"interior" than Spiddel, and the road to it being so bad, as already mentioned, we hired two Connemara ponies well accustomed to the alternation of rock and bog that we had to travel over; and more surefooted beasts I never would wish to bestride than these wonderful little creatures. Bare and barren as the scene was along the road leading to Spiddel, it was in this part of our voyage of discovery much worse. It is impossible to conceive any prospect more wild and desolate than that now presented to our view; and were it not for the tall white crags of Arran, and the lofty mountains of Ballinahinch in the distance, we might look in vain for any object on which the eye might rest. To the Sportsman, however, it does not look altogether so barren as to the mere tourist. There was something about the bare rocks, ferns, bogs, swamps, and even in the desolate and uninhabited appearance of the place itself, which spoke eloquently of its sporting resources; and so far as this is concerned, no place can be superior.

After two hours' hard riding through the roads already described, we arrived at our journey's end, and in sight of the "fabulosus Hydaspes," the object of all our piscatorial dreams. We were now

fairly encamped on the bank of the Costello river, pronounced by the comparatively few Sportsmen who knew it to be one of the very best streams in the world for rod-fishing. No one had fished the waters for that year when we arrived; and although it was too early for salmon, we were told that all the pools were stocked with white or sea trout. We commenced operations in the very first pool, and soon saw enough to convince us that it was decidedly the best river for angling that we had ever yet seen. The Costello is not a large but a tolerablysized stream, issuing from an extensive lake about two or three miles farther inland, and falling into a bay of the same name. It flows through a plain, through which it has generally worked its way through the superincumbent soil to the granite rock beneath. It abounds both in rapid streams and very large and deep pools, in which latter the fish chiefly lie. At the lower end of the lake above-mentioned the channel is extremely narrow and rocky, of which advantage has been taken to fix there a strong iron grating, that prevents the fish from the sea ascending any farther. Behind this grating are sluice-boards, which keep the lake a few feet above its natural level, and by removing which, at any time, an artificial flood, so to speak, can be produced in the river. The late Sir Robert Staples took a lease of this river for thirty years, and employed ten watchmen to guard the sacred waters from all kinds of poaching. The number and weight of fish that Sir Robert often killed would seem incredible to those unacquainted with this river; but we saw enough to convince us of the truth of what we had heard.

The guide that accompanied us to the river on our first visit stated that an English Clergyman, the Rev. Mr. B-, who fished the rivers the preceding year, killed forty-three trout, from lb. to 5fb. weight, besides losing many more, in one day, between the hours of 12 and 6 P. M., and this as an utter stranger, without knowing anything of the flies or proper pools, and with the additional disadvantages of a stiff breeze, very cold weather, and the appearance of rain overhead. (Flies composed of the feathers of the jay and the grouse are the best

in this river.) He was the civilest and kindest Gentleman in the world, and although he was only a few days in that part of the country, the people were as fond of him as if he was a rale Priest! "When fishing with two flies, this jewel of a Parson," said the chronicler, "often hooked two fish together, and had the greatest fun in the world looking at the obstinacy with which they would always pull in opposite directions; and if one was for rising or jumping up out of the water, the other conthrary divil was sure to be sthrivin to stick to the bottom." One of them, however, it appeared, generally escaped, although on several occasions the angler succeeded in landing a brace. The Parson's success was by no means intended to be related as anything unusual or out of the way. It was merely told to shew what we might expect, and what was in store for us. Indeed the guide stated, that that would be considered a very bad day for the Costello; and declared that under favorable circumstances, from two to three hundred white trout, the same size as those abovementioned, have sometimes been killed by a single rod in a single day.

We spent several of as pleasant days as ever fell to our lot on the banks of the Costello river. We generally devoted the morning to the chase, and never had the misfortune to come home empty. The hours between breakfast and dinner were spent equally as agreeable along the prolific stream, the wonderful accounts we had heard of which were not in the slightest degree exaggerated; and our evenings glided on in the most delightful manner with " mirth and laughter," and the exhaustless fund of sporting anecdotes of our gay veteran companion. The reader can well imagine that it was with no common feelings of regret that we took leave of this Sporting Elysium when other avocations called us away, and not without a hope to return on a future occasion and renew our acquaintance with old friends and pleasant scenes; but, alas! Death's effacing finger has, since that period, left its traces there, and the halls that were then so merry are now empty and desolate :

"The blast of the desert comes; it howls in the empty court :" but yet the blithesome voice and happy soul of my departed friend are as green in my memory as the sod that lies over his grave.

