Wild Sports of the West of Ireland, also legendary tales, folk-lore, local customs and natural history ... New edition

Preface

. Some explanation may be necessary for obtruding upon the public the private details of a sportsman's life, and particularly when the scene of his exploits is laid within the four seas of Britain. In the customary course of field adventure, few besides the individual concerned are much interested in the successes and disappointments he experiences ; and rural sports are, in all their general incidents, so essentially alike, as to render their minute description almost invariably a dull and unprofitable record. Circumstances, however, may occasionally create an in terest which in ordinary cases would be wanting. From local connections, a field almost untrodden by any but himself was opened to the writer of these Sketches. He was thrown into an unfrequented district, Avith a primitive people to consort with.

With some advantages to profit from the accident, a remote and semi-civilized region was offered to his observation ; and although within a limited distance of a mail-coach, a country was thus disclosed as little known to the multitude as the interior of Australia; and where, excepting some adventurous grouse-shooter, none had viewed its highlands or mingled with its inhabitants. That the scenic and personal sketches are faithful, the reader is assured. Some were Avritten on the spot, and others traced from vivid recollection. Those with whom the author shot these wild moors, or fished the waters, will best estimate the fidelity of the descriptions ; and one valued friend, though now beneath another sun, will probably recall the days he spent by fell and flood, and bring to memory those light and joyous nights when he caroused in a mountain bi\rouac, and rested in a moorland hut.

PREFACE.

. 6 With regard to the tales and legends narrated in the succeeding pages, the former were told just as they are introduced. " The Blind Seal " is known to be substantially true — I have heard it from many, and never knew its veracity impugned. My lamented friend was himself the principal actor in the " Night Attack ; " and he, poor fellow, was exactly the man who, in an affray or a carouse, might be depended on. I have no further pledge to offer for their authenticity — old Antony believed them to the letter — I have given them nearly in his own words, and I may say with Sir Walter Scott— " I cannot tell how the truth may be ; I say the tale as 'twas said to me." " The Legend of Knock-a-Thample " remains as the Otter killer related it ; but with " Rose Roche " I confess to have taken liberties, in suppressing a portion of her flirtation Avith the black-eyed page, which, although upon the lady's part I feel convinced was perfectly platonic, yet by uncharitable constructions might be tortured into something like indis cretion.

If I have undervalued those rural recreations in which many a worthy citizen sometimes dissipates, I hope my contempt for his avocations will be ascribed to the true cause, namely, that local advantages have spoiled my taste and rendered me fastidious. He who can shoot grouse upon the moor will spend little time in killing pigeons from the trap; the angler who in a morning hooks some half-score salmon would reckon it but sorry amusement to dabble in a pond. To a Galway rider the Epping hunt would be a bore, and he would probably treat it with the same contumely that one of this redoubted body did hare-hunting, by riding to the hounds in morocco slippers, and carrying an open umbrella to protect him from the sun. CONTENTS. Page CHAPTEE I. Introduction, . . . . . .13 CHAPTEE II. Letters— An Escape— Connaught — Topographical and Moral Description— Ballinasloe— A Virtuous and Flourishing Town — A Bible Meeting and Radical Reform, . . . .21 CHAPTEE III.

Journey Continued — Inn of Glantane — Tuam — A Bad Night— Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire — ACountryBall — and the Finish, 24 CHAPTEE IV. Loss of a Waiter— Precocious Talent — The Mad Major and the Mendicants of Mullingar — Cursing an Adjutant — Death of Dennis O'Farrell, . . . . . .27 CHAPTEE V. Castlebar — Newport — Departure from Christendom — Progress into Terra Incognita — Roads and Scenery — Mulranny — Passage down the Inlet — Incidents — Lodge in the Wilds of Erris — Description of the Establishment, . . . . . .31 CHAPTEE VI. Periodicals — Cockney Sports and Sportsmen — Mountain Angler and his Attendant — Fishing-tackle — Antony the Otter-killer — Visit the River— Flies — Hooking my first Salmon — Return to the Lodge — Sporting Authors — Sir Humphrey Davy — Col. Hawker — Salmonia — Criticisms, . . . . . .35 CHAPTEE VII.

