as has rendered the proceeding necessary? Is there an instance on record of an Irish Lord Lieutenant, in his place in the House of Peers, declaring the landed gentry of Ireland oppressors, the authors of the evils and disorders which now make their country wretched, and to be held responsible for the yet more fatal calamities which may convulse and ruin the empire? Is there a precedent for conduct like this?

But, landlords will not sanction any proceeding by which the rights of property are scrutinized? Is this wise? Is it true? Will they, for an empty boast, debar themselves from obtaining justice? For the sake of uttering the truism that they may do what they please with their own-(a truism which, by the way, fear of popular displeasure prevents them from repeating,) will they deny themselves the advantage of proving that, with their own, as by their own, it pleases them to act well and mercifully? But it would be of dangerous precedent to enquire into matters connected with property? The precedent has been set. Church property-the property of existing individuals the clergy of Ireland-has been subjected to a scrutiny.-Oh this is a different case! Yes it is. The right of the clergy to watch over their own interests in one house of parliament, was taken away-the national interests were deprived, perhaps, of some benefit, in being deprived of their guardianship-and after excluding them from their places in parliament, the legislature which held them thus estranged, did as it pleased with their property. Such is the difference between the cases-such is the only practical distinction. The precedent has been set, not only of legislating on property, but of instituting full and free enquiry into all its circumstances. The upright landlords of Ireland may rest assured, that there is less evil to be apprehended from calling upon Lord Mulgrave to sustain, or to withdraw, the accusations hazarded in his speech, than in submitting to the reproach of them, under an apprehention that enquiry would unsettle the foundations of property.

Will the enquiry be instituted or demanded? Experience would teach us to answer No. It is not sufficiently remembered by the Conservative party, that the policy, which is boldest and most comprehensive, is, also, the wisest and the safest. Were the

Conservative landlords to challenge Lord Mulgrave to the proof, the result would be a separation of the cause of just and beneficent men, from that of those who trade and thrive on the necessities of their oppressed fellowcreatures. It would be seen, that, now, as at the time of the earliest insurrections of the last century, (when, as Mr. O'Connor himself testifies, Roman Catholic landholders were the oppressors of the humbler tenantry,) they who oppress and impoverish the people are not those to whom the iniquity is most generally imputed-many an agitator would be detected and exposed as one who, to compensate the destitution to which he reduced his miserable dependants, basely ministered to their vindictive passions, and gave them not stones, but fire-the fire of incendiary harangues, for bread-and many a Conservative, whom it is the habit to revile as indifferent to the sufferings of the people, would be found availing himself of his opportunities extend blessings and comfort around him, to all who came within the wide sphere of his benevolence.

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If the cause of the landlords be deserted-what is likely to be the result? This-The speech of Earl Mulgrave will serve as a text, and will supply topics for pestilent and most exasperating discourses and councils. The rural population of Ireland will be instructed in his Excellency's sentiments, rendered, if possible, still more pungent for their edification. It will be said, by those whose words do not fall fruitless, that the rent exacted from the poor man is excessive and unjust. It will be said, that such extortion, even in the judgment of the Queen's applauded Lieutenant, renders resistance natural. It will be argued, on this high authority, that the oppressive landlord, not the wronged tenant, is chargeable with the guilt which the incidents of agrarian tumult may involve. It will be whispered, that the prerogative of mercy is entrusted to one who will use it to rectify the anomalies and restrain the excesses of a tyrannical system of law. And when, after these incendiary admonitions have been properly distributed and disposed, and the people have declared against bearing a yoke, from which, in the face of the nation, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland affirmed they ought to be relieved and, under the encouragement of such advocacy and advice, they began to act as they speak, and bring to the struggle they provoke, the vio

lence of former days and the discipline of the present the landlords of Ireland will find, that the links of sympa thy between them and their brethren in England, have been eaten through --that their quiescence has left the cor

rosives of Earl Mulgrave free to complete a fatal severance, and they will say, when they ponder, (if ever they read it) our neglected counsel as we have had the mortification to hear from some before now-" could we recall !"

OUR readers may recollect, that at the close of that part of our tale which appeared in the preceding month, Dandy Duffy and Ned M'Cormick exchanged significant glances with each other, upon Flanagan's having admitted unawares that the female he designed to take away on the following night was "the purtiest girl in the parish." The truth was, he imagined at the moment that his designs were fully matured, and in the secret vanity, or rather, we should say, in the triumphant villany of his heart, he allowed an expression to incautiously pass his lips which was nearly tantamount to an admission of Una's name. The truth of this he instantly felt. But even had he not, by his own natural sagacity, perceived it, the look of mutual intelligence which bis quick and suspicious eye observed to pass between Duffy and Ned M'Cormick would at once have convinced him. Una was not merely entitled to the compliment so covertly bestowed upon her extraordinary personal attractions, but in addition it might have been truly affirmed, that neither that nor any adjoining parish could produce a female, in any rank, who could stand on a level with her in the character of a rival beauty. This was admitted by all who had ever seen the colleen dhas dhun, or "the purty brown girl," as she was called, and it followed, as a matter of course, that Flanagan's words could imply no other than the Bodagh's daughter.

