d make an excellent agent."

"I have studied the people, sir, and know them. I have breathed
the atmosphere of their prejudices, habits, manners, customs, and
superstitions. I have felt them all myself, as they feel them; but I
trust I have got above their influence where it is evil, for there are
many fine touches of character among them, which I should not willingly
part with. No, sir, I should make a bad agent, having no capacity for
transacting business. I could direct and overlook, but nothing more."

"Well, then, I shall set out to-morrow; and in the meantime, permit me
to say that I am deeply sensible of your kindness in pointing out my
duty as an Irish landlord, conscious that I have too long neglected it."

"Kindness, Colonel, is the way to the Irish heart. There is but one man
in Ireland who can make an Irishman ungrateful, and that is his priest.
I regret that in times of political excitement, and especially during
electioneering struggles, the interference of the clergy produces
disastrous effects upon the moral feelings of the people. When a tenant
meets the landlord whom he has deserted in the critical momont of the
contest the landlord to whom he has solemnly promised his support, and
who, perhaps, as a member of the legislature, has advocated his claims
and his rights, and who, probably, has been kind and indulgent to him--I
say, when he meets him afterwards, his shufflings, excuses, and evasions
are grievous. He is driven to falsehood and dissimulation in explaining
his conduct; he expresses his repentance, curses himself for his
ingratitude, promises well for the future, but seldom or never can
be prevailed upon to state candidly that he acted in obedience to
the priest. In some instances, however, he admits this, and inveighs
bitterly against his interference--but this is only whilst in the
presence of his landlord. I think, Colonel, that no clergyman, set apart
as he is for the concerns of a better world, should become a firebrand
in the secular pursuits and turmoils of this."

"I wish, Mr. O'Brien, that every clergyman of your church resembled you,
and acted up to your sentiments: our common country would be the better
for it."

"I endeavor to act, sir, as a man who has purely spiritual duties to
perform. It is not for us to be agitated and inflamed by the political
passions and animosities of the world. Our lot is differently cast, and
we ought to abide by it. The priest and politician can no m