OUT of a job lot jumble of books comes a monograph by John K. Ingram, LLD, TCD: John Kells Ingram as most recognise him, author of the poem and song which many of us recall as Who Fears To Speak of Ninety Eight, though its title is really The Memory of the Dead. This time he was addressing an assembly of librarians in the year 1884. But, out of context, more lively, was half a hundred newspaper cuttings, mostly from the early years of this century about the college itself, which fell out when the monograph was opened.
In the way of the times, they were in long columns of small print, without display of any kind. Not even one crossheading. Not always flattering to the College. The first purported to be about "Trinity College in the 19th Century," but had a lot about the close of the 18th, when "the spirit of sedition was abroad" and "it was suddenly discovered that treason was rife within the walls of Trinity College." While several small treasonable societies had been established, the bulk of the students remained intensely loyal. A Volunteer Corps of Yeomanry was raised, chiefly by the members of the Historical Society. A resolution was almost carried, calling on members to wear their Yeoman's uniform at the society's meetings.
In 1798 it wasn't possible to hold the quarterly examinations or the examinations for Fellowship! Wolfe Tone is not mentioned in a long account which goes on to record the expulsion of Robert Emmet and the fact that fifty, when a Visitation was set up, refused to swear an oath of allegiance. And that was only on the first day. A pardon was offered to those who would at once resign membership of any secret society. Thomas Moore was one who did, according to the account.
All the troubles were not over. "The suppression of rebellion and the restoration of order was followed by an event which was, from a financial point of view, disastrous to Trinity College. The dissolution of the Irish Parliament robbed her of a staunch friend". But the anonymous correspondent then goes on to record a great revival under Provost Lloyd and successors.