The Jackeen is, in fact, a personage, who, in our metropolitan society, supplies the same place which the conceited cockney does in the great capital of the sister island, or the Bourgeois dandy in that of France. In intellect and appearance, however, he is far superior to both; he is the affected puppy of the middle ranks he is in medium life, what the Corinthian is in the beau monde; but his imitation of the graces of polished society," resembles the mimicry of Falstaff's page; and is about as near the standard of the original." A Jackeen may expend thousands upon tailors' contracts-may be furnished with the newest fashion, three days prior to its general promulgation-yet he will never be mistaken for a gentleman; he never can attain that undescribable something which proclaims the ascendency of intellect, or the influence of education, upon the exterior man. Many a brainless beau may look like a gentleman, but there is something in the character of intellect which never can be confounded with vulgarity: it may appear eccentric, or extravagant, but it never can represent insignificance. The chief distinguishing mark by which the Jackeen may be recognised, is, perhaps, that which strikes you as indicative of a want of personal dignity. He usually dresses himself as if his costume was intended to amuse, rather than to elicit the admiration of the public. Bad taste in dress, however, is a deficiency which is shared by all ranks, as well as the distinguished class I am now describing; but when it extends itself to a kindred style of manners, the united power of dress and address contributes to form a character which, if not possessed of insinuating attributes, is at least gifted with those which render it irresistible and overpowering. The chief aim of all naturalists in describing the appearances of the different species which it might have been their good fortune to discover, was, that the animal should be so pourtrayed, and its peculiarities so accurately detailed, that in future it would be known by all men who cared to know anything about the matter; MY object, in thus taking up this hitherto-neglected class, has been similarly directed; and if, through my exertions, they are enabled to take their place in the zoological arrangement, according to the order laid down by the learned members of that Society which legislates upon such matters, I shall be abundantly rewarded for my exertions in their behalf. LOCALITY OF THE JACKEEN. The species may be found every day in great abundance in the most frequented avenues of our city, and being of a gregarious disposition, is not commonly seen alone. After night-fall he usually retires, and is found either at a "party" in a drawing-room-a smoking shop-or at a soiree, where there is more caution used in admitting him, than in giving him his congè, and where the occasional call of an uninvited peace-officer, often produces a gentle embarrassment amongst the company, which often increases to a disorder which renders a run upon the bank inevitable. Like her other productions, in which she delights to display her whimsicality, nature has been equally generous to the Jackeens-for, like the leaves, I never yet found two of those animals which exactly coincided in the points of resemblance. It is, therefore, useless for me to give more than a general description of a species which contains such a variety, so that my readers will be enabled to give a tolerable guess at the class to which he belongs, whenever they meet with one which may be fairly considered as a "specimen." DESCRIPTION OF THE JACKEEN. In stature he varies from four feet five inches to five feet four, but is seldom found to exceed that altitude. I have met some Jackeens which were nearly six feet long, but, upon examination, I was inclined to think that they should not be included; they bore no exterior resemblance, the similarity was only remarkable in their manners and dispositions. The head is the grand and distinguishing seat of jackeenism, beginning with the hat, which is generally suited to it, not alone in the fitness of its diameter to that of the globular substance it is intended to cover, but in the character which its peculiar construction is meant to express. The leaf usually undergoes some whimsical contortions, under the superintendance of its tasteful owner, which are so decisive in establishing its character, that if you saw "a slate" thrown upon a hall table, among the chapeau of a dozen gentlemen, you would intuitively select it as the property of a Jackeen. Next to the hat, the hair is entitled to precedence-there is a very close connexion between them-the Jackeen always wears his curls in Long Ned's profusion, pushed up, and struggling for an ascendency over the leaf of the hat, which is sometimes attained by lodging a stray curl upon it. The physiognomy and figure of the class is so varied, that it would be quite impossible to distinguish either, by a