The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, Ti URSDAY EVENING, MARCH 14 1867

is said, been divided into four, and the following
gentirmen will be appointed .—Messrs. Parkinson,
Murland, Greer, and Kilkelly.
Mr. Wyse, who has held the office of police magis-
trate for several years, has tendered his resignation.
His successor is not yet appointed.
His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant gave a com-
mand night at the Theatre Royal last night. The
Viceregal party were greeted on their arrival with
the most enthusiastic and prolonged cheering, the
entire audience rising to their feet and applauding
during the performance of '• God Save the Queen.'
Sherdidan's comedy " The School for Scandal" and
the farce "A Regular Fix" were the pieces selected
for the occasion. At the conclusion of the perform-
ances the Viceregal party received another and most
emphatic demonstration, and the crowds assembled
outside the gates of the theatre again and again re-
newed the cheering.

Evening.
There is no news of the least disturbance to-day
from any part of the country.
The fugitive Fenians are said to be dying of cold
and hunger in the Wicklow mountains.
The Londonderry Journal reports a recent agra-
rian outrage in Tyrone—an attempt to assassinate
the Rev. Dr. Al'lvor, of Newtownstewart.
A correspondent at Clonmel sends us the fol-
lowing telegram :—" Clonmel and its neighbourhood
for several miles around have remained peaceful and
free from any Fenian outbreak during the present
disturbance in Ireland."

Railway and Other Companies.

MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN.

The report of the directors states that the receipts
on the railways for the past half-year, ending the
31st of December, amounted to £113,962, against
£111,352 for the corresponding half of 1865, show-
ing an increase of £2,610. The traffic receipts from
the incorporated railway and canal amounted to
£127,428, and the expenses of working to £71,891,
and the interest on debentures to £23,127, leaving
a balance of £32,410. To this was added £3,010,
the balance from the preceding half-year, making a
disposable sum of £35,421, out of which the direc-
tors recommended that a dividend be declared at the
rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the preferential
stock, amounting to £3,680, and the rate of 2i per
cent. annum on the consolidated stock of the com-
pany, payable on the 10th of April, amounting to
£26,965, leaving a balance of £4,776 for the next
account. The suspense account had been reduced
during the half-year from £19,985 to £16,224, the
difference £3,761, having been charged against re-
venue. The high rate of interest for money during
the early portion of the half-year continued to ope-
rate injuriously on the profits of the company, and
the increased cost of many articles, especially coal,
had further reduced the net profits. £23,240 of
the preferential stock had been issued during the
half-year, leaving unissued £88,499, which was
being gradually taken up. The repayment of the
principal of the loan for constructing the railway
from Athlone to Galway had pressed heavily upon
the company. The expenditure on capital account
amounted to £3,677,884.

frontage ; and at this price the company could still
manufacture gas at a profit, provided only they get
duly paid for it. The private lighting continued to
make satisfactory progress—the amount for the
half-year being £1,397 against £1,048 of the pre-
vious account, and £653 for the corresponding
period of 1865 ; and, in fact, the private lighting
alone was now about equal to the public and pri-
vate lighting together a year ago, which was the
most satisfactory feature the directors have to re-
port.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, which was unanimously approved, com-
mented severely upon the reports which the com-
mittee of conference had issued to the shareholders,
and to the allegations in which the directors had
replied, stating that the works had been erected and
the land and concession paid for within the £50,000
mentioned in the prospectus ; and that if the people
of Smyrna had taken gas to the extent anticipated,
and the ratepayers had paid for the public lights,
the working expenses would have been defrayed
from "the first out of revenue, and there would have
been no need of debentures at all.

A motion having been made that the committee's
report be received, it was rejected by a very
large majority.

The Hon. HOWE BROWNE, having stated his
determination of retiring from the Board, moved a
resolution condemning the committee's report, and
it was unanimously:adopted.
The retiring director and auditors having been
re-elected,
Mr. KNIGHT moved and Mr. COLES seconded a
vote of thanks to the chairman and directors for
their efficient services during the past six months,
which was carried nem. dis.

ANCIENT IRISH C IRONICI ES.

(From the 'Westminster Gazette.)

