Chapter I: A Mysterious Visitor

It is now some years since Mr. Froude invested with new interest the Romance of Rebellion. Perhaps the most curious of the episodes disclosed by him is that where, after describing the plans and organisation of the United Irishmen, he proceeds to notice a sensational case of betrayal.[4]

An instance has now to be related [he writes] remarkable for the
ingenious perfidy with which it was attended, for the mystery which
still attaches to the principal performer, and for his connection
with the fortunes and fate of Lord Edward Fitzgerald.

Lord Edward's movements had for some time been observed with
anxiety, as much from general uneasiness as from regret that a
brother of the Duke of Leinster should be connecting himself with
conspiracy and treason. His proceedings in Paris in 1792 had cost
him his commission in the army. In the Irish Parliament he had
been undistinguished by talent, but conspicuous for the violence
of his language. His meeting with Hoche on the Swiss frontier was
a secret known only to a very few persons; Hoche himself had not
revealed it even to Tone; but Lord Edward was known to be intimate
with McNevin. He had been watched in London, and had been traced
to the lodgings of a suspected agent of the French Directory;
and among other papers which had been forwarded by spies to the
Government, there was one in French, containing an allusion to
some female friend of Lady Edward, through whom a correspondence
was maintained between Ireland and Paris. Lady Edward's house
at Hamburg was notoriously the resort of Irish refugees. Lord
Edward himself was frequently there, and the Government suspected,
though they were unable to prove, that he was seriously committed
with the United Irishmen. One night, early in October, 1797,[5] a
person came to the house of Lord Downshire in London, and desired
to see him immediately. Lord Downshire went into the hall and
found a man muffled in a cloak, with a hat slouched over his face,
who requested a private interview. The Duke (_sic_) took him into
his Library, and when he threw off his disguise recognised in his
visitor the son of a gentleman of good fortune in the North of
Ireland, with whom he was slightly acquainted. Lord Downshire's
'friend' (the title under which he was always subsequently
described) had been a member of the Ulster Revolutionary Committee.
From his acquaintance with the details of what had taken place it
may be inferred that he had accompanied the Northern delegacy to
Dublin and had been present at the discussion of the propriety
of an immediate insurrection. The cowardice or the prudence of
the Dublin faction had disgusted him. He considered now that the
conspiracy was likely to fail, or that, if it succeeded, it would
take a form which he disapproved; and he had come over to sell
his services and his information to Pitt. In telling his story
to Lord Downshire he painted his own conduct in colours least
discreditable to himself. Like many of his friends, he had at
first, he said, wished only for a reform in parliament and a change
in the constitution. He had since taken many desperate steps and
connected himself with desperate men. He had discovered that the
object of the Papists was the ruin and destruction of the country,
and the establishment of a tyranny worse than that which was
complained of by the reformers; that proscriptions, seizures of
property, murders, and assassinations were the certain consequences
to be apprehended from their machinations; that he had determined
to separate himself from the conspiracy.[6] He was in England to
make every discovery in his power, and if Lord Downshire had not
been in London he had meant to address himself to Portland or Pitt.
He stipulated only, as usual, that he should never be called on
to appear in a court of justice to prosecute any one who might be
taken up in consequence of his discoveries.

