io8 MANNERS. 



In the country their life has fome circumftances which are 

 not commonly feen in England. Large tracts of land are kept 

 in hand by every body to fupply the deficiencies of markets, 

 this gives fuch a plenty, that, united with the lownefs of taxes 

 and prices, one would fuppofe it difficult for them to fpend 

 their incomes, if Dublin in the winter did not lend afiiftance. 

 Let it be confidered, that the prices of meat are mnch lower 

 than in England ; poultry only a fourth of the price ; wild 

 fowl and fifh in vaftly greater plenty ; rum and brandy not half 

 the price ; coffee, tea and wines far cheaper ; labour not 

 above a third j fervants wages upon an average thirty per 

 cent, cheaper. That taxes are inconfiderable, for there is no 

 land tax, no poor rates, no window tax, no candle or foap 

 tax, only half a wheel tax, no fervants tax, and a variety of 

 other articles heavily burthened in England, but not in Ire- 

 land. Confidering all this, one would think they could not 

 fpend their incomes ; they do contrive it however. In this 

 bufinefs they are aflifted by two cuftoms that have an admira- 

 ble tendency to it, great numbers of horfes and fervants. 

 The excefs in the latter are in the lower fort ; owing, not 

 only to the general lazinefs, but alfo to the number of atten- 

 dants every one of a higher clafs will have ; this is common 

 in great families in England, but in Ireland a man of five hun- 

 dred pounds a year feeis it. As to horfes the number is car- 

 ried quite to a folly ; in order to explain this point, I ihali in- 

 fert a table of the demefnes of many of the nobility and gen- 

 try, which will fhew not only the number of hories, but of 

 other cattle, the quantity of land they keep, and other cir- 

 cumftances explanatory of their country life. 



