defendant. Micky, or Michael, was one of the most accomplished blackguards and wits of that witty city; and Curran, who was well acquainted with his celebrity, was delighted with the opportunity of making a pass or two at him with his own weapons.

How goes it, Mick?" said Mr. Curran, the instant that the defendant's counsel had done with him.

Micky." Quite hearty, by the powers of Venus; and better for seeing your honour well." Curran." Well, Mick, how many years— now I am not particular to eight or ten-have you known Black Drogheda ?"

Micky." O, plase your honour, we won't talk of years any how; I knew him since he was bought at Knocknokery fair, and all the months since, your honour."

Curran." And in what year of our Lord was that same fair of Knocknokery?"

Micky." Last fair but one, your honour; and all the days before and since."

Curran." That is wide of the mark, my boy : how long has Mr. Giles had him?"

Micky." That same time, Sir."

Curran." Tell us how many months?"

Micky." About fifteen or sixteen, your honour."

Curran.-" Years."

Micky." O, by the holy! you'll not floor me that way neither: you have no need, counsellor, to help me up before I am down.”

Curran.—" I ask your pardon, Micky; all the world knows you are an upright boy.' Micky." Thank your honour."

Curran." But come, Mick-my honest fellow-don't belie Black Drogheda, and think to chouse him out of his birth-right. Do you mean to say that he is not of age?"

Micky." He is, plase your honour, and well-behaved for his years."

Curran." Ah! you are a good lad, Mick.You mean to say, then, that he has arrived at the years of discretion?"

Micky." There is not a genteeler, nor a discruter charger in the service, your honour."

Curran." How long has he served, Mick?"

*

Micky.—“ O, by the holy farmer! now, I know nothing at all at all about any service but Mr. Giles's; and he is the man who will give me a crakter any day I ax him."

*It is well known that the lower orders of the Irish are much addicted to swearing; they practice this bad habit, however, so much in common parlance, that they hardly reserve any oath sufficiently powerful, or expressive of anger or dislike, when they happen to fall into violent paroxysms of rage; in this particular, therefore, they differ from the people of all other nations; and resemble only the British seaman, who means nothing, at least no harm, when he swears the most horrid oaths. Paddy has the advantage of Jack in one point; his asseverations, and even curses, have something in them, either witty, or ludicrous, or, at least, antithetic to the subject he is enlarging on; whilst the sailor's worst anathemas, though eccentric, are generally pointless, and, consequently, "pass by, like the idle wind, which we regard

not."

One word more on 66 Cursing and Swearing."-The Catholics of Ireland (no disparagement) are more addicted to this habit than the Protestants, particularly the Presbyterian and Methodistical portion of the community; but a few, even of the most puritanical of the latter, sometimes indulge, we suppose by way of relief; but, on such occasions, they contrive to evade the laugh of the scorner, by mincing the matter; thus, for "By the hokey!"-read holy. "By the holy farmer!"—read father, &c. &c.

Curran.- Shall I call Mr. Giles to your character, Mick?"

Micky." By the ghost of my father !—yeʼre no such fool, counsellor; you are the man that knows a kiroge from a carrot."

Curran.

Well, but Mick, will you venture

to swear that Black Drogheda has seen no more years than four?"

Micky." How could I, your honour?Mightn't he have been blind before we bought him?"

(Here there was a loud laugh at Curran's expense.)

Curran." To the point, Micky!-will you swear he is no more than four years old?" Micky." Who is he yer honour's talking of, plase yer reverence?"

(Another burst of laughter.)

In this manner did Curran and Micky keep it up for half an hour, carte and tierce; Micky giving Curran many a hit; himself untouched during the whole time. The barrister at length anxiously sought an opportunity of throwing him, and leaving him on the ground; demanding, how

he could possibly know the horse's exact age, so as to take upon himself to swear to it?

"By the table of war!" replied Micky, "I never heard such a question! I'm surprised at yer honour! How would I know? Did not I put my very finger on the mark in his tooth ?"

Now Curran had never had a four-footed beast in his possession up to this time, and was altogether ignorant of horse-flesh. Eager, therefore, to give his opponent a fall, he hastily said, "Now, Micky, could you tell my age, by putting your finger on the mark in my tooth?"

Micky instantly replied-"O, by the hoky! counsellor, I'll have nothing to do with your tooth-for they say ye're a damned bite!"

Peals of laughter put an end to the hostler's examination.

The best thing related of Mr. Curran, on the above occasion, was the following judicious manœuvre, by which a sum of money was recovered from a scoundrel, in whose safe-keeping it had been placed by an unsuspecting countryman, who came to Dublin for the renewal of the lease of his farm. For this purpose, he had brought with