Lord Downshire agreed to his conditions; but, as it was then late,
he desired him to return and complete his story in the morning.
He said that his life was in danger even in London. He could not
venture a second time to Lord Downshire, or run the risk of being
observed by his servants. Downshire appointed the empty residence
of a friend in the neighbourhood. Thither he went the next day in
a hackney coach. The door was left unlocked, and he entered unseen
by anyone. Lord Downshire then took down from his lips a list of
the principal members of the Executive Committee by whom the whole
movement was at that time directed. He next related at considerable
length the proceedings of the United Irishmen during the two past
years, the division of opinion, the narrow chance by which a rising
had been escaped in Dublin in the spring, and his own subsequent
adventures. He had fled with others from Belfast in the general
dispersion of the leaders. Lady Edward Fitzgerald had given him
shelter at Hamburg, and had sent him on to Paris with a letter to
her brother-in-law, General Valence.[7] By General Valence he had
been introduced to Hoche and De la Croix. He had seen Talleyrand,
and had talked at length with him on the condition of Ireland. He
had been naturally intimate with the other Irish refugees. Napper
Tandy[8] was strolling about the streets in uniform and calling
himself a major. Hamilton Rowan[9] had been pressed to return,
but preferred safety in America, and professed himself _sick of
politics_. After this, 'the person'--as Lord Downshire called his
visitor, keeping even the Cabinet in ignorance of his name--came to
the immediate object of his visit to England.

He had discovered that all important negotiations between the
Revolutionary Committee in Dublin and their Paris agents passed
through Lady Edward's hands. The Paris letters were transmitted
first to her at Hamburg. By her they were forwarded to Lady Lucy
Fitzgerald[10] in London. From London Lady Lucy was able to send
them on unsuspected. Being himself implicitly trusted, both by Lady
Edward and by Lady Lucy, he believed he could give the Government
information which would enable them to detect and examine these
letters in their transit through the post.

Pitt was out of town. He returned, however, in a few days.
Downshire immediately saw him, and Pitt consented that 'the
person's' services should be accepted. There was some little delay.
'The person' took alarm, disappeared, and they supposed that they
had lost him. Three weeks later, however, he wrote to Downshire
from Hamburg, saying that he had returned to his old quarters,
for fear he might be falling into a trap. It was fortunate, he
added, that he had done so, for a letter was on the point of going
over from Barclay Teeling[11] to Arthur O'Connor,[12] and he gave
Downshire directions which would enable him to intercept, read, and
send it on.

Such an evidence of 'the person's' power and will to be useful made
Pitt extremely anxious to secure his permanent help. An arrangement
was concluded. He continued at Hamburg as Lady Edward's guest and
most trusted friend, saw everyone who came to her house, kept watch
over her letter-bag, was admitted to close and secret conversations
upon the prospect of French interference in Ireland with Reinhard,
the Minister of the Directory there, and he regularly kept Lord
Downshire informed of everything which would enable Pitt to watch
the conspiracy. One of his letters, dated November 19, 1797, is
preserved:--

'A. Lowry writes from Paris, August 11, in great despondency on
account of Hoche's death, and says that all hopes of invading
Ireland were given over.

'I then saw Reinhard, the French Minister, who begged me to stay
here, as the only mode in which I could serve my country and the
Republic. I instantly acquiesced, and told him I had arranged
matters with Lord Edward Fitzgerald in London for that purpose. I
showed him Lowry's[13] letter. He said that things were changed.
Buonaparte would not listen to the idea of peace, and had some plan
which I do not know. I told him the spirit of republicanism was
losing ground in Ireland, for the Catholics and Protestants could
not be brought to unite. I mentioned then what Fitzgerald told me
in London, viz., that after I left Ireland they had thoughts of
bringing matters to a crisis without the French. Arthur O'Connor
was to have had a command in the North, he himself in Leinster,
Robert Simms[14] at Belfast; that the Catholics got jealous
of this, and Richard McCormick,[15] of Dublin, went among the
societies of United Men and denounced the three as traitors to the
cause, and dangerous on account of their ambition. All letters to
or from Lady Lucy Fitzgerald ought to be inspected.

