The Association was at the time seriously in debt, and he proposed to multiply that debt four-fold by engaging in this costly undertaking.
While persons who affected to be in his confidence were amazed at this step, the Government regarded it as an evidence of purpose which it was indispensable at once to check.

They saw that their opponents had formerly menaced and coerced in vain, and they determined to proscribe.
Accordingly the newly appointed viceroy, Lord Ebrington, being waited on by the Dublin Corporation with some address of congratulation, delivered them a lecture on the disloyalty of the Corn Exchange, and announced his purpose never to employ in the service of the Government any one who frequented that pestilent locality.

The corporation returned abashed to their council-rooms to record the viceregal threat.

But from end to end of the land rose one shout of indignant defiance.

Suspicion, doubt and hesitation gave way to the taunt involved in the insolent challenge.