j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j J.?/,~' Dh.llalliaYI . • 180 Gadgil L "b

11180lBO01l1/1I1118111011llD Ilirt i GIPE-PUNE_OO 1964 •

,HISTORY OF IRELA.ND

DlTllE XVIIfIX CENTURY

VOL. IV. WORKS BY WILLIAM EDWARD HARTPOLE LECKY.

HISTORY of, ENGLAND in the EIGHTEENTH CENTURY•. Library Edition. 8vo. Vols. I. and II. 1700- 1760. 3M. Vols. III. and IV. 1760-'784. 3M. Vols. V. and VI. '784"793. 3M. VoL•. VII. and VIII. '793' 1800. 36s. Cabinet Edition. ENGLAND. 1 vols. Crown 8vo. M. each. . 5 vol.. Crown 8vo. M. each. The HISTORY of EUROPEAN MORALS from AUGUSTUS to CHARLEMAGNE. • vol.. CroWD 8vo. 1M. HISTORY Qf the RISE and INFLUENCE of the SPIRIT of RATIONALISM in EUROPE. • vols. CrOWD 8VQ. 1M. POEMS. Fcp. 8vo. 51.

London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. A HISTORY. OF IRELAND.

IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

BY

WILLIAM EDWARD HARTPOIJE LECKY

NEW EDITION

VOLUME IV.

LONDON LONGMAN~ GREE~ AND C~ 1892

4/1 "'IIAI • .....,. • .a V?, Lt. L'7 t~~ ~ BPO'rrISWOODB AND co., !I."RW·STREET SQ1JARR LOh'"DON 17 6'1- CONTEN-TS

THE FOURTH VOLUME. -- CHAPTER IX. PAGB Superficial character of much Irish disloyalty. • • 1 Probability that Ireland wonld for a time have been lost if Hoobe had landed • • S Inoreased loyalty.-Dr. Hamilton • •• 4 Meeting of Parliament (Jan. 16).-First debates 5 Abaentee tax proposed and rejected • . 7 Bank of Ireland suspends cash payments 8

Disturba1lC68 ill the North Their general character • • . 9 State of Donegal and Roscommon • 10 Tyrone and Donegal-Murder of Hamilton 11 Derry. • . • . 12 Armagh.-Letters of McNally 14 Grattan's proposed volunteers 16 Lake ordered to disarm the North 18 His proclamation .' ••• 20 Opposition of Grattan • • • • • • • 22 Fox, with Grattan's assent, brings the state of Ireland before the British Parliament. • • •.•• 22 Tbe necessity of conoiliating the Catholics urged. • 25 Determination of the Government to refuseo-The King's message to Camden. • • • •• 27 Ireland considered in a state of rebellion.-Seizure of arms • • • • . • 29 Dean Warburton's letters from Armagh 30 Letters from other parts of Ulster. •• 32 Military force in Ireland.-Difficulties of disarming 35 vi CONTENTS OF

PAGB Situation and sentiments of the yeomanry 37 Military outrages inevitable. • 39 The 'Anoient Britons' near Newry. . 40 Other military outrages.-Lord Moira's speech 42 Rebels sent to the fleet . • . . . . . 46 Transformation of Orangism. - It becomes the chief counterpoise to the United Irishmen. . • .• 47 Lake on the methods that should be employed in Ulster • 49 Correspondence of General Knox with Pelham 50 • Dissatisfaction of the Government with the Ulster gentry 60 Attitude and wishes of the gentry 61 Addresses in favour of reform . • . . 63 Possibility that reform might have prevented rebellion 64 The Irish Government consider that it would be useless 65 Their estimate of the parties in Ireland. • . • 66 Their opposition to Catholio emancipation-Ponsonby's reform resolutions . 67 Grattan's last speeoh on reform • . 69 His secession from Parliament.-Debates no longer published at length. . • 73 Grattan's oonduot and position in 1797 . . . . 73 He aoknowledges the failure of parliamentary government in Ireland. • . . • . . . 75 Disaffection among the troops.-Orangemen, Archbishop Troy and other priests suspected. . • • • 76 Arrest of O'Connor &o.-The 'Northern Star' stopped.­ Newell's information. • • • . • " 78 .A.lleged oomplioity of the United Irishmen with assassina· tion '.' . . . • 79 The 'Union Star.'-Cox's oonfessions. • • 83 Improvement in Ulster.-Proclamation of May 17-many captures. • . . . • • . . • 85 Command of Ireland and Viceroyalty offered to Lord Corn wallis • • • • • • . . " 87 Refused on aooount of his views on the Catholio question. -Offer repeated • . 88 Revival of Orange outrages 89 Flight of the Catholios 90

