my

direc

nswe rl shall expect impatiently, for tion in this business, as I shall have the account ready for publication, in a few days."*

On Sunday the 10th. coming from public worship, I perceived the street to be crowded with people looking into the lane which leads to our Meeting-house, and, at the entrance, William Irwin Esq. treasurer of the county, standing with a stranger, whom I did not recognise to be M. Istoy, as I had never seen him in muffling, or on foot, before, till he reminded me, and told me that his business was, to know whether I had made out an account of the 9th. September &c. I told him that I had not; nor did I suppose that I would for some days: but that I had a letter in my pocket for Mr. Johnson, though intended principally for him; and, as it was unsealed, I would then give it to him, if he chose; which I did. Mr. Irwin, seeming to observe the attention of the crowd in the street, proposed that we should walk into the house adjoining, in which, by the bye, if I am rightly informed, a room had been bespoken for our After our entrance, reception. We did so. Mr. Langley looked over the letter, and put it into his pocket, without comment or remark, Our conversation commenced with expressions

of

* When this was written, I had no idea that such a long train of vile trifles was to succeed, as would have delayed the promised publication one week.

of regard by Mr. Langley, sorrow for vile reports, necessity of silencing them, offers of subscribing liberally &c. and a demand of examinations. These I declined, and from what I have already written, and the letter of which I have given a copy, it will not be supposed that I assigned any reason for my so doing. On my silence, the Evening Herald was again introduced, as on Friday loaded with opprobrious epithets, and charged with a most atrocious libel against the county of Armagh and its magistrates. By and by, it came out, that this atrocious libel was "the advertisement of my narrative, with the resolutions &c. &c. subjoined." These I mention together, as he read the whole, with an emphasis, fully as strong as well placed. The words and phrases, "intolerance, religious liberty, happy and united, indisputable rights," and some others, struck my ear with peculiar force: and when he came to the words, "we shall take &c. &c. at one guinea each," he paused, and turning to me, obligingly said, "I wish, doctor, you may make £50,000 by your book." This emitted, holding one paper in his hand, he pulled out a bundle from his pocket, the size of which would not have disgraced the bag of a petty attorney, exclaiming: "this is not the only paper-these are a few that I have picked up, in which the scandalous libel has been repeated again and again. I should not have minded it, had I not met it at Cheltenham, copied

1

into an English paper &c. &c." Then, after a warm eulogium on the magistracy (whose virtues I had never impeached) supported by a case, in which he and his friend Jemmy Dawson, as he was pleased to stile him, convicted AN orangeman, he reverted to the Herald, and its correspondents in terms equally scurrilous, some of which seemed levelled at me. I felt hurt, turned to Mr. Irwin, and said, "the advertisement is mine-I had it published in both the Belfast papers, for several months, before it appeared in the Herald-of what follows I know no more than you do; nor have I any thing to say, only that I feel highly gratified by a patronage so honorable, and shall endeavour to deserve it as long as I live."

Here Mr. Langley interfered, in a tone and manner, of which, from my confined knowledge of gentlemen, I could not conceive a gentleman capable." Are not you sir, the author of the original libel? If you did not communicate it, how could it have been published by these incendiaries, as no witness was present." Addressing myself again to Mr. Irwin, I gave him the same account which I have already written. Being somewhat irritated, with what I deemed vulgar insolence, I arose to leave the room, Mr. Irwin, with his usual good nature, begged I might not go away. I did not. Mr. Langley, in a tone

much softened, assured me that he had no inten

giving offence, repeated his expressions of respect, and offered once more to take my examinations, and even write them for me. For this condescension I expressed my gratitude, adding that I could write for myself."

On this, he seemed superlative good, and kindly told me that, "if I would write examinations, he would call on the day following, or any other day that I would mention." I begged that he might not give himself any such trouble. The whole matter I would publish, as I had promised he might then act as he chose. then asked," shall I say that you refused to swear to any examinations?" "No, sir," said I, "I never said or intended to say, any such thing, I shall swear to what I have asserted, but, from circumstances, I shall choose my own time.

He

I arose again to depart, and as I was walking to the door, Mr. Langley muttered something, about the character of the magistrates of the county, and the necessity of supporting their dignity; adding that he would summon the neighbourhood, and, as I thought, me also, to appear before them. Having heard his words indistinctly, I turned and asked him if he meant to summon me. No, said he, but I will summon the people in the neighbourhood, and send you a copy of the summons. I will be

much obliged to you, replied I, as it is likely I shall attend you on the occasion: and so walked off.

Having received no answer from Mr. J-n to the simple question in my letter by Mr. Langley, for three days, on Thursday morning I wrote to him the following note, and sent it by our by post.

"SIR,

I beg you may be so good as let me have an answer, per bearer, to the question contained in the postscript of my letter to you by Mr. Langley. I'd be glad to know likewise when Mr. Langley will commence his solemn inquest in this neighbourhood, which, I hope will be very strict and very extensive. I am sorry that your examinations of poor men in your way hither, on Friday, turned out so unsatisfactory.

On the evening of the 17th. I received, through the Armagh post-office, the following note; but as will appear, without even an allusion to my question,

“SIR,