It was about eight o'clock of a calm but rather dark autumnal evening when we started from the Costello for Galway, circumstances having occurred which compelled us to be as expeditious as possible en route for London.

I had an opportunity on this night's journey of observing a very remarkable phenomenon which is occasionally seen in the bogs in this district and in those of Connemara. We had not proceeded far on our way when we observed the night becoming suddenly darker and foggy: the darkness was so impenetrable that for safety we were obliged to refrain from guiding in the slightest degree the sagacious and enduring pony that we rode, being convinced that under such circumstances his judgment was more to be depended on than our own. Had we acted otherwise, it is not improbable man and horse would have perished in a bog-hole, or have been drowned in some of the numerous lakes, along which the unfenced road ran like a pier or quay. Shortly after noticing the increase of darkness, we were suddenly dazzled by immense cones

of fire rising on all sides around us. These cones varied in size: few had less than five or six feet diameter at the base, and many appeared to measure twenty or thirty feet at the same part. The number visible at any particular moment varied; as well as I can remember, rarely exceeding thirty. They sprang up at irregular distances from each other: some seemed nearly a mile distant, other a few yards only. The form of each might be compared to that of the flame proceeding from a plate containing burning alcohol. The shade of color accompanying the flame was not blue; it was reddish white. The light proceeding from them was not in proportion to their size and number. I was surprised to find, that, although they dazzled and occasioned dizziness by their sudden appearance and disappearance, they produced but little effect on the profound darkness. These appearances continued for several miles; the cones of flame rose from the ground apparently to a height varying from six to thirty feet, and did not, like Will-o'-the-wisp, move to and fro. A little after midnight it began to blow freshly from the North-east, with heavy rain; but during the remainder of our ride we did not see any trace of even the slightest flickering or flame. This luminousness was evidently the result of chemical action in the vegetable matter in the bog in a state of decay.

Dr. M. Lynch, of Clifden, relates a similar case, in which he observed the same phosphorescent light, while travelling through Connemara on a winter's evening. As may be expected, the peasantry stand in great awe of these mysterious lights, and as a matter of course they are attributed by them to supernatural agency. By some they are called the "Dance of Death;" and by others, "Messengers from Faery Land," come to welcome some spirit of Earth that is passing away to their Elfin bowers.

Saxon Reader! the nearest and dearest friends must part sooner or later, and it is now our turn to bid each other adieu. If I have been the means of beguiling an hour or two in an easy manner, with a description of pleasant scenes and happy pastimes, my object will in a great measure have been fulfilled; but I must not conceal from you that I had other objects also in view in writing the "Sketches" which are now drawn to a close. The love of fatherland is strong within me, and that filial impulse had no small share in urging me to bring before you in a favorable light-at the same time with due regard to truth-the character of a class of my countrymen which has been much maligned. The Irish peasantry are not a set of cut-throats and savages, as you have been too often told by mercenary or interested writers. The elements of good are not wanting in their constitution, if they were only properly directed and turned to account: and whose fault is it that this desideratum has not been attained long ere this? Surely not their own. With all that peculiar gaieté de cœur so characteristic of the nation, there is mingled as fine feeling and genuine sincerity as ever found a biding place in the human breast; but unhappily ages of misrule and oppression have had the effect of cultivating and bringing to light the alloy inherent to humanity in every grade and in every country, to the injury and disadvantage of the more genuine and sterling elements of the national character. A new era, however, has now dawned upon the Green Isle, and the wonderful

changes which have recently taken place in that country indicate that her regeneration is not far distant. I belong to no party or political creed. My motto is, "Truth and Justice;" and if I could have my wishes gratified, I would have the reader go and visit those scenes I have described, and converse with the peasantry themselves, before forming his opinion of the country and its people; and while he is enjoying the field-sports, fishing the mountain streams, shooting over the bogs, or coursing on the hills of Connemara, he will obtain a more correct view of what the Irish people really are composed of than he is likely to get through the newspaper press, or in the cliques or coteries of Dublin, where such information is too cominonly sought for. I have lived nearly as many years out of Ireland as in it, and during my late excursion there I experienced, in places where I was totally unknown, and from perfect strangers, a degree of kindness and generosity, especially from the peasants, in my sporting rambles which I never found in other countries where I have lived and travelled. It is enough to be a stranger in order to be received kindly and treated well in much abused Ireland. Nunc vale!

