230 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK III. 



up the whole value of the land, it requires two years of 

 rates in aid from other parishes to enable the able-bodied, 

 after the land has been given up to them, to support them- 

 selves ; and the aged and impotent must even then remain 

 a burthen on the neighbouring parishes ." 



As the parish of Cholesbury became to other parishes 

 in England, so, we are persuaded, would very many of the 

 parishes of Ireland be to the residue at the end of a year 

 from the commencement of any system for charging the 

 land indefinitely with the support of the whole labouring 

 part of the community ; and, as these must shortly bring 

 down all others to their level, the whole of Ireland would 

 soon have to lean on Great Britain for support. 



It may however be said that England, with the Poor 

 Law system we condemn, has become a great and flou- 

 rishing country, while Ireland, without it, is in a state of 

 semi-barbarism. The fact is undoubtedly so. But be- 

 cause extraordinary strength has withstood poison, it does 

 not follow that poison should be prescribed as a remedy 

 for weakness. The true cause of the greatness of Eng- 

 land is to be found in her free constitution. It is the 

 spirit of that constitution which, long and happily enjoyed, 

 gives to England the energies she possesses, enables her to 

 subdue any vice that may from time to time get into her 

 system, and keeps her constantly ascending in the general 

 scale of civilization. Unfortunately, it is only of late 

 years, and by slow degrees, that it has been allowed to 

 diffuse itself through the mass of the people of Ireland. 

 For nearly the whole of the last century they were go- 

 verned by a code, the policy of which was to keep them in 

 poverty and ignorance, and which was perfect for its pur- 

 pose. It was, to use the words of Mr. Burke, e< a machine 



