Contents of Reminiscences of Sir Charles Cameron

This is a strange book written just before British rule in Ireland began to come to an end. It is the memoir of a Unionist and a Protestant - yet one who avows the Jacobite cause - who falls over himself in the queue for even the whiff of royalty, a bon vivant, a man who, though born in Dublin, never really saw himself as being Irish.

At the same time it is a remarkable link with the 19th century - he was 83 when the book was published in 1913.

Sir Charles A. Cameron C.B., was the first employee of the Corporation of Dublin to become a Freeman of the City of Dublin. The reason for the award was simple - he did his job well. There were many other who could claim they had served the city well -  but none who could boast that they had cut the death rate from one of the highest in Europe to one of the lowest.

It is all the more remarkable that he received the award of Freeman in 1913 when you remember that the vote of the councillors of Dublin Corporation had to be unanimous.

It was his life and he was entitled to choose which memories he included. They are sometimes trivial but I’ve included them all.

There were no chapters in the original publication. In order to make loading times easier I have divided it into eight parts. Part 8, perhaps, is the best place to start. KF

Reminiscences of Sir Charles Cameron, CB

Dublin; Hodges, Figgis & Co., Ltd., Publishers to the University London; Simpkin, Marshall & Co., Ltd. 1913.

I dedicate the following pages to the Right Honourable the Lord Blyth, of Blythwood, Grand Cross and Knight Commander of many Chivalric Orders, whose unbroken friendship I have enjoyed for more than half a century.

Foreword

Many of my friends, especially those who are members of the Dublin Corinthian Club, have frequently asked me to put some of my “Reminiscences” into print. After much hesitation, I have the temerity to do so. My hesitation arose from the reflection that, although I hold some public positions, I am not in the broad meaning of the phrase a public man. One naturally expects “Autobiographies,” “Reminiscences,” “Memoirs,” &c., to be given to the world by Statesmen, Leaders of Society, and celebrities generally. As I can lay no claim to be included in any of these categories, I hardly expect that my “Reminiscences” will prove attractive to the general public, but I venture to hope that they will not be quite uninteresting to the many friends and acquaintances whom in my long life it hsa been my good fortunre to gain. Perhaps, even to those with whom I am unacquainted, some of the incidents which I record may not be devoid of some interest.

I am indebted to my friend Mr. Henry Hunt, B.L., for his kind correction of the proofs of this book.

Dublin, December, 1912**.**

Part 1. A link between me and the Battle of Culloden A daughter of Lord Edward Fitzgerald Town-Major John Charles Sirr A long journey to school Connaught Harvest-men My experience as a Pig-Jobber Sedan Chairs How Lent in the ‘Thirties affected the Butchers Donnybrook Fair Changes in Dublin, especially North-East Districts

Part 2. The wide-street Commissioners Guernsey How I cleaned an Ashpit by Chemical means The Dublin Chemical Society Beleek China Dublin Theatre in the ‘Thirties and ‘Forties Actors and Actresses I have met or seen Charles Kean Sir Henry Irving George Grossmith

Part 3. Miss Olga Nethersole William Gorman Wills The Wildes The ‘Agricultural Review’ Annie Laurie’s House The Actualy Cautery Johnny Roche’s Castle My experience of Trials for Murder The longest Murder Trial in Ireland A Mean Defence

Part 4. A False Charge Human Hair in evidence A man unknowlingly Convicts himself Judge Keogh and the Apprentice Boys of Derry Negative Testimony I appear for both sides at a Trial Poisoning of Animals How Dublin might have had a Winter Garden Mr. Edmund Dwyer Gray Two French Restaurants

Part 5. The history of the Royal College of Surgeons A visit to the Claret country The Brothers Blyth An abortive attempt to Defraud me An attempt to rob me, Wednesday, 25th July, 1894 Lord Ardilaun and St. Stephen’s Green Park The Father Mathew Statue An Oyster Patti King Edward VII. in a Dublin slum A Gathering of the Clan Cameron

Part 6. A Procession of two Lord Mayors Two great African Travellers at the Savage Club Two Dinner Parties and a Supper on the same day A huge dinner party The Earl Cadogan and an Historic Banquet, 13th March, 1897 Presentation to the Earl Cadogan A generous Landlady A chat with the Queen of Roumania An Early Visit The Corinthian Club

Part 7. Madam Melba and Signor Caruso Mr. Winston Churchill at the Corinthian Club Speeches at the Corinthian Club Three agreeable Surprises My visit to Osborne The Royal Family of Connaught My four Escapes from Death Medical, Sanitary, and Scientific Congresses Poteen Toxiphobia Jokes recorded in Official Reports

Part 8.

How the Dublin poor live

Earnings of the poor

My Freedom of the City

A Biography of Sir Charles A. Cameron