THE FAMINE AND EXODUS. 389 



the face of such facts. Ireland will probably, one day, come 

 to small property, for its natural tendency is in that 

 direction. Meantime, however, the rural population is 

 too poor. It must gain in farming what is necessary to 

 become proprietor. It is not for its interest to think 

 about it sooner. 



The English Government, being desirous at the same 

 time of providing regenerated Ireland with capital, and 

 outlets for its productions, offer, as they did in England, 

 to lend 4,000,000 to such proprietors as may be de- 

 sirous of draining their land, or repairing their build- 

 ings and farm -roads ; the amount borrowed to be re- 

 paid at the rate of 6^ per cent for twenty-two years. 

 A good many have accepted this offer, and are proceeding 

 with these useful works. The Irish banks, whose history 

 had hitherto been full of disasters, have taken up a new 

 position. During the former struggles, a run on the banks 

 was a means often adopted by the agitators for throwing 

 the country into confusion. These disturbances to the 

 circulation are, however, much less to be feared now. 

 The banks can safely let themselves out a little more, and 

 extend their business to a larger circle of customers. A 

 net- work of railways begins to cover the island, and har- 

 bours and rivers are being improved. 



The improvement in means of communication shows 

 itself by the rise in agricultural commodities all over the 

 country. Exportation, which was formerly an evil, inas- 

 much as it carried off the food of the people, without 

 giving anything in return, becomes a benefit now that 

 Ireland has fewer mouths to feed, and that rents are 

 expended more upon the spot. 



Finally, instruction in agriculture, of which Ireland stood 

 much in need, is widely extending, and forms part of a re- 

 cently organised system of popular education. Since 1826, 



