CHIEFLY DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. No. VI. GLASGOW, 6TH MONTH, 1st, 1850. MEMOIR OF WILLIAM RICKMAN. SOME ACCOUNT OF A VISIT TO THE SOUTH OF FRANCE, PARIS, &c.-After attending our Quarterly Meeting at Dover, on the 16th of 6th Month, 1829, and the weekday meeting there next day, on the 18th I went on board the steam packet for Calais, accompanied by James Charlton, and Robert Horsnaill. We landed at Calais after a passage of two and a half hours; and put up at an English hotel, kept by Roberts, formerly of Rochester. Next morning, Sixth-day, 19th, left Calais by diligence, at nine o'clock, with J. C. and Martha Cobham, a young woman, who intended to reside some time at Paris, in order to improve herself in the French language. R. Horsnaill finding himself unwell, returned by Dover home. We reached Boulogne about one, and Abbeville about ten. Next morning, went on to Beauvais, to breakfast. Whilst we were stopping at an inn to bait or change horses, within about twenty-four miles of Paris, a diligence from Paris stopped at the same place, in which were Isaac Sargent's wife and son.* We looked at each other; but, as we were not sure that it was them, and she perhaps not clearly knowing us, we passed (without speaking to each other). They were going for Paris, and from thence to London, as we learned afterwards from her husband. We reached Paris about five A. M., and put up at the Regent Hotel. After taking refreshment, and spending some time with Nathaniel Cozens of Southampton, whom we found there, we took coach and went to I. Sargent's. On our telling him we thought we had met his wife, &c., he did not doubt it, and appeared sorry we had passed without speaking to each other. We spent some time with I. S., who appeared kind and friendly. On First-day, after breakfast, J. C., M. C., and myself, took a walk, and called to see some Friends who were at a large hotel, and had come to Paris two evenings before, viz., Robert W. Fox of Falmouth, and his two daughters; Frederick Fox of London; Ann Dale, and her companion. It was mutually pleasant thus to meet. We staid with them till meeting time, twelve o'clock. Only one meeting is held here in the week. Several other Friends being here, our number at meeting was about twenty. We had a good meeting; the silent part was solemn and comfortable, and I felt much openness for communication. At the close, N. Cozens read the epistle from the last Yearly Meeting. After which, I proposed our coming together in the evening, which was agreed to. James Charlton, M. C., and myself, took dinner at Isaac Sargent's. The evening meeting was attended, I Friends who had resided some years in Paris. VOL. VIII. think, by all who were at the forenoon one, and was alike satisfactory; Frederick Fox appeared acceptably, in a short testimony. At the close, my certificate and my companions' were read. Afterwards, N. Cozens revived the consideration of a subject which had been mentioned before, viz., the altering of the time of holding the meeting on First-day, from twelve to eleven, which was agreed to. When we separated to go to our several places of sojourn, it was, I trust, under a thankful sense that Divine favour had been bestowed upon us through the day. Second-day was spent at Isaac Sargent's, in writing to my wife; looking for a carriage to go on to Congerries, &c. Third-day.-Went with M. C. to see her lodgings, which appeared comfortable. The house is occupied by a widow woman, and her daughter, an agreeable looking young woman, who speaks English well. From thence went to the Bazaar, and engaged a carriage, a very convenient one, suited for three persons, for which we agreed to give 600 francs. Fourth-day. We set off on our long journey to the south; passed through Fontainbleau and other towns, to Nemours, where we staid the night. Fifth-day.-Travelled about sixty-five miles, through a fine country, abounding with flourishing vineyards; lodged at Cosne. Sixth-day, 26th.-Rode two stages, about fifteen miles, to La Charité, where we took breakfast; from thence to Nevers, and rested there about two hours; having risen early, and slept but little the night before, I felt weary. From thence we went on five stages to Moulins, a very large town, about 175 miles from Paris. Most of this day our road ran near, or in sight of the river Loire; the air was sweet and clear; we could not but enjoy the ride; this I trust I did, with humble thankfulness for the many mercies received, both ancient and new. Seventh-day.