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Edward anxious for an interview with the Recluse,
that very evening, after parting with O'Halloran,
visited the cell before M'Nelvin had left it.

“Ah! sir,” cried the Recluse, as soon as he perceived
him, “never did the arrival of a mortal
messenger yield more heartfelt delight than yours
did to-day.”

“My friends,” said Edward, addressing them
both, “you have had sad times here since I left
you. The storm is now, however, abated, and I
trust in God that our country will never witness
such another. Perhaps some lives may yet fall;
but I have reason to think that the councils of the
nation will soon be regulated on wiser and milder
principles, for lord Camden is recalled, and the
benign Cornwallis has by this time assumed the
reigns of government.”

“Cornwallis! did you say?” exclaimed the Recluse,
hastily.

“Yes, father, lord Cornwallis is now Lord Lieutenant.”

“Thank heaven!” ejaculated the Recluse, “both
for my country and for myself. The benevolent

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Cornwallis will restore my country to peace; and
I shall be restored to my country. In a short time
I shall no more tread my native soil as a disguised
outlaw.”

“You are then acquainted with lord Cornwallis,”
asked Edward.

“Yes,” said the Recluse. “I was his bosom
friend, during his campaigns in America; and, on
a certain occasion, had the felicity to save his life,
for which he has never since ceased to remember
me with gratitude.”

“Through his means might you not long since
have procured a reversal of your sentence?” asked
Edward.

“No, sir. On my return from America, he did
apply for my pardon; but the influence of Sir Geoffrey
Carebrow and others of his connexions, counteracted
his exertions. I have never since permitted
any application to be made. For some years
I travelled on the continent; and having, at length,
settled here and adopted this disguise, I became
satisfied with my lot. As, however, late events
have induced me to discover myself to a few
friends, whose society I should be glad to enjoy
without restraint, and one of my best friends has
it now in his own power to remove the legal terrors
that hang over me, I shall avail myself of the opportunity
which is thus providentially afforded me,
to become again an acknowledged member of
society.”

He then inquired of Edward at what time the
courier he had despatched with the account of
O'Halloran's capture arrived in Dublin.

“On Wednesday evening,” replied Edward.
“She was diligent and expeditious; but how did
you think of such an extraordinary messenger?”

“I could not, with safety,” said the Recluse,
“have waited till the succeeding mail left Larne.

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Besides, I understand that the transportation of
letters by mail has, since the troubles commenced,
been very irregular, and I was well aware that a
single day's delay might be fatal. I had some
thoughts of sending James Hunter; but his unlucky
adventure at Antrim, taught me that he was not
one of the fittest people in the world for such an
errand in such times. Peg Dornan appeared a
much more suitable messenger. Her strength was
equal to the task of travelling night and day for
that distance; her zeal and perseverance I knew
would be indefatigable; and her sex, manners, and
attire, were the best passports she could carry to
secure her an unsuspected and uninterrupted journey.”

“The perseverance and zeal of Peg have fully
equalled your expectations,” remarked Edward;
“but I believe that her strength has not held out
so well. I left her absolutely crippled with fatigue.”

“Poor creature!” ejaculated M`Nelvin.

“But she will be well attended to,” continued
Edward; “and I make no doubt that such a constitution
as her's will soon repair the damage it has
sustained. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon
when she arrived. I was sitting with my
friend, Charles Martin, in the drawing-room, when
we heard a loud rapping at the street door. The
butler happening to be in the hall, and thinking,
perhaps, from the nature of the noise, that some
distinguished personage wanted admittance, flew to
open the door, but was so disappointed at seeing
the uncouth figure which presented itself, that he
would have instantly closed it again, had not Peg
by main strength, half thrust herself into the hall.

“I want to see Mr. Barrymore. I'm tauld he
bides here, cried she.

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“You're tall enough, and impudent enough too;
you hussey! exclaimed the butler.

“I maun see him, she resumed; for the life o'
a man, an' a guid man, depends on it; ye unceevil,
ill-mannered tyke.

