Letters on the condition of the people of Ireland

Front matter

Go ogle

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.

Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the publisher to a library and finally to you.

Preface

I commenced the duty, with an anxious wish to avoid, as much as possible, all personalities, and to make the inquiry a calm and philosophical one. I was anxious rather to deal with facts than with individuals ; but determined, that should it become necessary to particularise individuals, in order to expose any mischievous system which might generally prevail, and form a marked feature in the social condition of the people, not to " break a fly upon the wheel," and mark out those for censure who were powerless to defend themselves; nor yet to hold up men of insignificant position as examples worthy to be followed, who, because of their position, would be little regarded. The letters which form this book will show that, as far as was compatible with circumstances, I pursued this course.

It was natural to expect, from the mode of immediate publication adopted, that I should be liable to immediate criticism, and to instant praise or blame, encouragement or opposition. This very circumstance rendered it difficult to persevere in the original course which I had determined to follow ; and it is a subject of some regret to me that, in one or two instances, I was compelled to abandon the field of philosophical inquiry, and, having been forced into personal collisions with individuals, to take measures to substantiate previous statements, and to repel attacks.

It is said by his firiends that I unfairly singled out Mr. O'Connell for attack, when there were hundreds of other landlords in Ireland as neglectftil, and having as wretched tenants. For three months, under almost weekly, and to me unaccountable, abuse from that gentleman and his party, I never noticed him, save when compelled in defence of my own character to contradict downright false assertions. I was a " scoundrel," a " liar," a " gutter commissioner," an " ugly fellow," and so on for three months, without a single word in reply from me. Finding that this did not alter my course, a letter was attributed to me which I did not write or

LETTERS

OH TBI oommcm of

THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND.

BY

THOMAS CAMPBELL FOSTER, Esq^

C m Timm" oomrnmrnxmEtL)

REPRINTBD, BY PERMISSION, WITH ADDIHONS AND COPIOUS NOTES, FROM THE imSS" NEWSPAPBft.

** Half A word, flzfld mpon ths spot, to worth a esrtioo4 of r^eoltoetiom.**— Tn Povr Oeat.

" If I might gf Te a ihort hint to an Impartial writer, it would he to taU him Ma fkte. If he reeolTea to Tenture upon tlie dangeroat precipice of talUng onbiaaeed tmth, let him proclaim war with mankind— neither to glre nor to take quarter. If be tella the Crimea of great men, they ML upon him with the iron hands of the law; if he teUt them of their Ttrtoea, when they have any, then the mob attacks him with slander. But if ^^ regards truth, let him expect martyrdom on both sides, and then he may go on liBariess; and this is the oonne I take myselt»-Dn Fom.

LONDON: CHAPMAN AND HALL, 186, STRAND.

London*.

Printed by Stewart and MttKRAT, Old Hatley.

iPREFACE.

Turn letters wliieh form this ho€k, were writ^ii daring tour of fiye montte oyer nearly every part of Ireland, and were fint published at intervak in The Time$ newspaper, immediately after they were written, in the period between August, 1845, and January, 1846.

The letters were originally written in consequence of a commission oflTered to me, by that great public journal, which I undertook to perform, to lay before the public, in a readable form, my impressions during a tour through Ireland, and to state what, of the many prevailing opinions and anomalies, on careful observation, appeared to me to be the true condition of the Irish people.

In undertaking this duty, I was unshackled and undirected by any further instructions whatever. In the course of its fulfilment, I conceived it to be desirable, not only to depict the actual condition of the Irish people, but to examine into the causes which led to that condition, and to suggest, as I proceeded, what appeared to me to be the most, feasible remedies.

LETTER I. (Ormm, Aug, 14.)

INTHOPUCTOBY LETTER.

iDqairj as to the Cause of the Disturhed State of Ireland — The Author's Introduction of the object of his Mission — The Disturbances in Cavan I

LETTER II. {Sknwn, Aug. 21.)

