William Carleton
Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent
The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two
Published by Good Press, 2019
EAN 4064066195526
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I.—An Irish Pair and Spoileen Tent
CHAPTER II.—Birth and Origin of Mr. M'Clutchy
CHAPTER III.—Solomon M'Slime, a Religious Attorney
CHAPTER IV.—Poll Doolin, the Child Cadger
CHAPTER V.—A Mysterious Meeting
CHAPTER VI.—The Life and Virtues of an Irish Absentee
CHAPTER VII.—Reflections on Absenteeism
CHAPTER VIII.—Poverty and Sorrow
CHAPTER IX.—A Dialogue, exhibiting Singular Principles of Justice
CHAPTER X.—A Dutiful Grandson and a Respectable Grandmother
CHAPTER XI.—Darby and Solomon at Prayer
CHAPTER XII.—Interview between Darby and Mr. Lucre
CHAPTER XIII.—Darby's Brief Retirement from Public Life.
—A Controversial Discussion, together with the Virtues it Produced
CHAPTER XIV.—Poll Doolin's Honesty, and Phil's Gallantry
CHAPTER XV.—Objects of an English Traveller
CHAPTER XVI.—Solomon in Trouble
CHAPTER XVII.—A Moral Survey, or a Wise Man led by a Fool
CHAPTER XVIII.—An Execution by Val's Blood-Hounds
CHAPTER XIX.—An Orange Lodge at Full Work
CHAPTER XX.—Sobriety and Loyalty
CHAPTER XXI.—Darby's Piety Rewarded
CHAPTEK XXII.—-Castle Cumber Grand Jury Room
CHAPTEK XXIV.—Raymond's Sense of Justice
CHAPTER XXV.—Val and his Son brought to Trial
CHAPTER XXVI.—Harman's Interview with Mary M'Loughlin
CHAPTER XXVII.—Bob Beatty's Last Illness
CHAPTER XXVIII.—Darby is a Spiritual Ganymede
CHAPTER XXIX.—Solomon Suffers a Little Retribution
CHAPTER XXX.—The Mountain Grave-Yard
CHAPTER XXXI.—Richard Topertoe and his Brother
PREFACE
It was not my intention to have written any Preface to this book, but to have allowed it simply to speak for itself. As it is very likely, however, that both it and the motives of its author may be misrepresented by bigoted or venal pens, I think it necessary to introduce it to the reader by a few brief observations. In the first place, then, I beg to say, that the work presents phases of Irish life and manners that have never been given to the public before by any other writer upon the same subject. So far, therefore, the book is a perfectly new book—not only to the Irish people, but also to the English and Scotch. I know not whether the authenticity of the facts and descriptions contained in it may be called in question; but this I do know, that there is not an honest man, on either side, who has lived in the north of Ireland, and reached the term of fifty years, who will not recognize the conduct and language of the northern Orangemen as just, truthful, and not one whit exaggerated. To our friends across the Channel it is only necessary to say, that I was born in one of the most Orange counties in Ireland (Tyrone)—that the violence and licentious abuses of these armed civilians were perpetrated before my eyes—and that the sounds of their outrages may be said still to ring in my ears.
I have written many works upon Irish life, and up to the present day the man has never lived who could lay his finger upon any passage of my writings, and say “that is false.” I cannot, however, avoid remarking here, that within the last few years, a more enlarged knowledge of life, and a more matured intercourse with society, have enabled me to overcome many absurd prejudices with which I was imbued. Without compromising, however, the truth or integrity of any portion of my writings, I am willing to admit, which I do frankly, and without hesitation, that I published in my early works passages which were not calculated to do any earthly good; but, on the contrary, to give unnecessary offence to a great number of my countrymen. It is due to myself to state this, and to say, that in the last edition of my works I have left as many of these passages out as I readily could, without diminishing the interest, or