Seldom did Carletcai's pen make such speed with
mischief ; and to none among all the children of his
brain does the membry return with more pleasure,
for Phelim O'Toole takes rank in the company of Faktaff,
in no d^ree unworthy of that company. It is very
certain that Carleton never remembered himself as an
encyckrpjedist of social dnty in the gusto of that act of
creation ; but the memory came rushing into the cooler,
the less happy, reflection that followed, with the result
that he enunciated his text after his oration, for a vanishit^
and deHgh-ted aiwiience. It is to be hoped that he only
wished to mollify the Rev. Caesar Otway, for this was the
te.xt he added as postcript to his tale : —

" We have attempted to dcaw Phelfan O'Toole as dosely as
" possible to the character of that class whose xgnocmce, want
" of ed-acalioti, and absence of all moral piinajde constitate
" them the shame and reproach of the country. By snch men
" the peace of Ireland is destroyed, illegal combiitations fanned,
" blood shed, and ni^itly outr^es committed. There is nothing
" more certain than Oris plain tnrth, that if proper reJigJMis and
" moral knowledge were impressed opcai the eariy principies of
" persons Hke Phelim, a conscience would be created capaUe



INTRODUCTION. XIX-

" of revolting from crime. Whatever the grievances of a people
" may be, whether real or imaginary, one thing is clear, that
" neither murder nor illegal violence of any description can be
" the proper mode of removing or redressing them. 