rmidable at all times than any discontent on the part of the quiet
and orderly French _habitans_ was the chronic disaffection of the
restless, roving Irish; and especially when connected with a threatened
invasion of American 'sympathisers.' When such threats come to nothing, it
is generally difficult to say whether they were all mere vapouring, or
whether they might have led to serious results, if not promptly met; but
at one time, at least, there appears to have been solid ground for
apprehending that real mischief was intended. On the 18th July, 1848, Lord
Elgin writes:--

[Sidenote: Irish republicans.]

At the moment when the last mail was starting a placard, calling an
Irish repeal, or rather republican, meeting was placed in my hands. I
enclosed it in my letter to you, and I now proceed to inform you how
the movement to which it relates has progressed since then.

An M.P.P.[9], opposed in politics to the present Government, waited on
me a few days ago and told me, that he had been requested to move a
resolution at the meeting in question by a Mr. O'Connor, who
represented himself to be the editor of a newspaper at New York, and a
member of the Irish Republican Union. This gentleman informed him that
it was expected that, before September, there would be a general
rising in Ireland; that the body to which he belonged had been
instituted with the view of abetting this movement; that it was
discountenanced by the aristocracy of the States, but supported by the
great mass of the people; that funds were forthcoming in plenty; that
arms and soldiers, who might be employed as drill sergeants in the
clubs, were even now passing over week after week to Ireland; that an
American general, lately returned from Mexico, was engaged to take the
command when the proper time came; that they would have from 700,000
to 800,000 men in the field, a force with which Great Britain would be
altogether unable to cope; that when the English had been expelled,
the Irish people would be called to determine, whether the Queen was
to be at the head of their political system or not. He added that his
visit to Canada was connected with these objects; that it was
desirable that a diversion should be effected here at the time of the
Irish outbreak; that 50,000 Irish were ready to march into Canada from
the States at a moment's notice. He furthe