R XXVIII.

ASSIZES AT CARRICK-ON-SHANNON.

And now the assize week in Carrick-on-Shannon had commenced, and
all was bustle and confusion, noise, dirt, and distraction. I have
observed that a strong, determined, regularly set-in week of bad
weather usually goes the circuit in Ireland in company with the
judges and barristers, making the business of those who are obliged
to attend even more intolerable than from its own nature it is always
sure to be. And so it was in this case.

On Tuesday afternoon Mr. Baron Hamilton and Justice Kilpatrick
entered Carrick-on-Shannon, one after the other, in the company of
the high sheriff, and a tremendous shower of rain, which drenched
the tawdry liveries of the servants, and gave a most uncomfortable
appearance to the whole affair.

The grand jury had been in the town since Monday morning--settling
fiscal business--wrangling about roads--talking of tolls--checking
county cesses--and performing those various patriotic offices, which
they would fain make the uninitiated believe, require so much talent,
industry, and energy; and as they were seen stepping over the running
gutters, and making the best of their way through the splashing
streets, their physiognomies appeared ominous of nothing good to the
criminals, whose cases had in the first instance to come before them.

Every lodging in the town was engaged, beds being let, sometimes
three in a room, for the moderate sum of a guinea each for the week.
The hotels, for there are two, were crowded from the garrets to the
cellars. Happy the man at such a period, who enjoys a bed-room which
he can secure with a key--for without such precaution the rightful
possessor is not at all unlikely, on entering his own premises,
to find three or four somewhat rough looking strangers, perhaps
liberated jurors, or witnesses just escaped from the fangs of a
counsel, sitting in most undisturbed ease on his bed, eating bread
and butter, and drinking bottled porter. Some huge farmer with
dripping frieze coat will be squatted on his pillow, his towel spread
as table-cloth on the little deal table which has been allotted
to him as the only receptacle for his jug, basin, looking-glass,
brushes, and every other article of the toilet, and his carpet-bag,
dressing-gown, and pantaloons chucked unceremoniously into a corner,
off the chairs which they had occupied, to make way for the damp
friends of the big farmer, who is seated on the bed. This man is now