Th8 Disarming Lord Blayney's severities-events in Westmeath 91 At Multifarnham and Charleville 94 State of Tyrone and Dungannon &0.. . . 95 Evidenoe of increase of the religious hatreds in the North 97 Green and Orange badges-Religious riots 98 THE FOURTH VOLUME. vii

PAGE Distrud of ilie militia.-Suooess of the disa.rming in Ulster 100 The September Assizes 102

The case of William Orr . 0 • •• 103 Responsibility of ilie Government in producing the

rebellion 0 • 0 • 0 • •• •• 116 Spread of sedition to Cailiolic Ireland-its first oentres 120

Injfuemes that a.cted on the Catholic masses Cailiolio emancipation and parliamentary reform had little part • • 120 The tiilie question. }.21 The question of reni • • • 123 The revived sentiment of nationality. •• 123 Comparison between 1641 and 1797.-Prophecies of

Columkill • 0 • • • • • • • i25 Fear of Orange massacres.-The pretended Orange oath. 126

Defenderism in the King's County. • 0 • 0 127 Carlow, , Kildare, , and Wicklow tainted 129

Political opposition of Kildare gentry. 0 0 • 130 Pollock's report of ilie condition of the central counties 131 Illustrations of the panic about ilie Orangemen 131 Troubles near Dublino-State of Tipperary 132 Cork and Bandon. • • • 133 Mallow.-Reports about ilie Methodists 135

Appalling spread of crime • • • 0 • • 136 Connaught less tainted than the other provinces-- Ennis-Mayo. • 139 General state of Ireland .' • • •• 140 New hope of foreign assistance-Mission of Lewins 142 Dutch lIeet in ilie Tcxel-Mission of Jagerhorn 144 Mission and memoir of McNevin 145 Negotiations at Lills Vicissitudes of ilie war in 1796, 1797 147

Preliminaries of Leoben. • 0 • •• 149 Pitt offers to negotiate.-The plenipotentiaries at Lille • 149 Pitt's ardent desire for peace. • • • • • 150 Majority of the Directory hostile to peaceo-Their demands 152 Secret understanding between Lord Malmesbury and Maret 153 Double object of Pitt. • • • o. 156 Peace signed between Portugal and Franceo-Indignation of Grenville. • • • • 157 Possibility of corrupting the Directors 158 Revolution of It! fructidor • 158 viii CONTENTS OF

PAGB Lord MaJmesbury ordered (September 16) to quit France. 159 Lingering hopes of peace dispelled . 160

Proofs that Irish interests had no real place in French diplomacy • • • • • •• 161 Parallel from the history of the Irish :Brigade . 162 Death of Burke. • • • • 163 Renewed French negotiations in Ireland. Channels of information of the Government 165

Disaffection ,,, tM Fleet Mutiny at Spithead 169 Mutiny of the Nore. • • • 171 Its suppression.-The 'Hermione' • • • •• 172 Restoration of the tone of the nayY.-The British sailor. 173 The Dutch fleet in the Texel 174 Long-continued adverse winds 176 Reports received from Ireland. • •• 177 Probable effects of the invasion.-Postponement of the expedition. • 178 Battle of Camperdown • . • • _ 179 Death of Hoche.-Indifference of Buonaparte to Irish affairs . • • . • 180 Dissolution of the Irish Parliament. • 181 Honours conferred.-The Kenmare peerage. 182 Election of the last Irish Parliament • 185 Grattan's 'Letter to the Citizens of ' • .• 186 State of Ireland at the end of 1797.-Pelham'sestimate. 192 Clare's estimate of the situation_ - Expectations of invasion. • • • 193 Alarming report from McNally 195 Establishment of 'The Press'. • 196 Aberoromby made Commander-in-Chief 197 His estimate of the state of Ireland • • 199 Attempts to restore discipline and legality 201 The general orders, February 26,1798 203 Cabal against Aberoromby. •• • • 205 His resignation and letters- • • • • • • 208 His expedition through Leinster and Munster.-Martial law. . . • • 211 ,Lake made Commander-in-Chief • • 214 Aberoromby on the prospeots of Ireland • . '.' 215 Concession to Catholics refused.-Higgins pleads thell' cause • . • • • 215 Letter from the Bishop of Derry • 217 THE FOURTH VOLUME. ix

