74 Large Catholic Congregations. 



equal, if not superior, to the English mails, and 

 forming a most excellent pattern for the cor- 

 rection of the Irish posting business. 



Two miles from the Royal Oak, we crossed 

 the river Barrow at Leighlin bridge. The town 

 contains one very long street, with two catholic 

 chapels, nearly adjoining each other. The con- 

 gregations were dispersing as we arrived : the 

 street and road were filled for above a mile, and 

 their numbers we could not estimate at less 

 than three thousand persons. From the various 

 directions the people took, we supposed they 

 had assembled from the neighbouring villages : 

 their dress and manners were extremely decent. 

 Contrary to the usual custom, the women wore 

 beaver hats. The general usage of exposing 

 the face, besides destroying the complexion, 

 compels a contraction of the brow, which gives 

 an unpleasant expression to the female coun- 

 tenance. It is certainly extraordinary, but it 

 is not less true, that beauty in the sex is as much 

 prized, and as little taken care of, in Ireland, as 

 in any country in the civilized world. 



Near the bridge at Leighlin is a spa of some 

 celebrity : the spot is shaded, and greatly or- 

 namented by some very fine ash trees. We 

 found here a market holding for laborers: it 



