only prayed with him, and for him, in his seemingly composed moments, but was quite delighted with the wonderful comfort which devotional exercises seemed to give him. Some of our party, however, suspected him of imposture from the first; and their suspicion was soon confirmed, by his being removed, for some time every day, to a distant apartment, and detained in secret conference. His total removal from us, a few days afterwards, and his symptoms of insanity suddenly disappearing, certainty succeeded suspicion, and his name was consigned to infamy, together with those of his employers.

Besides Hughes, other informers were placed among us, about the same time. One of which was the Mr. Magin mentioned by him, in his deposition, which will appear afterwards. He like the other, was committed, under the most dreadful denunciations of vengeance, and, as the other had done, expressed the most lively apprehensions of his impending fate, even with lamentations and tears. He made his way to me, frequently, and under various pretexts; sometimes to complain of his melancholy situation, sometimes to borrow trifles, and at others, to affect confidential conversation, or ask advice. In one of these conversations, he expressed his wonder, how the earl of Londonderry, Nicholas Price, Esq. and the rev. John Cleland

had

had been informed of every thing he had done, and all the meetings of united Irishmen, which he had attended. He then begged me, with a seeming earnestness, to be on my guard against informers, for I had powerful and bitter enemies, as he very well knew. "How do you know ?" said I. After some hesitation, he told me that "tempting offers had been made to himself, to induce him to become informer against me." Something, in his manner, on this occasion, impressed me, with the suspicion, not only that he might be an informer, but a delegated successor of Hughes, for the purpose of eliciting matter of information.

This suspicion was fully justified, soon after, in an interview, which I had with a Mr. Pollock; not the once celebrated Owen Roe O'Neill Pollock--but a Mr. Pollock, whom I had known, many years before, as an attorney, not higher than the second class. This gentleman, as appeared, was sent to Belfast to forward and conduct such trials, before courts martial, as he might think expedient to bring on. Anxious

to see some of the objects of his mission, and as he gave me reason to suppose, me in particular, he visited us, on the very night of his arrival, and in a style which surprised us. At a late hour, just as we, poor prisoners, had laid ourselves down to rest, but not to sleep, our ears were arrested by a voice, not very articulate

or musical, bellowing execrations against " the dd infernal traitor;" and frothing out, "where is the scoundrel Dickson?" On looking up, I saw a figure, not very dignified, with the appearance of a gentleman under each arm, lighted towards me by a sentinel. He seemed rather unsteady in his gait: but whether the oscillation was in him, or in my drowsy eyes, I shall not pretend to determine. His language to me, during the few minutes which he was allowed to stay, I shall not repeat. That I leave to Mr. Pollock, if he can, or chooses to, recollect it. I shall only say that either from regard to him, to me, to both, or to our common nature, the gentlemen turned him round and carried him off, raging as he was, and swearing, that " he would hang the traitor next day."

On that next day, or the day following, I was summoned, by a guard, to wait on Mr. Pollock. I instantly obeyed, and was conducted to his apartments, in the house of Mr. M'Cluney, surgeon, nearly opposite to our prison. My entrance seemed to discompose him very much; but I was soon led to think that he had partly discomposed himself, before my arrival. The rev. John Cleland was sitting with him, when I entered, and staid in the room, for some time. After a few questions and remarks, respecting traitors, treason &c. put and made in Mr. Pollock's

Pollock's peculiar manner, he asked me, if I knew" Mr. Grattan," as he afterwards asserted, but, as I then thought, and still think," Mr. Curran." In consequence, I answered that I did; which led to the following conversation: "You have often met him, I suppose ?" "Not often, but always with great pleasure." "I suppose you correspon1?" "Sometimes we have correspondence." "And, pray sir, what have been the subjects of your correspondence? Irish politics, no doubt ?" "We have corresponded on more subjects than one, but seldom on politics. I will shew you a specimen of our correspondence, if you desire it." This desire he expressed with eagerness; on which I handed him a letter, from Mr. Curran, which I happened to have in my pocket. This he hurried over, with devouring eyes till he came to the subscription, when he exclaimed, in rage; "z--ds. This is not from Grattan." "Grattan!” cried I. “No, surely! It was Mr. Curran you asked about." No, by hns; I need not ask about him. I know, you and he were never asunder at the assizes of last year-You were dd busy there packing juries, and tampering with the sheriff, to save traitors from the gallows-It was Grattan I mentioned." "Be assured then," said I, "I never saw Mr. Grattan, in my life; nor ever had any correspondence with him, of any kind; and, as to packing juries, I hope you do not mean to wound this

gentleman, (looking towards Mr. Cleland) through my sides."Mr. Cleland got up, and walked off, without even making his bow; and Mr. Pollock, as if recollecting himself, became calm, and seemed uneasy; I suppose, from having made a greater blunder here, than between the names "Grattan" and " Curran ;" as the array had been twice challenged, at the Down assizes in 1797, on the alleged ground, that Mr. Cleland had given a partial panel to the sheriff. Be this as it may, to this blunder I probably owed my dismissal, for a time, and return to my prison, in charge of the guard, which had conducted me to Mr. Pollock. Be it noted, however, that I was not dismissed, without the friendly assurance that, “if I did not do what government expected, I would certainly be hanged-By the el g—d, I would."

This last sentence conveyed the ideas, that Mr. Pollock either had what he deemed sufficient evidence for my conviction, or was sure of procuring it; and that I might expect another interview with him, for some purpose or other. The former gave me little uneasiness; the latter was painful, principally, from the disgust excited by the insolence and vulgarity which I had experienced from the little great

man.