N. B. Caftle bar generally in Summer, and Ballinrobe in Spring. GENIUS OF THE INHABITANTS. The defcendants of the antient Irish ap. pear to have been of different origin. The inhabitants of the eaft and north coafts, who probably came originally from Britain, and into Britain from Gaul, are of a fquat fet ftature, whereas thofe on the western coaft fuppofed to be defcended from a colony from Spain, as being the oppofite continent to them; thefe greatly resemble the Spaniards in their perfons being tall and flender, finely limbed, with fedate and grave countenances. But though But though thefe diftinctions are now in a great measure worn out by intermarriages with one another, and the English, fince the time of Henry II. yet are they ftill very difcernible. To fpeak in general they are an active people, of great foftness and pliancy in their limbs, (occafioned probably by the great moifture and temperament of the air) they manifeftly appear to an impartial obferver, to be exceeding courteous to strangers, loyal to their fovereign, patient of hardships, and fo charitable, that they never omit any opportunity of relieving the diftreffed, of which their many D 4 many charitable foundations, (an account of which is given in the courfe of this work,) which are fuch convincing proofs of it, that the prefent, as well as future ages will always confider them in the moft refpectable light they fo juftly deferve. The Irish are good judges of, and great admirers of mufic, in moft of the principal cities and towns are affemblies and concerts, and the harp is greatly admired by the country people. The furnames of many of the antient families, particularly of the better fort, have frequently an O or Mac, which fignifies fon, placed before them.-The nobility and gentry are as polite, well-bred, and humane, as thofe of the most polished nations; the merchants and traders are exceeding juft and honeft in their dealings, and the bulk of the people not inferior to the popu Jace elsewhere; doubtless exceptions may be pointed out to these general obfervations; and what country is free from fuch exceptions. There are many officers of this nation in the armies of the different powers of Europe, a way of life to which they are inclined by their martial difpofition; no nation can boaft of officers of greater courage, not to mention their high eftimation abroad, and the fervices they rendered their country during the laft war, and in the prefent one with America; their attachment to their fovereign, their love of freedom, of liberty, and their native country, and their refent ment ment of the indignities offered to England by the French and Spaniards, have induced gentlemen of Ireland to affociate and arm themselves in vindication of their rights and privileges. The various companies formed amount to near 40,000 men, who have received the thanks of the houfe of lords and commons, for their spirited and manly afsertions. The names of the respective companies are inferted in the particular counties and cities in which they refide. If the character of the antient Irish be taken from many modern writers, it would lead the reader aftray, who reprefent them in much the fame light as Strabo, Pomponius Mela, Solinus and other ancients have done, without paying any regard to the improvements among them.. It is to be obferved, that the taxes paid in Ireland lie very heavy on us, and on our trade and manufactures, and they are not well acquainted with the, circumftances of this country who think otherwise. They fee only the houfes and tables of men pofEfeffed of beneficial employments or otherwife in affluent circumftances, and are not acquainted with the wretched habitation and way of living of the lower clafs of people; the manufacturer, artificer, and farmer too often experience the reality of this affertion. Would the gentlemen of landed property of Ireland refide more on their refpecs tive eftates, the conlequences would be I be an increase of property to their tenants, and D 5 diffuse diffufe happiness through Ireland. Whoever vifits Ireland will find as great a proportion of genius, understanding, and civility, even in the very loweft class of the natives as he could poffibly wish for; it must be however candidly confeffed, that many industrious tenants labour under the greatest oppreffions by fome infatiable agent of their landlords, particularly those in the remote parts of the kingdom, where the real proprietors of the lands they hold never vifit, confequently cannot be so good judges of the true ftate of their tenants as may be incumbent on them; how far this may have occafioned an emigration of near 3000 families from Ireland within these few years, I fhall not take upon me to determine. With refpect to the hofpitality of the Irish, fome writers, particularly one TWISS, have faid that in order to their being efteemed polite, they enforce drinking fometimes more than may be agreeable; but fuch affertions deferve not the leaft credit from the difcerning public, for however fuch a falfe tafte, joined to a ridiculous vanity and oftentation, may ufurp the facred name of friendship and hofpitality among fome, it is certain that among the more fenfible part of the natives of Ireland, with whofe friendship I have been honoured, fuch notions and practices are juftly exploded. It is in fact no more than a juft tribute to their merit to affirm, that there is a native |