is likely, if good government be not restored, to be utterly annihilated.

"It has increased," said he, "before the union MORE in proportion, than the trade of England: and, perhaps, if it could be ascertained, that the general trade of Ireland is, in proportion to her capital, greater than that of England."

"Her progress in the present era, is great and rapid. In general her imports of manufactured goods decrease, and her exports of manufactures increase, her trade to all parts must advance very much; her spirits are now alive to improvement, and if they take a right turn, the country will be highly benefitted." (p. 270). Since the union the trade of Ireland has decreased more in proportion, than that of England; its decline is great and rapid, and unless things take a right turn, herself and her trade will be utterly destroyed!

But Sir Henry Parnell, Mr. S. Rice, and Mr. G. Dawson, have attempted to persuade 8,000,000 of Irishmen that commerce here is "rapidly progressing." The last named gentleman, when applied to for some relief, whilst secretary to the treasury for Ireland, stated that there remained 14,000,000. as the amount of the balance of transfers for the preceding seven years. Now we need only refer to the Annual Financial Accounts, and to the return of stock transfers, published by order of the House of Commons in 1831, to show that the balance was only 7,000,0007. Sir H. Parnell, in his fourth edition of "Financial Reform," refers to tables in his appendix, to prove that beyond all doubt Ireland has made great progress since the union." Mr. S. Rice had introduced those tables in his tract to show the same. Those tables, it is true, show an increase as to quantity on some articles, whilst we have shown an evident decrease even as to quantity in many others. But do these, gentlemen, show, even in those few articles, an increase proportioned to the progress of population, or proportioned to the rising state of Ireland before the union, or even proportioned to the progress of England since the union, under even an unreformed native legislature? But taking even these wondrous tables, it can be proved that as to the value of the articles, Ireland is" rapidly decreasing."

From a statement of quantities, under the head of England and Ireland, of 1800, compared with 1827, it will be seen that whilst before the union, neither America nor England was advancing so rapidly as Ireland; yet that since the union, whilst America has just paid off all her debt, and England has advanced from forty-seven to seventy-one millions, Ireland has fallen off from twelve to nine millions!

9,799,000

£47,004,000 71,619,000 12,402,000

Did not Dr. Doyle therefore, say justly, that " he could prove that a federal union of these islands under one crown, would be more lasting than that which now exists, and that the agriculture, commerce, and consequently the strength of both countries, would be greatly increased by the repeal of the union, and by the reforms in England and Ireland, which should necessarily attend or follow such repeal?"Letter, Nov. 24, 1830.

But although we have much more to say, we must conclude this chapter, and see whether the union has bettered the condition of the main body of the Irish people? Has it benefited England? Can it ever secure prosperity to Ireland? As these subjects are connected, we shall endeavour to compress them in the following chapter.

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CHAPTER XII.

Has the Union bettered the condition of the main body of the Irish people? Has it benefited England? Can it ever secure prosperity to Ireland?

"Famine from dearth we have heard of; but a famine in a plentiful country is like some other peculiarities, only to be met with in Ireland, and ONLY SINCE THE UNION."-Lord Cloncurry, 29th Nov. 1827.

POSTLETHWAYT says "land proprietors would do well to consider, that if seven-eighths of the people must sustain unnatural want and penury; if these consequences are not daily guarded against, many of their own offspring, in a generation or two, if not sooner, will find themselves in no better situation. Working people being reduced to such distress and difficulties, we say, is unnatural: the great Author of our being has made ample provision against them, by affording a full competency of land to guard against them; and it is our own fault, our own weakness and folly, and bad policy, not to guard against such evils, when we have it so manifestly in our power."—Vol. 1, p. 22,

There is the thought worthy to be entertained by every honest man. For what purpose do we talk of civilization, liberty, agriculture, manufacture, and commerce, if we forget the main body of the people, for whose benefit and happiness they were all designed? To what purpose do we distract our minds about this government or about that, if bettering the condition of humanity be not " our measure, end, and aim ?"

