[634] Father Buckley, the biographer of O'Leary, died soon after the date of the following letter. It notices a weakness, of which a paid purveyor of news, like Higgins, would be apt to take ready advantage. Shamado is likely to have been the more successful because his own character of a brain-sucker and betrayer had not then been unmasked. On December 7, 1869, Father Buckley writes from SS. Peter and Paul's, Cork: 'The _Personal Memoirs_ have arrived, and I am much pleased with them. The sketch of O'Leary I am sorry I had not seen, to embody in my book. I fear, however, it would not have tended much to enhance the esteem of the good _padre's_ character, inasmuch as, in the background of the picture, there is a strong steam of whisky-punch, and the narrative affords a strong confirmation of what Michael Kelly records that Father O'Leary, like himself, was rather partial to "Saint Patrick's Eye-Water." [635] It cannot be said that this agency was of a base character. In 1795, Dr. Hussey announces to Edmund Burke that the Catholics were loyal and ready to spill their blood to resist the French (Lecky, vii. 90). Mr. Lecky states that he was 'constantly employed by the Government in negotiations with the Irish Catholics.' In September 1794, Dr. Hussey, then an _employé_ of the Crown, comes over to consult with the Catholic bishops at Dublin on new measures of education (Lecky, vii. 121). The foundation of Maynooth College was the result. [636] Higgins to Cooke, September 1, 1797. (MSS. Dublin Castle.) [637] _Vide_ 'Fathers of the Turf,' in _St. James's Gazette_, January 6, 1881. The writer adds that O'Kelly is said to have held post-obits to a large amount, 'and his transactions were upon so large a scale that he might be seen turning over "quires" of bank-notes in search of a "little one," by which term he meant one for £50.' In the Registry of Deeds Office, Dublin, is preserved a document, dated February 12, 1819, whereby the Marquis of Donegal secures to O'Kelly the sum of 27,934_l._ 12_s._ 4_d._, a gambling debt, and O'Kelly is described as Andrew Denis O'Kelly, Esq., son and heir apparent of Philip Kelly, Esq., deceased. 'Colonel' O'Kelly died in 1820, leaving no children. [638] _Life of O'Leary_, by the Rev. M. B. Buckley, p. 357 (italics in original). [639] Vide _Ireland before the Union_, 6th ed. pp. 211-15. (Dublin: Duffy.) [640] Grattan's _Life_, by his Son. Those who may suppose that O'Leary forgot the priest in the diplomat, should see Father Morgan D'Arcy's account of the reforms he effected in the demoralised region of St. Giles. _Vide_ Buckley, pp. 397 _et seq._ [641] _Life of O'Leary_, by Rev. M. B. Buckley, p. 359. [642] See _ante_, p. 213. [643] _Ireland before the Union_, pp. 211-15. [644] _Life of the Rev. Arthur O'Leary_, by the Rev. M. B. Buckley, p. 355. [645] See _ante_, p. 218. [646] W. E. H. Lecky, Esq. to W. J. F., October 28, 1890. [647] _Parliamentary Register_, Feb. 26, 1782.