infested by fugitives from the city, from Kildare, and other places, and whose fires, on that night, we had previously observed, were very numerous. However, they came not near us; and I never learned whether the alarm was given by Government to try the steadiness of the yeomanry, (to whom these posts were exclusively confided,) or whether the enemy, finding their design discovered, had abandoned it.

But during the hours that we thus stood together, scarcely a word, except the few that are necessary on changing sentries, was to be heard among us; each man seemed mentally to have retired within himself, while to all external appearance, he was the mere machine which a soldier ought to be. A paramount sense of duty was doubtless the governing principle: the consequences that might ensue to others-to ourselves could not fail to occupy some of the passing thoughts of men accustomed to reflection. It was an interval of solemnity, unmixed with dismay. I have compared my own state of feeling with that of several of my comrades. As machines, we should have done our duty, though as men we might have lamented the results. "We would have stood our ground to the last man," said my friend F., "but are you not glad that there was no occasion ?"

It was with feelings and reflections of the same kind, I presume, that our column (which, I left during this digression, standing in the Upper Castle Yard, in the night of the 23d July, 1803,) occupied the dreary hours: for very few words were heard amongst us: little communication between our officers and us, and as little, I believe, between their superiors and them. At length it occurred, that as we were likely to have ample time, it might be well to have an inspection of the state of our ammunition by the light of the Castle lamps; a practice that was never omitted during the periods of permanent service, previous to our being marched off to duty, but which the suddenness of this night's alarm had rendered in the first instance impracticable.

We were tolerably well supplied The steady and regular soldier in general had his cartouche-box furnished with his appointed complement of twenty rounds of ball cartridge: others VOL. I.

possessed a few, and some were wholly unprovided, an emergency that could scarcely have happened if we had had but a few minutes notice of the summons. It was soon arranged that we should divide our stock equally, and most of the humble companions of my pouch were promoted, for aught that that I know, to the service of the embryo judges and expectant chancellors of whom our body was partly composed.

66

But, as if to show us how superfluous it had been for us to take any trouble in providing ammunition for ourselves or each other, our Sergeants had hardly completed the distribution of our common stock, and we were again "standing at ease," though with anxious and uneasy minds, when, towards the break of day, our attention was excited by the heavy measured step of a file of men, who, issuing from the Lower Castle Yard, advanced to our front, bearing each a canvas bag slung before him. Attention!" "Shoulder arms." "Rear rank take double distance." "Order arms." "Cartouches open." These words announced the object of the visitors, which was to serve out ammunition. They proceeded to supply a few, when perceiving on their part that none of us were wholly unprovided, and we soon discovering the sort of provision they were making for us, they speedily retreated through the arch, and it was then that a buz-an irrepressible buz of surprise and derision burst forth, and the whisper spread from rank to rank that they were pistol cartridges!—PISTOL CARTRIDGES!! I do not know whether you, Mr. Poplar, have ever "seen service," but if you have even so much skill as would serve to shoot a crow, you must know what a mockery this appeared to be. To call it mockery, however, would be unjust. I am certain that nothing was further from the intention of the government of that day than to treat the yeomanry with slight on any occasion: but I refer to the fact as strongly confirmative of the dialogue reported by your narrator:"What troops," said Wilcox,

in readiness?”

"are

"I know of none," said the Secre

"Not one within reach."

tion ?"

"Not a single one!"

And it fully supports General Shortal's declaration, "That no orders had been given by Government for any supply of ammunition-that the Government had been taken completely by surprise."

But, let me repeat, that not an individual of the corps thought for a moment of imputing this to any motive of disrespect to the yeomanry-far from it. At that time, the services of the yeoman army in the rebellion of 1798 were fresh in the public recollection, and a mutual and happy confidence subsisted between the Government and them. Every man was convinced, and sorry to feel himself convinced, that, for once, the Government had been taken by surprise. From what nook of the horse barracks the pistol cartridges were thus tardily dragged forth matters not now to enquire. In half an hour, the whole occurrence had passed into a jest amongst us. The few rounds that were delivered, were exhibited from file to file, and then treasured up as reliques. I saw one of them not long ago in the possession of a comrade: he had clothed it with a label explanatory of its history, and said he meant to deposit it in his cabinet of curiosities for the benefit and instruction of future generations.

