and good has had its origin amongst that illustrious people-a people alike famous for Arts and for Arms; for their enterprize, industry, and ingenuity; and celebrated for the deepest researches and discoveries in whatever is useful, learned, and scientific. Need we appeal to the history of their Divines, Philosophers, Patriots, and Warriors? America herself must own, that when liberty was extinct in every other nation in the world, England was the parent and the nurse of civil and religious freedom, sealed and sanctified by the blood of her Martyrs and Patriots-The general character of the English nation must not be contaminated with the avarice and ambition of Statesmen and Warriors Many Englishmen, both in and out of Parliament, have lifted their voice against the cruel and unjust policy of their countrymen both in Ireland and India.* Amongst a number of writ ers we shall only select one, as being the latest, who, al tho' he has taken his authorities from a very partial source (Sir R. Musgrave), yet he breaks thro' a cloud of prejudice, and discovers the honest indignation of a virtuous Englishman at the tyrannical conduct of his government towards Ireland:

"The history of no nation in Europe exhibits such an uniform series of misery, oppression, and misfortunes, as that of Ireland. It would now be equally vain and unprofitable to enquire, whether Ireland yielded by treaty, or was overcome by the sword?---The fact is, that the natives were treated like a conquer'd people, and denied a participation in the English laws. Stigmatized as helots, even intermarriage with them was deemed felony, and their murder has been adjudged no crime !---Amidst such cruel and impolitic restraints, it was not to be expected that the people would emerge from barbarity; on the contrary, they were rendered discontented and ferocious by oppression; and three successive insurrections, the fruits of a false and perfidious policy, prove

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At the very moment of writing this article, we have feen an account of a victory obtained in India by the English army, relating the number of the natives flaughter'd, and the booty obtained by the different officers. -The English, with juftice, accufe the French of ambition, whilst they themselves are guilty of the fame crime. The black deeds charged upon Bonaparte in Egypt, are over-balanced in a tenfold degree by the English armies upon the harmlefs, unoffending natives of Hindoftan.. -See Haftings's Trial, Burke's Speeches, Bellliam's Hiftory, &c.

better than any testimony, that their bondage was equally galling and ungrateful. All the bitterness of religious intolerance was superadded to civil disabilities; and a black catalogue of penal statutes exposed the unhappy Catholic to a variety of fines, mulcts, and disfranchisements, from which the more fortunate, but far less numerous class of Protestants were exempt."---*

After all, it appears to be the interest of Ireland to be connected with England, if such a connexion can be obtained on fair and honourable terms. The exalted rank which England holds in the national society of Europe, we may say of the world---her proximity toIreland--her astonishing wealth and vast navy---her commerce, arts, and manufactures---and her excellent judicial system, admirable under a pure administration---all point that country out to Ireland, as her best, most natural, and most powerful ally.

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On the other hand, may we not hope, that the ment of England will at length know their true interest, and perceive, that honesty is as necessary a principle in public as in private transactions---that they will see the folly and the, wickedness of dragooning and domineering over a people so necessary to their glory, even to their existence as a nation---and that ages of coercion and tyranny, will be followed by a system of justice and generosity. If half the partiality that has been shewn to the Scottish Highlanders for the last fifty years, had been extended to the Irish Catholics, they would, at this day, have been the most loyal portion of the British empire----" But discord ariseth out of evil government, "and oppression maketh men mad."

See Stephens's Hiftory of the Wars that arofe out of the French Revolution, chap. 12, a work of confiderable merit and utility.

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It is to be regretted, that fo refpectable a writer fhould have followed fo bad an authority.Sir R. Mufgrave was handfomely paid for his work, but he gained no honour by it. He is fo-exceedingly erroneous in his accounts, that even Lord Cornwallis withdrew from him the fanction of his name after the first edition And having faid fomething offenfive of Mr. T. Jones, that gentleman called Sir Richard out one morning and fent him home with a piece of lead in his body, very near that part which gave the Widow Wadman fo much uneafiness on Uncle Toby's account.

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Having before vindicated the character of the English, so far as to fhew, that many individuals have overcome governmental policy and national prejudice, and done juftice to an injured people, it may be proper here to infert what has been faid of the Irish by ARTHUR YOUNG, a moft refpectable Englishman, celebrated for his laudable purfuits after knowledge in that most useful of all sciences, Agriculture.

