ENGLISH OPERATIVES, ETC. 7 



in a very different position from England and 

 the Lowlands of Scotland, including the manu- 

 facturing districts of the west, as Glasgow, &c. 

 From the want of manufacturing and commer- 

 cial enterprise among them, they have neglected 

 to subdivide the agricultural produce of their re- 

 spective soils, and hence it has been conveyed to 

 England to support her manufacturing interest, 

 and uphold it in its unnatural state. Instead of 

 subdividing labour, they have subdivided land, 

 the result of which they fearfully experience. 



The agriculture of Ireland, deplorable as it 

 may be in many instances, is, upon the whole, 

 perhaps not so far behind that of England as 

 many imagine, and as the different circumstances 

 of the peasantry of the two countries would 

 lead one naturally to infer. We were frequently 

 told by gentlemen farmers in the Sister Isle, 

 who had visited this country for the purpose of 

 obtaining information, that theirs was at least 

 upon a footing of equality with ours in respect of 

 agriculture, if not in advance. We are aware 

 that many Englishmen and Scotchmen who 

 have visited Ireland may not be prepared to 

 accord to such a sentiment ; but it too frequently 

 occurs that those who visit that unfortunate 

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