Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent Part 42

"He laid his finger on my shoulder, and added still with a gentle and significant smile, 'I am in possession of your secret, and I say so, to take you merely as far as I am concerned, out of a false, and myself out of a somewhat painful position. It would be embarra.s.sing to me, for instance, to meet and treat you as that which you are not, knowing as I do what you are; and it will relieve you from the difficulty of sustaining a part that is not your own, at least so far as I am concerned.'

"'I certainly perceive,' I replied, 'that you are in possession of that, which in this country, I thought known only to myself and another.'

"'Your secret,' he said emphatically, 'shall be inviolable.'

"'I feel it, my good sir,'I replied, 'and now, let me ask, on what part of the continent did we meet?'

"Let it suffice to say here, that he brought himself distinctly to my memory, through the medium of a very kind office performed for a friend of mine, who, at the time, stood in circ.u.mstances not only of difficulty, but of considerable personal danger.

"Having viewed the manufactory, which is somewhat of a novelty in this immediate locality, we were about to take our leave, when four men, evidently strangers, and each remarkable for that hardened and insolent look which begets suspicion at a glance, now entered the concern with an air of ruffian authority, and with all the offensive forms of which the law is capable, laid on an execution, to the amount of fourteen hundred pounds.

"Old M'Loughlin received the intelligence, and witnessed the proceedings, with a smile, in which there was something that struck me as being peculiarly manly and independent.

"'This,' said he, 'although coming from a quarter that I deemed to be friendly, is the heaviest blow, connected with our business, that we have received yet. Still, gentlemen,' he proceeded, addressing Father Roche and myself, 'I trust it won't signify--a mere pa.s.sing embarra.s.sment. This manufactory, as you may perceive, complete through all its machinery, which is of the very best and costliest description, together with the property in it, is worth five times the amount of the execution.'

"'Yes, but you forget,' replied the leading ruffian, 'that property under an execution isn't to be judged by its real value. In general it doesn't bring one-tenth, no, nor one-fifteenth of its true value, when auctioned out, as it will be, under a writ.'

"'Ay, by Jabers,' said another of them, 'an' what's better still, you forget that your lease is expired, and that Lord c.u.mber has sent over word for you not to get a renewal--nor Harman either.'

"'Is this true?' I inquired of Father Roche; 'do you imagine it to be possible?'

"'That fellow is bad authority for anything,' he replied, 'but I fear that in this Point, he is too correct. However, let us ask M'Loughlin himself, who, certainly, has the best right to know.'

"This I resolved on, not because I was ignorant of the fact, which you know I had from M'Clutchy himself, but that I might ascertain that gentleman's mode of transacting business, and his fairness towards Lord c.u.mber's tenants.

"'What this man says, Mr. M'Loughlin, surely cannot be possible--does he mean to a.s.sert that Lord c.u.mber refused to renew your lease, although he must be aware that you have expended in the erection of this fine manufactory a sum not less, I should suppose, than five or six thousand pounds.'

"'Seven thousand six hundred,' replied the old man, setting me right, 'nearly four thousand between Harman and us.'

"'But he does not refuse to renew your leases certainly?'

"'No,' said M'Loughlin, 'I cannot say that he does; but we have not been able to get anything like a distinct reply from him on the subject--and, as far as reports go, they are certainly not in our favor. We have written to Lord c.u.mber himself, and the only reply we could obtain was, that he had placed the whole matter in the hands of M'Clutchy, in whose justice and integrity, he said, he had the highest confidence, and that consequently we must abide by his decision. My own impression is, that he is determined to ruin us, which he certainly will, should he refuse us a renewal.'

"'There can be no doubt about it,' said the eldest son, 'nor that his management of the estate and his general administration of justice are woefully one-sided.'

"'I don't choose to hear Mr. M'Clutchy abused,' said the leading fellow, who, in truth, was one of his blood-hounds, as were all the rest, with one exception only, 'nor I won't hear him abused. You wouldn't have him show the same favor to Papists that he would show to good, honest Protestants, that are staunch and. loyal to Church and State--by Jabers, that would be nice work! Do you think a man's not to show favor to his own side, either as a magistrate or agent?--faith that's good!'

"'And I'll tell you more,' said another of them, addressing John M'Loughlin, 'do you think, that if he dared to put Papishes on a level with us, that we'd suffer it? By Gog, you're out of it if you do--we know a horse of another color, my buck.'

"'To whom do you address such insolent language as this?' asked the young man, 'you are here in execution of your duty, and you had better confine yourself to that.'

"'To you, my buck, I address it, and to any Papish that doesn't like it--and if I'm here to discharge my duty, I'll discharge it,' and he shook his head with insolence as he spoke; 'an' what's more, I'm afeard of no man--and I'll discharge my duty as I like, that's another thing--as I like to discharge it. Ha! d--n me, I'm not to be put down by a parcel of Priests and Papishes, if they were ten times as bad as they are.'

"'You are a low ruffian,' replied the young man, 'far beneath my resentment or my notice; and it is precisely such scoundrels as you, ignorant and brutal, who bring shame and infamy upon religion itself--and are a multiplied curse to the country.'

"'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; wis.h.i.+ng 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 c.u.mber 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, const.i.tute a loyalist of the present day; and with such impressions operating upon a large ma.s.s 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, const.i.tution 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 cla.s.s. The highest are generally held by Orangemen, and it is attachment to their system that const.i.tutes the only pa.s.sport 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.

"May 10, 18--. My dear Spinageberd---Feeling, as I did, exceedingly anxious to make myself acquainted with the true principles of the Orange inst.i.tutions which have spread themselves so rapidly over the country, I need scarcely say to you that I left nothing that was fair and honorable undone, on my part, to accomplish that object; or, in other words, to ascertain whether their private principles, as a political body, harmonize with their public practices. It is but fair to render justice to every party, and consequently it is only right and equitable to inquire whether the violent outrages committed by the low and ignorant men who belong to their body, are defensible by the regulations which are laid down for their guidance.

