HISTORY OF BANDON

Chapter XV

[Pages 520-553]  THE FIRST ROMAN CATHOLIC WHO VENTURED TO LIVE IN ONE OF OUR PRINCIPAL STREETS -  NOBODY DID IT - THE BATTLE OF THE CROSS - THE DUNMANWAY BOY AND THE GAUGER - MAD MARY AND THE TOBACCO - COMPLETE LIST OF OUR CHIEF MAGISTRATES - OUR MANOR COURTS.

    1806-    The Right Hon. Courtney Boyle (Tory), captain Royal Navy, elected to represent the town, in lieu of Sir Broderick Chinnery

    1807-  May 15th.- Right Hon. Henry Boyle (Tory)- commonly called Lord Viscount Boyle-was elected to represent Bandon; and, on the 3rd of the following August, the Right Hon. George Tierney (Whig), of London, and of Wimbledon, in Surrey, succeeded Lord Boyle-he having become Earl of Shannon upon the death of his father, Richard, the second earl.
    It was about this time that the first Roman Catholic shopkeeper ventured to reside in any of our principal streets.  For several years previously some Roman Catholics had crept into the town, but they were content with the humblest habitations within the walls, and in the most out of the way places.  The name of this adventurous pioneer was Paddy Gaffney.  He was a resolute sort of fellow, and a very good-tempered fellow at the same time; but he was as ugly as if he was made to order.  Nothwithstanding his lack of personal attractions, he was a light-hearted soul.  Smile after smile was constantly in pursuit of one another over his pugnacious physiognomy.  Pat kept a pie-shop, in which he sold pies, and what, by a long stretch of charity, was known as mutton-broth.  The pies were made of flour and water, and were just ovened enough to stiffen them.  Around their out edge was a battlement of indurated dough, and in the centre was a thin pellicle of the same material, and under this slender covering was, or ought to have been, some meat.  But nobody could tell what it was.  Some said it was sole-leather, which Paddy cut off a pair of worn-out brogues, and boiled.  Others, that it was Bible covers, cut into pieces, and fried; but the generally received opinion was that it was bog-wood, warmed in a pot of cabbage-water, into which was flung a crubeen or two, to give it a meaty flavour.  As for the mutton-broth-even Gaffney had not the audacity to assert it was ever in contact with mutton, or even under the same roof with it.  It was composed of boiling-water, heaps of salt, and a dust of pepper.  The first morning that he took down his shutters and invited the public to enter his refectory, it became known that a Papist had come to live in the street.
    "Yaw! where are you going Sammy?" says one old fellow to another, who was trudging past his door on his way to Paddy's.
    "Be dad, Johnny, up to see de live Papish dat's cum to live near the Patey-market!"
    "Lawks, man! a live Papish?"
    "A live Papish?" chimed in another old neighbour, with wonder spreading in his eyes.  "Yaw!, Dick," calling out to another friend who had just put his head out of the windw, "sure you never heard sich news! sure dere's a live Papish here!"
    "Is it de French is come agen to Bantry Bay?" eagerly enquired an old woman, who, on perceiving the earnest manner of the old people, thought something really awful had occured.
    "No, Betsey, it ain't! but 'tis what's a great dale worse-dere's a live Papish come to live in the street!"
    "By dis and by dat!" said another old townsman, who heard all that passed, "de end of the world can't be far off now."
    Young men, as well as old men, took part in the consultation, and after a little talk on the subject, they all went up to see Paddy.
    "What de divil brought de likes ov ye in here at all, at all?" said the principal spokesman, striking the end of his stick upon the ground, and looking wickedly at the owner of the pie-shop.
    "Wisha! gentlemen," said Pad, who well knew they would not like him the less for giving them a lift in the social scale, "I don't wonder at your axing the question!  Yerra! how can I help it, whin I hadn't the good luck to be born a Bandon Protestant.  Sure the next best thing to that was to go and live among thim, and in course of time, by reading good books, and pitching the Pope to the divil, I may, with God's help, become one myself!  Tisn't every one has the luck that ye's have, gintlemen!"
    "Well, he ain't a bad Papish, any how!" said one of the deputation.
    "Well, I think 'tis wrong to be blaming the poor man," said another.
    "Sure 'tis hard to censure him for his parents being idolators, and he not born at de time."
    "And isn't my daughter, that's married to Bill Forbus, a Protestant?"  said Paddy.  "Faix, she is so!" said he, "and that's the girl that would eat mate of a Friday for you, and make herself as hoarse as a beetle on the 1st of July, singing "The Protestant Boys," and "Croppies lie down!"
    Here several interposed, and said they knew this to be a fact.
    "And you may ax Tom Sloane if he didn't see me drink the glorious memory on the day King William (God rest his sowl in glory, said Pad, reverentially taking off his hat at the same time), bate the Papists; and, by gor! 'twas a murdering sin he didn't kill them all, for then all the people that came into the world since would be Protestants; and then, sure, I'd be as good as any of ye's, gintlemen!" said Paddy.
    "Do you go to the mass-house?" said Sammy, who wasn't easily imposed on.
    "Very seldom! said Paddy.
    "Will you promise never to darken the durrens of the door of it again?"
    "I will, and welcome! said Pad.
    'Twas impossible to say any more to such an obliging poor fellow as this; so they all withdrew; and we must do Gaffney the justice to say he faithfully kept his word.  His knowledge of human nature saved him.  Indeed, the thorough knowledge of ordinary humanity possessed by some of our countrymen, and their intimate acquaintance with all the windings and the workings of the human heart, prove them to be possessed of perceptive powers of a high order.  And not only do they possess the knowledge we have just mentioned, but they know full well how to turn it to account.  If a man had a prejudice or a passion; if he aspired to be a patriot, or was a sensible man; if he was rich or poor; and old Whig, or a Fenian; one of those shrewd pieces of humanity could see what was written on his very back-bone, before he would be able to utter half-a-dozen sentences, and would shape his conversation accordingly.

