Full text of "A tour in Ireland;"

See other formats

•I

« A

TOUR

I N

IRELAND:

WITH

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

O N T H E

PRESENT STATE OF THAT KINGDOM.

MADE IN

THE YEARS 1776, 1777, and 1778,

AND

BROUGHT DOWN TO THE END OF 1770,.

BY ARTHUR YOUNG, Efqs F. R. S.

Honorary Member of the Societies of DUBLIN, YORK and MAN-
CHESTER; the Oeconomical Society of BERNE; the Palatine
Academy of Agriculture, at MANHEIM, and the
• Phyfical Society at ZURICH*

VOL. II.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED BY JAMES WILLIAMS,

Foi. MESSRS. WHITESTONE, SLEATER, SHEPPARD,

WILLIAMS, BURNET, WILSON, JENKIN,

WOGAN, VALLANCE, WHITE, BEATTY,

BYRN, AND BURTON,

M,DCC,LXXX, "

TOUR, &c.

SEPTEMBER the 8th, left Drummoland, Sir
Jj Lucius rode with me through Cionmelly, to
the hill above Bunratty Caftle, for a view of the
Shannon. Cionmelly is a divifion of Drum-
line parifh, 900 acres of Corkafs land in one
lot, which is cheap, at 303. an acre. I went
into fome of the paftures, which were flocked
with very fine bullocks, at the rate of one
to every acre. In this neighbourhood, Mr.
Hickman has a clofe of 20 acres, which, when
in his own hands, fattened him 2 cows per
acre, and in winter fed him 100 wethers, to
the improvement of Os. each. The profit by
the cows was 4!. and by the fheep il los. per
acre : in all 5!. 55. I had this fact from his
own mouth. The richnefs of thefe corcafTes,
which are flat lands on the river fide, that have
been gained at different times from the fait
water, is very great. When in tillage, they
fometimes yield extraordinary crops ; 50 ftat
barrels an acre of bere have been known, fix-
teen of barley, and from 20 to 24 of oats are
VOL. IL A common

2061229

2 LIMERICK.

common crops. From Clonmelly Hill, the
profpe6t is very noble. There is a view of the
Shannon from Limerick to Foynes liland, which
is 30 miles, with all its bays, bends, iflands,
and fertile ihores. It is from one to three miles
broad, a moft noble river, deferving regal na-
vies for its ornament, or what are better, fleets
of merchantmen, the chearful figns of far ex-
tended commerce, inftead of a few miferable
fifhing -boats, the only canvafs that fwelled up-
on the fcene : but the want of commerce in
her ports is the misfortune, not the fault of
Ireland. Thanks for the deficiency to that illi-
beral fpirit of trading jealoufy, which has at
times actuated and difgraced fo many nations.
The profpecl has a noble outline in the bold
mountains of Tipperary, Cork, Limerick, and
Kerry. The whole view magnificent.

. At the foot of this hill is the caftle of Bun-
ratty, a very large edifice, the feat of the
O'Brien's, princes of Thomond ; it (lands on
the bank of a river, which falls into the Shan-
non near it. About this caftle, and that of
Rofmanagher, the land is the beft in the coun-
ty of Clare 5 it is worth il. 135. an acre, and
fats a bullock per acre in fummer, befides
winter feed.

To Limerick, through a chearful country,
on the banks of the river, in a vale furround-
ed by diftant mountains. That city is very
finely fituated, partly on an ifland formed by
the Shannon. The -new part, called Newtown

Pery,

LIMERICK. 3

Pery, from Mr. Pery, the fpeaker, who owns
a confiderable part of the city, and reprefents
it in parliament, is well built. The houfes
are new ones, of brick, large and in right
lines. There is a communication with the
reft of the town by a handfome bridge of three
large arches, erected at Mr. Pery's expenfe.
Here are docks, quays, and a cuftom-houfe,
which is a good building, faces the river, and
on the oppofite banks is a large quadrangular
one, thehoufe of induftry. This part of Li-
merick is very chearful and agreeable, and
carries all the marks of a flourifhing place.

The exports of this port are beef, pork,
butter, hides, and rape-feed. The imports
are rum, fugar, timber, tobacco, wines, coals,
bark, fait, &c. The cuftoms and excife, about
1 6 years ago, amounted to 16,000!. at prefent
32,000!. and rather more four or five years ago.

Whole revenue 1751 £.16,000

1775 51,000 ]

Revenue of the port of Limerick, year ending

March 25 1759 j£-2cM94

1760 29,197

1761 20,727

1762 - - 20,650

1763 20,525

1764 - 32,635

1765 3I>°99
Com. Jour. vj!. 14.^. 71.

A 2 Account

6 LIMERICK.

Account of duties paid on goods imported and ex-
ported in Limerick.

Years.

Imports.

Exports*

1764

£•19,869

£•2195

1765

21,332

1964

1766

16,729

1815

1767

16,316

2365

1768

16,571

2229

1769

20,237

1855

1770

22,138

1941

1771

20,213

^455

1772

22,003

3046

*?73

20,606

2282

1774

57,317

2150

1775

16,979

2647

Salted, laft year, 43,700 pigs; average nib.
Horned cattle (of which many were cows)
12,200. The number of bullocks killed here
in a year amounts to 13,0005 increafed pretty
confiderably in twenty years. They have been
faking pigs all fummer. Pork now 295. 3di
per cwt. was only I2S. feven years ago. The
value of bullocks hides are on an average 355.
Cows 245. per cwt. Butter exported in cafks,
from two to three cwt. each, now 443. a cwt. 6
years ago only 255. The fhipping belonging to
the town, i of 120 tons*

i 150

3 , 150 to 250
i 140
96

* 50

but

LIMERICK. 5

but not increafed. A good deal of rape feed
fhipped off for Holland, and one hundred tons
of rape cakes to Wells and Lynn in Norfolk,
at 405. a ton. Till this laft year at 255. a ton.
Many thoufand loads of dung thrown into the
Shannon, both in the tov/n and many places
along the river. Within five or fix years they
have taken fome away, but not much. Town
parks let at 4!, 45. to 5!. for ten miles every
way the rent is 255, to 30$. Much flour goes
to Dublin from this county and Tipperary on
the land-carriage bounty. There is a great
increafe of tillage : thrice the corn grown that
there was formerly : There has been much
pafturage broken up on this account; fome
bullock land, and fome fhcep land. Great
quantities of butter made within a few miles
of Limerick. Scarce any fpinning here, or in
the neighbourhood, either of wool or flax.
The poor live upon potatoes and milk, gene-
rally fpeaking, with fome oatmeal. They do
not all keep cows j thofe who do not, buy, and
pay id. for three quarts of fkim milk. The
rent of their cabbins and one-fourth of arx
acre 155. to 2os. build them themfelves. They
are in a better fituation in moil refpefts than
twenty years ago. Pigs are much increafed,
chiefly or entirely bred by the cottars, and the
high price has been of prodigious confequence
to them. They are much better clad than they
were. Date their increafe of this from the
open cattle trade to England. Population has
much increafed within twenty years, and the
cjty alfo? but was more populous fix years ago

than,

6 LIMERICK.

than at prefent. Emigrations were known
from hence; two fhips went commonly till
the war. Between 1740 and 1750, there were
only four carriages in and about Limerick, the
Bifhop's, the Dean's, and one other Clergy-
man's, and one neighbouring Gentleman's.
Four years ago there were above feventy coaches
and poft-chaifes in Limerick, and one mile
round it. In Limerick diftri6t} now 183 four
wheeled carriages ; 115 two wheeled ditto.

Price of Provijions.

Wheat, is. id. aftone/. Wild ducks, 2©d. to 2s. a

Barley and oats, fd^, to 6d. couple

Scotch coals, 1 8s. White- Plover, 6d. a couple.

haven, 2?s. Widgeon, rod. ditto.

A boat load of turf, 20 tons, Hares, is. each, commonly

455. fold all the year round

Salmon, three halfpence Woodcocks, 2od. to is. 2d,

Trout, 2d. very fine, per Ib. a brace

Eels, 2d. a pound Oyfters, 4d? to is. a ico

Rabbits, 8d. a pound Lobfters, is. to is, 6d, if

Teal, lod, a couple, good..

Land fells at twenty years purchafe. Rents
were at thehigheft in 1765, fell fince, but in
four years have fallen 8s. to los. an acre about
Limerick. They are at a {land at prefent,
owing to the high price of provifions from
pafture. The number of people in Limerick,
are computed at 32,000, it is exceeding popu-
lous for the fize ; the chief ftreet quite crowd-
ed ; many fedan chairs in town, and fome
hackney chaifes. ArTemblies the year round,

LIMERICK. 7

in a new aflembly-houfe, built for the pur-
pofe; and plays and conceits common.

Upon the whole, Limerick muft be a very
gay place, but when the ufual number of
troops are in town, much more fo. To fhew
the general expenfes of living, I was told of a
perfon's keeping a carriage, four horfes, three
men, three maids, a good table, a wife, three
children, and a nurfe, and all for 500!. a
year.

1. s. d. 1. s. d.

A footman, — — 440 to 660

A profefled woman cook — 660

A houfe-maiu — 300

A kitchen maid — — 2 © o

A butler — — 10 o o to 12 o o

A .barrel of beef or pork, 200 Ib. weight.
Veflels of 400 tons can come up with fpring
tides, which rife 14 feet.

September Qth, to Cattle Oliver; various
country, not fo rich to appearance as the cor-
cafles, being fed bare : much hilly fheep-walk,
and for a confiderable way, a full third of it
potatoes and corn : no fign of depopulation.
Juft before I got to the hills, a field of rag-
wort (fenefio jacobcea) buried the cows. The
firft view of Cattle Oliver interefting. After
rifmg a mountain fo high that no one could
think of any houfe, you come in view of a
vale, quite filled with fine woods, fields mar-
gined with trees, and hedge plantations climb-
ing

8 ANNSGROVE.

ing up the mountains. Having engaged my-
felf to Mr. Oliver, to return from Killarney
by his houfe, as he was confined to Limerick
by the aflizes, I fhall omit laying any thing of
it at prefent.

September loth, reached Annfgrove, the
feat of Richard Aid worth, Efq; to whom I
am obliged for the following particulars.
Farms about Annfgrove, in the parifh of Caftle
Town Roche, rife from 50 acres to 200, a few
fmaller. It abounds exceedingly with land job-
bers, who have hired large tracts, and re-let
them to tenants, and thole to under ones, but
gentlemen are getting out of this fyftem now.
No graziers here ; the rents are made by til-
lage and fheep, and a few dairies ; the foil is
all lime-ftone, much fine hazel loam, from 4
to 1 8 inches deep. A hill runs through this
country, which is wet woodcock clay. It lets
in general from 75. to 2 as. plantation acre,
average 155. The barony of Orrery in this
county (Cork) is as rich as Limerick ; lets
from 255. to 35S. an acre. The next in Fer-
moy 1.35. Duhallow has much mountains and
unimproved; vaft tracts of it heath, but rears
at prefent great numbers of young cattle, and
many dairies, average rent 73. Condons and
Clangibon 155. Imokilly, a very fine corn
country. Barrymore, rough, 75. Barrets
mountains^ with bog, 45. Mulberry, rough
and uncultivated, 45. Kinalea yields more corn
than any of them j lets at 143. the Englifh acre.
The baronies of Kerrycurihy and Courcy's
upon the coall are all high tet, from fituation,

los, the

ANNSGROVE, 9

jos the Engliih acre. In Carbery, there are
great quantities of wild country, and much
uncultivated ; provifions are extravagantly
cheap, from want of communications. The
whole county, upon an average, 73. The
courfe of crops about Annfgrove :

i. Potatoes, 2. Wheat. 3. Oats. 4. Oats,
r. Oats. 6. Oats. 7. Leave it for three years.

i. Potatoes. 2. Bere. 3. Oats. 4. Oats,
5. Oats. 6. Oats. 7. Leave it for three or
four years.

Flax fowri in patches upon lay, and fome-
times after potatoes. Potatoes they plant in a
mod flovenly manner, leaving the iinali ones
in the ground of the firft crop, in order to be
feed for the fecond, by which means they are
not fliced: fometimes a (harp froit catches
them, and deftroys all thefe roots. They plant
many on grafs without dung, on the rich land,
and pay 255. to 508. an acre for liberty to do
it. Of wheat they fow 20 flone per acre, and
get on an average 7 barrels. They feldom
ibw it till February ; they think the tirft dark
nights in that month the bed feed time in the
year. But it is in facl: owing to their taking
their potatoes up fo late, which they do not
begin till near Chriflmas. Some, however, are
earlier, and get their wheat in in November
and December. They fow, of oats, a kilder-
{dn, or 4 bulhels of 32 gallons. Neither
peafe, beans, nor rape in the country, but tur-
nips and clover are creeping in among gentle-
men.

jo ANNSGROVE.

men. Flax is fown by every body for their own
ufe, which they fpin, and get woven into linen
for themfelves, and what they have to fpare,
fell in yarn. There are very few of thefe
weavers.

Lime is the great manure; they lay 100
common barrels to the acre, lafts feven or eight
good crops, and leaves the ground the better
for it ; but their principle is to exhauft as faft
as poffible in confequence of liming. It cofts
them 8d. a barrel roach. Burn with culm
from the coal pits in the barony of Duhallow.
This coal is only ufed for drying malt, fmiths
forges, &c. but not for common fuel. They
have alfo a very rich manure, which is rotten
lime-ftone, as they call it. It is a rock, and
rifes very hard, "like a lime ftone quarry,
but when expofed to the air, falls into fand ;
it has a ilrong fermentation with acids, and
gives great crops : they do not, however, carry
it above a mile and half. Paring and burning
they are very fond of for potatoes, and fome-
times for bere, but the landlords prevent the
practice. They get very great crops by it, and
do it to chufe on wafte lands; pare with an
inftrument they call a graffane, and the huf-
bandry they callgraffaning and burning. It is
a very ftrong hoe with which they cut up trie
turf, rolling it up with their foot as they do it,
and leaving it to dry in order to burn. They
do it in March or April for their potatoe plant-
ing; and though it makes them very late, yet
the crops never fail, Soot is thrown away, and

A N N S G R O V E. it

in general malt duft, as they do not fcreen their
malt. The fences of common farmers are
making banks, and fowing furze feed. Grafs
lands are applied to feeding fheep and cows.
Their fheep fyftem is that of breeding. They
keep their lambs till they are two year old we-
thers, and then fell them to thofe who fatten
near the coaft. Thefe they fell at i is. to i8s.
each ; and they cull fome ewes every year,
which the butchers buy at 145. or 155. They
fheer generally on an average 4lb. wool,
which fells 135. to 195. 6d a flone, at which
amazing price fome was fold this year. The
cottars have all Iheep, which they milk for their
families. The poor people reckon their cattle
by collops, that is proportions. The heavieft
collop is fix (beep, the next is a horfe, the next
two heifers, and laftly the cow. Flocks rife to
500 fheep; no folding. Dairies are eon-
fiderable. They rife from 20 to 50 cows, are
employed in making butter only; in fome
parts of the county they make very good cheefe.
An acre and a quarter maintains a cow in
fummer and winter grafs and hay. The far-
mer generally lets them out to dairymen, at 2!.
a cow, and a guinea for horn money ; the 405.
is for the butter, and the guinea for the other
produce, four milk, pigs, and calf. But fome-
times the rent is in butter a hundred weight per
cow delivered in Cork, and the guinea is in cadi.
The produce is not much more than this
cwt. of butter; for the dairyman's profit lies
principally in having the gnafs of a cow, an
acre of ground, and a cabbin and garden, and

they

j* A N N S G R O V E.

they are generally very poor. They rear many
pigs on account of the dairies, about a pig to
every cow, and a calf to every two cows, which
they feed on four milk, giving them no new
milk. They are attentive to have their cows
calve in May. The tillage of the farmers is
all done by horfes ; that of the gentlemen by
oxen. Four horfes and three men to every
plough, one to drive, one to hold, and another
with a pole, bearing on the beam to keep it in
the ground ; but they do an acre a day, by
means of leaving a great fpace untouched in
the middle of each land, where they begin by
lapping the fods to meet. To joo acres of
tillage they keep about fix horfes ; they make
up their teams, borrowing of one another.
The chaff is thrown away as every where elfe.
Hire of a car an4 horfe, and driver, is. 6d. a
day*. Price of carriage a id. per cwt. a mile.
In hiring farms, they will manage to take 100
acres without 100. pence. They will doit with-
out teams or cattle, or any thing ; by re-letting
the land for potatoes, grafs for cows, &c. and
if a fellow gets 5!. by a 100 acres, he is very
well fatisfied. Land fells at 20 years purchafe.
Rents, at prefent, at a (land ; rather upon the
rife, owing to the price of butter ; they fell
33. od. in the pound in 1772 and 3. Tythes
are Compounded. Wheat pays 8s. the Englifh.
cere : fome 6s. Barley and Bere 6s. Potatoes
6s. Mowing ground 2s. Sheep 3d. Lambs 2d.
Cows 2d. Leafes are generally 31 years, or
three lives, or for ever.

The poor people in general occupy from i a
to 15 acres -, but the moll common way is

hiring

ANN S' GROVE. ij

hiring in partnership in rundale ; and they
have changedale alfo. Moft of them have only
a cabbin and a cabbage garden, and the fize is
nfually enough for 100 plants j and their rent
for it 2os : in this cafe they pay their neigh-
bour for the grafs of their cow • but I was
ibrry to find that fome of them have no cows.
They live the year through upon potatoes, and
for half the year have nothing but water with
them. They have all a pig, and fome of them
feveral, but kill one for themfelves at Chrift-
tnas. Their circumflances are very generally
better than twenty years ago, efpecially in
cloathing, but in food no great difference.
Spinning is the general bufmefs of the women :
they fpin infinitely more wool than flax. AH
the poor keep a collop of fheep ; as foon as the
lamb is fit to kill, they fell it, except enough
to keep up the ftock, in order to have the milk.
In the little towns of Donneraile, Mitchelftown,
Mallow, Kilworth, Kanturk, and Newmarket,
are clothiers, who buy up the wool, employ
combers in their houfes, who make confidera-
ble wages, and when combed, they have a day
fixed for the poor to come and take it, in order
to fpin it into worded, and pay them by the
ball, by which they earn one penny three
farthings to two-pence a day. The clothier
exports this worfled from Cork to Briftol and
Norwich. Of late they have worked a good
deal of it into ferges, which are fent to Dublin
by land-carriage, and from thence to the North,
from whence it is fmuggled into England by
way of Scotland. The poor people's wool is

worked

i4 ANNSGROVE.

worked into frizes for the ufe of the men. The
weavers who work thefe frizes and ferges live
about the country in the cabbins. Immenfe
quantities of raw wool are fent to Cork from
all parts j 500 cars have been feen in a line;
and it is fuppofed to be fent in large quanti-
ties to France. No emigrations. All the poor
people are Roman Catholics, and among them
are the defendants of the old families who once
pofTefTed the country, of which they flill pre-
ferve the full memory, infomuch, that a gen-
tleman's labourer will regularly leave to his
fon, by will, his matter's eftate,

Ireland has very few fuch farmers as Mr.
Aldwprth ; for above 600 acres in tillage is fuch
a bufmefs as I have no where met with. In
his improvements, turnips formed a confider-
able article j in the year 1772 he began with
them, one acre: in 1774 he had two acres: in
1775, five acres: and this year, eight. He has
always hoed them, but not yet in any perfec-
tion, though improving. He fed them on the
land with fheep hurdles; they were chiefly fat
wethers, and the benefit he found very great;
being able, by no other means, to keep them
fat, which the turnips did in great perfection.
He alfocarted fome off for ftall- feeding bullocks
and cows, which anfvvered perfectly well. A
very great advantage he found from turnips in
the barley which fucceeded, being incomparably
better than after any other preparation. Mr.
Aldworth is, upon the whole, fo well perfuaded
of the advantage of the culture, that he is de-
termined

A N N S G R O V E. 15

termined to increafe the quantity every year, till
he gets a fourth part of his farm under them.
The effect of lime was never difplayed in a
clearer manner than upon Mr. Aldworth'sfarm.
The foil, I fhould obferve, is a loam and brick
clay, on a rock of lime-ftone, from nine inches
to three feet deep on it; but what is remark-
able, all the loofe furface ftones are grit, and
all the quarries lime-ftone. Upon this foil he
has found the benefit (urprifingly great: where
he limes he gets very good crops; and where
he does not he can get no crops at all. In my
life I never faw this clearer difplayed than in
two of his fields this year, one wheat and the
other barley ; in each there was about an acre
not limed, but all the reft had 100 barrels an
acre ; the parts limed had a very fine crop, but
thofe two (pots a wretched one ; literally (peak-
ing, not worth mowing; and another fmaller
patch in the barley field the fame ; the crop ex-
cellent to an inch where the lime was laid, and
immediately adjoining nothing but weeds. Ano-
ther experiment, (hewing the great efficacy of
it, was a comparifon he made of it with the
(heep fold; he folded part without liming in a
field, the reft of which was limed, and the fu-
periority of the latter part was very great. Mr.
Aldworth fpreads it on his fallows for wheat,
and on his potatoe-land for barley. It is to be
noted that this land was never limed before.
Upon another part of his farm which had been,
limed, he does not find the benefit to be equal.
He burns his lime in both running and ftand-
ing kilns ; in the former with culm, and the

expenle

*6 ANNSGROVE.

expenfe to him is 8d. a barrel roach. In the1
{landing kilns he burns without breaking the
ftones, 1 500 barrels at a time with faggots, and
in this way it is 6d. a barrel. Thefe kilns, he
remark s, (hould be built with very great ftrength,
or the extreme heat of the fire burfts the ma-
fonry. His liming has been upon fo extenfwe
a fcale, that laft year he had feven kilns burn-
ing, two of them (landing ones, and burned in
all above 10,000 barrels, and as much this year,
all for manuring his own farm. Mr. Aldworth
has creeled a bolting-mill which will grind 5000
barrels of wheat, and it is curious to obferve
the effeclt of it as a newly-eftablifhed market :
the firft year he ground 1 100 barrels, being all
he could get ; the next year, the prefent, it will
be 5000. He has alfo taken pains to improve
the breed of fheep, by buying Englifh ewes.
The fame attention he has given to fwine and
various other articles. Reynold's turnip-cab-
bage he has planted two years for late feeding
of iheep in the fpring : he finds them of excel-
lent ufe, and is determined never to be without
them. He began to plant hops in 1772 upon
half an acre of land, a fine rich red loam a
yard deep; they fucceeded perfectly well; and
the fecond year yielded 8 cwt. the half acre of
as good hops as ever he met. In 1773 he added
two acres : in 1775 he planted another acre:
laft year the crop failed, not getting above 3 or
4 cwt. This year he has a very good appear-
ance. Has not found the climate at all againft
them ; and is clear that it may be a very advan-
tageous branch of culture. He, however, re-
2 marked.

ANNSGROVE. 17

marked, that they are not fo ftrong as Englifh
hops, owing, perhaps, to want of experience in
drying, &c. He manures them every third
year. Mr. Aid worth is the only perfon in this
country that folds his fheep j he finds the prac-
tice very ufeful, but not equal, as obfcrved
before, to lime.

September nth, accompanied Mr. Aid worth
and family to his neighbour Mr. Hyde's, on
the banks of the Black Water, which are very
chearful, and many of the views fine, particu-
larly from the yard, of a new church on the
river : pafs many large woods in fight. Mr.
Hyde's is a place entirely of his own forming.
The lawn before the houfe has a very pleafing
inequality of furface, and the whole fcenery
well improved and cheerful.

It was with regret I left fo agreeable and li-
beral a family as that of Annfgrove, nor fhould
I forget to mention that every thing about the
place had a much nearer refemblance to an
Englifh than an Irifh refidence, where fo many
jine places want neatnefi, and where, after great
expenfe, fo little is found complete. Mrs. Aid-
worth has ornamented a beautiful glen, which
winds behind the houfe, in a manner that does
honour to her tafte j me has traced her paths
fo as to command all the beauties of rock,
wood, and a fweet river which glides beneath
both : it is a moil agreeable fcenery.

VOL, II. B September

iS DONERAILE.

September i2th, to Doneraile, with Mr. Aid-
worth. In our way called on a woollen manu-
faclurer, Mr. Hannam, at Kilbrack, who gave
me the following particulars of the trade. It
coniifts in buying the wool about the country,
and combing it upon their own account. The
combers earn ics. a week, or 40 balls at 3d.
The fleeces he buys weighs jib. on an average.
To every 22 ftone of rough fleece there are 3
(lone of fhort, coarfe, and waftej 2 ftone of the
3 are worth los. a ftone, for coarfe works,
frizes, &c. the third ftone 135. 4d. The re-
maining 19 ftone of combing wool give 8 balls
each of 24 ounces. To each ftone there is one
pound and three quarters of pinions of fliort
wool that comes out in the combing. Thefe
balls are given to women to fpin, and 9d. a ball
is paid them for it j a woman can fpin the balls
in two days and a half if fhe fticks to it all day;
in three days and do trifles befides. Then the
worfted, in fkains twelve to the ball, is fent to
Corke or Limerick for exportation. Not above
one-fixth part, to his knowledge, is woven at
home. Employs feven weavers making ferges.
Forty-four beer ferges fell at is. 2d. a yard; is
29 inches broad, and the pieces 136 yards long.
Pays tvvc-pence halfpenny a yard for weaving,
and a man weaves eight in a day j he weaves
a piece in three weeks, and lofes one day in
that time in preparing his loom. The Con-
naught wool he prefers j it is of a middling
length, and a fine ftaple: finds that the fliort
wool is the fineft. At Charleville there are
thirty looms in it. The ferges are all fent to

Dublin

D O N E R A I L E. 19

Dublin to a factor, who fells them at 5!. per
cent, commiffion. Are in general fent to Scot-
land. The demand for them is better than it
was : it has been improving for three years.
But the prices of both ferges and worfted have
not rifen proportionally to that of wool.

An eftlmate of the cloathing trade.

2o combers would comb in a year 5000 ftone

of wool ati6s. perftone - - 4000 o o
The faid combers would comb 8:0 balls a
week, at 3d. per ball, comes to lol. in
the year ... 520 o •

300 women and girls tofpinthe above, and which
would be the advantage of the clothier,
to form into three houfes or factories of
i oo each ; their hire, at pd. a ball, comes
to - - - 1560 o o

60 weavers would weave up the faid worfted,

at 8d. each a day, 24!. a week, the year 1248 o «
50 little boys and girls employed in faid weav-
ing, at 3d. a day each, comes to 3!. 156.
per week, in the year - - - 195 O o

43£

Oil and foap would coft in the year - 368 o o

Carriage of wool, woollen goods, &c. - 100 o o
Sorting wool, washing it, &c. - 80 o o

8071 O o
The year's profit I fuppofc to be - 350 Q o

The yearly fum brought into the country

where fuch trade is carried on - -£-8421 o o

B 2 Aver?

20 'D O N E R A I L E.

A very important information is to be drawn
from this eftimate, which is the proportion of
labour to the wool in this manufactory.

Wool, at 1 6s. - 4000

1 Combing - - 520

Spinning - - 1560

Weaving - I443

Sorting and carriage - - 180

Labour - 37°3

Oilandfoap - - 368

£8071

Hence therefore it appears that wool at i6s.
labour and drugs equal it, and that labour
alone is as nine one-fourth to ten.

Let me not forget here to remark, that the
country, within two or three miles of Done-
raile, ranks among the beft I have feen in Ire-
land ; it is varied, much improved, well wood-
ed, and very chearful.

To Lord Doneraile's, to whom I am indebt-
ed for a variety of ufeful intelligence j the fitu-
ation of his houfe is on a beautiful rifing
ground, which dopes down to a winding vale,
in which is a fmall river, accompanied by wood;
from this river, on the other fide, the grounds
(all lawn) rife very boldly, and are entirely
margined with wood : from the higher grounds

the

DONERAILE. 21

the view of the houfe and park is fine, efpeci-
ally at the gate which opens to Kilbrack, there
the houfe is feen furrouncled by very noble
woods and a great variety of cultivated in-
clofures intermixed with fields and thickly-
planted hedges: the whole fcene fo pleafing,
that it appeared to full advantage, though I
had rode to it through a beautiful and even-,
drefTed country in part of the way from Annf-
grove. Near the houfe is a fhrubbery, through
which there are paths that lead to different parts
of the farm, through new plantations, and in
particular to a cottage, from whence there is a
fine wooded fcene, with the park lawn rifing
above it, fcattered with fingle trees, and bound-
ed by a margin of wood ; the whole backed by
diftant mountains. The plantations and im-
provements which lead to and furrotmd this
cottage are the work of Lady Doneraile, and-
do credit to her tafte.

Reflecting his Lordfhip's hufbandry the fol-
lowing particulars deferve the attention of the
reader. Three years ago he procured ewes from
Leiceiterftiire, in order to improve the breed.
The fheep which were here before took three1
to a ftone of wool, but now only two, and the
wool is to the full as good as ever j and he finds
that they are much more thriving and advan-
tageous to keep, and eafier fed than the (beep
of the country: fheep, his Lordfhip finds the
moft advantageous flock of all others : he
keeps fix to the acre winter and fummer. This
he finds much more profitable than keeping

cows

22 DONERAILE,

cgws or fat cattle. Has tried many breeds of
cattle, and finds that the long-horned Englifli
cow is the beft for fattening. The Holdernefs
for giving much thin poor milk, but are too
heavy for winter feeding. The Kerry cow is
much the beft for milking in quantity of good
milk. Hogs he has alfo tried of all forts, and
finds that nothing is fo profitable as the black
Indian breed with Ihort legs, round carcafes,
and fnub nofes. For working, he finds the
fmall mongrel Kerry beaft works the beft, and
moves the fafteft. He works them all by the
horns, in the manner pra6tifed in the fouth of
France, four in a plough at the firft plough-
ing. He changed the manner in which Lord
Shannon brought it over, from the yoke which
couples them , to going fingle with double traces ;
this he finds much the moft beneficial manner;
they move quicker and with greater power,
from being free and working not in couples j
befides being applicable to all forts of work
which requires their going fingle. Englifh
waggons LordDoneraile has tried and laid afide,
from finding, on experience, that they are very
much inferior to the common Irifh car in hay
harveft, dung, lime, &c. but he ufes one-horfe
carts for many forts of wprk. Turnips he has
cultivated for fome years, hoes them, and gets
good crops, but beft in the drill way, the rows
two fee.t afunder : he ufes them in feeding fheep,
and alfo fattening beafts. He finds that they
are not of any cqnfiderable ufe in this country,
compared to others where there is not an equal
plenty of grafs, which fprings all winter j and

that

D O N E R A I L E. 23

that they will fatten a beaft better. When moft
wanted, which is in April and the beginning
of May, they are gone. Cabbages he has tried
upon a large fcale three years ; laft year and the
year before, he had 8 or 9 acres, and ufed them
in feeding and fattening cattle and fheep ; has
found them preferable to turnips far, in all nfes
in feeding cattle j but an acre of the latter will
produce much more. Fern he finds is beft de-
flroyed by mowing it twice a year in June,
and the beginning of September. He makes
his tillage exceedingly profitable by the ufe of
lime. His courfe of crops,

i. Wheat, yielding 10 barrels per acre, and
has meafured 15 barrels, 15 ftone per acre.
2. Barley, the produce 14, 15 barrels, and of
fmall barley, 6 rowed 20. 3. Oats 20 barrels.
4. Clover laid down to grafs, or for one year,
and ploughed it up as foon as cleared of ths
hay.

Lime he fpreads on all lands for wheat or
barley, &c. 80 barrels of roach an acre cofts
6d. a barrel burning. The effect is amazingly
great, infomuch that it is the difference between
a great and a bad crop. In general there is
no ground worth 2os. an acre, that if you lime
it 80 barrels, and take wheat, barley, and oats,
it will then be worth 305. This' is certainly a
marvellous improvement ! Lord Doneraile
knows, from an experiment of his brother's,
that it is equally well adapted to boggy bottoms ;
he had five acres, 'which he fet for los, 6d, the

whole.

24 D O N E R A I L E.

whole, and was fo hard a bargain to the poor
men, that an allowance was made for it. His
brother took it, and limed it, and then mowed
five tons of bay per Engtijh acre, one of the
ftrongeft proofs of the benefit of lime that can
be given. In his Lordfhip's park he has a wheel
for raifmg water, an improvement on the Per-
fian, which raifes a regular ftream 28 feet; the
flream which turns it is confined by a double
wall to the exacl dimenfion of the boxes, which
take in the water, and it works conftantly and
regularly without trouble or expenfe. Lord
Doneraile has creeled a granary upon a new
conftruclion, that of a flue in the walls for a
fire to air the whole building, and dry any damp
corn that may happen to be in k. He dried the
walls after building with it perfectly in a. fhort
time. This granary is fo completely built, that
not a moufe can poffibly g.et in it: he has a
thorough air, with lattice windows of wire. By
the way, thefe flues are a proof, if one was
wanting, how much moifter the climate of Ire-
land is than that of England. He has planted
the clufler potatoes, called here bulls and bucks,
fo much as 6 or 7 acres ; gave them to horfes,
cows, and fheep : the horfes that would eat
them did well, and in a little time believes would
all come very well to them. Fat cows and
bullocks did exceedingly well: fat fheep were
put to them; but feveral dying both years,
made him leave the practice off. Of other forts
of potatoes, he finds the London lady and the
cpple to be the beft forts. The London lady is
particularly valuable for one circumftance,

which

DONERAILE. 2<

xvhich is the ftalks withering, and the crop
being ready to take up, from a month to fix
weeks before any other fort; confequently,
the beft fort to plant as a preparative to wheat.
Hops he has planted two years ago, in order to
fee how far they will anfwer; and expects to be
able to get not only good hops, but a great crop.
One mode of managing them he has in medita-
tion, which is a good thought, and that is to
train them horizontally inftead of perpendicu-
larly, like efpalier, on account of the ftorms
and blights which hops, in the common way,
are fubjecl: to from the height. Has compared
the rotton lime-ftone and lime in a 20 acred
field for wheat, 10 of the one and 10 of the
other, and found the wheat equal : both very
good. Has obferved the common farmers, af-
ter manuring with it, to take 12 and 14 crops
of white corn running and then leaving it for
grafs, which not coming, they complain that it
is not good for grafs, but burns it up. But
Lord Doneraile advifed a friend to lay down,
after two or three crops, which being done,
the grafs that followed was perfectly fine.

Lord Doneraile's lime- kiln is one of the com-
pleateft I have any where ieen ; it is at bottom
16 inches diameter, leads up to 12 feet wide in
the buldge, and 20 feet high from the bottom
to the baldge, 7 feet from the buldge up, and
at the top 9 feet diameter. Over the top, a
roof and a porch to it, and it draws 44 barrels
of roach lime a day, which takes 6 of culm ;
turns for 5^ a barrel. The culm 2s. 5d. a

barrel

26 MALLOW.

barrel at the kiln. Labour 45. Culm
a day.

September I3th, left Doneraile, and went
to Colonel Jephfon's at Mallow. He was at
that time confined with the gout ; but his fon,
Denham Jephfon, Efqj (member for Mallow)
took every means for my information, in the
circumftances I enquired after. About that
place :

i. Potatoes on ftubbles, or grafs dunged
2. Potatoes. 3. Wheat or Bere. 4. Oats. 5.
Oats. 6. Oats,

i. Fallow. 2. Wheat. 3. Oats. 4. Oats.
5. Oats. 6. Oats. The meafure the Eng-
lifh acre.

Of potatoes they plant 6 common barrels,
and get 42 in the crop : fometimes take three
or four iucceffive ones. Of wheat they fow 3
pecks and a half each, 3 cluggets, each clugget
1 1 quarts, and get 8 barrels. The crop of bere
is 12. Of oats 12. Rents of town parks 2!.
2S. to 3!. other lands IDS. to 305. average 123.
There are many dairies, up to 60 cows, which
are all fet to dairymen, at 505. to 3!. IDS. of
good land it will take one acre and a half to
feed a cow. They make both butter and cheefe,
and where the latter is made, no butter, felling
the cheefe at 4d. a pound. A cow makes one
cwt. of butter in the feafon. When cows are
let, none are taken that do not give 2 gallons

MALLOW. 27

of milk j good cows give 4 gallons. Colonel
Jephfon had a cow half bred, between the
Englifh long horned and HoldernefTe, that was
forced to be milked three times a day and gave
12 gallons a day, many times in the prefence
of various perfons. Every dairyman is allow-
ed a houfe, a garden of one acre and a half,
and grafs for a horfe, a cow, and fome a col-
lop of ftieep. Great quantities of lime are nfed :
they lay joo barrels an acre, at is, id. They
plough with horfes, four or fix to a plough.
The poor pay ros. rent for a cabin, and 205.
for one acre for potatoes ; 2!. 2s. for grafs for
a cow, and los. for the winter's hay. They
live upon potatoes generally the year through ;
all of them keep cows and pigs, which latter
they feed on fmall potatoes. Their circum-
flances are not better than 20 years ago ; for
though they have now 6d. and then had but
5d. yet the rife is not proportioned to that of
rents. Villages of cottars will take farms in
partnerfhip in the manner I have often defcrib-
cd. The foil of the country is in general lime-
ilone; but from Knockerera mountain, near
Mallow to Corke, there is no lime-done.

Leafes are thirty-one years, or three lives,
and fome for three lives and thirty-one year's
after; and many farms let to middle-men,
who occupy no part of the land themfelves, but
re-let it. Above one-third of (the county is
wafte land.

There are collieries about ten miles off, near
Kantark, from which coal is fold at 33. a bar-

i rd,

28 MALLOW.

rel j it is large and hard. Upon the river
Blackwater, there are trails of flat land in fome
places one quarter of a mile broad ; the grafs
every where remarkably fine, and lets at 305.
It is the fineft fandy land 1 have any where
feen, of a reddifh brown colour, would yield
the greateit arable crops in the world, if in
tillage; it is five feet deep, and has fuch a
principle of adhefion, that it burns into good
brick, yet it is a perfect fand. In floods much
of it is overflown. The banks of this river,
from its fource to the fea, are equally remark-
able for beauty of profpect, and fertility of
foil.

There is but little manufacturing in Mal-
low ; even fpinning is not general. Mr. Jeph-
fon manures his lands very highly with all
forts of dung and fullage of the ftreets of Mal-
low, which is conflantly bringing away ; by
means of this regular attention, united with
the goodnefs of the foil, he has brought it into
that high degree of heart, indicated by the
rent, at which it would let. The whole is
divided into fields, of a moderate fize, with
double quick hedges, well planted with trees,
and kept in the mod perfect degree of neatnefs ;
between the hedges are gravel walks, fo that
there is a planted communication about all the
fields ; the gates are neat and light, and every
attention preferved to give the whole the ap-
pearance of a ferme erne. The quantity of til-
lage is not confiderable, but his crops very
great, barley up to twenty barrels per acre.
Mules he finds more uicful and hardy, than

horfesj

NEWGROVE. 29

horfes ; has fome very fine ones. Mr. Jephfon
has weighed to the dragoons, at the barracks,
from twenty-eight acres of grafs, three and a
quarter tons of hay, perEnglifh acre. He has
kept a particular account of his domain, and
has kept his deer, horfes, cows, houfe, &c.
and fold to the amount of 553. an acre befides.
I walked to the fpring in the town to drink
the water, to which fo many people have long
reforted ; it refembles that of Briftol, prefcrib-
ed for the fame cafes, and with great fuccefs.
In the feafon there are two affemblies a week.
Lodgings are five (hillings a week each room,
and thofe feemed to be miferably bad. Board
thirteen (hillings a week. Thefe prices, in fo
cheap a country, amazed me, and would, I
fhould fear, prevent Mallow from being
fo confiderable as more reafonable rates
might make it, unlefs accommodations pro-
portionable were provided. There is a
fmall canal, with walks on each fide, lead-
ing to the fpring, under cover of fome very
noble poplars. If a double row of good lodg-
ings were erec~led here, with public rooms, in
an elegant ftyle, Mallo would probably become
a place for amufement, as well as health.

September i4th, to New Grove, the feat of
Robert Gordon, Efq; in whom I met with the
greateft zeal for giving rne a correct informati-
on. Faffing, at fome diftance, a very large
houfe building, to the right of the road, in a
good fituation, by Sir Robert Dean. New
Grove is an entire new improvement of Mr.

Gordon's,

30 NEWGROVE.

Gordon's, the whole place, fome years ago,
being a wafte moor, or mountain, as it is called
in Ireland.

Mr. Gordon took it for improvement ; the
foil and bog five to nine fpits deep, and under
it a black earth, or a reddifh fand, and in fome
a whitifh clayey fubftance, but not marie ;
many fprings in it, which were carried off by
drains ; and then the whole furface of turf cut
out, and carried to Cork: cutting, &c. 303. a
100, and fold there at 5!. this was done in
order to get lime, which is not upon the land,
and by this means the line came to feven-pence
halfpenny a barrel ; found many ftones and
great roots, and timbers, which were all clear-
ed away, and the land ploughed with oxen,
before winter ; then left the winter three
ploughings given in the fpring, and fifty bar-
rels of lime, fpread and fown with oats and
clover; the crop very great; could be fold
however, for 4!. an acre ; the clover fine. This
was cut for hay, and the fecond weighed 23 lib.
per Englifh perch fquare, and a horfe that was
flarved nine hours, eat in twenty-four hours
I07lb. And after thefe two cuttings, there
was a third for foiling with in Oftober ; it was
then fowed with a fecond crop of oats, and that
with clover which was left, and has been
mown every year for eleven years fmce ; this
was one field in particular, but all in the fame
manner, and would let for one pound an acre
readily ; all expences of the 3 crops, including
the lime, coft. 61. 73. 90. an acre, fo that the

mere

NEW GROVE. 3f

mere improvement was profitable, befides the
increafe of rent alfo improved. At Carrick-
duff, 650 acres of heath, &c.the black foil thin,
and the heath low, and under it a brown loam,
with whitifh gravel, mixed. Fallowed it with
ftrong ploughs, fourteen inches deep for a year;
then limed it, 50 barrels an acre, at feven
pence three farthings on the land, burnt on the
fpot, and upon this fowed oats and clover for
a meadow, the oats great, and the grafs part
of it actually let at il. is. and all would let
fo. Has profecuted this improvement with
fuch fpirit, that laft year he laid on 10,000
barrels of lime, and has 73 acres oats, 34 wheat,
12 potatoes, and 100 laid to grafs, and all this
in two years. Has there built a farm-office,
1 54 feet long, a barn, flails for thirty bullocks,
two ftables, and a room for the fteward ; and
has made 1750 perch of ditches, planted with
quicks. Thefe Mr. Gordon does in two years,
half the ditch in one to leave it to fink, and the
other half the year after. Turnips he has had,
and got very fine crops of 61b. the average tur-
nip; they thin them by hand, which he thinks
upon this land is preferable to hoeing ; ufed
the crop in ftall-feeding 30 bullocks, which
had, befides the turnips, half a hundredweight
of hay to fix each day, and found that they
throve exceedingly well on fuch turnips as
were not above three to fix pounds weight,
but upon the large ones they did not thrive.
In November he cleared the field of all, ftacked
them, and found them keep perfe&ly till April.
Found that the flieep, fed at New Grove,
would not take to turnips till flarved to them.

Imported

$2 NEWGROVE.

Imported a man from Norfolk, whom he gave
forty guineas a year with board, who brought
ploughs, hoes, &c. with him ; gave him a gui-
nea for every boy he taught to plough, and
every boy who could fairly plough, had a (hil-
ling a day wages. By this means he has col-
lected a fet of excellent ploughmen, who have
been of infinite ufe, fo that he has to this day
ploughed with Norfolk and Suffolk ploughs,
worked with a pair of horfes, and no driver
except the firft and fecond ploughing of frefh
land, which, and dragging, he does with great
drags of 1 8 cwt. and drawn by bullocks. This
improvement is of particular confequence, as
there are here twelve miles fquare of rich land,
taken almoft in a fquare between Mallow and
Corke, one way, and the Bagra mountains
and Nagles the other ; upon all which
there is not a ftone to interrupt the plough,
ibmetimes not a ftone to an acre.

He is convinced, from experience, that the
woi ft of this vaft tract may be drained, inclofed,
limed with fifty barrels, and tilled with a crop
of oats on it, for 5!. an acre. In the neigh-
bourhood, a great improvement of 1200 acres,
without lime or gravel, and badly done yet, at
j 2S. an acre, fix-7ths of the county of Corke at
as. an acre, one- /th, los. of Kerry, nine-ioths3
at is. andone-ioth at los.

Six years ago, Mr. Gordon eftablifhed a
linen manufactory, and bleach mill, upon the

completeft

BLARNEY CASTLE. 33

completed fcale ; a factory of eleven looms for
damafk, bleacher's houfe and other buildings,
with a refervoir of water for turning the wheel ;
the whole well-built, well-contrived, and at the
expence of 1200!. Kept thefe looms conftant-
ly at work, and at the fame time bleached
many-pieces for the country people. Trulted
to a manager for the conduct of the works,
who broke, which put a flop to them, other-
wife there would have been a flourishing ma-
nufactory eftablifhed. Spinning flax coming
in, but the woollen through the country j and
from hence to the north-weft Duhallow Barony
is the great country for fpinning cotton.

September i £th, to Blarney Cattle, S. J, Jef-
ferys, Efq; of whofe great works in building a
town at Blarney, I cannot give fo particular an
account as I wifb to do ; for I got there juft as
he and his family were on the point of fetting
out for France. I did not however let (lip the
time I had for making fome enquiries, and found
that in 1765, when Mr. Jefferys began to build
this town, it confifted only of two or three mud
cabins ; there are now 90 houfes* He firft ef-
tablifhed the linen manufactory, building a
bleach-mill, and houfes for weavers, &c. and
letting them to manufacturers from Corke,
who have been fo fuccefsful in their works, as
to find it necefTary to have larger and more nu-
merous edifices, llich as a large (tamping mill
for printing linens vand cottons, to which is
annexed another bleach-mill, and fince there
has been a third erected j the work carried on
is that of buying yarn> and weaving it into li-
VOL. II. C nens.

34 BLARNEY CASTLE,

,nens, ten pence to thirty pence white -, alfo dia-
pers, fheeting, ticking, and linens and cot-
tons of all forts printed here, for common ufe
.and furniture. Thefe feveral branches of the
linen, employ 130 looms, and above 300 hands.

Another of Mr. JefFerys objects has been the
flocking manufacture,which employs 20 frames,
and 30 hands, in buildings creeled by him ; the
manager employing, by covenant, a certain
number of apprentices, in order by their being
-inftructed, to diffufe the manufactory* Like-
wife a woollen manufactory, a mill for milling,
tucking, &c. broad cloths ; a gigg mill for glofi-
ing, fmoothing, and laying the grain; and a
mill for knapping, which will dreis above 500"
pieces a year, but will be more, when fome al-
terations now making are finifhed. A leather
mill for drefling fhamoy, buck, or fkins, fully
•employed. A large bolting mill, juft finifhed,
and let for 132!. a year. A mill, annexed to
the fame, juit finilhing, for plating; and a
blade mill for grinding edged tools. A large
paper mill, which will be finifhed this year.
He has been able to erect this multiplicity of
mills, thirteen in all, by an uncommon
command of water.

The town is built in a fquare, compofed of a
large handfome inn, and manufacturers houfes,
all built of excellent ftone, lime, and flate. A
church, by the firft fruits, and liberal addition
of above 300). from Mr. JefFerys. A market-
houfe, in which are fold a hundred pounds
worth of knit (lockings per week. Four bridges,

which

BLARNEY C A S T L g. 35

which he obtained front the county, and ano-
ther (the flat arch) to which he contributed a
confiderable fum. Much has been done, yet is
not the defign near finifhed.

To fhew the magnitude of thefe works, and
the degree of public good refulting from them,
1 {hall mention the expence at which they have
been executed. Refpecting the principal bleach
mill, Meffrs. Foreft and Donnoghue, under the
linen aft, took 15 acres, at a guinea an acre,
upon which they have expended 5000!. in erect-
ing a linen mill and bleach green, twenty-five
houfes for twenty-five weavers families, four
looms in each houfe, a large dwelling-houfe for
themfelves or their director ; in each houfe,a man,
his wife, three apprentices, two girls and two
boys, befides young infants. In a fhort time
the farm was increafed, and land, which before
had only brought half a guinea, then let for a
guinea. The linen board advanced 500!. to
this work, and Mr. Jefferys repaid them 1400!.
of the 5000!. The old rent of the premifes was
40!. a year, the new rent 71!. Another bleach
mill, which coft Mr. Jefferys 300!. to which
the board added 300!. and the perfon to whom
it is let, 6ool. 40 acres of land, formerly let
at iol. a year, go with them. The whole rent
now 8ol. To this mill is fince added an oat-
mill, which coft 300!. two tuck-mills, 200!. a
leather mill and kilns, 150!. two dwelling-
-houfes, 300!. A ftamping-mill, which coft
Mr. Jefferys 2,300!. to which the board added
300!. promifing loool. more when the works
ihould be finifhed, which they have been thefe
C 2 V-vo

36 B L A R N E Y C A S T L E.

two years. Twelve printing tables are kept go-
ing, and fi-xty-five hands employed. Twelve
printers. Twelve tire boys. Three print cut-
ters. Eighteen bleachmen. Six pencillers.
Two tubmen. One clerk. One callender. One
manager. Two draughtsmen. Four copper-
men. Three carters. Befides the above lums,
the manufacturer has laid out 500!. The
quantity of land occupied is 25 acres : old rent,.
61. i os. new, 113.1. i^s,

A ftockirig factory, for which Mr. Jef-
ferys lent 200!. The man laid out 300!. him-
felf ; he occupies 50 acres, before Jet at 20! .
a year ; now at 76!. us. A gigg-mill, for which
Mr. Jefferys lent 300!. till repaid by the Dub-
lin Society, who granted 300!. towards it, and
the tenant laid out 200!. the quantity of land he
has is eleven acres-, let at 5!. los. now at 36!.

Amanufaclor^oftapeijTeftablifhed, by which
means 6 acres of land are advanced, from 2!. 8s.
to 9!. They have three looms going, which makes
102 pieces a day of 36 yards each. The Dublin
Society gave 20! . to it. A paper mill, which
has coft Mr. Jefferys- uool. and is not yet let.
A bolting mill on which he has expended
1 1 col. the tenant 500!. on adding an iron mill.
Twenty acres of land,, rent before 9!. los. rent
of the whole now 132!. 135* The church has
coft Mr. Jefferys 500!. and- the fkft fruits 500!.
more. The" new inn, 250!. and the tenant
300!. more. Seventy acres of land, before at
20!. a year, now at 83!. 95. A dwelling-houfe,
250!. tcr which the tenant added 500!. Ninety

acres

BLARNEY CASTLE. 37

acres of land, before let at 54!. the new rent is
74!. Twelve cottages, and a lime-kiln, which
coft 280!. Two dwelling-houfes and a forge,
which coft him 150!. and to which parliament
granted 250!. more. Upon the whole, there-
fore, Mr. JefFerys has expended 7,630!. in thefe
eftablifhments. Of public money there has
been added 2,170!. and the tenants themfelves
laid out 9,050!. in all, expended here 18,850!.
befides what Mr. JefFerys laid out on bridges,
&c. in the whole, very near, if not full,
2D,oool. upon matters of a public nature. In
all thefe eftablifhments, he has avoided under-
taking or carrying on any of the manufac-
tures upon his own account, from a conviclion
that a gentleman can never do it without fuffer-
ing very confiderabiy. His obje£i: was to form
a town, to give employment to the people, and
to improve the value of his eftate by fo doing;
in all which views it muft be admitted, that
the near neighbourhood of fo confiderable a
place as Corke very much contributed : the fame
means which he has purfued would, in all fitu-
ations, be probably the rnoft advifeable, though
the returns made might be lefs advantageous.
Too much can fcarcely be faid in praife of the
fpirit with which a private gentleman has ex-
ecuted thefe works, which would undoubtedly
do honour to the greater! fortune.

To animate others to tread in fuch laudable
fteps, I may remark, that even the profit of
thefe undertakings is too much to be entirely
forgotten; the expences are by no means bar-
ren ones; 327 acres let before thefe works at

167!.

38 DUNKETTLE,

167!. i8s. let afterwards at 682!. 8s. Profit
508!. i os. without reckoning any thing for
two dwelling-hpufes, a forge, twelve cottages,
and a lime-kiln, which may moderately be reck-
oned at 25!. a year, and yet let at rents of fa-
vour, in all 533!. ios. which from 7630!. 137
per cent. There, however, is no agriculture
improvement that would not, with much greater
certainty of continuance, pay 17. At the fame
time, however, there is a greater reverfionary
advantage in the benefit refulting from the in-
creafing of the rents at the expiration of the
leafes, upon undertaking thele works, the
longeft of which is for no more than three lives.
Another advanrage which is felt already, is,
the rife in the prices of produces at Blarney,
which is a direct premium to agriculture, to
the farmer, and to the landlord. Dairy cows,
on all the adjacent farms, arofe in two years
from 3l.to 4l.a cow,as the weavers were happy to
get milk and butter at the tame price they fold
for in Corke. The fame rife took place on corn,
potatoes, &c. Mr. JefFerys, befides the above
eflablifhments, has very much improved Blar-
ney Caflle and its environs ; he has formed an
extenfive ornamented ground, which is laid out
with confiderable taftej an extenfive plantati-
on furrounds a large piece of water, and walks
lead through the whole ; there are feveral very
pretty fequeftered fpots where covered benches
are placed.

Accompanied Mr. Jefferys, &c. to Dun-
kettie, the feat of Dominick Trent, Efq; who
with a liberality of fentiment which renders

him

D U N K E T T L E. 39

him defervedly efreemed, took every meafure I
could vvifli for my information. The road
leads very beautifully on the fide of the har-
bour under a fhoreof boldhills, on Which 'are
many villas and forne plantations, for the
following particulars concerning the neigh-
bourhood, I am indebted to Mr. Trent,

On the fouth fide of the river, &c. the foil is
a fine lime-ftone '; the country level for a mile
or two, then fvvelling into very gentle hills. On
the north fide, which is much better planted,
particularly at Lota, Dunkettle,&c. the ground
rifes in bold aicents, adorned with many bean-
tifully-fituated country-houfes. Here the ftra-
turn is brown, or rather red {tone, and the fur-
face (hallow ; in fome places a burning gravel.
There is a good deal of arable land on the fides
of the hills. The courfe of crops :

I. Potatoes. 2. Wheat. 3. Barley or oats.
4. Lay down with feeds.

Potatoes yield per acre from lol, to 20!.
Average quantity fifty barrels, at eighteen flone
each. Land manured and let to labourers for
planting, at four or five guineas an acre. Wheat
from feven to ten barrels of twenty ftone, at
2os. a barrel ; average price from 198. to 243.
per barrel. The manures are Corke dung of the
richeilkind, efpecially in the flaughtering fea-
fon ; fea fand for tillage, and bank fand from
the river for grafs grounds. There is water-
carriage to the eadward for many miles : feve-
ral good quays for landing manure, particular.

40 D U N K E T T L E.

ly one atGlanmire, near Dunkettle, from which
the inland inhabitants draw the manure four
or five miles in one-horfe carts. Lime is alfo
much ufed at a fhilling a barrel. The mea-
dows in this country yield from H to 3 tons of
hay per acre, at 403. to 455. per ton on an
average. Dairies are let to dairymen at 4 to 5
guineas a cow. Many fheep are kept on the
hills, but none folded. The diet of the poor is
potatoes and milk, with fome fiih in the her-
ring and fprat feafon. Labourers houfes from
258. to 405. a year. Fuel a very little coal, the
reft fupplied by bufhes, ftolen faggots, &c. as
there is no turf in this part of the country.
Price of labour 6d. per day through the year,
on a pinch in harveft 8d. fometimes more, but
within the liberties of the city generally 8d.
Women jd. and 4d. a day in reeking corn :
children from id. to 3d. in picking ftones, &c.
Moft employed in country bufmefs ; a few at
fome bolting iron and paper-mills in the neigh-
bourhood. From fourteen acres of orchard
Mr. Trent makes fixty hogfheads a year of cy-
der ; a clear acre of good trees about feven
hogfheads. His hogs he feeds on the bull po-
tatoes, whjch yield great crops without dung,
and for two or three years fucceffively.

September i6th, to Cove by water, from Mr.
Trent's quay. The view of Lota is charming ;
a fine rifing lawn from the water, with noble
fpreading woods reaching on each fide ; the
houfe a very pleafing front, with lawn Ihoot-
ing into the woods. The river forms a creek

between

D U N K E T T L E. 41

between two hills, one Lota, the other opening
to another hill of inclofures well wooded. As
the boat leaves the fliore nothing can be finer
than the view behind us j the back woods of
Lota, the houfe and lawn, and the high bold
inclofures towards Corke, form the fineft fhore
imaginable, leading to Corke the city appearing
in full view, Dunkettle wooded inclofures, a fine
fweep of hill, joining Mr. Hoare's at Faclory-
hill, whofe woods have a beautiful effect. Dun-
kettle houfe almoft loft in a wood. As we ad-
vance, the woods of Lota and Dunkettle unite
in one fine mafs. The fheet of water, the rif-
ing lawns, the houfe in the moft beautiful fitu-
ation imaginable, with more woods above it
than lawns below it, the weft fhore of Loch
Mahon, a very fine rifmg hill cut into inclo-
fures, but without wood, landlocked on every
fide with high lands, fcattered with inclofures,
woods, feats, &c. with every chearful circum-
ftance of lively commerce, has all together a
great effect. Advancing to Paflage the fhores
are various, and the fcenery enlivened by four-
fcore fail of large fhips ; the little port of Paf-
fage at the water's edge, with the hills rifing
boldly above it. The channel narrows be-
tween the great ifland and the hills of PafTage.
The fhores bold, and the fhips fcattered about
them, with the inclofures hanging behind the
mafts and yards, picturefque. Palling the
ftreights a new bafon of the harbour opens,
furrounded with high lands. Mor.k's-town-
caftle on the hill to the right, and the grounds
of Bally bricken, a beautiful intermixed fcene of

wood

42 DUNKETTLfc.

wood and lawn. The high fhore of the har-
bour's mouth opens gradually. The. whole
fcene is landlocked. The firft view of Hawl-
bowling-ifland and Spike-ifland, high rocky
lands, with the channel opening to Cove., where
are a fleet of (hips at anchor, and Roftellan,
Lord Inchiquin's houfe, backed with hills, a
fcenery that wants nothing but the accompany-
ment of wood. The view of Baliybricken
changes; it now appears to be unfortunately cut
into right lines. Arrived at the (hip at Cove ;
in the evening returned, leaving Mr. Jefferys
and family on board for a voyage to Havre,
in their way to Paris.

Dunkettle is one of the moil beautiful places
I have feen in Ireland. It is a hill of fome
hundred acres broken into a great variety of
ground, by gentle declivities, with every where
an undulating outline, and the whole varied by
a confiderable quantity of wood, which in fome
places is thick enough to take the appearance
of elofe groves, in others fpreads into fcattered
thickets and a variety of fingle groups. This
hill, or rather clutter of hills, isfurrounded on
one fide by a reach of Corkeharbour,over which
it looks in themoft advantageous manner j and
on the other by an irignous vale, through
which flows the river Qlanmire: the oppofite
fhore of that river has every variety than can
•unite to form pleafing landfcapes for the views
from Dunkettle grounds -, in fome places nar-
row glens, the bottoms of which are quite
filled with water, and the fteep banks covered

with

DUN" KETTLE, 43

with thick woods that fpread a deep fhade ; in.
others the vale opens to form the fite of a
pretty chearful village, over hung by hill and
wood : here the fhore rifes gradually into large
inclofures, which fpread over the hills, ftretch-r
ing beyond each other ; and there the vale melts
again into a milder variety of fields. A hill
thus fituated, and confiding in itfelf of fo much
variety of furface, muft necefiarily command
many pleafing views ; to enjoy thefe to the bet-
ter advantage, Mr. Trent (than whom no one
has a better tafte both to difcover and defcribe
the beauties of natural fcenes) is making a
walk around the whole, which is to bend to
the inequalities of the ground, fo as to take the
principal points in view. The whole is fo
beautiful, that if I was to make the regular de-
tour, the defcription might be too minute : but
there are fome points which gave me fo much
pleafure, that I know not how to avoid recom-
mending to others that travel this way to tafte
the fame fatisfaclion : from the upper part of
the orchard you look down a part of the river,
where it opens into a regular bafon, one corner
jlretching up to Cork, loft behind the hill of
Lota, the lawn of which breaks on the fwelling
hills among the woods 5 the houfe obfcured,
and therefore feeming a part of your home
fcenej the lofing the river behind the beautiful
projection of Lota, is more pleafing than can
be exprefled. The other reach, leading to the
the harbour's mouth, is half hidden by the trees
which margin the foot of the hill on which you
ftand : in front a noble range of cultivated

hills,

44 DUNKETTLE.

hills, the inclofures broken by flight fpots of
wood, and prettily varied with houfes, without
being fo crowded as to take off the rural efFec~l.
The fcene is not only beautiful in thofe common
circumftances which form a landfcape, but is
alive with the chearfulnefs of fhips and boats
perpetually moving. Upon the whole, it is
gne of the moft luxuriant profpec~ls I have any
where feen. Leaving the orchard pafs on the
brow of a hill which forms the bank of the
river of Glanmire, commanding the oppofite
woods of Lota in all their beauty. Rife to the
top of the high hill whichjoins the deer-park,
and exhibits a fcene equally extenfive and
beautiful ; you look down on a vale which
winds almoft around at your feet, finifliing
to the left in Corke river, which here takes the
appearance of a lake, bounded by wood and
hills, and funk in the bottom of a vale, in a
flyle which painting cannot imitate ; the oppo-
fite hills of Lota, wood, and lawn, feem form-
ed as objecls for this point of view : at your
feet a hill rifes out of the vale, with higher ones
around it, the margins fcattered wood; to the
right, towards Riverftown, a vale ; the whole
backed by cultivated hills to Kallahan's field.
Milder fcenes follow -, a bird's-eye view of a
fmall vale funk at your feet, through which the
river flows ; a bridge of feveral arches unites
two parts of a beautiful village, the meadow
grounds of which rife gently, a varied furface
of wood and lawn, to the hills of Riverftovvn,
the whole furrounded by delicious iweeps of
cultivated hills. To the left, a wooded glen

rifing

DUNKETTLE. 45

rifing from the vale to the horizon, the fcenery
lequeftered, but pleafing; the oak wood which
hangs on the deer-park hill, an addition. Down,
to the brow of the hill, where it hangs over the
river, a picturefque interefting fpot. The in-
cloiures on the oppofite bank hang beautifully
to the eye, and the wooded glen winds up the
hill. Returning to the houfe I was conducted
to the hill, where the grounds flope off to the
river of Corke, which opens to view in noble
reaches of a magnitude that fills the eye and the
imagination : a whole country of a character
truly magnificent, and behind the winding vale
which leads between a feries of hills to Glan-
mire.

Pictures at Dunkettle.

A St. Michael, &c. the fubjecl: confufed, by
Michael Angelo. A St. Francis on wood, a
large original of Guido. A St. Cecilia, original
of Romanelli. An aifumption of the virgin, by
L. Carracci. A quaker's meeting, of above
fifty figures, by Egbert Hemikerk. A fea view
and rock piece, by Vernet. A fmall flagella-
tion, by Sebaftian del Piombo. A madonna and
child, fmall, by Rubens. The crucifixion, many
figures in miniature, excellent, tho' the mailer
is unknown. An excellent copy of the famous
Danae of Titian, at Monte Cavallo, near Na-
ples, by Cioffi of Naples. Another of the Venus
of Titian, at the tribuna in Florence. Another
of Venus blinding Cupid, by Titian, at the Pa-
lazzo Borghefe in Rome. Another of great

merit

46 CASTLE MARTYR.

merit of the madonna Delia Sedia of Raphael,
at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, by Stirn, a
German, lately at Rome. Another of an holy
family, from Raphael, of which there are faid
to be three originals, one at the king's palace
in Naples, one in the palais royal in Paris, and
the third in the collection of Lord Exeter, lately
purchafed at Rome. A portrait of Sir Patrick
Trent, by Sir P. Lely. An excellent portrait
of a perfon unknown, by Dahl.

September i/th, toCaftlemartyr, the feat of
the earl of Shannon, one of the moft diftin-
guifhed improvers in Ireland, in whom I found
the moft earneft defire to give me every fpecies
of information, with a knowledge and ability
which enabled him to do it moft effectually.
PafTed through Middleton, a well built place,
which belongs to the noble lord to whom it
gives title. Caftiemartyr is an o-ld houfe, but
much added to by the prefent earl; he has
built, befides other rooms, a dining one 32 feet
long by 22 broad, and a drawing one, the beft
rooms I have feen in Ireland, a double cube of
25 feet, being 50 long, 25 broad, and 25 high*
The grounds about the houfe are very well
laid out} much wood well grown, confiderable
lawns, a river made to wind through them in
a beautiful manner, an old caftle fo perfectly
covered with ivy as to be a picturefque object.
A winding walk leads for a confiderable diftance
along the banks of this river, and prefents fe-
veral pleafing landfcapes. But let me haften to
objects of more importance: Lord Shannon's

huibandry

C A STLEMA RT YR. 47

hufbandry confifls of many circumftances. I
fhall begin with

TURNIP S,

Which Lord Shannon has cultivated upon a
very large fcale, as will appear from the fol-
lowing particulars. His father began the cul-
ture many years ago, which he continued till
1770, and then went largely into it. He had
every year, from 1770 to 1774 both inclufive,
lixteen acres, and in 1775, twenty-four. Has
cultivated them in both broad caft and the drill
method the rows at three feet j but finding
that the roots became too large, altered his
method to eighteen inches, in order to have
more of them j the lize will be feen by the fol-
lowing account.

Caftkmart} V, December 2 1 ft, 1771.

I this day meafured a fquare perch of tur-
nips, i64- feet, drilled in rows three feet apart*
there were 84 turnips on this perch, they weigh-
ed 7 cwt. 2 qrs. which I compute to be 60 tuns
to the Engliih acre ; and there were vacant fpa-
ces in the rows within this perch where the
turnips had failed, that would have held at leaft
ten large turnips more. I then pulled 84 tur-
nips, the largeft I could fee, within about fif-
teen yards of the above perch, and they weighed
15 cwt. i5qrs. i7lb. which is about 125 ton,
29 cwt. 2olb. I weighed two of the above
turnips feparately, one of them a white tan-
kard, they each weighed 32lb. The white

Nor-

48 CASTLEMARTYR.

Norfolk was three feet eight inches in circum-
ference. N. B. I neither manured nor burned
the ground; it was naturally goodj I tilled it
well, and hoed the crop, carefully.

SHANNON.

One of the above turnips Lord Shannon took
with him to the Dublin Society, where it was
feen by the whole city; but from my tour
through the kingdom, I am afraid it did not
animate fo many as it ought. Thefe large
turnips were not raifed in any peculiar fpot,
but were part of a field of eight or ten acres.
The application of the crop has been generally
by drawing and giving them to fheep on dry
paftures; all forts of fheep, but particularly fat
ewes, they fattened admirably. Finds that the
great benefit of the culture is having them near
a very dry field, in order to manage them as
above-mentioned. He has found that they will
do exceedingly well without manuring, efpeci-
ally if the land is an old rough pafture, or which
wants to be broken up ; fallowed well and tho-
roughly ploughed, produces great crops. Sea-
weed his lordfhip has tried for them, fpread
about the thicknefs of dung, and it gave pro-
digious produces. Upon the whole, he is clear-
ly of opinion, that nothing can be more bene-
ficial to the agriculture of Ireland than intro-
ducing this culture, and fo well convinced of
this, that he has always fhewn his crops to far-
mers, weighed them before them, fhewed the

cattle

CASTLEMARTYR. 49

cattle fed, and took every pains to make them
come into the culture, but in vain. As a pre-
paration of corn they are incomparable; he has
had very great crops of barley after them, fuch
as were laid with every heavy rain from luxu-
riance. Wheat alfo he has fown after them,
and got eight barrels an acre from feven (lone
of feed.

CABBAGES

Lord Shannon cultivated alfo : generally had
five or fix acres for four or five years j the fort the
flat Dutch, and got very fine crops. Gave them
to cattle of all forts, who eat them very greedily
and did better upon them than upon turnips,
but would not laft longer than Chriflmas,
otherwife would have preferred them. The
crops of corn after them neither better nor
worfe than after turnips. Tried alfo the Scotch
and other forts, but preferred the flat Dutch to
any other. One great objection to both cab-
bages and turnips is the raildnefs of the feafon
in Ireland, which is fo great as to burft the
cabbages, and make the turnips run to feed be-
fore their time. As to the grafs fpringing fo
faft in -winter, as to prevent the neceflity of the
culture, he does not rind it. Cabbages mud
be well manured for.

POTATOES.

Lord Shannon planted eighteen acres of po-
tatoes with the plough, manuring only the fur-
VOL. II. D rows ;

50 CASTLEMARTYR.

rows i horfe and hand-hoed them perfectly, to
keep them free from weeds ; did it twice, and
purpofed oftener, but the growth of the crop
was fo luxuriant that neither the horfe nor hoe
could get through them. Took them up with
the plough, and the crop proved exceedingly
good, far better than they would have been in
the common method.

DRILL HUSBANDRY.

Lord Shannon's expreflion of this mode to
me was excellent, Ireadmyfelfintoit, and work-
ed my f elf out of it. He tried it with wheat, horfe
and hand-hoeing it perfectly, and got a very
fine crop; an unexceptionable one for the mode,
but the produce was not equal to the common
way, while the expenfe, trouble, and attention,
were endlefs, fo that he was convinced, even
by his fuccefs, that it could not be a beneficial
mode of culture. For turnips alfo he prefers
very much the broad-caft mode, and never be-
gan the drill method but as an eafe of hoeing.

SOILING.

Soiling horfes, &c. in fummer, with grafs
mown every day, Lord Shannon has praclifed
greatly, and finds it highly beneficial, and
particularly for raifmg great quantities of
dung.

SEA-

C AS TLE M A RT YR, 51

SEA-SAND AND LIME.

The manures which Lord Shannon ufes are
fea-fand and lime. He prefers the latter for
brown flaty ftone land, and fand for lime-
ftone land : has ufed great quantities of it,
though four to fix miles from the fea. In one
month he has brought 6719 barrels of it, at
5d. a barrel, or 139!. 195. gi-d. for 67 acres,
at 100 barrels an acre, and afterwards 50
more for a fecond drefting : the effect of it
is very great, particularly in bringing daifies
(bellis) on very poor land, and white clover
when laid on good grafs lands. If a bag breaks,
and Tome accidentally falls on a wafte, the man
gathers it up as clear as he can, yet it is lure
to bring a patch of white clover. .Lime his
lordfhip burns in a long-necked kiln, which he
finds to anfwer-fo well, that one barrel of culm
burns ten of lime. He lets the kiln, and buys
the lime at is. 4cl. a barrel. Draws 26 bar-
rels a day. The culm 43. a barrel. The la-
bourers hire id. a barrel, for quarrying, break-
ing, and burning.

BOUNTIES.

Lord Shannon's bounties to labourers a-
mount to 50!. a year. He gives them. by vv.iy
of encouragement; but only to fuch as can
fpeak Englilh, and do fomething more than n'J
a cart.

D 2 DITpHES.

•'

52 CASTLEMARTYR.

DITCHES.

His Lordfhip has made fome ditches "of an
extraordinary dimenfionj the following feg-
ment :

6f.

4f.6i.

13 f. 6i.

10 f.

The center of 1 3. feet 6 inches, is a terrafs be-
tween two ditches, broad enough to plant a
hedge on each fide of it, and have a riding be-4
tween them : it is moft completely done, and
will anfwer the double purpofe perfectly. He
is alfo doing a good deal in the following
dimenftons :

8 feet 6 i.

CO / ^

which cofts a (hilling a perch, a double row of
quick, and a walk or ride between.

LINEN

CASTLEMARTYR. 53

LINEN MANUFACTORY.

Lord Shannon eftablifhed a factory atClogh-
nickelty, in the year 1769, a bleach yard of
feventeen acres of land, with mills, &c. for
bleaching the pieces that are wove in the neigh-
bourhood. There are 94 looms at work in
the town, lool. a week laid out in yarn, and
at three fairs, iSool. the amount of which is
7000!. a year ; the cloth chiefly coarfe: and
this eftablifhment has had great effect in in-
creafing the manufactures in the neighbour-
hood.

COMPOSTS.

He is exceedingly attentive in forming com-
pofts. A river runs through Caftlemartyr,
part of which is often full of fand and mud ;
this he empties periodically and mixes it with
lime. In one field I faw larger compoft heaps
of thefe materials, than I remember any where
elfe to have obferved; one of thefe was 105
yards long, nine broad, and four feet high,
containing cubical yards 1260

Another, 78 and 8 broad, and 4 feet high 832
Another, 155 by 5, and 4 feet high - 1033
Another, 76 by 5, and 4 feet high - - 506

Total 3631

Among thefe hills were 2000 barrels, or Scoo

bufhels of lime mixed : after this it is need-

2 lefs

54 CASTLEMARTYR.

lefs to fay, that he manures his land with un-
common fpirit.

WASTE LAND.

His Lordfhip has reclaimed 109 acres of
furze land, which he has eradicated, and
brought to a very profitable foil.

WALLING.

Lord Shannon has inclofed 380 acres with
a molt excellent wall, eight feet and a halfhigh
under the coping, and 8 inches above it. The
wall is two feet thick at bottom, and 18 inches
at top, and cofts 45. per perch, or il. i6s.

running meafure.

BARN.

The beft built barn I have feen in Ireland,
is at Caftle Martyr. The bays and threfhing
floor are fourteen feet high, and over them are
two ftories for granaries, the firft eight feet two
inches high, and the upper one eight feet nine
inches, befides the roof, with a door in the cen-
ter of the floors, and a wheel for winding
facks up. It is built in fuch a manner, the
doors, &cc. fo plated every where at the edges
with iron, that it is impoffible a moufe fhould
-get in or out ; or that a rat fhould any where
gnaw his way in. Upon clearing it laft year,
about twenty mice were found, that had been
carried in in the fhcafs, a little ftraw was laid

for

CASTLEMARTYR. 55

for them in a corner, and the barn (hut for a
fortnight, at the end of which time they were
found alive, and killed, not one being able to
efcape. I have feen very fine barns built in
England, on capt ftones, into which no vermin
could get, unlefs carried in, but when they
were carried in they had a million of ways to
get out.

BULLOCKS DRAWN BY THE HORNS.

Lord Shannon upon going into tillage, found
that the expenfe of horfes was fo great, that
it eat up all the profit of the farm; which
made him determine to ufe bullocks ; he did it
in the common method of yokes and bows, but
they performed fo indifferently, and with fuch
manifeft uneafmefs, that he imported the French
method of drawing by the horns ; and in order
to do this effectually, he wrote to a perfon at
Bourdeaux to hire him a man who was practi-
fed in that method. Upon the correfpondent
being applied to, he reprefented difficulties at-
tending it, the man who was fpoken to having
been in Germany for the fame purpofe. Upon
which Lord Shannon gave directions that every
thing fhould be bought and fent over which the
labourer wifhed to bring with him. Accord-
ingly, a bullock of the bed fort, that had been
worked three years, was purchafed; alfo a hay-
cart, a plough, harrows, and all the tackle for
harnefling them by the horns, which, with the
man, were fent over. His falary was to be
400 livers a year, with board, &c. The bul-
lock

56 CASTLEMARTYR.

lock, 218 livres; tackle for two bullocks, 36.
Two carts, 314. A plough and harrow, 123,
which, with other expenfes, carne to 45!. 175.
and freight i61. i6s. Upon the whole, the
experiment coft, from firft to laft, to bring it
thoroughly to bear, about an hundred pounds.
His Lordmip is perfuaded, that the firft year
of his introducing it at large on his farm,
faved him the whole. He has purfued the me-
thod ever fince, and with the greateft fuccefs.
fie finds the bullocks fo perfectly at their eafe,
that it is a pieafure to fee them 5 for firft break-
ing up lays, and for crofs ploughing, he ufes
four, but in all fucceeding earths, only two;
nor more for the firft ploughing of ftubbles :
I faw fix ploughs doing this in a wheat ftubble,
and they did it five or fix inches deep with
great eafe. Upon firft introducing it, there
was a combination among all his men againft
the practice, but Lord Shannon was determin-
ed to carry his point; in this matter, he
followed a courfe that had all imaginable
fuccefs : one lively fenfible boy took to the
oxen, and worked them readily. His Lordfhip
at once advanced this boy to eight pence a
day : this did the bufinefs at once ; others
followed the example, and fince that he has
had numbers who could manage them, and
plough as well as the Frenchman. They
plough an acre a day with eafe; and carry
very great loads of corn and hay, coals, 6cc.
Four bullocks in the French cart brought
twelve barrels of coals, {hip meafure, each
5 cwt. or three 'tons, but the tackle of the

fore

C A S T L E M A R T Y R. 57

fore couple breaking, the other two drew the
load above a mile to a forge. Two of them
drew 35 cwt. of flag ftonc, three miles with
eafe ; but Lord Shannon does not in common
work them in this manner, three tons he thinks
a proper load for four bullocks. Upon the bai-
liff, Mr. Berc, mentioning loads drawn bythefe
oxen, that appeared tome moft extraordinarily
great, I exprefled many doubts; his Lordfhip
immediately ordered the French harveft cart to
be loaded half a mile from the reeks : it was
done 3 1020 iheafs of wheat were laid' on it,
and two oxen drew it without difficulty; we
then weighed forty fheafs, the weight 25ilb.
at which rate the 1020 came to 6375 Ib. or
above three tons, which is a vaft weight for
two oxen to draw ; I am very much in doubt
whether in yoaks they would have ftirred the
cart fo loaded.

Lord Shannon has an excellent way of ma-
naging all his cattle in one circumftance, which
is to mark them on the horn with numbers,
and keeps a book ruled in columns, and en-
graved, by which means, on turning to the
number, he fees every particular of the bead,
which are inferted in the columns. He trains
them for work at three to four years old, gent-
ly breaking them in at once, without any dif-
ficulty.

The common hufbandry about Caftle Mar-
tyr, will be feen from the following account,
for which particulars I am obliged to the atten-
tion

58 C A S T L E M A R T Y R.

tion of this patriotic nobleman, who took every
method to have me well informed. Farms rife
from one hundred to three hundred acres, but
fome to one thoufand, of which (ize Lord
Middleton has one. Farms not taken in part-
nerihip fo much as in other parts ; two or three
will take a farm of thirty or forty acres, but
It is not general. The foil is various ; the vale,
from Carricktowel to Killay, of ten or twelve
miles long, and four over, is of lime-ftone ;
the hills, are brown ftone ; the loam upon it is
from three inches to eight feet, ftrong, rich and
dry in winter, and good turnip land.
"hefe iime-ftone rocks are full of cavities, and
fubterraneous paflages, fo that if you cut a
drain to carry water off, and touch upon a
lime ftone rock, probably all will find its way.
Rent of the barony of Imokilly, on an average,
twelve (hillings an acre ; Kilnatalton, eight
(hillings. A third part of the county is wade
land, the price of which is rifen extremely in a
few years; rent, one fhilling ; the reft of the
county, eight (hillings. The courfe of crops ;

1. Potatoes, upon clay ground, dunged and
ploughed at 3!. plant fix barrels at two and a
half cwt. produce 50 to i oo barrels j potatoes
fell 2s. to 45. a barrel.

2. Wheat, fow twelve ftone, produce five
barrels,

3. Oats, on one ploughing, fow a barrel of
fourteen ftone, crop eight barrels. Some

poor

CASTLEMARTYR. 59

poor people take one or two more crops of
oats.

4. Lay out for grafs from two to twelve years.
They fometimes burn for potatoes, efpecially on
the abfentee eftates, and get as good crops, as
in the other way.

Expence of an acre of potatoes.

Rent 300

Seed — o 1 8 o

Planting and trenching, forty days of a man i o o

Taking up and carrying home, &c. — I o o

Tythe — — — 060

£•6-

PRODUCE.

Seventy barrels at 35. — 10 10 o
Expences — — — 640

Profit — — — £.4

A difpute arifing upon the produce of po-
tatoes, Lord Shannon ordered fome fpades
fquare (each 54. feet) to be taken up, and weigh-
ed them ; the weight, on an average, 1 903. per
fpade, or 108 barrels per acre, each 252 ib. that
is, 12 weights to the barrel, each 2ilb. Thefe
were his own potatoes, and not an extra crop
at all, Barley is fometimes put in in ft ead of oats,

and

60 CASTLEMARTYR.

and here inftead of wheat. A crop of bere
produces 10 barrels ; barley yields 8. No tur-
nips or rape. A few of the better farmers fo\v
ciover, but the number very inconfiderable.
Flax is ibwn by few of the common people in
patches. Paring and burning is called graf-
ting and burning is practifed by the common
farmers, upon fuch eftates as their landlords
will permit. They manure with fea fand for
corn, and fea weed for potatoes ; they will car-
ry them three miles from the fea: all make com-
pofts of fand and earth. Dairies are numerous,
from twenty to fifty cows fet at 3!. a COY/.
The dairyman has his privilege, which is an
acre of land for every ten cows, a good houfe
and dairy j a collop for every 10 cows, and will
keep 8 or 10 pigs. If not paid in money, it
is onecwt. of butter and i as. in money. A cow
that gives two gallons a day the dairyman can-
not reject : it will take three acres- to a cow,
but privilege and all is four acres. Very few
flocks in this country ; Mr. Robert Fitz-
gerald has 1000 to 1500 : but the number too
few to be worth mentioning. The poor peo-
ple all keep a collop or two of fheep, with which
they clothe themlelves. They plough gene-
rally with four horfes, fow with two, and ufe
ploughs of fo bad a conitru(5tion, that a man
attends them with a ftrongftick leaning on the
beam to keep it in the ground.

Land fells at twenty-five years purchafe.
Rents have not fallen ; for very little of it is
let at more than its value. Tythes are every

where

C AS T L EM A RT Y R. 61

where valued by the proclor by the acre. No
emigrations from the county of Corke. The
religion is almoft univerfally catholic. Build-
ing a common cabbin 5!. two of ftone, &c. for
31!. jos. They carry half a barrel of fea fand
on horfeback, fourteen miles from Corke to
the mountains of Barrymore, and to Mr. Cop-
pinger's, twenty-four miles, and it improves
much for tillage : bat it is carried when not
to mountains in cars : it is not found to be ib
good as lime.

There is a woollen trade at Caftle Martyr :
Mr. James Pratt in particular buys wool in
Tipperary and at Ballynafloe. The beft is the
Connaught ; it is the fineft, and is fhort ; the
longeft is in the county of Carlovv and Tip-
perary. In Carlovv they keep the fheep fatten-
ing a year longer, after buying in Tipperary.
Tippefary wool 5lb. Carlow 61b. Connaught
4-^lb. In Ibrting, the fine belly wool is fepa-
rated, thefinerwill make cloth of los. or 123.
a yard. The back and fides are laid by for
combing, the other is carded ; about four fifths
of the fleece is combed. Combs in his own
houfe, employing 16 to 20 hands; pays them
by the ball, 3d. each of 24 oz. and they earn
8 s. a week ; thefe balls are given out to the
poor people to fpin, employing above a
thoufand fpinners. They fpin a ball from n
to 13 fkain in four days, attending their fa-
mily befides. The value is 2s. 8d. per ball :
are paid 9d. a ball. In this way of doing it
there are not many tricks, being in general

very

62 C A STL EM ART YR.

very honeft. For u fkains, 8d. — 12 — ad.
13 — lod. — 14 — i id. They are forted and
packed in packs of 180 balls, which fell at 30!.
a pack. It was never known to be higher than
lall year: twenty years ago it was 25!. a pack,
about a fourth of what is fpun in this part of
the kingdom, is worked up at home. The trade
has been a rifing one for two years.

Edward Roche, Efq; of Kildining, gave me,
at Caftle Martyr, the following account of
fome improvements he has made. Has done 250
acres of mountain, and began upon 50 of bog ;
the former with paring and burning with
ploughs, at 75. and cutting and burning, 53. 6d.
in June and July. Limes with the afhes, 50 bar-
rels per acre, at 47 gallons, or 75, at 5d. Spread
and plough in April or May ; then fet to poor
people, at 303. an acre. They trench in po-
tatoes in the common way, get on an average
fixty barrels, then trench in rye or black oats,
fix men to an acre ; crops fix barrels of rye,
20 ftone per barrel, at 7$. or 8s. and black oats,
10 kilderkins, at 1 1 ftone ; then white oats,
8 barrels, fowgrafs feeds one barrel, with them,
and 81b. white clover, and 2lb. rib-grafs.
The land before not 6d. an acre, could let it
now at 78. Ploughs with fix bullocks firft,
and four afterwards. Potatoe ftalks he carries
to his pound, but in general are left in heaps
in the field, and are a nuifance to ploughing.
In Wicklow, they bleed their horfes and
cows, and mix the blood with meal for
food.

From

C A 8 T L E M A R Y. 6}

From Caftle Martyr, September 20, to Caftle

Mary, the feat of Longfield, Efq; who

keeps a great quantity of land in his hands.
Has cultivated the potatoes, called here bulls,
that is, the Englifh cliifter, very much for cat-
tle, but nobody will eat them ; he has from fix
to eleven acres yearly : plants them in the
common manner, and gets 120 barrels an acre,
of 20 ftone each. I faw a fpade of five feet
and a half fquare, dug the produce 23lb. on
very poor land. On fand and fea weed the fame
fpace of London ladies, weighed 27 Ib. Ma-
nures for them with fea fand and weed, bat
not with dung ; gives them to his horfes and.
bullocks : and when he gives his horfes pota-
toes, they have no oats. It is furprifing to fee
how fond horfes are of them ; they do very well
on them raw, but the beft way is to boil them,
as they will then fatten the horfes. The bul-
locks are equally fond of them, and will follow
him to eat them out of his hand. Sheep are the
fame, and will get into the fields to fcrape them
up : upon the whole, Mr. Longfield is per-
fuaded that no root or crop in the world is
more beneficial to a farmer than this potatoe,
fo that he fhould have continued in turnips,
which he has cultivated largely but has found
this root fo perfectly ufeful, that he has ex-
perienced the abfolute dependence which may
be placed on them for winter provifion of ail
forts. And what is of infinite confequence,
the culture may be extended to what quantity
you pleafe, without the afliflance of dung, with-
out which other potatoes cannot be managed.

Mr.

64 R O S T E L L A N.

Mr. Longfield eftablimed the linen manu-
facture here three years ago, by building a
bleach mill and bleach green ; he has 14 looms
conftantly at work upon his own account, who
are paid for what they manufacture by the
yard. The fort generally made is from goo to
1400, and makes 650 pieces of 25 yards length,
annually ; fells, at prefent, from 233. to 305.
a piece. The factory employs 50 hands ;
bleaches great quantities for the poor people.
A great many weavers are fcattered about the
country, who bring their webs, &c. to be
bleached here. The flax is raifed, and the yarn
fpun at Clanikilty and Rofs, &c. in the weft
of the county. No woollen manufacture is
carried on in this country. Mr. Longfield has
always ploughed with oxen, which he has found
far more advantageous than horfes. Clover he
has cultivated long with very great fuccefs, and
finds it highly beneficial. The county of Corke
two-thirds wafte, at a very low or no rate, the
other third at 153*

September 2 1 ft to Roftellan, the feat of Lord
Inchiquin, commanding a beautiful view of
Corke harbour, the (hips at Cove, the great
ifland, and the two others which guard the
opening of the harbour. It appears here a
noble bafon of feveral miles extent, furrounded
with high grounds, which want no other ad-
dition but woods. This view is. feen in great
perfection from the windows of two very good
rooms, 25 by 35, which his Lordfhip has built
in addition to the old caftle.

From

C O R K E. 65

From Roftellan to Lota, the feat of Frederick
Rogers, Efq; I had before feen it in the high-
efl perfection from the water going from Dun-
kettle to Cove, and from the grounds of Dun-
kettle. Mrs. Rogers was fo obliging as to fhew
me the back grounds, which are admirably
wooded, and of a fine varied furface.

Got to Corke in the evening, and waited on
the Dean, who received me with the moft flat-
tering attention. Corke is one of the moft po-
pulous places I have ever been in ; it was market-
day, and I could fcarce drive through the ftreets,
they were fo amazingly thronged : on the other
days, the number is very great. I fhould fnp-
pofe it mufl refemble a Dutch town, for there
are many canals in the ftreets, with quays be-
fore the houfes. The beft built part is Morri-
fon's Iflan'd, which promifes well ; the old part
of the town is very clofe and dirty. As to
its commerce, the following particulars I owe
to Robert Gordon, Efq; the furveyor general.

Average of nineteen years export,, ending
March 24, 1773.

Hides, at il. each — 64,000

Bay and woollen yarn 294^000

Gutter, at 305 per cwt. from 565. to 725. — i8-:,ooo
feeef, at 2os. a barrel —

Camblets, ferges, &c. —

Candles

Carried over £.904,190

Soap

VOL. II. E

66 C O R K E.

Brought over - • Q^?1^

Soap — — — 20,000

Tallow 2?»ooo

Herrings, 1810 35,000!.- all their own — 21, coo

Glue, 20 to 25,000 22,000

Pork - - 64,000

Wool to England — — 14,000
Small exports, Gottenburgh herrings, horns, hoofs,

&c. feather-beds, palliafles, feathers, &c. 35,000

jf. 1,100,190

Average prices of the 19. years on the cuftom
books. All exports on thofe books are rated
at the value of the reign of Charles the Se-
cond ; but the imports have always 10 per
cent, on the flvorn price added to them. Se-
venty to eighty fail of fhips belong to Corke.
Average of (hips that entered that port in
thofe 19 years, 872 per annum. The number
of people at Corke muttered by the clergy, by
hearth-money, and by the number of houfes,
payments to niinifter, average of the three,
67,000 fouls, if taken before the ifl of Sep-
tember, after that 20,000 increafed. There
are 700 coopers in the town. Barrels, all of
oak or beech, all from America : the latter
for herrings, now from Gottenburgh and
Norway. The excife of Corke now no more
than in Charles the Second's reign. Ridi-
culous !

Cork old duties, in 1751 > produced £.62,000
Now the fame 14.0,000

Bullocks

C O R K E. 67

Bullocks 16,000 head, 32,000 barrels ; 41,000
hogs, 20,000 barrels. Butter 22,000. Firkins
of half a hundred weight each, both increafe
this year, the whole being

240,000 firkins of butter
120,000 barrels of beef.

Export of woollen yarn from Corke, 300,000!.
a year in the Irifh market. No wool fmug-
gled, or at lead very little. The wool comes
to Corke, &c. and is delivered out to combers,
who make it into balls. Thefe balls^are bought
up by the French agents at a vaft price, and
exported ; but even this does not amount to
40,000 1. a year.

PRICES.

Beef, 21 s. per cwt. never fo high by 2S. 6d.
Pork, 308. never higher than 18 s. 6d. owing
to the army demand. Slaughter dung, 8d.
for a horfe-load. Country labourer 6d. about
town 10 d. Milk 7 pints a penny. Coals
3 s. 8 d. to 53. a barrel, 6 of which make a
ton. Eggs 4 a penny.

Corke labourers. Cellar ones 20,000 ; have
is. i d. a day, and as much bread, beef and
beer, as they can eat and drink, and 7lb. of
offals a week for their families. Rent for their
houfe, 40 s. Mafon and Carpenters labourers
iod. a day. Sailors, now, 3!. a month and
provifions : before the American war, 28s.
E 2 Porters

68 COR K E.

Porters and coal-heavers paid by the great.
State of the poor people in general incompa-
rably better off than they were 20 years ago.
There are imported 18,000 barrels annually of
Scotch herrings, at iSs. a barrel. The fait
for the beef trade comes from Lifbon, St.
Ube's, &c. The fait for the fiffi trade from
Rochelle -y for butter Englifh and Irifh.

Particulars of the woollen fabricks of the
county of Corke received from a manufac-
turer.. The woollen trade, ferges and camb-
lets, ratteens, frizes, druggets, and narrow
cloths, the 'laft they make to i-o s. and 12 s. a
yard; if they might export to 8s. they are
very clear that they could get a great trade for
the woollen manufactures of Corke ; the-
wool comes from Gal way and Rofcommon,
combed here by combers, who earn 8s. to
10 s. a week into balls of 24 ounces, which
is fptm kito woriteds, of twelve ikains to the-
ball, and exported to Yarmouth for Nor-
wich > the export price, 30!. a pack, to 33!*
never before fo high ; average of them 26!. to
30 f. Some they work up at home into ferges,
(tuffs,. and camblets ; the ferges at i2d. a yard,
34 inches wide; the fluffs lixteen inches, at
iSd. the camblets at nine-pence halfpenny to
thirteen pence ; the fpinners at nine-pence a
ball, one in a week ; or a ball and half twelve-
pence a week, and attend the family befides ;
this is done mod in Water ford and Kerry,
particularly near Killarney ; the weavers earn
i s. a day on an average. Full three-fourths

C O R K E. 69

of the wool is exported in yarn, and only one-
fourth worth worked up.. Half the wool of
Ireland is combed in the county ofCorke.

A very great manufacture of ratreens at
Carric-on-fure, the bay worded is for ferges,
(balloons, &c. Woollen yarn for coarfe cloths,
which latter have been loft for ibme years,
owing to the high price of wool. The bay
export has declined fmce 1770, which declen-
fion is owing to the high price of wool.

No wool fmuggled, not even from Kerry/
not a (loop's cargo in twenty years, the price
too high ; the declenfion has been confider-
able. For every 86 packs that are exported,
a licence from the Lord Lieutenant, for which
20 1. is paid.

From the acT: of the laft feffions of Great
Britain for exporting woollen goods for the
troops in the pay of Ireland, Mr. Abraham
Lane, of Corke, eftablifhed a new manufac-
ture of army cloathing for that purpofe,
which is the firfl at Corke, .and pays 40!. a
week in labour only. Upon the whole there
has been no increafe of woollen manufacture
within 20 years. Is clearly of opinion that
many fabricks might be worked up here much
cheaper than in France, of cloths that the
French have beat the Engliih out of; thefe are,
particularly, broad-cloths of one yard and
half-yard wide, from 35. to. 6s. 6d. a yard

for

70 C O R K E.

for the Levant trade. Frizes which is now
fupplied from Carcaftbne in Languedoc.
Frizes of 24 to 27 inches, at lod. to i3d. a
yard. Flannels, 27 to 36, from 7d. to i4d.
Serges of 27 to 36 inches, at 7d. to i2d. a
yard ; thefe would work up the coarfe wool.
At Bally nafloe fair, in July, 200,000!. a year
bought in wool. There is a manufa6lory of
knit-flocking by the common women about
Corke, for eight or ten miles around $ the yarn
from i2d.to iSd.a pair, and the worfted, from
i6d. to 2od. and earn from I2d. to i8d. a
week. Befides their own confumption, great
quantities are fent to the north of Ireland.

All the weavers in the country are con-
fined to towns, have no land, but fmall gar-
dens. Bandle or narrow linen, for home
confumption, is made in the weftern part of
the county. Generally fpeaking, the circum^
ftances of all the manufacturing poor are bet-
ter than they were twenty years ago. The
manufactures have not declined, though the
exportation has, owing to the increafed home
confumptions. Bandon was once the feat of
the ftufF, camblet, and fhag manufacture,
but has in feven years declined above three-
fourths. Have changed it for the manufac-
ture of coarfe green linens, for the London
market, from 6d. to pd. a yard, 27 inches
wide ; but the number of manufacturers in
general much leflened.

September.

COOLMORE. 71

September 22d, left Corke, and proceeded
to Coolmore, the feat of the Rev. Archdeacon
Oliver, who is the capital farmer of all this
neighbourhood ; no perfon could be more
defirous of procuring me the information I
wifhed, nor any more able to give it me. Mr.
Oliver began the culture of turnips four
years ago, and found them fo profitable that
he has every year had a field of them in the
broad-carl: method, and well hoed. This year
they are exceedingly fine, clean, and well
hoed, fo that they would be no difgrace to a
Norfolk farmer. This is the great objecl:
wanting in Irifh tillage ; a gentleman, there-
fore, who makes fo confiderable a progrefs in it,
ac~ls in a manner the moil deferving praife
that the whole circle of his hufbandry will
admit. Mr. Oliver has ufually drawn his
crops for fheep and black cattle; for the
former he has fpread them upon grafs fields
to their very great improvement ; and the
cattle have had them given in flails. All. forts
have done perfectly well on them, infomuch
that he is fully convinced of their great
importance: he has found that they fupport
the cattle much better than any thing elfe,
to fuch a degree of fuperiority, he is deter-
mined never to be without a crop. He has
always dunged for them, except when he has
ploughed up a grafs lay, and then he has
found it not necefTary.

72 COOLMQRE.

In bringing in furzy wafte land he has
improved very extenfively. One inftance in
particular I fhall mention, becaufe it, is thp
beft preparation for laying land to grafs that
I have met with in Ireland : he firft dug
it and put in potatoes, no manure, the crop
middling j and after that cleared it of (tones,
which were in great numbers, and fowed tur-
nips, of which crop the following are thp
particulars.

" In November 1771, the Rev. Archdeacon
John Oliver (at his refidence in the county of
Corke) began to cultivate a field for turnips
and cabbages ; the field contained about 40
Englifh acres, but was fo full of rocks that
only about ten or eleven plantation acres
could be tilled, the remainder being a lime-
ftone quarry j the furface in the part tilled,
in general, not above four inches deep, and
in the deepeft part not above twelve inches
over the lime- (lone quarry ; this ground was
planted with potatoes the fpring preceding,
without any manure, and all done yvith the
fpade, and in many parts there was not
fufHcient covering for them. The plough-
ing for turnips and cabbages was finifhed
the latter end of December ; it remained in
that flate till the month of March following
(1772,) when a large quantity of ftones were
taken out with crows and fpades; it was
then ploughed a fecond time, then har-
rowed with very ftrong harrows made on
purpofe ; about the latter end of May it was

rolle^

.G O O L M O R E. 73

rolled with a wooden roller; on the nth,
i ath, and i3th of June, it was fowed with
about one pound and a quarter of feeds to the
Englifh acre. When the turnips were in four
leaves there appeared more fern and potatoes
than turnips, which were weeded out by hand,
at a great expenfe; and in about three weeks
after, when the turnips began to bottom, they
got a fecond weeding as before, after which
they were again thinned by hand; thefe differ
rent operations were continued till the turnips
were about a pound weight, and then they
were thinned again, and weeded as often as
there was occafion, and now it is imagined
they are as great a crop as any in the kingdom,
fome thoufands weighing fourteen pounds per
turnip. Part of the fame field is fowed in.
drills, thinned and weeded as the other, but
they are not equal to the broad caft, but are a
very good crop. Another part of the fame,
field is planted with 20,300 cabbages of diffe-
rent kinds, namely, the flat Dutch, borecole,
large late Dutch cabbage, turnip-cabbage, and
large Scotch cabbage, at three feet between each
drill, and two feet in the rows, which is at
lead one foot too near in the drills, and half a
foot in the rows, as they now touch one another
this 1 3th of October. All the faid cabbages
and turnips were cultivated with the plough,
and the cabbages hoed with the garden hoes,
and manured moftly with rotten dung; part
with horfe-dung, not half rotten, from the
liable; part with cow-dung, not rotten; part
with fea-flob and lime mixed; all which ma-
nures

74 C O O L M O R E.

nures anfwer very well. One fmall part of
the field where the cabbages were planted, was
broke from the lay laft March, got fix plough-
ings and five harrowings; another part four
ploughings and three harrowings.

The quantity of ground under turnips is 8 a. ir. 10 p.
Under cabbages 2 a. i r. 10 p.

The turnip ground got no manure of any
kind, nor was it burned.

The foregoing improvements were conduct-
ed under the immediate care and manage-
ment of

MAURICE MURRAY."

After thefe turnips he fowed barley, and with
the barley, grafs feeds ; before this improve-
ment the land was worth los. an acre, but after
it would let for 255. the grafs having fucceed-
ed perfectly. Cabbages Mr. Oliver has alfo
cultivated thefe four years, and with fuccefs,
but does not find, upon the whole, they fuc-
ceed fo well as turnips, except Reynolds' tur-
nip-rooted cabbage, which is of very great ufe
late in the fpring, after other forts are gone.
Beans Mr. Oliver has alfo tried in fmall quan-
tities, and feem to do pretty well ; I faw his
crop this year drilled and well managed, and a
good produce, enough to give him the expecta-
tion of their being an advantageous article.
Lucerne he has alfo tried, but found the trouble
of keeping it clean too great to anfwer the cul-
tivation.

COOLMORE. 75

tivation. Upon manures he has tried an ex-
periment, which promifes to be of confider-
able confequence j upon fome land he took
in from a creek or Corke harbour, un-
der the flob or fea ooze he dug fome very fine
blue marie ; this he tried for potatoes againft
dung ; the crops to appearance very equal, but
upon meafuring zfpade of each, the part marled
yielded 14-lb. but that dunged only 71113. but
the dunging was not a confiderable one. It is
an object of prodigious confequence to be able
to get potatoes at all with marie. In the cul-
tivation of this root Mr. Oliver has introduced
the mode of planting them in drills, two feet
and a half afunder, with the plough, and found
that the faving of labour is exceedingly great,
but that the difference of crop is rather in fa-
vour of the common method : an acre which
yielded 1005 weights, the drilled 822, but fav-
ing in the feed of the drilled 60 weights, each
weight 2 lib.

Mr. Oliver has jufl taken a farm of 400 acres
of land, wafte or exhaufted by the preceding
tenant by inceffant crops of corn ; this land
was rented as is. 6d. an acre, but Mr. Oliver
has tried it at 1 55. and is at prefent engaged in
making very great improvements on it 5 drain-
ing the wet parts, grubbing furze, fallowing,
liming, inclofing, and building offices, doing
the whole in the moft perfect manner, and will
foon make the farm carry an appearance very
different from what it ever did before. His
fallows for wheat had been well and often

ploughed,

j6 COOLM'ORE.

ploughed, and of a countenance very different
from any lands in the neighbourhood.

A year after the date of this journey, having
the pleafure of being again with this excellent
improver, I had a farther opportunity of be-
coming better acquainted with his manage-
ment. I had alfo gone over an improvement of
his at Duntreleague, near Mitchelftown, where
he advanced 300 acres of mountain from 50!.
pr 6ol. a year to 300!. a year, having hired it
pn a leafe for ever; he divided the whole in
fields of a proper fize by well-made ditches,
doubly planted with quick and rows of trees $
the lands were improved with lime, laid down
to grafs, and let to tenants who pay their rents,
well ; but Mr. Oliver refiding at a diftance, the
trees were very much damaged and hurt by
the tenants cattle. To all appearance this im-
provement was as completely finifhed as any in
Ireland, and the great profit arifing from the
undertaking induced the archdeacon to at-
tempt his new one I mentioned above. In that
I found a very great progrefs made : befides an
excellent barn of ftone and flate, there was a
fteward's houfe, (tables, &c. and a good farm-
yard, walled in ; and it was with particular
pleafure I faw (it was in winter) a large num-
ber of cows and young cattle very well littered in
it with ftraw, and feeding on turnips a thick
layer of fea-fand having been fpread all over
it. The improvement and cultivation of the
farm went on apace, efpecially the liming ; the
kiln had been burning a twelvemonth, in which
time the fxpenfe had been as follows :

364 barrels

COOLMORE. 77

364. barrels of culm, at 45. 7300

The quarry is i £ mileEnglifh from the kiln ; two

horfes and two men drawing ftone, at i8s. a

week - - - 46 16 o

Two men quarrying, 55. a week to one, and 35.

a week to the other 20 16 o

Breaking and burning, 8s. a week - - 20 16 o
Gunpowder, is. a month - - o 12 o

24 waggon-load of coal cinders, bought at Corke,

at i os. 12 o o

One horfe and man carries out 24 barrels a day,

at is. 6d. 242 days - 18 i o

Total

The quantity of lime drawn from February
i777toFeb. 1778 was 5824barrels, theexpenfe
therefore jufc 8d. a barrel. One Corke barrelsof
culm, at 45. ufed every day, and half a barrel of
am.es : the kiln draws 18 barrels a day, 16 for i
of culm, and i o for i including cinders. This
barrel of culm is 6 bufhels heaped. Mr. Oli-
ver had an old memorandum, that the price
of fuel was three-pence farthing per barrel of
lime. Twelve tons of lime-ftone produces 50
barrels of roach lime. Nor does the arch-
deacon trufl to lime alone; he buys great quan-
tities of dung and foap afhes in Corke. At
the fame time I viewed his turnip crops on his
home farm, and found them excellent, and
many oxen tied in flails fattening on them, a
practice he finds exceedingly profitable j when

other

78 COOLMORE.

other graziers fell their bullocks with difficulty,
he puts his to turnips, and doubles and trebles
their value. In 1777 he had 23 acres of tur-
nips. Before I conclude this account of his
fpirited exertions, I muft add, that if a very
few improvers in Ireland have gone through
more extenfive operations, I have not found
one more attentive or more practical, and,
upon the whole, fcarcely any that come near
to him.

Land about Cool more Jets from 8s. to 2os.
The foil lime-ftone. Farms rife from 50!. to
300!. The courfes are,

i. Potatoes, yield "50 barrels. 2. Wheat,
3 barrels: add fometimes, 3. Oats. 4. Lay
out for grafs.

The poor people have monYof them land with
their cabbins, from four to fix acres, which
they fow with potatoes and wheat. Not many
of them keep cows, but a few forry fheep for
milk ; they generally have milk, either of their
own, or bought, in fummer,,andin winter they
have herrings ; but live, upon the whole, worfe
than in many other parts of the kingdom.
The price of labour 6d. a day the year round ;
in harveft 8d. Rent of a cabbin 2os. Many
dairies here, which are generally fet at four
pound a cow, fome four guineas, and near
Corke, five pounds.

x. The

C O O L M O R E. 79

The manures are lime, at is. 4<I. a barrel
roach; if burnt by themfelves, 8d. to lod. lay
thirty to fifty barrels. Sea fand is ufed, fixty
to eighty bags, each five pecks, to the acre.
Corke dung cofts 6d. to is. a car load ; it is all
bought up very carefully; lol. a year is paid
for the cleaning of one ftreet ; this argues a
very fpirited hufbandry.

Rode to the mouth of Corke harbour; the
grounds about it are all fine, bold, and varied,
but fo bare of trees, that there is not a fingle
view but what pains one in the want of wood.
Rents of the tract fouth of the river Carago-
line, from 53. to 305. average, IDS. Not one
man in five has a cow, but generally from one
to four acres, upon which they have potatoes,
and five or fix fheep, which they milk, and fpin
their wool. Labour jd. in winter, 6d. infum-
mer; many of them for three months in the
year live on potatoes and water, the reft of it
they have a good deal of fifh. But it is remark-
ed, at Kinfale, that when iprats are moft plen-
tiful, difeafes are moft common. Rent for a
mere cabbin, IDS. Much paring and burning;
paring twenty-eight men a day, fow wheat on
it and then potatoes ; get great crops. The foil
a fharp ftoney land; no iime-ftone fouth of
the above river. Manure for potatoes, with
fea weed for 263. which gives good crops, but
lafts only one year. Sea fand much uied, no
(hells in it. Farms rife to two or three hun-
dred acres, but are hired in partnership.

Before

So C O O L M O R E.

Before I quit the environs of Corke, I muff
femark, that the country on the harbour, I
think preferable, in many refpects for a refi-
clence, to any thing I have feen in Ireland. Firft,
It is the moft foutherly part of the kingdom.
Second, there are very great beauties of profpecl.
Third, by much the moft animated, bufy fcene
of (hipping in all Ireland, and confequently,
Fourth, a ready price for every product. Fifth,
great plenty of excellent fifti and wild fowl.
Sixth, the neighbourhood of a great city for
objects of convenience.-

September 24th, took my leave of Mr. Oliver;
I purpofed going from hence to Bandon, in the
way to Carbury, and fo to Killarney, by
Bantry and Nedeen, and with this view had got
letters of recommendation to feveral gentle-
men in that country; but hearing that the Priefls
Leap between Bantry and Nedeen was utterly
impaffable, the road not being fmifhed, which
is making by lubfcription. I changed my route,
and took the Macroon road. Dined with Co-
lonel Ayres, who informed me that the agri-
culture of that neighbourhood was very indif-
ferent, and little worth noting, except the
ufe of lime as a manure, which is praclifed
with great fuccefs. From his houfe I took the
Nedeen road.

PalFed Brockham, the place where Cornelius
Townlhend, Efq; eight years ago fixed two
SufTex farmers, to improve aftoney mountain.
I faw the land, and fome of the buildings, and

having

COOLMORE. 81

having heard feveral accounts of the tranfac-
tion from friends to the farmers, which ac-
counts had been received from them ; I wifhed
to have Mr. Townfhend's, and with that view
called at his houfe, bat unfortunately he was
not at home 5 as I miffed him, I (hall only,
mention the affair in the light it appeared to
me from the particulars I received from differ-
ent hands.

Mr. Townfhend wifhing to improve his ef-
tate, a confiderable part of which confided of
mountain, but furprizingly full of rocks and
flonesj he engaged two Suilex farmers, (Meffrs.
Crampe, and Johnfon) to come over to Ire-
land, to view the lands in queftion : they both
came over, examined the land, and hired a
tracl: for fome time at no rent, or a very fmall
one, and after that at a rent -named and agreed
to. The men returned, fettled their affairs in
England, bought very fine horfes, and em-
barked all their flock, implements, &c* and
came over, under circumftances of great, but
ufelefs expence. When they got to the land,
houfes and offices were built for them, in a
moft complete ftile, and among others, a barn
100 feet long, and 37 broad ; an exceedingly ill-
judged expence, the refult of bringing merely
Englifh (perhaps miftaken in ideas) into the
climate of Ireland.

Thefe buildings being executing at the land-
lord's expence, but the tenants drawing the
materials, they began the improvement ; and

VOL. II. F found

8z B R O K H A M.

found the land fo exceffively ftoney, that the
expence of clearing was too great to be within
a poffibility of anfwering. One field of eight
acres coft lool. in clearing: walls were built
jo feet thick, with ffones that arofe in clear-
ing the land. The undertaking went on for
4 years, but was then concluded in the way
one might have expected. The men were ruin-
ed, and Mr. Town-fhend fufFered confiderably
by the expences of the undertaking, rifing in-
finitely beyond what he had ever thought they
could amount to.

Had Mr. Townfhend met with farmers of
fufficient knowledge in their profeffion, they
would' not probably have fixed on this fpot at
all ; certainly when they found to what excefs
it abounded with ftones, they would have per-
fuaded him either to give them other land, or
have hired a more favourable foil of fome other
landlord : at aft events to perfift in improving
a fpot, the improvement of which could never
be repaid, whether it was upon their own, or
their landlord's account, was equally inexcufa-
ble in point of prudence, and the lure way to
bring difcredit on the undertaking, and ridi-
cule on what falfely acquired the name of Eng-
lifi hiijlandry. Planting is the only proper im-
provement for land abounding to iuch excefs
with recks.

From hence I reached Sir John Coulthurft's
atKnightibridge, who has a very extenfive ef-
tate here, 7000 acres of which are mountain

and

N E D E E N. 83

and bog. I was unfortunate in not having
feen Sir John's feat, near Corke, for there he
is at work upon 1000 acres of mountain, and
making very great improvements, in whi'ch,
among other circumflances, he works his bul-
locks by the horns.

September 25th, took the road to Nedeen,
through the wildeft region of mountains that I
remember to have feen j it is a dreary, but an
interefling road. The various horrid, gro-
tefque and unufual forms in which the moun-
tains rife, and the rocks bulge ; the immenfe
height of fome diftant heads, which rear above
all the nearer fcenes, the torrents roaring in
the vales, and breaking down the mountain
fides, with here and there a wretched cabbin,
and a fpot of culture yielding furprife to find
human beings the inhabitants of fuch a fcene
of wildnefs, altogether keep the traveller's mind
in an agitation and fufpence. Thefe rocks and
mountains are many of them no otherwife im-
provable than by planting, for which, howe-
ver, they are exceedingly well adapted.

Sir John was fo obliging as to fend half a
dozen labourers with me, to help my chaife
up a mountain fide, of which he gave a formi-
dable account : in truth it deferved it. The
road leads directly againft a mountain rklge,
and thofe who made it were fo incredibly flu-
pid, that they kept the (trait line up the hill,
inftead of turning aficle to the right, to wind
around a projection of it. The path of the
F 2 road

84 N E D E E N.

road is worn by torrents into a channel, which
is blocked up in places by huge fragments, fo
that it would be a horrid road on a level; but
on a hill fo fteep, that the beft path would be
difficult to afcend, it may be fuppofed terrible :
the labourers, two pafllng Grangers, and my
fervant, could with difficulty get the chaife up.
It is much to be regretted that the direction of
the road is not changed, as all the reft from
Corke to Ne'deen is good enough. For a few
miles towards the latter place the country is
flat on the river Kenmare, much of it good,
and under grafs or corn. Faffed Mr. Orpine's
at Ardtilly, and another of the fame name at
Killowen.

Nedeen is a little town, very well fituated,
on the noble river Kenmare, where fhips of
156 tons may come up : there are but three or
four good houfes. Lord Shelburne, to whom
fhe place belongs, has built one for his agent.
There is a vale of good land, which is here
from a mile and a half to a mile broad; and to
the north and fouth, great ridges of mountains
faid to be full of mines.

