This proclamation was tranfmitted by his excellency's commands to fir Ralph Abercrombie, then commander in chief, who was directed to proceed into the difturbed counties, being invefted by the lordlieutenant with full powers.

Your committee annex to this report a notice to the inhabitants of the disturbed counties, as iffued by the faid commander in chief; and think it incumbent on them to obferve, that on this, and, indeed, on every occafion in which the go. vernment, or the officers acting under its orders, have been driven to the neceflity of adopting extraordinary measures for the fafety of the ftate, full notice and time have uniformly been given before they were acted upon, and the people have been exhorted to prevent the neceffity of rigorous measures by a ceffation from outrage and a furrender of their arms.

It appears to your committee, that the steps then taken, as mentioned in the proclamation, had an almoft immediate effect in repreffing the audacity of the rebels, and in reftoring tranquillity. The loyal inhabitants were enabled in many places to return in fafety to their houfes-murders became lefs frequent; in many counties, particularly in Kildare and Tipperary, the people, fenfible of the madnefs and wickednets of their conduct, began openly to acknowledge their crimes, furrender their arms, and point out their leaders and feducers; a fubmiffion which invariably obtained for them pardon and protection.

In April, and the beginning of May, the delufion of the people was fo faft and fo widely yielding to the measures of government, which, while they treated with feverity the obftinately guilty, in a

cafes held forth mercy to the re

pentant, that the leaders of the treafon, both in Dublin and the provinces, began to perceive that their caufe was lofing ground, and that they had no alternative left but to hazard an infurrection, or to relinquish their hopes. The arrest of the Leinfter provincial committee, on the 12th of March, and of feveral other leading members of the union on the fame day, tended fo much to difclofe the guilt of the party and to weaken their organifation, that the confpirators felt themfelves ftill more compelled to a desperate effort. A plan was accordingly digefted by the military committee for a general rifing, the outline of which was to furprife Dublin, the camp at Loughlinftown, and the artillery ftationed at Chapolizod on the fame night, in which attack the counties of Dublin, Wicklow, and Kildare, were to co-operate: the infurrection being commenced in the neighbourhood of the metropolis (the fignal for announcing which was to be the detention of the mailcoaches), it was expected that the north and fouth would alfo rife.

The houfe will find the plan of infurrection detailed and fully proved in the evidence adduced on the trial of Henry and John Sheares, lately convicted of hightreafon; the bloody intentions of the party may best be collected from a manifefto in the hand-writing of the faid John Sheares (one of the new executive elected after the arrests made on the 12th of March last, as your committee have reafon to believe), which was to have been iffued in the event of fuccefs. Were any additional proofs neceffary to tablish the authenticity of the plan as above stated, it may be found in the proceedings of the provincial committee of Ulfter, which met at Armagh on the 12th (02)

of

of May, where the fame plan was announced as decided on, and the neceffary orders given for fecuring, as far as poffible, the co-operation of the north.

The government, perfeâly informed of the intentions of the confpirators, caufed feveral of the leaders to be apprehended on the 19th and 21st of May, and the approaching infurrection was an nounced to the lord-mayor late in the evening of the 21ft in a letter from the lord-lieutenant's fecretary; and on the following day a meffage to the fame effect was fent by his excellency to both houfes of parliament. Notwithstanding the military precautions adopted to counteract the intended rifing, it took place in the neighbourhood of Dublin on the night appointed, namely, the 23d of May; and every poffible effort was made by the difaffected within the town to Co-operate with those without. In conformity to the plan laid own, the mail-coaches were deftroyed on the northern and fouthern roads, and every exertion made by the party in the provinces to bring the people into action.

Your committee do not think it neceffary to record the events of the bloody and deftructive rebellion that enfucd, which are fill but too freth in the memory of the houfe; they need only ftate, that as foon as the rebels had actually taken the field in force, and commenced their operations by feveral daring attacks upon the towns garrifoned by the king's troops, the lord-lieutenant and council publified a proclamation, bearing date the 24th of May, announcing, that he had authorifed the fummary punishment by martial law of all rebels found in arins, or of perfons in any wife aiding or

affifting in the rebellion; to which feafonable interpofition of the powers of the ftate, the prefervation of the conftitution againft this daring attempt to fubvert it is not lefs to be attributed, than to the diftinguished fidelity and bravery of the king's troops, both regulars, militia, and yeomanry.

