consequently the warmer, as I was not expected. That evening was a happy
one, which I shall long remember. At supper I alluded to Kelly, and
received from my brother a full account, as given in the following
narrative, of the circumstances which caused his death.
“I need not remind you, Toby, of our schoolboy days, nor of the
principles usually imbibed at such schools as that in which the two tiny
factions of the Caseys and the Murphys qualified themselves, among
the latter of whom you cut so distinguished a figure. You will not,
therefore, be surprised to hear that these two factions are as bitter
as ever, and that the boys who at Pat Mulligan's school belabored each
other, in imitation of their brothers and fathers, continue to set the
same iniquitous example to their children; so that this groundless and
hereditary enmity is likely to descend to future generations; unless,
indeed, the influence of a more enlightened system of education may
check it. But, unhappily, there is a strong suspicion of the object
proposed by such a system; so that the advantages likely to result from
it to the lower orders of the people will be slow and distant.”
“But, John,” said I, “now that we are upon that subject, let me ask what
really is the bone of contention between Irish factions?”
“I assure you,” he replied, “I am almost as much at a loss, Toby, to
give you a satisfactory answer, as if you asked me the elevation of
the highest mountain on the moon; and I believe you would find equal
difficulty in ascertaining the cause of their feuds from the factions
themselves. I really am convinced they know not, nor, if I rightly
understand them, do they much care. Their object is to fight, and the
turning of a straw will at any time furnish them with sufficient grounds
for that. I do not think, after all, that the enmity between them is
purery personal: they do not hate each other individually; but having
originally had one quarrel upon some trifling occasion, the beaten party
cannot bear the stigma of defeat without another trial of strength.
Then, if they succeed, the onus of retrieving lost credit is thrown upon
the party that was formerly victorious. If they fail a second time,
the double triumph of their conquerors excites them to a greater
determination to throw off the additional disgrace; and this species of
alternation perpetuates the evil.
“These habits, however, familiarize our peasantry to acts of outrage and
violence--the bad passions are cultivated and nourished, until crimes,
which peaceable men look upon with fear and horror, lose their real
magnitude and deformity in the eyes of Irishmen. I believe this kind
of undefined hatred between either parties or nations, is the most
dangerous and fatal spirit which can pervade any portion of society.
If you hate a man for an obvious and palpable injury, it is likely
that when he cancels that injury by an act of subsequent kindness,
accompanied by an exhibition of sincere sorrow, you will cease to look
upon him as your enemy; but where the hatred is such that, while feeling
you cannot, on a sober examination of your heart, account for it, there
is little hope that you will ever be able to stifle the enmity that you
entertain against him. This, however, in politics and religion, is what
is frequently designated as principle--a word on which men, possessing
higher and greater advantages than the poor ignorant peasantry of
Ireland, pride themselves. In sects and parties, we may mark its effects
among all ranks and nations. I therefore, seldom wish, Toby, to hear a
man assert that he is of this party or that, from principle; for I am
usually inclined to suspect that he is not, in this case, influenced by
conviction.
“Kelly was a man who, but for these scandalous proceedings among us,
might have been now alive and happy. Although his temperament was warm,
yet that warmth communicated itself to his good as well as to his
evil qualities. In the beginning his family were not attached to any
faction--and when I use the word faction, it is in contradistinction to
the word party--for faction, you know, is applied to a feud or grudge
between Roman Catholics exclusively. But when he was young, he ardently
attached himself to the Murphys; and, having continued among them until
manhood, he could not abandon them, consistently with that sense of
mistaken honor which forms so prominent a feature in the character of
the Irish peasantry. But although the Kellys were not _faction-men_,
they were bitter _party-men_, being the ringleaders of every quarrel
Which took place between the Catholics and Protestants, or, I should
rather say, between the Orangemen and Whiteboys.