Symptoms of a coming Storm — A Sportsman's Dinner — Old John — Pattigo — Gale comes on — Shawn a tra buoy — Seals — The Blind Seal, ........ 40 CHAPTEE VIII. A Wet Day — Fly-tying — Piscatory Disquisitions — The Tinker — Lessons in the Gentle Art— An Unexpected Ally, . . 45 CHAPTEE IX. Sporting Topography of Mayo— Hunting Country — Fox Covers — Lakes, Rivers, and Fish — A Domiciliary Visit— Revenue Foray — Capture of drunken Distillers — Alarm — Midnight Meditations — Angling Excursion— Goolamore — Salmon Fishing — English and Irish Hooks — Limerick preferable to all others, . 50 CHAPTEE X. Salmon-Fishing Described — Draughting — Fishing Precarious — Change of Season and Condition — Poaching— Private Distillation — Size aud Weight of Salmon — Sir H. Davy — Migration of CONTENTS. Page Salmon — Natural History — Anecdotes and Experiments — Lerneæ Saltnoueæ, . . . . . .54 CHAPTEE XI.

Mullet — Preparations for Mullet-fishing — Seals — Anecdotes — The Red Dwarf— His mode of killing Seals— Catching a Tartar- Pitching Mullet Nets — -Excursion on the Island — A Wild Guide— Coursing — Comparison between English and Irish Greyhounds — Take of Mullet — Return — Anecdotes of Mullet-fishing — The Homicide, . . . . . .58 CHAPTEE XII. Angling— Fish found in Mayo — Peasantry — Their Mode of Fishing — The Pooka — Description and Use —Pike and Trout — Their Size — Perch — Their Fecundity — Trout Destroyed— Greater Lakes Described — Subterraneous Communication between them — Lesser Lakes —Their Fish — Lake of Derreens — Its Trout Extinct— Lake of Castlebar, . . . , . . .65 CHAPTEE XIII. Nineteenth of August — Preparations for the Mountains — Order of March — A Cook Broiled to Death— Interruption of a Funeral — Drowned Shepherd— Grouse Shooting — Evening Compntation — Morning— Locale of a Shooter's Cabin — Life in the Mountains — The Red Deer — Return to the Hut— Luxury of a Cold-bath, . 68 CHAPTEE XIV.

Ball Opens— Moonlight— Mountain Scenery — Old Antony — Adventure with the Fairies — Ball Continues — The Otter-hunter's History— Ball Concludes — The Pater-o-pee, . . .73

CHAPTER XV.

Moon looks Suspicious— Heavy Fall of Rain— River Flooded— Sporting Writers — Criticism on Hawker— Originality of the Colonel— His Outfit ofa Wild-fowl Shooter — Samuel Singer and his Gun, ....... 79 CHAPTEE XVI. Flood Subsides — My Cousin's Henchmen — Their Description Post-bag Arrives— Messenger Belated in the Mountains -The Fairy Glen— Herd of Red Deer— Their Destruction by Poachers— Gradual Decrease— Difficulties in Continuing them— Anecdotes- Rearing the Fawns— Sterility when l.omesticaled— Ked Deer in Parks— The Tame Hind— The Tyrawly Stag— Skill requisite in Shooting Deer— Curious Anecdote, . . . ,82 CHAPTEE XVII. An Alarm — Deceptive Appearance of the Weather — A Blank Fishing-day— Recovery of the Setter-Hydropholua— -Melancholy Anecdote— Loss of a Kennel— Strange Apathy of Irish Servants— Extraordinary Preservation, ... 00

CHAPTER XVIII.

