and property of a neighbouring fariner, who, with his family, sought shelter at the house of another member of the Society, near Ferns. He provided them with one of his out-houses to live in, until they could better their condition. But when their party got the ascendency, the farmer took possession of his protector's dwelling-house, and manifested his intention of turning him and his family out of it; and probably would have carried it into execution, had not the short duration of the United Irishmen's power prevented this ungrateful determination.

It may be noticed that, during the continuance of the struggle, the houses of Friends appeared to be marked out for places of entertainment. They were almost constantly full, day and night and it was matter of surprise that their provisions held out as they did to the end of the conflict. The members of the Society, and some of the then oppressed party, sometimes conveyed provisions to one another privately. The United Men sometimes offered part of their own stock; but when it was known to be plunder, or, as it was called, the spoils of war, the Friends declined to accept it; and, it was evident, that such refusal was mostly taken in the light of an offence. Indeed, the United Men often discovered their chagrin because they could not prevail upon the members of the Society to unite with them in their requisitions.

From the number of United Men, who came to lodge almost every night in the Friends' houses, these were in continual danger of falling a prey to the King's army, if it should make an attack on the town: and, on the other hand, the Friends were continually threatened by the pikemen for not turning out the poor fugitive Protestant women and their children, who had taken shelter under their roofs. But although they appeared to be in danger, according to human apprehension, from both parties, they were in fact alternately protected by both.

The Friend above-mentioned, who was nearly dispossessed by the ungrateful farmer, being, at one time, much threatened for not complying in this respect, very candidly told the men who threatened him, that he would not turn out poor distressed creatures from his house, whatever might be the consequence; and, seeing his firmness, they did not enforce compliance, although they expressed great dissatisfaction.

Some of them also came one morning to the other Friend, and told him, his house was to be burned that day, in consequence of his refusal to turn out the Protestant women that were in it. He replied, that "if they did so he could not help it; but that as long as he had a house, he would keep it open to succour the distressed; and, if they burned it for that reason, he must only turn out along with them and share in their affliction.

It so happened that this was the regular day on which the Meeting for Worship of the Society, in that quarter, was to be held, about a mile from Ferns; and, notwithstanding the alarming denunciation, he considered it his duty to take his family with him to Meeting, leaving his home with a heavy heart, as he expected soon to be without an habitation as well as the means of present support. On his return to Ferns, however, he was rejoiced to see his dwelling entire; and his heart was filled with praises and thankfulness to the good Providence that had preserved it. Whatever might have been the reason that prevented them from executing the threat, their evil disposition towards him on that account seemed to be changed; for they did not make any requisition of the kind afterwards.

Throughout the calamity, it was his uniform experience, that the more he attended to what he conceived to be right in his own conduct, the more he seemed to be respected by them; even when he expostulated with them on account of the cruelties committed by their party, as at Vinegar-hill, Wexford, and Scullabogue. They quietly listened to his remonstrance, and frequently acknowledged the wrong.

A party of the King's army stationed in Newtown-barry, came to Ferns to disperse the United Irishmen who held possession of the place. The latter at first made some demonstrations as if they would risk a battle; but seeing that the regular troops opposed to them were provided with cannon, they fled away from the town. On hearing that the army was coming in, the Friend stood at his own door, lest he should be suspected of being an enemy. When the military came near his door, one of the soldiers stepping out of the ranks, presented a gun at his breast, and was on the point of drawing the trigger, when the Friend called to him" to desist from murder." The soldier, like one struck with amazement, immediately let the gun fall from his shoulder; and presently his

officers interfered for the Friends protection; whose life was thus preserved, as on the right hand and on the left.

