some person unknown, and a speedy return to him as Member for Galway. Amid all the noise and tumult at this critical moment, nearly every eye at the table was turned upon me, and, as I concluded that they had been drinking my uncle’s health, I thundered away at the mahogany with all my energy. At length, the hip, hipping, over, and comparative quiet restored, I rose from my seat to return thanks, but, strange enough, Sir George Dashwood did so likewise, and there we both stood amid an uproar that might well have shaken the courage of more practised orators; while from every side came cries of “Hear, hear”—“Go on, Sir George”—“ Speak out, General”—“Sit down, Charley ”—“Confound the boy”—“Knock the legs from under him,” &c. Not understanding why Sir George should interfere with what I regarded as my peculiar duty, I resolved not to give way, and avowed this determination in no very equivocal terms. “In that case,” said the General, “I am to suppose that the young gentleman moves an amendment to your proposition, and, as the etiquette is in his favour, I yield.” Here he resumed his place, amid a most terrific scene of noise and tumult, while several humane proposals, as to my treatment, were made around me, and a kind suggestion thrown out to break my neck, by a near neighbour. Mr, Blake at length prevailed upon the party to hear what I had to say—for he was certain I should not detain them above a minute. The commotion having in some measure subsided, I began—“Gentlemen, as the adopted son of the worthy man whose health you have just drunk” Heaven knows how I should have continued—but here my eloquence was met by such a roar of laughing as I never before listened to; from one end of the board to the other it was one continued shout, and went on too as if all the spare lungs of the party had been kept in reserve for the occasion. I turned from one to the other—I tried to smile, and seemed to participate in the joke, but failed—I frowned—I looked savagely about where I could see enough to turn my wrath thitherward; and, as it chanced, not in vain; for Mr. Miles Bodkin, with an intuitive perception of my wishes, most suddenly ceased his mirth, and, assuming a look of frowning defiance that had done him good service upon many former occasions, rose and said:—
“Well, sir, I hope you’re proud of yourself—you’ve made a nice beginning of it, and a pretty story you’ll have for your uncle. But if you’d like to break the news by a letter, the General will have great pleasure in franking it for you; for, by the rock of Cashel, we’ll carry him in against all the O’Malleys that ever cheated the sheriff.”
Scarcely were the words uttered, when 1 seized my wineglass, and hurled it with all my force at his head; so sudden was the act, and so true the aim, that Mr, Bodkin measured his length upon the floor ere his friends could appreciate his late eloquent effusion. The scene now became terrific; for, though the redoubted Miles was hors de combat, his friends made a tremendous rush at, and would infallibly have succeeded in capturing me, had not Blake and four or five others interposed. Amid a desperate struggle, which lasted for some minutes, I was torn from the spot, carried bodily upstairs, and pitched headlong into my own room, where, having doubly locked the door on the outside, they left me to my own cool and not over-agreeable reflections.
