Cruelties committed on both Sides-Attack on Monastereven-Murders by the Rebels, and their Consequences-Affair of Old Kilcullen-Subsequent Attack on Naas-Anecdotes of the Action-Insurrection in Kildare-Rebels defeated at Carlow-Amnesty of the Insurgents-Duff's Affair on the Curragh-State of the Capital-Partial Disaffection in the Yeomanry— Change in the Habits and Manners of the Peasantry-Anecdote-State of Wexford in '97 and '98-Insurrection breaks out-Father Murphy of Formation of Rebel Encampments-Defeat and Destruction of the North Cork Detachment at Oulart-Notices of that Affair-Retreat on Arklow- Sufferings of the Loyalists-Attack on Enniscorthy-Rebels defeated- Garrison retire on Wexford-Observations-Progress of the Insurrection Attack on Hacketstown-Affair at Ballyellis-Repulse at Ballyraheen-Rebels driven from the White-heaps—and afterwards Defeated and Dispersed at Suppression of the Wexford Insurrection-Party Feeling afterwards-General Holt-Destruction of Property-Moral and Military Character of the Second Attempt to land Troops from France in Killalla Bay-General Humbert-False Account given of his Expedition-Bompard's Defeat The Insurgents of '98—Causes of their Failure―Their Leaders-The Catholic Clergy-Espionage Informers-M'Skimmin's Narrative-Major Sirr 316 Proscriptions Lists-Military and Rebel Statistics - Introduction of the Legislative Union-The Temper of the Times favourable for the Attempt -First Parliamentary Division-Characters of the Marquis Cornwallis- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Stoppage of the Mails, and Murder of Lord Giffard Plunder at the Palace of the Bishop of Ferns Battle of Ross The loyal little Drummer ... ... The Rev. Mr. M'Ghee's House successfully defended ... ... ... Frontispiece. page 48 61 ... ... ... ... 66 ... The Rebels storming the Turret at "Lieut. Tyrrel's " HISTORY OF THE IRISH REBELLION, &c. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. LIKE the story of a life, the history of kingdoms is generally pregnant with vicissitude. The sudden rise or rapid dissolution of a state is rarely brought about the fall of empires is gradual-all have their era of danger or prosperity and to avert the one and improve the other is the best test of an able and efficient executive. The most startling period of European history will be found to embrace that stormy interval, occurring between the outbreak of the French revolution, and the legislative act, which, abolishing a faulty home government, made Ireland an integral portion of the British empire. From political evil, political good will frequently arise; and after a painful and sanguinary probation, that consolidation of British influence and power was accomplished, which enabled England in fifteen brief years afterwards to restore the tranquillity of Europe, while her own national dignity was amply vindicated, and lasting advantages secured. For twenty years before the French revolution broke forth in all its horrors, the evil star of England had been in the ascendant. The colonies were driven into rebellion; and that discontent which bad government had induced was consummated by worse measures, and the states separated from the mother-country. The temper of the times was unfriendly to concession-when the sword was drawn the scabbard was thrown away-and sanative diplomacy was not the course resorted to by the Court of St. James to reclaim her unruly but ill-used children. To coerce, and not conciliate, was the evil policy of the personages in power-bad statesmanship did for America what her own exertions could not have achieved-and England, by rejecting their complaints, forced independence on her refractory colonists. B |