Offer, through Tone, in 1796, to send a French army to Ireland. . Missions of Lewins to France in 1795. Expedition of general Hoche, concerted with lord Edw. Fitzgerald and Arthur O'Connor, 1796. Missions of Lewins and M.Nevin, 1797

The arrest of several persons in Ireland, and the flight of others; and the memorable defeat by lord Duncan, of the fleet intended to protect the expedition fitted out from Holland, again disconcerted the projects of the conspirators. After this event the French government appears to have repeatedly urged the leaders of the Irish union to immediate însurrection; but the more cautious among them were unwilling to act, until the French should actually have landed; and their opinion for a time prevailed.

The correspondence was in the mean time continued: the projects of rebellion and invasion were ripening; and at this period the hopes of the Irish conspirators derived fresh encouragement from reports of the progress of new societies in Great Britain, formed on the same plan with themselves. A regular communication was kept up between the Irish and English committees, through ArthurO'Connor, who had come from Ireland to England early in January 1798; and in the reports transmitted by the English societies to Ireland, the force of the United Englishmen (a society which had been recently formed on the model of the united Irish, and of which a more particular account will be given hereafter) was represented to be considerable, though your committee have reason to believe, that there was much exaggeration in these reports. Arthur O'Connor, in a letter to his brother, dated London,

13th Feb. 1798, and seized in lord Edward Fitzgerald's apartments at Leinster-house, states, "that Scotland is Irish all over-that the people here give no opinion, though it is easy to learn they look for a change."

At a provincial meeting in Ireland, held on the 1st of February 1798, it was stated to the meeting, by a person just arrived from Dublin, that "the French were going on with the expedition, and that it was in a greater state of forwardness than was expected; but what was more flatering, three delegates had been sent from the United Britons to the Irish National Committee, and from that moment the Irish were to consider England, Scotland, and Ireland, all as one people, acting for one common cause." An address was at the same time produced, which, it was stated, the delegates of Britain had brought with them to the Irish National Committee. It was also stated, that the priest, O'Coigly, was one of the delegates mentioned to have been then lately returned from France; and it was added, that he, and another priest who had fled from Ireland, were the principal persons who had opened the communication with the United Britons.

At another provincial meeting, held on the 27th February 1798, it appears to have been stated, "that a delegate had arrived from France; that the French were using every endeavour to have the expedition for Ireland completed; and that the Irish delegates came home to cause the United Irish to put themselves into a state of organisation to join them, as the Directory positively. assured the Irish delegates, that the expedition would set out for Ireland the end of April or the beginning of May." It was also stated, that

there

there had been a meeting of all the delegates in England and Scotland held in London; but that their resolutions could not be obtained till the next provincial meeting to be held on the 25th of March.

The address which the delegates of United Britons were so stated, at the provincial meeting of the 1st of February 1798, to have brought with them to the Irish National Committee, your committee have inserted in the Appendix. About the same time a most seditious paper, sent from the London Corresponding Society to the Society of United Irishmen, signed J. T. Crossfield, president, Thos. Evans, secretary, dated 30th January 1798, (also inserted in the Appendix), was published in Ireland, in a paper called "The Press," and the original seized in March 1798, in consequence of the apprehension of Arthur O'Connor in England.

The priest O'Coigly, referred to in these transactions, and who has since been convicted and executed at Maidstone, was a native of Ireland, and went from that country to Cuxhaven in 1797 with another Irishman who was obliged to fly from Ireland, and passed into Holland at the time when the Dutch fleet under Admiral de Winter was about to sail, with a large body of troops, on an expedition destined against Ireland. When that fleet had sailed without the troops, O'Coigly and his companion went to Paris, where finding themselves thwarted by the jealousy of the resident envoy from the Irish union, O'Coigly returned to England about the middle of December 1797, and went to Ireland in January 1798.

Whilst in Ireland, he appears to have had interviews and correspondence with lord Edward Fitzgerald,

and others of the Irish conspirators; and he returned to England about the middle of February 1798.

Intelligence was conveyed to government of this man's designs, and particularly of his intention to pass into France, for the purpoles which afterwards appeared to be the object of his mission: he was therefore narrowly watched, and on the 28th of February 1798, he was, together with Arthur O'Con nor, John Binns, Allen, and Leary, taken into custody at Margate, in the attempt to obtain a passage to France. The particular circumstances attending these attempts are detailed in the evidence on his trial. One of the papers seized by the officers who apprehended him was an address from "the Secret Committee of England to the Executive Directory of France," set forth in the Appendix; clearly demonstrating the traitorous views of those who formed the address, and were instrumental in the attempt to transmit it to France.