At Nedeen, Lord Shelburne had taken care
to have me well informed by his people in that
country, which belongs for the greateft part
to himfelf, he has above i5o,ooolrifh acres in
Kerry; the greateft part of the barony of Glan-
rought belongs to him, moft of Dunkerron and
Iveragh. The country is all a region of moun-
tains, inclofed by a vale of flat land on the ri-
ver j

N E D E E N. 85

verj the mountains to the fouth come to
the water's edge, with but few variations, the
principal of which is Ardee, a farm of Lord
Shelburne's : to the north of the river, the
flat land is one-half to three quarters of a mile
Abroad. The mountains to the fouth reach to
Bear-haven, and thofe to the north to Dingle-
bay ; the foil is extremely various j to the
fouth of the river all are fand ftones, and the
hills ioam, ftone, gravel, and bog. To the
north there is a flip of lime-ftone land, from
Kilgarvon to Cabbina-cuih, that is fix miles
eaft of Nedeen, and three to the weft, but is
not more than a quarter of a mile broad, the
reft including the mountains all fand ftone,
As to its rents, it is very difficult to tell what
they are ; for land is let by the plough land
and gineve, 12 gineves to the plough land j
but the latter denomination is not of any par-
ticular quantity : for no 2 plough lands are
the fame. The fize of farms is various, from
40 acres to 1000, lefs quantities go with cab-
bins, and fome farms are taken by labourers
in partnermip. Their tillage confifts of poT
tatoes meafured by the peck of 8Alb. manure
for them with fea weed, three boat loads to an
acre, each at i6s. %d. the poor people' ufe no-
thing elfe : but thofe who can afford it, lay
dung with it. Thefe potatoes are the rirft
crop. Thirty pecks plant an acre, and it
takes from twenty to thirty men to fet an acre
in a day.

j. Potatoes,

86 N E D E E N.

i. Potatoes. 2. Potatoes. 3. Oats, or bar-
ley, good crops. 4. Lay it out for what
comes, and in the fir.il feafon the fined graffes
appear.

Some wheat is fown, but not generally by
the poor people. Oats are the common crop.
This is the fhort hiftory of their arable ma-
nagement. There are fome dairies ; from 12
to 24 cows in each, and are fet at 503. or one
cwt. of butter and ias. horn money, the dairy-
men's privilege is two col lops to 20 cows ; a
cabbin, and three acres of land. The butter
is all carried to Corke on horfes backs. Three
years ago 40 s. a cow was the higheft, The
common ftock of the mountains are young
cattle, bred by the poor people ; but the large
farmers go generally to Limerick for year-
lings, turn them on the mountains, where they
are kept till three years old, when they fell
them at Nedeen or Killarney, engaging them
to be with calf. Buy at 40 s. this year, but
ufed to be from 20 s. to 305. formerly fold at
£os. now at 3!. The poor people's heifers fell
at three years old, at 305. their breed is the little
mountain, or Kerry cow, which upon good land
gives a great deal of milk. I have remarked,
as I travelled through the country, much of
the Alderney breed in fome of them. The
winter food, which the farmers provide, is
to keep bottom lands through the fummer,
which they call a nurfery, to which they bring
their cattle down from the mountains when
the weather becomes fevere. There are great

numbers

N E D E E N. 87

numbers of fwine, and many reared on the
mountains by the Tormentile root, which
abounds there, and from which they will come
down good pork. There are few fheep kept,
not fufficient to cloath the poor people, who,
however, work up what there is into frize.
Lambs fell from 2S. 2d. to 35. at four months
old. Three year old wethers, fat, from 55.
to 8s. weight about 9lb. a quarter, and are
admirable mutton. A ewe's flee.ce, one pound
and a half to two pound and a half. A lamb's,
one pound. A three year old wether, two
pound and a half. They have fome cows,
which are fattened in the vales ; and alfo fome
on the mountains, weighing 2 cwt. and two
and a quarter. Many goats are kept on the
mountains, efpecially by the poor people, to
whom they are a very great fupport ; for upon
the mountains the milk of a goat is equal to
that of a cow -t and fome of the kids are killed
for meat.

Upon afking whether they ploughed with
horfes or oxen, I was told there was not a
plough in the whole pariih of Tooavifla,
which is 12 miles long by 7 broad. All the
tillage is by the Iriih loy ; ten men dig an
acre a day that has been ftirred before. It
will take forty men to put in an acre of pota-
toes in a day. Rents have fallen greatly in
mofl parts of Kerry. Tythes in 1770 and
in 1771 were taken in kind, owing to their
having been pu (bed up to, too great a height j
fmce 1771 they have been lowered -, the proc-
tor

88 N E D E E N.

tor every year values the tythe of the whole
farm. Leafes are, fome for ever, others 31
years, and fome 2 1 . The rent of a cabbin,
without land, 6s. with an acre of land,
il. 2s. pd. The grafs for a cow is 405. on
the mountains from is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. a
quarter. They have generally about five acres.
They all keep a cow or two. All on the
mountains have goats. Swine alfo are imi-
verfal among them. The labour of the farms
are generally carried on by cottars, to whom
the farmer affigns a cabbin, and a garden,
and the running of two collops on the moun-
tain, for which he pays a rent ; he is bound
to work with his matter for 3d. a day and
two meals. Their food in fummer potatoes
and mills j bi# in fpring they have only po-
tatoes and water. Sometimes they have her-
rings and fprats. They never eat falmon,
The religion is in general Roman catholic.

Lime, is. a barrel, but may be burnt for 8d.
Fuel, all turf, J3d. a flane, each flane four
feet long, by two feet broad. Price of builcl-
ing a cabbin, with ftone and flate in {ime
mortar 20!.

There has been a confiderable fifhery upon
the coaft of Kerry, particularly in the Ken-
mare, at Ballenfkillings in Iveragh, in the ri-
ver Valentia, in Bear Haven, in Caftlemain
bay, in Dingle bay, &c. Laft year, that in
the Kenmare river was the moft confiderable :
it employed twelve boats. This year none at
all ; the chief in Ballenlkerrings and river

Valentia.

N E D E E N. 89

Valentia. None in Kenmare for fe'/eral years
before : but great abundance of fprats for
three years. Salmon is conftant ; they ex-
port about five tons, falted. The herrings
chiefly for home confumption, falted and
frefh. The herring boats are of two tons,
34 foot keel, coft building 3!. 35. five men
go in each : they are built here of bog
deal. A firing of three nets coft 3!. the
poor go (hares in the fifhery j build or hire the
boat, and join for the nets, which are made
of hemp, bought at Corke, and fpun and
made here : they tan them with bark. There
are many more men would go out if they
had boats, but it is a very uncertain fifhe-
ry. Many perfons have put themfelves to
considerable expence about it, but without
fuccefs, except thirty-three years ago, when
the pilchards came in, and .have never been
here fince,

Killarney is the principal market for wheat,
which is twelve miles diftant. A floop con-
ftantly employed upon the river Kenmare, in
bringing fait and carrying lime-flone, or
whatever was wanted, would be a great im-
provement.

Lord Shelburne has a plan for improving
Nedeen, to which he has given the name
of Kenmare, from his friend the nobleman,
with that title, which, when executed, muft be
of confiderable importance. It is to build ten
cabbins, and annex ten acres to each cabbin,

rent

90 KILLARNEY.

rent free for twenty-one years ; alfo to form
twenty-acred allotments for the parks to the
town of Nedeen, with defign to encourage
fettlements in it, for which 330 acres are
kept in hand. The fituation is advantageous,
and {hips of IQO tons can come up to it, with
a very good landing-place. He has alfo fixed
fome Englifh farmers.

Relative to the improvement of the wild
regions within fight of the houfe I was in, I

afked, Suppofe Jive acres ofthofe mountains to be
cleared of Jlones^ a ftone cabbin built., at j\. ex-
pence, and a wall raifed round the whole , and to be
let at a reafonable rent, 'would a tenant be found'?
" That moment" Suppofe fix of them, or
twelve ? " Tou would have tenants for all, if
there were an hundred"

In the pariih of Tooavifter, they have a
way of taking land by the ounce, in the arable
part, which joins the fea. An ounce is the
fixteenth of a gineve, and is fufficient for a
potatoe garden, and they pay a guinea for it.

The climate in thefe parts of Kerry is fo
mild, that potatoes are left by the poor peo-
ple in the ground the whole winter through ;
but laft winter almoit ruined them, their crop
being deftroyed.

September 26th, left Nedeen, and rifing the
mountainous region, towards Killarney, came
to a tract of mountain-bog, one of the moft

improvable

KILLARNEY. 91

improvable I have any where feen. It hangs
to the fouth, and might be drained with the
utmoft eafe. It yields a coarfe grafs, and has
nothing in it to flop a plough. Lord SheL-
burne's agent, Mr. Wray, told me, that there
are vaft tracts of fuch in the barony of Iveragh.
There is common gravel on the fpot, and lime-
ftone in plenty, within half a mile of Nedeen.

Soon entered the wildeft and moft romantic
country I had any where feen ; a region of
{leep rocks and mountains, which continued
for nine or ten miles, till I came in view of
Mucrufs. There is fomething magnificently
wild in this ftupendous fcenery, formed to im-
prefs the mind with a certain fpecies of terror.
All this tract has a rude and favage air, but
parts of it are ftrikingly interesting; the moun-
tains are bare and rocky, and of a great mag-
nitude; the vales are rocky glens, where a
mountain-ftream tumbles along the roughed
bed imaginable, and receives many torrents,
pouring from clefts, half overhung with fhrub-
by wood; fome of the fe dreams are feen, and
the roar of others heard, but hid by vaft mafies
of rock. Immenfe fragments, torn from the
precipices by ftorms and torrents, are, tumbled
about in the wilder! confufion, and feem to
hang rather than reft upon projecting precipi-
ces. Upon fome of thefe fragments of rock,
perfectly detached from the foil, except by the
fide on which they lie, are beds of black turf,
with luxuriant crops of heath, 6cc. which ap-
peared very curious to me, having no where

feen

92 KILLARNEY.

feen the like ; and I obferved very high in the
mountains, much higher than any cultivation,
is at prefent, on the right hand, flat and clear-
ed fpaces of good grafs among the ridges of
rock, which had probably been cultivated, and
proved that thefe mountains were not inca-
pable from climate of being applied to ufeful
purpofes,

From one of thefe heights, I looked forward
to the lake of Killarney at a confiderable di-
ftance, and backward to the river Kenmare ;
came in view of a fmall part of the upper lake,
fpotted with feveral iflands, and furrpunded by
the moft tremendous mountains that can be
imagined of an afpecl: favage and dreadful.
From this fcene of wild magnificence, I broke
at once upon all the glories of Killarney; from
an elevated point of view I looked down on a
confiderable part of the lake, which gave me
a f^ecimen of what I might expect. The wa-
ter yen command (which, however, is only a
part of the lake) appears a bafon of two or
three miles, round; to the left it is inclofed by
the mountains you have pafTed particularly by
the Turk, whofe outline is uncommonly noble,
and joins a range of others, that form the
moft magnificent fliore in the world: on the
other fide is a rifing fcenery of cultivated hills,
and Lord Kenmare's park and woods ; the end
of the lake at your feet is formed by the root of
Mangerton, on whofe fide the road leads.
From hence I looked down on a pretty range

K I L L A R N E Y. .93

of inclofures on the lake, and the woods and
lawns ofMucrufs, forming a large promontory
of thick wood, (hooting far into the lake. The
mod active fancy can iketch nothing in addi-
tion. Iflands of wood beyond feem to join it,
and reaches of the lake, breaking partly be-
tween, give the mod lively intermixture of
water : fix or feven ifles and iflets form an ac-
companyment, fome are rocky, but with a
flight vegetation, others contain groups of trees,
and the whole thrown into forms, which would
furnifh new ideas to a painter. Farther is a
chain of wooded iflands, which alfo appear to
join the main land, with an offspring of lefler
ones fcattered around.

Arrived at Mr. Herbert's at Mucrufs, to
whole friendly attention I owed my fucceed-
ing pleafure. There have been fo many de-
fcriptions of Killarney written by gentlemen
who have refided fome time there, and feen it
at every feafon, that for a paffing traveller to
attempt the like, would be in vain ; for this
reafon I (hall give the mere journal of the re-
marks I made on the fpot, in the order I view-
ed the lake.

September ayth, walked into Mr. Herbert's
beautiful grounds, to Oroch's hill, in the lawn
that he has cleared from that profufion of llones
which lie under the wall; the fcene which this
point commands is truly delicious ; the houis
is on the edge of the lawn, by a wood which
covers the whole peninfula, fringes the Hope at

your

94 KILLARNEY.

your feet, and forms a beautiful fhore to the
lake. Tomis and Glena are vaft mountainous
malfes of incredible magnificence, the out-
line foft and eafy in its fwells, whereas thofe
above the eagle's neft are of fo broken and
abrupt an outline, that nothing can be imagin-
ed more favage, an afpect horrid and fublime,
that gives all the impreflions to be wifhed to
aftoniih, rather than pleafe the mind. The
Turk exhibits noble features, and Mangerton's
huge body rifes above the whole. The culti-
vated traces towards Killarney, form a fhore in
contrail to the terrific fcenes I have juft men-
tioned j the diflant boundary of the lake, a
vaft ridge of diftant blue mountains towards
Dingle. From hence entered the garden, and
viewed Mucrufs abbey, one of the moft inter-
efting fcenes I ever faw ; it is the ruin of a con-
fiderable abbey, built in Henry the Vlth's time,
and fo entire, that if it were more fo, though
the building would be more perfect, the ruin
would be lefs pleafing ; it is half obfcured in the
fhade of fome venerable afh trees ; ivy has given
the pi6lurefque circumftance, which that plant
alone can confer, while the broken walls and
ruined turrets throw over it

The loft mournful graces of dec ay ^

heaps of fculls and bones fcattered about, with
nettles, briars and weeds fprouting in tufts
from the loole ftones, all unite to raife thofe
melancholy impreflions, which are the merit of
fuch fcenes, and which can fcarcely any where
2 be

KILLARNEY. 95

be felt more completely. The cloifters form a
difmal area, in the center of which grows the
moft prodigious yew tree I ever beheld, in one
great ftem, two feet diameter, and fourteen
feet high, from whence a vaft head of branches
fpreads on every fide, fo as to form a per feel:
canopy to the whole fpace ; I looked for its fit
inhabitant — it is a fpot where

'The moping owl doth to the moon complain.

This ruin is in the true ftile in which all fuch
buildings fliould appear 5 there is not an in-
truding circumftance — the hand of drefs has
not touched it — melancholy is the impreflion
which fuch fcenes fhould kindle, and it is here
raifed moft powerfully.

From the abbey we pafled to the ter-
rafs, a natural one of grafs, on the very
fhore of the lake -, it is irregular and wind-
ing ; a wall of rocks broken into fantaftic
forms by the waves : on the other fide, a wood,
confiding of all forts of plants, which the cli-
mate can protect,- and through which a variety
of walks are traced. The view from this ter-
rafs confifts of many parts of various charac-
ters, but in their different ftiles complete ; the
lake opens a fpreading iheet of water, fpotted
by rocks and iflands, all but one or two wood-
ed, the outlines of them are fharp anddiftinct;
nothing can be more milling than this fcene,
foft and mild, a perfect contraft of beauty to
the fublimity of the mountains which form the

fhore :

96 K I L L A R N E Y.

fhore : thefe rife in an outline, fo varied, and
at the fame time fo magnificent, that nothing
greater can be imagined ; Tomys and Glena ex-
hibit an immenfity in point of magnitude, but
from a large hanging wood on the flope, and
from the fmoothnefs of the general furface, it
has nothing favage, whereas the mountains
above and near the Eagle's-neft are of the moft
broken outlines ; the declivities are bulging
rocks, of immenfe fize, which feem to impend
in horrid forms over the lake, and where an
opening among them is caught, others of the
fame rude character, rear their threatening
heads. From different parts of the terrafs
thefe fcenes are viewed in numberlefs va-
rieties.

Returned to breakfaft, and purfued Mr.
Herbert's new road, which he has traced thro*
the peninfula to Dynis ifland, three miles in
length ; and it is carried in fo judicious a
manner through a great variety of ground,
rocky woods, lawns, &c. that nothing can be
more pleafing; it paries through a remarkable
fcene of rocks, which are covered with woods;
from thence to the marble quarry, which Mr.
Herbert is working ; and where he gains va-
riety of marbles, green, red, white, and brown,
prettily veined; the quarry is a fhore of rocks,
which furround a bay of the lake, and forms
a fcene, confiding of but few parts, but thofe
jftronglv marked ; the rocks are bold, and
broken into flight caverns; they are fringed
with fcattered trees, and from many parts of
3 them

KILLARNEY. 97

them wood fhoots in that romantic manner,
fo common at Killarney. Full in front Turk
mountain rifes with the proudeft outline, in
that abrupt magnificence which fills up the
whole fpace before one, and clofes the fcene.

The road leads by a place where copper-
mines were worked ; many fhafts appear j as
much ore was raifed as fold for twenty-five
thoufand pounds, but the works were laid
afide, more from ignorance in the workmen,
than any defects in the mine.

Came to an opening on the Great Lake,
which appears to advantage here, the town of
Killarney on the north-eaft (bore. Look full
on the mountain Glena, which rifes in a very
bold manner, the hanging woods fpread half
way, and are of great extent, and uncommonly
beautiful. Two very pleafing fcenes fucceed,
that to the left is a fmall bay, hemmed in by a
neck of land in front j the immediate fhore
rocks, which are in a picturefque frile, and
crowned entirely with arbutus, and other wood,
a pretty retired fcene, where a variety of ob-
jects give no fatigue to the eye. The other is
an admirable mixture of the beautiful and fub-
lime : a bare rock, of an aimofl regular figure,
projects from a headland into the lake, which
with much wood and high land, forms one fide
of the fcene, the other is wood from a rifing
ground only ; the lake open between, in a
Iheet of no great extent, but in front is the

VOL. II. G hanging

98 KILLARNEY.

hanging wood of Glena, which appears in full
glory.

Mr. Herbert has built a handfome Gothic
bridge, to unite the peninfula to the ifland of
Brickeen, through the arch of which the waters
of the north and fouth lake flow. It is a ipan
of twenty-feven feet, and leventeen high, and
over it the road leads to that illand. From
thence to Brickeen nearly finifhed, and it is to
be thrown acrofs a bottom into Dynifs.

Returned by the northern path through a
thick wood for fome diftance, and caught a
very agreeable view of Afh Illand, feen through
an opening, inclofed on both fides with wood.
Purfued the way from thefe grounds to Keelbeg,
and viewed the bay of the Devil's Ifland, which,
is a beautiful one, inclofed by a fhore, to the
riglyt of very noble rocks, in ledges and other
forms, crowned in a ftriking manner with
wood j a little rocky iflet rifes in front ; to the
left the water opens, and Turk mountain rifes
with that proud fuperiority which attends him
in all thefe fceaes.

The view of the promontory of Dindog, near
this place, clofes this part of the lake, and is
indeed fingularly beautiful. It is a large rock,
which ihoots far into the water, of a neigut
fuflicient to be interefling, in full relief, fringed
with a icanty vegetation ; the fhore on which
you (land bending to the right, as if to me-.t
*liat rock, prefcnts a circular lhade of dark

wood r

KILLARNEY. 99

wood : Turk ftill the back ground, in a cha-
racler of great fublimity, and Mangerton's
loftier fummit, but lefs interefting outline, a.
part of the fcenery. Thefe views, with others
of lefs moment, are connected by a fucceffion,
of lawns breaking among the wood, pleafing
the eye with lively verdure, and relieving it
from the fatigue of the ftupendous mountain
fcenes.

September 28th, took boat on the lake, from
the promontory of Dindog before mentioned.
I had been under a million of apprehenlions
that I fhould fee no more of Kiliarney ; for it
blew a furious ftorm all night, and in the
morning the bofom of the lake heaved with
agitation, exhibiting few marks but thofe of
anger. After breakfaft, it cleared up, the
clouds difperfed by degrees^ the waves fubfided,
the fun (hone out in all its fplendor ; every
fcene was gay, and no ideas but pleafure pof-
fefled the bread. With thefe emotions Tallied
forth, nor did they difappoint us.

Rowed under the rocky fhore of Dindog,
which is romantic to a great degree. The bafe,
by the beating of the waves, is worn into ca-
verns, fo that the heads of the rocks project
considerably beyond the bafe, and hang over in
a manner which makes every part of it inter^
efting. Following the coaft, open marble
quarry bay, the (ho re great fragments of rock
tumbled about; in the wild eft manner.

G 2 The

joo K I L L A R N E Y.

The ifland of rocks againft the copper-mine
fnore, a remarkable group. The fhore near
Cafemilan is of a different nature j it is wood
in fome places, in unbroken mafles down to
the water's edge, in others divided from it by
fmaller tracts of rock. Corrie to a beautiful
land-locked bay, furrounded by a woody fhore,
which opening in places, (hews other woods
more retired. Tomys is here viewed in a unity
of form, which gives it an air of great magni-
ficence. Turk was obfcured by the fun (hilling
immediately above him, and cafting a dream of
burning light on the water, difplayed an effect,
to defcribe which the pencil of a Claude alone
would be equal. Turn out of the bay, and
gain a full view of the Eagle's Ned, the moun-
tains above it, and Glena, they form a perfect
contraft, the firft are rugged, but Glena mild.
Here the fliore is a continued wood.

Pafs the bridge, and crofs to Dynifs, an if-
land Mr. Herbert has improved in the mod
agreeable manner, by cutting walks through
it, that command a variety of views. One of
thefe paths on the banks of the channel to the
upper lake, is fketched with great tade ; it is
x>n one fide walled with natural rocks, from
the clefts of which (hoot a thouland fine arbu-
- .tus's, that hang in a rich foliage of flowers and
icarlet berries -, a turf bench in a delicious fpot ;
the fcene clofe and fequedered, jud enough to
give every pleafing idea annexed to retirement.

Faffing the bridge, by a rapid dream, came
. prefently to the Eagle's Ned: having viewed

this

K I L L A R N E Y. 101

this rock from places where it appears only a
part of an objecl: much greater than itfelf, I
had conceived an idea that it did not deferve
the applaufe given it, but upon coming near,
I was much furprized ; the approach is won-
derfully fine, the river leads directly to its foot,
and does not give the turn till immediately un-
der, by which means the view is much more
grand than it could otherwife be ; it is nearly
perpendicular, and rifes in fuch full majefty,
with fo bold an outline, and fuch projecling
maffes in its center, that the magnificence of
the objecl: is complete. The lower part is co-
vered with wood, and fcattered trees climb al-
moft to the top, which (if trees can be amifs
in Ireland) rather weaken the impreflion rail-
ed by this noble rock ; this part is a hanging
wood, or an objecl: whofe character is perfect
beauty ; but the upper fcene, the broken out-
line, rugged fides, and bulging mafTes, are all
fublime, and fo powerful, that fublimity is the
general impreflion of the whole, by overpow-
ering the idea of beauty raifed by the wood.
The immenfe height of the mountains of Kil-
larney may be eftimated by this rock, from any
diftant 'place that commands it, it appears the
loweft crag of a vaft chain, and of no account ;
but on a cloie approach it is found to com-
mand a very different refpecl:.

Pafs between the mountains called the Great
Range, towards the upper lake. Here Turk,
which has fo long appeared, with a figure per-
fectly intereiiing, is become, from a different

pofition,

102 K I L L A R N E V.

pofition, an unmeaning lump. The reft of the
mountains, as you pafs, aflame a varied ap-
pearance, and are of a prodigious magnitude.
The fcenery in this channel is great and wild
in al1 its features ; wood is very fcarce; vafi
rocks leem toiled in confufion through the nar-
row vale, which is opened among the moun-
tains for the river to pafs. Its banks are rocks
in a hundred forms ; the mountain fides are
every where fcattered with them. There is
not a circumftance but is in unifon with the
wild grandeur of the fcene.

Coleman's Eye, a narrow pafs, opens a dif-
ferent fcenery. Came to a region in which the
beautiful and the great are mixed without of-
fence. The iflands are mod of them thickly
wooded ; Oak ifle in particular rifes on a pretty
bafe, and is a moft beautiful object : Mac Gilly
Cuddy's reeks, with their broken points ; Baum,
with his perfect cone; the Purple mountain,
with his broad and more regular head; and
Turk, having aiFumed a new and more inter-
efting afpecl, unite with the oppofue hills,
part of which have fome wood left on them,
to form a fcene uncommonly finking. Here
you look back on a very peculiar fpot ; it is a
parcel of rocks which crofs the lake, and form
a gap that opens to diftant water, the whole
backed by Turk, iu a ftile of the higheft
grandeur.

Come to Derry Currily, which is a great
fweep of mountain, covered partly with wood,

hanging

KILLARNEY. 103

hanging in a very noble manner, but part cut
down, much of it 'mangled, and the reft inha-
bited by coopers, boat-builders, carpenters,
and turners, a facrilegious tribe, who have
turned the Dryades from their ancient habita-
tions. The cafcade here is a fine one, bu£
pafled quickly from hence to fcenes unmixed
with pain.

Row to the clutter of the Seven Iflands, a
little archipelago ; they rife very boldly from
the water upon rocky bafes, and are crowned
in the moft beautiful manner with wood, among
which are a number of arbutus j the channels
among them opening to new fcenes, and the
great amphitheatre of rock and mountain that
furround them, unite to form a noble view.

Into the river, at the very end of the lake,
which winds towards Mac Gilly Cuddy's
Reeks in fanciful meanders.

Returned by a courfe fomewhat different,
through the Seven Iflands, and back to the
Eagle's Neft, viewing the fcenes already men-
tioned in new pofitions. At that noble rock
fired three cannon for the echo, which indeed
*s prodigious j the report does not confift of
direcl: reverberations from one rock to another
with a paufe between, but has an exact re*
femblance to a peal of thunder rattling be^
hind the rock, as if travelling the whole fcene-
ry we had viewed and loft in th<* immenfity of
Mac Gilly Cuddy's Reeks,

i Returning

ic>4 K I L L "A R N E Y.

Returning through the bridge, turn to the
left round Dynifs ifland, under the woods of
Glena ; open on the cultivated country beyond
the town of Killarney, and come gradually in
fight of Innisfallen and Rofs Ifland.

Pafs near to the wood of Glena, which
here takes the appearance of one immenfe
fweep hanging in the moft beautiful manner
imaginable, on the fide of a vaft mountain to
a point, (hooting into the great lake. A more
glorious fcene is not to be imagined, It is
one deep mafs of wood, compofed of the
richeft ihades perfectly dipping in the water,
without rock or ftrand appearing, not a break
in the whole. The eye pairing upon the
fheet of liquid filver fome diftance, to meet fo
intire a fweep of every tint that can compofe
one vaft mafs of green, hanging to fuch an
extent as to fill not only the eye, but the imar
gination unites in the whole to form the moft
noble fcene that is any where to be beheld.

Turn under the North fhore of Mucrufs ;
the lake here is one great expanfe of water,
bounded by the woods defcribed, the iflands of
Jnnisfallen, Rofs, &c. and the peninfula. The
fhore of Mucrufs has a great variety j it is irt
iome places rocky, huge mafles tumbled from
their bafe lie beneath, as in a chaos of ruin.
Great caverns worn under them in a variety
of ftrange forms ; or elfe covered with woods
of a variety of {hades. Meet the point of Ard-
., (in Englifh where the water dailies

K I L L A R N E Y. 105

on the rocks) and come under Ornefcope, a
rocky headland of a rnofl bold projection
hanging many yards over its bafe, with an old
weather-beaten yew, growing from a little
bracket of rock, from which the fpot is called
Ornefcope, or yew broom.

Mucrufs gardens prefently open among the
woods, and relieve the eye, almoft fatigued
with the immenfe objects upon which it has
fo long gazed ; thefe fofter fcenes of lawn
gently fwelling among the fhrubs and trees,
finiihed the fecond day.

September 29th, rode, after breakfaft, to
Mangerton Cafcade and Drumarourk Hill,
from which the view of Mucrufs is uncom-
monly pleading.

Pafs the other hill, the view of which I
defcribed the 27th, and went to Colonel
Huffy 's monument, from whence the fcene is
different from the reft ; the fore ground is a
gentle hill, interfered by hedges, forming fe-
veral fmall lawns. There are lome fcattered
trees and houfes, with Mucrufs Abbey, half
obfcurtd by wood, the whole chearful, and
backed by Turk. The lake is of a triangular
form, Rofs iiland and Innisfallen its limits,
the woods of Mucrufs and the iflands take a
new pofition.

Returning, took boat again towards Rofs
ifle, and as Mucrufs retires from us, nothing
can be more beautiful than the fpots of lawn

io6 K I L L A R N E Y.

in the terrace opening in the wood ; above it,
the green hills with clumps, and the whole
fmifhing in the noble group of wood about the
abbey, which here appears a deep {hade, and
fo fine a finiming one, that not a tree ihould
be touched. Rowed to the eafl point of Rofs,
which is well wooded, turn to the fouth coaft.
Doubling the point, the mod beautiful fhore
of that ifland appears ; it is the well wooded
environs of a bay, except a fmall opening to
the caftle ; the woods are in deep fhades, and
rife on the regular Hopes of a high range of
rocky coaft. The part in front of Filekilly
point rifes in the middle, and finks towards
each end. The woods of Tomys here appeal-
uncommonly fine. Open Innisfailen, which
is compofed at this diftance of the mofl various
fhades, within a broken outline, entirely dif-
ferent from the other iflands, groups of dif-
ferent mafles rifing in irregular tufts, and
joined by lower trees. No pencil could mix a
happier aflemblage, Land near a miferable

room, where travellers dine Of the ifle of

Innisfailen, it is paying no great compliment
to fay, it is the mod beautiful in the king's
dominions, and perhaps in Europe. It con-
tains twenty acres of land, and has every va-
riety that the range of beauty, unmixed with
the fublime, can give. The general feature
is that of wood j the furface undulates into
iwelling hills, and finks into little vales; the
Hopes are in every direction, the declivities die
gently away, forming thofe flight inequalities
which are the greateft beauty of drefled
grounds. The little vallies let in views of the

fur-

K I L L A R N E Y. IQ?

furrounding lake between the hills, while the
fwells break the regular outline of the water,
and give to the whole an agreeable confufion.
The wood has all the variety into which na-
ture has thrown the furface ; in fome parts
it is fo thick as to appear impenetrable, and
fecludes all farther view ; in others, it
breaks into tufts of tall timber, under which
cattle feed. Here they open, as if to offer to
the fpeclator the view of the naked lawn j in
others clofe, as if purpofely to forbid a more
prying examination. Trees of large fize, and
commanding figure, form in fome places na-
tural arches ; the ivy mixing with the branch-
es, and hanging acrofs in feftoons of foliage,
while on one fide the lake glitters among the
trees, and on the other a thick gloom dwells in
the receffes of the wood. The figure of the
ifland renders, one part a beautiful objecl to
another ; for the coaft being broken and in-
dented, forms bays furrounded either by rock
or wood : flight promontories fhoot into the
lake, whofe rocky edges are crowned with
wood. Thefe are the great features of Innis-
fallen ; the (lighter touches are full of beau-
ties eafily imagined by the reader. Every cir-
cumftance of the wood, the water, the rocks
and lawn are charadteriftic, and have a beauty
in the afiemblage from mere difpofition. I
muft, however, obferve, that this delicious re-
treat is not kept as one could wi(h.

Scenes, that are great and commanding
from magnitude or wildnefs, ihould never be

dreffed;

io8 K I L L A R N E Y.

drefled ; the rugged and even the horrible, may
add to the effect upon the mind : but in fuch
as Innisfallen, a degree of drefs, that is clean-
linefs, is even neceflary to beauty. I have
fpoken of lawn, but I mould obferve, that ex-
preflion indicates what it ought to be, rather
than what it is. It is very rich grafs, poached
by oxen and cows, the only inhabitants of the
ifland. No fpectator of tafte but will regret
the open grounds not being drained with
hollow cuts ; the ruggednefs of the furface
levelled, and the grafs kept clofe (haven by
many fheep inftead of hearts. The bullies and
briars where they have encroached on what
ought to be lawn, cleared away; fome parts
of the ifle more opened : in a word, no orna-
ments given, for the fcene wants them not,
but obstructions cleared, ruggednefs fmoothed,
and the whole cleaned. This is what ought
to be done ; as to what might be made of
the ifland, if its noble proprietor (Lord Ken-
mare) had an inclination, it admits of being
converted into a terreftial paradife, lawning
with the intermixture of other fhrubs and
wood, and a little drefs, would make it an ex-
ample of what ornamented grounds might be,
but which not one in a thoufand is. Take the
illand, however, as it is, with its few imper-
fections, and where are we to rind fuch another?
What a delicious retreat ! An emperor could
not beftow fuch an one as Innisfallen ; with a
cottage, a few cows, and a fwarm of poultry,
is it po'lible that happinefs fhould refufe to be
a gueit here r

Raw

K I L L A R N E Y. 109

Row to Rofs Caftle, in order to coaft that
ifland; there is nothing peculiarly (hiking in
it; return the fame way around Innisfallen ; in
this little voyage the fhore of Rofs is one of the
moft beautiful of the wooded ones in the lake;
it feems to unite with Innisfallen, and projects
into the water in thick woods one beyond
another. In the middle of the channel a large
rock, and from the other fhore a little pro-
montory of a few fcattered trees ; the whole
fcene pleafing.

The fhore of Innisfallen has much variety,
but in general it is woody, and of the beauti-
ful character which predominates in that ifland;
one bay, at taking leave of it, is exceedingly
pretty, it is a femicircular one, and in the cen-
ter there is a projecting knole of wood within
a bay; this is uncommon, and has an agree-
able effeflr.

The near approach to Tomys exhibits a fweep
of wood, fo great in extent, and fo rich in foli-
age, that no perfon can fee without admiring
it. The mountainous part above is foon ex-
cluded by the approach; wood alone is feen,
and that in fuch a noble range, as to be greatly
ftriking; it juft hollows into a bay, and in the
center of it is a chafm in the wood; this is the
bed of a confiderable ftream, which forms
O'Sullivan's cafcade, to which all ftrangers are
conducted, as one of the principal beauties of
Killarney. Landed to the right of it, and walk-
ed under the thick fhade of the wood, over a

rocky

no K I L L A R N E Y.

rocky declivity ; clofe to the torrent ftream,
which breaks impetuoufly from rock to rock,
with a roar that kindles expectation. The pic-
ture in your fancy will not exceed the reality ;
a great ftream burfts from the deep bofom of a
wooded glen, hollowed into a retired recefs of
rocks and trees, itfelf a moft pleafing and ro-
mantic fpot, were there not a drop of water ;
the firft fall is many feet perpendicularly over
a rock, to the eye it immediately makes another,
the bafon into which it pours being concealed j
from this bafon it forces itfelf impetuoufly be-
tween two rocks; this fecond fall is alfo of a
confiderable height, but the lower one, the
third, is the, moft confiderable, it iffues in the
fame manner from a bafon hid from the point
of view. Thefe bafons being large, there ap-
pears a fpace of feveral yards between each fall,
which adds much to the pifturefque fcenery>
the whole is within an arch of wood, that
hangs over it ; the quantity of water is fo con-
fiderable as to make an almoft deafening noile,
and uniting with the torrent below, where the
fragments of rock are large and numerous,
throw an air of grandeur over the whole. It
is about feventy feet high. Coaft from hence
the woody ihores of Tomys and Glena, they
are upon the whole much the moft beautiful
onesl have any where feenj Glena woods hav-
ing more oak, and fome arbutus's, are the
finer and deeper ihades; Tomys has a great
quantity of birch, whole foliage is not fo lux-
uriant. The reader may figure to himfeif what
thefe woods are, when he is informed that they

fill

K I L L A R N E Y. in

fill an unbroken extent of fix miles in length,
and from half a mile to a mile and a half in
breadth, all hanging on the fides of two vaft
mountains, and coming down with a full robe
of rich luxuriance to the very water's edge. The
acclivity of thefe hills is fuch, that every tree ap-
pears full to the eye. The variety of the ground is
great ; in fome places great fwells in the moun-
tain fide, with correfponding hollows, prefent
concave and convex maffes ; in others, confi-
derable ridges of land and rock rife from the
fweep, and offer to the aftonifhed eye yet other
varieties of fhade. Smaller mountains rife' re-
gularly from the immenfe bofom of the larger,
and hold forth their fylvan heads, backed by
yet higher woods. To give all the varieties of
this immenfe fcenery of foreft is impoflible.
Above the whole is a prodigious mafs of moun-
tain, of a gently fweliing outline and foft ap-
pearance, varying as the fun or clouds change
their pofition, but never becoming rugged, or
threatening to the eye.

The variations are beft feen by rowing near
the fhore, when £very ftroke of the oar gives a
new outline, and frefh tints to pleafe the eye :
but for one great impreffion, row about two
miles from the fhore of Glena; at that diftance
the inequalities in the furface are no longer
feen, but the eye is filled with fo immenfe a
range of wood, crowned with a mountain in
perfect unifon with itfelf, that objects, whofe
character is that of beauty, are here, from their
magnitude, truly magnificent, and attended

with

ii2 K I L L A R N E Y.

with a moft forcible impreflion. — Returned
to Mucrufs.

September 3 oth, this morning I had dedicat-
ed to the afcent of Mangerton, but his head
was fo enihrouded in clouds, and the weather
fo bad, that 1 was forced to give up the fcheme*:
Mr. Herbert has meafured him with very ac-
curate inftruments, of which he has a great
collection, and found his height 835 yards a-
bove the level of the fea. The Devil's punch
bowl, from the defcription I had of it, muft
be the crater of an exhaufted volcano : there
are many ligns of them about Killarney, par-
ticulary vaft rocks on the fides of mountains,
in ftreams, as if they had rolled from the top
in one direction. Brown ftone rocks are alfo
fometimes found on lime quarries, toffed thi-
ther, perhaps in fome vaft eruption.

In my way from Killarney to Caftle Ifland,
rode into Lord Kenmare's park, from whence
there is another beautiful view of the lake, dif-
ferent from many of the preceding ; there is a
broad margin of cultivated country at your
feet, to lead the eye gradually in the lake, which
exhibits her iflands to this point more diftinftly
than to any other, and the back grounds
of the mountains of Glena and Tomys give a
bold relief.

Upon the whole, Killarney, among the lakes
that I have feen, can fcarcely be faid to have a
rival. The extent of water in Loch Earne is

much

fclLLARNEY. 113
inuch greater ; the iflands more numerous, and
fome fcenes near Caftie Caldwell, of perhaps
as great magnificence. The rocks at Kefwick
are more fublime, and other lakes may have
circumftances in which they are fuperior ; but
when we conflder the prodigious woods of Kil-
larney; the immenfity of the mountains; the
uncommon beauty of the promontory of Mu-
crufs, and the ifle of Innisfalkn 5 the character
of the iflands ; the fingular circumftance of the
arbutus, and the uncommon echoes, it will
appear, upon the whole, to be in reality fupe-
rior to all companion.

Before I quit it, I have one other obfer-
vation to make, which is relative to the want
of accommodations and extravagant cxpence
of ftrangers refiding at Killarney. I fpeak it
not at all feelingly, thanks to Mr. Herbert's
hofpitaiity, but from the accounts given me :
the inns are miferable, and the lodgings little
better, I am furprifed ibmebody with a good
capital does not procure a large well built inn*
to be erected on the immediate fhore of the
lake, in an agreeable iituation, at a diftance
from the town: 'there are very few places
where fuch an one would anfwer betier, there
ought to be numerous and good apartments.
A large rendezvous- room for billiards, cards,
dancing, mufic, &c. to which the com-
pany might refort when they chofe it: an
ordinary for thofe that liked dining in public;
boats of all forts, nets for fifhing, and as
great a variety of amufements as could be col-

VOL. II, H lefted,

ii4 K I L L A R N E Y.

lected, efpecially withindoors : for the climate
being very rainy, travellers wait with great
impatience in a dirty common inn, which
they would not do if they were in the midft
of fach accommodations as they meet with at
an Englith fpaw. But above all, the prices
or" every thing, from a room and a dinner, to
a barge and a band of mufic, to be reafon-
able, and hung up in every part of the houfe :
the refort of Grangers to Kiilarney would
then be much increafed, and their (lay would
be greatly prolonged; they would not view it
poft-hafle, and fly away the firft moment to
avoid dirt and impofition. A man, with a
good capital and fome ingenuity, would, I
think, make a fortune by fixing here upon
fuch principles.

In the line of agriculture, Mr. Herbert has
carried on fome important experiments, which
muft deferve attention. Of 360 acres he has
reclaimed 140, which, before he began, were
covered with great rocks, ftones, brambles,
(rubus frujliccfus) and furze, (eulex europaus.)
His firft operation was to cut down and grub
up the fpontaneous growth that was the
ftrongeft : but the reft he fet fire to, in order
to plough them up with bullocks. Then he
attacked the ftones, fome of which were five or
fix feet fquare ; the large ones were burft in
pieces by kindling fires upon them, being the
brown land- (tone. But this operation will
have no effe6t on lime-ftone j others not fo
large were drawn off the land by bullocks, to

feme-

KILLARNEY. 115

fome of which 30 were harnefled : but all
ftones that could be got at were by fome means
or other carried off.

This work of breaking the ftones by fire is
very curious, and exceedingly ufeful t Mr*
Herbert appeared to have attended very clofely
to the operation. He informed me that they firft
light a good fire, which in about a quarter of
an hour enables them to beat off the outward
fkin of the ftone with a iledge hammer, and
they then immediately light a fecond fire,
which foon makes the flone crack. The men
obferve to keep it a lively brifk fire, free from
afhes j when the flone cracks, they aflifl it
with a flrong blow of the hammer, which then
burfls it afunder, and is at once broken in
pieces without difficulty.

In ploughing the land, as foon as this work
was done, the remaining roots of furze, &c.
were fo large, that he was forced to fatten two
ploughs together with chains, and then, with
a great force of bullocks, tore up the roots,
the ploughs and tackle being remarkably
flrong* The afhes of the wood, &c« being
fpread with thole of the rubbifh, numerous
ploughings were given. The foil a thin gra-
vel, of a whitifh hungry appearance, but lime
changed it at once to a rich brown colour* The
lafl ploughing turned in the lime i upon
which, Mr. Herbert, frefh from Tuli and
Randal determined to become a driller, drilled
it with wheat, the cleared proof in the world
how completely the ground had been reclaim-
H 2 ed.

u6 K I L L A R N E Y.

ed. This crop he hoiTe hoed, following the
directions of Tulland Duhamel ; the produce
was trifling, and the practice found very ex-
penfive, and the crops unprofitable : were,
however, very beautiful and elegant to look
at. He tried it for wheat, lucerne, fainfoine,
red clover, beans, peafe, and in a word, every
plant recommended by the drill writers, and
continued it for four years. Having afcer-
tained this thorough experience, that the drili
hufbandry was exceedingly difadvantageousr
he gave it up, and laid down with white
clover and hay feeds : and could be let at 2os.
an acre. Mr. Herbert, however, going to
England, they were not taken fuch care of as
they ought, never being manured. Some were
Jaid down with burnet, which took very
well in the land, but was foon overcome
and choaked with natural grafs. Bird grafs
he tried, got the feed from Rocque, but finds
it a very coarfe poor plant of no value. Lu-
cerne he had upon a very extenfive fcale ; hav-
ing fix acres of it, found it a very good grafs,
fed all forts of cattle with fuccefs, particularly
in fattening bullocks, the fat of them being
marbled in the fined manner imaginable. He
had it in broad caft, and ufed Rocques har-
row ; but upon his foil the harrow tore
up the lucerne as well as the weeds, yet
the natural grafs got much a head. The
drill method is the beft; but fuch is the lux-
uriant growth of the common grafles in Ire-
land, that there was the greateft difficulty in
keeping it clean. Sainfoine alfo did very well,

but

KILLARNEY.

but the grafs had with that the fame effect as
the lucerne.

Mr. Herbert has cultivated potatoes in the
common lazy-bed method, upon an extenfive
fcale, and he is convinced, from repeated ex-
perience, that there is no way in the world of
managing that root that equals it, efpecially
for bringing in wafte lands. It has been with
the greateft furprife that he has read this mode
condemned by feveral Engliih writers j when
properly executed, it mixes the land and the
manure, and by taking two crops fucceffively,
and digging them out, if all the land is ftirred,
it leaves it in admirable order for a fucceffive
crop of any kind.

Folding iheep Mr. Herbert praftifes by-
means of a contrivance of his own ; inftead
of hurdles, a pole 12 feet long, and 5 inch
diameter, ftruck through with perpendiculars,
and having at each end two longer pieces to reft
on, in form of a crofs : thofe are moveable,
and eafily fet in rows. He pens the fheep on
his grafs lands, and finds the effecl wonderful,
nothing equalling them for manuring the land,
and at a very fmall expence. Is clearly of
opinion, that nothing would be a greater im-
provement to Ireland than introducing the
practice generally.

An obfervation which Mr. Herbert has made
on mowing land is highly deferving attention :
it is, that land ought always to be mowed, though

the

iiS M U C R U S S.

the value of the hay will not pay the expence,
It is common in Ireland to mow parts of fields
that are good, and leave the reft; but he al-
ways cuts the whole, and finds the practice
very advantageous to the land.

Some bog this gentleman has improved
merely by draining, and then fpreading mold
upon it, without tilling or burning, brings it
to a meadow as foon as poflible : and this is
the method he would, in all cafes, recommend
for their improvement, as there is never any ne-
cefiity of tillage in order to bring them to grafs.

Relative to the common hufbandry of this
neighbourhood, I found that the foil is divid-
ed, between lime-flone and brown-done. The
peninfula of Mucrufs is half the one and half
the other, the one ending fuddenly where the
other begins : the vale alfo to Killarney and
beyond is limeftone for the extent of many
miles, and in general the mountains are all
brown ftone, and the vales lime-ftone. Rents
here are about 8s. an acre on an average, in-
cluding much indifferent land, but not the
mountains. About three-fifths of the county
of Kerry is wafle land, not rifing to above
3d. an acre, and the other fifths on an average
at 73. an acre. Farms are from 20!. a year
to 130!. the large ones include confiderable
mountain tracts. The tillage of the country
is trifling. The courfe is,

i. Potatoes,

M U C R U S S. 119

i. Potatoes, fow eight pecks, at 70! b. and
get 8olb. at 7!. an acre. 2. Wheat, 61. 3.
Oats. 4. Oats. (Poor crops not above 3!. jos,
an acre.) 5. Lay it out to weeds, Sec.

Lime the manure, from 60 to 80 barrels an
acre, which cofts 6d. to 8d. a barrel burning,
Mr. Herbert can burn it for 4d. five miles off.
Pafturage is applied chiefly to dairies ; the com-
mon ones about 40 or 50 cows. They are all
let at 405. to 503. a cow. Three acres allow-
ed to a cow; fome paid in butter. The dairy-
man has his privilege, which is a cabbin, pota-
toe garden, liberty to cut turf, and a quantity
of land proportioned to the number of cows.
The butter is all fent to Corke on hoifes backs
in truckles, and in that way the poor horfes of
the country will carry 8 cwt. thediftance 37
miles. They go in two days, and generally
home in a week. Bring back rum, groceries",
&c. they are paid pd. for carrying a firkin of
butter of 561b. and for the back carriage is. 8d,
a cwt. Very few fheep kept ; no flocks, except
Mr. Herbert's. It is remarkable, that no fheep
in the country are better fattened than many
upon Mac Gilly Cuddy's Reeks, which are the
wildeft and moft defolate region of all Kerry.
Great herds of goats are kept on all the moun-
tains of this country, and prove of infinite ufe
to the poor people. The inhabitants are not
in general well off; fome of them have neither
cows nor goats, living entirely upon potatoes,
yet are they better than twenty years ago, par-
ticularly in cloathing. Price of proviiion the

fame

J2o M U C R U S S.

fame as at Nedeen, but pork not common.
Turkies, at pd. Salmon, at id. Trout and
perch plentiful. No pike in Kerry. Lamprey s
and eels, but. nobody eats the former. All the
poor people, both men and women, learn to
dance, and are exceedingly fond of the amufe-
ment. A ragged lad, without fhoes or ftockings,
has been iben in a mud barn, leading up a girl in
the fame trim for a minuet : the love of danc-
ing and mqfic are almoft univerfal amongft
them.

The Rev. Mr. Bland, of Wood Park, near
Killarney, at whofe houfe I had the pleafure to
dine with Mr. Herbert, has improved a great
deal of boggy land; the tqrf fix inches deep,
burnt, but would not give afhes; under it a
brown gravel ; reclaimed it by marking ami
trenching in May, lime eighty barrels per acre;
fpread with green fern, then leave it until Spring
following, when dunged and planted, po-
tatoes ; the crop equal to the beft : dig the po-
tatoes, and plant a fecond crop, which will be
a greater produce, but the roots not fo large -t
took care in the digging them to bring up the
fod and manure; in the fpring dig again for
turnips, or oats, the turnips will be very good,
but has generally fown oats ; the crop tolera-
ble, great draw, but muft be iown very thin,
or they will lodge; leave the oat llubble and
it becomes in one year grafs to mow. Has
tried turnips, and found them to anfwer per-
fectly, in fattening fheep infinitely better than
any winter or fpring grafs.

September

ARBELLA. 121

September 30th, took my leave of Mucrufs,
and pafling through Killarney, went to Caftle
Ifland. In my way to Arbella, crofTed a hilly
bog of vaft extent, from one to fix or fevcn feet
deep, as improvable as ever I faw, covered with
bog myrtle (myricagale) and coarfe grafs : it
might be drained at very little expenle, being-
almoft dry at • prefent. It amazed me to fee
fuch vaft trails in a ftate of nature, with a fine
road pairing through them.

To Mr. BlennerhafTet, member for the coun-
ty, I am indebted for every attention to -.\ards
my information. About Caftle liland the land
is very good, ranking among the beft in Kerry.
From that place to Arbella, the land is as good
as the management bad, every field over- run
with all kinds of rubhifh, the fences in ruins,
and no appearance but of defolation : they
were mowing fqme fine crops of hay, which I
fuppofe will be made in the fnow. The fol-
lowing is the ftate of hufbandry about Arbella.

The foil, from Caftle Iftand to Tralee, is
from a guinea to a guinea and a half; it is all
a rich lime-done land : forne about Tralee at
3!. los. 104!. 43. About Arbella I went over
ipme exceeding fine reddifh fandy and gravelly
loam, a prodigioufly fine foil : fern (ptcris aqui-
lina) the fpontaneous growth, which I remark-
ed in Ireland to be a fure iign of excellent land.
Two thirds of the county is mountain, which
runs at no great rent, being thrown into the
bargain. Six parts in ieven of the whole

mountain

122 A R B E L L A.

mountain and bog. The remainder at los.
an acre.

j. Potatoes. 2. Potatoes. 3. Wheat, or
Barley. 4. Oats. 5. Ditto. 6. Ditto. 7. Ditto.
8. Lay it out, and not a blade of grafs comes
for three or four years.

The beft part of the country is under dairies.
Great farmers hire vaft quantities of land, in
order to flock with cows, and let them to
dairymen 5 one farmer, who died lately, paid
1400!. a y ear for this purpofe; but 300!. or 400!.
common.

The number of cows let to one man, ge-
nerally from twenty to forty. Let at one cwt.
and 1 6s. per cow, or one-half cwt. of but-
ter, and 1 6s. each, forae one cwt. I2S. and a
hog, befides one fourth part of all the calves
a year old. In the mountains, half cwt. and
55. Others with all the calves to the dairy-
men. The dairyman's privilege, from two to
four collops kept for them, and one or two
acres, with a cabbin ; thefe dairymen live very
indifferently, their privilege being all their pro-
fit, and fometimes not that. The farmer who
lets the cows, muft keep the number to fuch
as give two pottles of milk. All the dairies
in this county, as in others, in the bonny
clobber method, that is, letting the milk ftand
feveral days, till the cream comes off, by tak-
ing hold of it between the fingers, like a fkin
of leather, and fome till it is moldy, the re-
mainder

A R B E L L A. 123

mainder bonny clobber. Forty acres will carry
twenty cows through the year. The cows are
in general of the fmall breed, but not the true
Kerry, for many have been brought from other
countries. A cow fells at a guinea* a pcttie for
the milk, above two or three pottles, that is
4!. 48. four pottles, 5!. 5$. for five pottles,
given at one meal. A little fattening of cows
and fmali bullocks, but the number not great.
No fheep kept.

As to manure none is ufed in the vale, ex-
cept their dung for potatoes, but upon the
mountains they lime a little.

There is a colony of Palatines, that have
been fixed here above thirty years ; there are
now fifteen or fixteen families ; Colonel Halfet
brought them from the county of Limerick,
and fixed them here as little farmers, and thefe
few people coft him above 500!. fettling. He
gave each a cow, a horfe, and every thing they
wanted for a year, and let the land to them for
half its value. Their improvements have been
firft, by ploughing with a wheel plough, which
with two hories works eafily without a driver.
They brought in cars with wheels, there were
only fliding ones before. They alfo fow all
their potatoes in drills with the plough, and
alfo plough them out, and this with great
fuccefs, but nobody follows them.

Years purchafe of land fixteen to eighteen.
Rents three years ago fallen exceedingly, from

having

124 A R B E L L A.

having been too high let, but of late they have
rifen again. The rife in the price of labour
from three-pence and four-pence in twenty
years, to five-pence and fix-pence. Oyfters,
two-pence to three-pence per hundred ; near
Tralee there is a flrand fix miles long, which
is on a bed of oyfters, and is a curious object.
LoMiers, twelve years ago, one penny each,
now two-pence to four-pence. Salmon three
halfpence. Woodcocks, ten-pence a couple.
Partridges, ten-pence a couple. A groufe, one
fhilling. Whitings, one penny each. Her-
rings, three a penny. Plaice, turbots, mul-
lets, and fome foles. Potatoes, is. 6d. per
cwt. the cheapefl, medium, 2S. 6d. Cabbins
of {tone, mortar and flate, 25!. Many or-
chards in this county, give, upon an average,
ten hogmeads of cyder per acre, fome 1 5 ; they
reckon young trees the beft, from iz to 20.
years old.

The ftate of the poor in the whole county
of Kerry reprefented as exceedingly miferable,
and, owing to the conduct of men of proper-
ty, who are apt to lay the blame on what they
call land pirates, or men who offer the higheft
rent, and who, in order to pay this rent, muft,
and do re-let all the cabbin lands at an ex-
travagant rife, which is affigning over all the
cabbins to be devoured by one farmer. The
cottars on a farm cannot go from one to ano-
ther, in order to find a good mafter as in Eng-
land : for all the country is in the fame fyftem,
and no redrefs to be found. Such being the
3

A R B E L L A.

cafe, the farmers are enabled to charge the
price of labour as loiv as they pleafe, and rate
the land as high as they like. This is an evil
which opprefles them cruelly, and certainly has
its origin in its landlords, when they fet their
farms, fetting all thecabbins with them inftead
of keeping them tenants to themfelves. The
oppreilion is, the farmer valuing the labour of
the poor at 4d. or 5d. a day, and paying that
in land rated much above its value. Owing to
this, the poor are deprefled ; they live upon
potatoes and four milk, and the pooreft of them
only fait and water to them, with now and
then a herring. Their milk is bought ; for
very few keep cows, fcarce any pigs, but a few
poultry. Their circomftances are incompara-
bly worfe than they were 20 years ago ; for
they had all cows, but then tfyey wore no
linen : all now have a little flax. To thde
evils have been owing emigrations, which have
been confiderable,

October ift, rode over the mountain im-
provements which William Blennerhaflet, Efq;
of Elm Grove, has made. I viewed it with
very great attention; for it projects far into a
mountain of heath, that lets only at is. an
acre. I faw the progrefs of the improvement
in different itages. He has done 250 Irifh
acres, and inclofed 300 more, and has been of-
fered 2os. an acre for them, but the farm-
houfes were not built; at prefent he has four,
to which he purpofes to throw the whole.

. The

126 A R B E L L A.

The method he purfued has been firft to en-
clofe with double ditches, four feet deep and
five broad, and the earth out of both thrown
on to a parapet, ten feet broad, and fome more,
planted with rows of trees, and of ofiers, the
expence in labour, 2s. a perch. While this
work is doing, he ploughs nine or ten inches
deep, and as foon as the weather will admit,
burns ; then he tills it again once or twice,
and burns again ; and before the laft plough-
ing, limes 100 barrels an acre, which coils
him (burning it himfelf) fixpence a barrel,
including carriage and fpreading : upon this he
fows corn, has tried wheat, rye, and oats, but
oats anfwer the beft ; has tried potatoes, and
they did pretty well, followed them with corn,
and then laying it out, that is, leaving it to
grafs itfelf. The other is to fow corn as long
as it will yield any, when it is exhaufted, to lay
it out two or three years, and then plough and
lime : take two crops of corn, and lay it out
again ; and this way he thinks is the beft, from
the experience of forty years, for fo long the
improvement has been making. Trees of all
forts have grown perfectly well, but the afh
has done beft. A ploughing cofts 6s. an acre.
Graffaning and burning, al. an acre. Mr.
Haflet's ftock at prefent on this farm, 30
horfes, mares and foals, joocows, ico fheep,
j oo young cattle, 8 plough bullocks: this is
a moft noble ftock of cattle for a fpot which
was all heath.

Mr. BlennerhafTet has alfo tried lime-ftone
fand, over one part of a field, and lime upon

the

MAHAGREE ISLANDS. 127

the reft, fpread but lately, yet the appearance
is much in favour of the fand.

October ad, to Ardfert by Tralee, through
a continuation of excellent land, and execra-
ble management. Mr. Bateman tried rock
fait on grafs land for a manure, half a ton to
the Englifh acre, but found not the leaft bene-
fit from it. But of lime he has ufed large
quantities, and with great fuccefs; burning it
for 6d. a barrel, in a (landing kiln with turf,
four eyes or fires to each ; lays on 50 barrels
to an acre, and has advanced fome land, by
draining and liming, from 5, to 2os. an
acre, the foil a cold ftiff clayey gravel.

To the weft of Tralee are the Mahagree If-
lands, famous for their corn produces; they
are rock and fand, ftocked with rabbits ; near
them a fandy tract, 12 miles long, and one
mile broad, to the north, with the mountains
to the fouth, famous for the beft wheat in Ker-
ry. All under the plough. Their courfe.

i. Buck potatoes. 2. Barley. 3. Wheat.
Alfo corn on fome land, without any interme-
diate crop. Manure for every crop, if pota-
toes with fea weed, great crops j they get 20
for one of wheat and barley. All grain is re-
markably early j they have fown Englifh bar-
ley, and made bread of the crop in fix weeks ;
thefe lands let at 143. or 153. an acre, but fome
much higher. Farms- are large, one, two, or
three hundred acres, but fome are taken in

partnerfhip.

128 A R D F E R T.

I was allured, that in thefe if*
lands, they have known two crops of barley
gained from the fame land in one year, and
the fecond better than the firft. They fowed
the tirft of April, and reaped the middle of
May, and immediately fowed a fecond, which
they reaped the end of Auguft. This was done!
by John Macdonald, of Maharaghbeg.

Arriving at Ardfert, Lord Croiby, whofe
politenefs 1 have every reafon to remember, was
ib obliging as to carry me by one of the fineft
ftrands I ever rode upon, to view the mouth
of the Shannon at Bailengary, the fite of an
old fort : it is a vaft rock feparated from the
country by a chafm of a prodigious depth,
through which the waves drive. The rocks of
the coaft here are in the boldeft ftile, and hol-
lowed by the furious Atlantic waves into ca-
verns in which they roar. It was a dead calm,
yet the f well was fo heavy, that the great waves
rolled in and broke upon the rocks with fiich
violence as to raifean immenfe foam, and give
one an idea of what a (torm would be, but fan-
cy rarely falls fliort in her pictures. The
view of the Shannon is exceedingly noble ; it
is tight miles over, the mouth formed by two
headlands of very high and bold clifts, and the
reach of the river in view very extenfive : it is
an immenfe fcenery. Perhaps the nobleft
mouth of a river in Europe.

CrofTed in the way a large bog, highly im-
provable, faw fome little fpots taken in with
.heaps of fea fand for carrying it on.

Lord

A R D F E R T. 129

Lord Glandore manures his ground with
lime, fea fand, and fea weed, the laft is the
worft, the fand beft. Land lets at 125. or 135.
an acre on an average; it rifes from los. to 20$.

Ardfert is very near the fea, fd near it, that
lingle trees or rows are cut in pieces with the
wind, yet about Lord Glandofe's houfe there
are extenfive plantations exceedingly flourifh-
ing, many fine afri and beech 5 about a beauti-
ful ciflertian abbey, and a filver fir of 48 years
growth, of an immenfe height and fize.

October 3d, left Ardfert, accompanying Lord
Crofby to Liftowel. Called in the way to view
Lixnaw, the ancient feat of the earls of Kerry,
but deferted for ten years pad, and now pre-
fents fo melancholy a fcene of defolation, that
it ihocked me to fee it. Every thing around
lies in ruin, and the houfe itfelf is going faft orf
by thieving depredations of the neighbourhood.
I was told a curious anecdote of this eflate,
which (hews wonderfully the improvement of
Ireland: The prefent Earl of Kerry's grand-
father, Thomas, agreed to leafe the whole
eftate for 1500!. a year, to a Mr. Coin's, for
ever; but the bargain went off upon a difpute,
whether the money fhould be paid at Corke or
Dublin. Thofe very lands are now let at
20,000!. a year. There is yet a good deal of
wood, particularly a fine aih grove, planted
by the prefent Earl of Shelburne's father.

Vot. II. Jt Proceeded

130 W O O D F O R D.

Proceeded to Wood ford, Robert Fitzgerald's,
Efq; pafTing Liftowel bridge, the vale leading
to it is very fine, the river is broad, the lands
high, and one fide a very extenfive hanging
wood, opening on thofe of Woodford in a
pleafmg ftile.

Woodford is an agreeable fcene ; clofe to the
houfe is a fine winding river under a bank of
thick wood, with the view of an old caftle
hanging over it. Mr. Fitzgerald is making a
considerable progrefs in rural improvements ;
he is taking in mountain ground, fencing and
draining very completely, and introducing a
new hulbandry. He keeps 30 pigs, which flock
he feeds on potatoes, and has built a piggery
for them. Turnips he cultivates for fheep,
and finds them to anfwer perfectly. Not being
able to get men who underftand hoeing, he
thins them by hand. He has five acres of po-
tatoes put in drills with the plough, and de-
figns ploughing them out : they look perfectly
well, and promife to be as good a crop as any
in the trench way. The common courfe in
this neighbourhood is,

i. Potatoes, a. Potatoes. 3. Wheat. 4. Oats.
5. Lay it out.

Farms are very much in partnerfhip, and
improvements exceedingly backward on that
account. The poor live on potatoes and milk
all the year round, but are rather better off
than they were twenty years ago. The labour

T A R B A T. 131

of the country is generally done for land in the
manner I have fo often defcribed, rated at an
exorbitant price, 4d. winter; 5d. fummer ;
fome 6d. round. Three- fourths of Kerry
mountain and bog, at is. 6d. the reftat 155.

In 1765, Mr. Fitzgerald was travelling from
Constantinople to Warfaw, and a waggon with
his baggage, heavily laden, overfet ; the coun-
try people harnefled to buffaloes by the horns,
in order to draw it over, which they did with
eafe. In fome very inftructive converfation I
had with this gentleman, on the fubjecl:
of his travels, this circumflance particularly
ftruck me.

October 4th, from Woodford to Tarbat, the
feat of Edward Lefle, Efq; through a country,
rather dreary, till it came upon Tarbat,* which
is fo much the contrary, that it appeared to
the higheft advantage; the houfe is on the
edge of a beautiful lawn, with a thick margin
of full-grown wood, hanging on a fleep bank
to the Shannon, fo that the river is feen from
the houfe over the tops of this wood, which
being of a broken irregular outline, has an
effect very ftriking and uncommon ; the river
is two or three miles broad here, and the op-
pofite coaft forms a promontory, which has
from Tarbat exactly the appearance of a large
iilancl. To the eaft, the river fwells into a tri-
angular lake, with a reach opening at the dif-
tant corner of it to Limerick: the union of
wood, water, and lawn, forms upon the whole
I 2 a very

i3 2 T A R B A T,

a very fine fcenej the river is very magnificent.
From the hill, on the coaft above the ifland,
the lawn and wood appear alfo to great advan-
tage. But the fined point of view is from the
higher hill on the other fide of the houfe,
which looking down on all thefe fcenes, they
appear as a beautiful ornament to the Shan-
non, which fpreads forth its proud courfe, from
two to nine miles wide, furrounded by high-
lands : a fcenery truly magnificent. I am in-
debted to Mr. Leflie's good offices for the fol-
lowing- particulars.

Arable land about Tarbat lets at 145. on art
average ; Mr, Leflie, in 1771, let feveral farms
at 178. but the fall of that period reduced the
rents 33. Farms are from 50 acres to 3 or
400 : it is common to have the poor people
hire them in partnerfhip, but only the fmall
ones? the large are all ftock farms. The til-
lage courfe ;

i.- Potatoes, produce 28 barrels, at 16 pecks
each, and the peck 6olb. or 26,88olb. in all.
2. Potatoes. 3. Oats. 4. Lay out for feveral
years. The fecond crop of potatoes more nu-
merous, but not fo large; they manure for
them only with dung. The oats yield fix bar-
rels, each 26 ftone, being double ones. Very
little wheat fown but by gentlemen OF large
farmers, who burn the land ; plough it, and
burn the fod, which they call beating, and ma-
nure with lime or fea-fand; 40 barrels of
time at is. The (lone is brought from an

ifland

T A R B A T. 133

iiland towards Limerick. They get fand at
the fame place. Lime does beft for tillage,
and fand for grafs. The (lock farms are either
under dairies, or in the fucceffion fyftem, of
buying in year olds from the county of Clare,
and keeping them till three or four years old,
the heifers till they calve; buy at a guinea to
305. fell from 3!. 55. to 4!. jos. at four year
old. There are alfo fome cows fattened :
bought in in general at 3!, or 3!. los. fell in
October at 4!. los. to 5!. The dairies are let
to dairymen, the price is one cwt. of butter,
and i os. to 155. horn money; the dairyman
has all the calves, and mud fell off at Michael-
mas. His privilege is a houfe and potatoe gar-
den, and grafs for a cow for every ten. A
collop here, is one cow, one hprfe, two year-
lings, fix fheep ; two acres to feed a collop,
and fome two and a half. Every cabbin has a
bit of flax, which they fpin and manufacture
for their own ufe, there being fome weavers
difperfed about the country. A little pound
yarn is fold befides to Limerick, but not much.
A little wool is fpun for their own u'fe, and
wove into frize.

The ftate of the poor is Something better
than it was twenty years ago, particularly their
cloathing, cattle, and cabbins. They live upon
potatoes and milk; all have cows ; and when
they dry them, buy others. They alfo have
butter, and mod of them keep pigs, killing
them for their own ufe. They have alfo her-
rings. They are in general in the cottar fyf-

tern ,

j34 T A R B A T.

tern, of paying for labour by afligning fome
land to each cabbin. The country is greatly
more populous than twenty years ago, and is
now increafing; and if ever fo many cabbins
were built by a gradual increale, tenants would
be found for them. A cabbin, and five acres
of land, will let for 4!. a year. The induftri-
ous cottar, with two, three, or four acres,
would be exceedingly glad to have4 his time td
himfelf, and have fuch an annual addition
of land as he was able to manage, paying 3
fair rent for it; none would decline it but the
idle and worthlefs.

Tythes are all annually valued by the proc-r
tors, and charged very high. There are on
the Shannon about 100 boats employed in
bringing turf to Limerick from the coail of
Kerry and Clare, arid in fifhing, the former
carry from 20 to 25 tons, the latter from five
to ten, and are navigated each by two men and
a boy.

October jth, pafled through a very unenterr
taining country (except for a few miles on the
bank of the Shannon) to Altavilla, but Mr.
Baternan being from home, I was difappoint-
ed in getting an account of the Palatines fet-
tled in his neighbourhood. Kept the road to
Adair, where Mrs. Quin, with a ppliteneis
equalled only by her underflanding, procure^
me every intelligence J wilhed for.

Land

A D A I R. 135

Land lets about Adair from los. to 405. an
acre, average 2os. the richeft in the country is
the Corcaffes on the Maag, which lets at 305.
to 363. a tract of five miles Jong, and two
broad, down to the Shannon, which are better
than thofe on that river ; the foil is a kind of
yellow and blue clay, of which they make
bricks; but there is a furface of blue mould.
The grafs of them is applied to fattening
bullocks, from 7 to 8 cwt. each, and an acre
fats one, and gives fome winter and fpring
food for fheep. When they break this land up,
they fow firft oats, and get 20 barrels an acre,
or 40 common barrels, and do not reckon that
an extra crop j they take ten or twelve in
fucceflion, upon one ploughing, till the crops
grow poor, and then they fow one of horle
beans, which refremes the land enough to
take ten crops of oats more ; the beans are very
good. Wheat fometimes fown, and the crops
very great. Were fuch barbarians ever heard
of?

In the common courfe of lands about
Adair, the courfe of crops is,

i. Potatoes. 2. Ditto. 3. Wheat. 4. Oats.
5. Oats. 6. Oats* 7. kay out.

i. Potatoes. 2. Ditto. 3. Wheat. 4. Wheat.
5. Oats. 6. Oats. 7. Oats. 8. Lay out.

i. Potatoes. 2. Ditto, 3. Wheat. 4. Oats.
5. Lay out.

Potatoes

136 A D A I R.

Potatoes they plant on grafs without dung, a
gogd crop, 60 barrels to an acre, at 8s. a
barrel average. When they hire it they pay
fix guineas an acre; they dung tillage land
and poor lays for them. Of wheat they fow
a barrel an acre, and the crop in general eight
to ten of thofe barrels. Oats they fow two to
an acre, and get twelve to fixteen. The low
bottoms of moory and rufliy kind they plough,
and burn the furrows ; upon that burning
they plough in the afhes and harrow in rape
feed, a pottle, or three qiiarts to an acre ; ne-
ver feed, but keep it for feed, and get eight
Briftol barrels a.n acre ; it fells ufually at 143.
to i8s. a barrel; they fow here afterwards, the
produce ten barrels an acre ; then a crop of
pats, twelve to fixteen barrels, and then leave
it to lay. No grafs feecls fown,

Farms rife from 40 acres to 2000!. a year ;
fome few of the little ones are taken by cot-
tars, in partnerfhip, but not common ; tr>e
large farms are all flock ones. Turnips have
been fown many years, but by few ; a little
on pared and burnt land in the bottoms, in-
ftead of rape ;' the crops very large; they
give them all to. fat fheep, in order to keep
their fleiri for a better market after Chriftmas ;
it is found to be a very advantageous practice,
but not increafmg. No hoeing. Hemp is
fown a little by the Palatines, but by few
others. Flax, by every cabbin, in order for a
little fpinning for their own ufe.

The

A D A I R. 137

The fyftem of the flock farmers is in gene-
ral dairying, but upon the beft lands they fat-
ten bullocks, cows being only kept on lands
which they think will not do for bullocks.
The cows are all let, and paid for principally
by butter, one cwt. to a cow, and 255. horn
money. The dairyman's privilege is a cabbin,
a garden of an acre, and the grafs of a cow or
horfe to every twenty cows, and may rear half
the calves, and keep them to November or
Chriflmas. To 60 acres, 24 cows, i horfe,
30 (beep ; this is jufl two acres a head, and
it is about the average of the country. The
dairymen are not in good circumftances, mak-
ing a mere living. The fwine here are of a
large white fort, and rife to two cwt. they arp
moftly fattened on potatoes, but have ibme
oats at laft to harden the fat. A good many
fheep ; the fyftem is to keep the lambs till
three year old wethers, and fell them fat at
2os. each -, the fleeces yjb. Tythes, wheat
6s. barley 55. Oats 45. Rape np tythe. Po-
tatoes 8d. to iqd. mowing ground is. to 3^.
fheep 2d. each.

The poor people do not all keep cows, but
all have milk ; all have pigs and poultry ; are
pot better off than twenty years ago. Have
a potatoe garden, of which one-half to three-
fourths of an acre carries a family through
the year ; they live entirely upon them, felling
their pigs. They pay a guinea for a cabbin,
and 10 perch ; if half an acre, 2!. 2S. A
whole acre, and a cabbin 011 poor ground,

3'-

138 A D A I R.

3!. 35. But not fo cheap if near a village.
Labour paid in land in general. Grafs of a
collop 2!. 2S. if a cow hayed, 505.

Palatines were fettled here by the late Lord
Southwell, about feventy years ago. They
have in general leafes for three lives, or 31
years, and are not cottars to any farmer,
but if they work for them, are paid in mo-
ney. The quantities of land are fmall, and
fome of them have their feeding land in com-
mon by agreement. They are different from
the Irifh in feveral particulars ; they put their
potatoes in with the plough, in drills, horfe-
hoe them while growing, and plough them
out. One third of the dung does in this me-
thod, for they put it only in the furrows,
but the crops are not fo large as in the com-
mon method. They plough without a dri-
ver j a boy of twelve has been known to
plough and drive four horfes, and fome of
them have a hopper in the body of their
ploughs, which fows the land at the fame
time it is ploughed. Their courfe of crops is,

i, Potatoes, 2. Wheat. 3. Wheat. 4. Oats.
i. Potatoes. 2. Barley. 3. Wheat. 4. Oats.

In whicii management they keep their land
many years, never laying it out as their neigh-
bours do. They preferve fome of their Ger-
man cuftoms : fleep between two beds. They

appoint
i

A D A I R. 139

appoint a burgomafter, to whom they appeal
in cafe of all difputes ; and they yet preferve
their language, but that is declining. They
are very induftrious, and in confequence are
much happier and better fed, cloathed, and
lodged, than the Irifh peafants. We muft not,
however, conclude from hence that all is ow-
ing to thisj their being independent of farmers,
and having leafes, are circumftances which
will create mduftry. Their crops are much
better than thofe of their neighbours. There
are three villages of them, about feventy fa-
milies in all. For fome time after they fettled
they fed upon four crout, but by degrees left it
off, and took to potatoes: but now fubfift.
upon them and butter and milk, but with a
great deal of oat bread, and fome of wheat,
fome meat and fowls, of which they raifc
many. They have all offices to their houfes,
that is, ftables and cow houfes, and a lodge
for their ploughs, &c. They keep their cows
in the houfe in winter, feeding them upon
hay and oat ftraw. They are remarkable for
the goodnefs and cleanlinefs of their houfes.
The vvomen are very induftrious, reap the
corn, plough the ground fometimes, and
do whatever work may be going on j they
alfofpin, and make their children do the fame.
Their wheat is much better than any in the
country, infomuch that they get a better price
than any body elfe. Their induftry goes fo
far, that jocular reports of its excefs are
fpread : in a very pinching feafon, one of them
yoked his wife againft a horfe, and went in

that

140 A D A I R.

that manner to work, and finiflied a journey
at plough. The induftry of the women is a
perfect contrail to the Irifb ladies in the cab-
bins, who cannot be perfnaded, on any con-
fideration, even to make hay ; it not being the
cuftom of the country; yet they bind corn,
and do other works more laborious. Mrs.
Quin, who is ever attentive to introduce
whatever can contribute to their welfare and
happinefs, offered many premiums to induce
them to make hay, of hats, cloaks, {lockings,
fee. &c. but all would hot do.

Few places havefo much wood about them
as Adair: Mr. Quin has above 1000 acres in
his hands, in which a large proportion is
under wood. The deer park of 400 acres is
almoft full of old oak and very fine thorns,
of a great fize ; and about thehoufe, the plan-
tations are very extenfive, of elm and other
wood, but that thrives better than any other
fort. I have no where feen finer than vaft
numbers here. There is a fine river runs
under the houfe, and within view are no lefs
than three ruins of francifcan friaries, two of
them remarkably beautiful, and one has mod
of the parts perfect except the roof.

In Mr. Quin's houfe, there are fomc very
good pictures, particularly an annunciation, by
Dominicino, which is a beautiful piece. It
was brought lately from Italy by Mr. Quin,
junior. The colours are rich and mellow, and
the airs of the heads inimitably pleafing ; the

group

CASTLE OLIVER. 141

group of angels at the top, to the left of the
piece, are very natural. It is a piece of great
merit. The companion is a magdalen j the
exprefllon of melancholy, or rather mifery,
remarkably ftrong. There is a gloom in the"
whole in full unifon with the fubject. There
are, befides thefe, fome others inferior, yet of
merit, and two very good portraits of Lord
Dartry, (Mrs. Quin's brother) and of Mr.
Quin, junior, by Pompeio Battoni. A piece
in an uncommon ftile, done on oak, of Efther
and Ahafuerus : the colours tawdry, but the
grouping attitudes an effect pleafing.

October 7th, to Cattle Oliver, by Bruff,
paffing through a very fine tract of rich recfdifh
loam. The Right Hon. Mr. Oliver was afli-
duous to the laft degree to have me completely
informed. About his feat, the foil is brown
ftone on indifferent flate ilrata, mountainous ;
the mountain tops are thrown into the bar-
gain ; mountain farms, tops, bottoms and
iides, is. an acre ; furze land reclaimed, and
fome from 153. to aos. Farms of all fizes, but
the occupying tenants have from 15 to 100
acres, fome 300. The courfe of crops :

i. Potatoes. 2. Potatoes. 3. Potatoes. 4.
Oats. 5. Oats. 6. Oats. 7. Lay out : fome-
times only two of potatoes.

They manure for potatoes with all the dung
they can get. Very little under tillage, and
the grafs applied chiefly to dairies. In Gne

particular

i42 (TASTLE OLIVER.

particular they are very attentive ; to conduct
the mountain dreams into their grafs lands ;
cutting little channels, to introduce the water
as much as poffible over the whole j and though
it comes from a poor mountain of brown (tone,
or turf, yet the benefit they find to be very
great. This is a general cuftom among all the
little occupiers ; and they are frequently com-
ing to Mr. Oliver, with complaints of each
other for diverting or flealing one another's
ftreams. This is an inftance of excellent huf-
bandry, which I do not recollect meeting with
before in Ireland. They always mow it the
year they water it, and their crops of hay 2
ton, or 24. an acre. They do not reclaim any
mountain, but fometimes a little furze land
for potatoes. They have fome lime-ftone fand ;
but being at a diftance, they life it in fmall
quantities, a few barrels an acre fown for po-
tatoes, which is effectual in preventing them
from being wet or rotting. The ftate of the
poor people better in thefe mountainous tracts
than upon the rich flats of Limerick, both
from there being more employment and greater
plenty of land for them. Some few farms
taken in partnerfhip. The cattle fyftem is ge-
nerally dairying cows, which are all fet to dai-
rymen. There has been a fall in rents • fince
1771-2, of 25.33. or 45. an acre, but it is not
falling at prefent. Building a cabbin 4!. to 5!.
Ditto flone, (late, &c. 25!.

Relative to the rich lands of this country,
they are principally found, firfl in the barony

LIMERICK GRAZING. 143

of Small County, which is rich ; Coonagh has
much ; Coftilea a great deal, and much moun-
tain; Clanwilliam, a good fhare. The rich
land reaches from Charleville, at the foot of the
mountains, to Tipperary, by Kilfenning, a
line of twenty-five miles, and acrofs from Ard-
patric to within four miles of Limerick, 16
miles. Bruff, Kilmallock, and Hofpital have
very good land about them ; the quantity in
the whole conjectured to be 100,000 acres. It
is in general under bullocks, but there is fome
tillage fcattered about, to the amount probably
of a fifteenth of the whole; the rents are from.
255. to 40$. but average 305. an acre.

The county of Limerick, befides the rich
grazing, has a light lime-ft one -land for fheep
and cows, at 155. to 205. There are alfo yel-
low clays, from IDS. to 2os. alfo middling land
of furze and fern, from IDS. 6d. to il. is.
Some mountain is. likewife fifteen miles of
corcafles on the Shannon, two to three miles
broad. Average of the whole county, aos.
The county of Tipperary, i8s. -

As to the foil I am able to fpeak of it parti-
cularly, for Mr. Oliver was fo kind as to ride
through a great variety of it, a man with a
fpade following to dig ; the fined foil in the
country is upon the roots of mountains ; it is
a rich, mellow, crumbling, putrid, fandy loam,
eighteen inches to three feet deep, the colour
a reddifh brown. It is dry found land, and
would do for turneps exceedingly well, for

carrots,

144 LIMERICK GRAZING?.

carrots, for cabbages, and in a word for every
thing. I think upon the whole, it is the rich-
eft foil I ever faw, and fuch as is applicable to
every purpofe you can wifli : it will fat the
largeft bullock, and at the fame time do equal-
ly well for iheep, for tillage, for turneps, for
wheat, for beans, and in a word, for every
trop and circumftance of profitable huf-
bandry.

The lower lands are wetter, and under
them a yellow clay, whereas in the upper,
it is fandy loam to a confiderable depth. The
rent in England would be confiderably higher
than this of the bullock land in Ireland.

The farms are of all fares. The bullock farm
rife to 600 acres, which quantity is a large
farm ; but there are many fmall ones under
cottars and dairymen : the general run in
flocking is a bullock of four and a half to fe-
ven cwt. average five hundred and a half to the
acre, and quarter for the fummer's grafs • but
their not generally having a bullock to an
acre, is owing to their keeping fheep and calves
fo late, in which they do even to June. The
winter's hay amounts to about a rood, befides
the acre for the fummer food. Thefe beafts
are bought in at autumn, at three or four
years old, average price, 5!. they are fed regu-
larly through the winter with hay everyday in
the fields where they are to be fattened vn fum-
mer ; they chufe the dry fields for it, but ftill
mifchief is done by it. All the hay is flacked
2 in

LIMERICK GRAZING. 145

in the fields for this purpofe. The time of
felling autumn. The profit they make per
bullock on an average, about three guineas.
The principal winter fyflem is buying calves,
at il. is. to 2\. 2s. keeping them till May, and
then felling them at 2os. to 308. profit, but
give them a bellyful of their beft hay. A great
many fheep are alfo fent to be wintered from
Tipperary, which is extraordinary, as their
own lands are much drier than thefe of Lime-
rick : they do this by hiring farms for the pur-*
pofe This is one of the mod profitable arti-
cles ; they bring the fpring lambs in O6tober,
and keep them till May, and then fend them
back to Tipperary, and they are much better
than thofe they left there.

The graziers are many of them rich, but
generally fpeaking, not fo much from the im-
mediate profit, as from advantageous leafes.
I wanted much to be informed of their profit,
but it is exceedingly difficult to come near it,
for not a grazier in the country but denies his
making any thing confiderable : this is fup-
pofed to be a great piece of art, but I am very
apt to think the truth not fo far from the de-
claration, at leaft as well as I am able to judge
from the information I have received.

Rent of an acre and a half for a bullock £ 1 2 6

County cefs, at 6d. * o o t?

Mowing and making one-third of an acre hay 030

VOL. II.

I46 CASTLE OLIVER.

Brought over

A bullock 5!. intereft at 6 per cent.
Labour i s. 6d. an acre

Profit on a bullock

Winter food,, two fheep at 55.

Expenses
Profit

From this is to be deduced the whole of
chances, the lofs of cattle, &c. and from what
I was able to pick up, I have reafon to believe
that it does not exceed los. an acre at mofl.
The fum neceffary to ftock 61. an acre. I muft
obferve that the profit is very low for land to
yield, which is of fuch extraordinary fertility j
it is of that foil which would do very well for
tillage, for though it is not dry, yet it has not
the wetnefs of our Englifh clays, and would
in a eourfe of good tillage, pay infinitely bet-
ter as every perfon muft admit who are at all
acquainted with the wet lands of Norfolk,
Suffolk, Eflex, &c. I am however very far
from recommending it, for if the Irifh tillage
fhould be introduced, the very contrary would
be the ca(e, and the landlord iuffer exceedingly
from his eftate being exhaufted. In no part
of Ireland have I feen more carelefs manage-
ment

CASTLE OLIVER. 147

ment than in thefe rich lands. The face of the
country is that of defolation ; the grounds are
over-run with thirties, (carduus) ragwort, (fe-
necio jacobtea) &c. to excefs ; the fences are
mounds of earth, full of gaps ; there is no
wood, and the general countenance is fuch,
that you muft examine into the foil before you
will believe that a country, which has fo beg-
garly an appearance, can he fo rich and
fertile.

To (hew the rife of land, Sir Harry Harp-
fon has a farm of 400 acres, which his grand-
father let in 1676, at 45. 6d. an acre, and
thought fo dear that an offer of a fcore of fheep
and two goats were offered to be off; it would
let now at 305. I had this fact from himfelf.
The breed of cattle here is all long horned.
There are fome cows fattened alib, but not
near fo many as oxen. Likewife fome dairies,
which are fet, one cwt. butter, and 2os. horn
money. The dairyman's privilege is two or
three cows, a cabbin and a garden. The num-
ber of cows feldom above a fcore : but they are
found fo troublefome and impofing, that they
have taken a different method, and employed
dairywomen on their own account.

Great quantities of flax fown by all the poor
and little farn.ers, which is fpun in the coun-
try, and a good deal of handle cloth made of
it. This and pigs are two great articles of
profit here ; they keep great numbers, yet the
poor in this richtracl: of country are very badly
K 2 off,

148 CASTLE OLIVER.

off. Land is fo valuable, that all along as I
came from Bruff, their cabbins are generally
in the road ditch, and numbers of them with-
out the leaft garden ; the potatoe land being
affigned them upon the farm where it fuits the
mailer beft. The price they pay is very great,
from 4!. to 5!. an acre, with a eabbin j and for
the grafs of a cow, 405. to 453. They are, if
any thing, worfe off than they were twenty
years ago. A eabbin, an acre of land, at 405.
and the grafs of two cows, the recompenfe of
the year's labour : but are paid in different
places by an acre of grafs for potatoes at 5!.
Thofe who do not get milk to their potatoes,
eat muftard with them, railing the feed for the
purpofe. The population of the country in-
creafes exceedingly, but moft in the higher
lands ; new cabbins are building every where.
The tillage in thefe rich lands confifts in,

i. Potatoes. 2. Potatoes. 3. Barley. 4.
Wheat. 5. Oats. 6. Oats,

i. Potatoes. 2. Potatoes, (on fpots 4. or
I acre flax after the 2d Potatoes.) 3. Wheat.
4. Barley. 5. Oats. 6. Oats. 7. Oats. 8.
Oats. 9. Lay it out.

Mr. Oliver has known 150 Briftol barrels,
each four bufhels heaped of potatoes, which
make fix bufhels, or 900 from an acre. The
weight, ftrike meafure, 15 ftone. The com-
mon crop, 1 50 heaped barrels, at 43. average
price. Opinions differ much, whether the fe-

cond

CASTLE OLIVER. 149

cond crop is better or worfe, but from one
practice they have, I am dear which it muft be;
for they truft to the fmail potatoes left in the
ground as feed, which are neceflarily irregular :
and I have found, by various trials, that a flice
of a middling potatoe is far better than a whole
foiall one.

POTATOES.

Rent

5 '3

Seed, fixteen barrels and a half, at los.

2 15

Cutting feed

o 5

Digging

Q ftj.

Carrying out ...

P 2

Trenching and fowing

* 5

Weeding - .

JO 10

Digging out -

I 10

Gathering -

O JO

Carrying home

o 9

Houfing -

o 6

Picking - - -

O JO

Tythe

0 12

£-*S 3 2

CROP.

One hundred an4 fifty barrels, at 43. each 30 o o

Ejcpences • 15 3 2

Profit

150 C A STLE OLIVER.

One hundred barrels, at 45. each - 20 o o

Expences - - 15 3 2

Profit - /. 4 16 10

The Briftol barrel, which is here charged at
45. is heaped, and weighs 22 ftone. The qua-
lity of the corn raifed on thefe rich lands is
much better than any other in the country j
the quantity of barley per acre, 12 Briftol
barrels.

Mr. Ryves, a gentleman of the neighbour-
hood I had the pleafure of meeting at Cafjle
Oliver ; on 31 acres fowed nine b'ufhels of bere,
from which 1 1 1 Briftol barrels, ftriked mea-
fure. Of wheat, the crops fluctuating, but a
middling one 12 barrels. Mr. Ryves has had
20 of oats, generally 15. All thefe crops are
with good tillage : there are many who do not
get near fo much.

There is a bolting mill at Limerick, at Annf-
grove, at Marlefield, at Clonmell, at Caftle
Hyde, at Newport : hence therefore there is
no want of a market in this country for corn.
I was furprized to find that land, in this rich
country, fells at as many years purchafe as in
mountain tracts. Limerick is famous for cy-
der ] the fineft cakaggee is at Mr. Waller's,
Mr. Mafiey's, Mr. Weftrope's, Mr. Monfon's,
&c,. The foil of the orchard's thin, on lime-
ftone.

Mr. Oli-

CASTLE OLIVER. 151

Mr. Oliver has pra6Kfed hufbandry on a pret-
ty extenfive fcale. A confiderable part of his
land is improved mountain, which he grubbed
and cleared of fpontaneous rubbifh, and ma-
nured with lime-ftone fand j and then culti-
vated fome for corn, and fome for turnips :
where the land is boggy, he burns, in order
to get rid of that foil which he confiders as
worth but little. Whatever he fows, the land
runs at once immediately to thick fine grafs,
even on the mountain top ; fo that a ftubble
will, in the firft year, yield a great crop of
hay. A ftrong proof how adapted this country
is to paflurage. In the breed of cattle he has
been very attentive, purchafing bulls and cows,
at the expence of twenty guineas each, of the
long-horned Lancafhire breed, and from them
has bred others, I faw two exceeding well-
made bulls of a year old of his breeding, which
would have made a confiderable figure in Lei-
cefterfhire. Turnips he has cultivated for ma-
ny years, applying them chiefly to feeding deer,
but^ he has fattened fome fheep on them with
good fuccefs. Hollow draining he has practiced
upon an extenfive fcale, and laid a large tract
of wet land dry by it.

Mr. Oliver planted a colony of Palatines 15
years ago, from about Rathkeal, 66 families
in one year, which made 700 proteftants, on
his own eftate. Fixed them upon fpots, of
from thirteen to thirty acres each, charging
thCm only two thirds of the rent, which he
could get of others ; built houfes for them at

the

152 CASTLE OLIVER.

the expence of above 500!. gave them leafes for
three lives. The benefit of them has been in-
troducing much tillage ; to the proportion of
their little farms, they till much more than the
Irifh. They drill their potatoes, and on ftub-
ble land worn out. Houfe their cattle, feeding
them with hay, and raifing thereby dung.
They are cleaner and neater, and live much
better: are better cloathed, and all of them
have neat little kitchen gardens. Many of them
labour for nobody but themfelves, and none
of them conftantly for others, being employed
principally on their own little farms. They
live partly on four crout.

Caftle Oliver is a place almoft entirely of Mr.
Oliver's creation; from a houfe, furrounded
with cabbins and rubbifti, he has fixed it in a
fine lawn, furrounded by good wood. The park
he has very much improved on an excellent
plan; by means of feven feet hurdles, he fences
of! part of it that wants to be cleaned or im-
proved, thefe he cultivates, and leaves for grafs,
and then takes another fpot, which is by much
the befl way of doing it. In the park is a
glen, an Englifh mile long, winding in a plea-
ling manner, with much wood hanging on the
bank. Mr. Oliver has conducted a ftream
through this vale, and formed many little wa-
ter-falls in an exceeding good tafte, chiefly over-
hung with wood, but in fome places open with
feveral little rills, trickling over ftones down
the flopes. A path winds through a large
wood and along the brow of the glen; this

path

CASTLE OLIVER. 153

path leads to an hermitage, a cave of rock, in
a good tafte, and to fome benches, from which
the views of the water and wood are in the fe-
queftered ftile they ought to be. One of thefe
little views, which catches feveral falls under
the arch of the bridge, is one of the prettieft
touches of the kind I have feen. The vale be-
neath the houfe, when viewed from the higher
grounds, is pleafing; it is very well wooded,
there being many inclofures, furrounded by
pine trees, and a thick fine mafs of wood rifes
from them up the mountain fide, makes a very
good figure, and would be better, had not Mr.
Oliver's father cut it into viftos for (hooting.
Upon the whole, the place is highly improved,
and when the mountains are planted, in which
Mr. Oliver is making a considerable progrefs,
it will be magnificent,

In the houfe are feveral fine pictures, partU
cularly five pieces by Seb. Ricci, Venus and
./Eneas ; Apollo and Pan, Venus and Achilles $
and Pyrrhus. and Andromache, by Lazzerini;
and the rape of the Lapithi, by the centaurs i
the laft is by much the fineft, and is a very ca-
pital piece j the expreflion is ftrong, the figures
are in bold relief, and the colouring good.
Venus and Achilles is a pleafing picture j the
continence of Scipio is well grouped, but Sci-
pio, as in evcAy picture I ever faw of him, has
no expreflion. Indeed, chaftity is in the coun-
tenance fo pa/jive a virtue as not to be at all
fuited to the genius of painting; the idea is
rather {hat of infipidity, and accordingly Sci-

pio's

154 T I P PER A R Y.

pio's expreflion is generally infipid enough.
Two fine pieces, by Lucca Jordano, Hercules
and Antetis; Sampfon killing the lion: both
dark and horrid, but they are highly finifhed*
and ftriking. Six heads of old men, by Nogari,
excellent; and four young women, in the cha-
racter of the feafons.

Oftober 9th, left Caftle Oliver. Had I fol-
lowed my inclination, my itay would have been
much longer, for I found it equally the refi-
dence of entertainment and inftruclion. Faffed
through Kilfennan and Duntreleague, in my
way to Tipperary. The road leads every where
on the fides of the hills, fo as to give a very dif-
tinft view of the lower grounds ; the foil all
the way is the fame fort of fandy reddifh loam
1 have already defcribed, incomparable land
for tillage : as I advanced, it grew fomething
lighter, and in many places free from gravel.
Bullocks the (lock all the way. Towards Tip-
perary I faw vaft numbers of fheep, and many
bullocks. All this line of country is part of
the famous golden vale. To Thomas-Town,
where I was fo unfortunate as not to find Mr.
Mathew at home; the domain is ^ooEnglifh
acres, fo well planted, that I could hardly be-
lieve myfelf in Ireland. There is a hill in the
park, from which the view of it, the country
and the Galties, are ftriking. (

To the Earl of Clanwilliara's, where I was
particularly fortunate in meeting MerTrs. Ma- .
earthy and Keating, fons to two of the greateft

farmers

T I P P E R A R Y 155

farmers that ever were in Ireland. The coun-
try is all under fheep, and the foil dry fandy
loam. The Iheep fyflem of Tipperary is to
breed and keep the lambs till three-year old
wethers, fat, and fell them at 26s. at an aver-
age; keep the ewe lambs, and cull the old
flock, felling an equal number of fat ewes at
three to four years old, the average price 2os.
in Oclober, the wool of all the flock in general
amounts to three fleeces, per flone, of i61b. or
6s. a head. From hence to Clonmell, there
are many fheep; to Cullen in Kilkenny, three
or four miles beyond Thurles, within two miles
of Cullen, three or four and twenty miles N.
to S. and from Cullen to within three miles of
Cullen, which is 30 : generally fpeaking, this
is all fheep, but there are many fpots in it where
bullocks are fed. The flock mixed with fheep
are ufually calves, bought in at fix to eight
months, 305. to 403. average 323. and when
they are three year old, fend them to the richer
lands in the county of Limerick, (where every
Tipperary grazier has a farm) to fat. When,
they have not enough of their own rearing,
they buy three-year okls at Ballynafloe, and
fatten them in Limerick. In general, this land
will carry three to five fheep to the acre, and
bear fome calves befides. One acre and three
quarters a bullock the year through, one half
for hay.

Arrangement
i

J56 TIPPERARY.

'Arrangement of a flock of2)$oojheep.

5-0 ewes
500 lambs
500 hoggarts
500 two-year olds
250 fat wethers

250 fat wethers

250 ewes, added to dock, inftead of 250 older enes

fole off

2500 at 5 to an acre 500 acres

250 fat wethers, at 265. - - 324 18 o

250 culled ewes, at 205. - - 150 o o

2000 fleeces, at 6s, - - 600 o o

jC.i'74 18 o

A part of the flock of fat wethers is kept
over from October to the fpring, for the Dub-
lin market, not merely for the high price, but
becaufe underlings, and not fat in autumn, and
fell for lefs than the reft, feldom more than
195. or 2os. To 3000 fheep a grazier in this
neighbourhood has 30 acres of turnips, in or-
der to feed this part of his wether ftock with.
Mr. Macarthy with 8000 fheep, has feldom
more than 30 acres. This fyftem will be fur-
ther explained by Mr. Allen's ftock.

1,200 acres — 2,000 fheep, befides lambs —
Sells 200 four year-old wethers, at 263. — 200

three

T I P P E R A R Y. 457

three year-olds, at 263. — -200 barren ewes, at
1 85*— 2,000 fleeces, at 55, — 400 two-year olds
—400 year olds — 500 Brood ewes — 500 lambs
— Land to feed this flock, 1000 acres. Alfo
1 20 bullocks— 40 cows and fpayed heifers and
working bullocks for work, and milk breed-
ing.— 30 horfes, mares, &c. — 30 labourers,
5 fhepherds — 20 acres of wheat — 10 barley —
10 oats — 10 turnips — 8 potatoes — 60 mowing
ground — Rent of this large tract of fheep-land
from 20 to 255. an acre.

Farms are generally large, commonly 3 or
4000 acres, and rife up to 10,000, of which quan-
tity there is one farm, this is Mr. Macarthy's,
of Spring Houfe, nearTipperary, and is I fup-
pofe the mofl confiderable one in the world.
Here are fome of the particulars of it :

9,000 acres in all — io,oool. rent — 8,000

fheep 2,000 lambs — 550 bullocks — 80 fat

cows — 20,000!. value of flock — 200 year-
lings— 200 two-year olds — 200 three-year olds
—80 plough bullocks— 1 80 horfes, mares and
foals-— 15010 200 labourers-*- 200 acres tillage.

Mr. Richard Dogherty, of Locklogher, 76
bags of wool at 5oolb. to 6oolb. this year.
Lofs of fheep and cattle one-half per cent. No
folding. For hiring and flocking, 5!. an acre.
A fhepherd is allowed four cows, a horfe, a
cabbin, and three acres of garden, and as
much hay as they like for their cattle.

Slaughter

158 T I P P E R A R r*

Slaughter at Corke of cows and bullocks
undoubtedly much leflened. The increafe of
tillage is in Tipperary owing to bolting mills.

The quantity of tillage in this country
trifling, but the crops are large ; there are fe-
veral courfes. The turnip hufbandry often
upon burnt land, fome on lime and fallow,
and fome on fallow alone.

i. Turnips. 2. Fallow. 3. Wheat. 4. Oats.
5. Oats. 6. Oats. 7. Oats. 8. Oats. 9. Oats.
jo. Lay it out.

i. Turnips. 2. Fallow. 3. Potatoes. 4. Bere.
5. Wheat. 6. Oats. 7. Oats. 8. Oats.
9. Oats.

i. Burn for rape feed. 2. Potatoes.
3. Wheat. 4. Oats. 5. Oats. Lay out. And
iometimes they take two crops of wheat.
They never hoe turnips.

Mr. Dexter of Cullen, had a ram, half a
guinea a leap, and great numbers of ewes were
fent to him, the breed much improving.

Potatoes, average produce, 80 to 100
Briftol barrels, at 53. average price, and the
poor people pay 5 to 6 guineas for land.
They often take two crops with adding fome
feed, pay the fame price for the fecond j they
pay this price for turnip land burnt ; grafs
potatoes not generally known. The quantity

T I P P E R A R Y. 159

of wheat 10 barrels to 15. — Bere 15 to 18. —
Barley 12 to 18. — Oats 12 to 15. Their tur-
nips they feldom fow before the i2th of July.
Their manures are lime and lime-ftone
gravel, the gravel for crops, and lime for
grafs ; they ufe it on lime-ftone land, and
with great fuccefs. The foil a mellow, dry
fandy, or gravelly loam, on lime-ftone or lime-
ftone gravel. Much bog in this country, that
of Allen comes in a line through the Queen's
County to within three miles of Cafhel. One-
fifth of Tipperary, mountain, the reft 20$.
an acre. Land fells at 20 years purchafe.
Rents have fallen four or five fhillings an
acre fince 1771 and 1772.

Price of Cattle.

Yearling bullock, 3!. to 3!. los. Store bul-
lock, 61. to 7!. Fat ditto, lol. to 12!. Profit
on a bullock, 4!. to 4!. los. A bullock fat of
ten guineas, weighs 6 cwt.

Newtown, 250 acres, a farm of Mr.
Dogherty's, under bullocks from May to No-
vember, and 1 1 oo lambs all winter through.

I had heard much of the late Mr. Keating's
farm, of Garranlad, as the largeft that ever
was j his fon gave me the following particu-
lars of it:

io,oool. a year rent. 13,800 Irifh acres.
3,000 head of black cattle. 16,300 fheep.
300 horfes. 500 couple -of ducks. 300

turkies.

160 T I P P E R A R Y.

turkies. 90 hogfheads of cyder a year. He
had moft of the ground from Golding to
Clonmell. Collops here in order are, i horfe.
6 fheep. i cow. i fat bullock* 2 yearlings.
3 calves.

To Cullen* Newtown, Palace, Carrick on
Lifh, rents 30 s. an acre. Refpecling the ftate
of the poor in this country they are paid by
a cabbin, and one acre and a half of land, for
which they are reckoned 4!, and for grafs of
a cow 2!. 2s. They live upon potatoes and
milk j generally have cows, but not all, and
thofe who have not, buy, but very many of
them have for the half year* only potatoes and
fait* They all keep pigs. They are juft as they
were 20 years ago. Prices, wheat is. id. per
flone. Englifh barley, lod. Oats, 6d, Bere,
7d. Hay iL 2s. 9d.aton.

Rape is very commonly fown upon burnt
land ; they never feed it, but let it ftand for
feed, of which they get 12 to 15 barrels, and
it fells at 1 6s. a barrel. Burning I Ihould ex-
plain, is only the remaining turf after two
ploughings, the firft in November, and after
Chriftmas a crofs ploughing ; harrow in
March, and burn in May,

Accompanied Lady Clanwilliam in a drive
through her plantations ; fhe has planted a
broad margin for feveral miles round a do-
main, (which his Lordfliip walled in with in-
tention of building) and done it with equal

tatfe

D U N D R U M. 161

tafte and fuccefs. The attention (he has given
to this rational amufement, and the fenfible
and agreeable manner in which fhe renders
every tree intereiling by her defcriptions and
remarks, are formed to fet off a female charac-
ter in a light at leaft as refpectable and as amia-
ble as the moft brilliant exhibition that a
capital can witnefs. The twig which fhe
plants with her hand, and nourifhes by her
care, will not difappoint her in the pleafure fhe
expefts j it will thrive with her attention, and
greet her with its friendly fhade : when will
Dublin prove as grateful ?

October 12th, to Lord de Montalt's at Dun-
drum, a place which his Lordfhip has orna-
mented in the modern ftile of improvement:
the houfe was fituated in the midlt of all the
regular exertions of the laft age. Parterres, pa-
rapets of earth, ftraight walks, knots and dipt
hedges, all which he has thrown down, with
an infinite number of hedges and ditches,
rilled up ponds, &c. and opened one very no-
ble lawn around him, fcattered negligently
over with trees, and cleared the courfe of a
choaked up river, fo that it flows at prefent in
a winding courfe through the grounds. He
continues this work of drefling the fields con-
tiguous to him, to give them a neat appearance,
and advances in it every year, even his tillage
lands are all kept in the fame neat manner,
with fences new done, and the whole carrying
the moft cultivated appearance.

VOL. II. L His

162 D U N D R U M.

His Lordfhip's fyftem of hufbandry is an ad-
mirable one ; it is in the great outline to take
farms into his own hands, as the leafes expire,
to keep them for improvement, and when
done to relet them. This is the true agricul-
ture for profit for a landlord j he has upon
this fyftem improved near 2000 acres. Throw-
ing down the old miferable fences which fplit
the farms into little fcraps of fields, and made
new ditches for drains and water-courfes, dif-
pofed the new fields to the befl advantage,
drained them with ftone drains where wet,
broke up fuch of the grafs as was bad, culti-
vated it enough to bring it into proper order,
and laid it down again to meadow ; there can-
not be a better fyftem, or more calculated at
the fame time to ornament a country, and im-
prove his own eftate.

HisLordfhip has alfo followed feveral prac-
tices in farming, which have proved of great
fervice; among others, keeping hogs upon
clover. He had a mind to mew the country-
man that they might keep many hogs (a very
advantageous ftock to them) by means of clo-
ver ; he kept four fows and twenty-four pigs
the fu, T.mer through on one acre, by which
he made lol. produce. A clear proof that the
hufbandry would be highly advantageous with
this view.

Turnips he cultivates upon a very large

fcale j xvas the firft who had them here on

Bubbles ; he has thirty or forty acres, and

3 every

D U N D R U M. 163

every year has a large quantity ; drills them
with a very cheap limple drill, his own in-
vention, and thins them out by hand, or hoes
them. I viewed his crop, and found them
very regular, and of a good fize; with the
leaves of the whole of a remarkable deep
green, without any yellow ones r. more fo, I
think, than is common in England, and I
obferved the fame circumflance with the other
crops I faw. He ufes them for feeding and
fattening fheep, giving them on dry grafs
land; alfo for flail-feeding bullocks, and finds
the advantage of both ufes fo great, that he
does not know what he fhould do without
them.

In the winter management of his cattle, he
proceeds on very different principles from what
is common in Ireland ; inftead of feeding them
abroad, and for that purpofe flacking the hay
about the fields, he ties them up in flails, of
which he has many, and is erecting more : he
ties up above 100 head, in which he fihds the
greatefl advantage, both in the cattle, faving
food, and yielding dung. The breed of Iheep
he has begun to change, from the long-legged
Tipperary to the fhortlegs of Leiceflerfhire; has
feveral tups of that breed, and finds that the
change is of the higheflconfequence. Folding
he has practiced with the greatefl fuccefs.
The breed of hogs he has alfo changed to the
Berkfhire, and has one of the finefl boars of
that breed I have feen.

L 2 Cabbages

164 D U N D R U M.

Cabbages he cultivated for feveral years, but
finds them burft too foon to be of confiderable
ufe; turnips much better: but Reynolds' tur-
nip-cabbage he finds excellent for late fpring
food; has eight acres of very fine ones this
year, which coft him juft 20-!. labour of ma-
nuring included.

Lord de Montalt keeps 2000 acres in his
hands, 1500 iheep, 40 plough bullocks, 12
cows, &c. His Lordfhip, for the purpofe
of draining his clay lands, ploughs and fho-
vels them up into broad highlands, fo as to
form regular fegments of circles,, in the
manner pra6tifed in fome counties in Eng-
land ; he does this that the furrows may
be drains to the land, for French drains will
not run, owing to the ftiffnefs of the clay.
He has not much of this land, however;
for in general his foil is the rich reddifh
fandy loam of the golden vale. He does
much of his ploughing with the plough of
Warwick and Shropshire, and finds it an-
fvvers very well.

The mountain knds of Tipperary one-
Icventh of the county, the reft lets at 2.0-5.
an acre on an average. There is fome
woollen manufactory fcattcred through it,
efpecially at Thurles, Tipperary, Clonmell,
&c. Mr. John Penning, near Colchin, em-
ploys 30 combers. The year's purchafe of
land 20, was 25 foms years ago. The fall

owing.

C A S H E L. 165

owing partly to the expectation, of #n ab-
fentee land-tax.

O&ober 13th, leaving Dundruo, pafTed
through Caihel, where is a j-ock and mi*
on it, called the rock of Cafhel, fuppofed
to be of the remoter! antiquity. Towards
Clonmeil, the whole way through the fame
rich vein of red fandy loam I have fo often
.mentioned: I examined it in feveral fields,
and found it to be of an extraordinary fer-
tility, and as fine turnip land as ever I
faw. It is much under fheep; but towards
Clonmeil there is a great deal of tillage.

The firft view of that town backed by a
high ridge of mountains, with a beautiful
fpace near it, of inclofures, fringed with a
Scattering of trees, was very pleaiing. It is
the beft fituated place in the county of
Tipperary, on the Sure, which brings up
boats of ten tons burthen. It appears to
be a bufy populous place, yet I was told
that the manufacture of woollens is not con-
fiderable. It is noted far being the birth-
place of the inimitable Sterne. Within two
miles of it is Marletield, the feat of Stephen
Moore, Efq; celebrated in Ireland for his
uncommon exertions in every branch of
agriculture. It was not without the great-
eft concern that I found him abfent. See-
ing this Gentleman however in London af-
terwaixlo, he was kind enough to favour
me with the following particulars :

His

r66 CLONMELL.

His mill was built feven years ago, and coft
15,000!. the wages of the millers, includ-
ing candles, coals, foap, tallow, &c. 7 or
8ool. a year: it contains 9 ftoned for wheat,
and 4 for oatmeal : it has a very complete
apparatus for fifting, cleaning, &c. and gra-
naries of uncommon magnitude, holding
10,000 barrels : began to be worked with only
3,000 barrels of wheat in a year, which has
rifen gradually to 20,000 barrels in 1776, a
very ftrong proof of the great increaie of
tillage in the neighbourhood. Very much of
it is between Clonmell and Ca(hel, in which
tracl: there was formerly more iheep in one
parifh, than now in three ; alfo much in
the Corke road to Cloheen, but no moun-.
tain heath ground improved. The change
has been from fheep and bullocks. He
has a profpect of doing yet more, and
at the fame time that other mills have
been erected that grind much, perhaps the
whole is not fhort of 40,000 barrels.- The
farmers do not bring their wheat from a
greater diftance than 16 miles. Mr. Moore
finds it neceffary to kiln dry all. I menti-
oned to him the bad colour of all the wheat
in his own, and every other mill in Ireland,
he attributed it only to wet harvefts. He
fends his flour to Dublin, on the bounty,
which rather more than pays the expence of
carriage 6d. per cwt. Never exports on his
own account, but fends a little to Waterford.
It goes to Dublin in cars, which takes each
eight to ten cwt. that is from four to five

bags.

C L O N M E L L. 167

bags. He ufed to pay 35. a cwt. in winter,
and 35. 6d. in fummer for 84 miles, but now
the price is 2s 6d. in fummer, and 35. in
winter. Mr. Moore tried Englifh broad-
wheeled waggons, with high priced ftrong
horfes, but they did not anfwer at all : he
has found the cars to carry much greater loads.

He has not found that the premium has
over flocked the Dublin market, which he
attributes to there being an export from
Dublin, notwithftanding fuch exported corn
receives no bounty. The bran Mr. Moore
applies to breeding and fattening hogs, con-
trary to the practice of moil: other mills,
who having tried it, have given that practice
up. He has thirty breeding fows and fix
hundred pigs, which are fed and fattened
entirely on it, and the fat is firm and good.
The price of bran is is. id. the fix ftone,
and the hogs anfwer fo well, that he would
contract for other bran to be delivered him
at that price, in order to ufe it in this man-
ner. He does not depend entirely on breed-
ing his own, but buys many ftores. He
is entirely in the Berkfhire breed, which he
finds much fuperior to the Irifh/ I obferved
his hogs, and thought them very fine ones.
His fows bring three litters each, feven pigs on
an average, in a year and a quarter j fells them
at half a year to two years old, putting
them to fat as foon as they have done grow-
ing ; but when there is a great demand, fats
them young. The average fat pig, two cwt.

i68 M A R L E F I E L D.

at from 2os. to 305. a cwt. medium 253. The
dang is a confiderable profit ; he finds it be-
yond any other. He has given bran alfo to
fatting ftore cattle, having built flails for that
purpofe ; gives them hay till when near fat,
then leaves off the hay. His working horfes
are fed on bran entirely, no oats.

Mr. Moore contracts for bifcuit, which he
bakes in large quantities, and bread for the
whole town of Clonmell. He has eight ovens
going for bifcuit. Starch he alfo makes large
quantities of. Adjoining his flour mill, he has
erected a rape mill, for making, oil ; the feed
is all raifed in the neighbourhood. The cake
fells at 485. a ton, and is exported, fome to
Holland, but moft to England for manure.
He has tried feeding beafts with it, but it will
not do at all : they would have died. This
fact has long been known in England. It is
the cake of lint feed that fattens. We have,
however, very florid writers of this age, who
fpeak of oxen fattening on rape cake as a com-
mon thing.

Mr. Moore's hufbandry is alfo worthy of
confiderable notice. His principal attention
has been given to cattle; feventeen years ago
he imported Leicefterfhire rams, Northampton
ftallions, and a Craven bull from England,
and has at different times fince had bulls
from Bakewell and others, and has himfelf
fold yearling bull calves, from lol. to 30!. a
piece, and rams from jol. to 40!. Long ex-
perience

M A R L E F I E L D. 169

perience has told him that the long horned
Craven breed of cattle is preferable to any other.
I enquired particularly into the quantity of
milk, becaufe the common objection is their
not giving much. Sir William Ofborne, as
well as Mr. Moore, allured me that he had
feen one of them milked, and the milk mea-
fured feventeen quarts at one meal ; but the
average fix to ten quarts at a meal, which is
neither better nor worfe than the common cows
of the country : but the milk is much better
and thicker, and yields more butter than that
of the HoldernefTe. I examined his bulls, cows,
and oxen, with attention ; he has a bull which
deferves every commendation for fliape ; and
three or four out of fix or feven prime cows I
faw, were very beautiful ones.

