PREFACE. 



The following pages are the first-fruits of studies 

 in Irish history and Irish economics made by a 

 Continental observer, Dr. Moritz J. Bonn. Dr. 

 Bonn qualified himself for his task by a more 

 or less continuous residence of several years in 

 Ireland. He made acquaintance with its leading 

 men of all parties ; he laid the foundation of his 

 knowledge of the conditions of modern Ireland 

 by a thorough study of the history of the country 

 from the Norman conquest downwards ; he made 

 himself familiar with the laws and institutions 

 of the country by the close observation of their 

 operation in contemporary life, as well as by the 

 study of official publications. His attitude is 

 that of a foreigner, quite removed from the in- 

 fluences of party politics. He has wished to see 

 things as they are — to regard Ireland (or as 

 much of Ireland as he here deals with) from 

 the standpoint of general European culture. 

 Much has been written about Ireland in attack 



