LIFE IN IRELAND 203 



the back, or rather the rent that it made extended from 

 the collar to the waistband of his breeches ; for she 

 often said that she could not see what use a back was 

 to a shirt, when it was covered by the back of a waist- 

 coat, and a top coat : part of it she had mended the 

 child's frock with, and of the remainder made tinder ; 

 so said Swan. 



Brian, who was the most humane Paddy that ever 

 came from the County of Gahvay, tore the rags off 

 poor Swan, and enveloped him in a fine Holland shirt, 

 with laced ruffles; then slipping him into a dressing- 

 gown, made him sit round the fire upon the square 

 with him and Captain Blake. The poor exciseman 

 swore thafiks in a tradesman-like manner, and said he 

 had but one way of shewing his gratitude for all this 

 thmidering kindness. — I expect, said he, when I get 

 out, to be employed on the Galway district, to suppress 

 the MuLLY GO lenters, and devil fire me if all the 

 boys upon Boru estate shall not work a private stilly 

 and never be misksted by Swan. — ' But your duty to 

 the King, Swan.' The King, consider that, said 

 Blake. — Botheration to the Ki?ig, and all the duties 

 that were ever paid him ; my duty to a friend is 



suparaiore^ and I 'd pitch the to the devil before 



I 'd forget to do a good turn to one that sarvd me. 



This is a sort of reasoning to which not any thing 

 can be objected so as to overturn it. The King is 

 not personally known to his excisemen^ and they care 

 little for him, particularly in Ireland, where he and all 

 his English subjects are termed foreigners. 



In a short time the steam engine began to boil, and 

 Captain Blake knocked up as fine a jug of whiskey 



