cluded part of the county of Donegal. Here, on the estate of Sir Charles Styles, Bart., and under the direction of his efficient agent, whose anxiety and exertions towards bettering the condition of the poor of this county are well known and appreciated, we found a small piece of ground being laid out into five divisions, as an example of the five-course rotation suited to that part of the country; in the school-room were suspended tables, exhibiting at one view, plain, practical instructions as to the season for performing the different work on the farm; the quantity and best kind of seeds to be sown; and, in one word, the modus operandi, according to the most improved practice; and the proficiency of many of the boys, not only in agriculture, but in levelling and surveying, was most creditable. We cannot, perhaps, better second the exertions of Captain Kennedy and other philanthropists engaged in the regeneration of their country, than by bringing under the notice of the public an instance of the successful working of the system we have here advocated.

The undrained fenceless farm, with its many-angled small fields and crooked ridges, exhausted to the last degree by successive corn crops, is still but too general; and the habitations, notwithstanding the marked improvement in their appearance in many places, in many others accord but too faithfully with the melancholy picture that has been drawn of them by so many observers" walls decayed, roofs bent and sunken, thatch tattered, no windows, no chimneys; the turfsmoke rolling slowly from the doors, or seeking its way through the chinks and crevices innumerable with which these hovels abound. The appearance of the inmates corresponds with that of the miserable tenements-ill clad, squalid, haggard, listless and idle, in every countenance discontent strongly marked, and in some an expression akin to despair." Such is the description given by Mr Weld in his Statistical Survey of Roscommon, taken in 1831. One epithet in that accurate description requires to be qualified to those who have not seen the interesting and highly valuable work from which it is taken. The poor of Elphin were "idle," not of choice, but because the employment which offered itself in the wastes and sites for manufactories with which he describes the country to abound, were not rendered available; and throughout the country, wherever idleness and its concomitant misery are observable, there also it will be found that these evils are traceable to a want of sympathy and exertion on the part of the owners of the soil; for abundantly remunerating employment abounds in every part of the country. We cannot resist, even at the risk of extending this paper beyond the limits which we had at first proposed to ourselves, the temptation to bring forward an instance of that industry which we have never seen wanting when the inducement or even the possibility of exercising it with effect was present, afforded too by these same "idle" people of Elphin, as recorded in the same work. Girls," observes Mr Weld, " amongst whom some were really pretty and delicate, and of an age and frame of body seemingly but ill-suited to the task, sought a precarious and hard-earned livelihood in hawking turf about the town in cleaves, which they had carried on their backs from the bog, distant about two miles. The ordinary weight of one of these cleaves was three stones, or forty-two pounds, sometimes more. The price asked for two cleaves was only 3d, but as demands of this kind ordinarily exceed the selling price, 1d might probably be set down as the utmost price of a single cleave; | from this was to be deducted the price of the turf at the bog, the small surplus being all the gains for bearing this heavy burden, mostly up hill, and afterwards hawking it from house to house. The cattle in the demesnes of the gentry and on dairy farms have in like manner been greatly improved within a few years, but amongst the small farmers the description of stock is in many places bad in the extreme; improvement in this branch of economy cannot take place, however, except as the consequence of an improved system of farming. As a powerful means of extending a knowledge of improved husbandry, if properly exercised, we have regarded since their establishment the National Schools of Ireland.

"

A cotemporary says, The agriculture of Bavaria has experienced a great improvement in consequence of the system of national education which has been adopted, and by the teaching of agriculture and gardening both by books and examples in the schools. One of the first consequences was an improved rotation of crops. Almost the whole of the details of agricultural improvement in Bavaria have originated with M. Hazzi, an agricultural writer, and editor of an agricultural journal in Munich. The activity and patriotic benevolence of

