serupled not to avow his firm belief, that if the trade of the East-India company, and that of the private trader, had always been considered, as he thought they always should have been, as rival traders; if there had never been behind that bar any director who was, either directly or indirectly, interested in the private trade, or who was avowedly disposed to encourage it, the East-India company never would have been brought to the situation in which it was then placed. "It might be well, he said, to recollect, that the company was originally formed far commercial purposes; but becoming, in the course of time, possessed of a great extent of territory, it acquired, in a considerable de gree, a political form and lest those gentle men to whom the commerce of the company was entrusted, should, in the manage ment of its political concerns, interfere with those persons to whose care the political interests of the nation at large were committed, it was thought right to institute a board of controul. Not long after the institution of that board, it was evident that its operations extended themselves somewhat further than the title of controul, which it assumed, could have given reason to expect. Still it was generally understood, that the commerce was to be left to the management of the court of directors; and that the political concerns of the company formed the proper province of the board of controul. "And here, Mr. Twining said, he could not but again notice an opinion delivered, and persisted in, by an honourable proprietor (Mr. Henchman), viz. that the present question was as much a political, as it was a commercial question. An opinion more injurious than this to the East-India company, he had never heart delivered in that room; for it tended to annihilate at once the power of the company, and to put all subjects, commercial as well as political, under the management of the board of controul. It was true that the East-India company had commercial interests and political interests; and that if the company was commercially ruined, it would be politically ruined; or if it was politically ruined, it would be commercially ruined. But did it therefore follow, that there was no distinction between commercial subjects, and political subjects? If that was the case, most unwise indeed had been the conduct of the court of directors, of the court of proprietors, and of the board of controul; nay, most unwise had been the conduct of parliament: for during the negociation for the renewal of the company's charter, the utmost pains had been taken by the directors, the proprietors, and the board of controul, to make a distinction between commercial and political subjects; and to allot the one to the court of directors, and the other to the board of controul. Parliament also had endeavoured to make, in that act by which the charter was renewed, the same distinction. If, said Mr. Twining, when a subject relating to the revenues of India was offered to the consideration of the board of controul (a subject which was certainly in the province of the board) any commissioner was to maintain, that such a subject might affect the company's commerce, as undoubtedly it might, and that it should therefore be left to the decision of the court of directors, such a commissioner would not long be suffered to retain, and ought not to be suffered to retain his seat at the board. The question then was, whether the present subject was really a commercial or a political subject? What was the subject? It related to the company's commerce, and to the commerce of the private traders. Now Mr. Twining thought he might venture to say for those proprietors with whom he acted upon the present occasion, that they did not lay claim to that sort of ingenuity, which was calculated to confound all distinctions, but that they professed themselves to be lovers of plain dealing; that they thought they were possessed of common sense; and that to them commerce really did appear to be a commercial subject. "At the time of renewing the company's charter, individuals were desirous of being admitted to a share of the Indian commerce and the late president of the board of controul was disposed to yield to their desire. The East-India company, anxious to comply with the wish of Mr. Dundas, and to testify, at the same time, a spirit of moderation and concession, consented to admit individuals to a share of their Indian commerce; for certain and clearly expressed reasons, and subject to certain clear restrictions and limitations. And here the company might have imagined, that the subject was settled, and that they should be left in quiet possession of the remnant of their Indian monopoly, during the period of their charter. This, however, as the directors well knew, had by no means been the case; and now the private traders applied for that, which would not only be highly injurious to the company's commerce, but would also endanger the company's existence." merit for vivacity, and novelty of turn. The speech of Mr. Moore has great Another extract. "Sir, when the act of 1798 passed, the whole jurisdiction of the East-India company was divided into two distinct departments. The act itself is my evidence, and the practical execution of that act has been conformable The one department classed all the money, revenues, and politics; the other was the department of commerce. Over the first, the minister conditioned for this label, as over the new committee-rooms in the India-House, free admission over the other, the company wisely conditioned for a noli me tangere, and had it not been SO, I do not believe the company would have accepted "In the first of these departments it was paradoxical to us, unless to supply all the defective powers of the board of commissioners, and the unsuccessful influence of the novel doctrine of the opinions of parlia ment. But here I find a new twist. In those letters the subject of commerce is suddenly metamorphosed into maritime and