By the tables, which are annually published, we see the results as respects the number of holdings. The small farms between one and five acres, (if it be right to call them farms) which numbered 310,375 in 1841, have decreased to nearly one-fourth in 1853, and those between 5 and 15 acres are diminished about thirty per cent.; while the farms of 15 to 30 acres, and of 30 acres and upwards, have been considerably more than doubled during the same period. This alteration took place principally between the years 1841 and 1847. It had commenced before the famine, and it was greatly accelerated by that event. It was during this period that the class of farms between 15 and 30 acres increased so much; but since 1847 they also have been reduced in number, while the number of farms above 30 acres has increased, showing that the consolidation of holdings is still going on, and extending to larger farms than at first.*

When we look to the quantity of land under the various crops, we find, as might have been expected, when the unnatural stimulus to the cultivation of wheat was withdrawn, that this crop, which occupied 743,871 acres in 1847, was gradually reduced to less than one-half in 1853, while oats and other cereals, to which our soil and climate are better suited, remained at nearly their former extent. The high price of wheat in 1853, however, induced a larger sowing this year, so that the ground occupied by this crop increased to 411,423 acres. The cultivation of potatoes fell off so much in the year succeeding the great blight of 1846, that it only extended to 284,116 acres, but it has increased in the present year to about three and a half times that extent. Turnips and other green crops had last year attained an increase of 75,888 acres, but have again fallen off to somewhat less than they were in 1847. The growth of flax, which seems of so great importance, as supplying the raw material for our staple manufacture, and which has been of late years brought so prominently before the public view, had trebled in extent between 1847 and 1853, when it occupied 174,579 acres; but this year it is again somewhat diminished.t

The great diminution in the number of holdings, the increase of large farms, and also the changes in the kind of crops cultivated, indicate an increased attention to the rearing of cattle and other domestic animals, and accordingly we find that the value of the farm stock has risen from £21,105,808 in 1841 to £31,844,718 in 1853, being an increase of 50 per cent. This is, indeed, a gratifying fact, showing so large an increase of the capital of those engaged in farming, notwithstanding the great diminution in their numbers. It proves that individually the holders of farms must now be, on the average, in a much better position than they were in 1841. If we refer to the particulars of this farm stock, we find the chief increase to be in cattle, the numbers of which are not far from being doubled, having risen from 1,863,116 to 3,383,309. Sheep were at first reduced in number, but reached their minimum in 1849, since which time they have nearly doubled; and in 1853 they amounted to 3,142,656, which is 1,036,467 more † See Appendix B.

* See Appendix A.

than they numbered in 1841. A nearly similar remark may be made as respects pigs and poultry, both of which fell off greatly after the failure of the potato crop, in consequence of the inability of the poorer part of the peasantry to keep them. They reached the lowest point in 1847, the number of pigs being then only 622,459, which was less than half the enumeration in 1841; but both have increased since that time, and are now nearly the same as they were before the famine.*

It is important to note that, by the return of the Census Commissioners, it appears that the amount of arable land in Ireland has been increased from 13,464,300 acres in 1841 to 14,802,581 acres in 1851, thus showing that 1,338,281 acres have been reclaimed from waste, or greatly improved in value, during this interval of ten years, by which a large amount has been added to the capital of the country.

The reduction in the number of small holdings naturally leads us to enquire where the tenants are gone. Some of them, no doubt, have fallen victims to famine, or to the diseases resulting from want of sufficient food. Some have sought an asylum in the workhouses. Many have betaken themselves to our larger towns and cities, and have looked to the wages of daily labour for the support of their families, or have gone over to England in the hopes of obtaining employment. A very large number have crossed the Atlantic, swelling the tide of emigration which has astonished both these countries and America.

Even before the failure of the potato crop, the amount of emigration was considerable; and it appeared decidedly on the increase, having nearly doubled in 1845 what it had been 1843. But the results of the failure of the potatoes gave a sudden impulse, which rendered the emigration of 1847 nearly treble that of 1845, having reached, according to the estimate of the emigration commissioners, the unprecedented number of 219,885 persons. Since that time the annual numbers have not varied very much; and having apparently attained their highest limit in 1851, which has been estimated at 254,537, they now appear to be on the decline. It is evident that such an emigration cannot keep up for many years. It corrects itself both by the increased supply of labour in America lessening the facility of obtaining employment for those who go there, and by the improved demand for labour in Ireland raising the rate of wages in this country. So far as it has gone, we must consider it as having been advantageous under the circumstances, relieving us of the dead weight of so many persons who could not find employment here, and enabling them, in another land, to procure the necessaries, and often the comforts and even the luxuries of life.

One circumstance connected with emigration deserves especial notice, because it is so creditable to the character of our countrymen, distinguishing them honourably from the emigrants of every other country. The number of small remittances sent back from America, by the Irish emigrants, will at once recur to your thoughts. I believe this subject was first brought under public notice by my

* See Appendix C.

late friend, Jacob Harvey of New York. In a letter to me, dated Dec. 28th, 1846, which I made public at the time, he says:-"I have made inquiries, within a few days, from those houses who give small drafts to the poor Irish, and I am rejoiced to find that the remittances are greater than ever before known at this period. I am proud to say that the Irish in America have always remitted more money, ten times over, than all the other foreigners put together." And, again, in another letter, dated 5th of January, 1847, the period when the loss of the potato crop was making itself so severely felt, he says:-"I am happy to say that the poor labouring Irish themselves are doing their duty fully. Without any public meetings or addresses, they have been silently remitting their little savings to their relatives at home." In a subsequent letter, he makes up the total of these remittances to one million of dollars, or £200,000 sterling.

