries disagreed in both cases; and the charge against +Mitchel lapsed into that more formidable prosecution which sealed his +fate.</p> + +<p>Mitchel's arrest under the Treason Felony Act was not unexpected. But as +soon as it was ascertained that he was lodged in Newgate, his fate +engaged the entire care of his co-Confederates. The question at once +arose whether, if a rescue were attempted, there were resources to +ensure even a decent stand. It was ascertained that the supply of arms +and ammunition was scanty and imperfect, and the supply of food still +scantier. The people had been decimated by three years of famine: and no +want could be more appalling than the want of food. On inquiry, it was +found that there was not provision for three days in the capital, which +depended on daily arrivals for its daily bread. Throughout the country, +the supply was even more precarious. The Government had in their own +hands the uncontrolled power of preventing the arrival of a single grain +of <a name="Page_130" id="Page_130" />corn; and, if so minded, could starve the island in a fortnight, +supposing the people were even able to possess themselves of all the +cattle in the country.</p> + +<p>These were some of the considerations which influenced the decision of +Mr. Mitchel's comrades. Whether the opinion were or were not a correct +one, they acted on the conviction that, under all circumstances, any +attempt to rescue him would eventuate in a street row which would entail +not only defeat but disgrace. If they could but persuade themselves that +a blow might be struck, even though defeat and death followed, they most +certainly would have attempted it. It was generally understood, on the +day before the trial, that the idea of a rescue was abandoned; and the +trial commenced amidst gloomy presentiments and blighted hopes. After +hours of quibbling and legal fencing, a jury was selected, by the crown, +to convict. From the moment they went through the blasphemous process of +swearing to give a true verdict, John Mitchel's fate was sealed.</p> + +<p>I pass over the details, and come to the last act in the infamous drama, +called his trial.</p> + +<p>The following account of the closing scene is not mine. Feeling +inadequate to describe a scene of which even a distant recollection is +exciting, I asked a friend who felt the deepest interest in the trial to +describe it. With what he has written I entirely agree, save one +sentence. He says that it was owing to the action of the council of the +Confederation John Mitchel's personal friends were allowed to be +assaulted, with impunity, by the police. I do not think so. With respect +to the decision of the council, I feel bound to assume my share <a name="Page_131" id="Page_131" />of its +responsibility, although I yielded to it with the utmost reluctance and +regret:—</p> + +<p>On the morning of Saturday, the 27th May, 1849, the court was crowded to +a greater excess than usual, even in those days. About the empty dock +were the personal friends of Mr. Mitchel, those who agreed with him, and +those who did not. A little retired on either side sat John Martin, and +John Kenyon—in front were William H. Mitchel, brother of the prisoner +and his only relative in court, T. Devin Reilly, Thomas F. Meagher, John +B. Dillon, Michael Doheny, Richard O'Gorman, Martin O'Flaherty (Mr. +Mitchel's attorney), Charles O'Hara and others whom we have forgotten.</p> + +<p>A little in advance, on the left of the dock, were the stalls reserved +during the sham trial for the counsel for the defence. As yet they were +only occupied by the junior advocates, Sir Colman O'Loghlen and John +O'Hagan. The benches at the right of the dock, and nearer to the bench, +reserved for the Attorney-General and his retainers, were vacant. The +Sheriff and his white stick occupied their box, and the galleries to the +right and left were crowded with jurymen—those who "had done their +business," and those who were eager for employment to do more. The bench +of the judges held two empty chairs. And police officers and other +mercenaries, dotted thickly over the court, "concluded and set off the +arrangements."</p> + +<p>An old man, low of stature, and stooped, passed through a side door, and +walked slowly and decrepidly into the benches of the prisoner's counsel. +Whispers, and then applause from the galleries, were heard and <a name="Page_132" id="Page_132" />passed +by him unheeded. Quietly and unostentatiously he moved to his seat—the +junior advocates, and all the Confederates in the body of the court, +rising and bowing to him in silence. It was the solitary Republican of +the United Irish day, Robert Holmes, coming to discharge his last duty +to the great Republican of a younger century.</p> + +<p>The applause of the galleries was hushed by the crier's voice—"Silence! +take off your hats"; and on the right stalked in the gaunt figure of +James Henry Monahan. Triumph, animosity and fear marked his night-bird +face. Even yet it was hoped the great opponent of his "government," whom +by rascality alone he could convict, would strike his colours, and sue +for mercy. Even yet it was feared that a rescue would be attempted. How +possible the former was, the reader may judge. The latter was rendered +impossible by the council of the Confederation, and the few who +cherished the design in the council's despite, had attempted an <i>emeute</i> +the night previous, and were beaten and placed <i>hors de combat</i>. As +Monahan and his retainers entered, the red face of Lefroy oozed through +the bench curtains, and followed by the pale Moore, "the court was +seated."</p> + +<p>As yet the dock was empty, save that the jailor of Newgate and his +deputy occupied each a corner.</p> + +<p>There was a dead silence.</p> + +<p>"Jailor, put forward John Mitchel," said the official, whose duty is to +make such orders.</p> + +<p>A grating of bolts—a rustling of chains, were heard behind. The low +door-way at the back of the dock opened, and between turnkeys Mitchel +entered.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133" />Ascending the steps to the front of the dock, and lifting, as he +advanced, the glazed dark cap he wore during his imprisonment, as +gracefully as if he entered a drawing-room, he took his stand in a firm +but easy attitude. His appearance was equally removed from bravado and +fear. His features, usually placid and pale, had a rigid clearness about +them that day we can never forget. They seemed, from their transparency +and firmness, like some wondrous imagination of the artist's chisel, in +which the marble, fancying itself human, had begun to breathe. The eye +was calm and bright—the mouth, the feature round which danger loves to +play, though easy, motionless, and with lips apart, had about it an air +of immobility and quiet scorn, which was not the effect of muscular +action, but of nature in repose. And in his whole appearance, features, +attitude and look, there was a conscious pride and superiority over his +opponents, which, though unpresuming and urbane, seemed to speak louder +than words—"I am the victor here to-day."</p> + +<p>He saluted quietly those friends about the dock he had not that day +seen, conversing with one or two, and bowing to those at a distance. He +then directed his eyes to the court.</p> + +<p>After some preliminary forms, Baron Lefroy commenced operations, by +stating that he had called the case the first that morning, in order to +give time for any application to be made in court by, or on behalf of, +the prisoner of the crown.</p> + +<p>Again there was a silence of some minutes. The judges looked at each +other inquiringly. The crown <a name="Page_134" id="Page_134" />prosecutor watched the prisoner's counsel. +Upon the prisoner himself all other eyes were fixed.</p> + +<p>There was no reply.</p> + +<p>"Business proceeded." The "Clerk of the Crown," rising to ask the usual +question—"If Mr. Mitchel had anything to say why judgment should not be +passed upon him?"</p> + +<p>"I <i>have</i>," he answered, and after a momentary look at judges, jury-box +and sheriff, he slowly continued: "I have to say that I have been tried +by a packed jury—by the jury of a partisan sheriff—by a jury not +empanelled, even according to the law of England, I have been found +guilty by a packed jury obtained by a juggle—a jury not empanelled by a +sheriff, but by a juggler."</p> + +<p>Here he was interrupted by the sheriff rising, and, in high indignation, +claiming the protection of the court.</p> + +<p>"That is the reason," continued Mitchel, "that is the reason why I +object to the sentence being passed on me."</p> + +<p>"That imputation," interrupted Lefroy, "upon the conduct of the sheriff +I must pronounce to be most unwarranted and unfounded." And this +discriminating judge continued to show that the imputation was +so—concluding with the assertion that the sheriff "had done his duty in +the case." Then without pausing, he proceeded to the usual lecture, full +of hypocritical cant with which British judges usually preface their +awards, however infamous. He alluded to the personal condition of Mr. +Mitchel, and expressed his regrets that a person of such merits should +be in such circumstances,<a name="Page_135" id="Page_135" /> Then having dilated on the enormity of the +offence, he assured Mr. Mitchel that he had been found guilty of many +heinous charges against the Queen and the Imperial Crown, and among +others, of felonious intending to levy war upon that gentlewoman, and +that the evidence was furnished by the prisoner's self. "How, +therefore," he continued, "you think yourself justified in calling it +the verdict of a packed jury, and thus imputing perjury to twelve of +your countrymen—deliberate and wilful perjury—"</p> + +<p>"No," interrupted the prisoner, "I did not impute perjury to the jury."</p> + +<p>"I understood," said the speaker on the bench, "that you had stated, in +arrest of judgment, that you had been found guilty by a packed jury."</p> + +<p>"I did," was the reply.</p> + +<p>Robert Holmes rose, during the judge's speech, and said, "My lords, with +the greatest respect, what I said was, that though he might be +statutably guilty, he was not, in my opinion, morally guilty. I repeat +that opinion now."</p> + +<p>This avowal, so boldly and firmly made by the veteran Republican, was +answered by all the audience, not pensioned, with plaudits.</p> + +<p>Baron Lefroy would say no more on that point, only that the court could +not acquiesce in a line of defence "which appeared to it very little +short of, or amounting to, as objectionable matter as that for which the +prisoner had been found guilty.</p> + +<p>"I," replied the aged advocate, "I am answerable for that under your Act +of Parliament."</p> + +<p>Loud applause followed. "Are there no policemen <a name="Page_136" id="Page_136" />in court?" shouted +Baron Lefroy. The High Sheriff "had given strict orders," he said, "to +have all removed who would interrupt." "Make prisoners of them," said +the judge. "I wish you to understand," he continued, still excited, and +addressing Mr. Mitchel, who during these episodes, stood unmoved, "that +we have with the utmost anxiety and with a view to come to a decision +upon the measure of punishment which it would be our duty to impose, +postponed the passing of sentence on you until this morning." Then, +having stated the various considerations which induced him to believe +that the punishment should be lenient, and the equally various +considerations which induced him to believe the contrary, Lefroy +concluded as follows: "We had to consider all this—to look at the +magnitude of the crime, and to look also at the consideration, that if +this were not the first case brought under the Act, our duty might have +obliged us to carry out the penalty it awards to the utmost extent; but, +taking into consideration, that this is the first conviction under the +Act—though the offence has been as clearly proved as any offence under +the Act could be—the sentence of the court is, that you be transported +beyond the seas for the term of fourteen years."</p> + +<p>The listeners to the hypocritical sentence which concluded Lefroy's +speech, heard the sentence with astonishment and indignation. Mr. +Mitchel merely asked, apparently without any astonishment, if he might +now address some remarks to the court. The leave asked was granted, and +a silence still as death awaited the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"The law," he said, in his usual manly tone, and <a name="Page_137" id="Page_137" />unexcited manner, "the +law has now done its part, and the Queen of England, her crown and +government in Ireland are now secure—'pursuant to Act of Parliament.' I +have done my part, also. Three months ago I promised Lord Clarendon and +his government in this country, that I would provoke him into his +'courts of justice,' as places of this kind are called, and that I would +force him publicly and notoriously to pack a jury against me to convict +me, or else that I would walk out a free man from this dock to meet him +in another field.</p> + +<p>"My lord, I knew I was setting my life on that cast; but I warned him +that, in either case, the victory would be with me; and the victory is +with me. Neither the jury, nor the judges, nor any other man in this +court, presumes to imagine that it is a criminal who stands in this +dock."</p> + +<p>He was interrupted with the plaudits of the auditory; and again +continued:—</p> + +<p>"I have kept my word. I have shown what the law is made of in Ireland. I +have shown that her majesty's government sustains itself in Ireland by +packed juries, by partisan judges, by perjured sheriffs—"</p> + +<p>Here he was interrupted by Lefroy, who said, "the court could not sit +there to hear him arraign the jurors of the country, the sheriffs of the +country, the administration of justice, the tenure by which the crown of +England holds that country. The trial was over. Everything the prisoner +had to say previous to the judgment, the court was ready to hear, and +did hear. They could not suffer him (Mr. Mitchel) to stand at <a name="Page_138" id="Page_138" />that bar +to repeat, very nearly, a repetition of the offence for which he had +been sentenced."</p> + +<p>"I will not say," Mr. Mitchel continued, "anything more of that kind. +But I say this—"</p> + +<p>Lefroy again interrupted him, to the effect that, within certain limits +the prisoner might proceed.</p> + +<p>"I have acted," he then said, "I have acted all through this business, +from the first, under a strong sense of duty. I do not regret anything I +have done, and I believe that the course which I have opened is only +commenced. The Roman," he continued in one of those bursts of eloquence, +with which he used to electrify men, stretching forth his clenched hand +and arm, "the Roman who saw his hand burning to ashes before the tyrant, +promised that three hundred should follow out his enterprise. Can I not +promise for one, for two, for three, aye for hundreds?"</p> + +<p>Here he pointed to his friends, Reilly, Martin, and Meagher. A burst of +wild enthusiasm followed.</p> + +<p>"Officer! officer! remove Mr. Mitchel," was heard from Lefroy. A rush +was made on the dock, and the foremost ranks sprung from the galleries, +with out-stretched arms to vow with him too. The judges rushed in terror +from the benches—the turnkeys seized the hero, and in a scene of wild +confusion he half walked, and was half forced through the low, dark +door-way in the rear, waving his hand in a quiet farewell. The bolts +grated, the gate slammed, and he was seen no more.</p> + +<p>Men stood in affright, and looked in each others' faces wonderingly. +They had seen a Roman sacrifice in this modern world, and they were +mute.<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139" /></p> + +<p>An hour elapsed—the excited crowd had passed away; and the partisan +judges, nervous and ill at ease, ventured upon the bench again.</p> + +<p>They were seated, and seemed to be settling down to get through +"business" as well as they could, when Mr. Holmes, whose defence of Mr. +Mitchel had been so offensive to them, rose. "My lords," he said, "I +think I had a perfect right to use the language I did yesterday. I wish +now to state that what I said yesterday as an advocate, I adopt to-day, +as my own opinion. I here avow all I have said; and, perhaps, under this +late Act of Parliament, her Majesty's Attorney-General, if I have +violated the law, may think it his duty to proceed against me in that +way. But if I have violated the law in anything I said, I must, with +great respect to the court, assert that I had a perfect right to state +what I stated; and now I say in deliberation, that the sentiments I +expressed with respect to England, and her treatment of this country, +are my sentiments, and I here openly avow them. The Attorney-General is +present—I retract nothing—these are my well-judged sentiments—these +are my opinions, as to the relative position of England and Ireland, and +if I have, as you seem to insinuate, violated the law by stating those +opinions, I now deliberately do so again. Let her Majesty's +Attorney-General do <i>his</i> duty to his government, I have done <i>mine</i> to +my country."</p> + +<p>Such was the conclusion of the trial of John Mitchel. The brother-in-law +and friend of Robert Emmet, the republican of our fathers' days, came to +attest the justice of the republican of our own, and to vie with <a name="Page_140" id="Page_140" />him in +defying and scorning the infamous laws of England.</p> + +<p>It is needless to say that the English officials did not dare accept the +challenge so nobly and defiantly flung down before the very dock whence +one victim had just been borne.</p> + + +<p>I feel tempted to add a word of a scene that intervened, in which I took +a part. When the sheriff recovered his self-possession, he ordered +several to be arrested; among others, Mr. Meagher. The officer who +seized him acted rudely and violently, which led to further confusion, +and the exchange of blows. At last Mr. Meagher and myself were secured +and removed to prison. When order was restored, we were brought out +before the court, and asked for an expression of regret. I answered, +that having heard Mr. Mitchel express, in the dock, sentiments in which +I entirely concurred, I took immediate occasion to mark my most distinct +and emphatic approval. In doing this I had no intention of an affront to +the court. But as to retract, or regret, no punishment in the power of +that or any other court to inflict, would compel me to do either one or +the other.</p> + +<p>Mr. Meagher repeated the same thing. We were then reprimanded and sent +back. Soon after we were recalled, and upon motion of Mr. Dillon and Sir +Colman O'Loghlen, on behalf of Mr. Meagher, who stated that he would +express his regret for the contempt of court, but nothing else, we were +both released, although I persisted in refusing even to join in the +expression of regret made <i>for</i> but not <i>by</i> Mr. Meagher.<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141" /></p> + +<p>On the same day on which the above scene took place, John Mitchel was +borne in irons from the land of his love, the wife of his bosom, and the +children of his heart.</p> + +<p>Immediately after, the council of the Confederation was reduced to +twenty-one; and everything wore a sterner aspect, as if, whether they +willed it or no, an imperious obligation required fulfilment at their +hands. The slight disunion, which the fate of John Mitchel created, +between those who favoured and opposed his rescue, quickly disappeared, +and both parties only emulated each other in the activity and +earnestness of preparation. Among the agencies of progress, suggested by +the crisis, were two new journals—the <i>Felon</i>, edited by John Martin +and T.D. Reilly, assisted by Mr. Brenan, and the <i>Tribune</i>, edited by +Richard Dalton Williams and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, of which Mr. Savage +and Dr. Antisell were joint proprietors, and to which they were joint +contributors, with S.J. Meany and myself. The great object of the first +was to follow in the footsteps of the <i>United Irishman</i>, and that of the +latter was to urge the same principles upon a more republican basis. The +<i>Felon</i> soon acquired additional interest from the daring principles and +extraordinary ability of Mr. James F. Lalor, who had become a joint +contributor with the recognised editors. Of the <i>Tribune</i> it would not +become me to speak; perhaps no more is needed than that in the race to +doom it was not outsped.</p> + +<p>On the 8th of July, John Martin surrendered. Messrs. Duffy and O'Doherty +were arrested on the same evening, and Mr. Williams on the following +morning.<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142" /></p> + +<p>Although the trials that followed did not take place until long after +the events which form the principal subject of this narrative, a brief +account of them will not be inappropriate here.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Doherty was the first placed on his trial. The jury was of the +stamp usual in such cases in Ireland. But a point of great importance +was raised by his counsel, as to the publisher's <i>intention</i> to commit +the felony, which they insisted should be proved, to bring his case +within the provision of the Treason Felony Act. The court, composed of +Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, gave an opinion favourable to +this construction, and the jury refused to convict, for which the Castle +Organ did not hesitate to pronounce them perjurers. Every one supposed +and rejoiced that Mr. O'Doherty had escaped; but the vengeance of the +Attorney-General was far from satisfied, and he had ample satisfaction +on a future day.</p> + +<p>On the 16th of August, John Martin was placed at the bar, before the +same judges. The instincts of the official, exasperated by defeat, +exercised a keener vigilance in selecting a jury; and one was finally +sworn that did not disappoint his sagacity. They found a verdict of +guilty without hesitation; but recommended the prisoner to mercy, which +in that case was a distinct contradiction of their oaths. The +composition of the jury, and the character of the prosecution, will be +best understood by a perusal of the subjoined speech. No higher proof +could be given of his purity of purpose, elevation of sentiment, and +goodness of heart. On the 19th of August he was called up to receive +sentence He stood in the spot hallowed by the footprints of<a name="Page_143" id="Page_143" /> Robert +Emmet and John Mitchel; nor was the heart he brought to the same +sacrifice less worthy than theirs. Upon his benevolent countenance or +stout heart, the appliances of terror around him had no effect. He stood +unmoved and unawed, in the glorious consciousness that he had fulfilled +his duty to his friend and to his country.</p> + +<p>When asked what he had to say why sentence should not be passed upon +him, he replied:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"MY LORDS: I have no imputation to cast upon the bench, neither + have I anything of unfairness toward myself to charge the jury + with. I think the judges desired to do their duty fairly, as + upright judges and men, and that the twelve men who were put + into the box, not to try, but to convict me, voted honestly + according to their prejudices. I have no personal enmity against + the sheriff, sub-sheriff, or any other gentleman connected with + the arrangements of the jury panel, nor against the + Attorney-General, or any other person engaged in the proceedings + called my trial. But, my lords, I consider <i>I have not yet been + tried!</i> There have been certain formalities carried on here for + three days, <i>but I have not been put upon my country, according + to the constitution said to exist in Ireland!</i></p> + +<p> "Twelve of my countrymen, 'indifferently chosen,' have not been + put into the jury-box to try me, but twelve men, who, I believe, + have been selected by the parties who represent the crown, for + the purpose of <i>convicting</i>, and not of <i>trying</i> me.</p> + +<p> "Every person knows that what I have stated is the fact; and I + would represent to the judges, most respectfully, that they, as + honourable judges, and as upright citizens, ought to see that + the administration of justice in this country is above + suspicion. I have <a name="Page_144" id="Page_144" />nothing more to say with regard to the trial; + but I would be thankful to the court for permission to say a few + words after sentence is passed."</p></div> + +<p>Chief Baron and Baron Pennefather: "No. We cannot hear anything from you +after sentence is pronounced."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Then, my lords, permit me to say, that admitting the narrow and + confined constitutional doctrines, which I have heard preached + in this court, to be right, <i>I am not guilty of the charge + according to this Act!</i> In the article of mine, on which the + jury framed their verdict, which was written in prison, and + published in the last number of my paper, what I desired to do + was this, to advise and encourage my countrymen to keep their + arms; because that is their inalienable right, which no Act of + Parliament, no proclamation can take away from them. It is, I + repeat, their inalienable right. I advised them to keep their + arms; and further, I advised them to use their arms in their own + defence against all assailants—even assailants that might come + to attack them unconstitutionally and improperly, using the + Queen's name as their sanction.</p> + +<p> "My object in all my proceeding has been simply to establish the + independence of Ireland for the benefit of all the people of + Ireland—noblemen, clergymen, judges, professional men—in fact, + all Irishmen. I sought that object first, because I thought it + was our right; because I thought, and think still, national + independence was the right of the people of this country. And + secondly, I admit, that being a man who loves retirement, I + never would have engaged in politics did I not think it + necessary to do all in my power to make an end of the horrible + scenes the country presents—the pauperism, and starvation, and + crime, and vice, and the hatred of all classes against each + other. I thought there should be an end to that horrible system, + which while it lasted, gave me <a name="Page_145" id="Page_145" />no peace of mind, for I could + not enjoy anything in my country, so long as I saw my countrymen + forced to be vicious, forced to hate each other, and degraded to + the level of paupers and brutes. This is the reason I engaged in + politics.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-14" /><a id="image14" href="images/image14-big.jpg"><img src="images/image14.jpg" width="308" height="400" alt="Kevin Izod O'Doherty" title="Kevin Izod O'Doherty" /></a> +<p class="caption">Kevin Izod O'Doherty</p> +</div> + +<p> "I acknowledge, as the Solicitor-General has said, that I was + but a weak assailant of the English power. I am not a good + writer, and I am no orator. I had only two weeks' experience in + conducting a newspaper until I was put into jail. But I am + satisfied to direct the attention of my countrymen to everything + I have ever written, and to rest my character on a fair + examination of what I have put forward as my opinions. I shall + say nothing in vindication of my motives but this, that every + fair and honest man, no matter how prejudiced he may be, if he + calmly considers what I have written and said, will be satisfied + that my motives were pure and honourable. I have nothing more to + say."</p></div> + +<p>The Chief Baron, in passing sentence, alluded to the jury's +"recommendation to mercy."</p> + +<p>Mr. Martin: "I cannot condescend to accept mercy where I believe I have +been morally right. I want justice, not mercy."</p> + +<p>He was then sentenced to ten years' transportation.</p> + +<p>On two successive occasions, the jury empanelled by the Government, and +carefully packed to serve their end, refused to convict Mr. O'Doherty. +He was placed on his trial, a third time, on the 30th of October, +prosecuted with the same enduring malignity, and a verdict of guilty, +suspected to be the result of a fraud practised on the jury, was +returned. Mr. Williams, who was joint proprietor of the <i>Tribune</i>, and +jointly responsible, was acquitted after a protracted trial on the 3rd +of November, the jury being of opinion that although the <a name="Page_146" id="Page_146" />articles given +in evidence were felonious, there was no proof to satisfy them that the +proprietors, when publishing them, did so with a felonious intent. This +distinction arose in consequence of the fair and candid construction of +the Felony Act, given by Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, on Mr. +O'Doherty's first trial, to the effect that the jury should be satisfied +of the publisher's felonious intent; a construction which the present +judges 'Crampton and Torrens' would not dare to contradict.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this, just as the words, "Not guilty," were pronounced +by the jury, in Mr. Williams' case, despite the most flagrant and +audacious bullying of the bench, Mr. O'Doherty was called up for +judgment. Among all the martyr-band whom this year consigned to doom, +not one behaved himself with truer or nobler heroism; not one, either, +whose fate commands a deeper sympathy. Under thirty years of age, +largely gifted, with most respectable connections, a high place in +society, brilliant prospects, and so unostentatious in his enthusiasm +that it was only then his country heard of his devotion, and learned his +worth; there he stood with as lofty consciousness and as brave a heart +as ever consecrated the scaffold or the battle-plain.</p> + +<p>Judge Crampton pronounced the sentence. Nature has supplied his lordship +with characteristics of countenance admirably befitting such a scene. +Had he been only elevated to the kindred office of actual executioner, +he would have been spared the expense of a mask; for without it, no one +could look into his eyes. Of course, he was teeming with compassion and +<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147" />regret, which jointly resulted in a sentence of transportation for TEN +YEARS. Mr. O'Doherty, who stood unmoved, after a few preliminary +observations in reference to the unfairness of his trial, spoke as +follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I would feel much obliged if your lordship would permit me to + mention a few more words with reference to my motives throughout + this affair. I had but one object and purpose in view. I did + feel deeply for the sufferings and privations endured by my + fellow-countrymen. I did wish, by all means, consistent with a + manly and honourable resistance, to assist in putting an end to + that suffering. It is very true, and I will confess it, that I + desired an open resistance of the people to that government, + which, in my judgment, entailed these sufferings upon them. I + have used the words open and honourable resistance in order that + I might refer to one of the articles brought in evidence against + me, in which the writer suggests such things as flinging burning + hoops on the soldiery. My lords, these are no sentiments of + mine. I did not write that article. I did not see it or know of + it until I read it when published in the paper. But I did not + bring the writer of it here on the table. Why? I knew that if I + were to do so, it would be only handing him over at the + court-house doors to what one of the witnesses has very properly + called the fangs of the Attorney-General. With respect to myself + I have no fears. I trust I will be enabled to bear my sentence + with all the forbearance due to what I believe to be the opinion + of twelve conscientious enemies to me, and I will bear with due + patience the wrath of the Government whose mouthpiece they were; + but I will never cease to deplore the destiny that gave me birth + in this unhappy country, and compelled me, as an Irishman, to + receive at your hands a felon's doom for discharging what I + conceived, and what I still conceive, to be my duty."</p></div> + +<p><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148" />Mr. Duffy's trial was postponed. His final escape is known to most of my +readers; but as I cannot approve of the character of his defence, I +prefer saying no more of it in this place.</p> + +<p>It is here needful to refer to myself, a topic always disagreeable to +others, but painfully so on this occasion to me. The proposal to form a +league with the remaining members of the Association originated with +certain gentlemen, among whom the Rev. Mr. Miley held a prominent place, +who personally waited on Mr. O'Brien to testify their abhorrence of the +outrages offered to him in Limerick. Some very questionable politicians, +who watched with the eye of traffic the current of public opinion, and +sought to make the same profit of the reflux they had formerly made of +its unimpeded tide, attended on those occasions. Others, of purer +motives, and loftier patriotism, joined in these interviews, and +contrived to have them repeated. Among these were the poet, Samuel +Ferguson, and Richard Ireland, two recent and brilliant converts to the +cause of nationality. There were others, whom I need not name, of +equally unquestionable purity. But for several weeks, while these +interviews were held, there was no exact delegation from either the +Confederation or Association. I am not, indeed, aware whether any such +delegation was ever formally given or assumed. However, negotiations +proceeded, and though they were never brought to a satisfactory +adjustment, the dissolution of the Confederation was formally proposed +and adopted. On that day the greatest hope of Ireland perished.</p> + +<p>The generosity of the suicide on the part of the<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149" /> Confederation was met +by a new chicane. Though every member, whose character and talents could +for a moment redeem the deformity, dulness and decrepitude of the Repeal +Association, had passed from its ranks and enrolled themselves in the +new League, it resolved to struggle on, acting as a check and a stain by +its anility and crookedness, on the rising hopes of the country. During +the discussions that led to the formation of the league, it was +emphatically announced by certain members of the Confederation that on +no ground and for no purpose would they abjure one principle they ever +announced. Above all, they avowed their purpose to urge on the country +the duty of armed resistance whenever its success appeared probable. The +Government heard of these avowals, and the time spent in captious +discussions about moral nonentities and legal quibbles, when the stake +was a nation's death or life, was diligently employed by the Government +in accumulating means of defence.</p> + +<p>The motives of the principal promoters of the league are by no means +questioned here. On the contrary, it is freely admitted their +convictions were as sincere as they were fatal. The due appreciation of +that movement requires that a few leading facts and inferences upon +which it was based should be calmly considered. The first and most +important is the great change which had taken place in the feelings of +the country. The vast majority of the thinking population were ranged at +the side of the Confederation. So, too, was that of the people of the +rural districts. The intellectual leaders of the great Protestant party +had actually <a name="Page_150" id="Page_150" />identified themselves with it, and a reconciliation with +the entire body of the Orangemen had been nearly effected. Most of the +men whose integrity and ability had preserved the lingering existence of +the Association, openly avowed their approval of its principles, and +such of them whose hearts were not mere empty sounds, would join its +members at a crisis.</p> + +<p>Thus stood the facts. The considerations in favour of the junction were +these: Certain men of influence, who, contrary to their own convictions, +adhered to the Association, in the commencement through fear, and still +adhered to it through an unintelligible hankering after consistency, +pressed for an opportunity where they might abandon their former +associates without the appearance of abandoning their old principles. +There were others who followed a middle course, and were always with the +greater crowd and the more intense enthusiasm, who demanded the same +means of escape.</p> + +<p>There was a consideration of some weight which no doubt influenced the +decision of the Confederates. It was this: the Roman Catholic clergymen +had given unmitigated opposition to the Confederation. Their hostility +had been the most formidable obstacle in its way; and it was assumed +that the presence of some leading churchmen among the Confederates, +would remove the distrust which the former opposition of the priesthood +had mainly tended to create.</p> + +<p>These were the chief considerations at the affirmative side. On a less +pressing occasion, and at a former period, they might have been +forcible, nay, even conclusive.<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151" /> But the issue had been then narrowed to +one of actual force. John Mitchel was transported, and the most trusted +of his comrades had pledged their lives to redeem their brother felon at +any cost. Every consideration connected with the question should be +examined and determined on in reference to that position and that +pledge. Tested by them, the first above presented would thus resolve +itself: either these men whose characteristic had been indecision, were +sincere in seeking for an opportunity to redeem their patriotism by +their blood, or they were not. If they were, they would never be +restrained by the miserable fear of being charged with inconsistency. If +they were not, the cause would be cursed by their adhesion. The same +argument would apply to the priesthood with still more imperious force; +such of them as were actually sincere would be found at their post at +the hour of trial, in obedience to no form, but influenced by their own +conscientiousness. Such of them as were insincere would be true to no +obligation imposed by conventionality. Untrue to their convictions, they +could not be faithful to their words. And finally—an argument which +appears unanswerable and insuperable—Mr. John O'Connell and his +immediate followers had so solemnly abjured, denounced and cursed the +principles of the great majority with whom they were asked to league, +that they could not comply without such a debasement of character as to +compel the scorn of all men, not only to themselves, but all those with +whom they were united. It could not fail to strike any ordinary observer +that materials so incongruous and repulsive were incapable of cohesion; +and the conse<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152" />quence must be the distrust of the more ardent of their +followers at both sides.</p> + +<p>These were my opinions. I pressed them at the time as strongly as I +could, and perhaps more urgently than I ought. But I was absent from +Dublin, and my remonstrances were vain. I would have retired in despair +had I not been too deeply engaged. The Rev. John Kenyon did actually +retire, influenced by the same motives which I refused to yield to, +solely because retirement would brand me with an imputation of +cowardice, which no explanation could ever efface. I refused all +connection with the League, but continued to act in concert with my +confederates, in establishing clubs and training the manhood of the +country for the stern trial before it. My position rendered bold, +undisguised and explicit language indispensable. This led to prosecution +and arrest. The charge was supposed to be high treason and Mr. Richard +O'Gorman wrote to me to inquire what I wished to have done in my behalf. +My answer was a distinct refusal to accept any aid from a body whose +constitution I could not approve. This circumstance is mentioned, not +because it deserves distinct attention, or even a place in this +narrative, but to prove that my objections to the dissolution of the +Confederation, and my feeling that it was a fatal step, are not of +recent growth, or founded on ex-post facto opinions. I feel bound to +add, however, that I stood alone, or almost alone, as far as I have been +able to hear. I dismiss the subject now, anxious to claim no praise, and +ready to submit to the blame that may attach to my course, such as it +was. I am only desirous, that in whatever memory of <a name="Page_153" id="Page_153" />me my country may +preserve, the truth alone should determine the public estimation of my +conduct and character.</p> + +<p>The League met, resolutions were adopted, and speeches made that meant +nothing. New men came together, looked each other in the face, and +turned away as if at the heart of each there was something with which he +could not trust the other. There was a short, feeble and false flourish, +and no more. Those who augured so sanguinely for its action and effect +were disappointed. But they shamed openly to relinquish a project for +sake of which they had made such sacrifices. By degrees, however, they +sought to rekindle the embers of that fire which with thoughtless hand +they aided to extinguish. The Government availing themselves of the +inactivity that prevailed, and acting on the information they received, +resolved to strike a second blow. Charles Duffy was arrested for an +article which the Castle Organ branded as shrinking and cowardly, and +which evidently lacked the burning spirit of the time. Immediately the +clubs, which continued a precarious and unintelligible existence, came +together and elected a directory of five from among their own members. +This directory consisted of Messrs. Dillon, Meagher, O'Gorman, Reilly, +and M'Gee. What their exact duty was does not sufficiently appear. But I +believe the fact to be that they never took counsel together.</p> + +<p>Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Gorman left town immediately. About that time I +was actively engaged in Tipperary. On the same day and hour Mr. Meagher +was arrested in Waterford and I in Cashel. An attempt was made <a name="Page_154" id="Page_154" />to +rescue both of us, and by us both the effort was checked. I knew nothing +of what had occurred. I had been acting since the formation of the +League on my own judgment and responsibility. Independent of the fact +that the harvest was yet remote, and that we were tacitly pledged to +await its coming, my experience for the previous month satisfied me that +the people were far from being prepared; and I could not allow any +personal considerations to influence the country at such a crisis. Mr. +Meagher was governed by similar motives. It might have been better had +we acted otherwise, but with our then convictions, the least risk on our +own account would have been selfish and criminal; and rather than be +guilty of it we yielded to our fate. At the time each of us thought the +charge against him was at least felony. It turned out otherwise, and +though the magistrates who arrested and committed us refused to +entertain the question whether or not the offence was bailable, and +though we were both paraded through the country under an escort of +several hundred men, the Government directed we should be admitted to +bail. Mr. Meagher proceeded from Dublin to Limerick, where the +indictment against him was found; and on the same day I was liberated +from Nenagh Jail. Previous to my arrest, I had arranged to hold a +meeting on the summit of Slievenamon mountain. It was fixed for the day +after that on which I was liberated at Nenagh, which is at least fifty +miles from the place of meeting. I was not liberated until late in the +evening; but I resolved to be present at the meeting, and immediately +proceeded on my journey. I travelled all night, partly on horseback and +partly <a name="Page_155" id="Page_155" />on foot, arriving at Cashel early in the morning. I there +learned that Mr. Meagher and some friends of his from Limerick had also +arrived with the same object as myself. We rode together to the +mountain, followed by several thousands, a distance of twenty miles. +Fifty thousand men at least clambered that steep mountain side, under a +scorching July sun. Four times as many would have been there to meet us, +but it had been widely rumoured none of us would be there; and in fact +most of those who came believed we were both in our prison-cells. +Besides this, efforts were made by men high in the confidence of the +leaders and the country to prevent the meeting altogether. To fix their +motives was difficult, but it would be hazardous to attribute to them +any but the best. Facts have since proved, however, that their +patriotism had even then begun to halt. The Rev. Mr. Byrne, of whom much +shall be said, hereafter, was foremost in this endeavour, and actually +dissuaded the people of Waterford, Carrick and Wexford from proceeding +to the mountain. These people all remained in Carrick, and Mr. Meagher +was informed that they were in a state of extreme excitement. This +intelligence determined him to leave the mountain suddenly and proceed +to meet his fellow-townsmen. Had all these been allowed to attend the +meeting, our resolution might have been very different from what it was. +But we were, in fact, disappointed and chagrined. The mountain-top had +been selected for many reasons. Principal among them were these: Public +meetings in Ireland had actually become a farce. We determined to hold +one from which all senseless and idle brawlers <a name="Page_156" id="Page_156" />would be excluded. The +difficulty of ascending the hill would, we thought, sufficiently test +the courage and sincerity of our followers. Secondly, we wished for a +spot not accessible to her majesty's troops, so as to avoid a chance of +a collision. Thirdly, we thought it would be a precaution against +detectives; and finally, it was possible we might determine on some +bolder step when we saw our strength. The excitement in Carrick had +nearly become uncontrollable, when Mr. Meagher arrived there, and it was +deemed advisable to lead the people out of the town. The distance to +Waterford is twelve Irish miles, over the entire of which the procession +stretched; and so dense was the crowd that Mr. Meagher did not arrive in +Waterford sooner than three o'clock, next morning. It may well be +supposed that such a scene of excitement, heat and tumult, afforded but +little opportunity for deliberation. I was able to speak with my friend +only in brief snatches; and I did not afterward see him until it was too +late to take counsel for the future.</p> + +<p>The meeting on that day, the evening scene at Carrick, and the arrival +in Waterford, were relied on by the English minister, as a perfect +justification for the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. Others and +more powerful ones influenced the Cabinet; and foremost among these was +the great meeting at New York, which too clearly evidenced the purpose +of America, should the struggle proceed. I had no communication, +directly or indirectly, with any of my comrades after that day, save one +letter from Mr. O'Brien. This letter had reference solely to my +approaching trial, which he signified his wish to be present at. To this +<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157" />letter I replied, informing him that it had been intimated to me that a +number of men would assemble, armed, near Nenagh, during the trial; and +I besought him to be there for the purpose of preventing an outbreak, +which I regarded as disastrous, unprepared as the people then were. +Neither the trial nor the meeting took place, and other events shaped +our destiny.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9" /><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> A few days after the Slievenamon meeting, it was +intimated to me that I was to be arrested on a second charge, the exact +nature of which was not stated. I could not doubt the accuracy of my +information, and being fully determined to preserve my liberty for the +coming struggle, which under any circumstances could not be long +delayed, I left home on the 22nd day of July, and proceeded through the +country to the foot of <a name="Page_158" id="Page_158" />Slievenamon. Here I took up my quarters at a +farmer's house, where I remained two days and nights, in total ignorance +of the circumstances then rapidly hurrying the crisis wherein our fondly +cherished hopes were blasted.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8" /><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> From the position in which Mr. Carleton is now placed, it +may be necessary to say that I do not allude to him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9" /><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Since the above was written, I have heard it said that a +report, current about the time of Mr. O'Brien's conviction, had been +recently received here. The report was, that I promised Mr. O'Brien to +have 50,000 men to meet him; which was his principal inducement to act +as he did; and that I not only had not one man, but was myself absent +when he came. The absurdity of the rumour was sufficiently proved by the +fact that Mr. O'Brien did not come to me, or my part of the country, in +the first instance. The real truth is that I never directly or +indirectly, by word or letter, counselled the outbreak. Nay, more: I was +as ignorant of Mr. O'Brien's purpose as the President of these States. +At the time of Mr. Mitchel's trial, I believe I expressed a very strong +opinion in favour of rescuing him; and that opinion was grounded on the +belief that the whole people would rise up <i>en masse</i>, and in one wild +burst of vengeance, sweep their oppressors from the land. But neither +then nor afterwards, did Mr. O'Brien give me the least reason to believe +that he was prepared to resist the government in arms, save as far as he +concurred in acts which had a tendency to that end. +</p><p> +When first the report above referred to was circulated, I wrote the +strongest contradiction of it, and Mr. Meagher, with Mr. O'Brien's +sanction, addressed the following note to the editor of the Tipperary +<i>Vindicator</i>. I am sorry it should be in any way necessary to produce it +here; but as this is the last time I shall ever refer to this subject, I +thought it best to add this testimony to my own. +</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +CLONMEL GAOL +</p><p> + "MR. MEAGHER fully authorises his friend, Mr. Lenihan, to state + that the exculpation which appeared in a recent number of his + paper, from Mr. Doheny, is the perfect truth. +</p><p> + "Mr. Meagher is most anxious to have this stated, for he has + felt for a long time deeply pained at many of the false reports + that have appeared against his friend—his dear and trusted + friend, Michael Doheny. +</p><p> + "One of the most grievous of these reports has been that very + false one, charging Mr. Doheny with having invited Mr. Smith + O'Brien to the county Tipperary. Nothing could have been more + false than this. +</p><p> + "Mr. Doheny, so far from inviting Mr. O'Brien to Tipperary, did + not, in fact, know of his being in the county at all, until Mr. + Meagher told him, and that was on Tuesday, July 25th. +</p><p> + (Signed) "THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.</p> +<p> +"Written a few hours after the passing of the sentence of death. +</p><p> +"<i>October 23, 1848.</i>"</p> +</div> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII" /><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159" />CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p>THE OUTBREAK.—MR. O'BRIEN IN +CARRICK. — CASHEL. — KILLENAULE. — MULLINAHONE. — BALLINGARRY. — AFFAIR AT +KILLENAULE. — DEFEAT OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMON. — PERSONAL +ADVENTURES OF THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. +O'BRIEN'S ARREST</p> + + +<p>On the night of the 24th of July, I was awakened, where I was staying, +by a rapping at my window. I recognised the voice of my sister-in-law, +and learned from her, in a few seconds, how matters stood. Her +information, in brief, was this that: Messrs. O'Brien, Dillon and +Meagher had left Dublin on learning that the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended; and that it was supposed their object was to throw themselves +on the courage of the country. This intelligence rested on the authority +of two trusted members of the council of the Confederation, Messrs. +James Cantwell, and P.J. Smyth. The fact was all which I then cared to +know. I parted from my sister in half-an-hour, and rode off in the +direction of Carrick-on-Suir, where I was certain Mr. O'Brien would +direct his way, whether he came alone or followed by his countrymen in +arms. 'Mid the lone silence of that journey, while there was leisure to +revolve all the difficulties and hazards of the future, the idea never +once occurred to me that, supposing my information correct, the step was +rashly taken. On such occasions, when centuries gather into moments, +some one overmastering feeling, hope or passion absorbs and controls the +whole understanding. That which was then <a name="Page_160" id="Page_160" />present to my mind, and +occupied all its faculties, was the hope of satisfaction, or vengeance, +if you will, for so many ages of guilty tyranny. The tears, the burning +and blood of nearly one thousand years seemed to letter the eastern sky, +as day dawned upon my way. Apprehension, I had none. From earliest +childhood to that hour, I never met one Irishman whose hope of hope it +was not to deliver the country forever from English thrall. I had lived +amidst all ranks (at least in their characters of politicians), had +known the sentiments of all, from the most ignorant peasant to the very +highest official of government; and then or now, I would find it +difficult to say where hatred to English domination—English power in +Ireland is neither government nor dominion—reigned the most intensely. +Some men there are by nature cowards, and they would shrink from the +perils of national deliverance; but if any sentiment could be said to +live in natures so grovelling, the grudge against England, even though +too craven to make itself audible, constitutes the essence of their +mental vitality. Some there are, too, so selfish as to sell their own +and their families' honour for gold; but as they count their sordid +gains, if they fall short by a scruple, whether in fact or in +anticipation, the deficiency becomes a heap of hoarded spite against +England. One man of that class, whom I had known, will furnish a +conclusive example. Trusted and paid by the Whigs, he was a supreme West +Briton, who saw in his country but a prey for meaner cormorants; +distrusted and dismissed by the Tories, he would storm the Castle, even +with the baton of the English office from which, he had been discarded. +Others, also, of a loftier stamp, <a name="Page_161" id="Page_161" />were reined in, in the path of +<ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'alleigance'"> +allegiance</ins>, by considerations more justifiable, yet more or less +cowardly in character.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-15" /><a id="image15" href="images/image15-big.jpg"><img src="images/image15.jpg" width="673" height="400" alt="Ballingarry, Slievenamon in the distance, 1848" title="Ballingarry, Slievenamon in the distance, 1848" /></a> +<p class="caption">Ballingarry, Slievenamon in the distance, 1848</p> +</div> + +<p>Some doubted the ability of their country to effect her redemption. Some +doubted the capacity, and perhaps the sincerity, of the chiefs. Some +were schooled in duplicity, and under the ermine, or under the privy +councillor's robe, carried fierce hearts, benumbed by mendicancy and +seared by shame. But the first flash of their country's liberty would +see them ranged at that country's side, repaying with the fiercest hate +the beggar crumbs which England had flung from the fragments of her +overloaded table. It is true enough that a long course of corruption, +beginning with the perjured peer and ending with the tidewaiter, had +created a class of conditional loyalists, with nine-tenths of which the +condition is always unfulfilled; while, in its very fulfilment, the +other one-tenth has found but bitterness, the "sauce piquante" of their +daily bread. But as a general rule, such a thing as a pure Irish +loyalist does not exist. Its possible existence presupposes an absurdity +in nature. An Irishman cannot become loyal to English domination, +without divesting himself of the last attribute of his nature, not as an +Irishman, but as a man.</p> + +<p>The knowledge of this fact was my "base of operations." Ten thousand +armed men successful against a garrison of five hundred would produce a +more abundant crop of avenging warriors than the fabled dragon's teeth, +and that simultaneously through every square mile of the island. In ten +days there would be two millions of Irishmen in arms. It may well <a name="Page_162" id="Page_162" />be +asked, what arms? But even instinct will reply, what arms would be +needed? England had in Ireland less than forty thousand men, and, +without hazarding the question, how many of them could she rely on, it +requires no consummate military genius to suggest how they could be +dealt with by a simultaneous rising of the country. The arms of her +enemies would then be hers. She would have time to form a regular army +to aid her undisciplined strength. England's position at home, where she +had not a soldier to spare; her condition abroad, where she was beaten +to the wall; and her relations with foreign powers would achieve the +rest. To a successful Irish revolution, a <i>coup-de-main</i> is +indispensable; and a <i>coup-de-main</i> would be incompatible with any +organised plan other than existed. It will be seen at once that for this +place details are unfit. The above sketch rather comprehends the bolder +outlines of an insurrection in action, and they suggest nothing to warn +the enemy as to future operations. The prospect they presented to me—a +prospect which long contemplation seemed to have realised into +fact—excluded from my mind the preliminary and intermediate +considerations of time, place, and other circumstances. There was but +one of any importance, the success of the commencement; and that seemed +beyond all question if, as I hoped, the neighbourhood of Carrick-on-Suir +were selected. As I approached that town in the grey of morning, and the +past and the future in burning recollection thronged on my brain, I +envied the destiny which God had awarded to its inhabitants, in breaking +the first link of the slavery of nearly twenty generations. This, alas, +was a dream. The people of<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163" /> Carrick had already, with shrinking hand, +marred their own immortal lot.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the house of John O'Mahony, one of the truest of living +Irishmen, I heard what follows. On the previous day Messrs. O'Brien, +Dillon and Meagher had arrived at Carrick. Their arrival was unexpected, +sudden and startling. They had apprised no one of their approach; and no +counsel had been taken or decision come to. It is needless to say that +the crowd which gathered to see them, when the intelligence of their +arrival spread, came unarmed and unprepared. The speeches addressed to +them were brief, determined, and to this effect: "We learned," said the +chiefs, "that an act was passed authorising the Irish Government to +seize our persons without even the imputation of a crime. You have vowed +to strive with us in every extremity, and die with us if need be. We are +here to demand the redemption of your pledge, in the name of your +enslaved country. The hour has come when the truth of that country is to +be tested; and first among her children the trust of her honour is +committed to you." How much more might have been said, and how far short +of the passionate appeal made by the most gifted of men the above +language may fall, this is not the place to inquire. The crowd answered +with a loud shout. With the leaders of that crowd other thoughts were +busy. Some of them waited on the "Traitors"; others, and the most +influential, absented themselves. Among the latter was the Rev. Mr. +Byrne, who, up to that hour, had taken an advanced position among those +who were most forward in the cause of the country. Not a fortnight +before, he delivered a <a name="Page_164" id="Page_164" />speech to nearly one hundred thousand persons in +the town of Carrick, pre-eminently insurrectionary in its tendency; and +he had acted more than once as controller and regulator of the violent +passions his own vehemence aroused. For this duty, which he effectively +discharged because of his known disloyalty, he received the public +approval of England's Prime Minister. From all these circumstances, the +responsibilities of his position were such as it would require great +hardihood of character to shrink from. It was reported at the time that +he did not rest content with abandoning a post which he had attained +with intense ambition, but exerted his utmost influence with the people +against an enterprise which he designated as rash, ill-designed, and +fraught with ruin to the town. This report has been repeated as a fact +by the present writer, and has not been contradicted by the Rev. Mr. +Byrne. But it is right to add that a very respectable gentleman, a +witness of that day's proceedings, has distinctly contradicted it. He +added that the Rev. Mr. Byrne remained a passive spectator; and he +defended the conduct of those who really influenced the people, on the +ground that the preparations seemed of their very nature to preclude the +possibility of success; and that it was the sacred duty of every man +capable of appreciating the position and resources of the people, the +difficulties of the enterprise and the consequences of failure, not +alone to Carrick but the entire island, at all hazards to prevent a +useless wreck and slaughter. The great argument relied upon by every one +was, why should Carrick be selected? The same question would apply +everywhere else; and if the consideration it involves were to <a name="Page_165" id="Page_165" />avail, +there never could be a revolution. However, in Carrick it seems to have +prevailed. Other arguments, no doubt, were urged, such as want of +provisions, want of arms and want of ammunition. The moment of +indecision is the harvest of evil passions—avarice, selfishness, +cowardice cloud the intellect, and blast the destiny of man. There is +some doubt as to who principally superinduced this indecision and the +judgment which here ranks it with a faulty weakness and a fearful +fatality refuses to question the motives upon which it was based.</p> + +<p>One singular fact, attested by all, deserves particular notice. It is +this: The other Roman Catholic clergymen of Carrick did not then +interfere. They had been always opposed, on other grounds, to the Irish +Confederation; but in that hour of fate they were silent.</p> + +<p>Mr. O'Brien and his comrades left the town deeply disappointed, if not +in actual disgust and despair. They were ignorant of my absence from +Cashel and determined to join me there. When I had learned this, I was +thirty miles from that town and knew that they had arrived there during +the night, and had, long before then, taken some decisive course. My +hope was that the town was in their hands. But, before I could decide on +what it became me to do, a messenger arrived from Cashel, directing me +to remain where I was, and conveying an assurance that Cashel was by +that time captured. Mr. Meagher immediately followed, confirming the +intelligence. He was on his way to Waterford. We immediately determined +on scouring the country along the bases of Slievenamon and the +Slatequarry hills, which stretch into the county Kilkenny.<a name="Page_166" id="Page_166" /> During that +journey the enthusiasm of the people was measureless. At every forge, +pikes were manufactured, the carpenter was at work fitting the handles, +and the very women were employed in polishing and sharpening these +weapons on the rough mountain stones. We called at several villages, and +were surrounded by the young men and the aged, by matron and maid, and +from no lips did one sound of complaint, or discouragement, or fear +fall. Everywhere hope and resolution and courage lit up the hearts and +eyes of young and old. We rode, at least a distance of twenty miles, and +returned assured that there was not one man within that district who was +not then prepared and would not be armed ere night came. We appointed +the chapel of Ballyneal, within two miles of Carrick, as the place of +rendezvous, determined to act according to the intelligence which we +might receive from Cashel. Meantime deputations from Carrick waited upon +us, to assure us the people there would follow us notwithstanding any +advice they might have received. We agreed that we would not attack the +town, and required five hundred men for another enterprise. A short time +afterwards some directions were required, and I wrote one or two +sentences on a scrap of paper which was taken from the messenger by the +Rev. Mr. Byrne and torn. What his influencing motives might have been I +know not, nor do I care to inquire. My first impulse was immediately to +appear in the town and throw myself on the protection of the people. My +friend dissuaded me from this attempt and proposed to go into town +himself, which he could do without danger, to ascertain what would be +the probability of <a name="Page_167" id="Page_167" />my proposal's success. After two or three anxious +hours, he returned, impressed with the conviction that such an attempt +would be fatal.</p> + +<p>By this time crowds began to assemble at the place of rendezvous before +alluded to, and word was brought us that the Reverend Mr. Morrissey, the +parish priest of that place, was endeavouring to disperse them. Owing to +his character, there was not much to be apprehended from his influence +with the people. His associations had been with the aristocracy, and +most of his friendships and sympathies contracted at the fox-covert, or +on the "Stand House." This is mentioned, not in disparagement of the +man, but for the purpose of rescuing his Order from imputations +attaching to his conduct alone. The very fact of his interference would +suggest the conclusion that the course he recommended was opposed to the +general sentiments of his brethren; so we felt at this time. But we +mistook his influence with the people. It was reported to us that he +used certain arguments, incredible, because blasphemous. But the +argument which succeeded, and which all alike attested, was this, "that +he would put himself at the head of the people if they but waited three +weeks."</p> + +<p>Influenced by this promise, the people had dispersed before my friend +arrived at the place of rendezvous. He returned to me sadly discouraged, +after a day and night of labour and agitation as intense as ever +strained the energies of man. I then determined to ride on to Cashel, to +learn the fate of Mr. O'Brien and his comrades. I was accompanied by two +young farmers, well armed. We arrived about midnight at Brookhill, +<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168" />where I was made acquainted with all that had occurred at Cashel.</p> + +<p>The history was more melancholy than our own. My absence was used as an +argument, sincere or pretended, against any effort in that town. Mr. +O'Brien, in ignorance of whom to apply to, took counsel with one man at +least, since accused of the darkest treachery. Others, from whom I had +different hopes, shrank from an encounter which, at other times, they +seemed to long for as the dearest blessing Heaven could bestow. There no +clergymen interfered—the people were left to act for themselves; but it +must be admitted that the actual people never had an opportunity of +proving their courage. A young friend of mine, who had all my trust, and +justified it by unshaken fidelity through many a trial, was despatched +to the country to procure assistance, but he applied to the wrong +source, and, deluded by the character of him to whom he had spoken, +returned under the mistaken conviction that from the country nothing was +to be expected.</p> + +<p>This decided Mr. O'Brien and his friends. He had been joined at Cashel +by P.J. Smyth, and James Cantwell, now in the United States, by James +Stephens, now at Paris, and by Patrick O'Donohoe, now sharing the doom +of his chief. As an episode in this history, the fate of Mr. O'Donohoe +is singular and startling. He was much relied on by his friends in the +Confederation, and was entrusted with the dispatches to Mr. O'Brien. He +proceeded on his mission to Kilkenny, and there applied to one of the +clubs. He was known to none of the members, and became at once the +object of suspicion. It was, accordingly, determined to send <a name="Page_169" id="Page_169" />him for +the rest of the journey, under arrest, and Stephens and another member +were appointed to that duty. They proceeded in execution of their +mission to Cashel, where Mr. O'Donohoe was warmly welcomed by Mr. +O'Brien, whose fate he thenceforth determined to share. Mr. Stephens +came to the same resolution; but the other guard of Mr. O'Donohoe, +refused to commit himself to fortunes which appeared so desperate. With +Messrs. Stephens and O'Donohoe, their very desperation acted as the most +ennobling and irresistible inducement. They clung to him to the last +with a fidelity the more untiring in proportion as his circumstances +portended imminent disaster and ruin.</p> + +<p>Their departure from Cashel compelled a feeling of gloomier forebodings +and deeper despair than they had yet experienced. The darkest +consciousness that ever clouded the hopes of man began to darken upon +them. Where they expected that every man would make a fortress for them +in his very heart, they were almost abandoned. But their resolution +remained unchanged. They, therefore, resolved as a final resource to +take up their position in the most inaccessible part of the country. As +they proceeded through the hilly grounds, skirting the Tipperary +collieries, a crowd began to gather around them, and they saw what they +hoped would form the nucleus of an army. Braver hearts never beat +beneath a cuirass, but they were not armed, disciplined or even taught. +On that day they took the road to the village of Mullinahone, situate +about seventeen miles south-east of Cashel. As they entered Mullinahone, +the chapel bell was rung, and a crowd of some thousands collected.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170" />Mr. O'Brien addressed them with the same brevity and force as at +Carrick-on-Suir, where his hopes were far brighter. The two clergymen, +Rev. Mr. Corcoran and Rev. Mr. Cahill, appeared by his side, and openly +resisted his advice. But, with the people, their influence totally +failed. Three thousand persons at least formed their bivouac that night. +Mr. O'Brien remained up with them most of the night. Notwithstanding the +disappointments of former trials, he once more entertained most sanguine +hopes of his country's resurrection. But, ere morning, the counsels of +the clergymen prevailed so far as to introduce discussion and disunion; +and next day he was abandoned by more than half his followers. Once more +the priests interfered and openly remonstrated against the course Mr. +O'Brien had proposed. They tried every means, entreaty, expostulation, +remonstrance, menace, but without any considerable effect; and Mr. +O'Brien left the town with a large multitude, directing his way to +Ballingarry. The village of Ballingarry is about four miles distant from +Mullinahone; and the inhabitants of the latter accompanied Mr. O'Brien +to the boundaries of the former parish, whose inhabitants in turn +assumed the duty of his escort and, if need be, of his defence. When the +cavalcade reached the village, they took up their position in the +chapel-yard, and summoned the neighbouring people by the ringing of the +chapel bell. A great number of people answered the signal, and Mr. +O'Brien explained to them his purpose and his hopes. He did not then +propose any plan of immediate offensive operations, but stated in +general terms that his object was to protect himself from arrest, while +the country <a name="Page_171" id="Page_171" />would be engaged in organisation, and the crop coming to +maturity. An idea prevailed among the people that he only wished to be +protected for a time, and they seemed incapable of appreciating either +his object or his motives. I reached the spot as the assembly was +breaking up and the people retiring in small groups to their respective +districts, some four or five hundred who were partially armed, remaining +in the village. I was accompanied by Thos. D. Reilly, who made his way +to me on that morning. We had entered into arrangements with certain men +whom we met in the morning as to a joint movement, for which the +followers of Mr. O'Brien seemed but ill-adapted and prepared. Our first +care was to take counsel as to the future. We detailed mutually to each +other the respective circumstances which had shaped our movements so +far, and with which it was our duty then to contend. But one thing +seemed quite clear; namely, that the country demanded a delay of at +least a month. Although the sincerity of the motive on which this demand +was founded seemed questionable to many, there was no way of +counteracting its effect or denying its universality. The question then +was, how was the demand to be complied with without compromising our +liberty or the position we occupied? It was argued that the necessity of +our condition would justify any act which would reassure the minds of +the people in reference to the apprehension of starvation, which was so +sedulously inculcated, and that a proclamation should forthwith be +published confiscating the landed property of the country, and offering +it as the gage of battle and reward of victory, and another proclamation +directing the <a name="Page_172" id="Page_172" />people to live at the expense of the enemy. This proposal +was resisted on the ground that it required an aggressive act on the +part of the Government to justify so sweeping a proceeding, which, if +attempted by us in our then position, would be regarded as an act of +mere plunder, unredeemed by any of the stern necessities of war. So +decided the majority. It was then proposed that we should scatter, and +take shelter individually as best we could until harvest time. But Mr. +O'Brien refused to hear counsel which involved, as its first principle, +the idea of becoming fugitives. A middle course was therefore decided +on. It could not fairly be said that the country had been tested, and we +were not, at the time, aware how far people at a distance were prepared +to second our efforts. The strength of the Government, too, seemed +paralysed. For miles on miles around, one solitary soldier or policeman +was not to be found. The small garrisons had been withdrawn, and all the +available forces stationed in the county had been concentrated in the +large towns. The idea of maintaining our position for a few weeks seemed +not at all improbable; and, meantime, we would have an opportunity of +organising the distant parts of the country, and of preparing those then +around us for active service. When men differ, a compromise is sure to +prevail. It did so on that occasion, and it was accordingly resolved, +that we should return to the neighbourhood of Carrick, wait the arrival +of the expected assistance from Waterford, and keep the neighbouring +garrison of Clonmel in awe, by signal-fires by night and scattered +parties by day. We immediately returned and rode most part of the night +<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173" />on our way back. We slept a few hours at Brookhill and had interviews +next morning with men who, on the previous day, were in high heart and +hopes. We at once saw the effect that delay and indecision had produced +on their minds. Reports, the most contradictory and false, respecting +what Mr. O'Brien proposed and stated, had found their way among them, +and it took hours to reassure them. They again promised us to be ready, +however, and we proceeded across Slievenamon. On our journey we had +interviews with the leaders of clubs and of other bodies, and at each +step we found the difficulties of our position and the weakness of +public confidence fearfully increased. We still hoped that the arrival +of assistance which we expected from Waterford would restore unanimity +and confidence.</p> + +<p>When we reached Kilcash, at the southern base of Slievenamon, we learned +that all hope of the expected assistance was at an end. Mr. Meagher had +returned; and having despatched O'Mahony to Mr. O'Brien, to request he +would once more return to the neighbourhood of the mountain, where he +either could be more safely concealed for a time, or a last desperate +effort could be made under better auspices, he waited several hours +after the time appointed for his return, and then departed towards the +direction of Borrisoleigh, in the northern riding of Tipperary, +accompanied by Mr. Maurice Leyne, with whom unhappily he fell in, and to +whose weak counsel, according to the information I received, much of his +subsequent ill fate was owing. The distance to Borrisoleigh could not be +less than forty miles. Mr. Meagher must have been persuaded by +O'Mahony's delay, that<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174" /> Mr. O'Brien had been driven from his position, +and perhaps captured, or he would not have undertaken so long a journey, +the sole motive of which could only be the hope of rousing, with the aid +of the Rev. Mr. Kenyon, that district of the country, so as to rescue +his chief or avenge him. It was then apparent that our position had +become desperate. We instantly proceeded to the house of our friend, who +recounted the particulars of his visit to Ballingarry, and its results. +He agreed in the propriety of going a second time to meet Mr. O'Brien, +and urging upon him the necessity of some decisive course. The startling +events of the two preceding days too clearly proved that his position +was not tenable, and that whatever might be resolved on, it was +indispensable to remove from Ballingarry. It was then night, and we were +all sorely taxed by long riding and want of rest. Not one of us was able +to mount, so we placed hay in a car on which we flung ourselves, and +trusted to the guidance of the boy who led the horse. We travelled about +nine miles in this way, one endeavouring to act as sentinel while the +others were asleep; but we found that unless we trusted to blind chance, +we could not continue our journey. So, half by force and half by +persuasion, we obtained liberty to stretch on a pallet in an empty room. +Mr. O'Brien was then snatching a little broken rest in a field, not four +miles away from us, without our being aware of the fact. In the morning +we learned that he remained there only while a car was procured at +Mullinahone, and then returned to the neighbourhood of the collieries. +He left Ballingarry on the advice contained in Mr.<a name="Page_175" id="Page_175" /> Meagher's message, +and, accompanied by some hundreds of his followers, proceeded towards +Carrick through the town of Mullinahone where for the third time he had +to encounter the open hostility of the Catholic clergymen, who on this +occasion had recourse to threats and even blows. Owing to their +interference, one-fourth of those who followed him so far, did not +accompany him outside the town. He was nearly deserted, when he changed +his resolution of falling back on his former position. When the car +arrived he proceeded directly to the town of Killenaule, which might be +said to be the head-quarters of the colliery. There he and his +companions entered the hotel, where they remained till morning. Early +that day the chapel bell was rung, and a great multitude flocked into +the town. They were, as usual in that quarter, miserably armed. But they +were enthusiastic, and the Catholic priests did not interfere. While the +bell was tolling, intelligence was received that a troop of dragoons was +approaching. The people immediately erected a barricade at the farthest +extremity of the principal street. It was constructed of empty carts and +baulks of timber. The moment the troop entered the street, a similar +barricade was constructed in the rear. The hotel was situated between +the two barricades. The officer in command made no demonstration of +active resistance; and as he approached the last barricade he was +surrounded by a great multitude. A few of the people were armed with +rifles and muskets, others with pitchforks, scythes and slanes, and +others had no weapons but stones. John Dillon stood at the barricade. +The officer asked why his passage was interrupted, and stated he was +<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176" />only on an ordinary march. Mr. Dillon demanded whether his object was +to arrest Smith O'Brien? He said emphatically, No. Mr. Dillon then asked +if he would pledge his honour as a soldier, that he had no intention of +arresting Mr. O'Brien, adding, that if he did so, the troop would be +allowed to pass unmolested. He unhesitatingly pledged his honour, and +immediately the barricade was partially removed. Mr. Dillon took his +horse by the bridle and led him out of the town.</p> + +<p>We were approaching Killenaule by another route when Mr. O'Brien and his +party left it by the high road to the collieries. We followed, and after +a race of some ten miles overtook them near Lisnabrock. Thence we +proceeded in cars to Boulagh, and thence to the Commons. This was on +Friday evening, the 28th day of July. We retired to an upper room in a +publichouse. There were then present Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Dillon, Mr. +Stephens, Mr. Cantwell, Mr. Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, Mr. Maurice Leyne, +Mr. Reilly, Mr O'Mahony and myself, with others whose names I cannot +mention, fourteen, as well as I remember, in all.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10" /><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> The same questions +that were discussed on the former day were again revived, and we, who +felt the necessity of the bold course we recommended then, were much +more convinced of it under the altered circumstances of our position.</p> + +<p>The debate was long and warm, but Mr. O'Brien's objections were even +more immovable than ever. It will not be expected that all the proposals +of that evening <a name="Page_177" id="Page_177" />should be reproduced here. Suffice it, therefore, to +add that as far as the principles by which Mr. O'Brien's conduct was +guided, he adhered to them the more steadfastly in proportion as ruin +became more inevitable. Many calumnies have been circulated respecting +that meeting. It has been said that the discussion was acrimonious and +the separation final. The truth is, there was not one word, even, of an +angry tone, and we separated just as on the former occasion, determined +to cope as best we could with a doom we were unable to avert. Often +afterwards it was a source of melancholy pleasure to some of his +comrades that he had not been induced to incur what he regarded as +guilt. The lofty consciousness of unerring rectitude which sustained his +fortitude could not fail to be chequered by the recollection of acts +which in his own estimation were not purely blameless. Had success +attended the suggested proposals, they would receive the world's +unqualified approval; while failure, explained through the medium of a +malicious law, and a warped and cowardly public opinion, would brand +them as iniquitous. But Mr. O'Brien's scrupulous sense of honour escaped +the hazards of such feeble probabilities; and in the hour of deepest +gloom his own unsullied conscience shed peace, light and glory on his +fate.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-16" /><a id="image16" href="images/image16-big.jpg"><img src="images/image16.jpg" width="756" height="400" alt="A Street in Ballingarry, 1848" title="A Street in Ballingarry, 1848" /></a> +<p class="caption">A Street in Ballingarry, 1848</p> +</div> + +<p>Some of his companions exulted in the morning scene at Killenaule. To +<i>seem</i> able to capture a troop of her majesty's dragoons, they regarded +as a victory. But others, more thoughtful and correct, mourned over the +escape of the military, which was only to be justified on the ground +that the incongruous force around the feeble barricades, would be +unequal to the task. It is <a name="Page_178" id="Page_178" />a singular thing that while Captain Longmore +utterly despaired of forcing his way, Mr. Dillon was fully conscious of +his inability to resist him. The latter assumed a superiority he was +unable to sustain, the former abjured a design which it was criminal +according to the civil, and cowardly according to the military code, not +to attempt the execution of Mr. Dillon, who led his horse, was a +proclaimed "traitor." So was Mr. O'Brien, whose presence was avowed; by +virtue of his allegiance, and still more, by virtue of his commission he +was bound to arrest them. To neglect it was cowardice, cognisable by a +court-martial and punishable by death. There could be but one +justification—utter inability to effect the service. The evidence, +then, that could alone satisfy a court-martial must directly contradict +that which Captain Longmore offered at the trial in Clonmel. But while +Mr. O'Brien viewed the conduct of Captain Longmore as cowardly +submission, it would be unjust to conclude that it imparted a single +shade of inflexibility to his principles or purpose. On the contrary, +they assumed their attributes of most rigid sternness as his fortunes +became clouded by a deeper gloom. He was averse to everything which bore +the stamp of desperation, or could possibly imply a shrinking from fate.</p> + +<p>Of those who took part in the deliberations of that evening, Messrs. +Dillon, Stephens, MacManus and O'Donohoe resolved to continue with Mr. +O'Brien. There seemed a possibility, though a desperate one, that they +could baffle the enemy for the time the country required, and maintain +their position of open defiance, whilst we, in different parts of the +country, should <a name="Page_179" id="Page_179" />keep up an appearance of force, so as to distract +attention and check any attempt to despatch a force from the garrison of +Clonmel. Meantime we were to endeavour to organise a force, and, if +strong enough, act on our own responsibilities and according to our own +principles. We left him about nine o'clock in the evening, after the +best dispositions available out of the number with us were made to +prevent surprise during the night. Soon after our departure he strongly +advised Mr. Dillon to leave for another part of the country. I proposed +to take up my post on Slievenamon, where I would be in the best position +to fulfil Mr. O'Brien's wishes; where, at all events, I could escape +arrest, in spite of any efforts to capture me, and where I expected, in +a few days, to rally a considerable force. Mr. Meagher said he would +take his stand on the Comeragh mountains, in the county of Waterford, +with similar views and purposes. Mr. Meagher and Mr. Leyne, with three +or four others, travelled together on a car. We dismissed ours, and +crossed the country. Next day we arrived once more at Brookhill, which +is within about one mile of Fethard, where we were able to procure a car +that brought Mr. Reilly as far as Kilkenny. The first care of us who +remained was to fulfil the commission assigned us. A young friend, of +whom mention has been already made, joined me that evening. He had been +two days in search of me, and was greatly exhausted by anxiety and +fatigue. Rumours of various kinds were rife. But, what was most +disheartening was that the courage of the people was fast subsiding. Men +who were most eager for deeds of any daring two days previously, began +to exhibit symptoms <a name="Page_180" id="Page_180" />of hesitation, doubt, and even indifference. But a +far sadder disaster had elsewhere befallen. Mr. O'Brien, after a night +of anxious care, was still full of hope. He was even then engaged in +drawing up a manifesto, embracing, as far as possible in such a +document, the motives and causes which suggested and justified an armed +revolt, and the principles upon which it was to be conducted. Whether +the draft was destroyed or fell into the hands of the Government, is not +now clear, save in as far as the non-production of the paper at his +trial, is evidence that it never reached his persecutors. The leading +principle of his entire conduct was, that the property, the liberty, the +destiny of the island belonged to the entire people, and that the +institutions which guaranteed them should be the calm embodiment of the +nation's deliberate judgment, ascertained through the medium of a free +assembly, deriving its authority from universal suffrage. This was one +potent reason why he refused to assume, either as military leader, or as +the chief of a provisional government, the responsibility of an act +which could be regarded as the basis of the future government of +Ireland. He was scrupulously anxious that the great principles upon +which the future liberty of Ireland was to be based, should emanate from +the free will of the people, uncontrolled by dictatorial power or +personal prestige.</p> + +<p>But Mr. O'Brien was not destined to accomplish the object of his +solicitude. About twelve o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 29th +day of July, he was apprised of the approach of a body of police, under +command of Captain Trant. Simultaneously with the appearance of the +police, an indiscriminate crowd, com<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181" />posed for the most part of women +and boys with a few armed men, ranged themselves around him. They +occupied an eminence in front of the road by which the police +approached. Another road crossed this at right angles, and Captain +Trant, instead of leading his men directly against Mr. O'Brien's +position, denied along the cross-road to the right hand—that which led +to the Widow M'Cormick's. The motive of this manoeuvre was obvious. +Either from personal cowardice, or from cool judgment, he determined to +await further reinforcements, and, meantime, to secure some place of +shelter and defence. The crowd, with Mr. O'Brien, immediately rushed +from their position and hung fiercely on the policemen's rear. Captain +Trant ordered a retreat, or those under his command adopted that +precaution without his authority. The armed leaders among the people, +Messrs. MacManus, Stephens and Cavanagh, hesitated to fire on troops +flying for their lives. But they urged the pursuit so rapidly, that, by +the time the police took shelter in Mrs. M'Cormick's house, they were +hot upon their track. The crowd surrounded the house, and Mr. O'Brien, +approaching one of the front windows, called on Captain Trant to +surrender. The latter demanded half an hour to consider, which Mr. +O'Brien unhappily granted. Pending the half hour, the crowd became +furious and began to fling stones in through the windows. Some of the +men inside were knocked down by the stones, and the officer hurt. Seeing +that their own leaders could no longer control the people, and believing +the destruction of himself and his party to be inevitable, Captain Trant +gave orders to his men to fire, which <a name="Page_182" id="Page_182" />presented his only chance of +escape. Mr. O'Brien immediately rushed between the people and the +window, on one of which he jumped up, and once more demanded the officer +to surrender. But the order to fire had been given and executed with +deadly effect. Two men fell dead, and several were badly wounded. The +crowd fell back; but Mr. O'Brien remained still in front of the house. +There were several windows in front and two small ones only in the rear; +parallel with the rear was a barn, in which there were two still smaller +windows. Messrs. Stephens and MacManus took possession of this house, +and, placing three or four sure marksmen inside for the purpose of +taking down any of the police who should appear at the back windows, +they proposed to burn the house in which the police took shelter. They +carried bundles of hay and placed them against the back door and roof. +The police seized on Mrs. M'Cormick's children, and held them up to the +windows, to terrify or appease the people. At this juncture the Catholic +clergymen appeared on the scene. Either, being appalled by the scene of +death before them, or being personally cowardly, or feeling that to +continue the conflict would be productive of useless slaughter, they +exerted themselves to the utmost to disperse the crowd. Whatever may +have been their motives, it is certain that, although Mr. O'Brien was in +the neighbourhood since the previous Wednesday, they had not in any way +interfered, and only came upon the scene to attend to the dying and the +dead. Mr. O'Brien and his comrades, finding themselves beset by this +unexpected difficulty, retired a short distance, to consider what was +best to be done. The people were again <a name="Page_183" id="Page_183" />quickly forming around them, and +all were hurriedly preparing to storm the house, when a fresh body of +police was seen approaching from the opposite direction. This force +consisted of sixty men; the first only amounted to forty-five. Constable +Carroll rode on considerably in advance of his party. He found himself +suddenly surrounded, and was forced to surrender and dismount. He and +two others of the advance-guard were removed. But the main body +continued to approach rapidly; and Mr. O'Brien was not in a position and +had not strength to intercept their junction with the other body. His +friends pressed Mr. O'Brien to retreat, which he refused. Admitting, +fully, his inability to cope with these forces, he declined to avail +himself of the means of escape at his disposal. His comrades impressed +on him that his life belonged to the country; that another effort was +yet within the range of possibility, and that it was incumbent on him to +save himself for the final issue. By long and passionate entreaty, they +induced him to mount the police-officer's horse and retire. When he had +left, Messrs. Stephens and MacManus led off the remainder of their +party, without being pursued or molested.</p> + +<p>After a short consultation, they determined to separate. Mr. Stephens +proposed to go on to Urlingford, where a large force was collecting, and +MacManus accepted the duty of bearing to us the intelligence of the +disaster, and taking chance with us for the future. He came up with Mr. +Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, and Mr. Leyne, who were then on their way to the +Comeragh mountains, but changed their purpose on hearing this sad +intelligence. They remained that night at the <a name="Page_184" id="Page_184" />house of a man named +Hanrahan, near Nine-mile House, a small village on the high road from +Kilkenny to Cork.</p> + +<p>I was all this time ignorant of what occurred. After Mr. Reilly had left +me, and I was joined by the young friend already mentioned, I summoned +as many of the farmers of the neighbourhood as I could collect, and it +was agreed that ten of them, who would represent each one hundred men, +should meet me next day, after divine service, at the wood of +Keilavalla, situate near the western base of Slievenamon. We were to be +joined by two others from the neighbourhood of Carrick-on Suir, from +which we were distant about ten miles. On that morning the news of Mr. +O'Brien's disaster spread far, and was, of course, exaggerated. I had +slept the previous night not far from the mountain, where I was watched +by two brothers named Walsh, who lived at Brookhill, but have since +removed to the United States. I gladly avail myself of this occasion to +attest their fidelity and bravery. At the time appointed, my friend and +I proceeded to the place of rendezvous. We remained for hours, and +remained in vain. At last one only of the ten arrived. He told us that +at the chapel the Rev. Patrick Laffan read the names of the proscribed +traitors for whose persons a reward was offered....</p> + +<p>We continued on the mountain during the remainder of the day; and toward +evening about fifty men came up to us, who, one and all, expressed the +utmost indignation at what had happened. Once more our hopes revived. If +Mr. O'Brien could avoid arrest for a few weeks only, we expected that a +sense of shame would sting the country to desperate exertion.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185" />After night-fall we descended, and slept at a farmer's house at the +southern base of the mountain, where we were most kindly entertained and +sedulously guarded. We there heard of the Ballingarry disaster. Next +morning we once more ascended Slievenamon, where we endeavoured to +dissipate the heavy hours and the still heavier consciousness at our own +hearts by firing at a mark. The day suddenly darkened, and we had to +seek shelter under rocks from a pitiless mountain shower. We had +dispatched a messenger to O'Mahony to demand an interview that evening; +and, after he had returned, we were invited to partake of some new +potatoes (then beginning to exhibit the blight), milk, eggs and butter. +I remember lying down in a bed, and getting so feverish that I believed +my doom was sealed. My noble young friend sat at my bedside, with a +rifle and two pistols, prepared to defend my rest with his life. The +illness was, however, but trifling and temporary, and the necessity of +acting enabled me at once to shake it off. After nightfall, we proceeded +to the appointed interview. We travelled in a common car, accompanied by +four others, all armed. Our haunt was a poor cabin on the roadside, near +a place called Moloch, in the neighbourhood of Carrick. There I bid my +faithful young friend good night, but was doomed not to see him +afterwards. Mr. O'Mahony and myself slept on some straw, but we had +scarcely closed our eyes when we learned that the cabin was surrounded +by the military and police. We were apprised of our perilous position +just in time to escape: this we effected, after a struggle, aided by +extreme darkness. We spent the remainder of the night in a <a name="Page_186" id="Page_186" />field, where +I slept very soundly. At break of day we retired to a farmer's house +near the Suir, where, after partaking of some refreshments, we went to +bed, and slept, one or two hours. The breakfast scene of that morning is +not easily forgotten. Perhaps there is no place in the world where a +more substantial breakfast can be produced than at a comfortable Irish +farmer's. On this occasion the silent, watchful, anxious grace of our +young hostess, in her attentions, enhanced the flavour of the repast. It +is only by those who have partaken of such hospitality that the +speechless tenderness of the females among that class of farmers can be +appreciated. But on the occasion to which I refer, there was added to +the customary delicacy a deep anxiety for our fate. Save hushed words of +pressing and eloquent looks of sympathy, the meal passed off without +conversation; and we rose from the table to depart, as if conscious we +had exchanged our last earthly greeting. It was not so, however, and our +hostess shared much of our after fortune, and now shares our exile. Her +fate, too, is harder than ours. We are occasionally cheered by public +approval, by the sympathy and admiration of every lover of liberty, +whereas her name is never spoken. She has fallen from a position of +comparative affluence, lost her independence (I use the word in its +practical worldly sense), and is doomed to toil for her daily bread. Of +all the vicissitudes of fortune in which the attempt of which I write +resulted, there is not one that has given me more pain than that of +Margaret Quinlan, the lady (who has higher claims to that title?) to +whom I have alluded.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10" /><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> The other four were Terence Bellew MacManus, John +Cavanagh, J.D. Wright (a T.C.D. student, afterwards a lawyer in +America), and D.P. Cunningham, afterwards a journalist in New +York.—Ed.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII" /><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187" />CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p>ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE. — ARREST OF +TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS. — CLONMEL SPECIAL COMMISSION. — TRIAL, +CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE REBELS. — WRIT OF +ERROR. — COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE. — TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES.</p> + + +<p>Before proceeding further with the details of my own wanderings, I wish +to follow out to its conclusion the fate of those whom we parted with at +Ballingarry, and were destined to see no more, though, in doing so, I +must anticipate the order of time, in which the events took place. My +task here is more difficult and painful than any detail of facts, +however gloomy. There are always in the reverses of the brave, some +glimpses of glory to reconcile us to the dark disasters on our way; but +when calumny pursues their path, gnawing, with ceaseless tooth, the +priceless jewel of their character, the historian must shudder to find +his labour beset by the filth and rubbish the viper has left behind. In +this instance, that lesson of Mr. O'Connell's which was the most fatal +in its influence, found many believers. It was said, and said +unscrupulously, that Mr. O'Brien and his followers were actual agents of +the British Government, suborned to precipitate the country into +revolution, for which they were to receive large possessions and +lucrative employment beyond the sea. It was the constant habit of Mr. +O'Connell, when any one proposed a course bolder than his own, to +suggest that he was doing the business of the enemy. He may have +<a name="Page_188" id="Page_188" />adopted this course in his self-assumed character of Dictator, as the +surest and speediest means of clearing all obstructions out of his way. +Whatever his motive, it was an unworthy resource; for it supplied the +meanest minds with an example and a pretext for the gratification of +their own vile propensities. Their voice was heard, amid the silence of +mourning and death, when in an hour of universal dismay, John Mitchel +was borne from his loved fatherland; and still more audibly when the +dungeon closed on Smith O'Brien and his illustrious comrades. In the +latter instance, slander availed itself of an incident connected with +their arrest to justify its infamous conclusions. "If," it croaked, +"they were in earnest, why suffer themselves to be arrested so +easily?—Why come to the railway terminus?—Why parade on the high road +in front of a police barrack? In effect, why surrender?" But in Ireland +this was little heeded; nor should I deem it worthy of the least notice, +if it were not revived in the new world, under circumstances calculated +to give it credence and durability. At one time it is insinuated that +they "surrendered," such as "it was said they gave themselves up," and +immediately afterwards, in reference to the period or the fact, is to be +found "at the time of Mr. O'Brien's surrender." And again, in the same +breath, it is positively stated as a mere matter of course.</p> + +<p>The propagator of this malignity knows it to be false. He knows also +that it serves the purpose of those who would charge the country's +truest and bravest with vilest treachery.</p> + +<p>I shall pursue the theme no further. The truth is, Mr. O'Brien remained +among a people who were sorely <a name="Page_189" id="Page_189" />stricken by terror. Their friends were +dead or scattered; and rumour, with a thousand tongues, multiplied the +most awful horrors which were said to be approaching them. Although they +received and sheltered Mr. O'Brien, he evidently saw that their +generosity cost them dearly, and that they were in the utmost alarm. His +own privations he could endure; but not the fear and suffering his +presence caused to others. This, and this only, determined him in the +first instance. He might also have hoped that if he could reach the +neighbourhood of his own home, he would be defended with desperate +fidelity. He was aware that Mr. Richard O'Gorman was in that district, +and he had been informed that he was followed by thousands. That he did +not seek to reach the county Limerick by some other means of +conveyance—by a car, on foot, or on horseback—may be a mistake of +judgment; but none would be free from peril: and had he escaped +detection at Thurles, there would not be the least danger, until he +reached Cahermoyle, as the rest of the journey would be entirely by +night. His sagacity may be questioned, perhaps, but it is extreme +villainy to question his purpose. He took that course only and solely +because he thought it the safest; and he had no more intention of +surrendering than I had when I crossed by the packet to Boulogne.</p> + +<p>Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Donohoe were arrested under circumstances over +which they had still less control. They were utterly unacquainted with +the country, and did not know, if they left the high road, but the first +house they might approach would be a police barrack. They had made every +attempt despera<a name="Page_190" id="Page_190" />tion could suggest to rouse the people, but in vain. +They were opposed by some, shunned by some, and from some they received +false counsel. They had exhausted the welcome of all who were inclined +to receive them, and they knew not one step of their way. Previously, +too, Mr. Meagher had peremptorily refused to avail himself of a mode of +escape provided for him and he equally peremptorily refused to listen to +any terms from Government, which did not include all his comrades. His +object, on the night he was arrested, was to make another trial at +Cashel, which he designed to approach by a circuitous route.</p> + +<p>The 6th day of August was the date of Mr. O'Brien's arrest; the 13th of +August that of Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, and the 7th of September +that of Mr. MacManus. Mr. O'Brien was taken at the Thurles railway +station; Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, near Rathgannon, on the road +between Clonoulty and Holycross, about five miles from Thurles, and Mr. +MacManus on board the ship <i>N.D. Chase</i>, in the bay of Cove, on the 7th +of September. They were each conveyed to Kilmainham Jail, in the first +instance, where they remained until within a few days of the opening of +the special commission at Clonmel. This took place on Thursday, the 21st +of Sept., when the bills were found, but six days were allowed to Mr. +O'Brien and the rest of the prisoners to peruse the indictment, with +copies of which they were respectively furnished. On Thursday, the 28th, +the trial of Mr. O'Brien commenced; that of Mr. MacManus on the 9th of +October; that of Mr. O'Donohoe on the 13th, and that of Mr. Meagher on +the 16th.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191" />Juries were empanelled in each case, from whose prejudice and bad faith +verdicts for high treason were expected, even though the evidence only +sustained a charge of common assault. Roman Catholics were, in the first +instance, scrupulously excluded; but after the first two verdicts one or +two were admitted, upon whose weakness of character, or genteel +aspirations, the Government might safely rely. It is but justice to say +that, according to the law expounded by the Bench, and the evidence +given on the table, any other verdict was not to be expected. But a jury +differently composed, a jury of Englishmen, with their country, their +liberties and their lives perilled to the last extremity by +misgovernment and maladministration of law, would have spurned the law +and the evidence, and relied on the great fundamental rights of humanity +so flagrantly outraged by the Government that then appeared as +prosecutors.</p> + +<p>The scene presented by Clonmel excited much public surprise. Newspaper +correspondents magnified the sullen gloom that prevailed into popular +apathy or national cowardice, as suited the bent or purpose of their +employers. The truth was, the people exhibited during the trial a decent +and respectful forbearance. Empty parade or vociferous sorrow would only +mock the lofty purpose of the sufferers; and besides, the mortification +which rankled in the public heart was too deep for utterance. The hopes +of the people had been dashed, and they were stunned and stupefied by +their fall. But so far from being apathetic, nightly assemblages were +held to consider if, even in that extremity, something was not yet +possible to be done.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192" />But, if there were a show of popular indifference on the streets, the +courthouse presented a very different spectacle. There everything +manifested an intense bitterness of purpose; the court, composed of the +two most unscrupulous partisans, Chief Justices Blackbourne and Doherty, +and the weakest or falsest political convert, Mr. Justice Moore, +simulated the uncontrollable emotions which an overweening loyalty awoke +in the bosom of the Catholic Attorney-General. So far were their +lordships swayed by the spirit of imitativeness, that the most polished +speakers, mistaking the incoherent jargon of the official for the broken +utterance of overwrought zeal and shocked loyalty, mimicked his +distempered language as the only befitting medium of expression for +disturbed feelings such as theirs. The simplest and most usual +facilities accorded to murderers and pickpockets on their trial were +rudely denied the counsel for the defence. The principles of law, +recognised in England as sacred, were scouted from the bench, and the +farce of trial proceeded through its different stages to the final +<i>denouement</i> with perfect regularity, every one performing the part +assigned him with unerring accuracy.</p> + +<p>Of the intrepid ability which struggled against this fearful combination +of bigotry, prejudice and passion, at the bar, on the bench and in the +box, I do not purpose to speak here. But I would be unfaithful to my +trust, and unjust to the rarest heroism, if I did not record the +fortitude and fidelity of O'Donnell, from whom the menaces of the crown, +or the frown of the bench, could not wring one word of evidence. In an +ordinary man, this would be singular intrepidity; but <a name="Page_193" id="Page_193" />circumstanced +as O'Donnell was, it amounted to a Roman virtue. One brother of his, a +doctor, was in jail at Liverpool, charged with political felony; another +was hunted through the country, and another was in irons, involved in +the same charge as the illustrious accused; for them all he could +command his own terms, for much depended on his testimony; but though +doom were upon them, and a word of his could avert it, he refused to +speak. Honour be his. His integrity almost cancelled the shame and +darkness of those disastrous times.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-17" /><a id="image17" href="images/image17-big.jpg"><img src="images/image17.jpg" width="567" height="400" alt="The Widow McCormack's House, near Ballingarry" title="The Widow McCormack's House, near Ballingarry" /></a> +<p class="caption">The Widow McCormack's House, near Ballingarry</p> +</div> + +<p>I can add nothing to the testimony that established the fortitude, +manliness and dignity of the prisoners, as beyond precedent or example. +That their bearing, one and all, was truly noble, friends and foes took +pride in attesting.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11" /><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> It was a solemn and a glorious sight; and men, +through all time, will turn to that Clonmel dock to learn the +inestimable and imperishable value of sincere and lofty convictions and +a truly heroic soul.</p> + +<p>Of the speeches that follow, it will be observed that Mr. O'Brien's was +delivered before the fate of his comrades was known. No man had ever +greater need of vindicating others if not himself. No man ever possessed +in a higher degree the capacity and strength to do so. He was satisfied +it was the last opportunity <a name="Page_194" id="Page_194" />he would ever have on earth for +explanation. Yet, lest any sentiment of his might injuriously affect +those that were then, or might thereafter be on their trial, he forebore +to assert the principles of which he was there the martyr, and of which +he was more than ever proud. It was to the same unselfish sentiment he +yielded, when consenting to say, "Not guilty," to a charge he would have +felt the greatest glory in avowing.</p> + +<p>I despair of conveying to my readers an adequate idea of the gloom and +horror of the scene in which those immortal words were spoken. Death, +near and terrible, was in the future. The recollection of ten days' +infamy peopled the present with ghastly images of evil. Vindictiveness +inexorable glared from the bench. The dust around the feet of the +speakers was laden with guilt. It would not rise to the briskest breeze, +beneath the clearest sky, in light summer air, so heavy had the tread of +murder been upon it. And oh, to think when they closed their eyes upon +this world, what deeper death they left their country ... Will no day of +vengeance come, O God! . . .</p> + +<p>One of those benefits of the British constitution, which excites the +mortal envy of benighted "surrounding nations," is this, that the law +lies to the face of death, in the usual question addressed to the +condemned: "Whether he had anything to say why sentence of death and +execution should not be passed upon him?" when the most conclusive +reasons that ever innocence had to offer would be worse than vain. On +the morning of the 9th of October, 1848, this barbarous mockery was +addressed to William Smith O'Brien, and he answered thus:—<a name="Page_195" id="Page_195" /></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>MR. O'BRIEN.—"My lords, it is not my intention to enter into + any vindication of my conduct, however much I might have desired + to avail myself of this opportunity of so doing. I am perfectly + satisfied with the consciousness that I have performed my duty + to my country—that I have done only that which, in my opinion, + it was the duty of every Irishman to have done, and I am now + prepared to abide the consequences of having performed my duty + to my native land. Proceed with your sentence." (Cheers in the + gallery.)