wholly a pauper institution, and is placed under the direction of the Board of Superintendence appointed by the grand jury, under the immediate care of Dr. Osburne, a physician of much experience and knowledge in that department of his profession, with the aid of a highly qualified moral manager and matron. It is conducted on the best principles, and will bear comparison with any of the district asylums. The institution is supported by grand jury presentments of the county and city.

The Lunatic Wards in the House of Industry in Dublin, (but which in 1840 were about to be removed under the Commissioners of the Poor Laws to Island Bridge), contain nearly 500 patients, consisting of incurable lunatics, epileptics, and idiots— no provision being made for curable lunatics. The inmates of this institution have always been treated with much care and humanity, and the wards exhibit a scene of tranquillity, order, and cleanliness, which, under the great disadvantages of the particular class of inmates, their number, and the want of room, reflects the greatest credit on the Governor of the House of Industry, to which it is attached, and to the officers belonging particularly to this department.

The Asylum called St. Patrick's Hospital is an institution founded by Dr. Jonathan Swift, (Dean of St. Patrick's), in Dublin. It is under the care of Governors appointed by Charter. It consists of patients received for payment in different classes, with a department for pauper patients. The highest rate of payment entitles the inmate to a separate sitting-room and bedroom, with the exclusive attendance of a servant; the lower rates of payment allowing of a less extensive provision for their accommodation, while every essential comfort is afforded to each class of patients. The institution has undergone a great change for the better within these few years. On the retirement of the late manager, the Governors appointed an experienced manager and matron, (Mr. and Mrs. Cumming), who had the care of the district asylum at Belfast, and since their appointment the system has gradually advanced to a high state of order and good management; large day apartments have been provided for the patients of the higher classes, in which they are provided

with every means of rational employment and recreation, on both the male and female sides of the establishment; and nothing, the Commissioners state, can be more gratifying, than to contrast the present appearance of these classes with the scenes which they presented on our first acquaintance with the asylum. The numbers vary from 150 to 200.

The private establishments for the reception of patients in the higher ranks of life, are principally situated in the vicinity of Dublin and Cork. Four asylums of this class are at Finglass, and near to it, and are under the care of Medical gentlemen of respectability and professional character. Two institutions near the city of Cork are of the same description. In all these asylums suitable arrangements are made for affording to the patients every personal accommodation suitable to the payment received, and every aid of medical and moral treatment which can contribute to their recovery. The asylums not conducted by physicians, are the Retreat near Donnybrook, under the Society of Friends, and which is a very respectable establishment; a small asylum at Rathfarnham; and the Retreat near to the city of Armagh, kept by Mr. Allen, established on more reduced rates of payment than the asylums near Dublin and Cork. The remainder of the lunatics under care in Ireland, are distributed through the gaols and small asylums in the county towns, and consist of those who are not proper objects for admission into the district asylums, or detained under 1st Vict. c. 27.

On the 1st of January, 1843, there were in the District and other Insane Asylums in Ireland 3,096 patients; of these 348 were idiots; 236 epileptic; 900 curable mania; and 1,612 incurable mania. The number of district asylums was ten, with 2,061 patients; the number in other establishments, (including 9 private institutions, and 33 gaols and penitentiaries), was 1,035. From these returns, it cannot be said that insanity or idiotcy extensively prevails in Ireland. The proportion to the population is less than in England or Scotland.

For the proper care of Lunatics, under an Act of 59 Geo. III. c. 106, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland may direct any number of Asylums to be erected which he may consider necessary, and

grand jury presentments for their maintenance are made mandatory, and not optional.

The Lunatic Asylums and their Expenditure is thus shown:

DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUMS established in Ireland, under the Commissioners for General Control.

CRIME. Before closing this Chapter, a brief examination of the moral results deducible from the character and education of the people may be useful.

An abstract of the official returns of crime in Ireland, for 1842, is as follows:-Number of criminals tried at Assizes and Quarter Sessions in every county, 21,352; of summary convictions at Petty Sessions, and cases brought before Magistrates, 17,099. Number committed for drunkenness, under 6 & 7 Will. IV. c. 38, to county gaols, 10,098; to Bridewells, 7,298. Total for drunkenness, 17,396.

