[Illustration:  Richard O’Gorman, Jun. (1848)]

[Illustration:  Patrick O’Donohoe (1848)]

The preparations engaged the vigilant activity of a large committee for two entire days and nights.  Yet these preparations bore an infinite disproportion to the display of wealth of mind, of energy of thought, and national pomp, which ushered in the glorious morning.  Those who scoffed at the project when it was first announced came to mock the scene but went away admiring.  The spirit of the hour infused itself into the public heart, which appeared to throb but to one impulse and one aim:  at all events no one was, no one could be, found obdurate enough to question the significance or importance of the proceeding.

Mr. O’Connell’s fellow-prisoners shared his state and the homage which was paid to him.  But in the outward crowd no one dissociated him personally from the minutest detail of the day’s proceedings, or admitted for a moment that any other human being partook of its glory, or directed its end.  High above the multitude they saw him receive the nation’s homage, which seemed but the expression of the liberty he had already achieved.  How he felt the influence of the scene there is no record to tell.  His demeanour while exercising the prerogatives of his position was such as became a man conscious that he occupied a throne loftier than ever yet was decked by a kingly crown.  But when his official functions were discharged, he addressed the impassioned throng in language too tame for the most ordinary occasion.

The great act of the day was the adoption of the following pledge.  It had been prepared and approved by the Committee of the Association, and every word was canvassed with the most scrupulous regard to the trying circumstances which the committee found themselves in presence of.  The virulent hostility of the Tory Government had been baffled, and its utmost strength discomfited.  It was understood at the time that a Whig Government was in the advent of power, and the great object of the pledge was to record the solemn conviction of the Nation that they were faithless and treacherous as the others were unscrupulous and vindictive, and that to the corrupting influence of the one and the unmasked hostility of the other the same resistance should be shown.  The pledge was preceded by this resolution:—­

“Resolved, That in commemorating this first anniversary of the 30th of May, we deem it our duty to record a solemn pledge that corruption shall not seduce, nor deceit cajole, nor intimidation deter us from seeking to obtain for Ireland the blessings of self-government through a national legislature, and we recommend that the following pledge be taken:—­

“We, the undersigned, being convinced that good government and wise legislation can be permanently secured to the Irish people only through the instrumentality of an Irish Legislature, do hereby pledge ourselves to our country that we will never desist from seeking the Repeal of the Union with England by all peaceable, moral and constitutional means, until a parliament be restored to Ireland.

    “Dated this 30th day of May, 1845.”