198 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE &C. 



passes his life more retired and in a manner much 

 more solitary than the Irishman, and is often left 

 altogether to his own reflections, and to the im- 

 pressions which a wild and mountain scenery pro- 

 duces. In Leitrim and in some parts of the county 

 of Donegal, the character of the natives approximates 

 nearer to that of a Highlander, than elsewhere. The 

 scenery of both these countries is wild and romantic. 

 I must next adveii to that susceptibility of grati- 

 tude and resentment, so observable in the Irish. 

 They are prone to extremes in their prepossessions, 

 or their antipathies, their love, or their hatred. They 

 have no idea of the heartless neutrality of indiffisr- 

 ence, of the frigid torpor of insensibility ; and it is 

 with difficulty they can maintain that equanimity of 

 mind, which accords with the happy medium of mo- 

 deration. They are ardent and high spirited ; and, 

 though not so proud as Highlanders, they have got 

 all their impetuosity. No people in the world can 

 be made better friends, and it is not easy to conceive 

 of worse enemies. They have got some vanity, and 

 they may be flattered ; they possess warm affections, 

 and they may very easily be secured ; but they have 

 a degree of resentment that will not suffer them with 

 impunity to be injured or insulted. This character 

 appears to me extremely valuable, since it may be 

 turned to the best account: little can be done in 

 improving a people dull and stupid ; but much may 

 be accomplished with those who are alive to every 

 impression, who are acute, and generous, and ardent. 

 After all, the character which I have been delinea- 

 ting must be allowed to have many faults. These, 

 however, should, I think, be ascribed to the moral 

 and political circumstances in which the Irish have 

 been placed. The constituent parts of this character 

 are certainly good ; and, if under proper direction, 

 would undoubtedly produce the happiest results. 



M. D. 



