ibility. On reviving he found himself
in his cell, attended by two of the turnkeys, who felt now more alarmed
at his screams and the horror which was painted on his face, than by the
fainting fit from which he had just recovered. It is not our design to
dwell at much length upon the last minutes of such a man; but we will
state briefly, that, as might be expected, he left nothing unattempted
to save his own life. On the day after his trial, he sent for the
sheriff, and told him, that, provided his life were granted by the
government, he could make many important disclosures, and give very
valuable information concerning the state and prospects of Ribbonism in
the country, together with a long list of the persons who were attached
to it in that parish. The sheriff told him that this information, which
might under other circumstances have been deemed of much value by the
government, had already been anticipated by another man during the very
short period that had elapsed since his conviction. There was nothing
which he could now disclose, the sheriff added, that he himself was
not already in possession of, even to the rank which he, Flanagan, was
invested with among them, and the very place where he and they had held
their last meeting. But, independently of that, he proceeded, it is not
usual for: government to pardon the principals in any such outrage as
that for which you have been convicted. I shall, however, transmit
your proposal to the Secretary, who may act in the matter as he thinks
proper.

In the meantime his relatives and confederates were not idle outside,
each party having already transmitted a petition to the Castle in
his behalf. That of his relations contained only the usual melancholy
sentiments, and earnest entreaties for mercy, which are to be found in
such documents. The memorial, however, of his confederates was equally
remarkable for its perverted ingenuity, and those unlucky falsehoods
which are generally certain to defeat the objects of those who have
recourse to them.

It went to say that the petitioners feared very much that the country
was in a dangerous state, in consequence of the progressive march
of Ribbonism in parts of that parish, and in many of the surrounding
districts. That the unhappy prisoner had for some time past made himself
peculiarly obnoxious to this illegal class of persons; and that he was
known in the country as what is termed "a marked man," ever since he
had the courage