1 34 MY UNCLE AND 



have his servant Jem stationed in the garden, and the basket lowered, 

 upon which some councillor or richly-dressed officer would deposit 

 himself therein, when he was hoisted up amid the cheers of the mob, 

 who used to assemble in great numbers ; Jem, meanwhile, seeing that 

 no improper person got stowed in the basket, that it might not be the 

 means of landing the sheriff's officer on the second floor. My 

 Uncle's voice used to be heard — " Who is it, Jem, that's coming up 

 now ?" " Sure, yer honner, its Counsiller Doyle, an' he ever does 

 get up, for he's a great weight intirely. Capt. Glover, yer honner, 

 the next, but his legs is sticking thro' the basket which the coun- 

 sillor's breek." After all the party had thus been hauled up, Jem 

 used to get into the basket, slightly tap the heads of the sheriff's 

 officers as he ascended, and joined his master. 



My Uncle would then come to the window, tell the sheriffs party 

 ** not to make bastes of themselves by eating and drinking there all 

 the night," and to be sure, as they valued their lives, not to sing " we 

 wont go home till morning," as it would disturb his rest, and being 

 naturally of a very weak constitution might seriously injure his health. 

 My Uncle standing about six feet in his stockings, and weighing a matter 

 of fourteen stone, these allusions to his delicate health were received 

 by the mob with great laughter. After closing all the windows and 

 making themselves secure, the fun commenced, and generally con- 

 tinued till four or five o'clock in the morning, when, perhaps, the 

 party being moderately refreshed, would insist on two going in the 

 basket at once, which on one occasion caused a sudden downfal. Doyle, 

 and another councillor called Neale, got into the basket together, 

 when the bottom came out entirely, so they both slipped down as far 

 as it was possible, until they were completely jammed tight in the 

 basket; the rope with the sudden jerk broke, down came the coun- 

 cillors stuck in the basket, rolling over and over, and wholly unable to 

 extricate themselves, until assisted by the sheriff's officer and several 

 watchmen, who cut the basket through before they could be liberated. 

 Well, my Uncle was suddenly called away to his residence in Wick- 

 low. How to evade the sheriff's officer was the question ; but Jem 

 said " nothing could be aiser ; latterly they had given up the practice 

 of having two watches at night," so Jem was left to arrange the matter 

 as he liked. On all being ready a farewell party was given the night 

 before, at which there was more rioting, drinking, and smoking than 