naval importance, in order, by conversion, to bring it into the political departments, for the purpose, evidently, of obtaining, by new creation, that jurisdiction over it which the board of commissioners had not such is the implied acknowledgment. So indeed, by the skilful introduction of a good adjec tive, or some relative qualities, may they "Our executive trust, in the usual order, easily form a jurisdiction over every subject, send their commercial, dispatches for the however foreign. It puts me in mind of a perusal of the commissioners. The commis- very singular cause that once came before sioners not only alter many parts, but origi- me, as a chief magistrate, in India. It was nate new dispatches. The directors, as be- a cause between a Mussulman and an came their trust and duty, remonstrate and Hindoo. The Hindoo possessed a beautiful contend for our exclusive rights under the garden, which the Mahometan had set his act of 1793, retransmit their own dispatches, heart on obtaining. He proposed to purand protest against all growing contest. The chase it; No-it was not to be sold. He board of commissioners, nevertheless, per- bid higher for it, price upon price-No-the ist, and although professedly desirous and Hindoo would not part with it. The Mahostudious to maintain all possible harmony in metan declared he must have it, he could the management of India affairs, declare, not rest without it, and, in short, that he That they are determined that no powers could not live contentedly without it. But which the legislature has vested in them, all would not do-the Hindoo would not shall remain unexerted;' and they again part with it-he would rather part with his return the dispatches mutilated. The di-life, as his whole race of ancestry had rectors still persist in the performance of their duty, more than ever convinced of the necessity of maintaining unimpaired the exclusive privileges of the East-India company. The dispatches are consequently stopped; but it is not to be lost sight of, that whatever powers the legislature had vested in the board of controul, the exercise of them stops also; some tolerable admission, that the whole attempt was a new assumption, and had not that authoritative foundation on which alone they could stand. I read also a great deal about the opinion of parliament; and the opinion of parliament seems to be introduced, if possible, that its influence may supply the deficiency of power in the board of commissioners. Clearly this was the motive for blowing this high sounding trumpet. For my own part I do not know what the opinion of parliament means. I am most willing to respect acts of parliament-they are entitled to my prompt obedience; but I do not know what opinions of parliament are, and neither I nor this court have any thing to do with them. Let us now advert to the letters of the hon. Mr. Broderick, and the right hon. Mr. Addington, the present chancellor of the exchequer. We all know, that while Mr. Dundas presided at the board of controul, no other minister ever ven tured to look into this department; it must lived there, and been nourished there before him. Still, Sir, the Mahometan persisted, he would have possession of the garden; at length he obtained it. But what course do you think he pursued, since both threat and alluring temptation had failed? Sir, you know the Hindoos hold the bull sacred: the Mahometan killed a bull, and throwing some of the blood into the garden, the Hindoo instantly ran away with his whole family, to avoid contamination. Thus it is with this commercial dispatch, the minister throws into it the words naval and maritime, which are, in this case, the bull's blood, in order to acquire possession, and to bring the subject under his controul and jurisdiction. (Loud laughing and applauses.) But, Sir, we have to thank our executive trust again and again, for not yielding to the political fraud intended to be thus practised against us." Mr. Henchman undertook the defence of Mr. Dundas, but was heard with a degree of impatience, natural enough perhaps, but insufficiently urbane for the complete support of that character for impartiality, which ought always to be pursued in the public debates of corporate bodies. His speech, and, indeed, all that passed at this important court, merits the attentive perusal of every British statesman, and every European commercial philosopher. STATISTICS. ART. LXXI. General View of the Agriculture and Mineralogy, present State and Circumstances of the County of Wicklow, with Observations on the Means of their Improvement, drawn up for the Consideration of the Dublin Society, instituted under the Authority of Parliament, for the Improvement of Husbandry and Internal Resources. By ROBERT FRASER, Esq. Author of the Agricultural Reports of the Counties of Devon and Cornwall. 8vo. pp. 284, and a Map. THERE are no persons who deserve better of their country, than those, who with skill and judgment, devote their time to the investigation and improvement of its riches and resources The navigator, whom accident, or perhaps distress of weather, has thrown upon some desart island, assumes honour for his discovery: the man who cultivates a waste in the heart of his own country; who points out any means of improving its agriculture and manufactures; who opens any new channel of commerce or of trade, is, surely, entitled to at least an equal share. The one takes possession of a far-distant land, in the name of his royal master, who sends troops to subjugate the natives, and maintain his right of possession against the claims of any foreign potentate: a tract of land, cursed with a sterile soil, perhaps, and an unhealthy climate, is maintained at an enormous expence of money, and of men, to the injury and disgrace of the government which usurps it. The other takes possession, in the name of his country, of what may fairly enough be deemed, his newly-discovered island; sheds the blood of no innocent natives; asks no troops for