THEIR HEIGHT, FORM, AND STRENGTH. 77 



son of Scotch parents, wrote of Ms visit to the West 

 of Ireland : " At Kilf enora, while sketching, I was 

 attended by a crowd of persons, poor and in want. 

 I felt considerable annoyance, but a little conversa- 

 tion with them gave me another proof, in addition 

 to many I had already met with, of the superiority 

 in natural politeness, feeling, and sense of the 

 peasants to that of the class immediately above 

 them. Their curiosity is never obtrusive, their easy 

 familiarity is never disrespectful ; they are patient 

 and cheerful under the severest sufferings. A youth, 

 wild-looking, ragged, well-formed, and of oval face, 

 enthusiastic and intellectual, was singing an Irish 

 song for a group of delighted listeners." Here Petrie 

 expresses amazement at Pinkerton's assertion that 

 " the wild Irish are at this day the veriest savages 

 on the face of the globe." As the result of much 

 inquiry and attentive observation, he praises their 

 primitive simplicity, ingenuous manners, singular 

 hospitality, and honesty. They are brave, hardy, 

 industrious, enterprising, thoughtfully intelligent, 

 innocent. " Lying and drinking form no part of 

 their character. They never swear, have a high 

 sense of propriety, honour, and justice. They are 

 healthy, comely, and prepossessing, of fine intellect, 

 and delicate sensibility." 



74. In 1825, Sir Walter Scott writes from Ireland 



