these offers, he declared that a thousand pounds was to be his reward, on my conviction.*

Possessed of this information, my mind was easy in respect to my friends confined in Down 3 and, I own, I felt some satisfaction in the thought, that, should they be brought to trial, at the Spring assizes, I would have it in my power to expose their persecutors, through the very person, on whose information their conviction was thought certain, and my own not impossible. However, they were not brought to trial, and I was disappointed. The prisoners, in Kilmainham, knowing that Carr was to be brought to Down, to prosecute, informed him, from the yard as before, that his evidence would be rebutted, and himself exposed to prosecution, as I had overheard all his declarations to them, in the month of January. However, he was brought down, under a guard; but, when he

saw

* About this time, as well as formerly, I was frequently cautioned to be on my guard, as I was, not only strictly watched, but in danger of personal violence. The foundation of these cautions was, in some measure, consolidated by anonymous papers, some of which were found, on the mornings of Sunday, in our meeting-house yard, and others in that of the catholic 'chapel. A copy of one of these, which not only justifies the suspicion on which these causes were founded, but points out the cause of irritations, will appear in the sequel of this Narrative. Besides these communications, I had several private letters, breathing threats, and denouncing me as more pestiferous than an avowed papist.

saw me in Down, he stagged, and, unfortunately for me, assigned his reasons. Hence, resent

ment against me was increased; and the prisoners were holden over until the Summer assizes.

During that Summer, the spirit of reform was ardent and general as ever, and meetings called, in many counties. At a numerous meeting of gentlemen, in the county of Down, a call of the free-holders was unanimously agreed to, and advertised; but, before the day appointed, those of the King's county were dispersed by the military, and a meeting of the county of Kildare prevented by threats. This being known, the gentlemen of Down prevented a county meeting, by another advertisement, lest disturbances should arise, were the military to interfere; but, to convince the people that they had not abandoned them, or their cause, they agreed to meet, at Ballynahinch, on the day previously appointed for a county meeting, and publish such a declaration and resolutions, as should there be approved of. The wisdom of this measure was justified by the event, as the military were ordered to Down, and the last of a large body from Blaris Camp, had passed through Ballynahinch, only a few hours before the gentlemen met there, of whom I had the honor, as usual, to be called as one.

The resolutions unanimously passed, at that meeting, fully satisfied the public mind, and the two last, as I am convinced they spoke truth, should have satisfied government, as to the great object of public desire. These declared, "that reform alone was sought for; and "that, "if any such reform, as had been brought "into parliament, by Mr. George Ponsonby, was granted, the public mind would be quiet, content, and happy."

At all these meetings I was present, aud, as formerly, took an active part, and expressed my opinions and sentiments, fully and explicitly, so that all my ideas and views, at this time, were as well known to every gentleman in the county, as they had been in the years 1792 and 1793.*

Previous to the Summer assizes, it was understood that my friends, in gaol, would, not only be tried, but prosecuted with keenness; and whispers

* For several months, previous to the last of these meetings, I had, not only the most unreserved and confidential intercourse with several gentlemen of the first respectability in the county, and the most active in public concerns, in respect to its object; but, at their desire, as well as for my own satisfaction, an intimate correspondence with some eminent lawyers, on the subject. One of these was a member of parliament, intimately connected with the few senatorial friends of emancipating reform, and second to none, in constitutional loyalty, abilities, eloquence, and undeviating political integrity.

For a specimen of this correspondence, see appendix, No. 2.

whispers were circulated that particular lists of jurors were in preparation for the sheriff. Under these impressions, I went to Down, the day previous to their commencement, to procure what information I could, consult with the prisoners, and, convinced as I was of their innocence, render them what assistance might be in my power. On the evening of my arrival, my success, in point of information, far exceeded, even, my hopes. I learned, from undoubted authority, that the capital conviction of my immediate connexions was despaired of; but that, in all probability, their trials would be again put off, on some pretext or other, in order to prolong their confinement, and aggravate the distress of themselves and families.

With this information I went to the gaol; and having communicated it to the prisoners, advised them to instruct their counsel, to demand trial, or liberation, as they had been so long confined without any charge brought against them, to the great injury of their health, distress of their families, and ruin of their circumstances. To this they instantly acceded, and requested me to communicate their wish to counsellors Curran and Sampson, and enjoin them to be guided by it. This I did, early next morning; in consequence of which counsellor Curran immediately waited on the attorney-general, and demanded the trial, or liberation, of the five prisoners

from

from Portaferry, but received no answer. On this, I requested him to repeat his application, the day following, which he did, to no better purpose. On the third day, he did the same, though with reluctance; but, on his return, told me, that he had some hope of good, as the attorney-general seemed surprised and agitated by the repetition and peremptoriness of his demand, which was then made for upwards of thirty prisoners, who had determined to follow the example of the other five. That counsellor Curran was not mistaken, respecting the effect of his last application to the attorney-general, was rendered probable, by his (the attorney-ge neral) being in conclave with the judges, for two or three hours afterwards, and the consequent dispatch of an express, supposed to be for Dublin, which returned in about forty-eight hours

by the judges not coming into court, till twelve o'clock, though notice had been given, the day before, that they would enter on crown business, at nine, or ten-and, by their proclamation, on taking their seats, that persons, in the neighbourhood, summoned to attend as witnesses on trials for treasonable practices, might go home to their harvests, till Friday, as no business, of the kind, would be brought forward before that day. On that day, the express returned; soon after which the attorney-general asked Mr. Cur ran, if his clients, on being liberated; would enter into recognizance to keep the peace, for

a given