212^ IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA. 



** At such works all over this continent the Irish are the la- 

 bourers chiefly employed, and the mortality amongst them is 

 enormous ; a mortality I feel certain might be vastly lessened by 

 a little consideration being given to their condition by those who 

 employ them. At present they are, where I have seen them 

 working here, worse lodged than the cattle of the fteld ; in fact, 

 the only thought bestowed on them appears to be, by what ex- 

 pedient the greatest quantity of labour may be extracted from 

 them at the cheapest rate to the contractor. I think, however, 

 that a better spirit is in progress among the companies requiring 

 this class of labourers : in fact, it becomes necessary this shoifld 

 be so, since prolific as is the country from whence they are 

 drawn, the supply would in a little time cease to keep pace 

 with the demand, and slave labour cannot be substituted to any 

 extent, being much too expensive ; a good slave costs at this 

 " time £*200. sterling, and to have a thousand such swept off a line 

 of canal in one season, would call for prompt consideration. 



" Independent of interest. Christian charity and justice should 

 alike suggest that the labourers ought to be provided with decent 

 quarters, that sufficient medical aid should always be at hand, 

 and, above all, that the brutalizing, accursed practice of extorting 

 extra labour by the stimulus of com spirit^ should be wholly 

 forbidden. 



*^ Let it be remembered that, although rude and ignorant, these 

 men are not insensible to good impressions, or incap)able of dis- 

 tinguishing between a kindly and paternal care of their well doing, 

 and the mercenary cold-blooded bargain which exacts the last 

 scruple of flesh it has paid for.*' 



