riend sent the following
reply:

"My dear Sir Thomas,--A' would give more than all mention to be gifted
with your want of memory respecting what occurred the other day. Never
man had such a memory of that dreadful transaction as a' have; from head
to heel a'm all memory; from heel to head a'm all memory--up and down
--round--about--across--here and there, and everywhere--a'm all
memory; but in one particular place, Sir Thomas--ah! there's where a'
suffer--however, it doesn't make no matter; a' only say that you taught
me the luxury of an easy chair and a. soft cushion ever since, Sir
Thomas.

"Your letter, Sir Thomas, has given me great comfort, and has made me
rejoice, although it is with groans a' do it, at the whole transaction.
If you succeed in getting me the magistracy, Sir Thomas, it will be the
most blessed and delightful basting that ever a lucky man got. If a'
succeed in being turned into a bony fidy live magistrate, to be called
'your worship,' and am to have the right of fining and flogging and
committing the people, as a' wish and hope to do, then all say that the
hand of Providence was in it, as well as your foot, Sir Thomas. Now,
that you have explained the circumstance, a' feel very much honored by
the drubbing a' got, Sir Thomas; and, indeed, a' don't doubt, after
all, but it was meant in kindness, as you say, Sir Thomas; and a'm sure
besides, Sir Thomas, that it's not every one you'd condescend to drub,
and that the man you would drub, Sir Thomas, must be a person of some
consequence. A' will send you up my claims as a magistrate some of these
days--that is, as soon as a' can get some long-headed fellow to make
them out for me.

"And have the honor to be, my dear Sir Thomas, your much obliged and
favored humble servant.

"Periwinkle Crackenfudge.

"Sir Thomas Gourlay, Bart."

CHAPTER XXIV.--An Irish Watchhouse in the time of the "Charlies."

Another subject which vexed the baronet not a little was the loss of his
money and pistols by the robbery; but what he still felt more bitterly,
was the failure of the authorities to trace or arrest the robber.
The vengeance which he felt against that individual lay like a black
venomous snake coiled round his heart. The loss of the money and the
fire-arms he might overlook, but the man, who, in a few moments, taught
him to know himself as he was--who dangled him, as it were, over the
very precipice of hell--with all his iniquities upon his head, t