The Enquirer

Foreign Intelligence.

Extract from a letter received in Philadelphia per the Susan, which arrived at New-York 31st May—dated Dublin, April 5, 1804.

"It is dismal to view the state of this kingdom at present, all the horrors of 1798 and '99 are renewed; every man who may come under the description of suspected persons, is dragged from their families and abodes, and either immured in a jail or prison ship. Hostages have been taken out of every county and transmitted to this city where they are closely confined and separated from each other. This is pretended to be in consequence of French agents being lately in different parts of the kingdom, from whom the report is that a visit is shortly expected, others believe that the first descent will be made on Scotland, and which the government appear to be aware of. We have expected them here for some time back, and I am convinced that if a descent is made on Scotland it will be only a diversion—you may rely upon it that Ireland is the ground.--There are many worthy and wealthy men made prisoners of late -the venerable Mr. Dixon of Kilmainham, Messrs. Redmonds. Fleet street, Cosgrave of Newry, Count O'Gorman of the county of Clare, and many other gentlemen of the first respectability in the different parts of the Kingdom. Many of the state prisoners who were transported from Fort George, have been lately here. I understand that all of them except the brave unfortunate captain Russell who was taken some time ago, and executed in the North, have got safe off for France and Holland, but with a promise to return as soon as possible.

"Shortly after the 22d of last July the martial law was proclaimed in the city and county of Dublin; afterwards extended to the counties of Wicklow, Kildare, Carlow, Tipperary, and Cork ; lately it has made its way to the Kings and Queens counties, to Meath, West Meath, Longford, the upper district of Cavan, and the entire of the counties of Roscommon, Sligo, and Mayo. By proclamation every military officer from a general to a sergeant is empowered to seize the persons of every one suspected of want of loyalty--this authority has given the military power uncontrolled and they use it with so much licentiousness, that men of the first respectability are daily dragged to guard houses, their property destroyed, and in many late instances their families violated in a manner that would shock humanity to hear of.

"I assure you that any change which might take place here would be willingly received by the great body of the people, of all descriptions, for add to all I have said fresh additional taxes, which took place on the 29th Sept. on things that we thought could not have borne it.

"There is great dissatisfaction in the militia, so much so, that 19 guineas are offered to every man of them who will volunteer their services to England, Scotland or Guernsey.

"The government are receiving donations from £. 1 to what you please--many men have sacrificed large sums to this mandate merely to purchase by this evidence of loyalty their freedom from prison ships or gaol. I am credibly informed that our present attorney general has pocketed upwards of £.10,000 by procuring the release of some wealthy Catholics of Cork, and the adjoining counties who had been confined off Dungannon fort in a prison ship. It would appear that the officers of the present government foresee their dissolution, as it is every one for themselves, and they descend to the lowest arts of meanness. There are several ladies still confined on charges of treason, I shall mention a few of those--Miss Monroe, sister to the late general--Miss Dixon, of Banbridge--Miss Shaw of Dundalk, a Quaker lady died in prison. The case of Miss Shaw was particularly distressing, she had been taken early in the month of August last, committed to the castle of Carrickfergus, together with her two brothers--she was shortly after removed to the common gaol, and separated from all her connections--she was thrown into a damp cell, where she survived only a few weeks : even in her dying moments neither her mother nor sisters were permitted to see her. This act has been sensibly felt even by the enemies of republican Irishmen."