'She, Mrs. Matthieson, of this place, and Pamela[16] carry on a
correspondence. Lewins, Teeling, Tennant, Lowry, Orr, and Colonel
Tandy are at Paris. Tone expects to stay the winter there, which
does not look like invasion. Oliver Bond is treasurer. He pays
Lewins and McNevin in London. Now for myself. In order to carry
into effect the scheme which you and Mr. Pitt had planned, it was
requisite for me to see my countrymen. I called on Maitland,[17]
where I found A. J. Stuart,[18] of Acton, both of them heartily
_sick of politics_. Edward Fitzgerald had been inquiring of them
for me. I went to Harley Street, where Fitz told me of the conduct
of the Catholics to him and his friends. He said he would prevail
on O'Connor, or some such, to go to Paris. If not, he would go
himself in order to have Lewins removed. Mrs. Matthieson[19] has
just heard from Lady Lucy that O'Connor is to come. I supped last
night with Valence, who mentioned his having introduced Lord Edward
and O'Connor to the Minister here in the summer, before the French
attempted to invade Ireland. They both went to Switzerland, whence
O'Connor passed into France, had an interview with Hoche, and
everything was planned.[20]

'I feared lest Government might not choose to ratify our contract,
and, being in their power, would give me my choice either to come
forward as an evidence or suffer martyrdom myself. Having no taste
for an exit of this sort, I set out and arrived here safe, and now
beg you'll let me know if anything was wrong in my statements, or
if I have given offence. If you approve my present mode of life,
and encourage me so to do, with all deference I think Mr. Pitt may
let me have a cool five hundred,[21] which shall last me for six
months to come. To get the information here has cost me three times
the sum, and to keep up the acquaintance and connections I have
here, so as to get information, I cannot live on less.'[22]

The betrayer, before his interview with Downshire closed, supplied him with a list of the Executive Committee of United Irishmen. This list, duly given by Mr. Froude, includes--

Jackson and his son; Oliver Bond; John Chambers; James Dickson;
Casey, a red-faced Dublin priest; Thomas Addis Emmet; Dr. McNevin,
a physician who had great weight with the papists;[23] Braughall,
John Keogh and R. McCormick, who belonged to the committee, though
they did not attend; Samuel Turner; Lord Edward Fitzgerald;
Arthur O'Connor; Alexander Stewart; two Orrs, one an attorney and
a dangerous person, the other of Derry, described as a clever,
sensible, strong-minded man; B. Teeling; Tenants, of Belfast;
Agnew, of Larne; Lawless, Lord Cloncurry's son; Hamill, of Dominick
Street[24]; Inishry,[25] a priest, a canting, designing man, who
swore in Lord Edward Fitzgerald and Lawless.[26]

Lord Downshire, who negotiated in this affair, had weight with Pitt. The husband of an English peeress, and the son of Lord North's Secretary of State, he was a familiar figure at Court. He had sat for two English constituencies; and in the Irish Parliament as senator, borough proprietor, governor of his county, and one of the Privy Council, he wielded potent sway. His later history and fall belong to chapter ix.

FOOTNOTES:

[4] _The English in Ireland_ (Nov. 1797), iii. 278.

[5] It was October 8, 1797.

[6] But it will appear that he continued to the end to play the part of a flaming patriot.

[7] Cyrus Marie Valence, Count de Timbrune, born 1757, died 1822. His exploits as a general officer are largely commemorated in the memoirs of his friend, Dumouriez. After having been severely wounded, he resided for some time in London; but was expelled by order of Pitt on June 6, 1793. He then took up his residence in a retired outlet of Hamburg, which our spy soon penetrated; and he at last wormed himself into the confidence of Valence. The General afterwards resumed active military service, and fought with distinction in Spain and Russia.--Vide _Discours du Comte de Ségur à l'occasion des Obsèques de M. Valence_; _Souvenirs de Madame Genlis, &c._; Alison's _Hist. Europe, 1789-1815_, x. 189.

[8] The strange career of Tandy--who was made a general by Bonaparte--is traced in chapter viii. _infra._

[9] Some notice of Hamilton Rowan's adventurous courses will be found in chapter xv. _infra._

[10] Lady Lucy Fitzgerald, sister of Lord Edward, married in 1802 Admiral Sir Thos. Foley, K.C.B., died 1851.

[11] Bartholomew Teeling was his correct name. In 1798 he was hanged in Dublin.

