ments, seem to confirm this opinion;
and yet Catholics are found ready
to bestow their praise on Cobbett,
for that which Andrews has already
done much better. Oh! but Cob-
bett is a Protestant! This I ques-
tion.
tion. But, even admitting him to
be a Protestant, and that his his
tory is an impartial one, he has
done no more than his duty in stat-
ing facts-facts which are as plain
as the sun at noon day, and as in-
controvertible as that two and two
make four. He is to be viewed as
a historian, and not as a Protestant;
and, in this light, how contempt

him. At another time I will take an opportunity to review this History of the Protestant Reformation,' and show that I have here stated nothing but truth.

Ninth.-COBBETT IS THE ENEMY OF THE IRISH CATHOLICS. To prove this I shall only state the fact, that no later than three weeks ago, Cobbett asserted that Emancipation would only procure Cobbett, had he been sincere, 6 wigs and silk-gowns' for a few had a glorious opportunity to disbarristers: and that it would be of abuse the English mind of that ranno benefit to the nation at large. corous prejudice which they enter. The man who gravely puts forth tain towards the Catholics. He such a falsehood as this, is an enecould have mildly stated his facts; my of the Irish Catholics: and that proved these facts from Protestant man is William Cobbett. Mark historians; and pointed out the him well, reader ! William Cobconsequences of the Reformation bett has given it as his opinion, that as obvious and certain. He could poor rates* would be of more behave shown, in a manner free from nefit to Ireland than the emancipa-ible does he appear when compared all objections, that Catholics, before tion of the people from an infernal with Lingard! The work of the the Reformation, were not such penal code. Is not this man, there- one is to be found in every library tyrants, such reprobates, as they fore, an enemy of the Irish Catho- in the kingdom; is perused by have been represented by interestlics? It may be only ignorance in every well-informed man in Europe, ed men. He could have shown his Billy, but still he is not less our and is destined to be read while li- countrymen how prejudices are enemy. terature and truth have admirers; easily imbibed; how errors, by while the work of the other is cal-time, become to look like truth; culated for a very different meri- and how natural it was, considering dian. It sells only among Catho- all the circumstances, for Englishlics; is scarcely ever read by Pro- men of the present day to hate the testants; or, if they do read it, dis- Catholics. gust and indignation are only excited. How can it be otherwise? Facts every reasonable man will listen to; but abuse-downright Billingsgate-few men can bear unmoved. Conviction is out of the question, where the writer deals in nothing but vituperation; where he impugns the truth of religion, by attacking its individual professors; for we all know the abstract truth of any creed is not affected by the misconduct of individuals, who have taught that creed. Protestants, therefore, who may read

Tenth.-COBBETT IS NOT ENTITLED TO CATHOLIC GRATITUDE, FOR HIS HISTORY OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION.'

How can he merit gratitude, since he has stated nothing which had not been already known? Not a single fact in his history which is not to be found in Protestant writers. Billy, however, has taken them all from Dr. Lingard's History of England,' and other Catholic works; and here let me do Mr. Andrews the justice to say, that in his Orthodox Journal' is to be found an infinitely better history of the Reformation than Cobbett has written. His facts are better authenticated; his arguments are more just and philosophic; and, what is more, his style is much bet-Cobbett's history, so far from being ter; for it is free from the blackguardism which vulgarizes Cobbett's work. From this neglected Journal, I believe, Cobbett took the hint to write his history. His arrangement, his facts, and his argu

* In the article on the Poor Laws, in the History of the Protestant Reformation,' Cobbett has displayed a most extraordinary ignorance of Irish history; but the fellow is ignorant of the history of his own country, and how could he be expected to know any thing of the history of Ireland?

convinced that their forefathers
were tyrants, have their minds filled
with anger towards their Catholic
countrymen, who they cannot help
identifying with Cobbett, since
they find the organs of the Catholic
body so loud in their praise of the
historian of the Protestant Refor.
mation. Cobbett, therefore, so far
from benefiting the Catholic cause,
has materially injured it; and will
continue to injure it, unless the Ca-
tholics disclaim all connexion with

Ile could then have shown them that where injury has been committed, restitution ought to be made; and that Englishmen should now act justly towards the Catholics, whom they had so long and so unjustly oppressed. He could have shown them that their fathers acted upon erroneous principles, and imputed crimes and doc. trines to Catholics which Catholics deny, both by oath and practice. And more than this, he could have shown them that it was their interest, as well as their duty, to banish bigotry and prejudice from their minds, and embrace their Ca. tholic fellow-countrymen, as men entitled to equal rights and privi leges with themselves.

