ng with the rest. The priest wishes to have these Hogans driven out
of the parish--a wish in which I most cordially join him. I hope we
shall soon rid the country of him and his villanous associates. Talking
of the country, what is to be done?"

"Simply," replied Chevydale, "that we, the landed proprietors of
Ireland, should awake out of our slumbers, and forgetting those vile
causes of division and subdivision that have hitherto not only disunited
us, but set us together by the ears, we should take counsel among
ourselves, and after due and serious deliberation, come to the
determination that it is our duty to prevent Irish interests from being
made subservient to English interests, and from being legislated for
upon English principles."

"I hope, Chevydale, you are not about to become a Repealer."

"No, sir; I am, and ever have been sickened by that great imposture.
Another half century would scarcely make us fit for home legislation.
When we look at the conduct of our Irish members in the British
Parliament--I allude now, with few exceptions, to the Repeal
members--what hope can we entertain of honesty and love of country from
such men? When we look, too, at many of our Corporations and strike an
average of their honesty and intellect, have we not a right to thank God
that the interests of our country are not confided to the management of
such an arrogant, corrupt, and vulgar crew as in general compose them.
The truth is, Vanston, we must become national in our own defense, and
whilst we repudiate, with a firm conviction of the folly on the one
hand, and the dishonesty on the other, of those who talk about Repeal,
we shall find it our best policy to forget the interests of any
particular class, and suffer ourselves to melt down into one great
principle of national love and good-will toward each other. Let us only
become unanimous, and England will respect us as she did when we were
unanimous upon other occasions."

"I feel, and am perfectly sensible of the truth of what you say,"
replied Vanston, "and I am certain that, in mere self-defence, we must
identify ourselves with the people whose interests most unquestionably
are ours."

"As to myself," continued Chevydale, "I fear I have much to repair in
my conduct as an Irish landlord. I have been too confiding and easy--in
fact, I have not thought for myself; but been merely good or evil,
according to the caprice of the man who managed me, and whom, up until
now,