it is admitted, embodies the most interesting portion of the history of Ireland. O'CONNELL, during the vacations, was always in the habit of visiting his native hills; where mountain exercise invigorated his frame, and the Atlantic wave "rolling over from the coast of Labrador," perpetually reminded him of the sad, political and social, condition of his own "GREEN ISLE." It was during one of these periodical visits, in 1807, that he first publicly exhibited his oratorical powers, at a political meeting of his own County. It was on that fruitful subject, Tithes. O'CONNELL was, as we have observed above, always remarkable for his readiness in reply. His earliest efforts exhibit no previous preparation; his thoughts appear to have been generally elicited by something which occurred at the moment; and though he may, and must have, at all times, well considered the subject on which he spoke, and on great occasions arranged his ideas; yet, he invariably trusted to the moment for his selection of words, and was prepared to take advantage of any incidental circumstance, while he kept steadily in view the main and leading topics which he intended to develop. This ready faculty he exhibited at the meeting in Kerry, where he succeeded in turning into complete and painful ridicule, the well-prepared address of one of the previous speakers. He so completely answered the statements and arguments of the upholders of the Tithe system, who spoke before him, that he produced a decisive impression; and he and the KNIGHT of KERRY carried triumphantly the anti-Tithe resolutions. CHAPTER II. 1808-1815. As the principle on which, for some years, the Govern-ment of Ireland was conducted, was first departed from in 1807, under the RICHMOND Administration, it may be well, before we proceed in our sketch of passing events, to take a retrospective glance at the policy to which we al lude-namely, the policy of playing off, one against the other, the two political parties into which the Nation was divided; alternately cajoling and coercing both. The policy adopted towards Ireland, before 1800,by PITT, was pursued for the purpose of creating disunion, and weakening the energies of the country, in order to facilitate the Legislative Union. The hopes of the Catholics were alternately depressed and encouraged by that wily Statesman. In 1793, extended privileges were granted them ; in 1794, their expectations were raised to the highest pitch, by the appointment of Lord FITZWILLIAM. All this created angry feelings in the minds of the ultra-Protestant party, who, throwing aside the doubtful appellative of "Peep of Day Boys," assumed the more celebrated designation of " Orangemen." So far, the policy of division succeeded, and the scheme of a Legislative Union was thereby advanced; for this system led the Orangemen to imagine that an Union with England could alone preserve their unnatural ascendency, amidst a Catholic population. Again, it was necessary to prepare the Catholics for the reception of impressions favourable to the measure.— Lord FITZWILLIAM, the centre of their hopes, was sud G denly, and without ostensible cause, removed, at the very moment that the people of Ireland expected Emancipa. tion through his instrumentality. Lord CAMDEN, the inveterate opposer of their claims, succeeded him. The Irish Parliament joined this Viceroy, in unrelenting hostility to the Catholics. It was hopeless for that body to approach the Parliament of College-green and they were insidiously taught to expect a better reception from the more liberal feelings of an Imperial Legislature. It was this hope that induced the Catholics, after the disastrous horrors of 1798, to lend a too ready ear to the proposition for an Union. Thus, in the first place, by division, and then by alternately operating on the feelings of both parties, in this country, PITT succeeded in effecting his darling, but, to Ireland, fatally pernicious project. When he had completed the annihilation of Irish Independence, his policy, and that of his immediate successors, changed.The Government of Lord CORNWALLIS was equitable and conciliatory; at the same time that he continued to play with the hopes of the Catholics, without holding out the most distant prospect of their expectations being realized. Lord HARDWICK'S Government was mild and just. He adopted the policy, of giving a triumph to neither party; whilst he endeavoured, by his agents, to propagate the doctrine, that political power was inconsistent with the religious dogmas of Catholicity. It was in the spirit of this policy that he dimissed the noted JOHN GIFFARD from the office of Registrar of theCustom House in Dublin, value £500 a year, for having excited feelings of animosity, in the Dublin Corporation, against the Catholics, by his extravagant slanders, and for having been instrumental in inducing the adoption, by that body, of a petition to Parliament against any further concessions to these religionists. Government were, on that account, afraid, that if he kept the office which he then held, the people would believe he acted under their authority. That this was the cause of his dismissal, was confirmed in 1808, by Mr. PONSONBY, in his place in Parliament; who stated, that "he heard the Government of that day did take the step "of dismissing Mr. GIFFARD, because he had proceeded “in a manner most offensive, against the Catholics of Ireland, and in such a way as was calculated to keep alive "all those religious discords and animosities, which unhappily were then too prevalent." 6.6 The Duke of BEDFORD came over in 1806, as the Whig Lord Lieutenant. He, of course, was favourable to the removal of Catholic disabilities: but he also pursued the more temporising policy. Division was not then the object of England: and he too endeavoured to govern, with. out encouraging, too highly, the hopes of the Catholic population, or giving a triumph to either party. The Duke of RICHMOND, under the PERCEVAL and PORTLAND administration was, the first, since the Union, to commence the system of governing by A PArty, and FOR A PARTY. Up to 1831, during the continuance of the Tory domination, that system was studiously pursued n Ireland. JOHN GIFFARD was immediately appointed to the office of Accountant-General to the Customs, and Dr. DUIGENAN, the violent enemy of the people of Ireland, was made a Privy Councillor. So abandoned was the principle of this elevation considered, that the circumstance was brought before the House of Commons, and occasioned a very animated debate, in which Sir JOHN NEWPORT and Mr. TIERNEY, both distinguished themselves. Mr. TIERNEY'S speech was an excellent specimen of his cutting sarcasm. The only excuse given by Government for this elevation of a man, whose political career was remarkable solely for his bitter, unrelenting, and untiring hostility to his Catholic countrymen; and who had the daring impudence to insult them, by stating, in the face of Parliament, that the four millions of Irish Catholics 66 were in theory rebels, and only wanted an opportunity to be traitors in practice," the only excuse given by the Government for the appointment of such a man, was, that he was a judge of the Prerogative Court! It was a paltry prevarication, in order to cover the deep designs of throwing, by degrees, the whole weight of power into the hands of the Protestant Ascendency; and, like the reduction which took place in the grant to Maynooth, was an indication of the future system to be adopted in the Government of Ireland. It was during this aspect of affairs in Ireland, and with the "No Popery" cry raging loudly in England, that, in the commencement of 1808, the Irish Catholics began to consider, silent submission opened to them no hope; and, that they again bethought themselves of petitioning the Legislature. They met in January, 1808, in Dublin; Lord FINGALL, in the Chair. It was at that meeting agreed, that the petition, committed last year to the care of his Lordship, should be again presented, during the approaching Session. O'CONNELL, on this occasion, exhibited his usual good taste and judgment, in preventing a serious division on the particular mode of obtaining the sentiments of the Catholic Body respecting the Petition. There was evinced considerable dissatisfaction because the Public were not more fully consulted respecting the proceedings. Mr. O'CONNOR, of Ballynegare, made his debut at this meeting, by endeavouring to procure an adjournment, in order to have a more general meeting of the Catholics at an early day. Mr. O'CONNELL's eloquence succeeded in preventing a division, and Mr. O'CONNOR withdrew his motion. O'CONNELL, on this |