introduction. We, accordingly, set out about mid-day for Tubbertinane, the seat of the Messrs. Newnham. Our route lay over a dreary bog extending as far as the eye could reach, where it appeared bounded by the horizon. After an uninteresting walk of a few miles, we turned off to our right, and broke all at once upon a house and grounds of comfortable appearance, the residence of these gentlemen, who occupied a large tract of country, chiefly their own; and exercised a feudal control over a numerous and widely scattered tenantry. They were at home to receive me, which they did most cordially. To think of setting off before dinner from the mansion of an Irish gentleman, was one of those impossible things, which those who value their brains would never attempt: so, when the question was put to me, "What time I wished to dine?" I answered, "All hours are alike to me: the night will be light, and having Mr. O'Farrell, with his dogs as an escort, I fear nothing." -"Spoke like a man, my tight young fellow," said the elder brother; "so after you have rested yourself, we'll have a try for a hare while the potatoes are boiling.' Old Robin's celebrated dog, Fly, happening to be of our canine party, was put in requisition, and with his aid, the greyhounds of Messrs. Newnham afforded us some delightful runs, and a leash of hares; the course lay over an uncut bog for several miles' extent, so open to the view that we never lost sight of the dogs or hare one moment. I was, like all other town-bred boys, nothing of a sportsman; but I enjoyed the coursing with all the ardour of youth. Dinner hour having approached, a short ablution and a rub at my boots enabled me to appear in the dining-room with decency. My hosts were bachelors; but I found an aged couple, named Knight, at table, who seemed to be at home; whether as relations or visiters I was left to conjecture. They were probably "poor relations," a class disowned and discouraged in the more highly civilized sister country, but welcomed with open arms in this land of mercy to misfortune! We sat down to a most excellent dinner; trout of the finest quality; mutton of an age and delicacy of flavour that would put to shame the shambles of Leadenhall; with poultry and other dainties to please the most fastidious palates. The wines were suitable to the other excellencies of the board; and to crown my enjoyments, I heard the elder Mr. Newnham, from time to time, order the servant to take to the table of Mr. O'Farrell the best of our own fare. The good old man had been placed in an adjoining room, where the household did their best to render him comfortable: his unassuming manners and respectability of character disarmed even the liveried class of envy; they treated him with that degree of kindness and cordial attention, which is more than mere civility. At eleven o'clock one bright summer night, I took leave of the hospitable mansion of Tubbertinane, and set off for my quarters, distant about four Irish miles. Old Robin had marshalled his dogs; and, in the course of our short journey, the youth of seventeen had more than once to crave the indulgence of the veteran of seventy-six for a short halt and a slow er pace. The sonorous crying of Cromwell and Lion long before we came in sight of our village inn, announced the near termination of our midnight march. "Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog's honest bark Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we draw near home." At the door of the alehouse Robin gave me his blessing, and respectfully took his leave; and another quarter of an hour, or less, found him under the shelter of his peaceful cottage. The widow Malone, who had one of the handsomest faces that ever remained to a woman at forty years and eighteenstone weight, was up and stirring, and received me with a thousand kind welcomes, not unmixed with expressions of surprise at my perfect sobriety, after spending the day with the Squires Newnham. I felt a strong desire to imprint a kiss of kindness on her tempting lips, but feared to make the offer; however, when she tendered me a tumbler of whiskey-punch, which she assured me she waited up to give me, I could no longer resist. I drank her health, accompanied with such a kiss as I flattered myself old Malone was never capable of bestowing. The good humour with which she received my boy. ish caresses encouraged me, and every sip of my punch was enriched by a frequent repetition of the gentle offence; at length the good landlady checked my youthful ardour by a lecture, in the course of which, she called me "child," and asked me "what I could be thinking of?" Now, to a forward boy who fancied himself a man, no question could be more mortifying; so I took a hasty leave of my too seducing hostess, looking, I dare say, very sheepish, and muttering as I ascended the stairs, "O! that this too, too solid flesh would melt!" VOL. I. 7 CHAPTER XVI. "Who'll be grenadier, my boys, who'll be grenadier? RECRUITING. NEARLY a week was passed in making my arrangements for the first beating-up in the county town; previously to which I felt it right to pay my personal respects to the officer commanding the regiment of militia then quartered there, as well as to solicit the favour of drums and fifes for the next martial day. Nothing could be more kind than the reception I met with from the Earl of Riverstoun, who happened, at that time, to