PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 179 



In order to provide for the want of security, skill and money- 

 capital, and also to provide employment for the people; the 

 lecturer suggested that a full dominion should be given to the 

 law, to guarantee to each man the fruits of his labour — that joint 

 stock companies should obtain a right over uncultivated reclaim- 

 able land — that the improvement should commence on a prin- 

 ciple of colonization — that the workmen should have allotments 

 of land, which would stimulate them to exertion, whilst their 

 increasing numbers would be a defence against the assaults of 

 jealous neighbours; and that the operative part should be under 

 the direction of practised agriculturists. 



The lecturer next proceeded to show by a fair calculation, that 

 all monies invested by companies, would yield from 10 to 15 per 

 cent, interest. 



Such a scheme would also prove beneficial to England, for 

 the Irish labourer finding employment at home, would not have 

 to emigrate to England in search of it; so that the English 

 labourer would not be undersold in the price of his work, and 

 consequently the poor rates would not be so heavy. But as all 

 poor persons could not at once be employed in the mode above 

 mentioned, a system of public works might also be carried on, 

 such as road and bridge making, bog draining and river clearing, 

 as should seem best — these works ought to have a prospect of 

 continuance. In order that the peasant should rather be en- 

 gaged in agriculture, than government work ; the wages given by 

 the latter should be less than those paid by the companies, whilst, 

 at the same time, the workman should be under no restraint, but 

 be permitted to engage himself for a longer or shorter period. 



The lecturer proceeded at some length to show the importance 

 of having the land cultivated in small farms ; he contrasted 

 these with large farms, in order to show the advantage of the 

 former, especially under such cirumstances as he had been pro- 

 posing. 



It was not merely needful to provide physical employment for 

 the Irish, they should have mental education and religious 

 instruction conveyed to them through the medium of their own 

 tongue : one peculiarly important effect would result from this, 

 viz. a counteraction would be opposed to the influence of certain 

 men, who acting as guides- to the people, had it in their power to 

 do much good or much evil, and they unfortunately very often 

 held the people under a species of tyranny, perverted their 

 thoughts and actions to the worst ends, and instilled into their 