BANDON UNION 

    "Sir, -You are requested to parade next Monday, at eleven o'clock, in full uniform, arms, &c., to fire at a target.
                                                                                                                                                                George Kingston, Captain

    "To Mr. ----------."

    July was their favourite month for parading, and the anniversary of the battle of the Boyne was their favourite day.  Throughout the entire of this month, every man used to turn out with a flower (generally an orange lily) in the muzzle of his musket, just as the patriotic troops still do in Italy, Germany, and other places.  On the 6th of July, in this year, Colonel Auriel, the commandant, issued orders for a full-dress parade.  The corps assembled in their usual places.  The Boyne "fell in" in the open space where the meat-shamble now stand; the True-Blues took open order in front of the court-house; and the Union opposite the house now occupied as the Provincial Bank.  Riding up, in company with Lord Bandon and several other officers, to the Boyne, the commandant made a vigorous speech, in which he denounced political badges, and finally concluded by ordering the men of that corps to take out the lily or lay down their arms.  The men unhesitatingly adopted the latter alternative, and down went the arms with a crash that sent ramrods and broken bayonets ringing about in every direction.  Auriel and his party then road down to the True-Blues, where the previous order was repeated, and down went brown Bess without a murmur.  But he was more successful with the Union, several of the men, retaining the musket and removing the obnoxious lily.  The same day, the three corps were formally disbanded.  Whether Colonel Auriel had received instructions from the Executive to seek a pretext for disbanding these volunteers, we know not; but certain it is, that no government would sanction some of the language used by him on that day.  He told them, that the wearing of the lily was an act of cowardice; and that, although they had that badge of loyalty in their caps, he made no doubt but they may have the United Irishmen's oath in their pockets.
    The policy of wearing badges of any sort has long since grown into disfavour; and we doubt if there was any need of symbolizing one's attachment to the institutions of his country, by wearing either a flower or a ribbon.  As to the latter statement, that he "made no doubt but they may have the United Irishmen's oath in their pockets," this could only have been uttered with the view of causing excessive irritation; for well he must have known, that there was no body of men in the British empire more devotedly attached to the crown and constitution of Great Britain than the yeomanary of Bandon; and their amazement could have been only surpassed by their indignation, when they found that any power occupying the place of Cromwell or of William III. could entertain any doubt as to their loyalty.  It must have sounded strangely in their ears to hear the term "cowardice" applied to the descendants of those who never knew what it was to retreat in the terrible times of 1641, and of those who, when they were surrounded by the disciplined regiments of Clancarthy in 1689, and when destruction threatened their town, and death themselves, yet they quailed not.  'Twas unmanly-'twas unjust-'twas unsoldierly-yea, it was cowardly, to daub this slanderous lie upon such men; upon men too, who would at any time have thought the welfare of out cherished institutions cheaply purchased by the sacrifice of their lives.

