Letter from an Irish Emigrant to his friends in the U.S.A.
The original of this pamphlet is in the Library of the New York Historical Society. It is the only copy known. I had the pamphlet microfilmed and three typewritten copies - of which this is one - was made. Aiken McClelland. 10/7/56 [10 July 1956?] To my good friend Dr. David Stewart on his 88th birthday. A LETTER FROM AN IRISH EMIGRANT TO HIS FRIENDS IN THE UNITED STATES GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE COMMOTIONS IN IRELAND OF THE UNITED IRISHMEN, AND ORANGE SOCIETIES AND OF SEVERAL BATTLES AND MILITARY EXECUTIONS. PHILADELPHIA Printed and sold at the Book-Sellers. 1799. New York: September 1798. We sailed from Belfast, on board the Harmony of New Bedford, Captain Asa Swift, and landed to the amount of sixty-five in number, in this City a few days ago. Some of the passengers have come hither on mercantile affairs, but much the greater number of us have been literally transported from his Britannic Majesty's Dominions under the sentence of a Court Martial, or obliged to fly to avoid instant death by military execution, which is now carrying on in all parts of that unfortunate Ireland, in order to check the revolution which British tyranny has produced and long insulted humanity has loudly called for. Many hundreds of persons of rank and property are in a similar situation, and all bent on coming to this Continent, forming the most respectable emigration which has taken place in your United States since the settlement of the New England colonies, during the persecutions of Queen Mary, and King Charles I and II of England. As you, and perhaps other friends in America, may be curious to know the cause of the present convulsions in Ireland, I shall attempt to give a short view of them:- Our Commons House of Parliament (like your House of Representatives in Congress) which has the whole power of granting financial supplies, and which consists of three hundred members, has two hundred and thirty of its members chosen by Towns, called Boroughs, most inferior to your New-London, Derby, or Salem; only twelve persons, called Burgesses of these Towns are allowed a vote, and these frequently living at a distance of fifty miles, the whole at the disposal of some gentlemen, who sell the seats (lately when the market was good) for œ2,700 sterling, as you do a hogshead of flax, tobacco, or lately the negroes; and these seats are mostly bestowed upon, or bought by the servants or pensioners of the Crown: add to this the influence of the gentlemen of the great landed estates, in choosing the seventy members to represent the counties and great towns, the people can scarcely be said to have any voice in the Legislature. This want of parliamentary representation in the people of Ireland began to manifest itself particularly even so early as the restoration of King Charles II - when the Presbyterians after all their services in recalling that Prince to the Throne, were deprived of their Churches (which they enjoyed upon an equal footing with the Episcopalians) and obliged along with the Roman Catholics, constituting twenty-nine out of thirty of the inhabitants of the Kingdom, to give the tenth of their yearly income to maintain the Episcopal clergy, besides annual taxes to keep the Churches in repair, to pay the clerk, sexton, for washing the vestments, and even for buying the sacramental elements. In the fourth year of Queen Anne's reign, an act passed disqualifying all persons who did not receive their sacrament in the Episcopal Church from holding any office in the State. In the year 1737, the Parliament enacted a law, preventing Roman Catholics from voting, though composing two-thirds of the whole people of the nation, because in a certain southern country they had the presumption of electing one Protestant member, in preference to another to be their representative, as thinking him more deserving, though he had a smaller estate, and less influence; but what principally aroused the indignation of the Irish people, was the concurrence of their parliament with that of Great Britain, in levying an unnatural war upon you, their brethren of these United States, for the purpose of enslaving you, though it was trumped up by the advocate of the war that they were only designed to suppress an Irish Presbyterian hearts-of-steel rebellion translated from Ireland to your continent; after which, the people of that sect in Ireland were to be crushed, and their meeting-houses shut as being the abettors ! This was followed by raising a crusade of arbitrary despots to oppose France in recovering her liberties, whereby that nation has been roused, to a state of madness and desperation ! Ten millions sterling has been added to the National Debt of Ireland, and four hundred millions and upwards to that of Great Britain; taxes more than doubled; public credit so low that a œ100 bill will not pass for œ50, and scarcely to be received at all, except at the point of a bayonet, though bearing an interest of nearly 10%. Ireland during your American War being left with not more than 3,000 soldiers for her defence, whilst the combined fleets of France and Spain rode triumphant in her channel; the people formed volunteer companies to the amount of 80,000 men, clothed and armed at their own expense. Under their protection the nation was freed from the terror of foreign enemies, and the laws made to be respected at home (which they never were before) by all ranks. Delegates from each of the Volunteer corps met at Dungannon, in the province of Ulster, in the year 1782, and made a general declaration of grievances. The Parliament, though they had almost unanimously made a declaration to the contrary, were thereby roused to repeal the law preventing Presbyterians from holding offices in the State, (the King at the first presentation refused his assent; and the whole bench of Bishops opposed it to the last) some penal laws against Roman Catholics, and part to assert the independence of Ireland in opposition to the British Parliament, who claimed an undoubted right to restrain Irish trade, in the same manner as it did once yours, in opposition to your assemblies. Many of the volunteer leaders having joined the standard, in order to be popular for the day, deserted the cause (having now obtained a place or pension); a law was passed to prevent meeting in military array and requiring a public registry of arms, for the purpose of being called for when necessary; another law was enacted forbidding all national or provincial conventions, or even county meetings, (unless called for by the Sheriff, who is an officer solely under the control of the Government) and suppressing all private political societies); and in proportion as the volunteer interest was thus broken down, the Parliament returned to their ancient measures! A proposal for an equitable intercourse of trade between Great Britain and Ireland (which was shameful partial) was brought forward by an Irish minister, in return for which, before the benefit was obtained, Mr. Grattan, the patriot of the day, proposed and carried taxes estimated to amount to œ120,000 sterling, but which produced three times that sum. The money bill passed, but the propositions of trade were so much altered by the British Parliament, as to become totally inadmissible by the Irish nation. The next generous act of the Irish Parliament was, the bestowing to Great Britain a considerable part of the trade lately reclaimed, by voting for twenty-one years the exclusive right to all trade beyond the Cape of Good Hope, in the English East-India Company. For National defence, in addition to the 20,000 stated regular troops, an Act of Parliament passed to raise a regiment of militia, in each of the thirty-two counties of Ireland. Persons from 18 to 45, subjects to be drawn by lot to serve as privates; their pay, the same as common soldiers; officers to be appointed by the King, without any lot - like pay, with those in the regulars to render the business palatable; the militia were so far exempted from military law as not to be liable to be