190 PRACTICABILITY OF IMPROVING IRELAND. 



render needless the creation of those poor laws, which the amateurs 

 in such matters would impose upon Ireland ; and perhaps, it would 

 not be quite agreeable in this age of empiricism, to prevent the ad- 

 ministration of some new invented nostrum in the shape of a pseudo 

 charity ! ! 



Let it be known to those who are at a loss how to employ their 

 money, that the advantages of deepening the rivers are not only im- 

 mense but certain ; indeed these advantages cannot be adequately 

 estimated. But we ma) be able to form a convincing notion when 

 we know that there are nearly five million acres of waste lands, 

 whose lowest elevation is 203 feet above the level of the sea at low 

 water; with the very best and most appropriate manures : and so 

 highly did that great chemist, Sir H. Davy, think of the improve- 

 ment and the nature of the soils, as to declare them to be, " capable 

 of being rendered masses of manure ; while all trials that have been 

 made, by private individuals prove," he says " the feasibility, not 

 only of the general project, but even afford strong grounds for the 

 belief that any capital expended on the project would, in a very few 

 years, yield a great and increasing interest contributing to the wealth 

 and prosperity of the united kingdom;" and, he might have added, 

 would insure peace and civilization, by affording so much valuable 

 and grateful employment for a people naturally desirous of industry, 

 and only requiring the call to work to be ever on the alert. Yes, 1 

 confidently assert that the people of Ireland would be, for they are, 

 when they have the opportunity, an industrious people. Perhaps to 

 meet the ever carping critic and to end all verbal, all unreal, useless 

 distinctions, and disputation, I had better cull them " a hard work- 

 ing people." It has been said, with a kind of attic superiority, that 

 it is the moral drain that is wanting for Ireland. Alas ! how univer- 

 sally true is it, that we are sure to behold the mote that is in our 

 brother's eye, but not to consider the beam that is in our own eye. 

 But let not men flatter themselves that this or that country is more vir- 

 tuous or less sinful. It is, I confess, true, that the crimes of Ireland 

 may be said to be written in crimson, but the crimes of other coun- 

 tries are no less heinous in the sight of heaven, nor less hideous, and 

 disgustful to the moral man and to the devout Christian. It might 

 be well to consider, how far it would be conducive to each man's 

 own welfare to practice for the good of others, if, instead of railing 

 \NO were to strive to ^ive a better tone and temper to the Irish cha- 

 racter, by directing the wild energies of that impetuous people more 

 for their good, we should be laying a good foundation for amending 

 our own ways. Arid we find an example for our imitation in that 



