The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-01-22
SIR BOYLE ROCHE.
The Celebrated Irish Bun Perpetrator--A
IEtaraafing Iatfer.


Interesting Letter.
The most notorious bull perpetrator
was Sir Boyle Roche, who was elected
member for Tralee In 1775. He had a
regular laundering reputation. He was
known upon one occasion, after a with
ering exposure or patriotic denuncia-
ton OF Government, to say, with solemn
gravity: 3Mr. Speaker, it is the duty
Of every true lover of his country to
give his last guinea to save the re-
mainder of his fortunesi" Or, if the
subject of debate was some national
calamity, he would deliver himself
thus: 9Sir, 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 q Baronet in 1882,
and was marriedto the eldest daughter of
Sir James Caldwell, but had no 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 wa made when
speaking of the fish-hawkers. "They
go down to Ringsend,p he observed,
sbuy the herrings for half nothing, and
sell them for twice as much" A letter
supposed to have been written by Sir
Boyle Roche during the Irish rebellion
of 1898 gives an amusing collection of
his various blunders. Perhaps he
never put so many on paper at q time,
but his peculiar turn for "bulls" ishere
shown at one view.
The letter was first printed in the
Kerry Magazine, now out of print:
DEAR Sm: Having now a little peace and
quiet, I sit dow to inform you of the hustle
and confusion we are in from the blood-thirsty
rebels, many Of whom are now, thank God,
killed and dispersed. We are in q pretty mess
can get nothing to eat, and 40 wine to drink
except whisky. When we sit down to dinner
we are obliged to. keep both hands armed.
While 1 write this Ifavs my sword in one hand
the beginning that this would be the end; and
I am right, for it is not half over yet. At pres
emit there are such goings-on that everything il
at standstill- I should have answered your
letter q fortnight ago, but I only received il
this morning; indeed, hardly a 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
4 49, 1NLLA H1S
sengers, who had nothing for the thieves tt
take. Last Thursday an alarm was given tina
q gang Of rebels in full retreat from Drogheds
were advancing under the French standard
but they had no colors nor any drum excep
bagpipes. Immediately every man in thu
place, including women and children, ran on
to meet them. We soon found our force
great deal too little, and were far too near II
think Of retreating. Death was in every face
and to it " went By the time half our part,
were killed we began to be all alive.
Fortunately, this rebels had no guns, excep
pistols, cutlasses and pixies, and we had plent
of maskets and ammunition. We put them al
to the sword; not o soul Of them escaped, ex
cept some that were drowned in an ADJOINING
bog. In fact, in q short time nothing was hear
but silence. Their uniforms were all differen
chiefly green. After the action was over W
went to rummage their camp. All we foun
was . few pixies, without heads, . parcel o
empty bottles filed with water and q bundle o
blank French commissions, filled up with Iris
names. Troops are now stationed round
which exactly squares with my ideas of sc
curity. Adieu. I have only time to add tina
/ am yours in haste. B..
P. ST. you do not receive this, of cours
it must have miscarried; therefore, ! beg Q
You write and let me know.