be on his way to his seat on the Shannon, and had indulged his corps with the pleasure of his always delightful company for a few days. I was received at the mess-dinner with true hospitality, and, on taking my leave, honoured with a general invitation to their well-conducted table as an honorary member on my future visits; but received a particular and formal one for the day next but one following, and which was to be a grand gala. The news of Earl Howe's victory over the French fleet on the 1st of June had just arrived; and great preparations were in train for rendering the rejoicings on the occasion as grand and imposing as the circumstances of the cantonment admitted. On the day appointed I marched in at the head of my party, dressed in all my best; my sergeant and his followers looking as clean and warlike as pipe-clay and powder could make them. Sergeant Macnab was a fellow of very specious appearance, and had just that kind of swagger, which, in a recruiting sergeant alone, is not offensive; and could boast of powers of language perfectly adapted to the ears of the groundlings. His speech on the first halt at the market-cross would be worth recording, had not the march of modern oratory trodden down the heels of military eloquence, and turned all its gold to dross. We contrived, however, to pick up two recruits, poor weavers-father and son; the former thirty-five, the latter but sixteen years old. Half-a-dozen younger were left at home with a helpless mother. So much for Irish early marriages! The poor father assigned over the entire of the bounty of himself and son for the use of the wretched family—an excellent feeling; which induced me the more readily to accede to his request for permission to pass his nights at home to the last day of my stay in the county; and also to allow his boy to practise on the clarionet, in which he was already a self-taught proficient, with the band of the ****** militia; an indulgence which laid the foundation of the youth's prosperity; for, twelve years afterwards, I saw him officiating as master of the band of a regiment of English militia. Besides my actual recruits, there were sundry thirsty vagabonds who begged leave to wear the colours of the party, who strutted about, swilling and cheering, but not one of whom would touch the "king's shilling," which my sergeant most invitingly held out. Our dinner at the mess this day was splendid, having been graced by the presence of the ladies of all the married officers, as well as those of the magistracy and gentry of the neighbourhood. The feu-de-joie was fired at eight in the evening, after which the illuminations commenced; but long before the great luminary of the day hid his burning face behind the towering mountains of Westmeath, as if indignant at this intrusion on his realm of light. The assembly room over the court-house was opened for the ball at ten; at which time were mustered all the beauty and fashion of the "three towns." Daylight found the joyous party fresh for the merry dance; and it was with reluctance they dispersed when the reveillée drum of the little garrison gave signal of six o'clock! The amusements of the merry night furnished talk for a month, and invitations poured in on me during the festive evening. CHAPTER XVII. "There is a tide in the affairs of men." I REACHED my quarters at seven, so jaded and footworn, having danced all night in closely fitting hussar boots, that I hurried to bed, and did not leave it the whole of that day or night, except for one hour to eat a late dinner. After such a long repose I was ready for any exercise; and, accordingly, the following morning I set out with old Robin to see the county, and learn from him the history of the magnates of the land. After half an hour's walk, we halted before the dilapidated gates of an old and well-timbered park, which then presented a wilderness of rank, neglected pasture, overrun with weeds. I inquired whose it was; when my old guide, planting his fivefoot cane on the ground, and placing on its silver-capped top his broad hands, on the back of which he rested his chin, replied "Why, then, sir, that's Dangan Park, the seat of the Earl of Mornington, which I have known, man and boy, these sixty-five-ay, seventy years. Old Garret Wesley (God be good to him!*) was always a kind gentleman; and when we gossoons used to run to open the gates for him, he would ask all our names, and whether we went to school, and if we were Romans or Protestants; and then he would throw ha'pence amongst us, and joke with us; for, sir, he hadn't a morsel of pride about him. He died when I was but a little boy; but I remember him well: he was a fine brave-looking gentleman, and no better landlord in the two counties. After his death his estate fell to Squire Colley, who came to live at the Park, and took the name of Wesley. He was created Lord Mornington the very year I was married; and my wife having been born on his estate he gave us that bit of a garden which joins the house that my father held under ould Sir Arthur Rawdon, my dear lord's great grandfather. "Well, sir, Lord Mornington did not live above ten or a dozen years after he became a peer; leaving an only son, who * Prayers for the dead are not confined to catholics alone in Ireland: custom renders it familiar to protestants, and it is, assuredly, not a blameable weakness. †The common designation for catholics. |