ous band of ruffianly
Whiteboys, amounting to several hundreds--who, in defiance of his
well-known resolution, and forgetting the state of admirable preparation
and defence in which he always maintains his dwelling-house, surrounded
it with the intention, evidently, of visiting upon him the consequences
of his extraordinary efforts at preserving the peace of the country,
and bringing offenders to justice. The exact particulars of this fearful
conflict have not reached us, but we may, without offence, we trust, to
the modesty of Mr. O'Driscol, venture to give a general outline of the
circumstances, as far as we have heard them. About two o'clock, on the
morning alluded to, and while the whole family were asleep, an attempt
was made to break open the hall-door. This, however, having been heavily
chained, barred, and bolted, and the keys removed to Mr. O'Driscol's
sleeping-room, resisted all attempts of the Whiteboys to enter--a
circumstance which filled them with fury and indignation. In a moment
the family were alarmed, and up. On that night it so happened that Mr.
Alick Purcel, a friend and neighbor of Mr. O'Driscol's, happened to be
staying with them, and almost immediately Mr. O'Driscol, placing the
two young men in something like a steady military position, led them
on personally, in the most intrepid manner, to a position behind the
shutters. From this place the fire of the enemy was returned for a
considerable time with equal bravery, and, it is presumed, effect,
as the grounds about the hall-door were found the next morning to be
stained with blood in several places. Tho heroism of the night, however,
is yet to be related. Mr. O'Driscol, who was certainly supported by his
son and Mr. Purcel in a most able and effective manner, hearing a low,
cautious noise in the back part of the house, went to reconnoitre, just
in time to grapple with the leader of these villains--a most desperate
and ferocious character-cruel, fearless, and of immense personal
strength. He must have got in by some unaccountable means not yet
discovered, with the hope, of course, of admitting his accomplices from
without. A terrific struggle now ensued, which terminated by the fellow,
on finding, we presume, the mettle of the person opposed to him, flying
down stairs towards the kitchen, and from thence, as Mr. O'Driscol
thought, to the coal-hole, whether he fearlessly pursued him, but in
vain. On examining the coal-hole, which Mr. O'Driscol did pe