rom government,
contrived to find them employment on useful public works. Previous to
this, nothing could surpass the prostration and abject subserviency with
which the miserable crowds solicited food or labor. Only give them labor
at any rate--say sixpence a day--and they did not wish to beg or violate
the laws. No, no; only give them peaceable employment, and they would
rest not only perfectly contented, but deeply grateful. In the meantime,
the employment they sought for was provided, not at sixpence, but
at one-and-sixpence a day; so that for a time they appeared to feel
satisfied, and matters went on peaceably enough. This, however, was too
good to last. There are ever, among such masses of people, unprincipled
knaves, known as "politicians"--idle vagabonds, who hate all honest
employment themselves, and ask no better than to mislead and fleece
the ignorant unreflecting people, however or wherever they can. These
fellows read and expound the papers on Sundays and holidays; rail not
only against every government, no matter what its principles are, but,
in general, attack all constituted authority, without feeling one single
spark of true national principle, or independent love of liberty. It is
such corrupt scoundrels that always assail the executive of the country,
and at the same time supply the official staff of spies and informers
with their blackest perjurers and traitors. In truth, they are always
the first to corrupt, and the first to betray. You may hear these
men denouncing government this week, and see them strutting about the
Castle, its pampered instruments, and insolent with its patronage, the
next. If there be a strike, conspiracy, or cabal of any kind, these
"patriots" are at the bottom of it; and wherever ribbonism and other
secret societies do not exist, there they are certain to set them
agoing.

For only a short time were these who had procured industrial employment
permitted to rest satisfied with the efforts which had been made on
their behalf. The "patriots" soon commenced operations.

"Eighteen pence a day was nothing; the government had plenty of money,
and if the people wished to hear a truth, it could be tould them by
those who knew--listen hether"--as the Munster men say--"the country
gentlemen and the committees are putting half the money into their own
pockets"--this being precisely what the knaves would do themselves if
they were in their places--"and for that reason we'll strike for h