The Prison spacious and well constructed. 285 



constructed. It was grievous to see such a 

 number of poor potcheene culprits. Mr. A. 

 Young speaks of the inhabitants of this place, 

 in 1774, as being sadly addicted to petty thefts : 

 I do not find this to be the case at present, as 

 fewer crimes of this description are now said to 

 occur than in so numerous a population might 

 be expected. An instance greatly to the credit 

 of the general honesty of the lower community 

 ought to be mentioned. It is the general custom 

 to bank the potatoes in the fields ; and great as 

 was the scarcity last year, very few losses, indeed, 

 were sustained in consequence of the mounds 

 being broken into. Private acts of malice or re- 

 venge are the most reprehensible points in the 

 Irish character. The lower orders consider 

 themselves privileged to be the avengers of their 

 own wrongs. If this unhappy conceit, this 

 mistaken notion, be consequent on a lax admi- 

 nistration of justice, producing disrespect, if 

 not contempt for the laws, the remedy will be 

 found in creating a confidence among the lower 

 orders, that shall ensure due obedience to all 

 legal injunctions, and due respect for the 

 magistracy; who by their conduct shall persuade 

 the laborious people to believe that their duty, 

 which must be enforced, is identified on all occa- 

 sions with the happiness of the whole com- 

 munity. 

 1 