    1810-  This year, the woollen trade, which had been reeling for some time under the effects of repeated strikes, at length fell down altogether.  For years before, the workmen had entered into trade combinations, and used to meet regularly in a large field to the south-west of Messrs. Fitzgerald's distillery, where everyone who could invent a grievance or picture and injury was eagerly listened to; but the palm of patriotism was reserved for whom who could force up wages to the last endurable degree, so that the aritzans divided all the profits between them, and left the manufacturer nothing to reserve for a protested bill, an uprise in the raw material, or any of the other contingencies to which trade is liable.
    At first, the masters strove hard against all this; but what could they do?  Then they became irritable, sulky, and finally indifferent.  Whilst the trade was thus dragging along with just sufficient life in its paralyzed limbs to keep moving, a very large order had been received by Thomas Biggs, best known as "Governor Biggs."  The weavers heard of the order.  They called a special meeting, and they struck, of course.  Mr. Biggs was a sensible, practical man, and one greatly interested in the prosperity of his native town; and, fearing matters might terminate badly, he sent for the workmen, and, producing the contract, showed the the impossibility of being able to increase their wages by an additional farthing.  He also drew their attention to a clause in the agreement, liberating him from the fulfilment of his obligations in case of a strike.  But it did not avail.  They should have what they demanded.  "Well," said he, "there are the carts still laden with the balls of thread which they have brought out from Cork, and there they shall remain until Monday morning.  Meanwhile, turn the matter well over in your minds; for, by that time, I must have your final decision."  In the interim, he called the manufacturers together; and they, after a short consultation, decided on closing their establishments if the weavers persevered.  The trade was to them un-remunerative; they were sick of it; and they did not regret that matters had now come to an issue.
    On Monday morning, the workman came, and brought with them the old story-they should get the required advance.  The "governor" was a very determined man.  He ordered the horses to be put to; crack went the whips; away rolled the carts, and with them departed, we fear, for ever the once staple article of our old trade, and the basis of our commercial prosperity for over two hundred years.  A deputation called on him that evening to say they would reconsider their decision; but he told them it was too late.  They came again next morning, and said they would work for the old wages.  They came again next morning, and said they would work for the old wages.  Again they came, and they offered to take twenty-five per cent off these.  Before one o'clock they had resolved to sacrifice another large slice.  But it was too late.  A day of apprehension and of what slowly trailed its weary hours over them.  Early on the morrow of the next day they came  "Give us what you like," they said; "but, eh! save us from starving!"  It was too late.  The fact was, Mr. Briggs had thrown up the contract by the Monday's post, and, even if desirous of recalling it, it was now impossible.  It was too late.
    Then commenced an exodus, the like of which, considering the extent of our population, we have scarce seen paralleled even in history, and which has left us, after an interval of fifty years, with not one-half the number of inhabitants the town contained in this year.  Family circles-indeed, we are told, entire communities-fled to Manchester, Leeds, London, and event to Paris.  Crowds crossed the broad Atlantic; and many passed away to unknown lands, and have not left even a trace of their whereabouts.  Those that could not make away were employed on the relief-works; many of the hilly roads in our neighbourhood being then cut down, as Barrett's Hill, Lovell's Hill, &c.  Lodgings were unlet; houses were unoccupied; whole streets were deserted; and many and many a green meadow, now roamed over by an "Ayrshire" or a "Durham," was then the site of a clean, orderly row of white cottages; and the solemn stillness of the country now reigns where the unvarying click-clack of the shuttle and the weaver's merry song once held undisputed sway.
    Several spirited attempts were subsequently made by Messrs. George Allman, Richard Wheeler, and James Scott, to introduce the cotton trade.  The first-named gentleman erected extensive concerns for that purpose, being one hundred and thirty-four feet in length, thirty-four in width, and fifty in height.  They contained five floors, all underlaid with sheet-iron.  They also contained ten thousand spinning spindles, with all the necessary machinery for turning out three thousand pounds weight per week of manufactured cotton.  We are unable to say whether it was owing to be carted inland, and, when manufactured, carted back again for shipment, or to what other cause; but certain it is, that this attempt soon languished and died out, and the large premises, after being idle for a number of years, were eventually hired out as an auxiliary workhouse.
    The manufacture of corduroys was tried here, tool and, with varying success, held its ground for a number of years; but, in the end, it, too, perished.  The linen manufacture (principally tickings) continued here for about a century and a quarter; but it also sickened, and followed in the wake of the others, but not, however, without leaving some trace of its existence behind, and for which we are solely indebted to the perseverance of one individual, who, amongst the multifarious pursuits of an extensive commerce, has yet found leisure to keep alive a few lingering mementoes of the old Bandon loom.

    1812-  Honorable Richard Boyle Bernard (Tory) second son of Francis, Earl of Bandon-elected to represent the town in Parliament

    1815-  William Sturgess Bourne (Tory), Testwood, Southampton, elected in room of Hon. R. B. Bernard, who resigned.

