182 General Disposition to Peacefulness, 



destroy him and the whole race of protestants, 

 the catholic dreads fire and extermination from 

 the orangeman. The blame imputable to such 

 conduct ought not to be equally divided. The 

 ignorance of the catholic affords some excuse 

 for his implicit reliance on preposterous ca- 

 lumnies ; but the same apology cannot be 

 offered for the orangeman, in whose com- 

 munity are to be found education, liberality, 

 rank, and fortune, competent to the inculcation 

 of very different sentiments, and to the dis- 

 suasion from all uncharitable acts or opinions. 

 Proofs in abundance are not wanting that kind 

 and considerate treatment, alone, insured se- 

 curity to Ireland, in the midst of all the horrors 

 of the late civil war ; yet are there those who 

 reprobate the conduct of Lord Cornwallis, and 

 tax his administration with imbecility and folly, 

 for having saved their country by his humanity 

 and forbearance. 



As far as we were enabled to form any judg- 

 ment, the people generally appeared disposed 

 to be quiet. A new confederacy, however, has 

 unhappily arisen in West Meath ; the misguided 

 associates of which are distinguished by the 

 denomination of carders, from an instrument 

 used in flax dressing, called a card ; with which 

 individuals who may be so unfortunate as to 