its defence, but troops of workmen; and no money for its maintenance, but enough to pay them for their labour; he improves the climate, repays the borrowed loan with interest, enriches himself, and enriches his country. Perhaps there is no individual to whom Great-Britain is under greater obligations in this respect, than to Sir John Sinclair, for the unremitting labour which he has bestowed on the subject of statistics: to his example, and persevering assiduity, are we in a great measure indebted for those hints towards the extension of commercial capital and industry, which are scattered through 66 our county reports," and contribute to the growing prosperity of the state*. It is gratifying to remark that Ireland is equally solicitous to ascertain the resources of which she is in possession, and to improve them to the utmost advantage. For this purpose, some years ago a society was established at Dublin, under the authority of parliament, and the general view of the county of Wicklow, which is now before us, was drawn up by Mr. Fraser for its consideration. To enter into all the intricacies and minutie of detail would occupy a far greater number of pages, than is consistent with the nature of our publication: we shall briefly select what information appears to be most curious and useful. Part I. Geographical and Mineralogical. The county of Wicklow is situated in the province of Leinster, and contains 305,404 Irish, or 497,704 English acres: its climate is in general healthy, but is capable of improvement, by means of the shelter to be derived from enclosures and plantations. The mineralogy of this county is interesting; and Mr. F's sketch, though slight and imperfect, will enable the reader, by help of the annexed map, to form a tolerably clear general idea of it. The central district, extending from the southern boundary of Dublin county, to the neighbourhood of Hacketstown in that of Carlow, and therefore, lying nearly north-east and south-west, consists wholly of granite and gneiss, for the most part covered with bog and heath, but rising occasionally into eminences, overspread with mountain grasses, or almost wholly bare. In this granite tract, two lead mines have been discovered. At the north eastern extremity of the granite, near the town of Bray, occurs a mass three or four miles in extent, of horn Sir John Sinclair's statistical survey of Scotland, and the county reports, contain together a mass of matter respecting the riches and resources, and general economy of Great Britain, which perhaps, has no parallel in any other country. This mass of matter, however, requires arrangement and condensation; it is almost totally destitute of the former, and would bear a great deal of the latter, if applied with judgment. stone hills, in which no mines have as yet been discovered. On the east and west of the granite, are ranged parallel chains and detached summits of argillite. The western argillitic district is unproductive of metals, but the plain country intervening between the hills, is overspread with limestone gravel, a substance peculiar to Ireland. The argil lite on the east, extending from the edges of the granite to the sea, from Bray-head to Arklow, is but in part interspersed with limestone gravel, which principally abounds in the northern portion from Bray-head to Wicklow. South of Wicklow, the limestone gravel disappears, and the argillitic hills begin to be metalliferous: the principal part of this rich tract extends north-east and south-west from the hills of Cronebane to Croughan Mountain, about ten miles in length. In this are situated the Ballymurtagh and Cronebane copper-mines, and the celebrated gold-mine, which extends along the banks of a little stream, that rises from Mount Croughan. Part II. Agricultural state and circumstances. Eastern alluvial district. The fertility of some parts of this district is astonishing, and will doubtless, in a great measure, account for the preva. lence of a miserable culture. So long as the earth will bear corn, corn it must bear: when it will produce no more "it is then left to the Almighty God to send grass, which in many cases he does, in an almost incredible manner." In the parish of Powerscourt limestone gravel, and marl, are used as a manure by farmers who have capital, and either of those articles contiguous to them. "The latter is dug and laid out on a field adjoining the pit for two-pence a cart load, the load supposed six cwt. From 800 to 1500 per acre are laid out en wornout pasture land, and it is supposed that such a manuring, with good marl, would afford good crops of cora for ten or twelve, or even fifteen years successively." In another place Mr. Fraser says, "it is not unusual to put on marl to the amount of 1500 to 2000 loads of six cwt. each cart load: after this coating with marl, the farmers will take sixteen or eighteen crops of corn following, without interposing any thing but grain crops." Labour here is 10d. a day for men, from November 1, to May 1; for the remainder of the year 1s. Farmers how ever, generally diet their day labourers, and give them 6d. a day in money. Both these plans are bad: although it is true that in the winter season à man cannot do so much work as in the summer, he stands in absolute need of more money. His family must have firing, candles, and more clothing than in summer. The second plan is also bad : if a man's wages are valued at a shilling a day, and he eats half of it, himself is to be supplied with clothes, and all his family with clothes, fuel, food, and house-rent with the other half; viz. with three shillings a week! Mr. Fraser ought to have anticipated us in animadversions of this sort. The food of the poor "consists chiefly of potatoes during eight or nine months of the year; for the remainder oaten meal, and occasionally household wheaten bread.” Western alluvial district.