    1818-  Augustus William James Clifford (Whig), elected to represent the town.
    The Rev. Verney Lovatt resigned the rectory of Kilbrogan.  He was the only brother of Sir Jonathan Lovatt, and was his natural heir; but he lost the ancestral estate, and all Sir Jonathan's chattels in addition, by his love of fun and humour.  It appears the old baronet was an irritable and eccentric specimen of the genus Homo, but Verney was the very opposite.  He was as comical as the other was testy.  One day Verney got behind Sir Jonathan's chair, and was revenging himself by making hideous faces at him, and by sundry movements of his legs and arms was intimating what he thought ought to be done to him, when old Growly suddenly turned round and caught him in the act.  He never forgave him.  All his property-including the Liscombe estate, which Richard de Lovatt, one of his ancestors, obtained from William the Conqueror, besides all his personal effects-he bequeathed to a distant relative, and did no leave his only brother even an angry shilling.
    Whilst he was rector of Kilbrogan, it was customary with Mr. Lovatt to dispense the parochial charities weekly, and the recipients of them he used to recognize, not by the names conferred upon them when a few of their friends undertook serious responsibilities on their behalf, but by some accomplishment, or blemish, or peculiarity that they were noted for.  A poor woman who sold him a lame duck for a whole one was Mrs. Duckey, and her daughter was the little duck; another, who had an oblique vision, was Squinty; Honey was the dulcet appelation he had for one whose sweet tongue often poured copious blessings on his rectorial head; and the Wasp was a peevish creature, that would fight with the shadow of her own dyspeptic countenance.
    The doctor was a great humorist.  Nevertheless, under the guise of pleasantry and merriment, he could administer a rebuke that would not soon be forgotten.  Passing hurriedly through his hall one night in the dark, he knocked against a poor man who was waiting to see him.
    "Who's that?" said the divine, as he recoiled off the unfortunate fellow's ribs with such force as to fall in a most unclerical position on the floor.
    "Nobody, your reverence!" was the timid reply.   
    "Nobody," repeated the rector rapidly to his feet; "well, thank goodness, I have you at last!" laying a firm hold of the intruder by the collar of his coat, and calling loudly to the servants to hasten to him at once, and bring lights.  They rushed towards him, snatching up a lamp or a candle, or any other kind of light they could lay their hands upon, thinking something serious must have occurred; and their fears were more than half realized, when they beheld their master looking determinedly at a strange man who stood trembling in his grasp.  Gathering them about him, he addressed his prisoner:-
    "Well, Nobody." said he, "you're the very fellow I have been looking for these thirty years.  There is not a dish broken in the kitchen, or a bottle of wine finished in the pantry, or a joint of cold meat, or a book, or a blanket, that has been stolen out of my dwelling, ever since I became a housekeeper, but it was you that did it."
    The unhappy captive most energetically protested that he was never inside the walls of his reverence's habitation before, and that he never touched anything belonging to him since he was born.
    "Monstrous! Absurd! Impossible!" roared the doctor.  "Thirty successive cooks-thirty successive housemaids-thirty successive butlers, whenever I asked what ;became of this, or who carried away that, heave told me over and over again that it was Nobody took it."  Turning to those whom he had summoned around him, "if after all the censure this fellow has brought upon you," said he, "and all the suspicious that he has cause to he laid on your shoulders, I ask you, don't you agree with me in thinking that hanging is a good deal too food for him?"
    Although he put the question to them three or four times, there was no reply.  Those whom he addressed sheepishly held down their heads, and did not utter a syllable.  Having obtained from the prisoner his name and where he lived, he then directed his domestic that they should look closely at the man's face; for that the very next time anything would be missed, they should go off in a body to Nobody's house, seize him neck and heels, drag him before a magistrate, and follow the matter up until he was either gibbetted or transported.  After they all retired, he gave the terrified individual, whom he had held in duresse for the previous half-hour, a five-shilling piece, and asked him what was there he could do for him.

    1820-  Honorable James Bernard (Tory)- commonly called Lord Viscount Bernard- elected to represent Bandon.

    1821-  What is known here as the battle of the Cross, took place this year, on the 2nd of July.  The first having fallen on a Sunday, the customary procession on the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne was deferred until next day.  Having assembled on Monday, at the open space in front of Ballymodan Church, the members of three Orange lodges marched in procession to Kilbrogan Church, carrying appropriate banners.  Everyman in the procession wore an orange collar and sash, and an orange lily in the front of his hat.  The numerous friends who surrounded them also wore orange lilies and roses in honour of the day.  Upon the arrival in Kilbrogan, an excellent sermon was preached for them by the Rev. William Sullivan, of "Fear God, honour King;" after which the procession formed again, and they marched down through the North Main Street, over the bridge, through the South Main Street, and up through the Castle Road, until they reached the western entrance of Castle-Bernard.  Here they halted, and one of them-a man named Sam Hosford-who had charge of the piece of ordnance which accompanied the procession, loaded it.  They then fired three rounds from it, and from the few small arms they had with them, in compliment to Lord Bandon, who was a great favourite with the townspeople; and them concluded with three tremendous cheers, in which the bystanders joined with all their might.
    Upon their return, when they got to the Cross lane, news was brought them that if they attempted to march through it, and through Gallow's Hill Street, a mob would prevent them by force.  This alone was sufficient to induce the majority of those present to go there at all hazards.  Accordingly, two out of the three lodges, consisting of one hundred and twelve men, marching two abreast, advanced leisurely up the hill; and descending at the Gallow's Hill's Street side, they were met by a mob, variously estimated at from two hundred to five hundred people, headed by two men named Galivan and Hurly, both of whom were armed with muskets.  When they approached the mill stream at the bottom of the hill, volley after volley of stones were poured into their ranks.  This they patiently withstood for about ten minutes, but seeing that their forbearance only excited the mob to more stones, Hosford, the vouluteer gunner, aided by one McDaniel, again loaded the old gun, and fired.  The contents fled high over their heads, and were all scattered among the tops of the trees surrounding Mr. Jervois's residence on the opposite side of the road and stream.  Seeing there was no casualty, the rioters became emboldened, and the stone throwing increased in violence.  The gun was loaded again, and in the absence of canister or grape, the cannoniers were obliged to substitute gravel and buttons, and even a penknife.  At this discharge-which was aided by shots from small arms-a woman named Crowly was killed, and several were wounded, amongst whom was a man named Shea, who died on the next day.  This was enough.  When the mob became convinced that the Orangemen were in earnest, they broke up and made for their several houses as fast as they could.
    The following members of the Protestant party, namely: Edward Appleby, George Dineen, Patrick Coghlan, John Searles, James Sealy, Bat Malony. Samuel Hosford, Joshua Donovan, Robert Warner, and James Malony, were tried at the ensuing Cork Assizes; but the jury having declared "that there was no use whatsoever in their remaining together, as there was no the slightest possibility they could ever agree." they were discharged, and the traversers were liberated on their own recognizances.

