the soldiers were to remain to defend the king and parlia ment. I was not the only person in company whom this intelligence affected. All the young farmers were volunteers, and they looked as serious as the ladies did, alarmed at this appalling news. A little reflection, however, satisfied both parties, that such a general conscription could not be intended; and the volunteers became valiant in proportion as they became assured that their services would not be called into such dangerous employ. The maid-servant shortly appeared, bearing in her hands a tea-tray, four feet by two and a half, followed by Madame Piety with a hissing urn of water, hot as the zeal which inflamed the heart of its sanctified-looking bearer. Tea was succeeded by a syllabub served in the summerhouse of the garden, and as the evening advanced, the swains became more free, the ladies less formal; so that before supper was announced, (which, for the honour of country life, was served at a quarter before nine) every one seemed perfectly at their ease. This was the hour for the old man's wit and wine to flow. He had a fling, as he termed it, at every one of the party; and although at five, his loose conversation would have been met by frowns, at nine o'clock his ribald jests and broad double entendre were rewarded by loud laughs and gentle "O fies!" One story led to another under the encouraging promptings of the post-mistress, and while all declared they were "too bad!" all laughed and listened. Yet there were two faces at that table which partook not of the general hilaritythe hostess's and my own! She pursed her pretty mouth and knit her expressive brow, crying, "For shame, my dear!" with what I dare swear the rest of the company thought affected anger; while the seriousness that clouded my brow arose from the painful reflections on the state of my country, and the safety of my family and friends, particularly of one dear object, whose locale I was but too well aware was the very focus of disaffection. But, independently of these feelings, so natural to me, the vulgar mirth of the company, and the cause of it, were both foreign to my taste; and I was not sorry when twilight warned the visiters that the moment of parting had arrived. I tendered my escort to the post-mistress, having, by a telegraphic look from my hostess, learned that such an offer was agreeable to her, and it was as joyfully accepted by the gratified old lady. We took our departure in a body, my presence, I dare say, for the time, proving a protection against the scandal which all were ready to pour out on the poor woman, whose hospitalities they had partaken of so freely. The majority separated at the entrance of the village to pair off to their respective residences, while I jogged on with VOL. II. 17 the post-mistress tucked under my arm most lovingly-on her part at least. As we had not now above two hundred yards farther to walk to her dwelling, she determined to make the most of her time and occasion. "A very good kind of woman is Mrs. Sinnot, sir, is she not?" 86 Particularly kind and amiable, indeed, Mrs. Pudish." "And you, I am sure, think her very handsome, sir?" "O yes, madam, a charming young woman; and one of the best and fondest of wives I ever saw!" "But what a pity, captain, that she should have such an old husband?" "That is entirely for her consideration, madam. She really seems quite happy and contented." "Happy, indeed!-no such thing, sir; she can't be happybut she may be happy!" said the dame, correcting herself, “if she chooses. But, O! 'tis a sad thing to be wedded to an OLD man!" continued poor Mrs. Pudish, sighing from the very peak of her stays. "I speak from experience. Lieutenant Pudish was fifty-nine years old when, at the age of eighteen, I surrendered my hand to him, and he lived six years after!-I was sacrificed, sir; but it was not so with Mrs. Sinnot." We just arrived at her door as the church clock struck ten. I only waited until the old lady fumbled out her latch key to take my leave; but when the opening of the door was accomplished, my politeness was challenged to see her safe into her home. Two minutes I thought could make no great difference, so I consented: after obtaining entrance, she closed her door, and taking me by the hand led the way to her little parlour, where the rushlight, left by her daily attendant half an hour before, dimly burned in its lantern, making not "lightbut darkness visible!" Whether from the effects of a few glasses of wine extra, or the defects of high-heeled shoes, I know not, but when about midway, poor Dame Pudish's feet suddenly failed her, and down she fell, dragging me in her vortex. I soon, however, recovered my footing, and groping about, popped my hand on an object which I at first considered a catmy abhorrence! but, on pressure, felt it to be awig! I directed my steps towards the glimmering taper, and at its feeble flame illumined the mould candle which stood beside it in polished brass. With this aid the wig was replaced before the fair owner could be aware that it had been defiled by the touch of man. My next effort was to place the lady once more on the perpendicular, and then to escape her too ardent thanks for my kind attention to her under the distressing accident. She protested that she had but half recovered herself, and entreated me to remain a few minutes until she recruited her spirits: to effect which the more speedily, she drew from her cupboard a small cruet of cogniac, of which she helped herself to a spoonful, then tendered me the cordial drop. I feared even to sip; but I was destined to taste; for the old lady, in a very fervent parting salute, gave me to understand that her liquor and her love were of the first order of strength. I rejoiced to purchase my present freedom by the promise of a future visit alone; and, to ensure it, she said, "I have a great deal to tell you about your beauty, but I see you are impatient to get home to see her black diamonds: but when you next come I'll tell you how your dear Patty became the wife of her old uncle Launcelot Sinnot. I stood almost riveted for a moment to the threshold; but trembling for the consequences of delay, I took a hurried leave, and ran homewards as fast as my then active limbs allowed me; a task which did not occupy ten minutes. The unbolting and unbarring of doors was an audible hint that I had outstaid my