JOURNAL.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 220, 8 September 1847, Page 4

JOURNAL.

January 2nd. Concluded purchase of Ballyragget estate, county of Tipperary. 10th. Arrived at Ballyragget. Inquired for the " Desmesne house." Found jnifch difficulty in making myself understood. 11th. Have at last got a clue. 12th. I have seen the house, there is no roof, and the park is unreclaimed bog ; but I am assured by the gauger, whom I met looking for a still in my front parlour, that the snipe shooting is excellent. The kitchen is the only room inhabitable ; and I cannot say that the bailiff exhibited that willingness to make room for my luggage which I have a right to expect. 13th. Slept in the kitchen. On waking in the morning, found a threatening notice on the door, signed " Captain Starlight" and wishing to know if I'd brought my coffin with me ? — I am not to be intimidated. 14th. Assembled tenants, and informed them that I had bought the estate with the arrears. They are to bring their accounts to morrow. loth. I find no rent has been paid for the last five years, but the greatest willingness is expressed to pay with regularity any rent I like to " set." The people are most civil and very amusing. They are much misrepresented. They brought presents of fowls, &c, ' and wished " long life to my honour," with great fervour. 16th. My Scotch bailiff arrived with his models and apparatus. 17th. My bailiff has given me warning. He has received twenty- four threatening notices, and his implements have been burnt. There is an incendiary somewhere. 18th. Lectured tenants, and found an admirable feeling among them. I wish I could get something to eat besides the dried meats, &c, which I brought with me. I don't shoot, and there seems to be little except wild game. 19th. Set destitute peasants to work in house and park, at task work. 20th. Tenants have struck work, and wish to be paid by the day. Tried to explain to them the laws of capital and wages. Found the attempt hopeless. 21st. Rector called to remonstrate with me for subscribing to chapel. 22nd. Parish priest called to remonstrate with me for inviting rector to dinner. 23rd. Received letter from rector, denouncing me as a latitudinarian and a Jesuit, I wrote answer to say I was attached to our glorious Constitution in Church and State. 24th. Received letter from parish priest, denouncing me as an Orangeman and a persecutor. Wrote answer to say that all I wished was greatest happiness of greatest number. 25th. I can't go out without finding a threatening notice on the hall-door, and have had my shutters lined with sheet iron. I don't get any sleep at nights, and am losing my appetite. As I can't get anything to eat, to signify, this is, perhaps, a merciful dispensation. 26th. The O'Dowd called with an invitation to dinner, and a request for my vote and interest for his cousin, a repeal candidate for the county. Refused both. 27th. Received a challenge from the O'Dowd. What am Itodo ? 28th. Have made an apology to the O'Dowd, and must dine with him to-morrow. 29th. I have just reached home, after suffering much from whisky punch, which I was forced to drink. I can't stand it. 30th. Advertised the Ballyragget estates | at a sacrifice, "the owner going abroad." Feb. 2nd. Got away in disguise. Passed several ill-looking men behind the walls armed with .fire-arms, evidently lying in wait for me. What have I done 1 6th. Embraced Mrs. C. in my villa at Hoxton. Mrs. C. in hysterics. I grateful, but much shattered in mind and body. Dr. Bleach thinks I shall get over it ; I hope I may. P.S. — Sir, if you know a customer, Ballyragget is to be disposed of very cheap indeed. Respectfully yours, J. C.