    1822-  Great distress prevailed in Bandon this year.  Subscription lists were opened, and a committee was appointed to provide employment for the poor.  In order to induce those who could afford it to give employment, the committee paid fourpence out of the eightpence daily paid to labourers, "provided the work to be preformed was an extra work, and such as would not be undertaken except for the purpose of giving employment to the poor."  From the various returns sent into the committee, it seems that at one time there were no less than two thousand one hundred and thirty-four persons in receipt of charitable assistance.
    Illicit distillation at this period was in the zenith of its career.  The revenue suffered heavily from it; and the honest manufacturer, who paid heavy duties, was unable to compete with those who paid none.  The excise authorities were everywhere on the alert.  They determined to suppress it at all hazards; and with that object in view, they placed some of their smartest officers in the districts where they believed the traffic in illicit whiskey and tobacco was greatest.
    Mr. H----, a very energetic supervisor, was  at that time stationed in a certain town in the west riding of this county, and he made great havoc among the smugglers and their aiders and abettors.  It was next to impossible to throw dust in his eyes, or to seduce him from the track of a bale of tobacco, or a keg of potheen.  But at last he was fairly befooled and outwitted, and that, too, by a bare-legged bog-trotter from the wilds of Dunmanway.
    Mr. H---- was riding along the road one day, when he met a young countryman, who looked the very picture of innocence and simplicity-in fact, the latter was the most prominent of the two in his unmistakably honest face.  This ingenious youth was coming to the close of his journey, with a horse laden with two panniers, piled with turf ( a frequent contrivance for conveying smuggled whiskey in those days); and when Mr. H---- saw the suspicious panniers, he reined up his horse, and prepared to dismount.
    "What have you there?" shouted he, in a loud and authorative voice.
    "Potheen," your honour, unhesitatingly answered the unreflecting gorsoon, touching his hat respectfully at the same time.
    "And who is it for, my good lad?" blandly asked his interrogator, who all at once became very civil at the prospect of an easy prey.
    "For one Mrs. H----," mentioning Mr. H's own wife.
    "Who sent it?"
    "Mr.  ------," replied ignoramus, giving him the name of one of the most active still-hunting magistrates in the part of the country he came from, and, moveover, a particular friend of the supervisor himself.
    "Oh! very well," hurriedly said Mr. H----, "that will do.  Here, give this key to Mrs. H----, and tell her she is to give you your breakfast, and a shilling for your trouble."
    "Wisha! long may your honour live!" quoth the poor boy, as he took off his caubeen and put it under his arm, so impressed was he with the magnanimity of Mr. H----; then showing blessings on him and all belonging to him, he resumed his journey.
    In due time he reached the town, and safely deposited his whiskey at the public-house for which it was intended,  He then coolly walked up to Mr. H----'s residence, knocked at the hall door, and asked to see the mistress.  When she came out, he showed her the key Mr. H---- gave him, and told her that he was to get his breakfast and-not a shilling, as Mr. H---- told him-but half-a-crown.
    Mrs. H---- thought this somewhat strange, although she had received similar messages before.  Nevertheless, that undoubtedly was Mr. H----'s key; and the guileless youth who handed it to her described his dress minutely, when interrogated on that point.  She accordingly placed a good meal before him, and during its progress, asked him what was it that made the supervisor so fond of him?
    "Whisa! by gor, my lady," says he, "I suppose it was because I tould him where he'd find a still at full work!"
    This satisfied her at once, and she gave him the half-crown.  Before he left the house he borrowed another from her, telling her ladyship she could stop it out of what was coming to him from the master. 
    On his way home, with more silver in his pocket than ever he had owned before in his life, he met Mr. ---- returning.
    "Well, my boy, did Mrs. H---- give you your breakfast?"
    "Ah! thin, she did, your honour, and a good one, too!"
    "Did she give you the shilling as well?"
    "Wisha! I don't care about it!" said the incarnation of simplicity, as if endeavouring to evade the question, out of delicacy for Mr. H----'s feelings.  "Sure a shilling isn't much here or there!"
    "Oh! tut! tut!" petulantly said H----, who knew his wife was very close-fisted in money matters, "here's the shilling for you!"
    After interchanging a few more words, they both parted the best of friends; the country boy pouring good wishes on his honour's head until he was out of sight as well as out of hearing, then laying his clealpeen on the ribs of his bony garron, he made off to his mud cabin as fast as he could lay legs to ground.
