12 MISMANAGEMENT OF THE 



with himself, a power many times greater than 

 that of his own. No wonder, therefore, although 

 the latter has been unable to keep pace with 

 the former in the march of improvement Ireland 

 and the Highlands of Scotland have scarcely 

 got beyond the age of the caschrom and loi ; 

 with these primitive and patriarchal implements 

 of husbandry, a large number of their inhabitants 

 are still persisting in scratching the hallowed 

 surface of the soil in order to procure from it 

 a scanty allowance of potatoes ! This procured, 

 they are content ! Beyond this they cannot 

 discern the object of English industry. 



The great defect in Ireland lies in the 

 management of her labouring population ; for 

 acquaint yourself with the wants of the peasantry 

 and small farmers, and from the one end of the 

 island to the other, you will find but one uni- 

 versal complaint, viz. the want of employment, 

 the almost total non-existence of the means of 

 industry. You will consequently find the people 

 starving for want of bread, and that too while 

 exporting bread to this country, so as to enable 

 them to purchase our manufactures, and thus 

 furnish both employment and bread for our 

 labouring population : you will find the people, 



