MURDER. 237 



place in the corps diplomatique, and becomes prime minister. 

 In the conduct of the affair, no doubt himself is interested ; 

 he is anxious to effect hymeneals, for hence arises his principal 

 revenue, and matrimony is the best feather in his wing and, 

 independent of the nuptial fee, contingent christenings and 

 increased house-money* are in prospective. But the lover has 

 it all his own way. A week's residence in the mountains has 

 perilled the lady's reputation beyond recovery ; as she has 

 gotten a Hast, her matrimonial market is spoiled, and nothing 

 remains but an amicable arrangement. Terms are accordingly 

 made the parties become one flesh the priest is considered 

 for his great and valuable services by " both the houses," and 

 " one raal rookawn of a runaway match," is better to /MS rever- 

 ence than thrice the number of weddings perpetrated by general 

 consent. 



This milder class of abduction is unfortunately not the only 

 one ; girls having property, or who are likely to possess it, are 

 oftentimes forcibly carried off. Secreted in the mountains, 

 they are not easily recoverable by their friends, and left at 

 the mercy of the ruffian and his confederates, they are at last 

 obliged to become the legal property of the despoiler. As the 

 abductor is generally some idle dissipated blackguard, the fate 

 of the ill-starred being who is united to him under such cir- 

 cumstances for life, is truly lamentable. 



The second and worst description of crime, of which this 

 .emote district unhappily affords too many instances, is 

 murder. Many circumstances tend to encourage it. The 

 system of clanship, and the imperfect administration of the 

 laws, are chief causes. A strange infatuation prevents these 

 people from surrendering a culprit ; and to conceal or abet the 

 escape of a criminal from punishment, is felt to be a sort of 

 moral obligation not to be got over. Hence, the feudal 

 system prevails in Bally croy of repaying injury by injury ! 

 rather than submit the offender to the ordinary course of 

 justice ; violences committed by one faction are fearfully re- 

 turned by the other ; and in a country where ardent spirits 

 *re easily procured, and where ancient customs, and the end- 



* The revenues of the Roman Catholic clergy are derived from certain 

 fees payable for marriages and christenings, with an annual tax of two 

 shillings upon every honse in the parish. These, with Christmas and 

 Easter offerings, presents, and legacies, amount, in populous parishes, to 



a. ven" consid : ;M-: ^um. 



