lips, if I chose, and my own character also, before I left the gaol. I need not say, that I embraced the opportunity with avidity, and begged that I might be gratified. One of the prisoners immediately went out, and, returning in a few minutes, told me that the yard was clear. Having received my instructions to keep close by the wall, I, and two of the prisoners, went out into the yard. One of them took a ball, and, after various attempts, succeeded in throwing it, through an open window, into an upper room. A man came to the window, returned the ball, and enquired what was wanted. Something was mentioned, respecting himself, which led him to a detail of all he had done, and all he had suffered. The detail was melancholy and infamous. It confirmed every thing told me, and discovered vastly more. On my name being mentioned, he gave me a most excellent character-perhaps, better than I deserved-declared that he had never seen me, nor even heard of my being seen, in any society of united Irishmen, though every body believed that I was one-that he had been frequently questioned about me, both in the North, and in Dublin-and, that the most tempting offers were made to him, if he would give information against me. On being pressed, in respect to

these offers, he declared that a thousand pounds was to be his reward, on my conviction.*

Possessed of this information, my mind was easy in respect to friends confined in Down; my and, I own, I felt some satisfaction in the thought, that, should they be brought to trial, at the Spring assizes, I would have it in my power to expose their persecutors, through the very person, on whose information their conviction was thought certain, and my own not impossible. However, they were not brought to trial, and I was disappointed. The prisoners, in Kilmainham, knowing that Carr was to be brought to Down, to prosecute, informed him, from the yard as before, that his evidence would be rebutted, and himself exposed to prosecution, as I had overheard all his declarations to them, in the month of January. However, he was brought down, under a guard; but, when he

saw

* About this time, as well as formerly, I was frequently cautioned to be on my guard, as I was, not only strictly watched, but in danger of personal violence. The foundation of these cautions was, in some measure, consolidated by anonymous papers, some of which were found, on the mornings of Sunday, in our meeting-house yard, and others in that of the Catholic chapel. A copy of one of these, which not only justifies the suspicion on which these cautions were founded, but points out the cause of irritations, will appear in the sequel of this Narralive. Besides these communications, I had several private letters, breathing threats, and denouncing me as more pestiferous than an avowed Papist.

saw me in Down, he stagged, and, unfortunately for me, assigned his reasons. Hence, resentment against me was increased; and the prisoners were holden over until the Summer assizes.

During that Summer, the spirit of reform was ardent and general as ever, and meetings called, in many counties. At a numerous meeting of gentlemen, in the county of Down, a call of the free-holders was unanimously agreed to, and advertised; but, before the day appointed, those of the king's county were dispersed by the military, and a meeting of the county of Kildare prevented by threats. This being known, the gentlemen of Down prevented a county meeting, by another advertisement, lest disturbances should arise, were military to interfere; but, to convince the people that they had not abandoned them, or their cause, they agreed to meet, at Ballynahinch, on the day previously appointed for a county meeting, and publish such a declaration and resolutions, as should there be approved of. The wisdom of this measure was justified by the event, as the military were ordered to Down, and the last of a large body from Blaris Camp, had passed through Ballynahinch, only a few hours before the gentlemen met there, of whom I had the honor, as usual, to be called as one.

The resolutions unanimously passed, at that meeting, fully satisfied the public mind, and the two last, as I am convinced they spoke truth, should have satisfied government, as to the great object of public desire. These declared "that reform alone was sought for ;" and "that, if any such reform, as had been brought "into parliament, by Mr. George Ponsonby, was granted, the public mind would be quiet, content, and happy."

At all these meetings I was present, and, as formerly, took an active part, and expressed my opinions and sentiments, fully and explicitly, so that all my ideas and views, at this time, were as well known to every gentleman in the county, as they had been in the years 1792 and 1793.*.

Previous to the summer assizes, it was understood that my friends, in goal, would, not only be tried, but prosecuted with keenness; and whispers

* For several months, previous to the last of these meetings, I had, not only the most unreserved and confidential intercourse with several gentlemen of the first respectability in the county, and the most active in public concerns, in respect to its object; but, at their desire, as well as for my own satisfaction, an intimate correspondence with some eminent lawyers, on the subject. One of these was a member of parliament, intimately connected with the few senatorial friends of emancipating reform, and second to none, in constitutional loyalty, abilities, eloquence, and undeviating political integrity.

For a specimen of this correspondence, see Appendix, No. 2.

whispers were circulated that particular lists of jurors were in preparation for the sheriff. Under these impressions, I went to down, the day previous to their commencement, to procure what information I could, consult with the prisoners, and, convinced as I was of their innocence, render them what assistance might be in my power. On the evening of my arrival, my success, in point of information, far exceeded, even, my hopes. I learned, from undoubted authority, that the capital conviction of immediate connexions was despaired of; my but that, in all probability, their trials would be again put off, on some pretext or other, in order to prolong their confinement, and aggravate the distress of themselves and families.

To

With this information I went to the goal; and having communicated it to the prisoners, advised them to instruct their counsel, to demand trial, or liberation, as they had been so long confined without any charge brought against them, to the great injury of their health, distress of their families, and ruin of their circumstances. this they instantly acceded, and requested me to communicate their wish to counsellors Curran and Sampson, and enjoin them to be guided by it. This I did, early next morning; in consequence of which counsellor Curran immediately waited on the attorney general, and demanded the trial, or liberation, of the five prisoners

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