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metamorphosed into one of the black swans of another hemisphere

and

In the meanwhile this great conspiracy was hastening on with fearful precipitancy to its out-break, and vague and shapeless as are now known to have been the views even of those who were engaged practically in the plot, it is not any wonder that, to the young uninitiated like myself, it should have opened prospects partaking far more of the wild dreams of poesy than of the plain and honest prose of real life. But a crisis was then fast approaching when such self-delusions could no longer be indulged, and when the mystery which had hitherto hung over the plans of the conspirators was to be rent asunder by the stern hand of power.

'Of the horrors that foreran and followed the frightful explosion of the year 1798, I have neither inclination, nor, luckily, occasion to speak: but among those introductory scenes, which had somewhat prepared the public mind for such a catastrophe, there was one of a painful description, which, as having been myself an actor in it, I may be allowed briefly to notice.

It was not many weeks, I think, before this crisis, that, owing to information gained by the college authorities of the rapid spread among the students not only of the principles, but of the organization of the Irish Union, a solemn visitation was held by Lord Clare, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, with the view of enquiring into the extent of this branch of the plot, and dealing summarily with those engaged in it.

'Imperious and harsh as then seemed the policy of thus setting up a sort of inquisitorial tribunal, armed with the power of examining witnesses on oath, and in a place devoted to the instruction of youth, I cannot but confess that the facts which came out in the course of the evidence went far towards justifying even this arbitrary procceding; and to the many who, like myself, were acquainted only with the general views of the Union leaders, without even knowing, except from conjecture, who these leaders were, or what their plans or objects, it was most startling to hear the disclosures which every succeeding witness brought forth. There were a few, and, among that number, poor Robert Emmet, John Brown, and the two whose total absence from the whole scene, as well as the dead silence that day after day followed the calling out of their names, proclaimed how deep had been their share in the unlawful proceedings enquired into by the tribunal.

-S,

whose appear

But there was one young friend of mine, ance among the suspected and examined as much surprised as it deeply and painfully interested me. He and Emmet had long been intimate and attached friends; their congenial fondness for mathematical studies having been, I think, a far more binding sympathy

between them than any arising out of their political opinions. From his being called up, however, on this day, when, as it appeared afterwards, all the most important evidence was brought forward, there could be little doubt that, in addition to his intimacy with Emmet, the college authorities must have possessed some information which led them to suspect him of being an accomplice in the conspiracy. In the course of his examination, some question were put to him which he refused to answer-most probably from their tendency to involve and inculpate others; and he was accordingly dismissed with the melancholy certainty that his future prospects in life were blasted; it being already known that the punishment for such contumacy was not merely expulsion from the University, but exclusion from all the learned professions.

"The proceedings, indeed, of this whole day had been such as to send me to my home in the evening with no very agreeable feelings or prospects. I had heard evidence given affecting even the lives of three friends whom I had long regarded with admiration as well as affection, and what was still worse than even their danger — a danger ennobled, I thought, by the cause in which they sufferedwas the shameful spectacle exhibited by those who had appeared in evidence against them. Of these witnesses, the greater number had been themselves involved in the plot, and now came forward either as voluntary informers, or else were driven, by the fear of the consequences of refusal, to secure their own safety at the expense of companions and friends.

The de

'I well remember the gloom, so universal, that hung over our family circle on that evening, as, talking together over the events of the day, we discussed the likelihood of my being among those who would be called up for examination on the morrow. liberate conclusion to which my dear honest advisers came was, that, overwhelming as the consequences were to all their plans and hopes for me, yet, if the questions tending to criminate others, which had been put to almost all examined on that day, and which pooralone had refused to answer, I must, in the same manner and at all risks, return a similar answer. I am not quite certain whether I received any intimation on the following morning that I was to be one of those examined in the course of the morning, but I rather think some such notice had been conveyed to me; and at last my awful turn came, and I stood in the presence of the formidable tribunal. There sat, with severe look, the Vice-Chancellor, and, by his side, the memorable Doctor Duigenan-memorable for his eternal pamphlets against the Catholics.

The oath was proffered to me.

