1827.] The Four Nations. 479 



concentration of the features. The eyes are nearer to each other ; the 

 cheek-bones more angular and prominent ; the nose is shortened and often 

 blunted at the termination, as if nature bad forgotten to finish it ; the upper 

 lip is very frequently disproportionate in its length to the rest of the face 

 -just as in the Hindoo and the Tartar ; but, instead of having the mouth 

 dependent in the middle like that of a Jew, with three-fourths of the 

 lips pared away or almost like the bill of a young sparrow the Celtic 

 mouth is straight, and rather depressed at the angles ; while the chin is 

 diminutive, and the whole puckered together, as if it had undergone some 

 squeezing process, which, at the same time, reduced the altitude of the 

 forehead. This general expression of countenance takes a different form in 

 Wales, in Ireland, and in Scotland. In Wales it expresses firmness or, 

 as one would say, obstinacy accompanied by a great deal of vehemence; 

 in Ireland the irritability seems joined to recklessness; while, in the Scotch 

 highlandcr, with equal passion and pride, there is rather more of cunning. 

 But it is probable that, though the passion and the pride the violent and 

 momentary impulse of purpose, as it were be primary in all the varieties 

 of the Celt, the additional quality by which it is distinguished, even phy- 

 siognomically speaking, in each of the three localities, is produced very 

 little by geographical situation, and chiefly by the circumstances hereafter 

 to be noticed. 



EDUCATION. Although all education, in so far as it is intellectual, 

 tends to subdue the passions at least the more animal ones and elevate 

 the general character ; and although, in as far as it is mechanical, it always 

 tends to make those upon whom it is bestowed more efficient members of 

 society ; yet education must take a certain tinge from the original structure 

 of the people among whom it obtains, and by reflection it must assist in so 

 far in perpetuating whatever peculiarity arises from that structure. 



If we were to characterise in few words the education of the English- 

 man, the Scot, and the Irishman, we would say that the Englishman's 

 education is a treatise upon a single subject, well understood, clearly 

 digested, and neatly written ; that the education of the Scot is a sort of 

 encyclopaedia not always very tasteful, and seldom very profound, but 

 still giving a general view of the great outlines of every thing; and that 

 the education of the Irishman is a kind of novel or romance often very 

 striking, but not just exactly applicable to any one specific purpose. The 

 Englishman is educated for some one particular object, which is kept 

 steadily in view all the time ; the Scotsman is educated also for an object, 

 namely, rising in the world if he can ; but, generally speaking, the 

 particular pursuit that he is to follow, as his ladder, does not enter into the 

 plan of his education ; and the Irishman, who proverbially considers 

 advancement more as a matter of lottery than either the one or the other, 

 and very generally calculates upon what is called " making a hit," is 

 educated for no specific object. 



The way in which education is extended over these three divisions of the 

 country (and, at least in this respect, there is a strong resemblance between 

 England and Wales) arises partly from this difference of purpose ; but, more 

 especially in Ireland, it is strongly modified by the differences of religion. 

 In England there is enjoyment down even to the pauper, who claims his 

 birthright in the workhouse; and therefore an Englishman, generally 

 speaking, does not seek for preferment in the world out of the vocation of 

 his father ; and, consequently, he is not so eager after education, not bear- 

 ing upon that vocation, as the man who is ready to snatch preferment, 



