“You did, and now what else do you say?”

“The very same thing—­that your farm, and mine lie snugly together—­and mark me, Mr. M’Loughlin—­”

“I do—­oh, upon my credit I do—­ha, ha, ha!”

“Than that’s what I end with.”

“Ah,” replied M’Loughlin indignantly, “you think you have the ball at your own foot, now that old Topertoe is gone, and his son has made you his under agent.  A nice job indeed it was, that transformed old drunken Tom Topertoe into Lord Cumber, and made his son, the present Lord, too proud to live on his own estate.  However, I’d be glad to see the honest man that ever envied the same old Tom his title, when we all know that he got it for selling his country.  As for you, Vulture, I defy and despise you; when my rent’s due, thank God I am able to pay it, so you may do your worst.  While Mr. Hickman’s over you, the tenants have some protection, in spite of your villainy, you unprincipled scoundrel.”

“Our farms lie snugly together, Mr:  M’Loughlin, and that’s what I end with.”

It was from the town of Castle Cumber, which we have described at the opening of our narrative, that old Tom Topertoe, a squire of the true Irish kidney, took his title.  Topertoe, or Lord Castle Cumber, as we must now call him, like many others, had the high honor of being a Union Lord—­that, is to say his attachment to his principles was so steady, that he did not hesitate to sell his country for a title, and we may add, something besides.  It is not our intention, at this distance of time, to discuss the merits of either the union or its repeal; but in justice to truth and honor, or, perhaps, we should rather say, fraud and profligacy, we are constrained to admit, that there is not to be found in the annals of all history, any political negotiation based upon such rank and festering corruption, as was the legislative union.  Had the motives which actuated the English government towards this country been pure, and influenced by principles of equality and common justice, they would never have had recourse to such unparalleled profligacy.  This is self-evident, for those who seek an honorable end will scorn to obtain it by foul and dishonorable means.  The conduct of England, therefore, in this base and shameless traffic, is certainly a prima face evidence of her ultimate policy—­a policy blacker in the very simplicity of its iniquity than its worst enemies can paint it, and so obvious in its character, that we question whether a man could be found, of ordinary information, belonging to any party, capable at this moment of deliberately and conscientiously defending it, so far as pertains to this transaction.  But enough of this.