</p></div> + +<p>On the morning of the 23rd of the same month, the same formula was +repeated to Terence Bellew MacManus, Patrick O'Donohoe, and Thomas +Francis Meagher, who replied respectively as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>MR. M'MANUS.—"My lords, I trust I am enough of a Christian and + enough of a man to understand the awful responsibility of the + question that has been put to me. My lords, standing on this my + native soil—standing in an Irish court of justice, and before + the Irish nation—I have much to say why the sentence of death, + or the sentence of the law, should not be passed upon me. But, + my lords, on entering this court, I placed my life, and what is + of much more importance to me—my honour—in the hands of two + advocates; and, my lords, if I had ten thousand lives, and ten + thousand honours, I would be content to place them under the + watchful and the glorious genius of the one and the high legal + ability of the other. My lords, I am content. In that regard I + have nothing to say. But I have a word to say, which no + advocate, however anxious, can utter for me. I have this to say, + my lords, that whatever part I may have taken through any + struggle for my country's independence—whatever part I may have + acted in that short career—I stand before your lordships now + with a free heart, and with a light <a name="Page_196" id="Page_196" />conscience, ready to abide + the issue of your sentences. And now, my lords, perhaps this is + the fittest time that I might put one sentiment on record, and + it is this: Standing as I do between this dock and the scaffold; + it may be now, or to-morrow, or it may be never; but whatever + the result may be, I have this sentiment to put on record. That + in any part I have taken, I have not been actuated by animosity + to Englishmen. For I have spent some of the happiest and most + prosperous days of my life in England; and in no part of my + career have I been actuated by enmity to Englishmen, however + much I may have felt the injustice of English rule on this + island. My lords, I have nothing more to say. It is not for + having loved England less, but for having loved Ireland more, + that I stand now before you."</p></div> + +<p>Mr. O'Donohoe confined himself to a few words concerning his trial.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>MR. MEAGHER.—"My lords, it is my intention to say a few words + only. I desire that the last act of a proceeding which has + occupied so much of the public time should be of short duration. + Nor have I the indelicate wish to close the dreary ceremony of a + State prosecution with a vain display of words. Did I fear that + hereafter when I shall be no more the country I have tried to + serve would think ill of me, I might, indeed, avail myself of + this solemn moment to vindicate my sentiments and my conduct. + But I have no such fear. The country will judge of those + sentiments and that conduct in a light far different from that + in which the jury by which I have been convicted have viewed + them; and by the country, the sentence which you, my lords, are + about to pronounce, will be remembered only as the severe and + solemn attestation of my rectitude and truth. Whatever be the + language in which that sentence be spoken,<a name="Page_197" id="Page_197" /> I know that my fate + will meet with sympathy, and that my memory will be honoured. In + speaking thus, accuse me not, my lords, of an indecorous + presumption. To the efforts I have made in a just and noble + cause, I ascribe no vain importance—nor do I claim for those + efforts any high reward. But it so happens, and it will ever + happen so, that they who have tried to serve their country, no + matter how weak the effort may have been, are sure to receive + the thanks and the blessings of its people. With my country, + then, I leave my memory—my sentiments—my acts—proudly feeling + that they require no vindication from me this day. A jury of my + countrymen, it is true, have found me guilty of the crime of + which I stood indicted. For this I entertain not the slightest + feeling of resentment toward them. Influenced as they must have + been by the charge of the Lord Chief Justice, they could have + found no other verdict. What of that charge? Any strong + observations on it, I feel sincerely, would ill befit the + solemnity of this scene; but I would earnestly beseech of you, + my lord—you, who preside on that bench—when the passions and + the prejudices of this hour have passed away to appeal to your + conscience, and ask of it was your charge as it ought to have + been, impartial and indifferent between the subject and the + Crown. My lords, you may deem this language unbecoming in me, + and perhaps it may seal my fate. But I am here to speak the + truth, whatever it may cost. I am here to regret nothing I have + ever done—to retract nothing I have ever said. I am here to + crave with no lying-lip the life I consecrate to the liberty of + my country. Far from it: even here—here, where the thief, the + libertine, the murderer, have left their footprints in the dust; + here, on this spot, where the shadows of death surround me, and + from which I see my early grave in an unanointed soil opened to + receive me—even here, encircled by these terrors, the hope + which <a name="Page_198" id="Page_198" />has beckoned me to the perilous sea upon which I have + been wrecked, still consoles, animates, enraptures me. No I do + not despair of my poor old country, her peace her liberty, her + glory. For that country I can do no more than bid her hope. To + lift up this island—to make her a benefactor to humanity, + instead of being the meanest beggar in the world—to restore to + her her native Powers and her ancient constitution—this has + been my ambition, and this ambition has been my crime. Judged by + the law of England, I know this crime entails the Penalty of + death; but the history of Ireland explains this crime, and + justifies it. Judged by that history, I am no criminal—you + (addressing Mr. MacManus) are no criminal—you (addressing Mr + O'Donohoe) are no criminal—I deserve no punishment—we deserve + no punishment. Judged by that history the treason of which I + stand convicted loses all its guilt, is sanctified as a duty, + will be ennobled as a sacrifice. With these sentiments, my lord + I await the sentence of the court. Having done what I felt to be + my duty—having spoken what I felt to be the truth, as I have + done on every other occasion of my short career, I now bid + farewell to the country of my birth, my passion and my + death—the country whose misfortunes have invoked my + sympathies—whose factions I have sought to still—whose + intellect I have prompted to a lofty aim—whose freedom has been + my fatal dream. I offer to that country, as a proof of the love + I bear her, and the sincerity with which I thought, and spoke, + and struggled for her freedom—the life of a young heart, and + with that life, all the hopes, the honours, the endearments, of + a happy and an honourable home. Pronounce then, my lords, the + sentence which the law directs, and I will be prepared to hear + it. I trust I shall be prepared to meet its execution. I hope to + be able, with a pure heart and perfect composure, to appear + before a higher Tribunal—a tribunal where a Judge of infinite + goodness, <a name="Page_199" id="Page_199" />as well as of justice will preside, and where, my + lords, many—many of the judgments of this world will be + reversed."</p></div> + +<p>The sentence of the court was then pronounced, as it had been previously +on Mr. O'Brien. It was in the following words:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That sentence is, that you Terence Bellew MacManus, you Patrick + O'Donohoe, and you Thomas Francis Meagher, be taken hence to the + place from whence you came, and be thence drawn on a hurdle to + the place of execution; that each of you be there hanged by the + neck until you are dead, and that afterward the head of each of + you shall be severed from the body, and the body of each divided + into four quarters, to be disposed of as her Majesty may think + fit. And may Almighty God have mercy upon your souls."</p></div> + +<p>A writ of error was sued out principally on the ground that the +principles of constitutional law were violated. The House of Lords +finally quashed the error and confirmed the judgment. Meantime, the +country, or a great portion of the people, took the last step in the +direction of debasement by praying the Queen and the Lord Lieutenant for +a free pardon. The petitions were spurned; but her Majesty, yielding to +the powerful sentiment of abhorrence against the punishment of death for +political offences, commuted the sentence into transportation for life. +This final sentence was carried into effect on the 9th day of July, +1849, when the ship of war <i>Swift</i> spread her sails and hoisted her +felon flag, bearing out to sea, and having on board the four illustrious +exiles.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200" />Martin and O'Doherty had been conveyed to Cork on board the <i>Triton</i>, +on the 16th of June, whence they were sent to herd with common +malefactors on board the <i>Mount Stewart Elphinstone</i>—at the time +infested with the plague. This vessel remained off Spike Island while +the cholera was doing its ravages among her passengers, and finally put +to sea, with the patriots and pestilence, a few days before the +departure of the <i>Swift</i>.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11" /><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> The following is from the <i>Freeman's Journal</i>:—An eminent +Queen's counsel, who was present during the awful ordeal, was heard to +give utterance to a sentiment so truthfully graphic that we record it in +full:—"Well," said he, his eyes full and his countenance flushed with +emotion, "never was there such a scene—never such true heroism +displayed before. Emmet and Fitzgerald, and all combined did not come up +to that—so dignified, so calm, so heroic. HE <i>is</i> a hero."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX" /><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201" />CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p>CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS. — DUNGARVAN. — THE COMERAGHS. — MOUNT +MELLARY. — KILWORTH. — CROSS. DUNMANWAY. — GOUGANE BARRA. — BANTRY +BAY. — THE PRIEST'S LEAP. — KENMARE. — THE REEKS. — KILLARNEY. — TEMPLENOE.— +DEPARTURE. — CORK. — BRISTOL. — LONDON. — PARIS.</p> + + +<p>After leaving Quinlan's, as detailed in a former chapter, O'Mahony and +myself agreed to separate for a few days. No reward had then been +offered for him, and my presence only impeded his movements. We crossed +the river Suir, and remained most of the day in Coolnamuck wood. Toward +evening I was conducted far into the county Waterford, where I was to +remain until I heard what progress he was able to make. My host was the +chief of one of the fierce factions of county Waterford, and bore many a +mark of desperate fray. I do not remember having met any man, before or +since, who felt so acutely the fate of the country. He procured the best +fare he could, and prepared my bed with his own hands. After I retired +to rest, he continued pacing the room for several hours, sometimes +sighing deeply, sometimes muttering curses between his clenched teeth, +and sometimes suggesting plans which he thought might be even then +available and efficient to redeem the past. These plans were all of a +character more or less desperate; but some were exceedingly ingenious. A +truer type of a Celt could <a name="Page_202" id="Page_202" />not easily be found; his very caution was +stamped with vehemence.</p> + +<p>Next day but one I proceeded to meet O'Mahony, to learn his success in +his nocturnal interviews. I was unable to meet him; but encountered a +faithful follower of Thomas Francis Meagher, who was the bearer of a +message to the effect that if he could be prevailed upon to attempt +escaping, means could be procured for him. I expressed at once my entire +concurrence, and desired the messenger should return to say that on +condition the same means would be made available for those who were not +yet arrested, we would all gladly accept of them. I ventured into a +house, where, in early life, I spent many a happy day. Those of the +family whom I had known and loved, had passed out of the world. They +were a brother and sister, the former educated for the Church, and the +latter highly gifted and educated far above her condition. I never knew +a woman, in any rank of life, of nobler character or a more heroic +nature. She had the richest store of womanly tenderness and kindly +affections. She took the veil at the Dungarvan Convent in very early +youth, where she died two years afterwards. I asked for some food, and +while it was being prepared I wrote the following lines on a blank leaf +of a book belonging to my dead friend:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>Bliss to thy spirit, gentlest maid,<br /></span> +<span>Fond, faithful and beloved; how oft,<br /></span> +<span>Within the circle of this glowing glade,<br /></span> +<span>Our mingling souls had soared aloft;<br /></span> +<span>And wooed the knowledge of our destiny—<br /></span> +<span>What is it? I a fugitive, and thou on high.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203" /> +<span>Yet hopeless of the land I'd save,<br /></span> +<span>Nay, spurned by those for whom I'd die,<br /></span> +<span>Unknown where your fond welcome gave,<br /></span> +<span>There's still a throb of ecstasy.<br /></span> +<span>Even though the latest I may feel on earth.<br /></span> +<span>In lingering o'er the scene where thou hadst birth.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Where wrapt by evening's crimson flush,<br /></span> +<span>We hoped, and felt, and breathed together,<br /></span> +<span>Beside the broad Suir's silent gush,<br /></span> +<span>Or resting on yon mountain heather;<br /></span> +<span>And dared to look beyond the narrow span,<br /></span> +<span>That circumscribed the hope of man.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>How sweet, if from the blessed spheres,<br /></span> +<span>Thou didst bestow one look of love,<br /></span> +<span>To cheer the hearts and dry the tears<br /></span> +<span>Of those whose only hope's above;<br /></span> +<span>And win, beloved one, from the throne of light,<br /></span> +<span>One saving ray for our long slavery's night.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Or if this may not be, and yet<br /></span> +<span>Her old doom clings unto the land;<br /></span> +<span>If on her brow the brand be set,<br /></span> +<span>And she must bear the chastening hand<br /></span> +<span>For longer years, O grant, sweet saint, to me,<br /></span> +<span>To die as if my arm had made her free.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>GLENN, <i>August 3, 1848.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I left Glenn next morning, with still some hope remaining, and sought +out my friend to learn his success and prospects. He came, according to +appointment, to a farmer's house in the direction of Rathgormack, +bringing with him James Stephens, who was destined to be thenceforth the +companion of my wanderings, privations and dangers. He detailed to us, +nearly as<a name="Page_204" id="Page_204" /> I have repeated it, the affair at Ballingarry. When he +reached the village of Urlingford, he found some difficulty in escaping +from the very men he hoped to lead back to the conflict. After vainly +making every effort first to urge them on, and secondly to satisfy them +of his own identity, he travelled a distance of thirty miles, and took +shelter in the house of a private friend, where he hoped he could remain +until something definite would be known of his comrades' fate. That his +stay was not of long duration, his appearance with us on Thursday, forty +miles from the place of his concealment, amply testifies. That distance +he travelled on foot on the preceding day, after having slept a night +with a drunken man in a brake. He was even more averse than we were to +giving up the struggle, and it was agreed on finally that he should be +allowed to rest in a place of safety; that the messenger who had come +from Mr. Meagher's friend should be despatched with my proposal, and +meantime, that I should betake me to the Comeragh mountains in search of +Mr. Meagher, while our other comrade should make a final effort to rally +the remaining strength of the people. We would then be in a position to +determine finally what we should do. Stephens and myself proceeded +together as far as my former host's in the mountains, where I left him, +and continued my route as far as the Comeraghs, I rested that evening at +a place called Sradavalla, and early next day recommenced my search +around and over the mountains. After crossing several minor hills, I +ascended the summit of the Comeragh, called Cuimshinane, which commands +a prospect of nearly the whole counties of Waterford and Kilkenny, <a name="Page_205" id="Page_205" />with +a great part of Tipperary. That prospect was at once grand, beautiful +and mournful. The corn crop began to be tinged with coming ripeness; but +the potato was blighted, and presented a spectacle as black and dismal +as the country's hopes. This widespread ruin was the dread work of an +hour. On the morning, when Mr. O'Brien appeared in Carrick, that crop +was the most abundant, promising and healthy that had been seen for +years. Then it appeared from sea to sea one mass of unvaried rottenness +and decay. Notwithstanding this, I spent hours looking down on the +landscape, and mourning more over the mental and moral blight, which +shed its influence on the public heart, than the plague spot whose dark +circumference embraced the circle of the island. From heat, fatigue and +the effects of weak food, I discharged my stomach more than once, while +descending the ranges of the Comeraghs. I again took up my station for +the night at the village of Sradavalla. It was deemed prudent I should +not sleep in the same house as on the previous night, and about eleven +o'clock, accompanied by five or six men of the village, I proceeded to a +house farther up the mountain. Here the accommodation was not such as we +expected, and we were forced to return. On our arrival, I found my +sister-in-law who was escorted by two boatmen from Carrick-on-Suir, and +who reached this wild sequestered and almost inaccessible mountain +village, after a journey of fifty miles. A sad change had come over our +circumstances since last we parted. My hopes were then nearly a +conviction, and I went on my way not alone without remonstrance or +regret on her part, but with intense encouragement. She had <a name="Page_206" id="Page_206" />heard of +Mr. O'Brien's disaster, and a rumour of his arrest, had witnessed the +prostration of the people, had heard I had means of escape proposed for +me, and came with what money could be provided. We spent that night +together at the house of a woman who had been lately confined. She +endeavoured to provide tea and eggs, and we enjoyed our supper with as +keen a relish and as high a zest as possible. I learned that Meagher was +in the other extremity of the county Tipperary, and she undertook to +convey my message to his friend a second time, while his faithful scout +would endeavour to discover his retreat, and induce him to join us. She +departed on her mission, having to walk ten miles over the mountain +roads. I returned to the place where I parted from Stephens, whom I +found greatly recovered. We remained that night at the house of his +entertainer, where we were joined the following morning by O'Mahony. We +spent the three succeeding days in and about the woods at Coolnamuck. +Three more anxious days and nights never darkened the destiny of baffled +rebels. Every morning arose upon a new hope which was blasted ere night +came on by some sad intelligence. The news that reached us was partly +true and partly false: of the former character was the account of our +beloved chief's arrest, which took place on the evening of Sunday, the +6th of August. In proportion as it nerved our purpose and urged us to +desperation, did that fatal information scatter the agencies on which we +were to depend. The most desperate hazards would be readily undertaken +in that hour of gloom. One more effort we decided on, and the experiment +was to be tried the next night. We heard<a name="Page_207" id="Page_207" /> Mr. Meagher also was arrested, +and we resolved, in order to satisfy ourselves of the correctness of +this and other reports, to put ourselves in direct communication with +some person in the town of Clonmel. We accordingly proceeded to the +neighbourhood of that town, within a mile of which, at the Waterford +side, we established ourselves, and remained two days. Each day we sent +in a messenger who brought us correct intelligence of what occurred; and +satisfied us not alone that Mr. O'Brien was then in gaol, but that he +was allowed to be torn from the midst of a people for whom he had +perilled his life, without a hand being raised in his defence. We then +returned to the scene of our former meetings, and met, for the last +time, beside a little brook near the Waterford slate-quarries. My +ambassadress had also returned, and there were present three or four +others. The reunion was gloomy. But one question remained for +discussion: Was there any hope left? The message I received as to the +means of escape was dark and discouraging. Nothing remained but the +hazards of some desperate enterprise. What had chiefly animated our +hopes for the few days was the knowledge that disaffection and +conspiracy existed in the ranks of the British army. But among other +intelligence of evil omen that reached us was this, that the conspiracy +had been discovered. Whether this were true or not, our means of +communication were suspended; and, unable to learn what had occurred, we +naturally concluded it was the worst. It is not quite correct to say, +<i>we</i>, as far as the proceedings of these days in that neighbourhood were +concerned. Neither Stephens nor myself was in communication with <a name="Page_208" id="Page_208" />more +than the one friend, to whose honour and heroism we would commit the +liberty of the world. Never yet lived a man of more sanguine hope or +intense patriotism. All the vigour of a gigantic intellect, aided by the +endurance of great physical strength was tasked to the uttermost in +attempting to rouse the broken energies of the country. He generally +spent his nights in interviews with the chief men of the surrounding +districts, while his duty by day was to communicate the result to us, +and secure a place of safety for the ensuing night. Our last conference +was of course the longest and most anxious. There was no chance within +the range of possibility we did not discuss. Of the intensity of our +feelings, some idea may be formed by the fact, that the one woman who +was of the party, whose sole stay on this earth I was, as well as the +sole stay of her sister and a most helpless little family, never uttered +one word of remonstrance against any project, however desperate, which +was proposed. We concluded an interview of several hours, by referring +the entire question to the sole decision of our friend. After a short +silence, during which the agony of his mind was extreme, he solemnly +advised and adjured us to provide as best we could for our own safety, +while he, who was not so deeply compromised, would maintain his +position, and still struggle against our common destiny. If he +succeeded, and that we had not left the country, we could return. But to +advise us to continue in our then position where an iron circle was +closing around us, relying on the slender chances that then presented +themselves, involved a responsibility which would be no longer +endurable. We then partook <a name="Page_209" id="Page_209" />of a comfortable dinner which he had +provided, and parted with sad hearts.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-18" /><a id="image18" href="images/image18-big.jpg"><img src="images/image18.jpg" width="750" height="400" alt="The Knockmeldown Mountains from Ardfinan" title="The Knockmeldown Mountains from Ardfinan" /></a> +<p class="caption">The Knockmeldown Mountains from Ardfinan</p> +</div> + +<p>The place which, as far as we could form an opinion, presented the +greatest facilities for escape, was the town and neighbourhood of +Dungarvan. Thither we resolved to repair; and about three o'clock, on +the 13th day of August, we set off across the nearest range of the +Comeraghs—Stephens and myself, accompanied by my sister-in-law, whom we +hoped to employ in negotiating for a passage to France. A farmer and two +women of the place undertook to conduct us the shortest way across the +mountains, and provide us an asylum for the night, which we reached +after a forced journey of six hours. We there parted from our guides; +and the people to whom they recommended us were exceedingly kind, and +much more hospitable than their means would permit. On the following day +our host became our guide for several miles across the declining +Comeraghs, until we came in view of Dungarvan. We purchased some bread, +eggs and tea at a village called Tubbernaheena; but while in the village +we learned that the military and police were scouring the country far +and wide, in search of arms, which compelled us to change our route and +take an easterly direction. We crossed several miles of bog, and had to +pass many a ravine; but the worst trial was before us. We applied in +several houses for the means of preparing our dinner, having travelled +at least twenty miles over moor and mountain. We applied in twenty +places in vain. At last, half by force and half by entreaty, we +prevailed on a woman, whose circumstances seemed comfortable. We were, +of course, unknown; and though we met many a rebuff, <a name="Page_210" id="Page_210" />we determined to +endure them, rather than reveal our names and character. During the +progress of our meal we established ourselves in the good graces of the +housewife, but she obstinately refused to allow us to remain for the +night. She directed us to a publichouse, where, on our arrival, we found +a proclamation menacing any one who entertained, harboured or assisted +us, with the direst punishment. In answer to our inquiry the owner, who +was a woman, pointed to the proclamation, as an argument against which +all remonstrance was vain. We made three or four other attempts equally +fruitless; and when the night had closed around us, on a bleak, desolate +road, I determined to call on the Roman Catholic priest, and state who +we were; for while, if alone, we would infinitely prefer taking such +rest as we could in the nearest brake, or under shelter of a wall, we +could not think of submitting our delicate companion to the trials of a +night in the open air, during an exceedingly inclement season. With some +hesitation and great alarm, he procured a lodging for us at a farmer's +house in the neighbourhood. We saw him next morning, and his most +earnest injunction was that we should leave the locality, which, +according to him, was altogether unsafe. To escape arrest there for +twelve hours was, he said, impossible. Similar advice was pressed on us +afterwards in many a safer asylum; but we learned to mock at others' +fears, whereas, on this occasion, we yielded to an impression we felt to +be sincere.</p> + +<p>Before venturing nearer to Dungarvan, we determined to bespeak the +services of another clergyman, who lived a distance of six or seven +miles in the direction of<a name="Page_211" id="Page_211" /> Waterford. A ridge of the Comeraghs lay +between us and his lonely dwelling. Along this ridge lay a winding +bridle-road, skirted by patches of green sward, and occasionally crossed +by a sparkling mountain rill. Above us, on the hill-side, was a +considerable bog, where crowds of country people were collecting to +their daily toil. A merry laugh or boisterous joke occasionally rang +clear in the morning air. The mirth went heavily to our hearts. The +snatch of song, the unrestrained laugh, the merry glee, broke upon the +ear of the wayfarers like the mocking of demons. The consciousness that +they then sped, without a beacon or a guide, over the flinty path of +flight, to end perhaps at the gibbet, imparted to the voice of mirth the +sound of ingratitude. However, the day was brilliant; above us the +clear, blue, unfathomable sky; around us the bracing mountain air, laden +with the breath of hare-bell and heather, and far below the calm sea, +sleeping in the morning light; and weariness, hunger and apprehension +yielded to the influence of the scene. Many a time, ere passed the sunny +noon, did we sit down to enjoy the glad prospect, unconscious, for a +moment, of the fate that tracked our footsteps. At length we descended +the eastern slope of the hill; and after proceeding some distance, +through cornfields and meadows, we reached the mansion of the clergyman, +wayworn and half-famished. He, whom we sought, had won a character for +truth, manliness and courage, and we calculated upon his unrestrained +sympathies, if not generous hospitality. He was absent from his house, +which is situate in a lonely gorge of the Comeraghs.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212" />We waited his arrival for more than an hour, and, through delicacy for +his position, we remained concealed in a grove some distance from the +door. He at length appeared, and I proceeded alone to meet him and make +known my name. He started involuntarily and retreated a few paces from +me. After repeating my name for a few seconds, he said, "Surely you are +not so unmanly as to compromise me?" I replied, that so sensible was I +of the danger of committing him, that I refused to enter his house, +though we all, and particularly my female companion, sadly needed rest +and shelter. After some time, he began to pace up and down in front of +his door, repeating at every turn that it was indiscreet and +dishonourable to compromise him. Among the many trials to which fate had +doomed me, through hours of gloom, of peril and disaster, and even +during reveries of still darker chances, which fear or fancy often +evoked, I never felt a pang so keen as that which those unfeeling words +sent through my heart. For a while I was unable to articulate, but at +length I said: "You are one of those who urged us to this fate. You gave +us every assurance that, in any crisis, you would be at our side. We +made the desperate trial which you recommended. We have failed, because +we were abandoned by those who were foremost in urging us on; and even +now—here, where God alone sees us—you meet with reproaches one who has +sacrificed his all on earth in a cause you pretended to bless. Is not +that fate worse than defeat—than flight—than death?" "Tis a sad fate, +no doubt," said he. My object, I said, was to escape to France, and I +called on him, believing he could assist me, as he must be <a name="Page_213" id="Page_213" />acquainted +with the boatmen around that part of the coast. He answered it was +possible he could, but not then; asked how he could communicate with me; +pointed to a shorter route across the mountains than that by which we +had descended, and turned in to his dinner, which was just announced.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>We faced towards the mountain, hungry and exhausted, without being asked +to taste food or drink. It need not be detailed how sore at heart we +felt as we recommenced our dreary journey. It was already evening. +Censer masses of fog had gathered on the hill, and lurid streaks +spreading far out on the sea, portended a night of storm and gloom. +However, we had no resource but to regain the house where we had slept +two nights before, which we supposed might be distant about seven miles; +and by gaining the summit of the hill before dark, we hoped to make our +way easily down the other side. To obtain some food, of whatever kind, +was an indispensable preliminary. The house nearest to the mountain +appeared to be that of a comfortable farmer. We entered it trembling, +and found our expectations not disappointed. But the housewife +peremptorily refused our first request, evidently suspecting there was +something wrong, and unable to reconcile our appearance with the idea of +hunger or distress. She bestowed a peculiarly sinister scrutiny on my +poor sister. After some parley, we said we should have something to eat, +either for love or money, and while saying so, we began to examine the +locks of our pistols. Either admonished by these stern intercessors, or +by a look of compassion from her <a name="Page_214" id="Page_214" />beautiful daughter, who stood at some +distance, she replied we should have what we asked for, but only for +love. Her daughters, of whom there were two, busied themselves in +producing new barley bread and skimmed milk, of which we partook +immoderately. We parted on better terms, and my friend Stephens was +greeted with a smile from each of the lovely girls, which so influenced +him that he insisted upon revealing our character and asking their +hospitality for the night. After a good deal of discussion it was agreed +he should make the experiment alone. He returned and produced the +military cap which he always wore inside his shirt. This at once +produced the desired effect, and one of the young girls came bounding up +the hill to invite us to return. It was arranged, however, that we +should remain on a hay-loft until quite dusk, which we gladly agreed to. +The host entered with us, and stayed until we were admitted to the +dwelling-house. To me, at least, that hay-loft imparted a sense of +unutterable enjoyment. I was there enabled to support the drooping head +of my sister, as overcharged with weariness and pain of mind, she sank +into unconscious sleep.</p> + +<p>As night fell, we were introduced into a comfortable parlour. There we +had tea and eggs, with some punch. The family felt the warmest interest +in us; but at the same time they occasionally manifested evident alarm. +The utmost precaution was observed so as to prevent our being noticed, +and we only retired to bed when the hour of midnight had struck, and the +house was sunk in silence and solitude. During all that night the storm +roared pitilessly and the rain fell <a name="Page_215" id="Page_215" />heavily. Had it surprised us on the +bleak hill, our wandering had that night ended, and the ravens of +Cumshinane had feasted on our flesh. Next day the storm did not cease to +howl nor the rain to sweep on the angry winds. About five o'clock, +during a brief pause of the rain, preparations were made which +significantly intimated that we were expected to leave. Our host was +well acquainted with the fishermen of Dungarvan and he solemnly warned +us against treating with any of them. Betrayal, he said, would be +certain. But he promised to accompany my sister next day to the town, +where he would make every inquiry; and if he failed, as he anticipated, +would see her away on the car; in which case we were to try another and +a far remote sea-board. A certain newspaper of high Liberal character, +affected to bestow upon us intense consideration and deep compassion. It +had a guard of mobile reporters, some of whom contrived to be everywhere +and hear everything—especially what did not occur. One of them, with a +keener scent than his fellows, discovered my sister's track—made +himself familiar with her person and apparel—and announced her +movements with a mournful accuracy. He conjectured, not unjustly, that +my haunts must be near the scene of her wanderings. Completely absorbed +by the one idea of gratifying the curiosity of his readers, he seemed +indifferent to the conclusion, which, to a mind less engaged, would +appear palpable, and inevitable—namely, that what was information to +our anxious friends would equally serve the purpose of our watchful +pursuers.</p> + +<p>It became, therefore, dangerous to have her continue <a name="Page_216" id="Page_216" />any longer with or +near us. A hasty dinner was prepared, and we arranged to meet our host +next day within a mile of Dungarvan. Never did parting look more like a +last one than mine with my sister, on that occasion. For some time I +thought she would be the first victim of our hard destiny. She seemed +incapable of withstanding the agony that shook her frame. While sharing +in the hardships and the hazards of my struggle for life, her heart, +sustained by its own deep enthusiasm, triumphed over every obstacle. But +she was returning to a house of mourning and of woe, where life would be +one blank of desolation and stupor, to be wakened to bitter +consciousness by intelligence of our doom. The sense of my +responsibility, the full appreciation of the living death which, through +my agency, had fallen upon a home as hallowed as ever love and joy +consecrated to happiness, had burned up my eyeballs and my brain. I went +forth into the recommencing storm, utterly unconscious of its rage and +equally indifferent to fate. My comrade, who had no life to lose but his +own, and who of that was recklessly prodigal, provided he could dispose +of it to good account, stepped blithely along and uttered no complaint, +although he left behind him traces marked with blood. His terrible +indifference soon restored my self-possession, and we found shelter for +the night in a house near the spot designated for the next day's +interview. Just as we arrived there, the chief magistrate and police had +completed a search of the house. We entered as they retired, told who we +were, and claimed hospitality, which we readily obtained. The night +passed as many a similar one did afterwards. Let our hardships be <a name="Page_217" id="Page_217" />what +they might during the day, we invariably enjoyed ourselves at night, and +went to bed without a fear. On the following morning we sent our hostess +into the town for shoes and other matters which were indispensable to +our further progress. She returned, evidently alarmed to death, having +read on the walls the viceregal threats against all who harboured the +"traitors." She scarcely allowed us to remain until the time appointed +for the interview, which was of short duration. We were informed that +there was no hope from that quarter, and that our safety for one hour +was extremely precarious. This intelligence and a copy of the <i>World</i> +newspaper, completed the information communicated by our former host.</p> + +<p>Having laughed heartily over the <i>World</i>, and no less heartily at the +alarm of our host and hostess, we set out on our long journey, about +four o'clock in the evening, under very heavy rain. Our first effort was +at the publichouse, already mentioned, where we again failed. We had +some bread and punch, while drying our clothes at the fire. My comrade +became very ill; but even this did not overcome the obstinate repugnance +of the hostess to receive us. We were compelled to leave at about nine +o'clock; and having travelled some miles, 'midst cold and rain, my +comrade shivering from fever and suffering, we determined to sleep in +freshly-saved hay. While making ourselves a resting-place in the hay, we +were surprised by some countrymen, who recognised us as the persons who +dined on a former evening, but were coldly received and rudely expelled. +Upon consulting with the women, who had seen us, they conjectured we +were some of the <a name="Page_218" id="Page_218" />fugitives, and followed for the purpose of inviting us +to the hospitalities of their home. We accepted the offer gladly, and +were received by our friends of the former evening with the warmest +welcome. The principal apartment contained two beds, one of which was +usually occupied by the man and his wife, and the other by their grown +daughters. They gave both up to us, treated us most kindly, and the +whole family, men, women and children, watched over our sleep until +morning. The eldest son displayed considerable information and still +greater energy of character. He evinced the deepest interest in our +fate, and accompanied us for several miles next morning. It was Sunday; +the cold and wet of the previous evening had given way to calm and +sunshine; and we made rapid way along the slopes of the +Comeraghs—thence to the Knockmeldown mountains, having one main object +in view—to place the greatest distance possible between where we were +to rest that night and where we had last slept. The greatest difficulty +we experienced was in passing deep ravines. The steep ascent and descent +were usually wooded and covered with furze and briars. Far below gurgled +a rapid and swollen mountain stream, which we crossed without +undressing, and always experienced the greatest relief from the cold +running water. But toiling our upward way, through trees and thorny +shrubs, was excessively fatiguing. About three o'clock in the evening we +reached the picturesque grounds of Mountmellary Abbey. We had then +travelled thirty miles of mountain without any refreshments. The +well-known hospitality of the good brothers was a great temptation to +men in our situation, <a name="Page_219" id="Page_219" />pressed by toil and hunger. But we felt that we +possibly might compromise the Abbot and the brethren, and determined on +not making ourselves known. We entered the beautiful chapel of the +Abbey, and ascended the gallery while vespers were sung. We were alone +on the gallery, and had an opportunity of changing our stockings and +wiping the blood from our feet. We remained upwards of an hour, and then +set out, but little refreshed. We hoped to find refreshments in a small +publichouse, on the road leading from Clogheen to Lismore. I entered the +house rather hurriedly, and the first object that met my view was a +policeman. I turned quickly round and disappeared. The rapidity of my +movement attracted his attention, and, calling to his comrades and some +countrymen who were in the house, they commenced a pursuit. At first +they appeared little concerned, but walked quickly. We accordingly +quickened our pace, and they, in turn, began to run, when it became a +regular chase, which continued four miles, until we disappeared in the +blue mists of the Mitchelstown mountains, as night was falling around +us. When we saw our pursuers retiring, we ventured to descend, and +entered a cabin where we found a few cold half-formed new potatoes and +some sour milk which we ravenously devoured. I do not remember ever +enjoying a dinner as I did this. My comrade, who had suffered much from +illness, was unable to eat with the same relish. It was night when we +finished our repast, and we set off in search of some place to lay our +heads. We met several refusals, and succeeded, with great difficulty at +last, in a very poor cabin. We saw a lone hen on a cross-beam, which we +<a name="Page_220" id="Page_220" />proposed to purchase, and bought at last for two shillings. In less +than an hour she was disposed of; and, as was invariably the case, we +got the only bed in the house, where we slept a long and dreamless +sleep. It rained incessantly the next day, and we were forced repeatedly +to take shelter in cabins by the wayside. But, being excessively anxious +to get as far as possible beyond the circle enclosed by our foes, we +descended several miles along the Kilworth mountains. Towards the close +of evening we crossed the River Funcheon, near Kilworth, by means of a +fir-tree, the roots of which had been undermined by the rapid flood. We +had spent the whole day in wet clothes. We mounted this tree, +Indian-like, in the midst of rain, and dropped in the shallow part of +the river from the branches. We were unable to procure lodgings +afterwards until nearly eleven o'clock, and then not without difficulty. +We succeeded, at length, within about a quarter of a mile of Kilworth, +whence we were able to procure bread, tea and beefsteaks. We were very +kindly treated, and next day accompanied to the Blackwater, at Castle +Hyde, by the eldest brother of the family.</p> + +<p>I shall not easily forget the delicacy with which this young man +requested, if we thought it compatible with our safety, to tell him our +names. There are few requests which either of us would feel greater +reluctance in refusing. He saw our evident struggle, and said he would +be satisfied with a promise that when our fate would be decided one way +or the other, we would write to him; a promise which I redeemed the day +after I reached Paris.</p> + +<p>This day I think, August the 20th, we travelled over <a name="Page_221" id="Page_221" />forty miles, along +bog and mountain, passed within a few miles of the city of Cork, and +then, taking a north-western direction, proceeded to the village of +Blarney; where we slept on a loft with a number of carmen who were on +their way to Cork with corn.</p> + +<p>It is known to most people, at all familiar with the traditions of +Ireland, that this village is one of her most classic spots. There is +deposited the celebrated Blarney stone, a touch of which imparts to the +tongue of the pilgrim the gift of persuasion. So famous has this stone +become, not only in Ireland but in England, that the most plausible +fluency is characterised by its name, which at once confers on such +oratory the stamp of unapproachable eloquence. It must be confessed, +however, that in many instances "Blarney" conveys doubts of the +speaker's sincerity, as well as admiration for his capacity. To see this +talisman would be with me, on another occasion, an object of deep +anxiety and most eager curiosity. But I was compelled to forego the +pleasure, by the fact that a police-barrack loomed in its immediate +vicinity, and at the other side was posted a proclamation offering a +reward for my person. We could scarcely sleep, owing to the noise and +bustle of the carmen, as they came and went, and loudly snored in +various parts of our dormitory. But we were allowed to rest until seven +in the morning, when we took a hasty breakfast and departed. It was a +point with us never to walk along a road, and never to ask our way. We +were now travelling through an open corn country, and our progress was +accordingly slow. We felt, too, the necessity of not departing far from +our intended route, and accordingly we called in <a name="Page_222" id="Page_222" />occasionally to +national schools to make the necessary observations on the maps. +Sometimes we examined the children, and sometimes the master; generally +one of us was so employed while the other was noting down carelessly on +the map the points of observation to direct our path. We crossed the Lee +undressed, near the village of "Cross," and slept soundly in a +churchyard on a neighbouring hill the name of which has passed from my +memory. We then directed our footsteps to a small village called +Crookstown, situated in a romantic spot on a branch of the Lee. We +experienced much difficulty, and narrowly escaped detection, in entering +this village, which is surrounded by beautiful country seats, through +the grounds of some of which we were obliged to grope our way. We +obtained lodgings, after one or two fruitless trials, in a very +comfortable house kept by a farmer. The young family seemed to be rather +tastefully educated, and we soon became fast friends. We passed as +whimsical tourists, and delighted our entertainers with glowing accounts +of the scenery of Connemara, Wicklow and Kerry. We remained with them +two nights, on pretence of being engaged in sketching the enchanting +views in the neighbourhood; and left, promising, that if we returned by +the same road, we would delay a week. Our destination was Dunmanway, +near which a friend of mine lived, in whose house I hoped we might +remain concealed, while means of escape would be procured somewhere +among the western headlands. A short journey brought us to this house. +My friend was absent, but daughters of his, whom I had not seen since +childhood, recognised <a name="Page_223" id="Page_223" />and welcomed us. We had then travelled 150 miles, +and fancied that, as no one could think of our making such a journey +without walking one half-mile of road, we would be safe there for many +days. In this we were disappointed. It was communicated to us next +morning early that our persons were recognised, and that half the +inhabitants of Dunmanway were by that time aware of our whereabouts. It +was added, that the people were venal and treacherous; a character which +the inhabitants of that region of Cork invariably attribute to each +other. We remained a second and most of a third day, notwithstanding, +and enjoyed ourselves heartily, although our little festivities had all +the air of a wake. We set out at length on the evening of the third day, +having made one glorious friend, whose exertions afterwards tended +mainly to secure my escape. We had expected letters from home before we +reached Dunmanway, and received them there on the day after. They +contained the concentrated and compressed agony of weeks, but no word of +complaint or regret. They also confirmed the intelligence which we had +heard ere we set out, namely, that all our comrades were arrested, +except Dillon, O'Gorman, and a few others, of whose fate we remained +uncertain. Certain friends of the family undertook to communicate with +clergymen, near the seashore, who were supposed to be in a position to +facilitate our escape, while we proposed to visit Gougane Barra and +Ceimeneagh, and, if practicable, Killarney, before we returned to learn +the success of their applications. We followed the stream that passes +Dunmanway for several miles through an almost inaccessible valley, +<a name="Page_224" id="Page_224" />until we reached the southwestern base of Shehigh, the highest mountain +in the range which stretches between Mallow and Cape Clear.</p> + +<p>Here we purchased some good new potatoes, butter, eggs and milk, on +which we dined satisfactorily. We then faced the mountain which we +crossed near the summit, being desirous to gain Gougane Barra by the +shortest possible route. A steep ascent gives the traveller fresh +impulses and an irrepressible desire to bound down at the other side. It +seems to spring from that principle of action and reaction pervading all +nature. At the northern base of Shehigh, after traversing some miles of +bog, we found ourselves entering the pass of Ceimenagh. Though that Pass +had been recently immortalised in the unequalled verses of Denis +Florence M'Carthy,<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12" /><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> and I had learned to love a spot where echoes of +minstrelsy so soft and passionate had found a "local habitation," I was +ignorant of its locality and entirely unprepared for the surpassing +grandeur of the scene, which, in the full blaze of a harvest moon burst +upon my view. My comrade was even more startled than I, and we paused at +every turn of that enchanting passage to gaze upon the masses of rock +projecting over our heads hundreds of feet in the air, and casting their +dark rude outlines upon the clear autumn sky. The pass is a mile long, +while in no one spot can many yards' distance be seen on either side. +The road seems to lose itself every moment in the bowels of the +mountain, but as you proceed, you find a new avenue of escape, and a +more fantastic group of impending rocks of a yet more <a name="Page_225" id="Page_225" />entrancing +beauty than that you had left behind. In such a scene one could have no +feeling of weariness and no sense of fear. Neither could he doubt man's +truth any more than God's omnipotence. We lingered in the solitude and +drank the moonbeams as they strayed through disjointed rocks and fell +silvery and glowing on our path. Our reverie ended in a mistake, for we +unconsciously passed the point where we should turn to Gougane Barra, +then the scene of a ceremony, half religious, half superstitious, as it +has been during the autumn season from time immemorial. People come +great distances to perform "stations" on the ruins of a very ancient +church on poor Callanan's "green little island." We were advised against +returning, but told to seek shelter in a publichouse at a place called +Ballingeary, on the banks of Lough Lua through which the infant Lee +runs. We found the house quite full, in consequence of a fair which was +to be held the Monday following at Bantry. We were accordingly refused; +but we insisted on remaining in the house. We had some milk and whisky, +in which we asked the host to join us, and after one or two potations, +he and his wife offered to give us their own bed and remain up. We +thankfully and gladly accepted the offer. I know not whether they +recognised us, and if not, it is not easy to account for the generous +kindness that prompted such a sacrifice. The next day being Sunday, we +proposed to spend it wandering about the lovely lake in the bosom of the +hill, and to return in the evening to dinner. The day was an anxious +one; but we left no spot on the island or near the lake which we did not +explore.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-19" /><a id="image19" href="images/image19-big.jpg"><img src="images/image19.jpg" width="694" height="400" alt="Dunmanway from the Bridge on the Cork Road, 1848" title="Dunmanway from the Bridge on the Cork Road, 1848" /></a> +<p class="caption">Dunmanway from the Bridge on the Cork Road, 1848</p> +</div> + +<p><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226" />The "Green Little Island," is surpassingly romantic. The old ruin of a +monastery, God knows how old, gigantic forest trees, bowing their aged +limbs into the clear water, the shadows of the frowning mountain thrown +fantastically on the bosom of the lake, form a <i>tout ensemble</i> of lonely +loveliness rarely equalled. Then the play of</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">"The thousand wild fountains<br /></span> +<span>Rushing down to that lake from their home in the mountains,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>the scream of the eagle on the crags of Mailoc, far, far on high, all +justify Callanan's preference for the spot which was meetest for the +bard. We endeavoured to recall his tender strains, and thought +mournfully of his sad prophecy—alas! when shall it be fulfilled?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>I too shall be gone, but my name shall be spoken,<br /></span> +<span>When Erin awakes and her fetters are broken<br /></span> +<span>Some minstrel shall come in the summer's eve gleaming,<br /></span> +<span>When Freedom's young light on his spirit is beaming,<br /></span> +<span>And bend o'er my grave with a tear of emotion,<br /></span> +<span>Where calm Avonbui seeks the kisses of ocean,<br /></span> +<span>Or plant a wild wreath from the banks of that river,<br /></span> +<span>O'er the heart and the harp that are sleeping for ever.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We saw at a short distance, the pass which so enraptured us the night +before, but we resisted the temptation to revisit it, lest the glare of +light might disenchant us of those sublime impressions of beauty it had +made on our minds.</p> + +<p>We found a most comfortable dinner on our arrival, for which we could +not account. In the course of the <a name="Page_227" id="Page_227" />evening we learned casually from our +host that he had spent several years of his life where it was impossible +he should not have seen and known me. This was a disturbing conviction +wherewith to retire to rest, but we trusted to our propitious stars, in +which we had begun to feel a superstitious confidence. We were not +disappointed then or afterwards, and next morning we slept in +unquestioning security. We rose late and reluctantly, and left a scene +where we enjoyed more undisturbed rest and real comfort than had fallen +to our lot for weeks before. The day became dark and showery. Crossing +the bogs in the recesses of Shehigh, we were overtaken by a storm, from +which we took shelter in some hay gathered on the bleak moor, where I +wrote the following:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the outlaw's life!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the felon's doom!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the last death-strife!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for an exile's tomb!<br /></span> +<span>Come life or death, 'tis still the same,<br /></span> +<span>So we preserve our stainless name<br /></span> +<span>From losel of the coward's shame.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the mountain side!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the bivouac!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the heaving tide!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If rocking the felon's track.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the scanty meal!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If served by th' ungrudging hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the hearts of steel,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Still true to this fallen land!<br /></span> +<span>Still true, though every hazard brings<br /></span> +<span>Some new disaster on its wings,<br /></span> +<span>Which o'er her last faint hope it flings.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Hurrah, etc.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228" /> +<span class="i2">Hurrah; though the gibbet loom!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah; though the brave be low!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah; though a villain doom!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The true to the headsman's blow.<br /></span> +<span>As long as one life-throb remain,<br /></span> +<span>We'll spurn the tyrant's gyve and chain<br /></span> +<span>On gallows-tree or bloody plain.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah, etc.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for that smile of light,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which like a prophetic star,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Illumined the long, lone night<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of the wanderers from afar.<br /></span> +<span>Give us for resting-place the rath,<br /></span> +<span>Give us to brave the foeman's wrath,<br /></span> +<span>So that dear smile be o'er our path.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the mountain side!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the bivouac!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hurrah for the heaving tide!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If rocking the felon's track.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Being apprehensive that our former retreat near Dunmanway was +discovered, and that we would be looked for there, we determined to try +another district, from which we might be able to communicate with her +who had evinced such sympathy for us. We sought the house of a friend of +hers, but found him so terrified that we could not think of forcing +ourselves on his hospitality. He promised, however, to call on her and +learn if she had any letters or other information for us. On our return, +next day, he was somewhat reassured. He brought us a note from her, and +letters from home. My comrade's was a sad, sad blow. Where he had most +trusted on earth, his application had been coldly received, and his most +unlimited confidence utterly <a name="Page_229" id="Page_229" />disappointed. Money was forwarded to him +from other sources; but the spirit that braved every disaster up to +that, broke under disappointed affection and blighted love. For some +time he refused to take another step, but yielding himself up to the +agony of shattered feelings, he ardently desired to abandon a struggle +involving nothing but the life he no longer desired to save. From my +knowledge of the country, and other resources, he regarded my chances of +escape as favourable, and his own presence as an impediment and a check. +He was therefore anxious to relieve me of a burden, at the same time +that he would free himself from a weight still more intolerable. In that +he was mistaken. His imperturbable equanimity, and ever daring hope, had +sustained me in moments of perplexity and alarm when no other resource +could have availed. During the whole time which we spent, as it were, in +the shadow of the gibbet, his courage never faltered, and his temper +never once ruffled. The arrival of our enthusiastic friend, who had +stolen to see us, revived his spirits, and her persuasions reassured his +resolution. We drove for some time in her car, and after nightfall +returned to the house where we had slept on the previous night. A +practice which prevailed in that part of the county Cork greatly +facilitated our efforts. It was this: in the vicinity of the great +routes of travel, the farmers are in the habit of giving lodgings for +payment, the amount of which generally depends on the traveller's +ability to pay. As our means, for purposes of at least this kind were +not stinted, we were sure of welcome a second time. But this fact had a +tendency to frustrate our aim in another point of view; for it always +excited <a name="Page_230" id="Page_230" />curiosity, so that it was doubtful whether we would not be +safer with persons who would provide for us at the cost of their last +morsel, by confiding to them who and what we were. But in this district +of Cork, the centre of which is the notorious town of Bandon, were +scattered several families of Orangemen, who were intensely inimical to +the cause and people of Ireland. In this very instance we lodged with +one of those families. A letter that I tore near the house was picked +up, put together, and read, so as to lead to suspicion, which was +immediately communicated to the magistrate. This caused the most +vigilant surveillance to be exercised over the homes and persons of our +friends. But before the discovery was made we were far beyond the reach +of our pursuers. We had learned that the efforts made for our escape +were unsuccessful, and that time would be required to effect anything, +so as not to arouse the suspicion of those who guarded the coast; and we +agreed to conceal ourselves as best we could in some distant part of the +country, for three weeks, and then return or communicate with our +friend, who promised, meantime, to leave no effort untried on our +behalf. A second time, we set out by the same route. When we found +ourselves on a hill-top, far from human haunts, we sat down as was our +wont, to consider our future course. We determined to visit some obscure +watering-place in the vicinity of Cape Clear. With that view we skirted +the picturesque mountains that surround Dunmanway. These mountains +present features to which the eye of one living in the inland country is +little accustomed. The mountains of the midland and eastern counties are +generally enormous clumps with <a name="Page_231" id="Page_231" />little inequality of surface, and +covered over with heath and weeds. Here, on the contrary, the mountains +seemed to be carved out into the most fantastic shapes, covered with +white granite stones, whose reflections in the watery surface gave the +scene an appearance of singular beauty. However strange it may appear, +we lingered over these picturesque scenes in intense delight; the more +so because there seemed no limit to our journey, and no definite aim to +which our efforts led. And a mountain-top has always an assurance of +safety stamped upon it. There we could indulge our admiration for the +beautiful; there we could snatch an hour of fearless and unbroken sleep.</p> + +<p>But elements of danger began to lower over our loved haunts. The grouse +season had just set in, and occasionally the report of a musket broke +our reverie, or startled our deepest sleep. Yet, even from this cup of +bitterness did we derive some sparkles of happiness. We could easily +avoid the sportsman's eye; and when we wanted anything from the lower +regions, the vicinity of the mountains, and the business of the fowler, +accounted for our presence and our wants, and readily gained us a +supply. But the potato crop had failed, and the disease had already +destroyed all the tubers which had approached maturity. This rendered it +necessary to look to other resources, and we contrived to procure bread +and sometimes meat, which we were able to get prepared easily under +pretence of being catering for shooting parties.</p> + +<p>On the first day we made this experiment, we found ourselves descending +into that dreary plain that stretches out to the doomed district of +Skibbereen. Under cover <a name="Page_232" id="Page_232" />of night we sought to penetrate this desolate +region in the remotest direction of the sea, where we hoped we might +remain unnoticed as country bathers. We obtained shelter at a small +farmers, and made a great many inquiries concerning the neighbouring +watering-places, whither we said we were going for the benefit of our +health. There were two young girls, the confidence of one of whom my +comrade contrived to win during the evening. She told him that her +sister had a courtship with the sergeant of police, who usually visited +there every day. This hastened our departure next morning. We set out in +the grey dawn, and once again reascended the mountain, to rest and take +thought. The communication of the young girl; the sister's long delay, +when she went to procure refreshments at the village, where the +police-sergeant was stationed; the father's pursuits, and other +circumstances, induced us to believe that to follow the plan which, to a +certain extent, we had unfolded, would be dangerous. We therefore +determined to change our course. We were then about fifteen miles +south-southwest of Dunmanway. Adhering to our resolution of settling for +a few weeks in some village on the seaside, we purposed to substitute +the Kerry side of Bantry Bay for the district we had at first fixed on. +The distance was about fifty miles, and we had to cross a plain several +miles wide. We swept over this plain with a rapidity that taxed severely +our exhausted energies, and lay down to sleep on the first patch of +heath we gained on the Bantry mountains.</p> + +<p>We bathed our feet in a mountain stream, and having partaken of a slight +meal, resumed our weary journey.<a name="Page_233" id="Page_233" /> Night fell on us in the midst of a +desolate bog on a mountain top. We travelled several miles in search of +shelter, first in cabins and next in haycocks. It was a dark, gloomy and +threatening night. After lying for some time on the roadside, where +alone a dry spot was to be found, I forced Stephens to consent to make a +trial of the town of Bantry, then a mile distant. The darkness and gloom +were favourable to the experiment. We entered the town, and traversed +one or two streets, we knew not in what direction. On inquiring for a +lodging-house, we were directed to the house of Mrs. Barry, who kept a +large grocery establishment. We found accommodation and comfort. Next +day, having made some small purchases through the agency of the servant, +and posted some letters, we deliberately walked out of Bantry, by the +road which seemed to lead the most directly to the country. The day was +miserable, and we found our journey through the mountains, which +overhang the beautiful bay, very unpleasant. We determined to reach a +place called the Priest's Leap, which is consecrated by a holy tradition +in the estimation of the people. They tell that in the times of +persecution a priest was set and sold in these fastnesses. Having +discovered that he was betrayed, he effected his escape through a circle +of enclosing pursuers, which it was deemed impossible to break through; +the country people believed that he floated invisibly through the air, +and alighted on the deck of a Spanish frigate then coasting these +shores.</p> + +<p>An impenetrable fog descended the mountain, and the rain deepened into a +torrent. Moored in the bay were two war-steamers, with screw propellers; +but <a name="Page_234" id="Page_234" />they had all their sails unfurled, and swung uneasily to and fro. +We, who were ignorant of their character, frequently paused to regard +them, utterly unable to account for their extraordinary movements. +Believing them American packets, which had put in through stress of +weather, we would have given worlds even for an opportunity of swimming +to them through the waters of the bay. But the coast was strictly +guarded by police and revenue officers. Notwithstanding this the vessels +had for us an irresistible attraction, and we entered a mountain cabin, +where we learned their real character. A second attempt to reach the +Priest's Leap, of whose exact bearing we were ignorant, involved us in +deeper mist and a heavier shower, from which we took shelter in a +wretched hut, directly over the bay, and within about one mile of an +hotel of great fame, frequented by travellers who are attracted to these +districts to view the magnificent bay and the singular beauty of +Glengarriff. Here we spent the remainder of the day. Eggs and potatoes +were provided for us; and when, as evening approached, we prepared to +depart to the hotel, the woman pressed us to remain, and produced clean +sheets, telling us they would give up their bed, and adding that she +would be satisfied with the fifth of what we should pay in the hotel, +where, she slyly hinted, our reception would be very doubtful in our +then trim. We readily consented to her arrangement; and it was further +agreed that her husband should go to the hotel and provide some bacon, +bread, tea, and whisky.</p> + +<p>We had not, during our wanderings, met two such characters as this man +and woman, nor had we taken <a name="Page_235" id="Page_235" />shelter in so extraordinary an abode. They +had a single child, a girl about four years of age, whose dark eyes and +compressed lip Akkad evidenced the presence of those terrible passions +which had burned deep channels along the brow and cheek of her mother. +The cabin was ten feet square, with no window and no chimney. The floor, +except where the bed was propped in a corner, was composed of a sloping +mountain rock, somewhat polished by human feet and the constant tread of +sheep, which were always shut up with the inmates at night. The fire, +which could be said to burn and smoke, but not to light, consisted of +heath sods, dug fresh from the mountain. A splinter of bog-wood, lurid +through the smoke, supplied us with light for our nightly meal. The tea +was drawn in a broken pot, and drunk from wooden vessels, while the +sheep chewed the cud in calm and happy indifference. They were about +twelve in number, and occupied the whole space of the cabin between the +bed and the fire-place.</p> + +<p>In that singular picture, the figure of the woman stood out bold, +prominent and alone, absorbing, in its originality, every character of +the entire. Neither she nor her husband could be said to wear any dress. +Neither wore shoes or stockings, or any covering whatever on the head; +shreds of flannel, which might once have borne the shape of drawers, a +tattered shirt of unbleached linen, with an old blanket drawn uncouthly +around his waist and shoulders, completed the costume of the man. His +wife's was equally scant and rude, but so arranged as to present the +idea that even in her breast the sense of fitness, the last feeling of +froward womanhood, was not quite extinguished. The squalid <a name="Page_236" id="Page_236" />rags and +matted hair, by a single touch of the hand, a gesture, or a shake of the +head, assumed such shape as she fancied would display to greatest +advantage what remained of a coarse and masculine beauty. The +consciousness that she once possessed such beauty fired at once her +heart and eye. Her foot and ankle, which had been rudely tested by +flinty rocks and many a winter's frost, were faultless; her step was +firm; her form erect and tall; her hair black as ebony; her features +coarse, but regular; her brow lofty, but furrowed and wrinkled; and her +terrible eyes dilated with pride, passion and disdain. Her lip's slight +curl, or a shade of crimson suddenly suffusing her dark complexion, +bespoke her feelings towards her husband. He was her drudge, her slave, +her horror and her convenience. Her ruling idea was a wish to have it +understood that the match was ill-assorted and compelled by necessity; +though the last idea bespoke a youth of shame. The child alone was +dressed, and with some care, as if she wished to assert its claim to a +superior paternity or better destiny. Among the predominant passions +which swayed her, avarice seemed uppermost; and she scowled ominously on +her stupid husband, whose rigid impassable stolidity seemed impervious +to all prospects and chances of pleasure and of gain.</p> + +<p>The rain continued to pour without abatement during the whole night and +until sunset the succeeding day. The next night passed nearly in the +same way as the first, save that I could not rest from a vague sense of +apprehension with which this woman inspired me. Both the people of the +house slept on the hearth-<a name="Page_237" id="Page_237" />stone, without any bed, or, as far as I know, +any covering, save their rags. I had an opportunity of overhearing their +connubial colloquy, which was in Irish, and had reference solely to +conjectures respecting us, our character, our object and our money. It +convinced me that our safety would be compromised by any longer delay. +During the pauses of their conversation, I endeavoured to string +together a rough draft of the stanzas that follow, or a considerable +part of them. I give them here, with the accompanying notes, as they +were published in the <i>People</i> newspaper. In the notes or in the text, +there is nothing I wish to alter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Air: "<i>Gradh mo Chroidhe</i>."</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>The long, long-wished for hour had come,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet came, mo stór, in vain,<br /></span> +<span>And left thee but the wailing hum<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of sorrow and of pain.<br /></span> +<span>My light of life, my lonely love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy portion sure must be,<br /></span> +<span>Man's scorn below, God's wrath above<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>'Twas told of thee, the world around,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Twas hoped from thee by all,<br /></span> +<span>That, with one gallant sunward bound,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou'dst burst long ages thrall.<br /></span> +<span>Thy faith was tried, alas! and those<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who perilled all for thee,<br /></span> +<span>Were cursed, and branded as thy foes;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238" /> +<span>What fate is thine, unhappy isle,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That even the trusted few<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13" /><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a><br /></span> +<span>Should pay thee back with hate and guile,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When most they should be true?<br /></span> +<span>'Twas not <i>thy</i> strength or spirit failed;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And those that bleed for thee,<br /></span> +<span>And love thee truly, have not quailed;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>I've given thee manhood's early prime,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And manhood's waning years;<br /></span> +<span>I've blest thee in thy sunniest time,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And shed with thee my tears;<br /></span> +<span>And mother, though thou'st cast away<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The child who'd die for thee,<br /></span> +<span>My latest accents still shall pray<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>I've tracked for thee the mountain sides,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And slept within the brake,<br /></span> +<span>More lonely than the swan that glides<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O'er Lua's fairy lake.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14" /><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a><br /></span> +<span>The rich have spurned me from their door,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Because I'd set thee free;<br /></span> +<span>Yet do I love thee more and more,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239" /> +<span>I've run the outlaw's brief career,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And borne his load of ill,<br /></span> +<span>His troubled rest, his ceaseless fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With fixed sustaining will;<br /></span> +<span>And should his last dark chance befall,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">E'en that shall welcome be,<br /></span> +<span>In death, I'll love thee, most of all,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I was awakened next morning by a strange voice, with an accent, as I +thought, different from that which we had been accustomed to. Our +immediate conclusion was that we were betrayed. But a short time +convinced us that our visitor had come to warn us that if we remained +many hours where we were, our fate would be sealed. He represented +"Finey" (as our hostess was familiarly called, in derision of her +affected pride) in colours not very flattering to her virtue. He said he +could positively furnish us with the means of escape; described his +resources as unlimited, and his interest in us as paramount to every +consideration he had on earth. He was an ecclesiastical student, and had +left college to take part in the struggle of his country. He <a name="Page_240" id="Page_240" />bitterly +lamented that Dillon and O'Gorman were not in the way, that he might +have the happiness of assisting in saving them also. Agreeably to his +advice, we left our den and proceeded up the mountain. It was Sunday +morning, and there was not a cloud darkening the azure sky. Below us +slept the waters of the bay, reflecting, in their crystal depths, the +superincumbent mountains and overarching sky. The sun rose majestically, +broad, unclouded, full of effulgence, and shed his yellow beams, on a +scene as lovely as ever met his burning eye. The mountains around the +bay form very nearly a complete circle; the numerous peaks, from south +to north, range at an average height of about 500 feet above the water's +level, while a few ascend as high as 1,000. We stood on the loftiest of +all. Immediately below us, a little to the right, embosomed in the +mountains, lay the unmatched beauties of Glengarriff. There are few +spots on earth of wilder attractions. The hills around form a complete +amphitheatre. On an island in the centre of the valley is the cottage of +the noble proprietor, accessible only by one narrow pathway which winds +through hillocks and passes various rivulets on rustic bridges. The +grounds about the cottages are tastefully laid out in shrubberies, +flower-knots, green pastures, and artificial lakes. That which +constitutes the chief feature of beauty in other landscapes, namely, an +extensive prospect, is wanting here. From the cottage, or any part of +the grounds, you can only command a view of the limited demesne, and the +craggy and bleak mountain rising almost perpendicularly from its +outskirts. But the view is unique, and the <a name="Page_241" id="Page_241" />contrast exquisite between +the rich green of the arbutus, amidst clumps of which sparkle the +impeded mountain waters, and the barren hill-sides whose blue summits +seem blended with the skies giving to the scene such an air of calm +serenity and soft repose as to leave the beholder almost without a wish +to look beyond.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-20" /><a id="image20" href="images/image20-big.jpg"><img src="images/image20.jpg" width="690" height="400" alt="Market Day in Thurles, August, 1848" title="Market Day in Thurles, August, 1848" /></a> +<p class="caption">Market Day in Thurles, August, 1848</p> +</div> + +<p>By this time we had learned to lose all consciousness of our own fate in +contemplating lines of beauty such as then marked the outline and +radiated through every minor detail of mountain, ocean, and cosy lawn. +We dwelt on the scene with enraptured eye and heart, and scarcely felt +the time glide by, which was to bring us our promised deliverer. He was +with us at the appointed moment, and only preceded his sisters by about +half an hour. They came, three in number, and toiled up to the summit +under a hot sun, bringing each a basket with abundant and delicate +provisions for a picnic. They were joined soon after by two other +brothers, who kept watch while we enjoyed the delicacies of our meal, +which we finished with some bottles of excellent claret. While we were +thus engaged, Lord Bantry was at the cabin we had left, gnashing his +teeth at the misfortune of missing such a prey. My comrade sang the +newly-composed verses and others of more exquisite melody and far higher +sentiment, within less than half a mile of the frowning and fuming lord. +At four o'clock we took leave of our kind entertainers, the student +promising to use the coming night in efforts to secure our flight, and a +younger brother undertaking to act as our guide across the mountain and +round the base of the Glengarriff ridge of hills to a dark gorge, at the +County Kerry side. This was a most trying <a name="Page_242" id="Page_242" />journey, at least twenty +miles long, over precipitous mountains, and performed, for the most +part, during night. It was necessary that we should not rest until we +travelled far out of range of the locality where our persons had been +known and our retreat discovered. Our young guide left us with friends +or dependents of his family, and returned to be in readiness to +communicate any tidings from his brother. Those tidings came fast on our +footsteps; but the message was to warn us that we were not even there +safe; for that Lord Bantry had all his tenantry engaged in searching for +us. The despatch added that, if able, we were to be at the "Priest's +Leap" at a certain hour in the evening, where we would hear the result +of the efforts made for us. The tone of the letter left us nothing to +hope; still we determined to test the doubtful promise to the last. +Accordingly we set out for the new rendezvous. The distance was very +long unless we crossed through Glengarriff. This we determined to do, +feeling satisfied that the last place we would be looked for would be +his lordship's pleasure-grounds. We paused to examine more minutely the +exquisite serenity of that scene, and learned from a game-keeper several +matters illustrative of our pursuer's character, while his adherents +were tracking our supposed footsteps, over moor and mountain, far away. +Arrived at our destination, we had to wait several hours, during which +we were amused by our guide claiming fraternity with us, on the ground +of being banned by the law, in consequence of a suspicion (a false one, +he averred) of having mistaken another man's sheep for his own. He had +an idea that we, too, must have infringed the law, but in what +<a name="Page_243" id="Page_243" />particular he did not concern himself to inquire. The fact sufficed for +the establishment of a good understanding between us.</p> + +<p>We at last saw our female friends approach. They brought us another +excellent dinner, for which we had a still more excellent appetite. +During the time we dined, they informed us that everything was +proceeding as favourably as we could expect, and that they had no doubt +of success. When taking leave of us, however, one of them pressed a +little note into my hand, and they disappeared in the darkness. I burned +to learn what the note contained. With the assistance of our new friend +we found lodgings in the neighbourhood, where I read that the student +failing in his enterprise, and being afraid to compromise himself +further, left that very night for college. He had to consult a +clergyman, a very near friend of his, and we made no doubt the present +step resulted from his considerate advice.</p> + +<p>This is written here, not for the purpose of disparaging the clergyman's +counsel or the student's resolution. On the contrary, no doubt was then +entertained of the sincerity of either, nor has there ever since been. +There could be no one more disposed to make allowance for the difficult +position in which both were placed, as well as all others who ventured +to serve us: nor could we blame men for shrinking from peril, which at +the best, presented no rational chance for us, while the effort involved +those who made it in almost certain ruin. I had other opportunities of +satisfying myself afterward that this clergyman, who visited us in the +mountains, never relaxed in his exertions to save us.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244" />We found ourselves next morning in an exceedingly romantic valley to +the north of the "Priest's Leap," the property of Lord Lansdowne, where +there are many comfortable farmers' houses, and many others, whose showy +exterior is sadly belied by the filth and discomfort of the inside. We +spent the day with the man of the sheep, who promised to obtain lodgings +for us at a publichouse, where he was refused. But during our stay there +we met a farmer's son, who took us home and travelled with us the whole +of the next day. We proposed to him and his sister to accompany us to +the United States, having for some time entertained seriously a project +of trying our chances to escape as emigrants. He consented to be of the +party, although we fully explained to him the risk of being taken in our +company. He guessed from this that we were engaged in the attempted +outbreak, and being sent in to the town of Kenmare to make some +purchases, he could not conceal so important a secret, but sought out a +friend, a true man, to whom he unburdened himself. We had appointed to +meet him at a place called Cross, about two miles from Kenmare. We were +repairing thither at the appointed hour, and were met, not by our trusty +messenger, but the friend to whom he had revealed his important secret. +This friend, alarmed at our temerity in approaching so near the town, +had come to forewarn us. His advances were met by distrust and menace, +which pained him deeply. He remonstrated and referred to the fact of +coming to meet us alone, when if he meant us injury he could easily +secure us. Satisfied, at length, that his friendship was sincere, we +consented to accompany him to meet <a name="Page_245" id="Page_245" />another friend who had taken a +different road in the direction of the mountain. He was known to us by +character, but that knowledge, with me at least, tended to increase +rather than to allay distrust. I had formed an idea of the man from +reading speeches of his which appeared of an unscrupulously partisan +character. I was very soon disabused, but not however until I +communicated to him my feelings in his regard. The best proof of my +mistake is furnished by the fact that my unnecessary frankness did not +in the least check the enthusiasm with which he was prepared to risk +fortune, liberty and life in our service. Our interview was short. We +dismissed the ambassador who had acquired for us these new allies. They, +or rather he, of whom I have last spoken offered us money which we +declined. In opposition to his remonstrance, we insisted on remaining +for the night at a publichouse in the village of Cross. He, to whom +peril was new, could not understand our "audacity." But we who had +experienced the disadvantages of asking for entertainment in quarters +where such things were unusual, preferred the chance of escaping +unobserved among crowds of persons similar in appearance and, applying +only for ordinary accommodation. In this and many such instances we +determined aright. We obtained a comfortable bed and passed unnoticed. +Next morning we set out for the southern slope of the Killarney +mountains. As soon as we attained a safe elevation, we took a western +direction, skirting those mountains and crossing the road which leads +from Killarney to Kenmare, about five miles from the latter town. We +then kept a westerly direction, and turned round the <a name="Page_246" id="Page_246" />vast bog situated +at the western side of the road. This bog contains several thousand +acres, and seems quite susceptible of reclamation and improvement. We +ascended the steep hill at the north-western boundary where we slept for +an hour or so, and then resumed our journey in the direction of the +Reeks. We purposed ascending the loftiest of these mountains, and not +wishing to take the route by the Gap of Dunloe, we crossed the +intermediate valley and began to ascend the mountain to the north, +believing it to be that which we had determined to climb. After having +toiled to the summit, we discovered in the distance the peak we were in +search of, its wonderful elevation leaving no manner of doubt as to its +identity. Between us and its base lay another broad valley. Before +attempting the ascent, we secured a lodging at the foot, and leaving our +coats behind, we began our task about four o'clock in the evening, +having then travelled upwards of twenty miles and crossed two large +mountains. The southern acclivity is more steep than the northern, and +we lost much by our ignorance of the best routes; but we reached +Carn-Tuathail, far the highest spot in Ireland, about sunset. The view +that presents itself from that peak is of the most extraordinary +character. Stretching out into the sea a distance of thirty miles, is a +jumble of mountains tossed together in the wildest confusion, and +exhibiting no definite outline. At the east, far inland, lay the long +ridge of which Mangerton is the loftiest point. At the north alone could +we discern an extensive view, where a rich and well cultivated valley +extended along Dingle Bay as far as Ballyheige. But the grandeur of the +scene Jay at <a name="Page_247" id="Page_247" />our feet. Beneath us yawned at every side chasms of +seemingly unfathomable depth, whose darkness it was impossible to +penetrate, as the sun was sinking in the Atlantic. It was really a +spectacle full of grandeur and of awe, and we remained enjoying it till +the last ray of the sun ceased to glimmer on the distant waters.</p> + +<p>At that hour, we were well assured, many a brain was busy, and many an +eye set to discover our retreat. By the side of the public +thoroughfares, on great bridges, and frequented cross-roads, detective +vigilance kept sleepless watch, and fancied in every approaching form, +the doomed victims, who were at once to satisfy the angry gallows and +its own excited avarice. Equally well assured were we that the most +inventive and hazardous scrutiny would never track our footsteps to the +dizzy height of Carn-Tuathail. One motive with us was to baffle all +calculation on the part of our pursuers. When we found we were tracked +and discovered, our first care was to consider how our enemies would be +likely to judge respecting our future movements. If we had reason to +suspect that we were recognised on a mountain, we sought shelter in or +near a town, and after we appeared in public places for a day or an +hour, we kept the mountain-side for a week following.</p> + +<p>We had, too, another, and it must needs be confessed, a more powerful +motive. In either alternative which our fate presented, there was no +hope of ever beholding these scenes again, and we could not omit this +last opportunity of minutely examining and enjoying what was grandest +and loveliest in our native land. We resolved, therefore, to leave no +glorious <a name="Page_248" id="Page_248" />spot unvisited, whatever toil it cost, or risk it exposed us +to. Mountains, indeed, never did involve a risk, but the Lakes of +Killarney, which were much frequented at the time, could not be seen +without imminent danger, unless by overcoming great physical +difficulties. After we descended from Carn-Tuathail, we were so utterly +exhausted as to be obliged to lie down in hay, within one field of the +cabin where we were to sleep, from which nothing could tempt us to stir +for the night; but we were assailed by swarms of small flies of the +mosquito species, that stung us to further exertion. Although the owners +of the cabin gave us their only bed, and provided the best supper for +us, we were so persecuted by these flies, that we were forced to quit +our bed before day dawned, and endeavour to shake off our tormentors by +rolling in the dew and shaking our shirts in the wind. We set out early, +finding the place utterly intolerable, owing to these terrible +tormentors, although we had resolved the evening before, to remain a few +days fishing in the lovely lakes collected in the gorges of the reeks. +The day was misty and wet. This, we hoped, would afford us a good +opportunity of seeing the lakes unobserved; for such weather would +necessarily confine the tourists to their hotels. We accordingly +directed our way to the Upper Lake, along ledges of rocks covered with +tall wet grass, wading or swimming through outlets of the lake. We +obtained a tolerable view of the Upper Lake, and minutely examined the +several accesses to it through the wood on the southern side. After +spending most of the fore-noon in this wood, we attempted to cross the +upper neck of the lake for the purpose of skirting the base of<a name="Page_249" id="Page_249" /> +Mangerton and gaining the summit of Turc Mountain, from which are to be +seen the Middle and Lower Lake in their most varied and seductive +loveliness. Few travellers ever see the lakes from this point, because +it is difficult to attain; but I had been there, and knowing its +superiority over every other, I wished to give my comrade a taste of the +exquisite pleasure derivable from a scene of beauty unsurpassed in the +world. There is no spot, in or near Killarney, from which its wonderful +scenery can be seen to such advantage. On the water, at Ross Island, at +Mucross or Glena, the view is confined to the scenery immediately +around, with an occasional glimpse of the nearer mountains, which indeed +may well satisfy the most exacting curiosity and fastidious taste, while +from the summit of Mangerton (the great mountain attraction of +travellers) but miniature forms of beauty present themselves, the great +distance and height contracting the circle of beauty, and depriving +every object of its fulness and natural proportions. From Turc mountain, +on the other hand, you see the lake at your feet—all its islets, curls, +cascades are within ken, entrancing your senses. Standing on that green +hill, it is impossible to divest the mind of the idea, that the scene is +one of pure enchantment.</p> + +<p>But we were destined not to realise it. There was a police-station +immediately on our way. In our first effort to avoid it, we found +ourselves, after much trouble, within one field of the door. We then +made a still wider circuit, keeping, as we thought, far clear of it; but +following a valley which led round a clump of hill, we once more very +nearly stepped into its back <a name="Page_250" id="Page_250" />yard. To avoid similar mistakes we +ventured along the public road direct towards Kenmare; but when we were +clear of the police-barrack, we had to travel several miles of mountain +to gain the intended spot. Our feet were all cut and bleeding, and we +lay down on a rock in our wet clothes, where we slept soundly, and I +suppose sweetly, until near sunset. When we awoke we were obliged, from +the lateness of the hour, to abandon our project.</p> + +<p>During our stay near Killarney, we fondly indulged the last dream for +our country. In the remote regions of the counties of Cork and Kerry, +the people seemed possessed of no political information. They had a +vague notion that an effort was made to free the country from foreign +thrall, and that the patriots and their cause were lost through the +Catholic priests. It was easy to perceive, by the bitterness with which +they cursed, that they—although never reached by a speech of Mr. +O'Connell's, or an article or song of the <i>Nation's</i>—had cherished in +their hearts the same imperishable purpose and hope of overturning the +dominion of the stranger. We calculated on collecting between fifty and +one hundred of the hardiest and most desperate mountaineers, whom we +could easily place in ambush near the lakes, to seize on Lord John +Russell, who was at the time announced as a visitor to Killarney. Once +in our possession, we could have him conveyed to some inaccessible +fastness where we could dictate terms to him concerning our imprisoned +comrades. We had scarcely a doubt of putting our plan into execution, +and our sojourn near Killarney was prolonged for the purpose of becoming +more familiar with the pathways <a name="Page_251" id="Page_251" />whereby to escape to the mountains with +our prisoner. How success in that enterprise might have suggested or +shaped a further course of aggression, it is now bootless to conjecture. +The project was marred by the Premier's abandonment of his intention.</p> + +<p>Having appointed to meet a person this evening, near Kenmare, who was to +bring us the latest papers and otherwise inform us of his lordship's +movements, we proceeded in that direction, determined to return to +Killarney next day to prosecute our examination of the locality. But the +current news informed us that Lord John Russell had left for Scotland.</p> + +<p>We remained several days in the neighbourhood of Kenmare, where we had +daily interviews with the friend to whom I have already alluded. He +spent all his time in endeavouring to devise some means of escape, and +intermediately provided resting-places for us at various distances. We +had the guidance of a young country lad of fine intelligence and true +fidelity, who was acquainted with every foot of bog and mountain for +miles around. We spent several days rather agreeably, perambulating the +ranges of hills between Kilfademore and Templenoe, embracing a district +about fifteen miles square. One night we slept in an empty cabin within +a field of Kilfademore House, a fine old mansion, belonging to the +father of Christabel,<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15" /><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> the mountain poetess, which is now only +inhabited by the tenant of the farm, while the whole available military +and police force of the district were drawing their lines <a name="Page_252" id="Page_252" />of +circumvallation around this old house, which, as soon as they made the +proper dispositions to prevent our escape, they burst into with the +stealth and precipitancy of a robber band.</p> + +<p>We were most kindly received and cared for wherever our friend or his +guide bespoke a night's hospitality. But although we unquestioningly +reposed on the truth of all to whom our safety was committed, we felt +the circle of our armed foes was closing and contracting around us, and +it became indispensable to break through it. It was clear that our steps +were tracked, for every night a search was made for us in one or other +of the houses over which the influence of our friend extended. But our +information respecting their arrangements was always earlier and surer +than theirs concerning our movements. During this interval when, +although we travelled an average of fifteen miles a day, we considered +ourselves resting, we received the kindest attentions everywhere; +frequently finding a rude mountain cabin furnished with excellent beds +and every delicacy. But we pined to be more at large. We had interviews +with clergymen and others, who discussed various projects of escape. +Among the rest, it was proposed to my comrade to accompany a lady—who +was about leaving for London—in the dress and character of a +servant-maid. He was well fitted for such disguise, being extremely +young and having very delicate features. Besides this, he was supposed +to be dead, having received a slight wound in the skirmish at +Ballingarry. He obstinately refused to adopt the disguise, but consented +to that of a servant boy. When the matter was finally arranged, it was +proposed to us <a name="Page_253" id="Page_253" />to sleep at Templenoe, on the north side of Kenmare Bay, +where he was to be furnished with suitable clothes. Since the +commencement, I did not feel the same sense of desolation as when these +arrangements were completed, and an hour was appointed for his departure +next morning. It was on the evening of the 23rd of September. We spent +the day with one of the noblest of fellows. He had beds brought far into +the neighbouring mountains, where he remained with us for the night. A +cloud of sadness, and I believe chagrin, enveloped all my senses. I +could not help feeling myself utterly abandoned. It seemed fated that +even from the most kindly efforts my unfortunate position utterly +excluded me. Stephens sang as usual, and endeavoured to rally me; but my +mind had set in impenetrable gloom. One idea was uppermost with me, +namely, that within the circle that was then drawn around me, there was +no further possible safety. We parted before daylight, and I immediately +determined on my own course. It was this: to assume the disguise of a +clergyman and attempt to cross to France. The trials at Clonmel were +approaching, and I concluded that they would engross the entire +attention of Government, and would even require the presence of the +whole corps of detectives who were acquainted with my person and were +then on my track. I communicated my intention to the friend to whose +hospitality I was then indebted. He combatted it with great earnestness, +and could not be persuaded of its practicability. I, however, +persevered, and he offered to place a horse, upon which he set great +value, at my disposal. Just as we made our final arrangements and had +despatched a <a name="Page_254" id="Page_254" />messenger to Kenmare to provide the disguise, Stephens +returned, wet, weary and hungry. He was in the worst spirits: but the +case admitted of no delay. The lady with whom he was to travel had to +stay one day in Cork, and to overtake her there was the only chance +left. There was only one possible way to effect this—to give him the +horse and let him ride on to Cork. I at once agreed, and he immediately +set off. The loss of the horse imposed on me the difficulty of a journey +on foot to Cork, and this rendered the assistance of a man to carry my +disguise—who would take a different route from myself—indispensable. +Our friend who, in giving his favourite horse to Stephens, told him to +try and sell him in Cork and put the money in his pocket, provided me +with another horse and car, by which my baggage was to be brought about +forty miles. Having settled all preliminaries, he conveyed me to a cabin +on the hills, where he provided an excellent dinner, and left me to my +musings.</p> + +<p>They were, it may be well conceived, not of the gayest character. The +responsibility and hazards of the attempt before me, narrowed the +chances of my destiny to the one alternative, and I could not shake off +gloomy phantoms which represented every phase of the last bloody drama +which was to close the career of those who loved, too dearly, our +ill-fated land. But, come what might, my purpose was definitely fixed. I +spent the evening in the deepest gloom, which I endeavoured to dissipate +by composing the following stanzas, suggested at the time by involuntary +visions of my wife and children at the foot of the gallows:—</p> + +<p><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255" />THE OUTLAW'S WIFE</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>Sadly silent she sits, with her head on her hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">While she prays, in her heart, to the Ruler above,<br /></span> +<span>To protect, and to guide to some happier land,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The joy of her soul and the spouse of her love:<br /></span> +<span>And she marks by her pulses, so wild in their play,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The slow progress of time, as it straggles along;<br /></span> +<span>And she lists to the wind, as 'tis moaning away,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And she deems it the chaunt of some funeral song.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Then anon does she start in her struggles with fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And she strains at the whispers of every one round,<br /></span> +<span>While she brushes away, half indignant, the tear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That will gush, tho' unbidden, at every fresh sound;<br /></span> +<span>And she strives to conceal—oh! how idle the task—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The deep lines in her cheek, and the rent in her heart;<br /></span> +<span>But her neighbours grow pale as they gaze on the mask,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And more lowly and slowly they talk, as they part.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>When her babes are at rest will she breathe to their breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And keep vigil, how wistfully, over their sleep,<br /></span> +<span>As it mirrors, poor mourner, the stillness of death,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And she stirs them, and calls, for she deems it too deep;<br /></span> +<span>But again does she hush them, first telling them pray,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Till at length overcharged by the tears yet unshed,<br /></span> +<span>Will she sink, and as consciousness passes away,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O'er her pale furrowed cheek, see the hectic o'erspread.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Slowly thus, day by day, does the fever-fire trace<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Its incessant course down her fast-withering cheek,<br /></span> +<span>Till the smile that made light in the glow of her face,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But the faint, fading glimpses of vigour bespeak,<br /></span> +<span>And her reason will fitfully pass into night—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Into night even deeper than that of the blind,<br /></span> +<span>As the shade of the gibbet-tree looms in her sight.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And she fancies a death-scream in th' echoing wind.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256" />In the house where I slept—as indeed in every house of the same +character in the county—the whole stock of the family, consisting +chiefly of cows and sheep, were locked in at night. Such was the extreme +poverty of the people that they would not be otherwise safe. The weather +was excessively wet, and, for the season, cold. There was a slight +partition between the room where my bed was and the kitchen, where there +were three cows, a man, his wife and four children. It is impossible to +convey any idea of the sensations which crowd upon one in such a scene. +I fell asleep at last, lulled by the heavy breathing and monotonous +ruminating of the cows. Never was deeper sleep. On being awakened next +morning by my watchful friend, it required some time before I could +satisfy myself of my position. An excellent breakfast was provided for +me, and I parted from my stout-hearted and magnanimous ally. He had sent +my baggage, and also provided me with a guide who would lead me across +the mountains. He taught me the password of his clan, which I was to use +on certain contingencies. The morning was fearfully wet, and we did not +travel many miles before we were wet to the skin. The circumstance was +the most auspicious that could occur, as it enabled us to pass +unobserved.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-21" /><a id="image21" href="images/image21-big.jpg"><img src="images/image21.jpg" width="236" height="400" alt="James Stephens (Circa 1867)" title="James Stephens (Circa 1867)" /></a> +<p class="caption">James Stephens (Circa 1867)</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-22" /><a id="image22" href="images/image22-big.jpg"><img src="images/image22.jpg" width="233" height="400" alt="John O'Mahony (Circa 1868)" title="John O'Mahony (Circa 1868)" /></a> +<p class="caption">John O'Mahony (Circa 1868)</p> +</div> + +<p>Besides this, it facilitated the task of crossing streams, which we +always did precisely as if they were dry land. One river only opposed a +serious barrier to us—that, which enters Kenmare Bay. It was greatly +swollen, and rushed fiercely over precipitous rocks. At the same time, +even in the rain and tempest, to cross the bridge was not to be thought +of. The guide pointed <a name="Page_257" id="Page_257" />out a house belonging to one of our friend's +clan who immediately provided a horse and accompanied us to a ford. When +we reached the ford he hesitated to cross, so deep and rapid was the +flood. No persuasion could induce him to make the experiment. I had no +choice left but to trust myself to chance. I faced the animal against +the current, and forcing him to make his best efforts to mount the +stream, we were carried directly across. The owner of the horse said he +would come back of his own accord. I turned him into the stream, and +when half way across, he was borne headlong over a precipice, where I +concluded he was dashed to pieces. Another horse was immediately +procured, by a man who had no fears, to bring the guide across; but the +latter was so terrified that he made himself drunk ere he attempted the +dangerous passage. As he was essential to me in consequence of the +arrangements made about my luggage, I endeavoured to rouse him. He +staggered on for several miles, but seemed utterly unconscious where he +was going. When I found him incapable of directing me, I endeavoured to +procure some food for him, and with that view proceeded to a mountain +hut, but before I reached it, he sank down utterly exhausted and +powerless. He was unable even to articulate the name of the man to whose +house he was directed to take me, or the locality where he lived. It was +only from circumstances and a dim recollection of the name that I was +able to apprise the owner of the cabin whither I was bound; and after +all, much remained for the exercise of his sagacity, which was not long +at fault. We brought my old guide to the cabin, thrown across a pony, +and I set out anew, guided by <a name="Page_258" id="Page_258" />the dweller on the hills. He forced me to +mount the pony, and led the way over the crags. He bounded from rock to +rock with the agility of a deer, though the stones were sharp as flint, +and he barefooted. He was a man of powerful proportions and extreme +activity. My pony, on the other hand, crept his way through narrow +pathways, worn by the rain. In this way we crossed two considerable +mountains, and, leaving the pony at the summit of the last, I pursued my +companion's flight down the slope with the best speed my stiffened limbs +could be forced to. Arriving over a valley which is called, I think, +Branlieu, situated in a western direction from Gougane Barra, he pointed +to a lone house at the extremity of the valley, as my destination. It +was about four o'clock, but the rays of the sun had ceased to irradiate +this gloomy valley, over which hung the shades of night. At the western +side the mountain was steep as a wall, and down from the summit dashed +headlong torrents, swelled by the morning's rain. The waters gleamed +like sheeted ice through the haze, and their roar fell upon the ear with +a dull sense of loneliness and pain. On the eastern slope wound a new +road, one of those heartless experiments which the inventive genius of +the Board of Works in Ireland substituted for the exploded trial of +prolonging beggars' lives by Soyer soup and chained spoons. On these +roads the people were to perform the greatest possible amount of work, +and live on the least possible quantity of food. But, although these +operations cost much waste of blood, the roads opened no new and +fruitful sources of industry in these mountain valleys, only frequented +by the footsteps of the <a name="Page_259" id="Page_259" />sportsman, or scanned by the eye of the +votaries of pleasure. The house where I called was intended for my +guide. However, I found my claim for hospitality at once recognised on +pronouncing the password of my host by the sea. The cabin—it was +literally such—was in the most filthy state. The dung of the cattle had +not been removed for days, and half-naked children squatted in it as +joyously as if they rolled on richest carpets. The housewife merely +replied to my question in the affirmative. But she immediately +proceeded, with the help of two little girls, to remove the filth. I was +so fatigued and hungry that I could willingly postpone the process of +cleaning for the sake of providing any sort of food. I was doomed to +disappointment. No appearance of supper interrupted the busy operation, +until the dung was removed, and the floor drained. I retired, and +endeavoured to ascend the eastern hill, to a point where I could catch a +glimpse of the setting sun.</p> + +<p>On my return I found the owner of the house, a man of giant frame and +noble features. His dress bespoke a taste or pursuit incompatible with +the wild mountain destiny stamped upon the external aspect of his home +and family. His wife spoke a few words in Irish, explaining my presence, +to which he answered that I was welcome. Supper was at length prepared, +when he drew from a basket a few of the finest trout I ever saw. He +cleaned and fried them with his own hands, as if the operation were +above the capacity of his wife, who performed the other culinary duties +with silent assiduity. It might be owing to hunger, it might be owing to +the actual superiority of the fish, or it might <a name="Page_260" id="Page_260" />be owing to the mode of +cooking, but it seemed to me as if I never tasted anything of equal +flavour to those trout. The entertainment was ended with some boiled new +milk, slightly curdled, a delicacy little known in the circle of +fashion, but never surpassed either in that or any other. Some fresh hay +was procured and strewn on an article of furniture common in the houses +of the Kerry peasantry, called a "settle." It is a sort of a rude sofa, +made of common deal timber. On this "settle" my host prepared my bed of +new-mown hay, barricaded with old chairs and a table against the +assaults of the hungry animals. I had not long lain down when a man +entered (the door consisted of a pair of tongs, so placed as to prevent +the egress of the cattle), lay at full length on the table, and fell +fast asleep. In an hour or so afterwards, there came another, who groped +his way over the cattle, and, sweeping the fire from the hearth, lay +down to sleep in peace. This man slept uneasily, and groaned heavily, as +if some terrible sense of guilt or fear pressed against his heart.