Ireland in the Age of Revolution, 1760–1805

The latter half of the eighteenth-century saw Irish opposition movements being greatly influenced by the American and French revolutions. The political landscape of the country underwent dramatic changes as both Protestant and Catholic groups expanded their ideologies in reaction to this foreign radicalism.

This two-part edition illustrates the depth and reach of this influence by collecting rare pamphlets dealing with the major political issues of these decades.Part I covers the impact of the American Revolution on Irish radicalism and the rise of the Irish Volunteers. Part II presents materials prompted by the French Revolution, including the ideology of the Society of United Irishmen. The edition includes a general introduction, thematic introductions to each part, headnotes and endnotes. It will be of great value to scholars of Irish history as well as those interested in the wider impact of the French and American revolutions.

• Includes over seventy pamphlets never previously republished
• Most texts are reproduced in full
• All texts are fully reset
• Full editorial apparatus includes a general introduction, volume introductions, headnotes and endnotes
• Consolidated index in the final volume

Contents

Part I: Ireland and the American Revolution

Volume 1

[Henry Brooke], The Case of the Roman-Catholics of Ireland (1760); Charles Lucas, Seasonable Advice to the Electors of Members of Parlement at the ensuing General Election (1760); [Charles Lucas], Address to the Free Electors of the City of Dublin (1761); Anon., Enquiry into the riots in Munster, taken from the Dublin Magazine (1763); Charles Lucas, To the Right Honorable the Lord-Mayor … The Address of Charles Lucas, M.D. one of their Representatives in Parlement (1765); Anon., To the Right Honourable Lord Mayor … The Counter Address of a Free Citizen (1766); Anon., An Essay on the Use and Necessity of establishing a Militia in Ireland (1767); Statutes at Large of Ireland: Octennial Act (1768); Charles Lucas, The Rights and Privileges of Parlements asserted upon constitutional principles (1770); [Robert French], The Constitution of Ireland, and Poyning’s Laws explained (1770); Baratariana: A Select Collection of Fugitive Political Pieces from 1769 to 1772 (1773) [excerpts]; Statutes at Large of Ireland: Catholic Relief Act (1774); Anon., An Appeal to the Understanding of the Electors of Ireland (1776); Statutes at Large of Ireland: Catholic Relief Act (1778); Anon., Humble Remonstrance for the repeal of the laws against Roman Catholics (1778); Anon., A Defence of Great Britain, against a charge of tyranny in the Government of Ireland (1779)

Volume 2
James Crombie, The Expedience and Utility of Volunteer Associations for National Defence and Security … in A Sermon preached before the … Belfast Volunteers (1779); Rev William S Dickson, A Sermon on the Propriety and Advantages of Acquiring the Knowledge and Use of Arms in Times of Public Danger (1779); Anon., A Candid Display, or the Reciprocal Conduct of Great Britain and her Colonies (c.1780); Henry Grattan’s speech to the Irish House of Commons, 19 April 1780 (1821); Debates in the Irish House of Commons (1780) [excerpts]; Anon., The Usurpations of England the Chief Sources of the Miseries of Ireland (1780); Francis Dobbs, A Letter to the Right Honourable Lord North, on his propositions in favour of Ireland (1780); Statutes at Large for Ireland: Act to advance Irish Trade (1780); Statutes at Large of Great Britain: Act to allow Ireland to trade with the colonies (1780); Statutes at Large for Ireland: Act to repeal Test Act for Protestant Dissenters (1780); Francis Dobbs, Thoughts on Volunteers (1781); C H Wilson, A Compleat Collection of the Resolutions of the Volunteers, Grand Juries, &c of Ireland (1782) [excerpts]; The Parliamentary Register: Or, History of the Proceedings and Debates of the House of Commons of Ireland (1781–82) (2nd edn., 1784) [excerpts]; Henry Grattan’s speeches to the Irish House of Commons, 19 February and 16 April 1782 (1821); The Celebrated Speeches of Colonel Henry Flood, on the Repeal of the Declaratory Act ... and also the Speech of Lord Abingdon (1782); Statutes at Large for Ireland: Catholic Relief Act (1782); Statutes at Large for Ireland: Act to Regulate Irish Parliament (1782); Statutes at Large for Ireland: Act to Confirm Acts Made in England (1782); Statutes at Large for Ireland: Act for Redress of Erroneous Judgements (1782); Statutes at Large for Ireland: Act for Independent Judiciary in Ireland (1782); William Cobbett (ed), The Parliamentary History of England (1814) [excerpts]; Statutes at Large of Great Britain: Repeal of Irish Declaratory Act (1782); Statutes at Large of Great Britain: Irish Judicature Act (1783)

