Privations endured by Irish Cottiert* 99 



dundant population, and an insufficient capital 

 to provide the individuals of it, with employ, 

 ment. 



Sufficiently agonized with these scenes of dis- 

 tress, I made the best of my way to Killcullen, 

 where our fellow-traveller became affected by 

 the relation of what I had seen. Use blunts 

 the feelings of humanity, when daily accustomed 

 to sights of misery, and renders the great bulk of 

 mankind insensible and regardless of what may 

 be passing around them ; while ignorance, in- 

 terest, or prejudice, too frequently mislead the 

 well disposed. I could not help exclaiming in 

 the emphatical words of our acquaintance at 

 Castlebar, " Are not the people rung by the 

 nose, &c. ? " The gentleman had the candour 

 to acknowledge, he believed their case to be 

 grievous and distressing. 



To expect from the laborious orders the duty 

 of loyalty, or an attachment to government 

 under such circumstances, seems to be quite 

 unreasonable! Prudence alone can justify to 

 the mind of man a patient acquiescence under 

 such a state of existence. Force may restrain 

 the will, but cannot command the respect of the 

 subject, and thus a state of mutual distrust and 

 hatred must prevail. 



H V. 



