His songs, so soft and tender, and yet so redolent of manliness and hope, inspired the ambition to compose a minstrelsy as wild and vigorous as themselves.

They were read and learned and sung with an avidity and pride heretofore unknown.
The monster meetings were long a design of Thomas Davis, John Dillon and the present writer.

One great object with them was to train the country people to military movements and a martial tread.

This object it would be unsafe to announce, and it was to be effected through other agencies than drill.

The people should necessarily come to such rendezvous in baronial, parochial or town processions, and under the guidance of local leaders.