By this time it was full day-light, and our patience had become almost exhausted, when we got orders to "wheel into line," and then, the word "with cartridge, prime and load," seemed to intimate, that something remained to be done, and that we were called upon to do it. With universal pleasure, we quitted our dreary and uninteresting position, and were led through Castle-street and Skinner row, straight to the scene of the horrible murders of Thomas-street, (of which no trace was then visible,) and thence to the Coombe, where some dead bodies of the peasantry still lay on the spot they had fallen. Passing through some obscure street in the region of the Liberty, a halt was made and some files detached to search houses that were pointed out: I was one of those employed on this duty; I do not recollect what the particular object was, but though I met nothing else offensive, I never shall forget the

of a house, that, externally, bore a very decent aspect. At length, we were marched to our parade and dismissed, and I hastened to my delight. ful home, and found all safe and quiet; and may every loyal subject, who sa crifices his domestic comforts for a time, to the service of his king and country, have such a home and such a wife to welcome his return; I can wish him no richer reward. Although, no weak womanish fears had been interposed, to prevent my turning out on the call of duty, I was well aware that anxiety must have prevailed during my absence which my appearance would best remove. I learned, however, that the night had not passed without rumours finding their way to ———street, of murders and assassinations, exaggerated doubtless, but some of them too authentic. Amongst these sufferers, our friend, Colonel Lyde Browne, had been named: almost the first enquiry was respecting his fate. I had not before heard of the lamentable event, and as early the next morning as I could be prepared, I went to his lodgings, where I learned all the sad particulars, which I shall relate.

Colonel Browne commanded the 21st fusileers; and as they were quartered partly in the Royal Barrack and partly in a temporary barrack in Corkstreet, he had fixed his residence on Usher's Island, as a position nearly central to both divisions of his men. He had received some intimation during the day, that mischief was expected, and, in consequence had directed, that if any disturbance broke out, an officer and detachment from Cork-street, should attend him; and he was sitting at his open drawingroom windows, waiting for his party, and anxiously looking out for intelligence, when his attention was attracted by two men, who, as they passed slowly along the footway, appeared to be in earnest conversation a word or two that they dropt, as if by accident, led him to listen with keener interest, for their talk was about the twenty-first regiment, and of something that either had befallen it, or would befal it in Thomas-street. The diabolical plot, for such I fear it was, prevailed. The gallant Colonel instantly seized his sword, and without any other weapon,

and attended only by a faithful servant, who insisted on following him, though wholly unarmed, he rushed along Usher's Island, and turned up Bridgefoot-street, the nearest approach to Thomas-street. As he proceeded up the hill, he perceived before him, what, in the dusk, he thought was a column of his own men, with shouldered arms, and so telling his servant, he hastened forward to meet them. It was in vain that the servant warned him, that what appeared to him to be muskets, were, in truth, new-made pikes. He had, in fact, fallen in with a strong party of the rebels, at the entrance to the lane where their depot of arms and ammunition were afterwards discovered and detected. But it was too late to stop him-almost in the same moment, the brave officer discovered his error and suffered its fatal effect. He received a shot from a blunderbuss, and fell dead on the spot. Had Colonel Browne not been betrayed into a premature exposure of himself, he would probably have soon been joined by his men, for about the same time, Lieut. Felix Brady, of the 21st, with 40 or 50 men, had left Cork-street for the purpose, pursuant to order, and had proceeded as far as Thomas-street, on his way, when he encountered an advanced post of the rebels, whom they defeated and put to flight-and as this was the work but of a few minutes, the party would soon have reached its destination. The servant saved his own life by his presence of mind. When he saw his master fall, he turned and was hastening down Bridgefootstreet, homewards, when an armed ruffian stopt him, and demanded, where are you going? O do not delay me! the day's our own, and I am running for my pike,'-' make haste then,' replied the other, and suffered him to pass.

division encountered a similar discomfiture on the Coombe, from Lieutenant Hume Douglas, commanding a detachment of the same brave regiment; while Chief-Constable Wilson, with a few Peace-Officers, in one quarter, and a small band of yeomanry of the Liberty Rangers and Barrack Divisional Corps in another, completed the rout.

But, contemptible as was the result, the design was bold and formidable, and if Providence had not interposed a short delay in a critical moment, it is awful to consider what might have been the catastrophe. The eastern end of Thomas-street, where the rebels stopped to glut their barbarity with the blood of rank, learning, and virtue, is not more than five hundred yards from the Castle-gate. How long would a band of infuriated ruffians have been in rushing, unopposed, through two short streets? Scarcely longer than I take to write down the question. Two sentries whistling at the gate, a few more scattered about the court, would have been surprized and filled in an instant; the body of the guard, lounging in perfect security in its guard-room, would not have had time for resistance, or the Castle-gates would have been closed against it-for the guard-room then stood outside the gate. Long before any effectual help could be had from the barracks, the inmates would have been overpowered, the gates secured, the green flag would have waved on Bedford Tower-VICTORY would have sounded through the city -the intelligence would have spread throughout the country on the wings of the wind. To pursue this subject further is too painful.

