The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-16 00:00:00

DONALD IeCIIRISTIE v. PATRICK DOOLAN.
A SCOTCH CLAIM.—This was a case that would
have kept Dr. Johnson's spleen against the Scotch warm
for the term of his natural life ; it was an awfu' im-
peachment of the hospitality of " the men ayont the
Tweed."
Donald was a yeast-seller, with a countenance from
which a very good make-shift portrait of Mr. Joseph
Hume might have been sketched—supposing all the
" likenessess" of that eminent Cockeronian were lost to
the political world. Patrick was a good-natured, rol-
licking, metropolitan policeman, about six feet in height,
straight in the back, with the palms of his hands look-
ing behind him (seaman fashion), and it required a nice
eye to say which his hands had been most intimate with
—the rigging of a man•of-war, or a good shillelah—
doubtless a police-truncheon was not lost in them.
COMMISSIONER—What is your claim for, Mr. Donald
M'Christie?
Donald—lt's a claim for meat and drink, and pro-
tection,. a may say, to this young mon. It's a case of
vera greet ingratitude. Patrick Doolan and my sis-
ter's son, Sandy M'Cree, cam fra Elgin in the winter
that's gone ; they had na a baubee when they cam to
my boos, and gin a had na compassion on 'em, a dinna
ken what would ha coom on 'ern. Weel ye maun ken
a gie Patrick Doolan o' my hospitality ; a am but
a puir boddy, but he had the best 0' ma boos, I can
assure ye. A exerted my interest to geet Doolan into
I the police ; a git 'em in and mad a mon o 'ern, and non
a has the ingratitude to say nay to the sillcr a oos.
COMMISSIONER—Do you_ admit the debt, Patrick?
"By the mother of Moses, and I jist don't," said
Patrick, I'll not deny the hospitality, bekase my con•
science won't let me do the likes o' that. I owe you
(turning towards the plaintiff) nothing, barring the hos-
pitality, Donald, and I've paid for you that, and that's
God's thrutb."
Donald—Ye are but an ungrateful mon, Patrick Doo-
lan. A could na a treated ye mair kindly had ye been
my ain bluid. A gie 'em the bannocks fra my own
table warm in the cauld winter morning.
Patrick Doolan—Blazes, Donald, but yer mighty
sharp entirely on me ; yez got the worth of the Scotch
,cakes out of me, any how, that you did every winter's
morning. Did'nt he ? ow wow—(turning to and snap-
ing his fingers at the Commissioners, amidst great
laughter.) He worked the bare life out of me at the
yeast. Just ask him to kiss the cross to that same, if
you Oise.
COMMISSIONER—It appears, Patrick, that you have
a set-off against this claim, in the shape of work done
by you for Mr. Donald M'Christie.
Patrick—Arrah your worship is it work you say ?
Hasn't he dhragged me out of many a fine sleep when
I was after forgetting the cares of the world, and when
I hadn't had so much as'd have physick'd a snipe for my
male over night?
Donald—That's na correct—the yeast, the gentlemen
ken, works itsel.
Patrick (indignantly)—The divil! Is it after joking
wid me that ye are ? Gentlemen, I wont be after de-
nying the hospitality ; I've a thankful ricolliction of the
same, bekase I wouldn't have known what to do without
it. It was very kind of him, so it was. The Holy
Mary thank ye for it Donald ; but ye haven't tould the
gintlemen, my side of the case. Ye've been very bosh-
pitable, Donald, as ye said, but ye haven't been just--
Donald (hastily)—A consider it is for ye to be just,
and gie me the due o' my hospitality.
Patrick—Faith arid it isn't hospiolity that we pay
for in ould Ireland ; but, gintlemen, I'll tell yer the
clane truth. Doolan then proceeded to detail to the
Commissioners the history of his connection with his
"Scotch cousin." Sandy Macree, the nephew of
Donald, had introduced him (Patrick) to the latter,
who had very kindly given him his board. In return
for such board, he (Patrick) had assisted him in making
yeast, being frequently called from his comfortable
lodging at Mrs. Daly's, at seven, six, and even five o'clock
in the winter's morning, to go and break the ice and get
the water ready for Donald. " I gave him plenty of
work for the males," said Patrick, " and divil a word
was said of paying for the same one side or t'other."
Donald—Hoot awa, mon ; didn't I ye money to
gie the inspector a wee drap o' whisky ?
Patrick—Faith and ye did. " Patrick," sis he, "ye
must give the inspector a dhrop." " Yer right," sis I.
" Here's a fourpenny bit," sis he, " and give him a
nagg ;" and that was all I had of him.
Donald declared that he had lent Patrick 6s, and
denied that he had ever called him out of bed in a
winter's morning to work at the yeast.
Patrick took " the mother of Moses" to witness that
he bad never had the 6s, and called Mrs. Daly, his
landlady, a well•spoken respectable-looking woman, who
swore positively to M'Christie's having frequently called
Doolan from his bed in order to go and work at his pre-
mises.
The COMMISSIONER said the case was a very despi-
cable one on the part of Mr. Donald M'Cbristic, who
appeared desirous of taking credit to himself for hospi-
tality, which had been amply repaid in hard work.
They (the Commissioners) should dismiss this case, and
they were sure that Donald's countrymen would cry
shame upon him.
Donald was astounded, and looked " as bright as
Beechy Head in a fog." He slunk out of Court reckon-
ing up " the tottle of the whole" that he had lost in
summoning Patrick, and forswearing hospitality not only
to all Irishmen from Cape Clear to Carrickfergus, but
to all men of all nations.
" Whisht with yer mulvathenng about hospitality,'
said Patrick. " Don't ye see the disgrace ye've brought
upon yer country. Be quiet, Donald, be quiet, and
don't be after saying another word about it, and the
devil's the word any soul shall hear from Pat Doolan."
But Donald refused to be comforted, and muttered
away till he was out of hearing.
" That man," said one of the COMMISSIONERS, pointing
to Donald as he slunk through the outer door, " is a
disgrace to his country."
" There are good and bad of all sorts," said a second
COMMISSIONER.
"So there are," observed a third, " and he's one of
he worst of the —'ll
" Call on the next case," said the CHAIRMAN.