affected in life or limb: but a clause was huddled in whilst in their own country, of which the government taking advantage, the militia as soon as embodied were ordered out of their respective counties, and several of the men actually shot under military law, upon charge of associating with societies engaged in recovering the national rights. Upon the governments of Great Britain and Ireland joining the combined powers in the present war against France, delegates from each country in the province of Ulster met at Dungannon, made a declaration of grievances, and solemnly protested against the injustice and impolicy of the war. This provincial meeting was to have been followed by a national convention, for the purpose of address to the king, and remonstrating with Parliament for a reform of the abuses. The Parliament of Ireland having by the convention bill put down all public meetings, they were reduced to the dire necessity of resorting to the private ones! And here the great object to be obtained, and the want of which had rendered every effort of the people of Ireland in recovering their liberties abortive, was union. The ruling powers had long artfully fomented religious prejudices between the two great bodies of which the people were principally composed, vulgarly called the Presbyterians of the North and the Roman Catholics of the South, whom they merely made instruments for mutually enslaving each other. For this purpose societies were formed under the appellation of United Irishmen. Persons of character of every religious persuasion were admissible, upon taking oath that they would cultivate a brotherhood of affection with Irishmen of every religious profession, and use their best endeavours to procure a fair and equal representation of all the people of Ireland. Every member paid a penny per week to a public fund. These societies corresponded, by sending delegates to baronial or divisions of counties; those to counties, counties to provincial, and these to national meetings, who formed the supreme executive committee. The number of United Irishmen ascertained by a Parliamentary investigation amounted to at least 600,000; besides a body in England and Scotland, almost as numerous. The town of Belfast had the honour of originating this institution. The most happy effects speedily followed and the execution of this judicious institution. Instead of wild, frantic, enthusiastic rage venting itself in opprobrious epithets, damning of Papist and Presbyterian souls, accompanied with bloody quarrels at fairs, markets, and other public meetings, universal peace and goodwill everywhere reigned; and mutual salutations, and the most kind offices took place upon every opportunity; and the mutual suffering of the parties, their blood-shed in common, and blended together in pursuit of their common rights, has forever cemented the people as a nation of brothers! The ruling powers, alarmed at these proceedings, immediately adopted proper measures to counteract them! Spies were hired to join the United Societies. Those who figured most conspicuously in this department, were Lawler, Dutton, Newel, and Captain Armstrong of the King's County Militia, since made a colonel in the Regulars, with a regiment. The breach of the society's oath by law was declared notorious. All popular persons suspected of being members of the United Societies, or of allowing such to meet in their houses, were arrested and detained in prison (without being permitted to be visited by any one of their family) during pleasure; and their houses and property frequently destroyed. Large sums of money were published for informers, but the principal engine framed, as a counterpoise to the union, was the constituting of a society, under the appellation of Orange-men. This was said to be the work of the Irish Under-Secretary of State, Cook. The original test of this society was, "I swear to maintain the present constitution in Church and State, as by law established, and to root out Roman Catholics," and the rallying word, "Wash your hand's in Papists' blood." James Verner, Esq. was appointed grand master of the order; and warrants were issued for the erection of new bodies, as in Freemason Lodges. These bodies paraded on stated days, particularly the 12th July, with Orange Flags, and other emblems, and were reviewed (said by public authority, to the amount of 10,000) at Lurgan, by general Lake, commander-in-chief of the Northern District. These societies are made up of the gentry more immediately dependant on, or connected with the present rulers; such dependants as these gentry could force into their train; starving tradesmen, turned out of employment by the war, together with such as enthusiasm, want of principle, love of money or plunder, could allure. Such likewise, in the army or militia, as wished to recommend themselves to those in power, or preferred the countenance of superior officers to the peace of their own consciences, were obliged also to enrol themselves, and show their zeal in promoting the cause. Such of the Orangemen, as were not in the military line before, have been embodied, armed, clothed, officered by their respective patrons, and put under government pay, under the appellation of Yeomen. The whole body of military Yeomen are computed to amount to 40.000 men, and in justice it must be observed that not more than two thirds of them are Orangemen, many of them are men of honour, attached to the liberty of their country, wounded to the heart by its calamities, and ready to establish its freedom with their blood if the opportunity served. A detachment of the Orange squadron, in this respectable body, about two years ago, pursuant to their system, racked, as it is termed, or plundered, pulled down and burnt, about 800 Roman Catholic houses, including some chapels, in the county of Armagh and the adjacent parts of the counties of Down and Tyrone, (see Lord Gosford's, Governor of the County of Armagh, address to the inhabitants of that county.), killing some of the principal heads of families, and drawing out the rest partly in the depth of winter. The watchword "To Hell! Connaught won't receive you!" and the other Orange corps have been strictly comfortable to the practice in other parts. Military (regulars and militia) have racked the houses of such persons throughout every part of the Kingdom (the great towns and cities not excepted) deemed most popular, and active in the cause of reform, and not content with dragging the owners to prison, but frequently strangling, picketing or lashing them (until the flesh was torn from their bones) for the purpose of extorting confessions! In this unhappy state of affairs, Earl Fitzwilliam, then a very popular nobleman in Ireland, with an estate of œ30,000 sterling per annum in that Kingdom, was sent over as Lord Lieutenant, by the British Government, with the most ample promises of redress of grievances, particularly the restoration of Roman Catholics to the rights of citizens, and under this prospect the Irish government, upon the motion of Mr. Grattan, (the then ostensible minister) voted for the year an additional supply of one million, seven hundred pounds sterling. Upon the money bill being passed, Earl Fitzwilliam was recalled, and Earl Camden was sent over, with a positive declaration that not any redress of grievances was to be looked for, His Majesty having given him (Earl Camden) his positive command, to inform his faithful Parliament of Ireland, that he (His Majesty) was determined to preserve inviolate their happy constitution in church and state, and suppress any supposed discontents." Ten thousand additional troops were immediately sent into the Kingdom, and military guards who dragooned the people stationed in every village, (their very ensigns made magistrates.) A few foolish boys, said to have taken some guns, in a certain district, from persons suspected of being unfriendly to the cause of freedom, gave a pretext to the government to send out the military and disarm a considerable part of the Kingdom, particularly the great protestant county of Down. Upon this