The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-01 00:00:00

MEMOIRS OF C4P2'AIN liner,
Tlt CELEIMAT ED IRISH CHIZFTAIN I WITH SHIER
ACCOUNT OF HIS ♦NCISTOIL.

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

[Continued from the British Press of Wednesday.l
The next era in the patriarchal government of Ireland
brings us to the reign of CHA ai.es the Final.. This mis-
guided Monarch stripped the tree of libert7 to the bark,
but he brought his own head to the block. Phis memento
rwri, though useful to England as far as the example went,
brought no a'iat.mient of oppression to the sister kingdom.
Captain Roes, with true patriotic feeling, reprobates the
flizitiout conduct and character of Lord Strafford; he de-
signates him as a man whom the lovers of arbitrary power
ought to canonize, for seldom has more lustre been tlnown
over their bad cause than by '' thase rare abilities of his (as
Lord Digby expresses it), of which God gave him the use,
but the Devil the application." The readiness of CHARLI.s
to_leo his authority to the accomplishment of any guilty
achiOne of extortion which Sr ma Frost, might be willing to
resnleute, and his anxiety, at the same time, to keep his own
pOrlonal reputation clear from all suspicion, and himself of
IC royal responsibility, is strongly characteristic of the du-
pitchy and meanness of this unfortunate Monarch:—
•• Marks thus acknowledges this faithful service of his ' dote
4141,1Wili*--
• WUNTWORTH,
• Bekaa I answer any of your particular leiters to me, I must
you that your last public despatch has given me a great deal of
OCUCOICIIt l and especially for the keeping off the envy of a ne-
negative from me of those unreasonable Graces that people
imported from me.'
The undisguised selfishness of Charles snorters also on another
ere alien, where, in recommending to Strefford's attention some
grants on the Irish establishment, which he was either to concede I
o- refuse, as the good of the service required. he says, • yet so, ;
too, as I may have thanks howsoever; that if there be any thing to ,
's be dashed, you may do it, not I.' "
adNeva were sort reign and subject better linked together
is he good old cause." The fate of both has left an in-
stFuctlhisoample on record of the end to which the shame-
ful prostititiwar may Iced even its moat favoured
suilstlFftiger of trifling too far with the for-
a=ceot a long-enduring but high-spirited people. '
The writer concludes this chapter with the following im-
pressive and eloquent observation : i
" The splendid talents of Lord Strafford, and the imposing dig-
nity of his death, nay well justify a feeling of sympathy in his
Mei bat there would he no living in this world it there were not
sorb examplea, to hang up in the halls where Power holds his
revel, and, like those awful mementos in the banqueting.rooms t f
the Egyptians, chasten his pride and check the exuberance of his
The history of governments, since the world began, is
little better than a history of the battles between the op-
pr:uors and the oppressed. Never was the diorama of
despotism exhibited on a grander scale, or with less change
of scene, than in that kingdom which has for so many cen-
turies roused the refractory spirit of the Roc's.
u To an amateur of Rebellions, like myself," says the writer i f
these Memoirs, -... the contemplation of even an old Irish one is as
gratifying as the study of a real ciaqmr.cento to a connoisseur—'ho
skill with which the Government has always funishesl the matt-
rials for the work being only equalled by the con-spirit° style in
which the people have always esteemed it.
" There is extant in our family a jouraal kept by one of my
ancestors, during theearly part of the great Rebellion of 1811, and
though the old gentleman who wrote it was bed-ridden at the
time, and
cia
ore meld not share in the pastime that was going
on, the intense *test which he took in the progress of the revolt,
sad the alternative of his hopes and fears, according as the Govern-
ment threw in isomer less fuel to the name, we expressed with a
degree of emus tees and nuiveti which may render the perusal or
a tea extracts net altogether unpleasant.
" These details are also carious, as giving us an insight into the
poems by which great Rebellions have always been got up in Ire-
land. The mate drama, a little modernized, was acted over again
in 1798; and the prompter's book and stage directions are still at
hand is the archives of Dublin Castle, whenever an able Orange
manager shall brionnd to preside over a renewal of the spectacle.
" ' IS, 1811.—Matters took well. Sir William Paz-
MIN iliereterillttly declared, at a public entertainment that,
within a twelvemonth no Catholic shall be seen in Irclari—have
despatched this speech to Ulster, where Sir ?helm' O'Neal will
tom it unto good account. Also, Sir Jahn Clotworthy bath said
in the House of Commons, that the conversion of the Papists of
Ireland is only to be effected by a Bible in one hand and a sword
in the other. This, with a little engrafting of other matter thereon,
cannot fail, in time, to bring forth good fruit. That gallant gen.
Gauen, Roger Moore, is busy in the North : those robberies caga-
mixed.= his noble ancestors, whereby himself is made a beggar,
do emegsteu:t him.
.4S lb & —lnformers, it is said, have been to the Castle,
to reprossnt the enamel and suspicious resort of persons to the
house of Sir ?hellos O'Neal; as also the secret journeys of the Lord
Maguire, Bs. b.c. /Jet diem is no fear that the Lards Justices
liar semaiLat then threwarnings Rei,ellion is that
li.yftlll=itcp, and they at least will not be the ' to kill lt.
lb There wanted a puff to the flame in the North,
aml it both some as seasonably as we could have desired. Certain
petitions have been, at public assizes and other public places,
awls knows and read to many persona of quality, purporting that
t .e extirpafion of the Catholics is at hand, and that all who will
a t forthwith turn Protestants, shall be hanged up at their own
dices. This news hash been like a match unto the mine. Sir
?helm &Nest hash already seiz.id upon the Castles of Cherie-
/nom and 31usintjoy—'1'arderagee huh been surprised by O'llan-
las—fiir Con ilagenals is in possession of Newry. and a bold dash
bath been made into Fermanagh by Rogn slaguire. Blood-
letting, however, is, as yet, but rare; Doe bath any province except
Ulster yet risen.
.• • 26.—Yesterday their Catholic Lordship. of the pale. Lords
Gormsnetown, Netterville, Fitzwilliain, Howth, Kildare. Illegal,
Duasany. and Slane, went to the Council to express their abhor-
ranee of dm conspiracy that bath broken forth, and to demand
amm for their own defence, and the annoyance of the enemy. But
t le Leeds Justices did dismiss them with much cob:Lint and eva-
sion,* and with but saint supply of arms, whereat they are, as
might be expected, sorely mortihed. Most marvellously do these
Leeds Justices play into our hands ; and if they but prosper in
putting these great Nobles of the pale into desperation, we shall, in
truth. have rare work of it!

