Louvain, Lisbon, Salamanca, St. Omer's, and Paris,* were particularly instrumental in keeping faith and learning alive among our race, and in sending into Ireland chiefs, counsellors, and true civilizers. They counteracted the barbarous effects of the penal code. If it had not been for them, Ireland, in all probability, would have been driven into worse than Tartar darkness and savageness.

Contemporaneous with the Irish colleges were those memorable brigades and regiments of Catholic exiles whose courage and fidelity have done so much to honor the national character. Their serving only Catholic states made Ireland an active agent in almost every action of that great contest which was the necessary consequence of the continental "reformation." From the time of Luther till the time of Robespierre, Europe divided naturally into a Protestant and a Catholic camp. Sweden, Holland, England, and Prussia are on the one side; Austria, Spain, and the Italian states on the other. France and Bavaria, from motives of position and policy, sometimes coöperated with one, sometimes with the other, and sometimes formed a third party. Protestantism, in the words of Burke, "introduced other interests into all countries than those which arose from their locality and natural circumstances." The same profound observer adds, "It would be to repeat the history of the two last centuries, to exemplify the effects of this revolution." It does not surprise us, who regard Ireland as representing the church militant, to count the large number of men and captains she supplied to the Catholic side of the European contest between "the reformation in the sixteenth, and "the revolution" in the eighteenth century.

After the battle of Kinsale, O'Sullivan, Beare, and those excepted from James's amnesty, entered the Span

* The Irish colleges at Rome, Lisbon, and Paris are still devoted to their original purpose. At present, (1852,) Dr. Kirby is president at Rome, Dr. Gartland at Lisbon, and Dr. Miley at Paris. The present primate of Ireland (Dr. Cullen) was Dr. Kirby's predecessor at Rome. †Thoughts on French Affairs, in December, 1791.

ish service, and some rose to high rank in naval and military expeditions. O'Sullivan commanded a ship in Philip II.'s expedition against the Turks, and in one engagement had a brother shot at his side. From the specimen Spain then had, her rulers became anxious to enlist more. From Ulster, after the exile of the O'Neils and O'Donnells, she obtained whole regiments, and such captains as the O'Donnells and O'Reillys; from Galway she obtained, later, many recruits, among whom certain Blakes and O'Connors rose to eminence. They served valiantly against the Dutch, the Turks, and the English, throughout that century. In Spain and South America their descendants kept the vantage ground, and did truly and valiantly.* In the last century, Spain continued to recruit in Ireland. In 1708, she embodied two Irish regiments of dragoons and three of foot. In the defence of Oran, in 1732, and the Italian campaigns of the two next years, these regiments won honor. In 1743, in the battle of Velletri, between Spain and Austria, there were Irish soldiers on both sides. Austria triumphed, but the Irish soldiers of Spain protected the retreat, and rescued the infant, Don Philip. Lacy, Lawless, O'Reilly, and Wogan, their best officers, were made grandees of Spain after these campaigns. Lawless, by the arrest of the Duke de Medini Celi, was said to have saved the monarchy. He was afterwards governor of Majorca. Lacy was sent ambassador to Petersburg, where he found a relative high in favor. This was Field Marshal Lacy, the conqueror of the Tartars and of Sweden, by whose prudent generalship Charles XII. was routed at Pultowa, in 1709.†

Another branch of this notable house gave, in the same age, two generals and aulic councillors to Austria. Austria, before and after the separation from Spain, was long partial to Irish soldiers. The Brownes, of Camas, in Limerick, exiled for their faith, gave a field marshal,

*It is hardly necessary to allude to the Generals O'Donnell, Blake, and Sarsfield, of the Peninsular war; or to O'Donju, Viceroy of Mexico, O'Higgins, Captain General of Chili, or O'Donnell, Captain General of

Cuba.

+ Manstein's Memoirs.

two generals, and other distinguished officers, to that empire. One of these generals was made a baron, and governor of Deva, in Transylvania; the other, married to the daughter of Field Marshal Lacy, was naturalized in Russia, and made governor of Livonia.

Field Marshal Ulysses Browne had the good fortune to beat the King of Prussia and to liberate the King of Poland. He died in 1757, much mourned by Maria Theresa. Another field marshal of the same name and family died at Vienna, in 1784.

The Carlow family of Kavanagh gave five general officers to Austria. In 1766, Charles Kavanagh was governor of Prague and count of the empire; about the same time, Charles, his cousin, held the rank of general and count; John Baptist Kavanagh was a general and aulic councillor. Sir James Kavanagh and Baron Henry Kavanagh were distinguished in the AustroFrench war.

The Methian family of Nugent has been naturalized in. Austria since the seventeenth century; has given two field marshals and several aulic councillors, ambassadors, and generals to the imperial service. In the "thirty years' war," "the names of O'Dwyer, Butler, and Maguire frequently occur. On the Austrian army list, a few years ago, there were twenty-five eminent officers of Irish descent.

The other Catholic German power, Bavaria, following the example of the rest, sought to strengthen itself with Irish arms. Baron Harrold, a native of Limerick, and colonel in that service, was chamberlain to the king in 1780.

