118 THE IRISH PEOPLE. 



labour and exposure spoil their features, are 

 singularly fair and well-featured." 



127. Canon Monahan, D.D., a Leinster man, but 

 a native of the Diocese of Ardagh, which embraces 

 the greater part of Leitrim, says: " In the parts of 

 Leitrim with which I am best acquainted, the 

 peasants are the most stalwart and handsome I have 

 seen anywhere. Their great physical and intellectual 

 power, and their superiority to the Leinstermen 

 may be attributed to the mountain breezes, their 

 good moral lives, and their early marriages. But 

 I hear from Inspectors of Schools that the Mayo 

 people surpass in intelligence the natives of Leitrim 

 and Roscommon." 



128. The Rev. James Grimes: " Bessbrook, Co. 

 Armagh, 27th August, 1886. Regarding the height 

 and personal appearance of the people of the Fews, 

 I assure you they will compare favourably in both 

 respects with the peasants of any part of France or 

 Spain, as far as I am able to judge, and I have 

 travelled a good deal in both countries. In a word, 

 they are very little, if anything, behind the best 

 specimens of manhood in the Three Kingdoms 

 and this is the opinion of several gentlemen whom I 

 have consulted." 



129. The Rev. Wm. MacDonald, D.D., a native 

 of Leinster. This learned gentleman wrote to me 



