t. A charge of treasonable correspondence with the French
rulers was brought against Archibald Hamilton Rowan; but he with others
of the association fled to the continent. In the following year the Rev.
William Jackson, a Protestant clergyman, was tried and found guilty, and
in order to avoid the shame of a public execution he swallowed a dose of
poison at the bar of the court. All this tended to prove that Catholic
emancipation, however extensive it might be in its principles, would
never satisfy the people of Ireland. Nevertheless, Earl Fitzwilliam, the
then lord-lieutenant, resolved to try the efficacy of that measure.
That nobleman, indeed, imagined that he was authorised to carry such a
measure into effect when he accepted the office of viceroy. Acting under
this supposition, his first step was to remove from their places
such servants of the government as he knew would be hostile to his
proceedings. Among those he removed was the right lion. John Beresford,
first commissioner of the revenue, whose family had always been ardent
supporters of ministerial measures. But this act gave great offence
to the English cabinet; and as Earl Fitzwilliam refused to alter his
arrangements, it was resolved to recall him. In the meantime Mr. Henry
Grattan brought in a bill into the Irish house of commons for the repeal
of all the remaining disqualifications of the Roman Catholics. This bill
was received so favourably that only three dissentient voices were heard
against it: and, encouraged by it, the Catholics sent a deputation
to the king deprecating the removal of a viceroy who had gained the
confidence of the people. These deputies were graciously received; but
the burden of their petition was not granted: Earl Fitzwilliam resigned,
and Lord Camden was appointed his successor. Lord Camden commenced his
administration under ominous circumstances; for on the 31st of
March, when he was sworn into office, the primate and Lord Chancellor
Fitzgibbon were attacked by a mob on their return from the Castle, and
narrowly escaped with their lives. His unpopularity increased, chiefly
because he as strenuously opposed Catholic emancipation as Lord
Fitzwilliam had supported it. On the 4th of May a bill was brought in
for that purpose, but after a violent debate it was rejected by a large
majority. In order, however, to soothe the chafed minds of the people,
a motion was carried this session for the establishment of a college
at Maynooth for th