Wild sports of the West. With legendary tales, and local sketches. By the author of 'Stories of Waterloo' [i.e. William H. Maxwell] . New edition, revised and corrected

Front matter

I WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST INTERSPERSED WITH LEGENDARY TALES AND LOCAL SKETCHES BY W. H. MAXWELL R AUTHOR OF " STORIES OF WATERLOO " "And sure it is yet a most beautiful' and sweete countrey as any is under heaven, being stored throughout with many goodly rivers, replenished with all sorts of fish most abundantly, sprinkled with many very sweete islands and goodly lakes, like little inland seas, that will even carry shippes upon their waters." — Spenser's State of Ireland, 1596. LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL NEW YORK : g, LAFAYETTE PLACE ROUTLEDGE'S SIXPENNY SERIES. ROBINSON CRUSOE. With 40 Illustrations by J. D. Watson. THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. With 40 Illustrations. SANDFORD AND MERTON. With 70 Illustrations. GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES. With 70 Illustrations. ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES.

With 60 Illustrations. THE BOY'S OWN NATURAL HISTORY. With 350 Illustrations. ÆSOP'S FABLES. With 114 Illustrations by Harrison Weir. THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. With 40 Illustrations. THE "BAB" BALLADS. By W. S. Gilbert, with 225 Illustrations by the Author.

Preface

. Some explanation may be necessary for obtruding upon the public the private details of a sports man'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, iu all their general incidents, so essentially alike, as to render their minute description almost invari ably a dull and unprofitable record. Circumstances, however, may occasionally create an interest which in ordinary cases would be wanting. From local connexions, a field almost untrodden by any but himself, was opened to the writer of these Sketches. He was thrown into an unfrequented district, with 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 his Majesty's mail-coach, a country was thus disclosed, as litfle known to the multitude as the interior of Australasia ; 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 written on the spot, and others traced from vivid recollection. Those with whom the author shot these wild moors, or fished these 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 hours when he caroused in a mountain bivouac, and rested in a moorland hut.

Of the actors in the following scenes, some are still living, while others are no more. The Colonel, that best and honestest of boon companions, sleeps with his fathers ; and old John and the Otter-kiUer have gone the way of all flesh. The priest, "mine honoured friend," I rejoice to say, is still healthy and vigorous ; in his wild but happy retirement he holds " the noiseless tenour of his way," exercises hospitality most liberally to the stranger, and throws forty feet of silk and hair better than any artist in the empire. Last of the " dramatis personæ," Hennessey is in full force, and " mutato nomine," may still be found in Ballycroy. 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 prin cipal actor in "the Night Attack ;" and he, poor fellow, was exactly the man who, in an affray or carouse, might be depended on. The heroes of the "Gold Snufl-box" are alive and merry, and long may they continue so ! for truer friends and " better company " never listened to the "chimes at midnight." "Mr. Dawkins" is, I believe, engaged in seeking, through Doctors' Commons, to be relieved "e vinculo matrimonii," and "Mr. Burke" duly announced among the last arrivals in the Sydney Gazette. Respecting the legendary stories, I have no 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 with 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 indiscretion. 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 m 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 nding to the hounds in morocco slippers, and carrying an open umbrella to protect him from the sun. As I have casually named " an honoured name," I lament that it was not his fortune to have visited those interesting scenes, where I have been so long a useless wanderer. The wild features and wilder associations of that romantic and untouched country, would have offered him a fresh field whereon to exercise his magic pencil— and many a tale and legend still orally handed down, but which in a few years must of necessity be forgotten, would have gained immortality from the touch of "the mighty master." But alas ! the creations of his splendid imagination will no more delight an enchanted world.

The wand is broken, the spell is over, the lamp of life is nearly exhausted— and even now, Scotland may be mourning for the mightiest of her gifted sons. As a votive offering, these Volumes are inscribed to that matchless gemus, by an humble, but enthusiastic admirer of Sir Walter Scott. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

page

CHAPTER X. PAGE

Autobiography 7 Salmon-fishing described — Draughting — Fishing precarious — Change of Season and Condition — Poaching — Private Distillation — Size and Weight of Salmon — Sir H. Davy — Migration of Salmon — Natural History — Anecdotes and Experiments — Lernææ Salmoneæ 29

Chapter II

Letters — An Escape — Connaught — Topographieal and Moral Description — Ballinasloe — A Virtuous and FlourishingTown — A Bible Meeting and Radical Reform . n

CHAPTER XI. CHAPTER III.

Mullet — Preparations for Mullet-fishing — Seals — Anecdotes — The Red Dwarf — His mode of killing Seals — Catching a Tartar — Pitching Compar 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 31 Journey continued — Inn of Glantane — Tuam — A bad Night — Out of the Frying-pan into the lire — A Country-ball and the Finish . 13

Chapter IV

Loss of a Waiter — Precocious Talents — The Mad Major and the Mendicants of Mullingar — Cursing an Adjutant— Death of Denis O'Farrell J4

CHAPTER XII. CHAPTER

V. 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 34 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 . 16

Chapter 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 Humphry Davy — Colonel Hawker — Salmonia — Criticism .