“The altercation now induced me to look from
the window, when I immediately recognised Peg.
She was holding fast by the door frame, from
which the man was endeavouring all in his power
to disengage her, and thrust her into the street. I
ordered him to desist, and ran down stairs to secure
Peg a welcome reception. She gave me no time to
speak, but taking your letter from her bosom, the
moment she saw me—

“Read that, sir, quoth she, and ride to Carrick,
as fast as the best horse in this muckle toon can
carry you, gin you wad save him. Heigh, sirs;
but I'm tired!—but dinna wait, dinna wait—I
have been owre lang a coming.

“I was not too much absorbed in the contents
of the letter to hear more. Having read it, I ran
up stairs.

“Martin! said I, see that woman below taken
care of. These are horrible times! I must be off
immediately to the Castle, and thence to the North.
A friend's life is in danger. I have no time for
explanation.

“I then ordered Tom Mullins to follow me hastily
with two horses to the Castle. I knew every
minute was precious, and hastened onward at a
pace which made the people stare as I passed
them. When I reached the Castle, I found that his
excellency had just set off for the Phœnix Park. I
rushed out to follow him on foot, when I fortunately
perceived Mullins advancing with the horses.
I mounted one, and ordered him to wait for me,
with the others, at the commencement of the northern
road. Lord Camden had just reached the Phœ

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nix Lodge when I overtook him. Surprised to see
me riding with such speed, he stopped till I approached.
What is the matter, Barrymore, said
he; I hope no fresh insurrection has broken out?

“No, my lord, I replied, as I dismounted, I
came to solicit your excellency in favour of a very
dear friend, who is confined for treason, and even
while we are speaking, may have sentence of death
pronounced and executed on him, by the military
in the north.

“Is that all! said he, then let us walk in. I
have of late received so many expresses about insurrections,
and battles, and massacres, that I imagine
every person who approaches me, to be
the bearer of some such intelligence. But let us
have a glass of wine, and then you can explain
your wishes.

“This comported little with my impatience; but
I was obliged to submit. After we were seated;
who is this friend of yours, he asked, that has
got himself into captivity?

“O'Halloran is his name, my lord.

“What! the chief instrument of the rebellion in
Ulster. I am glad of it. I expect that now we shall
soon be able to reduce that province to order.

“I came said I, to crave your excellency's pardon
for this unfortunate man, whose excellent private
character, would, if your excellency were acquainted
with it, be sufficient to procure your forgiveness
for his public errors.

“How! Edward Barrymore, said he, are you
become an advocate for a man who has been so
fatally active in stirring up this horrible rebellion?
a man whose destruction will be of more advantage
to the country than that of any thousand rebels
in it.

“My lord! said I, this man once saved my life;
and oh! if ever my friends or my family, have

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rendered your, or his majesty's government, any service,
gratify me with an opportunity of repaying him
the debt. The destruction of one individual, even
of the most important description, will not add
much to the success of the royal cause. Your
leniency will attach him and all his friends to the
existing authorities; and I, for my part, shall be
bound to you by everlasting gratitude.

“It cannot be, Edward; he replied. To extend
absolute pardon to such an offender would afford
an injudicious example of leniency, now when
energy and wholesome severity are so much required.

“Any thing, my lord, I replied, any thing short
of death will be acceptable;—but if he be permitted
to remain in the country, I shall be security
for his good behaviour in any amount you
choose to name.

“You are very pressing, Edward, said he.
Stay for dinner. I shall reflect on what is best
to be done. You cannot, at any rate, despatch an
express before the morning.

“I shall be the express myself, my lord, I replied.
The moment I obtain your excellency's
order in his favour, I shall set off. In such emergency
I cannot trust another.

“You are indeed very zealous in this matter,
said he. But I must reflect a little. I wish to
oblige you; yet I must do my duty to the state.
Dine with me, and if during the evening, I receive
no more news of bloodshed, burnings, and murders,
committed by those wretches, I may be in a better
humour to spare one of their ringleaders.