    When the supervisor reached home, and heard how he had been done out of a profitable seizure by a half-witted-looking creature from among the briars and big stones of Dunmanway their chagrin may only be imagined.  Of one thing were are morally certain, and that is, that however reluctant Mrs. H---- was to be tricked out of her money by the cherub from the mountains, her ladyship made no effort to stop it out of what was coming to him from the master.
    Smuggled tobacco was not so easily disposed of as smuggled whiskey.  When one got some of the former, he often had great difficulty in getting it manufactured, and often incurred great risk in passing along the roads to some place where he could get it spun, or could sell it in the leaf.  A farmer, who lived not very far from Ballineen, and who became possessed of some bales of this undutiful article, was anxious to get rid of it, but found it no easy matter to do so.  At last he hit upon a plan, the ingenuity of which, and the fertility of the resources of those engaged in carrying it out, are demonstrated by its thorough success-in fact, the contrivance was more successful than the plotters intended; and, to a great extent, they atoned for the great evil they did, by the great improvement they effected in the religious persuasions of some of their neighbours.
    Emptying a feather-bed of its contents, he filled it with leaf tobacco.  Then throwing a quilt or two over it, he tied his daughter-a fine, healthy, strong young woman-upon it, and set out for Rosscarbery.  Mary received many orders from her father to pretend she was mad, hoping by this means to keep off any people who may ask for a lift in the cart, or who may be anxious to have a chat with her.  When about half-way to their destination, they met two Protestant farmers, who were neighbours of their's, and who consequently knew Mary well. 
    "Why! what's the matter with Mary?" said one; who, on seeing her nearly covered with ropes, and her hair all tumbled about her face, thought there must be something wrong with her.
    "Ah! ow! whaw! whew!" said Mary; who on seeing them approaching her along the road, put a piece of soap into her mouth, and it was now in a profuse lather.
    "What ails you, Mary?" said he.
    Her reply was a snap at his head; and if she succeeded in placing her incisors on his cranium, it would not be hazarding too much to say he would have carried the mark of them to his grave.
    "She's mad entirely!" said her poor distressed father, pulling him away from her, "and I'm thinking her to Father John, to see if he could do anything for her-the creature!"
    "Did you try a doctor?" enquired the other man, who was so absorbed in pity for poor Mary, that up to that moment he had not uttered a word.
    Meanwhile the unfortunate lunatic was howling piteously.
    "Well, we won't delay you any longer!" said his two neighbours, as they gave their horses a crack of the whip, and resumed their journey.
    The Ballineen man got safe to Rosscarbery, disposed of his goods satisfactorily, and came home.
    It happened that one of those who met him in the morning was standing at the door of the forge as he passed by, and he ran out and enquired anxiously about Mary.
    "Oh! she's as well as ever she was in her life, thank God!" said the exultant parent.  "There she is, and ask herself!"
    "Father John! may the heavens be his bed!" said the grateful girl to the crowd that was now gathering about her, "cured me in a minute!"
    After delaying some little time, the father and daughter went home, in all likelihood rejoicing in the success of their trick, and, perhaps, laughing at the credulity of their friends and neighbours.
    The two Protestant farmers were so impressed with the visible proof of the great superhuman accomplishments of Father John, and the lamentable lack of any power to do a similar act if kindness in any of their own clergy, that they became Roman Catholics; and each of them, it is said, has a son living, and working vigorously among the priesthood of that great Christian community.
    The illicit whiskey, which was manufactured in large quantities among the Dunmanway mountains, was not only disposed of in the neighbouring towns, where it met ready sale, and was a great favourite with all classes, but also in the great country highways.
    Not many years ago, on the old road leading from Bandon to Dunmanway, there lived an old man named Teige-na-Philia (Teige of the Poets).  He kept a public-house, in which he sold porter and potheen; and his tap was much frequented by carriers and travellers on their way to and from Cork.  In due time Teige died, full of years; and, if report be true, full of money also-most of which he is said to have made by selling whiskey, which, from the moment it dripped out of the worm until it tumbled down the consumer's throat, never had the misfortune to reflect the spoil-sport physiognomy of a gauger.  Well, after poor Teige had shuffled off his mortal coil, and lay on the flat of his back in old Kilbarry churchyard, his widow carried on the establishment as well as ever; and was even more daring than the defunct Teige, as she publicly sold the potheen in the shop, whereas Teige generally disseminate it down in the kitchen, or outside in the stable; or if he had much company, and was pushed for space-there being a funeral, or it being "fair-day" in Bandon or Dunmanway-he used to ventilate a half-gallon or two of it in the pig-stye, or in the fowl-house.

