Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A New System Explanatory Of Terrestrial Phaenomena, &C.
Captain Donat Henchy O'Brien , R . N ., * has recently written one of the most interesting narratives that have appeared before the public , incidental of his adventures during the late war , comprising shipwreck , captivity , and escape from various prisons , during a period of twentythree years ; our hero endured far more trials ancl hardships than usually fall to the lot of the unfortunate ; but he surmounted them with all the characteristic perseveranceundaunted and hih moral
, courage , g acquirements of a true son of the ocean—a British sailor . Sweetly does he speak of his affectionate wife , and the numerous friendships which ultimately greeted his success ; and he has given to the public a record of truth , and a lesson to the world . It is , however , of the Masonic anecdote that we must speak . After many severe and cruel hardships , he tells us— " Our route was through Ilesden ancl St . Pol , to Arras , where we saw several of our
countrymen , who were not so extremely cautious as Mr . Kemp , although we were conducted through the main street loaded with chains . . The gaoler here behaved with kindness and civility to us , and ( with the exception of one ) was the most humane man in that situation 1 ever knew . " And then is appended the following as a note : — "And in dire necessity of his humanity were we all at this moment ; but more especially myself , for so completely knocked up was I from excessive fati
gue and exhaustion , by the length of this day ' s journey in chains , that I found my head quite dizzy , and had actually swooned and fallen against the prison walls before the gaoler could conduct me to my cell . Some genteel young men of the town , to whom Tuthill and Essel hacl contrived , in passing to the gaol , by signs , to make known that they were Freemasons , obtained permission for both to accompany them , for the nightto tlieir houseswhere they were most hospitablentertained
, , y ; whilst Ashworth and I were left upon straw ancl scanty prison fare in the dungeon . This circumstance determined us to be made Masons whenever an opportunity offered ; and which subsequently took place , with respect to myself , at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , Lincoln ' s-inn-fields ; for I consider it a solemn , moral , and useful institution , and that it is impossible for a conscientious Freemason to be otherwise than a worthy member of society . "
In the year 1798 , memorable for the unfortunate Irish rebellion , one of the measures resorted to b y the Irish Government to discover the secrets of the conspiracy , which shook British authority in Ireland to its centre , was that of suspending the Habeas Corpus Act , and a proclamation of martial law . Many scenes of blood and wickedness occurred , as is usual , in all civil wars , and many innocent men fell victims to the fury of the day . One of the means employed to extract a confession of
guilt , or a discovery of the treason against the government , too prevalent no doubt , was that of flogging the people—to say that it was often inflicted on the innocent was but too true , and in the following case would have been unjustl y scored on the back of a Brother , but that he
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A New System Explanatory Of Terrestrial Phaenomena, &C.
Captain Donat Henchy O'Brien , R . N ., * has recently written one of the most interesting narratives that have appeared before the public , incidental of his adventures during the late war , comprising shipwreck , captivity , and escape from various prisons , during a period of twentythree years ; our hero endured far more trials ancl hardships than usually fall to the lot of the unfortunate ; but he surmounted them with all the characteristic perseveranceundaunted and hih moral
, courage , g acquirements of a true son of the ocean—a British sailor . Sweetly does he speak of his affectionate wife , and the numerous friendships which ultimately greeted his success ; and he has given to the public a record of truth , and a lesson to the world . It is , however , of the Masonic anecdote that we must speak . After many severe and cruel hardships , he tells us— " Our route was through Ilesden ancl St . Pol , to Arras , where we saw several of our
countrymen , who were not so extremely cautious as Mr . Kemp , although we were conducted through the main street loaded with chains . . The gaoler here behaved with kindness and civility to us , and ( with the exception of one ) was the most humane man in that situation 1 ever knew . " And then is appended the following as a note : — "And in dire necessity of his humanity were we all at this moment ; but more especially myself , for so completely knocked up was I from excessive fati
gue and exhaustion , by the length of this day ' s journey in chains , that I found my head quite dizzy , and had actually swooned and fallen against the prison walls before the gaoler could conduct me to my cell . Some genteel young men of the town , to whom Tuthill and Essel hacl contrived , in passing to the gaol , by signs , to make known that they were Freemasons , obtained permission for both to accompany them , for the nightto tlieir houseswhere they were most hospitablentertained
, , y ; whilst Ashworth and I were left upon straw ancl scanty prison fare in the dungeon . This circumstance determined us to be made Masons whenever an opportunity offered ; and which subsequently took place , with respect to myself , at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , Lincoln ' s-inn-fields ; for I consider it a solemn , moral , and useful institution , and that it is impossible for a conscientious Freemason to be otherwise than a worthy member of society . "
In the year 1798 , memorable for the unfortunate Irish rebellion , one of the measures resorted to b y the Irish Government to discover the secrets of the conspiracy , which shook British authority in Ireland to its centre , was that of suspending the Habeas Corpus Act , and a proclamation of martial law . Many scenes of blood and wickedness occurred , as is usual , in all civil wars , and many innocent men fell victims to the fury of the day . One of the means employed to extract a confession of
guilt , or a discovery of the treason against the government , too prevalent no doubt , was that of flogging the people—to say that it was often inflicted on the innocent was but too true , and in the following case would have been unjustl y scored on the back of a Brother , but that he