CH. VI.] EMIGRATION. 87 



CHAPTER VI. 



OF EMIGRATION. 



THE Commissioners inquired, in the different baronies 

 which they visited, the number of persons who had emi- 

 grated, what was their condition, to what country they 

 had gone, and what assistance they had received in order 

 to emigrate. These same questions were addressed in 

 writing to all the parishes in Ireland. 



The witnesses in the barony of Kilconnel enumerated 

 above one hundred individuals who had emigrated from 

 this barony during the last five years. All of them were 

 persons of very moderate means : a few were young men 

 who possessed from 15/. to 201. ; but not two could be 

 mentioned who had the command of 100/. All these 

 were persons who would have staid at home if they could 

 have got a sufficiency of land. 



The labourers, say the witnesses, would leave by hun- 

 dreds if they had only so much as 5/., so persuaded are 

 they that the land cannot support them. One landlord 

 divided between 300/. and 400/. among fifty families ; of 

 that number but three entire families emigrated : out of 

 the other families, about twenty individuals followed their 

 example, but not until the landlord had promised to 

 allow the fathers 21. each in their rent towards their sons 3 

 expenses. They emigrated either to the United States or 

 Canada. The number of those who have left has had no 

 influence, either in reducing rents or increasing wages. It 



