242 LIFE IN IRELAND 



His book, though now * down among the dead men,' 

 had, under the auspices of government, a great circula- 

 tion ; for we well understand the ctrculathig ?nediu7?i by 

 which ministers set these things going in the political 

 world. Much indignation was expressed in Ireland at 

 this fellow's villainous aspersions ; and an Irish gentle- 

 man travelled to London on purpose to punish the 

 libeller, which he did, by a hearty good thrashing, that 

 T took as patiently as an ass. 



Several ways were taken in Dublin to show the con- 

 tempt in which Master was held. 



A manufacturer of earthenware had his bust placed 

 in the bottom of a pot de chambre, en profile. This 

 was shown to Lady Clare for her approbation : the 

 thing is good, she said, and must be made better: make 

 him with a front face, and his mouth open, and I will 

 give you a motto to place round him. Her ladyship 

 then took her pencil, and sketched an admirable like- 

 ness of the scandalous historian, with open mouth, as 

 if swallowing what his stomach revolted at receiving : 

 nevertheless, the picture was in good keeping, and no 

 one who had seen the author in all his glory and con- 

 spicuality (an Irish word), but would have known him 

 again when sent to pot. 



The motto was, like the caricature, to the point, and 

 roughly elegajit. 



Here you may behold a liar, 

 Well deserving of Hell-fire : 

 Every one who likes may p 



Upon the learned Doctor T . 



Such was the spirit of wit that prevailed then in 



