also private works.
He mars his object by his ignorance. This has arisen principally from
the unfortunate frequency of public undertakings, caused by famines or
distress. In any such case he took it, to use his own expression, as a
"good luck," and sought by any means to make the most of it while it
lasted. Then, in private works, when he imagined a necessity existed for
their accomplishment, he sought to make the most by demanding higher
wages, and forcing the well-inclined to join in the demand. It is a fact
that he suffers under _natural cupidity_, and its evils have been
increased by the circumstances named, the effects of which will require
care to overcome, if his regeneration be attempted; and, perhaps, under
all circumstances, it cannot be wondered at. The opportunity to obtain
money for his labour so rarely occurred, that when it did he could not
resist the temptation of getting as much as possible to provide against
the day which he knew would soon come again, when he would be left to
the potato alone; and on this point he will require to be led and taught
as in other things. But the Irish peasant is, in fact, now in that
position which it is fearful to contemplate. From the nature of his food
alone he has been long retrograding in physical capability, and, of
course, energy of mind. It is impossible that beings living entirely
upon one description of food, no matter what it be, can exist in
strength and healthfulness. But if the food be of that nature which,
used as the potato is, tends to produce evil from the _quantity_
necessary to be consumed, in order to give to the body bare nourishment
to uphold existence, it must be evident that the very _quantity_ alone
will produce listlessness and want of energy, while the system itself
receives scarcely enough to uphold its vital powers.

My own memory (and I am not so old as to count half centuries) shows an
evident change in the general physical appearance and capacity of the
peasant labourer. He is not the same, even within twenty years; and to
those who recollect fifty, the alteration must be painfully great.

A little thought will shew it could not be otherwise. The potato, eaten
in the way it is, simply boiled, and as I have again and again pointed
out, _without aught else with it but salt!_ and not even that sometimes,
contains but little more than _two pounds weight_ of that description of
nutriment (gluten, or animal matter) which is essential to uphold