LIFE IN IRELAND 221 



King enjoyed this heartily, and I dare say will not 

 forget the thing for some time to come. 



That man whom you see with his head just as if 

 it had come out of a flour sack, and dressed dandy 

 fashion, limping and stooping over his gold-headed 

 cane, is a most singular being : he has fought more 

 duels than there are days in the year, and seduced more 

 women than there are honest men in this prison : he is 

 called Captaiji Fleecester, and had once a commission 

 in the line, and served with much gallantry in various 

 parts of the world ; but his quarrelsome temper made 

 great havoc in the regiments which he might be attached 

 to, and he was often sent to Coventry. 



At the Cape of Good Hope he seduced the wife of a 

 major, and shot the husband : he next shot two of the 

 lieutenants, from explanations arising out of the subject ; 

 and was at last ordered home by the General, to be 

 tried by a court martial. Previous to his departure, he 

 entered the mess-room, and ordered a bottle of wine, 

 which the servant brought : he then sat down by the 

 window, smoking his segar ; one of the officers, deputed 

 by his brethren, stepped up to him, and politely in- 

 formed him that his presence was far from agreeable, 

 and his absence was required. 



He replied, 'that he would see them all d d 



before he moved an inch.' The result was, they then 

 threatened to turn him out, and he dared them to the 

 trial ; this none of them were fond of attempting, for 

 he was, as you see, a man of uncommon muscular 

 strength : however, one of them, Pat Valiant, said he 

 would turn him out, and got up for the purpose. 

 Fleecester rose also, and throwing up the window, 