THE WAlfT OF RMPLOTMBNT THE CAUSE OF DI8TURBANCB8.

Distarbaaees in Irelaad do not originate in Religions Causes — The want of Employment the real Origin of Disturbances — The want of Bmployment shown to exist by Statistical Facts — Produces Starvation and Disturbances — The eSeci of Bjectments in producing Crime— Definition of ''Molly Maguireism'* — Disputes about Land and Ejectments the chief cause of Crime in Ireland — ^The Remedy then is, to secure Employment for the People . 10

LETTER III. {BdUmamort, LMtrim, Aug. 22.)

ON THE CREATION AND ACCUMULATION OF CAPITAL.

Disturbed State of Ldtrim— On the creation of Capital—'' Labour is the seui«e of all Wealth — Causes which prevent the Accumulation of Capital — The want of Capital confines Industry to the Land — Poverty must therefore increase with Population, unless the Produce of the Land increases in proportion— TUs again the cause of want of Employment and Disturbance — The circle of Evils under which Ireland labours — Religious DifRsrences only embitter the Relations of Life, but do not generally produce Disturbances — Industry paralyzed by the want of certainty of Reward, and by an uncertain Tenure of the Land — Refusal of Leases — Tenants not industrious, because not paid for their Improvements, and because their possession of the Land insecure 27 xvi

CONTENTS.

LETTER IV. {Bmii$killen, Fermanagh, Aug, 23.)

ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF RACE, AND THE WANT OF INDUSTRIAL KNOWLEDGE PREYENTINO TUB INCREASE OF CAPITAL.

Different Appearance of Fennanagh and Laitrim — Orangeiamand Proteatantismy and English or Scotch Deeoent uaually mark the lame Individual — Characteristios of Race— Of the natural Capabilities of the Goontry, and of the unimproTed and wretched System of Agricnltore prevalent — Examples of this — Leads to Poverty, and therefore prevents the Aceamnlation of Wealth and Capita] 42

LETTER V. {Bailyikannonf Donegal^ Aug. 27.)

ON THE NEGLECT OF THE NATURAL ADVANTAGES OF THE COUNTRY. IF THE SURPLUS PRODUCE BE ABSTRACTED, AND NOT SUFFERED TO ACCUMULATE, THERE CAN BE NO CAPITAL.

The Irish Tenant not entirely to blame for his wretched mode of Agricnlture — The lamentable neglect of Improvement which the Coantry exhibits — Cough Erne and its neglected Capabilities— The Energy of the People of Belfast whining from the People of the West those advantages which they neglect — The neglected Water-power of Lough Erne — If all Surplus Produce be extracted from the People in the shape of high Rents, and it is not accumulated and spent amongst them again in promoting industry, as Capital, the People cannot Improve — Instances of Condition of Small Farmers and Labourers 62

LETTER VI. (Donegal, Aug. 30.) SKILL AND INDUSTRY THE GREAT WANTS OF IRELAND

The Criticisms of the Irish Press— The Station of Lough Detg — Skill and Labour required upon the Land to make it both productive and profitable — These thfaigs are wanted more than Capital, and wiU create Capital and give Employment— The Profit yielded by cultivating a piece of Land properly, compared with the Profit of the same Land as usually managed in Ireland — Amount of Waste Land in the County of Donegal, which may be cultivated with the like Profit— The great increase of Rent to the Landlords, of Profit to the Farmen, and of Employment to the Labourers which the application of Skill and Industry would effect — These are the " Wants" of Ireland— Questions to be pot to those who stand forward to lead the People— True Patriotism, like " Charity," ought *' to begin at home " 80

CONTENTS.

xvii

LETTER VII. (Oweedore, Donegal, Sept. 3.)

THE MISERY AND WRETCHEDNESS WHICH THE NEGLECT OF AN ABSENTEE LANDLORD PRODUCES.

