r rescue.
It was supposed that the excitement produced by the arrest of the
leaders was necessary to inflame the enthusiasm of the populace. How
little did they know the real feelings of the multitude upon whose
generosity and manhood they thus adventurously threw themselves!

On the 26th, the _Habeas Corpus_ Suspension Act arrived in Dublin, and
warrants were issued for the arrest of all the club leaders. Troops were
moved upon the principal points where it was desirable, for strategetic
and political purposes, to concentrate them. Extraordinary precautions
were taken for the capital. Sir Charles Napier was placed in command
of a powerful steam squadron on the southern coast, Cork and Waterford
being especially menaced by the guns' of the ships. A proclamation was
issued by the viceroy declaring the clubs illegal, and "commanding all
persons to withdraw from and abandon the same." On the last day of July,
the privy council held a sitting at Dublin Castle, when it was resolved
to place a number of baronies and counties under the Prevention of Crime
and Outrage Act. By this means opportunity would be most easily taken
to disarm the rebels. The districts put under the stern surveillance of
this law were the counties of Kerry, Wexford, Carlow, Queen's County,
counties of Galway, Kildare, Wicklow, Westmeath, Louth; seven baronies
of the county Cork, eight baronies in the King's county, four baronies
in the county of Cavan, two baronies in the county Armagh, and the
barony of Newry, county Down. Proclamations of reward were also offered
for the arrest of Smith O'Brien, L500; for Francis T. Meagher, John B.
Dillon, and Michael Doheny, "each or either," L300. The ground assigned
for the arrest was "having taken up arms against her majesty."

The _Hue and Cry_ gave the following descriptions of the personal
appearance, ages, &c, of the leaders:--"William Smith O'Brien, no
occupation, forty-six years of age, six feet in height, sandy hair,
dark eyes, sallow long face, has a sneering smile constantly upon his
countenance, full whiskers, sandy, a little grey. A well set man,
walks erect, and dresses well.--Thomas Francis Meagher, no occupation,
twenty-five years of age, five feet nine inches, dark, nearly black
hair, light blue eyes, pale face, high cheek bones, peculiar expression
about the eyes, cocked nose, no whiskers, well dressed.--John B. Dillon,
barrister, thirty-two years of age, five feet eleven inches in height,
dark h