this gentleman are beyond all praise. It was chiefly through his exertions that a piece of ground was added to every parochial school in Bavaria, to be cultivated by the scholars in their leisure hours, under the direction of the master. In these schools, Hazzi's Catechism of Gardening, of Agriculture, of Domestic Economy and Cookery, of Forest Culture, of Orchard Culture, and others, all small duodecimo volumes with woodcuts, sold at about fourpence each, are taught to all the boys; and those of Gardening, the Management of Silk Worms, and Domestic Economy, to the girls. Since these schools have come into action, an entirely new generation of cultivators has arisen; and the consequence is, that agriculture in Bavaria, and especially what may be called cottage agriculture and economy, is, as far as we are able to judge, carried to a higher degree of perfection than it is any where else in the central states of Germany; at all events, we can affirm that we never saw finer crops of drilled Swedish and common turnips, or finer surfaces of young clover, than we observed along the road sides in October and November 1828. The fences also were generally in perfect order, and a degree of neatness appeared about the cottages which is far from common either in France or Germany. These remarks are not the results of observations made, as is frequently the case, from the cabriolet of a public diligence, but from deliberate inspection. The result of the whole of the information procured, and of the observations made, is, that we think the inhabitants of Bavaria promise soon to be, if they are not already, among the happiest people in Germany."

M.

CIRCASSIAN WOMEN.-We observed two women looking out of a balcony, and earnestly beckoning to us. We entered the house, and saw two Russian grenadiers, who by a mistake of their corporal had taken their quarters here, and whose presence was the cause of the inquietude manifested by the two ladies, who, with an old man, were the only inhabitants of the house. Whilst the soldiers were explaining these things to us, they appeared at the top of the stairs, and again renewed their invitation by violent gesticulations. On a nearer approach, we guessed by their age that they were mother and daughter. The former, who still preserved much of the freshness and beauty of youth, wore very wide trousers, a short tunic, and a veil, which fell in graceful folds on her back; while round her neck she had some valuable jewels, though badly mounted. With respect to the daughter, who was scarcely fifteen years of age, she was so extraordinarily beautiful, that both my companion and myself remained awhile motionless, and struck with admiration. Never in my life have I seen a more perfect form. Her dress consisted of a short white tunic, almost transparent, fastened only at the throat by a clasp. A veil, negligently thrown over one shoulder, permitted part of her beautiful ebony tresses to be seen. Her trousers were of an extremely fine tissue, and her socks of the most delicate workmanship. The old man received us in a room adjoining the staircase; he was seated on the carpet, smoking a small pipe, according to the custom of the inhabitants of the Caucasus, who cultivate tobacco. He made repeated signs to us to sit down, that is to say, in the Asiatic manner a posture extremely inconvenient for those who like ourselves wore long and tight trousers, whilst the two beautiful women on their side earnestly seconded his request. We complied with it, though it was the first time that either of us made the essay. The ladies, having left the room for a moment, returned with a salver of dried fruits, and a beverage made with sugar and milk; but I was so much engaged in admiring their personal attractions, that I paid but little attention to their presents. It appeared to me an inconceivable caprice of nature to have produced such prodigies of perfection amidst such a rude and barbarous people, who value their women less than their stirrups. My companion, who like myself was obliged to accept of their refreshments, remarked to me, whilst the old man was conversing with them, what celebrity a woman so transcendantly beautiful as the daughter was, would acquire in any of the capitals of Europe, had she but received the benefits of a suitable education.-New Monthly Magazine.

Printed and published very Saturday by GUNN and CAMERON, at the Office
of the General Advertiser, No. 6, Church Lane, College Green, Dublin.—
Agents-R. GROOMBRIDGE, Panyer Alley, Paternoster Row, London;
SIMMS and DINHAM, Exchange Street, Manchester; C. DAVIES, North
John Street, Liverpool; SLOCOMBE & SIMMS, Leeds; JOHN MENZIES,
Prince's Street, Edinburgh; & DAVID ROBERTSON, Trongate, Glasgow.

