sequent intimacy with which he was known by multitudes, of every rank, profession, and denomination, from the highest to the lowestfrom the peer to the peasant-and from the bishop to the beadle: Aud, notwithstanding the extension of his connexions and intimacy with the populous town of Belfast; a considerable part of the county of Antrim; to many other persons and places in Ulster; and not a few in Leinster, including the city of Dublin. 1 say notwithstanding all these, dr. Dickson appears as his own only accuser! I say, farther that he challenges the whole surviving train of his persecutors and calumniators, the rev. John CleFand not excepted, to convict him; or bring forward a credible witness, who shall convict him; of any act, as a man, as a member of the state, or as a minister of the gospel, for which virtue will disclaim him, religion chill him with a frown, or his country brand bim with the odious character of an enemy to her rights, or an apostate from her interests.

HAVING CONCLUDED MY REVIEW

! OF THE

EXAMINATION OF MR. HUGHES,

BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF LORDS,

I consoled myself with the hope that I had done with examinations of him, and all such. However, some time after, I was convinced of the contrary. On reading it to a friend, he asked me, with seeming astonishment, whether I did not know of other examinations, before the secret committees, in which I was implicated. I answered in the negative. He then told me that, though he had not seen their reports, he could assure me that they contained a long examination of Nicholas Magin, before the committee of the house of commons, in which my name was introduced; adding that, if I passed it unnoticed, it might be concluded that it contained information against me, which I could not refute, and therefore dared not to meet.

Impressed with the justness of this observation, I delayed the publication of my narrative, till I should procure a sight of this report; which proved a matter of much greater difficulty than I could have imagined. It was not to be found in the circle of those stigmatized, as my friends,

or

or supposed to be such. However, after long delay, and many inquiries, it was obtained in one of the most extensive offices of intelligence, in the North of Ireland; but an office from which the mandate of cruelty never issued; and put into my had on the 4th. of September 1810, and not before.

During my search, I was surprised at the difficulty of procuring the book. After reading it, I was more surprised that it could possibly be procured. And, though it, no doubt, contains much well-founded information, and many authentic documents, yet it contains also so much matter, rising infinitely above, and extending far beyond, all foundation and all authority, that it should never have been presented to the eye, or entrusted to the hand, of the disaffected. The whole edition should have been purchased, by the friends of the then existing minister, social order, regular government, and the imperial independence of Ireland, sacrificed to Moloch, by the hands of the common hangman-che officiating priest of the day: or bought up by those, who abetted, and acted on, such information as that of Hughes and Magin; to be bound with sir Richard Musgrave's history of the rebellion in Ireland, secured in their bureaus, and reserved for their amusement in the day of affliction, and the consolation of their souls on the bed of death. This idea, I trust, I have

fully

fully justified, so far as the examination of John Hughes, before the committee of Lords, is concerned; and we shall soon see, whether, and how far, that of Mr. Magin tends to its support:

Mr. Magin's information is brought forward by a preface, which displays the most scrupulous and ardent zeal to establish his competency as a witness; and the correctness of the papers, verified by the OATH of the rev John Cleland, and presented to the committee, as containing the exact information communicated to him, from time to time, by Magin; or, as his name is there spelled, "Maguan. Said preface is as follows:

No. 14-"The information contained in this number of the appendix was received from Nicholas Maguan, of Saintfield, in the county of Down, who was himself a member of the provincial and county committees, and also a 'colonel in the military system of united Irish men. He was present at each of the meetings of which an account is here given; and from time to time, immediately after each meeting, communicated what passed thereat to the rev. John Cleland, a magistrate of the said county. The person giving the information has since verified it upon oath before the committee of the lords; and Mr. Cleland has likewise sworn

that the papers presented to the committee contain the exact information so communicated to him by Maguan."

Surely, if external circumstances can stamp any information with credit, that given by Maguan, committed to writing and sanctioned, on oath, by Mr. Cleland, a clergyman and a magistrate, must be credible. He (Maguan) is represented as high in office, both civil and military; and therefore, may be supposed of sound mind. He was an eye and ear witness of all that he attested, and made his communications to the rev. John Cleland, from time to time, immediately after each meeting which he attended. Hence slips of memory can scarcely be suspected, even though he had neglected notes, on the spot, of what passed at each of these meetings. And the rev. John Cleland sworethat the papers, presented by him to the committee, contained the exact information socommunicated to him by Maguan." This, certainly, gives the contents of these papers, extended as they are, and embracing a great variety of persons and things of no mean consideration, an air of authenticity truly imposing. Indeed, the extent and variety of their matter are so great, that I cannot let them pass unnoticed. Though the time of action comprehends only thirteen months and twenty one days, they detail the transactions of fourteen provincial meetings;