In the invaluable series of the " Chronicles and
Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during
the Middle Ages," published by Government under
the direction of the Master of the Rolls, we have
as yet but two volumes pertaining specially to
Irish history, namely, the " Chronicum Scotorum,"
and the " Wars of the Danes." The first volume
of the " Senchu More or Brehon Laws," which
appeared nearly two years since, resembles in
eternal appearance the volumes of this series, but in
reality it was brought out under a totally distinct
commission ; and we are therefore correct in say-
ing that we have as yet got but two volumes of
Irish history among the sixty or seventy vol-
umes already published of "Chronicles and Memo-
rials ;" a circumstance the more to be regretted as
there have been intimations that the series is fast
approaching to a close. The selection of the
work now before us for publication was highly ju-
dicious, as it consists of a very ancient and very
valuable abridgement of the native annals of Ire-
land. Its antiquity is, indeed, a matter of dis-
pute, but even its acknowledged age is sufficient
to commend it to the students of Irish history, for
the MS. which was transcribed for the printers of
this volume, was written by Donald MacFirbis, a
celebrated Irish antiquary, who was the contem-
porary and friend of Sir James Ware, for whom he
had made some important transcripts and collections
in the matter of Irish antiquities. It is a question
whether the " Chronicum Scotorum " was an older
work which MacFirbis only copied; or whether it was
merely a compilation made by MacFirbis from the
old annals, namely, from the Annals of Tigernach,
and others. The latter opinion has been held by
the very best authorities on the subject ; but the
editor of the present volume argues that this arose
from the want of a sufficient inquiry ; and whether
this be so or not—in other words, whether Mac-
Firbis was the compiler or the copyist of the
chronicle—we think Lord Romily has most judi-
ciously sanctioned its publication, and we feel in-
debted to him for it as a valuable contribution to
our collection of historical documents.

The pre-Christian Annals of Ireland are only
glanced at in this chronicle, the main body of
which commenced with St. Patrick, at the end of
the fourth century; and as it breaks off some twenty
years before the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ire-
land, the whole, it covers, on in a connected
form, a period of about 700 years. This period'
is one of deep interest, indeed, in the history of
the country. The rapid spread of Christianity,
the foundation of countless monasteries and
schools, which sent forth hosts of holy missionaries
over barbarised Europe, while every wild rock and
glen at home re-echoed with hymns of praise and
adoration, and witnessed the austerities of holy
anchorites. Such were the characteristics of the
first portion of that period ; and then came the fear-
ful descents of the Scandinavian barbarians, and the
desolating wars which extinguished learning and
piety, and reduced the country to that deplora-
ble state of anarchy which St. Bernard describes
in his Life of St. Malachy, and which afforded
such a hopeless preparation for the arrival of
Anglo-Normans on its shores.
The reader, whose ideas are only borrowed from
modern history, will very probably be disgusted
by the constant repetition of wars and murders
which he will find recorded in this chronicle.
But if we peruse an equally minute account of the
contemporary translations of the Anglo-Saxon Hep-
tarchy, or of the small kingdoms and principalities
into which France was sub-divided, we will scarcely
find a less amount of violence and bloodshed.
Unfortunately the rude system of polity which
prevailed in Ireland was particularly calculated to
perpetuate this state of things. All the petty kings
and chieftains were entitled to certain tributes and
subsidies outside their own states, rights which
generally had orginated in war, and during the
Pagan times ; and which it was necessary in almost
every instance to enforce by the sword. Such was
the Borhuma, or Boromean tribute, which the mor: -
archs of the Hy Nial race claimed from the people
of Leinster, and the levying of which deluged the
country with blood periodically for centuries.
Hence the hostile " hostings " of the people of
one small territory into another, which we meet
over and over again in every page of the chronicle,
and which for the most part were nothing more
than a warlike mode of enforcing legal rights and
levying taxes. The great misfortunes of Ire-
land in those times were that no one thought of
centralising power, or was capable of carrying
out such a scheme—there was, in fact, no nation
of Ireland—no idea of unity ; and only once or
twice in the Danish wars, and perhaps one or
twice again in the course of the long wars with the
Anglo-Normans previous to Elizabeth, did even a
few of the native chieftains seem to think of acting
in the name of Ireland as a country. This is a
point worthy of careful consideration in Irish his-
tory ; and it would be a curious investigation to
ascertain how far the chain of misfortunes by
which the country has been afflicted, may be traced
back link by link to a commencement in the ori-
ginal native institutions.

