same Journals announced his classic victories and his expulsion. His father, heart-sick of Dublin, retired to his estate; Lord Edward left Ireland for Paris; and Henry bade a temporary adieu to his native land, and set out, accompanied by a gentleman of erudition and integrity, to travel wherever the disturbed state of the Continent would permit him.

CHAPTER IX.

With news the time's in labour.

Antony and Cleopatra.

CASTLE CARRA was now solitude itself. Another year rolled on; and while O'Hara's mind brooded over his military disgrace, as if to augment his chagrin, and consummate his public degradation, a command from the Lord Chancellor recalled his Commission of the Peace. No impropriety could be adduced to warrant this act of harshness, nor was any attempted. It was briefly stated, that the Government considered him unfit for holding that office.

In the following paper, the death of his gallant friend De Clifford was announced. In a frigate of very inferior strength, he had brought the Republican ship Egalité, of 48, and the corvette El Corso, of 18 guns, to

close action, and after two hours' desperate fighting, captured the corvette, and sunk the frigate; but fell by one of the last shots from the sinking Frenchman. His first lieutenant caught him in his arms as he tottered. The crew of the Endymion cheered at the moment. "Has she struck?" asked the dying commander. "No;" was the reply, "but she can scarcely swim. There,-there,—she's "Save them! gone, by Heaven!"

save

them!" muttered De Clifford, and expired.

"I had almost completed my answer to your last letter," said the Major to his son, "when one from the widow of my gallant friend reached me. Poor De Clifford has named me his executor, and, with her mother, joint guardian of his daughter. All the property he left is but trifling,-not quite two thousand pounds; and his widow entreats me to procure her some retired residence in my neighbourhood. She has, I fear from necessity alone, given up her establishment; but I am informed it will scarcely cover her debts. The trust confided to me is truly distressing,

VOL. I.

L

but it is sacred, and I shall fulfil it as I best may. I have replied to Lady Sarah De Clifford, and invited her and her daughter, on disposing of their house, to make Castle Carra their home, till they can be accommodated with a suitable residence. Therefore, my dear Harry, on receipt of this letter, I must reluctantly entreat your return. My spirits are not fit to entertain a mourner, and your presence will be necessary to perform the more active rites of hospitality.

"P. S.-I have received a reply, gratefully accepting my invitation: early in Spring I am to expect them. This will give you six months' further leave of absence. Till then, command your own time.

"F. O'H."

To connect our memoir, we will give a few extracts from the elder O'Hara's letters to his son. The notices of politics were necessarily short and cautious, as any correspondence between a suspected person, and a resident in a hostile country, would be a subject of suspicion to the Government.

"Politics," continued the Major to Harry, "are alarmingly violent. All our old neighbours are disunited. There can be no neutrality in this unfortunate country. I am an object of suspicion to both parties. My military disgrace has turned all the Orange faction on my back; and the Republicans, finding me firm in my determination to avoid any political connexion at present, eye me with something bordering on distrust. My retirement is now profoundly seclusive. When a tenant visits

the Castle on business, even his humble call is now-a-days somewhat consequential to us. You may remember what numbers crowded to

his Honour for laa (law).' The Chancellor (and, God knows, I thank him for the measure, though the means were not so agreeable) has despatched my clients to justices of better regulated opinions; and when the knocker falls at times, even poor old Pero (sole survivor of all the spaniels) loudly testifies his astonishment. I sometimes contrast the present with other days. But I have done. Adieu."