192 PRACTICABILITY OF IMPROVING IRELAND. 



Another impartial authority, a Scotchman, Mr. Nimmo, an engi- 

 neer of the first rate abilities, and a man who more immediately 

 experienced the true dispositions of the lowest class of the poor 

 unfriended Irishman ; makes this remark " I am" (he says) " not 

 inclined to think the Irish an indolent people ; I think that, as far 

 as spirit is concerned, I would look with more confidence to the Irish 

 people in maintaining their independence than perhaps I should look 

 to the population of either England or Scotland: I have (he conti- 

 nues) a far higher opinion of the spirit of independence of that peo- 

 ple, than, perhaps, many persons who are immediately concerned 

 with the country." 



This very Mr. Nimmo was employed by government in making 

 new roads in one of the most wild and miserable districts in Munster. 

 " The people" (he says) " flocked to him for employment, with looks 

 bespeaking the most deplorable poverty and wretchedness ; without 

 sufficient clothing. For 6 years these halfstarved people wereemployed. 

 The money which they earned was carefully managed by themselves, 

 and their savings expended by them on farms, which they took in 

 the vicinity of these roads. They built houses; reclaimed the waste 

 lands; comfort and competency became every where visible; and 

 perfect tranquility prevailed throughout their settlement." Let us 

 then be no longer taunted by the imaginary superiority in good dis- 

 position and morality of this or that country, but let us call for a 

 judicious government that will find employment for the people, for 

 a people not less moral than the English, though differing from them 

 in the species of their faults and crimes. Believe me, if the sins of 

 each people were thrown into opposite scales, the specific gravities 

 of either would not much preponderate. The proportions would be 

 much alike the qualities somewhat different. 



I trust, that these two certificates to character may suffice to place 

 the Irish people in the rank of human beings, at least, and to excite 

 the curiosity of those who would be informed of the causes of the 

 present disastrous state of things amongst that ill-fated, ill-used 

 people. 



Still the capitalist is deterred from speculating on Irish property ; 

 there is a want of security no doubt : but I am convinced that this 

 objection could be removed ; for it has been proved that regular 

 employment, with reasonable wages, punctually and honourably paid, 

 have effected such a reformation amongst the peasantry of Ireland, 

 tnat the most lawless and desperate have been converted into sober, 

 peaceable and industrious husbandmen. 



