Scene At Killiney

O'Connell was a capital actor, and his dramatic delivery of a common

remark was often highly impressive. Many years since, he went down to

Kingstown, near Dublin, with a party, to visit a queen's ship-of-war,

which was then riding in the bay.



After having seen it, O'Connell proposed a walk to the top of Killiney

Hill. Breaking from the rest of his party, he ascended to the highest

point of the hill, in co pany with a young and real Irish patriot, whose

character was brimful of national enthusiasm. The day was fine, and the

view from the summit of the hill burst gloriously upon the sight. The

beautiful bay of Dublin, like a vast sheet of crystal, was at their

feet. The old city of Dublin stretched away to the west, and to the

north was the old promontory of Howth, jutting forth into the sea. To

the south were the Dublin and Wicklow mountains, enclosing the lovely

vale of Shanganah, rising picturesquely against the horizon. The scene

was beautiful, with all the varieties of sunlight and shadow.



O'Connell enjoyed it with nearly as much rapture as his youthful and

ardent companion, who broke forth--It is all Ireland--oh! how

beautiful! Thank God, we see nothing English here. Everything we see is

Irish!



His rapture was interrupted by O'Connell, gently laying his hand on his

shoulder, and pointing to the ship-of-war at anchor, as he

exclaimed--A speck of the British power!



The thought was electric. That speck, significantly pointed out by

O'Connell, suggested the whole painful history of his fatherland to the

memory of the ardent young Irishman.