The life of Thomas Reynolds, Esq. : formerly of Kilkea Castle, in the county of Kildare (vol. 2)

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.

1. Fitzgerald wounds Swann and Ryan before being shot by Sirr

   Thomas Street · street · Dublin · 1798

   In the struggle at Thomas Street, Lord Edward Fitzgerald stabbed Mr. Swann through the hand and ribs, then disembowelled Mr. Ryan with the same dagger, before Major Sirr shot him in the arm, ending his resistance.

   Read the passage

   went in at tlie side of his breast, and, running along the ribs, came out close to the bladebone behind. Mr. Ryan now rushed forward, and fired a pistol at Lord Edward, but missed him. Lord Edward knew him, and, exclaiming “ Ryan, you villain!” he pulled the dagger, of which he had never quitted hold, from Mr. Swann’s body, struck Mr. Ryan with it at the pit of the stomach, and, drawing it back, ripped his belly open down to the navel. Messrs. Swann and Ryan had both grasped Lord Edward round the body, who as yet unhurt, made for the door, where Mr. Ryan let go his hold, and fell to the floor, with his bowels hang¬ ing out ; but Mr. Swann still held on. There was a ladder in the lobby, outside the door, leading to the loft, which opened to the roof. This had all been pre¬ pared as a mode of escape, if needful ; and to this means of flight Lord Edward was rushing, when finding his progress impeded by Mr. Swann’s weight, so that he could not mount the ladder, he lifted his arm to strike him again with the dagger which he still held. All this passed perhaps in less than a minute.

   Meanwhile the military from the barracks had arrived, and Major Sirr having completed his arrangements, en¬ tered the hall, and began to ascend the stairs, when, hearing the firing above him, he rushed up with a pistol in his hand, just at the instant Lord Edward had lifted up his arm to despatch Mr. Swann : he fired without hesitation, and hit Lord Edward on the arm near the shoulder. The arm fell powerless, and Lord Edward became a prisoner. Such are the precise particulars of

   Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 216

   As the companion tells it

   Along here on Thomas Street, in 1798, Lord Edward Fitzgerald was taken after a violent struggle. He had stabbed Mr. Swann through the side of his breast, the blade running along the ribs and coming out close to the bladebone behind. Mr. Ryan then rushed forward and fired a pistol at Lord Edward, but missed him. Lord Edward knew him, and cried out, "Ryan, you villain!" He pulled the dagger, which he had never let go of, from Swann's body, and struck Ryan at the pit of the stomach. Drawing it back, he ripped his belly open down to the navel. Both Swann and Ryan had grasped Lord Edward round the body. Lord Edward, still unhurt, made for the door. Ryan let go and fell to the floor with his bowels hanging out, but Swann held on. There was a ladder in the lobby leading to the loft, which opened to the roof, all prepared as a means of escape. Lord Edward was rushing to it, but Swann's weight impeded him so he could not mount the ladder. He lifted his arm to strike Swann again. All this took perhaps less than a minute. The military had arrived from the barracks. Major Sirr, having completed his arrangements, entered the hall and began to ascend the stairs. Hearing firing above, he rushed up with a pistol in hand, just as Lord Edward had lifted his arm to despatch Swann. Sirr fired without hesitation and hit Lord Edward on the arm near the shoulder. The arm fell powerless, and Lord Edward became a prisoner.

2. Violent struggle and arrest of Lord Edward Fitzgerald at Murphy's house

   Thomas Street · street · Dublin · 1798

   At Nicholas Murphy's house in Thomas Street, Swann and Ryan confronted Lord Edward Fitzgerald in his bedroom; Fitzgerald stabbed both men with a dagger before being shot and captured by Major Sirr.

   Read the passage

   On the first floor they did not see any one, but the dinner-table seemed to have been very recently occupied, having on it the remains of a dessert and wines. They quickly reached the second floor, without yet having seen any person in the house ; they opened the door of the front bed-room, which was not locked nor bolted ; in that room was Murphy standing near the window towards the street, having in his hand a paper which he seemed to be in the act of reading, and on the bed was Lord Edward Fitzgerald, half undressed. On a chair by the bedside lay a case of pocket pistols ; Mr. Swann ran forward, pushing between the chair and the bed, saying, “ Lord Edward Fitzgerald, you are my prisoner ; we are a strong party, resistance is useless.”

   Lord Edward sprang up, and, with a double-edged dagger, which he had somewhere about his person, struck at Mr. Swann’s breast. Mr. Swann put up his hand to ward off the blow : his hand was pierced through at the knuckle of the fore-finger, and was literally stuck for a moment to his side. The dagger

   Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 215

   As the companion tells it

   Along here on Thomas Street, in 1798, Lord Edward Fitzgerald was arrested at Nicholas Murphy's house. The party searching the house found the first floor empty, though the dinner table still held the remains of dessert and wines. Up on the second floor, the front bedroom door was not locked. Murphy was standing by the window with a paper in his hand, and Lord Edward was on the bed, half undressed, with a case of pocket pistols on a chair beside him. Swann rushed forward, saying, "Lord Edward Fitzgerald, you are my prisoner; we are a strong party, resistance is useless." Lord Edward sprang up with a double-edged dagger and struck at Swann's breast. Swann threw up his hand to ward the blow, and the blade pierced clean through his forefinger knuckle, sticking his hand to his side for a moment. Both Swann and Ryan were stabbed before Major Sirr shot Fitzgerald and took him prisoner.

3. Riotous Mob Attacks Lord Chancellor Clare's House in Ely Place

   Ely Place · street · Dublin · 1798

   After attacking other houses, the mob moved to attack the house of Lord Chancellor Clare in Ely-place; soldiers sent to defend the house waited until the crowd gathered, then opened fire from all the windows, killing many and wounding countless others.

   Read the passage

   space sufficient for the assailants to act, when suddenly all the windows were flung open, from the garret to the parlour, and a general volley of ball was discharged, and repeated quickly for eight or ten minutes, until such as could escape had entirely fled. The number killed was never known — some said eighty, some said as many as two hundred ; the wounded were innume¬ rable.

   The heart-breaking scenes my father had gone through, and his long confinement, had made him very desirous of getting for a time into some quiet retreat ; he, therefore, in the summer of 1799, passed over to England, and proceeded to Allonby, a retired village on the coast of Cumberland, noted as the land¬ ing-place of Mary Queen of Scots, when that unfor¬ tunate lady threw herself so unadvisedly into the power of Elizabeth. He there passed several months very agreeably with his family, visited by all the neigh¬ bouring gentry. He passed some weeks with my mother at the seat of Mr. Stanley of Ponsonby. At length he received an official letter from Mr. Edward Cooke, acquainting him that, pursuant to Act of Par¬ liament, the Lord Lieutenant had signed a warrant granting him 1000/. a-year for his life, and those of his wife, and his two sons, and the survivor of them, which annuity produces about 900/. a-year sterling. Such was the compensation then made to my father for his losses, his services and his sufferings. It never paid the bare interest of his losses, were they confined to the account he had furnished ; but, as I before showed,

   Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

   As the companion tells it

   Along here on Ely Place is where Lord Chancellor Clare's house stood. In 1798, after attacking other houses, the mob moved to attack this house. Soldiers had been sent to defend it, and they waited inside. They let the crowd gather. They left, in the words of the record, "space sufficient for the assailants to act, when suddenly all the windows were flung open, from the garret to the parlour, and a general volley of ball was discharged." The firing was repeated quickly for eight or ten minutes, until such as could escape had entirely fled. The number killed was never known. Some said eighty, some said as many as two hundred. The wounded were innumerable. The soldiers had held their fire until the crowd was gathered close, out in the open, and then they opened up from every window of the house at once. People ran, those who still could. Those who could not run did not leave. The street afterward held the dead and the dying, and no one ever settled on a true count of how many fell there in front of the house.

4. Aftermath of the arrest: deaths of Fitzgerald and Ryan

   Thomas Street · street · Dublin · 1798

   Following his wounding at Thomas Street, Lord Edward Fitzgerald died on 4 June 1798 from an inflammation caused by the gunshot wound; Mr. Ryan also died of his wounds within days, and his widow received a pension.

   Read the passage

   Murphy was arrested, but no further questioned. Lord Edward’s wound being dressed, he was care¬ fully removed ; but the ball having entered the cavity of his chest, an inflammation ensued, which caused his death on the 4th of June.

   Mr. Ryan’s wound never for a moment left a hope of his recovery : he died in a few days. His widow re¬ ceived a pension for her life. Mr. Swann recovered, and, with Major Sirr, gave evidence of the facts of the arrest before the Houses of Lords and Commons, when a bill of attainder was passed against Lord Edward, and his estate was sequestrated ; but it was immediately restored, as I have before stated.f The property con-

   Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 217

   As the companion tells it

   Along here on Thomas Street is where the aftermath of Lord Edward Fitzgerald's arrest played out in 1798. He was wounded during the arrest, and the ball entered the cavity of his chest. An inflammation set in, and he died on the 4th of June. Mr. Ryan was also wounded, and his injuries never left any hope of recovery. He died within a few days. His widow received a pension for her life. Mr. Swann recovered from his wounds and later gave evidence of the facts of the arrest before the Houses of Lords and Commons, alongside Major Sirr. A bill of attainder was passed against Lord Edward, and his estate was sequestrated, but it was immediately restored.

5. Abduction and mutilation of William Abraham near Ballyconra

   Ballyconra · townland · Kilkenny · 1774

   William Abraham, a Protestant farmer of Bohereerd, Queen's County, was abducted from his home by armed Whiteboys in white frocks, beaten and wounded, carried ten miles to a place near Ballyconra where they debated mutilating him, then cut off his ears and buried him alive up to the chin.

   Read the passage

   that in their progress they heat, battered, and abused him with their guns, and the man behind whom he rode wounded him severely in the legs with long nails in his heels, commonly called lieel-spurs ; they carried him ten miles off to a place near Ballyconra, where they held a con¬ sultation whether they should cut out his tongue or pull out Ins eyes ; and at last agreed to cut off his ears, which they did with circumstances of great barbarity; that after having administered to him many unlawful oaths, they buried him up to his chin, though mangled in a deplorable way, in a grave lined with furze.

   o

   Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

6. Under-Secretary Cooke directs Major Sirr to Thomas Street to arrest Lord Edward

   Thomas Street · street · Dublin · 1798

   On 18 May 1798, Under Secretary Edward Cooke informed town-major Charles Sirr that Lord Edward Fitzgerald could be found the following evening at the house of Nicholas Murphy, a dealer in feathers and timber, in Thomas Street, and issued a warrant for his arrest.

   Read the passage

   On the 18th of May, Mr. Edward Cooke, who was then the Under Secretary of State, sent for Mr. Charles Sirr, the town-major, a brave, active, and intelligent magis¬ trate, and told him that if he would go on the following day, between five and six o’clock in the evening, to the house ot one Nicholas Murphy, a dealer in feathers and timber, in Thomas-street, he would there find

   230

   Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 213

   As the companion tells it

   Along here on Thomas Street, on the 18th of May 1798, Under Secretary Edward Cooke sent for town-major Charles Sirr and told him that if he went the following day, between five and six in the evening, to the house of Nicholas Murphy, a dealer in feathers and timber, he would find Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Cooke issued a warrant for the arrest.

7. Mob Attack on Reynolds's House in Leinster Street

   Leinster Street · street · Kildare · 1798

   During riots in late 1798, several hundred rioters attacked Reynolds's house in Leinster-street with a sledgehammer and stones; Major Sirr and companions drove off the crowd from the doorstep with bludgeons and pistols while dining with him.

   Read the passage

   attacks were often formidable to persons who were un¬ prepared. My father’s house in Leinster-street was attacked one night by several hundreds of these ruffians, who commenced battering the hall-door with a sledge¬ hammer, and the windows with stones. Major Sirr, Mr. Samuel Broadstreet, and Mr. James Heavyside had dined with him : the attack commenced as they were taking their wine after dinner. Not choosing to wait for the mob to break in, they rushed at once to the hall-door, opened it, and fell with bludgeons upon those on the steps, drove them off, and having thus pos¬ session of that commanding spot, they stood there with pistols in their hands, while the whole set of poltroons ran past hallooing and threatening that vengeance they had not the spirit to attempt. A little further down the same street they attacked the house of a Mr. Baily, whose son, aided only by his servant, beat them off, fired on them from the windows, killed some and wounded several : the others went off to attack the house of the Lord Chancellor Clare, in Ely- place, which was a large open street in the vicinity of Stephen’s Green. The attack on my father’s house and on Mr. Baily’s had given the alarm, and an entire company of foot, which was instantly sent to his lordship’s assistance, entered the house and carefully shut all the doors and windows. When the mob arrived, they imagined that all the premises were at their mercy, and with the most violent imprecations began to demolish the doors and windows. In a few minutes the wide space in the front of the house was one dense crowd, scarcely leaving

   1798.

   Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 177

   As the companion tells it

   On this street in Leinster Street, Kildare, a mob attacked Reynolds's house in late 1798. Several hundred rioters came one night and began battering the hall door with a sledgehammer and smashing the windows with stones. Major Sirr, Mr. Samuel Broadstreet, and Mr. James Heavyside were dining with Reynolds. The attack began as they were taking their wine after dinner. Rather than wait for the mob to break in, they rushed to the hall door, opened it, and fell on the men on the steps with bludgeons. They drove them off and held that spot, standing with pistols in their hands while the whole crowd ran past, shouting threats they had not the spirit to carry out. A little further down the same street the rioters attacked the house of a Mr. Baily. His son, aided only by his servant, beat them off and fired on them from the windows, killing some and wounding several. The rest went off to attack the house of the Lord Chancellor Clare in Ely Place, a large open street near Stephen's Green. The earlier attacks had given the alarm, and an entire company of foot was sent at once to his lordship's assistance. They entered the house and carefully shut all the doors and windows. When the mob arrived, they thought the premises were at their mercy and began demolishing the doors and windows. Within minutes the wide space in front of the house was one dense crowd.