Tike Comfort and HappinesB diffofled by a Landlord attentfre to his DntieB, where before there was Misery and Neglect — Not the part of a good Citizen to shield fbe Abuses consequent on neglectfid Landlords — Description of the Town of Donegal — Glenteis— Hie Condition of the People there —Tliey live on Potatoes and Pepper and Water — Dnngloe — Its wretched Inn — The Island of Arranmore — Condition of its People — They live on Potatoes and Sea- weed — Conclusion 98

LETTER VIII. (Gweedore, Donegal, Sept, 6.)

THE IMPROVEMENT AND HAPPINESS THAT AN ATTENTIVE AND RESI- DENT LANDLORD CAN DIFFUSE.

The chief Evils which afflict Ireland are Social, which Social Remedies will remove — Opinion of Mr. Nichols on the Condition of the People of Donegal — Former Condition of the People on Lord George Hill's Elstate — The injurious effect of the Tenant Right there — The Improvements which Lord George Hill has effected — The Obstacles and Opposition which he had to overcome — The Condition of the People now— The difference of Races — Dr. Kane's Opinion — The effect of a Social Remedy here to change the People . . . 114

LETTER IX. (Dur\fanaghy, Sept. 10.)

ON THE TENANT RIGHT OF ULSTER.

How for the Opinion is correct that the Prosperity of Ulster depends on the Tenant Right — What the Tenant Right is, and on what the Custom is founded — What are the Common Law Rights of the Landlord to which the Custom is opposed — The Advantages and Disadvantages of Tenant Right— There is Misery and Want, as well as Prosperity, where it exists — The Prosperity of the Northern and Eastern Parts of Ulster to be attributed to other Causes, namely, to the Enterprise and Industry of the People — The qualities which distinguish the Race which inhabits that part of Ulster — Those on the West of a different Race, have different qualities, and must be dealt with accordingly 129 a xviii

CONTENTS.

LETTER X. (Londonderry, Sept, 13.)

THE PLANTATION OP ULSTER — INDUSTRIAL KNOWLEDGE WANTED.

Londonderry and its famous Defence — Inglis's Opinion of Londondeirj and its People— The " Plantation'' in Ulster, by James I. — Management of the London Companies— Appearance of the Country in the Neighbourhood of Londonderry — Dr. Kane's Opinion that Industrial Knowledge is the great want of Ireland — The Templemoyle Agricultural Academy — The Instmction there given calculated to meet the wants of Ireland, and to improve the Country 147

LETTER XL

(Sliffo, Sept 18.)

SLIGO AND ITS NEGLECTED CAPABILITIES.

Sligo, its Harbour, and its want of Funds for Enterprise — Tlie neglected Advantages of Water-carriage and Water-power which it possesses in its Locality — Its Exports and Imports — The Iron and Coal Mines of its Neighbourhood — Dishonest Tricks in the Butter and Com Trades — The shifting Sand-hills — Example of what Individual Energy and Industry in a Farmer may accomplish —The Character of the People ought to be considered in legislating for them — Teach them, stimulate them on, and encourage them .... 157

LETTER XIL

{Ballyeodore, Sligo, Sept. 20.)

THE PEASANTUV OF SLIGO ; AND ITS WATER-POWER.

Subdivision of Farms — The Attention of Landlords will secure Comfort and Cleanliness for their Tenants— Failure of Industrial School which depended on support of Tenants — Contentment and Indolence of the Peasantry — The importance of establishing a class of Labourers dependent on Labour, and not on a Potato-field — Instances of Mismanagement on the part of Landlords — Repeal of the Union will not cure Absenteeism — Refutation of the narrow-minded view, that Englishmen strive to have '* England only for the English" — On the great Water-power of Ballysodare, and the probability of profitable Manufacturing Investment which it affords, as a means of giving Employment to the People 174

LETTER XIIL

(Ballina, Mayo, Sept. 25.)

THE PEASANTRY OF MAYO LEASES AND ABSENTEES.