-Concluded to take breakfast before we set out. It was market day; we took a walk into the market, and so large a quantity of fruit I think I never saw before. Cherries of different sorts, in great abundance, at a halfpenny or less per lb. Also vegetables of various kinds; indeed there seemed to be no lack of anything for the comfortable support of the inhabitants; but with all this abundance, in passing through the different towns, many of the inhabitants appeared miserable, and the houses dirty; he streets are very narrow, and in warm weather such as we now have, these circumstances must be very prejudicial to health. The poor people are kept in state of darke superstition and ignorance, both as to temporals and spirituals, by their priests; but there is reason to hope that this deplorable state of things is gradually wearing. off, that the domination of the priests is decreasing that the inhabitants of this fine country will be loosed from the fetters with which they are bound, that pure Christianity will eventually gain the ascendancy, and that this nation will form a part of the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ. After breakfasting, we rode on through several towns, and a fine country, abounding with corn, vineyards, &c. The weather very fine till towards noon, when rain came on; the wind rose until it became quite tempestuous; the rain poured down and beat into our carriage; the thunder and lightning were awful; one flash was remarkably vivid, and immediately followed by a clap of thunder, which appeared directly over our heads, and at a very short distance from us. But I considered we were in the hands and under the tender care of the Almighty, who rules and governs all things; and through mercy we received no damage. We reached Roanne about eight o'clock in the evening, having travelled about sixty-five miles. First-day, 28th.-Having now travelled four days successively, nearly sixty miles cach day upon an average, and much of the way over roads paved with large stones, I felt a little rest to be acceptable. Spent the day mostly at our inn in reading, writing, &c. In the fore part of the day, during a time of retirement, I felt comforted, and was led to remember my near connections and friends in my native land, at the time when I considered they were assembled at their several meetings. About four o'clock P.M., we were told by one of the servants of the house that une belle procession was about to pass along the street; and in a short time a vast multitude of people went before, and followed after, what we took to be the host, which was raised up and carried under a covering, accompanied by drums and other kinds of music; the cross, which appeared to be of gold, wax tapers, incense, and what more I know not; priests in their vestments, and several of the military. This parade was probably in honour of Mary Magdalene, as one of the colours was inscribed with "Magdalena, pray for us, in Latin. The whole was conducted in great order; by many in the procession, particularly of the women, their ceremonies appeared to be performed with much solemnity. It was awfully striking; but, when I considered that by all this it was intended to ascribe honour to the creature instead of the Creator, and, as I apprehend, an invention of the priests, I could but regard it as superstition and idolatry, and highly offensive in the Divine sight. - Second-day. After taking breakfast, we went on two or three stages pleasantly, but had afterwards much wind and rain. The scenery beautiful. We stopped and dined at Tallere, and afterwards had three stages, mostly rough hilly roads, to Lyons, where we arrived about eight o'clock. I felt very much fatigued; but, after taking a repast of tea, &c. (which we had not done before since leaving England), was favoured to have a good night's rest, and then felt recruited. Next morning, Third-day, 30th, a servant at the inn where we lodged informed us there was an easy conveyance by water, in what is called a bateau, down the Rhone, in which a strong current is always running out and discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. The proprietor of the bateau being sent for, his wife came, and gave so flattering an account of the ease and comfort of the conveyance, also producing a number of certificates, signed by persons of eminence in confirmation thereof, that we were induced to make trial, and suffered our carriage to be put on board before we had seen much of the conveyance. We agreed for the fare to Avignon, about thirty miles from Congenies, which journey we were told we might accomplish in two days, and sleep one night at Valence. We had to stop one day at Lyons, which we were willing to do, but saw little there to engage our attention. Fourth-day morning, 7th Month, 1st.-We set off about five o'clock in the bateau, and found it to be no ways commodious, little, if any, better than our coal barges; no deck nor cover, except an awning of thin cotton or linen, suspended by hoops, and tied down on each side; loose boards, covered with straw, for seats; this awning was removed after we had gone some dis. tance, on account of the wind blowing hard ahead. Moreover, some of the company on board were far from agreeable. There were only two men to manage the bateau; and they were only able to keep it drifting down the stream, sometimes head foremost, and sometimes stern foremost, and sometimes broadside, so that we got heavily on. Our carriage held much wind, and tended to retard our progress. We went once on shore, and took refreshment, then kept on till about eight o'clock in the evening, when we put up for the night at a small town. Fifth-day, 2d.