a number of the most peaceable, independent men of the first property, particularly in Co. Down and King's County, upon the sheriff's refusing to call a meeting for the purposes of addressing the King upon the state of public affairs, determined to assemble under a call of a number of the Justices of the Peace, ever before deemed legal. The King's County meeting was dispersed by military force, and a large escort of soldiers with cannon, assisted by the threats of the Sheriff, prevented the assemblage of the County of Down, and totally discouraged the attempts in other counties. The free- holders however, from house to house, signed an address to the King, praying a change of measures, and dismissal of ministers. This was presented by the Earl of Moira and Mr. Fox, but totally disregarded. The people being thus shut out from every peaceable mode of redress, began secretly to arm in their own defence, particularly with pikes, guns not being obtainable; still hoping that the ruling powers would be brought to an amicable settlement. The government, on the contrary, proceeded to arrest and imprison all leading suspected men, and stationed soldiers in free quarters in certain districts, until the people should bring in their arms. The people thus goaded to insurrection, actually on the 22nd of May, in and near the city of Dublin, prepared for resistance, and agreeable to a concerted plan, were determined the night of that day to have seized the Castle of Dublin and the leading members of government. Through the treachery of a Captain Armstrong of the King's County Militia, (since made a colonel in the regulars) the Irish Arnold, who was one of the United Irishmen's sworn assistants, or supreme executive committee, the plan was discovered about three hours before the proposed execution, the suspected leaders made prisoners, and military patrols stationed about the different avenues leading to the city. These things being unknown to the country people, they assembled at the appointed hour, burned the north and south mail coaches, then coming out of the city - the non-arrival of the mail being the sign to the rest of the Kingdom, to make ready, as the attack upon Dublin had commenced. This party being unexpectedly attacked by the military patrols stationed without the city, and no exertion being made from within, suffered considerable loss. The country people however, being committed, stood to their arms; and they and the soldiery fought several battles with various success, particularly at Wicklow, Dunlavin, Arklow, Bray, Blessintown, White-heaps, The Cap, Red Lion, Wexford, Naas, Kilcullen Bridge, Rathfarnham, Crumlin-Commons, Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Fermanagh, Donegal, Derry, and other places. We may in some degree judge the spirit in which these battles were fought, and the slaughter which ensued, from one fought in Wicklow, where it is said not less than 1,300 of the military were killed, and the Welsh dragoons, or ancient Biltons, nearly cut to pieces. Several officers and men of note in the royal party have fallen in this unhappy contest, particularly Lord Mountjoy, Lord O'Neill, and many of great respectability upon the side of the people. A messenger not arriving in Belfast, after the burning of the mail coach, with the expected account that Dublin was in the hands of the people - upon which the United men of Ulster were to rise; the people of Belfast (her capital) deferred rallying the inhabitants of the neighbouring parts of Antrim and Down, who were ready to assist her in securing her garrison, which, with the whole province might have been carried in one day. The garrison, taking advantage of this neglect, obliged the people of that town to deliver up the cannon and other arms they had concealed. A number of the people about the town of Antrim, and neighbouring parishes, along with some spirited men from the town of Belfast, being grieved that their brethren of the South should be sacrificed for the country's rights unassisted, assembled at arms at the town of Antrim, upon the 7th of June, for the purpose of seizing as hostages, for the country's safety, certain magistrates, who were to meet there at a session, of which the military had notice. A large number of soldiers and yeomanry with cannon, from the garrison of Belfast, Lisburn, and other adjacent parts were collected, and a battle ensued. The people were victorious upon the onset, but upon a reinforcement of soldiery arriving, were repulsed with the loss of 84 killed. Of the military, 48 of the 22nd Light Dragoons, 17 foot, and 60 of the Antrim, Shane's Castle and other yeomanries. From Saintfield, and neighbouring parishes, assembled in the town of Saintfield, to the number of about seven hundred; upon an express to Newtownards, Col. Stapleton, of the Yorkshire fencibles, with a detachment consisting of his regiment, and the Newtownards yeoman cavalry, in all about six hundred, with two pieces of cannon, arrived unexpectedly in about four hours; they were met near the town of Saintfield, by about three hundred of the country people armed with pikes, and muskets, who steadily received two fires before they made a charge. The military fled leaving thirty-four soldiers, including two ensigns dead, and three wounded. The Newtownards yeoman cavalry had eight killed including the Rev. Mr. Mortimer, Vicar of Comber, and the Rector of Portaferry, and his nephew, Mr. Merry, surveyor of Newtownards. The killed and wounded in all amounted to upwards of an hundred, and had panic not seized a leader, and more than one hundred of his party, who fled from the military cannon, which they had taken possession of - and some others, who were appointed to fall in at the enemy's rear, and fled like dastards, the whole soldiery must have been made prisoners or cut to pieces. The people, however, retained possession of the arms-chest, with a quantity of arms, with a quantity of swords, muskets, and carabines, a chest of family plate, etc. A transaction during the battle took place worthy of notice, and shows what the determined spirit of freemen can effect; eight men with pikes were placed upon an eminence before a very thick thorn hedge, with a view of falling on the enemy's rear, when they passed: but their situation being discovered by means of a scout, they were attacked by about fifty soldiers. Having no means of escape from the hedge in their rear, they rushed forwards on their adversaries, killed part of them, and caused the panic-struck scattered remains, to fly with precipitation! - The country people lost eighteen killed, among whom bravely fell Mr. John Lowry, of Ardmillen, commanding the Killinchy company, and two or three wounded, not mortally. Richard Frazer, of Ravarra, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Saintfield regiment, commanding the whole, and greatly signalized himself upon the occasion. Upon the 10th of June, a number of people from the different neighbouring parts assembled at Saintfield to the amount of about three thousand; and Mr. Henry Monro, Merchant of Lisburn, also arrived, and took upon himself the command as general, a post, notwithstanding his worth, and goodness of heart, for which he was not qualified. General Munro, by advice, took a very strong advantageous position in Nicholas Price's castle, and demesne, near Saintfield, from which no force could be spared by government, could have dislodged them; plenty of forage, and every other necessity easily obtained, and there he was advised to wait an attack. General Munro, through the suggestion of some inconsiderate persons was persuaded to decamp to Ballynahinch, with a view of obtaining reinforcements, and falling round upon and attacking the garrison of Downpatrick. General Munro, was cautioned upon leaving Saintfield by no means to march forth to meet regular soldiers in open country, as his men were undisciplined, and chiefly armed with pikes - but to encamp in, and retain the secure portion of Lord Rawdon's castle, and extensive woods near Ballynahinch, and there wait for the enemy, in a place where neither cannon