1 827.] Third Report q/ the Emigration Committee. 577 



this is the sum demanded) to carry their surplus tenantry as emigrants 

 to Canada, when, fora twentieth part of that amount and under a systora 

 already organized, and in operation they can pay the expenses ot their 

 emigration into England? 



Unfortunately, however, it is not merely upon these points of detail 

 sufficiently important, perhaps, as some of them may fairly be calledthat 

 we are disposed to quarrel with the Report of the Emigration Committee. 

 Supposing the expectations which we have discussed to he founded in 

 error, a change of arrangement is all that is necessary to set them right. 

 But our main difficulty is the belief we have we may almost say the 

 conviction that, supposing every expectation of the Committee, as to the 

 details of their plan, to be realized, the project itself is wholly poor and 

 feeble inadequate to cope for a moment with the evil against which it is 

 directed. 



The means which the Committee suggest, to prevent the filling up of 

 that vacuum which emigration may create, seem to us especially as far 

 as Ireland is concerned to be of very doubtful efficacy. A disposition 

 among some proprietors to draw the greatest amount of rack-rent from 

 their lands; among others, a desire to keep the rate of labour low; and 

 among others to use their estates as much for purposes of political jobbing 

 as for agricultural production, will still be constantly uniting in Ireland to 

 keep the population in excess; and that disposition to excess, the instincts 

 of the people themselves will always be at hand to second. This is the 

 first stumbling-block which a system of emigration, however well imagined, 

 has to surmount; and it is one which the doctrine of Mr. MaUhus (how- 

 ever he may lose his way in some of his endeavours to surmount it) 

 admits the difficulty of, fully arid distinctly. Neither law, nor argument, 

 nor any check short of want and mortality, will, certainly and effectually, 

 stop the people's increase. 



One Irish witness is asked" It has been stated that early marriages 

 are the chief cause of this excess of population in Ireland is it not the 

 miserable condition of the people that they are hopeless of all improve- 

 ment, and so careless of consequences which induces them to marry without 

 provision?" And he answers with great likelihood of truth " That he 

 believes that it is." A second is asked "But, if they marry so fast, 

 now they have neither food nor employment, to maintain them or their 

 children, will not a prospect of getting food and employment make them 

 marry faster?" And this witness cannot deny that the possibility is as is 

 described. A third witness, who is asked the same question answers, we 

 are afraid, more to the purpose than either "They will marry," he says, 

 <4 any way : when they are going to marry, they never stop to consider 

 any thing at all/' 



Are you not of opinion, says the Committee to Mr. Malthus 



" Q. 3374. Are you not of opinion that much which concerns the happiness 

 and interests of the poor, might be produced by disseminating among them expla- 

 nations of their real position, couched in such language as they might perfectly 

 understand ? I think that such explanations might be extremely beneficial to 

 them. 



" 3375. Do you not admit that if it could be once impressed upon their minds 

 that it was their duty not to put themselves in a situation to produce a family 

 before they had the means of supporting it, any idea of harshness involved in the 

 refusal of pecuniary assistance to an unemployed labourer would be done away ? 

 I think, in a great measure. 



M.M. New SenesVoi. IV. Xo.24. 4 E 



