Memories of Sir Charles Cameron

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A Link Between Me And The Battle Of Culloden (1746).**

cameron1.jpg (29257 bytes)My ancestors were adherents of the Royal Family of Stuart; and although my father fought for King George III., and received eight wounds in his service (a French bullet and an American bullet accompanying him to his grave), yet he always regretted the replacement of the ancient Scottish, by a German, dynasty. My opinion is that had that wonderful little army of Highlanders, in 1745, extended their march from Derby to London, the Stuart dynasty would be still in existence, [I believe, then, that had Charles marched onward from Derby he would have gained the British throne.”-Lord Mahon’s History of England, vol. iii., page 277.** **Macauley was much of the same opinion.] the history of these countries would have been much the same as it has been, and the Battle of Waterloo would have been fought. No candid, astute historian could maintain that George the Second was in any way superior to Prince Charles Edward

When the Highland army withdrew to Scotland, they were pursued and defeated at Culloden, or Drummosie Muir, six miles from Inverness. There were 5,000 in the Highland army, including some Irishmen; and 9,000 troops, mostly regulars, opposed them. To two cannons in the Highland host there were 20 in the Royal army.

The powerful clan Macdonald, vexed at the van of the battle (which had been assigned to them since Bannockburn) being given to another clan, took almost no part in the fight, and consequently one Highlander fought two soldiers. Although the Highlanders broke through the first line of the Royal army, and performed prodigies of valour, it was inevitable that they should lose the battle.

A little girl, not far from the field of battle, but within hearing of the cannonade, saw the Macdonalds withdrawing from it. My earliest reminiscence is seeing that girl, when a very old woman, in 1834, or 88 years after the battle, which was fought on the 16th April, 1746. She had been a nurse in a Scottish family with whom my parents were acquainted, and I was brought to see her, so that I might thereafter be able to say that I had seen a spectator of the Battle of Culloden.

She had lived with three generations of the family, who would not allow her to leave them in her old age. I remember her distinctly, as I do many other persons known to me in the days of my childhood; on the other hand, many of my acquaintances of middle life have passed quite out of my memory: I presume I am not singular in these respects.

There are Jacobites still in existence who maintain that the rightful Sovereign of these realms is the Bavarian Prince Rupert, ninth in descent from King Charles I. His mother is Maria Theresa, wife of Prince Louis of Bavaria, and daughter of the Duke of Modena, a descendant of the youngest daughter, the Duchess of Orleans. In 1891 the “Legitimists” made a demonstration in favour of the Princess Maria Theresa, whom they styled Mary III. and IV. I think that this demonstration did not make the late Queen Victoria feel uncomfortable **

A Daughter Of Lord Edward Fitzgerald.**

Major-General Sir Guy Campbell was either Adjutant or Quartermaster-General in the ‘thirties and ‘forties. My father knew him from the time of the Peninsular War, and occasionally dined with him. He married a daughter of *the *Lord Edward FitzGerald and Pamela, the reputed daughter of the Duke of Orleans, the *Philip Egalite *of the French Revolution.

In the late ‘thirties I resided near Palmerstown, and was fond of surmounting a garden wall. Sir Guy, in full uniform, used to ride past. He was afraid I might tumble off the wall, and when passing used to shake his whip at me in a very threatening manner, to discourage my performance.

Lady Campbell often gave me fruit. It may not be generally known that the Right Hon. George Wyndham, formerly Chief Secretary in Ireland, is a descendant of Lord Edward FitzGerald.

I recollect, but not very accurately, hearing the following story:- Sir Guy, when a young officer, was at a *fete champetre *where Pamela’s daughter was present. A young man, one of the guests, called out to the band to play “Croppies Lie Down.” Campbell conceiving the request to be intended as an insult to Miss Fitzgerald, demanded an immediate apology from the young man. I remember, so far, the story, but whether an apology was made or a duel ensued I cannot recollect, but I often heard that Miss Fitzgerald was so pleased with the action of the young officer that she said if ever she got married it would be to the gentleman who championed her on that occasion. **

Town-Major John Charles Sirr.**

As the Dublin Metropolitan Police were not instituted until 1838, I have a clear remembrance of the old watchmen and police officers, replaced by the new police, nicknamed “Bobbies,” after Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister. The watchmen were provided with shelters similar to sentry boxes. Part of their duty was to cry out the hours during the night. Very often, awaking from their doze in the box, they would not take- the trouble of ascertaining the hour; but would shout “o’clock!” They were provided with a long pike, having a crook at its end, with which they often used to trip up fugitives they were in pursuit of.

