72 Highways and Byways ; or, the £July, 



whatever shape or character it may assume, still one and the same divine, 



inestimable faculty ? Is not But enough : I resume the indignant 



history of my wrongs. 



On quitting Wexford, which I did the moment I had adjusted my 

 inexpressibles, I started off for Dublin, where I again came in contact 

 with O'Connell. My independence, at this period, was unquestionable. 

 I had neither money, friends, nor prospects to encumber me ; so was 

 compelled, in self-defence, to commence business as a pocket-operative. 

 It was at the Crow-street theatre that I made my first appearance as a 

 performer in this line. The house, I remember, was crowded ; and, as 

 good luck would have it, I chanced to find myself standing next a 

 wheezing old gentleman, in a pepper and salt spencer, to whom I 

 imparted my suspicions of there being thieves in the house, and hastened 

 to prove the fact by decamping with his watch and seals. This promis- 

 ing specimen of ingenuity raised me so highly in the opinion of O'Con- 

 nell — himself a genius of no slight consideration — that we agreed for the 

 future to divide our profits. But there is a restlessness in human nature 

 that knows not where to stop. Scarcely had I attained celebrity by the 

 felonious capabilities of my fingers, when my mind, born for higher 

 objects, began to languisli for pre-eminence in burglary. On sounding 

 O'Connell on the subject, he readily agreed to join me in an affair 

 which had for some days engaged my undivided attention. Our plan 

 was soon arranged : we agreed to meet at ten o'clock on a particular 

 night at the Duck and Coach-Horse, and thence to set forward towards 

 Rutland-street, where I had previously ascertained that a rich merchant 

 resided, who, having been lately married, had just purchased a hand- 

 some service of plate, which I myself had seen carried home that morning 

 from the silversmith's. I selected this gentleman's house for my debuf, 

 because I rightly conceived, that, from the circumstance of his honey- 

 moon being still young, he would have quite enough business on his 

 hands, without troubling himself to look after a few comparatively 

 unimportant articles of plate. Punctual to the moment, we proceeded to 

 effect a lodgment in his kitchen ; but, unluckily, while we were ascending 

 towards the drawing-room, a stout scullery-girl, who, unperceived, had 

 witnessed our operations, assaulted us both with her fists in so cowardly 

 and unprovoked a manner, that we were compelled to make a precipi- 

 tate retreat. I should not omit to add, that, during the bustle of escape, 

 O'Comiell contrived to pick my pocket — a species of dishonourable trea- 

 chery of which I should never have suspected him, had I not made an 

 application to his for a similar purpose. 



It was at this period of my life that I paid my first visit to London, 

 where I became acquainted with the celebrated but ill-starred Barring- 

 ton. We shook hands — strange enough — in the coat-pockets of an 

 extensive alderman, wlio had stuck himself at the back of one of the 

 dress-boxes in Covent Garden, and against whom our jirofessional dex- 

 terity was at one and the same time employed. It has been said, that 

 admiration, like love, originates at first sight. Such was my case with 

 this great man ; so much so, that, when I learned his name, I thought I 

 should never have overcome my veneration. Still, notwithstanding his 

 unquestionable abilities, Barrington, I think, was overrated. The artists 

 in his own line of business seemed to consider him as the Shakspeare, 

 whereas he was only the Pope, of petty larceny. Certes, his mode of 

 operation was quick — ^intelligent — decisive ; but it was monotonous, and 