-We set off again at three o'clock in the morning, and proceeded, with the wind still ahead, till about half-past nine, which was six hours before we reached Valence, the place at which we were told we should lodge the first night; and having now come only about half the distance to Avignon, we concluded to leave the bateau, and finish our journey by land. Accordingly, we had our carriage taken out; and the captain was urgent to receive a gratuity for himself (and we submitted to give him a small one), in addition to the fare for the whole distance, which he insisted on with much warmth. After informing him we were not satisfied with his conduct, we took refreshment, and proceeded pleasantly to a large town called St. Esprit, about fifty miles, where we lodged that night. Sixth-day, 3d. We rose early, and reached Nismes about noon, where we took refreshment, and spent some time. Afterwards hired a man and two horses, and set out for Congenies, which place we reached about five o'clock, and were cordially received by our friend, Louis Majolier, his wife, and family. Seventh-day, 4th.-Rested, and wrote two letters, which took up most of the day; towards evening, we took a walk with L. M. up a high hill, from which, on a fine day, may be plainly seen the Mediterranean Sea, about twelve miles distant, and from the same, or an adjacent hill in winter, when covered with snow, may be seen the mountains of the Alps to the eastward, dividing France from Italy, and to the westward the Pyrenees, dividing France from Spain. First-day, 5th.-This day was held the two months' meeting in usual course, and was pretty fully attended. The house, which was built a few years ago, and is pretty large, was nearly full, particularly on the women's side. It proved a highly favoured meeting. I felt much openness therein, although unaccustomed to speak with the help of an interpreter, but we were favoured to get on comfortably; my companion, James Charlton, performed his part as interpreter, I believe, to the satisfaction of all present; I think he was helped, and tendered in spirit. Our friend L. Majolier had considerable to deliver in the line of testimony, which, although I could not understand, was, I thought, attended with a good savour. Afterwards, I expressed my unity therewith, and my sense of the Divine favour mercifully vouchsafed to us at that season; with a word of comfort and encouragement to the afflicted and cast down, for such, I did believe, there were then present. L. M. then read the Yearly Meeting Epistle, which he had previously translated into French. After this, my own and my companion's certificates were read; during all this the meeting continued in much quietness, and a good degree of solemnity prevailed. I had to return grateful acknowledgments to the Almighty, for the present favour mercifully vouchsafed, and humbly to implore the continuance thereof during the remainder of our service in these parts; that, when the same should be accomplished, if consistent with His Divine will, we might be favoured to return in peace to our families and friends; and that the seed which might have been sown in the hearts of some then present, might, in due time, spring up and bear fruit to the praise of the great Husbandman. Afterwards, the business of the two months' meeting was entered upon, which appeared little more than the mention of the receipt, and reading of the Yearly Meeting's Epistle, and of our certificates; men and women sitting together. The afternoon meeting was rather smaller; L. M. had considerable to express. I was silent, I believe rightly so, with desire that I might be favoured to know, and attend to the shuttings, as well as the openings, of the Word of Life, and not dare to move without a clear sense of the latter. At the close, L. M., at my request, mentioned my prospect of visiting their families, which appeared to be cordially assented to. Second-day, 7th Month, 6th.-Had two family sittings in the fore part of the day, both satisfactory, the last particularly; several young women, near relatives, living contiguous, sat together. We pursued our en gagement in the forenoon and evenings, and lay by several hours in the middle of the day, on acount of the [heat of the] weather, and the men Friends being engaged in gathering in their corn, it being the height of harvest. We had generally three sittings in the morning, and three in the evening. Fifth-day. Attended the week-day meeting, and next day concluded the visits to the families, about twenty in this village, except one or two individuals absent from home, whom we expect to see in a day or two. (To be continued.) LIFE AND WRITINGS OF MAIMONIDES. For THE BRITISH FRIEND. ONE of the most remarkable names that has appeared h Jewish history since the close of the sacred period, and the final destruction of the temple at Jerusalem, is that of Maimonides. Whether regarded as a sage and philosopher in a very dark period, or as the author of several works on the Scriptures, and in exposition