m the hill on the coast above the island, the lawn and wood appear
also to great advantage. But the finest point of view is from the higher
hill on the other side of the house, which looking down on all these
scenes, they appear as a beautiful ornament to the Shannon, which spreads
forth its proud course from two to nine miles wide, surrounded by
highlands; a scenery truly magnificent.

The state of the poor is something better than it was twenty years ago,
particularly their clothing, cattle, and cabins. They live upon potatoes
and milk; all have cows, and when they dry them, buy others. They also
have butter, and most of them keep pigs, killing them for their own use.
They have also herrings. They are in general in the cottar system, of
paying for labour by assigning some land to each cabin. The country is
greatly more populous than twenty years ago, and is now increasing; and
if ever so many cabins were built by a gradual increase, tenants would be
found for them. A cabin and five acres of land will let for 4 pounds a
year. The industrious cottar, with two, three, or four acres, would be
exceedingly glad to have his time to himself, and have such an annual
addition of land as he was able to manage, paying a fair rent for it;
none would decline it but the idle and worthless.

Tithes are all annually valued by the proctors, and charged very high.
There are on the Shannon about one hundred boats employed in bringing
turf to Limerick from the coast of Kerry and Clare, and in fishing; the
former carry from twenty to twenty-five tons, the latter from five to
ten, and are navigated each by two men and a boy.

October 5. Passed through a very unentertaining country (except for a
few miles on the bank of the Shannon) to Altavilla, but Mr. Bateman being
from home, I was disappointed in getting an account of the palatines
settled in his neighbourhood. Kept the road to Adair, where Mrs. Quin,
with a politeness equalled only by her understanding, procured me every
intelligence I wished for.

Palatines were settled here by the late Lord Southwell about seventy
years ago.

They preserve some of their German customs: sleep between two beds. They
appoint a burgomaster, to whom they appeal in case of all disputes; and
they yet preserve their language, but that is declining. They are very
industrious, and in consequence are much happier and better fed, clothed,
and lodged than the Irish peasants. We must not, however, c