ORIGINES HIBERNICIE.
SOME erudite antiquarians trace the Irish to a Punic origin : that grave philosopher Tom BROWN the Younger inclines to the opinion that they are Egyptians.* Their theory of commerce induces us to derive them from the Chinese.
The fervour with which the Irish patriots seek to exclude English
manufactures, English capital, and English workmen from Ireland, is worthy of the Chinese legislators. We have before us at this moment advertisements, lithographed circulars, and colossal pla- cards, all aiming to promote that great end. The hatter is obliged to advertise that the report of his importing hats from Lancashire is a vile calumny, intended to frighten the virtuous from his shop. The partners in an " infant concern" intimate by, private circular, that having, " in obedience to the demands of the public," taken premises "for the-purpose of manutlicturing every article connected with their branch of business," they trust "their long experience and practical knowledge" will enable them to meet the most reputed manufactories of England. Again, a patriotic rival denounces in the newspapers an extensive dealer, because—imprimis, "his hats are manullictured in Lancashire"; secundo, " his interest is inter- woven and identified to too great an extent with English capital"; and lastly, he has " imported shopmen with smock-frocks from Lancashire, thereby insulting the Irish." This last denunciation of " outside barbarians" could scarcely enter any mind not of Chinese descent.
There are several subordinate circumstance's Which serve to cor-
roborate this main evidence. For example—The Chinese call their country " the central flowery land"; the Irish theirs, " first flower of the earth." There is a philological approximation be- tween the names " Con-fu-ci-us " and " 0- Con-nell " (we lay no stress on the suggestion that " 0-Con-nell" might with equal pro- priety be written " Con-fu-si-on.") In short, should 0-Con-nur.r. become the Con-ru-cr-us of the Hiberno-Chinese, he might very properly be crowned under the pure Mandarin title of Hem Tile FIRST ; and then, of course, Prince Join, (lately installed his suc- cessor,) being allowed on all hand to be a much less man, would be legitimately entitled to be called Hum THE GREAT.
But women, since the days of Eve, have been proverbially the
destroyers of every comfortable prospect. Notwithstanding the flattery DAN has lavished on his countrywomen, they oppose him in his great Hiberno-Chinese system of mercantile policy. An admirer of the exclusive system writes to the editor of the Leeds Mercury—" A friend of mine tells me, that notwithstanding all the inquiry for Irish, he sells twenty gray English calicoes for one Irish. The women will not give id. per yard more. The men are more firm to what they think will benefit their country."
We suspect Miss MARTINEAU is WA the only woman who is in advance of " the lords of the creation " in the science of political economy.
* His main argument is not without weight- " According to some learn'd opinions, The Irish once were Carthaginians; But, judging from some late descriptions, I'd rather say they were Egyptians.
My reason's this—The Priests of Isis,
When forth they mareled in grand array, Employ'd, 'mong other strange devices, A sacred ass to lead the way :
And still the antiquarian traces,
'Along Irish Lords, this Pagan plan; For still, in all religious cases, They put Lord Roden in die van."
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