The Wilmingtonian., 1823-12-18

which was raised for the preservation Of their 6

AAhE 70 L ISCL /, dt Do ~, pei dnnuH-
which was raised for the preservation of their Z
lcountry. k
Fortunately his discourse was not lost upon his I
audience. The iron Of slavery had entered into
their souls, they had felt the sting of poverty, and
the sense Of their national degradation, and weret
lready to embrace any prospect of emancipating
themselves, however desperate it might appear |
They had hearts too that could feel, and hands:
that could WELD sword and as the stranger
saw the tears coursing down the cheeks of tlle
young cottsger, and the crimson fire ofindigna-
lton flashed from the eyes of the elder, he embra-
ced them both with transport, and promised toI
meet them on the ensuing evening. on the bleak
moor that adjoined the village where they re-
sided.
4 The night soon arrived, and having taken anil
atfectionate leave, the one of his betroled bride,
the other of his wife and daughter, the couplel
set forward on their march.-As the clock from
the village church struck eight, they entered onl
the place appointed for their meeting. At the
'lremotest corner OF the moor they observed man
folded in night.mantle fastening to join them
lit was the stranger-he hailed their appearance
with transport, and taking hand of each, desi,
, red them to accompany him in silence. The par
lily soon quilted the moor, and they cut rapid,
: across the high road, discovered numerousl
company of horse patrol securing along the path
with their swords drawn, and their steel helmets
flashing through the darkness OF the night. BY
e creeping under the hedges they were easily ena-
{ bled to avoid them, and when the sound of their
+ Preceding steps could be heard no longer, they
cautiously stole from their hiding place, and pur
hlsued their midnight march.
e 4, They had now entered on dark mountain pass
ienclosed on either side by enormous precipices,
(which rose to an awful distance above them be-
y yond, lowered a gloomy forest of pines, and to
49, III. <l;c4ar
THE bleak hills of Wicklow. The dead of night
: drew on-and as the hollow wind roared dismal
,.elly through the opening cliffs in the mountains
" the spirits of the travellers assumed correspon
y y ding tone Of detection. They moved on in 81
2 lence-not however, without an occasional mur
,e mur from the cottager and his son-in-aw. as tt
:. the direction of the road they were pursuing
,,'e they had already commenced an angry expostn
y lation, when the waning moon peeped through
IS, the dark moving mass OF clouds in which she hat
hr been buried, and revealed the whole cxpanse o
le the deep blue ocean, which roared at the base o
40 the mountain; along whose bleak submits the
~ were winding In few minutes they had gain
ed the further side of the pass, and could distinct
ly hear the hum of human voices, The echoins
clash of arms, and seeing the dim chickering's G
!. an hundred torches, revealing to their surprise
= = yawning cavern that seemed opening to receiv
e, them. They advanced towards the entrances
y where an lrishman in the native dress of hi
= y country, was pacing to and fro, with pike
- Ibis hand, and a heavy broad-sword by his side.
y Is Who goes there I" he exclaimed, levelling hi
=, weapon at the approaching party. "Friends,
>, !, was the reply. "The watchword !"-" The En-
erald lse,' returned the other, and Fastening o
=, brisky, accompanied by his two aslonished con
tol olpanons.
wi After winding through narrow passage ths
's admitted but one at a time, their eyes were da
|, . zled by the gttering radiance Of torch.lght
~ that illumined the dark vaults OF the cavern the
had Just entered. A large charcoal fire hurne
lin tile middle of the cave, and threw sulphuro,
, -" glare on the rugged features of the group tb
~ tsurrounded it. From the centre OF the vaulte
u. tceiling, lamp suspended, and on every sic
Chung broadswords, pistols, and other instrumen
AAssof war On The entrance of the stranger and h
y. ~ companons, the rebels advanced to meet hir
o and paid him that involuntary respect, which tr,
= peeiJgnty never fails of extortng from the vulga
50 He had thrown off his mantle, but his featur
,,,n were carefully concealed in mask and rendcrt
'ne detection impossible. He was habited in a sir
pie suit of green, with white plume of feathe
waving in his cap, and with firm step advance
towards his two companions, and recommend,
them to the rest of the groupe, as friends to Z
liberty of Ireland, and who had resolved to ri
their lives in her service. They were both I
ceived with shouts of applause, the fearful oa
'rd, ,of allegiance was taken and they were instant
equipped with arms to be used in the ensui
lcontest.
Days rolled on, and with every hour the reb
ont received formidable addition to their faml
ino during the morning, and assembled each night
|, na@the cavern we have just described, but with su
=" precaution, that they were enabled to battle
nss penetration of the soldiers who were stationed
u, compsnes throughout the country. The tre
- .bles of Ireland in the meanwhile ragged with VI
,hs bated energy; prescriptions followed proscr
nytions, the sentiments OF liberty were tortured
re. to the language of treason, and the English mi
tary oppressed the unfortunate Irish with t
most unexampled tyranny. The whole OF
lower classes. on whom the yoke fell the heavie
determined at last to struggle for the recovery
we'd their freedom, and wisely resolved to take
,ur first opportunity of exer,ng their energies.
her On gloomy nigh, in Autumn, they assembl
had in Thomas-street, Dublin, where they had pre-
had ously deposited their and awaited in anxo
'me expectation the signal that was to announce TIN
the rising As the bell from the castle clock stru
the the hour of six, lights were seen burning on
sed submits of the neighbouring hills, the roar
and musquetry was heard, and al fearful contest to-
leir place in the crowded streets OF the city. !,
sen . .alarm hell was rune the riot act read, and Il