FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92  
93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   >>   >|  
firmly, "never! I alone, of all my countrymen, maintained, that to leave the people here at such a crisis was unfair and unmanly. I alone believed in the representations that were made of extended organization, of high hopes, and ardent expectations. I accepted the command of their army. Their army! what a mockery! When others accepted the amnesty, I refused, and lived in concealment, my life hanging upon the chance of being captured. For fourteen months I have wandered from county to county, endeavoring to rally the spirit I had been taught to think only needed restraint to hold back its impetuous daring. I have spent money largely, for it was largely placed at my disposal; I have distributed places and promises; I have accepted every post where danger offered; and in return, I hoped that the hour was approaching when we should test the courage of our enemies by such an outbreak as would astonish Europe. And what think you has all ended in? But my cheek burns at the very thought! An intended attack on the Government Members of Parliament,--an act of base assassination,--a cowardly murder! And for what, too?--to prevent a political union with England I Have they forgotten that our cause was total rupture! independence! open enmity with England! But, c'est fini, I have given them my last resolve. Yesterday evening I told the delegates the only chance that, in my opinion, existed of their successfully asserting their own independence. I gave them the letters of French officers, high in command and station, concurring with my own views; and I have pledged myself to wait one month longer,--if they deem my plans worthy of acceptance,--to consider all the details, and arrange the mode of proceeding. If they refuse, then I leave Ireland forever within a week. In America, the cause I glory in is still triumphant; and there, no prestige of failure shall follow me to damp my own efforts, nor discourage the high hopes of such as trust me. But you, my poor boy,--and how have I forgotten you in all this sad history I--I will not suffer you to be misled by false representations and flattering offers. It may be the only consolation I shall carry with me from this land of anarchy and misfortune. But even that is something,--if I rescue one untried and uncorrupted heart from the misery of such associates. You shall be a soldier,--be my companion here while I stay. I 'll arrange everything for your comfort; we 'll read and talk together; a
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92  
93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

accepted

 

arrange

 

county

 
chance
 
largely
 

England

 
independence
 

representations

 

command

 

forgotten


forever
 

Ireland

 

worthy

 

acceptance

 

refuse

 
details
 

proceeding

 

letters

 

existed

 
opinion

successfully

 
asserting
 

delegates

 

resolve

 

Yesterday

 

evening

 

French

 
longer
 

pledged

 

officers


station

 

concurring

 

discourage

 

rescue

 

untried

 

uncorrupted

 

misfortune

 

anarchy

 

consolation

 

misery


comfort

 

associates

 

soldier

 

companion

 

offers

 

flattering

 
failure
 

prestige

 

follow

 

efforts