TH

E

*4.

 

Von. IV. No. I2.

NEW YORK, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1861.

PRICE 4 CENTS.

CONTENTS.

Enrroitui..—Brightening Prospects—False Teaching in
Ireland—Representation of ’l‘ralee—'l‘he Good Cause
Spreading—Agrarian Disturbance in Ireland—Meagh-
er’s Lecture in Boston.

Lrri-:niutY.—The Battle of the Cowpens (a historical
poem)—'l‘o my Native Ireland (original poem).

MiscsLLANsous.—Letter from John Mitchel-—Letter of
Geo. Henry Moore on the National Petition—Effects
of the American “ Revolution ” in England—The Fe-
nians of Abbotsford and Irvington, N. Y.—Tlie Di-
rectors of the Limerick National Reading-room to the
Nationalists of Limcrick—The Ancient Kings of Con-
naught (O’Conor Don continued)—-Biographical sketch
of General Hoche——Rock’s Hue and Cry——Latest Irish
and other European News—- Irish Marriages and Deaths.

PROSPECTUS

or A
WEEKLY IRISH JOURNAL,

“THE PHCENIX.”
Oflice, 6 Centre street, New‘York.

The proprietors of this enterprise desire to be as brief
and explicit as possible, in stating the principles on, and
the objects for, which it is undertaken.

The Pnci:.\'ix will be entirely different from all
other Irish Journals. It will occupy a position of com-
plete independence. It will announce its own doctrines,
and enforce its own opinions, independent of preconceived
views, interests and prejudices, to none of which it will
ever cater.

The name PH(ENlX suggests the principles and objects
of the Journal that assumes it ; being emblematic ot' a re-
surrection and a new existence. Its efforts will be main-
ly, if not exclusively, devoted to inculcate the belief,
and elevate it into a conviction, that it is the paramount
duty of lrishmen :

First-—To disconnect themselves from all English asso-
ciations. ’

Secondly.-—-To abstain from any participation in the
farce of electing members to the English Parliament.

'I‘hirdly.—-To enter into an extensive, sincere and
brotherly combination among themselves.

Fourthly.—To base that combination on a stern resolu-
tion ; to use all honorable means, and seize on every feasi-
ble opportunity to extirpate, root and branch, from Ire-
land, the English garrison, English government, English
laws, English land tenure, and all the adjuncts of English
usurpation; to restors the soil of the Island to the Irish
people ; and for this end make immediate and continuous
preparation; and regard all legitimate weapons as fair,
all aid acceptable, and every chance a pre-ordained op-
portunity.

In this will consist the first, last and chief object, duty,
aim and ambition of the Puosxix.

With the partizanship of American politics it will not in-
terfere. From American lactions and cliques, it will keep
entirely aloof. It will not hesitate, however, to advocate
the principles of genuine Republicanism here as well as at
home; and it will be prompt and proud to uphold all good,
generous and honorable men, who are true friends to hu-
man freedom, without reference to their political con-
nection in America. It will especially sustain and en-
courage those whose sympathies are in favor of the liber-
tiou of Ireland, and expose and oppose the enemies and
maligners of the Irish name and race wherever they pre-
sent themselves.

With what ability THE Pnasivix will be conducted; with
What interest its literature will be invested; and with
what wisdom its policy will be conceived and vigor en-
forced ; how far, and in what respects it will excel other
Journals, and commend itselfto the educated, high-minded
and brave, this is not the place to say. Oi its merits or
demerits let performances and not promises be the test.

The policy which the l’nu:;.\‘ix will inculcate, and the
principle of action it will recommend, will be under the
sole direction and control of JOHN OMAIIONY.

MR. JAMES ROCHE, late of the 12-ale/t News, will be
the Acting Editor, and to him all communications on
literary subjects must be addressed.

@* For terms see fourth page.
New Yonx, June 4. 1859.

