8 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS. 



persuasion, we were certain to be accused of political or 

 religious bias. Did we receive testimony more freely from 

 the rich man than from the poor man, or from the poor 

 man than from the rich, we were certain to be denounced 

 as having prejudged the subject about which we had un- 

 dertaken impartially to inquire. 



But great as were these difficulties, great as was the cir- 

 cumspection which they required, another and yet more for- 

 midable difficulty existed. Your Majesty had commanded 

 us to determine " Whether any, and if any, what further 

 " remedial measures appear to be requisite to ameliorate 

 " the condition of the Irish poor, or any portion of them." 



To determine what measures might be requisite to ame- 

 liorate the condition of the poorer classes in Ireland, re- 

 quired an investigation extending to almost the whole so- 

 cial and productive system ; for the poor classes in Ireland 

 may be considered as comprehending nearly the whole po- 

 pulation; and as no institution is isolated in its effect, it is 

 impossible to decide upon the consequence of removing or 

 creating one law or custom without considering its con- 

 nexion with every other. It became, therefore, matter of 

 grave importance to determine whether so extensive an 

 inquiry was practicable, and if not, what portion would be 

 chosen. It also became necessary and difficult to decide 

 as to the order in which such an investigation should pro- 

 ceed which class of subjects should be taken first, which 

 last which were primary in their effects, which secondary. 



On every side we were assailed by the theories of those 

 who were born or had long resided in the country, and 

 consequently might be supposed to have possessed good 

 opportunity for ascertaining the soundness of their opi- 

 nions. One party attributed all the poverty and wretched- 



