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CHAPTER IX. 



Correspondence of Andrew Caldwell, Esq. ; — and a few other 

 Letters relative to Ireland. 



The correspondent whose letters here appear was 

 an Irish gentleman who represented Downpatrick in 

 parliament in 1788; and when the compiler of these 

 memoirs had first the pleasure of being made ac- 

 quainted with him, in the year 1799, was verging 

 towards sixty. Of the mildest aspect and highly 

 polished manners, a tinge of melancholy cast a shade 

 over his dignified deportment, which at once en- 

 gaged the affections on his side, and broke every 

 barrier of formality and reserve. He lived much 

 among persons of high birth, and his conversation 

 was replenished with anecdote and entertainment, 

 enlivened with the peculiarly pleasing manner and 

 dialect of the superior ranks in the sister isle. 



He had a noble generosity of spirit, and his com- 

 passionate heart revolted at oppression in every 

 form; but especially did he deplore and execrate the 

 merciless traffic in negro slaves. He read with re- 

 markable grace, and recited poetry with more than 

 common tenderness ; he was altogether a being of 

 a higher order. " How is it," asks Burns, " that in 

 the short stormy winter day of our existence, when 

 you now and then in the chapter of accidents meet 



