“‘Very well, my buck,’ persisted this ferocious bigot, ’may be the day will come when we’ll make you remember this traisen, and swally it too.  How would you like to get a touch of the wreckers, my buck?—­an’ by Jabers, take care that you’re not in for a lick.  A lease! d—­n me but it would be a nice thing to give the like o’ you a lease!  None o’ your sort, my buck, will get that trick, so long as loyal M’Clutchy’s on the property.’

“Father Roche having taken the young man’s arm, led him away; wishing to avoid any further altercation with such persons, and immediately afterwards they set about completing an inventory of all the property, machinery, etc., in the establishment.

“‘There was one expression used by that man,’ I observed, when we got out again upon the Castle Cumber road, ’which I do not properly understand; it was, ’how should you like to get a touch of the wreckers?’

“‘The wreckers, sir,’ replied old M’Loughlin, ’are a set of men such as that fellow we have just been speaking to—­brimful of venom and hatred against Catholics and their religion.  Their creed consists of two principles, one of which I have just mentioned, that is, hatred of us; the other is a blind attachment to the Orange system.  These two combined, constitute a loyalist of the present day; and with such impressions operating upon a large mass of men like the fellow inside, who belong to an ascendant party, and are permitted to carry arms and ammunition wherever they like, either to search your house or mine, on the most frivolous pretences, it is not surprising that the country should be as it is; but it is surprising, that exposed as we are to such men, without adequate protection, we should possess any attachment at all to the throne and, constitution of these realms; or to a government which not only suffers such a state of things to exist, but either connives at or encourages it.  For instance, it was the exhibition of such principles as you have heard that man avow, that got him and those who accompany him their appointments; for, I am sorry to say, that there is no such successful recommendation as this violent party! spirit, even to situations of the very lowest class.  The highest are generally held by Orangemen, and it is attachment to their system that constitutes the only passport now-a-days to every office in the country, from the secretary to the scavenger.’

“This, I fear, is rather an overtime account of the state of things in the portion of Ireland from which I write; but, whilst I admit this, I am far from saying that the faults are all on one side.  There are prejudices equally ferocious, and quite as senseless and ignorant, on the part of the Roman Catholic party—­prejudices resulting sometimes from education, and sometimes from the want of it; but, which certainly contribute their full share to the almost disorganized state of society by which I am surrounded.”

From the same to the same in continuation.