    1826-  August 7th.-Hon. James Bernard (Tory)-commonly called Lord Viscount Bernard-elected to represent the town.

    1831-  January 6th.-Hon. Francis Bernard (Tory)-Lord Viscount Bernard-of Connaught Place, London, and of Castle-Bernard, Ireland, elected in room of his father, James, who succeeded to the earldom of Bandon upon the death of the first earl, on the 30th of November, 1830.  Lord Bernard was the youngest member in the House of Commons, having obtained his seat the third day after he became of age.
    May 7th.-Lord Bernard returned to sit for Bandon in the new Parliament to assemble on the 14th of June.
    July 22nd.-Sir Augustus William Clifford (Whig), knight, captain Royal Navy, Eaton Square, London, in room of Lord Bernard, who accepted the stewardship of he Chiltern Hundreds.  This election, which, like many previous ones, was held in Mr. Doherty's office, was sharply contested.  Sir A. Clifford was proposed by the Hon. William Smith Bernard, and seconded by John Leslie, Esq.  Hon. William Lowther (Tory)- Lord Viscount Lowther-was proposed by the Rev. Somers Payne, and seconded by the Rev. Robert Meade.  On a poll, there were:-

                For Clifford                                                    For Lowther
            John Swete, provost                                      Rev. Robert Meade
            Hon. and Re. Richard Boyle Bernard             Benjamin Swete
            Hon. William Smith Bernard                           Rev. Somers Payne
            John Leslie                                                    William Holland Kingston             

    The votes being equal, the provost gave his casting vote, as returning officer, in favour of Clifford.

    1832-  This year took place the first election under the Reform Bill.  It was held at the court-house, on Thursday, the 13th of December; John Swete, Esq., the provost, presiding.  The candidates were:- Hon. William Smith Bernard (Tory), and Jacob Biggs, Esq. (Whig).  The former was proposed by Jonathan Clark, M.D., and seconded by Robert Tresilian Belcher.  James Clugston Allman proposed Mr. Biggs, and he was seconded by Michael Patrick England.  The polling, which continued for three days, was concluded on Saturday, the 15th; when it was found that there were for Captain Bernard, one hundred and thirty-three votes, and for Mr. Briggs, one hundred.

    1835-  Joseph Devonshire Jackson (Tory).  Sergeant Jackson was proposed by the Re. Somers Payne, and seconded by Joseph Thomas Wheeler.  James Redmond Barry (Whig), proposed by Edward O'Brien, seconded by Henry Heazle.  The provost, Francis B. Sweeney, presided.  At the close of the poll, there appeared for Mr. Jackson, one hundred and eleven, and for Mr. Barry, seventy-nine.

    1837-  June the 27th.-Alexander Victoria proclaimed "Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland," in the ancient and loyal borough of Bandon-Bridge, at the places following:-First, at the West Gate; second, Market-house; third, Irishtown-bridge; fourth, north side of the great bridge; fifth, Kilbrogan-cross; sixth, Shambles; seventh, Court-house.

                                                                                    ORDER OF PROCESSION: 
                                                                        a detachment of the 78th Infantry;  Highlanders; 
                                                                                Police;  Parish Constables,with staves; 
                                                                                Gentlemen;              Revenue Officers; 
                                                                                         Magistrates of the County; 
                                                                                            Sergeants-at-Mace; 
                                                                                                Town Clerk; 
                                                                                                    Provost; 
                                                            Commanding Officer;  Francis Percy, Sub-Inspector of Police; 
                                                                        Fee-Burgesses;  Common Councilman;  Freeman; 
                                                                                          Gentleman of the Town; 
                                                                                                        Police; 
                                                                                         Detachment of the 78th Infantry.

    August the 1st.-at the general election, consequent upon the accession of the Queen, Joseph D. Jackson (Tory). was proposed by Hon. William Smith Bernard, and seconded by Abraham Lane; and William George Cavendish (Whig), was proposed by the Rev. Armiger Sealy, and seconded by Michael Galway.  Mr. Jackson obtained one hundred and thirty-three votes, and Mr. Cavendish, eighty-one.

    1840-  September the 29th.- The Hon. William Smith Bernard entered on the office of provost.  He was the last of a long line of provost, as the old charter became extinct upon the expiration of his official year, on the 29th of September, 1841.
    The following is a complete list of our chief magistrates, including the first who took his seat in the reign of James the First, down to and including the last, when the office ceased, in the reign of Queen Victoria:-    (names spelled as found)

