158 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



could I tell., but may be when I was not expecting it 

 I'd get a blow of a stone on my head, from behind 

 a ditch, that might kill me ? " 



9. The idea that a man is independently to act 

 on his own judgment about public questions does not 

 seem to exist, I remember many years ago, during 

 the reign of Lord Palmerston, his Attorney-General 

 was member of Parliament for County Cork, He 

 had to seek re-election on his appointment, and 

 though a thoroughly respectable Eoman Catholic, the 

 Eoman Catholic priests opposed him, to pimish Lord 

 Palmerston for something he had done. The Attor- 

 ney-General was a native of the small town near me, 

 where he had many relatives, and was very popular. 

 So the people and Eoman Catholic clergy of it were 

 all with him, but not so in other parishes. I went to 

 vote for him, and when I got near the polling-place, 

 I saw a mob, which, as soon as they saw me, started 

 off towards me, I soon found they were townspeople, 

 who had caught a very respectable and thriving 

 tenant of mine from a neighbouring parish, going to 

 vote against their popular Attorney-General. They 

 had had him some time, arguing that I was going 

 to vote for their man, so he had no right to vote 

 the other way, and when I came, I should make him 

 vote as they wished. He declared he was sure I 

 should not ask him. So all eagerly rushed at me, 

 entreating me to make him vote right. The coolness 

 of the man, who was only gratifying his priest, and 



