A 
1801.] 
However, cards make the latter fome 
amends for the abfence of the men, and 
the mittreis of the houfe always takes care 
to provide a female party above ftairs when 
her hufband is engaged below. Whitt is 
the principal game played, though of late. 
cafino has had fome influence. Large 
fums are not often loft, for they moftly 
play low, and but very feldom. Dancing 
is the mext principal amufement; and I 
muft fay, that the ladies of Cork dance 
gracefully and well: they are in general 
handfome and accomplifhed, for. female 
education is, in foe particulars, carefully 
attended to, and you find few who are not 
informed in the modern polite languages, 
and fkilled in the fcience of mufic. But 
morality and philofophy are ‘neglected. 
Eaty freedom and gaiety are the charac- 
teriftics of the women; they are open and 
uniufpicious: a ftranger, if any way re- 
fpectable, finds himfelf agreeably furprifed 
at being intimately acquainted with thofe 
whom he has only known a few days. 
This good fortune invariably attends gen- 
tlemen who wear red coats. 
The fhopkeepers and tradefpeople who 
form the middling order are a well inform- 
ed induttrious fet of men; generous, fhi- 
rited and brave—for they are all foldiers, 
and on many occafions, during the late 
troubles, fignalized themfelves for loyalty 
and cool intrepidity: like moft of their 
countrymen, they love the bottle, and in- 
dulge themfelves in the delirium of happi- 
nefs which it beftows after the hour of 
bufinefs, that is, after five o’clock, for 
nothing is tranfaéted pofterior to this hour ; 
and as they do not dine until it arrives, 
this indulgence is the more excufeable. 
Beggars are here innumerable, though 
there are feveral charitable inftitutions ; 
but (as in other places) by having too 
many officers and overfeers, and too many 
good regulations, it happens that thefe in- 
{titutions are not regulated at all; and the 
moft difgufting objets of human mifery 
are fuffered to implore charity in every 
fireet. You often meet a young man in 
rags, with a few books in his fatchel 
thrown over his fhoulder, and a pen in his 
hat, who afks charity, for the purpofe of 
profecuting his ftudies. This is a defcrip- 
tion of mendicant no where elfe, I believe, 
to be met with, but which, in Ireland, 
is common; and I underftand that feveral 
of the lights of the Romifi Church have 
originated from hence, 
It was not until very lately that Juna- 
tics were confidered as being worthy of the 
public care; they were permitted to wan- 
der about the city, to the terror of the 
State of Society in Cork. 
117 
weak, and to'the horror of the humane. But 
by the advice and authority of the prefent 
Sir S. Rowland (then Mayor), a-recepta- 
cie for them was built, and they are now 
properly confined and attended to. 
It is during the affizes, which are held 
twice a-year, that Cork appears in all its 
fplendour. ‘Then the country ts deferted, 
and all the people of confequence in the 
neighbourhood haften to town, for the 
purpofe of difplaying their equipages, and 
partaking of the theatrical tpeétacles ex 
hibited. The theatre, fituated in George- 
ftreet, is fomething larger than that in the 
Hay-market (London). It is handfomely 
decorated; the internal part forms a fe- 
micircle. The fecond tier of boxes are 
denominated latfices (I do not know tor 
what reafon) ; the third, pigeon-holes.— 
Thefe laft places are the refort of the Cy- 
prian corps—compoled of the mott herrid 
and the uglicft wretches that ever offered 
their perfons for fale. 
Every one in Cork pretends to tafte in 
theatricals, and you fometimes do meet 
with people of judgment in thefe matters ; 
but the general pretenfion ill accords with 
the facts of empty bottles being flung at 
Madam Mara on her firft appearance, and 
of Mifs Farren being pelted with apples 
at her own benefit; whilft any of the Lon- 
don performers.remain, the play houfe is 
crowded, but as foon as they withdraw, 
it is univerfally deferted. Aftley very 
lately opened a theatre here for his exhi- 
bition, but he is not fupported, and will 
very fhortly be obliged to give it up. 
At this period (the affizes) the public 
ball-rocms are open, and filled twice a 
week with dancers and card-players. But 
etiquette is fo much regarded, that mere. 
chants, merchants’ wives, and people of 
independent property, are only admitted. 
I have known many inftances when the 
difapprobation of the company obliged’ fe- 
veral refpectable fhopkeepers to quit the 
room, wno wifhed to break through the 
barrier that pride had raifed between them 
and pleafure. For although wholefale 
dealing is the moft honourable profeffion 
in this city, yet the retail bufinefs is 
thought to aitach vulgarity to the conduc- 
tors of it. It is for this reafon, alfo, that 
the lower boxes at the theatre are fet apart 
for the fame haughty clafs. 
A broad ftreet, paved with fmall fharp 
ftones (no flagged way), forms the fafhion- 
able promenade of Cork; every evening 
when the weather permits, this is crowded 
with young and old, handfome and ugly, 
of all defcriptions. Here the bufineffes of 
love, of {candal, and of trade, are tranf- 
acted 
OO EE ee ee ee ee 
