Personal sketches of his own times, Vol. 2 (of 3)

In Short

Sir Jonah Barrington’s memoirs depict a vibrant, chaotic world spanning late eighteenth-century Ireland to Restoration France. Written from the perspective of an outspoken Irish magistrate, this volume blends legal anecdotes, outrageous social customs, personal tragedies, and eye-witness accounts of European history. Barrington chronicles the ritualized madness of Irish duelling, the tragic downfall of close friends, and the absurdities of British imperial governance. As his narrative moves to France, he offers intimate observations of Napoleon Bonaparte, the imperial family, and the atmospheric sights of Paris. It endures as an unvarnished, highly entertaining portrait of an era defined by rapid political transformation and colorful excess.

The Story

The narrative opens in Ireland, where Barrington reflects on the pervasive culture of duelling that dominated upper-class society during his youth. He details how violent disputes were codified into formal rules of honor, governing everything from verbal insults to physical blows. Through a series of lively character sketches, he introduces the eccentric figures of the Dublin bar and regional courtrooms, detailing how legal arguments frequently spilled over into armed encounters. Among these portraits, he recounts the tragic story of his friend George Hartpole, a wealthy young man whose ill-fated romance with a peasant girl named Mary Sleven leads to his seclusion, illness, and eventual death. Barrington stays by Hartpole's side through his final, harrowing moments as a throat affliction starves him to death, after which Barrington arranges his burial despite the opposition of hostile relatives.

Barrington then shifts his focus to the realm of Irish arts, public affairs, and the eccentricities of country life. He critiques the contemporary administration of Ireland, arguing that strict revenue laws against illicit distillation and the improper licensing of public houses fuel rural unrest and violence. He praises talented figures like the actress Mrs. Jordan and the actor Mr. Owenson, while offering sharp commentary on local magistrates, predatory estate agents, and literary contemporaries.

Seeking a fresh start, Barrington leaves Ireland for the continent, arriving in France shortly after the fall of Napoleon. Settling first near Havre, he observes French provincial life with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, noting the steep prices, poor hotels, and local medical idiosyncrasies. Moving on to Paris, Barrington secures a front-row seat to the dramatic unfolding of the Hundred Days. He attends chapel in the presence of Napoleon, where an embarrassing incident occurs as his wife and daughter accidentally wear shawls speckled with royalist fleur-de-lis patterns. He closely watches Madame Mère, the Emperor's mother, reflecting on her remarkable stoicism as her son reclaims his imperial throne without bloodshed.

When the Battle of Waterloo breaks out, Barrington takes shelter in the outskirts of Paris, listening to the rumble of distant artillery while rumors circulate that Napoleon has crushed the Allied forces. Following Napoleon's defeat, Barrington uncovers secret escape plots—including a plan involving an English doctor to smuggle the fallen Emperor to London inside a carriage. He explores the physical remnants of Paris, venturing into the eerie subterranean Catacombs and visiting Père Lachaise cemetery. Ultimately, Barrington closes his reflections by advocating for reconciliation and liberal governance in Ireland, warning that local tyranny continues to undermine the peace of his homeland.

How It Unfolds

The duelists take the field Barrington outlines the strict codification of Irish duelling, known as the Thirty-six Commandments, which governs every level of personal affront from simple lies to physical blows. He shares anecdotes of notorious brawlers, eccentric lawyers like the short, ferocious Leonard M'Nally, and narrow court-ordered escapes from violence.

A friend's tragic end The narrative turns to the declining health of George Hartpole, who falls in love with a peasant nurse during a long illness. Barrington witnesses Hartpole’s distressing final hours as he succumbs to a throat affliction, eventually arranging his friend's burial at his ancestral castle despite family interference.

Critique of Irish misrule Barrington examines the root causes of Irish unrest, focusing on flawed excise laws, illegal stills, and oppressive estate agents who exploit the rural peasantry. Interspersed with these reflections are anecdotes of famous Irish theater figures, including the early career of Mrs. Jordan and the magnetic stage presence of Mr. Owenson.