merely graphic detail. MANNERS OF THE JACKEEN. If the dress and figure of the Jackeen admit of a variety so infinite as to defy any classification of the species, fortunately for the purpose of my arrangement, there is no difficulty in ascertaining the quality of his manners. The manners of the Jackeen betray hin under any disguise; but still, familiar as they are to us, it may not be an easy task to describe them. The manners of the Jackeen may be defined as the imitation of gentility by a deficient and uncultivated mind. This style distinguishes the first division of Jackeens; but the second includes those who have not even the merit of imitating their betters, but who, from an innate bassesse d'esprit, indulge themselves in vulgarity and slang. But why should Dublin contain more of this class of population than any other city? The reason is easily discovered; they predominate in inverse proportion to the polite ranks, because the latter are diminished by the anti-national system of absenteeism, and thus the field is, in fact, left in the undisturbed possession of the Jackeens. The most unintellectual of animals are the Jackeens; they have brought as much disgrace upon the literary character of our city by their ignorant inactivity, as the erudite Fellows of our University have by their wonderful talents for retention. It is to them we are indebted for the creditable character which Doctor Lardner gave of our rank in literature. In his Cabinet Cyclopædia, he says"Literature, however, in Dublin is rather an accessory accomplish ment than a profession :-there is no authorship-no publishing trade." Before the union we had an authorship and a publishing trade, both of which were supplied and supported by our erudite patricians; but when they withdrew, no others than the unintellectual and unprofitable Jackeens remained behind, and thus perished our authorship and publishing trade. I do not mean to insinuate that there are no young men residing in Dublin but Jackeens-neither do I admit Doctor Lardner's assertion, that there is no authorship nor publishing trade: the fact of the existence of both is sufficiently established, by the success of the Irish Monthly, which is now twelve months in existence; and with respect to literature being what he calls a accessory accomplishment, rather than a profession, perhaps he is justified in saying so, when the stupid inattention of the Jackeens to every scientific, or literary pursuit is considered. Manners are chiefly polished by association-like the pebbles on the sea shore, which become smoothed by the action of the waves which press them on each other: but the Jackeens derive no advantage from their situation to help to redeem them from their present uncivilized state. Their associations afford them no improvement, for they scarcely ever mix amongst any other cast of society but their own; and, therefore, no redeeming influence can be communicated by the contact. I have also more than once regretted to perceive that ladies, who have been much in the habit of meeting this class, insensibly imbibe some resemblance to their manners-some slight, though decisive similarity, which, although we may not be able to trace it to the source, is nevertheless present in their deportment, or audible in their accents. When I frequented parties, I have often made this discovery; I have marked, "Where the gay dance of bounding beauty's train some pretty little youthful creature, whose smiles and delighted manner proclaimed that she was then in her first season of social enjoyment-I have admired her, like Lara, looking down upon the ball, and followed her with my eyes through the various interchanges of partners, until, after supper, when, having seen her contentedly seat herself, as if she had determined to dance no more, I have found myself pushed up next to her by some inveterate quadrillers, making way to show off, which compelled me, in my own defence, and for the purpose of getting out of the way, to seat myself upon the end of the ottoman upon which she rested. There is something very like homage in the admiration which we feel when conteinplating loveliness in its silent moods, before a word from the charmer has conveyed to our ears an idea of her tones or accents-how truly has Lord Byron said "No dart so deadly as a sweet voice ;" and how detrimental to that homage, and almost destructive to that admiration, is the sound of her words, when sweetness hangs not on their utterance. As I entered upon discourse, how often have I recognised a slight trace of the languid patrois of the Jackeen in her spiritless tones, or a word now and then unconsciously selected from his vocabulary of foolish slang. Thus the baneful influence of Jackeenism deprives the loveliest of nature's creations of its sweetest charm, and leaves it almost like a flower, whose perfume has been extracted. The deficiencies of manner which the Jackeen displays, are so apparent, that