CHAPTER III.

HAVING thus given a voluminous account of the rise and progress of an association, which in its influence on the political and moral world, has not its parallel in civil history, we shall proceed to dilate upon those circumstances, which have a more immediate reference to the private life of Mr. O'Connell, all of which, however, had more or less some relation to the part he then enacted on the political theatre of his country. At the time when Mr. O'Connell appeared as the great champion of the Catholic cause, the corporation of Dublin was composed of men acting under the influence of such conservative principles, and imbued with such an intolerant spirit of Protestant ascendency, that they thought to carry every thing before them by an unbounded stretch of authority, and an infraction even of the law itself to suit their own political purposes. That a man of O'Connell's stamp and character should be the object of their inveterate hatred, of their unrelenting persecution, and of their secret enmity, is one of those consequences which follow, as naturally as the light, does the sun. It may also be supposed that Mr. O'Connell in the various speeches that he made at the Catholic meetings, was not very moderate in the epithets, which he employed against the members of the corporation, and on one occasion, when he attended a meeting in Capel street, and in illustrating some matter, he was anxious to enforce, he alluded in a contemptuous manner to the corporation of Dublin. "The beggarly corporation of Dublin," was it seems one of the epithets of scorn which he used and in reprobation of this act, Mr. J. N. D'Esterre being member of the corporation, and having seen this phrase, addressed the following letter to Mr. O'Connell.

Sir,-Carrick's paper of the 23rd inst. (in its report of the debates of a meeting of Catholic gentlemen, on the subject of a petition,) states that you have applied the appellation of beggarly to the corporation of this city, calling it a beggarly corporation, and, therefore, as a member of that body, and feeling how painful such is, I beg leave to inquire whether you really used or expressed yourself in such language?

I feel the more justified in calling on you on this occasion, as such language was not warranted or provoked by any thing on the part of the corporation; neither was it consistent with the subject of your debate, or the deportment of the other Catholic gentlemen who were present; and though I view it so inconsistent in every respect, I am in hopes the editor is under error, and not you.

I have further to request your reply in the course of the evening. And remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

J. N. D'ESTERRE.

11, Bachelor's-walk, 26 Jan. 1815.

Mr. O'Connell's answer was as follows:

Sir,-In reply to your letter of yesterday, and without either admitting or disclaiming the expression respecting the corporation of Dublin, in the print to which you allude, I deem it right to inform you, that, from the calumnious manner in which the religion and character of the Catholics of Ireland are treated in that body, no terms attributed to me, however reproachful, can exceed the contemptuous feelings I entertain for that body in its corporate capacity—although, doubtless, it contains many valuable persons, whose conduct, as individuals, (I lament) must necessarily be confounded in the acts of a general body.

I have only to add, that this letter must close our correspondence on this subject.—I am, &c. &c.

Merion Square. Jan. 27th, 1815.

DANIEL O'CONNELL.

On the following day, a letter was left at Merion-square, for Mr. O'Connell during his absence at the courts. Its di

rection was different from the former one which came from Mr. D'Esterre, and Mr. James O'Connell, who had instructions to open any communications that were directed to his brother, in his absence, ascertained the quarter from whence it came. He sought merely for the signature, and on perceiving it to be Mr. D'Esterre's, he immediately closed the letter, and returned it in the following note to that gentleman :—

Sir,--From the tenor of your letter of yesterday, my brother did not expect that your next communication would have been made in writing. He directed me to open his letters in his absence; your last letter, bearing a different address from the former one, was opened by me; but, upon seeing the name subscribed, I have declined to read it, and, by his direction, I return it to you inclosed, and unread.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

Merion-square, Friday Evening.

