the language of his early years from his habits of thinking; he, therefore, very naturally accommodates the acquired tongue to the idiomatic construction and phraseology of his own, and imperceptibly enriches it with all the tropes and figures with which his mind is familiar. Besides, as has been already remarked, the Irish have an ardour of mind, and an impetuosity, which hurry them along, and produce that confusion of ideas in which bulls chiefly consist. "The propensity to this species of blun"der exists in minds, who are quick and enthusiastic, who are confounded by the rapidity and "force with which undisciplined multitudes of "ideas crowd for utterance. Persons of such in"tellectual characters are apt to make elisions in

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speaking, which they trust the capacities of "their audience will supply: passing rapidly "over a long chain of thought, they sometimes forget the intermediate links, and no one but "those of equally rapid habits can follow them "successfully."

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This, by the way, is remarkably characteristic of men of original minds. On all the subjects to which they direct their attention, they will be, apt, unless much on their guard, to leave chasms in their reasonings, which, as they think, every reader can supply for himself.

* Edgeworth on Irish Bulls, p. 128.

Such persons feel a propensity to leap from the premises to the conclusion, without putting the intermediate ideas in words: it is not that these ideas do not really present themselves, but they pass through the mind with so much velocity, and appear so simple and obvious, that this detailed process seems unnecessary. "These are gigantic and stupendous intelligen"ces, who grasp a subject by intuition, and "bound forward from one series of conclusions "to another, without regular steps through "intermediate propositions." It is to this power of perceiving at a glance all the bearings of a subject, without the labour and time which are required to ordinary minds, that originality of genius is to be ascribed. But to return from this digression.

It may very naturally be asked, if the habit of making bulls is in whole or in part to be attributed to the idiomatic and figurative construction and phraseology of the Irish language, and to enthusiasm and impetuosity, how comes it to pass that those in Ireland who are altogether unacquainted with that tongue, should be guilty of the same blunders; and that the Highlanders and the Welsh, who speak dialects of that language, and who will certainly yield to few in ardour of feeling, and precipitancy of ideas, have never been accused of that species

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of blundering, which is now associated with the nation and character of their Celtic brethren? Though it be difficult to give a satisfactory answer to this question, the following remarks may not be altogether inapplicable.

First, the Anglo-Hibernians have much of the enthusiasm and humour of the native Irish, and indeed, it appears to me, that by intermarriages, they are a good deal incorporated with each other, though political and religious causes have increased rather than diminished their original animosity.

Secondly, it is certain, that a people when accused of any error are more likely to fall into that error, than if the case had been otherwise. The Irish as a nation are accused of making bulls; and though a colony of English should settle there in the present day, their descendants would naturally be associated with the Hibernian blunderers, and whether guilty or not, would be charged with the habit or failing of that humorous race. The truth is, all nations commit blunders; the English, the Highland, and the Welsh, though not all to the same extent, and a very little additional incongruity of idea would convert them into bulls. What is it then that produces this incongruity of ideas? I answer,

Thirdly, an excess of fancy and humour. It

is to this last quality, which is possessed to an unequalled degree, that we are indebted for all the amusement which the good-natured Irishman affords. While, therefore, the Highland-man and the Welsh are possessed of the language of Ireland, they generally want that excessive fund of humour which induces the poor Hibernian to indulge in the utmost merriment and hilarity.

By what their good humour is produced, we "know not; but that it exists, we are certain. "In Ireland, the countenance and heart expand "at the approach of wit and humour; the

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poorest labourer forgets his poverty and toil "in the pleasure of enjoying a joke. Amongst "all classes of the people, provided no malice "is obviously meant, none is apprehended."*

It cannot be supposed, that I should say any thing of the intrepidity and courage of the Irish. This has never been called in question. At this moment they compose a great proportion of our army and navy; and they justly share the glory that has covered our bold and peerless countrymen.

Such is a general outline of the character of our fellow subjects in the neighbouring isle: a character which though surrounded with some blemishes, will rise into higher beauty and perfection, when its calumniators have no longer

* Edgworth, p. 258.

the power to do harm:-which, when it is brightened from the dark shades, and has acquired that animating lustre to which nature has destined it, will command a much larger share of love and veneration than it has yet obtained. As it is, to give it all the interest to which it has every claim, another pen than mine must describe it. All at which I aim is only to remove prejudice, to correct misrepresentation, and to direct the public attention to a subject which at any time it may not be unpleasing to study, but the consideration of which at present it may be criminal to neglect.