“From the moment Denis attached himself to the Murphys, until the day he
received the beating which subsequently occasioned his death, he never
withdrew from them. He was in all their battles; and in course of
time, induced his relations to follow his example; so that, by general
consent, they were nicknamed 'the Errigle Slashers.' Soon after you left
the country, and went to reside with my uncle, Denis married a daughter
of little Dick Magrath's, from the Race-road, with whom he got a little
money. She proved a kind, affectionate wife; and, to do him justice,
I believe he was an excellent husband. Shortly after his marriage his
father died, and Denis succeeded him in his farm; for you know
that, among the peasantry, the youngest generally gets the landed
property--the elder children being obliged to provide for themselves
according to their ability, as otherwise a population would multiply
upon a portion of land inadequate to its support.
“It was supposed that Kelly's marriage would have been the means of
producing a change in him for the better, but it did not. He was, in
fact, the slave of a low, vain ambition, which constantly occasioned him
to have some quarrel or other on his hands; and, as he possessed great
physical courage and strength, he became the champion of the parish.
It was in vain that his wife used every argument to induce him to
relinquish such practices; the only reply he was in the habit of making,
was a good-humored slap on the back and a laugh, saying,
“'That's it, Honor; sure and isn't that the Magraths, all over, that
would let the manest spalpeen that ever chewed cheese thramp upon them,
without raising a hand in their own defence; and I don't blame you for
being a coward, seeing that you have their blood in your veins--not but
that there ought to be something betther in you, afther all; for it's
the M'Karrons, by your mother's side, that had the good dhrop of their
own in them, anyhow--but you're a Magrath out and out.'
“'And, Denis,' Honor would reply, 'it would be a blessed day for the
parish, if all in it were as peaceable as the same Magraths. There would
be no sore heads, nor broken bones, nor fighting, nor slashing of one
another in fairs and markets, when people ought to be minding their
business. You're ever and always at the Magraths, bekase they don't join
you agin the Caseys or the Orangemen, and more fools they'd be to make
or meddle between you, having no spite agin either of them; and it would
be wiser for you to be _sed_ by the Magraths, and _red_ your hands out
of sich ways altogether. What did ever the Murphys do to sarve you
or any of your family, that you'd go to make a great man of yourself
fighting for them? Or what did the poor Caseys do to make you go agin
the honest people? Arrah, bad manners to me, if you know what you're
about, or if _sonse_ (* Good Luck) or grace can ever come of it; and
mind my words, Denis, if God hasn't said it, you'll live to rue your
folly for the same work.'
“At this Denis would laugh heartily. 'Well said, Honor _Magrath_, but
not _Kelly_, Well, it's one comfort that our childher aren't likely to
follow your side of the house, any way. Come here, Lanty; come over,
acushla, to your father! Lanty, ma bouchal, what 'ill you do when you
grow a man?”
“'I'll buy a horse of my own to ride on, daddy.'
“'A horse, Lanty! and so you will, ma bouchal; but that's not it--sure
that's not what I mane, Lanty. What 'ill you do to the Caseys?”
“'Ho, ho! the Caseys! I'll bate the blackguards wid your blackthorn,
daddy!'
“'Ha, ha, ha! that's my stout man, my brave little soger! _Wus dha lamh
avick!_--give me your hand, my son! Here, Nelly,' he would say to the
child's eldest sister, 'give him a brave whang of bread, to make
him able to bate the Caseys. Well, Lanty, who more will you leather,
ahagur?'
“'All the Orangemen; I'll kill all the Orangemen!'
“This would produce another laugh from the father, who would again kiss
and shake hands with his son, for these early manifestations of his own
spirit.
“'Lanty, ma bouchal,' he would say, 'thank God, you're not a _Magrath_;
'tis you that's a _Kelly_, every blessed inch of you! and if you turn
out as good a _buillagh balthah_ as your father afore you, I'll be
contint, avour-neen!'
“'God forgive you, Denis,' the-wife would reply, 'it's long before you'd
think of larning him his prayers, or his cateehiz, or anything that's
good! Lanty, agra, come over to myself, and never heed what that man
says; for, except you have some poor body's blessing, he'll bring you to
no good.'
“Sometimes, however, Kelly's own natural good sense, joined with the
remonstrances of his wife, prevailed for a short time, and he would
withdraw himself from the connection altogether; but the force of habit
and of circumstances was too strong in him, to hope that he could
ever overcome it by his own firmness, for he was totally destitute of
religion. The peaceable intervals of his life were therefore very short.