THE following Sunday morning, Rose paid an early visit to choicest stock jokes, to carry on the metaphor, are a little too her patient, for, as it was the day of young Dandy's christen- fashionably dressed to pass current out of the sphere in which ing, her presence was considered indispensable. There is, they are used; but be this as it may, they are so traditional in besides, something in the appearance and bearing of a midwife character, and so humorous in conception, that we never upon those occasions which diffuses a spirit of buoyancy and knew the veriest prude to feel offended, or the morosest temlight-heartedness not only through the immediate family, but perament to maintain its sourness, at their recital. Not that also through all who may happen to participate in the cere- she is at all gross or unwomanly in any thing she may say, mony, or partake of the good cheer. In many instances it is but there is generally in her apothegms a passing touch of known that the very presence of a medical attendant com- fancy-a quick but terse vivacity of insinuation, at once so municates such a cheerful confidence to his patient, as, indepen- full of fun and sprightliness, and that truth which all know dently of any prescription, is felt to be a manifest relief. So but few like to acknowledge, that we defy any one not irreis it with the midwife; with this difference, that she exercises trievably gone in some incurable melancholy to resist her a greater and more comical latitude of consolation than the humour. The moment she was seen approaching the house, doctor, although it must be admitted that the one generally every one in it felt an immediate elevation of spirits, with the falls woefully short of that conventional dress with which we exception of Mrs Keho herself, who knew that wherever cover nudity of expression. No doubt many of her very Rose had the arrangement of the bill of fare, there was sure

to be what the Irish call "full an' plinty"-"lashins an'
lavins"—a fact which made her groan in spirit at the bare
contemplation of such waste and extravagance.
She was
indeed a woman of a very un-Irish heart—so sharp in her tem-
per and so penurious in soul, that one would imagine her veins
were filled with vinegar instead of blood.

Banaght Dheah in shoh" (the blessing of God be here),
Rose exclaimed on entering.

Banaght Dheah agus Murra ghuid" (the blessing of God and the Virgin on you), replied Corny, "an' you're welcome, Rose ahagur.'

I know that, Corny. Well, how are we?-how is my son?" Begarra, thrivin' like a pair o' throopers. "Thank God for it! Hav'nt we a good right to be grateful to him any way? An' is my little man to be christened to-day?"

Well," said the other, "in that case, I suppose, I must You ought to know best." "Thank you kindly, ma'am ; have you found it out at last? No, but you ought to put your two hands undher my feet for previntin' you from doin' what you intinded.

I

That

may never sup sorrow, but it was as much as your life was worth. Compose yourself; I'll see that there's no waste, and that's enough. Here, hould my son-why, thin, isn't he the beauty o' the world, now that he has got his little dress upon him?-till I pin up this apron across the windy; the light's too strong for you. There now: the light's apt to give one a headache when it comes in full bint upon the eyes that way. Come, alanna, come an now, till I show you to your father an' them all. Wurra, thin, Mrs Keho, darlin'," (this was said in a low confidential whisper, and in a playful wheedling tone which baffles all description), wurra, thin, Mrs Keho, dar

Indeed he is the gossips will be here presently, an' solin', but it's he that's the proud man, the proud Corny, this will her mother. But, Rose, dear, will you take the ordherin' day. Rise your head a little-aisy-there now, that'll do-one of the aitin' an' drinkin' part of it ?—you're betther up to these kiss to my son, now, before he laives his mammy, he says, for things than we are, an' so you ought, of coorse. Let there a weeny while, till he pays his little respects to his daddy an' be no want of any thing; an' if there's an overplush, sorra to all his friends, he says, an' thin he'll come back to may care; there'll be poor mouths enough about the door for mammy agin-to his own little bottle, he says." whatever's left. So, you see, keep never mindin' any hint she may give you-you know she's a little o' the closest; but no matther. Let there, as I said, be enough an' to spare."

Throth, there spoke your father's son, Corny: all the ould dacency's not dead yet, any how. Well, I'll do my best. But she's not fit to be up, you know, an' of coorse can't disturb us. The expression of her eye could not be misunderstood as she uttered this. "I I see," said Corny-" devil a betther, if you manage that, all's right."

An' now I must go in, till I see how she an' my son's gettin' an: that's always my first start; bekase you know, Corny, honey, that their health goes afore every thing."

Having thus undertaken the task required of her, she passed into the bedroom of Mrs Keho, whom she found determined to be up, in order, as she said, to be at the head of her own table.

