A Fortnight in Ireland

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FORTNIGHT IN IRELAND.

BY SIR FRANCIS B. HEAD, BART.

*' Buried and cold, when my heart stills its motion,
Green be thy fields, sweetest Isle of the Ocean !
And may harp-striking bards sing aloud with devotion,
Erin maToamin ! Erin go bragh ! "

Camtbcll.

LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.

1852.

LONDON : PRINTED BT ST, CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.

«jj*

PREFACE.

At the fag-end of this summer, among a motley crowd of
Tourists, by the irresistible power of Steam, I was injected
into the island of Ireland, which I had never before seen.
For a week, almost without winking, I looked it steadily
in the face. For a similar period, in various localities,
immured by myself, I was poring over data I deemed it
necessary to obtain.

At the expiration of my fortnight's holiday, with notes
before me of the little I had seen, heard, and read;
unbiassed by the counsels of any one, in pure retirement,
and almost in solitude, for rather more than a month, I
alternately ruminated and wrote ; and in the words of
Mr. Weller's graphic history of his courtship, and of
'* Sammy's** origin, this Volume, I honestly confess, is
the " consekens of the manoovei\'

Oxendottj NortliampUmshire^
October, 1852.

a 2

i'

CONTENTS,

PART I.

PAOli

DUBLIN 1

NATIONAL EDUCATION 24

THE CONSTABULARY 42

COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH 6G

DUBLIN POLICE 100

MY TOUR :— First Day 108

Second Day 124

Thibd Day 157

FouuTii Day 186

Fifth Day 216

PART IL

DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE IRISH PEOPLE 239

TACTICS OF THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD 276

PRIESTS* PUBLISHED SPEECHES ....!... 279

PRIESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS 325

PRINTED EXTRACTS FROM THE PRIESTS' PRESS 338

EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF 361

WHAT IS TO BE DONE ? 392

PART I.

FORTNIGHT IN IRELAND

PART I.

DUBLIN.

It was blowing half a gale of wind, raining, and, at
intervals, thundering rather loudly, when the 9h. 15m.
A.M. London express train of the 11th of August,
AN. DOM. 1852, reached Holyhead at 5h. 40m. p.m. The
smoke from the funnel of a large black steamer, moored
alongside the pier, although dispersed to atoms the
instant it escaped therefrom, was evidently connected
with the white steam that in like manner and in the
same direction scudded from the engine; in fact, the
vessel for upwards of an hour had been awaiting the
arrival of the train. The storm — as storms always are —
was really pitiless ; and as I sat in the carriage waiting
for my baggage, which the guard had kindly undertaken
to bring to me, I observed more than one umbrella
from being convex suddenly become concave, and while
the unhappy owner, spell-bound, with stern to wind-
ward, was violently struggling with the calamity, a
motley crowd of passengers in macintoshes, cloaks,
shawls, gowns, and other garments, all more or less

B

2 DUBLIN. Part I.

fluttering to leeward, were to be seen hurrying at
unequal rates towards the confines of a broad wooden
declivity, down which they descended to the deck of
the vessel. As soon as I obtained my luggage I
followed, and as, on entering the gentlemen^s cabin, I
found that the circular line of sofas, divided into berths
or beds of about six feet each, were not only engaged, but
that most of their occupants, with a pillow under their
heads, were already reclining on them at full length,
anxious to be as close to fresh air as possible, I sat down
on one nearest the door.

" YouVe no right to be here 1 " said a voice to me,
rather sulkily. Begging its pardon, I arose, and, seeing
that a berth above, from which I could look down
upon the grumbler beneath, was disengaged, I at once
took possession of it, and, as a horizontal position
appeared to be the order of the day, I obediently fol-
lowed the fashion.

As in my exalted position I had plenty of air, I
remained not only perfectly well, but, I may almost
say, merry ; and, as my friend beneath me, who had
been suffering dreadfully, had, I remarked, always
commenced his paroxysms of anguish by a peculiar
small sigh, I just once, as a slight punishment for his
sulkiness, looked seriously down upon him, and,
although I did not imitate his sigh, I really believe
that if I had pointed a 24-pounder at him I could
not have suddenly produced in his countenance a
greater amount of alarm, which, tempering justice
with mercy, in a few seconds I dispersed by a friendly
smile, expressive of the words, Fear not I

In due time a lulling of the waters announced to us,

Pabt I. DUBWN. 3

in our captivity, that we were in Dublin Bay; and
accordingly, arising, or descending from our respective
lairs, we staggered on deck, from whence all that I
could see of Ireland consisted of a couple of very large
red eyes and one white one, glaring as beacons through
darkness and rain.

On our reaching the pier a scene of great confusion
ensued. The baggage of all the passengers was
handed up through a hatchway fVom the very bottom
of the hold, and, almost as fast as it appeared, was
carried away, I knew not where, by a set of porters
whom everybody appeared desirous to engage, and who,
nevertheless, without seeking for employers, rushed
at the baggage, well knowing that, possession being
nine points of their law, the tenth portion, in the shape
of the owner, would be sure to find them. I felt my-
self much too frail to engage in a contest between such
boisterous competitors, and I had almost made up my
mind that my portmanteau would become the adopted
child of a stronger parent, when, joyfully espying it
among the mass, I enlisted a man to carry it up steps
and down steps to the train that was in waiting, and in
a few minutes we were all flying in the dark towards
our goal. In about a quarter of an hour we reached
it. Here again there was a little scramble and confu-
sion ; however, with the assistance of a porter I got all
my traps deposited on the front seat of a comfortable
carriage, and, sitting opposite to them, I called out to
the coachman to drive me to Morrison's hotel.

To my vast surprise, instead of moving forwards, as
I expected, the vehicle, like a crab, started off side-
ways, and in that humiliating position it trundled me

b2

4 DUBLIN. Pabt I.

in a very short space of time to a handsome door,
where I arrived at exactly ten minutes after midnight.
" Would your Arn'r like to take anything ? " said the
voice of a waiter, almost before I was within the
threshold. *' Yes," I replied, " a bedroom candle ;" and
with the assistance of its friendly light, on being con-
ducted into a clean, well-furnished room, I managed to
unpack what was requisite, and in due time, in utter
darkness, found myself between the linen sheets of a
comfortable bed.

" Well," said I to myself, ** it's certainly rather a
clever feat to have got into a four-post bed in Dublin
without having bothered oneself with the old-fashioned
controversial comparison between the beauty of its bay
and that of Naples ! Here I am, snug in the heart of
a great country, of which I have not even seen an ex-
tremity — in fact," I gravely reflected, *' although I am
in the metropolis of Ireland, I know no more about it
than a newly appointed Secretary of State, on luxuri-
ously sitting down on his large roomy chair in Down-
ing-street, knows of the names, position, climate, soil,
and character of the inhabitants of the innumerable
colonies he is required to govern; and as he is not
afraid of being alone in moral darkness, neither ought
I." And with this sentiment, as well as a few others,
indolently mixing, staggering, and tlien fainting away
together in my mind, I gradually and insensibly
dropped oflF to sleep.

In the morning, which was beautifully fine, after a
good breakfast I mounted a horse, which I thought
would be the most daring, independent, and least
fatiguing mode of looking about me, and I was slowly

Part T. DUBLIN. 5

riding I knew not where, nor indeed did I care, when
I heard behind me the pattering of a pair of naked
human feet.

" WuU yere Arn'r give me a jarb?" said a nice-
looking lad, with a very small piece of shirt sticking
out of a slight hole in his trowsers behind. I thought
he took me for a farmer, so at once, to get rid of him,
T very simply confided to him that I was a stranger,
and had no "job" to give him. With a smile he re-
peated his request. *' Can you give me a jarb ? "
" No ! " I replied, rather sternly.

" Yere Arn'r might be getting off! " he explained.

" Does yere Arn'r want a boy?" said a gruff voice.
On turning towards it I saw a man very poorly clad,
of about forty-five years of age. '' Ha'nt your Arn'r a
bit of a jarb for me ? " Before I could reply I observed
another real boy coming after me, no doubt whatever
for a "jarb.'* Now what I wanted was quietly to be
enabled to ob^rve a little without being observed ; but
as it was evident that, unless I at once came to some
decisive arrangement, the fact of my having " arrived
that morning at ten minutes past midnight" would as
it were be placarded on my back, I resolved, out of
the three candidates, to enlist one ; and, moreover, in
order that my first act in Ireland might be a just one,
I selected the boy who had come first.

" Now keep close to this stirrup," said I to him as
soon as I had got rid of the rest ; " and if any one else
comes after me, tell him at once I am engaged to
ymJ* .

" I wuU, yere Arn'r ! " he replied, with a very deci-
sive nod.

6 DUBLIN. Pabt I.

Unassailed and unnoticed by any one, my horse
sometimes walked, sometimes trotted, and sometimes
for a few seconds stood still, according as the objects
I successively encountered more or less attracted my
attention.

" This, yere Arn'r I " said my guide, extending his
right arm as he pointed to a large edifice, " is called** —

" Never mind about its name ! '* I replied, interrupt-
ing him ; for as I merely wanted to take a g^ieral view
of a city into which I had as it were just dropped
from the clouds, I did not approve of being instructed
before its public by a bare-footed professor.

As we were proceeding, a gentleman inquired of him
the way to some point ? " Yell go along Nassau
Street," he replied, " till ye come to King Willium
a horseback ; you'll see ut thin on yere lift hand I *'

** I hope yere Am'r will give me a copper ! '* said the
feeble voice of a poor old woman, who, availing herself
of the stoppage, had hobbled up to me ; ^* I'm wake wi'
the hunger ! *' she added.

In passing the Ordnance-Office I sent in my aide-de-
camp to inquire for the address of the Conunanding
Engineer. A grey-headed man instantly came out and
told me, very civilly, it was 40, Lower Mount Street
My attendant led me there ; but, on its proving to be
an empty house, I ascertained from the next door that
the individual I was in search of lived at No. 40 in
Upper Mount Street.

" 1 knew it was in the upper strate," said my con-
ductor.

" Then why did you bring me here f " I asked
angrily.

Part I. DUBLIN. 7

" Yere Am'rl " he replied, " the boy (aged 60) said
it was in the lower strate, and I thought shure he'd
know best."

As we were migrating from the one locality to the
other I rode into a large square of about a dozen acres
of grass, of such a lovely emerald hue that I was really
almost startled at beholding it, and, seeing written up
on one of its comers ^^Merrion Square,'* I instantly
desired my conductor to lead me to the house formerly
occupied by the Great Liberator ; and I was wondering
who might be the successful candidate for so r«iowed
a habitation, when, on pulling up my horse before it,
I own I was astonished to see not only

O'CONNELL

on a brass plate, but in the window a large placard
which looked as if it had just been issued by him.
Instead, however, of advertising a public meeting on
College Green, I read the melancholy words —

" To BE Sold or Let."

There wm his mansion — his name — ^his own printed
order of " Ring the bell" — the brass handle by which
on leaving the house he had always closed its door be-
hind him — ^there were the stone steps so often trod by
his feet ; and yet all had lost their magic value, and
the bricks, stone, and brass of the Agitator are at this
moment in Dublin vainly petitioning to every passing
stranger " to be sold or let 1 "

All of a sudden, as I was riding along, I came to a
fine open space, in the centre of which, with an exten-
sive macadamised road on each side, was a deep and
broad channel, apparently bisecting the city. The dark-

8 DUBLIN. Pabt I.

coloured peat- water rushing within at once announced
to me it was the Liffey, retained within the limits de-
scribed by handsome walls of hewn stone, on which
high-water mark was very legibly denoted by a deep
black stain, perforated every here and there, at about
four feet from the bottom, with square black drainage-
holes.

Across this arterial river there has been constructed,
some quite new, some older, and some exceedingly
infirm, a series of thoroughfares, as if to demonstrate
that in bridges, as in man, there are between their
cradles and their graves seven ages.

The sun was shining bright, and beneath each bridge
was to be seen its reflection in the water ; just beyond
the most eastern of these arched communications there
appeared to have sprung up a fine commercial crop of
masts of vessels of different sizes. As the tide had
nearly ebbed, the water in the Liffey was shallow,
and, seeing a crowd of people very intently looking
down into it, I perceived, standing in the water up to
their knees, two boys wrestling together for a piece of
stick which had just floated into the possession of one
of them. While they were so engaged, a bigger boy,
with trowsers pushed up as high as they could go,
walked slowly towards the combatants, and by way of
settling their dispute he tripped up the biggest, who,
disappearing for a few seconds, came up with his
whole body, and especially his head and long hair,
dripping wet with a fluid of the dark origin I have de-
scribed. The author of the exploit good-humouredly
laughed at the successful result of his arbitration, and,
confident of approbation, he then looked up to the

Pabt I. DUBLIN. 9

crowd of faces that had been watching him. Every-
body seemed delighted at the joke, and a more decided
national grin, and a more simultaneous display of latent
fun, could not have been beheld.

During this scene several little boys came up to me
to b^ : yet, in spite of their rags and pitiful stories,
there was always a lurking joke in their coimtenances,
which, like the sun behind a cloud, burst out at last
all the brighter for having ]>een concealed.

People in most countries, and especially those of the
softer sex, are particularly careful not on any account to
utter the monosyllable " Yes ! " before the proposal,
whatever it may be, is officially submitted to them for
consideration ; but the beautiful ladies of Dublin, as they
sit, or indolently recline, in their drawing-rooms, have
the word not only stereotyped on their pretty lips, but
actually printed and exhibited at full length either
on their marble mantel-pieces or on their rosewood
tables ; — at least, so I suppose — for, as I rode along, I
saw, to my astonishment, for sale in the windows of
one or two stationers' shops large cards of royal size,
on which was printed in conspicuous letters the fol-
lowing reply in the affirmative, which is, of course,
deliberately purchased by the lady or gentleman be-
fore the proposal to which it refers has been made to
them : —

WILL HAVE THE HONOUR

OF ACCEPTING THE INVITATION OF HIS EXCELLENCY

THE LORD LIEUTENANT

TO DINNER,

ON AT O'CLOCK.

10 DUBLIN. Part I.

As I was reading this card, there flitted across my
memory the auld song of the Scotch lassie : —

** Oh whiutle I and I will come to ye, my lad!
Oh whustle I and I will oome to ye, my lad I
Tho* feather and mither should gang mad thegither.
Oh whustle, and I will come to ye, my lad I *•

For upwards of two hours I rode about Dublin,
which, on the whole, appeared to me to be a plain,
useful, brick city, with magnificent public buildings,
and here and there across its river fine bridges of iron
and stone.

About the altitude of the houses there exists no
particular rule ; indeed, like Falstaff's squad, they have
evidently been readily enlisted at any height ; neither has
there been any regulation about, their colour, for they
are very red, red, reddish, strawberry-coloured, and
cream-coloured. With regard, however, to the broad
stripes over the shops, there evidently exists a stringent
law, namely, that all shall be brilliant, but that no two
of them shall consecutively be alike in hue. The
variety is of course very striking. But what I most
admired in the city of Dublin are its magnificent lungs.
In a four-mile heat it would inevitably beat any metro-
polis on the surface of the globe. For instance, one of
its lungs has an area of not less than seventeen acres,
while the other is composed of large healthy squares
of from twelve to ten, eight, and six acres each.
What a fine windpipe, too, is the Liffey ! There may
be a want of trade, a want of unanimity, a want of
brotherly love between this creed and that— there may
even be a want of potatoes, but there is no want in
Dublin, and there never can be, of an abundant supply
of good, wholesome, pure air !

Part 1. DUBLIN. 1 1

As I had now some business to transact, I paid my
conductor to his heart s content, and then told him I
should go home.

" Is it to the hoUhellyere AmYs going? *'.

^^ Yes ; to Morrison's," I replied, and, bidding him
farewell, to which he very gratefully ejaculated, " 111
be sure to know yere Am'r again ! " I trotted away in
that direction.

So active is the far-famed hospitality of Dublin,
that almost every person either to whom I was in-
troduced, or of whom I had the slightest previous
acquaintance, on my asking him the most trifling
question, invariably replied by making to me the three
following proposals : —

1st That I should dine with him on that day.

2nd. That I should allow him to show me the prin-
cipal public buildings.

3rd. That he should accompany me to the Library.

" It*s one of the finest in Europe ! " he invariably
observed; **you really miist see it; you'll find in it
from 70 to 90 thousand volumes ! "

Now I had not time to read them ; I had not come
to Ireli^d to look at buildings ; and as I intended to
remain in Dublin but a very few days^ I was not disposed
to dine out I therefore, in all of the three cases, with-
out a single exception, separately declined each of
the three proffered kindnesses. I was, however, to
have the honour of paying a short virit to the Lord
Lieutenant, for which the porter of the inn of his own
accord had told me I should require a ^^ car ;" but as I

1 2 DUBLIN. Part I.

did not wish to put Her Majesty's sentinels out of
countenance, or throw fine, powdered footmen into
fits of laughter, I seriously and confidentially asked
the landlord whether it would be proper for me to drive
up sideways to the Vice-Regal Lodge, in a common,
open, street car ? and to escape from doing so I further
hinted to him that it would perhaps be better I should
hire from him a carriage.

Not only by his words, but by his honest coun-
tenance and by his whole attitude, I was assured that
in Dublin a car is the proper conveyance for every-
body ; and, accordingly, I at once determined that —
nuit caelum — in a car I would go.

I had, however, occ^on to walk to that splendid
pile of buildings, the Custom-house, and, having trans-
acted my business there, I slowly proceeded to a spot
on which several cars were standing ; and as there are
no less than 1500 of them ii^ Dublin, the drivers
thereof, besides being, as in all countries, professionally
anxious to catch a fare, in doing so are in the habit of
displaying a good deal of their characteristic fun and
humour in competing with, or, as it is commonly called,
in chaffing each other : for instance, says one —

" Heres a car, yere Arn'r ! "

"My car's a new one V says another, running hur-
riedly up.

"I've an iligant harseV* exclaims a third, pointing
at the well-bred animal with his whip,

*' Yes, but mine don't come down on his knas, yere
Arn'r," says a fourth.

"Look at my nice dry kushuns (cushions), yere
Arn'r !" says a fifth.

PabtI. DUBLIN. 13

"Dry enough!" observes a sixth, very gravely,
adding, with a cunning leer, •* but mine have gort no
BUGS in um, yere Am'r ! " and so on, ad infinitum.

I selected one that had not offered himself at all,
and I had no sooner driven from his competitors than,
in his excess of gratitude, he endeavoured to repay me
with information respecting everything we passed.

His education, however, had been slightly neglected,
and his facts were not particularly accurate. He was
about 50 years of age, with a round, unmeaning face,
and such very short lips that his white teeth — there were
fourteen of them — were always uncovered. I did not
care about the buildings he pointed out to me, as I had
already seen them ; but as I was glad to hear him talk,
I occasionally stirred up his ideas to assist him in ex-
tricating them.

" Where were you born ? " I inquired.

" South of Ireland," he replied, '' in a place called
Kharlowl"

Is it a good place ? " I asked.
Och, veryl very! very! It's a splindid counthry,
yere Arn'r ! " he replied.

" Is Ireland pretty quiet now ? " I politically in-
quired.

*' Och! yere Am*r," he replied, *' Ireland is always
quite, only a few little scrimmages now and then ! "

He had been desired to drive to the General Post-
office, but about fifty yards before he reached it, pulling
up suddenly, and pointing with his whip to a figure on
the summit of a magnificent column, he exclaimed loud
enough, and with animation enough, to attract attention,

" There's our Nalson ! with one of his arms orf at

14 DUBLIN. PabtI.

the shouldher, the left arm stretched out^and the soord
in ut ; and he's looking down on the shipping and the
say. He was a aay-MAN."

" What — a sailor ? *' I inquired.

" Yere Am'r !" he replied, evidently pleased at the
opportunity of instructing me, ** he was one of the
finest admirals the Govermint ever had I "

" A good man to fight?" I asked.

" Yere Am*r ! *' he replied, greatly excited, " he was
one of the protest. He bet the whole world before
hum I Nalson I gallant Nalson ruled the mane I " he
exclaimed as he waved his whip with exultation and
pride.

*^ What did he die of ? " I inquired, as leaning on my
elbow I sat indolently watching the enthusiasm in my
friend's face.

" Yere Arn'r I " he replied, " he was shot by a
Frenchman. He aimed at his star — like this, yere
Arn'r " (touching with the butt of his whip a large round
iron ticket on his own breast, on which was inscribed a
Crown, beneath that the word *' Driver," and under all
the number, say ** 297 " ) ; " and Nalson was shot
through the heart ! "

After contemplating the mutilated statue for some
seconds, he added, " Ut's the finest monument in all
Dhublun. There's nothing like ut ! "

" And so," said I to myself, *' while people are
declaring that between the Saxon and the Celt there
exists an animosity that is implacable, ^ the finest
monument in Dublin,' erected by public subscription,
at a cost of 7000/., commemorates the name of an
Englishman, while on the other side of the Channel the

Pa«t I. DUBUN. 15

finest monuments in London heap eternal honour on
the name of an^rishman I What a national bond of
union are those two simple facts ! " ^^

After calling at Morrison's hotel we crossed Grq^n-
street, full of excellent shops, and thronged with
people ; and then, proceeding a very short distance,

'* This, yere Am'r," said my conductor, is ** College
Green!''

And on my observing to him that it appeared to my
eyes to be one half macadamised, and the other half
covered with pavement, he said —

" Yere Am'r, it was once not only all green, but in
the auld records it was called College Green, near
Dhublun. Dhublun, yere Arn'r, took ut*s name from
a Double-Inn — ^two houses stuck into one ; from them
Dhublun took ut's title/'

As we were jogging along, ** Yere Arn'r," said he,
pointing with his whip to a bare-headed monarch, seated
on a hollow - backed cart-horse, with an under-jaw
touching his windpipe, a neck twisted into a Siaxon
arch, and an uplifted near-side fore-hoof, as if he had
just trodden on a nail, and was showing it to the King
— " There's William the Conqueror ! "

After passing the beautiful Corinthian columns of the
Royal Exchange, a Scotch church, dressed out, I
thought, very much like an Episcopal one, and a mag-
nificait pile of buildings (the Four Courts), sur-
mounted in the centre by a lofty superintending dome,
we trotted along one of the broad macadamised roads
which bound on either side the deep hewn stone
channel of the Liffey.

"This is the Mendy City, yere Am^rT* said my

*'vl.«^x l,„ ,. ^ ., ^,^_

16 DUBLIN. Part I.

driver, poiniiog to a building on my left, on which
was written, in lai^e letters, "Mendicity Association."
" It's a charty" (charity), he added.

On our right, on the opposite side of the river, was
a congregation of barracks, in front of which were
assembled a considerable body of troops. A military
band was playing with great effect

" That's the Prate^round, yere Am'r," observed my
conductor, "where the soldiers prate (parade). This
is called 'Victoria Quay,' and that opposite 'Albert
Quay.' "

As we were crossing an iron bridge of a single arch,
which I happened to know had been constructed in
1827 by the inhabitants of Dublin, to commemorate
the royal visit of George IV., my conductor said to me,
" This, yere Am'r, is called King's Bridge. Yere
Arn'r, it was built by George IV. By his manes
(means) it was built ; it was built, yere Am'r, by what
he give !"

" See there, yere Am'r," he added, pulling up as soon
as we had crossed, and pointing to a medallion, as
follows : —

Part I. DUBLIN. 1 7

Then spelling the inscription very slowly to me, he
added, "GIVR stands for 'giver.'. That manes, that
the Crown is the giver ! "

On the left of the Lifiey was the Terminus of the
Great Southern and Western Railway ; and on proceed-
ing a little farther, passing a lodge, we entered the
gate of the Phoenix Park, the finest national play-
ground in Europe, and I believe in the world. Indeed,
it contains no less than 1700 acres of beautiful grass,
more or less covered with trees and shrubs growing as
wild as in any uncultivated region of the globe, all
open to the public.

" There, yere Arn'r," said my conductor, pointing to
the right, "is the Souldiers* Hospital. That slated
roof is the Constabulary Barricks." On the left, firm,
erect, and everlasting, standing on earth and with its
head pointing to heaven, stood an appropriate granite
obelisk upwards of 200 feet high, erected by public
subscription to the memory of the great Duke of
Wellington ; at the foot of this simple testimonial I
observed a little puny, illegitimate off*spring of the
artist, which is really a discredit to the whole thing.

As soon as we had ascended the slight eminence on
which the monument stands, " Starp !" my driver ex-
claimed, "till I show yere Arn'r a fine view!" And
certainly a magnificent prospect there was of Dublin
beneath us, bounded by a range of beautiful hills.

" That building, yere Arnr," pointing to a very large
quadrangular slated one, surmounted by a spire, nearly
half a mile off, " is the Fogie's Harspital I"

"What?" I inquired.

c

18 DUBLIN. FabtI.

"Somfe call it," he explained, the ^^ Royal Harspital.
It's for auld pinshioners, the same as Chalsea !'*

Resuming our course — as we proceeded I observed
on the left, bounded by large trees, a fine cricket-
ground, on which were playing several athletic-looking
men in white jackets, a comfortable tent being in their
rear* On the right were plenty of trees, some formally
drawn up in straight avenues, others socially living to-
gether "at ease," in groups.

Far on the left was a vast expanse of grass, mis-
named " The Fifteen Acres," used principally for re-
viewing troops; indeed, besides being tJie only spot
in the United Kingdom on which a large army could
be manceuvred, it is perhaps the most picturesque
ground for the purpose that could possibly be conceived,
for not only is it fantastically surrounded by fir and
larch plantations of various shapes, but on the south the
horizon is bounded by a chain of mountains of extraor-
dinary beauty. Until lately this lovely expanse was
the fashionable resort of duellists. In one instance the
challenger was a young lawyer, who, in concocting the
billet, or bill of indictment, by which he required the
gentleman he had quarrelled with ** to meet him with
pistols on the Fifteen Acres," added, with professional
caution, " he tite same, /Sir, more or less.*^

Besides the residence of the Viceroy there exists in
the Phoenix Park a warren containing, hidden in their
respective groves, the houses of the Chief Secretary,
Under Secretary^ and Private Secretary.

After passing on the right a beautiful piece of
water, on which a pair of milk-white swans belong-

Pact I. DUBLIN. 19

ing to the adjoining Zoological Gardens^ with wings
slightly uplifted, were gracefully sailing, we came
to a lodge, within which, in bright scarlet, cruciformed
by white belts, there appeared pacing up and down, his
bright bayonet glittering in the sun, a British sentinel.

" This is the Vice-Agle Park, yere Am'r," said my
conductor.

Seeing that I did not quite understand his ortho-
graphy, he added —

" That's whart we call ut ! There's some as call ut
Vice-jBagal Park.*'

Whatever may be its name, the lonely scene, as we
trotted through it, was calm, tranquil, and lovely, and,
as on either side I gazed on large luxuriant trees
flourishing on emerald-green grass, basking under a
bright sun, I felt I had never beheld a more peaceful,
happy, unsophisticated spot.

" There's some iligant dare (deer) here, yere Arn'r,"
said my driver, " and quantities of um."

After following a meandering road for some distance,
we rather suddenly drove up to a large substantial gen-
tlemanlike country-house, significantly smartened by
the appearance before it of two sentinels.

On entering this mansion, which, at a glance, ap-
peared admirably well regulated and appointed, I
remained for a short time by myself in the principal
waiting-room.

Outside the window was an extensive, beautiful,
closely-mown lawn, flat as a bowling-green, and orna-
mented with flowers in beds of various shapes and sizes ;
and, as a striking contrast to their brilliant colours,

c2

20 DUBLIN. Pabt I.

there stood here and there slight, elegant, dark green
cypresses, the whole being surrounded by a broad,
royal-looking walk — on which I observed pacing a blue
policeman — ^bounded by a bright buflT-coloured stone
bialustrade, which, from its appropriate structure,
assumed the appearance of basket-work.

On the horizon resting against the blue sky was the
soft imdulating outline of a range of lofty hills, orna-
mented at the base by patches of cultivated land, which,
at a higher elevation, appeared gradually to dissolve
into blue heather, to which the reflection of every
passing cloud gave for a few moments a difierent hue.

At the foot of these distant mountains appeared a
grove or belt of trees, from which there arose, as an
emblem of industry, the lofty chimney of a steam-
engine.

On Sunday evening, at about five o'clock, in a large,
roomy, comfortable arm-chair, for nearly an hour I
sat at an open window of the Hibernian United Service
Club, on the north side of St. Stephen s Green, watching
car-loads of happy people going to and returning from
Donnybrook Fair.

Every car in Dublin is employed in this annual
national service, and from three or four of the drivers
I learnt that they had propelled the same horse to the
fair and back five-and-twenty times, not for one day,
but for several consecutive days !

The distance from Dublin is about a mile and a half,
but the crowd at the entrance of the fair is so great,

Pabt I. DUBLIN. 2 1

that the cars are usually stopped by the police at a
quarter, and towards evening at half a mile from the
scene of bliss.

The tide of cars that continued unceasingly ebbing
and flowing before my eyes was, really, not only
astonishing, but it was amusing to observe the infinite
variety of ways in which those three simple items, a
man, a woman, and a child, can be made to appear.

The process of the driver was, the instant he arrived
from the fair to return to it, and vice versd. The
charge for the conveyance of each pei'son is twopence,
and thus — ** vires acquisivit eundo''- — he kept picking up
people, who, of course, being picked up in this way,
had no connection with each other, save that which
appears to exist between all going to or coming from
Donny brook Fair.

By the time it trotted through St. Stephen's Green
every car was full. In one were boys; in another
girls; in others boys and girls, in every possible joyous
variety of arrangement. There were old men, old
women, gaudy soldiers, flashy-looking women, children
of eveiy age, all grinning, — all going to or coming from
Donnybrook Fair.

In one car sat four scarlet dragoons with glittering
brass helmets, a fat gentleman with a large stomach
comfortably resting on a pair of very short knees,
a woman with a sky-blue bonnet on her head, and a
child in her lap ; lastly, a man sitting, as happy as a
grig, without a hat.

There were ladies with parasols, and long, large,
fashionable, windy gowns — gentlemen in wide-awake

22 DUBLIN. Part I.

hats — ^young tradesmen wearing flashy waistcoats and
smart neckcloths — ^infants, with their dear little eyes
staring and almost starting out of their heada-^chil-
dren with bare legs, like wooden ones, sticking out —
men with pipes in their mouths— babies suckling, I
mean sucking — a little girl blowing a penny trumpet
— a little boy trying, with a twopenny whip, to flog a
grey horse sixteen hands high— men with pipes in their
mouths — all going to or coming from Donny brook
Fair I

There were white, black, brown, bay, chesnut, roan,
and piebald horses, of all sizes— several thorough-
bred, many well-bred, a few under-bred, now and then
a blind one, with his head vibrating at every step — all
with their noses stuck out — ^leg-weary, jaded, dusty, and
hot — all going to or coming from Donnybrook Fair !

By the side of several cars I observed, trotting, appa-
rently as proud and as happy as any human being could
be, a dog, running sometimes east, sometimes west,
according as he was going to or coming from Donny-
brook Fair !

On each side of the road — on the iron chains that
bounded it — on the kerb-stones of the pavement — on
the steps of doors — there sedately sat, in happy groui)s,
crowds of people, placidly participating with me in the
delight, joy, and fun that beam in the countenances
of every man, woman, and child going to or coming
from Donnybrook Fair.

The poor horses nobody seemed to pity ; indeed, as
in an Irish car nobody can conveniently look at the
animal that is drawing him, the neglected creature

TAXt I. DUBUN. 23

trots on, just as if the parties behind his tail» tired of
quarrelling about him, had ended their dispute by
amicably agreeing together that he belonged to none
of them* When a car is crowded, a man well jammed
in on the right side is completely separated from one
seated on the left. They look, in diametrically oppo-
site directions, at different objects — in fact^ they have
nothing whatever to do with each other.

( 24 ) Part I.

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

" Here it is, yere Arnh'r ! " said the driver of my car
as, in the middle of a very interesting biographical
history he was gratuitously giving me of his " harse," he
stopped him suddenly in the middle of Marlborough-
street, and with his whip instantly pointed to an iron
gate immediately before me bounded on each side by a
grave-looking stone wall, the mica of which was glit-
tering in the sunshine. Within the said gate, and close
to it and the wall, appeared on each side a low, substan-
tial porter s lodge ornamented with columns of the
Grecian Doric, and on entering the dominions there
immediately almost flashed before my eyes a remark-
ably verdant and well-mowed, large, long, rectangular
lawn, bounded at the far distant end by a line of three
buildings slightly detached from each other. The
centre one, which had the appearance of a chapel, and
in the upper portion of which shone a clock, is the
infants' school, flanked on one side by its only brother,
a school for boys, and on the other by its sister, one for
girls. At a short distance from the Doric lodge stood,
magnificently on the right, Tyrone House, formerly
the town residence of the Marquis of Waterford, now
occupied as a board-room, also as quarters for tlie
Resident Commissioner, the Right Hon. Alex. Mac-
donnell, and for other officers of the institution. On

pabt l national education. 25

the left of the green lawn, and immediately opposite
Tyrone House, is a large, solid, but ratlier lower build-
ing, used as lecture-rooms and as habitations for the
conductors of the schools.

The object of this inmiense establishment is to impart
not only to the children of the poor in Dublin, but to
the indigent rising generation throughout the whole of
Ireland, the inestimable blessings of education. The
duties, therefore, are obviously twofold : first, to give
instruction to the applicant children in its immediate
neighbourhood ; and, secondly, to educate and instruct
male and female teachers, so as to enable them, on
returning to their respective parishes, more or less
remote, to establish throughout the country that well-
arranged uniform system of education which it is the
duty of t]]e Commissioners to superintend.

As Tyrone House has wisely been constructed on a
firm foundation, so, no doubt, was it highly desirable
that in the education of the rising generation of Ireland
the Christian religion, which its inhabitants vie with
each other in revering, should have formed not only
the solid basis of the system, but the cement which in
future ages should have bound together, in indissoluble
afiection,the various living particles of which it is com-
posed. Unfortunately, however, upon this subject there
arose from all quarters such a variety of conflicting oj)i-
nions, that it was deemed necessary to erect the super-
structure — I will not say without any foundation, but
with the best that could practically be obtained ; and,
accordingly, the principles upon which the Commis-
sioners act are, that the schools shall be alike open to
Christians of all denominations ; that no pupil shall be

26 NATIONAL EDUCATION. Part I.

required to attend at any religious exercise or to receive
any religious instruction which his parents or guardians
do not approve, and that sufficient opportiinity shall be
afforded to the pupils of each religious persuasion to
receive separately, at appointed times, such description
of religious instruction as their parents or guardians shall
think proper. Accordingly, every Tuesday from 1 Oi
till 12i religious instruction may be and is imparted to
the children of all denominations of Christians by the
minister of the particular creed to which they re-
spectively belong. The Commissioners give to the
students a new and curtailed translation of a very
small proportion of the Bible, the inaccuracy of which
small proportion is thus described (vide their Preface)
in their own words : —

" The translation has been made by a comparison of
the Authorized and Douay versions with the original.
The language, sometimes of the one and sometimes of the
other, has been adopted, and occasional deviations have
been made from both.'*

But although this unfortunate, and, alas ! disreputable
disagreement still exists, the Board of Commissioners,
very much to their credit, have, for their common
object, encouraged the construction of a series of books
in the various departments of elementary instruction,
which are not only in general use throughout the Na-
tional Schools of Ireland, but by their intrinsic merit
are rapidly extending, in mcreasing numbers, to the esta-
blishments for public instruction in Scotland, England,
and even in the remotest of our colonial settlements.

In 1850 there existed in Ireland under the super-
visionof the Commissioners, who, as vacancies occur,

Pakt I. NATIONAL EDUCATION. 27

are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant, and wlioso
number must not exceed fifteen —

Number of National Schools . . . 4,547
Number of children attending them 5 1 1 ,239

— ^being an increase of 133 schools and of 30,616 chil-
dren, as compared with the numbers in the preceding
year of 1849. In 1850 the number of children hi the
Marlborough-street establishment was 1400. All pay
for their schooling a i)enny a week. In the same year
the sum paid to teachers of six classes (averaging
14£ 10^. to each) was 66,964/. The number of teachers
trained during the twelve months was 185 males, 87
females; total 272. Of these, 15 were of the Esta-
blished Church, 214 Roman Catholics, 41 Presby-
terianSj and 2 Dissenters.

There are also under the direction of tlie Board
124 workhouse schools; namely, in Ulster 28, in
Munster 43, in Leinster 29, and in Connaught 24.

Besides affording the means of imparting ordinary
instruction, the Board of National Education in Ireland
has at Glasnevin a farm of 128 acres, in which teachers
as well as pupils receive literary and agricultural in-
struction» which is thus disseminated over the country
— the consequence of which has been that there have
already sprung up in Ireland 17 model agricultural
schools, as follows:— in Ulster 8, in Munster 6, in
Leinster 1, in Connaught 2.

After ascending the chaste, beautiful staircase of
Tyrone House, which by every stranger is deservedly
admired, and arriving at the Board-room, I was intro-
duced to the Resident Commissioner, who most oblig-

28 NATIONAL EDUCATION. Part I.

ingly offered to* explain to me in detail the whole of
the system in which he was so deeply interested. As,
however, I mentioned to him that my object in visiting
the establishment was merely to observe the appear-
ance and conduct of the children, he very kindly com-
mitted me to a person whom he requested to conduct
me wherever I desired, and to loiter with me wherever
and as long as I wished.

From my Mentor I accordingly learnt, as I walked
towards the schools, that they at present contained
500 male children, 430 female, and 300 infants — ^total
1230 ; of whom about 7-8ths are Roman Catholics, and
the remaining l-8th Protestants (Episcopalians and
Presbyterians), with 3 or 4 Jews.

That of the young persons lodged in the establish-
ment, who are learning to be country teachers, and who
have come from the country to Dublin for that object,
130 are males, 65 females — total 195 ; of whom about
l-4th are Protestants. Lastly, that the hours of in-
struction arc from ten in the morning till three in the
afternoon, excepting on Saturdays.

On arriving at the girls' school my attendant told
me very gravely that it would be necessary we should
wait a little, there being at present nothing to be seen,
as the children were not in study, but in their play-
yards; but as this was exactly the place in which I
wished to see them, I begged he would allow me to go
there. Accordingly, proceeding through a large, light,
airy school-room, empty of everything, but on the floor
black desks and forms, and on the walls maps, he con-
ducted me to a locked door, at which stood a little
female sentinel or janitress about ten years of age. On

Pabt I. NATIONAL EDUCATION. 29

explaining to this nice^ intelligent little being what I
wanted, with her key of office she turned the lock,
and I had scarcely passed the threshold it was her
duty to guard when a most joyous scene presented
itself. In a large, dull, stupid, square, payed yard,
with a shed on its right, girls, mostly from eight to
fourteen (a few were apparently sixteen, eighteen, and
twenty), with no covering on their heads, and in some
instances with bare feet, were dancing, skipping, vault-
ing on and off wooden horses, or with uplifted and
diagonally extended slight arms swinging round two
gymnastic poles, — and certainly a happier, a merrier,
or a more innocent scene it had never been my fortune
to witness. The children had clean faces, and, gene-
rally speaking, beautiful complexions, high colour, and
yet, although they were all in high spirits, there was a
propriety in their conduct towards each other that was
very gratifying to witness. Among them, as here,
there, and everywhere they flew about and around in
eccentric mazes, were to be seen pacing slowly up and
down on straight lines, like so many admirals on their
quarterdecks, four or five full-blown, full-grown ladies
in bonnets and hot shoes — most of them, as tliey
vibrated, reading in books apparently for their very
lives. They were sj)ecial class-teachers from the
country, whose duty it is, assisted by regular teachers,
to watch over the cliildren at play, and without in any
way curtailing their liberty, to report any quarrelling
or conduct that deserves punishment, which simply
consists in the culprit being admonished before her class.
In the system established by the Commissioners, it is
strictly required that the children in these playgrounds.

30 NATIONAL EDUCATION. Pa»t 1.

justly considered as halls for moral instructton, or, as
they have been still better termed, ** uncovered schools/'
shall " never be left to themselves.**

At Almack*s there are always refreshments for the
dancers, and, accordingly, in the corner of the yard
before me, I observed a couple of iron ladles chained
to a pump, around which were a number of pleasing,
pretty upper lips almost as wet as the water which
for a moment they quafiTed, and then with some merry
exclamation darted off again to their play.

A funeral bell, however, all of a sudden tolled the
termination of this happy life, and as I foresaw that
the door, which the little janitress had now opened,
would probably soon be crowded, I deemed it advisable
to escape through it ; and, accordingly, passing through
the great school-room, I entered an empty adjoining
smaller one called **the Gallery," in which fifteen
forms, each capable of holding 12 scholars, rose one
above another, like an orchestra, from the centre of the
floor, very nearly to the ceiling.

After conversing for a few minutes with a very
intelligent pupil-teacher, who had charge of the room,
there entered through the door, like bees flying into
their hive, a congregation of little girls from seven to
twelve or thirteen years old, with a few others of more
advanced age. For some seconds there was a good
deal of puffing and panting, and, instead of by French
cambric handkerchiefs, of gently wiping faces with the
backs of right hands. There was also a veiy little
twisting and setting to rights of long hair by, generally
speaking, poking it in charge of Nature's band, the
owners' ears. Only one girl had ringlets — ^however, as

Pabti. national education. 31

an atonement for this little piece of vanity, beside her
sat a child whose strong, red hair, ending bluffly like
the thatch of a cottage^ had apparently been chopped
off under the good old-fashioned prescription of scissors
and the pudding-basin.

As soon as ISO children had taken their seats, a
.spelling lesson began. The word proposed had scarcely
left the lips of the teacher, when from all parts of the
room, top, bottom, and middle, there darted towards
her in radiation the right arms of all who wished thus
to declare that they could spell it. On the pronunci-
ation of some words, every right arm started out ; on
the utterance of others, very few ; in one instance, only
two. The teacher usually selected from the number
of arms offered the owner of the one she expected
would be most likely to make a mistake, in which case
she suddenly called upon some other pupil to correct it.
The instant, however, that the word, sooner or later,
was correctly spelled, down dropped all the eager young
arms as if they had suddenly been paralysed by old age.
But after the poor word had been rightly spelled, and
after, as I thought, it was dead and buried, the teacher,
with that ingenious cruelty which has ever distinguished
the race, pointing to an innocent child, asked her what
it meant. " What is the meaning of * soar ' ? " said she,
to a rosy-faced little creature of about eight years old.
"To fly upwards ! " it exclaimed; " To fly aloft ! " eja-
culated another at the very same instant, thus satisfying
me that the scholars were not, without understanding,
answering by rote. Observing that a great big girl^
sitting among the little ones, had never once thrown
out her arm, I asked the teacher in an under voice a

>32 NATIONAL EDUCATION. Part I.

question respecting her. "How old are you?" she
immediately said aloud, pointing with her white wand
to her. The poor girl, blushing strongly as she said it,
softly answered "eighteen." The teacher then ex-
plained to me that the reason she had not examined
her was, that she knew she could not spell ; adding,
" her education before she came here had been com-
pletely neglected."

Having satisfied myself of the great intelligence
of the roomful of children I had been living with, I
walked into the large adjoining room, which is lighted
at each side, and is 50 feet square. In it I found 300
girls, most of them with their hands behind them,
standing in segments of circles, containing from 9 to 15
each, around a young instructress or monitor, occa-
sionally scarcely of their own age, located with her
back to the wall. On the black benches which crossed
the room were seated in groups, earnestly bending
towards each other, a number of grown-up young
teachers in bonnets, studying books, out of which they
were to be examined by the Professors and by Mrs.
Campbell, who, as Superintendent, has entire charge
of the female school.

On my asking this highly intelligent lady how many
scholars the room could contain, she replied, "Rather
more than 400 ;" being the usual allowance of six
square feet for each child.

When the particular studies at which the 300 girls
had been engaged were concluded, they suddenly
broke from their magic circles, and, on taking their
respective places on the benches, they became in a short
lime intently occupied in needlework. I own, how-

Pabt I. NATIONAL EDUCATION. 33

ever, that when the Lady Superintendent benevolently
approached me with an enormous folio book, contain-
ing specimens of what could be done with the point of
a needle, I could for some reason or other hardly sup-
press a deep dry sigh; however, on patiently going
through the volume, I certainly could not help ad-
miring all I beheld. The science of making men's
shirts decidedly pleased me most ; then my affections
rested about equally on darning in eight varieties and
on the art of patching old clothes. I cared considerably
less about the mystery of making petticoats, stays, and
knitted gowns ; and by the time I had learnt to plait
straw, embroider, and make babies' boots, I felt that I
had imbibed quite as much Irish useful knowledge as
my head could hold,

Mrs. Campbell now kindly asked me if I would like
to hear some singing ? and on my replying, with great
eagerness, in the aflBrmative, by a slight tap on the
floor she called the attention of the school, and the
rustling of laying aside little invaluable bits of calico,
linen, &c. &c. &c., had scarcely subsibed, when, to my
astonishment and delight, the whole of the 300 girls
rose, and, as with one voice, commenced with great
taste and melody to sing together '*God save the
Queen ! "

Their performance was not only admirable, but
deeply affecting. After they had gone through the
first verse, three girls, who on the requisition for music
had, by migration, seated themselves together, com-
menced alone the second stanza. They were of course
the finest voices in the school, and I do not exaggerate
when I say that their execution and taste would attract

D

34 NATIONAL EDUCATION. Part I.

attention in any cs^ital in Europe. The contralto
notes of one of them were most unusual and extra-
ordinary — her base was as low and as deep-toned as a
man's, and yet it had all the softness of a woman's.
There can be no doubt whatever that in due time these
sounds will produce her an ample livelihood.

The singer by her side was a young girl of about
seventeen, a tall, slight brunette, with shining hair, and
with a narrow strap of black velvet, like the collar of a
pet antelope, round her throat; her voice was high,
clear as a bell, and sweet, and as she stood, with her
eyes modestly fixed on the ground, singing in soft
notes, which in beautiful harmony blended with those
of her two companions, —

" May eho defend our laws.
And eyer give us cause
To sing with heart and voice —
God save the Queen ! " —

I experienced sensations it would be impossible, aud,
indeed, which it is perfectly unnecessary I should
describe.

The Professor of music, who happened to be present,
must, I am sure, have perceived how deeply I silently
appreciated the successful result of his indefatigable
exertions, which I afterwards had an opportunity of
witnessing in the boys' school.

On taking leave of the female establishment, I feel it
due to truth rather than to its young inmates — from
whom ordinary flattery had infinitely better be with-
held — to state, as briefly as possible, that in no country
in the world that I have ever witnessed have I ever
beheld the indescribable native modesty which, in their

Pabt I. NATIONAL EDUCATION. 35

playground as well as in their studies, characterised
their counteuances ; indeed, it was so striking, that I
feel confident no traveller of ordinary observation could
fail to observe it

There are three schools for boys ; the largest, con-
sisting of 400, is divided into five classes. Over each
division is a paid monitor, or pupil teacher. Every
division, according to the proficiency of the pupils,
is subdivided into classes, over each of which is ap-
pointed a class monitor.

On proceeding to the largest of these schools I
entered a lofty room, 80 feet long by 60 broad, contain-
ing 16 parallel desks and benches, each affording a
location for 18 squatters, where I found three Pro-
fessors, each at the same time addressing on an average
five benches of boys, who, on every question that was
asked, darted out their arms in the sharp, quick way
already described. On an exalted desk at the further
extremity of the room was inscribed, on a large black
slate, —

Lessons for the lAth August

1. Grammar.

2. Geography.

3. Spelling.

As I have previously explained, they had not only
correctly to spell on a slate whatever word was pro-
nounced to them, but also to write the meaning of it

On the slates of three boys sitting in a row I saw the
following words inscribed simultaneously : —

" Crab — ^belongs to the third class of animals, called
Crustacea."

d2

36 NATIONAL EDUCATION. Part I.

" The Crab — ^belongs to the class called Crustacea."

" The Crab — belongs to that class of animals called
Crustacea."

I was afterwards shown several of their books, in
many of which, over admirable writing, there ap-
peared, justly written by the Professor, the two words,
"Very good" — a testimonial highly prized, I was
informed, by the boys' parents.

All of a sudden, with a great noise, the whole of the
scholars arose from their seats, and, as soon as they
stood erect, the Professor put them through all sorts of
movements; made them jump — fold arms — turn this
way, then the other ; at last, the hour for recreation
having arrived, in regular procession they were marched
out ; and as with joyous, intelligent countenances, they
one close to the other passed me in lock step, I could
not help feeling how triumphantly they contradicted
the opinion which has often so unjustly been expressed,
that Irishmen instinctively rebel against discipline.

In a few minutes these boys were in their play-yard,
and by the time I could get to it I found them not only
in full enjoyment, but in full chorus — for they were
singing together very prettily as well as playing.

Some were swinging ; some hanging by their hands
on five different bars, on one of which a merry lame
boy, with a countenance beaming with happiness, was
suspending himself by his crutch. The top of a single
post, for leap-frog, was beautifully polished by the innu-
merable hands, to say nothing of cloth and corduroy,
that rapidly passed over it. In a shed several were
playing at fives.

At the first glance the scene was one of apparent

Paw I. NATIONAL EDUCATION. 37

confusion, but on analysis I very shortly discovered the
method that pervaded it. For instance, close to the
lofty pole, around the bottom of which four boys were
joyously whirling, only occasionally touching the
ground with their feet^ I observed a line of candidates
for the fun^ patiently standing in succession one behind
the other, so as without contention to enjoy the ropes
each in their turn.

In another portion of the yard were to be seen two
TOWS of about twelve boys each, with their stomachs
pushing hard against their neighbours' backs, their
faces being all directed to one of two pumps, at which
they were desirous in their turn to drink. At each
pump, with his back to the wall, there stood, in charge
of its iron saucer and chain, a young monitor. At the
entrance-door of the playground there was also a janitor
of about the same age.

Through this merry scene a party of boys, several
without shoes or stockings, were rushing and running
in all directions. They were playing at hide-and-seek,
the hider, as soon as taken, being brought in triumph
by his captor to a tribunal. *' What's that strap for ?"
said I to a fine, fresh-coloured, strong lad, who was
running with it in his hand. " To handcuff hum," he
replied, with a grin, " if he won't come quite (quiet) ! "

After crossing over to the great building opposite to
Tyrone House, where I listened for some time to a
very interesting and instructive agricultural lecture,
addressed by a Professor to the grown-up male teachers,
who, after their period of instruction has concluded,
are thus enabled to carry with them to their various
localities the valuable practical knowledge that I heard

38 NATIONAL EDUCATION. Part I.

imparted to them, I proceeded to a spacious building
on the west of the large grass plot, the dormitory of
the female country teachers^ consisting of numerous
rooms, containing, according to their size, from three
to twelve beds, with curtains. In an adjacent building
the male teachers sleep on iron bedsteads. It might
have been imagined that the mixing up in Dublin of
so many young rural teachers of opposite sexes would
occasionally be productive of evil consequences. I was
vfery positively assured, however, by the highest autho-
rity, that since the creation of this establishment no
such case has ever been known to occur ; a fact, if it
be one, highly creditable to the Irish character.

On proceeding to the infants' school, I found 300 of
them in their playground, drawn up in four or five
formal lines, just ready, with little monitors at their
side, to tottle into school.

Their faces were all clean, and they were waiting
with serious countenances for the ringing of the bell,
when, all of a sudden, in consequence of a little " soft
nonsense" I had whispered into the ear of the teacher
in charge of their yard, she called out to them in a
loud tone, ** Children ! you may have jive minutes more
plat/!'' By the explosion of gunpowder one could
scarcely have scattered them more suddenly in all
directions. In one second the formality of their posi-
tion and countenances had vanished, and all over the
gritty precincts of the yard they were, mostly with
little bare feet, to be seen running, tumbling, jumjjing,
and laughing. A lot of more intelligent faces and
beautiful complexions no one could desire to behold.
Their glossy hair was of all colours.

Pajw I. NATIONAL EDUCATION. 39

In the middle of the yard were two poles, but the
amusement they appeared most to enjoy was scrambling
up a steep inclined wooden trough, and, on reaching
the summit, squatting down and, without the slightest
attention to the adjustment of their clothes, sliding
down a oorresponding descending wooden trough, the
bottom of which was not only highly polished, but
literally worn into two little furrows by the endless
friction that, by the inventive powers of the Commis-
sioners, had been applied to it. In a few instances, as
a great joke, a child, instead of sitting, went down this
montagne Russe head-foremost, on its stomach or back
as it preferred.

Any one witnessing the innocent, happy joy of these
children, would reasonably have hoped that the hand
of Time would have been arrested, but, as usual, he
was inexorable ; the five minutes came to an end — ^the
bell rang — the children, stomach versus back, fell out
into five lines, and by word of command of her majesty
the queen of their yard they once again tottled into
their schoolroom.

On arriving there in the morning they deposit their
hats and caps in a basket placed at one end of each of
their respective forms, and their bread (dinner) in
another basket at the other end.

In the schoolroom I found, seated in various direc-
tions, a number of very intelligent-looking female

«

teachers, each of whom had suspended before her a
picture. One represented the whole process of making
bread, from the ploughing of land for wheat to reaping,
thrashing, grinding, and baking. Another, the various
preparations which leather undergoes, and the mode of

40 NATIONAL EDUCATION. Part I.

making shoes. Another was a carpenter s shop, with
delineations of all his tools. Another, as a trifling
change, a representation of the solar system.

Each poor teacher, like Prometheus on his rock, was
chained to the picture she had undertaken to explain ;
but as she could not long continue to propound its con-
tents to one group, the chief Superintendent every now
and then, as if a wasp had stung her, gave a stamp and
a whistle, on which each group of children, under a
tiny monitor — in many instances not four years old,
and who is changed every week — moved successively
to the next picture, which was no sooner explained
than, in obedience to another .sudden stamp and whistle,
these little butterflies, with their monitor, flew to sip
the honey of the adjoining flower.

In a neighbouring room I found a congregation of
infants on benches raised one above another, merrily sing-
ing a tune, into which had been artfully slipped a very
small portion of the multiplication table, and as this
medicine evidently made them very shortly more or
less drowsy (I saw one tiny sinner from the bottom of
her soul give a decided yawn), the teacher artfully
revived them by saying very softly, '^ Let's take another
sleep 1 " on which, with great glee, they all threw
themselves backwards, an exertion and a joke com-
bined, which, on their being ordered to awake, com-
pletely revived them. One little girl, however, of
about two years old, who had over-acted the part,
remained sound asleep ; and as, with her tiny mouth
open, her glossy flaxen hair lay wild and loose upon
her rosy cheeks, I strongly felt how unconscious she
was of the parental endeavours which the Lord-Lieu-

Paw L national EDUCATION. 4 1

teoantj together with Commissioners the Archbishop
of Dublin, the Archbishop Murray, I-iord Bellew, the
Lord Chancellor, the Bishop of Meath, the Right Hon.
Alex. Macdonnell, and others of the highest attain-
ments in Ireland, were making to impart, not only to
her, but to 511,239 other children throughout Ireland,
infmtine habits of cleanliness and obedience, as also
the inestimable advantages of an admirable education.
And yet I could not help repeating to myself how
lamentable is the reflection, that while, at an annual
expenditure of 164,577/., Parliament isi assisting this
great work, the Commissioners, although they have
benevolently spared no pains in giving to the children
they have undertaken to educate every temporal assist-
ance that ingenuity could possibly desire, cannot to this
day agree among themselves as to the admission of the
Bible, or even in the construction of any simple
Christian prayer in which the rising generation of
Irish, Catholics and Protestants, might be taught to
unite! In short, to the discredit of both religions,
these children, who are taught so innocently to join
together " with heart and voice " in a harmonious song
of national homage to their Sovereign, are literally, by
the dark rules of the institution — which " exclude from
the general school all Catechisms and books inculcat-
ing peculiar religious opinions" — strictly forbidden from
exclaiming together with similar unanimity, —

" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
goodwill towards men."

( 42 ) PautI.

THE CONSTABULARY,

If a new Lord - Lieutenant in a very great hurry
wished to obtain a correct general idea of the distribu-
tion of the Constabulary Force in Ireland — in case no
poor little bay, with a face deeply pitted with the
small-pox, happened to be in the neighbourhood — I
would strongly advise him to buy a sixpenny map of
Ireland, nail it to a tree, and then, standing twenty-five
yards from it, to fire at it with a close-carrying single-
barrelled gun loaded with snipe-shot, which, in one
second, would, as nearly as possible, mark out for him
the distribution of the constabulary throughout the
country he was about to govern. A glance at the
annexed map, on which every police station is accu-
rately delineated, will, I believe, sufficiently demon-
strate the truth of my prescription.

The first question which the moralist would, of
course, ask is, why so ubiquitous a force is necessary ?
Blinking, however, this subject for the present, there
is another query, which, though of minor importance,
is not unworthy of consideration ; namely, by what
magic power can such a scattered force be governed ?
By military men discipline is said to be the art of
welding together, into an indissoluble band, a number
of human particles, which, separately, have no strength
or value whatever. But those whom discipline has

Pabtl the constabulary. 43

thus joined, no man, with impunity, can put asunder.
In a regiment, however admirable may be its eflBciency,
it would be difficult to select six men who would
maintain their artificial habits, if they were to be lo-
cated in a lonely spot for, say, only one year. To find
a company of such men would be almost impossible ;
and yet the constabulary force of Ireland is composed
of an army of 12,501 Irishmen, belonging to two reli-
gions which we are told it is impracticable to conciliate !

With these facts fermenting in my mind I felt de-
sirous to inform myself, first, of the nature of the force
in question ; and, secondly, of the mode in which it is
disciplined : and as, for some hours, I had an oppor-
tunity, first, of glancing over the whole of their rules
and regulations; and, secondly, of inspecting several
hundred of the officers and men at the depot at which
the whole is educated, I obtained the following trifling
data on the subject : —

I. — Ireland — which contains 32 counties, 316
baronies, 2422 parishes, and 66,700 townlands — is
divided, for i)olice purposes, into 35 counties and
ridings, over each of which is placed a county in-
spector. Each county and riding is divided into dis-
tricts, averaging 7 in number, over each of which is
placed a sub-inspector, whose district is further sub-
divided into about 7 sub-districts, each under the im-
mediate charge of a head or other constable.

Each sub-district comprises on an average 40 town-
lands.

There are at present in Ireland 1590 police stations
(vide Map), giving on an average 48 stations to each
county, .and 8 policemen to each station.

44

THE CONSTABULARY.

Part I.

The constabulary force of Ireland consists of-

Roman Catholics
Protestants •

Total force

7,798
4,703

12,501

The height of the men is as follows :-

ft in.

6 3 and upwards
C 2
6 1
C

I )

» I

> 9

23

161

606

1104

ft. in.
5 11 and upwards

5 10

5 9

5 8

> >

> >

> >

1794
2921
4623
1518

Besides acting as conservators of the public peace, the
Irish constabulary direct their exertions to numerous
collateral objects of great importance to the country ;
for instance —

They distribute and collect the voting papers for all

the Poor-Law guardians.
They take the census throughout Ireland.
They escort all prisoners, excepting in Tipperary and

Cork, in wliich counties the aid of troops is required.
They escort all convicts, and discharge the convict

accounts.
They collect and settle the innumerable accounts of

fines and penalties, from sixpence upwards.
They act as billet-masters throughout the country, and

as auctioneers for the sale of distress.
They enforce the fishery laws under certain instruc-
tions.
They assist in various ways the Board of Health.
They act (in towns and large villages) as masters of

weights and measures.
They preserve order in sessional and assize courts.

Paw !• THE CONSTABULARY. 45

They make up annually for Government certain statis-
tical returns of the quantity and quality of the dif-
ferent kinds of crop, of stock, &c., and are thus com-
petent, at any moment when required, to report
simultaneously on the state of any particular crop —
the potato, for instance — ^throughout the whole of
Ireland.

Daring the famine they greatly assisted the Commis-
sariat, as also the numerous relief commissions; in
short, from their zeal and intelligence they are ready
and competent to perform almost any miscellaneous
duties that may be required of them.

On comparing the pay of the constabulary with that
of a corresponding number of British troops, it appears
that the police are a rather less expensive force tlian
the army; for, although the sub-constables of police
are better paid than private soldiers, yet, from the
inferior pay of the other ranks of the constabulary, and
from the much smaller proportion of them required
than for troops, the cost of the whole force is at pre-
sent, on the whole, less than that of an equal number
of her Majesty's troops ; * and indeed this diflTerence
might be materially increased ; for, as the number of
constable-officers is not (as in the army) measured by
the number of men they command, but by the extent
of country under the superintendence of each, the

* The difference is nearly as follows : —

10,000 police, with their officers and staff, cost 2000/. a-year less than
10,000 troops Avithout staff.

The arerage annual expense of the clothing of the constahalary is as
follows : —

Infantry, per man . . . 1 5 5f
Cavalry, , , . . 1 19 1

46 THE CONSTABULABY. Part I.

number of police constables at every station might be
doubled, without materially increasing the officers'
labour ; and as the whole police of Ireland might thus
be very largely augmented without any great addition
to its complement of officers, the expense of the force,
as compared with that of the army, would in that case,
of course, be proportionally diminished.

From documents which will shortly be submitted,
and which will enable the reader on this important
subject to judge for himself, I was happy to ascertain
that in the constabulary, as in our army and navy, Pro-
testants and Catholics live together in such perfect har-
mony, that during the last fifteen years the Inspector-
General has not received above four cases of com-
plaint connected with religion ; indeed their difference
of creed is productive to the service only of good ; for
as the constables and sub-constables of each religion
would, of course, jealously report any partiality or dis-
affection of a comrade on account of religion, the
plain course, and indeed the only practicable course for
all, is to drop religious animosity, and be faithful to
their duty. Several years ago one of the constables
was promptly dismissed for calling out " O'Connellfor
ever!'' Immediately afterwards two more were disr
missed for, with equally extended jaws, shouting, ** To
hell with the Pope I " The adherents of both parties
rabidly complained to Sir Duncan M'Grigor, who
quaintly enough answered their communications by
laconically sending to each complainant a copy of the
punishment he had just inflicted for the antagonistic
exclamation.

Throughout the late elections, although the whole

Pakti. the constabulary. 47

body of Ireland was convulsed by religious animosity,
the fidelity of the constabulary was so irreproachable,
that during that severe trial there has been no occasion
to dismiss a single individual for disaffection. By a
regulation, established by the Inspector-General, no
constable or sub-constable can be allocated in the dis-
trict of country of which he is a native, or in which lie
18 known to have relations and friends ; and, as a pleas-
ing proof of the propriety of this arrangement, it may
be stated that constables, located on the confines of their
own neighbourhood, of their own accord often apply to
be removed, as they find their difficulties and tempta-
tions so much increased by being even in the neighbour-
hood of their acquaintances.

In the small detachments in which the constabulary
are scattered over the whole surface of Ireland, not
only is every individual strictly required to do his own
duty, but he is punished il* he witnesses any irregularity
in the conduct of his comrades without reporting it to
his officer.

For ordinary offences there are instituted Constabu-
lary Courts of Inquiry, which, after due investigation,
deliver their verdict ; but, to insure uniform discipline,
the Inspector-General alone awards the punishment,
which generally consists of a fine not exceeding 3/.
With the sanction of the Lord -Lieutenant he can, how-
ever, at once rid himself of any one technically termed
by his comrades " a black sheep."

In the last fifteen years the only case of disaffection
that has occurred in the constabulary was an anony-
mous letter, written by a constable to a rebel, " hoping
he would succeed." On this communication being

48 THE CONSTABULARY. Pabt I.

transmitted to the Inspector-General he sent to the
culprit, desiring him to come to head-quarters with a
specimen of his handwriting. The man, fancying he
was to be promoted, joyfully obeyed the summons, and
appeared quite elated, until, after a severe cross-exami-
nation, his letter was shown to him, upon which he at
once acknowledged himself to be the writer ; boldly
adding, ** Those sentiments are mine I " It is a singular
circumstance — to which no unfavourable moral can
reasonably be attached — that this man, who was of
course instantly dismissed, had for two or three years
been a student at Maynooth.

But it is by rewards rather than by punishments that
the discipline of the force is established.

Any head or other constable, or sub-constable, who
distinguishes himself by zealous, intelligent, and spirited
conduct, is permitted to wear, as a mark of distinction,
a chevron of lace on the left fore-arm of his jacket.

When a man, distinguished by four such marks,
merits a fifth, in lieu of all he receives a silver medal,
which he wears suspended by a light-blue riband on his
left breast.

For every occasion on which he subsequently dis-
tinguishes himself, he is allowed to wear a chevron in
addition to the medal.

These chevrons and medal are not only honourable
distinctions to the constable while in the service, but on
his retiring from it they very properly become bills of
exchange. On the termination of his services the
earner of these honours receives from the Reward Fund
— if ahead-constable, the sum of 6/., and if a constable or
sub-constable, the sum of 4/. for each chevron : for his

THE CONSTABULARY.

49

medal, a head-constable receives 35/. ; a constable or sub-
constable, 25^. ; and if the man dies in the service, these
well-earned siiras, after his funeral, are paid over to his
widow or children, but to no other heir at law. The
medal itself is also handed over to the widow or chil-
dren as an honourable testimonial. Sub-constables
with medals, without regard to their services, take pre-
cedence of all others in their class; but for misconduct
a man forfeits one or more chevrons, according to the
nature and degree of his offence.

The Inspector-General not only declines to enlist
married men, but after the recruits are enlisted they are
not allowed even to speak of matrimony for exactly five
years: however, at the end of that period, if they
sicken, their names are allowed to be enrolled, and, as
vacancies occur among the l-5thofthe force that are
permitted to be married, they gradually (in the order
of their application) crawl up the tree of Hymen, until
they arrive at the point caUed " holy matrimony,"
where they are authorised to establish themselves;
*' provided always," says the regulation, " that they can
produce satisfactory references as to the conduct, cha-
racter, and respectability [the stern order says nothing
about beauty] of the female to whom the constable or
sub-constable may wish to be united."

Besides the numerous small detachments I have
described, there are in each county a few men of supe-
rior attainments and experience, termed " disposable
■ men" — Anglice, "Detectives." They are, however, en-
H titled to this latter appellation only in one sense of the
^M word ; for, with a view to prevent them from acting as
H spies, they are prohibited from looking out for intended

50 THE (X)NSTABULARY. Part I.

crimes; and are directed to confine their attention
exclusively to the capture of the perpetrators of out-
rages already committed^ about which there can be no
question.

With this object in view they search for information,
and it is a curious fact that since the exertions of
Father Matthew they have found that the difficulty of
detecting crime in Ireland has considerably increased,
the reason being, that the information and confessions
they formerly obtained were usually volunteered by
drunken men.

Formerly every county in Ireland paid one-half of
the gross expenses of the constabulary located within
it, and the consolidated fund paid the other half.
Now the whole of the Parliamentary establishment is
defrayed by the consolidated fund, the county only
paying for any force it may require beyond that esta-
blishment. When, however, any great crime takes
place, Government has the power to send a force,
which can be located, as it deems fit, on the county at
large, the barony, parish, or town-land, either of which,
as ordained by Government, is made chargeable for
the cost of the extra force for three months certain,
and for such further time as may be requisite. The
beneficial efiect of this regulation is, that in many
cases information is privately given to Government of
an intended crime, merely to avoid the expense of sup-
pressing it.

For the constabulary men are selected solely from
character and personal appearance, without reference
to their religion. Some years ago about one-third
of the applicants were Protestants. I ascertained, how-

pabti. the constabulaby. 51

ever, that the number of applicants of that creed has
very lately increased.

Strange as it may sounds the little dumb potato has
been the unconscious cause of this difference^ for, as the
lower orders of Catholics usually feed on it, and the
lower orders of Protestants partly on oats, the famine
caused by the potato disease, not only (as the statistics in
the Government offices fully substantiate) fell principally
on the poor Catholics, but subsequently, from the terri-
fying effects of this cause, the latter class have formed
by far the greater number of the emigrants who since
the famine have left Ireland.

Of the officers, who are all gentlemen, there are
more Protestants than Catholics.

In proportion, however, to the whole force, which
is essentially Catholic, they are very few in number.

Beginning from the lowest rank, the officers con-
sist of —

Cadets-Probationary, who rank as constables, and who

usually continue in probation for about 2 months.
Sub-Inspectors, of three classes, who perform the same

duties, but with different rates of pay, namely, 100^.

a year, 1201., 150/., and about 12 at 180/.
County-Inspectors, of three classes, receiving 220/.,

250/., and 300/. a year.
2 Assistant Inspector-Generals, — one employed in the

office in Dublin Castle, and one (Captain Roberts)

commanding the Educationary Depot in the Phcenix

Park.
2 Deputy Inspector-Generals, of great experience, who

work in the office.

E 2

52 THE CONSTABULARY. Part I.

1 Inspector-General, Major-General Sir Duncan Mc
Grigor, K.C-B.

The Dep6t consists of a Commandant (Lieut-Colonel
Roberts) and 6 Sub-Inspectors (of whom 4 command
companies of about 1 50 infantry men each ; one the
cavalry troop, consisting, at present, of 60 men and 52
horses ; the sixth performs the triple regimental duties
of adjutant, barrack-master, and storekeeper). There
are also a surgeon and veterinary surgeon.

Besides the discipline and payment of the companies,
these 6 officers have to conduct a large county corre-
spondence owing to the reserved men being scattered
over Ireland, in places where, in consequence of dis-
turbances, their services are required.

The officers who join as cadets, and who, during their
probation, are dressed as officers, are taught to com-
mand a body of men, and, when competent, are pro-
moted, as vacancies occur, to the rank of Sub-Inspector.

The officers are instructed in arithmetic, algebra,
geometry, " the [their] code ;*' also how to fill up num-
berless returns, which, on service, they have to make as
to crime, statistics, estimates, accounts, &c.

In the whole of the above, as also in the knowledge
of the drill and discipline of the corps, they are strictly
examined, and, unless deemed perfectly competent, are
not seat to a county to be intrusted with the charge of
a district. The time occupied in their primary instruc-
tion, which they are required to continue when detached,
is usually from 4 to 5 months.

As the constables of the three ranks, in their remote
and often solitary locations, have to act as paymasters.

Pabt I. THE CONSTABULARY. 63

they also are all instructed as accountants, and in other
matters which will shortly be detailed.

In the whole force there are, per annum^ about 1000
vacancies, caused by resignations, deaths, retirements by
pension or gratuity, and, dismissals, the latter averaging
each year about 200.

Every individual in the constabulary is required to
have in his possession, and to be catechised therefrom,
a small printed book, entitled * Extracts from the
Standing Rules and Regulations, as published for
THE Information AND Guidance of the Constabulary
Force of Ireland.'

On glancing over the 558 regulations contained in
this blue-bound vade mecum^ the following appeared to
exemplify, very satisfactorily, the admirable principles
by which Sir Duncan McGrigor has organized this
valuable corps.

"17. Every inferior, whether oflScer or constable, is to
receive the lawful commands of his superior with deference
and respect, and to execute them to the best of his power ;
and every superior, in his turn, whether oflScer or constable,
is to give bis orders in the language of moderation, and of
regard to the feelings of the individual imder his com-
mand.

*' 96. It is of great importance that the men should be
respected by the people of the country, and obtain the
good opinion of the gentry. They will, therefore, be ex-
tremely cautious in their demeanour, and, by sober, orderly,
and regular habits, respectful attention to every gentleman,
and ready zeal to execute the lawful orders and commands
of the magistrates, endeavour to obtain the approbation of
all classes.

"97- The situations in which the men are placed
render it of the highest importance that they should be on
the most cordial terms with each other, and join in every*

54 THE CONSTABULARY. Part I.

thing that can tend to the advantage of the establishment ;
therefore, any man who is inclined to quarrel with his
comrades will be considered unfit for the service.

" 1 73. All official authorities are to be treated with
marked attention and respect by every member of the
force ; and head and other constables are never to pass any
of the Queen's judges of assize, lieutenants of counties,
vice-lieutenants, high-sheriffs, magistrates, sub-sheri£&,
coroners, officers of the revenue police, or officers of the
force, without saluting them.

" 193. The constabulary force should sedulously culti-
vate a good understanding with the army, navy, and other
public services.

" Firing.

" 396. The constabulary being, from the nature of the
service, much detached, and acting, necessarily, in the
performance of their various duties, in small parties, are
intrusted with arms for their own preservation, and that
of their barracks and prisoners ; it cannot therefore be too
strongly impressed on the mind of each and every member
of the force, how highly essential it is to guard against the
slightest wanton or wilful misuse of their arms, but to
observe the utmost forbearance that humanity combined
with prudence can dictate, before incurring the 'awful as
well as legal responsibility of firing on the people ; a
measure which should never be resorted to until the very
last extremity, and not until after every other means shall
have failed for the preservation of those engaged in carry-
ing the law into eflfect. It should be constantly borne m
mind, that, however well justified a policeman may consider
himself in firing, the act, with all its accompanying circum-
stances, whether the result be attended by loss of life or
otherwise, must become the subject of legal investigation.
It therefore behoves those who may be placed in such a
situation to be well prepared to prove that they acted
with becoming humanity, caution, and prudence ; and that
they were compelled by necessity alone to have recourse
to their arms.

Paot I. TUB CONSTABULARY. 55

**397. Whenever the necessity of firing should un-
fortunately arise, it ought to be at the leaders of a riot,
or the assailants of the police, and, if possible, with efiect.
Firing over the heads of mobs engaged in an illegal pursuit
must not be allowed ; as a harmless fire, instead of intimi-
dating» would give confidence to the daring and the guilty.

^' 402. The constabulary should, upon all occasions (as
before directed), observe the utmost caution and forbear-
ance in using their arms ; but should any attempt be made
to force an entrance into their barracks, or to rescue prison-
ers who may be in their charge, or to deprive them of
their arms, they ought, in those purely defensive situations,
to act with the utmost firmness and determination, and to
resist by every means in their power the loss of their
barracks, prisoners, or arms.

" 403, The police are expressly prohibited from firing
shots, for the purpose of intimidating any persons they
may be authorised to arrest, or for any other purpose what-
ever, or under any other circumstances than those set
forth in the 7th chapter.

" Prisoners.

"483. Are to be treated by the constabulary with
every humane consideration which their situation and
safety can admit of, and no unnecessary restraint or harsh-
ness shall be permitted towards them ; but on the other
hand, as the escape of any prisoner must ensure the dis-
missal of the person or persons in charge of him, it behoves
the police to be vigilant m the discharge of his or their duty.

" 484. Every rational allowance should be made for the
feelings of a prisoner by his escort ; but as the latter is
responsible for his safe custody, he is to be handcuffed, if
charged with the commission of any serious oflence, or if a
person of bad or suspicious character, if there be reasonable
grounds to apprehend an escape or rescue.

" 485. Females, or old or infirm prisoners, are not to be
handcuffed ; and the constabulary are not to converse with
their prisoners or question them respecting the ofTenccs
with which they may be charged.

56 THE CONSTABULABY. Pabt I.

" Witnesses and Prosecutors.

" 558. In all trials wherein the police may either be
witnesses or prosecutors, they should give their testimony
in a manly straightforward manner, without caring or ap-
pearing to care about the effects of it, either as to the ccmi-
viction or acquittal of the accused in criminal matters, or
as to the result in any civil or other suit.

" 559. They should merely and briefly answer the
questions put to them without remark or commentary ;
and, if cross-examined, they should carefully avoid making
a disrespectful or an intemperate reply ; for if their testi-
mony be fairly and honestly given, they need not fear, and
should not be annoyed at, any ordeal to which they may
be subjected. It must, however, be clearly understood
that no man can be considered as a worthy member of the
force who is not a respectable witness, and that any in-
stance of prevarication before any court of assize, sessions,
inquiry, or other tribunal whatsoever, shall ensure the
immediate dismissal of the witness who prevaricates, or
gives partial or vindictive evidence.

THE CONSTABULARY DEPOT.

This establishment, romantically situated in a retired
portion of the Phcenix Park, is composed of barrack-
looking buildings, forming three sides of a rectangular,
capacious, dark-coloured, gritty parade-groimd. The
long north front, which has a clock in the middle
of it, contains officers' quarters, officers' mess-room,
sleeping-rooms for the infantry portion of the force,
and the Commandant's quarters ; on the east, or right,
a short wing for infantry ; on the west, or left, similar
accommodation, with stabling beneath, for the cavalry.