I have an objection, my lord,» said I, «to taking the oath."
What is your objection?» he asked sternly.

I have no fears, my lord, that any thing I might say would cri

minate myself; but it might tend to involve others, and I despise the character of the person who would be led, under any circumstances to inform against his associates. »

This was aimed at some of the revelations of the preceding day, and, as I learned afterwards, was so understood.

«How old are you, sir?» he then asked.

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Between seventeen and eighteen, my lord.»

'He then turned to his assessor, Duigenan, and exchanged a few with in an under tone of voice.

"We cannot, he resumed, again addressing me, «suffer any one. to remain in our University who refuses to take this oath.»

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I shall then, my lord,» I replied, take the oath, reserving to myself the power of refusing to answer any such questions as I have just described. »

"We do not sit here to argue with you, sir,» he rejoined sharply; upon which I took the oath, and seated myself in the witness's chair.

The following are the questions and answers that then ensued. After adverting to the proved existence of United Irish societies in the University, he asked, "Have you ever belonged to any of these societies? »

No, my lord.»

Have you ever known of any of the proceedings that took place

in them?»

No, my

lord. »

Did you ever hear of a proposal at any of their meetings for the purchase of arms and ammunition? »

Never, my lord. »

'Did you ever hear of a proposal made in one of these societies with regard to the expediency of assassination? »

6

Oh no, my lord."

He then turned again to Duigenan, and, after a few words with him, said to me, «When such are the answers you are able to give, pray, what was the cause of your great repugnance to taking the oath? »

I have already told your lordship my chief reason; in addition to which, it was the first oath I ever took, and the hesitation was, I think, natural. »

It was now dismissed without any further questioning, and, however trying had been this short operation, was amply repaid for it by the kind zeal with which my youngs friends and companions flocked to congratulate me-not so much, I was inclined to hope, on my acquittal by the court, as upon the manner in which I had acquitted my self Of my reception on returning home, after the fears entertained of so very different a result, I will not attempt any description; it was all that such a home alone could furnish.'

debt long due

We might have enriched this article with many more of the biographical and other notices scattered through these volumes, and by so doing, would have rendered it undoubtedly of far higher interest than by the critical enquiries in which we have indulged; but we were anxious to pay to one, the character and tendency of whose powers we, in common with many others, misconstrued at his outset ;-one whose mode of life, and habits of mind and thinking, ever involving him actively in the vortex of the existing world, and in the controversies as well as gaieties of the day, have made many unwilling to recognize his real position in the rank of poets from hostility or prejudice, and many more from real inability to conceive the power of genius to live on the agitated surface of society, as well as on the most tranquil lake which ever was haunted by the Muses; one whom many pronounced at first too trifling to succeed, and then too successful in his own day to abide the test of another; but whose position in the brilliant band of the poets of this age, (now so rapidly vanishing from us one by one, and unreplaced,) is already fixed beyond the power of criticism or of Timeunrivalled in one exquisite department of his art, delightful in many.

(EDINBURGH REVIEW.)

THE SCHOOLMISTRESS ABROAD:

AN EXTRAVAGANZA.

CHAP. I

She tawght 'hem to sew and marke,
All maner of sylkyn werke,

Of her they were ful fayne.

ROMANCE OF EMARE.

A schoolmistress ought not to travel

No, sir!

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No, madam except on the map. There indeed she may skip from a blue continent to a green one-cross a pink isthmus -traverse a Red, Black, or Yellow Sea, land in a purple island, or roam in an orange desert, without danger or indecorum.-There she may ascend dotted rivers, sojourn at capital cities, scale alps, and wade through bogs, without soiling her shoe, rumpling her satin, or showing her ankle. But as to practical travelling, real journeying and voyaging---oh, never, never, never!

How, sir! Would you deny to a Preceptress all the excursive pleasures of locomotion ?

By no means, miss. In the midsummer holidays, when the days are long, and the evenings are light, there is no objection to a little trip by the railway say to Weybridge or Slough provided always

Well, sir?

That she goes by a special train, and in a first-class carriage.

Ridiculous!

Nay, madam-consider her pretensions. She is little short

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