1784. Independence assailed by Pitt under colour of commercial 
tariff. 

1789. The Prince Regent’s Question determined to extinguish the 
Irish Legislature. 

1798. Rebellion used to terrify the minds of men out of common 
sense. 

1798-99 and 1598-99 It is here well worthy of reflection, that 
the exercise of free quarters and martial law, the suspension of all 
municipal courts of justice, the discretional application of the torture 
to suspected persons, executions in cold blood, and the various 
measures which Mountjoy and Carew, and the other officers of 
Elizabeth practised in Ireland by her authority, in 1598-99, were 
again judged to be expedient, and were again resorted to with 
vigour in 1798-99, 200 years after they had been practised by the 
ministers of Elizabeth. 

United Irish Societies known to Government. 

Though it appeared, from public documents, that Government had full and 
accurate information of the United Irish Societies, and that their leaders and chiefs 
were fully known to the British Ministry, the Government did nothing to suppress, 
but everything to exasperate, the people.? 

Under Camden’s Administration: 

Earl of Carhampton, Commander-in-Chief of Ireland, first expressed his 
dissatisfaction of Pitt’s inexplicable proceedings. Although martial law was not yet 
declared, Carhampton ordered his troops to intervene, wherever insurrectionary 
movements occurred.> This was prohibited by Camden. Carhampton found that 
troops in the garrison of Dublin were daily corrupted by the United Irishmen; he 
therefore withdrew them and formed two distinct camps on the South and the 
North, some miles from the capital. This measure also refused by the Lord 
Lieutenant whom Carhampton refused to obey. The King’s sign manual was at 
length procured, ordering him to break up his camps, and bring back the garrison; 
this he obeyed and marched his troops into Dublin barracks. He then resigned his 
command, and publicly declared, that some deep and insidious scheme of the 
Minister was in agitation; for, instead of suppressing, the Irish Government was 
obviously disposed to excite, an insurrection. Mr. Pitt counted on the expertness of 
the Irish Government to effect a premature explosion. Free quarters were now 
ordered, 

{ Free quarters rendered officers and soldiers despotic masters of 
the peasantry, their homes, food, property, and occasionally, their 
families. This measure was resorted to, with all its attendant 
horrors, throughout some of the best parts of Ireland, previous to 
the insurrection, and for the purpose of exciting it.} 

to irritate the Irish population; Slow Tortures‘ were inflicted under the pretence of 
forcing confessions; the people were goaded and driven to madness. ~ 

General Abercromby, who succeeded as Commander-in-Chief, was not permitted to 
abate these enormities, and therefore resigned with disgust. {General Abercromby, in 
general orders, stated that the army placed under his command, from their state of 

disorganisation, would soon be much more formidable to their friends than to 
their enemies, and that he would not countenance or admit free quarters.} 

Ireland was by those means reduced to a state of anarchy, and exposed to 
crime and cruelties to which no nation had ever been subject. The people could no 
longer bear their miseries. Pitt’s object was now effected and an insurrection was 
excited. 

United Irishmen and Pitt. 
(Poland and Prussia)’ 

Until 1795 the United Irishmen were Protestants, of a minor division of the 
people. Many of them were Pitt’s dupes. At the same time (1793 sqq) emissaries 
were sent from Berlin to Poland in order to form there Jacobinical Clubs, that they 
might offer a pretext for the introduction of new armies.5% 

Exorbitation of the People. 
Castlereagh’s Boast 

The Irish people were to be tormented, outraged, forced into actual rebellion. 
Recall of Lord Fitzwilliam involved the country in consternation and dismay. To 
this succeeded, to fret and exasperate, the Habeas Corpus Act Suspension Bill, the 
Searching for Arms Act, the Bill to transport persons not found at home from sunset to 
sunrise; further many persons were shot because, being terrified, they attempted to 
escape when challenged, or, being seized, they were consigned to Prussia. Ensor met 
some of them at Berlin, and the law indemnified the perpetrators of such 
prodigious deeds. Then the Yeomanry were raised: these committed dreadful 
outrages, particularly in the North; burning houses in open day, commanded by 
their officers, who were also magistrates. The Militia rivalled the Yeomanry. It is 
said that pitch-caps were invented by some bravos of the North Cork Militia. Stull 
more ferocious the Dublin Corporation. The riding-house, in Marlborough Street, 
distinguished for Protestant loyalty, and torture was administered by the scourge and the 
triangle. Summary executions not uncommon in preparing the Irish for the Union; 
bodies of Irishmen, deluded by the British Ministry, irritated and inflamed, 
tortured, tormented, in phrensy and despair, grasped such arms as they could 
seize, and defied their enemies. This was called rebellion; and Castlereagh boasted that 
he had made the conspiracy explode. He charged that mine as well as fired it.