Well, alanna, if you must, you must; but in the name of goodness I wash my hands out of the business teetotally. Dshk, dshk, dshk! Oh, wurra! to think of a woman in your state risin' to sit at her own table! That I may never, if I'll see it, or be about the place at all. If you take your life by your own wilfulness, why, God forgive you; but it must'nt be while I'm here. But since you're bent on it, why, give me the child, an' afore I go, any how, I may as well dress it, poor thing! The heavens pity it-my little man. man-eh? where was it ?-cheep-that's it, a ducky; stretch away. Aye stretchin' an' thrivin' an, my son! Oh, thin, wurra! Mrs Keho, but it's you that ought to ax God's pardon for goin' to do what might lave that darlin' o' the world an orphan, may be. Arrah be the vestments, if I can have patience wid you. May God pity you, my child. If anything happened your mother, what 'ud become of you, and what 'ud become of your poor father this day? Ďshk, dshk, dshk!" These latter sounds, exclamations of surprise and regret, were produced by striking the tongue against that part of the inward gum which covers the roots of the teeth.

Young Corny soon went the rounds of the whole family, from his father down to the little herd-boy who followed and took care of the cattle. Many were the jokes which passed between the youngsters on this occasion-jokes which have been registered by such personages as Rose, almost in every family in the kingdom, for centuries, and with which most of the Irish people are too intimately and thoroughly acquainted to render it necessary for us to repeat them here.

Rose now addressed herself to the task of preparing breakfast, which, in honour of the happy event, was nothing less than "tay, white bread, and Boxty," with a glass of poteen to sharpen the appetite." As Boxty, however, is a description of bread not generally known to our readers, we shall give them a sketch of the manner in which this Irish luxury is made. A basket of the best potatoes is got, which are washed and peeled raw; then is procured a tin grater, on which they are grated; the water is then shired off them, and the macerated mass is put into a clean sheet, or table-cloth, or bolster-cover. This is caught at each end by two strong men, who twist it in opposite directions until the contortions drive up the substance into the middle of the sheet, &c.; this of course expels the water also; but lest the twisting should be insufficient for that purpose, it is placed, like a cheese-cake, under a heavy weight, until it is properly dried. They then knead it into cakes, and bake it on a pan or griddle; and when eaten with butter, we can assure our readers that it is quite delicious.

The hour was now about nine o'clock, and the company asked to the christening began to assemble. The gossips or sponsors were four in number; two of them wealthy friends of the family that had never been married, and the two others a simple country pair, who were anxious to follow in the matrimonial steps of Corny and his wife. The rest were, as usual, neighbours, relatives, and cleaveens, to the amount of sixteen or eighteen persons, men, women, and children, all dressed in their best apparel, and disposed to mirth and friendship. Along with the rest was Bob M'Cann, the fool, who by the way could smell out a good dinner with as keen a nostril as the wisest man in the parish could boast of, and Wait, ma'am, if you plaise. Where's his little barrow? who on such occasions carried turf and water in quantities Ay, I have it. Wait, ma'am, if you plaise, till I get the child that indicated the supernatural strength of a Scotch browdressed, an' I'll soon take myself out o' this. Heaven pre- nie rather than that of a human being. Bob's qualities, howsarve us! I have seen the like o' this afore-ay have I ever, were well proportioned to each other, for, truth to say, where it was as clear as crystal that there was something his appetite was equal to his strength, and his cunning to over them—ay, over them that took their own way as you're either. doin'."

Indeed, Rose," replied her patient, in her sharp, shrill, quick voice, "I'm able enough to get up; if I don't, we'll be harrished. Corny's a fool, an' it'll be only rap an' rive wid every one in the place."

"But if I don't get up"

I—

Oh, by all manes, ma'am-by all manes. I suppose you have a laise o' your life, that's all. It's what I wish I could get. "An' must I stay here in bed all day, an' me able to rise, an' sich wilful waste as will go an too?"

"Remember you're warned. This is your first baby, God bless it, an' spare you both. But, Mrs Keho, does it stand to raison that you're as good a judge of these things as a woman like me, that it's my business? I ax you that, ma'am."

This poser in fact settled the question, not only by the reasonable force of the conclusion to be derived from it, but by the cool authoritative manner in which it was put.

as

Corny and Mrs Moan were in great spirits, and indeed we might predicate as much of all who were present. Not a soul entered the house who was not brought up by Corny to an out-shot room, as a private mark of his friendship, and treated to an underhand glass of as good poteen ever went down the red lane," to use a phrase common among the people. Nothing upon an occasion naturally pleasant gives conversation a more cheerful impulse than this; and the consequence was, that in a short time the scene was animated and mirthful to an unusual degree.

