going which has increased very greatly during the 

 last thirty years, and though levied for purposes of 

 general benefit, is paid principally out of the value 

 of the produce of the soil, and falls too exclusively 

 upon the landed interest. Well may the Com- 

 mittee say that this subject requires the early and 

 deliberate attention of the Legislature. 



In the county in which I live the county rate 

 has increased nearly five-fold in the last thirty-five 

 years. The increase of crime has occasioned in 

 a considerable degree the increase of the county 

 expenditure. This increase of crime may perhaps 

 be considered somewhat in proportion to the in- 

 crease of population, and the increase of poverty ; 

 in the agricultural districts, I am inclined to 

 think that, it has not increased in proportion to 

 this increase, but in manufacturing districts, un- 

 happily, its increase has been in a greater ratio. 

 It is a fact that of the number of prisoners who fill 

 our gaol, far the greater part come from the manu- 

 facturing districts. Manufactures greatly en- 

 courage the augmentation and concentration of 

 numbers, and the spirit of evil is inflamed by the 

 friction which the contact of a great mass of active 

 and conflicting beings occasion. It is not that 

 there is any natural difference between these two 

 classes of the population, the spirit of evil has 

 been alike at work, but the one portion is more 

 acted upon and restrained by a salutary counter- 

 acting agency. 



Another very serious outgoing is the mainte- 

 B 4 



