The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-01-22 00:00:00

To THE EDITUR OF THE STATESMAN.

--0110•••--
Sra—The melancholy and remarkable story in the
Dublin papers a few days ago, of a miserable se/j-
-eoarieted creature, discovered in a rave in the moan-
tains of the county of Down, recalls to my recollection
a most astonishing case of self-conviction and voterr-
tory puoishoserit which occurred some years ago, also
Ireland. But between the two cases there is this
striking differenee—the one was the victim of bodily
fear; the victim I am about to describe was in no peril
of law. Our country-house was within about half a
wile of his farm, and 1 was (then a boy) in the habit
of meeting him daily on the road.
At a very beautiful sea-side village called 'Mee-
r'oo, which is only a few miles from Dublin; resided
an opulent cow-keeper, an active, robust, a most
heerful man, and of the very best character.
Suddenly, and without any apparent alteration in his
bodily health or his circumstances, his spirits decay-
ed—be neglected his business—he seemed wrapt in
contemplation, and at length became quite silent ex-
cept when he gave sent to sighs or to ejaculations,
which it was said were always of a very mysterious

import.
The extraordinary change in this once sprightly
man did not escape the observation of his neighbours ;
and as something certainly appeared to prey upon his
mind, their interpretation was of conrse, that he
must have done something dreadful. The village
s:ory was, that he had sold himself to the devil
sir his HAM, and that Satan had now demanded
him. -
From the villagers those marvellous matters were
transferred to the servants of the surrounding gentry,
from them, to the younger branches of families, and
su on to masters and mistresses, until the subject be-
C.A1130 of such notoriety that the country for many miles
round talked of nothing else. The ignorant heard
with superstitious horror and leliered. Ihe enlight-
ened listened with a smile of pity at their bigotry anti
bully.
Not well pleased to have their wonderful stories
treated with ridicule, the friends of this afflicted wan
proposed ;moor of their statements. " Any one who
pleased might sit up with Aim." It was openly avowed
ty himself and his family that the tirud came to him
regularly every night, and held conversation with him
on a mysterious subject, and that •Inring those terrific!
interviews his unhappy host underwent sufferings not
to be described. All his friends amid neighbours had
sat up with him in rotation, and testified those things
to be facts.
The neighbonshood was so much distnrbed, and so
much idleness was occasioned by this romance, that
several gentlemen of consequence resolved to detect
what they conceived to be an imposture. "It was
superstition ;" "it was priestcraft ;" the man was
e' either a rogue, or a madman.''l hey sat up with
him. Every thing that vigilance, that wisdom, or in-
genuity could conceive, was put in practice to obtain
a conviction, but without effect. Those who formerly
mocked and ridiculed were silenced. " There was
something very remarkable in the case ;" for the man,l
instead of appearing like an insane or an impostor,'
appeared to them nut only the very reverse, but an ob-
ject of great commiseration.
One n:orning came forth a curious bulletin. The
devil bad commanded him to sell off the whole of his
property, and apply the entire produce in charity.
An auction was called; every thing sold; the pro-
duce given away ; and the wretched creature, from a
state of affluence, voluntarily lived in an empty
house, fed upon bread and water, and lay upon a pallet
of straw, but in tolerably good bodily health, and of
unquestionuhly sound mind.
So far as I have stated, happened early in the season.
Summer, and this extraordinary subject began to ex-
pire. Families went to tow'', ati.l the unhappy cow-
keeper was lef: in wretchedness, and almost forgotten.
Suddenly, in the depth of the winter, lillerrion was
thrown into a state of great consternation. The
Lievil had resumed his visits to this afflicted creature,
and had most peremptorily conotiateled him to per-
form a pilgrimage, on his bare 1.0 r., from his dismal
habitation to a village called " /1.:///,‘ridge," which
is two and an half miles distant therefrom; and in that
condition, still on his knees. to go np to his lips in a
river called the "Doddir," of which he was to drink
ft plineuess. The day was specified, and to make this
penance the more terrific, the hour appointed was
midnight.
Like wildfire travelled this infernal mandate.
Every rational creature cried " nonsense, ridiculous."
Lis disciples answered, " It's true.," and "do it he
will."
The specified day at last arrived. I shall never
forget it, although strictly commanded, rot upon any
account to go to Alerrion on that due-; truant-like, 'I
went ; not so much with the expectation of witnessing
this spectacle; as with the hopes of its non-performunee.
Whereby I !bight have the means of tormenting our
maids, who were violent votaries of this poor penitent,
sal with whom I had had battles and game-make end-
less ou the subject.
Instead of retiring to my be I, I made out of town,
and on my way down, saw horsemen, carriages, and foot-
passengers innumerable, hurrying out. On arriving
at our house, the thing seemed quite certain, insomuch
that I posted myself with the gardener's son, on the
piers of site gate, where we kept constant watch, till
we were nearly perished with cold. At last we saw
a number of lights moving towards us, when, with
transport, we flew to meet this promised but unex-
pected pilgrimage,
Upon his knees, lacerated and bleeding, bare headed,
ith uplifted hands, with upturned eyes, aid in the'
ice of agony uttering sonsiele prayers. was this
stlideroted victim. He was surrounded by his friends
neighbours, who bore lighted torches and kept
the crowd, whilst at in:ervala they also lifted up their
voices in prayer and is lamentation. Dash and foggy
the night, and the road almost a sea from an 'witty
of rain. In the cavalcade were gentlemen of rank
horseback and in carriages, who in vain iaterpomel
;r supplications, that be would .arise and talus
fort. No tienniasiun could move hi m-e-though be
. . -
be was perfectly s,nsi..le. He smile
,uses batted to recover strength, and to refresh him- ,
'f;* but proceed he would, and proceed he did, till
was actually steeped to the lips in waters of
poriffeotien, when he finated in the arms of thaw

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