Breakfast at length commenced in due form. Two bottles of whisky were placed upon the table, and the first thing done was to administer a glass to each guest.

Come, neighbours," said Corny, "we must dhrink the

good woman's health before we ate, especially as it's the first | lounged about Corny's house, or took little strolls in the time, any how."

"To be sure they will, achora, an' why not? An' if it's the first time, Corny, it won't be the Musha! you're welcome, Mrs ! an' jist in time too"-this she said, addressing his mother-in-law, who then entered. "Look at this swaddy, Mrs ; my soul to happiness, but he's fit to be the son of a lord. Eh, a pet? Where was my darlin'? Corny, let me dip my finger in the whisky till I rub his gums wid it. That's my bully! Oh, the heavens love it, see how it puts the little mouth about lookin' for it agin. Throth you'll have the spunk in you yet, acushla, an' it's a credit to the Kehos you'll be, if you're spared, as you will, plaise the heavens !"

Well, Corny," said one of the gossips, "here's a speedy uprise an' a sudden recovery to the good woman, an' the little sthranger's health, an' God bless the baker that gives thirteen to the dozen, any how!"

Ay, ay, Paddy Rafferty, you'll have your joke any way; an', throth, you're welcome to it, Paddy; if you were'nt, it is'nt standin' for young Corny you'd be to-day. "Thrue enough," said Rose, "an', by the dickens, Paddy is'nt the boy to be long under an obligation to any one. Eh, Paddy, did I help you there, avick? Aisy, childre; you'll smother my son if you crush about him that way." This was addressed to some of the youngsters, who were pressing round to look at and touch the infant.

neighbourhood, until the hour of dinner. This of course
was much more convivial, and ten times more vociferous, than
the breakfast, cheerful as that meal was. At dinner they had
a dish, which we believe is, like the Boxty, peculiarly Irish in
its composition: we mean what is called sthilh. This consists
of potatoes and beans, pounded up together in such a manner
that the beans are not broken, and on this account the pota-
toes are well champed before the beans are put into them.
This is dished in a large bowl, and a hole made in the middle
of it, into which a miscaun or roll of butter is thrust, and
then covered up until it is melted. After this, every one takes
a spoon and digs away with his utmost vigour, dipping every
morsel into the well of butter in the middle, before he puts it
into his mouth. Indeed, from the strong competition which
goes forward, and the rapid motion of each right hand, no
spectator could be mistaken in ascribing the motive of their
proceedings to the principle of the old proverb, devil take
the hindmost.
the hindmost. Sthilk differs from another dish made of po
tatoes in much the same way, called colcannon.
If there were
beans, for instance, in colcannon, it would be sthilk.
practice of many persons eating out of the same dish, though
Irish, and not cleanly, is of very old antiquity. Christ himself
mentions it at the Last Supper. Let us hope, however, that,
like the old custom which once prevailed in Ireland, of several
persons drinking at meals out of the same mether, the usage
we speak of will soon be replaced by one of more cleanliness
and individual comfort.

This

"It won't be my fault if I do, Rose," said Paddy, slyly eyeing Peggy Betagh, then betrothed to him, who sat oppo- After dinner the whisky began to go round, for in these site, her dark eyes flashing with repressed humour and affec-days punch was a luxury almost unknown to the class we are tion. Deafness, however, is sometimes a very convenient writing of. In fact, nobody there knew how to make it but malady to young ladies, for Peggy immediately commenced a the midwife, who wisely kept the secret to herself, aware that series of playful attentions to the unconscious infant, which if the whisky were presented to them in such a palatable were just sufficient to excuse her from noticing this allusion shape, they would not know when to stop, and she herself to their marriage. Rose looked at her, then nodded comi- might fall short of the snug bottle that is usually kept as a cally to Paddy, shutting both her eyes by way of a wink, treat for those visits which she continues to pay during the adding aloud, "Throth you'll be the happy boy, Paddy; an convalescence of her patients. woe betide you if you are'nt the sweetest end of a honeycomb to her. Take care an' don't bring me upon you. Well, Peggy, never mind, alanna; who has a betther right to his joke than the dacent boy that's aisy, childre: saints above! but ye'll smother the child, so you will.-Where did I get him, Dinney? sure I brought him as a present to Mrs Keho; I never come but I bring a purty little babby along wid methan the dacent boy, dear, that's soon to be your lovin' husband? Arrah, take your glass, acushla; the sorra harm it'll do you."