time. From the top of the stairs I heard the voice of my hostess issue her mandate to the servant, "Take care of the lights, and go to bed, Martha!" The next moment bang went the chamber door, and shot went the lock. My slippers were placed in the hall under the marble table beneath the clock, on which stood my lighted taper. Martha the elect kindly stooped on her knees to place them on my feet; and while I leaned with one hand on the cold and polished stone, the other somehow or other found a resting-place on the partly uncovered shoulder of the saintly cook, the warmth of which first apprized me of its position. I know not what made me turn two or three times to cast a glance on the daughter of faith; but recollecting that I had not thanked her, or bade her good night, -civilities which her attentions claimed-I did so ere I reached the first landing-place; but in such a low tone of voice, that I scarcely reached my chamber door ere she appeared, unslippered, to ask me, what it was I had pleased to ask for. Before, however, I could reply, she was off like a ghost at the first glimpse of the morn, and at the same instant I heard the watchful mistress's voice, crying, "Puss, puss; min, min;-Martha, are you below?" "No, ma'am, in bed," answered the faithful, from the servant's dormitory. Slam once more went the door, and I to my bed, leaving an unbarred portal for the benefit of the cool night air, and thought no more of this naughty world until an hour after midnight, when I awoke under the influ ence of the night-mare, CHAPTER XLIV. "By heaven, Poins, I feel me much to blame, THE next day brought us a newspaper containing the full details of the first grand rebellious movement on the 23d of May, and in the midst of my concern at the uhappy event, I derived some consolation at finding Mrs. Pudish's statement of the surprise of the castle and seizure of the Lord-lieutenant, &c. entirely unfounded. By the same post, I had a letter from my agents, informing me that my regiment was ordered from Northumberland to the coast of Lancashire; so I contented myself to remain in my present good quarters until the arrival of the regiment at its new point of assembly. I received a hint shortly after breakfast to hold myself in readiness to attend my hostess to Bristol, where her curiosity prompted her to go to hear all the news. My satisfaction at hearing the old gentleman decline the jaunt was greatly diminished by learning that James was ordered to be the driver on the occasion, the lady's scruples not allowing her to risk herself (or her character rather) by going such a distance unattended by the family servant in the absence of her dear! Mrs. Sinnot had many acquaintances at Bristol; but her visit at this time was confined to the family of one who ranked no higher than a flour-merchant or meal-man, as it is there termed, where I was doomed to hear the most absurd, but at the same time horrifying reports, which every fresh arrival from Ireland gave rise to; and I am persuaded that not the metropolis of Ireland, nor any of its cities, were thrown into such a frightful state of alarm as the good city of Bristol in these days. Had the rebel Irish been on the full march from Pill the terror could scarcely have been more general. Nor was my mind much tranquillised by any intelligence I could obtain of the actual state of affairs in that unhappy country; for the few refugees I met with consisted chiefly of women, children, and aged persons, whose arrangements for flight had been made some time before, and who had not waited for the explosion; therefore I was left in ignorance of the force, the position, and the class of commanders of the rebels; and of the important fact, whether the insurrection had that partial success so loudly insisted on by the Bristol authorities when calling all the citizens to arms. A meeting took place at the exchange, when a loyal, that is, an unmeaning, address to the king was read, and voted by acclamation, in which the lives-and-fortune-men made an empty tender of both in support of his majesty's person, crown, and dignity! This was of course followed by a loyal dinner, which was quickly got up in order to afford the good citizens an opportunity of expressing their zeal and devotion to King, Constitution, and Corporation cookery. I must honestly confese, that except for my apprehensions for the safety of my own family and personal friends, I did not feel that intense and racking anxiety which rebellion in the land of my birth ought to have excited. It is probable that I did not give the subject that deep consideration which, at a more advanced period of life, so awful an event would have aroused. Besides, I was leading a life of idleness and pleasure, which, to a youthful mind left little room for sober reflection. Prolonging our visit until seven in the evening, we proceeded homewards, and found the old gentleman consoling himself in our absence with the company of the post-mistress and a game of cribbage. The intelligence from Ireland poured on us in such a torrent of truth and falsehood, that I made it a point to visit Bristol every day after breakfast to read the London evening papers of the preceding day; but the important news of the defeat and dispersion of the grand rebel army in a general action at New Ross on the 5th June was first received at Bristol from Waterford in twenty hours. The opinion was that the rebellion was then crushed. Would to Heaven it had been so! I shall ever esteem it as one of the most fortunate circumstances in my humble life that my duty did not call me into action against my unhappy countrymen, who had but too many causes for that dreadful appeal to arms; and to which they had been as absolutely seduced and goaded by the secret encouragement of the government of the day, as by the recollection of centuries of oppression and misgovernment. I was doomed from day to day to hear the land of my birth reviled and traduced with all the virulence of vulgar clamour. Every one assumed a right to abuse Ireland and Irishmen; and it was not until I took unwelcome measures for repressing this discourtesy that I succeeded in silencing certain coffee-house brawlers, in my presence at least. Amongst those of my countrymen whom the distractions of Ireland, as well as a declining state of health, drove to England, was Mr. Mountgarret, whom I had formerly met at Har |