IRELAND— ITS SOCIAL STATE. 133 



it was five millions three hundred thousand ; next 

 year it will probably be less ; of whom one million 

 and a half are Protestants — a very different state of 

 things from what I can remember, when in many parts, 

 like my own, the proportion was twelve to one. Men 

 forget that the fact of a majority does not lessen the 

 strength of a resolute minority. Of the remaining 

 four millions, it is believed that the small tenants, 

 who would gain anything by such measures, are less 

 than half a million, besides their wives and children. 

 This is not a great number, nor such as to give any 

 sufficient justification for setting aside sound principles 

 of dealing with the land, even as a question of policy. 



4. The simple fact is, that, with very few excep- 

 tions, tenants have not improved their farms ; they 

 have not been industrious, or skilful, or sober; a 

 large proportion are indolent and scheming; the 

 rents have been less than the value ; nor has there 

 1»een any general oppression or hardship put on them 

 to liinder their prosperity. 



Though the evidence given before the Duke of 

 Richmond's Commission on agricultural distress has 

 not yet been made public, yet the nature of that evi- 

 dence is known. Professor Paklwin of Glasnevin, 

 who is one of the Assistant Commissioners for 

 Ireland, has sent in a report, and has been partly 

 examined besides. He is, at least, a disinterested, 

 and not a landlord's, witness ; yet I believe it is not 

 possible that anything could be stronger than the 



