IRISH REBELLION.
During the sitting of parliament a rebellion had broken out in Ireland. Discussions on this subject had been entered into with closed doors; and in the month of June, when the Irish insurgents had attacked and beaten several detachments of the king’s troops, a message was delivered to parliament from the king, desiring that he might be enabled to take all such measures as might be necessary to defeat any enterprise of his enemies. The chief object of this message was to allow the officers and privates of different militia regiments, who had made a voluntary tender of their services to assist in the suppression of the rebellion, to go to that country and act with the royal troops; and a bill was brought in and carried for that purpose. The rebellion, which was one of a formidable nature, had its origin in the association of United Irishmen, first instituted for obtaining universal suffrage. This association was afterwards re-organized for the accomplishment of a revolution and a separation from Great Britain: parliamentary reform and catholic emancipation being demanded only as pretexts to cover ulterior designs. A correspondence had long been maintained between the leaders of this association and the French directory, and notwithstanding the failure of Hoché, and likewise of a design of another armament, an agent was still resident in Paris. Application was made to the directory for a loan to assist the revolutionists; but the French rulers refused to grant it, unless they were permitted to send sufficient forces to effect the conquest of the country. It was evident that they wanted Ireland for themselves; but the Irish “patriots” wanted to rule themselves, and not to exchange masters; whence they expressed themselves averse to this plan of invasion. The Irish indeed prepared for an insurrection without waiting for continental assistance. They had been ripe for rebellion through a long succession of ages, and no concessions made to them soothed their chafed minds. Their turbulence had manifestly increased from the time of the American war, when the Irish volunteers had been allowed to arm themselves; and, “whether acting wisely or unwisely, liberally or illiberally—whether granting concessions or withholding them, nearly every act of government had tended to augment the disaffection.” For the last ten years concessions had been made to the Irish catholics, who formed about seven-tenths of the population: but it was all to no purpose—the more they obtained, the more they wanted. At length the smouldering embers of disaffection burst forth into a flame. Early in this year a military commission was appointed by the executive council of the United Irish, and nocturnal assemblies were held in various parts of the kingdom. People were, indeed, everywhere sworn in, and it was finally settled that they should take up arms. Rebellion commenced by midnight outrages. The most savage atrocities were committed on those whom the associates were taught to consider as enemies and interlopers in their domains, which outrages were severely retaliated by the Orangemen and military. In February, a pressing letter was addressed by the Irish executive to the French directory, urging them to send immediate succour, and stating that the people of all classes throughout Ireland ready to take up arms amounted to 300,000 men. It was soon discovered that mischief was afloat; and on the 28th of February, Mr. Arthur O’Conner, said to be lineally descended from Roderic O’Conner, King of Connaught, Binns, an active member of the London Correspondent Society, and Coigley, an Irish priest, were arrested at Margate, as they were on their route to France. A paper was found on the priest, addressed “To the French directory;” and this paper and the trial which followed put government in possession of many important secrets. Coigley was executed on Pennenden Heath; O’Conner was remanded on another charge of high-treason; and Binns was acquitted. Several arrests took place in consequence of the information thus gained, and some more papers were discovered in the printing-office where O’Conner had been publishing the revolutionary journal called, “The Press.” But the most complete information obtained by government was from Thomas Reynolds, who was deep in the secrets of the association of United Irishmen. On his information, warrants were issued against several of the principal conspirators: as, Messrs. Emmet, Sampson, and McNevin, and Lord Edward Fitzgerald. The three former of these were soon apprehended; but Lord Fitzgerald concealed himself for some time; and when discovered he made such a desperate resistance, killing a magistrate and wounding others sent to apprehend him, that Major Sirr lodged the contents of a pistol in his shoulder, from the effects of which he soon after died. He was the leader of the conspirators. But notwithstanding his fall, and in spite of the flight or arrest of every member of the “executive.” the Irish flew to arms on the 23rd of May: that being the day appointed for their muster. A body of pikemen, amounting to 14,000, and headed by Father John Murphy, soon made themselves masters of Wexford and Enniscorthy; and having procured some artillery, they fortified a position on Vinegar Hill. Colonel Walpole with a small detachment of Cork Militia fell into an ambuscade, and was slaughtered, together with nearly all his men, by the insurgents; and encouraged by these and other successes they made a rush at Newross, where they began to plunder the inhabitants. But here they received a check. Like the London rioters, they soon became mad with drink; and being attacked by General Johnson, nearly three thousand were either slain or captured. This victory over them was followed by another more decisive: on the 21st of June General Lake attacked the fortified position at Vinegar Hill, and carried it with a frightful loss to the insurgents. The rebels, indeed, never rallied again; and though some fearful atrocities were committed by isolated bands of them, they were, in effect, from that time subdued. Soon after, Lord Camden was recalled from the lieutenancy of Ireland, and he was succeeded by Lord Cornwallis, who brought with him a general pardon to all who submitted. Four of the leading conspirators were executed; O’Conner, McNevin, Emmet, and Sampson were banished; and others were pardoned. The rebellion was somewhat revived in August, when three French frigates reached Killola, and threw on shore nine hundred troops of the line, commanded by General Humbert; but though these troops were joined by some catholics, and though Humbert defeated General Lake, and advanced into the heart of the country, he was eventually beaten by the advanced guard of General Cornwallis, who was marching against him with troops of the line, and on the 8th of September, the French laid down their arms, and became prisoners of war. Subsequently, another French armament reached the western coast of Ireland; but Sir John Borlase Warren met it there with his squadron, and captured one ship of the line, and three frigates; and the rest of the armament, consisting of five frigates, returned to France. On board the French ship of the line was Wolfe Tone, one of the Irish leaders of the rebellion: his execution was the last on account of this outbreak. Ireland was again quieted, but it was only for a brief season. It has ever been its fate to be disturbed by agitation, and to this hour it remains the same. It is, in fact, a fine field for the agitator: the ardent passions of the people are easily worked upon; and he who is bold or artful enough to address himself to those passions, is ever sure of obtaining a listening and an admiring audience.