nor horse could easily approach them; as at all events he would be subjected to be flanked every yard through very intricate passes. About three hours after General Munro marched from Mr. Price's demesne, General Nugent, commander-in-chief of the Northern District arrived at the verge thereof next Oughley Hill, from Belfast, having with him a detachment consisting of the Fifeshire and Yorkshire fencibles, Monaghan militia, a mortar, with bomb shells, and eleven other pieces of artillery. The late encounters at Antrim and Saintfield, having now convinced General Nugent that the people would not longer fly upon the bare appearance of a red coat, and not knowing the people had marched to Ballynahinch, the general dared not proceed directly through the demesne; but drew up men upon the borders, advancing with slow pace, and halting every perch, scouring the woods with grape-shot, and firing large shot at the Mansion House, one of which passed through the roof; nor were they with the utmost difficulty scarcely to be undeceived of this error by the signals and hallooings of Mr. Price's servants. General Nugent and his corps, happy at their escape from seeming inevitable destruction,and exulting at the folly of the people who had left such an advantageous position, advanced to Mr. Price's castle, in which they found a man lying intoxicated with liquor, whom they dragged out to the court and shot! Marching about a mile to the town of Saintfield, they burned the houses of John Arthur, and three cottages belonging to poor tradesmen, the house of Dr. McCarton, the house and stores of David Shaw, grocer, spirit dealer, leather merchant, woollen draper, and cotton manufacturer, a prisoner before the insurrection. The cottage of William Murphy, (in the commons) a most deformed helpless cripple, living upon alms, and confined to bed for twenty-four years; and wrecked and plundered the houses of William Shaw, James Thompson, Alexander Bradley, tavern keepers; the house of Adam Cross, wheelwright and town constable, the house of William Spratt, watch-maker, and burned the office houses of William Walker, Surgeon and apothecary. The military taking the route to Ballynahinch, they plundered and burned, with scarce an exception the houses in an extent of a very thickly inhabited country of nearly four miles long by one mile broad, shooting some of the people, amongst whom were Hugh McMullen of Drumnaconnell, William George of Tonaghmore, Thomas Smyth, junior, of Carridorn, most inoffensive men, and unarmed, the two former upwards of sixty years of age. The manner in which the soldiery accosted the people was "Damn you, have you any money?" Upon the arrival of the military near Ballynahinch, they were joined by the garrison of Downpatrick, the Castlewellan yeomanry, 22nd Light dragoons from Lisburn, troops from Blaris camp, etc., in all nearly 4,000 troops, the country people forming about an equal number. General Munro, contrary to advice, posted a detachment of his men in the open country, upon the Saintfield Road, to oppose the soldiers in approaching the town of Ballynahinch. The military advanced towards that part which lay opposite to Lord Rawdon's castle and demesne, the town lying between this detachment had orders to rush forward with their pikes, and seize the cannon, which, if all the people had been animated with the same spirit as General Munro, might perhaps have been affected with great slaughter. The military coming forward with the cannon in front (it being then about six in the evening) commenced a heavy fire of bomb-shells and grape-shot, which was returned with good effect, from a few musketry planted behind hedges and other small covers, killing about eighty of the militia, the loss said to have fallen principally upon the Downpatrick division, commanded by Major Stewart, and the Yeomen. Many of the people being total strangers to the awful grumblings of blazing and bursting shells and showers of desolating grape-shot, and being struck with despair at the burning of their houses, precipitately deserted their leaders and returned no more to the charge. However, a number of people retained their station upon a hill, called Windmill Hill, just above the town. The military kept at a respectable distance, and continued their cannonade until dark, with little effect, having in all killed no more then two or three of the people. When dark the people evacuated Windmill Hill, and occupied an eminence called the Church Hill, situated on a sideway near the opposite corner of the town, near Lord Rawdon's demesne, and separated from Windmill Hill by a small lake. The military then advanced and took possession of the position, whereupon the people from Church Hill commenced (with some effect) a fire from six swivels and some muskets, but were not answered by the soldiers. The military finding at Windmill Hill Mr. Hugh McCulloch of Bangor, who held among the people the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, they hung him upon the mill blades. It was reported Mr. McCulloch was unable to walk with sprained leg, others say no entreaties would persuade him to remove from the place. During the night a party of militia went into and plundered the town, and being assisted by the bomb shells from Windmill Hill set it on fire, whereby that most beautiful improved place, was reduced to nearly a heap of rubbish. Upon the approach of light, General Munro led his main body from Lord Rawdon's demesne, to the assistance of the party upon Church Hill, now greatly exhausted by a severe conflicy, occasioned by a rally of the town plunderers. The General led on with the most undaunted courage, and animating language. The party of military which remained at Windmill Hill advancing with their cannon, a dreadful attack and carnage ensued in the street, amidst scorching flames and the crash of falling houses. One of the people endeavouring to seize a cannon, killed with his pike a soldier putting the match, and another countryman approaching with the hammer and spike, was blown away by the discharge. Poor Munro, being partly weakened by desertion, and borne down by superior arms and powder, was obliged to fly, leaving dead fifty-eight persons, besides four or five shot by the 22nd Light Dragoons in scouring the country, among whom there was a young woman. In the number of those killed in the street, who greatly distinguished themselves, was Abraham Skelly of Tonaghmore near Saintfield, and Col. Alexander Byers of Greyabbey, who advanced in the front with twelve others, to lead on the attack. General Munro fled accompanied by one person, the faithful companion of his misfortunes (one of our passengers) and both were apprehended at Magheraknock, about two miles distant from Ballynahinch, by a party of Orangemen, who delivered them over to the 22nd Light Dragoons, by whom they were escorted to Lisburn, where two days after General Munro was tried by Court Martial, found guilty, and hanged half-an-hour after trial, before his own door, his head severed from his body and placed upon a pike on the market house. Could General Munro and his party hasve maintained the contest half-an-hour longer the military must have given way, as they had not more tham two rounds of ammunition; or had the people gained the battle, and thereby added to the spirit inspired by the Saintfield victory, their army in two days would have been 40,000 strong; and they would have been joined even by many wealthy leaders who encouraged them on, but skulked back at the approach of danger, with all Ulster in arms! The military must have lost in this battle near two hundred men, among whom was Captain Evat, of the Monaghan militia, and a famous Orange commander, though the soldiers would not acknowledge any loss except the captain and one private. They concealed the number of their dead by throwing them into burning houses, casting them into the lake near the town, or carrying them off. The militia proceeded back to Saintfield, with about forty cars loaded with plunder, large sums of money, and driving with them such cows and horses as came within