Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Next Page
OCR
a,
9,
5
a
awn
Ga
ey,
HLS 4
a LER
ALE Z
LSS
y . A
ee BPA ee
Zi a
fabscriptio: rc
Dollarsper annum,
“VOLAXVIE 2s
* Veuth, is powertul'and will prevatl.
~ NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1841.00 Voso 5) 8 ee
. § Office ,cornerof Pearl
and Centre Streets.
NO. 20."
“LITERATURE, 7.05050 '* *
Sachesin Ireland, descriptive of interesting Districts in Done-
gah Cork and Kerry. Second Edition. “Dublin: 1841. ~.
“© “(Continued from’ our Jast:)
lis not for us to press this topic further. .We have said e-
pough to shew that Ireland was, at one period of ber history, a
very considerable general manufacturing country—so much so
asto excite extreme jealousy on the part of England ; and that
her progress in the accumulation of capital from that productive
wurcey was intercepted only by positive law } and the only rea-
manufactures from’ this country, is the: want of the necessary
capital.”. Had we been allowed to pursue the career we had got
into in the time of Davis, we should have been at this day, in all
probability, upon an equal footing with England, with reference
‘o all the priacipal manufactures for which she is now distin-
guished. “But we have been stopped in that career—stopped by
fegislative hostiliry of the most yiolent and wanton character.
ave, however, a manly Irish phrase, which Englished,
says, never mind.” , The capital we want at this moment to.
euable us to compete with Britain, at least in the woollen ‘and
colton trade, isin process of rapid. growth. “We have before us
tesavings-hanks returns for one small town in the interior of the
south of Ireland, for the years 1896, 7, 8, and 9, which shew,
that ia. the year ending 20th November, 1835, the fund accum-
uated amounted to 11,504/. This fund. was increased in 1836,
(0 12,8001. ; in 1837, to 14,9772.; and in 1838, to 18,4761.; shew-
ing a very decided increase of savings amongst, as the details
shew, a great majority of small holders,’ whose deposits range be-
tweea 201. and 100/.. This statement for one town, whose pop-
ulation does not exceed 10,000, may be taken’ as an’ index of
what is going on pretty generally through the south of Ireland.
inthe north, we understand, the gradual saviog of capital exbib-
its still more satisfactory tokens of prosperity. - mo
We are indebied to Mr. Mahony for the perusal of a report
which .he drew up in May 1839, ‘at the request of the late Mr.
Drummond, and which speaks a volune—a highly satisfactory
one—upon this subject. ‘The evidence furnished to several’ ¢om=
mittees of both houses of Parliament by this gentleman upoa the
ulairs of Ireland, from the year 1824 down to 1837, shews that
beis thoroughly conversant with ‘all the great movements of
capilal through that country: In bis brief, but pithy statement,
be says, that before 1824 0 great undertaking was attempted in
Ireland, particularly by English capitalists.” Since tbat period,
however, have been established here the ** United General Gas
Company,” with a capital of 800,000L., by which Dublia, Cork,
Limerick, aad some other places, are lighted ; similar compa-
des for lighting Waterford. Clonmel, and Drogheda, whose uni-
ted capitals are about 100,000/.; the Limerick Water Works
Company, 50,000/.; the City of Dublin Steam Packet Compa-
ny, whose original capital (in 1824) amounted only to 24,0001.
