onclude from
hence that all is owing to this; their being independent farmers, and
having leases, are circumstances which will create industry. Their crops
are much better than those of their neighbours. There are three villages
of them, about seventy families in all. For some time after they settled
they fed upon sour-crout, but by degrees left it off, and took to
potatoes; but now subsist upon them and butter and milk, but with a great
deal of oat bread, and some of wheat, some meat and fowls, of which they
raise many. They have all offices to their houses, that is, stables and
cow-houses, and a lodge for their ploughs, etc. They keep their cows in
the house in winter, feeding them upon hay and oat straw. They are
remarkable for the goodness and cleanliness of their houses. The women
are very industrious, reap the corn, plough the ground sometimes, and do
whatever work may be going on; they also spin, and make their children do
the same. Their wheat is much better than any in the country, insomuch
that they get a better price than anybody else. Their industry goes so
far, that jocular reports of its excess are spread. In a very pinching
season, one of them yoked his wife against a horse, and went in that
manner to work, and finished a journey at plough. The industry of the
women is a perfect contrast to the Irish ladies in the cabins, who cannot
be persuaded, on any consideration, even to make hay, it not being the
custom of the country, yet they bind corn, and do other works more
laborious. Mrs. Quin, who is ever attentive to introduce whatever can
contribute to their welfare and happiness, offered many premiums to
induce them to make hay, of hats, cloaks, stockings, etc. etc., but all
would not do.

Few places have so much wood about them as Adair; Mr. Quin has above one
thousand acres in his hands, in which a large proportion is under wood.
The deer park of four hundred acres is almost full of old oak and very
fine thorns, of a great size; and about the house, the plantations are
very extensive, of elm and other wood, but that thrives better than any
other sort. I have nowhere seen finer than vast numbers here. There is
a fine river runs under the house, and within view are no less than three
ruins of Franciscan friaries, two of them remarkably beautiful, and one
has most of the parts perfect, except the roof.

In Mr. Quin's house there are some very good pictures, particularly an
Annunciation by Dom