his heart, is only
to repeat what I have already mentioned as to his character; for he was
watchful over every trifle that should betray a knowledge of his nature,
and sensitively alive to the terrors of ridicule. From that hour forward
he became my mother's enemy,--not, as many others might, by decrying her
pretensions to beauty, or by any depreciatory remarks on her dress
or manner, but in a far deeper sense, and with more malignant
determination.

To learn who she was, of what family, what were her connections, their
rank, name, and station, were his first objects; and although the
difficulties of the inquiry were considerable, his sources of knowledge
were sufficient to overcome them. He got to hear something at least
of her history, and to trace back her mysterious journey to an
ancient chateau belonging to the Crown of France. Beyond this, in all
livelihood, he could not go; but even here were materials enough for his
subtlety to make use of.

The Viceregal visit to Castle Carew had been all planned by him. He
had persuaded the Duke that the time was come when, by a little timely
flattering, the whole landed gentry of Ireland were in his hands. The
conciliating tone of the speech which opened Parliament, the affectedly
generous confidence of England in all the acts of the Irish Legislature,
had already succeeded to a miracle. Grattan himself moved the address
in terms of unbounded reliance on the good faith of Government. Flood
followed in the same strain, and others, of lesser note, were ashamed
to utter a sentiment of distrust, in the presence of such splendid
instances of confiding generosity. My father, although not a leading
orator of the House, was, from connection and fortune, possessed of much
influence, and well worth the trouble of gaining over, and, as Rutledge
said, "It was pleasant to have to deal with a man who wanted neither
place, money, nor the peerage, but whose alliance could be ratified at
his own table, and pledged in his own Burgundy."

Every one knows what happens in the East when a great sovereign makes a
present of an elephant to some inferior chief. The morale of a Viceregal
visit is pretty much in the same category. It is an honor that cannot be
declined, and it is generally sure to ruin the entertainer. Of course
I do not talk of the present times nor of late years. Lord-Lieutenants
have grown to be less stately; the hosts have become less splendid. But
in the days I speak of here, t