</p> + +<p>I had a vague feeling of uneasiness, not free from alarm, but the hearty +snoring of the one, and the fitful complaints of the other of my +bedfellows died away on my ear, and I, too, shared their unconsciousness +in deep sleep. The man who brought my baggage arrived early next +morning. My host soon provided a good substantial breakfast—excellent +new potatoes, which had escaped the blight, butter, new milk, and a +slice of the flesh of fried badger. He then proposed to accompany us +with his son, aged about thirteen, who by some <a name="Page_261" id="Page_261" />inexplicable privilege +seemed exempt from any portion of the drudgery which was the lot of the +family. The other man who brought the baggage was persuaded to leave his +horse and car, and accompany us with my bundle, as far as the summit of +the hill. To climb the steepest mountain side had become an amusement to +me, and we ascended the one then before us, merrily, our host relating +many anecdotes of sportsmanship, and detailing the startling incidents +and wild rapture of badger-hunting. From the summit we commanded a view +of the country for miles around. "Here we are," said our host, "higher +than the proudest of your enemies." He then traced the route of the man +with the bundle, through the open plain, and by the nearest way; and +turning to me, he said: "You must not go in the same direction, for +every yard of it is set. Follow my son," he said, and turning to the +boy, he named several points in the path whereby he should conduct me. +"Lead Mr. Doheny safely," he concluded, "and remember you are the son of +----." In utter astonishment I inquired how he knew me, and he answered +by waving his hand in the direction of the boy, who had bounded off and +was scarcely perceptible above the tall heath. I soon overtook him, and +as we went along, I learned that my two companions during the night were +also evading the law's pursuit. One of them he described as having +killed a man by accident, and ever after leading, the life of a "poor +wild goose." I made no doubt but this was he whose spirit seemed so +heavily laden. We had a couple of terriers of the truest breed, whose +sudden discovery of a badger interrupted our conversation and impeded +our journey.<a name="Page_262" id="Page_262" /> The young hunter became delirious with joy. His +encouraging cries to the dogs were broken outbursts of wildest rapture; +and when the game took shelter in his inaccessible den, he would dash +himself against the rocks with the same reckless vehemence as his dogs, +who, in their rage, attempted to bite away the hard mountain stones.</p> + +<p>He left the spot with the utmost reluctance, after venting an oath of +vengeance against the head of the poor badger, to which he promised sure +destruction on the occasion of their next meeting. We quickly descended +in the direction of Gougane Barra, where he parted from me, indignantly +refusing a half-crown which I offered him.</p> + +<p>Once more I found myself on the slopes of Shehigh, in sight of Lough +Lua. My immediate object was to place myself in communication with my +lady friend at Dunmanway. I was extremely anxious to see her. I wanted +to procure through her some things to complete my costume as a disguised +priest, and finally I expected to learn through her some news of my +family. With the view of seeing her in the safest retreat, I determined +to conceal myself in a wood belonging to a Mr. O'Leary, at a place +called Coolmountain. I endeavoured to gain the friendship of a man in +the neighbourhood, of whom I had learned the highest character for +probity. It was necessary to confide in him fully; for his fidelity to +his employer might induce him to betray me, if he suspected that my +flight was occasioned by moral guilt. He did not disappoint me. At once +he entered into all my plans, and immediately sent his wife with a +message to Dunmanway. The distance was about <a name="Page_263" id="Page_263" />six miles; and the utmost +caution was necessary, for the police authorities, baffled in all their +calculations, concerning my retreat, and deceived in every word of the +information they were able to purchase, had determined on making +simultaneous searches in all quarters of the country, so that scarcely a +house remained in this vicinity that had not the honour of a domicilary +visit. My friend, too, who during the past three weeks had made various +attempts to see me, and had gone on to Kenmare for that purpose, was +continually dogged, and arrested three or four times. On one occasion +they stripped her nearly naked, searching for papers. She at once saw +that to see me would be attended with danger; but she wrote a hurried +note, and despatched it by another messenger, as well as a large packet +of letters from home. In these letters I was adjured to continue the +disguise of a peasant in whatever attempts I made. She, too, strongly +objected to my proposed plan, and communicated to me a project of +escaping which was suggested by a friend of hers at Cork, whither she +had gone in her anxiety. His plan was that I should proceed to Cork, +that very night, and take up my residence at some obscure lodging-house, +until he could find means of stowing me in a coal vessel, which would +take me as far as Wales. If I agreed to this proposal, I was to be at +Crookstown (already mentioned in this narrative) at six o'clock that +evening, where I would meet three men who were to conduct me by a safe +route to Cork.</p> + +<p>When I received this information, it was four o'clock, and the distance +to Crookstown was at least seventeen miles. The plan was one of which I +could not approve; <a name="Page_264" id="Page_264" />but it would be invaluable to me to have a safe +asylum in Cork, for any project I might finally decide on. I accordingly +communicated to my man of confidence the difficulty I found myself in, +and requested he would procure a horse and car which I could drive along +the high road, hoping to reach Crookstown before the promised guide +would have left. He suggested the man at whose house I stopped on a +former evening. Thither both of us repaired, after having completed my +costume, such as is generally worn by the lowest Cork +peasants—literally rags. We got the horse and car, but before the +arrangements for our departure were made it was past the hour when I +should be at Crookstown. A servant boy who led the horse was my +companion. When we arrived at Crookstown it was eleven o'clock, and we +found no trace of the messengers. Nothing remained but to try and get on +to Cork. I proposed the journey to the boy; but he resolutely refused. I +affected to acquiesce, and asked him to drink something in a +publichouse, which was kept open for the accommodation of carriers, of +whom there are large numbers at that season of the year. He soon yielded +to the influence of milk punch, and allowed me to do as I pleased. We +proceeded along the great thoroughfare, having an empty butter cask in +the car. We passed several patrolling parties in the road, and at grey +dawn we were entering the city of Cork; the boy sleeping in the car, and +the horse led by me. I paid at the custom-gate for my butter, and passed +on through the city unnoticed. A few gentle taps brought the gentleman, +who undertook to have me conveyed out of the country, to the door. I +introduced myself; <a name="Page_265" id="Page_265" />was admitted, and conducted to a bedroom, where +everything was prepared for my reception. Thus I found myself in the +very heart of the city of Cork, while the strictest search was made for +me in every cabin on the mountains of Kerry and the western shore.</p> + +<p>I felt quite secure in my then retreat. During the day I learned that +the men who were to conduct me safely to Cork were arrested <ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: sic."> +three several</ins> times on their way back.</p> + +<p>In my sojourn for two days and nights in the woods of Coolmountain, I +received attentions for which it would be shameful not to express my +gratitude. Although the crisis of my fate was so near at hand, I felt +some hours of unalloyed pleasure in its shade. I had leisure to peruse +my letters from home, so full of courage, hope and love; and to consider +well the different proposals and means of escape, suggested by others +and contemplated by myself. The weather had cleared up and there was a +succession of brilliant harvest days. I employed my evenings in +composing the following two pieces; and after nightfall I was visited by +some friends, with whom I sipped delicious champagne, till a late hour, +'neath the calm watchfulness of a brilliant harvest moon.</p> + +<p>EIBLIN A RUIN</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>I sang thee other lays,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>But these were happy days,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>When mount and vale and grove,<br /></span> +<span>Where we were wont to rove,<br /></span> +<span>Were beautified by love,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266" /> +<span>I said I loved thee well,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>Too fondly far to tell,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>I loved thee as the day,<br /></span> +<span>Serener for the ray,<br /></span> +<span>Thy smile shed o'er my way,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>But day has turned to night,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>With clouds and gloom and blight,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>Yet here an outlaw lone,<br /></span> +<span>My heart else, like a stone,<br /></span> +<span>Is more and more thy own,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>When in some rocky glen,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>I share the wild dog's den,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>Oppressed with woe and care,<br /></span> +<span>As sleep comes o'er me there,<br /></span> +<span>Methinks I hear thy prayer,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Throughout that troubled rest,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin<br /></span> +<span>Thy image fills my breast,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>And ere the vision's fled,<br /></span> +<span>My cold and flinty bed<br /></span> +<span>Seems down unto my head,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267" /> +<span>As night's dark shadow flies,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>Along the opening skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>In the soft purpling ray,<br /></span> +<span>That heralds early day,<br /></span> +<span>I see thy fond smile play,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>When, dangers thick'ning fast,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>My fate seemed sealed at last,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>A low voice ever near,<br /></span> +<span>Still whispers in mine ear—<br /></span> +<span>"For her sake do not fear"—<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And oh, 'tis that lone hope,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin,<br /></span> +<span>That nerves this heart to cope,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +<span>With peril and with pain,<br /></span> +<span>And surging of the brain,<br /></span> +<span>More boisterous than the main,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Eiblin a ruin.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>TO MY WIFE</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>And what was the world to me, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or why should its honours divide<br /></span> +<span>The feelings that centred in thee, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As fondly you clung to my side;<br /></span> +<span>Or why should ambition or glory,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">E'er tempt me to wander so far,<br /></span> +<span>For sake of distinction in story,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From thee, my heart's faithfulest star.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268" /> +<span>Or why should I call thee mine own, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To sport with the life that was thine,<br /></span> +<span>Or risk for a land overthrown, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A stake that no longer was mine;<br /></span> +<span>Or why should I pledge for the fallen<br /></span> +<span class="i2">What only belonged to the free;<br /></span> +<span>For had I not gauged life and all on<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The faith that was plighted to thee?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And here, while I wander alone, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Beneath the cold shadows of night,<br /></span> +<span>Or lie with my head on a stone, love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Awaiting the dawning of light,<br /></span> +<span>My spirit unthralled is returning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where far from the coward and slave,<br /></span> +<span>Her beacon of love is still burning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To light, to direct me and save.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And she, too, who watches beside thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And loves as none other could love,<br /></span> +<span>To counsel, to cherish and guide thee.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To weep with, but never reprove—<br /></span> +<span>Yes, she too, is lone and unguarded,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The reed she had leant on in twain,<br /></span> +<span>And though her trust thus be rewarded,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She'd love that love over again.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>COOLMOUNTAIN WOOD.</p> + +<p>At Cork two families were compromised by my prolonged stay, one of them +irretrievably, if I were arrested. However, they placed themselves +entirely and unconditionally at my disposal. I stated my objections to +the proposed conveyance of a coal boat to Wales, where I would be +equally exposed as in Ireland, and have infinitely less sympathy or +assistance. I suggested one of the London steamers instead, which they +agreed to. After some preliminary negotiations, <a name="Page_269" id="Page_269" />a person connected with +one of those vessels promised to secrete me and have me landed at +Southampton, where I could easily procure a passage to France. Just as +this arrangement was concluded, news arrived that Tipperary was again in +arms, under the command of my friend, O'Mahony. The report added that I +was associated with him in command. Hour after hour brought some story +stranger than that which preceded it; but in each and all I found myself +figuring in some character or other, all, of course, contrary to the +truth. This fact led at once to a suspicion of the accuracy of the +whole. But I was aware that caution was a leading characteristic of +O'Mahony's genius, and I felt assured he would not attempt any open +movement without strong probabilities of success. The fabrications about +myself I reconciled to the belief that he wished it to appear he had my +sanction and support. The vessel was to sail next day, and I should +determine at once, or risk the safety of the family who protected me. I +endeavoured to find a middle course, and suggested the impossibility of +leaving the country while even a vague report confirmed the belief that +some at least of its people were prepared to vindicate her liberty, or +die nobly in its assertion. They acquiesced, and the vessel was allowed +to sail. I insisted, however, that after nightfall I should leave the +house and take up my quarters in some obscure lodging house. Meantime it +was arranged that if the next mail confirmed the accounts from +Tipperary, I should be provided with a horse and car, and be able to +leave Cork as I entered it. When night came, the lady of the house +sternly and resolutely opposed my leaving it.<a name="Page_270" id="Page_270" /> She would not consent to +free herself from a risk she took so much honest pleasure in +encountering. Another day and night left us in the same uncertainty. The +reports were still more unsatisfactory and contradictory. But that there +should be reports at all, satisfied my mind, and I finally prepared to +start for Tipperary on the morning of the 29th of September.</p> + +<p>Information at length reached me that the party under O'Mahony were +dispersed and himself fled. The difficulty of my position, with respect +to my protectors, left me no alternative. Any chance that presented +itself should be embraced. The Bristol boat was in the river, panting to +escape her anchorage; and following the horse, which was to bear me to +Tipperary, to the quay, I walked on board the <i>Juverna</i>, just as she was +loosing her cables. My baggage, made up in a small box, was put on board +as a parcel addressed to a young friend of mine in London. The few +moments that intervened were fraught with most intense suspense. I stood +on the fore deck among cattle, covered with rags and dirt, my eyes fixed +on two detectives who stood at the cabin entrance, scrutinising narrowly +the figure and features of every cabin passenger. The bell rang, the +detectives stepped on shore, one of my friends who watched my movements +from a distance, waved a kind adieu, the <i>Juverna</i> slipped her cables, +and by one bound was out in the river. The first motion of her paddles +sounded to me like the assurance of fate, and I looked on the curling +foam with measureless exultation. The <i>Juverna</i> made a momentary halt at +Passage, and then glanced gaily through Cove harbour out into the sea. +As she cleared the road I turned <a name="Page_271" id="Page_271" />back to look for the last time upon my +fatherland. Her prospects, her promise, her strength, her hopes, her +failure and her fall rushed in burning memory through my brain. I +endeavoured to embody in the following verses the feelings that agitated +and almost paralysed my every faculty of body and mind. I wrote them on +a piece of paper that had been wrapped round some cheese:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>Away, away, the good ship swings;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One heave, one bound, and off she's dashing,<br /></span> +<span>Expanding wide her snowy wings,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The white foam round her paddles flashing.<br /></span> +<span>Away, away, the land recedes,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Far into dim and dreary distance,<br /></span> +<span>As gallantly our packet speeds.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Unconscious of the gale's resistance.<br /></span> +<span>Away, away, how oft before,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With paling cheek and aching stomach,<br /></span> +<span>I've trembled at the billow's roar.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And crouched me in my narrow hammock.<br /></span> +<span>But now, I bless the wildest waves<br /></span> +<span>That bear me from a land of slaves.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Away, away, yon crimson cloud,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which, mounting the blue vault of Heaven,<br /></span> +<span>Soars calmly o'er the murky shroud<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That palls the close of boisterous even,<br /></span> +<span>Is scarcely fairer than the form,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The light, the grace, from stem to stern—a<br /></span> +<span>Fairy riding on the storm—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of the fleet, trusty, dight <i>Juverna</i>,<br /></span> +<span>Away, away, one last look more:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One blessing on the naked land—<br /></span> +<span>Though the too glorious dream be o'er—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One blessing for her truthful hand,<br /></span> +<span>Her proud old faith, though darkly grown,<br /></span> +<span>Still lingering by each cold hearth-stone.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272" /> +<span>Away, away; poor fool of fate,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Couldst thou but dream this mournful end,<br /></span> +<span>This midnight of a hope so great,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where shame and sorrow darkly blend—<br /></span> +<span>Couldst thou divine that thus bedecked,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With rags and dirt, thine eyes downturned:<br /></span> +<span>Thou'dst flee, thy whole life's labour wrecked.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy very heart within thee burned.<br /></span> +<span>—Away, away, in all the past,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">There's not an act I would recall,<br /></span> +<span>I bow me to the o'erwhelming blast,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But 'tis the heart alone can fall,<br /></span> +<span>And mine may once again defy.<br /></span> +<span>The fate that mocks it scoffingly.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Away, away, if o'er the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My voice could reach the prison grate.<br /></span> +<span>Where daylight creeping gloomily,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Comes to deride the captives' fate;<br /></span> +<span>Could I but prove by word or act,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How firm my heart and purpose still,<br /></span> +<span>Their life's worst pang to counteract,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Before their proud young hearts were still—<br /></span> +<span>To live but that the land they loved<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Should yet assert its native right,<br /></span> +<span>That the immortal faith they proved,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Should yet be robed in victory's light,<br /></span> +<span>And, oh, to feel such promise high,<br /></span> +<span>Were last to light their dying eye.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>If apology were to be offered for the change of measure of the above, +and its somewhat conflicting sentiments, it would be found in the tumult +of passions, excitement, fear, hope, rage, disappointment and regret +with which, standing among cattle on the deck, and disguised in meanest +rags, I looked upon my country's shores for, it may be the last time, +and thought of her <a name="Page_273" id="Page_273" />hopes, her misery and fall. Both faults may be +amended here, but I cannot help regarding it as irreligious toward +thoughts suggested by the circumstances then around me to remodel even +the structure into which they spontaneously shaped themselves.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-23" /><a id="image23" href="images/image23-big.jpg"><img src="images/image23.jpg" width="400" height="324" alt="Aheny Hill, showing the Constabulary Barrack destroyed by +the Insurgents. 1848" title="" /></a> +<p class="caption">Aheny Hill, showing the Constabulary Barrack destroyed by +the Insurgents. 1848</p> +</div> + +<p>Night soon fell drearily upon the water. I engaged a berth from one of +the sailors, and before half an hour, lost all consciousness of country +and friends, of wind and tide, and hope, and shame, and peril, in +tranquil repose. On ascending next morning, the shores of England were +in view, and we sailed up the channel to the mouth of the Avon under a +calm and mellow sky. I had some breakfast with one of the cowherds. We +were delayed several hours waiting for the tide, which were spent for +the most part in making difficult evolutions; and exhibiting to the +cabin passengers the peculiar qualities of the <i>Juverna</i>. Night had +fallen before we reached Bristol, and I slipped away from the boat, amid +the confusion and bustle which checked the progress of the gay and rich, +around whose footsteps avarice had gathered an eager and jostling crowd. +Rude contact with, and unsavoury odours from, the unclean multitude +shocked their nervous sensibility, as they made their way to their +hotels amidst obtrusive obsequiousness, while the lone outlaw's pathway +lay free through the open street and uncontaminated air. But a wretched +exterior has its disadvantages also. I dared not present myself at a +hotel, and many of the humbler hostelries refused me admittance, +believing, no doubt, either that the seeds of pestilence were in my +rags, or not a copper in my pocket. Indeed, to no brain but that of a +very imaginative genius would the <a name="Page_274" id="Page_274" />possibility of such a superfluity as +a pocket suggest itself. All the beds were "full." At last I thought me +of an expedient. I called for a glass of ale, for which payment in +advance was duly demanded. I handed a sovereign, which at once emptied a +bed, provided I slept in a room with another person which I refused, +feeling that I had acquired a footing. I had something to eat, and +finally found that there was a vacant room.</p> + +<p>The next day was Sunday. No trains travelled to London except third +class. This was rather unlucky, for I was aware that certain straitened +gentlemen were often obliged, by stress of circumstances—the pressure +of business which brooked not a moment's delay—reluctantly to avail +themselves of this mode of conveyance. I felt, too, that the loyalty of +these slender aristocrats, was on a par with the unhappy incidents which +compelled them to consort with vulgar people, that is to say, so +constrained, that however much against the impulses of their generous +natures, they could not omit any opportunity of manifesting the +sentiment in its full intensity, I selected my company on this occasion, +being only anxious to exclude the "<i>arbiters elegantiarum</i>," Of my +"<i>compagnons de voyage</i>," some were in gin, some in fumes and some in +glee, and the journey passed off without an incident.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the Paddington terminus, an unlooked-for difficulty +presented itself. My costume attracted universal attention. It was, in +fact, <i>outre</i> even in comparison with the most outlandish; for every +article had been carefully selected for its singularity. My "caubeen" +especially excited the risibility of the merry boys who thronged the +streets. I was soon <a name="Page_275" id="Page_275" />followed by an uproarious crowd of most +incorrigible young rascals, who made lunges at my unfortunate head-gear. +They peered at me round lamp-posts, and occasionally, "Teigue," and +"Phelim," pronounced in a broad English accent, grated on my ear. +Although not indisposed to be merry, I grasped one of my tormentors and +handed him over to a policeman. The sentinel of city morals dismissed +him with a harsh rebuke, and threatened to "haul up" whoever gave me +further annoyance. We were then near Oxford street. I told him I wanted +to go to Tottenham Court road; but after making several fruitless +attempts to pronounce the name, his own fertile genius had to supply my +deficiency. He walked with me until the last unruly boy had disappeared, +and then he sent me on my way rejoicing, after having spent some minutes +in teaching me to articulate distinctly "Tottenham Court Road." It was +already nightfall. I felt as if all danger were passed. I could not +anticipate the check I was about to receive.</p> + +<p>I knew a man named Parker, who resided in Museum Street. I thought his +house that to which I could easiest find access without exciting notice. +I made my way to it unobserved, rapped, and to my great relief the door +was opened by the man himself. He did not recognise me for some time, +but as soon as he did, he fell into a paroxysm half hysterical, half +frantic. I had completed his ruin, he exclaimed, and his unhappy family +would have to curse me as the cause of his destruction. He was ready to +sink on the floor in sheer terror, and with difficulty could he utter a +request that I should instantly leave his house. This <a name="Page_276" id="Page_276" />was a command, +however harsh and heartless, which I dared not resist, for I was forced +to admit to myself that under his terrified exterior might lurk a +sentiment baser than fear.</p> + +<p>I left the place in utter dismay. I could not venture into a house such +as I had lodged in at Bristol, the night before, because my person was +well known in London, and because those places are frequented by +characters of all sorts. I could not venture, in my then guise, to the +house of my young friend to whom I had addressed the parcel, because my +appearance there would inevitably attract the notice of the policeman. I +dare not, of course, venture to a respectable hotel. Thus perplexed, I +bethought of a woman with whom I used formerly to lodge, and I repaired +to her rooms (she had herself become a lodger). I met her on the stairs, +where she nearly fainted. She hurried me into the street, and there told +me that a person who lived in the house was actually watching to betray +me. She suggested the house of an Irishwoman who lived in a court hard +by. I had no alternative. The poor woman received me with tears. Such +was her emotion that I could not hesitate to trust her with my life: Her +son and daughter-in-law, who spent the day with her, were about +returning home. They lived in the suburbs, at the Surrey side. They +proposed to take me to their cottage, and I readily consented. We got a +coach and drove home. The kindliest attentions were lavished on me by +these people. As soon as I arrived, I shaved and cleansed myself; no +small task, considering that I had on a fortnight's beard, and had +rubbed my face over with soot and grease.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277" />I had a shirt and clothes from my host, with whom, in my new trim, I +sat down to a comfortable supper. Early next morning he informed my +friend of my arrival, and I was at once surrounded by several who would +risk their lives for my safety. I had by this time begun to regard many +singular escapes of mine as preordained by Providence, and I ceased to +feel much concern in my fate. I cherished a presentiment of safety until +it grew into a conviction, and acting on its assurance, I gave way to an +unconcern that was quite inexplicable to those around me. But one +feeling of fear lingered with me: it was lest Parker should add treason +to cowardice, which certain ominous expressions that were said to fall +from him, confirmed. I otherwise felt so secure, and so thankful to my +entertainers, that I would gratify their wishes to remain a day or two +longer with them; but the tide answered so well—the whole journey to +Boulogne being by night, that I determined to avail myself of the +opportunity. I donned my clerical costume, got me a sleek wig, folded a +stole round my breviary, and with Christian patience awaited the hour of +departure. I was to be accompanied to Paris by my young friend, who +spoke the French language perfectly, and was well acquainted with the +etiquette of the journey. We entered the express train at London Bridge +at half-past eight. When it was just starting, my host, who had +accompanied us, clung to the panel of the door, and warned me, with +provoking warmth, to "write, write, as soon as I was safe." As the train +drove off and his boisterous adieus died on my ear, I lost the last +feeling of anxiety on my own account. The carriage was full—a German +with <a name="Page_278" id="Page_278" />a toothache—two gossiping old bachelors—a jolly English resident +of the sunny south—my friend and myself occupied the six seats. However +fluttered may be the hearts of the passengers, whatever may be the +pressure of guilt, or fear, or remorse upon their souls, the heart of +the mighty engine, on its fiery course, throbs only with one passion, +namely how to outspeed the flight of time. Our fellow-travellers +conversed upon all subjects, and wished for my opinion upon each; but I +was so reserved and pious, and my friend so ready and witty, and +exuberant in his gaiety, that my obstinate silence was pardoned or +forgotten. We were able to make our way on board Her Majesty's mail +packet by the light of a clouded moon, then fast waning. I did not +trouble myself to learn the name of the boat, but she appeared endued +with more than the speed of fire. She flew over her allotted trip in one +hour and three-quarters, and about two o'clock I set my foot on the free +soil of the young Republic.</p> + +<p>I had longed for such an event with an intensity of feeling not to be +described; nay, I had often enjoyed anticipated exultation from +indulging in a vague dream of its bare possibility, which absorbed all +the gloom and horror of my situation. Yet when I stepped securely on +what, to me, was hallowed ground, an adequate appreciation of the +circumstance was far from realised in my feelings. New sights and sounds +began to share my thoughts and engross my comprehension. In a moment the +past vanished, with all its disquietude and alarm; and I entered on the +new scene with a taste akin to the appetite of a convalescent. If I felt +any deep emotion, it was only when my mind <a name="Page_279" id="Page_279" />recurred to the fate of my +comrades, or the feelings of joy with which my family would learn the +tidings of my safety. We left our baggage at the Custom house—mine +consisted of a pair of boots stowed away in a rather capacious +valise—handed the keys, in due form, to the commissionaire of police, +and directed them to be sent after us to our hotel. A commissionaire, so +they call themselves, appeared in the morning with the keys, which he +handed us bowing, adding that all was right.</p> + +<p>There was a fete at Boulogne. Nothing was to be seen but glittering +bayonets, and nothing to be heard but the harsh monotonous sound of the +drum. Flags floated in the breeze, and cheers echoed from the distant +hills, and everything proclaimed the festivity of liberty. It was a +grand sight, and yet a sad one for me. I could not help contrasting with +the scene before me the fate of my own unfortunate country. At ten +o'clock we were on our way to Paris.</p> + +<p>Such was the anxiety with which I gazed on the glad face of that sunny +land during the entire of the journey that I could at this moment +recognise every object that attracted my attention. But the scope of +this narrative, now drawing rapidly to a close, does not embrace a +description of France or Paris. Many pens have plied the task, and were +mine more adequate than any, it were unfit to interweave so bright a +theme with the gloomy details of this mournful history.</p> + +<p>There remains to be told but one incident. On our arrival at the Paris +terminus, we got into an English omnibus which brought us to an English +hotel—the Hotel de Louvre in the Rue St. Thomas. There we dined +together, some dozen or so of the passengers.<a name="Page_280" id="Page_280" /> After dinner my friend +and I had champagne. While discussing its merits the conversation turned +on Ireland. Opinions, of course, varied. Mine, it need scarcely be +added, to an Englishman's ear sounded bloodily, and I urged them with +the vehemence of baffled hope. An old English gentleman of that quiet +school which affects liberality and moderation, but entertains deepest +animosity, deprecated the violence of my language and sentiments, and +expressed his painful astonishment at hearing such opinions from the +mouth of a clergyman; "They would not be unbecoming," added he, with +great bitterness of tone, "in that sanguinary brigand, Doheny." +Involuntarily and simultaneously my friend and myself burst into an +immoderate fit of laughter, The gentleman could not at all comprehend +our mirth. He had, he thought, delivered himself of very sound and very +gentlemanly philosophy, and he was really shocked to find it had made an +impression so different from what he had expected. He had travelled +much, he said, and met men of many lands, of whom Irishmen were ever the +most polite and best bred gentlemen; a fact which rendered our laughing +in his face rather inexplicable. The conversation was again resumed and +again waxed warm. I expressed my opinion of English paupers in Ireland, +and said they ought to be transported in a convict ship back to +Liverpool, in the same fashion as Irish paupers of a different class are +transmitted to Dublin by the Liverpool guardians. To this he replied by +saying that there would be no peace in Ireland until the Mitchels and +Dohenys were hanged, a fate which the latter was hastening to with +irresistible impetus. At this self-satisfied prophecy we laughed <a name="Page_281" id="Page_281" />louder +than before, whereupon he waxed wrathful, and repeating his experience +of the world in general, and of Irishmen in particular, demanded an +explanation of the laugh. I said, "That is a straightforward question, +and demands a direct answer. It shall be given, although you have +refused to answer, as all Englishmen of your class invariably do, to +several direct questions which I have put to you. I laughed because I am +that same sanguinary Doheny": and pulling off my wig, I added, "Me +<i>voila</i> at your service." The sudden appearance of him who answered the +incantations of the weird sisters could not produce a greater panic. +Chairs tumbled in every direction, and their occupiers fled the room, +leaving myself and my friend ample space to enjoy the joke and the +champagne in undisturbed quiet.</p> + +<p>I have nothing further to relate in connection with myself. Paris +appeared to me clothed with a grandeur, a glory, and a beauty, +infinitely surpassing every description of them I had ever read or +heard. Standing in any commanding spot surrounded by the monuments of +her splendour and magnificence, upon each of which the genius of the +land shed its immortal lustre, one feels coerced to the conviction that +the high command and abiding destiny of France must be equally +imperishable. But these considerations belong not to my story, and I +renounce the idea of commemorating the sensations of gratified pride +which that gorgeous capital awakened in my bosom. Her architecture and +her art, her memorials of glory, and the triumphs of her progress, +require to be scanned by the eye and portrayed by the ability of +artistic genius. I must content myself <a name="Page_282" id="Page_282" />with preserving a delighted +recollection of the French metropolis which no scene or circumstance, +possible in life can ever efface. The companion of all my hazards in +Ireland, whom I again joined in Paris, more than shared my enthusiasm. +He spent all his days wandering among the galleries of the Louvre or the +statues of Versailles, forgetting in the sublime presence of their +unmatched <i>chefs d'ouvres</i> all the shame and perils of the past. I hope +he may be induced to give the result of his long examinations and fond +reveries to the public.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12" /><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> "Alice and Uua."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13" /><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> This may be a harsh and unjust opinion; if so, no one +could regret it more than myself. In any case I wish to disclaim the +idea of making a charge against the body of the Roman Catholic clergy, +to some of whose members it applies. I yet fully believe that the great +majority of the priesthood would willingly die with the rest of their +countrymen in struggling for the liberty of their common home. Even of +those who acted against us with such deadly success, I am sure some were +influenced by pure and honourable motives: there were others, however, +whose conduct the noblest motives would fail to justify, or even +extenuate.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14" /><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> I hope my friend "Desmond" (a true poet and genuine +Irishman, whom God long preserve) will allow me to borrow his "graceful +spirit people" to elevate to poetical dignity the otherwise unattractive +and straggling waters of Lough Lua. It is near the lone and lovely +passes of Ceimeneagh, which his genius has invested with graceful +immortality, and his +</p><p> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">"Children of the earth and sea."</span><br /> +</p> +<p> +may be sometimes tempted to lave therein. +</p><p> +Lough Lua loses in the comparison suggested by the sublime scenery +around it, of which the "green little island," and the pass are +immeasurably the greatest. I saw it in no happy frame of mind, as I +dragged my weary limbs along the rugged slopes of Shehigh. The only real +feature of interest I could discover, was the solitary swan above +alluded to, to which an intellect less fanciful than that of my friend +could not refuse a claim to be recognised as the genius loci, or spirit +of the spot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15" /><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Mr. Daniel MacCarthy</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONCLUSION" id="CONCLUSION" /><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283" />CONCLUSION</h2> + + +<p>A word remains to be said in reference to the fate of those who were the +special objects of the Government's attention. Of the six for whom a +reward was offered, four escaped, namely, Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. +O'Mahony and myself. Mr. Dillon was the first who left Ireland. Late in +August he sailed from Galway, and landed at New York after a voyage of +seven weeks. In the same vessel sailed P.J. Smyth, who was despatched +from Cashel to Dublin with directions from Mr. O'Brien. Richard +O'Gorman, accompanied by John O'Donnell and Daniel Doyle, sailed from +the mouth of the Shannon on board a vessel bound for Constantinople. +After landing in the Turkish capital, they were obliged to lie concealed +until able to procure passports for Algiers. Many foolish stories have +been circulated in reference to Mr. O'Gorman's adventures and disguises +in Ireland. Not one of them has the least truth in it. He or his +companions never assumed any disguise, and though their adventures were +more perilous, they were not so romantic as those that have been +related. A more detailed account of their wanderings would no doubt be +as interesting to my readers as it would be agreeable to myself. But +both the time and the limits I have proposed to myself for this +publication exclude it here. I could not, without too long a delay, +acquire that minute and accurate knowledge of facts and dates, which +would be indispensable to such a history.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284" />But of succeeding events in Ireland, and the men who controlled them, +it is imperative to speak more in detail. John O'Mahony was their chief, +and John Savage his principal counsellor and comrade. The former, +although not compromised by any act previous to the arrest of Mr. +O'Brien, evaded the vigilance of the detectives, and continued moving +about from place to place, being generally guarded while he slept by a +large number of faithful followers. No man was ever followed with truer +devotion or served with more unwavering fidelity. He might have +continued in the same district with perfect safety up to the present +hour. But every moment of his time was engrossed by the endeavour to +rouse the country to some becoming effort. John Savage, who had come to +Carrick on a visit to a relation, partook of his enthusiasm and shared +his toil. They spent many anxious nights in counsel together when it was +supposed all spirit had left the country. The first ostensible object +that brought the people together under their immediate guidance and +control was the reaping of a field of wheat belonging to O'Mahony. A +vast crowd amounting to several hundred stalwart men assembled. They had +scarcely entered on their labour when the approach of a troop of horse +was announced. O'Mahony and Savage were compelled to retire. The +military cavalcade entered the field, and rode rudely among the men and +ripe corn. Still the reapers desisted not. They proceeded with their +labours sedulously and silently. But there was no pretext for arresting +any of the men, and no pretext afforded for further outrage, and the +business of the day went on without further outrage from the <a name="Page_285" id="Page_285" />soldiers. +This occurred on the 22nd of August. Some days later, sullen crowds were +seen ascending Aheny Hill, about five miles to the north of +Carrick-on-Suir. By what mysterious agency they were directed none could +tell. About a similar distance from the town, in the opposite direction, +near the village of Portlaw, another camp was formed with equal rapidity +and mystery. With these men John Savage took his station. He was +entirely unknown to the people; and owed his influence over them to his +singular resolution. The understanding was that these two bodies, and a +third consisting of an equal number of men which was promised from +Kilkenny, should march simultaneously on the town of Carrick and the +fort at Besborough where five hundred men were encamped. He who +undertook to lead the Kilkenny men went on the execution of his mission, +leaving O'Mahony at one side, and Savage on the other, to contend with +the impetuosity of their respective followers who demanded with violence +to be led on. As much perhaps from the precariousness of their situation +as from a reckless daring, they could not brook the least delay. Their +leaders, on the other hand, urged the necessity of steadiness and +prudence. It was too late for such policy. The time between the first +step in revolution and action is the most trying to the courage and +faith of undisciplined men. In this instance it produced fatal results. +The weakness of the timid increased, and the courage of the boldest was +quelled. Suspicion was aroused, and desertion was the inevitable +consequence. O'Mahony found it impossible to withstand the clamorous +urgency of the men, and all his prepara<a name="Page_286" id="Page_286" />tions were necessarily of a +hasty and imperfect character. The arrival of the party from Kilkenny +was the utmost limit of inaction that would be endured; and the leaders +saw with regret that they had yielded too soon to the demands of those +who precipitated the rising. The true guarantee of success would consist +in perfect preparation under cover of secrecy, so as that the assembling +could be followed by an immediate blow.</p> + +<p>Scouring parties from each rendezvous, proceeded through the country in +search of arms. Provisions were liberally supplied by the neighbouring +farmers, and numbers were hourly arriving from distant parts of the +country. But those who were engaged in the search for arms attacked +police barracks and private houses. In general, these enterprises were +rash, ill-advised and ill-arranged. In some instances they were +successful, and in some they were repulsed with loss of life, while the +police were able to effect a safe retreat. At the Tipperary side, two +men were killed in the attack on the Glenbour barracks; and at the +Waterford side, one man was shot at Portlaw in the assault on the +police-barrack, and two in the attack on the Reverend Mr. Hill's house. +These repulses checked the ardour of the boldest, and gave rise to +disunion and distrust. Meantime, the promised reinforcements from +Kilkenny failed to redeem the pledge that was given in their name. A +whole day and night passed, and no tidings of them arrived. Several of +those who were loudest and most urgent left the camp. A very large +force, however, remained; but after delaying two days without hearing of +the Kilkenny men, they <a name="Page_287" id="Page_287" />determined to disperse. The party at Portlaw +adopted the same resolution, and O'Mahony and Savage had to shift for +themselves. A reward was offered for O'Mahony, but he eluded his +pursuers, and in a few days was beyond their reach. He embarked at +Bonmahon in the county of Waterford and crossed to Wales, where he was +concealed for some time until he found an opportunity of escaping to +France. Savage, whose person was not much known, made his way to Dublin, +whence he sailed for America direct.</p> + +<p>The Kilkenny men arrived at Aheny on the morning after those under +O'Mahony had dispersed and finding the place deserted, they immediately +returned. This accident once more baffled all hope of a struggle. From +beginning to end, some mischance marred every propitious circumstance +that presented itself. It seemed as if the failure had been predestined. +But to yield to such a fate, to abjure the great and true faith which +the attempt of the last unhappy year quickened in the hearts of all men, +would be distrust of God's mercy and justice. In the struggle that +preceded the outbreak a great victory was won. The most formidable power +that ever fettered the consciences of men was struck to the earth. +Truth, long lost sight of, was again restored as one of the great +agencies of national deliverance and national elevation. The question +between England and Ireland assumed its real character; and although +huxtering politicians have since endeavoured to set up the honour of the +island for sale, they have only been able to dispose of their own +characters. The people have not debased themselves. In the lying homage +to the Queen of England they took no part. They have <a name="Page_288" id="Page_288" />preserved through +the severest trials the old immortal yearning of their race, and the +arms they had provided themselves with in '48 they have guarded +religiously, in the hope of using them on some day of brighter auspices +and loftier destiny.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-24" /><a id="image24" href="images/image24-big.jpg"><img src="images/image24.jpg" width="293" height="400" alt="John Savage (1848)" title="John Savage (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">John Savage (1848)</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDICES" id="APPENDICES" /><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289" />APPENDICES</h2> + +<p class="center"><b>I</b></p> + +<p class="center">THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848</p> + + +<p>Early on Saturday the 22nd of July I left my pleasant home in +Cullenswood, near Dublin, to which I was never to return. On reaching +the city I found a telegraphic despatch from London had been just +published, announcing the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and that +the "extraordinary powers" to be conferred on the Lord Lieutenant would +be forwarded to Dublin on the following Monday. It was contended on all +hands that the hour for action or submission or flight for the +Confederates was now come. Of "The Council of Five,"<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16" /><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> there were then +in Dublin but three members. One is now in Van Diemen's Land; the others +were Mr. Dillon and myself. We had a hasty meeting in the old Council +Rooms of the Irish Confederation. They decided to proceed that evening +to Enniscorthy to advise with Smith O'Brien, and, as I understood, to +proceed with him to the district between the Suir and the Shannon, and +to operate from that basis according to circumstances and their own best +judgment.</p> + +<p>A gentleman had arrived in Dublin that morning with a proposition which +decided my movements and led me into some singular situations.</p> + +<p>He was a professional man, by birth an Irishman who had resided a long +time in Scotland. He had <a name="Page_290" id="Page_290" />one only son, two rifles, and £120 in money, +which he brought as his offering to the country. He informed us that +several hundred Irishmen in Scotland had been all the year preparing for +this event, that they had a good share of arms and ammunition, and that +if any plan could be devised to bring them into Ireland, they could be +relied on for courage and endurance. I do not mention this gentleman's +name, because I do not know but he is still under the laws of England.</p> + +<p>We perceived, on consultation, that if it were possible to land 400 or +500 staunch men in the north-west—say, at Sligo or Killala—where the +Government were completely off their guard (all their anxieties being +centred on the south), an important movement might follow in Sligo, +Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo. It would be like hitting the enemy in the +back of the head. It would necessarily draw off some of the forces from +Munster, through the valley of the Upper Shannon, which, with its +continuous chain of lake, bog and mountain frontier, would be difficult +ground for the movements of a regular army.</p> + +<p>It was necessary, as our informant said, that "someone with a name" +should go over and concert with the Irishmen in Scotland the mode and +time of action, and I was the only person at hand willing for that +service. For my encouragement, Meagher assured me I would be "as famous +as Paul Jones" if I got the men out of the Clyde, and Mr. Dillon +suggested as a landing-place "the old ground, Killala."</p> + +<p>That afternoon I left Dublin, and on Tuesday morning I was in Scotland.</p> + +<p>I cannot give the exact particulars of my movements while there. All who +were in my confidence are still in Scotland, with the exception of Mr. +Peter M'Cabe of Glasgow, now in the United States. I will only say that +I visited and consulted our friends in four of the principal +towns—Edinburgh included. I attended meetings of the clubs and in each +instance instituted <a name="Page_291" id="Page_291" />committees. I obtained in a few days a list of +nearly 400 men, pretty well equipped, ready for the risk. A +sub-committee surveyed the Broomielaw and the Clyde, and although their +report was unfavourable to the attempt of getting out in one body, a +gentleman, now in America, gained over the crew and officers of an Irish +steamer to take us as passengers from Greenock where the tides in a few +days would answer for departure about ten o'clock at night. The arms +were to be previously shipped as merchandise or luggage, and the +destination was to be Sligo.</p> + +<p>These arrangements occupied from Tuesday till Friday of the last week of +July. In the meanwhile, the London Journals arrived with news that +O'Brien and his friends had been received with open arms in the south, +and great excitement and suspicion of strangers arose in Scotland. In +the Reading Room at Paisley I read myself in <i>The Hue and Cry</i>. One +paper stated I was in Waterford, another said I was "revelling among the +clubs in the Co. Dublin." The <i>Times</i> did me the honour to couple me +with Meagher, calling us "the two most dangerous men now abroad." No one +suspected my real locality.</p> + +<p>On Friday I was in Edinburgh intending to return to Glasgow, when +Mr. ——, accompanied by a friend suddenly joined me. I saw they were a +good deal agitated. They told me a Scotch mechanic who had been formerly +in Dublin had seen me in the streets of Glasgow opposite Wellington +statue, and that the news was "all round town." They added that the +magistrates were in secret sitting, and as the writ of Habeas Corpus is +unknown to the law of Scotland, I would be certainly arrested and +summarily imprisoned if I returned. They were instructed to advise me to +go to Ireland through the north of England, to prepare our friends in +and about Sligo, and that they would complete the project which they had +begun, and which was now in promising forwardness. I complied and<a name="Page_292" id="Page_292" /> Mr. +---- handed me a purse, as a personal gift from the Committee. This +purse contained twelve or thirteen sovereigns, the only public money I +received in this enterprise. After purposely driving to the West of +Scotland depot [railway terminus] we returned to the North British, and +my friends saw me off a station or two on the way to Newcastle-on-Tyne. +I slept that night in Newcastle.</p> + +<p>Between Newcastle and Carlisle the next day (Saturday) I had for a +fellow passenger the Rev. Thresham Gregg<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17" /><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> who was on a lecturing +excursion against the Pope in the north of England. I had been +introduced to him a year or two before and supposed he knew me. He +certainly looked very hard at me from under his travelling-cap, with his +half-shut cunning eyes. I had in my hand "Bradshaw's Railway Guide," +which he asked to see. At the way stations he kept constantly inquiring +the distance to Carlisle, and I sorely suspected he meant to "peach." He +did not, however, though I still think he must have known me.</p> + +<p>In Carlisle I met at dinner two Dublin priests (one from Westland Row +chapel). They were bound on a pleasure-trip for Loch Katrine and the +Trossachs. They informed me that I was "proclaimed," and seemed +surprised at my returning. We parted very cordially and that night I +went to Whitehaven where I had to wait over Sunday for the Belfast +steamer.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293" />In Whitehaven (by accident) I met with Mr. James Leach, the well-known +Chartist, with whom I had some conversation unnecessary here to be +repeated.</p> + +<p>On Tuesday morning I arrived in Belfast. Two policemen entered the cabin +as I was leaving it, and having been at the meeting which occasioned the +Hercules Street riot,<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18" /><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> I thought they would recognise me. They did +not, however, and at 8 o'clock (after leaving a note for a dear and +trusted friend of Mr. Duffy's, to mark my whereabouts) I was safely +embarked on the Ulster railway for Armagh. At Aughnacloy a detective +gave me a light, and before I went to bed (in Enniskillen) had read the +proclamations against the leaders of the Southern movement, on the gates +of the Barrack. The next morning I reached Sligo by the Leitrim road.</p> + +<p>This was Wednesday morning, August 2nd.</p> + +<p>At the Hibernia Hotel, where I stopped as Mr. Kelly (my travelling +baptism), I saw for the first time in ten days the Irish papers. The +Dublin <i>Freeman</i> and <i>Saunder's News Letter</i> were on the table. I read +the list of the places where, and the clergymen by whom, the Southern +movement had been "denounced," on Sunday, July 23rd and Sunday, July +30th. The same papers contained Lord Clarendon's wily letter to +Archbishop Murray, offering to alter the statutes of the new colleges +and to remodel the Bequests Bill so as to content the Catholic clergy, +and artfully complimenting Pius IX. The game of the Government was +clear—it was to separate the clergy from the people in the coming +struggle.</p> + +<p>The evening of my arrival in Sligo, I conferred with a few friends. The +place chosen was "a shell house" <a name="Page_294" id="Page_294" />in the demesne of Hazelwood on the +shores of Lough Gill. Of <ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'hose'"> +those</ins> who formed that conference one at +least, Mr. William M'Garahan, is now in America. We ascertained the +garrison of Sligo to be but ninety men—the barrack to be surrounded by +a common eight-foot wall, and the local authorities to be completely +lulled to sleep. The circumstances were as favourable as could be +expected.</p> + +<p>But there never had been in Sligo or Leitrim any local Confederate or +even "Repeal" organisation. The only local societies were secret—Molly +Maguires and Ribbonmen. It was necessary to get into communication with +them and late the next night Dr. ——, a Confederate, introduced me to +one of their leaders, on a road which crosses a hill to the south of the +town. This gentleman I found wary, resolute, and intelligent. He said: +"I have no doubt of what you say, but I must have certain facts to lay +before our district chiefs. At present we don't know what to believe. +One day we hear one thing—another, another. Bring us by this day week +assurances that the South is going to rise or has risen, and we will +raise two thousand before the week is out." I agreed to do so and he in +the meantime went to prepare his friends.</p> + +<p>I returned to my confidants of the first conference and "reported +progress." It was rather difficult to find a trusty messenger. I +volunteered to go myself, but they would not hear of it. At last a man +who could be depended on was obtained, and, armed with certain passwords +(unintelligible except to those for whom they were intended) he left to +go through Roscommon and Westmeath into Tipperary by Borrisokane and +Nenagh.</p> + +<p>Simultaneously with this, agents went abroad in the country, and I, by +the advice of the local leaders, went to lodge under Benbulben in the +character of a Dublin student in search of health and exercise during +the summer vacation. Within a week we expected to be <a name="Page_295" id="Page_295" />openly arrayed +against the authorities, and no man that I saw shrank from the prospect.</p> + +<p>From my lodgings under Benbulben I made a visit to Bundoran to meet some +friends from Donegal who were anxious to consult me as to the state of +the county. By an odd chance I lodged in the same house with the +stipendiary magistrate, Sir Thomas Blake, and had to go through his +bedroom to my own. We met frequently but he was quite unsuspicious. He +has, I find since, been dismissed from his office, after an ineffectual +search for me through the county, a month from the time we had lived +under the same roof.</p> + +<p>While our messenger had gone south there arrived one from our friends in +Scotland. Him I sent back the same night to expedite affairs there. In +the meanwhile, on such maps as we had, my friends and I studied the +roads and the formation of the country. There is in this part of Ireland +a plateau of about twenty-five miles square of broken or mountainous +ground. Of this district Ballinamore in Leitrim might be considered the +centre; there are but three main roads leading through it—the Boyle +road, the Red Lion road, and the Ballysodare road—which could all be +easily rendered impassable, passing as they do over rapid streams, +through narrow defiles or across extensive marshes. There is no great +military depot within the district—Enniskillen, Athlone, and even +Castlebar being within the spurs of the mountains. Sligo, its chief town +was, as we saw, poorly garrisoned, and yet as a seaport of the second +class it contained many things of the greatest use in a military +movement—as lead, arms, canvas, tools, money, ships' stores, +breadstuffs, types for proclamations and even some small cannon. From +three to five thousand men it was calculated, could be well-equipped and +could maintain themselves for three months within this district, with +tolerable prudence and exertion. Before the time expired we hoped to +<a name="Page_296" id="Page_296" />receive help and officers from abroad, and afterwards to be able to +undertake greater things.</p> + +<p>We could not but remember that this was the district chosen by Owen +O'Neill after his arrival from Spain in 1645 and that it was here he +"nursed up" by slow degrees the army which fought at Benburb, and which +in Napoleon's opinion, but for the premature death of Owen, would have +checkmated Cromwell. The ground once chosen by a great general for its +natural capabilities may safely be chosen again, and usually is, as in +Hungary for instance. The very posts and battlefields held and fought by +Bem and Dembinski were the same whereon Huniad and Corvinus, four and +five hundred years ago, fought against the Turks and Bosmens. Thus we +had the sanction of a great example and the stimulus of an inspiriting +tradition to point to for the choice of the ground.</p> + +<p>We had not long to wait for news from the South—it came of itself. On +Saturday the 5th of August Mr. O'Brien was arrested in Thurles. His +companions, it was said, were fled hither and thither; but, at all +events, his arrest had proved that, at that time, the South would not +rise in arms against the Government.</p> + +<p>This was the interpretation universally put upon it in the north-west. +It was in vain I said, "There are other men as brave and as good who are +still free and from whom we will hear better news." Those to whom I +spoke were incredulous. Still I must do the people of the county the +justice to say that in a meeting of their district-leaders at —— it +was discussed for two successive nights with great animation whether or +not the district should rise even then. The parties for and against a +rising were nearly balanced, but the latter prevailed on the argument +that unless it was general it would be fruitless.</p> + +<p>For ten dismal days I remained in this neighbourhood, hoping against +hope and endeavouring to make others do the same. The proposals I then +made, the result <a name="Page_297" id="Page_297" />of desperation, I will not repeat, for now, even to +myself, I confess they look wild and extravagant. But I felt the whole +futurity of shame that awaited us for abandoning the country without a +blow. It was well advanced in August before I could persuade myself that +no hope remained. The Treasurer of our Scotch Committee came to Ireland +expressly to urge me to consult my own safety in flight, in which he was +joined by the whole of my local associates. Successively arrived the +news of Meagher, Leyne and MacManus being taken. Then indeed I knew "all +was up." Then, indeed, I felt the force of what I had long before +prophesied—"What if we fail?" I resolved not to be taken if I could +help it, and acted accordingly. After some personal adventures in +Donegal and Derry (with which I will not trouble the reader) I saw the +last of the Irish shore early in September, and on the 10th of October +reached Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>I close here with this reflection: Had I been transported or hanged, I +have no doubt full justice would be done me, because it would be +nobody's interest to do me injustice. Had I kept silent, I might have +lived an easy, prudent, reputable sort of life enough. But I established +a journal on reaching America, and whereas my spine is not made of +whalebone nor my conscience of indiarubber, I spoke the truth as I knew +it in all things freely—thereby offending divers parties. This, I +believe, could not be helped. After nearly a year of silence<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19" /><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> I have +at last (in self-defence) written this narrative, of which I assure the +readers they never would have heard a word from me, but that +misrepresentations not to be borne demanded its publicity. Those who +from want of information misrepresented me hitherto can do so no more; +and those who, knowing these facts, yet wilfully maligned me, I have now +deprived of the power to do me further injury. Truth is powerful, and +this is truth.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298" /><b>II</b></p> + +<p class="center">THE PROCLAMATION OF DOHENY AND HIS COLLEAGUES</p> + +<p class="center">By the Lord Lieutenant General and General-Governor of Ireland</p> + +<p class="center">A PROCLAMATION</p> + + +<p>CLARENDON—</p> + +<p>Whereas we have received information that THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN +B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY have been guilty of treasonable practices, +now we the Lord Lieutenant being determined to bring the said THOMAS +FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY to justice, do hereby +offer a reward of</p> + +<p class="center">THREE HUNDRED POUNDS</p> + +<p>to any person or persons who shall secure and deliver up to safe custody +the person of any one of them, the said THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. +DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY.</p> + +<p>And we do hereby strictly charge and command all justices of the peace, +mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables and all other of her Majesty's +loyal subjects to use their utmost-diligence in apprehending the said +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY.</p> + +<p>Given at her Majesty's Castle of Dublin, this 28th day of July, 1848.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">By his Excellency's Command,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">T.N. REDINGTON.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299" /><b>III</b></p> + +<p class="center">"THE HUE AND CRY"</p> + + +<p>The official description of himself read by Thomas Darcy M'Gee was more +accurate and less intentionally insulting than the official descriptions +of most of his colleagues compiled in Dublin Castle and published in the +<i>Hue and Cry</i> of July 27th, 1848. Probably no other official document +issued to the public in the last hundred years by Dublin Castle has +equalled this stupid malignity. "Sketches of Doheny and some of the +Confederate leaders, modelled upon the descriptions of burglars and +murderers, that ordinarily adorn the <i>Hue and Cry</i> were," wrote Sir +Charles Gavan Duffy, a generation later, "issued for the enjoyment of +loyal persons." The <i>Freeman's Journal</i> of the day wrote that the public +who were acquainted with the appearance of the gentlemen described will +read with feelings of contempt the malignant effort to insult and wound +the relatives of the men proscribed by the issue of a written caricature +of their persons. This remarkable production of the genius and spirit of +Dublin Castle, read as follows:—</p> + +<p class="center"> +DESCRIPTION OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH<br /> +TREASONABLE PRACTICES<br /> +</p> + +<p>WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN.—No occupation; forty-six years of age; six feet +in height; sandy hair; dark eyes; sallow, long face; has a sneering +smile constantly on his face; full whiskers; sandy; a little grey; +well-set man; walks erect; dresses well.</p> + +<p>THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.—No occupation; twenty-five years of age; five +feet nine inches; dark, nearly black hair; light blue eyes; pale face; +high cheekbones; peculiar expression about the eyes; cocked nose; no +whiskers; well-dressed.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300" />JOHN B. DILLON.—Barrister; thirty-two years of age; five feet eleven +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; thin sallow face; rather thin +black whiskers; dressed respectable; has bilious look.</p> + +<p>MICHAEL DOHENY.—Barrister; forty years of age; five feet eight inches +in height; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; coarse red face like a man +given to drink; high cheekbones; wants several of his teeth; very vulgar +appearance; peculiar coarse unpleasant voice; dress respectable; small +short red whiskers.</p> + +<p>MICHAEL CREAN.—Shopman at a shoe-shop; thirty-five years of age; five +feet eight inches; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; full face; light +whiskers; high fore-head; well-set person; dress, dark shooting frock or +grey tweed, and grey tweed trousers.</p> + +<p>FRANCIS MORGAN.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20" /><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a>—Solicitor; forty-three years of age; five feet +eight inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; sallow broad face; +nose a little cocked; the upper lip turns out when speaking; rather +stout; smart gait; black whiskers.</p> + +<p>PATRICK JAMES SMITH.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21" /><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a>—Studying for the bar; twenty-nine years of +age; five feet nine inches in height; fair hair; dark eyes; fair +delicate face and of weak appearance; long back; weak in his walk; small +whiskers; clothing indifferent.</p> + +<p>JOHN HETHERINGTON DRUMM.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22" /><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a>—Medical student; twenty years of age; five +feet three inches in height; very black and curly hair; black eyes; pale +delicate face; rather thin person; delicate appearance; no whiskers; +small face and nose; dressed respectably; Methodist.</p> + +<p>THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE.—Connected with the <i>Nation</i> newspaper; +twenty-three years of age; five feet three inches in height; black hair; +dark face; <a name="Page_301" id="Page_301" />delicate, pale, thin man; dresses generally black shooting +coat, plaid trousers, light vest.</p> + +<p>JOSEPH BRENNAN.—Sub-Editor of the <i>Felon</i> newspaper; five feet six +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; pale, sallow face; very stout; +round shoulders; Cork accent; no whiskers; hair on the upper lip; soft, +sickly face; rather respectably dressed, a little reduced.</p> + +<p>THOMAS DEVIN REILLY.—Sub-editor of the <i>Felon</i> newspaper; twenty-four +years of age; five feet seven inches in height; sandy coarse hair; grey +eyes; round freckled face; head remarkably broad at the top; broad +shoulders; well-set; dresses well.</p> + +<p>JOHN CANTWELL.—Shopman at a grocer's; thirty-five years of age; five +feet ten inches in height; sandy hair; grey eyes; fair face; good +looking; short whisker, light; rather slight person, dresses ... +Supposed a native of Dublin.</p> + +<p>STEPHEN J. MEANY.—Sub-editor of <i>Irish Tribune</i>; twenty-six years of +age; five feet eleven inches in height; dark hair; full blue eyes; dark +face; small whiskers growing under the chin; smart appearance; was a +constable of the C Division of Police, discharged for dirty habits; +stout person; generally dressed in black.</p> + +<p>RICHARD O'GORMAN, Junior.—Barrister; thirty years of age; five feet +eleven inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; thin long face; +large dark whiskers; well-made and active; walks upright; dresses black +frock coat, tweed trousers.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16" /><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> After the merging of the Irish Confederation in the +abortive Irish League, and the consequent dissolution of the Executive +of the Confederation, a Council of Five was elected to direct the +Confederate Clubs until the new organisation was perfected. The five +elected were John Blake Dillon, Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard +O'Gorman, Junior, Thomas D'Arcy M'Gee, and Thomas Devin Reilly. The five +never met. O'Gorman was out of Dublin when the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17" /><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> The Rev. Thresham Gregg was a notorious and blatant +"anti-Popery" preacher of the period whom the wits of Young Ireland +frequently made the butt of their jests. Apart from his bigoted +sectarian obsession, he was, however, in several respects decidedly +nationalistic, and steadily preached support of home trade and +manufactures to his audiences. There can be no reasonable doubt that he +recognised M'Gee. In this connection it may be stated that the Orangemen +expelled from membership of their body Stephenson Dobbyn, an Orangeman +who acted as a spy for Dublin Castle upon the Young Irelanders—drawing +a clear and proper line between forcibly opposing their fellow +countrymen and acting as spies for England upon them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18" /><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Hercules Street in Belfast, now swept away, was chiefly +inhabited by butchers who were almost all Catholics and fervent +O'Connellites. When the Young Irelanders attempted to hold a meeting in +Belfast shortly after O'Connell's death, the butchers made a fierce +attack upon them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19" /><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> This narrative was written at the beginning of 1850</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20" /><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Law Agent to the Dublin Corporation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21" /><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Patrick Joseph Smyth</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22" /><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Sub-editor of the <i>Nation</i>; afterwards a clergyman.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="LIST_OF_CONTEMPORARIES" id="LIST_OF_CONTEMPORARIES" /><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302" />CONTEMPORARIES MENTIONED IN "THE FELON'S TRACK"</h2> + + +<p>ANGLESEY, LORD (1768-1854).—Henry William Paget, who lost a leg at +Waterloo and erected a monument to its memory. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1828-9, 1830-3.</p> + +<p>ANTISELL, DR. THOMAS.—A Dublin surgeon and chemist of distinction, +author of various pamphlets and addresses to the Royal Dublin Society on +the geology of Ireland, reafforestation, and the sanitary conditions of +Irish town-life. He supplied a large part of the capital to found the +<i>Irish Tribune</i>. After the failure of the insurrection he went to the +United States where he had a distinguished scientific career.</p> + +<p>BANTRY, LORD.—(1801-1884) William Hare White, third earl, Lieut-Col, of +the West Cork Artillery. The title became extinct in 1891.</p> + +<p>BARRY, MICHAEL JOSEPH (1817-1889).—A Cork barrister, editor of "The +Songs of Ireland" in the Library of Ireland, and author of several +martial pieces, including "The Flag of Green." After the failure of the +insurrection he renounced Nationalism and subsequently became a Dublin +Police Magistrate.</p> + +<p>BARRETT, RICHARD (17— -1855).—Brother of Eaton Stannard Barrett of +Cork, the once famous author of "All the Talents." A journalist of +fortune who changed sides with agility and enlisted under O'Connell in +his latter years, having formerly vilified him.</p> + +<p>BRENAN, JOSEPH (1828-1857).—The youngest of the Young Ireland leaders. +Edited Fullam's <i>Irishman</i> in 1849 and unsuccessfully attempted to +revive the insurrection in Waterford and Tipperary. On his failure he +emigrated to the United States and died in New Orleans.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303" />BRODERICK, CAPTAIN.—Inspector-General of Repeal Reading Rooms. He +quitted Conciliation Hall after the death of O'Connell and died mentally +afflicted.</p> + +<p>BRYAN, MAJOR.—Of Raheny Lodge, Co. Dublin. Major Bryan acquired a +moderate fortune in Tasmania and returned to Ireland where he joined the +Repeal movement. He left Conciliation Hall with the Young Irelanders.</p> + +<p>CAMPBELL, SIR JOHN (1779-1861).—Author of the "Lives of the Lord +Chancellors." A Scots Tory politician, raised to the peerage subsequent +to his connection with Ireland, and finally Lord Chancellor of England.</p> + +<p>CANGLEY, DAVID (18— -1847).—A barrister and one of the hopes of Young +Ireland. Ill-health pursued him through life and ended it prematurely.</p> + +<p>CANTWELL, JAMES.—A Dublin mercantile assistant and, later, a +restaurant-proprietor. One of the Council of the Confederation who +supported Mitchel's policy.</p> + +<p>CARLETON, WILLIAM (1794-1869).—Author of "Traits and Stories of the +Irish Peasantry."</p> + +<p>CAVAIGNAC, LOUIS EUGENE (1802-1857).—One of the most distinguished of +the French Generals in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. On +the establishment of the second Republic he was appointed Minister for +War, and when the "Reds" threatened its stability he was invested with +the dictatorship and speedily crushed the insurrection. In the contest +for the Presidency the glamour of Louis Napoleon's name defeated +Cavaignac. After Napoleon's <i>coup-d'etat</i> Cavaignac retired into private +life. He had sympathies with Ireland, and in 1848 gave private +assurances that in the event of an Irish insurrection winning initial +successes, he would bring the influence of France to bear on England to +force her to concede terms to Ireland.</p> + +<p>CAVANAGH, JOHN.—President of the Fitzgerald Confederate Club, Harold's +Cross, Dublin. Wounded at Ballingarry, he was brought to Kilkenny, where +he was <a name="Page_304" id="Page_304" />concealed and cured by Dr. Cane, and later smuggled to France, +whence he proceeded to the United States, became an officer in the army +and was slain in the Civil War.</p> + +<p>"CHRISTABEL" (1815-1881).—Miss M'Carthy, of Kilfademore House, Kenmare, +afterwards Mrs. Downing. A Popular poetess of the period, usually using +the <i>nom-de-guerre</i> of "Christabel." Her best-known poem is "The Grave +of MacCaura." She assisted Doheny and Stephens to escape.</p> + +<p>CLARENDON, EARL OF (1804-1870).—George Villiers, the fourth earl, +according to his English biographers, represented the highest type of +English politician and English gentleman. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, +1846-1852. He hired the editor of an obscene journal in Dublin to +publish libels upon the moral character of the Young Irelanders, and +conducted the affairs of the country from March to June, 1848, under +this man's advice. He paid £3,400 for the services rendered and a demand +for further payments led to a public disclosure of the facts. At the +time Clarendon hired James Birch, Birch had completed a sentence of +imprisonment for criminal libel.</p> + +<p>CLEMENTS, EDWARD.—A barrister. One of O'Connell's "tail" in +Conciliation Hall. The attempt of O'Connell to provide "poor Ned +Clements" with a Government situation precipitated the rupture with +Young Ireland.</p> + +<p>CONWAY, M.G.—A journalist of ability and no principle who followed the +path of fortune. He professed ultra-Catholic views while O'Connell was +in the ascendant. After O'Connell's death he abjured Catholicism to +ingratiate himself with the Ascendancy element.</p> + +<p>CRAMPTON, JUDGE (17— -1858).—Philip Crampton, called to the Bar 1810, +Solicitor-General 1832, and raised to the Bench 1834. One of the judges +at O'Connell's trial, a strong Tory but a clever lawyer.</p> + +<p>CREAN, MICHAEL.—Like M.G. Conway, a Clare man, but of the opposite +type. Crean worked in Dublin as <a name="Page_305" id="Page_305" />a shopman and with Hollywood was one of +the two trades-union leaders on the Council of the Confederation, where +he opposed Mitchel's policy. After the failure of the insurrection he +went to the United States.</p> + +<p>CROLLY, DR. (1780-1849).—Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All +Ireland from 1835 until his death.</p> + +<p>DAUNT, W.J. O'NEILL.—A Co. Cork gentleman, one of O'Connell's first +Protestant supporters in the Repeal Movement. He was elected for Mallow, +but unseated. He ceased to attend Conciliation Hall after the rupture +with the Young Irelanders. Many years later he took a prominent part in +the Home Rule movement.</p> + +<p>DAVIS, THOMAS (1814-1845).—The founder and inspiration of the Young +Ireland movement. Son of an English father of Welsh descent and an Irish +mother. From the inception of <i>The Nation</i> newspaper until his death he +was the chief writer of that journal.</p> + +<p>DILLON, JOHN BLAKE (1816-1866).—The close personal friend of Thomas +Davis and with him one of the founders of the <i>Nation</i>. On his return +from exile he attempted to found an Irish Party in alliance with the +British Radicals and sat in the British Parliament for Tipperary.</p> + +<p>DOYLE, DANIEL.—A Limerick solicitor who acted with John O'Donnell and +O'Gorman in inciting Limerick county to insurrection in July, 1848. +After the failure he escaped across the water.</p> + +<p>DUFFY, CHARLES GAVAN (1816-1903).—One of the three founders of the +<i>Nation</i> and its editor from 1842 to 1854, when he left Ireland for +Australia where he became Prime Minister of Victoria. In 1873 he +received a knighthood.</p> + +<p>"EVA" (1825-1910).—Miss Mary Kelly of Galway, afterwards Mrs. Kevin +Izod O'Doherty. One of the chief poets of the <i>Nation</i>.</p> + +<p>FERGUSON, SAMUEL (1810-1886).—A Belfast barrister and, save Edward +Walsh, the most Gaelic of Irish poets <a name="Page_306" id="Page_306" />in the English language. Ferguson +took a leading part in the Protestant Repeal Association in 1848 and +afterwards became one of the first of Irish archaeologists. In 1878 he +was knighted.</p> + +<p>FITZGERALD, JOHN LOYD.—Of Newcastle West, Limerick. A lawyer of high +standing.</p> + +<p>FITZSIMON, CHRISTOPHER.—Son-in-law of Daniel O'Connell, elected to the +British Parliament for Co. Dublin. He deserted Repeal to support the +Government and was rewarded with the post of Clerk of the Hanaper. His +desertion caused the representation of the Co. Dublin to revert to the +Unionists for half-a-century.</p> + +<p>GRAY, SIR JOHN (1815-1875).—A medical doctor and owner of the +<i>Freeman's Journal</i>, publicly supporting O'Connell, but personally in +sympathy with Young Ireland. He sat in the British Parliament +subsequently for Kilkenny and was an active member of the Dublin +Corporation.</p> + +<p>GRATTAN, HENRY, JUN.—Son of the great Grattan and member for Meath, +1831-52. An honest but weak politician.</p> + +<p>GREY, EARL (1802-1894).—Third Earl. Colonial Secretary in the British +Liberal Government, 1846 to 1852.</p> + +<p>HALPIN, THOMAS M.—Secretary of the Confederation, and a Dublin +working-man. According to Meagher he failed to transmit instructions to +the Dublin Confederate Clubs to rise in insurrection in the streets of +the capital when the fight opened in Tipperary. Halpin denied +emphatically having received such orders. After the insurrection he made +his way to the United States.</p> + +<p>HEYTESBURY, LORD (1779-1860).—William A'Court, British Envoy in Spain +and Naples, and Ambassador in Portugal and Russia. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1844-6.</p> + +<p>HOGAN, JOHN (1800-1858).—One of the greatest of modern sculptors. With +MacManus and other artists <a name="Page_307" id="Page_307" />he presented O'Connell with the "Repeal +Cap," modelled on the Irish Crown.</p> + +<p>HOLLYWOOD, EDWARD.—A silk-weaver and, with Michael Crean, an artisan +leader. He acted as treasurer of the Davis Confederate Club. Arrested in +Wicklow with D'Arcy M'Gee for sedition, but the prosecution was +abandoned. After the insurrection he escaped to France, and some years +later returned to Dublin.</p> + +<p>HOLMES, ROBERT (1765-1859).—Brother-in-law of Thomas Addis and Robert +Emmet, and a vehement opponent of the Union in 1799-1800. He declined to +accept promotion at the Bar while the Union endured.</p> + +<p>HUDSON, WILLIAM ELIOT (1797-1853).—Described by Thomas Davis as the +best man and the best Irishman he ever knew. A man of fortune and +culture who devoted his leisure and his wealth to helping every movement +for the betterment of Ireland.</p> + +<p>HUME, JOSEPH (1777-1855).—An English politician who sat in the British +Parliament for English, Irish, and Scotch constituencies as Tory and +later as Radical. Chief author of the Radical shibboleth, "Peace, +Retrenchment and Reform."</p> + +<p>IRELAND, RICHARD.—A barrister, one of the founders of the Protestant +Repeal Association in 1848. He emigrated to Australia afterwards and +became Attorney-General of Victoria.</p> + +<p>KENYON, FATHER (18— -1869).—Curate and afterwards Parish Priest of +Templederry in Tipperary. A strong opponent of the "Old Irelanders" and +the close political and personal friend of John Mitchel.</p> + +<p>LALOR, JAMES FINTAN (1810-49).—Son of Patrick Lalor, M.P. of Queen's +Co. A vigorous writer whose agrarian doctrine was converted by Henry +George into Land Nationalisation—which it was not. He contributed to +the <i>Nation</i> and the <i>Felon</i>, 1847-8, and attempted an insurrectionary +conspiracy, 1849.</p> + +<p>LAMARTINE, ALPHONSE DE (1790-1869).—Minister for Foreign Affairs in the +French Republican Govern<a name="Page_308" id="Page_308" />ment. The British Ministry through Lord +Normanby threatened him with the possible rupture of diplomatic +relations if he gave an encouraging reply to the Young Ireland +deputation. Politically Lamartine was more of the school of the British +Whigs of his period than of any native French school. His high character +and literary abilities were held in deserved esteem by his countrymen, +but as a man of affairs he was never really successful.</p> + +<p>LANE, DENNY (1818-95).—A Cork commercial man who identified himself +prominently with the Young Ireland cause in Munster. Author of +"Carrigdhoun" and some other popular ballads.</p> + +<p>LAWLESS, HON. CECIL.—Son of Lord Cloncurry. An O'Connellite Repealer +and somewhat virulent opponent of the Young Irelanders who nicknamed him +"Artful Cecil."</p> + +<p>LEDRU-ROLLIN, ALEXANDRE (1808-74).—Minister of the Interior in the +French Republican Government of 1848. He was connected with Ireland by +marriage and strongly sympathised with its people.</p> + +<p>LEFROY, BARON (1776-1869).—One-time member for Trinity College in the +British Parliament. Subsequent to 1848 promoted Lord Chief Justice of +the Queen's Bench, and although he became incapable of discharging the +office he refused to resign it until he had passed his ninetieth year.</p> + +<p>LEYNE, MAURICE RICHARD (1820-1854).—The only member of the O'Connell +family who identified himself with Young Ireland. He was an occasional +contributor to the <i>Nation</i> from 1844 to 1848 and in June of that year, +on the eve of the insurrection, formally joined Young Ireland. On the +revival of the <i>Nation</i> in 1849 he joined Duffy in its editorship.</p> + +<p>LOUIS NAPOLEON (1808-1873).—Son of the King of Holland, nephew of the +great Napoleon, President of the second Republic and, after the <i>coup +d'etat</i> and the plebescite, Emperor of France. Napoleon while in +<a name="Page_309" id="Page_309" />exile manifested some sympathy with Ireland, and as a member of the +French Republic was, like Cavaignac, willing to intervene on this +country's behalf with England if the Young Irelanders had succeeded in +winning initial engagements against the British forces in the field.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-25" /><a id="image25" href="images/image25-big.jpg"><img src="images/image25.jpg" width="265" height="400" alt="Louis Napoleon (1848)" title="Louis Napoleon (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">Louis Napoleon (1848)</p> +</div> + +<p>MACHALE, ARCHBISHOP (1791-1881).—"John of Tuam"—the greatest of the +Irish prelates of his time. He was in partial sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, but opposed to them on several educational questions.</p> + +<p>MACNEVIN, THOMAS (1810-1848).—A leading Young Irelander and college +friend of Davis. Author, in the Library of Ireland, of "The Confiscation +of Ulster" and "The History of the Volunteers."</p> + +<p>MACMANUS, TERENCE BELLEW (1823-60).—A prosperous Irish merchant in +Liverpool who relinquished his prosperity to join in the insurrection. +He escaped from the British penal colonies to the United States and died +there in poor circumstances.</p> + +<p>MACLISE, DANIEL (1806-1870).—One of the first painters of his time. He +refused the presidency of the British Royal Academy.</p> + +<p>M'CARTHY, DENIS FLORENCE (1817-1882).—One of the chief poets of the +<i>Nation</i>, afterwards Professor of English Literature in the Catholic +University.</p> + +<p>M'GEE, THOMAS DARCY (1825-1868).—Son of a coast-guard at Carlingford, +Louth. M'Gee between the ages of seventeen and twenty won a remarkable +reputation as a journalist in the United States and came back to Ireland +to take up the editorship of the <i>Freeman's Journal</i>, which he +relinquished to join the <i>Nation</i> staff. After the failure in 1848 +Bishop Maginn procured his escape to America disguised as a priest. +M'Gee, Devin Reilly and Doheny quarrelled in the United States, and +M'Gee's political views gradually modified. He proceeded to Canada, +entered politics, and became one of the first statesmen of the dominion +and a member of the Government. In that position he was con<a name="Page_310" id="Page_310" />tinually +attacked by a section of the Irish as a renegade, and the bitterness of +his replies inflamed feeling. In April, 1868, he was assassinated by an +alleged Fenian. Local and sectional political hatreds appear, however, +to have had more to do with the murder of M'Gee than his virulent +denunciations of the Fenians.</p> + +<p>MAGINN, EDWARD, D.D. (1802-1849).—Son of a farmer at Fintona, Tyrone, +Dr. Maginn entered the Church and speedily became noted for his vigour +of intellect and strength of character. In 1845 he was appointed +coadjutor-Bishop of Derry, and created Bishop of Ortosia in the +Archbishopric of Tyre. A strong advocate of Repeal and tenant-right, he +gradually attorned to the Young Irelanders when he discovered that the +Whig Government had bought up Conciliation Hall. In 1848 he sent Sir +John Gray to Gavan Duffy offering to take the field at the head of the +priests of his diocese if the insurrection were held back until the +harvest had been reaped. The sudden suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, +however, forced the Young Irelanders' hands two months too soon.</p> + +<p>MANGAN, JAMES CLARENCE (1803-49).—The first of the poets of the Young +Ireland period. He declined to write for any but the Irish public, and +died in poverty.</p> + +<p>MARTIN, JOHN (1812-1875).—A landed proprietor of Co. Down. On his +return from transportation, he re-entered Irish politics; was elected in +1870 to the British Parliament, for Meath, and played a leading part in +founding the Home Rule movement.</p> + +<p>"MARY" (1828-69).—With "Eva" and "Speranza" one of the triumvirate of +the women-poets of the <i>Nation</i>: Miss Ellen Mary Downing of +Cork—afterwards a nun, Sister Mary Alphonsus.</p> + +<p>MEAGHER, THOMAS FRANCIS (1823-67).—Son of the O'Connellite member of +the British Parliament for Waterford. He escaped from the British Penal +colonies to the United States in 1852 and served as Brigadier-<a name="Page_311" id="Page_311" />General +on the Federal side during the civil war. When Acting-Governor of +Montana he was drowned in the Mississippi.</p> + +<p>MEANY, STEPHEN JOSEPH.—A journalist, imprisoned in 1848 under the +Habeas Corpus Suspension Act. In the United States he became a leader of +one of the wings of the Fenian Brotherhood and, returning to Ireland in +1866, he was arrested on the way in London and sentenced to a term of +penal servitude.</p> + +<p>MELBOURNE, LORD (1779-1848).—William Lamb, second Viscount, Chief +Secretary of Ireland, 1827-8, and Premier of England with brief +intervals from 1834 to 1841.</p> + +<p>MILEY, JOHN, D.D. (1805-1861).—Curate at the Catholic Pro-Cathedral, +Dublin, and private chaplain to O'Connell. He was the intermediary in +arranging the reunion of the O'Connellites with the Young Irelanders in +the stillborn Irish League. In 1849 he was made Rector of the Irish +College at Paris. On his return to Ireland he was appointed parish +priest of Bray. He was an eloquent preacher, and author of several works +on the Papacy.</p> + +<p>MITCHEL, JOHN (1818-75).—A solicitor of Banbridge, and one of the first +Irish Protestants of note to join the Repeal Association. From the death +of Davis until the end of 1847 he was the chief writer of the <i>Nation</i> +newspaper. On his escape from the British penal colonies in 1853 he +settled in the United States, and took an active part on the Confederate +side in the civil war. He returned to Ireland a few months before his +death, and was elected member of the British Parliament for Tipperary, +as a demonstration of hostility to British Government in Ireland.</p> + +<p>MOORE, JUDGE.—Richard Moore, called to the Bar in 1807, acted for the +defence in the trial of O'Connell and the Traversers, Liberal +Attorney-General in 1846 and "almost Lord Chancellor." He was raised to +the Bench in 1847 and died in 1858.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312" />MONAHAN, JAMES HENRY (1804-78).—Attorney-General in 1848, +Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas, 1850.</p> + +<p>NAGLE, DR.—"A Dublin doctor without patients," who acted as a handyman +for John O'Connell. He was devoid of ability. Subsequently he received a +small Government post.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, DANIEL (1775-1847).—Successor to John Keogh in the +leadership of the Irish Catholics, and although his actual achievements +were not so much greater than those of Keogh and Sweetman, their +brilliancy threw the fame of his predecessors into the shade, where it +still rests.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, MAURICE (1802-53).—Eldest son of Daniel O'Connell, and a +member of the British Parliament. He was the cleverest and most national +of O'Connell's children.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, MORGAN JOHN (1804-85).—Second son to Daniel O'Connell. He +served under General Devereux in South America, entered the British +Parliament as a Repealer, deserted Repeal, and was appointed +Assistant-Registrar of Deeds.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, JOHN (1810-1858).—The chief political assistant of his +father, Daniel O'Connell. After the collapse of the Repeal Association +he received a place from the British Government.</p> + +<p>O'CONNELL, DANIEL, JUN. (1815-1897).—The youngest of O'Connell's sons. +He sat in the British Parliament until 1863, when he was appointed to a +Government post.</p> + +<p>O'CONOR DON, THE (1794-1847).—Repeal M.P. for Roscommon. He deserted to +the Liberals, and was made a Lord of the Treasury.</p> + +<p>O'DEA, PATRICK.—The Young Ireland leader in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick.</p> + +<p>O'DOHERTY, KEVIN IZOD (1823-1895).—Son of a Dublin solicitor. After his +release from transportation he settled in Australia and became prominent +in its politics <a name="Page_313" id="Page_313" />and medical science. In 1885 he returned temporarily to +Ireland, and sat for a brief period in the British Parliament as +Parnellite member for Meath.</p> + +<p>O'DONNELL, JOHN.—A Limerick solicitor and an ardent Young Irelander. +When Richard O'Gorman came to Limerick to urge the people to arms, +O'Donnell travelled through the county with him as his aide-de-camp. On +the news of the outbreak in Tipperary, O'Donnell, Doyle and Daniel +Harnett raised the country around Abbeyfeale, cut off the mails and +pitched an insurgent camp outside the town where the Abbeyfeale men +waited for O'Gorman, who was elsewhere in the county, to take command. +Before his arrival the news of the collapse at Ballingarry arrived and +the Abbeyfeale Camp broke up. O'Donnell escaped from the country with +O'Gorman.</p> + +<p>O'DOWD, JAMES.—A Conciliation Hall lawyer. Afterwards appointed to a +legal position in connection with the London Custom house.</p> + +<p>O'DWYER, CAREW.—Repeal M.P. for Louth, 1832-5. He deserted Repeal and +received a minor position in the Exchequer Court.</p> + +<p>O'FLAHERTY, MARTIN.—A Galway solicitor and a member of the Irish +Confederation.</p> + +<p>O'GORMAN, RICHARD, JUN. (1826-1895).—Son of Richard O'Gorman of the +Woollen Hall, one of the foremost Dublin merchants and Catholic leaders +in the Emancipation struggle. O'Gorman settled in New York after his +escape and became a judge of the Superior Court.</p> + +<p>O'HEA, JAMES.—A lawyer described by Davis as of "vast abilities."</p> + +<p>O'LOGHLEN, SIR COLMAN (1819-1877).—Second baronet, son of the Master of +the Rolls. Afterwards M.P. for Clare, a Privy Councillor and +Judge-Advocate-General.</p> + +<p>O'MAHONY, JOHN (1816-1877).—A gentleman-farmer of ancient lineage and +high scholarship. After the <a name="Page_314" id="Page_314" />second attempt to kindle insurrection he +fled to the Continent and later proceeded to the United States, where +with Doheny and Stephens he founded Fenianism.</p> + +<p>PEEL, SIR ROBERT (1788-1850).—Chief Secretary for Ireland and organiser +of the "new police"—hence "peelers." In politics an opportunist, +opposing and supporting Catholic Emancipation and Free Trade. Premier of +England, 1834-5, 1841-6.</p> + +<p>PENNEFATHER, BARON (1773-1859).—Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, +1821, and for thirty-eight years a judge.</p> + +<p>PIGOT, CHIEF BARON (1797-1872).—Son of Dr. Pigot of Mallow and one of +the founders of the attempted National Whig Party in the period 1820-30. +He was a cultured man and an upright judge.</p> + +<p>PIGOT, JOHN E. (1822-1871).—Eldest son of Chief Baron Pigot and the +intimate comrade of Thomas Davis. Author of many ballads and articles in +the <i>Nation</i> and other National journals, and an ardent collector of +Irish music.</p> + +<p>PLUNKET, LORD (1764-1854).—William Conyngham Plunket, member for +Charlemont in the Irish Parliament and a bitter opponent of the Union. +Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1830 to 1841.</p> + +<p>RAY, THOMAS MATTHEW (1801-1881).—A Dublin trades-union leader of great +organising ability, appointed by O'Connell secretary of the Repeal +Association. Subsequently Assistant-Registrar of Deeds.</p> + +<p>REILLY, THOMAS DEVIN (1823-1854).—One of the <i>Nation</i> staff and one of +the few leading Young Irelanders who supported Mitchel on the division +in the Confederation in 1848. In the United States he won a foremost +position as a political writer.</p> + +<p>REYNOLDS, JOHN.—An Alderman of the Dublin Corporation and M.P. for +Dublin City in the British Parliament, 1847-52. Subsequently Lord Mayor. +He was utterly corrupt and a mob-leader.<a name="Page_315" id="Page_315" /></p> + +<p>ROEBUCK, J.A. (1801-79).—An English politician who professed +Independent views, and from the violence of his denunciation of his +opponents was nicknamed "Tear 'em."</p> + +<p>RUSSELL, LORD JOHN (1792-1878).—Liberal Prime Minister of England, +1846-52, and again, 1865. He successfully opposed Lord George Bentinck's +proposal to preserve the Irish from famine and pauperism by undertaking +the construction of railways.</p> + +<p>SAVAGE, JOHN (1828-1888).—One of the founders of the <i>Irish Tribune</i>. +After the complete failure of the insurrection, he escaped to the United +States where he became eminent in literature and for a time head of the +Fenian movement.</p> + +<p>SHEIL, RICHARD LALOR (1791-1851).—Dramatist, orator and politician. +Deserted Repeal and was made British minister at Florence. Subsequently +Master of the Mint.</p> + +<p>SHIELDS, JAMES, GENERAL (1807-1879).—Born near Dungannon, Shields +emigrated in early life to the United States, where he attained +distinction in journalism and subsequently celebrity as a lawyer. On the +outbreak of war with Mexico, he forsook the Bar for arms, and as a +soldier acquired even higher renown. In 1848 he was chosen as governor +of Oregon, and was considered one of the ablest of the United States +Generals. His political views being in sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, several of them looked towards Shields as another Eoghan +Ruadh, who would accept the call of his country and return to lead the +Irish once they had taken the field. Subsequently Shields engaged in the +Civil War on the Northern side, and, although a comparatively old man, +distinguished himself by defeating General Stonewall Jackson at the +Battle of Winchester, although his army was inferior in numbers and he +had been wounded at the opening of the fight.</p> + +<p>SMYTH, P.J. (1826-1885).—One of the youngest of the Young Ireland +leaders. He escaped from Ireland to <a name="Page_316" id="Page_316" />the United States after the +collapse of the insurrection, and carried out the rescue of Mitchel from +Van Diemen's Land. On his return to Ireland he re-entered politics, and +sat in the British Parliament successively for Westmeath and Tipperary.</p> + +<p>STANLEY, LORD (1802-1869).—Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the British +Liberal Government, 1846-52.</p> + +<p>STAUNTON, MICHAEL.—Proprietor of the <i>Morning Register</i> newspaper and +an alderman of the Dublin Corporation. His memory survives as the +involuntary agent of bringing Duffy and Davis together—and thus leading +to the foundation of <i>The Nation</i>.</p> + +<p>STEPHENS, JAMES (1825-1901).—A Kilkenny railway employe. Afterwards +chief organiser of the Fenian movement, of which, with O'Mahony and +Doheny, he was one of the founders.</p> + +<p>TORRENS, JUDGE.—Called to the Bar, 1798, raised to the Bench, 1823, +where he sat for thirty-three years.</p> + +<p>WILDE, SIR THOMAS (1782-1855).—Lord Truro, Attorney-General to the +British Liberal Government in England, 1846; afterwards Chief Justice of +the Common Pleas and Lord Chancellor of England, 1850-2.</p> + +<p>WILLIAMS, RICHARD DALTON (<ins class="correction" + title="Transcriber's note: Misprinted as '1882' in original.">1822</ins>-1862).—One of the most popular of the +poets of the <i>Nation</i>. The Government prosecution failed in his case, +and he emigrated to the United States where he became Professor of +Belles Lettres in the University of Mobile.</p> + +<p>WYSE, SIR THOMAS (1791-1862).—One of O'Connell's lieutenants in the +Catholic Association, of which he wrote a history. He declined to +support Repeal, but favoured what is now known as Federal Home Rule, +served as a Lord of the Treasury in Melbourne's administration, and +afterwards for many years as British minister at Athens. He was a man of +superior character to the ordinary type of place-seekers, and his +writings won him a temporary European reputation.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus-26" /><a id="image26" href="images/image26-big.jpg"><img src="images/image26.jpg" width="398" height="600" alt="General Cavaignac (1848), Ledru-Rollin (1848), Lamartine (1848)" title="General Cavaignac (1848), Ledru-Rollin (1848), Lamartine (1848)" /></a> +<p class="caption">General Cavaignac (1848), Ledru-Rollin (1848), Lamartine (1848)</p> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317" /><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX" />INDEX HOMINUM</h2> + + +<p> +<br /> +<br /> +Anglesea, Lord, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Antisell Dr., <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Bantry, Lord, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barrett, Richard, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barrett, Eaton Stannard, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Barry, Michael Joseph, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bem, General, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bentinck, Lord George, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Birch, James, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blake, Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Blackburne, Chief Justice, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brenan, Joseph, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Broderick, Captain, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Brown, Bishop, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Bryan, Major, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Byrne, Rev. Father, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Callanan, Jeremiah Joseph, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Campbell, Sir John, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cane, Dr., <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cangley, David, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cantwell, Bishop, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cantwell, James, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Carleton, William, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cavanagh, John, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cavaignac, General, <a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +"Christabel" (Mrs. Downing), <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Clarendon, Lord, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Clements, Edward, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cloncurry, Lord, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Conway, Michael George, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Corvinus, Matthias, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crampton, Judge, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crean, Michael, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Crolly, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cromwell, Oliver, <a href="#Page_x">x</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Curran, John Philpot, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Cunningham, D.P., <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Daunt, W.J. O'Neill, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Davis, Thomas, <a href="#Page_viii">viii</a>, <a href="#Page_ix">ix</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>-<a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>-<a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>-<a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dembinski, General, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Devereux, General, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Dillon, John Blake, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>-<a href="#Page_xvii">xvii</a>, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>-<a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dobbyn, Stephenson, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Doherty, Chief-Justice, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Doyle, Daniel, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Drumm, J.H., <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan, <a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-<a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>-<a href="#Page_122">122</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Duffy, James, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ebrington, Lord, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.<br /> +<br /> +"Eva" (Mrs. Kevin Izod O'Doherty), <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Emmet, Thomas Addis, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318" /> +<br /> +Emmet, Robert, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ferguson, Sir Samuel, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fitzgerald, John Loyd, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fitzgerald, Lord Edward, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fitzpatrick, James, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fitzsimon, Christopher, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +French, Henry Sneyd (High Sheriff of Dublin), <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Fullam, Bernard, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +George, Henry, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gray, Sir John, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grattan, Henry, Jun., <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Grey, Earl, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Gregg, Rev. Thresham, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Halpin, Thomas, M. 112, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Harnett, Daniel, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hartnett, Richard, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hatchell, John, Solicitor-General, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Heytesbury, Lord, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hogan, John, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hollywood, Edward, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Holmes, Robert, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hudson, William Eliot, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Hume, Joseph, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Huniad, Matthias, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ireland, Richard, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Jackson, General "Stonewall," 315.<br /> +<br /> +Jones, Paul, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Kenyon, Father, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Keeley, James, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Lalor, Patrick, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lalor, James Fintan, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lamartine, Alphonse de, <a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lane, Denny, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lawless, Hon. Cecil, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Leach, James, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Ledru-Rollin, Alexandre de, <a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Lefroy, Baron, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>-<a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Leyne, Maurice, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Longmore, Captain, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III.) xix, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +MacHale, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maclise, Daniel 70, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +MacManus, Terence Bellew, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>, <a href="#Page_xxi">xxi</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>-<a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>-<a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +MacNally, Bishop, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.<br /> +<br /> +MacNevin, Thomas, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Maginn, Bishop, <a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mangan, James Clarence, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Martin, John, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>-<a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +"Mary" (Miss Ellen Downing), <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +M'Cabe, Peter, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.<br /> +<br /> +M'Carthy, Denis Florence, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Meagher, Thomas Francis, <a href="#Page_ix">ix</a>, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>-<a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>-<a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>-<a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>-<a href="#Page_199">199</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>-<a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>-<a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Meany, Stephen Joseph, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Melbourne, Lord, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +M'Garahan, Wm., <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.