Appearance of Peasants* Cottages — The Criticisms of the Dublin Press — Rundale Villages — Waste Lands — Leases — Their Disadvantages and Advantages — Advocated when containing proper Covenants — Evib of Absenteeism 199

LETTER XIV.

^THB XMLBOCBD HATURAL ADTAMTAeiS OF MATO; AKD TBB fOTBTT OVTBBFBOPLB.

LETTER XV.

MOnOB OV ATTACK Uf OONITIUATION HALL — THB BOTAL AQRIOVLT17BAL IHPBOT^MENT SOCB8TT.

LETTER XVI. ( CattlereOf Botcommon, Oct. 6. )

THE CONDITION OF THE PEASANTRY OF ROSCOMMON FROM NEGLECT AND WANT OF EMPLOYMENT.

CompariBon between the Highlander's and the Irishman'a Cottage — Effect of Grazing on the Prosperity of the People — Condition of the Tenantry of Roscommon— Necessity of obtaimng Con-acre by the poor Cottars — Its Injury to the Land — Effect of Bnming on Cultivation - Comparison of English and Irish Liandlords in their Dealings with their Tenantry — Necessity of Employment and Instruction in Agriculture being given to the Tenantry — What skilled Agricultural Labour effects m Belgium— What it may effect in Ireland 241

LETTER XVII.

(Tuam, Galway, Oct 7.)

THE MAKQUIS OP CONYNGHAM's ESTATE IN DONEGAL.

Contradiction of Description of the Marquis of Conyngham*s Estate in Donegal answered fipom the Evidence before Lord Devon's Commission— Neglect and Absenteeism— Futility of always dreaming and talking about the Past -Now is the time for Energy and Exertion 256

XX

CONTENTS.

LETTER XVIII. (Gifden, Connenuara, Oct 10.)

THE CAPABILITIES OF CONNEMARA — THE FUTILITT AMD MISCHIEFS OF EMIGRATION.

The Picturesque Beauty of Connemara — Its Bogs and neglected CapahilitiPi— Emigration not the Remedy to benefit its Starring Population — Description of the People — Evils of Emigration — Men wanted to Cultivate the Land, and to make the Wastes FertUe— The Profit and Facilities of Cultivating the Waste Bogs — Rather encourage the Industry of the People tiian drive them to Emigrate— ^The one Course will Improve, the other keep Waste the Country 268

LETTER XIX. {Galway, Oct. 15.)

OALWAY ; ITS NEGLECTED CAPABILITIES, ITS ORIGIN, AND ITS PEOPLE.

Necessary to Inquire how much of the existing Distress in Ireland is to be attributed to the People themselves, as well as how much of that Distress is to be traced to Oppression, in order to apply appropriate Remedies — Comparison of Belfast and Galway — The Contrast — Comparison of Celtic and Saxon Qualities — Origin of Galway and its Population ^The Tribes" or Original Families of Gralway — The Cloddergh Fishermen — Irish Rundale Villages — Improvements effected in Galway — DiflSculty of getting the Peasantry to improve — Necessity of Teaching and Leading the People — Enterprise and Industry the Qualities needed — ^These will make Ireland great, and not a Repeal of the Union — Letter of Lord Chesterfield 2S5

LETTER XX.

{EnniSf Clare, Oct. 18.)

AN IRISH ARGUMENT — EFFECT OF LOAN FUNDS.

The Diffusion of Opinions in favour of a Repeal of the Union — The Roman Catholic Clergy generally the Advocates of Repeal — Specimen of an Irish Argument on this Question — Money-lending — The Irish Character — ** Gombeen'' Men — Loan Funds, and their effect on the Condition of the People — Ignorance of the Commercial Use of Money — Pawning Bank-notes and Guineas 301

CONTENTS. xxi

LETTER XXI.

(Umerieh, Oct. 23.)

LIMERICK AND ITS TRADE — THE PROFITS OP GOOD CULTITATION.

