heaven." Big Ned Joyce's house was of a different description from any we had befroe occupied, He had been at one time a wealthy middleman, but fron extravagance and mismanagement was nearly reduced to the level of a common peasant, Their fire-side however was more comfortable: there were some chairs and a table in the room from the roof hung down stores of smoked geese and mutton, instruments of fishing, and other articles which shewed the remains of former prosperity, The inner room contained a bed with cotton hangings, a low table and a chair. The cattle were not allowed the privilege of parlour boarders; and, upon the whole, every thing was in much better style than the outside of the cabin had given us reason to expect. Dinner was served up in due course, consisting of a goose fresh from the bay, smoked mutton, fish, potatoes and eggs.".

The Family Party took up their residence finally in Cunnemara in the year 1819, having previously got rid of the middleman who held his property, and getting acquainted with people around them, their native character is thus observed on:

"Of all the conflicting statements with respect to poor Ireland, and the many heavy charges which have been brought against the Irish, none has been more generally allowed than the inveterate idleness of the people."

But having been successful in obtaining employment for them by means of the munificence of the London Tavern Committee, it is said:

"To confess the honest truth, I was as much and as agreeably surprised as you could have been, to find how eagerly our poor women here engaged in making up the clothes, the materials of which were last year supplied by the brotherly kindness of the English; and how much better they acquitted themselves, as sempstresses, than could have been expected. They worked late and early; and it became a matter of some difficulty to divide the work between the different competitors, so that as many as possible might obtain a share; for to satisfy the whole number of applicants, was quite out of the question. It was, indeed, with unmingled feelings of pleasure, that I noticed the cheerfulness, the alacrity, that was for the time imparted to their looks; and the many little rural presents of eggs, gloves of their own knit ting, &c. &c. which, in grateful return, were brought to those who acted upon this occasion, the pleasing parts of agents to their distant benefactors. They seemed to ask nothing better than a continuance of employment.

"The population is so large, the number able and willing to work so great, that, after the first pressure of want was over, it was found necessary to exclude the boys, and limit to those who were without any other means of subsistence. Instances were then known, of boys standing on stones and sods of turf, to obviate any objec tion to the lowness of their stature."

At page 77, we have the following description of the costume of a decent female:

"Their country flannel, thickened with oatmeal, and dyed with madder, a process which takes place at home, forms so good and substantial a petticoat, of a bright red colour, set in full plaits round the waist, that its warmth might well defy even the rudest of our western hreezes. The gown, which is open before, with short sleeves, and a lined bodice, is of the same material, but generally of chocolate brown colour. If an under garment of linen, an unbleached linen apron, which is not very common it must be confessed, and a coloured cotton neckerchief be added, with a large blue or grey cloak thrown across the shoulders, you have as respectable a figure as can be wished for in the foreground of our mountain scenery. If unmarried, her glossy black or auburn hair will be turned in a very becoming madonna behind her ears, and fastened with a large black pin; if married, you have but little chance of seeing it neatly kept, and therefore it is as well that it should be concealed beneath a linen cap. I see that, regardless of my commendations, your eye is fixed with surprise and disgust upon her naked feet; but I pray you to remember, that she must traverse many a bog, and cross many a mountain stream, before she can reach her

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lowly cabin; aud shoes and stockings, if she had them, would only prove an incumbrance."

Of one of the poorest we are told in a subsequent page :

"If such is the appearance of one of the best of our countrywomen, you may easily conceive the change which negligence aud poverty gradually produce. No linen at all is worn by the poor creature; her bright red petticoat becomes dingy and ragged, her gown hangs in strips, the neckerchief, if she have one, is so dirty that its colours are undistinguishable, and the cap bears no appearance of ever having been bleached. In vain you look for the gude grey cloak- across ber shoulders is thrown a square wrapper of flannel or cotton, or perhaps an old cotton gown, borrowed for the occasion, and forming a drapery peculiar, I fancy, to this country, but neither becoming or picturesque; or if the weather be rather cold, the dirty blanket is taken from the bed, and drawn closely round both her head and shoulders."

