bonnets, and tearing characters to pieces; but a conversation full of scientific remark, rich with observation, abounding in wit, and mixed up with the happiest good humour and politeness: indeed, from the highest to the lowest in rank you meet with attention: ask a cardriver, hackney-coachman, or porter, your way, and he is scarcely satisfied in directing you, but he will walk with and put you into it.-Visit their cabins, you are immediately asked to sit down, with, "Will your honour plaise to take any thing?" when all they have to offer is a potatoe and salt. Yet they are happy; and never having known what luxury is, are content; and, although their appearance has every thing of wretchedness about it, they are robust, well-looking, and capable of bearing hardships, of which they have abundance of experience.

In the interior of the country the same character is visible a docile demeanour, full of civility, and ready, without a murmur, to do any thing you ask. Robberies are seldom known, and confidence so strong, that not half the attention is directed to bolts and bars, as with us in England. How have this noble peasantry been derided! how have they been degraded! Robbed of their independency-deserted by their nobility— manacled with religious shackles - restraints upon opinions — their industry cramped by laws to enrich our own manufacturers, and all under the blind policy which sees not, that to enrich Ireland we at the same time enrich ourselves.

In an excursion to the interior, and in the neighbourhood of Kilkenny, I visited the Merino Factory, situate in a beautiful valley, and most agreeably sheltered by two sloping hills, rising from a small river. This manu

factory owes its rise to Messrs. Nowlan and Shaw, who, with difficulties to encounter, which would have damped the spirits of ordinary men, have succeeded in an establishment which will ever make their names dear to the

sons of Erin. This factory, for the manufactory of woollen cloths, is equal to any I have seen, and gives employment to five hundred poor men, women, and children, snatched from wretchedness and misery. These, as some would call wild Irish, now form a happy community, enjoying all the comforts of a social and wellregulated moral family, under the kind, the affectionate, yet steady disciplinarian and father, Mr. Nowlan

"Whose easy presence checks no decent joy:

Him e'en the dissolute admire;

For he a steady gaiety can put on,

And, laughing, could instruct!"

I marked his urbanity of character, (and the opportunity I had of being present at an evening revel, where, after the hour of labour, the lads and lasses joined in the merry dance,) in the notice he took of two young married men and women, by kindly taking them by the hand, and offering them his congratulatory wishes. It was delightful to see the harmony which pervaded this happy group. Would that the example here set, were generally followed in establishments of this kind! Would England, with its unemployed capital, but transfer a part of it to Ireland, how would its manufactures flourish, its trade increase, it soil give produce, and her population add to our own strength! Shame to the narrow policy which guides our councils! Shame to the man who sold his country! and shame to those who have deserted it!

AN ENGLISHMAN.

To MAJOR GORDON, &c. &c.

MY DEAR SIR,

October 23, 1819.

I AM much honoured by the wish you express to see my paintings: I could have wished you had said to see me. However, I can assure you that I shall be most happy to gratify you; and although my breakfast hour is eight, I will say nine, in the hope of seeing you to-morrow morning and as your object is to see my pictures, I think I cannot name a better time.

Now, my dear sir, as I have cheerfully acceded to your wish, I hope you will accede to mine, which is, that to-morrow, or the next day, you will do me the favour to take a plain dinner with Mrs. Oakley, the girls, and myself, at half past five, or six: and if I could be indulged with the company of Miss Bentley, my good friend Mr. Perry, and his fair daughter, we should be most happy. Pray tell Mr. Perry, if he will venture to domesticate with us, that he will be allowed to send his own wine; or if he can trust to the attention of my daughters, I think their endeavours to please and suit his palate, will not be unsuccessful.

I am now in my little book-room alone, with all my family around me, on canvass.

Very truly yours,

B. O.

TO WILLIAM FARRAN, Esq.

MY DEAR SIR,

Royal Exchange, November 10, 1819.

YOUR first and second letters came to hand:

the former conveyed the pleasing intelligence that Mrs.

Farran performed her journey "surprisingly well :" but the latter has damped the first impression so agreeably raised, by acquainting me of her returning indisposition. The ladies participate in sympathy with myself, both for Mrs. Farran and you; but we trust it is only of a transient description, and that the next account will be more congenial to your feelings and our own.

I have sent you a fac-simile of a pen-drawing, done by myself, from a small portrait you may have seen in my house it is a lithographic impression, and the first I have attempted. You will have the goodness to give its companion to our friend Nowlan. If it serves to remind you of one who has a warm feeling for the kindness he has received, he will feel compensated by his acceptance of it. He would have forwarded impressions to other friends, to whom every attention is due; but it may be equally acceptable to them to say, he inquired after them, with a grateful recollection of their kindness and hospitality.

I hope, and indeed I know, that you will not relax in your endeavours to bring Sir Joseph to book. Take care that his plausible observations do not influence his official relative to induce procrastination: if the money is forthcoming, well; if not, proceed to sale in your best way.

I have received to-day a Dublin paper, giving an account of a theatrical dinner, for which I thank you.

How was my letter received by your friends? Has it appeared in Irish print? I have had many encomiastic remarks from some friends here, particularly countrymen of

yours.

Town is filling very fast, occasioned by the early meeting of Parliament. I hear it is intended to bring on

R

the Catholic question, and that it is likely to be carried : but I will not go into politics. Make our affectionate remembrances to Mrs. Farran, and accept the thanks of the ladies for your warm invitation.

Yours always,

B. O.

I behaved very rudely in not taking leave of Doctor and Mrs. Harty. I drove it off till the last, and then was so hurried that I forgot it. Pray do me the favour to apologize for me.

TO THE REV. JOHN POTTICARY, BLACKHEATH.

MY DEAR SIR,

Royal Exchange, November 10, 1819.

YOUR very flattering approbation of my sentiments is too much charged. I have no claim to the "eloquent:" I am, as you well know, " a plain blunt man, and that they know full well who give me leave to speak." But were I Castlereagh, and Castlereagh Oakley, there were an Oakley should put a tongue in every wound at Manchester, "that should move the very stones to rise and mutiny!"

"I should have thought that some of Nature's journeymen had made men, and not made them well!" But I will not carry the allusion further than to say, we have a cabinet made up of bits and scraps - a patchwork of veneering, without any thing solid or substantial. They have spoiled even the harvest of taxation, and by a