HAR
Harvey, with his friends Colclough and FitzGrerald, was immediately imprisoned in "Wexford on suspicion. After the defeat of the royalists at the Three Rocks, Wex- ford was evacuated by the small garrison that remained, and the prisoners were on 30th May released by the inhabitants, who implored Harvey to intercede with the insurgents for the safety of the town. This he did; and upon its being occu- pied by the insurgents he was appointed Commander-in-chief. A provisional go- vernment was established, and with the exception of the barbarous massacre of ninety-seven Protestants on the bridge, and the inevitable requisitions for provi- sions incidental to all military occupations, their lives and property were secured to the inhabitants. Nearly the whole of Wex- ford County was soon in the possession of the insurgents, frightful atrocities being committed on both sides, and it was neces- sary that New Ross should be taken, so as to open communication with those ready to rise in other counties. Accordingly, on 4th June, the Wexford force under Harvey marched out, and having been joined by a contingent from the camp at Carrickbyme, they concentrated at Corbet Hill for the attack on New Ross. It is said that the evening before the battle was spent by Harvey and the insurgent officers in a carouse, from which they had scarcely re- covered when the engagement began. At first the insurgents carried all before them, drove the troops from their in- trenchments, through the town, and across the bridge into the County of Kilkenny. Instead of following up their success, as regular troops would have done, they commenced drinking and pillaging ; and when the royalists returned to the support of a brave party that still held the market-house, they were able to retrieve their losses, and the insurgents were slaughtered almost like sheep to the num- ber perhaps of 2,500. After the engage- ment a straggling band of insurgents set fire to a barn at Scullaboge, containing 1 20 fugitives, in retaliation, it is said, for the previous burning of an insurgent hospital containing nearly 100 patients, by the troops at Enniscorthy. During the battle of Ross, Harvey and his aide-de-camp, Mr. Gray, a Protestant attorney, spent most of the day on a neighbouring hill, almost inactive spectators of the fight. In the )'etreat, on seeing the blackened walls of Scullaboge barn, he remarked to a friend : " I see now the folly of embark- ing in this business with these people : if I succeed, I shall be murdered by them ; if they are defeated I shall be hanged."
HAR
After these events Mr. Harvey was deposed from the supreme command, and appointed president of the coxmcil of government. The battle of Vinegar Hill was lost by the insurgents on 2 1 st June, and next day Wex- ford was re-occupied by the King's troops. Harvey and Colclough, with the wife of the latter, took refuge on one of the Saltee Islands. They were pursued, and after a long search were found concealed in a cave, disguised as peasants. Harvey was tried by court-martial and executed on Wexford bridge on the 28th June, with Mr. Grogan, Captain Keugh, Governor of the city, and numbers of others. He met his fate reverently and bravely. His body was cast into the river, and his head spiked on the Court-house. The body was ultimately recognized by some friends and buried at Mayglass, a few miles south of Wexford. A Bill of attainder was passed against him, but his property was, in 1829, restored to his brother James. 331
Harvey, WiUiain Henry, M.D., a distinguished botanist, was born at Lime- rick, 5th February 181 1. His attention was turned to flowers by his nurse when quite a child, and he early developed a passionate love for the study of nature. He was educated at Ballitore school, and his youth was passed in business pursuits in Limerick. From 1835 ^ ^841 he held the position of Colonial Treasurer at the Cape, where he had ample opportunities of studying the flora of South Africa, and he soon acquired a European reputation as a careful and laborious student. Shortly after his return he was appointed Professor of Botany in the University of Dublin. He devoted himself specially to algae, and in pursuit of this department of botany visited the United States, and in 1853 undertook a voyage round the world for the purpose of collecting speci- mens. His Seaside Book, his Thesaurus Capemis, Flora Capensis, and Phycologia Britannica, embellished with illustrations from his pencil, are amongst the best known of his numerous works. The Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge contain some elaborate treatises by him on American algae. He belonged to many of the learn- ed societies of Europe. Originally a mem- ber of the Society of Friends, he joined the Established Church. He was the intimate friend of Dr. Hooker. Dr. Har- vey died of consumption, 15th May 1866, aged 55, at Torquay, where he was buried by his special desire. He was eminently remarkable for the spirituality, playful sweetness, and amiability of his disposi- tion. Besides his botanical works he was the author of some poems published in 24s
