The Eve of All-Hallows, v. 1 of 3

le the village

nnel hall the

audle-cup is

the gossips brea

stop the cra

ba

an

ent, should then be wanting to the noble house of Tyrconnel. And this sad occurrence, so deprecated by the dark and credulous terror and tenor of those superstitious times, actually occurred some months previous to Adelaide's birth: a raven had then built her nest within the ducal coronet; and a few posts after brought an

female child, in due and given time, upon the Eve of All-Hallows, the 31st day of October, in the year

ostages,) who in his glorious and chivalrous career had achieved various noble feats in arms. But not content with these successes at home, he sought for fame in foreign lands, where in the ardent search and attainment of glory, his gallant course of valour r

fearlessly they bore, and which, ever unchanged amid the war-trumpet's clang, the burst of battle, and the shouts of victory, or the dismaying groans of defeat, they prou

d Count of Toulouse, who was the first zealous champion in serving,

hness James Duke of York, (brother and presumptive heir to Charles II.,) and who afterwards succeeded to the throne of the triple realms as James II., upon this happy event was most graciously pleased to signify his

st sister, as her proxy. Nor did the Duchess d'Aremberg forget to send a baptismal present upon this august occasion, which arrived in due season, in the shape and form of an infant's cap and frock, all beautifully formed of exquisite Brussels lace, and made under the eye and express directions of the illustrious godmother: and

r two concerning the ancient and noble baronial castle, where the high

upon the verge of a triangular village, to which it gave its own ennobled name, as it was the generic name at that period of the town and the coun

en a noble vista to the sea, and give a solemn and magnificent character to the entire scenery. Here the curving and fantastic outlines of the distant mountains, clad in ? blue, arise in endless and beautiful variety, glowing or darkening with every varying tint and tone of sun-shine or

eat gap; which is here formed by the opening arms of the stupendous mountain of Sleavedoon, whose gigantic heights constitute vast continuous

to have been constituted principally with a view to strength; and that object unquestionably in those days was fully attained, for it was utterly impregnable to all hostile attacks in that early age. The form of the castle is square, and flanked by frowning t

ng the castle with water, while it is also supposed to have been occasionally used as a donjon-keep, and which afforded an expeditious mode of despatching the priso

efence. The grand front of the castle was situated seaward; to the west extended a lofty terrace; the embrasures of the parapet wall which enclosed the terrace were furnished w

magnificence never before were witnessed within the walls of Tyrconnel castle. All the nobility and gentry in the country for many miles round were invited to

over the high central tower, which latterly had obtained the agnomen of "the raven tower," from a circumstance which already has been related. The guns on the parapet fired a loud

n marquees erected on the lawn. The costume of the servants of the Duke was truly princely, and all who wore livery appeared richly apparelled in their state attire of green cloth, d

g festival; the Duke had the curiosity to step onward to hear the notes of the aged minstrel-for he was both minstrel and harper; and His Grace listened to learn whether old Cormac had composed any rhythm or song for this great and happy occasion. According

AC'S

he harp! and

shall the v

s noble, lo

of her m

est, sweet

morn, thy l

at smile of

umes thy bea

hrough life's

hance destr

sun-shine o

earthly cou

e joys shal

earth be thi

eternal bl

g forth was an old Irish air, so the Duke was fully satisfied; and having advanced and entered the hall, he approached old Cormac, and in a gracious tone he said to the sightless bard, "Thanks, Cormac, accept my grateful thanks; and moreover, here is largess for

physician, Sir Patricius Placebo, on his way, he deputed him to do the honour

rformed in favour of the monarch during his long exile from the throne of his ancestors; and he was, through the favour of His Royal Hi

s selected for the euphony of the sound, or the dignity which it implied, or both considerations probably swaying together, the reason of the selection ha

ous enough to have contained a moderate sized turkey. The waistcoat, formed of the same materials, was likewise in unison with the coat, single-breasted, with long flaps or skirts, which might have given no bad idea of the Roman sportula. His cravat was formed of the richest muslin, deeply edged with Mechlin lace, which, after passing several times around the neck, meandered through the button-holes of the waistcoat, so as nearly to reach the extremity of the waist. His small-clothes were made likewise of black velvet, according to the curious, and certainly not very seemly fashion of the times. The hose, or stockings, were of scarlet silk, which were tightly drawn up, and ascended the knees upon the exterior of the small-clothes, and that too to the very utmost of their outstretched extent; at the ankles the hose were adorned with clokes of gold net-work.[9] The

in the shape of a gold snuff-box: upon the lid was inserted a miniature of Charles II. by the celebrated Samuel Cooper. And let it be remembered that "he was the first who gave the strength and freedom of oil to miniature!" This fine production of original genius was appropriately encircled around with large brilliants. The act of snuff-taking was slowly performed by the grave pressure of the thumb and fore-finger of the right hand, deliberately and ceremoniously performing a cu

ps; and alighting from horseback, he ascended the stately terrace. Captain Heaviside was all things to all men-ay, and to al

orrow,

, your most hu

, Captain, to v

, dear Sir; but will you first allow me to jump out of the

t then the fashion, á la Turke, to wear mustaches; nor was it considered necessary to announce the approach into the drawing-room or dancing saloon, of the man of war, by the loud clank and clatter of his iron heels, steel chain

