ings which were in reality only secondary, both in spirit and tendency.

Amongst those who always continued under the influence of this conviction was myself. So powerfully did it guide me in those times, that I could never feel sufficiently interested in the immediate proceedings of the Agitators as to take any conspicuous part at their public meetings. My backwardness did not arise from feeling any diffidence in what is termed "coming forward;" for although I cannot boast of that control over my blushing dispositions which some of my eloquent companions in arms so powerfully display, still I at all times felt that I could muster as much courage as would enable me to stand up before assembled thousands, and with an expressive intimation, conveyed through the medium of a certain wave of the hand, tell them, like Brutus

"Be silent that ye may hear."

I was, however, resolved to be silent, because I did not wish that my warmth should be artificial-when the rays of the sun could not reach me, I rejected the drowsy heat of the stove, and I stood by, a silent but not an idle member of the great band of Agitators. I always avoided, as much as politeness could sanction, an acquaintance with the more remarkable individuals of the body, from a feeling that it was necessary for the preservation of my taciturnity. An intimacy would have rendered me liable to be called on for some service, which would put an end to my plans for ever, as all who were in any way conspicuous were amenable to a species of conscription, which comprehended a variety of gratuitous performances in aid of the great cause of civil and religious liberty. I always took my place at a very respectful distance from the orators, lest some evil eye amongst them might remark my frequent presence, and concluding that I was either a spy or irreclaimably stupid, make up for the dullness of his oration by some witty allusion to my eternal taciturnity-like the Frenchman, who said, when he had failed in several attemps to draw a surly John Bull into a colloquy, "cet gentilhomme avait un grand talent pour silence."

It would be useless to deny, however, that the displays I heard from others often inspired me to emulate their example and success; but prudence withheld me from the contemplated debut. I could not trust myself to speak upon topics which engaged so much of my feelings. I knew that if I addressed my assembled countrymen upon their wrongs, I could not have confined my sentences within the circle prescribed by the word of the law-that I felt too indignantly to measure my phraseology by the standard of necessity, and that I would only make myself remarkable by the violence of my sentiments, with out rendering them serviceable to the cause in which they were uttered. I remember the effect which the first resolution I ever wrote had upon the auditory to whom it was proposed. I was always averse to lengthy declarations, emanating from popular conventions; brevity is the soul of wit, and it likewise gives a spirit to the records of public determination, which impresses those upon whose fears they are intended to act with a certain intimation which is not always disregarded. The American declaration of independence I always esteemed to be the

most dignified and elegant composition which had ever emanated from: men who were contending with oppression. In the space of a rew sentences they set forth their wrongs, and pledged their lives, fortunes, and their sacred honour, never to lay down their arms until they were redressed. Never was the word of man so solemnly engaged, or so triumpantly redeemed.

I was at a parochial meeting, where some of the distinguished speakers were expected to attend. The chapel where it was held was situated in a remote quarter of the metropolis, where much of the commercial wealth of the excluded lay. The platform was crowded with the respectable (I use the word in contradistinction to fashionable) portion of the surrounding community, and a prominent seat was reserved for the eloquent gentlemen who were to honour the meeting with their presence. The hour of convocation arrived, but still they were not forthcoming; and, after some conversation amongst the local leaders, a venerable looking man was called to the president's chair. The applause which followed his investment of the temporary dignity soon proved to me that he was not unknown to the vast multitude which filled every corner of the edifice. He was the ruins of what had been in youth a commanding figure, and although time had deprived his carriage of some of its wonted erectness, still his manly frame retained much of its outline still unimpaired by the innovator's touch. Before he sat down he returned his acknowledgments for the compliment, and with the pride of a patriot he made an allusion to the year 1782, when he was one of the volunteers, the first national guard which assembled in Europe. As the proceedings of the meeting were greatly to depend upon the discretion of the visitors, the local committee who had arranged the preliminaries, were not provided with the usual resolutions. I saw that there was a hasty distribution of the different parts which were to be performed, and that in the absence of the stars the minors were put forward to sustain them. There were plenty of men at hand to fill up the vacancies, but the materiel for debate was rather scanty. While some were busy at the secretary's table inditing hasty resolutions, I made my way amongst them, and, seizing upon an idle pen, I endeavoured to frame one. It was not long in preparation, and when I had finished it, I offered it to an officious little man, who, from his air, I imagined intended to participate in the ensuing debate. It was just in time, for he had been nominated to open the proceedings, and was enlisting the secretary's aid to furnish him with one while he was speaking the exordium which was to precede its proposition. He had just stepped to the front of the platform, and was in the act of turning to address the chairman, when I placed the document in his hand. He opened it and raised it to his eyes, then casting a glance of approval at me, in which there was more acknowledgment than I expected, he commenced to speak. "Mr. Chairman," said he, "a resolution has been handed to me"-here he withdrew his eyes from the president, and conspicuously turned them full upon me" by my young friend on your right, and I feel proud in being selected as the person who is to present it for your adoption." I was wishing myself squeezed in the throng of the galleries, wedged amongst the compressed mass which filled the nave

have remained for ever under the influence of the ey are in the habit of hearing from their prejuinless beaux.