Ireland throughout, teeming as it is with an awfully-increasing population, and which is year after year outstripping the means of decent or certain support; and that population, trusting as it does to the potatoe crop for its food, is, and must continue to be more and more liable to the fearful visitations of scarcity: for of all articles of common agricultural produce, the potatoe is the most liable to injury, and suffers as well from extreme heat as moisture. Now this evil, threatening as it does all Ireland, is peculiarly applicable to Cunnemara, where the extreme wetness of the climate often affects the lazy root, both in the quality and quantity of its produce. One of the Family Party thus speaks of the sufferings and patience of the poor, under the privations of a scarcity:

"There is, however, another light in which the faults of the poor Irish may be viewed; it is the connexion which they bear to their virtues. Take, for example, their indolence (their inveterate laziness, as it has been most unjustly called,) which has so long been the object of unsparing invective from their enemies. I will not defend them against the charge; but could you witness the common, every-day sufferings of our poor; could you examine the state of their dwellings, forming a strange melancholy contrast with the luxuries of their richer neighbours. In this view of the case, their habitual supineness may be almost regarded as a boon from heaven, blunting the edge of suffering, which might otherwise prove too acute for human nature to support. "Sure it was too much trouble entirely," reconciles them to the smoke that darkens their little cabin, and the rain that patters through the unthatched roof; and the same feeling inclines them to lie down and die, when Providence has blasted their potatoe crop, and deprived them of the fruit of their labours. Hard as was the task, it was sometimes necessary to refuse that relief which could not be extended to all in full proportion to their wants; but never was the refusal met by a murmur or a reproach. On one such occasion," God help us !" was the answer of the poor man, with an expressive movement of his shoulders," God help us, then, for if your Honour can do nothing for us, there is no one that can." There is something peculiarly touching in this submissive patience; and clamorous and reiterated supplication is much easier repulsed, than the "God bless you. Sure it can't be helped then!" 1 went yesterday to see a woman who has been lately confined of her seventh child. I found her in what you call the lowest ebb of distress; but still she uttered no complaint; and the prevailing expression of her countenance was contentment, even to a striking degree. Her cabin was without a window, the holes in the floor were filled with rain-water, and of the two opposite doors one was open to give light to the room, the other, off its hinges, rested against the frame work, and but partially protected the woman from the effects of a thorough draught of air, Her scanty bed of straw was spread upon the damp floor: a single blanket her only covering, while her head was literally supported by a block of wood. Yet she asked for nothing; and her eyes glistened with tears of gratitude, while she thnked us,

with a profusion of blessings, for the trifling assistance she had received. Indeed, then, I was loth to be troubling your honour, after all you have done for me and mine,” was her reply, when I reproved her for not having sooner apprized us of her illness.

I shall not easily forget the expression in the poor woman's countenance, after she had seen her little ones dressed in the clothes provided for them by English benevolence. I happened, unobserved to see her, after she had left the house, kneel-, ing down in the path, her children in each hand, her eyes raised to heaven praying aloud. Are not such the prayers which rise like incense to heaven? Are not such the prayers which fall back in blessings on the heads of those for whom they are offered.

The Twenty-seveuth Letter speaks of the party spirit which exists in the western part of Ireland, excited and called into play by electioneering politics, and an anecdote is told which sets in a strong light indeed how far gentlemen will go to protect their own tenants, and persecute those belonging to a rival landlord:

A constable met resistance in the discharge of his duty, and to secure his prisoner was obliged to draw his sword. In the scuffle the prisoner was wounded in the thigh, an artery was divided; and as no medical assistance was at hand, the poor man bled to death. You will observe that the constable was obliged to make off the moment he had wounded the man, who was of course left to the care of his friends. The constable was tried for murder; and the cause excited very general interest. A neighbouring landlord took an active part against the poor man-and the jury were unfortunately of his party. There was much hard swearing, but the defence was well conducted; and the judge at last stopped the prisoner's counsel, telling him it was needless to call for more witnesses, as enough had been proved to make it justifiable homicide. Notwithstanding the strong charge which was given, the jury brought in a verdict of wilful murder. The judge reproached them, and sent them back to reconsider the verdict. It was of no avail: they persevered; and there was nothing to hope from them. The judge in recording the verdict, pronounced the jury a "most extraordinary set," and assured the poor constable that his free pardon should be sent from Dublin by return of post; for that were he to allow the sentence to be executed, he should make himself accessary to a legal murder. Great applause was expressed in court upon the conclusion of the sentence; and the feelings of the prisoner were still further alleviated by the promise that he should not be put in the condemned cell, and that " not a hair of his bead should be injured."

