330 LORD CLARE AND BISHOP OF DOWN, [CHAP. X.

He moved an address to the Lord-Lieutenant to recommend the adoption of such conciliatory measures as might allay the apprehensions and extinguish the discontents unhappily prevalent in this country. Lord Clare replied, and, as usual, gave the history of the country in an illiberal and highly coloured party-spirit. He detailed at length great atrocities committed by the people; as to the burning of houses by the military, he said it could not be strictly justified, but some examples were necessary to be made. As to the half-hanging a man of the name of Shaw, he denied that anything more was done than tying the rope about his neck to induce him to confess! He then assailed the Bishop of Down, (Dickson,) stated that he had called on the High Sheriff of his county to convene a mob of insurgents, and when refused, that he went about hunting for signatures, and affixed his name, with that of a lame beggar, in a petition to the King. The Bishop, however, was not terrified by the tone or manner of the Chancellor, and answered him with spirit and dignity, and with complete success*-declared that for his disapprobation or praise he entertained the most perfect indifference; and as to the statement of the petition, his information was unfounded. Lord Dunsany very efficiently supported Lord Moira ; but the numbers weret-9 to 44 against the address.

In November, 1797, Lord Carhampton resigned the command of the army in Ireland-too late, unfortunately, for the peace of the country. By some, his resignation was ascribed to a desire on

*Lord Charlemont, in his letter to Dr. Haliday, says his reply was excellent, and Lord Clare's attack most unjustifiable.-Hardy's Memoirs, vol. ii.

+ Those who voted with Lord Moira were-Charlemont, Bellamont, Arran, Kilkenny, Granard, Dunsany, Belvedere, Cloncurry, Mount Cashell, and the Bishop of Down (Dickson).

CHAP. X.] LORD CARHAMPTON RESIGNS.

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the part of Government for lenient measures, particularly as he was succeeded by Sir Ralph Abercromby;-by others it was attributed to timidity on his part, as a conspiracy had been entered into to kill him; for this, however, he prosecuted and convicted two individuals-one of them his own workman, who was executed. He was a clever man, but wholly devoid of principle; he was neither a statesman-nor a warrior, though he pretended to be both. He got himself into unseemly difficulties* by his arrogance, and did not get out of them by his courage: the wicked instrument, rather the tool of Government,-he swept away the people wherever he found them; and in every possible manner levelled all ranks and degrees before him-both judge and jury, and set Ireland and her Constitution at defiance. He imprisoned, he condemned, he transported, without trial, without judge, without jury, without law, and without authority. He did those acts, for which, in any other country but Ireland, he would have lost his head; and the justest description that can be given of his progress through the provinces of Ireland, is that which Sheridan gave of the march of Hastings in India, from Oude to Benares: Terror was in his front-rebellion in his rear; for wherever the heel of oppression was raised, trodden misery sprang up, and looked around for vengeance!"

When Isaac Corry was in opposition, he had given notice of a motion respecting some public grievance, which in consequence of his complaints was remedied, and he came to the House to get the notice discharged. Carhampton condoled with him on the loss of his grievance, and related an anecdote of the devil, who was reported to be dead, and this occasioned much grief to persons who were interested in his existence. Corry observed that he could not doubt the intelligence of the honourable member from the other world, as he had extensive dealings in that quarter, and much better knowledge of it than himself!

See his conduct to Colonel Napier, in Moore's Life of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, vol. ii. p. 199.

332 LORD CARHAMPTON'S CONDUCT TO [CHAP. X.

Under him the army were permitted to burn the houses,* to shoot the peasants, and exercise such license, that the troops became quite demoralised; so that the gallant Abercromby (his successor), was forced, in general orders, to declare, "that they were formidable to every one but the enemy. The description that Tacitus has given of the troops of Vitellius, may be truly applied here: Ceterum Italia gravius atque atrocius quam, bello adflictabatur, dispersi per municipia et colonias Vitelliani, spoliare,† rapere, vi et stupris polluere, in omne fas nefasque avidi, aut venales, non sacro, non profano abstinebant.

