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Ixxviii SOME NOTICE OP THE
to John Domville, of Clonmel, and the Domvilles were
connected with Lord Norbury, Chief Justice of the Common
Pleas, a connection which was the means of getting the
appointment from Lord Norbury of Deputy Filacer in his
court for William Haliday, Charles Haliday 1
s eldest brother.
In a letter to his father, Charles Haliday thus alludes to
the death of one of the Domvilles.
"London, 1812.
" MY DEAR FATHER. To my last letter, sent through the Castle,
addressed to you, my mother, to William, and to Dan, I have
received no answer. My last letter from you contained a postscript
by which I have been informed of the melancholy fate of
Henry Domville. His death I had some time looked for as an
event not far distant. The nature of hig disease had long left one
without a hope of his recovery. And yet his death seems to have
been sudden. Poor fellow ! When last we met, when last we
parted little did either of us think we parted for ever. He was
leaving town. He came to bid farewell. He was in health,
I was but sickly and coxild the idea have entered the mind of ;
our
friends that either of us was so soon to have quitted this earthly
stage, no one could long have hesitated, I believe, to point to me
as the destined victim. Quickly indeed the scene has changed.
It is but one short year, and I am now as he was, and he is no
more. Another year may roll away, and I too may have passed
that bourne from whence no traveller returns. I pause to think
for what purpose existence was bestowed. I turn to my own
"
breast to ask has that purpose been fulfilled ?
When Charles Haliday left Dublin,
it was his father's
intention that he should settle in London as a merchant.
In a letter to his father; of 8th October, 1812, he says that
it would be in vain to enter on any mercantile pursuit
whatsoever without more capital than he was possessed of,
and he proposes to his father, with evident embarrassment
arising from feelings of delicacy, an advance of some capital
to be employed in the way of partnership.
Before stating the terms, which he afterwards details with
great clearness and minuteness, he apologises for the strict
business like form that his letter is obliged to assume,
can offer," he says, " but one reason for doing so. I have long
since vowed to know no distinction of persons in affairs like
this. I wish no one to know them towards me. To friendship
" I