46 The Landed Interest. 



in Great Britain, and 600,000 in Ireland. Ex- 

 cluding the mountains, wastes, and water, the 

 relative Cultivated land is held by these at an average 



extent of 



their hold- of 56 acrcs each in Great Britain, and 26 acres 



ings in 



England Jn Ireland. But the proportion of large and 

 Ireland. small farms in the two countries is very different, 

 nearly half the land in Ireland being held in 

 small farms under 15 acres each, while less than 

 a fifth of Great Britain is so occupied. %6 per 

 cent, of the farmers in Ireland hold nearly half 

 the land, while 70 per cent, in Great Britain 

 hold less than a fifth. Agriculture is the prin- 

 cipal occupation of the people of Ireland, the 

 revenue from the land there forming twice as 

 much as that from all other sources, whilst in 

 Great Britain it is but a seventh of the whole. 

 Hence in Ireland the possession and occupancy 

 of land is the great political question, while in 

 Great Britain it has ceased to have prominence. 



Irade and This country, from its insular position and 



Colonies ^ ' ^ 



Elf land ^^ great resources it possesses in minerals of iron 



with^^^"^^^ and coal, and the outlet it finds in extensive 



increase colonies, has advantages which have hitherto 



tion. enabled it to disregard those prudential con- 



