* There are hundreds of thousands—­yes, millions—­of
     the poorer classes in Ireland, who have never tasted
     mutton!

“Well,” said Dominick, “it’s no matther what the name of it is, in regard that it’s good mate, any way, for them that has enough of it.”

With a fervent heart and streaming eyes did this virtuous family offer up their grateful prayers to that God whose laws they had not knowingly violated, and to whose providence they owed so much.  Nor was their benefactor forgotten.  The strength and energy of the Irish language, being that in which the peasantry usually pray, were well adapted to express the depth of their gratitude towards a man who had, as they said, “humbled himself to look into their wants, as if he was like one of themselves!”

For upwards of ten years they had not gone to bed free from the heaviness of care, or the wasting grasp of poverty.  Now their hearth was once more surrounded by peace and contentment; their burthens were removed, their pulses beat freely, and the language of happiness again was heard under their humble roof.  Even sleep could not repress the vivacity of their enjoyments:  they dreamt of their brother—­for in the Irish heart domestic affections hold the first place;—­they dreamt of the farm to which those affections had so long yearned.  They trod it again as its legitimate possessors.  Its fields were brighter, its corn waved with softer murmurs to the breeze, its harvests were richer, and the song of their harvest home more cheerful than before.  Their delight was tumultuous, but intense; and when they arose in the morning to a sober certainty of waking bliss, they again knelt in worship to God with exulting hearts, and again offered up their sincere prayers in behalf of the just man who had asserted their rights against the oppressor.

Colonel B. was a man who, without having been aware of it, possessed an excellent capacity for business.  The neglect of his property resulted not from want of feeling, but merely from want of consideration.  There had, moreover, been no precedent for him to follow.  He had seen no Irishman of rank ever bestow a moment’s attention on his tenantry.  They had been, for the most part, absentees like himself, and felt satisfied if they succeeded in receiving their half-yearly remittance in due course, without ever reflecting for a moment upon the situation of those from whom it was drawn.

Nay, what was more—­he had not seen even the resident gentry enter into the state and circumstances of those who lived upon their property.  It was a mere accident that determined him to become acquainted with his tenants; but no sooner had he seen his duty, and come to the resolution of performing it, than the decision of his character became apparent.  It is true, that, within the last few years, the Irish landlords have advanced in knowledge.  Many of them have introduced more improved systems of agriculture,