Difficult to pourtray the Irish. 97 



with more than very imperfect sketches. To 

 attempt the production of a likeness, which 

 should please more than one party in Ireland, I 

 believe to be utterly impossible. 



Such appears to be on all occasions the con- 

 trariety of sentiments, that the most ingenious 

 attempts to reconcile them would be found to 

 be unavailing. It is with great difficulty I can 

 suppose either party really think so ill of the 

 other as they profess, or believe all the good, 

 they are so fondly disposed to attribute to them- 

 selves. My qualifications and abilities for dis- 

 criminating may be fairly doubted, but the sin- 

 cerity of my motives cannot be questioned ; 

 and unfettered as my opinions now are, with 

 political interest or party influence, by agreeing 

 with neither I hazard offence to both. On the 

 subject of the union you are already in posses- 

 sion of my sentiments- on the Catholic eman- 

 cipation I shall find some appropriate occasion 

 to become explicit. Every individual here is 

 enlisted as a champion on the one side or the 

 other. The natural warmth, or rather violence 

 of temper, disqualifies the Irish to think so se- 

 dately as to ensure temperate discussions on 

 public questions, much less on those in which 

 they are so nearly and deeply interested. 



VOL. I. H 



