Thomas Devin Reilly's powers, too, never before tested in this range of literature, astonished even the warmest admirers of his genius.

The journal at once attained a standard of eminence, political, literary and poetical, never accorded to a production of the kind, published in Ireland.

For the days in which they were written, the songs and essays of Thomas Davis contained greater depth, and a holier purpose.

They seemed to flow, too, from a diviner inspiration; were of a wider, calmer and more generous scope.

But the times were different; and it was as if the spirit of fire, burning at the bases of man's social hopes throughout Europe, breathed its prophetic glow on the heart of John Mitchel, conscious that he, of all men, in a prostrate land, could find it befitting utterance.
It must not be omitted that the muse of "Mary," of "Eva," and of poor Clarence Mangan, considerably enhanced the high estimate of the _United Irishman_.
In the presence of such an oracle of defiance and vengeance, the Government for a while stood aghast.