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so, at the present time, would be to cause an expenditure of 

 three or four millions a-year amongst the labouring poor, in 

 the form of wages, and to enable the small farmers of 

 Ireland, the occupiers of from one to ten acres of land, to 

 pay their way, and support their families with more comfort 

 than they have ever yet done. It was only by this means 

 that Ireland could escape the evil of having still larger por- 

 tions of her best lands laid down in pasture, to the still 

 further depression of the people, and only thus that the 

 small farmers could be saved from ejectment. Unless some 

 other valuable crop, giving a profitable return for the labour 

 of the small farmers and their families, could be introduced 

 in place of the potato, they can never meet their present 

 engagements. Without it, the change so eloquently lamented 

 in the ' Deserted Village,' will be the fate of many an Irish 

 Auburn, whose wretched inhabitants would have no choice 

 except that of starvation or exile. 



" But to carry Ireland through her present unparalleled 

 difficulties, it would be necessary not only that the existing 

 cultivation should be continued and improved, but that new 

 modes of employment should be created in every way that is 

 possible. This might be done in a variety of ways, many of 

 which were at present on trial, on the immense public works 

 which were now executing under the direction of the Govern- 

 ment. All these would afford present employment, and add 

 to the prosperity of the country. Unfortunately, they were 

 necessarily limited, and he, therefore, trusted that the present 

 opportunity would be seized to execute those still more ex- 

 tensive and permanent improvements in the reclaiming of the 

 millions of acres of waste lands, which had been recommended 

 by every parliamentary committee which has enquired into 

 the condition of Ireland, from the time of the Union to the 

 Devon Commission, and by every friend of Ireland, from 

 Richard Lovell Edgeworth to Poulett Scrope." 