Volume 3
Anon., A Letter to Henry Flood, Esq. on the present state of Representation in Ireland (1783); [Francis Dobbs], Thoughts on the Conduct and Continuation of the Volunteers of Ireland (1783); Anon., An Address to the Dungannon and Leinster Volunteer Delegates on the Matter of Parliamentary Reform (1783); Anon., A Reform of the Irish House of Commons, Considered (1783); Anon., Arguments to Prove the Interposition of the People to be Constitutional and Strictly Legal: In Which the Necessity of a More Equal Representation of the People in Parliament is Also Proved (1783); [W W Seward], The Rights of the People Asserted, and the Necessity of a More Equal Representation in Parliament Stated and Proved (1783); [Patrick Duigenan], The Alarm: Or, an Address to the Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy, of the Church of Ireland, as by Law Established (1783); Anon., All’s Well: A Reply to the Author of The Alarm (1783); John Keogh, Thoughts on Equal Representation; with Hints for Improving the Manufactures and Employment of the Poor of Ireland (1784); [Peter Burrowes], Plain Arguments in Defence of the People’s Absolute Dominion over the Constitution … (1784); Andrew Doria, A Letter to the Volunteers, upon the Subject of a Parliamentary Reform (1784); [Charles Francis Sheridan], Free Thoughts upon the Present Crisis (1785); Anon., Thoughts on the Kingdom of Ireland, written in the year 1785 (1785)

Part II: Ireland and the French Revolution

Volume 4
Declaration of the Catholic Society of Dublin (1791); Anon., Strictures on the Declaration of the Society instituted for the purpose of Promoting Unanimity amongst Irishmen, and Removing Religious Prejudices (1791); General Committee of Roman Catholics (1792); Anon., A Report of the Debate … of the Roman Catholics of the City of Dublin (1792); Anon., A Candid Enquiry, whether the Roman Catholics of Ireland, ought or ought not to be admitted to the Rights of Subjects (1792); Anon., The Address of the Association of the Friends of the Constitution, Liberty and Peace, in Ireland ([1793]); The Petition of the Catholics of Ireland, to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty (1793); Anon., Defence of the Sub-Committee of the Catholics of Ireland (1793); Anon., An Irishman’s Letter to the People called Defenders (c.1793); Anon., Proceedings of the Society of United Irishmen of Dublin (1793); Statutes at Large passed ... in Ireland: An Act for the Relief of His Majesty’s Popish, or Roman Catholick Subjects of Ireland (1793); Statutes at Large passed ... in Ireland: An Act to prevent the Election or Appointment of unlawful Assemblies ([c.1794]); Anon., An Address from the Society of United Irishmen of Dublin, to the People of Ireland (1794); Anon., Society of United Irishmen of Dublin (1794) [excerpts]; Anon., Belfast Politics (1794) [excerpts]; Henry Grattan’s proposal for a Bill for the Relief of His Majesty’s Roman Catholic Subjects (1795); Speech of Arthur O’Connor … on the Catholic Bill (1795); Anon., A Fair Statement, of the Administration of Earl Fitzwilliam, in Ireland (1795); Anon., An Irishman’s Second Letter to the People called Defenders (1795); Statutes at Large passed ... in Ireland: An Act more effectually to suppress Insurrections (1796); Statutes at Large passed ... in Ireland: An Act … to prevent and punish tumultuous Risings (1976); Thomas Russell, A Letter to the People of Ireland, on the present situation of the Country (1796); Arthur O’Connor, A Letter to the Electors of Antrim (1797); Lt.-General Lake, Proclamation to the People of the Province of Ulster (1797); Anon., The Appeal of the People of Ulster to their Countrymen, and to the Empire at large (1797); Anon., Address of the Inhabitants of the County of Armagh (c.1797); Statutes at Large passed ... in Ireland: An Act … more effectually to suppress Insurrections (1797); Anon., ‘Declarations, Resolutions and Constitution of the United Irishmen’, in The Journals of the House of Commons of … Ireland (1797) [excerpts]