Description of Limerick and its Trade — The Women of Limerick — The Profit which Tenants wovild be certain to derive by exerting themselyes to Improve their Cnltivationy whether their Rents were raised or not — Calculation showing the Expense and Profit of bringing an Acre of Land into Cultivation, and the Value of the Crops during four years of the usual Unimproved System of Husbandry— The Result of such a System of Cultivation in raising the Peasantry above want . 316

LETTER XXII. {Tkurle§, Tipperary, Oct 27.) TIPPERART AND ITS OUTRAGES — STATE OP AGRICULTURE, AND OF THE

PEOPLE.

The Anomalies and Inconsistencies which prevail in Tipperary — The former Habits of the Gentry which may have given rise to many of these Anomalies — Hie System of Outrage and Terrorism which prevaiU-^ Appearance of the Country-— Backward State of Agriculture — Impossible to get the Tenantry out of their old Habits— The continual Murders — Destitution of the People — Remedies suggested 330

LETTER XXIII.

{Uofcrea, Tipperary, Oct. 30.)

TIPPKRARY AND ITS OUTRAGES.

Condition of the County of Tipperary — Report of the Land Commissioners upon it — ^The System of Terrorism which prevails there — Outrages that disgraced the neighbourhoods of Roscrea and Nenagh during ray visit to those places — The ruinous absurdity of Labourers, Farmers, and Individuals being protected at their work for months by Policemen — The Necessity of establishing the Supremacy of the Law before there can be any hope of Prosperity . 345

LETTER XXIV. (Limerick y Nov. 3.)

"the GOLDEN VALE " — COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF GRAZING AND

TILLAGE.

** The Golden Vale" — Arthur Voting's and Wakefield's Opinion of the Richness of the Soil and its miserable Cultivation — The Peasant, without means of Knowledge, cannot follow any better System of Tillage — Middlemen — Graziers — Comparative Adrantages of Grazing and Tillage — Holidays and their Evil — Necessity of Teaching and Directing the People 356 xxii

CONTEKTS.

LETTER XXV.

(7Vfl/ee, Kerry, Nov, 6.)

CONDITION OF TOE KERRT PEASANTRY — THE WASTE AND UNIMPROVED LANDS OF KBRRY. '

Tralee — The River Shannon compared with the Rirer Homber — Want of Woods in Ireland — ^The Condition of the Kerry Peasantry — The Waste Lands capable of cultivation — Neglect of Agricultoral Improyements — ^Bad Treatment of one another by the Peasantry — No encouragement given by the Landlords — Leases alone, without the Attention and Supervision of the Landlord, will not be of Service — Extent of Waste Land — ^The Land owned by too few persons for the benefit of the country, and those persons generally but Nominal Owners becauseof Debts— Facilitate the Sale and Transfer of Estates . 371

LETTER XXVI.

(Kenmara, Kerry, Nov, 10.)

THE PEASANTRY OF KERRY — »IR, 0*CONNELL AND HIS TENANTRY.

Killamey — Character and Condition of the Population of Kerry — Oppression of the Labourers by the Farmers — System of Fishing — Tlie Money-pawning habit —Irish Railways — Cahirciveen — Mr. OTonnell and his wretched Tenantry — The propriety of abolishing Tenancies under " Middlemen" by Law — Necessity of instructing the People in Agricultural Knowledge 387

LETTER XXVII.

(Bantry, Cork, Nov, 14.)

BANTRY AND THE CONDITION OF THE SURROUNDING POPULATION.

Beauty of the Country near Bantry Bay, and its neglected Capabilities — Ban try Town and its Statistics — ^The Inn at Bantry, and its Accommodations — Reasons for the poverty of the People of this District— Reasonable claim of the Tenants to be paid for their Improvements — The want of Encouragement and High Rents prevent Improvements — Evidence and Contradictions regarding these Facts — Of the various aspects of Truth in Ireland — ^What Encouragement and Attention on the part of a Landlord will effect — Their want keeps Ireland in Distress 399

LETTER XXVIII. {Cork, Nov, 20.)