even with the rudest of the "mob" he is not able to pass for a gentleman Perhaps the most concise summary of his character is conveyed in the words of a critical shoeblack, who, observing a Jackeen of consequence passing his stand, on Carlisle-bridge, observed to his fellows-" there he goes, and the only polish he has is on his boots, and it was I gave him that." Nay, so well understood are they by every grade of the population, from themselves down to our lazzaroni who "hould your honor's horse," or perform a variety of other duties equally important, that they never cease to be the butts at which the shafts of their humour are directed, while, with an exception which cannot be attributed to interested motives, they never try them upon those whom they distinguish as the rale gintlemin. POLITICS OF THE JACKEEN. In order to do every justice to the character of the Jackeen, I am obliged to examine what claims he may have to citizenship, from the services which he rendered to the cause of freedom, by co-operating in the patriotic struggles which have been going on around him. Upon this subject I referred to my friend, the Silent Agitator, as the best authority; and I am compelled to say, that his report contained any thing but what was creditable to the class as patriots. He said that, during the long period which his experience comprehended, he never remembered to have seen a Jackeen distinguish himself in public life in any of the various ways by which talents or information can attract attention; and that while many light-brained beaux were induced to appear upon the political rostrum, impelled by the excitement of the times, or stimulated by the no less powerful influence of personal vanity, the Jackeen alone was insensible to either. Innovations upon popular freedom were made-Algerine Acts were promulgated, one after another, destroying the very shadow of liberty in his native land, but he alone remained unmoved. My friend informed me that he had often remarked, during the long campaign of agitation upon the Catholic question, how small a proportion of those who rallied around O'Connell were what is called young men. The most constant and zealous of the Association members were those who had passed the meridian of manhood, and had given "pledges to fortune." It is, therefore, scarcely worth the inquiry to seek for the Jackeen in the political crowd; perhaps the task would be as possible, and about as profitable, as the search for "a needle in a bundle of straw." ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE JACKEEN. There is scarcely any one so incorrigibly stupid as to be absolutely good for nothing; and perhaps there is no Jackeen that is not celebrated amongst his associates for some trifling accomplishment, or some harmless peculiarity, which renders him, if not amusing, at least remarkable. If nature has gifted him with anything like a voice, he sings-perhaps his musical education enables him to accompany VOL. I. NO. XII. 5 K himself upon the piano or guitar; and if he ever attains a decent proficiency in the mastership of either, it is the ne plus ultra of his ambition. Society with all its literary excitements, and public life with its patriotic struggles, afford to him no pleasure beyond that paradise of his desires an evening party. Like the owl, he whiles away the hours during the glare of day; but when night spreads her sable mantle around, he goes forth in quest of the house where the polite note requests the pleasure of his company to "a small -early party." Methinks I see him upon the staircase emerging from the folds of his roquelaure, and consigning it with his whimsically deformed hat to the care of the groom in waiting. He is now entering the drawing-room, and, as I have so many objections to his habits and pursuits, I have not much inclination to be longer in his company; so, having conducted him to the portals of pleasure, I will shortly bid him an eternal farewell. MULTIPLICITY OF THE JACKEEN. If the extent of the tribe were to be estimated by the relative proportion which Jackeens appear to bear to that class which, in contradistinction to them, I shall call gentlemen, their number would seem to exceed those of the latter; but their numerical superiority is not to be relied on; it arises from their eternal re-appearance in the same quarter, which impresses the unreflecting spectator with a mistaken idea of their multiplicity. It is imposible, however, to arrive at any thing like a certain calculation of their extent; but that they are sufficiently numerous so as to have no small effect in determining the rank assigned to our metropolis amongst the other cities of Europe is, alas! too true. "TIS SWEET TO ROAM ON THY SILENT STRAND. 'Tis sweet to roam on thy silent strand, The course of the wild and restless wave, As it breaks upon the rocks that wage Beside thy solitary bay, 'Tis sweet with friends belov'd to stray; To sympathetic minds impart, |