their reach. Upon their route they shot one man at his own door, who the day before had divided among them his bread and a churn of cream, and he and his daughters were but just employed in the act of distributing them refreshments, until their stores were exhausted - his crime, because he did not furnish more. The offender was not punished. Coming to Saintfield they proceeded to burn Daid Shaw's cotton machinery house, and committed some plunder. Proceeding on the road to Belfast, they burned the houses of Peter Meagan and John Mossgrove of Lessans, of James Fisher of Oughley, of George Spence of Killynure, all in the parish of Saintfield, farmers, and in a word carrying rack and ruin to Belfast. In this mournful contest, part of the town of Antrim, the towns of Templepatrick, Randalstown, and the beautiful town of Ballymoney have been nearly burned to the ground. Besides the burning and racking of Roman Catholic chapels and private houses and parts of towns throughout the places in Ulster, with those in Leinster, Munster, and Connaught, not to be numbered. To the great honour of the people, though so much provoked, very few instances of rapine or barbarity can be imputed to them. Many of the people in arms who have fallen into the hands of the military, or been apprehended on suspicion of abetting the revolution, have been freed by Court Martial, a considerable number executed, and a very much greater number sentenced to transportation out of his Majesty's dominions. If a man upon his trial was proved to be a man of property and good character he was told that was against him, as it showed he must have influence, and therefore was more criminal. Among those executed at Belfast were Mr. James Dickey, attorney, of Crumlin, John Story, printer in Belfast, Henry Byers of Saintfield, their heads were placed upon the market house; Mr. Hugh Graham of Creevytennant, near Saintfield, and Mr. Henry Joy McCracken, hanged only. At Newtownards, Mr. John Carr, hanged, his head placed upon the market house. Messrs. Robert Goudy of Dunover, and William McCormick, of Newtownards, the Rev. James Porter, Presbyterian minister, of Greyabbey, was sent under a strong military escort to that place, some of his own hearers forced to erect a gallows at the back of his own meeting house, upon which he was executed on a charge of aiding and fomenting rebellion (He ordered bread to some people almost famished.) At Dublin, among others, the two councellors [councillors?] Spears, of Cork, Sir Edward Crosby; at Wexford, Cornelius Grogan and Beauchamp Bagnal Harvey, Esqrs., all men of rank and fortune, some as high as œ6,000 sterling yearly, with others too numerous to mention, in different parts of the Kingdom, all of whom generally died with the most heroic fortitude, glorying in their cause, and exhorting the people. Indeed, from those who have suffered in various ways, being the most virtuous independent part of the community, it is now become a proverb - the jail, the bar, and even the gallows are posts of honour. A young lad in Dublin, of the name of Hart, about fourteen years of age, a Roman Catholic, was convicted of being a member of the Union. When upon the scaffold before the upper windows of the new prison, for the purpose of being hanged, beheaded, and his heart cut out - all the awful instruments of death being displayed - the executioner approached him, brandishing a huge butcher's knife more than half a yard long, and exclaimed, "You can have your life by discovering upon your brethren!" The lad replied undauntedly, "You may proceed, you are not to obtain any discoveries from me!" A young lad of sixteen, very small in stature, was executed at Ballynure, county of Antrim, charged with forcing an able bodied man to go to the Antrim fight. He died with the greatest heroism. A smith's boy in Downpatrick, about twelve years of age, was made prisoner along with his master, upon suspicion of pikes being made in their forge. The military took the boy to the parade with the declared design of shooting him, unless he would inform upon his master. The boy refusing, he was put to his station and ordered to kneel. The platoon of soldiers were ordered to make ready and present. The officer said, "Inform, or your soul will immediately be blown to hell!" The lad heroically replied, "That is beyond your reach. You may kill my body, but God has put my soul out of your power!" This so abashed the military that they dismissed him. Captain Maxwell of Finnebrogue, near Downpatrick, a gentleman of upwards œ3,000 sterling yearly estate, came (with his company of Yeomen, and a troop of Ancient Britons Light Horse) to the house of High Shaw, of White Hill, in the same neighbourhood, a white-smith, and a man of great respectability, having four motherless children, one not a year old. Hugh being suspected of making pikes, being at a little distance from his house, when the party arrived, and learning they were to destroy his place, in hopes of preserving a shed for his helpless orphans, he hastened forward and surrendered himself. The gentry not contented with his person, immediately set fire to his place, whereby his workshop and most beautiful farmhouse, were reduced to ashes, and his orphans left without a covering. The next seized Shaw's person, mounted him upon a horse, and tied him, with his face toward the tail. They then goaded the horse to make it leap, took him off the horse, tied him to the tail and dragged him till he fainted, then carried him to Downpatrick and pilloried him twice, to force a discovery of persons who employed him to make pikes - all of which he bore with fortitude. Doctor Cord of Killinchy, when leading down the street of Downpatrick to the place of execution, showed not the smallest tokens of dismay, but exclaimed to the crowd that his spirit would not repair to the mansion of happiness, but would hover in the air, anxiously looking on till his country's wrongs were redressed. Robert Goudy of Dunover, grandson of the late Rev. and pious Mr. Goudy of Ballywalter, whose praise is in the churches, when on the ladder of the gallows in the street of Newtownards, observed the Earl of Londonderry and others, composing his Court Martial, that he would shortly argue the matter with them before a tribunal where there would be an impartial hearing. The son of Joseph Clokey of Ballynahinch, a lad scarcely sixteen, apprehended at Newry and about to be executed as a fugitive with a wrong pass, was told that he might be saved upon expressions of sorrow and evidence of amendment. He declared that even to save his life he would stop his endeavours for the emancipation of his country, upon which he was immediately hanged. Hugh Hamilton, son of Alexander, of Lisowen near Saintfield, a lad of about fifteen years of age, and two others were apprehended near Hillsborough, a few days after the Ballynahinch fight, and hanged without ceremony upon the church gate. General Munro, when about to be executed at Lisburn before his own door, when mounting the ladder one of the rungs broke, he with perfect cheerfulness, bounded over the vacancy, observing with smiles of complaisance (to the Yeomen and the 22nd Light Dragoons, his guards) I am dying for my country. Dickey, attorney, near Crumlin, aged 22 years, about an hour after his trial, was escorted by a large military force, accompanied by General Nugent, and the officers of the garrison, to the market-house of Belfast. When upon the scaffold and about to be cast off, the military provost, or executioner, proceeded to pinion his arms and cover his face with a nightcap. Dickey bounded indignantly and exclaimed, "Sir, don't cover my face!" He tore the cap from his head and turning to the officers with an expressive tone cried aloud, "Don't think gentlemen, I am ashamed to show my face among you, I am dying for my country!" Miss McCracken, sister to Henry Joy McCracken, a young lady of about eighteen, of the most gentle manners, accompanied her brother to the gallows-foot, without shedding a tear. If possible, there is an even more remarkable of female fortitude in the person of