of the Jewish law, which are among the most esteemed of that class of literature, and almost invaluable to the student of the original language of the Old Testament, he stands out as one of the greatest lights and ornaments of the age in which he lived. eldest son was carefully educated at home by himself, with the aid of the best tutors that could be obtained, until he was admitted as a student at Lucena, one of the large and noted colleges the Jews had at that time established, for the education of their youth and the advancement of literature and science. Maimonides progressed rapidly with his studies, which were chiefly directed to the Mosaic law, the Talmud, and the numerous commentaries professing to explain both; especially the works of the celebrated Aben Ezra, who had been educated at the same school about half a century before. About the age of twenty, Maimonides returned to his native city; and, obtaining permission to address the synagogue on the following Sabbath-day, his eloquence and learning so powerfully impressed all present, that he was placed at once in a position affording every facility for the further prosecution of his studies, his father being one of the first to foresee the future eminence of his son. Maimonides now frequented the famous schools of the Moors of that period; and, under Averroes, who was, perhaps, the greatest philosopher and most enlightened man that nation ever produced, and with whom he became very intimate, he made great advances in astronomy, mathematics, and medicine. Averroes, in consequence of his unorthodox views as a Mussulman, soon after this, became the subject of bitter persecution; and Maimonides, at whose house he had been for a while sheltered, and who was, therefore, supposed to be tainted with the same religious views, was obliged to fly from his own nation and country, as well as from the Moors, and finally took refuge in Egypt, about the year 1160. During his flight, in consequence of weakness, or fear of the enmity with which he was pursued, he was induced outwardly to profess Mahometanism; but threw off this false disguise probably some time before his arrival in Egypt. At first, he supported himself, in poverty and with great difficulty, by selling jewels, precious stones, and other small articles; but, soon after, opening a school, and giving public lectures at the same time, his great learning and talents could not long remain hidden, and he rose rapidly in reputation and esteem, until he was appointed chief physician and privy-councillor to the Sultan Saladin, afterwards so well known in the history of the Crusades, as the antagonist of Richard Coeur de Leon. His life, at this time, in consequence of his position and celebrity, was most laborious. A short time previous to his flight from Spain, Maimonides had commenced writing his p❝The Strong Hand;" or, "The Repetition of the Under the impression that the name of this cele- Law," an epitome and classification of the laws and brated man is much more familiar than any acquaint- maxims of the Talmud, compiled in a clear easy style, ance with his life and writings may be, we propose to with the omission of most of the allegories and tradigive a short sketch of the former, derived from the tions with which that work abounds. The Talmud is scanty sources that are now accessible, to be followed a collection of the expositions and sayings of the most by a few selections from his most extensive work, the esteemed Jewish doctors, from the close of their sacred "The Strong Hand," a specimen of which canon down to its own date; and its want of system, appeared in the number before last of The British and obscure dialect, had rendered it almost unintelFriend, p. 55; and of which, we believe, portions only ligible to the majority of the Jews themselves of the have ever yet been presented in an English translation. twelfth century. Maimonides resumed this arduous Moses ben Maimon, more familiarly styled Maimon-undertaking in Egypt, which occupied him about seven ides, was born at Cordova, in Spain, about the year 1131. The Jews had become very numerous in that country, and held a high position under the government of the Moorish kings, for a considerable time previous to the birth of Maimonides. His family was distinguished for learning and piety; his ancestors having held the office of Judge," of the community for several generations. His father married a woman who was considered much beneath his station in life, and who died in giving to the world her first-born-the subject of our memoir. His father soon married again; but his 66 years. A work of the kind was very much needed by the Jews, whose applause of it was universal; and it established the fame of its author as one of the greatest luminaries that nation has produced in modern times. Numerous copies were immediately taken, and prayers were offered up daily for the health and life of the author in all the synagogues of Africa, Syria, and Asia Minor. From the circumstance of his first great work being written in Egypt, Maimonides is frequently known as Moses the Egyptian, better than by any other name. IRELAND. NOTES ON THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.