Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/483

PONSONBY. 479 between Mr. John Magee, the eccentric proprietor of a popular print, called the Dublin Evening Post, and an attorney, Mr. Francis Higgins, the owner of another newspaper, the Freeman's Journal, then hired in the ser vice of the Irish government. This war raged for a con siderable time with great virulence; and Magee did not confine his attacks merely to Higgins, but directed a scattered fire against the whole circle of his intimate associates, amongst whom was numbered Mr. Richard Daly, the manager of the Dublin theatre. Magee spared no species of abuse, ridicule, and satire, against the par ties: and this involved him in several actions for libel, in which the damages were laid at an enormous amount. Lord Clonmell, on the application of the plaintiffs, advised by Mr. Higgins, issued six successive fiats to arrest Magee, and hold him to bail to abide the issue of as many several actions; and he was accordingly held to bail to the amount of 16,000l. This induced him to turn his fire against his lordship in a most extraordinary way. He not only opened upon him the batteries of his news paper, but also took an extensive piece of land adjoining Lord Clonmell's marine domain, at the edge of Dublin Bay. This piece of land he baptized by the name of Fiat Lawn; his lordship himself being currently designated as the Marquis of Mount Fiat. Magee soon announced for a particular day, certain olympic games, termed, Da bra pleasuragh, to be celebrated on Fiat Lawn, consisting of cudgel play, foot-ball, and rural dancing. By way of interlude, there was a sailing match for fishing boats, in the bosom of the adjacent bay; the prizes were, suits of sails and fishing nets; and the whole fête to conclude with amagnificent hunt on the lawn, of a shaven pig, lathered with soap, to be the prize of the fortunate pedestrian who could first seize and detain i t . This project was purposely contrived for the annoyance o f Lord Clonmell; and upwards o f fifty thousand people, o f a l l classes, from the metropolis and surrounding country, were assembled t o see these eccentric sports. The injury done t o Lord