Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-28
From de London Magazine for J,.iy.


A REVIEW OF ssMEMoIRs OF CAPTAIN RocKrt
This little book is not what it pretends to be,
and lwhat rarely happens in such cases,) il is
much more! Under the unassuming title of
"Nlenoirs of Captain Rock, it is i'm fact COIN
plete, though compendious History of Ireland;
that is, such history as Engishmen can read,
true summary ofthe measures pursue,, by this
country towards that, dvested of the bs rbarous
names and traditional fabrcations which have
hitherto encountered and obsmred the subject.
We have no hesitation in saying that it ought
to be the manuel of every one wishing for isfor-
nation on the affairs of ireland; and If it be OBJ
Jected that the book is written in the spirit of
partizanship, and should therefore be di,cre,.:t-
ed, we admit the fact, while we deny the infer
ence. II is certainly written in that spirit, but
sui tue facts which have generated that spirit
are all faithfully given, adduced from undenia-
die authorities, and ii is utterly impossible for
any one either 10 narrate or to read them with
out similar feeling. II is not the fault of the
historian that he has such details 10 present; but
1t would be worse than fault if his con-
domination OF them did not folIow;as corollary
doubt might just as nationally be cast upon
history OF the lnquisition, because the norrator
IN transcribing 1T, could not forget that he was
man. Although we give the parallel merely as
an illustration, we much fear that we might car
ry il further.
Inc present narrative was entrusted to the
editor, by It's [suppOsedl author, short time be-
fore his travels under the follow ing crcunstau-
ces The editor was sent to the south of Ire
land, I'm the enviable situation Of Missionary, by
society ut Old ladies, who generously assem-
bile at the City of London tavern, for the pur-
pose of civilziug that country Travelling with
this object in the mail coach, he became ac-
quainted with very communicative gentleman,
disguised like Bob Logic, in a pair of green
spectacles, with whom lie held many converse
tons on the state Of the SOUTH liltle suspectinr
then that he was in company with no less per.
sonage than the celebrated Captain Rock him
self. Their subsequent recognition and the
receipt ofthe manuscript well told, but for
the particulars, we must refer our readers 10 the
work itself, and hasten 10 more important mat
ter There Is much and just redicule thrown
by tins description on the absurd associations
formed here by weli-meaning but very ignorant
persons, for the moderation of Ireland ISy the
bye, among the most prominent of these we OBJ
served lately an account of a society formed for
the purpose OF printing and distributing the BIZ
bic IN the baSh language, together with list OF
many thousand copies which had already gone
forth: this is very laudabie, no doubt, and
would be very useful iftte people could read, -
trlfiing circumstance, which seems totally TO
have been overlooked by these Bible d,stribu-
tors; we Will venture TO assert without the fea
OF contradiction, that not ona,in half a million OF
sand of the Irish gentry could read one the
| language in which these Bibles are printed, even
| though they were promised the fee simple OF
| the island for the achievement. II very curse
| ry perusai, indeed, of tins book will al once
clearly account for the present barbarism Of that
country, and Is clearly show that its civilization
| Is out OF reach, not merely of any club or CON
yentcle, but, we fear, even Of those who ought
| TO be most interested. both by duty and consci
IL -, ,,,.x. -
ter either for the ministers of church or state to
counteract tie evil which seven such centuries
as the last have been generating in Ireland
= The book begins, as memoirs ought to do
with some account of the famly-,of its subject
the antiquity of which the author supposes TO be
coevai with that of the numerous and respecta-
bic race OF the Wrongheads IN England The
origin of the family name is next, according TO
rule, inquired into, and antiquarian suc@es-
iIoD IS humorously hazarded, no doubt witt, as
much reason, and certainly with more ingepui
ty, than graver ctymologies which have cost ma
ny midnight. San idea exists in certain
quarters, that the letters of which the name of
Rock is composed are merely initials, and con-
taip prophetic announcement of the birh des
tiny that awaits, at some time or other, that eel
ebratei gentleman, Mr.. Roger O'Conner. be-
ing, as they fill up the initials the following aw-
ful woris--Roger O'Conner, King.n Whate-
yer may have been the antiquity of the family.
or the derivation of the name there can he M
doubt, however, as to their occupation since the
reign of Henry III. having been exclusively
warlIke; so much So indeed that the author Of
the present narrative enthusiastically exclaims
Que regio IN ferris nostri non plena Iaboris!
OF which one of the family has given this truly
spirited and classical translation
Through Leinstcr, Ulster, Cnnnaught, Munster,
Rock the boy TO make the fun stir.
The manner, it seems, in which English le-
ncommenced in Ireland, was by merely in
flictng asmall fine for the murder of an Irisbmap;
&several cases actually occur in " the boolss,'
| IN which the plea to such accusation is that
the deceased was mere bistman. Captain
Rock gives one so far back as the reign of Ed.
ward IL. in which Ricbardde Wayley's being ac-
cused Of the murder of one j. MacGill;movry.
pleads, after admitting the death, 'tbat he could
not commit felony because the deceased was q
mere i''istmn'', md not Of free biood.n
We really know of no excuse for this barba
rcfis enactment at the time when ii took place
bet ause there was then plenty of game in the
country, and there was no necessity, as in later
periods, to hunt the human species merely for
amusement. We speak, of course, only Of the
earlier ages of The English sway, because fully
aware that IN latter times the dimunition of the
red deer and partriJges might be urged in rniti-
CATION, with quite as much grace, as many ex-
cuses which we have heard for subsequent acts,
less sauguinary perhaps, but certainly not more
wise. Captain Rock dates, and with reason.
the distinction of his family from the days Of this