AXJTHOE'S AUTOBIOGEAPHY. 



As a preliminary to the following treatise, I tiust I 

 may, witliout rendering myself liable to the charge of 

 egotism, be permitted to make a short statement in 

 reference to my previous life, adding a. few extracts from 

 the annals of the ancient Irish sept with which my name 

 is allied, for the purpose of shewing — as I respectfully 

 hope it will — that I and my humble little work are not 

 wholly unworthy of the confidence of my fi iends, and 

 of guarding against the attacks of hidden enemies, if 

 any I have. 



Eyincing an early taste for military pursuits, I, at 

 the age of seyenteeu years, joined the British army, 

 taking service in that distinguished corps, the Royal 

 Horse Artillery, where I found myself the companion of 

 men almost all of whom were English and Scotch, but 

 instead of entertaining any feeling of inferiority, as I 

 fear too many of my countrymen in this position do, a 

 strong spirit of nationality was roused within me, and 

 I felt proud that I had now an opportunity of proving 

 to my comrades — and accordingly on every occasion I 

 endeavoured to shew — that IrisWen were not what 

 they had been unjustly represented to be. 



Having completed my regular course of drill, the 

 Hiding-Master reported to the Commanding Officer, 

 Colonel Rowland, that I was the best rider and swords- 

 man under his command, and shortly afterwards Colonel 