-NO. XXXIII. ARTHUR YOUNG tells us, in his Tour, that some of the best land he saw in Ireland was in the county Louth; that the average rent of it was then about £1, and the usual produce eighteen to twenty cwt. of wheat from the Irish acre. The character of the land in that county maintains the same relative position to the present time. The rents are greatly altered since then. This same land sets at £3 to £4, according to quality and situation, and there is very little talk of much reduction yet. The produce, from improved cultivation, has also increased, but not at all in the same proportion as the rent; thirty-four to forty cwt. of wheat being now about the average produce on the first-class land-I have heard of forty-five to fifty; but these are extreme cases. The town-parks around Dundalk are mostly set for seven guineas the Irish acre, and the landlord refuses to reduce his rents. It is not surprising that a man like this, who, from having been an exile and in penury, and who, in the course of a few years, had raised himself, by his learning and ability, to be the most distinguished person of the age, at least of his own peculiar nation, should have numerous enemies and enviers among those whom he had left behind, and who eagerly sought for any excuse to find exceptions in his character and writings. An opportunity was soon afforded by his next great work, written between 1185 and 1194, entitled, "The Teacher of the Perplexed." His first work was a digest, or compilation; this is the expression of his own mind, and of his philosophical, theological, and critical views on difficult passages and phrases occurring in the Old Testament. Its objects are, to prove the truth of Divine Revelation; to attest the character and authenticity of the Sacred Writings; and to expound the grounds and reasons of the Mosaic laws, and their accordance with, and adaptation to, the best welfare and highest interests of man. It was originally When in Dublin, I gave up an evening to visit the written in Arabic, being intended, in the first place, model farm at Glasnevin, in connection with the schools to be read by Mahometans; but a translation in of the National Board, and considered myself well Hebrew soon appeared, under the auspices of Maimon- repaid for the trouble. Dr. Kirkpatrick, the inspector ides himself. In this work, he was presumed to set of the Agricultural Schools, was so kind as to accomaside many of the traditions with which the Talmudic pany me. There are now thirty-six young men in the writers have encumbered themselves; and, therefore, institution, who are boarded, lodged, and instructed it is not surprising that its author became the mark of free. They are divided into two classes; one is intended suspicion and obloquy, and the occasion of violent dis- for teachers for the agricultural schools that are in the sensions and disputes among the Jews of Europe; who, course of being established throughout the country, and in some places, went so far as publicly to burn the the other class is intended for land-stewards. The work. Maimonides says respecting it, in a letter to original farm consisted of fifty-two statute acres, at £5 his son, "I never doubted but that this work would per acre, which is cultivated on the four-course system be received as it actually has been received. But of cropping. They house-feed from twenty to thirty I am an old man, I do not covet fame, and willingly head of cattle, most of them milch cows. They have forgive all my enemies. I did not write this work in taken an additional farm of seventy-four acres, at a order to rise in the estimation of my people, or out of rent of four guineas per acre, statute measure, and ambitious thirst for renown. Living with people there is to be an additional range of buildings erected whose thoughts are altogether mundane-all whose forthwith, so that the number of young men can be endeavours are terrestrial, and who have no idea of the increased to fifty or a hundred. The evening I was spiritual I must not feel surprised if they should accuse there was very fine, and the young men were all busy me of innovation or heresy, and compel every one whose at work; some in the garden, others laying draining success in life depends on their good graces, to conceal tiles, several ploughing, and sowing oats; in fact, they or deny his approbation of me and of my writings. do all the skilled labour of the farm, under the immeMaimonides, respected and beloved by those immediate direction of the professor of agriculture. The diately around him to the end of life, died at Cairo A.D. 1206, at the age of seventy-five years. At Alexandria and Jerusalem, funeral orations were delivered, and public mourning was assumed for three whole days. His corpse was carried to Tiberias, and interred there. He was the author of various other works on mathematics, philosophy, and medicine, which established his reputation as the