Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-17
DAILY EVENING STAR.
THOMAS DEvIN REILLY.

| IhlS week a strong, wild, fiery spirit
has left the earth and gone to his home,
Thomas Devin Reilly has died suddenly
at Washington. Of all Irish rebels, he
was the boldest-of all Irish exiles, the
most active, indefatigable, relentless: the
wrongs Of his native land had taken en-.
tire possession of his soul: the dark and
blood-stained image of English power
haunted lin like an evil demon his
master passion was love of Ireland-his
religion was hatred Of England, whose
execrated dominion he held to be not only
the greatest. but almost the sole evil
thing IN creation. n; O., -f Ius.rs,,...-t ....
And England has lost an inveterate foe:
we, generous, cordial, unselfish friend.
lie was one of those impetuous. kindly.
exagSerativc, proud, and humble, fierce
and gentle natures, that the Irish soil and
climate only know how to produce, blent
together IN one man. In person, and in
many points o. character, he was like that
other wayward Irishman, Oliver Gold
smith: SO like in person that some of the
illustrations in Fosters Life of Goldsmith
seem intended for him. But he was far,
stronger man than Goldsmith, and had
more height and depth and true poetry
in his soul. Thus he saw, with far other
eyes and far other thoughts the deserted
villages" Of ireland. The sight of them
scared his eye-ballS IS and burned his heart:
and SO instead Of pastoral poetry and
sentimental regrets over the victims of
Britain's inscrutablc dispensatiops, he
made the island echo with passionate
malediction against the Oppressor loud as
the voice of the Accusing Angel, eloquent
and scornful as the defiances of bound
PrometheuS.
In vain, the dispensations of British
Providence prevailed for that time and.
ever since, Reilly has gnawed his heart in
exlle-exlle as penal to him as if he had
gone with his friends to Australia, for his
soul dwelt in Ireland.
In fact, he never forgave his friend John |
Martin with whom he was associated in |
the Irish Felon) for taking precedence of
him in the honor of being a convict by |
London law. Mr.. Martin was proprietor
and editor, however, ard stood upon his
right; when the generous dispute went
so far that friends were appointed to ar
bitrate between them, and poor Reilly
pleaded before them with flushed face
and flashing eyes, that it was his right
and privilege to be transported next
They decided against him: and before
he could take his place on the list, the |
HabeaS Corpus Act was sup p1nded. lie
could no longer launch his treasons from
Trinity street /; and the attempted insur-
rection failed, and, after ranging half
frantically over Tipperary. he betook
himself in disguise to America, to weave
again the broken meshes of our sacred
rebellion.
Perhaps if he had lived one other year
ne might have had the opportunity that
MS soul craved and lusted after. But
nay he rest in peace and may his men,
,ry be green and fragrant in the Irish
lcart forever! e,
Mr.. Reilly's literary performances were
yaried both in style and subject; and
seldom acknowledged, as is usually the
,ase with contributors to periodicals.
But his adventures and vicissitudes, both
literary and personal, and the gallant
spirit that he held SO high through them
Ill, make him character Of whom his
will desire to know more
HltoheFs Citizen.