The Felon's Track; Or, History of the Attempted Outbreak in Ireland: Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle From the Year 1843 to the Close of 1848Doheny, Michael
History
The Felon's Track; Or, History of the Attempted Outbreak in Ireland: Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle From the Year 1843 to the Close of 1848
Doheny, Michael
Ireland -- History -- Rising of 1848; Young Ireland Party -- History; Young Ireland movement
The official description of himself read by Thomas Darcy M'Gee was more
accurate and less intentionally insulting than the official descriptions
of most of his colleagues compiled in Dublin Castle and published in the
_Hue and Cry_ of July 27th, 1848. Probably no other official document
issued to the public in the last hundred years by Dublin Castle has
equalled this stupid malignity. "Sketches of Doheny and some of the
Confederate leaders, modelled upon the descriptions of burglars and
murderers, that ordinarily adorn the _Hue and Cry_ were," wrote Sir
Charles Gavan Duffy, a generation later, "issued for the enjoyment of
loyal persons." The _Freeman's Journal_ of the day wrote that the public
who were acquainted with the appearance of the gentlemen described will
read with feelings of contempt the malignant effort to insult and wound
the relatives of the men proscribed by the issue of a written caricature
of their persons. This remarkable production of the genius and spirit of
Dublin Castle, read as follows:--
DESCRIPTION OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH
TREASONABLE PRACTICES
WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN.--No occupation; forty-six years of age; six feet
in height; sandy hair; dark eyes; sallow, long face; has a sneering
smile constantly on his face; full whiskers; sandy; a little grey;
well-set man; walks erect; dresses well.
THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER.--No occupation; twenty-five years of age; five
feet nine inches; dark, nearly black hair; light blue eyes; pale face;
high cheekbones; peculiar expression about the eyes; cocked nose; no
whiskers; well-dressed.
JOHN B. DILLON.--Barrister; thirty-two years of age; five feet eleven
inches in height; dark hair; dark eyes; thin sallow face; rather thin
black whiskers; dressed respectable; has bilious look.
MICHAEL DOHENY.--Barrister; forty years of age; five feet eight inches
in height; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; coarse red face like a man
given to drink; high cheekbones; wants several of his teeth; very vulgar
appearance; peculiar coarse unpleasant voice; dress respectable; small
short red whiskers.
MICHAEL CREAN.--Shopman at a shoe-shop; thirty-five years of age; five
feet eight inches; fair or sandy hair; grey eyes; full face; light
whiskers; high fore-head; well-set person; dress, dark shooting frock or
grey tweed, and grey tweed trousers.
FRANCIS MORGAN.[20]--Solicitor; forty-three years of age; five feet
eight inches in height; very dark hair; dark eyes; sallow broad face;
nose a little cocked; the upper lip turns out when speaking; rather
stout; smart gait; black whiskers.
PATRICK JAMES SMITH.[21]--Studying for the bar; twenty-nine years of
age; five feet nine inches in height; fair hair; dark eyes; fair
delicate face and of weak appearance; long back; weak in his walk; small
whiskers; clothing indifferent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account