The inquiries made by the Emigration Commissioners showed that these small remittances had more than doubled by 1848. They continued to increase, until, in 1853, they attained the astonishing amount of £1,439,000, being more than seven times the estimate for 1846. This will probably prove to be their highest limit. The exact amount for the present year cannot, of course, be ascertained until the year itself is ended. But during the ten months which have elapsed, there has been unquestionably a considerable falling off, perhaps amounting to 20 or 25 per cent. The causes which have induced these small remittances have lessened, and a reduction may, therefore, be expected in the amount of the remittances themselves. The early emigrants have, in many cases, been followed by all, or most of their near kindred; so that the necessity of sending home money to assist their emigration is over. Where remittances were made for the relief of relatives remaining in Ireland, the urgent need has, in many cases, ceased, on account of the improved circumstances of the country, and the greater facility of obtaining employment. The new ties formed in America, and the gradual effects of time and distance, must naturally diminish these gifts of affection.

Estimate of the number of Emigrants from Ireland to America, and of the amount of remittances in small sums sent by emigrants to their friends in Ireland, in the years 1844 to 1853 inclusive.

The Emigration Commissioners remark that these accounts show only the sums remitted through the principal banks and mercantile houses, and that they have no means of ascertaining the amount (probably very large) sent home through private channels.

Some of the agents who issued these small money orders failed during last year, and thus considerable sums were lost, causing disappointment and distress to many poor people, and producing the inevitable effects of distrust and uncertainty. This, no doubt, had a considerable effect in lessening the remittances of the present year; and it naturally leads us to inquire, whether it be desirable to leave the safety of these small remittances to the chances of loss to which they have hitherto been exposed; considering that they come from persons who, generally speaking, cannot be supposed capable of forming any sound opinion respecting the stability of the banking or other firms who undertake to do business in this line. It is worthy of consideration, whether it would not be practicable to establish a system of post-office orders, between America and these countries, and thus give perfect security to small remittances.

The state of the Savings Banks in Ireland is in some degree connected with the last subject. It appears that the total balances of investments in these banks were regularly increasing up to the year 1845, when they amounted to £2,921,581, belonging to 96,422 depositors. In 1846 and 1847 they were diminished by about £500,000, and in 1848 there was a regular panic, under the influence of which they experienced a further reduction exceeding £1,000,000. The lowest point was attained in 1849, when the total balances only reached the sum of £1,200,273, belonging to 45,548 depositors. Since this period they have again increased, and they amounted on the 20th November, 1853, to £1,587,449. This panic arose in part from political causes, but it was greatly increased by the failure of the Savings Bank at Killarney, and that in Cuffe-street, Dublin. Who should be considered responsible for the disgraceful failure of the Cuffe-street Bank it is not for me to say. The subject has already been largely discussed in a paper read before this association, by Professor Hancock, in the session of 1852. But I have no hesitation in stating my conviction that it does fall within the province of the Government to give to the poorer classes that perfect security for the investment of their savings, which until of late years it was almost universally supposed that they possessed. It is for the common benefit of the nation that such security should exist, and it appears to me that unless it be afforded by the Government, there is no other means by which it is likely to be obtained.

Statement shewing the number of Depositors and the amount invested in Savings' Banks in Ireland on the 20th of November in each year, from 1844 to 1853.

The statistics of poor-law expenditure afford melancholy proof of the extent of destitution occasioned by the failure of the potato crop. The full effect was not experienced during the year of famine, because the destitution was relieved principally by the large expenditure on the Public Works, and afterwards by the distribution of food under the "Temporary Relief Act." Still the expenditure under the Poor-law, which had been £435,001 in 1846, was nearly doubled in the following year, and more than quadrupled in 1848. It reached its highest point in 1849, when it amounted to £2,177,651 expended in the relief of 932, 284 persons within the walls of the workhouses, and 1,210,482 persons receiving outdoor relief. Since that period the expenditure has regularly diminished, and amounted in the year ending 29th September, 1853, to only £785,718; the numbers relieved being 396,436 in-doors, and 13,232 out of doors. During the present year the number of in-door paupers, when at its highest, amounted to only 116,033; and of these about two-fifths were children, and more than onefifth were sick persons in the workhouse hospitals. These statistics must be considered highly satisfactory, shewing that the pauperism occasioned by the famine has been so much diminished, and giving us reason to expect that next year it will be still farther reduced.* The next subject which I wish to bring before your notice is the transfers of stock between England and Ireland. Your attention was called to this subject by Doctor Longfield in his address in 1849, for the purpose of shewing that the amount of funded property held by residents in Ireland still continued to increase, notwithstanding the distressed condition of the country. The figures then produced by Doctor Longfield shewed that the balance of transfers, which for many years had been uniformly in favour of Ireland, had exceeded a million sterling annually, from 1844 to 1848. He says, "This balance in favour of Ireland is an increase of Irish wealth to that amount. It also shews that, in Ireland, capital is not so much wanted as the means of employing it, since every year there is a steady flow from Ireland to England of capital seeking for investment. In the year 1849 a remarkable change took place. The balance of transfers was reversed, and for the first time for several years appeared against Ireland. In the four years, 1849 to 1852, the balance of stock transferred to England amounted to £2,525,090. You will not, I am sure, attribute this to a reduction of Irish capital; but seeing how accurately it coincides with the sales of property under the Incumbered Estates Court, you will recognise the correctness of Doctor Longfield's remark, that it was not capital we wanted so much as the means of employing it. Last year, the balance was again in favour of Ireland to the extent of £1,556,592.

* See Appendix D.