Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 8 February 1840, page 3
Dialogue between two Hiber-
nians in Botany Bay.
(By Francis Macnamara.)
Musha welcome to Botany, Paddy my dear,
Yer the last man in Ireland, I thought of seeing
here.
By my aunty Kate's side, you are my cousin jarmin. And wid you I oft went to hear Father Mike's sar-
mon.
But how did this lagging of yours come to pass, I'm inclined to think you neglected the mass And robbed your poor soul of felicity's joys,
By joining yourself to the cursed White Boys.
The sea sickness, Darby, has made me so weak, That I'm hardly able at present to speak.
From wearing the darbies, my limbs are grown
feeble,
And all the blame lies on the Man of the People. Cursed Daniel O'Connell the great Agitator, Is in my opinion a double faced traitor,
From his seditious harangues had I kept away, I ne'er should have visited Botany Bay.
But tell me Darby, do you enjoy good health ;
I heard when at home you possessed immense
wealth.
'Twas the common conversation each night round
the hearth,
That the Governor puts all his countrymen in
berths.
And the all flock round him like terrier dogs,
His first breath, like ourselves too, he drew in the
bogs.
And the English assail him with vociferations, For putting his countrymen in situations. Places and offices of the greatest trust,
But Darby, my friend, you know it is but just, For never was a Paddy yet born of a mother,
That would not fight till death in defence of ano-
ther
So we care not for Atheist, Jew, Christian, or
Turk,
So long as we're back'd by our countryman Bourke. Musha Darby, my friend, aint the sea mighty deep, Rather than be a sailor, I'd enlist for a sweep,
For sweeps can repose on their soft sooty pillows,
While mariners are tost up and down on the bil-
lows.
But if ever I return from cursed New South Wales, I'll tell the ould people some wondertul tales,
Describing the elements and waves in commotion. And the curious animals I've seen in the ocean,
How black whales and sperm in droves gathered
round us.
Spouting water on our decks, sufficient to to drown
us.
How sharks followed after us like peelers and swad-
dies.
Auxiously waiting to devour the dead bodies ;
How the dolphin changes all colors when dying;
How I've seen heaps of fish in the elements flying. Well I know they'll pitch myself to the dickens,
When I tell them about Mother Carey's fine
chickens,
I'll tell the Mahers, McNacnamaras and McCarty's All about iron gangs and road parties,
How famous the hulk is for chaining and gagging, How the penal men are used, when doing their lag-
ging ;
I'll them about delegates, cooks, mates and vic-
tuallers,
And give them a letter on Dungaree settlers.
Now Darby, since you're going to ould Ireland
back,
Give my loving respects to my young brother Jack, And pay the same tribute to Shamus my brother, The same give to my affectionate mother. And dont forget to tell my dear daddy,
That I'm still his dutiful darling son Paddy, And likewise Darby, tell my sister Onagh
That I saw the big fish that swallowed up Jonah. Forget it not Darby, a fool can think of it,
Says you, it is the same beast, wolfed the poor pro-
phet.
Give my love to my sweetheart, Mary,
The star of Hibernia, the pride of Tipperary
Tell her that tho' twixt us there is a great barrier, I may yet see the day that Pauddeen can marry
her ;
Yerra, well I know, that my neighbours and cou-
sins,
Will all gather round you in scores and in dozens. And when you have told them all about lagging, Musha Darby, tis yerself will get many a naggin Yerra then Darby, you'll be in clover
And when all the hugging and kissing is over,
Stroll down to Maushe Counel, that lives in the
moor, And planted in the thatch, just over his door, You'll find seven muskets and an old pike, Deliver them yerself to ould Father Mike.
To the right owners let his reverence return them,
If he refuses to do so, my honest friend, burn
them,
Only for the muskets, well may I remark,
Poor Paddy to-day wouldn't be in Hyde Park. Tell the boys to beware of the great instigator, Daniel O'Connell, the great agitator
The poor Paddys can't comprehend what he's do-
ing,
Damn him for evr, 'twas he wrought my ruin.
Tell the boys to desist from killing peelers and ar-
son,
But cheerfully pay the tithe proctor and parson; Why should they, Darby, be left in the lurch,
You know they're the heads of the Protestant
Church.
To protect them, faith I'd spill my blood every
drop,
And not only the tenth, but the half of my crop, I'd freely give them without hesitation.
To free me from Botany and vile transportation. I'd forsake the chapel, and ould Father Mike,
The caravats, shillelagh and Ribbonman's pike;
I'd make peace with my God, live in charity with
men,
Musha Darby, Botany Bay wouldn't catch Pat
again.