been out of print for years. In answer, therefore, to numerous enquiries on both sides of the Irish Channel, the following pages are now published, at a very reduced price, for more general circulation. They contain a reprint of the second edition, under an improved arrangement. The statistical statements throughout might have been brought down to the present moment, but this was deemed unnecessary, as the tables of 1830 still answer their purpose perfectly well, so far as the object in view is concerned. It will therefore be borne in mind that other more minute calculations are dated from that year; most of which are much stronger now than they were even then. The author is, of course, intimately acquainted with all that has been since accomplished, and that by every benevolent party; but, at the same time, he is firmly persuaded that the desultory, though praise-worthy exertions made, have not yet overtaken the natural increase of the Irish speaking people, so as to reduce, on the whole, the number who remain to receive instruction. Nay, the presumption is, that the aggregate is now larger than ever before. Let it only be observed, that when these benevolent efforts commenced, thirty years ago, the gross population of Ireland was only five millions and a half. It is now verging towards nine millions! Even in 1841, the census was 8,179,339. Year by year, it must be remembered, that the Native Irish have increased proportionally; and it is painful to reflect, that in a century so distinguished for benevolent exertion as the present, another entire generation has expired, and the great majority without even the knowledge of their alphabet!

Keeping our eye on this interesting race, their past treatment, as a people, has no parallel in Europe; and we have sat still, though foreigners have come and beheld, nay, and published this, to other nations. Since the origin of the English dominion in Ireland, at least twenty generations have lived and died. It is true, that throughout the first half of this long period, the mental bondage and moral darkness of Britain and Ireland were very much alike. But three hundred years ago that change commenced, which

has made England and Scotland what they now are. The use of letters and the art of reading operated powerfully, but, above all, the introduction of the Sacred Volume in our mother tongue. The Native Irish were to be differently treated even by those who, at that period, were so mercifully visited; and yet, up to this day, there has been no appropriate repentance, no just reprobation of the blind and cruel policy of our ancestors. Since the sun of Divine Revelation rose upon Britain, the tenth generation of the Irish people is now in the act of growing up and passing away, yet, on the whole, they still remain destitute of all that we have so richly and so long enjoyed-a vernacular literature-the word of God in our mother tongue, and the ministry of the word in our native language.

It is not that this is true of Ireland generally speaking. Far from it. It is known to all, that myriads, more than a million, of the Scriptures in the English tongue, have been circulated there during the last thirty years; many laborious and useful Ministers of the truth, in that tongue, are there to be found; and as for the art of reading in English, Ireland now ranks, unquestionably, above England itself. But we now speak of the Irish proper, or aborigines, and all these facts only render their present state the more extraordinary and deplorable.

Now and then these people have excited sympathy in the bosom of individuals; but it is only thirty years since, in reference to them, the public mind became at all alive to "the golden rule," and some progress has happily been made. In this preface, it may help its application, if we briefly trace the origin of our sad neglect. This is full of warning to any government, but especially to that of Britain, and at the present crisis. Indeed it cannot be too distinctly marked, or too loudly repeated, as it still remains to be far better understood than ever before.

It was in the month of August 1537, that Henry VIII. was, in a most notable manner, overruled to grant the use of the Sacred Scriptures to his English subjects; yet was it only immediately before, and immediately after, this me

morable event, that he presumed to inflict the most vital injury which the Irish people have ever sustained! A few particulars from authentic manuscripts, or recently published State papers, will serve to explain the entire state of Ireland at that moment, as well as the barbarous injury then perpetrated, under the effects of which this people suffer to the present hour.

Although for 365 years Ireland had been virtually con nected with England; when Henry VIII. ascended the throne, no more than thirteen counties were nominally under English dominion; and of these there were only four where the English laws were executed imperfectly, and as imperfectly obeyed. At that time, the common saying was -"they dwelt by-west of the law, who dwelt beyond the river Barrow," or about 30 miles from Dublin. When the existing state of the Island came to be laid before Wolsey and his Master, then styled only "Lord of Ireland,” out of 13 counties specified, eight did not recognise his authority; and in five others, viz. Louth, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, and Wexford, one half of the people disclaimed that authority. As for the rest of Ireland, 60 districts, then styled regions, were entirely under the dominion of Irish chiefs, and 30 others were under the rule of chieftains of pure English blood. Of these ninety great captains, Irish and English, every one of them made war or peace for himself," without any license from the King of England asked or granted.