Had Cobbett done this, he would indeed have deserved Catholic gratitude; he would have merited the national gratitude; but has he done so? No: instead of endeavouring to conciliate Protestants, he has gone out of his way to abuse them as Protestants; and, instead of looking upon him as a teacher, as a man worthy to be believed, they

Seeing that Paine's bones were not calculated to serve the Enlightener's turn, he silently consigned them to a ditch, and began to bawl out that he reverenced Paine only as a politician; and that he did not believe in his infidel princi ples. Billy's memory is, unfortunately for himself, very short; for about eight months ago he tells us in his Register,' that, though most men will have some sort of religion while men continue to die,

wasp nests, in which were hatched all those means of robbing, tormenting, and brutalising mankind, which have produced such dreadful misery.' Its monks and friars, as a set of gormandizing, drunken, debauched, savage, blood-thirsty impostors; having but one single object in view, that gentleman great honour.

In the third edition of this Trial, I find a letter from Mr. Barrett, which dues that

No. 39.

Or, The Chieftain's Weekly Gazette.

PRIVATE MEMOIRS OF
CAPTAIN ROCK.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
OLD CAPTAIN ROCK'S FUNERAL.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1825.

PRICE TWO PENCE.

ment, and is left there in silence and would take place. I endeavoured
in darkness,* until the accustomed to counteract this as much as pos-
time arrives for the sable perform- sible; and, at rather an early hour,
ers to make their appearance, pre- began to prepare for having the re-
paratory to its being borne to the mains of my poor father carried to
churchyard. How different docs his last resting place in this world.
humanity act in Ireland! There The hiskey was unsparingly dis-
death is witnessed with loud and co-tributed; and, when the last bottle
pious sorrow; and, though wakes was drained, and the bread distri-
are places where apparently unbe-buted to the beggars, who crowded
round, two chairs were laid down
outside the barn door, the bicr‡
laid on them, and the corpse
brought out, amidst the increased
lamentations of the keeners. Over
the plain oak coffin was laid a white
cloth; and, when all was ready,
three Rocks and myself raised the
bier upon our shoulders, and pro-
ceded slowly out of the bawn. In
a few minutes we were relieved;
and, as every man present on such
occasions thinks it proper and ho-
nourable to lend a hand, the bear-
ers rapidly succeed each other.
As I cast my eye upon the con-
When such is the feeling in Ire-course of people assembled, I felt
land, even in ordinary cases, it is an honest pride, notwithstanding
not surprising that old Captain my sorrow, at seeing my father's
Rock's funeral was well attended. funeral honoured by such a num-
The Mac Alla's, for twenty miles ber of attendants. For miles the
round, were early in the bawn; road preceding the corpse was
and all the O'Flaherty's of the three blackened by crowds of pedestrians,
adjoining counties poured into the while the rear was brought up by
neighbourhood at an early hour. hundreds of horsemen. Some had
These claimed kindred with the de- their wives behind them; and many
ceased by the female side, his mo. a young girl exhibited her rustic
ther being one of that noble race, figure on a side-saddle. As the
who for centuries kept the autho- distance we had to go was about
rities of Galway in fear and trem- ten miles, it was thought necessary
bling.'+ Between these rival fami- to quicken our pace; and, scarcely
lies some words had passed pre- had the hint been given, when all
vious to the funeral; and it was the young men pealed off their
generally apprchended that a dis- coats, slung them on their arms,
pute, relative to carrying the corpse, and prepared for a run-a custom
in Ireland more honoured in the

A FUNERAL in Ireland is a very different thing from what the same mournful ceremony is in all other parts of the world. On my arrival in London, I was somewhat puz-coming mirth is sanctioned, the zled to see written over the doors corpse is never, for an instant, unatof undertakers, Funerals per- tended by near and dear relatives. formed; and, strange as it may In other days, alas! never more to sound in the ears of Irishmen, it return, the praises of the dead were promises no more than what the sung in artful strains; and the sortearless mourner is in the daily rows of the friends were soothed by habit of doing. He is literally a gentle music. Even yet the wake sable actor, and goes through his is well attended; and every man part with as much tact and gravity, who wishes to be considered a good as the supernumaries who form the neighbour or kind relative, is sure procession at Juliet's funeral on to attend the funeral. Indeed, it the stage. This profession in Lon. is considered a peasant's highest don, I understand, is a very lucra-praise to have it said of him, that tive one. The money-getting citi-he was a good warrant to attend zens are too busy to pay the lasta birn.' mournful rites to their deceased relatives; and, accordingly, pay others to personate them in follow. ing the remains of a father, mother, wife, or husband, to the grave. Every hour one of these mock funerals are to be seen proceeding along the streets. Male and female actors in this drama of mortality, follow in all the mimicry of grief,' enveloped in mourning cloaks, with white handkerchiefs to their eyes; no doubt for the purpose of hiding 'the tears they do not shed.' The expence of this performance is a sacrifice made to custom; for I believe the survivors, in most cases, could readily dispense with even this show, did not decency require some real or affected manifestation of sorrow on such occasions.