The whole is surrounded on the south by a ditch,
terminating at each end by a rustic, country fied, cottage-

THE CONSTABULAny,

57

I

looking guard-house, which has evidently been scien-
tifically constructed lor the purpose, like a bastion, of
flanking the ditch in case of an attack. In the iron
shutters of its windows ai-e loopholes, and I also
in the walls observed more loopholes, filled up with
brick-noggiug, that could evidently be knocked out with
the butt end of a musket at a moment's notice. The
other three sides are protected by a jagged-topped stone
wall, 8 feet high.

Close to the iron entrance-gates is a small moveable
guard-room, 10 feet square, whose roof, floor, and sides
are comjiosed of shutters, the lower portion of which,
by iron lining, have been made ball-proof. In the sides
are hooks for five hammocks, carefully hung in the
portion that is musket-proof.

A few habitations of this sort are in store, ready to
form a portable barrack for mountains, or for any unin-
habited spot in which it may be necessary to locate a
party for a few months.

On arriving, by appointment, at 10 o'clock in the
morning at this Depot, I found the whole of its dark-
green force marching in companies on the Parade,
and as, by order of the Commandant, they wheeled into
line, I saw at a glance before me a well-organized
body of regular troops ; indeed, in soldier-Uke appear-
ance, arms, accoutrements, and uiiilbrm, they strongly
reminded me of that noble corps the old 95th, now-a-
days christened " the Rifle Brigade." They had the
same slight, active appearance ; although, on the whole,
they were evidently taller,

The full dress of the men is, a black shako, a
dark green soldier's jiicket with worsted epaulettes

P The

^B dark gr

58 THE CONSTABULABY. Pabt I.

of the same colour, dark green trousers and gloves,
boots, a black patent-leather cross belt, claspmg with
a brass plate, a black shining-leather waistband con**
taining two black pouches, one for percussion caps, the
other for a pair of iron handcuffs. Their arms are
composed of a short carbine with a spring bayonet,
which, when unfixed, is attached by another spring to
its scabbard, so as to prevent the weapon, in either
position, from being forced from its place. In every
cartouch box there were 20 rounds of ball cartridge
(two loose and ready) and 30 spare caps, and above
them was suspended, by black straps, a black knapsack.
Each man in full marching order carries 331b. 4 oz.,
including his carbine and bayonet, which weighs 7 lb.
15 oz., and his cartouch box with 20 rounds of ball
cartridge, weighing 4 lb. 3 oz. For undress, the men
wear a smart, neat foraging cap, with black patent-
leather chin-straps.

On walking through the ranks, I perceived that the
acting constables (corporals) were distinguished by two
gold chevrons on the left arm. The constables (who
rank as sergeants) had three gold chevrons. The head
constable (second class), who wears two small gold
epaulettes, and in his undress gold twist, has on his
arm four bars surmounted by a crown embroidered in
gold. Instead of a single he has a double-barrelled
carbine, with a short sword that can be attached to it
as a bayonet. The head constable, first class (sergeant-
major), whose clothes are of superfine cloth, has the
same four chevrons and crown ; but underneath them
there is embroidered a gold shamrock. Besides the
above, those men and non-conunissioned officers who

THE CONSTABULARY.

59

f

have earned them, are distinguished by the good-conduct
chevron and silver badge of merit already described.
The officers wear sliakos, dark-green unilbrm, with gilt
epaulette scales ; their long straight swords are in bur-
nished steel scabbards.

The mounted constabulary is a well-appointed ca-
valry force, comi»osed of tall, slight, wiry-looking men,
selected for their superior activity, general intelligence,
and predilection for horses and mounted service. They
are not selected i f they are under five feet eight or above
five feet ten, if they exceed in weight twelve stone, or
until they have served as infantry police for two years.
Their uniform consists of a dark-green jacket and
trousers with black stripe, a light-green worsted waist-
belt, a black cavalry ca]), with patent-leather peak,
brass chin - scales, patent - leather cross belt, white
gloves, and steel spurs. In front of their saddle, which
is the same as that used by the horse artillery, they
carry a brace of pistols covered with brown leather ;
behind it, a valise protected by black oil-skin. The
horses have bright collar -chains and white girths.
The appointments, including everything, weigh 5 stone
4 lbs. On ordinary service the men wear a foraging
cap, and the horses do not carry the valise; the weight
of the appointments is thus reduced to 3 stone 12 lbs.

Every man, artcr having served one year in the
mounted force to the satisfaction of his county inspector,
is entitled, if a constable, to an addition of 2^., and if a
sub-constable of 1 /. lOs., to his usual salary ; thus making
the pay of a mounted constable 38^, and of a sub-con-
stable 29/. 4^'. a-year. The increase, however, above
named is forfeited by misconduct, or by the man being

60 THE CONSTABULABY. Paet I,

removed to the infantry. To the cavalry the principal
words of command are given hy a trumpet, to the
infantry hy hugles.

As soon as our slight inspection was over, the Com*
mandanty Lieut-Colonel Roberts, who, under the direc-»
tions of the Inspector-General, has indefatigably raised
and trained upwards of 14,000 constabulary recruits, put
his force through various military evolutions adapted
to their particular duties. For the purpose of clearing
away a mob, the infantry advanced rapidly in the form
of a solid wedge, which, as soon as it was supposed to
have penetrated the mob, gradually extended itself into
line. They then quickly formed themselves into small
defensive squares; and although they have happily
never had occasion to carry it into effect, they went
through a movement of street firing adapted for a small
force, which it would be impossible for any undisci-
plined crowd to resist. Advancing in sections about
the length of a narrow street, the leading men no
sooner fired than a section from the rear in double
quick time ran in front and fired again ; and so on a
rapid succession of volleys was administered. Besides
this exercise, the men are taught first to fire blank
cartridges, and then, with the help of a target, are (as it
is professionally termed) " finished off with ball," until,
as I was informed, they can hit true and well at 100
yards. On the whole, I certainly have never seen
assembled a more intellectual force ; indeed there was
an intelligence in their countenances, a supple activity
in their movements, and a lightness in their tread, that
were very remarkable.

The Commandant, having most obligingly shown me

THE CONBTABULAHy.

Gl

la specimen of tlie Irish Constabulary in its manufactured
P state, now pointed to a picturesque portion of tlic
PhoEnbt Park immediately outside the south ditch of
the barracks, wlicre I liad an op]>ortunity of seeing,
standing in squads of 20 and 30 men each, the raw
material of which it is constructed.

On a small expanse of emerald-green grass, studded
Ijere and there with beautiful gnarled thorn-trees,
which, increasing in number, soon formed a wild-looking
forest, bush, or jungle, much resembling spots I had
seen in uniuliabited portions of South America, I found
standing in squads of 20 or 30, clasping their thighs,
and in various degrees of strangulation, recruits, some
of whom, having arrived but the day before, had only
that morning been gifted with a hard stiff patent-
leather stock, which gave that sort of protuberance to
the eyes which I remember formed the first feature in
my own military career. Some had joined a week,
some a fortnight, and the rest rather more than three
weeks. Without reference to religion, almost all had
been selected as being the sons of deserving small
formers. They were, generally speaking, fine, hand-
some, intelligent lads of from 18 to 20; well dressed,
wearing waistcoats, neckcloths, and clean shirts. There
was nothing clownish or cloddish in their appearance ;
and the progress whicli the more advanced Jiad made
during the very short period of their probation exem-
plified what I believe is an old remark, namely, the
luiturol aptitude of the Irish to be soldiers — not sailors,
as that profession rarely suits them.

After observing for a few minutes their star-gazing
attempts to march, countermarch, &c, — in short, the

— "-^-

62 THE CONSTABULARY. Pabt I.

vigorous efforts of these military grubs to become
butterflies — I retamed with the Commandant to the
Parade to look at the barracks. We first went to the
officers' quarters, where I entered a good reading-room
well supplied with newspapers, and an excellent mess-
room, handsomely carpeted, with mahogany sideboard,
plate^ and other Constabulary comforts.

In the infantry barracks, on the ground floor, I
found the men's rooms, which are 33 feet by 20, newly
whitewashed ; and besides two lofty windows at each
end, they were scientifically ventilated by four holes
about three feet from the floor for the admission of
heavy pure air, and by two holes in the ceiling for the
exit — via the chimney — of light foul air. In every room
were sixteen iron bedsteads, each containing a fresh bed
and pillow of straw, a pair of sheets, two blankets, and
a quilt. The tick beds are washed every six months,
and the pillow-cases every four months. The men*s
accoutrements were arranged on shelves, and around
each room were stands for their arms. For the lower
panes of the windows I observed iron shutters, loop-
holed ; in short, the Irish Constabulary in their bar-
racks are, in fact, a select garrison of admirably drilled
troops, occupying, very properly and very peaceably,
a very snug little fortress of their own. But its loop-
holes are blinded, and the officers and non-commissioned
officers wear quiet civil titles; and thus Parliament,
so invariably averse to every description of force that
by its efficiency deserves the unpopular appellation of
^^regulavy' good-humouredly looks upon the whole, and,
satisfied by the blocked-up loopholes, finds no reason
whatever to complain of '* unconstitotional protection."

Pabt I. THE CONSTABULARY. 63

On ascending a stone staircase we passed some single
small rooms, about 12 feet square each, containing a
solitary bed, and a table bearing an inkstand, pens, &c.
They belong to the constables (sergeants).

On the upper story I found a series of rooms similar
to those below, but with a small low door pierced in
the wall of each, so as in case of aitctck to allow the
men, by stooping, freely to circulate through the whole
re^on without being obliged to ascend the staircase.

Under each bedstead I remarked a black box, on the
side of which was written the owner's name in white
letters, containing, besides his linen, &c., a suit of plain
clothes and round hat ; which, if necessary, enables the
force without danger to move from station to station,
or to assemble in force at any given point, without
irritation or observation.

In rear of these barracks are a cleaning yard ; wash-
ing^room, supplied by a steam-boiler with hot and cold
water ; a shed, for cleaning clothes, and for drilling in
wet weather, &c. In the cooking-house, in which are
eight large caldrons, I found three women engaged and
paid by the men to cook their victuals and clean their
rooms.

In the cavalry wing there is a sergeants* mess-room,
containing tables neatly covered with painted oil-cloth.
On the walls were hanging several maps and the mess
regulations. From the latter it appears that these
chief constables get an excellent breakfast and dinner
for lld.f servants and washing included. Throughout
the barracks smoking, card-playing, and gambling of
every description are strictly prohibited. In the riding-
school I found several recruits in dark green, with brass

64 THE CONSTABULARY. Part I.

scales to their caps, riding on horses, each branded on
the shoulder with his respective number. The stables,
which are 36 feet by 20, and well ventilated, are
divided by iron rails ; and over each iron manger is
written the number, age, and date of purchase of the
horse that is eating out of it.

In the hospital, which is luxuriously supplied with
hot and c^ld baths, the sick are all required to wear a
blue-bottle coloured dress, to prevent them from flying
unseen to their healthy green-coated comrades. On
looking over the dietary, I was quite delighted to find
that on Friday all the inmates, whether Protestant or
Catholic, dine amicably together on fish.

In the eastern short wing of the establishment I
found an excellent, healthy, well-ventilated school-
room, containing in two divisions sixteen long desks and
benches. In front of them was the teacher's table, with
globes, a case for books, &c.

On their first entrance here, the recruits are made
to copy out the rules and regulations by which they are
to be governed, and in which they are strictly examined.
In addition, they are taught orthography, grammar,
arithmetic, geography, with a particular knowledge of
Ireland, and the rudiments of geometry.

They are then in the " special class " taught, by a
constable-schoolmaster, a highly intelligent young man,
book-keeping and mathematics. No recruit is allowed
to be detached until by examination he has shown him-
self competent to perform his duty. In like manner,
his subsequent promotion depends on his passing a
superior examination : —

Tabt I. THE CONSTABULARY. 65

"It is in vain,'* say the printed regulations, ** for any
man to expect promotion wno cannot write with facility
a good legiole hand, and spell well."

To enable him to prepare himself for this future
examination, he receives, previous to his leaving the
depot, every necessary instruction. On the whole, it
appeared to me that at the Constabulary depot every
practicable exertion is made to give to the important
force it educates an intellectual character, as well as
that intelligence, activity, and zeal which its delicate
and diflficult duties so urgently require.

( 66 ) Part I.

COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH.

Outside the entrance-door of Morrison s Hotel there
are always — like sharks a in hot latitude floating within
the surf of a beach — a number of carmen, greedily
waiting to snap up any human body that they can see
at all struggling for assistance ; and, accordingly, no
sooner, on leaving the aforesaid hotel at 9*45 a.m., did I
happen to stand for a second or two rather irresolutely
on the pavement (the fact is I was thinking that I
should probably want a car) than one flew at me like
a bull-dog, and, stepping aboard of it, I had scarcely
taken my seat, when off" it started with me, dragging
me sideways in a direction exactly opposite to my
wishes.

" Where the deuce are you going ? " said I to the
driver.

" Where does yere Arnh'r toish to go ? " he replied,
pulling up.

*' Why didn't you ask that before you started ? What
are you in such a terrible hurry about ? " I added.

" Well, yere Amh'r ! I've a good harse her ! She's
a well-bred baste!" And, on my smiling as my right
eye glanced at her for a moment, he added, " I can see
yere Arnh'r knows what a well-bred baste is ! "

The animal was certainly exceedingly impatient to
be off^; and in a very few minutes after I had divulged

COLLEGK OF MAYNOOTU. 0?

to the driver where I wished to go, she rattled me
I through the streets to the spot, and the sixpenny trans-
I action between us all three having thus concluded, the
I car slowly jogged awny Irom the station-door of the Great
I Southern and Westefn Railway, as I walked into it.
From a porter I learnt that there had lately been an
alteration in the departure of the train that was to
drop me at Maynoolh, and as I had in consequence
thereof arrived at the station half an hour too soon,
I strolled from it with perfect impartiality in the first
direction that oifered itself. Passing a large stack of
peat for sale, I came suddenly to a canal basin, in which
a couple of naked boys of about eight years old ^vere
splashing. " Throw me a halfpenny, yere Amh'r," ex-
claimed one, "till I dive for ut ! " In an instant I
complied with the first half of the child's little prayer,
intending him to catch my penny with his hands. He,
however, did not atlempt to do so; but, diving after it,
I bronght it, to my astonishment, up in liis mouth.

Four or five men close to me immefliately left their
work, and they seemed to take such an eager interest
insjiorl (I believe of any sort), that they prevailed on
me to throw into the water another penny. " Hould ! "
exclaimed one ; " here's Jan cummun that 'nil dive for
ut from the tap o' the wharl ! " The words were
hardly prononneed when a lad of about seventeen, who
had just run up to the group, threw off his jacket,
kicked off liis trowsers — he had neither shirt, shoes,
nor stockings on — and, to my surprise, I saw him
climb to the top of a stone wall upwards of ten feet
high, and then, running along the round coping, I
perceived by the attitude he was assuming that he was
f2

68 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Part I.

about to jump head foremost across the coped towing-
path beneath him into deep water. I was most
seriously alarmed lest he should kill himself, and his
intended performance, in the middle of a city, was
altogether so irregular, that nearly to the extent of
my voice I called on him, imperatively, to desist

" Sure, yere Arnh'r, he's arlways doing it for iny
gintleman ! "

" No, no ! " I exclaimed, and I was proceeding very
earnestly with my protest, when from my little audience
there arose such a simultaneous series of rejoinders in
different voices of ^^Arnh'r!" " Yere Arnh'r ! " and
** Yere Arnh'r !"•.•. that it immediately occurred to
me that the best thing I could do with my honour
was to decamp with it, and so, throwing down a
sixpence for the lad who at that instant with his hands
clasped before his head had dived from the top of the
wall into the basin at some distance beneath, I very
quickly walked away, and, descending a steep street,
came to a flat broad one, in which I stood for some
minutes, observing what appeared to be large walking
haycocks with a horse's head projecting from the middle
of each ; indeed in many instances the hay trailed on
the ground on each side of the poor animal who was
thus bringing it on his back from the country to Dublin
market. Close on my left, snuffling and grubbing in
the dust, >vere half-a-dozen little pigs, each with his
near fore and near hind legs tied together by a small
hayband to prevent him cantering. Whilst I was
looking at this arrangement, a maimed beggar-woman
slowly walked up to me. To prevent a long story, I
gave her a halfpenny. " May God in Heaven reward

Part I. COLLBQE OF MAYNOOTH. 69

ye!** she fervently muttered, as she continued her
course.

My half-hour*s stroll was now nearly expended, so
returning to the station I took from the clerk in wait*
ing a second-class return ticket to Maynooth.

As all I knew about travelling in Ireland was from
certain pictures I had studied in my youth of thatched
postchaises and of hostlers running with red-hot pokers
in their hands to ^' start " the horses, I was curious to
learn in what sort of accommodation I was about to be
embedded. On reaching the platform I found a train
of dark rich blue carriages, equal, if not superior, to
any I have ever seen on the continent of Europe.
Each was composed of a first-class coup6, hand-
somely lined with blue cloth, and (between them) of
two second-class carriages, painted in the interior drab-
colour. In both were four seats, comfortably fur-
nished with well-stuffed cushions covered with new
glossy morocco leather. The glass windows, above
which were Venetian shutters painted in two shades of
light blue, had neat linen curtains chequered in blue
and drab. From the roof of the carriage, which was
painted white, there protruded two round black iron
ventilators, about nine inches high, pierced with holes
like a colander. In the coupes there was scarcely an
inhabitant, but the second-class compartment was
nearly filled with a clean, well-dressed, and respectable
class of persons. As soon as a sudden and loud whistle,
which I particularly remarked had no peculiar Irish
tone, ordered us to start, a general commotion, or
rather a series of general commotions, began; and
although I could not correctly hear what was said,

70 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Pabt I.

it was evidently at intervals of a very jocular descrip-
tion, and accordingly there were every now and then
behind, before, and on either side of me, paroxysms of
convulsive grins^ the causes of which I could not learn,
and shall now never know.

Dublin, in the direction in which we were travelling,
has no suburbs, and so in a few minutes we were all flying
through flat, rural scenery, strongly resembling Eng-
land, excepting that the colour of the grass as it flitted
by was certainly, if possible, rather more beautiful.
In the fields, which were small, and bounded by
hedges, we continually passed close to groups of
sturdy reapers, and their living attitudes, and open,
sunburnt breasts, contrasted with the motionless yellow
sheaves that stood around them, formed a pleasing
picture of " harvest home." Alongside of us, as we
glided on, was — as is usually the case in railway tra*
veiling — a canal, the horses and boats of which ap-
peared by comparison to be moving backwards.

By the time we had gone fifteen miles, the speed of
the train evidently began to diminish, and, continuing
to slacken, it had scarcely stopped, when I heard
loudly ejaculated by a monotonous, psalm -singing voice,
which on two legs was evidently rapidly approaching
me, the word " MAV-nooth ! " and on looking out of
the window, a neat white station, bounded on each side
by a high bright pea-green paling, a pea-green lamp-
post, a pea-green ladder, and a pea-green bell-post, all
newly painted, was standing close before me.

I had some little difficulty in threading my way
through some knees more or less hard to the door of
the carriage, and thus I was scarcely on the platlbrm

COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH.

71

of the station when away went the train with a wliistle.
' and," as the old song says, " I was left all alone."

On ])assiug through the station, I found waiting at
its portal a couple of hack cars, and as I stepped on the
footboard of one. and as there was no fare for the other,
both trotted, one close to the other, towards the village
of Maynooth, distant about 200 yards. The driver of
an Irish car utterly abhors that vacuum in the human
mind commonly called ignorance; his duty and his
I delight are to impaii, information of any sort or de-
I scription to the person he drives, and thus, before I had
proceeded twenty yards, I was instructed that a piece
of claret-culoured water before me was the canal-basin,
that it was a harbour for coals. — that the ruins on my
left were Uie old castle of Maynooth, — and my con-
ductor, jabbering as fast as he could, was actually
pointing to them with his whip, when I heard loudly
tgaculatcd to him from the carman close behind us,
" .Tohnnie ! why douu't ye shan the man the orbelisk ? "
The reasons I suppose were, 1st, that it was exactly
in the opposite direction to that which the whip was
pointing to ; and. secondly, because my driver, no
doubt, considered that, just as a marquess, however old,
ranks above a baron, however new, so do castles, ruined
or not, rank before columns, pyramids, and obelisks,
whatever may be the events, new or old, they com-
memorate.

The instant I reached the village I begged my iu-

slructortopull up, and, without loss of time having once

again descended upon the surface of this earth, I briefly

I asked, according to its custom, what I had to i>ay. "Ye

I give ut uie by and by, yere Amh'rl Yere Arnh'r,

72 ^ COLLEQE OP MAYNOOTH. Pabt I.

this/' pointing to a little building like a methodist chapel,
** is the cort-[court] -house, and this with the railings
round it is the market-house built by the Dooke!"
** Does yere Amh*r wish to go in ut ? " said the feeble
voice of a little bare-footed boy in rags, whom I had
not observed at my side ; adding ^^ there's a marn in
there, yere Amh'r, who has the kay/' " Gro along out
o' thart ! '* said the driver, suddenly looking as if he
was on the point of kicking and striking the boy*s
stomach at one and the same time. Not wishing to
be involved in a dispute of this nature, I piteously
begged leave to be left to myself, and after having,
with considerable difficulty, gained my independence,
I availed myself of it by quietly looking around me.
• The village of Maynooth, which is about a quarter
of a mile long, is composed of one long, very broad
straight street of low houses, two stories high, some of
which are white, and the rest from age a light drab
colour. At several intervals are to be seen very slight
indications of a bygone intention on the part of this
quiet village to turn itself by three or four streets at
right angles into a town, but the abortive attempt soon
dwindled into huts and cabins, that in a very few yards
came to an end. At the eastern extremity of the main
street there is a low wall with iron railing, and a park-
gate communicating with a broad road and greensward
upwards of a mile long, and of the breadth of the
main street, of which in fact it is a prolongation. This
road and park are the approach from Maynooth to
Carlton, the splendid residence of the Duke of
Leinster.

The opposite or western extremity of the long

COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTII.

73

I
I

street I Jiave described ia abruptly terminated at right
angles by an iron railing, fixed in a low concave dwarf
wail, supporting at intervals several pilasters, on which
appear two couchant sphynxes, one on each side of the
iron entrance gates ; two lions couchant and fiercely
lookhig down the main street ; six globes ; and three
ornamental ancient urns. Immediately on the right of
these railings, but outside them, are the ruins of an
old castle, the ancient residence of the Fitzgeralds and
ancestors of the Duke of Leinster. Withm the railmgs,
bounded by two groves of horse-chestnuts, beeches, and
acacias, are a couple of nice-looking grass jilots, sepa-
rated by a road on whicli are flourishing four fine yew-
trees, two large hollies, two large laurustinus, and a
few other evergreens. At the termination of this lawn,
about one hundred yards from the railings, stands the
Royal College of Maynooth, looking like something
between an old-fasliioned English country-house and a
French chateau, with a wing at each end of a modern
and rather a manufactory appearance, In short, it
resembles, on the whole, very much one of the innu-
merable " estaljlishments " within a dozen miles of
London, in wliich the substantial family residence of
" the fine old English gentleman, all of the olden time,"
has, by the addition of a i)air of plain new vulgar wings,
been converted iuto a school.

The old portion of the building, which projects
slightly beyond the other two, is three stories high,
with five windows in each ; the wings are two stories
high, with ten windows in each. The whole, which
has been rough-cast, looks weather-beaten and old.

The central portion is inhabited entirely by Pro-

74 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Pabt I.

fessors* The middle window of its second story was
wide open, displaying to view two very large school
globes, separated by twelve extra-sized folio volumes
with red leaves, standing on their edges, with their
lettered backs uppermost.

When I was in Dublin I called twice at the residence
of Dr. Cullen, the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh,
intending, although I was perfectly unknown to him,
to ask him to be so good as to give me a note of intro*
duction to the President of Maynooth College. He
happened, however, at both times to be from home ;
and I therefore determined that, without applying to
any one for assistance, I would go down to the College
and take my chance of being admitted into it or not.

Accordingly, walking up to the central door, I rang
the bell, and, on a servant appearing, I desired he would
give my card to the President, and say I begged leave
to speak to him. The man told me that the President
was away, but he would go to the Vice-President ; and
in the mean while he begged me to walk into a com-
fortable small room of three windows, handsomely fur-
nished with a scarlet and black carpet ; scarlet curtains
edged with yellow lace, with white muslin curtains
underneath ; a round table, covered with a scarlet and
black cloth ; ten dining-room chairs, with black hair
bottoms ; a dumb waiter ; brass fender ; common grate ;
a painting of a man, with both hands uplifted, on ]iis
knees before two friars, one standing, the other sitting
on the ground close to a cross surmounted by Alpine
scenery. In a spacious carpeted adjoining room, the
door of which was wide open, was a large dining-table
(standing on a scarlet and black carpet), four silver

I

I'ART I. C«LLEOK OK MAYXOOTU. 75

decauter-stands, a large full-length pictureof St. Fraacis
on a pedestal, and about a dozen and a half of plain
hair black- bottomed chairs.

In a feiv minutes the door from the entrance-hall
opened, and in Walked the Vice-President, in his black
gown. He api)eared to be about 40 years of age ; he
was tall, light, and active, with a countenance not
oiily exceedingly clever, but particularly mild and
pleasing. Jle had my card in his hand ; and I had
scarcely apologised for calling upon him, as a complete
stranger, when lie replied, " You were Governor ol" Ca-
nada?" I answered, "I was." And, rather to my
surprise, he then added, "And you have taken the part
of Louis NaiKjleon ?" As 1 did not want to enter into
that subject, 1 briefly said, " 1 had ;" muttering to myself
at the moment, " Well, you read the Times at all events !"
" Do you want," said he, " to see our College ?"

Of course I did ; but as I was particularly anxious
that he should not consider 1 had come merely from
private curiosity, I at once took my black note-book out
of my pocket, and opening it, and displaying to him
some ten or fifteen pages of pencil writing, I said very
gravely, " I yesterday took these notes of the system of
Irish education pursued in Marlborough Street, Dublin.
If you see no objection, I desire to take similar notes,
not on theological subjects, but on the general manage-
ment of ihis College."

For a moment I fancied I saw a very small cloud of
reflection flit across the sunshine and serenity of his
countenance ; but it had scarcely vanished when he
said, with great kindness of maimer, " 1 will show you
everything myself."

76 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Tart L

It appears that the establishment of the Royal Col-
lege of St. Patrick at Maynooth, founded on Mr. Pitt's
recommendation, in 1795, by the Irish Parliament
in the reign of George III., consists at present of a
President, a Vice-President, a Dean, two junior Deans,
a Prefect of the Dunboyne establishment, who also acts
as Librarian, a Bursar, and a Secretary to the Board of
Trustees, composed of three Catholic Archbishops,
seven Bishops, and four Irish noblemen.

The Professors are of

Dogmatical and Moral Theology.

Natural Philosophy.

Rhetoric and Belles Lettres.

English Rhetoric and French.

Ecclesiastical History.

Logic, Metaphysics, and Ethics.

Humanity.

Irish.

There are also attached to the Institution, a Counsel,
a Law-agent, a Physician, a consulting Physician, a
Surgeon, a consulting Surgeon, two resident Medical
Attendants, and lastly a Printer and Bookseller.

For the maintenance of this establishment the sum
of about 8000^. was annually voted by the Irish,
and afterwards by the Imperial Parliament, from 1795
to 1807, when an additional 5000/. was granted for the
enlargement of the buildings. From 1808 to 1813 the
annual vote was 8283/., and from 1813 to 1845 it was
raised to 8923/. By the Act of 8 and 9 Vict. c. 25,
the College, on the recommendation of Sir Robert
Peel, was placed on a new foundation, and permanently
endowed for the maintenance and education of 500
students, and of 20 senior scholars on the Dunboyne

Part L COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. ^^

foundation, for the support of which the College
receives from the fee simple estates of the late Lord
Dunboyne 460/. a year.

Besides providing for the annual cost of conunons,
&c., for these 520 students, of allowances to the 20
Dunboyne students, and to 250 students of the three
senior classes, and of salaries to the president, supe-
riors^ and professors, the Act above quoted moreover
vested in the Commissioners of Public Works the sum
of 30,000/., for erecting the buildings necessary to
accommodate the enlarged number of students, which
at presents amounts to 520.

The rules for their admission are as follows : —

No applicant can be received as a student at May-
nooth College unless he be designed for the priesthood
in Ireland, be sixteen years of age, be recommended by
his bishop, and unless he be competent to pass a pre-
scribed examination.

The ordinary course of study requires for its com-
pletion five years, after which the student is deemed fit
to be made a priest ; but those who, by their superior
qualifications, have been selected for the Dunboyne
establishment, continue their course for three addi-
tional years. The studies principally consist of Greek
and Latin classics, rhetoric, mathematics, French,
English composition, the historical books of the Bible,
logic, moral philosophy, natural history, ecclesiastical
history, theology, and the Hebrew and Irish languages.

The Vice-President explained to me that within the
territory of the College, which comprises about 80
acres, there are three separate sets of buildings,
namely : —

78 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Pabt L

1. One containing 390 senior students, composed of
a sort of barrack, forming three sides of a hollow
square (the front of this building is that with two
wings, which I have already described).

2. A new college just erected in rear of the old one
by the Parliamentary grant of the 8 & 9 Vict. c. 25,
forming also three sides of a hollow square.

3. A large detached building of two fronts, contain-
ing 130 junior students whom, on their arrival, it is
deemed advisable to keep for three years by themselves.

The Vice-President was good enough to propose to
take me over these buildings in the order named.

SENIOR DEPARTMENT.

The first portion of this establishment which we
entered was a ** prayer hall," containing benches with
backs of deal varnished, capable of receiving all the
students of the senior establishment. At one end was
a small platform slightly raised, for the reader. From
it we entered "the refectory," a large room 120 feet
long, by 36 broad, and lighted by ten windows. At
one end was a raised gallery, like the orchestra of
a country ball-room. The floor was composed of glazed
tiles, on which were irregularly arranged deal tables and
deal benches, sufficient for 390 students who dine here.
In the centre of the room, near the wall, stands an ele-
vated desk or pulpit, from which prayers are read very
loudly to the students during the whole of their dinner-
time. The Vice-President told me that the subjects
read " consisted of a chapter from the Bible (the reader
during the time standing up uncovered), the historical

r I. COLLEGE Oi'' MAYNOOIH.

works of the Church of England, some Samt's life, and
lastly, the Roman martyrology of the day in Latin."

We next proceeded to the library, a low solid-looking
room, 1 15 feet long, divided by short walls into a suite
of eleven recesses, on the right and left as one walks up
it, lettered successively from A to K.

In walking up the aisle or middle of the room, I
observed in these several recesses, seated at a single
table, more or less loaded with books, a young student
in his black gown and black stock, edged with white,
intently reading, — indeed they were apparently so com-
pletely engrossed with their respective studies, that not
above one or two oi' them even raised their eyes as we

I

On reaching the fireplace at the end of the room, I
observed on it a statue of King George III., the founder
of the institution ; and the compartments A, on either
side of it, to my surprise I found completely filled with
bibles of every description. "Well," said I to myself,
as I looked at them and then the royal statue, "here's
certainly Church and State !" In this compartment
there was standing a young student, of about 91 years
of age, who had apparently charge of it ; and as he saw
that the Vice-President and I were conversing, and
were evidently interested in the subject, he handed me
down, with great alacrity, bibles of a variety of lan-
guages, English, French, Spanish, Latin, Greek, Hebrew,
Syriac, Arabic; then one huge polyglot volume of
pages divided into three compartments, in which was
the Bible in the Syriac, HebrcM', Greek, Latin, German,
Bohemian, Italian, Spanish, French, English, Danish,
Polish languages. "And yet," said I to the President,

80 COLLEGE OP MAYNOOTH. Pabt I.

** you have no bible in Irish V* I moreover observed
in this compartment A, Calvinus in Epistolas ; Roberti
Stephani, mdlvi. ; Beza in Evangelium ; Biblia Sacra
Beza; Biblia Hebraica Hennicotti (from the Claren-
don Press, Oxford, date 1780). There were nu-
merous commentaries on the Septuagint, commen-
tators of all classes and creeds, Grotius and Calmet
included. Among the earliest editions I observed
Rider's Family Bible, Haydock's Holy Bible, Douay
Bible, King Henry VIII.'s Bible, lastly, a very old
one in black letter, with Apocrypha and all complete^
excepting the title-page, which was missing.

On retracing my steps along the aisle or centre of
this library, I observed, hanging on one of the low
walls which formed the recesses, a notice, of which the
following is a copy : —

" Whoever takes a book out of this Library

incurs excommunication
IPSO facto."

From the library we went to the chapel, before the
principal altar of which the Vice-President knelt with
great devotion for about half a minute, and then rising
explained to me — what was perfectly evident — that
there was scarcely accommodation for the 390 students
of the senior department.

We next proceeded to the dormitories, and, ascending
a stone staircase deeply worn by feet, we came in the
upper stories to passages — in several instances they
were 420 feet long, and 10 feet broad — in which we
met a number of the students, who appeared to pass
the Vice-President with most remarkable respect The

Part X. COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. 8 1

rooms, which were of different sizes, had from two to
six curtainless iron bedsteads, on each of which was
a feather pillow and a hair or grass mattress. The
chambers were scantily furnished, and had few orna-
ments, excepting occasionally a cheap holy picture or
image on the wall.

In the kitchen I found on one side two very large
adjoining fireplaces, before which were revolving, one
above the other, a couple of exceedingly long spits,
closely covered with joints of mutton.

Between these two furnaces, at a short distance
below the ceiling, was a niche cut out of the solid wall,
as if to contain a large statue. Within it, in a white
straw hat and blue smock frock, sat a sturdy, ruddy-
faced, healthy man, turning with one hand a winch,
which caused the spits beneath him to revolve : in fact,
he was the turnspit of St. Patrick's College of May-
nooth ; and a more contented-looking literary animal
I have seldom beheld.

The Vice-President told me that the consumption of
the College averages a bullock and sixty sheep per
week.

Opi>osite the fireplaces were several very large cal-
drons for stews, vegetables, &c. The meals are as
follows : —

At nine in the morning the students have breakfast,
composed of bread and butter, with tea or cocoa. At
three they dine (excepting on Fridays and fast-days,
when they are restricted to eggs, puddings or pies, and
potatoes) on meat, vegetables, bread, beer, and water.
At eight in the evening they have a supper of bread and

cocoa.

o

82 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Pabt I.

On descending we came into the hollow square,
surrounded on one side by the entrance front» and on
the other side by the dormitories I have just described,
which occupy on each side three stories of 33 windows
each. The space included by these buildings is an
encircled green lawn, on which are growing very
luxuriantly two dark yew-trees.

As a group of students passed us I asked the Vice-
President whether they were ever allowed to go into
the village ? In reply, he told me that on Wednesdays
they were permitted to take a walk under the guidance
of the Dean ; that at Christmas and Easter they have
a few days holiday, but remain in the College ; that
in the summer they have 55 days' vacation, during
which they are supposed to be delivered over to their
bishop or parish priest. I asked whether those who
remained at Maynooth during the vacation (this sum-
mer they amounted to upwards of 60) were allowed to
go out ? " Oh, no," he replied ; "a student with us is
ahjoays under the inspection of his superior."

" On the 3rd of September," he added (I copied his
words as he spoke them, and afterwards read them to
him to see that they were quite correct), ** On the 3rd
of September commences a * spiritual retreat.' During
the whole of that interval all the Superiors, Professors,
and Students observe perfect silence, devoting them-
selves wholly to religious exercises, and communing
only with God. So solemn is the separation from each
other and from the world, that they are in the habit of
taking leave of each other, by shaking hands and
bidding farewell as if going on a long journey ; and
when it is over, in like manner, they meet each other

Part L COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. 83

as if after a long absence, as though they had not seen
each other in the interim."

THE NEW COLLEGE.

At a distance of about 100 yards from the open end
of the lawn on which I was standing with the Vice-
President, and which, as I have stated, was bounded on
the other three sides by the residence of the Professors
and barrack-looking dormitories of the Senior Depart-
ment, there appeared immediately before us the
chaste, simple, and appropriate front of the New
College, a plain, solid, handsome building of grey
rubble limestone of the best description, with Gothic
entrance-gate and windows of white chiselled limestone.

From the builder, who fortunately happened to pass,
and who for a few minutes joined us, I learnt that the
height of the tall slated roof, which is surmounted by
four crosses of different sizes, is 45 feet; the height of
the tower at each extremity of the building, 6 1 J feet ;
to the central cross, 76 feet ; height of cross, 4 feet ;
length of front, 305 feet. The whole building, which
is just completed, but which remains to be fitted and
furnished, has cost 30,000^., the total of the Parlia-
mentary grant. Like the Old College, it is composed
of three sides of a hollow square, of which it is designed
that the fourth shall form a chapel, with additional
dormitories and halls. The builder told me that his
estimate for this extra work was : —

Cost of the building of a chapel and hall £20,000
Dormitories and halls adjoining it . . 10,000

Total £30,000

Q 2

84 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Part I.

For the above no Parliamentary provision has at
present been made.

The new college before us was, in front, three stories
high of 27 windows each, with an additional story in
the tall slated roof. The arched central entrance gate
was of oak, with massive black hinges. The whole
of the 3 wings, as they at present stand, comprise
215 rooms for students, a library, 7 lecture halls, a
refectory, kitchen, and other accommodation ; but the
fixtures and furniture of the whole have yet to be pro-
vided.

On passing with the Vice-President under the great
archway, I found immediately on my right and left a
very simple and handsome corridor, extending upwards
of 1000 feet round the entire of the three sides of the
building. From it, on the ground floor were a series
of low Gothic arched doors, each communicating with
a lofty chimneyless room (for a single student), 20 feet
in length by 16^ feet in breadth, lighted by a tall
Gothic window resembling that of a chapel.

On ascending by a handsome stone staircase to the
second story, I found, on each side of a long boarded
passage 6 feet broad, a series of similar chimneyless
rooms, about 14 feet high, 13 feet long by 11 feet
broad ; and on the third story a similar passage 230 feet
long, with rooms on each side. In the attic chambers,
one side of which slope with the roof, the chimneyless
rooms are 12 feet long by lOi feet broad. In other
respects the whole building is very insufficiently ven-
tilated.

It is an extraordinary and almost an unaccountable
fact, that in most civilised countries, and especially in

Part I. COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. 85

England, little or no provision is made to ensure to a
human habitation during cold or wet weather, when
doors and windows must be closed, that succession of
pure air which is necessary for the health, and indeed
existence of animal life. Dives, with great ingenuity,
provides himself with a good dining-room — he never
forgets that^ — ^large sitting-rooms, and spacious bed-
rooms. He takes care to have entrance doors, and
windows for the admission of light He contrives a
front staircase and a back one — and then by pipes of
various sizes he conducts to every passage, and occa-
sionally to every room, fire and water : beneath the
whole are constructed subterranean cellars for wine
and for coal. When all is completed, he invites his
friends to partake of his hospitality, and now, when
they are crowded in his splendid drawing-room, or
formally seated on opposite sides of a dining-table
groaning with the weight of hot meats, where, in the
name of Science, I would ask him, are your arrange-
ments for the admission of fresh air, and for the exit
of foul ?

The real truth is, in his magnificent project he forgot
all about breathing, and accordingly he not only totally
neglected to provide for it, but he approved of a plan
which, if it had been accurately carried into effect,
would have killed him, — his powdered menials, — and
his guests. For how, I ask, during the feast are they
to be provided with air ? — Why, not by the perfection,
but literally by the imperfections of the builder.
The ceiling is, we all know, hermetically sealed by
plaster — the floor and walls are equally impervious.
The portion of the foul air above the fashionable low

86 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Part I.

chimney, by its specific gravity, cannot descend to
escape. How, therefore, is it that Dives and his " fat
friends " manage to exist ? Why, by the admission of
pure air which forces itself through numerous crevices
around doors that were intended to shut close, and by
the exit of foifl air that in like manner forces itself
between the little chinks of the sash-frames of win-
dows that were fully intended to fit. In short. Dives
had folly enough to plan suicide, without wit enough
to know how to commit it !

From the dormitories we proceeded to the new,
plain, but sufficiently capacious chapel, containing, as
the Vice-President informed me, four altars, " one to
the Blessed Virgin, one to St. Patrick, and another
to St. Joseph." The name of the fourth he did not
mention.

In the refectory — a handsome capacious dining-
room — there is erected a pulpit for the delivery
during dinner-time of the prayer I have described.
The lecture halls are spacious, and the kitchen admir-
ably constructed and arranged.

We now proceeded to the rear of the New College,
where I found a fine large park-like flat plot of ground,
bounded on the right by a broad gravel walk, shaded
on each side by trees. In it a number of the students
in their loose black gowns were slowly strolling. Here
the lofty rough-cast wall, which I had repeatedly
looked at, that encircles the whole of the 80 acres of
the College of Maynooth, appeared suddenly to dwin-
dle into a low, stiff hedge, with rather a broad ditch
on the other side ; and although I was in earnest con-
versation with the Vice-President at the moment we

Part I. COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. 87

passed it, I own that the figure of my best horse sud-
denly flitted before my eyes as my tongue involuntarily
mumbled—

" * We're off I over bank, bush, and scaur ;

They'll have fleet steeds that Ibllow,' quoth old Lochinvar."

The fence, however, I afterwards ascertained, only
separated the broad road from a large grass-field
bounded by trees, on the other side of which the high
rough-cast stone wall obdurately pursued its course.

Pointing to a small spot within the wall, but at a
considerable distance from us, the Vice-President said,
" There is our cemetery ;'* and, as that was undeniably
the end of the subject, he proposed that we should now
proceed to the

JUNIOR DEPARTMENT.

Accordingly, passing a small detached rough-cast in-
firmary for sick students on our left, we retraced our
steps to the entrance lawn in front of the professors*
quarters in the old building, and then, going through
an open iron gate, we at once entered the precincts of
the younger branch of the establishment, composed of
a very pretty rectangular lawn, 130 yards long by
about 60 broad, bounded on the left by a handsome
walk, shaded by fine old trees.

At the further extremity of this lawn, and conse-
quently right before us, was a plain rough-cast build-
ing, three stories high, and with twenty windows in
front, which, with a similar building at right angles of
exactly the same size, formed the quarters I had come
to visit ; but as the reader would no doubt be glad to

88 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Part L

be saved the trouble of accompanying me through
them, I will merely state that the chapel, refectory,
halls, and dormitories, were arranged as nearly as pos-
sible like those in the Senior Department, excepting
that they were all on a smaller scale.

After I had gone over the whole of the arrange-
ments, I asked the Vice-President what was the reason
of their having two establishments ? In reply, he told
me that in the education of the Catholic priesthood it
was found necessary gradually to bring their minds to
their sacred calling, and that, after being at the College
for some time, it became their own wish to be separated
from the society of new comers ; that the latter were,
therefore, strictly kept by themselves; that the two
sets were on no account ever allowed to hold any com-
munication with each other, but that, after the period
for their residence in the Junior establishment had ex-
pired, they were moved into the Senior Department, for
which, by that time, their minds were fully prepared.

We were retracing our steps along the lawn as the
Vice-President gave me this explanation, and as several
of the young students were sauntering about it, and as
I had observed that the iron gate which separated them
from the senior branch was wide open, I said to him
when we came to it, ** Do you never close that gate?"
" Oh, no," he replied with great gentleness of manner,
" our rule is our gate."

After passing it he told me that he had now shown
me the whole of the establishment ; that he had de-
votional duties to perform which would prevent his
remaining longer with me — (I had been with him
upwards of three hours) — but that he and the other

Pabt I. COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. 89

principals of the College hoped that, as there was no
train to Dublin till the evening, I would partake of
their homely dinner at four o'clock. "In the mean
while," said he, " pray go into our library, or into any
part of our buildings or grounds, as you may feel dis-
posed:" and accordingly, telling him that I would
avail myself of his very obliging invitation Mid per^
mission, we separated.

As soon as I was by myself, I strolled first to the
large lawn enclosed by the barrack -looking dormitories
of the Senior Department, which I perceived w^ere
rough-cast with lime and pebble-stones nearly as large
as a pigeon s egg, and I was standing on the grass
looking at some students, who, in their black College
caps and loose flowing gowns, were strolling about,
when I heard an explosion, and, casting my eyes
towards the direction from which it proceeded, I saw a
black mass about the size of a 13-inch shell rise from
liehind the buildings, pass over their roof, and, after
going high into the air, fall heavily on the grass. Two
or three workmen happened to be near me, and as
they also had watched the parabolic course of the
lump, and as the eyes of almost every student had, I
believe, been similarly engaged, I said to them " What's
that?" "From the quarry!" they replied, as coolly
as if it were quite a common occurrence.

After looking for some time at the several groups of
students before me, I walked into one of their large
dormitories, and, resting on one of the window-seats of
a long boarded passage communicating with innumer-
able rooms, I heard in that immediately opposite to me
the notes of an accordion plaintively and well played.

90 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Pab* L

I then spoke to several of the students as they passed^
and endeavoured to enter into conversation with them^
hut they were certainly more serious and taciturn than
I expected ; indeed, more so than I had thought it pos-
sible for young persons of their age to be.

In return, two or three times they put to me a ques-
tion which I also felt slightly embarrassed to answer,
for almost invariably, when I observed to them that I
had been over the whole of their establishment, they
briefly and quickly replied, "And how do you like
it ? '* Generally speaking, they appeared to be in the
enjoyment of perfect health ; many were exceedingly
muscular, sturdy, and robust; almost all had clear
ruddy complexions, and yet in the countenances of every
one I happened to speak to were to be seen very faintly
impressed the unmistakeable lines which in every
country I have ever visited, more or less, characterise
the lineaments of the Catholic priest. In fact, it was
quite evident to me that the system they were pur-
suing was successfully producing the mental effects
for which it has especially been devised.

As I was ruminating on a bench, I observed at my
side a small black-covered book, which a student had
apparently left there. A portion of it appeared to have
been much thumbed, and, the leaves opening of their
own accord at that particular spot, I read as fol-
lows : —

"Oh! Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy upon us.
Holy Mary.
Holy Mother of God.
Holy Virgin of Virgins.
Mother of Christ.

Past I. OOLLBGE OP MAYNOOTH. 9 1

Mother of Divine Grace.
Most Pure Mother.
Most Chaste Mother.
Most Undefiled Mother.
Most Amiable Mother.
Most Admirable Mother.
Mother of our Creator.
Mother of our Redeemer.
Most Prudent Virgin.
Most Venerable Virgin.
Most Renowned Virgin.
Most Powerful and Most Merciful Virgin,
Most Faithful Virgin.
Mirror of Justice.
Seal of Wisdom.
Cause of our Joy.
Spiritual Vessel.
Honourable Vessel.
Vessel of Singular Devotion.
Mystical Rose.
Tower of David.
Tower of Ivory.
Tower of Gold.
Ark of the Covenant
Gate of Heaven.
Morning Star.
Health of the Weak.
Refuge of Sinners.
Comfort of the Afflicted.
Help of Christians.
Queen of Angels.
Queen of Patriarchs.
Queen of Prophets.
Queen of Apostles.
Queen of Martyrs.
Queen of Confessors.
Queen of Virgins.
Queen of All Saints.

O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the
world. Spare us, O Lord."

92 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Pabt L

The little volume containing the above prayer was
entitled ' The Key to Heaven.*

From the Old I strolled into the New College, which,
although finished, was completely empty. For some
time as I paced along its lengthy corridor, nothing was
to be heard but the faint, worthless reverberation of my
own footsteps. I then entered one of the chimneyless
rooms on the lower floor, and, closing the door, I could
not help saying to myself, ** Well, here I am at last, a
•student of Maynooth ! " and after thinking my new pro-
fession over for some time, and looking first at my lofty
walls and then at the large tall chapel window above
me, for it was so high from the floor that I could
scarcely look out of it, my mind gradually came to the
conclusion that the fine new system — by whomsoever
it may have been devised — of giving to each student a
separate cell, instead of crowding, as in the old building,
from 2 to 8 in a room, will materially increase the
monastic severity of the education to which they have
hitherto been subjected ; indeed, to deprive them of
their room-comrades will, I submit, prove to be the
bitterest drop in that cup of ecclesiastical medicine,
which, it is said, will cure them of — or rather kill —
attachment to the things of this world.

From my cell I wandered into the large green park
in rear of the new buildings, and, as I had only seen the
College cemetery from a distance, I proceeded across
the grass to that spot.

On entering it, I was much surprised to find a very
small space of ground, surrounded by an ordinary hedge,
and choke full of long rank grass and thistles. There
was no cross of any sort or kind ; indeed all that marked

Part I. COLLEGE OP MAYNOOTH. 93

it to be a burying-ground were four flat stones, each
resting on four plain pedestals about three feet high.
One of these stones was surrounded by iron rails. All
were to the memory of great Dons of this College, whose
distinctions vvere detailed at unusual length in Latin.
To the graves of the students —three or four only of
which could I manage to find out with my feet, so
completely were they covered with weeds — ^there was
neither epitaph, stone, cross, or any memorial what-
ever ; indeed, when I reflected on the apparent omission,
I could not but admit, that of the history of a poor
student at Maynooth, who has not lived to be a
priest, but little more could be written than —
" Here lies an Ecclesiastical Flower that never

BLOOMED."

As I stood absorbed in melancholy reflections of this
nature, I was aroused from my revery by the scream of,
as it were, a being from another world, a steam-engine,
which, with a light train behind it, suddenly flew by
within ten yards of the lofty rough-cast wall that envi-
roned me. The little legacy of white steam which it
left behind hanging in the blue air that rapidly devoured
it, forcibly reminded me of a variety of worldly allure-
ments that, under the influence of the genius loci, I had
at least for some hours entirely forgotten.

After admiring for some moments the tall, handsome
slated roof of the New College, I returned to the old
one, which I found completely empty of students.
They were at dinner, and on passing the refectory, the
windows of which were all wide open, I most distinctly
heard, amidst a very faint rattling of knives and forks,
&c., the loud sonorous voice of the priest who, during

94 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Pabt I.

their repast, was reading to them with great emphasis
and enei^. This unusual combination of sounds how-
ever very soon suddenly ceased, and on the door opening
a number of the students issued from it and passed
close to me. None of them appeared at all flushed,
and I am therefore of opinicm that their repast, what-
ever it may have been composed of, had be^i partaken
of by them with great moderation.

They now either assembled in little groups and stood
talking, and occa.sionally laughing to each other, or sat
down quietly on some of the many benches which,
probably to encourage meditation, were scattered about
the grounds. Hanging from one of the windows of
their dormitories I observed a yellow cage containing a
starling.

As it was now on the point of four o'clock I returned
to the Professors' Department, and, obtaining there the
little I wanted for the arrangement of my toilette after
so long a stroll, I entered the small reception-room,
where, by the Vice-President, I was introduced succes-
sively to his colleagues — ^the Principals of the College.
I need hardly say that in appearance and in reality
they were exceedingly clever-looking men, and the usual
preliminary formalities of society were scarcely over,
when the door of the dining-room was thrown open, and
we all took our seats at an oblong table, at the head of
which was, of course, the Vice-President Our dinner
was exactly what it had been described to me, plain,
simple, and homely. It consisted of a large joint of
mutton, a great dish full of fowls, ham, and vegetables
of various sorts. We had then one immense fruit pic,
with cheese, butter, and a slight dessert. The wine con-

Pabt I. COLLEGE OF MAYKOOTH. 95

sisted of super-excellent port and sherry ; and as soon as
the cloth was removed, a large jug of hot water, a
couple of small decanters of whisky, a bowl of white
sugar, and a tray of tumblers, each containing a little
ladle, were successively placed on the table.

The Vice-President drank nothing but water, and
also opposite to me sat a Dean, who told me that for
many years he had only enjoyed the same beverage.

For a short time we continued a conversation which I
believe I may confess I once or twice happened to bring
very nearly to the hostile confines of a general laugh.
Its character was, however, generally speaking, consis-
tent with the locality, grave, sober, and intelligent In
about twenty minutes we all arose, and, as I had then
an opportunity of conversing again with the Vice-Presi-
dent, I asked him to be so good as to finish the informa-
tion he had given me by telling me the way in which the
students spent the day. He replied as follows : —

** They rise ordinarily at 6. (In May and June at 5.)

•om

6

to

64

Dressing.

6i

9J

7

Prayer.

7

9^

84

Study.

84

9J

9

Mass.

9

J9

9i

Breakfast.

9i

Ji

10

Recreation.

10

9J

104

Study.

104

JJ

114

Class.

Hi

)>

12

Recreation.

12

>J

2

Study.

2

99

3

Class.

3

99

3-40

Dinner.

3-40

9»

5

Recreation.

5

99

6-45

Study.

6-45

99

7

Recreation.

96 COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Past I.

From 7 to 8 Study.
„ 8 to about 8- 12 Supper.
„ 8-12 to 9 Recreation.
„ 9 „ 9i Night Prayer.
Lights extinguished at 10."

I then observed to him that I was glad I had visited
compartment A of the Library, as people in England
were usually of opinion that Roman Catholics did not
read the Bible.

He replied in the following words, which I read to
him from my note-book to ascertain — as I told him —
that I had correctly copied them from his mouth.

" It is a rule of our Establishment," said he, " that
every young man at entrance should be provided with a
copy of the Bible, for his own individual use; and so
solicitous are we for the observance of this rule, that our
Procurator purchases a number of Bibles, one of which is
handed by him to each student, immediately after his
accession, if he has not already a Bible in his possession."

" But," said I, " do you not alter or suppress some
portions of the Bible ?"

" On the contrary," he replied, " we admit more
books of Scripture than most Protestants."

"And," said I to myself, "if the Procurator of the
College of Maynooth actually purchases a Bible, and
hands it to every candidate for the Roman Catholic
priesthood ; and moreover, if Catholics admit more
books of Scripture than most Protestants ; what pos-
sible excuse can the Commissioners of Public Instruction
in Dublin offer to God, or man, for virtually excluding
the said Bible, throughout Christian Ireland, from the
education of the Catholic and Protestant youth of both

»

COLLEOP] OF MAYN'OOTir.

07

I then stated tliat, as I liad truly told him on my
arrival, it was not for theological information 1 liad
come to visit his college. "But," said I, "as I feel a
(jreat interest in the welfare of Ireland, may I ask you
what is the real cause of the schism which so unibrtu-
natcly exists between the Roman C'utliolic priesthood
and the Protestants, or, in other words, what is it tliat
the Roman Catholic priesthood desire?"

He replied, "As you ask me plainly, I will tell you
frankly." Ailer, however, he had done so, and after
I had, OS he pronounced his sentences, written them in
my book, he added, "On reflection I should not desire
to make pithUc my oinnious on a political subject with
which it is not my province to interfere ;" and accord-
ingly I instautly drew my pencil through the lines I
had written, which of course 1 shall never feel myself
I at liberty to repeat.

Having now obtained as much information of the
I College of Maynooth as, for tlie general object I had
I in view, I desired, I took leave of the Vice-President,
to whose polite attentions I have so much reason to be
indebted ; and as the time for the departure of the
train had not quite arrived, I determined to loiter about
the village.

On passing out of the iron gates of the College I
heard a shrill, sudden exclamation, and instantly saw,
by a regular Irish grin on the faces of four or five
bystanders, that I was in the immediate region of a
joke, occasioned by one of the labourers of the College,
\t\\o it appears liad often in vain warned old women
I not to sit in the ditch beneath, liaving just dropped be-
I tween the collegiate wall and an aged culprit a very

98 COLLEGE OP MAYNOOTH. Pabt I.

small paper of gunpowder, which had that very instant
exploded. The poor old creature, whose face was yellow
from fright, and who apparently had not the most dis-
tant idea of what had befallen her, had one shrivelled
hand on her heart, while with the other she supported
her chin as she violently panted, and yet^ the more she
panted, the wider did every one around her grin.

The village before me, from its breadth of street and
from the light colour of the low houses that composed
it, had rather a picturesque and pleasing appearance.
On analysing it, however, I was really astonished to
find human beings living in dirt which might be so
easily removed. Several of the habitations, although
the walls were substantially built of stone, were mere
cabins, of such dark interior that I did not feel much
disposed to enter them. Into the door of one I
saw a wrinkled old woman, with a long stick in her
hand, drive an enormous large fat sow, who with one
slight twist in her tail waddled with as much calm
dignity into the mansion as if she herself had built it.

At some distance from the sow, in the middle of the
street^ I observed a small crowd, and, on reaching it,
instantly perceived that I was again in the immediate
presence of some very good joke.

A short half-fed man, hatless and in rags and tatters,
was, with extraordinary gravity, telling stories, every
other line of which appeared to convulse the faces of his
hearers: indeed, such a grinning circle of odd faces
could, I believe, hardly be met with out of Ireland.

The portion of the story I happened to listen to was
delivered, with a strong comic brogue, as follows : —

'^ Last night six weeks ago I received a letter of an

Pabt r. COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. 99

auld hag's death. I've been so overjoyed by the sad
news that I took a sma' fit of running with my two shin
bones in my porcket, and my head under my arum, til I
ran at the rate of 16 miles an hour. I met with Jack
Jervis, an auld hacknie couch man, driving fifteen flying
jackasses under an empty stame-coach that was loaded
with two roasted mill-stones and a 74 man-o'-war vessel
with 18 artillery granny-deers and 12 bigbook magpies.
They were drinking tay until they were ready to bust wi*
the hunger. I asked Jack Jervis had he any account o*
the shower of auld hags that fell not long ago? He
tould me divil the account he had o' them, but John
Manx had all kind of 'count about um, and that he lives
on one side of the Three Flying Jackasses up and down the
street where a mad dog bit a hatchet and pigs rastling for
stirabout I niver stopped till I crashed mto tt sma* yil-
lige twice the size of Dublin, when I met an auld man
rouling away wi' a stack of chimneys on his bacL He
didn't go very far until he had taken a horn-colic in his
big toe, and a tooth-ache in his shin-bonne, and a head-
ache in tibe back of his bellie. I hired an impty stame-
coach to take hum to apothicary's shop, where I called
for a physic for hum, when I got 1 6 quarts of bees basted,
19 pounds of frog's butter, and 21 gallons of Kirogue's
kidneys. Well ! I had um all biled in an auld iron leather
pot, and conveyded hum to a lock-up 'orspital, where
he had been thirteen days and nights coughing, and after
that he was safely delivur*d of an auld blacksmith's anvil,
42 pounds"

At this point of the story, which eappeared to be end-
less, I left the group, and indeed had only just time to
walk to the station, when the train came up, and from
the CSoU^e and village of Maynooth carried me safely
back to Dublin.

II 2

( 100 ) FakL

DUBLIN POLICE,

As 1 was anxious, during my short visit, to observe as
accurately as I could, the Irish character iu the various
phases in which it is to be seen, I obtained permission
to iusi>ect the Dublin Metroix>litan Police Force, com-
})osed of 103 Serjeants 12 detectives, 954 constables,
and 20 suj)emumeraries, making a total of 1099, whose
weekly i>ay is as follows : —

Sergeants and detectives 210

Constables, First class 16 9

„ Second class 15

„ Third class 11 6

Supornumorarios 7

A candidate for admission must be under 26 years of
ago, must be able to read and write, and, moreover,
must W in height 5 foot 9 inches, without his shoes.

Tlio whole force average in height 5 feet 1 1 inches,
and thoy are thus iu reality, as they are in appearance,
an army of grenadiers, of which the B division* com-
)h)sihI of 190, are all 6 feet and upwards. Among the
constables there is only one old soldier, and one lawyer.
There is scarcely a Dublin man among them, the Com-
missiouers preferring to enlist country people from all
parts of Ireland, without making any inquiry as to
their religion.

DUBLIN POLICF.,

I

I
I

L

The conditions upon which they are enlisted are, that
they shall not I>clong to any secret or political society,
and tliat they shall abstain from the expression of any
political or religious opinion in any manner calculated
to give offence. To these simple, sensible regulations
they at once cheeri'uUy and rigidly conform •, and thus,
while the whole of Ireland is convulsed with religious
animosities, which generations of British statesmen
have declared, and still declare, to be implacable, the
Dublin Metropolitan Police, comjrosed of Catholics and
Protestants, picked up from all parts of Ireland, not
only among themselves live in jjerfect amity, but at a
moment's notice, at the sound of a rattle or of a whistle,
fraternally join together to collar, handcuff, and. if
absolutely necessary, to fell senseless to the ground,
any person or persons who, from religious, political, or
any other alleged motives, shall presume to disturb the
public peace.

In this sacred duty, and in attaining this noble tri-
umph, no less than seventy of them, during the last
twelve months, were grievously and severely wounded;
.and yet, is it not strange that, while the Dublin Police
Force 80 clearly sees that by amity and silent una-
nimity they can beneficently preserve the peace of their
metropolis, " another place" ever has been, and is,
au arena in which the pronunciation of the very
name of Ireland produces acerbity and contention?
In fact, there can exist no doubt whatever that if,
on the one hand, the members of "the House"
alluded to were to be made constables of the Dublin
Police, they would, by endless speeches, create infi-
nitely more disturbance than they would allay, and

102 PUBLIN POLICE. Pabt I.

that, on the other hand, if Lieut-Oolonel George
Brown, and his Catholic and Protestant conchies,
were, for a single Session, to be granted an opportunity
of legislating from St. Stephen's for Ireland, they
would, with perfect unanimity, by silent firmness, laco-
nically impart peace, happiness, and prosperity to the
land.

There are sixteen station-houses in Dublm, with a
clock in each, by the assistance of which, at the same
instant, sixteen reliefe are thrown out over a surface of
forty-four square miles. The whole is governed by
two Commissioners, one civil, the other military, whose
office is in the Castle.

In the police store, within its precincts, I found a
number of trophies that had be^i obtained by the
force. Among them was the tricolour flag given by
certain Paris ladies of easy political virtue to Mr.
Meagher, and captured in the summer of 1848 ; a black
flag, with the harp of Ireland in white*; another black
flag, tastefully ornamented with the words '* Famine
and Pestilence ;" pikes of various sorts, for cutting bri-
dles, maiming horses, spitting Protestants, &c. &c. ;
lastly, a human skull, which, during the State trials in
1848, had been hung on the knocker of Mr. Kemis, the
Crown Solicitor, as a reminder.

I also observed a lot of very efficient extra weapons,
in case the police truncheons should prove insufficient,
consisting of swords, ship cutlasses with iron handles,
and lastly, as the strongest dose in the Dublin police
pharmacopoeia, short detonating muskets with brown
barrels

In the clothing store I found piled in masses great-

DUBLIN POUOE,

coats, coats, trousers, and oil-skiu capes, with a quan-
tity of mattresses, stuffed with cocoa-nut fibre.

From the Castle, the residence of Vice-Royalty,
Colonel Brown was good enough to accompany me to
the " Old Bishop's Palace," now the principal establish-
meat of the Police, consisting oi' a plot of ground and
buildings surrounded by a high wall.

In one stable, as clean, and, I may add, as smart as a
London livery stable, I found twenty capital, well-bred
horses, belonging to the mounted force, every man of
"which is well trained to the use of the bright arms he

The sets of harness belonging to four large vans in
■which, as in London, prisonei-s are conveyed to the
Police Courts, and from thence to the jails, were as
highly polished and burnished ns if they had belonged
to a gentleman's carriage.

On entering the largest of the buildmgs I found a
school ibr recruits, in which Ihey improve their writ-
ing, and also learn by heart a " Catechism," in which
is very clearly expounded to them that the duty they
owe to their neighbour is to conduct him quietly to the
nearest station whenever he is disorderly, — carry him
there when he ha])pens to be unable to stand, — force
him there whenever he resists, — and handcuff him
whenever he is what is professionally termed " violent."

From ihe school 1 proceeded to a room where I
found twenty fine, good-looking, i>owerful country lads,
with large white teeth and clean ruddy laces, seated with
a dinner before them, and with heaps of potatoes which
certainly appeared to me altogether enough to choke
them. But they were not only learning to eat a good

104 DUBLIN POLICE. Part I.

meal, but how to eat it in clean clothes, with a clean
knife and fork, off a clean table-cloth ; in short, with
a probationary pay of a shilling a- day, they were under-
going the agreeable process of being introduced to a
new system of life, in which they were not only to
display good behaviour, but, like Falstaff's wit, to be
the cause of good behaviour in others.

Here, again, the members of the two religions were
intermingled in most happy communion, and, as one
large mealy potato after another disappeared, it was
utterly impossible for the keenest observer even to
guess whether they had been devoured before his eyes
by a Protestant or by a Catholic ; indeed, so easily are
these recruits made to harmonise together on this point,
that on Friday they, as well as the whole of the Police
force, often comfortably dine together on fish ; in short,
the prejudices which great statesmen fancy to be insu«
perable, they readily annihilate by mastication.

The bed-rooms were lofty, airy, with floors as clean
as women's hands could make them : in fact, it is by
the hands of old women, hired by the force, that they
are cleaned. After going through several, we came to
those in which a hundred men who had been on night-
duty were lying, witli nearly closed shutters, fast
asleep.

On opening these doors and standing for a few se-
conds at the threshold, I beheld before me, in twilight,
under bed-clothes, a series of large lumps of men, all
apparently more or less exhausted by fatigue. Here
and there a very great eye would open^— stare a little —
gradually become fishy — ^and then close. Occasionally
a pair would unequally open, until the owner of one

I

DUBLIN POUCB.

set, as if hali" aghast, actually raised his huge head
from his pillow. Not wishing to disturb the poor fel-
low, 1 instantly slowly retired backwards, leaving him
to recite to his comrades in the morning, that he had
dreamt he had distinctly seen "the Colonel " gazing
at him, accompanied by an inquisitive stranger, who
ap])eared to be taking his picture.

la a very neat small room I visited a 1st class seijeant,
who, besides possessing a wife and daughter of very
pleasing appearance, has a couple of hundred pounds
in the savings-bank. On his table I observed a large
bible, and as the good book, I felt sure, had had some-
thing to do with the sum that had been saved, I ascer-
tained on inquiry that the Protestant members of the
Dublin Police have in savings-banks no less a sum than
20,000^.

As in the Constabulary, no married man is admitted
into the corps ; nor is any member of it afterwards
allowed to marry unless he is the possessor of 401; the
first thing, therelbre, that Cupid has to teach a Dublin
policeman is to put by a sixpence,^to rei>eat the ope-
ration sixteen hundred times, and then apply for his
licence.

To the force is attached a fire brigade, with a mag-
nificent engine, under the esjiecial direction of an acting
seijeant, fourteen firemen (from the mounted police),
and twenty of the recruits who work the pumps.

At one of the police-stations, in Chancery-lane, a
narrow, crooked, old-fashioned street, in olden times
the official residence of the Attorney and Solicitor
Generals, and other crown lawyers, I visited the lock-
up houses, in which I found only one tenant, a respect-

106 DUBLIN POUOE. Pabt I.

ably dressed man, wdl known to C!ol. Brown, who bad
unfortunately happened to become so intoxicated that
he could with difficulty articulate an explanation, which,
as it slowly came out of his mouth, was apparently
thicker than his whole body. Adjoining him in a comer
of the yard reposed a hand-stretcher, with a canvas
bottom, for the purpose of bringing to the station any
one who— without metaphor — might be found in the
streets dead-drunk.

I learnt, on inquiry, that drunken men assist not a
little in removing from the police any hostile feelings
among each other on the score of religion ; for as in
their madness these delinquents attack Catholics and
Protestants with equal violence, the parties assailed are
absolutely forced to join together for mutual self-de-
fence, and thus vicious habits and brutal conduct are
productive — under Providence — of beneficial results.

As I had now gone through all the district and
barrack details, I had only to witness the force, or
rather a large portion of it, that had been drawn up
for inspection in that large hollow quadrangle in the
interior of the Castle, in the centre of which there
stands, guarded by a sentinel always pacing up and
down beside it, the British flag, affixed not to a lofty,
but to an ordinary hand-staff.

This powerful body of tall men, who appear to be
considerably stouter than the slight active members of
the constabulary, were dressed as nearly as possible
like their brothers in London ; that is to say, they had
black hats, covered at top with black patent leather —
whalebone side-guards covered with the same; blue
coats with silver buttons, hard black stocks, blue

Pact I. DUBLIN POLICE. 107

trousers, black leather waistbelt, white gloves, and
boots. The only trifling difference, as I could observe,
was, that the figures and letters distinguishing the
division and number of each policeman are in Dublin
in silver, instead of, as in London, in white cotton.

In appearance they are clean, and well set up ; and
as they marched and countermarched about the square
of old-fashioned buildings that environed us, their
heavy tread unequivocally explained their momentum
or physical force.

( 108 ) PartL

MY TOUR.

FIRST DAY.

During the few days I was in Dublin, I perceived that
it was not only agreed upon by everybody I had the
happiness to converse with that I ought to make a
tour in Ireland, but everybody was obliging enough to
tell me exactly where I ought to proceed. "You
must go to Corifc," said one ; " Belfast is the place that
YOU should visit," said another. AH said " Of course
you*ll go to KillarneyI" After gratefully thanking
everybody for their kind endeavours to steer a com-
passless and rudderless bark into its proper harbour,
I asked— as it were quite incidentally — in what part of
Ireland was to be seen the greatest amount of poverty
and misery ; and as almost everybody, in reply, named
the counties of Mayo and Galway, in the secret cham-
ber of my mind I quietly determined that, without
saying a word to any one, I would make my tour in
that direction. Everybody was so obliging, that I
believe I could have obtained a sackfuil of letters of
introduction ; and like a postman, could have spent the
whole of my time in delivering them. On reflection,
however, I considered that, instead of going to strange
people who would often encumber me with help, the
best mode of summarily obtaining the simple informa-
tion I desired would be to get an order to the consta-

t

bulary, who, tliroughout Ireland, are ubiquitous. I
conceived that this liighly intelligent body of men
would of course be intimately acquainted, not only
with their respective localities, but with the jicnsons
within them best competent to instruct me. Lastly,
it wa« evident that an order addressed to the consta-
bulary would also, on production, be a pass into any
jails or workhouses I might desire to visit

Accordingly, the evening before my departure, with-
out mentioning ray route, I obtained what proved to
be of inestimable assistance to me — namely, a general
firman, from the chief constabulary office in Dublin,
directing the force to afibrd me "all ]K)ssible informa-
tioji and assistance."

With this in my pocket, and with a small carpet-
bag by my side, I drove early next morning to the
railway station, and, after paying for my ticket, took
possession of a first-class coupe, which I knew I should
have entirely to myself.

For nearly an hour, in beautiful sunshine, I flew
across a verdant country, nearly as flat as Hounslow,
intersected by low hedges into small fields, in which
were standing large cocks of hay, corn in sheaves, and
here and there poppies, thistles, with yellow, white,
and red weeds, which, as true children of Nature, ap-
j>eared to be enjoying themselves wherever they could
steal an opportunity. In the picture, which now be-
came more undulating, I observed a few small woods,
some stone walls, and, scantily dotted about, a few low
stone cottages thatched — some dilajiidated, others milk
white.

The country seemed to be troubled neither witli

110 MY TOUR. Part I.

towns nor cities. The railway fence was often no-
thing but a slight ditch bounded by a couple of stout
wires running through slight posts, about two feet
high.

The coup6 was so large and so high, that with the
greatest ease I could pace from one side to another
with my hat on ; and then, resuming my seat, it was
really quite delightful to find oneself in a quiet study
with large plate-glass windows, contemplating, not little
bits of painted canvas, bat Ireland itself passing in
review, with growing crops, living cows, sheep, goats,
and horses grazing, swine rooting, an Irish lamb gam-
bolling, and in its immediate neighbourhood, lying on
the green bank, an Irish child, the loveliest ornament of
the soil on which it slept Suddenly, from the most
beautiful verdure, we passed through a large dark level,
looking as if it had been convulsed by an earthquake
that had just rudely thrown up a substratum to the sur-
face. Among it, here and there, were to be seen women
and a few men, stacking peat into tumuli of various pic-
turesque shapes. The barren bog, however, suddenly
changed into heather in bloom, in which occasionally
appeared heaps of peat ; and thus for some time flowers
and fuel were to be seen in juxtaposition, in a beautiful
variety of different proportions.

In about forty miles the fences of the country
changed into banks protected by i^ngle or double
ditches. The railway on which I travelled appeared
to have been admirably executed. On one of its sides,
indolently hanging in the air, were two wires, ready
for electrical communication on any subject

On stopping for a few minutes to allow our hot

Ill

^

iCDgine to drink, I observed, ranged along atid resting
1 tlie coping of a raUway bridge, searcely twenty
yards from us, a iseries of Irish faces, of various ages
and of botli sexes, which would have formed an
amusing as well as interesting study for any artist.

At fifty miles from Dublin we came to Mullingar,
the centre and the priocipal town of the county of
Westmcatli. It appeared to contain a substantial gaol
surrounded by high walls, a court-house, extensive
barracks, a handsome Koman Catholic chajiel on an
elevated site, a nunnery, a union workhouse, and a
variety of other civilized comforts and lu:curies.
About two miles to the south lives Lough Ennell,
a shining patcli of water between four and five miles
long, and atwut one and a half broad,

The station was exceedingly clean ; and when we lefl
it, and an erect, intelligent, well-dressed station-man,
who at about half a mile from it, in a well-appointed
uniform, appeared standing on the green bank, motion-
less as a statue, I could not help feeling that his out-
Btretched arm not only showed us the way we were to
go, but, morally speaking, demonstrated most indisput-
ably the facility with which a railway, wherever it goes,
establishes habits of order, discipline, and cleanliness,
which have been declared to be impossible to inculcate.

After flying across a capital stone- Mall-hunting coun-
try, iu which I observed at work a number of very
well-drcBsed men in clean shirts (it was Monday),
healthy children, and women whose bare red legs
appeared for some reason or other to have a j>ropensity
to whiten in proportion to their distance from the earth,
and a quantity of black cattle, I began to examine the

112 MY TOUR. Part I.

little chamber in which I was receiving so much placid
eiyoyment.

My attention to it was first attracted by an unusual-
looking object immediately before me, which proved to
be a blue cloth covered table, suspended at a convenient
level by a pair of small hinges, which enabled me, with
the assistance of a small contrivance beneath, to raise
and fix it.

I next discovered a sliding door, by which the coujie
could be divided into two chambers ; and on continuing
my search, I observed several trifling indications of
another hidden luxury, which, on unbuttoning a hasp,
proved, to my great astonishment, to be two comfort-
able double beds and hair mattresses, in which two
couples, closing the intermediate door, might separately
sleep £is comfortably and as innocently as if they were
at home.

At seventy-eight miles from Dublin the train stopped
at a large grey town, divided apparently into about
equal halves by the Shannon, which was rushing through
it with considerable violence. It was Athlone, the most
important town between Dublin and Gal way ; indeed,
not only is it about half way between the Irish Channel
and the Atlantic, but as nearly as possible in the very
centre of Ireland, the river forming the boundaries of
the counties of Westmeath and Roscommon, and, of
course, of Leinster and Connaught ; moreover, by the
subdivision of the water, one-half of the town is in the
one county, and the opposite one in the other.

At this central point I had determined to leave the
train ; and accordingly, descending from my coupe, 1
found myself in one moment in the centre of a great

I
I

MY TOL'B. 113

■roy/d of clean, well-dressed people, some, like myself,
just arrived, others just departing. There were also
a considerable number of spectators ; among whom,
worming their way with trunks, bags, boxes, and
bandboxes, on their shoulders, in their arms, and
pendent in their liands, were to be seen several men,
dressed in blue, with yellow worsted lace — railway
porters — employed in transporting luggage either to
or from the train. Calmly observing this grand scene
of only apparent confusion stood the station-master,
distinguished by a blue embroidered collar.

I would fain have stopjwd a moment to have admired
the beautiful bridge and castle of Athlone, but I was
in a stream of human beings, and had only to follow it ;
no sooner, however, was I outside the station-gate than
my carjJet-bag was a signal for boys to assail me in all
directions. Philosophically speaking, I could only give
it to one ; and having done so, I expected I should have
been deserted by the rest, but three or four honest-
looking lads kept following me, as if they considered I
was about to produce another carpet-bag. *' Will you
pick the mam's pockut?" exclaimed one of them, by
way of reproof to his comrade, who appeared from his
propinquity to be the successful candidate.

