154

Presentiment of an Irish Lass.

lated either on her dream, or her dependance on the fickle goddess. Should you smile at the credulity of this poor Irish lass, be pleased to recollect the thousands who annually calculate in the same way, and with no more pretensions, on the favor of the blind goddess, while they stake their money with higher odds against them. Let the defects in Dame Fortune's sight be ever so glaring, they cannot exceed the shortsightedness of her numerous votaries. You will as little question this, I trust, as the regard, respect, and esteem of

Yours,

J. C. C

LETTER XIV.

Bally Castle, August 22, 1813.

IF I have hitherto in my letters disregarded the neat stock of the country, it has not arisen from inattention, but from inability to trace those I have seen, up to any distinct breed. The milch cows are a mixed race, sprung from long-horned ancestors, without either beauty or symmetry to recommend them. None of the white cows spoken of by Giraldus Cambrensis are now to be heard of. Their existence in Ireland is imputed to him as a fiction. I do not see what object was to be gained by it. White cattle still exist in the Highlands, and seem to have been amongst the most ancient breed, both in England and Scotland.

In the treaty made in 1642, between the Marquis of Ormond and the Commissioners authorized by the Council of Kilkenny, a sum of seven thousand five hundred pounds sterling was to be paid to King Charles the First in good beeves,

156

Injustice of England towards Ireland.

at thirty pounds the score. Four-and-twenty years afterwards the cheapness of Irish cattle became a complaint, and induced the English Parliament to sanction the rigorous and impolitic act for restraining the export of Irish cattle. It was in the debates on this subject, in the House of Lords, that the Duke of Buckingham declared that whoever was against the bill "had either an Irish interest, or an Irish understanding." A more glaring instance of the folly and injustice of England towards Ireland can hardly be produced, and shows the utter ignorance which prevailed, at the time, of the real interests of both kingdoms. As no fresh law was passed in Scotland, the intention of the promoters of the law was defeated.

As to sheep, I have seen but few, and those truly miserable creatures in a double sense; first, in their sorry appearance; and next, in the curtailment of the natural use of their limbs by shackles, which fasten their hinder with their fore legs, and prevent their escape from threatened dangers.

This practice is resorted to, I presume, in order to keep the animals within certain bounds, which the fences are insufficient to effect, or to oppose a barrier against any other sort of stock;

Observance of the Sabbath in Scotland.

157

an inconvenience not less disadvantageous tó the occupier of the lands, than it is a drawback to the beauty of the country. Hedges in tatters always, in my mind, bespeak inhabitants in rags.

Sunday, above all other days, exhibits the manners, while the religious observances and offices of a people develope their morals; and the passing traveller is enabled to collect evidence on which to ascertain the degree of civilization to which they may have attained.

The impressions on the present were very different to the emotions with which we were inspired on the preceding Sunday. The attendance on public worship, and the general regard to the decencies of the day in Scotland, are truly edifying: gratitude and humanity both conspire and assist in the due observance of the sabbath; for while the brute creation is allowed by man to rest, the incense of adoration is due from him to that omniscient unbounded presence, whose beneficence bestows all earthly benefits here, and encourages him to hope for more substantial and durable blessings hereafter! The Scottish peasant, though slow, cold, and phlegmatic, in the ordinary affairs of life, is active, warm, and zealous, in the discharge of his religious observances, which he conscien

158

Duty of observing the Sabbath.

tiously feels he is bound to perform. He knows his duty, and discharges it: here, if known, it is neglected.

The necessity ought to be imperious to justify a breach of the sabbath. In the time of harvest, attended by uncertain sun-shine, and in a country so subject as this is to wet weather, occasions may arise to justify the husbandman in using every means-in availing himself of every opportunity, that may enable him to preserve the bounty which Providence had bestowed. But I am sorry to say, as we passed on, we observed many of the people laboring in the fields, inexcused from the violation of the sabbath by harvest work.

In Roman Catholic countries, after the services of the day are concluded, all the sacred duties are supposed to be finished, and the peo.. ple are at liberty to pursue their private plea sures, or partake of public amusements.

When we consider how great is that propor-. tion of mankind, who rise every day, with the exception of one in each week, to labor, in order to live to whom, resting from such labor is partaking the greatest of luxuries-how must this indulgent day of rest be hailed and wel