8. Sirr's party prepares to storm Murphy's house in Thomas Street

   Thomas Street · street · Dublin · 1798

   Major Sirr assembled Mr. Swann, Mr. Ryan, and nine soldiers of the Londonderry militia disguised in coloured clothes, planning to travel to Murphy's house in two hackney coaches with military support marching from the barracks to secure the arrest of Lord Edward Fitzgerald.

   Read the passage

   Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and Mr. Cooke gave Major Sirr a warrant for liis arrest ; Major Sirr reconnoitred the premises as well as he could that evening, and next day communicated his commission to Mr. Swann, re¬ questing his aid, and also to a Mr. Ryan, in whom both those magistrates had great confidence. Mr. Ryan was then editor of a newspaper, in which he had permitted the insertion of many paragraphs highly in¬ jurious to Lord Edward, which had created a feeling of great resentment in liis Lordship’s mind towards Mr. Ryan. Major Sirr also provided nine of the Londonderry militia, and had them dressed in coloured clothes. Major Stirling, now her Majesty’s consul at Genoa, and Dr. Bankhead, who were both officers in that regiment, went with them dressed in their uniforms.*

   It is a remarkable fact that Lord Edward only went to Murphy’s house on the night of the 18th of May, and the Secretary of State had such certain intelligence of his intention to go there, before he went , that he in¬ structed Major Sirr, who was to conduct the arrest, and furnished him with his warrant at noon on that day, which was eight or ten hours before Lord Edward’s arrival.

   Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 214

   As the companion tells it

   Along here on Thomas Street, in May 1798, Major Sirr was preparing to arrest Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Lord Edward had only arrived at Murphy's house on the night of the 18th, but the Secretary of State already had intelligence of his intention and furnished Sirr with a warrant at noon that day, eight or ten hours before he got there. Sirr had reconnoitred the premises the evening before. He brought in Mr. Swann and Mr. Ryan to help. Ryan was a newspaper editor who had published pieces highly injurious to Lord Edward, which had left Lord Edward deeply resentful toward him. Sirr also took nine soldiers of the Londonderry militia and had them dressed in coloured clothes, so they would not look like soldiers. Two officers of that regiment, Major Stirling and Dr. Bankhead, went along in their uniforms. The plan was to reach Murphy's house and seize Lord Edward, who was one of the most wanted men in Dublin that spring.

9. Monaghan Assizes: sons of Johnston convicted, one hanged

   Glaslough · town · Monaghan · 1797

   At the Monaghan Assizes many Catholics and others were convicted; among them were the two sons of a Protestant Dissenter named Johnston. The elder had taken arms in the town of Glaslough to prevent the disarming of the county by the military, while the younger, aged seventeen, was hanged for administering the United Irishmen's oath, reportedly by mistake, and met his death with composure.

   Read the passage

   “ Monaghan Assizes. — Among those convicted, many of whom were Catholics, were the two only sons of an innocent and venerable old man of the name of Johnston, a Protestant Dissenter ; the eldest for taking arms in the town of Glaslough, to prevent the disarming of the county by the military ; the other for simply administering the United Irishmen's oath. The eldest was pardoned, the youngest hanged, it is said by mistake, & c. The youth, who was seventeen years of age, walked undaunted to the place of execution, and met death with a composure that argued a mind unconscious of guilt."

   No. 35. — 16th December, 1797.

   Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 514

10. Lord Edward Fitzgerald conceals himself at Dr Kennedy's house, Aungier-street

    Aungier Street · street · Dublin · 1798

    On the evening of 14 March 1798, Reynolds was brought to the house of a medical man named Kennedy in Aungier-street, nearly opposite a grocer's shop, where Lord Edward Fitzgerald was hiding and asked Reynolds to conceal him at Kilkea Castle.

    Read the passage

    On the morning of the 14th of March Mr. MfCann, an apothecary residing in Grafton-street, called upon my father, to tell him that Lord Edward wished much to see him, and that he (M'Cann) would conduct him to his place of concealment. On that same evening, at eight o’clock M‘Cann took my father to the house of a medical man named Kennedy, in Aungier-street, nearly opposite to a little grocer’s shop kept by one Moore, the father of the biographer. There Lord Ed¬ ward asked my father to conceal him in Kilkea Castle, which had the reputation of abounding in secret apart¬ ments, so contrived as to elude all discovery ; but my father considered that if, notwithstanding his most faithful care. Lord Edward should be discovered, he would for ever lie under the imputation of having be¬ trayed him, especially if his late communications with Mr. Cope should come to light. He therefore told his

    * Life and Death of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, vol. ii. p. 39. See also Howell’s State Trials, vol. xxvii. p. 427.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 201

    As the companion tells it

    Along here on Aungier Street, on the evening of 14 March 1798, Thomas Reynolds was brought to the house of a medical man named Kennedy, nearly opposite a grocer's shop kept by Moore. Lord Edward Fitzgerald was hiding there, and he asked Reynolds to conceal him at Kilkea Castle, which had a reputation for secret apartments designed to elude discovery. Reynolds refused, reasoning that if Lord Edward were found despite his best care, he would be suspected of betrayal, especially given his recent communications with a Mr Cope.

11. Articles of Limerick agreed after the siege

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1691

    The Articles of Limerick were agreed on 3 October 1691 between the English Lords Justices and General Ginckle on one side, and Irish commanders including the Earl of Lucan on the other, following the surrender of the city of Limerick. The treaty covered the Irish inhabitants of Limerick city and county, and the counties of Clare, Kerry, Cork, Sligo, and Mayo.

    Read the passage

    In consideration of the surrender of the city of Limerick, and other agreements made between the said Lieutenantgeneral Ginckle, the governour of the city of Limerick, and the generals of the Irish army, bearing date with these presents, for the surrender of the said city, and submission of the said army : it is agreed, That,

    I. The lloman Catholics of this kingdom shall enjoy such privileges in the exercise of their religion as are consistent with the laws of Ireland, or as they did enjoy in the reign of King Charles II. : and their Majesties, as soon as their affairs will permit them to summon a Parliament in this kingdom, will endeavour to procure the said lloman Catho¬ lics such further security in that particular as may preserve them from any disturbance upon the account of their said religion.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Limerick, you are in the city where the Articles of Limerick were agreed on 3 October 1691, after the surrender of the city. The English Lords Justices and General Ginckle made the agreement with the Irish commanders, including the Earl of Lucan. The treaty covered the Irish inhabitants of Limerick city and county, and the counties of Clare, Kerry, Cork, Sligo, and Mayo. Under the articles, Roman Catholics were to enjoy such privileges in the exercise of their religion as were consistent with the laws of Ireland, or as they did enjoy in the reign of King Charles the Second. Their Majesties promised that when affairs permitted them to summon a Parliament in the kingdom, they would endeavour to procure the said Roman Catholics further security in that particular, to preserve them from disturbance on account of their religion.

12. Mr Baily's House Attacked and Defended on Leinster Street

    Leinster Street · street · Kildare · 1798

    Further along Leinster-street, rioters attacked the house of a Mr Baily, whose son and servant fired on the mob from the windows, killing some and wounding several before the rioters moved on to attack Lord Chancellor Clare's house.

    Read the passage

    attacks were often formidable to persons who were un¬ prepared. My father’s house in Leinster-street was attacked one night by several hundreds of these ruffians, who commenced battering the hall-door with a sledge¬ hammer, and the windows with stones. Major Sirr, Mr. Samuel Broadstreet, and Mr. James Heavyside had dined with him : the attack commenced as they were taking their wine after dinner. Not choosing to wait for the mob to break in, they rushed at once to the hall-door, opened it, and fell with bludgeons upon those on the steps, drove them off, and having thus pos¬ session of that commanding spot, they stood there with pistols in their hands, while the whole set of poltroons ran past hallooing and threatening that vengeance they had not the spirit to attempt. A little further down the same street they attacked the house of a Mr. Baily, whose son, aided only by his servant, beat them off, fired on them from the windows, killed some and wounded several : the others went off to attack the house of the Lord Chancellor Clare, in Ely- place, which was a large open street in the vicinity of Stephen’s Green. The attack on my father’s house and on Mr. Baily’s had given the alarm, and an entire company of foot, which was instantly sent to his lordship’s assistance, entered the house and carefully shut all the doors and windows. When the mob arrived, they imagined that all the premises were at their mercy, and with the most violent imprecations began to demolish the doors and windows. In a few minutes the wide space in the front of the house was one dense crowd, scarcely leaving

    1798.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 177

    As the companion tells it

    Along this street, in 1798, a mob of several hundred rioters attacked houses one night. They started with the narrator's father's house, battering the hall door with a sledge hammer and the windows with stones. Major Sirr, Mr Samuel Broadstreet, and Mr James Heavyside had dined there, and the attack began as they were taking their wine after dinner. Rather than wait for the mob to break in, they rushed to the hall door, opened it, and fell on those standing on the steps with bludgeons. They drove them off, held that commanding spot with pistols in hand, while the whole crowd ran past, shouting threats of vengeance they had not the spirit to attempt. A little further down the same street they attacked the house of a Mr Baily. His son, aided only by his servant, beat them off, fired on them from the windows, killed some and wounded several. The others went off to attack the house of the Lord Chancellor Clare in Ely Place, a large open street near Stephen's Green. The earlier attacks had given the alarm, and an entire company of foot was sent to his lordship's assistance. They entered the house and shut all the doors and windows. When the mob arrived, they imagined the premises were at their mercy, and with violent imprecations began to demolish the doors and windows.

13. Oath to assassinate Protestant gentry at Clonmell alehouse

    Clonmel · town · Tipperary · 1762–1767

    At a meeting at Thomas Browne's alehouse in Clonmell, Robert Keating, James Butler and Patrick Gilbert took an oath to kill the Earl of Carrick, Sir Thomas Maude, John Bagwell and Rev. John Hewetson.

    Read the passage

    invade Ireland. That therefore the Whitcboys must keep well and faithfully together against said event. That infor¬ mant made many expeditions by night on the lands of Drumlemon, Ardfinnan, and Fethard, in the county of Tipperary, under the command of said Robert Keating and others, who were mounted, armed, and dressed in white uniforms, toge¬ ther with the late Nicholas Sheeliy, Edmond Sheehy, James Buxton, and James Farrell. That said Robert Keating and James Butler drew out their troop and disciplined them at such places. That some time after informant was present at a meeting held at the house of Thomas Browne, of Clonmell, aleseller, together with said Robert Keating, James Butler, and one Patrick Gilbert, farmer, who all took an oath to put to death, the first time an opportunity offered, the Earl of Carrick, Sir Thomas Maude, baronet, John Bagwell, esquire, and the Reverend John Hewetson, who were the only enemies they dreaded to their rebellious designs, and that informant took said oath. That at another meeting held at the house of one Ron an, innkeeper, at Ardfinnan, informant saw said Nicholas Sheeliy, Edmond Sheehy, James Buxton, James Farrell, and many others, take the same oath. Informant saith that the execution of said Nicholas Sheeh}7, and the rest of his friends, has been the means of saving the lives of the said persons, whom they swore to assassinate. Informant saith lie was present at a meeting held at the race-course of Clogheen on the night of the day that the Earl of Drogheda came there, and that five hun¬ dred persons, all in white uniforms, were present, and most of them were armed; and that said meeting was held in the spring, some time before the French took Newfoundland. That at said meeting it was proposed to them, by said Ni¬ cholas Sheehy and others, to burn the said town and to massacre the said Earl and the corps under his command, in order to get their arms, and to frighten the Protestant gentlemen from pursuing them, or giving them any further hindrance in their future purposes. Informant saith that they would have executed the said design but that John Doyle, popish priest, of Ardfinnan, prevented them, by falling on his knees and giving them his curse if they under¬ took what must occasion their own ruin, “for,” he said, “we are not ripe yet for such a blow, nor can we till Prince Charles and his friends from France land to our assistance ; if you attempt it before that time every Protestant in Ire¬ land will be up in arms against us, and give no quarter to

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    As you come through Clonmel, this town in Tipperary holds a story from the 1760s. An informant described night expeditions he made on the lands of Drumlemon, Ardfinnan, and Fethard in this county, under the command of Robert Keating and others, men mounted and armed and dressed in white uniforms, together with Nicholas Sheehy, Edmond Sheehy, James Buxton, and James Farrell. Robert Keating and James Butler drew out their troop and disciplined them at such places. Then some time after, the informant was present at a meeting held at the house of Thomas Browne of Clonmell, an ale-seller. Robert Keating, James Butler, and Patrick Gilbert, a farmer, were there. They all took an oath to put to death, the first time an opportunity offered, the Earl of Carrick, Sir Thomas Maude, John Bagwell, and the Reverend John Hewetson. These were, as they said, "the only enemies they dreaded to their rebellious designs." The informant took the same oath. He said the execution of Nicholas Sheehy and the rest of his friends saved the lives of the men they had sworn to assassinate. At another meeting, at the race-course of Clogheen, 500 persons gathered in white uniforms, most of them armed. Nicholas Sheehy and others proposed to burn the town and to massacre the Earl of Drogheda and the corps under his command, to get their arms and to frighten Protestant gentlemen from hindering them. They would have done it, but John Doyle, a priest of Ardfinnan, prevented them. He fell on his knees and gave them his curse if they undertook what must occasion their own ruin. He told them, "we are not ripe yet for such a blow," and that every Protestant in Ireland would be up in arms against them if they attempted it before Prince Charles and his friends from France landed to their assistance.

14. French Fleet Under Hoche Anchors in Bantry Bay

    near Bantry Bay · bay · Cork · 1796

    The French expedition under General Hoche remained off the Irish coast in Bantry Bay for several days at the end of 1796. No United Irishman joined them, and instead people of all parties united to prepare to repel the invasion.