The watchmen were nearly all old men, mostly failures in other walks of life. They were generally believed to be susceptible to bribery and always prepared to allow a prisoner to escape on the production of half-a-crown. They were really of little use in the detection of crime. Watchmen continued in office in country towns long after the foundation of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

The old Dublin police officers wore a uniform not unlike the undress of a cavalry officer. They carried swords. One of these police officers, named Byrne, was for many years in the Dublin Fire Brigade.

Mr. Byrne told me a very remarkable thing concerning Major John Sirr, who inflicted the fatal wound on Lord Edward Fitzgerald. According to Mr. Byrne, Major Sirr sat as a magistrate in the Police Court, Exchange Court, every Monday morning, at 5 o’clock, to try the prisoners who had been taken into custody for drunkenness or other minor offences on the previous Sunday and Saturday. He dismissed or fined them and let them off, so that they might get to their work at 6 o’clock a.m.

Major John Charles Sirr was an obnoxious person to the majority of the people of Dublin on account of his capture of Lord Edward Fitzgerald and his energetic action against the United Irishmen. His kindness in relation to the Saturday and Sunday night captives shows, however, that he had some good points in his nature.

I heard it stated of Major Sirr that he had a habit of permanently retaining curios which his friends submitted to him for inspection. My father had a little curio which he had brought from Spain He showed it to the Major, who put it in his pocket for inspection at his leisure - my father saw it no more. After his death, a large collection of art objects and curios which he had formed was disposed of by auction. Before the Police Courts were erected at the rere of the Four Courts there were Police Courts in College Street, Capel Street, and Exchange Court. **

A Long Journey To School.**

The Rev. Mr. Geoghegan had a school in Hume Street in the ‘thirties and ‘forties. I was first introduced to that academy one May morning when I was about ten years old. I formed the erroneous idea that he was a very severe man, and likely to enjoy the castigation of his pupils. It was arranged that my studies under his direction should commence on the following Monday.

On the morning of that day I was sent to the school, and a fat, middle-aged woman, Peggy Carey, who had been my nurse, was my escort for the first day. Instead of going to Hume Street I went into Dame Street, and passing through a *terra incognita, *arrived at Clondalkin. My escort, who certainly was not my guide, frequently on the weary tramp enquired were we near the school, and I always replied “Further and further, Peggy.” I often boasted of my truthfulness in making this assertion.

We saw a constabulary man at Clondalkin, and Peggy asked him could he tell us where a school was. He enquired where she came from, and she replied “From Dublin”; whereupon he laughed heartily, and told her that he could not believe that any sane person would conduct a child from Dublin to a day school six miles distant.

Mary wept, but there was no course open but to return to Dublin. We partook of the bread, butter, and apples which I had brought with me, and we returned to Dublin, resting many times on the way. As Peggy did not return in due time, enquiry was made, and it was found that neither she nor I had gone to the school. This discovery caused great alarm, and the fact was communicated to the police that I and my nurse were “lost, stolen, or strayed.”

As physical punishment equivalent to my offence would have made a wreck of me, I escaped severe treatment, and after all found that Mr. Geoghegan was a kindly man. When Peggy recovered from her fatigue, she viewed the escapade from a humorous point. She lived to be a very old woman, and she often recited her trip to Clondalkin to my children in such a way as if she were rather proud of the performance. **

Connaught Harvest Men.**

For a few years my family resided in the country, at a short distance from the western side of the city of Dublin. In the autumn months I saw thousands of countrymen on their way to the city to embark for England. They carried the primitive reaping hook, a small parcel containing their slender stock of spare clothes, and a blackthorn stick, or “kipeen,” otherwise shillelagh.

Their destinations were various parts of England, where they would gather in the harvest. They came nearly all from Connaught. Except for the material of it, their dress corresponded to the evening attire of a gentleman. It consisted of a frieze coat cut like an evening dress coat, corduroy breeches, and stockings, grey or blue, usually blue. Their shoes, or “brogues,” were, however, tied by strings, and were not confined by buckles.

The costume of the Irish peasant, at one time the most peculiar in Europe, has completely changed within the latter part of the last century. Knee breeches are now rarely seen.

After spending a few weeks in England, those harvest men would return with money sufficient to pay the rent of their small holdings, for they were generally farmers and not purely agricultural labourers.

At that time Ireland had a population of about eight millions, or nearly one-third of that of the United Kingdom. Agricultural machinery to economise manual labour was in its infancy; there was consequently abundant employment for the agricultural labourer and an ample supply of labourers.