CORK AND ITS NATURAL ADVANTAGES; ITS NEGLECTED AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, AND MINERAL WEALTH — COMPARISON BETWEEN CORN- WALL AND CORK.

Description of Cork — Neglect of Fishing and Cultivation, and the Wealth these Occupations would produce — The Social Remedy— The Mineral Wealth of the

LETTER XKDL (^ir, iVbv. 22*)

OEBTED FOR AYBBTXirO THK VAILTOB OW TBB POTATO CROP.

SaaSk Bay— Ita abviidaiiee of wieami^ IUk--Tlie IGBBid Waaltti ofttaCoaala The Coaheen Capper Mfaie— The Sovthem and Western Mimng Company of Iidand---Coiiditk»ofaiepeclpIe--T1^ apaliij— Wm not take lAa Iroaia to fish — The people being no^iected do not improre — High Rnta — Want of EUiterpriae— The fidhue of tiie Fofaito Cwy— Rcmediea ai^sgaited Ibr jpcaaafviii^ the Potatoes sound, securing Seed, and prerenting, as much as poadbfe, edb of a Fsvine • .480

LETTER XXX,

DS8CBIPTI0N OF MALLOW — ADMINIBTRATIOIf OF THE QRAMP JURY

LAWS.

Description of Mallow — Its Spa — Th& Water-power of Qnartertown — Administration of the Grand Jury Laws — The late Rer. Sydney Smith's opinion on this subject — Inglis's opinion — The O'Connells, and Road Presentations — Summary of the present Grand Jury Laws — The mode in which jobbing is managed under them — The miachierous system of Applotment — Suggested Remedies 444

LETTER XXXI.

{Waterford, Nov. 29.)

CHALLENGE TO MR. 0*CONNELL TO PR DYE THE CONDITION OF HIS ESTATE — WATERFORD ; ITS NEGLECTED ADVANTAGES AND CAPA- BILITIES.

Notice of Mr. OTonnell's defence of his Estate and contradiction of my description of it — Challenge to him to prove the description correct before twehre impartial Gentlemen — ^Tender of issue what shall be proved — Description of the country from Mallow to Waterford — An Irish three-story house — Waterford

- and its neglected Advantages — Its Exports— Its Politics — The Copper Mines — State of Agriculture — Deposits in the Savings Banks — Recommendation to the Government to cultivate Waste Lands as a means of employment for the people and as a profitable investment of capital 457 xxiy

CONTEMTB.

LETTER XXXII.

{Wei^fMt, Dec. 4.)

WEXFORD ; ITS APPEARANCE AND ITS PEOPLE.

CompariBon between Wexford and its people and the West of Ireland — ^Appearance of the county — Cromwell and the three hundred Virgins — The Baronies of Forth and Bargy, and the race which inhabits them — Condition of the People — Irish Patriot* — Paying Tenants for Improrements — Embarrassment of Estates — Remedy suggested 472

LETTER XXXIII. (Kilkenny, Dec. 8.)

KILKENNY AND THE CONDITION OF ITS PEOPLE ; ITS MINB8 AND CAPA- BILITIES.

The Huntsmen of Kilkenny — Description of the Town of Kilkenny — Its Tradfr— Its unfinished Canal and Railway — Irish Jobbing — Appearance of the County — Outrages, and consequent stopping of the working of the Slieveardah Coal-mine— The Mines and Marble of Kilkenny — The Irish Press, and NatiTC Hospitality — Classified return of Depositers in the Wexford Savings Bank — Evidence of the state of the County and of the condition of the People — The benefits that flow from encouraging Landlords, and the mischiefii of Agitation 486

LETTER XXXIV.

{KUkenny, Dec. 12.)

ON THE PAYMENT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY BY THE STATE, ON THE GROUND OF PRINCIPLE.