    Read the passage

    the slightest signal from that directory, to whom all were known, though enveloped in impenetrable dark¬ ness themselves. Independently of these considerations, the projects occasionally discussed in the lower societies, appeared so absurdly extravagant, and the means of execution so inadequate, that they were listened to by most men, more as the extravagant effusions of heated imaginations, than as serious designs. The total failure of the French expedition under Hoclie, in the end of 1796, which remained on the coast of Ireland and in Bantry Bay for several days, and not only was not joined by a single United Irishman, but caused men of all parties and persuasions to unite in preparations to repel them, proved incontestably that the criminal projects of a few leading men had not then contami¬ nated the masses. My father joined the Society with the views clearly expressed in the declaration and test : he was deputed immediately from a simple society to a baronial committee, that he might associate with persons nearer to his own station in life ; but he advanced no further in Dublin. He attended a few of their meet¬ ings in February, March, and April, in the year 1797, where, as he stated in his evidence, he heard Mr. Oliver Bond, and others make, what appeared to him to be ex¬ travagant and absurd propositions, leading, however, if serious, to treason and rebellion. These meetings had so little attraction for him, and the projects disclosed seemed so little likely to lead to any result in accordance with his views, that he gradually ceased to attend them ; and removed into the country in the early part of the

    142

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 130

15. Lord Edward Fitzgerald's request to hide at Kilkea Castle

    Kilkea · parish · Kildare · 1798

    Lord Edward Fitzgerald, in hiding without arms or money, asked Thomas Reynolds to conceal him at Kilkea. Reynolds pointed out that the place would certainly be suspected and searched, as it later was, and Lord Edward abandoned the idea.

    Read the passage

    Lord Edward the certainty that that place would be suspected and searched for him, as it afterwards was ; and Lord Edward renounced the idea, but stated to Mr. Reynolds his absolute want both of arms and of money. Mr. Reynolds undertook to procure both for him, and on the following night he brought him a brace of pistols and fifty guineas in gold, and received from him the instructions mentioned in his evidence. He carried a like sum of fifty guineas in gold to Lady Ed¬ ward next day, and received from her the sum of fortyfive pounds in bank notes,* as stated above. His at¬ tendance at the County Committee, of which he was a member, was also imperatively necessary to deliver Lord Edward’s letter and his own resignation, and he was also compelled to meet his captains for the same pur¬ pose. Had he not attended these two meetings his own fate would have been sealed. At the meeting of captains no business whatever but reading and burning Lord Edward’s letter was done, and at the county meeting the only business transacted was the election of a person in the place of Cummins, the delegate who had been arrested.]

    The remainder of Mr. Reynolds’s evidence in chief, and his account of his motives and communications with Mr. Cope, were precisely similar to what he stated on the former trials.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 16

16. Meeting Lord Edward Fitzgerald in Aungier Street after the arrests at Bond's

    Aungier Street · street · Dublin · 1798

    After the arrests at Bond's house, Reynolds was brought by MacCan to see Lord Edward Fitzgerald, in hiding at a house in Aungier Street (No. 23, possibly Dr Kennedy's), where Lord Edward gave him instructions and funds for the county of Kildare.

    Read the passage

    “ I saw him again after the arrests at Bond’s, in Aungier Street, at No. 23 — I think, at the house of Dr. Kennedy ; I am neither sure as to the number or name, hut to the best of my recollection that was the number and name. Mr. MacCan an apothecary in Grafton Street, came to me, and said Lord Edward wanted to see me ; and he brought me to him. It was about eight at night ; there were two or three gentle¬ men in the parlour drinking together. Lord Edward told me to come to him on the following night, and he would write something for me to take down to the country. He desired me to come to the same place at the same hour on the following night. This was the Wednesday after the arrests. I did go, and Lord Edward brought me up stairs to a bed-room, and gave me a paper which he desired me to give as his address to the county of Kildare ; and he said that he had some money in his hands as treasurer to the county ol Kildare, and also some which belonged to the barony of Offalley, in the same county ; and he was to hand it

    with an invitation from the English and Irish revolutionists to the French government to invade England and Ireland simultaneously.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 13

    As the companion tells it

    Along here in 1798, after the arrests at Bond's house, Thomas Reynolds was brought to a hiding place on this street to meet Lord Edward Fitzgerald. An apothecary named MacCan, from Grafton Street, came to Reynolds and told him Lord Edward wanted to see him, and brought him to number 23, which Reynolds thought was the house of a Dr Kennedy. It was about eight at night. Two or three gentlemen were in the parlour drinking together. Lord Edward told Reynolds to come back the following night and he would write something for him to take down to the country. This was the Wednesday after the arrests. Reynolds did go back, and Lord Edward brought him upstairs to a bedroom and gave him a paper. Lord Edward said it was his address to the county of Kildare. He also said he had some money in his hands as treasurer to the county of Kildare, and some that belonged to the barony of Offalley in the same county, and he was to hand it over.

17. Deserted streets of Carrickfergus after Orr's execution

    Carrickfergus · townland · Antrim · 1797

    The Press describes the empty, deserted streets of Carrickfergus following the execution of William Orr, presenting the silence of the town as a rebuke to the Lord-Lieutenant's use of soldiers to enforce death sentences.

    Read the passage

    “ But, my Lord (to the Lord-Lieutenant on Orr’s execu¬ tion), it will not do — though your guards, and your soldiers, and your thousands, and your tens of thousands, should conduct innocence to death — it will not do. A voice has cried in the wilderness, and let the deserted streets of Carrickfergus proclaim to all the world, that good men will not be intimidated; and that they are yet more numerous than your soldiers.'’

    “ The

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 510

18. Executions of Catholic clergymen drowned in the Shannon

    near River Shannon · river · Cavan

    The Union Star recounts alleged historic atrocities against Irish Catholics, including the tying of Catholic clergymen back to back and drowning them in the River Shannon, cited as justification for revolutionary revenge.

    Read the passage

    towards the preservation of liberty and the distribution of justice. As revolutions, in every age and country, were acts contrary to laws then in existence, they consequently were insurrections. The thing called in England a revo¬ lution in 1688 justifies the assertion, and in the Declaration of Rights, the men who drew it up, and the people who read it, defended and admired the virtue and necessity of resist¬ ance to oppression. The revolutions of France and America were founded on insurrection, and before them the Portu¬ guese and Dutch revolutions. Antiquity furnish many splendid insurrections ; amongst others, the celebrated one of the Roman people retreating to the Mons Sacer, and defending themselves by wholesome regulations from the privileged patricians — the Luttrells, Fitzgibbons, and Scotts of the day. History ornaments her page with the bold struggles, as honourable, edifying, and worthy of imitation by suffering humanity. Revenge ! glorious revenge ! Your name is as sweet as liberty ; as Paine says, ‘ He that would not punish cruelty offers a premium to vice,’ or, as Ganganelli expresses it, e Mercy to the wicked is cruelty to the worthy.’ The Irishman who would not expiate the burning of his cabin, by the burning of a tyrant’s palace, is accessary to his neighbour’s destruction ; or he, whose father, son, or brother has been murdered by British or Irish mercenaries, would not revenge the deed, by immolating any of his country’s oppressors, is beneath a man, and is the murderer of his kindred by connivance. The horrors committed in our country by our English masters, centuries ago, demand vengeance, when killing an Irishman was only finable, many proofs of which are existing. We shall cite one : At a general gaol delivery at Waterford, the 4th of Edward II., before John Wogan, lord justice of Ireland, an Englishman accused of murder, pleaded in bar of judgment that the person killed was an Irishman. The tying of Catholic cler¬ gymen back to back, and drowning them in the Shannon. The E nglisli plan of starving whole counties is loudly boasted of by E nglisli writers. We need not resort to the calendar of English cruelties ; they are again revived ; and Ireland, moistened with the blood of her children, loudly calls for glorious revenge. United Irishmen, be steady and perse¬ vering; liberty and justice point the road to glory; the delivery of our country is at hand ; your labours will be rewarded, your just revenge will be gratified, and an equal distribution of rights will be yours. Industry will be

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 506

19. Neilson leads Reynolds into an assassination attempt at Bond's house

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

    A few days after the arrests at Bond's, Samuel Neilson met Reynolds in the street and lured him to Mrs. Bond's house, where an attempt was made to assassinate him.

    Read the passage

    Irishmen, increased their suspicions. A few clays after the arrests Samuel Neilson met him in the street, and, accosting him, said, that Mrs. Bond wished very much to see him immediately : my father accompanied Neilson to her house. I have already given an account of the attempt then made to assassinate him.* But his con¬ duct in the country in endeavouring to prevent dis¬ turbance, and promote good conduct and submission, while it drew down upon him the severities of Govern¬ ment, confirmed the suspicions of the United Irishmen ; and the provincial committee, who were instantly re-or¬ ganised, by the election of new deputies in the place of those who had been arrested, or had fled, sent down one Michael Reynolds, who succeeded Cummins in the office of secretary to the county committee, to inform the county committee that my father was the person who had caused the arrests at Bond’s, and directed that he should be put to death. The county committee first summoned him, in the usual manner, to attend a meeting ; he replied, that having resigned his command, and also his office of treasurer to the baronial committee of Kilkea and Moone, he was no longer a member of the county committee, and therefore declined to attend. They then

    * Mr. Moore, finding this visit mentioned in the same document attached to the report of the secret committee, to which I have already alluded, speaks of it in the following terms : — “ In the pursuance of this policy (preserving his incognito that he might the better betray), we find him, as he himself admits, paying a friendly visit to Mrs. Bond two or three days after he had marked her husband for death.” Mr. Moore was probably ignorant of the real nature and. object of the visit, but his ignorance was no justification of his malicious imputation.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 159

    As the companion tells it

    Dublin, 1798. A few days after the arrests at Bond's house, Samuel Neilson met Thomas Reynolds in the street. Neilson accosted him and said that Mrs. Bond wished very much to see him immediately. Reynolds went with Neilson to her house. An attempt was made then to assassinate him. The narrator says he had already given an account of that attempt elsewhere. What followed it sheds light on why it happened. Reynolds had been working in the country to prevent disturbance and promote good conduct and submission. This drew down upon him the severities of Government, but it also confirmed the suspicions of the United Irishmen. The provincial committee, reorganised by the election of new deputies in place of those arrested or fled, sent one Michael Reynolds down to the county committee. Michael Reynolds had succeeded Cummins as secretary to the county committee. He was sent to inform them that Thomas Reynolds was the person who had caused the arrests at Bond's, and to direct that he be put to death. The county committee first summoned Reynolds to attend a meeting, in the usual manner. He replied that having resigned his command and also his office of treasurer to the baronial committee of Kilkea and Moone, he was no longer a member of the county committee, and therefore declined to attend. A writer named Moore later seized on the visit to Mrs. Bond, saying Reynolds paid, as he put it, a friendly visit to her two or three days after he had marked her husband for death. The narrator calls this a malicious imputation, saying Moore was probably ignorant of the real nature and object of the visit, and that his ignorance was no justification.

20. Arrest of Leinster Delegates at Oliver Bond's House

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

    Reynolds gave information of an intended meeting of the Leinster delegates at Bond's house, leading to the arrest of those present, including M'Can and Byrne, in March 1798. This event formed the basis of the subsequent state trials.

    Read the passage

    which it could be inserted ; and, borrowing a feature from Sir Francis Burdett, under pretence of exhibiting Mr. Curran’s uncommon skill in cross-examination, he inserted in a note an extract from Mr. Curran’s crossexamination of Mr. Reynolds in M'Can’s case, contain¬ ing the most atrocious insinuations made by Mr. Curran, some of which he never attempted to support by evi¬ dence, and others, the proof of which altogether failed, without noticing either of these facts ; he moreover introduced this partial extract by the following ingeniously-erroneous account of Mr. Reynolds. 1 call it ingeniously erroneous, because there is just enough of truth in it to give countenance to that which is false, just enough of truth to mislead the careless reader. “Reynolds was a silk-mercer of Dublin, who had taken a very active part in the conspiracy. He was fin 1797, colonel of the United Irishmen , afterwards treasurer and representative of a county , and finally a delegate for the province of Leinster. As the time of the general insurrection approached , either remorse or the hope of reward induced him to apprize the Government of the danger. Ha ving previously settled li is terms, five h mi - dred guineas in hand and personal indemnity, through Mr. Cope, a Dublin merchant, he gave information of an intended meeting of the Leinster delegates at Bond’s house, upon which those persons, among whom were M‘Can and Byrne, were arrested in the month of March. The evidence of Reynolds, when connected with the papers that were seized, was so conclusive asrainst those who were tried, that no line of defence

    O

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 100

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Dublin, you are near the ground where the Leinster delegates were seized in March 1798. Reynolds was a silk-mercer of Dublin. He had taken an active part in the United Irishmen. In 1797 he was colonel of that body, then treasurer and representative of a county, and finally a delegate for the province of Leinster. As the general insurrection approached, either remorse or the hope of reward led him to inform the Government of the danger. Having settled his terms beforehand, five hundred guineas in hand and personal indemnity, through Mr. Cope, a Dublin merchant, he gave information of an intended meeting of the Leinster delegates at Bond's house. Upon that information, those persons were arrested, among them M'Can and Byrne. The evidence of Reynolds, connected with the papers that were seized, was conclusive against those who were tried. In M'Can's case, Mr. Curran cross-examined Reynolds and made insinuations, some of which he never attempted to support by evidence, and others of which the proof altogether failed. The book calls the account that introduced this partial extract ingeniously erroneous, because there is just enough of truth in it to give countenance to that which is false, just enough of truth to mislead the careless reader.

21. Curran and Tone's Secret Meeting at Drogheda Assizes

    Drogheda · town · Louth · 1794

    At the Drogheda Assizes in 1794, during the trial of Bird and Hamill, Curran (as counsel) reportedly confided to Tone's father that he agreed on the necessity of breaking the connexion with England, though he avoided public commitment to the United Irishmen.