It is unnecessary to say, that Flanagan, knowing this as he did, could almost have bit a portion of his own tongue off as a punishment for its indiscretion. It was then too late, however, to efface the impression which the words were calculated to make, and he felt besides that he would only strengthen the suspicion by an over anxiety to remove it. He therefore repeated his orders respecting the appointed meeting on the following night,

although he had already resolved in his own mind to change the whole plan of his operations.

Such was the precaution with which this cowardly but accomplished miscreant proceeded towards the accomplishment of his purposes, and such was his apprehension lest the premature suspicion of a single individual might by contingent treachery defeat his design, or affect his personal safety. He had made up his mind to communicate the secret of his enterprise to none until the very moment of its execution; and this being accomplished, his ultimate plans were laid, as he thought, with sufficient skill to baffle pursuit and defeat either the malice of his enemies or the vengeance of the law.

No sooner had they left the schoolhouse than the Dandy and M'Cormick immediately separated from the rest, in order to talk over the proceedings of the night, with a view to their suspicions of the "Captain." They had not gone far, however, when they were overtaken by two others, who came up with them at a quick, or, if I may be allowed the expression, an earnest pace. The two latter were Rousin Redhead and his son Corney.

So boys," said the Rouser, "what do you think of our business to-night? Didn't I get well out of his clutches ?"

"Be me throth, Rouser darlin," replied the Dandy, "you niver wor complately in them till this minnit."

"Dhar ma lham charth," said Corney, "I say he's a black-hearted villin, and damnho orm but it 'ud be aquil to absolution from the priest's hand to knock him on the head."

"But how am I in his clutches, Dandy?" inquired the Rouser.

"Why," rejoined Duffy, "don't you see that for all you said about his throwin' the post of danger on other people, he's givin' it to you to-morrow night."

Rousin Redhead stood still for nearly

half a minute without uttering a sylla ble; at length he seized Dandy by the arm, which he pressed with the gripe of Hercules, for he was a man of huge size and strength.

Chorp an dioual, you giant, is it my arm you're goin' to brake?"

"Be the 'tarnal primmer, Dandy Duffy, but I see it now," said the Rouser, struck by Bartle's address, and indignant at the idea of having been overreached by him. "Eh, Corney," he continued, addressing the son, "hasn't he the Rouser set? I see boys, I see. I'm a marked man wid him, an' it's likely, for all he said, will be on the black list afore he sleeps. Well, Corney avic, you an' others know how to act if any thing happens me."

"I don't think," said M'Cormick, who was a lad of considerable penetration, "that you need be afeard of either him or the black list. Be me sowl, I know the same Bartle well, an' a bigger coward never put a coat on his back. He got as pale as a sheet tonight when Corney there threatened him; not but he's desateful enough, I grant, but he'd be a greater tyrant only that he's so hen-hearted."

"But what job," said the Rouser, "has he for us tomorrow night, do you think? It must be something past the common. Who the dioual can he have in his eye to run away wid?'

"Who's the purtiest girl in the parish, Rouser?" asked Ned. "I thought every one knew that."

Why you don't mane for to say," replied Redhead, "that he'd have the spunk in him to run away with Bodagh Buie's daughter? Be the contents o' the book, if I thought he'd thry it, I'd stick to him like a Throjan; the dirty Bodagh, that, as Larry Lawdher said tonight, never backed or supported us, or gev a single rap to help us, if a penny 'ud save one of us from the gallis. To hell's delights wid him an' all belongin' to him, I say too; an' I'll tell you what it is, boys, dhar Chriestha, if Flanagan has the manliness to take away his daughther, I'll be the first to sledge the door in to pieces."

"Dhar a spiridh an so will I," said the young beetle-browed tiger beside him; "thim that can an' wont help on the cause, desarves no marcy from it."

Thus spoke from the lips of ignorance and brutality that esprit du corps of blood, which never scruples to sacrifice all minor resentments to any op

portunity of extending the cause, as it is termed, or that ideal monster, in the promotion of which the worst principles of our nature, still the most active, are sure to experience the greatest glut of low and gross gratification. Oh, if reason, virtue, and true religion, were only as earnest and vigorous in extending their own cause, as ignorance, persecution, and bigotry, how soon would society present a different aspect. But, unfortunately, they cannot stoop to call in the aid of tyranny, and cruelty, and bloodshed, nor of the thousand other atrocious allies of falsehood and dishonesty, of which ignorance, craft, and cruelty never fail to avail themselves, and without which they could not proceed successfully.