Of fheep he keeps jooo, that is 200 ewes,
200 year-olds ; 200 two-year olds ; 200 barren
ewes, and 200 lambs. He fells every year 200
two-year old fat wethers, and 100 barren ewes ;
the wethers in Oftober, at 28s. and the ewes
in the fpring, at 255. His fleeces are jib. each
on an average, at is, per Ib.

Turnips he has cultivated for fome years, up
to 30 acres in a year, broad caft, has not hoed,
from finding them very good without. He
both draws and feeds on the land. He has had
cabbages alfo, but never more than two acres,
finds them more expenfive, but do not go fo
far as turnips.

170 MOUNTAIN IMPROVEMENT.

To Sir William Ofborne's, three miles the
other fide Clonmell. From a character fo re-
markable for intelligence and precifion. I
could not fail of meeting information of the
moft valuable kind. This gentleman has made
a mountain improvement which demands par-
ticular attention, being upon a principle very
different from common ones.

Twelve years ago he met with a hearty look-
ing fellow of forty, followed by a wife and fix
children in rags, who begged. Sir William
queftioned him upon the fcandal of a man in
full health and vigour, fupporting himfelf in
fuch a manner : the man faid he could get no
work : Come along with °me, I ivillfoew you afpot
of land upon which I will build a cabbinfor you,
and if you like it you ftallfix there. The fellow
followed Sir William, who was as good as his
word : he built him a cabbin, gave him five
acres of a heathy mountain, lent him four
pounds to ftock with, and gave him, when he
had prepared his ground, as much lime as he
would come for. *The fellow flourifhed j he
went on gradually ; repaid the four pounds,
and prefently became a happy little cottar : he
has at prefent twelve acres under cultivation,
and a itock in trade worth at leail Sol. his
name is John Conory.

The fuccefs which attended this man in two
or three years, brought others, who applied
for land, and Sir William gave them as they
applied. The mountain was under leafe to a

tenant,

MOUNTAIN IMPROVEMENT. 171

tenant, who valued it fo little, that upon be-
ing reproached with not cultivating, or doing
fomething with it, he allured Sir William,
that it was utterly impracticable to do any
thing with it, and offered it to him without
any deduction of rent. Upon this mountain
he fixed them ; gave them terms as they came
determinate with the leafe of the farm, fo that
every one that came in fucceflion had fhorter
and fhorter tenures ; yet are they fo defirous of
fettling, that they come at prefent, though on-
ly two years remain for a term.

In this manner Sir William has fixed twen-
ty-two families, who are all upon the improv-
ing hand, the meaneft growing richer; and
find themfelves fo well off, that no confidera-
tion will induce them to work for others, not
even in harveft : their mduftry has no bounds ;
nor is the day long enough for the revolution
of their inceflant labour. Some of them bring
turf to Clonmell, and Sir William has feen
Conory returning loaded with foap afties.

He found it difficult to perfuade them to
make a road to their village, but when they
had once done it, he found none in getting
crofs roads to it, they found fuch benefit in
the firfl. Sir William has continued to give
them whatever lime they come for ; and they
havedefired 1000 barrels among them for the
year 1766, which their landlord has according-
ly contracted for with his lime-burner, at 1 1 d.
a barrel. Their houfes have all been built at

his

172 \YATERFORD.

his expence, and done by contract at 61. each,
after which they raife what little offices they
want for themfeives.

Sir William being prejudiced againft the
cuftom of burning land, infifted that they
ihould not do it, which impeded them for fome
time; but upon being convinced that they
could not go on well without it, he relaxed,
and fince that they have improved rapidly. He
has informed them, that upon the expiration
of the leafe, they will be charged fomething for
the land, and has defired that they will mark
out each man what he wifhes to have ; they
have accordingly run divifions, and fome of
them have taken pieces of 30 or 40 acres : a
ftrong proof that they find their husbandry
beneficial and profitable. He has great reafon
to believe that nine-tenths of them were white
boys, but are now of principles and practice
exceedingly different from the mifcreants that
bear that name. The lime Sir William gives
them for the firft breaking up, and the quantity
they chufe is 40 barrels an acre, fo that all the
expenfe is 61. for the houfe, and il. 2 6s. Sd.
an acre for the land they improve. He has
little doubt but they will take the whole moun-
tain among them, which confifts of 900 acres.
Their courfe of tillage is,

i . Potatoes on the burning, generally Turks ,
(cindered) and great crops. 2. Rye. 3. Oats,
and then leave it out ; the grafs is,

Their

W A T E R F O R D. 173

Their cattle are feeding on the mountain in
the day, but of nights they houfe them in little
miferable ftables. All their children are em-
ployed regularly in their hufbandry, picking
ilones, weeding, &c. which fhows their induf-
try flronglyj for in general they are idle about
all the country. The women fpin.

Too much cannot be faid in praife of this
undertaking. It fhows that a reflecting pene-
trating landlord can fcarcely move without the
power of creating opportunities to do himfelf
and his country fervice. It mows that the vil-
kiny of the greateft mifcreants, is all fituation
and circumftance: EMPLOY, don't bang them.
Let it not be in theilavery of the cottar fyftem,
in which induJftry never meets its reward, but
by giving property, teach the value of it -, by
giving them the fruit of their labour, teach
them to be laborious. All this Sir William
Ofborne has done, and done it with effec"l, and
there probably is not an honefter fet of families
in the county than thofe which he has formed
from the refufe of the white boys.

Suppofe he builds a houfe to every twenty
acres, and limes that quantity of land, the ex-
penfe would be a few Shillings over 40!. or 405.
an acre. If they pay him 2s. 4d. an acre for
the land, he will make j aft 61. per cent, for his
money : a mpft finking proof of the immenfe
profit which attends mountain improvements
of every kind, becaufe inftead of as. 4d. they
would confider 6s. or 73. as a rent of favour'.

43.

N E W T O W N.

45. 8d. is 12 percent, for his money; 75. is 18
per cent. Yet in fpite of fuch facts do the lazy,
trifling, inattentive, negligent, Jlobberingy pro-
fligate owners of Irifh mountains leave them,
as they received them, from the hands of their
anceltors, in the pofleffion of groufe and foxes.
Shame to fuch afpiritlefs conduct !

• One- third of Waterford mountain at 6d. an
acre, and two-thirds at 73. Twenty miles on
the coaft in length, and eight or ten in breadth,
is under dairies, of which the rent per acre is
little known, farms being paid for by the cows
they will maintain, at 503. each. Thefe dairies
rife to 50 and even 100 cows. They all keep
great numbers of hogs, which increafe every
day from the high price. The ftate of the poor
people much better than formerly •> they ufed
to have one acre of potatoes, and the grafs of
one cow for their year's labour, and no more,
and were much greater flaves than at prefent.

. Tillage does not thrive in the county ; it has,
however, increafed pretty much about Dun-
garvon, from whence there has been a toler-
able export of corn ; not only from its neigh-
bourhood, but alib from a diftance, owing to
the mobs of Clonmell and Carrick flopping
corn going to Waterford, which has injured
the latter town.

October 1 5th, left New Town, and keeping
on the banks of the Sure, pafled through Car-
rick to Curraghmore, the feat of the Earl of

Tyrone.

N E W T O W N. 175

Tyrone. This line of country, in point of
foil, inferior to what I have of late gone through :
fo that I confider the rich country to end at
Clonmell. For the following account of the
hufbandry of the county of Waterford I am
obliged to the attention of Lord Tyrone,
who omitted no means or' informing me
accurately.

That county is divided into very large farms,
and the renters of them keep cows generally,
which they let to dairymen. One farmer, Mr.
Peor, has 2000 cows, and pays 2000! . a year,
but they rarely let more to one man than 50
cows, ufually about 20; many of thefe men
pay weekly, and others quarterly : the rent
from 503. to 3!. 55. no fuch thing as horn-
money. The dairyman's privilege is a houfe
and two or three acres of land, or a horfe and
two cows in twenty. They make nothing but
butter, and all keep hogs; but do not feed
them with milk, felling it all; 1,300 to 1,500
churns full of milk, each eight gallons, goes
into Waterford every day in the year, and a
prodigious quantity to Carrick. The county
is by far the greatefl dairying one in Ireland.
The breed is the common mountain cow, poor
to look .at, but great milkers, five or fix pot-
tles at a meal common. Price of them cl, at
an average. Average rent of all the land un-
der cows, i os. One-third of the county moun-
tain, at 6d. the other two-thirds, at IDS. Along
the Blackwater, good land, and four miles
round Waterford, 2os. or 253. The quantity

for

176 CURRAGHMOOR.

for a cow from two to four acres. They ge-
nerally breed their own by rearing a few calves
every year ; the young flock are kept on the
mountains in fummer, and in the worft of the
low land in winter. They never feed their
cows with any hay, except in very fevere wea-
ther. No other flock but cows.

The foils are various at this end of the coun-
ty, clay and fhingly flate, with a reddifh mold
upon it and gravelly loams. At the other end,
they have lime-flone lands. They have, how-
ever, about Curraghmoor lime-flone gravel
of a fliff nature. Lime at the kiln gd. a bar-
rel; Lord Tyrone pays is. for the flone, and
2s. 8d. a barrel for the culm, and pays ad. a
barrel for breaking and burning, all which
make qd. Every barrel of culm gives feven
of lime 3 a ton of flone produces four barrels
of lime: the barrel of lime four cubical feet.
Not a thirtieth part of the country under the
plough. The tillage confifls only of a little
. patches broken up by the cabbins ; it has been
increafing thefe 15 years: but the principal
increafe has been within thefe ten years. The
courfe of crops :

i. Potatoes. 2. potatoes. 3. Barley, or
oats. 4. Oats. 5. Oats : continued while the
land yields. Wheat is coming in. Some who
till large fields, and do not take fo many crops.
About Dungarvon, there are many potatoes
planted, which are fent to Dublin in boats,
with loads of birch brooms, and they are faid

CURRAGHMOOR. 177

to be loaded with f rut f and timber. But in no
part of the county do they plant grafs pota-
toes : they plant many of the bull or turk fort
for their pigs, but they are reckoned an un-
wholcfome fort for the people to feed on. Par-
ing and burning land was common before the
law pafled againfl it, but of late very little.
Upon the coafl there is a great deal of fea-
weed and fea-fand, efpecially beyond Dungar-
von and Waterford. Flax is fcarcely any where
fown. The poor people feed on potatoes and
milk ; mofl of them have cows ; many of them
for a part of the year only fait : but they have
oat bread when potatoes are not in feafon.
They all keep pigs, but never eat them. Their
circumflances are in general greatly better than
they were twenty years ago, both in food and
cloathing; they have now all flioes and (lock-
ings, and are decently drefTed every Sunday.
No hats among the women, and it is the fame
in other parts. Their labour is valued, and
they are paid the amount in land. The
religion of the lower claries is the Roman
catholic.

Emigrations from this part of Ireland prin-
cipally to Newfoundland, for a feafon ; they
have i81. or 20!. for their pay, and are main-
tained, but they do not bring home more than
7!. to nl. Some of them flay and fettle;
three years ago there was an emigration of in-
dented fervants to North Carolina, of 300, but
they were flopped by contrary winds, 6cc.
There had been fomething of this conflantly,

VOL. II. M but

178 C U R R A G H M O O R.

but not to that amount. The opprefilon
which the poor people have moft to complain
of, is the not having any tenures in their lands,
by which means they are entirely fubjecl: to
their employers.

Manufactures here are only woollens. Car-
rick is one of the greateft manufacturing towns
in Ireland. Principally for ratteens, but of
late they have got into broadcloths, all for
home confumption j the manufacture in-
creafes, and is very flourifhing. There are
between three and four hundred people em-
ployed by it, in Carrick and its neighbour-
hood.

Lord Tyrone is clear that if his eftate in
Londonderry was in Waterford, or that all the
inhabitants of it were to emigrate from it, fo
as to leave him to new model it, he would be
able to get full one-third more for it than he
can do at prefent ; rents in the north depend-
ing not on quality, but on price of linen.

The rife in the profperity of Ireland, about
the year 1749, owing to the higher price of
provifions, which raifed rents and enforced
induftry. Butter now 9d. a Ib. thirty years
ago 2jd.

Tythes are ufually compounded for by the
year through this county. Wheat pays jos.
Barley, ics. Oats, 55. Mowing ground, 45.
'Sheep,' id. each. Milk fells in fummer for a

halfpenny

C U R R A G H IVI O O R. 179

halfpenny a quart ; five quarts of butter-milk
in fummer for a halfpenny.

Lord Tyrone has improved 127 acres of hill,
the foil reddifh dry loam, on a flaty bottom,
over-run with French and Irifh furze, and
briars and builies^he firft grubbed them up
at a guinea an acre : then he levelled an in-
finite number of old ditches and mounds, at
50!. expenfe, ploughed in winter, and fecond
ploughed in Mayj and 200 barrels of roach
lime per acre, fpread, at is. a barrel. Upon
this ploughed twice more; and fowed, part
with wheat at Michaelmas, and part, with bar-
ley in fpring. The crops exceedingly good ;
8 barrels an acre of wheat, and 1 8 of barley.
After the wheat, barley and grafs feeds were
fown ; the barley as good as the other j and
upon the barley, part oats were fown, the
crop 15 barrels, and white clover and hay
feeds. Before the improvement, it let at los. an
acre ; after the improvement it would let rea-
dily at 25$. The grubbing the furze was not
effectual, for 50!. has been iince expended in
grubbing up Icattered ones. They are now
completely deftroyed, is a very beautiful well-
laid lawn, and fo good land, that the wool of
the fheep alone that were kept there lafl year,
without other food, and through the year paid
2os. an acre for the whole. It would now
feed 600 fheep through the year. Over 90
acres limed, with 250 barrels an acre, and fal-
lowed, had 17 barrels an acre of wheat. Eight
years ago, his Lordfhip (lopped their burning
M 2

180 CURRAGHMOOR:

land ; but upon receiving many complaints at
it, he fold them lime at gd. a barrel, which coft
him is, in order to make up the imaginary
lofc.

I had the pleafure of meeting, at Lord Ty-
rone's, William Shanly, Efq; of Willyfield, in
Lcitrim, who informed me that he had twelve
hundred per acre from a bad red bog, ftone
of potatoes four feet deep, drained to the clay
at bottom i lime-ftone fand at 3], labour, be-
fides horfes ; diinged it a common covering,
and immediately planted the potatoes, dug
them, and fowed barley, 1 5 barrels an acre.
Barley again 1 2 barrels ; barley again 8 barrels,
grew too rank, laid with grafs feeds, could let
at 405. an acre: anfwers fo well, that he would
have done any quantity of it ; did 20 acres.
He planted with a plough 29! flone of pota-
toes in rows, four feet afunder > the produce
was 1,440 (tone, the quantity of land about
three rood. In the county Leitrim, four-fifths
of mountain, at 2d. or not fo much} the re-
maining fifth, 6s. the mountains in Leitrim all
wet, a boggy furface.

Curraghmoor is one of the finefr. places in
Ireland, or indeed that I have any where feen.
The houfe, which is large, is fituated upon a
riling ground, in a vale furrounded by very
bold hills, which rife in a variety of forms,
and offer to the eye, in riding through the
grounds, very noble and finking fcenes. Thefe
hills are exceedingly varied, fo that the detour

CURRAGHMOOR. 181

of the place is very pleafmg. In order to fee
it to advantage, I would advife a traveller to
take the ride which Lord Tyrone carried me.
Faffed through the deer park wood of old oaks,
fpread over the fide of a bold hill, and of fuch
an extent, that the fcene is a truly foreft one,
without any other boundary in view than what
the {terns of trees offer from mere extent, re-
tiring one behind another till they thicken fo
much to the eye, under the fliade of their
fpreading tops, as to form a djftant wall of
wood. This is a fort of fcene not common in
Ireland, it is a great extent alone that will give
it. Frpm -this Ijill enter an evergreen planta-
tion,' a fcene which winds up the Deer-park
hijl, ancj opens on to the brow of it,' which
commands a moft noble view indeed. The
lawns around the houfe appear at one's feet,
at the bottom of a great declivity of wood, al-
moft every where furrounded by plantations.
The hills on the oppoiite fide of the vale againft
the houfe^ confift of a large lawn in {he center of
the two woods, that to the right of an immenfe
extent, which waves over a mountain fide, in
the fineft manner imaginable, and lead the eye
to the fcenery on the left, which is a beauti-
ful vale of rich inclofures, of feveral miles
extent, with the Sure making one great reacli
through it^ "and a bold bend juft before it en-
ters a gap in the hills towards Waterford, and
winds behind them ; to the right you loolc
over a large plain, backed by the great Cum-
meragh mountains. For a diftinc~l extent of
yiew, the parts of which are all of a com-
manding

182 C U R R A G II M C O R.

manding magnitude, and a variety equal to
the number, very few profpecls are finer thai*
this.

From henceihe boundary plantation extends
fome miles to the weft and north-weft of the
domain, forming a margin to the whole of
different growths, having been planted, by de-
grees, from three to iixteen years. It is in
general well grown, and the trees thriven ex-
ceedingly, particularly the oak, beech, larch,
and firs. It is very well Sketched, with much
variety given to it.

Pafs by the garden acrofs the river, which
murmurs over a rocky bed, and follow the rid^
ing up a fteep hill, covered with wood from
fome breaks, in which the houfe appears per-
fedlly buried in a deep wood, and come out,
after a confiderable extent of ride, into the
higher lawn, which commands a view of the
fcenery about the houfe j and from the brow
of the hill the water, which is made to imitate
a river, has a good effect, and throws a great
air of chearfulnefs over the fcene, for from
hence the declivity below it is hid; but the
view, which is the moft pleafing from hence,
the fineft at Curraghmoor, and indeed one of
the moft ftriking that is any where to be feen,
is that of the hanging wood to the right of the
houle, rifing in fo noble a fweepas perfectly to
fill the eye, and Jeave the fancy fcarce any thing
to wiJli : at the bottom is a fmall femicircular
lawn around, which flows the river, under the

immediate

CURRAGHMOOR. 183

immediate fhade of very noble oaks ; the whole
wood rifes boldly from the bottom, tree above
tree, to a vaft height, of large oak, the maffes
of fhade are but tints of one colour, it is not
chequered with a variety, there is a majeftic
fimplicity, a unity in ihe whole, which is at-
tended with an uncommon impreflion, and
fuch as none but the moft magnificent fcenes
can raife,

Defcending from hence through the roads,
the riding crofles the river, pafTes through
the meadow, which has fuch an effect in the
preceding fcene, from which alfo the view is
very fine, and leads home through a continu-
ed and an extenfive range of fine oak, partly
on a declivity, at the bottom of which the
river murmurs its broken courfe.

Befides this noble riding, there is a very
agreeable walk runs immediately on the banks
of the river, which is perfect in its ftile; it is
a fequeftered line of wood, fo high on the de-
clivities in fome places, and fo thick to the ve-
ry edge in others, overfpreading the river,'
that the character of the fcene is gloom and
melancholy, heightened by the noife of the
water falling from flone to ftone ; there is a
confiderable variety in the banks of it, and in
the figures and growth of the wood, but none
that hurts the impreflion, which is well pre-
ferved throughout.

Oclober

184 W A T E R F O R D.

October lyth. accompanied Lord Tyrone
to Waterford ; made fome enquiries into the
flate of their trade, but found it difficult, from
the method in which the Cuflom-houfe books
are kept, to get the details I wiihed ; but in
the year following, having the pleafure of a
long vifit at Baliycanvan, the feat of Cornelius
Bolton, Efq; his fon, the member for the city,
procured me every information I could wifh,
and that in fo liberal and polite a manner,
that it would not be eafy to exprefs the obli-
gations I am under to both. In general I was
informed that the trade of the place had in-
creafed cpnfiderably in ten years, both the ex-
ports and imports. The exports of the pro-
duels of pafturage, full ope-third in twelve
years. That the ftaple trade of the place is
the Newfoundland trade ; this is very much
increafed, there is more of it here than any
where,. The number of people who go paf-
fengers in the Newfoundland (hips is amaz-
ing; from fixty t6 eighty fbips, and from,
three thouland to five thqufand annually.
They come from moft parts of Ireland, from
Corke, Kerry, 6cc. Experienced men will get
1 8 to 25!. for the fealbn, from March to No-
vember j a man who never went will have five
to feven pounds, and his pafTage, and others
rife to 20!. the paflage out they get, but pay
home two pounds. An induftrious man in a
year will bring home twelve to fixteen pounds
with him, arid fome more. A great point for
them is to be 'able to carry out all their (lops,
for every thing there is exceedingly dear, one
;t or

W A T E R F O R D. 185

or two hundred per cent, dearer than they can
get them at home. They are not allowed to
take out any woollen goods but for their own
ufe. The fnips go loaded with pork, beef,
butter, and fome fait : and bring home pafTenr-
gers, or get freights where they can ; fome-
times rum. The Waterford pork comes prin-
cipally from the barony of Iverk in Kilkenny,
where they fatten great numbers of large hogs ;
for many weeks together they kill here three to
four thoufand a week, the price 505. to 4!.
each; goes chiefly to Newfoundland. One
was killed in Mr. Penrofe's cellar, that weighed
five cwt. and a quarter, and meafured from
the nofe to the end of the tail, nine feet four
inches.

There is a foundery at Waterford for pots,
kettles, weights, and all common utenfils ; and
a manufactory by meflieurs King and Tegent,
of anvils to anchors, 20 cwt. &c. which em-
ploys 40 hands. Smiths earn from 6s. to 243.
a week. Nailors, from los. to las. And
another lefs considerable. There are two fu-
gar-houfes, and many falt-houfes. The fait
is boiled over lime -kilns.

There is a fifhery upon the coaft of Water-
ford, for a great variety of fifh, herrings par-
ticularly in the mouth of Waterford harbour,
and two years ago in fuch quantities there,
that the tides left the ditches full of them.
There are fome premium boats both here and

186 W A T E R F O R D.

at Dungarvon, but the quantity of herrings
barrelled is not confiderable.

The butter trade of Waterford has increaf-
ed greatly for 7 years paftj it comes from
Waterford principally, but much from Car-
low j for it conies from 20 miles beyond Gar-
low, for 6d. per cwt. From the firft of Janu-
ary, 1774, to the firft of January, 1775,
there were exported 59,856 calks of butter
each on an average, one hundred weight at the
mean price of 503. Revenue of Waterford,
3751, 17,000!. — 1776, 52,000!. The {laugh-
ter trade has increased, but not fo much as
the butter. Price of butter now at Water-
ford, 585. twenty years average, 42$. Beef
now to 255. average, twenty years, los. to i8s.
Pork now 305. average, twenty years, 165. to
22S. Eighty fail of ihips now belonging to
the port, twenty years ago not 30. They
pay to the captains of fhips of 200 tons, 5!. a
month ; the mate 3!. los. Ten 'men, at 408.
five years ago only 273. Building (hips, jol.
a ton* Wear and tear of fuch a fhip, 20!. a
month. Ship provifions, 2os. a month.

The hew church in this city is a very beau-
tiful one ; the body of it is in the fame itile
exactly as that of Belfaft already defcribed :
the total length 170 feet, the breadth 58.
The length of the body of the church 92, the
height 40 ; breadth between the pillars 26.
The ifle (which I do not remember at Belfaft)
is 58 by 45. A room on one fide the fteeple,

fpace

W A T E R F O R D. 187

ipace for the bifhop's court, 24 by 18 -, on the
other fide, a room of the fame fize for the
veftry ; and 28 feet fquare left for a deeple
when their funds will permit. The whole is
light and beautiful : it was built by fubfcripti-
on, and there is a fine organ befpoke at Lon-
don. But the fined object in this city is the
quay, which is unrivalled by any I have ieen ;
it is an Englifh mile long ; tbe buildings on
it are only common houfes, but the river is
near a mile over, flows up to .the town in one
noble reach, and the oppofite fhore a bold
hill, which rifes immediately from the water
to a height that renders the whole magnifi-
cent. This is fcattered with fome wood, and
divided into paftures of a beautiful verdure,
by hedges. I crofTed the water, in order to
walk up the rocks on the top of this hill; in
one place, over againft Bilberry quarry, you
look immediately down on the river, which
flows in noble reaches from Granny cadle on
the right pad Cromwell's rock, the fhores on
both fides, quite deep, efpecially the rock of
Bilberry. You look over the whole town,
which here appears in a triangular form ; be-
fides the city, the Cummeragh mountains,
Slein-a-man, &c. come in view. Kilmacow
river falls into the Sure, after flowing through
a large extent of well planted country ; this is
the fined view about the city.

From Waterford to Paflage, and got my
chaife and horfes on board the Countefs of Ty-
rone pacquet, in full expectation of failing

immediately

x88 B A L L Y C A N V A N.

immediately, as the wind was fair, but I foon
found the difference of thefe private veflels
and the pod office pacquets at Holyhead and
Dublin. When the wind was fair the tide
was foul : and when the tide was with them,
the wind would not dp; in Englifh there was
not a complement of pafTengers, and fo I had
the agreeablenefs of xvaiting with my horfes in
the hold, by way of reft, after a journey of
above 1560 miles.

October iSth. after a beaftly night pafled
on fhip board, and finding no figns of depar-
ture, walked to Bally'canvan, the feat of Cor-
nelius Bolton, Efq; rode with Mr. Bolton,
jiin. to Faithleghill, which commands one of
the fineft views I have feen in Ireland. There
is a rock on the top of a hill, which has a ve-
ry bold vievy on every fide down on a great
extent of country, much of which is grafs in-
clofures of a good verdure. This hill is the
center of a circle of about ten miles diameter,
beyond which higher lands rife, which after
Jp reading' to a great extent, have on every
fide a back ground of mountain : in a norther-
ly direction, mount Leinfter, between Wex-
ford and Wieklow, twenty- fix miles off, rifes
in feveral heads, far above the clouds. A lit-
tle to the right of this, Sliakeiltha f z. e. the
woody mountain) at a lefs diftance, is a fine
objecl:. To the left, Tory hill, only five
miles, in a regular form varies the out-line.
To the eaft, there is the long mountain, eigh-
teen miles diftant, and feveral lefier Wexford

hills.

B A L L Y C A N V A N. 189

hills. To the fouth-eaft, the Saltees. To
the fouth the ocean, and the colines about the
bay of Tramore. To the weft, Monavollagh
rifes 2160 feet above the level of the fea,
eighteen miles off, being part of the great
range of the Cummaragh mountains ; and to
the north-weft Slinaman, at the diftance of
twenty-ibur miles j fo that the out-line is
every where bold and diftinCt, though diftant.
Thefe circumftances would alone form a great
view, but the water part of it, which fills up
the canvafs, is in a much fuperior ftile. The
great river Sure takes a winding courfe from
the city of Waterford, through a rich coun-
try, hanging on the fides of hills to its banks,
and dividing into a double channel, forms the
letter ifland, both of which courfes you com-
mand diftinftly ; united, it makes a bold reach
under the hill on which you ftand, and there
receive the noble tribute of the united waters
of the barrow and the Nore, in two great
channels, which form the larger ifland ; en-
larged by fuch an acceffion of water, it winds
round the hill in a bending courfe, of the
freeft and moft graceful outline, every where
from one to three miles acrofs, with bold
ftiores, that give a fharp outline to its courfe
to the ocean ; twenty fail of fhips at PafTage,
gave animation to the fcene ; upon the whole,
the boldnefs of the mountain outline ; the va-
riety of the grounds; the vaft extent of river,
with the declivity to it from the point of view,
altogether form fo unrivalled a fcenery — every

objecl

BALLYCANVAN.

object fo commanding, that the general want
of wood is almoft forotten.

Two years after this account was written I
again vifited this enchanting hill, and walked
to it, day after day, from Ballycanvan, and
with increafing pleafure. Mr. Bolton, jun.
has fince I was there before, inclofed forty
acres on the top and fteep Hope 'to the water,
and began to plant them. This will be a
prodigious addition ; for the Hope forming
the bold fhore for a confiderable fpace, and
having projections from which the wood will
all be leen in the gentle hollows of the hill,
the effect: will be amazingly fine. Walks
r.nd a riding are tracing out, which will com-
mand frefh beauties at every ftep j the fpots
from which a variety of beautiful views are
feen are numerous. All the way from Bally-
canvan to Faithleg, the whole to the amount
of 1200 acres, is the property of Mr. Bolton.

Farms about Ballycanvan, Waterford, &c.
are generally fmall, from twenty and thirty
to five hundred acres, generally about two
hundred and fifty, all above two hundred
acres are in general dairies ; fome of the dai-
ry ones rife very high. The foil is a reddifh
ftony, or flaty gravel, dry, except low lands,
which are clay or turf. Rents vary much
about the town very high, from 5!. 55. to 9!.
but at the diftance of a few miles towards
PafTage, &c. they are from 205. to 408. and
fome higher, but the country in general does
i not

B A L L Y CAN V A N. 191

not life fo high, ufually los.to aos. for dairy-
ing land. The courfe of crops is,

i. Potatoes ; the produce 40 to 80 barrels,
20 ftones each. 2. Wheat j the crop 8 barrels,
each 20 ftones. 3. Oats ; the produce from
jo to 14 barrels. 4. Barley; the crop 12 to
15 barrels, 16 ftone each. 5. Lay it out;
the better fort clover with the barley, and leave
it for meadow.

i i. Oats. 2. Wheat. 3. Oats. 4. Barley.
One preparation is a flight burning of the fur-
rows for wheat, after that wheat, they will
fow barley, and then feveral crops of oats.
Alfo.

i. Potatoes. 2. Wheat. 3. Wheat. 4.
Barley. 5. Lay out.

i. Potatoes. 2. Potatoes. 3. Wheat. 4.
Oats. 5. Barley. 6. Lay out. The fecond
crop 10 barrels. Every houfe has a little
patch of flax for making a little handle cloth,
but the quantity is not confiderable.

The principal manure is a fane/ marie
they raife in boats on the banks in the har-
bour at low water ; it is of a blueifh colour,
very foapy, and ferments ftrongly with acids :
a. boat load is 18 tons, and cofts 6 to 8s. a
load. Moft of it has (hells. They lay it on
for barley particularly, and get great crops,
can in all fee to an inch where fpread. Some-
times

192 BALLYCANVA N.

times it is laid on grafs, and the effect uncom-
monly great, bringing up a perfect carpeting of
white clover wherever laid. They lay five or
fix loads an acre, and the land is for ever the
better. They repeat it on the fame tend, and with
great effect. They make compofts of it with
lime, and alfo hedge earth with good fuccefs.
Lime they ufe alfo ; lay from 100 to 150 bar-
rels roach to an acre> which has a very great
effect. On the ftiffer yellow clays it does bet-
ter than fand, but laid on all forts, and alfo on
grafs land with good effect. Sea fand they ufe
for potatoes, but it does not laft more than for
that crop. Waterford dung, and ftreet ful-
lage, 423. the boat load of 18 tons. Clover
has been introduced thefe 12 years; Mr.
Bolton has fown it for many years with very
good effect, fo that he never lays down land
without it.

The dairies are generally fet at 2!. 55. The
dairyman's privilege to 40 cows is a cow and
horfe, and 2 acres and a cabbin, and he is al-
lowed to rear one calf in ten ; 100 acres to 40
cows ; they do not keep any hogs on account
of cows. Price of cows, average 4!. to 5!.
They are engaged to give two pottles each on
an average, putting all the milk together.
Meadows let at 3!. to 4!. an acre for the hay.

There are few fheep kept, no great flocks.
The poor people plough with four horfes,
fometimes fix : gentlemen generally with
fpayed heiffers or oxen. Land fells at 19 and

20 years

B A L L Y C A N V A N. 193

30 years purchafe; it did fell at 23, and the
fall has been owing to the failure of credit
in 1771 and 1772.

Tythes, Potatoes, Wheat, Barley, and Oats,
55. to 6s. Cows, ad. Sheep, 6d.

The poor people fpin their own flax, 'but
not more, and a few of them wool for them-
felves. Their food is potatoes and milk;
but they have a confiderable afliftance from
fifh, particularly herrings j part of the year
they have alfo barley, oaten, and rye bread.
They are incomparably better off" in every re-
fpe£t than twenty years ago. Their increafe
about Ballycanvan is very great, and tillage all
over this neighbourhood is increafed. The
rent of a cabbin jos. an acre with it 2os. The
grafs of a cow a few years ago, 208. now 253.
or 305.

An exceeding good practice here in making
their fences 'is, they plant the quick on the
fide of the bank in the common manner,
and then, inftead of the dead hedge we ufe in
England on the top of the bank, they plant a
row of old thorns, two or three feet high,
which readjly grow, and form at once
a moft excellent fence. Their way alfo of
taking in fand banks from the river deferves
notice : they flake down a row of furzes at low
water, laying flones on them to the height of
one or two feet; thefe retain the mud, which
every tide brings in, fo as to fill ur> all within

VOL. II. N the

194 BALLY CANVAN,

the furze as high as their tops. I remarked
on the ft rand, that a few boat loads of flones
laid carelefly, had had this effect, for within
them I meafured 12 inches deep of rich blue-
mud left behind them, the fame as they ufein
manuring, full of Ihells and effervefced ftrong-
ly with vinegar.

Among: the poor people, the fifhermen are
in much the beft circumstances ; the fifhery is
confiderable ; Waterford and its harbour have
50 boats each, from 8 to 12 tons, fix men on
an average to each, but to one of fix ton, five
men go. A boat of eight tons cofts 40!. one
of twelve 6ol. To each boat there is a train
of nets of fix pair, which cofts from 4!. 48. to
61. 6s. tan them with bark. Their only net
fifhery is that of herrings, which is common-
ly carried on by fhares. The divifion of the
fiih is, firft, one fourth for the boat ; and
then the men and nets divide the reft, the lat-
ter reckoned as three men. They reckon 10
maze of herrings an indifferent night's work ;
when there is a good take 40 maze have been
taken, 20 a good night j the price per maze,
from is. to 75. average 55. Their take, in
1775, the greateft they have known, when
they had more than they could difpofe of, and
the whole town and country ftunk of them,
they retailed them 32 for id. 1773 and 1774
good years. They barrelled many j but in ge-
neral there is an import of Swedifh. Befides
the common articles I have regiftered, the fol-
lowing are, Pigeons, is. a couple. A hare, is.

Par-

BALLYCANVAN. 195

Partridges, 90!. Turbets, fine ones, 43.
to i os. Soals, a pair, large, is. 6d. to is.
Lobfters, 3d. each. Oyfters, 6s. per hundred.
Rabbits, is. to is. 4d. a couple. Cod, is.
each, large Salmon, lid. to 2d.

A very extraordinary circumftance I was
told, that within five or fix years there has
been much hay carried from Waterford to
Norway, in the Norway (hips that bring deals ;
as hay is dear here, it proves a moft backward
flate of huibandry in that northerly region,
fince the neighbourhood of fea-ports to which
this hay can alone go, is generally the befl im-
proved in all countries.

Mr. Bolton has improved a great deal of
wade land, that was under furze, heath, and .
wood. He firft grubs it, which coils for the
woody part, 3!. or 3!. 33. and for the furze,
2os. Then levels all holes, &c. and clears it
of rocks, at the expence of aos. an acre. Up-
on this he dungs and plants potatoes in the
trenching way upon a part, and upon the reft
fallows and limes it, and fows wheat, 100 to
1 50 barrels an acre, produce feven to ten bar-
rels an acre. Then land it for oats or barley,
1 5 barrels of barley, and 1 2 of oats. In this
way he has done 300 acres, which was not
worth more than 53, an acre : now lets at 305.
In making this very noble improvement, he
divided the land into well proportioned fields,
and furrounded them with very noble fences >
double ditches, with a parapet bank between,
N 2 planted

196 B A L L Y C A N V A N.

planted on both fides with quick, and on the
top with a double row of oak, elm, afli, or fir ,
many of thefe were planted 36 years ago j they
are now in very great perfection, fo thick and
fully grown as to be impervious to the fight,
and to take, when viewed at a diftance, the
appearance of fpreading woods. Nothing
could be done in a completer manner, and the
quantity over more than 300 acres, uniting
with many orchards planted at the fame time,
give his domain and its environs a richnefs of
landfcape not common in Ireland. I could
not help much admiring it when on the water,
from fome parts of the river the effect is very
beautiful.

Mr. Bolton cannot be too much commend-
ed for the humane attention with which he
encourages his poor cottar tenantry ; he gives
them all leafes, whatever their religion, of 2 1
or 31 years, or lives: even the occupier of
two acres has a leafe. It is inconceivable what
an effect this has had ; this is the way to
give the catholics right ideas. I was for three
weeks a vvitnefs of a moft fpirited induftry
among them -, every fcrap of rough rocky land,
not before improved, they were at work up-
on, and overcoming fuch difficulties as are
rarely to be found on common waites : many
fpots, not worth 53. an acre, they were reclaim-
ing to be well worth 255. and 305. The im-
provement of this part of Mr. Bolton's eftate
may be guetfkl at when I mention, that on
500 acres of it, there have been built, in

fix

B A L L Y C A N V A N. 197

fix years, 40 new houfes, many of them hand-
fome ones of flone and (late. For cabbins,
barns, 6cc. he gives timber for the roofs.

In 1751, Mr. Bolton being in England,
where observing the cultivation of turnips for
fheep, he introduced them on his eftate on
his return, and had hurdles made for penning
fheep on them, and did it with much fuccefs ;
after the fame journey alfo, he introduced horfe-
beans for feeding his horfes, mixed with oats :
he did it for twenty years together, and with
the greateft fuccefs. Turnip cabbage he has
tried alfo for fheep, and found them to do
exceedingly well. One turnip cabbage fown
the beginning of April, and not tranfplanted,
weighed i3lb. top and bottom. An experi-
ment on carrots I viewed, of which Mr. BoL-
ton, junior, has fmce favoured me with the
following account.

<c When you were here, 1 (hewed you a few
beds of carrots, which were pulled the begin-
ning of this month j I meafured the ground,
and when the carrots were cleaned and topped,
I faw them weighed. The ground meafureci
fifteen perches, plantation meafure, which
produced 36 hundred and fix ftone of carrots,
befides allowing 4lb. to every hundred for dirt,
though they were very clean and dry. The
produce is 156 barrels, and 16 ftones to an
acre, (20 flones to the barrel) and beyond any
thing 1 could have imagined j and I am cer-
tain, had the carrots been hoed and thinned

198 BALLY CANVAN.

as they ought, the product would have been
much greater. The tops were given to pigs ;
they feemed to like them better than any thing
elfe. Thefe fifteen perches are part of a field,
which, in 1774, had been highly manured
with dung for potatoes. In 1775, the roots
of the weeds (of which there were a great quan-
tity, particularly couch grafs and crow-foot)
were burnt, and the afhes and fome blue
fand fpread, and it was fown with turnips.
The latter end of March, thefe fifteen perches
were dug, and about the i6th of April fown
with a pound of carrot-feed ; they were twice
hoed, to deftroy the weeds which came up very
thick."

In the winter of 1775, Mr. Bolton fed 10
working horfes on bull potatoes, twice a day
on oats, and once on potatoes ; the potatoes
given always at night ; the quantity to each
horfe I.*. peck of fmail ones ; and at the other
two feedings, half a peck each of oats. He
found that they fattened trje horfes very
much, and did exceedingly well on them. Va-
lue of the potatoes, 3$. a barrel. The cul-
ture of rape and turnips has been tried in this
neighbourhood alio by Mr. James' Wife, mer-
chant, of Waterford.

In the beginning of June, 1 774, Mr.
ploughed lightly with a winged plough, and
burned the furface of near four acres of land,
which had not been tilled for many years. He
fpread the afhes3 and manured tlie ground with
3 12 boat

BALLYCANVAN. 199

12 boat loads of the blue fand, which is taken
from the banks of the river at low water, each
boat load containing 20 tons. Then ploughed
and harrowed it once j and fuch of the clods
as were not thoroughly burnt and pulverized
after harrowing, he turned with the grafly fide
down to hinder their growing. About the
middle of Auguft he fowed with rape ; a lit-
tle more than half a bufhel to an acre. It was
cut the latter end of June, 1775, and produc-
ed 48 barrels, of fixteen ftones to the barrel,
which fold for 1 6s. per barrel, and the ft raw to
a tallow-chandler to burn for afhes, for 485.
The ftraw, or haulm of rape, is fold for
twelve-pence for each barrel of feed it pro-
duced. The beginning of July, 1775, Mr.
Wyfe ploughed and harrowed the ground;
about the aoth of July fowed it with turnips,
which on their coming up, were immediate-
ly deftroyed by the fly. About the middle of
Auguft harrowed the ground, and fowed tur-
nips again, which were alib deftroyed by the
fly. Mr. Wyfe imagines the great number of
flies were occafioned by the oilinefs and rich-
nefs of the ground, (caufed by the putrefacti-
on of the leaves and bloflbms of the rape) and
the moifture and warmth of the weather.
About the middle of Oftober, the grafs came
up fo rich and luxuriant, (though not fown
with grafs feed) that Mr. Wyfe would not
fufFer it to be ploughed for tillage, as he had
intended. The latter end of June, 1776,
mowed it, and it produced three tons of hay
per acre -, fold for 345. per ton. The fand

and

200 BALLYCANVAN.

and carnage of it coft about thirty {hillings
per boat load j ploughing, burning, harrow-
ing, lowing, cutting, &c. about four guineas
per acre. Rent of the land thirty (hillings an
acre. In 1775 Mr. Wyfe ploughed feven
acres, which he prepared in the fame manner
(except fanding) and fovved it with rape ; it
grew very well till the great froft and fnow
fell, which, was remarkably fevere, and which
injured it very much, together with the moif-
ture of the ground, occafioned by fprings in
the land, and heavy rains, which fucceeded
the froft and fnow j the produce per acre,
about half the quantity of the former year -,
fold at the fame price. Mr. Wyfe recom-
mends narrow ridges for low moid ground.
He thinks a large quantity of afhes to be a
chief means of enfuring a plentiful crop. The
land does not require manure after rape for
wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, &c. but will
not anfwer for a fecond crop of rape.

Mr. Bolton, junior, having mentioned a
neighbour of his, who had drawn up a me-
moir upon making cyder, from confiderable
experience, at my requeft wrote ;to him for a
copy of it, which I have fince received, with
his permiflion to infert it in this work.

The following is an abridgment of the
.account.

" Let apples of every fpecies hang till they
are ripe, and begin to drop $ let them be ga-
thered

BALLYCANVAN. 201

thered perfectly dry, and if convenient in the
heat of the day, when warmed in the fun ;
when gathered let them lie in heaps for one, •
two, three, or four weeks, according to their
degrees of firmnefs, fo as to undergo a mo-
derate fermentation ; let the moifture be care-
fully wiped off, and each fpecies feparated (if
the quantity of fruit in your orchard be fuf-
ficient to admit it) and then ground in a mill,
or pounded in troughs ; but the firft the beft
method, becaufe lels of the pulp is broke, and
the liquor will flow clearer from the bags ; by
preHIng the fruit of each diftinct fpecies fo fe-
parated, the cyder will undergo one uniform
fermentation.

" When the fruit are fufficiently broke for
prefling, let them lie forty-eight hours before
they be prefled ; this will add to that deep
richnefs of colour, which to the eye is pleafing
in cyder; then let the fruit fo broke, having
flood forty-eight hours, be prefled in hair
cloth bags ; as the juice is thus prefled out,
let it be poured into large vefTels, ufually called
keeves, to undergo the fermentation ; three of
thefe veiTels are neceflary in every orchard,
one to contain the liquor in its ftate or courfe
of fermentation, while a fecond is rilling from
the prefs, and the third to contain the pum-
mage before it be prefled ; three keeves, con-
taining five or fix hogfheads each, will ferve
for an orchard that yields fixty or feventy
hogfheads of cyder. The expence of thefe
veflels made of double boards, hooped with

iron,

202 BALLYCANVAN.

iron, or flrorig afh hoopjs, will not be very
considerable 5 if the weather fhould prove'
cold the fermenting keeves fhould be covered
with bags, £cc in order to quicken the fer-
mentation, which will be compleated in fix
or feven days if the weather be temperate, pro-
vided no new or unfermented cyder be put
into the keeye, which above all things fhould
be carefully avoided ; when the fermentation
is over, the liquor will be fine, and fhould
then be racked off into very clean hogfheads,
fmoaked with brimftone matches ; the hogf-
heads fhould not be bunged or itopt clofe till
all fymptoms of fermentation ceafe ; and in
three weeks or a month it fhould be a fecond
time racked, ftjll obfervjng to fmoak the hogf-
heads with brimftone, then the hogfheads
fhould with the greateft care be very clofely
flopped 5 the keeves muft be entirely emptied
before the new preJTed cyder is poured into
them. The great fecret in making good cyder,
5s to prevent or mitigate its fermentations,
the firft excepted ; and nothing will fo ef-
fectually do this, as repeated racking from the
foul lee.

<l Do not prefs wildings till Candlemas, or
until they begin to rot ; and when the juice
is prdfed oot, let it be boiled in a furnace
for one hour, before it be fuffered to work
or ferment, and that will greatly foften the
acrimony of its juice."

Mr.

PASSAGE TO MILFORD HAVEN 203

Mr. William Atkinfon, of Mount Wilkin-
fon, near Ballycanvan, feems to be very at-
tentive to the orchard hufbandry $ from two
acres he had twenty-one hogfheads of cyder,
and the fame year reaped twenty barrels of
wheat under the trees, a produce little fhort of
50!. or 25!. an acre j three and an half barrels
of his aples (each 6 bufhels) made a hogfhead of
cyder. A common practice here in planting
orchards, is to fet cuttings, three or four feet
long, half way in the ground, of the cackagee,
jergonelle, or any fet that grows rough and
knotty in the wood ; they call them pitchers,
they rarely fail, and yield well and fopn.

Mr. Bolton carried me to the houfes of
fome fifhermen,on the harbour, one of 'whom
}iad planted around his cabbin for fhelter,
three years ago, fome willow cuttings, the
growth of which amazed me -3 I meafured
Them 21 feet high, and not crooked or bend-
ing like common forts, but ft rait as a fir, I
took half a dozen cuttings with me to Eng-
land to compare it with the forts common
with us.

Oftober iQth, the wind being fair, took
my leave of Mr. Bolton, and went back to
the (hip ; met -with" a frefh fcene of provoking
delays, fo that it was the next morning, Octo-
ber aoth, at eight o'clock, before we failed,
and then it was not wind, but a cargo of paf-
fengers that fpread our fails. v Twelve or
fourteen hours are not an uncommon paflage,

- " bat

204 PASSAGE TO MILFORD HAVEN.

but fuch was our luck, that after being in
fight of the lights on the fmalls, we were by
contrary winds blown oppofite to Arklow
lands ; a violent gale arofe which prefently
blew a ftorm, that lafted thirty-fix hours,
in which, under a reefed mainfail, the fliip
drifted up and down wearing, in order to
keep clear of the coafts.

No wonder this appeared to me, a frefh-
water failor, as a fiorm, when the oldefl
men on board reckoned it a violent one ;
the wind blew in furious gufts ; the waves
ran very high j the cabbin windows burit
open, and the lea pouring in fet every thing
afloat, and among the reft a poor lady, who
had fpread her bed on the floor. We had
however the fatisfa6tion to find, by trying
the pumps every watch, that the (hip made
little water. I had more time to attend thefe
circumflances than the reft of the paflengers,
being the only one in feven who efcaped with-
out being fick. It pleafed God to preferve us,
but we did not caft anchor in Milford Haven,
till Tuefday morning the 2 ad, at one o'clock.

It is much to be wifhed, that there were
fome means of being fecure of packets fail-
ing regularly, inftead of waiting till there is
fuch a number of paifengers, as fatisfies the
owner, and captain j with the pod-office pac-
kets there is this fat isf action, and a great one
it is; the contrary conduct is fo perfectly

deteftablc,
I

PASSAGE TO Mft-FORD HAVEN. 205

deteftable, that I fhould fappofe the fcheme of
Waterford ones can never fucceed. .

Two years after, having been allured this
conveyance was put on a new footing, I ven-
tured to try it again ; but was mortified to
find that the Tyrone, the only one that could
take a chaife or horfes, (the Countefs being laid
up) was repairing, but would fail in five days ;
I waited, and received affurance after afTu-
rancethat fhe would be ready on fuch a day, and
then on another ; in a word, I waited twenty-
four days before I failed ; moderately fpeaking, I
could, by Dublin, have reached Turin or Mi-
lan as foon as I did Milford in this conveyance.
Ail this time the papers had conftant adver-
tifements of the Tyrone failing regularly, in-
ftead of letting the public know that Die
was under a repair. Her owner feems to be
a fair and worthy man, he will therefore
probably give up the fcheme entirely, unlefs
affifted by the corporation, with at leaft four
fhips more, to (ail regularly ivifbor WITHOUT
paUengers ; at prefent it is a general difap-
pointment ; I was fortunate in Mr. Bolton's
acquaintance, pafling my time very agreeably
at his hofpitable manfion ; but thofe who, in
fuch a cafe, fliould find a Waterford inn their
refource, would curfe the Tyrone, and fet oft"
for Dublin. The expencss of this paiTage are
higher than thole from Dublin to Holy head :
I paid,

A four-

206 F U R N E S S.

A four- wheel chaife - 3 3 Q

Three horfes - 33°

Self - * * . I i d

Two fervants - - i I o
Cuftom-houfe at Waterford, hay, oats, &c. 2 i 7

Ditto at Pembroke and Hubberfton 300

Sailors, boats, and fundry fmall charges - i 15 5

1777.

Upon a fecond journey to Ireland this year,
I took the opportunity of going from Dublin
to Mitchelftown, by a route through the central
part of the kingdom which I had not before

Sufficiently viewed.

Left Dublin the 24th of September, and
taking the road to Naas, I was again ftruck
with the great population of the country, the
cabbins being ib much poorer in the vicinity
of the capital than in the more diftant parts
of the kingdom. Mr. Nevill, at Furnefs, had,
in a very obliging manner, given directions
for my being well informed of the ftateof that
neighbourhood. He is a landlord remarkably
attentive to the encouragement of his tenantry.
He allows half the expenfe of building houfes
on his eftate, which has raifed feven of flone
and flate, and nine good cabbins, 35 by 16,
at 27!. each. He gives annually three pre-
miums of 7!. 5!. and 3!. for the greateft num-
ber

F U R N E S S. 207

ber of trees, planted in proportion to the
number of their acres, and pays the hearth
money of all who plant trees. He alfo allows
his tenants 403. an acre for all the parts of their
farm that want gravelling, and does the boun-
dary fence for them, but he is paid in his rent
very well for this. The following particulars
I owe to him.

The foil in general, for fome miles every
way, is a lime-ftone gravel, which does very
well for wheat; lets at an average at 2os. that
is, from los. to 405. There are fome trails of
green ftone land, and a little clay. Rents rofe
till 1772, but have fmce rather fallen: the
the whole county through may be 143. or 153.
If all now was to be let, it would be 2os.

Farms rife from 15 acres to 500 : a middling
iize is 250. They are now fmaller than for-
merly, being divided as faft as leafes fall.
There are houfes in general to all, the land
lets the better for them, owing to its being a
tillage country. Mr. Nevill encourages his te-
nantry to build, by being at half the expenfe.
A common farmer requires one 50 feet long,
1 6 wide, two ftories high ; a barn, 40 by 16;
a ftable, 40 by 16; a cow-houfe, 50 by 14 -r
a pig-ftye, fcen-houfe, &c. all which would coft
about 300!. of ftone, the houfe flated, and
would be fufficient for 250 acres of land. The
courfes of crops are 5

j . Fallow

2o8 F U R N E S S.

i. Fallow. 2. Wheat. 3. Oats. 4. Wheat.
5. Clover. 6. Clover.

i. Potatoes. 2. Barley. 3. Fallow. 4. Wheat.
5. Clover. 6. Clover.

They fometimes fow wheat after potatoes ;
the crops are as great as after fallow j but the
quality of the grain is not equal. Their fal-
low they plough firft in winter; harrow in
May, crofs plough in ditto and in June j flretch
it (that is, form the ridges) in Auguft, making
them of two bouts j harrow, and the feed fur-
row, in September j and reckon the beft feed
time the middle of that month. No dung in
general ufed for it, but fometimes gravel. One
barrel of feed to the acre; never weed the crop 3
the produce from five to twelve barrels, me-
dium feven. Price of late years, 2os. a barrel.
They threfh upon floors formed of lime, fand,
and coal afhes, and are of opinion that they do
not hurt the colour of the grain. At harveli
they do not reap till it is quite ripe, bind di-
rectly, and form it into ftacks in the field,,
which they leave out a fortnight. Plough the
potatoe land once or twice for barley, fow a
barrel an acre of ;6 ftone in April ; medium
price of late years from 7 to ir.c. average jos.
Of clover they fow 2ilb. per acre, generally
half clover and half trefoil j do not fow it till
the barley is up, bnfh harrowing it ; and on
wheat bull harrow it, that is, with harrows
without teeth. Never mow it. For oats they
plough twice if able, few two barrels per acre

F U R N E S S. 209

in March ; the produce fix to twelve barrels,
and fometimes fixteen. Medium price for a
few years paft 6s. 6d. Upon fome grounds
that are light, are fubftituted peafe inftead of
oats after wheat. Plough but once, fow 20
Hone on an acre under furrow, never weed
them 5 the produce fix barrels per acre, and
the price los. No flax fown.

Potatoes generally on a wheat flubble, al-
ways well dunged ; the ridge feven feet, and
the trench three feet wide, and to one perch in
length of it, four loads of dung. Ten facks,
at twenty ftone, plant an acre. March the bed
feafon; weed them, and get 100 facks, at the
medium price of 53. the white Englifh and
apple forts the beft. It is common for the
poor to hire grafs land to plant them on, at
61. to 61, 6s. an acre or for flubble land dung-
ed.

Account of an acre.

Planting - -200

Seed - - 2 10 o

Weeding - o 10 o

Digging out - - -300

Rent - - -600

£.14. o o

VOL. II. O PRODUCE.

210 F U R N E S S.

P R O D U C E.

One hundred facks, at 55. •- - 2500

Expenses - - 14 o o

Clear profit £. n o o

One hundred facks coding 14!. gives the prime
cofl of 2S. 9d. a fack. They are often fold as
they grow, for i6L or i81. an acre. No
turnips.

Lime not generally ufed, Mr. Nevil has a
kiln that draws 16 barrels a day. Burns with
culm, at as. 8d. a barrel. Pays for quarrying,
2d. and burning, id. The lime cofts him, at
the kiln, icd. a barrel* Lime-flone gravel
more ufed, which lafts feven years, and on.
ibme foils longer : twelve loads on a fquare
perch may be done for 3!. an acre. Tillage is
done with both horfes and oxen, and which is
extraordinary, the latter are ufed by common
farmers as well as gentlemen. Six oxen, or fix
horfes in fummer to a plough, or four in win-
ter, do about half an acre a day. In the crofs
ploughing, which is the fecond, they go nine
inches deep, at other times (hallower, price
per acre, with harrowing, ics. 6d. They do
not begin to mow their hay till July, get it into
the large field cock in about a fortnight, which
they leave out three or four weeks longer ; a
medium crop 12 loads an acre, at the average
price of 55. 6d.

i It

F U R N E S S. 211

It is generally a corn country, yet are there
fome graziers that buy in bullocks^ but more
cows. Alfo fome dairies that fatten veal for
Dublin, by which they make 3!. or 4!. a cow ;
feeding them in winter when dry on ftraw,
fome on hay. They are let out to dairymen at
4!. a cow. The price of milch cows, in
May, 5!. to 7!. One acre and a half will
fummer feed one, and half an acre of hay for
winter.

The fheep kept are generally ewe flocks for
fattening, for Dublin market. Buy in at Bal-
linafloe, at los. to 155. Sell the lamb in June
or July, at 8s. to 145. and the ewe in Novem-
ber, at the fame price they gave, keep them
chiefly on clover. No folding. Medium price
of wool, for 10 years paft, i6s. clip three to a
{tone. They are not at all fubjecl to the
rot. A great many hogs bred; keep them
for fattening on potatoes ; fome are finifh-
ed with offal corn and peafe; in fummer
they feed them on clover. Mark this ! one
would think from more than one circum-
flance, that a good farmer in England was
fpeaking.

In hiring and flocking a farm of 200 acres.
a man ought to employ 500!. but fome of
them will do it with 200!. Stock for 200
acres to have 100 acres corn, and fallow
every year.

O 2 Twenty

212 F U R N E S S.

Twenty horfes, at 61. and ten bullocks, at 5!. 170 o o
Six cows, at 5!. — — — 30 o o

Two fows — — — 2 10 o

Six ploughs, at 135. — — 3 18 o

Three fets of geers — 300

Six Cars, ai 255. — — 712

Sundry tools, &c. — — — 10 o o

Seed 40 acres wheat — 40 o o

20 oats — — 13 o o

4 barley — — 200

i potatoes — — 2 10 o

10 clover • 500

62 10 •

For labour he will have three cottars for plough-
ing, &c. paid by land ; for other work allow 40 0 o

County cefs, 4d. an acre 3 10 e

Tythe, 40 wheat, 6s. — 12 o o

20 oats 45. 400

4 barley 6s. — — 140
10 hay 45. — — 200

19 4 o

£-352 2 o

In refpect of labour, every farmer has as
many cottars as ploughs, whom they pay with
a cabbin, and one acre of potatoes, reckoned at
303. and a cow kept thro' the year, 303. more.
Every cabbin has one or more cows, a pig,
and fome poultry. Their circum fiances juft
the fame as 20 years ago. Their food pota-
toes and milk for 9 months of the year ; the
other three wheaten bread, and as much but-
ter as the cow gives. They like the potatoe

fare

F U R N E S S. 213

fare beft. Some have herrings j and others
6s. to i os. worth of beef at Chriftmas. Sell
their poultry, but many of them eat their pig.
The fale of the fowls buys a few pounds of
flax for fpinning, mofl of them having fome
of that employment.

They are not much given to thieving, ex-
cept bufhes and furze, which is all they have
for fuel, there being no bog nearer than that
of Allen. They bring turf eight and ten
miles, the price 8d. a kifh of three feet and a
half, by three and five long, and is. 2d. more
carriage. A kifh will laft one common fire
five days.

Expence of building a cab bin,

Mud walls — — — 200

Roof, 3 pair principals — — • 090

4 dozen of rubberies, at 48. — 0160

Labour — — — 040

Wattles 060

Eight load of draw, 55. — — 200

Thatching 080

Two doors — — 080

Mafon's perch of a wall — *- 030

Women are paid 5d. a day, earn by fpin-
ning, 3d. A farming-man, 5!. los. a year.
A lad, il. IDS. A maid, 2!. to 2!. los. Reap-
3 ing

2J4 CURRAGH OF KILDARE.

ing, 6s. 6d. Mowing grafs, 2s. 6d. to 35.
Pigeons, 3d. each. Rabbits, 8d. a couple.

To Kildare, eroding the Curragh, fo fa-
mous for its turf. It is a fheep walk of above
4000 Englifh acres, forming a more beautiful
lawn than the hand of art ever made. Nothing
can exceed the extreme foftnefs of the turf,
which is of a verdure that charms the eye, and
highly fet off by the gentle inequality of furface.
The foil is a fine dry loam on a ftony bottom $
it is fed by many large flocks, turned on it by
the occupiers of the adjacent farms, who
alone have the right, and pay very great rents
on that account. It is the only confiderable
common in the kingdom. The fheep yield
very little wool, not more than 3lb. per fleece,
but of a very fine quality.

From Furnefs to Shaen Caftle, in the
Queen's County, Dean Coote's ; but as the
huibandry, &c. of this neighbourhood is al-
ready regiilerec} , I have only to obferve, that
Mr. Coote was fo kind as to fhew me the im-
proved grounds of Dawfon's Court, the feat
of Lord Carlow, which I had not feen before.
The principal beauties of the place are the well
grown and extenfive plantations, which form
a fhade not often met with in Ireland. There
is in the back grounds a lake well accompanied
with wood, broken by feveral iflands that are co-
vered with underwood and an ornamented walk
paffing on the banks, which leads from the houfe.
This lake is in the feafon perfectly alive with

wild

G L O S T E R. 215

wild fowl 3 near it is a very beautiful fpot,
which commands a view of both woods and
water, a fituation either for a houfe or a tem-
ple. Mr. Dawfon is adding to the plantations,
an employment of all others the moft merito-
rious in Ireland. Another work fcarcely lefs
fo, was the ere&ing a large handfome inn,
wherein the fame gentleman intends eftablifh-
ing a perfon who mall be able to fupply tra-
vellers, poft, with either chaifes or horfes.

From Shaen Caftle to Glofter, in the King's
County, the feat of John Lloyd, Efq; member
for that county, to whofe attention I owe the
following particulars, in which he took every
means to have me well and accurately inform-
ed. But firft let me obferve, that I was much
pleafed to remark, all the way from Naas quite
to RofTcrea, that the country was amongft the
fined I had feen in Ireland, and confequently
that 1 was fortunate in having an opportunity
of feeing it after the involuntary omifllon of
laft year. The cabbins, though many of them
are very bad, yet are better than in fome other
counties, and chimnies generally a part of them.
The people too have no very miferable appear-
ance ; the breed of cattle and (Keep good, and
the hogs much the befl I have any where feen
in Ireland. Turf is every where at hand, and
in plenty ; yet are the bogs not fo general as
to affecl: the beauty of the country, which is
very great in many tradls, with a fcat-
ttring of wood, which makes it pleafing.

Shaen.

2i6 G L O S T E R.

Shaen Caftle ftands in the midft of a very fine
tract. From Mountrath to Glofter, Mr. Lloyd's,
I could have imagined myfelf in a very pleafing
part of England ; the country breaks into a
variety of inequalities of hill and dale ; it is all
well inclofed, with fine hedges ; there is a plen-
ty of wood, not fo monopolifed as in many
parts of the kingdom by here and there a foli-
tary feat, but fpread over the whole face of the
profpect : look which way you will, it is culti-
vated and chearful.

The King's county contains the following
baronies, and annexed to their names is the
value per acre of each :

Clonlifk - - - p 15 o

Baljibrit o 15 o

Eglifh - - / "Ti^ o 13 o

Balliboy o 10 a

Garrycaftle - - o 13 o

Gafhill ..._.-, - p 12 o

Cooleftown •,--A<' " i o o

Warrenftown - 150

Ballicowcn - . p n o

Kilcourfy - 0160
Upper and Lower Philip's town £. o 15 o

In Gafhill are 13000 acres belonging to Lord
Digby ; and in Warrenftown is Croghen hill,
famous for the great fleeces the fheep yield that
are fed upon it. A Curragh fheep, from giv-
ing jib. carried there, will yield i2lb. but the
quality is coarfe.

There

G L O S T E R. 217

There are great trafts of bog in the county;
and 153,000 acres that pay county charges;
170,000 acres at 155. and 30,000 of bog. The
rife of rents fmce 1750, more than two-thirds,
but are much fallen fince 1772, in many farms
45. in the pound.

Eftates through the county are remarkably
divided 5 and are in general fmall. The fize
of farms varies much, 600 acres are a very
large one; ufually not lefs than 100; very few
in partnerfhip. There are many farms with-
out buildings, which if divided and built, would
let much better. The arable fyftem, when
burning is permitted, is to plough in the fpring,
very thin, then crofs cut it and burn the fod as
ibon as the feafon ferves, which will be fome
time in June> plough in the afhes very light-
ly, and fow turnips ; thefe they never hoe,
which is faid to be difficult, on account of the
number of ftones ; they feed the crop on the
land with three-year old wethers or lambs.
After this, plough it up and fallow for a fe-
cond crop of turnips, which they manage as
the firft, but feed them earlier ; then plough
once, and fet it to the poor for potatoes, at 61.
6s. to 61. i os. an acre, after which they fow
bere upon one ploughing; this they fucceed
with wheat alfo on one ploughing; and after the
wheat, oats. Then they fummer and winter
fallow, which is followed by wheat and oats as
before; but by this time the land is quite ex-
haufted. A partial burning is fometimes ufed,
which is to break up in November, and plough

twice

2i8 G L O S T E R.

twice or thrice by May, and then to burn what
the harrow does not reduce. For wheat they
plough once, as before-mentioned in the burn-
ing courfe; and four times on a fallow. Sow
20 ftone to an acre ; the crop five to fix and a
half barrels ? the medium price of late il. is.
a barrel. They fow a barrel of bere, of fix-
teen ftone, the crop 14 to 23 barrels, which
great produce is from the rich preparation.
Of oats two barrels, or 24 ftone, the crop i o
to 1 6 ; of barley they fow 1 6 ftone, the crop
10 to 1 6. The price of bere and barley 95.
6d. No clover at all fown, nor any grafs feeds,
and very few peafe or beans, as they never
feed their pigs or horfes with either. Very
little flax. There are a few bleach yards about
Clara, &c. but the bufinefs is not much upon
the increafe. Potatoes they plant in the com-
mon trenching way ; the feafon from the mid-,
die of April to the middle of May j more after
the firft of May than before it j eight barrels
plant an acre ; they always weed them. The
apple fort is preferred from lafting longeft;
the medium price 2d. a ftone j twenty ftone
the barrel.

Account of an acre.
Planting, 48 men, the firft and fccond trenching

at 8d. i 12 o

Seed, at 35. 4d, * | 6 6

Taking up, 4$ men I 120

Picking up, carrying home, and forting ; horfe-

hire only, as the family does the reft - 088
Kent -. - -660

G L O S T E R, 219

PRODUCE.

loo barrels, at 3$, 4d. 16 13 4

£xpcnces •» - - n 5 2

Profit ^ - £-582

Prime coft, as. 3d. a barrel. A barrel will laft
a family of five perfons a week.

The turnips on the burnt land they fow from
the 2oth of July to the 4th of Auguft, but
a fortnight or three weeks earlier upon a fal-
low, the quantity of feed iJ.lb. they never hoe;
the price upon an average 3!. an acre, either
to take away or feed on the land, but the for-
jner rarely done : they feed them off with fat
flieep or lambs, very rarely with black cattle.

No lime burnt for manure, nor any
(lone gravel ufed, though plenty of it found
all the country through. One farmer made
an experiment of them both for corn, but nei-
ther anfwered j the general opinion is, its be-
ing bad for the grafs afterwards ; there is not
any marie known j the farm-yard fyftem in-
complete, as every where elfe, fpddering in the
fields ; but cows are kept in the houfe at night,
and fed with hay for about five months in the
winter. Their hay grounds they wifh to fliut
up about the 25th of March, but if their hay
is finifhed, they are obliged to be later -, mow

from

220 G L O S T E R.

from the i5th of July to the i5th of Septem-
ber, which lateneis is owing to their feeding fo
late in the fpring. They ufually upon the
average of weather, and management, get it
into the large cock in about ten days, and leave
it in that from one to two months ; the medi-
um produce per acre, two tons and a quarter,
and the price 305, a ton -3 the women here ne-
ver make it.

Tillage is performed more with horfes than
with horned cattle -, the latter only by confi-
derable graziers, and they are ufually fpayed
heifers. Four horfes, or four heifers to a
plough, which do half an acre a day j the
depth, from the fhallownefs of the foil, not .
more than fix or feven inches ; the price 73. 6d.
an acre. Very few hogs kept, not more than
for mere convenience.

To hire and flock a farm will, on an ave-
rage, take 40$. an acre, if a grazing one, but
lei's in proportion to the tillage ; but there are
men who will hire on little or no capital, this
however is much lefs than formerly, from fe-
veral landlords having fuffered feverely from it.
The tillage of the whole country is very incon-
fiderable ; it is chiefly pafturage, not one acre
in fifteen is tilled; the barony of Garrey caftle
has much more ; one reafon of there not being
more, is the number of farms, from 150 to
400 acres, under leafes for ever, which are fo
highly improved by the tenants, that they ab-
itain from tillage, under the idea of its being

pre-

G L O S T E R. 221

prejudicial. RefpecYmg the labour of a farm,
the ftanding bufinefs is done by cottars ; a
cottar is one who has a cabbin, and an acre
and a half of garden, charged at 303. and th'e
grafs of one or two cows, at 255. each, and the
daily pay 6d. the year through, the account
being kept by tallies, and thofe charges deduct-
ed ; the year's labour amounts to about 61. af-
ter the cottar's time for his potatoes and turf
is deducted ; the remaining 403. is paid in mo-
ney, hay, or any thing elfe the man wants.
The cows are fed by a field being affigned for
all the cottars of the Farm. No inftance of a
cottar without a cow. The calves they rear
till half a year old, and then fell them at j 2s.
to 2os. which will pay for the cow's hay. They
keep no fheep, but every cabbin has a pig, a
dog, and fome poultry. No difference in their
circumftances for the laft fifteen years. It is
here thought that it would be very difficult to
nurfe up a race of little farmers from the cot-
tars, by adding land gradually to them at a
fair rent ; it would be alfo very difficult, if not
impoffible, to cut off the cottars from a farm;
nobody would be troubled with fuch tenants,
and no farmer would hire a farm with the poor
on it independant of him, their cattle and all
their property would be in conftant danger;
as the kingdom iircreafes in profperity, fuch
ideas it is to be hoped will vanifh. Their food
is potatoes and milk for ten months, and po-
tatoes and fait the remaining two; they have
however a little butter. They fell their pig,
their c,alf, and their poultry, nor do they buy

meat

222 G L O S T E R.

meat for more than ten Sunday's in a year.
Their fuel cofts them about 145. a year, or
eighty kifh of turf, an ample allowance. There
is in every cabbin, a fpinning-wheel, which is
ufed by the women at leifure hours, or by a
grown girl, but for twelve years 19 in 20 of
them breed every fecond year. Vive le pomme
de Tere !

Expence of a poor family.

Cabbin and garden - - I 10 o

Labour in the garden -•,; - I 10 o

Two Cows - - - 2 10 o

Hay for ditto - Ujt; ': * I 10 o

Turf - V'~ o 14 o

Cloathing, 153. a head &tZ£ • 3 J5 o

Tools - ~ 050

Hearth tax ~ - -020

ii 16 o

ne Receipt.

The year •» - 365 days

Deduct Sundays
Bad weather
Holydays

Two calves
Pig -

Poultry

Carried over

G L O S T E R. 223

Brought over £.9 n 6
303 days fpinning between the wife and daugh-
ter at 3d. 3 15 3

Expences
Remains for whiflcy, &c. &c. - £. i 10 9

Potatoes are much more the food than for-
merly ; there are full twice as many planted.
The cottars in their gardens follow the courfe
of crops firft mentioned. They are all very
much addicted to pilfering : their general cha-
racter idlenefs and dirtinefs, and want of at-
tention. They are remarkable for a moft in-
violable honour in never betraying each other,
or even any body elfe, which refults from a ge-
neral contempt of order and law, and a want
of fear of every thing but a cudgel, the reader
will remember that maiming cattle, pulling
down, and fcattering flacks, and burning the
houfes of thofe who take lands over their heads,
are very well known. I am regiftering infor-
mation, and that not from one or two perfons,
but feveral.

The pafturage fyftem is to buy in yearling
calves, called bull chins, at from 355. to 555.
(but twenty years ago, 22S. yd. each), which
they generally fell at Banagher fair, when
three years and an half, at 5!. los. to 61. buy-
ing and felling regularly every year. They al-
fo buy cows in May, and fell them fat in au-
tumn,

224 G L O S T E R.

tumn, with 405. profit. Sheep they either
breed, or buy hoggits in May, at I2S. to 155.
each in the fleece, and fell them fat, at three
years and an half old, from il. is. to il. 45.
each; they get three fleeces, worth i8s. the
profit jos. a head, keeping them three fum-
tners and two winters. No folding. Flocks
rife from 100 to 2000, they calculate to keep
a fheep to every acre of their farms. The
fleeces, on an average of a running flock, are
three to a Hone of 1 6 Ib. The price, this year,
175. 6d. twenty years ago only 95. or los.
Not much alteration in the number of fheep
through the country ; all fat ones, are in win-
ter fed with turnips and a little hay. Their
low lands rot ; but being more careful than
formerly, it is not fo common as it was ; that,
with the £/</, (a fudden giddinefs) and the red
water, are the chief diflempers they are troubled
with.

Milch cows are kept only for convenience, a
few to every farm. An acre and half necef-
fary to keep one the year through, but muft
have ii. ton of hay befides. One four or five
years old ready for milk in the fpring, fells for
five or fix guineas. A three years old heifer
ready to calve, four or five guineas.

The bounty on the inland carriage of flour
to Dublin has occafioncd the building feveral
mills, five confiderable ones, four were imme-
diately built in confequence. The quantity
of tillage has increafed double in 20 years ;

probably

G L O S T E R. 225

probably from this caufe, among others, has
arifen the increafe of whilky, the quantity of
which is three times greater than fifteen years
ago. Not lefs than 30,000 barrels of barley
and here are diftilled yearly within 8 miles of
Glofter.

Land fells at 25 years purchafe. Suppofe fix
farms, one let for ever, at 20 years purchafe,
one for three lives, let 20 years ago, 25 — one
for two lives, ditto 28 — one for one life, ditto
30 — one for 31 years, 30— -one to let now,
20. Average of all, 25 years. Ten years ago
it would have been twenty-fix and a half ; twen-
ty years ago, twenty-three and a half. Leafes
are generally for three lives, or thirty-one
years.

The country in general is much improved
in moft national circumftances ; buildings are
much increafed, on a larger fcale, and of a far
better fort than twenty years ago j there is
alfo a rife in the price of almoft all commo-
dities.

Prices not minuted in the table.

Rabbits, 8d. a couple. Reading pigs, as.
6d. much beyond the proportion of other
things. Kile in the price of meat, id. a Ib. in
twenty years, lince which bere has alfo advanced,
from 6s. to 95. 6d. the barrel of 16 ftone. Wo-
mens labour, 4d. Wages of a farming man,
4!. ditto a boy, il. ditto a maid, 2!. From 10

VOL. II. P to

226 G L O S T E R.

to 1 4 men reap an acre of corn in a day. Mow-
ing grafs, by the acre, as. 8 j.d. two men do it
in a day. Threfhing wheat, 6d. a barrel.
Bere, 4d. Oats, ^d. Cutting turf, footing,
&c. las. the 120 kifti.

BUILDING.

A common cabbin, 5!. Ditto of ftone, lol. t«

" 151-

Walling, mafon's perch work
One barrel lime ' " •* 3
Seven load ftone
Attendance
Sand and carriage

Feet high

£.0 16 8

A guinea a perch, 7 feet, 6 inches high.
Slates, 95. 6d. athoufand. Slating, il. 2S. pd.
a fquare, every thing included. Oak, is. 3d.
a foot. A(h and home fir, is. Lime, five-
pence halfpenny a barrel, burnt, with turf in
kilns on arches ; two arches burn 400 barrels,
the ftone large. 400 kifh of turf will burn
400 barrels ; price of burning and filling from
2!. 55. 6d. to a guinea and half.

September 30th, took my leave of Mr. Lloyd,
a gentleman from whofe converfation I reaped
equal inftruction and amulement. Faffed by

Shin-

JOHNSTOWN. 227

Shinroan, Murderinny, and Graig, to Johnf-
town, the feat of Peter Holmes, Efq; Much of
this line a very beautiful country ; near Johnf-
town nothing can be more pifturefque, the
whole well planted with hedges and little woods,
and confiding of the moft fanciful variety of
hill, dale, and fwelling declivities, upon which
every bufh and tree is feen to advantage.

For the following particulars I am indebted
to Mr. Holmes, who, notwithstanding his
own ability to anfwer every queftion, trufted
not to it, but called in the beft afliftance the
neighbourhood could give.

Baronies in the county of Tripper ary.

Lower Ormond, 2os, an acre.— Upper Or-
mond, 2os.— Skevin, i8s. — Eliogurty, aos.
Owen and Aira, I2S. — •Clanwilliam, il. as. pd.
Middle third, 253. Befides Iffa, OfFa, and
Kilnemanna. The whole county on an ave-
rage would now let for 2os. an acre. Rents
have doubled in twenty years.

Through the whole barony of Lower Or-
mond, the foil is in general a dry lime-ftone
land. Farms are large, fome very large, few
lefs than 5 or 600 acres : the fize is rather in-
creafed. There are many without any build-
ings, and it is only from particular circum-
fiances that they let the better for them. The
fmall farms are taken much in partnerfhip j a
P 2 parcel

228 JOHNSTOWN.

parcel of labourers will take i or 200 acres.
The common courfe of tillage is,

i. Pare, and burn for turnips. 2. Turnips.
3. Potatoes. 4. Bere. 5. Wheat. 6. Oats.
7. Grey peafe. 8. Fallow. 9. Wheat. 10.
Oats. "n. Lay out for grafs quite exhaufled.
Alfo,

i. Fallow turnips from the turf. 2. Tur-
nips, and then as before.

The management is to plough the fod at
Chriftmas, in April or May crofs plough it,
and let it dry, burn as foon as dry, which
will be fometimes in May ; fpread the afhes,
plough once, and harrow in a pound and a
half or two pounds of feed to the acre, from
the 20th of June to the 4th of Auguft. They
never either hoe or weed. Begin to feed them
upon the land in December with fat ftieep,
giving three or four acres at a time to 2 or
300 fheep ; and one acre to loofheep, giving
them at the fame time hay in fheep racks : a
middling acre will keep 1 3 from Chriftmas to
the firft of April, being worth from two gui-
neas to 3!. They are alfo commonly ufed for
fheep and lambs in March and April. The
profit upon fat fheep, from turnips only, will
amount to from 75. to IDS. a head. The land
is ploughed three times for the feccnd crop ;
but the turnips are not fo fweet forYheep
as the ftrft, yet they fell as well : they muft

JOHNSTOWN. 229

be eaten off firft, as they will not fland fo long
as the others.

The poor people hire this turnip land at fix
guineas to 7!. los. for planting potatoes.
About ten years ago the price was four gui-
neas to 5!. but the reftridlions on paring and
burning have leflened the quantity of it. For
this potatoe crop one ploughing is given in
March or April, fix to eight barrels of feed
planted ; the favourite forts are the apple po-
tatoe for late, and the early wife for early ufe,,
They hand weed them carefully, and take them
up the middle of November or beginning of
December, the average crop 90 barrels,

Expences on an acre.

Rent ^ . 6 16 6

Seven barrels of feed, at 45. i 8 o

Planting, thirty men a day - - 0160

Taking up, eighty men a day - -200

ii o 6

PRODUCE.

Ninety barrels, at 45. - - 18 o o

Expenfes n o 6

Profit - /. 6 19 6

Prime coft, 2s. 5d. a barrel.

The

230 JOHNSTOWN.

The culture has increafed very much,and been
the means of reclaiming great tracls of land,
which otherwife would never have been touch-
ed. The potatoe land they plough immediate-
ly for bere, and, if weather dry enough, fow
14 ftone per acre, and get 16 barrels. For the
wheat they plough thrice ; fow in November
14 ftone, and get 7 barrels.

It was in this neighbourhood Mr. Yelverton
had his famous crop, which has been written
fo often in all the books of hufbandry in Eu-
rope, but nobody here believed it. The ac-
count I had was this : that he felecled the beft
acre in a field of 30, which he marked out;
but his labourers knowing his intention, put
many flocks from the adjacent parts of the
field into that acre. Thus without any in-
tentional deceit in the gentleman himfelf was
the public completely deceived. From hence
it appears, there was fome reafon in my pro-
pofing to the London fociety, to annex to their
premiums for the greateft crops, the condition
of reaping, threfhing, and meafuring all in one
day, and in the prefence of witnefles which
they adopted much againft the opinion of fe-
veral gentlemen who did not approve it.

For the oats they plough once, fow two
barrels in March, and get on an average from
10 to 14. For the peafe, they plough once,
fow twenty ftone broad caft, are fo far from
hoeing or weeding, that they like to have weeds
among them, by way of Jllcks ! get fix or feven

barrels

JOHNSTOWN. 131

barrels an acre. The fucceeding fallow is
ploughed four times, the crop of wheat as good
as after here, but the following oats will not
yield above eight or nine barrels.

The medium prices of the preceding pro-
ducts have of late years been, Wheat, aos.
Bere, los. Oats, 5. Peafe, 6s. There are
very few threfhing floors of wood : but they
make the clay ones fo hard, that they think
them as good. Flax is fown only by the cot-
tars in their gardens -, very few that do not
fow fome. Six potties of feed on about four
perch of land. They proportion it very ex-
aclly to their own confumption ; it is wove by
weavers, who make it their bufinefs to weave
for others ; and there are very few gentlemen
that do not do the fame for the coarfe linen of
their families.

Marie and lime-flone fand are the manures
ufed here. They have two ways of improving
wafte land with marie : they plough and fow
oats, and marie the flubble : or elfe they marie
at firft upon the lay : this is moftly praftifed
in the Duharrow mountains, where it has
worked very great improvements. It is a grey
foapy marie, full of fhells, dredged from the
bottom, of the Shannon. The expenfe of get-
ting it, with boats and carriage into the land,
is 405. an acre. Lime-ftone fand is laid on at
the end of an exhaufting courfe, on the oat
flubble : it cofts about 503. an acre. Very
little lime ufed. No farm-yards > the hay is

flacked

232 JOHNSTOWN.

flacked in the fields where it is defigned to be
fed, and fcattered about ; and fhame on them,
they do the fame with their flraw -, but no
wonder the farm-yard fyftem is unknown, for
they fell much of their corn in the flack in the
field, which gentlemen buy for ftraw. Great
improvements have been made in the Duhar-
row mountains, infomuch that the tythes of
one parifh have rifen from 70!. a year to
400!.

The fheep in the Ormond baronies are kept
chiefly for breeding ; they do not fell the lambs
till they become three years old wethers ; give
the ewes the ram at two years old, which fup-
ply the place of the old ewes, culled out and
fattened at four years old, going five. In 170
there are 50 ewes, 40 lambs, 40 two-year olds,
20 three year old wethers fold, 20 ewes kept,
and 20 old ones fold. Ten are kept for acci-
dents. The fat wethers fell at 2os. fromgrafs,
and 3 os. from turnips \ and the 20 culled ewes
will fell at aos. each ; the wool of the whole,
three fleeces to a flone. Mr. Robert Gowen
has fold a fcore of four-year old wethers at
Dublin, for 59!, Their black cattle are in the
fucceflion way. To 1000 acres, befides 1500
fheep, they will buy in 180 year-old calves
every year, at 455. bought in from May to
September, the right time May and June; they
keep them two years and an half, felling them
in November, at 61. to 81. allowing three for
Ipfles, there would be

177

JOHNSTOWN. 233

177 calves, 177 two-year olds, 177 three-
year olds — 531.

Alfo upon 1000 acres there would be two breed-
ing mares, and fix colts, ten working heifers,
4 car horfes, and ten milch cows ; there would
alfo be 100 acres of 1000, in tillage, ten of
which under turnips every year, and fifty acres
of hay mown j an inftanceoutof thoufands how
little attention in Ireland is paid to providing
a due quantity of winter food.

Mr. William Harden, thirty-two years ago,
fold wool at 6s. 6d. a ftone; it rofe gradually for
ten years to ics. 6d. and did not get up to 1 55.
till about four years ago; but the price was very
fluctuating, rifing and falling fuddenly without
any evident reafon ; the weight of the fleeces
have not increafed in thirty years, but the
number of (heep is greater j turnips were com-
monly fown at that time. In black cattle
however, there has been a great improvement,
being much larger than formerly. Calves have
rifen in price as much as wool, fuch as now
coft 455. might, thirty years ago, have been
had at 205. Mr. Harden's father bought a
two-year old bullock for 55. of a man now
alive.

In tillage, buljocks and heifers are generally
ufed, four in a plough, and they do not quite
half an acre a day. Three ploughs will do an
acre ; they ftir five inches deep. The price
6s. Paring and burning take from twelve to
I forty

234 JOHNSTOWN.

forty men per acre, according to the drynefs
of trie feafon.

Labour is done by cottars, who have a cab-
bin and a garden of one acre, if only one man
in family, but if the fon is grown, two acres.
The cabbin and one acre is reckoned at 2os.
allb two collops, at 2qs, each, which are ge-
nerally cows, All this he works out at five
pence a day, all extra labour fix-pence half-
penny a day, and eight pence in harveft. They
all have from one to three pigs, and much
poultry. Their food is potatoes for at leaft
eleven months of the year, and one month of
oat, barley or bere bread.

Expences and receipt of a cottar family.

Cabbin, and one acre rent - i o o

Two cows - -200

One ftone of broken wool - o 14 o
Weaving it --030

Weaving their linen - -03©

Hearth money - 020

Tools - 050

Tythe of one acre - -050

Hire of half an acre potatoes - 380

£.8 oo

Receipt.

Two Pigs •? 2O

On an average of years the two cows will yield

three calves in two years - - 200

Poultry

JOHNSTOWN. 235

Brought over - - £>• 4 o o
Poultry f » o 15 o

Hire 365 days

52 fundays

15 holydays

20 bad weather

48 ficknefs and their own work

135

230

Expences

Remains for unfpecified articles £ . i n o

It is a general remark, that induftrious
and attentive men will earn 5!. in the year.
The circumftances of the poor are much bet-
ter than they were twenty years ago, for their
land and cabbing are not charged to them by
gentlemen higher than they were 30 years ago,
while all they fell bears double the price.

Potatoes are rather more cultivated and
eaten than twenty years ago, and are managed
better. The poor in this neighbourhood are
by no means to be accufed of a general fpirit
of thieving. It arifes from holding them in
too much contempt, or from the improper
treatment of their fuperiors. No white boys
have ever arifen in thefe baronies, nor any
riots that laft longer than a drunken bout at
3 a fair :

236 JOHNSTOWN.

a fair : nothing that has obflructed the exe-
cution of juftice.

There is no objection to cutting off the cot-
tars from a farm, and making them tenants
to the landlord, upon the fcore of difficulty in
letting a farm without cottars upon it, provid-
ed they were kept perfectly diftinct by a good
fence. Nor is there any doubt but out of
them a race of little farmers might be gra-
dually formed.

Land at improved rents fells at 20 years
purchafe. Rents are doubled in 20 years j
they are not fallen fince 1772. Leafes are
ufually for three lives, or thirty-one years.

The interefl of money has certainly rifen,
and the year's purchafe of land fallen in twen-
ty years $ yet in the fame period it is un-
doubted that the kingdom has improved
greatly, which has the appearance of a con-
tradiction. Buildings have very much in-
creafed in all the towns, and in a flile far fu-
perior to former periods.

Tythes are very rarely taken in kind. Bere
and wheat pay 6s. an acre. Barley and oats,
35. Potatoes, 6s. They are generally let tp
proctors, who are fevere to the poor, and very
indulgent to gentlemen. The rigour, however,
does not extend beyond thole prices.

The

JOHNSTOWN. 237

The bounty on the inland carnage of corn
has occafioned the. building Tome mills, which
united with the turnip hufbandry, and the
vaft increafe of whifky have altogether much
increafed tillage.

Prices not in the tables.

Labour of a woman or boy in harveft, 4d.
Mowing grafs, as. 4d. to as. 6d. Hire of a
car, a day, is. 3d. to is. 8d. Building a cab-
bin of ftone and (late, 25!. Walling the
mafon's perch, 45. Lime, per barrel, feven-
pence halfpenny ; at Nenagh, is. Culm, per
barrel, 38. one burns nine of lime, in fome
places only fix.

Quarrying the ftones o o o^

Breaking and burning 003

Oak timber, 503. to 3!. a ton. Fir, 405.

Wildfowl. Wild ducks, is. 6d. a cou-
ple. Teal, 9d. ditto. Widgeon, 6d. ditto.
Rabbits, 8d: ditto. Trout 5lb. for is. Sal-
mon, 2d. per Ib. Frefh water fiih in general,
2|d. a Ib. Oyflers, as. per 120.

The Shannon adds not a little to the con-
vfr.icr.ce and agreeablenefs of a refidence fo

near

238 JOHNSTOWN.

near it. Befides affording thefc forts of wild
fowl, the quantity and fize of its fifh are
amazing. Pikes fwarm in it, and rife in weight
to 5olb. In the little flat (paces on its banks
are fmall but deep lochs, which are covered in
winter and in floods ; when the river with-
draws, it leaves plenty of fifli in thfem, which
are caught to put into ftews. Mr. Holmes
has a fmall one before his door at Johnftown,
with a little ftream which feeds it ; a trowling
rod here gets you a bite in a moment, of a
pike from 20 to 4olb. I eat of one of 27lb.
fo taken ; I had alfo the pleafure of feeing a
fiflierman bringing three trouts, weighing
i4lb. and fell them for fix-pence halfpenny a
pieqe. A couple of boats lying at anchor,
with lines extended from one to the other, and
hooks in plenty from them, have been known
to catch an incredible quantity of trout. Co-
lonel Prittie, in one morning, caught four
ftone, odd pounds, thirty-two trouts : in ge-
neral they rife from 3 to plb. Perch fwarm ;
they appeared in the Shannon for the tirft time
about ten years ago, in fuch plenty that the
poor lived on them. Bream of 61 b. Eels
very plentiful. There are many gillaroos in
the river, one of i2lb. weight was fent to Mr.
Jenkinfon. Upon the whole, thefe circum-
flances, with the pleafure of fhocting and
boating on the river, added to the glorious
view it yields, and which is enough at any
time to chear the mind, render this neighbour-
hood one of the molt enviable fituations to
live in that I have feen in Ireland. The face

JOHNSTOWN. 239

of the country gives every circumftance of
beauty. From Killodeernan-hill, behind the
new houfe building by Mr. Holmes, the whole
is feen to great advantage. The fpreading
part of the Shannon, called Loch Derg, is
commanded diftinclly for many miles ; it is
in two grand divifions of great variety. That
to the north is a reach of five miles leading to
Portumna. The whole hither fhore a fcenery
of hills, checkered by inclofures and little
woods, and retiring from the eye into a rich
diftant profpecl. The woods of Doras, be-
longing to Lord Clanrickard, form a part of
the oppofite fhore, and the river itfelf prefents
an ifland of 120 acres. Inclining to the left,
a vale of rough ground, with an old caftle
in it, is backed by a bold hill, which inter-
cepts the river there, and then the great reach
of 1 5 miles, the bay of Sheriff, fpreads to the
eye, with a magnificence not a little added to
by the boundary, a fharp outline of the county
of dare mountains, between which and the
Duharrow hillsy the Shannon finds its way.
Thefe hills lead the eye ftili more to the left,
till the Keeper meets it, prefenting a very beau-
tiful outline that finks into other ranges of
hill, uniting with the Devil's Bit. The home
fcenery of the grounds, woods, hills, and
lake of Johnftown, is beautiful.

Mr. Holmes has practiced agriculture upon
an exteniive fcale, and not without making
fome remarks, which muft be of ufe to others.

240 JOHNSTOWN.

He has not for five or fix years paft been
without a fmall field of Scotch cabbages. The
feed he fows both in March and autumn for
ufe at different feafons ; the rows he plants
three feet afunder, and two feet from cabbage
to cabbage. He has ufed them for fat fheep
and fat cattle, but principally for weaned
calves : they have anfwered perfectly well in all,
but remarkably fo with the calves, of which
Mr. Holmes has had the beft in the country,
and fingly from being thus fed. His people
were all of opinion, that a good acre ot cab-
bages will go as far as two acres of turnips,
worth each 3!. Two years ago a violent froft
flopped the ufe of turnips, and he then found
the benefit of them prodigioufly great. He
has always manured for them with dung or
marie, the former beft.

RAPE CAKE,

Mr. Holmes has ufed as a manure, with
great fuccefs : in 1775, he drefled two acres
of worn out meadow, with a ton and an half
an acre, at 2!. 2s. per ton; and in 1776, he
laid on feven tons, at i-j. per acre ; the firft
trial was made too late, and a dry feafon com-
ing, the effect was not great, The laft year it
was laid on the fifth of April, when the effect
was remarkably great : it threw up a moft
luxuriant crop of the fineft herbage, infomuch
that he is convinced nothing can anlwer better,
and is determined to extend the practice con-
fiderably. He has tried it on low, wet, and

JOHNSTOWN. 241

on upland, and the effeft infinitely greater on
the latter. In the fame field, Mr. Holmes
fed 150 fheep fome months, on the produce of
feven acres of turnips, going over nine acres of
grafs ; the benefit to the latter did not near
equal that of the rape, except in the deftruc-
tion of mofs, which was deftroyed by both
methods.

CLOVER.

Mr. Holmes has ufed this grafs thefe fix
years ; he began with fix acres, and has ex-
tended it as far as feventeen acres laft year :
he fows 24lb. of feed per acre. The crops as
good as he has feen in England ; has mown it
twice, but now feeds the fecond growth. He
has tried it on dry lime-ftone hills, which are
flow in coming to grafs, but anfvver well in
clover. For his fheep he finds it of great ufe.
Ewes Iamb here about the i/th of March, and
when turnips are done, want the clover very
much: alfo in keeping fat fheep for a late
market. Courfe of crops,

i. Turnips on old turf, two ploughings and
a flight burning. 2. Turnips. 3. Barley, yield-
ing 1 8 barrels. 4. Clover. 5. Clover. 6. Wheat,
yielding 8 barrels. 7. Oats, ditto 15. Alfo,

I. Manure a ftubble for cabbages. 2. Po-
tatoes. 3. Barley, 20 barrels. 4. Clover.
5. Clover. 6. Wheat. 7. Oats.

VOL. II. C Oaober

242 D E R R Y.

October 3d, taking my leave of Johnftown
and its agreeable and hofpitable family, I took
the road towards Derry, the feat of Michael
Head, Efq; through a country much of it bor-
dering on the Shannon, and commanding
many fine views of that river j but its naked-
nefs, except at particular places, takes off much
from the beauty of the fcenery. Near to Derry
there' are fome finer views. From one hill, the
road commands the bay of SkerifF, Loch Derg,
back to Johnftown j and the river turning un-
der the hills of Achnis, a promontory of wood,
which feparates them, is fully feen : there are
alfo many hedges, fo well grown with fcatter-
ed trees on the higher fide as to have a pleafing
effe6t. I found Mr. Head, on my arrival, juft
going to dine with a neighbour, Mr. Parker,
whole father had worked a very fine mountain
improvement, and who would probably be
there : this was a fufficient inducement, had
there been no other, for me to accompany
him. I found Mr. Parker's houfe fo near the
river, as focnetimes to be wafhed by it. The
improvement I had heard of is a hill of above
40 acres, w,hich was covered with ling, furze,
&c. and not worth 6d. an acre thirty-two
years ago when the work was begun. He
grubbed, ploughed it, and fowed oats, and
marled the ftubble from the Shannon j the
marie, from the fteepnefs of the hill, being
carried on the backs of oxen. Upon this -he
took a crop of wheat, and another of oats,
both exceedingly fine, and with the latter fow-
ed the feeds for the grafs, which ftill remains,

D E R R Y. 243

and has been improving ever fince; it is now-
worth 303. an acre, and a very pleafing object
to the eye, efpecially fince Mr. Parker, junior,
has added to the finenefs of the verdure and
herbage by feeding it with many fheep.

In the fame converfation I alfo learned a few
particulars of a bog of twelve acres part of one
of 150, improved by Mr. Minchin, near Ne-
nagh. The firft operation was to cut main
drains (ix feet deep, and crofs ones of 18 inches
or two feet, and as foon as it was a little firm,
covered it with lime-ftone gravel three inches
thick, before the bog would bear a car ; but did
it by beginning at the edge, and advancing on
the part gravelled. Part was tilled, and part
left for grafs without ploughing : the meadow
thus formed has been exceedingly fine. One-
uncommon circumftance was, his having paved
the bottom of the drains with gravel, in order
to prevent cattle from being bogged in them.
The expenfe of the whole improvement 8L an
acre. The profit immenfe.

It is to Mr. Head's attention that I am in-
debted for the following particulars concern-
ing the barony of Owna and Arra. The foil
is a light gravelly loam, on a ilaty rock, which
is almoft general through the 'whole. The
rent on an average 153. for profitable land,
and is. for mountain ; and as there is about
half and half, the whole will be 8s. The rife
of rent, in twenty years is about double. Eflates
are generally large, fcarce any fo low as 5 or

6ool.

244 D E R R Y.

6ool. a year. Farms are all fmall, none above
3 or 400 acres : many are taken in partner-
ihip, three, four, or five families to 100 acres.
They divide the land among themfelves, each
man taking according to his capital. The
terms rundale and changedale unknown, as is
the latter practice. There are no farms with-
out buildings upon them. Laying out money
in building better houfes would pay no intereft
at all, as they are perfectly fatisfied with their
mud cabbins. Courfes of crops on reclaimed
mountain,

i. Marie for oats. 2. Bere. 3. Bere,
4. Wheat. 5. Oats, or Englifh. barley.
6. Oats. 7. Oats. 8. Oats. 9. Oats. 10. Oats.
The number of thefe crops of oats proportion-
ed to the quantity of marie laid on -t but the
rule is to take as long as the land will yield,
a*ul then leave it to recover itfelf by weeds.
Another courfe.

i . Potatoes in drills on an exhaufted ftubble.
2. Bere. 3. Oats. 4. Oats. 5. Oats. 6. Oats,
and fo on till none will be got.

The quantity of wheat'is very little ; for that
little they low a barrel an acre, and get 8 bar-
rels -, medium price, icd. to i3d. a ftone. Of
bere they fow a barrel, and get 15. Of oats
low two barrels, the produce 8 to 15, accord-
ing to being early or late in the courfe. Price
of bere, fix-pence to feven- pence halfpenny.
?ats, four-pence to fix-pence per ftone. No

peafe,

D E R R Y. 245

peafe, beans, clover, or turnips j but they have
little patches of flax for their own confump-
tion. Potatoes they very generally cultivate
in drills; they plough the flubble twice or
thrice, and then open trenches with the plough
three feet afunder ; in which they put fome
dung, lay the fets on it, and cover them with
the plough if they have horfes, or if not with
fhovels. They keep them clean by conftant
earthing up with ploughs or (hovels. They
dig them out, the produce thirty-five barrels
per acre. They find that nothing is fo good
and clean as fallow for corn. Some poor
people hire grafs land for them in the lazy
bed way, paying 3!. 105!. los. per acre.

The only manure ufed befides dung is the
fhelly made, dredged up from the bottom of
the Shannon. Mr. Head's grandfather was
the firft who introduced that method of getting
at it by bringing men from Dublin ufed to
raifing ballaft. It proved fo profitable, that
the ufe has much increafed fince. It lies irre-
gularly in banks, from 100 to 200 yards from
the fhore, and under 10 or 12 feet of water in
fummer which is the only time they can get it.
The price of railing it is from is. to 2s. ac-
cording to circumftances, befides finding boat,
ropes, and all tackle ; a boat contains 60
bufhels, and requires 5 men. They land it on
a quay,, from whence it is taken in fledge
carts to fome diftance for drying, nor is it dry
enough for carting away till the year follow-
ing. Some think it worth carrying one mile,

and

246 D E R R Y.

and even two. The common people do not lay
on more than four or five boat loads to an acre,
but Mr. Head always ten, and the whole expenfe
he calculates at 405. Much bad land has been
reclaimed by it, and to great profit. All their
dung is ufed for potatoes.

The tillage of the common people is done
with horfes, four in a plough, which do half
an acre a day: gentlemen ufe four oxen. The
price 8s. an acre. No paring and burning.

They (hut up their meadows for hay in
March or April, and rarely begin to mow till
September. I fhould remark, that I faw the
hay making or marring all the way (October
3d) from Johnftown hither, with many fields
covered with water, and the cocks forming
little iflands in them. They are generally two
months making it ; the crop one to one ton
and a half per acre.

There is no regular fyftem of cattle in this
barony, there not being above four or five gra-
ziers -, but gentlemen, in their domains, have
all the different fyftem s. The common far-
mers keep a few of moft forts of cattle, except
fat ones. No large flocks of (heep, but every
farmer a few breeding ewes. The fleeces four
to a ftone. They fell either lambs, hoggits,
or two or three year olds ; the price of a two-
year old ewe i os. they have no winter food but
grafs, even the gentlemen have their fat mut-
ton all winter from the low grafs lands on the

Shannon,

9 D E R R Y. 247

Shannon, without either hay or turnips. The
marled land has a remarkable fpring of grafs
in the winter j the rot is very little known.
All keep pigs, which are much increafed of
late ; their pork 325. a cwt. laft year at Lime-
rick; Mr. Head has known it fo low as 145.
No proportion between cows and pigs.

In hiring and flocking farms, many will
take them in partnerfhip with no other capital
than a little flock of cattle. Difficult to fix
the number of years purchafe at which land
fells. None has been fold in this barony In
Mr. Head's memory. Leafes to proteftants
three lives.

The common mode of labour is that of cot-
tars, they have a cabbin and an acre for 303.
and 305. the grafs of a cow, reckoning with
them at five pence a day the year round ; other
labour vibrates from four pence to fixpence.
A cottar with a middling family will have two
cows i there is not one without a cow. All
of them keep as many pigs as they can rear,
and fome poultry. Their circumtlances are
rather better than 20 years ago.

A cottar 's expenceSf

Rent of, a cabbin and an acre I 10 o

Two cows - -300

Hay for ditto, one, ton - i 1 5 o

Tythe 040

Hearth money - -020

Carried over £, 6 1 1 o

One

248 D E R R Y.

Brought over £.6 n O

One ftone of wool a year for the man, one for
the woman, and two ftones for three chil-
dren ; this is what they ought to have, but
the fa£t does not exceed two ftone, one at
173. and one at 8s. - - 150

Tools r -050

Turf, whether bought or in their own labour i o o
Flax feed, five or fix pottles, at 8d. - 036

Breaking and fcutching, eight ftone, at rod. 068
Heckling ditto, at iod. - -068

Weaving 536 bandies, at is. id. a fcore - 0166

N. B. After heckling 56lb. flax, the reft is tow, which
they fpin for bags, &c.

Two pair of brogues, ps. gd. and four pair foles,

18. iod. each, 73. $d. 0171

A pair of women's ihoes, 35. 3d. and a pair of

foles, u. 5d. - -048

A boy of fourteen, two pair, at 2S. 2d. foies,
is. id.

A hat, as. 8d. the boy one, is. 6"d. -

His receipt.

Deduct from—
Sundays
Holiday
Bad weather

———365 days

Own work

— - in

Remain at 5d. . 254 5 5 I0

The.

t> E R R Y.

Brought over
'JThe boy of twelve or fourteen, three-pence

halfpenny a day -

Two pigs, one eat, the other fold for -

Two calves, one ?os. one ios, -

N. B. Chickens and ducks pay for fait, foap and candles,
gnd they eat the geefe,

When my informant, who was a poor man,
had finifhed, I demanded how the aos. defici-
ency, with whifky, and the prieft, were to be
paid -, the anfwer was, that he muft not eat his
geefe and pig, or elfe not drefefo well, which pro-
bably is the cafe. Their acre of garden feeds
them the year through j nine months on po-
tatoes, and the other three on oaten bread,
from their own oats. The confumption of
potatoes not increafed in twenty years. A fa-
mily of five perfons will eat and wafte forty-two
{lone of potatoes in a week. They are not ad-
dicted in any remarkable degree to thieving.
The cottars of a farm might eafily be taken
from it, and yet the farm let without difficul-
ty, for the tenant would foon have others ;
but it is questioned whether they could eafily
be made farmers of.

Dancing is very general among the poor
people, almoft univerfal in every cabbin.
Dancing-mailers of their own rank travel
through the country front cabbin to cabbin,
with a piper or blind ridler •, and the pay is fix-
pence a quarter. It is an abfolute fyftem of

education.

250 D E R R Y.

education. Weddings are always celebrated
with much dancing ; and a Sunday rarely
pafles without a dance ; there are very few
among them who will not, after a hard day's
work, gladly walk feven miles to have a dance.
John is not fo lively, but then a hard day's
work with him is certainly a different affair
from what it is with Paddy. Other branches
of education are likewife much attended to,
every child of the pooreft family learning to
read, write, and carl accounts.

There is a very ancient cuftom here, for a
number of country neighbours among the
poor people, to fix upon iome young woman
that ought, as they think, to be married ; they
alfo agree upon a young fellow as a proper
hulband for her ; this determined, they fend
to the fair one's cabbin to inform her, that on
the Sunday following /fe is to be horfed, that is
carried on men's backs. She muft then pro-
vide whifky and cyder for a treat, as all will
pay her a vifit after mafs for a hurling match.
As foon as fhe is horfed, the hurling begins,
in which the young fellow appointed for her
hufband, has the eyes of all the company fixed
on him ; if he comes off conqueror, he is cer-
tainly married to the girl, but if another is vic-
torious, he as certainly lofes her, for fhe is
the prize of the victor. Thefe trials are not
always finifhed in one Sunday, they take fome-
times two or three, and the common exprefli-
on when they are over is, th&tjuch a girl 'was
goafd. Sometimes one barony hurls againft

another,

D E R R Y. 251

another, but a marriageable girl is always the
prize. Hurling is a fort of cricket, but inftead
of throwing the ball in order to knock down
a wicket, the aim is to pafs it through a bent
flick, the ends ftuck in the ground. In thefe
matches they perform fuch feats of activity, as
ought to evidence the food they live on to be
far from deficient in nourifhment.

Tythes — Potatoes, 53. Wheat, barley, bere,
55. Oats, as. 6d. Meadow, 2s. They are
in the management of proftors, but the great-
eft hardfhip attending them, is the poor man
paying for his garden, while the rich grazier
pays nothing, owing to the famous vote of the
houfe of commons.

There is only one flour mill in the barony,
and the increafe of tillage is very trifling, but
the whifky ftills at Killaloe, trebled in five or
fix years.

Prices not in the tables.

Wild ducks, is. a couple. Teal, 6d. Plo-
ver, 2d. Salmon, three halfpence to 3d. per
Ib. Large pike, 2S. 6d. each. Trout, of
twelve inches long, id. each. Eels, is. a do-
zen. Eggs, ten a penny in flimmer, three in
winter. Women's labour in harveft, 3d in
winter, 2d. Maid's wages, il. los. A lad's,
il. 8s. Mowing, per acre, as. 4d. Women
earn by fpinnirig, 3d. Hire of a car, with
man and horfe, is. 6d. Threfhing wheat,

per

±52 D E R R Y.

per barrel, 6d. Bere, 4<1. Oats, two pence
halfpenny. Barley, 3d.

BUILDING.

A mud cabbin, 4].

Ditto of (tone and flate, 20!.

A dry wall, five feet high, building - 013

Labour coping - - -006

Daftiing - - - -002

Lime, two barrels .», ; : - -014

Sand - - - -005

• 035

Befids carting the ftones, the mafon's perch of houfe wall.

ing, is. 6d.

All materials laid at the fpot.
Oak bark, 81. to pi. a ton.
Cars are nj.ade by hatchet men, at 6d. a day.
Timber and labour of one - • o 10 o

Iron f - - o 10 o

£.100

In the hills above Derry are fome very fine
flate quarries, that employ 60 men. The
quarrymen are paid 35. a thoufand for the
dates, and the labourers 5d. a day. They are
very fine, and fent by the Shannon to diftant
parts of the kingdom $ the price at the quarry
6s. a thoufand, and at the fhore 6s. 8d. 400,000
flates are railed to pa/ the rent only, from
which fome eftimate may be made of the
quantity.

Mr,

D E R R Y. 253

Mr. Head has made Come confiderable im-
provements of wafte or rough land by means
of marie. His firft was a field of 14 acres
ten years ago ; the foil light, as before defcribed
of the country in general ; the fpontaneous
growth, furze and ferns, worth 53. an acre.
He cleared it from ftones, which were ufed
for building ; the expence fmall, marled it,
and fowed five crops of corn, and with the
laft of them hay feeds: it became a mea-
dow in two years, and is now worth 305. an
acre. The next was a field of eight acres, the
fame foil j he broke it up for potatoes, then
took one crop of corn, marled it on the ftub-
ble, and fowed five crops of corn, laying down
with the fifth. Worth 8s. an acre before,
now 30$. Five acres and an half were alfo
done, marled on the furface, the effeft little ;
it was therefore ploughed up in four or five
years ; yielded two crops of good turnips, two
of Englifh barley, and then laid down. It is
now worth 305. an acre.

The next attempt was upon 16 acres, not
worth as. 6d. an acre, over-run with furze,
fern and heath, with fo many {tones that clear-
ing them away cofl los. an acre. Ploughed
and burnt it, and took two crops of turnips,
then two of oats. Left it to itfelf for five or
fix years, and then marled it, fince it has
yielded four crops of corn, and is now worth
il. 2S. 9d. an acre.

The

254 D E R R Y.

The laft improvement is a field of 1 1 acres,
which has been lately marled.

Mr. Head has 400 fheep, and theyconfiftof
100 breeding ewes. — 100 lambs. — 84 hoggits.
— 70 three-year old wethers and culled ewes,
fat. — 46 two year old wethers. He fells an-
nually

Fifty fat wethers — 57 o »

Fifty culled ewes, at i8s. — 45 o o

Four hundred fleeces, 133 ftone, at 1 8s. 119 14 o

£.221 14 O

Mr. Head has a practice in his fences which
deferves univerfal imitation : it is planting
trees for gate-pofts. Stone piers are expen-
five and always tumbling down ; trees are
beautiful, and never want repairing. Within
15 years this gentleman has improved Derry
fo much, that thofe who had only feen it before,
would find it almoft a new creation. He has
built a handfome ftone- houfe, on the flope of
a hill riling from the Shannon, and backed by
fume fine woods, which unite with many old
hedges well planted to form a woodland fcene,
beautiful in the contraft to the bright expanfe
of the noble river below: the declivity, on
which thele woods are, finifhes in a moun-
tain, which rifes above the whole. The Shannon
gives a bend around the adjoining lands, fo as
to be feen from the houfe both to the weft and
north, the lawn falling gradually to a margin
3 of

CASTLE C O N N E L. 255

of wood on the (hore, which varies the out-
line. The river is two miles broad, and on
the oppofite fhore cultivated inclofures rife in
fome places almoft to the mountain top, which.
is very bold.

It is a very fingular demefne ; a ftripe of
very beautiful ground, reaching two miles
along the banks of the river, which forms his
fence on one fide, with a wall on the other.
There is fo much wood as to render it very
pleafing, adding to every day by planting all
the fences made or repaired. From feveral
little hills, which rife in different parts of it,
extenfive views of the river are commanded
quite to Portumna ; but thefe are much
eclipfed by that from the top of the hill above
the Hate quarry. From thence you fee the ri-
ver for at lead 40 miles, from Portumna to
20 miles beyond Limerick. It has the ap-
pearance of a fine bafon, two miles over, into
which three great rivers lead, being the north
and fouth courfe and the bay of SkerifF. The
reaches of it one beyond another to Portumna
are fine. At the foot of the mountain Mr.
Head's demefne extends in a fhore of rich
woodland.

October 7th, took my leave of Mr. Head,
after paffing four days very agreeably.
Through Killaloe, over the Shannon, a very
long bridge of many arches ; went out of the
road to fee a fall of that river at Caftle Con-
nel,, where there is fuch an accompanyment

256 C U L L E N,

of wood as to form a very pleafing fcenery ;
the river takes a very rapid rocky courfe, around
a projecting rock, on which a gentleman has
built a fummer-houfe, and formed a terrace : it
is a ftriking fpot. To Limerick. Laid at Ben-
nis's, the firft inn we had flept in from Dublin.
God preferve us this journey from another !

The 8th, leaving that place, I took the
road through Palace to Cullen. The firft fix
or feven miles from Limerick has a great deal
of corn, which fliews that tillage is gaining
even upon bullocks themfelves. I obferved
with much pleafu re, that all the cottars had
their little gardens furrounded with banks well
planted with otters. To the Rev. Mr. Lloyd's,
at Caftle Lloyd, near Cullen, a gentleman who I
found as able and willing as he had been repre-
fented, to give me the intelligence I wifhed rela-
tive to the grazing grounds around him. — The
following particulars, which I owe to him, con-
cern more immediately the barony of Clanwil-
liam in Tipperary ; the fame in Limerick, Small
County, and the part of Coonagh next Clan-
william. In thefe parts the foil and manage-
ment are much the fame : that of Oonabeg
nearly, but not quite equal.

The foil is a loam of a yellowifh brown,
friable, but putrid and mixed with a fmall
quantity of grit ftones upon a lime-ftone rock,
at the depth of two, three, and four feet ;
much of it is very dry, but the richeft has
what is here called a tender moift Jkin> which
i vields

CASTLE LT.OYD. 257

yields fo much to the tread of beafts that it
breaks under them : the richer and the more
improved it is, the more fo. It is a great error
to aflert, that it would not do for tillage, for
there is none better for the purpofe if properly
managed.

The average rent of the rich parts of this
tract is 305. an acre. In Coonagh there are
19,313 acres, half of it not worth 53. an acre,
being mountainous. In the laft twenty years,
the rents of the rich lands have rifen about a
fourth, and two- thirds fince the year 1748.

Average of the county of Tipperary, i zs. 6d.
Ditto of Limerick, IDS. 6d. Ditto of Corke, 53.

