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I fhall now conclude this prefatory epiftle, with fome apology for the manner in which the narrative is written and carried on. As I am stinted to a very short time to write it in tolerable order from my minutes arranged very diforderly, it is impoffible that it fhould be written fo terfe as fome of my productions in the Hibernian Magazines for 1797 and 1798. Nay great diffimilarity of ftyle must appear between fome paffages and others; just as my memory or imagination happened to be affected in the speed of fcribbling

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fon, to say nothing of the greatness of the debt! Your fame is hitherte only recorded by the perishing breath of your fellow-foldiers. It will be asked, “Why did pot General Johnson make mention of him in his reports?" It must certainly be imputed to the unavoidable hurry and fatigue with which the general was harraffed at the time of writing: For I am perfuaded that no man holds the fervices of my friend in higher or more grateful esteem. Of this Mr. M' Cormick himself affured me that he 18, from the bottom of his foul, very fenfible. But then, fome will ask, Why did not the general report him afterwards?" To this I am happy in being able to give a full and fatisfactory anfwer. Mr. Mc Cormick, who, till a few days after the battle, had, for many years been a Methodift, in connexion with the fociety of that name, formed by the late Rev. Mr. Wefley-now joined in social worship, though not in membership, with our venerable friends, the people called Quakers, whose principles are declaratively fo averse to war, on any occafion whatever, that could Mr. M' Cormick be fuppofed to have joined in membership with them, he must alfo be supposed (confiftently) to be a penitent for his late gallantry! No people could betray more evident fymptoms of chagrin, than the general's troops on this occafion. And there were not wanting fome to infinuate, that this latter part of my friend's conduct proceeded from indignation at his name not appearing in the general's report. I faid as much to Mr. M' Cormick myself; at which he first smiled, and then regarding me with a dry fharp look, laughed heartily. "What James!" fays he "Can you think "that if another army of those rebellious rafcals were to attack us, that Ì should stand neuter! No, my friend! I should face them as refolutely as ever. Aye! and conduct myself with equal activity in rallying and charging the troops, efpecially if our brave General Johnson were the "commander."

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fcribbling away. As I exprefs myfelf in the firft perfon, and relate fome matters to which I have been eye-witness, it will eafily be perceived, that whatever my fecret motives may be, a proud and oftentatious one is very vifible. This I am fo far from denying, that I shall now analyze the principle. 1. I addrefs myself to a gentleman, whom I glory to call in this public manner, "my Brother!" for his gallantry in the battle of Monaftereven, and for his general courfe of loyalty; which, if the account of rebels themselves, in fuch a particular, can be trufted to, was never contaminated with inhumanity. If any other apology on this head were neceffary, I can with truth affert, that the narrative was originally defigned for his ufe, and that of his circle of friends only. 2. I am heartily proud and oftentatious of the friendship of the great General Johnson, of which I have had honourable testimonies: one was his perfonal interference to preserve my life, and another, a letter of his in approbation of my conduct, of which letter I fhall introduce a copy. And where, I ask, where is the loyalift fo mean fpirited as not to be both proud and oftentatious of fuch circumftances? circumftances of which whole counties might be juftly proud. May I never act unworthy of fuch diftinguished friendship! 3. My last motive and not a feeble one, in publishing my narrative by your means, is, the refpect I feel for you, as a loyal man, of which I think the last edition of your Narrative of the late Irish Rebellion fpeaks clearly.

I am,

Sir,

Your fincere friend,

JAMES ALEXANDER,

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YOU have long and earnestly defired I would give you fome account of our late battle, in which I shall gratify you, after giving you the trouble of reading a long narrative of another kind i. e. of the rife and progrefs of the rebellion, which you seem to require alfo, as if the whole of it were confined to this unfortunate county. Be affured, that many perfons lately concerned here, especially in the battles, are from all quarters of the Kingdom, and various parts of each; and not a few from the very county and neighbourhood wherein you live. It is true, that the counties which have been made the chief theatres of open rebellion, have been most contaminated with the abominable principles which have given it birth; and there those principles have been difplayed in their most palpably diabolical colours and effects. Of your gallant conduct at the battle of Monaftereven I have

Our native Village.

been

been fully informed by fome rebel prifoners who were tranfmitted thence, by various ftages, to this town, for the purpose of transportation. I asked them how they could praife an enemy? To which a man of the name of Dowling anfwered, "Sir, we were only enemies while fuch as I am were rebels, especially in battle,-no sturdier! But his great heart could not fee an enemy in a conquered man and a prifoner." Believe me, this rebel's character of you to a perfon whom he did not know, has endeared you to me more than your being born of our justly esteemed parents. Let no man diffuade you from fhewing kindness even to the rebel prifoner, as far as may be confiftent with juftice to your country. Humanity is the proverbial characteristic of a brave man: but, transgreffing the bounds of patriotism, mercy to the guilty, is cruelty to the innocent.

Out of regard to the convenience of our friends who shall peruse these narratives, I must addrefs you in very unusual form. Now for it!

SECTION I.

Of the Rebellion in an adjoining part of the King's County and that of Kildare.

THE late rebellion has been much longer fetting on foot in this kingdom than very many people are aware of. I perceived ftrong fymptoms of it when I was laft in Harristown. On my arrival there (January 17th, 1793) I met with the most affectionate reception from the peafantry, and from fome expreffions of difaffection which I heard amongst them, I was curious enough to work my way into fome of their convivial meetings, in order to feel their political pulses; which I was fometimes enabled to do, on the strength of their good-natured attachment to me, until they began to per

ceive

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