My friends, the supposed operatives, seemed to take great interest in the debates about the forty-shilling freeholds recurred to by Mr. Lawless; but, while they approved his arguments, they made exceptions to some parts of his discourse. Indeed, in this respect, I observed a general discrimination in this people not usually attributed to a popular audience. They heard all: but, with the decisive tone of firmly established opinions, they approved and disapproved, in part and paragraph, even the speeches of their greatest favourites, without regard to rank or person. Some gentlemen successively addressed the meeting, who must, I am convinced, have profited by a hint lately given to the public on brevity of speech, to the great perplexity, however, of the operative party.

What's that he says now?' demanded at one time a cross-looking man, in a threadbare blue coat. Och never ask me, I'm as deaf as yourself,' replied a sharp-visaged personage, with a humorous eye, in dirty grey frize. There, don't you hear?" "for the good of the Irish people." Why don't you cheer?' 'But what is it?' said the cross man. 'Oh leave that to himself; he knows what he manes better than we do, any way.'

There was now a general impatience of the non-audible speakers, and loud cries of Sheil! Sheil! were heard on every side; and here a dialogue, unique, I think, in its kind, arose between the party near whom I had the good fortune to be placed.

I will not pretend to identify the dramatis persona, for my eye was at the moment engaged in trying to obtain a glimpse through the crowd of the object of their discourse.

Sheil! Sheil!' had been reiterated

once or twice; when a young but clumsy voice, very near, exclaimed, Ay, Sheil's the orator! the classical orator! There's not one of

them to come up to him, after all, in the way of larnin.'

In any way, I'll engage O'Connell could be equal to him, if he liked to show off-but-I can't describe, you see-but I know myself he does'nt talk as fine as Sheil does, some way.' Here some observation which I did not distinctly hear caused a laugh.

You may laugh. I like O'Connell as well as any of you; but give every man his own -Shiel is mighty clever. There's not a speech of his but's made according to the rules of oratory. Is there any escapes him? Histh'ry, and poethry, and every thing. Why I'm sure its like larnin to be listening to him.'

'Well, of the two, O'Connell pleases me, though I know Sheil's the best, except him.'

At all events,' said a new voice, Sheil may share the laurels with O'Connell any day.'

What are we to think of these people, Mr. Editor? Here were a group of men, certainly not above the rank to which I have referred them, not only well informed on the actual state of affairs, and deeply interested in the downright business of the day, but stealing moments of literary leisure to comment on the style and method of their advocates, and applying their crude intelligence with such shrewdness, and rude skill, as could not fail to convince the observer that Nature had been partial to them in the distribution of her intellectual gifts.

MR. SHEIL.

I have Sheil now before me in idea; his wild poetic eye, his minute form, the singular tones of his voice, are all exterior characteristics as peculiar to himself as the quality of his glowing, rich, and animated speech. Since the renewal of those debates in which he has taken such an active part, this gentleman has appeared to the public eye under an aspect different, though not less interesting, than that beneath which he had before attracted public praise. The

earlier part of his life was spent in the cultivation of poetry-chiefly romantic, I believe-but poetry and patriotism are nearly allied. That enthusiasm, which gives birth to the one, is the parent also of the other; and, although every patriot may not be a poet, yet the pure, zealous, and efficient lover of his country, is an object on which poetry dwells with peculiar interest and delight. It is not wonderful, then, that the cause which Ireland seems to have almost identified with herself should have allured Mr. Sheil from the fascinating scenes of fancy, to take an active part in a drama of real life, which, exhibited by such actors, is not deficient in poetic character and effect. He is now more known than hitherto as an orator, even in professional duties at the bar, and seems to have disengaged himself from the witching fetters of the mistress of his youth: but the Muse, mindful of his former devotion, still hovers round, scattering with a tasteful hand her flowery treasures o'er his thoughts-bestowing on his words those attractions that give fascination to reason, weight and influence to truth.

Mr. Sheil is a general favourite in these, assemblies. Indeed, in the minds of the people, O'Connell alone gains precedence of him; while, in the estimation of those who viewed them but as orators, Sheil certainly seems entitled to the highest rank.