Eftates are generally very large, but fome fo
low as 300!. a year. Farms arife from fmall
ones in partnership to 5 or 6000 acres. The
tillage acts have had the effect of lefTening
them evidently. The great fyftem of this dif-
trict is that of grazing. Bullocks are bought in
at the fairs of Ballinafloe, Newport, Banagher,
Toomavarra, &c. in the months of September,
October, and November, the prices from 5!.
to 81. average, 61. Twenty years ago beads
were bought at 403. which now could not be
got under 4!. The prices having doubled,
allowing at the fame time for the improved
fize of beafts. As foon as bought, they are
turned into the coarfeft ground of the farm $
the fattening ftock being put into the after-
grafs, the lean ones are turned after them ; if
VOL. IJ. R the

258 CASTLE LLOYD.

the farmer has a tract of mountain, they will
be turned into that at firft. They are put to
hay after Chriftmas, and kept at it till May.
An acre of hay for three bullocks is reckoned
a good allowance, the quantity will be from
three to four tons. It is given fcattered upon
the ground in dry fields, till the latter end of
April, or the beginning of May, when they
are collected into a fmall fpace, in order for
the grafs eliewhere to grow. About the loth
of May they are put to grafs for the fummer j
and in this, the method is to turn into every
field the flock which they imagine will be
maintained by it, and leave the whole there
till fat. The Corke butchers come in July
and Augufl to make their bargains, and begin
to draw in September, and continue to take
them till December. Some graziers keep
them with hay till the market rifes, but it is
not a common practice. It is thought that
they begin to lofe flem about the aoth of No-
vember, and that after the firft nothing is
gained. Average felling price, 9!. los. It
vibrates from 81. to ul. los;

Annexed to this bullock fyftem is that of
buying in bull calves* fix months old, in
September and October, from aos. to 405.
each, fome to 3!. thefe are fed in well fhelter-
ed prights with grafs and hay, and fold in
May and June with 205. profit upon an ave-
rage. One acre of hay will yield enough for
nine calves ; the proportion is, to buy a calf
to every acre.

Upon

CASTLE LLOYD. 259

Upon other parts of the farm, where calves
are not fed in this manner, fheep are fubfti-
tuted. Much land is hired here by Tipperary
farmers, who bring their fheep to it; and
where this is not the cafe, the Limerick farmers
have both coarfe and rich land which enables
them to go into fheep. They keep flocks of
breeding ewes. If a man has 100 ewes, he
will have 100 lambs, 100 yearlings, 100 two-
year olds, 100 three-year olds, felling every
year 50 three-year old fat wethers, and 50
culled ewes, viz.

56 wethers, at 255; — — 62 10 o

50 culled ewes, fat, at 235. — 57 10 o

400 fleeces, 133 ftoneof wotil, at i$s. 99 15 o

500 Total flock jC-2I9 T5 °

If a man has only rich land in thofe ba-
ronies, without any in Tipperary, then he
keeps only bullocks regularly ; but he buys in
fome baggit (heep, which he keeps a year, and
fells fat. The Tipperary iyftem is fuppofed
to be the moft profitable, for they have given
more for the Limerick lands than the Limerick
people themfelves. Befides thefe methods,
there is another which is buying in cows in
March, April, May, and June, at 3!. to 61.
each, and ieilmg them fat with 403. profit.
This is very profitable, but fubjecl: to difficul-
ties, for they are troublefoms to pick up, and
much fubjecl: to diitempers.

R 2 Calculation

260 CASTLE LLOYD.

Calculation of the profit of grazing bullocks.

One bullock bought in at 600

Rent of one acre and one-third 200

County cefs, at gd. - - o i o

Mowing, making, carting, and {lacking hay 030
Herdfman, at 1 2!. a year - - 020

Lofles on flock, -£ per cent. - -006

Intereft'of 81. at 6 per cent.

PRODUCE.

Sale of a bullock - . a o o

Value of the after-grafs of one-third of an acre a 34

Expences -

Profit on one acre and one-third r

Which is per acre

This profit is, I think, very low, fo low that
nothing but the eafe with which grazing bul-
locks is carried on, could induce a man to be
iatisned with it.

The fize to which oxen now come upon this
rich land is 5icwt. twenty years ago it was
4i- cwt. the additional ^ cwt. is owing not

CASTLE LLOYD. 261

to any improvement in the land, or ma-
nagement, but of the breed.

Particulars of a grazing farm at Cullen.

120 acres in all. 1 10 bullocks. 40 lambs.
4 cows. 7 acres of meadow. 14. acre, herdf-
man's garden. 2 acres of orchard. 246!. rent,
or 4 is. per acre.

The number of fheep kept in this neigh-
bourhood has decreafed, owing to the divifion
into fmaller farms. The winter food for them
in the rich tracts is grafs, except in mows,
when they turn them to their hay flacks,
they are very little troubled with the rot. The
rife in the price of wool, 55. a {lone in 30
years.

There are but few dairies 5 the little far-
mers have the chief. The breed of the cows is
generally half Englifh, half Irifti. They are
kept on the pooreft grounds, 14. acre, or i|,
keeps a cow the year round ; the ufual pro-
duce is i cwt. of butter, and 205. horn mo-
ney, or 3!. in all ; the winter food hay, ^ of
an acre to each. The calf is always reared ;
valued when it drops at 2s. 6d. or 35. the me-
dium price of a cow, 5!. There have been
many Englifh bulls introduced for improving
the cattle of the country, at a confiderable
expence, and great exertions in the breed of
fheep ; fome perfons, Mr. Dexter chiefly,
have brought Englifh rams, which they let out

262 CASTLE LLOYD.

at feventeen guineas a feafon, and alfo at
i os. 6d. a ewe, which indicates a fpirited 'at-
tention.

Hogs all the way from Limerick are of a
very good breed, far fuperior to the common
Irifh, and the number greatly increafed.

RefpecYmg tillage, the chief is done by lit-
tle farmers, for the graziers apply themfelves
folely to cattle. It is entirely connected with
breaking up grafs for potatoes— the quantity
(mall:

i. Grafs potatoes. 2. Potatoes. 3. Bere.
4. Oats. 5. Oats, and then leave it for grafs
without fowing any feeds. With gentlemen

it is,

•

i. Potatoes. 2. Ditto. 3. Wheat. 4. Oats,
or Englifh barley. 5. Oats, left fmooth to
grafs itfelf — Shame to them for being as bad
farmers as the Paddies !

The grafs is let for the potatoe crop to the
poor people, who pay from 5!. to fix guineas
an acre for it ; no manure ufed; nine barrels
of feed at 20 ftone, plant an acre; the ufual
feafon April and the beginning of May. In
planting, they dig the whole ground, except
the two firft fods, and when they have got
feven or eight feet, form trenches in the com-
mon manner j they weed them carefully; the
produce about 120 barrels per acre; price 2S.

CASTLE LLOYD. 263

to 35. 6d. a barrel -, they pay as much rent for
thefecond crop as the firfl, and it is as goo.d,
though they don't plant it, trufting to the little
potatoes left in the ground, and which they
fpread in digging ; but this is a moft ilovenly
practice j if they were to plant the fecond
crop it would be better than the firft, provided
it is as good without it.

JLxpences of an acre.

Rent r

Nine barrels of feed at 35.

Planting, and digging, 16 men, at 8d.

Planting, 12 children at 4d.

Trenching, 12 men

Cutting fets, eight women at 4d.

Second trenching, fix men

Digging out, twenty-fix men at 8d.
Picking, twelve women
Carrying home, two horfes
Tythe - -

PRODUCE.

One hundred and twenty, at 35. - 1800

Expences - - . 10 n 8

Profit

Prime coft, is, ^d. per barrel.

264. CASTLE LLOYD.

They do not plough the potatoe land for
here at all, but trench it in with fpade and
fhovel, fow fix bufhels an acre, and get 20
barrels, at 75. on an average. They then
plough once for oats, fow fix bufhels, and get
1 6 to 20 barrels, worth 45. a barrel on a me-
dium, at 12 (tone. The fecond crop of oats
is as good as the firft. In the gentleman's
courfe the wheat is trenched in if the feafon is
wet, but ploughed in if it is dry ; twenty ftone
of feed per acre, the product ten barrels, at
20 ftone, and the price 2os. Plough twice
for the Englifh barley $ fow five or fix bufhels
per acre, and get 20 barrels, 17 ftone per bar-
rel, at 8d. a ftone. No lime, marie, or lime-
ftone gravel ufed, nor clover, peafe, beans,
or turnips fown ; but enough flax is fown by
every poor family for their own ufe ; and fome
fell it at fairs, after fcutching, at 45. to 55. a
ftone. There are many weavers about the
country, who make handle cloth, and fome a
yard wide, for the poor people ; they live both
in towns and villages. All the women fpin
flax. They fhut up their fields for hay the be-
ginning of June, generally mow in September,
the crop three to four tons an acre, fometimes
five or fix. It is fold {landing for 405. an acre.

Tillage is done with horfes, four in a plough,
and do half an acre a day, four or five inches
deep j the price 78.^ to los. In hiring and
ftccking they reckon that 3l.,an acre will do
for a grazing farm, but much lefs for tillage.
Leafes are for thirty-one ye^rs or three lives.

Land

CASTLE LLOYD. 265

Land fells at twenty years purchafe : there has
been a fall of rents from 1772, to the Ame-
rican war, but fmce that time they have been
riling. The religion all Roman catholic.

Much of the labour is done by fervants,
hired into the houfe of little farmers that keep
dairies, &c. Much alfo by cottars, who have
a cabbin and an acre and a half of potatoe gar-
den, which are valued at three guineas ; they
have alfo two cows, at 505. a cow. Three-
fourths of an acre under potatoes every year,
and the reft oats and flax j they get about 120
barrels an acre, which crop, with the oats,
feed them the year through •, they are much
more eaten than they were 20 years ago ; two
barrels will laft a family a week as they arc
ufually confumed. They all keep a pig, a dog,
two cats, and fome poultry j their circumftan-
ces are better than they were twenty years ago ;
their pig they fell, but they eat fome poultry,
particularly geefe. Some of them buy turf
for fuel, which cofts them fifteen fhillings :
but many depend on breaking and ftealing
hedge-wood 5 they are much given to pil-
fering.

Cottar s account.

Cabbin and i^ acre - 383

Grafs of two Cows - - 50°

Turf o 15 0

Carried over £.9 3 3
Tythe

266 CASTLE LLOYD.

Brought over, - - 9 3 3

Tythe on o

Seed flax, four pottles 034

20 Bandies of cloth for the man }

20 — _ : for the woman >

7 . — for three children )

47 weaving, at |d.

N. B. Hackled, &c. by themfelves.

One ftone of wool for the whole family - o 17 o

Weaving ditto 034

Shoes *• - - o 10 o

Hats ^», . - - o i o

Hearth money - - o 2 Q

Duties to the Prieft.

Two confeffions
A chriftening
Sundries

His Receipt.

Days 365

Sundays 52

Holydays 30

Bad weather 10
His own garden 20

£,5-5 5
The

CASTLE LLOYD. 267

Brought over 555
The eldeft child, 10 or 12 years old, 2d. a day

for 253 days

Other earnings of the family
A pig, bought at 75. fold at 475.
Poultry
One Calf
Two cwt. of butter

15 12 6
Expences - - - - 111811

Remains for unfpecified demands, cafualties, &c. 3 13 7

Many of the poor here have no cows ; there
are cabbins on the road fide that have no land ;
the inhabitants of them are called fpalpeens,
who are paid for their labour in cafh, by the
month, &c. Some of them pay no- rent at all,
others los. a year ; and theie are the people
who hire grafs land for their potatoes ; it is
certain that the cottars are much better off
than thefe fpalpeens, who can get but little
milk, buying it part of the fummer half year
only of the dairy farmers.

Tythes. Wheat, 8s, Bere, 73. Barley, 75.
Oats, 48. 6d. Potatoes, us. Meadow, 2s. 8d.

Prices not in the talks.

Womens labour, reaping, q.d. Other work,
3d. Making hand turf, 6d. Farming man's
wages, 3!. to 4!. Farming maid's ditto, il.
i2s. Mowing, per acre, as. 6d. to 35. in

J745*

268 CASTLE LLOYD.

1745, only is. 6d. Ditching, gd.'a perch.
Double ones, is. 6d. feven feet wide at top,
three and a half at bottom, and four deep, and
they will earn 8d. a day at it. Hire of a car,
is. 6d. a day. In 1745 it was is. Price of a
car, il. i8s. 3d. Building a mud cabbin, 3!.
Stone and (late, 25!. Mafon's perch of {lone
walls for labour, 9d. fix feet high complete,
1 6s. Oak, 4!. a ton; twenty years ago, 2!.
Lime, io4-d. a barrel, burnt with culm,
brought 25 miles.

Mr. Lloyd has worked a very great improve-
ment of a (baking morafs, which when he be-
gan was worth only 55. an acre. The firft
bufmefs was banking it, from a river fubjecl:
to floods, with a parallel back cut, to carry off
the water that came over his bank. He then
carried a central drain through it and a mile
beyond it, to gain a fall. Next he fubdivided
it into fields, from 10 to 20 acres, by ditches
planted with quick. The land was over-run
with much underwood and fedgy tufibcks, &c.
thefe were all grubbed, cut up, and burnt;
after which cattle were put in, the improve-
ment being finifhed ; and it has grown better
and better ever fince, being now worth 30$. an
acre : fome of it is actually let at 385. It was
a very expenfive undertaking, owing to the
ill-earn above him belonging to a neighbour,
who did not fecond his undertaking ; he was
obliged to make along bank upon this account
only, partly over a turf bog, which was blown
up once, but made again with great difficulty ;

fourteen

MITCHELSTOWN. 269

fourteen fpits deep were cleared, and a foun-
dation of rammed clay laid : this coft loool. it
has, however, flood well fmce.

Lime Mr. Lloyd tried in a very fatisfaclory
experiment ; he broke up one of the rich hills
near Caftle Lloyd, and limed half a field ; af-
terwards upon laying the whole down, the
part limed has continued of a much deeper
green and more luxuriant herbage than the
other half.

October loth, left Caftle Lloyd, and took
the road by Galbally to Mitchei's Town,
through a country part of it a rich grazing
tract ; but from near Galbally, to the Galty
mountains, there are large fpaces of flat lands,
covered with heath and furze, that are exceed-
ingly improvable, yet feem as neglected as if
nothing could be made of them. The road
leads immediately at the northern foot of the
Galties, which form the moft formidable and
romantic boundary imaginable ; the fides are
almoft perpendicular, and reach a height,
which piercing the clouds, feem formed rather
for the boundaries of two conflicting empires,
than the property of private perfons. The
variety of the fcenery exhibited by thefe moun-
tains is great ; the road after pafling fome miles
parallel with them, turns over a hill, a conti-
nuation of their chain, and commands an ob-
lique view of their fouthern fide, which has
much more variety than the northern ; it looks
down at the fame time upon a long plain,

bounded

±70 MlTCHELSTOWtt.

bounded by thefe and other mountains, feve-
ral rivers winding through it, which join iri
the center, near Mitchel's Town. I had been:
informed that this was a miferable place : it
has at lead a fituation worthy of the proudeft
capital.

Upon my arrival, Lord Kingfborough, who
poffefies almoft the whole country, procur-
ed me the information I requefted in the
moft liberal manner, and a refidence fince has
enabled me to perfeft it. His Lordfhip's vaft
property extends from Kildorrery to Clogheen,
beyond Ballyporeen, a line of more than 16
Iriih. miles, and it fpreads in breadth from five
to ten miles. It contains every variety of land,
from the fertility of grazing large bullocks to
the mountain heath the cover of groufe. The
profitable land lets from 8s. to 253. an acre,
but the whole does not on an average yield
more than 2S. 6d. Such a field for future im-
provements is therefore rarely to be found.
On the cold and bleak hills of Scotland eftates
of greater extent may be found, but lying within
twenty miles ofCorke, the moftfoutherly part
of Ireland, admits a rational prophecy that
it will become one of the firft properties in
Europe.

The fize of farms held by occupying tenants
is in general very fmall, Lord Kinglborough
having releafed them from the bondage of the
middle men. Great tracts are held in partner-
; and the amount held by fmgle farmers rifes

from

MITCHELSTOWN. 271

from 5!. to 50!; a year, with a very few large
farms.

The foils are as various as in fuch a great
extent they may be fuppofed : the worft is the
wet morafTy land, on a whitifti gravel, the
fpontaneous growth, rufhes (juncus conglome-
ratus) and heath (erica vulgaris)-, this yields a
fcanty nourifhment to cows and half ftarved
young cattle. Large tracts of wet land has a
black peat or a turf furface j this is very re-
claimable, and there are immenfe tracts of it.
The profitable foil is in general a fandy or a
gravelly loam, of a reddifh brown colour, and
the principal distinction is its being on lime or
grit ftone, the former generally the beft. It
declines in value from having a yellow fand or
a yellow clay near the furface under it. There
are traces of fuch incomparable land that I
feen very little equal to it, except in Tipperary,
Limerick, and Rofcommon. A deep friable
loam, moift enough for the fpontaneous growth
to fat a bullock, and dry enough to be per-
fectly under command in tillage : if I was to
name the characterirtics of an excellent foil, I
fhould fay that upon which you may fat an ox,
and feed off a crop of turnips. By the way I
recollect little or no fuch land in England, yet
is it not uncommon in Ireland. Quarries of
the fineft lime-ftone are found in almoil every
part of the eftate.

The tracts of mountain are of a prodigious
extent j the Galties only are fix or feven miles

long,

272 M I T C H E L S T O W N.

long, from one to four miles acrofs 5 and more
improvable upon the whole than any land I
have feen, turf and lime-ftone being on the
fpot, and a gentle expofure hanging to the
fouth. In every inacceflible cliff there are
mountain am, (fraxinus exceljior) oak, (quercus
robur) holly, (ilex aquifolium) birch, (betula
alba) willow, (falix) hazel, (corylus avel/ana)
and white thorn, (cratagus oxyacantha) and
even to a confiderable height up the mountain,
which, with the many old ilumps fcattered
about them, prove that the whole was once a
foreft, an obfervation applicable to every part
of the eftate.

The tillage here extends no farther than
what depends on potatoes, on which root they
fubfift as elfewhere. They fometimes manure
the grafs for them, and take a fecond crop ;
after which they follow them with oats, till the
foil is fo exhaufted as to bear no longer, when
they leave it to weeds and trumpery, which
vile fyftem has fpread itfelf fo generally over all
the old meadow and pafture of the eftate, that
it has given it a face of defolation — furze,
(eulex europ<za) broom, (fpartium fcoparium)
fern, (pteris aquilina) and rufhes, owing to
this and to negle6l, occupy feven-eighths of it.
The melancholy appearance of the lands arif-
ing from this, which, with miferable and un-
planted mounds for fences, with no gate but a
furze bum ftuck in a gap, or fome ftones piled
on each other, altogether form a fcene the
more dreary, as an oak, an afh, or an elm, are
3 almoft

MITCHELSTOWN. 273
almoft as great a rarity, (fave in the planta-
tions of the prefent Lord) as an olive, an orange,
or a mulberry.

Of potatoes, eight barrels of feed plant an
acre, which yields fixty barrels, at twenty-one
ftone -, the average price 45. 4.6..

Planting, fourteen men, at 6~d. - - 077

Trenching, fourteen ditto - - o 7 y

Leading the dung U4 - - r o o

Spreading, fix men - o 3 3

Eight barrels feed - - i 14 8

Weeding by the women - - o o o

Taking up, fixty men - - 1126

Carting home, &c. - - -0150

PRODUCE.

Sixty, at 45. 4d. - 13

Expenfes - - « 6

£-6 '9 S

Prime coft, 2$. a barrel.

They lay them up in holes in the field. The
fecond crop is generally the beft. Of oats they
fow two barrels, and reap from 8 to 15. There
no wheat, and very little barley. Clover and
turnips, rape, beans, and peafe, quite un-
known. The rents are paid by cattle, and of

VOL. II. S thefc

274 MITCHELSTOWN.
thefe dairy cows are the chief flock. The little
farmers manage their own; the larger ones
let them to dairymen for one cwt. of butter
each cow, and 12$. to 155. horn money; but
the mannas a privilege of four collops, and an
acre of land and cabbin to every twenty cows.
The people,moft attentive tq their own intereft,
are, however, getting out of this fyftem, from
the innumerable rafcalities of thefe dairymen,
they will play twenty tricks to keep them from
taking the bull, in order to have the longer
feafon ; and to force them to give down their
milk, they have a very delicate cuftom of blow-

them where • •, but I have heard

of this pradice in other parts.

The winter food is ftraw and hay at night;
not many of them are houfed. In the breed-
ing fyftem they are very deficient. Vaft num-
bers of calves are killed at two or {hree days
old for an execrable veal' they call Daggering
bob, I fuppofe from the animal not being olp
enough to ftand fleady on its legs': they fill at
2S. or as. 6d. a head. A good cow fells from
$1. to 61. 6s. and a calf of fix or eight months,
at 2os. or 22S. Sheep are kept in very fmall
numbers j a man will {iave two, or even one,
and he thinks it worth his while to walk ten
or twelve miles to a fair, with a ftraw band
tied to the leg of the lamb, in order to fell it
for 35. 6d. an undoubted proof of the poverty
of the country. Markets are crouded for this
reafon, for there "is nothing too trifling to
carry ; a yard of linen, a fleece of wool, a

couple

MITCHELSTOWN. 275

couple of chickens, will carry an unemployed
pair of hands ten miles. In the mountains are
a fmall breed of (beep, which are as delicate
mutton when properly fattened as the welch,
and of fo hardy a breed as to live upon heath,
furze, &c. in winter as well as fummer. Hogs
are kept in fuch numbers that the little towns
and villages fwarm with them ; pigs and chil-
dren bafk and roll about, and often refemble
one another fo much, that it is neceflary to
look twice before the human face divine is con-
fefTed. I believe there are more pigs in Mitchels-
tpwn than human beings, and yet propaga-
tion is the only trade that flouriihed here for
ages.

Tillage is done by horfes ; four in a plough
do half an acre a day, five or fix inches deep j
the price 6s. to los. an acre.

Labour is chiefly done in the cottar fyftem,
which has been fo often explained ; there are
here every gradation of the lower clafles, from
the fpalpeens, many among them flrangers,
who build themfelves a wretched cabbin in the
road, and have neither land, cattle, nor turf,
rifing to the regular cottar, and from him to
the little joint tenant, who, united with many
others, takes fome large farm in partnerfhip j
ftill rifing to the greater farmer.

The population is very great. It is but few
diftricts in the north that would equal the pro-
portion that holds on this eftate ; the cabbins
S 2 are

276 MITCHELSTOWN.

are innumerable, and like moft Iriih cabbins,
fwarfn with children. Wherever there is many
people, and little employment, idlenefs and its
attendants muft abound,

It is not to be expected that fo young a man
as Lord Kingfborough, juft come from the va-
rious gaiety of Italy, Paris, and London, fhould,
in fo fhort a fpace as two yearsj do much in a
region fo wild as Mitchelftown ; a very fhort
narrative however, will convince the reader,
that the time he has fpent here, has not been
thrown away. He found his immenfe pro-
perty in the hands of that fpecies of tenant
which we know fo little of in England, but
which in Ireland have fiourimed almoft to the
deftruction of the kingdom, the middle man,
whofe bufinefs and whofe induftry confifts in
hiring great tracts of land as cheap as he can,
and re -letting them to others as dear as he can,
by which means that beautiful gradation of
the pyramid, which connects the broad bafe of
the .poor people with the great nobleman they
fupport, is broken j he deals only with his
pwn tenant, the multitude is abandoned to the
humanity and feelings of others, which to be
fure may prompt a juft and tender conduct;
. whether it does or not, let the mjfery and po-
verty of the lower claries fpeak, who are thus
afligned over. This was the fituation of nine-
tenths of his property. Many leafes being
out, he rejected the trading tenant, and let
every man's land to him, who occupied
it at the rent \\e had himielf received before.

During

MITCHELSTOWN. 277

During a year that I was employed in letting
his farms, I never omitted any opportunity of
confirming him in this fyftem, as far as was in
my power, from a conviction that he was
equally ferving himfelf and the public in it ;
he will never quit it without having reafon
afterwards for regret.

In a country changing from licentious bar-
barity into civilized order, building is an object
of perhaps greater confequence than may at
firft be apparent. In a wild, or but half cul-
tivated tract, with no better edifice than a mud
cabbin, what are the objects that can imprefs a
love of order on the mind of man ? He muft
be wild as the roaming herds j favage as his
rocky mountains -, confufion, diforder, riot,
have nothing better than himfelf to damage or
deftroy : but when edifices of a different foli-
dity and character arife j when great fums are
expended, and numbers employed to rear more
expreflive monuments of induftry and order,
it is impoffible but new ideas muft arife, even,
in the uncultivated mind -, it muft feel fome-
thing, firft to refpect, and afterwards to love j
gradually feeing that in proportion as the
country becomes more decorated and valuable,
licentioufnefs will be lefs profitable, and more
odious. Mitchelftown, till his Lordfhip made
it the place of his refidence, was a den of vaga-
bonds, thieves, rioters, and whiteboys ; but I
can witnefs to its being now as orderly and
peaceable as any other Irifh town, much owing
to this circumftance of building, and thereby

employing

278 MITCHELSTOWN.

employing fuch numbers of the people. Lord
Kingfborough, in a fhort fpace of time, has
raifed con fide rable edifices ; a large manfion
for himfelf, beautifully fituated on a bold
rock, the edge of a declivity, at the bottom of
which is a river, and commanding a large tra6t
of country, with as fine a boundary of moun-
tain as I have feen ; a quadrangle of offices j a
garden of five Englifh acres, furrounded with
a wall, hot-houfes,- &c. Befides this, three
good ftone and flate houfes upon three farms,
and engaged for three others, more confider-
able, which are begun ; others repaired, and
feveral cabbins built fubftantially.

So naked a country as he found his eftate,
called for other exertions, to invoke the Dry-
ades it was necefiary to plant, and they muft
be coy nymphs indeed if they are not in a few
years propitious to him. He brought a fkilful
nurferyman from England, and formed twelve
acres of nurfery. It begins to fliew itfelfj
above ten thoufand perch of hedges are made,
planted with quick and trees j and feveral
acres, fecurely inclofed on advantageous fpots,
and filled with young and thriving plantations.
Trees were given, gratis, to the tenantry, and
premiums begun for thofe who plant moft>
and preferve them beft, befides fourfcore
pounds a year offered for a variety of improve-
ments in agriculture the moft wanted upon
the eftate.

Men,

MITCHELSTOWN. 279

Men, who from long pofleflion of landed pro-
perty, become gradually convinced of the im-
portance of attending toit, may at laft work fome
improvements without meriting any confider-
abJe portion of praife ; but that a young man,
warm from pleafure, fhould do it, has a muclx
fuperior claim. Lo.d Kingfborough has, in
this refpeft, a great deal of merit ; and for the
fake both of himfelf and his country, I heartily
wifh he may fleadily perfevere in that line of
conduct which his underftanding has once told
him, and muft continue to tell him, is fo greatly
for the advantage of himfelf, his family and
the public.

It is not uncommon* efpecially in moun-
tainous countries, to find objects that much
deferve the attention of travellers intireiy ne-
glefted by them* There are a few inftances
of this upon Lord Kingfborough's eftate, in
the neighbourhood of Mitchelftown $ the firft
I fhall mention, is a cave at Skeheenrinky, on
the road between Cahir and that place : the
opening to it is a cleft of rock in a lime flone
hill, fo narrow as to be difficult to get into it.
I defcended by a ladder of about twenty fleps,
and then found myfelf in a vault of a hundred
feet long, and fifty or fixty high : a fmall hole,
on the left, leads from this a winding courfe
of I believe not lefs than half an Irilh mile,
exhibiting a variety that (truck me much. In
fome places the cavity in the rock is fo large,
that when well lighted up by candles, (not
flambeaux, Lord Kingfborough once fhewed

28o MITCHELS.TOWN.

it me with them, and we found their fmoak
troublefome) it takes the appearance of a
vaulted cathedral, fupported by mafly columns.
The walls, cieling, floor, and pillars, are by
turns compofed of every fantaftic form ; and of-
ten of very beautiful incruftations of fpar, fome
of which glitters fo much, that it feems pow-
dered with diamonds, and in others the ciel-
ing is formed of that fort which has fo near
a refemblance to a cauliflower. The fpar form-
ed into columns by the dropping of water
has taken fome vef y regular forms ; but others
are different, folded in plaits of light drapery,
which hang from their fupport in a very pleaf-
ing manner. The angles of the walls fecm
fringed with ificles. One very long branch of
the cave, which turns to the north, is in fome
places fo narrow and low, that one crawls into
it, when it fuddenly breaks into large vaulted
fpaces, in a thoufand forms. The fpar in all
this cave is very brilliant, and almoft equal to
Briltol ftone. For feveral hundred yards in
the larger branch, there is a deep water at
the bottom of the declivity to the right, which
the common people call the river. A part of
the way is over a fort of potter's clay, which
moulds into any form, and is of a brown co-
lour : a very different foil from any in the
neighbouring country. I have feen the fa-
mous cave in the Peak, but think it very
much inferior to this : and Lord Kingfbo-
rough, who has viewed the Grot d'Aucel in
Burgundy, fays that it is not to be compared
with it.

But

MITCHELSTOWN. 281

But the commanding region of the Galties
deferves more attention. Thofe who are fond
of fcenes in which nature reigns in all her
wild magnificence, fhould vifit this flupendous
chain. It confifts of many vaft mountains,
thrown together in an afiemblage of the moil
interesting features, from boldnefs and height
of the declivities, freedom of outline, and va-
riety of parts ; filling a fpace of about fix
miles by three or four. Galtymore is the high-
eft point, and rifes like the lord and father of
the furrounding progeny. From the top you
look down upon a great extent of mountain,
which fhelves away from him to the fouth, eaft,
and welt; but to the north, the ridge is almoft
a perpendicular declivity. On that fide the
famous golden vale of Limerick and Tipperary
fpreads a rich level to the eye, bounded by the
mountains of Clare, King's and Q-ieen's coun-
ties, with the courie of the Shannon, for ma-
ny miles below Limerick. To the fouth you
look over alternate ridges of mountains, which
rife one beyond another, till in a clear day the
eye meets the ocean near Dungarvon. The
mountains of Waterford and Knockmaldown
fill up the fpace to the fouth-eaft. The
weitern is the moft extenfive view ; for no-
thing ftops the eye till Mangerton and Mac-
gilly Cuddy's Reeks point out the fpot where
Killarney's lake calls for a farther excurfion.
The profpeft extends into eight counties, Corke,
Kerry, Waterford, Limerick, Clare, Queen's,
Tipperary, King's.

A little

282 MITCHELSTOWtf.

A little to the weft of this proud fummit,
below it in a very extraordinary hollow, is a
circular lake of two acres, reported to be un-
fathomable. The defcriptions which I have
read of the craters of exhaufted volcanoes,
leave very little doubt of this being one ; and
the conical regularity of the fummit of Galty-
more fpeaks the fame language. Eaft of this
refpeftable hill, to ufe Sir William Hamilton's
language, is a declivity of about one quarter of
a mile, and there Galtybeg rifes in a yet more
regular cone, and between the two hills is
another lake, which from poiition feems to
have been once the crater which threw up
Galtybeg, as the firft mentioned was the ori-
gin of Galtymore. Beyond the. former hill is
a third lake, and eaft of that another hill ; I
was told of a fourth, with another corref-
ponding mountain. It is only the mere fum-
mit of thefe mountains which rife above the
lakes. Speaking of them below, they may be
laid to be on the tops of the hills ; they are
all of them at the bottom of an almoft regu-
larly circular hollow. On the fide, next the
mountain top, are walls of perpendicular
rocks, in regular ftrata, and fome of them
piled on each other, with an appearance of
art rather than nature. In thefe rocks the
eagles, which are feen in numbers on the Gal-
ties, have their nefts. Suppofing the moun-
tains to be of volcanic origin, and thefe lakes
the craters, of which I have not a doubt j they
are objects of the greateft curiofity, for there
is an unufual regularity in every confiderable
3 fummit,

MITCHELSTOWN. 283

fummit, having its correfponding crater ; but
without this circumftance the fcenery is in-
terefting in a very great degree. The moun-
tain fummits, which are often wrapped in
the clouds, at other times exhibit the freed
outline ; the immenfe fcooped hollows which
fink at your feet, declivities of fo vaft a depth
as to give one terror to look down ; with the
unufual forms of the lower region of hills,
particularly Bull hill, and Round hill, each a
mile over, yet rifing out of circular vales,
with the regularity or femi-globes unite upon
the whole, to exhibit a fcenery to the eye, in
which the parts are of a magnitude fo com-
manding ; a character fo interesting, and a va-
riety fo finking, that they well deferve to be
examined by every curious traveller.

Nor are thefe immenfe outlines the whole
of what is to be feen in this great range of
mountains. Every Glen has its beauties -,
there is a confiderable mountain river, or ra-
ther torrent in every one of them ; but the
greateft are the Puncheon, between Sefang
and Galtymore ; the Limeftone river, between
Galtymore and Round hill, and the Groufe
river, between Coolegarranroe, and Mr.
O'Callaghan's mountain ; thefe prefent to the
eye, for a trac~l of about three miles, every va-
riety that rock, water, and mountain can give,
thrown into all the fantaftic forms which art
may attempt in ornamented grounds, but al-
ways fails in. Nothing can exceed the beauty
of the water, when not difcoloured by rain,

its

284 MITCHELSTOWN.

its lucid tranfparency (hews, at confiderable
depths, every pebble no bigger than a pin,
every rocky baton alive with trout and eels,
that play and dafh among the rocks, as if en-
dowed with that native vigour which animate,
in a fuperior degree, every inhabitant of the
mountains, from the bounding red deer, and
the foaring eagle, down even to the fifhes of
the brook. Every five minutes you have a
waterfall in thefe glens, which in any other
region, would ftop every traveller to admire it.
Sometimes the vale takes a gentler declivity,
and prefents to the eye at one ftroke, twenty
or thirty falls, which render the fcenery all
alive with the motion j the rocks are tofled
about in the wildeft confufion, and the tor-
rent burfts by turns from above, beneath,
and under them ; while the back ground is
always filled up with the mountains which
ftretch around.

In the weftern Glen is the fineft cafcade
in all the Galties ; there are two falls, with
a bafon in the rock between, but from fome
points of view they appear one : the rock over
which the water tumbles is about fixty feet
high. A good line in which to view thefe ob-
jects is either to take the Killarney and Mal-
low road, to Mitchelftown, and from thence
by Lord Kingfborough's new one, to Skeheen-
rinky, there to take one of the Glens, to Gal-
tybeg, and Galtymore, and return to Mitch-
eiftown by the Wolfs track, Temple hill, and

the

QJJEEN'S COUNTY 285

the Waterfall : or, if the Corke road is travel-
ling, to make Dobbin's inn, at Ballyporeen,
the head quarters, and view them from thence.

****** * * * * *
Having heard much of the beauties of a part
of the Queen's county, I had not before feen,
I took that line of country in my way on a
journey to Dublin.

From Mitchelftown to Cafhel, the road leads
as far as Galbally in the route already travell-
ed from Cullen ; towards Camel the country
is various. The only object deferving attenti-
on, are the plantations of Thomaftown, the
feat of Francis Mathew, Efq; they confift chiefly
of hedge-row trees in double and treble rows,
are well grown, and of fuch extent as to form
an uncommon woodland fcene in Ireland.
Found the widow Holland's Inn, at Cafliel,
clean and very civil. Take the road to Uriing-
ford. The rich fheep paftures, part of the fa-
mous golden vale, reach between three and
four miles, from Cafliel to the great bog by
Botany Hill, noted for producing a greater va-
riety of plants than common. That bog is
feparated by only fmall tracts of land, from
the firing of bogs which extend through the
Queen's County, from the great bog of Allen ;
it is here of confiderable extent, and exceed-
ingly improvable. Then enter a low marfliy
bad country, which grows worfe after pafling
the 66th mile {tone, and fucceilive bogs in it.
Breakfaft at Johnftown, a regular village on

a flight

286 QJJEEN'S COUNTY.

a flight eminence, built by Mr. Hayley ; it is
near the Spaw of Ballyfpellin. Rows of trees
are planted ; but their heads all cut off, I fup-
pofe from their not thriving, being planted too
old. Immediately on leaving thefe planted
avenues, enter a row of eight or ten new cab-
bins, at a diftance from each other, which ap-
pear to be a new undertaking, the land about
them all pared and burnt, and the afhes in
heaps.

Enter a fine planted country, with much
corn and good thriving quick hedges for many
miles. The road leads through a large wood,
which joins Lord Afhbrook's plantations,
whofe houfe is fituated in the mjdft of more
wood than almoft any one I have feen in Ire-
land. Pafs Durrow j the country for two or
three miles continues all incjofed with fine
quick hedges, is beautiful, and has fome re-
femblance to the beft parts of Eflex. Sir Ro-
bert Stapfe's improvements join this fine tract ;
they are completed in a moft perfect manner,
the hedges well-grown j cut, and in fuch ex-
cellent order, that I can fcarcely believe myfelf
to be in Ireland. His gates are all of iron. Thefc
fylvanfcenes continue through other feats beau-
tifully fituated, amidft gentle declivities of the
fineit verdure, full grown woods, excellent
hedges, and a pretty " river winding by the.
houfe. The whoje environs of feveral would
be admired in the beft parts of England.

Crofs a great bog, within fight of Lord de Vef-
cey's plantations. The road leads over it, be-
ing

QJJEEN'S COUNTY. 287

ing drained for that purpofe by deep cuts on
either fide. I fhould apprehend this bog to be
among the moil improvable in the country.

Slept at Ballyroan, at an inn kept by three
animals, who call themfelves women ; met with
more impertinence than at any other in Ireland.
It is an execrable hole. In three or four miles
pafs Sir John Parnel's prettily (ituated in a
neatly drefTed lawn ; with much wood about
it, and a lake quite alive with wild fowl.

Pafs Monftereven, and crofs direclly a large
bog, drained and partly improved ; but all of
it bearing grafs, and feems in a flate that might
cafily be reduced to rich meadow, with only a
drefling of lime. Here I got again into the road
J had travelled before. '

I muft in general remark, that from near
Urlingford to Dawfon Court, near Monfter-
even, which is completely acrofs the Queen's
County, is a line of above thirty Englifh. miles,
and is for that extent by much the moft im-
proved of any I have feen in Ireland. It is
generally well planted, has many woods, and
not confifting of patches of plantation juft by
gentlemen's houles, but fpreading over the
whole face of the country, fo as to give it the
richnefs of an Englifh woodland fcene. What
a country would Ireland be had the inhabitants
of the reft of it improved the whole like this.

END OF PART i.

TOUR, &c.

PART II.

Qbfervations on the preceding Intelligence.

TO regifter the minutes received upon fueh a journey as
this, and leave them fimply to fpeak for themfelves,
would have its ufe ; but it would leave to the inquifitive rea-
der fo much labour and trouble in collecting general facts, that
not one in five hundred would attempt it. That it is a matter
of importance to have accurate general ideas of a country,
inftead of erroneous ones, will hardly be difputed ; no books
of geography but fpeak generally of foil, climate, product,
rental, population, &c. but they are too often mere guefles ;
or, if founded at all, the facts that fupport them of too old a
date to yield the leaft truth at prefent in points fubject to
change. When one country is mentioned in another it is ufu-
ally in general terms: and by companion, England has not fo
rich a foil a$ Ireland. Producls in England larger than in France.
Rents higher in Ireland than in Scotland. A thoufand intHnces
might be produced, in which ideas of this fort are particulariz-
ed, and in which general errors are often found the caufe of
political meafures, even of the higheft confequence. That
my Englifh tours give exafl information relative to England, I
cannot aflert ; but I may venture to fay, that they are the only
information extant, relative to the rental, produce, (lock of
that country, which are taken from an actual examination : I
wifh to offer equal information relative to our fitter ifland ; and
I am encouraged to do it, not only from my own ideas, but the
opinions of many perfons with whom I have either correfpond-
ed or converfed from moft parts of Europe, including fome of
themoft refpectable for abilities and rank.

A S E C T 1 O It

X T E N T.

SECTION I.

Extent of Ireland.

.•

_TN order to know the confequence and relative importance of
A any country, it is neceflary to be acquainted with its ex-
tent ; I have reafon to believe that that of Ireland is not ac-
curately known. I infert the following table of the acres of
each county, plantation meafure, becaufe there are feveral ob-
fervations to be made on it.

Acres. Acres

Ulfter— Antrim, 383,020 Munfter,— - Clare, 428,187
Armagh, 170,620 Corke, 991,010

Cavan, 274,800 Kerry, 636,905

Dow,n, 344,658 Limerick, 375,320

Donnegal, 630,157 Tipperary, 599,500

Fermanagh, 224,807 Waterford, 259,010

Londonder. 251,510

Monaghan, 170,090
Tyrone, 387,175

Total, - 1,836,837

Leinfter,-*-Carlow, 116,900
Dublin, 123.784
Kildare, 228,590
Kilkenny, 287,650
King's Co. 257,510
Longford, 134,700
Louth, 111,180
Meath, 326,480
Queen'sCo. 238,415
Weftmeath, 249,94-
Wexrbrd, 315,396
Wicklow, 252,410

Total,

2,642,958

Total,

3,289,932

Conaug. — Galway, 775,515
Leitrim, 206,830
Mayo, 724,640
Rofcomm. 324,370

Sligo,

Total,

241,550
2,272,9*$

In all Ireland, 111042,642

Gerard Malines makes the acres of Ireland eighteen millions :
(Lex Mercatoria, part i. p. 49) I fuppefe EngHili meafure,
which is eleven millions Irifli ; thefe two accounts flow there-
fore from the fame fource. Templeman's meafurement gives
it 27,457 fquare miles, cr 17,572,480 acres (Survey of the globe)
Englifli on a fcale of 60 miles to a degree, but conlequently it
is'profefledly erroneous, as a degree is 6o-| ; according to this
jneafure therefore, the contents in real acres would be
20,354,789 Englifli, and 12,721,743 Irifli. Thefe accounts
come fo nearly together, that they are all drawn from fimilar
data ; that is, from old maps. Newer ones have many blun-
ders $ but as no late aftual furvey has been made of the king-
dom, we muft depend on the authority we find.

SECTION

SO I L AND C L I M A T E. 3

SECTION II.
Soil, Face of the Country and Climate,

*T»O judge of Ireland by the converfation one fometimes hears
in England, it would be fuppofed that one half of it was
covered with bogs, and the other with mountains filled with
IrifK ready to fly at the fight of a civilized being. There are
people who will fmile when they hear that in proportion, to
the fize of the two countries, Ireland is more cultivated than
England, having much lefs wafte land of all forts. Of uncul-
tivated mountains there are no fuch tra&s as are found in our
four northern counties, and the North Riding of York/hire,
with the eaftern line of Lancafter, nearly down to the Peak
of Derby, which form an extent of above an hundred miles of
wafte. The mcft confiderable of this fort in Ireland are in
Kerry, Galway, and Mayo, and fome in SJigo and Donnegal.
But all thefe together will not make the quantity we have in,
the four northern counties ; the vallies in the Irifh mountains
are alfo more inhabited, I think, than thofe of England, ex*
cept where there are mines, and confequently fome fort of
cultivation creeping up the fides. Natural fertility, acre for
acre over the two kingdoms, is certainly in favour of Ireland ;
of this I believe there can fcarcely be a doubt entertained,
when it is confidered that fome of the more beautiful, and
even beft cultivated countries in England, owe almoft every
thing to the capital art and induftry of the inhabitants.

The circumlUnce which ftrikes me as the greateft fingulari-
ty of Ireland, is the rockynefs of the foil, which fliould feem,
at firft fight againft that degree of fertility; but the contrary
is the fa dt. Stone is fo general, that I have great reafon to
believe the whole ifland is one vaft rock of different ftnita and
kinds fifing out of %the fea. I have rarely heard of any great
depths being funk without meeting with it. In general it ap-
pears on the furface in every part of the kingdom, the flatttfl
and mcll fertile parts, as Limerick, Tippciary and Meath,
have it at no great depth, almoft as much as the more barren
ones. May we not recognize in this the hand of bounteous
providence, which has given, perhaps, the moft Money foil
in Eurooe to the moifteft climate in it ? If as much rain fell
upon the clays of England (a foil very rarely met with iti
Ireland, and never without much done) as falls upon the rocks
of her fifter ifland, thole lands could not be cultivated. L>ut
the rocks here are cloathed with verdure ;— -thole of lime llone
with only a thin covering of mold, have the foi'ttll and moft
beautiful turt imaginable.

Of the great -advantages refulting from the general plenty

of lime ftonc, and lime-ftone gravel, and the uatuie of the

A 2 bok

4 SOIL ANB CLIMATE.

bogs, I (hall have occafion to fpeak more particularly here-
after.

The rockynefs of the foil in Ireland is fo univerfal, that it
predominates in every fort. One cannot ufe with propriety,
the terms clay, loam, fand, &c. it mod be a ftoney clay, a
jloney loam, a gravelly fand. Clay, efpecially the yellow, is
much talked of in Ireland, but it is for want of proper difcri-
mination. I have once or twice feen almoft a pure clay upon
the furface, but it is extremely rare. The true yellow clay,
is ufually found in a thin ftratum under the furface mould, and
over a rock ; harm, tenacious, ftoney, ftrong loams, difficult
to work, are not uncommon j but they are quite different from
Ehglifh clays.

Friable fandy loams dry, but fertile, are very common, and
they form the beft foils in the kingdom, for tillage and fheep.
Tipperary, and Rofcommon, aboiand particularly in them,
The moft fertile of all, are the bullock paftures of Limerick,
and the banks of the Shannon in Clare, called the Corcaffes,
Thefe are a mellow, putrid, friable loam.

Sand, which is fo common in England, and yet more com-
mon through Spain, France, Germany, and Poland, quite
from Gibraltar to Peterlburgh, is no where met with in Ireland,
except for narrow flips of hillocks, upon the fea coaft. Nor
did I ever meet with, or hear of a chalky foil.

The bogs of which foreigners have heard fo much, are very
extenfive in Ireland ; thaj..of Allen extends 80 miles, and is
computed to contain 306,000 acres. There are others alfo,
\ery extenfive, and fmaller ones fcatrered over the whole
kingdom j but thefe are not in general more thati are wanted
for fuel. When I come to fpeak of the improvement of wafte
lands, I fhall defcribe them particularly.

Befides the great fertility of the foil, there are other cir-
Curaftances, which come within my fphere to mention. Few
countries can be better watered, by large and beautiful rivers ;
and it is remarkable, that by much the finell parts of the king-
dom, are on the banks of thete rivers. Witnefs the Suer,
Blackwater, iheLiffy, the Boyne, the More, the Barrow, and
part of the Shannon, they wafh a fcenery that can hardly be
exceeded. From the rockynefs of the country however, there
are few of them that have not obstructions, which are great
impediments to inland navigation.

The mountains of Ireland, give to travelling, that intereft-
ing variety, which a flat country can never abound with. And
at the fame time, they are not in fuch number as to confer the
ufual character of poverty, which attends them. I was either
upon or very near the moft confiderable in the kingdom. Man-
gerton, and the Reeks, in Kerry ; the Galties in Corke $ thofe
of Mourne in Down; Crow Patrick and Nephin in Mayo ; tbefe
are the principal in Ireland, and they are of a character, in
height aud fublimiry, which fhould render them the objects of
every traveller's attention.

Relative

S O I L AND C L I M A T E. £

Relative to tbe climate of Ireland, a fhort refidence cannot
enable a man to fpeak much from his own experience j the ob-
fervations I have made rnyfelf, confirm the idea of its being
•vaftly wetter than England ; from the 2oth of June, to the
fcoth of October, I kept a regifter, and there were in 122 days,
75 of rain, and very many of them inqefTant and heavy. I
have examined fimilar regifters I kept in England, and can find
no year thai even approaches to fuch a moifture as this. But
there is the regifter of an accurate diary publifhed, which
compares London and Corke. The refult is, that the quanti-
ty at the latter place, was double to that of London. See
Smith's Hiji. ofCorke.

From the information I received, I have reafon to believe,
that the rainy feafon fets in uiually about the firft of July, and
coniinues very wet till September or Oflober, when there is
ufually a dry fine feafon of a month or fix weeks. I refided in
the county of Corke, &c. from October till March, and found
ihe winter much more foft and mild, than ever I experienced
one in England. I was alfo a whole fummer there (1778), and
it is fair to mention, that it was as fine a one, as ever I knew
in England, though by no means fo hot. I think hardly fo
wet, as very many I have known in England. The tops
of the Galty Mountains, exhibited the only fnow we faw •
and as to frofts, they were fo (light and rare, that I believe
myrtles, and yet tenderer plants, would have furvived with-
out any covering. But when I fay that the winter was not re-
markable for being wet, I do not mean that we had a dry at*
mofphere. The inches of rain which fell, in the winter \ fpeak
of, would not mark the moifture of the climate. As many in-
ches will fall in a fingle tropical (bower, as in a whole year in.
England. See Mitchell Prefent State ef Great Britain, and North
America. But if the clouds prefently difperfe, and a bright
fun fliines, the air may foon be dry. The worft circumftance
of the climate of Ireland, is the conftant moifture without
rain. Wet a piece of leather, and lay it in a room, where
there is neither fun nor fire, and it will not in fummer even, be
dry in a month*. I have known gentlemen in Ireland deny
their climate being moifter than England ;— but if they have
eyes let them open them, and fee the verdure that cloathes their
rocks, and compare it with ours in England — where rocky foils
are of a ruflet brown however fweet the food for Jlieep.

Does

•* / have had this happen myfelfvjith a pair ofivet glove*.

'The myriads of flies alfo which buz. about one's ears, and are
ready to go in Jhoals into one's mouth at every vj^rd — and thofe
almojl imperceptible flies, called midges, •which perfefily devour o.ne
in a ivood, or near a river, prove the fame thing.

6 RENTAL.

Does not their ifland lye more expofed to the great Atlantic,
and does not the weft wind blow three-fourths of a year ? If
there was another ifland yet more to the weftward, would
not the climate of Ireland be improved ? Such perfons fpeak
equally againftfaft, reafon, and philofophy. That the moifture
of a climate does not depend on the quantity of rain that falls,
but on the powers of aerial evaporation, Dr. Dobfon has
clearly proved. Pbil.Tranf* Vol. Ixvii. part i. p. 244.

SECTION III.

Rental.

NO country can ever be held in a juft eftimation when the
rental of it is unknown. It is not the only circumftance
which a political arithmetician fhould attend to, but it is a
inoft important one. The value of a country is rarely the fub-
ject of a converfation without guelTes at its rental being made,
and coraparifons between different ones. I contend for nothing
more through this and the enfuing tables, than the fuperioriry
of aftual information on the fpot, drawn into one point of
view, over any guefles whatever. I ftiall therefore proceed at
once to lay it before the reader.

Places.

Rentper
Acre.

Kent at
Irijh
Acre

Rife.

Fall.

Tear's
purchafe
of land.

Leajes,
years or

lives.

County of Dublin,

s.d.

s. d.

41 6iL.

Celbridge,

10 o

31 orL.

Dolleftown,

I O

5 o

Summerhill, .

o o

Slain Caftle,

5 ^

22l

31 or L.

Headfort,

0 0

Drueftown,

Fore,

0150

Packenham Hall,

0176

4 4

Mullingar to Tul-

lefpace, *

I 00

Charleville,

0160

4 °

Shaen Caftle,

0130

5 o

Athy to Carlow,

o 18 o

Kilfaine,

0156

2 0

21 31

Rofs toTaghmon,

0 1$ 0

Bargie and Forth,

i 2 9

a little

2,t

WexfordtoWells,

OIIO

Wells to Gowry,

0170

Courtown,

o 17 6

none

22*

31 L.

New Tcwn M.

Kennedy,

200

1Q-*1

31 L.

Ditto Mountain,

080

Kilrue,

I 20

Hampton,

RENTAL.

Places.

ntper

Acre.

ntat
rijb
Acre.

if..

Tears \ Leafes,
?all. \purcbafe\years or
of land, lives.

Hampton, ,

5°

. d.

Cullen,

0 0

Ravenfdale,

7 o

Market-hill,

ii 6

4 9

Ardmagh,

10 O

3 o

Armagh toNewrry,
To Dungannon,

IO O
II 0

3 °
4 o

To Luigan,

10 O

3 o

Mahon,

'3°

7 4

Down,

16 o

20 0

To Belfaft,

16 o

20 O

Caftle Hill,

o iso

9 o

Ards,

0106

Lecale,

o o

Redemon to Saint-

field,

0106

136

Belfaft,

o 130

7 o

Belfaft to Antrim,

o 80

10 O

Shanes Caftle,

080

0 0

31 L.

Lefly Hill,

0 12 O

15 o

3 o

NearGiantsCauf-

way,

0120

15 o

Colrain,

10 6

Mewtown Limm.

IO O

13 o

Clonleigh county

176

21 6

Mount Charles,

10 0

2lf

Caftle Caldwell,

o 176

2 0

Innifkilling,

OIIO

Ditto,

0150

Florence Court,

0 10 0

Farnham,

o 170

Granard,

I 1 0

Longford,

o 13

2 0

18$

Strokeftown,

i 5

Elphih,

o 13

Kingfton,
Mercra,

o 17

0 15

31 L.

Tyrera,

o 14

Ditto,

o 18

Tyrawley,
Foxford to Caftl

017

bar,

0 12

Caftlebar,

o 17

Weftport,

o 8

I 0

21 31

Holymount,

o 13

Moniva,

o 14

Wood

RENTAL.

Places.

Rent per
acre.

Rent at
Irijb
acre.

Fall.

Tear's
furcbaf
of land.

Leafes,
years or

lives.

Wood Lawn,

0160

s. d.

Drumoland Cor-

cafles.

I 00

Limerick,

8 o

Anfgrovft,

0150

2 6

31 L.

Orrery,

I IO 0

Fermoy,.

0130

Duhallow,

070

Condons and

Clangibbons,

0150

Barry more,

070

II 0

Barrets,

040

Muflvery,

040

6 o

Kinclea,

0140

22 O

Kerrycurrity,

o 10 o

16 o

Courcy's,

0 IO 0

16 o

Mallow,

0 12 O

19 o

31 L;

Caftle Martyr,

Imokilly,

0 12 O

19 o

£ilnataiton,

080

12 0

Coolmore,

0140

22 O

Killarney,

080

Caftle Ifland to

Tralee,

i 7 o

Mahagree,
Tarbat,

o 14 6
o 140

Adair,

I 0 O

Caftle Oliver,

0 12 0

3 o

Ioo,ooo acres in

Limerick,

I IO O

ao miles fkeep-

landTipperary',
Ballycavan,
Furnefs

I 26

0150

I O O

'9f

Glofter,
Johnftown,
Derry,

0150

I 0 0

0150

3 o

3'L.
31 L.

Cullen,

I IO O

21 L.

Mitchel's Town,

o 26

.}' **

2 1

Average,

16 6

Average per En-

glifh acre,

10 3

The firft column of rent it either plantation meafure, Cunningham, or En-
glifli ; and the fecond reduces the two laft to plaaution.

The Cunningham acre is reduced to the plantation meafure at feven to nine
and the Engliih «.fiTc to eight, which thoogh not psrfcftl, accurate is near it.

The

RENTAL.

The following table contains the information I received re-
lative to the general average rental of whole counties ; and as
there are feveral with more than one account, the medium of
thofe different accounts is given in a feparate column.

Counties. ^

Dublin,
Meath,'
Ditto,
Ditto,

Different
minutes.

I O O

i 5 o
o 18 6

Average.
i 1 1 6

Reduced to Total rental
plantation, of the County.

i ii 6 L. 194,959

i i

345.5H

Weftmeath,
King's County,
Ditto,

o 7

87,480

Carlow,

— —

0 12

o i"5

9
o

164,161

87,675

Wexford,
Wicklow,

0
0

o 15

0
0

236.547
189,307

Louth,

I I

116,739

Ardmagh,

Ditto,

Down,

014

Ir9>434

Ditto,

O 12

221,154

Antrim,"

Ditto,

Derry,

o 6

124,481

Ditto,

Donnegal,

o 5

69,164

Ditto,

0 I

47,260

Fermanagh,

o 8

Cavan,

Ditto,

Longford,

9
o

o 6

0 IO

9
o

92,745
67.350

Leitrim,

Ditto,

Rofcommon,

1 I

O 2

24,990

Ditto,

O 10

170,294

Sligo,

RENTAL.

Counties. Different Average. Reduced to Total rental
minutes. plantation, of the County.

Sligo,

e 12 6

Ditto,

0 12 10

Ditto,

O 10 10

0 12 0

o 12 o H4'93°

Mayo,

08o

080 289,856

Galway,
Clare,

o 8 i

o 5 o

o 8 i 3«3'44°
050 107,046

Corkc,

070

Ditto,

0 3 '

Ditto,

058

Ditto,

o 5 4

Ditto,

050

052 356,010

Kerry,

020

Ditto,

0 2 II

Ditto,

o i 7

Ditto,

o 4 io

0 2 10

0 2 10 9O,226

Limerick,

10 0

Ditto,

100

Ditto,

o io 6
i o 16 io

o 16 io 315,893

Tipperary,

o 16 3

Ditto,

o 17 4

Ditto,

100

Ditto,

0 12 6

- o 16 6

o 16 6 494, 587

Waterford, o 5 o

Ditto,

o 6 io
o 5 ii

o 5 ii 76,622

Kildare,

o 14 6

o 14 6 165,727

Tyrone,
Ditto,

040
070

o 5 6

056 106,747

Since the

journey I have procured
following :

the information for the

Kilkenny,
Monaghan
Queen's,

o 16 o

f OIIO

o 13 o

o 16 o 230,119
o ii o 93>549
o 13 o 154.968

Total, —

11,042,642

RENTAL. ii

11,042,642 plantation acres, giving the rent of 5,293,312!.
is at the rate of 95. yd. per acre. The average of all the mi-
nutes made it i6s. 6d. trom hence there is reafon to imagine,
that the line travelled was better than the medium of the king-
dom ; or on the contrary, that the fuppofitions of the rents per
county are under the truth, the real rent of the kingdom, if it
could be afcertained, would probably be found rather to ex-
ceed than fall fhort of fix millions. Efpecially as the rents
upon which thefe particulars are drawn, were not thofe paid
by the occupying tenant, but a general average of all te-
nures ; whereas the object one would afcertain is the fum paid
by the occupier, including confequently, not only the land-
lords rent?, but the profit of the middle men.

But farther, as the computation that makes the total of
i 1,042,642 acres is profefledly erroneous above a feventh, be-
ing drawn from geographic rmies, there fhould be added above
700,000!. to this rental on that account.

The difference of money and meafure included 35*. Infli
makes juft 2os. Englilh. Suppole therefore the rental of ^re-
land 95. yd. per acre, it makes $s. 6. Englilh.

If Ireland is IDS. it would be 55. gd. Engliih.

Suppofe it us. or the total of fix millions, it is per Englifh
acre 6s. 4d.

It is a curious difquifirion to compare the rent of land in dif-
ferent countries, apd to mark the various circumftances to
which the fuperiority may be attributed. The rental of Eng-
land has been pretty accurately afcertained to be 135. an acre*.
Poor rates in the fame is. io£d. in the pound, or is. 2$d. per
acre. II The information I received in Ireland concerning the
amount of the money raifed for preferments throughout the
kingdom, made the total 140,000!. or 3d. an acre.

Landlords rent of Ireland,
Roads,

Rent of England,
Ratc-s —

Irifh. acre and money makes < o

Which for an Englifti acre and Englilh money is o

* Eaftern Tour through England. lrol. iv. p. 229.

|| The average of the Eaftern and Northern Tours which make *
total of i,926,666/. By the returns laid before parliament it ap-
peared to bt tiflually 1,720,3167. 14*. -,d ; but that return ivas

12 RENTAL. **

Inftesd of which is 145. 2^d. confequently the proportion
between the rent of land in England and Ireland is nearly as
two to five : in other words, that fpace of land which in Ireland
lets for 25. would in England produce $s.

In this comparifon the value of land in England appear to be
fo much greater than it is in Ireland, that feveral circumftances
fliould be confidered. The idea J found common in Ireland
upon that matter was, that rents there were higher than in Eng-
land ; but the extreme abfurdity of the notion arofe from the
difference of meafure and money, the exact par being, as 20
to 35. As far as I can form r. general idea of the foU of the
tWo kingdoms, Ireland has much the advantage ; and if I am
accurate in this, furely a ftronger argument cannot be ufed, to
iliew the immenfe importance of CAPITAL firft in the hands
of the landlords of a country, and then in that of the far-
mers. I have reafon to believe that five pounds fterling per
Englifh acre, expended over all Ireland, which amounts to
88,341,136!. would not more than build, fence, plant, drain,
and improve that country to be upon a par in thole refpects
with England* And farther, that if thofe 88 millions were fo
expended, it would take much above 20 millions more (or
above aos. an acre) in the hands of the farmers in ftock of
hufbandry, to put them on an equal footing with thofe of her
fifter kingdom ; nor is this calculation fo vague as it might at
firft light appear, fince the expences of improvements and ftock
are very eafily eftimate.d in both countries. This is the re.fo-
lution of that furprifing inferiority in the rent of Ireland : the
Engliflj farmer pays a rent for his land in the ftate he finds it,
which includes, not only the natural fertility of the foil, but
the iramenfe expenditure which national wealth has in the pro-
grefs of time poured into it ; but the Irifhman finds nothing he
can afford to pay a rent for, but what the bounty of God has
given, unaided by either wealth or induftry. The fecond
point is of equal confluence — when the land is to be let, the
rent it will bring muft depend on the capability of the cultiva-
tors to make it productive, if they have but half the capital
they ought to be pofltffed of, how is it poffible they iliould be
able to offer a rent proportioned to the rates of another coun-
try, in which a variety of c°ufes have long directed a ftream of
abundant wealth into the purfes of her farmers ?

Thefe facts call fctf one very obvious reflection, which will
often recur in the progrefs of thefe papers : the confequen-

for there are very many pariJLes named, from 'which,
through negled, no returns were maiie. I may remark that this faff
is ajirong confirmation of the truth of the data upon iiihich I formed
thefe ca/cu/alions, the above fum coming <vajlly nearer to the truth af-
teriuarJs afcertainedby parliatntnt, than any other calculation or con-
jedure iuhich ever found its ixay into print.

The roads of England are a very heavy article ; 1 conjeflure much
heavier than in Ireland, but I hervt no data -whereby to ascertain the
amount.

PRODUCTS. 13

ces of it are felt in Ireland ; but I am forry to fay, very ill
underftood ih England : that portion of national wealth which
is employed in the improvement of the lands of a ftate is the
beft employed for the general welfare of a country ; while
trade and manufactures, national funds, banking, &c. fwal-
Jow Up prodigious futtis in England, but yield a profit of not
#bove 5 to 10 per cent ; the lands of Ireland are unimproved,
upon which money would pay 15 to 20 per cent, exclufive of a
variety of advantages which muft ftrike the moft fuperficial
reader.— Hence the vaft importance to England of the im-
provement of her Irifb. territory. It is an old oblervation, thtt
the wealth of Ireland will always center in England ; and the
fadl is true, though not in the way commonly alferted : No
employment of 100 millions, not upon the aftual foil of Bri-
tain, can ever pay her a tenth of the advantage which would
refult from Ireland being ia the above refpefts upon that
par which I have defcribed with England. The more at-
tentively this matter is confidered, I am apt to think the more
clearly this will appear ; and that whenever old illiberal jea-
loufies are worn out, which, thanks to the good fenfe of the
age, are daily difappearing, we fhall be fully convinced, that
the benefit of Ireland is fo intimately. connected with the good
cf England, that we fliall be as forward to give to that hither-
tojunhappy country, as ihe can be to receive, from the firm
conviction, that whatever we thus fow will yield to us a moft
abundant harveft.

SEC

T I O

Product.

IV.

H E produces per acre were, in every place, an obje£t of
my enquiries. The following table will at one view AV-W

JL my enquiries. * nc ivuuwmg «.auit w
\vhat they are in moft parts of the kingdom.

Placis.

Dublin,

Cdbridgc,
Dollefiortn,

7
7

'4
'3

»3l

Summerfluli,

Slaine,

Headforr,

Packenham,

ifi

Tullamore,
Shaens Caflle,

Near Athy,

17^

Athy to Carlow,
Near Carlow,

Kilfane,

Bargie,

Ditto,

PRODUCTS.

Placa.

1
1

!
^

Bargy and Fotlb,

12^

WelU,

Courtown,

M. Kennedy,

Kilrus,

ITj

i4f

Hampton,

Louth,

Mahon,

Ards,

lecah,

Shaens Caftle,

New-town Limm.

Innifhoen,

Clonleigh,

Caftle CaUiwell,

Belleifle,

'**

Florence Court,

Farnham,

Longford,
Strokeftown,

'5
to

Ballymoat,

«f

Mercra,

Tyma,

•3*

Ditto,

Weftport,

Holymounr,

Monita,

Woodlawn,

Drumoland,

Anfgiove,

Mallow,

Dunlcettle,

Adair,

Caftle Oliver,

Tipperarv,

»7

Ballycanvan,

Furnefs,

•

Glofter,

Johnftowa,
Derry,

7
S

III

Cullen,

Mjrchci' 5 Town,

Cunningham acre reduced.

Mahon, , 6| I

Ard», 9

Sbaens Caftie, j 7$ j

Englifii acre reduced.

Mallow,

Dunkeule,

Areragef.

»3

ll|

lt|

TILLAGE.

Thefe quantities per Englifli acre are :

%r$. Eujb. Pecks.
Wheat Z 2, 3

Barley 3 4 3

Oats 34 3

Bere 430

The averages of the Farmer's Tour through the Eaft of
England were:

%j. Bujb. Pecks.
Wheat 300

Barley 400

Oats 460

Of the Six Months Tour through the North of England :

4V* Eujh. Pecks.
Wheat 300

Barley 400

Oats 440

The produfls upon the whole are much inferior to thofe of
England, though not more fo than I ftiould have expected;
not from inferiority of foil,, but the extreme inferiority of ma-
nagement. They are not to be coniidered as points whereon
to found a full comparifon of the two countries ; fmce a fmall
crop of wheat in England, gained after beans, clover, &c.
would be of much more importance than a larger one in Ire-
land by a fallow : And thl- remark extends to other crops.

Tillage in Ireland is very little underftood. In the greater!
corn counties, fuch as Louth, Kildare, Cartow and Kilkenny,
where are to be feen many very fine crops of wheat, all is un-
der the old fyfteiu, exploded by good farmers in England, of
fowing wheat upon a fallow, and fucceeding it with as many
crops of fpring corn as the foil will bear. Where they do bell
by their land, it is only two of barley or oats before the fal-
low returns again, which is fomething worle than thp open
field management in England, of i. fallow ; 2. wheat ; 3.
oats ; to which, while the fields are open and common, the
fanners are by erne! neceflity tied down. The bounty on the
inland carriage of corn to Dublin has increafed tillage very
•confiderably, but it has no where introduced any other fyf-
tem. And to this extreme bad management of adopting the
exploded practice of a century ago, inftead of turneps and
clover, it is owing, that Ireland, with a foil, acre for acre,
much better than England, has its products inferior

But

,6 TILLAGE.

But keeping cattle of every fort, is a bufmefs fo much more
adapted to the lazinefs of the farmer, that it is no wonder the
tillage is fo bad. It is every where left to the cottars, or to
the very pooreft.of the farmers,, who are all utterly unable to
make thofe exertions, upon which alone a vigorous culture of
the earth can be founded ; and were it not for potatoes,
which neceflarily prepare for corn, there would not be half of
what we fee at prefent. While it is in fuch hands, no wonder
tillage is reckoned fo unprofitable ; profit in all undertakings
depends on capital, and is it any wonder that the profit fHouJd
be finall when the capital is nothing at all ? Every man that
has one gets into cattle, whiych will give him an idle, lazy,
fuperintendence, inftead of an aftive attentive one.

That ihejj//lem of tillage has improved very little, much as
it has been extended in the laft fourteen years, there is great
reafon to believe, from the very fmall increafe in the import
of clover feed, which would have doubled and trebled, had
tillage got into the train it ought. This the following table
proves.

Import of Clover feed.

Cwt.

In the year 1764 — 2990

1765 — 2798

1766 — 3654

1767 — 1479

1768 — 4476

1769 •— 2483
177° ~ 5563

Average of feven years — 3349

1771 — 4083

1772 — 2956

1773 — *820
'774 — 3°85
'775 '— 39»o
1776 — 4648

'777 — 5988
Average of feven years*. — 3927

* Taken from the Records of imports and export i kept by order of
the Houfe of Commons.

SECTION

TENANTRY. 17

SECTION V.

Of the Tenantry of Ireland,

IT has been probably owing to the fmall value of land in
Ireland before, and even through a confiderable part of the
prefent century, that landlords became fo carelefs of the in-
terefts of pofterity, as readily to grant their tenants leafes for
ever. It might alfc be partly owing to the unfortunate civil
wars, and other inteftine divifions, which for fo long a fpace
of time kept that unhappy country in a date rather of devafta-
tion than improvement. When a cattle, or a fortified houfe,
and a family ftrong enough for a garrifon, were eflentially ne-
ceffary to the fecuritv of life and property among proteftants,
no man could occupy land unlefs he had fubftance for defence
as well as cultivation ; fhort, or even determinable tenures
were not encouragement enough for fettling in fuch a fituati-
on of warfare. To increafe the force of an eftate leafes for
ever were given of lands, which from their wafte ftate were
deemed of little value. The practice once become common,
continued long after the motives which originally gave rife to
it, and has not yet ceafed entirely in any part of the kingdom.
Hence, therefore, tenants holding large tracts of land under
a leafe for ever, and which have been relet to a variety of
under-tenants, muft in this enquiry be confidered as land-
lords.

The obvious diftinction to be applied is, that of the occupy-
ing and unoccupying tenantry : in other words, the real far-
mer, and the middle man. The very idea, as well as the
practice, of permitting a tenant to relet at a profit rent, feems
confined to the diftant and unimproved parts of every empire.
In the highly cultivated counties of England the practice has
no exiftence, but there are traces of it in the extremities ; in
Scotland it has been very common ; and I am informed that
the fame obfervation is partly applicable to France. In pro-
portion as any country becomes improved the practice necefla-
rily wears out.

It is in Ireland a queftion greatly agitated, whether the fyf-
tem has or has not advantages, which may yet induce a land-
lord to continue in it. The friends to this mode of letting
lands contend, that the extreme poverty of the lower clafles
renders them fuch an infecure tenantry, that no gentleman of
fortune can depend on the leaft punctuality in the payment of
rent from fuch people ; and therefore to let a large farm to
fome intermediate perfon of fubftance, at a lower rent, in or-
der that the profit may be his inducement and reward for be-
coming a collector from the immediate occupiers, and anfwer-
able for their punctuality, becomes neceflfary to any perfoa
who will not fubmit to the drudgery of fuch a minute attenti-
on. Alio, that fuch a man will at leaft improve afpot around,

VOL. II. B his

*8 TENANTRY..

his own refidence, whereas the mere cottar can do nothing,
If the intermediate tenant is, or from the accumulation of fe-
veral farms becomes, a man of property, the fame argument
is applicable to his reletting to another intermediate man, giv-
ing up a part of his profit to efcape that trouble, which induc-
ed the landlord to begin this fyftem, and at the fame time ac-
counts for the number of tenants, one under another, who
have all a profit out of the rent of the occupying farmer. In
the variety of converfations on this point, of which I have
partook in Ireland, I never heard any other arguments that
had the leaft foundation in the aftual ftate of the country ; for
as to ingenious theories, which relate more to what might be,
rhan to what is, little regard ihould be paid to them.

That a man of fubftance, whofe rent is not only fecurc,
but regularly paid, is in many refpe&s a more eligible tenant
than a poor cottar, or little farmer, cannot be difputed, if the
landlord looks no farther than thofe circumftances the qtieftion
is at an end, for the argument mull be allowed to have its full
weight even to victory. But there arc many other confidera-
tions : I was particularly attentive to every clafs of tenants
throughout the kingdom, and fhall therefore defcribe thefe
middle men, from whence their merit may be the more eafily
decided. Sometimes they are reiident on a part of the land,
but very often they are not. Dublin, Bath, London, and the
country towns of Ireland, contain great numbers of them ;
the merit of this clafs is furely afcertained in a moment ; there
cannot be a ihadow of a pretence for' the intervention of a
man, whofe fingle concern with an eftate is to deduft a porti-
on from the rent of it. They are however fometimes refident
on a part of the land they hire, where it is natural to fuppofe
they would wort fome improvements j it is however very
rarely the cafe. 1 have in different parts of the kingdom feen
farms juft fallen in after leafes of three lives, of the duration
of fifty, fixty, and even feventy years, in which the refidence
of the principal tenant was not to be diftinguifhed from the
cottared fields furrounding it. I was at firft much furprized at
this, but after repeated obfervation, I found thefe men very
generally were the matters of packs of wretched hounds, with
which they wafted their time and money, and it is a notorious
fact, that they are the hardeft drinkers in Ireland. Indeed
the clafs of the fmall country gentlemen, chiefly confiding of
thefe profit renters, feem at prefent to monopolize that drink-
ing fpirit, which was, not many years ago, the difgrace of the
kingdom at large : this I conjecture to be the reafon why
thofe who might improve are fo very far from doing it ; but
there are ftill greater objections to them.

Living upon the fpot, farroundcd by tb.e;r little underte-
nants, they prove the mod cppreffive ipecies of tyrant that
ever lent affiftance to the deftruction of a country. They
relet the land, at iKort tenures, to the occupiers of fmall farms;
and often give no leafes at all. Not fatisfied with fcrewing

TENANTRY. 19

up the rent to the uttermoft farthing, they are rapacious and
relentlefs in the collection of it. Many of them have defend-
ed themfelves in converfation with me, upon the plea of taking
their rents, partly in kind, when their undertenants are much
diftrefTed : " What," fay f.hey, " would the head landlord*
fuppofe him a great nobleman, do with a miferable cottar,
who, difappointed in the fale of a heifer, a few barrels of
corn, or firkins of butter, brings his five inftead of his ten
guineas ? But we can favour him by taking his commodities
at a fair price^^and wait for reitnburfement until the market
rifes. Can my lord do that ?" A very common plea, but
the moft unfortunate that could be ufed to any one whoever re*
marked that portion of human nature which takes the garb of
an Irifh land jobber ! For upon what iflue does this remark
place the queftion ? Does it not acknowledge, that calling
for their rents, when they cannot be paid in cafli, they take
the fubftance of the debtor at the very moment when
he can not fell it to anothe* ? Can it be neceflary to aflc
what the price is ? It is at the option of the creditor j
and the miferable culprit meets his oppreflion, perhaps his
ruin in the very adlion that is trumpeted as a favour to
him. It may feem harm to attribute a want of feeling to
any clafs of men ; but let not the reader mifapprehend me ;
it is the fttuation, not the man, that I condemn. An injudici-
ous fyftem places a great number of perfons, not of any liberal
rank in life, in aftate abounding with a variety of opportuni-
ties of oppreflion, every aft of which is profitable to them-
felves. lam afraid it is human nature for men to fail in fuch
pofts j and I appeal to the experience of mankind, in other
lines of life, whether it is ever found advantageous to a poor
debtor to fell his products, or wares, to his richer creditor, at
the moment of demand.

But farther ; the dependence of the occupier on the refident
middle man goes to other circumftances, perfonal fervice of
themfelves, their cars and horfes, is exafted for leading turf,
hay, corn, gravel, &c. infomuch that the poor undertenants
often lofe their own crops and turf, from being obliged to
obey thefe calls of their fuperiors. Nay, I have even heard
thefe jobbers gravely aflVrt, that without undertenants to fur-
nifh cars and teams at half or two-thirds the common price of
the country, they could carry on no improvements at all ; yet
taking a merit to themfelves for works wrought out of the
fweat and ruin of a pack of wretches, afligned to their plun-
der by the inhumanity of the landholders.

In a word, the cafe is reducible to a iliort compafs ; in-
termediate tenants work no improvements ; if non-refident
they cannot, and if refident they do not ; but they oppfefs
the occupiers, and render them as incapable as they are
themfelves unwilling. The kingdom is an aggregate proof 'of
thefe facls j for if long leafes, at low rents, and profit incomes
B z given,

,o TENANTRY.

given, would have improved it, Ireland had long ago been s.
garden. It remains to enquire, whether the landlord's fecurity
is a full recompence for fo much mifchief.

But here it is proper to obferve, that though the interme-
diate man is generally better fecurity than the little occupier j
yet it is not from thence to be concluded, as I have often
heard it, that the latter is beyond all comparifon beneath
him in this refpeft : the contrary is often the cafe ; and I
have known the faft, that the landlord, difappointed of his
rent, has drove (diftrained) the undertenants for it at a time
when they had actually paid it to the middle man. If the
profit rent is fpent, as it very generally is in claret and hounds,
the notion of good fecurity will prove vifionary, as many a
landlord in Ireland has found it : feveral very confiderable
ones have affured me, that the little occupiers were the bejl
pay they had on their eftates ; and the intermediate gentlemen
tenants by much the *worft.

By the minutes of the journey it appears, that a very confi-
derable part of the kingdom, and the inoft enlightened land-
lords in it, have difcarded this injurious fyftem, and let their
farms to none but the occupying tenantry } their experience
has proved, that, the apprehenfion of a want of fecurity was
merely ideal, finding their rents much better paid than ever.
•At the laft extremity, it is the occupier's ftock which is the
teal fecurity of the landlord. It is that he diftrains, and finds
abundantly more valuable than the laced hat, hounds and pif-
tols of the gentleman jobber, from whom he is more likely in
fuch a cafe to receive a meffage, than a remittance.

And here let me obferve, that a defence of intermediate te-
nants has been founded upon the circumftance of leflening the
remittance of abfenfee rents ; the profit of the middle man was
(pent in Ireland ; whereas upon his difmiflion the whole is re-
mitted to England. I admit this to be an evil, but it appears
to be in no degree proportioned to the mifchiefs I have dwelt
on. It is always to be remembered, that in the arrangement
of landed property, the produce is the great obje£l ; the fyftem
of letting, which encourages moft the occupying tenant, will
always be the moft advantageous to the community. I think I
have proved that the middle man opprefles the cottar, incom-
parably more than the principal landlord ; to the one he is
ufually tenant at will, or at leaft under fhort terms, but under
the other has the nioft advantageous tenure. This fingle
point, that the perfon moft favoured is in one inftance an idle
burthen, and in the other the induftrious occupier, fufficiently
decides the fuperiority. To look therefore at the rent, after
it is paid, is to put the queftion on a wrong iffue ; the payment
of that rent, by means of ample products, arifing from animated
induftry, is the only point deferving attention ; and I had ra-
ther the whole of it fhould go to the antipodes, than exadt it
in a manner that lhall cramp that induttry, and leflen thofe
produces.

When

TENANTRY. n

When therefore it is confidered, that no advantages to the
eftate can arife from a non»refident tenant, and that a refident
intermediate one improves no more than the poor occupiers
v/ho are prevented by his oppreinons, that the landlord often
gains little or nothing in fecurity from employing them, but
that he fufifers a prooigious deduction in his rental for mere
expectations, which every hour's experience proves to be de-
lufive. When thefe facts are duly weighed, it is prefvmed.
that the gentlemen in thofe parts of the kingdom, which
yet groans under fuch a fyftem of abfurdity, folly and oppref-
fion, will follow the example fet by fuch a variety of intelli-
gent landlords, and be deaf to the deceitful afleverations with
v.'h-ich their ears are affailed, to treat the anecdotes retailed
of the cottar's poverty, with the contempt they deferve, when
coming from the mouth of a jobber; when thefe bloodfuckers
of the poor tenantry boaft of their own improvements, to open
their eyes and view the ruins which are dignified by fuch a
term, and finally determine, as friends to themfelves, to their
poftcrity and their country, TO LET THEIR ESTATES TO

NOME BUT THE OCCUPYING TENANTRY.

Having thus defcribed the tenants that ought to be rejected,
let me next mention the circumftances of the occupiers. The
variety of thefe is very great in Ireland. In the North, where
the linen manufacture has fpread, the farms are fo fmall, that
ten acres in the occupation of one perfon is a Jaige one, five
01 fix will be found a good farm, and all the agriculture of
the country fo entirely fubfervient to the manufacture, that
they no more deferve the name of farmers than the occupier
of a mere cabbage garden. In Limerick, Tipperary, Clare,
Meath and Waterford, there are to be found the greateft
graziers and cow-keepers perhaps in the world, feme who rent
and occupy from 3000!. to ro.oool. a year : thefe of courfe
are men of property, and are the only occupiers in the king-
dom, who have any confiderable fubftance. The effects are
not fo beneficial as might be expected. Rich graziers in
England, who have a little tillage, ufually manage ii well,
and are in other refpects attentive to various improvements,
though it muft be confefled not in the fame proportion with
great arable farmers ; but in Ireland rhefe men are as errant
flovens as the moft beggarly cottars. The rich lands of Lime-
rick are in refpect of fences, drains, buildings, weeds, &c.
in as wafte a ftate as the mountains of Kerry ; the fertility of
nature is fo little feconded, that few tracts yield lefs pleafure
to the fpectator. From what I obferved, I attributed this to
the itllenefs and diflipalion fo general in Ireland. Thefe gra-
ziers are too apt to attend to their claret as much as their
bullocks, live expenfively, and being enabled, from the nature
of their bufinefs, to pafs nine-tenths of the year without any
exertion of induftry, contract fuch a habit of eafe, that works
of improvement would be mortifying to their floth.

ai TENANTRY.

In the arable counties of Louth, part of Mcath, Kildare,
Kilkenny, Carlow, Queen's, and part of King's, and Tip-
perary, they are much more induftrious. It is the nature of
tillage, to raife a more regular and animated attention to
bufinefs ; but the farms are too fmall, and the tenants too
poor, to exhibit any appearances that can ftrike an Englifht tra-
veller. They have a great deal of corn, and many fine wheat
erops ; but being gained at the expence and lofs of a fallow,
as in the open fields of England, they do not Aiggeft the ideas
of profit to the individual, or advantage to the ftate, which
worfe crops in a well appointed rotation would do. Their
manuring is trivial, their tackle and implements wretched,
their teams weak, their profit fmall, and their living little bet-
ter than that of the cottars they employ. Thefe circumftances
are the neceflary refult of the fmallnefs of their capitals, which
even in thefe tillage counties do net ufually amount to a third
of what an Englifh farmer would have to manage the fame
extent of land. The leafes of thefe men are ufually three
lives to proteftants, and thirty-one years to catholics.

The tenantry in the more unimproved parts, fuch as Corke,
Wicklow, Longford, and all the mouncamous counties, where
it is part tillage, and part pafturage, are generally in a very
backward ftate. Their capitals are fmaller than the clafs I
juft mentioned, and among them is chiefly found the practice
of many poor cottars hiring large farms in partnerfhip. They
make their rents by a little butter, a little wool, a little corn,
and a few young cattle and lambs. Their lands at extreme
low rents, are the moft unimproved, (mountain and bog ex-
cepted,) in the kingdom. They have, however, more induf-
try than capital j and with a very little management, might
be brought greatly to improve their hufbandry. I think they
hold more generally from intermediate tenants than any other
fet ; one reafcn why the land they occupy is in fo wafte a
ftate. In the mountainous tracts, I faw inftances of greater in-
duftry than in any other part of Ireland. Little occupiers, who
can get leafes of a mountain fide, make exertions in improve-
ment, which, though far enough from being complete, or ac-
curate, yet prove clearly what great effedts encouragement
would have among them.

In the King's county, and alfo in fomc other parts, I faw
many traits of land, not large enough to be relet, which were
occupied under leafes for ever, very well planted and improv-
ed by men of fubftance and induftry.

The poverty, common among the fmall occupying tenantry,
may be pretty well afcertained from their general conduct in
hiring a farm. They will manage to take one with a fum
furprifcingly fmall ; they provide iabour, which in England is
fo considerable an article, by afligning portions of land to cot-
tars for their potatoe gardens, and keeping one or two cows

for

TENANTRY. 23

for each of them. To leflen the live ftock neceffary, they
•will, whenever the neighbourhood enables them, take in the
cattle at fo much per month, or feafon, of any perfon that is
deficient in pafturage at home, or of any labourers that have no
land. Next, they will let out fome old lay for grafs potatoes
to fuch labourers ; and if they are in a county where corn
acres are known, they will do the fame with fome corn land.
If there is any meadow on their farm, they will fell a part of
it as the hay grows. By all thefe means the neceflity of a
full ftock is very much leflened, and by means of living them-
felres in the very pooreft manner, and converting every pig,
fowl, and even egg into cafh, they will make up their rent,
and get by very flow degrees into fomewhat better circumftan-
ces. Where it is the cuftom to take in partnership, the diffi-
culties are cadet got over, for one man brings a few fheep,
another a cow, a third a horfe, a fourth a car and fome feed
potatoes, a fifth a few barrels of corn, and fo on, until the
farm among them is tolerably ftoeked, and hands upon it in
plenty for the labour.

But it is from the whole evident, that they are uncommon
matters of the art of overcoming difficulties by patience and
contrivance. Travellers, who take a fuperficial view of
them are apt to think their poverty and wretchednefs, viewed
in the light of farmers, greater than they are. Perhaps there
is an impropriety in confidering a man merely as the occupier
of fuch a quantity of land, and that inftead of the land, his ca-
pital fliould be the objed of contemplation. Give the farmer
of twenty acres in England no more capital than his brother
in Ireland, and I will venture to fay he will be much poorer, for
he would be utterly unable to go on at all.

I fhall conclude what I have to fay upon this fubjeft, with
ftating, in few words, what I think would prove a very advan-
tageous condurt in landlords towards the poor tenantry of
the kiggclom, and I fhall do this with the greater readinefs,
as I fpeak not only as a pafMng traveller, but from a year's re-
fidence among feveral hundred tenants, whofe circumftances
and fituation I had particular opportunities of obferving.

Let me remark, that the power and influence of a refident
landlord is fo great in Ireland, that whatever fyftem he adopts
be it well or ill imagined, he is much more able to introduce
and accomplifli it than Engiifhinen can well have an idea of;
confequently, one may fuppofe him to determine more autho~
ritatively than a perfon in a fimilar fituation in this kingdom
could do. The firft objeft, is a ferried determination never to
be departed from, to let his farms only to the immediate occu-
pier of the land, and to avoid deceit not to allow a cottar,
herdlman, or fteward, to have more than three or four acres
on any of his farms. By no means to rejeft the little oc-
cupier of a few acres from being a tenant to himfelf, rather
than annex his land to a larger fpot. Having by this previous
ftep, eafed thefe inferior tenantry of the burden of the interme-
diate

£4 TENANTRY.

di.ite man, let him give out, and (readily adhere to it, that
he fliall infift on the regular and pun&ual payment of his rent,
but fliall take no perfonal fervice whatever. The meaneft occu-
pier to have a leafe, and none fliorter than twenty-one years,
which I am inclined alfo to believe is long enough for his ad-
vantage. There will arife, in fpite of his tendernefs, a ne-
cefllty of fecuring a regular payment of rent : I would advife
him to diftrain without favour or affe&ioh, at a certain period
of deficiency. This will appear harfli only upon a fuperficial
confideration. The objeft is to ettablifli the fyftem, but it
will fall before it is on its legs, if founded on a landlord's for-

fiving arrears, or permitting them to encreafe. He need not
e apprehenfive, fmce they, who can under difadvantages,
pay the jobber, can certainly pay the landlord himfelf, when
freed from thcfe incumbrances. At all events, let him perfift
in this firmnefs, though it be the ruin of a few ; for he muft re-
member, that if he ruins five, he afluredly faves ten : he will,
it is true, know the fall of a few, but many with an interme-
diate tenant might bedeftroyed without his knowing it. Such
a fteady regular condu£t would infallibly have its effeft, in ani-
mating all the tenantry of the eftate to exert every nerve to be
punftual ; whereas favour fhewn now and then would make
every one, the leaft inclined to remiflnefs, hope for its exerti-
on towards himfelf, and every partial good would be attended
with a diffufive evil ; exceptions however to be made for
very great and unavoidable misfortunes, clearly and undoubt-
.edly proved. This ftern administration on the one hand fliould
be accompanied on the other with every fpecies of encourage-
ment to 'nofe, who fliewed the leaft difpofition to improve;
premiums fiiouid be given, rewards adjudged, difficulties
fmoothed, and notice taken, in the moft flattering manner,
of thofe whofe conduit merited it. I fliall in another part of
thefe papers point out, in detail, the advantageous fyftems ; it
is here only requifue to obferve, that whatever novelties
a landlord wiflies to introduce, he fliould give feed gratis, and
be at a parr cf the expence, promifing to be at the whole lof$,
it he is well fatisfied it is really incurred. From various
obfervations I am convinced, that fuch a condud would very
rarely prove unfuccefsful. The profit to a landlord would be
jimnenfe j he would in the courfe of a leafe find his tenantry
paying a high rent, with greater eafe to themfelves, than they
before yielded a low one.

A few cor.fiderable landlords, many years ago, made the
experiment of fixing, at great expence, colonies of palatines on
their eftates. Some of them I viewed, and made many enqui-
ries. The fcheme did not appear to me to anfwer. They had
houfes built for them • plors of land afiigned to each at a rent
of favour, afMed in (lock, and all of them with leafes for
lives from the head landlord. The poor Irifli are very rarely

treated

LABOURING POOR. 25

treated in this manner ; and when they are, they work much
greater improvements than common among thefe Germans ;
witnefs Sir William Ofborne's mountaineers ! a few beneficial
practices were introduced, but never travelled beyond their
own farms ; they were viewed with eyes too envious to allow
them to be patterns, and it was human nature that it fliould be
fo : but encourage a few of your own poor, and if their prac-
tices thrive they will fpread. I am convinced no country,
whatever ftate it may be in, can be improved by colonies of
foreigners, and whatever foreigner, as a fuperintendant of any
great improvement, afks for colonies of his own countrymen
to execute his ideas, manifefts a mean genius and but little
knowledge of the human heart ; if he has talents he will find
tools wherever he finds men, and make the natives of the
country the means of encreafing their own happinefs. Whate-
ver he does then, will live and take root ; but if effected by
foreign hands, it will prove a fickly and ftiort lived exotic ;
brilliant peihaps, for a time, in the eyes of the ignorant, but
of no folid advantage to the country that employs him.

SECTION VI.

Of the Labouring Pt/or.

SUCH is the weight of the lower clafles in the great fcale
of national importance, that a traveller can never give too
much attention to every circumftance that concerns them ;
their welfare forms the broad bafis of public profperity ; it is
they that feed, cloath, enrich, and fight the battles of all the
other ranks of a community ; it is their being able to fupport
thefe various burthens without opprefiion, which conftitutes
the general felicity ; in proportion to their eafe is the ftrength
and wealth of nations, as public debility will be the certain
attendant on their mifery. Convinced that to be ignorant of
their ftate and fituation, in different countries, is to be defi-
cient in the firft rudiments of political knowledge. I have
upon every occafion, made the neceffary enquiries, to get the
beft information circumftances would allow me. What paffes
daily, and even hourly, before our eyes, we are very apt
entirely to overlook ; hence the furprizing inattention of va-
rious people to the food, clcathing, pofleflions and ftate of the
poor, even in their own neighbourhood ; many a queftion
have I put to gentlemen upon thele points, which were not an-
fwered without having recourfe to the next cabbin ; a fource
of information the more neceffary, as Hound upon various oc-
cafions, that fome gentlemen in Ireland are infevSled with the
rage of adopting^/frw* as well as thofe of England : with on,e
party the poor are all ftarving, with the other they are deemed
in a very tolerable fituation, and a third, who look with an
ev.il eye on the adminiftration of the Rritifli government, nre
fond, of exclaiming at poverty and rags, as proofs of the cruel

treat-:

i6 LABOURINGPOOR.

ment of Ireland. When truth is likely to be thus warped, a
traveller muft be very circumfpeft to believe, and very afiidu-
ous to fee.

Places.

Rent of
ccibbm and
garden.

C<nus graft
rent.

Cows per
family.

Dublin,

I 8 o

Celbridge,
DolJeftown,

200
200

Summerhill,

I or 2

Slaine,

2 O O

200

Packenham,

I IO 0

Tullamore,

200

Shaen Caftle,

i 5 o

Ballynakill,

I 0 0

I 10 0

Kilfaine,

3 30

Bargy and Forth,

300

Mount Kennedy,

2 10 0

Kilrue,

I 10 0

IO O

Hampton,

2 10 0

IO 0

Warrenftown,

10 0

Lccale,

2 O

Cattle Caldwell,

O O

IO 0

Longford,

10 0

IO 0

all

Srrokeftown,

O 0

2 0

Merer a,

o o

IO 0

Moniva,

IO O

Woodlawn,

Limerick,

o o

Mallow,

10 0

220

all

Dunkettle,

12 6

Coolmore,

0 0

Nedeen,

2 9

2 O O

Adair,

5 6

Caftle Oliver,

0 0

2 2 6

Tippverary,

0 0

220

Ballycanvan,

10 0

7 o

Glofter,

JO 0

5 °

Jobnftown,

0 0

o o

Derry,

Mitchell's Town,

I 10 0
1100

10 0
IO O

Average,

i 13 10

i n 3

From

LABOURING POOR. 27

From the minutes of the journey it will be found, that there
is no determinate quantity ol Jand for the potatoe garden ;
it is ufually an acre; fometimes half an acre, and fotnetimes
one acre and a half ; bux according to die foil, th*t -efwantkjr
which is ur.derftood (right or wrong) to be neceflary, is called
the garden. The grafs tor a cow is for the green food only,
the cotter hircfelf finds or buys hay. From the blanks in the
number of cows it is not to be implied that they have none, but
that the information vras not received.

But it is necefTkry here to explain the common cottar fyftem
of labour is Ireland, which much refembles that of Scotland
until very lately, and which was probably the fame all over
Europe before arts and commerce changed the face of it. If
ihere are cabbins on a farm they are the refidence of the cot-
tars, if there are none the farmer marks out the potatoe gar-
dens, and the labourers, who apply to him on his hiring the
Jand, raife their own cabbins on fuch fpots ; in fome places
the farmer builds ; in ethers he only aflifts them with the roof,
&c. a verbal compact is then made, that the new cotter {halt
have his potatoe garden nt fuch a rent, and one or two
cows kept him at the price of the neighbourhood, he finding
the cows. He then works with the farmer at the rate of the
place, ufually fixpence halfpenny a day, a tally being kept (half
by each pany) and a notch cut for every day's labour : at the
end of fix months, or a year, they reckon, and the balance is
paid. The cotter works for himfelf as his potatoes require.

The rates of
- And,

Forming together 351

for milk and -potatoes appear to be very reafonable ; if two
cows are kept, it is only 4!. i6s. 4d. from whence it is evident,
as far mereiy as this charge goes, there is no opprefiion upon
them which can ever amount to ftarving. In particular inflan-
ces, where there is much inhumanity in the greater tenants,
they are made to pay too high a rent for their gardens ; and
though the price, at which their cows are fupported, may not
appear high, yet they may fo poorly kept as to make it very
unreafonable. I believe, from what I faw, that fuch inftances
are not uncoiriaion.

POTATOES.

'On*.

E*pe*ct \Produa Prl"
ptracre. , Barrels. L fcr ,
1 . Barrel

Product
•value.

Pruu
co/1.

Rent

potatoe
ground.

Dublin,

Celbridge,
Dolleftown,

15 150

IOO

5°

.5150

5 °

8 o o
5126

Summerhill,

630

Slain Caftle,

1240

II 40

4 °

4 ?o o

rleadfort,

4100

Packenham,

10 IOO

2 6

5 o o

Mullingar to Tul-

£•

lefpace,

Tullimore,

600

General Walfli,

'76

Near Arhy,

8 142

13 70

2 2

Bailynakill,

Ofaine,

10 16 o

5 4°

3 6

Profpeft, -

5°

Ardu>agh,

Warrcnftown,

Shaen Caftle,

Ledy Hill,

7 7°

4°

16 o o

I 10

NV.rth of ditto,

8 56

15 oo

2 Of

Newton Limavad-

dy»

IO O O

Florence court,

7 7 5

12 160

Farnham,

'3 °4

22 IOO

4 4

Longford,

120

8 o

Strokeftown,

5°

20 0 0

? 5 °

Mercra,

7 44

7100

5 oo

Weft-pcrt,

5 '3°

12 00

Holymcunt,

3 'S o

Moniva,

5°

1000

Wocdlawn,

1200

Drumoland,

IOO

Annfgrove,

i 17 6

Mallow,

Durkettle,

5°

4 15 o

Caftle Martyr,

6 40

IO IOO

i 9

Coolmore,
Adair,

8 o

24 oo

6 166

Caftle Oliver,

'5 32

150

30 o o

2 0

4100

Tipperary,

9°

5 °

6 o o

Ballycanvan,

Furnefs,

14 oo

I 00

5°

15 oo

2 9

Glofter,

1152

too

3 4

io 13 4

2 3

6 80

Johnftown,
Derry,

ii 06

18 oo

2 5

700
4 5°

Cullen,

10 n 8

1 20

3 o

iS oo

I 2!

600

Michelftown,

6 07

1300

2 0

POTATOES.

Cunningham Acre reduced.

Plata.

Expence
per acre.

O T

Predufl
Barrels.

A T

Price
per
Barrel.

0 E S.

Produce
value.

Prwtt
«/?.

Rent
potatoe
ground.

Ardmagh,

Warrenftown,

Shaen Caftle,

I 12

Lefly Hill,

9 9°

lOJ

4 o

2O 11 O

I 10

Ditto,

IO 12 O

4 o

19 50 a of

Englijh Acre Reduced.

Mallow,

Dunkettle,

7 12 0

Caftle Martyr,

9l8o

I 12

3 o

16 160

' 9

Coolmore,

Averages,

10 4 9

4.9

16 126

*?i

$ IO 2

Averages per Eng-
lifli acre.

676

5-4

4 9

,o 70

2 7*

3 8 6

Thefe tables together will enable the reader to have a pret-
ty accurate idea of the expenccs at which the poor in Ireland
are fed. The firft column is the total expence of an acre of
potatoes, the third is the price at which potatoes are bought
and fold, for feed, or food. The prime coft is the price
formed by the firft and fecond columns, being the rate at which
they are eaten by thofe who raife them. The laft column re-
quires rather more explanation to thofe who were never in that
country. There are a great many cabbins, ufually by the road
fide, or in the ditch, which have no potatoe gardens at all.
Ireland being free from the curfe of Enghfh poor, laws, the
people move about the country and fettle where they will. A
wandering family will ^x themfelves under a dry bank,
and with a few fticks, 'furze, fern, &c. make up a hovel
much worfe than an EnglifK pigftie, fupport themfelves how
they can, by work, begging and ftealing ; if the neighbour-
hood wants hands, or takes no notice of them, the hovel
grows into a cabbin. In my rides about Mitchelftown, I have
pafled places in the road one day, without any appearance of
a habitation, and next morning found a hovel, filled with a
man and woman, fix or eight children, and a pig. Thefe
people are not kept by any body as cottars, but are taken at
bufy feafons by the day or week, and paid in money, confe-
quently having no potatoe garden, they are necefiitated every
year, to hire a fpot of fome neighbouring farmer, and of the
preceding table, line laft column, is the rent per acre paid

for

30 LABOURING POOR.

for it. The cabbins in little towns are in the fame fitu-
ation.

I think 5!. ios.-2d. for liberty to plant a crop fo beneficial
to the land as potatoes, a very extravagant rent, and by no
means upon a fair level with the other circumftances of the
poor. The prime coil of two Shillings and feven fence half-
penny per barrel, generally of twenty (tone, being equal to
about eight-pence the bufliel of feventy pounds, is not a high
price for the root, yet might it be much lower, if they gave
up their lazy bad method of culture, and adopted that of the
plough, for the average produce of three hundred twenty
eight bulhels, or eighty-two barrels per acre, compared with
crops in England, is perfectly infignificant, yet to gain this mi-
ferable produce, much old lay, and nineteen-twentieths of all
the dung in the kingdom is employed. A total alteration in
this point is therefore much to be wifhed.

Relative to the cottar fyftem wherever it is found, it may
be obferved that the recompence for labour is the means of liv-
ing. In England thefe are difpenfed in money, but in Ireland
in land or commodities. In the former country paying the poor
with any thing but money has been found fo oppreffive, that
various and repeated ftatutes have been made to prohibit it.
Is it to be confider«d in the fame light in Ireland ? this is a
queftion which involves many confiderations. Firft let me re-
mark that the two modes of payment prohibited in England,
but common in Ireland, are not exactly the fame, though up-
on fimilar principles. In England it is the payment of manu-
facturing labourers in ueceflaries, as bread, candles, foap,
&c. In Ireland it is a quantity of land for the fupport of a
labourer a year. The former, it muftftrike every one, is more
open to abufe, involving more complex accounts than the lat-
ter. The great queftion is, which fyftem is moft advantageous
to the poor family, the payment to be in land for potatoes and
milk, or in money, fuppofing the payment to be fairly made :
here lies the difcuffion.

On one hand the Irifli labourer in every circumftance which
gives him any appearance of plenty, the porTeflion of cattle is
fubjecled to chances which muft be heavy in proportion to his
poverty ; ill fed cattle, we know from the experience of Eng-
iifh commons are very far from being fo advantageous to a man
as they firft feem ; accidents happen without a refource to
fupply the lofs, and leave the man much worfe than him who-
being paid in money is independant of fuch events. But to
reverfe the medal, there appear advantages, and very great
ones by being paid in land, he has plenty of articles of the
utmoft importance to the fuftenance of a family, potatoes and
milk. Generally fpeaking the Irifh. poor have a fair belly full
of potatoes, and they have milk the greateft part of the year.
What I would particularly inilft on here is the value of his
labour being food not money ; food not for himfelf only, but
for his wife and children. An Iriftiman loves whiikey as well

LABOURING POOR. 31

as an Englifhman does ftrong beer j but he cannot go on Sa-
turday night to the whiflcey houfe, and drink out the week's
fupport of himfelf, his wife and his children, not uncommon
in the ale-houfe of the Englifhman. It may indeed be faid
that we fhould not argue againlt a mode of payment becaufe
it may be abufed, which is very true, but we certainly maj
reafon againft that which carries in its very principles the feed
of abufe. That the Irifhman's cow may be ill fed is admit-
ted, but ill fed as it is, it is better than the no cow of the Eng-
lijhman ; the children of the Irifh cabbin are nourifhed with
milk, which, fmall as the quantity may be, is far preferable
to the beer or vile tea which is the beverage of the EnglifK
infant, for no where but in a town is milk to be bought. Far-
ther, in a country where bread, cheefe or meat are the com-
mon food, it is confumed with great ceconomy, and kept
under lock and key where the children can have no refort ;
but the cafe with potatoes is different, they are in greater
plenty, the children help thcmfelves ; they are fcarce ever feen
about a cabbin without being in the a£t of eating them, it is
their employment all day long. Another circumuance not to
be forgotten, is the regularity of the fupply. The crop of
potatoes, and the milk of the cow is more regular in Ireland
than the price at which the Englishman buys his food. In
England complaints rite even to riots when the rates of provi-
flons are high ; but in Ireland the poor have nothing to do
with prices, they depend not on prices, but crops of a vege-
table very regular in its produce. Attend the Englifh labour-
er when he is in ficknefs, he muft then have refort to his fav-
ings, but thofe will be nought among nine-tenths of the poor
of a country that have a legal dependance on the parifli, which
therefore is the beft off, the Englifhman fupported by the pa-
rifh, or the Irifhman by his potatoe-bed and cow ?

Money I am ready enough to grant has many advantages,
but they depend almoft entirely on the prudence with which
it is expended. They know little of the human mind v/ho
fuppofe that the poor man with his feven or eight fhillings on
a Saturday night has not his temptations to be imprudent as
well as his fuperior with as many hundreds or thoufands a year.
He has his alehoufe, his brandy (Hop, and (kittle ground, as
much as the other his ball, opera or mafquerade. Examine
the (late of the Englifli poor, and fee if fafts do not co-incide
here with theory ; do we not fee numbers of half ftarved, and
half cloathed families owing to the fuperfluities of ale and
brandy, tea and fugar. An IriiTiman cannot do this in any de-
gree, he can neither drink whiflcey from his potatoes, nor milk
it from his cow.

But after all that can be faid on this fubjeft, the cuftom
of both countries is confident with their refpeftire ctrcumftan-
ces and fituations. When great wealth from immenfe bran-
ches of induftry has brought on a rapid circulation, and much of

what

3* F O O D.

what is commonly called luxury, the more fimple mode cf
paying labour with land can fcarcely hold. It does not, howe-
ver, follow that the poor are in that refpect better off, other
advantages of a different kind attend the evils of fuch a firua-
tion, among which, perhaps, the employment of the wife and
all the children, are the greateft. In fuch a country, alfo
markets and {hops will be eftablimed in every corner, where
the poor may buy their necefTaries without difficulty j but in
Ireland there are neither one nor the other ; the labourer there
with his pay in his pocket would find nothing readily but
whifky.

I have gone into this enquiry in order to fatisfy the people of
Ireland, that the mode there common of paying the labouring
poor is confident with the fituation of the kingdom : whether
it is good or bad, or better or worfe than that of England, it
is what will neceflarily continue until a great encreafe of nati-
onal wealth has introduced a more general circulation of mo-
ney, they will then have the Englilh mode with its defects as
well as its advantages.

FOOD.

The food of the common Irifti, potatoes and milk, have
been produced more than once as an inftance of the extreme
poverty of the country, but this I believe is an opinion embrac-
ed with more alacrity than reflection. I have heard it ftigma-
tized as being unhealthy, and not fufficiently nourishing for the
lupport of hard labour, but this opinion is very amazing in a
country, many of whofe poor people are as athletic in their
form, as robuft, and as capable of enduring labour as any
upon earth. The idlenefs feen among many when working
for thofe who opprefs them is a very contraft to the vigour and
activity with which the fame people work when themfelves
alone reap the benefit of their labour. To what country mud
we have recourfe for a ftronger inftance than lime carried by
little miferable mountaineers thirty miles on horfes backs to
the foot of their hills, and up the fteeps on their own. When
I fee the people of a country in fpite of political opprefllon
with well formed vigorous bodies, and their cottages fwarm-
ing with children ; when I fee their men athletic, and their
women beautiful, I know not how to believe them fubfifting
on an unwholefome food.

At the fame time, however, that both reafon and obferva-
tion convince me of the juftice of thefe remarks, I will candid-
ly allow that I have feen fuch an excefs in the lazinefs of
great numbers, even when working for themfelves, and fuch
an apparent weaknefs in their exertions when encouraged to
work, that I have had my doubts of the heartinefs of their
food. But here arife frefli difficulties, were their food ever fo
r.ouriming I can eafiiy conceive an habitual inactivity of ex-
ertion would give them an air of debility compared with a

FOOD. 33

niore induftrious people. Though my refidence in Ireland was
not Ion? enough to become a perfeft matter of the queftion,
yet I have employed from twenty to fifty men for feveral
months, and found their habitual lazinefs or weaknefs fo great,
whether Working by meafure or by day, that I am abfoluteiy
convinced is. 6d. and even zs. a day in Suffolk or Hertford-
fViire much cheaper than fixpence halfpenny at Mitchelftown :
It would not be fair to conhder this as a reprefentation of the
kingdom, that place being remarkably backward in every fpe-
cies of induftry and improvement j but I am afraid this obfer-
vation would hold true in a lefs degree for the whole. But
is this owing to habit or food ? Granting their food to be
the caufe, it decides very little againlt potatoes, unlefs they
were tried with good nourifhing beer inftead of their vile po-
tations of whiflcy. When they are encouraged, or animate
thetnfelves to work hard, it is all by whifky, which though it
has a notable effeft in giving a perpetual motion to their
tongues, can have but little of that invigorating fubftance
which is found in ftrong beer or porter, probably it has an ef-
fect as pernicious, as the other is beneficial . One circumftance
I fhould mention, which feems to confirm this: I have known
the Irifh reapers in Hertfordthire work as laborioufly as any of
our own men, and living upon potatoes which they procured
from London, but drinking nothing but ale. If their bodies
are weak I attribute it to whilky, not potatoes ; but it is ftill a
queftion with me whether their miferable working arifes from
any fuch weaknefs, or from an habitual lazinefs. A friend of
mine always refufed Irilhmen work in Surrey, faying his bailiff
could do nothing but fettle their quarrels.

But of this food there is one circumftance which muft eve.r
recommend it, they have a belly full, and that let me add is
more than the fuperfluities of an Englishman leaves to his fa-
mily : let any perfon examine minutely into the receipt and
expenditure of an Englilh cottage, and he will find that tea, fu-
gar and ftrong liquors, can come only from pinched bellies, f
will not afll-rt that potatoes are a better food than bread and
cheefe ; but I have no doubt of a bellyfull of the one being;
much better than half a bellyfull of the other ; ftill lefs have I
that the milk of the Irifhman is incomparably better than the
fmall beer, gin, or tea of the Englifliman ; and this even for
the father, how much better muft it be for the poor infants ;
milk to them is nourilhrnent, is health, is life.

If any one doubts the comparative plenty, which attends
the board of a poor native of England and Ireland, let him at-
tend to their meals : the fparingnei.* with which our labourer
eats his bread and cheefe is well known ; mark the Irifliman's
potatoe bowl placed on the floor, the whole family upon their
hams around it, devouring a quantity almoft incredible, the
beggar feating himfelf to it with a hearty welcome, the pig
taking his fliare as readily as the wife, the cocks, hens, lur-
C kies,

34 FOOD.

kies, geefe, the cur, the cat, and perhaps the cow— and all
partaking of the fame difli. No man can often have been a
witnefs of it without being convinced of the plenty, and I will
add the chearfulnefs, that attends it.

"Is it, or is it not a matter of confequence, for the great bo-
dy of the people of a country, to fubfift upon that fpecies of
food which is produced in the greateft quantity by the fmalleft
fpace of land ? One need only to ftate, in order to. anfwer the
queftion. It certainly is an object of the higheft confequence,
what in this refpect is the comparifon between wheat or cheefe,
or meat and potatoes ?

The minutes of the journey will enable us to fhew this.
No. i. At Shaen caftle, Queen's county, a barrel of pota-

toes lafts a family of fix perfons a week.
No. Z. At Shaen caftle, Antrim, fix people eat three bufhels,
and twenty pounds of oatmeal befides, in a week,
twenty pounds of meal are equal to one bufhel of
potatoes i this therefore is a barrel alfo.
No. 3. Leflie hill, a barrel of four buftiels fix perfons a week,
No. 4. Near Giant's caufeway, a barrel fix people eight

days.
No. 5. Caftle Caldwell, a barrel of eighteen ftone fix people

a week.

No. 6. Glofter, a barrel five perfons a week.
No. 7. Derry, five perfons eat and wafte two barrels a week.
No. 8. Cullen, two barrels fix perfons a week.

Barrels. Perfons. Days.
No. i — — 6 — 7

6 - 7

6 — 8

6 - 7
5-7

A barrel is twenty ftones, or two hundred and eighty pounds,
which is the weight of four Englifh buftiels ; the average of
thefe accounts is nearly that quantity lafting a family of fix
people fix days, which makes a year's food fixty barrels.
Now the average produce of the whole kingdom being eighty-
two barrels per acre., plantation meafure, one acre does rather
more than fupport eight perfons the year through, which is five
perfons to the Englilh acre. To feed on wheat, thofe eight
perfons wou!d require eight quarters, or two Irifh acres, which
at prefent, imply two more for fallow, or four in all.

When, however, I fpeak of potatpes and buttermilk being
the food of the poor, the tables already inferted fliew, that in
feme parts of .the north that root forms their diet but for a part
, of

LABOURINGPOOR. 35

of the year, much oatmeal and fome meat being confumed. I
need not dwell on this, as there is nothing particular to attend
to in it, whereas potatoes, as the ftaple dependance, is a pecu-
liarity met with in no country but the other parts of Ireland.

CLOATHING.

The common Irifli are in general cloathed fo very indiffe-
rently, that it impreffes every ftranger with a ftrong idea of
univerfal poverty. Shoes and ftockings are fcarcely ever found
on the feet of children of either fex ; and great numbers of
men and women are without them : a change however, in this
refpeft as in moft others, is coming in, for there are many
more of them with thofe articles of cloathing new than ten
years ago.

An Irimman and his wife are much more folicitous to feed
than to cloath their children : whereas in England it is fur-
prizing to fee the expence they put themfelves to, to deck out
children whofe principal fubfiftence is tea. Very many of them,
in Ireland are fo ragged that their nakednefs is fcarcely cover-
ed j yet are they in health and active. As to the want of fhoes
and ftockings I confider it as no evil, but a much more cleanly
cuftom than the beaftiality of ftockings and feet that are wafh-
ed no oftener than thofe of our own poor. Women are oftener
without moes than men ; and by wafhing their cloaths no
where but in rivers and ftreams, the cold, efpecially as they
roaft their legs in their cabbins ti 1 they are fire fpotted, mult
fwcll them to a wondertul fize and horrid black and blue co-
lour always met with both in young and old. They ftand in
rivers and beat the linen againft the great ftones found there
with a beetle.

I remarked generally, that they were not ill drefTed of fun-
days and holidays, and that bla*ck or dark blue was almoft the
univerfal hue.

HABITATIONS.