    Read the passage

    * The particular animosity that Mr. Curran manifested towards my father was not, as some have imagined, the result of “ honest indigna¬ tion,” but of disappointed ambition. He was a United Irishman, but too clever to commit himself publicly : he was only to have come forward to share the good things in case of success : he was one of that class of United Irishmen “ who did not choose to be hanged.” This fact has entirely escaped the notice of his biographer. In the Life of Theobald Wolfe Tone, we find this passage, “I know that in 1794 and 1795, and particularly at the Drogheda Assizes in the former year, and on occa¬ sion of the trial of Bird and Hamill, when they were both, (Mr. Curran and Mr. Tone,) employed as counsel, John Philpot Curran opened his mind to my father, and that on the main point , on the necessity of breaking the connexion with England, they agreed ; Curran avoided committing himself in the councils of the United Irishmen, but, had the project of liberating Ireland succeeded, he ivould have been among the foremost to hail and join her independence.” See the Life of Theobald Wolfe Tone, vol, ii. p. 253. (Note by the Editor.)

    1798.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 116

    As the companion tells it

    Drogheda ahead. In 1794, at the Assizes here, during the trial of Bird and Hamill, the barrister Curran privately told Tone's father he agreed the connexion with England must be broken. Curran never committed publicly to the United Irishmen.

22. Death and Delayed Burial of Mrs. Witherington in Dublin

    Dublin · city · Dublin

    Mrs. Witherington died suddenly in Dublin, and her body was wrapped in a pitched sheet to prevent putrefaction while awaiting the arrival of her son, Captain Witherington, from the country, four days after her decease.

    Read the passage

    “ A great deal of stress has been laid, in order to im¬ peach the moral conduct of Mr. Reynolds, on the fact that he had, on the night of her death, directed that her remains should be wrapped up in a pitched sheet; whence they would infer that Mrs. Witherington had not died in the common and usual way, but through the administration of poison. Now, how does the fact turn out? Mrs. Witherington being extremely ill and not expected to live, Mr. Reynolds sent off an express to her other son, then in the country with his regiment, to come to town immediately, as his mother was danger¬ ously ill.” (Mr. Saurin has slightly mistaken the evi¬ dence. Mrs. Witherington was not considered in any immediate danger ; her death was so unexpected that her daughter went to the theatre on the night before it took place ; the express was not sent off until after her decease ; but the variance is not material.) “ He did not arrive in Dublin for four days , owing to the circum¬ stance, as Mr. Witherington himself has told you, that he was not at the place at which the messenger was directed to find him , and did not for a day or two get Mr. Reynolds's letter. Not arriving until the fourth day after the decease of Mrs. Witherington, it was judged necessary, then, to put her remains into a pitched sheet, as it was the wish of Mr. Reynolds that Captain Witherington, her son, should see her remains previous

    86

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 75

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Dublin, this is the story of Mrs. Witherington, who died suddenly in this city. Her death was so unexpected that her daughter went to the theatre on the night before it took place. After her decease, Mr. Reynolds sent an express messenger off to her son, Captain Witherington, who was in the country with his regiment, asking him to come to town immediately. But the captain was not at the place where the messenger was directed to find him, and he did not get Mr. Reynolds's letter for a day or two. He did not arrive in Dublin for four days. Because of that delay, it was judged necessary to wrap her remains in a pitched sheet. This was done to prevent putrefaction, as it was Mr. Reynolds's wish that Captain Witherington should see his mother's remains before burial. A great deal of stress was later laid on the pitched sheet by those who wished to impeach Mr. Reynolds's moral conduct. They would infer from it that Mrs. Witherington had not died in the common and usual way, but through the administration of poison. The answer to that charge is the simple fact of the delay: the son took four days to arrive, and the body had to be preserved. Mr. Saurin, who told part of this story, slightly mistaken the evidence. He said Mrs. Witherington was not expected to live and that the express was sent before her death. But her death was unexpected, and the express was not sent until after her decease.

23. Dublin Arrests of United Irish Leaders, St Patrick's Day 1798

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

    The address recounts the arrest of prominent Dublin citizens, dragged to prison by arbitrary mandates unsupported by sworn information. The event is described as occurring on 17th March (St Patrick's Day) 1798, causing confusion among the authorities while the accused remained calm.

    Read the passage

    “Yet has this, their last treason, like all their former ones,. turned, with an overwhelming recoil, upon themselves. On the memorable day which saw so many virtuous and re¬ spectable citizens of Dublin dragged ignominiously to pri¬ son, by arbitrary mandates zinsupportcd by information on oath, confusion and trepidation marked the conduct of the op¬ pressors, while the unclouded serenity, the calm unassuming fortitude of conscious innocence, beamed from the counte¬ nances of the oppressed. With mingled horror and contempt the capital saw the Prime-Miscreant, the Kobespicrre of Ire¬ land, the nefarious author and apologist of atrocities without name and number, appalled by the mere gaze of Irish eyes, and shaking in a paroxysm of rage and terror, while the mur¬ derous weapon trembled in his palsied hand, the strong thirst of blood struggling in vain with the still stronger im¬ pulses of conscious guilt and native cowardice.

    “For us, the keen but. momentary anxiety, occasioned by the situation of our invaluable friends, subsided, on learning all the circumstances of the case, into a calm tranquillity, a consoling conviction of mind, that they are as safe as inno¬ cence can make men now ; and to these sentiments were quickly added a redoubled energy, a twofold activity of ex¬ ertion which has already produced the happiest effects. The organization of the capital is perfect No vacancies existing, arrangements have been made, and are still making, to se¬ cure for our oppressed brethren, whose trials approach, the benefit of legal defence ; and the sentinels whom you have

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 527

    As the companion tells it

    You are coming through Dublin, where on the 17th of March 1798, St Patrick's Day, many respectable citizens were dragged to prison by arbitrary mandates unsupported by information on oath. The authorities were marked by confusion and trepidation, while the accused showed calm and unassuming fortitude, the serenity of conscious innocence beaming from their faces. The capital looked on with mingled horror and contempt as the man the source calls the Prime-Miscreant, the Robespierre of Ireland, the author and apologist of atrocities without name or number, stood appalled by the mere gaze of Irish eyes. He shook in a paroxysm of rage and terror, the murderous weapon trembling in his palsied hand, the thirst of blood struggling in vain with the still stronger impulses of conscious guilt and native cowardice. For those who watched, the keen but momentary anxiety for their friends subsided, on learning all the circumstances, into a calm tranquillity and a consoling conviction that the accused were as safe as innocence can make men. This was quickly followed by redoubled energy and a twofold activity of exertion. The source says the organization of the capital was perfect, no vacancies existing, and arrangements were being made to secure for the oppressed brethren, whose trials approached, the benefit of legal defence.

24. Lord Edward proposes Wexford as invasion landing point

    Wexford · town · Wexford · 1798

    During the Leinster House meeting, Lord Edward Fitzgerald suggested Wexford as an unsuspected place suitable for landing French frigates carrying officers and arms to establish a rallying point for rebellion.

    Read the passage

    them with him ; and such as wanted hall-cartridge were to apply to him. And there was a line at the bottom desiring them to keep these orders secret. I picked these papers up in the course of the day. Lord Edward, upon reading these papers, was greatly agi¬ tated. He said he thought Government intended to arrest him; he expressed a wish to get to France to hasten the invasion of the country, which he could do by his intimacy with Talleyrand Perigord, one of the French ministers. He said that he could not approve of a general invasion being made first, because, if any accident happened to prevent or overturn it, it would totally overthrow the business, and destroy the spirit of it both here and in France. He said the French had some fine fast-sailing frigates ; on board of them he would put as many Irish and English officers as he could procure, and men proper to drill soldiers, and a supply of arms and ammunition, and run them into some port of Ireland. He thought Wexford an unsus¬ pected place, and one that would answer ; and, even if the frigates were destroyed, it would not be of any very material consequence ; but if they arrived, they might, with their friends, establish a rallying point until the rest should come. He said also that , if an attack teas made on England at the same time, it would effectually prevent the Government of that country from sending forces here* Lord Edward after this conversation

    * Arthur O’Connor and James Quigley were arrested at Margate, towards the end of February, 1798, endeavouring to pass into France

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 12

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Wexford, this is the town Lord Edward Fitzgerald had in mind in 1798 as a landing point for a French invasion. At a meeting of the United Irishmen, after reading papers that left him greatly agitated and fearing arrest, he argued against a full-scale invasion landing first. He said the French had fine fast-sailing frigates, and on board them he would put as many Irish and English officers as he could procure, men proper to drill soldiers, and a supply of arms and ammunition. He thought Wexford, in his words,

25. Lord Edward's request at Park Street

    Park Street · street · Dublin · 1797

    At an interview at Reynolds's house in Park Street, Lord Edward Fitzgerald requested that Reynolds become a Colonel in the United Irish army for the county of Kildare, which Reynolds reluctantly accepted.

    Read the passage

    Lord Edward spoke to him, and asked for an interview ; that at that interview, which took place at the house of the witness in Park Street, Lord Edward requested him to become a Colonel in the United Irish army, for the county of Kildare ; that he gave a very reluctant assent to become so ; that some days after he met Mr. Bond on the steps of his own house in Bridge Street, and told him that Lord Edward had applied to him to become a Colonel, and that he did not like it, although he wished very well to the United cause ; that Mr. Bond said that every man who wished well to the cause ought now to put himself forward, and advised him to accept the command of Colonel ; that he replied that since he, Mr. Bond, advised it, he certainly would. The remainder of his evidence was similar in substance to what he gave on the former trials, but he gave the fol¬ lowing more detailed account of three interviews with Lord Edward Fitzgerald ; the first on the 1 1th of March, to dissuade him from attending the proposed meeting of the following day ; and afterwards on two occasions, subsequent to the arrests, when he was sent for by Lord Edward Fitzgerald.

    “ On Sunday the lltli of March, about four o’clock in the afternoon, I called at Leinster House upon Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and saw him. I had in my hand a paper which contained directions from Counsellor Saurin to the lawyers’ corps, desiring them, in case of riot, to repair to Smithfield. There were two papers, one withinside the other; those who were going out of town, and whose arms would not be safe, were to leave

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 11

26. Meeting Lord Edward Fitzgerald at the Four Courts

    Four Courts · site · Dublin · 1797

    Reynolds testified that in November he met Lord Edward Fitzgerald and Hugh Wilson on the steps of the Four Courts, where Lord Edward asked for an interview that led to Reynolds becoming a Colonel in the United Irish army.

    Read the passage

    ■ Thomas Reynolds, Esq., was then called. The sub¬ stance of his direct evidence is given in MacCan’s trial. With reference to Mr. Bond, he stated that he was sworn in a United Irishmen by the prisoner, at his house in Bridge Street, in the beginning of the year 1797, in the presence of Mr. Richard Dillon, who lived in the same street ; that he afterwards frequently met the prisoner at different meetings of the Society, and had heard him relate plans whereby the United Irish¬ men might obtain possession of the city of Dublin, and he mentioned several other circumstances connecting the prisoner with different leading members of the Society, and with their plans ; that in the month of November he met Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and one Hugh Wilson, on the steps of the Four Courts; that

    1798.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 10

    As the companion tells it

    Right here, on these steps of the Four Courts, something quietly momentous happened in November 1797. Thomas Reynolds had been sworn in as a United Irishman earlier that year by a man named Bond, at a house in Bridge Street, with Richard Dillon present. He had since attended meetings of the Society and heard plans for taking possession of the city of Dublin. But it was here, on these steps, that he met Lord Edward Fitzgerald and a man called Hugh Wilson. Lord Edward asked Reynolds for an interview, and that conversation led Reynolds to become a Colonel in the United Irish army. So a brief encounter on stone steps set a course that would end in rebellion.

27. Murder trial at Waterford gaol delivery, reign of Edward II

    Waterford · city · Waterford · 1310–1311

    The text cites a case at a general gaol delivery at Waterford before John Wogan, lord justice of Ireland, in which an Englishman accused of murder pleaded that the victim was Irish, illustrating historic legal discrimination against native Irish under English law.

    Read the passage

    towards the preservation of liberty and the distribution of justice. As revolutions, in every age and country, were acts contrary to laws then in existence, they consequently were insurrections. The thing called in England a revo¬ lution in 1688 justifies the assertion, and in the Declaration of Rights, the men who drew it up, and the people who read it, defended and admired the virtue and necessity of resist¬ ance to oppression. The revolutions of France and America were founded on insurrection, and before them the Portu¬ guese and Dutch revolutions. Antiquity furnish many splendid insurrections ; amongst others, the celebrated one of the Roman people retreating to the Mons Sacer, and defending themselves by wholesome regulations from the privileged patricians — the Luttrells, Fitzgibbons, and Scotts of the day. History ornaments her page with the bold struggles, as honourable, edifying, and worthy of imitation by suffering humanity. Revenge ! glorious revenge ! Your name is as sweet as liberty ; as Paine says, ‘ He that would not punish cruelty offers a premium to vice,’ or, as Ganganelli expresses it, e Mercy to the wicked is cruelty to the worthy.’ The Irishman who would not expiate the burning of his cabin, by the burning of a tyrant’s palace, is accessary to his neighbour’s destruction ; or he, whose father, son, or brother has been murdered by British or Irish mercenaries, would not revenge the deed, by immolating any of his country’s oppressors, is beneath a man, and is the murderer of his kindred by connivance. The horrors committed in our country by our English masters, centuries ago, demand vengeance, when killing an Irishman was only finable, many proofs of which are existing. We shall cite one : At a general gaol delivery at Waterford, the 4th of Edward II., before John Wogan, lord justice of Ireland, an Englishman accused of murder, pleaded in bar of judgment that the person killed was an Irishman. The tying of Catholic cler¬ gymen back to back, and drowning them in the Shannon. The E nglisli plan of starving whole counties is loudly boasted of by E nglisli writers. We need not resort to the calendar of English cruelties ; they are again revived ; and Ireland, moistened with the blood of her children, loudly calls for glorious revenge. United Irishmen, be steady and perse¬ vering; liberty and justice point the road to glory; the delivery of our country is at hand ; your labours will be rewarded, your just revenge will be gratified, and an equal distribution of rights will be yours. Industry will be

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 506

28. Provincial United Irish meeting at Bond's house

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

    William Cope testified that Reynolds informed him of a provincial meeting of United Irishmen to be held at Mr. Bond's house, giving the hour and persons attending, leading to arrests. The meeting's purpose was to arm members to overturn the Government and establish a republic with French assistance.

