126 PRICES IN 1779 AND 1849. 



in stock of husbandry, to put them on an equal footing 

 with those of her sister kingdom ; nor is this calculation 

 so vague as it might at first sight appear, since the 

 expenses of improvement and stock are very easily 

 estimated in both countries. This is the resolution of 

 that surprising inferiority in the rent of Ireland : the 

 English farmer pays a rent for his land in the state he 

 finds it, which includes not only the natural fertility of 

 the soil, but the immense expenditure which national 

 wealth has in the progress of time poured into it ; but 

 the Irishman finds nothing he can afford to pay a rent 

 for, but what the bounty of God has given, unaided 

 by either wealth or industry." — Part II. p. 12. 



Can it be said, in the immense majority of cases, that 

 there has been any change in this, or that the landlords 

 generally have expended any capital in providing neces- 

 sary buildings, &c, on their farms. In that respect there 

 has been no change ; but as regards rent, the advance 

 has been enormous, arising partly, no doubt, from the 

 general accumulation of wealth throughout the kingdom, 

 but principally from the competition for land caused by 

 the rapid increase in the population, and the encour- 

 agement of the con -acre potato system. The following 

 table shows a comparative view of 