the wife of a young man of the name of Armstrong, who was executed in Lisburn. The wife, who was about nineteen years of age, stood at the foot of the gallows during the execution, with her infant about half-a-year old on her left arm, without shedding a tear. Upon her husband being cut down she received him on her other arm, exclaiming, "God be thanked! He died like a man and has not dishonoured his family." Among those who were to be transported were Mr. Oliver Bond, merchant, (since dead) and seventy other respectable persons in Dublin, Captain Moore, Newtown Limavaddy, [Limavady?], the Rev. Messrs. Steel of Dungiven, Glendy of Maghera, Simpson and Sinclair of Newtownards, Presbyterian Ministers. Very few retaliations have been made on the part of the people, one of whom was the son of General Lake, commander in chief, who is said to have been hanged and beheaded, at Wexford, in return for certain people who were executed in Dublin. The offices of the Belfast 'Northern Star' and the Dublin 'Press' being wrecked, the remaining papers being either in the pay of the government, or not daring to publish any intelligence, until licensed by the military officer commanding the district, under penalty of destruction, a true state of public affairs in Ireland is very difficult to obtain. Every military despatch as detailed in the newspapers, sets forth the military as ever victorious, and the insurrection as totally suppressed; that the country has been nearly desolated; the people most severely handled, and even put down in Ulster by the military, as most certainly fact. But it is equally true, that, on the 16th of August when we left Belfast, the people continued to make a stand in arms, particularly in the County Carlow, and in a chain across the Kingdom between Ulster and the other provinces, led by officers who best knew how to make regular attacks; that arms to the amount of seventy thousand stand had been landed from abroad; that some of the militia, and other military, had joined the people's standard, and many more waited the opportunity to do the like; that a general distrust of the military was manifested, by soliciting them to remove to England, which they peremptorily refused; that a bill passed the English Parliament to enable His Majesty to accept the services of ten thousand of the English militia to quell the rebellion in Ireland, but a number of the regiments refused to march, and that a Scotch fencible regiment, when at Portpatrick, did the same; that men of the first respectability in London openly declared that the part the people were acting in Ireland was a just and necessary resistance; and by letter to Ireland, that a like event is there hourly to be looked for. In Scotland, fifty persons of character, arrested at Glasgow, were equally ready to co-operate; that a French invasion is much dreaded in Britain, and looked for as almost a certainty in Ireland, in which case a contest would not last a week. But even supposing the British navy should be so powerful and watchful as to defeat the every attempt of France and her allies in making a descent upon any of the three Kingdoms, yet still a revolution cannot be kept off. The interest of a national debt approaching five hundred millions of pounds sterling; a most expensive civil and military establishment which must be maintained, public credit so low as to be obliged to borrow money at a rate of from five to eleven per cent; the almost total disappearance of hard money; being shut off from the trade of a considerable part of the world, and the consequent failure of revenue, so that the receipts of the custom houses, more especially in Ireland, do scarcely pay their own officers added together, must form such an enormous load that the unwieldy mass must speedily crumble into atoms by its own weight! I hinted to you already that the Orange society was formed as a counterpoise to the United Irishmen, but the promoters of the Orange system had learned to their sad experience that their scheme of rooting out Roman Catholics will not serve their purpose, as they have not only thereby brought upon themselves the vengeance of three million Catholics, but the execration of every virtuous Protestant in this enlightened age; they therefore have entered upon their old game of divide and govern. They now give out that there is nothing unfriendly to Roman Catholics in the Orange system, but only to such as shall oppose the maintenance of the present constitution in Church and State, thereby hoping to detach from the general cause such timerous or lukewarm Catholics as would prefer the present state, to the greater privileges to be obtained through the efforts of an uncertain revolution. The tenor of the Orange oath, it seems now is, that they "will not be unfriendly to such Roman Catholics as shall join in supporting the present Constitution of Ireland in Church and State, but if once induced to draw the sword against Catholics, they will persue them to death." But the Orange system even thus more liberally enlarged, can never make any great progress among Roman Cathloics, or even Protestants, as it tends to perpetuate those grievances which the most virtuous part of the community are determined against at the expense of every sacrifice. Besides, Roman Catholics clearly discern, whatever may be the pretence of Orangemen at present, that there is something in the Orange scheme that is fundamentally ruinous to Catholics, as is evident, even since the commencement of the present revolution, from their burning of chapels in cold blood, particularly at Moira, Aghagallon, and Derriaghy, and the unrelenting cruelty with which they persecute every person who shows a desire for Roman Catholics to enjoy the right of citizens, of which, among many others, there was a striking instance in the person of the Rev. Thomas L. Birch, one of our number. Mr. Birch, a marked object as early as the first year of your American war, for bearing testimony against that unnatural business, and joining with others and endeavouring to reform those abuses which have of late so fatally issued in Ireland, was made prisoner the third day after the Ballynahinch battle, in his own house, at three o'clock in the [sic?] by a troop of the 24th light dragoons, under an order of General Goldie, and escorted to Lisburn; where he was tried by a general Court-Martial, upon a charge of treason and rebellion, at Saintfield and Ballynahinch; and during the trial of three days, through out of the five witnesses brought against him, four of them carried arms in the revolution, and had a promise of mitigation of punishment, upon his conviction, and the other a soldier pensioner; there not appearing anything against him of reasonable pretence, to pass on him the sentence of death, (NOTE A) but on the contrary it was proved that Birch was not at either of the battles of Saintfield or Ballynahinch; nor did he appear in arms during the present contest, and besides he buried the killed soldiery in his meeting house yard, and persuaded the exasperated people not to put to death the wounded soldiers found concealed in a farmer's barn, whom the people were threatening to destroy along with the farmer, in return for gross barbarities inflicted by the Newtownards Yeomen upon some of their wounded. Birch at all events being to be sacrifices, was given to know by the Court-Martial (through the medium of a friend) which was composed of gentlemen of attention and great humanity; that provided he (Birch) would agree to transport himself out of his Majesty's dominions, to any state not at war with his Majesty, never to return unless permitted this sentence should be made absolute, and other proceedings against him quashed. Birch, having consented, and made the choice of the United States of America for the residence of his family; the Orangemen in number about three hundred, who were doing duty in Lisburn as yeomen, learning that he was not to die, a party of them in arms, the day following, headed by Johnston and Hastings, tavern keepers, Lisburn, and one Morrow tavern keeper, Maze Course, came to