attempted to speak on the subject, and hurried to the conclusion of the drama, in which he had been the principal and responsible performer. After some short debate of minor importance, a farewell address was voted to His Majesty. The adjournment was proposed and carried, sine die. The doors of the Rotunda were closed, and on the arrival, at the hour of meeting of the great body of Delegates, they heard with mixed feelings of surprise and indignation that the man of the people had betrayed his trust, and that their functions had ceased.

CHAPTER XI.

Indignation of the people-Another reform bill rejected-The Volunteers disperse Mr. Pitt in 1784-Character of Mr. Pitt Prosperous state of Ireland-Meeting in Dublin to petition the king-Mr. Pitt's answerSome Volunteers continue to meet-Duty on Irish produce-Servile conduct of Fitzgibbon-Duke of Buckingham appointed Viceroy-The Irish Parliament address the Prince of Wales-The Prince's answer-The Union suggested by Mr. Dundas-Origin of the Irish Rebellion-Application to the Catholics-Proceedings to produce rebellion-Mr. Duigenan -Insidious policy of Mr. Pitt-Meetings in the North.

A

of the peo

ple.

THE indignation of the deputies spread amongst the people, indignation and the insulted majesty of the nation vented its anger in contempt for the man who had betrayed its confidence. new leader was wanting; one whose patriotism shielded him from corruption, and whose courage despised intimidation. The Bishop of Derry, who had endeared himself to the people, was the man chosen to repair the faults of imbecility and hesitation. The Volunteers continued to meet and to deliberate, but their union had been destroyed by the desertion of their leaders, and their thoughts, which had been hitherto occupied with plans for their country's welfare, were suddenly turned into another channel-one that proved fatal to the repose of the country, and one that placed the people of Ireland again at the mercy of Great Britain. The spirit of liberty that nerved the nation was humbled and paralysed; government gained ground, as the Volunteers became disunited; the Parliament was purchased, and disappointed hope engendered despair. A last effort, however, to introduce a reform bill into Parliament was, on the suggestion of Lord Charlemont, determined on. He had been cheated into the belief that government would no longer resist a measure, if brought under their considera

Another

bill introduced and rejected.

The Voun

tion in the usual way, which had been refused to the demands of an armed and discontented population. This proposition enabled his lordship to retire from public life with some show of decency, and was offered as an apology for the abandonment of the cause he had espoused and cherished. Mr. Flood was selected to present the bill. His speech was tame and deficient in the eloquence produced by the prospect of success. It was supported by Mr. Grattan ; but his support wanted energy, and was given only to the measure, not to the proposer-jealousy of his great rival damped his ardour, and silenced his eloquence. The bill of the Volunteers had excited a spirit of resistance because it was considered as military dictation, and the bill of the people was rejected, because it struck at the root of the tree of corrup

tion.

This last blow to their hopes was fatal to the armed associations. Their numbers gradually diminished, and the resignation of the majority of their officers gave the signal of approaching extinction. They survived a few years; but disunion had done its work, and the proud bearing of teers dis- the Irish Volunteers was replaced by a puerile display of childish vanity-they had been betrayed by their leader -they despaired and dispersed. Such was the end of an institution, whose patriotism was unbounded, and whose force was irresistible. It did some good; but its efforts were paralysed by placing too much confidence in the character, intelligence, and energy of its commanders.

perse.

Mr. Pitt, 1784.

In consequence of a change in the British ministry, Mr. Pitt, son of the great and venerated Earl of Chatham, was appointed Premier, and the Duke of Rutland was sent over to replace Lord Northington as Lord-lieutenant of Ireland. Great good was augured from this appointment; Mr. Pitt had declared himself as a strenuous advocate for reform in the Parliament of England, and it was anticipated that no opposition would be offered to a similar measure for cleansing of corruption the Irish House of Commons. The apos

tasy of public men from their political opinions is so common an occurrence that it has ceased to astonish, and is no longer considered disgraceful. When it arises from a conviction of error it is not reprehensible, for, as obstinacy is generally founded on ignorance, the yielding to the arguments of truth is a proof of cultivated intellect and sound judgment; but when they prostitute their talents to secure the support of the public voice-when they flatter the prejudices and inflame the passions of the people in order to seize on the reins of government, and then turn round and desert them -it is no longer an apostasy that can be palliated; it is political swindling; it is the servant disposing to the highest bidder, the property he has stolen from his master.

Mr. Pitt began his public life under circumstances that promised a brilliant career in the path he had chosen which led to popularity. At the close of the American war, he either did or affected to see the necessity of Parliamentary reform. He declared his sentiments on this vital question, and thus secured to himself the support which he sought from the great body of the nation. Men of high and princely fortunes were found amongst his most enthusiastic admirers; corruption summoned all its sophistry to its aid in opposition to his propositions, and the same arguments were used against reformation, which afterwards received the sanction of his great name and the powerful support of his known abilities. Pamphlets were published, exposing the borough system-those of Mr. Pitt probed the wound to the bottom. He advocated public meetings to ascertain public opinion on the conduct of the legislation, and finished by deserting the party of the people, to which it was thought he had for ever bound himself. Nearly sixty years have elapsed since he commenced his career as prime minister of England, and during that long period his system of governing has been steadily pursued, with only one exception of consequence-Parliamentary reform. It is for the nation to judge of the wisdom or the folly of that system by the benefits it has con

Character

of Mr. Pitt,

ferred or the injuries it has inflicted on the country. Deeply immersed in the study of measures tending to the good of his fellow-creatures, every faculty of a man's soul is under its influence; and, with regard to memory, what in the common herd of mankind is an involuntary defect, is in him systematic, and under the direction of a judgment perfectly sound, and a discernment so quick and penetrating, that he sees at one glance what ought to be remembered or forgotten, and can be retentive or oblivious according to convenience, or as existing circumstances require. То give an instance or two. It was convenient for Mr. Pitt to forget the instructions he received in his youth from a father who lived and died in the belief of the purity of his principles. It was also proper and convenient to forget the speeches he delivered in the House of Commons, and what passed in the societies for reform in 1784. His career as prosperous minister of Great Britain is written in the national debt; and his history as man recorded in the blood-stained annals of the Irish Rebellion. On his accession to power, Ireland was daily improving in prosperity-never since the first invasion had she enjoyed such peace and happiness-her population employed; absenteeism almost unknown, for the great landholders resided on their estates; religious feuds had ceased; in short, Ireland was rapidly approaching to a state of prosperity and happiness, which again aroused the jealousy of the British cabinet, and under the auspices of Mr. Pitt, an infamous and dark conspiracy was formed, to subvert her constitution, to ruin her trade, and destroy her population.

Happy and

state of Ireland.

Petitions

The Duke of Rutland succeeded the Earl of Northington, and with him commenced the political crusade against Irish independence, which ended in deluging her fields with blood, and extinguishing her as a nation. The petitions of for Reform the people for parliamentary reform had been rejected, and rejected. the demand for duties to protect the manufactures refused --a law against the liberty of the press had been passed. The excitement became general, and excesses were com