THE GAP OF BAHNESMO RE.

Tau condition of Irish society and the characteristics of Irish life about the time of the Revolution of 1688, seem nearly as well qualified to form the groundwork of a series of fictions as the Highland efforts in favour of the Stuarts, or the peculiar social and religious traits upon which Scott depended in his Scotch novels. There is a drawback in the general corruption of Irish society, the coarseness of the British settlers, and the barbarism of the genuine Irish ; but as a set-off to this, there are the strength and raciness of the characteristics. There is indeed a difficulty in the fact that memorials relating to Irish manners and private life are fewer in number than those concerning Scotland. This want, we think, was very visible in Banim's early historical novel on this period, includ- ing Kirke and his " Lambs," the battle of the Boyne, the siege of Limerick, &c.; where the native Irish had a general laical= character, but nothing distinctive of the age ; while Banim himself was a vehement partisan, who wrote from the Romish point of view, and was too heavy in his literalness and galvanic in his force to revive the historical past, besides being, in historical fiction, too much a disciple of Scott. Banim's defects were not so visible in subjects belonging to his own time or to im- mediate tradition.

The author of The Gap of Barnesmore is a writer of ability and of respectable acquirements : he seems to be acquainted with the local features of the country he is writing about, as well as of the history of the times. He has, however, the deficiency we already noted in Banim the manners are not of the age, and scarcely so Irish as Banim's, but be- long to the conventionalism of novelists, who, like a theatrical wardrobe keeper, seem to think that if the modes are not of the present day they will do for the past. This fault, however, would have been of little conse- quence had it not been accompanied by a similar deficiency of imagina-

tion, which renders the descriptions and the more level narrative literal and slow. In scenes of movement or action the author has more power or effect by a kind of stage grouping, and making the most of a situation. On this ground he bears some resemblance to James ; to whom, indeed, there is a likeness in other respects.

The author of The Gap of Barnesmore takes the Protestant view of the Revolution ; but he is not violent or onesided. He indeed places Carroll, the villain of the piece, on the side of James and the Pa- pists, though the man afterwards apostatizes ; but he allows virtues to foreign priests, and to the mere Irish.

The political events and feelings of the time have, of course, a place in the tale, but are not unduly prominent. The real action of the novel is a struggle for the hand of Ellen Oakley, who is sought by Captain Carroll, the unprincipled dissipated Popish officer, with a view to her fortune; by O'Donnell, a descendant of the ancient possessors of her lands, from ambitious motives; by Mr. Hamilton, the Protestant Sheriff; and (at least on the opening of the story) by her cousin Spencer, also an officer, and we suppose the hero of the tale, though somewhat deficient in the fixity of purpose belonging to the hero. There are several sub- ordinate stories ; including the efforts of O'Donnell to recover his chieftainship, and a murder by Carroll to deprive another person of an estate and get it for himself; but the most romantic species of action relates to the efforts of the rival claimants for the heroine, and the incidents springing out of them. The following exhibits one of the attempts of Carroll to get Ellen into his power, when, taking advantage of the disorders of the times, he proceeds with a party of troopers to her father's mansion to arrest him on a charge of high treason.

"Captain Carroll, slightly bending his head to the Baronet, dismounted, and, giving. orders to his men to remain drawn up round the door, with a haughty and imperious step, very different from the bland and almost sycophantic manner he had hitherto assumed, entered the hall. He made a sign as if he wished the door to remain open; but Sir Robert Oakley shut it in the face of the orderly, drily observing that the blast was very cold. He then politely beckoned his visitor into the parlour, where the Sheriff and Spencer were waiting his arrival. " Carroll was dressed in full uniform; he carried in his belt two pistols of a tolerable size. On entering the room, he bowed with a contemptuous politeness to Spencer. Sir Robert introduced him to the High Sheriff, laying an emphasis on the word. Carroll declined a polite invitation to partake of the breakfast viands which were still upon the table. " Sir Robert,' he said, with a sneer, the insolence of which was manifest enough, 'I am come here on an unpleasant business; bat, before I proceed, it is necessary for me personally to see every inmate of your family.' " Sir Robert rang the bell, and said calmly to the servant, Tell your young mistress and Miss Barrington I wish to see them in the buff room.'

"'May I ask, Sir,' said Spencer, whose indignation could not brook this, 'by

what authority you are come to pay this domiciliary visit?'

