12 RENTAL. ** 



Inftesd of which is 145. 2^d. confequently the proportion 

 between the rent of land in England and Ireland is nearly as 

 two to five : in other words, that fpace of land which in Ireland 

 lets for 25. would in England produce $s. 



In this comparifon the value of land in England appear to be 

 fo much greater than it is in Ireland, that feveral circumftances 

 fliould be confidered. The idea J found common in Ireland 

 upon that matter was, that rents there were higher than in Eng- 

 land ; but the extreme abfurdity of the notion arofe from the 

 difference of meafure and money, the exact par being, as 20 

 to 35. As far as I can form r. general idea of the foU of the 

 tWo kingdoms, Ireland has much the advantage ; and if I am 

 accurate in this, furely a ftronger argument cannot be ufed, to 

 iliew the immenfe importance of CAPITAL firft in the hands 

 of the landlords of a country, and then in that of the far- 

 mers. I have reafon to believe that five pounds fterling per 

 Englifh acre, expended over all Ireland, which amounts to 

 88,341,136!. would not more than build, fence, plant, drain, 

 and improve that country to be upon a par in thole refpects 

 with England* And farther, that if thofe 88 millions were fo 

 expended, it would take much above 20 millions more (or 

 above aos. an acre) in the hands of the farmers in ftock of 

 hufbandry, to put them on an equal footing with thofe of her 

 fifter kingdom ; nor is this calculation fo vague as it might at 

 firft light appear, fince the expences of improvements and ftock 

 are very eafily eftimate.d in both countries. This is the re.fo- 

 lution of that furprifing inferiority in the rent of Ireland : the 

 Engliflj farmer pays a rent for his land in the ftate he finds it, 

 which includes, not only the natural fertility of the foil, but 

 the iramenfe expenditure which national wealth has in the pro- 

 grefs of time poured into it ; but the Irifhman finds nothing he 

 can afford to pay a rent for, but what the bounty of God has 

 given, unaided by either wealth or induftry. The fecond 

 point is of equal confluence when the land is to be let, the 

 rent it will bring muft depend on the capability of the cultiva- 

 tors to make it productive, if they have but half the capital 

 they ought to be pofltffed of, how is it poffible they iliould be 

 able to offer a rent proportioned to the rates of another coun- 

 try, in which a variety of cufes have long directed a ftream of 

 abundant wealth into the purfes of her farmers ? 



Thefe facts call fctf one very obvious reflection, which will 

 often recur in the progrefs of thefe papers : the confequen- 



for there are very many pariJLes named, from 'which, 

 through negled, no returns were maiie. I may remark that this faff 

 is ajirong confirmation of the truth of the data upon iiihich I formed 

 thefe ca/cu/alions, the above fum coming <vajlly nearer to the truth af- 

 teriuarJs afcertainedby parliatntnt, than any other calculation or con- 

 jedure iuhich ever found its ixay into print. 



The roads of England are a very heavy article ; 1 conjeflure much 

 heavier than in Ireland, but I hervt no data -whereby to ascertain the 

 amount. 



