The following song is a parody upon a popular ballad among the Irish rebels, and consequently a favorite with all who were ill-disposed to the British government; and many persons, by no means participating their sentiments, were induced by the melody of the tune to call for it upon every occasion. This consideration inspired the Chevalier Lawrence with the idea of parodying it, which was turning against the enemy their own arms. This parody, however, had been judged too severe against our oppressors; and Mr. Prescot bad cautiously resolved to suppress it; but in the midst of the conviviality of the banquet, surrounded by his free-born countrymen, he overcame his fears, and ventured to sing it. It is remarkable that before a year had elapsed Mr. P. was sent to a fortress, and was nearly in the situation the description of which his fine voice had rendered so pathetic.

THE CAPTIVE OF ERIN.

In the dungeon of Bitsche a poor captive of Erin Lamented his fate as he lay on the straw;

He wept for his folly, to France when repairing, When he hop'd it the country of justice and law. Tho' the day-star was hid from his eye's sad devotion,

He thought of his own natal isle of the ocean, :
Where oft in the fire of his youthful emotion,
He sung the bold anthem of Erin go bragh.
"Ah surely," he cried, "to the innocent
stranger,

The hordes of the desert less barb'rous would be;
But could I imagine my freedom in danger,
Who came to a nation that call'd itself free?"
In the gloom of a prison I count the sad hours,
And languish in vain for the sweet shady bowers,
Where my friends crown the harp with the wild-
woven flowers,

That grow on the green fields of Erin go bragh. While they by their cabins rejoice in the wild wood,

I mournfully write my sad tale on the wall;

Ah! where is the mother that nurtur'd my child. hood?

Her counsels too late to my mind I recall.

Ah how can the stranger," exclaim'd my fond

mother,

Confide in the French, who have murdered

each other,

Nor spar'd in their fury or sister or brother?
No, rather remain in sweet Erin go bragh."
Erin, my country, tho' treach'rously taken,
In my dreams I revisit thy sea-beaten shore;
But alas! in a far foreign land I awaken,
And sigh for those friends whom I ne'er shall
meet more.

But should I return, sure my suff'rings would teach me .

To stay in a land where no gendarme could reach me,

No spy could accuse, and no traitor impeach me,
For we have no serpents in Erin go bragh.
Each selfish desire on my death-bed suppressing,
For my country shall be the last breath that I
draw,

Erin, a captive bequeaths thee his blessing;
Land of my forefathers, Erin go bragh.
When my pulse beats no more, when my

without motion,

heart's

Green be thy fields, sweetest isle of the ocean,

Aud thy harp-striking bards shall sing loud with devotion,

Brin ma vernaan-Erin go bragh.

We have only cited these two entertainments on account of the eclat with which they were conducted. The same festivals had, from our first detention, been usually kept, but in a more moderate way, and probably they will never pass unnoticed over the heads of the detenus till the happy day of their delivery; but on account of the low state of the finances of those still remaining at Verdun, they will in all probability rather be repasts of good fellowship than feasts of splendor.

In the winter of 1808, some of the detenus had agreed to give a subscrip tion ball. The company, among whom were many of the French inhabitants, were assembled. Mr. Timothy Smith was master of the ceremonies. Just as the fiddles were about to strike

up

a body of gendarmes came by the order of the general, who was piqued that Madame Wirion had not been invited, and threatened, that if the company retired not immediately, they would conduct Messieurs les Anglais to the citadel. There was no idea of disobeying; but the French families were so disgusted, that they made a point, each in its turn, to give a ball to the detenus, This the general could not prevent, and to these entertainments Madame Angot, as the French used to call Madame Wirion, from the character of a vulgar woman in a French comedy, was pointedly not invited.

MONEY LENDERS, USURERS, IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

Soon after the arrival of the detenus at Verdun, the public cryer, with beat of drum, forbade the inhabitants to