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Parliament all donors of a sum not less than twenty guineas are constituted Governors for life; and every person who shall subscribe and pay any sum not less than three guineas annually, to be an annual Governor. Subscribers of two guineas to have power to recommend two patients, and of five guineas, five patients annually. The hospital contains in 1865, 45 beds; patients are only admitted on the ticket of a Governor, unless in case of persons accidentally injured, who are always immediately received. A Committee of Management is elected annually from among the Governors, on the second Monday in the month of January.

The Hospital is capable of containing 120 beds; it has an annual income of £100 from rents of houses in Mary-street, from the city Dispensary, which is accommodated with a portion of the hospital, and from the Mont de Piète,' Subscriptions from Government, and others, £45 a year; Anne Bankes's Bequest £30 a year; the Bequest of the late Marquis of Lansdowne, the interest of £3000: in all about £300 a year.

In seasons of severe epidemic, as at the outbreak of the cholera morbus in 1832, the hospital was of incalculable benefit to the citizens, as it has been also in all cases of accidents, whenever immediate relief is demanded by the sufferer. It is supplied with a large broad room in which there is a well painted portrait of the founder, surrounded by his sons, projecting the charity. The Board Room is furnished with surgical apparatus, a library for medical reference, and a remarkably well-executed picture of the Barrington family, founders of the Hospital, which was painted by Cregan, President of the Royal Hibernian Academy. There are two other pictures in the Hospital, one, of the Good Samaritan, and the other, of Christ healing the Sick, which were painted by John Murphy, a young Limerick artist, and protegèe of Sir Matthew Barrington, in London. It would be a great pity that so deserving an institution should decay or fail from want of spirited support. In addition to the hospital, the late Sir Matthew Barrington projected, and in 1887, built a Mont de Piète or charitable Pawn office, which while it existed gave relief by way of loan or pledge at a very moderate rate of interest. The Mont de Piéte which was founded on the plan of those of the same name in Italy, France, Belgium, &c., has ceased since 1845, to have an existence as such; it is built in close proximity to the hospital, and is an object of architectural ornament to the city. Since 1847 it has been converted into a police barrack. Sir Matthew Barrington's intention in building the Mont de Piéte was that the profits which he anticipated would arise from it, should be allocated to the exigencies of the hospital, which even in its incipiency did not meet with the support which it merited. He placed an active manager over the Mont de Piéte, but though debentures varying from £5 to £500, bearing interest at the rate of six per cent were freely taken, by which its capital was created; it did not realise the sanguine expectations of its benevolent and enterprising founder. From 1837 to 1840, the gross profit was £3940 10s. 24d. The total number of pledges received since the opening of the establishment up to March 19th, 1841, was 460,895; the amount lent on pledges in the four years above stated was £78,595 9s. d.-the amount received for released articles, £71,005 8s. 7d. Sir Matthew Barrington had another design in establishing this institution, namely that the humbler classes who have been in the habit of frequenting pawn offices should not pay the higher rate of interest on loans which are charged in private establishments. In the palmiest days, however, of the Mont de Piéte there

Now and since November, 1847, George's Quay Police Barrack.

were twenty licensed pawn offices in Limerick, and the business in such establishments has not declined, nor has the number of them lessened, on the contrary it has gone on increasing since then. The Mont de Piète like other useful local institutes, fell from its original purposes in consequence of gross neglect. It forms rather a remarkable object, even yet, with its cupola, pillars, railing, and small grass enclosure.

CHAPTER LI.

THE STRUGGLE FOR EMANCIPATION. THE CLARE ELECTION.-EMANCIPATION.-REMARKABLE EVENTS.-GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION.PARLIAMENTARY REFORM-MUNICIPAL REFORM.-DEATH OF WILLIAM IV.-PROCLAMATION OF QUEEN VICTORIA.-A GENERAL ELECTION.

THE limits to which we are necessarily confined will not permit us to do more than take a rapid glance over a wide field of events, commencing with 1825, in the last month of which year the Right Rev. Dr. John Ryan was consecrated Catholic Bishop of Limerick in St. John's old Chapel, by the Most Rev. Dr. Laffan, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly; and passing on through the struggle for Catholic Emancipation-the glorious victory in Clare in 1828-the remarkable contemporaneous events, and those which followed the agitation for a repeal of the denationalising act of Union, for Parliamentary and for Corporate reform-the triumph of the popular cause, the temperance movement, the growth of manufactures, &c., until we arrive at the last portion of our work, intended to illustrate the civil and military history of Limerick. In a subsequent part of the History, devoted to the Bishops, the Churches, the Religious Houses, the list of Mayors, and the enumeration of the charters, &c., granted to the Corporation, we shall supply what may possibly be omitted in these chapters. It is true that the history of the three great movements for Emancipation, Reform, and Free Trade, is still to be written in formal book shape, but the leading circumstances connected with these movements are so much identified with the general history of Ireland, that a mere passing reference to them is all that will be expected in this History.