L E U T U R E, _
BY THOMAS FRANCIS MEAG-HER,
I./V IR VLVG IIALL,
Corner of Fifteenth-street and Irving Place,
On Wednesday evening, February 20, inst.,

sunmcr.
“Recent Events in Ircland—English Connection and
French Invasion.”
TICKETS

To be had at the Office of the Pncnxix. at Haverty’s, corner
of Dutch and Fulton streets, Hall &. Sons, and Music
Publishers, Broadway. fe9—3t

PHOEINIX BUSINESS NOTICES.

Subscriptions of clubs and single subscribers will be
promptly attended to by addressing Patrick J. Downing,
at the Publication Otlice, No. 6 Centre street, New York.

g‘ The PHCENIX is published on Tuesday of each
week.

Any New York or Brooklyn subscriber who is served
with a copy later than two o’clock on the following
day will oblige us by reporting the same at this omce.

GENERAL HOCHE,

Commander—in-Chief of the Armies of the Moselle and
Rhine, of the Coast of Cherburg, of Brest. of the
West, of the Ocean, of the S-ambre and Mease,
and of the troops destined for an expe-
dition to Ireland.

From the Annual Necrology for 1797-8.
RTHE command of the armies and navies Of
France was formerly confided exclusively to the
nobles. The great families under the monarchy
might be fairly said to have been born admirals
and generals ; there were, indeed, no hereditary
men-of-war, but there were many proprietary regi-
ments. It éannot be denied that this system,
faulty as it was, produced great men, such as
the De Guesclins, the Colignis, the Condes, and
the Turennes, of former days ; and it will

remain for posterity to decide, whether it has’

been improved by a contrary practice. Certain
it is that a great and sudden chance has taken
place in the affairs of France, and that the most
successful generals of the present day have been
selected from the ranks

Lazurus Hoche, a favorite of fortune, and a
childof the Revolution, was born J uue 24, I768,
at the little village of Montreuil, in the suburbs
of Versailles. His father, like most of his
countrymen, had served during his youth in the
army; he was afterwards engaged in several
menial offices, being at one time employed as an
hostler, and at another entrusted to feed the
bounds of Louis XV. His mother died soon
after she had brought him into the world. ’

Bereaved thus early of one parent, and the
other being unable either to maintain or educate
him properly, the boy would have been entirely
neglected had it not been for the care and atten-
tion of his aunt, who kept a. green stall at
Versailles. This good woman, pitying his
situation, andconceiving a great affection for
him, took him home with her, and sent him to a
little day school. There he learned to read and

_write, and is said to have distinguished himself,

not only‘ as the best scholar, but also as the
wildest of all his companions.

The curé of St. Germain-en-Laye, perceiving
him to be a fine lively youth, made him a
chorister.

In the meantime, his kind relation supplied
not only his little wants, but even anticipated
his wishes in everything. He, on his part, is
represented as giving early. indications of
talents; he was extremely desirous to receive
information on every subject; his curiosity
prompted him to interrogate those older than
himself; he listened to their replies with avidi-
ty ; and often embarrassed them with the inge-
nuity of his inquiries and remarks. As he
approached, however, towards manhood, a sud-
den change is said to have taken place in his
manners and dispositions. Instead of being
loquacious as before, he became silent and
thoughtful, and evinced by his conversation that
he had meditated to some purpose.

His wants now increased with his strength
and years, and, perceiving that his aunt could
not afford to keep him any longer, he deter-
mined to earn his own livelihood. No situation
appeared vile in his eyes, provided it enabled
him to relieve the worthy woman from such a
burden; he accordingly engaged himself as a
kind of /telper in the royal stables at Versailles.

The ardent character of Hoche could not long
accommodate itself to such a_ degrading state of
servitude. He had already become indignant at
his situation; and having accidentally got hold of
Rousseau’s works, a ‘passion for independence
awakened in his mind. His character had at
the same time taken a romantic turn, in conse-
quence of two or three novels which he now
read, and this circumstance at length fixed his
destiny. .