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In these circumstances one is prepared for the curious information, but recently divulged, through the government of the present day. Thus, in the official report made to Henry VIII. in 1534, his Grace is informed that “he has no revenue within Ireland, except within the counties of 66 Meath, Dublin, and Louth❞—that in the greater part of even these counties, "the English tongue is turned into the Irish tongue-that it is expedient that every Lord and Gentleman within these counties be constrained to put their children to cities and towns, where they may learn English speech." In the "Memorial for winning (even) Leinster,” in

1537, the English government is informed, that "Because this country, called Leinster, and the situation thereof, is unknown to the King and his Council, it is to be understood that Leinster is the fifth part of Ireland, containing from Dublin to Waterford, by the sea coast, directly against North Wales and South Wales. In this portion is there five English shires, Dublin, Kildare, Wexford, Kilkenny, and Carlow-but between that part of these which is obedient to the King and the sea side, more than thirty miles are under the government and defence of Irishmen of Irish language."- "These men have the best and most entire part of Leinster, as it is situate, by reason of the fertility of the ground and the adjoining of the sea coasts to the same. They make as many horsemen as be within the King's five shires," so that, "When the King's men resort to the defence of their border on the west, they be many times in more danger behind them."

Whatever purpose therefore was now fermenting in the Royal mind, such was the existing state even of Leinster, to say nothing of Ulster, Meath, Munster, or Connaught—a fine country, placed geographically in the very bosom of Britain. It is granted that throughout the year 1536, Henry had been receiving most cruel advice from his officials in Ireland. The English there, it was confessed, required to be reformed, but the Irish were to be first enfeebled, then exiled! And how enfeebled?" The very living of the Native Irish," it was coolly reported, “ doth clearly consist in two things"- -CORN and CATTLE. "Take these away, and they are past for ever to recover, or yet annoy any subject in Ireland! Take first from them their corns, and as much as cannot be husbanded-burn and destroy the same, so as the Irishry shall not live thereupon !"* Then, to have their

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*CORN and cattle, observe; not potatoes, as at present, nor for many a day. The Quarterly Review, in an article full of sound advice, adverting to an Irishman's fondness for potatoes, has said-" it is the lowest possible food, and a nation driven to rest satisfied with the minimum of subsistence has nothing else to fall back on when this fails." True; but the important, though stinging, question returns-who drove them to rest thus satisfied? They did not run into this state. The fearful forray was about

cattle and beasts; which will be most hardiest to come by, for they shall be in woods, and yet by reason that the several armies, as I devised, should proceed at once-in continuance of one year, the same cattle shall be dead, destroyed, stolen, strayed, and eaten !" Such was the diabolical counsel presented to Cromwell, Henry's Vicegerent and Vicar General of England, by Robert Cowley, afterwards Master of the Rolls in Dublin. Allen, the present Master, had also advised, "it is expedient that the people be compelled to teach their children, or cause them to be taught the English language!"

Before this, however, Henry VIII. had made up his own mind as to the course he would pursue. A great change had taken place in England. The Monarch was exulting in the exercise of a power he had never grasped till lately, and one unknown to any Sovereign in Europe at the moment. Having already pronounced that there was to be no tantum or quantum, as to his Supremacy, he now presumed to suppose that he "ought of duty" to reign over the minds as well as the bodies of his subjects; and for this end, that he had only to dictate what they were to do, and what believe. Their duty to him, was to be summed up in one word

to commence, but it cannot be too generally known to the present generation, that the potato first introduced by Sir Walter Raleigh at Youghal, and afterwards cultivated, was long viewed with dislike by the Native Irish; and the use of it, all that time, was characteristic of the English Settlers. They were the original planters of what has been styled by the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland, the upas tree of Irish agriculture. The aborigines, in truth, finding out, at last, that the potato crop could not be so easily burnt or destroyed, must be allowed to bear its ample share in accounting for the spread of a root, now grown where corn once grew, or cattle roamed; and the hideous result is at this moment in the act of being read, with perplexity, by the advisers of the Crown, or Cabinet Council of England, in the failure of the crop of 1845.

It will indeed be a memorable occurrence, even in British history, if the failure, or rather the disease, in a crop of the lowest vegetable used for human food, should prove the occasion not merely of more attention being directed to IRELAND, but the abandonment of a policy as to Commerce in general which has kept us separate from the rest of the World. Should such be the event, let it never be forgotten that this is the third time in which the state of Ireland has proved the point of such perplexity to our Statesmen as to occasion their resignation of office. While, therefore, the aliment of the Aborigines must very soon force this people upon our sympathy, is the deplorable existing condition of their minds to be passed over still, as a matter of no account?