On confideration of the whole of the evidence, your committee are of opinion.

That the rebellion originated in a fyftem, framed not with a view of obtaining either catholic emancipation, or any reform compatible with the existence of the conftitution, but for the purpose of fubverting the government, feparating Ireland from Great Britain, and forming a democratic republic, founded on the deftruction of all church establishment, the abolition of ranks, and the confifcation of property.

That the means reforted to for the attainment of thefe defigns was a fecret fyftematifed combination, fitted to attract the multitude by being adapted to vulgar preju dices and vicious paffions, and artfully linked and connected together with a veiw of forming the mafs of the lower ranks into a revolutionary force, acting in concert, and moving in one body, at the impulfe and under the direction of their leaders.

That for the farther accomplishment of their object, the leaders of the confpiracy entered into a nego tiation, and finally concluded an alliance with the French directory by which it was ftipulated, that an adequate force fhould be fent for the invafion of this country, as fubfidiary to the preparations that were making for a general infurrection.

That in purfuance of this defign, meafures were adopted by the

chiefs of the confpiracy, for giving to their focieties a military form; and that for arming their adherents, they had recourfe partly to the fabrication of pikes, and partly to the plundering of the loval inhabitants of their arms.

That from the vigorous and fummary expedients reforted to by go vernment, and the confequent exertions of the military, the leaders found themselves reduced to the alternative of immediate infurrection, or of being deprived of the means on which they relied for effecting their purpofe; and that to this caufe is exclufively to be attributed that premature and defperate effort, the rafhnefs of which has fo evidently facilitated its fuppref

fion.

That the vigilance of the executive government, in detecting and arrefting many of the principal confpirators in the very act of concerting their plans of infurrection, the convictions which have enfued, and the ftill more complete development of the treafon by the confeffion of fome of its most active and efficient conductors, have not only effentially contributed to the defeat of the rebellion, but, by enabling the committee to disclose the views and machinations of the confpirators, may fuggeft means for fecuring the future tranquillity of the country.

Your committee cannot conclude without obferving, that, on a review of the treafon which has employed their attention, they trace a perfect coincidence, in its commencement and in its progrefs, its means and its objects, with that by which the government, the religion, and the happiness of France, have been deftroyed; which has extended its defolating influence

overfome of the most profperous and flourishing countries of Europe, and has fhaken to its foundation the fabric of regular fociety throughout the civilifed world. That the leaders of the fyftem, in order to adapt the minds of the multitude to the purpofes of their treafon, have, after the example of their jacobine allies in France, left no means unemployed which the most malignant fubtilty could fuggeft, for eradicating from amongst the working claffes every fentiment both of private and public dutyall quiet and peaceable habits, all focial as well as moral obligations, it has been their object to deftroy; and the more facred the tie, the more induftriously have they laboured to diffolve it: they have incited the foldier to betray his king, they have armed the tenant against the landlord, and they have taught the fervant to confpire with the affaffin of his mafter; blafting the repofe and confidence of private life even in its fanctuary, and effacing every law of truth, of justice, of gratitude, and of religion, except where it has been poffible to make even religion itfelf the perverted inftrument of their execrable views. Such have been the leading principles, and the long-laboured preparatives for that rebellion from which your committee truft this country has been happily refcued; and they indulge a fanguine hope, that their prefent statement, authenticated as it is by fuch a mafs of evidence, will contribute ftill farther to the complete re-eftablishment of tranquillity, by throwing the fulleft light on the dangers to which the community has been expofed, and againft which it is ftill neceffary to guard.

His Majefty's Speech in the Houfe of Lords, Tuefday, November 20, 1798, on opening the 3d Seffion of the 18th Parliament of Great Britain. My lords and gentlemen, The events which have taken place in the courfe of the prefent year, and the fignal fuccefs which, by the blefling of Providence, has attended my arms, have been productive of the happieft confequences, and have effentially promoted the profperity and glory of our country.

The unexampled feries of our naval triumphs has received fresh fplendor from the memorable and decifive action in which a detachment of my fleet, under the command of rear-admiral lord Nelfon, attacked and almost totally destroy. ed a fuperior force of the enemy, ftrengthened by every advantage of fituation by this great and brilliant victory, an enterprife, of which the injuftice, perfidy, and extravagance, had fixed the attention of the world, and which was peculiarly directed against fome of the most valuable intercfts of the British empire, has, in the first inftance, been turned to the confufion of its authors; and the blow thus given to the power and influence of France has afforded an opening which, if improved by fuitable exertions on the part of other powers, may lead to the general deliverance of Europe.