“One summer evening I was standing in my own garden, when I saw a man
galloping up towards me at full speed. When he approached, I recognized
him as one of the Murphy faction, and perceived that he was cut and
bleeding.
“'Murphy,' said I, 'What's the matter!'
“'Hard fighting, sir,' said he, 'is the matter. The Caseys gathered all
their faction, bekase they heard that Denis Kelly has given us up, and
they're sweeping the street wid us. I'm going hot foot for Kelly, sir,
for even the very name of him will turn the tide in our favor. Along
wid that, I have sent in a score of the Duggans, and, if I get in Denis,
plase God we'll clear the town of them!'
“He then set off, but pulled up abruptly, and said,
“'Arrah, Mr. Darcy, maybe you'd be civil enough to lind me the loan of
a sword, or bagnet, or gun, or anything that way, that would be
sarviceable to a body on a pinch?'
“'Yes!' said I, 'and enable you to commit murder? No, no, Murphy;
I'm sorry it's not in my power to put a final stop to such dangerous
quarrels!'
“He then dashed off, and in the course of a short time I saw him and
Kelly, both on horseback, hurrying into the town in all possible haste,
armed with their cudgels. The following day, I got my dog and gun, and
sauntered about the hills, making a point to call upon Kelly. I found
him with his head tied up, and his arm in a sling.
“'Well, Denis,' said I, 'I find you have kept your promise of giving up
quarrels!'
“And so I did, sir,' said Denis; 'but, sure you wouldn't have me for to
go desart them, when the Caseys war three to one over them? No; God be
thanked, I'm not so mane as that, anyhow. Besides, they welted both my
brothers within an inch of their lives.'
“'I think they didn't miss yourself,' said I.
“'You may well say they did not, sir,' he replied: 'and, to tell God's
truth, they thrashed us right and left out of the town, although we
rallied three times, and came in agin. At any rate, it's the first
time for the last five years that they dare go up and down the street,
calling out for the face of a Murphy, or a Kelly; for they're as bitter
now agin us as agin the Murphys themselves.'
“'Well, I hope, Denis,' I observed, 'that what occurred yesterday will
prevent you from entering into their quarrels in future. Indeed, I shall
not give over, until I prevail on you to lead a quiet and peaceable
life, as the father of a rising family ought to do.'
“'Denis,' said the wife, when I alluded to the children, looking at
him with a reproachful and significant expression--'Denis, do you hear
that!--the father of a family, Denis! Oh, then, God look down on that
family; but it's--Musha, God bless you and yours, sir,' said she to me,
dropping that part of the subject abruptly; 'it's kind of you to trouble
yourself about him, at all at all: it's what them that has a better
right to do it, doesn't do.'
“'I hope,' said I, 'that Denis's own good sense will show him the folly
and guilt of his conduct, and that he will not, under any circumstances,
enter into their battles in future. Come, Denis, will you promise me
this?'
“'If any man,' replied Denis, 'could make me do it, it's yourself, sir,
or any one of your family; but if the priest of the parish was to go
down on his knees before me, I wouldn't give it up till we give them
vagabone Caseys one glorious battherin,' which, plase God, we'll do, and
are well able to do, before a month of Sundays goes over us. Now, sir,
you needn't say another word,' said he, seeing me about to speak; 'for
by Him that made me we'll do it! If any man, I say, could persuade me
agin it, you could; but, if we don't pay them full interest for what we
got, why my name's not Denis Kelly--ay, sweep them like varmint out of
the town, body and sleeves!'
“I saw argument would be lost on him, so I only observed, that I feared
it would eventually end badly.
“'Och, many and many's the time, Mr. Darcy,' said Honor, 'I prophesied
the same thing; and, if God hasn't said it, he'll be coming home a
corpse to me some day or other; for he got as much bating, sir, as
would be enough to kill a horse; and, to tell you God's truth, sir, he's
breeding up his childher--'
“'Honor,' said Kelly, irritated, 'whatever I do, do I lave it in your
power to say that I'm a bad husband? so don't rise me by your talk, for
I don't like to be provoked. I know it's wrong, but what can I do? Would
you have me for to show the Garran-bane,* and lave them like a cowardly
thraitor, now that the other faction is coming up to be their match?
