at the town of W, where terminated the district under the General's command. But a short time previous to his leaving his native town, he had privately received information of a conspiracy, of a nature calculated to endanger the peace and safety of the country, which he had every reason to believe was actually at the present moment in a state of rebellion. His authority was unquestionable, and supported by facts of a most convincing kind, that ere tomorrow's sun the Irish peasants would be in arms, and to an incalculable amount: under such fearful tidings he had therefore conceived it incumbent upon him to lose no time in the communication of it,—thence hoping that, by the adoption of timely measures, the insurrection might be quelled, and consequently the blood of those ill-judged, desperate people spared.
Giving due and deep attention to what he heard, the General expressed amazement that the rebels had so well concerted their plans, that, like a mine ready to explode, the insurrection had been kept buried in silence and secrecy until the favourable moment had arrived,—or, like hidden embers, smothered, yet gathering strength till ready, as appeared the rebellious spirit at present, to burst into open flame.