<br /> +<br /> +M'Gee, Thomas D'Arcy, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>, <a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>-<a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Miley, Rev. Dr., <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mitchel, John, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>, <a href="#Page_xiii">xiii</a>, <a href="#Page_xix">xix</a>, <a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>-<a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>-<a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319" /> +<br /> +Mitchel, William Henry, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Monahan, Chief Justice, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Moore, George Henry, <a href="#Page_xi">xi</a>, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Moore, Judge, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Morgan, Francis, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Mullen, Robert, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Murray, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Nagle, Dr., <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Napoleon I., <a href="#Page_298">298</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Normanby, Lord, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +O'Brien, William Smith, <a href="#Page_vii">vii</a>, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>-<a href="#Page_xx">xx</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>-<a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>-<a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>-<a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>-<a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>-<a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>-<a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>-<a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>-<a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, Daniel, <a href="#Page_xxvii">xxvii</a>-<a href="#Page_xxix">xxix</a>, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>-<a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>-<a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>-<a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>-<a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>-<a href="#Page_50">50</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_54">54</a>-59, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>-<a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>-<a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>-<a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-<a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>-<a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>-<a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>-<a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>-<a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, Daniel (Jun.) 47, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, John, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>-<a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, Maurice, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Connell, Morgan, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Conor Don, The, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Connor, Feargus, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Dea, Patrick, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Doherty, Kevin Izod, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>-<a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Donohoe, Patrick, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>-<a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Donnell, John, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Donnell, Richard, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>-<a href="#Page_193">193</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Dowd, James, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Dwyer, Andrew Carew, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Flaherty, Martin, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Gorman, Richard (Jun.), <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Gorman, Richard (Sen.), <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Hagan, John, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Hara, Charles, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Hea, James, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.<br /> +<br /> +O'Loghlen, Sir Colman, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>-<a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Mahony, John, <a href="#Page_xiv">xiv</a>, <a href="#Page_xvii">xvii</a>, <a href="#Page_xviii">xviii</a>, <a href="#Page_xxi">xxi</a>, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>-<a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'Neill, Eoghan Ruadh, <a href="#Page_ix">ix</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Parle, Father, <a href="#Page_xvi">xvi</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Peel, Sir Robert, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pennefather, Baron, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pigot, Chief Baron, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>-<a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pigot, Dr., <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pigot, John Edward, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Pius IX., Pope, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Plunket, Lord, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Quinlan, Margaret, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ray, Thomas Matthew, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reilly, John, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Reilly, Thomas Devin, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>, <a href="#Page_xviii">xviii</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +Reynolds, John, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Roebuck, J.A., <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Russell, Lord John, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>-<a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Savage, John, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>-<a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Shiel, Richard Lalor, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320" /> +<br /> +Shields, General, <a href="#Page_v">v</a>, <a href="#Page_vi">vi</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Sligo, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_xii">xii</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Smyth, Patrick Joseph, <a href="#Page_xv">xv</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stanley, Lord, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Staunton, Michael, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Stephens, James, <a href="#Page_xxi">xxi</a>, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>-<a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>-<a href="#Page_254">254</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Torrens, Judge, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Trant, Captain, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>-<a href="#Page_183">183</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Victoria, Queen, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Walsh, Edward, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wilde, Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wilde, Lady ("Speranza"), <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Williams, Richard Dalton, <a href="#Page_xxx">xxx</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wright, J.D., <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.<br /> +<br /> +Wyse, Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.<br /> +</p> + + +<p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p> </p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Felon's 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Felon's Track, by Michael Doheny + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Felon's Track + History Of The Attempted Outbreak In Ireland, Embracing The Leading + Events In The Irish Struggle From The Year 1843 To The Close Of 1848 + + +Author: Michael Doheny + +Release Date: December 26, 2004 [EBook #14468] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FELON'S TRACK *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Aaron Reed and the PG Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + +[Illustration: Michael Doheny] + + + + +THE FELON'S TRACK + +OR + +HISTORY OF THE ATTEMPTED OUTBREAK + +IN + +IRELAND + +Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle from +the year 1843 to the close of 1848 + + +BY + +MICHAEL DOHENY + +Author of "The American Revolution." + + + Hurrah for the mountain side! + Hurrah for the bivouac! + Hurrah for the heaving tide! + If rocking the Felon's Track! + + +_ORIGINAL EDITION_ + +WITH D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848, A PREFACE, +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR'S CONTEMPORARIES, +AN INDEX, AND ILLUSTRATIONS + + +DUBLIN + +M.H. GILL & SON, LTD. + +1920 + + + +_Printed and Bound in Ireland by +M.H. Gill & Son, Ltd. +50 Upper O'Connell Street +Dublin_ + + +_First Edition_ 1914 +_Second Impression_ 1916 +_Third Impression_ 1918 +_Fourth Impression_ 1920 + + + + +[Illustration: General Shields] + + +_Dedication._ + +TO + +GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS + +UNITED STATES SENATOR, ETC. + + +DEAR SIR,-- + +In dedicating to you this narrative, I have been influenced by one +consideration only. I have no title to your friendship. I cannot claim +the most remote affinity with your career in arms. There is nothing +connected with this sad fragment of history, either in fact or hope, to +suggest any association with your name or achievements. But as my main +object is to show that Ireland's failure was not owing to native +recreancy or cowardice, I feel satisfied that of all living men, your +position and character will best sustain the sole aim of my present +labour and ambition. + +In past history, Ireland holds a high place; but her laurels were won on +foreign fields, and the jealous literary ambition which raised adequate +monuments to these stormy times denied to her swords the distinction +they vindicated for themselves in the hour of combat. The most +brilliant, unscrupulous and daring historian of France degraded the +niggard praise he accorded them by making it the medium of a false and +contemptible sneer. "The Irish soldier," says Voltaire, "fights bravely +everywhere but in his own country." + +Without pausing here to vindicate that country from such ungrateful +slander, it is enough to say that you were not placed in the same +unhappy position as the illustrious exiles from the last Irish +army--soldiers of fortune in the service of a foreign prince. You were a +citizen of this free Republic, and a volunteer in its ranks; it was +_your_ country, and you and your compatriots who followed the same +standard did no dishonour to those who were bravest among the brave on +the best debated fields in Europe. + +In the wreck of every hope, all who yet cherish the ambition of +realising for Ireland an independent destiny, point to your career as an +encouraging augury, if not a complete justification for not despairing +of their country. It is because I am among those that I have claimed the +honour of inscribing your name on the first page of this, my latest +labour in her cause. + +I remain, dear Sir, + +Very respectfully and sincerely yours, + +MICHAEL DOHENY. + +_New York, Sept. 20, 1849._ + + + + +PREFACE + + +The Irish Confederation still awaits its historian. Three of its leaders +have left narratives of its brief and momentous career, but, of the +three, Doheny alone participated in the Insurrection that dug the +political grave of Young Ireland. In "The Felon's Track," written hot on +his escape from the stricken land, he tells the story vividly and +passionately. It has morals deducible for all manner of Irishmen, and +one for those English statesmen who comfort themselves with the illusion +that Irish Nationalism, like Jacobitism, is a platonic sentiment. The +man who, roused from his bed at midnight by tapping fingers on his +window and a voice whispering that insurrection was afoot, rose and rode +away in the darkness to join himself to its desperate fortunes was no +young man ardent for adventure. Michael Doheny, when he left his home +and his career to engage in the fatal enterprise, was a sober +middle-aged barrister, a man of weight and fortune into which he had +built himself by the hard toil of twenty years. His social anchorages +were deep-cast--and no mere sentiment provokes such a man to throw aside +the hard-won harvest of his life and risk the rebel's or the felon's +fate. + +In the leadership of the Young Ireland party Michael Doheny was, save +Smith O'Brien, the oldest man and, like O'Brien, his counsels while +courageous were always restrained. There was little other likeness +between the men. Doheny sprang from the poorest class of the Irish +farmers. At Brookfield, near Fethard in Tipperary, where he was born in +May, 1805, he followed the plough on his father's little holding, +earning literally his bread in the sweat of his brow, and educating +himself how he could, for his people were too poor to pay for his +schooling. His indomitable perseverance and his thirst for knowledge +overcame the formidable obstacles of fortune, and at thirty years of age +the poor peasant boy had become a barrister of reputation for ability +and fearlessness. He returned to his native county to become the most +popular and trusted of its "counsellors"--the advocate who did not fear +to face and beard Influence and Ascendancy in its courts. The city of +Cashel had had much of its property alienated and long enjoyed by local +magnates whom none were willing to offend. Doheny fought and defeated +them and regained the purloined estates for the people. He was made +Legal Adviser to the Borough of Cashel and when later the pestilence +fell upon the place, and even the men employed to carry the sick to +hospital lost courage and fled, Doheny showed the same manly example of +citizenship and duty which years later forced him "on the Felon's path," +by carrying in his strong arms to shelter and relief the deserted +victims of the plague. Davis who marked his character, and knew that on +such men a free and self-respecting Ireland must be rebuilt induced him +to enter the Repeal movement of 1842, and in its councils he swayed the +influence of a strong, sincere, able and incorruptible man until the +Association fell into the toils of the English Whigs. Then he quitted +it and formally adhered to the Young Irelanders. To them he was +invaluable for his eloquence--less brilliant and polished than that of +Meagher, but more effective in its appeal to the heart of the peasantry +whom Doheny knew better than any of his colleagues. On a platform he +triumphed, but with the pen he was often ineffective. His admiration and +reverence for Davis misled him into laboriously imitating Davis's style, +and the result was what it must always be when one man attempts to +express his ideas not in his own way but as he thinks a greater man +would express them. Much that would have been impressive and lucid as +Doheny becomes unimpressive and clouded as Doheny-Davis. In a few of his +verses and "The Felon's Track" Doheny the writer will survive. As a man +who gave up all to help his country and served her like a gallant son, +his memory must be honoured while Ireland has virtue. + +The Irish Confederation, on whose council Doheny sat, was noble in +conception, true in policy and able and honest in its membership. Never +in the leadership of the modern Nationalist movement has there been the +peer in genius and character of the men who founded and inspired that +brilliant and short-lived organisation. In its career it went nearer to +bridging the differences of class and creed in Ireland than any previous +organisation since the Volunteers at Dungannon proclaimed themselves +Irishmen and hailed their oppressed Catholic countrymen fellow-citizens. +But the Confederation was not yet six months old when it was called on +to face a situation in Ireland as terrible as that which confronted +Irishmen when Eoghan Ruadh O'Neill lay dead and Cromwell marched at the +head of his iron legions to the conquest of a distracted country. The +failure of the potato-crop which menaced Ireland with serious loss at +the birth of the Confederation in January, 1847, threatened the +destruction of the people by the middle of 1847. The Relief measures +provided by the English Whig Government set up a system under which +places, large and small, were provided for some thousands of persons of +political influence. Their tenure of employment depending upon the +ministry, they used that influence to the end of sustaining the +ministry, while the unfortunate small farmers who had hitherto kept on +the right side of the line between poverty and pauperism were forced to +the wrong side. Of all the measures passed under the guise of relieving +"the famine-stricken Irish" the most infamous was that measure which +provided that no farmer should be accorded relief if, the produce of his +farm having gone to discharge his rents, rates and taxes, he hungered +and yet strove to hold his farm. Before he was permitted to receive any +help from the public funds he was required to surrender his land and +become a pauper. Thus under pretext of relieving famine, pauperism was +propagated. + +Be it remembered that all this time there was no _famine_ in Ireland. +The potato-crop, indeed, had failed as it had failed in Great Britain, +France, Germany and other countries at the same period, but the corn +crop was fat and abundant. Each year of the so-called famine, food to +maintain double the whole population was raised from the Irish soil. It +was exported to England to feed the English people. Nobody starved in +Germany. The German governments ordered the ports to be closed to the +export of food until the danger had passed. The Irish Confederation +demanded the same measure. "Close the Irish ports," it called to the +British Government, "and no man can die of hunger in Ireland." The +British Government, instead, flung the ports wide open. The great +principle of Free Trade required that the Irish should export their food +freely. Relief ships from foreign countries laden with the food +subscribed by charitable people to succour the starving Irish met +occasionally ships sailing out of the Irish ports laden with food reaped +by the starving Irish. On the quays of Galway the unhappy people wailed +as they saw their harvests borne away from them, and were admonished by +the butt-ends of British muskets, the British Government meantime +passing Relief measures which provided employment for hordes of English +officials and Irish understrappers, and pauper-relief for those who +surrendered their manhood and their property--the cost of this relief, +like the cost of the passage of the Act of Union, being debited to +Ireland--a generous loan in fact. + +No doubt a union of the whole Irish people would have rendered all this +impossible. The Irish Confederation worked hard to bring about this +essential union. Directly and indirectly it achieved for a moment a +semblance of national unity. The Irish Council, composed largely of the +resident landlords--who mostly endeavoured to alleviate the +distress--came into being, reasoned with the Government and, when the +Government ignored reason, fell to pieces. George Henry Moore, a young +sporting landlord and a Tory (afterwards, as a result, to become a +Nationalist leader), conceived the design of getting all the Irish +members of the British Parliament to act together against the existing +British Government or any British Government which did not deal honestly +and effectively with the crisis. With the Marquis of Sligo, a nobleman +who did his duty to his tenantry during the Famine, Moore travelled +around Ireland and secured between sixty and seventy Irish members of +Parliament and forty-five Irish peers to subscribe to his independence +programme. They met in Dublin, resolved boldly, departed for London +cheered by the nation, and crumbled there at the Premier's frown. When +the Tory Lord George Bentinck proposed that instead of pauperising the +Irish by a vote of four or five millions for relief there should be a +vote of sixteen millions for railway construction, the Premier, Lord +John Russell, threatened the Irish members with his displeasure if they +supported Bentinck, and the majority of them thereupon opposed the +proposal of reproductive work for the people in lieu of pauper relief. + +It was in these circumstances Mitchel put forward his policy in the +Confederation of arming the people and bidding them hold their harvests. +The Confederation rejected the policy, still hoping to effect a national +union. Through such a union alone, it declared, could national +independence be achieved. Doheny strongly opposed Mitchel on this +ground. Mitchel's reply was simple. He had been and was ready to follow +the aristocrats of Ireland if they would lead. They would not lead, and +meanwhile the people perished. Therefore he would urge the people to +save themselves. The policy of the Confederation in normal times would +have been nationally sound. The circumstances had become abnormal, and +Mitchel's policy was suited to the abnormal circumstances. His +conviction that the British Government was deliberately using the +potato-crop failure for the purpose of reducing the Irish +population--which then was equal to more than half the population of +England and a menace to that country, as one of its statesmen +incautiously admitted--was a conviction not shared by the bulk of his +colleagues. They shrank from it as men will shrink from a conclusion +that horrifies the human nature in them. Mitchel went outside the +Confederation to preach his policy, and he might have preached it +without result had not the French Revolution turned men's minds to the +contemplation of arms and armed opinion. The arrest, indictment and +conviction of Mitchel, Doheny has described graphically. The reasons +that prevailed against attempting Mitchel's rescue, Doheny cogently +states. There is no reason to doubt that an attempt to rescue Mitchel +would have been a failure in its object. But there are occasions when it +is wiser to attempt the impossible than to acquiesce. The unchallenged +removal of Mitchel in chains from Ireland had a moral effect on the +country that was worth 20,000 additional troops to the Government. + +Thereafter, the Confederation vacillated in its policy and finally +permitted itself, in its desire for Unity as the potent weapon, to be +extinguished in favour of an Irish League which was to combine +O'Connellites and Young Irelanders. The Irish League met once, and died. +The Confederation had been hoodwinked. Doheny who opposed the +amalgamation, retired to Cashel, severing his connection with the former +Confederation. He was, therefore, free in honour to have taken no part +in the insurrection, since it was begun by men from whom he had +withdrawn. But when the voice in the night whispered through his window +that his former colleagues had crossed the Rubicon, Doheny, like the man +he was, rose and rode forth to make the fatal passage and stand or fall +with them. + +From this point, Doheny's narrative may be supplemented and corrected by +information that was not at the time he wrote available to him. Meagher, +Leyne, M'Gee, O'Mahony and MacManus, have left in newspaper articles and +in MS. accounts of what happened in the light of which Doheny's +narrative must be read. + +On Thursday, July 20th, 1848, the British Government issued a +proclamation ordering the people of Ireland to surrender their arms. +Thomas Francis Meagher, who was at the time in Waterford, issued a +counter-proclamation to the people of that city bidding them to hold +them fast. He then hurried to Dublin to consult with his colleagues and +he arrived in the metropolis the next day. There had been a strong +division of opinion in the Confederate clubs as to how the Government +proclamation should be treated, the general feeling of the rank-and-file +inclining to open resistance. The leaders counselled a waiting policy +until the harvest had been gathered, the arms to be concealed meanwhile. +This counsel prevailed against the remonstrance of one of the Dublin +leaders that if heaven rained down loaded rifles they would wait for +angels to pull the triggers. If the insurrection could have been +postponed until the harvest the counsel would have been sound. The +Young Ireland leaders forgot, however, that the Government had one +powerful weapon in reserve with which it might force their hands--the +Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. On July 21st Meagher and his +comrades and the Dublin leaders discussed and arranged the outline of a +contingent insurrectionary plan for the autumn. O'Brien left for Wexford +and O'Gorman for Limerick to organise those counties. The next morning +the news reached those who remained in Dublin that the Habeas Corpus Act +had been suspended, and that a warrant was on its way to Ireland for the +arrest of Smith O'Brien. The choice left was to fight, to become +fugitives, or to surrender. Dillon, M'Gee, Reilly, P.J. Smyth and +Meagher decided hurriedly on the first course. They rejected the +proposal to begin the fight in Dublin, as they believed it would be +hopeless with the resources at their disposal to contend against a +disciplined garrison of 11,000 men in a city a large proportion of whose +population was hostile. Kilkenny was regarded as a stronghold of the +Confederation, and Dillon suggested it should be the objective. Dillon +and Meagher quitted Dublin to seek O'Brien; Reilly and Smyth started for +Tipperary, and M'Gee for Scotland where it was hoped the Glasgow Irish +could be induced to rise, seize some of the Clyde steamers and effect a +landing in Sligo or Mayo which might rouse Connacht and western Ulster +to the assistance of the South. + +Dillon and Meagher left Dublin on the night of the 22nd of July by the +mailcoach for Enniscorthy. Neither had the slightest hope of a +successful insurrection, but they felt that honour and its future +survival demanded that a nation must reply to the command of a foreign +power to gag its mouth and throw down its arms by drawing the sword. +They found Smith O'Brien at Enniscorthy and he joined in their views. +Father Parle and the people of Enniscorthy undertook to defend O'Brien +by force of arms if any attempt were made to arrest him there, and +agreed that if he went into Kilkenny and Tipperary and succeeded in +arousing those counties Wexford would take up arms. O'Brien and his +colleagues moved towards Kilkenny through Graiguenamanagh where the +people received them with enthusiasm, and they arrived in what they +hoped to make again the provisional capital of Ireland in the evening of +the 23rd of July. + +[Illustration: Terence Bellew MacManus] + +The considerations in favour of beginning the insurrection in Kilkenny +were sound. It was the one Irish city of importance inaccessible to +British naval power, it offered a convenient rallying-centre for the +counties of Tipperary, Waterford, and Wexford upon which the Young +Ireland leaders relied, the country around it was well-adapted for +defensive fighting against superior forces, and it had an historic +appeal to the Irish imagination. The arrival of the insurgent leaders +was hailed with joy by the people, and there was no doubt of the +readiness of the populace to fight. But an examination of the military +resources of the place showed that the British forces consisted of 1,000 +troops in a strongly-defended position, while amongst the Irish there +were but 200 armed men and the gunsmiths' shops in the city could not +arm a hundred more. The decision not to strike the first blow at +Kilkenny in the circumstances was inevitable. It was agreed to make +for Carrick-on-Suir, another Young Ireland town, seize the place and +march at the head of the elated Tipperarymen on Kilkenny. On Monday, +July 24th, O'Brien, Meagher and Dillon left for Carrick-on-Suir, and on +the way they were received with enthusiasm at Callan, where the 8th +Hussars--mainly composed of Irishmen--manifested sympathy with the +insurrectionary propaganda. Near Carrick they were joined by John +O'Mahony, a landed proprietor of the neighbourhood, afterwards to become +famous as the founder of Fenianism. By descent, education and character +a leader of men, O'Mahony had thousands of followers among the people +ready to rally to any venture for Ireland at his call. "His square, +broad frame," wrote Meagher, "his frank, gay, fearless look; the warm +forcible headlong earnestness of his manner; the quickness and +elasticity of his movements; the rapid glances of his clear full eye; +the proud bearing of his head; everything about him struck us with a +brilliant and exciting effect, as he threw himself from his saddle and, +tossing the bridle on his arm, hastened to meet and welcome us. At a +glance we recognised in him a true leader for the generous, passionate, +intrepid peasantry of the South." O'Mahony strongly advised them to +begin the insurrection that night in Carrick, and he left to collect the +peasantry. O'Brien and his comrades proceeded to the town where the +people received them with frenzied enthusiasm, calling out to be led +immediately to the fray. "A torrent of human beings rushing through +lanes and narrow streets"--such is Meagher's description of the +scene--"surging and boiling against the white basements ... wild, +half-stifled, passionate, frantic prayers of hope ... curses on the red +flag: scornful delirious defiances of death.... It was the Revolution if +we had accepted it." But it was not accepted. The local leaders were +unworthy of the people. They persuaded O'Brien to go elsewhere. It was a +cardinal and egregious mistake which he regretted within twenty-four +hours. Had he brushed the quavering local leaders aside and given the +word to the imploring people of Carrick the insurrection of 1848 would +have become respectable. O'Mahony's followers to the number of 12,000 +were on the march to Carrick when the news reached them of O'Brien's +departure. Disheartened they broke up and returned to their homes. + +Doheny's account of what happened after the fatal retreat from Carrick +needs to be amplified in connection with the final error of O'Brien's +leadership. At the Council of War on the 28th of July O'Brien rejected +the proposal to seize for the use of his followers all things needful, +paying for them with drafts on the future Irish Government, and he +declined the other practical proposal to offer farms rent-free to all +who fought for Ireland. Neither would he assent to the suggestion that +he and the other leaders should go into hiding until the harvest was +reaped. Willing to fight and ready to die, he would not consent to +conduct a revolution on revolutionary lines. The departure of Doheny and +others--save Devin Reilly, who urged the abandonment of the insurrection +as hopeless--was in pursuance of their plan to await the gathering of +the harvest. + +O'Brien's attitude at the Council of War destroyed the last hope of the +insurrection. He expected to get men to fight under his standard while +he essayed no adequate provision for their support in the field, and +interdicted them from interference with private property to supply them +with the necessaries of the campaign. No nobler and braver man has +appeared in modern Irish history than William Smith O'Brien, but at the +head of an insurrectionary movement he was incompetent. There was none +of his lieutenants who, in his position, could not have made the +insurrection to some extent formidable. + +That it could have been successful, few will believe. Mitchel and +Meagher agreed that 1848 would not have been the year of Liberation. But +the former held very justly that the insurrection if it grew to +respectable dimensions might have forced terms from England. The +attitude of France at the time was a factor in the situation. The +pro-Irish minister, Ledru-Rollin, had been checked by the pro-English +minister, Lamartine, but General Cavaignac and Louis Napoleon were, for +divergent reasons, inclined to help Ireland against England, and +assurances had been given that if an Irish insurrection gained +considerable initial successes the French Government would exert +influence on England. A successful blow at Carrick and a subsequent +seizure of Kilkenny and proclamation of Irish independence from that +city was possible, and if realised would have probably led to the +counties of Waterford and Tipperary rising en masse. How far the +insurrection would have spread outside those counties is problematical, +but in the year 1848 they were counties which presented difficulties to +regular troops and advantages to insurgent forces. According to M'Gee, +Sligo was willing to rise if the South made a good beginning and the +Bishop of Derry, Dr. Maginn, sent a message to Gavan Duty that he was +willing to join in the insurrection at the head of his priests once the +harvest was reaped. Doheny's criticism of the action of some of the +Tipperary priests is justified. But of others it is to be remembered +that they were not in sympathy with Young Ireland, that they were not +bound to support an insurrection undertaken irrespective of them, and +that they could not be expected to take the initiative. There were at +least two priests in Tipperary prepared to lead their parishioners to +the insurgent standard if O'Brien struck at any point a successful blow. +O'Brien's indecision was the real cause why the insurrection died in its +birth. + +If courage and devotion could have saved Ireland in 1848, O'Brien and +his comrades would have saved the land. No braver gentlemen could any +nation produce. They asked their countrymen to take no risks they did +not take themselves in the forefront. But courage and devotion alone can +never make an insurrection into a revolution. 1848 was a failure--in one +sense--because there was no second Mitchel in Ireland when the first +Mitchel was hurried off on a British gunboat. + +But 1848 was not a failure in the true sense of failure. For years the +Irish people had submitted to any and every imposition of foreign +tyranny, taught to believe that forcible resistance to outrage on their +national liberties was in itself immoral. The sneer of the satirist +that the Irish were:-- + + "A nation of abortive men + Who shoot the tongue and wield the pen," + +seemed to have grown a reality. Young Ireland evoked the fighting +tradition of the nation once again. Without 1848 the spirit that freed +the Irish Catholic from being tributary to another Church and regained +the land for the farmers would have slept for a century--perhaps for +ever. + +Driven from his country, Doheny with the companion of his fugitive +wanderings, James Stephens, and the chivalrous O'Mahony, founded the +Fenian brotherhood in the United States. Once more before his sudden +death in April, 1862, he saw Ireland--on the occasion of the MacManus +Funeral. + +Let me, said a wise man, always be surrounded by men of sanguine +temperament. Defeat and exile could not dim the faith of Doheny in his +country. The fugitive who had wrecked his fortunes in Ireland's cause +and witnessed a failure which English statesmen believed ended for ever +the dream of Irish independent nationhood, set his foot in exile only to +begin anew to plan Ireland Independent. So long as the sanguine heart +that carried Michael Doheny undaunted along the Felon's Track beats in +the breast of his country the Irish Nation will be indestructible. + +ARTHUR GRIFFITH. + + + + +_This Edition is reprinted from the Original Edition published in New +York by W.H. Holbrooke, Fulton Street, in October, 1849. The portraits +of the Young Ireland leaders are mainly from the daguerreotypes by +Professor Gluckmann, and the illustrations of Tipperary in 1848 are +reproduced from the "Illustrated London News" of that year._ + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. Page +RETROSPECT.--COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE--EARLY DAYS OF +THE ASSOCIATION 1 + +CHAPTER II. +THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS.--THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER-- +PROGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION.--CLONTARF MEETING.--THE STATE +TRIALS.--THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY.--SMITH O'BRIEN.--FEDERALISM. +--THE BEQUESTS ACT 16 + +CHAPTER III. +FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT.--DIFFERENCES +BETWEEN MR. O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE.--FINANCIAL REFORMS IN +THE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION.-- +'82 CLUB.--THE COLLEGES BILL.--DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES +CONSEQUENT UPON IT.--QUARREL WITH MR. DAVIS.--THE GREAT LEVEE +AT THE ROTUNDA.--DECLINE OF THE AGITATION.--CLOSING LABOURS +AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS 42 + +CHAPTER IV. +IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS.-- +CONDUCT OF THE ASSOCIATION.--DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB.-- +MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS TO IRELAND.--DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE 73 + +CHAPTER V +DEFEAT OF PEEL.--ACCESSION OF THE WHIGS.--MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE.--DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL.--MR. O'CONNELL +DENOUNCES THE YOUNG IRELAND PARTY.--CONTINUED DEBATES.-- +QUESTIONS AT ISSUE.--PHYSICAL FORCE.--THE SECESSION.--WHIG +ALLIANCE.--DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE.--FORMATION OF THE +CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER.--MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH.--CLOSE OF +THE YEAR 1847. 98 + +CHAPTER VI +THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL.--HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE, +AND SPEECH.--THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED.--ARREST OF +MESSRS. MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS, AND DUFFY.--CONVICTION OF +MR. MARTIN.--HIS SPEECH.--CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF +MR. O'DOHERTY.--DISSOLUTION OF THE CONFEDERATION.--THE LEAGUE 118 + +CHAPTER VII. +THE OUTBREAK.--MR. O'BRIEN IN CARRICK.--CASHEL.--KILLENAULE, +MULLINAHONE, BALLINGARRY.--AFFAIR AT KILLENAULE.--DEFEAT +OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMONS.--PERSONAL ADVENTURES OF +THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. O'BRIEN'S +ARREST 159 + +CHAPTER VIII. +ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE.-- +ARREST OF TERENCE BELLEW M'MANUS.--CLONMEL SPECIAL +COMMISSION.--TRIAL, CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE +REBELS.--WRIT OF ERROR.--COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.-- +TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES 187 + +CHAPTER IX. +CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS.--DUNGARVAN.--THE +COMERAGHS.--MOUNT MELLERAY.--KILWORTH.--CROSS.-- +DUNMANWAY.--GOUGANE BARRA.--BANTRY BAY.--THE PRIEST'S +LEAP.--KENMARE.--THE REEKS.--KILLARNEY.--TEMPLENOE.-- +DEPARTURE.--CORK.--BRISTOL.--LONDON.--PARIS 201 + +CONCLUSION 283 + +APPENDICES 289 + +LIST OF CONTEMPORARIES 302 + +INDEX 317 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + Facing page + +MICHAEL DOHENY _frontispiece_ + +GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS _dedication_ + +TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS xvi + +WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN xxxii + +THOMAS DAVIS 16 + +JOHN BLAKE DILLON 32 + +CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY 48 + +RICHARD O'GORMAN, JUNIOR 64 + +PATRICK O'DONOHOE 64 + +THOMAS DEVIN REILLY 80 + +JOHN MITCHEL 96 + +ROBERT HOLMES 112 + +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER 128 + +JOHN MARTIN 128 + +KEVIN IZOD O'DOHERTY 144 + +BALLINGARRY, SLIEVENAMON IN THE DISTANCE (1848) 160 + +A STREET IN BALLINGARRY (1848) 176 + +THE WIDOW MCCORMACK'S HOUSE, NEAR BALLINGARRY. (1848) 192 + +THE KNOCKMELDOWN MOUNTAINS FROM ARDFINAN (1848) 208 + +DUNMANWAY PROM THE BRIDGE ON THE CORK ROAD (1848) 224 + +THURLES ON MARKET DAY (August, 1848) 240 + +JOHN O'MAHONY 256 + +JAMES STEPHENS 256 + +AHENY HILL, SHOWING THE CONSTABULARY POLICE BARRACK DESTROYED + BY THE INSURGENTS (1848) 272 + +JOHN SAVAGE 288 + +LOUIS NAPOLEON 308 + +LEDRU-ROLLIN, GENERAL CAVAIGNAC, LAMARTINE (1848) 316 + + + + +AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION + + +There are few facts detailed in the following pages that need +explanation here. If my motive in writing them were personal +gratification, or simply a desire to preserve a memorial of scenes in +which I took an anxious part, I might labour to make the narration more +interesting to my readers, without any care for future consequences. + +But through every disaster I preserved unbroken faith in the purpose and +courage of my country. I believed, and still believe that her true heart +is faithful to liberty and hopeful for the future; and this conviction +involved me in a struggle with the apparently opposite tendency of the +facts I was bound to narrate. Had I to write for a new generation, upon +whom these facts could have made no false impressions, my task would be +easy. I am persuaded that a simple statement of all that occurred would +satisfy any candid mind that no disgrace attached to Ireland in her +recent discomfiture. But I must needs confess that it is a task of +extreme difficulty to reconcile her fall with the pre-conceived notions +or present prejudices of those who read her story through the false +medium of the press; nor do I hope for more than partial success from +the details I have been able to give of the circumstances of which she +was the victim and the dupe. + +It is impossible fully to appreciate the pernicious effect of Mr. +O'Connell's teaching, without reviewing in minute detail the leading +circumstances of his wonderful career and the matchless and countless +resources with which he upheld his fatal system. In dealing with this +part of my subject my difficulties have been multiplied and enhanced by +a strong desire to do him no injustice, and to leave untouched by doubt +or suspicion a character so intertwined with my country's love. But it +became necessary to refer to those acts which chiefly tended to increase +the obstacles which beset our endeavours. In doing this, whether here or +elsewhere in my narrative, if I use phrases which would seem to imply +harshness to his memory, I wish them to be understood as applied in +reference to the attempt to effect the deliverance of Ireland by force +of arms, and establishing her entire and perfect independence. I have +avoided this question, assuming that I wrote only for those who agreed +with me in the belief that such is her true destiny, and the end for +which her children ought to strive. + +In this view of her recent struggle, there can be no doubt of the +tendency of Mr. O'Connell's policy to demoralise, disgrace, enfeeble and +corrupt the Irish people, and it is in that sense, and that only, I have +always spoken of him. + +Another subject, of perhaps greater delicacy and difficulty, was the +part taken by the Catholic clergy. On my arrival in America, I found a +fierce contest agitating, dividing and enfeebling the Irish-American +population. It was asserted on one side that the entire failure was +attributable to the Catholic priests, and that in opposing the +liberation of Ireland they acted in accordance with some recognised +radical principle of the Church. + +I could not assent to either of these propositions. I knew several +priests who were fully prepared to take their share in an armed +conflict; in fact, the vast majority of those I met at the time. And +again, with respect to such as did interfere, and opposed the efforts of +the people's chiefs, I do not believe that one man was influenced by +considerations connected with, or emanating from the Church, in its +corporate capacity. Of Mr. O'Connell's policy, already referred to, +none were blinder victims than some of the priests. It had made such an +impression on them that they scarcely could believe anything was real, +or any sentiment was true; and when they admitted its truth it was only +to prove its madness. Of other and more questionable motives I shall say +nothing here. + +But while I feel the injustice of the sweeping charge made against the +whole body of the priesthood, I would be unfaithful to my purpose and my +convictions if I concealed the acts and language of those among them, +who interposed and unhappily exercised baneful influence on the abortive +attempt of their unfortunate country. I shall only say further that what +relates to them is the only part of my narrative which gave me shame to +tell. + +I have only a word to add in reference to certain proceedings in the +Committee of the Association now made public for the first time. It may +be said, and, I doubt not, will be said, that these were matters which +we were morally pledged to keep secret. I readily admit that, although +there was no obligation whatever, either expressed or implied, as to any +subject discussed in committee any more than in the public hall, still, +I should not disclose any part of its proceedings if I were not +compelled by an imperative necessity. Upon one subject, and that the +most important to the character of my illustrious friend, no other proof +was available. And the tacit understanding, in virtue of which I would +be disposed to admit any obligation of secrecy, does not and could not +extend beyond such matters as would, if divulged, endanger the safety or +impair the efficiency of the Association. What I tell of the proceedings +of the Committee, even if it yet existed, would scarcely have any such +effect. But every one knows it not only does not exist, but that is has +left no memory which it would be possible to degrade. Its physical +existence long survived the last spark of moral vitality, and its +efficiency now consists in this, if it warn all men against the species +of terrorism which finally prevailed in its councils and effected its +overthrow. + +In certain circumstances which I relate, I may possibly make some +mistakes in the dates, owing to the difficulty of finding those dates in +odd numbers and broken volumes of the Journals to which alone I have had +access. + +It would have given me the sincerest pleasure to add to the collection +of heads, which I have been able to procure, those of others who took an +honourable part in the Irish struggle. Foremost among them are John +Martin and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, who followed in the footsteps and +shared the fate of John Mitchel. But I am not aware that there are any +likenesses of them in existence; at all events they are not to be +obtained in this country.[1] + +There are others, too, mentioned in my narrative, whose likenesses I +would feel delighted to present to my readers, and some, who although +cursorily or not at all mentioned, acted a noble and devoted part. Of +the first, are the companions of my wanderings, James Stephens and John +O'Mahony; and of the second, Doctor Antisel, Richard Dalton Williams, +James Cantwell, Richard Hartnet, Patrick O'Dea, and indeed many others, +of whose efforts and sacrifices it would be a source of pride to me to +make honourable mention.[2] + +I may be permitted to take this opportunity to assure them and others of +whom I have not spoken that no name has been omitted by me from any +feelings of dislike or any desire to depreciate the services and +sacrifices of a single man among the hundreds, whose exile or ruin +attests the sincerity of their convictions and the purity of their +patriotism. Even with men who do not take the same view of last year's +history as I do, their names and characters will go far to redeem its +darkest traces from shame and obloquy. They are now scattered over the +wide earth, and there is not one among them from the highest to the +humblest, whom I do not hold in the utmost honour and esteem. + +_New York, September 21, 1849._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: I am glad it has been found easy to supply these in this +edition of the work.--Ed.] + +[Footnote 2: Some of these will also be found in the present +gallery--Ed.] + +[Illustration: William Smith O'Brien] + + + + +CHAPTER I + +RETROSPECT--COMMENCEMENT OF THE REPEAL STRUGGLE.--EARLY DAYS OF THE +ASSOCIATION. + + +The appearance of this narrative will surprise no one. For apology, if +any be needed, the writer may trust to his own share in the transactions +with which it deals; and still more so perhaps to the misrepresentation +to which, during their progress, he had been personally subjected. But +personal vindication imparts neither interest nor importance to history, +while it necessarily detracts from its dignity and good faith. Besides, +time with the disastrous events marking its more recent course, have +silenced the voice of calumny; and the writer undertakes his task with +no personal feeling to gratify or even to consult. The character of +others, now unable to be heard, is far dearer to him than his own: and +while he aspires to justify, before the world, their singular career, +distinguished throughout by generous and lofty passions, surpassing +intellect and measureless love of their country and countrymen--a +career so brilliant and instructive even in the last hours of gloom--he +will endeavour to infuse into the history of their struggles and their +fate, that generous tenderness toward others, that spirit of +self-sacrifice and supreme love of truth, which were among their noblest +characteristics. + +The undertaking suggests but one painful consideration--the +impossibility of treating the subject fully and fairly without +investigating facts far anterior to the late struggle, but coincident in +their effect with its progress and development, and stamping their +pernicious and fatal influence upon the spirit and conduct that led to a +final overthrow. This will necessarily involve an inquiry into the late +conduct and teaching of Mr. O'Connell, which the writer would most +willingly avoid. Mr. O'Connell's name and character fill a mighty space +in history. They are the most cherished recollections in his country's +memory; and she clings to them with loving pride in this her hour of +utter desolation. The hand that traces these recollections would be the +last to aim a blow at the object of her sacred affections; and if in +obedience to a more binding obligation, Mr. O'Connell's policy be +questioned and condemned, his influencing motive shall be unchallenged +and unarraigned. What his final purpose was, and how he had determined +to effect it, had his life been spared, and his course left unimpeded, +now rest with him in his grave. It is for others to write his history +and vindicate his career. By me even his mistakes shall be treated with +forbearance. + +A brief reference to the struggle for Catholic Emancipation becomes here +imperative. That struggle has had no equal in history--nor for its moral +grandeur, nor for its triumph--but for the singular difficulties which +the position of the Irish Catholic imposed on those who engaged in it. +It is an error to call it emancipation. It was neither the first nor the +last, nor even the most important in the train of concessions, which are +entitled to the name of emancipation. The pains and penalties of the +"_penal laws_" had been long abolished, and that barbarous code had been +compressed into cold and stolid exclusiveness. But the vices which a +long and unrelenting slavery had burned into the character of the +country, remained. The lie of law, which assumed the non-existence of +the Catholic had infused itself into his nature, and while it was erased +from the statute book, it was legible on his heart. That terrible +necessity of denying his feelings, his property, his religion and his +very being, had stamped its degrading influence on his nature. In a +moral sense the law had become a truth--there was no people. The +Catholic gentry, giddy by their recent elevation, had only changed for +that semblance of liberty their old stern spirit of resistance and +revenge. Their new concessions hung gracefully around them, but they +were like grafts on an ash stock--their growth was downward, and they +wanted the stature and dignity of the native tree. Such were the means +at Mr. O'Connell's disposal. His enemies on the other hand were false, +powerful, dexterous and unscrupulous. His efforts necessarily partook of +the character both of the weapons he was obliged to wield and the foes +he struck down. As he advanced to eminence and strength, means, the most +crafty and cruel, were taken to overthrow him, every one of which he +foiled by a sagacity infinitely above that of his oppressors. So +successful had he been in deceiving the champions of intolerance, that +of all the great qualities displayed in that wonderful struggle, that +which was most prized was the cunning of evasion. It left behind it an +enduring and destructive influence. Dissimulation in political action +began to be regarded as a public virtue, and long afterwards, when men +sought to assert the dignity of truth, their candour was charged against +them as a heinous crime. It will be seen hereafter how fatally this fact +operated against their efforts. + +The very character of Emancipation has assumed an exaggerated and false +guise. The joy of the nation was boundless--its gratitude immeasurable. +In the shout that hailed the deliverer, earlier deliverers were +forgotten. No one remembered the men whose stupendous exertions wrung +from the reluctant spirit of a far darker time the right of living, of +worship, of enjoying property, and exercising the franchise. All these, +and more, which were once, and not very remotely, denied to the +Catholics had been before this accorded to them. Yet the interest and +importance of winning access to Parliament, to the higher ranks of the +army, and, perhaps a stray seat at the Privy Council, acquired the name +of Emancipation, and Mr. O'Connell monopolised its entire renown. He was +styled the "Liberator," and his achievement designated as "striking the +fetters from the limbs of the slave, and liberating the altar." In +truth, the import of Emancipation was so exaggerated, and its history so +warped, that even now at a distance of more than twenty years, both the +act and the actors are so misunderstood that it requires no little +daring to approach a question involving the sensibilities, prejudices +and passions of an entire generation. + +A truer appreciation might have given Mr. O'Connell a different and +higher destiny. Not alone the boundless exultation of the Catholic but +the mortified pride of the baffled Protestant also stamped its influence +on his fortunes, prospects and career. In proportion as he was to the +former an object of adulation and pride did the latter hoard up in his +heart for him enduring envy and insatiable hate. Another circumstance, +too, which Mr. O'Connell did not create and could not in the beginning +control, contributed to mar his future glory. This was the pecuniary +compensation which the emancipated Catholics kneeled to present him. It +is far from being intended here to disparage the offering or decry its +acceptance. On the contrary, if this were the proper place, both would +be vindicated with zealous pride. But the effect of the continued +collection, on Mr. O'Connell's conduct and efficiency was baneful in the +extreme. And it was among the most prominent circumstances in shaping +his career. + +Mr. O'Connell entered the House of Commons under auspices more +flattering and encouraging than ever smiled on the advent to that +assembly of any other man. In whatever light he was regarded, he was far +the foremost personage of his time. How his subsequent career might +justify the hushed awe with which a proud senate received him if he had +devoted himself to the broad and comprehensive questions of imperial +jurisprudence, for which he seemed so eminently fitted, it would be idle +now to conjecture. Certain it is that no act of his after life, varied +and wonderful as it was, realised the promise of that glad and glorious +morning. + +Lord Anglesea, who had been removed from the viceroyalty for suspected +treachery to the cause of intolerance, was restored to his office, by +more distinguished converts, and was received by the people with +tumultuous acclaim. His popularity was short-lived. The present Chief +Justice, Doherty, was then Attorney-General. He incurred the wrath of +Mr. O'Connell in consequence of treachery which he had exhibited in +conducting a trial at Clonmel. This led to a fierce encounter in the +House of Commons--the first great trial of Mr. O'Connell's powers--in +which Doherty's friends claimed for their champion a decisive victory. +However unjust may be that judgment, Mr. O'Connell's admirers were +compelled to admit that he failed in his impeachment and principally in +consequence of a letter written by Mr. Shiel, then second to no other +Irishman. Mr. Shiel had been associated with the Attorney-General in the +prosecution at Clonmel, and his letter boldly justified the conduct +which the great popular tribune vehemently and indignantly impugned. +This was quite unexpected, and greatly affected Mr. O'Connell's cause. +But whether Mr. Doherty failed or succeeded, he was rewarded, and almost +avowedly, by the Chief Justiceship of the Common Pleas. The appointment +was a direct insult to Mr. O'Connell, and scarcely a less direct insult +to the Irish bar, and the Irish nation. Mr. Doherty was regarded as a +man of great forensic ability, but no legal attainments. He had scarcely +acquired any practice, and no distinction whatever: so that his +elevation to a post he was so inadequate to fill gave universal +dissatisfaction, and was read as evidence that the Government of Ireland +was subservient to an unscrupulous and audacious faction. + +Soon after the date of this appointment the first Repeal Association +was established by Mr. O'Connell. His motives were at once bitterly +assailed. By some he was charged with being influenced by personal +mortification. By some his conduct was attributed to a love of +turbulence and money. By some it was said he only intended the agitation +as a threat, by means of which he could enforce a wiser, more liberal, +and just administration of the law and government in Ireland. Few, if +any, believed him to be in earnest and sincere. But the condition of the +country and the principles of Mr. O'Connell's early life would suggest +higher motives; and the perseverance and intensity of feeling and +purpose, with which he urged the deliverance of his country in after +times, proves that he was a stranger to the sordid considerations which +envy or fear coupled with his first labours in that direction. Certain +it is that, whatever were his motives, it could be no tempting ambition +that determined him to transfer the exercise of his abilities to the +tribune of angry agitation from that more legitimate and loftier arena +which, with unsurpassed energy, he had won. + +The agitation succeeded rapidly. The Government became at once +intolerant and impotent. They proclaimed down the agitation; but this +only imparted to it activity, energy and strength. The Government gave +way to a furious storm which had been long gathering elsewhere. The +great Reform Ministry succeeded with Earl Grey at its head; and in the +struggle for Imperial parliamentary Reform, Ireland and her independence +were forgotten. + +During the intellectual conflict that followed, Mr. O'Connell asserted +his pre-eminence, and won a lofty name. He made far the most successful +speech on the question of Reform. It not only exceeded the ablest +orations of the British leaders, but was, perhaps, the most triumphant +he himself had ever delivered. But his position soon changed. From being +the unanswerable champion of the ministerial majority in the House of +Commons, he took the lead of a small opposition which resisted the +Government on the Irish Bill. Although the minister was the exponent and +stern advocate of the widest liberality, in applying the reform to +England, he undertook to defend, on the very opposite principle, the +niggard liberty he was prepared in the same measure to extend to +Ireland. In this unnatural and unexpected turn of affairs, Mr. O'Connell +took a proud and bold stand, against the Government, and for his +country. The ministry succeeded, but he had more than ever acquired the +confidence and unbounded gratitude of his countrymen. Thenceforward, he +was their acknowledged chief, and his words expressed not more his own +than the public will. + +His remonstrances were vehement and angry, but they were vain. The +ministry disregarded the claims of justice, as well as the voice of the +orator. The quarrel became personal and vindictive to so great an +extent, that Mr. O'Connell's support would almost ensure the defeat of +any measure at the hands of the English Whig faction. + +While this was his position in the House of Commons, he was preparing +the elements of an organisation which was destined to embrace the whole +island. He started the first great Repeal Association, which was at once +attended with marvellous success. Forty-four members of Parliament were +under its control if not in its ranks. A discussion of the merits of +Repeal was forced in the House of Commons by the intemperate zeal of the +member for Cork.[3] The motion was resisted by the whole weight and +influence of the Ministry. But in a resolution proposed as an amendment, +both Houses concurred in acknowledging that Ireland's complaint was +founded in justice, and in solemnly pledging themselves to the practical +redress of her grievances. The resolution was carried to the foot of the +throne, and there received the sanction of royalty. + +But that resolution remained and remains unfulfilled. The ministry which +proposed it, redeemed their promise by an Algerine measure of coercion, +which Mr. O'Connell denounced as "base, bloody and brutal." His +opposition, and their own recreancy of principle, tended rapidly to +their overthrow. Lord Stanley, in hatred to Mr. O'Connell and his +country, abandoned the Government, which he charged with truckling to +the great demagogue's will. The country, on the other hand, withdrew its +confidence from them on the ground that they truckled to their +hereditary foes, and allowed the principles of the Tories to influence +Parliament in the name and through the agency of the Whigs. Division and +weakness followed; and the result was a break-up of the administration, +which was remodelled, with Lord Melbourne for its chief, on the +understanding that more liberal views should govern its future course. +An alliance was entered into with Mr. O'Connell, whose support the Prime +Minister openly claimed and as openly boasted of. Then was formed what +was known as the "Litchfield House Compact." This compact, if such the +understanding that existed can be called, was based upon the assurance +that the most liberal measures of justice should be extended to Ireland, +and that in the administrative department, the Government should apply +itself diligently to the reform and purifying of all public functions +and functionaries. What was the nature or extent of Mr. O'Connell's +engagement, I do not pretend to know. But whether he pledged himself to +abandon for ever the struggle for independence, or only to place it in +abeyance for a season to facilitate the action of the Government in +reference to their good intentions and favourable promises, he so far +fulfilled his engagement as to dissolve the Association. + +That Association was composed of various and very conflicting elements. +The motives which influenced many of its leaders were equally varied. +Many joined it merely because Mr. O'Connell was its founder and its +guide. Many among the middle ranks of society had acquired a sort of +interest in agitation they could not easily surrender. It had gained +them local distinction, and gratified a morbid vanity. Profuse votes of +thanks were their incentive and reward. To correspond with Mr. Ray, or +perhaps the Liberator, consummated their ambition, and for aught beyond +that they felt no concern. Others there were, corrupt by nature and +cunning in design, whose political exertions had personal advancement +for their sole aim; and others still who never believed Mr. O'Connell +sincere, but joined the Association and shouted their approval, because +too contemptible and feeble to acquire distinction except through the +echo of his voice or under shelter of his fame. To the false and the +sordid and the indifferent, the dissolution of the confederacy was a +welcome event: but the people, yet uncorrupted, looked on passively with +agonised hearts. + +Physical contagion generally begins at the bases of society, and trails +its way slowly to the upper ranks, occasionally dealing doom to some +hard hearts that mocked, it may be, its first uncared-for victims. But +moral corruption begins with the highest, and embraces the whole circle +of society in its descent. So it was in this instance. Members of +Parliament who had solemnly pledged themselves to the disenthrallment of +their country, accepted the wages, and entered into the service of the +Government who had one and all vowed they would prevent the fulfilment +of the hustings pledge, even at the risk of a civil war. Among them was +Mr. O'Connell's son, who had taken that pledge before the assembled +people of Meath, his son-in-law, Mr. Fitzsimon, who had sworn it to the +freeholders of the metropolitan county, Mr. Carew O'Dwyer who, in virtue +of the same pledge, obtained the unanimous suffrage of Drogheda, and +several others. Many relatives and friends of Mr. O'Connell obtained +rewards adequate to their services. Agents who had been successful +against Whig candidates now retired into Whig places. The corporate +towns were made over to the Whigs, who held out the understanding that +the sons, nephews and kindred of the leading and deserving citizens +would be provided for in the departments suited to their different +capacities, and varying from the post of tide-waiter, to that of +stipendiary magistrate. Fierce was the struggle which followed, and sore +the disappointment, and many a scalding tear of baffled ambition watered +the way to the aspirant's ruin. + +This is not said for the purpose of disparaging the legitimate ambition +of those who sought advancement in the altered circumstances and +sentiments of the time. But the effect of such a state of things on the +morality of the nation was incalculably injurious. The most solemn +resolution was openly violated, and that by the very men who were +foremost in recommending the national vow. Nor would its tendency be +less fatal, assuming that Mr. O'Connell was correct in supposing that +the experiment would be vain, and that its failure could not fail to +supply new and more urgent reasons for the nation's independence. The +compact, if even entered into with that view, would shake all faith in +public men; because it would only change the parties with whom a false +obligation was contracted, leaving the obligation itself and its +violation exactly where they were. + +Mr. O'Connell's support was doomed to be as fatal to the Whigs as his +opposition. He unhappily assisted them during his period to carry one +measure, against which they had recorded several solemn decisions in +Parliament, namely, the Tithe Bill, without an appropriation clause, +which was a direct falsification of their own resolution, whereby they +defeated Sir Robert Peel's short-lived administration, in 1835. And what +was still more lamentable, he supported them in renewing in a modified +form the very Coercion Act for the introduction of which he designated +them as "_base, bloody and brutal_." + +But other elements were secretly sapping the influences for which he +made these sacrifices. The storm of disaffection, a long while gathering +among open foes and disappointed retainers, was about to burst on the +devoted heads of the Whigs. With their accustomed fickleness and +treachery of character they prepared to sacrifice, for the sake of +power, the man whom they conciliated and deceived in the same hope of +retaining it. If he foresaw that this would be the result of his +experiment, never was augury more fully realised. Whatever may be the +exact engagements of the Whigs, he was able to allege that not one was +fulfilled, while he was in a position to prove that he more than kept +his own: unless indeed, it could be assumed that for the few places +obtained by his friends, and others, some of them honourable men, he +surrendered the lofty and nearly impregnable position he occupied in +1834, and which, in one sense at least, he never afterwards attained. + +From whatever cause, his influence over the Whigs visibly declined, and +his counsels no longer swayed their Irish policy. Once more they relied +on the false expedient of yielding to their enemies and allowing them to +wield the _power_, while they were themselves content with the spoils of +the country. Again the quarrel with Mr. O'Connell became bitter and +personal, and again had he recourse to Repeal. + +From the time of the first Repeal Association to that of the Precursor +Society several other associations or societies were established, which +have left behind them scarcely the memory of their very names--that of +the second association alone excepted. Yet each had an ample treasury, +and was composed of the same or nearly the same elements, and the same +members. There is many an honest man and many a fool, whose boast it is +that they contributed a pound to each of them, and had their respective +cards. + +At last the late Repeal Association was formed. Its birth was received +with sneers. Mr. O'Connell's sincerity was questioned, and his motives +canvassed with vindictive vigilance. The warmest Nationalists looked on +with doubt and coldness. Not one man of rank, outside the members of the +defunct society, joined its ranks. The routine of business, the receipt +of money, the resolutions, the speeches, were exactly identical with +those of its predecessors. The Government seemed neither to dread it nor +care for it. It lingered on, unsustained by the country and despised by +its enslavers. The contributions of the members did not suffice to pay +half the ordinary expenses of its machinery. Debts accumulated, and the +revenue did not increase. While the body was thus situated, Mr. +O'Connell had recourse to an expedient at once singular and decisive. It +was to build Conciliation Hall. The Association was at the time +seriously in debt, and he proposed to multiply that debt four-fold by +engaging in this costly undertaking. + +While persons who affected to be in his confidence were amazed at this +step, the Government regarded it as an evidence of purpose which it was +indispensable at once to check. They saw that their opponents had +formerly menaced and coerced in vain, and they determined to proscribe. +Accordingly the newly appointed viceroy, Lord Ebrington, being waited on +by the Dublin Corporation with some address of congratulation, +delivered them a lecture on the disloyalty of the Corn Exchange, and +announced his purpose never to employ in the service of the Government +any one who frequented that pestilent locality. The corporation returned +abashed to their council-rooms to record the viceregal threat. But from +end to end of the land rose one shout of indignant defiance. Suspicion, +doubt and hesitation gave way to the taunt involved in the insolent +challenge. The ranks of the Association were filled, and its treasury +replenished; and the viceroy soon discovered how little was to be gained +by a vulgar appeal to the meanest passion when it was addressed to the +Irish people. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 3: Mr. Feargus O'Connor, afterwards leader of the English +Chartists.--Ed] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THOMAS DAVIS, HIS EARLY LABOURS.--THE "NATION" NEWSPAPER.--PROGRESS OF +THE ASSOCIATION.--CLONTARF MEETING.--THE STATE TRIALS.--THE YOUNG +IRELAND PARTY.--SMITH O'BRIEN.--FEDERALISM.--THE BEQUEST ACT. + + +Even before this great occasion, gifted spirits were insensibly moulding +the character and destiny of the Association. The hurried but firm step +of a pale student of Trinity College might be daily seen pacing the +unfrequented flagways that led to the Corn Exchange. His penetrating +glance, half shrouded by its own shyness, his face averted from the +crowd, and his mind turned within, he would come, and sit, and hear, and +suppress the emotions that swelled his proud young heart as he caught +glimpses of a bright future for his country. He had the richest store of +practical knowledge, an imagination fruitful as a sunny clime: faith, +hope and courage boundless as immortal love. That he could realise all +things which came within the scope of his own fond yearnings, he had no +doubt. But most of the men with whom he took his place were stinted in +acquirements, and not over-gifted in intellect, and had no conception or +ambition beyond admiring or applauding the behests of one predominant +and controlling will. With the passionate aspirations of the young +student they felt no kindred sympathies. In their hands, political +action, for whatever end, sank into a traffic or parade. Even with such +materials he determined to work out his country's redemption, though +already satisfied that before such a thing were possible, their habits, +feelings, passions and hearts should be entirely changed. In order to do +this, it was necessary he should stoop to the level of their conceptions +and capacities. Thus for many weary months, with his energies, as it +were, chained down to a cold stone, toiled and strove Thomas Davis. His +influence first began to be felt as chairman of a sub-committee on the +registers. This position afforded him an opportunity of entering into +correspondence with the leading politicians of the party, and whenever +he saw in any man's replies evidence of depth, capacity or earnestness, +he at once entered into friendly and unreserved communication, exhorting +him in language full of passionate entreaty. In these, his early +efforts, John Dillon shared his labours, his ambition and his heart. + +[Illustration: Truly yours, Thomas Davis.] + +About this time Mr. Stanton, proprietor of the _Morning Register_, +committed to the two young graduates the writing of his journal. His +preference was not so much owing to their character as politicians as it +was to their pre-eminence in literary attainments. The press of Dublin +had then sunk to the lowest level. Newspaper literature had even fallen, +too. It was divided into three sections, each of which was the whining +slave of one or other of the great predominating factions of the +country. The _Register_ was generally regarded as ranking among the +mercenaries of the Castle. But no sooner did it fall into the hands of +the college friends than all Dublin was startled by the originality, +vigour and brilliancy of its articles. When the Whigs were about +retiring they determined on a gross and scandalous abuse of power for +the purpose of rewarding an unscrupulous partisan, even though it +involved an affront to one of their oldest and ablest friends, the then +Irish Chancellor. That man was Lord Plunket, who had served the Whigs so +faithfully, honourably and fearlessly. He was commanded to retire in +order to make room for Sir John Campbell, who was thereby to be +qualified for the English peerage. + +The stipendiaried journals of the Castle exhausted their adulation, and +had received their last reward for upholding the appointment. The Tory +press, hungry for the spoil which it maddened the others to lose, paid +back the compliments by intense vituperation. The slang of party warfare +was bandied in the usual fashion, without thought or a care beyond the +interest of party. The _Register_, to everybody's astonishment, took up +the one cause not represented, namely, that of the country. Davis +denounced the appointment as an insult to that country, and with a bold +hand vindicated the superiority of its Bar, without any reference to +party, above the adventurers whom each faction placed over it in turn. + +Soon after he and his friend ceased to write for that paper; but not +until satisfied by the experiment that a journal devoted to Ireland, +guided by truth, and sustained with earnest ability, would supersede the +whole jaundiced literature of the metropolis, and create a new era in +the progress of the country's civilisation and ambition. They +immediately busied themselves to establish such an organ. Charles Gavan +Duffy, late editor of the _Belfast Vindicator_, entered into the spirit +of the enterprise, and after an evening's ramble in the Park, during +which the terms and the principles of the paper and the spirit in which +it should be conducted were canvassed, the publication of the _Nation_ +was determined on. Mr. Duffy was convicted for having written a libel in +the _Vindicator_, and his friends earnestly advised him to compromise +the matter with a view of bringing more powerful energies to the same +task in a wider field. + +The first number of the new journal appeared on the 12th of October, +1842. It had been announced under auspices calculated to ensure its +success, but its unexpected ability, the ground it broke in the national +policy, and the vast intellectual resources it developed eclipsed the +prestige under which it was deemed necessary to usher it into existence. +It was at once a proof of greater powers than the country had yet +witnessed, and a prophecy of a different fate from what she hoped for. +The aims, the logic, the very language of factious diplomacy were +eschewed. It seemed as if a light had streamed down from heaven, fresh +from God, to give the people hope, comfort and assurance. The genius of +Davis seized the opportunity as though he were His deputed messenger in +the great work of regeneration. For the first time men awoke to the +consciousness of what they were or might be. Harnessed to the triumphant +car of one gigantic intellect, they had forgotten the dignity of their +own nature, and were astonished to find how transcendant its resources +and sufficient its strength. The publication of the _Nation_ was really +an epoch which marked a wonderful change, and from that day forth +self-reliance and self-respect began to take the place of grateful but +stultified obedience and blind trust. + +The change became more marked as the publication proceeded. In speech, +article, song and essay, the spell of Davis's extraordinary genius and +embracing love was felt. Historic memories, forgotten stories, fragments +of tradition, the cromlech on the mountain and the fossil in the bog +supplied him substance and spirit wherewith to mould and animate +nationality. Native art, valour, virtue and glory seemed to grow under +his pen. All that had a tendency to elevate and ennoble, he rescued from +the past to infuse into the future. His songs, so soft and tender, and +yet so redolent of manliness and hope, inspired the ambition to compose +a minstrelsy as wild and vigorous as themselves. They were read and +learned and sung with an avidity and pride heretofore unknown. + +The monster meetings were long a design of Thomas Davis, John Dillon and +the present writer. One great object with them was to train the country +people to military movements and a martial tread. This object it would +be unsafe to announce, and it was to be effected through other agencies +than drill. The people should necessarily come to such rendezvous in +baronial, parochial or town processions, and under the guidance of local +leaders. Order is a law of nature; and, without much trouble on the part +of those leaders, it would establish itself. The present writer left +Dublin early in the spring of 1843 to carry this design into effect. Sir +Robert Peel, then Prime Minister of England, alluding to the fact in the +House of Commons, said that the first Monster Meeting was purposely +held on the anniversary of the very day, the 22nd of May, destined for +the rising of '98. Sir Robert was wrong in his inference, though it was +a natural and nearly justifiable one; for at that Cashel meeting were +offered unmistakable evidences of the tendency of the agitation. Upwards +of L1,100 were handed to Mr. O'Connell. Each parish came in procession, +headed by a band and commanded by some local leader; and those who took +part in the public procession marched in excellent order for upwards of +eight miles. A military and magisterial meeting had been previously held +in the barracks of Cashel to consider whether the people should not be +routed at the point of the bayonet. But though the committee were fully +aware of this consultation, they decided unanimously that the meeting +should go on. The meeting itself passed the strongest resolutions, and +adopted a petition to the Legislature, consisting of a single line, +something to this effect: "You have robbed us of our Parliament by fraud +and blood; pray restore it, or ----." And finally, Mr. O'Connell said at +the dinner that evening, alluding to an armed strife; "Give me Tipperary +for half a day." This simple wish, enunciated in accents familiar to +that great ruler of men, elicited a cheer, a shout, a wild burst of +enthusiasm, so long and loud as almost to suggest the idea that it would +be seconded by naked steel and a deadly blow. One would think it had a +significant meaning, and yet there was no wrathful ban. Not one +pronounced that terrible anathema against shedding a single drop of +blood, which afterwards became the canon of peaceful men. Nay, if memory +be not very treacherous, amidst that roar was loudly distinguishable +the voice of him who on an after day, yet to be spoken of, cursed from +God's altar those who wished to realise his simulated aspirations and in +the endeavour had forfeited their lives. A doggerel ballad had been +written for the occasion by Thomas Davis, to the air of the "Gallant +Tipperary," over which himself and his friends afterwards indulged in +many a hearty laugh. One verse runs as follows:-- + + The music's ready, the morning's bright, + Step together left, right, left, right, + We carry no gun, + Yet devil a one + But knows how to march in Tipperary O! + By twelves and sixteens on we go, + Rank'd four deep in close order O! + For order's the way + To carry the day, + March steadily, men of Tipperary O! + +It is here introduced as a proof and a justification of what has been +stated in reference to one great object of the projectors of the monster +meetings. Possibly it will be said that this is an admission of the +truth of a charge frequently urged by Mr. O'Connell against the _Nation_ +and its writers, namely, that they having intentions of which he knew +nothing, had committed him to breaches of the law, of which he was not +only not guilty but not cognisant, but which by a perversion of judgment +were given in proof against him at the celebrated State Trials. It is +quite true that they did entertain the intentions which he afterwards so +vehemently repudiated. But they never once concealed them. In the +Association, and where Mr. O'Connell was committed with them, they +abstained from giving them utterance; but they did so because they felt +bound to act in accordance with the resolution of that body. And with +respect to the proceedings of the Cashel meeting and the more wonderful +and significant meetings that followed, they always submitted to him and +had his entire sanction for every act done at and every line written for +these meetings. In fact, if he were in any way mistaken as to them, they +were still more grievously deceived as to him. All their acts and +speeches were in the direction of their intentions; all his acts and +speeches were in the same direction, and went further. In truth, they +believed that he fully concurred in the sentiments which they cared not +to conceal, but which he had the cunning or caution not to avow. One +justification of this belief has been already given; another and a more +pregnant one was the Mallow defiance which the greatest poet and the +greatest sculptor of our time and nation have immortalised. In reference +to proofs not published, however conclusive, this history shall be +silent. + +Succeeding events shall be briefly glanced at only. Some of them have +already attained a place in history; and the scope of my narrative only +embraces the facts, incidents and tendencies which led to an armed +crisis and governed its explosion. Meeting followed meeting in rapid +succession, and each was marked by some signal manifestation of a +healthier, holier and more resolute national purpose. Numbers, calmness, +order, obedience, bespoke an advanced discipline, and prefigured future +victory. The crowds that attended the Halls of the Association no longer +consisted of idle brawlers; they were listening, thoughtful mechanics, +conscious of the toil and danger that lay before them, and braced for +the encounter. Dignitaries of the church and the ablest men among the +second order of the clergy appeared on the platform, and added sanctity +and dignity to the proceedings. Members of Corporations through the +country, and private gentlemen of rank brought to the imposing +confederacy the weight of their office, rank and name. The existing +Government in a splenetic attempt to crush it, had dismissed certain +magistrates for having their names enrolled on its books. This new +aggression gave a fresh impetus to its progress. Men who had previously +looked on it with doubt or fear, now embraced it as the only safeguard +for the remaining liberties of the island. The parliamentary committee +which had been instituted by Mr. O'Brien, had exhausted every source of +information within the reach of industry in developing the resources and +capacities of the country. The committee of the Association counted +within its members one hundred lawyers who preferred the fortunes of +Ireland to professional or political advancement. Many of these and +others who were not of the party brought to the popular tribune rare +endowments, the most generous passions, and the noblest eloquence. +Poetry, fresh, vigorous and full of heart, shed her harmonising and +ennobling influence upon the whole, and imparted to patriotism the last +pre-requisite of success. Amidst this grand movement stood Mr. +O'Connell, erect, alone, its centre and its heart. He was not its guide, +but its god, until he slept within a prison, and came forth less than +man. + +During this period two events occurred deserving particular notice--the +only facts upon which Mr. O'Connell's supremacy was questioned, or his +advice audibly condemned. These were, first, his refusal of French +contributions and French sympathy, of which M. Ledru Rollin, since so +celebrated, was to be the bearer; and secondly, his acceptance of +contributions from America under protest, against the "infamous +institution" of slavery. He rejected the first with indignant scorn, +because it was the offering of "republicans," and spoke of the latter +with contempt, as "smelling of blood." + +These two acts alienated from his cause the only foreigners in the world +who were willing to espouse it. His wisdom was questioned and condemned. +It was urged upon him that he should not intermeddle with foreign +institutions or with the political predilections of individuals. Enough +for Ireland, he was told, to find that Frenchmen and Americans were +ready to do battle in her cause, and it ill became her to spurn their +advances with indignity and a sneer. The argument failed, his hatred of +slavery and republicanism out-weighed all other considerations. + +I have fixed upon the State Trials as an epoch in this history, marking +a distinct phase in the character of the Repeal Association. The +proceedings of that extraordinary inquest are familiar to most men. It +is not my intention to refer to them, except as a sort of pivot upon +which public sentiment veered. When they were commenced there was +untold wealth in the coffers of the Association. There was still a +greater store of public purpose in the country. Threats, hot and +violent, had been uttered. Pledges had been made which could only be +violated in shame and death. A challenge had been given from which it +would be baseness to shrink. The world looked on in wonder and awe. Each +successive act was more and more gigantic; each resolution bolder. When +the meeting at Clontarf was projected, the heart of the nation beat +quick and hotly. Yet no man was surprised; none condemned. The +associations of the spot suggested a perilous future. Still the hazards +it prefigured created no alarm; the directions of a sub-committee +respecting the military order of the processions towards the place of +meeting was but the expression of the public hope that lay at every +heart. + +While the bustle of preparation was at its height; while the flushed +capital was dizzy with wild excitement, a proclamation appeared on the +walls--'twas nearly evening's dusk--forbidding the proposed +demonstration. For that proclamation there was no law; scarcely any +object. It could not render the meeting illegal. It would not entitle +the chief magistrate to disperse it; for if it were proved to be +constitutional, he would be answerable before the laws of his country. +It was simply a warning utterly inefficient for good or ill in any trial +that may follow. In this state of things, a responsibility of the +greatest magnitude devolved on the Association, or its committee. They +were hastily summoned or came together spontaneously. Alarm, surprise, +disappointment, chagrin, swayed their hurried consultation. The +decision was weak, and it was fatal. It was only carried by a small +majority, but in that majority was the great spirit of the confederacy. +Never after did he stand on equal terms with his adversary. He was +driven before him amidst broken hopes, and broken promises--his +challenge, a boast unfulfilled, his prestige withered. + +What the issue might have been if the decision were different, it would +be rash to conjecture. It might have been carnage; it might have been a +triumph. The historian has nothing to do with conjecture. But in this +case was involved a mighty question, palpable, self-created and +conclusive. The wisest forethought may fail to arrive at a sound +conclusion as to the result of holding the meeting. The risk existed, no +doubt, that some ill-disposed or hired villains, or even rash +enthusiasts may provoke the troops, and thus afford a pretext for +carnage. But opposed to that were the dictates of prudence, honour and +fear on the part of those in command of the army; and it seemed a more +probable result that either the meeting would be allowed to proceed, or +it would be illegally dispersed in the usual way by reading the Riot +Act. Even if the weight of conjecture were the other way, the +consequences should be risked rather than falsify the national pledge. +To recede was cowardice; not the vulgar cowardice arising from personal +weakness, but the moral cowardice which shrinks from an imperious +obligation, because it is perilous. The meeting should be held; every +possible precaution should be taken to prevent an armed conflict. If +Power, drunk with its own advantage, risked an outrage, the people +should be taught to yield; but only to yield with the purpose of +entering a court of law, as prosecutors and avengers. Even if worse +consequences ensued after every effort to prevent them had been +exhausted, the issue should be left to God. Recriminations, painfully +petty in their nature, followed. The Government were charged with a +premeditated design to commit wide and indiscriminate slaughter, and the +weakness, in which were shrouded deep national shame and guilt, was made +matter of indecent boast. The Government, aware of the unexpected +advantage, followed up the blow. Mr. O'Connell took shelter in the +sacredness of the Hall, which, he imagined, he had guarded against the +encroachments of arbitrary power, and thither they followed him. Having +abandoned a position where he could act on the offensive, he was forced +to contend against the aggressive attacks of Government flushed with its +first success. + +The trial that followed already occupies a large space in history. Its +effects were immediate and disastrous. The personnel of the accused +assumed the nation's place. Exhortations full of intense eloquence were +addressed to the people from which the question of the country's +deliverance was entirely excluded. Technicalities of law absorbed the +attention which was due to Liberty. A demurrer, a motion in abatement, +or in arrest of judgment, was canvassed with a deeper interest by the +people of the provinces than by even the distinguished Bar, which were +arrayed on either side. Mr. O'Connell's infallibility in law engaged the +anxious solicitude, the pride, the passions of Ireland. Yet throughout +that long trial the question which would test it was not mooted. The +indictment was a subtle net-work, which excluded such argument. The +objections to the indictment also were objections of form merely, and +the final issue upon which the judgment was reversed was not even +remotely connected with the main enquiry, whether or not the charge of +conspiracy was sustainable in point of constitutional law. During the +progress of the trial, a fraud, a swindle, a petty theft, was +perpetrated by the officers of government, which more than one man, high +in office, had a hand in suborning. This fact had supreme influence on +the decision of the House of Lords. But the plain truth is, the judgment +was reversed as an essential move in a great party game. + +Ireland triumphed. Her triumph was a just and a great one. + +But her exultation was on a fallacious basis. She believed Mr. +O'Connell's infallibility was re-established. No one cared, or perhaps +dared to correct the error. In itself it seemed little worthy of notice, +yet it had its share of evil influence. First, it diverted men's minds +from the one question; secondly, it left behind it the demoralising +effect inseparable from untruth. Were it even what the public eagerness +chose to shape it, its relative value, weighed against the triumph of +courage and virtue, would be contemptible. + +Mr. O'Connell himself did not seem to share in the nation's pride. His +spirit was broken. He anticipated the glad wishes of the metropolis, and +walked home from the penitentiary clouded and gloomy. It was evident +something within him had died. However, he went back the next day, and +left the prison the second time in the midst of public rejoicings never +surpassed on any occasion in his life. His addresses on that day, and +subsequently while in town, were not such as they were wont to be; and +he soon retired to his wild mountain home to invigorate a mind and body, +borne down by gigantic labours, fearful responsibilities, some alarms, +and perhaps a chilling sense of defeat and weakness. His health was soon +restored, but his political vigour never. The first time his voice was +heard from that retreat, it was to recommend a compromise; and, for the +first time, his advice was openly opposed. Charles Duffy answered his +letter, which recommended to fall back on Federalism--a question in the +mouths of many, but in the brain of none--respectfully and firmly +remonstrating against such a course. In a great many circles, Mr. Duffy +could not be looked at with more wonder if he had recommended to cut off +Mr. O'Connell's head. + +Hitherto, this condensed retrospect has been almost exclusively confined +to the name and fortunes of O'Connell. It is time now to revert to other +actors in the scene. Even before the trial, elements of antagonism had +begun to manifest themselves. With the party since called "Young +Ireland," every consideration was subordinate to the great question of +national deliverance. They laboured incessantly to elevate the morals, +the literature, the taste, passions, genius, intellect and heart of the +country to the sublime eminence of a free destiny. Far the foremost man +in urging and encouraging this glorious endeavour was Thomas Davis. From +sources the most extraordinary, and the least known, there welled forth +abundant and seductive inspiration. He struck living fire from inert +wayside stones. To him the meanest rill, the rugged mountain, the barren +waste, the rudest fragment of barbaric history, spoke the language of +elevation, harmony and hope. The circle, of which he was the beloved +centre, was composed of men equally sincere, resolute and hopeful; there +was not one of them undistinguished. Some of them had now the first +literary distinction. The character of each was remarkable for some +distinctive and bold feature of originality. I, of course, exclude +myself from this description. I know not to what circumstance I owe the +happiness of their trust and friendship. My habits, my education, my +former political connections, disqualified me for such association. +Since first I took my place among them, seven or eight years have now +rolled by. They have been years of severest trial, years of suffering +and sorrow, years of passion and prejudice and calumny, years of rude +and bitter conflict, years of suspicion and acrimony, and finally of +defeat and shame; still, in that eventful course of time, to me at +least, there has occurred no moment wherein I would exchange the +faintest memory of our mutual trust, unreserved enjoyment and glad hope +for the hoarse approval of an unthinking world. There was no subject we +did not discuss together; revolution, literature, religion, history, the +arts, the sciences--every topic, and never yet was there spoken among us +one reproachful word, never felt one distrustful sentiment. Our +confidence in one another was precisely that of each in himself; our +love of one another deeper than brotherly. When we met, which was at +least weekly, and felt alone, shut in from the rude intrusion of the +world, how we used to people the future with beauty and happiness and +love. Little did we dream that those for whom we toiled, and thought, +and wove such visions of glory, would shun and scorn, and curse us. But +had that bitter cup, which afterwards we were forced to empty to the +dregs, been then presented to us, there was not one of us who would not +have drunk it to the last drop; drunk it willingly and cheerfully, +without further hope or purpose than our own deep conviction that we +owed the sacrifice to truth. + +Those who took immediate part in the proceedings of our circle before +the State Trials, were Thomas Davis, John Dillon, Thomas MacNevin, +Michael Joseph Barry, Charles Duffy, David Cangley, John O'Hagan, Denis +F. MacCarthy, Denny Lane, Richard Dalton Williams, with one or two +others whose names I cannot mention. To this list was afterwards added +Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard O'Gorman, John Mitchel, Thomas Devin +Reilly, and Thomas Darcy M'Gee. I do not include several distinguished +men who lived in the provinces with whom we communicated, and from whom +we received sympathy and sustainment; and I omit others who took a +leading part, in deference to the position they are now placed in. + +[Illustration: John Blake Dillon] + +With the first section above named, originated the idea of publishing +the _Library of Ireland_. It was proposed, discussed, and determined on +one evening, at the house of Thomas MacNevin, while some one sat at the +piano, playing the lovely Irish airs, of which the soft strains of Davis +suggested the conception to William Elliot Hudson. The music was as +true to the Celtic genius as the lays of Davis to its character and +hopes; and amidst the entrancing seductiveness of their association, was +born the generous resolution of rescuing the country's literature from +the darkness in which it had long lain. The _Library of Ireland_ was +proposed as a beginning, and so diffident did its promoters feel, that +they deemed it indispensable to engage the recognised genius of William +Carleton, whose name and abilities they pledged to the public, as an +assurance for the undertaking. Mr. Carleton promptly undertook his share +of the task, and James Duffy, the enterprising bookseller, assumed all +the risk and responsibility of the enterprise. + +John Mitchel, then known to few, and appreciated only by Thomas Davis, +was by him associated with those who were willing to engage in the new +and difficult labour. He pledged himself for him, and selected his +subject. Most nobly was that pledge redeemed; but its fulfilment dawned +on the fresh grave of him who made it. Other men, and first in order, as +well as eminent in ability, was Thomas MacNevin, who has also sunk into +a too early grave, more than realised the most sanguine hopes of an +exulting country. Death first interrupted this new current of life, even +in its day of most sparkling promise. Disunion haunted the petty +jealousies of little and narrow minds; famine, pestilence and defeat +have done the rest. The labourers are dead, exiled, immured in dungeons, +or scattered over the face of the earth as fugitives; and how far they +had capacity to fulfil their inspiring promise, can never be tested +more. A few, however, remained, and amid greater gloom, and nearer to +utter death, they stand out redeeming beacons to the future. + +I have not mentioned the name of Mr. O'Brien, as associated with us at +this early stage. He joined the Association in a time of great +excitement. The _Nation_ hailed the accession with the fondest joy. The +consistency of his politics, the purity of his intentions, and the +unvarying rectitude of his life gave abundant assurance, not alone that +he was deeply sincere, but that his purpose could only be changed by +death. But to those who looked beyond the expediency of the hour, those +who had cherished fervently the passionate aspirations for true liberty +his name and character became an augury of success: nor would they +intrude for any consideration on the attitude of lofty dignity he +assumed. + +It has already been stated that elements of antagonism between Mr. +O'Connell and the Young Ireland Party had at this time (the period of +the State Trials) manifested themselves. It will be remembered that this +period embraced a space of nine months, from the date of Mr. O'Connell's +being held to bail in September, 1843, to that of his sentence the 30th +of May, 1844. As the events of this or the previous year do not, +properly speaking, range within the historical scope of my narrative, I +have excluded chronological and historical order. My object has been to +group together the great features of the confederacy without other +reference than that of pointing out their moral influence, operating +through a long space of time. Thus I have referred to the Parliamentary +Committee instituted by Mr. O'Brien among incidents which belong to an +anterior period, because the vigour of these incidents, which left +moral seeds in their track, continued to co-exist and blend with the +powerful agencies of that Committee. As I now approach the period when +the differences with Mr. O'Connell, which hitherto developed themselves +in the distinctive characteristics of the respective opinions of both +parties rather than in any direct collision, became tangible, it is +necessary to observe strict historical and chronological accuracy. + +Before proceeding to details of succeeding events, a brief +recapitulation of important facts, with the dates of their occurrences, +become necessary. A few others, not heretofore alluded to, must needs be +added. + +The date of the imprisonment is the 30th of May, 1844: that of the +release the 6th of September in the same year. + +In the intermediate period the amount received in the Repeal treasury +during four weeks was, L12,379 14s. 9d. + +About the close of August was passed the Charitable Bequest Act, against +the indignant remonstrances of the priesthood and Catholic population of +Ireland. This Bill was obnoxious in all it's provisions, but the +enactment which was received with most scorn was the clause that +annulled a Catholic charitable bequest, unless it had been duly made six +months at least before the decease of the testator. The prohibition was +attributed to an insulting assumption that the Catholic clergymen abused +their influence over dying penitents, for sacerdotal or religious, if +not for personal aggrandisement, and the impeachment was repelled with +bitter execrations. Others objected to the Bill on grounds involving +more alarming considerations. They regarded it as the first infringement +on the liberty of the Catholic Church--the first criminal attempt to +fetter her free action and sow dissent among her prelates and priests. +The Repeal Association offered, from the beginning, its undivided, +unqualified and indeed vehement opposition. But amidst the storm and +rage of the nation, it became the law, and three Roman Catholic prelates +of the highest reputation undertook the duty of its administration. + +One party there was who regretted the Bill still more deeply, but in a +different point of view. At the head of these was Thomas Davis. He +regarded it as an instrument of dissension and weakness, cunningly +adapted to that end by Sir Robert Peel, and he deplored the diversion of +the public mind and energy from the grand national object. Mr. O'Brien, +to a certain extent, shared this feeling, but never obtruded the opinion +or ventured to check the Association, while Mr. Davis confined his +efforts to passionate warnings addressed through the columns of the +_Nation_. + +This question is introduced here because it was important and fatal in +its consequences. A still more important one taken in the same light +must interrupt its discussion for a moment: Mr. O'Connell's Federal +letter, already referred to. The leading sentiments of that letter are +subjoined. It is dated the 2nd of October, 1844. + +After stating what Simple Repeal and what Federalism respectively meant, +he proceeded to contrast their value. + +"The Simple Repealers are of the opinion that the reconstructed Irish +Parliament should have precisely the same power and authority which the +former Irish Parliament had. + +"The Federalists, on the contrary, appear to me to require more for the +people of Ireland than the Simple Repealers do; for besides the local +parliament in Ireland having full and perfect authority, the Federalists +require that there should be, for questions of imperial concern, +colonial, naval and military, and of foreign alliance and policy, a +Congressional or Federal Parliament, in which Ireland should have her +fair share and proportion of representatives and power. + +"It is but just and right to confess that in this respect the +Federalists would give Ireland more weight and importance in imperial +concerns than she could acquire by means of the plan of Simple +Repealers. + + * * * * * + +"For my own part, I will own that since I have come to contemplate the +specific differences such as they are, between Simple Repeal and +Federalism, I do at present feel a preference for the Federative plan, +as tending more to the utility of Ireland and the maintenance of the +connection with England than the plan of Simple Repeal. + + * * * * * + +"The Federalists cannot but perceive that there has been upon my part a +pause in the agitation for Repeal since the period of our release from +unjust imprisonment." + +I have only extracted from Mr. O'Connell's most elaborate letter, his +distinctly expressed preference for Federalism, and the single reason +upon which the preference is founded. The remainder consists for the +most part of a sort of logical equation, balancing the component +elements of both plans, from which is deduced the above conclusion. + +Charles Duffy's answer, dated October the 18th, was triumphant and +conclusive, at least in Mr. O'Connell's own mind, for he did not +afterwards repeat the same sentiments. But a blow had been given the +Association from which it never recovered. The newspaper press, taken +under three distinct heads, first the blind and heedless echoers of Mr. +O'Connell's doctrines, secondly the Whig organs in Ireland, and thirdly +the papers in the English interest, gave way to unrestrained exultation. +The wisdom, the prudence, the holiness of the "great Liberator," were +extolled as unmatched in the annals of statesmanship. A few whose +self-interest constrained their subserviency, shrugged wisely and said +nothing, while several provincial journals stoutly maintained the +undoubted and enduring supremacy of the great national aim over every +weak expedient. + +Whatever hopes may be entertained by Mr. O'Connell, his suggestions met +with no sustainment and no response, save the empty echoes of an +adulating press. Among the great party to whom he appealed, not one +voice was heard to suggest a practical step in the direction intimated. +The project fell, if indeed it were ever seriously entertained, leaving +no memory and no regret. The first place Mr. O'Connell afterwards +appeared in a public capacity, was at the Limerick banquet, given on' +the 20th of November. His speech on that occasion contained scarcely a +reference to Federalism, and both his sentiments and those of the other +speakers, including John, Archbishop of Tuam, as well as the Toasts and +Mottoes, were distinguished for loftiness of tone, unflinching purpose +and highest enthusiasm. But other elements were at work furtively +sapping that purpose and dimming that enthusiasm. + +Prominent among these was the spirit of religious dissension already +under discussion, to which it is now time to recur. + +At and after the period when the Roman Catholic prelates accepted the +functions of administering a law insulting and obnoxious to the +Catholics generally, much angry controversy prevailed. A report was rife +that the Government not alone succeeded in deluding the Irish Bishops, +but had accredited a minister plenipotentiary, whose mission was to +conciliate the Court of Rome to a "Concordat" with England. A rescript +said to be received by the Most Reverend Doctor Crolly, the Primate, was +adduced to prove not alone the existence of the intrigue, but its +partial success. The rescript contained an admonition to restrain the +intemperate violence of political priests, and an advice to confine +themselves more generally to the sacred functions of their holy office. +The English press magnified the advice into a command, and exulted over +the failure of the Repeal movement whose extinction they augured from +the withdrawal of the Catholic priesthood. + +Mr. O'Connell, alarmed at the import of a command so fatal, pronounced +the rescript "uncanonical." This led to greater dissensions and bitterer +recriminations. The prelates who condemned the Bequest Act, denounced +those who accepted the task of administering it. One of the body thus +writes:-- + + "The resolution [referring to one passed at a meeting of the + prelates, which was pronounced by the ministerial press a vote + of unanimous approval of the bishops' acceptance of the office + of Commissioners] did not meet the approval of all the Bishops, + neither could it convey to any one of the Episcopal + Commissioners the most distant notion that in accepting the + office he did not oppose the views and wishes of many of his + Episcopal brethren. When the resolution was moved, there were + six of the protesting Bishops absent, and a moment was not + allowed to pass after it was seconded, when it was denounced in + the strongest manner by two of the Bishops present. They + solemnly declared before the assembled prelates that, in the + event of any prelate accepting the odious office, they would + never willingly hold any communication with him in his capacity + as Commissioner."[4] + +But, while disunion reigned at the council board of the Catholic +Hierarchy, the Government plied their task of seducing, dividing and +misrepresenting bishops, priests, people and nation. Out of all the +elements of disunion, distraction and disaster over which they in turn +gloated, the British newspapers, with wonderful accord, predicted and +boasted of the complete overthrow of the Repeal Party. It was amidst +these circumstances of gloom and evil augury the year 1844, a year +within which range the most startling, extraordinary and trying events +of Ireland's recent history, came to a close. + +Before I conclude this chapter, I must revert to a fact which, although +unimportant in relation to the view of the question under consideration, +deserves to be remembered in connection with future events. The date I +cannot fix, as it was confined to the private circle of the Association +Committee, and no record of it remains. Immediately after the close of +the State trials, as well as I can remember, Mr. O'Connell proposed the +dissolution of the Association, with a view of establishing a new body, +from which should be excluded all the "illegal" attributes and accidents +of the old. The suggestion was resisted by Mr. O'Brien, and all those +understood to belong to what was called the Young Ireland Party. They +protested against such a course as false, craven and fatal, and Mr. +O'Connell at once yielded to their vehement remonstrances. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 4: Doctor Cantwell to Mr. O'Connell. Given in the _Nation_, +Vol. III., No. 119.] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED BY THE RESCRIPT--DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MR. +O'CONNELL AND THE PRIMATE.--FINANCIAL REFORMS IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE +ASSOCIATION, AND CONSEQUENT DISSENSION.--'82 CLUB.--THE COLLEGES +BILL.--DIFFERENCES AND CALUMNIES CONSEQUENT UPON IT. QUARREL WITH MR. +DAVIS.--THE GREAT LEVEE AT THE ROTUNDA.--DECLINE OF THE +AGITATION.--CLOSING LABOURS AND DEATH OF THOMAS DAVIS. + + +Thus wrote Thomas Davis at the opening of the new year:-- + + "Hitherto our dangers have been few and transient. The product + of mistake or enthusiasm, they were remedied by explanation and + kindliness. There are dangers threatened now, and against them + we shall try the same prompt and frank policy which never failed + us yet. Already the English press are quarrelling for the spoils + of the routed Repealers. They are almost unanimous in describing + the people as disgusted, the leaders as exhausted, and the + policy of the ministers as rapidly levelling the defences of the + once great party. + + "We do not quail. We remember that whenever the rent[5] has + fallen, the same press cried out the people are sick of the + agitation. Whenever righteous discussion took place in our + councils, they exulted over our 'fatal divisions,' and at the + beginning of each new blunder of the cabinet, they sang victory. + + "If the Irish be a hot or capricious race, who plunge into a new + policy because it is new, and abandon their dearest interests + and most solemn vows because their success needs time, then + indeed Repeal was hopeless and was always so. If the leaders + have not sagacity enough to embrace the business of an empire + and pierce through time, unwearied industry, pure hands and + resolute spirits, then to repeal is hopeless until a new race of + chiefs appears." + +Almost contemporaneously with this article, the Catholic Primate +contradicted Mr. O'Connell's assertion respecting the rescript, and laid +rescript and contradiction before the public. "I was surprised and +sorry," he writes, "to find that you had ventured to assert that a +letter sent to me some time past from the Propaganda was not a canonical +document." He adds that he laid the document before the assembled +prelates, and appends the resolution in which they acknowledged its +authenticity and approval of its counsel.