PREVALENCE OF TYPHUS FEVER.

173

spoken of, typhus is generally understood. On account of the strongly infectious nature of this fever, its treatment has been separated from that of other complaints, and even particular hospitals have been erected for those attacked by it. In the large towns of England also, in which there is a considerable Irish population, amongst whom typhus fever is never at rest, fever hospitals are to be found, as in Glasgow, Manchester, and London.

Misery, want, bad food, scarcity of fuel, and the moist climate, are probably the original causes of this disease. The records of the Cork fever hospital inform us that the greatest number of patients is received in April and May, and in November and December. The former are the months in which the distress of the poor in Ireland is at its greatest height; and the latter months are those in which the greatest quantity of rain falls. It is also remarked that in years of extreme wetness or scarcity the typhus fever is most prevalent. The increased humidity of a year works not only directly on the constitution, but also increases disease indirectly, by preventing the preparation and drying of the turf, and increasing the price of this necessary article so much that it is unattainable by the poor. How often does it happen, in Ireland, that they are compelled to break up and burn their tables, bedsteads, and other furniture, to procure a little warmth!

The inhabitants of the little Irish island which forms the renowned Cape Clear, suffered so much from a scarcity of fuel in 1839, that they came together and cast lots, which first, and which second and third, should tear down his cabin in order to warm the dwellings of the others with its materials. But the fever-plague was only increased by this proceeding; for as they were all crowded together in narrow rooms, and admitted no fresh air into their houses, the infection spread with still greater violence. Besides, in wet and cold years the poor are often compelled to mend the roofs of their houses with the straw which they had destined for their beds; and on these occasions, instead of fresh straw, they have to sleep upon old, or most probably upon none at all. All the misery that a wet year thus produces in Îreland (and on account of the peculiar nature of the country, it produces more than with us,) tends to increase typhus, and to fill the fever hospitals. Whilst other lands always wish for rain, Ireland generally longs for dry weather: the ground retains so much moisture that a dry year is never injurious. The potatoes then turn out best, and the turf is most easily made; and turf and potatoes are here the foundation of all earthly happiness, and even of existence itself, the true "nervus omnium rerum," as money is in other lands.

SECTION V.-THE BARRACKS.

CIRCULATION OF THE BRITISH ARMY-RECRUITING COSTLY EQUIPMENT THE RED UNIFORM GERMANS AND FRENCHMEN IN THE BRITISH SERVICE-SCARCITY OF GERMANS IN CORK.

Cork, like most towns in Ireland, has its barracks, which stand on a hill in the suburbs of the city. These barracks are more interesting than usual, as Cork is one of those harbours in which troops are embarked and provisioned for the colonies, and where they also disembark on their return home. The usual period of foreign service is three years, after which, for ten years, the regiments are continually changing their quarters throughout the entire kingdom-Ireland, Scotland, and England-when they are again shipped for the colonies, where also they are frequently moved from one place to another. When it is considered how long, according to this system, the troops must be maintained and supported unprofitably on the wide waves of the ocean, it is evident that on this account alone the English army must be one of the most expensive in the world. Of every regiment sent to the colonies, a part (two companies, I believe,) remains behind in the mother country, to attend to the interests of the regiment, but principally to collect recruits, train them, and send them to the regiment on the foreign station. Those companies which remain behind are termed the depot of the regiment. The periods of circulation for the artillery and infantry are different; and the troops destined for the East Indies have also their own peculiar regulations. The latter have no depots in Cork, being all equipped and embarked from English harbours.

One of my first walks in Cork was to these barracks. The great gate which leads to the inner court was placarded from top to bottom with advertisements, inviting young men to enter her Majesty's service. These English invitations are, in their composition, of a very characteristic nature; and we on the Continent, where every one is compelled to serve as a soldier in his turn, can form no idea of them. They are generally got up like attractive playbills for instance, at the top of one is placed the representation of a dashing horseman galloping in full uniform, and underneath, in large letters, "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!" It then proceeds to say, that "twelve of the finest of her Majesty's regiments, of the greatest respectability, and of the most acknowledged gallantry, are now open to the free choice of the sons of Erin. Now is the very best time for active young men to enrol themselves in one of them for her Majesty's service. It is the most easy service.

RECRUITING FOR THE ARMY.

175

and the best pay. Those who bring recruits will obtain seven shillings and sixpence for each!" Another runs thus :

"EAST INDIA COMPANY'S FORCES.

"Some spirited young men are still wanted for the service of the Honourable the East India Company.

"Bounty
Pay.

....

66

31. 6s.

1s. 6d. a day.

"Bounty to those who bring recruits.. 17s.

"A young man can no where turn his labour to better account."

My time would not permit me to copy these announcements verbatim; but many of them were of a much more alluring character, and offered still greater advantages than those I have mentioned. Recruiting parties from the various regimental depots, composed of the tallest and finest-looking men, are also sent into the surrounding towns and villages, where, their caps profusely decorated with bunches of many-coloured ribbons, and their sticks and sword-belts also ornamented with ribbons and flowers, they parade the streets and market-places, and visit the alehouses, in order to entrap the " spirited young men." It is surprising that so many healthy young Irishmen are able to resist all these allurements, and that, on the contrary, they do not all eagerly grasp at the prospect of exchanging their filthy rags and miserable cabins for good gay clothing and comfortable barracks. His native soil must have numberless attractions for an Irishman, that he so often prefers privations at home to plenty and abundance in the English colonies.

