AUTOBIOGRAPHY, &C. CHAPTER I. REASONS FOR COMPILING THESE MEMOIRS-BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND OTHER FAMILY MATTERS-TOWNSEND STREET CHAPEL-THE PECULIARITIES OF CERTAIN PRIESTS NOTICED-FILIAL REMINISCENCES-STRICTURES ON POPERY. ONE would suppose, from the flood of biographies and memoirs with which the world is now inundated, that the compilation of these works resulted from a longing after notoriety, or from the power of some morbid influence, that could not be either propitiated or resisted. I am not, I assure you, dear reader, in the least degree affected by either of these agencies; nor am I able, at present, to conjecture what may be the fate of my own unpretending effort, simply to record the leading incidents of my life and history. I cannot exhibit any very striking or salient points of character; and I am equally unable to furnish any display of remarkable vicissitudes, or exciting events. My expectations, there fore, are very limited; and should they not be realized, the disappointment will be easily borne, and cheerfully endured. 66 cum The renowned Dean of Saint Patrick's beheld a battle of the books in his day; and enjoyed the feats of literary pugilism that his own fertile brain created. I see a similar contest-similar in its aspirations and motives, but different in the character of the combatants, and in the nature of their tactics. Here I behold robust and ATHLETIC QUARTOS-IMPERIAL LOOKING OCTAVOS--DECIMOS-DUODECIMOS, multis aliis," engaged in fierce and deadly strife; and as the battle waxes hot and furious, we see hundreds trampled to death; vast multitudes fearfully gashed and wounded; and others flying for their lives, their splendid uniforms of gilded morocco, embossed calf, and embellished roan, rent and torn, and defiled with mire and blood. "You certainly will not," whispers a friend, "enter upon such an arena as this." Yes, I will; and take my word for it, the issue will prove that I am not as rash as you suppose; and that what you regard as presumption, is in reality self-reliance. "But won't you assign any reason for so unusual an enterprise? That, at least, you are bound to do." Well, you may be of that opinion, but I assure you I am not; nevertheless, I will give you the only reason I am able to furnish. |