CHAPTER 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 Compotation — Morning — Locale of a Shooter's Cabin — Life in the Mountains — The Red Deer — Return to the Hut — Luxury of a Cold Bath . . 37 iS

Chapter VII

Symptoms of a Coming Storm — A Sportsman's Dinner — Old John — Pattigo — Gale comes on — Shawn a tra buoy — Seals — The Blind Seal 21

CHAPTER XIV.

Ball Opens — Moonlight — Mountain Scenery — Old Antony — Adventure with the Fairies — Ball continues — The Otter-hunter's History — Ball concludes — The Pater-opee 39

Chapter VIII

A wet Day — Fly-tying — Piscatory Disquisitions — -The Tinker — Lessons in the " Gentle Art " — An unexpected Ally

CHAPTER XV.

24 Moon looks suspicious — Heavy Fall of Rain — River Flooded — Sporting Writers — Criticism on Hawker — Originality of the Colonel— H is Outfit of a W ild-fowl Shooter — Samuel Singer and his Gun . . .42

Chapter 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 26

CHAPTER XVI.

Flood subsides — My Cousin's Henchmen — Their description — Post-bag arrives — Messenger belated in the Mountains— CONTENTS. V PAGE

CHAPTER XXIV. PAGE

The Fairy Glen — Herd of Red Deer — Their destruction by Poachers — Gradual Decrease — Difficulties in continuing them — Anecdotes — Rearing the Fawns — Sterility when domesticated — Red Deer in Parks — The tame Hind — The Tyrawly Stag — Skill requisite in Shooting Deer — Curious Anecdote 44 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 72

CHAPTER XXV. CHAPTER XVII.

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 . 75 An Alarm — Deceptive Appearance of the Weather — A blank Fishing Day — Recovery of the Setter — Hydrophobia — Melancholy Anecdote — Loss of a Kennel — Strange Apathy of Irish Servants — Extraordinary Preservation . . .48

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 Watchhouse — Slieve More — Grouse scarce — Rabbit-shooting — Interior of the Watchhouse — Culinary Proceedings — The Dutchman — Morning and a Headache — A Sea-bath — The Eagle's Aerie — Curious Anecdote of these Birds — Grouse-shooting — Demolition of a Pack — Rock-fishing — Dangerous Employment — Fatal Accident — John Dory — A Temperate Evening 51

CHAPTER 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 the Mountains — The- Deserted Burying-place — Our Return — The Colonel's Method of Rabbit-shooting ■ — A Disappointment 79

CHAPTER XXVII.

The Legend of Knock-a-thample . , .83

CHAPTER XIX. CHAPTER XXVIII.

Prepare to leave Achil — Visit to the Eagle's 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 and Catching Salmon — Foxes, numerous and destructive — Smaller Birds of Prey — Run to Inniskea — Devilawn — Tarmon — Difficult Coast to land on — Woman and Curragh — Rabbit - shooting — Local Sketches — Twilight 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 Lawsuit 54 Visit to the Mountain Hut — The Colonel— An Argument and a Wager— No Honesty among Anglers — State of the River — 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 . . . .87

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Gold Snuff-box go

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 — Lough 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

CHAPTER 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 59 94

CHAPTER XXI. CHAPTER XXXI.

The Colonel's Story— The Night Attack . 63 Fresh Arrivals — The Priest's Reception — The Lodge alarmed — Preparations for" Deer-stalking — State of the Garrison — The Mountain 5 Lake — The Peasant's Adventure — Carrig-a-binniogh — The Ascent — Prospect from the Summit — The Ravine and Red Deer — A Highland Ambuscade — The Catastrophe . . .97

CHAPTER XXII.

Conversation — A brave Resistance — The Contrast— The Burglary . . . .67

CHAPTER XXIII.

Midnight Reflections — A good Story-teller — The affair of Ninety-eight . . . -7° VI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXII. PAGE PAGE

Cutter stands out to Sea— Hooker on a Rock — Traveller alarmed — Anecdote of an Englishman ...••• I22 Deer brought Home — Dinner — Gastronomic Reflections — Grouse Soup — Roasted Salmon — Cooking pour et contre — Carouse . commences — Symptoms of Inebriety — Night in the Hills — Coffee al fresco — Temperance Society ■ — A Bacchanalian Group — Auld lang syne — Borrowing a Congregation — The Company dispersed . 101 Memoir of a Gentleman who would not do for Galway 125

CHAPTER 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 13S

CHAPTER 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 — Blister Foot — Simple Remedy — My Descent by " The Mother's Side" 107

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Weather changes — Symptoms of Winter — Animal Appearance — Night Passage of Barnacles— Grey Plover — Hints for Shooting Plover — Wild Geese — Swans — Ducks — Burke transported — Evening at the Lodge — Feminine Employments . . 139

CHAPTER 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 141

CHAPTER XXXIV.

The Legend of Rose Roche .... 109

CHAPTER 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 116

CHAPTER XLI.

