of failure, not alone to Carrick but the entire island, at all hazards to prevent a useless wreck and slaughter.  The great argument relied upon by every one was, why should Carrick be selected?  The same question would apply everywhere else; and if the consideration it involves were to avail, there never could be a revolution.  However, in Carrick it seems to have prevailed.  Other arguments, no doubt, were urged, such as want of provisions, want of arms and want of ammunition.  The moment of indecision is the harvest of evil passions—­avarice, selfishness, cowardice cloud the intellect, and blast the destiny of man.  There is some doubt as to who principally superinduced this indecision and the judgment which here ranks it with a faulty weakness and a fearful fatality refuses to question the motives upon which it was based.

One singular fact, attested by all, deserves particular notice.  It is this:  The other Roman Catholic clergymen of Carrick did not then interfere.  They had been always opposed, on other grounds, to the Irish Confederation; but in that hour of fate they were silent.

Mr. O’Brien and his comrades left the town deeply disappointed, if not in actual disgust and despair.  They were ignorant of my absence from Cashel and determined to join me there.  When I had learned this, I was thirty miles from that town and knew that they had arrived there during the night, and had, long before then, taken some decisive course.  My hope was that the town was in their hands.  But, before I could decide on what it became me to do, a messenger arrived from Cashel, directing me to remain where I was, and conveying an assurance that Cashel was by that time captured.  Mr. Meagher immediately followed, confirming the intelligence.  He was on his way to Waterford.  We immediately determined on scouring the country along the bases of Slievenamon and the Slatequarry hills, which stretch into the county Kilkenny.  During that journey the enthusiasm of the people was measureless.  At every forge, pikes were manufactured, the carpenter was at work fitting the handles, and the very women were employed in polishing and sharpening these weapons on the rough mountain stones.  We called at several villages, and were surrounded by the young men and the aged, by matron and maid, and from no lips did one sound of complaint, or discouragement, or fear fall.  Everywhere hope and resolution and courage lit up the hearts and eyes of young and old.  We rode, at least a distance of twenty miles, and returned assured that there was not one man within that district who was not then prepared and would not be armed ere night came.  We appointed the chapel of Ballyneal, within two miles of Carrick, as the place of rendezvous, determined to act according to the intelligence which we might receive from Cashel.  Meantime deputations from Carrick waited upon us, to assure us the people there would follow us notwithstanding any advice they might have received.  We agreed