died out, although a tradition of his sobriquet still floated about the locality, and by degrees the history of Higgins degenerated into "the beautiful legend of the Sham Squire":" which at last was cruelly disturbed by the publication of the Cornwallis correspondence, the researches of the present writer, and some patriotic scribe who since our first disclosures on this subject has inscribed across the imposing epitaph, surmounted by a picture of a pike and a gallows, "Here lies the monster Lord Edward Fitzgerald's similar query to the Irish Times. The subject excited a considerable sensation, and became invested with almost romantic interest. Several leaders as well as letters appeared. "Kilbarrack", wrote the editor, "is as lonely and desolate a ruin as ever an artist painted. A stray goat or sheep may be seen browsing upon the old graves, half covered with drifted sand; or a flock of sand larks sweeps through the wide and broken arches. Round the forsaken tombs grow in abundance heartsease, veronica, and the white harebell. There are pretty mosses on the gray walls; but the aspect of the ruins oppresses the heart with a sense of melancholy loneliness. Sometimes, when the storm blows inshore, the waves dash in spray over the ruined walls, and weep salt tears over the tombs"-Irish Times, Jan. 3, 1865. "An Humble Debtor", dating from the Four Courts Marshalsea, and citing as his text, "I was in prison, and ye visited me not"-Matt., xxv. 43, 44, went on to say: "Your journal for the last few days has given great consolation to the inmates of this prison, by its insertion of letters bearing on the hitherto almost unknown benefactions of Francis Higgins, of good memory". The gentleman thus addressed was of opinion that the money, if invested in land, ought to yield now, at least, £50 per annum; but it has been stated by the chaplain to the Marshalsea that no more than £15 a year is received, and comes not from landed security, but from some old houses in Cumberland Street. "The legend of the Sham Squire", full of romance, and bearing no resemblance to the authentic details which we have gathered, appeared in 1856 in a serial published by Mr. Chamney. JOTTINGS ABOUT IRELAND AND THE IRISH SEVENTY YEARS AGO: BEING ADDENDA SUGGESTED BY ALLUSIONS IN THE FOREGOING TEXT ADDENDA. A. BARATARIANA. This book has always possessed peculiar interest for historic students of the period to which it refers; and several communications have appeared from time to time in Notes and Queries touching it. In reply to an inquiry,* the late Right Hon. J. Wilson Croker promised to contribute particulars as to the writers of Baratariana, but failed to do so, although he lived for several years subsequently. "That promise not having been fulfilled", observed a writer, "permit me to ask from some of your Irish correspondents materials for a history of this very curious volume" ;§ and ABHBA expressed a hope that "Mr. Fitzpatrick would be induced to furnish us with a key to the characters which figure in the book".|| In accordance with these suggestions, we gathered from a variety of sound sources, several well authenticated details. Sir Hercules Langrishe, Mr. Grattan, then a young barrister not in parliament, and Mr. Flood, were, according to the Memoirs of Flood (p. 79), the principal writers of Baratariana. In Grattan's Life (vol. i., p. 185), there is an account of a visit to Sir Hercules in 1810; and the octogenarian is found repeating with enthusiasm some of his flash passages in Baratariana. The contributions of Sir Hercules to this bundle of * First Series, vol. x., p. 185. † Ibid, vol. x., p. 353. Ibid, p. 139. Ibid. § Second Series, vol. viii., p. 52. |