Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent. William Carleton

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       William Carleton

      Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent

      The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two

      Published by Good Press, 2019

       [email protected]

      EAN 4064066195526

Table of Contents

       PREFACE

       CHAPTER I.—An Irish Pair and Spoileen Tent

       CHAPTER II.—Birth and Origin of Mr. M'Clutchy

       CHAPTER III.—Solomon M'Slime, a Religious Attorney

       CHAPTER IV.—Poll Doolin, the Child Cadger

       CHAPTER V.—A Mysterious Meeting

       CHAPTER VI.—The Life and Virtues of an Irish Absentee

       CHAPTER VII.—Reflections on Absenteeism

       CHAPTER VIII.—Poverty and Sorrow

       CHAPTER IX.—A Dialogue, exhibiting Singular Principles of Justice

       CHAPTER X.—A Dutiful Grandson and a Respectable Grandmother

       CHAPTER XI.—Darby and Solomon at Prayer

       CHAPTER XII.—Interview between Darby and Mr. Lucre

       CHAPTER XIII.—Darby's Brief Retirement from Public Life.

       —A Controversial Discussion, together with the Virtues it Produced

       CHAPTER XIV.—Poll Doolin's Honesty, and Phil's Gallantry

       CHAPTER XV.—Objects of an English Traveller

       CHAPTER XVI.—Solomon in Trouble

       CHAPTER XVII.—A Moral Survey, or a Wise Man led by a Fool

       CHAPTER XVIII.—An Execution by Val's Blood-Hounds

       CHAPTER XIX.—An Orange Lodge at Full Work

       CHAPTER XX.—Sobriety and Loyalty

       CHAPTER XXI.—Darby's Piety Rewarded

       CHAPTEK XXII.—-Castle Cumber Grand Jury Room

       CHAPTER XXIII.—A Rent Day

       CHAPTEK XXIV.—Raymond's Sense of Justice

       CHAPTER XXV.—Val and his Son brought to Trial

       CHAPTER XXVI.—Harman's Interview with Mary M'Loughlin

       CHAPTER XXVII.—Bob Beatty's Last Illness

       CHAPTER XXVIII.—Darby is a Spiritual Ganymede

       CHAPTER XXIX.—Solomon Suffers a Little Retribution

       CHAPTER XXX.—The Mountain Grave-Yard

       CHAPTER XXXI.—Richard Topertoe and his Brother

PREFACE

       Table of Contents

      It was not my intention to have written any Preface to this book, but to have allowed it simply to speak for itself. As it is very likely, however, that both it and the motives of its author may be misrepresented by bigoted or venal pens, I think it necessary to introduce it to the reader by a few brief observations. In the first place, then, I beg to say, that the work presents phases of Irish life and manners that have never been given to the public before by any other writer upon the same subject. So far, therefore, the book is a perfectly new book—not only to the Irish people, but also to the English and Scotch. I know not whether the authenticity of the facts and descriptions contained in it may be called in question; but this I do know, that there is not an honest man, on either side, who has lived in the north of Ireland, and reached the term of fifty years, who will not recognize the conduct and language of the northern Orangemen as just, truthful, and not one whit exaggerated. To our friends across the Channel it is only necessary to say, that I was born in one of the most Orange counties in Ireland (Tyrone)—that the violence and licentious abuses of these armed civilians were perpetrated before my eyes—and that the sounds of their outrages may be said still to ring in my ears.

      I have written many works upon Irish life, and up to the present day the man has never lived who could lay his finger upon any passage of my writings, and say “that is false.” I cannot, however, avoid remarking here, that within the last few years, a more enlarged knowledge of life, and a more matured intercourse with society, have enabled me to overcome many absurd prejudices with which I was imbued. Without compromising, however, the truth or integrity of any portion of my writings, I am willing to admit, which I do frankly, and without hesitation, that I published in my early works passages which were not calculated to do any earthly good; but, on the contrary, to give unnecessary offence to a great number of my countrymen. It is due to myself to state this, and to say, that in the last edition of my works I have left as many of these passages out as I readily could, without diminishing the interest, or