There was no city in Ireland for which O'Connell had entertained more affection than for Limerick it was in Limerick, in 1821, that he issued two of his most remarkable letters in reference to the controversy which he then had with Mr. Sheil on the subject of Mr. Plunket's Bill in reference to the Catholic Clergy. These letters appeared in a local journal, which has long since ceased to exist. It was in Limerick that he ordered the waiter of the bar mess to take the shoes of Mr. M'Mahon (afterwards Sir William McMahon, Master of the Rolls,) from the fire-place, where they had been put inside the fender to air by an obsequious barrister, O'Connell stating, in the presence

The Limerick Herald.

3

of M'Mahon, that they ought to be kicked out of the room, an expression for which M'Mahon applauded him. Some of his best speeches were delivered at Catholic meetings held in Limerick, and at the Court House in the defence of prisoners. He lodged, during his periodical visits, at the house No. 6, Patrick-street, then occupied by Mr. Sheehan, a saddler, where he was constantly besieged by attorneys and clients; and his appearance, as he walked with a thorough air of complete independence, kicking the world before him," to and from Court, or through the city, always attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd of admirers. Going to or returning from his beloved mountain home in Kerry, he usually rested for a night in Limerick; and it was his usual habit on these occasions to address the throngs by whom his carriage was ever surrounded, when he never began a speech without, in the first place, attacking the local Tory journal, and asking, "How is Andy Watson?" its proprietor. He retained a strong hold on the affections of the citizens up to the very last visit which he paid to Limerick, which was towards the close of the summer of 1846, when, breaking down in health, and sorely disappointed in hope, he was no longer the eloquent and enthusiastic orator that he had been. During the Clare election, in 1828, Limerick was as it were the centre of operations of O'Connell and his friends. The citizens were absolutely wild with excitement. As O'Connell proceeded to Clare, to open that great county, and strike the final blow for Catholic freedom, the entire population of Limerick became well nigh frantic in their demonstrations in favor of the cause in which the nation and its avowed leader had embarked.

The return of O'Connell for Clare was an achievement hitherto unparalleled in history-it was the cutting of the gordian knot which could not be untied, and the cutting of that knot with the sword of the constitution. The immense military force with which Limerick had been filled, and which occupied every village and hamlet in Clare, had no effect in controlling the feelings of the people: it no more overawed them than did the frowns and threats of a baffled and beaten aristocracy. Every barony in Clare gave a majority to the Man of the People, over the nominee of the aristocracy, Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald; and when, at the close of the poll on the 2nd of July, 1828, the High Sheriff declared that there were 2027 votes recorded for Daniel O'Connell, and only 936 votes for his opponent, giving to the former

The late Sir William M'Mahon, Master of the Rolls, was brother of Major-General Sir Thomas M'Mahon, Bart. K.C.B. commanding at Portsmouth. Sir William was born 12th July, 1776, and married in May 1807, Frances, daughter of Beresford Burston, Esq. King's Counsel, by whom he had issue two sons, and having married again in 1814, Charlotte, sister of Sir Robert Shaw, Bart. has had issue four sons and three daughters. He was created a Baronet, 6th May, 1815, with the rank of Privy Councillor, and the office of Master of the Rolls, in which he succeeded John Philpot Curran. The deceased Baronet was succeeded in his title and estates by his eldest son, Sir Beresford Burston M'Mahon, Bart. The father of Sir William M'Mahon was Comptroller of the port of Limerick.*

2 Fagan's Life of O'Connell.

4 Grattan's Sketch of O'Connell.

See O'Connell's Life, by his Son, John O'Connell.

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Chas. II.-Mountiford Westropp.
Anne-Benjamin Chetwode.

Geo. II.-Daniel Carrington.

Geo. III.-Wm. M'Mahon, 23rd Sept. 1801.

Elgar Pagden was the last Comptroller of the Customs of Limerick, the office having been

established in 1858.

a majority of 1091, after a contest unequalled since the commencement of Parliamentary elections, the joy that diffused itself everywhere knew no bounds. On his return to Limerick from Clare on the Monday after his victory, O'Connell was escorted into the city by the congregated trades, with banners and heralds bearing wands wreathed with laurel. A vast concourse of people swelled to thousands the crowds by which his triumphal car was surrounded. He arrived at his hotel in George's-street,1 where he addressed the assembled myriads, demanding of them if ever before they had seen a Catholic member of Parliament? He bestowed lavish abuse on the ministry, on the corporation of Limerick, as well as on that of Dublin; he denounced the local Tory press in unmeasured terms. He left town on the 8th of July in a green barouche and four, loudly cheered, and accompanied by "honest Jack Lawless." To shew the extent of the preparations made to quell the people by the Government at this time, there were brought into the Limerick district a brigade of Artillery from Athlone, three troops of the Bays from Carlow, three troops of the third Dragoon Guards from Mayo and Galway, two companies of the 5th Foot from Athlone, three companies of the 64th from Galway, 62nd Regiment from Templemore, 75th ditto from Mullingar, in addition to an enormous strength of military that had been before this in Limerick and Clare. Many of these soldiers sympathised heartily with O'Connell and his cause, and declared their feelings in terms not to be mistaken.

