l.

"I am, sir, very sincerely yours,

"Egbert Vanston.

"To Mr. Bryan M'Mahon,

"Ahadarra."

(The enclosed.)

"Sir,--I have had the honor of reading your communication in favor of
Bryan M'Mahon, of Ahadarra, and of submitting that and his own memorial
to the Commissioners of Excise, who, after maturely weighing the
circumstances, and taking into consideration the excellent character
which memoralist has received at your hands, have been pleased to reduce
the fine originally imposed upon him to the sum of fifty pounds. The
Commissioners are satisfied that memorialist, having been in no way
connected with the illicit distillation which was carried on upon his
property, is not morally liable to pay the penalty; but, as they have
not the power of wholly remitting it they have reduced it as far the law
has given them authority.

"I have the honor to be, sir, your faithful and obedient servant,

"Francis Fathom.

"To Major Vanston, &c, &c."

Hycy, having perused these documents, re-sealed them in such a manner as
to evade all suspicion of their having been opened.

"Now," thought he, "what is to be done? Upon the strength of this, it is
possible I may succeed in working up M'Mahon to vote for Vanston; for
I know into what an enthusiasm of gratitude the generous fool will be
thrown by them. If he votes for Vanston, I gain several points. First
and foremost, the round some of three hundred. If I can get his vote, I
establish my own veracity, which, as matters stand, will secure
Vanston the election; I, also, having already secretly assured the Tory
gentleman that I could secure him, or rather, I can turn my lie into
truth, and make Vanston my friend. Secondly, knowing as I do, that it
was by Harry Clinton's advice the clod-hopper went to him, I can shift
the odium of his voting for Vanston upon that youth's shoulders, whose
body, by the way, does not contain a single bone that I like; and,
thirdly, having by his apostacy and treachery, as it will be called,
placed an insurmountable barrier between himself and the divine
Katsey, I will change my course with Jemmy, the gentleman--my sarcastic
dad--return and get reconciled with that whelp of a brother of mine, and
by becoming a good Christian, and a better Catholic, I have no doubt
but I shall secure the 'Ox-eyed,' as I very happily named her the other
morning. This, I think, will be making the most of the cards, and, as
the moment is critical, I shall seek the