Difficulty of returning Jrom Baliinasloe. 239 



the stock on the farms is abundant and valuable, 

 no winter provision of green crops is attempted. 



Difficult as we had found it to reach Balli- 

 nasloe, never had it occurred that any trouble 

 could attend our departure ; but this con- 

 fidence was misplaced : not a carriage, nor 

 even post-horse, could be procured ; every pos- 

 sible exertion proved ineffectual, till at length 

 my catholic host obligingly undertook the task, 

 and after some time reported that he had pro- 

 cured me a man and horse to be ready at four 

 o'clock the next morning. The engagement 

 was punctually observed. I was prepared not 

 to expect an inimitable nag, but any thing like 

 the poor beast produced, I confess, had not 

 entered into my contemplation. The miserable 

 animal was the picture of famine, and laboring 

 under a complication of maladies. I could not 

 help expressing my apprehension that the hal 

 starved creature would die on the road " Ne- 

 ver fear, your honor, he is better than he looks," 

 replied the owner ; and having no alternative I 

 mounted. The distressing efforts to accomplish 

 two miles reconciled me to the determination 

 of dismounting, and proceeding on foot ; when, 

 most fortunately, a carriage with the coachman 

 alone on the barouche seat, came in sight ; I at 



7 



