through all human efforts, and through all human skill! Surely, if this be the spirit of God's faithful people, in Great Britain and in Christendom at large, we may expect, * The writer of this Preface expects much benefit to Ireland from the measures of Poor-law Relief just introduced by Her Majesty's Government, although well aware of many risks and difficulties attending the measure. He cannot conceive any subject, of a material character, more deserving of attention at this moment, on the part of individuals of property and station in Ireland, than endeavours to induce the peasantry to adopt a species of garden cultivation, as seen in England, and, perhaps, still more on the Continent. Many valuable tracts written for this purpose, are well-known in Ireland, but personal labour and attention on the part of those possessing influence, must indeed be requisite, in order to effect any practical and permanent results. With regard to general measures for remedying social evils prevalent on an estate, as to the management of land, and as to a most backward state of civilization, Lord George Hill's "Facts from Gweedore," a most interesting production, and costing only half-a-crown, presents a record of signal judgment, benevolence and success. The prevalent calamity has, of course, for the present, up-turned much, but that detracts nothing from the merit of the system pur sued. without limit or stint to our anticipations, that God Almighty, according to His gracious ways, will grant that His promise of old time, uttered to Jezreel, His seed and generation, may find its parallel with us too. "I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.” Whereby the Spirit signifies, according to the grand inspired diction of the East, that we may look to the fruits and the crop, but they cannot answer us for good without the teeming earth; neither can the earth help except by appealing to the sun, and the rain, and the sky; neither can these material heavens avail anything at all, except by God's hearing and commanding them; but when this mighty link, joining God's bountiful will to the wants and comfort of man, is thus perfect and complete, then the blessing is attained and sure. So let us trust in GOD, that He, "who once did suddenly in Samaria turn great scarcity and dearth into plenty,"† will crown this year with plenteousness-the work of * Hosea ii. 21, 22. "Prayer in Time of Famine." judgment having done its part, and the work of mercy being renewed in its full glory and strength, through Jesus Christ, the one only Mediator, whether for nations, or for individuals, between GOD and man! Reading, May 7th, 1847. CHAPTER I. THE ARRIVAL IN DUBLIN. "GOD of the winds! O hear our pray'r, Soft o'er the slumbering deep, may fair "O'er the rough rock and swelling wave, Do thou from angry ocean save, FITZGERALD'S ODE TO HIS SHIP. THE 21st of April, 1829, we embarked on board the St. Patrick. The wind was rough, and the waves boisterous; so that, even before day declined, all romantic notions about observing― "How bright beneath the moonbeam's smile, Each little billow heav'd its breast," had totally vanished; and amidst the wild B |