Men of Ireland, men of England, men of civilized Europe, has the union worked well for the main body of the Irish people? Has it this day, amidst all the knowledge and civilization of the age, left them better than they were thirty years ago? Has it given them as comfortable eating, drinking, clothing, and lodging as they then had? If it has, in God's name, continue it. If it has not, will you allow the all-devouring evil to continue until the people have to eat themselves, before they die in "a land flowing with milk and honey?"

Rulers, in the sight of high and merciful heaven, I charge you to look to those things! Talk not to us of our exports and imports, whilst thousands are dying in the land. -Speak not to us of the immense capital in the hands of the aristocracy, monopolisers, fund holders, and unfeeling absentees, whilst famine rages in this fruitful country. Do not mock our sufferings, or despise our sorrows, with your cant about " the envy of surrounding nations, and the glory of the world," whilst the people in hundreds perish on the public way! What then was the state of the great mass of the Irish people, and what is it now?

It is true that in the days of invasion, confiscation, forfeiture, and the full rigor of the penal code, (all proceeding from the "English parental government," as we have seen), their state was deplorable.

It is true, also, that in the early days of Swift, from the vile English misgovernment of Anne, aud her pacific ministers, Ireland's condition was truly wretched.

All this, so far from lessening the evils of the union, renders it more odious, because it was, as we have seen in those days, this measure was designed and suggested for Ireland. But what was Ireland when left to herself, from 1782 to the unhallowed days of rebellion ?

Lord Clare and lord Plunket have already told us, that she was so increasing in prosperity, that no nation, for the time ever equalled her. Earl Grey, in 1799, debating the union, declared "that there was nothing in the advancement of Scotland to parallel the progress of Ireland." (See Parliamentary History, vol. 35, p. 68). We would respectfully call on his lordship, to tell us how Ireland has progressed since the union? "At present" said Lord Sheffield, in 1785, "perhaps the improvement of Ireland is as rapid as any country ever experienced, nor will any thing check it, but the weakness of human nature, an ill-founded dissatisfaction, or an extravagant disposition to innovation and change."-p. 6.

"It can be asserted, that they consume a great quan tity, (meaning apparel,) and more in proportion than their neighbors."-P. 189.

He elsewhere shows, that in all necessary articles they consumed as much as they exported. "Ireland has not these disadvantages of England's manufacture, requiring

immense capital. On the contrary, her manufactures possess every facility and encouragement that were ever known in any country.-P.272."

"An author says he," meaning himself, "might on the strength of the facts stated in the foregoing pages," some of which we quoted, "proved by authentic documents, venture to assert, that the manufacture the trade, the finances, and every thing appertaining to Ireland, except the minds of the people, are in a good way.

"He might, still, perhaps, go farther, and affirm, that no other country ever possessed so many advantages, and was so happily circumstanced. Thus much, he will contend for that Ireland possesses the great and useful advantages of the greatest countries, and that she is gradu ally advancing to the attainment of every advantage required and maintained by Britain. Her soil is excellent, and her climate favorable to agriculture and manufactures; her people capable of whatever they please to undertake, her situation the best for trade-her ports numerous and good."

"The kingdom in general is in the most prosperous state, and has, perhaps, been progressively more so than any country in Europe, during the greater part of a century; and this shortly after parliament had asserted the independence of the legislature, and had gained more popular advantages for the country, than all the parliaments of Ireland ever had done."

“The manufactures and trade of Ireland are in a prospe rous state; let her not neglect them for vain speculations, (such as the union,) let both countries recollect and avait themselves of their many and great advantages: let them not tamper with that which is good, lest they destroy it.— The hint given to the Italians by their countryman, may be worthy of their attention. He was in a good state of health; he tampered with his constitution, to make it better, and finding he had destroyed himself by his quackery. he ordered the following to be inscribed on his tomb :-

'Stava bene, ma per star meglio sto qui.'

'I was well, 1 would be better, and here 1 lie."

How applicable are those concluding words to the mis. governors of Ireland, who would not allow her to run with