IRISH HAIRED OF ENGLAND.

West Coast Times, Issue 240, 29 June 1866, Page 3

IRISH HAIRED OF ENGLAND.

(from the examiner.) The reason why Dr Fell was hated could not be fathomed, but hated Dr Fell was, not a jot the less thoroughly and bitterly. And Dr Fell's case is the dasc of England in the feelings of tile lower and not a few of tho upper Irish. Now a hatred without reason, is a hatred the most stubborn and lasting, for nothing that can be done can dperate Upon it. Not that the Irish hatred of England was originally without cause, as for many years the Eng* lish yoke was a heavy, galling yoke to Ireland ; but the juster rule of tho last forty years, which has left few grievances unredressed, has not eradicated the animosity which was provoked by previous misgovernnieftt. Tho effect survives the peccant cause. But this Is , not all. There is a want of affinity between Irish and English, aud generally they do not like each other. The Irish Is a warmer^ more genial, more impulsive temperament, and antipathetic to it is the English coldness aud phlegm. And the Irish are not singular, it must be confessed, in their dislike to us. Most people have the same prejudice, htiA call us sullen, proud and arrogant. If they knew us better they might judge us less unfavourably, but this reminds us of the argument of Charles Lamb, who, when asked how he could hate a people he did not know, answered, "And pray, how could I hate them if I did not know them ?" 111-will is best nursed in ignorance. Sixty years ago how we hated the French ; it was a point of patriotism, rind tlie greatest warrior of the time, Nelsonj held the then comriioii opinion that we were natural enemies. Welling* ton, of a later date, and who had more knowledge of the people, with whom he had battled in Spain, had none of the national prejudice ; and with the improved intercourse between the two people, it may be said to * have passed away from us ; what lingers yet being tin the' French side, where it is a tradition kept up by several causes. Our prosperity is resented, and the English demeanour, which is supposed to be encouraged by it, is exceedingly obnoxious to people whose pride takes another turn, and who revolt against what they call our insular arrogance. That there is sortie" fault of this kind is not lo be denied, but for the most part we believe there is more awkwardness \\mn arrogance in the case. As for the highlybred people, they are much the same of all nationalities.

If in France traditions of hate are kept up by dislike to manners and deportment, tho case is different in America, where there is prejudice against the nation but none against individuals, •who are sure of a warm hospitable reception if they deserve it. Also in Ireland, the Englishman who conducts himtfelf well, and gives himself no airs of superiority, is respected, and perhaps something more, though his country is charged with every ungenial, and ungenerous, and unjust habit. But is not all this prejudice on the wane ? and are we not seeing the fag end of it ? Is it not, as it were, going downhill,, or, a6JSydney[Smith, saidof ghoats, descending from the drawing-rcom to tho kitchen? Hatred of England moved to rebellion, in 1798, men of all classes — gentlemen, priests, lawyers, scholars, as well as ignorant peasants. But there is none of this leaven in Fenianism, and the impulse of hatred does not operate above a very low level. And so rebellion seems in process of wearing out, sinking lower and lower though with an extensive surface. Probably numerically there has never been more disaffection in Ireland, but the stratum is of sand, whose many grains have no cohesion. There are none of the leaders of 1844, much less of '98. The Thanes fly from it. We are not without hopes, therefore, that the present may be the last occasion for coercion, and it should be followed, as soon as circumstances will allow, by measures for the removal of the few remaining causes of complaint. First and foremost of these stands the Church, not of Ireland, and though it is not a practical grievance, nor one so much taken to heart by the Catholic peasantry, it is a sign of subjection that ought to be pulled down. Every intelligent Irish Catholiosees written on the Protestant Church Establishment, " Sic vos non vobis." It is a standing affront, a memorial of conquest in the shape of the gross injustice that the strong can do the weak.

Erudite.— A lady had a favorite lap dog, which she called Perchance. "A singular name," said somebody, "for a beautiful pet, madam. Where did you find it ?"— "Oh," drawled she, "it was named from Byron's dog. You remember where he says. ' Perchance mv doc will howl.'" J b