The 'cottages of the Irifh, which are all called cabbins, are
the moft miferable looking hovels that can well be conceived :
they generally confift of only one room : mud kneaded with
ftraw is the common material of the walls ; thefe are rarely
above feven feet high, and not always above five or fix ; they
are about two feet thick, and have only a door, which lets in
light inftead of a window, and fliould let the fmoak out inftead
ot a chimney, but they had rather keep it in : thefe two con-
veniencies they hold fo cheap, that I have feen them both (lop-
ped up in ftone cottages, built by improving landlords ; the
fmoak warms them, but certainly is as injurious to thair eyes
as it is to the complexions of the women, v.hich in general
C 3 ia

j6 LABOURING POOR.

in the cabbins of Ireland has a near refemblance to that of a
fmoaked ham. The number of the blind poor I think greater
there than in England, which is probably owing to this caufe.

The roofs of the cabbins are rafters, raifeci from the tops of
the mud walls, and the covering varies ; fome are thatched with
ftraw, potatoeftalks, or with heath, others only covered with
fods of turf cut from a grafs field ; and I have feen feveral
that were partly cornpoled of all three } the bad repair thefe
roofs are kept in, a hole in the thatch being often mended with
turf, and weeds fprooting from every part, gives them the ap-
pearance of a weedy dunghill, efpecially when the cabbin is
rot built with regular walls, but fupported on one, or
perhaps on both fides by the banks of a broad dry ditch, the
roof then feems a hillock, upon which perhaps the pig grazes.
Some of thefe cabbins are much lefs nnd more miferablc
habitations than I had ever feen in England. I was told they
were the worft in Connaught, but I found it an error ; I faw
many in Leinfter to the full as bad, and in Wicklow, fome
worfe than any in Connaught. When they are well roofed,
and built not of ftones, ill put together, but of mud, they
are much warmer, independently of fmoke, than the clay,
or lath and mortar cottages of England, the walls of which
are fo thin, that a rat hole lets in the wind to the annoyance of
the whole family. The furniture of the cabbins is as bad
as the architecture ; in very many, confifting only of a pot for
boih'ng their potatoes, a bit of a table, and one or two broken
ftools ; beds are not found univerfally, the family lying on
ftraw, equally partook of by cows, calves and pigs, though
the luxury of flies is coming in in Ireland, which excludes the
poor pigs from the warmth of the bodies of their mafter
and miftrefs : I remarked little hovels of earth thrown up near
the cabbins, and in fome places they build their turf (lacks
hollow, in order to afford fhelter to the hogs. This is a
general defcription, but the exceptions are very numerous. I
have been in a multitude of cabbins that had much ufeful
furniture, and fome even fuperfluous; chairs, tables, boxes,
cheft of drawers, earthen ware, and in fhort moft of the ar-
ticles found in a middling Englifli cottage ; but upon enquiry,
I very generally found that thefe acquifitions were all made
within the laft ten years, a fure fign of a rifing national prof-
perity. 1 think the bad cabbins and furniture the greateft in-
ftances of Irifh poverty, and this muft flow from the mode
of payment for labour, which makes cattle fo valuable to the
peafant, that every farthing they can fpare is faved for their
purchafe : from hence alfo refults another obfervation, which
is, that the apparent poverty of it is greater than the real ;
for the houfe of a man that is mailer of four or five cows, will
have Scarce anything but deficiencies ; nay, I was in thecab-
brns of dairymen and farmers, not fmall ones, whofe cabbins

were

LABOURING POOR. ,3?

were not at all better, or better furnifhed than thofe of the poor-
eft labourer : before, therefore, we can attribute it to abfolute
poverty, we muft take into the account the cuftoms and inclina-
tions of the people. In England a man's cottage will be filled
with fuperfluities before he pofleffes a cow. I think the compa-
nion much in favour of the Irifhman ; a hog is a muck more
valuable piece of goods than a fet of tea things ; and though
his fnout in a crock* of potatoes is an idea not fo poetical as

• Broken tea cups, nvifely kept fur fkevjt

Rang defer the chimney , glifien^d in a row.

Yet will the cotter and his family, at Chriftmas, find the foli-
dity of it an ample recoinpence for the ornament of the
other.

LIVE STOCK.

In every part of the kingdom the cominort Iri/K have all forts
of live ftock : the tables already inferted fliew this in refpeft of
cows. I fhould add here that pigs are yet more general, and
poultry in many parts of the kingdom, efpecially Leinfter, are
in fuch quantities as amazed me, not only cocks and hens,
but alfo geefe and turkies ; this is owing probably to three
circumftances ; firft, to the plenty of potatoes with which
they are fed ; fecondly, to the warmth of the cabbins; and
thirdly, to the great quantity of fpontaneous white clover
(trifolium repens) in almoft all the fields, which 'much exceeds
any thing we know in England ; upon the feeds of this plant
the young poultry rear themfelves ; much is fold, but a confi-
derable portion eaten by the family, probably becaufe they
cannot find a market for the whole. Many of the cocks, hens,
turkies and geefe, have their legs tied together to prevent
them, from trefpafling on the farmers grounds. Indeed all the
Jive ftock of the poor mari in Ireland is in this fort of thraldom ;
the horfes are all hopping about, the pigs have a rope of lira w
fro.m around their necks to their hind i*gs. In the county of
down they have an ingenious contrivance for afheepjuft to
feed dowa the grafs of a ditch, a rope with a ftake at each
end, and the fheep tied to a ring, through which it pafles, fo
that the animal can move from one end of the rope, to the
other, and eat whatever grows within two or three feet
of it.

* The iron pot of an Irijh cabbin.

PRICE

LABOURING POOR.

Places.

Hay ana

barveft

PRIC

Winter

E oi

Year

round

- LABOUR.

Rife in Labour.

•

s H

s d

Dublin,

Twopence in 3Oyears.

Celbridge,

Kilcock,

t 8

o 8

Slaine,

I 2

Threepence in 10 years.

Headfort,

o 9

Packenham,

None.

Tullamore,

None.

Shaen Caftle,

Very little.

Carlow,

i i

One-fifth in 20 years.

Kilfain,

I Of

One-fourth in 20 years.

Taghmon,

1 3

I O

Forth,

I 0

o 9

A little in 20 years.

Profpea,
Mount Kennedy,

10
10

Twopence in 20 years.
One-third in 20 years.

Balbriggin,

One-half in 20 years.

Market-hill,
Ardmagh,
Warrenftown,

8
8

Near double in 20 years.
One fourth in 20 years.
A little.

Port a ferry,

Shaen Caftle,

Dne-third in 20 years.

Lefly Hill;'

I 2

Near double in 20 years.

Limmavady,

I 0

Innifhoen,

tfone.

Clcnleigh,

One-third in 20 years.

Mount Charles,

One penny in 20 years.

Caftle Caldwell,

Caftle Cool,

t o

Bcik Me,

I o

+ °

Florence Court,

Twopence a day in 2o

Farnham,

I 0

fyears.

Strokeftown,

I 6

« -r ^*

^Jone.

Ballyna,?
Mercra,

6
8

One-fixth in 20 years.

Sortland,

Killala.

4-1

Weftport,
Moniva,

6
6

T"t

4
5

J *

One-third in 20 years.
One-fixth in 20 years.

J And board.

Drumolaad,

LABOURING POOR.

Placet.

barveft.

Winter.

round »

J?«/< ;'ir Labour.

Drumoland,
Doneraile,

None.
One-third in 40 years.

Caftle Martyr,
Nedeen, *

* 6

One-third in ditto.
One-third in ditto.

Tarbat,

One-penny in ditto.

Adair,

One-third in ditto.

Caftle Oliver,

One-penny a day in ditto.

Tipperary,

Curraghmore,

Waterford,

64*

£4

Furnefs,

One penny a day.

Glofter,

One third in 40 years.

Johnftowo,

Considerable.

Derry,

None.

Caftle Loyd,

One penny a day.

Mitchel's Town,

i^d. a day in 5 years.

Average,

1 1 in 40 years.

The rife is very near a fourth in twenty years ; and it is remarkable that in
my Eaflern Tour through England (vol. 4. p. 338.) I found the rife of labour
one fourth in eighteen years ; from which it appears, that the two kingdoms,
in this refpeft, have been nearly on a par.

Places.

Car-
penter.

Ma-
fon.

That
cber.

Placet.

Car-
penter.

Ma-

fon

.Mat
cber.

s. d.

. d.

s. d.

Dublin,

Drumoland,

I 9

Lntrel't Town,

Donneraile,

I O

Slaine,

f 6

Corke,

i 6

Packenham,

Nedeen,

I 0

Shaens Caftle,

Tarbat,

I O

Kilfain,

Caftle Oliver,

I O

Forth,

4 0

Tipperary,

i 6

Profpeft,

I O

Curraghmore,

0 10

Mount Kennedy,

Waterford,

o 6

Market Hill,

Furnefs,

i 6

Ardmagh,

Glofter,

Shaen Caftle,
l,imavadv,

4 0

3 6

^ o

Johnftown,
Derrv,

7i
6

Clonleigh,

4 0

5 i

Caftle Lovd,

I O

Mount Charles,

^ 2

i 6

Miichel's Town,

1 O

Caftle Caldwell,

1 1C

i 6

—

Florence Court,

i 9

i i

Average,

' 9

i V

» 3

Farnham,

4 1

f 6

Strokeftown,
Ballynogh,
Mercra,
Sortland,
Kilalla,
Weflport,
Moniva,

4
6

6
7

z o

I 10

J 7
I 6
i 6
* 7
7

I 0
1 O

iri

i 4

0 10

i 4

Whtn it is confidered that common
labour in Ireland is but little moi e than
a third of what it is in England, it
may appear extraordinary that artisans
are paid nearly, if nut full, at h:gh *l
in that kingdom.

Andburd.

O P P R E S-

4o LABOURING POOR.

OPPRESSION.

Before I conclude this article of the common labouring poor
in Ireland, I muft obferve, that their happinefs depends not
merely upon the payment of their labour, their cloaths, or
their food ; the fubordination of the lower claffes, degene-
rating into oppreffion, is not to be overlooked. The poor in
all countries, and under all governments, are both paid
and fed, yet is there an infinite difference between them in
different ones. This enquiry will by no means turn out fo fa-
vourable as the preceding articles. It muft be very apparent
to every traveller, through that country, that the labouring
poor are treated with har/hnefs, and are in all refpefts fo little
confidered, that their want of importarce feems a perfedt
centraft to their fituation in England, of which country, com-
paratively fpeaking, they reign the fovereigns. The age has
improved fo touch in humanity, that even the poor Irifh have
experienced its influence, and are every day treated better and
better ; but ftill the remnant of the old manners, the abomi-
nable diftinc\ion of religion, united with the oppreflive conduct
of the little country gentlemen, or rather vermin of the king-
dom, who never were out of it, altogether bear ftiil very hea-
vy on the poor people, and fubjeft them to fituationsmore mor-
tifying than we ever behold in England. The landlord of an
Irifh tttate, inhabited by Roman catholics, is a fort of defpot
who yields obedience in whatever concerns the poor, to no law
but that of his will. To difcover what the liberty of a peo-
ple is, we muft live among them, and not look for it in the
ftatutes of the realm : the language of written law may be that
of liberty, but the fituation of the poor may fpeak no language
but that of flavery j there is too much of this contradiction
in Ireland ; a long feries of oppreflions, aided by many very
ill judged laws, have brought landlords into a habit of ex-
erting a very lofty fuperiority, and their vaflals into that of an
«Imoft unlimited fubmiffion : fpeaking a language that is delpif-
td, profeffing a religion that is abhorred, and being difarmed,
the poor find themielves in many cafes flaves even in the boiom
of written liberty. Landlords that have refided much abroad,
are ufually humane in their ideas, but the habit of tyranny
naturally contracts the mind, fo that even in this polifhed age,
there are inftances of a levere carriage towards the poor, which
is quite unknown in England.

A landlord in Ireland can icarcely invent an order which a
fervant, labourer, or cottar dares to refufe to execute. Nothing
Satisfies him but an unlimited iubmiffion. Difreipedl or any
thing tending towards faucinefs he may punifh witk his cane
or his horfewhip with the moft perfect fecurity, a poor n»an
would have his bones broke if he offered to lift his hand in his

own

LABOURING POOR. 41

own defence. Knocking down is fpokcn of in the country in
a manner that makes an Englifti man ftare. Landlords of con-
fequence have allured me that many of their cottars wfould
think themtelves honoured by having their wives and daugh-
ters fent for to the bed of their mafter ; a mark of flavery that
proves the oppreffion under which fuch people muft live. Nay,
I have heard anecdotes of the lives of people being made free
with without any apprehenfion of the juftice of a jury. But let
it not be imagined that this is common ; formerly it happened
every day, but law gains ground. It nmli ftrike themoft care-
lefs traveller to fee whole firings of cars whipt into a ditch by
a gentleman's footman to make way for his carriage ; if they
are overturned or broken in pieces, no matter, it is taken in
patience, were they to complain they would perhaps be horfe-
whipped. The execution of the laws lies very much in the
hands of juftices of the peace, many of whom are drawn from
the moft illiberal clafs in the kingdom. If a poor man ledges
a complaint againft a gentleman, or any animal that chufes to
call itfelf a gentleman, and the juftice ifTues out a fummons
for his appearance, it is a fixed affront, and he will infallibly
be called out. Where MANNERS are in confpiracy againll
LAW, to whom are the oppreffed people to have recourfe ? It
is a fa£l that a poor man having a conteft with a gentleman
muft— but I am talking nonlenfe, they know their fituation too
well to think of it ; they can have no defence but by means of
protection from one gentleman againft another, who probably
protects his vaflal as he would the fheep he intends to eat.

The colours of this picture are* not charged. .To affert that
all thefe cafes are common, would be an exaggeration, but
to fay that an unfeeling landlord will do all this with impunity
is to keep ftrictly to truth : and what is liberty but a farce,
and a jeft if its bleflings are received as the favour of
kindnefs and humanity, inftead of being the inheritance of
RIGHT ?

Confequences have flowed from thefe oppreflions which
ought long ago to have put a ftop to them. In England we have
heard much of whiteboys, fteelboys, oakboys, peep-of-day-
boys, &c. Bur thefe various infurgents are not to be con-
founded, for they are very different. The proper diftinction in
the difcontents of the people is into pioteftant and catholic.
All but the whiteboys were among the manufacturing proteft-
ants in the north. The whiteboys catholic labourers in the
louth : from the beft intelligence I could gain, the riots of the
manufacturers had no other foundation, but fuch variations in
the manufacture as ail fabrics experience, and which they had
themfelves known and fubmitted to before. The cafe, howr
ever, was different with the whiteboys ; who being labouring
catholics met with all thole oppreflions I have defcribed, ana
would probably have continued in fui! fubmiffion had not very
ferere treatment in reflect of tythcs united with a great fpecu-

:ar:ve

42 EMIGRATION.

lative rife of rents about the fame time, blown up the flame of
refiftance; the atrocious acts they were guilty of made them
the object of general indignation, acts werepalfed for their pu-
nifhment, which feemed calculated for the meridian ofBarbary;
this arofe to fuch a height, that by one they were to be hanged
under certain circumftances without the common formalities of
a trial, which though repealed the following feflions marks the
fpirit of puniftunent ; while others remain yet the law of the
land, that would if executed tend more to raife than quell an
infurrection. From all which it is manifeft that the gentlemen
of Ireland never thought of a radical cure from overlooking
the real caufe of the difeafe, which in fact lay in themfelves,
and not in the wretches they doomed to the gallows. Let
them change their own conduct intirely, and the poor will not
long riot. Treat them like men who ought to be as free as
yourfelves: put an end to that fyftem of religious persecution
which for feventy years has divided the kingdom agamft itfelf ;
in thefe two circumftances lies the cure of indirection, perform
them completely, and you will have an affectionate poor, in-
ftead of opprefled and difcontented vafTals.

A better treatment of the poor in Ireland is a very material
point to the welfare of the whole Britidi empire. Events may
happen which may convince us fatally of this truth— If not,
cppreflion muft have broken all the fpirit and refentment of
men. By what policy the government of England can for fo
many years have permitted luch an abfurd fvftera to be matur-
ed in Ireland, is beyond the power of plain fenfc to difcover.

EMIGRATIONS.

Before the American war broke, the Irifli and Scotch emi-
grations were a conftant iubject of converfation in England,
and occafioned much difcourfe even in parliament. The com-
mon obfervation was, that if they were not flopped, thofe
countries would be ruined, and they were generally attributed
to a great rife of rents. Upon going over to Ireland I deter-
mined to omit no opportunities of difcoveriffg the caufe and
extent of this emigration, and my information, as may be feen
in the minutes of the journey, was very regular. I have only
a few general remarks to make on it here.

The fpirit of emigrating in Ireland appeared to be confined
to two circumftances, the prefbyterian religion, and the linen
manufacture. I heard of very few emigrants except among
manufacturers of that perfuafion. The catholics never went,
they feem not only tied to the country but almoft to the
parifh in which their anceftors lived. As to the emigra-
tion in the north, it was an error in England to fuppofe it
a novelty which arofe with the increafe in rents. The contra-
jy was the fact, it had fubfifted, perhaps, forty years, infomuch

that

RELIGION. 4}

that at the ports of Belfaft, Deny, &c. the paffenger trade as
they called it, had long been a regular branch of commerce,
which employed feveral fliips, and confuted in carrying people
to America. The increafing population of the country made
it an increafing trade, but when the linen trade was low, the
pajjenger trade was always high. At the time of Lord Donne-
gall's letting his eftate in the North the linen bufinefs fuffered
a temporary decline, which fent great numbers to America,
and gave rife to the error that it was occafioned by the in-
creafe of his rents : the faft, however, was otherwife, for
great numbers of thofe who went from his lands actually fold
thofe leafes for confiderable fums, the hardfliip of which was
fuppofed to have driven them to America. Some emigration,
therefore, always exifted, and its increafe depended on the
fluctuations of linen ; but as to the effeft, there was as >n'ich
error in the conclusions drawn in England as before in the
caufe.

It is the misfortune of all manufactures worked for a foreign
market to be upon an infecure footing, periods of dec'e (i^n
will come, and when in confequence of them great numbers of
people are out of employment, the bett circamftance is their
enlifting in the army or navy ; and it is the common refult 9
but unfortunately the manufacture in Ireland (of which I fhall
have occafion to fpeak more hereafter), is not confined as it
ought to be to towns, but fpreads into all the cabbins of the
country. Being half farmers, half manufacturers, they have
too much property in cattle, &c. to enlift when idle ; if they
convert it into cafh it will enable them to pay their paflage to
America, an alternative always choten in preference to the mi-
litary life. The confequence is, that they muft live without
work till their fubftance is quite confumed before they will en-
lift. Men who are in fuch a (ituation that from various caufes
they can not work, and won't enlift, ihould emigrate, if they
ftay at home they muft remain a burthen upon the community;
emigration fhould not, therefore, be condemned in ftates Co ill
governed as to poflefs many people willing to work, but with-
out employment.

SECTION VII,

Of Religion.

TH E hiftory of the two religions in Ireland is too generally
known to require any detail introductory to the fubject.
The conflict for two centuries occafioned a fcene of devaftati-
on and bloodfhed, till at laft by the arms of King William
the decifion left the uncontrouled power in the hands of the
proteftants. The landed property of the kingdom had been

greatly

44 RELIGION.

greatly changed in the period of the refgns of Elizabeth and
James I. Still more under Cromwell, who parcelled out
an imrnenfe proportion of the kingdom to the officers of his
army, the ancestors of great numbers of the prefent poffef-
fors ; the colonels of his regiments left eftates which are now
eight and ten tfyoufand a year, and I know feveral gentlemen
of two and three thoufand pounds a year at prefent which
they inherited from captains in the fame fervice. The laft for-
feitures were incurred in that war which ftripped and banifhed
James II. Upon the whole nineteen-twentieths of the king-
dom changed hands from catholic to proteftant. The lineal
descendants of great families, once poffefled of vaft property,
are now to be found all over the kingdom in the loweft fitua-
tion, working as cottars for the great great grandfons of men,
many of whom were of no greater account in England than
thefe poor labourers are at prefent on that property which
was once their own. So entire an overthrow, and change of
landed pofFeflion, is within the period to be found in fcarce any
country in the world. In fuch great revolutions of property
the ruined proprietors have ufually been extirpated or banifh-
ed ; but in Ireland the cafe was otherwife : families were fo
numerous and fo united in elans, that the heir of an eftate
was always known } and it is a fadt that in moft parts of the
kingdom the defendants of the old land owners regularly
tranfmit by teftamentary deed the memorial of their right to
thofe eftates which once belonged to their families. From
hence it refults that the queftion of religion has always in Ire-
land been intimately connected with the right to and poflefllon
cf the landed property of the kingdom ; and has probably
received from this fource a degree of acrimony, not at all
vacting to influence the fuperftitious prejudices of the human
mind.

Flufhed with fuccefs after the victory of the Boyne, and
animated with the recollection of recent injuries, it would not
have been furprizing if the triumphant party had exceeded the
bounds of moderation towards the catholic, but the amazing
circumftance is that the great category of perfecuting laws
was not framed during the life of that monarch who wifely
was a friend to toleration : if ever fuch a fvftem as would
crufh the minds of a conquered people into a flavifri fubmifli-
on was neceflary, it muft have been under that new, and in
many refpefts weak eftablimment, when the late confiidt might
fcave been an apparent juftification : but why fuch a fyftem
fhculd be embraced fix or feven years after the death of King
\Viliiani is not fo eafy to be accounted for.

By the laws of difcovery as they are called :

i . The whole body of Roman catholics are abfolutely dif-
ar tried.

a. They are incapacitated from purchafing land.

3. The entails of their eftates are broken, and they gave!
among the children.

4- If

RELIGION. 45

4. If one child abjures that religion, he inherits the whole
eftate, though he is the youngeft.

5. If the Ton abjures the religion, the father has no power
over his eftate, but becomes a pensioner on it in favour of
fuch fon.

6. No Catholic can take a leafe for more than thirty-one
years.

7. If the rent of any catholic is lefs than two-thirds of the
full improved value, whoever difcovers takes the benefit of the
leafe.

8. Priefts who celebrate mafs to be tranfported, and if thejr
return to be hanged.

9. A catholic having a horfe in his poffefllon above the
value of five pounds, to forfeit the fame to the difcoverer.

10. By a conftru&ion of lord Hardwick's, they are incapa-
citated from lending money on mortgage *.

The preceding catalogue is very imperfecl, but here is an
exhibition of oppreffion fully fufficient. The great national
objects in framing laws againft the profefiion and practice of
any religion, may be reduced to three heads, ift. The pro-
pagation of the dominant faith, zd. Internal fecurity. jd. Na-
tional profperity : the faireft way to judge of the laws of Ire-
land will be to enquire how far they have anfwered any or all
of thefe ends.

That it is a deferable objeft in fome refpe&s to have a peo-
ple if not all of one perfuafion, at leaft in good friend/hip
and brotherhood, as to religion, is undeniable. Though I
think there are reafons againft wifliing a whole kingdom to
profefs only one (imiiar fa.th. It excludes a variety of difqui-
fitions which exercife and animate the talents of mankind ; it
encourages the priefts of the national religion to a relaxation
of their ftudies, their activity and even their morals, and tends
to introduce a lazy, wretched, vicious, and ignorant clergy :
it is oppoluion and contraft that fiiarpen the wits of men.

But waving thefe objections, and cor.fidering the queftion
only in a political view, I admit that fuch a fnnilarity of wor-
fKip as is followed by laws equal to the whole community to
be an advantage, let us therefore examine whether the Irim,
intolerant laws have had the effect or not.

Thai they have leffened the landed property in the hands of
the catholics is certain ; their violence could not have had
any oiher effect, but not, however, to fuch a degree as might
have been imagined. There are principles ot horrour, religi-
on, and ties of blood too powerful for tyrannic laws to over-
come, ar.d which have prevented their full effefl. I am not
convinced that the converfion of the land owners while all
the rabble retained iheir religion, was an advantage to the

kingdom.

* Some mitigation of t faff penal la>ws hn; taken f>/ace,ty an aft of
the legijiature in 1778, in favour of thefe *who take and Jubjcribe an
oath framed on the occajton.

46 RELIGION.

kingdom. Great pcfieflions gave thofe landlords an intereft in
the public welfare ; which in emergencies of danger might
induce them to ufe their influence to keep their dependants
quiet ; but when none are connected with them richer than
themfelves, and the whole party confiding of a poor and half
ruined peafantry, and priefts almoft as poor as themfelves,
what tie, or what call is there upon them to reftrain the dic-
tates of refentment and revenge ? At this day the beft fubjects
among the catholics, and many there are very much to be de-
pended on, notwithftanding all their oppreflions, are the men
of landed property: how impolitic to willi to leflen the num-
ber ! to be defirous of cutting off" two millions of peafantry
from every poflible connection that can influence their fubmif-
fion. The fame obfervation is applicable to mortgages, and
in fliort to all inveftments of money within the kingdom.
Surely the obedience of a man who has property in the realm
is much fecurer than if all he is worth is in the Englifh. or
Dutch funds ! While property lay expofed to the practices of
power, the great body of the people who had been ftripped
of their all were more enraged than converted : they adhered
to the perfuaficn of their forefathers with the fteadieft and
moft determined zeal $ while the priefts actuated by the fpirit
of a thoufand inducements, made profely.tes among the com-
mon proteftants in defiance of every danger. And the great
glaring fact jet remains, and is even admitted by the warm-
eft ad vocases for the laws of difcovery, that the eftablifhed re-
ligion has not gained upon the catholic in point of numbers,
but on the contrary that the latter have been rather on the in-
creafe. Public lifts have been returned in the feveral diocefes
which confirm this fact ; and the intelligence I received on my
journey fpoke the fame language.

Now as it is the great body of the common people that form
the ftrength of a country when willing fubjects, and its weak-
refs when ill-affected, this fact is a decifion of the queftion :
after feventy years undifturbed operation, the fyftem adopted
in Queen Anne's reign has failed in this great end and aim ;
and meets at this day with a more numerous and equally de-
termined body of catholics as it had to oppofe when it was
firft promulgated. Has not the experience of every age, and
every nation proved that the effect is invariable and univerfal ?
Let a religion be what it may, and under whatever circum-
ftances, no fyftem of persecution ever yet had any other effect
than to confirm its profeflbrs in their tenets, and fpread their
doctrines inftead of reflraining them. Thus the great plea cf
the Roman catholic priefts, and their merit with their congre-
gations are the dangers they hazard,- and the perfecutions
they fuffer for the fake of their faith ; arguments that ever
had and ever will have weight while human nature continues
formed of its prefent materials.

The quellion of internal fecurity is decided almoft as foon as
named : the fubmiffion of the catholics is yet felt to be fo

RELIGION. 47

much conftrained that no idea has been formed, ttat their be-
ing trufted with arms is confiftent with the fafety of the king-
dom. Laws founded in the very fpirit of perfecution, and
receiving an edge in their operation from the unlimited power
aflumed by the proteftant landlord, are ftrangely calculated to
conciliate the affection, or fecure the loyalty of a people.
All the emotions of the heart of man revolt at fuch an idea.
It was the opinion of a vaft majority of the gentlemen I con-
verfed with on the fubject, that no people could be worfe af-
fected ; all Ireland knows and agrees in the fact, nay, the ar-
guments for a continuation of the laws of difcovery are found-
ed on the principle, that the lower clafles of the catholics
are not to be trufted. Is not this declaring that the difarmed,
difgufted multitude, have not loft in their misfortunes the im-
portance of their numbers ? The fears of an invafion fpeak
the ftrength of the cpprefled, and the extent of the oppreflion.

The difturbances of the whiteboys, which lafted ten years
in fpite of every exertion of legal power, were in many cir-
cumftances very remarkable, and in none more fo than the fur-
prizing intelligence among the infurgents where ever found : it
was univerfal, and almoft inftantaneous : the numerous bodies
of them at whatever diftance from each other feemed ani-
mated with one foul ; and not an inftance was known in that
long courfe of time of a fingle individual betraying the caufe ;
the fevereft threats, and the moft fplendid- promifesof reward
had no other effect but to draw clofer the bands which con-
nected a multitude, to all appearance fo defultory. It was
then evident that the iron rod of oppreflion had been far
enough from fecuring the obedience, or crufhing the fpirit of
the people. And all reflecting men who confider the value of
religious liberty, will wifh it never may have that effect j will
truft in the wifdom of Almighty God for teaching man to re-
fpect even thofe prejudices of his brethren that are imbibed as
facred rights from their earlieft infancy, that by dear bought
experience of the futility and ruin of the attempt, the perfe-
cuting fpirit may ceafe, and TOLERATION eftablim that
harmony and fecurity which fourfcore years experience has
told us is not to be purchafed at the expence of HUMA-
NITY !

But if thefe exertions of a fucceflion of ignorant legiflatures
have failed continually in propagating the religion of govern-
ment, or in adding to the internal fecurity of the kingdom,
much more have they failed in the great object of national
profperity. The only» confiderable manufacture in Ireland
which carries in all its parts the appearance of induftry is the
linen, and it ought never to be forgotten that this is folely
confined to the proteftant parts of the kingdom ; yet we may
fee from the example of France and other countries that there
is nothing in the Roman catholic religion itfelf that is incom-
patible with manufacturing induftry. The poor catholics in

the

4& RELIGION.

the fouth of Ireland fpin wool very generally, but the ptf-
chafers of their labour, and the whole worfted trade is in the
hands of the quakers of Clonmell, Carrick, Bandon, &c.
The fact is, the profeflors of that religion are under fuch dif-
couragements that they cannot engage in any trade which
requires both induftry and capital. If they fucceed and make
a fortune what are they to do with it ? They can neither buy
land, nor take a mortgage, nor even fine down the rent of a
leafe. Where is there a people in the world to be found in-
duftrious under fuch a circumftance ? But it feems to be the
meaning, wifli, and intent of the difcovery laws, that none
of them fliould ever be rich. It is the principle of that lyf-
tem that wealthy fubje&s would be nuifances, and therefore
every means is taken to reduce, and keep them to a ftate of
poverty. If this is not the intention of the laws they are the
moil abominable heap of felf- contradictions that ever were if-
lued in the world. They are framed in fuch a manner that no
catholic (hall have the inducement to become rich. But if m
fpite of thefe laws he fliould accidently gain wealth, that the
whole kingdom fliould not afford him a poffibility of inverting
it. Take the laws and their execution into one view, and
this ftate of the cafe is fo true, that they actually do not feem
to be fo much levelled at the religion, as at the property that
is found in it. By the law a prieft is to be tranfported and
Flanged for reading mafs, but the mafs is very readily left to
them with impunity. Let the fame prieft, however, make a
fortune by his mafs, and from that moment he is the obje£t of
perfecution. The domineering ariftocracy of five hundred
thoufand proteftants feel the fweets of having two millions of
(laves j thev have not the leaft objection to the tenets of that
religion which keeps them by the law of the land in fubjefti*
on ; but property and flavery are too incompatible to live to-
gether. Hence the fpecial care taken that no fuch thing fliould
arife among them.

I muft be free to own that 'when I have heard gentlemen
who have favoured the laws as they now ftand, urge the dan-
gerous tenets of the church of Rome, quote the cruelties
which have difgraced that religion in Ireland, and led them
iiito the common routine of declamation on that (ide the quef-
tion ; (I cannot call it argument, for I never yet heard any
thing that deferved ihe name) when I have been a witnefs to
fuch converfations 1 could not but fmile to fee fubfcriptions
handed abouc for building a mafshoufe, at the very time that
the heavieft vengeance of the law fully executed fell on thofe
who poflfcfled a landed property, or ventured a mortgage up-
on it.

It is no fuperficial view I have taken of this matter in Ire-
land, and being at Dublin at the time a very trifling part of
thefe laws was agitated in parliament, I attended t^he debates,
with my mind open to conriftion, and auditor for the mere

purpofe

RELIGION. 49

purpofe of information : I have converfed on the fubjeft with
fome of the moft diftinguiflied chara&ers in the kingdom, and
I cannot after all but declare that the fcope, purport, and aim
of the laws of difcovery as executed are not againft the ca-
tholic religion which increafes under them, but againft the
induftry, and property of whoever profefles that religion.
In vain has it been faid, that confequence and power fellow-
property, and that the attack is made in order to wound the
doftrine through its properry. If fuch was the intention, I
reply, that feventy years experience prove the folly and futili-
ty of it. Thofe laws have crufhed all the induftry, and wreft-
ed moft of the property from the catholics ; but the religion
triumphs ; it is thought to encreafe. Thofe who have hand-
ed about calculations to prove a decreafe, admit on the face
of them that it will require FOUR THOUSAND YEARS to
make converts of the whole, fuppofing that work to go on in
future, as it has in the paft time. But the whole pretence is
an affront to common fenfe, for it implies that you will lefien a
religion by perfecuting it : all hiftoryand experience condemn
fuch a propofition.

The fyftem purfued in Ireland has had no other tendency
but that of driving out of the kingdom all the perfonal wealth
of the catholics, and prohibiting their induttry within it.
The face of the country, every objeft in fliort which prefents
itfelf to the eye of ..a traveller, tells him how effectually this
has been done. I urge it not as an argument, the whole
kingdom fpeaks it as a fa£t. We have teen that this conduct
has not converted the people to the religion of government ;
and inftead of adding to the internal fecurity of the realm it
has endangered it, if therefore it does not add to the national
profperity, for what purpofe but that of private tyranny could
it have been embraced and perfifted in ? Miftaken ideas of pri-
vate intereft account for the aftions of individuals, but what
could have influenced the Britifh government to permit a fyftem
which muft inevitably prevent the ifland from ever becoming
ot the importance which nature intended.

Relative to the national welfare it muft appear extremely-
evident to the unprejudiced, that an ariftocracy of five hun-
dred thoufand proteft3nr<;,crufhing the induftry of two millions
of poor catholics, can never -advance the public intereft.
Secure the induftry of your people, and leave their religion to
itfelf. It is their hands not their faith you want ; but do not
tie thefe behind them, and then nflc why they are not better
employed. How is agriculture to fiourifli, nianiifaflures to be
eftabliihed, or commerce to extend in a dependant country la-
bouring under great difadvanrages, if the united capitals, in-
duftry, activity and attention of the whole community be not
employed for iuch purpofes ? When the territory of an illand
lies in fuch a wretched ftate, that though bleffed with a better
foil it yields on comriarifon with England as only two TO fivt :

VOL. 11. D wbca

So RELIGION.

when manufactures are of fo fcckly a growth as to be confined
almoft to one province, and when trade is known to exift only
by the fhips of other countries appearing in the harbours, while
a kingdom is in fuch a fhuation, is it wifdom to perfift in a
fyftem which has no other effedl than to clog, defeat, or exter-
minate the capital and induftry of four-fifths of the inhabi-
tants ! Surely the gentlemen of that country when they com-
plain of reftri&ed commerce, and the remittance of the rentals
of the abfentees to England, cannot be thought ferious in la-
menting the fituation of their country while they continue
Wedded to that internal ruin which is the work of their own
hands, and the favourite child of their moft a6tive exertions.
Complain not of reftriftions while you yourfelves inforce the
moft enormous reftri&ion ; and what are the body of abfentees
when compared with the abfence of induftry and wealth from
the immenfe mafs of two millions of fubjefts. I fliould be well
founded in the affertion that both thefe evils, great and ac-
knowledged as they are, are trifles when compared with the
poverty and debility which refults from the oppreffion of the
Roman catholics. Encourage the induftry of thofe two mil-
lions of idle people, and the wealth arifing from it, will make
ample amends for nioft of the evils complained of in Ireland.
This remedy is in your hands j you have no rivals to fear j no
minifters to oppofe yoo.

Think of the lofs to Ireland of fo many catholics of final!
property, reforting to the armies of France, Spain, Sardinia
and Auftria, for employment. Can it be imagined, that they
would be fo ready to leave their own country, if they could
ftay in it with any profpeft of promotion, fuccefsful induftry,
or even liberal protection ? It is known they would not ; and
that under a different fyftem, inftead of adding ftrength to the
enemies of this empire, they would be among the foremoft to
enrich and defend it. , Upon the whole it appears fufficiently
clear, that in thefe three great objects, of making the religi-
on of government general, internal fecurky, and national prof-
perity, the laws of difcovery have totally failed ; a long feries
of experience enables us to difcufs the fubjecl by a reference
fo fafts, inftead of a reliance on theory and argument j the
language of thofe facts is fo uniform, that private intereft muft
Unite with habitual prejudice, to permit it for a moment to be
mifunderltood.

Upon the general queuion it has been afTerted by the friends
of the law, that gentlemen in England are apt very much to
miftake the point from being ignorant of Irifh popery, which
from the ignorance of the people, is more bigoted than any
thing known in the (ifter kingdom ; alfo that the papifts in
England are not claimants of all the landed property, wliicli is
fhe cafe in Ireland.

Both thefe obfervations are too fFiallow to bear the leafl: ex-
amination ; oppreilion has seduced the major p*art of the frill*

RELIGION. 5*

catholics to a poor ignorant rabble ; you have made them ig-
norant, and then it is cried your ignorance is a reafon for
keeping you fo ; you fliall live and die, and remain in igno-
rance, for you ate loo wretched to be enlightened. Take it as
argument, or humanity, it is of a moft precious kind. In all
other parts of Europe the catholic religion has grown mild
and even tolerant ; a fofter humanity is teen difFuled in thole
countries, once the moft bigoted ; Spain and Portugal are no
longer what they were. Had property taken its natural courfe
in Ireland, the religion of the catholics there would have im-
proved with that of their neighbours. Ignorance is the child
of poverty, and you cannot expert the modern improvements,
which have refuhed from diffeminated induftry and wealth,
fhould fpread among a feft, whofe property you have detach-
ed, and whofe induftry you have cruflved : to ftigmatize them
with ignorance and bigotry, therefore, is to reproach them
with the evils which your own conduft has entailed; it is to
bury them in darknefs, and villity them becaufe they are not
enlightened.

But they claim your eftates ; they do fo, as fteadily at this
moment as they did fourfcore years ago ; your fyftein therefore
has utterly failed even in this refpecl. Has the rod of oppref-
fion obliterated the memory or tradition of better days ? Has
feverity conciliated the forgivenefs of paft, perhaps neceflary
injuries ? Would protection, favour, and encouragement add
frefh ftings to their refentments ? None can affert it. Ample
experience ought to have convinced you, that the harflinefs of
the law has not annihilated a fingle claim ; if claims could
have reftored their eftates, they would have regained them be-
fore now : but here, as I fliewed before, the laws have
weakened inftead of ftrengthening the proteftant intereft ; had
a milder fyftem encouraged their induftry and property, they
would have had fomething to lofe, and would, with an enemy in,
the land, have thought twice before they joined him j in fuch
a cafe whatever they had got would be endangered, and the
hope of being reiriftated in antient pefleflions, being diftant
and hazardous, preient advantage mi^ht have induced them
not only to be quiet, but to have defended the government,
under whofe humanity they found protection and happinefs.
Compare fuch a fituation with the preient, and then determine
whether the fyftem you have perfifted in, has added a jot to
the fecurity of vour porTeflions.

But let me aflc, if thefe catholic claims, on the landed pro-
perty, were not full as tlrong an argument in the reign of King
William as they are at prefent ? The moment of conflict wa.i
then but j uft decided ; it ever rancour and danger could arile
from them, that certainly was the leafon of appreheniion :
but it is curious to obferve, that that wife n-.onarch, would
permit few afts to pafs to opprefs the catholics. It was pot
until the reign of Anne, that the great fyftem of opprel!hri
D z was

52 RELIGION.

was opened : if therefore thefe laws were unncceffary from the
revolution to the death of King William, and the experience
of that reign tells us they were not, mod certainly they cannot
be fo at prefent.

The enlightened fpirit of TOLIRATION, fo well under-
ftood and praftifed in the greateft part of Europe, is making
progrefs every day, fave in Ireland alone : while the pro-
teftant religion enjoys peace and protection in catholic coun-
tries ; why fhould a nation, in all other refpefts fo generous
and liberal as the I/ifti, refufe at home what they receive and
enjoy abroad.

As the abfurdity of the prefent fyftem can no longer be
doubted, the queftion is, in what degree it fliould immedi-
ately be changed ? Would it be prudent dire&ly to arm,
and put upon a level with the reft of the community, fo large
and neceffarily, fo difgufted a body of the people ? Great
fudden changes are rarely prudent ; old habits are not im-
mediately laid afide ; and the temper of men's minds, nurfed
in ignorance, fhould have time to open and expand, that they
may clearly comprehend their true interefts : for this reafon
the alteration of the laws fhould be gradual, rather than by
one or two repealing claufes, at once to overthrow the whole.
But all things confidered, there ought not to be a fingle feffi-
'ens without doing fomething in fo necefTary a work. For
inftance, in one feffions to give them a power of taking mort-
gages ; in another of purchafing lands ; in a third, to repeal
the abominable premiums on the divifion of a family againft
itfelf, by reftoring to parents their rights ; in a fourth, mafs
to be rendered legal ; in a fifth, a feminary, to be eftablifh-
ed by law, for the education of priefts, and a bifhop to be al-
lowed, with thofe powers which are neecflary for the exer-
cife of the religion ; by which means the foreign intereft
from a priefthood, entirely educated abroad, would be at
once cut off. Thus far the moft zealous friends to the pro-
teftant religion could not objeft upon any well founded prin-
ciples. When once the operations of the new fyftem had
raifed a fpirit of induftry, and attendant wealth among the
lower clafTes of them, no evil confequences would flow from
permitting them the ufe of arms. Give them an intereft in
the kingdom, and they will ufe their arms, not to overturn,
but to defend it. Upon firft principles, it is a miferable go-
vernment, which acknowledges itfelf incapable of retaining
men to their obedience that have arms in their hands j and
fuch an one as is to be found in Ireland alone. In like manner
I fhould apprehend that it might be proper to give them ?
voice in the election of members of parliament. There i»
great reafon to believe, that they will not be treated by gei: -
tlemen in the country in the manner they ought to be, until
ihis fcrt of importance is given them.

Let

RELIGION. 53

Let it in general be remembered, that no country in the
world has felt any inconveniences from the moft liberal fpirit of
toleration : that on the contrary, thofe are univerfally acknow-
ledged to be the moft profperous, and the moft flourifhing,
which have governed their fubje&s on the moft tolerating prin-
ciples. That other countries, which have been aftuated by
the fpirit -of bigotry, have continued poor, weak, and help-
lefs ; thefe are circumftances which bear fo immediately upon
the queftion, that we may determine, without any hazard of
extravagance, that Ireland will never profper to any great de-
gree until fhe profits by the example of her neighbours.
Let her difmifs her illiberal fears and apprehenfions ; let her
keep pace with the improvement of the age, and with the
mild fpirit of European manners, let her transfer her anxiety
from the faith to the induftry of her fubjecls ; let her embrace,
cherifh, and protecl the catholics as good Cubjefts, and they
will become fuch ; let her, defpifing and detefting every fpe-
cies of religious perfecution, confider all religions as brethren,
employed in one great aim, the wealth, power, and happinefs
of the general community ; let thefe be the maxims of her po-
licy, and fhe will no longer complain of poverty and debility,
ihe will be at home piofperous, and abroad formidable.

SECTION VIII.

Price of Proviftons.

IN the fpeculations of modern politicians, fo many conclu-
fions have been drawn from the prices of provifions in diffe-
rent countries, and fome of them with fo much reafon, that
every one muft readily admit a confiderable degree of import-
ance to be annexed to fuch information : with this view, I was
as particular in thefe enquiries as I had been before in my Eng-
Jifli journies. The following table fhews the refult.

Pt'aces.

PRICE OF PROVISIONS.

Places.

*«/
ftrUt

Mutto
per lit

Vtal
per W

Pork,
pcrlb

Butter

\ per Ib

QicLrriy

G»Ji.

d. f

d. f.

ci.f

d. f.

d. f

d. f.

Dublin,

3 a

i 3 4

3°

I-uchelftown,

Kilr/%/-!*-/

3 *

3 ^

0 ,

rOICOCiC^

Slane,

Packenhain

- 2

3 '

3 '
3 *

' 3

Tullamore,

* 3

Z I

Shaen Caftle,

z z

i i

5 *

2 Z

Carlow,

a 2

Kilfaine,

2 a

6 z

Taghcnon,

7 z

Forth,

Z Z

Profpeft,

Z 2

Mount Kennedy

3 *

Market Hill,

2 Z

Arumagh,

a 3

3 i

5 2

2 2

tfj

Wartenftowo,

4 3

Porta ferry,
Shaen Caftle

z 3

z z

' 3

Belr'aft,

z 3

a Z

5
5

2 a

'3
<4

LeHy Hill,

3 a

4 z

Limavaddy,

z 3

3 '

3 i

5 i

I Z

Innifhoen,

Z I

z z

4 a

Cloiileigh,

z z

3 *

52 z

Mount Charles,

z z

3 2

Caftle Caldwell,

a i

3 '

3 a

5 2

Belle Ifle,

I 2

Florence Court,

Z 2

4 2

Farnham,

z a

3 3

1 3

Bally nogn,
S,trokeftown,

z z

2 I

2 3

z
z

9
7 *

3 »

Macry,

» I

? 2

i •

Sortiand,

I 2

KiUlla,

2 I

x a

i 3

Weft part,

Z I

1 3

3 i

Moniva,

L,5m«rick, •

z 3

Z 2
Z Z

7
5

Z 2

Dor.neraile,

Z 2

2 3

4 *

Cork-,

•

7 2

2 6

N'sceen,

i 3

Arbrila,

i 3

Z Z

4 '1

I 2

JO 2

Tarbat,

Z 2

Z 3

Caftle Oliver,

Tipperary,

•{

2 3

Curragbmore,

3 3

2 I

Warlord,

3 2

Z 2

rurnef8,

2 3

a 3

4 3

1 3

Glofter,

z a

a 3

4 3

S z

z 3

ohnftown,
)crrv,

3 *

C»fll"e Lloyd,

* 3

2 Z

z z

7 ^

IZ
e

Mitchel's Town,

^ 2

z z

Z 2

z z

Z 2

Average,

* z

* 3

3 a

2 I

S 3

2 Z

10 3

S 3

PRICE OF PROVISIONS.

In order for a companion, I iliall add the prices of aiy Eng-
lifli tours.

The Southern Tour 1767, —
The Northern Tour 1768,
The Eaflern Tour 1770, —

Average of the three, —
Ireland in 1776, — —

}

Average of the four meats in England, — 3|d.
Ditto in Ireland -*- — — - 3^d.

Ireland to England as 1 1 to 14.

I friould remark, that there has been very little variation in
the prices of meat in England fince the dates of thoie jour-
nies : the rates in Ireland are higher than I conceived them,
and do not from cheapnefs afford any reafon to conclude that
country, as far as cattle extends, to be in a ftate of backward-
nefs. The whole of thefe minutes, however, concerns the
home confumption only, for as to the immenfe trade in beef and
pork (of which hereafter) their rates are confiaerably under
thefe, as may be fuppoled from the greatnefs of the fcale,
in like manner as the confumption prices in England are near
double thofe of the victualling office.

Poultry being fo extremely cheap is owing to feveralcaufes:
Firft, The fmallnefs of the demand ; the towns are few, final!,
and poor ; and all gemlemen's families raife a quantity for
themfelves. Second, The plenty of potatoes, upon which
they are fed, being vaftly greater, and difpenfed with lefs
ceconomy than the corn in England, upon which poultry is
there reared. Third, the extreme warmth of the cabbins, in,
in which the young broods are nourifhed. Fourth, The na-i-
tural produce of white clover, which is much greater than in
England, and upon the feeds of which, young turkies, in par-r
ticular, are advantageoufly fed. I know a gentleman in Eng-
land, who reared an amazing number of turkies and pea-
chicks the year his lawn was fown with white clover, but the
foil being improper it lafted but one year, and he neither be-
fore nor after had fuch fuccefs with thofe broods.

SECTION

$6 ROAD S— C A R S.

SECTION IX,
Road's — Can,

FOR a country fo very far behind us as Ireland, to have
got fuddenly fo much the ftart of us in the article of roads,
is a fpeftacle that cannot fail to ft'rike the Englifti traveller ex-
ceedingly. But from this commendation the turnpikes in ge-
neral mud be excluded, they are as bad as the buy roads are
admirable. It is a common complaint, that the tolls of the
turnpikes are fo many jobs, and the roads left in a ftate that
difgrace the kingdom.

The following is the fyftem on which the crofs roads are
made. Any perfon wifhing to make or mend a road, has it
jneafured by two perfons, who fwear to the meafurement be-
fore a juftice of the peace. It is defcribed as leading from one
market town to another (it matters not in what direction) that
it will be a public good, and that it will require fuch a fum,
per perch of twenty-one feet, to make or repair the fame ; a
certificate to this purpofe (of which printed forms are fold)
with the blanks filled up, is figned by the meafurers, and alfo
by two perfons called overfeers, one of whom is ufually the
perfon applying for the road, the other the labourer he intends
to employ as an overfeer of the work, which overfeer fwears
alfo before the juftice the truth of the valuation. The certi-
ficate, thus prepared, is given by any perfon to feme one of the
grand jury, at either of the aflizes, but ufually in the fpring.
When all the common bufinefs cf trials is over, the jury meets
on that of roads ; the chairman reads the certificates, and
they are all put to the vote, whether to be granted or not. If
rejected, they are torn in pieces and no farther notice taken,
if granted they are put on the file.

This vote of approbation, without any farther form, enables
the perfon, who applied for the prefentment, immediately to
conftruct or repair the road in queftion, which he muft do
at his own expence, he muft finifh it by the following afllze?,
when he is to fend a certificate of his having expended the
money purfuant to the application ; this certificate is figned
by the foreman, who alfo figns an order on the treafurer of the
county to pay him, which is done immediately. In like man-
ner are bridges, houfes of correftion, gaols, &c. &c. built
and repaired. It" a bridge over a river, which parts two coun-
ties, half is done by one, and the other half by the other
county.

The expence of thefe works is raifed by a tax on the lands,
paid by the tenant ; in fome counties it is acreable, but in
others it is on the plough l<md, and as no two plough lands
are of the fame fize, is a very unequal tax. In the county of
Meath it is acreable, and amounts to one /lulling per acre,

being

ROAD S— C A R S> $7

being the higheft in Ireland ; but in general it is from three-
pence to fixpence per acre, and amounts of late years, through
the whole kingdom, to one hundred and forty thoufand pounds
a year.

The juries will very rarely grant a prefentment for a road,
which amounts to about fifty pounds, or for more than fix or
feven (hillings a perch, fo that if a perfon wants more to be
made than fuch a fum will do, he divides it into two or three
different meafurements or presentments. By the aft of parlia-
ment all prefentment roads muft be twenty-one feet wide at
leaft from fence to fence, and fourteen feet of it formed with
ftone or gravel.

As the power of the grand jury extends in this manner to the
cutting new roads, where none ever were before, as well as
to the repairing and widening old ones, exclufive, however,
of parks, gardens, &c. it was neceflary to put a reftriftion.
againft the wanton expence of it. Any prefentment may be
traverfed that is oppofed, by denying the allegations of the
certificate ; this is jure of delaying it until another afllzes, and
in the mean time perfons are appointed to view the line of road
demanded, and report on the neceffity or hardftup of the cafe.
The payment of the money may alfo be traverfed after the
certificate of its being laid out ; for if any perfon views, and
finds it a inanifeft impofuion and job, he has that power to de-
lay payment until the caufe is cleared up and proved. But this
traverfe is not common. Any perfons are eligible for afking
prefentments j but it is ufually done only by refident gentlemen,
agents, clergy, or refpeftable tenantry. It follows neceflarily,
that every perlon is defirous of making the roads leading to
his own houfe, and that private intereft alone isconfidered in it,
which I have heard objected to the meafure ; but this I muft
own appears to me the great merit of it. Whenever individu>
als aft for the public alone, the public is very badly ferved ;
but when the purfuit of their own intereft is the way to bene-
fit the public, then is the public good fure to be promoted ;
iuch is the cafe of prefentment of roads ; for a few years the
good roads were all found leading from houles like rays from a
center, with a furrounding fpace, without any communication;
but every year brought the remedy, until in a fliort time, thofe
rays, pointing from fo many centers, met, and then the com-
munication was complete. The original aft parted but feven-
teen years ago ; and the effcft of it in all parts of the kingdom
is fo great, that I found it perfeftly practicable to travel upon
wheels by a map ; 1 will go here. 1 will go there ; I could
trace a route upon paper as wild as fancy could diftate, and eve-
ry where I found beautiful roads without break or hindrance,
to enable me to realize my defign. What a figure would a
perfon make in England, who fliould attempt to move in that
manner, where the roads, as Dr. Burn has very well obferved,
are almoll in as bad a ftate as in the time of Philip and Mary. In
a few years there will not be a piece of bad road except turn-
pikes

5« ROAD S-C A R S.

pikes in all Ireland. The money raifed for this firft and mofl
important of all national purpofes, is expended among the
people who pay it, employs themfelves and their reams, en-
courages their agriculture, and facilitates fo greatly the im-
provement of wafte lands, that it ought always to be confider-
ed as the firft ftep to any undertaking of that fort.

At firft, roads in common with bridges, were paid out of
the general treafure of the county, but by a fubfequent aft,
the road tax is now on baronies ; each barony pays for its own
roads. By another aft, juries were enabled to grant prefent-
ments of narrow mountain roads, at twofhillings and fixpence.
a perch. By another, they were empowered to grant prefer-
ments of footpaths, by the fide of roads, to one (lulling a
perch. By a very late aft, they are alfo enabled to contraft,
at three halfpence per perch per annum, from the firft making
of a road, for keeping it in repair, which before could not be
done without a fr«fl\ prefentment. Arthur French, Efq; of
Moniva, whofe agriculture is defcribed in the preceding mi-
nutes, and who at that time reprefented the county of Galway,
was the worthy citizen who firft brought this excellent meafure
into parliament : Ireland, and every traveller that ever vifits
it, ought, to the lateft time, to revere the memory of fuch a
diftinguifhed benefaftor to the public. Before that time the
roads, like thofe of England, remained impaflable, under the
referable police of the fix days labour. Similar good effefts
would here flow from adopting the meafure, which would eafe
the kingdom of a great burthen in its public effeft abfblutely
contemptible ; and the tax here, as in Ireland, ought to be fo
laid, as to be borne by the tenant, whofe bufinefs it is at pre-
fent to repair.

Upon the imperfeftlons of the Irifli fyftem I have only to
remark, that juries ihould, in fome cafes be more ready than
they are to grant thefe preientments. In general, they are ex-
tremely liberal, but fometimes they take filly freaks of giving
none, or very few. Experience having proved from the gene-
ral goodnefs of the roads, that abufes cannot be very great,
they fhculd go on with fpirit to perfeft the great work through-
out the kingdom ; and as a cfieck upon thofe who lay out the
money, it might perhaps be advifeable to print county maps of
the prefentment roads, with correfponding lifts and tables of
the names of all perfons who have obtained prefentments, the
fums they received, and for what roads. Thefe fhould be given
freely by the jurymen, to all their acquaintance, that every
man might know, to whofe careleffhefs or jobbing, the public
was indebted for bad roads, when they had paid for good ones.
Such a practice would certainly deter many.

At 1,142,642 acres in the kingdom, ne hundred and forty
thoufand pounds a year amounts to juft threepence an acre for
the whole territory, a very trifling tax for fuch an. improve-

ment,

ROAD S— C A R S. 59

ment, and which almoft ranks in public eafe and benefit with
that of the port-office.

It is not to this fy;le:n fingly, that Ireland is indebted for
!he goodnefs of her roa-.'.s ; another circumftance calls mate-
rially tor obfervation, which is the vehicle of carriage : all
land-carriage in thai kingdom is performed with one-horfe
cars or carts. Thofe of the poor people are wretched things,
formed with a vi°w to cheapnefs alone ; and the loads they
carry on them when working by the day, are fuch as an Eng-
lifhman would be afhamed to take in a wheelbarrow, yet they
fuffer thtir hcrfcs to walk fo flow with thefe burthens, that I
am confident, work of this fort, done by hire, is five hundred
per cer*. dearer than in England. Even when they work for
themfeives, their loads are contemptible, and not equal to
what their garrem, miferable as they are, would draw. Cars,
however, which work regularly for mills in carrying flour to
Dublin, do better ; the common lead is from fix to ten hun-
dred weight, which, confidering the horfes, is very well ; eigh-
teen hundred weight has been often carried thither from Slane
mills. The lownefs of the wheels fuits a mountainous coun-
try ; but if there is truth in the mechanic powers, is in gene-
ral a great difadvantage to the animak Great numbers of
thefe cars confift only of a flat bottom over the axletree, on
which a few facks, logs, or ftones, may be laid, or a little
heap of gravel in the center. Others have fide-boards, and
iome bafkets fixed. But fuch an imperfect and miferable ma-
chine deferves not a moment's attention ; the object of impor-
tance arifing only from one horfe for draught.

Some gentlemen have carts very well made in refpect of
ftrength, but fo heavy, as to be almoft as faulty as the com-
mon car. Others have larger and heavier two-horfe carts ;
and a few have been abfurd enough to introduce Englifh wag-
gons. The well-made roads preferving themfelves for fo
many years, is owing to this practice of ufmg one-horfe car-
riages, which is worthy of univerfal imitation. Notwithftand-
ing the expence beftowed on the turnpikes in England, great
numbers of them are in a moft wretched ftaie, which will con-
tinue while the legifkture permits fo many horfes to be har-
neffed in one carriage. A proof how little one-horfe carriages
wear roads, is the method ufcd in Ireland to conftruct them;
they throw up a foundation of earth in the middle of the fpa,ce
from the outfides, on that they immediately form a layer of
Jimeftone, broken to the fixe of a turkey's egg ; on this a
thin fcattering of earth to bind the ftones together, and
over that a coat of gravel, where it is to be had. Their car-
riages considered, no fault is to be found with this mode, for
the road is beautiful and durable, but being all finifhed at
once, with very little or no time for fettling, an Englifh wag-
gon vrould prefently cut through the whole, and demolifh the
road as foon as made, yet it is perfectly durable under cars
and coaches.

I have

6o ROADS—CARS.

1 have weighed common cars in Ireland, and find the light-
eft weigh zC. 2qrs. 1416. good carts for one horfe at Mr.
O'Neil's, 40. aqrs. 2tlb. and Lord Kingfborough had larger
carts from Dublin, with five-feet wheels, which weighed 70.
but thefe are much too heavy, in the lightnefs of the machine
confifts a great part of the merit. A common Englifh waggon
with nine-inch wheels from [JjCwt. to three tons. I built a
narrow wheeled one in Suffolk tor four horfes, the weight of
which was 25Cwt.

Cwt. qrs.lb.
Every horfe in the Irifli car draws, weight

of carriage, — — 2214

In Mr. O'Neil's carts, — — 4 2 21

In Lord Kingfborough's, — 700

In a broad wheeled waggon, — 710

In a narrow ditto, — — 610

The extreme lightnefs of the common car is not to be taken
into the queftion, as it is inapplicable to a profitable load of any
thing, except a (ingle block, or facks. It is abfolutely necef-
fary a cart fticuld be capacious enough for a very light but bul-
ky load, fuch as malt duft, bran, dry afties, &c. as well as for
lay and draw. The Suffolk waggon for four horfes is twelre
feet long, four broad, and two deep in the fides and ends,
confequently, the body of it contains juft 96 cubical feet ; the
end ladders extended for hay or draw four feet more, and
there was a fixed fide one, which added two feet to the
breadth, confequently the furface on which hay was built,
extended juft ninety-fix fquare feet. In a great variety of
ufes, to which I applied that waggon, 1 found four middling
horfes, worth about twelve pounds each, would draw a full
load of every thing in it ; viz. from fifty to fixty hundred
weight of hay, twelve quarters of wheat, or fifty-five hun-
dred weight, and the fullage of Bury flieets by computation,
judging by the labour of the horfes to a much greater weight,
perhaps above three tons. I have more than once taken thefe
ineafures as a guide for a one-horfe cart, to give one horfe an
cxaft proportion of what four did in that waggon, the dimen-
ftons of the cart muft be as follow : the body of it muft be
juft four feet long, three feet broad, and two feet deep ; the
end ladders each one foot, and the fide ones fix inches. This
will be upon a par with the waggon j but I gave the carts the
advantage, by end ladders being each eighteen inches, and
the fide ones twelve, which made the whole furface thirty-five
fquare feet, four times which is one hundred and forty inftead
of ninety-fix. The weight of thefe carts complete were from
four to five hundred ; the wheels five feet high, and the axle-
tree iron, which is cflcntial to a light draft ; fuch carts coft in
England, complete and painted, from nine pounds to ten gui-
neas. Whoever tries them will find a horfe will draw in them
far more than the fourth of the load of a four horfe team, or

thr.n

ROAD S— C A R S. . 61

thin the eighth of an eight-horfe one, for he will in a tolera-
bly level country draw a ton.

I haw often converfed with the drivers of carriers waggons,
as well as with intelligent carters in the fervice of farmers, and
their accounts have united with my own obfervation, to prove
that one horfe in eight, and to the amount of half a horfe in
four, are always abtblutely idle, moving on without drawing
any weight ; a molt unremitting attention is necefTary even for
a partial remedy of this, but with carelefs drivers the evil is
greater ; hence, the fuperiority of horfes drawing fingle, in
which mode they cannot fail of performing their fliare of the
work. The expence, trouble and difappointment of an acci-
dent, are in proportion to the fize of the team ; with a broad
wheeled waggon and eight horfes, they are very great, but
with eight carts they are very trifling; if one breaks down,
the load and cart arc eafily distributed among the other feven,
and little time loft. When bufinefs is carried on by means of
fingle horfe carts, every horfe in a ftable is employed ; but
with waggons, he who keeps one, two, or three horfes, muft
{land ftill ; and what is to be done with five, fix, or leren ? It
is only four or eight horfes that form an exaft team ; but the
great object is the prefervation of the roads ; to fave thefe the
legiflauire has prefcribed wheels, even fixteen inches broad,
but all fuch machines are fo enormoufly heavy, that they are
ruinous to thole who ufe them ; befides, they form fuch ex-
ac~t paths for the following teams to walk in, that the hardeft
road is prefently cut into ruts, the moft folid .materials ground
into duft, and every exertion in repairing baffled as faft as tri-
ed. Roads, which are made annually at a vaft expence, are
found almoft impaffabie from the weights carried in waggons.
It may be afTerted, without exaggeration, that if there were
nothing but one-horle Carriages in England,, half the prefent
highway expence might be laved, and the roads at the fame
time incomparably better.

It muft be admitted, that the expence of drivers would at
firft be greater, for a man would not drive above three of
them ; a man and two boys would do for nine : but why
they ihould not be as well managed here as in Ireland I can-
not fee ; a man there will often drive five, fix, or even eight
cars. 1 have myfelf feen a fingle girl drive fix. Even in this
relpeft there is an advantage which does not attend waggons,
a boy could any where manage one or two, but twenty boys
.would not be trufted to drive a waggon. Granting, however,
that the expence under this head was fomething greater, ftill
is it valtly more than counterbalanced by the fuperior advan-
tages (tared above, which render it an equal object to indivi-
duals and the public.

SECTION

6z T I M B E R— P L A N T I N G.

SECTION X.

Timber — Planting .

THROUGH every part of Ireland, in which I have been,
one hundred contiguous acres are not to be found with-
out evident figns, they were once wood, or at leaft very well
wooded. Trees, and the roots of trees of the largeft fize, are
dug up in all the bogs j and in the cultivated countries, the
flumps of trees deftroyed ihew that the deftruftiori has not been
of any antient date. A vaft number of the Irifh names for
hills, mountains, vallies and plains, have forefts, woods,
groves, or trees for the fignification ; Lord Kingfborough has
an hundred thoufand acres about Mitchelftown, in which you
muft take a breathing gallop to find a ftick large enough to
beat a dog, yet is there not an enclofure without" the remnants
of trees, many of them large ; nor is it a peculiarity to that
cftate : in a word the greateft part of the kingdom exhibits a
naked, bleak, dreary view for want of wood, which has been
deftroyed for a century paft, with the moft thoughllefs prodi-
gality, and ftill continues to be cut and wafted, as if it was
not worth the prefervation. The Baltic fir fupplies all the ufes
cf the kingdom, even thofe for which nothing is proper but
oak ; and the diftance of all the ports of Ireland from that fea,
makes the fupply much dearer than it is in England.

In converfation with gentlemen, I found they very general-
ly laid the deftruftion of timber to the common people ; who,
they fay, have an averfion to a tree ; at the earlieft age
they fteal it for a walking-ftick ; afterwards for a fpade handle ;
Jater for a car fhaft ; and later ftill for a cabbin rafter ; that
the poor do fteal it is certain, but I am clear the gentlemen of
the country may thank themfelves. Is it the confumption of
fticks and handles that has deftroyed millions of acres ? Abfur-
dity ! The profligate, prodigal, worthlefs landowner cuts
down his acres, and leaves them unfenced agiinft cattle, and
then he has the impudence to charge the fcarcity of trees to
the walking-flicks of the poor, goes into the houfe of com-
mons and votes for an aft, which lays a penalty of forty fliiil-
ings on any poor man having a twig in his pcfleffion, which
he cannot account for. This aft, and twenty more in the
fame fpirit, (lands at pre&nt a monument of their felf-con-
demnation and opprefllon. They have made wood fo fcarce,
that the wretched cottars cannot procure enough for their ne-
ceffary confumption, and then they pafs penal laws on their
dealing, or even poflefling, what it is impcffible for them to
buy. If by another aft you would hang up all the landlords
vrho cut woods without fencing, and deftroy trees without
planting, you would lay your axe to the root of the evil, and
rid the kingdom of fome of the greateft pefts in it j but in the
name of humanity and common fenfe, let the poor alone, for
whofe ftealing in this, as in moft other cafes, nobody ought to

T I M B E R— P L A N T I N G. 63

be anfwerable but yourfelves. I was an eye-witnefs in vari-
ous parts of the kingdom, of woods cut down and not copfed.
The honefteft poor upon earth, if in the fame fituation as the
Iriih, would be dealers of wood, for they muft either fteal or
go without what is an abfolute necefiary of life. Inftead of
being the deftroyers of trees, I am confident they may be made
preservers of them ; recolleft Sir William Ofborne's mountai-
neers, to whom he gave a few Lombardy poplars, they che-
riflied them with as much care as his own gardener could
have done. At Mitchelftown, I had opportunities of making
obfervations which convinced me of the fame thing ; I faw in
every refpeft, indeed all over Ireland, the greateft readinefs to
do whatever would recommend them to their landlord's
favour. I had three plans relative to wood, which I have
reafon to believe would anfwer in any part of the kingdom :
Firft, To give premiums to the cottars who planted and
preferred trees, and not to let it depend on the premium alone,
but to keep a lift of thofe who appeared as candidates, and
upon every other occafion to let them be objects of favour.
Second, To force all the tenantry to plant under the following
claufe in their leafes :

" And alfo, that the f aid A. B. his heirs and njfigm , /hall and
ivill, every year, dur ing the continuance of this demife, well and
truly plant^ and thoroughly fecure until the end of the [aid term*
from all injury or damage'by cattle, or otfjer*wife, one timber tree
for every acres that are contained in the herein demifed

premifes, provided that fuch trees fuall he fuelled gratis, on de-
mand, by the faid C. D. his heirs and affigns ; and in cafe any
trees flail dte or fail, that in fuch cafe the faid A. B. Jball and
luill plant in the year next after fuch death or failure, an equal
number of timber trees in the faid demised premifes, in the placa
or Jlead of fuch tree or trees jo dying or failing as afore faid • and
in cafe, at the expiration of the faid deniife, the proper number of
trees, of a due age, according to the meaning and intent of ihefe
premifes, be not f eft growing and Jlanding upon the faid demifed
premifes, or fome part thereof, that then the faid A. B. his heirs or
ajjlgns, Jljall forfeit and pay unto the faid C. D. his heirs and
ajjigns, the fum of fae fallings for every tree fo deficient by death t
failure, injury, or negligence."

The proportion of acres per tree to be according to circum-
ftances. It fliould always be remembered, that the claufes of
a leafe rarely execute themfelves ; it is the landlord or his
agent's attention that muft make them efficient. A tenamrj
every where is very much dependent, unlefs leafes for lives
are given, but I iuppofe them for twenty-one years. In
Ireland their poverty makes this dependence ftill greater.
They afk time for the payment of their rent ; rhey run in ar-
rears ; they are threatened or driven ; if they pay \veil, £.\-.
they have fome favour to afk, or expedl; in a word, they are
in fuch a fimation, that attention would fecure the molt entire

compliance

64 T I M B E R— P L A N T I N G.

compliance with fuch a claufe. If once, or twice, upon an eftaie,
a man was drove for his rent, who neglected the trees, while
another jn the fame circumftances had time given him, becaufe
he preferved them, the effect would prefently be feen. 'flwd%
To have a magazine of flicks, fpade handles, pieces for cars,
and cabbins, &c. laid in at the cheapeft rate, and kept for fell-
ing at prime coft to whoever would buy them. Thefe would
want to be purchafed but for a few years, as fmall plantations
of the timber willow would in four years furnifli an ample
furjply.

That thefe three circumftances united, would prefently plant
a country I am convinced } I law a willingnefs among Lord
Kinglborough's little tenants do it, feme even who made
a beginning the very firft year ; and hundreds allured me of
their moft afiiduous compliance. Such a plan moft certainly
fliould not preclude large annual plantations on the land which
a gentleman keeps in hand ; but the beauty of the country de-
pends on trees, fcattered over the whole face of it. What a
figure would Ireland make on a comparifon with its prefent
ftate, if one tree now flood by each cabbin ! but it is the fpi-
rit of thelrifli nation to attempt every thing by laws, and then
leave thofe laws to execute themfelves, which indeed with ma-
ny of them is not at all amifs. It is by no means clear, whe-
ther the aft which gives to the tenant a property in the trees
he plants, to be afcertained by a jury at the end of the leafe,
and paid by the landlord, has any great tendency to encreafe
the quantity of wood. It has unfortunately raifed an undecid-
ed queftion «f law, whether the aft goes to trees, which were
originally furnimed from the landlord's nurfery, or planted in
confequence of a claufe in a leafe. If it fhould fo interfere
with fuch plantations, it would be highly mifchievous : Alfo,
for a man to be forced either to buy or to fell bis property,
at the price fixed by a jury, is a harm circumftance. To this
caufe it is probably owing, that the plantations made in
confequence of that a£t, are perfectly insignificant.

I have made many very minute calculations of the ex-
pence, growth, and value of plantations in Ireland, and am
convinced from them that there is no application of the
beft land in that kingdom will equal the profit of planting the
worft in it. A regard for the intereftof pofterity call for the
oak and other trees which require more than an age to come
to maturity, but with other views the quick growing ones
are of profit much fuperior j thefe come to perfeclion fo
fpeedily that three-fourths of the landlords of the king-
dom might expeft to cut where they planted, and reap
thofe great profits, which moft certainly attend it. There
are timber willows (fallies as they are called in Ireland)
which rife with incredible rapidity. I have meafured them
at Mr. Bolton's near Waterford twenty-one feet high in the
third year from the planting, and as ftrait as a larch. With
this willow, woods would arife as it were by enchantment, and

ail

T I M B E R— P L A N T T N G. 6$

all forts of farm offices and cabbins might be built of it In feven
years from planting. Is it not inexcufable to complain of a
want of wood when it is to be had with fo much eafe ? Larch
and beech thrive wonderfully wherever I have feen them
planted ; and the Lombard/ poplar makes the fame luxuriant
frioots for which it is famous in England j and though a foft
wood yet it is applicable to fuch a multiplicity of purpofes,
and fo eafily propagated, that it deferves the greateft attention.
As to oak they are always planted in Ireland; from a nur-
fery I have feen very har.dfome trees as old as fifteen years,
fome perhaps older, but even at that age they run incompara-
bly more into head than plants in England which have never
been tranfplanted. It is a great misfortune that a century at
lead is neceffary to prove the mifchief of the practice : We
know by mod ample experience that the noble oaks in Eng-
land applicable to the ufe of the large fhips of war, were all
fonun where they remained. That tree pufhes its tap root fo
powerfully that I have the greateft reafon to believe the future
growth fuffers elTentially from its being injured, and I defy
the moft fkiiful nurferyman to take them up upon a large fcale
without breaking, if it is broke in the part where it is an almoft
imperceptible thread, it is juft the fame as cutting it off in a
larger part, the fteady perpendicular power is loft, and the
furface roots muft feed the plant, thefe may do for a certain
growth, and to a certain period, bur the tree will never be-
come the fovereign of the foreft, or the waves. I know feve-
ral plantations of fown oak in England from twelve to thirty,
and fome forty years growth, which are truly beautiful, and
infinitely beyond any thing I have feen in Ireland.

The woods yet remaining in that kingdom are what in Eng-
land would be called copfes. They are cut down- at various
growths, fome being permitted to ftand forty years. Attentive
landlords fence when they cut to pveferve the future {hoots,
others do not. But this is by no means the fyftem with a view
to which I recommend planting, timber of any kind cut as fuch
will pay double and treble what the fhoots from any ftubs in
the world will do. They may come to a tolerable fize, and
yield a large value ; but the profit is not to be compared with.
To explain this, permit me one or two remarks.

If willow, poplars, afh, &c. are planted for timber to be cut
at whatever age, ten, twenty or thirty years ; when cut the
ftools will throw out many fhoots, but let it not be imagined
that thefe flioots will ever again become timber ; they will
never be any thing but copfe wood, and attended in future
with no more than the copfe profu, which is not half that of
timber, in fuch a cafe the land fliould be new planted, and the
old ftools either grubbed up for fuel, or elfe the growth from
them cut very often for faggots till the new timber get? up
enough to drip on and deftroy it. The common practice in Ire-
land is cutting young trees down when they do not fhoot well,
this is convening timber to copfe wood ; attention to cutting

VOL. II. E w>T

66 T I M B E R— P L A N T I N G.

off all the flioots but one will train up a ftem, but I queftioft
whether it will ever make a capital tree :_ if the other fhoots
are not annually cut it will never "be any tree at all } and yet
it is certainly a faft that the new fhoot is much finer than the
old one, which perhaps would have come to nothing ; but bet-
ter remove it entirely than depend on new fhoots for making
timber. The gentlemen in that kingdom are much too apt to
think they have s*ot timber, when in fa£l they have nothing but
fine large copfe wood. A ftrong proof of this is the great dou-
ble-ditches made thirty or forty years ago, and planted with
double rows of trees,, generally afli, thefe for two reafons are
ufuitlly (for the age) not half fo good as trees of the fame
growth in England ; one is, many of them were cut when
young, and arofe from ftools ; the other is their growing out
of a high dry bank, full of the roots of four rows of white thorn
or apple quick, befides thofe of the trees themfelves. It is a
faft that I never faw a fingle capital tree growing on thefe
banks : all hedge trees are difficult to preferve, and therefore
muft have been cut when young. Afh in England growing
from a level are generally worth in forty years from forty fhil-
lings to three pounds. And I know many trees of fifty to fixty
years growth that would fell readily at from four to eight
pounds, yet the price in Ireland is higher. Another practice
which is common in that kingdom is pruning timber trees, and
even oaks. 1 was petrified at feeing oaks often and fifteen
feet high with all the fide fhoots cut off. There are treatifes
upon planting which recommend this practice as well as cutting
down young trees to make the better timber. There are no
follies which are not countenanced, and even prefcribed in fome
book or other, but unhappv is it for a kingdom when they are
Jiftened to. Burn your books, and attend to nature ; come to
England and view our oak, our afli, and our beech all felf fown,
and never curfed with the exertions of art. Shew me fuch
trees from the hands of nurferyman and pruners before you
•wafteyour breath with (hallow reafoning to prove that the moft
common of the operations of nature muft be affifted by the axe
cr pruning hook.

One reafon why both fences and trees in Ireland which have
once been made are now neglected and in ruin, is owing to the
firft planting being all that is thought of j the hedges are fuffer-
ed to grow for thirty or forty years without cutting j the con-
fequence of which is their being ragged, and cpen at bottom,
and full of gaps vrur'e perches long. But all fences fhould be
cut periodically, for the fame reafon that trees ought never to
be touched, their pufhing out many (hoots for every one that
is taken off; this ihould be repeated every fifteen years; a
proper portion of the thorns fhuuld be piafhed down to form an
impenetrable live hedge, and the refl cut off, and made into
faggots. But in the IritTi way the fences yield no fuel at all.
To permit a hedge to grow too long without cutting, not only
juins it for a fence, but fpoils the tiees that are planted with it.

La ft!/.

M A N U R. E S. 67

Laftly, let me obferve, that the amazing negleft in not
planting ofier grounds for making bafkets and ("mail hoops, is
unpardonable throughout the kingdom, they no where thrive
better; a fmall one I planted in the county of Corke grew fix
feet the fiitl year, yet at that port there is a considerable im-
portation of them from Portugal.

SECTION XI.

Manure s-~- Wafte Lands.

THE manure commonly ufed in Ireland is lime; inexhauftible
quarries of the fined lime»ftone are found in mod parts of
that ifland, with either turf, or culm at a moderate price to
burn it. To do the gentlemen of that country juftice, they
underfhnd this branch ofhufbdndry very well, and practice it
with uncommon fpirit. Their kilns are the bed I have any
where feen, and great numbers are kept burning the whole year
through, without a thought ofdoppingon account of the winter.
Their draw kilns burn up to forty barrels a day ; and what they
call French kilns, which burn the done without breaking, have
been made even to five thoufand barrels in a kiln. Mr. Leflie
laying ten thoufand barrels on his land in one year, and Mr.
Aldworth as much, are indances which I never heard equalled.
The following table will {hew the general praftice.

Barrels

Price per barrel.

f>er acre.

s. d.

Mr. M'Farlan,

1 60

Slaine,

120

Headfort,

Packenham,

Mr. Marley,

160

i "o

Kilfaine,

Mr. Kennedy,

z 6

Hampton,

125

Ld. Ch. Baron Forfter,

160

Market Hill,

3°

i 6

Warrendown,

140

t i

Lecale,

1 1

Mr. U-flie,

• 60

Newtown Limavady,

100

I 0

Cadle Gtldwell,

Innifkilling,

Florence Court,

Farnham,

150

Mr. Mahon,

Mr. Brown, •

Mr. French,

Woodlawn,

Annfgrove,

190

Mr. Aldworth,

160

E 2 Lord

MANURES,

Barrels

Price per Barrel.

per acre.

,. d. f.

Lord Donneraile,

5 2

Mallow,

100

1 I

Mr. Gordon,

7 2

Coolmore,

Nedeen,

I 0

Mucrus,

Mr. Blennerhaffet,

100

Mr. Bateman,

Tarbat,

I O

Lord Tyrone,

2OO

1 O

Average,

100

Thefe quantities are upon the whole confiderable. The
price fhews the plenty of this manure in Ireland. To find
any place where it can be burnt for three pence and four pence
is truly wonderful, but can only be from the union of turf and
kmeftone at the fame place.

I no where heard of any land that had been over limed, or
on which the repetition of it had proved fo disadvantageous as
it has fometimes been found in England *.

Limeftone gravel is a manure peculiar to Ireland j and is
moft excellent. It is a blue gravel, mixed with (tones as large
as a man's fift, and fometimes with a clay loam ; but the
whole mafs has a very ftrong effervefcence with acid. On un-
cultivated lands it has the fame wonderful effect as lime, and
on clay arable, a much greater j but it is beneficial to all foils.
In the ifle of Anglefea, a country which very much refembles
Ireland, there is a gravel much like it, which has alfo feme
effervefcence ; but i never met with it in any other part of
England.

Mark in Ireland is not fo common as thefe manures. That
which is ofteneft found is white, and remarkably light ; it lies
generally under bogs. Shell marie is dredged up in the Shan-
non, and in the harbour of Waterford.

In the catalogue of manures, I wifli I could add the com-
pofts formed in well lUtered farm yards, but there is not any
part of hufbandry in the kingdom more neglected than this;
indeed I have fcarce any where feen the lead veftige of fuch a
convenience as a yard furrounded with offices for the winter
flicker, and feeding of cattle. All forts of animals range about
the field in winter, by which means the quantity of dung raifed
is contemptible. To dwell upon a point of fuch acknowledg-
ed importance is needfefs. Time it is to be hoped will intro-
duce a better fyftem.

WASTE

* See a Letter from the late Earl of HoUernefs to me, inftrttd in
ition of the Northern T&ur,

WASTELANDS, 69

WASTE LANDS.

Although the proportion of wafte territory is not, I appre-
hend, fo great in Ireland as it is in England, certainly owing
to the rights of commonage in the latter country which fortu-
nately have no exiftence in Ireland ; yet are the trafts of de-
fart mountains and bogs very confiderable. Upon thefe lands
is to be praftifed the m'oft profitable huflbandry in the King's
dominions ; for fo I am perfuaded the improvement of moun-
tain land to be. By that expretfion is not to be underftood
only very high lands, all wafte in Ireland that are not bog they
call mountain ; fo that you hear of land under that denominati-
on where even a hillock is not to be feen. The largeft tracts,
however, are adjoining to real mountains, efpecially where
they (lope off to a large extent gradually to the fouth. Of this
fort Lord Kingfborough has a very extenfive and moft unprofit-
able range. In examining it, with many other mountains,
and in about five months experience of the beginning only of
an improvement under my direction there, I had an opportuni-
ty of afcercaining a few points which made me better acquaint-
ed with the practicability of thofe improvements than if I had
only pafled as a traveller through the kingdom. By dating a
few of the circumftances of this attempt, others who have
mountains under fimilar circumftances may judge of the pro-
priety of undertaking their improvement. The land has a ve-
ry gentle declivity from the Galty mountains towards the
fouth, and to a new road Lord Kingiborough made leading
from Mitchelftown towards Cahir, which road he very wifely
judged was the full ftep to the improvement of the wafte parts
of his eftate as well as a great public benefit. The South fide
of this road limeftone is found, and on the North fide, the im-
provement was begun in a fpot that included fome tolerable
good land, fome exceeding rough and ftoney, and a wet bot-
tom where there was a bog two, three, and four feet deep ;
the land yielded no other profit than being a commonage to
the adjoining farm, in which way it might pay the rent pof-
fibly of a {lulling an acre : Twenty thoufand acres by eftima-
tion joined it in the fame fituation which did not yield the
fourth of that rent. In June I built a lime kiln which burnt
twenty barrels a day, and cut, led, and (lacked turf enough
to keep it burning a whole twelvemonth, fketched the
fences of four inclofures, making thirty-four acres, and fi-
niihed the firft work of them, leaving the reft, and plant-
ing till winter*. I cleared two inclofures of ftones ; pared
and burnt them • burnt eight hundred barrels of lime, limed

one

* Where fences »/«/? be Jane by the day and not the perch, 'which
•will generally be the cafe in the beginning of an improvement in a
"very wild country , from the labourers being totally ignorant of tak-
ing iwrk fry menfure ; all that is fvjfiblt jhould be executed in fuw-

7o WASTELANDS.

one inclofure, and Cowed -one third with wheat, a third
with rye, and the other with here, as an experiment ;
the other field with turneps, which from the continual
drought, failed. Two cabbins were built. And the whole
expence in five months, including the price of all ploughing,
and carriage, (the latter from the miferable cars and garrens
"at a motl extravagant rate) buying timber, ftewards wages,
&c. amounted to one hundred and fifty pounds. The mo-
ment the neighbours underftood the works were at an end,
fome of them offered me ten {hillings an acre for the land to
take it as it was, which is juft eleven per cent, tor the money,
butl could have got more. The following were the only data
gained : lime burnt for hvepence a barrel. Paring with the
graffan in ftoney land 305* to 405. an acre, and done by the
plough at eight {hillings much better, burning and fpreading
the allies depends on weaiiier, one piece coil above twenty
{hillings an acre, the other not five, but on an average I fliould
calculate it at ten {Killings. The whole operation may be
very well done with the plough at twenty Shillings. Clearing
from ftones and carting away, various ; I found a very ftoney
piece could be cleared at twelve {hillings an acre. A Jingle
ditch feven feet broad, and from three to five deep, the bank
nine feet high from the bottom of the ditch, coft one {hilling
and fixpence j but this expence would haveleflened when they
were more accuftomed to it : consequently a double fence with
a fpace between left for planting, three {hillings.

My defign was topurchafe a flock of mountain iheep jn the
following fpring, and keep them through the fummer in the
mountains, but folding them every night in the improvement,
in which work I could have inftructed the people, and when
once they had feen the benefit, I do not think the practice would
ever have been loft. To have provided plenty of turneps for
their winter fupport, and improved the breed by giving them
fome better tups, but to have done this gradually in propor-
tion as their food improved. Turneps to be for fome years the
only crop, except fmall pieces by way of trial. To have laid
down the land to grafs after a proper courfe of turneps in the
manner and with the feeds I praclifed in Hertfordfliire, which
would have fhewn what thai operation is. There is not a
complete meadow in the whole country. To have proportion-
ed the {heepto the turneps at the rate of from twenty to thirty
an acre according to UK. goodnefs of the crop : there is a pow-
er in luch wafte tracts of keeping any number in fummer ; the
common people keep them all the year round on the mountains.

The

mer, especially info ivet a climate as Ireland ; andivken M mare is
paid for a day in July than in December. Some of my banks fell
•unto the Autumn rains, oiling to tiuo caufes ; fir ft, the men, injiead
of knoiving hoi'j to make a ditch <were mountaineers, nvho fcarcety
l*e«0 the right *nd of a fpade - and fecondly, it proved the dryejl
ever was known in Ireland.

WASTELANDS. 71

The annual produft of the improved land is in this fyftern
very eafily afeertained. Suppofe only twenty * (heep per acre,
and no more than fifteen lambs from them, worth two {"hillings
and fixpence each, it is thirty-feven {hillings andfixper.ee, and
the twenty fleeces at one (hilling make fifty-feven {hillings and
fixpence : about three pound therefore may be reckoned the
loweft value of an acre of turneps at firft j but as fucceflive
crops on the fame land improve greatly, they would winter
more than twenty, and both lambs and wool be more valuable,
fo that from a variety of circumltances I have attended to in that
country, I am clear the common value of the turneps might be
carried to four pounds, and in the courfe of a few years per-
haps to five pounds an acre. And to ftate the expence of fuch
an improvement completely finifhed at ten pounds an acre, in-
cluding every article whatever; three crops of turneps amply
repay the whole, and the future produce or rent of the land,
neat profit. This would be twenty {hillings an acre ; twenty-
five fhillings are commonly paid for much worfe land. The
real faft of fuch improvements is a landlord's accepting an
etlate gratis, or at leaft paying nothing but trouble for it.
Nearly fuch concluftons muft be drawn froui lord Altamont's
mountain works, of which an account is given in the minutes.
I ihould remark that the people I employed, though aj igno-
rant as any in the kingdom, and had never feen a turnep hoe,
hoed the turneps when I {hewed them the manner, very rea-
dily, and though not fkilfully, well enough to prove their do-
cility would not be wanting ; it was the fame with the paring
mattock, and the Norfolk turnep fower. They very readily
execute orders, and feem to give their inclination to it.

There are fevera! reafons which make thefe improvements
more profitable and eafy in Ireland than they are in England.
There are no common rights to encounter, which are the curfe
of our moors. Buildings, which in England form one of the
heavieft articles, are but a trifling expence ; make the land
good, and you will let it readily without any at all ; or at leaft
with an allowance of a roof towards a cabbin ; and laftly, the
proportionate value of improved land compared with that of
unimproved is much higher than it is with us, owing to the
want of capital, rendering all improvements fo rare, and to the
common people fo difficult. Three hundred pounds a year
fteadily employed in fuch an undertaking, would in a fewyears
create an eftate fuftkient for the greateft undertakings : but
fuccefs depends on a regular unbroken exertion, a point I found
very few perfons in Ireland thoroughly underftood, owing to
their not being accuftouied to large flocks of iheep regularly
depending on turneps. At the fame time that this wr.rk wns
carrying on, his lordrtrp, by my advice, encouraged the pea-

* It is fo le noted that fork Jhtef at- d, or.d that

rhiefy in bad weather. The winters in !• -'ucb triiletr

than in England,

f&ntry

72 BOGS.

fantry to take in fmall parts of thefe mountains themfelves.
The adjoining farms beiag out of leafe, he had a power of
doing what he pleafed ; I marked a road, and afiigned porti-
ons of the wafte on each fide to fuch as were willing to form
the fences in the manner prefcribed, to cultivate and inhabit
the land, allowing each a guinea towards his cabbin, and pro-
inifing the beft land rent free for three years, and the wortt for
five ; the eagernefs with which the poor people came into this
fcheme, convinced me that they wanted nothing but a little
encouragement to enter with all their might and fpirit into the
great work of improvement. They trufted to my aflurance
enough *to go to work upon the ditches, and actually made a
confiderable progrefs. In all undertakings of this fort in Ire-
land it is the poor cottars, and the very little farmers, who are
the beft tools to employ, and the beft tenants to let the land to ;
but this circumftance raifes many enemies to the work ; the
tetter fort who have been ufed to tread upon and opprefs, are
ill pleafed to fee any importance or independancy given to
them : and the whole race of jobbing gentlemen, whofe con-
verfation for ever takes the turn of ridiculing the poverty of
the cottar tenants, will always be ready with an equal cargo of
falftiood and ignorance to decry and depreciate any underta-
king which is not to conduce to their own benefit : if a land^
lord does not fteadily refolve to laugh at all this trafti, he had
tetter never think of improvements.

Trifling as they have been on the Irifh mountains, yet are
the bogs itill more neglected. The minutes of the journey
iliew that a few gentlemen have executed very meritorious
•works even in thefe, but as they, unfortunately for the public,
do not live upon any of the very extenfive bogs, the inhabi-
tants near the latter deny the application of their remarks.
Bogs are of two forts, black and red. The black bog is gene-
rally very good, it is folid almoft to the furface, yields many
aflies in burning, and generally admitted to be improveable
though at a heavy expence. The red fort has ufuaily a
reddifh fubftance five or fix feet deep from the furface, which
holds water like a fpunge, yields no afhes in burning, and is
fuppofed to be utterly irreclaimable.

In the variety of theories which have been ftarted to account
Jor the formation of bogs, difficulties occur which are not ea-
fily folved ; yet are there many circumftances which affift in
tracing the caufe. Various forts of trees, fome of them of a.
great fize, are very generally found in them, and ufuaily at the
bottom, oak, fir, and yew the moft common ; the roots of thefe
trees are faft in the earth ; fome of the trees feem broken off,
others appear to be cut, but more with the marks of fire on
them. Under fome bogs of a confiderable depth there are yet
to be feen the furrows of land once ploughed. Tke black bog
is a folid weighty mafs which cuts almoft like butter, and upon
examination appears to referable rotten wood. Under the red

bogs

BOGS. 73

bogs there is always a ftratum if not equally folid with the black
bog, nearly fo, and makes as good fuel. There is upon the
black as well as the red ones a furface of that fpungy vegetable
mafs which is cleared away to get at the bog for fuel, but it is
fnallow on thefe. Sound trees are found equally in both forts.
Both differ extremely from the bogs I have feen in England in
the inequality of the furface ; the Irifh ones are rarely level
but rife into hills. I have feen one in Donnegal which is a per-
fect fcenery of hill and dale. The fpontaneous growth moll
common is heath ; with fome bog myrtle, rufhes and a little
fedgy grafs. As far as I can judge by roads, laying gravel of
any ibrr, clay, earth, &c. improves the bog, and brings good
grafs. The depth of them is various, they have been fathom-
ed to that of fifty feet, and fome are faid to be ftill deeper.

From thefe circumftances it appears, that a foreil cut, burnt,
or broken down, is probably the origin of a bog. In all coun-
tries where wood is fo common as to be a weed, it is deftroy-
ed by burning, it is fo around the Baltic, and in America at
prefent. The native Irifh might cut and burn their woods
enough for the tree to fall, and in the interim between fuch an
operation, and fuccefiive culture, wars and other inteftine di-
vifions might prevent it in thofe fpots, which fo neglected af-
terwards became bogs. Trees lying very thick on the ground
would become an impediment to all ftreams and currents, and
gathering in their branches, whatever rubbifh fuch waters
brought with them, form a rnafs of a fubftance which time
might putrefy, and give that acid quality to, which would
preferve fome of the trunks though not the branches of the
trees. The circumftance of red bogs being black and folid at
the bottom, would feem to indicate that a black bog has re-
ceived lefs acceflion from the growth and putrefaction of vege-
tables after the formation than the red ones, which from fome
circumthmces of foil or water might yield a more luxuriant
Jurface vegetation, till it.produced that mafs of fpunge which
is now found on the furface. That this fuppolition is quice fa-
tisfactory I cannot aflert, but the effect appears to be at leaft
pollibie, and accounts for the diftinction between the two
kinds. That they receive their form and increafe from a con-
ftant vegetation appear from their rifing into hills, if they did
not vegetate the quuitity of water they contain would keep
them on a level. The places where the traces of ploughing
are found, 1 Ihould fuppofe were cnce fields adjoining to the
woods, and when the bog rofe to a certain height it flowed gra-
dually over the furrounding land.

But the means of improving them is the mod important con-
flderation at prefent. Various methods have been prefcribed,
and fome fmall improvements have been effected by a few gen-
tlemen, but at fo large an expence that it is a queftion how far
their operations anfwered. Here, therefore, one muft call in
theory to our aid from a deficiency of practice. Fortunately for
f bog improver, drains are cut at fo fmall an expeace, in them,

thai

74 BOGS.

that that neceflary work is done at a very moderate coft.
But in fpungy ones it muft be lepeated annually, according
to the fubftance of the bog, and no other work attended to
but finking the drains lower and lower, by no means till
you come to the bottom, (the necefllty of which is a vulgar
error) but till the fpaces between them will bear an ox in
boots. Then the furface fhould be levelled and burnt, and I
would advife nothing to be done for a year or two but rollers as
heavy as might be, kept repeatedly going over it, in order to
prefs and confolidare the furface. Before any thing elie was
attempted I would fee the effect of this ; probably the draining
and rolling would bring up a frefli furface of vegetables not
leen before, in that cafe I iTiould have very few doubts of fi-
niihing the work with the feeding, treading, and fold of rtieep
which would encourage the white clover and grafles to vege-
tate ftrongly ; fortunately for any operation with fiieep they
can be kept fafely, as they never rot in a drained bog. A ve-
ry ingenious friend of mine thinks the whole might be done
with fheep with little or no draining, but from viewing the
bogs I am clear that is impoflible. During the time of rolling
and fheep feeding, the drains I would have kept clean and
open, the labour of which would regularly be Jefs and lefs.
When the furface was fo hard as to bear cars, marie, clay,
gravel, or earth, might be carried on according to diftance,
which with the Iheep feeding xvould convert it into good mea-
dow. But as carting in a large improvement would probably
be too expenfive ; I ihould think it worth while to fry the ex-
periment whether it would not be practicable to fink a ihaft
through the bog into the gravel or earth beneath it, boarding
or walling, and plaftering with terrafs or cement, in order to
be able to draw up the under ftratum, as all the cba!k in Hert-
iordmire is railed, that is, wound up in buckets ; chalk is fo
raifed and wheeled on to the land for the price of eight-pence
the load of twenty buihels, and is found a cheap improvement
at that price, yet the chalk drawers, as they call themfelves,
earn two fliillings and two and fixpence each day. Whatever
«he means ufed, certain it is that no meadows are equal to
thofe gained by improving a bog ; they are of a value which
fcarcely any other land's rite to : in Ireland I fliould fuppofe it
would not fall ihort of forty findings ar r.»r?, and rile in inany
cafes to three pounds.

SECTION

CATTLE.

SECTION

Cattle— Wool—Winter Food.

THE cattle in Ireland are much better than the tillage ;
in the management of the arable ground the Irilh are five
centuries behind the beft cultivated or the Englifli counties,
but the moilture of the climate, and the richnefs of the foil,,
have reared, affifted with importations from England, a breed of
cattle and fheep, though not equal to ours, yet not fo many
degrees below them as might be expefled from other circum-
ftances. The following table will ilxew the prices and profit
on fattening bullocks and cows.

Places.

FAT B

.'rice, Bull.

ULLOCK
Proft.

S AND CO

Price, Coiu.

WS.
Profit.

!. s. d.

\. s. d.

Gibbftown,

IO O O

400

< 10 0

i 15 o

Lord Beftive,

4 ^ 6

i 17 6

Packenham,

400

200

Tullamore,

3 7 6

2 0 0

Shaen Caftle,

4100

i 16 o

Fkllynakill,

5 10 o

2 5 0

Mr. Butler,

500

3 o o

35°

200

Belle Ifle,

3 '5 °

i 1 1 6

Longford,

400

I 15 o

Mercra,

4 10 o

2 10 O

3100

I 10 0

Holymounr,

2 l6 0

I 10 0

Drumoiand,

3100

200

Clare,

600

400

3 10 o

.2 O O

dale Oliver,

500

3 83

Tippcrary,

450

Cuilen,

600

1 10 0

4 'TO 0

2 00

Average,

600

3763 16 o

i t6 6

The fy item purfued in fattirg thefe beafts is explained fully
In the minutes of the journey. I think the profit remarkablf
Imall. The exportation of beef, and its prices, wil! be given
under the article 7VW<?f as it forms a principal branch of the
commerce of \\ eland.

Placff,

SHEEP.

S H. t t. P.

(SHEEP.

Placa.

Fltece.

Profit.

Places. \ Fleece. | P«//.

Ib. in.

s. d.

It. qrt.

s. d.

Slaine,
Tullamore,

4 2
6

Tipperary,
Mr. Moore,

5 3

IO O

Shaen Caftle,

Furnefs,

5 3

Mr. Vicars,

6 2

Glofter,

5 3

Mr. Brown,

IO 0

Johnftown,

5 3

Kilfain,

'5 3

Mr. Head,

IO O

Profpeft,

5 3

Cullen,

5 3

Mr. Pepper,

Mitchell'sTown

Florence Court,

Strokeftown,

17 o

Averages,

I I O

Ditto,

IO O

— — .

Elphirt,
Mercra,

5
4

10 O

Averages of "1
the Tour 1

Mr. Brown,

thro' the N. f

IO O

Weftport,
Moniva,

4 2

of England. J
Do. E. of Engl.

5 2

u 8

Drumoland,

5 3

Annfgrove,

Average of Engl.

5 i

IO IO

Lord Donneraile

. •

-— . —

Adair,

Average of Irel.

•;

II 0

From hence the remark 1 often made in Ireland is confirmed,
that their fheep are on an average better than thofe in Eng-
land ; the weight of the fleece is nearly equal to it, and
profit rather higher, notwithftanding mutton is dearer in Eng-
land ; this is owing to the price of wool being fo much higher
in Ireland than it is with us. ' The following table will fhew
the price of it for fourteen years in both kingdoms.

Wool in the Fleece, Ireland.

Wool in the Y\ezcz,LincolnJbire.
Tod reduced

Per ftone

to Jione of

1 6 It.

1 6 lb.

s. d.

In the ywr 1764 — 11 o

In the year 1764

— 114

' 176-; — 10 o

1765

— ii 4

1766 — no

1766

12 0

1767 — 13 o

1767

— 10 8

1768 — 13 6

1768

— 80

1769 — 13 6

1769

— 80

1770 — 14 o

1770

- 8 3

1771 — r I4 0

1771

— 80

1772* -~- oo

177*

- 8 3

'773* — o o

»773

— ^ 84

* Unfettkd but very Ingl.

SHEEP. 77

Wool in the Fleece, Ireland.

In the year 1774

s.d.

,775 — 10 o
,776 — 16 6

1777 §— 17 6

1778 —oo

1779 ~~ _L

Average, — 13

Wool in the Fleece, Lincolnjbire.
Tod reduced

to ftone of

s.d.

In the year 1774 "— ' 90

»775 ~ 9 6

1776 — 10 o

1777 ~ 9 9

1778 — 80
177911— 69

Average, — 93

47 per cent higher in Ireland that in England

From hencr it appears, that wool has been amazingly higher
in Ireland, which accounts for the fuperiority in the profit of
{Keep. There are feveral rep.fons for their height of price,
but the principal are a decreafe in the quantity produced, and
at the fame time an encreafe in the confumption. The boun-
ty on the inland carriage of corn, as I fhall fhew hereafter, has
occafioned the ploughing up great traces of fheep walk ; and
at the fame time the poor people have improved in their cloath-
ing very much : thefe reafons are fully fufficient to account for
that rife in the price of wool, which has brought it to be higher
than the Englifh rate. There is, however, another very pow-
erful reafon, which has had a conftant operation, and which
is the cheapnefs of fpinning ; in Ireland this is twopence half-
penny and threepence, but in England fivepence and fispence.
Great quantities are therefore fpun into yarn in Ireland,
and in that ftate exported to England, for the price of the la-
bour is fo low, that a yarn manufacturer can afford to give a
much higher price for wool than an Englifh one, and yet
fell the yarn itfelf, after the expence of freight is added, as
cheap as Englifti yarn. The quantities of yarn, £c. export-
ed, will be feen hereafter.

Many gentlemen hav^ made very fpirited attempts in im-
proving the cattle and flieep in Ireland, fo that the mixture ot
the Englifh breed of cattle has fpread all over the kingdom, ;
Englifli flieep are alfo extending. The minutes of the jour-
ney fhew that the fizc pi the bullocks is much encreafed in the
lail twenty years.

But profitable as fheep are in Ireland, they are not near fo as
tTiey might be, if turneps were properly attended to: and the
reafon why oxen and cows yield ftill lefs is the fame deficiency.
The mildnefs of the climate enables the (lock- mailer to do
with but little winter food, and this natural advantage proves

Communicated by Mr. Jojbiia Pirn in the woollen trade, Dublin.
Communicated by Mr. James Oaks in the iveolkn trade, Bury.

7& W O O L.

an artificial evil, for it prevents thofe exertions, which the far-
mers in other countries are obliged to make, in order to fupport
their flock* and herds. Mild as the Irifli climate is, the gra-
ziers in Tipperary, that is in the fouth of the kingdom, find
frothing more profitable than turneps, though hoeing them is
quite unknown, and by means of that root, fo very imperfeclb/
managed, fupply Dublin with mutton in the fpring, to their
very great emolument. But the want of winter food is more
apparent in black cattle, which upon fiich very rich land,
ought to rife to a fize which is fcaice ever met with in Ireland,
the ufual weight being frcm four to eight hundred ; but from
four hundred and a half to five>and fix hundred weight, the
common fi'^e o'n the rich grounds of Limerick ; fuch lard in-
England is covered with herds that weigh from ten to fifteen
hundred weight each ; this vaft difference is owing to their be-
ing reared the two firfi winters with fuch a deficiency of food,
that their growth is ftinted, fo that when they come upon the
fine bullock land, they are of a fize which can never be fat-
tened to the weight of Englifh oxen. The deficiency in
turneps, &c. renders hay very valuable in Ireland, which oc-
callons its being given fparingly to cattle ; but if they had
while young* as many turneps as they would eat in addition to
their prefent quantity of hay, and were protected in warm yards
againft the wind and rain, they would rife to a Hze unknown at
prefent in that kingdom. Upon this and a variety of other ac-
counts, there is fcarcely any objeft in its agriculture of fo
much importance as the introduction of that plant under the
right cultivation.

SECTION XIII.

'TytJ'es— 'Church LanJs.

OUR fitter kingdom labours under this lu-nvv burden as well
as her neighbours, to which is very much owingthe un-
cultivated ftate of fo great a part of her territory. The fol-
lowing are the minutes of the journey :

T Y T H E S.

Places.

s. d.

s. d. s. d;

Cellbridge,

7 O

5 o

5 °

Dolleftown,

5 o

3 o

Slaine,

7 o

5 o

3 6

Packenham,

7 o

7 °'5 o

7 o

2 003

Tullamore,

5 o

3 o

5 o

5 o o 03

Shaen Caftle,

7 o

c o

1 6

6 o

? ^

Brownfhill,

3 ^

2 6

4 o

3 o

Kilfaine,

8 o

7 ^

4 o

7 o

4 o

Mount Kennedy,

to o

4. o

Hampton,
Ardmagh,

8 6

8 o
S o

5 o

'3 o

4 6

Lecale, 2s. zd. an acre for tre whole crop.

Shaen Caftle,

Z 0

Clonleigh,
Strokeftown,

8 o

5 c.
3 o

S o

^ O

5 o

Mercra,

8 o

6 o

4 o

5 o

Drumoland,

5 o

3 o

z c

IO O

O 2-§

Annfgrove,

8 o

6 o

2 O

o 3

Adair,

6 o

5 o

4 o

9 o

2 0

0 2

Ballycanvan,

5 6

S 6

5 6

o 6

Johnftown,

6 o

3 ^

3 o

6 o

Derry,

5 °

5 o

2 6

5 °

5 o

2 0

Cullen,

8 o

7 o

4 6

7 o

i I 0

2 8

Averages,

6 9

5 4

3 8

5 ii

7 2

3 3

0 2$

Wbtat.

Parity.

Oats.

/fry.

Averageot theTourthruugh 1
the North of England, j
Eaftern ditto,

Average,
Ireland, perEnglifh acre,

5 2
4 3

3 »i

4 o

3 4

2 8

I 10

4 TI

3 ni

3 o

7~7i

I IO

4 2|

3 4

2 o

This

-go TYTHE S.

This table does not contain any proof that tythes in Ireland
•are unreafonably rated ; but that there are abufes in the modes
of levying them is undoubted : the greateft that I heard of
, were the notes and bonds taken in fome parrs of that kingdom
by the proctors for the payment of tythes, which bear intereft,
and which are fometimes continued for feveral years, principal
and intereft being confolidated until the fum becomes too great
for the poor man to pay, when great extortions are complained
of, and formed the grievance which feemed moft to raife the
refentnientojF the rioters, called Whiteboys. The great power
of the proteftant gentlemen render their corripcfitions very light,
while the .poor catholic is made in too many cafes to pay fe-
verely for the deficiencies of his betters. Th;s is a great abufe,
but not to be remedied till the whole kingdom is animated wirh
a different fpirit.

Theboufe of commons fome years agopaffed a vote, decla-
ring every lawyer an enemy to his country, who in any way
whatever was concerned in any cafe of tythe for fat bullocks and
cows ; and without its becoming a law was fo compleatly obey-
ed, that it has regulated the bufinefs ever fince j it was cer-
tainly a reproach to that parliament, that potatoes and turf
were not the objects ; for if any thing called for fo violent an
exemption,' it was certainly thepotatoe garden and fuel of the
poor cottar.

No objects in both the kingdoms can well be of greater im-
portance than a fixed compofition for tythe. It is a mode of pay-
ment fo difagreeable in every refpect to the clergy, and fo ruin-
ous to the laity, that a general public improvement would
follow fuch a meafure. In Ireland there can be no doubt but
the recompence iliould be land, were it for no other reafonbut
having in every parifh a glebe fufficient for the ample and agree-
able refidence of a rector. Force by the moft exprefs penalties
by ftatute law, the refidence of the clergy, after which extend
that moft excellent law which enables any bifhop to expend, in
a palace, offices, or domain wall, two years revenues of the fee*
with a power of charging, by his laft will, his fucceffbr with
the payment of the whole of the fum to whatever ufes he leaves
ir, who in like manner is enabled to charge his fucceiTbr with
three fourths, and fo on j this law fhould be extended to par-
ionage houfes, with this afliftance, that wherever the rector or
vicar proved the expenditure of two yeais revefme in a houfe,
he fhould receive a permit from the grand jury, for expending
half as much more for offices, walling, &c. and when in like
manner he brought his certificate of fo doing, the money to be
paid him by the county treafurer in like manner as the p'refent-
nient roads are done at prefent, not however to leave it at the
option of the jury. Aiefident clergy fpending in the parifli the
whole of their receipts, would in all refpects be fo advantage-
ous and defirable, that it is fair the county fliould aflill in
enabling them to do it in a liberal manner. The expence

would

TYTHES. St

would be gradual, and never amount very high, if churches,
when greatly wanted, were built at the fame time. It the ex-
pence was for a time confiderable, ftill it would be laid out in
a manner amply to repay it. Decent edifices rifmg in all parts
of the kingdom, would alone, in the great bufmefs of civiliza-
tion, be advantageous; it would ornament the country, as
well as humanize minds, accuitomed to nothing better than
cabbins of mud ; and fecuringone refident gentleman of fome
learning and ideas in every parifh of the kingdom, living on a
property in which he had an intereft for life, could fcarcely fail
of introducing improvements in agriculture and planting ; the
whole county would profit by fuch circumftances, and ought to
affift in the expence. I muft obferve, however, that fuch plans
fhould depend entirely on the clergy accepting a perpetual re-
compence in lieu of tythes ; for as to a pnblic expence, to
introduce refident rectors, whofe bufmefs, when fixed, would
be an extenflon and feverity in that tax, and prove a premium
on taking them in kind to the ruin of agriculture, common
fenfe would certainly dictate a very different expenditure of the
public money. So burthenfome is this mode of payment, that
where their refidence is followed by tythes being paid in kind,
the clergyman, who ought to be an object beloved and revered,
lives really upon the ruin of all his parifhioners, fo that inftead
of giving public money to bring him into a parifli, no applica-
tion of thofe funds would be more beneficial in fuch a cafe,
than to purchafe his abfence. If ever fuch plans came in agi-
tation, it would certainly be right to eftablifh a provifion for
parifh clerks, to teach the children of all religions to read
and write.

The revenues of the clergy in Ireland, are very confiderable.
Here is a lift of the bifhoprics with the annual value, which 1
have had corrected fo often in the neighbourhood of each that
I believe it will be found nearly exact.

2,400
4 ,000
2,600
3,700
2,900
2,600
2,600
3,400
2,300

2,200

73,400

The Primacy per ann.

8,000

Clonfert,

— ,

Dublin,

5,000

Clogher,

— .

Tuam, — -•

4,000

Kilniore,

___

Cartiel, —

4,000

Elphin,

Derry, — •

7,0^0

Killala,

— .

Limerick, —

3,500

Kildare,

Corke, —

2,700

Raphoe,

Cloyne, —

2,500

Meaih,

OHbry, —

2, COO

Kl.Uloo,

. ,

Water ford, -—

2,500

Leighlin and Ferns,

Doxvn,

•2,300

Dioaicre, —

2,000

VOL. n:

This

8z ABSENTEES.

This total dees not, however, mark the extent or value of
the land which yields it. I was informed in converfation that
the lands of the primacy would, if lett as a private eftate, be
worth near one hundred thoufand a year. Thefe of Derry
half as much, and thofe of Cafliel near thirty thoufand a
year. Thcfe circumftances taken into the account will ftiew
that feventy-four thoufand pounds a year include no inconfi-
derable portion of the kingdom. I have been alfo informed,
but not on any certain authority, that thefe fees have the pa-
tronage of an ecclefiaftical revenue of above one hundred and
fifty thoufand pounds a year more.

SECTION

Alfentees*

XIV.

'TPHERE are very few countries in the world that do not
J- experience the difad vantage of remitting a part of their
rents to landlords who refide elfewhere ; and it muft ever be
fo while there is any liberty left to mankind of living where
they pleafe. In Ireland the amount proportioned to the terri-
tory is greater probably than in mod other inftances ; and not
having a free trade with the kingdom in which fuch abfentees
fpend their fortunes, it is cut off from that return which Scot-
land experiences for the lofs of her rents.

Some years ago Mr. Morris publifhed a lift of the Irifli abfen-
tees, and their rentals, but as every day makes confiderable
alterations, it is of courfe grown obfolete, this induced me to
form a new one, which I got corrected by a variety of perfors
living in the neighbourhood of many of t heir refpeclive eftates :
in fuch a detail, however, of private property, there muft ne-
ceflarily be many miftakes.

I.
8,000

8,OQO

8,000
8,000
8,000
8,000
8,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
7,000
o.oco
6,000
6,000
Lord

Lord Donnegal, —

31,000

Lord Abercorn,

Lord Courtnay, — —

30,000

Mr. Dutton,

Duke of Devonfhire,

18,000

Mr. Barnard,

Earl of Milton, —

1 8,0oo

London Society,

Earl of Shetburne,
Lady Shelburne, —

18,000
15,000

Lord Conyngham
Lord Cahir,

Lord Hertford, —

14,000

Earl of Antrim,

Marquis of Rocking-

Mr.Bagnall,

ham, — —

14,000

Mr. Longfield,

Lord Barrymore,

10 oo»

Lord Kenmare,

Lord Montrath,

10,000

Lord Nugent,

Lord Beiborough,

10,000

Lord Kingfton,

Lord Egremont, —

10,000

Lord Valentia,

Lord Middleton,

10,000

Lord Grandiflbn,

Lord HiKborough,

10,000

Lord Clifford,

Mr. Stacpoule, —

10.000

Mr. Sloane,

Lord Darnley, — .

9,000

Lord Egmont,

ABSENTEES.

