IRISH "BULLS."
TO TES Eprros 07 THE " SPECTATOR." J
you have been ventilating the above subject, perhaps a few particulars about Sir Boyle Roche, the high-priest of Irish "bulls," might be interesting to your readers. He wasof the ancient family of the De La Russes, of Fermoy, was Member for Tralee from 1775, and was created a baronet in 1782. He commenced one of his speeches in the Irish House of Commons as follows :—" Mr. Speaker, it is the duty of every true lover of his country to give his last guinea to save the remainder of his fortunes." And another began :—" Sir, single misfortunes never come alone, and the greatest of all national calamities is generally followed by one much greater." A letter of his is still preserved, supposed to have been written during the rebellion of '98, though it is doubtful if he ever put so many "bulls" together on paper. It is as follows :—
" DEAR Sfa,—Having now a little peace and quiet, I sit down to inform you of the bustle and confusion we are in from the bloodthirsty rebels, many of whom are now, thank God ! killed and. dispersed. We are in a pretty mess, can get nothing to eat, and no- wine to drink except whisky. When we sit down to dinner, we are obliged to keep both hands armed. Whilst I write this, I have my sword in one hand, and my pistol in the other. I concluded from the beginning that this would be the end, and I am right, for it is not half over yet. At present, there are such goings on, that everything is at a standstill. I should have answered your letter a fortnight ago, but I only received it this morning. Indeed, hardly a mail arrives safe without being robbed. No longer ago- than yesterday, the mail-coach from Dublin was robbed near this town; the bags had been very judiciously left behind, and by great good luck there was nobody in the coach but two outside pas- sengers who had nothing for the thieves to take. Last Thursday, an alarm was given that a gang of rebels in full retreat from Drogheda were advancing under the French standard ; but they had no colours, nor any drums except bagpipes. Immediately, every man in the place, including women and children, ran out to- meet them. We soon found our force a great deal too little, and were far too near to think of retreating. Death was in every face, and to it we went. By the time half our party were killed, we began to be all alive. Fortunately, the rebels had no guns, except pistols, cutlasses, and pikes, and we had plenty of musquets and ammunition. We put them all to the sword, not a soul of them escaped, except some that were drowned in an adjoining bog. In fact, in a short time nothing was heard but silence. Their uniforms were all different, chiefly green. After the action was over, we went to rummage their camp. All we found was a few pikes, without heads, a parcel of empty bottles filled with water,. and a bundle of blank French commissions, filled up with Irish names. Troops are now stationed round, which exactly squares with mylideas of security. Adieu! I have only time to add that I am yours in great haste, B. R.
" P.S.—If you do not receive this, of course it must have mis- carried; therefore I beg you to write and let me know."
One of the "bulls" wrongly 'attributed to Sir Boyle Roohe was that "every quart bottle should hold a quart." This proposal was really made by Rowland Bateman, Member for Kerry at the time, and was a complaint against the stinted allowances. served out to wine-drinkers at taverns.—I am, Sir, &c.,
South, County Dublin, March 11th. C. J. HAMILTON.
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