Miss Constantia Maxwell, who edited Arthur Young's Travels in France
some months ago, has now published his Tour in Ireland (Cambridge University Press). Young travelled through Ireland in 1776, 1777, and 1778, at a time when the condition of the peasantry was at its worst. He was not particularly touched by the misery he saw around him ; for he was much more interested in the agricultural capacity of the country and opportunities that were lost in its management. " In the management of the arable ground," he writes, " the Irish are five centuries behind the best culti- vated English counties." He is rather reluctant to admit that the peasant suffered unduly " The country (county Meath) is cheerful and rich, and if the Irish cabins continue like what I have seen, I shall not hesitate to pronounce their inhabitants as well off as most English cottagers. They are built of mud, and well thatched, which are far wanner than
the thin clay walls in England. A bellyful invariably of potatoes, and generally turf for fuel from a bog. It is true they have not always chimneys to their cabins, the door serving for that and window too. If their eyes are not affected with the smoke, it may be an advantage in warmth. Every cottage swarms with poultry and most of them have pigs."
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