    Read the passage

    Had you a communication with Mr. Reynolds con¬ cerning that? — Yes ; he communicated to me that there was to be a provincial meeting ; told me the hour and the persons who were to be there ; and I communicated it to Government ; and the arrests took place in conse¬ quence.

    d 2

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    Dublin, 1798. William Cope testified that Reynolds told him a provincial meeting of United Irishmen was to be held at Mr. Bond's house, giving him the hour and the persons attending. Cope passed it to Government, and arrests followed. The meeting aimed to arm members, overturn the Government, and establish a republic with French assistance.

29. Reynolds arrested and brought to Athy for court-martial

    Athy · town · Kildare · 1798

    Four days after the destruction of his property, Reynolds was arrested and brought to Athy to be tried by court-martial, and would have been executed within hours had not Colonel Campbell sent to Dublin for further orders.

    Read the passage

    and in the short space of nine days * this cf distressed” man, as Mr. Moore describes him, was doomed to see his distress fearfully augmented by the destruction of property proved and duly certified to have been worth 12,760/. ; the destroyers being the very party with whom, according to Mr. Moore, he had 'personally sti¬ pulated for protection and reward ! Four days after¬ wards he was arrested and brought to Athy, to be tried by the court-martial ; and he would inevitably have been executed in a few hours, had not Colonel Camp¬ bell been induced to send to Dublin for further orders. Then it was that Government first knew him , as the man whose timely horror at the conspiracy had arrested the miseries it was preparing for his country. This was on the 8th of May, two months after the arrests at Bond’s. My father had been marked by the chiefs of the Union for his non-attendance at the meetings of the 19th of February and 12th of March, for his con¬ versation with Neilson, for his haranguing the people at Mageny Bridge, and for his very attempt to urge Lord Edward Fitzgerald, as I shall presently show, to avoid his impending fate. Those chiefs had there¬ fore armed assassins against him, and three times he narrowly escaped being their victim. Those very chiefs, who inveigled their unsuspecting countrymen into an association professedly for the simple redress of griev-

    * The castle was afterwards occupied for several months, during which the destruction of property was very great, but certainly the greatest part of the damage was done in the first nine days’ visit.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 191

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up is Athy, the Kildare town where Thomas Reynolds was brought for court-martial in 1798. Four days after his property was destroyed, certified as worth 12,760 pounds, he was arrested and brought here to be tried. He would have been executed in a few hours had not Colonel Campbell been induced to send to Dublin for further orders. This was on the 8th of May, two months after the arrests at Bond's. Only then did Government first know him, as the man whose timely horror at the conspiracy had arrested the miseries it was preparing for his country. His own chiefs in the Union had already marked him for his non-attendance at the meetings of the 19th of February and the 12th of March, for his conversation with Neilson, for haranguing the people at Mageny Bridge, and for his attempt to urge Lord Edward Fitzgerald to avoid his impending fate. Those chiefs had armed assassins against him, and three times he narrowly escaped being their victim.

30. Reynolds Described as a Dublin Silk-Mercer and United Irish Colonel

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1797–1798

    William Henry Curran's account describes Reynolds as a Dublin silk-mercer who rose through the ranks of the United Irishmen to become colonel, treasurer, county representative, and delegate for Leinster before informing on the conspiracy.

    Read the passage

    which it could be inserted ; and, borrowing a feature from Sir Francis Burdett, under pretence of exhibiting Mr. Curran’s uncommon skill in cross-examination, he inserted in a note an extract from Mr. Curran’s crossexamination of Mr. Reynolds in M'Can’s case, contain¬ ing the most atrocious insinuations made by Mr. Curran, some of which he never attempted to support by evi¬ dence, and others, the proof of which altogether failed, without noticing either of these facts ; he moreover introduced this partial extract by the following ingeniously-erroneous account of Mr. Reynolds. 1 call it ingeniously erroneous, because there is just enough of truth in it to give countenance to that which is false, just enough of truth to mislead the careless reader. “Reynolds was a silk-mercer of Dublin, who had taken a very active part in the conspiracy. He was fin 1797, colonel of the United Irishmen , afterwards treasurer and representative of a county , and finally a delegate for the province of Leinster. As the time of the general insurrection approached , either remorse or the hope of reward induced him to apprize the Government of the danger. Ha ving previously settled li is terms, five h mi - dred guineas in hand and personal indemnity, through Mr. Cope, a Dublin merchant, he gave information of an intended meeting of the Leinster delegates at Bond’s house, upon which those persons, among whom were M‘Can and Byrne, were arrested in the month of March. The evidence of Reynolds, when connected with the papers that were seized, was so conclusive asrainst those who were tried, that no line of defence

    O

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 100

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Dublin, this is the city where Thomas Reynolds operated as a silk-mercer before rising through the ranks of the United Irishmen. By 1797 he was colonel of the conspiracy, then treasurer and representative of a county, and finally a delegate for the province of Leinster. As the general insurrection approached, he settled his terms with the government, five hundred guineas and personal indemnity, arranged through Mr. Cope, a Dublin merchant. He then gave information about an intended meeting of the Leinster delegates at Bond's house, and in March those persons, including M'Can and Byrne, were arrested. The author of this account, writing of Reynolds, calls the description he quotes "ingeniously erroneous" because there is just enough truth in it to give countenance to what is false, just enough to mislead the careless reader. The passage comes from William Henry Curran's book on the life of Thomas Reynolds, and it records Curran's cross-examination of Reynolds in M'Can's case, containing insinuations that he never attempted to support by evidence and others whose proof failed altogether.

31. Reynolds reads and burns Lord Edward's letter at Athy

    Athy · town · Kildare · 1798

    On the Tuesday following the Curragh meeting, Reynolds read Lord Edward Fitzgerald's letter to a meeting of his own captains at Athy, and at their request burned the letter, which had urged continued preparation for rebellion.

    Read the passage

    over to me as the treasurer appointed in his place. After this he went down stairs ; Lord Edward dis¬ guised himself as well as he could, and went away with a young gentleman, and I never saw him afterwards. Lady Edward Fitzgerald sent for me next day, which was Friday, and handed me thirteen pounds for the barony of Offalley, and thirty-two or thirty-three pounds for the county, which she said Lord Edward desired her to give me. It was afterwards principally laid out in defence of the prisoners tried at the ensuing assizes at Naas. I brought down Lord Edward’s letter, and read it to a meeting of the County Committee held at Bell’s on the Curragh of Kildare, and on the Tuesday after, at Athy, I read it to a meeting of my own captains, and at the desire of one of them, I burned it. The letter recommended that they should not think anything of what had happened at Bond’s — it was nothing — a trifle : it desired them to fill up the vacan¬ cies occasioned by the arrests at Bond’s as soon as pos¬ sible ; and that they might rely upon his being in his place upon the day when they should be called upon to rise. There was a good deal more in it which I do not recollect.’ ’

    [Mr. Reynolds has been censured for seeing Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and attending these two meetings ol United Irishmen, after he had resolved on abandoning their cause, and had given such information to Govern¬ ment as caused the arrests at Bond’s on the 12th March. His interview with Lord Edward on the lltli March was for the purpose of prevailing upon that nobleman

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 14

    As the companion tells it

    Athy, here in County Kildare, is where Thomas Reynolds read Lord Edward Fitzgerald's letter to a meeting of his own captains in 1798. This was the Tuesday after he had read the same letter to the County Committee on the Curragh. The letter told them not to think anything of what had happened at Bond's, calling it nothing, a trifle. It directed them to fill the vacancies caused by the arrests at Bond's as soon as possible, and said they could rely on Lord Edward being in his place on the day they were called upon to rise. At the desire of one of the captains at Athy, Reynolds burned the letter. Reynolds had already resolved to abandon the United Irishmen's cause and had given information to Government that led to the arrests at Bond's on the 12th of March. He had met Lord Edward on the 11th of March, the day before those arrests. Lady Edward Fitzgerald had given him money, thirteen pounds for the barony of Offalley and thirty-two or thirty-three pounds for the county, which she said Lord Edward desired her to give him. That money was afterwards principally spent on the defence of prisoners tried at the assizes at Naas.

32. Reynolds sworn as United Irishman at Bond's house

    Bridge Street · street · Dublin · 1797

    Thomas Reynolds testified that he was sworn in as a United Irishman by Oliver Bond at his house in Bridge Street in early 1797, in the presence of Richard Dillon. This testimony was central to the prosecution's case against Bond.

    Read the passage

    ■ Thomas Reynolds, Esq., was then called. The sub¬ stance of his direct evidence is given in MacCan’s trial. With reference to Mr. Bond, he stated that he was sworn in a United Irishmen by the prisoner, at his house in Bridge Street, in the beginning of the year 1797, in the presence of Mr. Richard Dillon, who lived in the same street ; that he afterwards frequently met the prisoner at different meetings of the Society, and had heard him relate plans whereby the United Irish¬ men might obtain possession of the city of Dublin, and he mentioned several other circumstances connecting the prisoner with different leading members of the Society, and with their plans ; that in the month of November he met Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and one Hugh Wilson, on the steps of the Four Courts; that

    1798.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 10

    As the companion tells it

    Along here on Bridge Street, Oliver Bond kept a house where, in early 1797, Thomas Reynolds was sworn in as a United Irishman. Reynolds testified that Bond himself administered the oath, with Richard Dillon present. That testimony became central to the case against Bond. Reynolds said he afterwards met Bond at meetings of the Society and heard him lay out plans by which the United Irishmen might seize Dublin itself.

33. United Irishmen founded in Dublin under Drennan and Rowan

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1792

    The Society of United Irishmen at Dublin, chaired by William Drennan with Archibald Hamilton Rowan as secretary, issued an address to the Volunteers of Ireland calling them to arms and to political reform. Rowan is noted to have made a provocative toast at his own table in September 1792.

    Read the passage

    The Society of United Irishmen, at Dublin, to the Volunteers

    of Ireland.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 496

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Dublin, this is the city where the Society of United Irishmen was formed, chaired by William Drennan with Archibald Hamilton Rowan as secretary. In 1792 they issued an address to the Volunteers of Ireland. That September, Rowan made a provocative toast at his own table.

34. Whiteboy oath meeting at Ronan's inn, Ardfinnan

    Ardfinnan · town · Tipperary · 1762–1767

    At another meeting held at the house of an innkeeper named Ronan in Ardfinnan, Nicholas Sheehy, Edmond Sheehy, James Buxton and James Farrell took the oath of assassination against Protestant gentlemen.

    Read the passage

    invade Ireland. That therefore the Whitcboys must keep well and faithfully together against said event. That infor¬ mant made many expeditions by night on the lands of Drumlemon, Ardfinnan, and Fethard, in the county of Tipperary, under the command of said Robert Keating and others, who were mounted, armed, and dressed in white uniforms, toge¬ ther with the late Nicholas Sheeliy, Edmond Sheehy, James Buxton, and James Farrell. That said Robert Keating and James Butler drew out their troop and disciplined them at such places. That some time after informant was present at a meeting held at the house of Thomas Browne, of Clonmell, aleseller, together with said Robert Keating, James Butler, and one Patrick Gilbert, farmer, who all took an oath to put to death, the first time an opportunity offered, the Earl of Carrick, Sir Thomas Maude, baronet, John Bagwell, esquire, and the Reverend John Hewetson, who were the only enemies they dreaded to their rebellious designs, and that informant took said oath. That at another meeting held at the house of one Ron an, innkeeper, at Ardfinnan, informant saw said Nicholas Sheeliy, Edmond Sheehy, James Buxton, James Farrell, and many others, take the same oath. Informant saith that the execution of said Nicholas Sheeh}7, and the rest of his friends, has been the means of saving the lives of the said persons, whom they swore to assassinate. Informant saith lie was present at a meeting held at the race-course of Clogheen on the night of the day that the Earl of Drogheda came there, and that five hun¬ dred persons, all in white uniforms, were present, and most of them were armed; and that said meeting was held in the spring, some time before the French took Newfoundland. That at said meeting it was proposed to them, by said Ni¬ cholas Sheehy and others, to burn the said town and to massacre the said Earl and the corps under his command, in order to get their arms, and to frighten the Protestant gentlemen from pursuing them, or giving them any further hindrance in their future purposes. Informant saith that they would have executed the said design but that John Doyle, popish priest, of Ardfinnan, prevented them, by falling on his knees and giving them his curse if they under¬ took what must occasion their own ruin, “for,” he said, “we are not ripe yet for such a blow, nor can we till Prince Charles and his friends from France land to our assistance ; if you attempt it before that time every Protestant in Ire¬ land will be up in arms against us, and give no quarter to

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

35. Reynolds arrested and taken to Athy to face court-martial

    Athy · town · Kildare · 1798

    Five imprisoned men deposed that Reynolds was a Colonel of United Irishmen; on this evidence he was arrested by Colonel Campbell's orders and conveyed to Athy, where a court-martial was set to try him the next morning.

    Read the passage

    My father was immediately arrested, by Colonel Campbell’s orders, and conveyed to Athy. Upon his arrival, Colonel Campbell ordered a court-martial to assemble on the following morning, to try him upon the charges advanced by these five men. My father, after some difficulty, obtained an interview with Colonel Campbell, when his representations, backed by those of Colonel Campbell’s officers, induced that gentleman to countermand the court-martial, and to send an express to Dublin for instructions ; and my father obtained per¬ mission to send a letter to Mr. Cope by the same mes¬ senger. That gentleman immediately waited upon the Secretary of State, and told him that the person whom Colonel Campbell had taken into custody, and was about to try by court-martial, was the person to whom he, Mr. Cope, was indebted for the timely information relative to the provincial meeting of the 12th of March, which * he had given to Government, and he claimed the fulfil-

    174

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 161

    As the companion tells it

    Athy is the town you're coming into now, and in 1798 it was where Thomas Reynolds was brought to face a court-martial. Five imprisoned men had deposed that he was a Colonel of the United Irishmen, and Colonel Campbell ordered him arrested and conveyed here. A court-martial was set to assemble the following morning. Reynolds managed to get an interview with Colonel Campbell, and his representations, backed by Campbell's own officers, persuaded the Colonel to countermand the trial and send an express to Dublin for instructions. Reynolds sent a letter out by the same messenger to a Mr. Cope, who went straight to the Secretary of State. Cope told him the man Campbell had in custody was the very informant who had given Government timely warning of the provincial meeting of the 12th of March, and claimed the fulfilment of what he was owed for it.