It is true, and the anti-alarmist of the present day may plume himself upon the fact, that the Castle is now in a better state of defence; it is true, that since the insurrection, that lofty iron barrier was erected, which extends from the corner angle of the street to the Royal Exchange, the whole western side of the Castle, from La Touche's bank to Ship-street, has been insulated, a lofty wall and broad passage (where sentinels are always stationed) now separating it from Hoey's Court and various dwellings, which before were in immediate contact with its buildings, and afforded innumerable means of access and annoyance. And I re

collect, that for a long time the iron barrier itself was guarded by two long field-pieces that frowned grimly down Cork-hill, keeping the button-shop in their front in constant and wholesome check.

Doubtless, the Castle is not at this day so utterly unprepared against a coup de main. But what shall we say of the improved dispositions of the populace? Alas! let not our governors deceive themselves; neither conciliation, nor concession, nor eman cipation, nor reform, nor the praises bestowed on Dr. Doyle's Pastoral, nor the honours heaped upon the agitators, nor the exaltation of one class, nor the depression of the other-none of these, nor all of them combined, would weigh a straw in favour of a British government, against an invitation to arms, urged by any man of desperate fortunes, possessing talent and enterprise, and nothing else; raising "separation from England," as the ever-welcome

watch-word, and holding out "Expulsion of heretics," with all its effects upon property, as the rich reward!

And though the Castle be better walled and barricaded, where is the moral strength of its occupiers? Where is the yeoman army, which contributed mainly to the support of British connexion in the Rebellion of 1798, and to whose care, during many nights of that Rebellion (while the regular troops were dispatched to distant points) the care and guardship of the metropolis was solely and wisely entrusted? Where shall we look in this day-in what part of Ireland shall we find large bodies of the wealthy-the intelligent—the influential classes standing forth, ready and eager to rally round the British standard, and to support it with life and fortune?

It is truly "more in sorrow than in anger," that these sad questions are asked by A YEOMAN OF 1796.

The celebrated Author of "The Spirit of Laws" held that the history of the communications of mankind was that of commerce; and the elder Dupin, in all his statistical labours, proceeds upon the supposition that the productive capability of a country will be in direct relation to the facilities of access and the perfection of the modes of transport. There can be no doubt that the mineral and vegetable productions-all the natural riches of a land, and its capability of improvement in agriculture or the arts can only be turned to account, multiplied, or even brought into action by means of traffic and interchange. But this can

never affect the first elements of national prosperity, which are contained in the physical relations of the country, or its natural capabilities of soil and climate, and in the genius of the people, or their moral and intellectual attributes, by which success is engendered and political power is given; and it is curious to contemplate, in the history of one of the most mercantile countries of the universe, the results of extended commerce on the efforts of human intelligence. The mind appears to be immediately enslaved by the passion for lucre, and Mammon rules with a blind sway, which renders the acquisition of information subordinate to the possession of wealth, and frustrates the conscientious desire of communicating knowledge. Hence it is that Great Britain, which can boast of the most extensive commerce of present or ancient times, has made so little use of her gigantic powers to improve our knowledge of the terrestrial surface; and no attempt has been yet made to systematise the scattered materials of modern times and the collected evidence of three centuries of maritime domination.

Geographical knowledge beyond the situation of places as taught at the form, is most generally a tacit convention-an oral, or even a traditional science; and a foreigner coming to our great commercial marts would be surprised to find that " many merchants, men of fame," whose ships plough the antipodal seas, relied for their whole advantages and prosperity on the stern sense-so nationally characteristic-of the navigator and traveller, employed under them; the class of persons who have time to read, chiefly professional, and who seek for information solely for the pleasure and satisfaction which it affords, can never amalgamate well with these practical persons; their habits of thought and their modes of acquiring knowledge are entirely different, and their objects so disinterested in the one, so mercenary in the other, are too far opposed to one another ever to generate sympathy in their pursuit. Then come apart from, and standing above all, the educated man, with his boundless energy and his heroic devotion. To this class we are indebted for a very great part of what has been done in geographical science, and the results of their toil and labour are admired by one class, made use of by another, but seldom rewarded by any. Except the triangulation of India and the survey of the coast, which frequent losses had rendered actually necessary, almost all that has been done towards making us acquainted with that vast country has been accomplished by private individuals. And in natural history it remained for the French to take advantage of our possessions in these unexplored countries, to hoard up the treasures so long neglected by our countrymen.

If Government turns its tardy eye towards geographical discovery, it has