ERINENSIS.

A VERY important case has just been decided before Lord Abinger and a Special Jury, on the 9th of Anne, c. 14, for repressing excessive gaming. It will be in the recollection of our readers, that this Act not only prohibits gaming, but enables the loser of above £10 at a sitting to recover back treble the amount of his losses; or, if he does not do so himself, that any informer may sue for and recover the penalty; one half of which goes to the parish in which the offence was committed, and the other half to the person bringing the action.

The parochial officers of St. George, Hanover Square, having failed in many attempts to put down the numerous gambling-houses in that parish, resolved to adopt a new plan of attack, and the abovementioned case was either instituted by them, or was at all events conducted with their sanction-an example that might be followed with very good effect by some of their neighbours; as it appears that the offenders cannot here shelter themselves under the plea that their den is a club; but the law, as applied in this instance, affects the lordly Crockford's or the wealthy Boodle's, as well as that hot-bed of thieving and iniquity, vulgarly yclept a "Hell."

In this case, the plaintiff had been one of the crew (“ set a thief,”

* Smith v. Bond, Sittings after Michaelmas Term 1842, iu the County of Middlesex.

&c.), and the action was brought against the owner of a house, distinguished by the high-sounding name of the "Junior St. James's Clubhouse." It appeared in evidence, that as much as £2000 or £3000 was lost of a night by the unfortunate players, but the per contra seemed to be very small. French hazard was the game chiefly played. On one occasion a Mr. Bredell lost £200, Mr. Fitzroy Stanhope £50, and the Marquis of Conyngham £500. At another time, Lord Cantalupe was fleeced of £400, and Lord Conyngham of £500, cum multis aliis. Many of these sums were paid in cheques on various bankers; and inasmuch as a draft or cheque is not in law considered a payment till cashed, and many of the banks where payment was to be demanded were not in the parish of St. George, Hanover Square, a point was raised by the defendant's Counsel, that the offence was not completed in that parish, and that therefore the plaintiff could not recover. This objection, however, we are happy to say, was overruled by the Learned Chief Baron; and the Jury, under his direction, returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £3508, which was treble the amount actually proved to have been lost. We very much doubt if the Court in Banco will disturb this verdict: for if the objection raised as to the payment by a cheque were to prevail, it would in effect repeal the Statute of Anne.

Had Mr. Stanhope, the Marquis of Conyngham, Lord Cantalupe, and other victims appeared, and testified to their losses on the two occasions mentioned, additional penalties would have accrued to the extent of £5820.

BOTH SIDES OF THE TWEED.

THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH'S HOUNDS-THE KENNELS AT ST. BOSWELL'SRUNS WITH LORD ELCHO IN BERWICKSHIRE.

THE fog having entirely cut us out of all warmth and light from that luminary from which at mid-day we expect both the one and the other, I have lit my lamp, made up a good fire, and now sit down to redeem the pledge I made last month of giving a short description of the Duke of Buccleuch's hunting establishment in Roxburghshire.

And first as to the locality. The kennel is situated on St. Boswell's Green, about half a mile from the village of Lessudden, five miles from Melrose, and eight from Jedburgh. Within a couple of hundred yards of it, the Duke has built an excellent Inn, where all those who wish to hunt with his pack will find capital accommodation for their horses as well as for themselves. The stables are after the most approved modern plan, and contain twenty-six stalls, three loose boxes, coachhouses, &c.; and the Hotel itself is clean, neatly furnished, and well provided with all that is necessary to make a Sportsman happy, after a run of an hour and a half, and perhaps a ride of twenty miles home at the end of it. I know no place where a man could enjoy a few weeks more-within a mile of some of the best fishing in the kingdom, a first