No; let what will come of it, I'll never do the mane thing--death before
dishonor!'
* The white horse, i.e., be wanting in mettle.
Tradition affirms that James the Second escaped on a
white horse from the battle of the Boyne; and from this
circumstance a white horse has become the emblem of
cowardice.
“In this manner Kelly went on for years; sometimes, indeed, keeping
quiet for a short period, but eventually drawn in, from the apprehension
of being reproached with want of honor and truth, to his connection.
This, truly, is an imputation which no peasant could endure; nor, were
he thought capable of treachery, would he be safe from the vengeance of
his own party. Many a time have I seen Kelly reeling home, his head
and face sadly cut, the blood streaming from him, and his wife and some
neighbor on each side of him--the poor woman weeping and deploring the
senseless and sanguinary feuds in which her husband took so active a
part.
“About three miles from this, down at the Long Ridge, where the Shannons
live, dwelt a family of the Grogans, cousins to Denis. They were
anything but industrious, although they might have lived very
independently, having held a farm on what they called an old take, which
means a long lease taken out when lands were cheap. It so happened,
however, that, like too many of their countrymen, they paid little
attention to the cultivation of their farm; the consequence of which
neglect was, that they became embarrassed, and overburdened with
arrears. Their landlord was old Sam Simmons, whose only fault to his
tenants was an excess of indulgence, and a generous disposition wherever
he could possibly get an opportunity to scatter his money about him,
upon the spur of a benevolence which, it would seem, never ceased
goading him to acts of the most Christian liberality and kindness. Along
with these excellent qualities, he was remarkable for a most rooted
aversion to law and lawyers; for he would lose one hundred pounds rather
than recover that sum by legal proceedings, even when certain that five
Pounds would effect it; but he seldom or never was known to pardon a
breach of the peace.
“I have always found that an excess of indulgence in a landlord never
fails ultimately to injure and relax the industry of the tenant; at
least, this was the effect which his forbearance produced on them. But
the most extraordinary good-nature has its limits, and so had his; after
repeated warning, and the most unparalleled patience on his part, he
was at length compelled to determine on at once removing them from
his estate, and letting his land to some more efficient and deserving
tenant. He accordingly desired them to remove their property from the
premises, as he did not wish, he said, to leave them without the means
of entering upon another farm, if they felt so disposed. This they
refused to do; adding, that they would, at least, put him to the expense
of ejecting them. He then gave orders to his agent to seize; but they,
in the mean time, had secreted their effects by night among their
friends and relations, sending a cow to this one, and a horse to that;
so that, when the bailiff came to levy his execution, he found very
little, except the empty walls. They were, however, ejected without
ceremony, and driven altogether off the farm, for which they had
actually paid nothing for the three preceding years. In the mean time
the farm was advertised to be let, and several persons had offered
themselves as tenants; but what appeared very remarkable was, that the
Roman Catholics seldom came a second time to make any further inquiry
about it; or, if they did, Simmons observed that they were sure to
withdraw their proposals, and ultimately decline having anything to do
with it.
“This was a circumstance which he could not properly understand; but
the fact was, that the peasantry were almost to a man members of a
widely-extending system of agrarian combination, the secret influence of
which intimidated such of their own religion as intended to take it, and
prevented them from exposing themselves to the penalty which they knew
those who should dare to occupy it must pay. In a short time, however,
the matter began to be whispered about, until it spread gradually, day
after day, through the parish, that those who already had proposed, or
intended to propose, were afraid to enter upon the land on any terms.
Hitherto, it is true, these threats floated about only in the vague form
of rumor.
“The farm had been now unoccupied for about a year; party spirit ran
very high among the peasantry, and no proposals came in, or were at all
likely to come. Simmons then got advertisements printed, and had them
posted up in the most conspicuous parts of this and the neighboring
parishes. It was expected, however, that they would be torn down; but,
instead of that, there was a written notice posted up immediately under
each, which ran in the following words:--
“'Take Notess.
“'Any man that'll dare to take the farm belonging to
smooth Sam Simmons, and sitivated at the long ridge,
will be flayed alive.
“' Mat Midnight.