36. Whiteboy oath-taking and rebellion scheme in Tipperary

    Newcastle · town · Tipperary · 1762

    David Landregin deposes he was enlisted into the Whiteboys at Newcastle, County Tipperary by Robert Keating and sworn to an oath of fidelity to the King of France and Prince Charles. He describes the plan to raise a rebellion to support a French invasion.

    Read the passage

    Tipperary, but now of Aglisli, in the county of Kilkenny, who, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists, deposeth. That some time in the month of March 1762 he was enlisted in the society of Whiteboys, at Newcastle, in the county of Tipperary, by Mr. Robert Keating, of Knocka, in said county, gentleman, and sworn by him at the same time to take the following oath: — “ To be true and faithful to the King of France, and to the true king. Prince Charles, and to obey all the orders of his officers, and not to disclose his secrets to any one, except to a Frenchman, or one of his own party.” That he told informant that the object they had in view was to collect an army together in this kingdom suf¬ ficient to raise a rebellion against an invasion which they expected from France, with Prince Charles, their rightful sovereign, at their head, and for whom they were to conquer England, Ireland, and Scotland. And that he told infor¬ mant they had powerful friends in England and Scotland, who would cause and foment risings in said kingdoms for such end. That a strong French army would make a descent in these kingdoms at the same time that they would

    536

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

37. Plan to seize Dublin's strong places after Bantry Bay failure

    near Bantry Bay · bay · Cork · 1797

    At a delegates' meeting held shortly after the French fleet had departed from Bantry Bay, the prisoner outlined a plan for the United Irishmen to seize the strong places of Dublin city.

    Read the passage

    and to make use of the assistance of the French to for¬ ward these views, in case of an invasion. That shortly after he was sworn he attended a meeting of that society at the Brazen Head in Bridge-street, at which the prisoner, and Hugh Wilson, at that time a clerk in Finlay’s hank, and others were present. That at another meeting of delegates from this society, held in February or March, 1797, shortly after the French had departed from Bantry Bay, the prisoner stated a plan for taking possession of the strong places in the city of Dublin. That in November last Lord Edward Fitzgerald, who was also an United Irishman, urged him to become Colonel of a regiment of United Irish¬ men, in the county of Kildare, called the Kilkea Regi¬ ment, from the name of a barony in that county ; and that the prisoner advised him to accede to the proposal, saying, it would be of advantage to the cause. He has sworn that, having been elected Colonel of this regi¬ ment, and also treasurer of the barony of Kilkea and Moone, he was of course delegate of that barony, and entitled to attend the county meeting. That on the 18th February he accordingly attended the County of Kildare Meeting of Baronial Delegates, where he, Daly from Kilcullen, and Cummins from Kildare, who was afterwards taken up at the prisoner’s house, were appointed delegates to the Provincial Assembly, which, it is observable, he swears were to meet the next day at the house of the prisoner, as they were informed by Michael Reynolds, of or near Naas, who, as he states, had acted as secretary to the county meeting for some

    92

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 81

38. Rev. John Hewetson's life threatened at Suirville

    Suirville · townland · Tipperary · 1768

    The informant claimed to have more than once saved the life of Rev. John Hewetson of Suirville, a justice of the peace, by dissuading his combined assassins in the chair of confession.

    Read the passage

    the sole end and purpose, to informant’s certain knowledge, in order to raise therein a spirit of sedition and dissatisfaction to his Majesty’s person and government, which might be of use to support a foreign invasion, certainly intended against this kingdom at a convenient time, in favour of Prince Charles, otherwise the Pretender to these realms ; and that the causes commonly alleged for these risings by the said Whiteboys were but mere pretences, and calculated entirely to conceal the above secret designs. Informant deposetli, that these disorders were fomented originally by foreign agents, in conjunction with some popish bishops, particularly Doctor James Butler, titular archbishop of Cashel (in whose house, or chapel, there were papers of a treasonable nature concealed), and others of his clergy, assisted by several principal gentlemen of the same per¬ suasion. That informant was early apprised from his station, then as coadjutor to the aforesaid Doctor Butler, of their dangerous schemes against his Majesty’s crown and the established government of this kingdom, which they did at that time, and do still, as he verily believes, mean to over¬ turn, and which they would have long since more openly attempted to execute but for the timely notice thereof he often, from time to time, gave to the Reverend John Hewetson, of Suirville, a justice of peace for said county, and whose life he more than once saved in his chair of confession, by dissuading liis determined and combined assassins from their bloody purposes against him. That informant is fully convinced upon different grounds (but which, as being con¬ fided upon the solemnities of confession from some of the insurgents, and secrecy, he thinks he cannot, consistent with his obligation as 'a priest, divulge), that the above spirit of sedition would have broke out long since to an open and armed rebellion were it not for the zealous and indefatigable labours of the said John Hewetson and William Bagenal, esquire, who, by the spirit and activity they exerted in detecting, apprehending, and bringing to justice some of the chief leaders of these insurrections, checked and suspended for a time their bad designs. And he deposeth in the most solemn manner that this same rebellious spirit still subsists among those deluded people, as it evidently appears from their frequent nocturnal meetings, held, by informant’s cer¬ tain knowledge, within these eight or nine weeks past in and about Callan, and other parts of this county, where informant saw some of the said insurgents clad in their

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

39. Reynolds brought before Privy Council in Dublin and freed

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

    Upon arrival in Dublin, Reynolds was carried before the Privy Council, where the Lord Chancellor told him the Government had not known of his role as informer and that he was now free, though warned to fully join Government or lose protection.

    Read the passage

    The Secretary of State immediately sent a King’s messenger to Atliy, with instructions to Colonel Camphell to deliver up his prisoner to the messenger to be conveyed to Dublin, and to send the five men to Dublin at the same time. Upon his arrival in Dublin my father was carried before the Privy Council, when he was told by the Lord Chancellor that the Govern¬ ment were not previously aware that they were in¬ debted to him for the timely information they had re¬ ceived from Mr. Cope, or he should not have been molested by them ; that he was now to consider him¬ self a free man, and that he might go where he pleased ; but, the Lord Chancellor added, that unless he would freely and frankly join the Government, and enable them entirely to crush the rebellion by the con¬ viction of its leaders, he must not expect the protection of the Government from the further attempts of the United Irishmen. For the present, he was told, that he might withdraw under the care of the King’s mes¬ senger, who would be a sufficient protection to him until he had made up his mind. He then withdrew, and was conducted to a hotel in front of the - Castle, where he passed that night. He immediately sent for my mother and for several of his private friends, from all of whom he received such accounts of the feel in os which the United Irishmen had excited in the populace against him, that it was clear that his life was in danger, as soon as the protection afforded by the

    1798.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 162

    As the companion tells it

    Dublin in 1798 was where Thomas Reynolds finally learned his fate. He had been a prisoner, sent here by Colonel Campbell on orders from the Secretary of State, and carried before the Privy Council. The Lord Chancellor told him the Government had not previously known they owed him for the timely information received through Mr Cope, or he would never have been molested. He was now to consider himself a free man and might go where he pleased. But the Lord Chancellor added a warning. Unless Reynolds would freely and frankly join the Government and help them crush the rebellion by convicting its leaders, he must not expect their protection from the United Irishmen. For the moment he was told to withdraw under the care of the King's messenger, who would be sufficient protection until he had made up his mind. He was conducted to a hotel in front of the Castle and passed the night there. He sent for his wife and several private friends, and from all of them he heard such accounts of the feeling the United Irishmen had stirred in the populace against him that it was clear his life was in danger the moment the protection around him was withdrawn.

40. Reynolds made free of the Guild of Merchants, Dublin

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

    On 15 October 1798, Thomas Reynolds was made free of the Guild of Merchants in Dublin in recognition of his services, receiving an address engraved in a gold box and on a medal of Irish gold; shortly after he was also given the freedom of the city of Dublin.

    Read the passage

    On the 15th of October, 1798, Mr. Reynolds was made free of the guild of merchants, and the following address was presented to him engraved in a gold box, and upon a medal of Irish gold.

    Sir, Dublin, October 15, 1798.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    Dublin, October 1798. Thomas Reynolds was made free of the Guild of Merchants here in recognition of his services. They presented him with an address engraved in a gold box and on a medal of Irish gold. Shortly after, he was also given the freedom of the city of Dublin.

41. Reynolds travels to Dublin and meets M'Cormick and Neilson

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

    On 21 February 1798 Reynolds went to Dublin where he spoke with two members of the provincial committee, M'Cormick and Neilson. Neilson warned him ominously that he knew too much to stop now.

    Read the passage

    the meetingof the 19th, and, upon venturing to propose moderate measures, that is a conduct in conformity with the oath of the United Irishmen, he had been violently abused and ill-treated, and had hardly escaped with his life. The second was Neilson, who, upon my father’s showing him a proclamation issued by order of the Directory, recommending mild and moderate con¬ duct, and urging a strict adherence to the course recom¬ mended in that, their own proclamation, observed — “ Reynolds, take care wliat you say you know too much to stop now ; we will have no half-measure men. He that is not for us is against us.”

    On the 25th, as Mr. Moore states, my father went to • Castle Jordan with Mr. Cope, his mind still occupied with the tremendous conspiracy so lately disclosed to him, and the apparent fruitlessness of any efforts which he could make to prevent or delay it. On their return Mr. Cope gave him an opportunity of withdrawing from

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 187

    As the companion tells it

    Dublin, on 21 February 1798, was where Reynolds came to meet members of the provincial committee. One was M'Cormick, who had been violently abused and ill-treated at a meeting on the 19th for proposing moderate measures in conformity with the oath of the United Irishmen, and had hardly escaped with his life. The other was Neilson. When Reynolds showed him a proclamation issued by order of the Directory recommending mild and moderate conduct, Neilson said, "Reynolds, take care what you say you know too much to stop now; we will have no half-measure men. He that is not for us is against us."

42. Trial and acquittal of a Whiteboy at Clonmel gaol

    Clonmel · town · Tipperary · 1763–1764

    Thomas Pawley describes being apprehended and imprisoned in Clonmell gaol, tried for high treason and rebellion, and publicly acquitted despite being guilty, after which he was kindly received by James Butler.

    Read the passage

    farmer, who, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists, and examined, deposeth. That, some time in the year of our Lord 1763, he was enlisted among the Whiteboys by Mr. Edmond Quinn, of Myre, in said county, farmer, and sworn to the following oath : “ To be true and faithful to the King of France and Prince Charles, and to obey all the orders of his commanding officers;” that he, said Quinn, then gave your informant half-a-guinca, and told him he was his colonel, and that their scheme was to raise a rebellion in Ireland, in order to support a French invasion, which they expected, with Prince Charles, their right king, at their head, to re¬ lieve the Roman Catholics, and to make this kingdom their own ; that some short time after he met said Quinn in Thurles, and was conducted by him to the house of James Butler, titular archbishop of Cashel, and in his company ; that, after being introduced to him, said Butler, the servant was sent out of the way, and then said Butler took a book out of his pocket, and re-swore your informant as before, viz., to be true and faithful to the King of France, and to his right King Charles, and to obey the orders of his com¬ manding officers in all things; that he then gave your in¬ formant some claret, and afterwards dismissed him with his blessing for that time ; that your informant continued a twelvemonth after in the service of the Whiteboys, until he was apprehended and lodged in Clonmell gaol, and brought to his trial for high treason and rebellion against his Majesty, for which, though guilty, he was publicly ac¬ quitted ; that, after his acquittal and enlargement, he went to see the aforesaid James Butler (by whom he was very kindly received, and also supported whilst in confinement) ; that, after refreshment given to him by said Butler, he was sent by him to the late Nicholas Sheehy, with a purse of gold from him, said Butler, with this message, “ That lie

    538

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Clonmel, this is the town where a Whiteboy named Thomas Pawley stood trial for high treason and rebellion in the 1760s. Pawley had been enlisted among the Whiteboys in 1763 by Edmond Quinn of Myre, who swore him to be true and faithful to the King of France and Prince Charles. Their scheme was to raise a rebellion in Ireland to support a French invasion they expected under Prince Charles, to relieve the Roman Catholics and make the kingdom their own. Quinn then gave Pawley half a guinea and told him he was his colonel. A short time later Pawley met Quinn in Thurles and was conducted to the house of James Butler, titular archbishop of Cashel. Butler sent the servant away, took a book from his pocket, and re-swore Pawley to the same oath, gave him some claret, and dismissed him with his blessing. Pawley continued a twelvemonth in the service of the Whiteboys until he was apprehended and lodged in Clonmel gaol. He was brought to trial for high treason and rebellion, and though guilty, he was publicly acquitted. After his release he went to see James Butler, who had supported him whilst in confinement and received him very kindly. Butler gave him refreshment and sent him on to Nicholas Sheehy with a purse of gold.

43. Whiteboy oaths sworn at Ardfinnan and Drumlemon by 'French officer' Herbert

    Ardfinnan · town · Tipperary · 1756–1766

    John Twohy testifies he saw James Herbert, posing as a French officer, swear Whiteboys under an oath of fidelity to the French King on the lands of Ardfinnan and Drumlemon, paying them money and drilling them under arms.

    Read the passage

    gelists, deposeth, That he knoweth one James Herbert, otherwise Thomas Fitzgerald, who calls himself a French officer ; that he saw said Herbert at four several times en¬ list men in Kilsinnan and Kilmallock, in the county of Limerick, and ship them off at Bantry, in the county of Cork, for the French service, in the year 1756; that he saw said Herbert, on the lands of Ardfinnan, Drumlemon, and else¬ where, at various times since, swear the Whiteboys under the oath of fidelity and obligation to the French King, and exer¬ cise them under arms ; that he saw said Herbert also fre¬ quently pay them money, in the name and for the service of the King of France, and that your deponent has often received it from him ; that he heard said Herbert frequently assure them, thus assembled, that they should soon receive assist¬ ance from France, in order to conquer Ireland.