[6] + +Mr. O'Connell at once expressed his entire acquiescence and deep +contrition. He bowed reverentially to the resolution of the prelates, +retracted the hasty opinion, and apologised for his error, which, he +said, resulted from his great anxiety of mind, caused by the avowal of +the _Morning Chronicle_ that the Whigs had a secret agent in Rome. + +But the prelates were far from unanimous in their construction of the +rescript which they promised unanimously to obey. With the resolution +among his papers, the Archbishop of Tuam proceeded directly from the +Episcopal meeting to the Repeal banquet at Limerick, where he delivered +a speech stronger in language and more violent in character than any he +had ever uttered. Some passages in that speech, wherein he eulogised the +heroism of the women of Limerick who cut their long hair to supply the +defenders of the city with strings for their bows, excited the wildest +enthusiasm and most rapturous applause. Doctor Cantwell, in the letter +already referred to, gives his construction, which he says was that of +the majority. + + "The Cardinal only evidently censures violent and intemperate + language, in either priest or bishop, whether they address their + flocks in their temples, or mix with their fellow-countrymen in + banquets or public meetings. We inferred, and I think we were + justified in the inference, that conduct and language at all + times unbecoming our sacred character, and not our presence on + such legitimate occasions, were the object of this salutary + caution." + +His construction was sustained more clearly and forcibly by Thomas +Davis. "It [the rescript] announces the undoubted truth that the main +duty of a Christian priest is to care for the souls of his flock, and +both by precept and example to teach mildness, piety and peace. It does +not denounce a Catholic clergyman for aiding the Repeal movement in all +ways becoming a minister of peace. Nowhere in the rescript is the +agitation as a system, or repeal as a demand, censured; but some +reported violence of speech is disapproved." + +The coincidence seems a strange one, that in the same paper, which thus +disposes of the rescript, the same paper wherein appear the letters of +Doctor Crolly, Doctor Cantwell, and Mr. O'Connell, the same paper in +which is published the official denial of a Concordat with the Pope, +under the viceregal seal, are also published the proceedings of the +Repeal Association, which consisted, to a great extent, of a violent +attack on the exploded Concordat. At the meeting held on the 13th of +January, it was denounced especially by two of Mr. O'Connell's friends, +Mr. O'Neill Daunt and Mr. John Reilly, in terms the most vehement and +indignant. Mr. Daunt used these words. "On that day fortnight he had +proclaimed from the chair of the Association, that if a rescript should +emanate from Rome denouncing the national movement, the Catholics of +Ireland would treat it as so much waste paper." This statement was made +on the 13th, Doctor Crolly's letter is dated on the 11th, Mr. +O'Connell's on the 14th, and Lord Heytesbury's denial of the Concordat +on the 15th of January. Contemporaneously with all these was also +published an address of his clergy to the Archbishop of Dublin, +deprecating in the strongest language certain calumnies against him, +which they attribute to priests and people, Protestant and Catholic. + +From these proceedings one inference is inevitable, namely, that they +who have so strongly inculcated obedience to the Holy See, and +denounced as an infidel any Catholic who refused blind obedience to its +decisions, in reference to secular education, were not then troubled +with the same sensitiveness or scrupulousness of conscience in regard to +the authority of the Roman Pontiff. But of that one word hereafter. I +here reproduce the historical facts connected with these letters, for +another object. Although the excitement about the threatened Concordat +was allayed, and the invectives against the Archbishop of Dublin abated +in intemperance, the bitterness of feeling which swept over the country +like an avenging scourge, left behind it germs of discord and weakness. + +Publicly or privately the Seceders did not interfere. At the meeting of +the Association already alluded to, Mr. O'Brien made a most noble +speech, inculcating education, self-reliance, organisation and progress, +without stooping to refer to the perplexed question, which filled his +audience with angry passions, and supplied the other speakers with +intemperate enthusiasm. + +The whole endeavours of the Seceders were at this time devoted to the +organisation of clubs or reading rooms on an educational basis. +Connected with this object was the augmentation of the Repeal revenue, +which was anticipated from the extended action of these political and +social schools. The funds were greatly diminished, and the weekly +collections had fallen to an average of about L150. It became necessary, +as much as possible, to curtail the expenses, and a reduction of a very +serious amount was effected during Mr. O'Connell's absence at Derrynane. +The effort was continued after his arrival in town, which led to +differences of opinion with him, in committee. Sinecure situations, +created by him, were abolished, and inquiries were instituted which gave +him great annoyance. He particularly resented and resisted the removal +from one of those offices of Doctor Nagle. Doctor Nagle was appointed to +be "curator of manuscripts", the ostensible duty of which was to +superintend the reports (then daily issuing from the press, and written +for the most part by the Seceders) for the purpose of preventing the +publication of anything illegal or dangerous. In effect, he was +nominally, literary, legal and moral censor. But the unanimous and loud +indignation of the essayists rendered his task a light one. He was +content to accept the salary and leave those gentlemen the guardians of +their own safety, their character and literary fame. Doctor Nagle +continued to act as librarian and, weekly, delivered to the secretary +certain lists of contributions that had been previously furnished him by +that gentleman. His salary and certain fees given to other "patriots," +came under the cognisance of a sub-committee consisting, as well as I +remember, of the present member for Dublin,[7] a Mr. O'Meara and someone +whose name I now forget. Their report adjudged the office useless, and +recommended its immediate abolition. A motion was accordingly made in +committee for Doctor Nagle's dismissal. Mr. O'Connell was in the chair. +All his sons were present, one of whom, I think, moved an amendment to +the effect that he be continued at his then salary. A division took +place, when the majority against the amendment was considerably over two +to one. Mr. + +O'Connell expressed himself deeply mortified at this result. Another +amendment to the same effect was then proposed and negatived by a +majority numerically somewhat less, when Sir Colman O'Loghlen moved, and +John Loyd Fitzgerald seconded, an amendment to the effect that he be +continued as clerk of the library at half his salary, that is L50 a +year. The result would have been the same as before but that many of the +majority had withdrawn under the impression that the question was +disposed of; the number for the amendment was twenty-two, and the number +against only twenty-three. Mr. O'Connell assumed the right to give two +votes, one as member, which made the numbers equal, and a casting vote +as chairman. It was then proposed and carried that every chairman should +in future have two votes, and Sir Colman's amendment was allowed to pass +in the affirmative. Doctor Nagle continued to fill his office until his +appointment to a more lucrative one under the Whig Government. + +The Eighty-Two Club which was projected in prison was finally organised +in January, 1845. The differences which manifested themselves in +Conciliation Hall imperceptibly extended to this body. The original +members constituted the committee and were self-appointed. The others +had to submit to a ballot. Some few were rejected, at which Mr. +O'Connell's friends took umbrage, and the rejected aspirants were sure +to attribute their decision to their devotion to the "Liberator." Thus +it happened that most objectionable candidates could not be resisted +without incurring the imputation of opposing and thwarting the "saviour +of his country." + +[Illustration: Charles Lavan Duffy (1846)] + +Mr. O'Connell himself, although he warmly approved of the club in the +commencement, soon ceased to feel an interest in its proceedings. For +the first year, its action was confined to some routine dinners, which +attracted a very fashionable attendance, and furnished an occasion for +some brilliant speaking. Yet the fame and respectability of such a body +were seductions which few of the leading men in the confederacy could +resist. The Eighty-Two Club became a standard toast at public dinners, +and its members were received as distinguished guests or visitors +wherever they appeared. Without having yet performed any distinct +service, or realised the promise involved in its establishment, the club +became a very important and imposing body. + +Mr. O'Connell was its president, and Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Grattan, Sir +Colman O'Loghlen and others, vice-presidents. The first committee was +composed of the Members of Parliament, Mayors of cities, and men eminent +in the different professions and literary pursuits. Complaints of +inattention were made against some of its members, and at the election +for officers after the expiration of the first year, others were +substituted for the inattentive and inefficient. The change for the most +part was made by unanimous consent; but when a ballot was called for, +other names were substituted for those on the house list, recommended by +the former committee, and the contest resulted in the rejection of +Richard Barrett and one or two others. This was taken as an affront to +Mr. O'Connell, though personally he neither took part in, nor was +present at, the meeting. Whether it was owing to Mr. O'Connell's +aversion to the green-and-gold uniform, to which he sometimes expressed +his dislike, or his objection to the rejection of his soi-disant +friends, or to his consciousness that the club was not subservient to +his control, he took very little interest in its progress, and +frequently spoke of it in terms of derision. + +But that which produced the first sensible and vital difference between +Mr. O'Connell and the Seceders was the Colleges Bill. Education had long +been a subject of anxious solicitude with Mr. Davis, and he was in +continual communication with Mr. Wyse, its great parliamentary champion. +He had repeatedly urged upon him the indispensable necessity of the +principle of mixed education, as the basis of any collegiate system for +Ireland. That basis was recognised in the system of national education +which was accepted and approved of by the whole Catholic Hierarchy, with +one exception, and most warmly sanctioned by the Catholic priesthood and +laity. Extreme bigots of the Protestant school opposed and denounced it +as unscriptural and Godless, and one extreme bigot of the Catholic +school echoed the objurgation. It was not to be supposed that a +principle thus sanctioned, tried, and efficient as applicable to the +children of the poor, would be objected to when applied to those who +were higher in station and older in years. When, therefore, the Bill was +introduced and its principal provisions announced, it was received with +the utmost delight and, even, triumph. Mr. O'Connell proclaimed in a +meeting of the committee his emphatic approval of the principle of the +Bill. + +As soon as its details were published, it was submitted to the +parliamentary committee, and, during its discussion there, he expressed +for the first time some doubts as to the practicability of a mixed +system of education. Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Davis and others expostulated, and +deprecated in unmistakable terms the fatality of engaging the +Association to a principle so sectarian, narrow and illiberal. He said +he would take time to consider, and would meantime consult with Doctor +MacHale. He was reminded that Doctor MacHale could not approve of the +system without gross inconsistency, and requested to take the opinion of +all the other Bishops as well. How far he was governed by this advice is +unimportant and impossible to tell. But the bishops met in solemn synod +and published the result of their deliberations in the following +memorial:-- + + "That memorialists are disposed to co-operate on fair and + reasonable terms with her majesty's government and the + legislature, in establishing a system for the further extension + of academical education in Ireland. + + "That a fair proportion of the professors and other + office-bearers in the new colleges should be members of the + Roman Catholic Church, whose moral conduct shall have been + properly certified by testimonials of character, signed by their + respective prelates. And that all the office-bearers in those + colleges should be appointed by a board of trustees, of which + the Roman Catholic prelates of the provinces in which any of + those colleges shall be erected shall be members. + + "That the Roman Catholic pupils could not attend the lectures on + history, logic, metaphysics, moral philosophy, geology, or + anatomy, without exposing their faith or morals to imminent + danger, unless a Roman Catholic professor will be appointed for + each of those chairs. + + "That if any president, vice-president, professor, or + office-bearer, in any of the new colleges shall be convicted + before the board of trustees of attempting to undermine the + faith or injure the morals of any student in those institutions, + he shall be immediately removed from his office by the same + board." + +It will be observed that the principle of mixed education is not here +directly approved or condemned. But approval is an inference, as clear +and emphatic as words could express. The memorial prays for distinct and +specific alterations in the details of the Bill. It demands that certain +branches of secular education should be taught to the Catholic students +by Catholic professors approved of by the prelates, and it insists upon +other guarantees to secure the Catholic youth from the danger of all and +every species of interference with the tenets of their faith. + +How far the demands of the bishops were just or extravagant, is not a +fit subject of inquiry here. But the fact of making the demands stamps +the principle of the bill with their incontrovertible approval. The +argument which denies it involves an accusation against those Most +Reverend and Right Reverend divines, of evasion, treachery and untruth. +Any defence which implies that they avoided the direct condemnation of +the principle because they knew their memorial would be disregarded, +which would enable them to interdict the whole Bill, principle and +details, on the ground of the immorality of the latter, involves an +implication that moral and Christian turpitude is synonymous with +Catholic zeal. Such an implication, inevitable from the premises assumed +by the opponents of the mixed system, would be foulest calumny. The +Catholic prelates were eminently sincere; and had they been warmly +seconded they might have obtained such ameliorations in the details of +the system as would be satisfactory to every rational, liberal and +honest man. But the old jealousy, division and calumny which had grown +out of the Bequests Act, obtruded themselves on every attempt at calm +consideration, and scattered the elements indispensable to successful +moral combination. The principle and details of the academic project +became confused and confounded, and while some clamorously opposed, +others unthinkingly supported, the entire. Thus the minister was enabled +to balance the voice of public opinion as he found it arrayed for and +against his measure, and under pretence of indifference to despise both +parties. For a long while, the action of the Association was paralysed. +There were deeper questions at issue there than even those which +appeared on the face of the bill. The educational party insisted that +any measure which did not embrace the University was scanty and +illiberal. They claimed its honours, advantages and emoluments for all +the youth of Ireland alike; and they sought to make the academic +subordinate to and parcel of the collegiate system. The Dublin +University and Trinity College are separate and distinct foundations and +establishments. They proposed that Maynooth and Trinity College should +be both sufficiently endowed for all purposes of ecclesiastical +education, without any interference, direct or indirect, from each other +or the Government, while the University should be open alike to all who +had obtained distinction in the provincial colleges. Any measure of +narrower scope would, they contended, leave dullness and bigotry where +it found them. + +Mr. O'Connell, on the other hand, insisted on the inviolability of +Dublin College as a Protestant institution, inaccessible to Catholics, +except through the slough of perverted and perjured faith. He would then +have new colleges purely Catholic and entirely under the control of the +Catholic bishops, but endowed by the State, and chartered to confer +literary degrees. He would extend the same right to the members of other +religious persuasions. It was answered that these positions and his +arguments addressed to the academic question were irreconcilable and +incompatible. Catholics were already admissible to Dublin College, and +entitled to certain degrees and a vote. He either intended that they +should be thenceforth excluded or he did not. If not, then the argument +against mixed education would hold for nothing: if he did, then he +attempted what was impracticable, or, if not impracticable, preposterous +and absurd. It is not conceivable that Catholic young men, of laudable +ambition, would be deterred from entering the lists with their +Protestant contemporaries where most honour was won by superior +eminence, or that they would be swayed by a warning that a college +course would be attended with risk to their faith and morals, when they +remembered that for the past century, while the risk was infinitely more +imminent, no such warning had been ever heard from council, synod or +conference. It is a strange fact in the history of these troubled times +that no voice of denunciation against Dublin College could be heard in +the polemical din, although it was well known that its literary honours +stamped preliminary degradation on the Catholic aspirant, and were used +at once to mock his political condition and pervert his faith--no voice +was heard although one at least of the prelates had obtained degrees in +the University, while the bishop and priests of an entire diocese, in +conclave assembled, solemnly resolved that they would refuse sacraments +to any Catholic parent who sent his son to one of the Godless colleges. +But supposing it were practicable to exclude Roman Catholics from the +University, and that the system of exclusive education among the middle +and upper classes were applied in all its rigour, when were Protestant +and Catholic to meet? If it were dangerous to faith and morals that they +should discuss together the properties of an angle or the altitude of a +star, it could hardly be safe to have them decide together a principle +of law or determine the value or limits of a political franchise. All +this was urged on Mr. O'Connell, and sometimes apparently with success, +for he more than once consented to forego the discussion of the question +in the Hall; and he would have strictly adhered to that engagement had +he not been goaded by the intemperate counsels of others. + +In the desultory history of this question, two facts have been stated +requiring distinct proof. They are:--First, that Mr. O'Connell was +favourable to the principle of mixed education in the commencement. + +And, secondly, that the Seceders--those who were afterwards so glibly +denounced as infidels for their support of the Godless bill--were as +much opposed to that bill as he was. + +How Mr. O'Connell expressed himself when the bill was first announced +has been already stated. It is at once conceded that the writer's memory +of a conversation, in its nature almost private, were he even above all +suspicion, would not be a safe authority. In this instance there is no +need to rely on it--the statement is more than sustained by Mr. +O'Connell's recorded words. From a number of occasions, equally +available, I select one, because of its solemnity and importance. + +In a prolonged and most earnest debate in the House of Commons, on +motion for going into Committee on the Bill, June 2nd, Mr. O'Connell, +after eulogising the Maynooth grant, says:-- + + "Take one step more, and consider whether this bill may not be + made to accord with the feelings of the Catholic ecclesiastics + of Ireland. I ought not to detain you: I am not speaking here in + any spirit of hostility. I should be most happy to give any + assistance in my humble power to make this bill work well. I + have the most anxious wish to have this bill work well, because + I am desirous of seeing education promoted in Ireland; but even + education may be misapplied power. I admit that at one time I + thought the plan of a mixed education proper, and I still think + that a system of mixed education in literature and science would + be proper, but not with regard to religious education." + + And further on: "Again I repeat I am most anxious for the + success of this bill, but I fairly tell you it cannot succeed + without the Catholic bishops.... + + "There may have been harsh expressions in the public papers, but + depend upon it great anxiety exists in Ireland to have such a + measure." + +The second proposition would be abundantly sustained by a single +sentence in Thomas Davis's commentary on the speech from which I +extract the above. + + "On our part we had feared O'Connell conceded almost too far." + +But the testimony of Mr. O'Connell himself will be considered more +conclusive. + +Speaking in the Association on the 6th of July, he said:-- + + "I may remark for the present that on this subject a question of + difference has arisen among ourselves. Some of the members of + the Association are for what is called mixed education, and + others of us are against it, but that difference of opinion + ought not to create any division among us, for neither the one + nor the other of us is gratified by the bill as it stands." + +Again, in the course of the same speech, he said: + + "We (Mr. O'Brien and himself) did our best to avert such a + calamity. We called upon the Government not to persist in + working out this bill in all its details of blackness and + horror." + +He concluded by lauding Lord John Russell for his valuable assistance in +the attempt to amend the bill, and finally said that, having failed in +this attempt, he "flung the bill to the ministry, to deal with it as +they pleased." + +Mr. O'Brien continued in London, and proposed amendments to the bill in +every stage of its progress. It was during that time he was assailed by +Mr. Roebuck with all the little malevolence of his envenomed nature. He +failed in every attempt to remedy the defects of the bill, which passed +its last stage in the Commons on the 10th day of July. On the 17th of +the same month, Mr. O'Connell, speaking in the Association, said: + + "In the resolution I am about submitting to the Association, we + have not inserted one word about mixed education. This is a + question upon which there exists some differences of opinion. I + have my opinions upon the subject, I am the decided enemy of + mixed education.... + + "I fully respect the contrary convictions entertained by others, + and I am the more ready to proclaim that respect because at + present all possibility of discussion on the matter is out of + the question." + +It will be observed that Mr. O'Connell's opinions underwent a serious +and important change during the time over which these speeches range. +That change was produced gradually, and not without infinite trouble on +the part of his son whose inveterate zeal knew no bounds. In his +father's presence, and more particularly so in his absence, he denounced +the bill, and held up any Catholic who dared to support it to public +indignation. He called on the people of Waterford to demand Mr. Wyse's +resignation, not because he was an unfaithful representative, but +because he was unchristian. If he had not determined to divide the +Association on this question, he did all a man could do who had so +determined. + +I shall only trouble the reader with two quotations more. They refer to +the question immediately under discussion, namely, that the Seceders +were as much opposed to the obnoxious clauses of the bill as those with +whom they differed. But while they are unequivocal and conclusive on +that branch of the subject, they go still further and attest the sincere +forbearance with which they treated language and conduct which appeared +to them in the utmost degree narrow and intolerant. Discussion among the +bishops naturally produced discussion among the chiefs of the +Association, and it was agreed that the Association should confine its +objections to those provisions of the bill upon which there could be no +disagreement. The first petition of the Association was confided to me. +I endeavoured to embody in the petition what appeared to me the true +basis of a comprehensive system of education. Some persons on the +Committee objected to certain phrases as susceptible of an inference +favourable to the principle of mixed education. Mr. O'Connell joined in +the objection and succeeded in reducing the petition to a single +paragraph, deprecatory of the Tenth Clause of the Bill. I refused to +have any more to do with the petition, and it was dropped. After the +lapse of a fortnight, Mr. Maurice O'Connell proposed another, simply +praying that the tenth clause, which vested the appointment of the +professors of the college in the Government, should be rejected. + +Upon the occasion of this petition being submitted to the Association +(9th June, 1845), Mr. J. O'Connell delivered one of his usual invectives +against the bill and its abettors. Mr. O'Brien deprecated the +ill-feeling and discord such language was calculated to provoke. In the +course of his observations he said:-- + + "In seconding the motion of my hon. friend, the member for + Kilkenny, for the adoption of this petition, it is not my + intention to follow into any of the polemical questions which, + in the course of his protracted speech, he has raised in this + Association. I am obliged, however, to say in candour that in + some of the views he has put forward I cannot agree.... We have + given a general concurrence in this Hall to the recommendation + that has emanated from the Catholic Hierarchy.... I am not + disposed to assist the Government in making those seminaries, + which ought to be seats of learning, filthy sties of corruption. + It is because I believe that such would become their character + if this tenth clause were to remain a legislative enactment that + I shall oppose it to the utmost." + +The Reverend John Kenyon, then little known, rose to protest against the +course pursued by Mr. J. O'Connell, which he characterised as not only +uncatholic but unchristian. Mr. J. O'Connell, in the blandest tones, +deprecated any discussion tending to division, which induced Mr. Kenyon +to sit down. Having spread with dexterous industry the most baleful +elements of discord, he begged they should not be disturbed. + +I will be pardoned for transcribing here a few observations of my own on +that occasion. + + "I am exceedingly anxious, having the misfortune to differ most + widely from my honourable friend the member for Kilkenny, on the + subject of academical education, to express my cordial + concurrence with him in reference to the subject of this + petition. I shall not say one word about our difference of + opinion. I shall enter into no disturbing or dividing + discussion, and the more so because any difference we may + express could not fail to impair the efficiency of our action + where we are thoroughly agreed. I condemn this clause as + strongly as the hon. member can. Nay, I will go a step further, + and say that if there be no provision made by the bill for + religious instruction and moral culture, Protestant and Catholic + ought to unite in struggling for its rejection. No matter how + splendid may be the accommodations provided by these + academies--no matter how richly they may be endowed--if there be + no provision made for the religious education of the pupils, I + trust they will remain silent, unattended Halls." + +Numerous other proofs to the same facts are accessible, but these are +abundantly conclusive. The history of the struggle itself, the slow and +evidently reluctant change in Mr. O'Connell's opinions, and the +intolerant spirit with which the enemies of the bill pursued the name +and character of those who, although they approved of the mixed system, +were as inveterately inimical to the dangerous provisions of the bill as +they were themselves, sufficiently attest that faction swayed the +troubled movement of clerical and popular passion alike. The vulgar and +virulent anathemas of some tongues and pens not only swept unsparingly +over the unhappy crowd, but aimed at the lofty sphere of Episcopal +authority, even where most identical with purity and piety. A malignant +charity extended to the errors of the Primate that palliation which +perverted reason otherwise refused to admit. Too lofty to be accused of +treachery, he was not too sacred to be pronounced mad. + +The Committee of the Association alone nearly escaped the influence of +the fierce spirit of the times. There the voice of reason for a while +held sway. The forbearance and respect for conflicting opinions which +preserved its dignity were, with the one exception, extended to the +proceedings in the Hall, where even the most unscrupulous were checked +by a petition which recognised and welcomed the principle of united +education, but strongly deprecated the objectionable provisions of the +"Godless Bill." To this petition was affixed the signature of almost +every educated lay Catholic in Dublin. The number of Catholic barristers +alone whose names are found among those signatures amounts to +seventy-two. At the same time, a remonstrance addressed personally to +Mr. O'Connell was signed by the leading Catholics of the Association. +Its object was to preclude all discussion on the subject of the disputed +principle in Conciliation Hall. It was signed for the most part by men +who theretofore had taken but little part in the dispute. But against +all these precautions passion by degrees prevailed, and when Mr. +O'Connell was reminded by Mr. Barry, of Cork, that in reply to the +remonstrance he had pledged himself to abstinence from the irritating +discussion, his apology was, that he thought the document in question +and all proceedings connected with it were strictly private; as if the +privacy of a solemn pledge dispensed with its obligation. + +An episode in this strife deserves specific notice. At a meeting of the +Association, held on the 26th of May, the question was incidentally +introduced. Mr. Michael George Conway, a man of considerable literary +and oratorical powers, but not distinguished for any very rigid piety, +introduced the subject, evidently with the view of exciting Mr. +O'Connell's impulsive character against the species of restraint under +which his sinister friends were continually hinting he was held. The +speech breathed the most fervent spirit of Catholic piety, seasoned +with bitter invectives against what Mr. Conway described as a baffled +faction in the Association. Mr. O'Connell took off his cap, waved it +repeatedly over his head, and cheered vociferously. Few, if any, of the +Catholic gentlemen who were opposed to Mr. O'Connell, were present. Mr. +Davis rose, and commenced by saying: "My Catholic friend, my _very_ +Catholic friend." The allusion was intelligible to almost every man in +the assembly, but the practised and dexterous advocate saw and seized +the advantage it presented for exciting the active prejudices of the +audience. He started up and exclaimed, "I hope it is no _crime_ to be a +Catholic." The whole meeting burst into a tumultuous shout which bespoke +a triumph rather than admiration. Mr. O'Connell did triumph, but not in +the sense understood by his applauders. He apprehended the effect of the +honest, frank and manly exposure which, if he were not rudely +interrupted, would be made by Mr. Davis, and he was too keen to allow an +opportunity, so tempting to his object, to pass, though he should +violate all the observances of good feeling and decorum. Mr. Davis, on +the other hand, felt the blow to be a stunning one. He was shocked at +the same time by Mr. O'Connell's disregard, not alone of friendship, but +of common courtesy, and by the intemperate exultation of the audience. +To his loving nature, both seemed, especially in such a place, utterly +unintelligible and grossly unkind. He was the last living man to offer +insult to the belief or even the prejudice of a Catholic, and he felt +that this was thoroughly known to Mr. O'Connell, and that it ought to be +known to his audience. The disappointment and the rudeness were too +much for his susceptible heart, and he so far yielded to wounded +feelings as to shed tears. Mr. O'Connell, whether gratified by success +or influenced by his better impulse, caught him by the hand and +exclaimed: "Davis, I love you." Although the first struggle closed +amidst cheers, there were carried away from that meeting in the breasts +of many, seeds of bitterness and hate which ripened in after times and +under gloomier auspices. I dwell on it as important, although a casual +incident, frequent and almost inevitable in political excitement. There +were two parties from whose memory the scene never passed. These were +the blind followers of Mr. O'Connell, to whom it seemed blackest guilt +to question his supremacy or infallibility, on the one hand, and on the +other, all who sympathised with genuine and lofty emotions, and regarded +the attack on Mr. Davis as wanton, brutal and contemptible. The +miserable little faction that existed on the spoils of the Association +magnified the difference and fanned the discontent. That Young Ireland +had received its death-blow passed into a watch-word among them. + +An event of mighty augury and most trifling results, which distinguished +the year 1845, must not be passed unmentioned. This was the celebrated +levee, held in the Round Room of the Rotunda, on the 30th of May, the +anniversary of the imprisonment. It was referred to a sub-committee, on +which Mr. Davis and Sir Colman O'Loghlen were principals, to devise the +most appropriate celebration for that important day. They determined on +a public levee, to which were summoned whatever there was of +respectability, authority, genius and worth in the island, which +recognised the wisdom, justice and holiness of the struggle for +Nationhood. All the corporations, every delegation which derived public +authority from the popular voice, besides citizens of the unincorporated +towns, answered the summons with alacrity. That day witnessed a scene +the most extraordinary, imposing and formidable of the kind in modern +annals. The Round Room was thronged to excess, but preconcerted +arrangements had provided for the convenience of its favoured visitors, +while the public streets, abandoned to chance, presented an immovable +mass of human beings, swaying to and fro, but governed by a single and +omnipotent impulse, which steeled them to the pressure and broil as if +they felt themselves in presence of a speedy deliverance and free +destiny. + +[Illustration: Richard O'Gorman, Jun. (1848)] + +[Illustration: Patrick O'Donohoe (1848)] + +The preparations engaged the vigilant activity of a large committee for +two entire days and nights. Yet these preparations bore an infinite +disproportion to the display of wealth of mind, of energy of thought, +and national pomp, which ushered in the glorious morning. Those who +scoffed at the project when it was first announced came to mock the +scene but went away admiring. The spirit of the hour infused itself into +the public heart, which appeared to throb but to one impulse and one +aim: at all events no one was, no one could be, found obdurate enough to +question the significance or importance of the proceeding. + +Mr. O'Connell's fellow-prisoners shared his state and the homage which +was paid to him. But in the outward crowd no one dissociated him +personally from the minutest detail of the day's proceedings, or +admitted for a moment that any other human being partook of its glory, +or directed its end. High above the multitude they saw him receive the +nation's homage, which seemed but the expression of the liberty he had +already achieved. How he felt the influence of the scene there is no +record to tell. His demeanour while exercising the prerogatives of his +position was such as became a man conscious that he occupied a throne +loftier than ever yet was decked by a kingly crown. But when his +official functions were discharged, he addressed the impassioned throng +in language too tame for the most ordinary occasion. + +The great act of the day was the adoption of the following pledge. It +had been prepared and approved by the Committee of the Association, and +every word was canvassed with the most scrupulous regard to the trying +circumstances which the committee found themselves in presence of. The +virulent hostility of the Tory Government had been baffled, and its +utmost strength discomfited. It was understood at the time that a Whig +Government was in the advent of power, and the great object of the +pledge was to record the solemn conviction of the Nation that they were +faithless and treacherous as the others were unscrupulous and +vindictive, and that to the corrupting influence of the one and the +unmasked hostility of the other the same resistance should be shown. The +pledge was preceded by this resolution:-- + + "Resolved, That in commemorating this first anniversary of the + 30th of May, we deem it our duty to record a solemn pledge that + corruption shall not seduce, nor deceit cajole, nor intimidation + deter us from seeking to obtain for Ireland the blessings of + self-government through a national legislature, and we recommend + that the following pledge be taken:-- + + "We, the undersigned, being convinced that good government and + wise legislation can be permanently secured to the Irish people + only through the instrumentality of an Irish Legislature, do + hereby pledge ourselves to our country that we will never desist + from seeking the Repeal of the Union with England by all + peaceable, moral and constitutional means, until a parliament be + restored to Ireland. + + "Dated this 30th day of May, 1845." + +This pledge was adopted formally in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda, in +presence of most of the Irish mayors, the leading delegates of the +country, the members of the Eighty-Two Club, and a vast concourse of +gentlemen both from the metropolis and the provinces. It was proposed by +William Smith O'Brien, seconded by Henry Grattan, and put to the meeting +from the chair by the eldest son of Daniel O'Connell. The cheer that +hailed its adoption was a shout not of approval, but defiance. But alas! +many voices mingled in the chorus which have since been attuned to the +meanest whine of mendicancy. That they vilely belied their solemn +promise were of little moment. Nay, more, it is bootless to consider +whether they were more false-tongued and false-hearted in that great +pageant, or on the recent occasion of their kneeling in their own shame +to pledge a faith they do not feel, in expectation of some royal notice +or royal favour. What is mournful in both instances is this, that a show +of wealth, a practice of successful chicanery called good sense, or +public trust won by intrigue and falsehood, should so blind the world +to the _man's_ rotten and vulgar heart as to raise them to a position +where their acts should be regarded as indicative of the feeling or +important to the destiny of a nation. + +With the 30th of May, passed off the excitement of which it was the +cause and scene. Those who arranged the grand pageant of that day, and +invested it with attributes, suggestive, imposing and useful as ever +decked a public spectacle, would have wrought it out into a sterner +purpose: but the heart upon which they counted had, even then, died. Mr. +O'Connell's speech too painfully bespoke his utter inability to guide +the nation in any higher effort. The energy that should have seized the +occasion to confirm the people in their strong purpose, and elevate +their hopes to the level of the great stake at issue, exhausted itself +in balancing the routine details of cold and empty statistics. The +curtain fell, and nothing remained but grotesque figures, withered +garlands, broken panels and desolate dust, which mingled confusedly +behind the scene, over the dark, deserted stage. The journals, of +course, preserved, for a few days, very glittering reminiscences of the +scene. With one accord, they pronounced it surpassing in interest and +importance. Great results were anticipated in the newspaper world; and +many imagined they had fulfilled the last obligations they owed their +country. But with the men, who had fondly hoped to date therefrom a new +era and begin a nobler task, the 30th of May, was of dark, despairing +augury. They clearly saw that from that hour forth there remained but +the alternative of abandoning their cherished hopes, or attempting to +realise them without the aid, perhaps in opposition to the wishes, of +Mr. O'Connell. It was a gloomy and sad conviction, but it was no longer +to be blinked. + +Meantime, Mr. O'Connell returned to the Hall, and repeated to a jaded +audience, week after week, the same stale list of grievances. From any +other man the repetition would be intolerable. But the public ear had +become attuned to his accents, to which, whatever the sense of his +language, men listened as to a messenger of heavenly tidings. Mr. Duffy +strongly urged upon his fellow labourers the improbability of success, +and advised a distinct change of policy. In this he was overborne by +their united opinion, and the _Nation_ continued to promulgate the same +bold, unwavering course. By degrees the feeling of bitterness +entertained by the anti-education section of the priests found +utterance, and the paper was, almost openly, denounced as an infidel +publication. At first indeed, the charge was shrouded in mysterious +insinuations; but it soon gained strength and audacity, and received the +unblushing sanction of at least one prelate. The answer of the _Nation_ +was confined to one indignant line. Proof was demanded and was not +offered; but its very absence only deepened the malignity of the +slanderers. Even in the midst of this storm the muse of Thomas Davis +sang no discordant strain, nor did his pen trace one angry word. On the +contrary, he summoned his whole energies to the task of harmonising the +jarring elements around him. His inspiration rose to that unearthly +height, whereon guidance becomes prophecy. Great, strong and unselfish +convictions, entertained holily and uttered sincerely, are assurances +of new creations, pledges of the destiny to which they tend. In this +spirit, spoke and sang Thomas Davis during a time of bitterness and +dissension. And his counsels had been successful, but alas! in that last +effort his fond, faithful, trusting heart was broken. + +There was a perceptible lull in the agitation. The country gradually +relapsed into a state of inactive and vague hope, which centred in the +mental resources of Mr. O'Connell. The difficulties which the people +should have appreciated and learned to overcome, they transferred, with +easy and trusting indifference, to the energies of the "Liberator," +which they not only deemed boundless but immortal. From all educated and +thoughtful men, however, hope in those energies had passed away. Davis +seduously endeavoured during the summer months of 1845, to gather these, +and others of the same class from the Conservative ranks, round some +common object or endeavour, outside Mr. O'Connell's path, and not +calculated to wake their prejudice or jealousies. The Art Union, the +Archaeological Society, the Royal Irish Academy, the Library of Ireland, +the Cork School of Design, the Mechanics' Institute and every effort and +institution, having for their aim the encouragement of the nation in +arts, literature and greatness, engaged his vigilant and embracing care. +Of each of these institutions he became the great attraction, the real +centre and head. While he successfully wrought to give a national and +steady direction to Irish intellect and enterprise--Hogan, in Italy, +Maclise, in London, and others like them, who were bravely struggling +and nobly emulating the highest efforts of the genius of other lands, +were vindicated, encouraged and applauded by his pen. Among the sterner +natures, who urged their way through the stormy elements of agitation, +his accents, though low and diffident, commanded the deepest attention +and most lasting memory. While thus engaged, compassing by his "circling +soul," every sunward effort and immortal tendency of the country, death +came, sudden and inexorable, and struck him down in his day of utmost +might. His last work on earth was the brief dedication of the memoir of +Curran, and edition of his select speeches, which he had prepared, to +his friend, William Elliot Hudson. This he wrote during a pause of +delirium, and soon afterwards passed to a brighter world. He died on the +16th of September, 1845, when yet but thirty-one years old. How sincere +and deep was the public grief, no pen can ever tell. In the mourning +procession that followed his hearse there was no parade of woe, but +every eye was wet and every tongue silent. If ever sorrow was too deep +for utterance, it was that which settled above the early grave of Thomas +Davis. + +During the summer, no effort of the Association rose above the hacknied +level of the usual weekly meetings and the repetition of the same stale +grievances, except a gathering of Tipperary at Thurles, which took place +on the 23rd of September. This was the largest of the monster meetings: +but, although the crowd was enormous and the shouting loud, it seemed +without purpose or heart. During the preparations for that meeting I had +to encounter difficulties of the most extraordinary kind. First, the +meeting was opposed by certain influential clergymen; and when they +found themselves too feeble to resist, they transferred all their +opposition to me. There is no petty cavil they had not recourse to, to +thwart and discourage, and even when all had succeeded I was treated +with personal discourtesy and annoyance at the public dinner. The seeds +of strife, afterwards destined to bear such deadly fruit, had already +begun to manifest themselves, and petty calumnies were insinuated in the +name of religion and morality. From that great meeting the crowd retired +quickly, and, almost as instantaneously, its effect faded from the +public heat. All that remained was soreness and distrust. + +No event worth a memory marked the close of 1845, or the first months of +1846. The Colleges Bill had passed, without a single important +amendment, and a Roman Catholic priest accepted the nomination of +Government, as president of one of the institutions. Some of the +prelates, too, were said to be favourable to the colleges, even as they +were then constituted, and the divisions supposed to exist among them +were imparting their acridity to the deepening distractions of the time, +when an event occurred--the advent of the Whigs to office--which broke +up the great confederacy on which the hopes of the nation were staked. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 5: The Repeal "Rent." The weekly contributions to the funds of +Conciliation Hall.--Ed.] + +[Footnote 6: Moved by the Right Reverend Dr. Brown of Elphin; seconded +by the Right Reverend Dr. McNally of Clogher. Resolved: That the Most +Reverend Dr. Crolly be requested to reply to the letter received from +the Holy Father, stating that the instructions therein contained have +been received by the assembled prelates of Ireland with that degree of +profound respect, obedience and veneration that should ever be paid to +any document emanating from the Apostolic See, and that they all pledge +themselves to carry the spirit thereof into effect." + +Dr. Crolly had previously explained what he considered true obedience to +the rescript. He writes in reference to a former one in 1839: "In +obedience to the injunction of the Holy See, I endeavoured to reclaim +those misguided clergymen;" adding that the present was "in order that I +should _more efficaciously_ admonish such priests or prelates as I +might find taking a prominent or imprudent part in political +proceedings."] + +[Footnote 7: John Reynolds.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IMPRISONMENT OF O'BRIEN FOR CONTEMPT OF THE BRITISH COMMONS.--CONDUCT OF +THE ASSOCIATION.--DEPUTATION FROM THE '82 CLUB.--MR. O'CONNELL RETURNS +TO IRELAND.--DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMITTEE. + + +Before proceeding to detail the circumstances which led to the +celebrated secession, it is essential to dispose of an episode in the +struggle, which, more than any other, stamped its impress on the acts +and feelings of that unfortunate period; I allude to the imprisonment, +by the House of Commons, of William Smith O'Brien. There is no act of +his life upon which there has been so much acrimonious criticism; none +on account of which he has been subjected to so much intemperate +misrepresentation. And yet, perhaps, his great career, fruitful in good +actions, never furnished a purer or more unselfish example of sound +judgment as well as intrepidity and devotion. The history of his +incarceration ranges over a great portion of the time which has been +already passed, and enters largely into the leading events, hereafter to +be related. A clear understanding of the whole--of Mr. O'Brien's +influencing motives and his tenacity of principle--would be impossible +without a distinct recital of the circumstances out of which his purpose +first grew, and which, to the end, controlled his resolution. + +In the spring of 1845, the committee of the Association passed a vote to +the effect that the Parliamentary representatives, who were members of +that body, should withdraw from the British Parliament. It was proposed +by Mr. Davis and received Mr. O'Connell's entire approval. Though at +first sneered at, it had a stunning effect. The supercilious British +Commons, who would have answered the just remonstrance of the Irish +Repealers with a jeer, shrank from the consequences of legislating for +the country in the absence of the men, whose efforts, if present, they +would not hesitate to scoff at. The disturbing influence of the +resolution became at once perceptible, and the earliest means were taken +to bring the question to an issue. Mr. Hume, a parsimonious economist, +of niggard principle and grovelling sentiment, undertook the office of +coercing the Irish. He gave notice of a motion for a call of the House. +This man, a mean utilitarian, had been rejected by the country of his +birth and the country of his adoption, and found refuge in an Irish +constituency, that returned him without solicitation and without +expense. He repaid them and the country by a vulgar jest, and now +assumed the responsibility of their public prosecutor. + +The Association heard his threat with calm indignation and resolved at +once to defy him. The great importance of the position in which it was +placed suggested the necessity of a deliberate consideration; first, of +the constitutional question at stake and, secondly, of the steps proper +to vindicate its own dignity and resolution. As on all such occasions, a +sub-committee was appointed to whom the question was referred. Mr. +O'Connell had to some extent formed an opinion favourable to the object +of the Association. He stated that he had considered the question in a +two-fold point of view. + +First, "Whether the controlling power of the English House of Commons +over its members, which admittedly it possessed before the Act of Union, +was extended to the Irish portion of the members by that Act, there +being no express provision creating it?" + +And secondly, "Whether even if the House possessed the power, it was +competent to enforce it, or, in other words, whether the Speaker's +warrant would receive Ireland?" + +To report on these two questions, thus framed, the following gentlemen +were elected as a sub-committee: James O'Hea, Sir Colman O'Loghlen, +Robert Mullen, James O'Dowd and myself. Of that committee, each +approached his task with that instinctive bias, inseparable from ardent +minds, excited by a darling hope. They read the precedents, the cases, +the arguments and judgments applicable to their enquiry with the aid of +such a hope, and still they came to the reluctant decision that the +ground taken against the authority of the British Parliament was not +maintainable. With regard to the first branch they were unanimous. With +regard to the second, Sir Colman O'Loghlen alone entertained some +doubts. As chairman of the committee, I drew up a brief report, +embodying our opinion. One reason alone we thought conclusive, namely, +that the formidable jurisdiction claimed by the House of Commons was +indispensable to the unimpeded fulfilment of its functions, as a +coordinate branch of the supreme power and controlling authority of the +State. In its very danger and extravagance consisted its supremacy; for +it showed that it was only admitted from its overruling and +overmastering necessity. And as the Parliament was recognised in Ireland +in all things else we thought it would be absurd to deny it functions +indispensable to its vitality. + +On handing in the report, I mentioned the doubts entertained by Sir +Colman O'Loghlen. Mr. O'Connell suggested that the report should be +deferred until he could consult Sir Colman. The suggestion was agreed +to, and time given for reconsideration. Mr. O'Connell himself examined +the question, he said, with great attention. He was assisted by Mr. +Clements in his researches, and at the end of the fortnight he came down +to the committee with a report of his own, distinctly and emphatically +contradicting ours, upon both branches of the case. He delivered it to +the chairman (Mr. S. O'Brien), with exultation, as a great +constitutional discovery of unspeakable importance to the liberties of +Ireland. The committee received it in the same spirit. I ventured to +question the soundness of his opinion, and maintain my own, it was +considered a daring thing to do in those times; but the question seemed +to me so clear that I could not abandon my views without treachery to my +conviction. The discussion was very short, and ended in personality, +wherein he insinuated something about unworthy motives. No scene of my +life made the same impression on me. I felt keenly his reproaches, but +still more keenly the impolicy and imprudence of the step into which the +country was precipitated. I requested that the question should be again +postponed, and the opinion of some eminent men outside the Association +taken. I was overruled, and even laughed at--it was "doubting Mr. +O'Connell." Mr. O'Connell said, "I'll test this question '_meo +periculo_.'" The resolution passed amid cheers, and was recorded next +day amid the louder and more vehement cheers of the Association. The +country re-echoed the boast, and the House of Commons was, by a formal +and solemn vote of the entire nation, set at defiance. The conflict was +pre-arranged, even to its minute details. Mr. O'Brien was to proceed to +London, where disobedience would be more marked and decisive; and Mr. +John O'Connell was to remain in Ireland, where he could take advantage +of an additional obstacle to the exercise of its authority to the House. +So the matter stood when Mr. Hume, through what motive it is not easy to +see, neglected or abandoned his notice. The country regarded this as a +confession of weakness by the House, and gloried in a new triumph +achieved by the genius of Mr. O'Connell. He himself thought he had found +a great and solid basis for future action, and hinted at the prospect of +being able to raise upon it a parliamentary structure, having +imprescriptible and indefeasible authority, and only requiring the +sanction of the crown. + +A short time after the withdrawal of Mr. Hume's motion, the question was +again raised in another form. The chairman of the Committee of Selection +for Railways addressed a circular, among others, to Messrs. S. O'Brien +and John O'Connell, requiring their attendance at the selection of +special Railway Committees. The correspondent of the _Freeman's +Journal_, thus writes in forwarding their replies:-- + + _London, Monday, June 30._ + + "The authority of the British Senate over Irish representatives + is now fairly placed at issue. By my letter of yesterday + evening, you were apprised of the determination of Smith O'Brien + and John O'Connell, to refuse to comply with the summons of the + parliamentary selection committee. + + "The course I suggested as that which it was probable would be + adopted, has been since finally resolved upon, and in part + carried into execution. John O'Connell, for the purpose of + taking the chances of a judgment in the Irish court, will not + forward his answer till he shall have reached Ireland. Smith + O'Brien delivered his reply to the clerk of the House of Commons + this day, at one o'clock." + +Here follows Mr. O'Brien's letter:-- + + OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CLUB, PALL-MALL. + + "_June 30, 1845._ + + "Sir.--I had the honour of receiving on Saturday afternoon a + letter dated 28th June, and signed 'Henry Creed,' to the + following effect: 'I am directed by the committee of selection + to inform you that your name is on the list for which members + will be selected to serve on the railway committees, which will + commence their sittings in the week beginning Monday, the 14th + July, during which week it will be necessary for you to be in + attendance, for the purpose of serving, if requested, on a + railway committee.' + + "I trust that the committee of selection will not think that I + am prompted by any feeling of disrespect towards them, or + towards the House of Commons, when I inform them that it is my + intention not to serve on any committees except such as may be + appointed with reference to the affairs of Ireland. + + "I accepted a seat in the House of Commons, in the hope of + being thereby enabled to assist in improving the condition of + the land of my birth. So long as I continued to believe that I + could serve Ireland effectually in the House of Commons, I + shrank from none of the labours which are connected with the + varied functions of that assembly. During twelve years I + attended Parliament with an assiduity of which I might feel + disposed to boast, if the time so consumed by the House and by + myself had been productive of results useful to my native + country. + + "Experience and observation at length forced upon my mind the + conviction that the British Parliament is incompetent through + want of knowledge, if not, through want of inclination, to + legislate wisely for Ireland, and that our national interests + can be protected and fostered only through the instrumentality + of an Irish legislature. + + "Since this conviction has established itself in my mind I have + felt persuaded that the labours of the Irish members, though of + little avail in the British Parliament, might, if applied in + Ireland with prudence and energy, be effectual in obtaining for + the Irish people their national rights. + + "I have reason to believe that in this opinion a very large + majority of my constituents concur. To them alone I hold myself + responsible for the performance of my parliamentary duty. If + they had disapproved of my continued absence from the House of + Commons, I should have felt it my duty to have withdrawn from + the representation of the county of Limerick; but I have the + satisfaction of thinking that I not only consult the interests, + but also comply with the wishes of my constituents in declining + to engage in the struggles of English party, or to involve + myself in the details of English legislation. + + "While such have been the general impressions under which I have + absented myself during nearly two years from the House of + Commons, I yet do not feel myself at liberty to forego whatever + power of resistance to the progress of pernicious legislation my + office of representative may confer upon me. Upon the present + occasion, I have come to London for the purpose of endeavouring + to induce the House of Commons, or rather the Government, who + appear to command the opinions of a large majority of the House, + to modify some of the Irish measures now before Parliament in + such a manner as to render them beneficial, instead of + injurious, to Ireland. + + "Desiring that none but the representatives of the Irish nation + should legislate for Ireland, we have no wish to intermeddle + with the affairs of England, or Scotland, except in so far as + they may be connected with the interest of Ireland or with the + general policy of the empire. + + "In obedience to this principle I have abstained from voting on + English and Scotch questions of a local nature, and the same + motive now induces me to decline attendance on committees on any + private bills, except such as relate to Ireland. + + "I am prepared to abide with cheerfulness the personal + consequences which may result from the course of conduct which I + feel it my duty to adopt. + + "I speak with great diffidence upon any question of a legal + kind, but I am supported by very high professional authority + when I suggest to the committee that no power was delegated to + the House of Commons by the Act of Union, or by subsequent + statutes, to compel to attendance Irish members on the + deliberations of the British Parliament. Neither do I find that + any authority has been given by statutory enactment to the House + (except in the case of election petitions) to enforce the + attendance of members upon committees. + + "I refrain, however, from arguing legal questions which may be + raised before another tribunal, in case it should become + necessary and advisable to appeal from the decision of the House + of Commons to the courts of judicature, and conclude by assuring + the committee that I take the course which I propose to + adopt, not from any desire to defy the just authority of the + House of Commons, but in obedience to my sense of the duty which + I owe to my constituents and my country. + + "I have the honour to be, your obedient servant, + + "WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN. + + "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection." + +[Illustration: Thomas Devin Reilly] + +Mr. O'Connell's letter bears date on the next day, as announced in the +correspondent's notice, because it was intended it should not be +delivered until the honourable gentleman was beyond the pale of English +jurisdiction. + + "BRITISH HOTEL, JERMYN STREET, + + 8 a.m., _July 1st._ + + "Sir.--I have to acknowledge the receipt of a notification by + order of your committee, to the effect that my attendance in + Parliament will be required during the week beginning Monday, + 14th July, for the purpose of serving, if chosen, on a + parliamentary committee. + + "With every respect to you, Sir, and the gentlemen of your + committee, I absolutely decline attending. + + "I, like some others, came to London the first time this session + about a fortnight ago to remonstrate against and endeavour to + resist the plan of infidel education which the Government are + forcing upon Ireland. We had not, nor for some years have had, + the slightest hope of obtaining any measure of good from a + foreign parliament; but we came against our better judgment, + that it might not be said we had not gone all lengths to + endeavour to deter the Government from a scheme so redolent of + political corruption, social profligacy and religious + infidelity. + + "We came armed with multitudinous petitions of the people, and + the strong, unanimous and most decided protest from our revered + prelacy and clergy. + + "We were of course mocked at, derided and refused; but, what is + of infinitely more consequence, the voice of our prelates and of + the faithful people of Ireland have been treated with utter + contempt--even Irish Catholics (yielding to the unwholesome + influences around them) joining in the contemptuous refusal. + + "Under these circumstances, Sir, I certainly will not suffer + that portion of the people of Ireland who have entrusted their + representation to my charge to be further mocked at and insulted + in my person. I go to where I can best discharge my duty to them + and to Ireland--_in Ireland_. There struggling, with doubtless + as little ability, but with more energy and, if possible, more + whole-hearted devotion than ever, to put an end to the present + degradation of my country and obtain for her that which can + alone ensure protection to her interests, relief to her many + wants, and peace, freedom and happiness to her long oppressed + and long enduring people, + + "I have the honour to be, Sir, + + "Your obedient servant, + + "JOHN O'CONNELL. + + "To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection." + +These documents were entered on the minutes of the Association, and +remained on its records with the original resolution. But no more was +done in the matter until the beginning of April, 1846. + +Mr. O'Connell and his son were in London, and Mr. O'Brien remained in +Ireland. They had been all summoned to attend on committees. When Mr. +O'Brien reached London, he found that the Messrs. O'Connell, without any +previous communication with him or with the Association, and without +reference to the solemn resolution, to the contrary, of that body, were +acting on committees. This deeply disappointed and mortified him, and he +at once resolved to remain faithful, at all risks, and though he stood +alone, to the obligation which he had contracted with the sanction and +approval of his country. Whatever may be the temper and resolution of +the House of Commons, had it been resisted by the unbroken strength of +the Association, it felt confident of its power to crush Mr. O'Brien +alone, separate from, nay, abandoned by, the great leader of the Irish +people. It must be acknowledged that the course pursued by the Commons +was considerate and moderate. A principle involving their liberty of +action was in issue; to vindicate it was indispensable; but finding +themselves only opposed by a single man, of all those who had provoked +the encounter, they proceeded with caution and forbearance. They +forewarned, counselled and remonstrated during the time that intervened; +and several members of the House, including Mr. O'Connell, urged Mr. +O'Brien to give way. He refused, determinedly, and it may be supposed +not the less sternly, when he found, among those who advised him to +falsify his solemn promise, the man upon whose authority and through +whose influence he had made it. The result was, his arrest and +imprisonment, for disobedience to the House. Circumstances more trying +never beset the fortitude of a great man. Personal liberty was his +slightest loss. The sneers of his enemies, the pity of his personal, and +the desertion of his political, friends poisoned[A] the very air of the +miserable cell to which he was consigned, and what completed his agony +was a notion that he had been abandoned by his country. + +During the early part of his imprisonment, a motion was made questioning +the authority of the House. In the course of the discussion, Sir Thomas +Wilde, then Attorney-General, dared any constitutional lawyer to impugn +the jurisdiction assumed by the House. Every member felt that the +challenge was offered to Mr. O'Connell, who replied as follows:-- + + "I am sure that the House will give credit to my assurance that + I should not rise to advocate the cause of my honourable friend, + if I thought he had had the slightest intention of being + disrespectful towards the House. It has not been his intention + to be guilty of any contempt towards it: he thought he was + entitled to make the exception to which he adheres. He has acted + from a strong sense of duty, and I am sorry to see it is a sense + of duty he is not likely to give up." + +I add to this an extract from his speech delivered at the Corn Exchange, +when, in spite of the most earnest remonstrance, the Association offered +its defiance in solemn form to the British Parliament. + + "Mr. O'Connell rose amid loud cheers, and said:--Our usual + course of proceeding in this hall is to commence with handing in + money, and then to go on with business of inferior importance, + the business of making speeches (hear! hear! and laughter); but + among the passing events of the day, there is one of such signal + importance, that I am sure you will readily admit that I am + right when I claim for it, on the present occasion, a right of + precedence over any donation or subscription, no matter from + what quarter they may come. The matter I allude to is a menace + held out for the intimidation (as it is supposed) of the Irish + members who are given to understand that there is about to be a + call of the House, and that it is intended that the Speaker's + warrant shall issue to compel them to go over to London. Now, + sir, I think it right to apprise the Association and the country + that, having considered this question attentively, I have made + up my mind that the Speaker has no constitutional authority + whatever to issue any such warrant." + +But what pained Mr. O'Brien the deepest was the apparent coldness, +apathy or cowardice of the Irish people. Among them, and them only, he +calculated an enthusiastic sustainment. But those who felt the deepest +in his regard were constrained by the responsibility of coming to an +open rupture with Mr. O'Connell, at a time when union in the ranks of +the Association was indispensable to even partial success. A vote was +proposed to the committee, approving of Mr. O'Brien's act, and pledging +the Association to an identification with the principle by which his +conduct was governed. That vote was resisted by the whole of Mr. +O'Connell's family, and personal friends and by all the pensioners and +employes of the body. It was carried, nevertheless. But a motion to +consult Mr. O'Connell as to its legality was passed, and the resolution +was transmitted to him accordingly. His reply was an urgent remonstrance +against the resolution on the ground of illegality. Meantime, +representations were made that a certain party in the Association, +intolerant of Mr. O'Connell's sway, were using that occasion to +undermine his authority and overthrow his power. The great +responsibility of causing disunion determined the supporters of the +resolution to compromise with its opponents, and it was finally shaped +thus:-- + + "Resolved, That having learned with deep regret, that by a + resolution of the House of Commons the country has been deprived + of the eminent services of Mr. William Smith O'Brien, and that + illustrious member of this Association himself committed to + prison, we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without + conveying to him the assurance of our undiminished confidence in + his integrity, patriotism and personal courage, and our + admiration for the high sense of duty and purity of purpose + which prompted him to risk his personal liberty in assertion of + a principle which he believed to be inherent in the constitution + of his country." + +It was again, in its modified form, transmitted to Mr. O'Connell, and +returned with his disapprobation. Captain Broderick read a letter from +him, to that effect, at a meeting of the committee, suddenly summoned on +Monday, the 4th of May, a few hours only previous to the public meeting +of the Association, deprecating the passing of the resolution in any +form. The present writer was the proposer of the resolution, and, +feeling that he had already made too great a compromise, he refused to +accede to this last request of Mr. O'Connell. The resolution was +proposed and adopted with acclamation, and a letter was read from Mr. +O'Connell, by Mr. Ray, in which he stated that the resolution did not go +far enough. + +In the provinces, the timid policy of the Association was decried with +bitterness, and the men who struggled, against great odds, to identify +the whole island with Mr. O'Brien, and pledge it to sustain him to the +last, were subjected to the most virulent denunciations. Because the +compromised resolution was moved, seconded, and spoken to by them, the +whole country regarded them as the betrayers of their own avowed chief, +and the violence with which they were attacked was unmeasured and +unscrupulous. + +They made no reply. No unjust aspersions from a people in ignorance of +the resistance offered to them, and the motives that influenced them, +could induce them to explain the position they had taken. But when they +saw while they were subjected to the storm that Mr. O'Connell's friends, +on the authority of his published letter, took credit for neutrality, +they resolved once more to test the question in a body, whose +proceedings were of a more private character, and where the most marked +difference of opinion could lead to no fatal result--the Eighty-Two +Club. Mr. O'Connell was the president of this club, and Mr. O'Brien one +of its vice-presidents. A meeting was called. The attendance was +unusually large. Men who had never before, and have never since, +appeared at its meetings, were present. The question proposed was that +an address be presented to Mr. O'Brien, in which his principles and his +conduct would be fully recognised, approved of and adopted. This led to +a discussion that lasted two days, but the motion was carried in the +end by a majority of two to one. One man, and one only, unconnected with +Mr. O'Connell, either by personal friendship or personal obligations, +voted against the resolution. That man is Sir Colman O'Loghlen. His name +is mentioned, because he was the only member of the minority whose +motives could be regarded as unquestionable. For the rest, the minority +was composed of Mr. O'Connell's sons and relatives, with Mr. Ray and Mr. +Crean, officers of the Association, and one or two members whom he had +caused to be returned to Parliament, amounting to twelve. A committee +was appointed to prepare the address and resolutions, which were written +by John Mitchel, and adopted by the committee without the change of a +word. They also determined that the address should be adopted in its +integrity by the club, or not at all. When it was proposed, objection +was again taken to its principle, on the ground that it would commit the +club, and involve it in a hopeless conflict with the House of Commons +which of itself, it was averred, would be a misdemeanour at common law. +The proposition was eminently absurd in common sense, as well as law, +but it was sustained by the practised ingenuity and great skill of Mr. +O'Hea, who, to do him justice, seemed deeply to feel the hopelessness +and shamefulness of the task that was assigned him. But no other +argument could prevail, and this appeal to the fears or selfishness of +its wealthiest members was had recourse to in consequence of the utter +poverty of reason and argument, which could otherwise be presented +against the principle of the address. But such an obligation led to a +novel difficulty and bitterer conflict. A discussion involving +principles of the greatest moment narrowed into a technical disquisition +of abstract law. Mr. O'Hea was driven from his position by the unanimous +and unqualified opinion of every barrister present, and even by his own +silence, when dared to allow the address to pass in the negative, and +assume the responsibility of its rejection on the avowed ground of his +legal opinion, as expressed to the meeting. The address was adopted by a +greater majority than that which had confirmed the principle on the +previous day, and a deputation was appointed to present it to Mr. +O'Brien in his prison. + +The members of that deputation, who proceeded to fulfil their mission, +were William Bryan, of Raheny Lodge; John Mitchel, Richard O'Gorman, +Thomas Francis Meagher and the present writer. They were accompanied by +Terence Bellew MacManus and John Pigot, who joined them in London. They +waited on Mr. O'Connell, as the president of the club, produced the +address and requested he would proceed with them to present it. He +admitted, without question, that as it was adopted by so very large and +influential a majority, he was bound to do so. But he added that Mr. +O'Brien refused to receive a visit from him, owing to the part he had +taken, and further said, if Mr. O'Brien expressed a wish to see him, +that he would accompany us. The deputation on their way to the House of +Commons consulted for a moment, and, as well as I remember, Doctor Gray +and some others were present: the result was a determination to present +the address without Mr. O'Connell, feeling that an explanation between +him and Mr. O'Brien, could not fail to lead to unpleasant +recriminations, if not to more serious differences. The address and +answer were as follows:-- + + "TO WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN, ESQ. + + "RESPECTED VICE-PRESIDENT AND BROTHER. + + "Heartily approving of the course you have taken in refusing to + devote to the concerns of another people any of the time which + your own constituents and countrymen feel to be of so much value + to them, we, your brethren of the '82 Club, take this occasion + of recording our increased confidence in, and esteem for you, + personally and politically, and our determination to sustain and + stand by you in asserting the right of Ireland to the + undistracted labours of our own representatives in Parliament. + + "We, sir, like yourself, have long since 'abandoned for ever all + hope of obtaining wise and beneficial legislation for Ireland + from the Imperial Parliament'; nor would such legislation, even + if attainable, satisfy our aspirations. We are confederated + together in the '82 Club upon the plain ground that no body of + men ought to have power to make laws binding this kingdom, save + the Monarch, Lords, and Commons of Ireland. From that principle + we shall never depart, and with God's help it shall soon find + recognition by a parliament of our own. + + "Upon the mode in which the House of Commons has thought fit to + exercise the privilege it asserts in the present instance--upon + the personal discourtesy which has marked all the late + proceedings in your regard, we shall make but one comment, that + every insult to you is felt as an insult to us and to the people + of Ireland. + + "It would be idle and out of place to offer condolence to you, + confined in an English prison for such an offence. We + congratulate you that you have made yourself the champion of + your country's rights, and submitted to ignominy for a cause + which you and we know shall one day triumph. + + "(Signed) + + "COLMAN M. O'LOGHLEN, Vice-President, Chairman. + + + "May 9th, 1846." + + "BROTHERS OF THE '82 CLUB.--I receive this address with pride + and satisfaction. + + "I recognise in the '82 Club a brotherhood of patriots, who have + volunteered to take the foremost place in contending for the + liberties of Ireland, and who may vie, in regard of ability, + integrity and sincerity of purpose, with any political + association, consisting of equal numbers, which has ever been + united in voluntary confederation. + + "The unqualified approval accorded to my conduct by such a body + justifies me in entertaining a sentiment of honourable pride, + which I am not ashamed to avow. + + "Nor shall I attempt to disguise the satisfaction with which I + receive this address. + + "If you had approached me with language of condolence, I could + scarcely have dissembled my grief and disappointment; but you + have justly felt that such language would be unsuited to the + occasion, and unworthy both of yourselves and of me. + + "On the contrary, you _congratulate_ me upon being subjected to + reproach and indignity for having aspired to vindicate the + rights of my native land; you deem, as I deem, that to suffer + for Ireland is a privilege rather than a penalty. + + "In acknowledging your address, I shall not dwell upon the many + important considerations which are involved in my present + contest with the House of Commons. I cannot but think, indeed, + that the constitutional questions at issue are of the highest + moment, not alone to the Irish people, but also to each member + of the legislature, and to every parliamentary elector in the + United Kingdom. Upon the present occasion, however, I am + contented to waive all reference to collateral issues, and to + justify my conduct upon the simple ground upon which it has + received your approval--namely, that until a domestic + legislature shall be obtained for Ireland, my own country + demands my undivided exertions. + + "Be assured that those exertions will not be withheld so long as + life and liberty remain to me, until Ireland shall again _fiat_ + the Declaration of 1782: 'That no body of men is entitled to + make laws to bind the Irish nation save only the Monarch, the + Lords, and the Commons of Ireland.'" + +On my way home I was invited to address a public meeting of Repealers in +Liverpool. I accepted the invitation, and in the course of my +observations, emphatically repudiated all compromise on the subject of +my country's deliverance. I disclaimed the idea that any concessions, +any equalization with England in political franchises, any amelioration +of our political or social condition, could ever be accepted by Ireland +in compromise of her inalienable independence. When I arrived in Dublin, +I attended the Association, and, happening to read a letter from the +Rev. Mr. Walshe, of Clonmel, couched in the warmest terms of admiration +of Mr. O'Brien's purity and heroism, the cowardice or jealousy of a +certain party in the Hall found expression through its proper organs, +and I was called to order in the name of the law. A violation of law to +_praise_ William Smith O'Brien! The chairman decided it was. To such +decision I scorned to submit, and I read the letter to the end, amidst +the most enthusiastic cheers of the audience. I was proceeding to read +another letter from another clergyman of the same town, written in a +very different spirit, when I was besought to withhold it, and entreated +not to read it. I complied. It is but fair to add here that on the +Saturday previous, an article was published in the _Nation_, some +expressions of which Mr. O'Connell considered personally insulting. + +Whether Mr. O'Connell was influenced by one or all of these occurrences, +cannot be affirmed here. But he proceeded to Ireland in the course of +the week, and suddenly called a meeting of the Committee of the +Association, before which he arraigned us of discourtesy to him in +London, found fault with the meeting at Liverpool, accused the _Nation_ +of attacking him, and, finally, expressed his unequivocal disapprobation +of my resistance to the order of the chairman in the Hall. The +deputation explained their conduct in London, and the motives that +governed them, with which he appeared to be satisfied. All connection +with the proceeding in Liverpool with which he took offence, was +disclaimed, and, finally, Mr. Duffy satisfied him that no offence was +meant him in the _Nation_, and that the passage of which he complained +had no reference to him. + +The discussion was a long and, to some extent, an angry one. It ended, +however, as we thought, amicably. Mr. O'Connell had proposed at the +outset two objects, namely, to express a solemn condemnation of the +proceedings in Liverpool, and to expel the _Nation_ from the +Association. The rule of the Association was to send to every locality, +at the expense of the body, whatever papers the subscribers of a +certain sum desired. There were then three other weekly papers in +Dublin, The _Register_, the _Freeman_, and the _Old Irelander_. The +_Nation_ had a circulation nearly equal to that of all the others. Its +expulsion from the Association would at once deprive it of all the +circulation it had through its agency, thus involving a very serious +pecuniary loss to Mr. Duffy. + +The two positions were abandoned, and the Committee separated on +amicable terms. Another subject of importance was under discussion. This +was, what suitable mark of national respect should be offered to Mr. +O'Brien; and it was proposed that the committee should re-assemble on +the following day (Sunday), at two o'clock. At the second meeting the +disagreeable topics of the former evening were revived and discussed in +a more acrimonious spirit and tone. The Committee was differently +composed, most of the treasurers connected with the Committee being +present, and most of the professional men, who attended on Saturday, +being absent, Mr. O'Connell saw his advantage, or those under whose +guidance he unfortunately was, saw it, and urged him on. He clearly had +a majority. But having satisfied himself he could succeed, with a +resolution refusing to circulate the _Nation_, he generously conceded +the whole matter; and once more the Committee separated on good terms. + +It was hoped that, as the concession was entirely voluntary, Mr. +O'Connell would be content. This was a vain hope. On the next day, he +referred to the subject in terms of unmitigated animosity; and on +Tuesday the resolution of exclusion, in effect, though not formally, +passed in the absence of most of those who were well known to be opposed +to it. + +One word of concession would have saved the _Nation_ at this juncture; +but that one word would not be written, had the consequence of refusal +been the loss of every subscriber it had in the world. It maintained its +high position in face of the two despotisms which had combined to crush +it. The resolution of the Association was not formally recorded, but it +remained in readiness to be re-asserted as soon as the trial in the +Queen's Bench would be over. + +That trial was for the celebrated railroad article, written by John +Mitchel. When the article first appeared, Mr. O'Connell came to the +_Nation_ office. He seated himself familiarly, and, seeing all its +contributors around him, he said: "I came to complain of this article." +He then read through until where certain principles, previously +promulgated, were recommended to Repeal wardens as the catechism they +should teach. "I do not object," said he, "to your principles; but I +object to your coupling them with the duties of Repeal wardens who are +the officers of the Association." Mr. Duffy promised, at once, to +explain the matter, to Mr. O'Connell's satisfaction, in the next number. +He did so accordingly, and no more was said of it until after the +prosecution was commenced. + +On the 17th of June, Mr. Duffy was placed at the bar, on an information +or indictment setting forth the entire of the obnoxious article. The +Government was vehement and imperative, and the Bench constitutionally +jealous of the law. The prosecution was conducted with malevolent +ability, and the court charged, with pious zeal, for the crown. Robert +Holmes was counsel for the accused and, in an impassioned speech, on +every word of which was stamped the impress of originality, vigour and +beauty, vindicated not the "liberty of the press," but the truth of the +startling propositions Mr. Mitchel had propounded. + +In the Hall, the speech was regarded as triumphant for the country, but +conclusive against Mr. Duffy. It was said that for sake of his client he +should confuse, confound and deny. The fact, however, justified the +advocate. When Mr. Mitchel first promulgated his principles, they grated +strongly on the public ear. Men openly pronounced the doctrines +pernicious and bloody. But the veteran of the bar, speaking in the +spirit of the more glorious times he remembered, denounced as a slave +and a toward any one who thought them too strong for the occasion on +which they were used, and the provocation to which they applied. For a +brief moment he awoke in other hearts the spirit that lived in his own. +The jury refused to convict, and were discharged. But the prosecution in +which the Attorney-General failed, was transferred before a more loyal +tribunal, and Mr. Duffy was condemned by the judgment of _Conciliation_ +Hall; a judgment of which something remains to be said hereafter. + +It has been stated that the subject of testifying the respect of the +_Nation_ for its chivalrous advocate, after his release from the prison +of the House of Commons--he was discharged without compromise or +submission on the 26th of May--was under discussion. + +A public and triumphal entry was determined on. But Mr. Smith O'Brien, +desirous that the State prisoners of 1844 should be participators in +any tribute of respect offered to him, requested that the 6th of +September, the day of their release from prison, should be fixed on for +a public triumph, in which all alike could share. + +[Illustration: John Mitchell] + +Mr. O'Brien passed through the metropolis quietly on his way home; but +in Limerick and Newcastle was received by hundreds of thousands with +boundless joy. When he returned to town, it was to be expelled from that +body to which he, of all living men, gave most firmness, and for which +he alone acquired most respect. In the events which followed, the public +dinner was forgotten. + +It is now time to recur to those events, some of which at least range +behind those already detailed--to which the following preliminary may be +necessary. Early in June, a meeting was held at Lord John Russell's, +when the minister-expectant explained the grounds on which he claimed +the support of the entire Liberal Party. The English Liberals, generally +and enthusiastically, acquiesced. The correspondent of the _Evening +Mail_, writing from London, stated that Mr. O'Connell added to his +adhesion, a voluntary promise to sink the cause of Repeal provided +measures of a truly liberal character were carried into effect. He, +moreover, said that he never meant more by Repeal than a thorough +identification of the two countries. The _Nation_ indignantly repelled +the insinuations of the correspondence, and pronounced it a lie. Mr. +O'Connell and his friends passed the _Mail_ by unnoticed, but bestowed +on the _Nation_ their measureless wrath. It was never afterwards +forgiven. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +DEFEAT OF PEEL.--ACCESSION or THE WHIGS.--MR. O'CONNELL'S +COURSE.--DEBATES IN CONCILIATION HALL.--MR. O'CONNELL DENOUNCES THE +YOUNG IRELAND PARTY.--CONTINUED DEBATES.--QUESTIONS AT ISSUE.--PHYSICAL +FORCE.--THE SECESSION.--WHIG ALLIANCE.--DUBLIN REMONSTRANCE.--FORMATION +OF THE CONFEDERATION, ITS CAREER.--MR. O'CONNELL'S DEATH.--CLOSE OF THE +YEAR 1847. + + +On the 25th of June, Sir Robert Peel was defeated in the House of +Commons on a motion that the Irish Coercion Bill be read a second time. + +The majority against him was seventy-three, and was composed of the Whig +party, the extreme Conservatives, the ultra-Radicals and Irish +Repealers. In ten days after, Lord John Russell assumed the seals of +office. During the preliminary arrangements that led to Peel's defeat, +there was much coquetting between the Whig and Irish leaders. Alarmed by +this startling aspect of affairs, and somewhat, perhaps, by the +uncontradicted correspondence of the _Mail_, heretofore alluded to, Mr. +Meagher, in the midst of vociferous cheering, announced from the tribune +of Conciliation Hall, "that Irish Repealers would teach an honest lesson +to the Whigs." This took place on the 15th of June. A short discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, O'Gorman and Barry took part, +denouncing in the strongest language all idea of compromise with the +Whigs. On the next day of meeting (June 22nd) a letter was read from Mr. +O'Connell, expressing "the bitterest regret at the efforts being made +by some of their juvenile members to create dissension in the +Association." "To silence all unworthy cavilling," he desired that the +solemn pledge of the Rotunda be read after his letter, and copies +thereof posted in the Hall. This letter was the signal for an attack on +the Seceders by James Fitzpatrick, who is now enjoying his reward in +shape of a lucrative office on the coast of Africa. Another discussion +followed, in which Messrs. Mitchel, Barry, O'Gorman and myself repelled +the charge urged against us by Lord John Russell, to the effect that we +were separatists. + +The discussion which followed was an angry one. Fierce denunciations +against the Whigs proceeded from the Seceders, which were answered by +the Old Irelanders, as they called themselves, with clap-trap allusions +to the name and fame of the "Liberator." The audience were indisposed to +be duped, and so strong and general was the aversion to a Whig +compromise, that Mr. D. O'Connell, jun. was denied a hearing, and even +the Secretary found it difficult to command a moment's attention. + +The next letter from Mr. O'Connell, was written after the accession of +the Whigs. It, too, evidently bore the impress of that controlling fact. +The writer enumerated twelve measures (excluding Repeal) "without which +no British minister should dream of bidding for the people of Ireland." +On the whole, the letter, which was long and elaborate, was an +unmistakable though very guarded advice to give another trial to the +Whigs. Mr. O'Brien, in moving that it be inserted on the minutes, +pressed his conviction that the "millions would never abandon Repeal." +He concluded by reading a resolution, pro posed in 1842 and seconded by +Mr. O'Connell himself, to the effect that the Whigs were as inimical to +Repeal as the Tories; and that no honest Repealer could vote for a Whig +representative. Mr. O'Brien, on this occasion, took a wrong course. +Instead of moving that the letter be inserted on the minutes, he should +have moved its rejection, as containing doctrines subversive of +principle and inconsistent with the solemn pledges of the nation. He +was, no doubt, influenced by a desire to preserve unanimity; but the +unanimity which is based on the disruption of most binding obligations +is weaker and more fatal than any division. One paramount advantage +would result from at once joining issue with Mr. O'Connell--the question +would be placed on its true ground, and the preposterous folly of the +physical and moral force abstractions would never have been heard of. + +Mr. O'Connell appeared in Conciliation Hall on Monday, the 6th of July. +He stated that his object was to ascertain the state of the registries, +so as to resist the return of the anti-Repealers in any of the towns +where a vacancy was likely to occur. But he added, "I will give no +vexatious opposition." Here a voice cried "Dungarvan," with significant +emphasis, a question Mr. O'Connell evaded with his usual dexterity. Four +seats were then actually vacant; Dungarvan, Drogheda, Dundalk and +Roscommon county. In the three former, there were clear majorities in +favour of Repeal. That question admitted of no earthly doubt. It had +been long before enquired into, and assurances the most unequivocal were +transmitted to the Association. On motion of Mr. O'Connell, the +question was referred to the committee. + +Daniel O'Connell, jun., was a candidate for Dundalk, where a public +dinner was given him on the 7th. His father attended, and said, "_I tell +you there is another experiment to be made, in which every honest and +rational man, of every party, will join._" Similar doctrines were to be +found in his former letter and speech, above referred to; and the other +members of the Association awoke to a sense of the danger that +threatened the body. Meantime, the Dungarvan committee proceeded with +its labours. A deputation from that town waited on them--the parish +priest and two others. They paid their first visit, however, to the +Secretary, at the Castle. They found it as easy to satisfy the +committee, or its majority, as the Secretary found it to satisfy +themselves. They advised there should be no opposition given to Mr. +Shiel on these two grounds: First, because success was then impossible, +owing to the shortness of the time for preparation. And secondly, +because a failure then would endanger the cause at the general election +which was to take place in a few months. The sincerity of these reasons +was tested by the facts, that, at the general election, the same parish +priest stood at the hustings to propose and sustain the same official of +the Whigs, insolently proclaiming his steadfastness in O'Connell's +_glorious principles_, while he was huckstering away the honour and +independence of his country; and that at that general election, when the +people of Dungarvan were more openly betrayed and trafficked on by John +O'Connell, and when they had to contend against the treachery of the +priest, the treachery of the Association and the whole strength of the +Whigs, they were only defeated in their opposition to Mr. Shiel by three +votes. But, sincere or not, absurd or not, they were conclusive with the +committee, or its chairman, who reported that it was not advisable to +oppose Mr. Shiel, and this report was published just two days after Mr. +Shiel had been returned unopposed. + +No wonder that the actual return of Mr. Shiel, which the committee was +charged to resist, had escaped its vigilance; for the celebrated Peace +Resolutions were, at the same time, under discussion, and produced +simultaneously with the Dungarvan report. Mr. Mitchel, Mr. O'Gorman and +Mr. Meagher, who attended the committee, vainly remonstrated against the +betrayal of Dungarvan, as well as the Peace Resolutions. They saw that +the real object of the resolutions was to blind the country to the other +important question, whether the Irish constituencies were to be +transferred once more to Whig placemen; and they confined their +opposition principally to the Dungarvan case. It must be admitted, too, +that the falsehood involved in the Peace Resolutions, escaped their +attention in the first instance; and they were under the impression that +the pledge they contained extended no farther than the action of the +Association itself was concerned. On consideration, they found it was of +far wider scope, and would engage them to a false principle, embracing +all men, all countries and all tunes; and having stated this at the +public meeting of the Association, they allowed the resolutions to pass +without further opposition. + +The original resolution on which the Association was framed is this:-- + + "The total disclaimer of, and absence from, all physical force, + violence or breach of the law." + +The resolution, reported on the 13th of July, 1846, is as follows:-- + + "That, to promote political amelioration, peaceable means alone + should be used, to the exclusion of all others, save those that + are peaceful, legal and constitutional." + +Sometimes, it has been averred lately that these two resolutions are, in +principle and effect, the same. Mr. O'Connell himself declared the +latter was introduced by him, "_to draw a line of demarcation between +Old and Young Ireland_." Indeed, if there were no distinction, the +introduction would be eminently absurd as well as pernicious. And if +they be different, as essentially they are, there must be some strong +justification for the adoption of the latter. + +But before proceeding to this enquiry, it may not be amiss to point out +the exact distinction between the original and the new resolution. The +former embraced a rule of action whereby the members of the Association +engaged their faith and honour to each other and the country that they +would not use its agency to cause or promote physical force or violence +of any kind, or commit one another to any act of illegality. But it went +no farther--it enunciated no moral dogma--a rule of conscience rather +than a pledge of conduct such as the other--and it claimed no sacrifice +of one's own convictions. As a mutual guarantee, it was not only just +but essential to the perfect safety of the Association. + +On the other hand, the new resolution excluded the question of practical +action altogether. Neither in itself nor in its preamble was there an +averment, or even an assumption of its necessity, as a rule of guidance. +It was a mere abstract opinion, utterly irrespective of the object or +conduct of the Association, and only applicable as a test of certain +speculative theories. But not alone was it inapplicable and +preposterous; it was utterly untrue: at least, there are many men who +could not subscribe to it without, according to their own convictions, +being guilty of a lie. Supposing, however, that the seceders had +attempted to violate the old constitution of the confederacy, it may be +argued that Mr. O'Connell would be justified in preparing the most +stringent tests for the purpose of restraining them. But no such attempt +was ever made; no one proposed in the Association, no one hinted outside +it, that it ought to violate one of its rules. No one complained of +these rules, or said they ought to be changed, modified or, to the least +extent, relaxed. Neither directly nor indirectly, openly nor covertly, +was there a word spoken, nor an act done, nor a suggestion offered to +that effect. The resolution was, therefore, uncalled for and +unnecessary, as it was unsound and untrue. + +Of this there is the clearest proof. First, the negative proof is +conclusive. Mr. O'Connell did not name an act, or refer to a word of one +single seceder, which would justify the imputation that they sought or +desired to involve the Association in any expedient inconsistent with +its fundamental rules. His only proof was this, and he did not then rely +on it: Lord John Russell stated in the House, "I am told that one party +among the Repealers are anxious for a separation from England." This is +his solitary proof, nor does it appear that he was not himself the +informant of the minister. But the positive proofs at the other side are +numerous and incontestable. I select a few. On the 13th of July Mr. +O'Gorman, in presence of Mr. O'Connell, said: "In order that there shall +be no misconception on the subject, as far as I am concerned, I say, at +once, I am no advocate for physical force. As a member of the +Association I am bound by its laws. One of these is, that its object is +not to be attained by the use of physical force, but by moral means +only." Mr. Mitchel, on that occasion, said: "This is a legally organised +and constitutional society seeking to attain its object, as all the +world knows, by peaceable means and none other. Constitutional agitation +is the very basis of it; and nobody who contemplates any other mode of +bringing about the independence of the country has a right to come here, +or consider himself a fit member of our Association." On the 28th of +July, Mr. Meagher said: "I do advocate the peaceful policy of the +Association. It is the only policy we can and should adopt. If it be +pursued with truth, with courage and with firmness of purpose, I do +firmly believe it will succeed." + +Mr. M.J. Barry, on the 7th of June, said, "It is perfectly plain to all +that the purpose of the Association is to work out its object by means +of moral force, and that only." In my letter to Mr. Ray, written long +after the secession, I used these words: "The first (original rule of +the Association) implies a pledge and an obligation to which every +member of the Association bound himself. Any member, who violates it, or +would induce the Association to infringe it, must be false to his own +vow and treacherous to the Association, whence he should be expelled +with every mark of infamy." + +These proofs are taken at random: they range over the time before, after +and contemporaneous with the secession. They could be multiplied one +hundredfold, and taken from the speeches and writings of every one of +the seceders. Yet that fact availed nothing--they were told, because +"they differed from the rules laid down by the Liberator, they ceased to +be members of the Association." + +This is, in some sort, a digression. I return to the events which +directly precipitated the division. It will be remembered that the +objections of the seceders to the Peace Resolutions were confined to an +emphatic expression of dissent. They were not, then, informed that they +ceased to be members. They attended the next meeting; and, having +repeated the same dissent, they expressed their fervent wish for a +perfect understanding, and pledged themselves to continue their +co-operation, as if the resolution had not been passed. Mr. John Reilly +repudiated these advances, and charged them with treachery to Ireland, +as the natural complement of disobedience to O'Connell. He gave notice +that he would put certain interrogatories to Mr. O'Brien, in reference +to a speech delivered by him at Clare On the next day of meeting, Mr. +O'Brien attended (July 26), and a letter from Mr. O'Connell, containing +the bitterest complaints, against the "advocates of physical force," as +he pleased to call them, "_who_," he said, "_continued members of our +body, in spite of our resolutions_," was read. + +A discussion, acrimonious and prolonged, followed. The debate was +adjourned to the next day, when it was again renewed. Mr. John O'Connell +spoke for nearly three hours, directing most of his arguments against +some admissions of the _Nation_ as to the purpose entertained by the +writers in 1843. A casual expression--"_we had promises of aid from +Ledru Rollin, and many a surer source._"--supplied him with abundant +material for loyal indignation. He was heard without interruption. Mr. +Meagher rose to reply. He delivered that most impassioned oration, in +which occurs the apostrophe to the sword. The meeting yielded to the +frankness, sincerity, enthusiasm and supreme eloquence of the young +orator, and rewarded him by its uncontrollable and unanimous applause. +Mr. J. O'Connell rose, and, in the midst of a scene of universal +rapture, coldly said, "either Mr. Meagher or myself must leave the +Association." Too generous to avail himself of the enthusiasm he +excited, Mr. Meagher withdrew. So did Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Mitchel and the +others, with more than three-fourths of the meeting. + +Thus occurred the secession. Mr. J. O'Connell simulated some stage +grief, expressing his ardent hope that the "Liberator," on his arrival, +would heal the wounds he had himself inflicted. How sincere was that +hope is proved by the fact that, when Mr. O'Connell did arrive, which +was on the Saturday following, he was prevented from proceeding farther +than Kingstown, where he was detained until the hour of meeting on +Monday; thus rendering it impossible to have an interview with Mr. +O'Brien, or any one who could facilitate an arrangement. On Monday, +instead of using soothing language and kind advice, he probed the wounds +to the bottom, and infused into them subtlest poison. It is needless, as +it would be painful, to recount the details of bitterness and hate with +which on that day he dashed the hopes of the country. The result was +deep and irreconcilable estrangement. Those who left the hall, rather +than drive therefrom the son of Daniel O'Connell, finding themselves +repaid by calumny, yielded to the conviction which every successive act +of Mr. O'Connell conduced to establish, namely, that the country, and +her great hope of destiny, were handed over to the Whigs. + +The proofs of this belief were, first: The statement in the _Mail_, +which remained undenied, and must, therefore, be taken to be undeniable. + +Secondly: The expression used by Mr. O'Connell, in his speech at +Conciliation Hall, that he would give no "vexatious opposition" to the +Whig nominee. + +Thirdly: His statement, at Dundalk, that "one experiment more was to be +made, in which every honest man would join." + +Fourthly: The following passage, which occurred in Mr. O'Connell's +letter, dated London, 27th of June, 1846: "There is an opportunity to +consider the Irish question as if on neutral grounds; there is a +glorious opportunity (the return of the Whigs to power) of deciding if +the Repealers be right in believing that no substantial relief can be +given to Ireland in a British Parliament; or that they are wrong, to the +demonstration that would result from PRACTICAL JUSTICE being afforded by +that Parliament." + +Fifthly: The assertion of Mr. Lawless, in a letter to Mr. O'Connell, +dated 18th July, which the latter published, without contradiction or +comment, namely: "And yet it was with difficulty you (Mr. O'Connell) +prevented his (Mr. Shiel) being opposed in his election for Dungarvan," + +Sixthly: Mr. Shiel's election, without opposition, when his defeat, if +opposed, was perfectly certain. + +Seventhly: Mr. O'Connell's eulogy on The O'Conor Don for "accepting an +office, which would enable him to serve his country."