Volume 5
‘Earl of Moira’s speech to the British House of Lords’, in William Cobbett (ed) Parliamentary History of England (1797); Anon., A Letter to the Earl of Moira, in defence of the conduct of His Majesty’s Ministers,and of the Army in Ireland (1797); Arthur O’Connor, The State of Ireland (2nd ed, 1798) [excerpt]; Anon., Resolutions of the Orange Lodges of the Province of Ulster (1797); Anon., Report of the Debate on Lord Moira’s Motion, for an Address to the Lord Lieutenant, recommending Conciliatory Measures on behalf of the People of Ireland (1798); Sir John Moore, ‘Behaviour of the Armed Forces prior to the Rebellion’, in The Diary of Sir John Moore, J F Maurice (ed) [excerpt]; John Thomas Troy, Pastoral Instruction to the Roman Catholics of the Archdiocess of Dublin (1798) [excerpt]; Anon., The Causes of the Rebellion in Ireland Disclosed in an Address to the People of England ([1798]); Anon., ‘Public Notices on the Irish Rebellion of 1798’ (1798); ‘General Humbert to the French Troops and to the Irish Nation’, in Memoirs and Correspondence of Viscount Castlereagh (1798) [excerpt]; Report from the Committee of Secrecy, of the House of Lords in Ireland (2nd ed, 1798) [excerpts]; Report from the Committee of Secrecy, of the House of Commons of Ireland (1798) [excerpts]; [Waterhouse C Lindsay], A Letter to His Grace the Lord Primate of Ireland: in which is vindicated the Principles and Conduct of Orange-Men (1798); Viscount Castlereagh, ‘Castlereagh and the United Irish prisoners’, in Memoirs and Correspondence of Viscount Castlereagh (1798); Viscount Castlereagh, ‘Communications passed between the Government and the State Prisoners’ in Memoirs and Correspondence of Viscount Castlereagh (1798); Arthur O’Connor, Letter to Lord Castlereagh (c.1799); S Cupples, The Principles of the Orange Association, stated and vindicated ([1799]); Anon., A Letter to Theobald M’Kenna, Esq. … in reply to the Calumnies against the Orange Institution (1799); ‘Discussions on the Union between the Duke of Portland and Lord Cornwallis’, in Memoirs and Correspondence of Viscount Castlereagh (1798–1800); Rules and Regulations for the Use of all Orange Societies (1800)

Volume 6
[Edward Cooke], Arguments for and against an Union, between Great Britain and Ireland, considered (8th ed, 1798); Joshua Spencer, Thoughts on an Union (1798); Anon., A Report of the Debate of the Irish Bar … on the Subject of an Union of the Legislatures of Great Britain and Ireland (1799); [Roger O’Connor], An Address to the People of Ireland; shewing them why they ought to submit to an Union (1799); [Dr Dodd], Calm Considerations on the probable consequences of an Union of the Kingdom of Ireland with that of Great Britain (1799); John Collis, An Address to the People of Ireland, on the projected Union (1799); Anon., English Union, is Ireland’s Ruin! Or an Address to the Irish Nation (1799); Theobald M’Kenna, A Memoire on some questions reflecting the Projected Union of Great Britain and Ireland (1799); Anon., An Address to the Roman Catholics of Ireland, on the conduct they should pursue at the present crisis; on the subject of an Union (1799); Henry Grattan, The Speech of Henry Grattan, Esq. on the subject of a Legislative Union with Great Britain, Etc (1800); Anon., ‘The Indictment of Robert Emmet, his reply, and an account of his insurrection’, in The Life, Trial and Conversations of Robert Emmet, Leader of the Irish Insurrection of 1803 (1836); [Theobald M’Kenna], An Abstract of the Arguments on the Catholic Question (1805)

Related titles

• British Pamphlets on the American Revolution, 1763–1785
• Famine and Disease in Ireland
• Ireland and Empire, 1692–1770
• Lives of Victorian Political Figures, Part II : Daniel O'Connell, James Bronterre O'Brien, Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Davitt by their Contemporaries
• The Scottish People and the French Revolution

Leaflets

• Colour leaflet

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