    John Twohy.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

44. Archbishop of Cashel implicated in treasonable papers

    Cashel · townland · Tipperary · 1768

    Doctor James Butler, titular archbishop of Cashel, was alleged to have concealed treasonable papers in his house or chapel and to have fomented the Whiteboy disorders in conjunction with foreign agents and clergy.

    Read the passage

    the sole end and purpose, to informant’s certain knowledge, in order to raise therein a spirit of sedition and dissatisfaction to his Majesty’s person and government, which might be of use to support a foreign invasion, certainly intended against this kingdom at a convenient time, in favour of Prince Charles, otherwise the Pretender to these realms ; and that the causes commonly alleged for these risings by the said Whiteboys were but mere pretences, and calculated entirely to conceal the above secret designs. Informant deposetli, that these disorders were fomented originally by foreign agents, in conjunction with some popish bishops, particularly Doctor James Butler, titular archbishop of Cashel (in whose house, or chapel, there were papers of a treasonable nature concealed), and others of his clergy, assisted by several principal gentlemen of the same per¬ suasion. That informant was early apprised from his station, then as coadjutor to the aforesaid Doctor Butler, of their dangerous schemes against his Majesty’s crown and the established government of this kingdom, which they did at that time, and do still, as he verily believes, mean to over¬ turn, and which they would have long since more openly attempted to execute but for the timely notice thereof he often, from time to time, gave to the Reverend John Hewetson, of Suirville, a justice of peace for said county, and whose life he more than once saved in his chair of confession, by dissuading liis determined and combined assassins from their bloody purposes against him. That informant is fully convinced upon different grounds (but which, as being con¬ fided upon the solemnities of confession from some of the insurgents, and secrecy, he thinks he cannot, consistent with his obligation as 'a priest, divulge), that the above spirit of sedition would have broke out long since to an open and armed rebellion were it not for the zealous and indefatigable labours of the said John Hewetson and William Bagenal, esquire, who, by the spirit and activity they exerted in detecting, apprehending, and bringing to justice some of the chief leaders of these insurrections, checked and suspended for a time their bad designs. And he deposeth in the most solemn manner that this same rebellious spirit still subsists among those deluded people, as it evidently appears from their frequent nocturnal meetings, held, by informant’s cer¬ tain knowledge, within these eight or nine weeks past in and about Callan, and other parts of this county, where informant saw some of the said insurgents clad in their

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here in 1768, Doctor James Butler, the titular archbishop of Cashel, stood accused of concealing papers of a treasonable nature in his house or chapel. An informant, who had served as Butler's coadjutor, claimed that the Whiteboy disorders were not what they seemed. He deposed that their stated grievances were mere pretences, and that the real purpose was to raise sedition against the King's government and support a foreign invasion in favour of Prince Charles, the Pretender. According to this informant, foreign agents worked together with popish bishops, Butler among them, and several gentlemen of the same persuasion, to foment rebellion. He said he learned of these schemes from his station beside Butler, and that he repeatedly gave notice of them to the Reverend John Hewetson of Suirville, a justice of the peace for the county. He claimed to have saved Hewetson's life more than once in the confessional, by dissuading men who had combined to assassinate him. He believed an open and armed rebellion would have broken out long before but for the efforts of Hewetson and William Bagenal, who detected, apprehended, and brought to justice some of the chief leaders. The informant swore that the rebellious spirit still subsisted, as shown by frequent nocturnal meetings held within the previous eight or nine weeks in and about Callan and other parts of the county, where he saw insurgents clad in their disguises.

45. Delivery of gold to Nicholas Sheehy at Shanbally

    Shanbally · townland · Tipperary

    Pawley describes carrying a letter and a purse of gold from James Butler to Nicholas Sheehy at his sister's house in Shanbally, where Sheehy counted out forty gold pieces and about thirty guineas.

    Read the passage

    had. only received this money from Dublin the day before, else he would have sent it to him sooner.” Your informant further deposeth that the aforesaid Butler did then assure him that they soon should have Ireland in their own hands, and they would certainly be supported by an invasion from France, with Prince Charles at their head; and hereupon he dismissed him upon his errand, first giving him an English crown to bear his expenses ; that he went directly thence to Nicholas Sheehy, and found him at his sister’s house, at Shanbally, and there he delivered - to him said Butler’s letter and purse of gold ; which letter having read, lie then turned immediately afterwards, in your informant’s presence, poured on the table said gold, consisting of forty pieces, and guineas to the amount of about thirty. Your informant deposeth further, that it was resolved upon, at a meeting of the Whiteboys at Myre aforesaid, to burn the houses of the Protestants of Ireland, and to massacre them in one night, after a landing made by the French, as was expected. Your informant further deposeth he is thoroughly convinced said massacre and rebellion are not yet over, be¬ cause he was very lately invited by the said Edmond Quinn to join him and his friends in further intended risings, for the above purposes, which he is certain are again set on foot, by means of the aforesaid James Butler, John Kirkby, of Ballyna, near Killaloe, and Edmond Quinn aforesaid, and also by Daniel Cavenagli, of the county of Kilkenny, gen¬ tleman. Your informant deposeth, that he is sure the afore¬ said rebellion and massacre would have long since taken place but for the interposition of the Earl of Carrick and the lteverend John Idewitson.

    Thomas Hawley.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere close to Shanbally, a delivery of gold once came to Nicholas Sheehy at his sister's house here. Pawley carried a letter and a purse of gold from James Butler, who had told him they would soon have Ireland in their own hands, supported by an invasion from France with Prince Charles at its head. Butler gave him an English crown for his expenses and sent him on his way. Pawley found Sheehy at his sister's house and delivered the letter and purse. Sheehy read the letter, then poured the gold onto the table: forty pieces, and guineas to the amount of about thirty. The money had come from Dublin only the day before. The testimony this comes from also records a meeting of the Whiteboys where it was resolved to burn the houses of the Protestants of Ireland and massacre them in one night, after a landing by the French, as was expected. The informant said he was convinced these plans were not over, because he had very lately been invited by Edmond Quinn to join further risings. He named James Butler, John Kirkby of Ballyna near Killaloe, Daniel Cavenagli of the county of Kilkenny, and Quinn as the men setting it back in motion. He said the rebellion and massacre would have long since taken place but for the interposition of the Earl of Carrick and the Reverend John Idewitson.

46. Dublin Garrison Soldiers Petition Over Pay

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1797

    Soldiers of the Dublin garrison drew up a petition in April 1797 protesting their low pay compared to sailors and labourers, and resolved to remain in their quarters until their demands were met, urging other regiments to support them.

    Read the passage

    sixpence per week, a sum insufficient to maintain in any degree of comfort a single man, and totally inadequate to maintain a man wlio has a wife and family, which many of us have ; if the pay is compared with that of a labourer or a porter in this city, the difference is immense. The pay of the sailors is now fixed at one shilling British per day, exclu¬ sive of which they have a profuse allowance of meat, of beer, and of spirit, which keeps them comfortable, and enables them to save sufficiently for the maintenance of their wives and families. We, the soldiers of the garrison of Dublin, who have long cheerfully submitted to a very severe garrison duty, and who will not even for a moment allow that we are inferior to any body of men in loyalty to our King and country, have unanimously agreed humbly to represent to Government the insufficiency of our present pay, and that we are convinced that one shilling per day subsistence money would be a moderate allowance for the infantr}r, with a pro¬ portionate advance to the cavalry and artillery, to be paid in money and not in paper ; and in order to have those mode¬ rate and just claims brought to a conclusion, we have deter¬ mined to remain in our present quarters until they are settled to our satisfaction, and we recommend in the most earnest manner to every regiment throughout the kingdom to assist us in obtaining this just and reasonable demand.

    “ Dublin , 29 th April , 1797.”

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 533

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Dublin, you are moving through a city where, in April 1797, the garrison soldiers drew up a remarkable petition. Their pay was sixpence per week, a sum they said was insufficient for a single man and totally inadequate for those with wives and families. They pointed out that sailors now got one shilling a day plus generous allowances of meat, beer and spirit, and that even labourers and porters in the city earned far more than they did. The soldiers declared their loyalty to King and country but demanded one shilling a day subsistence money for the infantry, with proportionate advances for cavalry and artillery, to be paid in money and not in paper. To press their case they determined to remain in their quarters until the demands were settled to their satisfaction, and they urged every regiment throughout the kingdom to assist them. The petition was signed in Dublin on the 29th of April, 1797.

47. Military Articles of the Treaty of Limerick

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1691

    Articles agreed between Baron de Ginckle and Irish commanders allowing Jacobite soldiers free passage to leave Ireland for France with arms and effects, following the siege of Limerick.

    Read the passage

    I. That all persons without any exceptions, of what quality or condition soever, that are willing to leave the kingdom of Ireland, shall have free liberty to go to any country beyond the seas (England and Scotland excepted) where they think fit, with their families, household-stuff, plate, and jewels.

    II. That all general officers, colonels, and generally all other officers of horse, dragoons, and foot-guards, troopers, dragooners, soldiers of all kinds that are in any garrison, place, or post, now in the hands of the Irish, or encamped in the counties of Cork, Clare, and Kerry, as also those called Kapparees, or volunteers, that are willing to go beyond seas as aforesaid, shall have free leave to embark themselves wherever the ships are that are appointed to transport them, and to come in whole bodies as they are now composed, or in parties, companies, or otherwise, with¬ out having any impediment, directly or indirectly.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Limerick, this is the city where the Treaty of Limerick was agreed in 1691, after the siege. Baron de Ginckle and the Irish commanders drew up military articles allowing Jacobite soldiers free passage to leave Ireland for France. The terms said that all persons willing to leave the kingdom could go to any country beyond the seas, England and Scotland excepted, taking their families, household goods, plate, and jewels with them. Every officer and soldier, whether in garrison or encamped in Cork, Clare, or Kerry, down to the volunteers called Kapparees, was given free leave to embark wherever transport ships were appointed, coming in whole bodies or in parties without impediment.

48. Reynolds arrested at Kilkea Castle by Captain Erskine

    Kilkea · parish · Kildare · 1798

    Thomas Reynolds was arrested at Kilkea by Captain Erskine on the 21st of April, 1798, and held in confinement by him until the 29th. This was used to demonstrate Reynolds could not have betrayed Lord Edward Fitzgerald's later movements.

    Read the passage

    my father was arrested at Kilkea by Captain Erskine, on the 21st of April, and held by him in confinement until the 29th ; and that again on the 4th of May, he was arrested by Colonel Campbell’s orders, and lodged a close prisoner in Atliy gaol until the 6th ; he was then sent under a strong guard, still as a close state prisoner, and in custody of a King’s messenger, to Dublin, where he was lodged in the castle, from his rooms in which fortress he never stirred out until the end of July following, having a sentry at his outer room door, another on each of three landing-places, and two at the foot of the stairs, wlip allowed no soul to pass without special orders each time from the Secre¬ tary of State. This was done to preserve him from assassination. It will also be remembered that before he was thus sent to Dublin, his hostility to the United Irishmen was known and published in all the daily newspapers, and their hatred of him was as open and avowed. It is therefore evident that he, a prisoner, the known, open, and avowed enemy of the United Irishmen, could not possibly have known anything of Lord Edward’s movements on the 18th, more than a fortnight after he had been a close prisoner, and after his decided hostility to the United Irishmen, and theirs to him, had become known to the whole kingdom. He would certainly have been the last man in Ireland intrusted with the secrets of their only remaining leader of rank or consequence ; and had he even been in¬ clined to commit so base an action as that of betraying him, it could not possibly have been in his power to

    1798.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 212

49. Arrest and Trial of Oliver Bond in Dublin

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1798

    A footnote records that Mr. Bond was arrested in March 1798 and that Reynolds became suspected by the United Irishmen shortly afterward, being delivered to the Government in May. Bond's trial for high treason took place in Dublin on 23 July 1798.

    Read the passage

    * Mr. Bond was arrested on the 12tli March ; Mr. Reynolds was the object of the suspicions of the United Irishmen very soon after, and he wa delivered into the hands of the Government in the beginning of May. The trial took place on the 23rd July. Mr. Bond had known Mr. Rey¬ nolds’s family before that gentleman was born ; he found every member of that family eager to assist him and his agents in the search, yet, as Mr. Ponsonby justly remarked, he was unable to find any one who could prove that Mr. Reynolds was not deserving of credit upon his oath.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 71

    As the companion tells it

    Dublin in 1798 was the setting for Oliver Bond's arrest and trial. He was seized on the 12th of March that year. Soon after, Thomas Reynolds fell under suspicion from the United Irishmen, and by the beginning of May he had been delivered into the hands of the Government. Bond's trial for high treason took place in Dublin on the 23rd of July. Bond had known Reynolds's family before Reynolds himself was born, and every member of that family was eager to assist him and his agents in their search. Yet as Mr. Ponsonby remarked, Bond could not find a single person to prove that Reynolds did not deserve credit upon his oath.

50. Belfast preacher turned informer profits from wartime seizure

    near Belfast · city · Antrim · 1798–1820

    A former Belfast preacher of sedition who fled to Sweden after 1798 became a police spy and denounced a British ship's cargo, receiving half the confiscated proceeds. He was only known in his home parish of Belfast for his violence and ignorance, despite later posing as a leading rebel figure.

    Read the passage

    ducea under American colours, and having American papers. The Irish refugee alluded to above acted at that time as a police spy, and, having some suspicion that all was not correct, he made acquaintance with the owner of the ship, and invited him to dinner. In the course of the evening his suspicions were strengthened : he redoubled his demonstrations of friendship, and pre¬ vailed on his guest to stop entirely with him for a few days, while his papers were passing the custom-house, and while he was making his sales, &c. During that time he gained his secret, and instantly denounced him to the police. The ship and cargo were confiscated, and the informer got half the produce as the price of his treachery. This man wore Napper Tandy’s uni¬ form on all occasions of dress, and took great delight in giving himself out as a prime mover of the rebellion ; although, in truth, he was only known to his parish in Belfast, where he made himself remarkable for his vio¬ lence and ignorance.

