they forbore to infest their abodes at other times. The country families generally gave something additional, in the way of provision, according to their ability; but the inhabitants of towns and villages literally paid only this new species of poll tax; which, when received from numbers, amounts to something considerable to each individual. It is a lamentable truth, that an undue proportion of the Irish population are beggars, either from necessity or inclination; and the predilection for this mode of living is encouraged by the extraordinary charity of the lower order to each other: no suppliant ever leaves the door of the most miserable cabin, without receiving a handful of oaten meal, or two or three potatoes, which are put into bags carried for the purpose; nor is a night's lodging and the use of the turf fire ever denied. The form of application, and admittance, is as follows:—The beggar stands on the threshold, and says, "Peace be to this house! Any good Christian within?"—"What do you want, poor sowl?"—"The blessing of the Lord, and the holy powers, be about ye; and give a desolate cratur a night's lodging."—"In the name of the holy Vargin, and the blessed saints, kindly welcome." After this formula, the beggar, and his or her family, take up their abode, as long as the neighbourhood affords them subsistence. In summer, hordes of people travel about the country in this manner. They plant their potatoes, and sow their oats in spring; then locking up their houses, repair, like their betters, to the watering places, where they remain till the season arrives for digging the one and reaping the other. To the beggars that are acknowledged to be hale in body and sound in mind must be added those, who draw on the charity of the working members of the community, as "innocents," "crouls," "spey" men or women, those afflicted with fits, dumb people, and lunatics. Whether it be, that the high premium that is given for any defect, mental or bodily, induces the fortunate possessor to bring it forward to publick view, and others, not so distinguished, to counterfeit infirmity; certain it is, that the eye of a stranger from England, where such objects are shut up in appropriate asylums, is as much shocked as surprised at the number of the above mentioned unfortunate beings, that are seen in the country parts of Ireland. There are numerous impostors, but still they are the exceptions, whilst the real sufferers form the rule.

Ere the beggars dispersed, Adelaide returned to the breakfast parlour. And is this proud and brilliant beauty the gentle, placid Adelaide? A vivid, perhaps a feverish glow, mantled her cheeks, and gave her eyes a dazzling lustre, that was almost as repelling as it was beautiful. The dignity of her carriage approached to majesty. She seemed to walk triumphantly, as if she led misfortune by the hand, and awed her by