--(_Speech in +Conciliation Hall, July 13th._) + +Eighthly: Mr. O'Connell's assertion, in his speech at Conciliation Hall: +"I did not begin this quarrel; in my absence in London, an attack was +made on the Whig ministry." + +And, finally: The boasted acceptance by Mr. O'Connell of the +distribution of Whig patronage, and the appointment of his personal +friends to lucrative employment. + +All that followed was one unvaried scene of distraction, division and +enmity. Week after week, the seceders were held up to public odium, +derision and scorn. One day, they were "blasphemous," one day, +"revolutionary," one day, they "sang small," and one day "their nobles +were come to ninepence." Now, they were challenged to establish a +society of their own principles; now, they were recommended to the +mercy of the Attorney-General, and again commended to the hatred of the +people. Meantime a blight had fallen on the earth, and a whole people's +food, in one night, perished. To the new Government, the famine that +ensued was an assurance of subsistence and success. Hunger would waste +the bodies of the people, as the dearth of truth had wasted their souls. +The ministry affected great sympathy, great diligence, and great +impotence. Among other wants of theirs, the want of practical engineers +was felt the deepest. They knew and lamented that many died of +starvation; but the thing was inevitable as long as they were unprovided +with practical engineers. Mr. O'Connell, from the platform of the hall, +announced the good intentions of the Government, and proclaimed, at the +same time, his own commission to supply them with engineers. How many +applied and were refused, I am not in a position to say; but there is no +disputing the records of the church-yard, where many an uncoffined +corpse attested the care of the "_paternal government_." The people were +guaranteed against death, and yet death came, and took them at his will; +but what was left of life was taught to exhaust itself in curses against +those who would save it at every risk. Wherever the seceders appeared +they were hooted. Prostitutes of both sexes regarded them as fit +subjects for their insolent raillery. The avowed foes of nationality +looked on them as fools; its pretended friends as knaves; and the common +herd of indifferent villains as a butt. The low retainers of the English +garrison, who had sold their souls to the enemy but were kept in awe by +bodily fear, became outrageously patriotic; and with insulted gratitude +they scouted the traducers of the "saviour of their country." Alas! in +Ireland, nothing was saved but death's agencies. Doom had come upon +all--her produce, her people, her hopes and her morality. + +The same report, which contained the Peace Resolutions, set out with a +statement dissevering the Association from the _Nation_ newspaper. If +the statement were embodied in a resolution of expulsion, it would clash +directly with the failure of the prosecution against it, and brand the +jurors who refused to find a verdict with perjury. But the admission of +the _Nation_ that, in 1843, it inculcated principles having a remote +tendency to effect the redemption of the country, by arms if need were, +supplied the Association with a pretext for expelling it altogether. Two +rules had been adopted for the circulation of newspapers. The first was, +when L10 were forwarded to the Secretary, the subscribers had the +privilege of naming two weekly or one evening paper, which the Secretary +was to forward and pay for. By the second rule, adopted after the State +trials, the subscribers retained the drawback, and selected and paid for +their own paper. For several weeks, the _Nation_ was the only theme of +Mr. O'Connell's abhorrence. He exhausted all his eloquence in warning +the people against it, but in vain. The people continued to insist on it +in return for their subscriptions. Accordingly, on the 10th of August, a +resolution was proposed to the effect that no money subscribed for +Repeal Purposes should be allocated to the payment of a subscription for +the _Nation_, on the sole ground that, in 1843, it inculcated doctrines +which were in their tendency treasonable. Mr. O'Connell said, after the +resolution was passed, that he did not wish to injure the paper in a +pecuniary point of view; and on the next day of meeting, he brought down +to the Association some twenty law authorities, which he read, to prove +that treason had actually been committed; and thus stamped the conduct +of the Attorney-General as not alone justifiable, but lenient to excess. + +The seceders determined to abide the issue. They had the fullest +confidence that the insensate cry raised against them would eventually +subside, and that truth would again prevail. They contented themselves, +therefore, with appealing to their countrymen, through the columns of +the _Nation_, then interdicted and banned through every parish in the +island. But, in those appeals, there was no word of allusion to the +storm of calumny and denunciation then raging against them. They sought +to fix public attention on subjects of vast national importance, and to +awake the energies of the people to some becoming effort where the stake +was their lives. Meantime, week after week, the Government was praised, +the Board of Works were praised, and the people--"_the faithful and +moral people, who died, peacefully, of hunger_"--were praised, in the +Repeal Association. + +[Illustration: Robert Holmes (1848)] + +Late in the autumn of 1846, some men, few in number and humble in +condition, undertook the desperate task of remonstrating with the Repeal +Association. Among them, Mr. Keeley and Mr. Holywood, Mr. Crean and Mr. +Halpin, were prominent. Their undertaking was gigantic, considering the +formidable obstacles they proposed to encounter. They proceeded silently +and sedulously; and, in a few weeks, a remonstrance against the +course pursued by the Association was signed by fifteen hundred citizens +of Dublin. It was presented to the Chairman of the Association on the +24th of October, and ordered by Mr. J. O'Connell to be flung into the +gutter. The remonstrants and the public resented this indignity alike. +It was determined to hold a meeting in the Rotunda, where they proposed +to defend themselves against every species of assault. The meeting was +held on the 3rd of November, and was allowed to pass off without +disturbance. Mr. M'Gee attended. He had never appeared in the struggle +in the hall, nor was he a member at the time. His speech at the Rotunda +was calm, forcible and conclusive on the points in issue; and the +excitement it created was, in no small degree, enhanced by the fact that +the speaker was a young man theretofore unknown. The success of the +meeting suggested the practicability and safety of an experiment upon a +large scale preparatory to the formation of the Confederation. The +meeting was fixed for the 2nd of December. The remonstrant committee +offered to defend it against any assailants. The main object was to +reply to the calumnies which, for nearly six months, had been urged +against the leading seceders. The meeting was one of the most important +ever held in the metropolis. It was intelligent, numerous and +fashionable. The entire ability of the seceders was put forth; and such +was the sensation created by the proceedings that two publishers, one in +Dublin and one in Belfast, brought out reports, in pamphlet form, which +were read all over the country with the greatest avidity. It was that +night stated, only casually, that the seceders would meet in January to +announce to the nation the course of political action they would +recommend. On the 13th of January, the promise was redeemed. The +seceders met as before, and their deliberations were guarded by the same +men, who thus a third time risked their lives--the hazard was nothing +less--to secure to the seceders freedom of speech and of action. On the +13th of January, the Confederation was fully established. The bases, if +the phrase be applicable, were freedom, tolerance and truth. There was +no avowal of war, and no pledge of peace. The great object was the +independence of the Irish nation; and no means to attain that end were +abjured, save such as were inconsistent with honour, morality and +reason. + +During the intervening time, between the first and second meetings, +overtures of peace were made by Mr. O'Connell. A sudden and singular +change was observable in his tone and language. He said with chagrin, +and acknowledged with reluctance, that the position and strength of the +party defied alike his power and his address. Every art and every effort +to crush them had been exhausted in vain. The question between them, he +now loudly proclaimed, was one purely of law; and he referred to several +barristers, by whose judgment he was ready to abide. The question he was +prepared to submit suggests the most mournful considerations. If it were +not painful, it would be amusing to see to what painful absurdities he +was compelled to have recourse. He would leave it to anyone at the bar, +whether the "physical force principle" would not make the Association +illegal; and then he would indulge in a hollow triumph over the +certainty and security of his position. But that was not the question +in issue. None of the seceders ever recommended the principle of +physical force, in practice or theory, to the Association. On the +contrary, they disavowed it, in reference to that body, and their own +connection with it. The real question was this--whether it was necessary +to the legality of any political society, to disavow, formally and +forever, under all circumstances, and at all times, the right of men to +strike down the cruellest tyranny with the strong hand. It would be +absurd to submit such a proposition to a lawyer, which could only be +answered by a laugh. It had been sufficiently settled by the fact that, +without it, the Catholic Association, the Corn-law League, and the +Repeal Association itself, up to the 13th of July, 1846, were perfectly +safe and perfectly legal. But no man knew better than Mr. O'Connell that +this was a feigned issue, the real one being the mendicancy of the +Association, and the treachery with which it abandoned the national +constituencies to Whig officials. The overtures on this occasion +eventuated in some negotiations, of which the Rev. Mr. Miley was the +medium. His mission was singularly unfortunate, for it led to greater +misunderstanding; and the negotiations terminated in mutual charges of +misconception or misrepresentation. + +The history of the Confederation, such as its importance deserves, is +beyond the scope of my present purpose. Others may undertake to +vindicate for its proceedings that enduring place in the annals of the +country to which they are eminently entitled. Here, but a few words can +be said. + +As soon as the eclat of the first meetings had subsided, and the +business began to assume a more routine character, the moral-force +disciples, hitherto kept in awe by the mustered strength of the seceders +and their followers, determined to give a practical illustration of the +sincerity of their pledge by breaking the skulls of their opponents. On +the first occasion, their onslaught was vigorous and successful. Blood +was shed, and heads opened. This was deemed no infraction of the holy +vow recorded in the books of the Association; for the body held its +meetings without exercising its undoubted prerogative of "blotting out" +the scene of outrage "from the map of Ireland." On the second occasion, +the wreckers of Conciliation Hall were met as they deserved, and after a +short skirmish fled through the city. + +The success of the new Confederacy was certain, but slow. But, in the +same proportion as their principles obtained predominance, the hatred of +the Old Irelanders became unscrupulous and implacable. Often in the +house of prayer, they heard themselves denounced; often in the streets, +they heard their names used as by-words of scorn. Mr. O'Connell +disappeared from the scene of his glory, which relapsed to the guidance +of his intolerant and intemperate son. Some attempts were made to force +him to a reconciliation, which in public he appeared to yield to, but +which in private he exercised his utmost cunning to baffle. In the midst +of this scene of distraction, Mr. O'Connell died. The news was a +stunning blow to the nation. A great reaction, for a short time, ensued. +Added to the other crimes of the seceders, was that of being O'Connell's +murderers. They, on the other hand, resolved to treat O'Connell's +memory with the greatest respect. They resolved to attend his funeral +procession, in deep mourning; and they gave orders for expensive sashes, +of Irish manufacture, which the members of the council were to wear. Mr. +O'Brien communicated this purpose to Mr. J. O'Connell. The answer was +too plainly a prohibition; and the Confederation reluctantly abandoned +their design. Mr. O'Connell died at Genoa, on the 15th of May, 1847, and +was buried in Glasnevin, on the 5th of August. His corpse, which was +delayed some days in Liverpool, was conveyed through the streets of +Dublin, during the election scene which resulted in the return of Mr. +John Reynolds; being thus made subservient to the success of the man, to +whom, of all his followers, he was most opposed during his life. It was +a strange end, surely. Mr. O'Connell was buried with great pomp. The +trustees of the Glasnevin Cemetery were generous in appropriating the +fund at their disposal to the purposes of the funeral; but when the +sincerity of the mourners' grief came to be tested, by the claim for a +contribution to erect a suitable monument to the great champion of the +age, it was found how hollow was their woe, and how lying their +adulation. Daniel O'Connell is yet without a monument, save that which +his own genius has raised in the liberalised institutions of his +country. + +The reaction in the public mind, consequent on his death, was +short-lived; and the Confederation progressed rapidly, during the +closing months of the year 1847. Although not formally acknowledged, +every one saw that it was the only public body in the country deserving +or enjoying anything like public confidence. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SPLIT WITH MR. MITCHEL.--HIS TRIAL, CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND +SPEECH.--THE "FELON" AND "TRIBUNE" ESTABLISHED.--ARREST OF MESSRS. +MARTIN, O'DOHERTY, WILLIAMS AND DUFFY.--CONVICTION OF MR. MARTIN.--HIS +SPEECH.--CONVICTION, SENTENCE AND SPEECH OF MR. O'DOHERTY.--DISSOLUTION +OF THE CONFEDERATION.--THE LEAGUE + + +At the opening of the new year, which was destined to be its last, the +Confederation, though yet regarded with coldness by the Catholic +Hierarchy, was in full career. Its members had won the respect of every +educated man in the land, however widely most of them may have differed +from it in political faith. Among the middle classes of the Catholics, +all that were left uncorrupted fell into its ranks, and embraced its +belief. Men began to regard as possible everything which enthusiasm +advanced with such unhesitating courage and devoted self-sacrifice. Mr. +Mitchel delivered some lectures on land tenure and the poor-law system, +which startled thoughtful and unthinking men alike. He had previously +made an able and sincere effort in the Irish Council to compel the +landlord class to some redeeming act of good sense and good will, which +their own true interests required as well as the agonies of the starving +tenantry. He was met by ignorance, stolidity and scorn. A timid and +narrow measure of improvement in the relation between landlord and +tenant had been proposed, and ably supported by Messrs. Ferguson, +Ireland and O'Loghlen; and such was the obstinate aversion to all +amelioration, on the part of the landlords, that they abstained from +resisting Mr. Mitchel's amendment, lest they would be thereby committed +to the milder reform proposed by Mr. Ferguson. His motion was lost only +by a majority of two several of the five-pound Repeal representatives, +who brawled at tenant-right meetings, and one member of the +Confederation, Mr. M'Gee, being included in the majority. + +The result of the division produced a marked change in Mr. Mitchel's +career. His lectures on land-tenure in Europe, displayed the bold +outlines and distinctive characteristics of his principles. His hopes +from the Irish landlords, of whatever shade of politics, had ever +afterwards vanished. He believed them incapable of being influenced by +commonsense or good feeling; and he turned to the people, with full +confidence in their fidelity and strength. All further attempts to +conciliate the upper classes, he regarded as foolish, feeble and +cowardly. He continued to reassert the substance of his lectures in +another form, in the pages of the _Nation_, of which he was at the time +editor-in-chief--that is, of which he wrote the greatest portion, +especially of its leading articles. Some of these articles gave rise to +a difference of opinion between him and Mr. Duffy, who, as responsible +owner and editor, had the sole control of the _Nation_. There were not +wanting men to take advantage of the difference and fan the flame. +Charles Duffy had messages conveyed to him, to the effect that a rumour +was abroad charging him with treachery; and to John Mitchel, perhaps by +the same agents of dissension, it was stated that he, too, was +suspected. It is unfortunately characteristic of Irishmen to be +suspicious; and it was the object of one of Mr. O'Connell's eternal +lessons to perpetuate and extend this degrading national vice. Whether +the representations made to either of these friends were the result of +national prejudice, or proceeded from a baser motive, it is scarce worth +while to inquire. A separation ensued. Mr. Reilly adopted the resolution +of his friend Mr. Mitchel. Mr. M'Gee adhered to Mr. Duffy; and a new +career and distinct fortunes opened to the enterprise of the four men, +whose united efforts elevated the popularity of the _Nation_ to a height +never before enjoyed by an Irish journal. + +The early differences between the two great journalists suggested to Mr. +Duffy, and to others, the necessity of drawing up a programme for the +guidance of the Confederation. A committee was appointed, consisting of +several members, including all the leading advocates of both the policy +of Mr. Duffy and that of Mr. Mitchel. The report was principally the +production of Mr. Duffy. It was in part modified by others; but Mr. +Mitchel, who objected to its principle, refused to take any part in its +modification. It was afterwards submitted to the council of the +Confederation; and there gave rise to a long, earnest and, to some +extent, an angry discussion. It was under consideration for several +successive nights, the debate lasting sometimes until three o'clock in +the morning. The principle of the report embraced the belief that moral +means and agencies to effect Ireland's liberties were not yet exhausted, +and should be further tried; and the agencies through which the +experiment was to be tested were indicated in detail. The principle of +the amendment proposed by Mr. Mitchel involved a preparation for and an +appeal to arms as the only resource available to the country. After a +long and anxious debate, the question of adopting the report passed in +the affirmative by a considerable majority. The details then came under +discussion, and, paragraph by paragraph, alterations were proposed and +adopted. The discussion on these matters was still more prolonged and +vehement. The principle of the entire was questioned indirectly by +various amendments of form; but it was always affirmed by a majority. +The report had, however, undergone such modifications and alterations +that its original promoters lost all interest in its passing; and at the +final stage, it was rejected, as well as I remember, without a division. +At all events, it was rejected, and, I believe, with the concurrence of +Mr. Duffy, who afterwards published the original draft in the _Nation_. + +It was on that occasion the celebrated resolutions, afterwards the +subject of the three nights' discussion at the Rotunda, were drafted and +proposed by Mr. O'Brien. They were at once adopted, Mr. Mitchel alone +dissenting. This may be the fittest opportunity distinctly and +definitely to settle the question, which has recently arisen, in +reference to these resolutions. On the several occasions of Mr. Duffy's +trial, they have been given in evidence as proof of his loyalty, on the +assumption that they emanated from him, and that it was through his +influence the body was led to adopt them. Again, it seems to have been +inferred--indeed, it has been so stated repeatedly, by persons who boast +of his confidence--that it was owing to his arrest and absence from the +council of the Confederation, that measure of fatal rashness was +adopted, of which he became the first victim; although it was his +discretion and ability that kept the "Jacquerie," who then obtained the +ascendant, in check from the beginning. + +This is partly a statement of fact, and partly an inference. The fact is +not true, and the inference is fallacious. The resolutions were not Mr. +Duffy's. On the contrary, one main object with those who adopted them, +without discussion, was to avoid the expression of an opinion on several +abstract principles forming the groundwork of his report. Secondly, he +exercised little or no influence in the debate which led to their +adoption by the Confederation. Thirdly, they were warmly sustained by +the influence, personal and otherwise, as well as by the exertion and +ability of the very men who, according to a recent contemptible sneer, +"improvised a revolution." Every one of them, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Meagher, +Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, and myself, spoke in favour of them, and +against Mr. Mitchel's amendment. And, finally, even if this were not so +and that the rashness of the outbreak really involved deep culpability, +Mr. Duffy cannot claim exemption from his share of the blame. + +I subjoin the Resolutions and Amendment. The division took place at ten +o'clock, on Saturday morning, February the 5th, 1848, when the former +were adopted, by a majority of 318 to 188:-- + + "Resolved: That inasmuch as letters, published by two members of + this Council, have brought into question the principles of the + Irish Confederation, and have given rise to an imputation that + we are desirous to produce a general disorganisation of society + in this country, and to overthrow social order, we deem it right + again to place before the public the following fundamental rule, + as that which constitutes the basis of action proposed to our + fellow-countrymen, by the Irish Confederation:-- + + RULE + + "That a society be now formed, under the title of 'The Irish + Confederation,' for the purpose of protecting our national + interests, and obtaining the legislative independence of + Ireland, by the force of opinion, by the combination of all + classes of Irishmen, and the exercise of all the political, + social and moral influences within our reach. + + "II. That (under present circumstances) the only hope of the + liberation of this country lies in a movement in which all + classes and creeds of Irishmen shall be fairly represented, and + by which the interests of none shall be endangered. + + "III. That inasmuch as English legislation threatens all + Irishmen with a common ruin, we entertain a confident hope their + common necessities will speedily unite Irishmen in an effort to + get rid of it. + + "IV. That we earnestly deprecate the expression of any + sentiments in the Confederation, calculated to repel or alarm + any section of our fellow-countrymen. + + "V. That we disclaim, as we have disclaimed, any intention of + involving our country in civil war, or of invading the just + rights of any portion of its people. + + "VI. That the Confederation has not recommended, nor does it + recommend, resistance to the payment of rates and rents, but, on + the contrary, unequivocally condemns such recommendations. + + "VII. That, in protesting against the disarmament of the Irish + people, under the Coercion Bill lately enacted, and in + maintaining that the right to bear arms, and to use them for + legitimate purposes, is one of the primary attributes of + liberty, we have had no intention or desire to encourage any + portion of the population of this country in the perpetration of + crimes, such as those which have recently brought disgrace upon + the Irish people; and which have tended, in no trifling degree, + to retard the success of our efforts in the cause of national + freedom. + + "VIII. That to hold out to the Irish people the hope that, in + this present broken and divided condition, they can liberate + their country by an appeal to arms, and consequently to divert + them from constitutional action, would be, in our opinion, a + fatal misdirection of the public mind. + + "IX. That this Confederation was established to obtain an Irish + Parliament by the combination of classes, and by the force of + opinion, exercised in constitutional operations; and that no + means of a contrary character can be recommended or promoted + through its organisation, while its present fundamental rules + remain unaltered. + + "X. That while we deem it right thus emphatically to disavow the + principles propounded in the publications referred to in the + resolutions, we at the same time equally distinctly repudiate + all right to control _the private opinions_ of any member of our + body, provided they do not affect the legal or moral + responsibility of the Irish Confederation." + + AMENDMENT + + "That this Confederation does not feel called upon to promote + either a condemnation or approval of any doctrines promulgated + by any of its members, in letters, speeches, or otherwise; + because the seventh fundamental rule of the Confederation + expressly provides, 'That inasmuch as the essential bond of + union amongst us is the assertion of Ireland's right to an + independent legislature, no member of the Irish Confederation + shall be bound to the adoption of any principle involved in any + resolution, or promulgated by any speaker in the society, or + any journal advocating its policy, to which he has not given his + special consent, save only the foregoing fundamental principles + of the society.'" + +But nothing could be more remote from the fact than the assumption that +those who supported the Rotunda resolutions were opposed to Mr. Mitchel +in principle. If that ground were not expressly repudiated, Mr. Mitchel +would have been sustained by a majority of two to one. Every speaker who +exercised any influence on the meeting, took occasion emphatically to +disclaim it. They did not deprecate the right or the duty of taking up +arms against the English Government; but they said: While we approve of +the end in view, we condemn the means, and precisely because we think +them the most surely calculated of any that could be devised, to +frustrate the object. This was the distinct ground, specifically, +clearly and unmistakably stated, on which the amendment of Mr. Mitchel +was opposed and it was the only ground on which it could be opposed; +with sincerity or success. The use, therefore, which was made of the +resolutions on Mr. Duffy's trial was false and unsustainable in every +point of view. + +There is no disposition and no desire to quarrel with the line of +defence adopted by Mr. Duffy. It is conceded freely that any defence +which his counsel, some of the ablest and most honourable men at the bar +in Ireland, or elsewhere recommended was justifiable. But coupling that +part of the defence with the evidence given on the same trial, by +pensioners and parasites[8] of the British Government, and with the +commentaries that afterwards appeared from the pens of some of Mr. +Duffy's friends, the whole was calculated to leave on the public mind an +impression, not only utterly inconsistent with the truth, but pernicious +and fatal in its influence on the future of the country, if indeed she +is ever to have a future. + +This impression inevitably would be that Mr. Duffy modelled and moulded +the proceedings of the Confederation at his mere pleasure; that Mr. +Duffy was not alone averse to revolution, but actually conservatively +loyal; and that, in the spirit of that loyalty, he controlled the whole +body, and kept an insensate "Jacquerie," which existed within it, in +check--that it was only when he was sent to prison this Jacquerie +obtained the ascendant, and that Mr. Duffy was the victim of their +intemperate folly. However agreeable all this may be to personal vanity, +Mr. Duffy must feel compelled to reject it as audacious and unmeaning +flattery. There is much more at stake than the estimate of private +character--the highest interests of truth. They require that it should +be made known and incontestably established that every word of the +above--fact and inference--is unfounded. As to the statement that Mr. +Duffy was made the victim of others' intemperance, its converse could be +much more easily sustained. But it satisfies every requirement of truth +simply to state that, morally speaking, Mr. Duffy was equally +responsible for the late outbreak, with those who perilled their lives +and lost their liberty forever in the struggle. + +The _United Irishman_ started under auspices more flattering than ever +cheered the birth of a similar enterprise. The man in Dublin, who did +not read the first number, might indeed be pronounced a bigot or a +fool. Every word struck with the force and terror of lightning. So great +was the sale of the first number that the press was kept busy for three +days and nights. When the second was announced, a guard of police was +necessary to keep order and peace among the newsvendors around the +office door. In every corner of the island the influence of the _United +Irishman_ was instant and simultaneous. The letters to the Ulster +farmers caused a sensation as universal and profound as the letters to +Lord Clarendon excited sentiments of wonder and alarm. Thomas Devin +Reilly's powers, too, never before tested in this range of literature, +astonished even the warmest admirers of his genius. The journal at once +attained a standard of eminence, political, literary and poetical, never +accorded to a production of the kind, published in Ireland. For the days +in which they were written, the songs and essays of Thomas Davis +contained greater depth, and a holier purpose. They seemed to flow, too, +from a diviner inspiration; were of a wider, calmer and more generous +scope. But the times were different; and it was as if the spirit of +fire, burning at the bases of man's social hopes throughout Europe, +breathed its prophetic glow on the heart of John Mitchel, conscious that +he, of all men, in a prostrate land, could find it befitting utterance. +It must not be omitted that the muse of "Mary," of "Eva," and of poor +Clarence Mangan, considerably enhanced the high estimate of the _United +Irishman_. + +In the presence of such an oracle of defiance and vengeance, the +Government for a while stood aghast. But the urgency of the times +admitted of no temporising policy. Messrs. O'Brien, Meagher and +Mitchel, were selected for prosecution; but the latter was honoured with +a double suit--one for an article, and the other for a speech. The +morning they were called upon to enter into security, all Dublin was +startled as if by a spell. The streets were crowded by a dense and +anxious mass of men. The police-office in a short time became +inaccessible. Mr. O'Connell's two sons, and the staff of the old +Association, anticipated the crowd, and occupied the seats around the +bench. When Mr. O'Brien was called on, the O'Connells offered to become +his security. The fact was trumpeted by the journals, yet living on the +garbage of Conciliation Hall. But the offer, if sincere, might then be +productive of important consequences. It was not sincere; a fact +sufficiently attested by the Messrs. O'Connell's necessary consciousness +that Mr. O'Brien would not come without his bail. In truth, it was known +to all Dublin that he even found a difficulty in reconciling the +conflicting claims of several gentlemen who aspired to that honour. So +it was, too, with Mr. Meagher and Mr. Mitchel. All those gentlemen +hurried to tender their services, as soon as they heard that bail would +be required, the Messrs. O'Connell alone selecting the public court for +the display of their magnanimity. It is needless to add that their +courtesy was declined; and they must have left the police-office that +day in the wake of the crowd, oppressed with the conviction that the +confidence of the Irish people had passed for ever from their house. + +[Illustration: Thomas Francis Meagher (A Sketch in May: 1848)] + +[Illustration: John Martin (About 1865)] + +This prosecution marked a new epoch in the Irish movement. It was +determined at once to meet it boldly--to extenuate nothing, to +retract nothing--to take advantage of no legal subterfuge; but dare the +issue promptly, openly and fully. Mr. O'Brien at first refused to be +defended by counsel. He was with great difficulty prevailed upon to +change his determination; and, when it was known that he was willing to +accept professional assistance, at least twenty of the ablest young men +at the bar volunteered their services; and the traversers saw arrayed at +their side an amount of professional ability and chivalry such as was +never united on such an occasion. The most respectable solicitors in the +profession, too, contended for the honour of being their recorded +attorneys. The juries disagreed in both cases; and the charge against +Mitchel lapsed into that more formidable prosecution which sealed his +fate. + +Mitchel's arrest under the Treason Felony Act was not unexpected. But as +soon as it was ascertained that he was lodged in Newgate, his fate +engaged the entire care of his co-Confederates. The question at once +arose whether, if a rescue were attempted, there were resources to +ensure even a decent stand. It was ascertained that the supply of arms +and ammunition was scanty and imperfect, and the supply of food still +scantier. The people had been decimated by three years of famine: and no +want could be more appalling than the want of food. On inquiry, it was +found that there was not provision for three days in the capital, which +depended on daily arrivals for its daily bread. Throughout the country, +the supply was even more precarious. The Government had in their own +hands the uncontrolled power of preventing the arrival of a single grain +of corn; and, if so minded, could starve the island in a fortnight, +supposing the people were even able to possess themselves of all the +cattle in the country. + +These were some of the considerations which influenced the decision of +Mr. Mitchel's comrades. Whether the opinion were or were not a correct +one, they acted on the conviction that, under all circumstances, any +attempt to rescue him would eventuate in a street row which would entail +not only defeat but disgrace. If they could but persuade themselves that +a blow might be struck, even though defeat and death followed, they most +certainly would have attempted it. It was generally understood, on the +day before the trial, that the idea of a rescue was abandoned; and the +trial commenced amidst gloomy presentiments and blighted hopes. After +hours of quibbling and legal fencing, a jury was selected, by the crown, +to convict. From the moment they went through the blasphemous process of +swearing to give a true verdict, John Mitchel's fate was sealed. + +I pass over the details, and come to the last act in the infamous drama, +called his trial. + +The following account of the closing scene is not mine. Feeling +inadequate to describe a scene of which even a distant recollection is +exciting, I asked a friend who felt the deepest interest in the trial to +describe it. With what he has written I entirely agree, save one +sentence. He says that it was owing to the action of the council of the +Confederation John Mitchel's personal friends were allowed to be +assaulted, with impunity, by the police. I do not think so. With respect +to the decision of the council, I feel bound to assume my share of its +responsibility, although I yielded to it with the utmost reluctance and +regret:-- + +On the morning of Saturday, the 27th May, 1849, the court was crowded to +a greater excess than usual, even in those days. About the empty dock +were the personal friends of Mr. Mitchel, those who agreed with him, and +those who did not. A little retired on either side sat John Martin, and +John Kenyon--in front were William H. Mitchel, brother of the prisoner +and his only relative in court, T. Devin Reilly, Thomas F. Meagher, John +B. Dillon, Michael Doheny, Richard O'Gorman, Martin O'Flaherty (Mr. +Mitchel's attorney), Charles O'Hara and others whom we have forgotten. + +A little in advance, on the left of the dock, were the stalls reserved +during the sham trial for the counsel for the defence. As yet they were +only occupied by the junior advocates, Sir Colman O'Loghlen and John +O'Hagan. The benches at the right of the dock, and nearer to the bench, +reserved for the Attorney-General and his retainers, were vacant. The +Sheriff and his white stick occupied their box, and the galleries to the +right and left were crowded with jurymen--those who "had done their +business," and those who were eager for employment to do more. The bench +of the judges held two empty chairs. And police officers and other +mercenaries, dotted thickly over the court, "concluded and set off the +arrangements." + +An old man, low of stature, and stooped, passed through a side door, and +walked slowly and decrepidly into the benches of the prisoner's counsel. +Whispers, and then applause from the galleries, were heard and passed +by him unheeded. Quietly and unostentatiously he moved to his seat--the +junior advocates, and all the Confederates in the body of the court, +rising and bowing to him in silence. It was the solitary Republican of +the United Irish day, Robert Holmes, coming to discharge his last duty +to the great Republican of a younger century. + +The applause of the galleries was hushed by the crier's voice--"Silence! +take off your hats"; and on the right stalked in the gaunt figure of +James Henry Monahan. Triumph, animosity and fear marked his night-bird +face. Even yet it was hoped the great opponent of his "government," whom +by rascality alone he could convict, would strike his colours, and sue +for mercy. Even yet it was feared that a rescue would be attempted. How +possible the former was, the reader may judge. The latter was rendered +impossible by the council of the Confederation, and the few who +cherished the design in the council's despite, had attempted an _emeute_ +the night previous, and were beaten and placed _hors de combat_. As +Monahan and his retainers entered, the red face of Lefroy oozed through +the bench curtains, and followed by the pale Moore, "the court was +seated." + +As yet the dock was empty, save that the jailor of Newgate and his +deputy occupied each a corner. + +There was a dead silence. + +"Jailor, put forward John Mitchel," said the official, whose duty is to +make such orders. + +A grating of bolts--a rustling of chains, were heard behind. The low +door-way at the back of the dock opened, and between turnkeys Mitchel +entered. + +Ascending the steps to the front of the dock, and lifting, as he +advanced, the glazed dark cap he wore during his imprisonment, as +gracefully as if he entered a drawing-room, he took his stand in a firm +but easy attitude. His appearance was equally removed from bravado and +fear. His features, usually placid and pale, had a rigid clearness about +them that day we can never forget. They seemed, from their transparency +and firmness, like some wondrous imagination of the artist's chisel, in +which the marble, fancying itself human, had begun to breathe. The eye +was calm and bright--the mouth, the feature round which danger loves to +play, though easy, motionless, and with lips apart, had about it an air +of immobility and quiet scorn, which was not the effect of muscular +action, but of nature in repose. And in his whole appearance, features, +attitude and look, there was a conscious pride and superiority over his +opponents, which, though unpresuming and urbane, seemed to speak louder +than words--"I am the victor here to-day." + +He saluted quietly those friends about the dock he had not that day +seen, conversing with one or two, and bowing to those at a distance. He +then directed his eyes to the court. + +After some preliminary forms, Baron Lefroy commenced operations, by +stating that he had called the case the first that morning, in order to +give time for any application to be made in court by, or on behalf of, +the prisoner of the crown. + +Again there was a silence of some minutes. The judges looked at each +other inquiringly. The crown prosecutor watched the prisoner's counsel. +Upon the prisoner himself all other eyes were fixed. + +There was no reply. + +"Business proceeded." The "Clerk of the Crown," rising to ask the usual +question--"If Mr. Mitchel had anything to say why judgment should not be +passed upon him?" + +"I _have_," he answered, and after a momentary look at judges, jury-box +and sheriff, he slowly continued: "I have to say that I have been tried +by a packed jury--by the jury of a partisan sheriff--by a jury not +empanelled, even according to the law of England, I have been found +guilty by a packed jury obtained by a juggle--a jury not empanelled by a +sheriff, but by a juggler." + +Here he was interrupted by the sheriff rising, and, in high indignation, +claiming the protection of the court. + +"That is the reason," continued Mitchel, "that is the reason why I +object to the sentence being passed on me." + +"That imputation," interrupted Lefroy, "upon the conduct of the sheriff +I must pronounce to be most unwarranted and unfounded." And this +discriminating judge continued to show that the imputation was +so--concluding with the assertion that the sheriff "had done his duty in +the case." Then without pausing, he proceeded to the usual lecture, full +of hypocritical cant with which British judges usually preface their +awards, however infamous. He alluded to the personal condition of Mr. +Mitchel, and expressed his regrets that a person of such merits should +be in such circumstances, Then having dilated on the enormity of the +offence, he assured Mr. Mitchel that he had been found guilty of many +heinous charges against the Queen and the Imperial Crown, and among +others, of felonious intending to levy war upon that gentlewoman, and +that the evidence was furnished by the prisoner's self. "How, +therefore," he continued, "you think yourself justified in calling it +the verdict of a packed jury, and thus imputing perjury to twelve of +your countrymen--deliberate and wilful perjury--" + +"No," interrupted the prisoner, "I did not impute perjury to the jury." + +"I understood," said the speaker on the bench, "that you had stated, in +arrest of judgment, that you had been found guilty by a packed jury." + +"I did," was the reply. + +Robert Holmes rose, during the judge's speech, and said, "My lords, with +the greatest respect, what I said was, that though he might be +statutably guilty, he was not, in my opinion, morally guilty. I repeat +that opinion now." + +This avowal, so boldly and firmly made by the veteran Republican, was +answered by all the audience, not pensioned, with plaudits. + +Baron Lefroy would say no more on that point, only that the court could +not acquiesce in a line of defence "which appeared to it very little +short of, or amounting to, as objectionable matter as that for which the +prisoner had been found guilty. + +"I," replied the aged advocate, "I am answerable for that under your Act +of Parliament." + +Loud applause followed. "Are there no policemen in court?" shouted +Baron Lefroy. The High Sheriff "had given strict orders," he said, "to +have all removed who would interrupt." "Make prisoners of them," said +the judge. "I wish you to understand," he continued, still excited, and +addressing Mr. Mitchel, who during these episodes, stood unmoved, "that +we have with the utmost anxiety and with a view to come to a decision +upon the measure of punishment which it would be our duty to impose, +postponed the passing of sentence on you until this morning." Then, +having stated the various considerations which induced him to believe +that the punishment should be lenient, and the equally various +considerations which induced him to believe the contrary, Lefroy +concluded as follows: "We had to consider all this--to look at the +magnitude of the crime, and to look also at the consideration, that if +this were not the first case brought under the Act, our duty might have +obliged us to carry out the penalty it awards to the utmost extent; but, +taking into consideration, that this is the first conviction under the +Act--though the offence has been as clearly proved as any offence under +the Act could be--the sentence of the court is, that you be transported +beyond the seas for the term of fourteen years." + +The listeners to the hypocritical sentence which concluded Lefroy's +speech, heard the sentence with astonishment and indignation. Mr. +Mitchel merely asked, apparently without any astonishment, if he might +now address some remarks to the court. The leave asked was granted, and +a silence still as death awaited the prisoner. + +"The law," he said, in his usual manly tone, and unexcited manner, "the +law has now done its part, and the Queen of England, her crown and +government in Ireland are now secure--'pursuant to Act of Parliament.' I +have done my part, also. Three months ago I promised Lord Clarendon and +his government in this country, that I would provoke him into his +'courts of justice,' as places of this kind are called, and that I would +force him publicly and notoriously to pack a jury against me to convict +me, or else that I would walk out a free man from this dock to meet him +in another field. + +"My lord, I knew I was setting my life on that cast; but I warned him +that, in either case, the victory would be with me; and the victory is +with me. Neither the jury, nor the judges, nor any other man in this +court, presumes to imagine that it is a criminal who stands in this +dock." + +He was interrupted with the plaudits of the auditory; and again +continued:-- + +"I have kept my word. I have shown what the law is made of in Ireland. I +have shown that her majesty's government sustains itself in Ireland by +packed juries, by partisan judges, by perjured sheriffs--" + +Here he was interrupted by Lefroy, who said, "the court could not sit +there to hear him arraign the jurors of the country, the sheriffs of the +country, the administration of justice, the tenure by which the crown of +England holds that country. The trial was over. Everything the prisoner +had to say previous to the judgment, the court was ready to hear, and +did hear. They could not suffer him (Mr. Mitchel) to stand at that bar +to repeat, very nearly, a repetition of the offence for which he had +been sentenced." + +"I will not say," Mr. Mitchel continued, "anything more of that kind. +But I say this--" + +Lefroy again interrupted him, to the effect that, within certain limits +the prisoner might proceed. + +"I have acted," he then said, "I have acted all through this business, +from the first, under a strong sense of duty. I do not regret anything I +have done, and I believe that the course which I have opened is only +commenced. The Roman," he continued in one of those bursts of eloquence, +with which he used to electrify men, stretching forth his clenched hand +and arm, "the Roman who saw his hand burning to ashes before the tyrant, +promised that three hundred should follow out his enterprise. Can I not +promise for one, for two, for three, aye for hundreds?" + +Here he pointed to his friends, Reilly, Martin, and Meagher. A burst of +wild enthusiasm followed. + +"Officer! officer! remove Mr. Mitchel," was heard from Lefroy. A rush +was made on the dock, and the foremost ranks sprung from the galleries, +with out-stretched arms to vow with him too. The judges rushed in terror +from the benches--the turnkeys seized the hero, and in a scene of wild +confusion he half walked, and was half forced through the low, dark +door-way in the rear, waving his hand in a quiet farewell. The bolts +grated, the gate slammed, and he was seen no more. + +Men stood in affright, and looked in each others' faces wonderingly. +They had seen a Roman sacrifice in this modern world, and they were +mute. + +An hour elapsed--the excited crowd had passed away; and the partisan +judges, nervous and ill at ease, ventured upon the bench again. + +They were seated, and seemed to be settling down to get through +"business" as well as they could, when Mr. Holmes, whose defence of Mr. +Mitchel had been so offensive to them, rose. "My lords," he said, "I +think I had a perfect right to use the language I did yesterday. I wish +now to state that what I said yesterday as an advocate, I adopt to-day, +as my own opinion. I here avow all I have said; and, perhaps, under this +late Act of Parliament, her Majesty's Attorney-General, if I have +violated the law, may think it his duty to proceed against me in that +way. But if I have violated the law in anything I said, I must, with +great respect to the court, assert that I had a perfect right to state +what I stated; and now I say in deliberation, that the sentiments I +expressed with respect to England, and her treatment of this country, +are my sentiments, and I here openly avow them. The Attorney-General is +present--I retract nothing--these are my well-judged sentiments--these +are my opinions, as to the relative position of England and Ireland, and +if I have, as you seem to insinuate, violated the law by stating those +opinions, I now deliberately do so again. Let her Majesty's +Attorney-General do _his_ duty to his government, I have done _mine_ to +my country." + +Such was the conclusion of the trial of John Mitchel. The brother-in-law +and friend of Robert Emmet, the republican of our fathers' days, came to +attest the justice of the republican of our own, and to vie with him in +defying and scorning the infamous laws of England. + +It is needless to say that the English officials did not dare accept the +challenge so nobly and defiantly flung down before the very dock whence +one victim had just been borne. + + +I feel tempted to add a word of a scene that intervened, in which I took +a part. When the sheriff recovered his self-possession, he ordered +several to be arrested; among others, Mr. Meagher. The officer who +seized him acted rudely and violently, which led to further confusion, +and the exchange of blows. At last Mr. Meagher and myself were secured +and removed to prison. When order was restored, we were brought out +before the court, and asked for an expression of regret. I answered, +that having heard Mr. Mitchel express, in the dock, sentiments in which +I entirely concurred, I took immediate occasion to mark my most distinct +and emphatic approval. In doing this I had no intention of an affront to +the court. But as to retract, or regret, no punishment in the power of +that or any other court to inflict, would compel me to do either one or +the other. + +Mr. Meagher repeated the same thing. We were then reprimanded and sent +back. Soon after we were recalled, and upon motion of Mr. Dillon and Sir +Colman O'Loghlen, on behalf of Mr. Meagher, who stated that he would +express his regret for the contempt of court, but nothing else, we were +both released, although I persisted in refusing even to join in the +expression of regret made _for_ but not _by_ Mr. Meagher. + +On the same day on which the above scene took place, John Mitchel was +borne in irons from the land of his love, the wife of his bosom, and the +children of his heart. + +Immediately after, the council of the Confederation was reduced to +twenty-one; and everything wore a sterner aspect, as if, whether they +willed it or no, an imperious obligation required fulfilment at their +hands. The slight disunion, which the fate of John Mitchel created, +between those who favoured and opposed his rescue, quickly disappeared, +and both parties only emulated each other in the activity and +earnestness of preparation. Among the agencies of progress, suggested by +the crisis, were two new journals--the _Felon_, edited by John Martin +and T.D. Reilly, assisted by Mr. Brenan, and the _Tribune_, edited by +Richard Dalton Williams and Kevin Izod O'Doherty, of which Mr. Savage +and Dr. Antisell were joint proprietors, and to which they were joint +contributors, with S.J. Meany and myself. The great object of the first +was to follow in the footsteps of the _United Irishman_, and that of the +latter was to urge the same principles upon a more republican basis. The +_Felon_ soon acquired additional interest from the daring principles and +extraordinary ability of Mr. James F. Lalor, who had become a joint +contributor with the recognised editors. Of the _Tribune_ it would not +become me to speak; perhaps no more is needed than that in the race to +doom it was not outsped. + +On the 8th of July, John Martin surrendered. Messrs. Duffy and O'Doherty +were arrested on the same evening, and Mr. Williams on the following +morning. + +Although the trials that followed did not take place until long after +the events which form the principal subject of this narrative, a brief +account of them will not be inappropriate here. + +Mr. O'Doherty was the first placed on his trial. The jury was of the +stamp usual in such cases in Ireland. But a point of great importance +was raised by his counsel, as to the publisher's _intention_ to commit +the felony, which they insisted should be proved, to bring his case +within the provision of the Treason Felony Act. The court, composed of +Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, gave an opinion favourable to +this construction, and the jury refused to convict, for which the Castle +Organ did not hesitate to pronounce them perjurers. Every one supposed +and rejoiced that Mr. O'Doherty had escaped; but the vengeance of the +Attorney-General was far from satisfied, and he had ample satisfaction +on a future day. + +On the 16th of August, John Martin was placed at the bar, before the +same judges. The instincts of the official, exasperated by defeat, +exercised a keener vigilance in selecting a jury; and one was finally +sworn that did not disappoint his sagacity. They found a verdict of +guilty without hesitation; but recommended the prisoner to mercy, which +in that case was a distinct contradiction of their oaths. The +composition of the jury, and the character of the prosecution, will be +best understood by a perusal of the subjoined speech. No higher proof +could be given of his purity of purpose, elevation of sentiment, and +goodness of heart. On the 19th of August he was called up to receive +sentence He stood in the spot hallowed by the footprints of Robert +Emmet and John Mitchel; nor was the heart he brought to the same +sacrifice less worthy than theirs. Upon his benevolent countenance or +stout heart, the appliances of terror around him had no effect. He stood +unmoved and unawed, in the glorious consciousness that he had fulfilled +his duty to his friend and to his country. + +When asked what he had to say why sentence should not be passed upon +him, he replied:-- + + "MY LORDS: I have no imputation to cast upon the bench, neither + have I anything of unfairness toward myself to charge the jury + with. I think the judges desired to do their duty fairly, as + upright judges and men, and that the twelve men who were put + into the box, not to try, but to convict me, voted honestly + according to their prejudices. I have no personal enmity against + the sheriff, sub-sheriff, or any other gentleman connected with + the arrangements of the jury panel, nor against the + Attorney-General, or any other person engaged in the proceedings + called my trial. But, my lords, I consider _I have not yet been + tried!_ There have been certain formalities carried on here for + three days, _but I have not been put upon my country, according + to the constitution said to exist in Ireland!_ + + "Twelve of my countrymen, 'indifferently chosen,' have not been + put into the jury-box to try me, but twelve men, who, I believe, + have been selected by the parties who represent the crown, for + the purpose of _convicting_, and not of _trying_ me. + + "Every person knows that what I have stated is the fact; and I + would represent to the judges, most respectfully, that they, as + honourable judges, and as upright citizens, ought to see that + the administration of justice in this country is above + suspicion. I have nothing more to say with regard to the trial; + but I would be thankful to the court for permission to say a few + words after sentence is passed." + +Chief Baron and Baron Pennefather: "No. We cannot hear anything from you +after sentence is pronounced." + + "Then, my lords, permit me to say, that admitting the narrow and + confined constitutional doctrines, which I have heard preached + in this court, to be right, _I am not guilty of the charge + according to this Act!_ In the article of mine, on which the + jury framed their verdict, which was written in prison, and + published in the last number of my paper, what I desired to do + was this, to advise and encourage my countrymen to keep their + arms; because that is their inalienable right, which no Act of + Parliament, no proclamation can take away from them. It is, I + repeat, their inalienable right. I advised them to keep their + arms; and further, I advised them to use their arms in their own + defence against all assailants--even assailants that might come + to attack them unconstitutionally and improperly, using the + Queen's name as their sanction. + + "My object in all my proceeding has been simply to establish the + independence of Ireland for the benefit of all the people of + Ireland--noblemen, clergymen, judges, professional men--in fact, + all Irishmen. I sought that object first, because I thought it + was our right; because I thought, and think still, national + independence was the right of the people of this country. And + secondly, I admit, that being a man who loves retirement, I + never would have engaged in politics did I not think it + necessary to do all in my power to make an end of the horrible + scenes the country presents--the pauperism, and starvation, and + crime, and vice, and the hatred of all classes against each + other. I thought there should be an end to that horrible system, + which while it lasted, gave me no peace of mind, for I could + not enjoy anything in my country, so long as I saw my countrymen + forced to be vicious, forced to hate each other, and degraded to + the level of paupers and brutes. This is the reason I engaged in + politics. + +[Illustration: Kevin Izod O'Doherty] + + "I acknowledge, as the Solicitor-General has said, that I was + but a weak assailant of the English power. I am not a good + writer, and I am no orator. I had only two weeks' experience in + conducting a newspaper until I was put into jail. But I am + satisfied to direct the attention of my countrymen to everything + I have ever written, and to rest my character on a fair + examination of what I have put forward as my opinions. I shall + say nothing in vindication of my motives but this, that every + fair and honest man, no matter how prejudiced he may be, if he + calmly considers what I have written and said, will be satisfied + that my motives were pure and honourable. I have nothing more to + say." + +The Chief Baron, in passing sentence, alluded to the jury's +"recommendation to mercy." + +Mr. Martin: "I cannot condescend to accept mercy where I believe I have +been morally right. I want justice, not mercy." + +He was then sentenced to ten years' transportation. + +On two successive occasions, the jury empanelled by the Government, and +carefully packed to serve their end, refused to convict Mr. O'Doherty. +He was placed on his trial, a third time, on the 30th of October, +prosecuted with the same enduring malignity, and a verdict of guilty, +suspected to be the result of a fraud practised on the jury, was +returned. Mr. Williams, who was joint proprietor of the _Tribune_, and +jointly responsible, was acquitted after a protracted trial on the 3rd +of November, the jury being of opinion that although the articles given +in evidence were felonious, there was no proof to satisfy them that the +proprietors, when publishing them, did so with a felonious intent. This +distinction arose in consequence of the fair and candid construction of +the Felony Act, given by Chief Baron Pigot and Baron Pennefather, on Mr. +O'Doherty's first trial, to the effect that the jury should be satisfied +of the publisher's felonious intent; a construction which the present +judges 'Crampton and Torrens' would not dare to contradict. + +Notwithstanding this, just as the words, "Not guilty," were pronounced +by the jury, in Mr. Williams' case, despite the most flagrant and +audacious bullying of the bench, Mr. O'Doherty was called up for +judgment. Among all the martyr-band whom this year consigned to doom, +not one behaved himself with truer or nobler heroism; not one, either, +whose fate commands a deeper sympathy. Under thirty years of age, +largely gifted, with most respectable connections, a high place in +society, brilliant prospects, and so unostentatious in his enthusiasm +that it was only then his country heard of his devotion, and learned his +worth; there he stood with as lofty consciousness and as brave a heart +as ever consecrated the scaffold or the battle-plain. + +Judge Crampton pronounced the sentence. Nature has supplied his lordship +with characteristics of countenance admirably befitting such a scene. +Had he been only elevated to the kindred office of actual executioner, +he would have been spared the expense of a mask; for without it, no one +could look into his eyes. Of course, he was teeming with compassion and +regret, which jointly resulted in a sentence of transportation for TEN +YEARS. Mr. O'Doherty, who stood unmoved, after a few preliminary +observations in reference to the unfairness of his trial, spoke as +follows:-- + + "I would feel much obliged if your lordship would permit me to + mention a few more words with reference to my motives throughout + this affair. I had but one object and purpose in view. I did + feel deeply for the sufferings and privations endured by my + fellow-countrymen. I did wish, by all means, consistent with a + manly and honourable resistance, to assist in putting an end to + that suffering. It is very true, and I will confess it, that I + desired an open resistance of the people to that government, + which, in my judgment, entailed these sufferings upon them. I + have used the words open and honourable resistance in order that + I might refer to one of the articles brought in evidence against + me, in which the writer suggests such things as flinging burning + hoops on the soldiery. My lords, these are no sentiments of + mine. I did not write that article. I did not see it or know of + it until I read it when published in the paper. But I did not + bring the writer of it here on the table. Why? I knew that if I + were to do so, it would be only handing him over at the + court-house doors to what one of the witnesses has very properly + called the fangs of the Attorney-General. With respect to myself + I have no fears. I trust I will be enabled to bear my sentence + with all the forbearance due to what I believe to be the opinion + of twelve conscientious enemies to me, and I will bear with due + patience the wrath of the Government whose mouthpiece they were; + but I will never cease to deplore the destiny that gave me birth + in this unhappy country, and compelled me, as an Irishman, to + receive at your hands a felon's doom for discharging what I + conceived, and what I still conceive, to be my duty." + +Mr. Duffy's trial was postponed. His final escape is known to most of my +readers; but as I cannot approve of the character of his defence, I +prefer saying no more of it in this place. + +It is here needful to refer to myself, a topic always disagreeable to +others, but painfully so on this occasion to me. The proposal to form a +league with the remaining members of the Association originated with +certain gentlemen, among whom the Rev. Mr. Miley held a prominent place, +who personally waited on Mr. O'Brien to testify their abhorrence of the +outrages offered to him in Limerick. Some very questionable politicians, +who watched with the eye of traffic the current of public opinion, and +sought to make the same profit of the reflux they had formerly made of +its unimpeded tide, attended on those occasions. Others, of purer +motives, and loftier patriotism, joined in these interviews, and +contrived to have them repeated. Among these were the poet, Samuel +Ferguson, and Richard Ireland, two recent and brilliant converts to the +cause of nationality. There were others, whom I need not name, of +equally unquestionable purity. But for several weeks, while these +interviews were held, there was no exact delegation from either the +Confederation or Association. I am not, indeed, aware whether any such +delegation was ever formally given or assumed. However, negotiations +proceeded, and though they were never brought to a satisfactory +adjustment, the dissolution of the Confederation was formally proposed +and adopted. On that day the greatest hope of Ireland perished. + +The generosity of the suicide on the part of the Confederation was met +by a new chicane. Though every member, whose character and talents could +for a moment redeem the deformity, dulness and decrepitude of the Repeal +Association, had passed from its ranks and enrolled themselves in the +new League, it resolved to struggle on, acting as a check and a stain by +its anility and crookedness, on the rising hopes of the country. During +the discussions that led to the formation of the league, it was +emphatically announced by certain members of the Confederation that on +no ground and for no purpose would they abjure one principle they ever +announced. Above all, they avowed their purpose to urge on the country +the duty of armed resistance whenever its success appeared probable. The +Government heard of these avowals, and the time spent in captious +discussions about moral nonentities and legal quibbles, when the stake +was a nation's death or life, was diligently employed by the Government +in accumulating means of defence. + +The motives of the principal promoters of the league are by no means +questioned here. On the contrary, it is freely admitted their +convictions were as sincere as they were fatal. The due appreciation of +that movement requires that a few leading facts and inferences upon +which it was based should be calmly considered. The first and most +important is the great change which had taken place in the feelings of +the country. The vast majority of the thinking population were ranged at +the side of the Confederation. So, too, was that of the people of the +rural districts. The intellectual leaders of the great Protestant party +had actually identified themselves with it, and a reconciliation with +the entire body of the Orangemen had been nearly effected. Most of the +men whose integrity and ability had preserved the lingering existence of +the Association, openly avowed their approval of its principles, and +such of them whose hearts were not mere empty sounds, would join its +members at a crisis. + +Thus stood the facts. The considerations in favour of the junction were +these: Certain men of influence, who, contrary to their own convictions, +adhered to the Association, in the commencement through fear, and still +adhered to it through an unintelligible hankering after consistency, +pressed for an opportunity where they might abandon their former +associates without the appearance of abandoning their old principles. +There were others who followed a middle course, and were always with the +greater crowd and the more intense enthusiasm, who demanded the same +means of escape. + +There was a consideration of some weight which no doubt influenced the +decision of the Confederates. It was this: the Roman Catholic clergymen +had given unmitigated opposition to the Confederation. Their hostility +had been the most formidable obstacle in its way; and it was assumed +that the presence of some leading churchmen among the Confederates, +would remove the distrust which the former opposition of the priesthood +had mainly tended to create. + +These were the chief considerations at the affirmative side. On a less +pressing occasion, and at a former period, they might have been +forcible, nay, even conclusive. But the issue had been then narrowed to +one of actual force. John Mitchel was transported, and the most trusted +of his comrades had pledged their lives to redeem their brother felon at +any cost. Every consideration connected with the question should be +examined and determined on in reference to that position and that +pledge. Tested by them, the first above presented would thus resolve +itself: either these men whose characteristic had been indecision, were +sincere in seeking for an opportunity to redeem their patriotism by +their blood, or they were not. If they were, they would never be +restrained by the miserable fear of being charged with inconsistency. If +they were not, the cause would be cursed by their adhesion. The same +argument would apply to the priesthood with still more imperious force; +such of them as were actually sincere would be found at their post at +the hour of trial, in obedience to no form, but influenced by their own +conscientiousness. Such of them as were insincere would be true to no +obligation imposed by conventionality. Untrue to their convictions, they +could not be faithful to their words. And finally--an argument which +appears unanswerable and insuperable--Mr. John O'Connell and his +immediate followers had so solemnly abjured, denounced and cursed the +principles of the great majority with whom they were asked to league, +that they could not comply without such a debasement of character as to +compel the scorn of all men, not only to themselves, but all those with +whom they were united. It could not fail to strike any ordinary observer +that materials so incongruous and repulsive were incapable of cohesion; +and the consequence must be the distrust of the more ardent of their +followers at both sides. + +These were my opinions. I pressed them at the time as strongly as I +could, and perhaps more urgently than I ought. But I was absent from +Dublin, and my remonstrances were vain. I would have retired in despair +had I not been too deeply engaged. The Rev. John Kenyon did actually +retire, influenced by the same motives which I refused to yield to, +solely because retirement would brand me with an imputation of +cowardice, which no explanation could ever efface. I refused all +connection with the League, but continued to act in concert with my +confederates, in establishing clubs and training the manhood of the +country for the stern trial before it. My position rendered bold, +undisguised and explicit language indispensable. This led to prosecution +and arrest. The charge was supposed to be high treason and Mr. Richard +O'Gorman wrote to me to inquire what I wished to have done in my behalf. +My answer was a distinct refusal to accept any aid from a body whose +constitution I could not approve. This circumstance is mentioned, not +because it deserves distinct attention, or even a place in this +narrative, but to prove that my objections to the dissolution of the +Confederation, and my feeling that it was a fatal step, are not of +recent growth, or founded on ex-post facto opinions. I feel bound to +add, however, that I stood alone, or almost alone, as far as I have been +able to hear. I dismiss the subject now, anxious to claim no praise, and +ready to submit to the blame that may attach to my course, such as it +was. I am only desirous, that in whatever memory of me my country may +preserve, the truth alone should determine the public estimation of my +conduct and character. + +The League met, resolutions were adopted, and speeches made that meant +nothing. New men came together, looked each other in the face, and +turned away as if at the heart of each there was something with which he +could not trust the other. There was a short, feeble and false flourish, +and no more. Those who augured so sanguinely for its action and effect +were disappointed. But they shamed openly to relinquish a project for +sake of which they had made such sacrifices. By degrees, however, they +sought to rekindle the embers of that fire which with thoughtless hand +they aided to extinguish. The Government availing themselves of the +inactivity that prevailed, and acting on the information they received, +resolved to strike a second blow. Charles Duffy was arrested for an +article which the Castle Organ branded as shrinking and cowardly, and +which evidently lacked the burning spirit of the time. Immediately the +clubs, which continued a precarious and unintelligible existence, came +together and elected a directory of five from among their own members. +This directory consisted of Messrs. Dillon, Meagher, O'Gorman, Reilly, +and M'Gee. What their exact duty was does not sufficiently appear. But I +believe the fact to be that they never took counsel together. + +Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Gorman left town immediately. About that time I +was actively engaged in Tipperary. On the same day and hour Mr. Meagher +was arrested in Waterford and I in Cashel. An attempt was made to +rescue both of us, and by us both the effort was checked. I knew nothing +of what had occurred. I had been acting since the formation of the +League on my own judgment and responsibility. Independent of the fact +that the harvest was yet remote, and that we were tacitly pledged to +await its coming, my experience for the previous month satisfied me that +the people were far from being prepared; and I could not allow any +personal considerations to influence the country at such a crisis. Mr. +Meagher was governed by similar motives. It might have been better had +we acted otherwise, but with our then convictions, the least risk on our +own account would have been selfish and criminal; and rather than be +guilty of it we yielded to our fate. At the time each of us thought the +charge against him was at least felony. It turned out otherwise, and +though the magistrates who arrested and committed us refused to +entertain the question whether or not the offence was bailable, and +though we were both paraded through the country under an escort of +several hundred men, the Government directed we should be admitted to +bail. Mr. Meagher proceeded from Dublin to Limerick, where the +indictment against him was found; and on the same day I was liberated +from Nenagh Jail. Previous to my arrest, I had arranged to hold a +meeting on the summit of Slievenamon mountain. It was fixed for the day +after that on which I was liberated at Nenagh, which is at least fifty +miles from the place of meeting. I was not liberated until late in the +evening; but I resolved to be present at the meeting, and immediately +proceeded on my journey. I travelled all night, partly on horseback and +partly on foot, arriving at Cashel early in the morning. I there +learned that Mr. Meagher and some friends of his from Limerick had also +arrived with the same object as myself. We rode together to the +mountain, followed by several thousands, a distance of twenty miles. +Fifty thousand men at least clambered that steep mountain side, under a +scorching July sun. Four times as many would have been there to meet us, +but it had been widely rumoured none of us would be there; and in fact +most of those who came believed we were both in our prison-cells. +Besides this, efforts were made by men high in the confidence of the +leaders and the country to prevent the meeting altogether. To fix their +motives was difficult, but it would be hazardous to attribute to them +any but the best. Facts have since proved, however, that their +patriotism had even then begun to halt. The Rev. Mr. Byrne, of whom much +shall be said, hereafter, was foremost in this endeavour, and actually +dissuaded the people of Waterford, Carrick and Wexford from proceeding +to the mountain. These people all remained in Carrick, and Mr. Meagher +was informed that they were in a state of extreme excitement. This +intelligence determined him to leave the mountain suddenly and proceed +to meet his fellow-townsmen. Had all these been allowed to attend the +meeting, our resolution might have been very different from what it was. +But we were, in fact, disappointed and chagrined. The mountain-top had +been selected for many reasons. Principal among them were these: Public +meetings in Ireland had actually become a farce. We determined to hold +one from which all senseless and idle brawlers would be excluded. The +difficulty of ascending the hill would, we thought, sufficiently test +the courage and sincerity of our followers. Secondly, we wished for a +spot not accessible to her majesty's troops, so as to avoid a chance of +a collision. Thirdly, we thought it would be a precaution against +detectives; and finally, it was possible we might determine on some +bolder step when we saw our strength. The excitement in Carrick had +nearly become uncontrollable, when Mr. Meagher arrived there, and it was +deemed advisable to lead the people out of the town. The distance to +Waterford is twelve Irish miles, over the entire of which the procession +stretched; and so dense was the crowd that Mr. Meagher did not arrive in +Waterford sooner than three o'clock, next morning. It may well be +supposed that such a scene of excitement, heat and tumult, afforded but +little opportunity for deliberation. I was able to speak with my friend +only in brief snatches; and I did not afterward see him until it was too +late to take counsel for the future. + +The meeting on that day, the evening scene at Carrick, and the arrival +in Waterford, were relied on by the English minister, as a perfect +justification for the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. Others and +more powerful ones influenced the Cabinet; and foremost among these was +the great meeting at New York, which too clearly evidenced the purpose +of America, should the struggle proceed. I had no communication, +directly or indirectly, with any of my comrades after that day, save one +letter from Mr. O'Brien. This letter had reference solely to my +approaching trial, which he signified his wish to be present at. To this +letter I replied, informing him that it had been intimated to me that a +number of men would assemble, armed, near Nenagh, during the trial; and +I besought him to be there for the purpose of preventing an outbreak, +which I regarded as disastrous, unprepared as the people then were. +Neither the trial nor the meeting took place, and other events shaped +our destiny.[9] A few days after the Slievenamon meeting, it was +intimated to me that I was to be arrested on a second charge, the exact +nature of which was not stated. I could not doubt the accuracy of my +information, and being fully determined to preserve my liberty for the +coming struggle, which under any circumstances could not be long +delayed, I left home on the 22nd day of July, and proceeded through the +country to the foot of Slievenamon. Here I took up my quarters at a +farmer's house, where I remained two days and nights, in total ignorance +of the circumstances then rapidly hurrying the crisis wherein our fondly +cherished hopes were blasted. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 8: From the position in which Mr. Carleton is now placed, it +may be necessary to say that I do not allude to him.] + +[Footnote 9: Since the above was written, I have heard it said that a +report, current about the time of Mr. O'Brien's conviction, had been +recently received here. The report was, that I promised Mr. O'Brien to +have 50,000 men to meet him; which was his principal inducement to act +as he did; and that I not only had not one man, but was myself absent +when he came. The absurdity of the rumour was sufficiently proved by the +fact that Mr. O'Brien did not come to me, or my part of the country, in +the first instance. The real truth is that I never directly or +indirectly, by word or letter, counselled the outbreak. Nay, more: I was +as ignorant of Mr. O'Brien's purpose as the President of these States. +At the time of Mr. Mitchel's trial, I believe I expressed a very strong +opinion in favour of rescuing him; and that opinion was grounded on the +belief that the whole people would rise up _en masse_, and in one wild +burst of vengeance, sweep their oppressors from the land. But neither +then nor afterwards, did Mr. O'Brien give me the least reason to believe +that he was prepared to resist the government in arms, save as far as he +concurred in acts which had a tendency to that end. + +When first the report above referred to was circulated, I wrote the +strongest contradiction of it, and Mr. Meagher, with Mr. O'Brien's +sanction, addressed the following note to the editor of the Tipperary +_Vindicator_. I am sorry it should be in any way necessary to produce it +here; but as this is the last time I shall ever refer to this subject, I +thought it best to add this testimony to my own. + + CLONMEL GAOL + + "MR. MEAGHER fully authorises his friend, Mr. Lenihan, to state + that the exculpation which appeared in a recent number of his + paper, from Mr. Doheny, is the perfect truth. + + "Mr. Meagher is most anxious to have this stated, for he has + felt for a long time deeply pained at many of the false reports + that have appeared against his friend--his dear and trusted + friend, Michael Doheny. + + "One of the most grievous of these reports has been that very + false one, charging Mr. Doheny with having invited Mr. Smith + O'Brien to the county Tipperary. Nothing could have been more + false than this. + + "Mr. Doheny, so far from inviting Mr. O'Brien to Tipperary, did + not, in fact, know of his being in the county at all, until Mr. + Meagher told him, and that was on Tuesday, July 25th. + + (Signed) "THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER. + + "Written a few hours after the passing of the sentence of death. + + "_October 23, 1848._"] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE OUTBREAK.--MR. O'BRIEN IN +CARRICK.--CASHEL.--KILLENAULE.--MULLINAHONE.--BALLINGARRY.--AFFAIR AT +KILLENAULE.--DEFEAT OF MR. O'BRIEN'S PARTY AT THE COMMON.--PERSONAL +ADVENTURES OF THE WRITER AND HIS COMRADE, UP TO THE DATE OF MR. +O'BRIEN'S ARREST + + +On the night of the 24th of July, I was awakened, where I was staying, +by a rapping at my window. I recognised the voice of my sister-in-law, +and learned from her, in a few seconds, how matters stood. Her +information, in brief, was this that: Messrs. O'Brien, Dillon and +Meagher had left Dublin on learning that the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended; and that it was supposed their object was to throw themselves +on the courage of the country. This intelligence rested on the authority +of two trusted members of the council of the Confederation, Messrs. +James Cantwell, and P.J. Smyth. The fact was all which I then cared to +know. I parted from my sister in half-an-hour, and rode off in the +direction of Carrick-on-Suir, where I was certain Mr. O'Brien would +direct his way, whether he came alone or followed by his countrymen in +arms. 'Mid the lone silence of that journey, while there was leisure to +revolve all the difficulties and hazards of the future, the idea never +once occurred to me that, supposing my information correct, the step was +rashly taken. On such occasions, when centuries gather into moments, +some one overmastering feeling, hope or passion absorbs and controls the +whole understanding. That which was then present to my mind, and +occupied all its faculties, was the hope of satisfaction, or vengeance, +if you will, for so many ages of guilty tyranny. The tears, the burning +and blood of nearly one thousand years seemed to letter the eastern sky, +as day dawned upon my way. Apprehension, I had none. From earliest +childhood to that hour, I never met one Irishman whose hope of hope it +was not to deliver the country forever from English thrall. I had lived +amidst all ranks (at least in their characters of politicians), had +known the sentiments of all, from the most ignorant peasant to the very +highest official of government; and then or now, I would find it +difficult to say where hatred to English domination--English power in +Ireland is neither government nor dominion--reigned the most intensely. +Some men there are by nature cowards, and they would shrink from the +perils of national deliverance; but if any sentiment could be said to +live in natures so grovelling, the grudge against England, even though +too craven to make itself audible, constitutes the essence of their +mental vitality. Some there are, too, so selfish as to sell their own +and their families' honour for gold; but as they count their sordid +gains, if they fall short by a scruple, whether in fact or in +anticipation, the deficiency becomes a heap of hoarded spite against +England. One man of that class, whom I had known, will furnish a +conclusive example. Trusted and paid by the Whigs, he was a supreme West +Briton, who saw in his country but a prey for meaner cormorants; +distrusted and dismissed by the Tories, he would storm the Castle, even +with the baton of the English office from which, he had been discarded. +Others, also, of a loftier stamp, were reined in, in the path of +allegiance[B], by considerations more justifiable, yet more or less +cowardly in character. + +[Illustration: Ballingarry, Slievenamon in the distance, 1848] + +Some doubted the ability of their country to effect her redemption. Some +doubted the capacity, and perhaps the sincerity, of the chiefs. Some +were schooled in duplicity, and under the ermine, or under the privy +councillor's robe, carried fierce hearts, benumbed by mendicancy and +seared by shame. But the first flash of their country's liberty would +see them ranged at that country's side, repaying with the fiercest hate +the beggar crumbs which England had flung from the fragments of her +overloaded table. It is true enough that a long course of corruption, +beginning with the perjured peer and ending with the tidewaiter, had +created a class of conditional loyalists, with nine-tenths of which the +condition is always unfulfilled; while, in its very fulfilment, the +other one-tenth has found but bitterness, the "sauce piquante" of their +daily bread. But as a general rule, such a thing as a pure Irish +loyalist does not exist. Its possible existence presupposes an absurdity +in nature. An Irishman cannot become loyal to English domination, +without divesting himself of the last attribute of his nature, not as an +Irishman, but as a man. + +The knowledge of this fact was my "base of operations." Ten thousand +armed men successful against a garrison of five hundred would produce a +more abundant crop of avenging warriors than the fabled dragon's teeth, +and that simultaneously through every square mile of the island. In ten +days there would be two millions of Irishmen in arms. It may well be +asked, what arms? But even instinct will reply, what arms would be +needed? England had in Ireland less than forty thousand men, and, +without hazarding the question, how many of them could she rely on, it +requires no consummate military genius to suggest how they could be +dealt with by a simultaneous rising of the country. The arms of her +enemies would then be hers. She would have time to form a regular army +to aid her undisciplined strength. England's position at home, where she +had not a soldier to spare; her condition abroad, where she was beaten +to the wall; and her relations with foreign powers would achieve the +rest. To a successful Irish revolution, a _coup-de-main_ is +indispensable; and a _coup-de-main_ would be incompatible with any +organised plan other than existed. It will be seen at once that for this +place details are unfit. The above sketch rather comprehends the bolder +outlines of an insurrection in action, and they suggest nothing to warn +the enemy as to future operations. The prospect they presented to me--a +prospect which long contemplation seemed to have realised into +fact--excluded from my mind the preliminary and intermediate +considerations of time, place, and other circumstances. There was but +one of any importance, the success of the commencement; and that seemed +beyond all question if, as I hoped, the neighbourhood of Carrick-on-Suir +were selected. As I approached that town in the grey of morning, and the +past and the future in burning recollection thronged on my brain, I +envied the destiny which God had awarded to its inhabitants, in breaking +the first link of the slavery of nearly twenty generations. This, alas, +was a dream. The people of Carrick had already, with shrinking hand, +marred their own immortal lot. + +Arriving at the house of John O'Mahony, one of the truest of living +Irishmen, I heard what follows. On the previous day Messrs. O'Brien, +Dillon and Meagher had arrived at Carrick. Their arrival was unexpected, +sudden and startling. They had apprised no one of their approach; and no +counsel had been taken or decision come to. It is needless to say that +the crowd which gathered to see them, when the intelligence of their +arrival spread, came unarmed and unprepared. The speeches addressed to +them were brief, determined, and to this effect: "We learned," said the +chiefs, "that an act was passed authorising the Irish Government to +seize our persons without even the imputation of a crime. You have vowed +to strive with us in every extremity, and die with us if need be. We are +here to demand the redemption of your pledge, in the name of your +enslaved country. The hour has come when the truth of that country is to +be tested; and first among her children the trust of her honour is +committed to you." How much more might have been said, and how far short +of the passionate appeal made by the most gifted of men the above +language may fall, this is not the place to inquire. The crowd answered +with a loud shout. With the leaders of that crowd other thoughts were +busy. Some of them waited on the "Traitors"; others, and the most +influential, absented themselves. Among the latter was the Rev. Mr. +Byrne, who, up to that hour, had taken an advanced position among those +who were most forward in the cause of the country. Not a fortnight +before, he delivered a speech to nearly one hundred thousand persons in +the town of Carrick, pre-eminently insurrectionary in its tendency; and +he had acted more than once as controller and regulator of the violent +passions his own vehemence aroused. For this duty, which he effectively +discharged because of his known disloyalty, he received the public +approval of England's Prime Minister. From all these circumstances, the +responsibilities of his position were such as it would require great +hardihood of character to shrink from. It was reported at the time that +he did not rest content with abandoning a post which he had attained +with intense ambition, but exerted his utmost influence with the people +against an enterprise which he designated as rash, ill-designed, and +fraught with ruin to the town. This report has been repeated as a fact +by the present writer, and has not been contradicted by the Rev. Mr. +Byrne. But it is right to add that a very respectable gentleman, a +witness of that day's proceedings, has distinctly contradicted it. He +added that the Rev. Mr. Byrne remained a passive spectator; and he +defended the conduct of those who really influenced the people, on the +ground that the preparations seemed of their very nature to preclude the +possibility of success; and that it was the sacred duty of every man +capable of appreciating the position and resources of the people, the +difficulties of the enterprise and the consequences of failure, not +alone to Carrick but the entire island, at all hazards to prevent a +useless wreck and slaughter. The great argument relied upon by every one +was, why should Carrick be selected? The same question would apply +everywhere else; and if the consideration it involves were to avail, +there never could be a revolution. However, in Carrick it seems to have +prevailed. Other arguments, no doubt, were urged, such as want of +provisions, want of arms and want of ammunition. The moment of +indecision is the harvest of evil passions--avarice, selfishness, +cowardice cloud the intellect, and blast the destiny of man. There is +some doubt as to who principally superinduced this indecision and the +judgment which here ranks it with a faulty weakness and a fearful +fatality refuses to question the motives upon which it was based. + +One singular fact, attested by all, deserves particular notice. It is +this: The other Roman Catholic clergymen of Carrick did not then +interfere. They had been always opposed, on other grounds, to the Irish +Confederation; but in that hour of fate they were silent. + +Mr. O'Brien and his comrades left the town deeply disappointed, if not +in actual disgust and despair. They were ignorant of my absence from +Cashel and determined to join me there. When I had learned this, I was +thirty miles from that town and knew that they had arrived there during +the night, and had, long before then, taken some decisive course. My +hope was that the town was in their hands. But, before I could decide on +what it became me to do, a messenger arrived from Cashel, directing me +to remain where I was, and conveying an assurance that Cashel was by +that time captured. Mr. Meagher immediately followed, confirming the +intelligence. He was on his way to Waterford. We immediately determined +on scouring the country along the bases of Slievenamon and the +Slatequarry hills, which stretch into the county Kilkenny. During that +journey the enthusiasm of the people was measureless. At every forge, +pikes were manufactured, the carpenter was at work fitting the handles, +and the very women were employed in polishing and sharpening these +weapons on the rough mountain stones. We called at several villages, and +were surrounded by the young men and the aged, by matron and maid, and +from no lips did one sound of complaint, or discouragement, or fear +fall. Everywhere hope and resolution and courage lit up the hearts and +eyes of young and old. We rode, at least a distance of twenty miles, and +returned assured that there was not one man within that district who was +not then prepared and would not be armed ere night came. We appointed +the chapel of Ballyneal, within two miles of Carrick, as the place of +rendezvous, determined to act according to the intelligence which we +might receive from Cashel. Meantime deputations from Carrick waited upon +us, to assure us the people there would follow us notwithstanding any +advice they might have received. We agreed that we would not attack the +town, and required five hundred men for another enterprise. A short time +afterwards some directions were required, and I wrote one or two +sentences on a scrap of paper which was taken from the messenger by the +Rev. Mr. Byrne and torn. What his influencing motives might have been I +know not, nor do I care to inquire. My first impulse was immediately to +appear in the town and throw myself on the protection of the people. My +friend dissuaded me from this attempt and proposed to go into town +himself, which he could do without danger, to ascertain what would be +the probability of my proposal's success. After two or three anxious +hours, he returned, impressed with the conviction that such an attempt +would be fatal. + +By this time crowds began to assemble at the place of rendezvous before +alluded to, and word was brought us that the Reverend Mr. Morrissey, the +parish priest of that place, was endeavouring to disperse them. Owing to +his character, there was not much to be apprehended from his influence +with the people. His associations had been with the aristocracy, and +most of his friendships and sympathies contracted at the fox-covert, or +on the "Stand House." This is mentioned, not in disparagement of the +man, but for the purpose of rescuing his Order from imputations +attaching to his conduct alone. The very fact of his interference would +suggest the conclusion that the course he recommended was opposed to the +general sentiments of his brethren; so we felt at this time. But we +mistook his influence with the people. It was reported to us that he +used certain arguments, incredible, because blasphemous. But the +argument which succeeded, and which all alike attested, was this, "that +he would put himself at the head of the people if they but waited three +weeks." + +Influenced by this promise, the people had dispersed before my friend +arrived at the place of rendezvous. He returned to me sadly discouraged, +after a day and night of labour and agitation as intense as ever +strained the energies of man. I then determined to ride on to Cashel, to +learn the fate of Mr. O'Brien and his comrades. I was accompanied by two +young farmers, well armed. We arrived about midnight at Brookhill, +where I was made acquainted with all that had occurred at Cashel. + +The history was more melancholy than our own. My absence was used as an +argument, sincere or pretended, against any effort in that town. Mr. +O'Brien, in ignorance of whom to apply to, took counsel with one man at +least, since accused of the darkest treachery. Others, from whom I had +different hopes, shrank from an encounter which, at other times, they +seemed to long for as the dearest blessing Heaven could bestow. There no +clergymen interfered--the people were left to act for themselves; but it +must be admitted that the actual people never had an opportunity of +proving their courage. A young friend of mine, who had all my trust, and +justified it by unshaken fidelity through many a trial, was despatched +to the country to procure assistance, but he applied to the wrong +source, and, deluded by the character of him to whom he had spoken, +returned under the mistaken conviction that from the country nothing was +to be expected. + +This decided Mr. O'Brien and his friends. He had been joined at Cashel +by P.J. Smyth, and James Cantwell, now in the United States, by James +Stephens, now at Paris, and by Patrick O'Donohoe, now sharing the doom +of his chief. As an episode in this history, the fate of Mr. O'Donohoe +is singular and startling. He was much relied on by his friends in the +Confederation, and was entrusted with the dispatches to Mr. O'Brien. He +proceeded on his mission to Kilkenny, and there applied to one of the +clubs. He was known to none of the members, and became at once the +object of suspicion. It was, accordingly, determined to send him for +the rest of the journey, under arrest, and Stephens and another member +were appointed to that duty. They proceeded in execution of their +mission to Cashel, where Mr. O'Donohoe was warmly welcomed by Mr. +O'Brien, whose fate he thenceforth determined to share. Mr. Stephens +came to the same resolution; but the other guard of Mr. O'Donohoe, +refused to commit himself to fortunes which appeared so desperate. With +Messrs. Stephens and O'Donohoe, their very desperation acted as the most +ennobling and irresistible inducement. They clung to him to the last +with a fidelity the more untiring in proportion as his circumstances +portended imminent disaster and ruin. + +Their departure from Cashel compelled a feeling of gloomier forebodings +and deeper despair than they had yet experienced. The darkest +consciousness that ever clouded the hopes of man began to darken upon +them. Where they expected that every man would make a fortress for them +in his very heart, they were almost abandoned. But their resolution +remained unchanged. They, therefore, resolved as a final resource to +take up their position in the most inaccessible part of the country. As +they proceeded through the hilly grounds, skirting the Tipperary +collieries, a crowd began to gather around them, and they saw what they +hoped would form the nucleus of an army. Braver hearts never beat +beneath a cuirass, but they were not armed, disciplined or even taught. +On that day they took the road to the village of Mullinahone, situate +about seventeen miles south-east of Cashel. As they entered Mullinahone, +the chapel bell was rung, and a crowd of some thousands collected. + +Mr. O'Brien addressed them with the same brevity and force as at +Carrick-on-Suir, where his hopes were far brighter. The two clergymen, +Rev. Mr. Corcoran and Rev. Mr. Cahill, appeared by his side, and openly +resisted his advice. But, with the people, their influence totally +failed. Three thousand persons at least formed their bivouac that night. +Mr. O'Brien remained up with them most of the night. Notwithstanding the +disappointments of former trials, he once more entertained most sanguine +hopes of his country's resurrection. But, ere morning, the counsels of +the clergymen prevailed so far as to introduce discussion and disunion; +and next day he was abandoned by more than half his followers. Once more +the priests interfered and openly remonstrated against the course Mr. +O'Brien had proposed. They tried every means, entreaty, expostulation, +remonstrance, menace, but without any considerable effect; and Mr. +O'Brien left the town with a large multitude, directing his way to +Ballingarry. The village of Ballingarry is about four miles distant from +Mullinahone; and the inhabitants of the latter accompanied Mr. O'Brien +to the boundaries of the former parish, whose inhabitants in turn +assumed the duty of his escort and, if need be, of his defence. When the +cavalcade reached the village, they took up their position in the +chapel-yard, and summoned the neighbouring people by the ringing of the +chapel bell. A great number of people answered the signal, and Mr. +O'Brien explained to them his purpose and his hopes. He did not then +propose any plan of immediate offensive operations, but stated in +general terms that his object was to protect himself from arrest, while +the country would be engaged in organisation, and the crop coming to +maturity. An idea prevailed among the people that he only wished to be +protected for a time, and they seemed incapable of appreciating either +his object or his motives. I reached the spot as the assembly was +breaking up and the people retiring in small groups to their respective +districts, some four or five hundred who were partially armed, remaining +in the village. I was accompanied by Thos. D. Reilly, who made his way +to me on that morning. We had entered into arrangements with certain men +whom we met in the morning as to a joint movement, for which the +followers of Mr. O'Brien seemed but ill-adapted and prepared. Our first +care was to take counsel as to the future. We detailed mutually to each +other the respective circumstances which had shaped our movements so +far, and with which it was our duty then to contend. But one thing +seemed quite clear; namely, that the country demanded a delay of at +least a month. Although the sincerity of the motive on which this demand +was founded seemed questionable to many, there was no way of +counteracting its effect or denying its universality. The question then +was, how was the demand to be complied with without compromising our +liberty or the position we occupied? It was argued that the necessity of +our condition would justify any act which would reassure the minds of +the people in reference to the apprehension of starvation, which was so +sedulously inculcated, and that a proclamation should forthwith be +published confiscating the landed property of the country, and offering +it as the gage of battle and reward of victory, and another proclamation +directing the people to live at the expense of the enemy. This proposal +was resisted on the ground that it required an aggressive act on the +part of the Government to justify so sweeping a proceeding, which, if +attempted by us in our then position, would be regarded as an act of +mere plunder, unredeemed by any of the stern necessities of war. So +decided the majority. It was then proposed that we should scatter, and +take shelter individually as best we could until harvest time. But Mr. +O'Brien refused to hear counsel which involved, as its first principle, +the idea of becoming fugitives. A middle course was therefore decided +on. It could not fairly be said that the country had been tested, and we +were not, at the time, aware how far people at a distance were prepared +to second our efforts. The strength of the Government, too, seemed +paralysed. For miles on miles around, one solitary soldier or policeman +was not to be found. The small garrisons had been withdrawn, and all the +available forces stationed in the county had been concentrated in the +large towns. The idea of maintaining our position for a few weeks seemed +not at all improbable; and, meantime, we would have an opportunity of +organising the distant parts of the country, and of preparing those then +around us for active service. When men differ, a compromise is sure to +prevail. It did so on that occasion, and it was accordingly resolved, +that we should return to the neighbourhood of Carrick, wait the arrival +of the expected assistance from Waterford, and keep the neighbouring +garrison of Clonmel in awe, by signal-fires by night and scattered +parties by day. We immediately returned and rode most part of the night +on our way back. We slept a few hours at Brookhill and had interviews +next morning with men who, on the previous day, were in high heart and +hopes. We at once saw the effect that delay and indecision had produced +on their minds. Reports, the most contradictory and false, respecting +what Mr. O'Brien proposed and stated, had found their way among them, +and it took hours to reassure them. They again promised us to be ready, +however, and we proceeded across Slievenamon. On our journey we had +interviews with the leaders of clubs and of other bodies, and at each +step we found the difficulties of our position and the weakness of +public confidence fearfully increased. We still hoped that the arrival +of assistance which we expected from Waterford would restore unanimity +and confidence. + +When we reached Kilcash, at the southern base of Slievenamon, we learned +that all hope of the expected assistance was at an end. Mr. Meagher had +returned; and having despatched O'Mahony to Mr. O'Brien, to request he +would once more return to the neighbourhood of the mountain, where he +either could be more safely concealed for a time, or a last desperate +effort could be made under better auspices, he waited several hours +after the time appointed for his return, and then departed towards the +direction of Borrisoleigh, in the northern riding of Tipperary, +accompanied by Mr. Maurice Leyne, with whom unhappily he fell in, and to +whose weak counsel, according to the information I received, much of his +subsequent ill fate was owing. The distance to Borrisoleigh could not be +less than forty miles. Mr. Meagher must have been persuaded by +O'Mahony's delay, that Mr. O'Brien had been driven from his position, +and perhaps captured, or he would not have undertaken so long a journey, +the sole motive of which could only be the hope of rousing, with the aid +of the Rev. Mr. Kenyon, that district of the country, so as to rescue +his chief or avenge him. It was then apparent that our position had +become desperate. We instantly proceeded to the house of our friend, who +recounted the particulars of his visit to Ballingarry, and its results. +He agreed in the propriety of going a second time to meet Mr. O'Brien, +and urging upon him the necessity of some decisive course. The startling +events of the two preceding days too clearly proved that his position +was not tenable, and that whatever might be resolved on, it was +indispensable to remove from Ballingarry. It was then night, and we were +all sorely taxed by long riding and want of rest. Not one of us was able +to mount, so we placed hay in a car on which we flung ourselves, and +trusted to the guidance of the boy who led the horse. We travelled about +nine miles in this way, one endeavouring to act as sentinel while the +others were asleep; but we found that unless we trusted to blind chance, +we could not continue our journey. So, half by force and half by +persuasion, we obtained liberty to stretch on a pallet in an empty room. +Mr. O'Brien was then snatching a little broken rest in a field, not four +miles away from us, without our being aware of the fact. In the morning +we learned that he remained there only while a car was procured at +Mullinahone, and then returned to the neighbourhood of the collieries. +He left Ballingarry on the advice contained in Mr. Meagher's message, +and, accompanied by some hundreds of his followers, proceeded towards +Carrick through the town of Mullinahone where for the third time he had +to encounter the open hostility of the Catholic clergymen, who on this +occasion had recourse to threats and even blows. Owing to their +interference, one-fourth of those who followed him so far, did not +accompany him outside the town. He was nearly deserted, when he changed +his resolution of falling back on his former position. When the car +arrived he proceeded directly to the town of Killenaule, which might be +said to be the head-quarters of the colliery. There he and his +companions entered the hotel, where they remained till morning. Early +that day the chapel bell was rung, and a great multitude flocked into +the town. They were, as usual in that quarter, miserably armed. But they +were enthusiastic, and the Catholic priests did not interfere. While the +bell was tolling, intelligence was received that a troop of dragoons was +approaching. The people immediately erected a barricade at the farthest +extremity of the principal street. It was constructed of empty carts and +baulks of timber. The moment the troop entered the street, a similar +barricade was constructed in the rear. The hotel was situated between +the two barricades. The officer in command made no demonstration of +active resistance; and as he approached the last barricade he was +surrounded by a great multitude. A few of the people were armed with +rifles and muskets, others with pitchforks, scythes and slanes, and +others had no weapons but stones. John Dillon stood at the barricade. +The officer asked why his passage was interrupted, and stated he was +only on an ordinary march. Mr. Dillon demanded whether his object was +to arrest Smith O'Brien? He said emphatically, No. Mr. Dillon then asked +if he would pledge his honour as a soldier, that he had no intention of +arresting Mr. O'Brien, adding, that if he did so, the troop would be +allowed to pass unmolested. He unhesitatingly pledged his honour, and +immediately the barricade was partially removed. Mr. Dillon took his +horse by the bridle and led him out of the town. + +We were approaching Killenaule by another route when Mr. O'Brien and his +party left it by the high road to the collieries. We followed, and after +a race of some ten miles overtook them near Lisnabrock. Thence we +proceeded in cars to Boulagh, and thence to the Commons. This was on +Friday evening, the 28th day of July. We retired to an upper room in a +publichouse. There were then present Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Dillon, Mr. +Stephens, Mr. Cantwell, Mr. Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, Mr. Maurice Leyne, +Mr. Reilly, Mr O'Mahony and myself, with others whose names I cannot +mention, fourteen, as well as I remember, in all.[10] The same questions +that were discussed on the former day were again revived, and we, who +felt the necessity of the bold course we recommended then, were much +more convinced of it under the altered circumstances of our position. + +The debate was long and warm, but Mr. O'Brien's objections were even +more immovable than ever. It will not be expected that all the proposals +of that evening should be reproduced here. Suffice it, therefore, to +add that as far as the principles by which Mr. O'Brien's conduct was +guided, he adhered to them the more steadfastly in proportion as ruin +became more inevitable. Many calumnies have been circulated respecting +that meeting. It has been said that the discussion was acrimonious and +the separation final. The truth is, there was not one word, even, of an +angry tone, and we separated just as on the former occasion, determined +to cope as best we could with a doom we were unable to avert. Often +afterwards it was a source of melancholy pleasure to some of his +comrades that he had not been induced to incur what he regarded as +guilt. The lofty consciousness of unerring rectitude which sustained his +fortitude could not fail to be chequered by the recollection of acts +which in his own estimation were not purely blameless. Had success +attended the suggested proposals, they would receive the world's +unqualified approval; while failure, explained through the medium of a +malicious law, and a warped and cowardly public opinion, would brand +them as iniquitous. But Mr. O'Brien's scrupulous sense of honour escaped +the hazards of such feeble probabilities; and in the hour of deepest +gloom his own unsullied conscience shed peace, light and glory on his +fate. + +[Illustration: A Street in Ballingarry, 1848] + +Some of his companions exulted in the morning scene at Killenaule. To +_seem_ able to capture a troop of her majesty's dragoons, they regarded +as a victory. But others, more thoughtful and correct, mourned over the +escape of the military, which was only to be justified on the ground +that the incongruous force around the feeble barricades, would be +unequal to the task. It is a singular thing that while Captain Longmore +utterly despaired of forcing his way, Mr. Dillon was fully conscious of +his inability to resist him. The latter assumed a superiority he was +unable to sustain, the former abjured a design which it was criminal +according to the civil, and cowardly according to the military code, not +to attempt the execution of Mr. Dillon, who led his horse, was a +proclaimed "traitor." So was Mr. O'Brien, whose presence was avowed; by +virtue of his allegiance, and still more, by virtue of his commission he +was bound to arrest them. To neglect it was cowardice, cognisable by a +court-martial and punishable by death. There could be but one +justification--utter inability to effect the service. The evidence, +then, that could alone satisfy a court-martial must directly contradict +that which Captain Longmore offered at the trial in Clonmel. But while +Mr. O'Brien viewed the conduct of Captain Longmore as cowardly +submission, it would be unjust to conclude that it imparted a single +shade of inflexibility to his principles or purpose. On the contrary, +they assumed their attributes of most rigid sternness as his fortunes +became clouded by a deeper gloom. He was averse to everything which bore +the stamp of desperation, or could possibly imply a shrinking from fate. + +Of those who took part in the deliberations of that evening, Messrs. +Dillon, Stephens, MacManus and O'Donohoe resolved to continue with Mr. +O'Brien. There seemed a possibility, though a desperate one, that they +could baffle the enemy for the time the country required, and maintain +their position of open defiance, whilst we, in different parts of the +country, should keep up an appearance of force, so as to distract +attention and check any attempt to despatch a force from the garrison of +Clonmel. Meantime we were to endeavour to organise a force, and, if +strong enough, act on our own responsibilities and according to our own +principles. We left him about nine o'clock in the evening, after the +best dispositions available out of the number with us were made to +prevent surprise during the night. Soon after our departure he strongly +advised Mr. Dillon to leave for another part of the country. I proposed +to take up my post on Slievenamon, where I would be in the best position +to fulfil Mr. O'Brien's wishes; where, at all events, I could escape +arrest, in spite of any efforts to capture me, and where I expected, in +a few days, to rally a considerable force. Mr. Meagher said he would +take his stand on the Comeragh mountains, in the county of Waterford, +with similar views and purposes. Mr. Meagher and Mr. Leyne, with three +or four others, travelled together on a car. We dismissed ours, and +crossed the country. Next day we arrived once more at Brookhill, which +is within about one mile of Fethard, where we were able to procure a car +that brought Mr. Reilly as far as Kilkenny. The first care of us who +remained was to fulfil the commission assigned us. A young friend, of +whom mention has been already made, joined me that evening. He had been +two days in search of me, and was greatly exhausted by anxiety and +fatigue. Rumours of various kinds were rife. But, what was most +disheartening was that the courage of the people was fast subsiding. Men +who were most eager for deeds of any daring two days previously, began +to exhibit symptoms of hesitation, doubt, and even indifference. But a +far sadder disaster had elsewhere befallen. Mr. O'Brien, after a night +of anxious care, was still full of hope. He was even then engaged in +drawing up a manifesto, embracing, as far as possible in such a +document, the motives and causes which suggested and justified an armed +revolt, and the principles upon which it was to be conducted. Whether +the draft was destroyed or fell into the hands of the Government, is not +now clear, save in as far as the non-production of the paper at his +trial, is evidence that it never reached his persecutors. The leading +principle of his entire conduct was, that the property, the liberty, the +destiny of the island belonged to the entire people, and that the +institutions which guaranteed them should be the calm embodiment of the +nation's deliberate judgment, ascertained through the medium of a free +assembly, deriving its authority from universal suffrage. This was one +potent reason why he refused to assume, either as military leader, or as +the chief of a provisional government, the responsibility of an act +which could be regarded as the basis of the future government of +Ireland. He was scrupulously anxious that the great principles upon +which the future liberty of Ireland was to be based, should emanate from +the free will of the people, uncontrolled by dictatorial power or +personal prestige. + +But Mr. O'Brien was not destined to accomplish the object of his +solicitude. About twelve o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 29th +day of July, he was apprised of the approach of a body of police, under +command of Captain Trant. Simultaneously with the appearance of the +police, an indiscriminate crowd, composed for the most part of women +and boys with a few armed men, ranged themselves around him. They +occupied an eminence in front of the road by which the police +approached. Another road crossed this at right angles, and Captain +Trant, instead of leading his men directly against Mr. O'Brien's +position, denied along the cross-road to the right hand--that which led +to the Widow M'Cormick's. The motive of this manoeuvre was obvious. +Either from personal cowardice, or from cool judgment, he determined to +await further reinforcements, and, meantime, to secure some place of +shelter and defence. The crowd, with Mr. O'Brien, immediately rushed +from their position and hung fiercely on the policemen's rear. Captain +Trant ordered a retreat, or those under his command adopted that +precaution without his authority. The armed leaders among the people, +Messrs. MacManus, Stephens and Cavanagh, hesitated to fire on troops +flying for their lives. But they urged the pursuit so rapidly, that, by +the time the police took shelter in Mrs. M'Cormick's house, they were +hot upon their track. The crowd surrounded the house, and Mr. O'Brien, +approaching one of the front windows, called on Captain Trant to +surrender. The latter demanded half an hour to consider, which Mr. +O'Brien unhappily granted. Pending the half hour, the crowd became +furious and began to fling stones in through the windows. Some of the +men inside were knocked down by the stones, and the officer hurt. Seeing +that their own leaders could no longer control the people, and believing +the destruction of himself and his party to be inevitable, Captain Trant +gave orders to his men to fire, which presented his only chance of +escape. Mr. O'Brien immediately rushed between the people and the +window, on one of which he jumped up, and once more demanded the officer +to surrender. But the order to fire had been given and executed with +deadly effect. Two men fell dead, and several were badly wounded. The +crowd fell back; but Mr. O'Brien remained still in front of the house. +There were several windows in front and two small ones only in the rear; +parallel with the rear was a barn, in which there were two still smaller +windows. Messrs. Stephens and MacManus took possession of this house, +and, placing three or four sure marksmen inside for the purpose of +taking down any of the police who should appear at the back windows, +they proposed to burn the house in which the police took shelter. They +carried bundles of hay and placed them against the back door and roof. +The police seized on Mrs. M'Cormick's children, and held them up to the +windows, to terrify or appease the people. At this juncture the Catholic +clergymen appeared on the scene. Either, being appalled by the scene of +death before them, or being personally cowardly, or feeling that to +continue the conflict would be productive of useless slaughter, they +exerted themselves to the utmost to disperse the crowd. Whatever may +have been their motives, it is certain that, although Mr. O'Brien was in +the neighbourhood since the previous Wednesday, they had not in any way +interfered, and only came upon the scene to attend to the dying and the +dead. Mr. O'Brien and his comrades, finding themselves beset by this +unexpected difficulty, retired a short distance, to consider what was +best to be done. The people were again quickly forming around them, and +all were hurriedly preparing to storm the house, when a fresh body of +police was seen approaching from the opposite direction. This force +consisted of sixty men; the first only amounted to forty-five. Constable +Carroll rode on considerably in advance of his party. He found himself +suddenly surrounded, and was forced to surrender and dismount. He and +two others of the advance-guard were removed. But the main body +continued to approach rapidly; and Mr. O'Brien was not in a position and +had not strength to intercept their junction with the other body. His +friends pressed Mr. O'Brien to retreat, which he refused. Admitting, +fully, his inability to cope with these forces, he declined to avail +himself of the means of escape at his disposal. His comrades impressed +on him that his life belonged to the country; that another effort was +yet within the range of possibility, and that it was incumbent on him to +save himself for the final issue. By long and passionate entreaty, they +induced him to mount the police-officer's horse and retire. When he had +left, Messrs. Stephens and MacManus led off the remainder of their +party, without being pursued or molested. + +After a short consultation, they determined to separate. Mr. Stephens +proposed to go on to Urlingford, where a large force was collecting, and +MacManus accepted the duty of bearing to us the intelligence of the +disaster, and taking chance with us for the future. He came up with Mr. +Meagher, Mr. O'Donohoe, and Mr. Leyne, who were then on their way to the +Comeragh mountains, but changed their purpose on hearing this sad +intelligence. They remained that night at the house of a man named +Hanrahan, near Nine-mile House, a small village on the high road from +Kilkenny to Cork. + +I was all this time ignorant of what occurred. After Mr. Reilly had left +me, and I was joined by the young friend already mentioned, I summoned +as many of the farmers of the neighbourhood as I could collect, and it +was agreed that ten of them, who would represent each one hundred men, +should meet me next day, after divine service, at the wood of +Keilavalla, situate near the western base of Slievenamon. We were to be +joined by two others from the neighbourhood of Carrick-on Suir, from +which we were distant about ten miles. On that morning the news of Mr. +O'Brien's disaster spread far, and was, of course, exaggerated. I had +slept the previous night not far from the mountain, where I was watched +by two brothers named Walsh, who lived at Brookhill, but have since +removed to the United States. I gladly avail myself of this occasion to +attest their fidelity and bravery. At the time appointed, my friend and +I proceeded to the place of rendezvous. We remained for hours, and +remained in vain. At last one only of the ten arrived. He told us that +at the chapel the Rev. Patrick Laffan read the names of the proscribed +traitors for whose persons a reward was offered.... + +We continued on the mountain during the remainder of the day; and toward +evening about fifty men came up to us, who, one and all, expressed the +utmost indignation at what had happened. Once more our hopes revived. If +Mr. O'Brien could avoid arrest for a few weeks only, we expected that a +sense of shame would sting the country to desperate exertion. + +After night-fall we descended, and slept at a farmer's house at the +southern base of the mountain, where we were most kindly entertained and +sedulously guarded. We there heard of the Ballingarry disaster. Next +morning we once more ascended Slievenamon, where we endeavoured to +dissipate the heavy hours and the still heavier consciousness at our own +hearts by firing at a mark. The day suddenly darkened, and we had to +seek shelter under rocks from a pitiless mountain shower. We had +dispatched a messenger to O'Mahony to demand an interview that evening; +and, after he had returned, we were invited to partake of some new +potatoes (then beginning to exhibit the blight), milk, eggs and butter. +I remember lying down in a bed, and getting so feverish that I believed +my doom was sealed. My noble young friend sat at my bedside, with a +rifle and two pistols, prepared to defend my rest with his life. The +illness was, however, but trifling and temporary, and the necessity of +acting enabled me at once to shake it off. After nightfall, we proceeded +to the appointed interview. We travelled in a common car, accompanied by +four others, all armed. Our haunt was a poor cabin on the roadside, near +a place called Moloch, in the neighbourhood of Carrick. There I bid my +faithful young friend good night, but was doomed not to see him +afterwards. Mr. O'Mahony and myself slept on some straw, but we had +scarcely closed our eyes when we learned that the cabin was surrounded +by the military and police. We were apprised of our perilous position +just in time to escape: this we effected, after a struggle, aided by +extreme darkness. We spent the remainder of the night in a field, where +I slept very soundly. At break of day we retired to a farmer's house +near the Suir, where, after partaking of some refreshments, we went to +bed, and slept, one or two hours. The breakfast scene of that morning is +not easily forgotten. Perhaps there is no place in the world where a +more substantial breakfast can be produced than at a comfortable Irish +farmer's. On this occasion the silent, watchful, anxious grace of our +young hostess, in her attentions, enhanced the flavour of the repast. It +is only by those who have partaken of such hospitality that the +speechless tenderness of the females among that class of farmers can be +appreciated. But on the occasion to which I refer, there was added to +the customary delicacy a deep anxiety for our fate. Save hushed words of +pressing and eloquent looks of sympathy, the meal passed off without +conversation; and we rose from the table to depart, as if conscious we +had exchanged our last earthly greeting. It was not so, however, and our +hostess shared much of our after fortune, and now shares our exile. Her +fate, too, is harder than ours. We are occasionally cheered by public +approval, by the sympathy and admiration of every lover of liberty, +whereas her name is never spoken. She has fallen from a position of +comparative affluence, lost her independence (I use the word in its +practical worldly sense), and is doomed to toil for her daily bread. Of +all the vicissitudes of fortune in which the attempt of which I write +resulted, there is not one that has given me more pain than that of +Margaret Quinlan, the lady (who has higher claims to that title?) to +whom I have alluded. