With a great respect for the Christian religion, and we believe, a general conviction of its truth, we look in vain, in his life and conversation, for any proof that he entertained more than a speculative belief in the mysteries of redemption; and what is most painful, as he advanced into the shade of a long evening, there seems to us to be less and less evidence, that faith, in the evangelical sense of the word, was realized. We remember well, that when the Association for Discountenancing Vice waited upon him with their complimentary address, his answer, which was extemporaneous, was one of the most beautiful panegyrics upon the Church of England, that could be delivered; and the then Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Magee, was so struck by it, that he requested him, if possible, to give them a copy of the effusion of eloquence and wisdom, by which they were so much delighted. But he could not do so-the copy which was furnished, bore no comparison with the original. And yet, this was the same Lord Wellesley, who afterwards, we are told, drew up the celebrated appropriation clause, by which the Peel ministry, in 1834, were thrown out of office, and which was intended as the " coup de grace" to the Church of Ireland! Such was the value of his religious sentiments, when they stood in the way of his party predilections! It was happily said, by Sir James Mackintosh, that by his habits of governing in the east, he became "Sultanized." There was, undoubtedly, an assumption of state about him, which some men find it difficult to put on during hours of office, but which it cost him an effort, which indeed he very seldom made, to put off during hours of social relaxation. In this he was strikingly different from his illustrious brother, whose soldier-like simplicity is one of his most striking characteristics. There is another difference not less remarkable. The mar quess's temperament influenced, and very often determined his opinions. The duke's opinions always overruled his temperament. In the one, genius, in alliance with party spirit, was not unfrequently found waring against true patriotism and common sense. In the other, duty to his country has ever been paramount to all other considerations, and common sense may often be seen acting with the inspira. tion of genius. The duke's mind is essentially practical. His convictions are always based upon a just, or at least an honest appreciation of the facts of the case; and once formed, are followed out with an energy proportioned to their importance. In the marquess, the same is true as regards his statesmanlike policy in India. There he saw, intuitively, the difficulties by which he was surrounded, and acted with a boldness and a vigour by which alone the British interest could be maintained. But the very habits of command which he then contracted, and the very loftiness of the eminence to which he thus attained, in some measure disqualified him for acting as an ordinary politician after his return to Europe. The very field of view which his mind could command, was often adverse to the simple and direct pursuit of the real end which should be aimed at; and as personal power was never wholly separated in his thoughts from the prosecution of any enterprise in which he engaged, the singleness of eye was wanting, which has uniformly characterized his illustrious brother, in every situation in which he has been placed, and by which, not to speak it profanely, in the midst of difficulties that might well perplex the most sagacious, "his whole body has been filled with light." We are not insensible to errors into which the noble duke has been betrayed; but the present generation has yet to learn, posterity alone will fully understand, how much more the world is indebted to his wisdom in council, than even to his achievements in war. But we must hasten to a conclusion. When forsaken by his party, with whose rapid advance upon the road to destruction he could not well keep pace, the noble marquess had, in his old age, the satisfaction of finding that a grateful return awaited him for services but tardily acknowledged, and scantily requited at the time when they were rendered. The reform ministry had laid him aside. His circumstances were far from easy; and then it was, and not until then, that the East India directors nobly came forward, and proffered to his accep tance a sum of twenty thousand pounds, 66 a as a small token of their sense of his merits and his sacrifices, while maintaining their interests in India. His despatches were ordered to be printed for distribution in the three Presidencies; and a marble statue erected to his honour in the India House, as public, conspicuous, and permanent mark of the admiration and gratitude of the East India Company.' He died at his residence, Kingston House, Brompton, on the morning of Monday, 26th of September, 1842, in the 82nd year of his age; and according to a desire expressed in his will, his remains were deposited within the precincts of his beloved Eton, the seminary in which he had received his early education. The following lines were written in 1840; they are in reply to some complimentary verses addressed to him, by the present Provost of Eton, Dr. Hodgson, upon receiving his bust, which has been placed in the college library; and happily express the sentiment with which that ancient seat of learning, which witnessed the triumphs of his youth, continued to be regarded by him in his old age. "Affulsit mihi suprema meta ultima Famæ : Tum mihi cum lauro juncta cupressus erit: Mater amata, meam quæ fovit Etona juventam, Ipsa recedentem signat honore senem." THE WITCH OF KILKENNY, BEING NO. VIII. OF THE KISHOGE PAPERS. 'Tis night. On Ormonde's castle walls, No more-but could those three old towers *- * Three towers of the old castle of Kilkenny, built in Pembroke still remain, and form part of the present edifice. been so renovated to suit the modern parts of the building, external trace of their antiquity is discernible. 1795 by William Lord They have, however, that, unfortunately, no Whose strife oft made Newre's crystal flood Had never marred the lovely sod. Is in fact beyond price, Were it not 'tis my own, I'd say of the best quality. As a rational man, And meant to be serious throughout all the rest of it- To begin, then once more: On the banks of the Nore Is the castle of Ormonde, I spoke of before (I then called Nore "Newre," and 'tis so called by Spenser, I beg pardon-I should have said, Madam or Miss, Built the first castle there, (Mostly mentioned as Strongbow, his old nom de guerre,) So we can't in fact say What 'twas built of, to-day; For Donald left of it no stone, brick, or rafter- Whose heirs it appears, Held it two hundred years, (Giving plentiful work to the family cutlers), When 'twas purchased by James, then the head of the Butlers, From Thomas le Spencer, whose grandfather Hugh By marriage got that, and an earldom too, Since which time the Ormondes have held it as masters, The garrison into surrender to batter. And was going to march off" as mad as a hatter," In dire consternation, Walked out with the gates of their town on a platter, Now the different facts that here I have told, And might have witnessed some devilish tricks At which time the date of my tale I fix. What wonderful things they've seen in their day And now, hey presto! five centuries back- Hey! to the shade of the battlement strong, Silent the sleeping city lies Under the veil of the shadowy skies; Takes no sort of repose; But its trumpet all night most melodiously blows.- That folk, when asleep, do all sorts of absurdities, Kick, snore, whistle, grin, throw their pillows and clothes about, (I use the word here in its literal sense Of wandering about), where the houses are dense, I think over and over, 'tis very surprising, That around me lie folk of all ranks and conditions, Boxed up by the thousand in comic positions, Some in slumber profound-some in vigilant dozes, *The castle of Ormonde was held so resolutely by the garrison, commanded by Sir Walter Butler, against the assaults of Cromwell, that the latter was on the point of raising the siege, when the keys of the English town (the portion of Kilkennny adjoining the castle) were surrendered to him, through the fears of the citizens; whereupon Sir Walter, finding his position commanded, was forced to abandon his defence of the castle. But a truce to philosophy-excellent muse- 'Neath the shadows of midnight are tranquil and still. But some there are who taste not sleep, But a wicked midnight vigil keep, A wicked vigil, for spirits of ill And they who commune with them keep it still. By her grey hearth-stone, Haggard and grim sits a queer old crone, Mumbling over a devilish rhyme. And thrice she had mumbled it through and through, And slowly unlocks A large wooden box, And out of it takes she nine red cocks, And unbolts her door, And forth she goes into the principal street, For I greatly doubt Dame Alice Kettle, To the market cross she hies her forth, And she turns her south and she turns her north, Each of the red cocks taketh three, Each of them kneels on bended knee, Each of them cuts three red cocks' throats, Fearful prayers to the powers below, One throws in a bird, And they look very hideous, though somewhat absurd ; And each from a pouch takes six peacocks' eyes, |