"Bedad, I'm afeard, Mrs Moan. What if it 'ud get into my head, an' me's to stand for my little godson? No, bad scran to me if I could-faix, a glass 'ud be too many for me.' It's not more than half filled, dear; but there's sense in what the girl says, Dandy, so don't press it an her."

In the brief space allotted to us we could not possibly give any thing like a full and correct picture of the happiness and hilarity which prevailed at the breakfast in question. When it was over, they all prepared to go to the parish chapel, which was distant at least a couple of miles, the midwife staying at home to see that all the necessary preparations were made for dinner. As they were departing, Rose took the Dandy aside, and addressed him thus:

"Now, Dandy, when you see the priest, tell him that it is your wish, above all things, that he should christen it against the fairies.' If you say that, it's enough. And, Peggy, achora, come here. You're not carryin' that child right, alanna; but you'll know betther yet, plaise goodness. No, avillish, don't keep its little head so closely covered wid your cloak; the day's a burnin' day, glory be to God, an' the Lord guard my child; sure the least thing in the world, where there's too much hait, 'ud smother my darlin'. Keep its head out farther, and just shade its little face that way from the sun. Och, will I ever forget the Sunday whin poor Mally M'Guigan wint to take Pat Feasthalagh's child from under her cloak to be christened, the poor infant was a corpse; an' only that the Lord put it into my head to have it privately christened, the father an' mother's hearts would break. Glory be to God! Mrs Duggan, if the child gets cross, dear, or misses any thing, act the mother by him, the little man. Eh, alanna! where was it? Where was my duck o' diamonds-my little Con Roe? My own sweety little ace o' hearts-eh, alanna! Well, God keep it, till I see it again, the jewel!"

Well, the child was baptized by the name of his father, and the persons assembled, after their return from chapel,

"Come, Rose," said Corny, who was beginning to soften fast, "it's your turn now to thry a glass of what never seen wather." "I'll take the glass, Dandy-'deed will I-but the thruth is, I never dhrink it hard. No, but I'll jist take a drop o' hot wather an' a grain o' sugar, an' scald it; that an' es much carraway seeds as will lie upon a sixpence does me good; for, God help me, the stomach isn't at all sthrong wid me, in regard of bein' up so much at night, an' deprived of my nathural rest.

"Rose," said one of them, "is it thrue that you war called out one night, an' brought blindfoulded to some grand lady belongin' to the quality?"

Wait, avick, till I make a drop o' wan-grace * for the misthress, poor thing; an', Corny, I'll jist throuble you for about a thimbleful o' spirits to take the smell o' the wather off it. The poor creature, she's a little weak still, an' indeed it's wonderful how she stood it out; but, my dear, God's good to his own, an' fits the back to the burden, praise be to his name!"

She then proceeded to scald the drop of spirits for herself, or, in other words, to mix a good tumbler of ladies' punch, making it, as the phrase goes, hot, strong, and sweet-not forgetting the carraways, to give it a flavour. This being accomplished, she made the wan-grace for Mrs Keho, still throwing in a word now and then to sustain her part in the conversation, which was now rising fast into mirth, laughter, and clamour.

"Well, but, Rose, about the lady of quality, will you tell us that?"

you go to that; but I'll tell it to you, childre, for sure the
Oh, many a thing happened me as well worth tellin', if
curiosity's nathural to yez. Why, I was one night at home
an' asleep, an' I hears a horse's foot gallopin' for the bare
life up to the door.
horseman says,
I immediately put my head out, an' the
Are you Mrs Moan?'
That's the name that's an me, your honour,' says myself.
dress yourself, and mount behind me, for there's not a mo-
'Dress yourself thin,' says he, for you're sadly wanted
ment to be lost!' At the same time I forgot to say that his
hat was tied about his face in sich a way that I couldn't catch
undher our feet for about a mile or so. Now,' says he, you
a glimpse of it. Well, my dear, we didn't let the grass grow
must allow yourself to be blindfoulded, an' it's useless to op-

* A wan-grace is a kind of small gruel or meal tea sweetened with sugar.

;