Art. XLI. A Description of the Condition and Manners of the Peasantry of Ire land, such as they were between the years 1780 and 1790; by ROBERT BELL, LL.B. 8vo. PP. 43. by which the foundation of manufac tures, of fisheries, of commerce, is accomplished. The speculators in corn, who occasion a temporary dearth, are the most efficient patrons of agriculture. Poverty is not to be cured by describing it, or reasoning about it; but by the endeavour of each to earn much, and to save something. He, who betters his own condition in life, assists to better that of every fellow-citizen, by means of the demand arising from his expenditure. This writer has drawn up an interesting account of the condition of the Irish poor. We think that he overrates their former well-being; but that he describes with fidelity their actual manners. He has collected much historical, and much ethical information. His main drift seems to be the organization of a better system of popular instruction; and he has condensed his favourite positions in an appendix which we repeat. IN all stages of society there is great inequality of welfare: some have much, and some have little to spend, and, if the attention of the people is drawn to their comparative condition in life, there must always be motives of discontent. Certain grievances can be redressed by government; all those, for instance, which result from positive statutes. Those laws, which prohibit the combinations of journeymen, can be repealed; and thus labour may be assisted in securing a less inadequate reward. Those laws which prohibit the importation of corn, can be repealed; and thus the food of the people can be cheapened to a lower average. Those laws which exclude from offices of emolument, persons who have got by heart particular catechisms, can be repealed; and thus the jealousies of emulation may be restricted to the comparison of merit. Other grievances cannot be redressed by government; all those, for instance, which result from the want of demand for labour and produce. If worsted stuffs go out of fashion, government cannot bestow on the towns, engaged in such branches of manufac ture, their pristine prosperity: the returns of the merchant, and the wages of the journeymen, must incur a proportionate diminution; until the superfluous capitals, and superfluous hands, are expelled into more promising situations. If a country is thinly inhabited, imperfectly intersected by roads, and seldom visited by travellers, the demand for hay, milk, horses, and similar objects of agriculture, which owe their value to their locality, "That this barbarous system was caused will not recompense the farmer liberally by that government which long ruled over for their production. In the one case, Ireland with violence, oppression, and folly; we ought to expostulate with the magis is as well ascertained as any historical fact trate, and to solicit his interference; in can be. A government which expects its the other case, we ought calmly to await subjects to be peaceable, orderly, and obedithe natural effects of the progress of opu-ent to the laws, must take care to have the lence, of population, and of invention. The condition of the peasantry of Ireland is bad; but it results less from superfluous laws, than from deficient riches. The catholic emancipation would benefit the civilized classes, not the poorer: these must await the growth of towns, to find a better market for their industry. The multiplication of banks, the consequent abundance of paper-money, the competition of lenders to accommodate speculative adventurers, these are the processes who had a stronger desire, and less means. "Perhaps there never was a race of men to procure scholastic information, than the wretched peasantry of Ireland. Great nambers of them were ignorant from absolute necessity; and the consciousness of that ignorance, often became a source of unhappiness. The instruction received by those children, who happened to be sent to what they called a school, was not only bad, but sometimes worse than no instruction at all. Instead of expanding, it served to narrow their minds; and instead of inspiring them with notions of morality, it paved the way for the commission of every species of vice. rising generation instructed in the principles of public and private virtue. But the old rulers of Ireland, with a degree of sottish bigotry, of stupid pride, and active malevolence, of which a parallel is scarcely to be found in the Turkish history; not only forbore to encourage public instruction, but did every thing in their power to check and William and Anne, with a view of convertcrush it. The laws passed in the reigns of ing the natives of Ireland from the popish to the protestant religion, by force, have been already noticed. The direct and avowed object of those laws was to shut out all kind of instruction from the children of Irish Roman Catholics. If ever there was any one legis lative measure more pregnant with folly and mischief than another, it was that of telling the majority of the subjects they must not read, unless they changed their religion. It was a law of such monstrous injustice and tyranny, as to render the enforcement of it impracticable like every other bad law, it vitiated those that were good and the people, having broken through it from necessity, were led into habits of disobedience of all law. This was actually the case of the Catholics of Ireland. They openly violated all the laws that forbade them to be instructed; and they did so in a manner that was at once degrading to the legislature, injurious to themselves, and dangerous to the state. : "The only way by which the catholic peasants could have been prevented from reading, was to have ordered a party of soldiers to be posted in every village, and to destroy all the pieces of printed or written paper they could find. Had this been done, one solitary advantage would have followed. The peasants, learning nothing good, would have imbibed nothing that was bad, in the course of their reading. But, in the very act of violating a publie law, they received a certain kind of instruction which was