,137 



fiery pegasus" that a novice in horsemanship dares not ven- 

 ture to mount. The seaman will chmb unconcernedly to a 

 height, where landsmen cannot see him without terror; and 

 confiding in the habitual strength of his hands, suspend him- 

 self over the waves into which one less practised would drop 

 in despair. - 



It is this effect of habit, in improving manual operations, 

 that has rendered the division of labour of so much import- 

 ance to a commercial country. But the wealth it creates, is 

 not altogether a compensation for the expenditure of health, 

 activity, and intellect, that are given in exchange. Low must 

 be his bodily strength, and mean his understanding, who is 

 destitute of all thought or employment, but cutting off" iuches^ 

 of wire or sharpening them into points. In the northern 

 parts of Ireland a different system exists — there is there a 

 population not to be exceeded for intelligence in any part of 

 the globe ; and this blessing is chiefly to be ascribed to the 

 prevalence of exercising two different trades, the one an 

 active, the other a sedentary occupation. The weaver, it is 

 true, might be a much better weaver, if he confined liis at- 

 tention to the shuttle, and relinquished the spade and the 

 plough ; and the farmer excel as a farmer, if he never sat 

 down to the loom. But the individual is stronger and 

 healthier, more intelligent and happy ; and if the country 

 has less wealth, it is more nobly enriched in the vigour, in- 

 tellect and energy of a people who are competent and am- 

 bitious to be her defenders. 



VOL. XII. T 



