Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-12-02
E-rtract from c6pR's STRANGER IN
IRELAND.

Ertract. from CfPIS's STRANGER IN
IRELAND.
SsI have in the course ofthis tour mention
ed some circumstances to illustrate the cha
racter OF the low Irish; and a little CLOSER
view OF it may not be unpleasant.
I'm this class of society, "A stranger will see
aperfect p cture OF nature. Pat stands be-
fore him, thanks to those who ought long
since to have cherished and instructed him,
as il were "in mudder's (mother's) naked
ness" His wit and warmth of heart are his
own, his errors and their consequences will
not be registered against hin. l speak
Of HIN il q quiescent state, and not when
suffering and ignorance led him into scenes
Of tu7lult, which infamcd his mind and
blool TO deeds that arc foreign 10 his nature
We know that the best when corrupted be-
come the worst, and that the vulgar mind
when overheated will rush headlong into
The most brutal excuses, more especially
II, in pursuing summary remedy for
zeal or supp sed wrong, it has the exam.
PIE cf occasional cruelty ard oppression
presented by those against when it advan-
sSs.
e'The'cwcr irish are remarkable for their
Ingenuity ana docilit;-, and quick conccp-
ton; ia these properties they are equailed
onv by the Russians. 1t is curious TO see
win WHAT scaHty materials they will work (;
they build their own cabins, and make bril-
Giles, stirrups, crUppers, and ropes for eve
~ rustic purpose, Of hay I; and British adj
jutants allow that an Irish recruit is sooner
made soldier than an English one.
"Thatthc Irish are not naturally lazy, is
evident from the quantity oflaborious work
which they viii perform, when they have
-, q, ~, -, r.. 81.
in their own country, and are adequately
paid arit, so as 70 enable them to get pro-
per food to support severe toll. Upon this
principle, in England, an Irish laborer is
alwavs preferred. Ii has been asserted nv
Dr. Campbell, who wrote in 1777, that the
Irish recruits we've in general short, owing
to the poverty of their food Is this asser-
ton were correct, and few tourists appear
to have been move accurate, they arc much
altered since shat gentleman wrote; for
most Of The Irish military regiments which
J saw exhibited very hne-locking men, fire.
quenty exceeding the ordinary stature {;
and OF the same time / must confess, do
not see how mcag"c diet is likely to clrtail
tire height OF man. Perhaps the doctor
might have seen some mountaiEeer recruits,
and m0untaircers are generally less in all
regions, according to the old sdage--
"Tbc higher tie nm, he shorter tie erase
elf l was grati}ied by contemplating the
militia OF Ireland, could not fail Of deriv-
ing the greatest satisfaction from seeing
those distinguished heroes, the volunteers
Of Ircl.ld: t'Iis army ofpatriots, composed
Of catholics rs well rs professionals, amounts
u about eighty thousand men; when their
country w1sin danger, they LEFT their f1mi-
lies, the r. homes, and their occupations,
and placed themselves in martial array a.
grinst tic invader and the disturber of her
rcpose: thsy fought, bied, and conquered :;
and their names will be enrolled in the
grateful page OF history, as the saviors of
their native land.
"What they have done, their brethren in
arms ON this side Of the water are prepared
and anxious 70 perform; and whenever the
opportunity occurs, VIII cover themselves
with equal glory.
The handsouest peasants in ireland are
the natives Of Kilkenny and The neighbcr-
hood, aAd the most wrctched and squalid
near Corl; ard Waterford, and in Munster
AMI C1nnaugit. Nv the county OF Rdscom-
mon TIC male and female pcasantry and
horses are handsome the former orc fair
an tall, and possesses great ileZibility of
muscle TIC ncn arc the best lcapers in
Ireland: thc finest hunters and the most
e1sgert huntsme1 are 90 be found in the Fine
syorting country Of Fermanagh. in the
county Of Meath .he peasants arc very he1-
vily l.mhed. IL the county Of Kerry, and
along the western shore, tdc peasants very
.fcpcli resmble the 5ptriar,ls in expression
e. cot scnanqe ard color Of hair.
L.. fTts la..tr on, 9orS viii cccace.o~o11v