worse than ignorance. Their teachers were generally men of the very lowest class: a knowledge of writing, and the common rules of arithmetic, was generally considered a sufficient qualification for them to assume the office of schoolmasters. But of moral truths, of history, geography, or the construction of language, they knew nothing. They could barely read a common English book; and what little they knew of the English language, they spoke incorrectly. They could not, therefore, communicate to their scholars what they did not know themselves; and, if they could, the poverty of the parents put it out of their power to procure the necessary books for the children. Books that could have conveyed any knowledge of history were too voluminous, and consequently too dear to be purchased: books of morality were above their comprehension: and their clergy would not permit them to read the Bible or Testament. Their reading then, consisted of vile stories, which, without conveying instruction to the mind, either filled it with extravagant romantic notions, incompatible with their station in life; or gave scope and activity to the worst passious. The books that were used at these wretched schools, tended as much to prevent the peasantry of Ireland from becoming good subjects, as any of the circumstances already noticed. Romances describing the manners of barbarous and superstitions ages, were not calculated to inspire youth with correct notions of law or government; especially when unaccompanied with any other kind of reading, that might do away the bad impressions they had made. But this was not all: the evil would have been comparatively trifling, young peasants had read nothing wors the wild miraculous tales of other time countries. The histories of some of the worst characters, from among them also formed a part of their studies, 1 perusal of these, youth became famili to offences of the most violent and atro nature; and were taught to look upor bers, incendiaries, murderers, and violu women, as objects of admiration. The sition from theory to practice was but And crimes proceeded more frequently an inherent depravity in the perpetrators, from that desire of gain which con their origin in most other countries. "Besides those just alluded to, the c try was frequently inundated with and species of publications, perhaps equally structive to public and private morality. T consisted of songs and ballads, compes the vilest and the coarsest language, and veying sentiments the most obscene ar ous that ever tended to corrupt the hi mind. And such was the extent to w they prevailed among the lower orders Irish, that their priests were frequently ed to denounce anathemas from the against persons who should sing or re certain ballads. "To that defective and pernicious r of instruction already noticed, there w exception, which the philanthropic cannot contemplate without sorne de pleasure, because it shews to what an es the love of learning prevailed among people, and to what useful purposes might have been converted, under an tem erected on the basis of wisdom an tice. An English gentleman, whose sa stood him in SEVEN OF EIGHT HOND POUNDS, before he acquired that insign portion of classical learning which was sary to qualify him for admission to the versity of Oxford; will hardly believe t the sons of some of the most indigenti obscure peasants in Ireland, were able study and become acquainted with the Greek and Romair authors; that they taste to discriminate the beauties cont in them; and frequently conversed withe other in the Latin language; which (a bye) they spoke much more correcti English. It was no uncommon thing see poor lads who had left their h without shoes or stockings, or perhaps smallest sunr of money in their pode wandering through the country in sear scholastic instruction, and living on bounty of those whom they had applic for relief, which was hardly ever refe them. In this latter circumstance they distinguished from all other mendicants well as in the compassionate attention experienced from most people.-They themselves poor scholars: and that nam always a sufficient passport for a temp lodging and entertainment in the bot any peasant, whose hospitable spirit the cold hand of want had not extinguished. They were hardly ever refused admittance into any school; where they were instructed gratuitously; and of which the master took care they should not be reproached for their poverty. In return for this kindness, after they had made some progress, they assisted in teaching the younger boys. The part of Ireland to which poor scholars chiefly resorted, was Munster; because in that province the classical schools were always the best and the most numerous. The ultimate object which they had in view, was that of being admitted into the Romish priesthood. If they were diligent in their studies, and correct in their conduct, they seldom failed of having their ambition gratified. Among the Roman Catholic clergy, were many men of learning and exemplary lives, who had acquired their education in the manner just described. There were even instances of some poor scholars having been admitted into the university of Dublin, and there distinguished themselves by their progress in classical and cientike knowledge. While they neglected and injured the cause of learning, they operated as so many monopolies, to drive all fair competition out of the market. They were sinecure places for the nominal masters of them, who received almost all the emoluments arising from the endowments, without doing any public service: and the men who did the duty that was to be performed, had scarcely a sufficiency to subsist on. About the year 1787, or 1788, certain commissionerst were appointed by parliament, to make a general enquiry into the state of education, and of the schools in Ireland. They proceeded in their enquiries with the most laudable activity, zeal, and perseverance. They performed the whole of their duty; in the course of which, they discovered the most flagrant and shameful abuses. The public was given to under stand that all these would be radically cured, and that a