Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Letter I.
chimney is neither more nor less than a hole or aperture , through which the smoke seldom or ever deigns to glide , as it finds an easfe ' r transit through the door , so that their very hair is covered with it ; and the moment you enter , if you are a stranger , they are always ; sure to hand you the lowest stool ; requesting , at the same time , that ' you will sit out of the smoke , ' which they conceive you may by sitting lowand whichin
, , a great degree , you do . Some of thencottages are built of clay , but very few ; 1 have seen three or four of them , however , since I came to the mountains , and I think , if I mistake not , 1 saw one with a glass window : I am sorry I did not TO in , but . I certainly shall before I leave the place . Their furniture In general consists of a pot , half a dozen trenchers , a few horn spoons ; andif the familis
, y very large , a couple of beds ; on which , I am told , they sleep very soundly , though they are composed of heath , or straw , shook on the ground , and a couple of blankets : a sheet is a luxury . The women all go bare-footed , even in the depth of winter . May no rude blast deform the tender maid . Or pointed ice her snowy feet invade .
Each has n pair of shoes , however , in which they appear on holidays , but seldom on any other occasion . They are excessively modest , and I think gather handsome ; and when they wash themse ' lves , exceedingly fair . Those that cannot singi compose songs . Love is the darling theme ; and I have met with many of them in which the wiles oi Cupid are painted with great delicacy : all their similes are taken fronatureWhen have time
m . . I , I will send you a few of their ballads ' , as I have luckily met with a person who has promised to translate as many . into . English as I please . The Irish language is said to be spoken in . its . purity in this place ; I did not like the twang of it in the beginning , but I must confess , 1 have met with some that speak it with a softly flowing , accent .. They are naturally eloquent , and readto enterinto conversation
very y , with you . My interpreter has just paid me a visit . ' Pray , Sir , is not the Irish tongue said to be spoken with greater purity in this province , than any other part of Ireland ? ' ' Yes , Sir , that ' s a point no longer disputed , and there is an old verse which , confirms it . This is the English of it : ' In Ulster they speak Irish with correctness , but ' without the true accent . Munste
In r , the accent without correctness ; In Leinster , neither correctness nor acfieflt , ; and in Connaught both . ' But now that I recollect , I can give you what your friend Peter Lambard says on the same subject . — " Etdialecti quidem varatio ita se habere passim animator , ut cum * sjilt quatuor Hibernia 2 provincize Momonia , Ultonia , Lagenia , Cqnactjapenes conactes sit et potestas rectaa pronunciationis & hra
, p - seos . vera proprietas- penes Momonienses potestas sine proprietate ; penes Uitones proprietas sine potestate ; penes Lagenos nee potestas pronunciationis , nee phraseos proprietas , " - —I will tell you more in my tiexf . Adieu !
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Letter I.
chimney is neither more nor less than a hole or aperture , through which the smoke seldom or ever deigns to glide , as it finds an easfe ' r transit through the door , so that their very hair is covered with it ; and the moment you enter , if you are a stranger , they are always ; sure to hand you the lowest stool ; requesting , at the same time , that ' you will sit out of the smoke , ' which they conceive you may by sitting lowand whichin
, , a great degree , you do . Some of thencottages are built of clay , but very few ; 1 have seen three or four of them , however , since I came to the mountains , and I think , if I mistake not , 1 saw one with a glass window : I am sorry I did not TO in , but . I certainly shall before I leave the place . Their furniture In general consists of a pot , half a dozen trenchers , a few horn spoons ; andif the familis
, y very large , a couple of beds ; on which , I am told , they sleep very soundly , though they are composed of heath , or straw , shook on the ground , and a couple of blankets : a sheet is a luxury . The women all go bare-footed , even in the depth of winter . May no rude blast deform the tender maid . Or pointed ice her snowy feet invade .
Each has n pair of shoes , however , in which they appear on holidays , but seldom on any other occasion . They are excessively modest , and I think gather handsome ; and when they wash themse ' lves , exceedingly fair . Those that cannot singi compose songs . Love is the darling theme ; and I have met with many of them in which the wiles oi Cupid are painted with great delicacy : all their similes are taken fronatureWhen have time
m . . I , I will send you a few of their ballads ' , as I have luckily met with a person who has promised to translate as many . into . English as I please . The Irish language is said to be spoken in . its . purity in this place ; I did not like the twang of it in the beginning , but I must confess , 1 have met with some that speak it with a softly flowing , accent .. They are naturally eloquent , and readto enterinto conversation
very y , with you . My interpreter has just paid me a visit . ' Pray , Sir , is not the Irish tongue said to be spoken with greater purity in this province , than any other part of Ireland ? ' ' Yes , Sir , that ' s a point no longer disputed , and there is an old verse which , confirms it . This is the English of it : ' In Ulster they speak Irish with correctness , but ' without the true accent . Munste
In r , the accent without correctness ; In Leinster , neither correctness nor acfieflt , ; and in Connaught both . ' But now that I recollect , I can give you what your friend Peter Lambard says on the same subject . — " Etdialecti quidem varatio ita se habere passim animator , ut cum * sjilt quatuor Hibernia 2 provincize Momonia , Ultonia , Lagenia , Cqnactjapenes conactes sit et potestas rectaa pronunciationis & hra
, p - seos . vera proprietas- penes Momonienses potestas sine proprietate ; penes Uitones proprietas sine potestate ; penes Lagenos nee potestas pronunciationis , nee phraseos proprietas , " - —I will tell you more in my tiexf . Adieu !