I often heard my father, who was a Scottish Highlander, talking in Gaelic to the harvest men - the Connaught and West Highland Gaelic being practically identical. In those days there was no railway from Dublin to the West, and the harvest men were obliged to walk from the remotest parts of Connaught to Dublin.

My Experience As A Pig Jobber.

I have always been fond 0of animals, and in my youthful days had many pets - dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigeons, &C It occurred to me that I would like to buy a little pig and rear it. Accordingly I went to Smithfield Market, accompanied by a man named William Egan, who was occasionally employed by my father. Having inspected the porcine display, - I selected a tiny “boneen,” and paid 4/- for it.

William carried the little creature home, and I put it into comfortable quarters. In process of time it developed into a gaunt animal of no great weight, but in thinness and speed it bore some resemblance to a greyhound. It had a disagreeable habit of grunting very loudly, which disturbed my father, who was at the time an invalid. Seeing him coming into the garden with a drawn sword, with evident fell intent against the pig, as I thought, I attached a rope to the animal’s leg, and hoisted it into a stable loft.

This caused a rupture from which it subsequently suffered. I kept the pig for nearly a year, and derived much amusement from making it one of the principals in an imitation boar hunt. It was so swift that it was rarely the dogs gained upon it.

At length I resolved to dispose of it. William Egan drove it with great difficulty to Smithfield, where for several hours it afforded great amusement to the spectators. Never before, they said, was so thin a pig seen. Late in the day it was sold for 1/6 (71 ) - the only bid - as a curiosity, the buyer explained. One penny (luck penny) having been returned to the buyer, the remaining 1/5 was soon afterwards expended by William in sacrificing to the rosy god. This was my first and last experiment in the rearing of swine. When I was a boy pigs were about half the price they realise at present. **

Sedan Chairs.**

I never saw anyone carried in a sedan chair, but I often observed two of them apparently on hire-one in Hume Street, the other at the Rotunda. I presume, therefore, that they had not quite ceased to be used at the close of the ‘thirties.

In my youthful days I heard of a practical joke played on a countryman. On the rustic’s first arrival in Dublin he expressed a desire to take a trip in a sedan chair. A so-called friend provided one for him, but first had its floor or bottom removed. The countryman was trotted over several dirty streets, and then delivered to his friend. “How did you like your trip?” said the practical joker. “Well,” said the countryman, “only for the honour and glory of the thing, it was mighty like walking!”

In1787 there 257 private sedan chairs in Dublin, of which 30 were owned by noblemen and 47 by titled ladies. They were taxed. A century ago there was a tax on windows, and one known as “hearth money.” There are some taxes imposed in England, Scotland, and Wales from which Ireland is exempt. Cockades and armorial bearings on plate are taxed in the former countries. **

How Lent In The ‘Thirties Affected The Butchers.**

When I was a child, Lent was kept much stricter than it is at present with respect to fasting and abstinence: consequently, the trade of the butcher declined considerably during the 40 days of Lent. The work of the porters and men engaged in the slaughter-houses was much reduced. I remember seeing on at least two occasions processions of those persons, some dressed in fantastic garments, throughout the streets on Easter Monday. An ass formed part of the procession, its back covered by a cloth on which a cross was painted. The object of the procession was the collection of donations to compensate for the processionists’ loss of employment during Lent.

Seventy years ago the shops kept open much later than at present. The better-class shopkeepers generally had their residences in their business places - at least, to a much greater extent than is the case at present. The “week-end” excursion was unknown, and periodical holidays were confined to a limited number of the business and even professional classes. For the working classes there were no holidays, and any holidays they took were at their own expense. There were, as compared with the present time, very few hotels.

There is an old ditty called the “Cries of London.” In my youth, vendors of freestone, damsons, honey, fresh herrings, pikelets (a kind of muffin), shouted out their wares. It was often said of the owner of a stentorian voice that he could shout as loud as a freestone man. The cries of Dublin have almost ceased, except as regards the “stop press,” or catchpenny editions of the evening newspapers. **

Donnybrook Fair**

“Had you e’er the good luck to see Donnybrook Fair,

An Irishman all in his glory was there,

With his sprig of shillelagh and shamrock so green.”

I have a perfect recollection of Donnybrook Fair, having visited it several times before it was discontinued.

The Fair was held in two fields separated by the road leading from the village of Donnybrook to Stillorgan. The larger field to the north side of the road extended to the River Dodder. It was crowded with caravans, booths, movable theatres, “merry-go-rounds,” and tents. Travelling showmen came from all parts to this fair, which lasted a week. Acrobats, actors, giants, dwarfs, etc., attracted the visitors to the interior of the “shows” and to dramatic performances which were often no more entertaining than the open-air ones conducted on the platforms in front of the “shows.”

