Illustrated by Delineations of the principal Characters connected with
those Transactions, curious Letters and Papers in fac-simile; and
numerous Original Portraits engraved by the elder HEATH.
* * * * *
Unforeseen circumstances, over which the Author had no influence or
control, had altogether checked the progress of this Work, suspended the
publication of its latter parts, and left them on the Publisher’s
shelves unadvertised and uncirculated.
This temporary relinquishment had given rise to unfounded and injurious
reports of its suppression; an object which never was for one moment in
the contemplation of the Author, nor sought for, or even suggested, by
the Government of England.
On the contrary—the lamentable and unimproving march of Ireland from the
period of the Union having fully proved the deceptious prospective given
to that fatal measure by its mistaken or corrupt supporters, and
exciting a novel interest and grave reflections of vital importance to
the British Empire, the Author had determined to seize upon the first
available opportunity of fulfilling his engagement to the friends and
patrons of the Work, by its completion.
Those friends were not confined to one party. They were mingled in
all—they comprised several of the highest orders of society—many who
held, and some who still hold, important stations in the Government of
both countries:—and the commencing parts of this Work having been
honoured by the approbation and encouragement of His late Majesty and
other Members of His Royal House, it was with deep regret the Author
found himself, from a succession of causes, for several years unable to
fulfil his intentions, and gratify his own laudable ambition, by
compiling into a compact Memoir the most important Historic Events of
Ireland. In many of those he was himself a not unimportant actor. He
possessed also the advantage of individual intimacy or acquaintance with
the most celebrated personages of all parties; without which, and the
fidelity of a contemporary and independent pen, the delineation of their
characters and the record of their conduct, if not lost for ever, would
have descended to posterity with imperfect details and an ambiguous
authenticity,—or have left a wide chasm in a highly interesting epocha
of British History.
The fallacious measure of a Legislative Union,—the progress of which
from commencement to consummation the Author energetically resisted—has
proved, by its inoperative or mischievous results, the justness of that
resistance. And he now, in common with many of the most distinguished of
its original supporters, deeply deplores its accomplishment. But
established by lapse of time—confirmed by passive assent—and complicated
with some beneficial, and many political and financial arrangements, its
tranquil reversal seems to have passed feasibility. Yet—as an hereditary
friend to British connexion—the Author hopes, by the revival and
completion of this History, to open wide the eyes of Great Britain to
the present dangers of Ireland—to draw aside the curtain of ignorance
and prejudice by which her history has been so long obscured—to compare
her once rising prosperity with her existing miseries—to discover the
occult causes of their continuance and the false principles of her
misrule—to display her sacrifices for England—and to unmask her
libellers in both countries.
Developments such as these may rouse the Legislature to probe her wounds
to their depth—to employ her labour—to succour—to foster—and to rule her
on the broad principles of a steady and philanthropic policy—and to
relinquish for ever that system of coercive Government, which an
experience of many centuries has proved to be destructive of almost
every thing—except her crimes and her population.
The British people should also learn that the absence of the ancient
Nobles and protecting Aristocracy of Ireland,—drawn away by the Union
from their demesnes and their tenantry to the Seat of Legislation, and
replaced only by the griping hands and arbitrary sway of upstart
deputies,—increases in proportion with the miseries and turbulence of
the lower orders; and that the luxuriance of vegetation which clothes
that capable Island, has, through the same causes, become only a
harbinger of want, or the forbidden fruit of a famished peasantry.
It should therefore be the object of every pen and of every tongue, to
render the Union as innoxious as its paralysing nature can now admit of;
to recall the proprietors of the Irish soil to a sense of their own
security and their country’s welfare; and thereby strengthen the ties
which should bind the two nations together, in equality, prosperity, and
affection—on the firmness and durability of which _species_ of connexion
depends, not only the constitutional security of England herself, but
perhaps the political existence of both countries.
Such is the Author’s view in the completion of this Work. The obstacles
to its progress are surmounted, and its publication is now in the hands
of those who will spare nothing to render it worthy of its object, and
ensure a lasting and beneficial record to the United Empire.
