The Irish populace appears to be losing altogether that sense
of courtesy which so long gave colour to the supposition that the Munster peasant was akin to the Spanish peasant, a gentle- man, though clad in frieze. Lord and Lady Spencer were mobbed and howled at when they went to Limerick to open a dock on Tuesday last, in a way that makes one wonder whether its ancient grace and dignity have not been evaporated from the Irish char- acter, as some say its humour and one or two other of its most characteristic qualities have gone, or are going. Certainly there is a vast change since the days when Byron looked at the " nation so servile, yet sore," which crowded down to Kingstown by the hundred thousand to salute the "goodly leviathan," George IV. Lord Spencer represents the Government which has established Religious Equality in Ireland, and extended Tenant Right to its four provinces. Lady Spencer has as fair a presence and as good a heart as the lady who bore the bright gold ring on her hand in days of old besung by Moore. We fear it would hardly be safe for such a lady to rely " on Erin's honour and Erin's pride" now-a-days.
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