first physician, and one ne of the greatest sages of the age in which he lived. But his theological writings continued to be the subject of deep and bitter controversy, among his own nation, for many years after his death. The orthodoxy of his first great work was never questioned. To the other work may be mainly attributed the philosophical impulse which, at that time, was given to the Jewish mind. The disputes raged principally among the Jews of Europe; but were happily brought to a conclusion in favour of Maimonides, who has since been looked upon as one of their greatest oracles of the Middle Ages by the Jews, and esteemed and respected by all Christian writers. David Kimchi, the celebrated grammarian, one of his most zealous defenders, caused the following inscription to be placed upon his tomb : ממשה עד משה לא קם כמשה : THE love of money is an opiate, that often lulls conscience asleep, and blinds the judgment.—Dillwyn. cows supply all the model and training schools in the city with milk, at a moderate rate; and, last year, the income from the produce of the farm paid the rent, taxes, all incidental expenses, and any additional labour that was required; there was £100 odd of a surplus, which was very well, considering the high rent that is paid for the farms. was surprised to see the old farm laid out in fields, with sundry ground hedges, that are neither useful nor ornamental; they are not high enough for a fence, nor are they required for that purpose, as the cows are constantly house-fed. The present professor is laying out the new parcel of land without any such useless incumbrance. He is thorough draining it all, in a very superior manner; when it is completed, it will be a very nice farm, and they will then be able to housefeed sixty to seventy cows. The stalls for them are well arranged; but I was greatly surprised to find they had no such thing as a water-tight tank for the liquid manure. After working hours, the young men assembled in the class-room, when the professor examined them most carefully on the different kinds of soil, and the best modes of treating each kind; the most approved modes of cultivation; the three, four, and five-course of cropping; thorough-draining, in all its ramifications, &c. I was greatly pleased with the useful character of the questions put. They were all simple and practical, such as all good farmers should know; and the answering was very creditable to the young men and their instructors. One or two lads from the Larne agricultural school answered extremely well; on the whole, I was greatly pleased with the establishment. Any person, rich or poor, who wishes to bring up his son to agriculture, ought to esteem it a high privilege to get him into it. A certain number of the vacancies, no doubt, will be kept open as rewards for clever good boys, from the country agricultural schools. Industry, attention, and good conduct, ought to be more esteemed, in awarding such prizes, than brilliant talents, which are not at our command. I was glad to find the majority of the young men were from the south and west, where they are most required. Fifty young men coming out of that institution every year, and spreading themselves over the country, will be like sowing good seed broadcast over the land. I entered the county of Wexford by the way of Gorey, Camolin, and Ferns. In this immediate district, a considerable portion of land is held in large tillage farms, varying from one to three hundred acres each. The fields are mostly large, and well laid out. The cultivation, in many respects, is quite equal to the best districts in Ulster. Some of those farms are old Cromwellian grants, held in fee from the Crown; others are old leases, at a moderate rent; but the majority is set at very smart rents, which the landlords are determined to uphold, if they possibly can. Since the failure of the potatoes, many of the smaller class of farmers have been rapidly sinking; their stock of cattle is greatly reduced; they are cropping their land, year after year, with grain, as the only means of raising money to pay the rent. This course of cultivation must inevitably lead to ruin, both for landlord and tenant; yet it is the declivity the needy, short-sighted landlord is forcing his hard-working tenants down, both north and south. Some of the large farmers keep more sheep than is usual with us in Ulster; they lay down a few fields to rest, and make a sheepwalk of it, then break it up, and crop it very severely. Several families in this neighbourhood are relatives of mine. Three or four of them are what would be called, in the north, extensive farmers. I stopped two or three days among them; I did not observe that any of them, nor any of their neighbours, house fed their cows, or kept much more than supplied their own families with milk and butter. They do not seem to like the trouble of cows, or the anxiety or foresight that is required to bring forward, in due rotation, a proper succession of green crops, for spring and summer feeding, and the necessary varieties of the turnip tribe