It is fortunate for Ireland, and disastrous to her calumniators, that a
recent and great event has at once exposed the misrepresentations of her
enemies, and displayed a great source of her misfortunes. The visit of a
conciliating King to a distracted people rapidly disclosed their native
character, and produced a burst of unfeigned, unanimous, genuine
loyalty, never before experienced in such profusion by any Monarch from
his subjects. The equivocating language of diplomacy was rejected for a
while. The King was a Patriot, and the People were loyal. For the first
time they were allowed to approach each other. Both were sincere—and
both were ardent. In a few days, the King became despotic in the
affections of the Nation, and his Ministers descended into a comparative
insignificance. When he arrived, he was respected as a British King—but
when he departed, he was adored as an Irish Monarch. He saw at once that
the existence of faction and discord was incompatible with the peace and
prosperity of Ireland; and that she hung on Great Britain, as a
withering limb upon a healthful body—essential to its symmetry, but
useless to its functions, and injurious to its Constitution.
There was but one remedy—conciliation. His Majesty saw its efficacy and
commanded its adoption.—But his commands were disobeyed by the _Regal
Rebels_[53]—and Ireland is still seen withering and cankering—by the
obstinacy of intolerant faction, the irritation of local tyranny, and
the multiplying mischiefs resulting from disobedience to the benevolent
and wise commands of the only British King who ever yet set foot on the
Irish shore as a friend and as a patriot.
-----
Footnote 53:
Mr. Grattan’s definition of men, “_Who make their loyalism a pretence
to perpetuate their supremacy,—and distract the peace of a country
under colour of protecting it_.”
-----
* * * * *
The above work will shortly be completed in ten numbers, royal 4to,
price 10_s._ 6_d._ each, and published by Messrs. COLBURN and BENTLEY,
New Burlington Street, London; BELL and BRADFUTE, Edinburgh; and JOHN
CUMMING, Dublin: and subscribers are particularly requested to send
their orders to their respective booksellers for the completion of their
sets.
PRINTED BY A. J. VALPY,
RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcriber’s note:
Title page, ‘TWO’ changed to ‘THREE,’ “IN THREE VOLUMES.”
Page viii, ‘—’ inserted after ‘comedy,’ “Modern comedy—The French stage”
Page 4, ‘wont’ changed to ‘won’t,’ “I won’t humour you”
Instances of ‘N. B.’ on pages 16, 22, and 23 have been normalised to
“N.B.”
Page 34, ‘guaging’ changed to ‘gauging,’ “determined on gauging Frank,”
Page 56, ‘scull’ changed to ‘skull,’ “both had iron skull-caps”
Page 78, ‘her’s’ changed to ‘hers,’ “caught his eye, closed her’s again”
Page 79, ‘years’ changed to ‘years’,’ “After two years’ struggle”
Page 81, ‘Madona’ changed to ‘Madonna,’ “sat for a Madonna”
Page 94, second ‘I’ struck, “as I think”
Page 95, ‘Madona’ changed to ‘Madonna,’ “sat for a Madonna. Nature”
Page 112, ‘accessary’ changed to ‘accessory,’ “as accessory to a crime”
Page 126, ‘“’ before ‘If’ struck, “If you begin to reason”
Page 128, ‘peice’ changed to ‘piece,’ “compose any piece of music”
Page 157, ‘“’ before ‘Wild’ struck, ““The Wild Irish Girl””
Page 197, ‘fusees’ changed to ‘fuses,’ “by longer or shorter fuses”
Page 231, full stop inserted after ‘Jordan,’ “Dora Jordan.”
Page 233, ‘Jordan’ capitalised, “Dora Jordan.”
Page 278, ‘pefect’ changed to ‘perfect,’ “with my perfect composure”
Page 340, ‘a’ changed to ‘à,’ “fidélité à MON Empereur”
Page 396, ‘ministériéle’ changed to ‘ministériel,’ “employé ministériel”