CH. I.] CONDITION OF THE PEASANTRY. 12? 



state of filth which it is impossible to imagine ; that the 

 pig which they rear has no separate sty, but lives with the 

 family ; that the poorest of the agricultural population in 

 England would not put their animals into the cabins 

 rented by the Irish at I/. 10s. a year; and they are asto- 

 nished that, notwithstanding such poverty, there should 

 still exist any order in society. 



The Commissioners inquired how fuel was pro T 

 cured, and what was the cost of it. 



The common fuel of the country is turf. There is an 

 abundant supply of it in the bogs ; but, say the witnesses, 

 it is not within the reach of the poorer classes, as the cost 

 of it is excessive 18s. or I/, will not buy sufficient stock 

 to last one cabin for a year. 



Hence, they add, all the turf which is left upon the 

 ground, faggots and branches of trees, are stolen ; the al- 

 ternative is either to steal or perish, for the poor have no 

 means of buying, and the rich will not give. 



This thieving is not considered disgraceful, and parents 

 even encourage their children to it, who thus become ac- 

 customed to petty depredation. They pillage the fields ; 

 and some crops, such as turnips, it is impossible even to 

 attempt to cultivate, as it is a great luxury to the peasantry 

 to eat this vegetable. 



Many witnesses were of opinion that most of the diseases 

 of the Irish peasantry arise more from want of fuel than 

 from bad food : it is from the want of fires that rheumatism, 

 fevers and pleurisies are so common. Those bog-lands 

 on which turf is cheap are thickly populated, which is 

 another evil. 