McCormick having heard Rousin Redhead and his son utter such sentiments, did not feel at all justified in admitting them to any confidence with himself or Duffy. He accordingly replied with more of adroitness than of candour to the savage sentiments they expressed,

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Faith you're right, Rouser; he'd never have spunk, sure enough, to carry off the Bodagh's daughter. But, in the mane time, who was spakin' about her? Begor if I thought he had the heart I'd but he hasn't."

"I know he hasn't," said the Rouser. He's nothing but a white-livered dog," said Duffy.

"I thought, to tell you the truth," said M'Cormick, "that you might give a guess as to the girl, but for the Bodagh's daughter, he has not the mettle for that."

"If he had," replied the Rouser, "he might count upon Corney an' myself as right-hand men. We all have a crow to pluck wid the dirty Bodagh, an' be me zounds it'll puzzle him to find a bag to hould the feathers."

"One 'ud think he got enough," observed M'Cormack, "in the loss of his haggard."

"But that didn't come from uz," said the Rouser," we have our share to give him yet, an' never fear he'll get it. We'll taich him to abuse us, an' set us at defiance, as he's constantly doin'."

"Well, Rouser," said McCormick, who now felt anxious to get rid of him, "we'll be wishin' you a good night; we're goin' to have a while of a kailyeah* up at my uncle's. Corney, my boy, good night."

"Good night kindly, boys," replied the others, "an' banaght laht any how."

Rouser, you divil," said the Dandy, calling after them, "will you an' blessed Corney there, offer up a Patthernavy for my convarsion, for I'm sure that both your prayers will go far."

Rousin Redhead and Corney responded to this with a loud laugh, and a banter.

"Ay, ay, Dandy; but be me sowl, if they only go as far as your own goodness sint you before now, it 'll be seven years before they come back agin; eh, do you smell anything ?-ha, ha, ha!" "The big bosthoon hot me fairly, begad," observed the Dandy. Aside "The divil's own tongue he has."

"Bad cess to you, for a walkin' bonfire, an' go home," replied the Dandy, "I'm not a match for you wid the tongue, at all at all."

"No, nor wid anything else, barrin' your heels," replied the Rouser; your hands, if there was a horse in the way. Arrah Dandy?"

"Well, you graceful youth, well ?" "You ought to be a good workman by this time; you first larned your thrade, an' thin you put in your apprenticeship-ha, ha, ha!"

Faith, an' Rouser I can promise you a merry end, my beauty; you'll be the only man that'll dance at your own funeral; an' I'll tell you what, Rouser, it'll be like an egg-hornpipe, wid your eyes covered. That's what I call an active death, avouchal !"

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Faith, an' if you wor a priest, Dandy, you'd never die with your face to the congregation. You'll be a ropedancer yourself yet; only this, Dandy, that you'll be undher the rope instead of over it; so good night.

Rouser," exclaimed the other, Rousin, Redhead !"

"Go home," replied the Rouser. "Good night, I say; you've thravelled a great deal too far for an ignorant man like me to stand any chance wid you. Your tongue's lighter than your hands* even, and that's payin' it a high compliment."

"Divil sweep you, Brien," said Dandy," you'd beat the divil an' Docthor Fosther. Good night again!"

"Oh, ma banaght laht, I say." And they accordingly parted. "Now," said Ned," what's to be done, Dandy? As sure as gun's iron, this limb of hell will take away the

Bodagh's daughther, if we don't do something to prevent it."

"I'm not puttin' it past him," returned his companion, "but how to prevent it is the thing. He has the boys all on his side, barrin' yourself and me, an' a few more."

"An' you see, Ned, the Bodagh is so much hated, that even some of thim that don't like Flanagan, wont scruple to join him in this."

"An' if we wor known to let the cat out o' the bag to the Bodagh, we might as well prepare our coffins at wanst.

"Faith, sure enough-that's but gospel, Ned," replied the Dandy; "still it 'ud be the milliah murdhers to let the double-faced villin carry off sich a girl."

"I'll tell you what you'll do thin, Dandy," rejoined Ned, "what if you'd walk down wid me as far as the Bodagh's."

"For why? Sure they're in bed now, man alive."

"I know that," said M'Cormick ; "but how-an'-ever, if you come down wid me that far, I'll conthrive to get in somehow, widout wakenin' them."

"The dickens you will! How, the sarra, man ?"

