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mind, in common with those of the great mass of my countrymen. The French espoused the cause of America; their fleets were riding triumphant in our seas, and insulting our coasts; our country was considered, by all, as in imminent danger; and government had declared its total inability to defend it. In this awful emergency, the desire of self-preservation gave birth to the general idea, and general resolution, of arming for self-defence. The city of Cork and town of Belfast took the lead in the execution. Other places soon followed their example. And, in a few weeks, a generous patriotic ardor, as if excited by a spark from Heaven, pervaded, animated, and actuated, the great body of the Irish people. Every city, town and village, swarmed with volunteers. In the country, the plough, the loom, and every other implement of useful arts, lent their youth, strength, and vigor, to the standard of the nation. Industry forewent a portion of its usual rest; whilst idleness betook itself to labor, and profligacy became sober; that they might be enabled, by their earnings, or their savings, to appear in arms, and in uniform, among their brethren, the idea of profession seemed to be obliterated. Physician, surgeon, and apothecary; lawyer and attorney-all were soldiers. Even the Presbyterian ministers were so fully inspired with the patriotism of the day, that, in several places, the rusty black was exchanged

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exchanged for the glowing scarlet, and the title of "reverend" for that of "captain." In a word, such was the prevailing spirit, that, in a short time, a self-created, self-arrayed, and self-supported, army presented itself, which strangers contemplated with wonder, 'enemies with fear, and friends with pride, exultation, and confidence.

Amidst the pleasing circumstances, which surrounded this institution, one, equally shameful and impolitic, occurred. The Catholics, in great numbers, and with great zeal offered themselves as volunteers, in common with their Protestant and Presbyterian countrymen. Through the greater part of Ulster, if not the whole, their offers were rejected, and, in some places, not without insult. In my own neighbourhood, this was universally the case. Hence, jealousy and distrust became prevalent, and, in some instances, excited alarm. Impressed with a sense of the impolicy and danger of such conduct, and equally so with its injustice, I not only argued against and reprobated it, in conversation, but, in a sermon, preached before the Echlin Ville volunteers, March 1789, expressed my opinions, on the subject, so clearly, as to offend all the Protestant and Presbyterian bigots in the country. This, once more, raised the cry of rebellion against me; and some were so liberal as to pronounce me "a papist

a papist in my heart," for the very substantial reason, among others, that the maidenname of the parish-priest's mother was "Dickson." However, the general tenor of the sermon was so much approved, being calculated to promote the volunteer cause, that I was earnestly solicited, by a number of zealous friends to the institution, to publish it, with a modification of the part respecting the admission of Catholics to the volunteer ranks. To the publication I felt little objection: but, to the modification I submitted with great reluctance, and merely from respect to, what I then thought, superior judgment, and, at least, an equal zeal in the public cause. However, I feel happy that I retained, in print, so much of the shadow of what I expressed, in substance, from the pulpit, as will give a faint idea of what then were, now are, and, I presume, ever will be, my opinions and feelings, on that important subject. The passage, as modified, is as follows:

"3dly. Ye ought to extend your views of doing good beyond the narrow limits of party, or outward profession, in matters civil, or religious. The names of party often excite jealousies; and these, again, are apt to resolve the most generous actions into the worst designs. This is, particularly, the case with us, in time As our enemies are generally of the C 2

of war.

popish

popish religion, those of that denomination, among us, are apt to construe measures of public safety into private design, and attribute every armament to enmity against them. To remove such injurious suspicions is an object well deserving your attention, and your conduct ought to shew, that ye have not taken up arms, for this or the other denomination, but for your country-that it is not your purpose to spread alarm, terror, or desolation, but to check them in their wild career-that it is only against the enemies of your country, liberty, and peace, be their religion what it may, that your arms are pointed-and, that whoever is the friend of these, is your friend, and the object of your protection."

During some years after this, little occupied the public mind, or employed the public tongue, except volunteering and volunteers. The system was now become universal, with a very few exceptions. Many gentlemen of landed property, who, at first opposed, or barely tolerated, the measure; and even some who seemed to dread the armament of the people, as much as they detested American independence, or horror-struck, anticipated a French debarkation, assumed the uniform of their country some, as was supposed, merely to keep their tenantry under their own control, and others, because volunteering was become fashionable.

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Be this as it may, in the year 1782, Ulster was so completely armed, that, at a review, in Belfast, the number of the patriotic soldiers was deemed little inferior to that of the spectators, capable of bearing arms. In a sham-fight, on the day after this review, Robert Stewart now lord viscount Castlereagh, then only in his thirteenth year, commanded the light infantry of the Ards independants, of which his father was colonel. His company consisted, mostly, of boys, a few years older than himself. Their appearance attracted universal notice, and excited the most pleasing emotions, as it promised a succession of patriot soldiers, under whose banners Ireland would recline in safety. The conduct of young Stewart did more. The manner, in which he conducted his boyish band, through the variegated, and long protracted engagement, displayed such germs of spirit, and judgment, as excited admiration, extorted applause, and laid the foundation of that popularity, which he afterwards obtained.

One circumstance, of which I was a witness, had a most powerful effect on the public feeling. The sham-fight was a representation of an approach to, and attack on, the town of Belfast. The Ards independents, commanded by col. Stewart, now earl of Londonderry, formed the van of the invading army. By them the advanced guard of the defenders of their country

was

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