Birch who was walking under the care of a sentinel in the horse guard-house yard, where he was accosted by Johnston (it being about eleven o'clock) and asked if he had heard he was to be hanged at 12 o'clock that day; Birch answering in the negative, Johnston rejoined with damning his soul, that he would - for the yeomen then on parade had determined to take him by force and execute him, and nothing should prevent them! Johnston further asked Birch, if as a Presbyterian minister, he did not receive a bounty of œ30 sterling annually, from Government? Birch replied that he received a yearly sum from the people through the hands of the government, for which he was highly grateful to the people, and to Mr. Johnston as contributor with others, upon which Johnston damned him, what then had he to do uniting with Papists! Birch replying that he desired to be in friendship with honest virtuous men of every description. Johnston desired him to make his Will, and immediately set about other preparations he thought necessary, adding the most horrid imprecations, that he should be hanged in an hour; and presented his loaded pistol to Birch, swearing that he believed it was best to despatch him on the spot. The soldiers in the guardhouse (most ferocious when Birch came amongst them, but now warmly attached, from a knowledge of the state of affairs, accompanied with kind office) hearing some violence, sent out an additional sentinel and brought in Birch, upon which Adjutant Watson, the officer of the guard, addressed the soldiers, telling them it would be an eternal disgrace for them to permit a prisoner under the operation of the law to be released out of the guard house and put to death; and therefore, if they would stand by him, he would die at their head. The soldiers declaring their most hearty concurrence, were ordered to stand to their arms. The yeomen, faithful to their promise, (having previously brought two ropes) repaired towards the guardhouse door, upon which the 22nd light dragoons sallied forth and formed in the street, which caused the Orange gentry to decamp, without effecting their purpose. They denounced like threats, the same evening, but were so terrified by the steadiness of the military, as not to dare attempt the execution, and two days after Birch being about to be sent to Belfast, with only three dragoons, the carriage procured by the general's A.D.C. from one of the yeomen, broke down at the outset (supposed through design) and while another was procuring, some of the yeomen surrounding Birch in the broken carriage with pistols in their hands, expressed the great propriety of assassinating him on the spot, and he afterwards departed under their scoffs and taunts. NOTE B. Indeed, my friend, however it may surprise you, the worthy generous Roman Catholic of Ireland, long ignorant and treated as a stranger in his own country, is now become as enlightened as others; he can clearly perceive that Roman Catholics being the most numberous body, they must of necessity ever be the political enemies of those in power who are interested in preserving an exclusive establishment of religion in a particular party; and, therefore that they never can enjoy the rights of citizens, while such an establishment has the rule, and no one thing has served more to open the eyes of the Catholics of Ireland, and to show tham that there is too much worldly policy, carried on by Princes and other temporal powers; and even by the Pope himself, under the pretence of religion; then your late war, and the one carrying on at present by the combined powers against France; they can clearly perceive a King, the head of an Episcopal Church, in England, and Ireland, maintaining Presbyteriamism in Scotland, and popery in Canada; they could observe combined powers sacrificing thousands of lives, and millions of treasure to establish popery in one country, while the Pope was guarded by the 12th regiment of the British light-horse, and Roman Catholics not only refused the rights of citizens, but even persecuted in Ireland: The Pope though so great a favourite with those who could releive them, yet not deigning to speak a word on their behalf. No doubt you have frequently heard of our people, who have been endeavouring to obtain a reform in Great Britain and Ireland, (as you once did) represented as anarchists and enemies to all government, who only wish to live by plunder; and therefore you would desire to know what such people wanted. The persons who have been seeking a reform (among them was the late Earl of Chatham, the present Mr. Pitt's father) are not more enemies to regular government than your late worthy Franklin, at the bar of the British House of Commons; but the most sober, virtuous, and independent part of the community, and most adverse to plunder; the greatest enemies to government are those who from interested views will not tell rulers of their errors, and honestly and peaceably endeavour to have them rectified before they arrive to such a magnitude, as to provoke resistance, and a total overturn. Your loyalists (falsely so called) assisted by Rivington's New-York Gazette, trumpeting up the happy contented state of your people, under British subjugation, the victories of the fleets and armies, and the downfall of every thing that opposed, blinded the eyes of our three Kingdoms and lost your United States to Great Britain; and the bribes, pensions, and places lavished upon these deceivers, has added much to the mill-stone of the National Debt which is hung about her neck, and drowning her in the sea of bankruptcy. But I am sure the enlightened people of America are now too well informed to be deceived by such reveries. The people of Great Britain and Ireland were prejudiced even to childish folly in behalf of their form of Government as consisting of Kings, Lords, and Commons; and happy would they have been under such provided they had been indulged (like you) as citizens, in enjoying rights without religious distinctions, and the fair vote of choosing their representatives in the Commons House of Parliament. But it is to be feared that the increasing desire for republicanism throughout the world to which your people led the way; the deaf ear that had been lent you; the contempt that had been shown to the most humble petitions of the people by Parliament, and even by Majesty; and above all the rapines, burnings, rapes, murders, and other sheddings of blood, as once in these free and happy States, have made such a deep impression upon the people's minds, that nothing will satisfy (no matter at what price) but a republican form of government. What most seriously affects the friends of reform in Ireland and great Britain, is - least the citizens of your United States, in whose veins flows the best Irish and British blood, the first asserters of freedom, under the matured Councils of an ever to be revered Washington, now carried into execution by an Adams, a name long dear to the friends of liberty, should ever be so far deceived, by designing men, as to be considered as the opposers of Irish and English emancipation, and as such to be treated as enemies, which - may God of his infinite mercy avert. I was a good deal surprised, upon my arrival here in America, and indeed it is sufficient to raise laughter, to hear of the torrent of infidelity, deism, or rather atheism, vomited forth against Tom Paine, as the mouth of the French Directory and people, which is now deluging Great Britain and Ireland, and like to float America; and to be told of the mighty champions amongst the clergy, even Bishops, who have been attempting to stem this all-drowning ocean, and that some of your well-meaning preachers have begun in terror to bank off the flood. What if Tom Paine was the author of the Age of Reason, you know Tom Paine is not a Frenchman. But whosoever was the author of this work, he has missed his aim, where he alone could do any hurt. He has furnished a few smart ill-founded repartees against Christianity which may assist profane pedantic shop boys, or debauches, who are void of or wish to ridicule and reject all