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south of Ireland； under the competitive system existing between
the several companies； are often run so as to miss each other。
The present working of the Irish railway traffic provokes
perpetual irritation amongst the Irish people； and sufficiently
accounts for the frequent petitions presented to Parliament that
they should be taken in hand and worked by the State。
Bianconi continued to superintend his great car establishment
until within the last few years。 He had a constitution of iron；
which he expended in active daily work。 He liked to have a dozen
irons in the fire； all red…hot at once。 At the age of seventy he
was still a man in his prime； and he might be seen at Clonmel
helping； at busy times； to load the cars； unpacking and
unstrapping the luggage where it seemed to be inconveniently
placed； for he was a man who could never stand by and see others
working without having a hand in it himself。 Even when well on
to eighty； he still continued to grapple with the immense
business involved in working a traffic extending over two
thousand five hundred miles of road。
Nor was Bianconi without honour in his adopted country。 He began
his great enterprise in 1815； though it was not until 1831 that
he obtained letters of naturalisation。 His application for these
privileges was supported by the magistrates of Tipperary and by
the Grand Jury； and they were at once granted。 In 1844 he was
elected Mayor of Clonmel； and took his seat as Chairman at the
Borough Petty Sessions to dispense justice。
The first person brought before him was James Ryan； who had been
drunk and torn a constable's belt。 〃Well； Ryan；〃 said the
magistrate； 〃what have you to say？〃 〃Nothing； your worship； only
I wasn't drunk。〃 〃Who tore the constable's belt？〃 〃He was
bloated after his Christmas dinner； your worship； and the belt
burst！〃 〃You are so very pleasant；〃 said the magistrate； 〃that
you will have to spend forty…eight hours in gaol。〃
He was re…elected Mayor in the following year； very much against
his wish。 He now began to buy land； for 〃land hunger〃 was strong
upon him。 In 1846 he bought the estate of Longfield； in the
parish of Boherlahan； county of Tipperary。 It consisted of about
a thousand acres of good land； with a large cheerful house
overlooking the river Suir。 He went on buying more land； until
he became possessor of about eight thousand English acres。
One of his favourite sayings was： 〃Money melts； but land holds
while grass grows and water runs。〃 He was an excellent landlord；
built comfortable houses for his tenantry； and did what he could
for their improvement。 Without solicitation； the Government
appointed him a justice of the peace and a Deputy…lientenant for
the county of Tipperary。 Everything that he did seemed to
thrive。 He was honest； straightforward； loyal； and law…abiding。
On first taking possession of his estate at Longfield； he was met
by a procession of the tenantry； who received him with great
enthusiasm。 In his address to them； he said； amongst other
things： 〃Allow me to impress upon you the great importance of
respecting the laws。 The laws are made for the good and the
benefit of society； and for the punishment of the wicked。 No one
but an enemy would counsel you to outrage the laws。 Above all
things； avoid secret and unlawful societies。 Much of the
improvement now going on amongst us is owing to the temperate
habits of the people； to the mission of my much respected friend；
Father Mathew； and to the advice of the Liberator。 Follow the
advice of O'Connell； be temperate； moral； peaceable； and you will
advance your country； ameliorate your condition； and the blessing
of God will attend all your efforts。〃
Bianconi was always a great friend of O'Connell。 From an early
period he joined him in the Catholic Emancipation movement。 He
took part with him in founding the National Bank in Ireland。 In
course of time the two became more intimately related。
Bianconi's son married O'Connell's granddaughter； and O'Connell's
nephew； Morgan John； married Bianconi's daughter。 Bianconi's son
died in 1864； leaving three daughters； but no male heir to carry
on the family name。 The old man bore the blow of his son's
premature death with fortitude； and laid his remains in the
mortuary chapel； which he built on his estate at Longfield。
In the following year； when he was seventy…eight； he met with a
severe accident。 He was overturned； and his thigh was severely
fractured。 He was laid up for six months； quite incapable of
stirring。 He was afterwards able to get about in a marvellous
way； though quite crippled。 As his life's work was over； he
determined to retire finally from business； and he handed over
the whole of his cars； coaches； horses； and plant； with all the
lines of road he was then working； to his employes； on the most
liberal terms。
My youngest son met Mr。 Bianconi； by appointment； at the Roman
Catholic church at Boherlahan； in the summer of 1872。 Although
the old gentleman had to be lifted into and out of his carriage
by his two men…servants； he was still as active…minded as ever。
Close to the church at Boherlahan is Bianconi's mortuary chapel；
which he built as a sort of hobby； for the last resting…place of
himself and his family。 The first person interred in it was his
eldest daughter； who died in Italy； the second was his only son。
A beautiful monument with a bas…relief has been erected in the
chapel by Benzoni； an Italian sculptor； to the memory of his
daughter。
〃As we were leaving the chapel；〃 my son informs me； 〃we passed a
long Irish car containing about sixteen people； the tenants of
Mr。 Bianconi； who are brought at his expense from all parts of
the estate。 He is very popular with his tenantry； regarding
their interests as his own； and he often quotes the words of his
friend Mr。 Drummond； that 'property has its duties as well as its
rights。' He has rebuilt nearly every house on his extensive
estates in Tipperary。
〃On our way home； the carriage stopped to let me down and see the
strange remains of an ancient fort； close by the roadside。 It
consists of a high grass…grown mound； surrounded by a moat。 It
is one of the so…called Danish forts； which are found in all
parts of Ireland。 If it be true that these forts were erected by
the Danes； they must at one time have had a strong hold of the
greater part of Ireland。
〃The carriage entered a noble avenue of trees； with views of
prettily enclosed gardens on either side。 Mr。 Bianconi
exclaimed； 'Welcome to the Carman's Stage！' Longfield House；
which we approached； is a fine old…fashioned house； situated on
the river Suir； a few miles south of Cashel； one of the most
ancient cities in Ireland。 Mr。 Bianconi and his family were most
hospitable； and I found him most lively and communicative。 He
talked cleverly and with excellent choice of language for about
three hours； during whi