Mr. Hennessy, the editor, seems to have per-
formed his task with great care, industry, and
learning. His annotations are chiefly confined
to critical remarks on the MS., but this was ren-
dered necessary by the regulations imposed. on the
editors in all the works of this series ; and the
contractions and other peculiarities of the MS.
must have often presented to him considerable
difficulties, which, however, he has most satisfac-
torily overcome.

One point in which we cannot agree with him
is that of preserving the Irish orthography of the
proper names in his translation. It was quite
sufficient, apparently, to have the Celtic form of the
names in the original text ; and some effort, might
have been made to facilitate the pronunciation for
English readers, by Anglicising the orthography in
the translation, or at least by enclosing an Angli-
cised form of the words in brackets. It appears
simply absurd not to tell us that " Ua, Conchob-
hair " is " O'Conor ;" "MacAmhalghad'ha," " Mac-
Auly ;" " MacCarthaigh," "Mac Car thy ;" "Ua
Ceallaigh," " O'Kelly ;" "Temhair," " Tara ;"
" Toirdhealbhach," " Torlogh ;" &c.., &c. This,
surely, might have been done without. rendering the
book less learned, or risking the loss,. .of the beauti-
ful and complex etymology of those. Celtic names ;
while we had Gaelic original on the opposite
page. English readers would base been under
a deeper obligation to Lord Fo6vailly And Mr.

Hennessy, but we presume the omission we refer to
will not render the volumes less valuable to Irish
scholars, and we sincerely wish that many of the
other venerable records which are now inaccessible
among the celtic MSS. of the Royal Irish
Academy, Trinity College, the British Museum,
and the Bodleian Library, were rendered equally
available.

A STRANGE FISHERMAN.

[From the Sporting Magazine.]

• It is a long while ago—that is, it appears so now, on
looking back in life, for it is more than thirty years since
I witnessed what I am going to relate. I was then a
'medical student—a class, lam sorry to say, never thought
much good of—on a visit to a cousin, who had previ-
ously graduated at Guy's, passed the college of Surgeons,
and squeezed through the mill of professional proficiency,
had been turned out licensed to "kill or cure," and was en-
joyinge, junior partnership in a very old firmin a good old
country town. I forget exactly what month of the year
it was, but I know it was a bitter cold night, and we
were sitting together over a cozy fire, smoking the dreamy
pipe of speculation on our medical prospects, building
chirurgical castles out of the ashes of tobacco, and drink-
ing "very good ale indeed," a favourite beverage in those
less groggy times. Frank had been appointed surgeon to
the gaol, in the place of his father, who having filled the
office for many years to the entire satisfaction of a
Board—which is a thing almost unheard of, and cer-
tainly deserves to be recorded—retired full of honours in
favour of the rising son. The inauguration to his new
duties was singularly unpleasant and trying ; probably
the old gentleman or the Board, or both, had purposely so
arranged it ; but at the last assizes a prisoner had been
left for execution without hope of mercy, and the sicken-
ing final act of the tragedy was to take place the next
morning. Rare occurrence as this necessary evil was in
this good old town, and shocking as the very idea of it
always is to all right-minded people, yet this particular
carrying out of the extreme sentence of the law was not
so unpopular as usual, the wretched culprit hardly de-
serving the very little pity or sympathy expressed for
him. Still the horrors of the scene stared him in the
face, and the disgusting ordeal had to be gone through ;
by way, however, of lightening the melancholy and
distressing part of it—far no man can witness without
flinching a life taken by violence in cold blood—l had
promised to " assist" or support the young doctor; besides,
as he justly remarked, I might some day have the same
black job to attend to myself, and the sooner we both got'
over it the better. Thus we sat conning over tho affair,
and congratulating each other on the day's work being
done, and the chances of an early turn in, when an
ominous knock and ring announced a pressing case.
Immediately afterwards Captain H—, the much-re-
spected Governor of the gaol, stood before us.
" Well, doctor," he commenced, " I am sorry to disturb
you ; but I fear I must trouble you to come up with me,
and see what can be done for the condemned ; he has got
a most cruel toothache, and suffers such tortures that it
is really terrible to look at him. We have done all in our
power to give him ease, but without effect, and he cries
piteously and beseechingly for a night's rest, his last in
this world." Saying which, ho dropped into the chair
placed for him, and undid his shawl comforter, "I sup-
pose," he continued, "that there is no possible danger in
taking it out ;is there ? For I promised the poor devil
that I would come and see you, and bring you back with
me if there was not, which has somewhat composed him.
He has tried to pray, and reflect on his awful position,
but declares he cannot ; he is literally torn to pieces by
the agony. I don't know but what lam doing wrong in
interfering ; but there, be merciful,' as the text says."
At this the Captain looked decidedly relieved ; he had
done a kind action ; but anxious for the answer, staring
the doctor fixedly in the face.
Now, Frank was one of the coolest men imaginable, and
remarkable for this desirable quality throughout his hos-
pitable career ; quietly laying down his pipe, he slowly
replied, "Certainly; Captain H— ! I'll accompany you
at once. There's not likely to be any great difficulty, and
danger there is none ; but surely it is a very extraordi-
nary case. One would have supposed that mental agita-
tion and nervous excitement, such as his ought to be,
would have scarcely admitted of any bodily suffering. I