Having conceived a notion of bettering his
fortune abroad, be determined to embark for
the East Indies, and this spirit of adventure
proving contagious three other stable-boys
determined to follow his fortune. One of those
crimps who infest all the great cities in Europe,
and prey on the unwary, in order to gain a dis-
honest livelihood, depicted the pleasures of the
voyage, and the certainty of attaining wealth,
such fascinating colors, that they were easily
prevailed upon to enter into his views. This
fellow, who assumed the part of a generous
benefactor, not content with proffering them
advice, forced them at the same time to accept
of money, and then told them that they were

soldiers in the French guards, and had the
honor to serve the grand mmtarque .’

All remonstrance being iiiclfectual, Hoche,
then only sixteen years of age, was sent to his
regiment, at that time quartered in "Paris. On
arriving there, he found his whole fortune to
consist of one hundred and twenty-five lit-res,
(francs,) arising partly from the sum given him
as a premium on entering the army, and partly
from his own savings. Being now told that he
must give a treat to his fellow-soldiers, he
instantly complied, and a breakfast provided on
the occasion, by absorbing the whole of his
money, rendered him to the full as poor as
themselves. .

This new situation seems to have been per-
fectly accordant to Hoclie’s wishes ; and we are
accordingly told that he soon distinguished him-
self above the other recruits, by his promptitude
in understanding, and his alacrity in practising
the various military movements. In a single
month the drill sergeants easily instructed him
in what others spent a. whole year in acquiring ;
in short, instead of remaining in the awkward
squad, he was placed among the veterans, being
attached to the colonel’s company, called the
giberoies blancltes, from the color of their knap-
sacks. -

The fine proportion of his limbs, the neatness
of his dress, and the regularity of his conduct,
soon distinguished him amidst the crowd ; and
the grenadiers having requested that he might
be admitted into their corps, Hoche also became
a grenadier. At this period he began, for the
first time, to perceive that his education had
been neglected, and, being ashamed of his igno-
rance, he himself determined to accomplish what
the misery of his relations had prevented them
from achieving for him. It was, however, in-
dispensibly necessary for him to obtain books, in
order to improve his mind, and to procure" these,
money was, of course, wantino‘. Neither his
pay nor his family being adequate to furnish the
means, he determined to have recourse to the
vigor of his arms ; in short, strength and indus-
try were his sole resources.

No kind of labor disgusted him. He rose by
break of day, and drew water, or trcnchcd the
ground for gardeners in the neighborhood of
Paris; and, what will appear infinitely more
strange to an Englishman, the same hands that
brandished the spade in the morning, managed
the needle at night; in fine, he embroidered
vests and caps, which he afterwards sold at the
Cafe Cttisinier near Pant St. Mic/tael.

At the end of every week he divided his earn-
ings into three parts, which were consecrated to
three different purposes : the first he set aside to
pay the substitute that mounted guard for him ;
the second be expended in company with his
companions; and the third was advanced for
the books borrowed by him. Tliese, indeed, he
seemed to devour rather than read, so eager was
he to receive information.

This beardless grenadier‘ began already to
direct his studies so as to attain a. better
knowledge of his own profession ; he attempted
to discuss military subjects; pointed out the
inconvenience of the then existing system of
tactics, and already argued on the iniproprieiy
of many of the regulati'ons that prevailed in the
army.

Notwithstanding this serious turn, he did not
dcbar himself from any of the pleasures incident
to his line of life. No one enjoyed the company
of his friends with greater glee; no one was
more attached to them. Learning that one of
his companions had been assassinated during a
quarrel, in the neighborhood of the capital, he
determined not to sleep before he had avenged
his fate. He accordingly salliecl forth at the
head of a body of soldiers, and repairing to the
house whe1'e the murder was committed, they
broke all. the windows, and destroyed the furni-
ture. This violence was punished with three
months’ confinement in the blctc/c /wle. At the
end of that period he presented it spectacle
deserving of pity; destitute of linen, clothes,
and shoes, with a face pale and disfigured, he at
length arrived at the barracks. His fellow-
soldiers received him with transports of joy,
and, being enraged at the severity of his treat-
ment, determined to avenge his wrong by iiiflict-
ing vengeance on the infoi-iiier; but he entrcated,
and at length prevailed upon them to desist.

