Irish funeral Procession. 5 



gerous for a carriage : it is a disgrace to this 

 noble city that such a nuisance should be 

 suffered. 



Nearly opposite to the old barracks we were 

 met by a prodigious crowd, occupying the whole 

 breadth of the street, advancing with a hasty 

 step and a most hideous howl. The door ways 

 and windows were filled with the inhabitants of 

 both sexes, and of all ages ; who appeared to 

 be much interested and entertained at what 

 was going on. To us this was a profound secret, 

 until we discovered it to be nothing less than a 

 funeral. Cork, we understand, is greatly cele- 

 brated for its woeful performances on these solemn 

 occasions, which are requited according to the 

 affluence or abilities of the parties. The body 

 was placed on a two-wheel hearse, with a cover 

 over it, which did not permit a full view of 

 the coffin. The corpse was followed by the yell- 

 ing performers, after whom came the friends 

 and attendants of the deceased. The howl sur- 

 passed, in its combination of discords, all de- 

 scription the funeral dirge was recited with so 

 much rapidity and violence, as to convey the 

 idea of anger and fury, rather than lamentation. 

 The cry so frightened our horses as to make 

 them ungovernable ; and had not the civility or 

 prudence of the performers induced a rest, we 