At a short distance I found a public car with three
horses, that had been waiting for the train, and was
about to start for Tuam ; accordingly depositing my
bag on it, I told the driver I would walk on. After
proceeding about one hundred yards, on conu'ng to a
turning I said to an old woman as I passed her, " Is this
the road to Tuam ? " " Oh yus ! " slie replied ; adding,
with an arch smile, "it wuU be, when you're there."

114 MY TOUB. PabtI.

When the car overtook me, there were seated on
each side of it two or three well-dressed people, one of
whom with his right hand made a slight beckoning
sign to me. I, however, scrambled up to the driver,
and although there was scarcely room for us both, and
although the iron rail pressed very hard against my left
thigh, I consoled myself with the reflection that I was
probably the only person travelling through Ireland
who was not taking a one-sided view of the country,
and of the manners, social, moral, religious, and poli-
tical, of its inhabitants. Whoever could have invented
the art not only of journeying and of thinking elbow
foremost, but of sitting for hours together back to back
with fellow-creatures with whom it may be desirable
to converse, I am totally unable to conceive. The
fellow, whoever it was, grievously annoyed me the
whole of the short time I was in Ireland. His invention
was to my eyes what the sound of setting a saw is to
my ears.

My Siamese companion — for we were literally one
flesh — was a strong, healthy, bony (of that I am quite
sure) man of about fifty-five years of age, with an
intelligent, pleasing, and yet very serious countenance.
We had scarcely proceeded two hundred yards when a
fine rosy-faced boy with naked feet came running to-
wards us to beg of me. My friend — for such he had
dubbed himself the instant I sat beside him — ^made a
furious pretended attempt to strike the suppliant across
the face with his whip, but the little fellow, without
raising a hand, and with a confidence that would have
disarmed anybody, beautifully smiled at him, although
he was quite within reach of the lash.

I

MY TOUB. 1 1 5

After talking with my companion about the state of
the crops and the state of the country, I observed it
was a great pity tliat there should exist in Ireland so
mach unkindness of feeling on account of religion.
" That's all ! " he replied, " it's jist difference in religion
that's ruining us all. A marn should be allowed to
remain in the religion of his farthur. I remain in the
religion of my grandfarthur, and ought not to be inter-
fared with. I live under the blissing of Almighty
God. Praise be to his holy name I " Looking upwards
with apparently real devotion, he added, " The Al-
mighty God can relave men of a' religions." " A fine
country this ! " I observed, pointing to the crops on
each side of me. " That's," he said, " because we have
here the best landlord in a' Ireland — in a' the world, I
may say," giving the near wheel-horse rather a sharp
cut with his whip. He then proceeded to detail to me
various instances of the consideration and kindness of
the individual he had praised, during which we met
a fine-looking, barefooted woman, carrying in her hand
a large black teakettle, on the nozzle oi' which she had
stuck a raw potato to prevent the contents from jolting
out. " What is she carrying ? " said I. " Milk," he
replied.

We now trotted close by a large establishment — at
a glance I knew it to be a workhouse — composed of
two triple rows of buildings, evidently well ventilated,
the whole surrounded by a high wall. As many years
ago 1 had served in the Poor Law Commission, I was
well aware of its importance and of its necessity, and
yet it looked so infinitely larger than any other habi-
tation 1 had seen, that I could not repress a sigh as I
i2

116 MYTOUB. PabtL

passed it. At the adjoining village we stopped to take
up a very ruddy stout priest, with a newspaper in his
hand.

The country, which had now become poor, bleak,
and very miserably cultivated, was imperfectly enclosed
by dilapidated walls, some of stone, others of earth ; it
shortly afterwards appeared to recover from its sick-
ness, and its surface was more or less diversified with
woods.

On arriving at the town of Ballinasloe we found
a good hot dinner awaiting us. ^^ Had you not better
sit on the car ? '* said the gentleman who had already
invited me to do so. *' You must surely find it very
exposed up there with the driver ! " My kind Mentor
was apparently not at all aware that his Irish brains for
the last two hours had been moving wrong side foremost :
they were, however, no doubt quite accustomed to it.

Close to Ballinasloe is a house of six windows in
front, which had belonged to one of the race of landlords
who have lately been ruined. His residence is now a
constabulary barrack. Adjoining we passed a little
stream called the Suck, not a yard broad, dividing the
counties of Roscommon and Galway, the latter of
which we now entered, and here almost immediately
I first met with that afflicting spectacle, or rather
spectre, that almost without intermission haunted me
through the whole remainder of my tour, namely,
stout stone-built cabins imroofed for the purpose of
evicting therefrom their insolvent tenants.

The coimtry we passed had also suffered from
cholera. " I'd a beautiful girl," said the driver to me,
** and I buried her. Praise be to God I "

From his daughter he began talking about Irish

, and,

I had lieard that their

womeil,

conduct, generally speaking, was remarkably correct,
he said, with an energy whicli invariably affected Ids
whip, " In this counthry a young woman has nothing to
live on but her character : if you take that from her ut's
the cause of murthur I Her male friends look upon it
as murthur. There's no difference. In Ireland," he
added, " if a girl goes wrong, her parints turn her
out o' the house \ her relations discard her ; her asso-
ciates, and the houl of her village, refuse her even food ;
she is, in fact, .... abandoned."

We were now in a country divided by stone walls so
ingeniously balanced and so slightly put together, that, as
the light shone through their interstices, they had often
the appearance of network ; indeed, a good hurricane
or Pampero would level the whole of them to the ground.
On each side, as we trotted along, were to be seen un-
roofed cabins ; and although the children we passed
were generally healthy and always merry, yet we often
met grown-up men and women on whose countenances
there was indelibly imprinted the word " Famine."
The ainiction of 1848 had passed: their sufferings had
ceased ; they were now no longer in want of Ibod, but
their system had never recovered from the pressure
to which it had been subjected ; the ravages left be-
hind were very striking, and perhaps the more so from
those who had been afflicted being a])parently perfectly
unconscious of their existence. By tlie side of the road
were enormous heaps of useless road-metal, which, by
means of the Parliamentary grant, had been broken by
the poor sufferers, many of whom had died at the job.

1 18 MY TOUR. Pabt I.

" You work hard at um," said the old driver, pointing
to the cracked stones, " from morning till night, and
no thanks coming on the top o* ye ! "

But, from the stones, my mind reverted to the
melancholy subject of the famine.

" Hundreds of patients," said a distinguished physi-
cian to me/' were brought into our Dublin hospital
starving. A mutton chop, or a glass of porter, would
have been to them like the shot of a pistol. We were
obliged to nourish them gradually ; homoeopathically.
In the space of a fortnight the stomach recovered its
tone, and we were rejoicing at the result, when, by a
sort of explosion, they died of typhus I

On approaching the town of Tuam, pronounced by
everybody as " Tume," the country becomes richer and
better cultivated.

Tuam is not only the principal t^wn of its district,
but has lately become one of the most thriving in
Connaught. With a number of fine buildings it, how-
ever, contains several very wretched streets and much
poverty. Indeed, as we changed horses, we were
surrounded by a set of men and boys through whose
clothes little bits of skin were here and there peeping,
like the white meal of over-boiled potatoes.

On leaving Tuam the country became again bleak,
flat, and desolate, with now and then cultivated parts
of some beauty, which gradually increased, until,
passing through and between some park-like grounds,
we at last arrived at HoUymount, a regular posting-
stage between Tuam and Castlebar, also where roads
branch off to Clare and Ballinrobe. I here took leave
of my intelligent companion, and of what I infinitely

pabti. my tour. 119

less r^retted, the iron-bound seat in which for so many
hours I had been tightly ensconced.

A branch public car was shortly to convey me to
Ballinrobe ; in the mean while I walked to the station
of- the constabulary. At its door I found one of the
force on duty, exactly as clean and as well appointed
as those I had seen on their parade in the Phoenix Park.
On producing my order the head constable received
me with great civility, and at once accompanied me
through the house, or, as it is not improperly termed>
the barrack. In the principal bedroom were five iron
turn-up bedsteads ; on each was a straw mattress, upon
which the sheets and blankets of the owner were neatly
wrapped in a reddish counterpane, the folds of all five
being so neatly arranged that the different-coloured
articles altogether resembled a section of what is com^
monly called a roUy-poly or blanket pudding. On a
shelf were arranged the men's caps and great-coats.
The deal table in the middle of the chamber, as also
the floor, were as clean as hands, soap, sand, and water
could make them. The windows were open, and,
above all, the constable and his six men were dressed
with as much precision as if they had just prepared
themselves for parade. Their uniform was well
brushed, boots well blacked, jackets buttoned from the
waist to the windpipe ; their arms and accoutrements
clean and neatly arranged. On conversing with the
head constable, a slight, exceedingly intelligent man,
he told me that, in consequence of the evictions, a
number of people had emigrated and wel'e still emi-
grating; and yet that for the harvest and for the
drainage of the river Robe there had been throughout

120 MY TOUR. PabtL

the whole season, and there still was, a scarcity of
labourers, so much so that it had been necessary to
import them from the adjoining county of Galway.

On my return to the inn I found the public car just
starting, and accordingly taking a side seat on it — for
the driver's box was a "sulky" — we proceeded for
five miles and a half through a country divided by
crooked stone walls into innumerable little fields, until
on approaching the small town of Ballinrobe I observed
a sudden and most remarkable difference ; for instead
of imroofed houses and frail stone-wall boundaries I
saw before me a considerable expanse of land well cul-
tivated, covered with green and cereal crops, and
divided by substantial straight walls into large square
or rectangular fields. On inquiry I found that this
change had been effected by Lord Lucan.

On arriving at the town of Ballinrobe, at which I
had intended to sleep, I went, although the sun was on
the horizon, to the workhouse, an enormous building,
which had contained, in January, 1850, 4400 inmates

„ 1851, 3400 „
1852, 1670 „
and which now contained — boys over fifteen and able-
bodied men, 101 ; ditto females, 255 ; infirm of all
classes, 24 ; boys below fifteen years of age, 194 ; girls
ditto, 295 ; infants, 20 ; sick, 106. Total, 995.

I found scarcely an able-bodied man in the house,
although several had been booked as such, simply because
they were not absolutely infirm. The women were evi-
dently of the humblest class ; and yet I did not see among
them a countenance that appeared to acknowledge to
any fault but extreme poverty. They, as well as the

Pa»l my tour. 121

whole of the inmates, were, as compared with the or-
dinary workhouse garb in England, very poorly clad.
The boys had just gone to bed ; but as I felt anxious to
see all» I walked through several large rooms full of
them* On the word " Sit up 1 " they all, two in a bed,
as if firom their graves, obeyed the order ; and though
often bordering on a state of nudity, they certainly
appeared — as Irish boys always are — cheerful, and
sometimes even merry. As fast as I passed them they
reclined backwards to lay their heads on their straw
pillows.

The principal portion of the children of both sexes
have almost all been reared in the workhouse, which
they never are allowed to leave unless accompanied by
an officer. The dietary of the establishment I found
consisted of, — for adults, Indian meal and buttermilk
for breakfast ; wheat-meal and oat-meal gruel, with vege-
tables, for dinner, at four o'clock. They have no supper,
and their cellar is the pump. Some of the young children
are allowed " sweet '* milk and white bread. The floors
of the house are washed every morning, and are, be-
sides, scalded and scrubbed three times a week. The
walls of the dormitories are whitewashed every six
weeks; the kitchen and laundry once a week. The
whole premises stand on six acres of ground.

On conversing with the master, I ascertained from
him that Lord Lucan's evictions have ceased, but that
Lord Erne evicted on Saturday last ; I also learnt that,
while on his new farm Lord Lucan is now paying his
men lOd. a day, the average wages elsewhere are 6d.,
and occasionally 8d. He told me that several who had
been evicted by Lord Lucan, and who were now em-

122 MY TOUB, Part L

ployed on his cleared land, had told him (the master)
that they were better off than before : adding, that in
appearance many were decidedly cleaner.

From the workhouse I went with my firman to the po«
lice station, where I found seven sub-constables, exactly
as well dressed, and in a building as clean^as at the barrack
at Hollymount, already described. A steel sword-scab-
bard which, among a variety of accoutrements, himg on
the wall was as resplendently bright as polished silver.
I asked the sub-inspector whether there was -much
crime in his district He replied, " We have really no
crime at all. In six months there have been four cases
of cattle-stealing, principally by strangers. The poor
people here are particularly honest ; do not steal even a
potato." I asked him to describe to me the process of
eviction. With extreme intelligence of countenance he
replied verbatim as follows: — "Under her Majesty's
writ of Habere, or an injunction from the Commis-
sioners of the Encumbered Estate Court, the sheriff for-
wards to the sub-inspector of the constabulary force a
written requisition, never exceeding (here at Ballin-
robe) a constable and six sub-constables, who pro*-
ceed to the place, and who stand by under arms to see
that no breach of the peace takes place. Every house-
hold article must be turned out, otherwise it is not con-
sidered a clear possession, and the building is then un-
roofed, which is called ' levelling.' "

I asked him if much opposition had been offered?
He replied — " No opposition has been offered here,
excepting in one case in which an angry feeling was
excited by the personal interference of the priest. In
that case the military were called out."

PabtL my TOUR- 123

He told me that the improvement of the new system
is undeniable, and yet that among a great portion of all
classes there exists considerable apathy on the subject ;
they are neither for it nor against it — take no interest
in it, nor evince any sympathy for those who have been
ejected.

He explained to me that the men employed to take
off the roofs in the neighbourhood of Ballinrobe are
commonly called " levellers." By a portion of the
Irish press they are usually designated the " crowbar
brigade."

After remarking to the sub-inspector how creditable
was the appearance of his barrack and men, which ap-
peared to give him much gratification, I strolled for a
few minutes about the poorest part of the town, and as
almost all the doors were open I walked into one, and
uninvited sat down on a low stool, close beside a young
woman, who was feeding a child. For some time I
could not see her face for smoke. "Fine day, yere
Amh'rr she observed. "Very !" I replied; for I felt
I should cough violently if I dared to say more, and I
therefore contented myself with looking first at her
healthy child, then at her bright red peat fire ; and as
human curiosity is insatiable, I at last gazed through
the dark atmosphere for other objects, I cared not what.
A great pig was lying on his side close to me, but, as
he had not in the slightest way noticed my entrance,
I felt it would be infra dig. to look at him, especially
as in an opposite direction I perceived a sort of
cheap bell-rope that by the wind or some other
cause occasioned kept vibrating a very little. On
watching it attentively I discovered that it was the tail

124 MY TOUB. Pabt L

of a donkey, that over his fetlocks in what I will only
describe by the generic term " muck " was quietly
munching in a comer of the room. " What a contrast,**
said I to myself, " to the bright steel scabbard I was
looking at five minutes ago !"

In a house of this sort it is customary for its tenants
to take in, at Id. a night, lodgers, yoimg or old, male
or female, and although all, including pig, donkey, and
chickens, sleep immersed together in smoke, I have been
assured by the constabulary as well as by various
masters of workhouses, that the conduct of these poor
people is irreproaxjhable.

My portmanteau I had left at the inn, and as soon as
I got there, hungry and tired, I was conducted up stairs
to the second story into a nice little room by a waiter-
boy, who, when I was seated, with much kindness of
manner, untying a piece of packthread from around a
newspaper that had apparently just arrived, with great
zeal unfolded it, and then formally presented it to me.
It was * The Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford Mercury,*
printed only eighteen days ago.

SECOND DAY.

In tlie morning I arose at six o'clock, and on going
into the yard to order a car I asked the driver, who
was to accompany me, whether it was not going to be a
wet day ? " Yere A mh'r," he replied, " I think ut's very
apt! Ut's very dark 1 " I returned to my parlour, and, as
soon as my breakfast was over, amused myself for a few
minutes by looking out of my window. I was in Mona-

Part L MY TOUR. 125

han*s inn, and accordingly, as if by reflection, Patrick
MoNAHAN in large letters was the name of the grocer
over the way. It was now raining slowly, steadily, and
unremittingly. Women with uncovered heads and bare
feet were standing round the shop ; one — spattering as
she walked— entered it, and in a very short time came
out with a clasped hand containing a small paper parcel,
which every one of the wet-faced women slightly looked
at In the window was written on a large placard

"Souchong,

5*.,

The best Black Tea."

For some time I watched the ragged dresses of a
group of men and boys, also loitering before the inn.
Their clothes formed a species of dissolving view. Oc-
casionally I rubbed my eyes, and yet I really found it
impossible to" decide whether the garments' before me
had begun life by being blue cloth or thick flannel,
for, as correctly as I could calculate, there appeared
about as many shreds of the one colour as of the other.
The trowsers, usually of dark cloth, literally and with-
out exaggeration, looked as if they had been borrowed
for half an hour by somebody who had filled them
with rats that had then been baited with Skye terriers,
who, to get hold of the vermin, had not only bitten
pieces out of the garments, but in many instances had
literally torn them to atoms, which, with the assistance
of scraps of cloth of a variety of other colours, had been
hurriedly replaced by people who had never before
used a needle; indeed, in many places the stitches
were as rough as network. But in several cases a

126 MYTOUB. Part I.

considerable portion of the garment had apparently
been eaten up by the dogs, and accordingly, before me
I saw a lad of about 18 in trowsers, which could not
grammatically be called '^a pair/' inasmuch as the
whole of one portion of the right leg was gone from
the middle of the thigh down to the ankle, where,
supported by a narrow irregular shred, say 3 inches
broad, there hung a remnant of about the size and in
the position of a gaiter. Several men, down whose
honest-looking faces the rain was slowly trickling,
were in coats which, although in holes and tatters,
appeared to have originally been three coats of three
different colours. Nobody had buttons behind, and one
man, although he seemed perfectly unconscious of it,
had moreover lost a whole skirt, and was, therefore, in
fact, in half a jacket and half a long-tailed coat ; and
yet how painful is it to reflect that the most astonish-
ing part of the enigma I have just described is, that
every one of these apparently degraded beggars has
under his rags as much intelligence, ingenuity, ability,
and infinitely more wit, than the smock-frocked peasant
of England, or the decently-clothed labourer of Scot-
land ! As regards the women of Ireland, their native
modesty cannot fail to attract the observation of any
stranger. Their dress was invariably decent, gene-
rally pleasing, and often strikingly picturesque. Almost
all wore woollen petticoats, dyed by themselves, of
a rich madder colour, between crimson and scarlet.
Upon their shoulders, and occasionally from their
heads, hung, in a variety of beautiful folds, some-
times a plaid of red and green, sometimes a cloakj
usually dark blue or dingy white. Their garments,

Pabt I. MY TOUB. 127

however, like those of the men, were occasionally to be
seen hanging in tatters. I was informed by different
people that the ragged clothes I have described do not
characterize the whole of Ireland, but, with certain
exceptions, are principally to be found in the counties
of Kerry, Mayo, and Gal way.

As in point of clothing I was myself very ill provided
against rain, I sent to a house on the opposite side of
the street for a horse-rug. Among them the shopman
brought one with a small slit in the middle, for a
purpose which, at a glance, I happened well enough to
understand. ** Ut's whart we ca' here a Poncho !'* said
the man ; and he then, expending a great many words,
proceeded to expound to me exactly how it was to be
used — and so, thanking him for the explanation, and,
as he thought, entirely on his recommendation, I
bought it.

On calling for my bill it was as follows : —

s, d.

To Tea £ 1 3

Material 5

; Bed 10

Breakfast .... 16

£4 2

To car-hire to Castlebar
14 miles at Qd. per 7

Settled by Cash.

" What does * materiaV mean ?" said I to the attentive,
well-behaved young lad who had waited on me. ** Yere
Arnh'r*s whusky and hot water," was the reply.

In the route I had drawn out for myself I had in-

128 MY TOUR. PabtL

tended to have proceeded from Ballinrobe to West-
Port, but I had been so much affected by the sight of
so many unroofed cabins — I had been so much as-
tonished at the sudden difference of appearance in the
country under the new system of cultivation, and
during the night I had been haunted so repeatedly by'
the appalling facts I had gleaned from the sub-mspector
and master of the workhouse at Ballinrobe, that, as it
was evident that before my eyes there was a problem
of vast importance to the civilized world in general,
and to Ireland in particular, I resolved that I would
alter my course, — that I would call upon Lord Lucan,
with whom I was not acquainted (he lived about four-
teen miles off), and frankly ask him whether or not he
would object to explain to me the extraordinary system
on which he was proceeding.

Accordingly, in a car as light as a feather, with a
little wiry well-bred horse, all life and spirits (i. e.
** material"), and with a lively small driver, whose
joyous sporting shriek every now and then of " Jip ! "
invariably enlivened me as well as the horse, I started
sideways from Monahan's inn at half-past seven a.m.,
in a quiet, soft, small rain, that, I may as well at once
say, never ceased for a moment until nearly midnight.

" Is this system of eviction," said I to the driver,
pointing to a small cluster of unroofed cabins we were
passing at the moment, " good or bad ? " *' Well ! yere
Arnh'r ! " he replied, ** ut's good and ut's bad. Ut's good
for them that hould large lands, bad for the small.
Ut laves nothin for tham but the workhouse."

In a short time we trotted through a poor country,
composed, in almost endless proportions, of three in-

Pabti. my tour. 129

gredients, bog, stones, and peat, and yet within it I
passed here and there a healthy pretty child, with un-
combed flaxen hair, bare feet, and a red petticoat
After travelling some miles I met a young girl, appa-
rently leg weary, with the bright eyes, yellow bills,
and sharp intelligent heads of two live fowls peeping
out of a crimson-coloured cloak, that in a variety
of folds was gracefully hanging about her slight figure.

At five miles from Ballinrobe we came to a consta-
bulary station, and, as I was now lord and master of
my own carriage, I desired the driver to stop, and in I
went. It was really a picture and a pattern of cleanli-
ness ; the walls and ceilings of the rooms were milk
white, the floor as clean as a farm kitchen table, and
the men, notwithstanding the rain, in perfect parade
order. I asked the sergeant commanding, whose arm
was distinguished by three chevrons, whether there
was much crime in his neighbourhood. " Very little
indeed,'* was his reply. He said there had been no
evictions lately.

As I was jogging along, with my umbrella over my
head, we met a car, in which there was seated by him-
self a healthy, ruddy, respectable-looking priest.

" What do the poor people pay to their priest for
being married ? " said I. " Yere Arnh'r," my driver
replied, ** they pay IL 5s. ; a few of the very poorest 11
have ut done for 1 V*

" What do they pay for christenuig a child ? " ** Two
and sixpence,*' he replied ; adding *^ that's a riglar
charge." " And for funerals ? " He replied, " Nothing
at a* for thim — they can get a mass read for from 1*.
to 2^. erf.**

K

130 MY TOUB. Pakt I.

We now drove through a " muckle-stane muir,"* in
the middle of which I observed a solitary cabin witb
three or four goats, with their legs tied together, graz-
ing in front of it We then came to a region of small
ideas — ^that is to say, of little fields enclosed by crooked
tottering stone walls, from one to three feet high^ and
by little roads similarly bounded that apparently led to
nothing. Among them, pointing to heaven, were the
stark, stiff, rugged gables of a small evicted village,
of which not a human being had been spared. All
were gone, and rank weeds were here and there flourish-
ing on the very floors on which probably several g^ie^
rations of honest people had slept Indeed several of
the gables were deeply marked by the smoke of fires
now extinguished— not for a moment — ^but for ever I

The road we were travelling on was not only a by
one, but by the by, it was as crooked as if it origin-
ally had been the track of a drunken giant Within
the little fields, now deserted, were here and there to
be seen, cropping from and peeping out of the earth,
rock and large stones, that altogether gave to each of
these tiny enclosures the appearance of a small church-
yard ; and yet among this gloomy grey mound of loose
stones, it was striking beyond description to see occa-
sionally, like a gaudy tropical bird, a woman in bright
scarlet carrying on her head a pitcher of water she was
bringing to her cabin from some distant spring.

After meeting a barefooted boy walking in the rain
with a couple of peats under each arm, we trotted by
a party of men who were constructing, from the little
stone divisions and from the ruins of the evicted cabins,
good substantial straight walls upwards of four feet

VMFl.

UYTOOft.

, cemented with lime, and then rongh cast At ten
miles from Ballinrobe we came to some cultivated
land around Bally-hayne, a small, poor, straggling vil-
lage, where I observed a neat, substantial Protestant
church, which, as it happened to be open, I entered.
Tlie sittings were composed of nine open pews on each
side, and above them, in the solid wall, there was a com-
fortable-looking fireplace and fender! On coming out
of my church I went into a substantial cabin adjoining.
The roof was jet-black from smoke; a quantity of
clothes, as if to dry, were hanging on a straw-rope ; the
pig was not only sleeping immediately beneath them,
but, like John Bunyan's Aimllyon, " straddled over the
whole breadth of the way." At the farther end of the
village we passed a plain spireless Catholic chapel,
I neatly whitewashed. On the left, at a distance, were
Ithe ruins of Kentnrk Castle, looking like an old mo-
laastery. We now came again to land subdivided by
I low walls, of no use whatever, info innumerable small
I fields, in many of which the weeds were higher than
■"the tottering boundary that enclosed them ; indeed there
I passed before me in review all sorts of crops but the right
I ones. Sometimes rushes prevailed — then llicy turned for
la time into broad strong green flags — then came white
Iweeds^then tall yellow ones — then beautiful purple
ones — then, all of a sudden, we slowly trotted through
Iheaps of black peat, here and there t^ be seen moving in
P lumps on the backs of women and men. Above them,
hovering in the air, was apparently a great raven. But
by far the most appalHng feature in the picture was
, that, wherever, throughout all the country I had
I visited, ihe potato was growing, there was more or less

K 2

132 MY TOUR. PabtI.

a discoloration in its leaf, that but too clearly announced
the existence of subterranean disease.

About a mile from Castlebar we, all of a sudden,
came to a most extraordinary change. The road on the
left side was bounded by a stone and lime wall, rough*
cast, and within it, to Castlebar, the eye roamed, or
rather revelled, over an expanse of com waving or
standing in sheaves ; green crops, of great luxuriance ;
cocks of hay standing in emerald-green fields ; the whole
— like France — without a fence of any description.

On the right of the road, the country, to a consider-
able extent, had been similarly altered. In the middle
of all I observed the tall chimney of a steam-engine :
in short, the change was really magical ; and whatever
the heart might say on the subject, it was utterly im-
possible for the judgment of any man to deny, for an
instant, that a most astounding improvement of the
surface of Ireland had been effected; indeed, in the
course of my life, I have certainly never beheld a con-
trast so striking. In the centre of it my companion
pointed out to me with his whip, among some trees, the
residence of Lord Lucan, whom I had come to visit

Castlebar, the county town of Mayo, is situated at the
north-west point of that vast plain of mixed bog and
pasture land which characterises the greater part of
the counties of Roscommon, Galway, Sligo, and Mayo.
It is also very nearly at the head of that broken valley
that separates the high lands of Connemara and Joyce
country from Ennis and Tyrawley. The most remark-
able point in its history is, that in 1798 it was occupied
for a few days by the French army, imder General
Humbert, that had landed at Killala Bay.

I

As we were trotting along one of the main streets
leading to the principal squarel observed aboutadozeii
well-appointed men in blue uniform, standing outside
a door. As they evidently did not belong to our army
I desired the driver to stop, and, entering the house,
I was soon in the presence of two officers in bine mili-
tary frock coats, gold scales on their shoulders, and
wearing swords exactly as if they were of a regiment
of the line. The one was a sub-inspector and the
other a lieutenant of what is called in Ireland " the
Revenue Police." On producing my order to the
constabulary these officers very readily and obligingly
explained to me — who had never before even heard of
their force — that its especial duties, which, previous to
the year 1836, were performed by the military, accom-
panied by an excise officer, are to sujipress illicit dis-
tillation and malting. In order to do so, armed parties,
four times a week, by day and by night, and for at
least eight hours per diem, make excursions to search
the town lands, every suspected house, concealed caves,
S:c. The whole force consists of about 1000 men under
officers whose ranks are as follows : —

I chief inspeclor, residing at the Custom-house,
Duhlin, 9 second inspectors, 9 suWnspectors, and 55
lieutenants. There are also a due proportion of ser-
geants, and about 1000 privates, almost all of whom
are Catholics. Tlie principal stations are commanded
by sub-inspectors, and the out-stations by lieutenants.
The men, like those of the constabulary, are armed,
efficiently equipped, and well disciplined and drilled.
Their uniform consists of blue military jacket, trowsers,
brass buttons, blue foraging cap, with a brass bugle

134 MY TOUR. Pabt L

above the letters '&. P., and a patent-leather chm-strap.
I asked the officers whether religion in any way inter-
fered with the duties their men had to perform. They
both at once, nearly in the same words, replied, *• Oh
no, our men seize as soon from a Catholic as from a
Protestant! " " What a moral,'* said I to myself, " is
contained in those few words I "

Crossing the square, which, bounded by trees on one
side, strongly reminded me of the " Grande Place " of
an ordmary French town, I proceeded through crooked
streets, swarming alive with barefooted women, and little
girls in red petticoats, to the workhouse, composed of
a series of well-arranged buildings, surroimded by a
verj' high walL As I was about to ring at the bell I was
accosted by one of the relieving officers of the union.

" There appear," said I, " to be a number of un-
roofed houses in the neighbourhood of Castlebar."

" Yes," he replied, " there are, but many who had
good means took advantage of the badness of the times,
and, on being evicted, went off to England and
America."

*• Have these evictions had much effect on the
town?"

** They have made a number of empty shops,*' he
replied.

" Had you any rows here during the election ? **

" Yes," he replied, *'the Priests* party came down and
got over the wall there " (he pointed to a spot where the
iron spikes had apparently been forcibly wrenched off) :
" six were indicted for it, tried, and found guilty.**

" How many relieving officers have you in the
union ? "

Past I. MY TOUB. 136

'' There are four of us. Three of us are Catholics,
the other is a Protestant."

On entering the workhouse I ascertained from the
master, a highly intelligent man, that his inmates con^
sistedof —

82 Men
122 Women

17 Infirm

57 In hospital
218 Boys and Girls from 9 to 15.

60 „ „ 5 to 9.

13 „ „ 2 to 5.

26 Infants.

Total . 595

During the famine the numbers in the house were
from 2500 to 2800.

On going up stairs, we entered a room in which
were fifteen little, clean, healthy, barefooted children
from two to seven years of age, in old blue frocks and
white pinafores.

One of them was standing close to the knees of a
tidy woman, who, with her left fingers, kept on picking
up lock after lock of the child's hair, and then with a
pair of scissors mercilessly snipping it off close to the
head.

In a handsome stone building I found boys employed
in weaving, tailors' work, and in baking.

In the girls' school were, seated on benches and
writing, 168 children, clean, healthy, and well arranged.
In an opposite school were 72 boys from five to fifteen,
but though they looked healthy, they, like the rest of

136 MY TOUR. Pabt I.

the children I had seen in the Irish workhouses, were
exceedingly diminutive for their ages. Among the
men were only four that could fairly be called " able-
bodied ;" each of them told me he had been evicted by
Lord Lucan. I asked the master what had become
of the rest ? His answer was very instructive. " Most
of them," said he, " if they can scrape up half-a-crcxwn,
go to England, from whence after some little time
they send from 2^. 6rf. to 10^., and, as soon as their
families get that, they are off to them."

" Does the fathel* go first ? " I thoughtlessly asked.

" Oh, no I we keep him to the last ^ One daughter
went off to England from here a short time ago and
sent 7^. 6(i. That took out the mother and another
sister. In a few weeks the mother and sister sent
enough to get over the remaining two sons and the
father. Total of the family, 6."

From one of the relieving-officers who were present
I was told, that " the temporary destitution caused by
Lord Lucan had been immense ;" but, said he, " if I
were a landlord I would do the same, for it must
eventually be of enormous benefit to Ireland."

" How comes it," said I to the master, " that we hear
of so many landlords being shot, and yet that Lord
Lucan escapes ? "

" I regret to say," he replied, " that among English
people a part of Ireland is taken for the whole. I have
been here four years, have usually attended petty ses-
sions, and know of no one instance such as you have
referred to. I allude," he added, as if correcting him-
self, *' to the counties of Mayo and Gal way." Pointing
to an eminence in the immediate neighbourhood, en-

eakti. my tour. 137

closed by a capital wall, and in a state of good cultiva-
tiooa, he said, " That was a densely populated hill called
* StabalL' All the houses were thrown down, on
which many of the inhabitants thereof just descended
the hill into this workhouse."

We now passed into a room full of infants in cradles.
In another clean, healthy, barefooted women were
spinning and working. In the laundry they were
washing. The master informed me that of the whole
of the inmates about nine-tenths are from evictions.

On leaving the workhouse a gentleman intimately
connected with it told me, as we walked along, that the
reason of the mob breaking into the premises was to get
possession of a voter who had sought refuge there from
them. On gaining admittance they demanded this man
from the master, who replied, " I will give you nobody,
but, if you think he is here, you have full liberty to search
for him." They did so, forcing tlie master to unlock
every room, excepting the little dark closet in which
he was secreted, which, strange to say, they passed
imnoticed ; and having satisfied themselves he was not
in the house, they were departing, when one of the
paupers betrayed the secret. With imprecations they
demanded the key from the master, who said, '* I will
only surrender it on condition that you will not take
his life." On their promising that they would not, he
unlocked the door, and, following the mob and their
captive, he proceeded with them to a hotel where he
found collected thirty or forty priests.

" Here he is, yere Reverence ! " exclaimed the ring-
leaders, as they led in their prisoner.

** Your Reverence/' said the master of the workhouse,

138 MY TOUB, Pabt L

addressing himself to apparently the chairman, ^' this
man (pointing to the prisoner) took refuge in my
workhouse. I hope you will see he is not hurt.'*-

** Who are you f " replied the priest

" I am the master of the workhouse."

" You deserve," replied the priest, " to be turned out
of it Here I " he added, addressing himself to the
captors, "put him out!" and the master accordingly
was turned out " neck and heels."

The mob had divided into two sections. One of die
leaders of the larger one outside, on seeing the master,
whose fearless conduct at the workhouse he as well
as all the rest had witnessed, said to him, " You have
done your duty, man, and well give you three cheers 1"

" No I no I " exclaimed the party who had just left
the priests, and the whole then followed the master,
hooting, striking their sticks furiously against the wall ;
in fact, said my informant, who was present on the
occasion, " they were on the point of murdering him."
" And yet," said I to myself, " the constabulary force
has repeatedly assured me that the people of this very
county are particularly honest, and now, that their
passions are not improperly excited, that 'there is
scarcely any crime at all.' "

The main serpentine street of Castlebar, composed of
houses generally of two stories high, and of all colours,
gradually dissolves or dwindles into a long series of
white-washed hovels. In various parts of this line
were to be seen, with their eyes closing and heads
drooping, donkeys laden with panniei*s of peat, and
occasionally of coarse vegetables. Around them were
women in parti-coloured shawls crossed in all sorts of

Pabt I. MY TOUR. 139

picturesque folds over crimson petticoats, often fringed
at bottom by their own rags. I also observed a number
of children with bare hair nicely combed. In the
barracks at the head of the street were quartered about
200 soldiers.

I now inquired the way to Lord Lucan's, and, aS it
had never ceased raining for a moment, I proceeded,
under my umbrella, to a lodge on the edge of the town
opening by iron gates into a verdant, handsome, old-
fashioned park studded with large trees.

The house, called " The Lawn," appeared smaller
than I had expected ; however, it was large enough for
all I wanted, so, ringing at the bell, I gave my card to
the servant and requested to know if Lord Lucan was
sufficiently disengaged to see me.

I was shown into a large drawing-room, in which I
was left for about a quarter of an hour, and I was
getting a little tired of Bluebeard^s hall, when the
servant entered, and begged I would follow him. I
did so, and in a small study I was received by Lord
Lucan, a tall, slight, intelligent, and very gentleman-
like man, of apparently about fifty.

I told him at once, what I had not deemed it necessary
to mention to any one else, namely, that in travelling
through Ireland I was taking notes, which I intended
to publish ; and having thus, as was due to him, put
him on his guard, I asked whether he would have
any objection to give me certain information I desired.

" None whatever ! " he replied.

** What do you pay your labourers, if you please ? "
I asked.

Without replying, he took from his table the pay-lists

140 MY TOUR. Pabt L

of his various farms, and, putting them into my hands,
I perceived that he was not only giving from 9d. to lOrf.
throughout the year, but that most of his labourers
were cottiers.

I asked him how much land he had cleared ? He
replied, " I have in the neighbourhood of Castlebar
about 15,000 acres stocked and cropped, and about
15,000 more in a transition state. The former is
farmed by myself; the latter, when properly reclaimed,
M^ill be farmed by tenants for whom I am building
houses costing about 500/. each."

His lordship now said very kindly, '* We had better
adjourn to my establishment, where we shall find my
head steward, who will give you correcter information
than I can. At all events," he added with a smile, " I
had rather lie should make a mistake than /."

On proceeding to the establishment, in the centre of
which stood erect the tall chimney of the industrious
steam-engine that had already attracted my attention, I
was led by Lord Lucan into a series of rooms full of
what he termed " Cheshire cheeses," and with grammati-
cal precision I was secretly rather cavilling to myself
about the appellation, when, turning round, I perceived
on either side of me a fine, strong, rosy-faced, plump
young woman, neatly dressed, with, strange to say,
shoes and stockings on !

" There," he said, with a smile, "are Cheshire dairy-
maids under tlic direction of a Cheshire woman married
to a Cheshire man."

" Then," said I to myself, "they're Cheshire cheeses,
and no mistake ! " Indeed, the young persons beside
me looked as if they had been created on purpose to
turn milk into Chesliire cheeses.

PabtL my tour. 141

At a farm I found admirable stalls for 400 head of
cattle, sties for 200 pigs, 48 boxes for horses or animals
of any sort, 10 cattle-yards, 2 bone-mills, a flax-house,
and that ** Jack-of-all-work"a steam-engine of 12-horse
power, that was thrashing, cleaning, grinding, chaff-
cutting, sawing, besides lifting water to supply the whole
premises, and, moreover, heating a kiln for drying corn.
The engine, which was in charge of a Scotchman, was
heated by turf, at a cost of about 5s. a-day.

We were now joined by the head steward — a sedate,
highly intelligent, respectable-looking Scotchman, who
has been in Ireland thirteen years. He told me that
the number of persons that had been ejected was about
10,000, of whom one-tenth were employed by Lord
Lucan, who had given most of them cottages. He said
that two Scotch bailiffs superintended the new farms at
Ballinrobe, and that he had also one other Scotch
bailiff* under him at Castlebar. I asked him how the
new plan was working.

" At Ballinrobe," he replied, '* where the system has
been completed, the result is, that the land has become
of double its former value ; that is to say, would keep
double the amount of stock."

" But," said I, " how has it answered to the poor
people?"

" Oh," he replied, " I think they are vara much
improvit."

Question. — If Canada fell into the hands of you
Americans, how would you deal with the French popu-
lation ?

Answer. — Weill I reckon that in about six months
we'd just improve 'em off the face of the globe ?

142 MY TOUR. Pam I.

" In what way ? " I asked.

" The cottiers," he replied, " are better dressed, haye
cleaner cottages, have wages all the year round — from
Is. to 8d a-day» and the greater number of them have
gardens."

** What wages do other people pay ? " I inquired.

" From 6d. to 8d^ without a house ;" but he added,
" few people here employ men all the year round."

" Have you ever been attacked by any one?" I
asked.

" I have never met with a threat or an insult, nor
have any of the bailiffs, nor any of the thousand men
that work under them, excepting a little angry noise at
the elections."

As a curious addition to these statements, I was told
by Lord Lucan, that, as Protestant Chairman of the
Catholic Board of Guardians, he had only last week,
in recommending several necessary reductions, pro-
posed that the salary of the priest should be lowered
from 601. to 50Z., and that, his reasons being deemed
satisfactory, the recommendation was agreed to without
a word. How clearly does this show what can be done
in Ireland — as indeed everywhere else — by decisive
conduct !

From Lord Lucan's I walked to the constabulary
barracks, where I found 1 sub-inspector, 1 head
ditto, 3 constables, 2 acting ditto, 18 sub-constables,
and 5 recruits for other stations, all in the same ad-
mirable order so often described. The ceilings and
walls of the rooms, five in number, and of the passages,
were literally as white as snow. On the table of one
room, in which I ascertained there slept several Roman

Paeti. my tour. 143

Catholics, I observed a Bibl^ showing that a Pro-
testant was among the number.

" Have you ever any differences between your men
am account of religion ? '' I inquired.

" Oh, no," said the sub-inspector, with great gravity,
'^ we never allow anything of that sort to exist among
usi" .

On walking towards the town at which I had left
my carpet-bag, I saw to my astonishment, among bare-
footed women and children, a footman in livery, with
as much of his hair as was not covered by his hat a
mass of white flour ! I It is only fair to add he had not
been thus victimised by Lord Lucan.

As the car I had ordered was all ready at a few
minutes past four, I started for Westport ; but on leav-
ing Castlebar, as I had to pass the county jail, I desired
the driver to pull up, and, ringing at the bell, sent for
the governor, to whom I produced my order to the con-
stabulary. The establishment, which is on an extensive
scale, is composed of a central building, containing the
governors house, chapel, store, and cooking offices.
From this building there radiate, in various directions,
six others : two for convicted male criminals, one for
prisoners not convicted, one for debtors and revenue
offenders, one for female prisoners, and a hospital. To
each department there is a yard, in which the governor,
by signal, assembled the prisoners belonging to it for
my inspection.

Among the men there were two or three who ap-
peared to be of violent dispositions, but generally speak-
ing their countenances did not denote either vice or
depravity.

144 MY TOUR. Pabt L

Among the 72 women 14 were under confinement for
felony, 20 for larceny, and the rest for begging or debt*

As the car proceeded along the hard wet road every
now and then a great black crow stood, as if it was his
intention to dispute our progress ; indeed, it was not
mitil we got within a very few yards of him that, taking
two or three preliminary elastic hops, he slowly and
reluctantly flew to a short distance, and then again,
bounding round sideways, stood, and with his brilliant
black eyes inquisitively looked at us.

Excepting here and there patches of cultivated Iand»
the country was bleak, wild, and moorlike ; and my
mind was so engrossed with the various subjects that
had flitted before it, that I believe I travelled nearly a
mile without hardly knowuig that, close to my back, I
had a comimnion.

At last, pointing indolently to a deserted house from
which the door and window had been abstracted, " Is
that part of Lord Lucan's new system ? " said I.

"Tissur!" my driver replied, almost before I had
completed the question.

" Is that Lord Lucan ?" I added, as a very short stout
man on horseback passed us.

" One-of-his-tinnantsur ! " he answered, almost in one
word.

We passed a cabin, and, closing my umbrella and
leaving it on the car, I walked in.

" Will y 're Aruh'r take a sate ?" said a woman about
thirty-eight, with a fine open countenance, her eyes
being listlessly fixed on the daylight.

I sat down. On her lap was an infant. Three bare-
footed children, as if hatching eggs, sat motionless on the

PabtL my tour. 145

edge of a peat fire, which appeared to be almost touching
their naked toes ; above the embers was demurely hang-
ing a black pot Opposite sat, like a bit of gnarled oak,
the withered grandmother. The furniture was com-
posed of a dingy-coloured wooden wardrobe, with a
few plates on the top, and one bed close to the fire.
There was no chimney but the door, on the threshold
of which stood, looking exceedingly unhappy, four
dripping wet fowls ; at the far end of the chamber was
a regular dungheap, on which stood an ass.

" Where is your husband, my good woman?" I said
to the youngest of the women.

" In England, yere Arnh'r," she replied, " saking
work."

Taking into consideration the rain, I thought alto-
gether it was about as melancholy a scene as I could
well witness ; nevertheless, I can truly say to the reader,
" Tarry a little^ there is something yet ! "

After trotting slowly on for about a mile, and after I
had left Lord Lucan*s property, I came, as usual, to a
small village of unroofed cabins, from the stark walls
of which, to my astonishment, I saw here and there
proceeding a little smoke ; and, on approaching it, I
beheld a picture I shall not readily forget. The tenants
had been all evicted, and yet, dreadful to say, they were
there still 1 the children nestling, and the poor women
huddling together, under a temporary lean-to of straw,
which they had managed to stick into the interstices of
the walls of their ancient homes.

" This is a quare place, yere Anrh'r !" said a fine,
honest-looking woman, kindly smiling, to me, adding,
" Sit down, yere Amh'r 1 "

L

146 MY TOUR. PabtI.

One of her four children got up and offered me his
stool.

Under another temporary shed I found a tall woman
heavy with child, a daughter about sixteen, and four
younger children — her husband also was in England,
" saking work." I entered two or three more of these
wretched habitations, around which were the innumer-
able tiny fields, surrounded by those low tottering stone
walls I have already described.

Besides women and children, I observed among the
jagged, sharp, triangular stone gables of these unroofed
cabins two or three men listlessly standing stock-still ;
and as I was a Saxon stranger in their land, — as I was of
the same religion as the landlord that had evicted
them, — and lastly, as I happened to have in my pocket,
besides silver, a quantity of loose gold, I might not un-
reasonably have expected to have received among their
ruined hovels what is commonly called a rough wel-
come.

*' Ride your ways," said the gipsy ; " ride your ways,
Laird of Ellangowan — ride your ways, Godfrey Bertram !
This day have ye quenched seven smoking hearths — see
if the fire in your ain parlour burn the blither for that.
Ye have riven the thack oft' seven cottar houses — look if
your ain roof-tree stand the faster. Ye may stable your
stirks in the shealings at Derncleugh — see that the hare
does not couch on the hearth -staiie at Ellangowan. Ride
your ways, Godfrey Bertram ; what do ye glowr after our
folk for?" — Guy Manner ing.

As however I was resuming my seat on the car I
saw among the tottering walls women and children
worming their way towards me ; as soon as I started,
with uplifted hands and bare feet they exclaimed

Pabt I. MY TOUR. 147

almost simultaneously, " May the Almighty God pre-
serve yere Arnh'r !" Indeed, long after I had left them
I heard the same sounds reverberating through the rain
that was cruelly falling on us all. They were really
good people, and, from what I read in their counte-
nances, I feel confident that if, instead of distributing
among them a few shillings, I had asked them to feed
viCf with the kindest hospitality they would readily have
done so, and that with my gold in my pocket I might
have slept among them in the most perfect security.

The devotional expressions of the lower class of
Irish, and the meekness and resignation with which
they bear misfortune or affliction, struck me very
forcibly. " I hav'nt aten a bit this blessed day, glory
be to God ! " said one woman. " Troth, I've been
suffering Ihong time from poverty and sickness, glory
be to God!" said another. On entering a strange
cabin the common salutation is, " God save all here ! "
On passing a gang of comrades at labour a man often
saysj " God bless the work, boys ! " In meeting a person,
if you want to get quickly into friendly conversation
with him, it is usual to say to him, *' God save ye ! " to
which, like thp " Aloom salicoom ! *' and " Salicoom
aloom!" of the Mahometans, the answer always is,
" God save ye kindly ! " the pronunciation of which is
sure to secure a courteous and favourable reception.

A Protestant clergyman of great experience told me
that in all his intercourse with Irish Catholics he had
never met with an infidel.

In a few miles we came to an immense region, the
property of Sir Robert (Somebody), bounded by distant
hills, all utterly houseless^ but turned into large fields

L 2

148 MY TOUR. PabtI.

teeming with crops, green and brown. On proceeding
further I met with a similar picture on the property of
Lord Sligo, and, although the recollection of the tragedy
I had just witnessed was fresh both in my heart and
mind, I could not but admit that the contrast between
the old system and the new is so striking, that the
superiority of the latter, to any one who witnesses it,
does not for a moment require an advocate.

In all regions of the world it has been, and is, the
stern decree of Providence that civilization, sooner or
later, should override and overrun those feeble tribes
who are innocently revelling in what is usually called
a state of Nature; and, accordingly, throughout the
great continents of North and South America, and
elsewhere, the virtuous and simple aborigines have^
since the discovery of their respective countries, rapidly
melted away, as they themselves figuratively express it,
** like snow before the sun."

It might therefore not unreasonably be expected that,
even if the land the poor people on which I had visited
were their own property, it would be as impossible for
them as it has been for the Red Indians to withstand the
torrent of civilization that is steadily and irresistibly
rolling over the world. But they are not, like the
Red Indians and other aborigines, the lawful owners of
the soil on which they sleep. It belongs to what in
the scale of civilization may justly be called another
race, by whom they are permitted to live upon it,
on conditions to which both parties have agreed.
Now, even if the poor people I have alluded to could
have continued to pay their rents, any well-educated
friend might have admonished them that, if they

I

jHsrsistcd in sleeping with their pigs and asses, aud in
Bubsistiog with them on one single article of food, no
payment they could offer could possibly prevent their
heing eventually swept away.

. But In consequence of certain dispensations of Nature,
they became Grst of all unable to pay their rents ; then
destitute of subsistence ; and thus, by creating a neces-
sity for poor-rates, they became a burden, gradually
increasing in weight, until the landlord had absolutely
not physical strengtJi to hear it ; in fact, not only did
the landlord get no rent, but for his land which gave
him nothing he was out of that nothing required to
pay rates he had no funds to supply! By the intcr-
I'erence of Nature tlie wliole system, therefore, rapidly
began to fall to pieces, and I have no hesitation in
stating, as my humble opinion, that it is out of the
power of man to attempt to hold it together any longer.
The decrees of Providence are often, to our judgment,
dark, mysterious, and unfathomable. In the present
instance, however, tlie sentence pronounced, not agairist,
but really in favouu of that portion of the Irish people
who are at this moment — I repeat the truth — sleeping
with their pigs and asses, may be thus expressed. The
backwoods of Canada— the new settlements of America
— the gold of California and Australia- — endearingly
pronounce to them tlie word " Come 1 " Simultane-
ouriy the potato disease very sternly utters to them the
monosyllable "Go!" and with attraction on the one
hand, and repulsion on the other, these virtuous people,
in my opinion, have no alternative but to emigrate from
their beloved and beautiful country, OB completely to
CHA^GE TnEiR HABITS OF LiFK. This IS uot my decree.

150 MY TOUR. PabtI.

it is not the decree of the British Government, it is not
the decree of the petty Irish landlord, — but it is the
decree of a Beneficent and Omnipotent Power whose
inflexible will no man can oppose.

As we were trotting along, a barefooted boy of about
fourteen, after the car had passed him, ran after it, and
then, holding on behind, he very cunningly kept his eye
on the whip. Observing that when I turned towards
him I did not frown, he smiled, looked at the lash,
at me, and then smiled again, until, conspiring with
him against the driver, I occasionally now and then
treacherously fed him with a halfpenny.

Descending a narrow valley, through which runs a
small stream, we now trotted through the welcome street
of the sea-bathing town of Westport, nearly all built
by the late Marquis of Sligo.

On driving at about six o'clock up to a capital inn,
built and furnished by the late Lord, I was suddenly
and politely asked by the landlord whether I would
have any objection to sit down with some other gen-
tlemen to a hot dinner which was just about to be
placed on table? And as the subject of dinner had
occasionally been uppermost in my mind for some
hours, I most readily replied in the negative.

" Has this marn any claim upon you ? " kindly
added mine host, pointing to a fellow muttering some-
thing to me, in a hat the brim of which had apparently
been gnawed off by rats, and in a pair of breeches
that looked as if they had just been riddled with
grape, canister, and musketry. I again, as briefly as
before, replied in the negative; and begging that I
might have some hot water, I was conducted by a

Tart I. MY TOUIl. 151

very respectable-looking chambermaid into a room
containing two beds, one of which she said I could
have; in short, I found that the house was over-
flowing with English tourists, each carrying in his
or her right hand a pea-green \ Handbook,* that had
been given gratis at Euston Station, and which, very
unfortunately for me, had gratuitously told almost
everybody to come to Westport. Without asking for
a description of my bedfellow, I at once so positively
declared I would not have one, that by persuasion
and more effectual means I extorted a promise that I
should be alone. At dinner we had a splendid turbot,
a superabundance of lobster-sauce ; but as I was rather
too hungry to be at all particular, nothing else has
lived in my memory excepting some potatoes of a sort
called '^Protestants^'' which, on my making some re-
mark as to the oddity of their name, elicited from the
waiter, as with a white napkin under his left arm he
bustled around the table, an anecdote, showing how a
gentleman had won a sovereign by betting with a party
of jolly good Papists, with whom he was dining, "that
he could prove there were, at table, more Protestants
than Catholics."

As soon as our repast was over I walked for a short
time about broad streets (most of which were at right
angles), of houses two stories high, constructed on the
acclivity of an exceedingly steep hill. At the inter-
section of four of the principal thoroughfares I ob-
served on a Grecian pedestal the statue of a bald-
headed hero of some sort, standing with his right hand
on his heart, and evidently thinking hard. "Who is
that ? " said I to a wet boy, on whose bare hiead the

152 MY TOUR. Part L

rain was steadily pattering. " He was," he rq)lied,
" a rich mam of this place, and so they made hum a
startu."

From the statue of Dives I went to the barracks of
the constabulary, wh^re I found the beds of a sub-
inspector, a head constable, two Protestant constables,
and nine sub-constables, of whom eight were Roman
Catholics and one a Protestant. Of the above force,
eight, with the sub-inspector, and twenty-seven more
from other parts, had the day before proceeded to
Clare Island, a most beautiful elevated spot, about four
miles long by one and a half broad, situated in the
entrance of Clew Bay, nearly seventeen miles from
Westport, for the purposes of eviction.

The head constable, an exceedingly well-educated
intelligent man, who had been at Westport five years,
and who had been present at nearly all the numerous
evictions in its neighbourhood, told me that, although
in unroofing the houses the women often stood by,
crying bitterly, excepting a trifling animosity at Kil-
meen, no resistance whatever had been made.

** They have always," he added, " been quite amen*
able to the law. Indeed, considering their sufferings
at the time, it was a matter of wonder they were so
submissive."

" You must surely," said I, " sometimes have had
great difficulty in the execution of this duty ? "

" Well, Sir," he replied, *' we certainly have, but we
endeavour to joke off* anything that is said against us ;
and even if it comes to blows, we will bear a good
deal rather than have recourse to deadly weapons.*'

''Has there been much crime in the county?"

I

I. MY TOUR. 153

"None whatever," he replied — "some petty lar-
cenies, that 'sail."

"Have you had any religious disagreements among
your force ? "

" Oh no ! " he replied, " if any person insults one he
insults all. Our force is paraded, as on other days,
eyay Sunday. Every man then goes off to his own
place of worship."

I asked him from whom I could obtain the most
correct account of the numerous conversions to Pro-
testantism which of late years had been effected in the
West of Ireland? In compliance with my wishes he
at once conducted me to two gentlemen who appeared
to be well conversant with the subject.

The serious mistake which the English Government
made long ago was appointing Protestant clergymen
who could not preach in Irish to localities in which the
native language was in current use. In those localities,
as well as in all others, a zealous Catholic priest has
naturally always deemed it his duty by every means in
his power to keep his o%vn flock separate from those of
a different creed ; and as the same jjolicy was not pur-
sued by the Protestant clergy, it follows, of course,
that conversions, if any, were more likely to be effected
from the latter creed than to it.

Aa death, however, is said to level all earthly dis-
tinction, so did the famine in 1846 bring the suffering
Catholics and the Protestant clergy into close com-
munication. The poor, when they saw the tenderness
and indel'atigable exertion of the clergy of the Esta-
blished Church, applied to them for relief — obtained
it — and the barrier of prejudice which had separated

154 MY TOUR. Pabt I.

them having been thus broken, they listened to their
doctrines, and, being simultaneously relieved by their
charity, they willingly became converts to a religion
which they practically found to be so diflferent from
what it had been represented to them. But the greatest
success has been among the Roman Catholic children,
who, having in like manner originally been forced by
famine to congregate around the Protestant clergy,
have had the Bible put into their hands, and by it and
by the schools have subsequently been converted.

The innumerable conversions which, from their com-
mencement in the little island of Achil in 1 835 to the
present day, have been effected in the West of Ire-
land, from Achil to Dingle, and from Dingle to
Oughterard, in the counties of Donegal, Cork, Kerry,
and even in Dublin, have been most extensive and
extraordinary. For instance, in the town of Westport
there are now three Protestant churches, and five more
in the parish, extending over an area of 153,675 acres.
At Clifden the conversion burst out so rapidly that
already by far the greater portion of the inhabitants are
Protestants. Indeed, the extent of the change that has
been effected is sufficiently demonstrated by the recent
violence of the Roman Catholic priesthood, especially
against education ; for, as may be well imagined, it is
impossible to have educated, as has been the case, nearly
half a million of children for twenty years on the
National System I have described without producing
immense effects. The Sisters of Mercy zealously
combine with the priests to stop the movement, and
their efforts are extraordinary. In short, every engine
is brought to bear against this alarming conversion ; a

Paw I. MY TOUR. 155

regularly organised denunciation is levelled against
all aiders and abettors of the Protestant missionaries,
as well as against every one who affords them any
countenance whatever. Any Roman Catholic who
listens to a Protestant clergyman, or to a Scripture
reader, is denounced as a marked man, and people
are forbidden to have any dealings with him in trade
or business, to sell him food, or buy it of him. For
instance, a shoemaker at Westport lately seceded
from the Catholic Church; the Sisters immediately
offered him 2/. a-week, which he refused. Not a
journeyman dared work for him. A priest went round
to every man that dealt with him, until only one person
would sell him leather ; in short, he lost his custom,
and rapidly came to a state of starvation.

It is, however, only fail' to state that by the Roman
Catholic priesthood it is declared, that of this extra-
ordinary amount of conversion, which they do not
attempt to deny, almost the whole has been effected
by what they call "the meal system;" and, accord-
ingly, they sneer at those who have deserted them as
"jumpers," belonging to what they term "the stirabout
religion."

I must say, however, that I highly approve of this
stirabout movement.

It would, no doubt, be extremely satisfactory if,
among the followers of different creeds, the question of
religion could be left entirely to find its own level
according to its own intrinsic merits ; and, if this calm
judgment could practically be obtained, I believe the
Protestant religion would gain all it could possibly
desire. But there exists no religion whose ministers arc

156 MY TOUR. Part I.

immaculate. On the contrary, excited by zeal and en-
thusiasm, they but too often contend one against another,
until, in the case of Protestants and Catholics, not only
has much angry language been used throughout Ireland,
but in a late instance, over the body of a dying convert
to Protestantism, the two ministers, as is notorious,
actually came to blows. As the subject, therefore, is
not, and cannot be, one of calm unruffled judgment, it
appears to me that, instead of there being any harm,
there is much good in the benevolent Christian prac-
tice that has lately been adopted by the Protestant
missionaries in Ireland, of offering a wholesome break-
fast of meal to all indigent children who may be
desirous to attend their schools; for what can more
clearly demonstrate to young people the inestimable
advantages of the Christian faith than that its ministers
and supporters should openly practise the charity they
preach, so powerfully recommended, as follows, by St
Paul ?—

" Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. . . . And now
abideth faith, ho|)c, charity, these three ; but the greatest of these is charity."
— 1 CoR. xiii.

But it is said, " Meal is a bribe, and people ought
not to be b7nbed to change their religion.'*

But a slated house is a bribe, desks are bribes,
benches are bribes, books are a bribe, pens are a bribe,
ink is a bribe, yellow soap is a bribe, a towel is a bribe ;
and, accordingly, if little children are to find all these
articles for themselves, how barren and uncharitable
is the invitation that is made to them ! But the poor
of Ireland have not the money to pay for these ele-
ments of education ; and if, therefore, it be absolutely

pabti. my tour. 157

necessary for the rich to provide their children with a
oomfortahle schoolroom, wash their faces and hands,
and give them books, ink, pens, and paper, surely there
tim be no great sin in filling their poor little hungry
Btomachs as well as their empty heads.
' I, therefore, most earnestly and fervently hope that
all who are friendly to the Irish will promote the good
cause of supplying these distant schools with meal. In
this friendly effort the rich Protestant has the power
of contributing infinitely more, and consequently of
producing infinitely more effect, than the poorer Ca-
tholic ; but while religious antagonism ought, gene-
rally speaking, to be condemned, in this struggle the
poor children, whichever way the scale may prepon-
derate^ are sure to be gainers by the contention ; and
with this prayer and recommendation in their behalf,
after the toils of my journey, I must now wish my
gentle reader " Good night ! "

THIRD DAY.

On rising at six o'clock I found the w^nd had chopped
round to the north-west, and that there was every
prospect of a fine day — in short, the weather had ap-
parently run itself quite dry, and as my travelling-bag
of halfpence was nearly in the same state, after walking
for a short time about the town I entered a large ale-
house to beg change.

"Have the evictions in this neighbourhood done
you much harm ?" I inquired of a large man of about
fifty, as very good-humouredly he was counting out
from a small heap of copper.

158 MY TOUR. Part I.

** It's ruining us all !" he replied. " I now take 5L at
fairs where I used to take 20/., and on market-days 1/,
where I used to get 7^."

I had ordered breakfast, and as soon as I entered the
large parlour of the inn I found its table heavily
prepared for about twenty people. Looking out of the
window for some little time, I fancied I was in the
room by myself; however, on hearing a slight mut-
tering, I turned towards it, and then I perceived the jet
black back and head of a very short priest on his knees,
praying. As soon as the eggs came in he got up, and,
as we were similarly disposed, we both sat down to
J)reakfast together. His face, which was rather round
and red, was completely covered with little pimples ;
his neck was nil. However, in spite of all, he was
very communicative, and so fond of eggs, and so fond
of talking, that, as he sat eating and incessantly chatter-
ing to me, constantly repeating what he had just said,
both corners of his mouth soon became as yellow as
those of a young blackbird. He had ordered his bill,
and it was lying before him.

"They never," said he, glancing at it and then ad-
dressing himself to me, " charge a priest as much as
they do others. They will charge you here Is. 6d. or
2*. for your bed ; they charge me Is. We never say
a word about reduction ; and they do it of their own
accord. When the cholera raged we were at their
bedsides. We charged them nothing, and they ap-
preciated it. In return they never charge us as much
as others, but we never say a word for it."

When my bill came, — for one's bill at an inn, like
Deaths is sure to come, — I asked the waiter what effect

PabtI. my tour. 159

the evictions in the neighbourhood had had on the
town?

" They have ruined it," he replied ; ** the poor used
to support the rich ; now that the poor are gone the
rich shopkeepers are all failing. Our town is full of
empty shops, and, after all, the landlord himself is now
being ruined!"

As soon as I had defrayed my account, the waiter
stepped aside to a table, from which he returned with
a lai^ book, in which he asked me to be so good as to
inscribe my opinion — whatever it might be — of the
accommodation I had received. As, however, I had
really totally forgotten all about the turbot and lobster-
sauce, — had slept so soundly that I had never for an
instant thought about the bed, — and as the priest had
talked so incessantly, that for the life of me I could not
accurately state how many eggs we had eaten, I excused
myself from complying with his request. In justice,
however, to the Royal Hotel, Westport, I should say
that on glancing over the leaves I read as follows : —

" Mr. and Mrs. H. and Miss H., of Bank, Yorkshire. We have

found everj'thing very comfortable."

" Judge and Mrs. P., Miss P., Miss D., and Miss R., have found this a
comfortable house. The host and his ijeople are very attentive and accom-
modating."

" I have been in worse and better hotels in this country.

(Signed) " P. S."

" I have travelled over a great part of the world, and was never better
entertained than in this establislmient. (Signed) " P. L."

** I have much pleasure in contributing my experience to the above com-
pliment, as a hotel so worthy of praise in every department, whether in
London, Dublin, or elsewhere, has never come under my notice.

(Signed) " L. T., of R.**

** Capital accommodation. (Signed " V. L."

My car was now at the door, and, bidding adieu to

160 MY TOUR. Pabt I.

the landlord, whom I found at its side, I trotted side-
ways through the broad macadamized street until its-
acclivity brought our animal to a walk. At this sober
pace we passed an immense union-workhouse, which in
1848, when "the famine was sore in the land," had
administered out-door and in-door relief to no less than
sixty thousand persons.

On reaching the summit of the hill I observed, on
looking behind over the town beneath, that during the
rain and mist of the previous day I had unconsciously
passed a range of undulating mountains, the outline of
which was now bold, clear, and distinct. At a short
distance in front of us, on the right, was Croagh-Patrick,
commonly called St. Patrick's Reek,' a magnificent
mountain standing by itself. Its base and centre ap*
peared to be covered with brown heather, which
became more and more stunted, until its summit — ^a
sharp-pointed pinnacle 2510 feet above the sea, and
from whence it is said can be seen a distance of nearly
a hundred miles — ended m bald sterility. Beneath it
appeared the Atlantic and Clare Island. Before us was
an open country teeming with large stones and bog,
with here and there small brown or white cabins, from
each of which in its peaceful solitude was to be seen
meandering upwards into the fresh, pure morning air a
small, short thread of white smoke. As we trotted
along we passed a large, solid, new Protestant church,
nearly finished.

" When was the building of that church com-
menced?" said I to a man seated at my back, whose
face I had not yet seen. " Yere Arnh'r," replied a
sharp, intelligent voice, " I'm a stranger here like yere-

PaetI. my tour. 161

•

self: I ouly druff two gintlemea into Wesport yesterday
from Sligo — thafs my country ! — but the master's
horses were all engaged this mornings and so he asked
* Would I take yere Amh'r ? ' " Somehow or other I
felt quite pleased at the intelligence that I was to have
no assistance but my own eyes, for the day, as com-
pared with its predecessor in office, was so lovely, and
the prospect of entering the Connemara district so
exhilarating, that I felt it mattered but little by what
human names or nick-names the objects I was about to
visit might be designated. " At all events," thought I,
" I shall always meet somebody or other who will be
able to tell me."

On my right, rushing down the side of a precipitous
rock, was a slender stream of bog-water, nearly the
colour of tawny/ port-wine, and shortly afterwards we
passed a solitary cabin unroofed.

" What do you think," said I, leaning on my right
elbow, as if disposed, in colloquial friendship, to meet
my conductor half way, " What do you think of this
system of eviction ? "

" Yere Amh*r," he replied, " it*s just the ruin of the
poor man. Before, every man had his four, five, eight,
or even tin acres. He was rich, for his pitaturs kept
him, his family, his horses, and his cows. He had
arlways the pig to back him, and so at the half-year he
could mate his landlord. Anybody might thin travel
through the counthry with divil a halfpenny. They
would be glad to have ye to converse with ye, give ye
a good bed " (I thought of a certain bell-rope I had
seen), " suppir, breakfist, and not seek of ye any-
thing."

M

162 MY TOUR. Part I.

" But," said I, " could they manage to subsist entirely
on potatoes ? "

" Sure, yere Arnh'r," he replied, *' with pitaturs
they fed " (with his whip he here enumerated the
following animals on the fingers of his left hand)
*' their pags, — toorkies, — gaise, — fools, — dooks, — hins,
— and harses."

" Will sheep eat them ? " I inquired.

" Troth, yere Arnh'r," he replied, " they'll root 'um !
Thim black crows steal pitaturs. Och !" he said, look-
ing at me very archly as he shook his whip at one,
*' they're the biggest villins, yere Arnh'r ! "

" That mare of yours is thorough-bred, isn't she ? "
I asked.

" Yes, indeed, yere Arnh'r, she 's well got-"

** Will donkeys,** said I — we were at the moment
passing one that was grazing afar ofi* — " eat potatoes ? "

" Oh yes, yere Arnh'r, and our dogs will ate um too.
Gintlemen's dogs ate um with milk ; but ours, troth !
they '11 ate um quite dry ! "

We now passed a few patches of oats, as also some
small fields of potatoes growing around a few stone-
walled cabins, the thatched roofs of which, at intervals
of about a foot, were covered with straw-ropes, at the
end of each of which hung a stone, weighing about
20 lbs.

" What is all that for ? " I inquired.

" To keep down the roof, yere Arnh'r, during the
winds of winter," he replied.

In the low hills six miles from Westport we now
passed, close on our right, a large whitewashed building
with sable wooden shutters that were closed. Above

Paoti. my tour. 163

the door I observed a black board, on which was
written in white letters,

Carrekenedy
National School.

About a mile beyond this building — which, as I
passed, I inwardly hailed as the best means, under Pro-
vidence, of bringing together, in friendly communica-
tion, the Catholic and Protestant children of Ireland —
in a spacious flat of heath and swamp, forming altoge-
ther a splendid grouse and snipe country, I observed,
without spire, a white Catholic church, which, except-
ing one whitewashed cottage with a straw-roped roof,
were the only habitations to be seen. Over the sides
of the mountains on my right, as well as across the
great level before me, magnificent shadows of clouds
were slowly passing. On the top of a small bush, close
to the solitary little white cabin, lay extended to sun
and air the only emblem of animal life I could any-
where behold, a madder-red woollen petticoat.

After looking for a few seconds at the church, which,
like the school-house we had just passed, ought to
unite together in brotherly love the whole Christian
family of Ireland,.—" What do you pay your priests ? "

He replied, " For getting married the poorest pay
from 255. to 205. ; those that attind give from 2^. 6d,
to 1*. ; thim are the poorest. For baptizing a child
they pay 2s. 6c?., and the ghossip's name goes down
after the child's name, but the ghossips pay nothing at
arl. At Christmas and Aister the poor people pay hum
is. ; the shorpkeepers 11 pay hum U."

M 2

164 MY TOUR. PabtT.

After trotting for a short distance along the banks of
a small rapid river, of dark, rich, tawny-coloured water,
here and there breaking white over large stones, among
which were, I was afterwards told, a quantity of
salmon, —

" What are those for ? " said I, pointing to a little
potato-field, full of tall, upright sticks, on the top of
several of which was affixed a peat.

" To frighten away the crows, yere Amh'r. They
take a note arf um, that they may be a marn's hat"

We now stopped for a few minutes to bait our horse
at a small house close to the river and bridge of Errib.
The kitchen I entered was, as usual, full of smoke ; and
yet I was much struck with the gentle, pleasing manner
of its mistress as she lighted for the driver a large
match of wood that flared as if it had been soaked in
spermaceti oil.

** It's yere bog-wood," said the driver to her, " isn't
ut?"

" Tissur ! " was her answer to him.

As we drove away, " God speed ye ! " said her hus-
band to us, slightly waving his hand to us in adieu.

We now continued our course along the bank of the
river, that appeared to be rushing more violently than
before. On each side of us were mountains. In a little
green valley stood, mourning together over the loss
they had severally sustained, the stone walls and sharp
triangular gables of eight unroofed cabins. At a short
distance from them appeared, as if it had just risen out
of the ground, a bran-new good house.

Two little girls about fourteen years of age, with
their plaids over their heads, lay together on the side

p

p

of the gi'assy valley, ajid without raising an eye towards
Qiir car, which passed close to them, tliey continued
playing at the old-fashioned English school-game of
throwing into the air small stones and ratcliiiig them
on the back of their right hands. Not a cabin was in
sight

" Very honest people in this country ? " said I to the
driver.

"Sure, yere Arnh'r might travel by yereself here a'
night Divil a word would any man say to ye."

At fourteen miles from Westport we came to a beau-
tiful narrow lake, at the head of which a number of
workmen were busily erecting a lafge substantial stone
Protestant church with Gothic windows.

" Thart's," said the driver, as he pointed at it with
his whip, "for what we ca' 'joomiwrs;' but if tlie plta-
turs would return, they'd a' come back. They would,
ifldade, yere Arnh'r."

Opposite to the chiircli, embedded in trees, was a
most beautiful retreat, called " Ashley Lodge," be-
longing to the Hon. David I'lunket (brother to the
Bishop of Tuam), who has lately purchased from the
Marquis of Sligo the wliolc range of mountains Jor
three miles. Adjoining is a similar property of about
10,000 acres, purchased, I was informed, by Captain
Houston a sliort time ago at the rate of 2 id. an acre.
J here passed on the road two or three groups of
ehildren, all, especially the girls, strikingly clean and
neatly dressed. Following them at some distance was
a" tall, slight, intelligent gentleman, whose black clothes
and white neckcloth clearly explained to me that he
was a Protestant clergyman. I accordingly desired

166 MY TOUR. PabtI.

the driver to pull up, and for a few moments conversed
with the Rev. Weldon Ashe, who informed me that,
although the church was not yet built, his congregation
amounted to 102 persons. Just as I was leaving him,
I made some observation on the pleasing appearance of
his children. " We teach them cleanly habits,** he
replied.

" They were all baptized Catholics," said my driver
to me, with great energy, the instant we were alone.
" I'm as sure of ut, yere Arnh'r, as I am that I hould
this whup. But, poor craters, whart could they do ? *'

My attention was now engrossed by a view, imme^
diately before us, of what appeared to be a beautiful
serpentine lake, but which, in fact, was an arm of the
sea, ten miles long, called Killary Harbour, dividing
the counties of Mayo and Gal way.

As we trotted along the shore, its only habitations
appeared to be eight unroofed cabins, surrounded by a
few poplar-trees and whitethorns, a good-sized old
post-house, a new rival one, and the clean white barrack
of the constabulary. On arriving at the latter, I en-
tered it, desiring the driver to go to the post-house.

The little force established on this sequestered spot
consisted of one constable (a Catholic) and four sub-
constables (two Protestants and two Catholics), who
had been here from two to four years. All were in
full uniform ; the buttons of their coats and the brass
plates of their waistbelts shone resplendently. The
walls, which have been regularly lime-washed by them-
selves once a month, were as white as snow, and the
staircase and floors of the rooms were literally as clean
as an English dairy. The constable told me that the

Pabti. my tour. 167

new proprietors of the country in the neighbourhood
had been unroofing the cabins since 1848.

** What has become of the evicted ? " I inquired.

** Some," he replied, " have gone to America, some
to England, some into the poor-house, and some are
dead."

" Have you had any disturbances here ? " I asked.

" There has," he replied, " been no outrage or crime
of any sort committed here for three months ;" cor-
recting himself, he added, " when Patrick M'Anus*s
wife was baten we took the two that did it, and they
have both been lodged in gaol."

" How far is your Catholic church off ? " He replied,
" Five miles."

To my great suri)rise he then told me, in answer to
my inquiries on the subject, that he and his little party
could obtain no provisions nearer than Westport, not
even potatoes 1 " We tried," he said, " the other day
to get one stone of them, but nobody would sell them.
They say they want what they have got, or think they
are failing, and that they 11 have too little for them-
selves. We send," he added, " two of our party, with
a horse and cart, once a month to Westport, to buy
meal, flour, potatoes, bacon, fresh beef, and we then
corn it. Thro'out the year we live almost entirely on
salt provisions. At Christmas we buy a sheep among
ourselves."

** Whose potatoes are those ? " said I, pointing to a
plot not three yards from me, without a fence of
any sort.

" They belong," he replied, " to the hotel-keeper."

" Why, surely," I observed, with an astonishment

168 MY TOUR. PabtI.

I could scarcely conceal, " he would allow you a
few?"

" Divil a stone, sir ! For nearly three years we have
not been able to buy a potato."

Before me on the hill were amicably grazing toge-
ther several sheep and cows, and as I looked at them,
and reflected that the next-door neighbour of the con-
stabulary would not allow to them a single potato out
of the lot that were literally growing almost beneath
their feet, I could not help muttering to myself —

" Sic vos non vobis."

On arriving at the post-house I found playing very
sweetly before it a piper, at whose feet, knitting socks,
were sitting four women and three children, in old
ragged red petticoats. I had never before heard the
Irish bagpipe, which is played with bellows instead of
by the breath, and I was particularly admiring its bass
notes, when, all of a sudden, the women and girls
jumped up, and, casting my eyes down the road, I
saw, rocking, and reeling, and rapidly approaching me,
one of Biauconi's three-horsed cars, accompanied on
each side by a swarm of girls from twelve to eighteen,
all in red petticoats, and all with extended hands
offering to passengers, whose knees they could touch,
scxirlet and white socks.

As soon as the car reached the post-house, at which
it was to change horses, the arms and stockings were,
if possible, more earnestly extended than before.