Preparations for Visiting Achil— Embarkation and Passage to Dugurth — Fishing— Sea-fowl Shooting— Meeting the Lugger- Picturesque Appearance of the Vessel— Our Landing— 'Coast-guard Watch-house— Slieve More— Grouse Scarce— R iblit-shooting— Interior of the Watch-house— Culinary Proceedings— The Dutchman — Morning, and a Headache — A Sea-bath The CONTENTS. 9 Page Eagles' Eyrie — Curious Anecdote of these Birds — Grouse- Shooting — Demolition of a Pack — Rock-Fishing — Dangerous Employment — Fatal Accident — John Dory — A Temperate Evening, ..... ... 93 CHAPTEE XIX. Prepare to leave Achil — Visit to the Eagles' Cliff — Attempts to Destroy these Birds — Their Depredations — Partiality for Black Fowls — Destroy Fish — Anecdote of an Eagle and Salmon — Exterminate Hares — Their Mode of Coursing Hares and Catching Salmon — Foxes, Numerous aud Destructive — Smaller Birds of Prey — Run to Inniskea— Devilawn — Tarmon — Difficult Coast to Laud on — Woman and Curragh — Rabbit-shooting— Local Sketches — Twlight Scenery — Dangerous Idiot — Whisky — Its Excellence — Copper Stills — Island Seldom Visited by the Revenue— Character of the Islanders — Particular in Burying their Dead — Prone to Litigation — The Law-suit, . . 100 CHAPTEE XX.

Signs of Fish — Mackerel — Spillet-fishing--Seal and Mermaids — Anecdote — The Bull's Mouth — Preservation of a Ship — The Fox and Cruiser — The Lodge in a Consternation — Arrival — The Colonel's Portmanteau — Robbing and its Consequences, . 108 CHAPTEE XXI. The Colonel's Story— The Night Attack, . . . .116 CHAPTEE XXII. Conversation — A Brave Resistance — The Contrast— The Burglary, . 125 CHAPTEE XXIII. Midnight Reflection — A Good Story-teller — The Affair of Ninety-eight, . . . . . . . .129

CHAPTER XXIV.

Spring Tides — Hennessey and the Portmanteau — Spillet-fishing — Coal-fishing — Mackerel — Sea-fowl — A Failure — Preserving Gunpowder — An Explosion — Another Accident — A House Burned — The Dinner Signal, . . . . . .133

CHAPTER XXV.

A Calm Night — Sand-eel Fishing — Dangerous to the Fair Sex — Cockles — Lobsters — Crabs — Scallops — Oysters — Punt Adrift — My Brother's Shoes — Seal Surprised — Incident — Gun Burst — Birmingham Guns — Percussion Locks — London Makers — Barrel-making — Gun-making — Inferior Guns — Shooting Accident, . 139 CHAPTEE XXVI. Bad Roads — Native Horses — Cairns — Bridge of Ballyveeney — Our Beat — Midday on the Moors — Hints to Grouse-shooters — Finding Game— Wild Scenery— The Ruined Chapel— The Well— Act of Penance — Storm in Mountains — The Deserted Burying-place — Our Return — The Colonel's Method of Rabbit-shooting — A Disappointment, . . . . . . .146 CHAPTEE XXVII. The Legend of Knock-a-Thample, ..... 151 CHAPTEE XXVIII. Visit to the Mountain Hut — The Colonel — An Argument and a Wager — No Honesty among Anglers — State of the River — CONTENTS.

Page Mogh-a-dioul — Father Andrew's Flies — Splendid Scenery — Its Effect upon me and my Companion — Beautiful Pool — The Otter — A Curious Scene — The Colonel's Troubles — Wager Decided — a New Bet — A Salmon Killed — Conversation — The Colonel Out-manœuvred, . . , . . 159 CHAPTEE XXIX. The Gold Snuff-Box, . . . . . .166

CHAPTER XXX.

The Otter-killer's Return — Craniology — Superstitions — Sea-horse — Master Otter— Anecdotes of it— Ghosts and Fairies— Their Influence upon Men and Animals— Cure of Witchcraft— Holy Lakes— Loch Keirawn— Its Butter Fishery— The Faragurta — Its Causes, Imaginary and Real — Cures and Cases — Swearing — Comparative Value upon the Book, the Vestment, and the Skull— The Clearing of Miss Currigan— An Uncatholic Cook, . 173 CHAPTEE XXXI. Fresh Arrivals — The Priest's Reception — The Lodge Alarmed — Preparations for Deer Stalking — State of the Garrison — The Mountain Lake — The Peasant's Adventure — Carrig-a-binniogh — The Ascent — Prospect from the Summit — The Ravine and Red-deer — A Highland Ambuscade — The Catastrophe, . . 179 CHAPTEE XXXII. Deer Brought Home — Dinner — Gastronomic Reflections — Grouse Soup — Roasted Salmon — Cooking, pour et conlre — Carouse Commences — Symptoms of Inebriety — Night in the Hills — Coffee alfresco — Temperance Society — A Bacchanalian Group — Auld Lang Syne — Borrowing a Congregation — The Company Dispersed, ....... 186 CHAPTEE XXXIII.

