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consumption of spirits produced such pernicious effects that, at length, the executive power deemed it high time to put an end to the system. The consequence was, that the people, rendered ferocious, by the use of the liquors, and accustomed to lawless habits, resorted to force, resisted the laws, opposed the military, and hence have resulted riots, assults, and murders. Can you wonder, that in such an immoral state of things, all tranquility and obedience to the laws were banished from those counties."

The learned judge then dwells on the incalculable evils resulting from the alarming number of permanent absentees, who, he deplores, "cannot see the policy (if no better motive could influence them) of appropriating liberally, some of those splendid revenues, which they draw from this country, which pay no land tax or poor-rate, and of which not a shilling is expended in this country." He execrates the land letting in Ireland, particularly on the part of those absentees, who ought to set good examples on their respective estates, and take care, "that the Irish peasant may have, at least the comforts of an English jew."

The judge reprobates the mode of collecting, and enforcing the payment of tithes, and the system of jobs in the general practice of presentments before the county grand juries. He contends that, "an equal and impartial administration of justice is much wanted in Ireland ;" and, as a leading remedy for which, he inculcates the necessity of a thorough reform in the system of the magistracy. And thinks that other means may be suggested for tranquilizing Ireland than those hitherto resorted to-banishment, the rope, and the gib bet.

SPEECH

OF

HENRY GRATTAN, JUN.

AT

A PUBLIC DINNER,

AT THE

MAYORALTRY HOUSE,

DUBLIN.

The health of HENRY GRATTAN, the elder, being given from the chair, the young gentleman rose, and delivered himself in the following words;

My Lord Mayor and gentlemen, who have done Mr. Grattan the honour of drinking his health. I have on his part to thank you: I regret his absence, because the manner in which you have received his name, deserves a return I am inadequate to give, but though he is absent from you now, you are not wholly absent from him. The interests of your city, and of your country, are always present to his mind he has served her long, I hope he has served her faithfully.— Forty years services are some recommendation. He has fought the battles of Ireland in the Irish parliament, and he gained them. He fought the battles of Ireland in 1779, and in 1782! and he succeeded: those years form the era of Irish character and Irish victory, and they deserve to be remembered, for their fruits were freedom of trade and Independence,

In the Irish parliament, he has not only supported the rights of the people of Ireland, but the rights and liberties of the nations of Eu rope; he opposed, on a late occasion, that system which he had opposed before-a system which had well nigh proved the ruin of those countries; a system founded on the vices of mankind, which could only exist by the suppression of their virtues, became predominant; a system which tended to demoralise and to denotionalise all Europe. It set the French wild after their own inventions; and was not satisfied with their servitude, but proceeded to enslave Europe; it converted a noble and gallant race of men, famed for their ancient spirit of chivalry, and their high sense of national honour, into an armed banditti, to plunder mankind, and to enslave Europe? Great praise is due to these able men who opposed such a system; they fought the battle of Waterloo by anticipation ; but what praise is too great, what reward even sufficient for those gallant soldiers, those illustrious heroes who gained in the field, what others had resolved in debate; what bosom can remain unmoved, or what tongue can remain silent, when we hear the names of a Paget, a Ponsonby, a Pack, and a Wellington. These names will live; their honours are immortal; the laurels they have earned will never fade; they are bathed in their blood, yet they will be refreshed by the grateful tear of their sympathizing countrymen, and will flourish to the last posterity.

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Those able senators, and those gallant soldiers, have served their country, and have rescued Europe. We have not only conquered the enemy in arms, we have conquered him in understanding! he admits the superiority of our political institutions, as he does that of our military powers. He commenced by warring against our constitution, and he concludes by adopting it; in our moderation he looks for protection; and he sees the French allies revive under the guardian shield of the British lion; and thus we afford a signal example to all men, that if perseverance is requisite to gain a cause, moderation is also requisite to secure it. Never did these conntries stand so high; never were we in a situation so pre-eminent. We are at the head of Europe, and not only the first nation in Europe, but the first nation in the world! this is the victory of civil liberty over military tyranny. Our constitution is adored in France; it is adored in Holland; Magna Charta is triumphant ! and St. George has no longer a winged Demon

to encounter.

