abridged our distance from America. If England should go to war with Ireland, there is nothing incautious in saying that we will not lie down to have our throats cut. But I guarded expressly against all misconception; for I took care to say that so long as England left us an inch of law to stand on, so long would we resort to no other weapon than the law."

On this day, when speaking, as he frequently did, of his early recollections, he mentioned that he perfectly remembered when Paul Jones was hovering off the coast of Kerry in 1778. "I was," said he,

a child in my nurse's arms at the time; she carried me down to the shore, and I saw two boats' crews, whom Paul Jones had sent off with towing ropes to get his vessel out of shallow water. These men had been prisoners of war at Brest. They had been given their option of either staying in prison, or sailing with Jones. They had chosen the latter alternative, fully resolving to escape as soon as possible. Their opportunity now offered. They cut the towing ropes and rowed ashore. When they landed they went up to a public-house to drink, leaving some fire-arms in the boats. The guns were found by some peasants, who drenched them; and the sailors were seized by the orders of Mr. Hassett, and conveyed to Tralee to prison. They remonstrated

loudly against this treatment, alleging that they had not committed or intended any breach of the laws, and that the authorities had no right to deprive them of their liberty. I well recollect a tall fellow, who was mounted on a gray horse, remonstrating angrily at this coercion. No legal charge, of course, could be sustained against them, and accordingly in the end they were released."

Next day O'Connell was visited by the Right Rev. Dr. Polding, the Catholic Bishop of New South Wales. Dr. Polding's object in visiting O'Connell was to obtain his assistance in procuring the removal of some grievances which sorely afflicted the flock over whom he presided.

His lordship had been greatly struck with the marked change which the blessed spread of temperance had produced in the aspect of the Irish people. "I have," said he, "travelled, since my arrival, above six hundred miles in Ireland, and I only saw one drunken man.”

"And I hope," said O'Connell, "that he was what they call a gentleman."

"Yes, he was at all events better dressed than the peasantry. He was very tipsy, and was drinking the health of Father Mathew."

The bishop then entered on the business that had occasioned his visit, and when it was disposed of,

the conversation turned on the subject of religious persecution generally.

"Nothing," said he, " can be more opposed to the spirit of our Saviour than to persecute for errors in religious belief."

"Nothing can be more exquisitely absurd," said O'Connell. "Persecution may make a hypocrite; but it will not make a convert. If a man is already disposed to reject my creed, why I only give him an additional reason for rejecting it if I persecute him."

The bishop observed that when the local authorities in New South Wales had assisted the Methodist missionaries to coerce the natives to attend their reed-roofed chapels, the coercion succeeded in securing numerous congregations, but so small was its efficacy in converting them to Methodism, that as soon as it was relaxed-the chapels were empty! "So it will always be," said O'Connell. "Ah! in Ireland the Catholics have ever appreciated and acted on this great truth. Our hatred to persecution is as strong as our love of Catholicity. We had in this respect vastly the advantage of you English Catholics. When Queen Mary's persecution forced English Protestants to fly from England, they came here, and found refuge with the Catholic Corporation of Dublin. But some of you have erroneous

Look at George

notions on that subject still. Spencer's letter in the last Tablet.* Why, it is written in the spirit of Queen Mary! That poor gentleman had always a strange penchant for persecution. He visited me in London one day, and the object of his visit was to praise persecution! Now,' said he, there are a great many Methodists attending their preachers near my residence; if those people could be compelled to come and listen to me, would it not be of the greatest advantage to them? They would hear the truth.' 'And they would not receive it,' said I, 'just because it would come in the guise of compulsion.' Then, I called his attention to the fact that in Ireland where Catholicity did not persecute, it was prevalent: whereas, in England, where a Catholic queen had been a violent persecutor, the Catholic religion had been all but extinguished. I think this fact seemed to strike him at the time. But pray, my lord," continued O'Connell, abruptly turning to another subject, "have you seen how our poor Irish boys turned out for Catholicity in the poor-houses of the North Dublin Union, and refused to attend the Protestant service? Eighteen poor Irish children standing up for the old faithmay God Almighty bless them! It was Irish all And then the mode in which it was attempted

over.

* July, 1841.

to compel them to turn Protestants-their food was diminished. Really that was a rare idea! Compelling them to fast, to make good Protestants of them !"

"I have heard,” said the bishop, "that an Englishman's wit is said to be in his stomach. I suppose the guardians thought these little fellows' faith was in theirs, and accordingly attempted to starve Popery out!"

END OF VOL. I.

C. WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE, STRAND.