Part 14 (1/2)
A POLITICAL HURRAH AT A FUNERAL.
Ascending the mountain road between Dublin and Glencullen, in company with an English friend, O'Connell was met by a funeral. The mourners soon recognized him, and immediately broke into a vociferous hurrah for their political favorite, much to the astonishment of the Sa.s.senach; who, accustomed to the solemn and lugubrious decorum of English funerals, was not prepared for an outburst of Celtic enthusiasm upon such an occasion. A remark being made on the oddity of a political hurrah at a funeral, it was replied that the corpse would have doubtless cheered l.u.s.tily too, if he could.
REFUSAL OF OFFICE.
In 1838, on the morning when O'Connell received from the Government the offer to be appointed Lord Chief Baron, he walked over to the window, saying:
”This is very kind--very kind, indeed!--but I haven't the least notion of taking the offer. Ireland could not spare me now; not but that, _if she could_, I don't at all deny that the office would have great attractions for me. Let me see, now--there would not be more than about eight days' duty in the year; I would take a country house near Dublin, and walk into town; and during the intervals of judicial labor, I'd go to Derrynane. I should be idle in the early part of April, just when the jack-hares leave the most splendid trails upon the mountains. In fact, I should enjoy the office exceedingly upon every account, if I could but accept it consistently with the interests of Ireland--But I Cannot.”
A MISTAKEN FRENCHMAN.
When travelling in France, during the time of his sojourn at St. Omer's, O'Connell encountered a very talkative Frenchman, who incessantly poured forth the most bitter tirades against England. O'Connell listened in silence; and the Frenchman, surprised at his indifference, at last exclaimed,--
”Do you hear, do you understand what I am saying, sir?”
”Yes, I hear you, I comprehend you perfectly.”
”Yet you do not seem angry?”
”Not in the least.”
”How can you so tamely bear the censures I p.r.o.nounce against your country?”
”Sir, England is not my country. Censure her as much as you please, you cannot offend me. I am an Irishman, and my countrymen have as little reason to love England as yours have, perhaps less.”
EPISTOLARY BORES.
The number of letters received by O'Connell upon trivial subjects was sufficient to try his patience, as the following will show:--
A letter once arrived from New York, which, on opening, he found to contain a minute description of a Queen Anne's farthing recently found by the writer, with a modest request that ”Ireland's Liberator” might negotiate the sale of the said farthing in London; where, as many intelligent persons had a.s.sured him, he might make his fortune by it.