Dancing Kept Up — Effects of Poteen on the Company — Ball Ends — Rainy Night — Morning — Pattigo — A Long Swim — Breakfast — An Incident — Fox-catcher Bitten by a Wild Cat — Ferocity of that Animal — Anecdotes of them — House Cats Frequently Run Wild — Destructive to Rabbit-warrens — Cat-killing Extraordinary — The Deer-skin — Snow Fatal to the Red Deer — Anecdote of a Hind and Fawn — Blistered Foot — Simple Remedy —My Descent by " The Mother's Side," . . .196 CHAPTEE XXXIV. The Legend of Rose Roche, ..... 201 CHAPTEE XXXV. Mountain Loughs — Trout — Their Varieties — Otter Haunt — The Upper Lake— Goose Fishing — Weather Breaks— Prospect of Leaving the Cabin — Traits of Character — Crimes — Abduction — Causes — Murder — Why Prevalent — Distillation ; its Extent and Cause — Anecdote of a Peasant's Ruin, .... 214 CHAPTEE XXXVI.

Day fixed for our Departure — Party Separate — Last Day's Shooting — The Secret Valley — The Fishers — Curious Incident— Dinner — An Alarm— Night Search for the Otter-killer — The Old Man Found — His Recovery — Narrative of the Accident, . . CONTENTS. 11 CHAPTEE XXXVII. The Otter-killer Carried to the Lodge— Fishing Homewards — Angling Closes for the Season — Remarks — Feelings on the Occasion — Smuggler Appears — Landing a Cargo — Captain Matthews — The Jane — Cutter stands out to sea— Hooker on a Rock — Traveller Alarmed — Anecdote of an Englishman, . 225 Memoir of a Gentleman who would not do for Galway, . 233 CHAPTEE XXXVIII. Morning Alarm — Death of the Otter-killer— General Grief — Night Excursion — Herring Fishery — Our Reception — Beal-Fires — The Wake — The Funeral — Anecdote of a Dog — A Deserted House, . 251 CHAPTEE XXXIX.

Weather Changes — Symptoms of Winter —Animal Appearances — Night Passage of Barnacles — Grey Plover — Hints for Shooting Plover — Wild Geese — Swans — Ducks — Burke Transported — Evening at the Lodge — Feminine Employments, . . 258 CHAPTEE XL. Colonel leaves us — Last Visit to Achil — Snipes and Woodcocks — Their Migration — Solitary Snipe — Cock-shooting in Achil — Mountain Covers — Cock-shooting : its Accidents — Anecdotes — An Unlucky Companion, ...... 262 CHAPTEE XLI. Dull Evening — Memoir of Hennessey, .... 267 CHAPTEE XLII. My Departure Fixed — Coast Suited to an Ornithologist — Godsends — An Ocean Waif — My Last Day — Coursing — Size of Hares — Fen-shooting — Kill a Bittern — Castle of Doona — Fall of the Tower — Netting Rabbits — Reflections — Morning — Passage Through the Sound — Hennessey — Departure from the Kingdom ofConnaught, . . . . . . . 273 CHAPTEE XLIII. Moral and Physical Condition of the West, Past and Present, . 278 CHAPTEE XLIV. Hunting — Men — Horses and Hounds — Game — Conclusion, . . 287