The passengers, who on each side of the carriage
appeared closely packed together, side by side, as if for
sale or exhibition, were nearly all composed of English

I

wide-awalte travellers, most of whom held in their
hands a certjiin pea-grcen book. Among them, with kid
gloves oil her hands, with a parasol on hor lap, and in
a gown that modestly covered her shoes, sat a tall,
lusty, finely-dressed lady, of about forty, who appeared
to be the pattern of a good housewife. Every feature
in her face demonstrated that she knew how to jire-
8€'rve, pickle, and otherwise superintend the various
items that make the inside of a good home comfort-
able i but she was evidently bored to death by the
group of vile, naked-legged, bare-footed Irish savages i
that were buzzing about her. Averting and slightly
tossing her head, she had already said "La I" once;
and as that word comprehended all that could jws-
sibly be said on this subject, she very properly
"Would neither answer them nor again even look at
them. In a very few minutes the fresh horses were
affixed, and away drove the car at a brisk trot, fol-
lowed by its escort of red fluttering petticoats; and
certainly nothing could be wilder than the picture of
the whole group following the serpentine course of the
bay, until passing a small promontory it at last totally
disappeared from view. The constable, who had
accompanied me from his barrack, told me that these
children had joined the car at two or three miles from
the post-house, and after its departure usually followed
it for about the same distance.

At the post-house called Leenane tliere was no
fresh horse ; " but," said my driver to me, as he
apprised me of the calamity, " sure, yere Amh'r,
and I'll not lave ye; so I'm baiting my harse
to take yere Arnh'r on." And having thus a few

170 MY TOUB. PabtL

minutes to spare, as the readiest mode of disposing of
them, I ascended the mountain-side, which was close
to the road, to a small promontory. On turning
round to look at the view, I beheld before me, on the
opposite side of the beautiful serpentine salt-lake be-
neath, stupendous hills, heatherless, but covered with
green, rank, sedgy grass, which faded at the summit
into grey sterile rock. On the left was Mewlrea, the
highest mountain (2688 feet) in the west of Ireland.
While I was slowly ascending, I had more than once,
suddenly and very peremptorily, exclaimed, " Be off
with ye, you young vagabond I " to a boy of about
twelve years of age, who, with a pair of bright-red
socks in his hand, had, like a wolf, followed me from
the road. At each angry exclamation, the boy, as I
turned round upon him, stepped back, and, showing
me a set of white teeth and a pair of laughing eyes, I
felt I had the worst of it, until, by his pleasing manners
and pretty face, he succeeded in terminating the war
that had been waging between us.

" Have you any father ? " I inquired.

" No," he answered ; " he was taken up for fisliing,
an<l died in prison."

" Have you ever in the course of your life," said I,
looking at his ten toes, ** worn shoes ? "

" Never, yere Amh r,'* he replied.

" What hurts your feet most ? " said I, thinking at
the moment of the sharp macadamised road beneath us.

" Snow ! " he replied.

" Why ?" I ignorantly asked.

" Snow is cauld, yere Arnh'r 1" replied the boy.

" Rain is bad ! " he added.

■"Why?" I asked,

•* You take cauld out of the rain," he replied,

** Is hot wcatlier Imd ? "

** No, if it ivouldu't be too hot en/iVcly."

'• When it is too hot, what does it do?" I askod.
' " Take some of the skin arf "em. Sir ! " he replied.

" Don't the stones cut your feet?"

" Very seldom ! " he replied, with a smile ; and yet,
when I made him show me one of them, I was sur-
prised to see that, excepting the heel and ball, which
felt hard and sijringy, like India-rubber, the rest of his
little foot wjis apparently almost as soft as if he had
lived in shoes on a Brussels carpet.

As, however, I could now see that the car was ready,
we descended to the post-house, and, on entering it for
a moment, I found a small, nicely furnished bedroom
and parlour, forming comfortable fishing quarters for
any one of the numerous family of Isaac Walton who
visit this neighbourhood.

As we quietly trotted along the road that, at about
ten or twenty feet above it, obsequiously followed the
lake, which, though here and there slightly awakened
by a momentary breeze, was, generally speaking, en-
joying a siesta, we were surrounded by highland scenery
of magnificent description. One of the mountains,
curiously scooped out, resembled the section of a vol-
canic crater. At its base, like a speck, was an unroofed
cabin, surrounded by the ruins of little walls, appa-
rently short hieroglyphic memoranda of its history.
On taking leave of the lake, we went through a rocky
pass, at the end of which there suddenly burst upon
my view the distant " Twelve Pins," or " Bcnna Beola,"

172 MY TOUll. TabtI.

of Connemara, a group or family of wild, high, bleak,
barren mountains, of very striking appearance. After
crossing, by a bridge, a small stream, near which was
a cascade, the road conducted us through a boggy space,
about two miles long and one broad, of coarse grass,
completely surrounded on every side by mountainous
hills of all shapes. Excepting three wild ducks that,
• from a small lake, rose, and then, as if spell-bound, with
extended jiecks, continued flying in circles above it, not
a living being was to be seen, or a habitation of any sort.

At last we came to a few goats grazing near an un-
roofed cabin, of which only one frail gable remained.

The number of unroofed houses I passed was to m0
a subject not only of unceasing regret, but of asto-
nishment.

The census return of 1851, as compared with that of
1841, shows a diminution of inhabited houses in Ireland
of 2 1 per cent. ! or, in actual numbers, there were in
the former year no less than 281,104 fewer inhabited
houses than in the latter ; and, accordingly, the sdme
return shows a diminution in the number of families of
265,785. And these figures, which very accurately
confirm each other, moreover show that the 15,314 re-
maining families must either have been crowded into
the houses still remaining, or have taken shelter in the
workhouses or towns, the latter having, it is well
known, received large numbers of the rural poor, just
as the former sheltered those who were wholly
destitute.

It must not, however, be considered that the cabins
and houses that have disappeared have all been levelled
or unroofed by the process of eviction ; for in a very

Pabt r. MY TOUR. 1 73

great many cases the occupiers were removed with
their own consent, and, moreover, were assisted to
emigrate. In many instances improving landlords have
built better cottages for their tenants before throwing
down the old ones.

. Adjoining the ruined cabin that had so particularly
attracted my attention was a small white Catholio
ehapel with slated roof; and by the road-side, as its
guardian angel, sat by himself^ bareheaded and bare-
footed, a beautiful child of about two years of age.

A mile further, near the head of Kylmore Lake,
which is nearly a mile long, we suddenly drove by a
Protestant schoolhouse and six comfortable cottages in
a line, all building for widows and children.

"Are all these hills in winter covered with snow?"
said I to a large, coarse, strong, bony, useful young
woman, as the car trotted by her.

" They do, Sir," she replied.

A little further on, close to the water, I observed,
surrounded by a high wall, a quadrangular line of
cottages on a stony hill, constructed in 1848 for a
workhouse, but now deserted.

At the head of the lake, on which there was at the
moment gambolling a beautiful ripple, I observed a good
hotel, and as we were trotting towards it along the road
close to the water's edge, we met a well-attired gentle-
man, comfortably walking with a lady leaning on each
of his arms, — both dressed in silk, and both with parasols
in their hands. Excepting the inn and the deserted
workhouse not a habitation was to be seen. The stones
at the bottom of the lake, in which there is no mud,
were, near its brier-covered banks, glittering in the sun.

174 MY TOUR. PabtT.

At the extremity of the water we passed almost uader
impendiog rocks of great beauty, the clefts in whidi
were teeming with heatlier and with brushwood, com-
posed of beech, hazel, and strong briers.

Traversing a second defile of about 100 yards in
length, we burst upon another smaller lake, the per-
pendicular right bank of which was covered, as before,
with wood, among which I observed a quantity of
holly-trees growing very luxuriantly. At 8 miles from
Leenane we passed a substantial Jiouse with smoking
chimneys, belonging to an Englishman, Mr. Eastwood,
of Liverpool, the owner of upwards of 1000 acres bor-
dering on the lake. Here we found fields of oats, and
close to the road a herd of 30 cows and a magnificent
bull, all busily grazing. In the midst of them, intently
knitting, there sat on the ground, in a madder-red petti-
coat and chequered shawl, a fine-looking Connemara
girl of about 18.

From this beautiful lake ran a strong stream, which,
after ive had crossed it by a bridge, continued for some
time alongside of the road. Before us, at a consider-
able distance, was a large, lofty, solitary mountain. On
our right and left were low, rocky hills.

Immediately under a lofty mountain, called Molles.s,
we suddenly Imrst upon the magnificent salt-water
harbour of Ballynakill ; and on stopping at a small
hotel beside it, a number of little girls in bright-red
petticoats ran up to me.

"Take some di'monds, ycre Arnh'r!" they all ex-
claimed, extending at once their slight ai-ms and small
hands, in which I saw glittering a few tiny bits of
white crystal.

J

PAHrl. MY TOIM!. 175

But my attention was engrossed by a very handsome,
large, well-built Protestant church immediately before
me, which only a few days ago was consecrated by the
Bishop of Tiiam.

Its site has been most happily chosen where the
winding road from Clifden to the Killeries approaches
the beautiful bay of BallynakUl, in the immediate
vicinity of some of the most improved parts of that
romantic district. The church, on the day of its con-
secration, was, I was informed, densely crowded, not
only by the rich, poor, and jxiorcst classes of the sur-
rounding country, but by thirty clergymen of the
Established Church, as also by several jieople from
England. The ceremony, ornamented by the grand
mountain scenery around, was, no doubt, calculated to
make a deep and lasting impression on the minds of
those who witnessed it. For some time, by the skill
and energy of new settlers, the surrounding waste of
brown bog and heather had been converted into corn-
fields and pasture, and in the midst of this placid
picture there now arose a solid building in which all
H might assemble to invoke together the blessing of the
H Almighty on all sorts and conditions of men.
^1 Nearly opposite the church stood a very fine house,

H built and occupied by James Ellis, Ksq^. (a Quaker,
H brother to the late member for Leicester), who has
^B also just constructed a large and commodious school,
^M with a suitable residence for the master. He was,
^B moreover, the posses,sor of a large crop of oats on
H ground that last year was a bog. The principal shop-
H keeper, and postmaster, is also an Englishman,
^ft As usual, I walked for information to the con-

176 MY TOUR. PabtI.

stabulary barrack, in which I found, in the same state
of dress and discipline I have so continuously had
occasion to describe, one constable (a Roman Catholic)
and five sub-constables (four Roman Catholics and one
Presbyterian). In the constable's room I observed * The
Works of Josephus,' * Smith's Wealth of Nations/

* Industrial Resources of Ireland,* * Chalmers* Dis-
courses,* * Anecdotes of Napoleon,' ^ Watertons Wan-
derings,' * Lamartine's History of the Girondists,*

* The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia,* * The Saturday Ma-
gazine,* with several other volumes.

On my asking him what were his principal duties,
he readily replied, '* Executing warrants generally, and
especially for poor-laws; arresting those who have
absconded from workhouses with the clothes thereof,
besides often leaving their families behind; escorting
prisoners by night and by day ; patrolling from two
to four miles from the station; going to fairs and

* patrons,' on the requirement of a magistrate, where
disturbances are expected ; attending quarter sessions,
assizes, and at elections, if called upon."

On asking him whence he procured provisions ? he
told me that, as he and his men could obtain but little
in the neighbourhood, excepting potatoes, they usually
sent to Clifden for their meat and salted it.

On the side of the harbour, which, being land-locked,
looks exactly like a beautiful lake, we passed a small,
comfortable house built by Mr. Graham, an English-
man, and not far from it a small stone pier, at which
were lying moored three boats. Further on was a
large substantial residence, just completed by Captain
Fletcher, of Dublin, around which were growing oats

1/

I

I

and green crops. In the surrounding heather-covered |
hills, the summits of which had the soft, round appear-
ance of those in Scotland, were to be seen here and
there, lower down, patches of oats,

We now came to a house called Rorkvillc,
property be longing to Mr. Butler (a Protestant), from I
C'arlow. Here a beautiful Englif^h-Iooking village
church, at llie consecration of which 800 persons had
lately attended, and school-house, had been newly built,
and a residence for the clergyman, Mr. Lynch, is more- I
over in progress. In front of Mr. Butler's lawn and ]
gardens was a small rocky eminence, on which from i
slight flag-staff I saw revelling in pure air the British 1
Union Jack, beneath which several children were gam-
bolling. The young plantations were thriving very j
luxuriantly.

After trotting by six unroofed cabins, victims to the 1
progress of the civilization that was striding around 1
them, the country reverted to grouse-shooting hills,
which again gradually changed into a vast extent of
coarse, rank, sedgy grass, in whicli, as the road wound
its 8er[ipntine course, aot«T habitation was to be seen. I
Behind it stood the Twelve Pins, looking i)erfectly J
barren. A little i'urther on was another beautiful saltJ
lake, an inland branch of the sea, of which we had a j
distant glimpse.

We now passed a house of modern form, surrounded J
by crops and woods. At four miles from Clifden,J
towards which our tired horse was slowly trotting, the!
roiid began gradually to descend until we entered ;
region of heather and furze, in which the flowers of thel
Xmrple loosestrife and yellow rag-weed were so blended*

MiMM

1 78 MY TOUR. Tart I.

together that they appeared to spring from the same
plant.

"That's beautiful! isn't it?" I observed to the
driver, as we came rather suddenly in sight of a fine
lake.

" Very handsome, indade, Sir ! " he replied.

In a solitary potato-field a stout woman, in a red
petticoat and with bare ankles and feet, was stooping
down digging potatoes ; as we passed close to her she
raised her uncovered head, from which hung a quantity
of black shaggy hair as wild as the mane of a Shetland
pony. On the hill side above her I observed an animal
grazing.

** Will mules," said I to the driver, pointing towards
it, " eat potatoes ? "

" Oh yes ! " he replied, with a grin : " they'll poke
'um up with their fate."

My friend's mouth now began to pucker up, and
around each eye there gradually appeared such innu-
merable wrinkles of fun, that I saw I had uninten-
tionally touched a ticklisli point.

" Oh yes. Sir," he added,^ scarcely able to suppress
laughter. " Oich I yere Amh'r, they're the bloodiest
rogues you ever see in yere life! They're mortal
knowing, and you can niver depend on 'um. Gad 1 if
ye mind 'um for twinty yares, they'll some day or night
all of a sudden turn on ye and give ye a kick ! "

We now entered Clifden, the principal town of that
western highland portion of Ireland comprehended
under the local names of Jar Connaught, Connemara,
and Joyce Country, the whole being usually called
Connemara, a district about 34 miles long and 20 in

Part I. MY TOUR. 179

breadth; and comprehending upwards of 20 capacious
harbours fit for the reception of vessels of any bur-
den. The best land in Connemara is comprised in the
neighbourhood around the town.

Leaving my carpet-bag at the hotel at which I had
ordered dinner, for it was now past six o'clock, I
walked to the union workhouse (an enormous manu-
facturing^looking building of two rows, one behind the
other, each row having twenty windows in front),
situated about two hundred yards from the termination
of the main street, and, as I only wanted to see its
inmates, I requested the master to assemble them, at
once, in their respective yards. Their numbers were
as follows :— -

Able-bodied men, of whom only six were

really fit for work, and boys above 15 159

Able-bodied females above 15 .... 226

Infirm • 44

Boys below 15 108

Girls do 227

Nurses

In hospital, &c.

82

Total 846

At the entrance-gate I had observed two messenger-
boys, fifteen and sixteen years of age, with unusually
handsome countenances, and I was surprised to learn
that " they could get no work." The girls below fifteen,
who were dressed in blue, without hats or shoes, ap-
peared healthy, but very small; many of them had
been in the house three or four years. The little boys
below fifteen were — as I have before observed — fear-
fully diminutive. The women and girls above fifteen I

N 2

180 MY TOUR. Part I.

found all standing in the yards, in a row, with their
backs against the wall. Almost every one had an
honest countenance, was clean, but all were barefooted.
The men and boy^ over fifteen, who generally speaking
looked weak, were dressed in clothes so old that they
appeared to be on the confines of turning into rags.

The aged and infirm, principally women, formed, of
course, a sad scene ; and, as my brief observations were
concluded, I was not sorry to get once again into the
free air.

On walking towards the inn I was surprised at the
number of public buildings I could see. In front of
me, inclining to the left, was Bridewell ; not far from
it a comfortable house on an eminence belonging to
the parish priest ; and on its right a Catholic chapel,
the constabulary barrack, and, lastly, a court-house.

The town is composed of a principal street, straight,
very broad, and about 120'yards in length, of houses of
two and three stories high, and of another similar but
curved street joining it at one end, at an angle of about
45 degrees. At the point of junction I found seated on
the ground several groups of women and girls, all in
red petticoats and white or striped shawls. Some
wore caps, while the hair of the remainder hung loose
on their shoulders, with nothing to keep it from dangling
before their eyes but their ears, behind which a portion
of it was more or less neatly packed or poked. Before
each of them lay a quantity of fruit or dried fish in a
flat basket, but, as there was not in sight a single pur-
chaser, patiently and cheerily they sat chattering in
Irish, and looking into each other's eyes, taking not the
slightest notice of me, although for a few minutes I

stood among them noting their appearanrt.' in my book.
Close to them, with a family of weights beneath it, was
a large iron triangle, in charge of a sturdy man called
ft " craner," whose official duty— in consideration of a
telary of 10/, a-year and a small payment for each
article — consisted in weighing potatoes, corn, hay,
straw, &c., for the whole community. Two of the
constabulary, neatly dressed, were standing beside him.
At their feet sat an extremely pretty, modest-looking
young woman, in a ragged red petticoat mended by, or
rather composed of, patches, no one of which was as
big as my hand. From her head, twisted into lieautiful
folds, hung an old blanket in rags and tatters. Close
to her was a tiny circle of little children of about two
or three years old, cheaply amusing themselves with a
heap of dust. Beiotv the street, at the end of the town.
and at a considerable depth, lay a beautiful narrow
lake or arm of the sea, called Ardhear Bay, on the
opposite side of which green crops and oats were
growing among rocks in small enclosures, bounded by
dilapidated stone walls; and about two miles distant
appeared Clifdcn Csistle, to which a quantity of landed
property in the neighbourhood is attached.

On returning to the town I entered into conversation
with an exceedingly intelligent English farmer, who
"had lately purchased land in Connemara. He told me
that the strong, rank, sedgy grass, which from its luxu-
riance had much attracted my attention, was fit only
for rough Irish cattle or brood mares ; in fact, that
neither sheep nor English bullocks would touch it.
And on my asking him why throughout the country I
had that day passed I had scarcely seen any live stock,

182 MY TOUR. Part I.

he explained to me that on much of the property in the
neighbourhood, that had been lately purchased, there
proved to be unexpected arrears of poor-rates, which
the purchaser could not conveniently pay ; and, as he
knew that if he stocked his land with cattle they would
be seized, he allowed it, for the present, to remain
without them.

The necessity for some means of facilitating the sale
of encumbered estates had been apparent in Ireland for
many years. The extravagant habits of the last cen-
tury, the establishment of " middle-men " and of the
cottier system, which converted the small tenant into a
mere rent-producing animal, induced the formation of
large family settlements, and thereby encouraged loans,
for which estates, one after another, were mortgaged.
In addition to all this, competition rents, the system of
creating 40s. freeholders, of paying for land by labour,
and the consequent result, namely, a state of barter
and of low subsistence, produced altogether, early in
the present century, a climax, the evil consequences of
which the high prices of the war temporarily averted.
At last, however, the hour of retribution arrived.
Rents were necessarily diminished; the cholera, the
potato disease, and the famine consequent thereon,
rendered the collection of these reduced rents imprac-
ticable ; and, first, the creation of the poor-law, and,
secondly, its extension to out-door relief, produced the
inevitable eflPects of completely breaking down not only
the landlord but the system on which he had lived.
Many who had long been striving to compound, or to
effect a sale on fair terms, were suddenly compelled to
go into the market on any terms, and no sooner were

they forced into this miserable emergency tlian they
IiracLically experienced, most keenly, the evils that in
Ireland fettered the transfer of real property. /

For instance, there were lands occupied on parlia-
mentary titles, scarcely two hundred years old, so
hampered in the intricate meshes of the law that they
could not pass through those of the Court of Chancery.
The system of registry established in 1715 had be-
come nearly useless, and it was therefore evident to
all concerned — to buyers as well as to sellers —
that nothing short of the creation by Parliament of a
new court, almost as arbitrary as that (the Court of
Claims) which had originally given the titles, would
suffice to remove the embarrassments in which all were
involved, ■

The benefits conferred upon Ireland, and indeed
upon English and Scotch purchasers, by the Encum-
liered Estates Act, have proved almost incalculable.

Seven hundred and seventy-two properties, or parts
of properties, have already been sold to 2335 new pro-
prietors, for no less than 7,215,000/, The greater part
of these sales have been so small that only ten have
exceeded 20,000/. each. Several of the purchasers had
been the tenants of the very lands on which, under the
old system, they were before starvhig, and which they
had been struggling to cultivate. Others are persons
who have realised, in trade and in professional labour,
fortunes they were desirous to expend on land — some are
mortgagees — several English or Scotch settlers. And
thus, although all must regret to see old properties
broken up, old families dispersed, and ancestral man-
sions deserted, it cannot be denied that the unavoidable

184 MY TOUR. PabtI.

change that has been effected is highly advantageouSi
most especially as compared with the laws, habits, cus-
toms, and state of society it succeeded. In common justice
to the unfortunate proprietors who, under the operation
of the new Act, have been summarily obliged to seU, it
should, however, be recollected that for the erroneous
system of their forefathers — the results of circumstances
rather than of guilt — they ought not to be held answer-
able; that this system they had no power to alter;
and, lastly, that the blow which eventually felled
them to the ground was an extraordinary dispensation
of Providence — a simultaneous visitation on animal
and vegetable life they could not have foreseen, and
which it was utterly out of their power to avert.

The actual effect of the famine in Ireland, even merely
as it regards population, it is not very easy to calculate.
By the last census the population of Ireland amounted
in that year to 8,175,124. Reckoning by its previous
average advance, it had probably in 1845 increased to
say 8,500,000 (but for this there can be only coiyecture,
and the computation above stated). In 1851 the popu-
lation was found to have sunk to 6,515,794. In round
numbers half of this diminution may, I have reason to
believe, be set down to foreign emigration, 150,000 or
200,000 to immigration to England, and the remainder
to a diminution of births, owing partly to the emigrants
having been in the prime of life, and partly to the
effects of the famine, which, although it did not actually
prove fatal to as many as is usually supposed, not only
forced and frightened many of those most likely to
have children to emigrate (leaving behind the aged
and infirm members of their families), but by poverty

Pabt r. MY TOUli.

diminished the marriages and iecundity of those who
remained.

At half-past nine o'clock at night I walked to the
barrack oi' the constabulary, composed of one sub-
inspector (a Protestant), who having just returned from
a long journey was in bed, one head-constable (a Pro-
testant), two constables (Catholics), and sixteen sub-
constables, of whom thirteen were Catholics and three
Protestants.

From the head-constable I ascertained that, at a cost
of 23O0/., there had just been constructed in the town
a substantial Protestant cliurch; and that for another,
to 1^ erected on the opposite side of the Bay, 600^. had
already been collected. He informed me that " no
crime of imjiortance had been committed in the neigh-
bourhood for the last twelve months."

FOtTIlTH DAY.

At seven o'clock in the morning I started edgeways
— until 1 got tired I involuntarily, invariably, and un-
ceasingly grumbled at this awkward attitude —from
Clifden, with a new driver, and a long-stepping, nearly
thorough -bred, bay horst;, sound, six years old, and
called, as the man at my back told me, " Ballinasloe,"
because he had been bought there— and I may add, as
a fact of greater importance than his name— for eleven
pounds.

On each side of us, as we trotted along, were low
stony hills covered with a mixture of heather and
sedgy grass, before us a range of higher ones, on the

186 MY TOUR. Part 1.

summit of which soft white watery clouds were re-
posing. We now passed four substantial cabins im-
roofed, and I felt my flesh creep as I saw exuding from
one of them a slight smoke, thus denoting, as I soon
discovered, but too truly, that the lone sepulchre was
still haunted by the living inmates who had been
evicted from it. After traversing a spendid snipe-level
we passed, at its extremity, another unroofed cabin, on
the floor of which, as we drove by, I saw, in full bloom
and luxuriance, the beautiful purple loosestrife. On
our left^ and apparently close to us, was that magnifi--
cent assemblage of mountains round which we had
been travelling, namely, the Benna Beola, or Twelve
Pins. In front were the Cashel Hills, on the right that
of Erespeak. Close to us, on a small dark-coloui'ed
level, were four women, in bleached red petticoats and
white shawls, arranging peat in heaps.

As we proceeded we came to two beautiful small
placid lakes, from which there were rising such a quan-
tity of rushes that the colour of the surface formed a
series of gradual alternations from green to white
water, and vice versd. Around were heaps or tumuli of
black peat.

As wc were steadily trotting by the side of a small
lake, called Darlie, there stood, close to its edge, a soli-
tary melancholy-looking unroofed cabin.

" A great number of poor people," said I to the driver,
as, twisting my neck, I turned half way towards him,
" appear to have been turned out of this country."

"A good dale. Sir I" he replied, keeping his eye
fixed steadily on his horse.

" Do you think the new system will answer ?"

*' I do, yei'o AraliVI Until the last five or six years
they niver liacl a praue (gram) crap in this county."

"Have you lived all your life ill this neighbour-
hood?"

*' Indade I have, Sir. They are taking great pathron
(pattern) from thf gintlemen who arc coming into this
counthry. All the paple (people) wants is a little in-
struction."

"Of what description?" I inquired.

" Yere Arnh'r ! they didn't know how to reclaim their
lauds. AVhen these English giiitlemeu came into the
counthry, and tliey saw bow ihei/ were draining their
laiid and digging it up, they took pathron I'rom lliera,
and are now improving every other thimselves."

"How have you been living?" I inquired.

" For eleven years in the hotil. In summer I drive
the car to support four of us. In winter we have nothing
to do. Divil a hap'orth can we gain."

We here met a line bareheaded boy riding Iwhind
two panniers full of peat on a horse with a straw crupper,
and, in lieu of one of Wilkinson and Kid's double
bridles, a straw halter.

" Tlie potatoes," I observed to my driver as I pointed
to the hlack-top|)cd leaves of a small quantity growing
by the road-side, " seem to be failing a good deal."

"Yes, they did!" he replied.

After passing a few small patches of oats and potatoes
we came to another great expanse of rough sedgy grass,
on the left of which, towering close above us, at an
average altitude of 2300 feet above the sea, were Ben-
cullagli, Benhaun, Bencorr, and IJenlettcry, the finest
portion of the Twelve Pins. A little boy had been

188 MY TOUR. PaetI.

running close behind the car for upwards of a mile.
When he comnaenced to do so, I shook my hand, and,
looking very sternly at him, said, " No I no ! " To get
rid of him, however, I at last held out to him a penny,
which I conceived to be the object that was upper-
most in his mind — in fact, the locomotive engine that
was propelling him. His little fingers grasped mine
as he took it, but, instead of triumphantly relaxing, as I
expected he would, into a walk, he continued running
about ten feet from us for more than another mile ; in
short, he was sociably disposed, and, like most people,
preferred travelling in company to journeying alone ;
indeed, from this social feeling, my car was often
followed for miles by boys, and occasionally by little
girls.

On our left I now saw a small house, surrounded by
a tiny field of oats, the property of a man, Adams, who
had been severely reduced by the famine. On the
road-side, covered with a rude garment exactly of the
colour of earth, sat a remarkably fine-looking woman
of about forty, knitting and minding four cows. After
passing her, we suddenly saw beneath us, sparkling in
the sun, a most beautiful, large, long serpentine lake,
called Ballynahinch, studded with small islands, on one
of which were the picturesque ruins of an ancient
castle.

*^ That's auld Dick Martin's !" said my driver, point-
ing towards it with his whip : ** ut was the prison,'* he
added, ** where he confined paple that were cruel to
animals."

" But whereabouts,** I asked, ** did old Dick Martin
live himself?"

" I'll show yere Aruh'r immadiately !" he replied ; and
accordingly, in about one hundred yards, he pointed to
tiDo large residences, more than a mile from each other,
both partly concealed Crom view by the wood that
clothes the whole of the southern boundary of the
water. Of these handsome-looking edifices, one was
the house and the other the stables of the late Mr.
Martin. The latter building, however, as is but too
often the case, had ruined the former. The proprietor
of both unfortunately became ruined, lost a property
extending from his house to Oughterard, a distance of
twenty-five miles; and his daughter, a lady of consi-
derable literary attainments, alas ! died on her passage
to America.

The Lake of IJallynahinch communicates on the north
with Loughs lungh and Derryclare, the eastern boundary
of the Benna Beola, or Twelve Pin Mountains ; and the
surplus waters of all three flow from Hallynahinch
through the deep and ample channel of the Owenmore
River into Round-stone Harbour, and from it into the
great Atlantic Ocean.

As we were trotting along the bank of the bright,
lovely lake on our right, we overtooli a c^r on which
were three Knglish tourists, forming altogether a pleas-
ing picture of a happy family. On the leil bench sat
two young mm in wide-awake hats and shooting jackets,
one holding a landing-net, the other a rod in several
lengths bound together by little straps. On the
opposite bench was a very old, hale gentleman — ap-
parently the father, — sitting erect, with his fishing-rod,
longer than a Cossack's lance, pointing to his zenith.
Close by his side sat a useful, Ixireheaded, ragged little

190 MY TOUR. Part I.

boy, with red, naked feet and ankles dangling against the
drab-coloured, gaiter-covered calves of his aged neigh-
bour's long, lean legs. In the middle of the whole,
bolt upright, sat the driver. I need hardly say they
were on a fishing excursion, for which the neighbourhood
of Ballynahinch has long been celebrated. The lake of
that name, as we journeyed along its picturesque banks,
appeared to be upwards of two miles in length by about
a half or a quarter of a mile in breadth, and at its ex-
tremity we took leave of those twelve pins, around two
sides of which, from north to south and then from west
to east, we had so long been trotting. As we were
proceeding alongside of a river on our right, we passed,
on a lonely desolate road, an extremely beautiful bare-
footed girl of about 17, whose hair, unrestrained even
by her ears, was hanging in a state of perfect nature on
her shoulders. On her back was a bundle, and in her
right hand, which was vibrating easily by her side,
there swung a very small bonnet. Altogether she was
a fine specimen of the Connemara peasantry, considered
to be the tallest and handsomest in Ireland. The river
now introduced us to another long beautiful lake, full
of little islands from 100 yards in length to a single
black rock protruding from the water. Most of these
romantic islands were covered with wood ; and we
had scarcely taken leave of them all, when we trotted
by the side of another square lough called Garroman,
or Glendalough, upwards of a mile in length by half
a mile in breadth, in which were two rocky islands,
ornamented with brushwood of various shades of green.
In a very short distance we came to two other lakes,
at the extremity of which was an unroofed cabin, the

wily representative of a human habitation in sight,
Near it stood, alone and nil forloni, a finger-post, ou
which Wiis the name of a branch road.

"What is written on that?" I nnkindly inquired of
my driver, who had remained silent, I thought, rather
too long.

"I don't read, yere Anih'rl" was his reply.

After ascending a slight acclivity.^thc termination
of the district of Connemara, — there suddenly appeared,
lying prostrate before us. Lough I^indy, bounded at a
distance by a wild group of roagnificent-looking, high,
conical mountains. We here met two barefooted,
bareheaded boys, riding on a horse with a straw halter.
On the leR of this lake was a whitewashed building,
which from its shape (for they have almost all been I
built on the same plan) I instantly recognised to be a
constabulary barrack. Beyond it, at intervals, were '
three other whitewashed houses, the only habitations
in sight.

On entering the barrack, the windows of which were
wide open, the walls milk white, and the floors as clean-
as a kitchen dresser, I found one constable (a Protestant)
• iind four sub-constabley (Catholics), all as neat, as closely
shaved, as tightly buttoned up, and with accoutrements
as well appointed as if they had been on guard at St.
James's Palace.

The constable, an exceedingly fine, handsome, well-
behaved, intelligent-looking young man, of aljout 29
years of age, who had been at the station two years and
seven months, told me that he and his party could get
no provisions from the surrounding country ; and tliaf,
accordingly, they obtained their groceries from Galway,

192 MY TOUR. PabtI.

36 miles off,* and the rest from Clifden, distant in the
opposite direction 14 miles (English).

** Can't you get potatoes here ? " I observed.

" No ! " he replied ; " we cannot get a ha'porth of
anything else." After a moment's reflection he added»
" Milk, and that's very dear — that's the only thing we
can obtain. For our mate^ butter, and fish, we send to
Clifden. On Friday the men generally eat milk and
butter."

" But can't you get fish out of the lake ? " said I,
pointing with my umbrella to the beautiful expanse of
water before us.

"No, Sir!" he replied, very gravely; "we're not
allowed to fish. I wish," he added, with a pleasing
smile, " / loish we were 1 "

The words seemed to stab me like a sword. For
many hours I had been almost solitarily gazing upon
an expanse of water which, although beautifully sub-
divided in endless variety, appeared to form very
nearly half of this desolate but magnificent portion of
Connemara. By the beneficent arrangements of Pro-
vidence this extensive aqueous district was, of course,
more or less teeming with fish.

Now, it was easy to comprehend that it may be highly
advisable that the constabulary of Ireland, whose dis-
cipline it is so necessary to maintain, should, especially
in tlieir remote stations, be discouraged, or, in strict
military parlance, should be forbidden from cultivating
gardens, killing game, or catching fish — amusements
which would inevitably divert their time, and distract

♦ They could purchase them, he said, at Oughterard, but at exorbitant
prices.

MY TOUR. 193

their attentiou from the vigilant, important, and un-
ceasing duties they have to perform. And yet, when
I listeued to tlie words I have just repeated, and oh-
served the truth, obedience, and sclf-coramand with
which they were expressed, I own I felt a pang, which
it required a few moments' reflection to convert into
indescribable admiration of the man who had uttered
them, and of the general discipline of the force of
which he was a worthy representative.

" How's the climate here in winter?" I inquired of
him.

" Very wet and very rough," he replied.

" Have you much frost ? "

** No," said he; " there's very little frost or snow in
Connemara ; it is, I think, too near the sea."

" Is it healthy ? "

" Very, Sir," he replied; " but," after a short pause,
he added, very gravely, " there is no place of worship.
1 have not been in one for two years and a half. The
other men have one within three miles."

On the table, at which I sat copying in my book his
words as fast as he pronounced them, there was lying
his Bible.

" You have got thai" said I, " at all events ; and
with it, and a consciousness that you are performing
your duty, you should try to rest satisfied ;" and I
then explained to him how many of our soldiers and
sailors were occasionally similarly situated.

" What you say is very true. Sir I " he replied, with
an aspiration amounting very nearly to a sigh.

.Fust liefore we had stopped at the barrack we had
met a young, well-dressed Englishman, walking along

194 MY TOUR. Tart L

the road. Immediately opposite, on the other side of
the lake, was his beautiful farm, with a residence sur-
rounded by trees. At the end of the lake we passed
close by a small slated house, with offices, environed
by trees growing luxuriantly — the residence, I was in-
formed, of Mr. Tiger (a Protestant), of Dublia

" What is the price of provisions in this country ? *'
I inquired of the driver, who readily replied as
follows : —

" Chickuns are about 5d. a couple, dooks 10c?. A
couple of young gaise lOd. ; when auld, not less than Is.
or 14dr

" And turkeys ? *' I asked.

" I can't say ; we havn*t many of thim in the
counthry, and I don't want to tell yere Amh'r a lie.
Fish little or nothing. A large turbot, of 30 lbs.
weight, for 3^. Lobsters, a dozen for 4d, Soles, 2d.
or 3d. a-piece. T'other day I bought a turbot, of 15 lbs.
weight, for a giutleman, and I paid ISd. for ut."

We here met a boy with a book in his hand, and
shortly afterwards two more, going to Mr. Tiger to
school.

*' Has yere Arnh'r ever sane an agle ? *' said my
driver, pointing to a magnificent pair of brown eagles
chained to a post close to a house we were now
passing. " There was a pair," he added, " of 'um on
that island, that lived there one hundred years, till
they gort quite grey. They grab fish in the middle of
the lake, and, when too heavy, I've sane 'em put up a
wing like a sail, and bring it ashore."

" Have you realli/ seen them do that ? " I Pick-
wickianly inquired.

" I did, Sirl " he replied ; " and then they ate it."

As he was speaking, a large heron, with white body
and quakcr-grey wings, majestically rose from tlie lake-
shore, and, with its long neck pointing to its course,
away it slowly flew.

" Now take yereself away out o' that! " exclaimed
the driver, very sharply, to a pretty little girl of about
13 years of" age that was running behind us.

The lake now branched into two more, separated
from each other by a small, serpentine, silver thread
of water, and the country then changed into a great
expanse of flat, snipey ground, covered with rank,
sedgy grass, intermingled more or less with heather;
in a short time we drove up to a solitary post-house,
called Flyn's Hotel, a low, irregular-shaped, white-
washed building, surrounded by dilapidated stone walls,
enclosing sometimes sometliing of very little value, and
sometimes nothing but loose stones. Altogether it was
the wildest-looking sjjot 1 had seen for a long time ;
indeed it much reminded me of a Gaucho's hut m South
America.

Behind it was the extensive grassy land we had
just jiassed. Before it a beautiful lake, called Shin-
dilla, studded with islands covered with wood. Imme-
diately on the left was the termination of the Foyne
mountains, the summits of which were so bald, barren,
and bleak that it was evident at a glance that the
whole range would not afford sustenance for a mouse.
Beyond the lake were distant hills covered with heather.

Just as I was starting with a fresh horse, car, and
driver, I heard a voice close before my knees say, "I
suspect yere Arnh'r wull not forget the arsler 1 "
o 2

196 MY TOUR, Tart II

" What ? " I inquired. The driver explained to me
it was the horsier.

The lovely lake Shindilla, and two others with
>vhich it is connected by isthmuses and bridges, are
above three miles in length. We here came to a white
house, the oflEice of Mr. Robertson, a Scotchman, agent
to the great London Insurance Company by whom
almost the whole of the surrounding country has been
lately purchased, and yet since we had left Clifden I
had scarcely seen any stock.

As we were driving through an immense plain of
rough grass and heather,

** Do you live in that place where we changed
cars ? '* I inquired of my driver, who had the appear*
ance of being rather a dull companion.

<* I do. Sir," he replied.

" Were you bom there ? "

** I was indade, yere Arnh'r!" he replied with a
yawn. " I work at the shovel. I can mow, or rape,
or anything/'

" Where do you go to church ? "

" At — — *' (I could not copy the sound, for it
appeared to be composed merely of a common cough
and bark in about equal proportions), *' tin miles oflp
ixactly."

"How often?" I asked.

" Once a wake, sometimes once a fortnight."

" How many people attend ? "

" Oich ! " he replied, " there's a great dale."

" But how many ? " I asked.

" Oich ! I couldn't till, yere Arnh'r ; there'd be a
graight number." ^

" What do you live on?"

" Pitaturs, milk, and butter. In summer I ate bread."
,1 •* Did you suffer much during the famine?"

" And indade I did not, thank God!"

At five miles from Shaiidilla, Irom which we had
started, we came to some patches of oats, growing by
the side of a small lake ; ami, alter passing a solitary
cabin, another beautiful lake, about a mile long, sur-
touuded on all sides by grouse-shooting hills, gradually
came in view. We here met a small boy and two little
girls. " God bless yere Arnh'r ! " said the former as he
ravenously picked up a penny I had thrown to him.
_ As the roan horse trotted steadily onw.irds, we passed
on our right along a sedgy, snipey strip, composed
sometimes of green and yellow grass, and sometimes
of water. At seven miles from Shandilla we came to
seven or eight cabins, surrounded l>y several patches of
oats and potatoes, and shortly afterwards the narrow
stream beside us ended in a lake half a mile long,
terminating in a small village, which my driver told
me was called " Durrarglin." I here found nearly
finished a substantial stone, slated building, of four
windows in front, a Protestant school, and shortly
afterwanls, trotting through a congregation of sixteen
huts, called Glenrowlen, where our eyes were refreshed
by the sight of about a dozen women in red petticoats,
we emerged from the mountains into, comparatively
speaking, a flat country of heather and coarse grass.
In it, at some distance on the right, appeared two white
buildings and slight machinery, in the immediate vici-
nity of some lead-mines, worked by about forty or fifty
people.

198 MY TOUR. Part I.

The day was beautifully soft and cloudy, and as we
drove through a dead snipe-flat about three-quarters of
a mile long we met a horse and cart ; and at nine and
a half miles from Shandilla, after ascending a slight
acclivity, we suddenly beheld an immense open country
of poor land, bounded by that great inland sea Lough
Corrib, which, by a river of the same name, is con-
nected with the maritime town and harbour of Gal way.

On the north. Lough Corrib has lately been made to
communicate with the great Lough Mask ; and as it
will be evident to the reader that the three districts of
Jar Connaught^ Joyce's Country^ and Connemara are
singularly mixed up with, as well as bounded by, inland
lakes of immense extent, a few observations on the sub-
ject may be deemed necessary.

In a climate so humid as Ireland drainage is an
indispensable preliminary to agricultural improvement,
but to render practicable that description of minor field
drainage which is effected by straightening and deepen-
ing watercourses, &c., it is indispensable that proper
outfalls should be provided ; and here the geological
structure of the country comes in the way. Ireland, as
is well known, consists of a great limestone district ex-
tending over the whole centre of the island, the edges
being almost everywhere upheaved by primary rocks.
Many outlets are thus turned aside, and thus the central
district, which occupies two-thirds of the country, lies
stagnant for want of a discharge of its waters. The
limestone in the interior is further distorted, and formed
into basins, which in some cases discharge into or through
each other, and in others have no discharge, but are
eitlier filled with extensive bog deposits, or, as in the

I

counties of Mayo and Gahvay, form aljsolnte lakt-s,
called turloughs* (laud-lakes), which oct^oually, in
very dry seasons, are emptied partially, and very irre-
gularly, through subterranean chanuels in the cavern-
ous limestone on which they rest.

To open these basins — to clear away obstructions in
the rivers— and thus permit the free discharge of pent-
up waters of the interior into the large rivers or into
the sea — is therefore indisjiensable to the successful
oiieratioii of the land improvement, and this the Go-
Temmeot Jias undertaken, under autliority of the Acts
for arterial draiuage.

A remarkable and very successful case has lately
been the subject of public attention at Gahvay. A rain
catchment-basin — i.'^, the district bounded by the
watershed line of the hills whose drainages run into it
— contains tlie extensive lakes Mask and Corrib, which
together are about thirty miles long by ten in breadth,
being separated from each other only by a tongue of
land three miles wide. Into this biisin others open, the
aggregate extent being 780,000 acres. Now, although
all the waters of this enormous district were thus
received into Loughs Mask and Corrib, and found their
way into the sea at Galway, the connection between
the two great lakes above named was by an liter ranesin
chamiels only. Moreover, while the discharge from
Ijough Corrib to the sea, distant about live miles, was
for the greater part sluggish for wanl of a fall ,the
remainder was a rajiid.

To effect the discharge of the waters of the upper
into the lower lake, and of tlie accumulated Maters of

• From Tiu, lanrt; nuil Lornin, hte.

.200 My TOUR. Paht T.

both into the sea, was the main and first object ; and
yet» as if to complicate the problem, it was evidently
necessary, for the purposes of navigation, to maintain
sufficient water in the lakes and connecting rivers.

Now, it was foimd that the first object (drainage)
would be sufficiently effected by keeping the lakes at
the summer level the whole year round ; but that below
that limit the waters could not be reduced without
destroying the navigation. The calculation and ar-
rangements for simultaneously attaining both objects
were the results of long and careful observations made
by the Board of Works on the fall of rain and other
circumstances, and, much to the credit of that im-
portant department, the requisite works are now nearly
complete.

Lough Mask will now be made to communicate
with the Lower Lake by a canal passing over cavern-
ous limestone, which, being as porous as a sponge or
coral, must be stanched or made water-tight, that it
may be always full for navigation. The surplus dis-
charge for drainage will be secured by a side cut sepa-
rate from the subterranean passage above described.

On the late visit of the Lord Lieutenant (the Earl
of Eglinton) to Galway, the canal between Corrib and
the sea was opened by the Viceroy in person.

Loans for the arterial drainage of Ireland, as above
described, have been granted to the amount of about
2,000,000/.

This expenditure, which is on a larger scale than
individuals could defray, is made in the first instance
entirely by the Board of Works, for the evident reason
that it affects the interests of numerous proprietors.

201

whicii could only be disinterestedly guarded by jiecu-
liar powers.

The advantages will be as follows ; —

1. With respect to drainage, the upper and flooded
lands of Ireland will be relieved, and the means of
thorough drainage placed within the reach of the
landed proprietors.

2. In regard to navigation, the greatest lakes will
become accessible from the sea and from each
other.

3. Mill-power will not only be scientifically regu-
lated and be made more constant at all seasond,
but will considerably be increased.

4. Fisheries will become more profitable to capi-
talists, and consequently productive of increased
food for man.

> Besides the direct benefits above enumerated, the

xpenditure ol' the loan must create an industrial

ichool of skilled labourers, and the pauper will

hus be trained to improved habits, to the use of

' improved instruments, and to improved modes of

working.
The drainage loans are to be repaid by the proprie-
tors, on the security of the lands improved ; but when,
as in the case of Lake Corrib, navigation and mill-power
are combined with drainage, one-half of the cost of the
project is made a free grant, and the other half charged
to the county-rates-

Pointing to a hand-post we were passing, my driver
said, " That, you see, is the road to Knock."

** And where did you learn to read f " I inquired.
■*'At home, at my onn place," he rqilied.

202 MY TOUR- Part I.

Crossing the dark bog-coloured water of the River
Fough, which runs into the adjoining Lough Corrib,
we now entered the village or little town of Oughte-
rard» at the commencement of which stands a small
cottage, known as ** Martin's Gate House," being the
commencement of the immense property formerly held
by the proprietor of that name. In driving along a
street containing shops and a few two-storied houses, we
passed a large handsome Catholic church with a tower
and entrance like a cathedral, a stone court-house of
five windows in front, and a very new capacious Pro-
testant church, in the interesting state of being enlarged.
There is also at a distance a long line of military bar-
racks for 150 men, a bridewell, and lastly an inn and post-
office kept by a Mr. O'Flaherty. I here ordered a fresh
horse and car, and while they were getting ready I
walked a short distance to the constabulary barrack : its
force was composed of a sub-inspector (absent on duty),
one head constable (Roman Catholic), one acting ditto
(Protestant), one mounted constable (Catholic), eight
sub-constables, of whom two were Protestants and six
Catholics.

The head constable, who had been at the station for
four years, informed me that little or no crime was
committed in the neighbourhood ; ** that the offences
were trivial and very rare, and that during the last six
months nothing of consequence had occurred." As a
proof of the honesty of the people of the country he
added that few houses in the neighbourhood had either
bolt, bar, or shutters. " Before and during the elections, "
he observed, " there were some petty disturbances
between the lower order of Catholics and Protestants,

P»«T I.

»

and in the month of May last there was in the village a
mission of both religions, and during that time, had it
not been for constant vigilance by day and by night,
there would probably have been serious disturljances.
Windows were broken, but now these angry feelings
have almost entirely subsided."

He also informed me that about four or five months
ago a gi-eat many evictions had taken place in the
n«ghbourhood, principally on the Martin property,
170,000 acres, lately purchased by a Ijondon Life
Insurance Company -, that he had to attend at all these
evictions, but that " there was no resistance or trouble
of any sort."

"What became of the people evicted?" I inijuired.

"They went," he replied, "to the workhouse, to
America, England, or wherever they could get em-
ployment."

"Did they commit any depredations during their
distress?" I asked.

"They did not. indaile, Sir I" he replied.

" What do you pay for your tea and sugar here ? " I
inquired.

*' Very dare. Sir," he replied. " We pay iw. for tea,
&d. for brown sugar, and ^d. for white; that is, if we
buy a single pound."

The whole constabulary establishment was in ad-
mirable order, the men's equipments were all shining,
and the brass scales on the shoulders of the mounted
oODstable literally shone like burnished gold,

What a moral example of cleanliness, order, and
obedience, must the 1590 Constabulaiy Barracks
offer to the people among whom they are everywhere

204 MY TOUR. Part R

located ! Indeed, as a pleasing proof how much this
" Force *' is respected, I may state that it is a common
practice for poor persons to come to the head con-
stable to settle any little pecuniary disagreements
between them, instead of incurring the expense of
going to law.

On a slight eminence outside the village, the head
constable showed me, in a field, two buildings, as white
as snow, one a national, and the other a Protestant
school ; he told me that about two miles off there had,
moreover, been lately constructed another Protestant
school.

In the market-place were a number of women, one
in red tatters that completely defied description.

I also observed there several pigs in tandem form ; that
is to say, their owners were driving them in pairs, each
couple being matrimonially tied together by a long straw
band, but during certain paroxysms that occasionally
occur in all descriptions of wedlock, which was leader,
and which was wheeler, it was sometimes for a moment
or two exceedingly difficult correctly to declare.

From the market I went to the workhouse, a very
large, new building, hardly completed. In it were 795
poor, of whom there were very few men that could
really be termed able-bodied. The general appearance of
the various classes was very nearly what I have already
repeatedly described. By the master I was informed
that on the 1st of January last the number of inmates
was 972, but that on the 29th of June he had, in con-
sequence of evictions, no less than 1475, of wliom 680
had since emigrated or managed to find employment.
Of the amount of out-door relief administered by the

Pabt i: my tour: 205

Board of Guardians of the Union the master could give
me no information whatever.

Previous to the passing of the Poor Law Act in 1839,
there was no legal provision for the poor in Ireland ;
aad^ indeed, that Act strictly confined relief to the
walls of the workhouse in which the infirm, aged, and
destitute were to be received. In consequence of the
famine, out-door relief, which it was necessary to
kigalise by the extension Act of 1847) was administered^
in the first instance, by a gigantic system of what were
misnamed " Public Works."

At this labour, often nearly useless, the poor in
winter sufiered severely, and, as there was no food in
many parts of the country, money-wages soon became
comparatively useless. The system, therefore, was
succeeded by one of direct relief for the legalization of
which there was passed a new Act that still continues,
and which, in fact, forms the present Poor Law of Ire-
land, the expenditure and relief of which has, since
1840, been as follows : —

Year.

No. ofUnioni.

Expenditure.

No. of Panpen.

1840

4

£ 37, 057

10,910

1841

37

1 10, 278

31, 108

1846

129

435, 001

243, 933

1847

130

803, 686

417, 139

1848

131

1, 835, 634

610,463

1849

131

2,177,651

932, 284

1850

163

1, 430, 108

805, 702

1851

163

1,110,892

708, 450

The numbers relieved under the Poor Law system in
1848 and 1849 were 1,433,042 and 1,210,482. Through^

206 MY TOUR. Pabt I.

out the whole of Ireland there are now 1 63 Poor Law
unions, comprehending 3439 electoral divisions.

I now returned to the inn, where I found waiting
for me a car that had once been black, a new driver in
a hat that appeared to have been severely crunched, and
a little, lean, wiry, thoroughbred pony, wearing a straw
collar, a bridle with only one winker, and a belly-band
loose enough to have admitted a child's body. On
assuming my seat, with my eyes as usual exactly at
right angles to the line of draught, I was accosted by
two or three beggars. — " Dis yere Arnh'r want a lob-
ster," exclaimed to me a very fine-looking woman of
about thirty, " beautiful, jumping, and alive ? " — ^and as
there was nothing in their appearance or language that
happened to strike my fancy, I said to the driver,
" Now then, my man ! " At the little horse's head I
had observed a man standing, apparently as if to pre-
vent his starting forward too hastily. I soon found,
however, that it was diametrically for the opposite
purpose, for as soon as the little creature received
a slight touch with the whip, instead of taking me, as
I desired, eastward, he began to back due west. Off
jumped the driver, and, with his round, red face to-
wards the Occident, he pulled at the bridle with all his
force, and, in an instant, the car was surrounded by men,
women — lobster included — ^and children, all of whom
had either something to exclaim, or something to pre-
scribe. In the centre of the joyful group, for everybody
looked delighted, I sat, like Patience on a monument,
smiling, not so much at Grief as at the eager, earnest,
prescribing faces that surrounded me. What happened
to the wiry little horse I can hardly say, as so many folks.

Pabt I. MY TOUR. 207

all at the same time, were pinching, poking, or violently
abusing him ; however, all of a sudden the dose, what-
ever it was, became at last more than he could bear ; ac-
cordingly he plunged forwards, and then, as if he wanted
to run away, proceeded at such a pace that I feared the
driver would let go the reins. He, however, managed
to jump on the low seat at my back, and then, gradually
slackening the little animal's impetuous career, we
soon sobered down to a steady trot

" He's a little tinder, yere Arn'r ! " which I after-
wards ascertained to mean that he had an exceedingly
sore shoulder; however, when once he was off, his
spirit was so great and so good, that he apparently
cared nothing at all about it

On our left was apparently the sea. It was, how-
ever. Lough Corrib, in length rather greater than the
distance between Dover and Calais.

" There are 366 islinds on ut, yere Am'r 1 " said my
driver, pointing at this noble expanse of water with a
whip not worth three-halfpence. " There's an islind
over for ivery day in the year !"

In about a mile and a half we came to fine large
fields of wheat, oats, barley, and of green crops, in the
centre of which stood an extensive English-looking
farm-yard and buildings, belonging to Mr. O'Flaherty —
the whole enclosed by new substantial stone walls. On
the left were the ruins of the Castle of Aghnanure, in
feudal times the residence of the chief OTlaherty,
among which survives a yew-tree, said to be more than
a thousand years old.

At this point the driver descended from the car, and,
begging me to follow him, we left our impetuous little

208 MY TOUR. Part I.

horse on the road entirely hy himself, and proceeded
some distance on our left to a natural bridge, composed
of a stratum of limestone, under which a considerable
stream was rushing. On one side I observed a mass of
rich-coloured bog-water rapidly but calmly approaching
what appeared to be an impenetrable wall of solid Pock ;
on the other side I beheld it escaping out of utter
darkness, head over heels, frightened, apparently, almost
into fits at the unusual, strange, and unaccountable catas-
trophe that had befallen it.

"Very honest paple here, yere Am*r!" said my
driver, as, on our return to the car, he pointed to my
umbrella, carpet-bag, and blanket-poncho, all remain-
ing in it exactly as we had left them. On resuming
my seat, I own I expected once again, against my will,
to migrate towards the Far West, but the sensible little
horse knew that — between two mangers — he had better
proceed, and so off he trotted.

" How many children are there at your school ?** I
inquired of a little girl, who, with a book in her hand,
had for some time been running close to me.

" Och ! there's a large lot of 'um ! ** she replied.
But how many T' I repeated.
Sure ! I couldn't count 'um, yere Arn'r !" was the
answer.

We now passed a woman in a red petticoat and plaid,
heavily laden with a creel or basket of peat, lying dia-
gonally along her back.

**The women are graight slaves in this counthry,
yere Am'r : they carry loads as would do for horses*
They do well in Ameriky''

" Do many of them go there ?" I inquired.

Part I. MY TOUR. 20d

" A grate dale !" he replied.

" Which do they like best ?" I asked, " England or
America?"

"Those," he answered, "that havn't got the manes
must go to England to earn 'um."

" Fine turf this," I observed, pointing to a quantity
piled in black heaps, about 100 yards off.

"OchP he replied, with an arch smile, "there's
plenty o' turf and water in Ireland. Ireland 's a fine
counthry, but the warnt of pitaturs and the poor-rate
are ruining ut. A marn with a long family can't get
on at a' ; pitaturs are the things to support a counthry !"

At three miles and a half from Oughterard we came
to a fine plantation of fir, oak, larch, and beech, enclosed
with a stone wall cemented by lime, extending more
than a mile and a half, with handsome iron entrance-
gates, belonging to Mr. Martin, of Ross (a Protestant),
whose park appeared quite equal to anything of the sort
in England. Around it were fields of turnips, oats,
barley, wheat, and here and there, as the memorial of
a departed system, an unroofed cabin. On the right
the vale was bounded by heather hills.

" That's the latter ind of Mr. Martin of Ross's istate,
yere Am'r," said my driver, pointing to an angle in the
high wall on our left ; " and now here's the commince-
ment o' the phroperty of Mr. Anthony O'Flaherty
(a Roman Catholic) of Knockbane."

At this point we met one of BiancSni's (usually, in
Ireland, called BiancOny) jovial and well-appointed
cars, on one side of which sat very comfortably together,
like a couple of hooded crows on a rail, two fine, ruddy,
powerful-looking priests; next to them were two English

210 MY TOUR. Part I.

tourist ladies ; then, of course, two tourist young gentle-
men ; and, on the opposite bench, dos-k-dos to priests,
ladies, and Co., half-a-dozen more of her Majesty's
subjects, all evidently in search of the picturesque,

" What a pity it is," said I to my driver, thinking,
as it were, aloud, '' that Catholics and Protestants in
Ireland can't pull together 1 "

" There should be no amimosity 'atween 'um," said
the clerk at my back in amen reply to the extempore
sermon I had just preached to him ; ^^ ivery man ought
to go his own way paceably till the day of judgmint."

At five miles from Oughterard we saw, on our left,
the Lake of Ross, which appeared to be about two
miles and a half long, and on our right a mixture of
heather and stones.

" There's a fine lime-kiln, yere Arnh'r," said my
driver, pointing to one before us, " for putting out lime
on thim bogs."

In half a mile we came to the property of
O'Flaherty (a Protestant), whose lofty lime-cemented
park wall — in which there was a very handsome en-
trance gate — extended about two miles. • Within it,
among trees, I saw large spaces covered with waving
corn, which a gang of reapers were busily cutting.
On the right was a national school, from which, as
we passed it, were exuding a number of healthy-
looking children, dressed either in red petticoats or in
corduroy jackets and trowsers. Several of them —
principally little girls thirteen or fourteen years of age
— began to run close to the tail of our car, and for
more than a mile, scarcely panting, they continued, up
hill and down hill, with merry faces and light tread.

MV TOUR. 21 1

io run over a liard road, on parts of wliicli the shaqj
stones of Mr. M'Adam liad been newly laid. As they
were doing so I kept my eyes carefully on their coiin-
t^nanees, and 1 can truly say that the jagged metal did
not in the slightest degree alFeet the jdcasing innocent
smile that, unsullied even by a cloud of momentary
jiaia, testified to the sport they were enjoying.

It is no use any longer trying to conceal the fact
that during my short tour in Ireland my prejudices
against bare ankles and naked feet were considerably
softened ; indeed, there can be no doubt that there is
a freshness in this costume of Nature that cannot
belong to a fine fashionable gown, which, from sweep-
ing the ground, and from being tightly bandaged round
the waist, forms a sidendid nnventiiatcd palace, in
which the architect has forgotten to insert either
chimney, staircase, door, or window !

" Yere Arnh'r," said my driver to nic, " ought to
have been in Galway ia^'t week. The Lord I.iftinant
was there for three or four days."

" And how did he get on?" said I.

" There was grate rejoicemint," he replied. " Och I
he's a simple-looking gintlemaii ! "

" What do you mean ? " I asked.

"A plain marn, yere Arnh'r, and no affictation. He'll
be apt to do some sarvice to Ireland. He went out on
the salt say and come up on the canal, and the roads
were a' crowded, yere Arnh'r, with men, women, and
chilthren."

We next came to the park of Mr. Kilkclly (a Ca-
tholic), of Drimcong, the wall of which for nearly a
mile and a half bounded the road on one side, and
p 2

212 MY TOUR. Part I

then to the park wall of Danesfield, the property of
Mr. Burke (a Catholic), extending about two miles
and a half, and shaded on both sides of the road by
beautiful plantations.

We now entered Moycullen, a small village con-
taining a large Roman Catholic chapel, blessed with a
congregation, from all quarters, of about 200 persons ;
also a national school, two stories high, with five win-
dows in front.

In the constabulary barracks are quartered one con-
stable (a Catholic), and five sub-constables (three Ca-
tholics and two Protestants).

" Have these stairs been just planed? " I inquired of
the constable.

" No, Sir; only cleaned," he replied.

They, as well as the floor of the rooms and table,
had been scrubbed till they were literally almost white.
The constable wore his side-arms ; his men, as usual,
were dressed as for parade.

After seating myself at the table of his room, " What
is the population of this village ? " I inquired.

" Seventy," he replied ; " there are about fourteen
or fifteen families."

" Sit down, sergeant," I said to him, pointing to a
chair close to him.

** No, I thank ye. Sir, Til just stand," was his reply,
remaining perfectly erect.

" Whence do you get your provisions ? "

" From Gal way" (7i miles off^, he answered ; " we
get from thence grocery, meat, everything except po-
tatoes and turf. When we are buying beef we get it
about three times a month, so as to have it half fresh and

Part I. MY TOUR. 213

half corned ; but beef is scarce, and we have therefore
bought a flitch of bacon for the entire of this month."

" What is your principal duty here? " I asked.

He replied, " In escorting prisoners from Connemara
and Oughterard districts to Galway county gaol."

" Has there been much crime here ? " I inquired.

" Excepting a few cases of drunkenness, no offences
for some time. Nothing can be more peaceable and
tranquil than this neighbourhood."

As it appears from the above statement of the con-
stable that drunkenness is one of the offences that has
been occasionally brought before him, I feel it right to
state that, up to the period of my arrival at Oughterard,
I had not, in Ireland, excepting in the police-cell in
Dublin, seen one drunken person, either male or female.

The following comparative return, however, will
accurately show how much less spirits are drunk in
Ireland than in Scotland, the morality of which country
is proverbial.

Population. Gallons of Spirits,

Scotland, in the year 1850 . 2,870,784 . consumed 6,935,003
Ireland, „ „ . 6,515,794 . consumed 6,973,333

In the above the number of gallons of spirits charged
with duty for home consumption is taken from the
Parliamentary Returns of 1850; the population from
the census of 1851.

Our game little pony now trotted us into a large
expanse of stony country, partly cultivated, and in
those places divided by loose stone walls into rather
small fields, among which were several unroofed
cabins. From thence we drove through a village,
every habitation of which was unroofed, excepting one,

214 MY TOUR. Part I.

out of which tottered an old woman, who had no doubt
heard the approach of our wheels. " Harve pity on a
poor widiw ! " she exclaimed, as we passed her. From
the dead village we emerged into a large space of
heather, bog, and water, at the end of which we came
to a park limed wall, a mile long, and a fine handsome
house, the property of Mr. Browne, of Moongare. By
the side of the road, in a scarlet petticoat, and with no
covering on her head or feet, I observed a fine-looking
woman breaking ^ones so intently that her loose black
locks, at every blow she gave, kept dangling before her
eyes as we passed.

A little further on we came not only to several
cabins, but to a large farm-house and buildings, all un-
roofed ; indeed, in every direction, jagged triangular
gables, of various heights, denoted that the hand of the
destroyer had been at work. On our right was a limed
wal] about a mile long, enclosing rich grass and lofty
trees, belonging to Mr. Comyn, of Woodstock (a Ca-
tholic). We here met eight women carrying heavy
creels, each harnessed to her back by a rope of straw.
After passing the park the country relapsed on our
right into unroofed houses, surrounded by frail low
stone walls ; and on our left, by an expanse of snipe-
ground — miserable crops of oats — desolation — cart-
horses without blinkers — red petticoats — and pretty
children. The tenants were apparently nearly all gone,
and their lands (without metaphor) were mourning in
weeds!

At two and a half miles from Gal way we passed
near a small village, called River-view, on the banks of
Lake Corrib. On the left, in a beautiful park, lives Lady

215

FlVcncli; uii the right, opposite to a Catholic chapel,
is Bushy Park, the residence of Mr. Robert Martin.

At the head of l>ake Corrib there appeared a large
milk-white building, of eighteen windows in front — a
nunnery. Near it were three cabins.

The process of filling the nunneries that are growing
up in Ireland is, 1 believe, very nearly as follows: —
YouQg girls go first to nun-schools,^ — come home, — lose
their appetites,— cau't sleep, — grow pale. — get restless.
The parents send for the doctor, and eventually for the
priest, who advises the white veil, merely as au occupa-
tion, there being no necessity whatever to remain. The
jarents give the necessary bond, and the poor victims
end by taking the black veil!

On reaching a slight eminence, a peep of the cjistle-
toivers and churches of Gal way suddenly anuounced to
me that I had at last nearly arrived at the end of a very
rough journey.

The road, which now gradually descended, was still
bounded by stone walls; and although I was about to
enter an opulent town, of great commercial importance,
both on my right and left I continued to be haunted
by little miserable fields, low tottering walls, and
here and there by unroofed cabins, which continued
until I almost reached the suburbs. But from such
objects my attention was now attracted by a series
of magnificent public buildings, and of large irregular
streets, swarming alive with a population appa-
rently of all sorts, of all sizes, and of all colours:
in short, of a mixture of wealth, intelligence, industry,
and squalid rags, that it would be difficult to describe.
Indeed, on the car suddenly stopping before the door

216 MY TOUR. PabtI.

of an excellent-looking hotel, when I descended to the
pavement from its bench I was so giddy and dizzy that
I felt I could not describe my ovm feelings, much less
the busy objects that were thronging around me.
" Thank Heaven ! " I said to myself as my car drove
slowly away, " I have now done with jolting slowly
through this world sideways ! " An old woman stood
between me and the door of my caravansarai. As the
readiest way to drive her out of my way, I gave her
the few halfpence remaining in my bag, for which she
bellowed blessings after me as loudly as if I had at
that instant robbed her of everything she had ever
possessed.

FIFTH DAY.

The seaport town of Galway, the capital of the
West, and in point of population the sixth town in
Ireland, from its peculiar position has always been a
point of great commercial importance. Its bay, one
of the finest in the world, is a magnificent funnel, in-
tended by Nature for the reception of vessels from all
quarters of the globe. By means of two short canals,
already described, an inland water communication of
great extent and value is on the point of being effected.
Lastly, by the Midland and Great Western Itailway,
which as nearly as possible bisects Ireland, Galway
and Dublin are inseparably joined together by a line
of communication, which, besides being the nearest and
speediest, is the shortest that could have been devised
between the Irish Channel and the great Atlantic
Ocean — Nature's thoroughfare between the United
Kingdom and the two continents of America.

rl.

MY toi:r.

The coimcction which formerly existed betwecu
Galway and Spain is not only recorded in history — is
not only to be traced in the architecture of Lynch's
Castle, also in the wide entries, arched gateways,
stone-mull ioned windows, and outsiile stall's of several '
ancient mansions in the town, but the traveller, as he '
rims, can most legibly read it in the dark eyes, noble
features, and hi^h-bred demeanour, that in Galway in
particular, and throughout Connemara in general, con-
stantly remind him of the fact ; indeed, I repeatedly
met men and women whose countenances, to say nothing
of their garb, would anywhere have induced me to
address them in Spanish rather than in English.

The town is now a medley of streets and buildings
of various dates, forming altogether a strange, incon-
gruous, but very hap^iy family of narrow crooked alleys,
broad thoroughfares, docks, churches, disiiensaries,
chapels, banks, gaols, court-houses, nunneries, liarracks,
monasteries, storehouses, breweries, a union workhouse,
distilleries, flour-mills, docks, bridges, a magnificent rail-
way hotel just constructed, several ancient houses j\ist
lalling. a number of hovels of the most wretched appear-
ance, evidently destined to be replaced very shortly by
mansions of wealth and luxury. There areseveral streets
composed almost entirely of immense warehouses, I'rom
four to six stories high, each with a small pent-lumse-
covered crane affixed to its upper stratum. These vast
receptacles are now nearly all empty •, and, on inquiring
the reason, I was briefly informed that Galway, wliich
used to import and bond corn in large quantities, now
exports it,

Queen's College, just completed on the outside of

218 MY TOUR. Part I.

the town, is one of the chastest and handsomest
public edifices I have ever seen. It is a pity, how-
ever, that the lowness of its position prevents it from
contributing as much as it ought to the general beauty
of the town. In its vicinity is a large poor-house,
built eight years ago; and about 100 yards from it,
on an elevated plot composed of emerald-green turf
and beds of beautiful flowers, stands a school-house,
resembling very much a modem villa; and yet, in
their immediate neighbourhood are to be seen un»
roofed huts> miserable cabins, a confusion of tottering,
crooked stone walls surrounding small enclosures, many
of which are so full of rocks that they really resemble
a rising crop of young tombstones, several, like chil-
dren's second teeth, coming out all crooked.

As I was strolling through the suburbs I came to a
potato-market, in which I found, squatted on the ground,
a number of women, four or five of whom were suckling
ravenous infants. Of the potatoes, which in heaps were
before them, it was sad to observe many diseased, some
quite rotten. The clothes of buyers, as well as sellers,
were also, generally speaking, in the very last stage of
consumption. The arms of the jacket of one old man
beside me had each been replaced with a portion of a
coarse grey worsted stocking, in holes ; and his cordu-
roy breeches, which had no buttons at the knees, had
been mended with pieces of cloth of various hues.
Several of the women's red petticoats had likewise been
patched with old flannel and rags of so many colours
that the garment resembled altogether a printed map
of modern Europe, the scarlet bit being, of course, the
papal dominions. In a mantilla of old blanket, fantas-

tically shrouded over her head, so as to show iiolhi,

oi'

aged face but an Arab r

nose, a pair oi piercing eyes,
and a very aniall portion ol' sallow complexion, there sat
at my I'cet a regular Spanisli beggar. Before me two
fine little barefooted boys, of about five years old, stood
for some minutes wha])ping each other on the head ; at
last one tried lo pull tlie hair of t'other one, but, as his
mother liad happened to cut it almost to the quick, the
little urchin could grasp nothing, until he bethought him-
self of catching hold of the yellow side-locks of his com-
rade, which in dead silence he steadily pulled with all
his force. " And tliat's the nay," said I to myself, " that
the Protestants of Ireland are said to deal with their
Catholic bretliren ! " In the middle of this group stood
erect a stout man, in official charge of an iron triangle,
from the apex of which hung scales for weighing
{lotatocs, diseases and all. As I was looking at him, a
pretty half-naked child of about two years old tottled
iij), and in high glee whipped my leg with a stick.
" Och ! ye blackguard," exclaimed an old woman sitting
behind me on the ground with her legs sticking out,
showing me, when I turned round, ten up-pointed toes
and a pair of soles as hard as hide, In all directions
was to be hoard a deal of very rough female cackling,
and occasionally laughter, but no quarrelling. In the
midst of the whole stood here and there, with
drooping head and motionless thin tail, a donkey,
patiently bearing a pannier laden with turf, secured by
straw ropes.

After proceeding some way I was gradually assailed
by a vei"y strong smell, and, summoning my eyes to the
elucidation of this discovery of my nose, I perceived

220 • MY TOUR. Part I.

hanging on some rails before me a quantity of salted
congor-eels, split open ; in short, I found myself in a
fish-market, with mackerel, " hake," and other beings
fresh from the vasty deep, of such guttural names
that, although they were over and over again pro-
nounced to me, I felt the alphabet had not consonants
enough to repeat them. A gentleman who happened
to stand near me, pointing to a basket of young her-
rings about the size of sprats, observed to me, " It's
a great shame they should be allowed to take them
so youngs" I replied, " Why, there must be plenty of
all ages in the sea ! " " And sure," exclaimed an old
fish-woman at our side, " the say is richer than the
land ! "

For a few moments I stood gazing at a roofless and
almost floorless building, of Spanish architecture, on
the curiously worked front of which was inscribed, in
old style,

i^artmi 33roton,
1627.

A woman passing at the moment gratuitously informed
me it was the oldest house in the town.

As I was crossing the great esplanade in front of
Kilroy's hotel, I suddenly heard the din of martial
music, and soon saw approaching me, preceded by a
crowd of ragged, barefooted boys, a regiment of sol-
diers, whose fine scarlet clothes and white crossed belts
formed a striking contrast with the dingy, crooked,
narrow street from which they had emerged.

After admiring for some time the dock, which ap-
pears to be most admirably- constructed, I observed

Pabt I. MY TOUR. 22 1

close to it, quite apart from the town of Galway, a
little city of cabins, entirely inhabited by fishermen and
their families. It is called " The Claddagh ;*' and as
I had heard much of their strange habits, prejudices,
superstitions, and of their being governed almost exclu-
sively by their own laws, with considerable curiosity
I slowly dived into it. I must own, however, I was
wofully disappointed; for although it certainly was
strange to wander by oneself through winding narrow
streets of huts, containing a population of nearly 1300
people, yet with this eccentricity there was mixed up
so much filth and misery that the amalgam altogether
was anything but attractive.

As might naturally be expected, the first thing I ran
against in the city of The Claddagh was a tall dirty
old woman, with a long fish dangling, as if it had grown
there, from her right hand.

On each side of every street the doors of the cabins
were wide open. On entering one of them I found,
kneeling on the ground in the middle of her chamber,
an old woman, with one tooth, preparing, in a wooden
bowl, for two little pigs a quantity of potato-parings,
which they were eyeing and she chopping very atten-
tively. Around her were walking, and now and then
mterjectionally hopping, three hens. " After tlie
disorder," said the aged creature to me, pointing with
her bony dry chin to her two pigs, " they're very sick !"

In another cabin I found four women rapidly mak-
ing nets, and a very old man, in rags, slowly combing
his hair.

Aft;er passing through several streets of cabins, in
which I usually saw, mixed up in different proportions.

222 MY TOUR. Part I.

half*naked children, pigs, fowls, women, and nets, I
heard an astonishing cackling of female voices, and on
arriving at the hovel from which it proceeded I was sud-
denly surrounded by ten or a dozen women, of various
ages, who — nem. con. — appointed me high-judge and
arbitrator in a dispute of apparently extraordinary im-
portance. As, however, they all addressed me at once, in
a confusion of tongues that must very closely have resem-
bled that of Babel, I am unable to impart to the reader,
simply because I don't know, what in the whole world it
was all about. The only person in the group that said
nothing was a poor woman, of about thirty, who, with
eyes streaming with tears as she looked at me, and with
a countenance of excruciating grief, was bitterly cry-
ing. " Her husbind has been just drowned !" observed
to me one old wife. " That 'oman," exclaimed to me
a stout girl, down whose flushed and violently-heated
cheeks tears appeared to be almost hissing as one after
another they rapidly fell on the ground — '* that
'oman," yere Arn'r," said she, pointing to a female on
her right, " hori)ed I might be a cripple ! "

" Oh, never mind," said I to her in a soothing tone ;
but as I only made her cry more violently, and as her
sobs seemed about equally to excite the voices of plain-
tiffs as well as of defendants, I gave up the cause in
despair ; and accordingly, turning on my heels, and
deferring judgment, I left the court, and in doing
so nearly ran against a boy carrying a basket on
a naked arm ; his right leg was barely covered with
blue rags, his left leg with brown cloth ; and through
both, as also through his jacket, sundry pieces of white
skin were peeping at me.

As I wandered I hardly knew where, I entered a \
tarred-rooled cabin, in which I found hanging round a
fire a quantity of drenched blue sailors' clothes, in rags;
from the black rafters drooped, in form of a cone, a net
which a sturdy woman was mending. While talking j
to her 1 heard something breathing apoplectically hard,
and looking towards the sound I saw, on a little patch I
of straw, two very fat piebald pigs ; close to them was
a heap of muscle-shells, and a smoked wicker cradle
containing a sleeping infant begrimed with dirt.

In the pea-green book, to which I have so often had J
occasion to refer, the English tourist is informed that I
the people of "The Claddagh will marry with no one ]
but themselves," " I should like to know who'd
marry iheinl" said I to myself, rather petulantly-
priucipally because at the moment of the intemperate
expression I felt something or another crawling on and i
occasionally biting my legs. In short, of all the dirty ]
places in this world I have ever had occasion to visit.
The Claddagh is the worst.

" They really," I said to myself, improperly irri-
tated by the tingling in my legs, " should be swept I
off the surface of the globe, and the easiest and least ]
painful mode of putting them to death," I added, as ]
with my umbrella I slightly scratched my left ankle,
" would be suddenly to wash them, which, like oil on (
a wasp, or a drop of prussic acid on the tongue of a I
dog. would inevitably in an instant render them inani-
mate."

On extricating myself from this extraordinary con-
gregation I observed close on the adjoining dock, whose J
admirable construction had alrea<ly attracted my atten- I

224 MY TOUR. Tart I.

tion, a fine hewn stone building, three stories high, sur-
mounted by a large statue or figure of a fisherman with
his hat on, leaning with his left hand on an anchor, and
holding in his right hand a flag-staff.

" He'd a fine green flag in thart hand," said to me
with evident pride an old fisherman who had attentively
been remarking what I was looking at, "the day the
Lord Liftinunt was here !"