On the Payment of the Roman Catholic Clergy by the State — The right of the Roman Catholics to perfect Equality, and therefore their right, as well as Protestants, to have their Clergy paid by the State — The Reasons why a Clergy paid by the State is desirable — Such a Measure may be advocated or opposed on the grounds of Expediency and of Principle — Its opposition, on the ground of Principle ; first, by the Roman Catholic Clergy ; secondly, by the Protestant Body — distances where they both acquiesce in tiiis Payment — Advocated on Principle 498

LETTER XXXV.

(Kenmare, Kerry, Dec. 14.)

ON THE PAYMENT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY BY THE STATE, ON THE GROUNDS OF POLICY AND EXPEDIENCY.

The Payment of the Priesthood continued — How far such a Measure is desirablCf on the grounds of Policy and Expediency, for the interests of Religion, for the tmng^flftlMtJStofin . . . • M7

USnXR XXXTL

(Eiitmrnijf, Kerry ^ Ike. 20.)

The liiA ItowiyiWii —AMr 0'Com^B->T^t Mm. Gamp of H» IMt Vwiam Bfr. O'Coudl, and Ua Speadi in Beteee of hfanadf in Coocilialiaii HA^Tlie K]aaaWiBid0«a,of DenrynaaaBas^Hr. CVComiaa aid hk Ohiatrioni Ptadigiee — ^The New Poor Law in Ireland — Review of its Proriaions, and Observatioiis as to its applicability to IielancU-Abaence of any Law of Settlement, and means of putting a stop to Begging in Ireland — ^The Beggars of Ireland — ^llie Dietary of the Work-houses — Effect of Potato Diet — Repugnance to Cleanliness amongst the People — Advantage of the Union Work-houses in forcing this habit upon those who enter them — Unpopularity of the Poor Law . . 546

LETTER XXXVIII. (Be(fatt, Jan. 4.)

BELFAST ; ITS INDUSTRY AND ENTERPRISE, AND ITS CONSEaUBNT ♦ PROSPERITY AND WEALTH.

TVavelling in Ireland — Bianconi's Cars — Has the Character of the People of the North anything to do with their Prosperity ? — Is Labour the source of all Wealth ? — If the People of the North can thrive under existing Laws and Institutions, it is not the Laws and Institutions which make the People of the rest of Irehmd poor — Comparison between Down and Kerry — The comparative Prosperity and Education of the East and West of Ireland shown — ^The Linen Trade of Bel&st — Flax Spinning — The Employment which the Flax Mills give — ^The growth of Flax — Its profit as a Crop— Improvement in its Manufacturo— Its profitable Cultivation in Mayo— The Manufiu:tures of Belfast— The

XXiy CONTEMT8.

LETTER XXXII.

{Wet^fordt Dee, 4.)

WEXFORD ; ITS APPEARANCE AND ITS PEOPLE.

CompariBon between Wexford and its people and the West of Ireland — ^Appearance of the county — Cromwell and the three hundred Virgins — The Baronies of Forth and Bargy, and the race which inhabits them — Condition of the People- Irish Patriot* — Pajring Tenants for Improvements — Embarrassment of £^tes — Remedy suggested 472

LETTER XXXIII. {KUkenny, Dee. 8.)

KILKENNY AND THE CONDITION OF ITS PEOPLE ; ITS MINB8 AND CAPA- BILITIES.

ITie Huntsmen of Kilkenny— Description of the Town of Kilkenny— Ito Trade- Its unfinished Canal and Railway — Irish Jobbing — Appearance of the County — Outrages, and consequent stopping of the working of the Sliereardah Coal-mine— The Mines and Marble of Kilkenny — The Irish Press, and Native Hospitality — Classified return of Depositers in the Wexford Savings Bank — Evidence of the state of the County and of the condition of the People — The benefits that flow from encouraging Landlords, and the mischiefii of Agitation 486

LETTER XXXIV.

{Kilkenny, Dee. 12.)

ON THE PAYMENT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLEROT BY THE STATE^ ON THE GROUND OF PRINCIPLE.