Soon after this, he had an affair‘ of honor with
one of the non-commissioned officers of his batta-

lion. A corporal of the name of Serre oppressed

the whole regiment, and acted on all occasions
in such a manner as rendered him extremely

hated ; but no one dared to oppose him. Hoche .

at length determined to revenge the common
cause, and sent him a challenge. They accord-
ingly met, and fought near the mills at Mont-
martre, on the 28th of December, 1783. The
corporal. on this occasion, received a desperate
wound, his opponent’s sword being plunged into
his belly, up to the very hilt; he, however,
recovered, and being driven from the corps,
emigrated with the nobility in 1790: as for
Hoche, he received a deep cut on his forehead,
which gave a more martial air to his counte-
mince, and detained him during a fortnight in
the hospital.

The despotism employed by the officers about
this period towards the guards proved unfriendly
to the monarchy. On the demise of Marshal
Biron, the Duke de Chatelet was appointed his
successor, and is said to have increased the
discontent by avaricious speculations on the
subsistence of the soldiery: if this was actually
the case, it constituted one of the most cruel
refinements in tyranny. The discontents of the
capital, the disorder of the finances, and the
miseries of the people, instead of procuring any
increase of the comforts of the troops, formed so
many specious pretexts for the exercise of new
rigors. The French guards were confined to
their barracks, and all communication between
them and the citizens was interdicted. Punish-
nieuts, some of them deemed cruel, all of them
ignominious, are said to have been practised;
such as the application of the flat part of the
sabre, and the piquet. In order to occupy their
minds, and prevent them from itatc/ting treason,
a novel system of discipline was invented, or at
least practised, that thus, according to a French-
man of some celebrity, “they might not have
leisure to reason.”

Hoche, being now well known as a good
soldier, was selected to teach the new manoeu-
vres, and, after dedicating a month to the
attainment of a theory replete with minutiae, he.
triumphed over every obstacle, and began to.
put it in practice. His conduct was so much
approved of on this occasion, tha.t he was-.
honored with a s/touId=er~Imot: thus he was des-
tined to pass through all the immediate ranks,
andbe it corporal before he became a general-
But he had not as yet attained the honor of u
halbert. Indeed, he was on the point of losing
his late prefernicnt, almost as soon as he had
obtained it, for the grcnndiers, while locked up
in their barracks, having thought fit to fall a
dancing, this was considered as turning their
captivity into derision, and Hoche was called
iipon to name the authors of this new crime,
under pain of being degraded and sent to the
Al/baiye (prison). On this occasion he observed,
“that, if all the culprits were to be ordered
thither, the (IUI]gi—‘0nS1llllSi. be enlarged.”

It was about this period that Sieyes published
his celebrated pamphlet respecting the Tltird‘
Esta/e, and all Frenchmen, as if electrified by
the sound, were ready to prove that they apper-
tained to it. Even the l*‘reneli Guards, hitherto
considered as the satellites of ai'bit1‘:ir_y power,
began at this period to side with the people,
and on the 14th of July, 1789, I-Ioche and his
companions were the first to assail and take
possession of the Bastile.

Soon after this, these troops, hitherto so firm-
ly attaclied to the monarchy, were organized by
La. Fayette, as the Gctrde iSoldee Parisiemte. In
21 short time they were once formed anew, under
another name, being numbered the 102nd, 103d,
and 104th reginicnts; and it was into the last
of ‘these that Hoche was admitted with the rank
of second adjutant.

An occasion now presented itself of displaying
his talents in ,a new point of view. The admi-
nistration of the military hospital of the French
guards having fallen into improper hands, he
entered into a. regular investigation of the
accounts, which had been rendered obscure for
the purposes of deception. At the same time
he did everything in his power to increase the
discipline of the regiment to which he now
belonged, and his talents at length met with
their reward. During a review in the Elysian
Fields, in the vicinity (now in the midst) of
Paris, Servan, then minister at war, observed a.
platoon that distinguished itself above all the
rest by the neatness of its evolutions, and the
precision of its4,mevements-

Z/

TO BE CONTINUED.