I am led to this opinion from the manner in which the dead are waked. The moment life is extinct, the body is thrown as uscless lumber into some unfrequented apart

In some of the country parts of Eng-
land, however, the custom is very different.
I am assured that in the western counties,
scenes, similar to those in Ireland, take
place at country wakes.

the gate of Galway :-O God, protect us
The following inscription stood over
from the ferocious O'Flaherty's.'

A bier in Ireland is made of rude tim

ber, purposely for the occasion, being generally broken up in the churchyard when the corpse is buried. It is constructed of four men can carry it by letting the end of two long poles, with cross bars; so that each pole rest upon one shoulder.

A

it; and it now forms one of the
numerous religious ruins which pro-
claim what Ireland once was, and
what she now is. Our family had
here a vault; but we had not used
it for some centuries. Still our
former consequence was pointed
out by our place of burial; for the
Rocks alone were privileged to lay
their bones within the walls.
grave was soon dug, and the corpse
having been carried three times
round the churchyard, the attend-
ants all the time reciting a religious
hymn, the remains of Captain Rock
were deposited in the narrow house.
There were few dry eyes on this me-
lancholy occasion; and be assured
mine were moistened with tears of

breach than in the observance.' For three miles their speed was so rapid, that they distanced the horsemen ; and, as I formed one of the latter, I did not think it becoming me to be scen running a race at my father's funeral. As the road winded round the base of a hill, we lost sight of the corpse; but as all hitherto had been orderly and proper, I was under no apprehension. To my surprise, however, our ears were soon assailed by the most clamourous shouts, and other indications of an affray; and when we arrived at the top of an eminence, we could plainly see that a severe contest was going on in the valley beneath. The coffin was lying on the ground, and the two bitterness. The associations of the parties were contending over it, moment, and the influence of the while the screams of women and scene around, were such as to children added horror to the scene. soften the most obdurate heart; Sticks and stones were flying about and, in spite of all my resolution, in all directions; and here and I was obliged to play the child: I there a bleeding man was seen wept aloud; and, in the agony of struggling in the arms of his friends, my grief, gave utterance to many who were endeavouring to remove incoherent expressions. In the him from further danger. In a madness of sorrow, I vowed venmoment I was in the midst of them; geance against my father's murderand, such was the respect showners-against the enemies of our to the son of the deceased, or house and name—and at length, in rather, such was the consciousness a paroxysm of rage, I threw myself of their own impropriety, that they on the newly-covered grave. immediately desisted, on my enthis state of mind I was conveyed treating them to forbear. The to Rockglen. quarrel originated in consequence of the O'Flaherty's having got possession of the corpse, and resolving to let none but themselves carry it. This the Mac Alla's, alias the Rocks, resisted; and fatal must have been the consequence, had I not arrived in time to prevent the effusion of blood. As it was, about a score heads were broken.

Peace being happily restored, we proceeded on our way; and a little before sun-set, we arrived at the secluded churchyard of Killagg, which is romantically situated in a mountain recess. Ruin rested on the place,' and the wind whistled through the long grass which topped the dilapidated walls. It had been once famous for its sanctity, but the hand of the despoiler had visited

In

Among the number of poetical
tributes to the memory of old Cap-
tain Rock I select the following
from our national bard, Thomas
Moore.

OH! BREATHE NOT HIS NAME.
Air-The Brown Maid.
Oh! breathe not his name, let it sleep in
[laid!
Where cold and unhonoured his relics are
Sad, silent, and dark, be the tears that we

the shade,

shed,

As the night-dew that falls on the grass
o'er his head!

ENGLISH COURT OF CHANCERY

THE Court of Chancery, according to Cowel, is defined to be the Court of Equity and Conscience :' and Swift says, that the chancellor hath power to moderate and temper the written law; and subjecteth himself only to the law of nature and conscience. To the decisions of Messrs. Cowel and Swift and that we offer on account of one may submit, with one salvo, those who have suits about to be settled,-next century, that there can be neither equity nor conscience in a delay which gives my next heir (with whom I am perhaps upon unfriendly terms) the full use had much rather enjoy myself while and play of my property, which I I live. Is there not, therefore, some eccentricity in this affair? bad. The theory, therefore, is nulThe theory is good-the practice is lified; and, the relief proposed or desired, stands so long as to the order of the court, that, during many lives, there is no order at all. Some have, therefore, called a court of equity,—a court of ini. judge. quity but without referring to the

To put a man in chancery, in the pugilistic phrase, is as much as to say, his case is utterly hopeless. Frederic the Second, though a deshis dominions should last beyond pot, decreed, that no law-suit in twelve months.

this country, chancery cases of But we have, in such Methuselah standing, as often to tempt a man to forego his rights, than to lose sight of them, perhaps, during his mortal life: for, the perspective of the issue is of such a length, as to make the decree of equity by its being so protracted, scarcely justice itself. A, at the age of fifty, has an estate left him by B; but the relations of B contest A's right, and throws it into chancery; and a pretty throw it is: for the odds are, neither will be benefitted during their natural lives, though their posterity may. This procrastination is one of the greatest grievances that this land, so