It appears also to your committec, both from previous and subsequent information, that Arthur O'Connor, who had been, to the moment of leaving Ireland, one of the members of the Irish Directory, was not only going to France, in the confidence that, when there, he should be considered and received as an accredited agent, but was confidentially employed by the remaining members of that Directory, who were at that time dissatisfied with the conduct of Lewins. Further intercourse between the United Irishmen, the French Government, and the British Societies; formation of new Societies, and their proceedings.

At the meetings of the London Corresponding Society, for above

two

two years before this time, it had been avowed that the object of the society was to form a republic, by the assistance of France.-Reform in parliament, or even annual elections, or universal suffrage, were therefore no longer mentioned, Your committee have abundant reason to believe, from the information laid before them, that a person of the name of Ashley (one of the persons arrested in 1794) and who had, for a long time, been secretary to this society, was now acting as their agent at Paris, and had recently given them hopes of the succour of a French army. Meetings were held to contrive the means of procuring arms, to enable them to co-operate with a French force, in case of an invasion. The leading members of the disaffected societies were also in the habit of frequenting an occasional meeting, which was held at a cellar in Furnival's Inn, and was first formed for the purpose of reading the libellous and treasonable publication called The Press. This place gradually became the resort of all those who were engaged the most deeply in the conspiracy. It was particularly attended by Arthur O'Connor and O'Coigly, previous to their attempt to go over to France, and by the persons chiefly instrumental in carrying on correspondence with the Irish conspirators; and secret consultations were repeatedly held there, with a view to projects which were thought too dangerous and desperate to be brought forward in any of the larger societies. Among these plans was that of effecting a general insurrection, at the same moment in the metropolis, and throughout the country, and of directing it to the object of seizing or assassinating the king, the royal

family, and many of the members of both houses of parliament. An officer of some experience in his majesty's service, was selected as their military leader; and sanguine hopes were entertained that they could command a sufficient force to effect their desperate purpose, in the first instance, by surprise. But although the apprehensions that they could not as yet collect sufficient numbers to maintain and secure their advantage, appears for the time, to have deterred them from the attempt: yet the general language held among these persons, at this period, proved that they had brought themselves to the opinion that matters were nearly ripe for measure of open violence.

Attempts were at the same time made to form in London, upon the plan of the United Irishmen, the Society of United Englishmen or United Britons, before referred to and O'Coigly and John Binos appear to have been leading persons in that design. It was proposed to divide this society into four districts, including a large part of the coasts of this kingdom the most exposed to invasion: and it was also in contemplation to combine the operations of this society with those of a society of United Irishmen; of which your committee will find it necessary separately to take notice.

Most of the societies through England, which had used to correspo d with the London Corresponding Society, had also about this time adopted the same plan of forming societies of United Englishmen; and finding their communications by writing to be harzardous, they avoided, as far as possible, the keeping any papers; used cyphers, or mysterious words, in the few writings that passed between

them,

wood.

bart.

adjutant-general to his majesty's yard, of the Coldstream foot-guads, forces; lieutenant-col. Wm. Wynto be deputy adjutant-general to the Jame Mackenzie, of the 85th foot, said forces, vice Calvert. Captain in South Britain, vice Hárdyman, to be major of brigade to the forces who resigns; Capt. Allan Cameron, of the 66th foot, to be major of brigade to the said forces, vice Maxwell, who resigns.

- Garrison. Col. Cha. Craufurd, lieutenant governor of Tynmouth of the 2d dragoon-guards, to be appointed lieutenant-governor of and Clifford's fort, vice Hope, Edinburgh castle.

22. Sir John Macartney, of Lesh,

sir Herbert Mackworth.

21. Sir James Napier, kot.

PROMOTIONS in the Year 1799.

Jan. 8. Lieutenant general the hon. Charles Stuart, created a kot. of the Bath.

9. Dr. Thomas Somerville, to be one of his majesty's chaplains in ordinary in Scotland, vice Hardy, deceased.

-.

Dr. Gerald, to be one of his majesty's chaplains in ordinary in Scotland.

-. Dr. Wm. Gloag, to be his majesty's almoner in Scotland, vice Greenfield, resigned.

12. Brevet.Colonel the right hon. William lord Milsintown .of the North Linconshire militia; colonel George, earl of Buckinghamshire, of the third regiment of Lincolnshire militia-to be colonels in the army, and to take rank as such so Jong only as their respective regiments of militia shall remain embodied for actual service.