The building in question, on which was inscribed in
large letters, " Claddagh National Piscatory School,
AN. MDCCCXLVI.," at a cost of 1200/., had been con-
structed . for the children, male and female, of the
fishermen of the Claddagh, on a site where a few
years ago salmon could be caught.

On entering it I found, barefooted, but with clean
faces and in decent attire, about 130 children in narrow
rooms, in which the girls were instructed to sew, spin,
read, and write ; and the boys, in addition, to make
nets, &c. On the walls were several pictures, the most
striking of which was a very large fish ; there were also
maps, the model of a ship, &c. The improvement in
their appearance was certainly very striking. A very
respectable-looking priest, who was in attendance, ear-
nestly solicited me to write my opinion of the school in
a book which he presented to me for that purpose ; as,
however, my object in my little tour in Ireland was
to listen to opinions rather than impart them, as cour-
teously as I could, I declined.

Moored to the wharf was a little black steamer with
a small raised buff deck immediately abaft the black
funnel, which was in midship.

On its stem was the word " O'Connell." At its

225

prow, with wings extended, was a very large white lat
bird with a pouting breast and a hooked bill.

'* Ib that an eayle ?" said I dubiously to a small group
of the Claddagli fishermen, who, in blue jackets and
weathei'-worii trousers, were standing indoleotly be-
side it.

" I doii't know," replied one. " Yere Arnli'r can judge
f>etter than wc can 1" " Ut's like an agle I" said another.
" I think ut's a doove I" said a third, " or a goole ! "

" Where does this little steamer go to ?" I inquired.

"She's been doing nothing, divil a liap'orth, for
months. Last wake she took the Lord Ltftinunt and
his lady up thro' the locks. They stood thegither alone
on that deck. The ady-cumps were arl in front. Ivery
soule cheered um. 'Twas a fine sight, yere Aru'r 1 Ut
was, indadcl"

From the dock I went to the constabulary barracks,
the force of which in Galway consists of one sub-
inspector, one head constable, five constables, two act-
ing ditto, 38 sub-ditto.

The sub-inspector was on duty at the Court-house,
but from the head constable I learned that the par-
ticular duties of the force consisted " in protecting pro-
perty, the docks, and the quays, on which arrive a
quantity of sea-weed and goods from the country ; in
attending to emigrant vessels, in keeping returns of
emigration. Sec."

During my tour, wherever I went, I had observed that
Irish dogs are infected with a wooden log tied round their
necks, and which bruises their knees if they attempt to
go faster than a trot. " It'.s inflicted on um by the aris-
tocricy of England !" said a man of whom 1 had mo-

226 MY TOUR. Pabt I.

destly inquired on the subject. I certainly inwardly
laughed at the idea, but, on asking the constable why
the dogs of Galway were all tackled in this extraor-
dinary way, he produced to me, to my astonishment,
an Act of Parliament, authorising " all dogs within 50
yards of any public road to be logged ;" and, moreover,
under a warrant from the Justice of the Petty Sessions
district, any sub-inspector, head, or other constable to
"seize or kill any such dog." It must, however,
be recollected that this log is no doubt wisely in-
tended by Parliament to balance the infliction upon
English dogs of the income-tax ; and as an English dog
runs about unfettered, but taxed, and an Irish dog lives
untaxed, but logged^ it would admit of argument, if
"thetwa dogs" were to meet, which was the freest
animal of the two.

I had now a few questions to put to the constable on
a subject of very great importance, on which I was
particularly desirous to obtain accurate official infor-
mation.

From the morning on which I had visited the great
model National School in Marlborough Street, Dublin,
to the hour of my arrival at Galway, I had remarked
in the Irish female countenance an innate or native
modesty more clearly legible than it has ever been my
fortune to read in journeying through any other country
on the globe.

Of the pure and estimable character of English-
women, I believe no one is a more enthusiastic admirer
than myself; nevertheless I must adhere to the truth of
what I have above stated, and I do so without apology,
because I am convinced that no man of ordinary ob-

MY Toun. 227

Icrvation can liave travelled, or can now travel, througli
Ireland, without corroborating the fact.

But I have lived long enough to know that outward
appearance cannot always be trusted, and accordingly,
Wherever I went, I made inquiries, the result of which
waa not only to confirm, but to over-confirm, my own
observation ; indeed, from the Resident Commissioner
of the Board of National Education in the metropolis,
down to the governors of gaols and masters of the
remotest workhouses, I received statements of the
chastity of the Irishwomen so extraordinary, that I
must confess I eould not believe them ; in truth I was
infinitely more puzzled by what I heard than by the
simple evidence of my own eyes.

I resolved, therefore, that before I concluded my
trilling tour, the sole object of which had been to
inform myself as correctly as possible of the real
character of the Irish people, I would, instead of gene-
ralities, come to particulars on the subject in question,
and 1 accordingly put to the constable the following
questions, the answers to which I wrote as he pro-
' iiounced them :- —

Q. " How loug hftve yoii been on duty in Givlway ? "

A, "Above nine yvars."

0. "Have yon much crime here?"

A, " Very little ; it principnlly otmsisU of petty Inrceiiira."

Q. " Have Ibure been hero many illegitimntc ohildreii ? "

J. " Scatwly any. Dviring the wbole of the eight yeava I hftve been on
l> duty hero 1 h5Te Dot known of an illegitimate child bring roared up In any
[ fomfly in the town,"

Q. •• Wiat do yon mean by ln'ing reared up ? "
' A. "I me«ii, that, being ocqnaioled with every fiiraily in QnlwHy, I have
I nevM known of d child of tlat descriptiun beiUR bora,"

Q. •• Does Ihut fuct iij.[.|y lo the fishing villiit;u uf ■ The CUddagh 'P "

A. " Particularly so."

Q 2

228 MY TOUR. Part L

Q, " Do you mean to say that, to your knowledge, there has never been an
illegitimate child in the town of Galway ? "

A. ''I have Tieard that a servant-girl has had one, but at the present
moment there is no such case in my mind. In the village of ' Claddagh *
they get their children married very young."

The above statements appeared to me so extraordi-
nary, that I begged the constable to be so good as to
conduct me to his commanding officer (sub-inspector),
a well-educated and highly intelligent gentleman,
whom we found at the Court-house, seated on Uie
bench with the magistrates. As soon as the business
was over I went with him to his lodgings, and, after
some conversation on the subject, I asked him the fol-
lowing questions : —

Q. ** How long have you been on duty here ? **

A, " Only six months."

Q, ** During that time have you known of any instance of an illegitimate
child being bom in the village of the Claddagh ? "

A, " Not only have I never known of such a case, but I have never heard
any person attribute such a case to the fisherwomen of Claddagh. I was on
duty in the three islands of Arran, inhabited almost exclusively by fishermen,
who also farm potatoes, and I never heard of one of their women — ^who are
remarkable for their beauty — ^having had an illegitimate child, nor did I ever
hear it attributed to them ; indeed, I have been informed by Mr. —— , a
magistrate who has lived in Galway for eight years, and has been on tem-
porary duty in the island of Arran, that he also had never heard there of a
case of that nature. These people, however, when required to pay poor-rates,
having no native poor of their own in the workhouse, resisted the payment of
what they considered a very unjust tax — in fact, they closed their doors, and
the rate was only partially collected."

The officer^ seeing that I took great interest in the
subject on which I had been conversing with him, sent
for some subordinates, who, he observed, had been
longer in Galway than himself.

They arrived separately, and the information of the
head constable (serjeant), in reply to the same ques-
tions I had put to the constable, were as follows : —

Pabt I. MY TOUR. 229

-4. " I have been here better than two years, and during that time I have
never known of any woman of Claddagh having had an illegitimate child —
indeed, I have never even heard of it."

(?. *• Have you ever known of any such case in Galway ? "
A, " Oh, I think there have been some cases in taitm. Of my own know-
ledge I cannot say so, but I have heard of it."

The Serjeant in charge of the Claddagh station now
arrived, and gave his opinion as follows : —

Q, " How long have you been in charge of the Claddagh village ? "

A. ^*l have been nine years here, for five years of which last March I have
been In charge of Claddagh."

Q, " During that time has there been an illegitimate child bom there ? "

A. "No, I have never heard of it, and if it had happened I should have
been sure to have heard of it, as they wouldn't have allowed her to stop in
the village."

Q. " Have you ever heard of any that occurred he/ore your arrival ? "

A. "No, Sir."

Q, " During the nine years you have been in Galway, have you known of
any cases that have occurred tJiere f "

A, "Well, there were very few : only one that I know, of my own know-
ledge."

Q, " Are the Claddagh people always as slovenly in their persons as I have
seen them to-day ? "

A, " Oh, no ! on Sundays the fishermen turn out clean and neat, in blue
jackets and trowsers, and shoes. The women turn out with scarlet cloaks
and white caps ; the young women with their hair trimmed and bound up
very tastily."

" And yet," said I to myself, " what ornament can
these poor young people put on equal to that virtuous
character which they wear wherever they go, and which,
in spite of their poverty, it appears no human power
can deprive them of 1"

He added, " But they are very improvident ; they
make much money in summer. I liave known them
catch 260 pair of soles in one haul."

The officer here stated, and the last witness (the
Serjeant), who had been in charge of Claddagh for the
last five years, subsequently of his own accord repeated

230 MY TOUR. Pabt I.

the assertion, that until lately ^^ the crime of theft had
been utterly unknown among the fishermen, and was
almost so now ; in fact," added the seijeant, " no theft
has occurred in Claddagh during my time."

From the officers' quarters I hastened to The Clad-
dagh, and, hiring a boat, I desired a couple of boys, who
evidently looked upon me as the best fish they had
caught for some time, to take me aboard an emigrant
ship heavily laden with passengers (they had only
yesterday taken leave of all their friends), and lying in
the bay^ about a mile and a half off.

There was a nice fresh side breeze, and after rolling
about for a few minutes, while the youngsters were
hauling up the sail, the 15-year-old pilot took the
helm, and I and his comrade, aged 17> sat down close
by him to windward.

Of course it was the interest and object of these lads
to make the most of the haul they had got, and accord-
ingly, said the youngest,

" The lighthouse is a very nice place. Would your
Arn'r like to see ut?"

" Art'fiy, there," said the other, pointing to a deso-
late-looking spot, more than 12 miles by road from
Galway, ** is the nicest place in a' the town. Will your
Am'r go to ut ?"

" No, I thank you !'' I replied, '* I want only to go to
that ship ; do you know what sort of emigrants are on
board of it ?"

" They're all from this neighbourhood," he replied.
After pausing for a few seconds, he added, " They're
distroyed out of this land, and must go to Ameriky !"

Pabt I. MY TOUB. 231

" How long have you been a fisherman ? " said I to
the eldest of my crew.

" We're been to say," ejaculated the youngest, " yere
Arn'r, since we were four years awake I *' Pointing to
the stone ballast in the centre and at the bottom of the
boat, he added, " That's our bed ; we're aflen out a
week wet through in these little boats ; for winter we
have big boats, of from twelve to fifteen tons ; this little
one is but four."

" What do you subsist on while you are out ? " I in-
quired.

" We ate bread, and cook mackerel with turf, and
we arlways carry two kegs of warter with us."

" But*" said I, " will the fish you catch for sale keq>
for five days ? "

" Oh yes, yere Arn'r," he replied ; " we take the
goots and liver out o' um, and then they'll keep a
week."

But by this time we had got close to the black vessel,
a " bark," over whose stem I observed hanging by the
heels and gently vibrating twenty-five flaccid-looking
cabbages, among which there appeared, written in
large white letters,

THE ALBION OF ARBROATH.

Over the gunwale were ranged a line of rustic faces,
male and female, all quietly looking at us. In a few
seconds, however, we were alongside, and I had scarcely
stepped among the crowd when, the interest of my arrival
having completely ceased, no one took the slightest no-
tice of me ; however, on one of the crew passing me, I

232 MY TOUR. Pa»t I.

begged he would tell the captain I would be glad to
see him. In about five minutes he came up from below,
told me he was very busy serving out provisions, but
that I was quite welcome to go over the vessel, and he
desired a sailor-boy to accompany me.

On the deck, besides a number of steerage passen-^
gers, were three or four women of superior garb,
sitting rather indolently, reading. The boy told me the
bark was registered at 302 tons ; and he then led me
down below between decks, which, as soon as I could
see — for at first I fancied I was in almost utter dark-
^ess — appeared completely thronged with country
people, very poorly but clean and decently dressed ; in
fact, it was evident they were all in their best clothes.

On each side throughout the whole length of the
vessel, without any curtains or compartments to sepa-
rate them, were, one above the other, two tiers of
berths, each 4 feet 8 inches broad by 5 feet 10 inches
in length. Each of these beds was nominally for two
people.

" What do they pay for them? " I asked the boy.

" Those of full age pay 3/. lO^., under age 3/.," he
replied.

" Whart / pay," exclaimed a female voice from a
berth on my right, **for myself and two chilthren, one
three and the other five, is 8Z. 5^. I have here, myself,
my two chilthren, and another woman ! "

Although I was thus loudly addressed, no one no-
ticed me; in fact, they had not room to do so. In
several of the berths I saw powerful-looking men lying
indolently ; the distance from their faces to the deck
above them was 2 feet 7 inches.

After worming my way through a mimbcr of women,
some of whom were erectly arranging their herths,
others stooping to ierret into trunks, and othei-s sitting
placidly mending extremely old clothes, I came to the
hold, down which a small gleam of sunshine from
above was illuminating the red moist face of the captain,
who. in a blue snperfine jftcket, blue foraging cap, and
in a clean shirt, hut without his stock, was very busily
ocx^upied in weighing out, and noting down in a book
he held in his hand, meal for his passengers.

After saying but a few words — for I did not like to
interrupt him — I proceeded onwards witli the boy,
who told me that in the several adjoining berths " cou-
sins, friends, and families go together," until I came
to a crowd, which for a few seconds obstructed me.
" Come along out o' thart and let hum pass ! " exclaimed
the fine manly voice of an emigrant who had oljserved
my predicament. Very shortly another poor fellow,
fancying I belonged to the ship, came up to me and
asked me something about meal. "This man," replied

I the sailor-boy, *'has nothing to do withyow!" and my
friend accordingly turned aside.
Affixed to one of the berths I olwerved a placard of
printed regulations, which I own apjieared to me to
have been concocted by some one not very conversant
with the various indescribable dt'sagn! mem of a, gale o(
wind; for instance, it ordained —
diii.
oltoi

" That all the |ias8cni;erB niuel be oiit ot ImmI hj seven o'clock a.H. ; tho
cliil<lreD to bo tlicii wiuhcii and driMtdOil : »ll hi be in bed by tea p.m.

" That, when lie cmigranU victual anil cook for Ihtrnwlvia, the overaoor
will sw that mch family has its rcgnlnr hour nt the cooking pincc.

" lliftt Ihero be iwiuod to e»ch pssaenf^r three qimrls nt witter, not Ipbs

ottaa thnu twice a-wcok. Droud, biecuit, fluur, oatmvnl, aaA rice — iii all,

I HTcn founib per week. Ono-lialf af Lko sai>[ily lo cwsisl or hrcail or liiscuit ;

234 MY TOUR. Part I.

and if potatoes be used, five pounds to be reckoned equal to one pound of
bread-stuff.

" That the washing-days be on Monday and Friday.

" No smoking, gambling, swearing, or improper language to be allowed.

** No sailor to be allowed between decks, except on duty," &c. &c.

After reading these regulations, and gazing on both
sides, and as far as between decks my eyes could reach,
at the men, women, and children, who in numerous
groups, active, passive, and neuter, were apparently
blocking up the thoroughfare, I could not help feeling
very keenly how little they were aware of the discom-
forts of being jumbled together during a sea voyage,
and, above all, of the tragic catastrophes that have so
often in one relentless gulf buried the cares, sorrows,
hopes, and lives of shipload after shipload of poor Irish
emigrants — such as were now around me and before
me, nursing infants, unpacking and repacking boxes^
making beds, and engaged in numberless other little
domestic arrangements. On a curtainless berth beside
me, in extreme lassitude, sat a slight, elegant-looking
girl, of about seventeen, very poorly dressed; her
elbows nearly touched each other — the backs of her
hands rested on her lap, on which her eyes also
listlessly reposed — her whole attitude appeared col-
lapsed and unstrung. In fact, she was the personifica-
tion of the word " Eviction I "

" Erin, my country ! though sad and forsaken.
In dreams I revisit thy sea-beaten shore ;
But, alas ! in a far-distant land I awaken,
And sigh for the friends who can meet me no more.

" Where is my cabin-door, fast by the wild wood ?
Sisters and sire ! did ye weep for its fall ?
Where is the mother that smiled on my childhood ?
And where is the bosom friend, dearer than all?"

The picture before me was on the whole so distress-

ing that I was glad to End myself again in my boat ;
and as the distance between it and the emigrant bark
gradually increased, my mind became engrossed with
one simple, single, and natural subject of inquiry —
namely, Why abb these good people leaving their
NATTVE homes? " Why," said I to myself, as I finally
closed the note-book of my little tour — " why, for so
long a period, have the inlu-ibitjints of Ireland been cen-
trifugally ejected from their conntry, as if its lovely
verdant surface were a land blasted by pestilence, or as
if its virtuous and intelligent peasantry were male-
factors who had been sentenced to transportation ? "

From the year 1620, when the pilgrim fathers went
out, up to the present time, not less than 9i millions of
Irish have emigrated from England, Ireland, and the
Canadas to the United States of America.

From 1806 to 1851 not less than 4^ millions of the
Irish people have emigrated from their country.

From 1841 to 1851 upwards of li million have left
Ireland.

In the single year 1851 Irish emigration amounted
to no less than 257.372 ; and even from the Clyde, of
1 4,435 emigrants who in 1851 sailed to America, above
one-third were Irish 1

In London there are more Irish than in Dublin. In
Manchester and Salford more Irish than in Cork.
In Glasgow as many Irish and descendants of Irish as
in Belfast. There are more Irish (born in Ireland)
now living in Glasgow than there are living at Belfast
Irish who have been born there. Of the Anglo-Saxon
and Celtic races abroad, nearly one half of the whole
are Irish.

236 MY TOUB. Pabt I.

Now, in the sacred names of Mercy and of Justice,
who, I ask, are the guilty authors of this awful deso-
lation ? And, as the answer to this query is an easy
one, I will at once proceed to its consideration.

END OF PART I.

PART IL

PabtII. ( 239 )

PART IL

DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE IRISH

PEOPLE.

The condition of the Irish people, and especially of
the Irish poor, has for ages been a phenomenon which
neither the statesman nor the philosopher has been
able to explain. Indeed, Spenser, in his View op
THE State of Ireland, a. d. 1596, thus quaintly
expressed the opinion of his day, which, without the
alteration of a word, is at the present moment that
current throughout the civilised globe : —

" Marry ^ so there have bin divers goodplottes devised and wise
counceis cast already about reformation of that realme; but they
say^ it is the fatal destiny of thai land, that no purposes whatsoever
which are meant for her good will prosper or take good effect^
whichy whether it proceed from the genius of the soyle^ or influence
of t/ie starresy or that Almighty God hath not yet appointed the
time of her reformation^ or that lie reserveth her in this unquiet
state still for some secret scourge^ which shall by her come unto
England, it is hard to be knowne, but yet much to be feared.**

The anomalous state of Ireland, above described,
still continues, and certainly it is impossible to bring
before the mind of any man a more extraordinary
mass of conflicting evidence than is offered to a stranger
by a brief inspection of the country. The rags, filth,

240 DEGRADED CONDITION Part U.

and apparent moral degradation of a large proportion
of the lower classes, it is beyond the power of any pen
to describe; indeed, I can truly say, that, although
I have had an opportunity of visiting and of asso-
ciating with several uncivilised tribes, I never, until
I went to Ireland, saw human beings and animals living
together in an atmosphere of stench and smoke such
as I have described. But there exists throughout this
lovely, verdant land a moral degradation of a deeper die,
and which is the more appalling because to the passing
stranger it is utterly invisible. Among savage tribes,
when the hatchet of war is displayed, the cruelties,
tortures, and scalping exercised upon enemies are pro-
verbial, and yet among themselves the fraternal pipe of
peace is never extinguished. In Ireland, however,
agrarian combination, Whiteboyism, and what is only a
phase of the same thing, Kibbonism, have long main-
tained, and still maintain, a Cain-and-Abel state of
society, a bloody and barbarous civil warfare, such as
exists within the limits of no country on the surface of
the globe. Respecting this invisible system, through the
meshes of which every stranger safely and imperceptibly
glides without the slightest suspicion of its existence,
many a poor man, when interrogated as to its objects, has
replied, ** Yere Honor, I know no more about its system
than you do, except that to * the local Ribbon parish
master ' I pay for my quarter's pass, to enable me to
move through the country with security. Yere Honor,
rd be proud if it were put down alUthegither /"

What the poor man means by the little word ** iV,"
is a power which, though it often slumbei*s, awakens on
the slightest commotion to supersede the laws of God
and man.

Part H. OF THE IRISH PEOPLE. 241

" Now on the boak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin
I flained amazement : sometimes Pd divide
And bum in many places ; on the topmast,
The yards, and bolt-sprit, would I flame distinctly,
Then meet, and join: Jove*a lightnings, the precursors
O' the dreadfal thunder-olap, more momentary
And sight-out-mnning were not,"

As long as the lower orders are satisfied, the oi^anism
is apparently extinct ; but whenever an estate gets dis-
organised, agrarian ofiTences creep in, and with it Rib-
bonism and landlord-shooting rise to the ascendant. It
is then vain for the law to pretend to punish, to intimi-
date, or even to try the authors of noon-day murders ;
for even in the hallowed courts of justice the demon of
Ribbonism — like a ghastly spectre — significantly stands
with a loaded gun in one hand, and a black coffin in the
other, both ready for any witness who shall dare to
give evidence against the murderer, or for any juryman
who shall presume to declare the blood-stained criminal
at the bar to be " Guilty'*

And as, in a description of this wicked, lawless sys-
tem, it would be impossible to

** Give ample room and verge enough.
The character of hell to trace,"

let us now proceed dispassionately to consider. Who are
the authors of this vast calamity, which, in coi^junction
with others, every just mind must alike deprecate and
deplore.

Have the Imperial Parliament and British
Government been the cause of the moral degrada-
tion OF Ireland ?

A few facts and figures will briefly reply to this

R

242 DEGRADED CONDITION Part II.

query. The following is a rough outline of the assist-
ance which Great Britain, commonly called " England,"
has rendered to Ireland since the Union.

1. The royal harbours of Kingston, Howth, Dun-
more, and Donaghadee have been all made with public
grants. Half the expense of the Shannon navigation
was a grant. The ordnance and boundary surveys have
been wholly an imperial expenditure. Grants to the
amount of 696.790Z. have been made by the Board of
Works, exclusive of the famine advances. The Queen's
Colleges, and the addition to Maynooth College, the
general prisons, penitentiaries, and asylums, have been
wholly from imperial funds. Grants have been made
to the Royal Canal and other inland navigations. In
like manner the great roads in the western counties, and
many others, have been constructed from grants. Tlie
above sums altogether amount to a total of not less
than four millions.

(In the above estimate, the tithe million, which
many would include, has been omitted, because it
might, I feel, be said it was granted only to a class.
In the same category stand the linen and other
bounties.)

2. The famine expenditure granted from public
funds amounted to about eight millions.

Besides which the two great subscriptions raised by
the Queen's letter, and by the British Association,
amounted to 460,320/. In addition to which, from
private bounty, from Quakers, and others, there was
paid not less than 500.000/.

3. Ireland pays no assessed taxes and no income-tax.

r

OF TUK miSH rivOrLE.

243

(But in 1842 the spirit duties were iocreased, and an
addition was made to the stamp duties.)

4. The expense of the constabulary force, which,
previous to 1846, was half paid by the respective
oouiities, has since that period been defrayed wholly by
the consolidated fund.

5. For public buildings and for county purposes,
such as lunatic asylums, gaols, &c., and also for the
creation of railways, there has lieen advanced to
Ireland, as loans, the sum of not less than teu millions.

G. For the general improvement of the lands of
Frelaud, by draiuing. subsoiling, straightening fences,
making farm-roads, i'arm buildings, small flax-mills,
&c., there liave been loaned by public grants to
proprietors, and expended at their own discretion
(subject to the insjiectiou of the Board of 'W'orlcs, who
must approve the i)roject and details before the loan
is made, and who then issue the money by instalments),
the sum of I,800,000Z., out of a public loan for the
imrpose, of two millions.

6. For the arterial drainage of Ireland, by straight-
ening and deepening water-courses, and opening out-
falls, there has been granted from public funds, to be
expended by the Board of Works, who could alone
carry into effect projects in whicli so many competing
local interests are concerned, a loan of two millions.

I conceive that if the above figures and facts were
to be submitted to a disinterested jury taken from the
whole family of mau, there would l)e given, in favour
of the Imperial Parliament and British Government,
the oriiinary verdict of acijuittal, " Not Guilli/."
R 2

244

DEGRADED CONDITION

Part IL*

Has the Irish Government been the cause of
the moral degradation of ireland ?

To discuss the political merits or demerits of the
various individuals who have successively administered
the government of Ireland, would be impracticable.
I will therefore submit to the reader merely the
names of those who in the present century have been
the viceroys of Ireland.

1800. Marquis Comwallis. 1833.

1801. The Earl of Hardwicke.

1806. The Duke of Bedford. 1834.

1807. The Duke of Richmond. 1835.
1813. Earl Whitworth. 1839.
1817. Earl Talbot. 1841.
1821. The Marquis Wellesley. 1844.

1828. The Marquis of Anglesey. 1846.

1829. The Duke of Northumberland. 1847.

1830. The Marquis of Anglesey (re- 1852.

appointed).

The Marquis Wellesley (re-
appointed).

The Earl of Haddington.

The Marquis of Normanby.

Viscount Ebrington.

Earl de Grey.

Baron Heytesbury.

The Earl of Besborough.

The Earl of Clarendon.

The Earl of Eglinton and
Winton.

The above noblemen, whose united talents are un-
deniable, have been assisted by the following list of
Chief Secretaries : —

1800. Viscount Castlereagh.

1801. Charles Abbot (afterwards

Lord Colchester).

1802. W. Wickham.

1804. Sir E. Nepean.

1805. N. Vansittart.

1806. Charles Long.

1807. Sir Arthur Wellesley.

1809. Hon. R. Dundas.

1810. Hon. W. W. Pole.
1813. Robert Peel.
1819. Charles Grant.
1822. Henry Goulbum.

1827. William Lamb (Lord Mel-
bourne).

1828. Lord F. Gower.

1829. Sir Henry Hardinge.

1830. Lord Stanley.

1833. E. J. Littleton (Lord Hather-
ton).

1834 1^^^ *^' ^' Hobhouse.

*Sir H. Hardinge (reappointed).
1835. Viscount Morpeth.
1841. Lord Elliot.

1845. Sir Thomas Fremantle.

1846. Earl of Lincohi.
Henry Labouchere.

1847. Sir W. Somerville.
1852. Lord Naas.

OF THE IHISH PEOPLE.

245

It will appear I'rom the above two lists that, besides
the pecuniary assistance I have detailed, England has
honestly doled out to the Government of Ireland not
only a fair share of the talented men of the United King-
d(mi, but that, with scarcely an exception, the most
vigorous portion of the lives of the most distinguished
of our statesmen, including such men as the great Duke
of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Melbourne, and
Lord Derby, have by this England been devoted to the
imiJortant subordinate duty of " Chief Secretary."

As, therefore, the best talents which the United King-
dom can produce have been bestowed on the practical
administration of Ireland, I conceive that the Irish Go-
vernment is fairly entitled to the verdict already re-
corded of " Not Guilt'/."

Have Irish Landlords been the cause of the
moral degradation op irela^d?

In order to deliberate upon this question it is neces-
sary to inquire, \Vho are the Landlords of Ireland? or,
in otlier words, To whom does old Ireland belong?

The answer to this apparently harmless question
elicits two truths of very angry importance.

1. From the best data I could obtain, it appears that
about two thirds of Ireland belongs, in fee, to Protest-
ants, who hold in their own bands about one-half of
their lands, the other half Iieing leased or farmed by
Roman Catholics.

2. That, of the present population of Ireland, about
5-12th3 are Protestants and 7-12ths Roman Catholics.

As this division of the whole jjopulation seriously
differs from that which it has been the interest of poli-

246 DEGRADED CONDITION Pabt II.

tical agitators to affirm, it may be well to submit the
principal grounds or data on which the estimate has
been formed.

The only enumeration ever officially made of the
Protestants and Roman Catholics of Ireland (for in
the Census Acts of 1841 and 1851 all questions touch-
ing religion were by special clause excluded) was in
1834, when the numbers were as follows : —

I Established Church . 852,064 |
Presbyterians . . . 642,356 [ 1,516,228
Protestant Dissenters 21,808 J
Roman Catholics 6,427,712

(the Protestants being then about one-fourth).

In the above estimate it was alleged by some parties
at the time that the Protestants were under-rated ; but
as the subsequent increase by births was probably
greatest among the Roman Catholics, the proportions
which the above numbers give for 1834 may perhaps
be safely assumed to be nearly correct in 1841, or in
1845, when the famine began.

But, in consequence of this calamity, combined with
the failure of the potato crop, succeeded by fever and
cholera, the population of Ireland, which

In 1841 was 8,175,124,

And which ought to have increased in 1845 to, say 8,500,000i
Id 1851 was ascertained to have fallen to . . 6,515,794.

Now, as it is notorious, first, that the Roman Catholic
poor subsist more entirely on potatoes than the Pro-
testant poor ; and, secondly, that the chief effect of the
famine produced by the failure of the potato crop was
to force all wlio most suffered from it to emigrate,
leaving behind them the old and infirm ; it is evident
that, by death and emigration, the population of the

Past II. OF THE UUSII TEOrLE. 247

Koman Catliolics ol' Ireland has been comparatively
reduced more than that of the Protestants; and accord-
ingly, as accurately as it is possible to enter into a '
calculation on the subject, the present relative num-
bers of Koman Catholics and of Protestants are, as
I have stated, 7-12ths and 5-l2ths.

Now, considering the lamentable effects on the lower
classes of the violent political agitations which for so
many centuries have afflicted Ireland, it is natural to
suppose that wherever the landlord, Protestant or Ca- |
tholic, ct'uld manage to escape from the troubled scene, f
and from the invisible reticulation of Itibbonism —
which they (i. e. the political agitatoi-s) had mainly |
created, and by which, without the power of extrica-
tion, he found himself encompassed — he would be too
happy to do so ; and thus, just as Mother Carey's
chickens predict a storm, or, as sailors say, are created
by it, so out of the soil of Ireland there arose the class
of middle-men, for whose acts the landlords are, no
doubtj to a considerable degree responsible.

But besides the above, landlords are accused of
having not only for the attainment of political power
encouraged the subdivision of their properties, but,
availing themselves of a competition which the poor
improvidently waged one against another, of having
accepted proffered rents higher than it was tn the power
ol' their Lands to rejiay.

From the bare showing of the case it will however
be admitted that Irish landlords have been quite as
much the victims as tlie originators of the disorganiza-
tion, and of the organized (Riblion) system I have
d*;seribed. They have, no doubt, been greedy of poli-

248 DEGRADED CONDITION Part U.

tical influence, and, without considering any one's interest
but their own, have often accepted what, without
reflection, they considered the best offers they could
obtain ; but, as there exists no country on earth where
political, selfish, and short-sighted views do not exist, I
submit that, although a jury might deliberate on the
subject for many hours, their verdict, even if they
could not agree on an acquittal, would at least amount
to the Scotch declaration of ^^ not pvven' *

Are the Irish people the cause of the moral
degradation of ireland?

That the people of Ireland are the victims of sonoe
secret malign influence which is driving them whole-
sale from their country, there exists not the smallest
doubt; indeed, the very investigation we are making
admits the fact that they are in a degraded state.
And if it could be shown that an Irishman, when re-
moved from this secret malign influence, whatever it
may be, continues in the same degraded state, it would
of course be philosophically undeniable that, besides
being the degraded, he is the degrades of his country.
But I shall have no difficulty in showing, not only that
the Irish are intelligent and industrious in the innu-
merable foreign countries to which they migrate, but
that in their own country, wherever they are properly
encouraged, they display a character and conduct highly
creditable to human nature.

1. It is a fact which is undeniable, that, as the great
public works of the United States of America have
mainly been paid for with English capital, so have they
been constructed by the muscles and sinews of Ireland.

Pjlbt 1L op the IRISH PEOPLE. 249

In short, it has been the Irish people who have prin-
cipally delved the numberless canals and constructed
the extensive railways of America. As settlers, they
have in every region of the globe proved themselves to
be equal to the natives of England and Scotland, and
during the late rebellion in our North American
colonies the Irish particularly distinguished themselves
by their energy, loyalty, and courage. For instance, in
a despatch laid before both Houses of Parliament from
a Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, describing
the outbreak to which I have alluded, it was stated, —

** Regiments of tired farmers and leg- wearied yeomen flocked in from all
directions. On their arrival 1 of course went out and thanked them, and then
told those who had no fowling-pieces that they should immediately receive
muskets and ammunition.

** * If your honour will hut give us arms,' exclaimed a voice from the ranks,
in a broad Irish brogue, * the rebels wiUfind legs.* "

In the army and navy the Irish, from the great Duke
of Wellington downwards, have done their full share
of duty, and during a long march in rain and through
muddy roads, how often have the drooping spirits of
our gallant troops been enlivened by some short, witty,
merry observation from an Irishman !

" I'm afraid, my men, you'are very wetj"' observed an
officer to his company.

'* No, your Honour," replied an Irish voice ; " but
we're very dry ! '*

2. But the most remarkable feature in the pheno-
menon we are discussing is that in his own country,
wherever he is properly treated, the Irishman, Catholic
or Protestant, instead of remaining in a degraded state,
suddenly casts oflF what is supposed to be indigenous to
his nstture, and exhibits qualifications of the highest

250 DEGRADED CONDITION OP THE PEOPLE. Part n.

order. For instance, in England it is a general opinion
that Irishmen of the same creed, and especially of
opposite creeds, can never meet without a fight. , Now,
I assert on the highest authority — ^namely, that of the
Resident Commissioner of the Board of National
Education in Ireland — that not only " among the
Catholic and Protestant teachers there has been a
total absence of any religious quarrels, but that
among the 500 boys (Catholics and Protestants) there
is never a fight, and scarcely ever a blow struck ! "

In my sketch of the great model school I have shown
— what is open to the inspection of any one — ^the fa-
cility with which Irish infants, as if instinctively, fall
into ranks, follow each other like soldiers, and obey the
orders of little chubby-faced monitors, scarcely old
enough to pronounce the words of command they utter.
Again, I have shown, and I most confidently repeat —
what any traveller in Ireland may witness — ^that no
sooner are Irishmen enlisted into the constabulary force,
than they display native talents, energy, ability, clean-
liness, trustworthiness, and an aptitude for discipline,
such as are not to be witnessed, in combination, in any
country in the world. Moreover, that in the most
secluded spots, in cheerless situations, trying to human
spirits and tempei*, Irish Catholics and Protestants live
and serve together in perfect amity. In the Dublin
police force, in the revenue police force, in the coast-
guard service — all of which are open to public in-
spection — the same high qualifications are evinced, and
the same friendly union between Catholics and Pro-
testants maintained: in short, wherever the British
Government parentally takes hold of an Irishman — as

TUB IltXSU PniKSTUOOD.

251

if by magic— he casts off the mortal coil of his de-
gradation ; aud, instead of being a disgrace and a bur-
den, lie at once becomes, without the smallest exagge-
ration, an honour to his country and to tlie name of man.
In virtue of the above facta, which are incontro-
vertible, I feel justified in asserting, that the Irish
peojilc are the victims of some secret malign influence,
and that of the dissensions and demoralization which
disgrace their country they are "not guilty."

Ark the Priesthood of Ireland the cause of
the moral degradation op ireland?

I reply, "Thev are!"

The affirmation of these two small monosyllables
will of course excite the anger of those against whom
they are directed; but, as it is in sorrow rather than iu
anger tliat I very deliberately make the assertion, I
calmly defy all the talents, ability, sophistry, artifice,
and indignation of the Irish priesthood to repel the
evidence I am about to adduce, for the avowed object
of degrading in the estimation of every Irishman, aud
most especially of every Irishwoman — to the proper
level — a clergy who — / tcill jirove it — have ))rought
scandal on the sacred character of the Catholic Church,
who have disgraced the cloth they wear, and wlio are
culpably driving from a beloved soil hundreds of
thousands of men, women, and little children, whom
it was their especial duty spiritually and morally to
lielnend.

As far as I am individually concerned I have no
interest whatever in the prosecution of those whom I
have thus publicly arraigned. I am in no way con- |

252 DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. Part If.

nected with them, with Ireland, with the Irish Govem-
ment, with the Whig Government, or with Lord
Derby's Government; but, like everybody, I owe a
duty to my Sovereign and to my country, and, in per-
formance thereof, I will at once proceed to substantiate
what I have affirmed. All I ask of Ireland — in return
for the service I am endeavouring to render to her — is
an unprejudiced hearing, a cool judgment, and an
honest decision.

What is the amount of Power that can practically

BE WIELDED BY AN IrISH RoMAN CaTHOLIC PrIEST ?

As in all cases of ordinary trial it is customary for the
prosecutor to commence his case by informing the jury
of the position in life of both plaintiff and defendant, so
it is proper, and indeed absolutely necessary, that in un-
dertaking to arraign before the judgment of mankind in
general, and of the inhabitants of Ireland in particular,
the Irish priesthood, I should by a very brief outline
explain what are the powers it is their destiny to wield,
in comparison with those of other authorities.

The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as the representa-
tive of the British Sovereign, is invested with power to
bestow an amount of patronage which ' Thom*s Irish
Almanac and Official Directory* will specifically detail ;
but he has no power over either the law of the land, or
over the property, the lives, or the persons of those he
governs.

The Judges of Ireland have power to administer the
law, but they have no power to alter it. Moreover,
however they may be convinced of his guilt, they have
no power whatever to punish the well-known perpe-

THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD.

253 '

ti'ator of a noon-day murder, if the jury in direct viola-
tion of evidence adduced shall declare him to be "not j
guilty."

The Landlobds of Iheland, be they Protestant or
Catholic, have power to retain in their own hands the
cultivation of their own land. They have power to
lease it in gross to middlemen, or in detail to the
honest deserving peasantry by whom they are sur-
rounded. II' these poor peojjle either refuse or are un-
able to pay to their landlords the stipulated rent, eacJi
of these landlords, on application to the sheriff, and in
presence of a constabulary force armed with loaded car- i
bines, has power to unroof the cabins of his poor tenants,-
and thus to evict them from his land. But he lias no
power to inflict upon them a blow ; and iij under a
lease, they can pay to him the rent therein stipulated,
he has no power whatever to walk, ride, or in any way
trespass ujKjn his own land.

The Protestant Parson has power on stated days
and at stated hours to read to his congregation the
word ol' God — he has power to ex])ound it to them in
any way he may think fit; but he has not power either
from the reading-desk or i'rom the pulpit to assail the
character of any individual present or absent. In his
parish or out of it he has power to offer to any one that
is willing to receive it admonition or advice, but he
has no power to enforce either upon any one; in short,
although he has power to marry, christen, bury, and
administer the sacrament, yet, practically speaking, he
has no powers spiritual or temporal over his parishioners
beyond what, in their opinion, are due to his doctrines,
his character, and his conduct. I

254 DEGRADED CONDITION OP THE PEOPLE. Part II.

Now, with a sincere and earnest desire to say nothing
disrespectful of the Roman Catholic religion, and most
especially nothing oflTensive to the religious feelings of
the Irish people, whose unaffected devotion I have had
so much pleasure in proclaiming, let us calmly and dis-
passionately weigh and consider, Ist, what are the
assumed powers of the ultramontane head of the Irish
Catholic Church ; and, 2ndly, what is the amount of
power which that ultramontane head has delegated to
the Irish priesthood. Or, to state the problem, if pos-
sible, in still plainer terms, what are the powers with
which the Irish Roman Catholic parish priest is invested.

I. In the Tenth Article of the Creed of Pope Pius
the Fourth, the Church of Rome binds her members to
believe as follows : —

"I acknowledge the holy, Catholic, Apostolic, Roman Church for the
mother and mistresa of all Churches ; and I promise true ohedience to the
Bishop of Rome, successor to St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and Vicar of
Jesus Christ."

Now, it will appear, from the following extracts
from the canon law of the Church of Rome, that the
spiritual and temporal authority of the Pope is pro-
claimed to be paramount, in Great Britain and Ireland,
not only to any law enacted by the British Parliament,
but to the constitutional authority of the British Sove-
reign, in her Majesty's own dominions.

" The laws of kings have not pre-eminence over ecclesiastical laws, hut are
suibardiruUe or subeervieni to them.

" The statute law of laymen does not extend to churches^ or to ecclesiastical
personSf or to their goods to their prejudice.

" Whatever decrees of princes are found injurious to the interests of the
Church are declared to he of no authority whatever.

"While a sovereign remains excommunicated, his suhjects owe him no
allegiance ; and if this state of things shall last for some time, and the sove-

n

Pabt II. THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD. 255

reign being admonished do not submit himself to the Church, his subjects
are absolved from aU fealty to him,

** The See of Pome hath neither spot nor wrinkle in it, nor cannot err.

" The Bishop of Rome is not bound by any decrees, but he may compel, as
well the clergy as the laymen^ to receive his decrees and canon laws.

" The Bishop of Rome hath authority to judge all men, and specially to
discern the articles of faith, and that without any councils ; and may assoil
(acquit) them that the Council hath damned ; but no man hath authority to
judge hvm, nor to meddle with anything that h^ hath judged, neither emperor,
king, people, nor the clergy ; and it is not lawful for any man to dispute of
his power.

" The Bishop of Rome may excommimicate emperors and princes, depose
them from their states, and assoil their subjects from their oath of obedience
to them, and so constrain them to rebellion.

" The Bishop of Rome is judge in temporal things, and hath two swords,
spiritual and temporal.

** The Bishop of Rome may give authority to arrest men, and imprison
them in manacles and fetters.

The Bishop of Rome may compel princes to receive his legates.
It appertaineth to the Bishop of Rome to judge which oaths ought to bo
kept, and which not.

" Princes' laws, if they be against the canons and decrees of the Bishop of
Rome, he of no force nor strength.

All kings, bishops, and nobles that allow or suffer the Bishop of Rome's
decrees in anything to be violate, be accursed.

" The Bishop of Rome may be judged of none but of God only ; for although
he neither regard his own salvation, nor no man's else, but draw down with
himself innumerable people by heai)s unto hell, yet may no mortal man in
this world presume to reprehend him. Forasmuch as he is called God he
may be judged of no man, for God may be judged of no man.

** The Bishop of Rome may compel by an oath all rulers and other people
to observe, and cause to be observed, whatsoever the See of Rome shall ordain
conqeming heresy, and the favourers thereof ; and who will not obey, he may
deprive them of their dignities.

" He that acknowledge th not himself to be under the Bishop of Rome, and
that the Bishop of Rome is ordaiked bt God to have primacy over all the
world, is a heretic, and cannot be saved, nor is not of the flock of Christ."

In virtue of the above powers, the authority assumed
by the Church of Rome is sternly but very clearly pro-
claimed as follows.

By Canon 1, Sess. 7, of the Council of Trent, it is
laconically declared, —

** Whoever shall affirm that the Sacraments of the New Law were not all

266 DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. Pabt U.

instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord, or that they are more or fewer than
seven, namely. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction,
Order, and Matrimony ; or that any of these is not truly and properly a
Sacrament, let hik be accursed."

And by Canoa 8, Sess. 7, it is further decreed, with
reference to these seven sacraments, —

" Whoever shall affirm that grace is not conferred by these Sacraments of
the New Law, by virtue of the act performed {ex opere operato)y but that faith
in the divine promise is all that is necessary to obtain grace, let hih be
accursed."

Now, the supernatural powers invested by the Church
of Rome in its priesthood, including of course the Irish
priesthood, will clearly appear from an attentive con-
sideration of the following sample of decrees : —

1st. As regards the power of transubstantiation to be
performed by the priest.

By Canon 2 of the Council of Trent it is decreed,—

" If any shall say that in these words, * Do this in remembrance of me,*
Christ did not appoint the Apostles to be priests, or did not ordain that they
and other priests should offer his body and blood, let hih be accursed."

Again, by Canon 4, Sess. 13, of the Council of Trent,
it is decreed,—

" Whosoever shall aflSrm that the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
are not present in the admirable Eucharist as soon as the consecration is
performed, but only as it is used and received, and neither before nor after;
and that the true body of our Lord docs not remain in the hosts or consecrated
morsels which are reserved or left after communion ; let him be ACCURskD."

Again, in Sess. 22, Canon 3, it is decreed,—

" If any one shall say that the sacrifice of the Mass is only a sacrifice of
praise and thanksgiving, or a bare commemoration of the sacrifice made upon
the Cross, and that it is not propitiatory, or that it profits only the receiver,
and that it ought not to be offered for the living and the dead for their sins,
punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities, let him be accursed."

Of the " consecrated morsels " reserved or left after
communion, it is affirmed by the Church of Rome, that
in every particle of the bread, transubstantiated by the

Part H. THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD. 257

priest J there exists " a whole and entire Christ ;" and
that in every globule of the wine, also transubstantiated
6y the priest^ there exists " a whole and perfect Christ/*
Accordingly, by Canon 1, Sess. 13, of the Council of
Trent, it is decreed —

" Whosoever shall deny that Christ entire is contained in the venerable
Sacrament of the Eucharist, under each species, and under every part of each
species when they are separated, let hih be accursed."

Again —

" Whoever shall deny that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist
there are truly, really, and substantially, contained the body and blood of our
Lord Jesus Christ, together with his soul and divinity, and, consequently,
Christ entire ; but shall affirm that he is present therein only in a sign or
figure or by his jwwer, let him be accxjbsed.**

The Roman Missal, in its directions to priests respect-
ing their consecration of each species of the Sacrament,
directs that —

*' If, after the consecration, a gnat, a spider, or any such thing fall into the
chalice, and if it produce nausea to the priest, let him draw it out, and wash
it with the wine ; and when Mass is concluded, let him bum it, and let him
throw the ashes and the washings into a sacred place. But if there is no
nausea and he fears none, let him swallow it with the blood.

'* If any of the blood of Christ fall on the ground or table by negligence,
it must be licked up with the tongue, the place must be thoroughly scraped,
and the scrapings burned ; but the ashes must be buried in holy ground."

By Canon 6, Sess. 13, Cap. 5, of the Council of
Trent, it will appear that the priest is authorised to
carry in procession the elements he himself has tran-
substantiated, and that his parishioners are required to
adore what he has just done.

'Mf any one shall say that this holy Sacrament should not be adored, nor
solemnly carried about in procession, nor held up publicly to adore it, or that
its w^orshipi^ers are idolatrous, let him be accubsed.*'

The Church of Rome declares that, in the sacrifice
of the Mass, the priest has the power of retrospectively

s

258 DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. Pabt IT.

benefiting the absent dead, as well as the living pre-
sent at the ceremony, and accordingly —

By the 25th Sess. of the Council of Trent, it is de-
creed —

" That the souls delivered in purgatory are assisted by the suffrages of the
faithful, but espeoially by the acceptable sacrifice of the Mass."

2, The power which the Church of Rome invests in
a priest to receive auricular confessions is sternly and
clearly explained as follows : —

By Canon 6 of the Counil of Trent it is decreed —

c«

Whosoever shall deny that sacramental confession was instituted by Divine
command, or that it is necessary to salvation ; or shall affiim that the practice
of secretly confessing to a priest alone, as it has been ever observed from the
beginning by the Catholic Church, and is still observed, is foreign to the
institution and command of Christ, and is a himian invention ; let him be

AGCURSBD."

Moreover, the following Canon ordains that every
mortal sin must be confessed : —

" Whosoever shall aflBrm that, in order to obtain forgiveness of sins in the
sacrament of penance, it is not by Divine command necessary to confess eiw^y
mortal sin which occurs to the memory after due and diligent premeditation-
including secret offences, and those which have been committed against the
two last precepts of the decalogue, and those circumstances which change the
sjiecies of sin ; but that such confession is only useful for the instruction and
consolation of the penitent, and was formerly observed merely as a canonical
satisfaction imposed \x\x)u. him ; or shall affirm that those who labour to con-
fess all their sins wish to leave nothing to be ]>ardoned by the Divine mercy ;
or finally, that it is not lawful to confess venial sins, &c. &c., let hih bb

ACCURSED."

And accordingly the Council of Lateran has re-
quired —

" That every man and woman, after they come to years of discretion,
should privately confess their sins to their own priest, at least once a-year,
and endeavour faithfully to perform the penance enjoined on them ; and after
this they should come to the sacrament at least at Easter, unless the priest^
for some reasonable cause, judge it fit for them to abstain for a time ; anil
whosoever does not i)erform this is to be excommunicated from the Church ;
and if he die, he is not to he aXhwed Christian burial,*'

THE mrsn priesthood.

On the subject of auricular confession, extraordinary
powers — over-riding those given by any temporal power
on earth— are granted by the Church of Rome to the
parish priest.

I» For instance, in Dens' ' Theologia,' vol. vi,, No. 159,
* De Segillo Conl'essionis,' will be found the following
Instructions, which are taught at the Irish College of
^laynooth ; —

" Q, What, is iLe seal of a sscnuneiLlal cotifeasion ?

" A, It ia tlie obligation, or debt, to ounoeal iboac things wbich are koonn
I tiota sncmmentiil cunression.

" Q. What theretore ought ti confessor to answer, being asked coucerning a
V*lTulh wLldi he has known 1>y socraniental conreasiou aloiio?

, He oaghl to answer that Ae doa ntyt kaoio it, ami, if necossary, cos-

I 'mSU TBE BAMB Br 4N OiTH."

But the most important attribute which the Church
I pf Rome invests in the parish priest is the power, how-
ever immoral may he his own conduct, of absolving
his parishioners from their sins; and accordingly the
Council of Trent, by their Canons 9 and 10, have sternly
but most explicitly decreed that

•' WhooviT Hhall nmrm that priesta living;

■ in inorlnl p

■i., havo not Iha

.jower of binding or loosing, or that tiriesls i

arc not the »

Hily miiiislers of

nblolution, &C. &0., LET Bin UB iCCUBSEU."

And to avoid the possibility of any doubt or petti-
fogging quibble as to whether or not the immorality of
a priest disables him i'rom forgiving in others the sins
he is himself openly committing, it has been peremp-

I torily enacted by the Council of Trent, c. 6, as fol-

[ 'lows ; —

"The CouDoil Turthnr loaches, that prie4U who aio li\-iug in roorlal sin
I sxeruiso Iko function of for^rin^ sins, as tha miiuslers of Clirist, by tho
!t of the Holy Spirit conferred n[<an liiem in ordinatiuu ; and that Ibose
Eiriw cootvnd that tt'ieini priesla have not this i^ower bold very ei
[■tntiuientei."

s2

260 DEGRADED CONDITION OP THE PEOPLE. Pabt H.

3. By the ninth article of the creed of Pope Pius IV.,
every parishioner is required by the Church of Rome
to believe as follows :—

" I also aflSrm that the power of indulgences was left by Christ in tfie
Church, and that the use of them is most wholesome to Christian people."

On this subject the Council of Trent decreed as fol-
lows (Sess. 25, De Indulg.) : —

" Since the power of granting indulgences has been bestowed by Christ
upon his Church, and she has exercised this power, divinely given, from the
earliest antiquity, the holy Coimcil teaches and enjoins that the use of indul-
gences, in the highest degree salutary to Christian people, and approved by
the authority of venerable councils, is to be retained in the Church ; and it
condemns with anathema those who assert that they are useless, or deny that
the power of granting them is in the Church."

The enormous moral and spiritual extent of this
power granted to the Roman Catholic priesthood may
be briefly exemplified as follows.

In * Duffy's Catholic Library, Part 9, On Examen of
Conscience, Sorrow, &c., Confession, and the Penance
enjoined by the Confessor, translated from the Italian
of St. Alphonsus M. Liguori* (Dublin, 1845), it is
recited, p. 31, —

'* First. He who hears Mass gains an indulgence of 3800 years. Secondly,
lie who wears the scapular of Mount Carmel, observes chastity, abstains from
meat on Wednesday, and recites every day the Our Father, Hail Mary, and
Glory be to the Father, &c., seven times, will be soon delivered from pur-
gatory, as we read in the Office of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Cannel.
There are also many indulgences gained by wearing the scapulars of the
Blessed Virgin in Sorrow, of the Conception, and de Mercede, Thirdly. He
who says the Angehis Domini^ when the bells ring for it, gains many indul-
gences. Fourthly. They who say, Blessed be the holy, immaculate, and
most pure conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, gain an indulgence of a
hundred years. To them who say the J7ai7, Hdy Queens is gained an indul-
gence of forty days. For pronouncing the names of Jesus and Mary, twenty-
five days. They who say five Paters and Aves, in honour of the passion of
Jesus Christ and the dolours of the Virgin Mary, gain an indulgence of
10,000 years."

Again, by a rescript, dated at Rome, the 14th May,
1842, Pope Gregory XVI. graciously granted for ever
the following Indulgences to the contributors to St
Joseph's Asylum : — ■

" A plenary Indulgence to guch m »1i»I1 approach the aacrwuenis of
Penance aod tlie Holy Eucharist ou lliu teiteU of tlie Patron St. Joseph — |
likowbe a plcnnry indulgtmoe in the hour of death, and occo each month, i»i ■
luiy day at their option.

" These iudalgenccs nioy le aiipliod by way of antfragc to the bouU of iho
fnilJirul departed." '

So recently as the year 1840 the Pope granted an
Indulgence of one hundred years to every one who
should recite the following prayer : —

■' O ImmacalBle Quevn of Heaven and of Angela ! I adore you. It ia you
wlio hav* dulivered me froni Hell. It is you from trhon 1 look fcr all tny
salvation."

4. The extraordinary power invested by the Church
of Rome in her priesthood to mutilate a parishioner by
what is commonly called " eMominunlcation" is feai*
fully exemplified by the following extract : —

"We ejcommunioitc, damn, analhematise, and aejiarate him from Uie
IhrCHholtl of the Church, l.ct his children be oryilians ; let him be cursed in
the city, cursed in llie field, in the open field, in the wooil, at home ; cursed
in hia bam, ou his couch, in his bedchamber ; cursed in the court, on the
road, in the city ; cursed iu the camp, on the river ; cursed in the church, in
the burial -gmimd, in the courts of justice ; cursed In the market-place, in
war ; curaod in praying, in sfeaking, in holding his tongne, in eating, awake,
Jo Bleeping, drinking, touching, silting, lying down, standing ; cursed when
all leisure ; earsed always ; cursed in the whole of his body and soul, and in
the five senses of hiB body ; curst-d be llie Imil of Ihe wOmb, tlie fruit of his \
laud ; cnned be all his goods ; cursed be hia head, mouth, noatriU, nose, lipa, i
jaws, teeth, eyes, pupils of Ihe eye, brain, jialatc, tongue, throat, breast, i
heart, belly, liver, all bis entraila ; cursed be his stomach, bladder ; cursed I
be his loga, thighs, feet, and toes ; cursed his neck, shoulders, back, ai
elbows i caiwd hia hands and lini^rra ; cursed his finger and loe nails ; curatd |
his rile, concei)lion, knees, fiesh, Innes ; cursed be hta blood ; curbed his skin ;
cursed be the marrow of his bones, and whatever concentH him ; cursed be he :
ill the paasion of ChrtKl, and with ttic shedding of Christ's l<1ood. and wilii IJm |
milk fS the Virgin Mary.

262 DEGRADED CONDITION OP THE PEOPLE. Pabt If.

" Moreover, let the earth be cursed in which he is bnried ; let him perish
in future judgment ; let him not have any conversation with Christians, nor,
when he is in the article of death, let him receive the Lord's body ; let Wm
be as the dust before the wind ; and as Lucifer was oast down from Heaven,
and as Adam and Eve were cast out of Paradise, so let him be expelled from
the light of every day."

5. One of the greatest powers granted by the Church
of Rome to a parish priest is that of suppressing from
any one or more of his parishioners such passages in
the Word of God as, in his judgment, he may deem
proper to repudiate.

For instance, in the creed of Pope Pius IV., which
every Roman Catholic is bound to acknowledge, the
following formula is promulgated : —

" I also admit the Holy Scripture, according to that sense which our Holy
Mother, the Church, has held and does hold, to which it belongs to judge of
the true sense and interpretation of the Scriptures ; neither will 1 ever tako
and interpret them otherwise than according to the unanimous consent of the
Fathers."

And, accordingly, that there might be no mistake
as to the " sense " or opinion of the Roman Catholic
Church on the subject, ten rules were drawn up by
the Fathers selected from the Synod of Trent, and
approved of by Pope Pius IV. Of these rules or de-
crees the fourth is as follows : —

" Since it is manifested by experience, that if the sacred booljs, in tho
vulgar language, are circulated everywhere without discrimination, more harm
than good arises on account of the rashness of men, let the judgment of the
Bishop or Inquisitor be abided by in this particular. — So that, after consulting
with the parish priest or confessor, they may grant permission to read transla-
tions of the Scriptures made by Catholic authors, to those whom they shall
have understood to be able to receive no harm, but an increase of faith and
piety, from such reading ; which faculty let him have in writing. But
whosoever shall presume to read these Bibles, or have them in possession,
without such faculty, shall not be capable of receiving absolution of their Sff?«,
unless they have first given up their Bibles to the ordinary. Booksellers, who
shall sell, or in any other way furnish. Bibles in the vulgar tongue to any one
not possessed of the aforesaid licence, shall forfeit the price of the boolcs.

Tart II. THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD. 263

which is to be applied by the Bishop to pious uses, and shall be otherwise
punished at the pleasure of the same Bishop, according to the degree of the

OFFJBNCB."

Again, in the Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XII. to
his * Venerable brethren, the Patriarchs, Primates,
Archbishops, and Bishops, of the Catholic Church,*
to which there is appended ' A Pastoral of the Irish
Popish Archbishops and Bishops to the Clergy and
Laity of their Communion throughout Ireland, recom-
mending the same — Dublin : Printed by Richard Coyne^
Printer and Publisher to the Royal College of Maynooth^
— there is contained the following Appeal : —

" You are aware, venerable brethren, that a certain society, called the
BiUe Society^ strolls with effrontery throughout the world ; which society,
contemning the traditions of the Holy Fathers, and contrary to the well-
known decree of the Council of Trent, labours with all its might, and by
every means, to translate — or rather to pervert — the Holy Scriptures into the
vulgar language of every nation ; from which proceeding it is greatly to be
feared that what is ascertained to have happened as to some passages may
also occur with regard to others ; to wit, that by a perverse interpretation
the Gospel of Christ be turned into a human Gospel, or, what is still worse,
the Gospel of the Devil. [Here there is a vague reference to Jerome on the
Epistle to Uie Galatians.]

** To avert this plague, our predecessors published many ordinances ; and
in his latter days, Pius VII., of blessed memory, sent two briefs — one to
Ignatius, Archbishop of Guesen ; the other to Stanislaus, Archbishop of
Mohilow — in which arc many proofs, accurately and wisely collected from
the Sacred Scriptures and from Tradition, to show how noxious this host

WICKED NOVELTY IS TO BOTH FAITH AND MORALS.

" We also, venerable brethren, in conformity with our apostolic duty,
exhort you to turn away your flock, by all means, from these poisonous
jyastures, Keprove, beseech, be instant in season and out of season, in all
patience and doctrine, that the faithful intrusted to you (adhering strictly to
the nilcs of the Congregation of the Index) be persuaded that, if the Sacred
Scriptures be everywhere indiscriminately published, more evil than advantage
will arise thence on account of the rashness of men," &c, &c. — " Oiven at
Home, at St. Mary Majors, the Zrd day of May, 1824 — the first year of our
Pontificate:'

This document was recommended by the Irish
Romish Bishops and others as follows : —

264 DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. Pabt H.

" To all the faithful clergy and people committed to our care, we, the
imdersigned, Archbishops and Bishoj^s in Ireland, send health and benediction.

** Very reverend, and reverend and dearly beloved brethren, we have just
laid before you a copy of the ' Encyclical Letter ' of our moBt holy father,
Pope Leo XII., addressed by his Holiness to his venerable brethren, the
Patriarchs, Primates, &c, &c. &c.

" On receiving this letter, replete with truth and wisdom, we at once recog-
nised the voice of him for whom our Redeemer prayed ' that his faith might
not fail,' and to his ardent charity he intrusted the care of his entire flock.

" Our holy father recommends to the observance of the faithful a Rule of
the Congregation of the Index, which prohibits the perusal of the Sacred
Scriptures in the vulgar tongue^ without the sanction of the competent autho-
rities. His Holiness wisely remarks that more evil than good is found to
result from the indiscriminate perusal of them, on account of the malice or
infirmity of men. In this sentiment of our head and chief we fully concur^
&c. &c.

" Hence, dearest brethren, such books have been and ever will be execrated
by the Catholic Church; and hence also those salutary laws and ordinances,
whereby she has at all times prohibited her children to read or retain them ;
nay, why she has frequently obdebed them to be committed to tue
FLAMES." . . . . " And that these our instructions may come to the know-
ledge of all, we desire that portions of them be read at time of Mass by our
clergy on successive Sundays, in the presence of the faithful.

" Given under our signs manual."

Here follow the signatures of twenty-seven Romish
Bishops, including Dr. Doyle and Dr. Murray.

6. In order to complete the power of the parish
Priest over his parishioners, the Church of Rome has
not only rigidly insisted on the celibacy of her clergy, for
the purpose of restricting, confining, and concentrating
upon the Church alone the whole of those aflFections,
interests, and regards, which other men so readily
bestow on worldly objects, but this object has been
honestly explained by Sarpi, the historian of the
Council of Trent, as follows : —

" It is plain," he says, " that married priests would turn their affection and
love to their wives and children, and by consequence to their home and
country ; so that the strict dependence of the clergy upon the Apostolic See
should cease. Thus the granting of marriage to priests would destroy the
eccleeiastical hierarchy, and leave the Pope bishop of Rome only."

Pawt II.

TU& miss. I'R1£8TSD(H>.

On a i-aliii perusal of the foregoing extracts, it must
be cvideut to every man of sound judgment— be he
Catholic or Protestant— that the Church nf Rome has
])uri)oscIy imparted to a parish priest powers not only
superhuman, but Mliicli invest him. iu his little parish,
wjtli the character of Jesus Christ himself. And in
order that there may exist not the smallest shadow of
doubt on this most important point — in order tliat
the divinity of the parish Priest may be clearly ex- i
pounded to every parishioner, it is promulgated in the
Catechism of the Council of Trent, page 2G0, that —

" In the minister of God, who sits In the tribraia) of pennnce, d» hU Iryi-
tinua' judge, he (the pwiilcnl) vmrratvs llie foan and pcrmn if miir iMrd
.Te*ii» GhHit ; /<«■ in Ih ailminiHTotimi ••/ thi\ n$ in ihtt of (fit otttr tacra-
mentt, the I'RIEST rvjiment* the chamettr and ilifchai'ijes thu /nn^iont nf
JESUS CHUIST."

Now let any one for a single moment place in one
scale of a balance the enormous amount of power
imparted by the Church of Home to an Irish parish
priest, and in the other the strong innate sense of
devotion which distinguishes and adorns the character
of the Irish Roman Catholics, and he will at once, I
feci confident, readily admit, that a ])oor, illiterate,
honest Irishman, living with his pig and donkey in a
chimueyless cabin, is completely in the hands and at
the mercy of his spiritual master, whom — as I have
shown — he is literally required to consider as one
" representing the character and discharging the func- j
tions of Jesus Christ "

I am aware that ui the United Kingdom there exist
many Protestants, so devotedly attached to their own
religion, and unconsciously so intolerant to the religion
of Home, that a i>erusal of tlie evidence I have just i

266 DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. Pabt U.

submitted will raise in their minds the cry of " No
Popery!" which at present it is my desire to allay
rather than excite.

Injustice, therefore, to the important inquiry I have
undertaken, I deem it necessary to observe that, although
I have undoubtedly shown that the power, temporal as
well as spiritual, assumed by the Pope, and by His Sanc^
tity and by the Roman Catholic Church delegated to
the parish priests of Ireland, is — theoretically speaking —
subversive of the power of Queen Victoria and of the
power and authority of the Imperial Parliament, yet
it by no means follows that these ultramontane powers,
however great they may be, are to be exercised in
Ireland simply because they exist.

For instance, every living creature has the power to
desert its young, and yet how affectionately. are they
attended to ! The British Sovereign, without consult-
ing her people or her Parliament, has power ^ with rea-
son or without it, to declare war with the inhabitants of
any country on the surface of the globe, and yet it has
been her pride, as it has been her noble policy, in many
instances, to pardon aggressions she had power to avenge.
But not only may temporal or spiritual power — like
heat — be latent, but even in cases where a hostile atti-
tude is assumed it is often followed by no serious results.

For instance, since the mission of Lord Castlemaine
in the reign of James II., it has been, and still is, the
rude aggressive policy of England to hold no public com-
munication whatever with the Poi)e. According to those
rules, or as they may truly be termed prescriptive laws,
which give dignity to the transactions between the great
nations of the civilised world, the withdrawal of an am-

I FSIBBTHOOP.

bassador is intended to be considered as a frown, whicb,
like the little cloud seen by th« servant of Elijah, indi-
cates an ajjiiroaching storm. But although England
lor lio long a period has insisted on keeping in the sky
of Home this vain blustering illiterate symbol of her
wrath, yet has the exercise of tliis undonbt^Mi and
undenicd powe?' been productive of no open rupture;
indeed, on the contrary, in spite of it. and in direct
opposition to it. the British Government, as if it were
Ihe policy of England

'■ To (If) ffxi hy steullli,
Aud bluRli to find it rHnie,"

for some years has been iu the habit — as it were clan-
destinely — of communicating with the Court of Rome
through the medium of an attache of the Embassy of
Florence, permanently residing at Home in private
lodgings; and although the reports from this Floren-
tine attach^. Mho— strange to say — was lately a Koman
Catholic, have invariably been addressed to the Foreign
Secretary, yet so peremptorily has England exercised
her "pou:cr'' of refusing to liold any public communi-
cation witli the head of the Homan Catholic Church,
that the interviews between this "borrowed light" and
the Pope have been secret and sui rosa.

" Hip. ^V'^-ll slione, iiiwn ! Truly, iJic moon gliiues wiili a good grnw."
It does not, therefore, I repeat, necessarily follow,
because the Pope of Rome has assumed for himself and
has conferred upon the parish priests of Ireland powers
incomjiatible with tlie constitutional government of the
British empire in general, and of Ireland in particular,
that those powers mvM be executed. If Ihey be, there

an be no doubt that they amouut not to a declaration

268 DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. Part II.

of war, but to actual warfare. On the other hand^ if
they be not executed, but lie dormant in desuetude,
they are as harmless as has been our own unnecessary
and irrational conduct towards the Pope at Rome.

Without therefore raising any objection or taking
any offence at the theoretical existence of the extraordi-
nary powers which I have detailed, let us now calmly
proceed to consider whether these powers have been
exercised at all, and, even if they have, whether in their
exercise there has been anything of which the Sove-
reign, the Parliament, and the people of Great Britain
can — not captiously but — reasonably complain? and
first, as regards the powers assumed by the Pope.

It would give me sincere pleasure to be enabled to
affirm that the Church of Rome, in the exercise of its
undoubted spiritual authority over Roman Catholics^ in
whatever region they may reside, had restricted itself
within the bounds of reason and moderation. But
without entering into tedious details, which, after all,
would be unnecessary, I will simply refer to the well-
known fact, that the Pope of Rome, not satisfied with
the existence in Ireland of Koman Catholic bishops, by
an act of unjustifiable aggression divided the territory
of Protestant England into twelve districts, the in-
habitants of which, without any exception being made,
he summarily placed under Roman Catholic episcopal
jurisdiction ; and that, accordingly, a Papal proclama-
tion, of which the following are extracts, was actually
issued within the limits of her Majesty's Palace and
both Houses of Parliament, by a priest ordained by the
Pope to be the commander-in-chief of the whole.

'^ Nicholas, by the Divine Mercv, of the Holt Roman

THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD,

209

CntJKCH, DY TBE TiTLK OF St. PuDENTIAKA, CaRDIMAL

1*«IB3T, Anciinisuop of Wbstminsteb, and Administrator
AfosTOuc OF THE Diocese op Southwark :

" To OOa DEARLY BELOVED IN CURIST, TUB ClERGY SECULAR
AND RKOULAR, AND THB FaITUFDI-, OV THE BAIO ArCHDIOCBSB

AND Uiocese:

" Health and Benediction in tub Lord.

" GiTEN AT London, this 30th day of November, in the
vbah op OCR Lord 1850.

" Signed, " NICHOLAS, Cardinal,

"Archbishop of Westminster.
" By Command <Jf his Emisenck,

"FRANCIS SEARLE, Secretary."

As this daring invasion of the Queen's territory and
authority has been indignantly and effectually repelled
by her Majesty, by both Houses of Parliament, and by
the people of England, by a law fresh in the recollec-
tiwi of every one, I will only draw from this aggression
one undeniable inference, namely, that, if the Church
of Rome in the nineteenth century has been bold
enough, by so overt an act, to attempt to overrule the
Queen's authority in Protestant Enghmd, it is reason-
able to suppose that, for the same object, to the utmost
of its power, it wouM simultaneously exert its visible
as well as invisible dominion in Ireland, where the
Catholic majority, who, as in duty bound, acknowledge
spiritual allegiance to the Pope, have of late years been
so rapidly declining. And, without further comment,
I will now proceed to show. 1st, what for a long time
has been the secret i>olicy ; and, 2ndly, what has lately
been the open or aggressive conduct of the Irish priest*
hood.

270 DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. Paot II.

1. What, for a long time, has been the secret

!toLICY OF THE IrISH PrIESTHOOD ?

The superhuman power possessed by an Irish priest,
even beyond the limits of his own parish, will shortly
be exemplified very cleariy by a trial which is to take
place at the next Sligo quarter sessions, for an offence,
the extraordinary particulars of which appeared in The
Times of the 10th of September last, as follows: —

*' The Evening Mail supplies the annexed report of some
rather curious proceedings which came before the magis-
trates at Collooney petty sessions on Monday last, and
by which it will be seen that a Roman Catholic clergy-
man is to take his trial at the next quarter sessions for
Sligo, on the old charge of a too generous use of the
*' horsewhip" on the shoulders of a young girl who had
fallen under the displeasure of the rev. flagellator.

" Monday y Sept. 6.

" The magistrates in attendance were Messrs. Whelan
and Knox, S.M., and Mr. Culbertson, J.P.

" The court was unusually crowded, and the greatest
interest prevailed when the case of James Blair against
the Rev. Andrew Quinn, C.C. of Sligo, was called on.

*' Mr. Gethin, soUcitor, appeared on behalf of the latter
personage.

" Mary Anne Blair, a well-dressed, respectable young
woman, and who gave her evidence ^vith considerable
firmness, was the first witness examined. — ' I was return-
ing from Mr. Cooper's school at Ballisodare in company
with a girl named Jane Nearin, and, when near my
residence at Ballydrihid, I was overtaken by a person on
horseback, who asked me how far I was going, and where
I lived? I said, Not far. Sir; and I live convenient.
He put other questions to me, and to avoid him I went
into a man's house named Colleary. He got off his horse

'IHE IRISH rRIESTHOOD.

271

and followed me in, and asked the woman of the house
who I was? She replied, An honest man's daughter.
He then went away, amf in about five minutes returned,
and with the butt end of hie whip beat me on the
shoulders. He k-ft large welts upon me. He then
caught Jane Nearin, and threw her on the ground. The
M'oman of the house was going to strike him with a shovel,
but, whm she saw he icas a ckrtiyman, sue ukggkd ms
L PARDON. He theu rode away in the diti'ction of Sligo.' "

Now, if an Irish priest has been invested by the

I Church of Home with such magic influence over the

minds of the illiterate, that a sturdy Irishwoman, —

' with uplifted arms, vigorously defending with a stout

' iron fire-shovel that which above everything she

innately reveres and appreciates, namely, the virtue of

"an honest man's daughter," — almost falls down on her

knees to ask forgiveness of the offender, in fiagrante

delictu beforo her eyes, the instant that under his

disguise she discerns the holy habiliments of a priest,

how beneficial miifht he the inlluence of the Irish

priesthood, composed of four archbishops, 24 bishops,

2168 priests and curates, l>csidcs readers and alumni

I of all sorts, lay as well as clerical, who minister to

I and i7istn/ct the ])eople. (There are, moreover, in

Ireland, Homaii Catholic colleges, missionaries, and

other establishments, both male and female, with a

large staff, all of whom are authorised to "visit the

people." For these establishments — which, ever since

the numerous conversions to Protestantism have been

rapidly extending — the Roman Catholic Church has

I lately purchased some of the very best houses in the

country, and is building others on plans submitted to

Home and approved there. lu short, the map at the

272 DEGRADED CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. Part II .

commencement of this volume, showing the distribu-
tion of the constabulary force, would not inaccurately
delineate the ecclesiastical stations occupied by the
Roman Catholic priesthood.) And yet, how comes it,
I emphatically ask, that with all these positions, and
with all this superhuman power, the poor, good,
virtuous Irish people, who, in fervent devotion to their
revered religion, will proverbially do anything that
their priest bids them — how comes it, I ask, that,
bound together only by Ribbonism, they are to be found
almost everywhere, in squalid rags, living with their
pigs and asses, and, without metaphor, existing — most
fearfully — with nothing between them and the far west
of America but the rind of a round root, which it has
lately pleased the Almighty to fester and corrupt before
it even comes to maturity ?

Is it because the facility of cultivating that root,
which supports dogs, sheep, fowls, pigs, and children^
encourages early marriages; and that for every such
early marriage the improvident couple is required to
pay to a certain personage the exorbitant fee of 25*. to
begin withy with a further demanded fee of 25. Qd. for
every child that it produces ?

Are the receipts of those fees the latent reason why
every well-organized system of emigrating from such a
degraded state has been strenuously opposed by the
Irish priesthood ?

Is it to prevent the stimulating light of knowledge,
w^hich education would throw upon the Irish poor,
that Archbishop M^Hale, and the majority of the Irish
priesthood, have unceasingly opposed, and are still
strenuously opposing, that national system of education,

THE IRISH rnrESTiiooT).

273

the beneficial effects of which I have imperfectly
descril)ed, — just as they have o|)posed that legal provi-
sion for the poor which prevents the parish priest from
rcmojmng their sole almoner? And while a stranger,
in travelling through Ireland, cannot give a little chiltl
a halipeiiny without receiving in return the indigenous
words " God bless your Arnh'r," why is it that the
Catholic pojiulation of Ireland have been and are still
taught to revile, as a bitter enemy, that generous bene-
factor, the British Parliament, which in the late period
of their distress assisted them to the enormous extent of
eight millions ? In short, in plain terms, is it, or is it
not, the interest and the object of the Irish priesthood to
keep their flocks in their present state of degradation ?
For if it he neither their interest nor their object,
why, I ask, have they neglected to teach those who
have so implicitly confided in them to maintain clean
dwellings, to wear decent clothing, and to adopt a
species of cultivation which would prevent them, to a
considerable degree, from falling victims to a vegetable
disease ?

Lastly, — I beg leave to ask, how comes it that the
constabulary map at the commencement of this volume
indisputably proves, to any one, at a siru/le glance, that
in the north of Ireland, where the poor are, generally
s]>eaking, under Protestant clergymen, as also on the
western coast, where Protestantism has made great
progress, there are infinitely less police stations — that
is to say, there is infinitely less crime — than in the
remaining portion of Ireland, where the poor are under
the especial and almost exclusive care of the Irish
priest hood ?

274 DEGRADED COXDITION OF THE PEOPLE. Pakt U.

In reply to my queries, will the archbishops, bishops^
and Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland affirm that
really they are not invested with power or influence
enough to produce that moral change which Migor-
General Sir Duncan M^Grigor and Colonel Brown — as
it were by word of command — effect upon every
Irishman that enlists either into the constabulary or
into the Dublin police?

