Translator and Publisher of Abbe MacGeoghegan's History of Ireland.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY J. DOWNES, 4, YORK-STREET.

MDCCCXLII.

PREFACE.

IRISHMEN who feel for their country, must take a deep interest in all that has arisen to her within the last half century. To develope, therefore, the most important period of the history of Ireland, within that short space of time, we go back to '98, a year and epoch never to be forgotten, in the mind of every lover of his country. The disasters which overspread the land of Erin, and her green fields, during the short lapse of a few months, will be described in the following sheets, with accuracy and truth. There will be facts made known, which have not hitherto come to light, and such as will surprise and affect every heart that feels for the miseries of mankind, but more especially for those born on the same soil with themselves, and to whom a bountiful Providence imparted blessings that have been blighted by the evil genius of partystrife, impregnated and produced from the machinations of designing men.

Every man who has witnessed the scenes of '98, and is still living, must shudder when he thinks of the miseries and heavy visitations that have befallen innumerable localities and their inhabitants, at that disastrous epoch: "animus meminisse horret luctuque refugit."*

→ The mind shudders to remember it, and recoils upon itself with grief.