d utterance, and I
discovered that his lordship, in his general and lofty disregard of
the shades of popular sentiment, had among his guests some individuals
whose rank and wealth had not preserved them from the taint of
republicanism. As it was not my purpose to make a ball-room the scene
of a political squabble, and as I felt it due to my official position
to avoid any unnecessary entanglement in the obscure follies of
provincial partizanship, I first tried to laugh down the topic. But a
young orator, a handsome and fluent enthusiast, recently returned from
a continental excursion, gave so stirring a picture of the glories of
French independence, and the glittering advantages which must accrue
to all countries following the example, that I was forced to stand on
my defence. The gallant republican was not to be repelled; he poured
out upon me, as he warmed with the theme, so vast a catalogue of
public injuries, in language so menacing, yet so eloquent, that I was
forced to ask whether I was standing in the midst of a Jacobin
club--whether his object was actually to establish a democracy, to
govern by the guillotine, to close up the churches, and inscribe the
tombs with--death is an eternal sleep; to swear to the extinction of
monarchy, and proclaim universal war. Our dispute had now attracted
general notice. He answered with still more vehement and elaborate
detail. I had evidently the majority on my side, but some few adhered
to him, and those, too, men of consequence, and obvious determination.

The ladies shrank affrighted, as the contest grew more angry; and the
usual and unhappy result of political discussion in Ireland, an
exchange of cards, was about to take place, when one of the servants
brought me a small packet of papers which had been found on the body
of the assassin. Glancing over them, I saw a list of the leaders of
the insurrection, and the first name in the paper that of my
antagonist. I crushed the document in my hand, and beckoned him to a
window. There, alone, and out of hearing of the guests, who, however,
followed us anxiously with their eyes, I charged him with his guilt.
He denied it fiercely. I gave him five minutes to consider whether he
would confess or abide the consequences. His countenance visibly
exhibited the perturbations of his mind; he turned pale and red
alternately, shuddered, then braced himself up with desperate
resolution, and finally ended by denying and defying every thing. It