When  in  that  year  Sir  Francis  Burdett  visited  Ireland  with
the  admirable  purpose  of  supporting,  in  a  moment  of  unex
ampled  prostration,  a  friend,  Roger  O'Connor,  whom  he
believed  utterly  incapable  of  the  foul  crime  of  which  he  was
accused,  and  having  by  his  presence  very  powerfully  con-
tributed to  that  friend's  acquittal,  he  was  besieged  with
invitations  from  the  greater  portion  of  the  remaining  resident
gentry  of  the  kingdom.  Having  accepted  some  of  these,  Sir
Francis  found,  not  only  that  his  fame  as  a  fox-hunter  had
preceded  him,  but  that  it  was  transcended  by  his  reputation
for  capability  of  enduring  the  attacks  of  the  most  eminent
bacchanalians  of  the  day.  This  was  demonstrated  to  him  in
an  especial  manner  on  his  visit  to  Kilkenny  at  the  moment
when  the  celebrated  private  theatrical  company,  comprising
Richard  Power,  Thomas  Moore,  Wrexon  Beecher,  George
Rothe,  Corry,  &c.,  were  members,  supported  by  Misses  O'Neill
(afterwards  Lady  Beecher)  and  Walstein,  were  performing.