of the public occurrences which took place in my one period which I think is entitled to some nopect to its origin and the fatal consequences which the recruiting scheme, which was perfected by the Devereux, for the service of the Venezuelan Re1819. The disposition of the Irish people is said ne to war-the very games of the peasantry have a and the facility with which they can be turned ves the truth of the assertion. During the rigorous al laws all the military spirits among the Catholics service of the Continental crowns, and during the hunthe green banner of the Irish Brigade waved in the it rallied around it the younger scions of the Irish ere excluded from all professional employment at home. valve was opened to prevent the explosion of dotent. Elder sons of ancient families remained crouchir demesne walls, contented if they were left in the poseir diminished estates, and in this state of society not some to the ascendency which kept them in awe. The lution came, and the Irish Brigade was disbanded. The ice was subsequently opened to Irish valor, but rank could cured by purchase, like any mercantile commodity, and ain of our martial youths was suddenly stopped. The peace so contributed to increase the number of young men, whose were decidedly military, without having much prospects ing them; and when a fancy for the "trade of war" once a characteristic, all causes are nearly alike to the heroic canr laurels, and sooner than remain in peaceful inactivity at e will carry the banner of an Ali Pacha. It may easily be d that the augmentation of such spirits amongst the disconCatholics of Ireland was not regarded by an anti-Catholic Cavithout apprehension, and that its best efforts would be given scheme which would operate to draw them away. Those who willing to fight for foreigners abroad, it was supposed, would rebut little provocation to array themselves into hostility against the rnment at home.

neral Devereux came to Ireland for the professed purpose of raising gion in aid of the liberating army of Columbia, then commanded by illustrious Bolivar. The cause was one in which the Irish mind lently sympathised. An old tyranny was to be prostrated, and all e young and brave of our country rushed to enrol themselves in e service. The recruiting was carried on in the most open manner. very piece of waste ground surrounding the metropolis was the scene or their daily parade, and the notes of the bugle, instructing the recruits in the musical signals of the light infantry system, were never mute. The General held levees, surrounded by his officers, who were clad in the most attractive uniforms, and all the pride, pomp, and circumstance of war, was displayed, to enlist the enthusiastic aspirant for military fame. The ascendency party viewed the spectacl

aye, even excluded with those who were contented to listen outsideany where but within the reach of the speaker's observations. I hung down my head, and felt as if his words had drawn all the eyes of the assembly upon me, and so confused was I by his unexpected reference to myself, that whether he continued to pronounce any further eulogium upon my authorship, connected with the resolution, I was never able to determine. When I had recovered sufficient resolution to listen to the sound of his voice, I heard him reading my luckless composition, which ran thus:

"That the disqualifying laws which still afflict the Roman Catholics are at variance with the spirit of freedom which is the birth-right of man; and that we now solemnly pledge ourselves, collectively and individually, never to relinquish our hostility to those who uphold them, until we have accomplished their total and unqualified subversion."

There was a vigour in the conclusion of the sentence which seemed to please the audience to a great degree; and plaudits loud and long rang through the audience, amidst the echoes of which I contrived to emerge into the crowd behind me, and was soon beyond the reach of the speaker's further notice.

In my labours, as a Silent Agitator, I soon felt the great detriment which affected the national cause, in the want of a spirited nationa! periodical, there were so many subjects which would furnish forth materials, and, from their nature, were only suited to appear in such publications. Principles which required to be advocated in a calm and philosophical manner, could not be condensed into the short space which a newspaper can afford, and even if the entire of its columns were open to such compositions, the short season a journal has to live until its reign is terminated by the appearance of its succeeding number, would not allow that time which the reader requires for a profitable perusal. A monthly publication on the other hand can spare all the space which is required for discussion, and its season is uninterrupted by any rivalship with its successor for thirty-one days.

The deliberation with which the periodical publications are written causes their sentiments to insinuate themselves into the memory of the reader; while the dispassionate style in which they are invested, renders him unsuspicious of the partizanship of the author. In the absence of an Irish periodical, recourse must be had to the English and Scotch publications; but it would be unreasonable to expect that they should give insertion to articles which arraigned the policy of the government in its treatment of Ireland; their very fidelity to Ireland would disentitle them to any favour from British establishments.— Many national periodicals rose and fell in Ireland during my early career, but I was seldom able to make use of them for the publication of my lucubrations. They were generally either opposed to liberty, or, if favourable to her cause, too much under the influence of “ intellectual cowardice," to involve themselves with my productions. However, I often contrived to cheat them into compliance, by infusing my principles into articles which seemed to belong to other departments of the Belles Lettres, and, under the mask of a drawing-room task, I often gained admission to the coteries of the aristocracy, with the amiable intent to

"Brain them with their ladies' fans."

Many gentle Agitators are thus brought from the ranks of the enemy,