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 10: The other four were Terence Bellew MacManus, John +Cavanagh, J.D. Wright (a T.C.D. student, afterwards a lawyer in +America), and D.P. Cunningham, afterwards a journalist in New +York.--Ed.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ARREST OF MR. O'BRIEN, OF MESSRS. MEAGHER AND O'DONOHOE.--ARREST OF +TERENCE BELLEW MACMANUS.--CLONMEL SPECIAL COMMISSION.--TRIAL, +CONVICTION, SPEECHES AND SENTENCE OF THE REBELS.--WRIT OF +ERROR.--COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.--TRANSPORTATION OF THE HEROES. + + +Before proceeding further with the details of my own wanderings, I wish +to follow out to its conclusion the fate of those whom we parted with at +Ballingarry, and were destined to see no more, though, in doing so, I +must anticipate the order of time, in which the events took place. My +task here is more difficult and painful than any detail of facts, +however gloomy. There are always in the reverses of the brave, some +glimpses of glory to reconcile us to the dark disasters on our way; but +when calumny pursues their path, gnawing, with ceaseless tooth, the +priceless jewel of their character, the historian must shudder to find +his labour beset by the filth and rubbish the viper has left behind. In +this instance, that lesson of Mr. O'Connell's which was the most fatal +in its influence, found many believers. It was said, and said +unscrupulously, that Mr. O'Brien and his followers were actual agents of +the British Government, suborned to precipitate the country into +revolution, for which they were to receive large possessions and +lucrative employment beyond the sea. It was the constant habit of Mr. +O'Connell, when any one proposed a course bolder than his own, to +suggest that he was doing the business of the enemy. He may have +adopted this course in his self-assumed character of Dictator, as the +surest and speediest means of clearing all obstructions out of his way. +Whatever his motive, it was an unworthy resource; for it supplied the +meanest minds with an example and a pretext for the gratification of +their own vile propensities. Their voice was heard, amid the silence of +mourning and death, when in an hour of universal dismay, John Mitchel +was borne from his loved fatherland; and still more audibly when the +dungeon closed on Smith O'Brien and his illustrious comrades. In the +latter instance, slander availed itself of an incident connected with +their arrest to justify its infamous conclusions. "If," it croaked, +"they were in earnest, why suffer themselves to be arrested so +easily?--Why come to the railway terminus?--Why parade on the high road +in front of a police barrack? In effect, why surrender?" But in Ireland +this was little heeded; nor should I deem it worthy of the least notice, +if it were not revived in the new world, under circumstances calculated +to give it credence and durability. At one time it is insinuated that +they "surrendered," such as "it was said they gave themselves up," and +immediately afterwards, in reference to the period or the fact, is to be +found "at the time of Mr. O'Brien's surrender." And again, in the same +breath, it is positively stated as a mere matter of course. + +The propagator of this malignity knows it to be false. He knows also +that it serves the purpose of those who would charge the country's +truest and bravest with vilest treachery. + +I shall pursue the theme no further. The truth is, Mr. O'Brien remained +among a people who were sorely stricken by terror. Their friends were +dead or scattered; and rumour, with a thousand tongues, multiplied the +most awful horrors which were said to be approaching them. Although they +received and sheltered Mr. O'Brien, he evidently saw that their +generosity cost them dearly, and that they were in the utmost alarm. His +own privations he could endure; but not the fear and suffering his +presence caused to others. This, and this only, determined him in the +first instance. He might also have hoped that if he could reach the +neighbourhood of his own home, he would be defended with desperate +fidelity. He was aware that Mr. Richard O'Gorman was in that district, +and he had been informed that he was followed by thousands. That he did +not seek to reach the county Limerick by some other means of +conveyance--by a car, on foot, or on horseback--may be a mistake of +judgment; but none would be free from peril: and had he escaped +detection at Thurles, there would not be the least danger, until he +reached Cahermoyle, as the rest of the journey would be entirely by +night. His sagacity may be questioned, perhaps, but it is extreme +villainy to question his purpose. He took that course only and solely +because he thought it the safest; and he had no more intention of +surrendering than I had when I crossed by the packet to Boulogne. + +Mr. Meagher and Mr. O'Donohoe were arrested under circumstances over +which they had still less control. They were utterly unacquainted with +the country, and did not know, if they left the high road, but the first +house they might approach would be a police barrack. They had made every +attempt desperation could suggest to rouse the people, but in vain. +They were opposed by some, shunned by some, and from some they received +false counsel. They had exhausted the welcome of all who were inclined +to receive them, and they knew not one step of their way. Previously, +too, Mr. Meagher had peremptorily refused to avail himself of a mode of +escape provided for him and he equally peremptorily refused to listen to +any terms from Government, which did not include all his comrades. His +object, on the night he was arrested, was to make another trial at +Cashel, which he designed to approach by a circuitous route. + +The 6th day of August was the date of Mr. O'Brien's arrest; the 13th of +August that of Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, and the 7th of September +that of Mr. MacManus. Mr. O'Brien was taken at the Thurles railway +station; Messrs. Meagher and O'Donohoe, near Rathgannon, on the road +between Clonoulty and Holycross, about five miles from Thurles, and Mr. +MacManus on board the ship _N.D. Chase_, in the bay of Cove, on the 7th +of September. They were each conveyed to Kilmainham Jail, in the first +instance, where they remained until within a few days of the opening of +the special commission at Clonmel. This took place on Thursday, the 21st +of Sept., when the bills were found, but six days were allowed to Mr. +O'Brien and the rest of the prisoners to peruse the indictment, with +copies of which they were respectively furnished. On Thursday, the 28th, +the trial of Mr. O'Brien commenced; that of Mr. MacManus on the 9th of +October; that of Mr. O'Donohoe on the 13th, and that of Mr. Meagher on +the 16th. + +Juries were empanelled in each case, from whose prejudice and bad faith +verdicts for high treason were expected, even though the evidence only +sustained a charge of common assault. Roman Catholics were, in the first +instance, scrupulously excluded; but after the first two verdicts one or +two were admitted, upon whose weakness of character, or genteel +aspirations, the Government might safely rely. It is but justice to say +that, according to the law expounded by the Bench, and the evidence +given on the table, any other verdict was not to be expected. But a jury +differently composed, a jury of Englishmen, with their country, their +liberties and their lives perilled to the last extremity by +misgovernment and maladministration of law, would have spurned the law +and the evidence, and relied on the great fundamental rights of humanity +so flagrantly outraged by the Government that then appeared as +prosecutors. + +The scene presented by Clonmel excited much public surprise. Newspaper +correspondents magnified the sullen gloom that prevailed into popular +apathy or national cowardice, as suited the bent or purpose of their +employers. The truth was, the people exhibited during the trial a decent +and respectful forbearance. Empty parade or vociferous sorrow would only +mock the lofty purpose of the sufferers; and besides, the mortification +which rankled in the public heart was too deep for utterance. The hopes +of the people had been dashed, and they were stunned and stupefied by +their fall. But so far from being apathetic, nightly assemblages were +held to consider if, even in that extremity, something was not yet +possible to be done. + +But, if there were a show of popular indifference on the streets, the +courthouse presented a very different spectacle. There everything +manifested an intense bitterness of purpose; the court, composed of the +two most unscrupulous partisans, Chief Justices Blackbourne and Doherty, +and the weakest or falsest political convert, Mr. Justice Moore, +simulated the uncontrollable emotions which an overweening loyalty awoke +in the bosom of the Catholic Attorney-General. So far were their +lordships swayed by the spirit of imitativeness, that the most polished +speakers, mistaking the incoherent jargon of the official for the broken +utterance of overwrought zeal and shocked loyalty, mimicked his +distempered language as the only befitting medium of expression for +disturbed feelings such as theirs. The simplest and most usual +facilities accorded to murderers and pickpockets on their trial were +rudely denied the counsel for the defence. The principles of law, +recognised in England as sacred, were scouted from the bench, and the +farce of trial proceeded through its different stages to the final +_denouement_ with perfect regularity, every one performing the part +assigned him with unerring accuracy. + +Of the intrepid ability which struggled against this fearful combination +of bigotry, prejudice and passion, at the bar, on the bench and in the +box, I do not purpose to speak here. But I would be unfaithful to my +trust, and unjust to the rarest heroism, if I did not record the +fortitude and fidelity of O'Donnell, from whom the menaces of the crown, +or the frown of the bench, could not wring one word of evidence. In an +ordinary man, this would be singular intrepidity; but circumstanced +as O'Donnell was, it amounted to a Roman virtue. One brother of his, a +doctor, was in jail at Liverpool, charged with political felony; another +was hunted through the country, and another was in irons, involved in +the same charge as the illustrious accused; for them all he could +command his own terms, for much depended on his testimony; but though +doom were upon them, and a word of his could avert it, he refused to +speak. Honour be his. His integrity almost cancelled the shame and +darkness of those disastrous times. + +[Illustration: The Widow McCormack's House, near Ballingarry] + +I can add nothing to the testimony that established the fortitude, +manliness and dignity of the prisoners, as beyond precedent or example. +That their bearing, one and all, was truly noble, friends and foes took +pride in attesting.[11] It was a solemn and a glorious sight; and men, +through all time, will turn to that Clonmel dock to learn the +inestimable and imperishable value of sincere and lofty convictions and +a truly heroic soul. + +Of the speeches that follow, it will be observed that Mr. O'Brien's was +delivered before the fate of his comrades was known. No man had ever +greater need of vindicating others if not himself. No man ever possessed +in a higher degree the capacity and strength to do so. He was satisfied +it was the last opportunity he would ever have on earth for +explanation. Yet, lest any sentiment of his might injuriously affect +those that were then, or might thereafter be on their trial, he forebore +to assert the principles of which he was there the martyr, and of which +he was more than ever proud. It was to the same unselfish sentiment he +yielded, when consenting to say, "Not guilty," to a charge he would have +felt the greatest glory in avowing. + +I despair of conveying to my readers an adequate idea of the gloom and +horror of the scene in which those immortal words were spoken. Death, +near and terrible, was in the future. The recollection of ten days' +infamy peopled the present with ghastly images of evil. Vindictiveness +inexorable glared from the bench. The dust around the feet of the +speakers was laden with guilt. It would not rise to the briskest breeze, +beneath the clearest sky, in light summer air, so heavy had the tread of +murder been upon it. And oh, to think when they closed their eyes upon +this world, what deeper death they left their country ... Will no day of +vengeance come, O God! . . . + +One of those benefits of the British constitution, which excites the +mortal envy of benighted "surrounding nations," is this, that the law +lies to the face of death, in the usual question addressed to the +condemned: "Whether he had anything to say why sentence of death and +execution should not be passed upon him?" when the most conclusive +reasons that ever innocence had to offer would be worse than vain. On +the morning of the 9th of October, 1848, this barbarous mockery was +addressed to William Smith O'Brien, and he answered thus:-- + + MR. O'BRIEN.--"My lords, it is not my intention to enter into + any vindication of my conduct, however much I might have desired + to avail myself of this opportunity of so doing. I am perfectly + satisfied with the consciousness that I have performed my duty + to my country--that I have done only that which, in my opinion, + it was the duty of every Irishman to have done, and I am now + prepared to abide the consequences of having performed my duty + to my native land. Proceed with your sentence." (Cheers in the + gallery.) + +On the morning of the 23rd of the same month, the same formula was +repeated to Terence Bellew MacManus, Patrick O'Donohoe, and Thomas +Francis Meagher, who replied respectively as follows:-- + + MR. M'MANUS.--"My lords, I trust I am enough of a Christian and + enough of a man to understand the awful responsibility of the + question that has been put to me. My lords, standing on this my + native soil--standing in an Irish court of justice, and before + the Irish nation--I have much to say why the sentence of death, + or the sentence of the law, should not be passed upon me. But, + my lords, on entering this court, I placed my life, and what is + of much more importance to me--my honour--in the hands of two + advocates; and, my lords, if I had ten thousand lives, and ten + thousand honours, I would be content to place them under the + watchful and the glorious genius of the one and the high legal + ability of the other. My lords, I am content. In that regard I + have nothing to say. But I have a word to say, which no + advocate, however anxious, can utter for me. I have this to say, + my lords, that whatever part I may have taken through any + struggle for my country's independence--whatever part I may have + acted in that short career--I stand before your lordships now + with a free heart, and with a light conscience, ready to abide + the issue of your sentences. And now, my lords, perhaps this is + the fittest time that I might put one sentiment on record, and + it is this: Standing as I do between this dock and the scaffold; + it may be now, or to-morrow, or it may be never; but whatever + the result may be, I have this sentiment to put on record. That + in any part I have taken, I have not been actuated by animosity + to Englishmen. For I have spent some of the happiest and most + prosperous days of my life in England; and in no part of my + career have I been actuated by enmity to Englishmen, however + much I may have felt the injustice of English rule on this + island. My lords, I have nothing more to say. It is not for + having loved England less, but for having loved Ireland more, + that I stand now before you." + +Mr. O'Donohoe confined himself to a few words concerning his trial. + + MR. MEAGHER.--"My lords, it is my intention to say a few words + only. I desire that the last act of a proceeding which has + occupied so much of the public time should be of short duration. + Nor have I the indelicate wish to close the dreary ceremony of a + State prosecution with a vain display of words. Did I fear that + hereafter when I shall be no more the country I have tried to + serve would think ill of me, I might, indeed, avail myself of + this solemn moment to vindicate my sentiments and my conduct. + But I have no such fear. The country will judge of those + sentiments and that conduct in a light far different from that + in which the jury by which I have been convicted have viewed + them; and by the country, the sentence which you, my lords, are + about to pronounce, will be remembered only as the severe and + solemn attestation of my rectitude and truth. Whatever be the + language in which that sentence be spoken, I know that my fate + will meet with sympathy, and that my memory will be honoured. In + speaking thus, accuse me not, my lords, of an indecorous + presumption. To the efforts I have made in a just and noble + cause, I ascribe no vain importance--nor do I claim for those + efforts any high reward. But it so happens, and it will ever + happen so, that they who have tried to serve their country, no + matter how weak the effort may have been, are sure to receive + the thanks and the blessings of its people. With my country, + then, I leave my memory--my sentiments--my acts--proudly feeling + that they require no vindication from me this day. A jury of my + countrymen, it is true, have found me guilty of the crime of + which I stood indicted. For this I entertain not the slightest + feeling of resentment toward them. Influenced as they must have + been by the charge of the Lord Chief Justice, they could have + found no other verdict. What of that charge? Any strong + observations on it, I feel sincerely, would ill befit the + solemnity of this scene; but I would earnestly beseech of you, + my lord--you, who preside on that bench--when the passions and + the prejudices of this hour have passed away to appeal to your + conscience, and ask of it was your charge as it ought to have + been, impartial and indifferent between the subject and the + Crown. My lords, you may deem this language unbecoming in me, + and perhaps it may seal my fate. But I am here to speak the + truth, whatever it may cost. I am here to regret nothing I have + ever done--to retract nothing I have ever said. I am here to + crave with no lying-lip the life I consecrate to the liberty of + my country. Far from it: even here--here, where the thief, the + libertine, the murderer, have left their footprints in the dust; + here, on this spot, where the shadows of death surround me, and + from which I see my early grave in an unanointed soil opened to + receive me--even here, encircled by these terrors, the hope + which has beckoned me to the perilous sea upon which I have + been wrecked, still consoles, animates, enraptures me. No I do + not despair of my poor old country, her peace her liberty, her + glory. For that country I can do no more than bid her hope. To + lift up this island--to make her a benefactor to humanity, + instead of being the meanest beggar in the world--to restore to + her her native Powers and her ancient constitution--this has + been my ambition, and this ambition has been my crime. Judged by + the law of England, I know this crime entails the Penalty of + death; but the history of Ireland explains this crime, and + justifies it. Judged by that history, I am no criminal--you + (addressing Mr. MacManus) are no criminal--you (addressing Mr + O'Donohoe) are no criminal--I deserve no punishment--we deserve + no punishment. Judged by that history the treason of which I + stand convicted loses all its guilt, is sanctified as a duty, + will be ennobled as a sacrifice. With these sentiments, my lord + I await the sentence of the court. Having done what I felt to be + my duty--having spoken what I felt to be the truth, as I have + done on every other occasion of my short career, I now bid + farewell to the country of my birth, my passion and my + death--the country whose misfortunes have invoked my + sympathies--whose factions I have sought to still--whose + intellect I have prompted to a lofty aim--whose freedom has been + my fatal dream. I offer to that country, as a proof of the love + I bear her, and the sincerity with which I thought, and spoke, + and struggled for her freedom--the life of a young heart, and + with that life, all the hopes, the honours, the endearments, of + a happy and an honourable home. Pronounce then, my lords, the + sentence which the law directs, and I will be prepared to hear + it. I trust I shall be prepared to meet its execution. I hope to + be able, with a pure heart and perfect composure, to appear + before a higher Tribunal--a tribunal where a Judge of infinite + goodness, as well as of justice will preside, and where, my + lords, many--many of the judgments of this world will be + reversed." + +The sentence of the court was then pronounced, as it had been previously +on Mr. O'Brien. It was in the following words:-- + + "That sentence is, that you Terence Bellew MacManus, you Patrick + O'Donohoe, and you Thomas Francis Meagher, be taken hence to the + place from whence you came, and be thence drawn on a hurdle to + the place of execution; that each of you be there hanged by the + neck until you are dead, and that afterward the head of each of + you shall be severed from the body, and the body of each divided + into four quarters, to be disposed of as her Majesty may think + fit. And may Almighty God have mercy upon your souls." + +A writ of error was sued out principally on the ground that the +principles of constitutional law were violated. The House of Lords +finally quashed the error and confirmed the judgment. Meantime, the +country, or a great portion of the people, took the last step in the +direction of debasement by praying the Queen and the Lord Lieutenant for +a free pardon. The petitions were spurned; but her Majesty, yielding to +the powerful sentiment of abhorrence against the punishment of death for +political offences, commuted the sentence into transportation for life. +This final sentence was carried into effect on the 9th day of July, +1849, when the ship of war _Swift_ spread her sails and hoisted her +felon flag, bearing out to sea, and having on board the four illustrious +exiles. + +Martin and O'Doherty had been conveyed to Cork on board the _Triton_, +on the 16th of June, whence they were sent to herd with common +malefactors on board the _Mount Stewart Elphinstone_--at the time +infested with the plague. This vessel remained off Spike Island while +the cholera was doing its ravages among her passengers, and finally put +to sea, with the patriots and pestilence, a few days before the +departure of the _Swift_. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 11: The following is from the _Freeman's Journal_:--An eminent +Queen's counsel, who was present during the awful ordeal, was heard to +give utterance to a sentiment so truthfully graphic that we record it in +full:--"Well," said he, his eyes full and his countenance flushed with +emotion, "never was there such a scene--never such true heroism +displayed before. Emmet and Fitzgerald, and all combined did not come up +to that--so dignified, so calm, so heroic. HE _is_ a hero."] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +CONTINUATION OF PERSONAL WANDERINGS.--DUNGARVAN.--THE COMERAGHS.--MOUNT +MELLARY.--KILWORTH.--CROSS. DUNMANWAY.--GOUGANE BARRA.--BANTRY +BAY.--THE PRIEST'S LEAP.--KENMARE.--THE REEKS.--KILLARNEY.--TEMPLENOE.-- +DEPARTURE.--CORK.--BRISTOL.--LONDON.--PARIS. + + +After leaving Quinlan's, as detailed in a former chapter, O'Mahony and +myself agreed to separate for a few days. No reward had then been +offered for him, and my presence only impeded his movements. We crossed +the river Suir, and remained most of the day in Coolnamuck wood. Toward +evening I was conducted far into the county Waterford, where I was to +remain until I heard what progress he was able to make. My host was the +chief of one of the fierce factions of county Waterford, and bore many a +mark of desperate fray. I do not remember having met any man, before or +since, who felt so acutely the fate of the country. He procured the best +fare he could, and prepared my bed with his own hands. After I retired +to rest, he continued pacing the room for several hours, sometimes +sighing deeply, sometimes muttering curses between his clenched teeth, +and sometimes suggesting plans which he thought might be even then +available and efficient to redeem the past. These plans were all of a +character more or less desperate; but some were exceedingly ingenious. A +truer type of a Celt could not easily be found; his very caution was +stamped with vehemence. + +Next day but one I proceeded to meet O'Mahony, to learn his success in +his nocturnal interviews. I was unable to meet him; but encountered a +faithful follower of Thomas Francis Meagher, who was the bearer of a +message to the effect that if he could be prevailed upon to attempt +escaping, means could be procured for him. I expressed at once my entire +concurrence, and desired the messenger should return to say that on +condition the same means would be made available for those who were not +yet arrested, we would all gladly accept of them. I ventured into a +house, where, in early life, I spent many a happy day. Those of the +family whom I had known and loved, had passed out of the world. They +were a brother and sister, the former educated for the Church, and the +latter highly gifted and educated far above her condition. I never knew +a woman, in any rank of life, of nobler character or a more heroic +nature. She had the richest store of womanly tenderness and kindly +affections. She took the veil at the Dungarvan Convent in very early +youth, where she died two years afterwards. I asked for some food, and +while it was being prepared I wrote the following lines on a blank leaf +of a book belonging to my dead friend:-- + + Bliss to thy spirit, gentlest maid, + Fond, faithful and beloved; how oft, + Within the circle of this glowing glade, + Our mingling souls had soared aloft; + And wooed the knowledge of our destiny-- + What is it? I a fugitive, and thou on high. + + Yet hopeless of the land I'd save, + Nay, spurned by those for whom I'd die, + Unknown where your fond welcome gave, + There's still a throb of ecstasy. + Even though the latest I may feel on earth. + In lingering o'er the scene where thou hadst birth. + + Where wrapt by evening's crimson flush, + We hoped, and felt, and breathed together, + Beside the broad Suir's silent gush, + Or resting on yon mountain heather; + And dared to look beyond the narrow span, + That circumscribed the hope of man. + + How sweet, if from the blessed spheres, + Thou didst bestow one look of love, + To cheer the hearts and dry the tears + Of those whose only hope's above; + And win, beloved one, from the throne of light, + One saving ray for our long slavery's night. + + Or if this may not be, and yet + Her old doom clings unto the land; + If on her brow the brand be set, + And she must bear the chastening hand + For longer years, O grant, sweet saint, to me, + To die as if my arm had made her free. + + GLENN, _August 3, 1848._ + +I left Glenn next morning, with still some hope remaining, and sought +out my friend to learn his success and prospects. He came, according to +appointment, to a farmer's house in the direction of Rathgormack, +bringing with him James Stephens, who was destined to be thenceforth the +companion of my wanderings, privations and dangers. He detailed to us, +nearly as I have repeated it, the affair at Ballingarry. When he +reached the village of Urlingford, he found some difficulty in escaping +from the very men he hoped to lead back to the conflict. After vainly +making every effort first to urge them on, and secondly to satisfy them +of his own identity, he travelled a distance of thirty miles, and took +shelter in the house of a private friend, where he hoped he could remain +until something definite would be known of his comrades' fate. That his +stay was not of long duration, his appearance with us on Thursday, forty +miles from the place of his concealment, amply testifies. That distance +he travelled on foot on the preceding day, after having slept a night +with a drunken man in a brake. He was even more averse than we were to +giving up the struggle, and it was agreed on finally that he should be +allowed to rest in a place of safety; that the messenger who had come +from Mr. Meagher's friend should be despatched with my proposal, and +meantime, that I should betake me to the Comeragh mountains in search of +Mr. Meagher, while our other comrade should make a final effort to rally +the remaining strength of the people. We would then be in a position to +determine finally what we should do. Stephens and myself proceeded +together as far as my former host's in the mountains, where I left him, +and continued my route as far as the Comeraghs, I rested that evening at +a place called Sradavalla, and early next day recommenced my search +around and over the mountains. After crossing several minor hills, I +ascended the summit of the Comeragh, called Cuimshinane, which commands +a prospect of nearly the whole counties of Waterford and Kilkenny, with +a great part of Tipperary. That prospect was at once grand, beautiful +and mournful. The corn crop began to be tinged with coming ripeness; but +the potato was blighted, and presented a spectacle as black and dismal +as the country's hopes. This widespread ruin was the dread work of an +hour. On the morning, when Mr. O'Brien appeared in Carrick, that crop +was the most abundant, promising and healthy that had been seen for +years. Then it appeared from sea to sea one mass of unvaried rottenness +and decay. Notwithstanding this, I spent hours looking down on the +landscape, and mourning more over the mental and moral blight, which +shed its influence on the public heart, than the plague spot whose dark +circumference embraced the circle of the island. From heat, fatigue and +the effects of weak food, I discharged my stomach more than once, while +descending the ranges of the Comeraghs. I again took up my station for +the night at the village of Sradavalla. It was deemed prudent I should +not sleep in the same house as on the previous night, and about eleven +o'clock, accompanied by five or six men of the village, I proceeded to a +house farther up the mountain. Here the accommodation was not such as we +expected, and we were forced to return. On our arrival, I found my +sister-in-law who was escorted by two boatmen from Carrick-on-Suir, and +who reached this wild sequestered and almost inaccessible mountain +village, after a journey of fifty miles. A sad change had come over our +circumstances since last we parted. My hopes were then nearly a +conviction, and I went on my way not alone without remonstrance or +regret on her part, but with intense encouragement. She had heard of +Mr. O'Brien's disaster, and a rumour of his arrest, had witnessed the +prostration of the people, had heard I had means of escape proposed for +me, and came with what money could be provided. We spent that night +together at the house of a woman who had been lately confined. She +endeavoured to provide tea and eggs, and we enjoyed our supper with as +keen a relish and as high a zest as possible. I learned that Meagher was +in the other extremity of the county Tipperary, and she undertook to +convey my message to his friend a second time, while his faithful scout +would endeavour to discover his retreat, and induce him to join us. She +departed on her mission, having to walk ten miles over the mountain +roads. I returned to the place where I parted from Stephens, whom I +found greatly recovered. We remained that night at the house of his +entertainer, where we were joined the following morning by O'Mahony. We +spent the three succeeding days in and about the woods at Coolnamuck. +Three more anxious days and nights never darkened the destiny of baffled +rebels. Every morning arose upon a new hope which was blasted ere night +came on by some sad intelligence. The news that reached us was partly +true and partly false: of the former character was the account of our +beloved chief's arrest, which took place on the evening of Sunday, the +6th of August. In proportion as it nerved our purpose and urged us to +desperation, did that fatal information scatter the agencies on which we +were to depend. The most desperate hazards would be readily undertaken +in that hour of gloom. One more effort we decided on, and the experiment +was to be tried the next night. We heard Mr. Meagher also was arrested, +and we resolved, in order to satisfy ourselves of the correctness of +this and other reports, to put ourselves in direct communication with +some person in the town of Clonmel. We accordingly proceeded to the +neighbourhood of that town, within a mile of which, at the Waterford +side, we established ourselves, and remained two days. Each day we sent +in a messenger who brought us correct intelligence of what occurred; and +satisfied us not alone that Mr. O'Brien was then in gaol, but that he +was allowed to be torn from the midst of a people for whom he had +perilled his life, without a hand being raised in his defence. We then +returned to the scene of our former meetings, and met, for the last +time, beside a little brook near the Waterford slate-quarries. My +ambassadress had also returned, and there were present three or four +others. The reunion was gloomy. But one question remained for +discussion: Was there any hope left? The message I received as to the +means of escape was dark and discouraging. Nothing remained but the +hazards of some desperate enterprise. What had chiefly animated our +hopes for the few days was the knowledge that disaffection and +conspiracy existed in the ranks of the British army. But among other +intelligence of evil omen that reached us was this, that the conspiracy +had been discovered. Whether this were true or not, our means of +communication were suspended; and, unable to learn what had occurred, we +naturally concluded it was the worst. It is not quite correct to say, +_we_, as far as the proceedings of these days in that neighbourhood were +concerned. Neither Stephens nor myself was in communication with more +than the one friend, to whose honour and heroism we would commit the +liberty of the world. Never yet lived a man of more sanguine hope or +intense patriotism. All the vigour of a gigantic intellect, aided by the +endurance of great physical strength was tasked to the uttermost in +attempting to rouse the broken energies of the country. He generally +spent his nights in interviews with the chief men of the surrounding +districts, while his duty by day was to communicate the result to us, +and secure a place of safety for the ensuing night. Our last conference +was of course the longest and most anxious. There was no chance within +the range of possibility we did not discuss. Of the intensity of our +feelings, some idea may be formed by the fact, that the one woman who +was of the party, whose sole stay on this earth I was, as well as the +sole stay of her sister and a most helpless little family, never uttered +one word of remonstrance against any project, however desperate, which +was proposed. We concluded an interview of several hours, by referring +the entire question to the sole decision of our friend. After a short +silence, during which the agony of his mind was extreme, he solemnly +advised and adjured us to provide as best we could for our own safety, +while he, who was not so deeply compromised, would maintain his +position, and still struggle against our common destiny. If he +succeeded, and that we had not left the country, we could return. But to +advise us to continue in our then position where an iron circle was +closing around us, relying on the slender chances that then presented +themselves, involved a responsibility which would be no longer +endurable. We then partook of a comfortable dinner which he had +provided, and parted with sad hearts. + +[Illustration: The Knockmeldown Mountains from Ardfinan] + +The place which, as far as we could form an opinion, presented the +greatest facilities for escape, was the town and neighbourhood of +Dungarvan. Thither we resolved to repair; and about three o'clock, on +the 13th day of August, we set off across the nearest range of the +Comeraghs--Stephens and myself, accompanied by my sister-in-law, whom we +hoped to employ in negotiating for a passage to France. A farmer and two +women of the place undertook to conduct us the shortest way across the +mountains, and provide us an asylum for the night, which we reached +after a forced journey of six hours. We there parted from our guides; +and the people to whom they recommended us were exceedingly kind, and +much more hospitable than their means would permit. On the following day +our host became our guide for several miles across the declining +Comeraghs, until we came in view of Dungarvan. We purchased some bread, +eggs and tea at a village called Tubbernaheena; but while in the village +we learned that the military and police were scouring the country far +and wide, in search of arms, which compelled us to change our route and +take an easterly direction. We crossed several miles of bog, and had to +pass many a ravine; but the worst trial was before us. We applied in +several houses for the means of preparing our dinner, having travelled +at least twenty miles over moor and mountain. We applied in twenty +places in vain. At last, half by force and half by entreaty, we +prevailed on a woman, whose circumstances seemed comfortable. We were, +of course, unknown; and though we met many a rebuff, we determined to +endure them, rather than reveal our names and character. During the +progress of our meal we established ourselves in the good graces of the +housewife, but she obstinately refused to allow us to remain for the +night. She directed us to a publichouse, where, on our arrival, we found +a proclamation menacing any one who entertained, harboured or assisted +us, with the direst punishment. In answer to our inquiry the owner, who +was a woman, pointed to the proclamation, as an argument against which +all remonstrance was vain. We made three or four other attempts equally +fruitless; and when the night had closed around us, on a bleak, desolate +road, I determined to call on the Roman Catholic priest, and state who +we were; for while, if alone, we would infinitely prefer taking such +rest as we could in the nearest brake, or under shelter of a wall, we +could not think of submitting our delicate companion to the trials of a +night in the open air, during an exceedingly inclement season. With some +hesitation and great alarm, he procured a lodging for us at a farmer's +house in the neighbourhood. We saw him next morning, and his most +earnest injunction was that we should leave the locality, which, +according to him, was altogether unsafe. To escape arrest there for +twelve hours was, he said, impossible. Similar advice was pressed on us +afterwards in many a safer asylum; but we learned to mock at others' +fears, whereas, on this occasion, we yielded to an impression we felt to +be sincere. + +Before venturing nearer to Dungarvan, we determined to bespeak the +services of another clergyman, who lived a distance of six or seven +miles in the direction of Waterford. A ridge of the Comeraghs lay +between us and his lonely dwelling. Along this ridge lay a winding +bridle-road, skirted by patches of green sward, and occasionally crossed +by a sparkling mountain rill. Above us, on the hill-side, was a +considerable bog, where crowds of country people were collecting to +their daily toil. A merry laugh or boisterous joke occasionally rang +clear in the morning air. The mirth went heavily to our hearts. The +snatch of song, the unrestrained laugh, the merry glee, broke upon the +ear of the wayfarers like the mocking of demons. The consciousness that +they then sped, without a beacon or a guide, over the flinty path of +flight, to end perhaps at the gibbet, imparted to the voice of mirth the +sound of ingratitude. However, the day was brilliant; above us the +clear, blue, unfathomable sky; around us the bracing mountain air, laden +with the breath of hare-bell and heather, and far below the calm sea, +sleeping in the morning light; and weariness, hunger and apprehension +yielded to the influence of the scene. Many a time, ere passed the sunny +noon, did we sit down to enjoy the glad prospect, unconscious, for a +moment, of the fate that tracked our footsteps. At length we descended +the eastern slope of the hill; and after proceeding some distance, +through cornfields and meadows, we reached the mansion of the clergyman, +wayworn and half-famished. He, whom we sought, had won a character for +truth, manliness and courage, and we calculated upon his unrestrained +sympathies, if not generous hospitality. He was absent from his house, +which is situate in a lonely gorge of the Comeraghs. + +We waited his arrival for more than an hour, and, through delicacy for +his position, we remained concealed in a grove some distance from the +door. He at length appeared, and I proceeded alone to meet him and make +known my name. He started involuntarily and retreated a few paces from +me. After repeating my name for a few seconds, he said, "Surely you are +not so unmanly as to compromise me?" I replied, that so sensible was I +of the danger of committing him, that I refused to enter his house, +though we all, and particularly my female companion, sadly needed rest +and shelter. After some time, he began to pace up and down in front of +his door, repeating at every turn that it was indiscreet and +dishonourable to compromise him. Among the many trials to which fate had +doomed me, through hours of gloom, of peril and disaster, and even +during reveries of still darker chances, which fear or fancy often +evoked, I never felt a pang so keen as that which those unfeeling words +sent through my heart. For a while I was unable to articulate, but at +length I said: "You are one of those who urged us to this fate. You gave +us every assurance that, in any crisis, you would be at our side. We +made the desperate trial which you recommended. We have failed, because +we were abandoned by those who were foremost in urging us on; and even +now--here, where God alone sees us--you meet with reproaches one who has +sacrificed his all on earth in a cause you pretended to bless. Is not +that fate worse than defeat--than flight--than death?" "Tis a sad fate, +no doubt," said he. My object, I said, was to escape to France, and I +called on him, believing he could assist me, as he must be acquainted +with the boatmen around that part of the coast. He answered it was +possible he could, but not then; asked how he could communicate with me; +pointed to a shorter route across the mountains than that by which we +had descended, and turned in to his dinner, which was just announced. + + * * * * * + +We faced towards the mountain, hungry and exhausted, without being asked +to taste food or drink. It need not be detailed how sore at heart we +felt as we recommenced our dreary journey. It was already evening. +Censer masses of fog had gathered on the hill, and lurid streaks +spreading far out on the sea, portended a night of storm and gloom. +However, we had no resource but to regain the house where we had slept +two nights before, which we supposed might be distant about seven miles; +and by gaining the summit of the hill before dark, we hoped to make our +way easily down the other side. To obtain some food, of whatever kind, +was an indispensable preliminary. The house nearest to the mountain +appeared to be that of a comfortable farmer. We entered it trembling, +and found our expectations not disappointed. But the housewife +peremptorily refused our first request, evidently suspecting there was +something wrong, and unable to reconcile our appearance with the idea of +hunger or distress. She bestowed a peculiarly sinister scrutiny on my +poor sister. After some parley, we said we should have something to eat, +either for love or money, and while saying so, we began to examine the +locks of our pistols. Either admonished by these stern intercessors, or +by a look of compassion from her beautiful daughter, who stood at some +distance, she replied we should have what we asked for, but only for +love. Her daughters, of whom there were two, busied themselves in +producing new barley bread and skimmed milk, of which we partook +immoderately. We parted on better terms, and my friend Stephens was +greeted with a smile from each of the lovely girls, which so influenced +him that he insisted upon revealing our character and asking their +hospitality for the night. After a good deal of discussion it was agreed +he should make the experiment alone. He returned and produced the +military cap which he always wore inside his shirt. This at once +produced the desired effect, and one of the young girls came bounding up +the hill to invite us to return. It was arranged, however, that we +should remain on a hay-loft until quite dusk, which we gladly agreed to. +The host entered with us, and stayed until we were admitted to the +dwelling-house. To me, at least, that hay-loft imparted a sense of +unutterable enjoyment. I was there enabled to support the drooping head +of my sister, as overcharged with weariness and pain of mind, she sank +into unconscious sleep. + +As night fell, we were introduced into a comfortable parlour. There we +had tea and eggs, with some punch. The family felt the warmest interest +in us; but at the same time they occasionally manifested evident alarm. +The utmost precaution was observed so as to prevent our being noticed, +and we only retired to bed when the hour of midnight had struck, and the +house was sunk in silence and solitude. During all that night the storm +roared pitilessly and the rain fell heavily. Had it surprised us on the +bleak hill, our wandering had that night ended, and the ravens of +Cumshinane had feasted on our flesh. Next day the storm did not cease to +howl nor the rain to sweep on the angry winds. About five o'clock, +during a brief pause of the rain, preparations were made which +significantly intimated that we were expected to leave. Our host was +well acquainted with the fishermen of Dungarvan and he solemnly warned +us against treating with any of them. Betrayal, he said, would be +certain. But he promised to accompany my sister next day to the town, +where he would make every inquiry; and if he failed, as he anticipated, +would see her away on the car; in which case we were to try another and +a far remote sea-board. A certain newspaper of high Liberal character, +affected to bestow upon us intense consideration and deep compassion. It +had a guard of mobile reporters, some of whom contrived to be everywhere +and hear everything--especially what did not occur. One of them, with a +keener scent than his fellows, discovered my sister's track--made +himself familiar with her person and apparel--and announced her +movements with a mournful accuracy. He conjectured, not unjustly, that +my haunts must be near the scene of her wanderings. Completely absorbed +by the one idea of gratifying the curiosity of his readers, he seemed +indifferent to the conclusion, which, to a mind less engaged, would +appear palpable, and inevitable--namely, that what was information to +our anxious friends would equally serve the purpose of our watchful +pursuers. + +It became, therefore, dangerous to have her continue any longer with or +near us. A hasty dinner was prepared, and we arranged to meet our host +next day within a mile of Dungarvan. Never did parting look more like a +last one than mine with my sister, on that occasion. For some time I +thought she would be the first victim of our hard destiny. She seemed +incapable of withstanding the agony that shook her frame. While sharing +in the hardships and the hazards of my struggle for life, her heart, +sustained by its own deep enthusiasm, triumphed over every obstacle. But +she was returning to a house of mourning and of woe, where life would be +one blank of desolation and stupor, to be wakened to bitter +consciousness by intelligence of our doom. The sense of my +responsibility, the full appreciation of the living death which, through +my agency, had fallen upon a home as hallowed as ever love and joy +consecrated to happiness, had burned up my eyeballs and my brain. I went +forth into the recommencing storm, utterly unconscious of its rage and +equally indifferent to fate. My comrade, who had no life to lose but his +own, and who of that was recklessly prodigal, provided he could dispose +of it to good account, stepped blithely along and uttered no complaint, +although he left behind him traces marked with blood. His terrible +indifference soon restored my self-possession, and we found shelter for +the night in a house near the spot designated for the next day's +interview. Just as we arrived there, the chief magistrate and police had +completed a search of the house. We entered as they retired, told who we +were, and claimed hospitality, which we readily obtained. The night +passed as many a similar one did afterwards. Let our hardships be what +they might during the day, we invariably enjoyed ourselves at night, and +went to bed without a fear. On the following morning we sent our hostess +into the town for shoes and other matters which were indispensable to +our further progress. She returned, evidently alarmed to death, having +read on the walls the viceregal threats against all who harboured the +"traitors." She scarcely allowed us to remain until the time appointed +for the interview, which was of short duration. We were informed that +there was no hope from that quarter, and that our safety for one hour +was extremely precarious. This intelligence and a copy of the _World_ +newspaper, completed the information communicated by our former host. + +Having laughed heartily over the _World_, and no less heartily at the +alarm of our host and hostess, we set out on our long journey, about +four o'clock in the evening, under very heavy rain. Our first effort was +at the publichouse, already mentioned, where we again failed. We had +some bread and punch, while drying our clothes at the fire. My comrade +became very ill; but even this did not overcome the obstinate repugnance +of the hostess to receive us. We were compelled to leave at about nine +o'clock; and having travelled some miles, 'midst cold and rain, my +comrade shivering from fever and suffering, we determined to sleep in +freshly-saved hay. While making ourselves a resting-place in the hay, we +were surprised by some countrymen, who recognised us as the persons who +dined on a former evening, but were coldly received and rudely expelled. +Upon consulting with the women, who had seen us, they conjectured we +were some of the fugitives, and followed for the purpose of inviting us +to the hospitalities of their home. We accepted the offer gladly, and +were received by our friends of the former evening with the warmest +welcome. The principal apartment contained two beds, one of which was +usually occupied by the man and his wife, and the other by their grown +daughters. They gave both up to us, treated us most kindly, and the +whole family, men, women and children, watched over our sleep until +morning. The eldest son displayed considerable information and still +greater energy of character. He evinced the deepest interest in our +fate, and accompanied us for several miles next morning. It was Sunday; +the cold and wet of the previous evening had given way to calm and +sunshine; and we made rapid way along the slopes of the +Comeraghs--thence to the Knockmeldown mountains, having one main object +in view--to place the greatest distance possible between where we were +to rest that night and where we had last slept. The greatest difficulty +we experienced was in passing deep ravines. The steep ascent and descent +were usually wooded and covered with furze and briars. Far below gurgled +a rapid and swollen mountain stream, which we crossed without +undressing, and always experienced the greatest relief from the cold +running water. But toiling our upward way, through trees and thorny +shrubs, was excessively fatiguing. About three o'clock in the evening we +reached the picturesque grounds of Mountmellary Abbey. We had then +travelled thirty miles of mountain without any refreshments. The +well-known hospitality of the good brothers was a great temptation to +men in our situation, pressed by toil and hunger. But we felt that we +possibly might compromise the Abbot and the brethren, and determined on +not making ourselves known. We entered the beautiful chapel of the +Abbey, and ascended the gallery while vespers were sung. We were alone +on the gallery, and had an opportunity of changing our stockings and +wiping the blood from our feet. We remained upwards of an hour, and then +set out, but little refreshed. We hoped to find refreshments in a small +publichouse, on the road leading from Clogheen to Lismore. I entered the +house rather hurriedly, and the first object that met my view was a +policeman. I turned quickly round and disappeared. The rapidity of my +movement attracted his attention, and, calling to his comrades and some +countrymen who were in the house, they commenced a pursuit. At first +they appeared little concerned, but walked quickly. We accordingly +quickened our pace, and they, in turn, began to run, when it became a +regular chase, which continued four miles, until we disappeared in the +blue mists of the Mitchelstown mountains, as night was falling around +us. When we saw our pursuers retiring, we ventured to descend, and +entered a cabin where we found a few cold half-formed new potatoes and +some sour milk which we ravenously devoured. I do not remember ever +enjoying a dinner as I did this. My comrade, who had suffered much from +illness, was unable to eat with the same relish. It was night when we +finished our repast, and we set off in search of some place to lay our +heads. We met several refusals, and succeeded, with great difficulty at +last, in a very poor cabin. We saw a lone hen on a cross-beam, which we +proposed to purchase, and bought at last for two shillings. In less +than an hour she was disposed of; and, as was invariably the case, we +got the only bed in the house, where we slept a long and dreamless +sleep. It rained incessantly the next day, and we were forced repeatedly +to take shelter in cabins by the wayside. But, being excessively anxious +to get as far as possible beyond the circle enclosed by our foes, we +descended several miles along the Kilworth mountains. Towards the close +of evening we crossed the River Funcheon, near Kilworth, by means of a +fir-tree, the roots of which had been undermined by the rapid flood. We +had spent the whole day in wet clothes. We mounted this tree, +Indian-like, in the midst of rain, and dropped in the shallow part of +the river from the branches. We were unable to procure lodgings +afterwards until nearly eleven o'clock, and then not without difficulty. +We succeeded, at length, within about a quarter of a mile of Kilworth, +whence we were able to procure bread, tea and beefsteaks. We were very +kindly treated, and next day accompanied to the Blackwater, at Castle +Hyde, by the eldest brother of the family. + +I shall not easily forget the delicacy with which this young man +requested, if we thought it compatible with our safety, to tell him our +names. There are few requests which either of us would feel greater +reluctance in refusing. He saw our evident struggle, and said he would +be satisfied with a promise that when our fate would be decided one way +or the other, we would write to him; a promise which I redeemed the day +after I reached Paris. + +This day I think, August the 20th, we travelled over forty miles, along +bog and mountain, passed within a few miles of the city of Cork, and +then, taking a north-western direction, proceeded to the village of +Blarney; where we slept on a loft with a number of carmen who were on +their way to Cork with corn. + +It is known to most people, at all familiar with the traditions of +Ireland, that this village is one of her most classic spots. There is +deposited the celebrated Blarney stone, a touch of which imparts to the +tongue of the pilgrim the gift of persuasion. So famous has this stone +become, not only in Ireland but in England, that the most plausible +fluency is characterised by its name, which at once confers on such +oratory the stamp of unapproachable eloquence. It must be confessed, +however, that in many instances "Blarney" conveys doubts of the +speaker's sincerity, as well as admiration for his capacity. To see this +talisman would be with me, on another occasion, an object of deep +anxiety and most eager curiosity. But I was compelled to forego the +pleasure, by the fact that a police-barrack loomed in its immediate +vicinity, and at the other side was posted a proclamation offering a +reward for my person. We could scarcely sleep, owing to the noise and +bustle of the carmen, as they came and went, and loudly snored in +various parts of our dormitory. But we were allowed to rest until seven +in the morning, when we took a hasty breakfast and departed. It was a +point with us never to walk along a road, and never to ask our way. We +were now travelling through an open corn country, and our progress was +accordingly slow. We felt, too, the necessity of not departing far from +our intended route, and accordingly we called in occasionally to +national schools to make the necessary observations on the maps. +Sometimes we examined the children, and sometimes the master; generally +one of us was so employed while the other was noting down carelessly on +the map the points of observation to direct our path. We crossed the Lee +undressed, near the village of "Cross," and slept soundly in a +churchyard on a neighbouring hill the name of which has passed from my +memory. We then directed our footsteps to a small village called +Crookstown, situated in a romantic spot on a branch of the Lee. We +experienced much difficulty, and narrowly escaped detection, in entering +this village, which is surrounded by beautiful country seats, through +the grounds of some of which we were obliged to grope our way. We +obtained lodgings, after one or two fruitless trials, in a very +comfortable house kept by a farmer. The young family seemed to be rather +tastefully educated, and we soon became fast friends. We passed as +whimsical tourists, and delighted our entertainers with glowing accounts +of the scenery of Connemara, Wicklow and Kerry. We remained with them +two nights, on pretence of being engaged in sketching the enchanting +views in the neighbourhood; and left, promising, that if we returned by +the same road, we would delay a week. Our destination was Dunmanway, +near which a friend of mine lived, in whose house I hoped we might +remain concealed, while means of escape would be procured somewhere +among the western headlands. A short journey brought us to this house. +My friend was absent, but daughters of his, whom I had not seen since +childhood, recognised and welcomed us. We had then travelled 150 miles, +and fancied that, as no one could think of our making such a journey +without walking one half-mile of road, we would be safe there for many +days. In this we were disappointed. It was communicated to us next +morning early that our persons were recognised, and that half the +inhabitants of Dunmanway were by that time aware of our whereabouts. It +was added, that the people were venal and treacherous; a character which +the inhabitants of that region of Cork invariably attribute to each +other. We remained a second and most of a third day, notwithstanding, +and enjoyed ourselves heartily, although our little festivities had all +the air of a wake. We set out at length on the evening of the third day, +having made one glorious friend, whose exertions afterwards tended +mainly to secure my escape. We had expected letters from home before we +reached Dunmanway, and received them there on the day after. They +contained the concentrated and compressed agony of weeks, but no word of +complaint or regret. They also confirmed the intelligence which we had +heard ere we set out, namely, that all our comrades were arrested, +except Dillon, O'Gorman, and a few others, of whose fate we remained +uncertain. Certain friends of the family undertook to communicate with +clergymen, near the seashore, who were supposed to be in a position to +facilitate our escape, while we proposed to visit Gougane Barra and +Ceimeneagh, and, if practicable, Killarney, before we returned to learn +the success of their applications. We followed the stream that passes +Dunmanway for several miles through an almost inaccessible valley, +until we reached the southwestern base of Shehigh, the highest mountain +in the range which stretches between Mallow and Cape Clear. + +Here we purchased some good new potatoes, butter, eggs and milk, on +which we dined satisfactorily. We then faced the mountain which we +crossed near the summit, being desirous to gain Gougane Barra by the +shortest possible route. A steep ascent gives the traveller fresh +impulses and an irrepressible desire to bound down at the other side. It +seems to spring from that principle of action and reaction pervading all +nature. At the northern base of Shehigh, after traversing some miles of +bog, we found ourselves entering the pass of Ceimenagh. Though that Pass +had been recently immortalised in the unequalled verses of Denis +Florence M'Carthy,[12] and I had learned to love a spot where echoes of +minstrelsy so soft and passionate had found a "local habitation," I was +ignorant of its locality and entirely unprepared for the surpassing +grandeur of the scene, which, in the full blaze of a harvest moon burst +upon my view. My comrade was even more startled than I, and we paused at +every turn of that enchanting passage to gaze upon the masses of rock +projecting over our heads hundreds of feet in the air, and casting their +dark rude outlines upon the clear autumn sky. The pass is a mile long, +while in no one spot can many yards' distance be seen on either side. +The road seems to lose itself every moment in the bowels of the +mountain, but as you proceed, you find a new avenue of escape, and a +more fantastic group of impending rocks of a yet more entrancing +beauty than that you had left behind. In such a scene one could have no +feeling of weariness and no sense of fear. Neither could he doubt man's +truth any more than God's omnipotence. We lingered in the solitude and +drank the moonbeams as they strayed through disjointed rocks and fell +silvery and glowing on our path. Our reverie ended in a mistake, for we +unconsciously passed the point where we should turn to Gougane Barra, +then the scene of a ceremony, half religious, half superstitious, as it +has been during the autumn season from time immemorial. People come +great distances to perform "stations" on the ruins of a very ancient +church on poor Callanan's "green little island." We were advised against +returning, but told to seek shelter in a publichouse at a place called +Ballingeary, on the banks of Lough Lua through which the infant Lee +runs. We found the house quite full, in consequence of a fair which was +to be held the Monday following at Bantry. We were accordingly refused; +but we insisted on remaining in the house. We had some milk and whisky, +in which we asked the host to join us, and after one or two potations, +he and his wife offered to give us their own bed and remain up. We +thankfully and gladly accepted the offer. I know not whether they +recognised us, and if not, it is not easy to account for the generous +kindness that prompted such a sacrifice. The next day being Sunday, we +proposed to spend it wandering about the lovely lake in the bosom of the +hill, and to return in the evening to dinner. The day was an anxious +one; but we left no spot on the island or near the lake which we did not +explore. + +[Illustration: Dunmanway from the Bridge on the Cork Road, 1848] + +The "Green Little Island," is surpassingly romantic. The old ruin of a +monastery, God knows how old, gigantic forest trees, bowing their aged +limbs into the clear water, the shadows of the frowning mountain thrown +fantastically on the bosom of the lake, form a _tout ensemble_ of lonely +loveliness rarely equalled. Then the play of + + "The thousand wild fountains + Rushing down to that lake from their home in the mountains," + +the scream of the eagle on the crags of Mailoc, far, far on high, all +justify Callanan's preference for the spot which was meetest for the +bard. We endeavoured to recall his tender strains, and thought +mournfully of his sad prophecy--alas! when shall it be fulfilled? + + I too shall be gone, but my name shall be spoken, + When Erin awakes and her fetters are broken + Some minstrel shall come in the summer's eve gleaming, + When Freedom's young light on his spirit is beaming, + And bend o'er my grave with a tear of emotion, + Where calm Avonbui seeks the kisses of ocean, + Or plant a wild wreath from the banks of that river, + O'er the heart and the harp that are sleeping for ever. + +We saw at a short distance, the pass which so enraptured us the night +before, but we resisted the temptation to revisit it, lest the glare of +light might disenchant us of those sublime impressions of beauty it had +made on our minds. + +We found a most comfortable dinner on our arrival, for which we could +not account. In the course of the evening we learned casually from our +host that he had spent several years of his life where it was impossible +he should not have seen and known me. This was a disturbing conviction +wherewith to retire to rest, but we trusted to our propitious stars, in +which we had begun to feel a superstitious confidence. We were not +disappointed then or afterwards, and next morning we slept in +unquestioning security. We rose late and reluctantly, and left a scene +where we enjoyed more undisturbed rest and real comfort than had fallen +to our lot for weeks before. The day became dark and showery. Crossing +the bogs in the recesses of Shehigh, we were overtaken by a storm, from +which we took shelter in some hay gathered on the bleak moor, where I +wrote the following:-- + + Hurrah for the outlaw's life! + Hurrah for the felon's doom! + Hurrah for the last death-strife! + Hurrah for an exile's tomb! + Come life or death, 'tis still the same, + So we preserve our stainless name + From losel of the coward's shame. + Hurrah for the mountain side! + Hurrah for the bivouac! + Hurrah for the heaving tide! + If rocking the felon's track. + + Hurrah for the scanty meal! + If served by th' ungrudging hand, + Hurrah for the hearts of steel, + Still true to this fallen land! + Still true, though every hazard brings + Some new disaster on its wings, + Which o'er her last faint hope it flings. + Hurrah, etc. + + Hurrah; though the gibbet loom! + Hurrah; though the brave be low! + Hurrah; though a villain doom! + The true to the headsman's blow. + As long as one life-throb remain, + We'll spurn the tyrant's gyve and chain + On gallows-tree or bloody plain. + Hurrah, etc. + + Hurrah for that smile of light, + Which like a prophetic star, + Illumined the long, lone night + Of the wanderers from afar. + Give us for resting-place the rath, + Give us to brave the foeman's wrath, + So that dear smile be o'er our path. + Hurrah for the mountain side! + Hurrah for the bivouac! + Hurrah for the heaving tide! + If rocking the felon's track. + +Being apprehensive that our former retreat near Dunmanway was +discovered, and that we would be looked for there, we determined to try +another district, from which we might be able to communicate with her +who had evinced such sympathy for us. We sought the house of a friend of +hers, but found him so terrified that we could not think of forcing +ourselves on his hospitality. He promised, however, to call on her and +learn if she had any letters or other information for us. On our return, +next day, he was somewhat reassured. He brought us a note from her, and +letters from home. My comrade's was a sad, sad blow. Where he had most +trusted on earth, his application had been coldly received, and his most +unlimited confidence utterly disappointed. Money was forwarded to him +from other sources; but the spirit that braved every disaster up to +that, broke under disappointed affection and blighted love. For some +time he refused to take another step, but yielding himself up to the +agony of shattered feelings, he ardently desired to abandon a struggle +involving nothing but the life he no longer desired to save. From my +knowledge of the country, and other resources, he regarded my chances of +escape as favourable, and his own presence as an impediment and a check. +He was therefore anxious to relieve me of a burden, at the same time +that he would free himself from a weight still more intolerable. In that +he was mistaken. His imperturbable equanimity, and ever daring hope, had +sustained me in moments of perplexity and alarm when no other resource +could have availed. During the whole time which we spent, as it were, in +the shadow of the gibbet, his courage never faltered, and his temper +never once ruffled. The arrival of our enthusiastic friend, who had +stolen to see us, revived his spirits, and her persuasions reassured his +resolution. We drove for some time in her car, and after nightfall +returned to the house where we had slept on the previous night. A +practice which prevailed in that part of the county Cork greatly +facilitated our efforts. It was this: in the vicinity of the great +routes of travel, the farmers are in the habit of giving lodgings for +payment, the amount of which generally depends on the traveller's +ability to pay. As our means, for purposes of at least this kind were +not stinted, we were sure of welcome a second time. But this fact had a +tendency to frustrate our aim in another point of view; for it always +excited curiosity, so that it was doubtful whether we would not be +safer with persons who would provide for us at the cost of their last +morsel, by confiding to them who and what we were. But in this district +of Cork, the centre of which is the notorious town of Bandon, were +scattered several families of Orangemen, who were intensely inimical to +the cause and people of Ireland. In this very instance we lodged with +one of those families. A letter that I tore near the house was picked +up, put together, and read, so as to lead to suspicion, which was +immediately communicated to the magistrate. This caused the most +vigilant surveillance to be exercised over the homes and persons of our +friends. But before the discovery was made we were far beyond the reach +of our pursuers. We had learned that the efforts made for our escape +were unsuccessful, and that time would be required to effect anything, +so as not to arouse the suspicion of those who guarded the coast; and we +agreed to conceal ourselves as best we could in some distant part of the +country, for three weeks, and then return or communicate with our +friend, who promised, meantime, to leave no effort untried on our +behalf. A second time, we set out by the same route. When we found +ourselves on a hill-top, far from human haunts, we sat down as was our +wont, to consider our future course. We determined to visit some obscure +watering-place in the vicinity of Cape Clear. With that view we skirted +the picturesque mountains that surround Dunmanway. These mountains +present features to which the eye of one living in the inland country is +little accustomed. The mountains of the midland and eastern counties are +generally enormous clumps with little inequality of surface, and +covered over with heath and weeds. Here, on the contrary, the mountains +seemed to be carved out into the most fantastic shapes, covered with +white granite stones, whose reflections in the watery surface gave the +scene an appearance of singular beauty. However strange it may appear, +we lingered over these picturesque scenes in intense delight; the more +so because there seemed no limit to our journey, and no definite aim to +which our efforts led. And a mountain-top has always an assurance of +safety stamped upon it. There we could indulge our admiration for the +beautiful; there we could snatch an hour of fearless and unbroken sleep. + +But elements of danger began to lower over our loved haunts. The grouse +season had just set in, and occasionally the report of a musket broke +our reverie, or startled our deepest sleep. Yet, even from this cup of +bitterness did we derive some sparkles of happiness. We could easily +avoid the sportsman's eye; and when we wanted anything from the lower +regions, the vicinity of the mountains, and the business of the fowler, +accounted for our presence and our wants, and readily gained us a +supply. But the potato crop had failed, and the disease had already +destroyed all the tubers which had approached maturity. This rendered it +necessary to look to other resources, and we contrived to procure bread +and sometimes meat, which we were able to get prepared easily under +pretence of being catering for shooting parties. + +On the first day we made this experiment, we found ourselves descending +into that dreary plain that stretches out to the doomed district of +Skibbereen. Under cover of night we sought to penetrate this desolate +region in the remotest direction of the sea, where we hoped we might +remain unnoticed as country bathers. We obtained shelter at a small +farmers, and made a great many inquiries concerning the neighbouring +watering-places, whither we said we were going for the benefit of our +health. There were two young girls, the confidence of one of whom my +comrade contrived to win during the evening. She told him that her +sister had a courtship with the sergeant of police, who usually visited +there every day. This hastened our departure next morning. We set out in +the grey dawn, and once again reascended the mountain, to rest and take +thought. The communication of the young girl; the sister's long delay, +when she went to procure refreshments at the village, where the +police-sergeant was stationed; the father's pursuits, and other +circumstances, induced us to believe that to follow the plan which, to a +certain extent, we had unfolded, would be dangerous. We therefore +determined to change our course. We were then about fifteen miles +south-southwest of Dunmanway. Adhering to our resolution of settling for +a few weeks in some village on the seaside, we purposed to substitute +the Kerry side of Bantry Bay for the district we had at first fixed on. +The distance was about fifty miles, and we had to cross a plain several +miles wide. We swept over this plain with a rapidity that taxed severely +our exhausted energies, and lay down to sleep on the first patch of +heath we gained on the Bantry mountains. + +We bathed our feet in a mountain stream, and having partaken of a slight +meal, resumed our weary journey. Night fell on us in the midst of a +desolate bog on a mountain top. We travelled several miles in search of +shelter, first in cabins and next in haycocks. It was a dark, gloomy and +threatening night. After lying for some time on the roadside, where +alone a dry spot was to be found, I forced Stephens to consent to make a +trial of the town of Bantry, then a mile distant. The darkness and gloom +were favourable to the experiment. We entered the town, and traversed +one or two streets, we knew not in what direction. On inquiring for a +lodging-house, we were directed to the house of Mrs. Barry, who kept a +large grocery establishment. We found accommodation and comfort. Next +day, having made some small purchases through the agency of the servant, +and posted some letters, we deliberately walked out of Bantry, by the +road which seemed to lead the most directly to the country. The day was +miserable, and we found our journey through the mountains, which +overhang the beautiful bay, very unpleasant. We determined to reach a +place called the Priest's Leap, which is consecrated by a holy tradition +in the estimation of the people. They tell that in the times of +persecution a priest was set and sold in these fastnesses. Having +discovered that he was betrayed, he effected his escape through a circle +of enclosing pursuers, which it was deemed impossible to break through; +the country people believed that he floated invisibly through the air, +and alighted on the deck of a Spanish frigate then coasting these +shores. + +An impenetrable fog descended the mountain, and the rain deepened into a +torrent. Moored in the bay were two war-steamers, with screw propellers; +but they had all their sails unfurled, and swung uneasily to and fro. +We, who were ignorant of their character, frequently paused to regard +them, utterly unable to account for their extraordinary movements. +Believing them American packets, which had put in through stress of +weather, we would have given worlds even for an opportunity of swimming +to them through the waters of the bay. But the coast was strictly +guarded by police and revenue officers. Notwithstanding this the vessels +had for us an irresistible attraction, and we entered a mountain cabin, +where we learned their real character. A second attempt to reach the +Priest's Leap, of whose exact bearing we were ignorant, involved us in +deeper mist and a heavier shower, from which we took shelter in a +wretched hut, directly over the bay, and within about one mile of an +hotel of great fame, frequented by travellers who are attracted to these +districts to view the magnificent bay and the singular beauty of +Glengarriff. Here we spent the remainder of the day. Eggs and potatoes +were provided for us; and when, as evening approached, we prepared to +depart to the hotel, the woman pressed us to remain, and produced clean +sheets, telling us they would give up their bed, and adding that she +would be satisfied with the fifth of what we should pay in the hotel, +where, she slyly hinted, our reception would be very doubtful in our +then trim. We readily consented to her arrangement; and it was further +agreed that her husband should go to the hotel and provide some bacon, +bread, tea, and whisky. + +We had not, during our wanderings, met two such characters as this man +and woman, nor had we taken shelter in so extraordinary an abode. They +had a single child, a girl about four years of age, whose dark eyes and +compressed lip Akkad evidenced the presence of those terrible passions +which had burned deep channels along the brow and cheek of her mother. +The cabin was ten feet square, with no window and no chimney. The floor, +except where the bed was propped in a corner, was composed of a sloping +mountain rock, somewhat polished by human feet and the constant tread of +sheep, which were always shut up with the inmates at night. The fire, +which could be said to burn and smoke, but not to light, consisted of +heath sods, dug fresh from the mountain. A splinter of bog-wood, lurid +through the smoke, supplied us with light for our nightly meal. The tea +was drawn in a broken pot, and drunk from wooden vessels, while the +sheep chewed the cud in calm and happy indifference. They were about +twelve in number, and occupied the whole space of the cabin between the +bed and the fire-place. + +In that singular picture, the figure of the woman stood out bold, +prominent and alone, absorbing, in its originality, every character of +the entire. Neither she nor her husband could be said to wear any dress. +Neither wore shoes or stockings, or any covering whatever on the head; +shreds of flannel, which might once have borne the shape of drawers, a +tattered shirt of unbleached linen, with an old blanket drawn uncouthly +around his waist and shoulders, completed the costume of the man. His +wife's was equally scant and rude, but so arranged as to present the +idea that even in her breast the sense of fitness, the last feeling of +froward womanhood, was not quite extinguished. The squalid rags and +matted hair, by a single touch of the hand, a gesture, or a shake of the +head, assumed such shape as she fancied would display to greatest +advantage what remained of a coarse and masculine beauty. The +consciousness that she once possessed such beauty fired at once her +heart and eye. Her foot and ankle, which had been rudely tested by +flinty rocks and many a winter's frost, were faultless; her step was +firm; her form erect and tall; her hair black as ebony; her features +coarse, but regular; her brow lofty, but furrowed and wrinkled; and her +terrible eyes dilated with pride, passion and disdain. Her lip's slight +curl, or a shade of crimson suddenly suffusing her dark complexion, +bespoke her feelings towards her husband. He was her drudge, her slave, +her horror and her convenience. Her ruling idea was a wish to have it +understood that the match was ill-assorted and compelled by necessity; +though the last idea bespoke a youth of shame. The child alone was +dressed, and with some care, as if she wished to assert its claim to a +superior paternity or better destiny. Among the predominant passions +which swayed her, avarice seemed uppermost; and she scowled ominously on +her stupid husband, whose rigid impassable stolidity seemed impervious +to all prospects and chances of pleasure and of gain. + +The rain continued to pour without abatement during the whole night and +until sunset the succeeding day. The next night passed nearly in the +same way as the first, save that I could not rest from a vague sense of +apprehension with which this woman inspired me. Both the people of the +house slept on the hearth-stone, without any bed, or, as far as I know, +any covering, save their rags. I had an opportunity of overhearing their +connubial colloquy, which was in Irish, and had reference solely to +conjectures respecting us, our character, our object and our money. It +convinced me that our safety would be compromised by any longer delay. +During the pauses of their conversation, I endeavoured to string +together a rough draft of the stanzas that follow, or a considerable +part of them. I give them here, with the accompanying notes, as they +were published in the _People_ newspaper. In the notes or in the text, +there is nothing I wish to alter. + + Air: "_Gradh mo Chroidhe_." + + The long, long-wished for hour had come, + Yet came, mo stor, in vain, + And left thee but the wailing hum + Of sorrow and of pain. + My light of life, my lonely love, + Thy portion sure must be, + Man's scorn below, God's wrath above + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + 'Twas told of thee, the world around, + 'Twas hoped from thee by all, + That, with one gallant sunward bound, + Thou'dst burst long ages thrall. + Thy faith was tried, alas! and those + Who perilled all for thee, + Were cursed, and branded as thy foes; + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + What fate is thine, unhappy isle, + That even the trusted few[13] + Should pay thee back with hate and guile, + When most they should be true? + 'Twas not _thy_ strength or spirit failed; + And those that bleed for thee, + And love thee truly, have not quailed; + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + I've given thee manhood's early prime, + And manhood's waning years; + I've blest thee in thy sunniest time, + And shed with thee my tears; + And mother, though thou'st cast away + The child who'd die for thee, + My latest accents still shall pray + For Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + I've tracked for thee the mountain sides, + And slept within the brake, + More lonely than the swan that glides + O'er Lua's fairy lake.[14] + The rich have spurned me from their door, + Because I'd set thee free; + Yet do I love thee more and more, + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + + I've run the outlaw's brief career, + And borne his load of ill, + His troubled rest, his ceaseless fear, + With fixed sustaining will; + And should his last dark chance befall, + E'en that shall welcome be, + In death, I'll love thee, most of all, + A Chuisle geal mo chroidhe. + +I was awakened next morning by a strange voice, with an accent, as I +thought, different from that which we had been accustomed to. Our +immediate conclusion was that we were betrayed. But a short time +convinced us that our visitor had come to warn us that if we remained +many hours where we were, our fate would be sealed. He represented +"Finey" (as our hostess was familiarly called, in derision of her +affected pride) in colours not very flattering to her virtue. He said he +could positively furnish us with the means of escape; described his +resources as unlimited, and his interest in us as paramount to every +consideration he had on earth. He was an ecclesiastical student, and had +left college to take part in the struggle of his country. He bitterly +lamented that Dillon and O'Gorman were not in the way, that he might +have the happiness of assisting in saving them also. Agreeably to his +advice, we left our den and proceeded up the mountain. It was Sunday +morning, and there was not a cloud darkening the azure sky. Below us +slept the waters of the bay, reflecting, in their crystal depths, the +superincumbent mountains and overarching sky. The sun rose majestically, +broad, unclouded, full of effulgence, and shed his yellow beams, on a +scene as lovely as ever met his burning eye. The mountains around the +bay form very nearly a complete circle; the numerous peaks, from south +to north, range at an average height of about 500 feet above the water's +level, while a few ascend as high as 1,000. We stood on the loftiest of +all. Immediately below us, a little to the right, embosomed in the +mountains, lay the unmatched beauties of Glengarriff. There are few +spots on earth of wilder attractions. The hills around form a complete +amphitheatre. On an island in the centre of the valley is the cottage of +the noble proprietor, accessible only by one narrow pathway which winds +through hillocks and passes various rivulets on rustic bridges. The +grounds about the cottages are tastefully laid out in shrubberies, +flower-knots, green pastures, and artificial lakes. That which +constitutes the chief feature of beauty in other landscapes, namely, an +extensive prospect, is wanting here. From the cottage, or any part of +the grounds, you can only command a view of the limited demesne, and the +craggy and bleak mountain rising almost perpendicularly from its +outskirts. But the view is unique, and the contrast exquisite between +the rich green of the arbutus, amidst clumps of which sparkle the +impeded mountain waters, and the barren hill-sides whose blue summits +seem blended with the skies giving to the scene such an air of calm +serenity and soft repose as to leave the beholder almost without a wish +to look beyond. + +[Illustration: Market Day in Thurles, August, 1848] + +By this time we had learned to lose all consciousness of our own fate in +contemplating lines of beauty such as then marked the outline and +radiated through every minor detail of mountain, ocean, and cosy lawn. +We dwelt on the scene with enraptured eye and heart, and scarcely felt +the time glide by, which was to bring us our promised deliverer. He was +with us at the appointed moment, and only preceded his sisters by about +half an hour. They came, three in number, and toiled up to the summit +under a hot sun, bringing each a basket with abundant and delicate +provisions for a picnic. They were joined soon after by two other +brothers, who kept watch while we enjoyed the delicacies of our meal, +which we finished with some bottles of excellent claret. While we were +thus engaged, Lord Bantry was at the cabin we had left, gnashing his +teeth at the misfortune of missing such a prey. My comrade sang the +newly-composed verses and others of more exquisite melody and far higher +sentiment, within less than half a mile of the frowning and fuming lord. +At four o'clock we took leave of our kind entertainers, the student +promising to use the coming night in efforts to secure our flight, and a +younger brother undertaking to act as our guide across the mountain and +round the base of the Glengarriff ridge of hills to a dark gorge, at the +County Kerry side. This was a most trying journey, at least twenty +miles long, over precipitous mountains, and performed, for the most +part, during night. It was necessary that we should not rest until we +travelled far out of range of the locality where our persons had been +known and our retreat discovered. Our young guide left us with friends +or dependents of his family, and returned to be in readiness to +communicate any tidings from his brother. Those tidings came fast on our +footsteps; but the message was to warn us that we were not even there +safe; for that Lord Bantry had all his tenantry engaged in searching for +us. The despatch added that, if able, we were to be at the "Priest's +Leap" at a certain hour in the evening, where we would hear the result +of the efforts made for us. The tone of the letter left us nothing to +hope; still we determined to test the doubtful promise to the last. +Accordingly we set out for the new rendezvous. The distance was very +long unless we crossed through Glengarriff. This we determined to do, +feeling satisfied that the last place we would be looked for would be +his lordship's pleasure-grounds. We paused to examine more minutely the +exquisite serenity of that scene, and learned from a game-keeper several +matters illustrative of our pursuer's character, while his adherents +were tracking our supposed footsteps, over moor and mountain, far away. +Arrived at our destination, we had to wait several hours, during which +we were amused by our guide claiming fraternity with us, on the ground +of being banned by the law, in consequence of a suspicion (a false one, +he averred) of having mistaken another man's sheep for his own. He had +an idea that we, too, must have infringed the law, but in what +particular he did not concern himself to inquire. The fact sufficed for +the establishment of a good understanding between us. + +We at last saw our female friends approach. They brought us another +excellent dinner, for which we had a still more excellent appetite. +During the time we dined, they informed us that everything was +proceeding as favourably as we could expect, and that they had no doubt +of success. When taking leave of us, however, one of them pressed a +little note into my hand, and they disappeared in the darkness. I burned +to learn what the note contained. With the assistance of our new friend +we found lodgings in the neighbourhood, where I read that the student +failing in his enterprise, and being afraid to compromise himself +further, left that very night for college. He had to consult a +clergyman, a very near friend of his, and we made no doubt the present +step resulted from his considerate advice. + +This is written here, not for the purpose of disparaging the clergyman's +counsel or the student's resolution. On the contrary, no doubt was then +entertained of the sincerity of either, nor has there ever since been. +There could be no one more disposed to make allowance for the difficult +position in which both were placed, as well as all others who ventured +to serve us: nor could we blame men for shrinking from peril, which at +the best, presented no rational chance for us, while the effort involved +those who made it in almost certain ruin. I had other opportunities of +satisfying myself afterward that this clergyman, who visited us in the +mountains, never relaxed in his exertions to save us. + +We found ourselves next morning in an exceedingly romantic valley to +the north of the "Priest's Leap," the property of Lord Lansdowne, where +there are many comfortable farmers' houses, and many others, whose showy +exterior is sadly belied by the filth and discomfort of the inside. We +spent the day with the man of the sheep, who promised to obtain lodgings +for us at a publichouse, where he was refused. But during our stay there +we met a farmer's son, who took us home and travelled with us the whole +of the next day. We proposed to him and his sister to accompany us to +the United States, having for some time entertained seriously a project +of trying our chances to escape as emigrants. He consented to be of the +party, although we fully explained to him the risk of being taken in our +company. He guessed from this that we were engaged in the attempted +outbreak, and being sent in to the town of Kenmare to make some +purchases, he could not conceal so important a secret, but sought out a +friend, a true man, to whom he unburdened himself. We had appointed to +meet him at a place called Cross, about two miles from Kenmare. We were +repairing thither at the appointed hour, and were met, not by our trusty +messenger, but the friend to whom he had revealed his important secret. +This friend, alarmed at our temerity in approaching so near the town, +had come to forewarn us. His advances were met by distrust and menace, +which pained him deeply. He remonstrated and referred to the fact of +coming to meet us alone, when if he meant us injury he could easily +secure us. Satisfied, at length, that his friendship was sincere, we +consented to accompany him to meet another friend who had taken a +different road in the direction of the mountain. He was known to us by +character, but that knowledge, with me at least, tended to increase +rather than to allay distrust. I had formed an idea of the man from +reading speeches of his which appeared of an unscrupulously partisan +character. I was very soon disabused, but not however until I +communicated to him my feelings in his regard. The best proof of my +mistake is furnished by the fact that my unnecessary frankness did not +in the least check the enthusiasm with which he was prepared to risk +fortune, liberty and life in our service. Our interview was short. We +dismissed the ambassador who had acquired for us these new allies. They, +or rather he, of whom I have last spoken offered us money which we +declined. In opposition to his remonstrance, we insisted on remaining +for the night at a publichouse in the village of Cross. He, to whom +peril was new, could not understand our "audacity." But we who had +experienced the disadvantages of asking for entertainment in quarters +where such things were unusual, preferred the chance of escaping +unobserved among crowds of persons similar in appearance and, applying +only for ordinary accommodation. In this and many such instances we +determined aright. We obtained a comfortable bed and passed unnoticed. +Next morning we set out for the southern slope of the Killarney +mountains. As soon as we attained a safe elevation, we took a western +direction, skirting those mountains and crossing the road which leads +from Killarney to Kenmare, about five miles from the latter town. We +then kept a westerly direction, and turned round the vast bog situated +at the western side of the road. This bog contains several thousand +acres, and seems quite susceptible of reclamation and improvement. We +ascended the steep hill at the north-western boundary where we slept for +an hour or so, and then resumed our journey in the direction of the +Reeks. We purposed ascending the loftiest of these mountains, and not +wishing to take the route by the Gap of Dunloe, we crossed the +intermediate valley and began to ascend the mountain to the north, +believing it to be that which we had determined to climb. After having +toiled to the summit, we discovered in the distance the peak we were in +search of, its wonderful elevation leaving no manner of doubt as to its +identity. Between us and its base lay another broad valley. Before +attempting the ascent, we secured a lodging at the foot, and leaving our +coats behind, we began our task about four o'clock in the evening, +having then travelled upwards of twenty miles and crossed two large +mountains. The southern acclivity is more steep than the northern, and +we lost much by our ignorance of the best routes; but we reached +Carn-Tuathail, far the highest spot in Ireland, about sunset. The view +that presents itself from that peak is of the most extraordinary +character. Stretching out into the sea a distance of thirty miles, is a +jumble of mountains tossed together in the wildest confusion, and +exhibiting no definite outline. At the east, far inland, lay the long +ridge of which Mangerton is the loftiest point. At the north alone could +we discern an extensive view, where a rich and well cultivated valley +extended along Dingle Bay as far as Ballyheige. But the grandeur of the +scene Jay at our feet. Beneath us yawned at every side chasms of +seemingly unfathomable depth, whose darkness it was impossible to +penetrate, as the sun was sinking in the Atlantic. It was really a +spectacle full of grandeur and of awe, and we remained enjoying it till +the last ray of the sun ceased to glimmer on the distant waters. + +At that hour, we were well assured, many a brain was busy, and many an +eye set to discover our retreat. By the side of the public +thoroughfares, on great bridges, and frequented cross-roads, detective +vigilance kept sleepless watch, and fancied in every approaching form, +the doomed victims, who were at once to satisfy the angry gallows and +its own excited avarice. Equally well assured were we that the most +inventive and hazardous scrutiny would never track our footsteps to the +dizzy height of Carn-Tuathail. One motive with us was to baffle all +calculation on the part of our pursuers. When we found we were tracked +and discovered, our first care was to consider how our enemies would be +likely to judge respecting our future movements. If we had reason to +suspect that we were recognised on a mountain, we sought shelter in or +near a town, and after we appeared in public places for a day or an +hour, we kept the mountain-side for a week following. + +We had, too, another, and it must needs be confessed, a more powerful +motive. In either alternative which our fate presented, there was no +hope of ever beholding these scenes again, and we could not omit this +last opportunity of minutely examining and enjoying what was grandest +and loveliest in our native land. We resolved, therefore, to leave no +glorious spot unvisited, whatever toil it cost, or risk it exposed us +to. Mountains, indeed, never did involve a risk, but the Lakes of +Killarney, which were much frequented at the time, could not be seen +without imminent danger, unless by overcoming great physical +difficulties. After we descended from Carn-Tuathail, we were so utterly +exhausted as to be obliged to lie down in hay, within one field of the +cabin where we were to sleep, from which nothing could tempt us to stir +for the night; but we were assailed by swarms of small flies of the +mosquito species, that stung us to further exertion. Although the owners +of the cabin gave us their only bed, and provided the best supper for +us, we were so persecuted by these flies, that we were forced to quit +our bed before day dawned, and endeavour to shake off our tormentors by +rolling in the dew and shaking our shirts in the wind. We set out early, +finding the place utterly intolerable, owing to these terrible +tormentors, although we had resolved the evening before, to remain a few +days fishing in the lovely lakes collected in the gorges of the reeks. +The day was misty and wet. This, we hoped, would afford us a good +opportunity of seeing the lakes unobserved; for such weather would +necessarily confine the tourists to their hotels. We accordingly +directed our way to the Upper Lake, along ledges of rocks covered with +tall wet grass, wading or swimming through outlets of the lake. We +obtained a tolerable view of the Upper Lake, and minutely examined the +several accesses to it through the wood on the southern side. After +spending most of the fore-noon in this wood, we attempted to cross the +upper neck of the lake for the purpose of skirting the base of +Mangerton and gaining the summit of Turc Mountain, from which are to be +seen the Middle and Lower Lake in their most varied and seductive +loveliness. Few travellers ever see the lakes from this point, because +it is difficult to attain; but I had been there, and knowing its +superiority over every other, I wished to give my comrade a taste of the +exquisite pleasure derivable from a scene of beauty unsurpassed in the +world. There is no spot, in or near Killarney, from which its wonderful +scenery can be seen to such advantage. On the water, at Ross Island, at +Mucross or Glena, the view is confined to the scenery immediately +around, with an occasional glimpse of the nearer mountains, which indeed +may well satisfy the most exacting curiosity and fastidious taste, while +from the summit of Mangerton (the great mountain attraction of +travellers) but miniature forms of beauty present themselves, the great +distance and height contracting the circle of beauty, and depriving +every object of its fulness and natural proportions. From Turc mountain, +on the other hand, you see the lake at your feet--all its islets, curls, +cascades are within ken, entrancing your senses. Standing on that green +hill, it is impossible to divest the mind of the idea, that the scene is +one of pure enchantment. + +But we were destined not to realise it. There was a police-station +immediately on our way. In our first effort to avoid it, we found +ourselves, after much trouble, within one field of the door. We then +made a still wider circuit, keeping, as we thought, far clear of it; but +following a valley which led round a clump of hill, we once more very +nearly stepped into its back yard. To avoid similar mistakes we +ventured along the public road direct towards Kenmare; but when we were +clear of the police-barrack, we had to travel several miles of mountain +to gain the intended spot. Our feet were all cut and bleeding, and we +lay down on a rock in our wet clothes, where we slept soundly, and I +suppose sweetly, until near sunset. When we awoke we were obliged, from +the lateness of the hour, to abandon our project. + +During our stay near Killarney, we fondly indulged the last dream for +our country. In the remote regions of the counties of Cork and Kerry, +the people seemed possessed of no political information. They had a +vague notion that an effort was made to free the country from foreign +thrall, and that the patriots and their cause were lost through the +Catholic priests. It was easy to perceive, by the bitterness with which +they cursed, that they--although never reached by a speech of Mr. +O'Connell's, or an article or song of the _Nation's_--had cherished in +their hearts the same imperishable purpose and hope of overturning the +dominion of the stranger. We calculated on collecting between fifty and +one hundred of the hardiest and most desperate mountaineers, whom we +could easily place in ambush near the lakes, to seize on Lord John +Russell, who was at the time announced as a visitor to Killarney. Once +in our possession, we could have him conveyed to some inaccessible +fastness where we could dictate terms to him concerning our imprisoned +comrades. We had scarcely a doubt of putting our plan into execution, +and our sojourn near Killarney was prolonged for the purpose of becoming +more familiar with the pathways whereby to escape to the mountains with +our prisoner. How success in that enterprise might have suggested or +shaped a further course of aggression, it is now bootless to conjecture. +The project was marred by the Premier's abandonment of his intention. + +Having appointed to meet a person this evening, near Kenmare, who was to +bring us the latest papers and otherwise inform us of his lordship's +movements, we proceeded in that direction, determined to return to +Killarney next day to prosecute our examination of the locality. But the +current news informed us that Lord John Russell had left for Scotland. + +We remained several days in the neighbourhood of Kenmare, where we had +daily interviews with the friend to whom I have already alluded. He +spent all his time in endeavouring to devise some means of escape, and +intermediately provided resting-places for us at various distances. We +had the guidance of a young country lad of fine intelligence and true +fidelity, who was acquainted with every foot of bog and mountain for +miles around. We spent several days rather agreeably, perambulating the +ranges of hills between Kilfademore and Templenoe, embracing a district +about fifteen miles square. One night we slept in an empty cabin within +a field of Kilfademore House, a fine old mansion, belonging to the +father of Christabel,[15] the mountain poetess, which is now only +inhabited by the tenant of the farm, while the whole available military +and police force of the district were drawing their lines of +circumvallation around this old house, which, as soon as they made the +proper dispositions to prevent our escape, they burst into with the +stealth and precipitancy of a robber band. + +We were most kindly received and cared for wherever our friend or his +guide bespoke a night's hospitality. But although we unquestioningly +reposed on the truth of all to whom our safety was committed, we felt +the circle of our armed foes was closing and contracting around us, and +it became indispensable to break through it. It was clear that our steps +were tracked, for every night a search was made for us in one or other +of the houses over which the influence of our friend extended. But our +information respecting their arrangements was always earlier and surer +than theirs concerning our movements. During this interval when, +although we travelled an average of fifteen miles a day, we considered +ourselves resting, we received the kindest attentions everywhere; +frequently finding a rude mountain cabin furnished with excellent beds +and every delicacy. But we pined to be more at large. We had interviews +with clergymen and others, who discussed various projects of escape. +Among the rest, it was proposed to my comrade to accompany a lady--who +was about leaving for London--in the dress and character of a +servant-maid. He was well fitted for such disguise, being extremely +young and having very delicate features. Besides this, he was supposed +to be dead, having received a slight wound in the skirmish at +Ballingarry. He obstinately refused to adopt the disguise, but consented +to that of a servant boy. When the matter was finally arranged, it was +proposed to us to sleep at Templenoe, on the north side of Kenmare Bay, +where he was to be furnished with suitable clothes. Since the +commencement, I did not feel the same sense of desolation as when these +arrangements were completed, and an hour was appointed for his departure +next morning. It was on the evening of the 23rd of September. We spent +the day with one of the noblest of fellows. He had beds brought far into +the neighbouring