Personal Sketches of His Own Times, Vol. 1 (of 3)

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Jonah Barrington. Personal Sketches of His Own Times, Vol. 1 (of 3)

MY FAMILY CONNEXIONS

ELIZABETH FITZGERALD

IRISH GENTRY AND THEIR RETAINERS

MY EDUCATION

IRISH DISSIPATION IN 1778

MY BROTHER’S HUNTING-LODGE

CHOICE OF PROFESSION

MURDER OF CAPTAIN O’FLAHERTY

ADOPTION OF THE LAW

A DUBLIN BOARDING-HOUSE

IRISH BEAUTIES

PATRICIANS AND PLEBEIANS

IRISH INNS

FATAL DUEL OF MY BROTHER

ENTRANCE INTO PARLIAMENT

SINGULAR CUSTOMS IN THE IRISH PARLIAMENT

THE SEVEN BARONETS

ENTRANCE INTO OFFICE

DR. ACHMET BORUMBORAD

ALDERMEN OF SKINNERS’ ALLEY

PROCESSION OF THE TRADES

IRISH REBELLION

WOLF TONE

DUBLIN ELECTION

ELECTION FOR COUNTY WEXFORD

WEDDED LIFE

DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRY

LORD NORBURY

HENRY GRATTAN

HIGH LIFE IN NEWGATE

JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN

THE LAW OF LIBEL

PULPIT, BAR, AND PARLIAMENTARY ELOQUENCE

QUEEN CAROLINE

LORD YELVERTON AND THE BAR

MR. NORCOT’S ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE

ANECDOTES OF IRISH JUDGES

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A great-aunt of mine, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, was married to Stephen Fitzgerald, who possessed the castle of Moret, near Bally-Brittis, not very far from Cullenagh.6 She and her husband held their castle firmly during the troubles. They had above forty good warders; their local enemies had no cannon, and but few guns. The warders, protected by the battlements, pelted their adversaries with large stones, when they ventured to approach the walls; and in front of each of that description of castle, there was a hole perpendicularly over the entrance, wherefrom any person, himself unseen, could drop down every species of defensive material upon assailants.

About the year 1690, when Ireland was in a state of great disorder, and no laws were regarded, numerous factious bodies were formed in every part of the country to claim old rights, and re-take possession of forfeited estates, by mere force, when their factions were strong enough.

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That heroic dame, on her part, was not inactive; she informed her warders of the scheme to force a new master on her and them; and many a round oath she swore (with corresponding gesticulations, the description of which would not be over agreeable to modern readers,) that she never would grant her favours to mortal man, but preserve her castle and her chastity to the last extremity.

The warders took fire at the attempt of the squires. They always detested the defensive system; and probably to that hatred may be attributed a few of the robberies, burglaries, and burnings, which in those times were considered in that neighbourhood as little more than occasional pastimes.

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