y had the honour to drink
her ladyship's health, and begging to know whether there was anything
at table that she would like to eat? The answer was always, 'Lady
Cathcart's compliments, and she has everything she wants.' An instance
of honesty in a poor Irishwoman deserves to be recorded. Lady Cathcart
had some remarkably fine diamonds, which she had concealed from her
husband, and which she was anxious to get out of the house, lest he
should discover them. She had neither servant nor friend to whom she
could entrust them, but she had observed a poor beggar woman, who used
to come to the house; she spoke to her from the window of the room in
which she was confined; the woman promised to do what she desired, and
Lady Cathcart threw a parcel containing the jewels to her. The poor
woman carried them to the person to whom they were directed, and several
years afterwards, when Lady Cathcart recovered her liberty, she received
her diamonds safely.

At Colonel M'Guire's death her ladyship was released. The editor, within
this year, saw the gentleman who accompanied her to England after her
husband's death. When she first was told of his death she imagined that
the news was not true, and that it was told only with an intention of
deceiving her. At his death she had scarcely clothes sufficient to cover
her; she wore a red wig, looked scared, and her understanding seemed
stupefied; she said that she scarcely knew one human creature from
another; her imprisonment lasted above twenty years. These circumstances
may appear strange to an English reader; but there is no danger in
the present times that any individual should exercise such tyranny as
Colonel M'Guire's with impunity, the power being now all in the hands of
Government, and there being no possibility of obtaining from Parliament
an Act of indemnity for any cruelties.]

Then his honour had a great deal of company to dine with him, and balls
in the house, and was as gay and gallant, and as much himself as before
he was married; and at dinner he always drank my Lady Rackrent's good
health and so did the company, and he sent out always a servant with
his compliments to my Lady Rackrent, and the company was drinking her
ladyship's health, and begged to know if there was anything at table he
might send her, and the man came back, after the sham errand, with
my Lady Rackrent's compliments, and she was very much obliged to Sir
Kit--she did not wish for anything, but drank the comp