IT is but an illiberal business for a traveller, who designs to publish remarks upon a country, coolly to sit down in his closet, and write a satire on the inhabitants. -Where very gross absurdities are found, it is fair to note them; but to enter into character and disposition, is generally uncandid, since there are no people but might be better than they are, and none but have virtues which deserve attention, at least as much as their failings. For these reasons, this section would not have found a place in my observations, had not some persons of much more flippancy than wisdom, given very gross misrepresentations of the Irish nation.

There are three distinct classes of people in Ireland[here Mr. Young describes these classes nearly as may be seen in the historical Sketch] The only divisions which a traveller, who only passes thro' the country without any residence, could make, would be into people of fortune and the mob. The intermediate division, so numerous and respectable in England, will scarcely attract any notice in Ireland-a residence, however, will shew, that there is another class, country gentlemen of small fortune, and renters of land. The manners and customs of people of fortune are much the same every where, at least there is very little difference between an English gentleman and an Irish gentleman; it is among the common people one must look for those traits, by which we discriminate a national character.

The circumstances that struck me most in the common Irish were, vivacity and a great and eloquent volubility of speech. They are infinitely more lively and spirited than any thing we commonly see in England; the Irish have not that surly, sullen incivility, in which so many Englishmen seem to wrap themselves up, as if retiring within their own importance. Lazy at work, but so spiritedly active at play, that, at hurling and o ther manly exercises, they shew the greatest feats of agility. Their love of society is as remarkable as their curiosity is insatiable; and their hospitality to strangers

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be their own poverty ever so pinching, has too much merit to be forgotten. Pleased to enjoyment with a joke, or witty repartee, they will repeat it with such expression, that the laugh will be universal; and their manner of telling a story, is extremely droll and amusing. The moisture, the temperature of the climate, and the vivifying western breezes, are here favourable to animal as well as to vegetable growth. The Irish are inferior to none in bodily strength and personal beauty, and perhaps they are superior to any in symmetry and agility of limbs. Always inclined to manly and martial exercises, they readily confront any undertaking, and their bodies. are fitted to any climate, or to any difficulty. Even the blunders with which they have been charged by their kind neighbours, may have some foundation in truth, if by blunders we are to understand those quick sallies of expression, by which the regular concordance of words is broken by something bold and expressive. Warm friends and revengeful enemies; they are inviolable in their secresy, and inevitable in their resentment. Sudden ardour, universal aptitude, firm adherence, impatience of injury, and a long remembrance of it; strength of resolution, and tenderness of affection. Hard drinkers and quarrelsome, but civil and obedient. Dancing is so universal among them, that there are every where itinerant fiddlers and dancing-masters; and they dance the Irish Jig with amazing agility, vigour, and expression. The dark shades in the Irish picture should be ascribed to the political and religious depressions, under which they have so long been kept-particularly to the want of a liberal system of education, the only way to render a people regular, useful, and respectable.

The Irish character, upon the whole, is a good one -It would be unfair to ascribe to the nation at large the vices and follies of individuals. They are a lively and an ingenious people; and their admirable authors, such asSwift, Sterne, Boyle, Berkley, Goldsmith, &c. shew the extent of their learning and talents. Their eloquence is felt and admired in the Parliaments of both kingdomsThe English land and sea service, and, unfortunately, of several foreign countries, speak their steady and determined courage - Every unprejudiced traveller who visits Ireland, will be pleased with their cheerfulness and hospitality, and will find them a brave, polite, and li beral people,

A

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF

MR. CURRAN,

Vitera extollimus, recentium incuriosi.

"Whoever is deemed by a common audience the greatest Orator, ought to be pronounced fuch by men of erudition."-HUME.

It is a very general opinion, that the study of Law is

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adverse to genius; that a lively imagination cannot be tied to professional pursuits; and that wit cannot be possessed but to the exclusion of industry.

Among the many examples which might be adduced to prove the falsity of this conceit, Mr. CURRAN is not the least striking. No man has acquired higher reputation for those powers which delight and captivate the fancy, that touch the springs of passion, elicit tears from sensibility, or extort from gravity itself the burst of laughter----yet has the exertions of this gentleman raised him from the humblest walk of life, if not to the first place, certainly to the first rank at the Irish bar.--He has not, indeed, attained high official situations, or risen to those honours which are oftener the reward of judicious politics, than of professional ability; but he has acquired that which is a much stronger proof of talent, the uncontested title of being The first Advocate in his Country.

Mr.