. - . _
have never met with an instance like this before, and
should have doubted its supremacy had I only read of
it

" Well," said the Governor, " you shall witness it to-
night, and let your young friend, who has visited us
more than once, prepare himself for a scene he will never
forget."
The doctor, without replying, walked thoughtfully
across the room, opened some drawers, and pocketed a
black leather roll of instruments. At this we all arose
and prepared tor the dismal act of charity, for such you
might call it, fortifying ourselves with an extra glass and
comfortable wrappers, as a north-easterly wind whistled
with keen determination dead against us. Descending the
steps into the street, my ear caught plainly enough—for,
of course, I kept a little in the rear—the words " terrify-
ing," " blasphemous," " could never have thought it,"
and such like ejaculations, until joining them, when turn-
ing the corner we proceeded in silence together across the
bleak open space, facing the gloomy and solemn prison.
This heavy mass heralded in oppressive silence its
awful purport ; indistinct in form, it stood, or rather leaned
against the grey background with threatening aspect,
throwing up its huge turrets and chimney high in air in
grotesque and horrid shadows, mingling, them with the,
ruins of a sombre ancient abbey, which almost adjoined
it, the whole giving you the idea of an assemblage of
giants in deep meditation over the fall of man. A shudder
ran through us, for Death was there in busy preparation
for the morning's sacrifice ; and as we approached the
awful tomb, the hum of voices, the grating of saws,
screeching of planes, and sharp fall of the hammer struck
through the heart, whilst the hurrying to and fro of
workmen, whose grim figures told black through the
flickering uncertain flare of torches, gave you the irre-
sistible impression of spmo diabolical festival ; it was the
raising the altar of vengeance now thirsting for blood.
I bowed, and passed beneath its hungry jaws.
We were received by the usual watch. Entering the
vestibule we turned a little to the right, and ascended a
flight of broad stone stairs, at the top of which a gal]lery
of the same cold hard material ran the whole extent of
the wing. At the extreme end of this was a widened
space, which led direct into the chapel, and in a corner
close by, apart from any link with humanity, was the
condemned cell, where now lay, fora few hours longer,
the miserable victim of the worst of brutal passions, and
the worst of demoralising toothaches. The dungeon was
not quite closed, and his groans were audible enough.
One of the warders immediately appeared at the entrance,
on hearing our approach, for our footsteps echoed through
the lofty and silent passages.
On first entering this sarcophagus of justice, I could per-
ceive nothing distinctly. A confusion of officials, a small
table beneath a heavily grated window, on it a lamp, or
lantern of dim pretensions, and the grey-haired chaplain
reading from an open Bible, gradually developed them-
selves. All stood in respectful silence, and uncovered.
On the bed, a low truckle one, knelt the prisoner, his
I head buried in the bolster, enveloped with flannels, and
almost entirely hid by his firmly pressing hands ; his
strong frame shook throughout with pain, and he lay
uttering in his agony alternate groans and oaths of the
bitterest and direst description. He cursed his Maker,
all creation, his parents, himself in particular, and
the kind clergyman, who, notwithstanding the fearful
scene, piously persisted in trying to reach his hardened
heart with spiritual comfort. Rising as if startled from
his sufferings, I was fairly frightened at the horrible
spectacle he presented ; his face and eyes, swollen and
distorted with inflammation, looked a confused mass of
evil passions and dangerous vices ; his brawny limbs
were fast shrinking, and the effects of the crime and con-
finement had told, if not on his conscience, at least on his
frame and constitution. He evidently did not observe us.
Staggering forward, he tried to advance like one blind,
but was seized on the attempt by a trembling, and dropped
his arms powerless by his side, turning at the same time
so ghastly pale that I imagined he was in a fit. No one
moved ; the worthy chaplain still read on ; his devout
tones and inspiring words appealing to the very stones,
and adding an awful effect. Thus he stood for about a
minute, like one transfixed, all eyes intently watching
him, and the warders preparing to guard against any acci-
dent or paroxysm of violence ; his breathing, which had
apparently stopped, slowly returned, and heaving a deep
sigh he piteously exclaimed, "Oh ! that head ! that
head ! that head !" and fell heavily into the arms of the
practised attendant. _ _

