Things stand here as they have been for some time; there are still bodies of insurgents in different parts of the country, but mostly in the bogs and mountains. One party, of about six or seven hundred, have been some time at Timahoe, on the edge of the Bog of Allen, whence they rob all the country round, drive away every man's cattle, and kill them, and plunder and burn every house they choose. Another body is at Blackmore Hill, and Whelp's Rock, a mountain near it-report says 30,000 men, but a gentleman who saw them tells me there may be 15,000. I believe that they are not so many as that. Neither of those places is far from Dublin. There is also a body at Carnew, and several small bodies in Kildare, Wicklow, and Wexford. The spirit of rebellion is not abated; and it is certain that several of those who were killed by Sir James Duff had protections in their pockets obtained under the late proclamation of the Generals.

On Monday, fourteen of my son John's corps met fourteen rebels carrying ammunition to the camp at Whelp's Rock, and they attacked them. Ten were armed, and made a desperate resistance; four were killed, and eight taken prisoners, five of whom had protections in their pockets-so you may see what a difficult game we have to play; for no pardon or concession will bind them one moment beyond what they think to their advantage. The minds of the people are totally perverted, and so artfully has it been done that they have touched the several different motives which they knew would work upon the different classes-reform and republicanism for the Dissenters, emancipation and the

ascendancy of popery for the Papists; and thus the people's minds are warped one way or the other, and every measure adopted is perverted.

The late proclamation they are persuaded was only a trap, and those who come in for protections are caught next day acting as before; and they are assured of the French coming over directly; so that both hopes and fears are made use of to work upon them, and threats of every kind are applied to increase the dread of their

vengeance.

Thus we stand at present.

Yours ever sincerely and affectionately,

J. BERESFORD.

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND.

Dublin, 14th July, 1798.

MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-The two Mr. Sheares' trial came on last Thursday, and was not concluded until eight o'clock yesterday morning, when they were both condemned, and hanged this day. They conducted themselves with great decency on the trial, and with firmness, particularly the younger, who was a very clever fellow; but this day, when they found no chance, their courage failed them, and I hear they sent offers of

a The Sheares; John and Henry, sons of a banker in Cork; called to the bar, John in 1789, Henry 1790; they were executed in 1798.

discoveries to Lord Cornwallis, who behaved with great firmness, and refused to listen, saying it was too late. At the gallows they both lost their spirits, and the younger, I hear, fell into fits; they were hanged, &c.

I send you a paper which contains the best account of their trial, and has a pretty accurate copy of John Sheares' famous Proclamation.

The state trials proceed on Monday next.

Yours ever,

J. BERESFORD.

A FAC-SIMILE OF SHEARES' PROCLAMATION.

IRISHMEN,-Your country is free, and you are about to be avenged. That vile Government which has so long and so cruelly oppressed you is no more. Some of its

most atrocious monsters have already paid the forfeit of their lives, and the rest are in our hands. The national flag, the sacred green, is at this moment flying over the ruins of Despotism; and that capital which a few hours past witnessed the debauchery, the plots and crimes, of your tyrants, is now the citadel of triumphant patriotism and virtue. Arise, then, United Sons of Ireland! arise like a great and powerful people, determined to live free or die. Arm yourselves by every means in your power, and rush like lions on your foes. Consider that for every enemy you disarm you arm a friend, and thus become doubly powerful. In the cause of Liberty, inaction is cowardice, and the coward shall forfeit the property he has not the courage to protect; let his arms

be seized and transferred to those gallant spirits who want and will use them. Yes, Irishmen, we swear by that eternal Justice in whose cause you fight, that the brave patriot who survives the present glorious struggle, and the family of him who has fallen or shall fall hereafter in it, shall receive from the hands of a grateful nation an ample recompense out of that property which the crimes of our enemies have forfeited into its hands, and his name shall be inscribed on the great national record of Irish Revolution, as a glorious example to all posterity; but we likewise swear to punish robbery with death and infamy.

We also swear that we will never sheathe the sword until every being in the country is restored to those equal rights which the God of Nature has given to all men; until an order of things shall be established in which no superiority shall be acknowledged among the citizens of Erin but that of virtue and talent. Rouse all the energies of your souls; call forth all the merit and abilities which a vicious Government consigned to obscurity; and under the conduct of your chosen leaders, march with a steady step to victory! Heed not the glare of a hired soldiery, or aristocratic yeomanry-they cannot stand the vigorous shock of freemen. Their trappings and their arms will soon be yours, and the detested Government of England, to which we vow eternal hatred, shall learn that the treasures it exhausts on its accoutred slaves, for the purpose of butchering Irishmen, shall but further enable us to turn their swords on its devoted head.

Many of the military feel the love of liberty glow

within their breasts, and have already joined the national standard: receive with open arms such as shall follow so glorious an example-they can render signal service to the cause of Freedom, and shall be rewarded according to their deserts. But for the wretch who turns his sword against his native country, let the national vengeance be visited on him; let him find no quarter.

Attack them in every direction, by day and by night. Avail yourselves of the natural advantages of your country, which are innumerable, and with which you are better acquainted than they. Where you cannot oppose them in full force, constantly harass their rear and their flanks, cut off their provisions and magazines, and prevent them as much as possible from uniting their forces. Let whatever moments you cannot devote to fighting for your country be passed in learning how to fight for it, or preparing the means of war; for war, war alone, must occupy every mind and every hand in Ireland until its long-oppressed soil be purged of all its enemies.

Vengeance, Irishmen, vengeance on your oppressors! Remember what thousands of your dearest friends have perished by their merciless orders. Remember their burnings, their rackings, their torturings, their military massacres, and their legal murders. Remember Orr.