Every one could clearly see the motives on which the man had been first convicted; he himself went further; and attributed his escape solely to the interference of the magistrate, under whose warrant he had acted. It was impossible to make him understand that his acquittal had been secured by the strong proofs of his innocence, "I was to have been hanged last Monday," he told us upon his return, "but his Honour saved me. Three times they brought me in guilty; but his Honour was upon the green table talking for me about an hour, and he was stronger than the jury altogether. Sure, it's his Honour entirely that saved my life."

As a contrast to this, take the following picture:

A pretty young girl of sixteen came to me this evening, who might well have her portrait taken as "the blushing bride." She had stockings to sell, and entered the room with that downcast gravity so becoming a bride-elect. She looked neither to the right hand nor to the left; and seemed conscious that she was an object of kindly ridicule to her companions. I fancied that her dress was neat, and more soignee than usual, and her black hair, so soon to be concealed beneath a matronly cap, appeared more than commonly glossy. When I asked her name, a sly laugh was beard round the room, and the low tones of her answers were lost amid the general cry of " Peggy Keane's her name: but it's not long that will be." This produced a most becoming confusion in my blushing damsel. Her head on one side, and she cast her black eyes to the ground with such an air of timid distress that I should really have pitied her, but for the smile I observed lurking on her lips. I bought her stockings, gave her a little good advice, and a great many good wishes, inquiring at the same time what name she had chosen in exchange for her own. Oh! then it was that the maidenly blush on her cheek increased to a deeper crimson; and the pence

rolled round and round in the palm of her hand, while her hesitating tongue with difficulty pronounced the favourite swain. Upon inquiring the character of the young man, I addressed myself to a girl who was about herself to get married; and a poetic answer which she gave me in the course of our conversation struck me as equally characteristic of the national love of imagery, and passionate warmth of feeling. "A good husband," I had said, "is a great blessing." Could there be a more trite commonplace? How different her reply!" It is a blessing, if it please God, to find a shelter from every wave.”

I afterwards found that the marriage had been delayed for many weeks for want of the guinea and a-half demanded by the priest. And if there is so much difficulty in raising the first sum, what are the means of future subsistence? Have you any potatoes? have you any turf? have you even a cabin to go to? No, no, no, to all these questions. They were to live with his brother, and to be supported by him, in return for the man's labour; which during the winter months, can be worth very little, They intended to set their own bit of land in the spring, and get a cabin of their own by the time the crop was ready! To all my sage remonstrances, she only answered, "Sure, and it's no more than any girl in the country would do."

The fifteenth letter of the Family Party treats on the subject of Education; and we really wish our limited space would permit us to remark on it; but as we do not altogether agree with the writer, and should therefore have to animadvert more at large on the subject, we deny ourselves the opportunity, and proceed to the 15th and 16th letter, where the character and influence of the Romish Priesthood, and the religious character and superstition of the people are treated of..

Payment of the Priests.

The people have no voice in the appointment of their pastors; but, like dutiful sons of the church, must submit to superior authorities, and, instead of contributing merely in what, proportions they please, must pay the dues which are demanded of every householder, year by year, besides the fees upon the administration of the sacraments. The former here are at the rate of 20d. from the head of each family; the latter [varying however in different parts of the country]. are 2s. 6d. for anointing, i. e. the extreme unction, 3s. 4d. for churching, and from a guinea to 30s. for the celebration of marriage. As it is upon the payment of these that the priest depends for his stipend, they are exacted from the very poorest of the people; sometimes, in cases truly distressing, even to the uttermost farthing. There being no separate fee for the performance of baptism, this more essential ceremony is often very long delayed, until the fee for the less important one of churching the mother, can be ready prepared. At another time, the priest refused to christen a child, although he was offered within pence of the stipulated sum; even, when was this afterwards procured, he grumbled because tea and sugar had not been provided for his breakfast. In the case of another poor woman, it was not till after the birth of a second child that she was churched, although the superstitious notion that if a woman leave the house before the ceremony is performed the grass will never grow where she treads, might seem to ensure their utmost exertions.