In the face of the staring fact that Father Matthew
— single-handed — ^prevailed upon millions of illiterate
Protestant as well as Catholic Irishmen to drink cold
water instead of warm whisky, will the archbishops,
bishops, and Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland declare
that the Church of Rome has gifted them with so little
power, and such feeble influence over their flocks, that
it would be utterly hopeless to advise them to break
the wicked band of Ribbonism, which, as is well known,
is composed solely of Irish Roman Catholics ?

The only calm and reasonable solution that can be
offered of the phenomenon of an intelligent people
living in the state of moral degradation I have so often
described and bewailed, is either that their priests, whose
influence over them is undeniable, are not gifted by the
Pope with sufficient power, or that these Irish priests
have had worldly objects in view, which, to say the
least, have distracted their attention from the temporal
welfare of their flocks ; and on the horns of this
dilemma I leave Archbishop M'Hale.

Having, I submit, negatively replied to the first
query, I will now by the production of positive evi-
dence proceed to elucidate

Pabt n. THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD. 275

2. What has been the open aggressive conduct
OP the Irish Priesthood ?

If it depended on assertions of my own to convict so
powerful and intellectual a body as the Irish priesthood,
supported as they have been, are, and will be, by the
Roman Catholic Church of Rome, I might naturally
tremble at the difficulty of the task. I have, however,
merely to produce two very unequal descriptions of
evidence, namely,

1st. That which has been officially published and
countersigned by the priesthood themselves.

2ndly. That which I collected myself

T 2

( 276 ) Paw II,

TACTICS OF THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD.

In justice to the priesthood of Ireland, as well as to
myself, I have now to request that the reader will dis-
passionately listen to their own case as explained in
their oian speeches — in their oum writings — and lastly,
in their otvn press. As, however, it is absolutely neces-
sary, before I throw before the reader this mass of evi-
dence, that he should understand to what point or points
it precisely refers, I will briefly afford this preliminary
explanation, not in my own words, but in those of a
few very brief extracts from the documents about to
be perused.

1 . At a monster meeting preparatory to the Meath
election, the chairman, the very Rev. Dr. M*Evoy, P.P.,
thus clearly announced, on behalf of the priesthood,
tlieir views, objects, and intentions.

" Oh, if the oldest, the greatest^ the most incorruptible
and sacred power in this island — I mean the influence of
the Priesthood with the people — if that power be but pro-
perly exerted at the coming elections, to what glorious
results may we not confidently look forward I (Hear,
hear !) Yes ; if the priests but lead the people^ the people
will c oquer. (Great cheering.)" — (p. 37.)

In advocating a proposed attack on the existing
rights of Irish landlords, the reverend gentleman ex-
plained the opinions of the Priesthood as follows i —

TACTICB OF THE IRISH ritlESTHOOD.

277

C_lli8

' But what is tenant-right ? What means that terra that
' grates so harshly upon landlords' ears, I will tell voii in
a few and simple words. Tenant-right means fair and
equitahle rents tixed by impartial arhitration, dealing im-
partial justice to landlord and tenant, and enabling both to
live Tenant-right Is the only lever to lift our pros-
trate country — the only balsam to heal her bleedidg
Wounds." — (p, 34.)

The reverend gentleman proceeded further to an-
liounce the political tactics of the Priestliood as M-
^pws : —

" Gentlemen, to one, and one only, other subject shall I,
VlD conclusion, briefly allude. If this country is to l>e sa^ed,
lif she is ever again to become prosperous and free, an Irish
'■party nmst be formed. [Hear!] Unless t/iat be done at
the coming elections, all our labour will he lost, and the
r<^eneration of Ireland rendered hopeless. From the vic-
tories which twenty Irish members last year won, it is easy
to see what an Irish party, animated with the like spirit,
could achieve, if composed of fifty or sixty sterUiig men.
[Loud cries of 'Hear, hear!'] Why! in the balanced
state of parties, they could dictate to any Minister what
terms they pleased — thev could make and unmake govern-
ments at will. [Hear, hear!] It is clear that the Irish
jjeopic, by the return of such a pavty, have it in their power
at the coming elections to secure their every right. Let
theai but send to Parliament fifiy. or even forty, members
iledged to oppose ani/ and every Government that will jiot
,. flake tenant-right and Mi; aU'lition of the Church Esta-
hlishinent Cabinet questions, and, as sure as to-morrow's sun
will rise, so sure will the charter of tenant-right be eon-
ceded, and the monstroBtty o^ ^e Protestant Establishment
disappear from the face of an outraged world. [Loud
■ieer8.J"~(pp. 36, 37.)

2. At the c<mchision of his speech the reverend
gentleman introduced to the meeting the successful
candidate, Mr, I.ucas, " as Vie tried and trusted advocate

278 TACTICS OP THE IRISH PRIESTHOOD. Pamp U.

of evert/ principle dear to the hearts of the entire Prelacy
and Priesthood of the land**

Mr. Lucas, in that high capacity, expressed himself
in a speech of great ability, of which the following are
extracts : —

" I have come to ask you to do me the high honour of
giving me your votes, and returning me, as your representa-
tive, to a very nastj/ house. [Laughter and cheers,] . . • .
By the blessing of God in heaven, I will never rest or cease
my exertions, as long as I am in a position to exercise any
public functions whatever, until that accursed monopoly,
the Established Churchy be cut down by the root^ and
cease to blast the land with its unwholesome influence. • •
.... I pledge myself here to oppose every Government
that will not make something that is equal to Sharman
Crawford's bill, in every one of its protecting provisions, a
Cabinet question. [Hear, hear! and loud cheers,]. ... I
will have nothing to do with any Government, if you return
me to Parliament — except, ' indeed, to oppose them, which
I shall do very cordially — until they make the conces-
sion of justice to the tenant-farmers of Ireland part of their
acknowledged policy. [Loud cheers.] I hope I have
satisfied my reverend friend by the spirit of my answer?
[Hear, hear !J — (pp. 38, 39.)

" The Chairman, the Very Rev. Doctor M*Evoy : Per-
fectly so. [Cheers.]"

The abolition of the Protestant Established Church,
and the adjustment by arbitration of the property of all
Protestant and Catholic landlords, having been thus
publicly declared by a priest to be the avowed object
of the Priesthood of Ireland, the modus operandi, iu
which they proposed that " the influence of the priest"
" hood with the people should be properly exerted at
" the coming elections," shall now be explained by
themselves.

PARTir. ( 279 )

PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES.

In all hostile irruptions it is usual for an invading
army, on entering the peaceful country it is their in-
tention to devastate, to issue a Proclamation, laconically
stating their object and demands ; and accordingly the
following ** Manifesto " was promulgated throughout
Ireland by a newspaper, the avowed organ, as will
hereafter be shown, of the Irish priests : —

FROM ' THE TABLET,' MAY 8, 1852.

" Gen&i'dl Election. — Manifesto from the Clergy of Emly.

" We, the undersigned clergymen of the diocese of
Emly, and county of Limerick, seeing that the general
elections are near at band, when we shall be called upon
to exert our influence in returning two members to repre-
sent this county in Parliament, and knowing that on the
issue of these elections depend not only the liberties of
our religion, but the happiness and the lives of millions —
nay, the existence of the old Faith and the old Celtic race
in Ireland— feel ourselves bound in duty to our country to
place before the public our firm, deliberate resolve to sup-
port no candidate seeking the representation of this county
at the next election who will not pledge himself in express
and unequivocal terms —

" First — ^To give his utmost support to Mr. Sharmau
Crawford's Tenant Right Bill, or, in its absence, to a
measure embodying all its principles.

280 PRIESTS* PUBLISHED SPEECHES, Pabt XL

" Secondly — ^To advocate a repeal of the Ecclesiastical
Titles Act of last session.

** Thirdly — ^To support a measure for appropriating
the revenues of the Established Church in Ireland (saving
existing rights) to useful national purposes.

" Fourthly — To give a strenuous bond fide opposition
to every ministry that will not actively favour the passing
of the above three vital measures.

" Fifthly — To resign his seat in Parliament when a
majority of his constituents shall call on him to do so.

(Signed)

Thomas Hicket, Adm., Cullen.
Thomas Meaoher,C.C., Galbally
Patrick Ryan, C.C, ditto.
James Burke, C.C, Mnrroe.
Robert Short, CjC., Knockany.
Wm. Lanioan, CO., Kilcommin.
Michael Ryan, CO., Ejiocklong.
Tuos. Colliee,C.C., Palla^reen.
Thomas Gilhooly, C.C, Oola.
M.CALLANAN, C.C, BallybHcken.
MiCH.CoNWAY,C.C,Caheroonli»h.
Richard Rafter, C.C, Hoqpital*
J. O'DwYER, C.C, Doon."

N.B. — To English readers it may be necessary to state that in the above
list P.P. means Parish Priest, and C.C. Catholic Curate.

Thomas Clancy, P.P., Galbally.
John Maiier, P.P., Murroe.
John Ryan, P.P., Knockany.
Paul Heney, P.P., Enily.
John Mag rath, P.P., Knocklong
Wm. Barron, P.P., llospital.
James Ryan, P.P.,Caherconli8h.
John Madden, P.P., Kilteely.
John FoGARTy,P.P.,Ballybricken
Patrick Ryan, P.P. Cappamore.
Laurence Power, P.P., Eiilbenny
Thomas Hewit, P.P., Oola.
James Ryan, P.P., Pallasgreen.

On the 10th of July, 1852, The Tablet, by authority,
promulgated the following general order: —

*' The priest will have not only to exhort^ and entreat,
and command his people to vote for the popular candidates,
but he must bring the voters together, and go with them
to the polling-places, and watch over them at the tally-
rooms like a sentinel .... The priest must be the gutter
agent.'*

(A gutter agent is a street agent, as contradistinguished from the agent
whose orders are to remain in the poUing-hooth. The duty of the
gutter-agent is to rummage the streets for voters, — lay hold of them, —
and bring them to the polling agent.)

Nine days afterwards, the following district order
was circulated throughout Ireland : —

p

I'HIESTS* PUBLISHED SPEECHES.

" County Walerford Election — Power and Esmonde.

" Rev. dear Sir, — Tht election committeo respectfully
request that you and independent Liberal electors do
make the necessary arrangements for bringing the voters
rf your parish to their proper polliug-plae^a on Friday,
the 23rd of July. You should appoint a time and place
where the voters should assemble at an early hour on
Friday morning, and proceed under your directiou to the
polling* place. Wherever a difficulty exists in procuring
jaunting cars, the voters should be told to travel by their
own horses ; and soiue of the larmers should provide for
the conveyance of such voters as have not horses by
bringing their own common cars, for which they will be
paicL The polling will commence at nine o'clock on th«j
morning of Friday, and at eight o'clock on the morning
of Sattu-dav. Tke Committee deem it expedient that tou
ahould attend in the booth white yonr parishioners are
being polled. The people should be cautious against
rioting, as the sheriS' would have the power of suspending
the poll.

*' Richard Musgrave, Chairman.

" Roger Power, 11, C.C., l Honorary

" Jambs Delahuntv, I Secretaries.

" UoUmidM ii<Kim«, Mall, Walcrrord,
■• 19Ui July, 1852."

The foregoing well-organized arrangements having
been duly completed, the part openly assumed by the
priests iu the late elections will ajipear from the fol-
lowing imperfect list : —

" In the county of Galway, and also in the county of
Mayo, Archbishop M'Hale himself boldly came forward
and proposeil the candidates.

" In the borough of Carloiv the Rev, Dr. Walsh, of
Carlow College, nominated Mr. Sadleir.

" In the borough of Galintij the Rev. P. Daly, P.P.,
nominated Mr. O'Flaherty.

282 FHIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Pabx IL

" In the borough of Clonmel the Very Rev, Dr. Burice,
P.P., nominated Mr. Lawless, and the Yen. Archdeacoa
Laf!an spoke in his favour.

" In the county of Cork Mr. Scully was seconded by
the Rev. Mr. Corkran, P.P.

** In King^s County Mr. Bland was seconded by the
Rev. Dr. O'Rafferty, P.P., and Mr. O'Brien by the Jlev.
W. O'Malley, P.P.

" In Tipperary the Very Rev. Dr. Burke, P.P., and
the Rev. J. Morris, P.P., proposed Mr. Scully ; and the
Rev. Mr. LafFan, P.P., seconded Mr. Sadleir.

" In Waterford the Rev. Mr. Flynn, P.P., seconded
Mr. Power.

" In Leitrim the Very Rev. Dean Dawson, P.P., pro-
posed Dr. Brady, and the Rev. P. Curran, P.P., proposed
Mr. M'Mahon.

" In Carlow County the Rev. Mr. Lawler, P.P., pro-
posed Mr. Keogh.

" In Meath four priests, the Rev. Mr. Kelly, P.P., the
Rev. Mr. Power, P.P., the Rev. R. Ennis, P.P., and the
Rev. Thomas Langan, united in recommending Messrs.
Corbally and Lucas.

" In Queen's County the Rev. Mr. Fitzpatrick, P.P.,
proposed Mr. Dunne.

" In Mayo the Very Rev. Dean Burke and the Rev.
Mr. Hardiman proposed Mr. Higgins.

" In Limerick the Rev. Mr. Hickey, P.P., proposed
Mr. Monsell, and Archdeacon Fitzgerald, P.P., spoke in
his favour.

" In Westmeath the Rev. Mr. Coghlan, P.P., pro-
posed Mr. Urquhart, and the Rev. Mr. Dowling, P.P.,
spoke.

" In Weaford the Rev. J. Redmond, P.P., proposed
Mr. Morgan, and the Rev. P. Devereux Mr. M'Mahon.

" In Galway the Rev. J. Macklin, P.P., proposed Sir
Thomas Burke.

" In Clare the Rev. Mr. Lynch, P.P., the Rev. Mr.
Quaid, P.P., the Rev. J. M*Mahon, P.P., and the Rev.
Mr. Bourke, united in the recommendation of Mr.
O'Brien and Mr. Fitzgerald.

Pabt IL PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. 283

** In Monaghan the Rev. P. Brennan, P.P., proposed
Dr. Gray.

" In Kilkenny the Rev. Mr. Aylward, P.P., recom-
mended Serjeant Shee.

" In Limerick City the Rev. J. Brahan, P.P., proposed
Mr.O*Brien.

** In Clare County the members were recommended,
proposed, and seconded by the Rev. Wm. Lynch and
Ilev. Mr. MKiuaid.

" In Kilkenny County by the Rev. Mr. Keeffe and the
Rev. Mr. Aylward.

" Longford County j Rev. E. M'Gaver.

" Sligo County, Rev. D. Noone.

" Louth County, Rev. Mr. Bamion, Rev. Mr. Lough-
ran, Rev. Mr. Trainor.

" Neto Boss, Rev. Pat Crane, Rev. Thomas Doyle,
Rev. J. Crane.

" Athlone^ Rev. John Reilly.

" Dundalk, Rev. Dr. Kieran.

" Kerry County^ Rev. Dr. M'Ennery.

" Cork City, Rev. John Falvey."

But, besides proposing and seconding those candi-
dates whom they considered most likely to support
their views, it will appear from the following docu-
ments," officially published in their oum newspapers^ that
the Roman Catholic priests of Ireland in the name of
the Almighty openly avowed sentiments religious,
moral; and political, which shall now, without intro-
ductory comment, fairly speak for themselves.

At the Galway election Archbishop M*Hale spoke as
follows : —

" If you wish that your chapels should be wrecked,
that your priests should be flung into prison, that the
God of Heaven, under the form of bread and wine,
should be exposed to blasphemous insult, as he was on a
late occasion, you will support Lord Derby's Government."

284 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPBECaES. Part IL

Again at a meeting at Trake held for the purpose
of promoting the return of Mr. Maurice 0*Connell, the
Rev. Mr. ♦ ♦ ♦, P.P., proclaimed the threats of the
Priesthood as follows : —

" If there be a Catholic elector of this borough wha
will dare to go forward and register his vote for the
English enemy, pass him by with scorn and contempt.
Do not be seen to walk with him, to talk to, or associate
with him. Let him fester in his corruption : be not you
contaminated by any contact with a wretch so base and
degraded. Despise him. If you meet him on the high
road, pass over to the other side. Have no dealing with
him. Make him understand that he cannot afford to brave
the honest indignation of his fellow-countrymen. Electors
of Tralee, you — the honest electors — who have always
upheld the independence of your town, assemble in a body
tomorrow, go to those unfortunate wretches, and make
them acquainted with the consequences of their guilt.
For my part, 1*11 confess to you what my feelings are with
respect to those wretched and corrupt Catholics. Let me
suppose one of those wretches prostrated by sickness.
Suppose the hand of death heavy upon him, and that a
messenger comes to me to attend him in his dying mo-
ments. If there were no other priest in the way, I would
be bound to go. I dare not refuse to attend him. But I
confess to you that I would be sorry from my heart to be
called upon to attend the death-bed of such a being —
(great sensation). I would go to attend such a ^wretch
with a heavy heart, without much hope, because I would
feel that I was going to administer sacraments to one
whose conscience was so smeared, and whose heart was so
rotten at the core, that I could not have much expectation
of effecting a conversion. Overpowered with the im-
pression that I was about to visit a perjured wretch, who,
for a miserable bribe, had betrayed the dearest interests oiF
his country and his religion, and borne down with the
harrowing reflection that God, in His just anger, might
leave such a wretch to die in his sins — (sensation) — I
would fear that my mission would be fruitless — that I

■r ir. PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SrEECHER. 285

could have no hope of converting a heart so hardened —
so loBt to every sense of duty and religion as to vote in
I support of those who would tramplo on the Lord or 1 Fosts
— (sensation) ! "

Tlic views and objects of the Irish Priesthood were
openly explained by themselves as follows: —

FROM 'THE TABLET,' APRIL 10, 1852.

" The Approaching Election — Important Public Meeting

in Thiam.

" [ From tbe 7\iam Bendd.}

" On Tuesday last, pursuant to requisition, a most nume-
rous and intiuential meeting of the electors of the baronies
of Dunmore, Ballymoe, Tyaquin, Clare, and other dis-
tricts of the county, was held ill the Court-house of this
town, for the purpose of securing, at the coming election,
the return of gentlemen who will honestly represent the
feelings of this great county.

[Amongst those preient are publislied Ihe luunpa of no less than 26 priests.]

" M. S. Kincan, Esq., D,L., J.P., Blindwell, was called
to the chair.

"The Very Rev. P. Reynolds and W. Gannon, Esq,,
were nominated honorary secretaries.

"The Chairman addressed the meeting, and read a letter
from Mr. Bodltin, of Kilclooney, in which he declined to
be put in nomination as candidate for the county.

" The Rev. Mr. Reifnoldti having given some explana-
tions relative to the proposal made to Mr. Bodkin,

** Mr. W. Gannon, T.C., came forward, and proposed the
rst resolution.

"The Chairman, having put the question, declared it
liarried unanimously.

"Rev. P. M'Gatiran, P.P., A hascragh, proposed the
second resolution, and said — No candidate will merit the
suflrages or support of tlie electors of Galway, if not

286 PllIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Pabt IL

pledged to vote for a just, fair, and equitable adjustment
of the relations between landlord and tenant — ^what is
known as tenant-right — (hear, hear) — the removal of thai
monster nuisance the Protestant Establishment^ that in-
cubus which is the great social evil of the country, and the
badge of degradation and religious inferiority on the
Catholic people, who are the great majority. (Hear,^laid
cheers.) Moreover, to obtain from the Government funds
for free and Catholic education in Ireland, as the funds at
present devoted to that purpose are spent in establishing
educational instruction unsuited to the requirements, and
hostile to the religious feelings and circumstances of the
people of the country. (Hear, hear.) The reverend gen-
tleman, afler some further remarks, concluded amid loud
cheers."

FROM * THE TABLET,' MAY 22, 1852.

" Chreat Meeting at Navan.

" On Thursday a most numerous, respectable, and influ-
ential meeting of the independent electors of this great
county was held ai Navan for the purpose of receiving
Mr. Lucas, on the occasion of his presenting himself to
the constituency as a candidate for the representation of
the county in the next parliament. Mr. Lucas, on his
arrival in the town, was met by a respectable deputation
of the local clergy and electors, and he was accompanied
by them to the Parochial-house, where he was most cor-
dially received by the clergy [consisting of 24 priestsj
assembled from different parts of the county.

"The chair was taken by Thomas Maher^ Esq., of
Koundstown.

•^ The Rev. Messrs. Kelly and Tormey and Mr. Foley
were requested to act as secretaries to the meeting.

" The Rev. Mr. Kelly then read letters of apology from
some gentlemen who were unable to attend the meeting.

" The Rev. Mr. Power ^ President of Navan Seminary,
then presented himself, and was received with loud and
most nearty acclamations. He supposed that they were

Pabt II. PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. 287

already aware of the objects of that meetmg. They knew
that an election in this county might be expected in a very
short time, and that the Liberal party ought to be pre-
pared when the time arrived to have their men selected,
who would be capable of expressing the feelings of the
constituency, their wants and their wishes, in the British
Parliament. Why was it that they were now again fight-
ing for civil and religious liberty ? They had supposed
that that question was settled in 1829 by the great Libe-
rator of Ireland — (loud cheers) — but the Catholics were
forced again into the field of agitation by the aggression
that had been made in the last session of parliament on
their rights and liberties. (Hear, hear.) But they were
now determined to take the jield against the British Par-
liament, and to maintain their rights, civil and religious,
as they had the power to do so in their own hands. (Loud
cheers.)"

FROM *THE TABLET,* MAY 22, 1852.

" Representation of Westmeath — Meeting of the County

Club at Mullingar.

" A numerous and influential meeting of the Indepen-
dent Club of the county Westmeath was held in the
Court-house, MuUingar, on Tuesday, which was crowded
in every part by electors and others, in addition to the
members of the clubs. The proceedings, which were of
a very animated character, commenced shortly after one
o*clock, and did not terminate till after six p.m.

" Amongst the large number of gentry, clergy, and
electors of the county present, there were

[Here foll<Jw the names of 13 priests.]

" At half-past one o'clock the chair was taken, amid
loud cheering, by Col. Fulke Greville.

" The Rev. Mr. Sava^e^ C.C., secretary, having read
the minutes of the previous meeting of the club,

" The Very Rev. Dr. Kearney ^ P.P., said that before the
candidates were heard he wished to propose a resolution

288 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Paet II.

declaring and defining the principles of the electors of the
county Westmeath, and without a clear adhesion to which
no candidate would be acceptable. (Hear, hear.) The first
of these principles was the determination to use every effort
for the appropriation of the temporalities of the Protestant
Church for national uses. (Cheers.) The next was the re-

J)eal of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, though he would con-
ess it was a matter of perfect indifference whether that was
done or not, inasmuch as the Bishops had already repealed
it themselves. (Cheers.) But both these questions faded
into insignificance when compared with the third question
— a question which, in his heart and soul, he believed to
be one of life and death to the tenantry of Ireland — and
that was, whether their representatives would to the utmost
support the principles of Sharman Crawford! s bill. (Loud
cheers.) After a few more remarks, the reverend gentle-
man concluded by moving the meeting to declare that
none of the addresses published by the various candidates
came up to the requirement of the electors of the county,
and that the meeting adjourn to another day, when they
would take into consideration the propriety of looking for
other candidates. (Hear.) He would, however, be glad
to hear what explanations were to be given of these ad-
dresses, but if they were not satisfactory he would move
the rejection of all the candidates, and that the club apply
to the Tenant League to recommend candidates to the
county. (Cheers.)

" The Rev. Mr. Masterson^ C.C., Mullingar, seconded
the resolution.

" The Rev. Mr. Bowling^ P.P., Clonmellon, considered
the motion premature.

*' The Rev. Mr. Savage seconded the motion.

" Rev. Mr. Kearney. — All I will ark of the meeting to
declare now is, that the addresses as they stand do not
come up to the requirements of the country. (Cheers)."

Pabt II. PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. 289

FROM THE « WEEKLY TELEGRAPH,' JUNE 26, 1852.

" Chreat Meeting of the Liberal Electors of Tyrone.

" [ From our own Reporter.]

" One of the largest county meetings ever held in the
North of Ireland assembled at Omagh, on Thursday, for
the purpose of giving expression to the feelings of the
Liberal electors on the subject of the representation of
the county, and to denounce the attempts made by the
Government to connect the Catholic priests and the Pres-
byterian clergymen who advocate the great principles of
tenant-right, with Ribbonism and the commission of
outrage.

" The Rev. M. O'Kane rose to propose the first reso-
lution.

" The Rev. Paul Bradley proposed the next resolu-
tion, and addressed the meeting in a brief but very telling
speech.

** The Rev. John Hamilton^ P.M., of Cross-roads, se-
conded the resolution. The reverend gentleman, at some
length and with much eloquence, combated the arguments
put forward by the opponents of tenant-right.

*' The Rev. Mr. Mooney^ C.C, spoke in support of the
second resolution.

" The resolution was put from the chair, and carried
with acclamation.

" The Rev. Peter Gordon^ P.P., proposed the third
resolution.

" The Rev. Mr. Ferguson seconded the resolution.
The reverend gentleman, in the course of some very prac-
tical observations, called on the people to use every legi-
timate exertion to secure the return of the candidate
pledged to tenant-right. (Hear, hear, and great cheering.)

" The Rev. Mr. O'Doherty having been called to die
second chair, the meeting, at six o'clock, separated, cheer-
ing for Captain Higgins and tenant-right.""

u

290 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Paot n.

FROM * THE TELEGRAPH,' JUNE 28, 1862.

" Monster Meeting in Athlone. — Great demonstration in

favour of the Brigade.

" [From our own Reporter.]

^^ Decidedly one of the greatest popular demonstrations
that has been seen in Ireland for some years was that
which commenced in the town of Athlone on Saturday
night, and was brought to a close last evening. For some
days it had been very generally known through the coun-
ties of Westmeath and Roscommon, and the King's
County, that a meeting in favour of Civil and Keligious
Liberty and Tenant Kight would be held in Athlone on
Sunday.

" On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Kilroe, P.P., se-
conded by acclamation, the chair was taken by the Rev.
Dr. Kearney, P.P.

" The Chairman. — I beg to express my gratitude,
which I do most sincerely, for the high honour you have
conferred on me in selecting me to fill the position of
chairman of this assembly — of this enormous meeting.
(Hear, hear.) . .

" The Very Rev. Archdeacon O^Reilly^ who, on pre-
senting himself, was received with vociferous cheers, waving
of hats, &c., said — I rise to second the resolution proposed
by the highly-gifted, talented, and patriotic member for
Mayo. (Cheers.) It is notorious that the Whigs and
Tories, who are now combining against him, would be
happy and delighted to deprive him of his seat in Parlia-
ment ; but with tlie blessing of God they never shall do
that. (Cheers.) I would now remind you that you should
not let your exertions rest with this day ; but aid those
other Irish members who have joined with Mr. Keogh in
resisting the enemies of our creed and our country. (Loud
applause.) The Very Rev. Archdeacon resumed his seat
after having to frequently acknowledge the cheering which
greeted him on all sides."

PRIESTS' PUBLISUED SPEECHES.

FItOM 'THE TELEGBAPH," JULY 5. 1652.

" Great Meeting in Carlow.

" [From our own Rsporlers.]
' Yesterday there was held at Carlow a meeting which
^ must be cousidered as one of the most iniportaiit of the
J many interesting assemblages of the people that have
^-taken place within the last few weeks.

' The following were amongst those on the platform : —
Very Rev. Dr. Lalor, V.G. and P.P. ; Rev. James
Maher, P.P.; Rev. Mr. Hume, P.P.; Rev. Mr. Murrav,
P.P.; Rev, Mr. Hickey, P.P.; Rev. Mr. Tyrrell, P.P*. ;
Rev. Mr. Muldowney, P.P.; Rev. Mr. M'Carthy, Admr.;
I Rev. Mr. Dowling, C.C; Rev. Mr. Conroy, C.C. ; Rev.
\ Mr. O'Connor, C.C. ; Rev. Mr. Murray, C.C; Rev. Mr.
Bempsey, C.C. ; Rev. Mr. M'Alroy, C.C.

"At three o'clock, on the motion of the Very Rev. Dr.
Lalor, V.G., P.P., seconded by the Rev. J. Jlaher, the
excellent and esteemed parish priest of Carlow,

** John ffanlon, Esq., of Grange, was called to the chair,
amid vehement cheering.

'* Mr. Robert Kenny, amid loud and prolonged cheers,
proposed the first resolution, which was in the following
terms : —

'* 'That in the present awful crisis, when the public

exercise of the Catholic religion has been proclaimed — the

lives and property of many of Htr Majesty's Catholic

subjects sacritieed — their houses of worship destroyed — the

most sacred emblems of their faith trampled und^r foot,

and some of the best and purest of their minsters assailed

^ with brute bigot force — it is no longer possible for the

^L Catholic and Liberal electors of the county Carlow to

^B allow themselves to be misrepresented in the Imperial

^m Parliament by men pledged to support an administration

determinedly hostile to the principles of civil and religious

liberty. That in pursuance of this our determination, we

call upon John Ball, Esq., and Matthew Higgins, Esq., to

^L become candidates for the representation oftlie county at

H

292 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Pabt n.

the ensuing election, and we pledge ourselves to use all
the exertions in our power to secure their triumphant
return/

" The Very Rev. Dr. Lalor, V.G^ P.P., seconded the
first resolution, and said — It was most probable there were
many present who might not be aware who he was, and
he therefore wished to announce himself to that great and
glorious meeting as the parish priest of Bagnalstown.
(Loud cheers, and cries of * We know you well — ^you're
right welcome, Father Lalor.')'*

FROM * THE TELEGRAPH,* JULY 16, 1862.

" Great Meeting at Westport.

** [From our own Reporter.]

" The patriotic electors and non-electors of the barony
of Murrisk, of the towns of Westport and Newport, of wild
Croagh Patrick, and sublime Achill, of the extensive dis-
tricts which surround Clew Bay, and the country from the
sea to Castlebar and Ballinrobe, assembled in public
meeting in the town of Westport, on Thursday last, to
express their confidence in their late patriotic and zealous
representatives, and their determination to drive the
Stockport candidate to seek the gratification of his parlia-
mentary ambition far away from their noble county.

*' The meeting took place in front of the Catholic
church, inside the railings, in front of which the platform
had been erected.

" At twelve o'clock the Very Rev. Dean Burke, and
many of the clergy and leading electors, in carriages, cars,
and on horseback, accompanied by a concourse of the
people on foot^ proceeded along the Ballinrobe road to
meet Mr. George Ouseley Higgins.

" The following placard was posted throughout the town
and carried on a board : —

PBtESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES.

I
I

" Miuwacre and Sacrilege at Stockport I

IrM Calholir* mttrdr,nd in l/mir btiU I .'

Tiventf-fanr tiouaes wreclceil anil plunderod.

The priest'g lioiwe burnt I

Tbe Chftpot ascked aaii piU&gvd I t

Tlie TabBbNaoi.b broken open I I f

And tbo HOLY OF HOLIES SPILT ON THE OROUNDMl

In conaeqnence of LOBl) DERBY'S Proclamation,

Catholics of Ireland 1 wLoever vol<ia for a aupjiortur of LORD DERBY'S

Governmeot voI^h for the masBocre of hia ooiinlryioen !

The violation of tlie Hoiiee of GOD ; and

The pollation of It« BODY AND BLOOD OF HIS BEDEEMERl 1 1

Diiwn with LORD DERBY and M'ALPINE !

Notwitlistaiidiiig that heavy drenching showers poured
down during Mr. Higgins's entry, and through the greater
part of the meeting, the vast multitude firmly held their
ground.

*' On the motion of Captain Fitxgerald Hi^ns, se-
conded by Francis Burke, Esq., M.D., the chair waa
taken by the Very Rev. the Dean of Tuani.

" Amongst those present we observed : —

" Very Rev. Dean Burke, P.P., Westport ; George
Ouseley Higgins, Esq., Glencorrib, Candidate for Mayo;
Captain Fitzgerald Higgins, J.P^ Trafalgar Park ; Rev.
P. Ward, P.P., Augbagower; Rev P. Jennings, P.P.,
Lecanvy; Rev, Mr. Fitzgerald, P.P., Islaiideady ; Rev.
Martin M'Hale, C.C, Louisburgh ; Rev. P. O'Malley,
C.C., Islandeady ; Rev. Mr. Ryan. P.P., Kilmcna ; Rev.
Mr. Curley. C.C.. Castlebar; Rev. John M'Geogh, C.C,
Kilmena; Rev Geoffrey Burke, C.C, Aughagower; Rev.
Bartholomew Cavanagh, C.C, Westport ; Rev. Mr.
M'Manus ; Francis Garvey, Barrister-at-Law ; Francis
Burke, M.D., Westport; George Hildebrand, Cherry
Cottage; John O'Beirne, Westport; P. Moore, West-
.port.

'* The Very Rev. Dean Burke then proceeded to
address the meeting. The venerable and fearless patriot
spoke as follows: — Electors of Murrisk, and non-electors
of Murrisk, I beg to offer you my most unfeigned thanks
for the honour you have conferred upon me, by calling on
me to take the chair at this meeting and to preside over

294 PBIESTS' PXJBUSHED SPEECHES. Past n.

the proceedings of this day. (Cheers.) I have, both by
word of mouth and by the exercise of my pen amongst
you, for nearly forty years, endeavoured to shake off the
trammels and the chains by which you, and your fathers^
before you, were bound down. (Cheers.) I have been
obliged to agitate by day and by night for many a year,
and many a dreary journey have I taken, for the attain-
ment of your rights before Catholic Emancipation was won
for you. There are many interesting and pressing sub-
jects on which it is probably necessary that I should
address you ; but the subject which is beyond all others of
the greatest importance to you is that of tenant right,
without which your oppressed country will never be able
to raise its head. The revered and venerated patriot
then resumed his seat amidst protracted and enthusiastic
cheering.

" The Rev. P. Ward, P.P., Aughagower, rose to move
the first resolution.

" The Very Rev. Patrick M^Manus rose to propose
the second resolution, expressive of the indignation of the
meeting at the audacious attempt made by the exter-
minators to force a nominee of the Derby Government on
the county, and their determination to defeat him triumph-
antly.

" The Rev. Mr. Curley^ C.C., proposed the third reso-
lution, calling on the non-electors to join in the canvass.
The reverend gentleman, in an able speech, implored of
those present to consider that the time for talking was
now passed, and that the period of action had arrived.

*' The fourth resolution, affirming that * no elector, who
valued the lives of his countrymen, the interests of Ire-
land, or the freedom of religion^ could vote for M 'Al-
pine ; or, in other words, send him to sustain in Parliament
a ministry treacherously hostile to tenant rights the au-
thors of the recent proclamation, and, through it, the
instigators of the StocTkport massacre and bloodshed,' was
proposed by the Rev. B. Cavanagh, C.C."

PRIESTS' PUBUSHED SPEECHES.

■ FROM -THE TELEGEAPII,' JULY 21, 14(52.

I ** Mat/0 Election. — The Nomhialion.

I " [From our own Reporter.]

I "The aoiuinatioii of candiJates for the representation

I of this great eouiity taok place yesterday.

"Very great excitement exists in Mayo on the subject
of the election, and the excitement lias manifested itself in
an uniiiistakeable manner within the last few days. The
evening before last a large number of the cltrgj-men of the
county had assembled in Castlebar; and the street in fi-ont
of Armstrong's Hotel, in which are Messrs. Moore and
Higgins's comniittee-Pooras, was filled with people, who
cheered heartily for the popular candidates.

I "The Very Rev, Dean Burke, the Very Rev. Dean
Costelloe, the Verj- Rev. Mr. Curley, one of the respected
curates of Castlebar ; the Rev. Mr. Egau, P.P. ; Captain
F. Higgins, and some other gentlemen, subsequently ad-
dressed the electors from the window of the hotel, and

Icalled on them to be at their posts when the time for

{action would arrive.

"His Grace the Lord ArchbishFip of Tuam, accom-
panied by Geo. Henry Moore, Mr. Keogh, M.P., Mr.
Valentine O'Connor Blake, and several other gentlemen
who occupied very elegant private carriages, entered
Castlebar, escorted by a very large body of people, many
of whom were mouriU'd on horseback.

" HLs Grace, the popular caudidates, the Very Rev.
Dean Burke, the Very Rev. Dean Costelloe, the Very
Rev. Archdeacon M'Hale, the Very Rev. Archdeacon
Coghlan, and a number of other clergj'men and gentlemen
proceeded at ten o'clock from the committee-rooms to the
court-house.

" The Lorfl Archbishop of Tuam rose to propose
Mr. George Henry Moore. We regret that, owing to a
great pressure of election intelligence on our space, we are

k obliged to considerably abridge our report of his Grace's
splendid speech.
" Nine couuties (said his Grace) were met that day, and

If p

296 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Pabt n.

would triumphantly echo such music as had never been

Sersonified by the Muses — it would be the music of free-
om all over Ireland. (Vociferous applause.) . . •
^^ He could not trust himself to dilate on that topic at
which he had just glanced — ^to the atrocities that haa been
committed on their countrymen and their co-religionists in
another part of the empire. (Shouts of * Stockport ')
He had not alluded to the desolation that was everywhere
visible on their own land. (Hear, hear.) He had not
spoken of the number of their children, of their brothers,
of their sisters, whom destitution had forced to another
land, and who were now with arms outstretched imploring
of those at home to do their duty. (Tremendous cheering.)
He would not in that court, which was consecrated to
Justice, sully his lips with a relation of the doings in that
town of some of the lordly occupants of the county. (Hear,
hear, and cheers.) In conclusion, the Archbishop called
upon the people to let their motto be, * Moore and Uiggins.'
(Loud cheers.) He would illustrate his adherence to that
motto by his vote. (Tremendous cheers.) If all the
Liberal electors did the same — if they pulled for the two
popular candidates, that would be the last time they would
be engaged in a conflict like the present The enemy
would be deterred from encountering them again. This
would be the sixth and last link in that electric chain
which, after the additional electric power which this contest
was sure to impart to it, would shock him who should
even touch it (Rapturous cheering.) The distinguished
prelate concluded amid deafening applause, waving of hats,
&C. &c., by formally proposing Mr. (jeorge Henry Moore.**

FROM * THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL,' JUNE 16, 1852.

" Representation of the County Cavan.

** [From our own Reporter.]

" An aggregate meeting of the clergy, magistrates, elect-
ors, farmers, and other inhabitants of the barony of TuUy-
garvey and of the adjoining districts was held on Monday,

PRIESTS" PUBLISHED SPEECHES.

297

»
^

k

in the town of Cooteliill, for tlie purpose of securing the
return of two imlependcnt tenant-right members at the
cusuing general election. Not less than six thousand per-
sons assembled on the occasion, and the proceedings were
characterised by the greatest possible enthusiasm,

"The Chairman having briefly explained the object of
the meetiiiR,

" The Rev. Tbovias Brady. CC^ Drung, came forward
to propose the first resolution, and was received with loud
and enthusiastic cheers. He said — Electors of Cavan, I
come here to ask you how you are determined to act at the
approaching election ; or are you resolved to w ipe away
that stain which unfortunately has been attached to the
constituency of Cavan, that they are hound hand and foot,
body and soul, to the landloTdsf It is a base calumny to
gay so, for I am convinced that the great body of the
electors of tliis county are as free and independent as any
other constituency in Ireland — 'They know their rights,
and, knowing, dare maintain them.' (^Cheers. ) The pastors
of every creed are not out of place in affording their
counsel and countenance to assist in the regeneration of
their unfortunate country; for unless the roof-tree is firm
the altar is not secure. As an humble shepherd of a poor
and suffering flock, I come here this day to raise my voice
against a system of oppression which can find no parallel in
any part of the civilised world. The poor people are
ground to powder by cruel and heartless landlords, and we
are called Communists and Red Republicans if we seek a
redress of their grievances in a legal and constitutional
manner. But 1 care not what opprobrious epithet they
may call me, I will stand by the people and proclaim
their wrongs as long as God endows me with an under-
standing to know, a heart to feel, and a tongue to express
my sentiments. (Cheers.) The momentous questions
that are to be decided on the hustings throughout Ireland
are tenant-right and free-trade. No other questions ought
to be permitted to distract the attention of the Liberal
electors from the solemn duty which the occasion imposes
on them. The Earl of Derby is at the head of the present
government He is the stem opponent not only of those

298 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Part H.

measures, but of every measure calculated to improve the
condition of the Irish people. From his hostility to the
Irish people he was formerly designated * Scorpion Stan-
ley/ The sign of the Scorpion is again in the ascendant —
not in its natural and appointed time, but by a dislocation
in the Zodiac —

" * Tibi bracbia contrabit ardens,

Scorpius, et coeli justa plus ^Jte reliquit.'

(Loud cheers.) The great work of social and commercial
reform, which the late Sir Robert Peel accomplished, the
Earl of Derby will attempt to undo. Sir Robert rescued
the labourer from poverty by bringing within his reach
abundant employment, and gladdening his household with
the presence of a full board ; but Lord Derby will pass
the poor man's loaf through the Custom-house before his
children can eat of it, and place on food an impost in order
that the owners of the land may indulge in luxury. And
what points with keenest anguish the arrows directed
against us is this, that we are told that Protection is for
our good. Yes, it is designed for our good just in the
same way that the ruthless slave-driver intends for the
good of his victim the new knot he adds to his whip. Lord
Derby may adopt the words of Rehoboam in sacred his-
tory — * My little finger shall be thicker than my father's
loins. And now, whereas my father did lade you with a
heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father hath
chastised you with whips, and I will chastise you with
scorpions.' (Hear, and cheers.) Who is the present
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the leader of the House of
Commons? Benjamin Disraeli, a converted Jew, a gen-
tleman whose ancestors were on visiting terms with Ne-
buchadonozor when his Majesty returned from grass.
Electors of Cavan, will you vote for any man who will sup-
port such an administration ? (Cries of No.) No ; perish
the thought! (Cheers.) The days of humbug are gone
by, the people can now appreciate sound sense, they know
what fair play means, and, while they are morally strong,
they are physically omnipotent. (Cheers.) The period is
passed when despotism could stifle the cry of misery, or

PBtESTS' rUBLISHED SPEECHES.

299

p

the intrigues of ministers sport with the wrongs of a nation.
(Loud cheers.) The people are not to be gulled, and they
will not repose confidence in assertions, particularly when
they come from persons who have been cradlod in the lap
of bigotry, who have fed upon venality, and who feel that
the ignorance of the human race is the most effectual
pledge for the safety and continuance of their vile and
pernicious system of exclusion and monopoly. (Loud
cheers.) Before despots bound and tyrants scourged her,
Ireland was the abode of harmony— the temple of science.
Instead of being a blank in the world, she was its enlight-
ener; instead of being a receptacle of crime and wretched-
ness, it was the land of sanctity and knowledge, (Cheers.)
In seeking for iejiant-right we claim justice for the landlord
as well as the tenant. Fiatjustitia ruat ccplum. Are you
in earnest, then, to vote for tenant-right candidates ? If
you are, prepare for the contest — an opportunity will be
soon affoitted you. Send men to the British senate who will
vote for the tenant-right, and the storm may howl, and
the billows may roll, hut the triumphant swell of a nation's
voice will watt her cause proudly buoyant over those
shoals and quicksands where temerity and imbecility have
foundered. (Cheers.) Some will be found, I fear, base
enough to sell their country, but they cannot sell the
Hberties of her children; that is a title derived from
Heaven, and the imumtable heritage of myriads unborn.
The suicide may put out his lamp, but he cannot extin-
guish the immortal spirit. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.)
Let you rally, then, for tenant-right and free-trade, and
k-t your shout be heard within the walls of St. Stephen's
too distinct to be mistaken, too loud to be despised. The
slavish spirit may rest content with his condition, but the
expanding soul of liberty will burst the last fetter that
would bind it! (Cheers.) He who trusts his freedom to a
tyrant from that moment becomes a slave. We seldom
hear of a nation deriving liberty through the benignity of
its rulers, or a people remaining long in bondage who are
determined to be free. Shake off, then, the galling yoke
which oppresses yon; let your shout be for tenant-right
and liberty — liberty and tenant-righl.

300 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Past U.

" * And there 's a louder sound

Than earth asunder riven,
A voice that rises from the ground.

And will be heard in Heaven —
It is the death-shout of the free
Who dares and dies for liberty.*

(Loud cheers.) The rev. gentleman concluded by pro-
posing the resolution, which was expressive of the dissatis-
faction of the electors with the conduct of the present
members.

" Mr. James Prior seconded the resolution.

"The Rev. D. Bell (who, on presenting himself in
obedience to the call of the meeting, was loudly cheered)
spoke to it. He said that, although he had complained as
much as any man in Ireland of the conduct of landlords^ he
should do them the justice of observing, that, as it was the
instinct of every beast of prey to preserve its prey to itself
(laughter), so they were not to blame for trying to continue
the system of domination which they had so long pursued.
For his part, he expected no favour or affection at their
hands, and he told them to do their worst. (Hear and
cheers.) .... After some further observations the
rev. gentleman concluded amidst loud and prolonged
cheering.

" The resolution was then put and carried."

FROM * THE TABLET/ APRIL 17, 1852.

" Kells District Tenant-Right Society^ County Meath.

" This body held a meeting in the Town Hall of Kells,
on Wednesday, the 14th of April, Rev. P. Kelly^ P.P.,
in the chair.

" There was an unusually large attendance, on account
of the excitement occasioned by the approach of the
general election. The substance of the proceedings is
contained in the following resolution : —

" * That we consider the time is now come to commence
the necessary preparation for the approaching election in
this county — that, therefore, we highly approve of the
proposal to hold a general meeting of the district societies

r U. PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. 301

I of Meath for that purpose at Navan at the earliest oppor-
tunity — that we pledge ourselves to attend same, and all
adjournments of same, and that we respectiiilly call upon
all the tenant-right electors of the county to abstain from
promising their votes to any candidate tor the present, in
order that they may he ready fur combined and decisive
action at the fitting opportunity.'

" This resolution was moved by T. Finegan, Esq^ and
seconded by the Rev. W. Gibnty, P.P., and passed
imanimously.

" Another resolution was moved by the Very Rev. N.
M'Evoy, and seconded hy Thomas Briody, Esq., recom-
mending Friday, the 23rd inst,, as a convenient day for
holding the meeting in Navan. On tliis head a commu-
nication was opened with the secretaries of the other
district societies of the county, and the result will be
publicly aunounced in due time."

" Meeting of the County Tlpperary.

" On Monday last an important and influential county
meeting was held in the court-house, Thurles, for the
purpose of selecting candidates for the representation at
the approaching general election.

" Amongst those present were — The Ven. Archdeacon
Lafen; Very Rev. Dr. Burke, P.P., V.G., Clonmel ; Very
Rev, Dr. O'Connor, Templemore ; Rev. P. Laflan, P.P.,
Hoiycross ; Rev. William Morris, P.P^ Borrisoleigh ;
Rev. W. F. Mullally, P.P., Annacarthy ; Rev. J. Ryan,
P.P., Golden; Rev. W. Cantweil, P.P., Thurles; Very
Rev. Dr. Leahy, D.D., Thurlc-s; Rev. Martin Lafl'an,
P.P., Killenaule; Rev. Mr. Mahcr, P.P.; Rev. Mr.
Clear)-, CC; Rev. M. Ryan, C.C; Rev. J. O'Dwver,
C.C., Doon ; Rev. Mr. Morris, C.C. ; Rev.Mr. O'Carrroll ;
Rev. Mr. O'Comior, C.C. ; Rev. W. CahiU, C.C, Mul-
linahoue; Rev. J. Power, C.C; J. Cardeii, J.P. ; T.
Scully, J.P.; F. O'Brien, J.P. ; J. Lanigan, J.P.; L.
Keating, J.P. ; N. V. Malier, M,P. ; F. Scully, M.P. ;
R. Keating, M.P.; C. Bianconi, &c. &c.

" The Chairman, having addressed the meeting, urged

302 PRIESTS* PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Past H.

them to select candidates who would struggle for religious
liberty, tenant-right, &c.

" The Very Rev. P. Leahy^ D.D., came forward to
propose the first resolution, amid loud cheers, and said —
The boast of the present age is, that it is the age of pro-
gress. In many respects it is so. But while the other
civilised nations of the world have been steadily advancing
in religious toleration, England, instead of advancing, has
gone back of late years. (Hear, hear.) For a proof I
appeal to the Ecclesiastical Titles Act, which is a reversal
of the liberal policy of the last twenty years. (Cheers.)
In the year 1829 the Catholics of uiese countries were
emancipated, and what, I ask, is our actual condition in
1852 ? Our Church is assailed at all points and by all
manner of men, from the statesman with the power of
Parliament at his back to the itinerant Gospeller who
prowls about in Connemara or Dingle. (Cheers.) A
legion of emissaries from Exeter Hall, each with the Bible
in one hand and money in the other, is spread over the
land, polluting and devouring like the locusts that plagued
the land of JEgypt. (Cries of * Hear.*) No doubt our
position is one of considerable difficulty, requiring all the
caution and determination we possess ; nevertheless we
need not fear. (Cheers.) If the two great parties of the
empire are united, it is only in their hostility to us.
(Hear.) In all or most things else they are just as much
opposed one to the other ; and, pretty equally matched as
they are, it will be easy for us, in their struggles for power,
to step in between the belligerents, not to give either the
mastery over the other, but to defeat them one after the
other, and to defeat them again and ag.iin, and by these
repeated defeats to teach them that no party can reckon
on the retention of power for twelve months without
rendering full justice to the Catholics of this realm.
(Cheers.) These are our tactics. They will, they must
succeed, if we only follow them up with energy, with
watchfulness, and, above all, with union of counsel and
action. (Loud cheering.) Union, that was the watch-
word of the great Liberator who united the scattered
elements of our strength, and rendered the Catholic body

[■ 11. PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. 303

ibrmidable to ministers anil even to kings — (cheers) ; and
could his great spirit come back to tender us counsel in
tlie present crisis, he would surely call upon us to stand
together once more in defence of our altars ; every hill
and valley would echo his rallying cry for freedom — all
Ireland, from the Giant's Causeway to Cape Clear, would
rise as one man at the sound of his voice (hear, hear)—
our streiigtli, our united strength, would bear down all
opposition — and the Tories would be driven from office,
and after them the Whigs, and after them any and every
party that refused to do full justice to the Catholics of
these couutries. (Vehement applause, amid which the
eloquent and gifted divine, having moved the resolution,
resumed his seat.)

" Charles Biaiiconi, Esq., Longfield, briefly seconded
■the resolution, which was carried unanimously.

" Captain i?. Byrne proposed the second resolution, and
referred in ttrms of censure to the conduct of Viscount
Chabot, Lord Hawarden, and other lawled pi-oprietors of
the county.

" The Rev. W. Cahill, C.C, Mullinahone, in second-
ing the resolutioD, delivered an eloquent and effective
speech in support of the principles of the Tenant Leagiie-.
We regret that we have only room for a few sentences of
his brilliant speech. He said — Electors of Tipperary, I
am happy to perceive, by the determination and manly
bearing exhibited by the magniticent meeting which I now
behold, that Tipperary is not yet dead — that the old flint
has not lost its Celtic fire — that when struck \Xs sparks
can still kindle an enthusiasm now as of old too strong to
he restrained, and too impetuous to pause until it wins the
goal. Men of Tipperary, the present meeting, in my
humble opinion, is the most important and momentous
ever held in this great county, for its aim and object are
to establish a new Irish parliamentary policy, on the
existence of which the salvation of this country depends,
and thereby to create a new life and a new spirit under the
skeleton ribs of this old but unhappy land. Political
quackfl, in seeking the representation of the various con-
stituencies at the next general election, will ofl'er sundry

304 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Part H.

nostrums to cure the maladies of Ireland, but I boldly
assert there is but one cure to heal her bleeding wounds,
and to tear up the roots of her radical diseases — that cure
is tenant-mght. (Cheers.) And to the candidate who
should appear at the hustings without that cure the con-
stituents should say Anathema, were he even an angel
from heaven. The Irish people will soon have the power
to free themselves from the organised system of landlord
murder and robbery — for they will have it in their power
to send over to Parliament fifty or sixty honest Irishmen
pledged to oppose even/ minister who will not make
Sharman Crawford's bill a cabinet measure; and with
fifty or sixty members so pledged, as sure as to-morrow's
sun will rise so sure would we win tenant-right, and every
other right we would demand. (Loud cheers.) Facts are
proof that cannot be contradicted, and the following ques-
tions involve facts which will prove as a demonstration
that Irish landlords supported oy landlord laws are the
primary cause of Irish miseries. What has shrivelled the
brow of youth into the wrinkled features of old age ?
What has sucked away the strength and muscle from the
manhood of the country, and left our strong men as sap-
less skeletons, staggering with hunger like drunken men
through our streets ? What has converted into quagmires
the graveyards of the island, oozing with the flooded
rottenness of the uncoflSned dead? What has made the
Irish poor-houses swarm and fester like stagnant sinks
with pauper vermin, who must nest in corruption? What
has swept away over the stormy waves of the western
ocean myriads of our peasantry, the bone and sinew of our
native land? What has melted away, in a few short
years, three millions of the Irish people, and left poor
Ireland a howling wilderness? Why do I ask the ques-
tion ? The voice that cries in the wilderness of Irish
desolation answers, and says it is landlc^rd defipotism and
a want of tenant-right that have turned Ireland into a
desert, and made the Eden of the west the Mobe of
nations. (Prolonged applause.) The woes and miseries
of Ireland are principally of landlord creation. Why was
the failure of the potato attended with so trivial conse-

.' PUBLISHED SPEECHES.

quences in every other country in Europe? J3t'<:ause\a
every other country the land is held on fair and equitable
terms — the tenants enjoy the (ruits of their labour and
industry; if the ^mtato fails they can eat bread; hut in
Ireland the land is rackrcnted — the landlords are not
content with rackrents, but when a lease expires they step
in and devour, without a farthing's compensation, the
increased value added to the farm by the capital of the
farmer — by his sweat and labour during many yeans.
(Hear, hear,) Why, Irish laridlonh, by rackrents and
robbery, had left nothing to the great body of the people
but the wet potiito, which a night's (rost might destroy;
and when the potato perished, what wonder was it that
the people perished too? Bvit the case is now much
worse than ever ; the rackrents, founded on war prices,
protective duties, and the potato, are still exacted by
mauy landlords, when protective duties and the potato are
swept away. (Hear, hear.) Yes ; and these rents are
increased 19s. in the pound by poor-law taxes, to feed the
beggars which landlords have created by hundreds of
thousands in this unhappy country, and by the various
other taxes incidental to land. Is it not monstrous to
leave in the hands of any man the power to murder and
to rob? They can exact still rents which were rackrents
at the very best times, but which now, when prices have
fallen, are oppressive and intolerable. Yes, they can
exact them, or in default of payment exterminate God's
creatures from the homes of their fathers, and hunt them
out to perish without shelter or food. (Sensation.) Yes,
they can do u-hat Oiey like with their land — they have
one hundred laws in their favour, and all against the
tenant ; and from the battery of laws they have exercised
their power to the very vengeance for the last five years —
they nave stormed the country, levelled 300,000 houses
in the dust, and reduced poor Ireland to an island of
skeletons and bones. (Sensation.) But will this bar-
barous state of things continue?— -will they rob us of our
industry without compensation? No, ten thousand times
no ; the Government must interfere to save the country —
we must have the land at a fair value; we must have

306 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Pait H.

compensation for improvements; we must have tenant--
rightj or we mast perish. As, then, the tenant-right is
the only hope for Ireland, I, from this spot, implore of
the constituents of the county, and those of every county
and borough in Ireland, as it concerns all alike — I im-
plore of them by their suffering countrv to return no can-
didates at the next elections who will not unequivocally
pledge themselves, in the words of my resolution, to sup-
port in Parliament Sharman Crawford's MIL I believe
we will have some hot work at the next elections. I
believe Tories will contest every county. I am sure they
will tempt us with gold, they will blind us with s(^hisnis»
and coerce us with threats of wholesale extermination ;
but to their gold we will oppose our consciences — to their
sophisms common sense — to their threats firm hearts, and
the love, the rights, and liberties of our native land. (Loud
cheers.) They cannot blind by sophistry, but can they
coerce by intimidation ? (Hear.) I freely admit that
Irish landlords have tremendous power over the souls and
bodies of their tenant serfe — they hold over their heads
rents and arrears like a two-edged sword, ready every
moment to cut and strike. I am sure the landlords of
other counties, as those of Cork lately did, will endeavour
to drive like cattle their tenants to the hustings: and I
am convinced the only power to defeat them in this county
or elsewhere is the same* that defeated them in Cork, and
that is the oldest, the greatest, the most incorruptible and
sacred power in this island — the power and influence of
the priests with the people. (Tremendous cheering.) YeSj
the priests will lead the people^ and the people will con-
quer. Ireland will send sixty fine men to plead her cause
in Parliament, and then her woes are ended. Contem-
plating at a distance what this Brigade can do, I feel
lifted above myself and see as from an eminence things
that are to come. I see our Church free, and the

Final chains falling from the Catholic soid of Ireland — ,
see the feudal fetters of landlord framing falling from
the soil, and its rich resources bursting forth on every
river in cataracts of wealth and gold — and I see poor Erin,
beaming with smiles and renovated in youth and beauty^

PRIESTS' PUULISHED SrEBCHES.

307

I

' strike from her harp the melting numbers she loved to
play in the oldeii time, ere despots scourged or tyrants
luod her. (Enthusiastic cheering, amid which the gifted
speaker resumed his seat.)

" The Very Itev. Dr. Sttrke, P.P., Clonmel, proposed
the third resolution, on the subject of the J^stabtished

Churck, in a most able and eloquent address

GentletneD, you may be inclined to give me crfdjt for
making out those edifying statistics of the Protestant
Church in Ireland ; but I disclaim any such merit. I
am indebted for all this to the zeal, to the industry, and
the ability of that honest, talented, and incorruptible pa-
triot, my most dear and most esteemed friend, John
O'Connell, late member for Limerick. 1 took them from
'laborate report made by him in the Repeal Associa-
tion. Gentleuien, I have now placed before you a picture
of the Established Church in Ireland, as to its tempo-
ralities. It is necessarily imperfect; but such as it is,
does it not exhibit things so monstrous, so unjust, so ini-
quitous as not to have a parallel throughout the wide
expanse of the civilised world? (Long-continued cheer-
ing.) And because we priests raise our humble but
indignant voices against this atrocious injustice, this in-
tolerable ini(|uitj', we are proclaimed by the British press
as 'hooded incendiaries,' as 'political firebrands,' as ' rest-
less and ambitious agitators.' As for myself, their abuse
and vilification has no other effect than to increase my
hatred of the monstrous nuisance, and to determine me to
proclaim my conviction to the world in the language of
the resolution — 'that the Protestant Church Establish-
ment, as it exists at present, is at the root of all the diffi-
culties of the British Government in Ireland, and that
these ditficulties will never be removed, nor cordiality and
good understanding exist between the two countries, until
its revemuis are appropriated in such manner as justice
and the interests of the Irish people imperatively re-
quire.' The Very Rev. gentleman sat down amid enthu-
siastic cheering.

Mr. Leoiiard Keatiiig, J.P., seconded the resolution,
which was carried amid loud applause.

X 2

308 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Pabt H.

" Mr. Lanigan^ J.P., proposed the next resolution, which
was seconded by the Rev. Wm. Morris^ P.P.

" Archdeacon Laffan^ amid vehement applause, pro-
posed the next resolution, expressing confidence in the
county members.

^^ The meeting was then addressed in able and eloquent
speeches by Mr. N. V. Maher, M.P., Mr. F. Scully,
M.P., and tne Very Rev. Dr. O'Connor, P.P., Templemore.

" Amid loud applause, thanks were voted to Mr. Lid-
well, and the meetmg separated."

The reader s particular attention is requested to the
report of this meeting, as published beneath in the
Priests' official newspaper.

FROM 'THE TABLET,' JUNE 12, 1852.

" The Meath Election.— Great Meeting in Kelts.

^^On last Sunday a most numerous, influential, and
splendid meeting of the electors and people of the county
Meath was held in the town of Kells for the purpose
of hearing Mr. Lucas [the Editor of the Tablet'\ explain
his views in reference to tenant-right and other great
questions. The meeting was held in front of the school-
house, where a spacious platform was erected, and the
numhers of persons from the town and the surrounding
districts present was not less than ten thousand. Mr.
Lucas was accompanied from Navan by the Rev. Dr.
Power, the clergymen of that and the neighbouring
parishes, and an immense number of people in cars
and on foot, preceded by the excellent band of the
town of Navan, and on their arrival were met outside
Kells by a great multitude, who joined their acclamations
with those of the procession that accompanied Mr. Lucas
from Navan. On his arrival he was received by the Very
Rev. Dr. M'Evoy, the Rev. Mr. Geoghegan, the Rev.
•Peter O'Reilly, and other clergymen and laymen from the
town and neighbourhood, who conducted him to the platform.

)

PBIK8TS' PUBUSHED SPEECHES. 3l

" About half-past two ii'dock, on the motion of N. Laud y,
Esq^ T.C., the chair was taken by the Very Rev. Dr.
M'Evoy, P.Ft and Chairman of tlie Town Coiiimissioners.

"Among tliose present we observed tiie following; —
Very Rev. Mr. Dowling. P.P., Clonniellon ; Rev. Mr.
Duncan, C.C., Clonniellon; Rev. Mr. Daly, C.C-, Boher-
meen; Rev. Mr. Kelly, CO., Navan; Rev. Mr. Fagan,
Navaii ; Rev. Mr. Kelch, P.P., Oristown ; Rev, Mr. Flynii,
Naran; Rev. Mr. Gintv, P.P., Moynalty; Rev. Mr.
M'CiilIagh. P.P., Athboy; Rev. Mr. Dillon, Athboy ;
Rev. Mr. Gibney, Castletown ; Very Rev. Richard Ennis,
P.P., Enfield; Rev. Dr. Tormey, Navan; Rev. Mr.
Sheridan, P.P.. Camacross; Rev. Mr. Kelly, P.P., Kils-
kvre ; Rev. Dr. Power, President of Navan Academy ;
Rcv.Mr.O'Farrell. Navao; Rev. Mr. O'Rtilly, P.P., Bo-
lienueen; Rev. Thomas Lynch, R.C.A., Blacklion ; Rev.
Mr. Langan, Ardcath; Kev. Mr. Dunne, C.C. ; Rev. Mr.
Sherillau, C.C, Moynalty; Rev. Mr. Daly, CC, Boher-
meen.

*' The Chaiitmin (the Very Rev. Dr. M'Evoy, P.P.), on
coming forward to address the meeting, was rtceived with
enthusiastic applause. He said: — Fellow-townsmen, inha-
bitants of the surrounding parishes, and patriotic electors of
Meath, the inspiring demonstration before me affords grati-
fying evidence that in this great countj' a great soul still
lives — (cheers) — and that in the coming battle for Ireland's
freedom Meatli is determined to maintein her wonted proud
position, and to lead, and to victory too, the other counties of
Ireland. The countless hands, and each with an honest
heart to back it, which you have come here to-day to tender
to the distinguished champion of tamnt-rujht, bid fair for
making Meath as immortal in the annals of tenant-right as
is Clare in those of Catholic Emancipation. Yes, I think
I may now safely pronounce tliat Meath is for Ireland, for
Lucas, and for tertant-right. (Loud cheers.) As it now
becomes my pleasing duty to introduce to you my respected
friend Mr. Lucas, it may not be improper that I should, in
the first instance, say a word or two of his personal merits,
those high attributes that promise to render him a parlia-
mentary representative of whom Meath, of whom Ireland

3 10 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Pabt n.

— regenerated Ireland — ^will at no distant day be proud—
(renewed cheers) — and that I should in the second place
explain to him your wants and wishes, that you may hear
from his own eloquent lips his views in reference to your
great and cherished principles. First, then, as to Mr.
Lucas. He is, indeed, I should rather say he was, an
Englishman and a Protestant bom, but is now a stanch
Catholic, ay, and I will add a true-hearted Irishman, and
no mistake. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Lucas is a barrister.
He has been called to the English bar. His commanding
talents, industrious habits, numerous and respectable con-
nections, all conspired to ensure him professional practice
alike extensive and lucrative — (hear, hear) — and to exhibit
before him, in near perspective too, all the honours of the
judicial bench. Providence, however, luckily for Ireland
and Catholicity, has had upon him other and better designs.
(Hear hear.) Dazzled tiiough well the young barrister
might have been by the brilliancy of his prospects, cor-
rupted though other virtue than his might have been by
the immorality of that Babylonian metropolis, London, tjie
learned young lawyer, rismg superior to every obstacle,
devotes his great mind to the study of religion^ and, aided
by the grace of God, ever in such cases the sure reward of
sincerity, he embraces the Catholic faith, and gives to the
world, in an able and celebrated pamphlet, the triumphant
reasons of his conversion. (Vehement cheering.) After
his reception into the Church, seeing the holy faith of his
adoption — the faith, too, of Christendom — assailed on all
sides by the lying press of bigoted England, in the warmth
of his zeal, renouncing every professional prospect, he seizes
his potent pen, and in the Columns of the Tablet, in the
front of which lie places the Virgin and Child^ and the
success of which he glories in commending to the powerful
prayers of the Omnipotent Queen of Heaven — in the
columns of the Tablet he confounds and chastises, and that,
too, in the very seat and centre of bigotry, the truculent
slanderers of the Catholic creed, and triumphantly defends
from misrepresentation and obloquy the sacred character of
the priesthood. (Tremendous cheering.) But that is not
all. With a keen, embittered appreciation of England s

PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES.

311

I

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t

I

misrule and oppression of Irekiid, the honest Frederick
Lucas, prompted by a love of justice strong as his hatred
of oppression, hoisted in the proud metropolis of the do-
minant country the glorious standard of 'Repeal,' — first
unfurled hy the immortal O'Connell — may God rest his
soul 1 (Deep sensation.) That is the epitome of Mr,
Lucas's history ere his coming to reside in Ireland
and rank himself among her tnost devoted sons. His
career since he came amongst us has not been less honour-
able nor less brilliant (Hear, hear.) Suffice it to say
that the pre-eminently giiled and honest editor of the
Tablet is now, as a journalist, the tried and trusted advocate
of every principle d&xr to the hearts of t/te entire Prelacy
and priesthood of tht land. (Great cheering.) Klectors
and non-electors of Meath, you and I have now had a
political acquaintance of some five-and-twenty years' stand-
ing — (licar, hear)— -and whatever character for honest de-
votion to Ireland I may, during that long period, have
earned at your hands, that character, I feel, nms no risk
of forfeiture when I this day say to you, As you love the
lovely land of your birth ; as you would wish to see her
' great, glorious, and free ;' as you yearn to behold the
farmer no longer a serf, the altar no longer in chains; as
you would heartily wish to see the holy faith you profess,
and for which you, like your martyred forefathers, would
cheerfully drain your Catholic veins; as you would wish
to see that faith triumphantly vindicated in the imperial
senate, and its assailants repulsed and covered with confu-
sion ; as you would exult to see the Spooners and the
Newdegatcs and the Walpoles quail before the giant
champion of Catholicity — (loud cheers) — and driven from
the position of assailante to assume an attitude of deience,
and to disprove, as best they can, the beastly impurities
and revoltmg murders in which the so-called Eeformation
was begotten — if you wish all this, and more, send to
parliament Frederick Lucas. (Tremendous cheering.)
Yes, send Frederick Lucas to parliament, and you will
send, in his person, the very ablest and most incorruptible
champion of country and creed that Ireland has had since
the days of the ever-to-be-remembered O'Connell. (Re-

312 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Past li.

newed applause.) Peace be with him I (Loud cries of
^ Amen/) Send, I say, Frederick Lucas to parliament;
and you will send a man who can neither be bribed, nor
bullied, nor cajoled, nor corrupted — (hear, hear) — a man
who will be the terror, not only of your enemies, but whose
presence cannot fail to operate as a salutary check upon
those unworthy and faithless Irish members with whom
fear of exposure may effect what neither principle nor
patriotism could. Men of Meath, once agam I say send
Frederick Lucas to parliament, and you will have struck
a glorious blow for tenant-right ^ religious freedom^ and old
Ireland. (Renewed cheers.) Gentlemen, having said thus
much of Mr. Lucas*s personal merits and claims upon your
sufirages, will you now allow me to explain briefly, on your
part, to Mr. Lucas the great principles you requu*e him to
advocate in parliament, that he may thus be aflbrded an
opportunity of speaking, and you of hearing his sentiments
on these different topics ? The first, then, in order as wdl
as in, perhaps, importance, is tenant-right (* Hear, hear,'
and loud cheers.) But what is tenant-right ? What means
that term tlcat arates so harshly upon landlord ears ? I
will tell you in few and simple words. Tenant-right means
iair and equitable rents fixed by impartial arbitration^
dealing impartial justice to landlord and tenant, and ena-
bling both to live. (Hear, hear.) That is the first leading
principle of tenant-right Then, as regards improvements,
tenant-right means that these improvements, as being made
by the skill and capital of the farmer, should therefore be
the farmer's property, equally sacred in the eye of the law
as the property purchased by the landlord in the fee of the
farm. That is the second great principle of tenant-right ;
and who will deny that upon these prmciples nature and
nature's God have stamped their broadest seal of authenti-
city ? ( Hear, hear.) Men of Meath, need I ask are you
for tenant-right ? (Loud cries of * Yes, yes.') Yes, I see

},^ou are, and no mistake. Tenant-right is the only lever to
ift our prostrate country — the only balsam to heal her
bleeding wounds. (Cries of *hear, hear.') What has
turned so many of our fertile fields into a barren waste ?
What has made the Eden of the West the Niobe of nations ?

PitlEOTS' PL'BUSHED SI'EECUES,

313

What has conaigned the farmer to want and beggary — filled
the pimrhoudes — accuinuUted faua — pauperised the cue*
tomer — made the shopkeeper bankrupt—and ruined the
artisan? What has driven beyond the wide waters of the
western ocean myriads of our pt-jisantry ? What has
melted away in a few short years three millions of our
people? What has made the graveyards too narrow for
tlie dead, and filled the graves with thecuffinless corpst^of
the Tictinis of famine and pestilence? I will tell you — a
parliament of landlords, and the unlimited, irresponsible
power of rnckrenting and eviction, with whieli a hundred
statutes passed by a landlord parliament have invested the
landlords— a power which so many of that class have fear-
fully abused — expelling God's creatures from the home of
their fathers, and turning them out to perish without shel-
ter and without tbod. Do not tacts undeniable s])eak
trumpet-ton gued to a horrified and indignant world?
(lioud cheers.) Do not three hundred thousand houses
levelled to the dust, the disappearance from the land of
three milliong of \\a hardy inhabitants, and pour Ireland
reduced to an island of skeletons and bones, bear appalling
attestation to the ruthless exereite of landlord power?
('Hear,' and great cheering.) Men of Meath, are you,
not determined that a [lower so barbarously exercised slialt
he restricted? Are you not resolved to put an end once
and for ever to landlord oppression, to eviction and house-
levelling, to rackrenting and extermination, and to substi-
tute in their stead a tenant-right which will secure to the
tenant a hearth and a home, and the fiiir iruits of his
honest industry? (Cheers.) I feel I have trespassed too
long. (No, no.) On other topics, therefore, I shall but
touth. Here let me promise that to the religious belief of
any of my fellow-townsmen I mean no offence, and in now
speaking of the temporalities of the Protestant Establish-
ment, to their own stem sense of right 1 appeal for the
justice of my observations. (Hear, hear.) If Protestants
wish to have Protestant clergymen, why, let them have
as many as they please, and support them as they like in
all comfort and sjilendour. With that we Catholics have
neither reason iior inclination to quarrel. But when we

314 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Pabt H.

Catholics see the vast property left originally by members
of the Catholic Church in Ireland for educational, chari-*
table, and religious purposes ; when we see that property
clutched by the clergy of a miserable minority of the
people, and applied by them exclusively to the main-
tenance of themselves and families in splendour and luxury,
and when, besides this, we see Catholic capital and Catholic
industry taxed to add to their comforts and luxuries — (cries
of ' Hear*) — but above all and before all, when we see those
plethoric usurpers of the property of the poor incessantly
employed in pouring their foul calumnies and filthy abuse
upon the holy faith of the poor, whom they have robbed,
as well as upon the pastors so beloved by those poor; when
we see those clerical harpies exhaust every resource of pen
and purse to rob of their faith and souls those whom they
have robbed of the charity bequeathed them by Catholic
piety ; when we see all this and more, to the manly spirit
of Protestantism itself and to its sense of right and justice,
I appeal, and ask. Would not we Catholics deserve to have
slave and coward broadly branded on our brows were we
tamely, without a struggle, and for ever, to submit to such
assaults, and insults, and injustice, to an anomaly so mon-
strous, so unjust, so iniquitous as not to have a parallel
throughout tibe wide expanse of the civilised world?
(Loud and continued applause.) Gentlemen, to one and
one only other subject shall I, in conclusion, briefly allude.
If this country is to be saved, if she is ever again to become
prosperous and free, an Irish party must be formed.
(Hear.) Unless that be done at the coming elections, all
our labour will be lost, and the regeneration of Ireland
rendered hopeless. From the victories which twenty Irish
members last year won, it is easy to see what an Irish
party, animated with the like spirit, could achieve, if com-
posed of fifty or sixty sterling men. (Loud cries of * Hear,
hear.*) Why, in the balanced state of parties in the House
of Commons they could dictate to any minister what terms
they pleased — they could make and unmake governments at
will. (Hear, hear.) It is clear then that the Irish people by
the return of such a party have it in their power at the
coming elections to win their every right . Let them but

I-

pAnT IT. raiBSTS" PlfBU8KED SPEECHES. 315

Bflend to parHaineiit fifty, or even forty members pledged to
* oppoee any and every government tliat will not uiakc tenarti-
right and the abolition of Oie Chwck Establishment cabinet
questions, and as sure as to-morrow's sun will rise, so sure
will the charter of tenant'i-ight be conceded, and the mon-
strosity of the Protestant Establishnent disappear from the
face of <m outraged world. (Loud choers.) Is this, men
I of Meath, your conviction? (It ia, it is.) Well then, to
I form such a party — to make it powtrful and respected — to
teven guide and It-ad it — you (turning to Mr. Lucas) have
' not, I believe in my soul, your superior among the public
men of Ireland. (' Hear,' and cheers.) Oh I if the oldest,
the greatest, the most incorruptible, and sacred power in
this island — I mean the influence of the priesthood with
the people — if that power be but properly exerted at the
commg elections, to what glorious results may we not con-
, Mently look forward? (Hear, hear.) Yes, if the priests
I hut LEAD THE I'EOPLK, the people wilt conquer. (Great
[cheering.) The Very Rev. gentleman then introduced
[Mr. Lucas to the meeting, and resumed his seat amid
I renewed applause.

I " Mr. Lucas then presented himself to the meeting and
' was received with loud and protracted applause. The-
cheering having subsided, he said — Dear Father M'Evoy,
my reverend friends, and you, the other electors and non-
electors of the county of Meath — I think that if I had
been born dumb, this day would have given me speech.
(Loud cheers.) The glorious demonstration which I have
j^^ been witness to the whole of this morning — the reception
^H I had at Navan — the march from Kavan up to this spot
^H ■ — the splendid procession of those well-known and well-
m^ tried patriots who have conducted me up to your beau-
tittil town^ — the reception you have given me — and the
kind and eloquent and most over-complimentary address
of your Very Reverend Cliainnan, — these things, I think,
if I had been bom dumb, would this day have given me
speech. (Cheers.) And yet, gentlemen, I have come —
^ not in my own name, but at the honourable request which
^L has been, I may say, pressed on me by so many kind
^^ friends in this county — to make here of you a very strange

316 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Pabt IL

solicitation. (Hear, hear.) I have come to ask you to do
me the high honour of giving me your votes and returning
me, as your representative, to a very nasty house.
(Laughter, and cheers. )

" A Voice — And so we will, and no mistake. (Cheers.)
" Mr. Lucas — Gentlemen, you know what house I mean
without my naming it, by the description I have given.
(Hear, hear, and cheers.) It is a house which has starved
your poor — (hear, hear, — and has made poor those who,
by their honest industry and good conduct, had made them-
selves rich. It is a house which, by the bad laws which it
enacts, and the worse administration of them which it
sanctions, has made beggars of your rich and wealthy
farmers, has made paupers of those who were less rich, has
filled the graves and workhouses, and has covered the land
with desolation. (Loud cheers.) It is a house which can*
not, by the rule of parliament and the law of the land,
proceed to business without, at its first meeting, as a neces-
sary preliminary, obliging its members to march up to the
table in platoons, and blaspheme the holiest truths of your
religion. (Groans.) It is a parliament within the order
of whose business it has been decided to be to pronounce,
or, at least, to leave its members at perfect liberty to pro-
nounce, the grossest and foulest insults on your clergy, on
those who serve at your altars, on the venerable ladies who
devote themselves in retirement to the education of your
children, and the promotion of religion among all classes.
(Groans and hisses.) It is a house within the order of
whose business it has been decided to be, to cover them
with the filthiest and most brutal calumnies. (Hear, hear.)
It calls itself an assembly of gentlemen, but its conduct
and language too oflen would disgrace the lowest and most

reprobate of the papulation

" In carrying out this policy I have been asked what my
views are about opposing the government I tell you at
once, for I make no secret of my views. In regard to this
question, I pledge myself here to oppose every government
that will not make something that is at least equal to
Sharman Crawford's bill, in every one of its protecting
provisions, a cabinet question. (Hear, hear, and loud

PBiESTS' ruBLisiran ppeeches.

