BAD IRISH SERVANTS. 155 



worth two in the heel.&quot; If they had more knowledge, 

 and fewer of the prejudices which knowledge would 

 remove, they would of their own accord exercise more 

 reasonably their wasting energies. 



And yet there are patches of excellent land along the 

 road to St Stephens, and some intelligent improving 

 farmers, whom the want of time alone prevented me from 

 visiting. Indeed, it is much to the credit of the county 

 of Charlotte, that the oldest agricultural society of the 

 province has its headquarters at St Andrews, and that 

 in its neighbourhood live many persons who arc most 

 anxious to promote every branch of rural industry. 



One of the greatest obstacles to good or extensive 

 farming in this neighbourhood, is the difficulty of pro 

 curing good servants. Those who offer themselves for 

 hire are the poorest of the southern Irish, who have 

 never been out at service, or accustomed to regular 

 work at home. &quot; They have to be taught everything, 

 and to be watched if they are to continue to do anything 

 in the way you have taught them ; and then, when by 

 six or twelve months drilling you have broken them 

 into something, they go away and leave you.&quot; 



We know how badly these people manage their own 

 bits of land at home, and they cannot carry more know 

 ledge or better habits with them to a new country. 

 But the most amusing thing to an indifferent person is 

 the airs they give themselves, on the very score &quot; that 

 they have never been out, or never brought up to sar- 

 vice,&quot; and that therefore they are rendering you a great 

 favour in taking service with you, for which, besides 

 paying them, and bearing with all their provoking 

 faults, you ought to feel yourself under an everlasting 

 obligation. I was somewhat moved to indignation one 

 day in Sussex Vale with the Irish servant of a friend of 

 mine, who was driving me in his master s carriage, on 

 his telling me, as it were apologetically for finding him 



