Ireland -- History -- Rebellion of 1798; Women -- Ireland -- Biography
We know from Charles H. Teeling that she made her way into Newgate, in
spite of Lord Castlereagh’s refusal—and we know that it was the same
chivalrous, romantic boy who took on himself the perilous duty of
escorting her. He had known Lady Edward in the happy days when the eager
young band of patriots gathered in Kildare Lodge, and his brother, poor
Bartle, saw in Lady Lucy (as so many have seen her in the loved form of
some fair, living woman) the realisation of his dreams of Kathleen Ni
Houlihan. The sense of chivalry and romance which was for so much in the
heart of young Charles Teeling made the lad one of the most devoted
knights whom Pamela’s fascination enlisted in her service. “Formed to
charm every heart, and command every arm that had not been enlisted in
the cause of Ireland”—it is thus, thirty years after, he remembers her.
“Ireland was her constant theme, and Edward’s glory the darling object
of her ambition. She entered into all his views; she had a noble and
heroic soul, but the softer feelings of her sex would sometimes betray
the anxiety with which she anticipated the approaching contest, and as
hopes and fears alternately influenced her mind, she expressed them with
all the sensibility characteristic of her country. In the most sweet and
impressive tone of voice, rendered still more interesting by her foreign
accent, and imperfect English, she would, with unaffected simplicity,
implore us to protect her Edward. ‘You are all good Irish,’ she would
say; ‘Irish are all good and brave, and _Edward is Irish_—your Edward
and my Edward,’ while her dark brilliant eye, rivetted on the manly
countenance of her lord, borrowed fresh lustre from the tear which she
vainly endeavoured to conceal. These were to me some of the most
interesting moments I have experienced, and memory still retraces them
with a mingled feeling of pleasure and pain.”
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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