On the Payment of the Roman Catholic Clergy by the State — The right of the Roman Catholics to perfect Equality, and therefore their right, as well as Protestants, to have their Clergy paid by the State — The Reasons why a Clergy paid by the State is desirable — Such a Measure may be advocated or opposed on the grounds of Expediency and of Principle — Its opposition, on the ground of Principle ; first, by the Roman Catholic Clergy ; secondly, by the Protestant Body — Instances where they botii acquiesce in tiiis Payment — Advocated on Principle 498

LETTER XXXV.

{Kenmaret Kerry , Dee. 14.)

ON THE PAYMENT OP THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY BY THE STATE, ON THE GROUNDS OF POLICY AND EXPEDIENCY.

The Payment of the Priesthood continued — How fSur such a Measure is desirable, on the grounds of Policy and Expediency, for the interests of Religion, for the flnng^idftkftJStofin fto;

UeSTER XXXTL

(KUkumeif, Kerry ^ Dee. 20.)

LBTIER XXXYH.

W0RS3KO OV TH9H9W POOB LAW IN lULAJIII.

The Iiidi Kewepopen aad Mr. CGonnA-^Tlie Mm. Gamp of Ae hAA Vwiam Bfr. O'Gomidl, and Ue Speech in Deteee of himedf in Conoilialien Halk^^The glam Windcm^of Derrynaae Beg^Mr. O'Comdl and hie ittnelrioitf Pedigne — ^The New Poor Law in Ireland-^Reriew of its Provisions, and Obaerrations as to its applicability to Irelaad^Absence of any Law of Settlement, and means of putting a stop to Begging in Ireland — The Beggars of Ireland — ^^he Dietary of the Work-houses — Effect of Potato Diet — Repugnance to Cleanliness amongst the People — Advantage of the Union Work-houses in forcing this habit upon those who enter them — Unpopularity of the Poor Law . . 546

LETTER XXXVIII. (Belfatt, Jan. 4.)

BELFAST ; ITS INDU8TBT AND BNTEBPRISB, AMD ITS COXSEUUBNT ♦ PROSPERITY AND WKALTH.

Trayelling in Ireland — Bianconi's Cars — Has the Character of the People of the North anything to do with their Prosperity ? — Is Labour the source of all Wealth ? — If the People of the North can thrive under existing Laws and Institutions, it is not the Laws and Institutions which make the People of the rest of Ireland poor — Comparison between Down and Kerry — Hie comparatiye Prosperity and Education of the East and West of Ireland shown— The Linen Trade of Belfast — Flax Spinning— The Employment which the Flax Mills give— The growth of Flax — Its profit as a Crop— Improvement in its Manufacture—Its profitable Cultivation in Mayo— The Manu&ctures of Belfast— The

XXiy CONTEMT8.

LETTER XXXII.

{Wei^fMt, Dec. 4.)

WEXFORD ; ITS APPEARANCE AND ITS PEOPLE.

CompariBon between Wexford and its people and the West of Ireland — ^Appearance of the county — Cromwell and the three hundred Virgins — The Baronies of Forth and Bargy, and the race which inhabits them — Condition of <^e People — Irish Patriot* — Paying Tenants for Improrements — Embarrassment of Estates — Remedy suggested 472

LETTER XXXIII. (Kilkenny, Dec. 8.)

KILKENNY AND THE CONDITION OF ITS PEOPLE ; ITS MINB8 AND CAPA- BILITIES.

The Huntsmen of Kilkomy — Description of the Town of Kilkenny — Its Trade^ Its unfinished Canal and Railway — Irish Jobbing — Appearance of the County — Outrages, and consequent stopping of the working of the Slieveardah Coal-mine— The Mines and Marble of Kilkenny — The Irish Press, and Native Hospitality — Classified return of Depositers in the Wexford Savings Bank — Evidence of the state of the County and of the condition of the People — The benefits that flow from encouraging Landlords, and the mischiefii of Agitation 486