of
his anxiety to meet the wishes of the audience afforded universal
satisfaction."

Now, I ask--and I ask it in all the tranquillity of triumph--show me
the country on a map where such a studied piece of courteous civility
could have been practised, or which, if attempted, could have been so
thoroughly, so instantaneously appreciated. And what an insight does
it give us into some of the most difficult features of our national
character. May not this Irish encore explain the success with which
Mr. O'Connell consoles our "poverty" by attacks on the clergy, and
relieves our years of scarcity by creating forty-shilling freeholders.
We ask for bread; and he tells us we are a great people--we beg for
work, and he replies, that we must have repeal of the union--we
complain of our poverty, and his remedy is--subscribe to the rent.
Your heavy-headed Englishman--your clod-hopper from Yorkshire--or
your boor from Northumberland, would never understand this, if you
gave him a life-long to con over it. Norfolk pudding to his gross and
sensual nature would seem better than the new registration bill; and
he'd rather hear the simmering music of the boiled beef for his
dinner, than all the rabid ruffianism of a repeal meeting.

But to come back to ourselves. What bold and ample views of life do
our free-and-easy habits disclose to us, not to speak of the very
servant at table, who will often help you to soup, when you ask for
sherry, and give you preserves, when you beg for pepper. What amiable
cross-purposes are we always playing at--not bigotedly adhering to our
own narrow notions, and following out our own petty views of life, but
eagerly doing what we have no concern in, and meritoriously performing
for our friends, what they had been well pleased, we'd have let alone.

This amiable waywardness--this pleasing uncertainty of
purpose--characterises our very climate; and the day that breaks in
sunshine becomes stormy at noon, calm towards evening, and blows a
hurricane all night. So the Irishman that quits his home brimful of
philanthropy is not unlikely to rob a church before his return. But so
it is, there is nobody like us in any respect. We commemorate the
advent of a sovereign by erecting a testimonial to the last spot he
stood on at his departure; and we are enthusiastic in our gratitude
when, having asked for one favour, we receive something as unlike it
as possible.

Our friends at the other side are beginning to legisla