CHAPTER XIX.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

The General Election--Crime in Ireland--Increased Powers granted to the Executive--Ireland on the Verge of Rebellion--Death of O'Connell--Viceroyalty of Lord Clarendon--Special Commission in Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary--The Commission at Clonmel--Rise of the Young Ireland Party--The _Nation_--Meagher and Smith O'Brien--They try to dispense with the Church--The Irish Confederation--The _United Irishman_--News of the French Revolution--Panic in Dublin--Lord Clarendon and Mr. Birch--The Deputation to Paris--Smith O'Brien in Parliament--Preparations for Civil War--Young and Old Ireland at blows--Arrest and Trial of Mitchel, Smith O'Brien, and Meagher--Transportation of Mitchel--Lord Clarendon's Extraordinary Powers--Smith O'Brien in the South--Commencement of the Insurrection--Battle of Ballingarry--Arrest of Smith O'Brien--Collapse of the Rebellion--Trial of the Conspirators--Trials and Sentences--The Rate in Aid--The Encumbered Estates Act--The Queen's Visit to Ireland--Cove becomes Queenstown--A Visit to Cork--Kingstown and Dublin--Departure from Dublin--An Affecting Incident--Belfast 560