PAGB Meeting of Parliament, January 9.-Speech of Parsons 219 Acts of military violence • 220 The Opposition.-Plunket . 223 The absentee tax 225 Calm in Ulster . . . . • .. 227 Anarchy and growing sedition in the other provinoes 227 Letters of Beresford • • • . • 231 Change of sentiment among the gentry 233 Knox's correspondence with Bell 234 Rapid growth of religious amimosity 236 The Spring Assizes, 1798 • 237 The trials at Maryborough.. ..• . 239 No resolution yet taken in England about the introd~o. tion of an Union Bill. • • • • • • 241 English ministerial policy towards Ireland-favourable to the Catholios. • • • • " 242 Close connection between England and Rome.-Lord Hood's fleet, &0.. • • • • •• 243 Burke desires diplomatic connection with the Vatioan 243 Hippisley and Erskine • ••••• • 244 Signs of friendly feeling between the Vatioan and the Court of St. James 245 Views of Camden • 246 Conolusion 248

CHAPTER X. THE REBELLION. Recapitulation of the phases of the United Irish Sooiety. 250 Its strength and weakness. • • • • •• 251 McCormiok, MoNevin, and Bond 252 Emmet. • 253 Arthur O'Connor • • . • . . . • 255 Lord Edward Fitzger&1d.-An immediate rising proposed, buhejected • • • • • • • •• 256 Arrest of O'Connor at Ma.rgate • • .• 258 Tardiness of the Government in arresting leaders 259 Thomas Reynolds • • . • • • • • 260 Arrest at Bond's house.-Flight of Fitzgerald.-His interviews with Reynolds. • 262 Reynolds consents to give evidence. • " 264 Proolamation of martial law (March SO).-Its causes 265 Burnings of houses.-Free quarters, &c. 268 Military proolamations • 269 Disarming by dogging 275 VOL. IV. a x CONTENTS OF

PAGB Thomas Judkin Fitzgerald. . . 277 His conduct indemnified by Parliament 287 Motives and effects of the severities 288 Holt's account of the origin of the rebellion. .291 Attempts to reconstruct the Directory.-The Shea.res's 291 The weeks before the rebellion. 292 Catholic decla.ra.tion of loyalty.. 294 Pursuit and betrayal of Lord Edward Fitzgerald 295 Trial of the Earl of Kingston. 299 Project to attack the peers assembled for the trial 301 Capture of Lord Edward Fitzgerald. 303 Information on which the Government acted . 305 Importance of the capture.-Higgins and Magan. . 307 Last days of Fitzgerald. . .• .. 309 Arrest of the Shea.res's through the information of Cap- tain Armstrong • . . . •• 312 Arrest of Byrne and Neilson.-FligM of Lawless . • 316 The plot announced to the Lord Mayor and to the Honse of Commons.-Address of the Commons to the Lord Lieutenant . . • 317 Trial of O'Connor and his companions. . . .. 317 O'Coigly found guilty and executed.-O'Connor and three others acquitted 318

First Stages of the Rebellion It breaks out May 23 in the counties of Dublin, Kildare, and Meath.-Attack on Naas . 320 Attack on Clane.-Massacre at Prosperous 321 The treachery of Esmonde. . . .. 323 Character of the rebellion in its first days.-The religious element. . • • • . . .. 324 State of Dublin and its neighbourhood.-Measures 0 defence ...... •• 325 Proclamation of martial law unanimously sanctioned by the House of Commons 328 Great energy of the loyalists . . 329 The outbreak not displeasing to some supporters of Government. . . . 330 The rebellion in the Queen's County 331 Unsuccessful rebel attack on Carlow 332 Character of the rebellion in Carlow 333 Execution of Sir Edward Crosbie 334 Rebel defeats at Hacketstown and Tarah . . 336 Atrocities at Rathangan.-Conciliatory policy of General Dundas. . . . 337 The massacre at Gibbet-rath 338 THE FOURTH VOLUNE. xi

