and being of opinion that the social position of his family, as well as their religious profession, would give him influence with the body whose creed was the same as his own (the Defenders), undertook of his own will and judgment the task of peace-making.

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Impressed with these sentiments," he says, "I left the town of Lisburn, the residence of my family, and, without apprising any one of my intentions, proceeded direct for the county of Armagh." Finding his difficulties, as he proceeded towards the scene of action, greater than he had anticipated, Mr. Teeling "despatched an express to Belfast, apprising Mr. Neilson, by letter, of the troubled aspect of affairs, and entreating him, without delay, to meet me at Portadown." And this is the express sent by a boy, whose age did not exceed "seventeen years,' to which, we are given to understand, Neilson yielded so prompt an obedience. Space does not permit us to dwell upon the topics which are presented to us by this disclosure. We must hasten to the abortive termination of Mr. Teeling's enterprise.

"'*

"Too soon, however, I learnt more correctly the still more unfortunate position of affairs; and nearly in the same breath was announced the adoption and the breach of treaty, and the renewal of hostilities, with feelings, on either side, of more deep and deadly animosity. I could no longer indulge the hope that, in this irascible state of public feeling, the maddened minds of either party could be rendered amenable to any rational control, and I left the ill-fated district with no cheering presage, either of its present or future prospects."t

Neilson, also, who was on his way to Portadown, acquiesces in the opinion of his young friend, and turns back with him from "the ill-fated district" towards where he was proceeding. Mr. Teeling appears to have been a youth of more than ordinary power to influence the human mind. When barely seventeen years old, he summons a man of mature age, and of what might be considered high position, to leave his business and his home, and attend upon the movements of a boy engaging in an enterprise, on which no judgment but his own had formed an opinion, and the man of years obeys him. He meets the person thus

* Observations, &c., p. 58

suminoned on his way to the place where his influence was to be exerted, tells him that he despairs of being use. ful, and instantly his superior yields again, and after his bootless errand, returns quietly to his home!

But the matter of real moment is this-the Defenders, a body sworn to be true to France, and to exterminate Protestants, assemble in arms, and take the initiative in a rustic, but a sanguinary war. In their first attempt they meet defeat, and obtain, through the intervention of merciful men, a cessation of hostilities, and a truce. This truce, as soon as they feel themselves strong, they most perfidiously break, and by their treachery and violence they rouse up against them the indignation of the Protestant body, and provoke the battle of the Diamond-a battle in which they sustained so utter an overthrow, that their power was utterly broken. From the time of that engagement, the name of Defender was never boastfully paraded. The purposes to which the name served as a cloak and cover became disclosed; it could no longer afford protection against suspicion and abhorrence_it was, in short, used out, and was accordingly laid aside.

It is not from a wish to keep acrimonious remembrances alive, we advert to a subject like this. Seldom have there lived men who would more gladly welcome the word amnesty, than we-but when we see that forgetfulness on one side, only gives encouragement to fiction on the otherwe think it better to be rude, in reminding those whom it much concerns, of truths which are unpalatable, than to betray our trust, by suffering falsehoods to be propagated in their stead. If all that genders strife between brethren were permitted to sink into oblivion-happy for the country, happy, in our humble position, for us; but if only the reminiscences of one side are to be subject to decay-and if, as they fade, the inventions of the other side usurp the dignity and power of truths, then, we say, it is better to maintain and expose the whole truth, even though there may be matter of offence in it, than acquiesce in the utterance of the more offensive falsehoods by which these truths are sought to be superseded.

Ibid, 59.

No. CXLVII.

VOL. XXV

I GOT into the Dover "down-train" at the Station, and after seeking for a place in two or three of the leading carriages, at last succeeded in obtaining one, where there were only two other passengers; these, were a lady and a gentleman-the former, a young, pleasing-looking girl, dressed in quiet mourning; the latter, was a tall, gaunt, bilious-looking man, with grisly gray hair, and an extravagantly aquiline nose. I guessed, from the positions they occupied in the carriage, that they were not acquaintances, and my conjecture proved subsequently true. The young lady was pale, like one in delicate health, and seemed very weary and tired, for she was fast asleep as I entered the carriage, and did not awake, notwithstanding all the riot and disturbance incident to the Station. I took my place directly in front of my fellow travellers, and whether from mere accident, or from the passing interest a pretty face inspires, cast my eyes towards the lady, the gaunt man opposite fixed on me a look of inexpressible shrewdness, and with a very solemn shake of his head, whispered in a low under tone

"No! no! not a bit of it, she ain't asleep they never do sleep-never!"

Oh! thought I to myself, there's another class of people not remarkable for over-drowsiness; for, to say truth, the expression of the speaker's face, and the oddity of his words, made me suspect that he was not a miracle of sanity. The reflection had scarcely VOL. XXV.-No. 147.

passed through my mind, when he arose softly from his seat, and assumed a place beside me.

"You thought she was fast," said he, as he laid his hand familiarly on my arm; "I know you did I saw it the moment you came into the carriage."

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Why, I did think—”

"Ah that's deceived many a one; Lord bless you, sir, they are not understood, no one knows them ;" and at these words he heaved a profound sigh, and dropped his head upon his bosom, as though the sentiment had overwhelmed him with affliction.

"Riddles, sir," said he to me, with a glare of his eyes that really looked formidable. "Sphinxes, that's what they are-are you married?" whispered he.

"No, sir," said I, politely, for as I began to entertain more serious doubts of my companion's intellect, I resolved to treat him with every civility.

"I don't believe it matters a fig," said he, "the Pope of Rome knows as much about them as Blue Beard." "Indeed," said I, "are these your sentiments?"

"They are," replied he, in a still lower whisper, "and if we were to talk modern Greek this moment, I would not say but she”—and here he made a gesture towards the young lady opposite-" but she would know every word of it; it is not supernatural, sir, because the law is universal,

S