Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-09-11
SIR BOYLE ROCHE,
Excellent Stories Told of the High Priest Oh
Irish Bulls.

Excellent Stories Told of the High Priest OF
Irish Bulls.
Mr.. G. j. Hamilton, Howth, County
Dublin. writing to the Spectator, gives
the following concerning Sir Boyle
Roche, 1.-The high priest of Irish bul}s::''
He was of the ancient family of the
De La Russes, Of Fermoy, was men,
Der for Tralee for 1775. and was Gre
ated Baronet in 1882. He commenced
one of his speeches in the Irish House
of Commons as follows: ''Mr Speaker,
it is the duty of every true lover of his
country to give his last guinea to save
the remainder of his fortunes" And
another began: ''Sir, single misfort-
unes never come alone. and tho
greatest of all national calamities is
generally followed by one much
greater" A letter of his is still pre-
served, supposed to have been written
during the rebellion of '9S, though it is
doubtful if he ever put so many
''bulls'' together on paper. 1t is as
follows:
DEAR SIR: Having now little peace ana
quiet. 1 sit down to inform you Of the hustle
and confusion we are in from the bloodthirsty
rebels, many Of whom are now, thank Godl
killed and dispersed. We are in pretty mess,
can get nothing to eat, and no wine to drink ex-
cept whisky. When we sit down to dinner, we
are obliged to keep both hands armed. Whilst
write this, have 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 present,
there is such goings on that every thing is at a
standstill. should have answered your letter
fortnight ago, but only received it this
morning. Indeed hardly a mail arrives safe
without beng robbed. No longer ago than
yesterday, the mail coach from Dublin -yas
robbed near the town; the bags had been very
judiciously left behind and BY great good LUCK
there was nobody in the coach but two outside
passengers who had nothing for the thieves to
take. Last Thursday an alarm was given that
gang of rebels in full retreat from Droghed a
were advancing under the French stand
ard; but they had no colors, nor any
drums except bagpipes. Immediately every
man in the place. including women and chill
dren, ran out to meet them. We soon found
our force a great deal too little. and were tar
too near to think of retreating. Death was in
every face, and to it we went. BY the time
half our party were killed we began to be all
alive. Fortunately the rebels had no guns, ex-
cept pistols, cutlasses and pixies, and we had
plenty Of muskets and ammunition. We put
them all to the sword, not a soul of them es-
capped, except some that were drowned in an
adjoining bog. In fact, in q short time nothing
was heard but silence. Their uniforms were
all different, chiefly green. After the action
was over we went to rummage their camp. All
We found was a few pixies without heads, q
parcel Of empty bottles filled with water, and a
bundle Of blank French commissions filled up
with irish names. Troops are now stationed
round, which exactly squares with my ideas Of
security .Adieu ! have only time to add that
] am yours in great haste. B. r.
T. S.-If you do not receive this, Of course, it
must have miscarried; therefore, 7 beg you to
write and let me know.