43
wages ; but the poor creatures are obliged to
engage for it at any price, as they have no other
means of subsistence. The wretchedness to which
such a system of oppression has led, can only be
credited by those who have travelled through
their country, and who have seen their tattered
clothing, their mud and chimney less cottages,
swarming with naked children. Having been a
considerable time in Ireland in the years 1799
and 1800, I am a living witness to the truth of
this assertion. But, I beg leave to recommend
the perusal of a pamphlet just published by
Colonel Burgoyne, who is in an official situation
in Dublin, and by his diligent investigation into
the miserable state of the poor is likely to
propose an amelioration of the condition of
these miserable wretches. Now, if Ireland is
to be quoted as an example of the supposed
bad effects of letting land to the poor, it may
surely be quoted as an example, that poverty and
wretchedness do not prevent the multiplication
of the species. In fact, the Irish afford a con-
firmation of my argument. Their poverty and
distress destroy every hope and every encourage-
ment to prudential considerations. They cannot
be more wretched ; they cannot look forward to
any amelioration of their condition; and there-
fore engage in early marriages, without a pros-
pect, or even a hope of providing for their
F 2