mountains, where he remained with us for the night. A +cloud of sadness, and I believe chagrin, enveloped all my senses. I +could not help feeling myself utterly abandoned. It seemed fated that +even from the most kindly efforts my unfortunate position utterly +excluded me. Stephens sang as usual, and endeavoured to rally me; but my +mind had set in impenetrable gloom. One idea was uppermost with me, +namely, that within the circle that was then drawn around me, there was +no further possible safety. We parted before daylight, and I immediately +determined on my own course. It was this: to assume the disguise of a +clergyman and attempt to cross to France. The trials at Clonmel were +approaching, and I concluded that they would engross the entire +attention of Government, and would even require the presence of the +whole corps of detectives who were acquainted with my person and were +then on my track. I communicated my intention to the friend to whose +hospitality I was then indebted. He combatted it with great earnestness, +and could not be persuaded of its practicability. I, however, +persevered, and he offered to place a horse, upon which he set great +value, at my disposal. Just as we made our final arrangements and had +despatched a messenger to Kenmare to provide the disguise, Stephens +returned, wet, weary and hungry. He was in the worst spirits: but the +case admitted of no delay. The lady with whom he was to travel had to +stay one day in Cork, and to overtake her there was the only chance +left. There was only one possible way to effect this--to give him the +horse and let him ride on to Cork. I at once agreed, and he immediately +set off. The loss of the horse imposed on me the difficulty of a journey +on foot to Cork, and this rendered the assistance of a man to carry my +disguise--who would take a different route from myself--indispensable. +Our friend who, in giving his favourite horse to Stephens, told him to +try and sell him in Cork and put the money in his pocket, provided me +with another horse and car, by which my baggage was to be brought about +forty miles. Having settled all preliminaries, he conveyed me to a cabin +on the hills, where he provided an excellent dinner, and left me to my +musings. + +They were, it may be well conceived, not of the gayest character. The +responsibility and hazards of the attempt before me, narrowed the +chances of my destiny to the one alternative, and I could not shake off +gloomy phantoms which represented every phase of the last bloody drama +which was to close the career of those who loved, too dearly, our +ill-fated land. But, come what might, my purpose was definitely fixed. I +spent the evening in the deepest gloom, which I endeavoured to dissipate +by composing the following stanzas, suggested at the time by involuntary +visions of my wife and children at the foot of the gallows:-- + + THE OUTLAW'S WIFE + + Sadly silent she sits, with her head on her hand, + While she prays, in her heart, to the Ruler above, + To protect, and to guide to some happier land, + The joy of her soul and the spouse of her love: + And she marks by her pulses, so wild in their play, + The slow progress of time, as it straggles along; + And she lists to the wind, as 'tis moaning away, + And she deems it the chaunt of some funeral song. + + Then anon does she start in her struggles with fear, + And she strains at the whispers of every one round, + While she brushes away, half indignant, the tear, + That will gush, tho' unbidden, at every fresh sound; + And she strives to conceal--oh! how idle the task-- + The deep lines in her cheek, and the rent in her heart; + But her neighbours grow pale as they gaze on the mask, + And more lowly and slowly they talk, as they part. + + When her babes are at rest will she breathe to their breath, + And keep vigil, how wistfully, over their sleep, + As it mirrors, poor mourner, the stillness of death, + And she stirs them, and calls, for she deems it too deep; + But again does she hush them, first telling them pray, + Till at length overcharged by the tears yet unshed, + Will she sink, and as consciousness passes away, + O'er her pale furrowed cheek, see the hectic o'erspread. + + Slowly thus, day by day, does the fever-fire trace + Its incessant course down her fast-withering cheek, + Till the smile that made light in the glow of her face, + But the faint, fading glimpses of vigour bespeak, + And her reason will fitfully pass into night-- + Into night even deeper than that of the blind, + As the shade of the gibbet-tree looms in her sight. + And she fancies a death-scream in th' echoing wind. + +In the house where I slept--as indeed in every house of the same +character in the county--the whole stock of the family, consisting +chiefly of cows and sheep, were locked in at night. Such was the extreme +poverty of the people that they would not be otherwise safe. The weather +was excessively wet, and, for the season, cold. There was a slight +partition between the room where my bed was and the kitchen, where there +were three cows, a man, his wife and four children. It is impossible to +convey any idea of the sensations which crowd upon one in such a scene. +I fell asleep at last, lulled by the heavy breathing and monotonous +ruminating of the cows. Never was deeper sleep. On being awakened next +morning by my watchful friend, it required some time before I could +satisfy myself of my position. An excellent breakfast was provided for +me, and I parted from my stout-hearted and magnanimous ally. He had sent +my baggage, and also provided me with a guide who would lead me across +the mountains. He taught me the password of his clan, which I was to use +on certain contingencies. The morning was fearfully wet, and we did not +travel many miles before we were wet to the skin. The circumstance was +the most auspicious that could occur, as it enabled us to pass +unobserved. + +[Illustration: James Stephens (Circa 1867)] + +[Illustration: John O'Mahony (Circa 1868)] + +Besides this, it facilitated the task of crossing streams, which we +always did precisely as if they were dry land. One river only opposed a +serious barrier to us--that, which enters Kenmare Bay. It was greatly +swollen, and rushed fiercely over precipitous rocks. At the same time, +even in the rain and tempest, to cross the bridge was not to be thought +of. The guide pointed out a house belonging to one of our friend's +clan who immediately provided a horse and accompanied us to a ford. When +we reached the ford he hesitated to cross, so deep and rapid was the +flood. No persuasion could induce him to make the experiment. I had no +choice left but to trust myself to chance. I faced the animal against +the current, and forcing him to make his best efforts to mount the +stream, we were carried directly across. The owner of the horse said he +would come back of his own accord. I turned him into the stream, and +when half way across, he was borne headlong over a precipice, where I +concluded he was dashed to pieces. Another horse was immediately +procured, by a man who had no fears, to bring the guide across; but the +latter was so terrified that he made himself drunk ere he attempted the +dangerous passage. As he was essential to me in consequence of the +arrangements made about my luggage, I endeavoured to rouse him. He +staggered on for several miles, but seemed utterly unconscious where he +was going. When I found him incapable of directing me, I endeavoured to +procure some food for him, and with that view proceeded to a mountain +hut, but before I reached it, he sank down utterly exhausted and +powerless. He was unable even to articulate the name of the man to whose +house he was directed to take me, or the locality where he lived. It was +only from circumstances and a dim recollection of the name that I was +able to apprise the owner of the cabin whither I was bound; and after +all, much remained for the exercise of his sagacity, which was not long +at fault. We brought my old guide to the cabin, thrown across a pony, +and I set out anew, guided by the dweller on the hills. He forced me to +mount the pony, and led the way over the crags. He bounded from rock to +rock with the agility of a deer, though the stones were sharp as flint, +and he barefooted. He was a man of powerful proportions and extreme +activity. My pony, on the other hand, crept his way through narrow +pathways, worn by the rain. In this way we crossed two considerable +mountains, and, leaving the pony at the summit of the last, I pursued my +companion's flight down the slope with the best speed my stiffened limbs +could be forced to. Arriving over a valley which is called, I think, +Branlieu, situated in a western direction from Gougane Barra, he pointed +to a lone house at the extremity of the valley, as my destination. It +was about four o'clock, but the rays of the sun had ceased to irradiate +this gloomy valley, over which hung the shades of night. At the western +side the mountain was steep as a wall, and down from the summit dashed +headlong torrents, swelled by the morning's rain. The waters gleamed +like sheeted ice through the haze, and their roar fell upon the ear with +a dull sense of loneliness and pain. On the eastern slope wound a new +road, one of those heartless experiments which the inventive genius of +the Board of Works in Ireland substituted for the exploded trial of +prolonging beggars' lives by Soyer soup and chained spoons. On these +roads the people were to perform the greatest possible amount of work, +and live on the least possible quantity of food. But, although these +operations cost much waste of blood, the roads opened no new and +fruitful sources of industry in these mountain valleys, only frequented +by the footsteps of the sportsman, or scanned by the eye of the +votaries of pleasure. The house where I called was intended for my +guide. However, I found my claim for hospitality at once recognised on +pronouncing the password of my host by the sea. The cabin--it was +literally such--was in the most filthy state. The dung of the cattle had +not been removed for days, and half-naked children squatted in it as +joyously as if they rolled on richest carpets. The housewife merely +replied to my question in the affirmative. But she immediately +proceeded, with the help of two little girls, to remove the filth. I was +so fatigued and hungry that I could willingly postpone the process of +cleaning for the sake of providing any sort of food. I was doomed to +disappointment. No appearance of supper interrupted the busy operation, +until the dung was removed, and the floor drained. I retired, and +endeavoured to ascend the eastern hill, to a point where I could catch a +glimpse of the setting sun. + +On my return I found the owner of the house, a man of giant frame and +noble features. His dress bespoke a taste or pursuit incompatible with +the wild mountain destiny stamped upon the external aspect of his home +and family. His wife spoke a few words in Irish, explaining my presence, +to which he answered that I was welcome. Supper was at length prepared, +when he drew from a basket a few of the finest trout I ever saw. He +cleaned and fried them with his own hands, as if the operation were +above the capacity of his wife, who performed the other culinary duties +with silent assiduity. It might be owing to hunger, it might be owing to +the actual superiority of the fish, or it might be owing to the mode of +cooking, but it seemed to me as if I never tasted anything of equal +flavour to those trout. The entertainment was ended with some boiled new +milk, slightly curdled, a delicacy little known in the circle of +fashion, but never surpassed either in that or any other. Some fresh hay +was procured and strewn on an article of furniture common in the houses +of the Kerry peasantry, called a "settle." It is a sort of a rude sofa, +made of common deal timber. On this "settle" my host prepared my bed of +new-mown hay, barricaded with old chairs and a table against the +assaults of the hungry animals. I had not long lain down when a man +entered (the door consisted of a pair of tongs, so placed as to prevent +the egress of the cattle), lay at full length on the table, and fell +fast asleep. In an hour or so afterwards, there came another, who groped +his way over the cattle, and, sweeping the fire from the hearth, lay +down to sleep in peace. This man slept uneasily, and groaned heavily, as +if some terrible sense of guilt or fear pressed against his heart. + +I had a vague feeling of uneasiness, not free from alarm, but the hearty +snoring of the one, and the fitful complaints of the other of my +bedfellows died away on my ear, and I, too, shared their unconsciousness +in deep sleep. The man who brought my baggage arrived early next +morning. My host soon provided a good substantial breakfast--excellent +new potatoes, which had escaped the blight, butter, new milk, and a +slice of the flesh of fried badger. He then proposed to accompany us +with his son, aged about thirteen, who by some inexplicable privilege +seemed exempt from any portion of the drudgery which was the lot of the +family. The other man who brought the baggage was persuaded to leave his +horse and car, and accompany us with my bundle, as far as the summit of +the hill. To climb the steepest mountain side had become an amusement to +me, and we ascended the one then before us, merrily, our host relating +many anecdotes of sportsmanship, and detailing the startling incidents +and wild rapture of badger-hunting. From the summit we commanded a view +of the country for miles around. "Here we are," said our host, "higher +than the proudest of your enemies." He then traced the route of the man +with the bundle, through the open plain, and by the nearest way; and +turning to me, he said: "You must not go in the same direction, for +every yard of it is set. Follow my son," he said, and turning to the +boy, he named several points in the path whereby he should conduct me. +"Lead Mr. Doheny safely," he concluded, "and remember you are the son of +----." In utter astonishment I inquired how he knew me, and he answered +by waving his hand in the direction of the boy, who had bounded off and +was scarcely perceptible above the tall heath. I soon overtook him, and +as we went along, I learned that my two companions during the night were +also evading the law's pursuit. One of them he described as having +killed a man by accident, and ever after leading, the life of a "poor +wild goose." I made no doubt but this was he whose spirit seemed so +heavily laden. We had a couple of terriers of the truest breed, whose +sudden discovery of a badger interrupted our conversation and impeded +our journey. The young hunter became delirious with joy. His +encouraging cries to the dogs were broken outbursts of wildest rapture; +and when the game took shelter in his inaccessible den, he would dash +himself against the rocks with the same reckless vehemence as his dogs, +who, in their rage, attempted to bite away the hard mountain stones. + +He left the spot with the utmost reluctance, after venting an oath of +vengeance against the head of the poor badger, to which he promised sure +destruction on the occasion of their next meeting. We quickly descended +in the direction of Gougane Barra, where he parted from me, indignantly +refusing a half-crown which I offered him. + +Once more I found myself on the slopes of Shehigh, in sight of Lough +Lua. My immediate object was to place myself in communication with my +lady friend at Dunmanway. I was extremely anxious to see her. I wanted +to procure through her some things to complete my costume as a disguised +priest, and finally I expected to learn through her some news of my +family. With the view of seeing her in the safest retreat, I determined +to conceal myself in a wood belonging to a Mr. O'Leary, at a place +called Coolmountain. I endeavoured to gain the friendship of a man in +the neighbourhood, of whom I had learned the highest character for +probity. It was necessary to confide in him fully; for his fidelity to +his employer might induce him to betray me, if he suspected that my +flight was occasioned by moral guilt. He did not disappoint me. At once +he entered into all my plans, and immediately sent his wife with a +message to Dunmanway. The distance was about six miles; and the utmost +caution was necessary, for the police authorities, baffled in all their +calculations, concerning my retreat, and deceived in every word of the +information they were able to purchase, had determined on making +simultaneous searches in all quarters of the country, so that scarcely a +house remained in this vicinity that had not the honour of a domicilary +visit. My friend, too, who during the past three weeks had made various +attempts to see me, and had gone on to Kenmare for that purpose, was +continually dogged, and arrested three or four times. On one occasion +they stripped her nearly naked, searching for papers. She at once saw +that to see me would be attended with danger; but she wrote a hurried +note, and despatched it by another messenger, as well as a large packet +of letters from home. In these letters I was adjured to continue the +disguise of a peasant in whatever attempts I made. She, too, strongly +objected to my proposed plan, and communicated to me a project of +escaping which was suggested by a friend of hers at Cork, whither she +had gone in her anxiety. His plan was that I should proceed to Cork, +that very night, and take up my residence at some obscure lodging-house, +until he could find means of stowing me in a coal vessel, which would +take me as far as Wales. If I agreed to this proposal, I was to be at +Crookstown (already mentioned in this narrative) at six o'clock that +evening, where I would meet three men who were to conduct me by a safe +route to Cork. + +When I received this information, it was four o'clock, and the distance +to Crookstown was at least seventeen miles. The plan was one of which I +could not approve; but it would be invaluable to me to have a safe +asylum in Cork, for any project I might finally decide on. I accordingly +communicated to my man of confidence the difficulty I found myself in, +and requested he would procure a horse and car which I could drive along +the high road, hoping to reach Crookstown before the promised guide +would have left. He suggested the man at whose house I stopped on a +former evening. Thither both of us repaired, after having completed my +costume, such as is generally worn by the lowest Cork +peasants--literally rags. We got the horse and car, but before the +arrangements for our departure were made it was past the hour when I +should be at Crookstown. A servant boy who led the horse was my +companion. When we arrived at Crookstown it was eleven o'clock, and we +found no trace of the messengers. Nothing remained but to try and get on +to Cork. I proposed the journey to the boy; but he resolutely refused. I +affected to acquiesce, and asked him to drink something in a +publichouse, which was kept open for the accommodation of carriers, of +whom there are large numbers at that season of the year. He soon yielded +to the influence of milk punch, and allowed me to do as I pleased. We +proceeded along the great thoroughfare, having an empty butter cask in +the car. We passed several patrolling parties in the road, and at grey +dawn we were entering the city of Cork; the boy sleeping in the car, and +the horse led by me. I paid at the custom-gate for my butter, and passed +on through the city unnoticed. A few gentle taps brought the gentleman, +who undertook to have me conveyed out of the country, to the door. I +introduced myself; was admitted, and conducted to a bedroom, where +everything was prepared for my reception. Thus I found myself in the +very heart of the city of Cork, while the strictest search was made for +me in every cabin on the mountains of Kerry and the western shore. + +I felt quite secure in my then retreat. During the day I learned that +the men who were to conduct me safely to Cork were arrested three +several[C] times on their way back. + +In my sojourn for two days and nights in the woods of Coolmountain, I +received attentions for which it would be shameful not to express my +gratitude. Although the crisis of my fate was so near at hand, I felt +some hours of unalloyed pleasure in its shade. I had leisure to peruse +my letters from home, so full of courage, hope and love; and to consider +well the different proposals and means of escape, suggested by others +and contemplated by myself. The weather had cleared up and there was a +succession of brilliant harvest days. I employed my evenings in +composing the following two pieces; and after nightfall I was visited by +some friends, with whom I sipped delicious champagne, till a late hour, +'neath the calm watchfulness of a brilliant harvest moon. + + EIBLIN A RUIN + + I sang thee other lays, + Eiblin a ruin, + But these were happy days, + Eiblin a ruin, + When mount and vale and grove, + Where we were wont to rove, + Were beautified by love, + Eiblin a ruin. + + I said I loved thee well, + Eiblin a ruin. + Too fondly far to tell, + Eiblin a ruin. + I loved thee as the day, + Serener for the ray, + Thy smile shed o'er my way, + Eiblin a ruin. + + But day has turned to night, + Eiblin a ruin. + With clouds and gloom and blight, + Eiblin a ruin, + Yet here an outlaw lone, + My heart else, like a stone, + Is more and more thy own, + Eiblin a ruin. + + When in some rocky glen, + Eiblin a ruin. + I share the wild dog's den, + Eiblin a ruin, + Oppressed with woe and care, + As sleep comes o'er me there, + Methinks I hear thy prayer, + Eiblin a ruin. + + Throughout that troubled rest, + Eiblin a ruin + Thy image fills my breast, + Eiblin a ruin, + And ere the vision's fled, + My cold and flinty bed + Seems down unto my head, + Eiblin a ruin. + + As night's dark shadow flies, + Eiblin a ruin, + Along the opening skies, + Eiblin a ruin, + In the soft purpling ray, + That heralds early day, + I see thy fond smile play, + Eiblin a ruin. + + When, dangers thick'ning fast, + Eiblin a ruin, + My fate seemed sealed at last, + Eiblin a ruin. + A low voice ever near, + Still whispers in mine ear-- + "For her sake do not fear"-- + Eiblin a ruin, + + And oh, 'tis that lone hope, + Eiblin a ruin, + That nerves this heart to cope, + Eiblin a ruin. + With peril and with pain, + And surging of the brain, + More boisterous than the main, + Eiblin a ruin. + + + TO MY WIFE + + And what was the world to me, love, + Or why should its honours divide + The feelings that centred in thee, love, + As fondly you clung to my side; + Or why should ambition or glory, + E'er tempt me to wander so far, + For sake of distinction in story, + From thee, my heart's faithfulest star. + + Or why should I call thee mine own, love, + To sport with the life that was thine, + Or risk for a land overthrown, love, + A stake that no longer was mine; + Or why should I pledge for the fallen + What only belonged to the free; + For had I not gauged life and all on + The faith that was plighted to thee? + + And here, while I wander alone, love, + Beneath the cold shadows of night, + Or lie with my head on a stone, love, + Awaiting the dawning of light, + My spirit unthralled is returning, + Where far from the coward and slave, + Her beacon of love is still burning, + To light, to direct me and save. + + And she, too, who watches beside thee, + And loves as none other could love, + To counsel, to cherish and guide thee. + To weep with, but never reprove-- + Yes, she too, is lone and unguarded, + The reed she had leant on in twain, + And though her trust thus be rewarded, + She'd love that love over again. + + +COOLMOUNTAIN WOOD. + +At Cork two families were compromised by my prolonged stay, one of them +irretrievably, if I were arrested. However, they placed themselves +entirely and unconditionally at my disposal. I stated my objections to +the proposed conveyance of a coal boat to Wales, where I would be +equally exposed as in Ireland, and have infinitely less sympathy or +assistance. I suggested one of the London steamers instead, which they +agreed to. After some preliminary negotiations, a person connected with +one of those vessels promised to secrete me and have me landed at +Southampton, where I could easily procure a passage to France. Just as +this arrangement was concluded, news arrived that Tipperary was again in +arms, under the command of my friend, O'Mahony. The report added that I +was associated with him in command. Hour after hour brought some story +stranger than that which preceded it; but in each and all I found myself +figuring in some character or other, all, of course, contrary to the +truth. This fact led at once to a suspicion of the accuracy of the +whole. But I was aware that caution was a leading characteristic of +O'Mahony's genius, and I felt assured he would not attempt any open +movement without strong probabilities of success. The fabrications about +myself I reconciled to the belief that he wished it to appear he had my +sanction and support. The vessel was to sail next day, and I should +determine at once, or risk the safety of the family who protected me. I +endeavoured to find a middle course, and suggested the impossibility of +leaving the country while even a vague report confirmed the belief that +some at least of its people were prepared to vindicate her liberty, or +die nobly in its assertion. They acquiesced, and the vessel was allowed +to sail. I insisted, however, that after nightfall I should leave the +house and take up my quarters in some obscure lodging house. Meantime it +was arranged that if the next mail confirmed the accounts from +Tipperary, I should be provided with a horse and car, and be able to +leave Cork as I entered it. When night came, the lady of the house +sternly and resolutely opposed my leaving it. She would not consent to +free herself from a risk she took so much honest pleasure in +encountering. Another day and night left us in the same uncertainty. The +reports were still more unsatisfactory and contradictory. But that there +should be reports at all, satisfied my mind, and I finally prepared to +start for Tipperary on the morning of the 29th of September. + +Information at length reached me that the party under O'Mahony were +dispersed and himself fled. The difficulty of my position, with respect +to my protectors, left me no alternative. Any chance that presented +itself should be embraced. The Bristol boat was in the river, panting to +escape her anchorage; and following the horse, which was to bear me to +Tipperary, to the quay, I walked on board the _Juverna_, just as she was +loosing her cables. My baggage, made up in a small box, was put on board +as a parcel addressed to a young friend of mine in London. The few +moments that intervened were fraught with most intense suspense. I stood +on the fore deck among cattle, covered with rags and dirt, my eyes fixed +on two detectives who stood at the cabin entrance, scrutinising narrowly +the figure and features of every cabin passenger. The bell rang, the +detectives stepped on shore, one of my friends who watched my movements +from a distance, waved a kind adieu, the _Juverna_ slipped her cables, +and by one bound was out in the river. The first motion of her paddles +sounded to me like the assurance of fate, and I looked on the curling +foam with measureless exultation. The _Juverna_ made a momentary halt at +Passage, and then glanced gaily through Cove harbour out into the sea. +As she cleared the road I turned back to look for the last time upon my +fatherland. Her prospects, her promise, her strength, her hopes, her +failure and her fall rushed in burning memory through my brain. I +endeavoured to embody in the following verses the feelings that agitated +and almost paralysed my every faculty of body and mind. I wrote them on +a piece of paper that had been wrapped round some cheese:-- + + Away, away, the good ship swings; + One heave, one bound, and off she's dashing, + Expanding wide her snowy wings, + The white foam round her paddles flashing. + Away, away, the land recedes, + Far into dim and dreary distance, + As gallantly our packet speeds. + Unconscious of the gale's resistance. + Away, away, how oft before, + With paling cheek and aching stomach, + I've trembled at the billow's roar. + And crouched me in my narrow hammock. + But now, I bless the wildest waves + That bear me from a land of slaves. + + Away, away, yon crimson cloud, + Which, mounting the blue vault of Heaven, + Soars calmly o'er the murky shroud + That palls the close of boisterous even, + Is scarcely fairer than the form, + The light, the grace, from stem to stern--a + Fairy riding on the storm-- + Of the fleet, trusty, dight _Juverna_, + Away, away, one last look more: + One blessing on the naked land-- + Though the too glorious dream be o'er-- + One blessing for her truthful hand, + Her proud old faith, though darkly grown, + Still lingering by each cold hearth-stone. + + Away, away; poor fool of fate, + Couldst thou but dream this mournful end, + This midnight of a hope so great, + Where shame and sorrow darkly blend-- + Couldst thou divine that thus bedecked, + With rags and dirt, thine eyes downturned: + Thou'dst flee, thy whole life's labour wrecked. + Thy very heart within thee burned. + --Away, away, in all the past, + There's not an act I would recall, + I bow me to the o'erwhelming blast, + But 'tis the heart alone can fall, + And mine may once again defy. + The fate that mocks it scoffingly. + + Away, away, if o'er the sea, + My voice could reach the prison grate. + Where daylight creeping gloomily, + Comes to deride the captives' fate; + Could I but prove by word or act, + How firm my heart and purpose still, + Their life's worst pang to counteract, + Before their proud young hearts were still-- + To live but that the land they loved + Should yet assert its native right, + That the immortal faith they proved, + Should yet be robed in victory's light, + And, oh, to feel such promise high, + Were last to light their dying eye. + +If apology were to be offered for the change of measure of the above, +and its somewhat conflicting sentiments, it would be found in the tumult +of passions, excitement, fear, hope, rage, disappointment and regret +with which, standing among cattle on the deck, and disguised in meanest +rags, I looked upon my country's shores for, it may be the last time, +and thought of her hopes, her misery and fall. Both faults may be +amended here, but I cannot help regarding it as irreligious toward +thoughts suggested by the circumstances then around me to remodel even +the structure into which they spontaneously shaped themselves. + +[Illustration: Aheny Hill, showing the Constabulary Barrack destroyed by +the Insurgents. 1848] + +Night soon fell drearily upon the water. I engaged a berth from one of +the sailors, and before half an hour, lost all consciousness of country +and friends, of wind and tide, and hope, and shame, and peril, in +tranquil repose. On ascending next morning, the shores of England were +in view, and we sailed up the channel to the mouth of the Avon under a +calm and mellow sky. I had some breakfast with one of the cowherds. We +were delayed several hours waiting for the tide, which were spent for +the most part in making difficult evolutions; and exhibiting to the +cabin passengers the peculiar qualities of the _Juverna_. Night had +fallen before we reached Bristol, and I slipped away from the boat, amid +the confusion and bustle which checked the progress of the gay and rich, +around whose footsteps avarice had gathered an eager and jostling crowd. +Rude contact with, and unsavoury odours from, the unclean multitude +shocked their nervous sensibility, as they made their way to their +hotels amidst obtrusive obsequiousness, while the lone outlaw's pathway +lay free through the open street and uncontaminated air. But a wretched +exterior has its disadvantages also. I dared not present myself at a +hotel, and many of the humbler hostelries refused me admittance, +believing, no doubt, either that the seeds of pestilence were in my +rags, or not a copper in my pocket. Indeed, to no brain but that of a +very imaginative genius would the possibility of such a superfluity as +a pocket suggest itself. All the beds were "full." At last I thought me +of an expedient. I called for a glass of ale, for which payment in +advance was duly demanded. I handed a sovereign, which at once emptied a +bed, provided I slept in a room with another person which I refused, +feeling that I had acquired a footing. I had something to eat, and +finally found that there was a vacant room. + +The next day was Sunday. No trains travelled to London except third +class. This was rather unlucky, for I was aware that certain straitened +gentlemen were often obliged, by stress of circumstances--the pressure +of business which brooked not a moment's delay--reluctantly to avail +themselves of this mode of conveyance. I felt, too, that the loyalty of +these slender aristocrats, was on a par with the unhappy incidents which +compelled them to consort with vulgar people, that is to say, so +constrained, that however much against the impulses of their generous +natures, they could not omit any opportunity of manifesting the +sentiment in its full intensity, I selected my company on this occasion, +being only anxious to exclude the "_arbiters elegantiarum_," Of my +"_compagnons de voyage_," some were in gin, some in fumes and some in +glee, and the journey passed off without an incident. + +On arriving at the Paddington terminus, an unlooked-for difficulty +presented itself. My costume attracted universal attention. It was, in +fact, _outre_ even in comparison with the most outlandish; for every +article had been carefully selected for its singularity. My "caubeen" +especially excited the risibility of the merry boys who thronged the +streets. I was soon followed by an uproarious crowd of most +incorrigible young rascals, who made lunges at my unfortunate head-gear. +They peered at me round lamp-posts, and occasionally, "Teigue," and +"Phelim," pronounced in a broad English accent, grated on my ear. +Although not indisposed to be merry, I grasped one of my tormentors and +handed him over to a policeman. The sentinel of city morals dismissed +him with a harsh rebuke, and threatened to "haul up" whoever gave me +further annoyance. We were then near Oxford street. I told him I wanted +to go to Tottenham Court road; but after making several fruitless +attempts to pronounce the name, his own fertile genius had to supply my +deficiency. He walked with me until the last unruly boy had disappeared, +and then he sent me on my way rejoicing, after having spent some minutes +in teaching me to articulate distinctly "Tottenham Court Road." It was +already nightfall. I felt as if all danger were passed. I could not +anticipate the check I was about to receive. + +I knew a man named Parker, who resided in Museum Street. I thought his +house that to which I could easiest find access without exciting notice. +I made my way to it unobserved, rapped, and to my great relief the door +was opened by the man himself. He did not recognise me for some time, +but as soon as he did, he fell into a paroxysm half hysterical, half +frantic. I had completed his ruin, he exclaimed, and his unhappy family +would have to curse me as the cause of his destruction. He was ready to +sink on the floor in sheer terror, and with difficulty could he utter a +request that I should instantly leave his house. This was a command, +however harsh and heartless, which I dared not resist, for I was forced +to admit to myself that under his terrified exterior might lurk a +sentiment baser than fear. + +I left the place in utter dismay. I could not venture into a house such +as I had lodged in at Bristol, the night before, because my person was +well known in London, and because those places are frequented by +characters of all sorts. I could not venture, in my then guise, to the +house of my young friend to whom I had addressed the parcel, because my +appearance there would inevitably attract the notice of the policeman. I +dare not, of course, venture to a respectable hotel. Thus perplexed, I +bethought of a woman with whom I used formerly to lodge, and I repaired +to her rooms (she had herself become a lodger). I met her on the stairs, +where she nearly fainted. She hurried me into the street, and there told +me that a person who lived in the house was actually watching to betray +me. She suggested the house of an Irishwoman who lived in a court hard +by. I had no alternative. The poor woman received me with tears. Such +was her emotion that I could not hesitate to trust her with my life: Her +son and daughter-in-law, who spent the day with her, were about +returning home. They lived in the suburbs, at the Surrey side. They +proposed to take me to their cottage, and I readily consented. We got a +coach and drove home. The kindliest attentions were lavished on me by +these people. As soon as I arrived, I shaved and cleansed myself; no +small task, considering that I had on a fortnight's beard, and had +rubbed my face over with soot and grease. + +I had a shirt and clothes from my host, with whom, in my new trim, I +sat down to a comfortable supper. Early next morning he informed my +friend of my arrival, and I was at once surrounded by several who would +risk their lives for my safety. I had by this time begun to regard many +singular escapes of mine as preordained by Providence, and I ceased to +feel much concern in my fate. I cherished a presentiment of safety until +it grew into a conviction, and acting on its assurance, I gave way to an +unconcern that was quite inexplicable to those around me. But one +feeling of fear lingered with me: it was lest Parker should add treason +to cowardice, which certain ominous expressions that were said to fall +from him, confirmed. I otherwise felt so secure, and so thankful to my +entertainers, that I would gratify their wishes to remain a day or two +longer with them; but the tide answered so well--the whole journey to +Boulogne being by night, that I determined to avail myself of the +opportunity. I donned my clerical costume, got me a sleek wig, folded a +stole round my breviary, and with Christian patience awaited the hour of +departure. I was to be accompanied to Paris by my young friend, who +spoke the French language perfectly, and was well acquainted with the +etiquette of the journey. We entered the express train at London Bridge +at half-past eight. When it was just starting, my host, who had +accompanied us, clung to the panel of the door, and warned me, with +provoking warmth, to "write, write, as soon as I was safe." As the train +drove off and his boisterous adieus died on my ear, I lost the last +feeling of anxiety on my own account. The carriage was full--a German +with a toothache--two gossiping old bachelors--a jolly English resident +of the sunny south--my friend and myself occupied the six seats. However +fluttered may be the hearts of the passengers, whatever may be the +pressure of guilt, or fear, or remorse upon their souls, the heart of +the mighty engine, on its fiery course, throbs only with one passion, +namely how to outspeed the flight of time. Our fellow-travellers +conversed upon all subjects, and wished for my opinion upon each; but I +was so reserved and pious, and my friend so ready and witty, and +exuberant in his gaiety, that my obstinate silence was pardoned or +forgotten. We were able to make our way on board Her Majesty's mail +packet by the light of a clouded moon, then fast waning. I did not +trouble myself to learn the name of the boat, but she appeared endued +with more than the speed of fire. She flew over her allotted trip in one +hour and three-quarters, and about two o'clock I set my foot on the free +soil of the young Republic. + +I had longed for such an event with an intensity of feeling not to be +described; nay, I had often enjoyed anticipated exultation from +indulging in a vague dream of its bare possibility, which absorbed all +the gloom and horror of my situation. Yet when I stepped securely on +what, to me, was hallowed ground, an adequate appreciation of the +circumstance was far from realised in my feelings. New sights and sounds +began to share my thoughts and engross my comprehension. In a moment the +past vanished, with all its disquietude and alarm; and I entered on the +new scene with a taste akin to the appetite of a convalescent. If I felt +any deep emotion, it was only when my mind recurred to the fate of my +comrades, or the feelings of joy with which my family would learn the +tidings of my safety. We left our baggage at the Custom house--mine +consisted of a pair of boots stowed away in a rather capacious +valise--handed the keys, in due form, to the commissionaire of police, +and directed them to be sent after us to our hotel. A commissionaire, so +they call themselves, appeared in the morning with the keys, which he +handed us bowing, adding that all was right. + +There was a fete at Boulogne. Nothing was to be seen but glittering +bayonets, and nothing to be heard but the harsh monotonous sound of the +drum. Flags floated in the breeze, and cheers echoed from the distant +hills, and everything proclaimed the festivity of liberty. It was a +grand sight, and yet a sad one for me. I could not help contrasting with +the scene before me the fate of my own unfortunate country. At ten +o'clock we were on our way to Paris. + +Such was the anxiety with which I gazed on the glad face of that sunny +land during the entire of the journey that I could at this moment +recognise every object that attracted my attention. But the scope of +this narrative, now drawing rapidly to a close, does not embrace a +description of France or Paris. Many pens have plied the task, and were +mine more adequate than any, it were unfit to interweave so bright a +theme with the gloomy details of this mournful history. + +There remains to be told but one incident. On our arrival at the Paris +terminus, we got into an English omnibus which brought us to an English +hotel--the Hotel de Louvre in the Rue St. Thomas. There we dined +together, some dozen or so of the passengers. After dinner my friend +and I had champagne. While discussing its merits the conversation turned +on Ireland. Opinions, of course, varied. Mine, it need scarcely be +added, to an Englishman's ear sounded bloodily, and I urged them with +the vehemence of baffled hope. An old English gentleman of that quiet +school which affects liberality and moderation, but entertains deepest +animosity, deprecated the violence of my language and sentiments, and +expressed his painful astonishment at hearing such opinions from the +mouth of a clergyman; "They would not be unbecoming," added he, with +great bitterness of tone, "in that sanguinary brigand, Doheny." +Involuntarily and simultaneously my friend and myself burst into an +immoderate fit of laughter, The gentleman could not at all comprehend +our mirth. He had, he thought, delivered himself of very sound and very +gentlemanly philosophy, and he was really shocked to find it had made an +impression so different from what he had expected. He had travelled +much, he said, and met men of many lands, of whom Irishmen were ever the +most polite and best bred gentlemen; a fact which rendered our laughing +in his face rather inexplicable. The conversation was again resumed and +again waxed warm. I expressed my opinion of English paupers in Ireland, +and said they ought to be transported in a convict ship back to +Liverpool, in the same fashion as Irish paupers of a different class are +transmitted to Dublin by the Liverpool guardians. To this he replied by +saying that there would be no peace in Ireland until the Mitchels and +Dohenys were hanged, a fate which the latter was hastening to with +irresistible impetus. At this self-satisfied prophecy we laughed louder +than before, whereupon he waxed wrathful, and repeating his experience +of the world in general, and of Irishmen in particular, demanded an +explanation of the laugh. I said, "That is a straightforward question, +and demands a direct answer. It shall be given, although you have +refused to answer, as all Englishmen of your class invariably do, to +several direct questions which I have put to you. I laughed because I am +that same sanguinary Doheny": and pulling off my wig, I added, "Me +_voila_ at your service." The sudden appearance of him who answered the +incantations of the weird sisters could not produce a greater panic. +Chairs tumbled in every direction, and their occupiers fled the room, +leaving myself and my friend ample space to enjoy the joke and the +champagne in undisturbed quiet. + +I have nothing further to relate in connection with myself. Paris +appeared to me clothed with a grandeur, a glory, and a beauty, +infinitely surpassing every description of them I had ever read or +heard. Standing in any commanding spot surrounded by the monuments of +her splendour and magnificence, upon each of which the genius of the +land shed its immortal lustre, one feels coerced to the conviction that +the high command and abiding destiny of France must be equally +imperishable. But these considerations belong not to my story, and I +renounce the idea of commemorating the sensations of gratified pride +which that gorgeous capital awakened in my bosom. Her architecture and +her art, her memorials of glory, and the triumphs of her progress, +require to be scanned by the eye and portrayed by the ability of +artistic genius. I must content myself with preserving a delighted +recollection of the French metropolis which no scene or circumstance, +possible in life can ever efface. The companion of all my hazards in +Ireland, whom I again joined in Paris, more than shared my enthusiasm. +He spent all his days wandering among the galleries of the Louvre or the +statues of Versailles, forgetting in the sublime presence of their +unmatched _chefs d'ouvres_ all the shame and perils of the past. I hope +he may be induced to give the result of his long examinations and fond +reveries to the public. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 12: "Alice and Uua."] + +[Footnote 13: This may be a harsh and unjust opinion; if so, no one +could regret it more than myself. In any case I wish to disclaim the +idea of making a charge against the body of the Roman Catholic clergy, +to some of whose members it applies. I yet fully believe that the great +majority of the priesthood would willingly die with the rest of their +countrymen in struggling for the liberty of their common home. Even of +those who acted against us with such deadly success, I am sure some were +influenced by pure and honourable motives: there were others, however, +whose conduct the noblest motives would fail to justify, or even +extenuate.] + +[Footnote 14: I hope my friend "Desmond" (a true poet and genuine +Irishman, whom God long preserve) will allow me to borrow his "graceful +spirit people" to elevate to poetical dignity the otherwise unattractive +and straggling waters of Lough Lua. It is near the lone and lovely +passes of Ceimeneagh, which his genius has invested with graceful +immortality, and his + + "Children of the earth and sea." + +may be sometimes tempted to lave therein. + +Lough Lua loses in the comparison suggested by the sublime scenery +around it, of which the "green little island," and the pass are +immeasurably the greatest. I saw it in no happy frame of mind, as I +dragged my weary limbs along the rugged slopes of Shehigh. The only real +feature of interest I could discover, was the solitary swan above +alluded to, to which an intellect less fanciful than that of my friend +could not refuse a claim to be recognised as the genius loci, or spirit +of the spot.] + +[Footnote 15: Mr. Daniel MacCarthy] + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +A word remains to be said in reference to the fate of those who were the +special objects of the Government's attention. Of the six for whom a +reward was offered, four escaped, namely, Mr. Dillon, Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. +O'Mahony and myself. Mr. Dillon was the first who left Ireland. Late in +August he sailed from Galway, and landed at New York after a voyage of +seven weeks. In the same vessel sailed P.J. Smyth, who was despatched +from Cashel to Dublin with directions from Mr. O'Brien. Richard +O'Gorman, accompanied by John O'Donnell and Daniel Doyle, sailed from +the mouth of the Shannon on board a vessel bound for Constantinople. +After landing in the Turkish capital, they were obliged to lie concealed +until able to procure passports for Algiers. Many foolish stories have +been circulated in reference to Mr. O'Gorman's adventures and disguises +in Ireland. Not one of them has the least truth in it. He or his +companions never assumed any disguise, and though their adventures were +more perilous, they were not so romantic as those that have been +related. A more detailed account of their wanderings would no doubt be +as interesting to my readers as it would be agreeable to myself. But +both the time and the limits I have proposed to myself for this +publication exclude it here. I could not, without too long a delay, +acquire that minute and accurate knowledge of facts and dates, which +would be indispensable to such a history. + +But of succeeding events in Ireland, and the men who controlled them, +it is imperative to speak more in detail. John O'Mahony was their chief, +and John Savage his principal counsellor and comrade. The former, +although not compromised by any act previous to the arrest of Mr. +O'Brien, evaded the vigilance of the detectives, and continued moving +about from place to place, being generally guarded while he slept by a +large number of faithful followers. No man was ever followed with truer +devotion or served with more unwavering fidelity. He might have +continued in the same district with perfect safety up to the present +hour. But every moment of his time was engrossed by the endeavour to +rouse the country to some becoming effort. John Savage, who had come to +Carrick on a visit to a relation, partook of his enthusiasm and shared +his toil. They spent many anxious nights in counsel together when it was +supposed all spirit had left the country. The first ostensible object +that brought the people together under their immediate guidance and +control was the reaping of a field of wheat belonging to O'Mahony. A +vast crowd amounting to several hundred stalwart men assembled. They had +scarcely entered on their labour when the approach of a troop of horse +was announced. O'Mahony and Savage were compelled to retire. The +military cavalcade entered the field, and rode rudely among the men and +ripe corn. Still the reapers desisted not. They proceeded with their +labours sedulously and silently. But there was no pretext for arresting +any of the men, and no pretext afforded for further outrage, and the +business of the day went on without further outrage from the soldiers. +This occurred on the 22nd of August. Some days later, sullen crowds were +seen ascending Aheny Hill, about five miles to the north of +Carrick-on-Suir. By what mysterious agency they were directed none could +tell. About a similar distance from the town, in the opposite direction, +near the village of Portlaw, another camp was formed with equal rapidity +and mystery. With these men John Savage took his station. He was +entirely unknown to the people; and owed his influence over them to his +singular resolution. The understanding was that these two bodies, and a +third consisting of an equal number of men which was promised from +Kilkenny, should march simultaneously on the town of Carrick and the +fort at Besborough where five hundred men were encamped. He who +undertook to lead the Kilkenny men went on the execution of his mission, +leaving O'Mahony at one side, and Savage on the other, to contend with +the impetuosity of their respective followers who demanded with violence +to be led on. As much perhaps from the precariousness of their situation +as from a reckless daring, they could not brook the least delay. Their +leaders, on the other hand, urged the necessity of steadiness and +prudence. It was too late for such policy. The time between the first +step in revolution and action is the most trying to the courage and +faith of undisciplined men. In this instance it produced fatal results. +The weakness of the timid increased, and the courage of the boldest was +quelled. Suspicion was aroused, and desertion was the inevitable +consequence. O'Mahony found it impossible to withstand the clamorous +urgency of the men, and all his preparations were necessarily of a +hasty and imperfect character. The arrival of the party from Kilkenny +was the utmost limit of inaction that would be endured; and the leaders +saw with regret that they had yielded too soon to the demands of those +who precipitated the rising. The true guarantee of success would consist +in perfect preparation under cover of secrecy, so as that the assembling +could be followed by an immediate blow. + +Scouring parties from each rendezvous, proceeded through the country in +search of arms. Provisions were liberally supplied by the neighbouring +farmers, and numbers were hourly arriving from distant parts of the +country. But those who were engaged in the search for arms attacked +police barracks and private houses. In general, these enterprises were +rash, ill-advised and ill-arranged. In some instances they were +successful, and in some they were repulsed with loss of life, while the +police were able to effect a safe retreat. At the Tipperary side, two +men were killed in the attack on the Glenbour barracks; and at the +Waterford side, one man was shot at Portlaw in the assault on the +police-barrack, and two in the attack on the Reverend Mr. Hill's house. +These repulses checked the ardour of the boldest, and gave rise to +disunion and distrust. Meantime, the promised reinforcements from +Kilkenny failed to redeem the pledge that was given in their name. A +whole day and night passed, and no tidings of them arrived. Several of +those who were loudest and most urgent left the camp. A very large +force, however, remained; but after delaying two days without hearing of +the Kilkenny men, they determined to disperse. The party at Portlaw +adopted the same resolution, and O'Mahony and Savage had to shift for +themselves. A reward was offered for O'Mahony, but he eluded his +pursuers, and in a few days was beyond their reach. He embarked at +Bonmahon in the county of Waterford and crossed to Wales, where he was +concealed for some time until he found an opportunity of escaping to +France. Savage, whose person was not much known, made his way to Dublin, +whence he sailed for America direct. + +The Kilkenny men arrived at Aheny on the morning after those under +O'Mahony had dispersed and finding the place deserted, they immediately +returned. This accident once more baffled all hope of a struggle. From +beginning to end, some mischance marred every propitious circumstance +that presented itself. It seemed as if the failure had been predestined. +But to yield to such a fate, to abjure the great and true faith which +the attempt of the last unhappy year quickened in the hearts of all men, +would be distrust of God's mercy and justice. In the struggle that +preceded the outbreak a great victory was won. The most formidable power +that ever fettered the consciences of men was struck to the earth. +Truth, long lost sight of, was again restored as one of the great +agencies of national deliverance and national elevation. The question +between England and Ireland assumed its real character; and although +huxtering politicians have since endeavoured to set up the honour of the +island for sale, they have only been able to dispose of their own +characters. The people have not debased themselves. In the lying homage +to the Queen of England they took no part. They have preserved through +the severest trials the old immortal yearning of their race, and the +arms they had provided themselves with in '48 they have guarded +religiously, in the hope of using them on some day of brighter auspices +and loftier destiny. + +[Illustration: John Savage (1848)] + + + + +APPENDICES + + +I + +THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE'S NARRATIVE OF 1848 + +Early on Saturday the 22nd of July I left my pleasant home in +Cullenswood, near Dublin, to which I was never to return. On reaching +the city I found a telegraphic despatch from London had been just +published, announcing the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and that +the "extraordinary powers" to be conferred on the Lord Lieutenant would +be forwarded to Dublin on the following Monday. It was contended on all +hands that the hour for action or submission or flight for the +Confederates was now come. Of "The Council of Five,"[16] there were then +in Dublin but three members. One is now in Van Diemen's Land; the others +were Mr. Dillon and myself. We had a hasty meeting in the old Council +Rooms of the Irish Confederation. They decided to proceed that evening +to Enniscorthy to advise with Smith O'Brien, and, as I understood, to +proceed with him to the district between the Suir and the Shannon, and +to operate from that basis according to circumstances and their own best +judgment. + +A gentleman had arrived in Dublin that morning with a proposition which +decided my movements and led me into some singular situations. + +He was a professional man, by birth an Irishman who had resided a long +time in Scotland. He had one only son, two rifles, and L120 in money, +which he brought as his offering to the country. He informed us that +several hundred Irishmen in Scotland had been all the year preparing for +this event, that they had a good share of arms and ammunition, and that +if any plan could be devised to bring them into Ireland, they could be +relied on for courage and endurance. I do not mention this gentleman's +name, because I do not know but he is still under the laws of England. + +We perceived, on consultation, that if it were possible to land 400 or +500 staunch men in the north-west--say, at Sligo or Killala--where the +Government were completely off their guard (all their anxieties being +centred on the south), an important movement might follow in Sligo, +Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo. It would be like hitting the enemy in the +back of the head. It would necessarily draw off some of the forces from +Munster, through the valley of the Upper Shannon, which, with its +continuous chain of lake, bog and mountain frontier, would be difficult +ground for the movements of a regular army. + +It was necessary, as our informant said, that "someone with a name" +should go over and concert with the Irishmen in Scotland the mode and +time of action, and I was the only person at hand willing for that +service. For my encouragement, Meagher assured me I would be "as famous +as Paul Jones" if I got the men out of the Clyde, and Mr. Dillon +suggested as a landing-place "the old ground, Killala." + +That afternoon I left Dublin, and on Tuesday morning I was in Scotland. + +I cannot give the exact particulars of my movements while there. All who +were in my confidence are still in Scotland, with the exception of Mr. +Peter M'Cabe of Glasgow, now in the United States. I will only say that +I visited and consulted our friends in four of the principal +towns--Edinburgh included. I attended meetings of the clubs and in each +instance instituted committees. I obtained in a few days a list of +nearly 400 men, pretty well equipped, ready for the risk. A +sub-committee surveyed the Broomielaw and the Clyde, and although their +report was unfavourable to the attempt of getting out in one body, a +gentleman, now in America, gained over the crew and officers of an Irish +steamer to take us as passengers from Greenock where the tides in a few +days would answer for departure about ten o'clock at night. The arms +were to be previously shipped as merchandise or luggage, and the +destination was to be Sligo. + +These arrangements occupied from Tuesday till Friday of the last week of +July. In the meanwhile, the London Journals arrived with news that +O'Brien and his friends had been received with open arms in the south, +and great excitement and suspicion of strangers arose in Scotland. In +the Reading Room at Paisley I read myself in _The Hue and Cry_. One +paper stated I was in Waterford, another said I was "revelling among the +clubs in the Co. Dublin." The _Times_ did me the honour to couple me +with Meagher, calling us "the two most dangerous men now abroad." No one +suspected my real locality. + +On Friday I was in Edinburgh intending to return to Glasgow, when +Mr. ----, accompanied by a friend suddenly joined me. I saw they were a +good deal agitated. They told me a Scotch mechanic who had been formerly +in Dublin had seen me in the streets of Glasgow opposite Wellington +statue, and that the news was "all round town." They added that the +magistrates were in secret sitting, and as the writ of Habeas Corpus is +unknown to the law of Scotland, I would be certainly arrested and +summarily imprisoned if I returned. They were instructed to advise me to +go to Ireland through the north of England, to prepare our friends in +and about Sligo, and that they would complete the project which they had +begun, and which was now in promising forwardness. I complied and Mr. +---- handed me a purse, as a personal gift from the Committee. This +purse contained twelve or thirteen sovereigns, the only public money I +received in this enterprise. After purposely driving to the West of +Scotland depot [railway terminus] we returned to the North British, and +my friends saw me off a station or two on the way to Newcastle-on-Tyne. +I slept that night in Newcastle. + +Between Newcastle and Carlisle the next day (Saturday) I had for a +fellow passenger the Rev. Thresham Gregg[17] who was on a lecturing +excursion against the Pope in the north of England. I had been +introduced to him a year or two before and supposed he knew me. He +certainly looked very hard at me from under his travelling-cap, with his +half-shut cunning eyes. I had in my hand "Bradshaw's Railway Guide," +which he asked to see. At the way stations he kept constantly inquiring +the distance to Carlisle, and I sorely suspected he meant to "peach." He +did not, however, though I still think he must have known me. + +In Carlisle I met at dinner two Dublin priests (one from Westland Row +chapel). They were bound on a pleasure-trip for Loch Katrine and the +Trossachs. They informed me that I was "proclaimed," and seemed +surprised at my returning. We parted very cordially and that night I +went to Whitehaven where I had to wait over Sunday for the Belfast +steamer. + +In Whitehaven (by accident) I met with Mr. James Leach, the well-known +Chartist, with whom I had some conversation unnecessary here to be +repeated. + +On Tuesday morning I arrived in Belfast. Two policemen entered the cabin +as I was leaving it, and having been at the meeting which occasioned the +Hercules Street riot,[18] I thought they would recognise me. They did +not, however, and at 8 o'clock (after leaving a note for a dear and +trusted friend of Mr. Duffy's, to mark my whereabouts) I was safely +embarked on the Ulster railway for Armagh. At Aughnacloy a detective +gave me a light, and before I went to bed (in Enniskillen) had read the +proclamations against the leaders of the Southern movement, on the gates +of the Barrack. The next morning I reached Sligo by the Leitrim road. + +This was Wednesday morning, August 2nd. + +At the Hibernia Hotel, where I stopped as Mr. Kelly (my travelling +baptism), I saw for the first time in ten days the Irish papers. The +Dublin _Freeman_ and _Saunder's News Letter_ were on the table. I read +the list of the places where, and the clergymen by whom, the Southern +movement had been "denounced," on Sunday, July 23rd and Sunday, July +30th. The same papers contained Lord Clarendon's wily letter to +Archbishop Murray, offering to alter the statutes of the new colleges +and to remodel the Bequests Bill so as to content the Catholic clergy, +and artfully complimenting Pius IX. The game of the Government was +clear--it was to separate the clergy from the people in the coming +struggle. + +The evening of my arrival in Sligo, I conferred with a few friends. The +place chosen was "a shell house" in the demesne of Hazelwood on the +shores of Lough Gill. Of those[D] who formed that conference one at +least, Mr. William M'Garahan, is now in America. We ascertained the +garrison of Sligo to be but ninety men--the barrack to be surrounded by +a common eight-foot wall, and the local authorities to be completely +lulled to sleep. The circumstances were as favourable as could be +expected. + +But there never had been in Sligo or Leitrim any local Confederate or +even "Repeal" organisation. The only local societies were secret--Molly +Maguires and Ribbonmen. It was necessary to get into communication with +them and late the next night Dr. ----, a Confederate, introduced me to +one of their leaders, on a road which crosses a hill to the south of the +town. This gentleman I found wary, resolute, and intelligent. He said: +"I have no doubt of what you say, but I must have certain facts to lay +before our district chiefs. At present we don't know what to believe. +One day we hear one thing--another, another. Bring us by this day week +assurances that the South is going to rise or has risen, and we will +raise two thousand before the week is out." I agreed to do so and he in +the meantime went to prepare his friends. + +I returned to my confidants of the first conference and "reported +progress." It was rather difficult to find a trusty messenger. I +volunteered to go myself, but they would not hear of it. At last a man +who could be depended on was obtained, and, armed with certain passwords +(unintelligible except to those for whom they were intended) he left to +go through Roscommon and Westmeath into Tipperary by Borrisokane and +Nenagh. + +Simultaneously with this, agents went abroad in the country, and I, by +the advice of the local leaders, went to lodge under Benbulben in the +character of a Dublin student in search of health and exercise during +the summer vacation. Within a week we expected to be openly arrayed +against the authorities, and no man that I saw shrank from the prospect. + +From my lodgings under Benbulben I made a visit to Bundoran to meet some +friends from Donegal who were anxious to consult me as to the state of +the county. By an odd chance I lodged in the same house with the +stipendiary magistrate, Sir Thomas Blake, and had to go through his +bedroom to my own. We met frequently but he was quite unsuspicious. He +has, I find since, been dismissed from his office, after an ineffectual +search for me through the county, a month from the time we had lived +under the same roof. + +While our messenger had gone south there arrived one from our friends in +Scotland. Him I sent back the same night to expedite affairs there. In +the meanwhile, on such maps as we had, my friends and I studied the +roads and the formation of the country. There is in this part of Ireland +a plateau of about twenty-five miles square of broken or mountainous +ground. Of this district Ballinamore in Leitrim might be considered the +centre; there are but three main roads leading through it--the Boyle +road, the Red Lion road, and the Ballysodare road--which could all be +easily rendered impassable, passing as they do over rapid streams, +through narrow defiles or across extensive marshes. There is no great +military depot within the district--Enniskillen, Athlone, and even +Castlebar being within the spurs of the mountains. Sligo, its chief town +was, as we saw, poorly garrisoned, and yet as a seaport of the second +class it contained many things of the greatest use in a military +movement--as lead, arms, canvas, tools, money, ships' stores, +breadstuffs, types for proclamations and even some small cannon. From +three to five thousand men it was calculated, could be well-equipped and +could maintain themselves for three months within this district, with +tolerable prudence and exertion. Before the time expired we hoped to +receive help and officers from abroad, and afterwards to be able to +undertake greater things. + +We could not but remember that this was the district chosen by Owen +O'Neill after his arrival from Spain in 1645 and that it was here he +"nursed up" by slow degrees the army which fought at Benburb, and which +in Napoleon's opinion, but for the premature death of Owen, would have +checkmated Cromwell. The ground once chosen by a great general for its +natural capabilities may safely be chosen again, and usually is, as in +Hungary for instance. The very posts and battlefields held and fought by +Bem and Dembinski were the same whereon Huniad and Corvinus, four and +five hundred years ago, fought against the Turks and Bosmens. Thus we +had the sanction of a great example and the stimulus of an inspiriting +tradition to point to for the choice of the ground. + +We had not long to wait for news from the South--it came of itself. On +Saturday the 5th of August Mr. O'Brien was arrested in Thurles. His +companions, it was said, were fled hither and thither; but, at all +events, his arrest had proved that, at that time, the South would not +rise in arms against the Government. + +This was the interpretation universally put upon it in the north-west. +It was in vain I said, "There are other men as brave and as good who are +still free and from whom we will hear better news." Those to whom I +spoke were incredulous. Still I must do the people of the county the +justice to say that in a meeting of their district-leaders at ---- it +was discussed for two successive nights with great animation whether or +not the district should rise even then. The parties for and against a +rising were nearly balanced, but the latter prevailed on the argument +that unless it was general it would be fruitless. + +For ten dismal days I remained in this neighbourhood, hoping against +hope and endeavouring to make others do the same. The proposals I then +made, the result of desperation, I will not repeat, for now, even to +myself, I confess they look wild and extravagant. But I felt the whole +futurity of shame that awaited us for abandoning the country without a +blow. It was well advanced in August before I could persuade myself that +no hope remained. The Treasurer of our Scotch Committee came to Ireland +expressly to urge me to consult my own safety in flight, in which he was +joined by the whole of my local associates. Successively arrived the +news of Meagher, Leyne and MacManus being taken. Then indeed I knew "all +was up." Then, indeed, I felt the force of what I had long before +prophesied--"What if we fail?" I resolved not to be taken if I could +help it, and acted accordingly. After some personal adventures in +Donegal and Derry (with which I will not trouble the reader) I saw the +last of the Irish shore early in September, and on the 10th of October +reached Philadelphia. + +I close here with this reflection: Had I been transported or hanged, I +have no doubt full justice would be done me, because it would be +nobody's interest to do me injustice. Had I kept silent, I might have +lived an easy, prudent, reputable sort of life enough. But I established +a journal on reaching America, and whereas my spine is not made of +whalebone nor my conscience of indiarubber, I spoke the truth as I knew +it in all things freely--thereby offending divers parties. This, I +believe, could not be helped. After nearly a year of silence[19] I have +at last (in self-defence) written this narrative, of which I assure the +readers they never would have heard a word from me, but that +misrepresentations not to be borne demanded its publicity. Those who +from want of information misrepresented me hitherto can do so no more; +and those who, knowing these facts, yet wilfully maligned me, I have now +deprived of the power to do me further injury. Truth is powerful, and +this is truth. + + +II + +THE PROCLAMATION OF DOHENY AND HIS COLLEAGUES + +By the Lord Lieutenant General and General-Governor of Ireland + +A PROCLAMATION + +CLARENDON-- + +Whereas we have received information that THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN +B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY have been guilty of treasonable practices, +now we the Lord Lieutenant being determined to bring the said THOMAS +FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY to justice, do hereby +offer a reward of + + THREE HUNDRED POUNDS + +to any person or persons who shall secure and deliver up to safe custody +the person of any one of them, the said THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. +DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY. + +And we do hereby strictly charge and command all justices of the peace, +mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables and all other of her Majesty's +loyal subjects to use their utmost-diligence in apprehending the said +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER, JOHN B. DILLON and MICHAEL DOHENY. + +Given at her Majesty's Castle of Dublin, this 28th day of July, 1848. + + By his Excellency's Command, + + T.N. REDINGTON. + + +III + +"THE HUE AND CRY" + +The official description of himself read by Thomas Darcy M'Gee was more +accurate and less intentionally insulting than the official descriptions +of most of his colleagues compiled in Dublin Castle and published in the +_Hue and Cry_ of July 27th, 1848. Probably no other official document +issued to the public in the last hundred years by Dublin Castle has +equalled this stupid malignity. "Sketches of Doheny and some of the +Confederate leaders, modelled upon the descriptions of burglars and +murderers, that ordinarily adorn the _Hue and Cry_ were," wrote Sir +Charles Gavan Duffy, a generation later, "issued for the enjoyment of +loyal persons." The _Freeman's Journal_ of the day wrote that the public +who were acquainted with the appearance of the gentlemen described will +read with feelings of contempt the malignant effort to insult and wound +the relatives of the men proscribed by the issue of a written caricature +of their persons. This remarkable production of the genius and spirit of +Dublin Castle, read as follows:-- + +DESCRIPTION OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH +TREASONABLE PRACTICES + +WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN.--No occupation; forty-six years of age; six feet +in height; sandy hair; dark eyes; sallow, long face; has a sneering +smile constantly on his face; full whiskers; sandy; a little grey; +well-set man; walks erect; dresses well. + +THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.--No occupation; twenty-five years of age; five +feet nine inches; dark, nearly black hair; light blue eyes; pale face; +high cheekbones; peculiar expression about the eyes; cocked nose; no +whiskers; well-dressed. + +JOHN B. DILLON.--Barrister; thirty-two years of age; five feet eleven +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; thin sallow face; rather thin +black whiskers; dressed respectable; has bilious look. + +MICHAEL DOHENY.--Barrister; forty years of age; five feet eight inches +in height; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; coarse red face like a man +given to drink; high cheekbones; wants several of his teeth; very vulgar +appearance; peculiar coarse unpleasant voice; dress respectable; small +short red whiskers. + +MICHAEL CREAN.--Shopman at a shoe-shop; thirty-five years of age; five +feet eight inches; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; full face; light +whiskers; high fore-head; well-set person; dress, dark shooting frock or +grey tweed, and grey tweed trousers. + +FRANCIS MORGAN.[20]--Solicitor; forty-three years of age; five feet +eight inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; sallow broad face; +nose a little cocked; the upper lip turns out when speaking; rather +stout; smart gait; black whiskers. + +PATRICK JAMES SMITH.[21]--Studying for the bar; twenty-nine years of +age; five feet nine inches in height; fair hair; dark eyes; fair +delicate face and of weak appearance; long back; weak in his walk; small +whiskers; clothing indifferent. + +JOHN HETHERINGTON DRUMM.[22]--Medical student; twenty years of age; five +feet three inches in height; very black and curly hair; black eyes; pale +delicate face; rather thin person; delicate appearance; no whiskers; +small face and nose; dressed respectably; Methodist. + +THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE.--Connected with the _Nation_ newspaper; +twenty-three years of age; five feet three inches in height; black hair; +dark face; delicate, pale, thin man; dresses generally black shooting +coat, plaid trousers, light vest. + +JOSEPH BRENNAN.--Sub-Editor of the _Felon_ newspaper; five feet six +inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; pale, sallow face; very stout; +round shoulders; Cork accent; no whiskers; hair on the upper lip; soft, +sickly face; rather respectably dressed, a little reduced. + +THOMAS DEVIN REILLY.--Sub-editor of the _Felon_ newspaper; twenty-four +years of age; five feet seven inches in height; sandy coarse hair; grey +eyes; round freckled face; head remarkably broad at the top; broad +shoulders; well-set; dresses well. + +JOHN CANTWELL.--Shopman at a grocer's; thirty-five years of age; five +feet ten inches in height; sandy hair; grey eyes; fair face; good +looking; short whisker, light; rather slight person, dresses ... +Supposed a native of Dublin. + +STEPHEN J. MEANY.--Sub-editor of _Irish Tribune_; twenty-six years of +age; five feet eleven inches in height; dark hair; full blue eyes; dark +face; small whiskers growing under the chin; smart appearance; was a +constable of the C Division of Police, discharged for dirty habits; +stout person; generally dressed in black. + +RICHARD O'GORMAN, Junior.--Barrister; thirty years of age; five feet +eleven inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; thin long face; +large dark whiskers; well-made and active; walks upright; dresses black +frock coat, tweed trousers. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 16: After the merging of the Irish Confederation in the +abortive Irish League, and the consequent dissolution of the Executive +of the Confederation, a Council of Five was elected to direct the +Confederate Clubs until the new organisation was perfected. The five +elected were John Blake Dillon, Thomas Francis Meagher, Richard +O'Gorman, Junior, Thomas D'Arcy M'Gee, and Thomas Devin Reilly. The five +never met. O'Gorman was out of Dublin when the Habeas Corpus Act was +suspended.] + +[Footnote 17: The Rev. Thresham Gregg was a notorious and blatant +"anti-Popery" preacher of the period whom the wits of Young Ireland +frequently made the butt of their jests. Apart from his bigoted +sectarian obsession, he was, however, in several respects decidedly +nationalistic, and steadily preached support of home trade and +manufactures to his audiences. There can be no reasonable doubt that he +recognised M'Gee. In this connection it may be stated that the Orangemen +expelled from membership of their body Stephenson Dobbyn, an Orangeman +who acted as a spy for Dublin Castle upon the Young Irelanders--drawing +a clear and proper line between forcibly opposing their fellow +countrymen and acting as spies for England upon them.] + +[Footnote 18: Hercules Street in Belfast, now swept away, was chiefly +inhabited by butchers who were almost all Catholics and fervent +O'Connellites. When the Young Irelanders attempted to hold a meeting in +Belfast shortly after O'Connell's death, the butchers made a fierce +attack upon them.] + +[Footnote 19: This narrative was written at the beginning of 1850] + +[Footnote 20: Law Agent to the Dublin Corporation.] + +[Footnote 21: Patrick Joseph Smyth] + +[Footnote 22: Sub-editor of the _Nation_; afterwards a clergyman.] + + + + +CONTEMPORARIES MENTIONED IN "THE FELON'S TRACK" + + +ANGLESEY, LORD (1768-1854).--Henry William Paget, who lost a leg at +Waterloo and erected a monument to its memory. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1828-9, 1830-3. + +ANTISELL, DR. THOMAS.--A Dublin surgeon and chemist of distinction, +author of various pamphlets and addresses to the Royal Dublin Society on +the geology of Ireland, reafforestation, and the sanitary conditions of +Irish town-life. He supplied a large part of the capital to found the +_Irish Tribune_. After the failure of the insurrection he went to the +United States where he had a distinguished scientific career. + +BANTRY, LORD.--(1801-1884) William Hare White, third earl, Lieut-Col, of +the West Cork Artillery. The title became extinct in 1891. + +BARRY, MICHAEL JOSEPH (1817-1889).--A Cork barrister, editor of "The +Songs of Ireland" in the Library of Ireland, and author of several +martial pieces, including "The Flag of Green." After the failure of the +insurrection he renounced Nationalism and subsequently became a Dublin +Police Magistrate. + +BARRETT, RICHARD (17-- -1855).--Brother of Eaton Stannard Barrett of +Cork, the once famous author of "All the Talents." A journalist of +fortune who changed sides with agility and enlisted under O'Connell in +his latter years, having formerly vilified him. + +BRENAN, JOSEPH (1828-1857).--The youngest of the Young Ireland leaders. +Edited Fullam's _Irishman_ in 1849 and unsuccessfully attempted to +revive the insurrection in Waterford and Tipperary. On his failure he +emigrated to the United States and died in New Orleans. + +BRODERICK, CAPTAIN.--Inspector-General of Repeal Reading Rooms. He +quitted Conciliation Hall after the death of O'Connell and died mentally +afflicted. + +BRYAN, MAJOR.--Of Raheny Lodge, Co. Dublin. Major Bryan acquired a +moderate fortune in Tasmania and returned to Ireland where he joined the +Repeal movement. He left Conciliation Hall with the Young Irelanders. + +CAMPBELL, SIR JOHN (1779-1861).--Author of the "Lives of the Lord +Chancellors." A Scots Tory politician, raised to the peerage subsequent +to his connection with Ireland, and finally Lord Chancellor of England. + +CANGLEY, DAVID (18-- -1847).--A barrister and one of the hopes of Young +Ireland. Ill-health pursued him through life and ended it prematurely. + +CANTWELL, JAMES.--A Dublin mercantile assistant and, later, a +restaurant-proprietor. One of the Council of the Confederation who +supported Mitchel's policy. + +CARLETON, WILLIAM (1794-1869).--Author of "Traits and Stories of the +Irish Peasantry." + +CAVAIGNAC, LOUIS EUGENE (1802-1857).--One of the most distinguished of +the French Generals in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. On +the establishment of the second Republic he was appointed Minister for +War, and when the "Reds" threatened its stability he was invested with +the dictatorship and speedily crushed the insurrection. In the contest +for the Presidency the glamour of Louis Napoleon's name defeated +Cavaignac. After Napoleon's _coup-d'etat_ Cavaignac retired into private +life. He had sympathies with Ireland, and in 1848 gave private +assurances that in the event of an Irish insurrection winning initial +successes, he would bring the influence of France to bear on England to +force her to concede terms to Ireland. + +CAVANAGH, JOHN.--President of the Fitzgerald Confederate Club, Harold's +Cross, Dublin. Wounded at Ballingarry, he was brought to Kilkenny, where +he was concealed and cured by Dr. Cane, and later smuggled to France, +whence he proceeded to the United States, became an officer in the army +and was slain in the Civil War. + +"CHRISTABEL" (1815-1881).--Miss M'Carthy, of Kilfademore House, Kenmare, +afterwards Mrs. Downing. A Popular poetess of the period, usually using +the _nom-de-guerre_ of "Christabel." Her best-known poem is "The Grave +of MacCaura." She assisted Doheny and Stephens to escape. + +CLARENDON, EARL OF (1804-1870).--George Villiers, the fourth earl, +according to his English biographers, represented the highest type of +English politician and English gentleman. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, +1846-1852. He hired the editor of an obscene journal in Dublin to +publish libels upon the moral character of the Young Irelanders, and +conducted the affairs of the country from March to June, 1848, under +this man's advice. He paid L3,400 for the services rendered and a demand +for further payments led to a public disclosure of the facts. At the +time Clarendon hired James Birch, Birch had completed a sentence of +imprisonment for criminal libel. + +CLEMENTS, EDWARD.--A barrister. One of O'Connell's "tail" in +Conciliation Hall. The attempt of O'Connell to provide "poor Ned +Clements" with a Government situation precipitated the rupture with +Young Ireland. + +CONWAY, M.G.--A journalist of ability and no principle who followed the +path of fortune. He professed ultra-Catholic views while O'Connell was +in the ascendant. After O'Connell's death he abjured Catholicism to +ingratiate himself with the Ascendancy element. + +CRAMPTON, JUDGE (17-- -1858).--Philip Crampton, called to the Bar 1810, +Solicitor-General 1832, and raised to the Bench 1834. One of the judges +at O'Connell's trial, a strong Tory but a clever lawyer. + +CREAN, MICHAEL.--Like M.G. Conway, a Clare man, but of the opposite +type. Crean worked in Dublin as a shopman and with Hollywood was one of +the two trades-union leaders on the Council of the Confederation, where +he opposed Mitchel's policy. After the failure of the insurrection he +went to the United States. + +CROLLY, DR. (1780-1849).--Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All +Ireland from 1835 until his death. + +DAUNT, W.J. O'NEILL.--A Co. Cork gentleman, one of O'Connell's first +Protestant supporters in the Repeal Movement. He was elected for Mallow, +but unseated. He ceased to attend Conciliation Hall after the rupture +with the Young Irelanders. Many years later he took a prominent part in +the Home Rule movement. + +DAVIS, THOMAS (1814-1845).--The founder and inspiration of the Young +Ireland movement. Son of an English father of Welsh descent and an Irish +mother. From the inception of _The Nation_ newspaper until his death he +was the chief writer of that journal. + +DILLON, JOHN BLAKE (1816-1866).--The close personal friend of Thomas +Davis and with him one of the founders of the _Nation_. On his return +from exile he attempted to found an Irish Party in alliance with the +British Radicals and sat in the British Parliament for Tipperary. + +DOYLE, DANIEL.--A Limerick solicitor who acted with John O'Donnell and +O'Gorman in inciting Limerick county to insurrection in July, 1848. +After the failure he escaped across the water. + +DUFFY, CHARLES GAVAN (1816-1903).--One of the three founders of the +_Nation_ and its editor from 1842 to 1854, when he left Ireland for +Australia where he became Prime Minister of Victoria. In 1873 he +received a knighthood. + +"EVA" (1825-1910).--Miss Mary Kelly of Galway, afterwards Mrs. Kevin +Izod O'Doherty. One of the chief poets of the _Nation_. + +FERGUSON, SAMUEL (1810-1886).--A Belfast barrister and, save Edward +Walsh, the most Gaelic of Irish poets in the English language. Ferguson +took a leading part in the Protestant Repeal Association in 1848 and +afterwards became one of the first of Irish archaeologists. In 1878 he +was knighted. + +FITZGERALD, JOHN LOYD.--Of Newcastle West, Limerick. A lawyer of high +standing. + +FITZSIMON, CHRISTOPHER.--Son-in-law of Daniel O'Connell, elected to the +British Parliament for Co. Dublin. He deserted Repeal to support the +Government and was rewarded with the post of Clerk of the Hanaper. His +desertion caused the representation of the Co. Dublin to revert to the +Unionists for half-a-century. + +GRAY, SIR JOHN (1815-1875).--A medical doctor and owner of the +_Freeman's Journal_, publicly supporting O'Connell, but personally in +sympathy with Young Ireland. He sat in the British Parliament +subsequently for Kilkenny and was an active member of the Dublin +Corporation. + +GRATTAN, HENRY, JUN.--Son of the great Grattan and member for Meath, +1831-52. An honest but weak politician. + +GREY, EARL (1802-1894).--Third Earl. Colonial Secretary in the British +Liberal Government, 1846 to 1852. + +HALPIN, THOMAS M.--Secretary of the Confederation, and a Dublin +working-man. According to Meagher he failed to transmit instructions to +the Dublin Confederate Clubs to rise in insurrection in the streets of +the capital when the fight opened in Tipperary. Halpin denied +emphatically having received such orders. After the insurrection he made +his way to the United States. + +HEYTESBURY, LORD (1779-1860).--William A'Court, British Envoy in Spain +and Naples, and Ambassador in Portugal and Russia. Lord Lieutenant of +Ireland, 1844-6. + +HOGAN, JOHN (1800-1858).--One of the greatest of modern sculptors. With +MacManus and other artists he presented O'Connell with the "Repeal +Cap," modelled on the Irish Crown. + +HOLLYWOOD, EDWARD.--A silk-weaver and, with Michael Crean, an artisan +leader. He acted as treasurer of the Davis Confederate Club. Arrested in +Wicklow with D'Arcy M'Gee for sedition, but the prosecution was +abandoned. After the insurrection he escaped to France, and some years +later returned to Dublin. + +HOLMES, ROBERT (1765-1859).--Brother-in-law of Thomas Addis and Robert +Emmet, and a vehement opponent of the Union in 1799-1800. He declined to +accept promotion at the Bar while the Union endured. + +HUDSON, WILLIAM ELIOT (1797-1853).--Described by Thomas Davis as the +best man and the best Irishman he ever knew. A man of fortune and +culture who devoted his leisure and his wealth to helping every movement +for the betterment of Ireland. + +HUME, JOSEPH (1777-1855).--An English politician who sat in the British +Parliament for English, Irish, and Scotch constituencies as Tory and +later as Radical. Chief author of the Radical shibboleth, "Peace, +Retrenchment and Reform." + +IRELAND, RICHARD.--A barrister, one of the founders of the Protestant +Repeal Association in 1848. He emigrated to Australia afterwards and +became Attorney-General of Victoria. + +KENYON, FATHER (18-- -1869).--Curate and afterwards Parish Priest of +Templederry in Tipperary. A strong opponent of the "Old Irelanders" and +the close political and personal friend of John Mitchel. + +LALOR, JAMES FINTAN (1810-49).--Son of Patrick Lalor, M.P. of Queen's +Co. A vigorous writer whose agrarian doctrine was converted by Henry +George into Land Nationalisation--which it was not. He contributed to +the _Nation_ and the _Felon_, 1847-8, and attempted an insurrectionary +conspiracy, 1849. + +LAMARTINE, ALPHONSE DE (1790-1869).--Minister for Foreign Affairs in the +French Republican Government. The British Ministry through Lord +Normanby threatened him with the possible rupture of diplomatic +relations if he gave an encouraging reply to the Young Ireland +deputation. Politically Lamartine was more of the school of the British +Whigs of his period than of any native French school. His high character +and literary abilities were held in deserved esteem by his countrymen, +but as a man of affairs he was never really successful. + +LANE, DENNY (1818-95).--A Cork commercial man who identified himself +prominently with the Young Ireland cause in Munster. Author of +"Carrigdhoun" and some other popular ballads. + +LAWLESS, HON. CECIL.--Son of Lord Cloncurry. An O'Connellite Repealer +and somewhat virulent opponent of the Young Irelanders who nicknamed him +"Artful Cecil." + +LEDRU-ROLLIN, ALEXANDRE (1808-74).--Minister of the Interior in the +French Republican Government of 1848. He was connected with Ireland by +marriage and strongly sympathised with its people. + +LEFROY, BARON (1776-1869).--One-time member for Trinity College in the +British Parliament. Subsequent to 1848 promoted Lord Chief Justice of +the Queen's Bench, and although he became incapable of discharging the +office he refused to resign it until he had passed his ninetieth year. + +LEYNE, MAURICE RICHARD (1820-1854).--The only member of the O'Connell +family who identified himself with Young Ireland. He was an occasional +contributor to the _Nation_ from 1844 to 1848 and in June of that year, +on the eve of the insurrection, formally joined Young Ireland. On the +revival of the _Nation_ in 1849 he joined Duffy in its editorship. + +LOUIS NAPOLEON (1808-1873).--Son of the King of Holland, nephew of the +great Napoleon, President of the second Republic and, after the _coup +d'etat_ and the plebescite, Emperor of France. Napoleon while in +exile manifested some sympathy with Ireland, and as a member of the +French Republic was, like Cavaignac, willing to intervene on this +country's behalf with England if the Young Irelanders had succeeded in +winning initial engagements against the British forces in the field. + +[Illustration: Louis Napoleon (1848)] + +MACHALE, ARCHBISHOP (1791-1881).--"John of Tuam"--the greatest of the +Irish prelates of his time. He was in partial sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, but opposed to them on several educational questions. + +MACNEVIN, THOMAS (1810-1848).--A leading Young Irelander and college +friend of Davis. Author, in the Library of Ireland, of "The Confiscation +of Ulster" and "The History of the Volunteers." + +MACMANUS, TERENCE BELLEW (1823-60).--A prosperous Irish merchant in +Liverpool who relinquished his prosperity to join in the insurrection. +He escaped from the British penal colonies to the United States and died +there in poor circumstances. + +MACLISE, DANIEL (1806-1870).--One of the first painters of his time. He +refused the presidency of the British Royal Academy. + +M'CARTHY, DENIS FLORENCE (1817-1882).--One of the chief poets of the +_Nation_, afterwards Professor of English Literature in the Catholic +University. + +M'GEE, THOMAS DARCY (1825-1868).--Son of a coast-guard at Carlingford, +Louth. M'Gee between the ages of seventeen and twenty won a remarkable +reputation as a journalist in the United States and came back to Ireland +to take up the editorship of the _Freeman's Journal_, which he +relinquished to join the _Nation_ staff. After the failure in 1848 +Bishop Maginn procured his escape to America disguised as a priest. +M'Gee, Devin Reilly and Doheny quarrelled in the United States, and +M'Gee's political views gradually modified. He proceeded to Canada, +entered politics, and became one of the first statesmen of the dominion +and a member of the Government. In that position he was continually +attacked by a section of the Irish as a renegade, and the bitterness of +his replies inflamed feeling. In April, 1868, he was assassinated by an +alleged Fenian. Local and sectional political hatreds appear, however, +to have had more to do with the murder of M'Gee than his virulent +denunciations of the Fenians. + +MAGINN, EDWARD, D.D. (1802-1849).--Son of a farmer at Fintona, Tyrone, +Dr. Maginn entered the Church and speedily became noted for his vigour +of intellect and strength of character. In 1845 he was appointed +coadjutor-Bishop of Derry, and created Bishop of Ortosia in the +Archbishopric of Tyre. A strong advocate of Repeal and tenant-right, he +gradually attorned to the Young Irelanders when he discovered that the +Whig Government had bought up Conciliation Hall. In 1848 he sent Sir +John Gray to Gavan Duffy offering to take the field at the head of the +priests of his diocese if the insurrection were held back until the +harvest had been reaped. The sudden suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, +however, forced the Young Irelanders' hands two months too soon. + +MANGAN, JAMES CLARENCE (1803-49).--The first of the poets of the Young +Ireland period. He declined to write for any but the Irish public, and +died in poverty. + +MARTIN, JOHN (1812-1875).--A landed proprietor of Co. Down. On his +return from transportation, he re-entered Irish politics; was elected in +1870 to the British Parliament, for Meath, and played a leading part in +founding the Home Rule movement. + +"MARY" (1828-69).--With "Eva" and "Speranza" one of the triumvirate of +the women-poets of the _Nation_: Miss Ellen Mary Downing of +Cork--afterwards a nun, Sister Mary Alphonsus. + +MEAGHER, THOMAS FRANCIS (1823-67).--Son of the O'Connellite member of +the British Parliament for Waterford. He escaped from the British Penal +colonies to the United States in 1852 and served as Brigadier-General +on the Federal side during the civil war. When Acting-Governor of +Montana he was drowned in the Mississippi. + +MEANY, STEPHEN JOSEPH.--A journalist, imprisoned in 1848 under the +Habeas Corpus Suspension Act. In the United States he became a leader of +one of the wings of the Fenian Brotherhood and, returning to Ireland in +1866, he was arrested on the way in London and sentenced to a term of +penal servitude. + +MELBOURNE, LORD (1779-1848).--William Lamb, second Viscount, Chief +Secretary of Ireland, 1827-8, and Premier of England with brief +intervals from 1834 to 1841. + +MILEY, JOHN, D.D. (1805-1861).--Curate at the Catholic Pro-Cathedral, +Dublin, and private chaplain to O'Connell. He was the intermediary in +arranging the reunion of the O'Connellites with the Young Irelanders in +the stillborn Irish League. In 1849 he was made Rector of the Irish +College at Paris. On his return to Ireland he was appointed parish +priest of Bray. He was an eloquent preacher, and author of several works +on the Papacy. + +MITCHEL, JOHN (1818-75).--A solicitor of Banbridge, and one of the first +Irish Protestants of note to join the Repeal Association. From the death +of Davis until the end of 1847 he was the chief writer of the _Nation_ +newspaper. On his escape from the British penal colonies in 1853 he +settled in the United States, and took an active part on the Confederate +side in the civil war. He returned to Ireland a few months before his +death, and was elected member of the British Parliament for Tipperary, +as a demonstration of hostility to British Government in Ireland. + +MOORE, JUDGE.--Richard Moore, called to the Bar in 1807, acted for the +defence in the trial of O'Connell and the Traversers, Liberal +Attorney-General in 1846 and "almost Lord Chancellor." He was raised to +the Bench in 1847 and died in 1858. + +MONAHAN, JAMES HENRY (1804-78).--Attorney-General in 1848, +Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas, 1850. + +NAGLE, DR.--"A Dublin doctor without patients," who acted as a handyman +for John O'Connell. He was devoid of ability. Subsequently he received a +small Government post. + +O'CONNELL, DANIEL (1775-1847).--Successor to John Keogh in the +leadership of the Irish Catholics, and although his actual achievements +were not so much greater than those of Keogh and Sweetman, their +brilliancy threw the fame of his predecessors into the shade, where it +still rests. + +O'CONNELL, MAURICE (1802-53).--Eldest son of Daniel O'Connell, and a +member of the British Parliament. He was the cleverest and most national +of O'Connell's children. + +O'CONNELL, MORGAN JOHN (1804-85).--Second son to Daniel O'Connell. He +served under General Devereux in South America, entered the British +Parliament as a Repealer, deserted Repeal, and was appointed +Assistant-Registrar of Deeds. + +O'CONNELL, JOHN (1810-1858).--The chief political assistant of his +father, Daniel O'Connell. After the collapse of the Repeal Association +he received a place from the British Government. + +O'CONNELL, DANIEL, JUN. (1815-1897).--The youngest of O'Connell's sons. +He sat in the British Parliament until 1863, when he was appointed to a +Government post. + +O'CONOR DON, THE (1794-1847).--Repeal M.P. for Roscommon. He deserted to +the Liberals, and was made a Lord of the Treasury. + +O'DEA, PATRICK.--The Young Ireland leader in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. + +O'DOHERTY, KEVIN IZOD (1823-1895).--Son of a Dublin solicitor. After his +release from transportation he settled in Australia and became prominent +in its politics and medical science. In 1885 he returned temporarily to +Ireland, and sat for a brief period in the British Parliament as +Parnellite member for Meath. + +O'DONNELL, JOHN.--A Limerick solicitor and an ardent Young Irelander. +When Richard O'Gorman came to Limerick to urge the people to arms, +O'Donnell travelled through the county with him as his aide-de-camp. On +the news of the outbreak in Tipperary, O'Donnell, Doyle and Daniel +Harnett raised the country around Abbeyfeale, cut off the mails and +pitched an insurgent camp outside the town where the Abbeyfeale men +waited for O'Gorman, who was elsewhere in the county, to take command. +Before his arrival the news of the collapse at Ballingarry arrived and +the Abbeyfeale Camp broke up. O'Donnell escaped from the country with +O'Gorman. + +O'DOWD, JAMES.--A Conciliation Hall lawyer. Afterwards appointed to a +legal position in connection with the London Custom house. + +O'DWYER, CAREW.--Repeal M.P. for Louth, 1832-5. He deserted Repeal and +received a minor position in the Exchequer Court. + +O'FLAHERTY, MARTIN.--A Galway solicitor and a member of the Irish +Confederation. + +O'GORMAN, RICHARD, JUN. (1826-1895).--Son of Richard O'Gorman of the +Woollen Hall, one of the foremost Dublin merchants and Catholic leaders +in the Emancipation struggle. O'Gorman settled in New York after his +escape and became a judge of the Superior Court. + +O'HEA, JAMES.--A lawyer described by Davis as of "vast abilities." + +O'LOGHLEN, SIR COLMAN (1819-1877).--Second baronet, son of the Master of +the Rolls. Afterwards M.P. for Clare, a Privy Councillor and +Judge-Advocate-General. + +O'MAHONY, JOHN (1816-1877).--A gentleman-farmer of ancient lineage and +high scholarship. After the second attempt to kindle insurrection he +fled to the Continent and later proceeded to the United States, where +with Doheny and Stephens he founded Fenianism. + +PEEL, SIR ROBERT (1788-1850).--Chief Secretary for Ireland and organiser +of the "new police"--hence "peelers." In politics an opportunist, +opposing and supporting Catholic Emancipation and Free Trade. Premier of +England, 1834-5, 1841-6. + +PENNEFATHER, BARON (1773-1859).--Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, +1821, and for thirty-eight years a judge. + +PIGOT, CHIEF BARON (1797-1872).--Son of Dr. Pigot of Mallow and one of +the founders of the attempted National Whig Party in the period 1820-30. +He was a cultured man and an upright judge. + +PIGOT, JOHN E. (1822-1871).--Eldest son of Chief Baron Pigot and the +intimate comrade of Thomas Davis. Author of many ballads and articles in +the _Nation_ and other National journals, and an ardent collector of +Irish music. + +PLUNKET, LORD (1764-1854).--William Conyngham Plunket, member for +Charlemont in the Irish Parliament and a bitter opponent of the Union. +Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1830 to 1841. + +RAY, THOMAS MATTHEW (1801-1881).--A Dublin trades-union leader of great +organising ability, appointed by O'Connell secretary of the Repeal +Association. Subsequently Assistant-Registrar of Deeds. + +REILLY, THOMAS DEVIN (1823-1854).--One of the _Nation_ staff and one of +the few leading Young Irelanders who supported Mitchel on the division +in the Confederation in 1848. In the United States he won a foremost +position as a political writer. + +REYNOLDS, JOHN.--An Alderman of the Dublin Corporation and M.P. for +Dublin City in the British Parliament, 1847-52. Subsequently Lord Mayor. +He was utterly corrupt and a mob-leader. + +ROEBUCK, J.A. (1801-79).--An English politician who professed +Independent views, and from the violence of his denunciation of his +opponents was nicknamed "Tear 'em." + +RUSSELL, LORD JOHN (1792-1878).--Liberal Prime Minister of England, +1846-52, and again, 1865. He successfully opposed Lord George Bentinck's +proposal to preserve the Irish from famine and pauperism by undertaking +the construction of railways. + +SAVAGE, JOHN (1828-1888).--One of the founders of the _Irish Tribune_. +After the complete failure of the insurrection, he escaped to the United +States where he became eminent in literature and for a time head of the +Fenian movement. + +SHEIL, RICHARD LALOR (1791-1851).--Dramatist, orator and politician. +Deserted Repeal and was made British minister at Florence. Subsequently +Master of the Mint. + +SHIELDS, JAMES, GENERAL (1807-1879).--Born near Dungannon, Shields +emigrated in early life to the United States, where he attained +distinction in journalism and subsequently celebrity as a lawyer. On the +outbreak of war with Mexico, he forsook the Bar for arms, and as a +soldier acquired even higher renown. In 1848 he was chosen as governor +of Oregon, and was considered one of the ablest of the United States +Generals. His political views being in sympathy with the Young +Irelanders, several of them looked towards Shields as another Eoghan +Ruadh, who would accept the call of his country and return to lead the +Irish once they had taken the field. Subsequently Shields engaged in the +Civil War on the Northern side, and, although a comparatively old man, +distinguished himself by defeating General Stonewall Jackson at the +Battle of Winchester, although his army was inferior in numbers and he +had been wounded at the opening of the fight. + +SMYTH, P.J. (1826-1885).--One of the youngest of the Young Ireland +leaders. He escaped from Ireland to the United States after the +collapse of the insurrection, and carried out the rescue of Mitchel from +Van Diemen's Land. On his return to Ireland he re-entered politics, and +sat in the British Parliament successively for Westmeath and Tipperary. + +STANLEY, LORD (1802-1869).--Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the British +Liberal Government, 1846-52. + +STAUNTON, MICHAEL.--Proprietor of the _Morning Register_ newspaper and +an alderman of the Dublin Corporation. His memory survives as the +involuntary agent of bringing Duffy and Davis together--and thus leading +to the foundation of _The Nation_. + +STEPHENS, JAMES (1825-1901).--A Kilkenny railway employe. Afterwards +chief organiser of the Fenian movement, of which, with O'Mahony and +Doheny, he was one of the founders. + +TORRENS, JUDGE.--Called to the Bar, 1798, raised to the Bench, 1823, +where he sat for thirty-three years. + +WILDE, SIR THOMAS (1782-1855).--Lord Truro, Attorney-General to the +British Liberal Government in England, 1846; afterwards Chief Justice of +the Common Pleas and Lord Chancellor of England, 1850-2. + +WILLIAMS, RICHARD DALTON (1822[E]-1862).--One of the most popular of the +poets of the _Nation_. The Government prosecution failed in his case, +and he emigrated to the United States where he became Professor of +Belles Lettres in the University of Mobile. + +WYSE, SIR THOMAS (1791-1862).--One of O'Connell's lieutenants in the +Catholic Association, of which he wrote a history. He declined to +support Repeal, but favoured what is now known as Federal Home Rule, +served as a Lord of the Treasury in Melbourne's administration, and +afterwards for many years as British minister at Athens. He was a man of +superior character to the ordinary type of place-seekers, and his +writings won him a temporary European reputation. + +[Illustration: General Cavaignac (1848)] + +[Illustration: Ledru-Rollin (1848)] + +[Illustration: Lamartine (1848)] + + + + +INDEX HOMINUM + + +Anglesea, Lord, 5, 302. + +Antisell Dr., xxx, 141, 302. + + +Bantry, Lord, 241, 242, 302. + +Barrett, Richard, 49, 302. + +Barrett, Eaton Stannard, 302. + +Barry, Michael Joseph, 32, 62, 98, 99, 105, 106, 302. + +Bem, General, 296. + +Bentinck, Lord George, xii, 315. + +Birch, James, 303. + +Blake, Sir Thomas, 295. + +Blackburne, Chief Justice, 192, 197. + +Brenan, Joseph, 301, 302. + +Broderick, Captain, 86, 303. + +Brown, Bishop, 43. + +Bryan, Major, 89, 303. + +Byrne, Rev. Father, 155, 163, 164, 166. + + +Callanan, Jeremiah Joseph, 225. + +Campbell, Sir John, 18, 303. + +Cane, Dr., 304. + +Cangley, David, 32, 303. + +Cantwell, Bishop, 40, 42, 44, 45. + +Cantwell, James, xxx, 159, 168, 176, 301, 303. + +Carleton, William, 33, 125, 303. + +Cavanagh, John, 176, 181, 303, 304. + +Cavaignac, General, xix, 303, 308. + +"Christabel" (Mrs. Downing), 251, 304. + +Clarendon, Lord, 127, 137, 199, 293, 298, 304. + +Clements, Edward, 76, 304. + +Cloncurry, Lord, 307. + +Conway, Michael George, 62, 304. + +Corvinus, Matthias, 296. + +Crampton, Judge, 146, 304. + +Crean, Michael, 112, 300, 304, 305, 307. + +Crolly, Archbishop, 39, 43, 45, 61, 305. + +Cromwell, Oliver, x, 296. + +Curran, John Philpot, 71. + +Cunningham, D.P., 176. + + +Daunt, W.J. O'Neill, 45, 305. + +Davis, Thomas, viii, ix, 16-20, 22, 23, 30-33, 36, 42, 44, 50, 51, 56, + 57, 63, 64, 69-71, 74, 127, 305, 309, 311, 316. + +Dembinski, General, 296. + +Devereux, General, 312. + +Dillon, John Blake, xv-xvii, 17-20, 32, 122, 131, 140, 153, 159, 163, + 175, 176, 178, 179, 223, 240, 283, 289, 290, 298, 300, 305. + +Dobbyn, Stephenson, 292. + +Doherty, Chief-Justice, 6, 192, 305. + +Doyle, Daniel, 283, 305, 313. + +Drumm, J.H., 300. + +Duffy, Sir Charles Gavan, xx, 18, 19, 30, 32, 38, 69, 93-95, 119-122, + 125, 126, 141, 148, 153, 299, 305, 308, 310, 316. + +Duffy, James, 33. + + +Ebrington, Lord, 14, 15. + +"Eva" (Mrs. Kevin Izod O'Doherty), 127, 305, 310. + +Emmet, Thomas Addis, 307. + +Emmet, Robert, 139, 143, 193, 307. + +Ferguson, Sir Samuel, 118, 148, 305, 306. + +Fitzgerald, John Loyd, 48, 306. + +Fitzgerald, Lord Edward, 193. + +Fitzpatrick, James, 99. + +Fitzsimon, Christopher, 11, 306. + +French, Henry Sneyd (High Sheriff of Dublin), 134, 136. + +Fullam, Bernard, 302. + + +George, Henry, 307. + +Gray, Sir John, 89, 299, 306, 310. + +Grattan, Henry, Jun., 49, 67, 306. + +Grey, Earl, 7, 306. + +Gregg, Rev. Thresham, 292. + + +Halpin, Thomas, M. 112, 306. + +Harnett, Daniel, 313. + +Hartnett, Richard, xxx. + +Hatchell, John, Solicitor-General, 145. + +Heytesbury, Lord, 45, 306. + +Hogan, John, 23, 70, 306, 307. + +Hollywood, Edward, 112, 305, 307. + +Holmes, Robert, 96, 131, 132, 135, 139, 140, 307. + +Hudson, William Eliot, 32, 33, 71, 307. + +Hume, Joseph, 74, 77, 307. + +Huniad, Matthias, 296. + + +Ireland, Richard, 118, 148, 307. + + +Jackson, General "Stonewall," 315. + +Jones, Paul, 290. + + +Kenyon, Father, 60, 131, 152, 174, 307. + +Keeley, James, 112. + + +Lalor, Patrick, 307. + +Lalor, James Fintan, 141, 307. + +Lamartine, Alphonse de, xix, 307, 308. + +Lane, Denny, 32, 308. + +Lawless, Hon. Cecil, 109, 308. + +Leach, James, 293. + +Ledru-Rollin, Alexandre de, xix, 25, 107, 308. + +Lefroy, Baron, 132-139, 307. + +Leyne, Maurice, xiv, 173, 176, 179, 183, 297, 308. + +Longmore, Captain, 178. + +Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III.) xix, 303, 308, 309. + + +MacHale, Archbishop, 38, 44, 51, 309. + +Maclise, Daniel 70, 309. + +MacManus, Terence Bellew, xiv, xxi, 89, 176, 178, 181-183, 190-196, 198, + 199, 297, 305, 309. + +MacNally, Bishop, 43. + +MacNevin, Thomas, 32, 33, 309. + +Maginn, Bishop, xx, 309, 310. + +Mangan, James Clarence, 127, 310. + +Martin, John, xxx, 131, 138, 141-145, 200, 309, 310. + +"Mary" (Miss Ellen Downing), 310. + +M'Cabe, Peter, 292. + +M'Carthy, Denis Florence, 32, 224, 238, 239, 309. + +Meagher, Thomas Francis, ix, xiv-xix, 32, 89, 98, 102, 105, 107, 122, + 128, 131, 138, 140, 153-159, 163, 165, 173-176, 179, 183, 189-199, + 202, 204, 207, 289-291, 297-299, 305, 309, 310. + +Meany, Stephen Joseph, 141, 301, 311. + +Melbourne, Lord, 9, 10, 311. + +M'Garahan, Wm., 294. + +M'Gee, Thomas D'Arcy, xiv, xv, xx, 32, 113, 119, 120, 153, 289-297, 299, + 300, 306, 307, 309, 310. + +Miley, Rev. Dr., 115, 148, 311. + +Mitchel, John, xii, xiii, xix, xx, xxx, 32, 33, 88, 89, 95, 96, 98, 99, + 102, 105, 107, 118-122, 125, 127-141, 143, 151, 157, 188, 280, 311, + 314, 316. + +Mitchel, William Henry, 131. + +Monahan, Chief Justice, 132, 139, 142, 143, 192, 312. + +Moore, George Henry, xi, xii, 310. + +Moore, Judge, 132, 133, 138, 139, 192, 311. + +Morgan, Francis, 300. + +Mullen, Robert, 75. + +Murray, Archbishop, 45, 46, 295. + + +Nagle, Dr., 47, 48, 312. + +Napoleon I., 298. + +Normanby, Lord, 308. + + +O'Brien, William Smith, vii, xv-xx, 24, 34, 36, 41, 46, 49, 51, 57, 59, + 67, 73, 76-81, 83-94, 96, 97, 99-101, 106-108, 117, 121, 122, 128, + 129, 148, 156-159, 163, 165, 167-184, 187-195, 205-207, 284, 291, + 296, 299. + +O'Connell, Daniel, xxvii-xxix, 2-14, 21-25, 27-30, 34-41, 43, 45-50, + 54-59, 61-70, 74-77, 83-89, 93-95, 97-101, 103-111, 114-117, 120, + 187, 188, 250, 293, 302-304, 311, 312, 316. + +O'Connell, Daniel (Jun.) 47, 88, 99, 101, 312. + +O'Connell, John, 47, 59, 60, 77, 78, 81-83, 88, 101, 107, 113, 117, 128, + 151, 312. + +O'Connell, Maurice, 45, 59, 67, 88, 128, 312. + +O'Connell, Morgan, 11, 312. + +O'Conor Don, The, 109, 312. + +O'Connor, Feargus, 9. + +O'Dea, Patrick, xxx, 312. + +O'Doherty, Kevin Izod, xxx, 141, 142, 145-147, 200, 312, 313. + +O'Donohoe, Patrick, 168, 169,176, 178, 183, 189-196, 198, 199. + +O'Donnell, John, 283, 305, 313. + +O'Donnell, Richard, 192-193. + +O'Dowd, James, 75, 313. + +O'Dwyer, Andrew Carew, 11, 313. + +O'Flaherty, Martin, 131, 313. + +O'Gorman, Richard (Jun.), xv, 32, 89, 98, 99, 102, 105, 122, 131, 152, + 153, 189, 223, 240, 283, 289, 301, 305, 312, 313. + +O'Gorman, Richard (Sen.), 313. + +O'Hagan, John, 32, 131. + +O'Hara, Charles, 131. + +O'Hea, James, 75, 88, 89, 313. + +O'Loghlen, Sir Colman, 48, 49, 64, 75, 76, 88, 90-92, 118, 131, 140, + 313. + +O'Mahony, John, xiv, xvii, xviii, xxi, xxx, 163, 173, 176, 185, 186, + 201, 202, 206, 269, 270, 283-287, 313, 314, 316. + +O'Neill, Eoghan Ruadh, ix, 296, 315. + + +Parle, Father, xvi. + +Peel, Sir Robert, 12, 20, 21, 36, 98, 314. + +Pennefather, Baron, 142, 144, 146, 314. + +Pigot, Chief Baron, 142, 144-146, 314. + +Pigot, Dr., 314. + +Pigot, John Edward, 89, 314. + +Pius IX., Pope, 295. + +Plunket, Lord, 18, 314. + + +Quinlan, Margaret, 186, 201. + + +Ray, Thomas Matthew, 10, 87, 88, 106, 314. + +Reilly, John, 45, 106. + +Reilly, Thomas Devin, xv, xviii, 32, 120, 127, 131, 138, 141, 153, 171, + 176, 179, 184, 289, 301, 309, 314. + +Reynolds, John, 47, 117, 314. + +Roebuck, J.A., 57, 315. + +Russell, Lord John, xii, 57, 97-99, 164, 250, 251, 315. + + +Savage, John, 141, 284-287, 315. + +Shiel, Richard Lalor, 6, 101, 102, 109, 315. + +Shields, General, v, vi, 315. + +Sligo, Marquis of, xii. + +Smyth, Patrick Joseph, xv, 159, 168, 283, 300, 315, 316. + +Stanley, Lord, 9, 316. + +Staunton, Michael, 17, 316. + +Stephens, James, xxi, xxx, 168, 169, 176, 178, 181-183, 203-254, 314, + 316. + + +Torrens, Judge, 316. + +Trant, Captain, 180-183. + + +Victoria, Queen, 137, 199, 287. + + +Walsh, Edward, 305. + +Wilde, Sir Thomas, 84, 316. + +Wilde, Lady ("Speranza"), 310. + +Williams, Richard Dalton, xxx, 32, 141, 145, 146, 316. + +Wright, J.D., 176. + +Wyse, Sir Thomas, 50, 58, 316. + + + + +[Transcriber's Note A: printed "posioned" in original.] + +[Transcriber's Note B: spelled "alleigance" in original.] + +[Transcriber's Note C: sic.] + +[Transcriber's Note D: Printed "hose" in original.] + +[Transcriber's Note E: Misprinted as "1882" in original.] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Felon's Track, by Michael Doheny + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FELON'S TRACK *** + +***** This file should be named 14468.txt or 14468.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/4/6/14468/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Aaron Reed and the PG Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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