[12] Arthur O'Connor, nephew and heir of Lord Longueville, sat in Parliament for Philipstown, and spoke so ably on Indian affairs that Pitt is said to have offered him office. In November 1796 he joined the United Irishmen, and from that date his life is one of much activity and vicissitude. Excitement and worry failed to shorten it. He became a general in the French service, and died, aged eighty-eight, April 25, '52.

[13] Alexander Lowry was the treasurer for Down. Tone describes Lowry and Tennant as 'a couple of fine lads, whom I like extremely.'--_Life_, ii. 433. Aug. 1797. Their youth and ingenuousness would make them easy prey.

[14] Robert Simms had been appointed to the chief command of the United Irishmen of Antrim; but he is said to have wanted nerve. James Hope, in a narrative he gave Dr. Madden, said that Hughes, the Belfast informer, once proposed to him to get rid of Simms by assassination. Hope pulled a pistol from his breast and told Hughes that if ever he repeated that proposal he would shoot him.

[15] Richard McCormick, originally secretary of the Catholic Committee, and afterwards an active 'United Irishman,' and styled by Tone, in his _Diary_, 'Magog.'

[16] The wife of Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Moore's _Life of Lord Edward Fitzgerald_ says that she was the daughter of Mde. de Genlis by Philippe Egalité, Duke of Orleans; but a letter appears in Moore's _Memoirs_ from King Louis Philippe denying it, and Mde. de Genlis calls her a child by adoption. Pamela was a person of surpassing beauty; her portrait arrests attention in the gallery of Versailles. R. B. Sheridan proposed for her, but she rejected him in favour of Lord Edward. Died 1831; her remains were followed to Père la Chaise by Talleyrand.

[17] The allusion may be to Captain Maitland--afterwards General Sir Thomas Maitland, Governor of Ceylon, a son of Lord Lauderdale. He was in Parliament from 1774 to 1779, and from 1790 to 1796, when he sat for the last time in the House--a circumstance which may, perhaps, explain the remark that he was sick of politics. Died 1824. In 1800 he was Colonel Maitland, and in the confidence of Lord Cornwallis.

[18] Who Stuart was, see p. 36 _infra_; also Lord Cloncurry's _Memoirs_, p. 63.

[19] Madame de Genlis states in her memoirs that her niece, Henriette de Sercey, married M. Matthiessen, a rich banker of Hamburg. The General Count Valence married a daughter of Madame de Genlis, and resided near Hamburg on a farm where the latter wrote several of her works.

[20] The expedition of Hoche to Bantry Bay in December, 1796.

[21] 'I just made a couple of betts with him, and took up a _cool_ hundred.'--_The Provoked Husband_, by Vanbrugh and Cibber, ii. i. 311, ed. 1730. See also Smollett's _Don Quixote_, bk. iii. c. viii.

[22] Froude, iii. 277 _et seq._

[23] Alexander Knox, in his _History of Down_, errs in saying (p. 26) that 'Dr. McNevin was an influential member of the Established Church.'

[24] All these men, unless Hamill and Inishry, are to be found in books which treat of 1798. The first is noticed in the _Dublin Penny Journal_, March 1, 1834 (p. 274). In 1797 Mr. Hamill was indicted for defenderism and acquitted, 'and the witnesses for the Crown were so flagrantly perjured that the judge, I have heard, ordered a prosecution' (Speech of Henry Grattan in Parliament, May 13, 1805--_Hansard_, ii. 925).

[25] As regards 'Inishry,' no such cognomen is to be found in the pedigrees of MacFirbis or O'Clery, or any name to which it might be traced. The name that the spy gave was probably Hennessy--which Downshire, in writing from dictation, may have mistaken for 'Inishry.'

[26] Long before the publication of Mr. Froude's book, Arthur O'Connor, in a letter to Dr. Madden, states that 'Lord Edward took no oath on joining the United Irishmen.'--Vide their _Lives and Times_, ii. 393.