148 Artifice in loading Hay and Straw. 



On passing through the streets early this 

 morning, we met a number of Irish cars bring- 

 ing in hay, but loaded in so extraordinary a man- 

 ner, that I should have thought it a contest for 

 superiority in slovenliness. My companion was 

 much amused with my surprise, and explained 

 that it was mere trick which produced this 

 'apparent disorder. The cars were compelled 

 to bring in forty stone this strange mode of 

 dressing up the load was intended to give an 

 appearance of increased bulk, and induce the 

 buyer to believe it exceeded the stipulated 

 weight. The same artifice was practised with 

 straw. It is alleged that this is one reason 

 for the farmer's decided preference of the Irish 

 car ; and if the fact be capable of proof, the 

 grounds of the partiality are as defective as the 

 merit of the vehicle. The hay which comes 

 into Dublin, like that which we have hitherto 

 met with, is soft, owing, as I have before ob- 

 served, to the manner in which it is treated after 

 the grass is mown ; we have seen very few 

 samples of good hay in the whole circuit we 

 have yet made. 



Amongst the regrets which I shall never cease 

 to feel is the omission of seeing the cathedral 

 of St. Patrick, and the edifice perpetuating 

 the memory of its patriotic Dean, which is said 



