that legislation must always be conducted on the principle that private interests must yield to the public weal. All changes, though even for the better, will be found to be attended with individual inconvenience, and perhaps, in some cases, amount to injustice.

With respect to the measure proposed for Ireland by the late lamented Lord George Bentinck, and known as the "Comprehensive Measure," I fear it could not have been carried out. In the first place, whilst sixteen millions would prove too large a drain on the Finances of the country, it would not have proved adequate to meet the contingency for which it was intended. Railways, as I have before remarked, are like other undertakings, best left to private enterprise; and when the government interferes, it should be in rendering such legitimate undertakings every assistance in their power, rather than throwing obstacles in the way, as in the case of the standing orders of parliament. Without any further preface, I submit the following

remarks, which have been the subject of some consideration. Should it be found that capitalists, even on granting these facilities, would still be indifferent to the subject, surely the government ought in that case to follow the example of the East India Company, and guaranty a per-centage for a term of years on such lines as they might consider of national importance. The condition of Ireland is anomalous, and calls for assistance, which, perhaps, it would not be considered politic to afford to other parts of Great Britain.

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CHAPTER VI.

"Lord Bacon saith truly, there are three things which make a nation great and prosperous; a fertile soil, busy workshops, and easy conveyance for men and commodities from one place to another; to which let me add, knowledge and freedom."-BISHOP HALL.

THE immense advantages which have resulted to this country from the introduction of railroads, advantages which have surpassed the anticipations of even the most sanguine promoters of the system,-justify the opinion that the extension of them to Ireland, on a principle of strict economy, and under the patronage and with the assistance of Government, would be a measure fraught with the most happy results, both temporarily, in affording employment to a destitute and starving population, and ultimately, in the permanent improvement of the social and physical condition of the country. Nothing can more strongly prove the soundness of the

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railway system in a commercial point of view, than its having overcome the many great difficulties with which its introduction in this country has been attended, and the fact of its having triumphed over the opposition not only of land owners and others, but even those obstacles (perhaps the most formidable of all) presented by Parliament itself.

My object in the following remarks will be to point out briefly how, by a system of wholesome legislation, the enormous expenses which Railway Companies have had to contend with in this country may be avoided in Ireland; and to show that lines of railroad may be constructed so as to form a safe and desirable investment to capitalists, whilst at the same time they would produce the happiest effects in improving agriculture,-in affording means for profitably reclaiming the waste and bog lands,-in extending that important but hitherto neglected branch of commerce, the deep sea fishery,-in turning to advantage the Western Harbours,-and finally,

by calling into existence new branches of trade peculiar to the quickness of railway transit, thus giving a general stimulus to the industry and enterprise of the country. There is no doubt that such works would prove an alleviation of many of the evils by which Ireland is now overwhelmed; that emigration, and those other costly expedients which have been resorted to, to meet a temporary exigence, would be found unnecessary; and that so far from the country being overpopulated, all the labour she is capable of affording might be profitably and beneficially employed at home.

Railroads have not hitherto been introduced into Ireland to any extent, partly from the supposed insecurity of property, but chiefly because it is considered that the traffic is not at present sufficient to render a fairly remunerative return for capital invested in the construction of such costly works as have been executed in this country. I shall show, however, that by the patronage and assistance of Government the vast