Ti was not long after raised to 650,000L., all paid up, and within
the last three years were added to it 300,0002. to build addition-
al vessels for the Channel trade, and 500,000/. for the Transat
lantic, besides 30,0001. for the trade between Dublia and Lon-
“This Company.” Mr. Mabony states, is essentially Irish 5
and ont of fifteen hundred proprietors, I do not believe that we
have fifty out of trade or residing out of Lreland.* The Directors
we ouly five, and the head of the establishment is Mr. Charles
Wye Williams, whose taleats and energy bave raised this Com-
Pay from 24,0004. of capital to the enormous sum of 1,750,000L,
dedicated to supplying steam-vessels and canal boats only for I-
téh purposes; and by his successful management, a large re-
“ved fund bas been established, while a regular dividend of 6
Per cent. is paid to the shareholders.” "* — oy Sagan
Next in order comes the Provincial Bank of Irelapd, which
*e need hardly observe, bas been attended with an extraordina~
'y degree of success. ° It commenced in June, 1824; the head
olfice is in London, and it has now about forty branches spread
thoughout this country. ° The eapital is 2,000,0004,, of which
50,0002, was paid wp in 1823. ° I'he company, afier paying all
Ue expenses of outfit, have givea their proprietors a bonus. of
49,0001, in their own stock, equal to 80,0002. in money. and they
tow pay 8. per cent. dividend on 540,000. capital. «They late-
ly distributed another bonus to the amount of 21.6001., and their
en remaining undivided profits amounted to 106,000. -
Mr Mahony, states the capital of the: Dublin and Kingstown
Beilway Company to be 200,000. all, we believe, now paid up.
The Proprietors, witli two or three exceptions, are Trish, and in
Tunberdo not exceed 138.,'The capital of the Dublin and Drog-
bela Raitway Compaoy amounts to 600,000L,5 that of the Ul-
Ser Canal Compan With respect tothe latter it
8 but justice. to add, that the canal——a most important work—
*as opened from Lough Neagh to Monaghan in 2839, and we
believe that it has been since extended ‘a3 far as Clones. Mr.
Mahony mentions other companies, and details some loan trans-
in which, a4 solicitor, he hav been engaged, which shew
son which can now be shewn for the absence of-such general | -
erations have taken place to” an amount exceeding * faur mil-
lions and a half paid capital, with theee millions and a half sub-
scribed, and ready for employment when called for.” *
; Exclusive of these sums, -théré are amounts of capital paid up,
or ready to be paid up, by other companies, such as the Nation-
al Bank of Ireland, the Northern Banking Company, mining
and steam-boat companies, &c., all established since 1824, giv-
ing a result of nearly 9,000,000/.; which, added to the opera-
tions already mentioned, exhibit a total of about 18,000,0000-—
‘The dividends paid by these various companies shew, that,
in general, their undertakings have been remarkably success-
a
_ We learn from the same source another highly important fact,
viz. that whereas funded debt upon whieh interest was paid in
Ireland in 1817, amounted only to about 18,000,0002., in 1839 it
amounted. to'33.774,912l, Ireland’ therefote imported from the
English Stock Exchange a-sum exceeding 15,000,000l., and
paid for it by capital created here.within (Wat period's Mr. Ma-
hony adds, “that between 4817°& 1838, the gains accumulated
in Ireland, through thé instrumentality of the savings-banks, a-
mounted to 2,048,338/, “It-would be no exaggeration, We think,
to set down these agquigitions now. at an amount exceeding 3,-
000,000/., taking into the’calgulation the hundreds of thousands
that must have been already saved through the effect of the tem-
perance pledge alone.) oye nl Ly .
~ Mr, Mahony specifies a variety of facts, which clearly estab-
lish the constantly increasing value of landed estates in this coua--
try. He further adds :— Cir ee Ph fat ith.
“Ta the counties of Down and Armaghy the market-rate last
year and now, is not less than thirty years.on the improved ren-.
