Hz M A N N E R S A VD C U S T O M S. 



from it To much of its pretence to civilization, elegance and po- 

 litenefs of manners, that no true Irifhman would be pleafed 

 with the imputation. Certain it is, that none are fo captious as 

 thofe who think themfelves neglected or defpifed ; and none are 

 ib ready to believe themfelves either one or the other, as per- 

 lons unufed to good company. Captious people, therefore, who 

 are ready to take an affront, mud inevitably have been accuf- 

 tomsd to ill company, unlefs there ihould be fomething uncom- 

 monly crooked in their natural difpofitions, which is not to be 

 fuppofed. Let every man that fights his one, two, three, or half 

 a dozen duels, receive it as a maxim, that every one he adds to 

 the number is but an additional proof of his being ill educa- 

 ted, and having vitiated his manners by the contagion of bad 

 company ; who is it that can reckon the mod numerous rencoun- 

 teis ? who but the bucks, bloods, landjobbers, and little drunk- 

 en country gentlemen ? Ought not people of fafhi'on to blufh 

 at a practice which will very foon be the diftinction only of 

 the mod contemptible of the people ? the point of honour will 

 and muft remain for the decifion of certain affronts, but it will 

 rarely be had recourfe to in polite, fenfible, and well bred com- 

 pany. The practice among real gentlemen in Ireland every 

 day declining is a ftrong proof, that a knowledge of the world 

 corrects the old manners, and confequently its having ever been 

 prevalent was owing to the caufes to which I have attributed it. 

 There is another point of manners fomewhat connected with the 

 prefent fubject, which partly induced me to place a motto at the 

 head of this fection. It is the conduct of juries $ the criminal 

 law of Ireland is the fame as that of England, but in the^exe- 

 cution it is fo different, as fcarcely to be known. I believe it is 

 a fact, at lead I have been affured fo, that no man was ever 

 hanged in Ireland for killing another in a duel : the fccurity is 

 fuch that nobody ever thought of removing out of the way of 

 juftice, yet there have been deaths of that fort, which had no 

 more to do with honour, than dabbing in the dark. I be- 

 lieve Ireland is the only country in Europe, I am lure it is the 

 onlvpart of thjeBritirti dominions, where affociations among men 

 of fortune are neceffary for apprehending raviflieis. It is fcarce- 

 ly credible how many young women, have even" of late years 

 been ravifhed, and carried off in order (as -they generally have 

 fortunes) to gain to appearance a voluntary marriage. Thefe 

 actions it is true are not committed by the clafs, I am confider- 

 ing at prefent ; but they are tried by them, and ACQJJITTE.D. 

 I think there has been only one man executed tor that crime, 

 which is fo common as to occafion the aflociations I memioned $ 

 it is to this fupine execution of the law that fuch enormities are 

 owing. Another circumdance which has the effect of icreeuing 

 all forts of offenders, is men of foriune protecting them, a;.u 

 making intereft for their acquittal, which is attended with a 

 variety of evil confequences. I heard it boalled in the comity 

 of Fermanagh, that there had not been a r;,an hanged in it for 

 two and twenty years: all I concluded from ibis was, that 

 there had been many a jury who deferred it richly. 



