which the public had been frowned on the sad occasion, and rejoiced in that factitious dumbness, because, when all was hushed, when nature slept, the weakest voice was heard. "Then, says he," (Curr. Speech in Rex v. Johnson) " The shepherd's whistle "shoots across the listening darkness of the inter"minable heath, and gives notice, that the wolf is up66 on his walk; and the same gloom and stillness, that "tempt the monster to come abroad, facilitate the "communication of the warning to beware. Yes, "through that silence the voice shall be heard.—— "Yes, through that silence the shepherd shall be

put upon his guard.-Yes-through that silence "the felon savage shall be chased into the toils."

INTRODUCTION.

27

19

60

1

124

for warrant read summons

between the words their and extermination

introduce the words oath of

18 for struck read stuck

tempora

THE history of Ireland has been brought from Advanits first connection with England down to its tage of coUnion with Great Britain. That political event ry histohas not realized the flattering, prospects which "Y the British Minister held out to the Irish people, as inducements to adopt the measure. The effects of the Union are of transcendent importance to the British Empire, and cannot be otherwise made known, than by continuing the history of Ireland from its incorporate Union up to the current year. The task of writing modern history is arduous and invidious. Nothing reprehensible, unsuccessful or disastrous can be fairly represented, without wounding the feelings of those, who planned or executed the measure. On the other hand, cotemporary history must ever gratify a people interested in the faithful re

Necessity

cording of their national atchievements. If the truth be at first disguised, distorted or suppressed, it may then be readily rectified or supplied by co-existing documents or testimony; and the existing generation will be assured, that their actions will be handed down in true colours to posterity. The liability of a co-temporary historian to be questioned either in or out of a court of justice for any falsehood, slander or malice, is a security not to be looked for in the writer of remote events. Though Ireland be legislatively united with Great Britain, the history of her people and Government is wholly distinct, and widely different.

In order to bring under the eye of the reader of deve a comprehensive and impartial view of the histoloping the Society of ry of Ireland for the last nine years, which may be

men.

Orange- called the first fruits of the Union, it will be requisite to trace to its source that political power, which had swayed the country for several years previous to the Union, as it still continues, though in a somewhat different manner, to sway it at this hour. As many of the facts, which gave rise and strength to that power happened before 'the period, which forms the subject of this, volume, they are brought forward as introductory matter to the history, which they more materially, than perhaps, ostensibly affect. The existence of the Society of Orangemen in Ireland, has

ever since its institution been productive of such strong effects upon that country, that it is impossible to do her historical justice, without fully representing the different parts, which the Orangemen have been permitted or made to perform upon the national theatre. Although many of their atchievements have found their regular place in the history of the times, in which they happened, yet a minute disquisition concern. ing the rise, progress, nature and effects of that society has become necessary to develope the views, motives and consequences of instituting, countenancing and keeping it on foot,

It exceeds the function of the historian to Protesttrace the acts of government to the private in- ant. As cendancy. ducements of the ministers, who directed them. It is his duty to connect times and circumstances with public measures, and the reader will draw his own consequences. The history of Ireland during the last century is an uninterrupted chain of facts, proving to demonstration, that the government was carried on by keeping up a local ascendancy of foreign power or influence over the natural constitutional rights and interests of that country. It bore succesively the appellations of the King's business, the English interest, the British ascendancy: and then it was an avowed appendage to the patronage of the British minis

B 2

ter.