tucked round his waist. The porch of this ancient pile displays a degree of modesty, almost amounting to bashfulness, in the person or persons to whom the management of it has been intrusted. The pious of former times evinced some taste, and took more than ordinary care, in adorning the interior with finely polished marble; but some of the present day have manifested their humility by hiding the whole beneath several coats of whitewash. Portions of this snowy veil have fallen off in several places, and exposed the old vulgar extravagance within, giving an appearance somewhat resembling a large patchwork quilt. It is feared that even these small patches are offensive to certain chaste eyes, and will soon be covered, for there was a bucket of whitewash standing at the gate. The taste here displayed resembles the artist's skill, who represented the Israelites passing through the Red Sea, and the Egyptians going to be drowned by daubing the wall uniformly red.

is

Hence I proceeded to the county gaol, about half a mile from the city. It is a fine building of a square form, with sufficient room to admit of tolerable classification; but it very deficient as to inspection. There are nine yards, of which, two only can be seen by the keeper or assistants from any part of the prison: in these the worst description of prisoners is very properly kept. Experience has abundantly demonstrated the efficacy of solitary confinement; but, as there are no solitary cells, it is impracticable here. Mr. Phillips, the local inspector, appeared sensible of this want, and stated that he had represented it. It is earnestly to be hoped, that the spirit of economy which refused to pay a matron and schoolmaster for the city gaol, will not extend its pernicious and pitiful influence to this.

In each dormitory is a hole not quite six inches square, for

the admission of air and light; but they appear by no means sufficiently large for such a purpose, more particularly as the iron doors fit closely, and the whole prison is surrounded by two high walls, which prevent a thorough circulation of air. Employment has been introduced, but it appears to be going on very languidly; there was only one loom, and that did not seem to have been lately used. A school has been established, from which much good may be expected. The dormitories being placed on the inner side of the corridors, looking into the square, the prisoners of every class are enabled to hold conversation the whole night, if they are so inclined.

It is much to be regretted, that, while this prison was in progress of building, there was no person to offer a little useful advice, by which the last mentioned inconvenience, and some other trifling ones might have been obviated. In long-continued dry weather there is a scarcity of water: the main sewer has not sufficient fall, which occasions the water-closets to be sometimes stopped up; and as these are inside the prison, they become offensive; every now and then the main sewer requires to be cleared, and while this operation continues, it is quite a nuisance.

The dietary allowance is nine pounds of potatoes and a quart of new milk a day, for five days; on the intermediate days two pounds of good bread and a quart of milk are issued. This latter is the allowance at present for every day, the potatoes not being considered good. The cost of bread is three-pence half-penny, milk three half-pence a day.

Having examined this place, I visited the house of correction, a large building, capable of containing a great number of persons. The governor's apartments are in the centre, and on each side is a wing, the right for males,

the left for females. Delinquents are committed by the judges at assize time, or by the magistrates on ordinary occasions. Wheels and flax are provided for females to spin; and the males are employed sometimes in pounding hemp, sometimes in pulverizing sandstone, but the greater part of their time is spent in idleness. There is no weaying, nor any provision for education, or instruction of any kind to promote moral improvement.

There are four airing-yards, two solitary cells, two kitchens, three dining-rooms, four working-rooms, and four sleeping-wards filled with cradles, in each of which two or three persons usually sleep: thus thirty or forty This inpersons are every night turned into one room! judicious measure alone would be sufficient to invalidate the claim of this institution to the title it bears; but there are others strongly corroborative of the fact, some of which have been mentioned. Having heard that this establishment is quite a hobby with some gentlemen of the grand jury, and many others, I regret, for the sake of humanity, to be obliged to assure them, that it must be remodelled and conducted on a different principle before the morals of any delinquent can be by it reformed or improved. The dietary on a first committal is, nine pounds of potatoes and a penny for milk each day: on a second committal one pound ten ounces of brown bread is the allowance, and water alone for drink: on a third committal, the same allowance as last, and the hair to be cut off.

Adjoining the house of correction is a lunatic asylum capable of containing twenty persons: there are seventeen at present, ―nine males and eight females. On the male side there are two corridors, each containing three cells; on the opposite two corridors, containing two cells each. The cells for males are about eight feet square, and each

contains two beds: the cells for females are twelve feet square. There was nothing among the forlorn tenants of this mansion of wretchedness different from what is met in every such place; but in every one there is enough to make the heart sick, and to fill the mind with lowly gratitude for the enjoyment of those inestimable blessings of which we behold them deprived.

This happening to be the great fair-day for the sale of frize and various kinds of coarse woollen manufactures, it furnished a good opportunity of seeing the peasantry. Two of the greatest evils under which the poor of any country can labour are scarcity of food, and want of clothing, and every day throughout this inquiry presents innumerable instances of both. Among those, however, now before me, there is certainly no want of clothing, for I observe many of the men wearing two coats, and others three, although the thermometer stands at 79°. It is true, indeed, that there are many others at the same time without any coats, and almost destitute of covering. The entire wardrobe of an ordinary farmer may be seen on his person every day he goes to a fair or market. Some at this moment pass before my eyes wearing two coats, who have neither shoes nor stockings. Conversation appears to be carried on principally in the Irish language, and it is invariably used whenever they have to express emotion or passion. The quantity of wool and woollen manufacture in the fair to-day, is greatly short of what I had been led to expect.

On the subject of tithe every individual to whom I have spoken regards it as an odious and oppressive tax on industry, and that too of the humblest and most indigent. class of the community. A farmer near Inch candidly avowed that he had laid down his land for grazing, to avoid

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this exaction, and that he would continue to do so, although he believed it would be more profitable to raise corn, for which, he said, his land was much better adapted; another between Kilkenny and Callen made a similar declaration. Had an opportunity of seeing the interior of the Earl of Ormond's magnificent castle. Its noble proprietor does not swell the ranks of the "everlasting absentees."

At five in the evening left Kilkenny with the Waterford coach. Among the passengers was an intelligent gentleman, whose name, I subsequently learned, is Sir John Kean. Arrived in Waterford at ten, and immediately retired to rest.

18th. Took a long ride into the country, in a westerly direction, to the town of Killottery, and thence south-west to Newcastle, distant from Waterford about twelve miles. The ground is low and marshy, and the country but indifferently cultivated, considering its proximity to the city. As I went out there were very few persons out of bed, but as I returned the peasantry were in motion. In front of several cabin doors the men were engaged in shaving one another standing; and near them groups of females were sitting on their hams dressing and examining each other's hair, prior to putting on their Sunday clothes. Such filthy scenes had been familiar to me in Spain, but here they were, in some measure, unexpected; and although the circumstance appeared a strong historical feature in the people's character, still it was disgusting to be seen. Noticed many children basking in the sun, and some running about, unincumbered with any clothes whatever.

Returned to the city at ten, and after breakfast went to church, where a good congregation of well dressed people were assembled: the part of the church usually occupied by the military, was crowded to excess; and, after