When Lord Carhampton's strong measures came into operation, and the people found him act in so arbitrary a manner, there was not, in a fortnight after, almost one shopkeeper in Dublin who was not regularly sworn, and had not taken the oath of the United Irishmen. He was in fact their agent and recruiting serjeant."

His conduct to the Reverend Mr. Berwick will be best understood by detailing it as I had it from that individual. He was the clergyman of a parish not far from Luttrelstown, where Lord Carhampton resided; and in 1797, two soldiers came to his house, and took prisoner a man in his service, to bring to the General. Mr. Berwick accompanied them. Lord Carhampton knew him, both by name and profession; but he was so insolent and haughty-his manner and voice so arrogant, that Mr. Berwick thought he would be well off if he got safe out of the house. "Well, sir, who are you?-why do you protect this man?

*Speeches of Lord Moira, Lord Dunsany, Dr. Browne, Mr. Vandeleur, Sir L. Parsons.-See also Sampson's Memoirs, American edit.

+ In the case of Hevey against Sirr.-See the inimitable description by Curran of Major Sandys. and Major Sirr-their robbery of a horse and a silver cup, and their forging a return to a writ of Habeas Corpus. -Curran's Speeches, 253.

CHAP. X.] THE REV. MR. BERWICK.

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66

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Don't you know that he is a rebel?" Mr. Berwick replied, he did not; that he had only just come from Longford, and before he went, had known the man to have been a very well-conducted person. Sir, you must have known it! Where do you live?" "At Esker," Mr. Berwick replied. "Oh! no honest man would live there! Why do you harbour rogues and rebels in your place?" Mr. Berwick said, his profession and station, as chaplain to Lord Moira, should have sufficed, as he thought, to protect him from such an imputation. Well, sir," replied Carhampton, "you may go!" Berwick now became a marked man; and to annoy and vex him, a piece of cannon was planted in the churchyard, opposite the house, in order to batter down an old building that was covered with ivy, and that formed a pretty object from the windows; and Mr. Berwick was obliged to get an order from Dublin Castle to prevent it. In the little village of Esker, several men had been half-hanged and flogged, and pitch-caps put on their heads. A smith who lived there, had been half-hanged three times in one week. They applied to the clergyman for relief and medicine, and this humane individual supplied them as well as he could: one escaped into his haggard; two had been wounded at his gate; and by food and medicine he saved one of them. These acts of a Christian and a pastor, displeased those in authority. The triangles were affixed up close to his gate; and on Sunday, at his return from prayers, he saw a crowd in the churchyard; he got in, and beheld two men tied to a car, and some English soldiers flogging them. Berwick expostulated with the officer, who replied, "Sir, hold your tongue. We don't want to be taught our duty by you. Flog on!" One of them, an old man, asked Berwick to get him a glass of

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water.

HUMANITY OF MR. BERWICK.

[CHAP. X.

Berwick told the officer that he was a clergyman that the parish was his-that this act was horrid, within view even of his windows; and he begged to be allowed to get some water for the old man. The officer exclaimed, "No water! -go on!" and Berwick was obliged to retire. On another occasion, he found a man shot, and lying on the road near his house. Berwick went with the apothecary and a yeoman to assist him; when a Scotch officer came up, and desired them to let the man alone,-that he should die where he lay. Berwick replied, that the doctor stated the man could not live; that he was shot through the lungs, and he wished to bring him home. "No, sir; if you do, I shall make you answerable, unless I find the man here again. Mind, you shall be accountable for him. This worthy, charitable man, however, took him home, but the poor creature died.

Lord Carhampton, when informed of this good man's conduct, sent for him, and told him, he heard that he was interfering with what was going on; that it was shameful of him!-and that if he persevered in it he would send him in four days on board the tender!! Mr. Berwick now showed a proper spirit; told him his mind on the occasion, and bid him defiance. This produced some effect on Carhampton, and Berwick was no longer molested! Such was the Reverend Mr. Berwick's statement.

Humane and virtuous man,-alas! your spirit too has fled; but blessings, not curses, followed you to the grave! Your name has not been stained by crimes that must have seared even the conscience of your country's oppressors. Your acts were those of charity and of mercy-they were acceptable in the sight of Heaven, and cried not to God for vengeance! How often have I been