LIFE IN IRELAND 63 



will. All day last night, I 've been drinking his health 

 and success to Paddy's land ; sure if he hadn't come, 

 I hadn't got drunk ; but belave me I 'm sober enough 

 to have cleaned your boots, brushed your coat, black- 

 balled your breeches, and scraped your downhall to the 

 nines.' 



Brian was never long vexed; he smiled at Mooney, 

 ordered him to bring up a freshener for Gram, and 

 huddled on his clothes with the expedition of a mail- 

 coach guard who has slept ten minutes beyond his 

 time. ' Here,' said Gram, as he lifted the raspberry to 

 his lips, 'is the King's health, and may the God of 

 Ireland bless Ireland's King': 'Amen!' said Brian 

 BoRU, as he pulled on his \^ix.-ha?ided boot. ' You 're 

 selfish in that toast, my friend Gram, you are mighty 

 selfish ; there will be a brevet promotion, and you expect 

 to be raised to the rank of Major — Major Domina over 

 the Devil and his twelve special jurymen that tried 

 Tom Paine ; of whom it might be said — 



Here lies in earth a root o' hell, 



Set by the Deil's ain dibble : 

 The worthless body damn'd himsel', 



To save the Lord the trouble.' 



To save my reader's patience, a boat was procured at 

 the Coal Quay, and Sir Shawn with his party got upon 

 Howth Pier just at the instant the Lightning Packet 

 ran alongside. ' The immense crowds that are off to 

 Dunleary,' said Sir Shawn, 'are on a wrong scent. I 

 have private information the King is on board Skinner's 

 packet ; and there he comes ! in his blue coat and hairy 

 cap.' 



