The Leaders of Public Opinion in Ireland: Swift--Flood--Grattan--O'Connell

Front Cover
D. Appleton, 1872 - Ireland - 320 pages

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 152 - No matter in what language his doom may have been pronounced ; no matter what complexion incompatible with freedom, an Indian or an African sun may have burnt upon him ; no matter in what disastrous battle his liberty may have been cloven down ; no matter with what solemnities he may have been devoted upon the altar of slavery ; the first moment he touches the sacred soil of Britain, the altar and the god sink together in the dust ; his soul walks abroad in her own majesty ; his body swells beyond...
Page 168 - Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty: Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, And death's pale flag is not advanced there.
Page 113 - I am now to address a free people: ages have passed away, and this is the first moment in which you could be distinguished by that appellation.
Page 151 - British soil — which proclaims, even to the stranger and the sojourner, the moment he sets his foot upon British earth, that the ground on which he treads is holy, and consecrated by the genius of UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION.
Page 153 - The conversation of the principal persons of the country all tend to encourage this system of blood, and the conversation even at my table, where you will suppose I do all I can to prevent it, always turns on hanging, shooting, burning, &c., &c., and if a priest has been put to death the greatest joy is expressed by the whole company.
Page 38 - Ireland is the only kingdom I ever heard or read of, either in ancient or modern story, which was denied the liberty of exporting their native commodities and manufactures wherever they pleased, except to countries at war with their own prince or state; yet this, by the superiority of mere power, is refused us in the most momentous parts of commerce...
Page 168 - While a plank of the vessel sticks together, I will not leave her — let the courtier present his flimsy sail, and carry the light bark of his faith, with every new breath of wind — I will remain anchored here — with fidelity to the fortunes of my country, faithful to her freedom, faithful to her fall.
Page 168 - Yet I do not give up the country. I see her in a swoon, but she is not dead. Though in her tomb she lies helpless and motionless, still there is on her lips a spirit of life, and on her...
Page 9 - Tis true, but let it not be known, My eyes are somewhat dimmish grown; For nature, always in the right, To your decays adapts my sight, And wrinkles undistinguished pass, For I'm ashamed to use a glass; And till I see them with these eyes, Whoever says you have them, lies.
Page 171 - My occupation is now of the most unpleasant nature, negotiating and jobbing with the most corrupt people under heaven. I despise and hate myself every hour for engaging in such dirty work, and am supported only by the reflection that without an Union the British empire must be dissolved.

Bibliographic information