Lord Upper Oflbry
Mr. Silver Oliver, —
Mr. Dunbar, —
Mr. Henry Obrien, —
Mr. Mathew, — -
Lord Irnham, —
Lord Sandwich, —
Lord Vane, —
Lord Dartry, —
Lord Fane, —

Lord Claremont, —
Lord Carbury, —
Lord Clanrickard, —
Lord Farnham, —
Lord Dillon, —
Sir W. Rowley, —
Mr. Palmer, —
LordGanbrafiil, —
Lord Maftareen, —
Lord Corke, —
Lord Portfmouth, —
Lord Afhbrook, — •
Lord Villiers, —
Lord Be Hew, —
Sir Laurence Dundafs,
A'len family, —
Mr. O'Cailaghan, —
General-Montagu, —
Mr. Fitzmnurice, —
Mr. Needham, —
Mr. Cook, —

Mr. Annefley, —
Lord Kerry, —
Lord Fitzwilliam, —
Vifcount Fitzwilliam,
Englilh Corporation,
Lord Bingley, —
Lord Dacre, —
Mr.MurrayofBroughton
Lord Ludlow, —
Lord Weymouth, —
Lord Digby, —
Lord Fortefcue, —
Lord Derby, —
Lord- Fingall, —
Rlundenheirefles, —
Lady Charleville, —
Mr. Warren, —
Mr. St. George, — »

- 6,000 Mr. John Barry, —

3,000

• 6,000 Mr. Edwards, —

3,000

6,oOo Mr. Freeman, —

3,000

• 6,000 Lord Newhaven, —

3,000

6,000 Mr. Welfh, (Kerry)

3,000

6,000 Lord Pahnerftown,

2,500

6,000 Lord Beaulieu, —

2,500

6,000 Lord Verney, —
6,000 Mr. Bunbury, —

2,500
2,500

5,000 Sir George Saville,

2,000

5,000 Mrs. Newman, —

2,000

5,000 Col. Shirley, —

2,OOO

5,000 Mr. Campbell, —

2.OOO

5,000 Mr. Minchin, —

2,000

5,000 Mr. Burton, —

2.0OO

4,000 Duke of Dorfet, —

2,000

4,000 Lord Powis, —

2,000

4,000 Mr. Whit {Head, —

2,OOO

4,000 Sir Eyre Coote, —

2,OOO

4,000 Mr. Upton, —
4,000 Mr. John Baker Holroyd

2,000
,2,OOO

4,000 Sir N. Bayley, — '

2,000

4,000 Duke of Chandois,

2,000

4,000 Mr. S. Campbell, —

2, OOO

4,ooo Mr. Afliroby, —

2,000

4,000 Mr. Darner, — - •

2.OOO

4,000 Mr. Whiteheid, —

2,000

4,000 Mr. Welbore Ellis,

2,000

4,000 Mr. Folliot, —

2,000

4,000 Mr. Donellan, —

2.OOO

4,000 Mrs. Wilfon, —

2,OOO

4,000 Mr. Forward, —

2,OOO

4,000 Lord Middlefex, —

2,OOO

4,000 Mr. Supple, —

2, OOO

4 ooo Mr. Nagles, —

2,000

3,500 Lady Raneleigh, —

2, OOO

3,^00 Mr. Addair, —

2,OOO

3,000 L >rd Sefton, —

2. OOO

,3,000 Lord Tyrawley, —
3,000 Mr. Woodcock, —

2,000

2 OOO

3000 Sir John Millar, —

2,000

3,000 Mr. Baldwyn, —

2 OOO

3 ooo Dr. Moreton, —

,8oO

3,000 Dr. Delany, —

,800

3,000 Sir William Yorke, —

,700

3,000 Mr. Arthur Barry, —

600

3 ooo Lord Dyfart, —
3,000 Lord CJive, —

,60O
,60-T

3,000 Mr. Bridges, —

,^oo

F ^

Mr,

ABSENTEES,

Mr. Cavenagb, —
Mr. Cuperden, —
Lady Cunnigby, —
Mr. Annefley, —
Mr. H;.uren, — -
Mr. Long, ——
Mr. Oliver Tilfon, —
Mr. Plunnree, —
Mr. Pen, —

Mr. Rathcormuc, —
Mr. Wort-hington, —
Mr. Rice,

Mr. Ponfonby, —
General Sandlord, —
Mr. Bafil, —

Mr. Dodwell, —
Mr. Lock,
Mr. Cramer, —
Mr. W. Long, —
Mr. Rowley, —
Mtfs Mac Armey, —
Mr. Sabine, —

Mr. Carr, —

Mr. Howard, —
Sir F. and Lady Lum,
Lord Albeirrarle, —
Mr. Butler,
Mr. J. Pleydell, —
Mrs. Clayton, —
Mr. Obins, —
Lord M'Cartney, —
Mr. Chichefter, —

,500

Mr. Shepherd, ~

,00cr

,500

Sir P. Dennis, —

,OOO

,500

Lady Dean, —-

,000

,500

Lord Liftmrne, —

,000

,500

Mr. Rnlph Smith, —

,000

,500

Mr. Ormfby, —

,000

,500

Lord Stanhope, — -

,000

,400

Lord Tilney, — -

,000

,400

Lord Vere, —

,000

,200

Mr. Hoar, —

ooo

,200

Mrs. Gievill, —

ooo

,200

Mr. Nappier, —

,000

,200

Mr. Echlin, — SoO

,200

Mr. Taaf, — 800

,200

Mr. Alexander, — Soo

,200

Mr. Hamilton, — 800

,200

Mr. Haniilton,(Longford) 800

,2OO

Mr. William Barnard, &oo

,200

Sir P. Leicefter — 800

,200

Mr. Moreland, — 800

,200

Mr. Cam, — 700

,100

Mr. Jonathan Lovett, 700

,000

Mr. Hull, — 700

,000

Mr. Stauntoo, — 700

,000

Mr. Richard Barry, — 700

,000

Colonel Barre, — 600

<000

Mr. Afhon, — 600

,000

Lady St. Leger, — 6co

,000

Sir John Hort, — 500

,000

Mr. Edmund Burke, — 500

,000

Mr. Auibrofe, — 500

,000

Total 73Z.2OO

This total, though not equal to what has been reported, is
certainly an amazing drain upon a kingdom cut off frcm the
re-aftion of a tree trade, and Inch an one as mutt have a vf-ry
confiderafele effect in preventing the natural courfe of its proi-
perity. h is not the fimple amount of the rental being remit-
ted into another country, but the damp on all forts of improve-
ments, and the tot:.l want of «cumenance and encouragement
v.-hich the lower tenantry labour under. Tht landlord at fuch
a great diftarice is out of the way of all couipiaims, ot which
is the fame thing, ot examining into, cr remedying evils;
rnileries of which he can fee nothing, and probably hear
as little of, can make no imprefuon. All that is required
of the agent is to be punctual in his remittances, and
as to the people who pay him, they arc too often welcome
to go to the devil, provided their rents eould be paid from his

territories.

POPULATION. 85

territories. This is the general picture. God forbid it fhoufd
be univerfally true ! there are ablentees.who expend large fums
upon their eftates in Ireland ; the earl of Shelburne has made
great exertions for the introduction of Englifh agriculture. Mr.
Fitzmaurice has taken every means to eftablifh a manufacture.
The bridge at Lifmore is an inftance of liberal magnificence in
the duke of Devonfhire. The church and other buildings at
Belfaftdo iionour to lord Donnegall. The church and town of
Hilfborough, are ftriking monuments of what that nobleman
performs. Lord Conyngham's expenditure in his abfence in
building and planting merits the higheft praile, nor are many
other inltances wanting, equally to the advantage of the king-
dom, and the honour of the individuals.

Ic will not be improper here to add, that the amount of the
penfion lift of Ireland, the zgth of September, 1779, amounted
to 84,591!. per annum ; probably therefore abfentee*. penfions,
offices, and intereft of money, amount to above A M i L n o K !

SECTION XV.

Population.

IT is very aftonifhing that this fubject fhould be fo little un-
derftood in moft countries ; even in England, which has gi-
ven birth to fo many treat ifes on the ftate, caufes and confe-
quences of it, fo little is known, that thofe who have the beft
means of information, confefs their ignorance in the variety of
their opinions. Thofe political principles which fhould long,
ere this time, have been fixed and acknowledged, are difpu-
ted ; erroneous theories ftarted, and even the evidence of facts
denied. But thefe mifchievous errors ufually proceed from the
rage of condemnation, and the croaking jaundiced fpirit, which
determines to deduce public ruin from iomething ; if not from a
king, a minifter, a war, a debt, or a peftilence, from depopula-
tion. In fliort, if it was not to be attributed to any thing, ma-
ny a calculator would be in bedlam with difappointment. We
have feen thefe abfurdities carried to fuch a length as to fee
grave treatifes publifhed, and with refpectable names to them,
which have declared the depopulation of England itfelf to take
place even in the moft productive period of her induftry and her
wealth. This is not furprifmg, for there are no follies too ridi-
culous for wife men fometimes to patronize, but the amazing
circumftance is that fuch tracts are believed, and that harmlefs
politicians figh in the very hey day of propagation, left another
age fhould fee a fertile land without people to eat the fruits of
it. Let population alone, and there is no fear of its taking care
of itfelf. but when fuch fooleries are made a pretence of re-
commending laws for the regulation of lanckd property, which
has been the cafe, fuch fpecuiations fhould be treated with,
contempt and detcftation ; while merely fpcculative, thev are

perfectly

86 POPULATION.

perfectly harmlefs, but let them become a&ive in parliament,
and common fenfe ftiould exert her power to kick the abfurdity
out of doors. To do juftice to the Irifli, I found none of this
folly in that kingdom : many a violent oppofer of government
is to be found in that country, ready enough to confefs that
population increafes greatly ; the general ttnour of the in-
formation in the minutes declare the fame thing.

There are feveral circumftances in Ireland extremely fa-
vourable to population, to which muft be attributed that coun-
try being fo much more populous than the ftate of manufacturing
induftry would feem to imply. There are five caufes, which
may be particularized among others of lels confequence. Firft,
There being no poor laws. Second, the habitations. Third,
The generality of marriage. Fourth, Children not being bur-
thenfome. Fifth, Potatoes the food.

The laws of fettlement in England, which confine the poor
people to what is called their legal fettlements, one would
think framed with no other view than to be a check upon the
rational induftrv, it was, however, a branch of, and arofe from
thole monuments of barbarity and mifchief, our poor rates, for
when once the poor were made, what they ought never to be
confidered a burthen, it was incumbent on every parifh to lef-
fen as much as poffible their numbers ; thefe laws were there-
fore framed in the very fpirit of depopulation, and moft certainly
have for near two centuries proved a bar to the kingdom's be-
coming as populous as it would otherwile have done. For-
tunately for Ireland, it has hitherto kept free from thefe evils,
and from thence refults a great degree of her prefent populati-
on. Whole families in that country will move from one place
to another with freedom, fixing according to the demand for
their labour, and the encouragement they receive to fettle.
The liberty of doing this is certainly a premium on their induf-
trv, and confequently to their incrcafe.

Thecabbins of the poor Irifli being fuch apparently miferable
habitations, is another* very evident encouragement to population.
In England, where the poor are in many refpe&s in fuch a fu-
perior ftate, a couple will not marry unlefs they can get a houfe,
to build which, take the kingdom through, will coft from
twenty-five to fixty pounds ; half the life, and all the vigour
and youth of a man and woman are pafled, before they can
fave fuch a fum ; and when they have got it, fo burthenfome
are poor to a parifli, that it is twenty to one if they get per-
niiilion to erec~l their cottage. But in Ireland the cabbin is not
an object of a moment's confideration ; to poffefs a cow and a
pig is an earlier aim ; the cabbin begins with a hovel, that is
created with two days labour, and the young couple pafs not
their youth in celibacy for want of a neft to produce their young
In. If it comes to t matter of calculation, it will then be but
as four pounds to thirty.

Marriage

POPULATION. 87

Marriage is certainly more generaJ in Ireland than in Eng-
land : I fcarce ever found an unmarried farmer or cottar, but it
is feen more in other clafTesj which with us do not marry at
all ; fuch as fervants ; the generality of footmen and maids,
in gentlemen's families, are married, a circumftance we very
rarely fee in England.

Another point of importance is their children not being
burthenfome. In all the enquiries^ made into the Mate of the
poor, I found their happinefs and eafe generally relative to the
number of their children, and nothing confidered as fuch a
misfortune as having none : whenever this is the fact, or the
general idea, it muft neceflurily have a confiderable effect in
promoting early marriages, and confequently population.

The food of the people being potatoes is a point not of lef»
importance : for when the common food of the poor is fo dear
as to be an object of attentive ceconomy, the children will
want that plenty which is eflential to rearing them ; the arti-
cle of milk, fo general in the IrifK cabbins, is a matter of the
firft confequence in rearing infants. The Irifli poor in the
catholic parts of that country are fubfifted entirely upon land,
whereas the poor in England have fo little to do with it, that
they fubfift almoft entirely from fliops, bv a purchafe of their
neceflaries ; in the former cafe it muft be a matter of prodi-
gious confequence, that the product fhould be yielded by as
fmall a fpace of land as poflible ; this is the cafe with potatoes
more than with any other crop whatever.

As to the number of people in Ireland I do not pretend fo
compute them, becaufe there are no fatisfactory data whereon
to found any computation. I have -feen feveral formed on the
hearth tax, but all computations by taxes muft be erroneous,
they may be below, but they cannot be above the truth.
This is the cafe of calculating the number in England from
the houfe and window tax. In Ireland it is ftill more fo, from
the greater carelefinefs and abufes in collecting taxes. There
i.s, however, another teafon, the exemptions from the hearth-
money, which in the words of the aft are as follow : *' Thofe
who live upon alms and are not able to get their livelihood
by work, and widows, who fliall procure a cenifkare of
two juftices of the peace in writing yearly, that the houfe
which they inhabit is not of greater value than eight mill-
ings by the year, and that they do not occupy lands of the
value of eight fhillings by the year, and that they have not
goods or chatties to the value of four pounds *.*' It muft
be very manifeft from hence, that this tax can be no rule
whereby to judge of the population of the kingdom. Captain
South's account is drawn from this fource in the lat century,
•which made the people 1,034,102 in the year 1695 f; the

* A Treatife of the Exchequer and Revtmtf of IrelnnJ, By

G. E. HOW A RD, Eft; Vol. \. f>. 90.

t Abridgment of Phil, TranJ. Vol. iii. /. 665.

number

38 P U B L I C W O R K S.

number was computed by Sir W. Petty, in the year 1657 to
850,000 ; in 1688 at 1,200,000 ; and in 1767 the houfes taxed
were 424,046. If the number of houfes in a kingdom were
known, we fhould be very far from knowing that of the peo-
ple, for the computation of four or five per houfe, drawn from
only a thousandth part of the total, and perhaps deduced from
that of a family rather than a houfe, can never fpeak the real
faft. I cannot conclude this fubjeft without earneftly recom-
mending to the legiflature of Ireland, to order an actual enu-
meration of the whole people, for which purpofe I ftiould ap-
prehend a vote of the houfe of commons would be lufficient.
Such a meafure would be attended with a variety of beneficial
effecls, would prevent the rife of thofe errors which have been
mifchievous in England, and would place the great importance
of Ireland to theBritifh empire, in that truly conipicuous light
in which it ought ever to be viewed, and in which it could not
fail to be confidered, while we have theorifts, who infift that
the people of England do not amount to five millions.

The common idea is, that there are fomething under three
millions in Ireland.

SECTION XVI.
Public Works— Dublin Society.

ABOUT twenty years ago Ireland inftead of being bur-
thened with a national debt, had at the end of every fef-
fions of parliament from fifty to fixty thoufand pounds, furplus
revenue in the Exchequer, at the dilpofition of parliament :
this money was voted for public works. The members of the
the houfe of commons, at the conclulion of the felfions, met for
the purpofe of voting the ufes to which this money fhould be
applied ; the greater part of it was among themfelves, their
friends, or dependants ; and though fome work, of apparent
ufe to the public at large, was always the plea, yet under that
fanclion, there were a great number of very fcandalous private
jobs,which by degrees brought fuch a difcredit on this mode of
applying public money, that the conclufion of it, from the increafc
of the real expences of the public, was not much regretted. It
muft, however, be acknowledged, that during this period, there
were fome excellent works ot acknowledged utility executed,
iuch as harbours, piers, churches, fchools, bridges, &c. built
and executed by fome gentlemen, if not with ceconomy, at iea'l
without any difhonourable mifapplication ; and as the whole
was fpent within the kingdom, it ctrtainly was far from being
any great national evil.

But of all public works, none have been fo much favoured as
inland navigations ; a navigation board was eftablifhed many
years ago for directing the expenditure of the fums, granted
by parliament for thole purpoies, and even regular funds fixed

fpr

PUBLIC" WORKS. 89

for their fupport. Under the adminiftration of this board,
which confifts of many of the mod confiderable perfons in the
kingdom, very great attempts have been made, but I am for-
ry to obferve, very little completed. In order to examine this
matter the more regularly, it will be proper to lay before the
reader the fums which have, from time to time, been granted
fcr thefe objects.

An account of money, granted for public works by parlia-
ment, or the navigation board, from 175310 1767, inclu-
five*.

Newry river, - - 9,000

Public Records, - -

5,000

Drumglafs colliery and
navigation, - - 112,218

AquaeduCt Dungarvon,
Soldiers childrens hofp.

1,300
7,000

Dromreagh, - - 3,000

Lying-in hofpital,

19,300

Lagan River, - - 40,304

Mercer's hofpital,

500

Shannon River, - - 31,500

Shannon bridge,

2,000

Grand Canal, - - 73,646

Kilkenny ditto,

9,I30

Blackwater River, - 11,000

Corke bridges,

4,000

River Lee, - - 2,000

Kildare bridges, -

600

River Barrow, - - 10,500

St. Mark's church,

2,000

River Suie & Waterford, 4,500

it. Thomas's church,

5.44°

River Nore, - - - 25,250

St. Catherine's church,

3-99°

River Boyne, - - 36,998

St. John's church,

2,000

Pier at Skerries, - - 3,500

Building churches, -

12,000

Pier at Envir, - - 1,870

A.thlone church,

' 4?6

Pier at Dunleary, - 18,500

Camel church, - -

800

Pier atBalbriggen, - 5,252

Wexford church,

Pier at Banger, - - 500

Quay at Dingle, -

• 1,000

Pier at Killyleagh, - 1,200

Minfterkenry collieries,

2,000

Marine nurfery,

1 OOO

Antrim River, - - - 1,359

Road' round Dublin

1,500

Ballad-office Wall, - 43,000

Dundalk . . -

2 OOO

Widening Dublin ftreets 41 ,986

Whale-fifhery, - -

1,000

Trinity College, - 31,000

Drydock, - -

2,000

Baal's Bridge Limerick

Mills at Naui, -

3.498

quays, - - - 7,773

Balty-caftle, - - -

3,000

Cork channel harbour, 6,500

Lord Longford, - -

3,000

Cork Workhoufe, - 1*500

i I.

Derry Quay, - - - 2,900
Shandon Street, Corke, i.SOO

717.944

Wicklow harbour, - 6,850

Or per annum,

47,863

S;. Patrick's Hofpital, 6,000

* Commons Journal? Vol. xiv. /. 485.

TLIs

50 PUBLIC WORKS.

This period of fifteen years, I believe was that of the fur-
plus of the revenue, during which the objects were as various
as the incKi.ations of thofe individuals who had any intereft in
parliament. It appears from the lift, that the article of navi-
gations fwallows up the greateft proportion of it.

Sums paid out of the revenues at large for certain public works,
purfuant to the feveral bills of fupply, from 1703 to 1771,
inclufive.

Navigations, collieries, docks, %c. — — 379,388

To build churches, — -7 — — 17,706

Parliament houfe, — — — — 16,270

Dublin workhoufe, fouth wallpafTages, new road and

marfhalfea, — — — — — 140,372

Hofpitals, — — — — — 44,25«

Trinity college, — — — — — 45,000

Alfo, for the following purpofes during the fame period.

Rewards and bounties to manufacturers, 29,829

Linen manufacture — — — 180,546

Cambrick ditto, — — — 4,000

Whale fifliery, — • — — — 1,500

Incorporated fociety, — — - — 96,000.

Dublin fociety, — .«-—.—. 64,000

£1,018,862

It is to be noted however, that this account includes the
difourfements neither of the navigation, nor the linen board,
for it is upon record, that the grand canal alone has coft
above three hundred thoufands pounds, by fome accounts half
a million.

Granted by the navigation board only, from 1768, to 1771.

1768. 1769.

1770.

1771.

Total.

1. .

Newry canal,

2,216

130

2»434

Drumglafs navigation,

».97»

344

2,15'

1,200

5,566

Barrow navigation,

3,000

100

3,100

Shannon navigation,

4,,62

162

3.336

7,660

Grand canal,

55°

1,280

755

2,000

4.585

Boyne navigation,
Fergus navigation,

2,143
500

2,860

2,000

35°

2,504

9»5°7
850

11,542

4,676

11,592

5,892

33,702

Incomplete

P U B L I C - W O R K S. , 91

Incomplete as thefe data are, we find from them, that great
fums of money have been granted for inland navigations, and
are to this day given for the fame purpofe • let us therefore
enquire how this money has been expended, and what h&s
been the eflfedl of it,

I made fome enquiries, and travelled many miles to view
Come of the navigations, and the only one which appeared to
me really completed, is the canal from the town of Newry to
the fea, on which I faw a brig of eighty or one hundred tons
burthen. The fame canal is extended farther than that town,
but ftops fliort of the great objeft for which it was begun
and made, viz. the Drumglafs and Dungannon colleries ; this
may therefore be clafled as incomplete relative to the objeft,
but as Newry is a place of conliderable trade, finifhing it fo
far has merit. The great tiefign was to furnifh Dublin with
IrifK coals, which was probably feafible, for thefeams of coals
in thofe collieries are aflerted to be of luch a thickncfs.and good-
nefs,as proved them more than equal to the confumption of half
a dozen fuch cities as Dublin ; but two great difficulties were
to be overcome : firft, to make the navigation fo, that all land
carriage might be faved, which was properly a public work;
and fecondly, to work the collieries, which was properly pri-
vate bufinefs, but from the utter deficiency of capital in the
hands of the individuals concerned, could never have been
clone without public afliftance. To get over thefe difficulties,
parliament went very eagerly into the bufinefs ; they granted fo
liberally to the canal, that I think it has been finifhed to with-
in two or three miles of the collieries ; at the fame time a pri-
vate company was formed for working the mines, to whom
conliderable grants were made to enable them to proceed.
The property in the works changed hands feveral times ;
among others, the late archbifliop of Tuam (Ryder) was deeply
concerned in them, entering with great fpirit into the defign ;
but what with the impofuions of the people employed ; the
iois of fome that were able and honeft ; the ignorance of
others ; and the jobbing fpirit of fome proprietors, parliament,
atter granting enormous fums, both to the canal and collieries,
had the mortification, inftead of feeing coals come to Dublin,
nothing but gold fert from Dublin, to do that which fate feem-
ed determined iliould never be done, and fo in defpair aban-
doned the defign to the navigation board, to fee if their lefler
exertions would effect what the mightier ones had failed in.
A Mr. Dulartc, an Italian engineer, and very ingenious archi-
tect, has had for a few vears the fuperintendance of the woiks,
but the temper of the nation has been fo fcured by difappoint-
ments, that he has not the funpon which he thinks necefiary
to do any thing effectual,

The

9$ COALS.

The following Table of the Import of Coal to Ireland, will
ihew the Importance of the Object.

In the year 1764

Tons.
161,970

172,276
'85,554

197»I35

Intheyear 1771
1772
'773
'774
»775
1776

»777

Tons.
182,973
211,438
186,057
189,237
203,403
217,938
240,893

1766
1767
1768
1769
1770

Average of 7 years 180,113 Average of 7 years 204,566

From this table it appears, that not only the quantity itfelf
is great, but that it is a very rifing import, owing to the in-
cieafe of Dublin, which has arofe with the increafingprofperi-
ty of the kingdom.

The little effect of all attempts to fupply Dublin with Irifti
coals will be feen by the following table of the bounties paid
for that purpofe.

In thevear

1761
1762

,763

1764

1767
1768
1769

1.
107

220
125

218

»35

75
150
164

s.
•5
3
'4

19
'3
'3

18
'5

d.
6

9
3
3

4
4

In the year 1770
1771
1772
'773
1774
'775
1776

'777

169
105
113

209
204
2n

s.
ii

4
i f
1 1

7
14

d.
4

0
0

Before I entirely difmifs this undertaking, I cannot but re-
mark, that nothing can more clearly prove the amazing want
of capital in Ireland than the prefeni Itate of thefe works. The
navigation is complete except two or three miles ; I will ven-
ture to aflert, that parliament would grant the money for finifh-
ing it without hefication, provided men of undoubted fubflance
engaged for working the collieries at their own expencc : we
may therefore aflert, there is water carnage from fome of the
fineft feams of coal in the world, and at a very flight depth,
directly into the heart of tb? ftcond market in the Britiih do-
minions, with the advantage of a parliamentary bounty per
chaldron on their imporc into Dublin. Yet, with all thefe
advantages, nobody has capita! enough to undertake the work.
This fact feems to call alib ior another obtervation. I remem-
ber in the English Houfe of Commons, in the fcflion 1777-8,
when the friends of the Iriih trade bills urged, that the want

GRAND CANAL. 95

of capital in Ireland was fuch that me could never rival the
manufactures of Great Britain : it was replied, that Englifli
capitals would go over to do it for them ;— but what I have
juft recited, proves that this remark is perfectly unfounded.
If capitals were fo readily moved from one country to another,
the Drumglafs collieries would have attracted them, efpecialljr
as an intereft for ever is to be p"urchafed in them ; but the
fact is, that removeable capitals are in the hands of men who
have been educated, and perhaps have made them locally in
fome trade or undertaking which they will not venture to re-t
move. Prejudice and habit govern mankind as much even as
their intereft, fo that no apprehenfion can be fo little founded
as that of a country lofing ihe capital ihe has made, by cranf-
ferring it into another for greater feeming advantages in trade.
But this point 1 (hall have occafion hereafter to dwell more
particularly on.

The grand canal, as it has been ridiculoufly termed, was
another inland navigation which has coft the public ftill greater
fums. The defign, as the maps of Ireland mew, was to form
a communication by water between Dublin and the Shannon
by this cut, moft of the way through the immenfe bog of Al-
len. The former plan of bringing coals to Dublin was a very
wife one, but this of the grand canal had fcarcely any object
that feemed to call for fuch an exertion. If the country is ex-
amined, through which the intended canal was to pafs, and
alfo that through which the Shannon runs, it will be found,
confidering its extent, to be the leaft productive for the Dublin
market, perhaps of the v/hole kingdom. Examine Leitrim,
Rofcommon, Longford, Galway, Clare, Limerick, and thofe
parts of Weft Meach and Kings, which the line of the canal
and Shannon lead through, there are fcarcely any commodities
in them for Dublin. Nay, the prefent bounty on the inland
carriage of corn to Dublin, proves to a demonftration, that the
quantity of corn raifed in all thefe counties for that market is
contemptible : What other products are there ? Raw wool
takes another direction, it goes at prefent from Rofcommon to
Corke. Manufactures in that line are very infignificant -f
there are fome in Galway, but the ports of Limerick and Gal-
way are perfectly fuilicient for the fmall exportation of them.
There remains nothing. but turf; and who at Dublin would
burn that while Whitehaven coals are at the prefent price ?

Moft of the inland navigations in England have been exe-
cuted with private funds ; the intereft paid by the tolls — one
ftrong reafon for this mode, is the prevention of unueceffary
and idle fchemes ; the manufactures mutt be wrought, or the
products railed, and feel the clog of an expenfive carriage be-
fore private perfons will fubfcribe their money towards a
cheaper conveyance ; in which cafe, the very application to
parliament is generally proof fuflicient that a canal ought to be
cut. Having fomething to carfy before you, feek the means of
carriage, 1 will venture to fay, that if the grand canal was

entirel/

94 GRAND CANAL.

entirely complete, the navigation of it, including whatever the
country towns took from Dublin, would prove of fuch a beg-^
garly account, that it would then remain a greater monument
of folly if poffible, than at prefent. Some gentlemen I have
talked with on this fubject, have replied // is a job ; 'twas meant
as a job; you are not to conftder it as a canal of trade but as a cunal
for public money ; but even this, though advanced in Ireland, is
not upon principle. I anfwer that fomething has been done,
fourteen miles with innumerable locks, quays, bridges, &c. are
abfolutely finifhed, though only for the benefit of eels and fkat-
ing : Why throw this money away ? Half what thefe fourteen
miles have coft would have finifhed the Newry canal, and per-
fected the Dungannon collieries. Admit your argument of the
job ; I feel its weight ; I fee its force ; but that does not ac-
count for the fums actually expended. Might not the lame per-
fons have plundered the public to the fame amount, in execut-
ing fome work of real utility ; from which fomething elfe might
have refuhed than difgrace and ignominy to the nation ?

As to the other navigations, there is in general this objecti-
on to-be made to them all, however neceflary they might be,
they are ufelefs for want of being completed ; three-fourths
are only begun. The gentlemen in the neighbourhood of them
have had intereft enough in the navigation board to get a part
only voted, and from the variety of undertakings going on at
the fame time, and all for the fame reafon incomplete, the
public utility has been more trifling from all, than from a fingie
one finiflied. Sorry I am to fay, that a hiftory of public works
in Ireland would be a hiftory of jobs, which has and will prove
of much worfe confequence, than may be at firft apparent : it
has given a confiderable check to permitting grants of money.
Adminiftration feeing the ufes to which it has been applied,
have viewed thefe mifapplications, as they term them, of the
public money with a very jealous eye. They have curtailed
much : until another very queftionable mealure, the bounty
on the inland carriage of corn to Dublin demanded fo much as
to leave nothing for jobs of another fort ; that meafure may
be repealed, and the money applied to it will be at the difpofal
of parliament, either for the common purpofe of government, or
applicable to fome national improvement of a more decifive
nature ; the latter may, after fo many inflances, be rejected
for fear of jobs : how melancholy a confideration is it, that in
a kingdom which from various caufes had been fo fortunate as
to fee a great portion of public treafure annually voted for
public purpofes, fo abominably mifapplied, and pocketed by
individuals, as to bring a ridicule and reproach upon the very
idea of fuch grants. There is fuch a want of public fpirit, of
candour and of care for the interefts of pofterity in fuch a con-
duft, that it cannot be branded with an expreflion too harfli,
or a condemnation too pointed : nor lefs deierving of feverity
is it, if flowing from political and fecret motives of burthening

the

DUBLIN SOCIETY. 9;

the public revenues to make private factions the more impor-
tant.

Great honour is due to Ireland for having given birth to the
DUBLIN SOCIETY, which has the undiiputed merit of being
the father of all the flmilar focieties now exifting in Europe.
It was eftabliflied in 1731, and owed its origin to one of the
moft patriotic individuals which any country has produced,
DR.. SAMUEL MADAN. For fome years it was fupported
only by the voluntary fubfcriptions of the members, forming a
fund much under a thoufand pounds a year ; yet was there
fuch a liberality of fentiment in their conduct, and fo pure a
love of the public intereft apparent in all their tranfactions, as
enabled them with that fmall fund to effect much greater
things than they have done in later times fince parliament has
granted them regularly ten thoufand pounds a fefiions. A well
written hiftory of their tranfactions would be a work extremely
ufeful to Ireland ; for it would explain much better than any
reafoning could do, the proper objects for the patronage both
of thefociety and parliament. I (hall confine myfelf to a few-
general obfervations. It was inftituted, as their charter ex-
prefTes, for the improvement of agriculture, and for many years
that material object pofTefTed by far the greateft part of their
attention ; but when their funds by the aid of parliament grew
more confiderable, they deviated fo far into manufactures, (in
which branch they have been continually increafing their ef-
forts,) that at prefent agriculture feems to be but a fecondary
object with them. During the life time of that ingenious but
unfortunate man, Mr. "John Wynn Baker^ his fupport drew fo
many friends of agriculture to their meetings, that the premi-
ums in its favour were very numerous ; fince his death, the
nobility and gentry not having the fame inducement to attend
the tranfactions of the fociety, they were chiefly directed by
fome gentlemen of Dublin, who underftand fabrics much bet-
ter than lands, and being more interefted in them, they are at-
tended to, perhaps, in too exclufive a manner. It would be te-
dious to enter into an examination of many of their mea-
fures, there are fome, however, which demand a few re-
marks.

In order to encourage the manufacture of Irifl* woollen
cloths, and Irifh.filks, the fociety have two warehoufes *, in
one of which filk is fold on their account, wholefale and retail.
and in the other cloth ; both are fent to them by the weaver,
whofe name is written on the piece, and the price per yard on
it : nothing but ready money is taken ; the ftock of filks ge-
nerally amounts to the value of twelve or thirtee'n thoufand
pounds in hand ; and of woollens to ten or eleven thoufand
more j and the expences in rent and falaries of thefe ware-
houfes

* The 'woollen tuareboufe ivas opened May 29, 1773 ; t but for
. 18,1765.

96 DUBLIN SOCIETY.

houfes amount to five hundred pounds a year each. Call the
ftock twenty-five thoufand pounds at fix per cent, the total ex-
pence of this meafure isjuft two thoufand five hundred pounds
a year ; or four times over the whole revenue of the lociety
for the encouragement of arts, manufactures, and commerce
at London. I have examined their fales in the weekly returns
publifhed, and find that from June 23, 1777, to February 7,
1778, their average weekly receipt was

Silk 1 50

Wool 339

Or per annum Silk 7,800

Wool 17,628

%s the fociety give a premium of 3!. per cent, on all the Irijk
•wrought filk bought in the kingdom by ivholefale for the furpofe of
retailing, that is abo've four f killings ayard, it wijl help us to form
aji idea of the filk manufacture. From the firft of June 1776,
to the firft of June 1777, the amount was 34,023!. 8s. 2d. in-
cluding Corke, Limerick, Belfaft, &c. and they paid fix hun-
dred and fifty pounds premium on it, from hence we find that
their own filk fales muft be a large proportion of the whole-
fale in Dublin. This has been the greateft exertion of the
Dublin Society of late years.

The intention of the meafure is evidently to take the wea-
vers, both of filk and wool, out of the hands of mercers and
drapers, and let their manufactures come to market without
any intermediate profit on them. There is one effect certain to
refult from this, which is taking a great part of the ready mo-
ney cuftom from the draper and mercer, which being the moft
beneficial part of their trade, is to all intents and purpofes lay-
ing a heavy tax on them : now upon every principle of common
fenfe as well as commerce, it will appear a ftrange mode of en-
couraging a manufacture to lay taxes upon the mafter manu-
facturers. But all taxes laid upon a tradefman in confequence
of his trade, muft be drawn back in the fale of his commodi-
ties, and this tax muft be fo as well as others j whatever he
does fell muft be fo much the dearer, or he can carry on no
trade at all j here therefore is a frefli tax, that of enhancing the
prices paid by all who do not buy with ready money, a very
great majority of the whole : the dearer a commodity is the
lefs is confumed of it, fo the confumption on credit is undoubt-
edly leflened, in order that thofe who have ready money in
their hands may be ferved fomething the cheaper : here is a
mnnifeft and felf evident mifchief, in order to attain a very
doubtful and queftionable benefit.

Is there under the fun, an inftance of a manufacture made to
flourifli by fuch meafures ? Mafter manufacturers with that vi-
gour, attention, (kill and invention, which are the refult of a
profitable bufinefs, are in all parts of the world, the very foul
of profperous fabrics. It is their profit which animates
them to thofe fpiritcd exertions, upon which the advance of

manufactures

DUBLINSOCIETY. 97

manufactures depends. If the Dublin fociety's conduct is right
in part it is right in the whole, which would be attracting all
the demand to tl.eir own warehoufes ; in which cafe there
would not be a iwcrcer or draper left in Dublin. Their com-
mittees, and gentlemen, and weavers, may choofe and pay
clerks, and discharge their rent, but where are the directors of
finer fabrics to coaie from ? Where the men of tafte who are
to invent ? Where the quLcknefs and fagacity to mark and fol-
low the caprice of fathion ? Are thele to come from wea-
vers ? Abfurd the idea ! It is the active and intelligent matter
(hat is to do all this. Go to the weavers in Spitalfields, and
lee ih«m mere tools directed by their matters. Goto any other
fabric upon earth, and lie vrhat wcnild become of it if the
heads were coniidered as ufelefs, and rivalled in their profits
with public money. If the manufacture is of fuch a fickly
growth, that it will not fupport the mafter as well as the man,
it is not worth a country's notice. What is it that induces in-
dividuals to embark in a fabric their capital and induftry ? Pro-
fit. The greater this js, the greater the capital that will be
attracted ; but eftaliifli a fyftem that fhall rival, leflenandde-
ftroy this profit, who will bring their capital to fuch a trade?
Am! can any people be lo fenielels as to imagine, that a manu-
facture is to be encouraged by baniihing capital from it ?

There is another eftect, which I fhould fuppofe muft flow
from thjs extraordinary idea, which is, that of raifing great
heart-burnings and jealoufies among the trad*e j the drapers
and .mercers are not probably at all.pleafed with the weavers,
who work for the fociety's warehoufes ± this muft be very de-
trimental to the bufmefs at large. I may alfo obterve, that
rnafter-manufacturers have more ways of encouraging (kilful
and induftrious workmen, than the mere buying their goods
and employing them ; there are a thoufand little points of fa-
vour in their power, which the fociety cannot practice ; but
how can they be inclined to fuch things, while fteps are taken
to deprive them of every workman that can do without their
alfiftance ?

Fortunately for the kingdom, it is at Dublin as in other cities,
the ready money trade is by no means equal to that of credit,
confequently the pernicious tendency of this meafure cannot
fully be feen. The drapers and mercers do and will fupport
their trade in fpite of this formidable rival, backed with a
premium of two thoufand five hundred pounds a /ear, appro-
priated to their ruin, in order to encourage their trade ! The
tendency of the meafure is evidently the deftructioa of both
the manufactures.

This is a fact, which appears fo obvious, that I fhould appre-
hend it muft have done mifchief, in direct proportion to the
amount of the operation. Jt is extremely diificult to dilco-
ver fa els that can prove tl)i* from the nature of the cafe ; no
v/onder it" the import of tore^n filk. and woollens fliould have
crcreafed from fuch a uieafure. Let us examine this point.

VOL. I!- G Accouat

9& DUBLIN SOCIETY.

Account of Silk imported into Ireland in Twenty-fix Years/

Tears.

Manu-

Raw.

Rib-

Ttars.

Manu-

Raw.

Rib-

faftur-

band.

fadur-

band,

td.

ed.

~~T.'

Ib.

1752

14,654

5 3. 70S

1 60

1765

21,582

54,655

.543

'753
'754

13,360
»5,44*

60,155
42,665

,84

36l

1766 17,260
1767 19,104

$4,4J8
46,067

,724
»527

>755

9.874

43 '947

265

1768

23,446

52,062

,646

1756

'3»7'5

32,948

140

1769

17,522

57,001

,401

x-757

7>709

4''354

1770

20,581

44,273

,183

1758

17,292

5.»,3e>3

271

1771

'4,095

38,107

650

1759

13,836

44,493

1772

15,804

33,6n

644

1760

21,878

55,905

365

1773

»7,379

53,662

378

1761

14,815

5 ',348

1 80

'774

14,665

38,811

553

1762
1763

21,054
»7»74»

70,292
41,021

306
469

'775, 13,658
1776117,326

29,578
41,594.

355

r»?

1764

23,511

36,58'

746

1777

24,'8;

54,043

i,574

'. Aver.

I5.76o

48,132

275

Aver.

18,200

45,990

i ,068

Confidering the extent of the period, I will not afitert that
this table is very decifi-ve ; whatever conclufions, however,that
are to be drawn from it, are as far as they go againjl the late
meafures that refpeft the Infh iillc manufafture, for the import-
ed fabrics have increased, while the raw material worked up
HI Ireland has dWw«/VJj a proof that the manufa&ure has not
been of any very healthy growth.

MS. Covimi<nic<Ht(l by Mr. Forjler.

DUBLIN SOCIETY. 99

An Account of tbe Import of Woollen Goods for 14 Years t.

Years.

Neva Dra
pery.

Old Dra-
pery.

Years.

Neva Dra
pery*

Old Dra-
pery.

1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770

Average

Yards.
248,002
239,365
313,216

325o85
337»5;8

394.553
462,499

Yards.
220,828
176,161
197,3.6
189,882
19*5,664
207,117
249,666

1771
1772
1773
1774

'775
1776

1777
Average

La ft 7 years
Former do.

Increafe,

Yards.
362,096
3H»703
387.'43
461,407
465,61 1
676,485
731,8.9

Yards.
217,395
I53.566
210,065
282,317
281,379
290,215
381,330

33«»548

205,662

485.609

259,466

485.609
33'.548

259.466
205,662

154,061

53,804

The increafe is fo great that it might juftify conclusions
againft all the late meaiures, none of which are near fo much
to be condemned as the eftabliihment of the focieties ware-
houfe.

Import of Linen, Cotton, and Silk, BritifH Manufacture.

Value.

Valut.

In the vear 1764

— 18,858

In the year 1771

— 20,282

1765

— '8,037

1772

— 14,081

1766

— '5.557

'773

— 20.472

1767

— 12,710

1774

— 21,611

1768

— 16,021

'775

— 24,234

1769

— 13,402

1776

— 3°.37'

1770

— 20,907

'777

— 45. 411

Average of feven years 16,784 Average of feven years 25,208

t Par!. Rsc. of Exf. <wd ]v>£. MS.

G z

When

loo DUBLIN SOCIETY.

When it is confidered, that the undoubted mifchief of this
fvftem is not fubmitted to as an unavoidable evil, but purcha^
led with great expence, attention and anxiety ; and that the
two thoujand' five 'hum.', red a year thus beftowed, as the
price of 16 much harm, might be expended in objects of great
conlequer.ee to the public, it will fuiely leein unpardonable in
pajliiunent to appear fo liule felicitous tor the welfare of their
manufactures, as to give ten thotifand pounds a feftion, at large,
and net limit ihe applicaticn of fuch a liberal grant to purpofes
of cen-ain advantage. And it furely behoves the fociety itfelf
to recommit this matter; to extend their views ; to confider
the principles upon which all the manufactures in the world
!are earned on, fupported and increafed ; and if they fee no
Veftige of: fuch a policy, as;they patronize and practice, inany
country that has puttied her fabrics to a great height, at leaft
to. be. dubious of this favourite meafure, and not perfift in
forcing it at fach a considerable expence.

' Ancther meafure of the fociety, which I hinted at before, is
to give three per cent, to the whofefale purchafers of Irifh filks
for retailing, and this cofts them above fix hundred pounds a
year. Upon what found principles this is done I cannot difco-
vtr ; if the mercers have not a demand for thefe Irifli filks,
five times the fbciety's premiums will not make them purcha-
fers ;"Ton the contrary, if they have a demand for them, they
nicft undoubtedly will buy them without any premium for fo
doing. It appears therefore to me, that the only end which
fuch a meafure could anfwer, was to difcover the abfolute in-
fignifkanceof the whole Irifh filk manufacture, which is prov-
ed through the whole kingdom to be to the amount only of
thirty-four thoufand pounds a year, of four {hillings a yard and
upwards ; but the repetition of- the premium fliews that this
was not the defign. Of all other fabrics this is the moft im-
proper for Ireland, and fy any dependant country ; it is an ab-
f'.-iute manufacture of tafte, fancy, and fafhion ; the feat of
empire w»ll always command thefe, and if Dublin made fupe-
rior fiiks, they would be defpifed on comparison with thofe of
London : we feel fomething of th.s in Lngland from France,
being the fourc'e of moft of the failiions-i-n Europe. To force a
ftlk manufacture in Ireland is therefore to ftrive againft whim,
caprice, fafliion, : a.nd all the prejudices of mankind, inftead of
which, if is thefe ihat become a folid lupport of fabrics when
wifely kt on foot. There are no linens tafliionabie in England,
but the Irifli people will not wear any other, and yet gulic hoi-
lands arc aliened to be much ftronger. Should not the Irifli,
therefore, benci their voice to drive the nail that will go. in-
ftead ot plaguing theiiifelves with one which never will. This
is a general observation, but the particular meafure of the fo-
ciety, fuppofing the object valuable, is perfectly infigniricant,
it is throwing away fix hundred pounds a year to anfwer no
oae puipofe whatever.

The

D U B L I N S O C I E T Y. 101

The fociety offers a great number of other premiums for
manufactures, many of which are very exceptionable, but it
would take up too much room to be particular in an examin-
ation of them. In agriculture they have a great number offer-
ed to poor renters feparately.

Upon the general fpirit of thefe I have to remark, that the
defign of «ncouraging poor renters is very meritorious, and
does honour to the humanity of the fociety ; but from a great
variety of inftances which were pointed out to me, as I travel-
led through the kingdom, I have too much reafon to believe,
that abufes and deceptions are numerous, that the fociety has
actually paid premiums per acre, to great numbers of claim-
ants, who have, as foon as they received the money,, let the
land run wafte again, fo that no perfon could diftinguiili it
from the adjoining bog or moor. There are two r^afons why
thefe premiums muft very much fail of their wifhec-for fuc-
cefs ; the extreme difficulty, not to fay impoffibility, of .afcer-
taining the merit of the candidates, or the facts alledged ; and
the utter impoflibility that fuch very poor fellows fhould work
any improvements worthv the fociety's patronage. The Lon-
don fociety have found, by repeated experience, their utter in-
capacity of doing any thing by weight of money, in bounties
per acre for any object ; I am convinced the fame fact will hold
true with that of Dublin ; the funds even of the latter are
much too inconfiderable for this mode. The object ought to
be to infpire thofe men, who have the neceflary capital to em-
ploy it in the way the fociety thinks for the public good : the
premiums fhould be honorary but confiderable, with that de-
gree of variety and novelty that fliould attract the attention of
men of fortune.

But nothing was ever better imagined, than the plan of fix-
ing an Englifh farmer in the kingdom, fo much at the fociety's
expence, as to give them a power over a part of his manage-
ment. This was the cafe with Mr. Baker ; and it was alfo a
very wife meafure to enable him to eftablifh a manufactory of
hulbandry implements. The only errors in the execution of
this fcheme were : Firft, Not fupporting him much more libe-
rally, when it was found that his private fortune was too in-
confiderable to fupport himfelf and family ; had he been eafy
in his private circumftances, his hufbandry would have been
perfect. Second, The not directing him in the choice of his
farm, which was not a proper one for an example to the king-
dom j it fliould have been in fome mountainous tract, where
there was bog, and tolerable foil. Third, In permitting him,
to make and publifh fmall and trifling experiments, objects of
curiofity to a private fpeculatift, but quite unworthy of the
Dublin Society j befides, fuch a perfon fliould be brought to
eftablifh what a previous experience has convinced him is right,
not to gam his own knowledge at tht fociety's expence.

The fcheme, had it, in the cafe of Mr. Baker, been execu-
ted in this manner, or was fuch an one «ovv to be adopted,

would

,02 DUBLIN SOCIETY.

would tend more to (Dreading a true practical knowledge of
agriculture than any other that could be executed ; and the
union of a manufactory of implements unites with it perfectly.
To inform a backward country .of right fyftems has its ule, but
it is very weak compared with the actual practice and exhibi-
tion of it before their eyes ; fuch an object in full perfection
of management, with an annual publication of thveiult, fim-
piy related, would tend more to the improvement of the nati-
onal hufbandry than any other fyftem. The farm {houid not be
lefs than five hundred acres, it {hould have a tract of bog and
another of mountain ; one thoufand pounds fhould be applied
in the neceflary buildings ; five hundred pounds immediately in
fences ; °ne thoufand pounds a year for five years in (locking
it; one thoufand pounds for eftablifhing a manufactory of im-
plements, not to be fold but given away by the fociety as pre-
miums ; five hundred pounds a year allowed to the fuperinten-
ciant for his private emolumer.t, that r.o diftreffes of his own
might interfere with the public views ; and in addition, to ani-
mate his attention, ten per cent, upon the grols product of the
farm. The fociety to delegate their power over it to a felect
committee, and no member to be eligible to that committee,
who had not in his own occupation one hundred acres of land,
or more. The firft expence would be fevcn thoufand five hun-
dred pounds, and the annual charge five hundred pounds ; this
would be an effective ellablifhineni that could not fail, if the
manager was properly chofen. He fhould be an active, fpirited
man, not fo low as to have ro reputation to lofe, but at the
fame time more a practical than a ipeculative farmer, and who
could teach the common Irifh, with his own hands, the opera-
tions he wifhed them to perform. The annual charge of only
one of the fociety's warehoufes is equal to this, and the capital
appropriated to it near twice as large ; how much more bene-
ficial would this application of the money be ?

Relative to the premiums for the encouragement of agricul-
ture, I {hall venture to hint feme which I apprehend would be
of great advantage ; and by throwing them into the word^
common in offering premiums, my meaning will be better ex-
plained.

i. TURMEP HUSBANDRY, 1779. To the perfon who
iliall cultivate the moil land, not lets than twenty acres, in the
following courfe of crops during four years, viz. i. Turneps.
2. Barley or oats. 3. Clover. 4. Wheat. The turneps to
be twice thoroughly hand.hoed and eaten where they grow by
fheep, and to make a full report of the cultivation, expences,
produce, and effect of the turneps on the fheep fed, a piece
of plate of the vulue of one hundred pounds, with a fuitable
miuiption. Accounts to be delivered in in the year 1784.

. 2. For the next greatefl quantity of land, not lefs than ten
acres fo cultivated, a piece of plate of the value of fifty pounds,
w:tii a fuitabie infcription.

3. To

DUBLIN SOCIETY. 103

3. To the perfon who ftiall in the year 1780, have the moft
acres of turneps, not lefs than twenty, twice thoroughly hand-
hoed ; to report the effect, a piece of plate of the value of one
hundred pounds, with a ftiitable infcription.

4. For the next greateft quantity, not lefs than ten acres, a
piece of plate of the value of fifty pounds, with a ftiitable in-
fcription.

5. BE AN HUSB A NDR Y, 1779. To the perfon who fhall
cultivate the mod land, not lefs than twenty acres, m the fol-
lowing courfe of crops during four years, viz. i. Beans,

2. Wheat. 3. Beans. 4. Wheat. The beans to be in rows,
eighteen inches afunder, and three times thoroughly hoed,
and to report the effect to the fociety. A piece of plate of the
value of one hundred pounds, with an infcription. Accounts
to be laid in in the year 1784.

6. For the next greateft quantity, not left than ten acres,
a piece of plate of the value of fifty pounds, with an infcrip-
tion.

7. To the perfon who fliail cultivate the greateft quantity of
knd, not lefs than twenty acres, in the following eourfe of
crops during four years, viz. t. Beans. 2. Barley or oats.

3. Clover. 4. Wheat. The beans as before, and to report
the effect. A piece of plate of the value of one hundred
pounds, with an infcription.

8. Next greateft quantity, not lefs than ten acres. The va-
lue of 50!. with an infcription.

9. FL A x HUSB A NDR Y, 1779. To the perfon who friall
•cultivate the mod land, not lefs than twenty acres, in the fol-
lowing courfe of crops during four years, viz. t. Turneps.
a,. Flax. 3. Clover, 4. Wheat. The turneps to be twice hand-
hoed, and the flax to be feeded, (lacked and tlweflied like corn,
and then watered and dreffed, and to report the effect to the
fociety. A piece of plate of the value of one hundred and
fiity pounds, with a fuitable infcription.

10. For the next greateft quantity, not lefethan ten acres.
The plate eighty pounds. Accounts to he delivered in in
1784.

n. MOUNT AIM IMPROVEMENT, 1 779. To the perfon
who fliall improve the largeft tract of mountain land, not lefs
than one hundred acres, at prefent wafte, and not let at one
fliiliing an acre, and make a full report of the cultivation, ex-
pences and produce to the fociety in the year- 1787. A piece
of plate of the value of five hundred pounds, with a fuitable
infcription. Conditions,

The improvement at the time of the certificates being figned
to be completely enclofed ; to be divided into fields of not
more than ten acres each ; the fences to be either walls in
mortar, or double ditches v/ell planted with white thorns and
timber, the gates, piers, &c. to be perfect. The land to have
had four crops in the following courfe : i. Turneps. 2. Oats,
bere or rye. 3. Tuwieps. 4. Oats, the turneps twice hand-
hoed,

104 D U B L I N S 0 C I E T,Y.

lioed, and eaten when green by flieep", and one half of the
improvement to be in grafs laid down with the l$.ft crop of oats.
Not lefs than one hundred barrels of lime per acre to have been
fpread on the whole. An orchard of two acres to be well
planted ; and a fally garden of as much. One good farm
houfe, with a barn, ftable, cowhoufe, &c. and four cabbins
to be built and inhabited, the whole of ftone or mortar, and
covered with flate. And the trail to be adually let on leafe to
one or more tenants, not occupying any other land, and refid-
ing on the premifes. Whoever intends to be claimants to give
notice to the fociety that they may appoint inspectors'.

12. To the next greateft quantity, not lefs than fixty acres,
on the like conditions, the plate three hundred pounos.

13. Boo IMPROVEMENT, 1779. To the perion who
fli all drain and improve into rich meadow, the greateft quan-
tity of bog, not lefs than 50 acres, being part of a bog not
lefs than 100 acres, and make a full report to the fociety of the
mode, expences and produce in the year 1788, a piece of plate
of -the value of 400!. with an honorary inscription. The foci-
ety leaves to the claimant to purfue whatever mode he pieafes,
but the land muft have a good houfe, cowhoufe and neceflary
offices, with two cabbins built all of ftone and flate, and the
improvement let to refident tenants occupying no other land.

1 4. For the next greateft quantity, not lefs than thirty acres,
the plate two hundred pounds.

15. PLANTING. To the perfon who fliall inclofe with a
wet wall, not lefs than fix feet high, and plant, the greateft
quantity of land, not lefs than fifty acres, in the year 1780,
a piece of plate of the value of four hundred pounds, with a
fuitable infcriptioji. The trees to be afh, elm, poplar, beech,
larch, fcotcb, fpruce or filver fir, to be not more than four
years old, nor more than tour feet afunder, and in the centre
of everv fuch fpace, acorns to be fown and covered.

, 16. For the next greateft quantity, not lefs than thirty acres,
the plate two hundred pounds.

17. To the perfon who fliall in the year 1780, plant and
fence fo as to be completely fecured from cattle, the greateft
•quantity of land with the common bafcet fallow in beds fix feet
broad, and four rows on each bed, not lefs than thirty acres,
a piece of plate of the value of one hundred pounds, with a.
fuitable infcription.

18." For the next greateft quantity, not lefs than fifteen acres,
the plate fifty pounds. All to be continued by previous notice,
every year when ouce they came into turn.

I have to obferve upon them, that the courfe* of crops
here recommended can only have fair juftice done them in the
infancy of the hufbanuiy by gentlemen, or men of confiderable
capital ; confequently, it is the wifeft to offer a premium that
fhall attract their notice, and not vary it for lefler tenants,
who at firft would be incapable of executing the conditions.
The mountain and bog improvement are great objects, and

therefore

MANNERS. <o$

therefore well deferve ample encouragement j I have added
the condition of being let by way of fatisfaftory proof, that the
improvement is completely finifhed, for if it was kept in
liand, it would be a matter of opinion and valuation, which
is never fatisfatElory. The planting premiums would in all pro-
bability have many claimants. The (lone wall is eflential ;
planting without prefervalion is trifling.

As to the nature of the premiums, I recommend, ,viz.
pieces of plate, I think they would have a greater effeft than.
any thing elle ; money would be out of fight and forgotten ;
a medal that has been proftituted to all forts of trifles, would
be a contemptible reward for fuch exertion*, but a handfome
cup, vaze, tray, table, &c. would be always in fight, and on
every occafion a fubjeft for converfation to animate others to
gain the fame. The experience of a few years would prove
whether the quantities of land required were too high or not.
An mfpeftor to view all proceedings would be abfolutely necef-
fary, whofe reward fhould be deviled in fuch a manner as to
fecure his integrity; unlefs fome gentlemen of confiderable
confequence in the neighbourhood took that office voluntarily
upon them.

Some premiums upon thefe principles, united with fuch a
plan as I have ftated for the eftablifliment of a farm, would be
aitended with all the advantage to the national agriculture,
in the power of any fociety to effect. The expence would not
be fo large as not to leave a confiderable portion of the focie-
ty's funds for trade and manufactures, and confequently to
pleafe thofe who wifhed fuch objects not to be neglecled,

SECTION XVII,

Manners and Culonis*

Quid Itgis
Vana projiciunt f

IT is but an illiberal bufinefs for a traveller, who defigns to
publim remarks upon a country, to fit down coolly in his
ciofet and write a fatire on the inhabitants. Severity of that
fort muft be enlivened with an uncommon fliarc of wit and ri-
dicule, to pleafe. Where very grofs absurdities are found, it
is fair and manly to note them ; but to enter into character and
difpofition is generally uncandid, fince there are no people but
might be better than they are found, and none but have vir-
tues which deferve attention, at leaft as much as their failings ;
for thefc reafons this fetlion would not have found a place in
my obfervations, had not fome perfons of much more flippan-
cy than wifdom, given very grofs mifreprefentations of the
Jrifli nation. It is with pleafure, therefore, that I take up the
pen, on the prefent occafion -, as a much longer refidence

io6 MANNERS.

there enables me to exhibit a very different pifture ; in doing
this, 1 {hall be tree to remark, wherein I think the conduct of
certain glafles may have given rile to general and confequently
injurious condemna-ticn.

There are three races of people in Ireland, fo diftinft, as to
ftrike the leaft attentive traveller : thefe are the Spanifh which
are found in Kerry, and a part of Limerick and Corke, tall
and thin, but well made, a long vifage, dark eyes, and long
black lank hair. The time is not remote when the Spaniards
had a kind of fettlement on the coaft of Kerry, which feem-
ed to be overlooked by government. There were many of
them in Queen Elizabeth's reign, nor were they entirely driven
otit till the time of Cromwell. There is an ifland of Valentia
en that coaft, with various other names, certainly SpaniiK.
The Scotch race is in the North, where are to be found the
features which are fuppofed to mark that people, their accent,
and many of their cuftoms. In a diftricl, near Dublin, but
more particularly in the baronies of Bargie and Forth in the
counry of Wexford, the Saxon tongue is fpoken without any
mixture of the Irifrt,and the people have a variety of cuftoms
mentioned in the minutes, which diftinguifh. them from their
neighbours. The reft of the kingdom is made up of mongrels.
The Milelian race of Irifh, which may be called native, are
Scattered ever the kingdom, but chiefly found in Connaught
and Munfter ; a few confiderable families, whofe genealogy
is undoubted, remain, but none of them whh confiderabie
poiTeffioBs, except the O:Briens and Mr. O'Neil, the former
have near twenty thoufand pounds a year in the family ; the
latter half as much, the remnant of a property once his an-
ceftors, which now forms fix or feven of the greateft eftates in
the kingdom. O'Hara and M'Dermot are great names in
Connaught, and O'Donnohue a confiderable one in Kerry ; but
I heard of a family of O'Drifchai's in Corke, who claim an ori-
gin prior in Ireland to any of the Milefian race.

The only divifions which a traveller, who pavfed through the
kingdom, without making any refidence, could make, would
be into people of confiderable fortune and mob. The interme-
diate divifion of the fcale, fo numerous and refpeftable in Eng-
land, would hardly attraft the leaft notice in Ireland. A refi-
dence in the kingdom convinces one, however, that there is
another clafs in general of fmall fortune, — country gentlemen
and renters of land. The manners, habits and cuftoms of
people of confiderable fortune, are much the fame every
where, at leaft there is very little difference between England
and Ireland, it is among the comfhon people one muft look for
thofe traits by which we discriminate a national character.
The circumftances which ftruck me mod in the common Irifh
were, vivacity and a great and eloquent volubility of fpeech,
one would think they could take fnuff and talk without tiring
till doomfday. They are infinitely more chearful and lively

than

MANNERS. 107

than any thing we commonly fee in England, having nothing
of that incivility of fulien fiience, with which ib many Eng-
limmen feem to wrap theuifelves up, as if retiring within their
own importance. Lazy to an excefs at ivork, but fo fpiritedljr
active at play-, that at burling which is the crickej of favages,
they fliew the greateft feats of agility. Their love of fociety
is as remarkable as their curioilty is infatiable ; and their hof-
pitality-to all comers, be their own poverty ever fo pinching,
has too much merit to be forgotten. Pleafed to enjoyment
\\ith a joke, or witty repartee, they will repeat it with fuch
expr«flion, that the laugh will be univerla!. Warm friends
and revengeful enemies •, they are inviolable in their fecrecy,
and inevitable in their refentment ; with fuch a notion of ho-
nour, that neither threat nor reward would induce them ro
betray the fecret or perfon of a man, though an opprefTor,
whole property they would plunder without ceremony. >riard
drinkeis and quarreSfome ; great liars, but civil, fubrmflive
and obedient. Dancing is fo univerfal among them, that there
are every where itinerant dancing-mafters, to whom the cot-
tars pay fixpence a quarter for teaching their families. Be-
fides the IrifK jig, which they can dance with a moft luxuriant
expreffion, minuets and country dances are taught $ and I even
heard fotne talk of cotillons corning in.

Some degree of education is alfo general ; hedge fchools, as
they are called (they might as well be termed ditch ones, for I have
leen many a ditch full of fcholars) are every where to be met
with, where reading and writing are taught ; fchools are alfo
common for men ; I have leen a dozen great fellows at fchool,
and was told they were educating with an intention of being
priells. Many ftrokes in their character are evidently to be af-
cribed to the extreme opprcilion under which they live. IF
they are as great thieves and liars as they are reported, it is
certainly owing to this caule.

If from the lowed clafs we rife to the higheft, all there is
gaiety, pleafure, luxury and extravagance ; the town life at
Dublin is formed on the model of that of London. Every night
in the winter there is a ball or a party, where the polite circle
meet, not to enjoy but to fweat each other ; a great crowd
crammed into twenty feet fquare gives a zeft to the agrctnents
of fmall talk and whift. There are four or five houles large
enough to receive a company commodioufly, but the reft are fo
fmall as to make parties dttellable. There is however an
agreeable fociety in Dublin, in which a man of large fortune
will not find his time heavy. The llile of living may be guef-
fed from the fortunes of the refident nobility and great com-
moners ; there are about thirty that poflefs incomes from feven
to twenty thoufand pounds a year. The court has nothing
remarkable or fplendid in it, but varies very much, according
to the private fortune or liberality of difpofition in the Lord
Lieutenant-
la

io8 MANNERS.

In the country their life has fome circumftances which are
not commonly feen in England. Large tracts of land are kept
in hand by every body to fupply the deficiencies of markets,
this gives fuch a plenty, that, united with the lownefs of taxes
and prices, one would fuppofe it difficult for them to fpend
their incomes, if Dublin in the winter did not lend afiiftance.
Let it be confidered, that the prices of meat are mnch lower
than in England ; poultry only a fourth of the price ; wild
fowl and fifh in vaftly greater plenty ; rum and brandy not half
the price ; coffee, tea and wines far cheaper ; labour not
above a third j fervants wages upon an average thirty per
cent, cheaper. That taxes are inconfiderable, for there is no
land tax, no poor rates, no window tax, no candle or foap
tax, only half a wheel tax, no fervants tax, and a variety of
other articles heavily burthened in England, but not in Ire-
land. Confidering all this, one would think they could not
fpend their incomes ; they do contrive it however. In this
bufinefs they are aflifted by two cuftoms that have an admira-
ble tendency to it, great numbers of horfes and fervants.
The excefs in the latter are in the lower fort ; owing, not
only to the general lazinefs, but alfo to the number of atten-
dants every one of a higher clafs will have ; this is common
in great families in England, but in Ireland a man of five hun-
dred pounds a year feeis it. As to horfes the number is car-
ried quite to a folly ; in order to explain this point, I ihali in-
fert a table of the demefnes of many of the nobility and gen-
try, which will fhew not only the number of hories, but of
other cattle, the quantity of land they keep, and other cir-
cumftances explanatory of their country life.

DEMESN.ES.

109

Names.

ra'tt

'end' C

trn.

bb.

ent.

aV
ers.

r Plat.
Oxen

bap

Ir. Clements,

420

Col. Marley,

»4

300

Hr. Rowley,

700

250

.ord Conyngharn,

.ord Beclive,

)OO

2000

140

500

Vlr. Gerard,

1300

[00

.ord Longford,

300

IOO

Wr. Johnfon,

.10

310

zoo

)ean Coote,

;oo

35°

3°

200

General Walfh,

700

7 *

5°

ISO

Vlr. Brown,

[00

460

800

Mr. Buflie,

170

•o

330

-ord Courtown,

300

3°

3'5

General Cuninghame,

1 50

375

.ord Goifott,

300

45°

Mr. Clofc,

I 00

135

4°

Mr. Lefly,

350

ICO

35°

150

Mr. Savage,

190

250

4°

Mr. O'Nicl,

733

549

500

Mr. Leflie,

016

790

5°

Sir J. Caldwell,

700

300

900

Mr. Corry,
Lord Rofs,

000

95°

I25

900

120

3°

500

120

Lord Farnham,

000

400

800

IOO

285

Mr. Newcomen,

400

Mr. Mahon,

IOO

840

500

Mr. Cooper,

ooo

300

I 2

I30

Mr. Brown,

370

3CO

Vlr. Gore,

300

2310

120

oeo

_ord Altamonf,

500

100O

IOO

7°

200

Vlr. French,

790

252

IOO

424

Vlr. Trench,

046

IOO

i •

600

980

Sir Lucius O'Brien,

399

560

I I

138

Mr. Fitzgerald,

ooo

2000

800

Mr. Aldworth,

1170

55°

1010

500

Lord Donneraile,

120

200

1500

400

Colonel Jepfon,

900

120

Mr.-Gordon,

1 1.

700

I j

IS?

Mr. Jeffries,

300

200

Mr. Trent,

(

2OO

Lord Shannon,

160

I ^00

470

Mr. Longfield,

I I O

800

ooo

Rev. Archd. Oliver,

650

IOO

Mr. Herbert,

130

400

300

Mr. Bateman,

2.5

250

Lord Glendour,

100

I OOO

2CO

Mr. Fitzgerald,

200

2CO

Mr. Leflie,

a?o

230

Mr. Oliver,

500

125

Mr. Ryves,

300

45°

300

Lord Clanwilliam,

640

600

)

600

Mr. Macartney,

gooc

10,000

!•

3 3

8000

Lord He Montalt,

i3<*

•

3 4

1500

Mr. Moore,

6oc

'J55

1000

Lord Tyrone,

aipo'i 50

I2OO

> 48

400

Mr. Bohon,

20C

300

5 °

Mr. Nevill,

l«

350

>oo

Mr. Lloyd,

2O<

> •

J <;c

(

i Si

Mr, Holmes,

54*

3 4

? 25

•54£

•

3 14

soo

Mr. Head,

45<

3 1

5 27

67:

20 1

Lord King/borough,

3 10

2 3c

4oc

;oo' 40 ' 200

no MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

The intelligent reader will colleft fome;hing more than
mere curiofity from this table; it will neceffarily ftr>ke him,
that a country reftdence in Ireland demands a much larger
quantity of land in hand than in England, from which might
be deduced, if not from any thing elfe, how much backward-
er the former is than the latter < where markets are wanting
every thing muft be had at home, a cafe ftronger frill in Ame-
rica. In England fuch extenfive demefnes would be parks
around the teats for beauty as much as ufe, but it is not fo in
Ireland ; the words deer-park and demesne are to be diftin-
guifhed ; there are great demefnes without any parks, but a
want of tafte, too common in Ireland, is having a deer-park at
adiftance from the houfe ; the refidence furrounded by walls,
or hedges, or cabbins ; and the lawn enclofure fcattered with
animals of various forts, perhaps three miles off. The final}
quantity of corn proportioned to the total acres, (hews how lit-
tle tillage is attended to even by thofe who are the beft
able to carry it on ; and the column of turneps proves in the
cleareft manner, what the progrefs of improvement is in that
kingdom. The number of horfes may almoft be efteemed a
fatire upon common fenfe ; were they well fed enough to be
ufeful, they would not be fo numerous, but I have found a
good hack for a common ride (jprce in a houfc. where there
were a hundred. Upon an average, the horfes in gentlemen's
ftables, throughout the kingdom, are not fed half fo \vell as
they are in England by men of equal fortune ; yet the num-
ber makes the expence of them very heavy.

Another circumftance to be remarked in the country life is
the iniferablenefs of many of their hcufes ; there are men of
five thoufand a year in Ireland, who live in habitations that a
man of feven hundred a year in England would difdain ; an
air of neatnefs, order, drefs, and prtpretc, is wanting to a fur-
prizing degree around the manfion ; even new and excellent
hftufes have often nothing of this about them. But the bad-
nefs of the houfes is remedying every hour throughout the
whole kingdom, for the number of new ones juil bujlt, or
building, is prodigioufly great. I fliould fuppofe there were
not ten dwellings in the kingdom thirty years ago that wer-
fit for an Engliih pig to live in. Gardens were equally bad,
but now they are running into the contrary extreme, and v.-?.i
in five, fix, ten, and even twenty Iiifh acres for a garden, but
generally double or treble what is necefiary.

The tables of people of fortune sre very plentifully fpread ;
many elegantly, differing in nothing from thofe of England.
I think I remarked that venifon wants the flavour it has with
us, probably for the fame reafon, that the produce ot ricli
parks is never equal to that of poor ones ; the rno-fture of the
climate, and the richnefs of the foil, give fat but not flavour.
Another reafon is -the fmalmefs of the parks, a ir.an who has
three cr four thoufand acres in his hands, has not, perhaps,
above three or four hundred in his deer park, and range

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, nt

is a great point for good venifon. Nor do I think that garden
vegetables have the flavour found in thcfe of England, certain-
ly owing to the climate ; green peas I found every where
perfectly infipid, and lettuce, &c. not good. Claret is the
common wine of all tables, and fo tnnch inferior to what is
drank in England, that it does not appear to be the fame wine,
but their port is incomparable, fo much better than the Eng-
lifh, as to prove, if proof was wanting, the abominable adul-
terations it muft undergo with us. Drinking and duelling are
two charges which have long been alledged againft the gen-
tlemen of Ireland, but the change of manners which has taken
place in that kingdom is not generally known in England.
Drunkennefs ought no longer to be a reproach, for at every
table I was at in Ireland I faw perfect freedom reign, every
perfon drank juft as little as they pleafed, nor have- 1 ever been
aflced to drink a (Ingle glafs more than I had an inclination for ;
I may go farther, and affert that hard drinking is very rare-
among people of fortune ; yet it is certain that they fit much
longer at table than in England. I was much furprized at
firft going over to find no fummons to coffee, the company often
fitting till eight, nine, or ten o'clock before they went
to the ladies. If a gentleman likes tea or coffee, he retires
without faying any thing, a ftranger of rank may propofc it to
the matter of the houfe, who from cuftom contrary to lhat of
England, will rot ftir till he receives fuch a hint, as they think
it would imply a defire to fave their wine. If the gentlemen
were generally defirous of tea I take it for granted they would
have it, but their flighting is one inconvenience to fuch;
as defire it, not knowing when it is provided, converiation mav
carry them beyond the time, and then if they do trifle over
the coffee it will certainly be cold. There is a want of atten-
tion in this, which the ladies fhould remedy, if they will not
break the old curtom and fend to the gentlemen, which is what
they ought to do, they certainly ihould have a falver frelli.
I muft however remark, that at the politeft tables, which arc
thofe of people who have refided much out o£ Ireland, this
point is conducted exactly as it is in England.

Duelling was once carried to an excefs, which was a real re-
proach and fcandai to the kingdom ; it of courfe proceeded
from exceflive drinking ; as the caufe has difappeared, the effecl
has nearly followed : not, however, entirely, for it is yet far
more common among people of fadvion than in England. Of
all practices a man who felt for the honour of bis country,
would wifo fooneft to banifrt this, for there is not one favour-
able conclufion to be drawn from it : as to courage nobody can
queftion that of a polite and enlightened nation, entitled to
a {hare of the reputation of the age ; but it implies uncivi-
lized manners, an ignorance of thole forms which govern po-
Mte focieties, or elfe a brutal drur.kennefs ; the latter is no
longer the caufe of the pretence. As to the former, they
would place the national character fo backward, would lake

ii'vlU

Hz M A N N E R S A VD C U S T O M S.

from it To much of its pretence to civilization, elegance and po-
litenefs of manners, that no true Irifhman would be pleafed
with the imputation. Certain it is, that none are fo captious as
thofe who think themfelves neglected or defpifed ; and none are
ib ready to believe themfelves either one or the other, as per-
lons unufed to good company. Captious people, therefore, who
are ready to take an affront, mud inevitably have been accuf-
tomsd to ill company, unlefs there ihould be fomething uncom-
monly crooked in their natural difpofitions, which is not to be
fuppofed. Let every man that fights his one, two, three, or half
a dozen duels, receive it as a maxim, that every one he adds to
the number is but an additional proof of his being ill educa-
ted, and having vitiated his manners by the contagion of bad
company ; who is it that can reckon the mod numerous rencoun-
teis ? who but the bucks, bloods, landjobbers, and little drunk-
en country gentlemen ? Ought not people of fafhi'on to blufh
at a practice which will very foon be the diftinction only of
the mod contemptible of the people ? the point of honour will
and muft remain for the decifion of certain affronts, but it will
rarely be had recourfe to in polite, fenfible, and well bred com-
pany. The practice among real gentlemen in Ireland every
day declining is a ftrong proof, that a knowledge of the world
corrects the old manners, and confequently its having ever been
prevalent was owing to the caufes to which I have attributed it.
There is another point of manners fomewhat connected with the
prefent fubject, which partly induced me to place a motto at the
head of this fection. It is the conduct of juries $ the criminal
law of Ireland is the fame as that of England, but in the^exe-
cution it is fo different, as fcarcely to be known. I believe it is
a fact, at lead I have been affured fo, that no man was ever
hanged in Ireland for killing another in a duel : the fccurity is
fuch that nobody ever thought of removing out of the way of
juftice, yet there have been deaths of that fort, which had no
more to do with honour, than dabbing in the dark. I be-
lieve Ireland is the only country in Europe, I am lure it is the
onlvpart of thjeBritirti dominions, where affociations among men
of fortune are neceffary for apprehending raviflieis. It is fcarce-
ly credible how many young women, have even" of late years
been ravifhed, and carried off in order (as -they generally have
fortunes) to gain to appearance a voluntary marriage. Thefe
actions it is true are not committed by the clafs, I am confider-
ing at prefent ; but they are tried by them, and ACQJJITTE.D.
I think there has been only one man executed tor that crime,
which is fo common as to occafion the aflociations I memioned $
it is to this fupine execution of the law that fuch enormities are
owing. Another circumdance which has the effect of icreeuing
all forts of offenders, is men of foriune protecting them, a;.u
making intereft for their acquittal, which is attended with a
variety of evil confequences. I heard it boalled in the comity
of Fermanagh, that there had not been a r;,an hanged in it for
two and twenty years: all I concluded from ibis was, that
•there had been many a jury who deferred it richly.

MANNERS. U3

Let me, however, conclude what I have to obferve on the
conduct of the principal people refiding in Ireland, that there
are great numbers among them who are as liberal in all
their ideas as any people in Europe ; that they have leen the
errors which have given an ill character to the manners of
their country, and done every thing that example could effect
to produce a change : that that happy change has been partly
effected, and is effecting every hour, infomuch that a man may
go into a vaft variety of families which he will find actuated
by no other principles than thofe of the moil cultivated polite -
nefs, and the moil liberal urbanity.

But I mud now come to another clafs of people, to whofe
conduct it is almoft entirely owing, that the character of the
nation has not that luilre abroad, which I dare ailert, it will
foon very generally merit : this is the clafs of little country
gentlemen * ; tenants, who drink their claret by means cf
profit rents ; jobbers in farms ; bucks ; your fellows with
round hats, edged with gold, who hunt in the day, get drunk
in the evening, and fight the next morning. I ihall not
dwell on a fubjecl: fo perfectly difagreeable, but remark that
thefe are the men among whom drinking, wrangling, quar-
reling, fighting, ravifhing, &c. &c. &c. are found as in tneir
native foil ; once to a degree that made them the peft of fo-
ciety ; they are growing better, but even now, one or two of
them got by accident (where they have no bufinels) into bet-
ter company are fufficient very much to derange the pleafures
that reiult from a liberal converfation. A new fpirit ; new
fafiiions ; new modes of politenef* exhibited by the higher
ranks are imitated by the lower, which will, it is to be hoped,
put an end to this race of beings ; and either drive their fons
and coufins into the army or navy, or fink them into plain
farmers like thofe we have in England, where it is common
to fee men with much greater property without pretending-
to be gentlemen. 1 repeat it from the intelligence I receiv-
ed, that even this clafs are very different from what they
were twenty years ago, and improve fo fad that the time
will foon come when the national character will not be de-
graded by any fet.

That character is upon the whole refpectable : it would
be unfair to attribute to the nation at large the vices and fol-
lies of only one clafs of individuals. Thofe perfons from
whom it is candid to take a general eilimate do credit to
their country. That they are a people learned, lively and in-
genious ; the admirable authors they have produced will be

Vol. II. H an

* This expreflion is not to lie taken in a general fenfe. God for-
bid I Jhould give this character, of all country gentlemen of finall
fortunes in Ireland : 1 have myfclf been acquainted luith exceptions,
— / mean only that in general they are not the moft liberal pec fie in
the

ii4 CORN TRADE,

an eternal monument, witnefs their Swift, Sterne, Congreve,
Boyle, Berkeley, Steele, Farquhar, Southern, and Goldimith.
Their talent for eloquence is felt, and acknowledged in the
parliaments of both the kingdoms. Our own fervice both
by fea and land, as well as that (unfortunately for us) of
the principal monarchies of Europe fpeak their Heady and
determined courage. Every unprejudiced traveller who vi-
fits them will be as much pleafed with their chearfuluefs, as
obliged by their hofpitality : and will find them a brave,
polite, and liberal people.

SECTION XVIII.

Corn Trade of Ireland.* Bounty on inlttnd Carriagt.

THE police of corn in Ireland is almoft confined to one
of the moft fingular meafures that have any where been
adopted, which is giving a bounty on the inland carriage of
corn from all parts of the kingdom, to the capital. Before it
is fully explained it will be neceflary to ftate the motives that
were the inducement to it.

Dublin, it was aflerted from the peculiarity of its fituation,
on the eaftern extremity without any inland navigations lead-
ing to it, was found to be in point of confumption more an
Englifh than an Irifh city, in corn almoft as much as in coals.
The import of corn and flour drained the kingdom of great
fums at the fame time that the fupply was uncertain and pre-
carious. It was farther afTerted that tillage was exceedingly
neglected in Ireland, to the impoveriftiment of the kingdom,
and the mifery of the poor. That if fome meafure could be
ftruck out at once to remedy thofe two evils, it would be of
fingular advantage to the community.

This reafoning furnifhed the hint to a gentleman of very
confiderable abilities, now high in office, there to plan the
meafure 1 am fpeaking of. It has been perfected by repeat-
ed acts giving a bounty on

5 Cwt. or 40 ftone Flour three-pence per mile,

ditto — ditto Malt two-pence halfp. ditto.

ditto — ditto Wheat three-halfpence ditto,

ditto — ditto Oats one penny ditto,

ditto — ditto Bere three-halfpence ditto.

ditto — ditto Barley three-halfpence ditto.

Oatmeal the fame as oats ; the ten firft miles from Dublin
deducted, it amounts, as has been found by experience, to
near twenty per cent, more for flour than the real expenfe of
carriage, and one and a half per cent, more for wheat. In
coiifequence of this act many of the fined mills for grinding

corn

C O R N T R A D E. 115

corn that are to be found in the world were creeled, fome of
which have been built upon fuch a fcale, as to have coft near
20,000 1. The effedt has been confiderable in extending til-
lage, and great quantities of the produce are carried to
Dublin. Before I offer any obfervations on this fyflem, it
will be neceffary to inlert fuch tables as are neceiTary to ex-
plain the extent, effeft, and expenfe of the meafure vhich
took place in 1762, and in 1776 and 7, arofe to above 6o,oool.
In order to fee what the import was before that period, and
alfo what it was before the bounty was in full fway, as well as
fince, the following table will have its ufe.

IMPORT

Year 1744

1745
1746

1748

'749
Average,
Value, £
Year 1750
1751
1752
'753
'754
'755
1756

Average,
Value, £

OF COR

Barky
atid malt

2,450
11,305

1 3 8,934
85,316
29,015
39,1 2 i

NAND R
Wheat.

329

6,342
129,190

3,402

8,720

LOUR.

Flour.
Ct.

20,977
24,708
110,832

30,502

44,836
47,58i
69,861
61,927
^09,539
99,386
78,061

29,492

37»368

44.33**
16,275

20,317

18,195
39,635

2O.-4I 2
28,994

18,^84
50,637
60,985
78,282

91,583
89,015

72,196

71,027

43,491 36,098

Barley and Malt.

Wheat.

Fhur,

Quantity.

r«i*t.

Quantify

PbJW.

$*antnj.

lvalue.

\ qrs-

qrs.

Year 17 57

59,354

59>3543i»7n

47,56/

55,975

27,978

1758138,123

38,123

27,850

4'»775

72,490

36,245

*759

6,071

4,7 1 8

7,078

27,258'! 3,629

1760

34,67834,678

3,697

5,546:30,093'! 5,046

1761

30,208:30,208

2,427

3,641 30,98215,491

1762
1763

Average,

37,50037,500; 1 7, 1 29 25,694
44,26444,264 22,65 5 33,982

35?74235,743 L£2il22l£!2

51,52225,761

57,04828,524
46,48i'23,382

CORN TRADE-

Y<jar 1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
,769
1770

Average,

Year 1771

1772
1773
'774
'775
1776

'777
Average,

IMPORT

Barley & Malt.

OF CORN AN

Wheat.

D FLOUR.

Flour.

Quant,

Value.

Quant.

Value.

1.
38,645
'5,794

2 I , 1 96
59,l84

17»7°4
3,299
87,065

Quant.

Value.

qrs.

3',58/
48,854
40,356
30,681
5,684
4,759
35>5>4

3'>5»7
48,854

4°>356
30,681
5,684

5,948
44,392

qrs.

25.763
10,529
14,130
39,456
11,802

2,199
43>532

Ciut.
108,209
67,409
81,371
58,182
22,6oo

'5,447

86,776

1.
54,104

33,704
40,685
29,091
11,300

7,723
52,065

28,205

29,643

21,059

34,698

62,856

32,667

55,626
22,372
6,970
189
656

7,857
43,101

'9,538

69,525
27,965
8,712
236
820
8,643
47>45'

23,33°

53,448
12,163
2,861
4,104
3.235
7»54"
3-457

106,897

24,327
5,722
8,893
7,009
16,353
7,49c

.25,321

47,754
10,306

23,465
28,902
26,292
69,838

75, '93
28,652
6,183
14,079
»7»34»
*5,775
41,903

28,446*

12,402

25,242

47>697

BARLEY AND MALT.

Average import of the Qrs.

Firft period, • 51,023

Second ditto, " 73,027

Third ditto, — • - 35,742

Fourth ditto, — — 28,20$

Fifth ditto, — — 1 9,538

Average of the
Firft period,
Second ditto,
Third ditto,
Fourth ditto,
Fifth ditto,

WHEAT.

29,492
28,994
15,741
21,059
1 1,402

, Value.

44.238
43,49 1
23,612

34,698
25,242

* M S. Communicated by the Right If on. John Beresford, firfi
strmmijfioner of the revenue in Ireland.

FLOUR.

Average of the
Firft period,
Second ditto,
Third ditto,
Fourth ditto,
Fifth ditto,

CORN TRADE.
FLOUR.

72,196
46,481
62,856

Average value of the three commodities ?
in ihe three firft periods — $

Ditto of the two laft,

The import in the laft fourteen years is)
lefs than in the preceding twenty, by $

Import of the fourth period —

Ditto of the fifth, being the period in

which the bounty hath taken full effect,

Difference,

45>423

97,008
— 77,0.8

19,990

Thefe authentic comparifons differ mod furprizingly from
the affcrtions that have been made to me in conversation. I
was led to believe that Dublin was no longer fed with Englifh
corn and flour, and that the difference of the import fince
the bounty took effect was not lefs than 200,000!. a year.
What thofe affertions could mean is to me perfectly enigmati-
cal. Have the gentlemen who are fail friends to this meafure,
never taken the trouble to examine thefe papers ? Has the
bufmefs been fo often before parliament, and committees of
parliament, without having been particularly lifted ? We
here find that the import into Ireland of foreign barley and
malt, wheat and flower have leffened in the laft feven years,
compared with the preceding feven years, no more than to
the amount of about 2o,cool. I read with attention the re-
port of Mr. Former's committee in 1774, the purport of which
was to eilablifh the principles whereon this bounty was given,
but as the whole of that performance turns on a comparifon
of fifteen years before 1758, and fifteen years after, though
itfelf contains a declaration (page 7) that the great effect of
the meafure then concerned only the three laft years, very lit-
tle intomation of confequence is to be drawn from it, fince it
affigns a merit to the meafure while it admits none could
flow from it ; nor does the whole report contain one fyllable of
the dccreafe in the export of pafturage, which ought to have
H 3 bceu

ii* C O R N T R A D E.

been minutely examined. But in order that we may have the
whole corn trade before us, let me infert the import of other
forts of corn.

Wheat Meal.

Oatmeal.

Beaut & Peafe.

Oats.

Quant.

Value.

%«/.

JW«.

%"»•

Value.

barrels.

ffcr-f/,.

jff.

S>rs.

[

Year 1757

4^77

!,559

425

382

1758

4,038

i,346

647

582

5'98b

3,59i

J759

- 3

269

242

. • 1760

410

369

1761

28^

256

s«

• 1762

1,181

393

497

447

.17^3

7>9 11

2,637

366

329

Average,

2-545

848

414

373

883

529

Year 1764

1,136

1,420

543

4*9

135

«3

1765

868

781

1766

4'7

511

520

J73

579

744

446

1767

P,659

12,074

740

446

689

620

a,8^4

1,71*

1768

So 5 1

6,689

3»9

350

95°

570

1769

l,023

1,278

453

45 o

1 1 ;

1770

i,S54

3,781

104

3«

75a

752

•8

Average,

*,35S

3,54^

202

610

566

692

416

Year 1771

,,#*

5'S*

i'4*b

5,"9

*>356

2.356

i, 810

'>i74

1772

2,904

4>35«

'3<599

4,759

836

«,6

35'

246

'773

782

1,17

1)495

5*3

• 428

42«

'774

759

i,i3

430

150

481

602

333

250

»775

i, 600

2,40

J>J7

410

1,1 IO

1,388

1776

682

I, 02

78,

976

?777

1,553

545

6,305

7,882

38-

290

Average,

1,492

z,i3

4-695

1,644

1)757

2,067

4^5

303*

Value of the import per annum of )
thefe articles in the laft feven years, \
Ditto in the preceding feven years,

Increafe.

6,252
4>595
'.657

Kcre therefore we find that inftead of a decreafe ;n the im-
port the contrary has taken place.

Recapitulation of the total Value of Corn, Flour, &c,
imported.

MS.

conanuntcat

Scaled fy the Right Her. Jfaac Bane.

CORN TRADE. 119

Inthe year 1757 - 136,860 In the year 1764. - 126,346

1758 - 121,662 1765 - 98,190

1759 • 27,058 1766 - 103,898

1760 - 55,654 1767 - 133,608

1761 - 49,629 1768 - 42,297

1762 - 89,919 1769 - 18,776

1763 - 109,765 1770 -* 187,119

Average of 7 years, 84,369 Average of 7 years, 101,604

1. 1.

Intheyear 1771 - 265,897 In the year 1775 - 29,371

1772 - 91,141 1776 - 42,788

1773 - 22,780 1777 - 105,559

J774 - 25'348 '

Average of feven years • 84,697

Second period,
Laft feven years,

— — — 101,604
• 84,907

Decreafe, — 16,907

Here is the refult of the whole import account ; the balance
of which in favour of the nation is no more than this trifling
ium of fixteen thonfand pounds. The account however muft
be farther examined ; we muft take the export fide of the
queftiqn, for there has been an export notwithftanding this
great import. We fee fomething of this in the regifter of our
Englifh corn trade, where is a confiderable fpeculative com-
merce in corn ; but as no fuch thing exifts in Ireland, where
the corn trade is a fitnple import of a neceflary of life, it is a
little furprizing if any great export appears. Let us however
examine the account.

" The Dublin Society were not very accurate, •when in their pe-
tition to parliament they fet forth, that in tiuo years preceding '771?
the import amounted to upwards of 6oo,oool.

VALUE

120

CORN TRADE.

O o ^ ro N SL cT

00 0\ I-- .-- O 0 03

Sh^o-grg..

,&->

£l

^*««w=3

n"»| CO

S T!

»2-5S!>«£

0 >r>co 0*0 w-f*
C?\ 0\-*'^O •*- r-

£ °

vo c» e* ^ V* ro Tj-

0,-w, ^?-

m o O - so ONOO

06 1

ro urt

00 V.H « 0 «
«,«- ,

sS ^z^s?,^:^

!•

;. ^ o"

o\, „ I - u> o^ •*

F.
|

_• C? V> £> ""if

*5s ||s

O 1 -* •* vnoo u-icc
ci J ^ -^ - 06 O \O

, " ?Z>*

..SO

m -^^^-^

' ^

oo ^ ^ c» ~>oo 0

* 5

^f°° JJ>« » p,

so ^> rp JT ro 5- o\

0 ^ Ov 0 0 r-ao «

CJN - t-. U1 <^) ^J-vo -

<S -

-Oc, Tt-^J-

0 «

o >5

»0 O <r« O O vn o

" ? ? "•:.«?

- - so -

v O so ir> ^- xr> cl
-* ro - - so en

- «^00» -

» - 0_ oo ^.o
«^ O\OO — so

^ mvs.!s 3r;c!^

^fsl!f!

1 ^
- oo oo oo" -

>0 0 O^ot 0^ J? £ ?

s^^i*^^

•J

j^ « m -*• u-\o ^

e
>
<

> S '
< >

C O R N T R A D E. 121

Exported in the laft feven years per annum, — 64,871
Ditto in the feven preceding, 56«299

Increafe, — 28,572

But as the preceding table includes the export from all the
ports in the kingdom, I have inferted it as an object of general
information, not as immediately neceflary to the enquiry be-
fore us, which concerns the port of Dublin only. A meafure
which draws the corn to that capital from all the ports in the
kingdom, can never promote an export from them, but muft
operate in a contrary manner : for this reaibn I have drawn
the export of the port of Dublin from the general tables for
twenty-one years, and find the averages of the three periods,
each of feven years, to be in value as follows : the table itfelf
is too voluminous to infert.

1. s. d.
Exported in the firft feven years, per annum, — 2692 5 o

. fecond ditto, — 3978 2 o

_ laft ditto, — 755° 9 °

The laft period greater than the preceding by 3572 7 o

Which fum is the profit to be carried to the account of the
inland carriage bounty.

I muft here obferve, that there was a bounty given on ex-
portation, which took place the 24th of June, 1774. viz.
^s. zd. on the quarter of wheat, ground wheat, meal, or
wheat flour, zs. 4d. on the quarter of rye, peafe or beans
ground or unground. is. 3d. on the quarter of oats, which
act declares the half quarter of wheat, rye, peafe, beans,
meal, &c. ftiall be 224 Ib. barley and malt were left out to en-
fure the acts palling in England.

The following fefiions an additional duty on the import
was laid of 2s. a barrel on all wheat, and is. per hundred
weight on all flour, meal, bread, and bifcuit, except of the
produce of or manufacture of Great Britain, to be levied
when the middle price of wheat at the port where imported
{hall exceed 235. Englifh, the barrel of 28olb. The old duty
on wheat was 2d. per barrel; on flour is. from all ports,
Great Britain included.

Decreafe in the import of the laft feven years, — 16,907
Increafe in the export from Dublin, 3»57*

Total gain per ann. according to this account in the 7 „

laft feven years, J *M79

The reader is not to imagine from hence, that the corn
trade of Ireland yields a balance of profit ; the advantage
to be attributed to the bounty from this account is only a
lejjening of lofs, as will appear from the following ftate of
export and import over the whole kingdom-

IMPORT

122 C O R N T R A D E.

IMPORT AND EXPORT COMPARED IN VALUE.

Year 1757
1758

1759
1700
,76,
1702
'763

Import.

Export.

Balance
profit.

4.584

Balance
lofs.

'24.755
108,558

42.I55

37,702
80,377
97,359

76,838
II>533

136,860
121,662
27,058
55.694
49,629
89,919
109,762

1.
12,105
13,104
31,642

'3>539
11,927

9.542
12,403

Average,

84,369

14,894

70,129

Year 1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770

126,346

99' 1 90
103,898
133,608
42,297
18,776
•87,119

18,868
28,149
35,557
447
42.47°
99,340
29,268

36,299

»73
80,564

107,478
71,041
68,341
'33»l61

'57.85J

Average,

101,604

IJ>533

76,838

Year 1771
1772
J773
'774
'775
1776

'777

265,897
91,141
22,788
25,348

29.371
42,788
105,559

83,270

4.f6
37.6i6
31,280
96,048
65,894
• 14,297
1 04,642

8.49?

70,700

36,523
7I>5°9

26,746

261,571
53.525

917

Average,

64,871

45»'44

Lofs per annum in the middle feven years,
Gain ditto, — — •

Near lofs per annum, •• '

Lofs per annum in the laft feven years,
Gain ditto, — —

Neat lofs per annum, — —

45,1 44
26,746

18,398

It is a reduction of the lofs of 65,000!. down to 18,000!.

Having thus difcovered the advantage of the meafure, let
ns in the next place examine, at what expenfe this benefit has
been obtained. The following table (hews the payments of
the bounty to each county ; the totals ; the ftones of corn,
a»d the cwj:s. ef flour brought.

INLAND CARRIAGE. 123

A.CCOUN

•» 3 ** *

h-i

JT"
J3

» N

to OJ u* ^o ^ <^* ^ -^ ~S ^ in O\ 5~

u>£<*

^Ovno^-'** -a-44x^^

~-j t*> 4» "Sm - *>

•^

OJO>O\^IOv«VO - 0-4^-0 *' ~

10 CTv

<J*V* 1*1 H &. u 0\ 1*>^JU»^1O\ 4>>O~-I^I V>^.«

- uj o> - Ln M Jl»t*jin4i.U> —

E££ %*%3 3Z»^Z ff^i; ,2s- s

•

•^

4^ 0, »j » i. w

-3

««. ^ t> ? SS.-S ^^^S, !S S

-: I

ip r r -

"ooo|voo\u> w"b C> we\ os-^i w — vn ••
o^ilvn-M u> 'vo j- co - ^104^ t7s«-«^ oo >o r-

e
oc

•3

- "b\

?*•

o o

£3

-^_cp oew^u* i/» C*^t T» "fj Cj ta ••« \c oe

o ^

124

INLAND BOUNTY.

-'u

« "*

3,1^0,69:
3«7,753

j
•±:U

c:
3

-* 3- ~ " ^ ££ 5* £ ^ S ". « ? '^ o 2 i* ^ « t

*£

"""" W "

-u

! 1 -§-* -IH i^s:? S?~S"!5S

m c

•P

= U

*-"

5" "S."0?^ S^^tl^^S^^^)^^ ^ ^ "£,£ £ £ S^'

gj J^

•5

~ ,«'.''".£ ^"^'^ ^C<' *cf rS^^^"??"

vTfC

O Oi

_j O -M %• '^•C?r*?C<l^«V2a0rO w^3l?>0\ Oo"w^°

^ -

- woo c* « m «

'3-2

•i U

rt
0,

S"*"^ ^J-gS £ ^^-^^-^^f^-W ^M00 °° * *** • SvO^'S

v£~^

•a

•* «^> M ~^ I-.VO 4f «? *^ - « C<

«*

30 C^

•*oo
vq

as ^

«*-.

i^TOOd^*-^ O OO M- •*• rf> o\ "!\o ^J-eo as .n M
nr- ii t~..-O«t,; -t Pj »n ^ o\ o to S>

^
X m

r |

~ °£ «" ^

0 OS

" ^

If! i sitllflMli rff 1 J dllll

I N L

AND

BOUNTY.

125

Total pay-

ment in

1764-

5.483

ment in 1771 -

19,290

1765 -

6,660

1772 -

39,560

1766 -

9,212

1773 -

44,465

1767 -

6,074

1774 -

1768 -

13,675

1/75 -

53*,88j?

1769 -

25,225

1776-

60,745

1770 -

18,706

'777 '

61,786

Paid in fcven years, 85,038 Paid in feven years, 329,413
Which is, per ann. 12,148 Which is, per ann. 47,059

If therefore the account was to be clofed here, it appears
that forty-feven thoufand pounds per annum, have been giveu
of the public money for a gain in the export and import ac-
count of corn of twenty thoufand pounds a year. Surely
this is paying very dear for it ! — but the account does not
end here.

From this table the reader finds, that the bounty has been
continually riling, until it has exceeded fixty thoufand pounds
a year. It alfo appears, that the encreafe of tillage has been
chiefly in the counties of Kilkenny, Tipperary, Carlow,
Meath, Kildare, King's, Wexford, Queen's, and Limerick, as
will appear by contralling the firft and the lait years of thofc
counties.

T T7

2,079 20,816

191 9,862

Counties,
Kilkenny,
Tipperary, '
Carlow,
Meath,
Kildare,
King's
Wexford,
Queen's,
Rofcommon,

160
506

748
447

4>594
3'4«5
3,161

4.95*
3>!6i
1,740

And Limerick arofe from nothing at all to 2773!. in the
year 1776 ; from hence one fad clearly appears, that the in-
creafe of tillage has by no means been in the poor counties,
by breaking up uncultivated lands ; on the contrary, it has
been entirely in the richeft counties in the kingdom, which
confirms the intelligence I received on the journey, that h
was good Iheep land that had principally been tilled. The
bounty to Tipperary, Carlow, and Rofcommon, once the
greateft fheep counties in Ireland, was infignificant at thu
beginning of the meafure, but has at lad become very great.
This circumftance, fo dfential ia the fubjec't, renders it abfo-

lutely

126 PASTURAGE EXPORTS.

lutelj neceflkry to enlarge our enquiry, that we may examine,
as well as our materials will permk, whether any national
lofs, as well as profit, has refulted from converting fo much
rich pafture land into tillage ; and in order to do this, it will
be necefTary to lay before the reader the exports of the pro-
duce of pafturage from Ireland, during thefe two periods of
feven years each, which ferve us for a comparifon.

•S IT

is^l?^

ON O O r^ XA r< CN
ON ^f — xn ON c* w.

•a

t'-S

O (^ - 00 u-iVO 00

?q!t'?t?v»

4 i

>£

"S *!« 3* ^"^ *o m
« -. o M o ON tr

0 1> ?£, of'vo
»r> r^ ui o O_ M

lilSH.1

b-«

? S *S S °° *^S

O <-t >0 - ONCC

vo -* ON - <sr O oo

^S^S^ ? =

do mofe?1 o" ™

XT>»0 IV 00 00 l-^ 0>

O CO •** rf>ao ~ t^

£15 5 - ?„

m^ ?'§'?,* 5

'7S

H5S Is

0 0 m-4- ^ xnrf
r^» moo c* ro xnso

^ "a

111? ??

U-:

ISSl^^

•«-» rt

§ S"JTo<M» m

£mS-« mS

y^s-jT'ss-'g

jo ?oo 5- •<*• ON m

I 162,034

c< ON o oo S xo1

S?l?S8l

o ON - •* H xooo"

irft fevcn ye
try records o

jc w
h |
* '-5
&

The prices of all thefe commodities muft be afcertained, in
order to difcover the increafe or decreafe of value.

The cuftom-houfe price of beef is il. 6s. 8d. per barrel ;
but 1 find that the average price at Waterford, from 1764 to
1776, was 1 6s. per cwt. or il. 123. the barrel. The cuftom-
houfe rate of butter is «1. per cwt. but by the fame authority,
I find the real price on the average of the laft fourteen years
to be zl. 55. 6d. Candles at the cuftom-houfe il. 155. per
cwt. the real price zl. IDS. Tallow at the cuftom-houfe 2!.
the true price zl. 45. 6d.

Arerage

PRICES OF PRODUCTS.

127

Average Price of four and a half hundred Beef per Hundred
Weight.

s. d.
Year 1756 - 12 3
1757 - ii 6

1758 - 12 0

1759 - ii 6
1760 - 12 6
1761 - 12 6

1762 - 12 0

1763 - 13 o

S. d.

Year 1764 - 13 6
1765 - 14 o
1766 - 16 o
1767 - 17 o
1768 - 13 o
1769 - 15 o
1770 - 16 o

1. s. d.
Year 1771 - o 16 6
1772 - o 16 o
1773 - o 16 6
1774 - o i 8 -o
1775 " ° *$ o
1776 - i oo

Average of the laft 13 years, i6s.

Shipping Prices of Butter, Tallow, Candles, and Pork, in
Waterford, from the Year 176410 1777, both inclufive f.

Butter per

talloivper

candles per

Pork per ,

C<wt.

Civt.

Ciut.

Barrel, j

s. s. d.

s s. d.

s. s. d.

In the year 1 764
1765

431036 o
36-38 o

311030 o
39 - 40 o

4 1 to 40 o
40-41 o

40 to 39 o
38-40 o

1766

38 - 36 o

42-41 o

47 - 48 o

38-39 o

»76?

47-38 o

43 ' 44 °

49 - 50 o

43-45 o

1768

38-42 6

44-43 °

51 -52 o

45-48 6

1.769

42-53 o

44-45 °

54-53 o

42 - 38 o

1770

45-48 6

42-40 o

54-53 o

41 -45 o

~-77l

S7-48 o

44-45 °

53-54 o

44-46 o

1772

54-48 o

46 - 52 o

54- 56 o

53 - 54 o

»773

56-54 o

44 - 42 8

51 -52 o

58-60 o

'774

50-40 o

40 - 43 o

54-55 o

42-45 o

»775

53-44 o

40-41 o

50-51 o

45-42 o

1776

53-43 o

41 - 40 o

50-51 o

47 - 49 o

»777

58-55 o

41 -43 o

51 - 52 o

66-70 o

Average, -

45 6

44 6

50 o

46 6

Thofe are the prices as they appeared at the beginning and at
the end of the year.

Prices

f MS. Communicated ly Cornelius Boltou, Efq; mcviier fcr
that city.

iz8 PASTURAGE EXPORT.

Prices of Ox hides of nalb. from the Year 1756 to 1776, both
inclufive.

1. s. d.

Year 1756

i 7 o

Year 1767

6 o

1757

i 7 o

1768

8 6

1758

1 2 6

1769

I I 0

1759

I I .0

1?7p

8 o

1760

i o 6

1771

4 °

170-,

I 2 6

1?72

I O

1762

1 2 O

'773

3 o

i765 — —

019 6

1773

IO O

1764

o 18 6

^/s —

13 o

1765

i 4 o

1776

14 o

1766

1 5 9

The real price of hides I was difappointed in at Corke, mud
therefore take that of the cuilom-houie, which is il. 13. 4d.
tanned, and il. 55. untanned ; as more of the latter, I fhall
fuppofe il. 8s. on an average. Of the cows, bullocks, and
horfes, I am quite ignorant, fhall therefore guefs them at
5!. on an average. Cheefe at the cuftom-houfe il. per cwt.

TOTAL EXPORTS OF PASTURAGE.

Firil Period. Per annum.

1.
Export of beef from 1753 to 1759, 162,034

barrels, at il. izs. per, 259»254

Ditto butter, 203,569 cwt. at zl. 55. 6d. per, — 463,1 19
Ditto hides, 142,033, at il. 8s. per, — — 198,845

Ditto tallow, 22,1 18 cwt. at zl- 45. 6d. per, — 49,21 1

Average of the firfl feven years, 97°»429

Second Period.
Beef from 1764 to 1770, 200,799 barrels,

at il. i2s. per,

Butter, 281,510 cwt. at zl. 55. 6d. per. —
Candles, 4284 cwt. at zl. IDS. per,
Hides, 124,604, at il. 8s. per,
Tallow, 49,976 cwt. at zl. 45. 6d. per, —

Live (lock, 2,127, at 5!. per,

Cheefe, 3,341 cwt. at il. per,

Average export of the fecond feven years, —

Third Period.
Beef from 1771 to 1777, 195,605 barrels, at

il. izs. per, 312,967

Butter, 267,212 cwt. at zl. c. 6d. per, — — * 607,907

Candles,

EXPORTS FROM SHEEP.
Candles, 2,280 c\vt. at 2!. los. per,
Hides, 121,963, at il. 8s. per,

Tallow, 44,919 cwt. at 2!. 45. 6d. per,

Live rtock, 4,040, at 5!. per,
Cheefe, 2,122 cwt. at il. per,

Average export of the Jail feven years, — 1,218,903

Second period greater than the firft by — 30 > ,009

Second period greater than the lait by 53>13^

The fecond period being greater than the firfl by near three
hundred thouiand pounds, and Ireland having been through-
out all three periods on the advance in profperity, it follows,
that the increafe fhould have continued, had not feme other
reafon interfered, and occafioned, inftead of a fimilar increafe
of three hundred thouiand pounds, a falling off cf above fifty
thoufand. I cannot fupofe that the increafe of tillage did all
this ; I fhould fuppofe that impoilible. Molt of thefc commo-
dities are certainly confumed at home, which perhaps may
account for there being no increafe ; but the increafe of tillage
muft inevitably have had its mare, and it is affigning a very
moderate one to jt, to fuppofe the amount no more than this
decreaie of fifty thoufand pounds a year. We come next to
Iheep, and the exports which depend on them. The follow-
ng table fliews the whole at one view.

Year 1 764
1765
ij66

1767
1768
1769
1770

Average,

Year 1771
'77*
'773
'774
'775
1776
1777

Average.

#-';;/,

Jbut.

katue
at I4«.

Wtfiei
Tarn.

valuta
I7s6d

8,74-
11,768
6,98z
6,60 •>,
9.963
4,38s
3>353

Wvjkd
yarn.

40 s.

Tttal

Jhw.

'59,53!
180,681
181,824
208,226
197,629
138,216
124,164

170,038

144,064
123,896

95,937
64,927
80,903
87,586
116,437

101.964

-Jital
value.

*94.6S 5
r-3,7i9
326,431
344,595
345,369
^69,001
240,663

306,462

10,128
,7,3,6
11.722

48,733
18,511
3,840
*,S78

jr,c89

11,1 ii
15,105

34,i«3
19,964
z,688
1,804

Ihne,.
9»99I
13,450
7,980

7>553
11,387

5,012

3.833

ficmt.
139,412
149,915
! -2,121
151,940

'S7.72'
'3 ',364
»7'753

141.889

i39'378
115,904
94,098
63,920
78,896
86,527
14,703

278,824
I99,«3c
304,244
303,880

3i5,442
162,728
i35>5^

285,779

278,756
231,808
188,196
127.840
157,791
73»°54
229,406

98,121

8,976

13,483

8,458

7,399

218
2,045
1,839
1,007
2,007
1,059
''734

152
1^43'

i,a87

7°4
1,4^4
74'
J,*i3

4,468

5»947

3>9°9
5,103

1,301

282,817
238,44*
189,483
.28.544
159,196

!73-:95
230,019

i.4is

QQC

'J4S9

99,060

ioo.i;-?^

VOL. II. I

| The qualities taken from the Parliament, Records of Import and p.'xpor^
S -and the value added.

1 3o WOOLLEN EXPORTS.

In the laft century the quantity of wool, &c. was much
larger, indeed it was fo great, as will appear from the follow-
ing table, as to form a coniidenxble proportion of the king-
dom's exports."

Year

Relative to the prices I have charged, the following table is
the authority.

Market Prices of Wool in the Fleece, per Stone of fixteen
pounds; and. of Bay Yarn, per Pack, containing fourteen
great Stones, of eighteen pounds each.

Wool

Tarn.

Wool

Tarn.

ftones.

1687

256,592

3,668

Year 1703

360,862

36,873

1 697

217,678

13,480

1711

310,136

55>273

1700

336,292

26,617

1712

263,946

60,108

1701'

302,812

23,390

1713

171,871

68,548

1702

3-'5>473

43,148 i

1711

'47.153

58>M7

ff'nl.

Bay Tarn.

Hrool

Bay Tarn.

per ft.

per pack.

per ft.

per pack.

s. d.

1. s. d.

s. d.

1. s. d.

Year 1764

I I O

26 5 o

-Year 1772

.* °

28 7 o

'765

1C O

24 13 6

!773

* o

27 6 o

1766

II 0

25 4 o

1/74

14 o

25 4 o

1767

13 o

,27 6 o

'775

16 o

29 8 o

1768

13 6

26 5 o

1776 Ii6 6

30 9 o

1769

13 6

26 15 6

1777

17 6

30 9 o

1770

14 o

26 15 6

Average is

J77i

14 o

26 15 6

nearly

14 o

27 4 5

Wool is here rated at the market price for combing wool
TOMgh in the fleece ; but ao eftimate can be formed from this
upon what has been exported, the fmall quantities whereof
have been for the moft part wool upon fkins or coarfe fells,
which muft have come much lower than the prices herein
mentioned.

Woollen yarn for export has not been an article for fale in
Ireland, what has been lent out was direclly from the manu-
facturer, I prefume in very fmall quantities, and from the port
of Corke only.

Worded, or bay yarn, is fent principally to Norwich and
Manchefter, it fells by the fkain in Ireland, but in the preced-
ing

* Unfettled, but zerj high. — The pack of lay yarn is taken to
toniain zioo/kains.

§ Communicated by Mr. JrJJjua Pine, in tl:s yarn trade. Tf:f-
cuftim-houfe price of iwt'l is \ $J. woollen }arn \ 7;. and ixwftcd
yarn ll l$s. 4^.

WOOLLEN EXPORTS. ijf

ing table it is rated by the pack ; the colt at market is only no-
ticed, the necejfary charges on (hipping amount to full two
per cent, exclusive of commiffion which is two per cent. more.
Wool, woollen, and bay yarn, are exported, by the great
done, containing eighteen pounds weight. A licence for ex-
porting mufl be procured from the lord lieutenant, the coft of
which is nearly fourpence halfpenny per ftone$. From com-
paring the prices at different periods, exported woollen yarn
may pretty fafely be rated at feventen fnillings and fixpence
per ilone, of which five fhillings a ftone is labour.

Exported value in the firfl period, 307,662

Ditto in the laft, 200,413

Decreafe, 106,049

Whoever recurs to the minutes of the journey, in the coun-
ties of Carlow, Tipperary, and Rofcomuion, the great fheep-
walks of Ireland, will have no reafon to be furprized at this lofs
of one hundred thoufand pounds a year. There are yet other
iubjects fo connedled with the prefent enquiry, that in brder to
have a clear and diftinel idea of it, we muft include in the
account. I think it fair to give tillage credit for any increafc
there may be in pork, bacon, lard, hogs, and bread ; it is true
they do not entirely belong to it, for dairies yield much ; but to
obviate objections, I will fuppofe them totally connected with
tillage. The following table includes all thefe articles.

la EXPORTS

132

EXPORTS OF FOR

Year 1753

'754
'755
1756

'757
1758
1759

Average,

Year 1764
1765
I766
1767
1768
1769
1770

Average,

Year 1771
1772
1773
'774
'775
1776

1777
Average,

Pork

larrels.

E X P (

Flitcbe*
cf bacon.

) R T £

Lard,

C"Mt.

, O F

Bread,
Cvut.

Hogs.

23,682
23,684
20,930
5'>345
25&71
28,746
40,336

30,542*

35,066
44,361
5o,i55
34>995
43»04i
40,039

43.947

226
3.592
9,640
5.778
21,275
8,156
6,500

1,852

3.94°
1,783

1>°5^

1,496

M49
'•9'S

8,783'
7417

8,228
6,876
6,791
6,792
5'597

60
140
481
o

444
416

41,649

7,881

1,869

7>i97

223-

42,519

44»7'3
51,112
52,328
50,367
72,7 H
72.931

5.773
14,142
19,256
26,100
32,644
24,502
1 1,462

1,841

2,235
2,156

2,379
1,686
3,216
2,981

8,006

4.575
5,827
5,090
4,01 a
1 3.302
29,627

76
90

lit

680
1,148
M5S

55,240

19,125

2,356

1 0,062

624*

Export of pork per annum, from 1764 to 1770, 1.
41,649 barrels, at z\. 6s. 6d. per barrel f, 96.833
Bacon, 788 cwt. at 155. per cwt. || 5>910
Lard, 1869 cwt. at i 1. per. cwt. j) — — 1,869
Bread, 7197 cwt. at ics. per cwt. || 3»59^
liogs, 223, at 155. a piece J, i65

Average export of feven years, — —

108,376

Export

* Journals of the Honfe of Comment. § Parliament Recant
of Export and Import, MS. f Waterford price. \CuJloin-
Honfe price. J Suppofed at that rate for want of authority..

EXPORTS OF PORK.

Export of pork per annum, from 1771 to 1777,
55,240 barrels, at 2\. 6s. 6d. per barrel, —

Bacon, 19,125 at 155. ~

Lard, 2356 cwt. at il. per cwt.

Bread,- 10,062 cwt. at los. per cwt. • — •

Hogs, 624, at 155. a piece —

Average exports of the laft feven years, — 150,631
Increafe in the lad feven years, 42»255

The data are now very completely before the reader, from
-which the merit of this extraordinary meafure may be eftimat-
ed. I will not affert that any cuftom-houfe accounts are ab-
folutely authentic ; I know the common objections to them,
and that there is a foundation for thofe objections ; but the
point of confequence in the prefent enquiry does not depend
on their abfolute, but comparative accuracy; that is to fay, if
the errors objected to them exift, they will be found as great
in one period as in another, confequently their authority is
perfectly competent for the companion of different ones. Who-
ever will examine the entries with a minute attention, and
compare them with a variety of other circumftances, will ge-
nerally be able to diftinguifh the fufpicious articles. In the
prefent enquiry I will venture to aflert that they fpeak truth,
for they correfpond exactly (as I fhall by and by (hew) with
many other caiiles which could hardly have failed without a.
miracle of producing the effects they difplay. I fhould fur-
ther add, that or the greateft number of the articles inferred
in the preceding tables, there are duties paid on the export
\vhich exempt them from the common objection to the entries.
But to reafon againft the accuracy of luch accounts is per-
fectly ufelefs, while minifters in defence of their meafures,
and patriots in oppofition to them found their arguments on
them alone. Whoever attends either the Englifh or Irifli
houfe of commons will prefently Tee this in a multiplicity
of inftances. All who come to the bar of thofe houfes de-
pend on thefe accounts ; committees of parliament rely on
them, and the beft political writers of every period, from
Child and Davenant to Campbell and Whitworth, have agreed,
in the lame conduct, knowing the errors to which they are
liable ; but knowing alfo that there is no better authority, and
that they are perfectly competent to companions.