PAGB Failure of the plan of rebellion. 340 Cause of the rebellion in Wioklow 341 Wexford Rebelliotl Social condition of Wexford.-Defender disturbances 343 Signs of conspiracy.-Reports about Orangemen . • 345 Martial law proclaimed in the county.-Severities that followed. • • • • • • • . • 348 The North Cork Militia accused of introducing Orangism. 350 The shooting of prisoners at Dunlavin and Carnew • 352 Historians of the Wexford Rebellion • 353 Gordon's account of its causes. . • • • . 353 Outbreak at Boulavogue (May 26).-Father . 355 Rebels defeated at Killthomas Hill. . . • .' 356 Victorious at Oulart.-Carnolin and Ferns occupied • . 357 Character of the rebels.-Enniscorthy attacked and taken 357 Panic in Wexford.-Depulation to the rebels.-Reinforce- ment of the garrison • • • . • • • 360 Uncertainty of the rebels.-They occupy the Three Rock MounlaiJ1. • • • • • •• 361 A de&achment sent by General }'awcet& cut to pieces.- Repulse of the garrison . • • . • • • 363 Surrender of Wexford.-Escape and misconduct of the garrison. • • • • 3e4 The rebel. enter Wexford (May 30). . 365 Bagenal Harvey elected commander-in;chlef 367 Rebel rule in Wexford.-Matthew Keugh •. 368 Capture of Lord Kingsborough.-Cornelius Grogan 372 Events in Gorey • • • • " 373 Attack on Newtown-barry.-Letter of Alexander. 375 Massacre on Vinegar Hill • • • •• 3S0 Growing fanaticism.-Treatment of Protestants 382 Elliot defeats the rebels near Gorey (June 1) 384 Defeat of Walpole (June 4). • •• 386 Retreat of Loftus.-Rebel camp near Gorey 387 Battle of New Ross (June 5) • 388 Soullabogne Barn • • • • .• 394 Alarm of the Government.-Letters from the Castle 395 Slate of U18teF Causes of its tranqnillity.-The Orange movement 403 Strict martial law • • • • • • . .. 403 Reaction caused by the religious character of the Southern rebellion • • • • 404 Growing distrust of the French. • •• 406 Indignation caused by the oppression of Switzerland 407 And by the conduct of the }'rench to America 408 xii CONTENTS OF 'rnE FOURTH VOLUME.

_ PAGB Letters illustrating the state of opinion in Ulster 412 Rebellion in Antrim 416 And inDoWD. ." • • • • . 419 Battle of Ballina.hinch (June 13)" • • 421 Complete suppression of the Northern rebellion 423 Wexford Bagenal Harvey at Carrickbyrne Hill. . . ; 424 His deposition.-Father Roohe made commander 426 Camp at Lacken Hill.-Attack on Borris 427 Battle of Arklow (June 9) • • • • • 428 Alarm in Dublin.-Lady Camden goes to England 431. Government letters calling for help • • • • 432 Revival of religious animosities.-Letters of McNaJly . 435 Growing influence of the more violent party • 438 Stagnation of trade •• 440 Arrival of English reinforcements. • • 441 Gordon on the nature of the rebellion round Gorey . • 442 Evacuation of Gorey.-Events in Wicklow.-Byrne's march to Vinegar Hill. • • • • • • 442 Retreat of Father Roche.-Defeat of the rebels at Vinegar Hill (June 21). • '. • • • • ., 444 Massacre in Enniscorthy. • . 445 Keugh and Edward Roche at Wexford. 446 Position of the Protestants in Wexford 448 Orange addresses • • • 451 Colonel Le Hunte's fire-screens • • • • • 453 The Wexford rebels summoned to the Three Rocks.- Battle of Goffsbridge • • 454 The massacre of Wexford Bridge • • • 454 Keugh's negotiation through Lord Kingsborough 457 Last day of rebel rule in Wexford. • • 460 Wexford reoccupied by the troops (June 21) 461 Capture and execution of Father Roche • 462 Of Keugh • • 463 Of Cornelius Grogan. • • . 466 Of Colclough and Bagenal Harvey 467 Other executions.-Military licence • 470 GeneraJ character of the rebellion • . • .. 471 Lord Cornwallis made Lord Lieutenant and Commander- in-Chief 473