HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.  219

-  Hitherfo  the  Iri(h  government  leemed  to  have  pro-
ceeded on  a  fyftem,  not  deiicient  iii  vigour,  but  it  was
a  vigour  ill-direfted,  and  little  calculated  to  enfure  the
great  obj^dls,  fafety  and  fuccefs.  Individuals  had  been
punifhed,  and  many  pcifons  had  fuffered  both  in  their
property  and  in  theif  perfons ;  but  they  were  indivi-
duals of  no  rank  or  confequewce,  and  probably  not  ia
the  fecret  of  the  plot.  The  great  autliors  and  defign^
ers  of  the  mifchtcf,  (till  reiwained  untouched,  the  union
undiflblved;  the  rebel  diret^ory  ftill  repofcd  in  peace,
ifluing  their  mandate$  in  fecret  f<curity— '*  They  rode
in  the  whirlwind,  and  diretSed  the  ftorni."

It  has  been  already  related,  that  Arthur  O'Connor,
a  diftinguifhed  fupporter  of  Earl  Fitzwilliara's  adaiiui-
Arat'ton  in  the  Irifli  parliatnent,  foon  after  the  abrupt
recal  of  that  nobleman,  became  an  ad:ive  member  of
the  fociety  of  United  Iriflunen.  The  fplendid  talents
of  Mr.  O'Connor,  were  a  fcrious  acceflion  to  the  caufe
of  the  united  men,  and  his  courage  was  equal  to  his
other  talents.