Having thus clofed my authorities, I fhall now draw them
into one view, by Rating the account of the inland carriage
bounty, t)ebtor and Creditor.

'34

BOUNTY ACCOUNTS.

BOUNTY ON THE INLAND CARRIAGE OF CORN.
Dr. Cr.

By decreafe in the im-

port of corn, &c. - 16,907

By increafe in the ex-

port of corn, — 3>57°

By increafe in the ex-
port of pork, hogs,
bread, &c. — 42>255

To payments of pub-
lic money on the a-
verage of the lafl 7 "
years, — 47>°59

To decreafe in the ex-
port of beef, butter,
&c. — — 53)!36

To decreafe in the ex-
port of wool and
yarn, — 106,049

206,244

Balance againft the
bounty, —

62,734

206,244

Thus far I have laid before the reader a connected chain of
fuch facts as the records of the meafure, and the parliamen-
tary accounts would permit : *it appears as clearly as the tcf-
timony of figures can {peak, that it has had very 511 effects
upon the general national account. Had the effect \ve have
feen taken place of itfelf without any artificial means to aflift
it, the friends of the public would perhaps have been well em-
ployed to remedy the evil : how abfurd therefore mr.il it ap-
pear to find that it has been brought about with the utmoft
care and affiduity, and at an expence of near fifty thoufand
pounds a year of the public money !

It is the intention and effect of this bounty, to turn every
local advantage and natural fupply topfy ttirvy. We have
had for feveral years in England, an importation of foreign
corn, more than proportioned (the kingdoms compared) to
any thing the Irifh knew.f If any one to remedy this, pro-
pofed a bounty on bringing corn by land from Devonlhire
and Northumberland, fo as to give it a preference in the
London market to that of Kent and Effex, with what con-
tempt would the propofer and propofition be treated ! the
corn counties of Louth and Kildare in the vicinity of Dublin
are not to fupply that market, but it is to eat its bread from
Corke and Wexford !

It muft alfo be brought by land carriage ! the abfurdity
and folly with which fuch an idea is pregnant in a country
blefled with fuch ports, and fuch a valt extent of coair, are
fo glaring, that it is amazing that fophiftry could blind the
legiflature to fuch a degree as to permit a fccond thought of

t /;; 1774 <we imported to tke value of i,o23>oco/. ; and in
1775 tothat0fitz6^^i.

INLAND BOUNTY. 135

ic. Why not carry the corn in fhips, as well as tear up all
th« roads leading to Dublin by cars ? Why not increafe
your failors inftead of horfes ? Are they not as profitable an
animal ? If you muft have an inland bounty, why not to the
nearelt port from which it could be carried with the mod
c;ife, and at the lead expence to Dublin ? This would have
anfwered the fame end. The pretence for the meafure was
the great import of foreign corn at Dublin ; this is granting
that there was a great demand at Dublin ; and can any one
fuppofe that if the corn was forced to Corke or Wexford, it
would not find the way to fuch a demand as eafily as from
the eaft of England, which is the only part of that kingdom,
which abounds with corn for exportation ? But the very pre-
tence was a fallhood, for with what regard to truth could it
be aflerted, that Dublin was fed with Englifh corn before
this meafure took efteft, when it appears by the preceding ac-
counts, that the import of the whole kingdom from 1757 to
1763 was only 84,000!. a year, and from 1764 to 1770 no
more than 101,604!. ? This import account does not diftin-
guifh like the export one, the ports at which the foreign corn
was received ; if it did, I fhould in all probability find but a
moderate part of this total belonging to Dublin, as it is very
well known that in the north there is always a confiderable
import of oatmeal. Granting however the evil, ftill the plan
of remedying it by a land carriage of 130 miles was abfurd
to the laft degree. But fuppofe fo confiderable a city as
Dublin did import foreign corn to a large amount, is it wife
to think this fo great a national evil, that all the principles of
common policy are to be wounded in order to remedy it ?
Where is the country to be found that is free from confider-
able imporcations even of the produdl of land ? Has not Ire-
land a prodigious export of her foil's produce in the effedts of
pafturage, for which her climate is fmgularly adapted ?
And while (he has that, of what little account is a trifling im-
port of corn to feed her capital city ? We have feen the un-
doubted lots that has accrued to the nation from a violent
endeavour to counteract this import, yet the meafure has only
lefTeued it to an inconfiderable degree.

I was at a mill on Corke harbour above 1 20 miles from
Dublin, and faw cars loading for that market on the bounty,
with a fhip laying at the mill quay bound for Dublin, and
waiting for a loading ; could invention fuggeft any fchemc
more prepofterous than thus to confound at the public ex-
pence all the ideas of common practice, and common fenfe !
By means of this meafure I have been allured it has happen-
ed, that the flour of $laine mills has found its way to Carlow,
and that of Laughlin Bridge to Drogheda : that is to fay,
Mr. Jebb eats his bread of Captain Mercer's flour, and the
latter makes his pudding with Mr, Jebb's affiftance ; they live

100

136 INLAND BOUNTY.

100 miles afunder, and the public pays the piper while the
flour dances the hay in this manner.

The vaft difference between the expence of land and water
carriage ihould ever induce the legiflature, though faiiors were
net iu queilion, to encourage the latter rather than the for-
mer. From Corl:e there is paid bounty 55. 6^d. yet the
freight at ics. a ton is only 6d. The bounty from Laughlin
Bridge is ' zi. 3^d. yet Captain Mercer pays in fummer but
is. 4d. and in winter no more than is. 6d. Mr. Moore at
Marlefield receives 43. bounty, but his carriage coft him only
as. 6d. in iummer, and 33. in winter; hence therefore we
find that die bounty more than pays the expence, and that
the prcnt is in proportion to the dittance, i. e. the abfurdity.

:ln the year ending September 1777, there were 34,598
barrels of malt brought from Wexford to Dublin by land, re-
ceiving 7077!. 45. i id. bounty.

34,598 barrels are 51,897 Cwt. which at 6

Cwt. per horfe, would take for one day, 8,649 horfes.

From Wexford to Dublin and back takes leven

days, or — 60,546 horfes.

One man to two horfes, 3°>273 men.

1. s. d.

The horfes at i6d. a day, — 4>3c6 8 o

Men at 9d. a day, — I>135 4 9

Seven days men and horfes, — 5>i7i iz 9
The freight of which to Dublin at 8s. a ton

fhould be, — — i>°37 12, o

Saving by Sea, ^ — 4>T3-f ° 9

It is therefore a lofs of about 80 per cent- purclafed by the
bounty.

In proportion as faiiors are Icflened horfes are inci'eafed.
Suppofc common coafting veflels navigated at the rate of one
man to twenty tons, it requires City-fix horfes to draw that
burthen, and thirty three men : ib that for every failor loll,
there are above threefcore of this word of all ftock kept ;
which is of itfelf an enormous national lofs. If the number
of horfes kept at actual work by this bounty, with the mares,
colts, &c. to fupply them, were known, it might probably be
found fo large as to leffen a little of the veneration with
which this meafure is confidered in Ireland.

I find that in the fefilons of 1769 and 1771, there was a
bounty paid on the carriage of corn coaftways to Dublin. It

amounted

t MS. communicated by Richard Ne<v ill, Ef<i; member for
TVexford.

CONSUMPTION OF DUBLIN. 137

amounted in the firft to 3278!. f, and in the latter to 4973!. §*
the aft lafted only thofe four years. It was an experiment
\vhich furely ought to have been continued; for if corn is to
be forced to Dublin, this moil certainly is the only rational
\vay of doing it.

By the following table the amount of this coafting trade
will be feen, with and without that bounty.

Corn and Flour brought coaftways to Dublin from
. 1758 to 1777. ,

Wheat ami
wheat meat

Here and
barley*

Malt.

Flour.

Oats and

*ttalt.

Barrels.

In the Year 1758

1,414

6l,794

2,991

22,178

88,447

'759

5*7

69,326

5,106

! 0,963

85,959

1760

75.846

3,8i2

9^73

89,016

1761

64,585,

3.272

9,792

77,736

1761

118

63,980

3.347

52.

10,484 77,98i

>7*3

902

66.150

3>5°5

124

10,762 81,443

1764

1,544

79,710

3-812

161

10,663 95,8b8

1765

t,6n

64,705

3.427

141

10,053 79^938

1766

1 1 ,000

39-398

6,610

282

14,276 71,566

1767

8,006

6 i,j+<>

6,266

1,150

12,006

88,774

Total,

836,728

1768

2,430

76,684

i5,$°7

I5»858

110,518

1/69

5,669

»i,749

14,479

753

2!, 723 124,373

1770

6,062

68,378

18,522

J*l

9,1301102.473

1771

5,425

60,^30

8,558

232

16.157

90,902

177*

8,130

49,658

i8,455

743

14,468

9M54

»773

3-5^5

48,836

1 7.106

269

12,117

81,853

'774

4-755

46,724

27,659

.7.18.

96,395

1775

832

49 213

25,165

290

5,6i5

8. ,..5

1776

1,1 Si

51,778

21,790

6,591

8i,34i

'777

712

37o'i

i7'46?

630

10.733

67,053*

Total,

927.4/7

Average of the?
lall 7 yt-ais, i

3i5o8

49,178

'9.457

310

11,837

84,301

f June i, 1768. "}th George III. chap. 24.

^d. per C'wt. corn of Irijb growth by ivater coaftiuays to
Dublin, fouthward between Mricklo<w and the Tufcar ; north,
between D right da or Carrickfergus-

^d. per Civt. if fouthiuard of^fTufcar, or north of Carrick-
ferguf.

q.d. per C'wt. foutb'ward of Cooley point, to Newry, Belfaft,
ir Londonderry. Continued to 2^tb "June, 1771.

§ MS. account of public premiums, communicated by tie Right
Hon. "John Forjler, member for the county of Louth.

* MS. csmmwiicatcd ly Ri:':. Nevi1/, Efa mwltcrfsr Wnfora,

I38 CONSUMPTION OF DUBLIN.

With the afliftance of thefe particulars, united with the
quantities on which the inland bounty is paid, given at page
127 and 128, we fhall be able to fee the principal part of the
confumption of the city of Dublin.

Brought by Land-carriage Bounty.

Stones.

Cwf.

Year 1762

,730,869

i?63

,592,418

1764
1765

,622,933
,409,726

1766

,464,296

1767

945,289

1768

2,148,805

1769

2,608,910

107,986

1770

1,920,978

79»35°

1771

1,641,867

87,965

1772

3,146,960

»$3»i39

1773

3,263,199

!75''77

'774

3'553>996

190,346

'775

3,211,214

213,885

1776

3,622,076

255,256

»777

3,240,692

S1?.?^

Average of
laft 7 years

• 3>°97»'43

199,074

By thefe accounts, [Dublin on an average of the laft fevea
years has confumed

3,097,143 Stones of corn,
199,074 Cwt. of flour,
84,301 Barrels of both coafhvays.

If the average weight of the corn is 14 ftone per barrel,
the firft of thefe articles

Will make in barrels, — 221,224
The 199,074 Cwt. of flour may be called in bar-
rels of wheat, 1 80,000
Add the above barrels coafhvays, — 84,301

Total, — 485>525

To this fhould be added the import of foreign corn, which
is known to be confiderably more than the export, and it will
appear that if there are 150,000 inhabitants in Dublin, they
muft confume above three barrels each of all forts of corn in

a year*

PASTURAGE AND TILLAGE COMPARED. 139
0; year, which confidering that the mafs of the people live
very much upon potatoes, is a great allowance, and iuggefts
the idea either that the people are more numerous, or that
more money is paid in bounties than there ought to be by
the ads, which is probable.

I come now to confider one of the principal arguments
ufed in favour of this meafure. It is the increafe of tillage
being fo beneficial to the kingdom. Taken as a general po-
fition, there may or may not be truth in the aflertion : I am
apt to think rather more ftrefs is laid on it than there
ought to be, and fome reafons for that opinion may be feen in
Political Arithmetic, p. 363, &c. But not to enter into the
general quedion at prefent, i have to obferve two circum-
itances upon the date of Ireland ; firft the moifture of the
climate, and fecondly the fort of tillage introduced.

That the climate is far moider than that of England I have
already given various reafons to conclude ; but the amazing
tendency of the foil to grafs would prove it if any proof was
wanting. Let general Cunningham and Mr. Silver Oliver
recolle<5t the inftanccs thay fhewed me of turnep land, and
ftubble left without ploughing, and yielding the fucceedirig
fummcr a full crop of hay. Thefe are fuch fads as we
have not an idea of in England. Nature therefore points
out in the cleared manner, the application of the foil in Ire-
land moft fuitable to the climate. But this moiftare which is
fo advantageous to-grafs, is pernicious to corn. The fined
corn in Europe and the world is uniformly found in the
dried countries ; it is the weight of wheat which points out
its goodnefs ; which lefTens per meafure gradually from Bar-
bery co Poland. The wheat of Ireland has no weight com-
pared with that of dry countries ; and I have on another
occafion obferved, that there is not a fample of a good colour
in the whole kingdom. The crops are full of grafs and
weeds, even in the bed management, and the harvefts are fo
wet and tedious as greatly to damage the produce ; but at
the fame time, and for the fame reafon cattle of all forts look
well, never failing of a full bite of excellent grafs : the very
dried fummers do not affect the verdure as in England.

I do not make thefe obfervations. in order to conclude that
tillage will not do in Ireland. I know it may be made to do ;
but I would leave the vibrations from corn to padurage, and
from padurage to corn, to the cultivators of the land to guide
themfclves as prices and other circumdances direct, but by no
means force an extended tillage at the expence of bounties.

But what is the tillage gained by this meafure ? It is that
fydem which formed the agriculture of England two hundred
years :tgo, and forms it yet in the word of our common fields,
but which all our exertions of enclofmg and improving are
bent to extirpate, i. Fallow. 2. Wheat ; and then fpring
corn until the foil is exhaudcd : or elfe, i. Fallow. 2. Wheat.

3. Spring

140 I' N L A N D B O U N T Y.

3. Spring corn ; and then fallow again. In this cotirfe thvi
fpring corn goes to horfes, &c. the fallow is a dead lofs, and
the whole national gain the crop of wheat ; one year in three
yields nothing, and one a trifle, whereas the grafs yields a full
crop every year. Let it not be imagined, that wafte and de-
fart tracts, that wanted cultivation, are only turned to this
tillage. Nine tenths of the change is in the rich {heep walks
of Rofcommon, Tipperary, Carlow, and Kilkenny. I have
already proved this fad ; the queftion therefore is reduced to
this : Ought you to turn fome of the fineft paftures in the
•vvorJd, and which in Ireland yielded twenty {hillings an acre,
into the mod execrable tillage that is to be found on the face
of the globe ? The comparifon is not between good grafs and

food tillage ; it is gsod grafs againft bad tillage. The tables
inferted prove, that Ireland has loft fifty-three thoufand
j>eunds a year for feven years in the produce of cows and
bullocks, and one hundred and fix thoufand pounds in that
of (heep ; this is a prodigious lofs, but it rs not the whole ;
there is the lofs of labour on above fifty thoufand ftones of
woollen yarn annually, which ts a great drawback from the
fuperior population fuppofed, perhaps falfely, to flow from
tillage. When thefe circumftaijces are therefore well confi-
dered, the nation will not, I apprehend, be thought to have
gained by having converted her rich {heep walks, which
yielded fofemply in wool, and in the labour which is annexed
to wool, into fo execrable a tillage as is univerfally intro-
duced.

Another circumftance of this menfure is, that of facrificing-
aft the ports of the kingdom to Dublin ; the natural trade,
which ought to take a variety of different little channels, pro-
portioned to vicinity, was by this fyftem violently drawn away
to the capital ; a very ill fituatcd capital, the increafe of
which, at the expence of the out ports, was by no means a
national advantage.

A queftion naturally arifes from the premifes before us ;
fitould the bounty be repealed ? Abfurd as it is, I am free to
declare, I think not at once. Upon the credit of the meafure
great fums have been laid out in raifing mills, moft in fitua-
tions which render them dependant on this forced trade for
\vork. Great lofs would accrue in this to individuals, and
the public faith rather injured. The following tables wiU
fhcTir that this is not a flight conllderation.

The

INLAND BOUNTY. 141

The principal mills of Ireland, from June 1773 to June 1/74.

Cwt.

Marlefield, — Stephen Moore, Efq; — 15*382

Slane, — D. Jebb, Efq; and Co. — 11,070

Anner, — Mr. J. Grub, IO>39$

Rathnally, — J. Nicholibn, Efq; 91870

Lodge, — • Richard Mercer, Efq; — 9,826

Kilkarn, — Wade and Williams, — 9>49^

Carrick, — D. Tighie, Efq; 6,996

Archer's Grove, — Mr. W. Ratican, — 5-5°3

Lock, — Mr. H. Bready, 5,446

Ballykilcavan, — Doyle and Hofkius, 5>39^

Tyrone, — H. O'Brien, Efq; — 4^7

Newtown Barry, — Hon. B. Barry, 4»574

The rnofl diflant miH from Dublin is that of Barnahely,
Corke, one hundred and thirty miles. A prodigious number
of men and horfes would be thrown at once out of employ-
ment, which would have bad effects ; and a fudden diverfion
of that fupply, which has now flowed to Dublin for fo many
years, would certainly have very ill ccnfequences. The policy
therefore to be embraced is this ; lower the prefent bounty to
the iimple expence cf the carriage, and no more ; and coun-
teract it by railing the bounty on the carriage of Corn coaft-
\vife, until it rivalled and gradually put down the land car-
riage. Perhaps it might be neceffary to accompany this mea-
fure with a land carriage bounty from the mill to the nearetl
exporting port, the Dublin bounty would therefore ftand in
order to prevent the evil of a fudden change, but when the
other bounties had got fo far into effecl:, as to leffen the old
one confiderably, then it fliould be totally difcontinued ; and
it would then certainly be proper for the other bounties (hav-
ing performed their office) to be difcontinued alfo. The pre-
fent fyflem is fo undoubtedly abfurd, that the rival bounties
fhould be raifed higher and higher until they had turned the
commerce into the natural channel ; an expreffion I am fcn-
fible implies an apparent abfurdity, for a natural channel of
commerce docs not want fuch bounties, but a bad proceeding
has made it fo exceedingly crooked, that a mere repeal, leav-
ing the trade to itfelf, moll certainly would not do. You
muft undo by art the mifchie£which art has done ; and the
commercial capital in Ireland is too fmall to bear any vio-
lence.

United with the conduft I have ventured to recommend,
in cafe the tillage fyilem was perlilled in, it would be very
well worth the attention of parliament, to annex fuch conditi-
ons to the payment of any new bounties, as might have the
cffeft of fccuring a good tillage initead of a bud one. If it

tja INLAND BOUNTY,

•was found practicable, which I fhould think it might be, no
public money (hould ever be given for barley, bere, or oats,
that did not fucceed turneps ; nor for wheat, or rye, that did
not follow beans, clover, or potatoes ; by this means the na-
tion would have the fatisfaclion of knowing, that if the plough
\vas introduced in valuable pafture land, it would at leaft be
in a good fyftem.

Before I conclude this fubjecT", it may be proper to obfervc
a circumftance, which however ill it may be received in Eng-
land, has, and ought to have this weight in Ireland. The
avenue of that kingdom is under fome difadvantages which
England is free from ; the hereditary revenue is claimed in
froperty by the crown ; a great penfion lift is charged on it,
and much of the amount paid out of the kingdom ; there is
no free trade to compenfate this ; a large part of the military
eftablifhment is taken out of the kingdom, and of late years
the nation has run very much in debt : in fuch a fituation of
affairs, it is thought wife and prudent to fecure the payment
of fuch a fum as fifty or fixty thoufand pounds a year to-
wards the internal improvement of the kingdom. Nobody
can deny there being much good fenfe in this reafoning ; but
the ai'gumcnt is applicable to a well founded meafure, as
ftrongly as it is to an abfurd one ; and I fbould farther ob-
ierve, that if this or any bounty is the means of running the
nation fo much in debt that new taxes are neceffarily the con-
fcquence, 1:his idea is then vifionary ; the people do not fe-
cure an advantage but a burthen. I cannot here avoid a
comparifon of expending fo large a fum annually of the
public money rationally, or in a meafure at beft fo very
doubtful ; for indulge the prejudices of gentlemen, and fup-
pofe for a moment, that all the proofs 1 have given do not
amount to an abiblute condemnation, they certainly, even
then, give it the mod dubious complexion that ever meafure
bad. But fuppofe from the beginning, the money which has
been thus advanced, had been given in premiums of ten
pounds per acre on all land abfolutely wafte, which was
brought in and reclaimed. That fum I fhewed on another
occafion, will build excellent dwellings, fence, plant, drain,
pure and burn lime, plough, fow, and complete an acre ; the
premium would therefore pay the whole, and leave to the
proprietor no other bufmefs than to take the trouble of fee-
ing the conditions of the premium complied with. The fol-
lowing table will ihew what the effects of fuch a premium
would have been, calculating the annual produce at four
pounds an acre, which is much under what it ought to be.
The firft column {haws the fums paid as bounty, the next the
number of acres that fum would have improved at ten
pounds per acre, and the third the produce at four pounds
per acre, waiting three years at firft to give time for operations.

IMPROVEMENT OF WASTES.

'43

Sums.

In the year 1762

4,940

1 763

5,096

1764

5.483

1765

6,660

1766

9,212

1767

6,074

1768

1769

25,225

1770

18,706

1771

19,290

1772

39>56°

1773

44,465

1774

49.674

1775

53,889

1776

60,745

'777

61,786

Acres-

Produce.

494

509

548
666

8,788

912

12,436

607

14,864

^367

20,332

2,522

30,420

1,870

37,900

1,929

45,616

3.956

61,440

4.446

79,224

£388

99,o9a
120,644

6,074
6,178

144,940

169,732

42,433

845,428

From hence we find, that at the end of the year 1777,
there would have been 42,433 acres improved in the complete
and mafterly manner ten pounds an acre effects, the annual
produce of which would be at four pounds an acre, 169,732!..
all abfolute and undoubted profit to the kingdom : there
•would have been received in this manner no lefs than,
845,000!. If the lands were thrown as they ought to be
into the courfe of — i. turneps ; 2. barley; 3. clover;
4. wheat ; and reckoning the barley at ten barrels, and the
wheat at fix, there would now be a produce every year of
63,649 barrels of wheat, and 186,082 of barley; and this
from only half the land ; the other half in turneps an<! clover
would undoubtedly keep ten fheep the year through, and
yield fifty pounds of wool, or in the whole 106,080 fheep and
33,150 llones of wool, with^all the employment and popula-
tion which would refult from fuch excellent tillage, building,
fencing, manuring, and fpinning. Kow different this effect
from having in the laft feven years loft above a million iler-
ling by the inland carriage ; in that period the bounty has
juft trebled ; if it goes on fo it will be one hundred and eigh-
ty thoufand pounds a year in feven years more, and by that
time there will be neither flicep nor cows left in the king-
dom ; but fuppofe it to (land at fixty thoufand pounds a
year, that fum in feven years, applied in a bounty on culti-
vating wattes^ would improve forty-two ihouiand acres, and

conicqueiiily

i44 MANUFACTURES,

confequently be attended with all the effects which would
have flowed from a fimilar number the paft bounty would
have improved. I have now done with this meafure ; my
Ehglifh reader will, I hope, pardon fo long a detail, which I
fhould not have gone into had I found the facts known in
Ireland, or any juft conclufions drawn from ideal ones ; but
in the variety of converfations I have had in that kingdom
with all defer iptions of men, I found not one who was ac-
quainted with the facts upon which the merit of the meafure
could alone be decided. It is for their ufe that I have col-
lected them from very voluminous manufcripts.

Another meafure relative to corn, which is in execution in
Ireland, is a parliamentary bounty on corn preserved on
ftands, that is (lacked on (lone pillars capped, to prevent the
depredations of rats and mice. I have been a/lured that very
great abufes are found in the claims ; if thefe are obviated,
the meafure feems not objectable in a country where little is
dons without fome public encouragement. The following
are the payments in confequence of this bounty.

In the Year 1 766 - 891

1767 - 891

1768 - 3442

1769 - 3442
. 1770 - 4266

1771 - 4266

In the Year 1772 - 5487

'773 - 5487

1774 - 6565

1775 - 6565

1776 - 6866

1777 - 6866*

It would be a proper condition to annex to this bounty,
that it be given only to corn preferved as required, and
threfhed on boarded floors ; the famples of Irifh wheat are
exceedingly damaged by clay floors ; an Englifh miller knows
the moment he takes a fample in his hand if it came off a
clay floor, and it is a deduftion in the value. The floors
fhould be of deal plank two inches thick, and laid on joifts
two or three feet from the ground, for a free current of air
to prcfcrve them from rotting.

SECTION XIX,
Manufactures.

*Hp HE only mamifa&ure of confiderable importance in Ire-
JL land is that of linen, which the Irilh have for near a cen-
tury confidered as the great ftaple of the kingdom. The hi-
ftory of it in its earlier periods is very little known ; a com-
mittee of the houfe of commons, of which Sir Lucius O'Bricn.

was

* Ttf reafon cf the fitnn lelng tl:e fame for tw> years tl-rcugh-
out, is their btin? returned every JeceriaJFtar ta parllamert.

LI>: '.NUFACTURE. 105

was chairman, eramir. '. • .nal records with great at-

tention, in order to JUCOVLT how long they had been irt it ;
.7 difcovered was that by aa act palfcd in i 543, the 33^.
cf Henry 8. linen and woollen yarn were enumerated among
:he moft confiderable branches of trade pofleued by the na-
l ;f Ireland in an .. . . g-rey merchants fore-

ftallrng. The i itli cf Queen Elizabeth the lame act was re-
vived, and a further law m~ -g hemp or flax,
&c. in rivers. By the ijth of Elizabeth a'l perions were pro-
hibited from sporting -wool, lias, linen 2nd woollen yarn, ei-
cept meFch^mi reiiding in cities and boroughs; and by a
further aft the fame year, a jenalty of I2d. a pound was ina-
pokd on all na% or linen yarn exported, and 8d. more for the
ute of the town exported f.-rna. In this laft act it is recited,
that the merchants of Ireland had been exporters of thofe ar-
ticles in trade upwards of one hundred years preceding that
ptriod : and by many fubiequent acts, and proclamations dur-
irtg the reigns cf Charles I. and II. thofe manufactures were
particularly attended to; from whence it evidently appeared
that the kingdom polFeiTed an export trade in thefe commo-
:.t th^fe early periods. The Earl of Strafibrd, Lord
lieutenant in Charles I. reign, patTed feveral laws and took
various caeafares to encourage thio manufacture, infomuch
that he has by fome authors been faid to have eftablifiied it
originally. A: the end cf the loft century, in King William's
reign, it arofe to be an object of confequencs, but not fingly
fo, for it appears from a variety of records in both kingdoms,
that the Irifh had then a coniUerable woollen manufacture
for exportation, which railed the jeakmfy of the Engliih ma-
":orers in that commodity fo much, that they prefented
I'D many pecitions to both fords and comorrons, as to induce
. bodies to enter fully into their jealoufies and illiberal
, lews; which occafiOHed the famous compact betwesa the
iwo nations, brought on ia the following mar.

Die Jffsls 9°. Junii. 1698.

The Earl of Stamferd reported from the lords committees
(appointed to draw an addreis to be prefented to his Majefty,
relating to the woolkn manufacture in Ireland ) the follow-
ing addrefi,

4i WE the lords fpiritual and temporal in parliament af-
fembled, Do humbly reprefent unto your Majeiiy, that the
growing manufacture of cloth in Inljnd, both by the cheap-*
neis of all forts of neceiTaries for life, and goodnefs of mate-
rials for making of all manner of cloth, doth invite your tub-
.f Eng-Jand, wkh their 'families and fervants, to leave
thetr habitatkr.i to fettle there, to the inereafe of the woollen

Vtt. II. K manufaclure

146 LINEN MANUFACTURE.

manufacture in Ireland, which makes your loyal fubjects in
this kingdom very apprehenfive that the further growth of it
may greatly prejudice the faid manufacture here ; by which
the trade of this nation and the value of lands will very much
decreafe, and the numbers of your people be much leflened
here ; wherefore we do moft humbly befeech your moft fa-
cred majefty, that your majefty would be pleafed, in the moil
public and effectual Way that may be, to declare to all your
iubjects of Ireland, that the growth and increafe of the wool-
len manufacture there hath long, and will ever be looked upon
with great jealoufy, by all your fubjedts of this kingdom : and
if not timely remedied, may occafion very ftrict laws totally
to prohibit and fuppreis the fame, and on the other hand, if
they turn their induftry and (kill to the fettling and improv-
ing the linen manufacture, for which generally the lands of
that kingdom are very proper, they (hall receive all counte-
nance, favour, and protection from your royal influence, for
the encouragement and promoting of the faid linen manu-
facture, to all the advantage and profit that kingdom can be
capable of."

To which the houfe agreed.

. It is ordered by the lords fpiritual and temporal in parlia-
ment aflembled, That the lords with white (laves do humbly
attend his majefty with the addreis of this houfe, concerning
the woollen manufacture in Ireland.

Die Veneris 10° Junij 1698°.

The Lord Steward reported his Majefty's anfwer to the
addrefs, to this effect, viz.

his Majefty will take care to do what their lord-
fhips have defifed.

ASHLEY COWPER.

Cler. Parliamentor."
Jovh 30 Die Junii 1698.

" Moft Gracious Sovereign,

" WE your majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the
commons in parliament aflembled, being very feniible that
the wealth and power of this kingdom do, in a great meafure,
depend on the preferving the woollen manufacture as much
as poflible entire to this realm, think it becomes us, like our an-
ceftors, to be jealous of the eftablilhment and increafe thereof
elfewherc ; and to uffi our utmoft endeavours to prevent it.

"And

LINEN MANUFACTURE. J47

" And therefore we cannot without trouble obferve, that
Ireland is dependant on, and protected by England in ttie
enjoyment of all they have ; and which is fo proper for the
linen manufacture, the eftablifhment and growth of which
there would be fo enriching to themfelves, and fo profitable
to England ; fhoald, of late, apply itfelf to the woollen manu-
facture, to the great prejudice of the trade ef this kingdom ;
and fo unwillingly promote the linen trade, which would be-
nefit both them and us.

" The confequence \vhereofwill neceflitate your parliament
of England to interpofe to prevent the mifchief that threaten8
us, unlefs your majelly, by your authority and great wifdom*
fhall find means to fecure the trade of England, by making
your fubjects of Ireland to purfue the joint intereft of both
kingdoms.

" And we do moft humbly implore your majefty's protec-
tion and favour in this matter ; and that you will make it
your royal care, and enjoin all thofe you employ in Ireland to
make it their care, and ufe their utmoft diligence, to hinder
the exportation of wool from Ireland, except to be imported
hither, and for the difcouraging the woollen manufactures,
and encouraging the linen manufactures in Ireland, to which
we ihall always be ready to give our utmoft affiftance."

Refolved, That the faid addrefs be prefented to his majefly
by the whole houfe.

Sakati. 2. die Julii.
HIS MAJESTY'S ANSWER.

" GENTLEMEN,

" I fhall do all that in me lies to difcourage the woollen
manufacture in Ireland, and to encourage the linen manufac-
ture there ; and to promote the trade of England."

Thurfday 27 th September, 1698.
Part of the Lords Juftices Speech.

« AMONGST thefe bills there is one for the encourage-
ment of the linen and hempen manufactures : at our firft
meeting we recommended to you that matter, and we have
now endeavoured to render that bill practicable and ufeful
for that effect, and as fuch we now recommend it to you.
The fettlement of this manufacture will contribute much to
people the country, and will be found much more advanta-
K z geous

:4S COMPACT WITH ENGLAND,
geous to this kingdom than the woollen manufacture, which
being the fettled ftaple trade of England, from whence all
foreign markets arc fupplied, can never be encouraged here
for that pvtrpore ; whereas the linen and hempen manufac-
tures will not only be encouraged, as confident with the
trade of England, but will render the trade of this kingdom
both ufeful and neceflfary to England."

The Commons of IRELAND returned the fallowing Anfwer
• to the fpeech from the throne.

" WE pray leave to allure your excellencies, that we fhaii
heartily endeavour to eftablifli a linen and hempen manufac-
ture here, and to render the fame ufeful to England, as well
as advantageous to this kingdom, and that we hope to find
fuch a temperament in refpect to the woollen trade here, that
the fame may not be injurious to England."

And they pafTed a law that feffion, commencing the 251?!
of March, 1699, leaving 45. additional duty on every 2os.
value of broad-cloth exported out of Ireland, and 2s. on every
2os. value of ferges, baize, kerfeys, ftuffs, or any other fort ol
new drapery made of wool or mixed with wool, (frizes only
excepted) which was in effect a prohibition. And in the fame
feffion a law was parted in England, reftraining Ireland from
exporting thofe woollen manufactures, including frize, ±o any
other parts except to England and Wales.

The addrelfes of the two houfes to the king carry the clear-
eft evidence of their fource, the jealoufy ot merchants and
manufacturers ; I might add their ignorance too, they are dic-
tated upon the narrow idea that the profperity of the woollen
fabrics of Ireland was incohfiftent with the welfare of thofe
of England ; it would at prefent be fortunate for both king-
doms if thcfe errors had been confined to the laft century.
There is an equal mixture alfo of 'falfhood in the reprefenta-
tidns ; for they alfcrt that the cheapnefs of neceffaries in Ire-
land drew from England the woollen manufacturers, but
they forgot the cheapnefs of labour in Ireland, to which no
workman in the world ever yet emigrated. The Irilh were
engaged in various flight fabrics not made in England ; but
had they been employed on broad cloth for exportation,
the Englifh manufacture would well have bore it ; they did
at that time and afterwards bear a. rapid encreafe of the
French fabrics, and yet ftaurifhed themfelvcs. We have had
fo long an experience cf markets increafmg with induftry and
inventions, that the time ought to have come long ago for
viewing competitors without the eye of jealoufy.

The memoirs of the time, as well as the exprcffion in the
above tranfaclion, evidently prove, that it was underftood by
both kiogdeins to be a fort of compact, that if Ireland gave

COMPACT WITH ENGLAND. 149

up her woollen manufacture, that of linen fhould be left t°.
her under every encouragement. I have however myfel*
heard it in the Britifli parliament denied to have been any
compact; but fimply a promife of encouragement, not pre-
cluding a like or greater encouragement to the Britifh linens.
This is certainly an error, for ib underflood, what is the
meaning of the ample encouragements prqmifed by the Britifh
parliament ? They could not mean internal encouragement
or regulation, for they had nothing to do with either : it
could limply mean, as the purport of the words evidently
fhe\v, that they would enter into no meafures which fhould
iet up a linen manufacture to rival the Irifh. That woollens
fhould be confidered and encouraged as the ftaple of England,
and linens as that of Ireland : it muft mean this or it meant
nothing. That the Irifh underflood it fo cannot be doubted
fora moment; for what did they in confequcuce? They
were in pofTeflion of a flourifhjng woollen manufacture, which
they aclually put down and crippled by prohibiting exporta*
tion. Let me afk thofe who a{fert there was no compact,
why they did this ? it Avas their own a£t. Did they cut their
own throats without either reward or promife of reward ?
common fenfe tells us they did this under a perfect convic-
tion, that they fhould receive ample encouragement from.
England in their linen trade: but what moonfhine would
fuch encouragement prove if England, departing from the
letter and fpirit of that compact, had encouraged her own
linen manufacture to rival the Iriih, after the Irifh had dc-
ftroyed their woollen fabrics to encourage thofe of England ?
Yet we did this in direct breach of the whole tranfadtion, for
the 23d of George II. laid a tax on fail cloth made of Irifh
hemp. Bounties alfo have been given in England without
extending fully to Irifh linens. Checked, ftriped, printed,
painted, flamed, or dyed linens pf Irifh manufacture are not
allowed to be imported into Britain. In which, and in other
articles, we have done every thing pofllble fo extend and in-
creafe our own linen manufacture, to rival that of Ireland.

I admit readily, that the apprehenfions of the Irifh at the
progrefs of Britilh linens are in the fpirit of commercial jea-
loufy, as well as our violence in relation to their woollens.
But with this great difference ; we forced them to put down
a manufacture they were actually in polfefiion of ; and we
being the controuling power, do not leave them that freedom,
of market which we porTefs ourfelves, points which neccfTarily
place the two nations in this rcfpecT: upon very different foot-
ings. Give them as they ought to have, a free woollen trade,
and they will then have no objection to any meafures for the
encouragement of our linens which do not abfolutcly exclude
theirs.

The following table will fhew the progrefs of their linen
manufacture through the prefent century.

LINEN EXPORT.

An ACCOUNT of the EXPORT of LINEN - CLOTH,
and LINEN-YARN, from IRELAND.

Value cloth

Valueyarn

Linen

Tarn.

at i s. 3d.

at 61. per

Total

Cloth.

per yard.

120 lb.

Value.

Yards.

Cwt.

In the year 1 700

14,112

1710

',688,574

7.975

I05'537

47,853

'53>389

1711

1,254,815

7,321

78,425

43,928

122,354

1712

1,376,122

7,916

86,007

47,496

1 33»5°4

'7'3

1,819,816

1 1,802

1 '3.738

70,815

184,554

1714

2,188,272

15.078

155,002

158,326

3'3.329

1715

2,153,120

'3.93'

107,650

146,283 -

253,939

1716

2,188,105

1 °.747

109,405

112,847

222,252

1717

2,437,265

18,052

132,018

'89.555

321.574

1718

2.247,375

14,050

121,73*.

'47.527

269,260

17.9

2,359.352

15,070

127,798

158,239

286,038

1720

2,437,984

15,722

121,899

94.334

216,233

1721

2,520,701

14,696

126,035

88,178

214,213

1722

3,419,994

'4,754

170,995

88,524

259.519

1723

4,378,545

15,672

218,927

94.°37

312,964

1724

3,879,170

'4.594

193,958

87,564

281,522

1725

3,864,987

'3.701

193,249

82,207

275.457

1726

4,368,395

17.507

218,419

105,042

323.462

172714,768,889

1 7,287

238,444

103,720

342.«7'

1728

4,692,764

11,450

234,638

62,975

297,613

1729

3,927,918

".*55

r96,395

65,206

261,602

1730

4,. 36,203

10,088

206,810

55.485

262,295

173'

3,775»830

'3,746

220,256

84,194

304,45 1

m*
'733

3,792.55 '
4,777»076

1 5.343

'3.357

237.034
298,567

92,061
82,372,

309,096
380,939

*734

5.45!'758

• 8,122

34°'734

'08,733

449,468

'735

6,761,151

15,900

422,571

94.405

517.977

'736

6,508,151

'4.743

406,759

88,463

495.222

'737

6,138,785

'4.695

409,252

18,173

497.325

-1738

5.i75»744

'5.945

345.049

95»674

440.724

'739

5,962,316

18,200

397'487

129,202

506,690

1740:6,627,771

18,542

441,851

1 1 1,256

553,108

1 7417,207,74)

21,656

480,516

129,941

610,457

174*17 .074. '68

16,330

471,611

97.984

569.591

'743
1744

6,058,041
6,124,892

14,169
18,011

403,869
459,366

85,016
108,066

4.88 885
567,432

»745

7,i7'»963

22,066

537.«97

132,398

570,291

1746

6,820,786

27,74'

511,588

166,451

678,010

'747

9,633,884

28,910

722,541

1 73'464

896,005

1748
'7491

8,692,671
9»5°4»33S

19,418
21,694

543.29'
594,021

116,508
130,164

659,800
;24»'8s

LINEN EXPORT.

An ACCOUNT of the EXPORT of LINEN CLOTH, and
LINEN- YARN, from Ireland. Continued.

Paint Cloth

Value yarn

Linen Clctl:

Tarn,

at i s. 3 d.

at 61. per

Tctalvalue

p:r yard.

C. iio.lt.

lardi.

Cut.

In the year 1750

1 1 ,100,460

"'373

653.360

I34,a38

787,598

1751

11,891,318

*3,743

75'.993

I4M59

894,452

1752

10,636,003

13.407

621,600

140,442

762,042

1753

10,41 1,787

23.238

694,119

139,428

839,0,8

'754

11,090,903

**,594

806,060

135,567

941,73*

1755

I3>379i733

27,948

891,982

167,692

1,059,675

1756

11,944,318

26.997

796,288

161,982

1,046,841

Average,

11,795,361

14,3*8

745'°57

145.97*

904,479

In the year 1757
1758

15,508,709
14.982,557

31.078
31.995

1,033,913
998,837

186,473
191,970

1,120,387
1,190,807

1759

i4,093>43i

*7'5?i

939,562

165,416

1,104,988

1760

i3.37Si456

31.04*

891,697

186,254

1,077,95'

1761

12,048,881

39,699

803,251

138,198

i,04i,457

176*

i5.559'676

35.950

1,037,311

*i5,7o*

i,*53,oi4

1763

16,013,105

34,468

1,067,540

206,808

1,274,348

Average,

i4-5«i>973

33.U4

9^7,445

198,690

1,166,136

In the year 1764
1765

15,201,081
i4.355.io5

3»*7i5
26,127

1,006,738
957>°i3

190,292
156,762

1,197,031
1,233,402

1766

17,892,192

35»oi8

,192,806

210,109

i.SSVi?

1767

20,148,170

30,274

,343,iu

181,648

1,692,761

1768

18,490,019

31,590

,232,667

195,54*

1,382,194

1769

17,790,705

37.037

,186047

222,223

1,556,5*5

1770

20,560,754

33-417

,37°.7'6

200,502

i,74*,559

Average,

17,776,861

3*>3n

,184.171

193,868

1,379,51*

\n the year 1771
1773

15,376,808
20,599-178

34.'<tt

3*. 44i

,691,787

,.544,938

204,996
i94>50

*,'o8,Z57
1.739,588

1 773

18,450,700

28,078

,383.802

168,473

i,55*>*76

1774

16.916,674

29,194

.1*7-777

174,864

! ,302,641

i77«

10,105,087

30,598

,346,985

183.588

1,530,573

1 ' / 5

1776

20,502,587

36,152.

,306,838

216,912

1,583,750

1777

19,714,638

29,698

,314-308

178,188

1,492,496

Average,

10,151,239

31.475

1,390,919

188,810

1,615,654

Average of *

o years f nee 1 748

I,li8,t48

Average of 30 years before, — — 417,600

Mr. Henry Archd-all, in the year 1771, aflertcd before a
committee of the houfe of commons; that Ireland manufac-
trued for

. Exportation

I52 LINEN MANUFACTURE.

Exportation, 1,54.1,200

And for home confumption, • 658,906

* 2,2oo,ic6

The latter article muft be a mere guefs ; the firft we find
contradicted in the preceding table, unlefs he meant cloth
only.

This ample table calls for feveral obfervations. It firft ap-
pears that the manufacture has gone on in a regular increafe,
until it has arrived in the laft feven years to be an object of
prodigious confequence. The averages of each period of fe-
vcn years are of particular importance ; as there is one poli-
tical lefTon to be deduced from them which may be of great
ufe hereafter : they prove in the cleared manner that no judg-
ment is ever to be formed of the ftate of the manufacture
from one or two years, but on the contrary from feven years
alone. In 1774 it appears that the export was lower than it
had been for nine years before, and we very well recollect the
noife which this fall made in England. I was repeatedly in
the gallery of the Englifh houfe of commons when they fat
in a committee for months together upon the ftate of the linen
•trade, and from the evidence I heard at the bar I thought
Ireland was finking to nothing, and that all her fabrics were
tumbling to pieces : the aflertion of the linen fabrics de-
.clining a third was repeated violently, and it was very true.
But they drew this comparifon from 177 i, when we find from
the preceding table that it was at it's zenith, to appearance
a very unnatural one, for it rofe at once five millions of "yards
which was unparalleled. It was ridiculous to draw a fudden
ilart into precedent, for what manufacture in the world
but experiences moments of uncommon profperity, the con-
tinuance of which is never to be expected ; this fall of a third
therefore though true /'// fact was utterly falfe In argument. In
truth the fall was exceedingly trivial, for the only comparifon
that ought to have been made was with the average of the,
preceding feven years, the decline then would have appeared
only feven or eight hundred thouland yards, that is, not a
twentieth inftead of a third. But becaufe the trade had run
to a mod extraordinary height in '771, the manufacturers
and merchants felt the fall the more, and were outrageoufty
clamorous becaufe every year was not a jubilee one. It fuck
were to be the coniequences of an unufual demand, minilters
and legiflatures would have reafon (o curie any extraordinary
profperity, and to prevent it if they could, under the con-
viction'that the grafping avarice of commercial folly, would
be growling and dunning them with complaints when the
trade returned to its ufaal and natural courfe. In the year
1773 and 4, all Ireland was undone; the linen manufacture

was
* 'Jturnals ff the commons , vol. 1 6. page 368.

LINEN M ANUFACTURE. if$
•was to be at an end ; but lo ! at the end of the period of ie-
ven years upon examining the average it is found to be in as
great a ftate of increafe as ever known before ; for the four
periods have all the fame rife one above another of three mil-
lions of yards each: confequently I fay, upon the evidence
of the cleareft fafts that there has been no declcnfion but an
INCREASE. And I ihall draw this manifeft conclufion from it
to difbelieve commercial complaints as long as 1 exift, and put
no credit in that fort of proof which is carried to parlia-
ment in fupport of fuch complaints. Falfliood and impcfition.
I am confident find their way to the bar of a houfe, and I do
not think it much for the credit of thofe who fupported the
Irifh complaints at the period above mentioned, that I Ihould
find in copying at Dublin part of this table from the parlia-
mentary record of imports and exports, the export of the year
1775 erafed; the only confiderable erafure there is in thofe
volumes, the total of particulars makes 19,447,250 yards,
but it now ftands written over that erafure 20,205,087. It is
eafily accounted for ; if the trade had been known to have ex-
perienced fo immediate a revival, half their arguments^would
have had no weight, i'c might therefore be convenient to fink
the truth. If it was merely accidental in the clerk I can only
fay it was at a mod unfortunate time andfubjetf*.

The following table will fhew that England is the markqt
for eighteen twentieths of the total Irilh exportation.

QUANTITIES of IRISH LINENS imported into ENG-
LAND from Chriftmas 1756, to Chriftmas 1773.
Yards.

In the year 1757 11,925,290

i758 «__ 14,383,248
'759 12,793.412

1760 13,311,674

1761 i3>354'448

65,768,072 or per Annum 13,153,614.

Tardr.

In the year 1762 13,476,366

1763 13,110,858

1764 13,187,109

,-65 M»757»353

1766 17,941,229

72,472,915 or per annum 1 4,494,5 83.

* //; the woollen manafaflure of England the fame fpirit of com-
plaint and faljhood has at different times peftered both purliaitunt
and the public. See this point difcujfed in my Political Arithmetic,
page 152. f Subftance of Mr. G/over'r evidence before the
htufe of wnmons l/74> page 60.

'54

LINEN IMPORTS,

Tards.

In the year 1767 16,500,755

1768 15.249,248

1769 16,496,271

1770 18,195,087

1771 20,622,217

87, 063,578 or per annum

In the year 1772
'773

19,171,771-
17,896,994.

The following table will fhew the importation of the raw ma-
terial for this fabric.

IMPORT of FLAX, HEMP, and FLAX-
SEED, into I RE LAND.

fagjbtads
ft Flax-

ValMt.

Undrefid
fiax.%

Value.

Uudre/ed.
ta*p4

lvalue.

fiftri

value.

feed.

Civt.

C-wt.

Year ,764

31,168

112,588

53.870

1*9.284

'3-f95

ZI,I1I

261,983

1765

27,769

97,191

11,871

30,870

43,95'

38,31'

166,382

1766

31,040

108,640

8,047

i9-3'i

14,140

12,614

150,576

1767

43,076

150,766

7.397

17,752

7,780

il-44«

180,966

,768

19,161

67,063

9,908

*3,77S

'4,53'

i3'249

114,091

1769

50,021

<75-°77

7,690

18,456

11,263

19,620

i'3,'53

1770

19,431

68,01 a

9,176

42,i6z

17,842

44,547

«34,8zi

Average,

31,809

'"'333

15,608

37-387

16,243

15,988

174,710

Year 1771

45,°89

157,811

6.318

15,163

9, >3i

14,609

.87,583

1771

14,13°

84,103

6,054

14,519

13,685

ii,8s>5

121,129

%r?73

39-75"

'39- '^5

10.551

25.311

9,670

i5'47i

179,9,9

'774

a5'37?

88,811

8,677

ao,8u

",3««

J5,777

'45,4'3

'775

40,118

140,763

10,153

24.367

14,264

cl,82i

187,951

1776

14.077!!

84,269

S.'PS

ir,70b

1 3,602

i 1,763

118,740

»777

31,613*

II4.U5

18,212

43.708

19,419

51,069

188,921

Average,

33,050

»5>«Z5

9-3*2

",374

14,590

13.343

161,394

Tliis account is favourable to the ftate of the manufacture ;
for the increafcd import of flax-feed in the fccond period, im-
plies that the country fupplied herfelf with more Hax of her
own producing, which accounts for the falling off in the im-
port of undreffed flax : the perfons who have ftudied the ma-
nufacture,

f Al 3/. IOJ. a logfiead from 28*. to 61. § At 481. from
45 1 19 $zl. per ton. 4> At 32*. from 24!. to 40! . per ton, ave-
rage 32/. || From the plantathnt oj this 123441. * Ditto,

CULTURE OF FLAX.. 155

nufafture in all its branches with the mod attention, agree
there is no greater improvement to be \vifhed for, than the
railing the flax inftead of importing foreign. It is much to
be lamented, that the flax-hufbandry has not made a greater
progrefs in the kingdom j for the profit of it is very great.
The minutes of the tour furnifh the following particulars:

Places.

^xpences.

Stones

At per

I'alue.

fcutcbed

Jlone.

1. s. d.

s. d.

1. s. d.

Ardmagh,

664

4 2.

650

Near ditto,

8 o

19 4 o

Mahon,

4 *3 4-

8 o 10 o o

Warren flown,

'3 3 I0

4°

7 6 15 o o

Lifburne to Bclfaft,

942

9 4 26 2 8

Ards,

900

Shaen Caftle,

846

•54

7 10 21 3 o

Lefly Hill,

8 2 4 \6

Newtown Limavaddy,

9 3 o 28

5 4

7 9 4

Innifhoen,

5 '4 o.

Clonleigh,

Florence Court,

974

18 i 2

Ballymoat,

12 70

Mercra,

Averages,

8 13 a 36

7 2

15 8 i

From hence we find, that the profit is near feven pounds
an acre, clear, after paying large expcnces, and that on the
Cunningham acre.

There is a notion common in the north of Ireland, which I
fhould fuppofe muft be very prejudicial to the quality as well
as the quantity of flax produced ; it is, that rich land will not
do for it, and that the foil {hould be pretty much exhaufted
by repeated crops of oats, in order to reduce it to a proper
ftate for flax. The confequcnce of this is, as I every where
faw full crops of weeds, and of poor half-ftarved flax : the
idea is abfurd ; there is no land in the north of Ireland that
I £aw too rich for it. A very rich foil fown thin produces a
branching harfli flax, but if very clear of weeds, and fowa
thick for the ftems to draw each other up, the crop will be in
goodnefs, and quantity proportioned to the richnefs of the
land. A poor exhaufted foil cannot produce a flax of a ftrong
good (laple ; it is the nourifliment it receives from the fertility
of the land which fills the plant with oil, and bleachers very
well know that the oil is the flrengtb of the ftaple, and unfor-
tunately it is. that bleathing c.iuuot be performed without an

exhalation

.i$6 WEAVERS,

exhalation of this oil, and confequent weak'nefs. But though
it is neceflufy for colour to exhale a portion of the oil, flm:
that never had but little from the poverty of the foil it grew
in, is of little worth, and will not bear the opera'acu o;
bleaching like the other. Potatoes kept very clean under the
plough are an excellent preparation for fi.ix ; and turnep.r,
well hoed, the fame.

The following are the EARNINGS of the MANUFACTU-
"RERS in LINEN FABRICS.

Weavers.

\llrome!

\FineUnen.\Courfi //'«. Spin.

s. d.

d. f.

Market HiU,

i 6

3 °

Ardmagh,

Mahon,

3 2

iurgan,

* 4

3 °

Warrenftown,

i 6

3 o

Inniflioen,

4 o

Mount Charles,

2 2

Caftle Caldwell,

2 2

Innifkilling,
Belleifle,

i 3

4 o

4 °

Florence Court,

3 °

Farnham,

4 o

Strokcttown,

3 2

Ballymoat,

3 2

Mercra,

2 2

Sortland,

3 o

Wcftport,

2 0

3 o

Annfgrove,

2 0

Averages,

1 5

i ol

3 «

Thefe earnings are from double to near treble thofe of huf-
bandry labour throughout the kingdom, and yet Complaints
of poverty are infinitely more common among thefe people
than in thofe parts of the kingdom that have no fhare of the
manufacture. It is fo in all countries ; and ought to prevent
too alHduous an attention to fuch complaints. Thofe who for
the fake of great earnings will become weavers, muft do it
under the knowledge that they embrace or continue in a lire
not of the fame regular tenour with the loweft fpecies of la-
bourers. If they will not be more prudent and faving, they
ought not to clamour r.nd expect the public to turn things
topfy turvy to f«ed them, who, with any degree of attention,

mi glit

B O U NT lESroLINBNS. 157

might have fupported themfelves much better than another
clafs that never complains at all.

Having thus endeavoured to fhcw the rife, progrefs, and
prcfent amount of this manufacture, it will be neceiTary to lay
before the reader fome account of the fums of ^public money
which have, according to the faihion of Ireland,' been expend-
ed in its encouragement. This is not fo eafy to do fully and ac-
curately as I could wifh, but the following papers are the belt
:iuthoritics I could find,

An account of the nett produce of thed uties appropriated to
the ufe of the hempen and linen manufactures from their
commencement, and alfo the bounties from parliament.

Nett Jut its.

*,„,,

\Ntttcitiic;.

LeuKtiei.

la the year 17x1

2,500

i. '

In the year 1758 9,77*

'7*3

5,500

'759 8,933

8,000

'7*5
1717

.4,000
4,000

3700 6,581
1761) n,84i

8,000

iy*9

4,000

176* 14,014

1763 15,064

8,000

1731

5,637

4,000

1764

14,998

'733

6,3*8

8,000

1765

15,820

8,coo

1734

5'3'4

1766

18,634

'735

6,748

8,000

1767

12.717

8.000

1736

9,181

1768

10,414

'737

8,676

8,000

1769

t 2,181

8,000

1738

10,623

1770

i ,635

«739

10-087

8,000

1771

86 1

8,000

1740

•7,894

1772

1,348

1741

13,180

8,540

1773

1,700

8,000

174*

ii,56i

1774

£80

'743

I3>77°

8,obo

1775

1,3*7

8,000

'744
'745
1746

14,844
18,066
15,046

8,000
8,000

Totals - -
Nttt tea duties for
7 years, ending

4^3,2.04
\ 7a,500

184,1:40
184,540

1748

ii-657

1775. ' -

!749

1750

17^813

8,000

710,244

'751

17,' 75

Average of the laft

»753

8,000

7 years duties

j ''3"5

'754

• •i$4

Dit loot" tea duties,

io,357

'755

M,2?*

8,000

1756

*4,ooo

Together, -

11,742

1757

ItfM

8,000

The tea duties were granted fqrtheule of this manufacture.

Uut that this account is not complete appears by another £
to the following efteit.

*By King'j Letter.

•f Heie the tea duties were feparated, and produced in 5 year t» L. D.
71,500!. and 10,000!. a jrear each year atui .

J Comtnors journals, vol. 17.

BOUNTIES TO LINENS.

An account of the feveral fums of money for which the vice-
treafurers have claimed credit, as being paid by them for
the ufe of the hempen and linen manufactures, from the
25th of March 1700, to the z$th of March 1775, diflin-
guilhing each year, returned to the hon. houfe of commons
purfuant to their order, November 25, 1775.

(n the year 1 700

1 00

In the year 1728 5,154 In the j^ear 1754

17,402

1701

372

1729'! i,34oj 1755

16,886

1702

213

1730^0,824) 1756

12,760,

1703
1705

430
3,384

1731 1 3,74 d 1757
«73* 5,«49| 1758

15,762

1706

,783

1733 7,4*21 1759

7, '298

1707

,498

1734 5,670 1760

16,247

1708

,475

1735! 13, 103! 1761

9,i54

1709

,180

1 736^ 14,785! 1762

32,865

1710

,180

i737Ji2,927i 1763

19,463

1711

,77°

1738 14.931' 1764

22,041

1712

,023

1739 13,085! 1765

21 ,04I

C"' 17»3

,596

1740 16.97 3 1766

16,824

789

1741:15,484 1767

15,474

1715

,597

174210,085 176^

I7,o6l

1716

,641

1743 17,917 J769

l6,2l6

171?

3i9$Ji

1744 23,587 177°

19,O3O

.718

3,337

1745 18,948 1771

I5,030

1719

4,784

1746 9,154 1774

12,546

1720

3,369

1747 1I.*I«| 1773

1 2 ,206

1721

4»42 1

1748 15,371 1774

16,030

1721

5,i73

1749 20,979] 1775

»5,459

17*3

3,439

1750 3i,io9| 1776

14,751

1724

!'6:8

1751 16,680! 1777

15,102

I725J 0,4$U
17161 7,779

1752 22,556
1753^6,886 Total,

847504

I727,

Average of the laft 7 years,

14,446

The expenditure of this money is under the direaion of the
linen board, upon a fimilar plan as the navigation board ex-
plained above. Their mode of applying it will befeen by the
following account.

Diftmrfcments of the Linen Truftees, from 1757, to 1772.

Spinning fchools,
Flax fhops,
Flax dreffers,
Bleachers,
Contractors,
Yarn infpectors,
Manufacturers,
Uteniils,
Raifing.flax,

2,197

654-

69,445
5,101

Flaxfeed

BOUNTIES TO LINENS.

Flax-feed mixed with potatoes. • • •

Fraudulent lapped linens, —

Buildings and repairs, - — - •

Clerks, &c. at linen office, — -

Ditto, linen and yarn halls,

Infpeclors, itinerant men, and reed makers,
Incidental charges, — —

In fixteen years, —

Or per annum, — ~— — 14,100*

Subfequent to 1698 Ireland, at an enormous expence to the
public, made a progrefs in the linen manufacture, &cf.

The truftees of the linen board expended near half a mil-
lion of money to extend and promote the linen manufacture
before the year 1 750 J.

But thele accounts do not yet fhew the full amount of pub-
lic money which has been granted for the ufe of this great
manufacture ; to have this complete we mud take in the boun-
ties on the import of feed, and on the export of canvas and
fail cloth, which have been as follow :

Tearsy end-
ing Lady-

day.

Import
hemp and
flaxfeed.

Expert can-
vas and
fail-cloth.

1"ears> end-
ing Lady-

day.

Import
hemp and
flaxfeed.

Export can-
vas and
fail-cloth.

1731

1,211

1,446

1755

10,500

$73'

'733

2,120

1,207

'757

9,873

'735

2,658

1,301

'759

11,058

1737

5,004

1,492

1761

11,273

6,792

3,664

1763

9,187

1741

6,1 12

3,5 '7

1765

11,464

J743

5>9* r

1,540

1767

15.894

'745

7>53°"

1,367

1769

16,810

'747

4,482

2,283

1771

16,062

'749

7>939

3,416

'773

16,279

1751

8,027

4,802

'77J

14,674

i/53

11,481

1,909

»777

14,479

Totals,

226,834

28,682 ii

Average of the laft feven years, —

'^,094

* Journal of the Houfe of Commons,, *vol. xv. f. 375.

f Report of Sir Lucius O'Brien s committee journals, vol. xv.
p. 396. J Ibid. p. 400. $ This year this bounty ceafed.

|{ Extracted from an account of national premium;, MS. Com-
municated by the Right Han. Jobn Forjier.

16o LINEN MANUFACTURE.

By one of thefe accounts the annual net produce I.

•of thofe duties appropriated to this manufac-
ture, on an average of the Jaft 7 years, is — ll>742

But by the other, the treafury charges the ma-
nufacture on the fame average with, — 14,446

Difference, — — . 2,704

The fact however is, that the larger of thefe fums is paid
to this purpofe, and the account of the linen boards diiburfc •
meat amounts to 14,100!.

The total annual fums at prefent applied appear to be
thefe :

Produce of duties appropriated to the purpofe —
Parliamentary bounty, — - —

Bounty on the import of flax-feed,

Total per annum, 33>54°

And that the total fums thus applied fincc the year 1700
have been :

Paid by the vice treafurcrs, 847,504

Parliamentary bounty, — 192,540

Bounty on fl;ix import, 226,834.

Ditto on export of canvas, 28,682

Total, 1,295,560

The tnoft carelefs obferver cannot help remarking, the great
amount of this total ; and mull think that an annual grant
of 33,000!. a year in fupport of a manufacture which works
to the annual amount of two millions fterling, an extraordi-
nary mcafure. I muft be free to own, that I cannot, upon
any principles, fee the propriety of it. They cannot have
done any confiderable mifchief I grant, but if they do no
good there is a great evil in the misapplication of fo much
money. That a manufacture in its very cradle, if it happens to
be of a fickly growth, may be benefited by bounties and pre-
miums, is certain ; but thut even in fuch a cafe it is wile to
give them, I doubt, very much ; for fabrics being fickly in
their growth is a reafon againlt encouraging them. The truly
valuable manufactures, fuch as linen in Ireland, wool and
hardware in England, and filk in France, want no help but
a demand for their produce. Ireland has always hitherto had
a demand for her linens, and having fo much longer than the
beginning of this century been in the trade, would naturally

»• increafe

ABSURDLY CONDUCTED. 161

increafe it in proportion to the demand ; and fhe would have
done that though no linen board nor bounties had exifted.
It is contrary to all the principles of commerce to fuppofe,
that fuch an increafmg manufacture as this has been, would
want flax or flax-feed without bounties on the import ; or
that manufacturers in it would not earn their bread without
a prefent of 55,000!. The only inftance in which thefe boun-
ties would certainly have a confiderable effect is, the cafe of
expenfive machines ; the firft introduction of which are diffi-
cult to individuals in a poor country. But this article, in its
fulleft extent, would have demanded but a fmall fum in the
linen trade, for it by no means goes to common fpinning
wheels, -the conftruclion of which is generally known. But
if there is any reafon to fuppofe linen would, throughout the
century have flood upon its own legs, how much more is there
for its doing fo at prefent ! I will venture to aflert, that there
is not one yard of linen more made on account of the thirty-
three thoufand pounds a year now expended. It is to fuch a
great manufacture a drop of water in the ocean. — An object
too contemptible to have any effects attributed to it- It is idle
and vifionary to fuppofe, that a fabric which has employed a
fourth part of the kingdom for 70 years, and exports to the
amount of a million and a half annually, wants boards, and
bounties, and premiums, and impertinence to fupport it. I
have heard it faid more than once in Ireland, that a feat at the
linen board might eafily be worth 300!. a year ; it is very well
if the whole becomes a job, for it might jufl as well as be ap-
plied to infpectors, itinerant men, builders and falaries.

1 before calculated the extent of wafte land, the bounty on
the inland carriage of corn would have improved at rol. an
acre, let me do the fame with the 1,300,000 expended on
linen. It would have improved 1 30,000 acres, which would
now be yielding 520,000!. a year, or a fourth part of the whole
amount of all the linen manufacture of Ireland ; fo infinitely
more productive is money beftowed on the land than on the
fabrics of a ftate.

I do not mean to find fault with the eftablifhment of this
manufacture ; it has grown to a great degree of national im-
portance, but from fome unfortunate circumftances in the po-
lice of it (if I may ufe the expreflion) that importance is not
nearly equal to what it ought to be, from the extent of coun-
try it abfolutely fills. It will be at lead a curious enquiry to
examine this point ; from the bed information I can aflert,
that the linen and yarn made in Connaught, and part of
Leinfter,vaftly exceed in value all the exports of Ulfter exclu-
live of thofe two commodities^ which makes linen the whole
exportable produce of that province, or i, 600,000! . a year.
Ulfter contains 2,836,837 plantation acres ; Tuppofe that vail
tract under ILeep, and feeding no more than two to an acre,

VOL. II, i, their

1 62 LINEN MANUFACTURE.

their fleeces only at five (hillings each, would amount raw to
15418,4.18!. and fpun into bay yarn, without receiving any
farther manufacture, the value would be 2,127,622!. reckon-
ing the labour half the value of the wool, that is to fay, the
amount would be more than the whole value of the linen ma-
nufacture both exported and confumed at home.

How exceeding different are the manufactures of England !
That of the fmgJe city of Norwich amounts to near as much
as the whole linen export of Ireland, but very far is that from
being the whole exported produce of a province ! It is not
that of a fmgle county, for Norfolk, befides feeding that city,
Yarmouth and Lynn, two of the greateft ports in England,
and a variety of other towns, exports I believe more com
than any other county in the kingdom ; and whoever is ac-
quainted with the fupply of the London markets, knows that
there are thoufands of black cattle fattened every year on Nor-
folk turneps, andfent to Smithfield. What a fpectacle is this !
The agriculture in the world, the mod productive of wealth
by exportation around one of the greateft manufactures in Eu-
rope. It is thus that manufactures become the beft friends to
agriculture ; that they animate the farmer's induftry by giv-
ing him ready markets, until he is able, not only to fupply
them fully, but pufhes his exertions with fuch effect, that he
finds a furplus in his hands to convert into gold in the natio-
nal balance, by rendering foreigners tributary for their bread.
Examine all the other fabrics in the kingdom, you fee them
prodigious markets for the furrounding lands ; you fee thofe
lands doubling, trebling, quadrupling their rents, while the
farmers of them increafe daily in wealth ; thus you fee ma-
nufactures rearing up agriculture, and agriculture fupporting
manufactures ; you iee a reaftion which gives a reciprocal ani-
mation to human induftry ; great national profperity is the ef-
fect ; wealth pours in from the fabrics, which fpreading like
a fertile ftream over all the furrounding lands, renders them,
comparatively fpeaking, fo many gardens, the moft pleafing
Spectacles of fuccefsful induftry.

Change the fcene, and view the North of Ireland ; you there
behold a whole province peopled by weavers ; it is they who
cultivate, or rather beggar the foil, as well as work the looms ;
agriculture is there in ruins ; it is cut up by the root ; extir-
pated ; annihilated ; the whole region is the difgrace of the
kingdom ; all the crops you fee are contemptible ; are nc-
thiog but filth and weeds. No other part of Ireland can
exhibit the foil in fuch a ftate of poverty and defolation. A
i arming traveller, who goes through that country with at-
tention, will be fhocked at feeing wretchednefs in the fliape of
a few beggarly oats on a variety of moft fertile foils, which,
were they in Norfolk, would foon rival the beft lands in that

But

WRETCHED CONDUCT. 165

But the caufe of all thcfe evils, which are abfolutc excepti-
ons to every thing elfe on the face of the globe, is eafily found
. — a moft profperous manufacture, fo contrived us to be the
deftruction of agriculture, is certainly a fpe&acle for which
we muft go to Ireland. It is owing to the fabric fpreading
over all the country, inftead of being 'confined to towns.
This in a certain degree is found in foqne manufactures in Eng-
land, but never to the exclufion of farmers ; there, literally
fpeaking, is not a farmer in a hundred miles of the linen
country in Ireland. The lands are infinitely fubdivided, no
weaver thinks of fupporting himfelf by his loom ; he has al-
ways a piece of potatoes, a piece of oats, a patch of flax,
and grafs or weeds for a cow, thus his time is divided between
his farm and his loom. Ten acres are an uncommon quan-
tity to be in one man's occupation ; four, five, or fix, the com*
mon extent. They fow their land with fucceflive crops of oats
until it does not produce the feed again, and they leave it to
become grafs as it may, in which ftate it is under weeds and
rubbifh for four or five years. Such a wretched management
»<> conftant deftruction to the land ; none of it becomes im-
proved unlefs from a ftate of nature ; all the reft is deftroyed,
and does not produce a tenth of what'it would if cultivated
by farmers, \vho had nothing to do but mind their bufinefs.
As land thus managed will not yield rent, they depend for
that on their web ; if linen fells indifferently they pay their
rents indifferently, and if it fells badly, they do not pay them
at all. Rents in general, at their value, being worfe paid
there than in any other part of Ireland.

Where agriculture ;s in fuch a ftate of ruin, the land cannot
attain its true value ; and in fact the linen counties, propor-
tioned to their foil, are lower let than any others in Ireland.
There has been a great rife on many eftates, and fo there has
all over the kingdom, but not at all o\ving to the manufac-
ture ; and I am confident, from having gone over the whol§
with attention, that any given tract of land in the linen,
country, if it could be moved to fome other part of the king*
dom where there are no weavers, would let twenty per cent,
higher than it does at prefent ; and I am fo convinced of this,
that if I had an eftate in the South of Ireland, I would a?
foon introduce peftiler.ce and famine as the 15r.cn manufacture
upon it, carried on as it is at prefent in the North of that kingdom.
Particular fpots may be, and are high let in. the North, out I
fpeak of the average of any large tract.

But if, inftead of the manufacture having fo diffufed itfelf
as abfolutely to banifli farmers, it had been confined to towns,
=vhich it might very eafdy have been, the very contrary effeft
would have taken place, and all thole yaft advantages to
;ture would havp flowed, which flourifhing manufactures
*a other countries occafion. The towns vowld have been

164 MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT,

large and numerous, and would have proved fuch ample mar-
kets to all the adjacent country, that it could not have failed
becoming well cultivated, and letting probably at double the
prefent rent. The manufacturers would have been confined
to their own bufinefs, and the farmers to theirs ; that both
trades would have flourished the better for this, the minutes
of the journey very generally fhew ; a weaver who works at
a fine cloth, can never take the plough or the fpade in hand
without injury to his web.

I never heard but two objections to this : firft, That the
weavers would be unhealthy in towns : and fecoud, That the
country would be Jefs populous.

To the firft I reply, that ill health is the confequem"-, of a
fedencary life and a bended pofture ; whether the man has
his farm or not, it is not a little work now and then that will
remedy this evil if he fupports himfelf by the loom. I was in
ieveral of the linen markets, and never faw more pallid pic-
tures of difeafe ; I defy any town to Ihew worfe. Robuir,
healthy, vigorous bodies, are not to be found at looms ; if
the health of the people is your object, you muft give up ma-
nufactures, and betake yourfelves to agriculture altogether ;
but this, in the prefent ftate of the world is vifionary. If the
weavers were confined to towns, as I propofe, there would be
a much greater aggregate of health than at prefent, for the
country would be as healthy as it always is in the hands of
farmers and labourers, but at prefent all is unhealthy as all
are manufacturers.

The fecond objection I totally deny, for it is againft all the
principles of population to aflert, that a meafure, which is be-
neficial to both agriculture and manufactures, can be prejudi- ,
cial to the increafe of people ; more food would be raifed
from well than from ill cultivated ground ; a whole race of
farmers and labourers would be employed in feeding the
towns : to think that population could be injured by fuch an
arrangement is an abfurdity too grofs to deferve attention.

That the circumftances of the Irifti manufacture are la-
mentable, when the extent of country is confidered, no man
of reflection can doubt, for the value of it taken in that light
( important as it is in its total amount) appears to be compara-
tively trivial. Fortunately the evil is not without a remedy ;
the landlords of the country might, with no great difficulty,
effect the change. Let them lleadily refufe to let an acre of
land to any man that has a loom ; the bufinefs would and
ought to be gradual j but farms ihould be thrown by degrees
into the hands of real farmers, and weavers driven into towns,
where a cabbage garden ihould be the utmoft fpace of their
land ; and thofe gentlemen who are introducing the manu-
facture into other parts of the kingdom, fhould build the cab-
bins contiguous, and let the inhabitants on no account have
any land. All encouragement, all attention, all bounty, all

premium?

MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT. 165

premium, all reward, fliould go to thofe alone who lived by,
and attended to their looms alone, not in a feparatecl cabbin,
but in a ftreet. The more a perfon attends to the abominable
Itate of land in the North of Ireland, the more he will be con-
vinced of the propriety and even neceflity of this meafure ;
and if, contrary to common fenfe, a paltry board is permitted
to exift, by way of promoting a fabric of two millions a year,'
let them have this object, and this only as their bufmefs.
Let them devife the means of inducing landlords to drive their
weavers into towns, and they will in a few years do more
good to their country than all their infpectors, itinerant men,
and (pinning wheels, will do m a century;

Relative to the other manufactures of Ireland, I am forry
to fay they are too infignificant to merit a particular atten-
tion ; upon the fubject of that of wool I muft however re-
mark, that the policy of England, which has always hitherto
been hoftile to every appearance of an Irifh woollen manu-
facture, has been founded upon the mean contractions of illi-
beral jealoufy ; it is a conduct that has been founded upon
the ignorance and prejudices of mercantile people, who,
knowing as they are in the fcience which teaches that two and
two make four, are loft in a labyrinth the moment they leave
their counting-houfes and become flatefmen ; they are too
apt to think of governing kingdoms upon the fame principles
they conduct their private bufmefs on, thofe of monopoly,
which though the foul of private intereft, is the bane of pub-
lic commerce. It has been the miftaken policy of this coun,-
try, to fuppofe that all Ireland gained by a woollen manufac-
ture would be fo much lofs to England ; this is the true mo-
nopolizing igr-orance. We did not think proper .to draw-
thefe bands of commercial tyranny fo tight as to interdict
their linens ; we gave them a free trade ; nay we import, an
immenfe quantity of Ruffian and German linen, and yet be7
tween this double fire of the Irifh and foreigners, has our own
linen manufacture flourished and incrcafed ; it is the fpiric
and effect of every fpecies of monopoly to counteract the de-
figns which dictate that mean policy. The rivalfhip of the
Irifh (if a rivalfhip was to cnfue) would be beneficial to our
xvoollen trade ; as a fafl friend to the intereft of my native
country, I wifh fuccefs to thofe branches of the Irifli woollens
which would rival ou,r own ; a thoufand beneficial confe-
quences would flow from it ; it >vould infpirit our ma-
nufacturers ; it would awaken them from their lethargy, and
give rife to the fpirit of invention and enterprise. How long
did our old broad cloth trade fleep in the weft, without one
fign of life ftrong enough to animate a new piirfuit ; but a
different fpirit breaking out in Yorkfliire and Scotland, new
fabrics were invented, and new trades opened. A free Irifli
•woollen trade would put our manufacturers to their mettle,
and would do more for the woollen trade pf England tha;\

any

l66 XVOOLLEN MANUFACTURE,

any other meafure whatever. Our merchants think fuch a
rivallhip would ruin them ; but do they think the French
would not reafon for fuch fears alfo ? Have we not loft the
Levant and Turkey trade through the obftinacy of our mo*
nopolifts ? And why fhould not Ireland have a chance for
fuch a branch as well as Languedoc ? But fuch has been our
Harrow policy with refpecl: to that kingdom, that we have for
a century fat down more contented with the fuccefsful rival-
fhip of France, than with the chance of an Irifli competitor.

Whenever any queftion, relative to commercial indulgence
to Ireland, has come into the Britifli parliament, its friends
have always urged the diftrefled ftatc of Ireland as a motive.
This is taking the ground of duplicity, perhaps of falfhood,
they ought to be more liberal, and avow that their principle
is not to relax the prefent laws as a matter of humanity to
Ireland, but of right and policy to themfelves ; to demand a
free trade to Ireland as the beft friends to Britain ; to demand
that France may be rivalled by the fubjedls of the Britifli em-
pire, if thofe of one kingdom cannot, or will not do it, that
thole of another may.

One would have reafon to fuppofe, from the fpirit of com-
mercial jealoufy among our woollen towns, that whatever
Ireland got was loft to England : I fhall in a fucceeding fec-
tion infert a table, which will fliew that in exact proportion to
the wealth of Ireland, is the balance of the Irifti trade in fa-
vour of England. That kingdom is one of the greateft cuf-
tomers we have upon the globe ; is it good policy to wifh
that our beft cuftomer may be poor ? Do not the maxims of
commercial life tell us that the richer he is the better ?
Can any one fuppofe that the immenfe wealth of Holland is
not of vaft advantage to our manufactures ; and though the
Ruffia trade, upon the balance, is much againil us, who can
fuppofe that the increafmg wealth of that vaft empire, owing
to the unparalleled wifdom of its prefent cmprefs, the firft
and moft able fovereign in the world, is not an increafmg
fund in favour of Britifh induftry ?

The tabinets and poplins of Ireland (a fabric partly cf
•woollen, partly of filk) did that ifland pcflefs a greater free-
dom in the woollen trade, would find their way to a fuccefsful
market throughout all the South of Europe. A friend of
mine travelled France and Spain with a fuit of that pleafmg
fabric among others, and it was more admired and envied
than any thing he carried with him. This is a manufacture
of 'frhich we have not a veftige in England.

Under another head I infertcd the export of "wool and yarn,
and alfo the import of woollen goods from England ; the
following flight minute on the proportionate value of the la-
bour to the material, will conclude what I have to fay on a
manufacture, which working only for home confumption can
Zievtr thrive.

REVENUE. 167

Bay yarn. A woman, on an average, fpins three fkains a
Jay, which weigh a quarter of a pound, the value fpun is
from ten pence to a (hilling, medium ten pence three far-
things.

Combing it not quite i

Spinning, zf

Value of the wool, «— 7-

10*

The balls are a pound and an half each of twelve fkains,
the woman fpins a ball in four days, being paid ten pence ;
in Leinfter it is ten pence halfpenny, and in Munfter it is
nine pence ; average nine pence three farthings. Combing
a ball is about three pence, which with fpinning nine pence
three farthings, makes twelve pence three farthings labour on
a ball ; and the price of a ball, both wool and labour, in the
year 1778, was three (hillings and fixpence. In a war the
price of wool generally falls in Ireland. The lafl French war
did not fink prices in Ireland, but the Spanifli one did. The
filk manufa&ure of Ireland has been already difcufled in Sec-
tion 1 6, and is a fabric that merits neither the encouragement
of the natives, nor the attention of others.

SECTION XX.

Revenue Taxes .

THE rife, progrefs, and prefent ftate of the revenue of
Ireland, is very little underflood in England, though an
objecT: of confiderable importance to that kingdom. The va-
riations of this revenue are ufeful marks, among many others,
of the profperity or declenfion of the ifland, and every thing
which enables us to judge of the real ftate of a country with
which we are fo intimately connected, well deferves our at-
tention.

The public revenue in that kingdom (lands upon a very
different footing from curs in England, owing to the opera-
tions of the revolution relative to this obieft not having ex-
tend^

1 68 REVENUE.

tended to Ireland. Before that epoch the two kingdoms were
in this refpe£t fimilar ; but the old fubfidies and other duties
which formed the hereditary revenue of the Stuarts in Eng-
land, were purchafed of the crown at the revolution with the
civil lift revenue of 700,000 1. no fimilar bargain took place in
Ireland, confequently the old hereditary revenue in that king-
dom is at prefent under the fame circumftances as the like
funds were in England before the year 1688. It is upon
this old revenue that the penfions on the Irifh eftablifhment
are granted ; the crown claims a right to apply the whole of
it at its pleafure, but arguments have been urged againft that
claim.

The following tables will fet the progrefs of late years, and
prefent receipt of the revenue, in a clear light.

R E V E N U E.

169

Addimnal

Qfftau

Import

Inland

duty en ale

Hearth

Cujlims in

cut.

excije.

exdfe.

beer and

matey.

rcng <wateri

In the Year 1730

57,821

27,012

78,248

64,360

50,909

42,3-11

1731

71*671

24030

66,808

71,410

56,439

2,263

173*

76,880

15,807

74,259

76,473

60,374

2,810

'733

87,395

74.835

59,284

43,550

>734

84,542

25^780

75,974

76,076

60,501

43,926

1735

88,321

25,624

77,a4i

66,851

53,071

44,201

1736

104,580

24,124

84,875

63,636

5°, 54*

44,"*

;~ '737

96,218

*4,7°5

74,160

65,653

52,194

43,921

98,086

26,131

87,302

70,787

56,.. 4

44,035

'739

95,4*8

24,4i4

79,203

7i,73i

56,895

44,244

'740

84,912

25,388

73,336

69,675

55,375

45,045

1741

93,38i

2 1 ,064

79,360

66,956

53,15'

44,965

1742

97,630

11,093

72,104

67,156

53,4i9

4i,8zS

>743

95,893

22,086

76,910

79,785

63,720

41,165

'744

88,451

27.647

69,759

88,874

7°-939

41,823

»745

8«,53i

72,001

84,398

67,562

42,9H

1746

89,685

22^36

63,710

74,626

59,564

41,410

1747

89,824

29,627

64,164

73,347

58,803

40,327

'74

26,486

84,282

67,895

40,960

1749

109,840

3',329

88^463

88,817

71,648

42,180

»75o

151,279

29,698

123,858

92,294

74,404

43,039

'75

147,366

27,484

1 I 0,2 I 9

91,596

73,89*

44>794

'75

i37,73i

30,726

105,492

94,802

76,389

5',924

'75

29,990

108,764

90,556

73,i9*

52,946

1754! 186,990

26,770

131,906

68,694

71,566

53,40;

1755 156,764

30,485

119,765

83,3"

67,155

53,78s

'7 56j 147,469

26,864

98,262

80,728

65,0.12

54,285

1757 124,428

28,569

84,049

73,296

58,716

54,153

1758 137,57°

32,135

95,086

67,622

54,416

'759 '6i,578

30,018

111,018

69,301

5474*

53^82

I76o 148,445

33,673

116,831

77,4"

6i,533

1761

150,997

39,419

103,215

86,504

69,119

55,027

1762

'90,553

39,9«s

132,540

93,543

76,349

55,97c

1763' I77>834

31,893

122,679

92,842

75,911

$6,61,

1764 209,999

38,805

144,585

92,745

75,878

56,87?

1765 113,128

3 5 '943

152,367

87,754

72,109

57,237

1766 214,985

173,31 3

85,75*

70,250

57,52]

1767; 204,864

34,259

147,411

80,094

64,788

57,40«

1768 212,743

39,754

I55,*S8

79,765

65,536

57,9J<

1769; 211,049

40,045

157,241

83,557

69,147

58,36

i?7c

210,490

37>39o

152,996

79,63i

63,328

58,82

Average, —

21 1,036

37,71*

154,753

84,'85

68,718

57,73

177

1OO,47O

35,7'*

146,329

70,743

49,160

58-97

1772 '99i36f

38,850

146,461

70,319

48,971

58,43

1 773! *3*,767

37,397

151,662

74-991

53,*74

59,93

'774 2*9,609

37,169 j i44-.79°

77,679

55,419

'77.

103,008

38,010 | 130,104

77,251

54,894

60,90

i 771

' 248,491

42,488

152,238

79,4"

57,353

60,96

'77;

' 251,055

35,883

'53,727

80,461

57,750

60,58

Average of laft 1
7 >•««, j

223,705

37,929

146,473

75,839

51*.

59,85

'77

3 198,550

36,027

131,184

8 1, 76

58,611

61,64

[22

> 165,802

3U7I7

106.070 76,33

•;4-<5:..i

60,61

i^o REVENUE.

A very flight examination of thefe columns will fhew a great
increafe in all (except the inland excife, and cufloms outward)
about the year 1748. The conclufion of the peace of Aix la
Chapelle feems from this table, as well as from a variety of
others to have been the principal epoch in. the profperity of
Ireland. The inland excife is a revenue ib wretchedly ad-
miniftered by the confefllon of the whole kingdom, that.no
conclufions whatever are to be drawn from it. The cufloms
outwards have rifen but little ; and not at all in the lail feven
years, which is to be accounted for from feme of the principal
articles of the exports, fuch as linen, &c. being either duty
free, or having ib fmall a cuftom as to be merely with defign
of ascertaining quantities ; and alfo by the falling off in the
export of the produce of pafturage which I have fhewed be-
fore, moft of the articles of it having an ill judged duty on
them. But the cuftoms inwards is not a bad one, for an in-
creafed import, though at fir (I fight it feems to be againft a
nation, ought never to be taken in that light. No kingdom
ever imports goods which it cannot pay for, and an increafed
confumption is the ftrongeft proof of an iacreafed ability to
pay for it. I muft however remark, that the increafe in this
column the laft feven years is very trifling. There are in all the
other columns, except hearth money, a decline in this period
which very well deferves to be enquired into. That the
kingdom has flourilhed in it I have little or no doubt, it may,
therefore, probably be owing to the multiplication of abufes
in the collection of the revenues, which being fo many cancers
in the body politic ought to be remedied with the utmoft
afilduity.

The increafe of the hearth money is a matter of importance,
for it proves an increafe of population clearly ; which indeed
could not be doubted from the increafed profperity and wealth
of the kingdom, and from the repeated information I received
all over it to that purport.

The whole grofs revenues offer a different appearance from
thefe particular duties, the following account ftiews there has
been an increafe, but owing to an increafe of taxes.

R E V E.

REVENUE.

171

For receiving\ Nett pro-

Two yean end-
ing Lady day.

Htredita-
ry revenue
gnfs.

Old addi-
ion a I du-
ics grofs.

revenue, pay-
ng drcvw-
>acks andprc-
niumsoncorn

duce of the
hereditary
andoldad*
dithnal

<6r.

duties.

In the year 1751

'753

1,048,858
1,047,062

366,462
349*557

'92*5 '5
185,766

»*33>943
,210,853

i?55

1,127,552

367,980

!93*259

,302,274

'757

954,668

322,568

I9J.357

,085,880

>7>9

9^9*937

320,415

205,290

,105,062

.761

!*053»939

346,649

234^077

,166,511

1763

1,201,300

418,258

260,602

*358*956

Average,

1,060,474

355>698

208,981

1,209,068

In the Year 1765

1,298,165

452,375

273,010

»477>5*9

1767

».295*3'7

471,240

318,044

*448*5I3

1769

1,309,828

481,998

347*943

,443*882

1771

1,276,711

454*955

349*275

,382,39I

*773

1,288,094

439,615

398,380

* 3 29* 3 3°

J775

1,279,275

404,415

428,180

»255>5°9

i777

1,388,044

419,748

464,762

,343,120

Average,

1,305,062

446*335

368,786

1,382,896

In the Year 1779

'»»75»H5

346,696

Thefe are for feffions not years. Befides thefe duties there
are others appropriated by parliament to particular pur-
pofes ; thefe are for paying the intereft of loans, for the en-
couragement of the linen manufafture, of tillage, of pro-
teftant fchools, and the cambric manufacture.

The whole revenue of the kingdom for twenty years in two
periods, of ten each with the averages, will fhew the general
increafe, whether owing to new duties or an increafc of old
ones.

TOTAL

173

REVENUE,

TOTAL

REVENUE OF

IRELAND.

In the year

.758

650,763 In the

year 1768

945,520

'759
1760

717,022

1769

1770

977.3/2
954.045

1761

746>I5I

1771

900,913

1762

878,068

. 1772

897,396

'763

850,895

>773

955>°74

1764

939.139

'774

*95 7.498

1 . , *

1765

948,251

'775

1766

990,744

1776

1,040,055

1767

910,780

1,093,881

Averagcof ten years, 834,673 Average of ten years, 965,198

Ditto of the former period, 8 34,6 7 3

Increafe, 130,525

ifeut this revenue, confiderable as it is, has not been equal
to the national' expenditure. In the feffions of 1 759, there was
a furplus in the treafury of 65,774!. yet in the following one
a confiderable debt was contracted, as will be feen by the pro-
grefs of the incumbrance.

Year 1761 — 223,438 National debt.
1763 - — 521,161 ditto.
1765 — 508,874 ditto.
1767 — 581,964 ditto.
1769 — 628,883 ditto.
1771 — 789,569 ditto.
1773 — ^.999,686 ditto.
!775 — 976,117 ditto.
*777 — $825,426 ditto.
»779 ' — 1,062,597 ditto.

Suppofe the revenue a million, it is about a fixth part of the
land rents of the kingdom. If there are three million of fouls
in Ireland, they pay exaclly 6s. 8d. a head. It appeared be-
fore

* ddiiilifnal duties laid.
f Stamps ditto.

J This does not agree iuiih the Jiate in vol. 17 of the journals,
V)r ths following year.

§ Ettrafted from thf national accounts laid befsrs parliament

BRITISH AND IRISH TAXES COMPARED. 173

fore the export of linen, yarn, corn, -woollen, pork, beef,
&c. &c. amounted to 3,250,471 1. fuppofe all other exports
would make it up three and a half millions, the revenue of the
kingdom amounts not quite to a third.

It will not be improper here to compare the burthens of
Ireland with thofe of Great- Britain.

Britifh revenue of 1 3 millions paid by 1. s. d.

9 millions of people is, — i 9 o a head.
Irifh revenue of i million paid by 3

millions of -people is, — o 6 8 a head.

Britifh revenue of 13 millions paid by

72 millions * of acres is, — 036 each.

Irifh revenue of i million paid by 25

millions of acres is, — o o i o each.

Britifh revenue of 13 millions paid by

a rental f of 24 millions is, o 10 10 in the pound.

Irifh revenue of i million paid by a

rental of 6 millions is, — o 3 4 in the pound;

Britifh revenue of i 3 millions paid by

an export of J 16 millions is, o 1.6 3 in the pound.

Irifli revenue of i million paid by an

export of 3^ millions is, — o 5 9 in the pound.
Britifli revenue of 1 3 millions paid by a

balance of trade of 5 millions is, 2 1 2 o in the pound.

Irifli revenue of i million paid by a
balance of trade of i million is, i o o in the pound.

The inferiority of the taxes of Ireland to thofe of Great-
Britain, upon every one of thefe comparifons is very great ;
the parallel is, however, certainly not complete : the fpecie
of Ireland is i, 600,000 1. but it is difficult to fay what that of
England is, the gold coinage proved our calculators to be fo
amazingly out in their reckoning, but in this article, including
paper lies, I apprehend the greater cafe in England of paying
taxes, which are light or heavy, not perhaps Ib much in pro-
portion to the income of a people as to the cafe of circulation ;
that in England is out of all companion greater than in Ire-
land, which would make it impoffible for the preceding pro-
portions to be railed in that kingdom as high as they are in
Britain. But fair allowances being made for this article, ftili
we may with great laiety conclude that this national burthen
is vaftly lighter there than wiih us. If the advantages of fuch

a fitua-

* The exacl number at 640 to a mile is 71,979,848.
20!. that of England, and 4!. allowed for Scotland,
The luft cuftom-honfe account.

i74 DUTIES.

a fituation are not continued, it will certainly be owing to
complaints of poverty, occafioning clofer fcrutinies into
fadts than have hitherto happened.
We come next to the expence which abforbs this income.

T<wo years ending
Lady day.

Civil lift.

Military
lift.

Extraordinary
charge sjnclud-
ing parliamen-
tary grants.

Totals.

In the year 1751

146,134

766,151

126,356

1,038,643

1753

143,705

762,571

152,415

1,058,691

1755

144,602

795,182

169,276

1,109,061

1757

161,223

794.364

362,674

1,318,263

1759

181,964

820,383

298,173

1,3^00,521

1761

202,052

997,072

281,888

1,481,013

1763

221,365

1,124,743

332>934

1,679,043

1765

241,271

988,535

275,955

1,505.761

1767

257,988

971,007

337.646

1,566,642

1769

270,040

954,426

327,094

',55i.56i

1771

272,678

976,917

373.997

1,623,593

»773

323,833 1,172,723

389.634

1,886,191

1775

366,838 1,223,326

342.377

I.932»54I

1777

410,904 1,112,682

410,172

1*933»758

1779

336,475 i 937»679

432>474

1,706,628

Two years ending
Lady day.

Salaries exclu-
frje of hearth-
money colleihrs.

TIM D years ending
Lady day.

Salaries exclu-
five of hearth-
money colic flors

In the year 1751
1753
1755
»757
'759
1761
1763

\.
110,622
1 1 1 ,478
H3.7*1
!'5»552
116,344
130,274
144,316

In the year 1 765
1767

1.769

1771

1773
>775
1/77

^'^SS
^6,157
164,364

|65»374
• 69,567
176,107
i7i»578

DUTIES. 175

Some of the particular duties which go towards raifing the
above revenue \\ill be feen among the following articles.

Goods exported. Duty.

Year 1773. Beef, i°>759

Bulls and cows, — 29

Butter, — 6,809

Candles, — 109

Cheefe, — 52-

Horfes, — S«

Bacon flitches, — 1 20

«-• Hides, 2857

Tallow, cwt. — 2,994

f Tongues, — 75

Total, — 23,892

121,148
161,080
21,935
34,206
1 6,406
11,305
18,382

Goods imported.

Year 1773- Tobacco, —

Rum, — -

Gin, —

Brandy, —

Tea, —
Salt and fait petre,

Silk, —

"VVine, —

To lay a duty of near 24,000 1. a year upon the export of
the produce of palturage is heavy and mod unpolitic, and
ought to be abolilhed. The other articles in this lift are
very proper ones to tax.

The decline in feveral branches of the revenue having
united with an increafed expcnce to run the nation in debt as
above mentioned, new taxes are of conrfe in contemplation
every feffions. A LAND TAX has been a matter of converfation
in Ireland for fome years : fome increafe muft be made to
the revenue, but in what mode is an enquiry of the moft in-
lerefting nature to that kingdom ; I fhall for this reafon offer
a few remarks on the (late of the country relative to the taxes
•which would be moft proper for it.

There are a variety of objections to land taxes in general,
befides the particular ones which apply immediately to Ireland.
Taxes ought all to be equal, but an equal land tax muil be a
variable one which is at once a iythe, the moft pernicious bur-
then to which any nation can fubmit ; it is the taille,.the equal
land tax of France which is fo well known to be the ruin of

the

* Commons Journals, vol. 16, p. 26?.

176 ALANDTAX. '

the agriculture of that kingdom : hence therefore equality
mud riot be thought of in a land tax : and if there were no
other objections, this alone ought for ever to preclude them.
But fuppofe *a fixed unequal tax as in England, yet there are
great evils in it, a man's pofleffions are rarely to be taken as a
proof of his capability to bear a tax ; a landlord who receives
a thoufand pounds a year from his eftate, and pays feven
hundred intered of mortgages is taxed at his whole rental ;
what enormity and ruin is this ! that the ability to bear the
burthen is to be of no confequence in laying the tax. When
the amazing amount of mortgages on landed property is con-
iidered, the greatnefs of this oppreffion muft be fully felt.
But land taxes when they are unequal are unproductive ;
hence the oppreffions under this name which crufn the agri-
culture of France, Milan, and the ftates of Auftria and Pruffia,
in rooft of which actual valuations of the land are made peri-
odically, as if no man's improvement (hould efcape taxation :
hence alfo the defigns of the Englifh miniftry once remark-
ably manifefted, of dropping the prefent land tax in order to
obtain an equal one : thefe are univcrfal objections to land
taxes.

But in Ireland there are others which concern that country
fingly, and therefore the more deferving attention; avail
proportion of it is under leafe for ever ; other parts let for
five hundred years ; others for lives and a hundred years ;
others for lives and fifty and thirty years ; in a word, under
leafes of every delcription. How could a land tar be laid in
that kingdom confidently with the reigning principle of the
Englifh tax, that the landlord only ihall pay it ? Difficulties
innumerable would arife at every ftep ; no gordian knot but
the fword of power can cut ; but the queftion is whether all
the principles that have directed a fimilar tax in England
would not be cut with them : for the tax to be either equal
or productive, it muft be laid on fome claffes of tenantry : it
ought certainly to be laid on all who do not occupy ; but
from that moment there is an end of it as an Englifh land
tax, it is a taille, a tax on tenantry : break the limits, the
great line between the owner of the land and the tenant, and
who will fay how far the innovation will be carried, the mod
dangerous that can ever be made in a kingdom ? Adieu to
all improvements in agriculture wherever fuch an one takes
place.

Evils of this fort rarely make their full appearance at firft ;
a land tax in Ireland would probably come in under a very
fair appearance j but the date of the country ought to tell its
inhabitants that fuch a tax would be too unproductive to laft ;
the fucceffive alterations would do the fatal bufmefs, and pro-
duce the mifchief in its full deformity.

Adminiftration have had experience in England of the lofs,
as it has been called, to the revenue from a fixed tax : if ever

therefore

A L A N D T A X. 177

therefore they introduced it into Ireland, it would be in a
form which admitted alteratipns, in order to avoid the circum-
itance which has more than once rai&d a ftrong inclinati6n
to a new affeffment. For thefe and other reafons too nume-
rous to give in detail here, I am convinced that Ireland can
never experience a more pernicious tax than that on land,

But as I obferved before, government muft go on, and
mult be fupported at an increasing expence ; new taxes mull
confequently be had recourfe to, and 1 lhall not hefitate a mo-
ment in recommending excifes as the only ones which can be
much extended without any national injury : an entire
change in the adminiftration of them fhould take place ;
the monftrous abufes in them remedied, and new ones laid.
The cheapnefs of whilkey with which a man may get dead
drunk for two pence, is an enormity too great to be borne.
The morals, health, peace, induftry, agriculture, manu-
factures, commerce, and wealth of the kingdom, are all
materially injured, by the cheapnefs of this vile beve-
rage : there is not an object in Ireland which would yield a
more productive revenue, at the fame time that every (hilling
government got would be half a crown benefit to the public :
•a judicious, and well collected excife on this liquor would
raife an immenfe revenue. All other fpirits, wines and to-
bacco, are alfo very well able to bear much heavier taxes than
they labour under at prefent. An excife on tea alfo might
be applicable ; but there is no want of objects ; and if the le-
giflature of the kingdom will not fet themfelves very fteadily
to the bufmefs, a land tax will be the conlequence, and in it
ail the mifchiefs that muft attend the meafure.

The propofition for a land tax on abfentees was very wifely
rejected ; the execution of it would havefmoothed fome of the
difficulties, or at leaft rendered them familiar, and certainly
have facilitated, a general tax of the fame nature-.

The mode purfuecl in Ireland of railing money by tontine,
at an exceeding high intereft, fo high even as 7 per cent, i.-j
very mifchievous to the kingdom. The great want of that
country is capital, confequently any meafure which tends to
leffen capitals that are employed in any branch of induftry.
is pernicious : feven per cent, intcreft in national funds
mull be a fevere blow to every branch of induftry, for
who will lend money on private fecurity at fix per cent, while
the public gives feven ? And what man will undergo the
trouble, and run the hazard of manufactures or commerce,
while he can fit by his fire fide with feven per cent, in his
pocket. In England where the capital is fo immenfe, and
with all that of Holland at command, limilar traniactions are
found exceedingly detrimental, infomuch that no induftry
can be carried on which will not yield very large profits ; no
money to be procured on bond ; fcarce any on mortgage ;
vaft fums drav.'in'* out of the general induftry for inveftment

VOL. II. JM ia

,78 COMMERCE.

jn the public funds, and a general fall in the value of that
great portion of landed property which is obliged to be fold.
But the fums borrowed in this country may be too large to
raife by taxes ; I do not think it is the fame in Ireland ; and
that kingdom had much better raife their fupplies within the
feffion than leffen their little capital by tontines.

SECTION XXI.

Commerce Fijheriei > Embargoes.

T TNFORTUNATELY for Ireland, the general commerce
U of it is to be fully treated in a very fmall compafs ; and
the fads which I have already had occafion to lay before the
reader, in the two preceding feftions, go very far towards
completing the whole that is neceflary to explain its ftate.
Being a dependent country, the Britifh legiflature has upon
all occafions controuled its commerce, fometimes vrith a very
high hand, but univerfally upon the principles of monopoly,
as if the poverty of that country was to form the wealth of
Britain, 1 have on every occafion endeavoured to fhew the
futility of fuch an idea, and to prove from the evidence of in-
variable fafts, that the wealth of Ireland has always been,
and is, the wealth of England, that whatever fiie gets is ex-
pended in a very large proportion in the confumption of Bri-
tifh fabrics and commodities. The increafed profperity of
Ireland, which fhe has experienced in fpite of our abfurd re-
ftrictions on her commerce, has raifed her to be one of the
greatefl and bed markets this kingdom poflefTes in any part of
the globe.

It is a remarkable fucT: which was pointed out to me by that
very able politician, the Earl of Shelburne, that the narrow-
nefs of our prohibitory laws in England is of late date ; from
the old Englifli acls of parliament it appears, that before the
reftoration the true fyftem of commerce was much better un-
derftood than it has been pf late days : if the tranfac~Hons of
the commonwealth are examined, there will appear great li-
berality and- the founded principles in Cromwell and the
leading men of thofe times ; and that it was the clear deter-
mination of the protector as well as of the long parliament,
to make the trade of Ireland as free as potlible ; nay, the aft
of navigation itielf, at thf reftoration, included Ireland upon
the fame footing as England ; it was not till twelve years af-
terwards, that the exception crept in by a fmgle claufe in an-
other

COMMERCE. 179

other aft, which probably was pafTed at the defire of fome mer-
chant, without any perfon's caring about it, which has been
the cafe with many an American aft. The next prohibitory
law, which declared the importation of Irilh cattle a nuifance,
was a contefted job between the duke of Ormond and the duke
of Lauderdale ; afterwards it became the fafhion to pafs afts
againft Ireland, which nobody had the knowledge or libe-
rality to oppofe. In the full perfeftion of this fpirit it was,
that a bill, which palTed in Ireland in 1759, for ref drifting the
importation of damaged flour, was thrown out in England at
the inftigation of a fmgle miller at Chichefter.

Whenever old prejudices wear out, it will certainly be found
for the intereft of England to give every freedom poffible to
the trade of Ireland. I am convinced if this extended to its
being an abfolute free port, no mifchief would refult from it ;
but as to a free export to all the world, not the fliadow of a
good argument ever yet appeared againft it ; for upon what
principles of policy, or of common fenfe, can we found a con-
duct which reftrains our own fubjefts from the free fale of
their produfts and manufactures, when the returns of fuch
fales muft flow into our own coffers by that extention of de-
mand which has been infeparably connected with the wealth
of Ireland, when the population and the power that rife upon
fuch wealth are our own ? A mercantile landlord at London
might as well fay to his tenant in Yorkfhire, You (hall not
fell your corn to whom you pleafe, you (hall fhip it to me $
you (hall not convert your wool to the beft purpofes, you
fhall fell it raw to me. This language might be that of his
leafes, but it would be that of folly. Would he not foon find,
that by leaving his tenants to make the beft of their own com-
modities, they would afford to pay him a better rent ; their
wealth becomes his, if he keeps them poor he muft be fo him-
felf. The cafe of Ireland is exactly parallel ; the inhabitants
of that ifland, in their public revenue, in their military, by
their abferitees, and in their commercial balance, pay to this
kingdom a direft rent for it, which vibrates in its amount to
the variations of their national wealth. While it was a wil-
dernefs of favages it paid the rent which defarts every where
yield ; as it improved oar receipt has been proportioned,
until it has become a cultivated flourifhing eftate, and yields a
rent which marks to an iota the extent of the cultivation, and
the degree of that proiperity. Of what ufe is the experience
of a century of facts, if we are not to open our eyes to the
lefibns they convey ? Long experience has told us what the
effects of Irifh wealth are ; we feel thofe effects flowing like
vital warmth through the whole extent of our own territory,
and fhall we yet hefitate to encourage and extend a profperity
which is the fource and foundation of our own ?

Ma 1 bare

i8o C O M M E R C E.

I have taken the great line of leading principles ; will the
littlenefs of commercial jealoufy reply in its true fpvrit, that
this town will be hurt ; that that manufacture will be loll ;
that Manchester will be alarmed ; and that Norwich will
have apprehenlions : it is not a queftion for the weavers ot
one place and the merchants of another to decide, it is
THE EMPIRE that is concerned ; the general intereft de-
mands the meafure, and ought to abforb every pitiful confi-
deration : but all experience fpeaks only one language even
to thefe miftaken individuals : 1 obferved it before, and gave
inftances of manufactures linking in the pofleffion of a mono-
poly, and thriving from a rivalry ; of markets rifing to in-
creafmg induftry ; of the welfare of one country rifing from
the profperity of others : truths as univerfal as the world.
And (hall we deny the application to a fifter, but dependent
kingdom, from whom we have fo many ways of gaining all
the advantages of her wealth ? But arguments are little
wanted where facts are fo numerous ; to thofe I have already
inferted, let me add the following (late of our imports and ex-
ports in the Iriili trade.

TRADE OF GREAT BRITAIN WJTH IRELAND.

Imports.

Exports.

Imports excefe.

Exports excefs.

In the year 1697

"3>9'3

251,262

27»348

1698

333-968

293,813

40,154

1699

4*7.475

269,475

» 47>999

1700

233>853

261,1 15

27,262

1701

285,390

296,144

i°»753

1702

258,121

215,1 12

43,008

'7°3

324,289

266,324

57>965

1704

3 2 (, 847

215,949

105,897

1705

279,992

244,057

3>»954

1706

266,269

198,176

68,092

1707

306,423

263,412

43,010

1708

274,689

25'>974

22,715

1709

276,423

251,519

24,904

1710

310,846285,424

25.421

1711
1712

297,238261,426
291,669274,845

35,811

16,823

TRADE

COMMERCE. i

TRADE OF GREAT BRITAIN WITH IRELAND,
Continued.

Imports,

Exports.

Impartf
excefs.

Exports
exceff.

[n die year 1713

*95>926

306,964

11,038

1714

326,391

397>°48

70,656

1715

389,437

420,062

30,625

1716

561,673

245.252

216,421

1717

469,657

429,880

39»776

17.8

326,283

333.988

7.704

17*5

380,130

387,460

7.329

1720

282,812

328,583

45.77 1

1721

332,882

378,838

37.956

I7Z2

356,095

4^8,370

132,274

J723

360,526

553.945

193,418

1724

367,889

468,257

100,367

1/25

333>87o

474,836

140,965

1726

332,604

569.553

236,949

1727

307,038

436,012

128,973

1728

3l8.'47

475.762

I57.6i5

1729

287,648

S'?.^?

229,549

1730

294,156

532,698

238,542

i?3'

308,936

618,684

309.745

'732

294,484

614,754

225,731

'733

386,105

595,25'

351,822

*734

401,422

627,154

225,731

1735

417,421

769,244

351,832

1736

447,176

720,555

2/3,378

«737

346,476

730,910

384.433

173*

381,372

696,590

315,218

»739

411,924

673,621

261,697

1740

390,565

628,288

237,723

?74i

404,863

698,715

293,851

1742

346,814

775,650

428,835

'743

816,797

860,178

43,380

'744

390,874

703,227

312,353

'745

1,441,498

910,920

530>$78

1746

532,686

796,<57

263,471

'747

541,393

748,677

207,284

1748

464.4*9

906,424

441.935

*749

567,776

,006,045

438,268

1750

612,808

,3 1 6,600

703,792

J75J

664,48^

»'74'493

5 1 0,008

1752

563>959

,140,608

576,648

J753

$61,489

,149.552

588,063

F. *754

610,466

,173,82^

563,362

TRAD!

1 8* C O M M E R C E.

TRADE OF GREAT BRITAIN WITH IRE-
LAND, Continued.

Imports.

Exports.

Imports

Exports

fKcefj.

cxcffs.

In the-year 1755

643,165

1,070,063

426,897

^-: '1756

827,811

1,11 1,801

283,990

»757

687,471

960,843

273,371

1758

1,050,331

926,886

123,446

»759

832,127

gs^as8

99,231

1760

904,180

1,050,401

146,220

1761

853,804

1,476,114

622,310

1762

889,368

1,528,696

639,328

1763

769,379

1,640,713

87».333

1764

777»412

1,634,382

856,969

1765

1,070,533

1,767,020

696,486

1766

», i54>98*

1,920,015

765,033

1767

,103,285

1,880,486

777,201

- 1768

,226,094

2,248,315

1,022,221

1769

,265,107

1,964,742

699,634

1770

,214,398

2,125,466

911,068

*77'

,380*737

1,983,818

-603,081

1772

,242,305

1,963,787

721,481.

1773

,252,817

1,918,802

665,985

The reader will recoiled that it was the general tenour of
the information received in the journey, that the year 1748
was the epoch of the modern prosperity of Ireland ; all agree
that after that peace, Ireland" advanced greatly, her rife of
rental will mark this clearly. The following is a review of
the minutes :

RISE OF RENTS.

Lord Longford more than doubled in thirty years. — Earl
of lanifkilling quadrupled in ditto. — Mr. Cooper almoft tre-
bled fince 1 748. — Mayo trebled in forty years. — King's county

two

. * Extr&fted from the ac c iunis laid before the .Eritijh parlia-
went.

It is a circumfiance 'very much to be regretted,, that tbefe ac-
counts no longer fee the light ; -they have not been laid before par-
liament fince 1773, whyjbouldapxiftice iltt had continued fir
afiave a century ceafe jujl then? If there 'were any trades like
the American tvbicb did not offer a f leafing fpfSacle^there
others likethofecf Ireland., Rujfia, &c. to muke amends.

COMMERCE. 183

two thirds fince 1 750. — Tipperary doubled in twenty years.
— Barony of Owna and Ara doubled in ditto. — Rich lands of
.Limerick rifen a fourth in twenty years, and two thirds fince
1748.

In the preceding enquiries the truth of this is confirmed by
every proof which authentic records can (hew ; as the table
now before us marks the commercial connection between
Great Britain and Ireland, it is necelFary to divide it into pe-
riods, in order to fee the average of each. The tabk con-
tains twenty-five years fince 1748, during which period

The averages are, —
Ditto in the 25 preceding years,

Latter period fuperior by, —

Imports.

965,050
438.66s

526,385

Exports.

1,482,513
657,973

824,541

Here is an account that is worth a dozen arguments ! It is
from hence evident, that our exports to Ireland have in the laft
twenty-five years confiderably more than doubled, almoflE
trebled ; and this great rife has been exactly in the period of
the internal profperity of that ifland. If I did not know per-
fons of very refpedhible characters in parliament, who think
very differently upon this great queftion of the freedom of
Irifh trade, I lliould be afliamed of dwelling a moment on the
fubjecl:. How would it have been poffible for that country to
iupport fuch an increafed importation, unlefs (he had increaf-
ed in wealth ? And having proved that fuch advances in na-
tional profperity have been attended by this increafed demand
for the manufactures and produces of England, are we not
perfectly founded in concluding, that future advantages to Ire-
land will alfo be attended by fimilar effe&s I The influx of
wealth into that country brings a tafte for the elegant luxu-
ries with which we abound, and the capability of purchafing
them enfures the purchafe. An Englifhman cannot go into a
imgle houfe in Dublin, or fee a perfon drefled, of either fex,
without having this truth flaring him in the face. But there
is a circumftaHce in this account which deferves particular at-
tention, and that is our import trade not having increafed fo
much as the export one, from which this plain conclufion is to
be drawn ; that let Ireland get her wealth from where fhe will,
it comes infallibly to England. The fourth column of the
table which fhews the balance fhe pays us, and which amounts
of late years, from fix hundred thoufand to a million a year,
couKl not poffibly be fupported with the abfentee drain, unlefs
ihe made by her trade euewhere.

Average

4 FREE TRADE.

Imports.

Exports.

Average of the laft feven years, -

1,240,677

2,012,202

Ditto of the preceding feven years,

917,088

1>573>934

Jncreafe,

323,569

438,268

From this comparifon we find, that the rapid increafe of
our exports to Ireland is in late years, the Itronger reafon
therefore to expect, that whatever increafe of wealth fhe ex-
periences, it will be England that will receive the full tribute
of jt. By means of the profperity of Ireland the trade *,ve
carry on with that kingdom is grown to be one of the rnoft
important which \ve pofTefs ; and in the laft year of this table,
nearly equalled the export to the whole continent of North
America.

