Government, in the mean time, had been proceeding in the trials of those leaders of the union whom they had ap prehended. Among these were the two brothers Sheares ; I‘PCarra, the secretary to the provincial committee of Lein ster ; and Byron, delegate from Wicklow.
Soon after these events, Lord Camden, who had been viceroy during the rebellion, was recalled, and Earl Corn wallis was appointed his successor. This appointment gave great and general satisfaction : The character of few noblemen, for political honour and humanity, was higher than that of Lord Cornwallis, and his appointment seemed a pledge on the part of government, that they meant to pur sue a different system in Ireland. Ile carried with him a general pardon for all who would submit, with very few exceptions ; but his arrival could not immediately put a stop to the system which had been hitherto pursued. On the 3d of July, the pardon which Lord Cornwallis brought with him was published in the Dublin Gazette. His majesty's generals were thereby authorised to give protection to such insurgents as, being simply guilty of rebellion, should sur render their arms, abjure all unlawful engagements, and take the oath of allegiance. In order that this measure might receive the fullest authority and sanction, an act of amnesty was passed in favour of all who had been engaged in the rebellion, except the leaders—Nose who had been guilty of murder—and those who should not comply with the conditions above specified. From this amnesty were excluded Napper Tandy, and about thirty others who had fled to the continent. Afterwards the chief leaders of the rebellion were allowed to make their terms with govern ment. Seventy-three of them bound themselves to give all the information in their power respecting the transac tions of the United Irishmen, so far as it could be done without naming any individual ; to emigrate into some country agreed upon, from which they were not to pass into any other country at war with Britain, or to return to Ireland.
It is probable that the disturbances in Ireland would have been quelled much sooner than they actually were, had not the French invaded that country. The policy of the French with respect to Ireland is not easily understood. It seems as if they either should not have invaded it at all, or their invasions should have been better timed, and in much greater force. There is little doubt that, at more than one period, Ireland might have been wrested from Britain, if the French had landed with 15,000 or 20,000 men, and a large supply of arms. The Irish in
surgents fought well ; they wanted principally officers and arms ; so that, if the French had supplied these, the fate of the country would probably have been decided. But to return from this digression. The Irish insurgents had been long anxiously expecting assistance from France ; at last, when it was too late, a force of about 900 regular troops, commanded by General Humbeit, landed at Kil lala, on the 22d of August, and, being joined by some of the Catholic inhabitants, immediately marched to Castle bar. As soon as Lord Cornwallis learned their arrival, a force was collected and marched against them. General Hutchinson arrived at Castlebar on the 25th, and was im mediately joined by General Lake, the chief commander on the west. The British troops were drawn up in an ad vantageous position between Castlebar and the French, who were advancing towards it. At seven o'clock in the morn ing of the 27th, Humbert arrived with about 800 of his own troops, and 1000 Irish peasantry. His only artillery consisted of two small guns. The army opposed to him amounted to nearly 3000. Scarcely was the engagement begun, when the royal army were seized With a panic and fled, leaving their artillery, which consisted of six pieces of cannon, and their ammunition, behind them. Their of ficers in vain attempted to rally them : They fled, without stopping, thirty-eight miles, to Tuarn, which they reached that night ; and, at one o'clock of the 28th, some of them reached even Athlone, having marched eighty miles in 27 hours. Here they were stopped by the arrival of the viceroy.
From Casllebar, the French, after gaining this most un expected victory, proceeded to the eastward, into the heart of the country, with what design it is impossible to con jecture, unless from the expectation of being reinforced by the peasantry on their march. General Lake and his column followed to watch their movements, while Lord Cornwallis, with the chief army, moved towards Carrick, on the Shannon. At length, on September the 8th, Gene ral Lake having come up with their rear, at a place called Ballinamuck, a short action took plice, which fortunately terminated in the surrender of the French, and the capture or dispersion of the rebels. The troops of Humbert amounted to 748 privates, and 96 officers.