The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-23
arises Lay the virtne in the stone, or in the pill

arises Lay the virtne in the stone, or in the pill
grim's faith
Our return drive was most charming-the
rain was past, and sunlight and fresh breezes
poured beauty and gladness on our way. /
cannot remember to have seen, anywhere, with
in 80 short distance, so many wild flowers.
There were the rich purple heather the yellow
broom, the for gioue, the "qteen Of The meadotc,"
the wild honeysuckie, the eonUolDuius, and the
golden-rod The shrubbery was more luxuri-
ant. the trees finer and more abundant, than
we had before seen-everything on our path
was beautiful and gracious, save the humanity,
which was wretched and poverty-stricken in
the extreme. From the miserable little mud
huts along the road, ran scores of children, of
all sizes, bare-headed, bare-footed, and bare
legged, with rags of all imaginable hues and
textures huttering in the wind, and attached
to their bodies by some unknown and mysteri-
Gus law of attraction--certainly by no visible
bond or support-with faces begrimed by
smoke, and wild eyes overhung with wilder
locks, they stretched out their dirty, beseeching
palms. and assailed us on all sides of our out
side car-most assailable of vehicles-ft con-
trivance for beggared land.
Irish carmen are a race of Jebus-driving
with eccentric fourishes of the whip, and when
more than usually excited, with strange bar
barrie whoops and hellos, making their odd
little vehicles jump along at an astonishing
rate. They are commonly communicative and
amusing, though by no means the quaint, cum
ming delightful, inimitable wags and wits your
Lovers and Levers your Edgeworths and Halls,
have pictured II is a singular thing, that
though they are from the first free and easy in
word and manner they are never Extensively so.
Native tact, good humor, and warmth of heart,
take from their advances all appearance of
boldness or impertnence. Our driver on this
occasion was disposed to be particularly So
ciabe, though not in the jocular way. He was
a man of much intelligence for his station, and
of serious, even sad, expression of face, and
he talked powerfully and with intense bitter
ness of the wrongs and sorrows of the Irish
peasantry. was struck by hearing him as
cribe most of their suferings, not to the Eng
lish Government but to the IRISH resident pro
prietors who, he averred had revealed in heart
less, wasteful extravaganza, while the people
starved, until since the failure of the potato
when many of them have been reduced to alb
solute want 1t was almost fearful to mark
the wild CLEAN in the mans eye, as he spoke
his fierce Joy in this retributive Justice
We were most fortunate in having letters to
Mr.. Shaw, of Monkstown, on the beautiful
bay of Cork, and received from him and his
family every possible kindness, and enjoyed in
his charming house most gracious hospitality.
Mr.. Shaw has on his property the ruins of two
castles-the one at YOUNGSTOWN an exceedingly
picturesque structure, dating only from the
time of Elizabeth, but the other, Beloelly
Castle, upon Cove Island, at least eight hun
dred years old We spent much of our time,
while with these friends, on the water, rowing
from shore to shore, and point to point, of this
noble bay, feastiDg our sight and storing our
memory with glorious pictures We one day
rowed to Cove Island, and dined in hall of
the old castle, which had rung to the clang of
rude armor and the wassail songs of Erin's
princes and knights, and to the wild war-notes
OF Irish harpers, eight hundred years ago.
had much pleasure in visiting, with Mr.
Shaw, two or three of the cottages Of his ten
ants; for found them all neat, orderly, and
comfortable. | have since seen nothing to
compare with them.
During our stay at Cork, we were twice Mt
the Exhibition, and were interested and graft
fed far beyond our expectation. One can no
longer despair for Ireland, surrounded by such
proofs of the taste, talent and industry of her
people. On our last visit, we were accompa-
MED by Sir Thomas Deane, who may count
among his honors that of having been the chief
protector and most able and faithful supporter
of this noble work God speed him. and such
as he, in all worthy efforts to develop and en-
courage art, and uplft honest industrial pride
in Ireland.
must say adieu and good night, as my time
is up and my candle is down. | know not
when may resume my correspondence-prob
ably not until my entire tour is completed. |
should have written before but the truth is,
have lost much time of late by severe illness,
from which am but now struggling up. This
must plead my excuse for what ! fear is more
than usually dull and faulty letter.
As ever, yours, GRACE GREENWOOD.