Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-25
SIR BOYLE ROCHE.

Tho Celebrated Irish Bull PerpetratOr- An
Interesting Letter.
The most notorious bull perpetrator
was Sir Boyle Roche, who was elected
member for Tralee in 1775. He Lad a
regular laundering reputation. He was
known upon one occasion, after with
ering exposure or patriotic denuncia-
ton of Government, to say, with solemn
gravity: "Mr. Speaker, it is the duty
of every true lover of his country to
give his last guinea to save the re-
mainder of bis fortunes!" Or, if the
subject of debate was some national
calamity, he would deliver himself
thus: "Sir, single misfortunes never
come alone, and the greatest Of all ma
tional calamities is generally followed
by one much greater
Sir Boyle Roche belonged to the
ancient family of De La Russo, of Ler-
moy; he was created Baronet in 1882,
and was married to the eldest daughter OF
Sir James Caldwell. but had 10 heir
He used to account for his lack of prog
eny by saying "that it was hereditary
in our family to have no children.
Another of his blunders was made when
speaking of the fsh-hawkers. 'They
60 down to Ringsend," he observed
buy the herrings for half nothing, and
sell them for twice as much" A letter
supposed to have been written by ST,
Boyle Roche during the Irish rebellion
of 1898 gives an amusing collection Of
his various blunders. Perhaps he
never put so many on paper ut time
but his peculiar turn for bulls" is here
shown at one view.
The letter was first printed in the
Kerry Magazine. now out of print:
DEAR SIR: Having now a little peace and
quiet, I sit down to inform you of the hustle
and confusion we are in from. the blood-th thirsty
rebels, many of whom are now, thank God,
killed and dispersed. We are in pretty mess;
can get nothing to eat, and no wine to drink
except whisky. When we sit down to dinner
we are obliged to keep both hands armed.
While l write this Rave my sword in one hand
and my pistol IN the other. concluded from
the beginning that this would be the end; and
am right, for it is not half over yet. At pres
ent there are such goings- on that everything il
letter fortnight ago, but I only received il
this morning; indeed, hardly q mail arrives
safe without being robbed.
No longer ago than yesterday the mail
coach was robbed near this town; the bags had
been very judiciously left behind for fear OF
accidents, and, by great good luck, there was
nobody in the coach, except two outside pas
sengers, who had nothing for the thieves to
take Last Thursday an alarm was given that
gang of rebels in full retreat from Drogheda
were advancing under the French standard
but they had no colors nor any drums except
bagpipes. Immediately every man in the
place, including women and children, ran out
to meet them. We soon found our force a
great deal too little, and were far too near to
think of retreating Death was in every face
and to it we went By the time half our party
we're killed we began to be all alive.
Fortunately, tbs rebels had no guns, except
pistols, cutlasses and pixies, and we had plenty
of muskets and ammunition. We put them all
to the sword; not soul of them escaped, ex-
cept some that were drowned in an adjoining
bog. In fact in q short time nothing was heard
but silence. Their uniforms were ell different
chiefly green. After the action was over we
went to rummage their camp. All we found
was a few pixies, without heads, a parcel Of
empty bottles filed with water and bundle OF
blank French commissions, filed up with Irish
names. Troops are now stationed round,
which exactly squares with my ideas of Sc
curity. Adieu. I have only time to add that
am yours in haste. B. r.
P. ST you do not receive this, of course
it must have miscarried; therefore, beg OF
you write and let me know.