The wisdom and magnanimity fo eminently displayed at this conjuncture by the emperor of Ruflia, and the decifion and vigour of the Ottoman Porte, have fhown that thefe powers are imprefied with a juft fenfe of the prefent crifis; and their example, joined to the dif. pofition manifefted almoft univerfally in the different countries ftruggling under the yoke of France,

must be a powerful encouragement to other ftates to adopt that vigorous line of conduct which expe rience has proved to be alone confiftent with fecurity or honour.

The extent of our preparations at home, and the demonftrations of. zeal and fpirit among all ranks of my fubjects, have deterred the enemy from attempting to execute their vain threat of invading the coafts of this kingdom.

In Ireland, the rebellion which they had inftigated has been curbed and repreffed; the troops which they landed for its fupport have been compelled to furrender; and the armaments fince destined for the fame purpofe have, by the vigilance and activity of my fquadrons, been captured or difperfed. The views and principles of those who, in concert with our inveterate enemy, have long planned the fubverfion of our conftitution, have been fully detected and expofed, and their treafons made manifeft to the world. Those whom they had mifled or feduced muft now be awakened to their duty; and a juft fenfe of the miferies and horrors which thefe traitorous defigns have produced, muft imprefs on the minds of all my faithful fubjects the necellity of continuing to repel with firmnefs every attack on the laws and eftablished government of their country.

Gentlemen of the house of

The fituation in which we are placed unhappily renders the continuance of heavy expenfes indifpenfable for the public fatety. Bit the ftate of our refources, and the good fenfe and public fpirit which prevail through every part of my kingdom, will, I trust, enable you to provide the neceflary fupplies without effential inconvenience to my people, and with as little addition as poffible to the permanent burdens of the ftate. The progrefs made towards fuch a fyftem by the measures adopted in the laft feffion, and the aid given to public credit by the plan for the redemption of the land-tax, have been attended with the most beneficial effect, which you will, I am perfuaded, omit no opportunity to confirm and improve.

My lords and gentlemen, I rely with confidence on the continuance of your exertions, to enable me ultimately to conduct the great conteft in which we are engaged to a fafe and honourable conclufion.

We have furmounted many and great difficulties. Our perfeverance in a juft caufe has been rewarded with diftinguished fuccefs; and our prefent firuation, compared with that of other countries, fufficiently proves how much, in a period of general danger and calamity, the fecurity and happinefs of the Britifh nation have depended (under the bleffing of Providence) on its own conftancy, its energy, and its vitae.

The following Circular Letter has been addreffed to the Lord Lieutenants of all the Maritime Counties of the Kingdom.

Parliament-Street, 1798.

MY LORD, In conformity to the difpofitions of the act juft paffed, intituled,

"An Act to enable his Majefty more effectually to provide for the Defence and Security of the Realm; and for inde nifying Perfons who may fufer in their Property by fuch Meafures as may be neceffary for that Purpofe;" I fee myflt cailed upon, in obedience to his majesty's commands, to addrefs your lordfhip upon feveral points connected with the defence of the country; and to which, from a conviction of their importance; I moft anxiously request your lordfhip's particular attention.

Having lately had frequent occafion to require your lordship's affiftance in the execution of plans and arrangements adopted and acted upon by his majetty's government, as conducive to the fame object, it would have been a fatisfaction to me if I could have avoided giving you further trouble for the prefent; but further exertions being deemed neceffary, I am convinced I fhould not do juffice to your lordhip's fentiments, and to the zeal of every defeription of perfons acting under you, if I hesitated a moment to explain the full extent of thofe exertions, and the fuggettions which have occurred for carrying them into effect.

Whatever confidence I place in the actual fecurity of thefe kingdoms, in confequence of the decided fuperiority of our navy, and of the amount of the land forces already embodied, or now collecting, for the protection of the country against the menaced invafion of the enemy, I fould not feel that I difcharged my duty, if our fyitem of defence did not embrace fuch fur. ther means of fecurity as appear to be evidently within our reach.

In the practical application of this principle, I am convinced that your lord hip, and generall, every perfon, muft concur in opinion (04)

with