The refreshments were for the most part provided in tents. Seats were placed just inside the canvas, and it not infrequently happened that when a head indented the canvas from the inside it received a blow from a shillelagh wielded by a passer-by.

In the smaller field there were no “shows.” It was devoted to refreshments served in tents or *al fresco. *There were large iron pots suspended over open fires, and containing small fragments of bacon immersed in the hot water. Anyone, for the sum of one penny, was permitted to make three essays to extract the fragments on a large two-pronged fork. In this way one, two, or three fragments might be obtained, or the effort might be altogether negative.

During Donnybrook week a constant stream of cars poured thousands of visitors into the Fair. Each car held six people, and generally a child or two were accommodated in the “well” of the car. The fare was threepence each person.

Donnybrook Fair was conducted in a tolerably respectable way during daylight, but at night it was the scene of much disorderly conduct. Fights were frequent, and drunkenness was not rare. It was alleged that Donnybrook Fair at night was unfavourable to morality.

After several centuries of existence, Donnybrook Annual Fair came to an end, the right to hold it having been purchased by a sum of money raised by public subscription. An abortive attempt to revive it was subsequently made.

On St. James’ Day a fair was held in James Street, Dublin, from a remote period down to the ‘forties. It consisted chiefly of “stands” containing a great variety of articles.

Fairs (the term is derived from the Latin *foire, *through the French foire meaning holidays) have been held in Ireland from very early ages. Many of them are held by patents. In Ireland they are chiefly used for the sale of cattle and horses. **

Changes In Dublin, Especially North-East Districts.**

In my childhood days, many of the nobility and landed gentry still occupied houses on the north-east side of Dublin Gloucester Street, Cumberland Street, Grenville Street, Summer Hill, Buckingham Street, Gardiner Street, and many others were residential localities. With few exceptions, each house was occupied by only one family.

There was but a single railway from Dublin - that which extended to Kings town. There were no omnibuses and no cabs. The vehicles plying in the streets were “outside” and “inside” cars; the outside cars having wheels inside, and the inside cars theirs outside. The latter, also termed “covered cars,” are still to be seen in Cork. Under these poor conditions for locomotion on or in public vehicles, the larger proportion of the well-to-do citizens had inside or outside cars or carriages of various kinds.

The coachhouses and stables were occupied for the purpose they were designed for. Now, the vast proportion of them are occupied by cab owners, or are converted into dwellings or stores. The houses once tenanted each by a single family are now nearly all tenement houses. In many of them eight or ten families have replaced one family. Many fine houses in this part of Dublin have become dilapidated, and some are in ruins or have altogether disappeared, their sites being now waste places. In what were once private houses, shops, generally of a poor class, have been formed.

Had I been absent from Dublin since the days of my childhood until the present year, I would hardly have recognised a large part of North-East Dublin.

The most beautiful of the Protestant Parish Churches in Dublin is St. George’s, Temple Street. Only a wealthy congregation could find funds to build so costly an edifice. My people usually went to that church, but occasionally, when there was some particular service, to St. Thomas’ Church in Marlborough Street.

I was very much impressed by the appearance of a functionary who stood at the entrance to the church-the beadle. Equipped in a coat well supplied with capes and gold lace, and his head covered by a huge cocked hat, he held a mace, surmounted by a crown. There was also a beadle for St. George’s Church, but either owing to his much smaller stature or less magnificent apparel, he did not impress me so much as the beadle of St. Thomas’ did.

At this period the tithes were still collected, and the parish vestry was a miniature municipality. It possessed a fire engine, and, amongst other officers, a sanitary inspector. The Towns Improvement Act of 1841 terminated all the powers which the Parish Vestries, the Paving and Lighting Commissioners, and the Wide Street Commissioners possessed.

The congregations of the two parishes of St. George and St. Thomas were mostly composed of the independent and professional classes. Many of the worshippers arrived in carriages at those churches. I remember on one occasion seeing a footman walking after a lady, proceeding to church, and carrying on a cushion for her the devotional books which she required.

Some time ago I attended a service in St. George’s Church. The pews, from which the juvenile worshippers in my early days could not see over their sides, had been replaced by open seats. The congregation was not a very large one, and I could not but in my mind’s eye see again the church crowded in every part as it was seventy years before.

There has been a great migration of the upper classes from North to South and East Dublin.

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