He opened, by relating an incident from Roman history, alluding to the interest which his countrywomen

seem to take in these affairs. It was of that daughter of Fabius Ambustus, whose discontent of the disabilities by which the people were restrained from holding any honourable office in the state induced her father, and husband (Licinius), to attempt those measures which caused at this period such a diminution of patrician power. The ladies, now convinced that their eyes' do rain influence,' will no doubt be forward on every occasion to adjudge the prize,' or, at least, to watch the progress of the combatants, and encourage their champions by their presence.

MR. O'CONNELL was the next person of much consequence, as a speaker, whose voice was

heard. In addressing his Catholic. associates, O'Connell has all the ease which certainty of pleasing never fails to confer. Although his countenance is not exactly one of those which serve talents as a sign-board, to tell the superiority of the stories which are hoarded up within; yet, look attentively on it while he speaks, and your eye will catch many fine rays of full and good expression, which, when they have formed a focus in your mind, give forcible evidence to the character with which he is endowed by common fame.

You see alternately in his looks an air of honest boldness; confidence in his own powers; sincere affection for those around him; quick and powerful comprehension; some occasional gleams of wit, and rich genuine humour, which nothing can depress. Like particles of air, embodied for a moment in a liquid, this buoyant charm of his discourse, even when under damping pressure, springs sparkling to the top..

It is this same humour, and the pathos that so often mingles with it, which makes O'Connell the man in possession of the people's hearts, as it exhibits him to the world an epitome-a specimen-of that country of which Nature as well as circumstance has made him representative. I wish, Mr. Editor, you could have seen the countenances around me, when the 'great leader' mimicked the Kildare Street School members, as he fancied,

walking away with eyes upturned, and hands in empty pockets:' you would have said their soul was ridicule-their trade was laughing. I wish, too, you could have viewed the same faces a moment after, when he exclaimed, We will be united!' It was not the words alone, but the round and tender tone in which they were enrolled, that found them such an immediate passage to the heart, as a flower is made dearer to the mind by the fragrance of its breath. There was an involuntary motion forward, as if they would have sprung into the arms, which, suiting the action to the word,' he held forth as to embrace them. Some great fat fellows behind me looked absolutely blubbering; and I remarked a man of no mean appearance dash a tear

6

suming a Proteus-like nature, determined to elude every grasp by adopting a new form; and I suspect we shall soon hear them exclaim, like Bolingbroke

As I was banished, I was banished Here

ford;

But, as I come, I come for Lancaster.'

Should they next appear (as is now spoken of) with courage as a golden ray, darting its sunny beam from the blue sky of hope, and should I be in a scribbling vein, you may perhaps hear from me again. Indeed, their portrait, as an entire, is not quite finished. I mean, of course, the most eminent of those Catholics, who appear as active agents in their own cause-such as are worthy to be placed as the head of the whole body. I may have given you the eyes, the mouth, or the projecting grace of the aspect; but there are other very worthy features, without which certainly a likeness cannot well be deemed complete.

TOM FID was up the Mediterranean with the gallant Sir Sidney Smith, and there he was in his glory; for never boy loved play half so much as Sir Sidney did bush-fighting. Tom soon displayed his abilities in daring acts of intrepidity, and was made coxswain; after which they managed matters famously betwixt 'em. Many a night they would be pulling along shore with their oars muffled, to have a brush with the enemy; and there was always a great degree of romantic feeling in their enterprises, that considerably heightened the interest, while the enchanting scenery on the coast of Italy increased the sentiments almost to a pitch of enthusiasm. One night the boats were close to the beach, when a French trooper came riding down full speed into the water, and hailed them. Up jumped the captain and answered him in his own lingo, and so they had a long parley woo, and then away scampered the sodger as fast as the horse could lay his heels to the ground. Launch there!' cried Sir Sidney, as soon as the fellow was out of hearing. Sir,'

S.

