Yet

even, been ignorant enough to thrust their wigs into the cannon, in the idea of preventing them from being fired upon their comrades. notwithstanding all their faith, and in defiance of all the charms of holy water, of solemn assurances, and priestly vows, not less than ten thousand of these deluded objects have already fallen the sacrifices of their sad superstition and ignorance. Of troops, we have lost comparatively very few, for the most desperate attack of the rebels has been but the rushing forward of an impetuous, undisciplined, multitude; mostly badly armed, many not armed at all. They have fought with desperation, and had their discipline been equal to their courage, the very inferior bodies of troops that have often defeated them, must have found them irresistible."

"How truly lamentable, that the ardour and enthusiasm, which has actuated them, should not have been directed to a more happy and laudable end! How deplorable that the courage with which they have been inspired, should only have led to the destruction of their country, their kindred, and friends! Alas! N N

VOL. IV.

that men should be so much more readily deceived into evil, than persuaded to do good!"

"How oft do the scenes before me, lead me to exclaim, happy, happy England! How devoutly do they call forth my earnest prayers, that her people may always have wisdom to avert the desolating scourge of civil discord: that they may ever duly estimate the blessings they possess, and continue to maintain a just sense of the dangers of anarchy and rebellion!"

"With what sincere pleasure do I often contemplate your peaceful Gleaning Ramblings, in the different counties of ENGLAND, fearless of pikes and rebels; and needing no warlike escort to protect your path. If I could envy a friend, I must now envy the English Gleaner. I behold him mixing in the jocund throng of the village-evening, or view him musing in distant delight at the innocent gambols of a virtuous, and contented, peasantry. At one moment I see him moving in pensive, wandering step, as I know he is wont, from village to village, and from cottage to cottage; at another I surprize him soliloquizing on the

5

banks of a rivulet, in the plains, or amidst the mountains. At this instant my fancy paints him noting the vivid idea on the spot, as it rises: At the next, I behold him lost in rapture, or reverie. When I have worked the picture into life, and am about to speak, suddenly the trumpet of war destroys the pleasing illusion, and tears me from tranquillity, and from you. Opposite, and painful ideas, crowd into my mind. It hurries across the channel, and, deserting peaceful cottages, and happy lands, dwells only on fields of blood, and cabins of strife! From happy England, it returns, alas! to afflicted Ireland!"

LETTER XXV.

Sept. 28, 1798.

THE latitude I have given, my loved friend, to the great national subject so ably sketched in the foregoing abstracts of a highly appreciated correspondence, has, necessarily, postponed every other discussion of matters on this more peaceful side of the Irish channel; and the pause has been made most willingly on my part, as well as advantageously on yours. I wished to give you the best information on this great topic, and, I am fully convinced that our unfortunate home disputes, in England, or Ireland, and may Hibernia ever be looked upon and treated as one of the nearest and dearest of our Britannia's family!

our domestic differences, my friend, inspire our foreign foes with much greater confidence of ultimate success, than they can ever hope to derive from all the armies of the Republic. The enemy, indeed, has long since seen and felt that Great Britain can be destroyed only by itself.

"Oh, England! model to thy inward greatness, Like little body with a mighty heart;

What might'st thou do, that honour would thee do,
Were all thy children kind and natural!

But see, thy fault France hath in thee found out;
A NEST OF HOLLOW BOSOMS."

The truth of this

more vitally, to the

could not possibly apply time of the fifth Henry, than to later reigns. But, blessed be GOD! the nest is not now so crouded as it was. On the

contrary, were you at Cromer, while I am yet writing-or indeed, in

any other

part of

England, you would meet with the unbought friends of their country, volunteering her cause,