The King of Naples, also, had his Irish guards, of whom Sir Balthazar O'Neil was colonel, towards the close of the last century. The guard was composed of what was formerly called the regiment of Limerick. At Velettri they rescued the king's person from the Austrian army.

Poor Poland, also, had its Irish soldiers. Field Marshal Maurice Kavanagh devoted his life to defend that nationality against the infamous partitionists.

of

But the most celebrated Irish captains are those who served under the lilies of France. An Irish company horse served, in 1652, under Turenne, against the great Condé. In the campaigns of 1673, 1674, and 1675, under Turenne, two or three Irish regiments were in every engagement along the Rhone. At Altenheim, their commander, Count Hamilton, was created a major general of France.

In 1690, the old regiments, with the six new ones sent over by James, were formed into a brigade, and in 1690, 1691, 1692, and 1693, they went through the campaigns of Savoy and Italy, under Catinat, and against Prince Eugene. Justin McCarthy, Lord Mountcashel, who commanded them, died at Bareges of wounds received at Straffardo. At Marsiglia, they routed, in 1693, the allies, killing Duke Schomberg, son to the Huguenot general who fell at the Boyne.

The "new" brigade was employed under Luxemburg, and against King William, in Flanders, in 1692 and 1693. At Namur and Enghien, they were superb. Sarsfield, their brigadier, on the latter day was made mareschal-de-camp. At Landen, on the 29th of July, 1693, France again triumphed, and, with the cry, "Remember Limerick and British faith," Sarsfield pursued the route of the treaty-breakers. A ball reached him in that proud hour, and he fell mortally wounded. Pressing his hand upon the wound, he took it away dripping with blood, and only said, "O that this was for Ireland!” So died one of the most devoted soldiers of the cross and of Irish nationality—a worthy grandson of Rory O'Moore.

The two brigades in the same war lost their chiefs, and were decimated by their many desperate charges. In 1695, all the remaining veterans were organized into twelve complete regiments, four of horse and eight of infantry, under the descendants of their first officers.*

*The king's regiment of cavalry :- Dominick Sheldon, colonel; Edmond Prendergast, lieutenant colonel; Edmond Butler, major; 4 captains, 6 lieutenants, 6 cornets.

The queen's regiment of cavalry: - Lord Galmoy, colonel; René de

Till the revolution, in 1791, they took part in every war. in which France was engaged. From 1691 "to the year 1745, after the battle of Fontenoy, above four hundred and fifty thousand (450,000!) Irishmen lost their lives in the service of France." *

Many of the officers of the brigade founded distinguished families in France, still represented in the politics and the campaigns of that brave nation. O'Brien was created mareschal of France and commander of Languedoc; McMahon, a marquis, and knight of St. Louis; Dillon was created a viscount. the same rank as Turenne's; Lally was made governor of Pondicherry; Roche (who passed into the service of Sardinia) viscount of Fermoy; and so with many others.

French recruiting for the brigade was carried on sys

Carné, a Frenchman, lieutenant colonel; James Tobin, major; 4 captains, 6 lieutenants, 6 cornets.

The king's regiment of dragoons: - Lord Viscount Kilmallock, (Sarsfield,) colonel; Turenne O'Carroll, lieutenant colonel; De Salles, a Frenchman, major; 5 captains, 14 lieutenants, 14 cornets.

The queen's regiment of dragoons: - Charles Viscount Clare, colonel; Alexander Barnewal, lieutenant colonel; Charles Maxwell, major; 5 captains, 14 lieutenants, 14 cornets.

The king's infantry regiment of guards: - William Dorington, colonel; Oliver O'Gara, lieutenant colonel; John Rothe, major; 12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieutenants, 14 ensigns.

The queen's regiment of infantry:·

Simon Luttrel, colonel; Francis Wachop, lieutenant colonel; James O'Brien, major; 12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieutenants, 14 ensigns.

An infantry regiment of marines : — The Lord Grand-prior, colonel; Nicholas Fitzgerald, lieutenant colonel; Richard Nugent, second lieutenant colonel; Edmond O'Madden, major; 11 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieutenants, 14 ensigns.

The Limerick regiment of infantry: Sir John Fitzgerald, colonel; Jeremiah O'Mahony, lieutenant colonel; William Thessy, major; 12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieutenants, 14 ensigns.

The Charlemont regiment of infantry: - Gordon O'Neill, colonel; Hugh McMahon, lieutenant colonel; Edmond Murphy, major; 12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieutenants, 14 ensigns.

Dublin regiment of infantry: - John Power, colonel; John Power, lieutenant colonel; Theobald Burke, major; 12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieutenants; 14 ensigns.

The Athlone regiment of infantry: Walter Burke, colonel; Owen McCarty, lieutenant colonel; Edmond Cantwell, major; 12 captains, 28 lieutenants, 28 sub-lieutenants, 14 ensigns. - McGeoghegan, History of Ireland, pp. 605, 606.

* Authority, Clarke, Duc de Feltre, minister at war in France cited in O'Connor's Military Memoirs.