317

P

I

I cheers.) And if ever, by the course of events, I see rca-

I son to alter my opinions on that subject — and I am unt

likely to do so— I promise to come before yon, and hiy at

four feet the tnist yon will have imposed on me. (Cheers.)
n my opinion there is no good to be done except by the
most decided, unrelenting, persevering, trouUenotne oppo-
sition to every government until thev do justice to Ireland.
(Hear, hear.) They have got in Westminster a constitu-
tional system, of which a principle is that justice, almost
what everj' man recognises to be justice, shall be done to
the people of England. In that constitutional system Ire-
lancl is an anomaly, because what the people of this couritry
know to be justice, the people of Kngland are opposed to,
and do not wish to have it conceded. {Cries of 'Hear,
hear.') Now, if they insist on uniting the English and
Irish parliament, which in my judgment and conscience I
believe to be a foul wrong — if they insist on a parliamen-
tary union between the two countries, my earnest convic-
tion is that it is the duty of the Irish part of the repre-
sentatives to act as a separate element in that l^islature,
disordering, disorgamsing^ and interfering with every
business that may be (rajimcted, as far as it is prudent and
possible to do so, and tormenting this unjust and anti-Irish
Mouse of Commons, until they find it their interest to do
justice to us. (Protracted cheering.) And, therefore,
tell your Iriends, that I will have nothing to do with any
ministry — no matter of what party — I will have nothing
to do with any government if you return me to parliament
— except, indeed, to oppose them, which I shall do very
cordially — (cheers) — until they make the concession of
justice to the tenant farmers of Ireland part of their
acknowledged policy. (Loud cheers.) I hope I have
satisfied my Rev. friend by the spirit of my answer.
(Hear, hear.)

"The Chairman, the Very Rev. Dr. M'Evoy, P.P.—
Pehpecti.v so. (Cheers.)

" Mr, Lucatt — The next thing Father M'Evoy drew my

' attention to is the subject of the Estahlithed Church.

(Cries of ' Hear, hear.') The question involved in it,

embracing, as it does, the whole field of Ecclesiastical

318 PRIESTS* PUBLISHED 6PEEGHB& Past IL

polity, is much more important in many of its character-
istics, but really in its results to the people is hardly more
important than the question of Tenant Right. (Hear,
hear.) Gentlemen, you have had experience of that
Church now for three centuries, and I think it would not
need a conjurer to tell what you think of it after the three
centuries you have been witnesses of it, subject to it, tor-
tured by it, robbed by it, murdered by it, injured by it in
every way in which man can injure man ; and knowing
this, how can I answer the question in any other way than
one ? By the blessing of God in Heaven, I will never
rest nor cease my exertions, as long as I am in any position
to exercise any public functions whatever, until t/iat ac-
cursed monopoly'y the Established Churchy he cut dawn hy
the rooty and cease to blast the land vnth its unwholesome
influence. (Tremendous cheers.) If Father M*Evoy
wishes a stronger declaration I will make it. (Cries of
* No, no,' and laughter.)

"The Chairman, the Very Rev. Dr. M'Evoy, P.P.—
Language could not be stronger nor more satisfactory.
(Cheers.)

" The Rev. Petef* O'Reilly , C.C., Kells, came forward
to propose the first resolution, as follows : —

" * Kesolved — That this meeting, anxious to uphold the
unanimity and determination which has hitherto character-
ised the meetings of the Liberal party in this county, do
pledge itself to return triumphantly to parliament at the
coming election the two candidates unanimously chosen
by the tenant societies of Meath — Mr. Lucas and Mr.
Corbally;

" The Rev. Gentleman said — As a humble workman in
the cause of tenant-right, and one who had contributed his
poor mite to place it in the glorious position he was proud
to say it occupied to-day in that great county, he had
been selected, and for no other reason, to propose for their
attentive consideration the first resolution

" They had heard Mr. Lucas say he would like to be in
a position to demonstrate from facts drawn from this county
that tenant-right was necessary for it Now, he (Rev.
Mr. 0*Reilly) intended to give them a few facts to prove

5-n.

PRIESTS* PUBLI8EED SPEECHES.

319

I

his case in tlic House of Commons — (hear, hear) — and
tliey would also help to show the tnllany of what was oalltd
the Parliamentary Crime and Outrage Committee. (Hear,
hoar.) They all knew that hody was appointed for the
ostensible purpose of discovering the cause and origin of
certain aj^rarian murders which were perputrated lately in
the North of Ireland. That was not the object of it,
(Cries of 'Hear, hear.') It was appointed by the law
officers for the purpose of concealing their rt-al opinions,
and fixing — by the most atrocious calumnies — by m% /old-
est and blackest lies — on the Tenant League the cause
and origin of these crimes. (Groans.) They all knew if
the League was the cause and origin of then), as was
stated: where it existed strongest, and was in most exten-
sive operation, in that county for instance — (hear, hear) —
there were no outrages committed, (Hear, hear.) Yea,
there had been fearful murders and outrages, and by
whom ? By the landlord!^. (Cries of ' Hear, hear.')
Crimes and outrages, not against the law of the land —
there was no such law to protect the poor man — but
against the eternal and immortal laws of God, which said,
' Ymi must not do an injustice ; you shall not murder, even
legally.' (Cheers.) Mr. Lucas spoke of requiring facts
to be collected in order to demonstrate the necessity of
Sharman Crawford's bill for Mcath. He (Mr. O'Reilly)
could furnish him with facts enough taken from that lo-
cality. In 1841 the population of the Kella union was
47,015; in 1851 it should have been, according to the
usual rate of increase, considerably above 50,000, but in
fact it had fallen to 31,143. (Shame, shame.) He held
in his hand a list of the evictions that bad taken place
within the various townlands of this parish, brought down
only to twelve months ago, and he found that at that late
date there had been 292 houses levelled to the ground, and
1447 human beings turned out upon the world. He
could show the names of the exterminators and of their
victims to any gentleman, and would pledge himself to the
correctness of them. The evictions were still proceeding,
and several persons had been exterminated within the last
month. Of course he would supply their future member,

320 PBIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Past IL

Mr. Lucas — (cheers) — with all the facts of which tibia wag
a mere sample. In conclusion, he would call on them, in
the name of Heaven^ to rally round the tenant-right man,
as the member of their choice, and return him to parlia-
ment, and if they did so, as sure as to-morrow's sun would
rise they would not only obtain tenant-right, but perfect
equality with all classes of their countrymen. (Loud and
protracted cheering.)

" The Very Rev. Dr. Power^ President of the Academy
of Navan, proposed the next resolution as follows: —

*** Resolved — That the Parliamentary Committee of
the Defence Association, being composed almost exclu-
sively of landlords and land agents, is utterly unfit to reflect
the feelings, or wishes, or wants of the Catholic people of
Ireland, and is unworthy of our confidence, and that we
repudiate their interference in our election as an abortive
attempt to create division amongst us, as altogether un-
called for, and as most oppressive to the electors of this
county.

" The Very Rev. Gentleman then said — On coming to
this meeting, I did not expect to be called on to speak to
any resolution, as having already taken an active part in
the first great meeting held in my own town. I would
willingly leave to the true and independent men of Kells
and its localities the pleasing duty of addressing you on
this occasion; but a resolution has been placed in my
hands which has a reference to an extraordinary document
that has been placarded through your town, issued, I
believe, by a junta of landlords and agents, sitting in a
back parlour in Dublin, who profess to be the defenders
of Catholic rights, both social and religious, and some of
whom are the representatives of Liberal constituencies —
some of whom also bear honoured names. But in issuing
this document I have no hesitation in saying that they
have shamefully abused the confidence hitherto placed in
the association ; that, whilst they profess to defend the
rights of Catholics, they audaciously interfere with the
rights of the electors of this great county, and presume to
set aside Mr. Lucas — the unanimously chosen candidate
for Meath, the only true friend of the tenant farmer^ the

^bi> as

■l^iRTlI. PRIESTS- rUBLISIIED Sl'EECHKS. 321

Cnbdeii of tenant-right; the bold and htniest advocate of

jbe social and religiotis riglits of the people; in fact, the

Uy man capable of sustaining and supporting Sharman

■awfonl in thy House of Commons, and of carrying

t tliosu measures which arc of such pressing necessity

K'&r the vei-y existence of the Irish people. (Great

1 (peering.) ....

" Yon heard to-day from the lips of the prkst who min-
ers at your altar of the wholesale evictions that have
Jcen place in this union, and the consequent decrease of
Jwpulation; you have heard the harrowing description of
inuivitlnal cruelly and oppression that has taken place even
within the last fortnight in this parish, and I am prompted
) ask you are we living in a Christian land, or are we
lenibers of a well-constituted society, ruled by just laws,
md wisely administered? Men of Meath, it is time that
he social wrongs of our country should be redressed — that
the inhuman and barbarous ktws which affect the tenure of
land should be abrogated, and a wise and humane code
substituted in their place, which, whilst they would secure
to the landlord a fair and equit-able rent, would also pro-
tect the industrious tenant by giving him security for his
—outlay, permanence for his punctuality, and every eucou-
B^ement for the employment of manual labour on the
nil. Men of Meath, I believe the candidate l)efore you
B the man best quali6cd hy talent, by persevering indus-
ry, and by a thorough knowledge of our social wants and
(rievances, to effect this wholesome legislation. (Great
heering.) There arc many grievances affecting Ireland
~tlie Kstablislied Church, that national rohftery, that
ncu&us upon a tuition's strength, and the badge of a
Wiuiiion's Rlamry. This, I admit, is a monster grievance,

and most gallinp and most bitter

" lie trup^ then, to the great cause of Ireland. Be united

and determined as one man. Let Liicas and tenant-right

be the rallying cry; and by your example to the other

constitueucies of Ireland wc may liope that a band of

^^fiiithful representatives may bo formed that will devote

^Bwemselves with zeal and earnestness to sustain the fading

^^ktcrcsts of our neglected land. (Tremendous cheering.)

322 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES, Pabt n,

* Rev. P. Kelh/y P.P., seconded the resolution.

^ ^ Considering their state and their sufFerings, they did
require in tliat nasty house of parliament^ as it was de-
scribed to them, an intelligent, enlightened, independent,
and zealous man, who would speak the truth, and advocate
the cause of those who sent him there. (Cheers.) This
gentleman (Mr. Lucas) they had selected. He had ad-
dressed them already, and was able to speak for himself
and did not require his humble advocacy. (Hear, hear.)
He had introduced himself to their notice, and had given
them a specimen of his talent, his opinions, and determi-
nation ; and believing, as he did, in his inmost soul, in the
sincerity of his promises, and his ability to carry them
out, he was firmly convinced he did not come to deceive,
but to assist them, and to promote their interests. Q Hear,
hear,' and loud cheers.) ....

^' But it was also said that they had selected Mr. Lucas
because he was a Catholic. (Hear, hear.) Was that a
reproach to them? (No, no.) Yes, they would elect
him because he was a Roman Catholic. They would
elect him because he knew their Faith, and would defend
it (Loud cheers.) They elected him for the purpose of
going into that nasty House of Commons^ tlie centre of
%ntole^*ence and bigotry^ wliei^e filthy and coi^upt insintui'
tions were thrown out against them and their Church.
(Cheers.) They would send him to parliament in that
particular sense, and also send him because he was the
poor man's friend ; because he was the unbending advocate
of tenant-right ; because he was the unyielding foe of the
oppressors demands; and at that moment he had no
doubt of their success — (hear, hear) — for although the
Times gloated over the extinction of the Celtic race,
blessed be Heaven they still formed a numerous group.
(Prolonged cheering.) Though famine had thinned their
people, though pestilence walked in its train, though op-
pression had drawn many from their native land, there
were still enough of them to struggle for their country's
cause. ('Hear,' and renewed cheering.) It was, then,
their duty and his, and he hoped they would fulfil it, to
return Frederick Lucas on to-morrow or the next day.

Til.

PRIESTS' POTLISDETJ SPEKCnBS.

323

I

f

ilii him they had a man of profound learning, of varied
erudition, and extensive knowledge. (Loud cheers.) His
talents had earned for him the ajiplause of many, and his
'fvices in hehalf of the Irish people, before he set foot on
the soil of Ireland, entitled him to their gratitude. (Hear,
hear.) Need he tell the honest farmers of Meath that he
was the teiuint's friend? Need lie tell them that he was
the vigorous and indefatigable champion of their rights —
the generous foe of all ungenerous oppression, whose
talented pen would silence the slanderous tongue aitd
check the march of their exterminating enemy? (Tre-
mendous cheering.) The resolution which he had the
honour of seconding had been already explained. It was
sent forward by the Parliamentary Committee of the
Defence Association ; and, as he said before, without refer-
ring to those men, it was ill-timed, ill-judged, and uncalled
for; and again, without meaning any personal offence, it
deserved, be must say. to be disregarded and contemned by
the freeholders of that county. (Cries of 'Hear, hear.')
He hoped they would not do what was required of them,
but that they would return that honourable, talented, and
enlightened man (Mr. Lucas) as a fit and worthy associate
with their other representative. (Loud cheers.) He said
it deliberately; he did not at that moment think the Bri-
tish empire contained a more intrepid, enlightened, a7id
trirfuous man than Mr. Lucas, (Enthusiastic cheering.)
The Rev. gentleman concluded by seconding the resolu-
tion.

"Professor Tornuy next came forward to address the
meeting, and was received with" enthusiastic applause.

" The marked thanks of the meeting were tiien voted to
the Very Rev. Dr. M'Evoy for his dignified conduct in
the chair,

"After tile termination of the open air demonstration
Mr, Lucas was conducted to the Town Hall, where he was
entertained at a public dinner hy his friends and sup-
porters. About eighty gentlemeji sat down to table, the
chair being occupied hy the Very Rev. Dr. M'Evoy. The
greatest harmony and unanimity of feeling prevailed."

324 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED SPEECHES. Part IL

At a large public meeting held at Annagh on the
3rd of February,

" The Rev. Mr. Lennon^ P.P., of Crossmagien, in pre-
senting himself to second the resolution was enthusias-
tically cheered. What, he would ask, was the cause of
destitution in Ireland ? (Cries of * Hear, h^u*.*) They
would all answer him with one voice — arbitrary ^ cruel, and
rack-renting landlordism. (Cheers.)"

rABTii. ( 325 )

PRIESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS.

It may fairly be urged that in speechifying it is the
nature of Man, under the excitement of the moment, to
ejaculate from that mischievous little hole, his mouth,
more than he had intended to say; and although a
priesthood most certainly ought not to take the lead in
violent political meetings — ^and if they do take the lead,
should, for the credit of their cloth, be exceedingly
careful not to be seditious, yet, I admit, they may argue
that the same excuses which are granted to the frailty
of other men ought liberally to be extended to them.
Be it so. But when a priest sits down in his lonely
chamber to write a letter to be disseminated — not in
his own little parish, but — throughout the length and
breadth of Ireland, he and the gown he wears must be
held responsible, not only for the principles he ex-
pounds, but for the language in which those principles
have been promulgated.

FROM * THE TABLET,' MAY 15, 1852.

" Mr. Corballis^ Q. C, and the ' Standards

" TO THK EDITOR OF * TIIB TABLKTI*

" Arklow, May 12, 1862.

" Dear Sir, — It would be a charihr to administer some
wholesome admonition to Mr. J. R. Corballis, whose letter
to the Standard you term *pert and low,' but which I

326 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS. Pabt II.

designate at once ignorant and impertinent He boasts of
his familiarity with the venerated deceased. I am sorry
the intercourse has not left a deeper trace of knowledge,
and of a more profound respect for the dignitaries of the
religion which the gentleman professes.

" He has the audacity to call our Episcopal titles *empty/
and to insinuate that some who bear mem rest thereon their
claims to respect instead of depending on their public and
private virtues. . . .

" But Mr. Corballis is a great stickler for the inviolabi-
lity of the law of the land, which he doubtless thinks should
supersede the law of God as well as the law of the Ghurclu
If he lived in the days of Nero or Domitian he would, as
a matter of course, have burnt incense on the altar of
Jupiter Capitolinus to prove his loyalty; and if the British
parliament took it into their wise heads (unlikelier things
nave come to pass) to render penal the observance of
Catholic Fasts and Festivals, he would, I suppose, deem it
a conscientious duty to eat flesh-meat on a Friday, and not
to dare show his nose in a Catholic house of worship on a
holiday. Let me instruct this gentleman a little, and tell
him that any law at variance with the Divine law, or with
the Ecclesiastical law in matters purely spiritual, is no law
at alU has no binding force in conscience, is, like the body
sweltering in the grave, void of soul and animating prin-
ciple, and should be evaded^ and disobeyed^ and got nd of
by the subject whenever and by whatever fair means he can.
Such I hold the Titles Act to be, and I hold, moreover,
that no Catholic in the kingdom can vote without sin for a
candidate who he believes will maintain that law, or second
any similar legislation. • . •

"The Catholic Clergy, Mr, Ekiitor, are a loyal body.
They most willingly acknowledge the supremacy of their
Sovereign in temporal matters. But in their spiritual
afi&irs they allow her no supremacy; they owe her no
allegiance^ and will pay her none, because they cannot do
so without a violation of their conscience and their duty to
God. — I remain, dear Sir, yours truly,

** James Redmond, P.P."

Part II. PRIESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS. 327

FROM ' THE TELEGRAPH,' MAY 31, 1852.

" Extract of a Letter from the Rev. T. Beechinor.

*« « Newmarket, May 15, 1852.

"Let me tell you, Sir, there are no men in existence
more anxious to avoid the turmoil and family losses of
contested elections than priests; they are members of
society, however, as well as others, and nothing but the
heavy injustice of the oppressors of our creed and country
could have dragged us from the quiet of the sanctuary;
and it is only when landlords^ agents, drivers, and tihe
underlings managing properties, will cease their threats and
persecutions, that the Catholic clergyman ought to be silent
in his chapel ; at all events it is only then that / will. Let
Lord Derby give us the * ballot,' when every honest voter
will be independent of any influence, and we will then see
how many Frewens will come to the hustings. Such, Sir,
is my reply to your budget of chaises. . . .

"I will make no apology for sending both your letter
and my answer to the Cork Examiner for publication,
particularly as you have courted public opinion by sending
your thoughts on paper to the tenants on the estate.

I am. Sir, faithfully yours, &c., ,

" J. Beechinor, P.P.

** W. R. Fitzmaurico, Esq., Everton, Carlow."

• FROM *THE TELEGRAPH,' JUNE 4, 1852.

*•* To the Electors of Carlow.

" • Now is the day, now is the hour.*

" We are deeply steeped in misery. There is no use in
attempting to describe it. It is seen by all. It is apparent
in the rags and filth with which seven-eighths of the people
are covered. It is apparent in the fleshless bones, the pal-
lid lips, the sunken eyes of the population. It is there
before us, it meets us at every turn, in broad, palpable,
hideous characters. It has seized upon every class and
section of the people. The farmers, the shopkeepers^ thp

328 PIUESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS. Pabt II.

trades, the professions; Protestants, Catholics, and Dis-
senters are all oppressed, impoverished and borne down.
By whom ? by what agency has this almost universal ruin
been caused? What has left the shops of our country
towns without business, the traders unemployed? What
has forced the population in hundreds of thousands to quit
the land of their fathers, or to take refuge in those monster
emporiums of human wretchedness, the Irish workhouses ?
The cause is evident The peopU are borne down by the
landlord and the lanMiiakei* ; by the enormous burden of
rent, tithes, and taxes, placed on their shoulders, and by the
want of a legal tenant-right to protect farming industry.

*^ Mr. Clayton Browne in his address puts forward, as a
claim to our support, ^ his increasing anxiety to promote
the welfare and improvement of the town.'

^^ I regret for his own sake, for I feel disposed to speak
kindly of him, that he has not eschewed this topic. When
and w^here, and afler what fashion, I beg to ask his friends,
has he attempted to improve the town or promote the wel-
fare of its inhabitants ? His increasing anxiety which, no
doubt, he feels intensely, has never, to my knowledge, and
I am rather an old inhabitant of the borough, developed
itself in act Has he, men of Carlow, ever contributed,
even in the smallest amount, to one Catholic educational
or benevolent institution in the town ? The Catholics
constitute the masses of the people. They have been
oppressed, ground down, and plundered ; they have had,
out of their poverty, to erect their own schools, colleges,
chapels, and cathedrals; for of these and the means of
supporting them they have been robbed in favour of the
State Church : and 1 have vet to learn to what extent we
are indebted to the munificence of Mr. Browne in those cur
unparalleled difficulties.

" His sympathies have never been with the people, they
seem to have been all reserved for those fanatical associa-
tions, those dens of bigotry, proselytism, and corruption,
which have originated in and grown out of the hatred of
the national religion, and of the classes whom the bigots
seek to pervert and oppress.

PRIESTS' 1'UIII.IBHKI) LKTTKHS.

I

The worst, the most furious and besotted of tliese associa-
tions is, jjcrliaps, that wliicli takes tlie title of ' The Priest
Protection Society." What insolence and insult thfre is
in the assumption of tlie name! They are disposed to
protect priests, somewhat alter tlic fashion in which the
huufny wolf protects the lainb. Ol' this society Mr.
Browne's cousin, Lord Mayo, is one of the vice-patrons,
and his representative. Colonel Bnien, is another. There
are, besides these, four other members of Parliaiiient,
several lords and dignitaries of the Established Church
in the list of patrons.

"Now what do these Protectionists — lay and clerical
— say? I have the addressof their committee to the Pro-
testajits of the empire lyins before me. They tell us tliat
Ireland has become a hissing and an abomination amongst
the kiugdoms of the earth, and tlie reason assigned is, that
'the Parliament has endowed Maynootli, and incorporated
idolatry. — Instead therufore, they say, of two hundred and
fifty priests that have issued annually from her filthy walls,
we are henceforward to have an annual crop of five
hundred priests to issue, to pollute and to fester in tlic
land. This College, Maynootn, is in fiiture to be the head-
qviarters of the Pope's black militia,'

" A little after, these reverend and unreverend bipots,
foi^etting their character of priest-protectors, betray a little
of the hatred which animates them in the expression of a
hearty wish to meet us in battle array, and there, they say,
' amid the flash of arms and roar of cannon, to contest for
victory.'

" Catholics of Carlow, read attentively these passages,
and ask Mr. Browne when he solicits your suSi^^e will he
not himseJf, as an elector in the county, vote for Colonel
Bruen, who thus assails ike piesthood of Ireland? — Will
he imt supjiort the policy of his cousin. Lord Mayo, and
Lord Roden. tlie jiatron of the Priest Protection Society ?
Is it wonderful that our streets are filled with livmg
skeletons ; that we are all. oppressed, ground down, and
beggaretl, when patrons and approvers of rampant bigotry
and furious fanaticism, without other quail licadon, are

330 PRIESTS* PUBLISHED LETTERS. Pabt IL

selected and sent to Parliament to make laws for the
nation ? . .

" If a Catholic elector choose to support Mr. Browne,
let him do so ; but with his eyes open. Let him, if so
disposed, vote through Mr. Browne, as his representative,
that the Catholic religion is damnable and idolatrous, and
that its colleges ought to be suppressed — let this be done ;
but, then, the less the elector speaks of religion, principle,
and conscience, the better. . . .

"Men of Carlow, it is necessary to state the truth
openly and fearlessly, to throw aside the flimsy pretences,
tne affectation of pnnciple and patriotism which nas never
been felt, with which men clothe their acts, seeking to
deceive, and succeed only in deceiving themselves. It is
necessary, I say, to lift the veil of hypocrisy, and exhibit
in open day the bigotry, the distorted views, the heartless
ambition, the all-devouring selfishness, and hauteur con-
cealed beneath.

** Men of Carlow, you now see your position. On,
then^ to the contest. Your country requires your co-opera-
tion to rescue her from beggary and ruin, and to vindicate
your creed from insult and chains.

" May Heaven defend the right !

"James Maher, P.P.

«* Carlow Graigue, Juno 2, 1852."

FHOM * THE FREEMAN/ MAY 4, 1852.

" His Grace the Archbishop of Tuam — The Representation

of Sligo.

" The following letter of his Grace the Archbishop
of Tuaui appeared in a second edition of Saturday^
* Tablet:'—

" * St. Jarlath's, Tuam, Feast of the AnDunciation, 1852.

^* ' Reverend dear Sir — As our holy religion has been
recently subjected to penal enactments at once injurious
and insulting, no person should be permitted to aspire to

PEIESTS' PURL[9EED LETTERS.

331

ihe representation of our counties or boroughs, but one
who will be prepared strenuously anil perseveringly to viti'
dicate our religion from such liogtile as well as impolitic
legielation.

" ' Next to the duties of religion, there are those which
we owe, ill a particular manner, to our own country, and
which, on account of the hostility and jealousy of Eii!|,dand,
as well as the recreancy of luauy of the children of
Ireland, have been so neglected, that the condition o)
our people is a by- word among the nations of the
earth.

" 'Siirce, then, the abject social condition of our people
is owing to the strange and adviirse influences that uni-
formly swayed the administration of our afiairs, as if they
were only of a nature subordinate to English interests, I
deem it as a matter of vital and essential importance that
it is aTuong Irishmen, if they can be found to come up to
the required standarti, and among Irishraen alone, we are
to look for candidates for the representation of our consti-
tuencies, on the same principle that Englishmen or Scotch-
men would never dream of overlooking their own and
seeking for representatives in Ireland. But in some
places, as in Sligo, so long trodden under the hooves of an
anti-Catholic ascendancy, it may he difficult or impossible
to find such, and, therelbre, rather than minister to the
support of an unchristian establishment, the chief source of
all our misery, we should gladly avail ourselves of the
services of any gentleman who will aid us in protecting
our religion from penalties, and our people from utter ruin,
With these convictions of the necessity of a uniform selec-
tion of Irislimen in preference to any others, when Irish-
men, not hostile or treacherous, can be found, it will be
presumed that an English gentleman must have very Irish
teelings, and strong addictions to our country, when I
venture to recommend him to your choice on the coming
occasion. This gentleman is Mr. Swifl, the Catholic High-
Sheriff of London, ipsis Illhemis Hihemior, whose career
has been a distinguished one, the sincere admirer of the
character of the illustrious Liberator, and who is as ready
to advocate all Irish Tneasnres as if he were a native of

mt

332 PUIESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS. Part II.

Ireland. Of promises profusely made and recklessly
broken our country furnishes but too many examples.
His stem attachment to his religion, and his edifying dis-
charge of the duties of domestic and social life, afford the
best pledge of his integrity, and his ample fortune places
him above the temptations to which indigence has some-
times fallen a victim. Knowing that you will kindly ex-
cuse an obtrusion to which I have been prompted by those
you revere, I remain yours very faithfully,

*' * 4» John, Archbishop of Tuam.

" *Rev. Thomas Phillips, Hon. Sec. of the
County Sligo Liberal Club.' "

FROM « THE TABLET,' APRIL 24, 1852.

" The New Ross Election.

" The Venerable Catholic Archdeacon of Limerick'
writes : —

" * Rathkeale, April 19, 1852.

" * My dear Sir, — I received your letter urging me to
be present at the monthly meeting of the Council of the
League on to-morrow, the 20th inst. I regret that I am
quite unable to comply with your request. 1 spent most
of the sunny days of Easter week on a sick bed, and,
though I made an eflFort yesterday to discharge some por-
tion of my usual Sunday duties, I remain still in a state of
health that precludes all possibility of proceeding to
Dublin on the present occasion.

" * I regret that inability the more as I learn that one
of the principal objects of the council to-morrow will be
to promote the return of Mr. Duffy for the borough of
New Ross. In that return I take the deepest interest,
from feeling the deepest and most sincere conviction that
no single return is likely to be made to parliament within
the present year that possesses one-fortieth part of
the vital importance to the tenant occupiers of Ireland
that attaches to the return or the rejection of Mr.
Dufl^y. . . .

'* ^Mr. Dufly in the House of Commons may, perhaps.

paiit ri.

ritnsTS- ruBLisuiiD lkttrrs.

333 I

be derided or coughed dowu, or his voice drowned amidst I
thuse brutal or lieldauie sounds wc; sometimes hear of; but ■
Mr. Dutly is known to the empire. He is not quite un- i
known to any part of the civilised world ; and his words
siKikeii in bis place in parliauient will po forth to the world
through the press as the faithful record of the true state of
landlord and tenant rdatioiifi in Ireland, and of tlie horrors,
unparalleled hi the history of mankind, to which the power
of imposing ii[]pogsiblc rent, and of inflicting the direst
penalties on default, has given rise.

" ' I am not myself very sanguine as to any great good
to come from British rule, British connection, or British \
parHainents. Little good has ever come of them ; hut of

Eains, and penalties, and wrongs, full plenty. But if '
onest, earnest, untiring advocacy and vindication, urged
by a man of undoubted ability, and no less undoubted
smcerity, be an object to the tenant farmers of Ireland, I
say that no election has occurred in the present parlia-
ment, or can occur in the next, in which the tenant occu-
piers of land have so deep and vita! an interest as that
about to tJike place at New Ross.

" 'Can the land be said to be free in which hundreds of '
thousands hold all they possess in the world at the Kill
andjikasure of anot/iei- man, who can come at any mo-
ment, seize every pennyworth they have on earth, and
turn them out houseless, and absolutely destitute, to shift
for themselves as best they may ? Yet sueh is the lot of
nine out of ten of the tenant farmers of this parish, and, I
believe, of every parish for twenty miles round. Can the
man be free who can be commanded under sueh penalty
as that just referred to, of extreme confiscatinn, to register
a vote by perjury, to send his child to a proselytising
school, to work on a holiday, &c. Sec, all which things
have heeu done in Ireland fifty times over? Can a land
be cfdled free in which two thousand acres arc lying
waste and uncultivated within a circle of five miles round
this one small town — the inhabitants having been rooted
out Uk-e vermin because they did not pay rents impo&slhle
to be paid ? Such is the state of this country. My
worthy brother, the Archdeacon of Cashel, tells me the

334 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS. Pabt H.

" Irish Brigade are destined to save Ireland, and make her
free." I trust my patriotic and respected brother may
prove a prophet ; and yet I fear there are some members
of that corps who would be found very unwilling to dimi-
nish in the least the high feudal privileges of their order
— yet these privileges constitute the murderous and de-
grading yoke of Irish slavery.

" * I am, dear Sir, your obedient servant,

" * Michael Fitzgerald, P.P.* **

" County Wichlow.

" The following letter was read from the Rev. James
Redmond : —

" * Arklow, April 18, 1852.

** * Dear Sir, — An arrear of the duties of this season
will not permit me to attend the meeting on Tuesday.

'* * I earnestly press on the council not to delay their
applications to constituencies till the latter shall have
passed their words to more early candidates. Limerick
was lost in this way.

** * Iliave written to nearly all the Parish Priests in the
county Wicklow to combine for the expulsion from the re-
presentation of the exterminating bigot, Lord Milton,
whose father, Earl Fitzwilliam, outraged the Catholics of
the United Kingdom, in and out of Parliament, last year,
by his calumnies on their religious tenets, and by aiding
the penal legislation against their Ecclesiastical liberties.
The said noble earl has also repeatedly raised his rents,
during the last six disastrous years, compelling his tenants
to pay interest for their own money by an enhanced rent
for their improvements. As Lord Milton has aided and
abetted his father in all this tyranny and wrong, he must
be made share in the punishment ; he must be made feel
that he shall not with impunity insult and injure men as
good as himself, and must account for his misdeeds at the
bar of an enlightened public opinion. No Catholic can
vote for the noble lord without dishonour and without incur-
ring the sacrilegious guilt of co-operating with the perse-
cutor and the plunderer of the Catholic Church by sending
him to parliament to forge new chains for our bishops, to

Part II. PRIESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS. 335

inflict heavier fines for the exercise of essential spiritual
functions, and to deprive the poor of Christ of their bread
by an unholy legislative confiscation. No tenant farmer cbxi
vote for him without being a consenting party to the con-
tinued rohhei^ and vassalage of his class^ and without being
a sharer in all the miseries and crimes resulting from
irresponsible landlordism.

" ' I confidently trust my beloved elerical brethren of
this county will take — as they have always taken — their
stand in good time, and firmly, between their faithfiil
people and their oppressors; that they will employ their
fair influence to paralyse the arm of the prosecutor now
uplifted to strike down our religious liberties ; that they
will combine to deprive the landlord of the power of con-
fiscating his tenant's property by expelling him at the end
of his tenure without full compensation for his improve-
mentSy or by making him pay an increased rent in respect
of the same, or by binding him to contracts rendered
flagrantly unjust or absolutely impossible by legislative
depreciation of the markets or heavy supervening taxation,
I am quite satisfied it will not be the fault of the worthy
Catholic clergy of the county Wicklow if a man, not
pledged to the defined and essentially just j^n/icipfe^ of
tenant-rightj and to the removal from the statute-book of
all restrictive laws interfering with religious liberty ^ shall
go into parliament for this county.

" * I remain, dear Sir, yours truly,

" 'James Redmond, P.P.

" * To the Secretary of the Irish Tenant League.' "

FROM * THE TABLET,' MAY 8, 1852.

" New Ross Election — Mr. Duffy.

"to the editor of * TUE TABLET.*

"Burt, Derry, May 3, 1852.

" My dear Sir, — I have published that I shall call on
the people of my parish on the 9th instant, requesting
them to be prepared on that day to contribute their mite
towards Mr. Dufly^s expenses at the approaching election

336 PRIESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS. Part 11.

of New Ross. My people are poor, but willing to do all
in their power on this most pressing occasion. Our duty
to our country is next to our duty to God. I hope Mr.
DuflFy's friends, who, I will say, are as numerous as there
are lovers of countrj', will do their duty. Their general
contribution throughout the kingdom will make the Castle-
man Redington tremble for his fate. This pouring in of
money to free Mr. Dufiy of all expenses will tell, more
decidedly than language can command, the hatred of the
people to him who helped to puff the Castle belloim
to forge chains for our Bishops, and their approval of
Duffy, the four-fold martyr and lover of his country.
Nothing ever terrified oligarchy so much as the general
contribution to the Catholic rent, and the thousands poured
into the Repeal treasury.

" Ireland showed herself great and independent in '28
by sustaining in the Clare election the great O'Connell,
and I trust she will consider New Ross a second Clare.

" Believe me, dear Lucas, yours faithfully,

"James M^Aleeb, P.P.**

" The People and their Pastors. — Letter of Archdeacon

Fitzgerald.

" Rathkeale, April 26, 1852.

" My dear O'Dwyer, — I thank you for your kindness
in communicating to me the important fact that the Clergy
of Emly have unanimously resolved to demand unequi-
vocal pledges fron^ the candidates for the representation of
this county at the coming election. The resolve is in
every way worthy a body so truly respectable and pa-
triotic as I have always considered your manly and honest
fellow-clergymen of Lmly to be.

'* I will take this opportunity to observe that there are
many things in the present aspect of Irish affairs that sadly
puzzle these old brains of mine ; and as you are so much
younger, and as I verily and sincerely believe so much
sounder, I wish to Heaven you could be induced to help
me a little to a right understanding. Thus, for instance,
it appears to me not a little strange that clergymen should

Part II. PRIESTS' PUBLISHED LETTERS. 337

see the houses inhabited by Catholics in their parishes di-
minished by one half — (as most certainly happened in this
parish within five years, and in hundreds of parishes
besides) — without giving themselves apparently the
slightest concern on the subject, or making the least effort
to save the remnant of their people. When the object
was to repeal the Union, great efibrts were made, and
large sums were subscribed or collected by clergymen.
Some clergymen in this diocese insisted on every newly-
baptized child being registered a Repealer^ and duly
qualijied by his parents paying doum the usual shilling
entrance fee.

" But there is another sort of persecution, which I can
well understand, where millions are shut up in workhouse
graves, or workhouse prisons, or banished for ever to
foreign climes. I can imagine that the religion of a
country is in danger when a Church and a nation are in
process of speedy extinction — when, under pretence of the
rights of property, a small class of men exercise un-
bounded power over hundreds of thousands. Have those
who are zealous for the faith considered that there is not a
landlord in Ireland who, if he set about it in right earnest,
could not make his Catholic tenants, in nine cases out of
ten, apostates ? He had only to say — You must pay rent
to the day, and endure all the extremes of landlord infUc-
tion, unless you go to the church and send your children
to my anti-popery school. Are not the worldly goods, the
morals, the religion, the whole being of the tenant-slave in
Ireland, utterly at the mercy of his owner or his landlord^
whichever you please ? And is this a state of things that
ought to be endured f

" I remain, my dear O'Dwyer,

" Most truly yours,
" Michael Fitzgerald, P.P.'*

338 PRINTED EXTRACTS FROM Paw If.

PRINTED EXTRACTS

FROM THE PRIESTS' PRESS.

The connection between the Roman Catholic priests of
Ireland and that portion of the press which avowedly
disseminates their temiK)ral and politick doctrines, has
been publicly explained and advertised by themselves
as follows : —

1. In The Warder newspaper of the 14th of Aagost^
1852, the Archdeacon of Meath addressed a letter to
Dr. Cantwell, titular bishop, in which he stated that at
an election meeting held at Kells on the 6th of Jmie,
1852, Mr. Lucas, editor of The Tablet, was, by the Very
Rev. N. M'Evoy, P.P., introduced to the meeting (at
which it was stated by The Tablet that upwards of ten
thousand persons were present) "as the tried and

TRUSTED ADVOCATE OF EVERY PRINCIPLE DEAR TO THE
hearts OF THE ENTIRE PRELACY AND PRIESTHOOD OF THE
LAND."

Again, in another newspaper, it was publicly declared
by Dr. M^Evoy, P.P., that Mr. Lucas, ^'the trusted
advocate of every principle dear to tlie hearts of the entire
Prelacy and Priesthood of the land^^ "was the de-
fender OF the sacred character of the PRIESTHOOD ;"

and that in token thereof he had stereotyped in front of
the Tablet newspaper, of which he was the editor, the
following picture of the Holy Virgin and Child.

THE PUIKSTS' PBESS.

2. In The Tablet, and in other Irish journals advo-
cating "the principles of the entire prelacy and
priesthood of the land," there repeatedly ajipeared
_ the folloH-ing advertisement : —

TWO CHEAP CATROUC HEWBP^iPERS.

THE T e"17e graph,
PirBLiaHED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY,
AND FBIDAY.
Fln( Number to appear cm Friday, Jinuary 2ad, 18.'k>.

THE \rEEKLY TELEGRAPH,

By WILLIAM BERNAJID MAC CABE, Esq.,
Author of a ' CathoUc Hiitory of Englmnd.'
TaE TELQHtAffi ]s oiled iulo existence with the autharily,
tii, and full approval of Iho leading CalhoUc Members of Par-
Bamenl, who In the last leMion combined for the preeervalinn
of Catholic liberty, and witli Uie moul encouraging asturanees
of anpport from Vie Catholic Clrryu and laity Chioughout the
[InlKMl Kingdom.

THE WEEKLY TELEORAPH,
A CathaUfl Newtpapcr, price Threepence.
In connection irilh the Three-Day I'aper, the TELBOBArti, n
(■tabUahcd a Thmpenny Newspaper, the

WEEKLY TELEGRAPU.

Equal In the slie of \a sheet, and the quinlity and quallry

of matter, lo the Weehly Journals »t pretCDl In elrvulaliun, it

Will ba, by Ow LowncM of iti Price, brought leitkBi iht rmrk of

iKt laoMut Cathatic rrader.

T AND fl, LOWEH AbbEI StHEET, XhrULIII.

340 PRINTED EXTItA^CTS FROM Pabt U.

3. In The Nation of the 10th of July, 1852, a long
leading article on the approaching elections ended by
the following brief admission of its own blind, abject
subserviency to the Irish priesthood : —

" Would to God that we could make one word of ours
— and it is all tliat we have to say on the subject — heard
and heeded by every elector of Kilkenny in this contest !
For Gr0D*s sake, and the sake of the cause, tote as
Father Tom O'Shee bids you ! '*

The connection between the Roman Catholic priests
of Ireland and the editors of their newspapers, and
vice versdy having been thus avowed by themselves, it
becomes necessary to submit a sample of the doctrines
they inculcate, or, to use their own terms, " bring
within the reach of the humblest Catholic reader *

Now, from the extracts and evidence I have submit-
ted to the reader, it has hitherto appeared that the
Irish priesthood have had only two wicked objects
in view, namely, 1st, the attainment for themselves
of the property of the Protestant Church; and,
2ndly, the attainment for their Catholic flocks of
" tenant rights" over the whole of the landed property
of Ireland, of which two-thirds belongs, in fee, to Pro-
testants. The reader will, however, now perceive that
**the Irish Priests' Press,'' in addition to advocating
these two unholy breaches of the Eighth Command-
ment, which explicitly declares to them " Thou shalt
NOT steal," not only openly preaches to the people of
Ireland hostility to everything bearing the name of
British, but sympathy and alliance with every offender
against British laws, as well as with every tribe,
civilized or uncivilized, at war with the British
sovereign and people.

AnT n. TUE rUIESTS' PHESB. 341

As the editor of The Tablet has already had a iull

opportunity of explaining to the reader his connection

with the priesthood and the principles he avows, we

J will proceed to consider extracts from other portions

l-of the priests' press.

In that newspaper, which obediently " votes as Father
Tom O'Sfiee bids it," there appeared, on the 10th of
' July, 1852, this respectable announcement : —

I

FROM 'TUE NATION,' JULY 10, 1832.

" The Venerable John Binns.

" The following affectionate and characteristic letter

■ was received a few days since by Mr. Meagher, from the

venerable John Binns, of Philadelphia, enclosing the

address and resolutions of his friends: —

" ' PhiUiielpWa, June 15, 1S53.
My dear and highly-esteemed Friend and Coun-
tryman — By this mail I send you an official letter, but
1 feel that that communication does not bring me so near
to your afiections as is my heart's desire. Allow me,
then, for this purpose, to set forth some passages in my
life :—

" ' lu 1795 I was tried in England for sedition, and
acquitted. In 1798 I was tried with James O'Coigley

i hanged on Penenden IImt!i\ and Arthur O'Connor
transported^ for high treason. In 1799 I was imprisoned
or treasonalile practices, and kept there until 1801, when
I came to the ITnited States, where in 1806 I became
a citizen, and, 1 trust, m peace and in war, have faith-
fully, ay, and zealously, discharged all the duties of a
citizen. Such, in brief, are the causen for which I claim,
in my own person, your affectionate regard. Do you
acknowledge them ?

" ' Faitlifully, I am, dear Sir, your friend,

'"John Binns.

■"ToT. P. MtimhiT. Esq.'"

342 PRINTED EXTRACTS FROM Pabt II.

FROM THE « MUNSTER CITIZEN,' JULY 31, 1862.

" Demonstration in honour of Meagher in New Orleans.

" A great demonstration in honour of T. F. Meagher
took place on Saturday, the 3rd inst, in the American
Theatre, New Orleans. The arrangements, say the New
Orleans papers, were highly creditable to the gentlemen
who got up the affair. The theatre was densely crowded
at an early hour by one of the most attentive and warm-
hearted audiences ever seen. The Mayor of the city
took the chair, and, after offering a few remarks, intro-
duced to the meeting ex-Governor Johnson, who addressed
the assembled multitude in a highly exciting oration, from
which we take the following extract : —

" * If we will exercise patience and bide our time^ we
will get it (Ireland), said the Governor. Already we have
taken much from Ireland — many of her noblest citizens.
And now we have Meagher I And not long will England
insult the spirit of the age ! How long will she opjn-ess
Erin ? How long will it be before Emmett's epitaph shall
be written, and Meagher, to quote his own language, shall
raise his head and join in the hymn of liberty? Not
long! not long! as sure as there is a God in Heaven/
Then, after dwelling at some length further upon the cha-
racter of the man, to honour whom was the special object
of the convocation, the speaker concluded enthusiastically
by tendering him a thousand welcomes to our shores."

" What do our down-stricken people at home think of
these words from an American ? There is no whining in
these sentiments, no talk of * returning members' and
* petitioning ' to save the country. Verily the Eagle of the
West would seem in reality about to become the avenger
of the wrongs of Ireland."

THE I'HIESTS' PHESS.

iPIiUM THE 'DUNDALK PEMOf'ifAT AND PEOFLr/S JOUKNAL,
■ AUGUST M, IPr,-:.

I " The Cafir War.

" The latest intelligence from the Cape left Satidilli,
the 'rebel chief',' a« Ais foe^ call hvin, still in ariiitd hos-
tility against the British forcea. Sir Harry Smith was
called home, as his masters imagined that he had not pro-
ceeded with sufficient vigour against the foe; hut liis suc-
cessor. General Cathcart, it would seem, so far as the
latest intelligence describes, has gained no new advantage
over the enemy. Cattle kraals are still attacked and the
beasts driven away ; hci-dsmen. waggon-drivurs, officers,
and soldiers are shot down in detail ; and ammunition
waggons captured and carried into the strongholds of the
enemy with the greatest impunity. Those semi-savage
CatBi^ are brave fellows. They know how to fight for
and hold their own. A large uumher of ' the bravest
army in the world ' have been tugging at them for a consi-
derable time, and they appear as fresh for the fight as
fhey did on the first day they revolted against British
autherity.

" One of their latest achievements was a very ffallani
affair. On the 13th of June, Captain Moody and 31 Sap-
pers and Miners were proceeding with five waggons of
annnunition from Graham's Town to Fort Beaufort, and
some lIotteiit«ts posted themselves in the thick bush of
the Konap-hill, and fired a sudden volley at the convoy,
killing seven of them and tcouitdtng nine others. Captam
Moody and his men scampered off, and left thirty thousand
cartridges in the hands of the ' rebels,' who, doubtless, will

I use them against the original owners on the first opportunity.
" Exasperated by the daring conduct of the CaiErs, and

f determined to make a bold stroke for the purpose of ter-
minating this harassing war. General Cathcart has issued
oi-ders for a general onslaught on the territory of the Caffir

t Chief Kreli, who resides beyond the Kei, a river which
Be|)arate8 his territory from Britisli Caffraria.
" By this time, we have no doubt, the forces arc at

I

Ft

344 PKINTED EXTRACTS FROM Pam U.

work; Cathcart against Kreli, and Kreli against Cath-
cart. This Caffir war is an ugly afiair, and has brou^t
no renown to the * bravest armv in the world.' However,
it has made one thing evident, namely, the courage and
b7'avef\i/ of the uncivilised tribes who fight with such galr
lantry and perseverance for their noHonality. It has
demonstrated, too, if such were necessary, the inordinate
love of domination in the English breast, which, in some
quarter or other of the world, every day we rise, disturbs
the peace of men, and sheds rivers of blood in its struggles
for increased dominion. England is the disturber of the
peace of the world. Like a drunken bully sfie swaggers
about, and no weak nation is safe from her insolence and
brutality. In Ireland she has weakened the national
forces by creating jealousies and divisions, and twice a-year
her garrison collects tribute from the prostrate people. In
India her army gives no peace to the unfortunate people
who groan beneath her sway; and scarcely a nation in
Europe is free from her assaults in some shape or other.
The consequence of all this is, that she is hated at home
and abroad, and the day that shall witness her shorn of
the means that enable her to scourge and oppress, will be
hailed by rejoicings by ever\' lover of rational freed(Mn in
the world."

FKOM *THE nation; AUGUST 14, 1852.

* How the Kajjir^- icere stirred up^ and why the Kajirs

cant be put down.

" A mail has arrived from the Cape, and the gallant
RKHELS not only hold their own, but improve it It fur-
nishes another long chapter of accidents to England ; and
we may reasonably hope that the end of the war and the
final triumjfh of the nativt^s is not far oftl No one who
understands the quarrel can honestly wish the victory to
their enemy. They are fighting for their natural rights
against unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression.

" The Kaffirs are a pastoral people — they live under a
serene sky, among droves of oxen, which they rear with

THE PTliESTS- PRESS.

345

I:

i Bkil] and (Itfenil with intrepidity ; but if there be truth in

the opinion of the ancients, such a race must be, empha-

i mild and peaceful people. They live amid the

calm scenes of pastoral simplicity, where they love to

guard tlieir quiet flocks — their gamboling children, fro-

[ licking youths, and patient malroits within sight.

"Uany native tribes had been exterminated before they

took up arms. Nothing had been left, in many instances,

to bear witness to the existence of a powerful horde except

a few bones whitening in the waving herbage of the waste.

Their men had been hutcliered by the bayonet—their

I women carried away by Boors — their cattle captured, and

I childreu massacred; and their smoking village of bee-hive

' cottages, forgotten in tlie desolate valley, had mouldered

into rubbish and ashes.

" What had the Ficani done (asks an English traveller)
when they were massacred in wholesale iy British sol-
diers? The army was marched into the unknown terri-
tory to slaughter a tribe who were not even known to
their assassins. The shrieking women were cut to pieces
amid the stifling smoke of their blazing residences. Mas-
sacre in all its enormities raged amid the scene of blood.
Atrocities without a name were perpetrated by men
without a conscience. Sinless infancy and helpless age
were promiscuously butchered, fire flamed high in the
clouds, and blood poured deep into the earth. The
murderers had never seen their victims until they plunged
the bayonets in their untutored breasts. Nay, what was
more revolting if possible than the brutal extirpation of
a whole tribe, a British Clergj-man — a Wesleyan Mis-
sioner — was base enough to defend this brutality in the

I newspapers, to extenuate the enormity--— to justify the
massacre of these defenceless people.
"The outrages perpetrated by the arms of England
were seconded with eagerness by a people denominated
Boors.
*' The European continent has been Jilled rciih admi-
ration in contemplating these uneducated warriors of
Africa. If the world, however, knew the calamities tliey
have endured, the wrongs they have been subjected to —

346 PRINTED EXTRACTS FROM Pakt II.

could the ample current of their melanciholy annals be set
in all its gloom before the European mind — pity for their
sorrows would blend with admiration of their manliness.
Meantime, no people on earth understand the character of
Britain so profoundly. They know that they must beat
her in battle or perish in her grasp — that no alternative
exists beneath the sky but heroic victory or their own
total destruction.

^'Notwithstanding these manifold disadvantages, the
KaflSrs are, perhaps, the only people on the face of the
globe who have successfully coped with British generals.
Such is the reward of self-reliance. They were guilty, it
appears, of offences which the proud and tyrannical fasti-
diousness of England could not overlook. They refused
to sell oxen for buttons. They refused to kennel with the
hounds, and starve as wanderers upon the demesnes of
their ancestors. They refused to be less than freemen.
This was what the haughty arrogance of these overbearing
masters could not suffer. They refused to sacrifice their
lands, cattle, wives, and personal liberty, and the Euro-
peans and colonists devoted them to extermination for
presuming to assert that they were men. At that time
the natives were numerous, and the colonists few and
feeble. But when the colonists or Boors became powerful
their covetousness became irresistible. They grudged
the KaflSrs the possession of their ancestral distncts. They
crouched in the long grass with the firelock in their hand,
and shot the natives to feed their hounds. They deprived
them of 50,000 oxen in two years. On the 5th of Decem-
ber, 1823, Major Somerset is described as pouring at day-
break into the village of Makomo at the head of his troops.
'A few assegais were thrown; but the attack was so
sudden that little resistance could be made.' * As many
KaflSrs having been destroyed as it was thought would
evince our superiority and power. Major Somerset stopped
the slaughter, and secured the cattle to the amount of
7000 head.'

" The injustice and cruelties perpetrated on the natives
must be considered as the sole cause of the calamities
which embarrass the Government. But when the seeds

TUR rniESTS* I'HESS. 347

Il'jmr II.
of' hate had been bowh eo deep that the art of man could
unt root them out — when the horrors perpetrated by the
Spaniards in the West Indies had been surpassed by the
ferocity of the Europeans of Cape Colony — when the
enormities of the Boors threatened to bring all Africa in
arms on the heads of the Colonial Government — when it
was too late, the liritish interfered to arrest the murderous
career of their sanguinary friends, and undertook the task
of punishing the natives, under the pretext of protecting
them, for refusing to he robbed. When plundering com-
mandoes or exterminating expeditions had ravaged so
I frequently and cruelly the country of the Kaffirs that peace
I was no longer possible — when the wild justice of revenge
I had been so thoroughly excited that the blood of the
I invader could alone appease it — when the infuriated Kaffirs
[ proved too strong to he routed, too cunning to be defrauded,
I the English Government undertook to 'doctor' them —
that is, to divide them, to sow dissension among them, to
I make them beat one another with their own hands ; but
the Kaffirs have outwitted them."

The following is a specimen of the delusions prac-
tised ou the Irish people by " the Priests' Press."

FROM THE 'MUNSTER CITIZEN,' JUNE 20, 185L',

'* Workhmise Barbarity.

"The woman-flogging of the Czar con\TiIsed Europe
with indignation some years ago. Here is a revelation of
female degradation and torture which out-Herods tlie
cruelty of the Russian monster. We think it possible for
women and children to be kept alive in this land oi' plenty
and of beauty without resorting to the beastly depletive
which the subjoined extract describes. If Irish manhood
yet possess rage, and Irish loyalty logic, this example of
the grinding tyranny of British ih5/iV«(i(?rs ought to inflame
[ the one and convince the other; —

348 PRINTED EXTRACTS FROM Pabt II.

" ' To S. G. O.

" * We have, through you, heard of the many methods
adopted to render the life of a poorhouse inmate as unen-
durable and of as short a duration as possible ; but you
have yet to learn, the British public has yet to learn, that
at this day — in the nineteenth century — in this age of ci-
vilisation — human beings — women — old and feeble, young
and helpless, sickly and infirm — are yoked like oxen to
a miUj and driven round with a whip^ grinding com, in a
dark room in an Irish workhouse. Yes, Sir, women^ and
I believe women only^ perform this duty in the workhouse
of the Bantry union ! I have seen them — I have seen the
heart-broken widow, with the furrows of three-score years
on her face — the child of fiflteen — the " widowed wife,"
whose face was furrowed also, not by time, but by afflic-
tion — I have seen them driven round there — / have seen
their tears course doion t/ieir cheeks, as did my own tears
mine, while I surveyed the ignominious spectacle. I
know not how the Poor Law Commissioners were induced
to overlook such a proceeding — for, to their honour be it
spoken, they have uniformly objected to the employment
of females at such laborious work. I know not whether
their resident representative here represented the matter
in its true light ; perhaps they were led to believe that
none but able-bodied women would be employed ; but this
I know, and assert, that old women as well as young —
feeble, emaciated, and helpless — are in gangs of thirty and
forty driven round that axle; and I am informed that
instances have occurred where they have dropped from
exhaustion and been trampled on in the revolution of the
wheel I Good God — who, worthy the name of man, can
contemplate the debasing spectacle presented in that grim
cell of toil ? Let him watch the weary step and faint eye
of the toilers as they tread their " weary round " — let
him see the crack of the whip — (he cannot hear it with
the din of machinery) — and let him imagine if he can that
he is not in the salt-mines of the Czar ; or in some sugar
manufactory in Louisiana, only with the difference that
the slaves are white. Or he will ask — " What convict

THE PH1E8T6' PRESS.

I department is this ? what kind of beings are these — what
heinous crime have they committed that they are con-
demned to such hard punishment?" "Alas I" would be
the answer — " this is the Bantry union, these are Irisk
mot/ttrs, wives, sisters, and daughleis — and their only crime
is Poverty." ' "

I

FBOM THE ' MUN3TER CITIZEN,' JULY 31, 1852.
" The Fallacy of a Reliance on Parliament.

" The b«Il1c of iJie Conatitntion must bo first /ought b the forge and nft*t-
vanis iu tlie fields and atJoota. — John Mitchell rtraoBportud].
" Sir— Faith, hope, and reliance in political and social
amelioration from the British Parliament is a palpable
abnegation of Ireland's individuality and of that holy
spirit of independence which God has implanted in the
heart of man. As to the 'Titles Bill,' ' Orange Juries,'
and other grievances, good CathuUc, believe me that these
matters can only be settled to your liking and wish, which
in truth are not very exorbitant, by your armed union
against the English interest — both at home and in Great
Britain. He who tells you to rely on Brigades, prayers,
or petitions is your worst enemy. Discard for ever from
the rules of your friendly societies the disgusting oath of
allegiance to Queen Vict07-ia, and substitute the sacred
and sensible one of Common Cause.

" I am, Sir, youi-s very truly,

"John C. Lynch,"

"A fete Words to Irish DEMOCRATS, particularly
those Resident in England and Scotland.

" BamsiRj, July 2fith, 1862.

" You, Brothers, who adhere to the Godlike creed of
real Irish Nationality ;— you who care not a fig for die
hunibug of '82, nor the Ilepeal sham of '43 ; but who
cherish iu your souls the noble creed that inspired our
fathers to face the hatrdfoe on many a bloody field —
that creed for whtph Tone and Euimett died, and our

350 PRINTED EXTRACTS FROM Part II.

own brave Mitchell is languishing in exile; — ^you who
repudiate the anti-religious lessons of British royalty and
expediency^ and who feel no more desire to mumble
prayers for kings j queens, and royal families, than for
gipsies, brigands^ or blacklegs ; — you who worship at the
shrine of truth, and believe that peace and concord amongst
royal conspirators called Christian kings and princes is
slavery, starvation, and death to that portion of 6od*s
people, the useful and productive classes of society ; — you
who believe in the true and holy teaching of our Prophet,
* That nothing good can come from the English Parlia-
ment or English Government j* and that Ireland can only
assert her nationality by force of arms, and who look on
the new-fledged Irish M.F.s who swear aJlegiance to
the English Queen, to be traitors to the Celtic people^
and downright sworn enemies to their country ; — ^you are
the men of the Future, and on you devolves tibe impera-
tive duty of rescuing our deluded countrymen from the
poisonous influence of mercenary traitors and hjrpocritical
or blind apostles. When England was exclusively Ca-
tholic, King, Nobles, and Plebeians, did they not show
Ireland about as much mercy as the she-wolf Elizabeth
did when she ordered Raleigh to exterminate the natives
of Munster, and establish English colonies in their stead ?
Did they not make the penalty of killing a m,ere Irishman
just thirteen shillings and four-pence fine ? And did not
Catholic Mary, in her short reign, butcher the people of
Leinster, and convert the name of Leix and Oflally into
the King and Queens County? Recent events prove
that the same undying spirit of hatred and extermination
towards the Irish is as rampant to-day as it was seven
centuries ago. It is said that the Roman Nobility in
Rome's degenerate days used to amuse themselves in
their arenas by witnessing the devouring of their Gallic
slaves by wild beasts. But in these enlightened days, and
in the land of enlightened humanity, ^ the ferocious in-
habitants of the forest ' are substituted by the Stockport
and Wigan savages. A private letter informs me that the
Wigau cannibals broke mto thirty houses belonging to
Irishmen, and spared neither age nor sex, while the Mayor

TllK I'llIESTS' I'RESS.

351

and Magistrates enjoyed a hearty laugh at the expense of
Irisli blocid and Irish money, for the poor Irish were
robbed into the bai^ain, and madt- prisoners, by their per-
secutors. It is therefore pretty clear that there is to be
no protection whatever for the lives and property of Irish-
men resident in Kngland. Let us then prepare to protect
ourselves. At all events, let us be prepared, in those
districts where attacks are made, to sell our lives as dearly
as possible. The first thing requisite for this end is, an
ABMED organization. Let Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds,
LotidoD, and Liverpool make a beginnini/, and any simple
plan will do for a commencement. This would suffice till
a number of towns were partly organized, and then a con-
ference could be held, say in Manchester, to propound a
real plan of organization, and take steps /(?/■ sp7-eadi7iff it
in Ireland. The organization should have but one great
object in view, viz. the Irish Republic.

" To tvurk tlien, comrades, to work like men in earnest
And while we register a vow of holy hatred and abhor-
rence of tho English system and English Oligarchy, we
can still afford to clasp hands, not with the Whigs or
Tories, nor the Radicals, nor Chartists, for they are de-
generate, but with the few brave Knglish republicans,
whose feelings are identical with our own. Is it not time
for us to begin ?

" Yours in the cause of the Irish Republic,

"Michael Seobave."

FROM THE 'WEEKLY TELEGRAPn," AUGUST 14, 1852.
" The Murder-Sail at Stoclipm't.
"Some of our contemporaries seem to be very mnch
shocked at the truly English no-Popery notion nf having
a ball at Stockport for the benefit of ' the English pri-
soners' charged with such crimes as 'sacrilege,' 'arson,'
and ' homicide.' To us the thing appears perfectly appro-
priate. The persecutors of the Catholics profess to be
profoundly learned in Scripture lore. They are all, they
assure us, great Bible-readers, and if they do participate
ii\ ' a housebreaker's hornpipe,' a ' plunderer's polka,'

352 PRINTED ESTUAUTS FHOM i'*

or 'a murderer's mazurka,' why, they can, like their great
unavowed champion, 'quote Scripture' for what they da
It was by means of a jtas sad that St. John the BapT"^"
was martyred, aud no doubt those who got up a danoe
Stockport, for the benefit of the murderers of Morau i
the desecrators of the Cihorium, were prepared to jusHi^
themselves by the words of St. Matthew:^

" ' On Herod's birthday, the daughter of lIorotliaR
danced before them, and pleased Ilerod, '

" ' Whereupon he promised, with au oath, to give I]
whatsoever she would ask of him,

" ' But she, being instructed before by her mother, e
Give vie in a dixh the head of John the JiaptUt' "

THE PRIESTS' PRESS.

353

The following article, containing an anecdote of
Governor Johnson and his lean, long-backed, inqui-
sitive little boy, gives an amusing picture of the med-
dling, incurable vulgarity of democracy in the United
States of America.

FROM ■ THE NATTON; JULY 24, 1852.
" Neio Orleajis Tribute.

"Here also a passionate desire to hnnour the Irish
exile, and exhibit practical sympathy for his cause, ani-
matt'8 the bosoms of native Americans, as well as Irish-
horn men. A few weeks ago there was a most infiuential
and enthusiastic meeting held in New Orleans, presided
over by Governor Johnson, for this specifit; pnrpose. The
following is but a meagre sketch of this memorable pro-
ceeding: —

" The Chair, before appointing the committee, re-
quested that a letter from General Walker should be laid
before the meeting, and it was read amid tremendous
cheering by Secretary Walton.

" The committee having retired, the calls for Governor
Johnson were renewed, and as he made his appearance
the house fairly shook with plaudits.

"Governor Johnson related an anecdote whick cUdled
thunders of applause. ' It is but a few da}'s since,' he
remarked, 'that a boy of mine, who has Irish blood in
his veins, asked me what a fillibuster meant? I described
to him a fillibuster as a tolerable respectable sort of a
person, and when I had given the description the little
fellow asked me, " Well, Pa, why don't we take Ireland
fixpm England ?" (Cheers for several minute.i. A voice
in the crowd, " He'll make a mail.") I found some diffi-
culty iu answering the question, but told him that we had
already taken a pretty good share of British subjects from
Ireland, and will soon have them all, perhaps.' (Renewed
and continued cheering.)

" Governor Jolmson expressed his highest admiration
of the character and abilities of Mr. Meagher, and asked
how long before the British government would be brought
2 h.

354 PRINTED EXTRACTS FROM Pabt IL-

to account for her cruel persecution of such men ? liow
long before the epitaph of Emmett could be written?
how long before Meagher could return to his native land
a free man ? Governor Johnson closed with a fervently
expressed hope that the day was not far off when these
thmgs might be done.

" Governor Johnson having closed his speech, Mr.
Burke, from the Committee on Resolutions, submitted the
following, which were adopted by acclamation and with
great enthusiasm : —

" * Whereas Thomas Francis Meagher, a "/<?fon " by
British law, for his love of liberty, and his desire to ex-
tend its inestimable blessings to his native land, has
escaped from the English penal settlement of Van Die-
men s Land, and is now reposing in safety and security
beneath the flag of these United States, in the city of
New York ; the citizens of New Orleans, in public meet-
ing assembled, without distinction of creed or country,
condition or calling, do resolve as follows : —

" * Resolved, That the congratulations of the citizens
of New Orleans be tendered to Thomas Francis Mei^her
on his honourable escape from the convict settlement of
Van Diemen's Land, whither he had been consigned by
British tyranny to expiate the only crime of which he had
been guilty, namely, an ardent thirst for liberty, and an
undying attachment to his native land.

" * Resolved, That the Irish patriots of *48 deserve
well of Old Ireland, in whose cause they perilled limb,
liberty, and life, and of every true Repubhcan ; for the
annals of no nation aflbrd better evidences of sincerity
good faith, and loyalty to the people than is recorded of
Mitchell, O'Brien, Martin, Meagher, and their faithful
associates of the Irish confederation, in preparing the
hearts of their countrymen for war against the tyrants
that oppress them, up to the moment of their untoward
failure.

** ' Resolved, That in tendering the honours of a public
reception to Thomas Francis Meagher, the civic autho-
rities of New York, not inappropriately called the " Em-
pire City," did honour to themselves and the great city

II. THE PRIESTS' rJlESS, 355

, whose government is intrusted to their administration,
and by their conduct have nobly vindicated the illustrious
"felons" still held in cruel bondage, [see Uucle Tom's

' Cabin] as well as those happily escaped from British ven-

I ffeance, and have thereby entitled themselves to the grati-

' tude of every lover nf freedom.*

"Mr. Joseph Brenan next came forward, in response to
a unanimous call, and delivered a beautiful and brilliant
oration, chiefly devoted to the vindication of the Irish
patriots of '48 from the imputations of socialism and
eommuiiisra, and to an ailment showinfr that the fires of
republicanism are still unquenched in France, in Italy, in
Hungary, in Germany, and in Ireland."

The following leading article aud treasonable letter
I but too clearly show the seditious language of the Irish
priests' press : —

FROM THE ' MUNSTER CITIZKN," JUNE 26, 1853.

" EiujlaniTs Clerical GaiTison.

" Mr. Seprave, whose letter we publish in another part
of the paper, is very careful to confine to himself the re-
sponsibility of the sentiments he advancts. Although we
appreciate the generosity of Mr. Segrave's motives in thus
endeavouring to protect us from the consequences of pub-
lishing the truths which he enunciates with so much bold-
ness and vigour, we must protest against the injustice he
does us if he means to imply that an inordinate terror of
consequences would induce us to violate the principles
which our prospectus propounded, and every number of
our Journal reiterated. We have repeatedly declared
that, whenever the performance of our duty brought us intfl
collision with power, we would not shrink from the trials
which honesty and consistency might incur. We, there-
fore, adopt Mr. Segrave's letter without sitting down to
balance its operation on our private interests. We publish
it because we know it to be truth — and because we know
2 A a

356 PRINTED EXTRACTS FROM Pabt IL

that truth is the greatest want of Irish politics, and the
greatest instrument of Irish redemption. A Catholic is
bound by his religion to sacrifice his comfort, limbs, or
life to (he maintenance of principle. What Catholic or
Christian principle is maintained by supporting British
connexion f Do they not know that it entails upon Irish-
men the necessity of plundering and murdering their fellow
slaves in all parts of the world, at the bidding of their
country's tyrants — of acting as the accursed and despised
tools of a rapacious and criminal foreign oligarchy — and
of aiding in the propagation and etemization of the or-
ganized vice and villany tiiat robs, starves, and vitiates ? "'

The following is Mr. Segrave's letter " adopted ** by
the Editor of the ' Munster Citizen * : —

" Moral Suicide.

« TO THK BDITOB OF THB 'MUNBTEB OITIZSV/

" BarDBley, Jum 10, 1852.

" Sir, — ^We are a wretched race of liars, both at home
and abroad-— of mean, selfish, hypocritical liars ; and this
is what England made us by mfiising into our souls her
own damnable spirit by which we propound the devil s lies
and blaspheme the GOD of Heaven. All the legalised
robberies and atrocious massacres perpetrated by tyrants,
from the slaughter at Mullaghmast to the Skibbereen
tragedy, have all been attributed to God by sham religion-
ists in order to cloak aristocratic ruffianism and royal
villanjr. The Chinese are poisoned with opium and God
is glorified. The native Indians are robbed and slaugh-
tered, and the Caflres' crops destroyed fi)r defending their
native mountains, just the same as Elizabeth burned the
crops in Ireland. And it was God, they say, that aided
the blood-stained flag of England in its piratical crusade^

But will the aristocracy of England practise

religion ? They will, when Hell becomes a Paradise, and
pandemonium converted into a choir of Angels. Will
they resign their voluptuous habits, their mistresses and

^* Pab

THE PRIESTS' PBE88.

concubines, and consent to live in decent houscB instead of
feiry palaces? Will they allow their parks, lawns, and
racing-grounds to be converted into comfortable farms for
the use of a happy peasantry, or will they consent to resign
t/ieir robber right to the land which God created for the
use of hifi people, that it may be proclaimed national
property and applied to its legitimate purposes? Will
they dispense with the twentj'-cight million pounds raised
annually for interest of what is called a National Debt,
which was contracted (not by the present generation) for
the purpose of suppressing European liberty — and is, to
all intents and purposes, and in all it« bearings, a great
national swindle? Will they abolish their State-endowed
Church, resign its exorbitant livings, and betake them-
selves to 9onie honest and honourable occupation ? Will
they lessen the calendar of crime, by removing its causes,
that we may have unemployed partizan judges, and un-
\ employed corrupt barristers? Or will they relinquish their
hold on the colonies, that their cousins and nephews in the
army may turn their swords into ploughshares, and earn
a livelihood by honest industry ? I venture to assert that
they will do none of these things — nor would they tolerate
religion furdier than that the cant and superstition at-
taclieU to it by agents of the Devil is made subservient to
ttifl maintenance of their rotten system and their tyran-
nical sway. Will the lords of the long chimneys and
manufacturers restore to the weai^ers and fjictory opera-
tives the immense wealth which they accumulated from
their steeat and blood f Will they discontinue their sys-
tematic robbery, and allow the workman his fair share of
the profits, as the workman's labour is at all times as ne-
cessary as the employer's capital, for without labour the
raw materia! would be valueless to the capitalist? Will
they discontinue their slow process of muraer, by sending
mvriade to premature graves, and other tens of thousands
to their Malthiisian workhouses, where the divine law of
marriage is rejected by the separation of man from his
wife, and children from both? Or will they stop the
abominable traffic of their accursed myrmidons, who pur-
chase tie^male virtue lor leave to toil? Will the bankers,

358 PRINTED EXTRACTS FROM Pabt n.

stockbrokers, and all kinds of usurers, renounce their un-
holy practices that are prohibited by the law of the land,
and denounced by the canon law of the Church as a crime
hateful alike to God and man? Will the shopkeepers
cease to sell as genuine adulterated articles, and abandon
their immodest behaviour generally practised towards their
female servants ; or will the traders and dealers of every
description do what is utterly impossible under the present
system, live without cheating and telling lies ? Will the
myriads of thieves, and hundreds of thousands of prosti-
tutes in such places as London and Manchester become
honest and virtuous ? No — they are compelled to eat the
bread of prostitution or starve.

** Respect for your paper and its readers alone prevents
me from disclosing deeds of English brutalisation even a
hundredfold darker than I have already described — deeds
that would not be perpetrated by savages without the
burning blush of shame reddening their cheek — deeds that
would be considered incredible were it not that sometimes
cases are detected and placed on the calendar of crime.
Let no one say that in making these statements I have
outstepped the truth, as I can find, not only Irishmen
here, but also Englishmen, to vouch for their accuracy —
men who, like myself, pant for an opportunity to rid their
country of an infernal system that degrades, demoralises,
and brutaUses society.

'* How dare the Kev. Dr. Cahill or The O'Gorman
Mahon, or any other slavish priest or base lickspittle in
the English Parliament, assert, that in case of invasion
there is not an Irishman to be found that would not fight
for the Queen of England f As an Irishman I protest
against this foul imputation with as much contempt as
The O'Gorman Mahon had the impudence to utter it, and
say what I have already said in a private letter to a friend,
— and I venture to assert that I speak the feelings of a
majority of my countrymen, — that were Anti-Christ to
land with an army of devils and 666 visible on his fore-
head^ I would say^ Bravo, son of his Satanic Majesty 1 go on
rmth your hoofy legion^ and down^ doum with the bloody
old British Empire. I have just read the Queen of Eiig-

u. THE ritiKsTs- ?M.m. 359

I knds proclamation relative to Catholic processions, and
the etateinent of The Telegraph, 'that it will not diminish
the loyalty of her Irish subjects.' What can hounds
expect but the customary treatment of dogs, to be whipped
into their kennel ? I desire to be alone responsible for
the conteuts of this letter, and believe me, dear Sir, to be
A KKBBL io the baakf/oiie,

" Michael Segravh:.

" Mr. Josejili u'^nMiy."

It api)ears from the following extract from ' The
Nation,' which " votes as Father Tom O'Shee bids it"
that the priesthood of Ireland arc equally opposed both
to Whigs and Tories.

" Down with the Whigs! -Down with (he Tories!

" A general election in Ireland has come to signify
something essentially different from what the people
nnderstood by it half-a-dozen years ago.

" Formerly the constituencies of Ireland were mar-
shalled for one English faction offainst another. The
Whigs were the people's favourites; tlie Tories the
people's enemies. Tlie Whig banner had emblazoned on
its lolds the attractive legends ' Civil and Religious Li-
berty,' ' Reform,' and ' Justice to Ireland.' The Tories
displayed the watch-words of ' Protestant Ascendancy,'
'Aristocratic Privilege,' and 'Coercion.'

"Down with the Whigs! Down with the Tories!
Priests aiul people, down with both!

" Down with them in the name of the Union, the
Famine, the Convict-Ship, and the Penal Code.

"From the hut where the trembling tenant starves;
from the poorhousc, where the broken industry of Ireland
rots; fnytit t/ie altar, where your religion wears the slaves*
dress; from the penal colony, where your exiled patriots
suffer; from America, where your banished friends con-

360 PRINTED EXTRACTS, &c. Pakt H,

spire — comes a mighty adjuration, calling on you to vote
against England and far Ireland.

" Down with the Whigs I Down with the Tories I
Hurrah for Ireland!"

FROM * THE TABLET,' JULY 31, 1852.

The following confession was published beneath Mr.
Lucas's engraving of " the Holy Virgin and Child :" —

" No doubt the power of the priesthood in Ireland — a
power for which we heartily thank God — fills our enemies
with rage, grief, and dismay. It is a power ^ite unr
hnovm to the * British Constitution ' — a power which
British statesmen have not found a way to corrupt, or
overmaster, or manage, or cajole — a power totally distinct
from the sordid powers of purse and patronage, with which
they are familiar — a power exercised for country and ctm*
sciencSj and against low-minded and servile influences.
Therefore they hate it, and thirst to have the power to
destroy the possessors of it at one blow.

" We admity of course^ the great political influence of
the priesthood in Ireland. We wotUd as soon deny the
existence of the sun blazing at high noon. We admit it ;
and again we say, from our whole hearts^ we thank God

FOR IT.'*

TABTn. (361 )

IL

EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF.

