of the day an abortive effort at a
procession. The Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs, in their state liveries,
had gone forth with a proud following of their fellow-citizens; but a
manouvre, which hitherto has been supposed exclusively the province
of the navy, was here employed with unbounded success; and the hackney
coachmen, by "cutting the line" in several places, had completely
disorganised the procession, which now presented the singular spectacle
of an aldermanic functionary with emblazoned panels and bedizened
horses, followed by a string of rackety jaunting-cars, or a noddy with
its fourteen insides. Horsemen there were, too, in abundance. Were I to
judge from the spectacle before me, I should say that the Irish were
the most equestrian people of the globe; and at what a pace they went!
Caring little or nothing for the foot-passengers, they only drew rein
when their blown steeds were unable to go further, and then dashed
onwards like a charge, amid a shower of oaths, curses, and imprecations,
half drowned in the laughter that burst on every side. Deputations there
were also from various branches of trade, entreating their Graces to
wear and to patronise the manufacture of the country, and to conform
in many respects to its habits and customs: by all of which, in my then
ignorance, I could only understand the vehement desire of the population
that the viceregal court should go about in a state of nature, and limit
their diet to poteen and potatoes.

"Fine sight this, Hinton! Isn't it cheering?" said O'Grady, as his eye
beamed with pleasure and delight.

"Why, yes," said I, hesitatingly; "but don't you think if they wore
shoes----"

"Shoes!" repeated he, contemptuously, "they'd never suffer such
restrictions on their liberties. Look at them! they are the fellows to
make soldiers of! The only fear of half-rations with them would be the
risk of indigestion."

On we went, a strange and motley mass, the only grave faces being a few
of those who sat in gilded coaches, with embroidered hammercloths, while
every half-naked figure that flitted past had a countenance of reckless
jollity and fun. But the same discrepancy that pervaded the people and
the procession was visible even in their dwellings, and the meanest
hovels stood side by side with the public and private edifices of
elegance and beauty.

"This, certainly," thought I, "is a strange land." A reflection I had
reason to recur to more than once in my after experi