enemies uninvited by the wishes of the people, I should oppose them to the utmost of my strength. Yes, my countrymen, I should advise you to meet them on the beach, with a sword in one hand and a torch in the other. I would meet them with all the destructive fury of war, and I would animate my countrymen to immolate them in their boats, before they had contaminated the soil of my country. If they succeeded in landing, and if forced to retire before superior discipline, I would dispute every inch of ground, raze every house, burn every blade of grass, and the last intrenchment of liberty should be my grave.

I have been charged with that importance, in the efforts to emancipate my country, as to be considered the key-stone of the combination of Irishmen, or, as your lordship expressed it, "the life and blood of the conspiracy." You do me honour overmuch-you have given to the sabaltern all the credit of a superior; there are men engaged in this conspiracy, who are not only superior to me, but even to your own conceptions of yourself, my lord-men, before the splendour of whose genius and virtues I should bow with respectful deference, and who would think themselves dishonoured to be called your friends who would not disgrace themselves by shaking your blood-stained hand.-[Here he was interrupted.]

What, my lord, shall you tell me, on the passage to that scaffold, which that tyranny, of which you are only the intermediate executioner, has erected for my murder, that I am accountable for all the blood that has been and will be shed in this struggle of the oppressed against the oppressor-shall you tell me this, and must

I be so very a slave as not to repel it? I, who fear not to approach the Omnipotent Judge, to answer for the conduct of my whole life-am I to be appalled and falsified by a mere remnant of mortality here-by you, too, who, if it were possible to collect all the innocent blood that you have shed, in your unhallowed ministry, in one great reservoir, your lordship might swim in it?

:

My lords, you seem impatient for the sacrifice-the blood for which you thirst is not congealed by the artificial terrors which surround your victim: it circulates warmly and unruffled through the channels which God created for noble purposes, but which you are bent to destroy for purposes so grievous, that they cry to Heaven. Be yet patient! I have but a few more words to say. I am going to my cold and silent grave: my lamp of life is nearly extinguished my race is run: the grave opens to receive me, and I sink into its bosom. I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world: it is the charity of its silence. no man write my epitaph; for as no man who knows my motives, dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me repose in obscurity, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times and other men can do justice to my character. When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written.-I HAVE DONE!

Let

XVII.

The Three Black Crows.-BYROM.

Two honest tradesmen meeting in the Strand, One took the other, briskly, by the hand; "Hark ye," said he, " 'tis an odd story this, About the crows!""I don't know what it is," Replied his friend." No! I'm surprised at that; Where I come from, it is the common chat: But you shall hear an odd affair indeed! And that it happened, they are all agreed: Not to detain you from a thing so strangeA gentleman, that lives not far from 'Change, This week, in short, as all the alley knows, Taking a puke, has thrown up three black

crows.

"Impossible!"-" Nay, but it's really true,
I had it from good hands, and so may you.'
"From whose, I pray?" So having named the
man,

Straight to inquire his curious comrade ran.
"Sir, did
you tell"-relating the affair-
"Yes, sir, I did; and if it's worth your care
Ask Mr Such-a-one, he told it me;

But, by the by, 'twas two black crows, not three."

Resolved to trace so wondrous an event
Whip to the third, the virtuoso went.

"Sir," and so forth-" Why, yes; the thing

is fact,

Though in regard to number not exact;

It was not two black crows, 'twas only one;
The truth of that you may depend upon.

The gentleman himself told me the case.” "Where may I find him?" Why,-in such a place."

Away he goes, and having found him out,— "Sir, be so good as to resolve a doubt." Then to his last informant he referred,

And begged to know if true what he had heard. "Did you, sir, throw up a black crow ?"

I!"

"Bless me! how people propagate a lie!

"Not

Black crows have been thrown up, three, two,

and one,

And here I find all comes at last to none !

Did you say nothing of a crow at all?" "Crow-crow-perhaps I might, now I recall The matter over." "And pray, sir, what was 't?" "Why, I was horrid sick, and, at the last, I did throw up, and told my neighbour so, Something that was as black, sir, as a crow."

XVIII.

The Frenchman and the Rats.-ANONYMOUS.

A FRENCHMAN once, who was a merry wight, Passing to town from Dover, in the night, Near the road side an alehouse chanced to spy; And being rather tired, as well as dry, Resolved to enter, but first took a peep, In hopes a supper he might get, and cheap. He enters: "Hallo! Garcon, if you please, Bring me a leetel bit of bread and cheese. And, hallo! Garcon, a pot of portar too!" he

said,

"Vich I sall take, and den myself to bed."

His supper done, some scraps of cheese were left, Which our poor Frenchman, thinking it no theft, Into his pocket put; then slowly crept

To wished for bed; but not a wink he sleptFor, on the floor, some sacks of flour were laid, To which the rats a nightly visit paid.

Our hero now undressed, popped out the light, Put on his cap, and bade the world good-night; But first, his breeches, which contained the fare,

Under his pillow, he had placed with care.
Sans ceremonie, soon the rats all ran,
And on the flour-sacks greedily began;
At which they gorged themselves; then smell-
ing round,

Under the pillow, soon the cheese they found;
And, while of this a merry feast they make,
Their happy jaws the Frenchman's slumbers
break;

Who, half awake, cries out, " Hallo! hallo!
Vat is dat nibbel at my pillow so?
Ah! 'tis one big huge rat!

Vat the diable is it he nibbel, nibbel, at?"
In vain our little hero sought repose;
Sometimes the vermin galloped o'er his nose;
And such the pranks they kept up all the night,
That he, on end antipodes upright,

Bawling aloud, called stoutly for a light.
"Hallo! Maison! Garcon, I say!

Bring me de bill for vat I have to pay !"

The bill was brought, and to his great surprise, Ten shillings was the charge, he scarce believes

his eyes;

With eager haste, he runs it o'er,

And every time he viewed it, thought it more.