Here let me explain that this wretched man was one
Joseph White, a harvest tramp or travelling labourer for
such occasions, who, whilst seeking employment from
farm to farm, had gone into a beer-shop on the road
between Wantage and some other town in Berkshire, in
the afternoon time of day, and called for a pot of beer.
Observing that the young landlady who served at the bar
was alone, he followed her round the counter to see if any
one was in the private room beyond ; there happening to
be no one, he retired to the tap-room, which was likewise
empty, and placing his reap-hook on the table, awaited
her coming. On her serving him with the beer, he arose
and closed the door and attempted his villanous purpose.
A struggle of the severest nature took place between
them, in which irritated at his failure and maddened
by brutal pass!on, in the heat of his frenzy he seized the
ready reap-hook, and at one blow completely decapitated
her.

The poor creature's head rolled on the table, whilst her
body for an instant stood firm and erect, and was abso-
lutely caught by her husband who at the moment entered,
but alas ! too late.

White remained perfectly horror-stricken and spell-
bound at the sight of the animated head, which in its
muscular convulsions continued to glare and frown on
him with the most revengeful expression. He even
imagined that it spoke, crying " Blood for blood." For
many hours afterwards he neither saw, 'spoke, nor heard ;
when he did he confessed everything, which greatly re-
lieved him ; but so haunted was he from time to time
during his imprisonment by visions of the head of his

victim that it was feared he would become insane. At

'le appearance of this dreadful sight he suffered a species

of catalepsy, and sank from the effects of it thoroughly
prostrate and helpless.
From one of these attacks, in more than its usual force,
he was then suffering. The reverend ordinary closed his
book, repeated a short prayer, and resting his head
upon his hand gazed with an expresssion of tender
compassion on the insensible prisoner. Slowly re
covering, he seemed at first unconscious of his position,
like one awakening from a dream ; but with returning
reason the exquisite tortures of the toothache again re-
sumed their power, and he groaned aloud, throwing him-
self on the floor. At this, the chaplain fearing a repeti-
tion of the language and violence so frequently exhibited,
prepared to leave him ; but the culprit clung to him in
the most pitiable manner, begging him to delay his going:
" he would behave better, he would indeed ; he was more
himself."

Here the doctor stepping forward and taking him by
the hand said, " Well, my man, how do you feel ?"
" Mad, doctor—mad ; my head and brain be a-fire," he
replied ; " but I bees grateful for your coming ; I wants
to sleep." Then addressing the clergyman in an humbled
voice he added: "I somehow feels happier since I seen
her head ; I don't think she'll come again. 'We shall
meet to-morrow,' she whispered, but she smiled and
looked forgiving. Oh ! it's very horrid ; I didn't mean to
do it neither ; it was the devil as did it."