Appendix

. No. I.— The Curlew Tribe, . . . . .293 „ II. — The Osprey, Bald Buzzard, Sea Eagle, or Fishing Hawk, . . . . .294 „ III. — Common Sandpiper, .... 295 „ IV.— Attracting Fish, . . . . .296 __ V.— The Banshee, . . . . .297 n VI.— Salmon Rivers, . . . . .298 ,, VII. — Angling Weather Indications, . . . 300 „ VIII.— Fly-making, . . . . .301 „ IX.— The Mullet and the Gillaroo Trout, . . 301 „ X.— Greyhounds, . . . . .302 CONTENTS. 12 Page No. XI. — A Grave Gentleman, .... 303 „ XII.— Pike. . . . . . .303 „ XIII— The Stomach of the Trout, . . .304 „ XIV.— The Voraciousness of the Pike, . , .304 „ XV— The Red Deer, . . . . .305 „ XVI.— Fairies in Ballycroy, . . . .306 „ XVII.— The Irish Greyhound, . . . . 306 „ XVIII.— Fly-fishing, . . . . .308 „ XIX.— Bird Stuffing, . . . . .309 „ XX.— Grouse Shooting, . . . . .309 „ XXI.— The Whimbrel, . . . . .310 „ XXII— The Gunner or Sea-Bream, . . .310 „ XXIII.— Eagles and Pike, . . . .311 „ XXIV.— Stories of Seals, . . . .312 „ XXV. — An Irish Court of Justice Case, . . . 313 ,, XXVI. — Shooting in a Quagmire, . . .313 „ XXVII.— The Middoge, . . . .313 „ XXVIII.— Boulies, . . . . .314 „ XXIX.— The Master-otter, . . . .316 „ XXX.— The Cow Charmer, . . . .316 „ XXXI.— Fire-arms in the West, . . .317 „ XXXII.— Coosherers, . . . . .318 „ XXXIII.— Cooking, . . . . .318 „ XXXIV.— Mullet, . . . . .319 „ XXXV— Northmen, . . . . .319 „ XXXVI. — Bittern, Bog Bumper, Bitter Bum, or Mire Drum, . . . . .319 „ XXXVII.— The Wild Cat, . . . .321 „ XXXVIII.— The Pale, . . . . .322 „ XXXIX.— Maxims on Fishing, . . . .322 „ XL. — The Good House Moneyglass, . . . 323 „ XLI. — Clakis, or Tree Goose, .... 323 „ XLII.— Wild Geese, . . . . .324 „ XLIII.— The Wild Swan, . . . .325 „ XLIV. — Pintail Duck.

Sea-pheasant, Cracker, Winter Duck, . . . . .325 „ XLV— The Golden-eye, .... 326 „ XLVI.— Wigeon. Whewer, Whim, or Pandled Whew, . 327 „ XLVIL— Teal, . . . . . .328 „ XLVIII. — Common Snipe, . . . 330 „ XLIX.— The Flesh of the Woodcock, . . 332 „ L. — Woodcock, . . . . ,t 333 „ LL— The Flight of Birds, . . ' 334 „ LII. — Great Snipe, ..... 335 „ LIII. — Snipe Shooting, ..... 336 „ LIV. — Large Hares, ..... of Ireland,

Introduction

.

Notaa'ithstanding its dust and desertion I am still lurking in the metropolis. The heat has become intolerable — yesterday I imagined myself in Calcutta — for never, but in the land of curries and red pepper, did I experience anything so oppressive. I breakfasted this morning at the Club-house. My air and attitude, as I caught a glimpse of them in a concave mirror, looked exquisitely disconsolate. Never was mortal more ennuye than I. Town has become a desert — the world has abandoned it by general consent — the streets feel as if they had been recently fanned by a sirocco ; and of divers unhappy beings whom I encountered in my walk from Grafton-street to St. James's, none seemed at ease but a bilious gentleman from Bombay, and the French fellow who exhibits in the oven. The thermometer in a shaded corner of the room is stationary at 82.

To remain longer here would be suicidal ; but, where to go — whither to fly — alas ! I know not. Would that you were near me, then should I be certain of sympathy and counsel, for at this moment there is not a more persecuted gentleman in the King's dominions. But I will make a clean breast, and to render my confessions explanatory, I must favour you with some particulars of my private history. As autobiographers enjoy a prescriptive privilege of ex hibiting their ancestors, I shall take the liberty of introduc ing my papa. In his twenty-second year, Mr. Hector O'Brien was a bold Lieutenant of Grenadiers in his Majesty's 50th Foot, then distinguished by the flattering title of "The Dirty Half Hundred."* My father was a strapping fellow as ever wore a wing, kept a showy horse, and was decidedly the best dancer in the regiment.