"No matther, I will; an' you see," he added, pulling out a flask of spirits, "I'm not goin' impty handed."

"Phew!" exclaimed Duffy, "is it there you are ?-oh, that indeed. Faith I got a whisper of it some time ago, but it wint out o' my head. Biddy Nulty, faix-a nate clane girl she is too."

"But that's not the best of it, Dandy. Sure, blood alive, I can tell you a sacret-may I depind? Honour bright! The Bodagh's daughter, man, 's to give her a portion, in regard of her bein' so thrue to Connor O'Donovan. Bad luck to the oath she'd swear aginst him if they'd make a queen of her, but outdone the counsellors and lawyers, an' all the whole bobbery o' them, whin they wanted her to turn king's evidence. Now, it's not but I'd do anything to sarve the purty Bodagh's daughter widout it; but you see, Dandy, if white liver takes her aff, I may stand a bad chance for the portion."

see before me. Here-where's your hand ?—that's it; warm your heart, my boy."

"You intend thin, Ned, to give Biddy the hard word about Flanagan ?" Why, to bid her put them on their guard; sure there can be no harm in that."

They say, Ned, it's not safe to trust a woman; what if you'd ax to see the Bodagh's son, the young sogarth."

"I'd trust my life to Biddy-she that was so honest to the Donovans wouldn't be desateful to her sweetheart that-he-hem-she's far gone in consate wid-your sowl. Her brother Alick's to meet me at the Bodagh's, on his way from their lodge, for they hould a meetin' to-night too."

"Never say it agin. I'll stick to you; so push an, for it's late. You'll be apt to make up the match before you part I suppose."

"That wont be hard to do anytime, Dandy."

Both then proceeded down the same field which we have already said was called the Black Park, in consequence of its dark and mossy soil. Having, with some difficulty, found the stile at the lower end of it, they passed into a short car track, which they were barely able to follow.

The night, considering that it was the month of November, was close and foggy such as frequently follows a calm day of incessant rain. The bottoms were plashing, the drains all full, and the small rivulets and streams about the country were above their banks, whilst the larger rivers swept along with the hoarse continuous murmurs of an unusual flood. The sky was one sheet of darkness-for not a cloud could be seen, or any thing, except the passing gleam of a cottage taper, lessened by the haziness of the night into a mere point of faint light, and thrown by the same cause into a distance which appeared to the eye much more remote than that of reality.

After having threaded their way for nearly a mile, the water spouting almost at every step up to their knees, they at length came to an old bridle way, deeply shaded with hedges on each side. They had not spoken much since the close of their last dialogue; for the truth is, each had enough to do, independently of dialogue, to keep himself out of drains and quagmires. An occasional "hanamondiouol, I'm in to the hinches;""holy St. Pether, I'm stuck;" VOL. XI.

"tundher an' turf, where are you at all?" or "by this an' by that I dunna where I am," were the only words that passed between them, until they reached the little road we are speaking of, which, in fact, was one unbroken rut, and on such a night almost impassable.

66 Now," said M'Cormick, " we must n't keep this divil's gut, for conshumin' to the shoe or stockin ever we'd bring out of it; however do you folly me Dandy, an there's no danger."

I can do nothing else," replied the other, "for I know no more where I am than the man o' the moon, who, if all's true that's sed of him, is the biggest blockhead alive."

M'Cormick, who knew the path well, turned off the road into a pathway that ran inside the hedge and along the fields, but parallel with the muddy boreen in question. They now found themselves upon comparatively clear ground, and with the exception of an occasional slip or two, in consequence of the heavy rain, they had little difficulty in advancing. At this stage of their journey not a light was to be seen nor a sound of life heard, and it was evident that the whole population of the neighbourhood had sunk to rest.

"Where will this bring us to Ned ?" asked the Dandy-" I hope we'll soon be at the Bodagh's."

M'Cormick stood and suddenly pressed his arm, "Whisht," said he, in an under tone, "I think I hard voices." "No," replied the other in the same low tone.

"I'm sure I did," said Ned; "take my word for it there's people before us on the boreen-whisht !"

They both listened, and very distinctly heard a confused but suppressed murmur of voices, apparently about a hundred yards before them on the little bridle-way. Without uttering a word they both proceeded as quietly and quickly as possible, and in a few minutes nothing separated them but the hedge. The party on the road were wallowing through the mire with great difficulty, many of them, at the same time, bestowing very energetic execrations upon it and upon those who suffered it to remain in such a condition. Even the oaths, however, were uttered in so low and cautious a tone, that neither M'Cormick nor the Dandy could distinguish their voices so clearly, as to recognize those who spoke, supposing that they had known them. Once or twice they heard the clashing of arms, or of iron instruments of some sort,

T