THEIR HEIGHT, FORM. AXD STRENGTH. 75 



68. In 1812, Wakefield, an Englishman, endorses 

 those words of Hamilton: " Tho'ugh Ireland 

 abounds with bogs, from its peculiar salubrity the 

 natives are celebrated for just symmetry of propor- 

 tion and athletic frame ; because, from earliest 

 infancy to manhood, a check is rarely given to the 

 progressive increase of animal strength. From the 

 same source arise those ardent passions and that 

 flow of animal spirits which render the natives of 

 Ireland always cheerful, often turbulent and bois- 

 terous the natural consequences of uninterrupted 

 health and a vigorous constitution." 



69. In 1813, I. C. Curwen, M.P. for Carlisle, made 

 the tour of Ireland. He says in one of his letters, 

 published in 1818: "Is it not grievous to behold 

 so intelligent, so robust a people pine away their 

 lives in apathy? We may be assured that not from 

 any defect in the corporeal powers of the people can 

 any impediment arise." 



70. 1818. The famous Scotchman, Dr. Chalmers, 

 says Mr. Gladstone, spoke as follows in 1818: "I 

 speak of the great mass of the Irish people, and I do 

 think that I perceive a something in the natural 

 character of Ireland which draws me more attrac- 

 tively to the love of its people than any other 

 picture of national manners has ever inspired. They 

 are a people, you will find, whom no penalties could 

 turn, and no terror of military violence could over- 