— On the west of the central mass of primitive mountains is found also a very extensive district under the mountains, abounding with strata, consisting of limestone gravel, marl, and pebble limestone; and extending throughout the whole space of country, from the borders of the primitive mountains, to the confines of the county, where it is joined by the counties of Dublin, Kildare, and Carlow." Mr. Fraser, by tracing these strata through their different directions, has pointed out to farmers the means of manuring their lands, with facility and advantage: he notices the most striking improvements which have recently taken place, and suggests others of which par ticular spots are susceptible. The fol lowing hint is important: the county of Wicklow, flowing on all sides "The vast number of plentiful streams in from the mountains, afford admirable situ ations for machinery, both in the cotton and woollen manufacture; in most of these si tuations also, abundance of turf for fuel, which for the heating of stoves, boilers, and most other purposes, when immediately at hand, forms a good substitute for coal, and by being carefully charred, is rendered almost equally lasting." trict, which comprehends a great part of the Central, or granite district.-"This dislower, and almost the whole upper barony of Talbotstown, with the whole of Balinacor, and is more than 10,000 Irish acres in extent, has been, in consequence of the releilion, wholly laid waste, and until late in last summer that the troops had taken full possession of it, it was not safe to explore it !" number of houses, in the returns of the Southern or argillaceous district." The hearth money collectors, in the whole of this 'FRASER'S VLEW OF AGRICULTURE AND MINERALOGY. County, are 11,546. Taking the average population at five. and an half to a house, which appears to be nearly the truth, the inhabitants may be computed at 58,000; a very small population for so large an extent, amounting only to 23,75 in a square mile, and 26,9 acres to each house on an average; or about 1000 souls to each parish, averaging about 5370 acres. By this account, the parish of Castle M'Adam contains 524 inhabited houses, and 2912 inhabitants, or 5 and an half to a house. But the density of its population is 14.6 of an acre to a house, or 40.3 in a square mile; yet in the parish there is little or no manufacture, and the whole arable land only 771 acres. A state of prosperity, which can only be ascribed to the money circulated, and the employment afforded by the mines of Cronebane and Ballymurtagh. In support of this, it appears that the number of miners and carriers amount to 319; supposing only 262 of these have families, which is, most likely, much under the truth; this shews at once, that these mines doubled the population of this parish, and this must nave been wholly within the last ten years, as it is within that period they have been set to work with any spirit." The drill husbandry was introduced into this district in the year 1800: its success will insure its continuance. The farmers here are particularly spirited, and the resident tenants of lord Mr. Fraser Fitzwilliam singularly so. attributes this circumstance to the adherence to, what in England is called, tenant's right. When a lease is expired third person seldom interferes. The former occupier, or his heir at law, and even his devisee is supposed to have a tenant right to the premises. Mr. Fraser, in the third part of his work, makes his report on those subjects which the Dublin society suggests, as most proper for enquiry to those gentlemen who undertake the forming of These are aragricultural surveys. ranged under the respective heads of agriculture, pasture, farms, general subjects. Agriculture.-The high price of every kind of produce has stimulated Irish industry; and notwithstanding the distractions which have recently taken place, there never was a period when more assiduous exertion has appeared amongst all classes, particularly amongst the lower classes of farmers, in culti vating their lands. "I believe," says Mr. Fraser, "it will be found that in almost every place double, and I am told in some districts seven times more land is under grain this year, than has Pasture." In every part of Ireland the characteristic name of Ireland. "In this county, like other parts of the island, they trust so much to the natural disposition of the soil to produce grass, that they are at no pains to improve it. inclosed pasture is chiefly the natural grass, arising on worn The out arable fields; on which, according to their expression, they have left it to God Almighty to sow the seeds; some meadows there are, which have never been ploughed." The cultivation of artificial grasses is scarely, if at all, attended to by the Mr. Fraser farmers of this county. enumerates the best seeds for laying down meadows, and upland pastures, and gives instruction how to manage the crop from seed-time till harvest. The breed of cattle is so far degenerated, that Mr. F. recommends the introduction of a new breed, rather than any attempt to improve the old one. There are no dairies of any conse The milk in quence in this county. the northern part of Ireland is chiefly applied to the feeding of lambs for the Dublin market; this is done by women who squirt the milk into the lambs' mouths! Is it a practice in any part of England to make cows suckle lambs? Mr. F. must surely have been misinformed. Farms. A great part of this country is let in large farms, from two or three hundred acres in extent, to several thousands: the lands belonging to the see of Dublin, to the extent of many Leases are generally on thousands. lives, or a term of years, whichever lasts On the estates of residents, longest. three lives, or thirty-one years: on those of non-residents, generally twenty-one years, or one life. farms, however, on leases for ever, a tenure very common in this country, but little known in England. "Forty or fifty years ago leases frequently contained clauses, obliging tenants, after a certain time, to take leases for ever of There are many |