Being quartered in the vicinity of Bath, he attended the assemblies, and in double quick managed to effect a conquest. The lady had a fortune, and my father required one. Unluckily, she had a brother's consent to gain — and on being consulted, he was unmoved by importunity, and deaf to every plea of love. The case was hopeless. Mr. Wamsley disliked Ireland, detested military men, and above all things abominated " The Dirty Half Hundred." To account for the gentleman's antipathy to this cele brated corps, it will be necessary to remark that the regiment Avas then afflicted with a mad Major. His, the Major's, delight lay in drinking port Avine and slaying pheasants. Mr. Wamsley, on the contrary, preferred Avater and preserved game. The Major beat up preserves Avithout remorse, and deforced keepers who, though good men and true, prudently declined joining issue with mad Majors and double-barrelled guns.

Noav Mr. Wamsley resisting an invasion of his rights, applied to the Justice for redress, whereas Major O'Farrell considered that a reference to the pistol Avould be much more gentlemanly. A deadly feud was the consequence, and Mr. Wamsley was closely blockaded within his park walls by the military delinquent. Fortunately for all concerned, the regiment got the route; Mr. Wamsley recovered his liberty, and his detestation of the gallant 50th only ended Avith his life. But his sister held a very different opinion respecting the merits of the brave " Half Hundred." She was devoted to the Lieutenant of Grenadiers, and the route hurried matters to a crisis. The result may be anticipated. Despising park Avails and surly keepers, Mr. O'Brien overcame every difficulty, and with the assistance of a garden-ladder, the mad Major and his double-barrelled gun, he carried off the lady, and at Gretna they became one flesh.

Mr. Wamsley was irritated beyond the possibility of being appeased. Ten thousand pounds, Avhich his wife possessed without the control of her brother, enabled my father to leave the army and settle on his hereditary estate in Roscommon — and there he hunted, shot, fished, and farmed, and lived just as Irish gentlemen lived some thirty years ago. * From their black facings, the 50th received this soubriquet.

INTRODUCTION.

. I Avas the only issue of the marriage. All communication had ceased betAveen my parents and Mr. Wamsley, and eighteen years passed away and no appearance of abated displeasure had ever been evinced by this implacable relative. I left a public school for the Dublin University, was destined for the church, and had nearly completed my college course, Avhen an unforeseen event changed my prospects and profession. It Avas the death of both my parents Avithin the brief space of a month. My father's affairs were found in great disorder, his estate Avas heavily embarrassed, and if his debts Avere paid, it was ascertained that I should be left nearly destitute. The intelligence reached Mr. Wamsley, and to the astonishment of all acquainted with his unrelenting animosity to my deceased parents, a letter Avas received from him, inviting me to visit him at his magnificent place, Lalworth Castle.

The invitation was of course accepted. I arrived and found him a stern disagreeable old man. My first appear ance was against me, for the resemblance I bore to my father was most striking, and it seemed to recall my uncle's long cherished prejudices. He abruptly asked me on the succeeding morning, " What course of life I had selected ? " I replied, " That the army appeared best adapted to my taste and broken fortunes." His only observation Avas, "Be it so ; " and here this laconic conversation ended. That evening Mr. Wamsley wrote to his neighbour, Lord Ulverston. The peer was his debtor to a large amount, and generally trafficked with him for his borough of bury. My uncle's request Avas promptly attended to. Lord Ulverston stood well at the Horse-Guards ; and in a few weeks, to my unfeigned satisfaction and surprise, I was gazetted to a Cornetcy in the Blues.

But my joy at this event was but of short duration. The miserly disposition of my uncle took alarm at the large outlay attendant on entering an expensive corps. Each hundred was doled out with painful reluctance, and the knoAvledge that a certain annual allowance would be requisite for my support made him still more wretched. I joined the regiment ; my subsidies — generally drafts for a paltry fifty — ■ were few and far between. To hold a certain place in society, with an income incompetent to its expenses, is a state of inexpressible misery. Gradually I became em barrassed, and in two years found it necessary to exchange from the Blues to a Light Cavalry regiment, then stationed in the East Indies. My uncle made no objection ; he was tired of what he termed supplying my boundless extra vagance, bade me a cold fareAvell, and his parting words, as I stepped into the carriage, was a request that I would " write but seldom, as postage from the East, his lawyer told him, was enormous."

