Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 119

Transcript

When Ben Jones had the Lyttelton (Clarendon) a brindled bull terrier took up his abode with him. Some lodger had left him. When they began to enforce a dog tax, the “Irish Police” sued Ben for the dog money and he was ordered to pay although he swore the dog was not his, he did not want it. A few days after, Peter Pender, Sergt., got a nice hamper by carriers, of course a present from some grateful publican or other. There was so much to pay. Not a great deal for carriage. It was paid. When the hamper was opened “a bird began to sing”, the brindled bull terrier sprang out to Peter’s infinite disgust.

Another. There was a great row about the Rev. Mr Bluett of Leeston (the “Squarson” mixture squire and parson) having imported and landed a Jersey cow, against the Act &c. The police were particularly active. They found the cow. She was ordered to be killed. Accordingly, a cow was killed, but it may be added, that it is not quite certain that the valuable imported cow was that one. A month or two after, the Himalaya a Home Ship arrived. Sergt. Ponder received positive and secret information that there was a Home Cow on board, that would be landed. A warrant was got ready, and off the police went to seize the cow. There was none. The captain’s name was COW.

Mr Bluett was a fine, pleasant manly fellow. He gave up the Church and went in for farming, dealing &c at Leeston.