-Staff. Colonel Henry Calvert, of the Coldstream foot-guards, to be

23.General sir Wm. Fawcett, K. B. sworn of his majesty's most honourable privy council,

ton, bishop of Clonfert and KilmacRight rev. Dr. Hugh Hamil O'Beirne, now bishop of Meath; duagh, translated to Ossory, vice and the rev. Mathew Young, D.D. of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh, vice promoted to the united bishoprics Hamilton.

-.Right hon. Isaac Corry, to be chancellor of the exchequer in Ireland, vice Parnell.

--. St. George Daly, esq. to be vice Fitzgerald. his majesty's prime serjeant at law,

26. Thomas Barclay, esq. apfor the Eastern States of America. pointed his majesty's consul-general

dier-general in the island of Guernsey only.

-Captain Drigue Morgan, of the 36th foot, to be major of brigade to the forces, vice Came

ron.

Right rev. Thomas Lewis O'Beirne, bishop of Meath, sworn of his majesty's most honourable privy council.

31. Charles Fauquier, esq. to be page of honour to her majesty, vice Rooke.

Feb. 9, Charles Arbuthnot, esq. to be his majesty's consul-general in Portugal.

-. Alexander Cockburn, esq. to be his majesty's agent and consul to the circle of lower Saxony, and to the free cities of Hamburgh, Bremen, and Lubeck.

-. Staff. John Gordon, gent. to be assistant-commissary of stores and provisions in the island of Dominica.

13. Thomas Boulden Thompson, esq. captain in the royal navy, knighted.

14. Admirals of the blue, sir Chaloner Ogle, knt. right hon. Samuel viscount Hood, sir Richard Hughes, bart. John Elliott, esq. right hon. William lord Hotham, Joseph Peton, esq. John Carter Allen, esq. sir Charles Middleton, bart. sir Richard King, bart. Philip Affleck, esq. right hon. John earl of St. Vincent, K. B. right hon. Adam viscount Duncan, to be admirals of the white.-Vice admirals of the red, Richard Braithwaite, esq. Philip Cosby, esq. Samuel Cornish, esq. John Brisbane, esq. Charles Wolseley, esq. Samuel Cranston Goodall, esq. his royal highness William Henry duke of Clarence, sir Richard Onslow, bart. Robert Kingsmill, esq. sir George Bowyer, bart. sir Hyde Parker, knt. Benjamin Caldwell, esq. hon. William Cornwallis, to be admirals of the blue.-Vice-admirals of the 1799.

white, William Allen, esq. John Macbride, esq. George Vandeput, esq. Charles Buckner, esq. John Gell, esq. William Dickson, esq. sir Alan Gardner, bart. to be admirals of the blue.--Vice-admirals of the blue, Robert Linzec, esq. sir James Wallace, knt. William Peere Williams, esq. sir Thomas Pasley, bart. John Symons, esq. sir Thomas Rich, bart. sir Charles Thompson, bart. James Comming, esq. sir John Colpoys, K. B. Skeffington Lutwidge, esq. Archibald Dickson,esq. George Montagu, esq. Thomas Dumaresq, esq. right hon. George lord Keith, K. B. James Pigott, esq. hon. William Waldegrave, to be vice-admirals of the red.-Rear-admira's of the red, Thomas Mackenzie, esq. Thomas Pringle, esq. sir Roger Curtis, bart. Henry Harvey, esq. Robert Man, esq. sir William Parker, bart. Charles Holmes Everitt, Calmady, esq. John Bourmaster, esq. sir George Young, knt. John Henry, esq. Richard Rodney Bigh, esq. Alexander Græme, esq. George Keppel, esq. Samuel Reeve, esq. to be vice-admirals of the white.Rear-admirals of the white, Robert Biggs, esq. Francis Parry, esq. Isaac Prescott. esq. John Bazely, esq. Christopher Mason, esq. Thomas Spry, esq. sir John Orde, bart. William Young, esq. James Gambier, esq. Andrew Mitchell, esq. Charles Chamberlayne, esq. Peter Rainier, esq. right hon. lord Hugh Seymour, to be vice-admirals of the blue.-Rear-admirals of the blue, John Stanhope, esq. Christopher Parker, esq. Phillip Patton, esq. Charles Morice Pole, esq. John Brown, esq. John Leigh Douglas, esq. William Swiney, esq. Charles Edmund Nugent, esq.Charles Powell Hamilton, esq. Edmund Dod, esq. right hon. Horatio ford Nelson, K. B. Thomas Lenox Frederick, esq. sir George Home, bart, sir (M) Charles