1829.] Memoirs of a Bashful Irishman. 649 



the stage, made a profound obeisance, and, pointing to tlie lady who still 

 hung wriggling from the window, exclaimed aloud, " Ladies and Gen- 

 tlemen, behold a view of the Lakes of Killarney." Whether the likeness 

 struck them or not, I cannot say, but, certainly, never was any appeal so 

 electrical. The whole audience burst into shouts of laughter ; nor was 

 peace restored until they had testified the excess of their satisfaction by 

 a general engagement, in the bustle of which I effected my escape. How 

 the manager's wife effected hers, I know not ; possibly she is sticking 

 in the window to this hour. 



I need not weary the reader with any further details of my dramatic 

 career. Suffice to say, that nothing but my bashfulness prevented me 

 from Avinning first-rate celebrity as a tragedian, an opinion to which I 

 am strongly disposed, from the recollection of the excessive good humour 

 that my appearance, as the murderer of Duncan, never failed to excite 

 among the audience. Invariably, too, they encored my death-scenes ; 

 and, as this is an honour that even the late John Kemble himself was 

 never known to receive, I appreciated it accordingly. 



One thing, however, I cannot, even if I would, forget. This was my 

 marriage with the only daughter of a veterinary surgeon at Ballyna- 

 brogue — an accident which took place after a week's introduction to the 

 lady. And here I may possibly be told, that I was guilty of a grievous 

 error, inasmuch as my first wife was yet alive, and sprouting, no doubt, 

 at Naples. I plead guilty to the charge, but may vn-ge in extenuation, 

 that such was the havoc which successive misfortunes had wrought 

 upon my memory, that not until the nuptial ceremony was concluded, 

 did it occur to me, that I had committed bigamy ! When, however, 

 the dreadful ti-uth was at length forced upon my mind, the shock it 

 occasioned was inconceivable ! 



By my marriage with this lady I came into possession of a trifling 

 share of her father's business, which, however, I soon relinquished for 

 the more honourable calling of an apothecary. A smart shop, with a 

 pestle and mortar on the counter ; a few di'aw ers ticketted up with gilt 

 letters ; half a dozen blue and red bottles in the window — and the thing 

 was done. Nevertheless, my progress at first was slow, for Ballyna- 

 brogue was a ruinously healthy village. Few situations could equal 

 it, whether for mildnecs of climate, or luxuriance of scenery. It 

 stood in the midst of a common, sheltered on all sides by a range of 

 gently swelling hills, and embellished by the aspect of a clear cheerful 

 streamlet, which swept singing through it like a bird. The cottages 

 were equally picturesque. One or two had doors, and a few could boast 

 of windows, but the greater part were hospitably open to every wind 

 that might take a fancy to look in upon them. As regards the tenants, 

 they were in every respect worthy of their dwellings. Excepting a few 

 small gentry, such as the attorney, the exciseman, the curate, the clerk, 

 &c. of the parish ; and a iew large ones, such as the Lord of the 

 manor, and the Lord bishop of the diocese, a fat man, wJiose luxuriant 

 parks — the very deer in which had an episcopal cut about them — bore 

 abundant testimony to the blessings of the tythe system ; — excepting 

 these few individuals, the village consisted of cottagers, all of whom 

 were in tiiat happy state of unsophistication which the enlightened 

 of the earth have agreed to call bai'barism. Such was Ballynabrogue — 

 an enviable spot, in every respect, but that its inhabitants were half 

 starved. 



M.M. New Series— Vnu. VIII. No. 4R. 4 O 