As a counterpoise to this victory, Brunswick Clubs were now established everywhere throughout the country by the ascendancy party. At Rathkeale, a great meeting of the gentry of the county of Limerick took place, at which a Brunswick Club was initiated, and of which Lord Muskerry became the President At Charleville a club was likewise initiated. At Nenagh, the Tories of the Ormonds established a Club. A Protestant declaration, drawn up in Limerick in favor of Catholic claims, lay for a fortnight at the Commercial Buildings, and had not received a dozen signatures during that time. Liberal and Independent Clubs started up side by side with the Brunswick Clubs. It was action and counter action-plot and counter plot. The Order of Liberators, which had been established by O'Connell, who first spoke of his intention to that effect at the great Waterford election in 1826, between Villiers Stuart and Lord George Beresford, received new accessions every day to its members. In the Catholic Association Richard Sheil thundered with Demosthenic fire, while "Bully Boyton" fired from behind some "Constitutional" Club, in sustainment of principles which had already become exploded. The faction feuds which had hitherto divided and destroyed the people, ceased in general reconciliations, particularly between the factions in Limerick and in Tipperary, where on one occasion, during this year, 50,000 men assembled, and swore on the altar of their country that they never would fight again among themselves, an event which more than any other struck terror into the hitherto dominant faction.◄

Then Moriarty's-afterwards Cruise's Royal Hotel, which he never left without calling for Mrs. Cruise and thanking her for her elegant hospitality. This hotel is now (1865) rented by Mr. John Joseph Cleary, and retains its high character.

2 A powerful satire was composed on this club, and sung to the air of "Tally-i-ho in the morning."

3 The Rev. Charles Boyton, F.T.C.D., a powerful speaker on the Protestant side.

4 Such a reconciliation, which is well described in a contemporary ballad by John Banim, occurred again at Emly in the winter of 1862, when the Three Years Old and the Four Years Old Factions were reconciled by the Archbishop of Cashel, the Most Rev. Dr. Leahy, after a mission given in that parish by the Redemptorist Fathers of Limerick.

Emancipation could be no longer postponed; and though O'Connell could not take his seat in the House of Commons without an oath which he rejected with utter scorn, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel discovered that it would be better policy to repeal that oath and concede Catholic claims, than risk a civil war. On Wednesday, the 18th of March, 1829, the Relief Bill was read a second time in the House of Commons by a majority of 180, and contemporaneously with the vote a bill for the defranchisement of the forty-shilling freeholders. It is not our purpose to depict the state of things by which this great victory was surrounded. The Clare election continued to be a thorn in the side of the Tories, and of the aristocracy. Mr. William Smith O'Brien, at the time, issued a manifesto, which gave mortal offence to the friends of O'Connell, and which was followed by a hostile meeting between Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Steele, the confidential follower of the Liberator. The local memorabilia during these days of gigantic agitation, were few and unimportant, absorbed, as the people appear to have been, in the vortex which drew within its gaping jaws nearly every other consideration.

One of the fiercest contests that had taken place after the Clare election, was that which occurred in the county of Limerick in 1830, when the candidates were Colonel O'Grady and Mr. Massy Dawson. The contest, as usual, lasted several days; and at the conclusion Colonel O'Grady had a majority of 215 votes on the gross poll. In two years afterwards-viz. in December, 1832, a contested election took place in the county of Limerick, when there voted for Colonel Fitzgibbon, 1056; Colonel O'Grady, 1040; Godfrey Massy, 760; Alexander M'Carthy, 751.

The particulars of this extraordinary election, the names, &c., of the parties who were mixed up with it, together with a number of songs and ballads, which were sung in the interest of Colonel O'Grady, appeared in a brochure printed in Limerick in this year, and being dedicated to Daniel O'Connell, it is called Quinbus Flestrum-the Man-Mountain.* Some of the ballads were piquant. The following stanza of a jeu d'esprit is a fair specimen of the entire.

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Lieutenant-Colonel S. O'Grady, who represented the county of Limerick in several parliaments, was the eldest son of Chief Baron O'Grady. He joined the 7th Hussars early in life, and on the return of Buonaparte from Elba, he sailed, having then the rank of Lieutenant, with his regiment for Brussels, to take part in the brilliant series of manoeuvres in which Wellington was then engaged; and which ultimately resulted in the total downfall of the Emperor, and in his banishment to St. Helena. There were few officers of the age and rank of O'Grady whose conduct was so conspicuous at so early a period, and so marked by the approbation of his superiors. When Lieutenant Standish O'Grady, he was placed in command of the 7th Hussars at the desperate enterprise at Genappe,† the result of which was to secure a safe counter-march for the British troops to the plains of Waterloo, where they were destined so shortly afterwards to win by their valour imperishable fame. At Waterloo, Lieut.-Colonel O'Grady again distinguished himself, but nearly thirty years elapsed before a tardy recognition of his services promoted him to the

See Gulliver's Travels.

For the full particulars of this action, and of the gallant conduct of O'Grady, see Captain Siborne's History of Waterloo.

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