for stall-feeding in winter; consequently, their manure heaps are neither as large, nor as good a quality as they ought to be, for farms of their size. At first, I was very much surprised to observe a great number of very rich green fields much farther forward, and more luxuriant, than the wheat. On inquiry, I found that it was a new kind of winter oats, lately introduced from the banks of the Don, in Russia. It is best when sown quite as early, or earlier than autumn wheat, and is cut, and in the haggard, before the general harvest begins. A field of six acres was pointed out to me, on which there was a fine crop last year of this "tawny oats," which is the name the country people have given it, from its peculiar colour. My friend estimated the produce at thirtyfive cwt. to the Irish acre. I have brought a sample of it with me, and will leave it at The Whig office, that farmers may call and see it. The road from Enniscorthy to Wexford, and thence to New Ross, passes through a tract of country that is barely average, either as regards the quality of the land, or the general appearance of the husbandry, which is not saying much for the "model county; but there are some good patches of land, particularly near Taghman. There did not appear to be any very great breadth of land under potatoes, along my route through Wexford; but, in the county Kilkenny, the people were very busy planting them, Some of the best bread I got on my journey was at the little town of Mountrath, in the Queen's county; it was made from flour, manufactured from wheat grown in the neighbourhood, without the admixture of any foreign wheat. The land in the vicinity is above the average; some of it decidedly good. There are three or four extensive good farmers near the town. One of those gentlemen, who resides in the town, stall-feeds a great quantity of superior stock, and gets the top prices of the day. He showed me upwards of a dozen prize medals, gained at various exhibitions of fat cattle. One of them was very valuable; it was awarded by "The Dublin Royal Society.' Besides, he had several pieces of valuable plate, gained by the same honourable mode. I observed, in one of those farms, three fields adjoining each other, of about twenty statute acres each. One was in grass, another in wheat, and the third in potatoes. The mechanical part of the cultivation seemed to me to be perfect. The potato drills are more like what would be seen in a gentleman's garden than in a large field. The small farmers in the Queen's county, Tipperary, and Limerick, are making unusual exertions to plant potatoes this year. In some districts of those three counties, they will put down more than has been the case for the last four years. Their partial success, last season, is tempting them, like the gambler, to take another throw at the dice; but the fact is, we can get no substitute equal to the potato; besides, it is essentially a fallow crop, the proper cultivation of it is preparing the ground for a corn crop. The Dublin and Cork Railway is, certainly, so far as I am capable of judging, the most complete, perfect, and best line I have ever travelled on, either in England or Ireland. Every part of it seems so solid and well made; the carriages run extremely smooth; the arrangements at the various stations are very good ; the country station-houses are both substantial and ornamental; the waiting-rooms are clean and comfortable, with a supply of pure water for both drinking and washing. The Company will collect parcels of 1 lb. weight or under at Cork, take them to Dublin, and deliver them within the Circular-road, all for the charge of 6d. each; or they will deliver them anywhere within three miles of any of their principal country stations for the same charge. Many of their minor arrangements struck me as very good; on the whole, the concern reflects the highest credit on both the contractors and directors. I wish two or three of the most active directors of the Ulster line would take a few journeys up and down it. They might get some hints that would be very useful to them. If they are not too proud or too "mulish' to learn, they might gain a wrinkle or two by the trip; one thing they would see, carriages turned out, at starting, with clean seats and clean floors, which is not always the case on some other lines. The owner of the Blarney estate, within five miles of Cork, is cultivating upwards of two thousand acres of his own land; the railway passes through it, and the traveller is forcibly struck by the superiority of the husbandry over that of the small farmers in the district. He house-feeds 170 milch cows, sells the milk on the farm to parties who supply Cork; he constantly stall-feeds 100 head of fat cattle, and has mostly upwards of two hundred young cattle, which are nearly all constantly fed in the house; consequently, he is able to manure highly, and get great crops. I understand he intends, by degrees, to take all his estate into his own hands. His farm, I am told, is as well cultivated as any in Norfolk, or the Lothians. We have no such |