Some of the inhabitants of this village, who were found unarmed in the houses, being made prisoners by the soldiers, they pleaded their innocence; but, in such a state of things, they could not easily prove it. The commanding officer therefore desired, that it there were any Quakers in the town, they would get certificates of good behaviour from them; which, he added, he would be willing to accept, and then to liberate them. The same Friend was accordingly applied to on behalf of several, and procured their liberation. Had he been put to death by the hand of the hasty soldier, it is easy to see that those who obtained their release afterwards by his means, would probably have shared the same fate, for want of credible testimonials; and thus one sacrifice would have been added to another, and Death would have multiplied its victims without any regard to their innocence. Thus it is when violence is permitted to reign; and thus it would be on every occasion if there were not an over-ruling Providence to say to the peaceful sufferer in his wrongs "It is enough," and to the proud oppressor in his fury "Thus far shalt thou go."

A Friend of Enniscorthy informed an acquaintance, that on the day when the town was taken from the Rebels by the army, he was in great distress, thinking it the most critical and dangerous time of the whole; for, he supposed, that, on the entrance of the soldiers, they would consider that every man, whom they found alive in coloured clothes, was a rebel, and consequently would put him to death. As he was walking up and down one of the upper streetrooms of his house, he heard voices in the street, and, looking out, saw some soldiers carrying a wounded man, (supposed to be an officer,) and seeking for a place of safety in which to deposit their charge. The Friend, opening the window, told them, they might bring him into his house. On hearing his voice one of the soldiers looked up, and, seeing the Friend, exclaimed, "That is a Quaker, we may safely go in there;" which they did, with their wounded comrade and, when the main body of the army entered, seeing soldiers in the house, they went in without fear, and without injuring the place. One of the Generals took up his quarters for some time in the house.

END OF PART I.

Tract No. IX. Part II. of the Society for the Promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace.

THE

PRINCIPLES OF PEACE.

EXEMPLIFIED

IN THE CONDUCT OF

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN IRELAND,

During the Rebellion of the Year 1798;

WITH

SOME PRELIMINARY AND CONCLUDing observATIONS.

BY

THOMAS HANCOCK, M. D.

IN THREE PARTS.

PART II.

STEREOTYPE Edition.

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To be had at THOMAS WARD & Co.'s Paternoster Row, and at the DEPOSITORY, 19, New Broad Street, Finsbury Circus.

IN OCTAVO.

No. I. A Solemn Review of the Custom of War.

II. War inconsistent with the Doctrine and Example of Jesus Christ, by John Scott, Esq.

III. An Essay on the Doctrine and Practice of the Early Christians as they relate to War, by Thomas Clarkson, Esq. M. A.

IV. Extracts from Erasmus.

V. Sketches of the Horrors of War, by Evan Rees

VI. On Universal Peace, by the Rev. David Bogue.

VII. Observations on the Applicability of the Pacific Principles of the New Testament to the Conduct of States, &c. by Jonathan Dymond. VIII. An Examination of the Principles which are considered to support the Practice of War, by a Lady.

IX. The Principles of Peace Exemplified in the Conduct of the Society of Friends in Ireland, during the Rebellion of the year 1798, with some Preliminary and Concluding Observations, by Thomas Hancock, M.D. In Three Parts.

X. Historical Illustrations of the Origin and Consequences of War, by the Author of Tract No. VIII., as above.

XI. Reflections on the Calamities of War, and the Superior Policy of Peace, translated from the French of a Treatise," On the Administration of the Finances of France," by M. Necker.

XII. An Essay on War, and on its Lawfulness under the Christian Dispensation, by Joseph John Gurney.

By the Author of "Select Female Biography," "Annals of my

Village," &c.

No. I. Sketch of a Hospital Scene in Portugal.

11. Results of War, with Suggestions for an Amicable Settlement of National Disputes.

III. Sketch of the Miseries suffered by the Germans during the Seven Years' War, from 1756 to 1763.

IV. Peace Societies, and the Scenes which have occurred within the last Sixty Years, in Two Parts.

V. Account of the Massacre of Corcubion, with an appeal to English

Ladies.

VI. The Sights we have seen

Also "THE HERALD OF PEACE," published Quarterly, and to be

had as above.

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