great, extensive, and effectual plan of education would be adopted: no such thing was ever done. The business was hardly proposed, when it met with resistance, and fell to the ground. Like every other fair blossom that had shot forth for a moment, as it were, in mockery of the Irish nation; this was blasted by the pestilential breath of selfishness and corruption." "It would be foreign to the present subjeet to enter into the history of those institutions called endowed and chartered schools, which the benevolent zeal of individuals had There is a celebrated work of Diderot, founded from their private property, with a Del Education publique, which was transwew of extending the protestant religion. It mitted to the empress Catherine, and aray be necessary, however, to notice them, which has had its influence on the late so far as they formed a part of that general stem of corruption and absurdity, which philosophically methodic arrangement, trevailed throughout the whole of Ireland. for providing Russia with schools, so The peasantry, as must appear from what honourable to the benevolence of the has been already said, could derive no benefit czar Alexander. If the natural growth om these schools: for such of them as had of instruction ought any where to be acnot fallen into abuse and decay, were inac- celerated by the patronage of the sovesible to the children of any, except Pro- reign, it is in such countries as Russia tants. And their utility was of a very and Ireland, where the thinness of the ited nature. But the greater number of tiese foundations (particularly those which middle class, and their local distribution, ad promised superior advantages, and to prevents that dispersion of the demand fach superior endowments had been grant- for schools, without which, instruction ed, were not only useless and mischievous. would be too generally inaccessible. ART. XLII. Observations and Reflections on the State of Ireland; respectfully submitted to the Consideration of the British Nation; by ROB. STEARNE TIGHE, Esq. 8vo. pp. 38. THESE Observations deserve every and its ungenerous jealousy? Must we ttention for their equitable object, and admit with the Alvares of Voltaire, their propriety of execution. May they tuse that spirit of concession and repeal, "Nous egoigeons ce peuple, an lieu de le long the vain wish of every friend to Ice real union of the Irish and the British people! Is it for this nation to have to pologize for its pusillanimous mistrust, gagner. Par nous tout est en sang, par nous tout est en poudre ; Et nous n'avons du ciel imité que le foudre." • The author knew of one school, of which the master (a beneficed clergyman, who never went near it), received FIFTEEN HUNDRED FOUNDS a year from the endowment: while te usher, a man of learning, who did all the duty, had but FORTY!!! The right hon. Isaac Corry, member for Newry; and the late right hon, John Hely Hutchinson, provost of Dublin college, were among the number. The author was summoned before these commissioners, at the castle of Dublin, in 1788, in order to give information, on oath, concerning a certain institution, of which the author had some knowledge. On that occasion, he stated facts, at which they all lifted up their hands, with astonishment and indignation. ANN. REV. VOL. III. T ART. XLIII. Thoughts on the present State of Ireland, addressed to the Member: the United Parliament. 8vo. pp. 60. THIS pamphlet is written with much literary skill; and will therefore be read with pleasure by the educated public: it deserves to supply an extract. "On the delicate subject of tythes gathered from the poor (I mean the very poor cottier of Ireland), I am afraid to touch. The question has been often argued, and has always terminated with the same success: but my object is the amelioration of the condition of the poor. Their case is different, in one point of view, from the poor of any other country-they are taxed, in common with other persuasions, parochially for the repairs of a church which they dare not enter under the terrors almost of excommunication; they support by their grudged tenths the ministers of a religion whom they never address but upon those occasions; they must build, support, and maintain, by their mite of subscription, their own house of worship, their bishops, priests, friars, and all those set in authority over them. In these circumstances dare I suggest the possibility of exempting those from the spiritual tax, who were thought objects fit to be relieved from the temporal tax upon one single hearth, some few years since? Could there be an exemption from tythe extended to the labouring poor of those uncultivated bogs, which they might thus be induced to reclaim? Suppose for the life of the improver, or for seven years; the farmer would find his advantage in leasing to the labourer; thus to reap the advantage of a cultivated spot atter the determination of the lease, and the poor labourer to enjoy it, for the benefit of himself and family, after the first or second year. The general benefit to the country at large would be obvious, nor would the interests of the church be injured in any manner, (save perhaps by this innovation upon tythes,) because we all know that these bogs produce nothing but turf, which is not tv able, but that when reclaimed they pro most excellent crops, and in their cour future tillage would be ultimately of a tage to the revenues of the church itsel well as to the state; and in time, by comparatively slight encouragement, re many of those small tracts of bogs, w Mr. Young, the agriculturist, emphati calls heaps of dung,' requiring only to seeds thrown into them to make the ric and most fertile soils. Beside national couragement from parliament for the provement of these bogs, in which a interested, I would remunerate the c man for the supposed injury by an a ment, by grand juries, for every acre so proved, from the parish or barony at la The advantages held out by the Dublin ciety do not reach the description of poor of whom I speak; the tracts requ to be improved are beyond his capital means: my object would be to enco the very poor man, to