a House. He reviewed books which
were published, and revised books which were unpublished. He contributed
essays, stories and poetry to the _News of Literature_, the _European
Review_, and the _London Magazine_, for the smallest one of which he
received more money than for the huge translation of Prevot two years
previous. He was now enabled to take more comfortable chambers; but he
miscalculated his powers of endurance; when in such a stage of mental
anxiety and mental application he would remain up at literary work till
he heard the church clocks strike four in the morning. The evil results
of this abuse of health soon made themselves manifest. He had lost all
appetite for food. His rest was broken by fits of insomnia, during which
his heart would beat so loud as to be distinctly heard by his brother in
the same room. In the streets he would be suddenly attacked by swooning
fits, during which he would have to support himself by leaning on gate
posts and sitting on door-steps. At the earnest solicitation of his good
brother he set out for Ireland with the hope of recruiting his failing
energies by a few months' leave of absence. His vacation was productive
of literary as well as of sanitary results.

He returned to London with a volume of stories for the press, and sold
the copyright to the Messrs. Simpkin Marshall & Co., for L70. The work
appeared in December 1826, under the title of "Hollandtide Tales." It
was well received. The style was original, graceful and easy. The three
novels, which comprised the series, were interesting and free from the
taint of grossness and immorality, so erroneously deemed essential when
describing the habits and customs of the poorer classes. It was an
eloquent vindication of a much-wronged portion of the Irish peasantry,
and like Banim's contemporary writings, it was hailed with universal
exultation in Irish literary circles. The success of his first work was
so immediate and decisive that he resigned his editorship, abandoned the
magazines and reviews, and continued with few interruptions to appear
annually before the public as a novelist. "Tales of the Munster
Festivals," which appeared in two series, and for which he received
L250, was the title of his next work. In 1858 appeared "The Collegians"
which placed him with one bound in the fore front of the great writers
of his country. It was not only the best Irish novel that had appeared
previous to its first publication, but is admitt