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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



mean the noblemen, gentlemen, clergymen, priebts, 

 and others possessing property and influence. I say 

 the first movement must emanate from this class ; and 

 I am convinced of the correctness of the position I 

 take. I am convinced that, in a moral, social, and 

 pecuniary aspect, it would be one of the most beneficial 

 sj^eculations ever entered upon by mortal man. Don't 

 tell me you cannot elevate the character and moral 

 feelings of these people. I don't believe it. There 

 never was a man, woman, or child who did not form a 

 higher estimate of themselves when dressed in their 

 Sunday clothing, or on appearing in their best — all feel 

 it. It is against the nature of things to be otherwise. 

 Depend upon it, these poor, distressed people can be 

 raised in the scale of social humanity. Then set about 

 it in good earnest. I know it cannot be done without 

 great effort, and some sacrifice ; but there are always 

 benevolent minds and working-men in every district — 

 you never depend upon namby-pamby donish people 

 for anything : no ; you have generally to push them 

 aside out of the way. No one knows the true value of 

 a working benevohnt man in any district, either in 

 this country or elsewhere — they are "the salt of 

 the earth.'' Well, it is to these men I appeal. I 

 would not ask your covetous, selfish, purse-proud 

 men to assist; nor your proud and grand gentleman — 

 'tis no use. The sovereign of the one, and the patron- 

 age of the other, is all you can expect— they have too 

 much to do for themselves. Nor would I depend upon 

 the clergyman or the priest : no ; they seldom act in 

 unison — often in opposition : it is their way. The 

 priest considers the other as a trespasser, and if he 

 cannot oust him from his place he may prevent his 

 usefulness in it. Now, I may be wrong; but it strikes 

 me forcibly that here is a root of great bitterness — 

 these two religions teachers being an hindrance to the 

 moral advancement of the people. You cannot separate 

 social and moral advancement from religion — it is a 

 part and parcel of it ; hence the jealousy between 

 Protestant and Catholic. You must devise a scheme 

 wherein both may act in unison. Well, tlicn, let it be 

 simply the social advancement of the people, and 

 we leave all the rest to follow. Now, one of my 

 panaceas is the establishment of labourers' friend 

 societies all over the kingdom of Ireland, to be 

 carried out irrespective of creeds, or the position 

 of the members or officers of the societies. 



Now these labourers' friend societies embrace many 

 laudable and noble efl'orts, which from time to time 

 appear desirable to attempt. I now wish to speak from 

 my own experience, havini; had the management of such 

 a society for many years. I do most unhesitatingly 

 assert that the good effected is astonishing, chiefly in 

 this way . emulation of tiie most [iraisewortiiy character 

 is raised up and stimulated ; one successful candidate 

 urges another onward; there is a determination to excel 

 excited — it spreads, competitors and non-competitors 

 for our prizes alike exercise more care, more caution, 

 more labour, and better general management is the 

 result. The comfort of their families, the cleanliness 

 «nd healthy condition of their cottages, the orderly and 



comfortable appearance of their children, the profitable 

 and ornamental culture of their gardens, the respect in 

 which they hold themselves, their constant attendance 

 upon divine worship, their absence from houses of in- 

 temperance, their anxiety to hear and acquire knowledge, 

 theirpunctuality and industry in time and daily labour, and 

 their general good conduct, is an abundant compensation 

 to a generous and benevolent mind. 1 might also add, that 

 as knowledge increases their foolish prejudices are up- 

 rooted, no opposition is made to the introduction of new 

 implements, new machinery, or new modes of cropping; 

 indeed they are almost hailed as accessories to improve 

 their own condition, which, in truth, they really are, 

 for it is an undoubted fact that in the immediate district 

 from which I write the introduction of improved imple- 

 ments and machinery has greatly increased the demand 

 for manual labour. You can't judiciously till your soil 

 too much, and improved tillage promotes additional 

 cropping, which, in its turn, absolutely demand more 

 manual labour. And this is all right : the farmer obtains 

 more and better crops, the labourer receives wages for 

 planting and harvesting them. Well, then, I advocate 

 the establishment of these soc'eties throughout Ireland. 

 The selection of objects or subjects most desirable for 

 prizes must be left to the discretion and judgment of the 

 various societies in every district, and suited to the state 

 and condition of the locality ; always bearing in mind 

 the main object of these establishments— the elevation of 

 the labouring classes. For this purpose I would suggei>t 

 rewards or prizes for the cleanest and best-managed 

 cottage and garden, for the best assortment of roots, for 

 the best pig, the best poultry, or, again, for bringing up 

 their families, or their children's proficiency in school 

 acquirements and punctuality in attendance — the boys 

 in knowledge, the girls in needlework, &;c.; or, again, for 

 their own skill and dexterity in workmanship — plough- 

 ing, ditching, draining, hedging, stacking, and the like; 

 or. again, for mothers who have manifested the greatest 

 care in bringing up their children; or, again, to widows 

 who best support themselves, or servants for servitude ; 

 and in various other ways that from time to time appear 

 desirable. To these encouragements and inducements I 

 would add others, to working tradesmen and mechanics : 

 to the one for cheap and comfortable clothing, shoes, 

 &c. ; or to the other for cheapness and excellence in the 

 execution of every department of farm -work, for all the 

 requirements of the farm. Or, again, I would provide 

 district or village libraries for lending, or, if convenient, 

 for reading rooms; or, again, courses of lectures on all 

 common subjects ; indeed, in short, I would have these 

 societies provide in every way they possibly can for the 

 progressive advancement and elevation of these classes. 

 As to funds, I am well aware such great aims and ends 

 cannot be achieved without great personal and pecuniary 

 sacrifice ; I would therefore suggest that in addition to 

 these local or district societies, one large and general 

 society for Ireland be got up, after the order of the 

 Royal Irish Agricultural Improvement Society, to com- 

 bine in its operations the whole of Ireland, who shall 

 out of their funds make grants in aid of poor societies, 

 or as they may see need ; and for this purpose I would 



