56 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK I. 



have maintained their privileges, the population 

 has increased much less than in those where these 

 privileges have been abolished. 



The remedy pointed out by the drainage of the 

 bog-lands may indeed partially lessen the evils of 

 society if effected under a good system, as it may 

 increase them if applied under a bad one. 



Three centuries ago, all Europe presented a uni- 

 form aspect : bogs, commons and woods occupied 

 above three-fourths of the surface. For three cen- 

 turies all Europe has been engaged in draining, 

 clearing and cultivating, but each country has fol- 

 lowed its own system. In Great Britain the lands 

 thus brought into a state of culture have been di- 

 vided into farms of three hundred acres. In Ireland, 

 on the contrary, they have been parcelled out into 

 farms of ten acres, five, and even less than a single 

 acre. Here are the two extremities of the chain. 

 The English system has limited the increase of the 

 population ; the Irish system, on the contrary, has 

 placed no limit to it. If therefore the Commis- 

 sioners propose the drainage of the bog-lands, they 

 will only augment the evil ; if, on the other hand, 

 they adopt the English system, they will materially 

 better the country ; and this point we must explain. 

 All the various states of Europe have for three cen- 

 turies undergone clearing, and they are all richer 

 or poorer in proportion as they have adopted more 

 or less completely the one or other of these systems. 



