the calamity. But the
care, the diligence, the persevering industry which the various
forms of process require, in order to effecting the purposes which
_might_ result if they were promptly adopted and properly carried
out, are the very qualities in which the Irish peasantry are most
deficient. In the present crisis, the people are more disposed to
regard the extensive destruction of their crops in the light of an
extraordinary visitation of Heaven, with which it is vain for human
efforts to contend, than to employ counteracting or remedial
applications. "Sure the Almighty sent the potato-plague, and we
must bear it as well as we can!" is the remark of many; while, in
other places, the copious sprinklings of holy water on the potato
gardens, and on the produce, as it lies upon the surface, are more
depended on for disinfecting the potatoes than the suggestions of
science, which require the application of patient industry.'

Daniel O'Connell may continue to boast about Irish morale and Irish
intellect--the handsome women, and stalwart men of his 'beloved
country;' but no sensible persons will pay the least attention to him.
It is, at all events, too late in the day for we 'Saxons' to be either
cajoled or amused by such nonsense. An overwhelming majority of the
Irish people have been proved indolent beyond all parallel, and not much
more provident than those unhappy savages who sell their beds in the
morning, not being able to foresee they shall again require them at
night. A want of forethought so remarkable, and indolence so abominable,
as characterize the peasantry of Ireland, are results of their religious
education. Does any one suppose the religion of that peasantry has
little, if anything, to do with their political condition; or can it be
believed they will be fit for, much less achieve political emancipation,
while priests, and priests alone, are their instructors? We may rely
upon it, that intellectual freedom is the natural and necessary
precursor of political freedom. Education, said Lord Brougham, makes men
easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern, but impossible to
enslave. The Irish peasantry clamour for 'Repeal,' never considering
that did they get it, no essential change would be made in their social,
moral, or to say all in one word, _political_ condition; they would
still be the tool of O'Connell and other unprincipled poli