ht it not amiss to
mention it. It may be a _bonne bouche_ for the
geologists.

At this moment the congregation was once more in convulsions of laughter
at the dressing which Peter, whose character was drawn with much truth
and humor, received at the hands of the worthy pastor.

Our readers will perceive that there was not a single prejudice, or
weakness, or virtue, in the disposition of his auditory, left untouched
in this address. He moved their superstition, their pride of character,
their dread of hell and purgatory, their detestation of Yellow Sam, and
the remembrance of the injury so wantonly inflicted on M'Evoy's family;
he glanced at the advantage to be derived from the lad's prayers, the
example they should set to Protestants, made a passing hit at tithes;
and indulged in the humorous, the pathetic, and the miraculous. In
short, he left no avenue to their hearts untouched; and in the process
by which he attempted to accomplish his object he was successful.

There is, in fact, much rude, unpolished eloquence among the Roman
Catholic priesthood, and not a little which, if duly cultivated by study
and a more liberal education, would deserve to be ranked very high.

We do not give this as a specimen of their modern pulpit eloquence,
but as a sample of that in which some of those Irish clergy shone,
who, before the establishment of Maynooth, were admitted to orders
immediately from the hedge-schools, in consequence of the dearth of
priests which then existed in Ireland. It was customary in those days to
ordain them even before they departed for the continental colleges, in
order that they might, by saying masses and performing other clerical
duties, be enabled to add something to the scanty pittance which was
appropriated to their support. Of the class to which Father Kavanagh
belonged, there are few, if any, remaining. They sometimes were called
"Hedge-priests," * byway of reproach; though for our own parts, we wish
their non-interference in politics, unaffected piety, and simplicity of
character, had remained behind them.

* This nickname was first bestowed upon them by the
continental priests, who generally ridiculed them for
their vulgarity. They were, for the most! part, simple
but worthy men.

On the Sunday following, Dominick M'Evoy and his son Jemmy attended
mass, whilst the other members of the family, with that sense of
honest pride which is more strongly inherent in Iri