The total number of offenders returned by the Clerks of the Crown and Peace, is 21,186; of whom 15,770 are males, and 5,416 females; of these 4,926 males and 625 females could read and write; 2,212 males and 1,074 females could read only; 4,306 males and 2,695 females could neither read nor write; and 4,343 males and 1,014 females instruction could not be ascertained. Of the total number of offenders, 189 were for murder; 69 for shooting at, &c. with intent to murder; 83 assault, with intent * Armagh rents five acres exclusive of the above.

to murder; 21 conspiring to murder; 120 manslaughter; 4,342 assaults; 19 rape and attempt; 32 abduction; 18 bigamy; 103 child-stealing or desertion; 32 concealing birth of infants. Total of offences against the person 5,191.

Among the list of offences against property, committed with violence, there are 159 burglary; 15 housebreaking; 71 robbery; 6 mail robbery; 30 robbery of arms; 20 demanding property with menaces; 12 sending menacing letters to extort money; 815 taking and holding forcible possession. The total of these and others is 1,150. The number of offences against property, without violence, is 8,402; of these simple larceny constitute 6,646; receiving stolen goods, 416; larceny from the person, 359; sheep-stealing, 205; cattle-stealing, 189; horsestealing, 70; pig-stealing, 48; frauds and attempted stealing, 117. The malicious offences against property are 253; of which 91 are arson; attacking and injuring dwelling-houses, lands, &c. 73; riot and feloniously demolishing buildings, machinery, &c. 128; killing and maiming cattle, 25. Forgery and offences against the currency, the number is 137; of which 80 are uttering, procuring, or counterfeiting base coin; forgery of bank notes, 10; other forged instruments, 33. The total of offences not included in the above classes is 6,052; of which 2,890 are riots; 1,729 rescue; 960 misdemeanors; assembling armed, 207; 273 vagrancy.

The total number convicted, of the 21,186 offenders, is 9,874; of whom 4 were executed (out of 11 convictions for murder); 17 transported; 18 imprisoned above one year; 7 imprisoned above six months; 19 six months and under; 27 were found to be insane; and 11 received free pardon. [For full details, see Appendix.] From this it cannot be said that the British Legislature and Jurisprudence deals harshly or unmercifully to crime in Ireland.

The points to be noticed in this Part are the increasing numbers of the people; their density in proportion to the arable surface; compared with the natural condition of the country; the extensive system of national education, including all sects, now in operation; the noble institutions for the relief of the sick, indigent, and lunatic; the provision for the old and young infirm and destitute poor; lastly, the merciful administration of the law. On all these important points, I respectfully assert the Union has been an incalculable blessing to Ireland.

PART V.

FINANCIAL AND BANKING STATE OF IRELAND. - PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION.-MUNICIPALITIES, AND ABSENTEEISM.

CHAPTER IX.

Financial Exposition of Ireland Before and After the Union ;-Amount Levied Per Head in Ireland, Scotland, and in Foreign Countries ;-Taxes Reduced or Repealed Since the Union ;-Proportion of Irish to British Taxation ;-Large Amount of Exemption in Favour of Ireland;-Advances from the Imperial Revenue for Various Purposes in Ireland ;-Inadequacy of Irish Taxation to Contribute a Fair Quota towards the Imperial Expenditure.

THERE are two allegations connected with the Financial state of Ireland which demand consideration.

The first is as follows: "Under the protection of the Irish Parliament Ireland was the least taxed country in Europe; whilst under the iron rule of the British Legislature it is a universally admitted fact that Ireland is, in proportion to her means, the most heavily taxed country on the face of the globe." *

The second refers to what is termed the "financial robbery of Ireland" by the violation of the 7th Article of the Union, which provided for the proportion of taxation that Ireland was to contribute to the British revenue for twenty years after the Union, and subsequently.+

The first assertion will, to a great extent, be answered by a brief examination of the amount of taxation levied in

* Address to the Inhabitants of the Countries subject to the British Crown, 13th September, 1843. See Preface, page 5.