I obeyed him to the letter, I only wrote once, and that was conveying an entreaty that he would purchase a majority likely to become vacant ; I got a coarse refusal, and thus our correspondence terminated. For four years I never heard from him, and had nearly forgotten that I had left a relation behind me. I was surprised, however, at this distant period, with a letter Avoided in his stiff and peculiar style. It briefly stated that his health was indifferent, and that he would recommend me to return to Europe with as little delay as possible. This recommendation Avas anything but gratifying. I liked India well enough — the climate agreed with me — my health Avas unimpaired — the mess was good- — the regiment gentlemanly — and, better still, I could live most comfortably upon my pay. I felt, however, that my uncle's invitation should not be neglected ; applied for lea^ve ; succeeded, and made immediate preparations for a return to Europe.

My brother officers congratulated me on my good-fortune in so speedily revisiting my native country ; but to me it was a subject of regret. I was leaving pleasant quarters, cheerful society, and comparative independence, to become a slave to the caprice and ill-humour of a morose and splenetic invalid. It Avas late in December when I landed at Portsmouth — the voyage had been remarkably quick, and Avithout delay I started for my uncle's residence, and in the gloom of a wet wintry evening re-entered the gates of Lalworth Park. I looked down the long vista of splendid elms, but in the twilight the house was not visible; not a candle glanced from a window, and no indication of its being inhabited appeared about this melancholy mansion. The postboy stopped. I alighted, ran up the steps and rang gently.

No one answered. I rang again — louder yet — and a step came hastily over the oaken floor. The old porter at last approached, cautiously affixed the chain, opened a few inches of the door, and raised his candle suspiciously to examine the late visitor. Instantly recollecting me, he uttered a suppres sive exclamation of astonishment, removed the fastenings,

INTRODUCTION.

. 17 and muttered "Thank God, it is himself!" and, as he admitted me, Avhispered that my uncle was not expected to survive till midnight. In silence I was conducted to a back drawing-room, Avhere, on a large old-fashioned sofa, the dying man was laid. The porter advanced before, and in a low voice notified my arrival. The news appeared to gratify the invalid ; he turned his dim eyes to the spot where I stood waiting for permission to advance. " Are you there, Frank ? " he said in a feeble voice — " Ha, ha, ha ! it was 'touch and go' with you ! " and he uttered a weak but sarcastic laugh. — " Call Doctor Dodwell and the lawyer, desire them to bring the other Avill, and tell Moore and Hubert to attend to witness it." While he gave these orders I gazed on the Avasted features of the dying miser, and there was a strange ex pression of stern satisfaction visible on his countenance, as his cold glance rested fixedly on me.

Immediately the doctor, solicitor, and Avitnesses entered the room. " Raise me up," he said to the ancient domestic, his personal attendant. It v?as done, and he motioned to the solicitor to unfold the parchment. Carefully he passed his eye over the surface to assure himself that the document was the one he required, and having ascertained the fact, he pointed to a pen. With difficulty he placed it in his trembling fingers, and with a painful exertion, affixed his signature to the deed — then looking at the witnesses as they annexed their names — "This is my last will and testament," he said with feeble emphasis, " and thus do I revoke all others ! " Then turning to me, while a ghastly smile overspread his face, " Half an hour later would have served hospitals and almshouses, Francis ! " he leaned himself back and expired without a struggle.

For a few moments we were not aware that he was dead ; the strength with which his last remark was' uttered led us at first to believe that he had reclined in consequence of the exertion. In a few minutes the physician took his hand and sought for a pulse, but in vain; he raised the eyelid and applied a candle to the fixed and deadly stare, and then announced that the patient had departed. A scene, a disgusting scene, ensued; the attorney, when certified of his client's death, seized my hand and coarsely congratulated me on my good fortune. The doctor abandoned the corpse to join the solicitor in his compliments — and between them the truth transpired. I had, indeed, been luckily expeditious in my journey, and the old man's phrase of " touch and go " was fully explained. The preceding day he had signed a testament conveying his entire property to a variety of charitable institutions; and the will which had been originally made in my favour, and been kept over by this singular relative, would have remained imperfect had I not so providentially arrived the evening of his death.