CHAP. VII.] POTATOES. 



not that 1 was a. fool: that might have Tbeen 

 rational; but, when 1 was, by these zealous 

 Hibernians, called a liar, a slanderer, a viper, 

 and was reminded of all my political sins, I 

 could not help thinking, that, to use an Irish 

 Peeress's expression with regard to her Lord, 

 there was a little of the Potatoe sprouting out 

 of their head. 



267. These rude attacks upon me even were 

 d\\ nameless, however; and, with nameless ad 

 versaries I do not like to join battle. Of one 

 thing J am very glad ; and that is, that the 

 Irish do not like to live upon what their accom 

 plished countryman DOCTOR DRENNAN, calls 

 " Ireland's lazy root'' There is more sound 

 political philosophy in that poem than in all the 

 enormous piles of Plowden and Musgrave. 

 When I called it a lazy root ; when I satyrized 

 the use of it; the Irish seemed to think, that 

 their national honour was touched. But, I am 

 happy to find, that it is not taste, but necessity, 

 which makes them mess-mates with the pig ; 

 for when they come to this country ; they in 

 variably prefer to their "favourite root," not 

 only fowls, gees^, ducks and turkeys, but even 

 the flesh of oxen, pigs and sheep ! 



268. In 1815, I wrote an article, which 1 

 will here insert, because it contains my opinions 

 upon this subject. And when I have done 