A PARISH priest, named Mullen, lately addressed to
the Irish people in the columns of The Freeman the
foUowiug appeal : —

^^ Is there to be no voice raised, no hope held out, that
will keep the people at home, and thus save millions from
spiritual destruction? I say miUionsl Here are my
facts : —

" The present population of the United States is about
15,000,000, and of these the Catholic Church claims only
1,980,000. From the year 1825 to 1844, 1,250,000 left
Ireland, 1,000,000 of whom came to America ; the pro-
portion of Catholics amongst them may be fairly estimated
at 800,000. Since that period to the present the numbers
who emigrated here from Ireland at the lowest calculation
were 1,500,000; and, taking the Catholics as above, we
will have in nine years 1,200,000. A large number (say
half a million) came from Germany, some from Italy,
France, Belgium, and other countries, during the last ten
years, half of whom were Catholics, say 250,000. Twelve
years ago America had a population (according to Dr.
England, Bishop of Charleston) of 1,200,000. Calcu-
lating the increase of this number by births at the very
small number of 500,000, and adding, for converts in the
larger cities and towns, 20,000, we will have the following
total: —

362 EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. Pabt U.

" Catholic emigrants from the year 1825

to 1844 800,000

Catholic emigrants from 1844 to 1852 1,200,000
Catholic emigrants from other countries 250,000
American Catholic population twelve

years ago 1,200,000

Increase by births since . . . 500,000

Number of converts . . . 20,000

Number who ought to be Catholics . 3,970,000
Number who are Catholics . . 1,980,000

Number lost to the Catholic

Church 1,990,000

Say, in round numbers, two millions ! *'

In corroboration of the above statement, in the
* Annals of the Catholic Faith/ a Roman Catholic
publication of great celebrity, it has been authentically
stated that of the population of Ireland ^' millions

HAVE LOST their SOULS."

After the last tour made by the Bishop (Protestant)
of Tuam through the united dioceses of Tuam, Killala,
and Achonry, in a printed report the following state-
ment was officially announced : —

** The general total of the result of the whole tour,
comprising all the three heads, is as follows : —

'* In all, 1294 persons were confirmed, being 454 ori-
ginal Protestants, and 840 converts.

" These converts, added to the numbers previously
confirmed upon the two occasions within the last three
years, make 2414 converts confirmed.

" Three new churches have been consecrated, and one
enlarged. Five new churches are in process of comple-
tion. The first stones were laid of three more, and two
more were contracted for, making in all fourteen new
churches, which will afibrd sittings for 5210 persons.

EVIDENX'K COLI.IXTLD BY MYSIII.F.

363

*' Six new licensed houses for Divine worship have
been provided, accommodating 2300 worshippers, which,
added to the former numbers, will afford aeconmiodutiou
for 7510 pereoiiB.

*' Besides this accommodation, afforded in twenty
localities where none existed before, there are five other
places, ill West Galwav, not inchided in the above tour,
in which there is a schoolroom where Divine service is
performed on the Lord's-day, and in which accommodation
18 provided for 1350 worshippers This number, added
to the 7510 already stated, maltes a total of 88G0 sittings
now newly provided.

" By order of the Bishop of Tiuim,

" B. J. Clarke,
" Secretary and Deputy-Reghstror.
" Tuam, 29(A Aiif/. 185'2.'

I

The Honian Catholic priesthood, clearly seeing that
the " Exodus " of their fee-paying flocks, whom they have
invariably refused to accompany, was progressing ; that
every family settled across the wide blue waters of the
Atlantic were beckoning to their compatriots to follow
them; that "millions of Catholic souls had been lost"
in America ; that the contagion was spreading even to
the metroiiolis of their own country ; and, lastly, that
as the result of these united movements, by cholera,
famine, &c., the Protestaut population had so alarmingly
increased, that it not only already nearly equalled, but
that it threatened very shortly to overbalance in number
(as it has always greatly overbalanced in wealth and in
land) the Roman Catholic pojmlation of Ireland, felt
that, — unless some bold and decisive movement was
made by them to get into Parliament members favour-
able to their views, namely, 1st, " tenant-right," or a

364 EVroENCE COLLECTED BY MTSELF. Part H,

destruction of the title-deeds of Protestant and Catholic
landlords ; 2nd, " a reversion,'* as Archbishop M^Hale
has adroitly expressed it, ^' of the ecclesiastical funds of
the Protestant Church to their original purposes of pro-
moting Catholic piety, charity, and education;" drd,
the stoppage of emigration ; and, 4thly, aboye all, the
abolition of the existing combined Protestant-cum-
Catholic education of the people under the direction
of the National Board of Education in Dublin, — ^their
power, like their flocks, would vanish from the land.

Hitherto their masked influence had, as I have
shown, been apparently simply negative. It was, how-
ever, only by positive force, by uniting together, and
boldly casting aside their spiritual character, — in fact,
by what may justly be termed " taking the field,** — ^that
they could hope to maintain their position. They
therefore, as is notorious, virulently increased their
opposition to education: although the population * of
Ireland had sunk from eight millions to six, they inr
creased the number of their priests ; and, as I have
indisputably proved by their oion evidence, they regu-
larly organized a system for advocating, from the altars
of their chapels and again in person on the hustings,
hostility to landlords, to Lord Derby's government, to
Lord John Russell's administration ; in short, to every
human authority and to every human power that should
dare presume to ofier to their temporal interests and
objects the smallest opposition.

Of the conduct and speeches of the Irish priesthood
during the late elections, I received from gentlemen
and persons of high character who were present, and
whose names, if called upon, I can produce, state-

Part IT. EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. 365

ments, on the truth of which the reader may impUdtly
rely.

I have not been requested by these individuals either
to withhold their own names or the names of the priests
extracts of whose spee^'hes I shall briefly detail ; but as
in the investigation in which I have embarked I have
determined to avoid as much as possible all personalities,
and as the evidence already produced, namely, that of
the priesthood themselves, is undeniable, I feel that-—
in my own outline of the case — ^the public will not dis-
approve of my withholding, in a few instances only,
the mention of such names, dates, and places as might
be injurious or offensive.

'Lastly, I deem it due to the officers and men quar*
tered at the various constabulary barracks which I
visited on my tour, to state distinctly, that from them
I received no evidence whatever respecting the Irish
priesthood ; indeed, I deemed it my bounden duty to
abstain from putting to them a single question on that
subject. The only observation I ever made to them
respecting religion was, invariably to compliment and
congratulate them on the friendly and happy terms on
which as Catholics and Protestants they were living
together.

I.

The followinq is a specimen of the mode in which the
Priesthood of Ireland by persuasion and ecclesiastical

THREATS ADVOCATED THEIR OWN TEMPORAL VIEWS AT THE
LATE ELECTIONS.

On the 27th of June, the priest of ♦ ♦ ♦, after mass,
addressed his congregation as follows : —

366 EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. Pabt U.

" The approaching election is not a war between two
kingdoms, but it is a war against your religion ; you ought
therefore to vote for the Liberal candidates. ♦ * * is a
supporter of Lord Derby's government, and if Derby
gets a majority he will crush you ; the Government has
already done all in its power to crush your religion.
Priests and nuns are prevented from wearing their religious
habits ; the people therefore should be ready to sacrifice
their lives for the support of Liberal candidates. Those
who have no votes should go to the houses of those who
have, and if they will not go with you, you know w/iat to
do ; and as regards myself, / will not administer the last
Sacrament, if they were dying, to any person who shall
vote for the support of the present Government^

On Sunday, the 25th of July, the priest of * * *
spoke from the altar as follows : —

*' I have to state, that those persons in this parish who
yesterday voted for * * * are perjured men. Let thein
not come to me to speak about religion, for as long as £
am in the parish / will ham very little to say to them**

On the following day the seats of the persons alluded
to were broken to pieces and thrown out of the chapel.

On Sunday, the 1st of August, a woman whose hus-
band had voted for * * * was turned out of church by
the priest of * * *, who, striking her at the same time
on the back, exclaimed, " Be off, mother of the old
devil ! " (The poor woman was so frightened that she
was confined to her bed for many days.)

In the middle of the service of the mass, the priest,
seeing this woman's son, turned him out, too, saying,

" / toiU not administer t/ie Communion to any one while
that man remains !"

When mass was over, the priest went into a house,

Pabt II. EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. 367

where, happening to meet another son of the woman he
had ejected from the church, he turned him out, saying,

"If I had but the * * * boys, I would hunt your family
out of fairs and markets'*

In the chapel of * * *, after mass, the priest
addressed his congregation as follows : —

" One of you present has voted for his landlord. I tell
you all that any cause that man undertakes will not
prosper. The man that is base enough to vote against his
conscience and his country, his name and his children's
names will be handed down to the tenth generation. If
such a person should enter your house, order him out !
If he remains, let every one in the house walk out ; and
when he goes to fairs or to market, let every one say,
* There goes the man that betrayed his country /' *'

The priest of * * *, after mass was over, addressed
his congregation as follows : —

After denouncing "landlords and their accursed
exterminating system/' he said—

" As long as you get your rights commit no offence ; but
if the days of Cromwell are to return, /will not stop your
arms from the wild spirit of revenge. (Cries of Bravo
throughout the chapel.) May the curse of God light on
the Judases who have voted against you, and may their
conscience torment them till they go and hang themselves
as Judas did ! "

" Any man," said the priest of * * *, after mass,
" who shall vote for a supporter of the Derby Government,
his name shall be recorded to be handed down to posterity
in everlasting displace.'*

After mass, on the 4th of July, the priest of * * *
addressed his congregation as follows : —

" Catholic freeholders of this parish, now is the time
for you to show independence, by voting for * * * and

« « «

368 EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. Part fl.

^^ Any man that through fear of his landlord shall vote'
for the supporters of the present Government, I declare'
him to be a perjurer.

" O'Connell called Lord Stanley a viper, and he has
now brought forward a measure to prevent the Catholic
clei^y from appearing in their robes at any public meeting.
/ shall visit you all during the ensuing week."

On the 1 1 th of July the priest of * * *, after mass.
addressed his parishioners as follows : —

^^ It is with deep regret that I allude to political subjects
from this altar, but I feel bound to do so to-day by t^e
conduct pursued by those in power. You are aware that
the present Government, on getting into office, declared
their determination to revert to a duty on com, or, as they
called ^ Protection ;' but this attempt not having succeeded,
they bethought themselves of the old war-crv of religious
persecution, to obtain thereby the support of the English
people to keep them in power.

^^ Two candidates have been brouglit forward by the
Orange faction to support this Government, so hostile to
your ancient faith ; and I ask you as Roman Catholics,
can you, or will you, give them your votes ? I tell you,
if you do so you will commit perjury. Therefore, if any
of you vote for either of them, he might as well come here
and read his recantation, for he is no CathoUc'*

On the 18th of July the priest of * * ♦ addressed
his congregation as follows : —

"Now is the time for every elector to go forward and
give his vote to the Liberal candidates ; for if you do not;
Mr. * * *, who is the Government candidate, will be
returned."

After alluding to the Stockport riots, he added, —

" Nothing else can be expected from Lord Derby s ad-
ministration ; indeed, Daniel O'Connell never called him
anything but 'Scorpion Stanley;' the people, however,

■art n.

EVIDENCE (.WLLECfBD BY MYSELF.

ave now an opportunity of hurling him and his ministry
wm power, and / tnisi you will do so, and that you
will return to Parliament men who will support fetiant-
right and religimu!' freedom. All the electors from * • *
are to be at my house at 3 a.m. on Wednesday next, and
I request all in this parish to he there also, to proceed
from thence to * * *, where you will all be joined by the
electors of • * • and * * •, and I understand that porter
and whisky will he there."

On the l2th of July, on the return of the popular
candidates, a large bonfire was made on the green, at
the exj)ense of the priest, who gave two shillings and
sixpence to purchase the materials, and filleen shillings
to pay for drink and a fiddler.

On the 1 6th of July one of the candidates for the
rq)reseutation of the county of • • * arrived at * * •
to canvass the electors, accompanied by two priests,
and from 400 to 500 persons, including women and
children ; the procession being preceded by two fifers
and a drummer, and by two flags bearing the following
mottoes : —

Ibt. "Welcome an

RELiciors Liberty. No -
Stockport uasbache.

2kd. " Rehehber O'Connell and 1828. Hubba I Up, men

OF , BEWARE OF TUE ScOBPION, WHO STARVED THE Kll^

BDSa PAUPERS, WHO UUNTED KlCUARD O'GoRMAN VaN-
H'SBLEIIB."*

On the 20th of May the priest of * • •, after mass,
ddresscd his congregation as follows : —

" There will be an election in the course of this summer,
ind your landlords, who are the extermiitatorn and the

* A rebel of 1M8.

370 EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY M78BLF. Pak JL

?}pre8aor8 of the poor^ have combined togedier to
rotectiou candidates.
*^ I am ready to admit there are a few good landlords ;
but as a class they are tyrants and» I repeat, exterminators
of the poor. I tell you that the man wno shall vote for a
Protectionist candidate deserves to have his hand burned
in the fire and his tongue wither in his head, and / shall
not be surprised if Providence shall so deal toith him.
There will be a meeting of the members of two clubs, and
/ call upon you aU to meet me next Sunday after mass,
when I will explain more to you.**

n.

The following is a sample of the mode m wHica the
Priesthood of Ireland, by temporal iNTiMiDATioiYy ad-
vocated THEIR OWN VIEWS AT THE LATE ELECTIOHS.

On Sunday, 25th of July, the priest of ^ ♦ ♦, in his
chapel, addressed his congr^ation as follows ;.—

^^ There is an Orangeman in this town who has voftd
for the Government. I recommend you all to shun hin^
There are also two or three shopkeepers who have done the
same. Do not cross the threshold of their doorSj for any-
thing purchased from them can have no luck. There is
also a certain mill not far ofl^ the owner of which has voted
against you. Do not purchase meal that has been ground
in itj but support * * *, who has also a mill. JUe gave
you his support, and you should theref<»re support him.**

On the 1st of August the following notice was
affixed in the chapel of * * ♦ : —

((

Notice.

*'Here are the friends of Lord Derby*s Government
and the Stockport rioters, who would pull down our

Pabth. BvroENCE collectted by myself. 371

chapels, hunt our priests from their altars, burn our houses
and books.

i( »

»

•

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•

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•

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«

»

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«

«

«

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«

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«

*»»

As soon as mass was concluded, the priest addressed
his congregation as follows :^f-

" I have received a letter from the priest of * * *,
informing me that he will not purchase hay of any of
those whose names are there placarded^ because, he says,
they all voted for * * *, Out of the list, however,
I will absolve * * *^ because I know he had no vote to
give.''

The seats belonging to two of those placarded wer«
then turned out of the chapel.

The followiag placard was published : —

" Notice to the Public.

" Any person found giving custom or going into any of
the shops of the persons named, shall be served with the
rod of correction.

*^ Rob. Parks. Jno» Quail.

Thos. Faris. Abrm. Mitchill.

Jno. Owens. Fras. Connolly, &

Jna Creamer. Jno. Rutherford.

^^ Let them mark the consequence.

•* No objection to any but the above."

On the 29th of June the priest of * * * addressed
his congregation as follows : —

*' The time is coming. I recommend that all of you
get ready and have your blacJahom sticks and your arms

2 b2

372 EVroENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. Part II,

prepared. Vote according to your consciences; but I
tell you that he who votes for the enemy will not afterr
wards be able to live in the country.

*' Do not spare those who vote for the enemy ^ but yell
after them in the streets, to drag them and strangle them.
Vote for your religion^* — and striking the altar with all
his force, he added, " for your God. Never mil there be
greater work in Ireland than on this occasion."

It will appear from the following speech, that from
^^ blackthorn sticks** the Irish clergy gradually but Jesiir
itically recommended the use of more deadly weapons.

On Sunday, the 20th of June, the priest of * * *, in
addressing his congregation on the subject of the ap.
preaching elections, spoke from the altar as follows : —

" I challenge Mr. * ♦ * to see which of us shall
have the votes of the people. How, I ask, can his voters
get to * * * ? for the colliers will be there with their
picks. The law prevents them from carrying arms^ but
it does not prevent them from carrying their /ncib, because
their picks are their tools."

III.

The following is a sample of the coarse languaob used
BY THE Irish Priesthood in advocating their own

VIEWS AT THE LATE ELECTIONS.

After mass, on the 28th of June, the priest of * * *
addressed a large congregation as follows : —

" Do not act as Judas did when he betrayed Christ — do
not betray * ♦ *. Now is the time for those who have
no votes to watch those who have, and qvU them to give
their votes for * * *, and not to any Tory rascal. Do
not thank your landlords for your votes ; thank yourselves.
Now^ my boySj all stand by ♦ * * with ammuniiian^

EvroElfCE COLLECTED BY MYBELF.

tfid go anil persuade the people of '

373

' to come also

fr

from their altar."

At a public meeting helO at Tholsel oi" New Koss,
111 the 28th oi' June, 1852, on the subject of tlie ensuing
'ctions, the Rev. * * *, P. priest, exclaimed —
I suppose some of you think I ought to be ashamed
to appear before you this evening? Let m> liar mis-
represent what I say. I am surjirised to see * * *'s
name to any document against me. I condemn the
conduct of any man who endorses falsehoods. I tell them
it is a lie.

" The little coward of an Orange magistrate was the
cause of the disturbance on the quay."

" I," said the priest of* * *, in addressing a lai^u
congregation of people, '*am the son of a farmer. The
nnie will come when it will be as hard for a Iniutlard to
fcet into Parliament as for a camel to pass through the eye
m a needle. In old times the landlords treated us hke
cows and horses.

'* There has appeared an article in the Independent
newspaper. That article, I tell you, is aJLUhy lie."

The Kev. • • • added, " * * • is a slanderer,
tell him to his teeth lie is a shmderer. * * * and
* went out and fired blank cartridges at each other,
it we won't fire blank cartridges at * * *."

The priest of * * *, addressing his congregation in
ivour of " teuaut-right," said,

" These big-beUied bailiff have fattened on the poverty
' the people. I request the women who hear nie to
:nd the election, and, if the men will not do it, I will
tet you women to rip open their biy bellies."

On the 3rd of July the priest of • * •, in addressuig
■om a window a mob of people, said,

• Let UB give three groans for * • • ; three groans
for the Crowbar Brigade ; and nine times nine for the
Scorpion Stanley. There are in this town some base,

374 EVIDENCE COLLECTED BT MYSELF. Past if.

rotten, renegade, miscreant Catholics, wbo would, as at
Stockport* pull down a chapel, and everything in it, for a
glass of whisky. But I will keep my eye upon them, and
I hope, my friends, you will too. I don't want t/au to use
physical force, but I promise you that I will pitch the
silk into theni hereafter. There will be a public meeting
in this town on Tuesday next, when the clergy of the
diocese^ and other influential gentlemen, will be present ;
and I expect that every man, womany and child of this
and the adjoining parishes will be present to cheer on the
champions of their religion, and to hunt the nominee of
Scorpion Stanley from the field."

If the reader will recall to mind the superhunuui
influence invested by the Roman Catholic Church in
the Irish parish priest, designated '' the representative*'
of a name we are justly forbidden to pronounce in
vain, he will not be surprised in perusing the following

IV.
Sample of the results of tue spiritual and temporal

INTIMIDATION AND COARSE LANOUAGE USED BY THE IrISU

Priesthood in advocating their own views at tub

LATE elections.

1.

Copy.
*• Here lies tlie body of

^^^^^^^^^^H^^ Cimuingham,

a tiator ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ to his country.

** John Cunuingham, take notice if you dont give your
vote to the man whom it was asked for on Sunday last,
you may have your coffin to Manorhamilton with you.
So take warning in time, do as the rest of your neigh-
bours do, — if you dont you will be shot like a dog.

" A civil Caution.'

99

FabtIL

EVIDENOK COLLEGTED BY MYSELF.

2.

^^ Notice.

375

" Etan Durrow town — Please Mr. Poter i sit down For
to trouble yon with those few lines for to let you know that
we wont take you short. Prepare yourself as soon as
possibly can, you went against your Clergy, and what can
ypu expect-7-reter gunnonde the Crippled Dog."

3.

" Notice.

^^ Take notice John Lang that you will not receive
from the sooper John Colman any milk or if you do it is
not a notice you will get but dedly wounds Sign buy me

" Captain thundebbolt.'*

4.
" To Mr. Turner ♦ ♦ ♦

" Sir Take notice that if you go to give your vote

against you may quit both your mills : besides your

life is in danger also your son — ^in like manner.

^^ You may pleaae yonneli^ btit mark what will follow."

5.
"ToMr. ♦ ♦ ♦

*^ I herfore warn you if you go against us leave this
place or lose your life. You do not know the instant you
or your wife and child wiU be killed.

"Tom and Short

without shame or fear.'

9>

376 EVIDENCE OOLLECTBD BY MT8ELF. Pmbt IL

6,

'' Never shew your face in Waterfbrd sgain if you do
mark the consequence —

" We will send you home dead you turn coat —
** You will pay for this you blackguard —
" Your enemy till death —

" The Clergy."

7.

Copy.

'^ Mind yourself or you will soon get a bullet from us
the piple of Waterford " —

8.

About half-past two o'clock in the morning of the 20th
of July about 40 persons came to the house of Michael
Ledwith, situated in the townland of Carrickateaur, and
asked why the priest was refused his oath ? Ledwith
replied, he did not refuse the priest ! A book was then
handed to him by one of the party, when his son James
swore on it that his father should vote for Fox and
Greville. They broke 9 panes of glass in one window,
and 2 sashes. They then went away, saying, if he did not

tll. EVIDENCE miiLECTED BY MYSELF, 377

vote for Fox and Greville, they would again visit him aud
level the house.

On the 18th of July seven or eight men visited John
Geraghty'e dwelling-bouse at Cloonaheran on the night of
the 18th instant, broke the windows and door and fired a
I shot into the house. Gcraghty happened to be from home
at the time. Two of the attacking party desired his
family to tell him that if he did not vote for kis clergy
and his country, that they would visit him again afler tim
election.

10.
On the 13th of July, at 2^ o'clock a.m., ten persons
called at the house of Thomas Devine, situated in the
townlaiid of Carrickatrave, called him up, and asked him
for whom he wouKl vote; he said for his country and his
clergy. One of the men who had a gun broke a pane
of glass by tlirusting the gun through it. They then
shook hands with him and said that was all they wanted,
and went away.

11.

On the night ofthe 11th of July, about m o'clock p.m.,
a party of 9 or 10 men, two of them armed with pistols,
and a third with a gun, came to the house of Denis Evers
and obtained admission, ailer threatening to break in the
door if it was not opened. When they entered they
called for Evers, and asked fnr whom he proposed voting;
he replied, for those he thought most worthy of it ; and
they then said that iic should vote for the PrkH, that he
had been warned before, and that if they had to come
again he might have his coffin made, for that they would
shoot him aud put him into it. They brought him outside
the door and told him to kneel down until they would
shoot bim; he refused doing so, and they then fired one
shot dose to his ear ; he resisted, in consequence of which
he received two cuts on the head : after repeatedly
threatening him, they went away across the country.

S78 EVIDENCE COLLECTED BT MYSELF. P^w II.

12.

On the 1 1th of July, between the hours of I and 2
o'clock A.M., the dwening-honse of Bernard Bums was
visited by a party of about sixty persons^ unknown, about
10 of whom were armed with guns» some of them haviq^
bayonets fixed on them. On hearing iihe noise Boms got
up, opened his door, and saw the party ontsid^ &e men
with arms close to the door. Party asked him who he
would vote for, and he replied, fin- his Priest and die
country. Party desired him to stick to that and not bring
them again, and, on departing, fired a shot some distance
from the house

13.

Cqptf.
** Connor Mic Grab,

^^Take notice that you must give up the Medo you taks
from that bastely & dnmkos vagabond Mic Muldoon he
sould his countery & his hdv religion to the enimy so
give up the Medo or mark what will be done to you —
there is sut of the poor mans house on his hand — he is
gettin Castle money, to sell you, we will make this drunkin
upstart as por as his fader was who made money by robbin
the poor — He must get no 6ras in, or House no dealin
wid him now is the time to stand together if not America
is our dom, we must put liiis upstard out of the country,
let his medo rot & his land to feed Crows — If you do
not give up the Medo remember you will be sorry so take
warnin or make your will at once —

"A friend.

^^ This is your end if you hold the Medo.

'' No one would take the traitors Mic Connies Medo
in Dimor. No one would take the traitors Muldoons but

vou."

EVIDENCE COLLECTED HY MYSELP.

About the hour of 2 o'clock in the morning of the 12th
of July, the dwelling-house of John Mallow was visited
by a party consisting of about tweuty-five persons, armed
with guns, a pistol, a pitchfork, and sticks. They said
they wanted Mallow's vote for Mr. Greville. Mallow
then got up and went to the window, and one of the
party put a gun through it and ordered him to put
out his hand, and, ou doing so, one of the party lianded
hini a book, and swore him to vote iur the Kev. Mr.
M'Keon, his parish Priest, Mr. Greville, and his country,
and then went away,

15.

The following notice was found posted do the door of
the dwelling-house of Mr. James McKenna at San try : —

1 vote for Hamilton, here is your coffin."

"Take notice of this

" Dear Sir I have to inform you that I have to pay
you a visit ou the night of the 16 inst, with regard to your
vote which I hope you will give for the good of your

country. But do not attempt giving it to , or

any olher Devil like him — so I hope you will prepare and

EVIDKNCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF.

go with your vote for

going to visit you the second time.

and save uie the trou
If you do,

what follows for I swair by the piper that played
Moses or the water that flowed from the Rock I wil

J'our soul juinpiiip to the lower pit of perditiou a
et come to pay you the coiiipliinent to

your mortal remains which I think that your nei^
would uot disgrace themselves by doiog.

" So I will deliver the next verbily."

The ifoLLowiNO is a sample of tub furtuer orgakii

AND OK THE VIOLE-VCB AND INTIMIDATION OF TH8
PKIESTHOOD IN ADVOCATING TBJBIB OWN TSMFUU
TEHB8T8.

1.

Pursuant to a public advertisement, a tenant
assembly assembled at Wexford on the S/th of April
caravan, containing musicians from Ross, Father D
and three prie^lft, arrived at 12 o'clock, and proceed
the Town Hall. They were there joined by 7

who remained closeted together for more thoJ
lOurs, when one of the priests came forward U
meeting, composed of about 250 people, and atiiiM
that they had decided on a monster meeting being hi
Enniscorthy on the I8th May, for the purposes i
they were to have discussed upon that occasion.

On the 22iid instant, being the tirst day of poUiq
the county, a riotous mob, armed with all sorts of (bi
able bludgeons and other weapons, and headed by ti
three priestf and the son of Mr. Barron, an assi
barrister, entered Newry from the neighbourhood of
town, Castlewellan, Dolly's Brae, &c. &Ct yelling
flourishing their weapons in a terrific manner. It
wards appeared in evidence before Capt. Warburtou,
that they entered in this furious manner for the purpci

irr n, EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. ."J!

intiiaidating the freeholders, and t:hat. a leader of the mob
gave ail order for tlieir friends to tako off their neck hand-
kerchiefs, that they might be ablt; to distinguish their own
party. From this mob, headed by Priests, by the spirited
conduct of Captain Warburton, there were takeo sixteen
pistols, one bayonet, one dagger, 50 rounds of ammimi-
tion, 40 spare balls, 500 bludgeons and loaded whips.

At about 8 o'clock in the evening of the 25th July
instant, as privates John M'^Kinney and Edward Len-
nory, of the 3 1st regiment, were returning to their Barracks
in John's-square, they were met at Penny well {near
Clare-sreet) by a mob of persons, who, crying out, *' These
are the murderers," knocked them down with stones, and
beat them most severely, giving M^Kinney several cuts in
his head, and otherwise injuring him in the body. Some
of his comrades coming up succeeded in carrying him to
the barracks, but the mob was greatly excited, and dis-
posed to commit more outrage.

VI.
The following is a solitarv sample, olt of hi'ndkeds tuat

CODLD BE ADDUCED, OF THE MODE IN WHICH THE IrISH
PamSTB INDtCED THEIR FOLLOWERS FORCIBLY TO KEEP
PROM TQR POLL THOSE OPPOSED TO TIIE TEMPORAL IN-
TERESTS or THE Priesthood.

Copy of a large Placard.
" Men and Women of Clare.
' The chapels of your poor countrymen in England have
been torn down, the houses of y(mr clergy have been demo-
lished, f^Aeir sacred vesselsand vestments havebeen destroyed.
The officers of the government go to the elections with
Orange flags, Will you allow the men who are miscalled
the freeholders of Clare to send a member firom Clare to
support such a government f In the name of your clergy,
your altars, and your Goo, we call upon you to keep away

382 EVroENGE COLLECTED B7 HTSELF. Pa«p H.

frtmi the pdl those voters who, if they had a free ifil^
would vote with their religion and the people, but who are
afraid of their landlords and agents. In mercy to these
voters, secure them and keep them away until toe pollu^
is over ; do them no violence, treat them kindly^ only ke^
them out of the way, and success is certain.

^' Women of Clare, we depend on you ; will you &il
us ? You will not

" No Vandaleur. No Dutchman.

" Fit^erald and O'Brien — ^Irishmen.

"Hurrah I**

The triumphant consequence of, in the name of thb
Clergy, forcibly " securing and keeping away " from
the poll those who desired to vote for Lord Derby's
Government was thus openly first foretold and then
boasted of in the Priests' official Gazette : —

L

'^ It is well known that it is the priests of Tipperary;
Ofnd the priests alone^ who can and will gain a triumph
over the enemies of freedom, in this great county^ at the
coming election/' — Tablet^ July 10.

2.

" The number of votes recorded in his (Mr, Corbally's)
favour amounted nearly to two thousand, and for those he
was indebted to the bishop and the Catholic dergy. ....
If it had not been for the cleray^ he would have been
BEATEN." — Speech at Meath dection. Tablet^ July 31.

Out of the above samples of Priests' speeches — ^which
I can faithfully declare form not a twentieth part of
^milar evidence that I could adduce, and to the truth
of which hundreds and thousands, of eye-witnesses and
ear-witnesses, can testify — I beg the reader's particular
attention to the following brief extracts : —

L " One of you present," said the priest of ♦ ♦ ♦ after

r

EVIPENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF.

383

I

mass, "bafl voted for his landlord. I tell you all, that any
cause that man undertakes will not prosper. If such a
person should enter your house, order him out ! If he re-
mauiB, let every one in the house walk out; and when he
goes to fairs or to market, let every one say, ' There goes
the man ifiat betrai/ed his country.' " — Page 367.

2. " May the curse of God," said the priest of * * •,
after mass, light on the Judases who have voted against
you; and may their consciences torment them till they go
and hang themselves, as Judas did 1"— Page 367.

3. " Any man," said the priest of * * *, in address-
ing his congregation, " that, through fear of his landlord,
shall vote for the supporters of the present Government, I
declare him to be a perjurer." — Page 36S.

4. " There will be," said the priest of • • *, after
mass, " an election in the course of this summer, and your
landlords, who are the exierminatora and the oppressors of
the poor, have combined together to return Protection
candidates. I am ready to admit there are a few good
landlords ; but as a class they are tyrants, and, I repeat,
exferminaiars of the poor. I tell you that the man who
shall vote for a Protectionist candidate deserves to have
bis band burned in the fire and his tongue withered within
his head; and I shall not be surprised if Frovidejwe shall
so deal with him." — Page 369.

5. " The time is coming," said the priest of * * *,
in addressing his congregation. " I recommend that all of
you ffet ready, and have your blackthorn sticks and your
AHM9 prepared. Do not spare those who vote for the
enemy." — Page 37 1.

6. *' How, I ask," said the priest of • • *, in his
chapel, " can the voters of • • • get to * * •? for
the colliers are there with their picks. The law pre-
vents them from carrying arms, but it does not prevent
them from carrying their picks, for their picks are their
tools."— Page 372.

7. *'• • * and * • * went out," said the priest of
• • *, at a public meeting, *' and fired blank cartridges
at each other, but we won't fire blank cartridges at * * *."
—Page 373.

384 EVDENCE COLLECTED BT MTSELF. Past IL

8. "These big-bellied bailiffe,*' said the priest of ♦ * •
in addressing his congregation in favour of tenant'-Tif^tf
" have fattened on the poverty of the people. I request
the women who hear me to attend the election, and, ir the
771^ will not do it, I will get you women to rip open their
big belUes/'— Page 373.

Now, just as in a Protestant church the clerk offir
cially exclaims '' Amen " to every prayer the clergy-
man utters, so, as might naturally be supposed, the
illiterate congregations of the Irish priesthood out^
wardly and inwardly repeated the same word after
every malediction which they heard their priest utter
against Irish landlords ; and accordingly, following the
example of their priest, or rather in obedience to his
unholy mandates, they cursed as he cursed — they
threatened as he threatened ; tfiey had recourse first to
sticks, and finally to deadly weapons, exactly as from
the altar he had desired.

In fact, the anonymous signature of *^ TOM SHORT,
without shame or fear,'' and warning coffins, have, I be-
lieve, sufficiently explained to the reader how com-
pletely the Irish poor have been victims to the fury of
their priesthood.

The serpent SBOuii^n them, ano they did eat.

And what, I now ask of the priesthood of Ireland, has
been the result of the guilty hatred you have incul-
cated between your poor parishioners and the legiti-
mate proprietors of the soil they cultivate ? You have
excited passions which, as Christian ministers, it was
your especial duty to allay. In the name of Grod, and
from your holy altars, with all the power of that edu-
cation which the British Parliament gave to you at

EVIDENt^E COLLECTED liV MYSELF.

385

I

L

■Maynooth, you have not only denounced, cursed, and
threatened the Irish landlords, but, diverting the enor-
mous spiritual influence you possess to temporal pur-
poses ol" the most sordid description, you have instigated
your illiterate followers to the commission of the dread-
ful crime of Murder ; and, that tliere may be no mis-
take as to the awful consequences of your eloquence,
your imprecations, and of your appeal to blackthorn
sticks, iron picks, arms, and other deadly weapons, 1
call upon you, before the civilized world, to read— and
as you read may you repent — the following list of
landowners (designated by you "tyrants, exterminators,
and oppressors of the poor ") and land-agents, who, in
Irish graves, are now lying festering around you, either
with fractured skulls and broken limbs, or with bodies
perforated by bullets and sliot, fired upon them as they
were inofTensively coming from market, — as they were
innocently cultivating their land, — and in several in-
stances as, in the saci'ed enjoyment of domestic hap-
piness, seated in their own homes, they were surrounded
by families who are now mourning over their irre-
jmrable loss.

When this list of murders shall be affixed — as I trust
it will be — to the door of every lloman Catholic chapel
in Ireland, will the priest thereof dare to cross its
threshold to administer holy mass to a devout Chris-
tian congregation? Will virtuous Irishwomen tolerate
his presejice at the alUvr? — will they confess to him
ivho, for his own sordid, revengeful views, has been
the means of turning wives into widows, and helpless
children into orphans? Filially, whether they do or
not, I ask the Irish priesthood, while this list of murders
2 c

386

EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF.

FabtIL

List of the Landlords, Land - Agents, Sub - Aobnts,
Care-takers, Bailiffs, etc, who have lately bbkn
barbarously murdered in ireland.

County.

Monaglian
Westmcath
Armagh •
Cork, W. R.
Donegal .
Galway, W. R.

Kilkenny • • .

• •

I »

King's

t f

1 9

Leitrim .

f 9

Limerick

» >

Longford

Louth .

9 9

Mayo • •
Queen's •

9 9
9 9

Waterford,

9 9

Wc«tmeath

T. D. Bateson, Esq., J.P.
Roger North, Esq.,
R. L. Maulcverer,
John Browne . •
David Moore • •
Bridget Connuly

John Rvao • • •

«

Richard Rinncally
his ton David.

Patrick Egan . •

Robert Pike • •

and

William Mahon •
John Curran • •
Philip Rogers . .
Edmond O'JWcn
John Curtin • •
Bernard Roddy .
Mr. Samuel Coulter
Bemanl M'Entegart
Patrick Solan . . •
Edward White, Esq.

Tipperary, N. R.j William Ardell . .
, , I Thomas Martin . •

Tipi'erary, S. R.! Thomas Spearman .

I Thomas Patters . .
I I^ichard Kenne<ly •
James Troy • . ,
O'Callaghan l?yan, Esq.
James Carey • .

5 Dec., 1851

28 Sept., 60

23 May, 50

1 April, 51
9 Aug., 51

24 May, 50

13 March, 50

29 April, 60

19 Feb., 50

3 Aug., 50

3 Apr., 51

24 Deo., 51
IG May^ 62

10 Jan., 50
7 May, 50
7 Miirch, 50

2 May, 51
15 June, 51
31 March, 50

25 Aug., 51

11 Jan., 50
25 Oct., 50
15 April, 50

30 Aujr., 50
Aug., 51

27 Oct., 51

2 Sept., 52

7 June, 51

Agent.

Landlord.

Agent.

Farmer.

Bailiflf.

Ori)han ; for
giving inform-
ation.

Bailiff.

Caretakers.

Farmer.

Sub*AgBDt to
Mr. Caaaidy.

Labourer.

Farmer.

Fanner.

Farmer.

I^ibourer.

Farmer.

Agent.

Tenant's son.

Farm-senrant.

Landlord.

I.And-8teward.

Farmer.

Poor P arraer.

Caretaker.

Caretaker.

Bailiff.

Landlord.

RaiU-ay La-
bourer.

N.B. — In the above list John Curtin, labourer, was munlered for refusing to

accompany a party of men to shoot a bailiff.

OTJDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. 387

r eyes, themselves to declare whether I

8 not justified in asserting that " Thuy have brought

icaiidal on the sacred character of the Catholic

' Church — that they have disgraced the cloth they

' wear — and that they are cul|)ahly driving from a

I" beloved soil hundreds of thousands of men, women,

' and little children, whom it was their esi>ecial duty,

I " spiritually and morally, to befriend " ?

k

ch
B rei

IFof

Men op Ireland ! While in Italy, Germany, France.
Portugal, and Spain, the upper classes of society are
liat they themselves term "philosophers" — our reli-
ion, said a German lady, is " Indlfferentlsm" — Ireland is
the only country in Europe in which the eminent mer-
chant, the lawyer, the judge on the bench — in short, in
which the well-educated Catholic — is a sincere Papist.
I respect your sincerity, — I admire your honesty, — I
revere your devotional attachment to your Christian
reed, — and I should desjiise any one how would unne-
issarily offer to your religion, or indeed to the religion
of any man, insult or offence. But, ivithout even a
latent desire to endeavour to convert yon to Protes-
tantism, I ask you, as men distinguished by talent, wit,
ability, and courage. Are you not ai^hamed of (he conduct
of your oicn prifstf ?

If you yourselves chose to struggle, wrestle, and
en fight in favour of a political candidate, — if
■ou chose not only to bring him to the hustings on
our shoulders, but, in order to make his election
bly sure, to tie the legs and pinion the arms of
antagonist voters, — your offcnceis a civil one, belong-
to a class whirh, diminishing down to bribery and
2 c 2

388 EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. Pam n.

corruption, pervades more or less the United Kingdom.
It is a simple violation of the law, and let us leave tlie
law to deal with it. But when a low-bom, low-bred
member of your society, who is neither masculine nor
feminine, tells you that he has weaned himself from the
afTections of this world, — that his thoughts are fixed
only on eternity, — that they are so completely engrossed
by the sacred mysteries and miracles he has to perform
for you that he has no time — ??<>, not a minute — ^to love
anything on earth but the cold crucifix, the emblem of
that mild, beneficent, parental religion which makes us
all brothers ; that for the sake of that Holy Religion
he sacrificed his manhood at M aynooth ; in short, that
by a purity of mind and conduct, such as a Roman
Catholic priesthood can alone enjoy, he claims your
confidence, your veneration, and your respect : is it not
disgraceful in him, from the altar of his chapel^ in vul-
gar terms such as I have adduced, to stimulate his con-
fiding congregation to the commission of violence, — to
curse those who decline to join in that violence, — and
then, from the house of God, with uplifted gown and
black legs, to hurry to the hustings, to remain there,
for his own mercenary motives, minute after minute,
hour after hour, and day after day, from morning to
night, either as the low " ^w^^er-agent" or as the elo-
quent flaming firebrand of a political contest, at which
if he be present at all, he ought — and he cannot deny it
— to preach " i>eace and goodwill towards men " ?

Irishmen ! The redemption of your beautiful coun-
try is in your own power and in your own hands. Raise
not an arm, — speak not a word against the life or pro-

Part IT. EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. 389

perty of any man ; — ^but, firmly adhering to your Holy
Religion, with the finger of scorn silently point at your
degraded and self-interested priesthood, and in one
moment Ireland — great, glorious, and free — will be
emancipated from a thraldom which, though it has not
withered her verdant surface, has for ages degraded
her improvident poor, — which within the last three
years has more than decimated their numbers, — and
which at this moment is scattering, in rags and tatters,
hundreds of thousands of them over the whole surface
of the globe !

In the late electioneering contests your priests have
overreached themselves. They have unmasked their
long artfully-concealed objects, — they have destroyed
their own power, — they have extinguished their own
influence, — and, in the broad daylight, — in the middle
of the nineteenth century, — they die, in the judgment
of every enlightened citizen of the globe. .." Felo
DE se/'

Irishmen ! Will you remain, as a nation, degraded as
you have been, and as you are ; or will you by one
manly eifort rise — per saltum — to the high level of
your destiny ? Your redemption in this world can only
be effected by yourselves.

" Hereditary Bondsmen I know ye not,
Who WOULD be free, themselves must strike
the blow ? "

It would be alike vain and vainglorious to suppose
that the brief and feeble appeal of an individual, of

390 EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY MYSELF. PaAtII.

whose life only one fortnight has been spent in Irelaiidy
could possibly produce on a whole nation the mnnllest
sudden effect. On the other hand, however, such is
the magic influence and power of Truth over th6 hatnati
mind, that there can exist no doubt that the iacts and
evidence I have adduced are seed which no earthly
authority can forbid to vegetate. The priesthood of
Ireland may rail at them, and, while they writhe, may
endeavour to give to the distortions of pain the appear-
ance of a bitter sneer. They may deem it prudent, in
silence, to treat my evidence with feigned contempt,
but in all countries and in all directions will it arise in
judgment against them. Many a pretty Irishwoman,
when they ask for her confession, will silently shake her
slight forefinger in their face. Many a devout Catholic,
without upbraiding them, will when he meets them in
the street give them what is commonly called " a cold
shoulder." The title of " yere Rivirince ** — like short
petticoats — will gradually go out of fashion, and their
malign influence will slowly but continuously wither
and decay, until, by the blessing of God, the whole
family of Ireland, Catholics and Protestants, will live
together as they ought in brotherly love, the prosperous,
enlightened, and happy members of one of the finest
nations of the globe.

But whether this prophecy be fulfilled or not, the in-
controvertible evidence adduced against the Irish priest-
hood, in their onm speeches, writings, and imprecations,
will at all events, wherever the English language is
read, dispel a mystery which like a mist has hitherto
hung over the character of England. The latent cause

Tabt u. evidence collected by myself. 39 1

of the degraded state of Ireland will henceforward rest
on the real culprits that have created it^ and, by the just
verdict of the civilized world, the British Sovereign, the
Imperial Parliament, and the English People will, I
feel confident, as I have already said, be unanimously
declared ** not guilty."

( 392 ) Piina.

"WHAT IS TO BE DONE

About Ireland ? " will no doubt be the engrossing pro-
blem of the approaching session of Parliament.

Hitherto the House of Commons has been divided
into parties, the well-known names of which it is quite
unnecessary to detail. Into the present new assembly
there will, however, in a phalanx, march an entirely new
element in the legislation of our country, namely, filly-
one members, representing Maryologically the interests
and objects of the Irish priesthood, which interests and
which objects have been openly avowed — in the mani-
festo of the priesthood (page 279), and in the speech
(pages 315-318) of Mr. Lucas, M.P., Editor of The
Tablet^ " in the front of which he places the Virgin and
Child " — as follows : —

1st. To advocate a measure embodying all the prin-
ciples of Mr. Sharman Crawford's Tenant Right Bill.

2nd. To advocate a repeal of the Ecclesiastical Titles
Act of last Session.

3rd. To support a measure for appropriating the re-
venues of the Established Church in Ireland (saving exist-
ing rights) to national purposes.

4th. To give a strenuous bond fide opposition to every
Ministry that will not actively favour the passing of the
above three vital measures.

"In my opinion," says Mr. Lucas, the tried and trusted

; n. WHAT IS TO BE DONE ? 393

I advocate of every principle dear to the hearts of the entire
prelacy and priesthood of the land, " there is no good to be
done except by the moat decided, unrelenting, persevering,
troiibiesomc opposition to every Government, until they do
justice [i. e. grant the above three ineasurcs] to Ireland."
-p. 317.

As a British House of Commons will, I feel confi-
dent, summarily deal with physical-force projects of
this nature as they deserve, I will only observe, as a
statistical fact, that the argument for appropriating to
Catltolics the revenues of the Established Protestant
Church of Ireland, simply because the population of
the former creed exceeds that of the latter, rests on a
foundation that will very shortly be reversed, inasmuch
as within a couple of years there can exist no doubt
whatever that the Protestant pojmlation of Ireland will
form " the majority ;" in which case, if the present
argument be worth anything, they, the Protestants,
might, according to " the law of the strongest," seize
upon whatever property of the Roman Catholics they
might be inclined to covet.

Leaving, however, this question to be decided by its
proper tribunal, I will proceed to one on which I feel
not only justified, but that it is my duty respectfully to
submit my opinion : for as the facts and evidence I have
adduced will inevitably tend to increase throughout
England, Scotland, and the Protestant population of
Ireland, the never-ceasing cry of " No Popebt ;" and
as this increased feeling will naturally excite a call
upon Parliament to discontinue to the priesthood of
Ireland the national grant for the maintenance of the
College of Maynooth, I deem it right to say that in

394 WHAT IS TO BE DONE? Pabt IT.

rny opinion no such act of vengeance should be^ I will
not say indulged in, but committed.

In 1795 Mr. Pitt, conceiving that, if the Irish priest-
hood were to be forced to cross the Channels of Ire-
land and England to the Continent of Europe in quest
of education, they >vould with religious instruction
imbibe Jacobinical principles, proposed the formation
of a home college, in which they might leam not onlj
to be religious but hyal : in shorty he conceived that
he would secure the Irish priesthood to the Throne
by educating them in Ireland. His expectations, how«
ever, have been reversed ; for while Roman Catholic
priests on the Continent have always been in favour of
monarchy or despotism, in Ireland alonsj generally
speaking, they have been, and are^ liberals or re*
publicans.

But the establishment of the College of Maynooth
has produced other disadvantages which might have
been foreseen.

If candidates for the Irish priesthood had con*
tinned to go for education to the Continent, the mere
expenses they would have had to incur would have
secured to the Church the sons of respectable people.
With an opportunity of mixing with foreigners, their
manners would have been polished, and their ideas
enlarged. Indeed, in the French School of Theology
at St. Omer there is very little of what is commonly
called " ultramontanism." On their return they would
thus have been fit to enter into the very best society of
Ireland, an intercourse of which the advantages would
evidently have been reciprocal •

Now, in the cheap wholesale manufacture of priests

ll'Alil'lI. WlUT IS TO BE DONE? 395

nt Mnynooth there exist the following glaring errors : —
■ Instead— like our young Protestant clergy at Oxford
laud Cambridge — of enjoying the advantages of asso-
Iciation with gentlumen and noblemen of all profes-
' sions, their education is exclusively confined to them-
selves; — indeed, the stone wall that environs tlicm is
but an emblem of that which is artificially eonstructed
round their intellects, their minds, and their hearts ;
and as their life is evidently divested of all refined
intellectual enjoyments, none but the sons of small
needy farmers and small shopkeepers are willing to
L embark iu it, and thus it may be confidently asserted
I that among the whole of the Irish priesthood there
scarcely exists the son of a gentleman. Indeed, the
bishops of the various dioceses are practically aware
that young men chosen from the very lowest ranks of
k society are more subservient to them than had they
J been selected from a higher caste ; and it is on this
I account that in Ireland the Irish priest is rarely to be
I found in the society of a gentleman.

In the class-books at Maynooth — for instance, in
I Dens' Theology — ultramontane principles are irre-
vocably implanted iu their heads; their discipline
(vide the number of hours they are at study, page 95)
breaks down their minds; abject subjection to their
^m superiors crushes their spirits : iu fact, not only is the
^H system altogether one of utter slavery, but I regret to
^B say it ends, as I have shown, in the slave becoming a
^M tyrant.

^H The addition to education money granted in late
^H years by Parliament has not produced much improvc-
^Hmeat; for although it has undeniably increased the

396 WHAT IS TO BE DONE ? Paw Ih

number of priests, it has not improved their quaSty.
In short, Mr. Pitt*s project, in almost every point of
view, has proved to be a most serious failure.

Notwithstanding, however, all these reasons in favour
of the abolition of the College of Maynooth, and not-
withstanding the misconduct of the Irish priesthood, of
which no one can be more fully convinced than myself,
I will not conceal my decided opinion, that by con-
tinuing to them our grant we shall administer to the
degraded priesthood of Ireland an infinitely heavier
blow than we should inflict upon them by withholding
it. In the struggle and contention which for so many
years have disgraced the connexion between England
and Ireland, it has been, and it is, of vital importance
that we should not only satisfy but undeniably prove
to the civilized world, who it is that has been to blame.
And as the priesthood of Ireland, blood-stained with
the barbarous murders they have encouraged, have
made themselves the object of detestation and contempt,
it is, I submit, the duty as well as the interest of Pro-
testant England to evince, on the detection and self-
degradation of an inveterate and ungrateful opponent,
that generosity and magnanimity which have ever
characterised her conduct to Ireland in general, and to
the Irish priesthood in particular; and, therefore^
although I have, to the utmost of my power, acted as
the public prosecutor of their ofiences, with equal
energy I urge, as their advocate, that the annual Par-
liamentary Grant for Maynooth should be continued
to them.

There is one other measure on which I will venture
very briefly to offer an opinion.

I

inxn. WHAT IS TO RK DUNE? 39/

If it be our duty, as it must be our desire, to live
OD friendly terms with the Ilomaii Catholics of Ireland,
— if to their Christian creed it be our duty, as it ought
to be our desire, to offer neither insult nor ofieiice, —
surely it follows, that witli the spiritual head of that
Church we ought to maiutainthe same friendly inter-
course that dignifies our communications irith the
government of every nation on the globe.

From the system of education which the British
Parliament has thought proper to establish at May-
nooth, it is evident that upon the Irish parish priest
no government, no officer, no gentleman, has the
slightest hold; in fact, the two parties are elements of
society that, having no affinity for each other, cannot
chemically be mixed, and even if shaken together
separate in a few minutes by ]irccij)itation. But we can
not only hold official communication witli the Pope at
Rome, but, if he assumes to be the head of the Catholic
Church of Ireland, if he arrogates to himself a divine
right and authority to govern tliat Church, we are
morally, and what is still better, we are physically en-
titled to hold him responsible for any misconduct in
his subordinates of which we can reasonably complain.

The other day, when an ensign of an infantry regi-
ment, in obedience to orders, marched his men out of
a Roman Catholic chape! in which the priest was com-
mencing a political harangue, the priest did not attempt
to appeal to the soldiers — he would not deign to com-
plain to the suljaltern who had offended him— but he
addressed a coarse, intemperate letter to the Commander
of the Forces in Ireland resiiecting the misconduct of
what he— the priest — was pleased to term " this jack-

398 WHAT IS TO BE DONE ? Pabt IT.

anapes." In principle the course he took was right;
and yet, while throughout Ireland a spiritual discipline,
infinitely more powerful than exists in the army, sub-
jects the priesthood to the Pope at Rome, we complain
to subordinates who detest and repudiate our power,
and with the real superintending authority we decline
officially to communicate ! I would therefore suggest
for consideration the propriety of Great Britain de-
spatching to and maintaining an ambassador at the See
of Rome.

If these two measures be adopted, and if Parliament
will firmly resist the unreasonable demands of those
who style themselves " The Irish Brigade^'* there are
elements at work, over which the British Government
has no control, that must very quickly completely sub-
vert the present degraded position of Ireland.

Those hundreds of thousands of poor people whom
the famine forced to migrate, and who have no in-
clination to return, are not only beckoning to their
friends at home, but to enable them to follow them
they have forwarded to Ireland out of their savings
very nearly the following sums : — *

£.

In 1 848 upwards of

460,000

1849

540,000

1850

967,000

1851

990,000 !

Now, if the potato disease continues, it is inevitable,
not only that all those who, sleeping with swine and
asses, arc still obstinately subsisting solely on this

* See Twelfth General Keport of the Colonial Land and Kmigration Com-
missioners.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

309

I

root, must, either by death or emigration, be swejit, as
by a hurricane, from the surface of Ireland, but that
their vacant places must be filled by others ; and thus a
complete new system of what in parliamentary phrase-
ology is termed " men and measures" will — not by the
vacillating order of man, but by a stern decree of Pro-
vidence — effectually and irrecoverably overturn that
miserable, degrading, pig-priest-and-potato mode of
existence which has so long prevailed.

In the mean while, if the English Government,
instead of those vaiu attempts at conciliation which
have brought discredit on the administration of Ireland
by both Tories and Whigs, will but resolve to act with
firmness, justice, and imjjartiality ; if, without per-
secuting the priesthood, they will — utterly regardless
of the colour of their coats — seize them by the throat
whenever they dare to disturb the peace of the country,
I declare advisedly that their conduct will be approved
of, not only by the well-educated, many of whom in
their hearts disapprove of the ultramontane doctrines of
the day, but by the poorer classes of Roman Catholics,
whose perception of justice is proverbially acute, clear,
and distinct.

In the present Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the Earl
of Eglinton and Winton, the Crown has a mild, bold,
public servant, who, by his open attachment to tlie
Protestant religion — by honest justice towards the
Roman Cathohc religion — by gubernatorial al)ilitics of
high caste— by natural dignity of demeanour— and,
lastly, by affability and splendid hospitality, has legiti-
mately won the confidence and resjiect of all parties;

400 ira^T B TO BE DOSE ? PakfIL

aiuL ahfaoa^h I am oeither dire c tl y mar in di r e c ll T
acqaainted with a an^e mcaame of his iDtended policj,
and am indebted to him odIt fisr the gcnnal introdnr-
tioQ which, in reply to mj applicatioa in writiiig, he rery
liberallj save me, to tiie heads of those departments
from which I was aoxioas to obtain the leir harmless
statistical data I reqcured, yet it is with pleasure and
confidence I believe that — if he be manlolly supported

by Parliament — he will, onder Proridence, siuxreed in
allaying the religions animosities and in promoting the
temporal prosperity of the Irish people, for wrhom, so
long as I may be permitted to lire, I shall entertain an

unalterable affectionate r^ard.

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BEINQ AN ACCOUNT OF THE CHIEF COLLECnONS OF PAINTINGS, BCULPTURE, 1C88.
MINUTURES, &0. ftc, OBTAINED FROM PEB80NAL INSPECTION IN 1886—50-51.

BY DR. WAAQEN,

Pirector of the R07BI Gnllery of Pietoret at Berlin.

3 Vols. 8to.

ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK OF ARCHITECTURE.

BEING A CONCISE AND POPULAB ACCOUNT OF THE DIFFERENT STYLES PREYAILINa

IN ALL AGES AND COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD. WITH A DESCRIPTION

OF THE MOST REMARKABLE BUILDINQ8.

BY UAMES FERQUSSON, ESa
Author of *' Indian Arohitectare," ** Palaoet of Ninereh and PertepoUa Reitored."

With 1000 ninstrationa on Wood. 8vo.

A HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS IN THEOLOGY, AND GENERAL READERS.

Part I. — To the Reformation.

BY REV. UAMES C. ROBERTSON, MA

l^ear of Bekeeboome, near Canterbory.
2 Yola. 8to.

A POPULAR ACCOUNT OP

TRAVELS IN ASIA MINOR AND LYCIA.

BY SIR CHARLES FELLOWS.
With Woodonti. Poet 8to.

HISTORY OF

EUROPE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES.

BY HENRY HALLAM, ESQ.

Tenth EdiHan, Rerised, incorporating the Supplxmsmtal Notx5.

8Y0I11. 8to.

fPP PISTOP OF NAPOLEON AT ST, HELENA ;

THE LAT^ ^|Ft ^UR?9N LOWE.
« Wiai Portrait. 9 Vols. Sj^

This work is now rapidlj advaxiein^ under the direction of t eareftil Editor.

A NEW Ura-ENGMSH DICnONiRY.

BY WILLIAM SMITH, LLD.,

Editor of the " DicUon«TJ« of Oreek 104 Boin«n Antlqtii^"— <* Hy^M««7 ^^ Btomraph j,"

and " Geograiphy."

. One large Volume. 8vo.

STATE PAPERS OF HENRY THE EIGHTH'S REIGN.

OOMIfl^I^nrQ THE 00B^K8?0Np]prp^ B^WEPff THE ^VGLWH OpFB^fr^NT AND

tbE COimNENTAt PoWEks, PROM THE PERIOD OF THE EtEOHOK OF

CHARLES V. TO THE DEATH OP HENRY VIU,

With Indexes. yoU.VI.— XI. 4to.

1 ^ H H HJ ■ <f

THE MISCELLANEOUS WORKS OF THE LATE
DR. THOMAS YOUNG, F.R.S.

NOW FIRST COLLECTED AND EDITED, WITH A MEMOIR OF HIS LIFE.

BY BEY. G^ORGP PEACOCK, D.p., DpAN Of E|-y.

4 Vols. 8to.

Z9

HISTORY OF ANCIENT POTTERY;

MYPTIAN, ASIATIC, GREEK, ROMAN, ETRUSCAN, AND CELTIC.

BY SAMUEL BIRCH, F.S.A.,

Assistant Keeper of the Antiquities in the British Museum.

Withniustrationa. 8to.

VS* HUBEATS WST OF FOBTHCOIONO WOBKS.

AKeflQ-SiXQK REHAHS,

DISCOVERED 1861, AT LITTLE WILBRAHAM, CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
BY THE HON. RICHARD CORNWALLiS NEVILLE

WITH FORTT COLOmiED ILLUSTIUTIONS BT 8AMUXL STANESBT.

4tO.

THE HMDBOOK OF CHRONOLOGY.

ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED TO FACILITATE REFERENCE.

One Yolibne. 8to.

IIFE AND mm OF AJ-EXANPP PQPE.

BDITKD, WITH NOTRS,

BY THE RIGHT HON. JOHN WILSON CROKER.

Portraits. 4 Vols. 8to.

THE COMMERCIAL TARIFFS OF ALL COUNTRIES.

COLLECTED AND ARRANGED.

BY OTTO HUBNER,
Bfrnnber of the ProMian Board of Trade;

And published under the Sanction of the Pnusian Goremmmt. Translated into English, with the
Weights, Measures, and Moneys carefully reduced to the EngUsh standards.

EDITED BY C. N. NEWDEGATE, M.P.

8vo.

A POPULAR

ACCOUNT OF THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Fcap. 8ro.
For "Murray's Railway Rbadino.**

8 MR. MURRA.TS LIST OP PORTHCOMINO WORKS.

HANDBOOK OF FAMELIAB QUOTAnONS.

FROM ENGLISH AUTHORS.
Fcap. 8to.

A HISTORY OF GREECE FOR SCHOOLS.

ON THE PLAN OF «'3IRS. MARKHAM*S HISTORIRS.*'
BY WILLIAM SMITH, LUD.

With Woodcuts. 12mo.

HANDBOOK FOR ENGLAND AND WALES.

Giving an account of the Placbs and Objects best worth visiting in England, more
especially those rendered interesting by Historical Assoeiationsy or likely to attrseft
the notice of intelligent strangers and travellers ; arranged in connexion with the
most frequented Ro^ds and Railways in England. Showing, at the same time, the
way of seeing them to the best advantage, with the least expenditure of time and money.

With Map sad Plans. S Vols. Post 8vo.

ALSO,

A CONDENSED HANDBOOK OF ALL ENGLAND.

One Volume. Post 8to.

HANDBOOK FOR THE CATHEDRALS OF ENGLAND.

BY REV. GEORGE AYLIFFE POOLE, MA

With nioitrations. Crown 8vo.

HANDBOOK FOR THE ENVIRONS OF LONDON.

WITHIN A CIRCLE OF THIRTY BflLES AROUND ST. PAUL'S. WITH HINTS
FOR EXCURSIONS BY RAIL— RIVER— AND ROAD.

BY PETER CUNNINGHAM, F.S.A.

Pott 8to.

jUaxuisle Si UK it,
O-lobcr, 18

MR. MUKKAY'S

LIST OF WORKS NOW READY.

DESPATCHES OF THE LATE FIELD-MARSHAL
THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON:

a iPTHRNTic DocuazHTa.

BY COLONEL GUIIWOOD, C.%

i« ud EnliTEtd Edltba, 8 Vvlt, i-ro. }!( i

"Thftt scries of deaptlche* which non
his fUne,"— T^wiM, Srpl. Ifi, 1852.

"The gnuideat of all tlie Wi-lUngton
■ "Tho Wellington Despalchts," " '

be foniid in the volunie*
^ . oaderful collei-tion which, to thote who

read its figts nghUy, mpplies prooTa of the &utfaot-'B gr»liieBa more eloquent llinti
the bronie of Chanlrey or of SihII — more conviocing even than the curly cooqueBls in
Indw, the brilliknt tritimphi of the Peninsala, or tlie flnal overthrow of Napoleoii."—
£di7ibiirgk (kmraitl.

" The Duke of Welliogtoii's Despntchea « ill bo it source of wouder, praisej and
admiration to late, vfvj late geueraliomi.

"' would be idle at this time of day to dilate on the treasure our countTv
■ " ■ ■ "'lb wisdom which Bauctioned

— Qaarterlj/ Retietr,
the Diiko of Wellington
'■"^OllrablJ' revest the i"

poBseaws in the Dube of Wellingtoo's Desjiatcliei
llieir publication iu tho Ufetime of their illuatiiouB w
and military Memt

'I'ho Duke wns not tniwR till they appeared. In this collection we have a test of whM
he trul; was ; and, curiously cn')U(;b, the parallel Despatches bodi of Marlborourii
and Nelson surrive to set ofT the delineation io the lights of contrast, The great
publication of Colonel Gurwood." — iforning vlnonlel':

A POPUUR SELECTION FROM THE WEULINCTON DESPATCHES.

10 'MR MURRAY'S LIST OP WORKS NOW READY.

FIFTH AND SIXTH VOLUXEB OF

THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND FROM THE

PEACE OF UTRECHT.

BY LORD MAHON.

OONTAININa TQE fl^T TEABf pF Tiq^ AFRICAN WAR.

2 Vols. 8vo. 80*.

THE QRENVILLE PAPERS;

BEING TUE CORREBPONDENCE OF RICHARD GRENVILLE, EARL TEMPLE, K.G.
AND HIS BROTHER, GEORGE GRENYILLE, THEIR FRIENDS

AND CONTEMPORARIES.

BY WILLIAM JAMES SMITH, ESQ.,
Fonnerly Ubrarfn at ^towe.

9 Vols. 8to. S2«.

" The Grenrille Correspondence expends orer a pepod of more t|ian tliirfj yearB,
commendnfi; in 1742 ; but the most interes^ng and important part of it is that which
comprises the seven concluding years of George II., and ^rst ten years of Geoi^ III.'s
reign. — ^These are valuable contributions to history ; and serve to explain, to illus-
trate, and to dear pp some questions hitherto vexed and undefennined.'^Fra4er.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE UNDER
THE HOUSE OF LAf^C/ySTEB.

WITH AN INTRODUCTORY VIEW OF THE EA^^T Rf.FORMATION,

8to. lit.

** It is throughout such an honest and earnest investigation of tmt|i as best becomea
the historian. An extensive research for original auuiorities, and a patient collation
of cotemporary writers, is visible ; and these are pursued with an indi^erence to
modem authors which shows at any rate a detenmnation to drink of t^ streams of
history at their highest sources.'* — OerUleman't Mcig<mne,

DR. WILLIAM SMITH'S
DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY.

No\r Pnbllshtng In Parts. Woodcuts.. Medinm 8to. Aa. each.

** Dr. Smith, who has rendered great service to classical studies, has fo)|owcd up the
publication of his Classical Dictionaries by one of Andent Geography."— J^rmden/ of
th$ Royal Gtograpkical Society's Address,

U9-inJBIUrS LIST OF WOBKS KO^I^ BEABT. 11

THE CLARENDON QA1.LERY.

BEIKG LtTES OF THE FRrENDS OF U)RP I IlANcEl.LOR CLABENIWN.

BY LABT THERESA LEWIS.

Wllh roilnin. SToli. »m. iJt.

"Lives mora ijiBtniclivo cannot lie peruspi! j for rleep inMrwt Uiey »ro not
to be iiir(iMS«d, Inasmuch M tliey cootwn matter thM will inf*er tvane to Ii«to
freahnesB uiil flsTour for the English reader uiil fur nil wha would I»Wn how
ponaliCuiional liberty hu been won ia Englarx). >II<1 hnw a jintcllcal jienple work
their cenaln wilt to the full eujoymeitt of llieir rights. It is to he hniicd ttut
the aaiM:cu of the presenl R'lvcntuTB will he nllRriBnt to tnduco the auChnrcss to
f\y another vS«it to Groie-pArk, and to remova from %. few mare af the piclores Iha I
duat which time has left upon IhiMn,'' — 7'i*niFJ.

LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF QUSTAVUS VASA,
K|Na OF SWEDEN.

wrm EXTBACTS fhom his cobrespontif.ncb.

"TliiB is a Life, whicli w>a worth writing, written welt. Ia the HiBtorj- of GuntavUB
VaBa nil the evenU ore large and striking, some of tliem of the Hrat hiatoriml
importance. Tbajr are told in this vdnnte wil)i the calmncn befitting the Muftc of
Hillary and make n strong impresoion on the reader's mind. The book is founded
on ■ wide Hlndy of Swodieli and oilier ront^nnparvry authorities, and ia written without
any weakneHS of enthusium in a elear, imparliBl, manly way, and in a very nnaSecled
style. It wut«i no words, and gi^es tlie reader value back for every minute spent
over its pagat." — Rtami'ter.

THE DANES AND NORWEGIANS IN ENGLAND,
SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND.

BY J. A. A. WORSAAE, F.S.A., oi- CoreNH.innK.
Woowiitji. foitBTQ. IPi.ad.

GROTE'S HISTORY OF GREECE.

12 MR MURRAY'S LIST OF WORKS NOW READY.

JOURNAL OF A WINTER'S TOUR IN INDIAj

WITH A VISIT TO THE OOUBT OF NEPAUL.

BY THE HON. CAPTAIN FRANCIS EGERTON, R.N.
With Woodcatfl. 2yoU. Po«t 8to. 18#.

From the Btartiiig point at Southampton to the disemharkatton at Trieste, the joomey
and its sights are nuMe real to us. In company like our author's the tour appears one
80 easy to make and so pleasurable in the making, that some < unsettlement may
aoerue ' from the publication of Capt Egerton's Journal to gentlemen haying half a
year to spare, a fancy for a shot at an elephant, or a hankering after a card to one of
the King of Oude's rather indigestible breakfasts or diamond dmners !" — AtheMmtm.

FARINI^S HISTORY OF THE ROMAN STATE.

TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN.

BY THE RIGHT HON. W. R GLADSTONE, M.P.

Vol. in. 8to. 12#.

THE TEA COUNTRIES OF CHINAj

INCLUDING SUNG-LO AND THE BOHEA HILLS,

WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE BRITISH TEA PLANTATIONS IN THE HIMALAYA.

BY ROBERT FORTUNE, ESQ.,
Author of " Three Years* Wanderings in the Northern Prorinoes of China."

With Map and Woodcuts. 8ro, 15«.

" Mr. Fortune, who five years ago introduced us to the interior of CliinSy has just
issued a very spirited and agreeable, as well as an instructive, account of the tea-
growing provinces. The zeal and the skill with which he has not only obtained the
finest varieties of the tea-plant, but has also directed its culture in Assam and the
north-western provinces of India, must prove of substantial sendee to our country. In
the meantime, as geographers, we have to thank him for a very good account of the
habits of the people, and for a graphic delineation of the Bohea mountains.*' —
President of the Royal Qeographical Societt/t Address,

AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE.

AN ESSAY. REPRINTED, WITH ADDITIONS, FROM THE « QUARTERLY REVIEW."

BY THE LATE THOMAS GISBORNE.

A New and Rofited Edition. With WoodcnU. 12mo. Cd.

MR. MURRAY'S LIST OP WORKS NOW READY. 13

A FAQQOT OF FRENCH STICKS.

BY SIR FRANCIS R HEAD, BART.
Second Edition, 2 Vols. PostSro. %ia

MODERN INDIA,

WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE NATIVES AND NATIVE INSTITXmONS.

BY GEORGE CAMPBELL, ESQ.

8to. 16«.

<' A remarkably good digest of heaps of iacto. It gives an outline of the history
and population of India, of the social condition and dril government of the people, of
the past and present political governments, of the relations we stand in to the numerous
native Powers and Princes, whether nominally we are their protectors or openly their
sovereigns, the extent and nature of their obligations to us and ours to them ; in short,
it is a complete handbook." — Economist,

WORKS BY COLONEL W. MARTIN LEAKE, F.RS.

1. TOPOGRAPHY OF ATHENS,

WITH SOME REMARKS ON ITS ANTIQUITIES ; TO WHICH IS ADDED,

THE DEMI OP ATTICA.

Second Edition. M&ps and Plates. 2 Vols. 8vo. 90^.

•

2. TRAVELS IN NORTHERN GREECE.

Maps. 4 Vols. 8vo. 009.

3. GREECE AT THE END OF TWENTY-THREE

YEARS' PROTECTION.

8to. 6d,

4. PELOPONNESIACA:

A SUPPLEMENT TO TRAVELS IN THE MOREA.

Svo. 16«.

5. THOUGHTS ON THE DEGRADATION OF

SCIENCE IN ENGLAND.

8vo. Zt.Sd,

14 MR. MtTRRATS LIST OF WOItKS NOW READY/

STftJFE FOR THfi MAStehY.

TWO ALLEGORlfeS. BY A. H. F. K and tt. L. B.
WoOdcutB. Grown 8yo. 6t.

LEAVES FROM MT JOURNAL,

DUBINQ THE SUMBfER OP 1851.
BY A MEMBER OF THE LATE PARLIAMENT.

With niuBtntions. 8to. 9t,6d,

.A ». * I . , / • , , '''«-■' i_ 1 ^'*

BUENo^ AYFlJESi ANb TH^ PROVINCfeS OF tHE

RIO Oe LA PLAtA,

FROM THEIB DISCOYSBT AND 00NQUE8T BT THE SPANIARDS.
BY SIR WOODBINE PARISH.

Second Edition. Plates. 8vo. Us,

<< Among the contHbiitlonfl to the geogra|>hy o^ ib^ ^dih Attiericiia continent^ the
work of our Vice-President, Sir Woodbine Ftaiehf holds a Tery ioiiportant place.
Professing to be a second edition of a former book, it is in reality almost a new work,
from the great quantity of valuable fresh matter it contains on the geomphy, statistics,
natural history and geology, of this portion of the worid.**-— jPrnuMSU of the JRoyal
Ckograpfiical Society t Address,

A JOURNEY TO NEPAUL,

WITH A VISIT TO THE CAMP OP THE NEPAULESE AMBASSADOR.

BY LAUREirCE OtiPHANt.

Fcap. 8to. 2t, 6(1.

''A most agreeable narration of tlie court of Nepaul, and its extraordinary
inhabitants ; of wild elephant* hunts, alligator sliooting, and of the patient industry of
the people. Much information of the uatm*e of the country is pleasantly mingled with
personal adventures ; and it is c^e of the nktii Amuaiiig and readable books that
we have read for a long time." — Economist,

TALAVERA.

WiTft ODfcS Oil LOfii) NELSON ANl) tHE DtKE OF 'Vtfeii.iNOi'ON.
BY THE RtOHT HON. JOfiN WILSON CBOKER.

8vo.

HINTS TO TrtAVELLERS IN PORTUdAL,

Wira AN ITINEILUiT Of SOME OF 1

" Portugnl IB cgrtiiiiily one of tlie luOBt boauliful vouulrics of Eurupu, nml only llio
Lail i-ppule of lu inliabiuuiui — wliullj' uudcserved we believe — liaa prevented it being
much visited. l'h«y ve now better uodeistooil. Mid the oountry is mure easily reftehej
lliBD ranncrl/ : it ia likely tu be mueh viaiteil by EagUsh travellers, and the prenenl
liiDIa will be usetul la Ihcin, Tlio Mtlior uf Uiein ia entliusijutia in bi« pr&iM or tbo
aoonory. wd his reaoiainemUtiQU will bo wolcomed by nuny. The itinerary is Uie
prineipij (oalura <■( tbo \un.k, nnJ it ia a g«ad guide For ovsry part of Portogal. It
will be an MceptoUa wort foi' geutlomoa and ladiu uixious to Bnd a new plaee for ui
luitumual tour. In the nummar Portu^'al ia too hot, in early spriog it is moat agroouble,
hut in autumn the EugUalimau will tiuJ it not unpleasant to tnvel iu and delightful to
bchol J." — EcuHomitl.

THE HUMAN HAND,

ITS MECHANISM A.1D VITAL HSDOWMENTS AS IT DISPLAYS T116

WISDOM AiJD GOODNESS Of OOD.

BT SUl CHABLE3 BELL.

Fl/th EdUian. Puilciltuid Wandcuti. FugtSvo. 7<. <U.

THE STORY OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

PBOM PUBLIC AND TRIVATE SomcES.

BY THE REV. O. R. OLEIO, M.A.

l-'lmiilntD-OeiunU toiUu Fvnw-

^ A very complete, piiuBtaking, woU-nrraDged, and intereatiug DMrntive, embracing
all the coUalct«l pviuU of tlia nahjeet as well as its main bolufei. We bate never
met with >o complete and wdl-arnuigBd a view of fhc Stonv of tiie Hkncbeu Dits."

A SMALLER CLASSICAL DICTIONARY^

FOB THE VSB OF YOUNCJ PEltSONS,
BY WILLIAM SSUTU, LLD.

lUnatnttd nith lUtl nnoilDUU. Cmmi «*d. lOn AC

" Thu abi'idgiDciit coDtaina every cluainil name lliat the juveuils papil ii likely ttt
meet with in the cdutm of hie preparatory rmding ; aiid ijiuse only are omitted which
on-ur in more advanced litcratui'e. Tlie cDgmvinga on wood ore executed wilh
vunsDminala art. The eKplanatioDs, which aro very ample, supply all neceuary
infomulion. The quautitiea ore cleotly marked ; and in every iuslaoce the genitive
cues of the proper namea are giTcn."— Artontiiii.

16 MR MURRAY'S LIST OF WORKS NOW READY.

ILLUSTRATED LIFE Of STOTHARD, R.A.

WITH PEBSONAL BEMINISCENCES

BY MRS. BRAY.

Illustrated with Portrait and 70 Woodcuts. Fcaplto. 2i«.

NOTES ON PUBLIC SUBJECTS DURING A TOUR
IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

. m 1861.
BY HUGH SEYMOUR TREMENHEERE, ESQ.

Post 8vo. 10«. Gd.

"A book wbich every Englishman inrho cares about public subjects sbould read
without delay. America has been made far too exclusively the political property of
a particular school. For those who wish to read the lessons of American experience
without putting on Mr. Cobden's spectacles, these notes will be of essential service
Mr. Tremenheere has stated the result of his inquiries with simplicity and good sentse
as he seems to have made them with fairness and diligence." — Ouardian,

MODERN DOMESTIC COOKERY^

FOUNDED UPON PEINCIPLES OF ECONOMY AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND

ADAPTED FOB PBIYATB FAMILIES.

A NEW EDITION HOST CAREFULLY BEVISED AND IMPROVED.

With 100 Woodcuta. PoftSvo. 6».

A MANUAL OF FIELD OPERATIONS.

ADAPTED FOR THE USE OF OFFICERS OF THE ARMY

BY LIEUTENANT JERVIS WHITE JERVIS

Royal Artillery.

Croiini 8vo. Da, Gd.

" This book is a risumi of military knowledge in a practical and luminous form. It
ti'eats on every department of campaigning, and on all the duties and contingencies of
war. Such being the case it will be of Uie highest service to young officers. Lieutenant
Jervis avails himself of all writers of repute on these topics, and illustrates his
instructions by references to the last war."— Dai'/y NewB,

Brailbury & ETans* Prlntert, UTIiitefriars.

DATE DUE

1

STANFORD UNIVERSITY UBRARIES

SIANFORD, CAUFORNIA

94305