replied the officer, Load your cannonade with grape and canister. Let the pinnace and green cutter take you in tow, and keep close to the barge. Have the marines ready to land, and be silent.' When these orders had been issued, they pulled smartly for about ten minutes; not a breath ruffled the bosom of the ocean-it lay like a clear mirror reflecting the dazzling gems that sparkled in the blue expanse of hea→ ven; and, as the boats swept along the bay, the huge masses of rock frowned in darkness and grandeur upon them; while the thick embowering forests above added sublimity to the scene, and filled the mind of the sailor with reverential and superstitious awe. Not a sound was heard but the measured sweep of the oars as they dipped in the briny element, leaving behind a track of brilliancy and light: Oars,' cried the captain, and the boat's crew remained motionless with their oars parallel with the water while the other boats pulled up. Tom waved his hand when they were tossed perpendicularly, and the little

on the look-out for the convoy, as the shore was expected to be lined with armed vessels and row-boats. That a valuable convoy was to pass by land under an escort of artillery and cavalry, and protected by a flotilla. This it was their duty, and he knew it was their inclination, to intercept: two divisions were instantly formed, one for the shore and the other for the boats. I hope your honour won't think me pertinent,' says Tom, for, as for the matter o' that, I'd rather be dumb-foundered than offend your honour; but the leadsman, you know is always the best judge of the depth of water any how, and so, your honour-' 'Well, well, be brief,' replied the captain. Why, your honour, as to being brief, there's nobody can tax me with that, at any rate, seeing as how I don't know what it means; but I was just going to say that about a quarter of a mile a-head there, just under that bluff point, there's a capital spot upon the beach, a sort of No Man's Land, just atwixt wind and water, where we might cut 'em off, and nobody be the wiser. Tom's suggestion was attended to: the boats moved toward the place, and Sir Sidney landed. Here the men were posted behind a jutting rock, extending nearly to the water's edge, and rendering the passage so narrow that not more than three horsemen could pass abreast. The boats were to wait for a signal, and then, after discharging two or three rounds at the cavalry, they were to engage the flotilla at close quarters. Scarcely had the necessary arrangements been completed, when the dashing of oars and the trampling of horses gave notice of the enemy's approach. Sir Sidney, with Tom at his elbow, mounted the rock, where they could plainly distinguish the convoy passing beneath them. When they had advanced far enough for one half to lay exposed to the shore party, and the other to the boats, Sir Sidney discharged his pistol, and immediately a most destructive fire commenced from all hands both on land and afloat. The flotilla fired in the

same direction; and, while their shots passed over the boats, they fell upon their own people, and did considerable execution. The shore party, led by their brave captain, took possession of the pass: all was instantly confusion among the French; their escort was divided, and they made the best use of their heels, leaving the waggons and part of the artillery behind.

This conquest was hardly effected, when a rude figure, with appearance scarcely human, rushed from among the rocks, and, grasping the captain's arm, hailed him as a deliverer. În another minute or two a whole band of desperadoes followed, and pursued the flying troops: their leader, I forget his name, but they used to call him Fry-de-devil, or some such happylation, was known to Sir Sidney; and he it was who spoke to him. While this rumpus was passing. ashore the boats were not idle; they dashed intrepidly among the flotilla, and bore down all opposition. As soon as they had secured one vessel her gun was directly turned against the rest; but the struggle was very arduous, from the great force of the enemy. The barge had boarded the commodore, who was the largest of all the vessels; but they found more than treble their number to oppose them, and one after the other fell bleeding on the deck: still they fought with a determined resolution to die rather than yield. Where was Tom? one of his wild shouts would have inspired them with fresh confidence, and renewed their vigour; but hope seemed almost to abandon them as they desperately continued their exertions, though with a diminished force. At this moment, when valour appeared unavailable, that exhilarating sound so dear to every seaman's heart, three British cheers, resounded alongside. Ware hawse,' roared Tom, as he sprung upon the deck brandishing his cutlass; here I am, my Britons; don't leave a man to find the number of his mess again— Hurrah!' and he rushed into the thickest of the fight, followed by the cutter's crew. The Frenchmen de