Seizing the opportunity Frank gave a signal to the
governor and turnkeys, and placing the chair in the
middle of the cell said, " Come, sit down and let me see
if .I cannot relieve you."
This he immediately acceded to, the officer at the same

time approaching close behind him. Removing the ban-
dages and opening his mouth, the formidable enemy of
peace of body and mind was at once discernible ; so
quietly taking out his instruments and selecting the ap-
propriate one, he requested me to hold the light. As I
peered down the frightful chasm I perceived that the
mouth and gums were in a fearful state, completely lit up
by inflammation.
First carefully examining the rotten array of mastica-
tors, and making sure of his foe, Frank rapidly inserted
the forceps and prepared for action. Grasping firmly and
securely the refractory molar, he instantly gave it that
indescribable twist which produces the ever-dreaded
crushing, crashing, bone-smashing, and tearing sensation,
a prolongation of which it is calculated would be suffi-
cient to shake the foundation of the world, or shiver the
skull of an elephant.
At the first attempt the dental giant unseated in his

throne tottered and reeled, and although conquered was
not yet a captive. The unhappy criminal unable to with-
stand the tug of war struggled to rise ; the warders, how-
ever, by great exertion drew him back by his arms, and
held him in his seat ; whereupon howling to the best of
his power, for the instrument was still in his mouth, he
threw out his legs with such strength and precision that
I, who had unthinkingly come too near, received the full
strength of the kick in the lower part of the stomach, and
was sent rolling backwards, perfectly incapacitated, the
awkwardness of the fall and endeavours to save myself
breaking the lantern, and extinguishing its apology for a
light. Dependent on this sole luminary we were left in
utter darkness ; the confusion, noise, and terror which
ensued are perfectly indescribable.
I soon discovered that I was not the only one down,
and from the tramplings and blows I suffered that the
prisoner was evidently showing fight, or that the autho-
rities in their excitement imagined so. In this dilemma
I suddenly felt myself in the vice-like grasp of some one
heavy, whom I retaliated on by seizing with all my might
a handful of his hair, doing all in my power to get up.
The worthy ordinary, who had fled for help, at this
crisis entered, accompanied by others with lights, when
to my extreme surprise I found myself lying underneath
the governor, whose face had been covered with blood
from a cut in my hand. Against the wall, calm and un-
dismayed, stood the doctor, holding in triumph high out
of reach the forceps with a triple-fanged tooth, whilst the
miserable condemned lay almost smothered and choked
by the weight and violence of the two turnkeys. Poor
unresisting wretch ! their exertions were thrown away on
him; he was far too subdued in spirit to have attempted
an escape, and certainly appeared, when liberated, by far
the most alarmed of the party.

Order was quickly restored, and the impropriety of the
scene hushed by the solemnity of the occasion, the hour,
and the strict discipline of the guard ; although nothing
could have been conceived more horrible than the appear-
ance of all, save the doctor and parson, in such a position
and under such circumstances; for when down and over-
powered the patient had in his endeavours to breathe
freely spit and spurted the blood from his torn gums over
the faces of his assailants, whilst the governor and myself

were equally besmeared from the wound in my hand. To
have looked in on us at the moment would have shaken a

man of the boldest courage.
spoken.

Scarcely a word was

The operation proved marvellously successful in its

effects on the prisoner, entirely relieving him from all
pain, calming his nervous excitement, and lifting the veil
from his obscured mind. We left him as soon as possible ;
he was already au altered man, fully sensible of his riffsi-
tion, and open to the divine influence of religion ; and,
strange as it may appear, although sleep was the grand
object of his wishes, that night his last on earth, he never
etired to rest at all, but passed the greater part of it in
listening to prayers and singing hymns.
Descending to the vestibule we passed into the common
room, one dedicated especially to the use of the officers
of the prison; it was a well proportioned large sort of
dining, assembly room, or hall. There we found a roast-
ing fire, large boiler, oven, and every convenience and
comfort. The governor rather theatrically exclaimed, on
entering,
"A little water clears us of this deed."