I hope that the glory of these countries may long continue, and as far as regards our future prosperity, let me also hope that the balance between England and Ireland may be so held that nothing shall be taken from one scale to be thrown into the other; but that both may be preserved even, equal honour, equal right, and equal protection to these countries. I may apply that which was fabled in times of old, whenever the mariners beheld the twin stars shining in the Heavens to light them in their nightly course, no shipwreck was to be feared, every thing was secure; every thing was serene ; but if only one star was discernable, if Castor appeared without his brother, storms came on, and death, and danger, and destruction, was at hand! Such are the fates of these countries. Separated we fall. United we stand, to be a blessing to the present age, and a benefit to the future; Mr.

Grattan thanked the company for their indulgence, and excused himself for trespassing on their kind attention. Thus terminated (says the Freeman's Journal) one of the most brilliant effusions of genius and classic beauty that we have ever met with,

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE

OF

MARSHAL NEY.

(Abridged from the French.)

During the long wars which for more than a quarter of a century have desolated Europe, Marshal Ney has been associated to all the victories, which have signalized the French armies.

Born at Sarre-Louis, February 10, 1769, of an honest, but not very. opulent family, marshal Ney embraced early the profession of arms; before the revolution, he enlisted as a volunteer in the fourth regiment of hussars; his vivacity, his strength, his skill in managing a horse, decided him to give a preference to the light cavalry. His activity, zeal, and great intelligence, were not long in distinguishing themselves, and after having passed successively, through all inferior ranks, he was made captain in 1794; it was then that he became acquainted with general Kleber, The frankness of his manners, and his military air, pleased this general, who soon appointed Ney to the command of a squadron, and employed him near his person. He intrusted him with several missions, in which he acquitted himself with the greatest success. He particularly signalized himself at the passage of the Lahn in 1794.

Being placed, two years after, in the division of general Collard, with the army of the Sambre and Meuse, his valor and boldness were remarked in the battles of Altenkirchen, Dierdorff Montabor, and Berndorff. He assisted in the affair of the village of Obermel, which was taken and retaken four times in two days. On the 24th of July, with 100 men, he took prisoners, near Wurtzburg, 2000 of the enemy's soldiers, and got possession of a considerable quantity of stores. At Zell, at the head of four hundred horse, he sabred 300 of the enemy. The 8th of August, he forced the passage of the Rhednitz, defended by fourteen pieces of artillery, and got possession of Pfortzein, where he took seventy pieces of cannon. Soon after this brilli

ant action, he was appointed general of brigade.

In the following campaign, Ney repulsed the enemy at Glessen, and pursued it to Steinburg, but, repulsed by superior force, and constrained to yield to numbers, he retreated; his horse was killed under him he was made prisoner. The army of the Sambre and Muese was then commanded by general Hoche, who had a great. esteem for general Ney, and who soon obtained him by exchange; on his return to the army, he received the rank of general of di vision.

The command of the cavalry of the French in Switzerland was confided to him, and he powerfully contributed to the victory gained by the French armies on the Thur, May 26, 1799.

Shortly after, general Ney was opposed to prince Charles; he fought against him, and took Manheim. In the action, the advance guard of the army had been surrounded near Lauffen; Ney came to its assistance, put the enemy to flight, and made 1500 prisoners.

In 1800, general Ney was employed in the army of the Rhine, as commander of the fourth division, which occupied Worms and Frankendal. The 5th of June, he gained the battle of the Iller, and took all the enemy's artillery.

Soon after general Ney was charged with the command of the bodies of troops dispersed between Huningen and Duseldorff; in less than eight days, he made thirteen attacks which all succeeded, and gave him the facility of causing all the regiments under his orders to cross the Rhine at the same moment. While this passage was effected, the general, at the head of 9000 men marched to the walls of Frankfort, where he routed 20,000 Mayencais, in English pay, who had been joined by 2000 Austrians. He then returned to pass the Maine near Mente. He passed as a conqueror, overthrowing all that opposed him, again took possession of Manheim, Heidelberg, Bruchsal, Heilbron, and reached the walls of Stutgard, without experiencing the least check. These bold movements obliged Austria to evacuate a part of Switzerland, and thus contributed to the victory of Zurich.

Employed successively under the orders of general Massena, in Switzerland, under general Moreau in Germany, general Ney, after the peace of Luneville, was charged with the general inspection of the cavalry. He soon left this office for a mission to Switzerland, as

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