Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-12
OBlo Statesnnarr,
An IIx1rnOrdinaryN Member of Par
IiamemI-A Curious Statement.

IiamenI-A Curious Statement.
The following remarkable account of a
new Irish Member of Parliament, appear
ed recently In the Dublin correspondence
of the London Times: ..
AS the gentleman who has Just been
elected one of the Parliamentary Repre-
sentatives of Wexford county is the most
remarkable man who has ever occupied a
seat in the House of Commons, it may be
interesting to your readers to know some
thing of Arthur MacMurrough Kavanagh.
| use no exaggerated phrase when de-
scribe him as not merely the "mOst remark
able but, might truthfully say, the most
extraordinary gentleman who has, during
the present century at least, entered Par
lament. With his political proclivities
and his religious predispositions l do not
intend to occupy your space, or our read
ers' attention. That he is Tory of the
most constitutional hue, you and they are
of course aware; and, Notwithstanding that
his Professionalism is of the severest class.
Mr.. Kavanagh is extremely popular, and
by his numerous and prosperous tenantry
is beloved and sincerely respected; for he
admits, in the administration of his large
estates in Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow,
that property has its duties as well as its
rights The honorable gentleman, | un-
MacMurrough, who, in the person OF Eva
MacMurrOugh, the wife of StrongbOw,
| first coalesced with the ''proud invader"
and sought to establish that Union and
| amalgamation of the two races which still
engr0sses the studious attention OF British
statesmen. Mr.. Kavanagh has neither
| legs nor arms. He was born in this unfin-
ished fashion, and in place OF legs he has
about six inchesof muscular thigh stumps
one being about an inch shorter than its
fellow; while his arms are dwaried to per-
haps four inches of the upper portion OF
| these members, and those are unfinished
with any examinations approaching in the
remotest degree to the form of hands. Yet
your readers will be surprised to hear that
he is beautiful caligraphist, a dashing
huntsman, an artistic craftsman, an uner-
ring shot, and the most expert of yachts
men-a combination of accomplishments,
under the circumstances of his cOpOral inn
perfections, that is certainly astonishing.
In face and bust Mr.. Kavanagh is of a
manly, handsome mould; fine, wcll-mark-
ed features, and eyes beaming with intelli-
gence, leave no doubt that, though the body
| has heen unfortunately shorn of it's fair and
| legitimate proportions, the mind is full,
| capacious and we'll developed. lie is now
about forty years OF age, aud large family
| of as handsome children as could be found
| in this teeming and prolific country has
| blessed his union with lady as remark
able for her beauty as she is beloved for
her amiabiity aud consideration. Endow-
| ed with healthy mind, Mr.. Kavanagh has
not permitted his physical afllictions to
mar curb or control the development of
those faculties to which, as if by way of
compensation, Providence has vouchsafed
to impart extraordinary power, energy and
acuteness. His literary taste he has graft
| fled in the fullest extent; and the Cruise Of
| the Eud, published short time since, testi-
| fies that he is rs writer graceful, vivaciOus
and obseryant. The book, which is most
certain evidence of an ability far away
above mediOcrity, was illustrated by
sketches taken by himself during his cruise.
His mode of writing is simple, but must
have been attended with great trouble be-
fore he atta'Ned the proficiency which he
unquestiona. has. He holds the pen or
pencil in his mouth and guides its course
by the arm-stumps, which are sufficiently
long to meet across the chest; and thus he
produces handwriting, each letter of
which is distinctly formed, and all without
any peculiarity, or what is called ''char-
acter.n When hunting, he sits in kind of
saddle-basket, and his reins are managed
with an eXpertness and an ease that are
surprising; but, perhaps, the greatest of
his achievements is driving a"fOur-in-
hand.r This he does to perfection and as
his team scampers away at dashing pace,
the sharp crack of his whip may be heard
far Off .u.
Thus, / think, 1 have stated enough to
establish the right of the "model county"
of Ireland to claim the distinction Of hav-
ing seut to Parliament the most eXtraOrdi.
Al..e lao, n nNntt N in hn
Commons OF the United Kingdom during
at least the present century. In his case
the House will have to grant some indul-
gences. As his locomotion is effected by
his attendant carrying him, some otherthan
IN honorable member" must be admitted
''within the bar" whenever Mr.. Kavauagh
takes his seat; for, Opine, the gallant con-
servative whipper-in (Col. Taylor) would
not wish, however anxious he might be for
"a House," thus to testify his anxiety to as
sist his party and carry it safely through.
Then, how Is the honorable member for
Wexford to record his vote? In his draw
ing-room he contrives, hedgehog-like, to
roll from place to place. This, fancy,
would not be practicable in the House; and,
as "strangers" cannot be admitted on such
sacred occasions, | fear Col. Taylor will
have to add the duty of locomotive" to
developed members, he oftentimes tiuds IL
difficult to discharge. Again, when Mr..
Kavanagh succeeds in that very delicate
and important oculistic operation of "catch-
ing the speakers eye,n will he be privileg-
ed to address Her Majesty's faithful COM
mons sitting? tor should he stand, he will
be invisible; or perhaps, he will be allowed
to stand upon his seat and thus obtain an
eminence and commanding position.
AT all events, though his position in ad-
dressing the House may be outre or ridicu-
lous, can assure you that his manner and
matter are sure to command attention; for
he is an able and finished speaker, and
brings to the consideration of every public
question the resources of carefully culti-
vated intelligence, guided and controlled
by Judgment, ripe from experience and ma
tured by attentive study. | rather think
that, Arthur MacMurrough Kavanagh's
first appearance in the House will create
=