Dull Evening — Memoir of Hennessey . . 144

CHAPTER XLII.

My Departure fixed — Coast suited to an Ornithologist — Godsend — An Ocean Waif — My Last Day — Coursing — Size of Hares — Fen-shooting — Kill a Bitten — Castle Doona — Fall of the Tower — Netting Rabbits — Reflections — Morning — Passage through the Sound — Hennessey — Departure from the Kingdom of Connaught . 14S

CHAPTER 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 . .119

CHAPTER XLIII. CHAPTER XXXVII.

Moral and Physical Condition of the West — Past and Present 150 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 —

CHAPTER XLIV.

Hunting — Men — Horses and Hounds — Game — Conclusion

Chapter I. Autobiography

London, July ist, 1829. luckily she had a brother's consent to gain ; and on being consulted, he was un moved by importunity, and deaf to "every plea of love." The case was hopeless. Mr. Wamsley disliked Ireland, detested military men, and above all thing's, abominated "The Dirty Half Hundred." Notwithstanding 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 820. To remain longer here would be suicidal ; but, where to go — whither to fly — alas ! I know not. To account for the gentleman's antipathy to this celebrated corps, it will be necessary to remark that the regiment was then afflicted with a mad Major. His, the Major's, delight, lay in drinking port wine and slaying phea sants. Mr. Wamsley, on the contrary, preferred water and preserved game. The Major beat up preserves without remorse, and deforced keepers who, though good men and true, prudently declined joining issue with mad Majors and double-barrelled guns. Now 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 would 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 con cerned, the regiment got the route ; Mr. Wamsley recovered his liberty, and his detes tation of the gallant 50th only ended with his life. 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 exhibiting their ancestors, I shall take the liberty of introducing 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. Un But his sister held a very different opinion respecting the merits of the brave " Half Hundred." She was devoted to the Lieu tenant of Grenadiers, and the route hurried matters to a crisis. The result may be antici pated. Despising park walls 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, which his wife possessed without the control of her brother, enabled my father to leave the army, and settle on his hereditary * From their black facings, the 50th received this sobriquet.' estate in Roscommon ; and there he hunted, shot, fished, and farmed, and lived just as Irish gentlemen lived some thirty years ago. certain place in society, with an income in competent to its expenses, is a state of inex pressible 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 farewell, and his parting words, as I stepped into the carnage, were a request that I would " write but seldom, as postage from the East, his lawyer told him, was enormous." I was the only issue of the marriage. All communication had ceased between my parents and Mr. Wamsley, and eighteen years passed away, and no appearance of abated displeasure had ever been evinced by this im placable relative. I left a public school for the Dublin University, was destined for the church, and had nearly completed my college course, when an unforeseen event changed my prospects and profession.

It was the death of both my parents within the brief space of a month. 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. My father's affairs were in great disorder — his estate was heavily embarrassed, and if his debts were 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 un relenting animosity to my deceased parents, a letter was received from him, inviting me to visit him at his magnificent place, Lahvorth Castle. I was surprised, however, at this distant period with a letter, worded 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. The imitation was of course accepted,- I arrived, and found him a stern, disagreeable old man. My first appearance 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 obser was, "Be it so;" and here this laconic con versation ended. This recommendation was anything but gratifying. I liked India well enough — the climate agreed with me — my health was un impaired — the mess was good — the regiment gentlemanly — and better still, I could live most comfortably upon my pay.

I felt, how ever, that my uncle's invitation should not be neglected ; applied for leave ; succeeded, and made immediate preparation 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. 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 was 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.

It was late in December when I landed at Portsmouth. The voyage had been remark ably quick, and without 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 ofits 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 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 knowledge that a certain annual aUowance 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 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 suppressive exclamation of astonishment, removed the fastenings, and muttered, "Thank God, it is himself! " and, as he admitted me, whispered that my uncle was not expected to survive till midnight. 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 compli ments — and between them the truth transpired. I had, indeed, been luckily expeditious in my journey, and the old man's phrase ot touch and go, was fully explained.

The previous day he had signed a testament conveying his en tire property to a variety of charitable institu tions ; and the will which had been originally made in my favour, and been kept over by this singular relative, would have remained imper fect, had I not so providentially arrived the evening of his death. In silence I was conducted to a back draw ing-room, where, 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 ad vance. "Are you there, Fr^nk ! " he said in a feeble voice — " Ha, ha, ha ! it was touch and go with you ! " and he uttered a weak and sarcastic laugh. — " Call Doctor Dodwell and the lawyer — desire them to bring the other will — and tell Moore and Hubert to attend to witness it."

While he gave these orders, I gazed on the wasted features of the dying miser, and there was a strange expression of stem satisfaction visible on his countenance, as his cold glance rested fixedly on me. Im mediately the doctor, solicitor, and witnesses entered the room. — " Raise me up," he said to the ancient domestic, his personal attendant. It was done, and he motioned to the solicitor to unsold 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 testa ment," he said with a feeble emphasis, " and thus do I revoke all others !