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Within a day or two we had reached a tall range of mountains
running north and south； which I was told were those of Tipperary；
along the skirts of these we proceeded till we came to a town； the
principal one of these regions。 It was on the bank of a beautiful
river； which separated it from the mountains。 It was rather an
ancient place； and might contain some ten thousand inhabitants … I
found that it was our destination； there were extensive barracks at
the farther end； in which the corps took up its quarters； with
respect to ourselves； we took lodgings in a house which stood in
the principal street。
'You never saw more elegant lodgings than these； captain；' said the
master of the house； a tall； handsome； and athletic man； who came
up whilst our little family were seated at dinner late in the
afternoon of the day of our arrival； 'they beat anything in this
town of Clonmel。 I do not let them for the sake of interest； and
to none but gentlemen in the army； in order that myself and my
wife； who is from Londonderry； may have the advantage of pleasant
company； genteel company； ay； and Protestant company； captain。 It
did my heart good when I saw your honour ride in at the head of all
those fine fellows； real Protestants； I'll engage； not a Papist
among them； they are too good…looking and honest…looking for that。
So I no sooner saw your honour at the head of your army； with that
handsome young gentleman holding by your stirrup； than I said to my
wife； Mistress Hyne； who is from Londonderry； 〃God bless me；〃 said
I； 〃what a truly Protestant countenance； what a noble bearing； and
what a sweet young gentleman。 By the silver hairs of his honour〃 …
and sure enough I never saw hairs more regally silver than those of
your honour … 〃by his honour's gray silver hairs； and by my own
soul； which is not worthy to be mentioned in the same day with one
of them … it would be no more than decent and civil to run out and
welcome such a father and son coming in at the head of such a
Protestant military。〃 And then my wife； who is from Londonderry；
Mistress Hyne； looking me in the face like a fairy as she is； 〃You
may say that；〃 says she。 〃It would be but decent and civil；
honey。〃 And your honour knows how I ran out of my own door and
welcomed your honour riding in company with your son； who was
walking； how I welcomed ye both at the head of your royal regiment；
and how I shook your honour by the hand； saying； I am glad to see
your honour； and your honour's son； and your honour's royal
military Protestant regiment。 And now I have you in the house； and
right proud I am to have ye one and all； one； two； three； four；
true Protestants every one； no Papists here； and I have made bold
to bring up a bottle of claret which is now waiting behind the
door； and； when your honour and your family have dined； I will make
bold too to bring up Mistress Hyne； from Londonderry； to introduce
to your honour's lady； and then we'll drink to the health of King
George； God bless him； to the 〃glorious and immortal〃 … to Boyne
water … to your honour's speedy promotion to be Lord Lieutenant；
and to the speedy downfall of the Pope and Saint Anthony of Padua。'
Such was the speech of the Irish Protestant addressed to my father
in the long lofty dining…room with three windows； looking upon the
high street of the good town of Clonmel； as he sat at meat with his
family； after saying grace like a true…hearted respectable soldier
as he was。
'A bigot and an Orangeman！' Oh yes！ It is easier to apply
epithets of opprobrium to people than to make yourself acquainted
with their history and position。 He was a specimen； and a fair
specimen； of a most remarkable body of men； who during two
centuries have fought a good fight in Ireland in the cause of
civilisation and religious truth； they were sent as colonists； few
in number； into a barbarous and unhappy country； where ever since；
though surrounded with difficulties of every kind； they have
maintained their ground； theirs has been no easy life； nor have
their lines fallen upon very pleasant places； amidst darkness they
have held up a lamp； and it would be well for Ireland were all her
children like these her adopted ones。 'But they are fierce and
sanguinary；' it is said。 Ay； ay！ they have not unfrequently
opposed the keen sword to the savage pike。 'But they are bigoted
and narrow…minded。' Ay； ay！ they do not like idolatry； and will
not bow the knee before a stone！ 'But their language is frequently
indecorous。' Go to； my dainty one； did ye ever listen to the voice
of Papist cursing？
The Irish Protestants have faults； numerous ones； but the greater
number of these may be traced to the peculiar circumstances of
their position： but they have virtues； numerous ones； and their
virtues are their own； their industry； their energy； and their
undaunted resolution are their own。 They have been vilified and
traduced … but what would Ireland be without them？ I repeat； that
it would be well for her were all her sons no worse than these
much…calumniated children of her adoption。
CHAPTER X
Protestant young gentlemen … The Greek letters … Open chimney …
Murtagh … Paris and Salamanca … Nothing to do … To whit； to whoo！ …
The pack of cards … Before Christmas。
WE continued at this place for some months； during which time the
soldiers performed their duties； whatever they were； and I； having
no duties to perform； was sent to school。 I had been to English
schools； and to the celebrated one of Edinburgh； but my education；
at the present day； would not be what it is … perfect； had I never
had the honour of being ALUMNUS in an Irish seminary。
'Captain；' said our kind host； 'you would； no doubt； wish that the
young gentleman should enjoy every advantage which the town may
afford towards helping him on in the path of genteel learning。
It's a great pity that he should waste his time in idleness … doing
nothing else than what he says he has been doing for the last
fortnight … fishing in the river for trouts which he never catches；
and wandering up the glen in the mountain； in search of the hips
that grow there。 Now； we have a school here； where he can learn
the most elegant Latin； and get an insight into the Greek letters；
which is desirable； and where； moreover； he will have an
opportunity of making acquaintance with all the Protestant young
gentlemen of the place； the handsome well…dressed young persons
whom your honour sees in the church on the Sundays； when your
honour goes there in the morning； with the rest of the Protestant
military； for it is no Papist school； though there may be a Papist
or two there … a few poor farmers' sons from the country； with whom
there is no necessity for your honour's child to form any
acquaintance at all； at all！'
And to the school I went； where I read the Latin tongue and the
Greek letters； with a nice old clergyman； who sat behind a black
oaken desk； with a huge Elzevir Flaccus before him； in a long
gloomy kind of hall； with a broken stone floor； the roof festooned
with cobwebs； the walls considerably dilapidated； and covered over
with strange figures and hieroglyphics； evidently produced by the
application of burnt stick； and there I made acquaintance with the
Protestant young gentlemen of the place； who； with whatever ECLAT
they might appear at church on a Sunday； did assuredly not exhibit
to much advantage in the schoolroom on the week days； either with
respect to clothes or looks。 And there I was in the habit of
sitting on a large stone； before the roaring fire in the huge open
chimney； and entertaining certain of the Protestant young gentlemen
of my own age； seated on similar stones； with extraordinary
accounts of my own adventures； and those of the corps； with an
occasional anecdote extracted from the story…books of Hickathrift
and Wight Wallace； pretending to be conning the lesson all the
while。
And there I made acquaintance； notwithstanding the hint of the
landlord； with the Papist 'gossoons；' as they were called； the
farmers' sons from the country； and of these gossoons； of whom
there were three； two might be reckoned as nothing at all； in the
third； however； I soon discovered that there was something
extraordinary。
He was about sixteen years old； and above six feet high； dressed in
a gray suit； the coat； from its size； appeared to have been made
for him some ten years before。 He was remarkably narrow…chested
and round…shouldered； owing； perhaps as much to the tightness of
his garment as to the hand of nature。 His face was long； and his
complexion swarthy； relieved； however； by certain freckles； with
which the skin was plentifully studded。 He had strange wandering
eyes； gray； and somewhat unequal in size； they se