with the antient manners of our own ancestors, we should endeavour to look for their remains in those countries, which, being in some measure retired from an intercourse with other nations, are still untinctured with foreign refinement, language, or breeding.

The Irish will satisfy curiosity in this respect preferably to all other nations I have seen. They in several parts of that country still adhere to their antient language, dress, furniture, and superstitions; several customs exist among them, that still speak their original; and in some respects Cæsar's description of the Antient Britons is applicable to them.

Their bards, in particular, are still held in great veneration among them; those traditional heralds are invited to every funeral, in order to fill up the intervals of the howl with their songs and harps. In these they rehearse the actions of the ancestors of the deceased, bewail the bondage of their country under the English government, and generally conclude with advising the young men and maidens to make the best use of their time, for they will soon, for all their present bloom, be stretched under the table, like the dead body before them.

Of all the Bards this country ever produced, the last and the greatest was CAROLAN THE BLIND. He was at once a poet, a musician, a composer, and sung his own verses to his harp. The original natives never mention his name without rapture; both his poetry and music they have by heart; and even some of the English themselves, who have been transplanted there, find his music extremely pleasing. A song beginning "O Rourke's noble fare will "ne'er be forgot," translated by Dean Swift, is of his composition; which, though perhaps by this means the best known of his pieces, is yet by no means the most deserving. His songs in general

may

may be compared to those of Pindar, as they have frequently the same flights of imagination; and are composed (I don't say written, for he could not write) merely to flatter some man of fortune upon some excellence of the same kind. In these one man is praised for the excellence of his stable, as in Pindar, another for his hospitality, a third for the beauty of his wife and children, and a fourth for the antiquity of his family. Whenever any of the original natives of distinction were assembled at feasting or revelling, Carolan was generally there, where he was always ready with his harp to celebrate their praises. He seemed by nature formed for his profession; for as he was born blind, so also he was possessed of a most astonishing memory, and a facetious turn of thinking, which gave his entertainers infinite satisfaction. Being once at the house of an Irish nobleman, where there was a musician present, who was eminent in the profession, Carolan immediately challenged him to a trial of skill. To carry the jest forward, his Lordship persuaded the musician to accept the challenge, and he accordingly played over on his fiddle the fifth concerto of Vivaldi. Carolan, immediately taking his harp, played over the whole piece after him, without missing a note, though he had never heard it before; which produced some surprize: but their astonishment increased, when he assured them he could make a concerto in the same taste himself, which he instantly composed; and that with such spirit and elegance, that it may compare (for we have it still) with the finest compositions of Italy.

His death was not more remarkable than his life, Homer was never more fond of a glass than he; he would drink whole pints of Usquebaugh, and, as he used to think, would any ill consequence. His intemperance however in this respect at length

brought on an incurable disorder, and when just at the point of deeth, he called for a cup of his beloved liquor. Those, who were standing round him, surprized at the demand, endeavoured to persuade him to the contrary; but he persisted, and, when the bowl was brought him, attempted to drink, but could not; wherefore, giving away the bowl, he observed with a smile, that it would be hard if two such friends as he and the cup should part at least without kissing; and then expired.

ESSAY XXI.

envy.

A

Of all men, who form gay allusions of distant happiness, perhaps a Poet is the most sanguine. Such is the ardour of his hopes, that they often are equal to actual enjoyment; and he feels more in expectance than actual fruition. I have often regarded a character of this kind with some degree of man possessed of such warm imagination commands all nature, and arrogates possessions of which the owner has a blunter relish. While life continues, the alluring prospect lies before him; he travels in the pursuit with confidence, and resigns it only with his last breath.

It is this happy confidence, which gives life its true relish, and keeps up our spirits amidst every distress and disappointinent. How much less would be done, if a man knew how little he can do! How wretched a creature would he be, if he saw the end as well as the beginning of his projects! He would have nothing left but to sit down in torpid despair and exchange employment for actual calamity.

I was

1 was led into this train of thinking upon lately visiting the beautiful Gardens of the late Mr. Shenstone, who was himself a Poet, and possessed of that warm imagination, which made him ever foremost in the pursuit of flying happiness. Could he but have forseen the end of all his schemes, for whom he was improving, and what changes his designs were to undergo, he would have scarcely amused his innocent life with what, for several years employed him in a most harmless manner, and abridged his scanty fortune. As the progress of this Improvement is a true picture of sublunary vicissitude, I could not help calling up my imagination, which, while I walked pensively along, suggested the following Reverie.

As I was turning my back upon a beautiful piece of water enlivened with cascades and rock-work, and entering a dark walk by which ran a prattling brook, the Genius of the place appeared before me, but more resembling the God of Time, than him more peculiarly appointed to the care of Gardens. Instead of shears he bore a scythe; and he appeared rather with the implements of husbandry, than those of a modern gardener. Having remembered this place in its pristine beauty, I could not help condoling with him on its present ruinous situation. I spoke to him of the many alterations, which had been made, and all for the worse; of the many shades, which had been taken away, of the bowers, that were destroyed by neglect, and the hedge-rows, that were spoiled by clipping. The Genius with a sigh received my condolement, and assured me, that he was equally a martyr to ignorance and taste, to refinement and rusticity. Seeing me desirous of knowing farther, he went on:

* 1773.

" You

"You see, in the place before you, the paternal "inheritance of a poet; and to a man content with "little, fully sufficient for his subsistence: but a "strong imagination and a long acquaintance with "the rich are dangerous foes to contentment. Our "Poet, instead of sitting down to enjoy life, re"solved to prepare for its future enjoyment; andset "about converting a place of profit into a scene of "pleasure. This he at first supposed could be ac"complished at a small expence; and he was willing "for a while to stint his income, to have an oppor "tunity of displaying his taste. The Improvement "in this manner went forward; one beauty attained "led him to wish for some other; but be still hoped "that every emendation would be the last. It was "now therefore found, that the Improvement "ceeded the subsidy, that the place was grown too "large and too fine for the inhabitant. But that "pride which was once exhibited could not retire; "the Garden was made for the owner, and though "it was become unfit for him, he could not willingly "resign it to another. Thus the first idea of its "beauties contributing to the happiness of his life "was found unfaithful; so that, instead of looking within for satisfaction, he began to think of "having recourse to the praises of those, who came "to visit his Improvement.

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"In consequence of this hope, which now took possession of his mind, the Gardens were opened "to the visits of every stranger; and the country "flocked round to walk, to criticise, to admire, ❝ and to do mischief. He soon found, that the ad"mirers of bis taste left by no means such strong "marks of their applause, as the envious did of "their malignity. All the windows of his temples, "and the walls of his retreats, were impressed with "the characters of prophaneness, ignorance, and

"obscenity;