Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/461

 450 CAULFIELD. Rutland, in the county of Sligo, the noted James Napper Tandy, as a French general of division, landed with a few partisans, to ascertain the probabilities of support from the population of that part of the country; but quickly re- embarked to join some of his dispersed squadrons, and was afterwards seized in neutral territory and sent prisoner to Ireland. Mr. Theobald Wolfe Tone, an Irish barrister, was found as a French officer on board another ship of the squadron taken by some of the British fleet, and sen- tenced to death by a court-martial in Dublin, but destroyed himself. During the whole rebellion the parliament continued sitting; and, on its prorogation, received the thanks of General Cornwallis in his speech from the throne. Internal peace being now restored, the country, though smarting under the wounds of civil war, was permitted to take some repose; from which, however, it was soon roused by the alarming ramour of an intended proposi- tion for a legislative union with England. This rumour was soon verified by the avowal of government. This excited new irritation, even amongst the warmest friends of the castle; and was attacked in limine, as a measure of the grossest ingratitude and treachery, on the part of the British cabinet. The question was discussed by anticipa- tion in a war of pam phlets and newspapers, popular meet- ings, speeches, and resolutions. Lord Cornwallis actually made a summer cireuit to the southward, to collect the sentiments of the country upon the subject, and stimulate the local influence of the friends of government in sup- port of the measure. It would exceed our limits to detail the variety of pretences artfully insinuated to render the attempt palateable to the different quarters, parties, and classes in the country. The incompetence of an Irish parliameat to maintain peace and contentment in the country, and the great advantage to Ireland of a perfect identification with England in all the blessings of com- merce, constitution, power, and prosperity, formed the vanguard of the proposal. The consequent prosperity of