LIFE IN IRELAND 93 



Majesty pressed it to his heart as if he never had an 

 animal of the kind gnawing there before. Psha ! the 

 member and his colleague Ellis, the Master in Chancery, 

 and all the blue-boys stammered into the Castle, led 

 on by Jack Stammer, the ^^Xd^n-spaking City Marshall, 

 after whom came the King, and the gates shut out all 

 Ireland from seeing any more ! 



Talk of a Roman General leading up a triumph after 

 conquering the world ; talk of Alexander the Great's 

 entrance into Babylon ; there is no cojnparishment for 

 splendour, for beauty, for noise, and halloo buUoo ; for 

 loyalty, unanimity, whiskey punch, and strong beer. 



A sort of a cold collectio7i was served up in the Castle, 

 and Brian with Sir Shawn were invited to partake of 

 it. Sir Shawn was an independent man, and though 

 not a member of a certain club, he could nominate three 

 or four to it ; he was also loyal to a fault, and did not 

 want even to be made a knight of St. Patrick, for he 

 was one by descent in blood and spirit ; he, of course, 

 was a welcome guest to royalty. Several people paid 

 their respects to the King of Ireland ; the sword of 

 knighthood descended upon many a back never touched 

 by steel since it was turned upon the King's troops in 

 1798. Old N y, who had long hung out for govern- 

 ment, when kissing his hand, fell on his knees (as the 

 convicts do when he honours them with his last notice) 

 the K — g kindly condescended to raise him up. ' This,' 

 said the dry old veteran, ' is the second time your 

 Majesty has given me a lift.' 'Twas a pun, and in the 

 total absence of real wit afforded a hearty laugh. 



After dinner many toasts were drank, and amongst 

 them the ladies drank — ' Health, strength, and long 