• November 10.—A11 again looks downward, and there seem-
eth but small chance of a general rising this winter. His Majesty
hath writ over to the Lords Justices that he will no longer deceive
1 is loving subjects of Ireland, but that, In the Parliament forth-
with to be assembled, the long-desired Graces shall be propounded
and continued. Blank tidings these for our gallants in the North.
Boger Moore may now go whistle after his fair Leinster domains,
a.nd Sir Phelim must turn the old Tyrone helmet into a drinking-
cup. Our only hope is in the Lords Justices.
• November li.—The Lords Justices have prorogued the Par.
'lament without suffering the promised Graces to be therein pro-
pounded, or even mentioned, whereby all chance of • re.
of grievances is haply at an end, and we may now expect a
right merry winter. The Byrnes of Wicklow were up on the 12th,
the twesty.four o',Parrels of Longford have joined, and the Tooles
:nd Cavanagh; of Crterlogh are stirring.
• November Ill.—Tidings just come to hand, that on the night
of the 13th alt. the English and Scotch of Carrickfergus did issue
fords, and wick and murder, in the island of Magee, 3,090 men,
woman, and children, all isnoeent persons, there being as yet no
appcartinee of revolt in that quarter. If this cloth not cause all Ire-
land to rule on the sudden, then is the blood of her :11acs run dry,
a d bee ancient O's becwae cyphers indeed.
" • 19.—Already hash the scabbard been put away, since the
foul advaiturt of Island Magee; and, at Lurgan, and other places,
repayment hash been taken, with heavy interest, fur the treachery
of that night. Sir Phelim is Bow blooded, and we shall not soon
us the er d Wt. _ _

Deeember 3.—The Lords Justices have taken bark, with
mash insult, the few arms eitruated to the Lords of the Pale, and
banished them from Dublin. whereby the disaffection of these
great Nobles is decided, and they are already, it is said, communing
with IlaTeaMuore.
titer Coote bath, in reward of his mut-
drone aroma at Wicklow, ben appointed Governor of Dublin.
Deonsber S.--There is at order of both Houses of the
END O! Parliament, dated November 30. directing the Lords
Juslisee to "grant his Alajcsty's pardon to all those who, within
acenvanient time, shall return to their obedience. Tills might, as
the saying goes. spoil sport, but that the Lords Justices are too
keen on their scent of forfeitures to suffer themselves t 3 be turned
therefrom by any such clemency: accordingly, no proclamation
of Altonature Mali appeared, and nutters go on right riotously
" 'December 9.—Mumeer will soon be up, for the Lord Peal-
Otint bath gone thither to tranquillise it. He bath already put to
dßath four persons at Ballyuwen, hanged six innocent labourers at
Ballymurria, and eight at Ballygelburt ; and when those loyal
Lentlemen, the Butlers of Xilveyleghlen and Ballynsitill, with the
ord Duabense at their head. alarmed by the illLlotxl which this
.enteity had isreduced, did wine to oiliv their services in preserving
the peace of the province, the Lord President told them, in his
hasty, furious stay, that 'they were all rebels dike, that he would
not trust use rout of them, but thought it snore prudent to hang
the best of them.' Whether these noble eentlemen will continue
to be loyal 'fun such speeches, remains to be seen.
" 'December. —At last the Longs aid Gentlemen of the Niche's
declared themeelass, and now the whole nation bath risen in arms.
The salt which their supreme Council path framed to itself.
wherewith to seal all credentials of office. beareth first the wark of ,
a long cross, then, on the right side, • crown; on the left a harp,'
with a dove 'lame, and a Naming heart below the cross, with. round
about, this iti.tription:—' Pro Deo, a liege, et phi& Ilitkerig;6'
anot.'irets! "

And yet we exclaim to this slay againtst " the rebellious

" • In the same manner the offers of the Catholic gentry in
1798, to raise regiments, &c. were cohlly rejected ; :tad Mr. nun-
liet lusted, from his own knowledge, in the House of Common.,
Ise Snssions,ahilt though, during the whole of the Rebellion, the
liolllll/111 Catholics were omit anxious to enter into the yeomanry
corps of Dublin, the Protestants almost invariably refused them
at:Adam:let,. 1, rigidly, of that period, was Sir. Vt Parson's "c-
-tn.,: for We raising up of a goal rebellion uttaladed to.