of the Legislature has of late been so entirely directed to measures of temporary relief for Ireland, that few projects have been proposed tending to the permanent amelioration of the social and commercial condition of the country. Sir C. Treveylan remarks, in his brilliant essay, entitled 'The Irish Crisis,'

"Unless we are much deceived, posterity will trace up to this famine the commencement of a salutary revolution in the habits of a nation long singularly unfortunate, and will acknowledge that on this, as on many other occasions, Supreme Wisdom has adduced permanent good from transient evil." This visitation of Providence has, at least, directed attention more closely to the state of the country, and it is not unreasonable to hope that most beneficial results will ensue therefrom.

In the foregoing remarks my object has been to show the expediency of such a measure as that proposed by the statement of

with great advantage to all the parties concerned."-Sir C. Treveylan.

a few facts bearing on the subject, rather than to point out the best means of carrying it into execution.

The space to which I am confined precludes my doing the subject that justice which its great importance demands.

Should I have succeeded in directing attention to the subject, I cannot help indulging in the hope that even this humble appeal will not be in vain.

"Ireland as she is, must continue to be a tormenting enigma, baffling the utmost skill of worldly men, and paining the hearts of those who look beyond the passing pageant of time.

"Ireland as she ought to be, would prove to us a tower of strength, a mine of wealth, and a crown of beauty. Bring to bear upon her but a reasonable share of English enterprise, directed by Christian wisdom and supported by characteristic liberality, and never did the most fertile field give such promise of repaying an hundred fold the culture bestowed upon it as she does."

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CHAPTER VII.

"It is impossible to cast the eye over the vast inclined plains of bog land skirted by fine water levels, which seemed to invite draining, without feeling a conviction of the immense capabilities of this part of Ireland; and seeing in perspective these vast tracts bearing abundant produce; and the chains of lochs carrying that produce, on the one side to Lough Corrib and Galway Bay, and on the other to Bertraghboy Bay, or one of the bays which lie to the westward.

"I question whether much ever will, or can be done, in cultivating the waste reclaimable lands of Ireland by the proprietors themselves. Capital and enterprise are alike wanting. This, however, it is the cultivation of the reclaimable wastes that can alone provide permanent employmentfor the people, and effect a real change in their condition."-INGLIS.

I HAVE already alluded in the foregoing pages to the subject of reclaiming waste and bog land, and am induced now to devote a short chapter to the subject, from the conviction of its vital importance to Ireland, and especially to this district. From what has already been said respecting Connamara,

wastes.

it will be evident that this country affords peculiar facilities for the reclamation of these It possesses in its numerous bays abundance of sea-weed and sea-sand, the fertilizing properties of which, it is unnecessary to dilate upon. Limestone is in abundance in many parts of the district, and from the elevated position these waste lands occupy, and the numerous lakes and rivers in every direction, it is evident that drainage could be easily effected. Many of these chains of lakes might easily be rendered navigable, and thus afford water communication from one portion of the district to another.

To convert these bogs into fertile fields of corn, labour is the one thing needful. Ample employment would thus be afforded for what at present appears a redundant population, and the miserable alternative of emigration, -now so much advocated,-would be rendered unnecessary, and which, it is evident, if carried on to the extent it has been during the last two years, must, besides proving highly injurious to the country, also tend to diminish its revenue and resources.

It appears, that in 1846, no less than 129,851 persons emigrated, and from January to October in 1847, it amounted to 240,461 persons, the greater portion of whom were from Ireland. I find some admirable remarks in the Report of the Select Committee on Public Works, which point out the impolicy of this measure, and which I therefore beg to introduce.

"Your Committee cannot concur in the opinion, that the social disease of Ireland is produced by a real excess of population. It may be doubted whether the country does contain a sufficient quantity of labour to develope its resources. In 1728, when the number of the people did not exceed a fourth of the total now existing, there appears to have been comparatively as much distress occasioned by want of employment as there is now."

One of the consequences of the misery caused by the want of employment in Ireland is an extraordinary increase of the population in the districts where most poverty exists, as compared with the increase