CORRESPONDENCE, &C. 245 



goodness of soil, lowness of rent, cheapness of labour, and safety of 

 property be recommendations, then that no spot I have ever seen, is 

 more likely to reward the emigrant than the island of Achill. Would 

 that some unpolitical and unsectarian philanthropists, men who took a 

 human view of the human wants and human failings of these poor 

 islanders, would settle among them, and place in their hands the 

 plough and the spade, teach the children to read and write, the boys to 

 make shoes and coats, to fish, and to dig, and rake, and sow, and reap, 

 and build houses ; and the girls to knit and spin, and make gowns ; 

 use them like brothers and sisters and children, then might this island 

 become a centre of happiness and prosperity." 



I am sure. Sir, that candour will constrain you to admit, that any 

 person forming a judgment of our proceedings from the statements 

 contained in the above extract, would conclude that we took no care 

 whatever to promote the temporal interests of our poor neighbours, or 

 the general improvement of the island. 



This is a most unfair and ungenerous misrepresentation. We are 

 at considerable cost and much labour, " teaching the children to read 

 and write," " the boys to make shoes and coats, to build houses ; " 

 " the girls to knit and make gowns, &c.," and the men to adopt an im- 

 proved system of agriculture. But, Sir, as I wish to give you proof, 

 and not assertion, let me call your attention to the following extracts 

 from the authorized report of the evidence given before the Committee 

 of the House of Lords, which sat on the Irish Education System, in 

 1837. The first witness, from whose evidence I make the following 

 brief extract, is J. Dombrain, Esq., Inspector-General of Coast-guard 

 in Ireland. 



" Were you ever in the Island of Achill officially ? 



Several times. 



In the course of the last two years ? 



I was there last summer and the year before. 



Did you visit the Protestant settlement there ? 



I did. 



In what state did you find it ; was it in a state different from the rest of 

 the island, or like the rest of the island ? 



Very different from the rest of the island. 



Was it in a state inferior or superior ? 



Very superior. 



In what respect ? 



Generally superior in respect of industry and cultivation ; it had superior 

 buildings, and everything that would stamp an appearance of civilization 

 in a very remote district. 



As far, therefore, as appeared to you, it would be a great blessing to the 

 island, if the example so set could be followed through that island ? 



Decidedly." 



Such, Sir, was the sworn testimony of Mr. Dombrain. — Not less 

 decisive is the evidence of another witness, Francis Reynolds, Esq., 

 chief officer of coast-guard, who was examined before the same Com- 

 mittee. 