“'B. N.--It's it that was latterrally occupied by the
Grogans.'
“This occasioned Simmons and the other magistrates of the barony to
hold a meeting, at which they subscribed to the amount of fifty pounds
as a reward for discovering the author or authors of the threatening
notice; but the advertisement containing the reward, which was posted
in the usual places through the parish, was torn down on the first night
after it was put up. In the meantime, a man, nicknamed Vengeance--Vesey
Vengeance, in consequence of his daring and fearless spirit, and his
bitterness in retaliating injury--came to Simmons, and proposed for the
farm. The latter candidly mentioned the circumstances of the notice, and
fairly told him that he was running a personal risk in taking it.
“'Leave that to me, sir,' said Vengeance; 'if you will set me the farm at
the terms I offer, I am willing to become your tenant; and let them that
posted up the notices go to old Nick, or, if they annoy me, let them
take care I don't send them there. I am a true blue, sir--a purple
man*--have lots of fire-arms, and plenty of stout fellows in the parish
ready and willing to back me; and, by the light of day if they make or
meddle with me or mine, we will hunt them in the face of the world,
like so many mad dogs, out of the country: what are they but a pack of
ribles, that would cut our throats, if they dared?'
* These terms denote certain stages of initiation in
the Orange system
“'I have no objection,' said Simmons, 'that you should express a firm
determination to defend your life and protect your property; but I
utterly condemn the spirit with which you seem to be animated. Be
temperate and sober, but be firm. I will afford you every assistance and
protection in my power, both as a magistrate and a landlord; but if
you speak so incautiously, the result may be serious, if not fatal, to
yourself.'
“Instead of that,' said Vengeance, 'the more a man appears to be afeard,
the more danger he is in, as I know by what I have seen; but, at any
rate, if they injure me, I wouldn't ask better sport than taking down
the ribles--the bloody-minded villains! Isn't it a purty thing that a
man darn't put one foat past the other only as they wish. By the light
o' day, I'll pepper them!'
“Shortly after this, Vengeance, braving all their threats, removed to
the farm, and set about its cultivation with skill and vigor. He had
not been long there, however, when, a notice was posted one night on
his door, giving him ten days to clear off from this interdicted spot,
threatening, in case of non-compliance, to make a bonfire of the house
and offices, inmates included. The reply, which Vengeance made to this
was fearless and characteristic. He wrote another notice, which
he posted on the chapel-door, stating that he would not budge an
inch--recommending, at the same time, such as intended paying him a
nightly visit to be careful that they might not chance to go home with
their heels foremost. This, indeed, was setting them completely at
defiance, and would, no doubt have been fatal to Vesey, were it not for
a circumstance which I will now relate:--In a little dell, below Vesey's
house, lived a poor woman, called Doran, a widow; she inhabited a small
hut, and was principally supported by her two sons, who were servants,
one to a neighboring farmer, a Roman Catholic, and the other to Dr.
Ableson, rector of the parish. He who had been with the rector lost his
health shortly before Vengeance succeeded the Grogans as occupier of
the land in question, and was obliged to come home to his mother. He was
then confined to his bed, from which, indeed, he never rose.
“This boy had been his mother's principal support--for the other was
unsettled, and paid her but little attention, being like most of those
in his situation, fond of drinking, dancing, and attending fairs. In
short, he became a Ribbonman, and consequently was obliged to attend
their nightly meetings. Now it so happened that for a considerable time
after the threatening notice had been posted on Vengeance's door, he
received no annoyance, although the period allowed for his departure had
been long past, and the purport of the paper uncomplied with. Whether
this proceeded from an apprehension on the part of the Ribbonmen
of receiving a warmer welcome than they might wish, or whether they
deferred the execution of their threat until Vengeance might be off his
guard, I cannot determine; but the fact is, that some months had elapsed
and Vengeance remained hitherto unmolested.
“During this interval the distress of Widow Doran had become known to
the inmates of his family, and his mother--for she lived with him--used
to bring down each day some nourishing food to the sick boy. In these
kind offices she was very punctual; and so great was the poverty of the
poor widow, and so destitute the situation of her sick son, that, in
fact, the burden of their support lay principally upon Vengeance's
family.