tal; sometimes thirty-five years’ purchase is given. About the
town of Drogheda, and’ io the caunty of: Wicklow, the rate is
thirty years, Building grodnd, let a few years ago at farra-rent
near Drogheda, at only 11. an acre, bas lately been let by pub-
lic, auction in that town at 351. per acre pet annum ; anda piece
of laad adjoining that:town (twenty acres,) let five years ago for
iF he fr
tage, and ‘running backwards 300 feet-\ rogheda al
vithio ars capi! ntg.0
pended in; shipping “a ‘the whole of it belonging to
rogheda merchants and tradesmen. But the most singular fact
Tecan state is, that six years ago a poblemon’s agents sold an es-
tate in the county of Wexford. for 179,000. ; under my advice
the contract was rescinded,.ahd afierreserving 500. a year of
that rental, I have received for the same estate within the last |
year no less than 255,000). and the whole of that money (ex-
Cept about 10,0002.) was paid out of profiis on trade conducted
in the city of Dablin—ihe chief purchasers being—Mr. Guin-
ness, the brewer, @ Protestant; Messrs. Thunder, ditto, Catho- |
lies; “Mrs Power, distiller, ditto; Mr. Bryan, Ironmonger, Pro-
testant; Messrs. Boyce, grocers, ditto ;..Mr.. Whitcraft, pawn:
broker. ditto.” ~2 58 8 eS yore
Ye have descended to these details in.order to establish, be-
yond all doubt, the fact, that Ireland is collecting capital, which
1st, sooner or later, seek profitable investment in manufac-
tires: <-Theiquantity of water. power which*we possess, :the
cheapness of labour a8 compared with its price in. Engladil, and
the facilities that will probably in a few years exist, for the ex+
portation of the produce of the loony te,all parts of the world, from
the mill itself, must moreover ‘attract:to, this’ country English
capital, in addition to our own, for the pufpose of being employ+
ed in the‘same manner.” We have hands enovgh' for the
cultivation of all the mechanical arts, without injury to ovragri-'
3
=
culture, : my $ :
With respect to our. political wants, the first, in point of im-
portance, atthe present moment, is ao extension of the franct
26. a year, is now letting for 5s.. per foot annually, on the fron- js
i fe 1
| the gaaviter in modow
if-we only seek it firmly, according fo the’ mode which the eon-
| stitution points out. : Vee hw :
* We have infinite reason to be grateful to Providence for all the +. -
blessings we have for some years now enjoyed, through the a-
gency of a just and really paternal system of government. In
Lord Normanby and Mr. Drummond we’ found two men, who.
felt no hesitation in breaking down every obstacle, in whatever
quarter they encountered it, which stood in the way of any of the
rights appertaining constitutionally-to the Irish people. Ja their
straightforward and manly course they met with violent opposi~.
tion r but they beat it down, and have left the channels of ad- -
mivistration so clear for all their successors, that those succes~
sors, to whatever party they may belong, can hardly deviate in-
to error, even if they should have the disposition so to do. It was
particularly fortunate that Lord Ebrington should have been se~
lected to follow Normanby. < Circumstances not to be controlled
compelled the latter to defy the hostility of the faction which had
so Jong appropriated to itself the rule of this country. ‘ounds.
were thus, of necessity, inflicted upon the feelings of in
many of whoni. were certainly persons of greatrespectab
influence, whose assistance in their. respective districts it
would have been ‘desirable for the government to have psssessed.
‘The personal character of Lord Ebrington is peculiarly fited to ~
heal those wounds, and to conciliate those former opponents of a
iberal system of administration, We-do_ not detract from the
reputation that belongs to the successful warrior who bas trium-
phed by tbe foree of arms, when we estimate also with due ad-
miratioa the acts of the statesmaa who seeks by a mild and con-
siderate sway to reconcile the conquered to the new order of
things, to confirm the attachment to the state of the great party.
through whose aid the conquest was made, and to blot from the.
history of both those painful recollections which had so Jong di~
vided them from each other. The latter is the mission of the
nobleman. who now represents the crown amongst us, and his. .
‘acts hitherto have proved .how capable he is of fulfilling the’,
functions assigned to his care. “As to Lord Morpeth, he has ;
hown that he is equally fiued for peace.or war: be can com~
‘ad, when the occasion requires it, the: fortiter in re, as well as.
