DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0363
PATRICK o’bRIEN, THE IRISH GIANT. 333
ner in the street, that I observed him with much attention.
Walking up Holborn he appeared to be greatly fatigued;
and rather might be said to shuffle along than walk; as
he never moved either of his feet from the stones. la
proceeding along the more level pavement, his body
appeared more erect, and his head would have struck
against many of the lamps, if he had not avoided them.
In this manner he pursued his walk as far as Staples Inn,
when he turned back in his way to Smithfield (as I sup-
pose) fo: 1 followed him no farther than the corner of
Hatton Garden.
Mr. C Brien, is at this time (1804) in his 38th year, is
eight feet seven inches in height, and proportionably
lusty ; his hand, from the commencement of the palm to
the end of the middle finger, measures twelve inches;
and his face, from the chin to the top of his forehead
precisely the same, so that his hand exactly covers his
face (this by artists is deemed just proportion) ; his thumb
is about the size of a moderate man’s wrist; and his shoe
is seventeen inches long. Upon the whole, Mr. O’Brien,
though possessing every claim to our attention, on ac-
count of his extraordinary magnitude, is not entitled to
the denomination of a well made man. His limbs, it is
true, are not strikingly disproportioned ; but his figure
wants that general symmetry which more commonly dis-
tinguishes a man of ordinary dimensions.
It is an unhappiness too general among such as make
a practice of exposing their persons to public view, that
all the rest of mankind are alike indifferent to them.
Hence neither connection nor friendship can possibly be
established with such men; every endeavour to obtain
information that might be proper to elucidate the history
of their lives, is regarded with jealousy, as they imagine
that it proceeds from impertinent or mischievous cu-
riosity.
Among
ner in the street, that I observed him with much attention.
Walking up Holborn he appeared to be greatly fatigued;
and rather might be said to shuffle along than walk; as
he never moved either of his feet from the stones. la
proceeding along the more level pavement, his body
appeared more erect, and his head would have struck
against many of the lamps, if he had not avoided them.
In this manner he pursued his walk as far as Staples Inn,
when he turned back in his way to Smithfield (as I sup-
pose) fo: 1 followed him no farther than the corner of
Hatton Garden.
Mr. C Brien, is at this time (1804) in his 38th year, is
eight feet seven inches in height, and proportionably
lusty ; his hand, from the commencement of the palm to
the end of the middle finger, measures twelve inches;
and his face, from the chin to the top of his forehead
precisely the same, so that his hand exactly covers his
face (this by artists is deemed just proportion) ; his thumb
is about the size of a moderate man’s wrist; and his shoe
is seventeen inches long. Upon the whole, Mr. O’Brien,
though possessing every claim to our attention, on ac-
count of his extraordinary magnitude, is not entitled to
the denomination of a well made man. His limbs, it is
true, are not strikingly disproportioned ; but his figure
wants that general symmetry which more commonly dis-
tinguishes a man of ordinary dimensions.
It is an unhappiness too general among such as make
a practice of exposing their persons to public view, that
all the rest of mankind are alike indifferent to them.
Hence neither connection nor friendship can possibly be
established with such men; every endeavour to obtain
information that might be proper to elucidate the history
of their lives, is regarded with jealousy, as they imagine
that it proceeds from impertinent or mischievous cu-
riosity.
Among