land
in the autumn of 1849. It was supposed by them that such an event would
soothe the spirit of party, and restore the loyalty which was supposed
to exist before 1848. Such was its tendency; but it ought to have been
understood that the people were no more disloyal in that year than in
the year which preceded it, or any other previous one; and the visit
of her majesty, although beneficial for a time, on the whole, was not
likely to give any permanent effect to the loyalty of those who might,
during her visit, display the like. The Young Ireland press denounced
the policy of the visit as a trick to ensnare the generosity of the
Irish character, and to divert the people from the only true political
pursuit for Irishmen--the separation of their country from Great
Britain; and those papers predicted that the reception of her majesty,
notwithstanding that national generosity which they truly asserted,
would be painful to the royal lady, and demonstrate the unwillingness of
the Irish people to be her subjects. The Old Ireland press, like the
Old Ireland leader in parliament (Mr. John O'Connell), gave a very
"uncertain sound "--it "blew hot and cold with the same mouth,"
protesting that the Irish people were most loyal, but at the same
time in a very treasonable state; spurned, doubted, and encouraged the
ministerial policy by turns. The newspapers made a point of averring,
that if her majesty would only grant repeal and justice to Ireland, and,
in fact, whatever the party demanded, she would find the Irish people,
always excepting Orangemen and "swadlers," most peacefully disposed. The
words of the national poet were echoed by these persons:--

"There never were hearts, if our rulers would let them,
More formed to be tranquil and blest than ours."

The Irish people not connected with these two parties made every
exertion to prove their real and unaffected loyalty and devotion to
her majesty; and they boldly declared that the prophecies of the Young
Irelanders, and the doubts of the Old Irelanders, as to the probability
of the queen receiving insult, were unworthy of notice. The Irish
are too gallant a nation to insult a lady and a queen under any
circumstances, and there was not a man among either Old Ireland or Young
Ireland who would do the like, however wavering in loyalty; nor was
there one among them who would not risk his life to chastise such
conduct, had it happened in his presence.

After the prorogati