"On looking over the general declaration of the objects of the inst.i.tution, one is certainly struck by the fairness, and liberality, and moderation, joined to a becoming avowal of attachment to the Protestant religion and the throne, which it breathes. Here, however, it is, _verbatim et literatim_, in its authentic shape, with all that is good or evil in it laid clearly before you. I deem it right, however, to preface it by the greater portion of a short but significant Report, to which are prefixed the following memorable names:--

"'At a meeting of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, November 29, 1798.

Present:--Thomas Verner, Grand Master; J. C. Beresford, grand secretary; R. C. Smith, jun., deputy secretary; H. A. Woodward; J. S. Rochfort; T.

F. Knipe; Samuel Montgomery; Harding Giffard; William Richardson; John Fisher; William Corbett; W. G. Galway; Francis Gregory. Harding Giffard and S. Montgomery, Esqrs., reported as follows:--

"'Having been honored by the Grand Lodge with instructions to revise and select a proper system of rules, for the government of Orange Lodges, we beg leave to make a report of our progress.

"'We are happy in being able to say, that in our duty upon this occasion, we received the greatest a.s.sistance from the experience of the Grand Master of Ireland, and his Deputy Grand Secretary, who did us the honor of imparting to us their sentiments.

"'Encouraged by their help, we have ventured very materially to alter the shape of the confused system which was referred to us preserving the spirit, and, as much as possible, the original words, except where we had to encounter gross violations of language and grammar.

"'The general, plan of our proceeding has been this, we have thrown what are, in our opinion, very improperly called the six first general rules, into one plain short declaration of the sentiments of the body.

"'Next in order we have given the qualifications of an Orangeman, selected from the Antrim regulations, and the rather, as it breathes a spirit of piety which cannot be too generally diffused throughout an inst.i.tution, whose chief object, whatever political shape it may a.s.sume, is to preserve the Protestant Religion. ******

"'Samuel Montgomery, "'Henby Giffard. '"Nov. 20, 1798."

GENERAL DECLARATION OF THE OBJECTS OF THE ORANGE INSt.i.tUTION.

"'We a.s.sociate, to the utmost of our power, to support and defend his Majesty King George the Third, the const.i.tution and laws of this country, and the succession to the Throne in his Majesty's ill.u.s.trious house, being Protestants; for the defence of our persons and properties; and to maintain the peace of the country; and _for these purposes to we will be at all times ready to a.s.sist the civil and, military powers in the just and lawful discharge of their duty_. We also a.s.sociate in honor of King William the Third, Prince of Orange, whose name we bear, as supporters of his glorious memory, and the true religion by him completely established in these kingdoms. And in order to prove our grat.i.tude and affection for his name, we will annually celebrate the victory over James at the Boyne, on the first day of July, O.S., in every year, which day shall be our grand Era for ever.

We further declare that we are exclusively a Protestant a.s.sociation; yet, detesting as we do, any intolerant spirit, we solemnly pledge ourselves to each other, _that we will not persecute, injure, or upbraid any person on account of his religious opinions, PROVIDED THE SAME BE NOT HOSTILE TO THE STATE_; but that we will, on the contrary, be aiding and a.s.sisting' to every loyal subject, of every religious description, in protecting him from violence and oppression.

Qualifications requisite for an Orangeman.

"'He should have a sincere love and veneration for his Almighty Maker, productive of those lively and happy fruits, righteousness and obedience to his commands; a firm and steadfast faith in the Saviour of the world, convinced that he is the only mediator between a sinful creature and an offended Creator--without these he cannot be a Christian; of a humane and compa.s.sionate disposition, and a courteous and affable behavior. He should be an utter enemy to savage brutality and unchristian cruelty; a lover of society and improving company; and have a laudable regard for the Protestant religion, and a sincere desire to propagate its precepts; zealous in promoting the honor, happiness, and prosperity of his king and country; heartily desirous of victory and success in those pursuits, yet convinced and a.s.sured that G.o.d alone can grant them. He should have a hatred of cursing and swearing, and taking the name of G.o.d in vain (a shameful practice), and he should use all opportunities of discouraging it among his brethren. Wisdom and prudence should guide his actions--honesty and integrity direct his conduct--and the honor and glory of his king and country be the motives of his endeavors--lastly, he should pay the strictest attention to a religious observance of the Sabbath, and also to temperance and sobriety.

Obligation of an Orangeman.

"I, A. B., do solemnly and sincerely swear, of my own free will and accord, that I will, to the utmost of my power, support and defend the present king, George III., his heirs and successors, so long as he or they support the Protestant ascendancy, the const.i.tution, and laws of these kingdoms; and that I will ever hold sacred the name of our glorious deliverer, William III., prince of Orange; and I do further swear, that I am not, nor ever was, a Roman Catholic or Papist; that I was not, am not, nor ever will be, a United Irishman, and that I never took the oath of secrecy to that, or any other treasonable society; and I do further swear, in the presence of Almighty G.o.d, that I will always conceal, and never will reveal, either part or parts of what is now to be privately communicated to me, until I shall be authorized so to do by the proper authorities of the Orange inst.i.tution; that I will neither write it, nor indite it, stamp, stain, or engrave it, nor cause it so to be done, on paper, parchment, leaf, bark, stick, or stone, or anything, so that it may be known; and I do further swear, that I have not, to my knowledge or belief, been proposed and rejected in, or expelled from any other Orange Lodge; and that I now become an Orangeman without fear, bribery, or corruption.

"'SO HELP ME G.o.d.'