Expensive Equipages of the Irish. 209 



vision of that quarter, has not fashion a com- 

 manding influence ? 



Its operations, assisted by vanity, will always 

 be found the strongest, where the mind is the 

 least occupied on objects of substantial utility. 

 Expensive equipage and show are as much 

 coveted, or possibly more so, in Ireland, than 

 in England ; and the ruinous consequences as 

 much, or more to be lamented ; from an indis- 

 position to the practice of keeping accounts, 

 and making (Economical arrangements. The 

 Dutch have a saying, that " no one is ever 

 ruined who keeps good accounts;" here, how- 

 ever, there is no leisure for such a drowsy appro- 

 priation of time the charms of the present 

 moment far outweigh all other considerations, 

 and especially those, which, by possibility, 

 might induce unpleasant observations. This 

 prevailing habit of discarding thought, in some 

 degree accounts for the light-hearted cheer- 

 fulness of temper which so generally distinguishes 

 the upper orders. 



Could human joys be fairly suspended in the 

 balance of reason, a certain portion of the world 

 would be grievously mortified in finding their 

 unsubstantial pleasures, directed by folly, weigh 



VOL. i. ? 