" My uniform, Sir,' replied the other, is my authority. But, Sir,' he con- tinued, I have other business with you. As your superior officer, I have the commands of the Lord-Lieutenant to arrest you, and bring you instantly to head- quarters at Castlefin, where the army is now lying, waiting to occupy berry. I fear, young man, that year rebellious conduct now will not tend much to remove some disadvantageous impressions of your loyalty that may be entertained by the court-martial that is to try you.' " The ladies, Sir, are waiting for us in the buff room,' said Sir Robert, anxious to cut short the indiscreet ebullition of his nephew. " The Baronet led the way, followed by Carroll and the other two. The buff room was a small drawingroom in the rear of the house, which Sir Robert had discreetly chosen as the place of the interview. As they passed up a short flight of stairs that led to it, the Sheriff remained behind, and whispered to Spencer to lock the great hall-door, and to tell the men in the yard to be ready to act the moment an attempt was made to force it. But, for God's sake! be calm,' he added, in a low and impressive voice. 4' The directions were promptly obeyed. The ponderous lock of the great ball- door was almost noiselessly turned, and a massive chain that guarded it swung across. As for the men in the yard, the difficulty was to restrain them from at once sallying forth to do instant execution on the Irish Papists,' as they termed those outside. Through a crevice in the gate, one of the men inside was spying the movements of the troops. The latter were amusing themselves, cutting off the heads of some ornamental shrubs with their swords. This incident, trifling as it was, when it was reported inside excited the indignation of the Protestants almost to fury. The' damned Irish savages !' cried one; 'they can't behave themselves at a gentleman's place.' And the strongest disposition was manifested at once to revenge this insult upon the shrubbery by unlocking the gate and opening a fire upon the troops which would have swept them very speedily away. " The commands of Spencer, however, restrained the ardour of these men, al- most maddened by the belief that nothing but the vigils of the night before had saved themselves and their families from massacre at the hands of men whose representatives they fancied were now drawn up outside the gate. In the mean time, Carroll had proceeded to the buff room. The two ladies there awaited his approach. Carroll advanced to Ellen, and offered her his hand, with a peculiar familiarity that made her shudder; while his eyes gloated on her with the con- sciousness that she was in his power. Ellen hurriedly withdrew her hand, and distantly returned his salutation. "Carroll, not in the least abashed by her reserve, proceeded, in the tone of a familiar acquaintance, to make inquiries after her health. Without giving her time to reply, Sir Robert haughtily interrupted his officious inquiries: Mr. Car- roll,' he said, ' I have complied with your desire, as you come in the King's name: Miss Oakley's health is very good—Your business, Sir?' "Miss Barrington, seated on a chair, with her handkerchief held up to her face, was muttering to Spencer—' I knew it, I knew it: this all comes of letting these Papist fellows into the house. " If the officer heard these mutterings, he did not notice them. ' Deeply, Sir; he said, should I regret, if my friendly inquiries were to give displeasure, as fear they do, either to Miss Oakley or to her father'; and be bowed with hypocri- tical humility as be spoke. ' Bat, Sir Robert,' he continued, and his eye lit up with a malignant twinkle, for some time I fear both you and Miss Oakley must look upon me as your protector. I have the command of the Lord-Lieutenant to arrest you both on a charge of high treason; and it is absolutely necessary you should at once prepare to accompany me under the escort I have below. As for this gentleman,' said he, turning to Spencer, who at that moment entered the room, I fear I must also beg the pleasure of his company, according to the inti- mation I had the honour to make to him already! " The effect of this speech upon those to whom it was immediately addressed may be more easily conceived than described. Sir Robert Oakley seemed as if stunned by some blow, the nature of which he did not understand. ' Treason— high treason!' he faintly muttered, repeating the words, as if half unconscious of their meaning. Ellen looked upon Carroll with an expression in which scorn, in- dignation, and defiance were concentrated, as if her womanish instinct divined the real motive of his conduct, and rejoiced in the protection under which she

knew that she was safe. Miss Barrington gazed upon the soldier with a wild and not very definite expression of rage in her countenance. Whatever emotions were passing in Spencer's mind were indicated only by a partial unsheathing of his sword; an act of which he seemed and was probably unconscious. Miss Bar- rington's feelings seemed just upon the point of breaking out into expression, at least as far as might be judged from a kind of low under-growl which appeared to agitate her chest and throat with an effort at utterance. Whatever, however, the good lady intended to say was unhappily lost; for Mr. Hamilton, who alone Of all

thttyi preserved perfect calmness, interrupted its expression. party assumes, Sir, a very serious aspect,' he said, calmly: perhaps you will he good enough to show your warrant.'

'-The question seemed to embarrass the officer a little. My warrant,' be an- swered, after a pause, is with the party below. Surely, Sir,' he added, in a more confident tone, you must see it has been my painful duty to come here with a force sufficient to execute his Excellency's commands in defiance of any resistance that may be offered; and no friend of Sir Robert Oakley will counsel him to such a step. Under my care, Sir Robert Oakley and Miss Oakley may feel satisfied that they shall meet with every kindness and attention that it is in the power of a friend to bestow.'

" He uttered these words with that concealed expression of malignant triumph, from which, throughout the entire of this interview, his features had never been wholly free. He accompanied the latter words with a slight bow to Ellen, which brought the mantling blood to her cheek. After a pause, he added, My orders, Sir Robert, are peremptory. May I suggest that some conveyance should be ordered to take you and Miss Oakley as near to the fort as possible? Over the mountains and moor we will provide the softest of such modes of conveyance as soldiers' in- vention can supply.'

' Captain Carroll,' said Hamilton, you must not wonder if, as Sheriff of this comity, and the natural guardian of its peace—of the King's peace in it—I must insist on seeing your warrant before I permit you or any man to carry away any of the King's subjects out of my bailiwick.'

" ' The warrant, Sir,' said Carroll, with contemptuous calmness, I have told you of already. I must request you, Sir, to cease: it would pain me deeply to call in the troopers; but if you insist on it, it must be done—I must employ force: but this at least I am determined shall be spared my excellent friends.' And he advanced towards Ellen, with a profound politeness, to offer her his arm, as if to conduct her from the room.

" Hearken, Sir,' said Hamilton, with his left hand somewhat rudely seizing the shoulder of the officer, while his right was placed upon the hilt of his sword: ' Hark ye, Sir, I say. Plain speaking, Mr. Carroll, is best; but you have not force to iake away Sir Robert Oakley—or, perhaps,' he added, with the most bitter emphasis, I ought to say Miss Oakley, from this.' At the same time he rapidly raised the blind of a window, which had been let down, and, as he raised it, pointed to the astonished officer the strong party of men that our read- ers know were posted in the yard.

" These men, Sir,' said Hamilton calmly, but bitterly—and as he spoke he moved between Carroll and the door= these men are the retainers of the High Sheriffof Donegal: their muskets are loaded, and they are quite ready to fire on any one whom the High Sheriff commands.' "Not to fire on the King's troops? ' said Carroll, in a voice in which rage and terror were mingled. " ' On any one that violates the King's peace within my bailiwick,' replied the other, sternly."