is rev. gentleman,
absolutely none. The land belonged to the people "on payment of a just
rent" to the landlords. "Down wid 'em!" yelled an enthusiast, who was
instantly suppressed. And the people had a right to live, not like the
beasts of the field, but like decent people. And _da capo_.

Now among many and beautiful and picturesque things Ireland possesses
some others altogether detestable. The car of the country, for
instance, is the most abominable of all civilised vehicles. Why the
numskull who invented the crab-like machine turned it round sidewise
is as absolutely inconceivable as that since dog-carts have been
introduced into the West the car should survive. But it does survive
to the discomfort and fatigue of everybody, and the especial disgust
of the writer. There is another thing in Connaught which I love not
to look upon. That is the plate of a diner at a _table d'hote_, on
which he has piled a quantity of roast goose with a liberal supply of
stuffing, together with about a pound of hot boiled beef, and cabbage,
carrots, turnips, and parsnips in profusion--the honour of a separate
plate being accorded to the national vegetable alone. It is not
agreeable to witness the demolition of this "Benjamin's mess" against
time; and when the feat is being performed by several persons the
effect thereof is the reverse of appetising. But I would rather be
driven seventy miles--Irish miles--on a car, and compelled to sit down
to roast goose commingled with boiled beef and "trimmings," than I
would listen to a political speech from the curate of Tiernaur. By
degrees I felt an utter weariness and loathing of life creeping over
me, and I turned my face towards the sun, setting in golden glory
behind Clare Island, and lighting up the rich ruddy brown of the
mountain, behind which lay the invaded pastures of Knockdahurk. By the
way this invasion of what are elsewhere deemed the rights of property
was barely alluded to by the reverend speakers, the latter of whom,
after making all kinds of blunders, finally broke down as he was
appealing to the "immortal and immutable laws of--of--of"--and here
some wicked prompter suggested "Nature," a suggestion adopted by the
unhappy speaker before he had time to recollect himself. After this
lame and impotent conclusion, a gentleman in a green cap and sash,
richly adorned with the harp without the crown, infused some vitality
into the proceedings by declaring that the only creature on God'