eae J 
the caufes which appear to me to accoynt for a greater number 
of fouls being generally found in the houfes of Ireland at prefent, 
did not exift in the time of Sir William Petty. ‘Timber was 
probably more plenty ; the wretched habitations, worth but five 
fhillings each, could not hold two families; and another houfe, 
fuch as the peafant was accuftomed to, was eafily built. Probably 
he had neither a male nor a female fervant, as is ufual with 
many of the peafants in the tillage counties; nor an. apprentice, 
as is cuftomary in the North. 
Ir the actual population of Ireland fhould be found’ greater 
in proportion to the number of the houfes than. that of other 
countries, perhaps the following caufes may. account for the fad. 
The great body of the people who inhabit 450,756 houfes of one 
hearth each, paying the duty (as they are returned in the paper), 
but who probably inhabit 500,000 houfes, appear to me to have 
generally arrived at that ftate of induftry wherein a man becomes 
valuable, and the price of his labour is on the increafe; but not 
at that ftate of profperity which would enable them to procure 
as comfortable habitations as may be feen in other countries. 
They are almoft all married, and there are few inftances of their 
not having children. They generally marry young; and potatoes 
being their general food, they are under no apprehenfions of 
being unable to fupport their children ; perhaps too for children 
there is no foad fo good. Thefe children are their wealth; the 
father, therefore, is in no hurry to part with his fon till he 
marrics, and will ftay with him no longer. Even after marriage 
the fon or the daughter frequently lives with the parents. 
THE 
