average rent is about 15s. per acre on 15,357,356 acres, which 

 would make the rent roll of Ireland £11,518,392. Yet the 

 average expenditure in drink by these starving people during the 

 last ten years has been ;^13,823,102, a sum not only equal to the 

 total amount paid for the whole of the land in the country, but 

 exceeds it by ;^2, 304,7 10. The people of Ireland have spent 

 £138,231,020 during the last ten years upon this element, and this 

 is only the direct cost, if we add the indirect loss through pauperism, 

 crime, lunacy, loss of time, also loss of physical strength and mental 

 power, we should have to add a great many more millions. Thus 

 while the Duchess of Marlborough and others were collecting 

 money in England to provide the people with food, &c., 

 they were spending their money in this extravagant way — in 

 drink — demoralizing themselves, and nerving their hands for 

 dark deeds of cruelty and murder. Who can be surprised that 

 people in such a condition should be a ready prey to agitation. 

 I agree with the remarks of the Bishop of Cork, as reported in 

 the Times a few days ago. " If the Irish would cultivate habits 

 of Temperance, Industry, Thrift, and Self-Eeliance, the evils of 

 Ireland would disappear like the dew before the sun." Had the 

 grand work of Father Mathew been sustained, Ireland would 

 have been in a very different condition to-day. It is stated that 

 through his efforts hundreds of thousands joined the ranks of the 

 Temperance Societies, which had an immense influence for good 

 in the country. The consumption of intoxicating liquors fell from 

 11,500,000 gallons per annum to 6,500,000 gallons, whilst aggra- 

 vated crimes also fell considerably. If the Government and 

 Landlords wish to find a remedy for Ireland's troubles, let them 

 turn their attention to this question, by which they will do more 

 for that unhappy country than by any other means. 



If we take our own country, we find that more than twice 

 the amount of the whole rent roll of the country for land, was 

 spent in drink during the past year.* Can we be surprised that 

 trade languishes, that agriculture is depressed, that discontent, 

 distrust and poverty abound in the land. It could not be other- 

 wise ; and who is to blame for all this 1 not the poor unhappy 

 victims, but the law. The Magistrates have given licenses 

 without measure to the Brewers and others, and thus forced 

 temptations upon the people, which they could not resist. The 

 present state of things was clearly foreseen by Lord Chesterfield, 

 who, speaking in the House of Lords 1 30 years ago, said — 



" Drunkenness, my Lords, is universally, and in all circum- 

 stances, an evil, and therefore ought not to be taxed, but punished. 

 The noble lord has been pleased kindly to inform us that the 

 trade of distilling is very extensive, that it employs great num- 

 bers, and that they have arrived at exquisite skill : and therefore 

 the trade of distilling is not to be discouraged ! Once more, my 



* See the Times March 29, Leading Article—and Mr. W. Hoyle's Letter 

 same date. 



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