    Three other individuals from Ireland also infested these countries: their names were Harvey, John Irwine, and William Holland. These men came to Co¬ penhagen just after my father had quitted it with his family for France, and got into the good graces of the Irish runaways and their partisans who were settled there, by their abuse of my father. They cut great figures, had horses, equipages, &c., and gave them¬ selves out as Irishmen of high consequence. They drew freely on the first bankers in Dublin, and their

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

51. Comparison of Lord Yelverton's conduct at Orr's condemnation

    Carrickfergus · townland · Antrim · 1797

    The Press newspaper compares Lord Yelverton's role in the condemnation of William Orr to the notorious Judge Jefferies, denouncing the trial and execution as an act of state cruelty amid the crisis of 1797.

    Read the passage

    Press, No. 10. — 19 tli October, 1797. After a comparison of the conduct of Lord Yelverton on Qrr’s condemnation to that of Judge Jefferies, follows: —

    “ At this crisis, so full of horror, we have a consolation in thinking that certain atrocities can live only till they are understood, they are hideous spectres which vanish with the morning. The mere executions of military force, terrible as

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 509

52. Fears of Athy Being Set on Fire During 1798 Unrest

    Athy · town · Kildare · 1798

    Ann Fitzgerald testified that Mr. Taylor, an attorney from Athy, came to Dublin with an express message seeking to prevent the town of Athy from being burned. He described the disturbed state of the country and soldiers being sent on free quarters.

    Read the passage

    Did you not make some observation upon his doing so ? — Mr. Taylor called on me about some business in the line of his profession : he is an attorney : he told me he came with an express to Dublin, to seek to have the town of Atliy prevented from being set on hre, and he talked of the disturbed state of the country, and of the soldiers being sent on free quarters ; and I asked , teas it said in the county of Kildare , as in Dub¬ lin , that Reynolds was an informer? I do not recol¬ lect any further conversation.

    Did you make any farther observation upon his being an informer ? — I do not recollect !

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 52

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Athy in Kildare, this town carries a fragment from 1798. An attorney named Mr. Taylor rode to Dublin with an express message seeking to prevent Athy from being set on fire. He spoke of the disturbed state of the country and soldiers being sent on free quarters. Ann Fitzgerald later testified to this conversation and recalled asking whether it was said in the county of Kildare, as in Dublin, that Reynolds was an informer. She did not recollect any further conversation.

53. Formation of the Kilkea Regiment of United Irishmen

    Kilkea · parish · Kildare · 1797

    Lord Edward Fitzgerald urged Reynolds to become Colonel of a United Irishmen regiment named the Kilkea Regiment, after the barony of Kilkea in County Kildare, and Bond advised him to accept for the advancement of the cause.

    Read the passage

    and to make use of the assistance of the French to for¬ ward these views, in case of an invasion. That shortly after he was sworn he attended a meeting of that society at the Brazen Head in Bridge-street, at which the prisoner, and Hugh Wilson, at that time a clerk in Finlay’s hank, and others were present. That at another meeting of delegates from this society, held in February or March, 1797, shortly after the French had departed from Bantry Bay, the prisoner stated a plan for taking possession of the strong places in the city of Dublin. That in November last Lord Edward Fitzgerald, who was also an United Irishman, urged him to become Colonel of a regiment of United Irish¬ men, in the county of Kildare, called the Kilkea Regi¬ ment, from the name of a barony in that county ; and that the prisoner advised him to accede to the proposal, saying, it would be of advantage to the cause. He has sworn that, having been elected Colonel of this regi¬ ment, and also treasurer of the barony of Kilkea and Moone, he was of course delegate of that barony, and entitled to attend the county meeting. That on the 18th February he accordingly attended the County of Kildare Meeting of Baronial Delegates, where he, Daly from Kilcullen, and Cummins from Kildare, who was afterwards taken up at the prisoner’s house, were appointed delegates to the Provincial Assembly, which, it is observable, he swears were to meet the next day at the house of the prisoner, as they were informed by Michael Reynolds, of or near Naas, who, as he states, had acted as secretary to the county meeting for some

    92

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 81

54. Free passage of Thomond-Bridge reserved to Irish troops

    Thomond Bridge · street · Limerick · 1691

    The English town of Limerick, together with the island and free passage of Thomond-Bridge, was to remain in the hands of the Irish army until transportation could be arranged.

    Read the passage

    XXIII. In consideration of the present capitulation, the two towns of Limerick shall be delivered and put into the hands of the General, or any other person he shall appoint, at the time and day hereafter specified, viz., the Irish town, excepting the magazines and hospital, on the day of the signing of these present articles; and as for the English town, it shall remain, together with the island, and the free passage of Thom ond- Bridge, in the hands of those of the Irish army that are now in the garrison, or that shall here¬ after come from the counties of Cork, Clare, Kerry, Sligo, and other places above mentioned, until there shall be con¬ venience found for their transportation.

    XXIV. And to prevent all disorders that may happen between the garrison that the General shall place in the Irish town, which shall be delivered to him, and the Irish troopers that shall remain in the English town and the island, which they may do, until the troops embarked on the first fifty ships shall be gone for France, and no longer ; they shall intrench themselves on both sides, to hinder the communication of the said garrisons : and it shall be pro¬ hibited on both sides, to offer anything that is offensive ; and the parties offending shall be punished on cither side.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    Along here at Thomond Bridge, in 1691, the capitulation of Limerick left the English town, the island, and the free passage of this bridge in the hands of the Irish army. The Irish town itself was handed over on the day the articles were signed, but the English town was to stay with the Irish troops, including those who would come from the counties of Cork, Clare, Kerry, Sligo, and other places, until there was shipping to carry them away. They could hold the English town and the island until the troops embarked on the first 50 ships had sailed for France, and no longer. To keep the peace between the garrison the English general would place in the Irish town and the Irish troopers remaining on this side, both sides were to intrench themselves and cut off communication. Nothing offensive was to be offered by either party, and anyone who broke that rule was to be punished on whichever side they stood.

55. Hamilton Rowan's provocative toast at his own table

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1792

    On 9 September 1792, Archibald Hamilton Rowan drank at his own table a toast praising the spirit of the French mob applied to the people of Ireland, an incident cited as evidence of revolutionary sympathies among United Irishmen leaders.

    Read the passage

    * On the 9th of September, in this year (1792), Mr. Hamilton Rowan drank at his own table the following toast:— “ The spirit of the French mob to the people of Ireland !” See the life of Theobald Wolfe Tone, vol. i., p. 182.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 496

    As the companion tells it

    Dublin has a story from 1792. On 9 September, Archibald Hamilton Rowan raised a glass at his own table here and drank a toast: the spirit of the French mob to the people of Ireland. It was the kind of gesture that would later be held up as proof of revolutionary feeling among the United Irishmen.

56. Lord Edward Fitzgerald's estate at Kilrush, Co. Kildare, sequestrated then restored

    Kilrush · townland · Kildare · 1798

    Following the bill of attainder passed against Lord Edward Fitzgerald after his arrest, his property—chiefly the lands of Kilrush in County Kildare, worth about £700 a year—was sequestrated but later restored.

    Read the passage

    sisted chiefly, if not solely, of the lands of Kilrush, in the county of Kildare, and produced about TOO/, a-year.

    It is foreign to the object of this narrative to enter into any discussion of the motives and circumstances which led this nobleman to associate himself with such men and for such purposes. He had served in the British army in America with honour and integrity. He was an agreeable, amiable man ; an enthusiast in friendship as in politics. He died lamented by his many friends, and regretted by every one who was not blinded by the party animosity of the moment. In stature he was much below the middle size ; he was little more than five feet five inches in height, and not seemingly ro¬ bust ; but active, well made, and sufficiently strong. His eyes were very grey, and much hair grew on his cheeks above the beard, which gave him a very peculiar and not uninteresting countenance.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 218

57. Recruitment for French service via Kilmallock and Bantry

    Bantry · town · Cork · 1756

    Twohy states he saw Herbert enlist men in Kilsinnan and Kilmallock, County Limerick, and ship them off at Bantry, County Cork, for French service in 1756.

    Read the passage

    gelists, deposeth, That he knoweth one James Herbert, otherwise Thomas Fitzgerald, who calls himself a French officer ; that he saw said Herbert at four several times en¬ list men in Kilsinnan and Kilmallock, in the county of Limerick, and ship them off at Bantry, in the county of Cork, for the French service, in the year 1756; that he saw said Herbert, on the lands of Ardfinnan, Drumlemon, and else¬ where, at various times since, swear the Whiteboys under the oath of fidelity and obligation to the French King, and exer¬ cise them under arms ; that he saw said Herbert also fre¬ quently pay them money, in the name and for the service of the King of France, and that your deponent has often received it from him ; that he heard said Herbert frequently assure them, thus assembled, that they should soon receive assist¬ ance from France, in order to conquer Ireland.

    John Twohy.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    As the road brings you near Bantry, in County Cork, consider what this town saw in 1756. John Twohy swore that he knew a man called James Herbert, also known as Thomas Fitzgerald, who called himself a French officer. Twohy said he saw Herbert, at four separate times, enlist men in Kilsinnan and Kilmallock, in County Limerick, and ship them off here at Bantry, for the French service, in the year 1756. Twohy went further. He said he saw Herbert on the lands of Ardfinnan, Drumlemon, and elsewhere, at various times since, swear the Whiteboys under an oath of fidelity and obligation to the French King, and exercise them under arms. He saw Herbert frequently pay them money, in the name and for the service of the King of France, and Twohy himself often received it from him. He heard Herbert tell those assembled they should soon receive assistance from France, in order to conquer Ireland.

58. Reynolds detained overnight at Naas by Mr. Taylor

    Naas · town · Kildare · 1798

    Reynolds was stopped at Naas on his way to Dublin by Mr. Taylor of Athy and passed the night there, during which he was allegedly asked to swear he had not betrayed the United Irishmen meeting at Bond's, an episode raised in his cross-examination.

    Read the passage

    * Mr. Reynolds is here alluding to a question put to him in cross-ex¬ amination on Byrne’s trial as to the taking of a voluntary oath, that he had not given up the united Irishmen, when he was stopped a-t Naas, on his way to Dublin by Mr. Taylor of Athy, and passed the night there ; he then said that he had no recollection of having taken such an oath, although he might have done so, and would if required, rather than be murdered. Mr. Reynolds then stated that a Mr. Flood, a member of the county committee, was in the same house with him. M‘Donnel the innkeeper was also an united Irishman.

    1798.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 28

    As the companion tells it

    Naas, the town you're passing through, was where Thomas Reynolds was stopped on his way to Dublin in 1798 by Mr. Taylor of Athy. He spent the night in Naas, and during cross-examination on Byrne's trial he was asked whether he had taken a voluntary oath that he had not given up the United Irishmen. He said he had no recollection of doing so, though he might have, and would have if required, rather than be murdered. A Mr. Flood, a member of the county committee, was in the same house that night. The innkeeper, McDonnel, was also a United Irishman.

59. Reynolds Takes Residence in Leinster-Street, Dublin

    Leinster Street · street · Kildare · 1798

    After leaving Dublin Castle, Thomas Reynolds took a house in Leinster-street, where he was visited and feasted by all classes of society and hailed as the saviour of his country, receiving honours including a gold medal from the Guild of Merchants.

    Read the passage

    The country having been restored to comparative quiet, my father now quitted Dublin Castle, and took a house in Leinster-street. Congratulations and addresses poured in on him from all sides. He was visited and feasted by all classes of society, and was uniyersally hailed as the saviour of his country ; the Guild of Merchants voted him the freedom of their body, and accompanied their vote with a medal of Irish gold, which is now in my possession, a gold snuff-box, which is in the possession of my brother, and an address, of of which a copy has been already given at page 72.

    1798.

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0

    As the companion tells it

    Along this street in 1798, Thomas Reynolds took a house after leaving Dublin Castle. Congratulations and addresses poured in on him from all sides. He was visited and feasted by all classes of society and hailed as the saviour of his country. The Guild of Merchants voted him the freedom of their body and gave him a medal of Irish gold, a gold snuff-box, and an address.

60. Reynolds turned back at Naas by warning of assassination plot

    Naas · town · Kildare · 1798

    Setting out for Dublin on horseback after the soldiers departed, Reynolds was deterred from going further than Naas by Mr. Taylor, whose friendly warning saved him from assassination.

    Read the passage

    A day or two before the arrival of the soldiers, Murphy and Kennaa were sent to murder him. I have already detailed the particulars of that attempt : * I have also detailed the visit of the soldiery, f Upon their depar¬ ture my father put the castle into what order he could, and set out for Dublin on horseback, but was deterred from going farther than Naas by Mr. Taylor ; and, as before stated, only saved from assassination by that gen¬ tleman’s friendly warning. Next day my father re¬ turned to Kilkea. Other, and what were considered more certain means of getting rid of him were then adopted by the confederates, which, however, resulted in compelling him to avow himself to the Government, and to appear against the United Irishmen.

    The country was by this time in such a state of dis¬ turbance, that Martial Law had been proclaimed, and many arrests had taken place. The gaol at Atliy was crowded with prisoners, and, among others, were five

    Internet Archive lifeofthomasreyn02reyn_0, Chapter 160

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up towards Naas now. In 1798 this was as far as Thomas Reynolds got on his way to Dublin. He had set out from Kilkea Castle on horseback, after the soldiers departed, and was making for the city. But at Naas a man named Mr. Taylor warned him to go no further. That warning saved Reynolds from assassination. Murphy and Kennaa had already been sent to murder him a day or two earlier, and the danger had not passed. He turned back here and returned to Kilkea the next day. The confederates then tried other means to get rid of him, but those efforts only pushed Reynolds to declare himself to the Government and to give evidence against the United Irishmen. The country was in such disturbance by then that Martial Law had been proclaimed, and the gaol at Athy was crowded with prisoners.