1.
Exports from England to the continent of North ? x Qg

America, from Chriftmas, 1772,10 1773, - 3 '
Ditto to Ireland, ' — — 1,918,802

Freight, infurance and profit on both twelve per cent.
Hence therefore this nation haS no demand of policy fo ftrong
on her at prefent, as to encourage Ireland to the utmoft of her
power, in order to increafe her own trade to that ifland,' that
American lofTes may be the lefs fenfibly felt ; but this can only
be done by embracing a fyftem totally it new. And here it is a
tribute fairly due to genius long fince departed, to obferve,
that the relative interefts of England and Ireland were better
underiiood by Mr. Houghton in 1682, than by any later wri-
ter, whofe productions have come to my knowledge ; and as
1 have mentioned him on this occafion, I muft remark, that
lie feems to me to have had jufter ideas of trade, manufactures,
prices of provifions, enclofures, &c. than nine tenths of the
authors who have treated of thofe lubjects : " The richer Ire-
land grows the more wealth will the landlords have, and the
more, will they that live here fpeud. I am told by an inquifitive
and underftanding knight, that hath a great eftate there, and
very well underftands the Irifh affairs, that what their gentry
fpend here, with the penfioris and the rent that are paid
from thence to the city of London, amounts to about three
hundred thoufand pounds per ' annum, and I fee no rea-
ibn why this cxpence 'fhould not increafe according to

their thriving."- " Even in the woollen manufacture I

queftion whether they could in cloth do more than the
Dutch ; and for othe'r manufactures, why might it not
put both nations at jlrlfc to find >>:it JcmH nciu ' confumptions, and
fo increafe t't-e trades of both ? If there muft be but a fet
quantity confirmed, feeing England bears up againft, and in
outdoth Terra Firnra, i»hy may we not, IF IRELAND

F R E E T R A D E. 185

BE JOINED TO us, y^0/Y the trade on the other fide, andfo le loth
enriched*?'" Here is the intereft of England, relative to that
country, explained upon the mod enlarged and moll liberal
principles of freedom and of commerce. This penetrating
genius, who law deeper into the true Englifh interefts than
half our modern politicians, wasfenfibleof nomifchiefs from
a free Irifli woollen trade : the prevalence of commercial jea*
loufy had not then arifcn to the heights we have fmce leen
it. Without any hefitation, Ireland ought to have an abfo-
lutely free trade of export and import to all cur American co-
lonies, and African fettlements ; alib a very confiderable free-
dom in her exports to Europe : but when this fubjeft was in
converfation in the houfe of commons, 1 heard the minifter
mention one circumftance, which feemcd to (land in the way
of doing juftice to Ireland, that is to ourfelves : taxes there
being io much lower that their manufactures not being equal-
ly under the burthen of excifes, would have an unfair dart of
ours \. With great fubmiflion, I think this will not be found
found doctrine either in fact or reafon. I might here go into
the quellion of a poor and cheap country robbing a rich one of
her manufactures, for the aflertion comes directly to this ; but
Dr. Tucker has treated it in fo mafterly a manner, and has fo
clearly proved the abfurdity of the idea, that what he has faid
ought to be confidered as conclusive. But why give in linen
what you deny in other fabrics ? Irifh linen has all the advan-
tages of a freedom from a great variety of excifes, which the
manufacturers of Englifli linen labour under, and yet we not
only fupport the competition but thrive under it, from there
being a difference in the fabrics, and as great a difference
would be in all other fabrics. Their broad cloth, alfo, is
made under the fame advantages, and compare it in both,
price and quality with that of England ; I bought it at ic-
venteen (hillings and fixpcnce a yard at the Dublin fociety's
•warehoufe, without the mailer manufacturer's profit and ex-
pences, and I will venture to allert, from wearing both,
twenty-three {Killings for Englilh cloth to be cheaper. The
fame fact runs through a variety of their fabrics. The fixed
trade, capital and (kill of England will for ever bid defiance
to the no excifes of Ireland. But fomething was forced to be
given — had woollens been put down and Jinens not permitted,
the oppreffed and ruined people would have fought redrefs
with arms in their hands. The monopolizing fpirit of com-
mercial jeaioufy gave as little as poflible, and would not have
given that little could fhe have helped it. But the argument
lays, that Ireland having few exciies will get much trade and
•wealth : and is it not your defign that ihe fliould ? Ought
pot this, in common fenfe, to be your wiih and aim? For

whom

• ColleSion of Hujbandry and Trade, W. 4. /. 48,
f Written in June 1779.

i*6 SF REE TRADE.

whom does fiie grow rich ? If I have not proved that point
there is no proof in fa<5l, nor truth in figures. Why cannot
lie rival France, Holland and Germany, as well as England ?
JSut we have ample experience to tell us that (he may rival
•withoutimpoveri filing us ; that flie may grow rich and we great
by her wealth ; that Hie may advance, and we be profperous.
To afTert becaufe there are not as many excifes in one part of
our dominions as another, that therefore their trade (hall be •
cramped is exaftly like faying, that labour is cheap there,
and for that reafon (hall never be dear ; making the poverty
of the kingdom the motive for keeping it poor.

Taxes flow from trade and confumptiqn, give them the
wealth to confume, and never fear but taxes will follow.

FISHERIES.

There is fcarcely a part of Ireland but what is well fituated

for fome fifhery of confequence ; her coafts and innumerable

creeks and rivers, mouths are the refort of vaft fhoals of her-

ring, cod, hake, mackarel, &c. which might, with proper

attention, be converted into funds of wealth ; but capital is

fuch a univerfal want in Ireland, that very little is done.

The minutes of the journey contain fome valuable informa-

tion on this head, but the general picture is rather an exhibi-

tion of what ought to be done, than any thing that actually

is executed ; nor have the meafures of the legislature been at-

tended with any confiderable effect ; fome of them feem to

have done mifchief, of which the following is aninftance.

By the 3 G. 3. c. 24.. — Twenty (hillings, per ton on Englifh

or Iriin built veffels decked, after the commencement of

this acl, not under twenty tons, nor to be paid for more

than one hundred, to proceed from fome port in Ireland.

Bounty of two (hillings a barrel on export of white

herrings.

!Ditto of two (hillings aad fixpence on mackarel.
Ditto of five (hillings for fix icore of ling.
Ditto of three (hillings for hake, haddock, glafllng, and

conger eel.
Ditto of four (hillings and three-pence halfpenny for every

tierce, of 41 gallons of wet fifti exported.
Ditto of three pounds per ton1**
for whale oil,

D:*to of four pounds per cwt. I
for whale bone, J

The following Jbas been the eifeft of this meafure.

BARRELS

FISHERIES.

BARRELS OF HERRINGS IMPORTED INTO IRELAND
FOR. EIGHTEEN YEARS.

From

From 1

G.Britain

E. Country^ Total.

Barrels.

In the year — 1756

28,999

1,277

30,276

»757

28,955

2,080

1758

29,960

1,370

3I>33°<

1759

23,611

23*724

1760

17,038!

17,009

1761

20,41 li

142

20,554 .

1762

21,388

844

22,232 ]

1763

23,519

2,156

25,675

1764
Avcrscrc of* Q YCSTS bc~

14,932

8,661

23^593

lore the bounty,

23,201

1,847

25,048

In the year — 1765

'4^7

17,030

31,617

1766

35>552

24,555

60,107

1767

1 2,094

12,618

24,712

1768

16,640

23,252

39,892

1769

11,286

25,847

1770
1771

22,891
12,952

^sll

46,546

1772

10,445

34,241

44^86

'773

I3>471

4°'539

54,010

Average of 9 years af-

ter the bounty,

16,657

25*365 ! 42,022

Import of herrings in the nine years fince the

bounty exceed the preceding period in 1. s. d.

1 55,1 56 barrels. Value at fifteen fhillings

per barrel, •< — 116,367 H 3

Export lefs by 16,357 barrels, at twenty

{hillings per barrel, 1 6,3 57 15 O

Lofs alfb on the export and import of dry

cod, 1,298 cwt. at 145. per cwt. 973 10 o

Ditto on barrelled cod, — 364 17 6

134,063 13 9

Hake 9,566 cwt. at fifteen {Killings po? cwt. 7,1 15 i 3

Salmon i, 1 08 tons, at twelve pounds per ton, 14,200 o o
Mackarel, 2,666 barrels at twenty ihillings

per barrel, 2,666 o O

Increafed import fince the bounty,

* 1 58,604 15

Imported

* Manufcript report of the fifh committee, 1778, communicated
by the Right Hon. William Burton.

188 FISHERIES.

Imported herrings for home confumption are from Scot-
land, for foreign uie from Sweden. The former twenty (hil-
lings a barreL The latter from fourteen to fixteen (hillings.
And their own from fixteen to twenty (hillings.

Prices of other forts of fiflt. Dry ling from eighteen to
twenty (hillings per cwt. Salmon from twelve to thirteen
pounds per ton. Hake from fourteen to fixteen (hillings per
cwt. Dry cod from fourteen to fixteen (hillings per cwt.
Wet cod from fourteen to eighten (hillings per bacrel f.

A STATE of the FISHING TRADE of IRELAND,
for Nine Years, fmce the Commencement of the Bounty,
• compared with the Nine preceding Years.

Inpsrt in 9
years ti the

Import in 9*
years to tbf

Increafe Decreaje
in lajl 9 «'» lajl 9

7i/<3/ /£//

« lafl 9

Total gam

l^tb of
MarcbiJ-jz

Marchf76,

years.

j far/.

years.

Herring*, barrels,

379,631

"4,475

I5S,,5,sf~

i7«iS'4

CocH, cwt.

4,575

1,340

1,198

Coj<i, barrels,

1,103

3>236

486

Ling, cwt.

963

i>4«5

391

Salmon, tuns,

166

Hake, cwr.

' 7

NU,karer,barreh,

118

57
128

Ex fur tin lajl

Expsrtinjirfl

9 years.

Herrings, barrels,
Salmon, ton,

34-986

5 ', 344

4,084

16,357
1,1*5

Jio8

4ake, cwt.

8$7

9,613

9,566

Ljng, cwt.

411

47a

.Vfackarel, barrels,

5,043

1,666

Cold, cwt.

C-xld,. barrels,

47*

9i|

38.

1. s. d.

Amount of premiums paid to fiiiiing bufles in

the laft nine years, 47,062 6 5

Ditto to exported nih, , - • 1,265 4 7

4 7

Before I quit this article of Irifli fifheries, I (hall obfcrve.
that next to the cultivation of land there is no objecl in their

national

+ Manafcript Repcrt C:m. emmunicated ly tbc Right Hon.
William Eurtsn.
* Ibid.

FISHERIES. 1*9

national ceconomy offo much importance. No manufactures,
no trade can be of half the confequence to Ireland, that many
of her fiiheries might prove if encouraged with judgment.
There is no undertaking whatever in which a ftnall capital
goes fo far ; nor any in which the largetl will pay fuch ample
profits. Scotland has the herrings fomewhat earlier, but
they come in good time to Ireland for the Mediterranean
trade, and in a plenty that ought to- make their capture a fa-
vourite object. The bounties hitherto given have been fo far
from anfwering that they have in fome refpedls done mif-
chief. I was prefent more than once at the meetings of the
fifhery committee of the Irilh houfe of commons, and I found
them making anxious enquiries how to avoid great frauds,
from which 1 found that notorious ones had been committed ;
this is the great misfortune of bounties when they are not
given with great judgment and care. Relative to the fi-
flfferies the profit is fo great, that all acquainted with them
will engage as far as their capital will admit, whatever boun-
ties are given therefore fhould not be with a view to inftigate
men poflefled ofcapital, for they do not exift, but to put ca-
pitals into the hands of thofe who will certainly make ufe of
them. It appeared in the minutes of the Loch Swilly fifhery
that one boat and the nets fuificient coft 20!. ; the bcft boun-
ty would be to give boats and nets to men ufed to the filhcry,
becaufe few are able to buy or build them. To give a pre-
mium on the export of the herrings or upon the tonnage of
the boats will not anfwer, for it fuppofes them actually taken,
and built, that is, it fuppofes the very difficulty got over
which want of money makes perpetual. Btfore the boat is in
the fifliery it muft be built, and before the fiih are exported
they muft be taken, thofe who have money to do either will go
to work without any bounty, the profit alone being lufficient.
In countries fo very poor, the firft fteps in fuch undertakings
are the mod difficult; and to affift in overcoming the early
difficulties is what the legiiTature fhould aim at. Giving boats
and nets to men thai would certainly ufe them does this, and
would be productive of great national good ; always fuppofmg
that frauds and jobbing are guarded againft ; if they are per-
mitted to creep in, as in giving fpinning wheels, the mifchief
would be far more than the benefit. 2o,cool. per annum thus
expended would give 1000 boats, which would foon accumu-
late to a vaft number, and if the effedwas fo great as to find
the herrings regorge in the home market, then would be the
time to drive them out by a bounty on the export, if their owa
cheapnefs did not bring the effecl: without -it. I am far from
recommending a new iyftem of bounties upon an object that
had not received them before, they have been long given or
jobbed, all I mean is, that if the public is burthcncd with fuch
payments, care Ihould be taken that they are given in the mode
that promifcs to be uiofl advantageous.

EMBARGOES.

r9» EMBARGOES.

EMBARGOES.

OF all the reftrictions which England has at different times
moft impoliticly laid upon the trade of Ireland, there is none
more obnoxious than the embargoes on their proviiion trade.
The prohibitions on the export of woollens, and various other
articles, have this pretence at leaft in their favour, that thev
are advantageous to iimilar manufactures in England ; and
Ireland has long been trained to the facrifice of her national
advantage as a dependant country ; but in refpeft to embar-
goes even this Ihallow pretence is wanting ; a whole kingdom
is facrificed and plundered, not to enrich England, but three
<ir four London contractors ! a fpecies of men of an odious caft
as thriving only on the ruin and defolation of their country.
It is well known that all the embargoes that have ever been lai^>
have been for the profit of thefe fellows, and that the govern'-
raent has not profited a fhilJing by them. Whenever the affairs
of Ireland come thoroughly to be confidered in England a new
fyftem in this refpeft mud be embraced. It may not be
proper for the crown dire&ly to give up the prerogative of
laying them; but it ought never to be exerted in the cafes,
and with the views with which we have feen it ufed. The
(Ingle circumftance of facrificing the interefts of~a whole people
to a few monopolizing individuals in another country, is to
make a nation the beads of burthen to another people. But
this is not the only point ; the intereft of England and of go-
vernment is equally facrificed, for their object is to have beef
plentiful and cheap. But to reduce it fo low by embargoes
as to difcourage the grazier, is to leflen the quantity ; he in-
creafes his ftieep or ploughs more, or is ruined by his bufinefs,
which necefTarily renders the commodity too dear, from the
very circumftance of having been too cheap. A fteady regu-
lar good price, from an active demand encourages the grazier
fo much, that he will produce a quantity fufEcient to keep the
price from ever riling unreafonably high, and government
would be better fupplied. Another confideration is the lofs to
the kingdom by not taking French money, and fending them
to other markets ; if it could be proved, or indeed if the fact
•was poflible, that you could keep their fleets in port for wane
of Iriih beef there would be an argument for an embargo,
perhaps, twice in half a century ; but when all experience
tells us that if they have not beef from Ireland they will get it
from Holftein, from Denmark and elfewhere, is it not folly in
the extreme to refufe their money, and fend them to other
markets. The Dutch were ridiculed in Louis XIV*s reign for
felling the French, before a campaign, the powder and ball
xvhich were afterwards ufed againft themfelves : but they
Ttere vdfe iu fo doing, they had not the ucjverfal monopoly of

GOVERNMENT. i^t

iron and gunpowder, as of fpices, and if they did not fupply
the enemy others would, for no army ever yet itaid at home
in the heart of commercial countries for want of powder aai
ball : nor will a French fleet ever be confined to Brcit tor
want of beef to feed the failors. Embargoes therefore cannot
be laid with any ferious views of that fort, but when contracts
are made, the contractors gaping for monopoly, raiie a cla-
mour, and pretend that no beef can be had if France is ferved,
directly or indirectly, and in order to make their bargains ib
much the more profitable, government gives them an embar-
go on the trade of a kingdom (like alottery ticket to a fund fub-
fcriber) by way of douceur. This conduct is equally injurious
to the true intereft of England, of Ireland and of govern-
ment.

Before I conclude this fection, I mull obferve one circum-
ftance, which though not important enough to {top the pro-
grefs of commercial improvement in Ireland, yet mult very-
much retard it, and that is the contempt in which trade is
held by thofe who call themfelves gentlemen. I heard a lan-
guage common in Ireland which if it was to become univerial,
would effectually prevent her ever attaining greatnels. I
have remarked the houfes of country gentlemen being full of
brothers, coufms, &c. idlers whofe beft employment is to follow
a here or a fox ; why are they not brought up to trade or manu-
fafiure ? TRADE ! (the anfwer has been) THEY ARE GENTLE-
MEN ; — to be poor till doomfday : a tradefman has not a right
to the point of honour — you may refufe his challenge. Tri-
nity College at Dublin fwarms with lads who ought to be
educated to the loom and the counting houfe. Many ill
effects flow from thefe wretched prejudices ; one confequencc
manifeft over the whole kingdom, is commercial people quit-
ting trade or manufactures when they have made from five to
ten thoufand pounds to become gentlemen ; where trade is
diihonourable it will not flouriia, this is taking people from
induftry at the very moment they are the belt able to command
fuccefs. Many quakerswho are (take themfor all in all the mofl
fenfible clafs of people in that kingdom) are exceptions to this
folly : and mark the confequencc, they are the only wealthy
traders in the ifland. The Iriih arc ready enough to imitate
the vices and follies of England ; let them imitate her virtues ;
her refpect for commercial induftry which has carried her
fplendor and her power to the remotell corners of the earth.

SECTION XXII.

Government — Vnicr;,

THERE never was a jufter idea than that wh'^h I had
occafion in another fection to quote, that the revolution
did not exujtd to Jrelaad ; tie «aie cf the hereditary revenue

was

19* GOVERNMENT,

was a remarkable inftance, but the whole government of thafc
ifland is one collective proof of it. The revolution was a mo-
ment in which all the forms of government were broken
through in order to aflert the fpirit of liberty, but Ireland
loft that opportunity ; meeting fecurity againft the Roman
catholics in the victorious arms of king William, ihe refted
fatistied with a government which fecured her againft the
immediate enemy. It is certainly more a government of pre-
rogative than that of England, and the law of the empire,
the common law of the land is in favour of that prero-
gative ; hence the abfurdity of proving the rights of Ire-
land in the details of common law, as Fitzgibbon and Me.

have done. Ireland from diftance and backwardnefs

loft thofe fortuitous opportunities which proved fo important
to the liberty of England ; (he could not claim the letter of the
revolution, but (he could have claimed the fpirit of it.

The contribution of that territory to the general wants of
the empire is in two fhapes. i . By the penfion lift. 2. By the
military eftablifhment. The great liberal line for that king-
dom to purfue is to examine not only the prefent amount of
thefe articles, but what might be a fair eftimate for the future.
To come openly to the Englifh government with an offer of
an equal revenue applicable to whatever purpofes government
fhould find moft beneficial for the intereft of the whole em-
pire ; with this neceffary condition that the military ihould be
abfolutely in the power of the crown to remove and employ
wherever it plealed. To think of tying down government,
to keeping troops in- any fpot, is an abfurdity. Government
can alone be the judge where troops are moft wanting ; it has
an unlimited power in this refpect in England, and it ought to
have the fame in Ireland ; the good of the empire demands it.
It is the fleet of England that has prsved, and muft prove
the real defence of Ireland, and that ifland fliould take its
chance of defence in common with England. At the fame
time any apprehenfions, that they would be left without
troops, would be abfurd ; fmce it would be the king's intereft.
to keep a great body of forces there, for fever'al reafons ;
among others, the cheapnefs of provifions, which would ren-
der their fubtiftcnce comparatively eafy ; alfo, barracks being
built all over the kingdom : another point which induce him,
is the afliilance their circulation would be of to the king-
dom, whereas in England they would be a burthen. But
the point might as well be given up chearfuily, as to
have it carried by a majoricy in parliament. Penfions
have been always on the increafe and will be fo ; and as
to the troops, government carries its point at prefent, and
ought to doio, why not therefore give up the point chearfuily
for a valuable confideration ? As thefe things are managed
now, governm-nt is forced to buy, at a gre:xt expence, the
concuricnca of an Irifh parliament to what ii really neceflary,

would

UNION. 193

would it not be more for the public intereft to have a fixed
permanent plan, than the prefent illiberal and injurious fyf-
lem ? The military lift of Ireland, on an averge of the laft
feven years, has amounted to 528,544!. to which add 8o,oool.
penfions, and the total makes 608,544!. Would it not be

wife in Ireland to fay to the Britifh government <c I will

pay you a neat feven or eight hundred thoufand pounds * a
year, applicable to your annual fupplies, or paying off your
debt, and leave the defence of the kingdom entirely to your
own difcretion, on condition that I lhall never have any mi-
litary charge or penfions laid on me ; the remainder of the
revenue to be at the application of my own parliament, for
the ufes of interior government only, and for the encourage-
ment of the trade, manufactures and agriculture of the king-
dom. That you lhall give me a fpecified freedom of commerce,
and come to a liberal explanation of the powers of your at-
torney general, the privy council, and Poyning's act.'* It
would be the beft bargain that Ireland ever made.

If the government was once placed on fuch a footing, the
office of lord lieutenant would be that of a liberal reprefen-
tative of majefty, without any of thofe difagreeble confe-
quences which flow from difficulties eflentially neceflary for
him to overcome ; and the government of England having
in Ireland no views, but the prolperity of that kingdom,
would neceflarily be revered by all ranks of people. The par-
liament of the kingdom would ftill retain both importance and
bufmefs, for all that at prefent comes before it would then be
within its province, except the military, and complaints of
penfionjifts and reftricted commerce. Perhaps the advantages
of a union would be enjoyed without its inconveniencies, for
the parliament would remain for the civil protection of the
kingdom, and the Britifh Icgiflature would not be deluged by
an addition of Irilh peers and commoners, one.reafon among
others, which made the late Earl of Chatham repeatedly de-
clare himfelf againft fuch a meafure f.

The great object of a union is a free'trade, which appears to
be of as much importance to England as to Ireland ; if this was
gained the ufes of an entire coalition would not be numerous
to Ireland ; and to England the certain revenue, without the
neceflity of buying majorities in parliament, would be a great
object. But as to the objections to a union, common in Ire-
land, I cannot fee their propriety ; I have heard but three
that have even the appearance of weight; thefe are: i. The

VOL. II. N increafe

* / bare mentioned feven hundred tboufand pounds, but the
Jum 'would depend of courfe on the liberality of the return, a
free trade would be worth purchafing at a much higher rate.

t The Earl of Shelburne has affured me of this faff ; nor let
me omit to add, that to that nobleman I am intlnbleicl for the out-
line of the preceding plan.

I9-J. GENERAL STATE,

increafe of abfentees. 2. The want of a parliament for pro-
tection againft the officers of the crown. 3. The increafe of
taxation. To the firft and laft, fuppofing they followed, and
were admitted evils, the queftion is, whether a free trade
would not more than balance them ; they imply the impo-
veriihment of the kingdom, and were objected in Scotland
againft that union which has taken place ; but the fact has
been.directly otherwiie, and Scotland has been continually on
the increafe of wealth ever fince ; nay Edinburgh itfelf, which
was naturally expected moft to fuffer, feems to have gained
as much as any other part of the kingdom. Nor can I upon
any principles think, a nation is lofmg, who exchanges the
refidence of a fet of idle country gentlemen, for a numerous
race of induftrious farmers, manufacturers, merchants, and
failors. But the fact in the firft objection does not feem well
founded ; 1 cannot fee any inevitable neceffity for abfentees
increafing ; a family might refide the winter at London with-
out becoming abfentees ; and frequent journies to.England,
where every branch of industry and ufeful knowledge are in
fuch perfection, could not fail to enlarge the views and cure
the prejudices which obftruct the improvement of Ireland.
As to taxation, it ought to be confidered as a circum-
ftance that always did, and always will follow profperity and
wealth. Sa-vages pay no taxes, but thofe who are hourly in-
creafing in the conveniencies, luxuries, and enjoyments of
Jife, do not by aay means find taxes fuch a burthen as to make
them wilh for poverty and barbarity, in order to avoid taxa-
tion. In refpect to the fecond objection, it feems, to bear
nearly as ftrong in the cafe of Scotland, and yet the evil has
had no exiftence, the four-courts at Dublin would of courle
remain, nor do I fee at prefent any great protection refulting
to individuals from a parliament, which the law of the land
does not give ; it feems therefore to be an apprehenfion not
very well founded. So much in anfwer to objections ; not by
way of proving that an entire union is abfolutely neceifary,
as without fuch a meafure Ireland might certainly have great
commercial freedom, and pay for it to the fatisfaction of
England.

SECTION XXIII.
General State of Ireland.

IT may not be difadvantageous to a clear idea of the fubje£
at large, to draw into one view the material facts difperfed
in the preceding enquiry, which throw a light on the gene-
ral ftate of the kingdom, and to add one or two others,
which did not properly come in under any of the former
heads, that we may be able to have a diftinct notion of that
degree of profperity which appears to have been, of late
years, the inheritance of her rifing induftry.

BUILDINGS*

GENERAL STATE. 195

BUILDINGS.

Thefe improving, or falling into decay, are unerring figns
of a nation's increafing grandeur or declenfion : the minutes
of the journey, as well as obfervations already made, fhew,
that Ireland has been abfolutely new built within thefe twenty
years, and in a manner far fuperior to any thing that was
ieen in it before ; it is a fact untverfal over the whole kingdom;
cities, towns, and country feats ; but the preient is the sera
for this improvement, there being now far more elegant feats
rifing than ever were known before.

R O A D S.

The roads of Ireland may be faid all to have originated
from Mr. French's prefentment bill, and are now in a ftate
that do honour to the kingdom ; there has been probably ex-
pended in confequence of that bill, confiderably above a mil
lion fterling.

TOWNS.

The towns of Ireland have very much increafed in the Lift
twenty years ; all public regifters prove this, and it is a ftrong
mark of rifing profperity. Towns are markets which enrich
and cultivate the country, and can therefore never depopulate
it, as fome vilionary theorifts have pretended. The country
is always the rnoft populous within the fphere of great cities,
if I may ufe the expreflion, and the increafed cultivation of
the remoteft corners, fhew that this fphere extends like the
circulating undulations of water until they reach the moft dif-
tant fhores. , Befides towns can only increafe from an increafe
of manufactures, commerce and luxury ; all three are other
words for riches and employment, and thefe again for a gene-
ral increafe of people.

RISE OF RENTS.

The minutes of the journey fhew, that the rents of land
Lave at Icaft doubled in twenty-five years, which is a moft un-
erring proof of a great profperity. The rife of rents proves
a variety of circumftances all favourable ; that there is more
capital to cultivate land ; that there is a greater demand for
the products of the earth, and confequently a higher price ;
that towns thrive, and are therefore able to pay higher prices ;
that manufactures and foreign commerce increafe ; the vari-
ations of the rent of land, from the boundlefs and fertile
plains of the Miffiffippi, where it yields none, to the province
of Holland, where every foot is valuable, fhews the gradati-
ons of wealth, power and importance, between the one ter-
ritory and the other. The prcfent rental of Ireland appeared
to be 5,293,312!. and for reafons before given, probably not
iefs than fix millions.

N a M A N U-

196 GENERAL STATE.

MANUFACTURES.

Linens the great fabric of the kingdom for exportation, have
increaied rapidly.

1. 1.

The export from 17 50 to 1756, in value

of cloth and yarn was, — 904,479

Ditto from 1757 to 1763, — 1,166,136

Increafe, < —
From 176410 1770, — — i

>379>512

261,657
213,376
236,142

7"»»75
810,548

Increafe,
From 1771 to 1777* .. .. i

,615,654

Increafe, • •
From 1771 to 1777, •— i
From 1750 to 1756,

,615,654
9°4>479

Increafe, • • »
Thirty years fmce 1 748 greater than
years before, by —

thirty

COMMERCE. *

Trade in Ireland, in all its branches, has increased .greatly
in twenty-five years ; this has been a natural effect from the
other articles of prosperity already enumerated.

Thelrift exports to Great-Britain, on an average

of twenty-five years before 1 748,' were, — 438,665
Ditto on twenty-five years fmcc, — 965,050

Increafe, • 526,385

This greateft article of her trade has therefore more than
doubled.

Export to Great-Britain per annum for the laft

feven years, ..- • "'— 1,240,677

The preceding feven years, • 917,088

CONSUMPTION. 197

The greateft exports of Ireland, on an average of the
laft feven years, are

Linen, — — • 1,615,654

The product of oxen and cows, — — 1,218,902

Ditto of flieep, • . ••• • • 200,41 3

Ditto of hogs, •' ••'• "• 150,631

Ditto of corn •• • • 64,871

3,250,471

Her total exports are probably three millions and a half.
The balance of trade in her favour muftbe above a million.*

CONSUMPTION.

A people always confume in proportion to their wealth,
hence an increafe in the one marks clearly that of the other.
The following table will fhew feveral of the principal articles
of Irifh consumption.

Teart.

* Mr. Gordon, furveyor general of Mitnfter, favoured me
'with an account of the trade which made the total exports in
1772 to amount to

The imports, —
Balance, —

1. s. d.

5,167,159 2 0
2,«47»079 3 2

3,020,079 1 8 10

But the above table clearly proves that this is exaggerated,
for the export* not included in my account can never amount to
tiuo millions.

If her balance, however, was not above a million, it would be
impoj]tble for her to pay 800,000 /• in abjentees and penftons,
befedes offices, interejl of money, £sV. &c. to do that, and yet in-
creafe as Jhe has done in wealth, it Jhould be near 1,200,000 /•

CONSUMPTION.

fears.

I7$0
1751
i7SZ
«753
1754
I7S5
n$6

1757
1758

1759
1760

I?<M
1762
1763

1764
I7«5
1766
I757
I768
1769
1770'

Average

1771

i77i
1773
1774
»775

1777
Average

ik«r, «/r and
-•trter barrels,
at y. gallons,

I3,S73

io,949
15,222
16,517
13,500
•8,837
18,007
11,099

BranJy,
galiv.

gallons.

Sugar,

Wtfoto.

Tea, Ibi.

"obacct, 'Ibs.

/fw,

tins.

439o01

700,905
513,266
784,945
987,122
507,864
815,887

* 179,64]

130,306
191,566
I4°,465
166,558

i99,938
163,693

* 3i574,°37

* 4,' 54,103
* 3,414,359

678,470

167,451

A ! 04.926

! 1 17,111
i H9»673

!• 4,769,97 5

t 4,958,7i'
f 3,662,246

4,685
6,416
5,936
5,683
5,786
5,870
5,H9

5,643

§511,682
534,692
820,915
249,197

34i, 97 ;
656,531
691,027

16,447

18,935
2.7,787
32.440
29,487
40,54*
45,45a
38,439

34,7i6

44,104
47-735 •
5«,67S
5J,995
53,906
4- 65,922

4- 70,381

543.717

657,037
757, I05
65i>943
770,319
685,66
410,584
437,437

913,120
1,230,840
1,480,697
1,667,540

1,873,^73
2,100,419
1,640,791

167,01 1
129,331
i33'-i49
133,829
,81,924
183,337
183,245

204,89
236,908
297,988
183,267
239,800
1,007,693
i, i30>486

5,7i5-/77
4,431,801
6,049,270
4,083,379
4,346»769
4,642,197

5,445i94i

525,716

1,558,097

158,846

47' » 576

4,988,162

408,01

374iU4
310,045

395 7 4C

ss^.n

^03,706
479^996

1,035,388
i,973,73i
1,704,557
1,503,086
1,322,506
j, 888,068
.,680.233

176,924
188,260

20I,IO(J

1 7 ',347
205,858
138,746
'93,158

913,296
741,762
839.218
1,207,764

1,041.517
680,526
704,221

5,012,979
5>5i5,849
5,i3J,7i4
5,434,924
3,949,740
5,379,405
3,916,409

4,94s
4,63.

5,415
5,709
4,698
4,51'
4,646

$6,ioz

^89,675

-L»7*9,i?5>

196,500

875<47'

4 921,572

4-94'

In the yea

4- Tbefe ttvo years are only of leer,
§ The fol/oiving years differ in another account,
Jour. vql. 14, f. 141.

gallons.

1757 Rum, 513,193
1758

1759

,76o

1761

f Commons journal, vol. \\. p. 179.
H Ibid. p. 180.
J Ibid. p. 1 69.
* Ibid. p. 169.
A Commons journals, vol. f. 3 1 8.

618,945

9°3»8°9
275,732

POPULATION. 199

The articles of beer, rum, and fugar, are greatly increaf-
ed ; tea quadrupled ; wine having leffened, is certainly owing
to the increafed fobriety of the kingdom, which rnufl have
made a difference in the import. The imports of iilks and
woollen goods given on a former occafion, fpoke the fame
language of increafed confumption.

SPECIE.

The fpecie of Ireland, gold and filver, is calculated by the
Dublin bankers at i, 600,00 c 1.

POPULATION.

This article, which in fo many treatifes is reckoned to be
the only objecl worth attention, I put the laft of all, not as
being unimportant, but depending totally on the preceding
articles. It is perfectly needlefs to fpeak of population, after
{hewing that agriculture is improved, manufactures and com-
merce increafed, and the general appearance of the kingdom
carrying the face of a rifing profperity ; it follows inevitably
from all this, that the people mull have increafed ; and ac-
cordingly the information, from one end of the ifland to the
other, confirmed it: but no country fhould wilh for popula-
tion in the firft inftance, let it flow from an increale of induftry
and employment, and it will be valuable ; but population
that arifes, fuppofing it poflible, without it,.fuch a caufe would,
inltead of being valuable, prove ufelefs, probably pernicious :
population therefore, fmgly taken, ought never to be an en-
quiry at all ; there is not even any {trength refulting from
numbers without wealth, to arm, fupport, pay, and difcipline
them. The hearth tax in 1778 produced 61,646!. which
cannot indicate a lefs population, exceptions included, than
three millions. The minutes of fouls, per cabbin, at Caftle
Caldwell, Drumoland, and Kilfane, gave 6 and 6f.

Upon the whole, we may fafely determine, that judging by
thofe appearances and circumftances which have been gene-
rally agreed to mark the profperity or declenfion of a country,
that Ireland has fince the year 1 74.8 made as great advances as
could poflibly be expected, perhaps greater than any other
country in Europe

Since that period her linen exports have jufl TREBLED.

Her general exports to Great Britain more than DOUBLED.

The rental of the kingdom DOUBLED.

And I may add, that her linen and general exports have in-
creafed proportionably to this in the laft feven years, confe-
queatly her wealth is at prefent on a like increafe.

SECTION

200

PRESENT STATE.

SECTION XXIV.

State of Ireland, brought down to the End of the Tear 1779 — Di-
Jlrejfes — Free trade — Obfervations — Armed Afociations.

THE preceding fections have been written near a twelve-
month, events have fmce happened which are of an im-
portance that will not permit me to pafs them by in filence,
much as I wifh to do it. The moment of national expectation
and heat is feldom that of cool difcuffion. When the minds
of men are in a ferment, queftions originally fimple, become
complex from forced combinations. To publiih opinions,
however candidly formed, at fuch times, is a moft unpleafant
bufinefs, for it is almoft impoflible to avoid cenfure ; but as a
dead filence upon events of fuch importance would look either
like ignorance or affectation, I fhall lay before the reader the
refult of my own refearches.

Upon the meeting of the Irifh parliament in October laft,
the great topic which feemed to engrofs all their attention
was the diftrefs of the kingdom and the remedy demanded —
A free trade. In the preceding papers Ireland exhibits the
picture of a country, perhaps the moft rifing in profperity of
any in Europe, the data upon which that idea was formed,
were brought down to Lady-day 1 778. I muft therefore na-
turally enquire into the circumftances of a lituation which
feems to have changed fo fuddenly, and to fo great a degree,
I have taken every meafure to gain whatever proofs I could
of the real declenfion in Ireland during this period, and I
find the circumftance of the revenue producing fo much lefs
than ufual, particularly infifted on, the following is the ftate
of it.

The greatefl declenfion is in thefe articles :

In the years,

1776.

'777-

251,055
35.883

i53»7*7
16,134

1778.

»779-

165,802

3l>7'7
106,070

8>933

Cuftoms inwards,
Cuftoms outwards,
Import excife,
Wine./r/?,

248,491
42,488
152,238
15,825

198,550
36,027
131,284
13497

The totals are as follow, including the hereditary revenue,
old and new additional duties, ftamps, and appropriated
duties.

In the years,

Totals,

,040,055

1777.

1779-

1,093,881 I 968,683 I 862,823

The

P R E S E N T S T A T E. 20i

The total decline in the laft year amounts to about one
hundred thousand pounds, and from the particulars it appears
to lie /on the import account ; for as to the fall of nve thou-
fand pounds on the export cuftoms, it is very trivial, thofe
diftrelfes which have, by aflbciations or naturally, fo imme-
diate an effect in cutting off the expences of importation,
while exports remain nearly as they were, have a wonderful
tendency to produce a cure the moment the difeafe is known;
for that balance of wealth, arillng from fuch an account,
muft animate every branch of induftry in a country, whofe
greateft evil is the want of capital and circulation.

Generally fpeaking, a declining revenue is a proof of de-
clining wealth ; but the preient cafe is fo ftrong an exception,
that the very contrary is the fad ; the Iriih were very free
and liberal confumers of foreign commodities ; they have
greatly curtailed that consumption, not from poverty, for
their exports have many of them increafed, and none declined
comparably with their imports, circumftances marked by the
courfe of exchange being much in their favour, as well as by
thefe and other accounts ; this liberal confumption being
lellened from other motives, they are neceffarily accumulating
a confiderable fuperlucration of wealth, which in fpite of fate
will revive their revenues, while it increafes every exertion of
their national induftry.

In the years

1776.

acO

m-
ex- I
du- )-4i6

'777-

1778.

1779.

420,906

343»33I

280,802

35.883

36,027

3I>7'7

In the above ac-'
count, cuftoms
wards, import ex-
cife, and wine du-
ty, added together
amount to thefe
fums, being, - j

Cuftoms outwards, | 42,^

From 1777 to 1778, the cuftoms on their exports increafed,
but their cuftoms on imports declined above 77,000!. From
1778 to 1779 the former fell 4,310!. or more than a ninth, at
the fame time the import duty fell 63,000!. or a fifth ; this
difference in thefe articles is very great, and if all the heads of
the revenue were included, it would be more ftill.

It is not furprizing that the national debt fhould increafe
while the revenue declines. At lady-day 1779, it amounted
to 1,062,597!. which is more than in 1777, by 237,171!.

But the decline of the revenue has by no means been gene-
ral, as will be feen by the following table of articles, which
have been upon the rife.

PRESENT STATE.

In the Years, —

1776

1777

1778

1779

Ale licences, —

7,272

7,182

7>363

7»5fl

Wine and ftrong wa- 7
tcr ditto,

'9>563

19,984

20,823

20,298

Hearth money, —

60,966

60,580

61,646

60,617

Tea duty refidues,
Tobacco,

4,404
58,046

4-59°
5M53

7,300
47,698

5>747
52>558

Strong waters, third,

5,659 18,586

18,782

•8.233

Stamps, —

*9»7*5

20,784

21,174

21,316

Hops, —

2,141

3'984

2,427

4,012

All of which, except the article of ftatnps, are laid upon
the great confumption of the common people ; whatever
diftrefs, therefore, is marked by a falling revenue, the lower
clailes do not feem, fortunately, to have fuifered proportion-
ably with the higher ones. But let us farther enquire how
far the declenfion of revenue is owing to an increafe of po-
verty ; and how far to a forced artificial meafure, that of af-
fbciations for non-import. Thefe have been very general in
Ireland during 1779, and muft have had a confiderablc effedt.
In order to underftand the queftion, the fads themfelves muft
be feen; the following tables will explain them. The 'reve-
nue of Ireland, is raifed chiefly on the import of fpirits, tea,
wine, tobacco and fugar.

Coals. Mufcova- Brandy. \Geneva.

Tons.

In the Year 1776217,938
1777240,893
1778(237,101
1779219,992

C-wt.
238,746
193,258
139,816
145,540

Gallons. \GaHons.
403,706153,430

+79*996 »37»474

226,434144,438
180,705! 87,420

Rum.

Gallons. I
1,888,058!
1,680,233;
1,234,502,
1,183,865

Tea.
Ebkea.

Ib.

In the Year 1776 1 308,558
'777 I 359>475
'77s 1 336,470
1779 I 402,594

Tea.
Green.

Ib.
371,968

344,726
479»ri5
375.269

Wines of
a' I forts.

5»3794°5
3,916,409
3,629,056
4»°38>479

The great decline is in fpirits and wine. Tea has not fallen
upon the whole ; and tobacco in 1779 is fuperior to 1778.
Sugar fince 1776 is much fallen, but from 1778 to 1779 there
is a rife. Coals are tolerably equal. The itrongeft circum-

ftance

D E C L I N EOF IMPORTS. 203

fiance is that of wine, which has fallen very greatly indeed.
The principal caufe of the decline of the revenue is to be
found in thcle imports. The remark I made before feems to
be ftrongly confirmed, that the diftrefs of Ireland feems more
to have affected the higher than the lower clailes ; wine, green
tea and brandy, are fallen off coniiderably, but tobacco, bohea
tea, and mufcovado fugar, are increafed from 1778 to 1779.
This is ftrongly confirmed by the import of loaf fugar having
falling while mufcovado has rilen : theloaf in 1 776 is 8,907 cwt.
in 1 777 it is 15,928 cwt. in 1778 it is 12,365 cwt. but in 1779
it is only 5,931 cwt. Other inltances may be produced: im-
ported milienery, a mere article of luxury for people of fafhion,
has fallen greatly : Engliih beer, confumed by the better ranks,
declines much, but hops for Irifh beer, which is drank by the
lower ones, has rifen exceedingly.

In the year
/

1776

1777
,778
1779

Hops.

Millenary.
"Mare.

Beer.

Civt.

9,°94
18,067
10,974
18,191

Valus.

13.758
16,881
15,667
8,3 '7

Barrels.
65,922
70,382
68,960
47.437

From this circumftance I draw a very ftrong conclufion,
that rents are not paid as well as they ought, and that
tenants and agents make a pretence of bad times to an extent
far beyond the fact. The common expreffion of bad times does
fome mifchief of this kind in England, but in Ireland it is
much more effective, efpecially in excufes fent to abfentees
inftead of remittances.

The great decline of the import of Britifh manufactures
and goods, which is remarkable, muft be attributed to the
non-import affociations bearing particularly againft them ;
they have dropped fo much, that we may hope the Irifh ma-
nufactures, they have interfered with, may have rifen in con-
fequence,

In the year 1776
1777
1778
1779

Ne'w
drapery.

Old
drapery.

Muflin.

Silk
manufac.

Ib.
17,326
24,187
27,223
'5,794

Yds.
676,485
731,819
741,426
270,839

Tds.
290,21 5
381,330
378,077
176,196

Tds.
116,552
162,663
121,934

44,5°7

*04 PRESENT STATE

In raoft of thefe articles we find fuch a decline of import,
that there is no wonder the revenue fhould have fuffered. If
it is faid, that this decreafed import is to be attributed to a
preceding poverty, it will only throw back the period of en-
quiry into the years difcufled in a preceding fedlion, and from
which no national decline can by any means be deduced.

Some articles of import, however, contain fuch a decline, as
induces me to think there muft be more diflrefs than appears
from others. The following are the obje&s I fix on.

Year

Thefe are demanded by the agriculture, or the manufac-
tures of the kingdom, and are the laft that ought to fall.

The declenfion in the trade of Ireland is not, however, in
imports only, there is a great decline in many export articles,
enough to convince any one that all is not right in that coun-
try j the following particulars will fhew this.

1776
1777

1778

1779

Flax-
Seed.

Hhds.
24,077
32,613
37,211
20,419

Hemp-
Seed.

Clover-
Seed.

Raiv-
Silk.

Cotton
Wool.

Mohair
Tarn.

Hbds.
150

'59
1 06
69

Ciut.
4,648
5'9f
5,664

3*852

Ib.

4l>594
54,043

5«.873
29»633

Ciuf.
3,86o
4.569
4>565
*.345

Ib.

29.345
27,424
18,327
4.552

Li tlit Year 1 776
1777

1778
1773

ft*

MJfS.

Tallow.

Butter.

Pork.

Bar' t

lard.

Candles.

barrels,
103,685
168,578
190,695
138,518

No.
108,574
84,39i
79,53'
55,8*3

Ctat.

50,549
48,50*
38,450
4i,384

C'jot.

171,411
164,181
158,144
117,819

barrels.
7*>7'4
7a>93'
77,612
70,066-

Cv>t.
3,116
1,981
3,418
3,5*7

Ciot.
3,154
1,764
938
1,827

It is fome confolation that hogs have not experienced the
declenfion which has attended oxen and cows. The article
beef puzzles me. I have been informed, that for thefe two
years, all government contracts for beef, &c. have not been
entered on the cuftomhoufe books, by an order of Mr. Gor-
don, the furveyor general ; if this is the faft it accounts for
the heavieft articles in this declenfion. The circumftance that
the export of ox horns has fcarcely declined at all ; that the
export of ox guts has greatly increafed, and that glew has
ruen, would iuftify one in fuppofmg that fomething of this fort
snuft hz-ve affefted the accounts of beef, &c.

OF IRISH TRADE.

la the year » 776

i?77
1778
1779

Ox horns.

Ox guts.

GIrtv.

Owt.
577
338
928
896

Barrels.
141

*43
171

35°

C-vit.
1,025

«>2'5

1,127
M54*

I need not obferve, that the greateft export of proviuons
from Ireland by far is to Great Britain, efpecially in time of
war : now the accounts which have been laid on the table of
our houfe of commons do not admit the fame conclufions as
the Irifli accounts, owing probably to fome circumftances with
\vhich we are not fully acquainted, if not to the identical one
I have mentioned. The following particulars are extracted
from the accounts brought in by Lord North.

IMPORTS FROM IRELAND.

Value of

beef.

butter.

tallow.

pork.

In the year 1 768

55,802

»73»259

52>557

28,609

1769

55»'°7

260,357

45>635

18,544

1770

S'^95

149,464

44,928

22,240

1771

64,072

236,403

43»274

*$»5°4

1772

48,434

204,810

i7»4>9

22,401

'773

45,364

229,528

43>23°

30,198

'774

46,064

211,152

38,247

21,836

1775

50,299

245,624

46,398

4o»3 5 8

1776

95>I94

237,926

48,072

42,737

1777

106,915

274»535

41,695

29>575

1778

106,202

210,986

39,209

37>9Sl

As far as this account comes, for the year 1779 is not in it,
here is almoft every appearance of increafe, or at leaft the de-
cline where there is any, is much too inconfiderable to found
any conclufions on. Let ui examine manufactured exports
from the fame account.

* The preceding tables in this feflion are taken from a A
account of exp. and imp, communicated by William Eden, Eff.

TRADE WITH ENGLAND.

Linen.

Linen yarn rata.

Bay yarn.

rards.

Palue.

Ib. 1 Vote.

C-wt. lvalue.

In the year 1768

15,149,248

500,778 ;'4,794,926 209,778

21,043 47«426

1769

16,496,271

549,875 "4,107,478 179,702.

J9,33a :43,S8o

1770

18,195,087

606,502 5,240,687 229,280!

i9>903 !44,86.}

1771:20,622,217

687,407 4,035,756 176,564!

18,598(41,894

I772|i9,i7',77i

639,C59 3,608,424 157,649!

14,828133,421

'773

17.876,6,7

595,887 ^ 3,082,274 134,869 .'

11,073 24,964

»774

11,447,198

7 14,906 . 4,660,833 203,91 1 j

n,549

28,289

'775

21,916*171

73°,539 4,363>582( 190,906 13,882

3i,294

1776,10,943,847

698,128 13,914,35! 171,252 18,091

40,778

1777

2I,I3J,548

704,418!; 3, 1 98,437 .139,93 1

17,897

40,269

1778:18,869,447

628,98, ;3,788,6o3;, 65,75,

1S,°S3

33,870

II i

From hence we find that thefe articles have not fallen off fo
much as might from many reafons have been expected. Linen
yarn has rifen from 1777 to 1778 confiderably. Cloth has
fallen, but not enough to give any alarm. From 177010
1771 in linen yarn was almoft as great a fall without any ill
effects enfuing. The following table contains the total export
from Ireland.

EXPORT OF LINEN, YARN, &e.

In the year 1776
177,7
1778
'779

Linen Cloth.

Linen Yarn.

WorJledTarn

Tards.
20,502,587
19,714,638
21,945,729
18,836,042

Ciot.
36,'C2
29,698
28,108
35.673

Stones.
86,527
114,703
122,755
100,939

Which does not mark any fuch decline as happened upon
the bankruptcy of Mr. Fordyce. It is remarkable from thefe
two accounts how great a proportion of the exported linen of
Ireland is taken off by England, in the year 1776 it abforbed
the whole. Indeed it appears to have more than done it,
which apparent error arifes from the Irifh accounts ending at
Lady day, and the Englifh ones the 3 1 ft of December. But
in order to explain this bufinefs as much as poffible, I fhall in
the next place infert the English account of all the exports
and imports to and from Ireland.

TRADE WITH ENGLAND.

207

Exports to Ireland

f Engliflj manu-

Goods and

facture, foreign

merchandize

Balanct

poods and merchan-

imported

againft Ire*

dize, in and out of

from Ireland

land.

time, and exported

to England.

from Scotland.

In the year 1768

2,248,314

1,226,094.

1,022,220

1769

1770

2,347,801
2'544>V37

i»54*>253
'>358>899

805,548
1,185,838

1771

2>436>853

i>547>237

889,616

1772

2,396,152

1,4.6,285

979,867

»773

2,123,705

1,392,759

730,046

'774

2,414,666

!>573>345

841,321

'775

2,401,686

1,641,069

760,617

1776

2,461,290

i ,654,2 26

807,064

1777

2,211,689

1,639,871

571,818

1778

1,731,808

1,510,881

220,927

In the year 1 768, the export and import between Scotland
and Ireland is not included, but in the reft it is. This tabl;
is drawn from the accounts laid before parliament at the
clofe of the feffions of 177!, relative to the valuation here fol-
lowed of the cullomhoufe, I fliould remark it has been fuppof-
ed, that the real balance is in favour of Ireland, nothwiih-
{landing the valuation fpeaks the contrary, and Lord North
in December laft gave this as his information to the houfe of
commons. But taking the account as it (lands here, it muft
evidently appear that the diilreires which have come upon
Ireland within the laft year or two, do not in the fmalleft de-
gree originate in her commercial connections with England,
for during the laft nine or ten years her balance has grown
lefs and lefs. From 1776 to 77 it funk 230,000!.; ar.d
from 77 to 78 it fell 350,000 1. If therefore Ireland was prof-
perous while fhe paid us a balance of 7, 8, and 900,000 1. a
year, furely (he ought not to be more diftrefled' under lefs
than a fourth of it? That kingdom muft upon the face of this
account have had a fuperlucration of wealth arifing of late:
years upon this trade to a very great amount. But this ac-
counl does not include the year 1779, °^ which upon the ge-
neral payments between the two kingdoms I have no other
authority than to mention the courfe of exchange. Mr. Eden
obferves (Four letters to tkc Earl of Carlijle) that during the.
year 1778 and 1779, the exchange of Dublin on London has
varied from 55 to 7 | par is 8 \. October 27, 1779 it was at
6|, which is remarkably low, and proves that Ireland muft
have been accumulating wealth through that period.

2o$ PRESENT DISTRESSES.

The reader will naturally remark, that thefe are all exter-
nal authorities : fome of them feem to mark a diftrefs in Ire-
land, but others {peak very ftrongly a dire<2 contrary lan-
guage ; it remains to be obferved, that the interior authori-
ties have been much infilled on. It has been afferted, and by
very refpe&able perfcns, that rents have fallen, lands unte-
nanted, prices low*, people unemployed, and poverty uni-
verfal. The misfortune of thefe circumftances when pro-
duced as argument, is that they admit no proof. I afk for
figures and you give me anecdote: my lord this is ruined —
the duke of t'other cannot afford to live at Dublin, the earl of
A. has no remittances, Mr. C. has 18,000!. arrears. This is
a repetition of the complaints which the Englifh houfe of com-
mons heard fo much of in 1 773. I am very far from denying
them, but only defire that aJJ'ertions may not be accepted as
proofs. They are national complaints when a new fyftem of
policy is called for, the palpable confequence of which is, that
they are exaggerated — iuch complaints always were, and al-
ways will exceed the truth.

Let it not however be imagined, that I contend Ireland
fufters none, or very little diilreis : while we fee very great
diftrefles in England we need not wonder that Ireland fliould,
though in a lefs degree, fuller likewife. We fee the funds
have in a few years fallen 27 per cent. The years pur-
chafe of land reduced from 33 to 23. The prices of all pro-
dudls fallen from 30 to 100 per cent. Wheat from 75. to 35.
a bufliel ; other grain in proportion. Wool from 1 8s. to 1 2s.
all greatly owing to the fcarcity of money arifing from the
high intereft paid for the public loans : I can hardly conceive
thofe operations to have drawn money from the channels of
induflry in every part of this ifland, without likewife affect-
ing our neighbour, much of whole national induftry was, if
T\v>\.fupportedy at lead much affided by Englilh capitals. There-
fore, from reafoning, I fhould fuppofe they muft have been
fomewhlat diftreffed, but the preceding fads will not permit
me to imagine that diftrefs to be any thing like what is repre-

fented,

* 'January 24, 1780. / have this minute received from my
very obliging friend Mr. Bolton (member for Water jord) the
following note :

** Butter has been here (IVaterford] all this 'winter at 4.2*.
per c"Mt. Pork at the beginning of the vainter 2$s. to 2$s. tyd.
from that it rofe by degrees, and is noiu 261. 6d. per c*wt." The
butter is very loiv, lower than for ten years; but pork keeps up
its price. At Limerick the minutes Jbevj that 2()s. $d. is a very
high price, and that 1 2s. vjas the price only eleven years ago. I
am yet in hopes, from an exprejfian in Mr. Bolton s letter, to re-
ceive the price of other commodities before the work is entirety
fni/bed at frefs.

PRESENT DISTRESSES. 209

fented, at the fame time that they (hew it is in many articles
wearing out even while the complaints are loudeft.

Admitting fome diilrefs, and conne<5ling it with the general
ftate of the kingdom rather than peculiarly to the prefent mo-
ment, I may be afked to what is it owing ? The preceding
fcdtions have been an anfwer to that queiiion, but to bring their
refult into a very (hort compafs I ihould here observe, that
the caufes which have impeded the progrefs of Iriih prof-
perity are,

I. The oppreffion of the catholics, which by loading the in-
duftry of two millions of fubjefts have done more to retard
the progrefs of the kingdom than all other caufes put toge-
ther.

II. The bounty on the inland carriage of corn to Dublin,
which by changing a beneficial pafturage to an execrable
tillage at a heavy expence to the public, has done much
miichief to the kingdom, befides involving it in debt.

III. The perpetual interference of parliament in every branch
of domeftic induftry, either for laying reftridions or giving
bounties, but always doing mifchief.

IV. The mode of conducting the linen manufacture, which
by fpreading over all the north has annihilated agriculture
throughout a fourth part of the kingdom, and taken from
a great and flourilhing manufacture the ufual efFed of being
an encouragement to every branch of hufbandry.

V. The ftoppage of emigrations for five years which has ac-
cumulated a furplus of population, and thereby diilrefled
thofe who are rivalled by their flaying at home §.

VI. The ill judged reftri&ions laid by Great Britain on the
commerce ot Ireland which have prevented the general
induttry of the country from being animated proportionably
with that of others,

VOL. II, O VII. The

$ This Jtfgft circumflance is fujficient to account far en)
diftrefs that may be found in the north. Men ivho emigrate are
from the nature of the c rcumflance the mojladive, hardy, daring,
bold, and refolute fpiriis, and probably the mo/} mifchievous a/Jo.
The intelligence in the minutes > fpeaks that language; it ivas e-
•uery year the loofe, dif orderly, tvor t hlefs fellows that emigrated j
vpcn an average of tiventy years the number ivas four or fi>e
thoufand; but from the great increafing population of the country,
the number in the four or five years lajl pafi, lioulj have been
greater. At any rate here muji If from tvjenty-f.ve to forty thou~
fand of the moft diforderly <wo> thltfs fpirits accumulated, much
again ft their wills, af home, and are fully fuffic ient to acctunt
for violence and riots, much more for clamour and complaint.

zio LANDED INTEREST.

VII. .The great drain of the rents of abfentees eftates being
remitted to England, which has an effect, but I believe not
quite fo mifchievous as commonly fuppofed.

Is it upon the whole to be concluded, relative to the pre-
fent moment, that the freedom of trade now giving to Ire-
land, is a wrong meafure ? I by no means either think or
aflert fuch an opinion. In the preceding lections I have re-
peatedly endeavoured to fhew, that no policy was ever more
abfurd than the reftricting fyftem of England, which has been
as prejudicial to herfelf as to Ireland ; but becaufe a meafure
is wife and prudent, is it proper to admit for truths fads
•which do not appear to be founded ? The queftion of poli-
tical prudence is a queftion only of the moment ; but to ad-
mit circumftances to fpeak a national declenfion, which prove
no fuch thing, is laying the foundation of future deception ;
it is bringing falfe principles into the political fcience, in a
point than which none can be more important, afcertaining
the circumftances relative to all future cafes as well as the
prefent, which prove the profperity or declenfion of a king-
dom. And here the reader will, I hope, pardon a digrefllon
on the conduct of one fet of men in the prefent noife of dif-
trefs ; it is a circumftance in the ftate of Ireland, that fhould
make more impreffion upon the country gentlemen of that
kingdom than it does : they have united with merchants and
manufacturers in the violent cry for a free trade, and they
have regularly in parliament promoted all thofe vifionary and
expeniive projects fet on foot by interefted people, for giving
premiums and bounties, to the amount of above an hundred
thoufand pounds a year, and which alone accounts for the
whole of that national debt, and declining revenue, which
will make many new taxes neceflary. The Iriih are a grate-
ful and a loyal people, and will not receive this free trade
without making a return for it ; that can only be in taxation ;
nay, they already fpeak in parliament of a return. Thus have
the country gentlemen of that kingdom been fuch dupes, as to
agree to meafures for running themfelves in debt, and have
joined in the cry for a favour, which I have fhewn cannot be
of any confiderable ufe perhaps for half a century, but for
which they are immediately to pay a folid return, and if that
return takes the fhape of a land tax, they have nobody to
thank but themfelves. What 1 would conclude from this is,,
and would urge it as a leflbn for the future, that it is always
for the benefit of the landed intereil TO BE QUIET. Let mer-
chants and manufacturers complain, riot, aflbciate, and do
whatever they pleafe, but never unite with them, reftrain but
never inflame them. The whole tenour of the preceding mi-
nutes proves that Ireland has flourifhed for thefe laft thirty
years to an uncommon degree, 1 believe more than any coun-
try

LANDED INTEREST. 211

try in Europe. Was not this enough ? Was not this a rea-
fbn for being filent and (till? Why fubmit to a temporary
diftrefs, rather than by loud complaints, bring the ftate and
fituation of your country into queftion at all ? Why demand
ufelefs favours in order to pay folid returns ? During the
whole flow of your prolperity what have been the additional
burthens laid on you in taxation ? Every country in Europe
has added to thole burthens confiderably, England immenfe-
ly, but you not at all, or to Ib trifling an amount as to be the
fame thing. Could your mod fanguine hopes picture a more
happy fituation ? And yet ^o yourfelves are you indebted for
bounties on the carriage of corn, for premiums on com
(lands, for ideal navigations through bogs to convey turf to
Whitehaven, for collieries where there is no coal, for bridges
where there are no rivers, navigable cuts where there is no
water, harbours where there are no fhips, and churches where
there are no congregations f. Party may have dictated iuch
meafures, in order to render government poor and dependent ;
but rely on it, fuch a conduct was for their own, not your
advantage, as the abfolute neceffity of new taxes will moft
feelingly convince you. Thus have you been duped by one
fet into meafures, which have impoverifhed the public and
burthened you with a debt ; and becaufe another deicription.
of men fuffer a diftrefs, in its very nature temporary, you
join in their cry to buy that, which if any good arofe from it,
would be theirs §, while you only are to pay the piper. Hence-
forward, therefore, execrate, lilence, confound, and abaih
' the men, who raife clamours at diftrefles, whether real or
imaginary ; you know from the progreffive profperity of your
country, that fuch cannot be radical ; weighty experience
has told you alfo, that you may have to pay for relief that
goes but imaginarily to others, in giving up your folid gold
tor their ideal profits. Reflect that the great period of your
increaling wealth was a time oi quiet and filence, and that
O 2 you

J The a/ertion is not founded on the following c&arge in the na-
tional accounts I779> though one might prefume fumething u$m it;

To the board cj firjl fruits for building new churches,
and rebuilding old churches in fuch pariihes as no di-
vine public iervice has been performed for twenty
years part, • 6000

§ I am well aware of what may be here fai.i upon the advan-
tage of landlords being in proportion to the profperity of manufac-
tures and commerce : in general it certainly is fo, and al<wa\$ when
things are left to take their natural courfe, tut when they rife above
the lenour of that fmxth quiet current, the conclufio* may not be
juj} : all the meafuret condemned in the text are farced and artificial*

2jz ARMED ASSOCIATIONS.

you did not complain of poverty until you were proved to be
a golden object of taxation. Ponder well on thefe fads and
be in future filent.

That the meafure of giving freedom to the Irifh commerce
is a wife one, I have not a doubt 5 but I muft own, I regret
its not having been done upon principles of found policy,
rather than at a time when it can bear the conftruction, true
or falfe, of being extorted ; and this leads me to one or two
obfervations on the armed affociations, which have made too
much noife in England.

If ill founded apprehenfions have led the legiflature of Bri-
tain to do now what it ought to have done long ago, the ef-
fect is beneficial to both countries ; but I cannot admit that it
is merely giving charity to a fturdy beggar, who frightens us
by the brandilhing and fize of his crutch. To fuppofe that
Great Britain is at the mercy of Ireland, and that an Iriih
congrefs may arife, fupported by forty thoufand bayonets, is
mere idle declamation j we have the ftrongeft reafon entirely
to reject fuch ideas, because it could not poffibly end in any
thing but the ruin of Ireland ; the very conflict would arreft
all that profperity which has been gradually flowing in upon
her for thefe thirty years paft, and leave her expofed, a divi-
ded f, weakened people, open to the attack of every potent
neighbour. What a fenfelefs, military mob, led by men who
have nothing to lofe, would wifh or attempt, may be doubted ;
but that military affociations, officered and commanded by
men of the firft property, who have not named a grievance
without redrefs following, and who have experienced more
favour from three feffions of the Britifh parliament than from
three centuries before. — To fuppofe that fuch men, having
every thfng to lofe by public confufion, but nothing to gain,
•would fo entirely turn their back to the moft powerful plead-
ings of their own intereft and that of their country, is to fup-
pofe a cafe which never did nor ever will happen.

Apprehenfions of any extremities are idle, but there is this
misfortune in a feries of conceffions, not given to reafon, but
to clamour, that they rather invite new demands than fatisfy
old ones ; and from this circumftance refults the great fuperi-
ority of coming at once to a univerfal explanation, and agree-
ing either to a union, or to fuch a modification of one, as I
ftated infection XXII.

In the next place let me enquire what degree of relief, (fup-
pofmg the diftrefles of that kingdom to be as they may) will
refult from the freedom lately given to the Irifh in refpect to
their woollen and American trades, which will naturally lead

•\- Thefe iu/:o are fo •wild as for a moment to conceive an' idea of
.this fort, muftfurely have forgot the Roman catholics in that king-
dom. It would be eafy to enlarge on this fsinf, but for every reaj
fin imfrcptr.

EFFECTS OF A FREE TRADE. 213

me to the queftion, whether any prejudice is likely to refult to
England.

Whatever the diftrefs may be in Ireland, it appears that
thefe freedoms will not ftrike immediately at the evil, nor
bring any confiderable remedy j they are general favours,
and not applicable to the diilrefs of the time ; this ought to
be well underftood in Ireland, becaufe faHe hopes lead only
to difappointment. It was highly proper to repeal thofe
reftrictions ; but it is every day in the power of the Irifh
to render to themielves much more important fervices. In
order to convert their new fituation to immediate advantage,
they muft eftablifh woollen fabrics for the new markets opened
to them ; thofe already in the kingdom I cannot fuppofe to
be exported for this plain reafon — they are rivalled in their
own markets by fimiiar manufactures from England, I mean
particularly fine broad clothes and ratteens ; if the Irifh fa-
brics cannot (land the competition of ours in the market of
Dublin, while they have a heavy land carriage in England,
freight, commiffion, and duties on landing ; and while the
Irifh cloth has a great bounty by the Dublin Society to encou-
rage it, they certainly will not be able to oppofe us in foreign
markets, where we meet on equal terms ; this removes the
expected advantage to new fabrics, which, let me obferve,
require new capitals, new eftablifhments, new exertions, and
new difficulties to be overcome, and all this in a country
where the old eftablifhed and flourifhing fabric could fcarcely
be fupported without Englifh credit. It may farther be ob-
ferved, that the reafon why that credit and fupport have been
given to the linen of Ireland, is its being a fabric not inter-
fering with thofe of Britain, it is a different manufacture,
demanded for different purpofes. Had it been otherwife, the
•fuperiority of Engliih capitals, and the advantage of long
eftablifhed fkill and induftry, would have crufhed the compe-
tition of the Irifh linen ; as in future they ow/7/ crufli any com-
petition in woollens if of the fame kinds we manufacture our-
felves. When the capital of Ireland becomes much larger,
when new habits of induftry are introduced, and when time
has eftablifhed new funds of fkill, then new fabrics may be
undertaken with advantage, but it muft be a work of time,
and can no more operate as a remedy to prefent evils, than
any fcheme of the moft vifionary nature. Their Weft-India
trade, I believe, will I believe be of as little fervice ; every
thing in commerce depends on capital; in order to fend fhips
freighted with Irifh comodities to thofe colonies, reloaded
with Weft-India goods, capital and credit are neceffary ; they
have it not for new trades ; the progreffive prosperity of the
kingdom has increafed all the old branches of their commerce,
but they all exhibit a proof that they are ftill cramped for
want of greater exertions, which time is bringing. If new

ipccu-

2i4 INTEREST OF BRITAIN.

("peculations change the current of old capitals, the advan-
tage may be very problematical ; if this is not done new trades
•will demand new capitals, and I believe it will be difficult to
point out three men in the kingdom with an unemployed
wealth applicable to new undertakings.

But it is faid that Englilh capitals will be employed ; an
argument equally ufed to prove the gain of Ireland and the
lofs of England ; but in fact proving neither one nor the other.
If the wealth of England is employed there, it will be for the
benefit of England. Before the prefent troubles three fourths
of the trade, induftry, and even agriculture of North-Ame-
rica were put in motion by Englifh capitals, but affuredly for
our own benefit ; the profit was remitted to England, and
•whenever the fund itfelf was withdrawn, it was to the fame
country. Is it for the benefit of Portugal that Englifti factors
refide at Oporto? Suppofing the fact fhould happen, that
Englifh manufacturers or merchants fliould eftablifh factors
or partners at Corke or Waterford, to carry on woollen fa-
brics, I fee not a fhadow of objection ; the profit of thofe un-
dertakings would center mod affuredly in England ; and if
in doing it the Irifh were benefited alfo, who can repine ?
Were not the Americans benefited in the fame manner ? That
England would fuffer no lofs if this was to happen is to me
clear ; but I believe Ireland has very little reafon to expect it
for many years. I have fhewn already that fuch a plan
could never be thought of for fuch fabrics as are in Ireland
rivalled by Englifh goods of the fame fort ; if it was to hap-
pen it mud be in new fabrics : but let me afk a fenfible manu-
facturer, whether it would not be eafier for him to eftablifti
fuch amidft the long eftablifted {kill and ingenuity of England,
rather than go into a country where the whole muft be a cre-
ation ; where cheapnefs of provifions, and the habit of fub-
fifting on potatoes, at fo fmall an expence, would baffle his
endeavours for half an age, to make the people induftrious,
and where, under that difadvantage, the price of his labour
would be as high as in England .? I have a right to conclude
this, feeing the fact in the linen manufacture, throughout the
North of Ireland, where the weavers earn on average is. jd.
a day, and where alib the cheapnefs of provifions proves very
often detrimental to the fabrrc.

As a general queftion, there is nothing more miftaken than
dearnefs and cheapnefs of labour. Artizans and manufactu-
rers of all forts are as well paid by the day *s in England, but
the quantity of work they give for it, and in many cafes the
quality differ exceedingly. Hufbandry labour is very low pric-
ed, but by no means cheap ; I have in a preceding fection {hewn
this, and aflerted on experience that two {hillings a day in
Suffolk is cheaper than fixpence in Corke. If a Huron would
dig for twopence, I have little doubt but it might be dearer
than the irishman's fixpence.

INTEREST OF BRITAIN. 215

If an Englifh manufacturer could not attempt an Irifh fa-
bric for cheapnefs of labour, what other motive could influ-
ence him ? Not the price of the raw material, for wool is
on an average forty-feven per cent, dearer than in England,
•which alone is a moft heavy burthen. Other reafons, were
the above not fufficient, would induce me to believe on the
one hand, that the Irifh will not immediately reap any be-
nefit from Englifh capitals employed in their woollen fabrics ;
.and on the other, that if it was to happen, England would
fuftain no lofs. What time may effect is another queftion ;
Ireland has been fo faft increafmg in profperity, that (he will
gradually form a capital of her own for new trades, and I
doubt not will flourifli in them without the leaft prejudice to
Britain. Thofe who are apt to think the contrary, cannot
ccnfidcr with too much attention that cafe in point : North- .
Britain, which by means of cheap labour and provifions, has
not been able to rival, with any dangerous fuccefs, one (ingle
Engliih fabric, yet has fhe raifed many to a great degree of
profperity ; but fhe has flourifhed in them without injury to
us ; and her greateft manufactures, fuch as (lockings, linen,
&c. &c. have grown with the unrivalled profperity of fimilar
fabrics in England ; if Englifh capitals have been affiftant,
have we upon review a fingle reafon to regret it ? The plenty
of coals in Scotland is an advantage that Ireland does not
enjoy, where fuel is dearer than in England.

But let me fuppofe for a moment, that the contrary of all
this was faft, that Englifh capitals would go, that Ireland
would gain, and that England -would lofe. Is it imagined
that the account would flop there ? By no means. Why-
would Englifh capitals go ? Becaufe they could be employed
to more advantage ; and will any one convince us, that it is
not for the general benefit of the empire, that capitals fhould
be employed where they will be moft produftive? Is it even
for the advantage of England, that a thoufand pounds fhould
here be employed in a fabric at twelve per cent- profit, if the
lame could make twenty in Ireland ? This is not at all clear ;
but no pofition is plainer than another, becaufe it is founded
on uniform facts, that the wealth of Ireland is the wealth of
England, and that the confumption in Ireland of Englifh ma-
nuiactures thrives exactly in proportion to that wealth. While
the great profit of the linen manufacture centers at laft in
England, and while Englifh capitals, and Englifh factors, and
partners, have gone to the North of Ireland to advance that
fabric, fo much to the benefit of England, what fhadow of
an appreheniion can arife, that other branches of Irifh
profperity may arife by the fame means, and with the fame
effect ? Take into one general idea the confumption of Britifh
goods in that kingdom ; the intereft they pay us for money ;
and the remittances from abfentee eftates ; and then let any
one judge, if they can poflibly increafe in wealth without
* vaft proportion of every flailing of that wealth at laft cen-
tering

INTEREST OF BRITAIN,
here. It is for this reafon that I think myfelf the
warmed friend to Britain, by urging the importance of Jrilh
profperity ; we can never thrive to the extent of our capacity
till local prejudices are done away, and they are not done'away
until we believe the advantage the fame, whether wealth
arifes in Rofcommon or in Berkshire.

Upon the whole it appears, that the Irifh have no reafon
to look for relief from this new and liberal fyftem, to any dif-
trefs peculiar to the prefent moment ; the fiknt progrefs of
time is doing that for them, which they are much too apt to
look for in ftatutes, regulations and repeals. Their diftrefs
will moftaffuredly be only temporary. The increafe of wealth,
•which has for fome time been flowing into that kingdom, will
animate their induftry ; to put it in the future is improper, it
muft be doing it at this moment, and he is no friend to Bri-
tain that does not wiih it may continue in the moft rapid pro-
greflion } in this idea I fhall not hefitate to declare, that the
freedoms granted to Ireland, whenever they Jhall take effect to
the benefit of that kingdom, will prove the wifeft meafures
for enriching this. That all apprehenfions of ills arifmg from
them are equally contrary to the dictates of experience, and
to the conclufions of the founded theory.

MODES

MANAGEMENT OF LAND, 3cc. 217

MODES OF AGRICULTURE

RECOMMENDED TO THE

GENTLEMEN OF IRELAND.

HAVING been repeatedly requefted by gentlemen in all
parts of the kingdom, to name fuch courfes of crops as
I thought would be advantageous ; J very readily complied
to the beft of my judgment with the defire ; but as it is ne-
cefiary to be more diffufe in explanations than poffible on the
leaf of a pocket-book, I promifed many to be more particular
iu my intended publication ; I (hall, therefore, venture to
recommend fuch modes of cultivation as I think, after view-
ing the greatest part of the kingdom, will be found, mofl ad-
vantageous.

TURNEP COURSE*.

1. Turneps.

2. Barley.

3. Clover.

4. Wheat.

DIRECTIONS,

Plough the field once in October into flat lands ; give the
fecond ploughing the beginning of March ; a third in April j
a fourth in May ; upon this fpread the manure, whatever it
may be, if any is deiigned for the crop ; dung is the beft.
About midfummer plough for the laft time. You mult be
attentive in all thefe ploughings thoroughly to extirpate
all root weeds, particularly couch (tritiam repem) and
water grafs j the former is the white root, which is under

ground,

* For dry and light foils.

ai8 MANAGEMENT OF LAND

ground, the latter, which knots on the furface, and is, if
poflible, more mifchievous than the former. Children, with
bafkets, (bould follow the plough in every furrow to pick it
all up and burn it, and as faft as it is done fow and harrow
in the turnep feed. The bed way of fowing is to provide a
trough, from twelve to fixteen feet long, three inches wide
and four deep, made of flit deal half an inch thick, let it have
partitions twelve inches afunder, and a bottom of pierced
fin to every other divifion, the holes in the tin Ihould be jui't
large enough for a feed to fait through with cafe* three of
them to each tin ; in the middle of the trough two circular
handles of iron ; 'the feed is to be put, a fmall quantity at a
time, into the bottomed divifions, and a man taking the trough
in his hands walks with a-fteady pace over the land, fhaking it
tideways as he goes: if he guides himfelf by the centers and
furrows of the beds, he will be fure not to mils any land ;
cover the feed with a light pair of'harrows. A pint and half
of feed the proper quantity for a plantation acre : the large
globular white Norfolk fort, which grows above ground,
yields the greateft produce.

As foon as the crop comes up, watch them well to fee if at-
tacked by the fly, and if very large fpaces are quite eaten up,
inftantly plough again, and low and harrow as before. When
the plant gets the third or rough leaf, they are fafe from the
fiy, and as focn as they fpread a diameter of three or four
inches is the time to begin to hand hoe them, an operation fo
indifpenfibly neceffary, that to cultivate- turneps without it, is
much worfe management than not to cultivate them at all.
Procure hand hoes from England eleven inches wide, and
taking them into the field, make the men fet out the turneps
to the diftance of from twelve to eighteen inches afunder, ac-
cording to the richnefs of the foil ; the richer the greater the
diftance, cutting up all weeds and turneps which grow withiu
thofe fpaces, and not leaving two or three plaats together in
knots. Make them do a piece of land perfedly well while you
are with them, and leave it as a fample. They will be flow
and aukward at firft, but will improve quickly. Do not
apprehend the expence, that will leflen as the men become
handy. On no account permit them to do the work with
their fingers, unlefs to leparate two turneps dole together,
for they will never then underftand the work, and the expence
•will always be great. Employ hands enough to finifh the field
in three weeks. As foon as they have done it, they are to
begin again, and hoe a fecond time to correct the deficiencies
of the firft ; and for a few years, until the men become fkilful
in the bufinefs, attend in the fame manner to remedy the
"Qiniflions of the fecond. And if afterwards, when the turneps
are clofed, and excluded all hoeing, any weeds fhould rife and
ihew themfelves above the crop, children and women fhould
be font in to pull them by hand.
' * • In

RECOMMENDED. 319

In order to feed the crop where they grow, which is an ef-
fential article, herdles niuft be procured ; as a part therefore of
the fyftem, plant two or three acres of the ftrait timber fally,
in the fame manner as for a twig garden, only the plants not
quite fo clofe, thefe at two years growth will make very good
flieep herdles, they fhould be 6 or 7 feet long and 3 feet high,
the bottoms of the upright ftakes fharpened, and projecting
from the wattle work 6 inches, they are fixed down by means
of (takes, one ftake to each herdle, and a band of year old
fally goes over the two end #akes of the herdle, and the
moveable ftake they are fixed with : the herdles are very
eafiiy made, but the beft way would be to fend over an Irifli
labourer to England to become a mailer of it, which he would
do in a couple of months.

Being thus provided with herdles, and making fome other
fhift till the fallies are grown, you muft feed your crop (if you
•would apply them to the bell advantage) with fat wethers,
beginning the middle of November, or firil week in December,
and herdling off a piece proportioned to the number of your
Iheep, let them live there, night and day, when they have
nearly eaten the piece up, give them another, and fo on whiU
your crop lafts : when you come to have plenty of herdles*
there fhould be a double row in order to let your lean ftieep
follow the fat ones, and eat up their leavings ; by whick
means none will be loft. The great profit of this practice in
Ireland is being able to fell your fat Iheep in the fpring when
mutton almoft doubles its price. If you fat oxen with tur-
jieps they muft be given in Iheds, well littered, and kept clean,
and the beafts fhould have good hay. Take care never to at-
tempt to fatten either beafts or wethers with them that are
lean at putting them to turneps ; the application is profitable
only for animals that are not lefs than half fat.

Upon the crop being eaten there is a variation of conduct
founded on circumftances not eafy fully to defcribe, which is
ploughing once, twice, or thrice for barley ; the foil muft be
dry, loofe, and friable for that grain, and as clover is alwars
to be fown on it, it muft be fine, but if the firft ploughing is
hit in proper time and weather, the land will be in finer order
on many foils than after fucceffive ploughings. The farmer
in his field muft be the judge of this : fuffice it to fay, that the
right moment to fend the ploughs into afield is one of die moll
difficult points to be learned in tillage, and which no inftrufti-
ons can teach. It is practice alone that can do it. As to
the time of fowing the barley in Ireland I fhould mils no
feafon after the middle of February if I had my land in or-
der. Sow three quarters of a barrel, or a barrel and quarter
of barley to the plantation acre, according to the richnels of
the land, if it had a moderate manuring for turneps, and fed
with fat fheep, three quarters or a whqle one would be luffici-
cnt, but if you doubt your h?nd being in hdtrt, fo\v one :ind a
quarter. Plough firft, (whether owe, twice or thrice) and

then

*za MANAGEMENT OF LAND

then fow and cover with harrows of middling weight, Cnifh-
ing with a light harrow. When the barley is three inches
high, fow not lefs than zolb. of red clover to each plantation
acre, if the feed is not very good do not fow lefs than zjlb.
and immediately run a light roller once over it ; but take
care that this in a dry day, and when the earth does not ftick
at all to the roller. When the barley is cut, and carried from
the field, feed the clover before winter, but not very bare,
and do not let any cattle be on it in the winter. Early in the
fpring before it fhoots pick up the ftones, clean off where you
intend mowing it for hay, but if you feed it this is unneceflary.
As to the application of the crop for hay or food it muft be
directed by the occafions of the farmer ; I fhall however re-
mark, that it may be made exceedingly conducive to increafe
the number df hogs in Ireland, as it will iingly fupport, all
quarter, half, and full grown pigs. If mown it fhould be
cut as foon as the field looks reddilh from the blcfToms : it will
yield two full crops of hay.

Within the month of October kt it be well ploughed, with
an even regular furrow, and from half to three quarters of a
barrel of wheat feed fown, according to the richnefs of the
land, and harrowed well in. When this crop is reaped and
cleared the courfe ends, and you begin again for turneps as
before.

This fyftem is very well adapted to fheep, as the clover
fattens them in fummer, and the turneps in winter. — Excellent
as it is for dry foils, it is not adapted to wet ones ; the fol-
lowing is preferable.

BEAN COURSE*.

1. Beans.

2. Oats.

3. Clover.

4. Wheat.

DIRECTIONS.

WHATEVER the preceding crop, whether corn or old
grafs, (for the firft manure is properly applied, but unneceflary
on the latter) plough but once for planting beans, which
ihould be performed from the middle of December to the
middle of February, the earlier the better f, and chufe either
the mazagan or the horfe bean according to your market ; the
fmgle ploughing given muft be performed fo as to arch the
land up, and leave deep furrows to ferve as open drains.
Harrow the land after ploughing. Provide flit planed deal

poles

* Far ftrcng and ivet foils.

f In .England it is proper to tvait till the heavy Cbriflmas
ffo/i breaks up, but as fuch are rare in Ireland the fams precau-
tion is noJ ntcefiwy.

RECOMMENDED. 221

poles ten feet long, an inch thick, and two inches broad,
bore holes through them exactly at fixteen inches afunder,
pals pack-threads through theie holes to the length of the
lands you are about to plant, and there fhould be a pole at
every fifty yards ; four {takes at the corners of the extreme
poles, fatten them to the ground, the intention is to keep the
lines every where at equal diftances and ftrait, which are
great points in the bean husbandry to facilitate horfc hoeing.
This being ready, \vomen take feme beans in their aprons,
and with a dibber pointed with iron make the holes along the
firings with their right hand, and put the bean in with their
left ; while they are doing one fet of lines, another fhould be
prepared and fixed ready for them. Near London they are
paid 35. and 35. 6d. a bufhel for this work of planting ; but
where they are not accuftomed to it they do it by tiie day.
The beans are put three inches afunder, and two or three
inches deep. A barrel will plant a plantation acre. A light
pair of harrows are ufed to cover the feed in the holes, ftuck
with a few bufhes. By the time the cold eafterly winds come
in the fpring they will be high enough to hand hoe, if they
were early planted, and it is of confequence on ftrong foils to
catch every dry feafon for fuch operations. The hoes fnould
be eight inches wide, and the whole furface of the fpace be-
tween the rows carefully cut, and every weed eradicated.
This hoeing cofts, near London, from 55. to 'js. 6d. per
Englifh acre, but with unfkilful hands in Ireland I fhould
fuppofe it would coft from. i2s. to 145. per plantation acre,
according to the lazinefs in working I have remarked there.
When the beans are about fix inches high, they fhould be
horfe hoed with a fhim, the cutting part ten or eleven inches
wide. A plate of this tool is to be leen in my Eaftern Tour.
It is cheap, fimple, and not apt to be out of order, one horfe
draws it, which fhould be led by a careful perfon, another
fhould hold the fhim, and guide it carefully in the center be-
tween the rows. It cuts up all weeds effectually, and loofens
the earth two or three inches deep ; in a little time after this
operation the hand hoe fhould be fent in again to cut any flips
which the fhim might have paffed, and to extract the weeds
that grew too near the plants for that tool to take them.
This is but a flight hoeing. If the weather is dry enough a
fecond horfe hoeing with the fhim fhould follow when the
beans are nine or ten inches high, but if the weather is wet it
mud be omitted, the hand hoe however muft be kept at work
enough to keep the beans perfectly free from weeds. Reap
the crop as foon as a few of the pods turn darkilh, and while
many of them are green, you had much better cut too foon
than too late. You may get them off in the month of Auguft,
(in England the mazagans are reaped in July) which leaves a
fufficient feafon for half a fallow. Plough the ground directly
if the weather is dry ; and if dry feafons permit (but you mult

MI . MANAGE M E N T OF L A N D
be guided entirely by the ftate of the weather, taking care on
this foil never to go on it when wet) give it two ploughings
more before winter, leaving the lands rounded up fo as to
ihoot off all water, with deep and well cleanfed furrows for
the winter. It is of particular confequence for an early fpring
fowing, that not a drop of water reft on the land through
winter.

The firft feafon dry enough after the middle of February,
plough and low the oats, harrowing them in, from three
fourths of a barrel, to a barrel and a quarter according to the
richnefs of the land. As the fowing muft be on this one
ploughing, you muft be attentive to timing it right, and by
no means to lofe a dry feafon ; cleanfe the furrows, and leave
the lands in fuch a round neat fhape that no water can lodge ;
and when the oats are three or four inches high, as in the
cafe before mentioned of barley, roll in the clover feed as be-
fore, taking care to do it in a dry feafon. I need not carry
tlie direction farther, as thofe for the turnep courfe are to be
applied to the clover and wheat.

The great objedl on thele ftrong and wet foils is to be very
careful never to let your horles go on them in wet weather,
and in the forming your lands always to keep them the feg-
ment of a circle that water may no where reft, with cuts for
conveying it away. Another courfe for this land is,

1. Beans.

2. Wheat.

In which the beans being managed exactly as before direct-
ed, three ploughings are given to the land, the third of which
cavers the wheat feed : this is a very profitable coarfe.

POTATOE COURSE*.

1. Potatoes.

2. Wheat.

3. Turneps.

4. Barley.

5. Clover.

6. Wheat.

DIRECTIONS.

1 will fuppofe the land to be a ftubble, upon which fprca<f
the dung or compoft equally over the whole field, in quantity
not lefs than 60 cubical yards to a plantation. If the land be
quite dry lay it flat, if inclinable to wetnefs arch it gently ; in
this firft ploughing which Ihould be given the latter end of

February

* Far light and dry foil ; fotatses never anfwer on days or
f.r<jftg ivet jails.

RECOMMENDED. 223

February or the beginning of March, the potatoes are to be
planted. Women are to lay the fets in every other furrow, at the
diftance of 1 2 inches from let to fet dole to the unploughed
land, in order that the horfes may tread the lefs on them.
There fhould be women enough to plant one furrow in the
time the ploughman is turning another, the furrows fhould
be not more than 5 inches deeep, nor broader than 9 inches,
becaufe when the potatoes come up they fhould be in rows 18
inches afunder. The furrows fhould alfo be ftraight, that
the rows may be fo for horfe hoeing. Having finifhed the
field, harrow it well to lay the furface fmooth, and break all
the clods, and if the weather be quite dry any time in a fort-
night after planting run a light roller over it followed by a
light harrow. About a fortnight before the potatoes appear,
(him over the whole furface of the field with one whofe cutting
edge is 2 feet long, going not more than 2 inches deep ; this
loofens the furface mould, and cuts off all the young weeds
that may be juft coming up. When the potatoes are three
inches high horfe hoe them with a fhim as directed for beans
that cuts 1 2 inches wide, and go 3 inches deep, and immedi-
ately after hand hoe the row* cutting the furface well be-
tween plant and plant, and alfo the fpace miffed by the fhim.
Repeat both thefe operations when the plants are fix or feven
inches high ; and in about three weeks after give a hand hoe-
ing, directing the men gently to earth up the plants, but not
to lay the mould higher to their ftems than three inches.
After this nothing more is to be done than fending women in
to draw out any weeds that may appear by hand. Take them
up the beginning of October, firfl carrying away all the ftalks
to the farm yard to make dung : then plough them up acrofs
the field ; making thefe new lands very wide, that is 4, 5, or
6 perch over, in order to leave as few furrows that way as
poffible. Provide to every plough from ten to fifteen men with
three pronged forks, and a boy or girl with a balket to every
man, and difpofe eight or ten cars along the land to receive the
crop, I ufed three wheeled carts, as they do not require a
horfe while they are idle. Have your wheat feed ready brined,
and limed, and the feedfman with his bafket in the field ; as
foon as the ploughman turns a furrow, the feeds man follows
himclofe, fpraining the feed not into the furrow juft opened,
but into the land thrown over by the plough, the fork men
then divide themfelves at equal diftances along it, and fhaking
the mould which the ploughman turned over with their forks,
the boys pick'up the potatoes. In ufing their forks they mult
attend to leaving the land regular and handfome without holes
or inequalities, as there is to be no other tillage for the wheat.
They are alfo always toftand and move on the part unploughed,
and never to tread on the other ; they are alfo to break all the
land in pieces which the ploughman turns over, not only for
getting all the potatoes, but *lfo for covering the wheat. And

thus

224 MANAGEMENTorLAND

thus they are to go on till the field is finiihed. If your men
are lazy, and do not work hard enough to keep the plough
conllantly going, you muft get more, for they fhould never
(land ftill. The treatment of" this wheat wants no directions,
and the fucceeding crops of the courfe are to be managed ex-
actly as before directed, only you need not manure for the
turneps, if the potatoes had in that refpeft juflice done
them.

FLAX COURSE.

K Turneps.

2. Flax.

3. Clover.

4. Whcau

DIRECTIONS.

This for fTax on light and dry foils, the turneps to be ma-
naged exactly as before directed, and the remarks on the til-
lage of the turnep land for barley are all applicable to flax
\vhich requires the land to be very fine and friable ; I would
roll in the clover feed in the fame manner, and the weeding
and pulling the flax will affift its growth. Let the flax be
fitved and ftacked like corn, threfhed in the fpring, and the
procefs of watering and drefimg gone through the fame as in
the common way. This husbandry is exceedingly profi-
table.

1. Beans.

2. Flax.
,3. Clover.
4. Wheat.

This for flrong foils. The bean land to be prepared for the
fi;u exactly in the fame manner as before directed for oats.

1. Potatoes.

2. Flax.

3. Clover.

4. Wheat.

For any foils except the very flrong ones. The potatoes
to be managed exactly as before directed, only upon taking
them up the land to be left till fpring, but if wet no water to
be fuffered on it in the winter. In tlie fpring to apply more
or fewer ploughings as will beft cnfure a fins triable iurfacc to
few the nax in.

GENERAL

RECOMMENDED. 225

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

In very ftoney foils, the implement called a (him cannot be
ufed to any advantage ; in which cafe the operations directed
for it muft be effected by extra hand hoeings. By land I mean
thofe beds formed in ploughing by the finifhing open furrows :
the fpace from farrow to furrow is the land.

In ploughing wet foils be attentive to get thefe lands gradu-
ally into a right ihape, which is a diredl fegment of a circle.
A large fegment of a fmall circle raifes the centers too high,
and makes the fides too ftcep ; but a fmall fegment of a large
circle is the proper form — for inftance.

The fegment of a appears at oace to be an improper fliape
for a broad land, but that of b is the right form ; keeping wet
foils in that Ihape very much corrects the natural difadvantages.
Permitting the teams to go on to wet foils in wet weather, is
a mod mifchievous practice ; but it is much worfe in the
fpring than in the autumn. In all thefe courfes it is proper to
remark, that keeping the fallow crops, that is the turneps,
beans and potatoes, abfolutely free from all weeds, and in a
loofe friable order, is eflential to fuccefs. It is not neceflarjr
only for thofe crops, but the fuccefiive ones depend entirely
on this conduct. It is the principle of this hufbandry to baniih
fallows, which are equally expenlive and ufetefs, but then it is
abfolutely neceflary to be affiduous to the lafl degree in keeping
thefe crops in the utmott perfection of management, not a
fhilling can be laid out on them that will not pay amply.

There are in the preceding courfes feveral refinements and
practices, which I not only approve, but have practifed, but
omitted here, as I do not think them likely to meet with the
necelHiry attention in Ireland.

Vol.11. P LAYING

226 MANAGEMENT OF LAND.

LAYING LAND TO GRASS.

There is no part of hufbandry in Ireland lefs underftood
than this branch, and yet where land is to be laid down,
none is more important.

Begin according to the foil, with either turneps, beans or
potatoes, and manage them as prefcribed in the preceding in-
ftru<5Hons. If the land has been long under a bad fyftem, by
which it has been exhaufted and filled with noxious weeds,
take a fecond crop managed exa&ly like the firft, but one
only to be manured. After this fow either barley, oats, or
flax, according to the tenor of the preceding directions, but
inftead of clover feed rolled in, harrow in the following feeds,
with thof£ fpring crops : quantities for a plantation acre,

1 5lb.- perennial red clover, called cow grafs (trlfolium

alpfftre).

l^lb. of white clover (trifolluln repens)~' -~~-
,i$lb. of narrow leaved plantation, Called rib grafs

(plantage lanceolata)*
; lolb. of yellow trefoil.

Wh|ch if bought at the befl hand, willVnot ufually exceed
above twenty-five (hillings. All the ploughings giv.eil for this
end, tnuft tend to reduce the furface to an exacf level, but
then a\very correct attention muft be^ufed to dig open fur-
rows, iii'crder to convey away.«fl water.

APPENDIX,

APPENDIX.

The following particulars were omitted under their refpedlive

heads.

D E R R Y.

THE ftiipping of this place in 1760 confifted of fixty-
feven fail, from thirty to three hundred and fifty tons.

7 of and above 300 tons, 1 8 to 20 men and boys.

21 200 14 — 1 6

18 joo 12 — 14

21 under — TOO 5

Total, 10,820 tons.

In 1 776 about two thirds of the above ; the decline owing
to that of the paflenger trade, and in the import of flax-
feed ; for eighteen to twenty years back, two thoufand four
hundred perfons went annually, not more in 1772 and 1773
than ufual.

C O R K E.

I was informed that there was no foundation for Dr. Camp-
bell's affertion, that this city fuffers remarkably in time of

war *.

EXTENT.

Dr. Grew calculated what the real contents of England
and Wales were, not at the rate of the geographic mile, but
real ftatute fquare, one containing 640 acres, and makes
it 46,080,000 acres f, inftead of the geographic content of
31,648,000. Ireland meafured in the lame manner, contains
P 2 abouc

* Political Survey of Britain, W. i.f.
f Pbil. Tranf. No. 330, f, a66.

az8 APPENDIX.

about twenty-five millions of Englifh acres, or fifteen millions
and a half Irilh, which at nine Shillings and leven pence an
acre",, make the rental 7,427,083!. Thofe who confider this
attentively, will not think I am above the truth at fix milli-
ons, as all uncultivated bog, mountain and lake, arc includ-
ed in the valuations.

RENTAL.

The rental of England is dated at page 1 1 of the fecond
part to be thirteen (hillings, but it is not accurate to compare
that with the 95. 7d. Irifh rent. The latter is the grofs rent
of all the ifland, including every thing let or not, deductions
being made for the portions of lake, bog, river, &c. But that
of England, at 135. only what is occupied by the farmers or
landlords, and does not include large rivers, lakes, royal fo-
refts, or common paftures (mountains, bogs, marfhes and
moors not to be excluded, as they are parts of the lands let,
from which the calculation was made). Upon a very large
allowance, if thefe are eftimated at an eighth part of the
whole, the account will be 7~8ths of England at 13$. and
i- 8th at nothing, average iis. 4d. per acre, inftcad of 135.
the comparifon with Ireland then will be,

s. d.
Ireland rent and roads 9 10

England rent • 1 1 4

Rates, — - i 2^

Irifh acre and money, • ------ - 9 i o

Which for an Englifh acre and Englifh money is, — $ 7

Inflead of which it is 125. 6£d. confequently the proportion
between the rent of land in England and Ireland is nearly as
five to eleven ; in other words that fpace of land, which in
Ireland lets for 55. would in England produce i is.

DEANERIES OF IRELAND.

I. 1.

Raphoe, 1600 Down, 1700

perry, — 1600 Kildare, — 120

Ardfert," 60 Achonry, — Joo

Connor, — 200 Kilialoe, — 140

Clonmacnoife, — 50 Offory — 600

Corke, — 400 Kilmacduagh, — 120

St. Patrick's, — 8otf Lifmore, — 306

Arddgh,

APPENDIX.

Ardagh,

Emly,

Kilmore,

EJphin,

Rofs,

Killala,

Cloyne,

Kilfenora,

Dromore,

Clonfert,

1. 1.

— 200 Leighlin, — 80

— 100 Ardmagh, 150

— 600 Waterford, — 400

— 250 Chrift church, — 2000

— 20 Limerick, 600

— 150 Cafhel, 200

— 220 Clogher, 809

— 210 Tuam, 300

— 400 Ferns, 300

20 Archdeaconry of Kells, 1200

IDLENESS.

La fociedad economica de Dublin ha levantado enteramente
de nuevo las lencerias de Irlanda; cuyos habitants* eftaban
tpofeidos de gran indolencia. Han extendido fu agricultura, en
lugar que antes vivian de ganados y paftos, como los tartaros.
See the Appendice a la Education Popular. Parte Quarta, p.
35. Madrid 1777, by Campomaues.

FALL IN THE PRICE OF THE PRODUCTS
OF LAND.

Having in the preceding flieets, mentioned much diftrefs
being felt in England from the great fall in the price of all
produces, I think I may be pardoned one or two obfervations
in defence of opinions I have formerly held, and which then
fubjedled me to much cenfure from the pens of a variety of
pamphleteers.

From the conclufion of the laft peace in 1762, to 1775 in-
clufive, the prices of all the produces of the earth were at fo
high a price, that complaints were innumerable. I have a
ihclf in my fludy almoftfull of publications on the fubjeft, and
parliament itfelf was employed more than once in enquiring
into the caufes. The fuppofitions of the public were endleis,
there was fcarcely an object in the kingdom, which was not
mentioned as a caufe, jobbers, regrators, foreftallers, fample
felling, export bounty, poft horles, ftage coaches, hounds,
&c. &c. but fome refpedable complainants fixed on great farms
and iuclofures. During that period I more than once endea-
voured to perfuade the public, that the complaint itfelf was
not well founded, that prices were not comparatively fo high
as had been aflerted ; that the rife was not owing to any one
of the caufes mentioned, and that a confiderable increafe of
national wealth was fully fufficient to account for it.

In the years 1776, 1777, and 1778, prices fell confiderably ;
and in 1779 fo low, that very general complaints have been

heard

230 A" P P E N D I X.

heard of ruined farmers and diftrefled landlords, and at the
time I am now writing the fact holds, that there is a very
confiderable fall in all products, and great numbers of far-
mers ruined. I have the prices of wool now for forty years
before me, and that which from 1758 to 1767 was from i8s.
to 2 is, a tod, is for 1779 only I2s. and was in 1778 but 145.
We mufl go back to 1754 to find a year fo low as the laft.
Wheat and all forts of grain are greatly fallen *.

In addition to thefe facts let rne obierve, that great farms
and cnclorares are now as prevalent as ever. If they were
the occafion of high prices before, how come they not to
have the fame effect now ? But it is quite unneceflary to dwell
upon a fact, which at the firft blufh brings with it the moft
complete conviction.

After the peace of 1762, there was a very great influx of
wealth into this kingdom, which had the effect of nominally
raifing all prices, not of corn and cattle only, but of land
itfelf; prices have declined in 1776, 1777, and 1778, but
greatly in 1779. I am very apt to believe, that as the for-
mer dearnsfs, as we called it, was owing to PLENTY of mo-
ney, the prefent cbeapnefs is owing to SCARCITY; not to a
i~carcity, generally fpeaking, becaufe there is a proof that
the fpecie of the kingdom was never greater than at prefent,
but to a fcarcity in thefe innumerable channels, which like the
fmaller veins and ramifications of the human body, carry the
blood to the leaft of the extremities. There is no fcarcity of
money in London, as I am informed by feveral very confi-
derable bankers and merchants. But why is it fo plentiful
there ? In order to be applied at feven or eight per cent,
intereft in public loans. This circumftance it is which collects
it from every part of the country, from every 'branch of na-
tional induftry, and which occaGons the effect now fo gene-
rally complained of, a fall in all prices. The reaion why the
farmers are ruined, which is really the cafe with numbers, is

their

* The ccmparifm in general muftjrand thus :

Wheat, 3/. to 3/. 6d. 'which 5 years ago iuas 6s. to Js.

Barley, 2s.

ditto

3/. 6r/.

Oats, 2s.

ditto

2S. 6d.

Beans, 2s. I od. to p

. ditto

$s. 6d.

Wool, 12;. to 15*.

ditto

l6s. tO 2!J,

Lamhs, 6s.

ditto

I 2s.'

2 Tear eld tuethers los. 'which tucrt

' 2CS.

• 5/. to 61.

7/. to n/.

tf-f.r, zo--.

26s. '

4 Tecr old fleer:, 3!.

Jos. to 5/.

7/. to io/.

Oak timber, $!. to 4/.

3/. ioj. to

4/. io/.

'.'.:, & to ^!. ;

;j.

a/, (os. to j;.

APPENDIX. 231

their having taken tenures of their lands at a rent proportion-
ed to high prices ; nor is this the only circumftance, labour
ought to fall with other commodities, but government having
four hundred thoufand men in pay, and confequently to be
recruited, bids high in the market againfl the farmer. Poor
rates alfo ought to fall, but there is fo much folly, knavery,
and infatuation, in every part of that abominable adminiftra-
tion, that I am not at all furprifed at feeing them rife, which
is the fact. Thefe three circumftances eafily account for the
diftrefs of the farmer.

We may in future, I apprehend, expect to fee more accu-
rate ideas of what has been called dear and cheap rates of pro-
ducts, and never more to hear of great farms, engroffers of
farms, commanding and monopolizing markets, or enclofures
condemned for doing that which we now find them fo utterly
incapable of doing, that the farmers are ruined and in gaol
for want "of the power to effect matters, for which they were
before fo execrated. We at leaft gain fomething, if the
prefent experience gives the lie direct to all that folly, nonfenfe
and abfurdity, with which the public was fo repeatedly pefter-
ed. And there is the more reafon for this, becaufe if fuch a
peace fucceeds the prefent war, as leaves us a wealthy and
profperous people, prices will aifuredly rife, when that folly
might again be met with, if not at prefent difplayed in the
true colours.

I know there are perfons, who attribute both the former
high, and the prefent low prices, to difference of crops, fpeak-
ing much of "plentiful and fcarce years ; I have been uniform-
ly of opinion, that the difference of product, upon an average
of all foils, to be extremely fmall, fo fmall as not to operate
upon price ; and even upon particular fpots the difference is
not nearly fo great, as to account for any confiderable rife or
fall. If this was a proper place I could offer many reafons
and facts for this opinion; but if we accept the idea, then
there is at once an end to great farms and. enclofures as the
caufe of the rife, which are the two circurnilunces the mod in-
lifted on.

" I have lately received an account of a large common
field inLeicefterfhire, which ufed to produce annually 800 qrs,
of corn, be lides maintaining 200 cattle, but which now in
confequence of being inclofed and getting into few hands , produces
little or no corn ; and maintains no' more cattle than before,
though the rents are confiderably advanced." Dr. Price1)
Supp. to Of>f. on Rev. Pay. p. 388. *' In Northamptonfhire
and Liecefterfhire, enclofing has greatly prevailed, and molt
of the new enclofed lordihips are turned into pafturage, in
confequence of which many lordlhips have not now 50 acres
ploughed yearly, in which 1 500, or at leail 1000 were plough-
ed

*32 APPENDIX.

ed formerly ; and fcarce an ear of corn is now to be feen in
fome that bore hundreds of qrs. and fo feverely arc the
effects of this felt, that more wheat had been lately fold in
thefe counties, on an average, at 75. and 75. 6d. the Win-
chefter bulhel, than ufed to be fold at 35. 6d." Rev. Mr.
Addingtorfs reafons againjl tnclofmg open fields. As enclofures
have Unce proceeded as rapidly as ever — Pray, why is wheat
down at 35. 6d. again, if it was enclofing that raifed it
to 75. 6d.

INDEX.

Thofe marked thus * refer to the pages in Part II. at
the end of Vol. II.

A RDMAGH, i. 158.
-tx Arran (ifles) i. 388.
Annfgrove, ii. 8.
Abfentees, lift of, 82*.
Ardfert, ii. 127.
Adair, ii. 135.

Bogs, 30. 52. 82. 218. 241.
310. 334- 342-. 369- 395-
72. * means of improving,
73.*

Ballylhannon, i. 257.

Belleifle, i. 271.

Ballynogh, i. 296.

Ballymoat, i. 310.

Ballyna, i. 344.

JJaker, Wynn, i. 20. 101 *.

Ballynakil, i. 86.

Brownfliill, i. 87.

Bargie and Forth, i. 1 08.

Ballygarth, i. 143.

Boyne, battle of, i. 145.

Belfaft, i. 202.

Blarney, ii. 33.

Beans in Ireland, i. 1 09. ii. 1 97.

Bullocks, profit on, ii. 145. 75*.

Biftiopricks, value of, 81 *.

Bucks, 113*.

Bounty on inland carnage of
corn, 1 14 *. 124 *. Its ac-
count ftated Dr. and Cr.
i34». Ill effecls, ib.

Beef, price of, 1 27 *.

Butter, price of, 1 27 *.

Ballycanvan, ii. 188.

Buildings, 195*.

CellbttJge, i. 14.

Carton, i. 23.

Caftletown, i. 22.

Cars, utility of, i. 40. 212.

306. ii. 22. 61 *.
Courtown, i. 115.
Cullen, i. 146-
Caftle Ward, i. 201.
Clay, burning of, i. 209.
Colerain, i. 219*.
Clonleigh, i. 236.
Caftle Cal dwell, i. 258.
Carrots, i. 288.
Corn burned inftead of threih-

ing> >• 35°- 364-
Conna Marra, i." 393.
Corcafles, i. 407. ii. i.
Caftle Oliver, ii. 7. 141.
Caftle Martyr, ii. 46.
Caftle Mary, ii. 63.
Corke, Neighbourhood, ii. 65.

. .75-

Coolmore, n. 75.

Climate of Ireland, 3 *.

Cloathing of the poor, 35 *.

Cabbins, 35 *.

Catholicks, ftate of, 43 *.

Clergy, prppofed improve-
ments for them, 80 *.

Coals, rnport of, 92 *.

Cotton, import of, 99*.

Caftle iuand, jj. I2l<

Candles, price of, i 27 *.

Character of the Irifh, 106 *.

C«rn trade, 114*.

exported, 1 20 *.

imported, 122*.

on ftands, 144 *.

— Brought coaitways to

Dublin, 137*.

Curraghmore, ii. 176.

Compact with Ireland relative
to linens and woollens, 146*.

Cyder, ii. 200.

Cullen, .ii, 256.

Confumpticn^ 197 *.

E X.

Dublin, inhabitants in, I. 2.

Lodgings, i. 5. Opera, ib.

Dublin fociety, 95 *. Con-

fumptionof, 137*.
Dolleftown, i. 24.
Dangan, i. 31.
Druettown, i. 57.
Dargle, i. 134.
Derry, i. 22$-
Drumoland, i. 406.
Donneraile, ii. 18.
Dunkettle, ii. 38.
Demefnes, 1 09 *.
Drinking, 1 10*.
Duelling, 112*. '

Dawfon court, ii. 2 1 4.

Emigrations, i. 168.203 42 *•
Eyre Connaught, i. 388.
Extent of Ireland, 2*.
Education, 107 *.
Embargoes, 190*.

Forfter, baron, his vaft im-
provement, i. 146.
Flax, culture of, i. 207. 322.

394- '55*-

Fifheries, i. * z\ 9,. 228. 242.
244. 392. ii. 194. 187*.

Florence court, i. 276.

Farnham, i. 215.

Families, old, i. 305. 366.

Foxford, i. '349. '

French, Mr. his bog improve-
ment, i. 372.

Food of the poor, 32 *.

Folding ffccep, ii. nj.

Furncis, ii. 206..

GibbfttHvn, i. ji.
Gowry, i. ' 14. ' "
Glen of Downs, i. 132.
Glafslaugli, i. IT'O.
Giitiif's cuujbway, I. * 218.

Gun

I N D

Gun harpoon for whales,

i. 251.
Grafs, tendency of the foil to,

i. 131.

Gillaroo trout, i. 351.
Glofter, i. 215.
Government, 191 *.

Heaufort, i. 54.
Hampton, i. 139.
Hill/borough) i. 184.
Hearts ofiteel, i. 217.
Horfes drawn by the tail, i.

292.350.

Hollymount, i. 367.
Hops, ii. 25.
Hearth-money, exemptions

from, 87*.
Houfes, no*.
Hides, price of, 128*.

Improvement of the kingdom
in the laft twenty years,
i. 153. State of, compared
with England 1 1 *.

Juries, 112*.

Johnftown, ii. 227.

Killadoon, J. 13.
Kilfaine, i. 92.
Killrue, i. 137.
Kingfton, i. 308.
Kilalla, i. 346.
Kiltartan, i. 405.
Kildining, ii. 62.
Killarncy, ii. 90.
K5ng(borough,Lord,his moun-
tain improvement, 69 *.

Luttrcl's town, i. 6.
Lucan, i. 21.

E X.

Laughlin mills, i. 90.

Linen manuiacture, account

of, L 161. 172. 178. 316.

360. 385.

export of, 1 50 *.

. . - pretended decline ini 773,

152*.

import to England, 153*.

wretched conduct of,

161*.

Lurgan, i. 175.
Lifburne, i. 185.
Lecale, i. 196.
Leflyhill, i. 218.
Loch Swilly, i. 227.
Loch Earne, i. 268.
Limerick, ii. i.
Living, cheapnefs, ii. 6. 108*.
Lime, ii. 10. 76. 67*. Kilns,

ii. 25.

Lota, ii. 65.
Labour, payment of, 30 *.

Price of, i. 37.
Lixnaw, ii. 129.
Limerick, grazing, ii. 143.

Mahon, i. 170;
Magilligan, i. * 221.
Mount Charles, i. 242.
Mercra, i. 327.
Mules, i. 343. ii. 28.
Moniva, i. 371.
Mallow, ii. 26.
Marino, i. 4.
Monknewtown, i. 46*
Mullingar, i. 69.
Mount Juliet, i. 92.
Mount Kennedy, i. 122.
Mountains, improvement of,

i. 141. 146. 352. ii. 76. 125.

69*.

Market-hill, i. 156.
Middle men, 1 7 *.
Mountains, height of, ii. HJ.
Manners, 105*.
Mahaghrec iflands, ii. 127.
Macarthy, of Spring-houfe,
his

I N

his farm the greateft in

world, ii. 157.
Mills of Ireland, 141 *.
Manufactures, 144*.
Mitchelftovvn, ii. 269.

Norry, i. 151;.

Nevvtown Stewart, i. 188.

Newtown Limmovaddy,

*22l.

Newgrove, ii. 29.
Nedeen, ii. 83.
Navigations, 90*. 93 *.
National debt, 172*.

O'Connor, i. 305.
Orchards, i. 41 i .
Oxen drawn by the horns,

22. 55.

Oppreffion, i. 38.
P.

Packenhnm, i. 58.

Poor, ftate of,' i. 68.98.1415.

151. 263. 412. 25 *. 36*.

40*. ii. 222. 234. 247.
Portaferry, i. 190.
Produces in Ireland, quantity

of i 3 *.

Provifions, price of, 54 *.
Penfions, amount of, 85 *.
People-, number in Ireland,

88*.
Potatoes, oxen fattened on,

i. 29. 33°- .

hogs ditto, i. 34.

fort, ii. 24. 63.

review ot intelligence,

i. 27.
proportion of to wheat, i.

Population, i. 98. 263. 412.

85*.

Powerfcourt, i. 133.
Planting, i. 303. 62 *.
Public works, money granted
. for, 89*.

D E X.

the Premiums propofed, 102 *.
Palatines, colonies of, ii 12

People, race of, 106 *.
Pafturage, exports, 126*.

128*.
Pork, price of, 1 27 *. Export

of, 132 *.
Paflage from Waterford to

Milford, ii. 203. Expence

of, 206.

Rents, rife of, i. 61. 278. ii.

129. 147.
Rathan, i. 76.
Rofs, i. 101.
Ravenfdale, i. i 54.
Roftellan, ii. 64.
Rental of Ireland, 6 *.
Roads, 56 *.
Rapes, 1 1 2 *.
Revenue, 167*.

Summer-hill, i. 28.
Slaine, i. 37. Mills, 43.
Suckling lambs, i. 126.
Sheep walks, i. 299. 306.
Strokeftown, i. 297.

, i- 338.
Shaen Caftle, i. 78.
Shaencallle, O'Neil, i. 210.
Silver firs, i. 289.
Sheep, review of, 76*.
Sea weed, i. 342
Soil of Ireland, 3 *.
Society, Dublin, 95**. Their

ridiculous conduct, 97 *.
Silk, import of, 99*.
Stones, means of breaking, ii.

114.

Sheep, exports from, 1 29 *.
Shannon, filh in, ii. 238.

Tullamore, i. 71.
Taghmon, i. 107

Tinnyhinch,

I N D

Tinnyhinch, i. 133.
Turneps, i. 288. 405. ii- 31.

47- 63.

Tanrego, i. 339.
Tuam, i. 368.
Tallow, price of, i 27 *.
Townfhend, Mr. his eftablifh-

ment of Engliih farmers,

ii. 80.
Tillage^ 1 5*. Increafe of,

where", 125 *.
Tenantry, 1 7 *• Poverty of,

22 *. Proper encourage-
ment for, 23 *.
Timber, want of, 62*. To

what owing, 65 *. Means

of preferving, 64*.
Tythes, 79 *.
Tarbat, ii. 1 3 1 .
Tipperary, ftieep hufbandry,

ii. 155.

Tabinets, 166*.
Taxes of Ireland compared

with thofe of Britain, 1 73 *.

Union, i. 8r.

Woodftock, i. ico.

Whiteboys, i. 102. 1 19.

Wexford, i. 107.

Warrenftown, i. 177.

Weftport, i. 351.

Woodlawn, i. 395.

Wool, fmuggling, J. 413- ii.
67.

Woollen manufaclure, ii. 18.
34. 61. 68.

Wafte lands, 69 *

Wool, price of, 130*. In Ire-
land compared with Eng-
land, 76*.

Woollen goods, import of,
99*.

Woodpark, ii. i 20.

Woodford, ii. 130.

Waterford, ii. 184*

Weavers earnings, 156 *.

Price

Yarn, export of, 1 29 *.

of, 130*. ^
Yelverton, his famous crop of

wheat, ii. 230.

N I S.

University of California

SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY

405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388

Return this material to the library

from which it was borrowed.

R:G: ->URL

FEB 1 3 19*

A 000 032 533 2

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "A tour in Ireland;"

See other formats