Page

Condition of England has been adduced as an objection to these

arguments

291

Entails exist in England, and yet England has prospered

Their effects have been neutralised by other circumstances

Land in England has always been much more divided than in

Ireland

291

291

291

Many small properties--copy hold estates

291

Number of landed proprietors now considerably reduced, yet still

much greater than in Ireland

292

A much larger proportion of land in England is unentailed

Have the comforts of the mass of the people increased, with the

increase of wealth in England?

292

293

There is much reason to doubt this

293

The power of entail is gradually producing those enormous pro-

perties which the Thelluson act was intended to prevent

The position of England itself may become one of danger

Entails not essential to the existence of an aristocracy

Many unentailed estates in England have been retained in the

same families for generations

Entails often produce encumbrances which slowly but surely

bring about the sale of the property

294

If there were no entails, landowners would naturally trust to

economy for the maintenance of their position

294

Disreputable conduct of landed proprietors, in contracting debts
which they cannot pay, brings their rank into contempt

Recapitulation of some of the wants of Ireland

APPENDIX A.-Explanation of classification used in tables B to G

APPENDIX B.-Statistics for Leinster, Ulster, Munster, and Con-

naught, and for the Counties of Wexford, Down, Kerry, and

Mayo, in connection with Land, Population, Poor Rates, &c.

(For Civic Districts)

298

300

APPENDIX C.-Statistics for Leinster, Ulster, Munster, and Con-

naught, and for the Counties of Wexford, Down, Kerry, and

Mayo, in connection with Land, Population, Poor Rates, &c.

(For Rural Districts). .

301

CONTENTS.

Page

APPENDIX D.-Statistics for Leinster, Ulster, Munster, and Con-

naught, and for the Counties of Wexford, Down, Kerry, and

Mayo, in connection with Land, Population, Poor Rates, &c.

(Total of Rural and Civic Districts)

APPENDIX E.-Statistics for Leinster, Ulster, Munster, and Con-

naught, and for the Counties of Wexford, Down, Kerry, and

Mayo, in connection with House Accommodation, Business

Pursuits, Education, &c. (For Civic Districts)

APPENDIX F.-Statistics for Leinster, Ulster, Munster, and Con-

naught, and for the Counties of Wexford, Down, Kerry, and

Mayo, in connection with House Accommodation, Business

Pursuits, Education, &c. (For Rural Districts)

APPENDIX G.-Statistics for Leinster, Ulster, Munster, and Con-

naught, and for the Counties of Wexford, Down, Kerry, and

Mayo, in connection with House Accommodation, Business

Pursuits, Education, &c. (For Civic and Rural Districts)

APPENDIX H.-Table showing the comparative order of the

amount of property invested in Live Stock in each County in

Ireland in proportion to its extent

302

304

305

306

307

APPENDIX I.-Average Value of Stock upon each class of Farms

in Ireland

308

APPENDIX K.-Table showing the extent of each class of House

Accommodation occupied by the people in the several counties

in Ireland

309

APPENDIX L.-Table showing the proportions to the population,

from five years old and upwards, of the number of Ignorant,

together with some other interesting comparisons

310

APPENDIX M.—Table showing the probable quantity of Unim-

proved Pasture and Bog Lands in the several counties of Ire-

land, &c.

311

APPENDIX N.-Comparative statement of the Occupation of

Males, aged twenty years and upwards, enumerated in Great

Britain, in the years 1831 and 1841

313

APPENDIX O.-Comparison of some of the Agricultural and some

of the Manufacturing Counties of England, with the total of

England and Wales, as respects Occupation, Education, Early

Marriages, and Mortality of Infants

APPENDIX P.-Statistics of the several Counties in Ireland, as

respects the Area, Population, Value of Stock, and Valuation

for Poor Rate

314

315

APPENDIX Q.-Statistics of the several Counties in England and

Wales, as respects the Area, Population, Annual Value of Pro-

perty, Poor Rate, &c.

APPENDIX R.-Statement of the Poor Law Unions in each

County in Ireland, with the number of Electoral Divisions, the

Population, the Area, and the Annual Value for the assessment

of the Rate

APPENDIX S.-Statement of the Poor Law Unions and Parishes

in each County in England and Wales, with the Area in statute

acres, and the Population

Page

319

324

326

APPENDIX T.-Historical Account of the Tenure of Land in

Ireland

329

APPENDIX U.-Description of the Tenure by Lives renewable for

APPENDIX W.-Remarks on the Management of Land, in respect

to the building of Farm Houses, &c. by the Landlord in Eng-

land, and by the Tenant in Ireland

APPENDIX X.-Remarks respecting Consolidation of Farms and

Ejectment of Tenantry

334

335

APPENDIX Y.-Remarks respecting the Management of Estates

by the Court of Chancery

338

APPENDIX Z.-Remarks respecting the sale of Landed Property,

and the advantages which would result from its being more

frequently sold in small lots.

340

APPENDIX AA.-Remarks respecting the Con-acre System, and

the general condition of the Labouring Classes in Ireland

APPENDIX BB.-Extracted from M'Culloch's Geographical Dic-

tionary, in reference to the Distribution of Property in Fee in

the several counties of Ireland

341

APPENDIX CC.-Extracted from M'Culloch's Geographical Dic-

tionary, in reference to the Distribution of Property in Fee in

the several Counties of England and Wales

APPENDIX DD.-Comparative Statement of the Exports by steam

vessels, of Horned Cattle, Pigs, and Eggs, from the ports of

Dublin, Cork, and Waterford, in the first ten months of the

years 1846 and 1847

343

345

34

CONDITION AND PROSPECTS OF IRELAND.

CHAPTER I.

Natural features of Ireland-Its advantages imperfectly developed— Character and circumstances of the people-Ignorance of the English respecting Ireland-The Conquest of England by the Normans contrasted with the imperfect subjugation of Ireland-Confiscation of Munster-Settlement of Ulster-Difference of creed added to other causes of discord-Subsequent contests assume a sectarian character -No serious effort made to convert the Irish to the reformed faithDegrading effects of the penal laws-These laws not strictly enforced -Their relaxation at various periods-Forty-shilling freeholders— Peculiarities in the industrial and social character of Ulster and Leinster as compared with Connaught and Munster.

THE natural features of Ireland are peculiar. An extensive limestone plain occupies the central districts, while the mountains lie in various groups near the sea. The generally tame character of the eastern shores, affording few good ports, contrasts strongly with the bold rocky headlands, stretching far into the Atlantic, and the numerous islands

B