Ch. viii. Of the Agricultural System. 123 



America and visiting England for the first time, 

 are curious and instructive ; and the facts which 

 they notice, though they may arise in part from 

 the different habits and modes of life prevailing in 

 the two countries, must be occasioned in a consi- 

 derable degree by the causes above mentioned. 



A very striking instance of the disadvantage- 

 ous effect of a low relative price of food on the 

 condition of the poor may be observed in Ireland. 

 The food of Ireland has increased so rapidly during 

 the last century, and so large a portion of that which 

 forms the principal support of the lower classes of 

 society has been obtained by them, that the in- 

 crease of population has been more rapid than in 

 almost any known country, except America. The 

 Irish labourer paid in potatoes has earned perhaps 

 the means of subsistence for double the number of 

 persons that could be supported by the earnings 

 of an English labourer paid in wheat ; and the 

 increase of population in the two countries during 

 the last century has been nearly in proportion to 

 the relative quantity of the customary food awarded 

 to the labourers in each. But their general con- 

 dition with respect to conveniences and comforts 

 is very far indeed from being in a similar propor- 

 tion. The great quantity of food which land will 

 bear when planted with potatoes, and the conse- 

 quent cheapness of the labour supported by them ; 

 tends rather to raise than to lower the rents of 

 land, and as far as rent goes, to keep up the price 

 of the materials of manufactures and all other sorts 

 of raw produce, except potatoes. The indolence 



