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talked cleverly and with excellent choice of language for about
three hours； during which I learnt much from him。
〃Like most men who have accomplished great things； and overcome
many difficulties； Mr。 Bianconi is fond of referring to the past
events in his interesting life。 The acuteness of his
conversation is wonderful。 He hits off a keen thought in a few
words； sometimes full of wit and humour。 I thought this very
good： 'Keep before the wheels； young man； or they will run over
you： always keep before the wheels！' He read over to me the
memoir he had prepared at the suggestion of Mr。 Drummond；
relating to the events of his early life； and this opened the way
for a great many other recollections not set down in the book。
〃He vividly remembered the parting from his mother； nearly
seventy years ago； and spoke of her last words to him： 'When you
remember me； think of me as waiting at this window； watching for
your return。' This led him to speak of the great forgetfulness
and want of respect which children have for their parents
nowadays。 'We seem；' he said； 'to have fallen upon a
disrespectful age。'
〃'It is strange；' said he； 'how little things influence one's
mind and character。 When I was a boy at Waterford； I bought an
old second…hand book from a man on the quay； and the maxim on its
title…page fixed itself deeply on my memory。 It was； 〃Truth；
like water； will find its own level。〃' And this led him to speak
of the great influence which the example and instruction of Mr。
Rice； of the Christian Brothers； had had upon his mind and
character。 'That religions institution；' said he； 'of which Mr。
Rice was one of the founders； has now spread itself over the
country； and； by means of the instruction which the members have
imparted to the poorer ignorant classes； they have effected quite
a revolution in the south of Ireland。'
〃'I am not much of a reader；' said Mr。 Bianconi； 'the best part
of my reading has consisted in reading way…bills。 But I was once
complimented by Justice Lefroy upon my books。 He remarked to me
what a wonderful education I must have had to invent my own
system of book…keeping。 Yes；' said he； pointing to his ledgers；
'there they are。' The books are still preserved； recording the
progress of the great car enterprise。 They show at first the
small beginnings； and then the rapid growththe tens growing to
hundreds； and the hundreds to thousandsthe ledgers and
day…books containing； as it were； the whole history of the
undertakingof each car； of each man； of each horse； and of each
line of road； recorded most minutely。
〃'The secret of my success；' said he； 'has been promptitude； fair
dealing； and good humour。 And this I will add； what I have often
said before； that I never did a kind action but it was returned
to me tenfold。 My cars have never received the slightest injury
from the people。 Though travelling through the country for about
sixty years； the people have throughout respected the property
intrusted to me。 My cars have passed through lonely and
unfrequented places； and they have never； even in the most
disturbed times； been attacked。 That； I think； is an
extraordinary testimony to the high moral character of the Irish
people。'
〃'It is not money； but the genius of money that I esteem；' said
Bianconi； 'not money itself； but money used as a creative power。'
And he himself has furnished in his own life the best possible
illustration of his maxim He created a new industry； gave
employment to an immense number of persons； promoted commerce；
extended civilisation； and； though a foreigner； proved one of the
greatest of Ireland's benefactors。〃
About two years after the date of my son's visit； Charles
Bianconi passed away； full of years and honours； and his remains
were laid beside those of his son and daughter； in the mortuary
chapel at Boherlahan。 He died in 1875； in his ninetieth year。
Well might Signor Henrico Mayer say； at the British Association
at Cork in 1846； that 〃he felt proud as an Italian to hear a
compatriot so deservedly eulogised； and although Ireland might
claim Bianconi as a citizen； yet the Italians should ever with
pride hail him as a countryman； whose industry and virtue
reflected honour on the country of his birth。〃
Footnotes for Chapter IX。
＇1＇ This article originally appeared in 'Good Words。' A
biography of Charles Bianconi； by his daughter； Mrs。 Morgan John
O'Connell； has since been published； but the above article is
thought worthy of republication； as its contents were for the
most part taken principally from Mr。 Bianconi's own lips。
＇2＇ Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on
Postage （Second Report）； 1838； p。 284。
＇3＇ Evidence before the Select Committee on Postage； 1838。
＇4＇ Hall's 'Ireland；' ii。 76。
＇5＇ Paper read before the British Association at Cork； 1843。
CHAPTER X。
INDUSTRY IN IRELAND： THROUGH CONNAUGHT AND ULSTER； TO BELFAST。
〃The Irish people have a past to boast of； and a future to
create。〃J。 F。 O'Carrol。
〃One of the great questions is how to find an outlet for Irish
manufactures。 We ought to be an exporting nation； or we never
will be able to compete successfully with our trade rivals。〃E。
D。 Gray。
〃Ireland may become a Nation again； if we all sacrifice our
parricidal passions； prejudices； and resentments on the altar of
our country。 Then shall your manufactures flourish； and Ireland
be free。〃Daniel O'Connell。
Further communications passed between my young friend； the
Italian count； and his father； and the result was that he
accompanied me to Ireland； on the express understanding that he
was to send home a letter daily by post assuring his friends of
his safety。 We went together accordingly to Galway； up Lough
Corrib to Cong and Lough Mask； by the romantic lakes and
mountains of Connemara to Clifden and Letterfrack； and through
the lovely pass of Kylemoor to Leenane； along the fiord of
Killury； then on； by Westport and Ballina to Sligo。 Letters were
posted daily by my young friend； and every day we went forwards
in safety。
But how lonely was the country！ We did not meet a single
American tourist during the whole course of our visit； and the
Americans are the most travelling people in the world。 Although
the railway companies have given every facility for visiting
Connemara and the scenery of the West of Ireland； we only met one
single English tourist； accompanied by his daughter。 The
Bianconi long car between Clifden and Westport had been taken off
for want of support。 The only persons who seemed to have no fear
of Irish agrarianism were the English anglers； who are ready to
brave all dangers； imaginary or supposed； provided they can only
kill a big salmon！ And all the rivers flowing westward into the
Atlantic are full of fine fish。 While at Galway； we looked down
into the river Corrib from the Upper Bridg