PAST AND PRESENT. 311 



" ' Impossible ! how could it be managed ?' 



" ' How ! arrah whihst, Denis ! maybe ye tbink I bave 

 nothing but law in my bead ; you must knock down 

 Bingham !' 



" ( Knock down a man who never offended me with 

 whom I have no dispute ?' 



" ( And what does this matter ? The blow will settle 

 that difficulty. But as you are particular, can't ye say some 

 friend of his affronted one of yours some devil you never 

 heard of will answer and as John Bingham is a reasonable 

 man, he'd not lose time in asking idle questions.' 



<f Accordingly, I followed this excellent advice, struck 

 Bingham on the steps of the court-house, was called out in 

 half an hour, fought in the barrack-yard, was there wounded, 

 and won my election." 



From that period Denis Browne rose rapidly into power. 

 His able brother, the late Marquis of Sligo, supported him 

 with all his influence and talent. Denis overcame every 

 obstacle, distanced every competitor, and at last was absolute 

 in authority, dictator for twenty years, and ruled the county 

 during that period with a rod of iron. 



No one was warmer in his friendship or more virulent 

 in his antipathies. These feelings blinded his better judgment, 

 and many of his greatest mistakes arose from an anxiety 

 to aggrandize a favourite or annoy an enemy. He 

 unfortunately outlived his power, and that circumstance 

 embittered his latter years. He had not resolution to quit 

 public life while he might have retired with eclat ; he saw 

 his influence expire, and his power partitioned insensibly 

 among men with whom, but a few years before, his will 

 was law. 



In private life Denis Browne was cheerful and hospitable. 

 Full of anecdote, an excellent story-teller, one who had 

 mixed largely with the world and knew mankind intimately, 

 he was an amusing and instructive companion. Young and 

 lively society he delighted in ; and though, from increased 

 corpulency, and all " the ills that flesh is heir to," life was 

 latterly a burden, the mind was vigorous to the last and 

 the death-bed of Denis Browne was marked with a firmness 

 and philosophy that was in perfect keeping with the energy 

 and determination of his life. 



Another order of things has succeeded. Men talk now 



