four men from death, and Kerr from perdition." The intelligence was conveyed to the friends and advocates of the unfortunate gentlemen, which was tantamount to a reprieve from the arm of death. The hour of trial approached, Kerr was conveyed to the castle, where he received his instructions from the advisers of the state; the worn-out garments of the prison were replaced by new and more becoming attire; he proceeded on his journey to the county of D, escorted by dragoons with all the pomp of a judge of assize, for in those days the government informers were always protected by a military guard. He appeared in court. The prisoners were arraigned,-acquitted,-and returned in triumph to their homes, for honest Kerr was no longer a government informer. Of the four gentlemen who were the subjects of this anecdote two I believe are yet living. I know not what political opinions they may now hold, but they are men of truth, and will recognize the occurrence should this page ever meet their

eyes.

CHAPTER VII.

Funeral processions-Opposed by the civil authorities— Murmurs of the people-Warm display of public feeling-Harvest-Fresh proscriptions-Wanton conflagrations-Church militant-Vindictive outrage.

THE delight we had experienced in the preservation of four virtuous lives, was followed by the most poignant distress for the victim of an early grave-youth, innocence and beauty were consigned to the tomb; and the hand that records her virtues, even at this distant period stops to wipe off the tear, that flows from the recollection of her sensibility and worth.

The circumstances attending the death of this amiable girl are of too interesting a nature to be omitted. Her brother, Mr. Henry Haslett, a respectable merchant of Belfast, was one of the companions of our prison. He had an only child whom he loved with an affection bordering on weakness; this child was the sole amusement of his solitary hours, and, too young to afford

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any subject for suspicion, had daily access to the prison. But the father's fleeting happiness was soon blighted; his son caught a contagious disease, whilst his sister, in watchful solicitude on the child, inhaled the fatal malady which consigned one of the fairest daughters of Ireland to an untimely grave.

Never shall I forget the impression which this mournful event caused in the circle of our little commonwealth. The lovely subject of our distress had been endeared to us all, not less by the sweetness of her disposition than the fascinating powers of a cultivated mind. Her brother's happiness was the object of her most anxious concern, but the benevolent feelings of her heart extended to every soul in distress. It was impossible to exclude her visits from the prison; for, from the surly turnkey to the cold and impenetrable man of office, her voice acted as a talisman on the most obdurate heart. Her presence dispelled every gloom, as the cheering But the meteor which messenger of Heaven.

dazzled the eye and enraptured the heart, was only for a moment exhibited to the world to raise the affections from terrestrial scenes, and elevate them to a purer sphere-soft as the summer breeze and mild as the early breath of spring, her gentle spirit left the clay-clad form,

which was borne by the hand of affection to the far distant tomb. The daughters of Erin strewed garlands in the way-thousands of youthful patriots surrounded the bier,-and in the mournful procession of an hundred miles, every town and hamlet paid homage to the virtues of the dead. I have in vain endeavoured to procure a copy of the eloquent oration which the venerable Dixon pronounced at her tomb.*

The proud but sincere tribute of respect which was paid to the virtues of this interesting female, seemed to have formed a precedent for the sepultural honours, which were now generally extended to all those who died at this period, entitled to the confidence and attachment of their countrymen. The enthusiasm of the people on these occasions was unbounded. The immense concourse which thronged the funeral processions became a subject of alarm to the government, and the civil power interposed its authority to repress this display of national feeling. But their interference was received with bitter remonstrance, and sometimes resistance, on the part of the people. "You have incarcerated", said they, "our friends and our brothers in dun

*The Rev. William Steel Dickson, Presbyterian minister at Portaferry, in the province of Ulster.

geons; you deny them the right of trial, and to screen your iniquity, you have suspended the laws of the land: if guilty, bring them to the bar of justice; if innocent, restore them to their homes. Are their wives to live in a perpetual state of widowhood? and are the children to be deprived of support, while the fathers pine in prison, the victims of an arbitrary enactment*, more cruel and unjust than the prompt sentence of death from your sanguinary tribunals? Will you carry your resentment even beyond the grave? and shall the rights of sepulture be denied, because a just tribute is paid to the virtues of the dead?"

Never perhaps was the popular mind more roused than at this moment, nor more generous feelings evinced by a brave and a kind-hearted people. Where the families of the prisoners were large and the means not abundant for their support, their children were taken by their more opulent neighbours, and treated with the most kind and paternal affection. When the proprietor of a farm was removed, the neighbouring populace assembled, tilled his ground, made up his harvest, planted or dug out his potatoes, as the season of the year was suited to

*Suspension of the "Habeas Corpus."