The Life of Theobald Wolfe Tone (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1831. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... NARRATIVE THE THIRD AND LAST EXPEDITION FOR THE LIBERATION OF lP-EIAND; AND OF THE CAPTURE, TRIAL, AND DEATH OF THEOBALD WOLFE TONE. Blf THE EDITOR, HIS SON. Ik order to give a c ear and full narrative of the third and last expedition for the deliverance of Ireland, it will be necessary to ascend somewhat higher. When Carnot, the only able and honest man in the councils of the directory, was proscribed, and when general Hoche died, the friends of a revolution in that island lost every chance of assistance from France. Those two great statesmen and warriors, earnest in the cause, of which they perceived the full importance to the interests of their country, and to the extension of republican principles, had planned the expeditions of Bantry bay, and of the Texel, on the largest and moat effective scale which the naval resources of France and Holland could afford. The former failed partly by the misconduct ot the navy, and partly by the indecision of Grouchy, of that honest but wavering man wno twice heid me fate of Europe in his hands, at Bantry bay and at Waterloo, and twice let it slip through them, from want of resolution. The second failed only through the fault of the elements. On the death of Hoche, the French government recalled, to succeed him, the most illustrious of their warriors; he who afterwards wielded the destinies of Europe, and who then, under the name of general Buonaparte, was already acknowledged the first commander of the age: and yet it was an age fertile in great chiefs. But he who, before the age of thirty, had already achieved the immortal campaigns of Italy; subdued that beautiful country; founded one republic (the Cisalpine), and extinguished another (Venice); humbled the power of Austria, and compelled her, by his private authority, t...