' 
£98 
rupted and deluded vast numbers to 
hold themselves in readiness for that 
attempt, which although complete- 
‘ly impracticable, destitute of the 
slightest probability of success, and 
tending only to the inevitable de- 
struction of those miserable instru- 
ments, yet answered to a certain 
-degree the purpose of their unprin- 
cipled employer, as it distracted and 
threw some odium on the existing 
government, and revived distrusts 
and jealousies among the people. 
In another part of the country, 
a second enthusiast presented him- 
self, as a chieftian, and who seemed 
¢o confident in the merits of the 
mighty boon he had to offer as the 
meed of prosperous rebellion ; that 
he does not seem to have once sus- 
“pected, that it would not be accept- 
ed and erasped at with as much avi- 
dity, at-least as it was tendered. Mr. 
Russel was the son of an officer of 
reputation in his majesty’s service, 
and who having retired, enjoyed an 
honorable retreat in the situation of 
master of the royal hospital for ve- 
terans at Kilmainham near Dublin. 
He was placed carly in the army, 
and bad served at Bunker’s Hill 
and ‘the subsequent. campaigns 
in north America. After the 
peace he either retired on half pay, 
or his corps was reduced: so far his 
situation was suited to the medio- 
crity of his talents. He then~fixed 
himself, in consequence of accident- 
al connection, in a town of Consider- 
able trade in the north of Ireland; 
but which was not less remarkable 
for its encouragement of speculative 
theology, metaphysical enquiry, and 
the extentand diversity of opinions 
both in matters of ehurch and state: 
Mr. Russel, eager and ardent, atfirst 
acting under military impressions, 
ANNUAL REGISTER; 
1803. 
was remarkable for his zealous .at- 
tachment to his Sovereign, and had 
thus even rendered himself obnoxi- 
ousin a disaffected town, hy a con~ 
stant display of the most fervent loy~ 
alty. In this state of seclusion he 
addicted himself to the cultivation 
of literature, and hazarded some 
pieces of criticism which afford no 
proofs of superior attainment: he 
likewise engaged eagerly in those 
religidus investigations which oc~ 
cupy the leisure or fill the minds of 
the more rigid dissenters. Im- 
mersed in pursuits of such a nature, 
with a scanty income, and a mind 
at once gloomy and sanguine, it may 
well be supposed, that at the period 
when the modern doctrines of poli- 
tical reform were broached, they 
found in this unfortunate man an, 
apt and enthusiastic proselyte. In 
justice however to the memory of 
this ushappy person, it must be ob- 
served, that he was aflectionate and 
tender hearted, and possessed more 
of the feeling and sentiment of a 
gentleman, than are usually found 
mm the confirmed democrat. 
Such were the conditions and 
characters of the principal leaders 
of the conspiracy which having been 
conducted in security and darkness, 
broke out into insurrection on the 
23d of the July of the present year. 
It has been said, and with great ap- 
pearance of probability, that as early 
as the April preceding, an assem- 
blage of persons from various dis- 
tricts of the kingdom, deliberated in 
Dublin, on measures hostile to the 
existing government. There are in 
Treland, as we have already observed 
in our preceding volume, a number 
of ‘persons above labour, and below 
“afiluence, whose habits are dissipated 
and adveriturous, and who might 
truly 
