Westmeath people superior in intelligence to meath people britannica wrote in 1850s

They were none too kind about us Westmeath people when they compiled their descriptions of the county for the Enclyclopaedia Britannica editions of the 1800s.

But at least they thought we were "superior in intelligence" to our neighbours in Meath.

The 8th edition, published between 1853 and 1860 wrote:

"The character of the middle and lower classes is generally represented as superior in intelligence to that of the inhabitants of the adjoining county of Meath.

"The peasantry are described as being lively, intelligent and quick-witted; hasty in their tempers and prone to litigation; unwilling to deviate from the habits and customs of their forefathers; lax in their ideas of morality towards their superiors, but rigidly observant of the engagements voluntarily entered into with one another, and of the religious observances imposed on them by their clergy.  A disinclination to improvement in their farms, and to domestic neatness is also observable."

An earlier edition had this to say about us:

"The condition of the lower classes is better than in Meath, and some of the contiguous counties; they are not addicted to drinking, but industrious and provident. The women, who work a good deal out of doors, are singularly hardy….The people are nevertheless very superstitious, and under great subjection to their priests, who sometimes beat them, which they submit to without grumbling."