“I was obliged to comply. At about eight
o'clock, an express arrived from the castle with a
letter to his lordship. I trembled lest it might contain
intelligence of a nature to irritate him against
the insurgents, and frustrate my application. In

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a few minutes he laid the letter on the table. So
you are to have a new viceroy, said he. Mr.
Pitt don't think me enough of a soldier for these
hot times. Cornwallis will arrive to-morrow to assume
the government. He is a brave man; but
too tender-hearted, I believe, when severity is requisite.
I am glad, however, that he comes. The
responsibility of conducting the country through
these perplexing times, shall be taken off my hands.
But, as to your affair, I must oblige you while I
have the power; and in despite of all that has been
said of the cruelty and harshness of my administration,
I shall end it with an act of clemency.

“He then retired to an adjoining chamber, and
wrote the following letter, which he presented to
me, saying, Read that, sir; I expect it will answer
your purpose.”

“To the Governor of the town and castle of Carrickfergus.

“Phœnix Park, June 14, 1798.

“Sir, being informed that you have the rebel
chief, O'Halloran, in custody, I am induced, in
consequence of some representations made to me
in his favour, by a person well acquainted with
him, to pardon his offence, on condition that he
shall pay a fine to be assessed by you to any
amount, not exceeding ten thousand pounds, which
sum shall be appropriated to the relief of those
royalists who have suffered from the rebellion in
the county of Antrim.

“The prisoner may be given over to the custody
of the Hon. Edward Barrymore, who is chargeable
with his safety until the fine be paid, and who will
with any other person you may approve, enter
into recognisance for his subsequent good behaviour.

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“Having received this anxiously-desired document,
I hastily expressed my acknowledgments,
and withdrew.

“I found Mullins waiting at the place appointed,
and we proceeded onwards at a very rapid pace. At
the instance, or rather the remonstrance of Mullins,
we stopped at Swords to refresh the horses; during
which interval, I endeavoured to relieve my impatience
by writing to Charles Martin. I informed
him of the cause of my hasty departure; and requested
him to recommend Peg Dornan to the care
of my friends, under the assurance that she had
rendered me an important piece of service, while I
was in the North last summer.

“Martin had proposed to accompany me to my
favourite shore as soon as the troubles should be
over. I now requested him to follow me whenever
circumstances would permit. I informed him that I
should be found either at the Antrim Arms in
Larne, or at O'Halloran castle, the residence of
the Northern beauty I had so often described to
him. Alas! said I, in concluding my letter, she is
at this moment in great affliction. I figure to myself
her luxuriant black hair all dishevelled, and
flowing round her, as she buries her lovely face in
the bosom of her unfortunate grandfather, who is
the cause of her sorrows, in order to conceal the
crystal tears that shine with heart-piercing lustre
through her dark eye-lashes. The rosy hue of her
cheeks, and the coral of her lips, are, perhaps,
now pale. I cannot bear to dwell on the image
that her distress at this moment presents to my
mind. Loveliness in distress—and such loveliness
as her's! Oh, Charles, I must quicken my pace,
that I may have the supreme luxury of drying
those tears, of removing those sorrows. I can write
no more, my heart is too full.

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“We soon again proceeded on our journey, and
reached Newry the following night. The horses
being unable to go further at such a rapid rate, I,
the next morning very early, procured a fresh one,
and desiring Mullins to follow more leisurely with
the others, set off alone, and reached Carrickfergus
about eleven o'clock. You may imagine my consternation,
when I was informed that O'Halloran
had been taken away some hours before, to be
executed at his own castle. The governor of the
place, however, on reading the Lord Lieutenant's
letter, observed that as the party would be detained
sometime at Ballycarry, in putting Nelson
to death, by taking the shorter road over the
mountain, I might, by swift travelling, overtake
it in time to prevent the catastrophe. Observing
my horse to be greatly fatigued, he ordered out his
own, and giving me a note to the commander of
the party I was to pursue, `Dont spare the horse,'
said he; `and may heaven prosper your journey!
'

“The horse seconded my impatience with great
spirit, and you know the fortunate result.”

“The hand of Providence has been remarkably
manifest on this occasion,” said the Recluse.
“How much reason have we to be thankful to the
Great Ruler of the universe, for this signal deliverance!
Two hours more would have rendered this
pardon useless.”

Edward now took leave of his friends, and returned
to Mr. Wilson's.

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