In spite, however, of the shocking scene we had witnessed
above, we literally roared with laughter as we eyed each
other's gory countenances.
Whilst occupied with the bath his attention was
suddenly called to a new corner. He wore a white wide-
awake hat, a drab great-coat, and was muffled up above
the chin with a thick rough shawl-comforter, and had on
worsted gloves. He had evidently just come off a jour-
ney (there were uo railways in those days). By his side
lay a large carpet-bag of a very gay pattern, and on the
table a fishing-rod in its snug canvass case. He was
engaged disburdening himself from his heavy upper
benjamin.
"Why, Jack," said Captain H—, "you are rather later
ain't you ?"
" Come by the mail, sir ; some delay with a kicker or
jibber, or someat o' that sort ; loosed him and did the
stage with three." _ _ _

During this colloquy the arrival's back was turned
towards us, and the governor taking the opportunity ex-
plained to me by signs who this very important personage
was ; placing his thumb and finger close to his ear he gave
them a sudden jerk upwards, making at the same time a
clicking noise with his tongue, by which I instantly com-
prehended his pantomimic description, and turning round
filled with curiosity I found myself face to face with the
hangman.

He was the very opposite then in appearance from what
any one would have pictured to himself, or have drawn in
a " sensation " article, a man of such a character, and
filling such an abominable calling. In height he was
about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches, of a clear, fair complexion, and
soft rather curly hair and whiskers, light eyebrows, blue
eyes expressive of good humour, but remarkably change-
able and unsettled ; straight thin nose, a mouth whose
thick lips denoted animal passions, and a round jovial
face ; in fact, not at all a bad-looking fellow, notwith-
standing that he was either slightly freckled or faintly
pitted by small-pox. In figure he was extremely broad-
shouldered, well-set up, quick and active in his move-
ments, and bold and familiar in his address. His tout
ensemble would have ranked him between a horse-toper
and a master-butcher in a small way ; you might have
put him down as either of these two.
A rummer of hot brandy-and water and a pipe being
set before him he soon made himself quite at home ; but
shortly approaching Captain H—, he quietly asked him in
a low tone :
" What time it was settled for in the morning ?"
"Oh ! early," replied the governor. " Early—eight
o'clock. To-morrow is our market-day, and we want to
get it all over before ten."
"Well, I'm glad on it, sir," he said, "for I hopes to get
a little fishing, if I can. I'm told there's plenty in these
parts, only it requires leave ; but French leave's better
than none," he added with a wink.
"If you wish to know anything about fishing,"
answered the governor, "you can't do better than ask my
young friend here," pointing to me, " for he has caught
some very fine ones lately, and will perhaps put you in
the way of it."
Here was an introduction of such an astounding nature
that I was completely taken aback. Not so he ; for he
directly availed himself of it, entering into the spirit of
the sport with great enthusiasm, describing various im-
provements in rods and tackle, and showing himself in
the favourable light of an experienced angler ; indeed he
put me up to a dodge I have never forgotten, namely,
" how to catch trout with a shrimp," a nice brown shrimp
cleanly picked, which when put on the hook with skill
and dropped gently down stream they will seldom or ever
refuse. It is perfectly correct, but almost amounts, in a
sporting sense, to murder.
In mentioning some very killing tackle, he brought up
his carpet-bag to show it ; the first thing, however, on
unlocking it, which presented itself to my anxious eyes,
was a tight coil of new rope. I thought it a terrible bad
joke at the time—l was young ; he, however, I suppose
did not, but laughingly said, "Not in that line," and threw
it into the corner of the room.
During this interesting tete-a-tete with my
new ac-
quaintance, the doctor was apparently delivering a lecture
on his treasured trophy, the monster tooth. It was placed
in the middle of his palm, and exhibited for the inspec-
tion of wondering turnkeys and others, and no doubt he
was expatiating- greatly on the powers of pain, the weak-
ness of the mind, and the uselessness of a nervous sys-
tem. How long he would have entertained his audience,
and remained in the long room, it is impossible to guess ;
but knoiving his propensity, and seeing the state of things,
I quietly disturbed him with the hint that we should bt?