nition of his services. But he was bitterly disappointed, and more than ever inclined to look for the accomplishment of his plans to the co-operation of France.
Hitherto, notwithstanding his position as founder of the United Irish Society, he had avoided compromising himself in any openly constitutional proceedings. It was an accident that drew him within the meshes spread for him by government. Early in 1794 William Jackson (1737?-1795) [q. v.] visited Dublin with the object of procuring information for the French government relative to the position of affairs in Ireland. Hearing of Jackson's arrival from Leonard MacNally [q. v.], with whom (unsuspecting his real character) he was on intimate terms, Tone obtained an interview with Jackson and consented to draw up the memorial he wanted, tending to show that circumstances in Ireland were favourable to a French invasion. This document he handed over to Jackson, but, fearing that he had committed an indiscretion in confiding it to one who, for all he knew, might be a spy, he transferred it to MacNally, by whom it was betrayed to government. The arrest of Jackson (24 April 1794), followed by the flight of Hamilton Rowan, alarmed him so effectually that he revealed his position to a gentleman, probably Marcus Beresford, 'high in confidence with the then administration.' He admitted that it was in the power of government to ruin him, and offered, if he were allowed and could possibly effect it, to go to America. The only stipulation he made was that he should not be required to give evidence against either Rowan or Jackson. The government acceded to his terms. But the prospect which just then presented itself of a radical change in the system of administration, in consequence of the appointment of Earl Fitzwilliam, induced him to delay his departure, and it was only after the collapse of Fitzwilliam's government in March 1795 that he began seriously to prepare to leave the country. That he might not be charged with slinking away, he exhibited himself publicly in Dublin on the day of Jackson's trial, and, having deliberately completed his arrangements, he sailed, with his wife, children, and sister, on board the Cincinnatus from Belfast on 13 June, just a month after the United Irish Society had been reorganised on a professedly rebellious basis. Prior to his departure he had an interview with Emmet and Russell at Rathfarnham, in which he unfolded his projects for the future. His compact with government he regarded as extending no further than to the banks of the Delaware. Arrived in America, he was, in his opinion, perfectly free 'to begin again on a fresh score.' His intention was immediately on reaching Philadelphia to set off for Paris, 'and apply in the name of my country for the assistance of France to enable us to assert our independence.' His plan was warmly approved by Emmet and Russell, and the assent of Simms, Neilson, and Teeling having been obtained, he regarded himself as competent to speak for the catholics, the dissenters, and the defenders.
After a wearisome voyage, during which he narrowly escaped being pressed on board an English man-of-war, he and his family landed safely at Wilmington on the Delaware on 1 Aug. Proceeding at once to Philadelphia, he waited on the French minister, Adet, and at his request drew up a memorial on the state of Ireland for transmission to France. Having little expectation that the French government would pay any attention to it, but satisfied with having discharged his duty, he began to think of settling down as a farmer, and was actually in negotiation for the purchase of a small property near Princeton in New Jersey when letters reached him from Keogh, Russell, and Simms, the last with a draft for 200l., advising him of the progress Ireland was making towards republicanism, and imploring him 'to move heaven and earth to force his way to the French government in order to supplicate their assistance.' Repairing to Philadelphia, and meeting with every encouragement from Adet, who had received instructions to send him over, Tone sailed from New York on 1 Jan. 1796 on board the Jersey, and, after a rough winter passage, landed at Havre a month later. With no other credentials than a letter in cipher from Adet to the Committee of Public Safety, with only a small sum of money necessary for his own personal expenses, without a single acquaintance in France, and with hardly any knowledge of the language, Tone, alias citizen James Smith, arrived at Paris on 12 Feb. and took up his residence at the Hôtel des Etrangers in the Rue Vivienne. Within a fortnight after his arrival he had discussed the question of an invasion of Ireland with the minister of foreign affairs, De la Croix, and been admitted to an interview with Carnot. He was soon at work preparing fresh memorials on the subject. His statements as to the strength of the revolutionary party in Ireland were doubtless exaggerated, but in the main he tried to delude either himself nor the French government.
Every encouragement was given him to believe that an expedition on a considerable
