352 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



but in Ireland it amounts to forty ; and our rural popu- 

 lation, upon an equal surface, is equivalent to only two- 

 thirds of the rural population of Ireland. In England 

 the whole population was more numerous, but then the 

 agricultural production was double, and the rural popu- 

 lation amouDted to only half that of Ireland. In Scot- 

 land the proportions were still more favourable. 



We may notice, besides, as in favour of our country, 

 that the rural population of France is not entirely depen- 

 dent upon wages ; they partake of a considerable portion 

 of the rent, as proprietors of part of the soil likewise a 

 portion of the profit, since they include farmers and 

 metayers; whilst in Ireland the peasantry not being pro- 

 prietors, and the farmers-general, or middlemen, belong- 

 ing to the urban population, the rural population was 

 living entirely upon that which would otherwise have 

 been wages. I mean here by wages all that was given 

 up to the small tenantry as the return for their labour, 

 and which, though not actually paid them in the shape 

 of wages, was nevertheless the real earning, since return 

 upon capital and agricultural skill went for nothing. 



It has often been alleged that rents in Ireland were 

 raised to an undue extent. No doubt there is some truth 

 in the accusation, but it is not the rate in itself which 

 deserves it. We see, in fact, that the rent reached in Ire- 

 land, as in France, in England, and even in Scotland, to 

 only one-third of the gross production, besides being in 

 many cases merely nominal ; the actual amount collected 

 fell to one -fourth or one -fifth of the produce, and pro- 

 bably even lower. In a well-constituted state, such a 

 rent would scarcely have sufficed to feed the non- rural 

 population ; under a better system, its tendency would 

 have been to rise rather than to fall. 



The wretched condition of the cultivators cannot be 



