Here, it may naturally be asked, "why was the story of Mr. Keane inserted in the report before this paragraph ?"

The reason, to me, seems obvious. Mr. Hughes had told his story, before it was observed by him, general Barber, before whom he first swore, or his other wise and noble examinants -the hereditary counsellors of kings-that his information was mysterious, defective, and good for nothing, without explanation, additions and amendments. It assigned no reason whatever for dr. Dickson's intended journey, nor any end to be accomplished, either by his going to, or remaining at, Ballinahinch. This being discovered, it became necessary to ransack the memory, or stimulate the invention of Mr. Hughes, anew, in order to make something of him and his discoveries. The result of this rummage, or stimulation, or both, as stated in the paragraph under consideration, explains every mystery, supplies every defect, and accounts for "Dickson every resolve, and every movement. tol him that he was one of the adjutant generals &c. &c.-that he would go to Ballinahinch &c. &c.—as it was a central place, from which he could issue his orders to his officersthat he would remain in Ballinahinch till Wednesday, because the Antrim colonels had adjourned

adjourned till the Tuesday, and he could receive their determination in Ballinahinch on Wednesday."

Now, admitting that dr. Dickson was one of the adjutant generals of the county of Down, the first reason for his going to, and remaining at Ballinahinch, is perfectly competent. That it was deemed the most eligible place for headquarters, the rebels proved, afterwards, by fixing their standard there. Of the second reason the same may be said, though, to an inattentive reader, its competency may not be so obvious. If such will revise the first paragraph, of the examination of Mr. Hughes, he will see that the agreement of the twenty three colonels of the county of Down, on the 31st. of May, to "commence the rebellion," was on the condition that "the county of Antrim, and the other counties of Ulster, would act with them." Hence an apparent necessity that an adjutant general of the county of Down should be assured of the co-operation of the other counties, before he could with propriety, issue any orders to his officers "to commence the rebellion." Consequently, this reason for GENERAL DICKSON'S "going to, and remaining at, Ballinahinch, until he should receive the determination of the Antrim colonels," as assigned by Mr. Hughes, is equally proper, so far as it extends. But, it did not extend far enough. The commence

ment

ment of the rebellion was not agreed to by the county of Down colonels, on the exclusive condition of the co-operation of the county of Antrim, but that of " the other counties of Ulster." Admitting, therefore, that the determination of the Antrim colonels had been favorable, can it be supposed that general Dickson would have presumed, on it alone, to issue orders to his officers" to commence the rebellion; or that they would have acted on such orders; while the determination of all the other counties of Ulster was, to them totally unknown? The supposition is too wild to be entertained, even for a moment.

Perhaps it may be said, in opposition to this that these two counties did" commence the rebellion," without knowing the determination of the other counties. True! But, it is equally true, so far as I could ever learn, that they did so without the orders of any general-nay, contrary to the will, and without the co-operation, even of their colonels.

But, let us return to the examinations of Mr. Hughes. Was dr. Dickson really an adjutant general? Mr. Hughes has sworn that he told him so. And this is the only evidence of the fact, so far as I know, that has ever been produced, or even alleged. Now, in what words according to the oath of Mr. Hughes, did he

tell

tell him so? "Dickson told him that he was one of the adjutant generals of the county of Down." ONE of the adjutant generals! ! This must be incorrect. Either dr. Dickson, or Mr. Hughes, must have been very ignorant of, or inattentive to, the military constitution of their own body; for, in the same report of the committee of lords, from which I have extracted the examinations of Mr. Hughes, those of Thomas Addis Emmet Esq. and dr. M'Nevin, taken on oath, the 7th. and 11th. of August 1798, shew that there was only one adjutant general in each county. The words of Mr. Emmet are: "It was thought necessary (by the executive) to have an adjutant general in each county:" And again, "the colonels of each county returned the names of three persons to the executive, who appointed one of them to act as adjutant general of the county." Dr. M'Nevin's are the same, except the word, sent," instead of "returned." How, then, could dr. Dickson tell Mr. Hughes, not that he was adjutant general, but "one of the adjutant generals of the county of Down?" Let every reader answer this question to himself; and judge of general Dickson and Mr. Hughes accordingly.

I now come to another circumstance in this paragraph, which seems of some importance. Mr. Hughes has sworn that dr. Dickson's

alleged

alleged reason for going to Ballinahinch, was the conveniency of the place, from its central situation, for issuing his orders to his officers and, for remaining there till Wednesday, that, on that day, he could receive the determination of the Antrim colonels. Now, if the receipt of this determination was necessary, previous to the issue of his orders, these orders must have been very limited, or the doctor, now dubbed general, must have had a very high opinion of his own abilities. He did not expect to receive the determination till Wednesday. Its arrival might be late in the day. And his stay was limited to that day. How, then, could he suppose himself capable of preparing and issuing orders, through a large county, and to a number of colonels, so great that twentythree constituted only a part, in one day, or rather, a few hours of one day? This seems to imply some difficulty, even supposing his waiting the return of his couriers totally unnecessary. However this difficulty is removed by adverting to a simple fact. The duty of adjutant general was strictly confined to the communication of such useful knowledge as he could procure, on subjects particularly specified, to the executive exclusively, and in like manner, to communicate military orders from them, and from them alone. Hence, general Dickson could be in no difficulty about the "issue of his orders. He could have none such to issue; .nor

could