artly in allusion to the Irish wolf-dog, as also to the manly character of the inhabitants of the island, was, "Gentle when soothed, fierce when provoked." Various war-weapons tastefully displayed and arranged, of ancient Irish make and form, glittered upon the walls; viz. spears and javelins, "the heavy broad-eyed spear of battle," swords, daggers, skeines of iron and brass, two-handled swords, and among them conspicuously shone forth the double-handled sword of the renowned Nial Necalloch, richly ornamented and inlaid with gold; metal halberts were arranged in the same class with tuagh-catha, i.e. battle-axes, tuagh suaighte or clipping axes, fiadhgha, crannuibhs, spears, clubs, Irish lances, spears, javelins, jacks, corslets, haubergeons, targets, bucklers, pavices (shields), cailmhions, salets, skulls (i.e. helme

ptain Heaviside readily and gladly assented. As they stood upon the terrace, Sir Patricius said, "My worthy Si

ium et dulce

em-selves, and His Grace has acted upon them with spirit, taste, and judgment, and withal no expense has been spared. However highly meriting the m

I, TANE

d

, "but, under favour, my good Sir, I do not in verity understand one word of Hebrew; no, nor any of these nostrums; albeit I have litt

be indeed permitted to pique myself upon any kind of erudition, (although, perhaps, in modesty I might say, Vix ea nostra voco), I should then pride myself upon a knowledge of the Greek tongue; and moreover too, the p

exercise of your pen! but I, Sir, the hapless child of wayward fortune, am only acquainted with this! [half drawing his sword from its scabbard.] O

ough, nevertheless, a little knowledge methinks, after all, to the tune of the old proverb, is in sooth no great burden! But come, presto! we shall change the topic and the scene. The d

d style which we confess we are antediluvian enough to admire; however, be it known that no tree, shrub, nor ever-green, whatever, was clipt and mutilated by the shears to shrink into the abortioned form and pressure of a wizard's broom, or a true-lover's knot! no pyramid of clipped beech, no cypress-tree which assumed the fantastic form of Cleopatra's needle. No: nor did shivering Adam and Eve, and the cold clammy serpent and "forbidden tree," astound the spectator in shorn yew; no fountain impotently attempted to spring upward in boxwood; no such puerilities were tolerated to disfigure by grotesqueness the scenery of nature. So far on the contrary, that every thing was in good taste-at least it was so at the distant time of which now we write. The grounds were laid out in what would now be called the improved English taste: here lawns of richest verdure, and cultivated to the highest degree of luxuriance; t

cades in pleasi

rom figur

ehold the shivering deities who presented them-selves in cold tangible marble sans chemisé, sans robé, et sans drapé, while they sentinelled the verdant ban

d before their dress could receive any damage they entered the castle-hall, having luckily accomplished their object. Sir Patricius now proposed to sh

postillion; in it was seated the Duchess, Mrs. Judith Braingwain, the nurse, and in her arms the lovely child, the Lady Adelaide. Sir Patricius hastened forth to ha

ara avis-the black swan of literature of this our day-my right noble patroness; shining amid her

inter

minor

e Duchess gave with her noble hand a distinguished fortune to the Duke, yet v

ies neither. But allons nous donc, mon preux chevalier! Apollo and the muses now invite us.-So, ho!

and selected with a taste and discernment that spoke volumes in praise of the liberality of the distinguished collector. This splendid gallery was adorned with the chefs d'ouvres of the most ancient celebrated masters; forming, on entrance,

ched was from the pencil of Teniers;

s, pointing to the painti

surprised Captain, "what, ten years!-was the patient artist employed ten years thereon? Monstrous length of tim

rtist was ten years employed in accomplishing this fine painting

sand pardons! But then the painting is truly monstr

ng of Europa carried off by Jupiter in the shape of a bull, f

t me tell to you, inimitable! He deeply studied nature, and hence he acquired that elevated gùsto, which has justly stamped a superlative value upon all his masterly works; his truly lovely landscapes, glowing with Italian suns, and w

I, TANE

and Sir, aye Sir, I shall move 'the great globe itself;

that cats were most destructive, malicious animals. But say what inducing cause-what motive? here was depicted no lively representation of rat, rabbit, pigeon-no, nor mouse! wonderful! 'Fore Jove

ile; and seeing from the window, as he looked out, some of the guests to arrive, he gaily said-"I see clearly, Captain Heaviside, that you prefer living faces to their mute representation on canvass, so let us adjourn, si vous voulez, and attend

es I do admire pretty girls exceedingly; and I must say, by Jove, that I prefe

altar, gorgeously decorated, from a golden ewer the ceremony of ablution was performed. When the lovely Adelaide received the sprinkling she smiled most sweetly; and as her nurse, Mrs. Judith

y, were dealt out with no sparing hand. Many of the company sat down to different card-tables, and played, as was then th

race also wore the magnificent collar and gem, and resplendent star, of the illustrious order. His stockings were of light blue coloured silk, and drawn up in a fashion similar to those of Sir Patricius Placebo; and around the left leg, beneath the knee

well, every inch the nobleman. Lord Glandarrah was attired in the magnificent robes of the order of the Bath.

indeed deserves a chapter to be appropriated to herself, to which we shall now proceed, and to th