reclaim the little behind his solitary cabin, through dreary tracts, and where frequently you him make his humble attempt under i pressure of difficulties that surround b and to suffer him to enjoy the fruits o labour unclogged.” It would be fortunate for Ireland farming would become so unprofit in Great Britain, as to tempt the mig tion thither of young farmers educa in our habits; the smallness of the far and the want of capital, are mor fault than the government, in not e sioning a better cultivation of the s the western island. That will pace with the general progress lence. ART. XLIV. An Account of Louisiana: being an Abstract of Documents deli in by, or transmitted to, Mr. Jefferson, President of the United States of American by him laid before Congress, and published by their Order. THE North American commonwealth is not likely to go to war for an increase of territory. The recent acquisition of Louisiana has placed at the disposal of congress a vast unknown extent of country for the most part fertile in its soil and temperate in its climate. Into this the swarms of adventurers from the Atlantic states may pour for centuries without feeling themselves cramped for room, while the entire possession of the navigation of the Mississippi excludes French intrigue and postpones the necessity of 8vo. pp. 43. any serious discussion with the Spani till the chain of confederated rep begins to press upon the frontier Mexico. The information which been obtained for the use of the go ment of the United States is arrange the work before us under the tel heads: 1. BOUNDARIES. The western boundaries of Louis as well as those to the north are b means accurately defined; the cour the Mississippi marks a very distinct frontier as far south as the 31° lat. but from this point it is understood by the Americans that the eastern line runs as far back at least as the river Perdigo beyond the Mobile river, and therefore includes a part of West Florida. 2. DIVISIONS. The province was distributed by the Spanish government into eighteen divisions, of which only those towards the mouth of the Mississippi were contiguous; the rest are * separated from each other by immense and trackless deserts, having no communication with each other by land, except now and then a solitary instance of its being attempted by hunters, who have to swim riers, expose themselves to the inclemency of the weather, and carry their provisions on their backs for a time proportioned to the kagth of their journey. This is particularly the case on the west of the Mississippi, where the communication is kept up only by water, between the capital and the distant kitlements; three months being required to convey intelligence from the one to the other by the Mississippi. The usual distance accomplished by a boat in ascending, is five leagues per day. "The rapidity of the current, in the spring son especially, when the waters of all the vers are high, facilitates the descent, so that the same voyage by water, which requires three or four months to perform from the cital, may be made to it in from twelve to ixteen days. The principal settlements in Louisiana are on the Mississippi, which beins to be cultivated about twenty leagues from the sea, where the plantations are yet thin, and owned by the poorest people. As cending, you see them improve on each side til they reach the city, which is situated on the east bank, on a bend of the river, thirtyfive leagues from the sea." In Upper Louisiana there are hardly any settlements; although the richness of the soil will no doubt speedily attract inhabitants: the territory which borders. on Mexico is represented" as one immense prairic. It produces nothing but grass, and is filled with buffalo, deer, and other kinds of game, the land being too rich for the growth of forest trees.' Some lead mines near the Mississippi are already worked to a considerable extent, and about a thousand miles up the Mis souri an extensive mountain of rock-salt has been discovered, and caves in which saltpetre has been collected. 3. INHABITANTS AND THEIR ORIGIN. The inhabitants of Louisiana are chiefly the descendants of French and Canadians; French about New Orleans, and Canadians in the upper settlements on the Mississippi: there are also a few Germans and English, and several Americans. The population according to the latest returns, but confessedly underrated, amounts to 21,244 whites, 12,9.0 slaves, 1768 free mulattoes-total 42,375. The registered militia amounts to 10,340. The Indian nations on the Mississippi. amount in all to about 9000 individuals; and on the Missouri are about 20,000. 4. CULTIVATION AND PRODUCE. The chief articles of produce are lum ber, tar, pitch, lead, horses, and cattle; those of cultivation, are wheat, maize, tobacco, cotton, indigo, and sugar. This latter appears to be attracting very ge neral attention in the south of Louisiana, and will no doubt become the principal staple of foreign commerce: in 1802 the quantity imported into the United States from this province amounted to 1,576,933lbs. 5. NAVIGATION. In 1802, 265 sail of merchant ships. entered the Mississippi; their tonnage was equal to 31,241 tons, of which 158 vessels (21,383 tons) were American. ART. XLV. Origines Gauloises, celles des plus anciens Peuples de l'Europe puisées dans leur vrai Source. Par LATOUR D'AUVERGNE-CORRET, premier Grenadier de la Republic Française. 8vo. pp. 354. THE different provincial dialects are melting so fast into the great languages of Europe, that the next generation will no longer be able to collect sufficient documents for the investigation of their origin and the classification of their relationship. How desirable therefore that a dictionary or grammar, and a few specimens of such popular songs and trans lated prayers as are yet in being, might be drawn up and printed off for every district of which the jargon is peculiar. It will then be possible to ascertain by actual inspection which are the unmixed and which the mongrel nations; and whether a given tribe was wafted westward with the first, the secord, the third, or the fourth wave of Asiatic population. |