Incongruities in Ireland. 3O7 



a statute acre ; lie professes himself friendly to 

 soiling, and the appearance of his clovers did 

 credit to his husbandry. 



The account given of the numerous regula- 

 tions and improvements made in Ireland, within 

 the last thirty years, furnishes by implication a 

 very repulsive picture of its state and condition 

 previous to that time. The county of Clare 

 has always been represented as one of the 

 poorest and most neglected in Ireland. Old 

 stories have been preserved of customs formerly 

 prevailing there, which would have been in- 

 credible, had they not received some sanction 

 from the more modern details of other circum- 

 stances, equal in absurdity, by Mr. A. Young. 

 The incongruities observable at the present 

 moment predisposes the most unprejudiced 

 individual, on visiting this country, to a belief, 

 that the invincible distaste to order, fitness, 

 and consistency, with which he is hourly 

 amused, is inherent, and not a disposition ex- 

 clusively appertaining to the present genera- 

 tion : as, for instance, what would excite more 

 risibility in England, than a carriage drawn by 

 sumptuous horses of great value, without glass 

 in the windows, or even blinds to protect the 

 parties within from the weather ? 



x 2 