In Mr. Norman Macdonald he bas aa a-
ble auxiliary, well suited also to the circumstances in which he
is placed.” : peor be Mey EY .
ireland certainly néver, at any period of her annals, exhibited -
such a universal piciure of tranquillity as she does at this mo-
ment, ‘lt is a peace too beneath which there is no volcano, so.
far as her political prospects are concerned. Agrarian wrongs
outrages by individual proprietors against the poorer occupants
of the soil, have, as we have already intimated, produced a great
mass of resentment against their oppressors. Nor is it to be '
doubted that Lord Stasley’s open war against our freedom, and
the harangues of his associates, have rekindled many of the oi
< prejudices which alienated the Irish from the English people.—
But making due abatement for the operation of these two evil ins
fluences, still we assert that more perfect tranquillity pever
prevailed-in Ireland than that-which we witness at this mo- ~
habits*nf. days not long gone by, is to be attributed, under Provi-
dence; to be’ marvellous abolition, as we may truly call it, of ©
the viee%f intdxication amongst our people. “The spectacle of
a drunken man, in places where even very lately no assemblage
was held without giving rise to fierce contests and murders, is
now.a rarity seldom to be discovered. Crowded fairs aud mar~
kets occur, day after day, and week afier week, without produc»
‘| ing-even a single case of common assault. ‘The gaiety of the
olden times is fast returning to out weddings and our christen.
ings.- Our hurling matches go off without a blow struck in aa
It js manifest, from the volummnious statements which have been
lately placed before the public, that the numbers who have been
pulled at keenly Contested elections, falt far short of the just pro~
portion which, according ta the spirit of 1g constitution, Ireland
aught to possess,” Lord: Morpeth’s new jbill, which has been
bailed with just approbation throughout Ireland would material-
ly amend the existing state of things in respect- But we must
complain, that amongst the people generally in this country,’
there prevails great apathy in securing -and exercising their po~
litical rights. “It is with very greatditficulty, they are induced
to altend the registration courts. ver under the sysiem now in
force, the ranks of the constituency might be much augmented,
if the persons entitled tothe franchise would only take the trou-
ble to have their names enrolled... No appeals ean make them
generally understand, that it is upon their votes the fate of their
country mainly depends ; many even of those who do compre-
bend all the, importance of the franchise.1o the preservation
of tbeir liberties, look upon it with the most lamentable neg-
ligence. Peg eon ore
We think also that Treland is not sufficiently represented in
parliament, whether we regard the amount of our national pro~
perty or population. .The doctrine of the constitution, if if were
allowed to prevail, would entitle ug to have at feast one hundred
members in‘addition to our present proportion. This is an ub-
ger. Qur wakes too—often the scenes of terrible crimes, are
conducted wih their ancient pleasantry! - Let vot the English
reader Le shocked at the word.’ The smile is ofien very near
the tear on the fair faces of our country women, and more match-
¢8 originate in the Selds and gardens near which a wake is beld,
than in the cottage where the merry dance is kept up until sun
rise. In short, i
ted, the-strings of the Irish harp so long broken—
“The harp that once through Tara’s Halla *"-
> The soul of music shed—* . .
are again. restored, and if not yet-quite ‘in tune,” give out
under a master hand the sounds tbat promise. perfect har- .
ony. an woe . Lo
“the task of our locat government is one of comparative ease
what it used to be. ; ‘Phe military and the police are upon the
best terms with the people. Indeed, a red-coat is seldom to be
seen at all, and the police appear, in many places which we~
have visited, almost superfluous: They would be entirely so
if the suggestions which we have presumed to offer, as to the
organization of the population, were to be carried into ef. <
fect. « <
\ Other highly interesting circumstances besides those we have °°‘
already mentioned, have receotly occurred, which opento vsthe *
Gat, under hi
Ations, j
management alone, between 1824 and 1839, op-
>
ject which we must obtain; and obtain itwe shall in a few years, |
most cheering prospects of the future destinies of our country
\ < vo
toe
ment. *. = woe : .
Undoubtedly, much of this happy change from the riotous
ort, to borrow again the itlustration we havealready *