Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-04-03

PShueHCc YOU 50 SiorlouSiy acquired, ana
the world will pronounce you Its best, its
most illustriouS benefactor"
~ 1s.--
WASHINGTON CITY, March 81.
The following letter has been put into
our hands by 4 gentleman, who thinks with
us mat the strange transactions to which Il
relates have not been sufficiently develop
Ed. we all know something of the horrid
scenes of tyranny of which Ireland, mise
rabie Ireland, has been recently the thea
tire. these scenes were the natural Off
spring OF monarchy and oppression-they
are every where To be found where kings
and priests govern. Shocked, therefore,
as our feelings may be at their recital, they
occasion butiittle surprise. But that the A.
merican government, or its Representative {,
should become the engine Of carving this
oppressive system into effect, that they
should aggravate the sufferings Of the op-
pressed, that, in viola lion of the constitu-
tons and laws, established principles and
deeP-rooted feelings OF the nation, they
should deny them an asylum in this country,
when offered to them by their tyrants, is
s"'7'r1strS and merits perpetual remem:
oranec. The correspondence between Mr..
Adams, or his Secretary, and Mr.. King, on
TINS subject has never been published. 1t
ccrid scarcely fail TO be the best common
tary OH the times OF Alien and Sediton
bills.
For prudential reasons relative to the
gentleman who wrote the letter given, we
! suppress his name and some circumstan-
ces of personal nature.
The letter is from respectable Irish
gentleman, resident in the state of New
York, and is dated March ?, 1907.
"MY DEAR FRIEND,
"God knows with what sentiments of
fond remembrance | read over your letter
again and again--it is long since reckon
cd you amongst the dead, for had heard
of such an event taking place before left
ireland. But to find you alive and in such
respectable circumstances as your situa-
ton indicates, gives me a degree OF plea
sure which connot we'll describe.
You desire me to give you AN account
of my affairs and my situation. Just Hea-
ven. was to relate the occurrences OF my
life since last saw you, 'twould fill more
than an hundred pages. / will in a few
words tell you, that nave been four years
shut up in dungeon-I was arrested in the
beginning of '98, and effected my escape
from Dublin Castle; Igot on board ship of
my own, and arrived in Norway; thence
passing through Zealand and Germany,
got to France, where heard that all e2ipe-
dition had just sailed for Ireland. | then
made the best of my way to Hamburger,
and entered las a common sailor) on board
a vessel bound for Liverpool. When lar
rived there, found that the handful of
French (l087) that landed in Killalla after
having performed prodigles of valor, were
obliged to surrender-that the principals
of their Irish adherents were hanged, and
that there was 4 reward of FIVE hundred
guineas for my apprehension.-I then hcd
from Liverpool to Cumberland, in the North
of Englang, where partly with friend, and
partly in thick woodnear his house, re-
manned four months, at the end of which
| time the state prisoners then confined in the
different iails in Dublin, made stipulati-
on with the government that they should
Danish themselves for life TO the II. States 4:
and they also stipulated that if thought
proper I might surrender myself on the
same terms. | ayailed myselfof this, ac-
cordingly gave myself up in an unhappy
hour this time, federalism, (but more
appropriate term would be aristocracv) in
this country was in the wane, and verrinp
fast to dissolution, the min ster from this to
the court of St. Jamcs's, was RUFUS King.
who being directed Gas he sadly by his 90
vernment, preferred memorial or protest
against us, and easily obtained the promise
of the British government not to let us come
here without his consent first had in writing,
permitting such emigration. There were
two persons of our party, Henry Jackson
and John Lynch, who through the interest
of some duke or duchess Il SUPPOSE got
leave 20 come to America. l also wrote to
him, and received an answer, that GAS I
was so highly recommended ifI would trans
NIT him petition, praying for leave, he
would inclose it to his government, and lie
made no doubt 10y accompanying it with
the documents which he then held in my
favor) but / would obtain the desired per-
mission" This letter l answered, tel
ling him, that never would so solicit ::
that the crime had committed (by the bye,
he made use Of the word) formed in my
mind, his countrymen's best distinction,
that would lie in jail, till my locks grew
" as white as the foam of the ocean," Sc.
& other such language i'll suited 70 a court
ly ear. In consequence, lay mia three
years after this; in the mean time, the
great philosopher was placed at the head
of the government of this country, but ow-
ing to some commercial or other reasons,
King was not recalled, neither could we
tell at that distance, and shut up as we were