JAMES O'CONNELL,

Things remained in this condition until the following Sunday. On that day, Mr. James O'Connell received a note from Mr. D'Esterre, containing disrespectful observations on himself and his brother. Immediately after the receipt of it, he sent his friend Captain O'Mullan to Mr. D'Esterre to say, that after he had adjusted his affair with his brother, he would bring him to account for his conduct to himself peculiarly. Captain O'Mullan at the same time intimated that Counsellor O'Connell was astonished at his not hearing in, what he conceived the proper way from Mr. D'Esterre. Nothing further happened on that day; and on the following morning, Mr. Lidwell, who remained there several days, to be the friend of Mr. O'Connell, though some members of his family were seriously indisposed, left town for home, despairing of any issue being put to the controversy. Monday passed on, and on Tuesday considerable sensation was created by a rumour that Mr. D'Esterre was advised to go to the Four Courts to offer Mr. O'Connell personal violence. Neither of the parties came in contact; but it seems that Mr. D'Esterre was met on

one of the quays by Mr. Richard O'Gorman, who remonstrated with him, by stating, that he conceived, he was pursuing a very unusual sort of conduct. This occurred about three o'clock,

but no challenge followed. About four, it was understood that Mr. D'Esterre was in the streets, and Mr. O'Connell paraded about with one or two of his friends, but did not come across his antagonist. A multitude soon collected about him, among whom there could not be less than five hundred gentlemen of respectability, and Mr. O'Connell, then, had no other resource left than to take refuge in a house in Exchequer-street. In a short time, Judge Day entered in his magisterial capacity to put him under arrest. The Hon. Justice said, he would be satisfied, if he had the guarantee of Mr. O'Connell's honour, that he would proceed no further in the business. "It is not my duty, Mr. Justice," said Mr. O'Connell, "to be the aggressor. I will, therefore, pledge my honour that I will not be the aggressor-further, however, I must tell you, that no human consideration will induce me to go. The Hon. Judge then retired, and Mr. O'Connell shortly after repaired to Merrion-square. No challenge of any kind grew out of that day's proceedings.

On Wednesday morning, however, it was at length intimated to Mr. O'Connell, that Mr. D'Esterre intended to call upon him for a meeting, and accordingly, Sir Edward Stanley, then barrack-master of Dublin, waited upon Mr. O'Connell with a hostile message.

The message was accepted; the necessary measures were arranged between Sir Edward and Major Macnamara, of the county of Clare, son-in-law of Judge Finncane, eldest son of Francis Macnamara, of Moriesk, Esq. an officer of consummate bravery and polished manners. The hour appointed was three o'clock on Wednesday; the place, Bishop's-court Demesne, Lord Ponsonby's seat in the county of Kildare, thirteen miles distant from town. It was agreed by the seconds, that the distance should be ten paces, and that each party should have a

case of pistols, to fire accoraing to his judgement. Sir Edward Stanley, Mr. D'Esterre's friend, then addressed Major Macnamara, Mr. O'Connell's friend as follows::

Sir Edward-Well, Sir, when each has discharged his case of pistols, I hope the affair will be considered as terminated, and that we leave the ground.

Major Macnamara-Sir, you may, of course, take your friend from the ground when you please. You, Sir, are the challenger, and you may retire from the ground whenever you think proper, but I shall not enter into any such condition as you propose. However, it is probable there may be no occasion to discharge the whole of a case of pistols.

At three precisely, Mr. O'Connell attended by his second, Surgeon Mackin, and a number of friends, were on the ground. About four, Mr. D'Esterre attended only by Surgeon Peele Sir Edward Stanley (his second), Mr. Piers, and a Mr. D'Esterre of Limerick, appeared. There was some conversation between the seconds as to position, mode of fire, &c. which added to other sources of delay, occupied forty minutes. During this interval, Mr. D'Esterre took occasion to say that his quarrel with Mr. O'Connell was not of a religious nature-to the Catholics, or their leaders, he said, he had no animosity whatsoever. At forty minutes past four, the combatants were on the ground. They both displayed the greatest coolness and courage. The friends of both parties retired, and the combatants having a pistol in each hand, with directions to discharge them at their discretion, prepared to fire. They levelled -and before the lapse of a second both shots were heard; Mr. D'Esterre's was first, and missed-Mr. O'Connell's followed instantaneously, and took effect in the thigh of his antagonist about an inch below the hip. Mr. D'Esterre of course fell and both the surgeons hastened to him. They found that the ball had traversed the hip, and could not be found. There was an immense effusion of blood. All parties prepared to move towards home, and arrived in town before eight o'clock.