The difference of Character.

I have heard our poor neighbours compare the disposition of the present priest with that of his predecessor, much in the same way that they are accustomed to speak of the Protestant incumbent. "Oh! sure it wasn't that way with Father Tom at all; it isn't because that he would be taking the bit out of the poor widdee and orphan's mouth; but Father Dennis says, that where he comes from, the widdees were always the best pay; and he's a good warrant sure to take it from them. Didn't I go supperless the last time I carried him a tenpenny? Because I had got the money with me, I felt quite bold like; and, Father Dennis,' says I, 'you'd be having some pity of the poor cretur, who has six weak childer, and no father to help them with his little earnings:' with that he just beckons me to hand him the money. As the woman concluded with the account of her reluctant compliance, ber countenance assumed very much the same expression which it would have done, under similar circumstances, with a tithe proctor.

The consequence of their exactions:

The Priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church lay claim to a higher degree of personal importance than the ministers of any other religion; but if they make the validity of the services and sacraments of their church dependent upon the character of the officiating priests they overshoot their mark. For their morals not being equal to such high preter.sions, the votaries of superstition, while they obey their religious mandates with slavish fear, yet speak of their persons with a want of respect almost amounting to contempt. And thus it is, that when ambition, ignorance, and superstition, combine to give an undue preponderance to one scale, the common sense of mankind is thrown into the other, and sets the balance right again.

The magnitude of the dues of the church, and the severity with which they are exacted, is a topic on which they do not scruple to express their sentiments; but it is scarcely possible to blame the priest who depends on these fees for his maintenance, and is too well acquainted with the character of of his flock to put any faith in their promises of future payment; yet, the consequences of such severity are sometimes very distressing. An instance of this lately occurred on the borders of Cunne

marra.

The son of a man, who had once known better days, being on his death-bed, the Priest of the parish was requested to administer the holy viaticum; but his last dues were unpaid, and he positively refused. The anxious father spread the contents of his purse upon the table, and "Plaze your reverance, take what you will;" but in vain, the Priest was inexorable, and the poor young man died without the last important sacrament, indispensably necessary, as every true Catholic believes, to the salvation of the parting soul.

Three years ago, when ribbandisnì flourished in the county of Galway, these dues formed the subject of a clause in the petition of grievances; and to reduce them one half was reported to be the intention of the insurgents. They remain, however, in full force, even in the times of distress.

Influence of the Priest on the People as to retarding their Education:

Our school which had flourished, without opposition, during four years, has at length experienced the fate of so many others; and is at the present moment almost deserted ;-not because the parents are indifferent to the improvement of their children, not because the parents are suspicious of any design of winning them over to a creed differing from their own, but because, "Sure your Honour, the curse of the priest is a dreadful thing." Several of the poor women and children, with tears in their eyes, expressed their regret at being obliged to give up the advantages which they had so long enjoyed; nor, indeed, would they yield the point, until the most dreadful curses and threats of personal violence had been used. Their sense of duty to their children, and the strong feeling of their own interest, have at last been sacrificed to the more powerful passion of fear.

The religious character of the people:

It is, indeed, to me, the most painful circumstance connected with a residence in Ireland, that the difference of religion forms such a strong line of separation between Protestants and their Roman Catholic neighbours: shutting them out, as it were, from all communication on a topic so full of interest to both parties. Prejudices have taken such deep root, and every feeling of irritation has been so constantly kept alive, that the subject is no sooner introduced, than all these are up in arms to prevent its candid reception.

During a lonely walk last summer, I met with a tenant's wife, who warned me of the danger which she thought I was likely to encounter from some wild cattle on my return home. This led to a conversation, in the course of which the subject of going to heaven was mentioned. She seemed to reckon confidently upon my being of the number who would gain admittance. I expressed the hope of finding many of my neighbours there. Och, sure, it's not for the likes of us, poor dirty craturs, to be going to such a fine place!" I reminded her that our blessed Saviour's distinction rested on purity of heart, not on any outward appearance: but she still persisted, in apparent security of my salvation, and incredulity respecting her own. May be now, if I could but get hold of your Honour's gown, I might slip in wid

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wish space allowed us to continue our extracts from this, to us, very interesting work: wc are obliged, however, to close