THE

LIFE AND TIMES OF DANIEL O'CONNELL

1

1

CONTENTS.

PRELIMINARY SKETCH OF IRISH HISTORY.

Relations of Ireland to England the Source of Irish Misery-Independence

Necessary to Ireland's Happiness-Aims of O'Connell's Life-How far he

Succeeded-Where he Failed, and Why-Exaggeration of his Theory of

Moral Force-Ireland's Capabilities-Rapid Survey of Irish History down

to the Year 1775,

CHAPTER I.

-Family-Scenery of Ireland in general, and of Kerry in particular,

CHAPTER II.

The Penal Laws-First slight Relaxations of this horrid Code-Curious Anecdotes

and Illustrations of Life during the days of the Penal Laws-Geoghegan of

London's odd Recantation-Kedagh MacGeoghegan and his Horse-Case of

Father Sheehy-Curran's first signal Success at the Bar-Captain St. Leger

and the old Priest-O'Connell's Anecdotes of strange conversions to Pro-

testantism-His amusing stories of Father O'Grady-The Priest's narrow

escape from the fangs of British Law-A Kerry Brigand in Flanders-The

Orangemen and Jack of the Roads-O'Leary's Catholic and Protestant Son

-Catholic Petition-Berkeley's Querist,

CHAPTER III.

Childhood of O'Connell-Paul Jones off the Coast of Kerry-O'Connell masters the

Alphabet quickly-His Fear of Disgrace-Captain Cook's Voyage Round the

World-Nomadic Gentry-Early Anticipations of Greatness-O'Connell's

Uncle Maurice, Surnamed Hunting-Cap-His Love of Old Ballads-En-

counter with a Mad Bull-Active Habits-The Crelaghs and the Kerry

"Colonels"-His Father Attacked by a Band of Robbers--Private Theatri-

cals-His Early Religious Training-Protestant Visitors and Holy Water

-His Uncle Maurice's Coffin-MacCarthy More and the Priest-The

American War,

CHAPTER IV.

1-34

35-46

46-73

73-82

Brief Sketch of the Irish Volunteer Movement and the Revolution of 1782-The

Reform Convention-Flood and Grattan-Further Relaxations of the Penal

Laws-Reflections of England's Concessions in 1782-O'Connell's Opinion of

Grattan-His Opinion on the Question of "Simple Repeal,"

CHAPTER V.

Youth and Early Manhood of O'Connell-O'Connell at Louvain, St. Omer's, and

Douay-In Danger during the French Revolution-Anecdote of John and

Henry Sheares and the Execution of Louis XVI.-O'Connell and the Crowns

of France and Belgium-Dan and the Banker-Jeffreys of Blarney Castle-

Further Relaxations of the Penal Laws-Catholics Admitted to the Bar-

O'Connell a Law-Student in London-Anecdotes of George IV., Mrs. Fitz-

herbert, and Charles James Fox-O'Connell sees George III. in Danger-

Slow Travelling of the Last Century-Pitt and Fox as Orators-Drinking

Habits of the Last Century resisted by O'Connell-Cousin Kane, an Odd

Character-O'Connell in the Yeomanry--He attends a Political Meeting in

297-Sees Lord Edward Fitzgerald-O'Connell gets a Fever from Sleeping

in Wet Clothes, and is near Dying-Sallies Forth on His First Circuit-

O'Connell, Harry Deane Grady, and the Soldiers-Robbers--Anecdote of

Grady-Journey with H. D. Grady-Passing the Kilworth Mountains-

Sudden Death of a Cousin of O'Connell's-Inns when O'Connell was a Young

Man-He Travels with John Philpot Curran-Arthur O'Connor-Humorous

Bar Anecdotes-Robber Incident-Death of Brennan the Robber-O'Con-

nel thinks of Writing a Novel-O'Connell's Courtship and Marriage-

Anecdote of Collins-Autobiographical Anecdote-O'Connell a Zealous

Advocate of Mary Queen of Scots-Lalor of Killarney and the Farm of

Lisababie-Old Roads-Inn at Milstreet-A Cow of Feeling-"Dark

Oblivion of a Brow "-Corrupt Judges,

82-100

100-125