Cork barracks are said to be the largest and best in the kingdom; and as we wandered about in the sleeping-rooms and eating-rooms, the canteens, (as the sutlers' shops or alehouses in English barracks are called,) the officers' mess-rooms, and the extensive squares, we every where saw much to excite interest and attract our attention. The 10th hussars, returning from exercise, defiled before us. The regiment was composed of remarkably fine men, and the noblest horses in the world. The saddles were all ornamented with tiger skins, most of them genuine. The equipment of English soldiers is indeed the most costly in the world, for every thing is of the best quality: thus the hussar-jackets worn by the officers in this regiment, alone cost about forty pounds each. Imitation gold, in epaulettes or lace, is unknown in the English army; and the cloth worn by the officers (rendered still more expensive on account of its red colour) costs about two pounds per yard. As the English troops have to visit extremely different climates, a relaxation of the strict regu

lations with respect to their uniform is sometimes permitted, at least to the officers. Thus, for instance, those who proceed to North America are allowed, so far as is not absolutely incompatible with these rules, to edge their clothes with fur; and the officers of three regiments which lately embarked here for China, had many articles of dress made of white cotton, instead of red woollen cloth.

It is said that the English have adopted the red colour for their soldiers, in order the better to conceal the blood from their wounds, so that the recruits, when first brought into action, may not be frightened by the sight of so much blood. But on the other hand, as there is so little in nature that is red, his dress makes the English soldier more easily distinguished, and thousands may have been slain by the enemy's bullet, who, in gray or green clothes, might not have been perceived. This red dress has doubtless rendered many English victories much more sanguinary and fatal to the troops, and it is inconceivable that no attempt should yet have been made to introduce a gradual change of colour. For the well-known colour of the uniform of the British navy a more plausible reason is assigned,-that indigo blue is the only colour which can withstand the destructive effects of salt

water.

One of the officers informed me that the band-master of his

regiment was a German. This is very frequently the case, in English as well as in Russian regiments. These band-masters

are very well paid, receiving as much as twelve shillings a day, besides diet and clothing. Of all foreigners, Germans are most frequently found in the English service, especially in the navy; whilst Frenchmen are most rarely met with. It is said, however, that no Frenchman is permitted to enter the British navy. (Are there any Englishmen in the French service?) It is only in the cooking department that the exception to this rule, so unfavourable to the French, is apparent; for in the mess-room of the 45th regiment, which was about to be embarked for the Mediterranean, I found a cook of that nation. A German tailor, whom I also met here, and who was kind enough to direct my attention to many things worthy of notice, assured me that this was the only Frenchman he had ever known in the English army, and he must have seen a large portion of it, during his long residence in Cork, where he had assisted in clothing most of the regiments that are constantly passing through that city.

Germans are somewhat scarce in Cork. I could only hear of five, and three-fifths of these I saw, that is to say-the tailor above-mentioned, a teacher of music, and a young musician,-all

O'CONNELL AND THE BLARNEY STONE.

177

of whom showed me much kindness. There are no German merchants, no young Germans at the counter, nor, with the above exceptions, no German artists or tradesmen. I mention this more particularly, as a great many Germans are always to be found in the large towns and cities of England; whilst I believe there are fewer resident in Cork than in any other city of equal population in the British-European dominions.

SECTION VI.-VOYAGE TO COVE.

THE BLARNEY STONE-THE

HARBOURS OF THE SOUTH OF IRELANDPIECES OF WATER-THE NAVIGATION WALL-COVE-IRISH LIGHTHOUSES -SALMON FISHERIES-THE DRY-ROT BUBBLE-CONVENT EDUCATION FOR YOUNG LADIES FRENCH SYMPATHIES FOR IRELAND UNCATHOLIC EXTERIOR OF IRISH TOWNS-IRISH ROMAN CATHOLICISM-LAWS AGAINST ROMAN CATHOLICS-THE POOR CATHOLICS-" A SILVER COLLECTION IS EXPECTED"-BEGGARS PRAYING AT THE DOORS-LIBRARY OF THE BISHOP OF CORK-IRISH APOSTLES-" FELIX HIBERNIA !"-IRISH AND ENGLISH MOURNING-TO PLUME A HEARSE-PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC HOTELS -TAKING A SHOP BY STORM.

In the neighbourhood of Cork are two sights, one of which, although very celebrated, is scarcely worth the trouble of visiting; whilst the other is as beautiful as it is famous. The latter is the voyage down the river Lee to Cove; and the former is the ruins of Blarney Castle, so well known from the popular song of "The Groves of Blarney," and also by the legend that whoever kisses. a certain projecting stone of the castle, is gifted by the fairies with a remarkable and irresistible amiability, especially in the eyes of the fair sex. This legend has called forth numerous illnatured caricatures against poor O'Connell; amongst others, one in which he is represented sitting on the Blarney Stone and deriving his irresistible powers from this kind of kissing. All this, however, one may very easily imagine, without going to see it. But the voyage down the Lee to Cove must be made in person to be duly appreciated.

The south, or rather the south-eastern, coast of Ireland, from Cape Clear to Carnsore Point, forms a nearly straight line, 120 miles long. It contains a number of inlets, or arms of the sea, which, being less deep, broad, and long than those on the western coast, which are termed bays, are here simply called harbours. Such are the harbours of Baltimore, Glandore, Kinsale, Oysterhaven, Cork, Youghal, Dungarvon, Waterford, and Wexford; into most of which flow small rivers, as the Bandon into Kinsale harbour, the Lee into Cork harbour, the Blackwater into Youghal harbour, and the Suir into Waterford harbour. All these rivers