religion, in raising an impious laugh. But the Refugee Priests of France, who cannot be supposed partial, tells us in our three Kingdoms, as I tell you, that the sober, respectable, middling class of people in France, whether protestants or others, attend upon, and profess religion as formerly, though less bigoted. The French did not lay violent hands upon more than three hundred and fifty Priests out of the two hundred thousand Clergy; and those Priests acting as spies to the enemy, even revealing the secrets of their own flock (which are inviolable) and procuring their destruction, frequently going through the streets bare headed and footed, for the purpose of counteracting the revolution (by acting on weak minds) cursing with bell, book, and candle-light, all such persons as bore arms in forwarding its purposes; and all such as would not take arms and carry fire, sword, and massacre amongst its abettors. And the same is the case in Great Britain and Ireland, but such profane babbling is totally despised! The great folks of France, like others in high rank throughout Europe, have long been known at least to be deists, and it is equally notorious that Tom Paine, the French Directory, or any other people, have not any occasion to come to Ireland or Britain to propagate such principles, the most of the great having long held the Christian profession (except in name) in ridicule - Scarcely ever to be seen in church, state days excepted, can damn! can it be thought they could believe such stuff! that God as much spoke to Moses as to them! that the devil or eternal punishment are mere bugbears! rawhead and bloody bones! necessary to awe the vulgar, but not useful to such enlightened men as them! They care nothing about religion but to get livings for their younger children in the Church, the dignity of the family requiring the eldest son to get the estate; or to improve their towns by gathering crowds into them. Nay, it is not uncommon for a man a professional infidel, perhaps a debauchee, upon becoming a clergyman, and getting a church living as it is termed, but especially upon being made a bishop, to become a mighty advocate for Christianity - extremely orthodox! - for you know ten or fourteen thousand pounds sterling a year contains a great many sensible arguments. But indeed my friend, a number of men in power (thank God not like your enlightened state) who can drive out their fellow brethren from the rights of citizens because they are not of the established Church, but worship God according to the dictates of their conscience, or men stating themselves teachers of the meek and merciful Jesus, who frequently live a hundred miles distant from their pretended flocks, whose services cannot in conscience be received, who are often totally unknown to the people except by title, yet can under the pretence of law, exact forty shilling sterling, per acre for, or dig every tenth perch of the poor peasants potatoes, the bare ground and manure of which cost seven guineas per acre, to be paid to his landlord by his daily labour, at six pence per day, without diet, and upon the produce thereof he and his small family have to be alone sustained, favoured with a little butter-milk in summer, and salt in winter; and sometimes selling the widow's shift, to pay a Church tax, to purchase the bread and wine, with which they commemorate their blessed Lord: These and suchlike, have made such infidels of the people relative to the discourses of such men, that no matter whether Tom Paine, Tom Bull, Tom Saway, Tom Paddy, or Tom Yanky, I was going to say worse, they will not hear; neither can they be brought to believe that such a corrupt tree can bear good fruit. From the butcheries reported to be committed in Ireland, by the Roman Catholics, upon the Protestants, you have concluded that the Presbyterians and Catholics are not an united body, as represented, and your honest zeal and indignation are roused against the unworthy, persecuting Roman Catholics of Ireland. Alas! how soon does Pharo's chief Butler, now at the prison forget Joseph! It might have been supposed that you Americans, not one hundred years out of the same predicament with Ireland, would have known those whom (using the term once made use of to you) the wise, omnipotent Parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland, mean by Protestants. However, for the information of the ignorant, and the refreshing the memories of the forgetful, we must observe, that it is much easier to answer in the negative, as to the religious professions, and religion they exclude, then the religion to be pointed out, if there is any religion in the matter, which is disputed. By the name of Protestants is not meant the people of the Presbyterian Christian profession, nor even the descendants of the Old Puritans, settled in your New England provinces, whose forefathers were persecuted out of Great Britain, under the law "De Hereticus Comburendo", or burning of Heretics, in reigns of Mary and Charles, and who Churches in Boston, etc. were ( not fifty years ago, as unhallowed cages because not consecrated) turned ( by certain Generals) into play-houses, barracks, and riding houses - Neither does the term Protestant intend Seceders, called here Scotch Reformed Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Universalists, etc. or even the meek, mild brotherhood called Quakers, who are enemies to all wars, slavery of men, and who permit the loss of property, or even life without resistance, when in conscience they cannot comply. No, no, my dear friend, none of these sects are allowed the dignified title of Protestants, by the wise masters, unless "Rule Britannia" or "Hearts of Oak" have a powerful Roman Catholic rival to combat, some party business in Church or State is to be served, then the shibboleth, the rallying term, the hue and cry, is Protestants! at other times they are ignorant, wild, blind Enthusiasts, void of all religion; in a word those designated by the name of Protestants, are members of the Episcopal Church, the legal establishment of Ireland. Neither is the sacred character of the Ministry of the fore-mentioned professions more honourably treated by this self all comprehending profession; they declare that all Clergy not Episcopally ordained like theirs, are absolute laymen, who in taking upon themselves to preach the word, or administer the sacraments, are profane intruders into Christ's Vineyard, thieves and robbers, climbing over the wall, and not coming in by the door, and as such exclude them from officiating in their churches; nor do they even except the Scotch Reformed Presbyterians (so called) or Seceding Ministers, Burgess, and Anti-Burgess, though the majority of them of late, have become so loyal, or rather royal in Ireland and elsewhere, indeed by more rapid strides than their people are prepared to follow them; and have forgotten that part of their sworn Covenant termed extirpation (meaning reformation) of exclusive prelatic establishments Lording over Christ's heritage. To let you know how numerous and respectable the mighty Protestant body is, which is supported by one hundred thousand military, backed by the army and navy of Great Britain, while rule the three million of Roman Catholics, and the twelve hundred thousand occasional, nominal Protestants, enjoying a Church establishment supported, by one twelfth of the lands and a tenth of the produce of Ireland, besides other taxes. The parish of Killinchy, seated in the County of Down, the first Protestant county in Ulster, the only province in Ireland to be called Protestant, contains 4,600 Presbyterians; the Church congregation consisted of a Minister educated for the Presbyterians, but who conformed for the great salary; he married a Presbyterian, had a Roman Catholic clerk, a woman sexton, and his tithe proctor's wife, these were his sole congregation; and was it not for the Test Act, which required the nominal appearance of these at the Episcopal Church, who were to fulfil the offices of State, enjoy lands, etc. when their hearts were elsewhere, and the Church dooClose