THEIR HEIGHT, FORM, AND STRENGTH, 99 



attention, and which it is so creditable to you to 

 be anxious to refute. I have travelled the world 

 nearly all over, and have lived in countries and 

 amongst people sufficiently long to know them, and 

 I can say that, for physique, intelligence, and warm- 

 heartedness, I never met anything so acceptable 

 as what I have seen in my own country ; and my 

 native county of Sligo was at all times remarkable 

 for its fine men and beautiful women. This remark 

 is equally applicable to the Counties of Mayo and 

 Leitrini, with which I am also familiar. But the 

 happiest days of my life were spent in Sligo county 

 where I was intimately associated with the people 

 as land agent to a large estate for many years. 

 The tenantry were over, as well as I remember, 

 eight hundred heads of families. During the years 

 I was amongst them I never had a disagreeable 

 word with them. I even raised the rents ; or rather 

 the people themselves stated what was a fair rent 

 and I adopted it. The libel attempted to be cast 

 upon them by ignorant or malicious writers is so 

 nonsensical that I would hardly think it worthy of 

 notice, only that you have so patriotically interposed 

 to brand the falsehood as such, and do justice to a 

 peasantry who are in stature, vigour, and generous 

 instincts, second to none other on the face of the 

 globe. 