    The Manor Courts were at this time in full operation.  We had three of them connected with Bandon.  The court for the manor of Castle-Mahon was of late years held at the sign of the "Admiral"-public house at the Old Chapel.   The owner of this hostelry, where entertainment was provided for man and horse, was one Jerry Sullivan-an old salt, who spent most of his life on board ship, and who, in his early days, had served under Lord Nelson.  Jerry gloried in the great naval hero; and to show his respect for the memory of his old commander, he had his portrait painted in full uniform, and placed on his sign-board.  The late Mr. William Lovell was for many years the seneschal of this manor.  Upon his decease, Mr. Edward Doherty was appointed. 
    Mr. John Baldwin was seneschal of the Coolfadda Manor, and held his court at Mallowgatton; and Mr, John Cotter was seneschal of the Manor of Ballymodan, and held court at the sign of the "Fortune of War:, in Shannon Street.  By far the most important of these Manors was Castle-Mahon.  The patent, dated July 8th (10th of James the First), confers many privileges upon Henrie Beecher, Esq., his heirs and assigns.  After reciting the rights, &c., bestowed on his farther, Phane Beecher, Esq., deceased, in the grant bestowed on him "of the halfendale of the countrie Kylnallmechie," all of which are re-affirmed to Henry Beecher, the seigniory is created a manor, and entitled the Manor of Castle-Mahowne; and Beecher, his heirs, assigns, &c., have granted to him and them "full and absolute power, by fine , feoffment, or any other lawful means, to give and grant to any loyal subject of us, our heirs, &c., (said subject no being meer Irish), any portion of the said segniory."  Power was given to patentee to hold a Cork Leet, at or near Castle-Mahon, twice every year.  The seneschal, to be appointed by Beecher, his heirs, &c., "was to have full power, authority, and jurisdiction, to enquire of all and singular felonies, trespasses, deceipts, nuisances, and all other cries, offences, matters whatsoever, which shall be committed, perpetrated, done, or shall happen in, and within the said seigniory."  The same authority was also conferred that was exercised in any other Court Leet.  "And furthermore, the said patentee was empowered to keep one court in the nature of a Court Baron, to be holden from three weeks to three weeks, before the senescal; and he shall have full power, &C., in said court, to hold pleas of all manner of debts, covenants, trespasses, accounts,  causes, contracts, matters whatsoever, in which debts and damages do not exceed forty shillings correct money of England.  Patentee, his heirs, assigns, also entitled to all waifs, estraies, deodands, the goods and chattels of felons, fugitives, and all persons condemned as outlaws.  He had, in addition, the right to appoint the clerk of the market in the town newly erected, called Bandon-Bridge, situate in the said seigniory, or in any other town which shall hereafter be made a market-town, within the halfendale or cantred of the said countrie of Kynallmechie; and the power of licensing, or permitting any person, or persons, to exercise the trade, craft, or ministerie of butcher, baker, brewer, or merchant; or which shall sell, or cause to be sold, any aqua-vitae, wyne, ale, or beere within the town of Bandon-Bridge.
    For a long time these courts were much availed of.  In fact, up to the beginning of the present century; all the law business of the country, criminal as well as civil, of which these courts took cognizance, passed through them; but since then they have gradually fallen into disuse, and, as a consequence, some of the seneschals grew careless and indifferent, more or less, to that decorum which should be preserved in a court of justice.

    1841-  Joseph Devonshire Jackson (Tory), returned to represent the town.  No opposition

    1847-  August 2nd.-Lord Bernard (Tory), proposed by John Wheeler, J.P., seconded by Franklin Baldwin.  No contest.

    1852-  July 9th.-Lord Bernard (Tory), proposed by John Wheeler, J.P., seconded by William C. Sullivan.  No contest.

    1857-      February 11th.-Captain Hon. William Smith Bernard (Tory), proposed by William C. Sullivan, seconded by Richard Tresilian.  William Shaw (Whig), proposed by Richard L. Allman, seconded by John Heron.  At the conclusion of the poll, there were found recorded for Captain Bernard, one hundred and one votes, and for Mr. Shaw, sixty-seven.
    March 31st.- Captain Hon. William Smith Bernard (Tory), proposed by William C. Sullivan, seconded by Richard Tresilian.  No contest.

    1859-  May 2nd.- Colonel Hon. William Smith Bernard (Tory), proposed by William C. Sullivan, seconded by Richard Tresilian.  No contest.

    1863-  February 24th.-Colonel Hon. William Smith Bernard (Tory), proposed by Henry Unkles, seconded by Richard Tresilian.  Thomas Kingston Sullivan (Whig), proposed by Henry B. Ormston, M.D., seconded by John Heron.  For Colonel Bernard there were one hundred and twenty-four votes, and for Mr. Sullivan, eighty.

    1865-  Wednesday, July 12th.- Colonel Hon. Henry Boyle Bernard (Tory), proposed by Captain Wheeler, seconded by Richard Tresilian.  William Shaw (Whig), proposed by Richard L. Allman, seconded by William C. Sullivan.  For Colonel Bernard, one hundred and eleven votes, and for Mr. Shaw, one hundred and six.

    1868-  November 20th.-Hon. Colonel Bernard was proposed by John Wheeler, seconded by Henry Unkles.  William Shaw proposed by Richard Allman, seconded by William C. Sullivan.  This was the first election for a member of Parliament for the town under the new Reform Bill, by means of which occupiers of tenements rated at £4 per annum were entitled to vote.
                                        For Hon. Colonel Bernard (Conservative) .............. 137*
                                              William Shaw (Whig).........................................141 

                    *  The following extract is taken from a letter to a newspaper, which appeared at the time, and gives interesting particulars concerning the religious professions of the electors, how they voted, &c.:-

    "of the 294 names on the electoral list, 117 were those of Protestants, and 117 of Roman Catholics.

  If the Hon. Colonel Bernard, who is enumerated among the Episcopalian neutrals, followed the example of Mr. Shaw, and voted for himself, the majority against him would have been three, and not four, as at present."

This appears to be the end of the chapters.  I will re-check.  I have some pages to re-copy and will let you know when and what chapter they involve.

To do is the Index, a Addendum on the Bernards and Goodmans,  the Deposition's Appendix, some more maps, and I, someday, may go through the book and make notes and/or definitions of some of the words, &c. contained in the novel which I haven't the faintest clue what they are!!   ...paul