230 PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



mode or system of measures. In fact, Ireland had been treated too 

 much like a conquered country: Governors had been sent there 

 to receive a certain salary for a certain time, to accumulate a certain 

 modus of property, and to fill the pockets of certain dependents ; 

 this done, they were replaced by others, without much consideration 

 for their experience in legislative matters : how then could Ireland 

 prosper ? The lecturer would remind our rulers that, 

 " Navem agere, ignarus navis timet." 



With regard to the resources and capabilities of Ireland, the lec- 

 turer thought the principal were her agriculture, mines, rivers, 

 harbours, and coasts, fisheries and manufactures ; she was virtually 

 without the benefit of these, as he should proceed to show. 

 " Paulum sepultaB distat inertiae Celata Virtus." 



The Malthusians assert that Ireland is over-peopled ; this is not 

 the case, when her capabilities are looked at — when the immense 

 quantity of available land is considered — which she now contains in 

 an unimproved state; were all her bog land and waste territory 

 brought into cultivation, produce would be in a geometrical propor- 

 tion to the producers and more inhabitants would be necessary. 

 Mr. Hodson, of the county Roscommon, proved the advantages of 

 cultivating a waste bog ; in four i/ears he not only repaid himself 

 his full outlay, but gained more than £21 per acre; rendering that 

 which was apparently a caput mortuum valuable, and capable of 

 yielding a rental of 30s. per acre. The fallacy of avowing that Ire- 

 land was over-peopled, might be proved by drawing a pai*allel be- 

 tween her and China, or Japan ; or by comparing her land with 

 that of the Holkham estate, in Norfolk, belonging to Mr. Coke ; or 

 with the gardens near London, which are so eminently productive. 

 The lecturer gave as reasons for the non-cultivation of bog land in 

 Ireland generally : want of capital and power in individuals ; capital 

 to undertake so great a work, and power to cut drains through 

 other lands : he considered, therefore, that bogs could only be re- 

 claimed on a large scale — by a company, under the powers of art of 

 parliament. 



There are two great means for rendering the capabilities of Ireland 

 more available than they are ; namely, the improvement of her roads 

 and the rendering of her rivers navigable. It has been proved by 

 actual survey, that 1,000 miles in length of the Irish rivers might 

 be made navigable, so that 11,958,400 acres might lie within five 

 miles of rivers, canals, or sea coast, offering great advantages for the 

 conveyance of produce, and at the same time furnishing employ- 

 ment for industry. 