Exile on the continent Crossing over to France in 1815, Barrington settles at Havre, observing the local culture, high exchange rates, and peculiar regional customs. He reflects on the arrogant behavior of English tourists abroad and the contrasts between British and continental life.

Napoleon's return In Paris, Barrington experiences the drama of the Hundred Days firsthand, attending imperial services alongside Napoleon's mother. He witnesses public reactions to false rumors of a French victory at Waterloo and uncovers a clandestine scheme to smuggle the defeated Emperor to England.

Reflections in the capital The volume concludes with Barrington exploring the somber Paris Catacombs and Père Lachaise cemetery. Looking back on his homeland, he calls for a more compassionate, resident aristocracy to restore peace to Ireland.

The People

• Sir Jonah Barrington

The narrator and judge who seeks to record the vibrant, vanishing customs of his youth while offering sharp observations on public policy and European politics. He wants to entertain and inform his readers, remaining a steadfast friend to those in distress and a persistent critic of political injustice.

• Leonard M'Nally

A prominent Irish criminal defense lawyer and playwright known for his eccentric physical appearance, short stature, and aggressive courtroom style. He navigates the legal circuit with fierce determination, earning a formidable reputation despite being shunned socially by many of his peers.

• George Hartpole

A wealthy, sensitive young country gentleman whose romantic attachment to a low-born woman alters his life's trajectory. Trapped by pain, solitude, and declining health, he maintains a quiet dignity and heroism as he dies of a debilitating throat condition.

• Mary Sleven

A modest peasant woman whose attentive care during Hartpole’s prolonged illness wins his deep gratitude and affection. Though lacking education or higher social standing, her quiet devotion creates a rift between Hartpole and his high-society expectations.

• Napoleon Bonaparte

The French Emperor whose dramatic return from exile dominates the latter half of Barrington's observations. He moves through Paris surrounded by intense public fascination, inspiring both awe and fear among the international residents watching his final bid for power.

In Its Own Voice

"If A gives B the lie, and B retorts by a blow (being the two greatest offences), no reconciliation can take place till after two discharges each, or a severe hit..."

Barrington details the rigid, unforgiving logic governing the Irish rules of honor and duelling.

"Barrington,” said he, “you see at a distance a very green field?” “Yes,” I replied. “Well,” continued George, “it is my dying request that I may be buried there to-morrow evening.”

George Hartpole speaks calmly to Barrington from his bedside moments before his death.

"An Englishman seems to think it matter of course that he must be lord of the ascendant wherever he travels, and is sometimes reminded of his mistake in a manner any thing but gentle."

Barrington critiques the overbearing behavior of British travelers visiting continental Europe after the war.

What It's Really About

Underneath its lively social anecdotes, the book is an extended meditation on governance, national character, and the human cost of rigid social codes. Barrington contrasts the self-destructive absurdity of the Irish duelling system with the genuine tragedy of individual lives lost to social ambition or illness. On a political level, he argues against oppressive excise laws and absentee landlordism, asserting that misgovernance and institutional neglect—rather than inherent lawlessness—drive popular unrest in Ireland. His reflections on France during Napoleon's Hundred Days further explore the fragility of political power, contrasting imperial grandeur with the quiet, persistent stoicism of ordinary citizens and grieving families surviving in times of total upheaval.

Why Read It Today

This memoir offers an exceptionally vivid, unvarnished window into late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Irish society and Napoleonic Europe. Readers fascinated by narrative history, social customs, and eye-witness historical accounts will find Barrington to be a witty, remarkably frank guide. His writing captures the atmosphere of courtrooms, provincial inns, and wartime Paris with immediate, descriptive clarity rather than dry historical analysis.

The book does present specific challenges for modern readers. Its structure is episodic and sprawling, shifting rapidly between personal memoirs, political commentary, and detailed character sketches without a single overarching narrative drive. Readers must also navigate nineteenth-century prose conventions, period-specific legal details, and archaic perspectives on class and nationality. However, Barrington's sharp eye for human absurdity, coupled with his genuine compassion for his friends and his country, makes this volume a richly rewarding read. What remains with you is the sheer energy of an observer who lived through an extraordinary era of transition and recorded it with unwavering precision.