g6 Disaffection of the People of Kilcullen. 



side, and furnished oppositions to the other, on 

 matters, to which, at the time, I probably at- 

 tached an unmerited interest, but which I have 

 long since thought fit to consign to oblivion. 



We were fortunate in our companion on 

 horseback, who was intimately acquainted with 

 the country ; he had served in a local corps dur- 

 ing the rebellion, and was extremely interesting 

 in his recital of the resulting calamities. As 

 we approached Kilcullen bridge, he gave us a 

 most frightful account of its inhabitants, de- 

 scribing them as amongst the most disaffected 

 people in Ireland : I was by no means disposed 

 to doubt the fact, though it operated on my 

 mind very differently from what he expected j 

 as I was more inclined to commiserate and pity, 

 than join in reproaches. 



There must, I thought, be some grievous evil 

 at their doors, to banish men from their thresh- 

 olds, and induce them to incur such imminent 

 danger for a chance only of being relieved from 

 its daily insupportable afflictions. I became in 

 an instant resolved to satisfy myself of the real 

 condition of these people j and, as our new 

 friend had undertaken to order breakfast, the 

 carriage proceeded to the inn, and I walked to 

 the nearest cabins. 



