22 IMPROVERS AND IMPROVEMENT. 



appear to have thought that their labours should be claimed by the 

 illustrious and popular alone; but the minor poets are often exceed- 

 ingly rich in brilliant imagination and polished elegance. We do 

 not speak of the " mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease," and who 

 wooed the courtly muse, for an ode, a song, or a madrigal ; but of 

 noble spirits, whose vigorous intellect now and then disported itself 

 in verse. The writings of these men are also well worthy of atten- 

 tion on another ground as being the links or stepping-stones be- 

 tween the eras of our few great poets, whose names and whose 

 writings have become land-marks in our literature. They also con- 

 vey a very accurate impress of the progress of refinement in style, 

 both as regards language and sentiment; and are in every way 

 worthy of attention. Not unfrequently, indeed, we find amongst 

 them perfect gems, snatches of true poetry, which afford abundant 

 evidence that the fire of genius, and the enthusiasm of song, were at 

 work in the hearts of their writers; and often we have to deplore that 

 the reliques which have come down to us are mere fragments. 



G. 



IMPROVERS AND IMPROVEMENT. 



AN IRISH SKETCH. 



B PARK is the residence of Sir Henry A , who, on 



coming unexpectedly into possession of this large estate in the South 

 of Ireland, determined to quit England, and reside on his newly- 

 acquired property, as soon as the house (which the last owner had 

 commenced building) could be put in a fit state to receive his family. 

 He promised himself infinite gratification from the good he should 

 effect amongst the poor people, and hoped soon to see his tenantry 

 distinguished for the superiority of their condition and their morals. 



He had travelled much, and resided long abroad, but nowhere 

 could he find England's equal for the industry and neatness of its 

 people. Sir Henry made it his model ; and, in moments of enthu- 

 siasm, his imagination painted the day, perhaps, not very distant, 

 when, in point of cultivation and comfort, his Irish estate should 

 look like an English oasis. 



On becoming a resident, Sir Henry lost no time in taking down 

 all the old cabins near his demesne, and erecting in their places very 

 neat slated cottages: these were occupied by the gamekeeper, the 

 ploughman, the shepherd, and the families of other out-of-door ser- 

 vants. But there was one cottage on which more care and expense 

 had been bestowed than on the others; it was two stories high, having 

 bed-rooms up-stairs, and the kitchen was fitted up with what was 

 considered a suitable grate. These circumstances combined, made it 

 the wonder of all the cabin-holders about. 



