The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-05 00:00:00

JANUALtY 5, 1852

110 W to EMPLOY CAPITAL in IRELAND.
(From the Bunkers' Magazine)
The problem, which forms the title of this article, has
recently engaged the attention of a class of writers of
great ability, who have brought to a consideration of the
matter an amount of scientific and practical knowledge,
never before employed on any financial question affecting
the commercial interests of Ireland. Hitherto the ex-
pediency of undertaking any measure for the ameliora-
tion of the sister country has been determined by pos-
sibilities rather than by actual experiment ; and Dr.
Kass seems to be the first writer who really attempted
to develope the physical capabilities of the country by
an appeal to statistics and experiment. Subsequently,
other writers of ability have endeavoured, by an appeal
to recognized facts, to rouse the attention of capitalists
to the vast resources of Ireland, and to the pecuniary
advantages which must necessarily attend their develop-
ment; and of such writers we have met with none who
have brought th© matter more fairly and forcibly before
the public than Mr. Digby Sea moor, who, in his essay
on the question "How to employ Capital in Western
Ireland," has exhibited an intelligence and amount of
information not usually met with in essays on the capa-
bilities of the country.
Mr. Seymour confines his observations to six practical
questions, each of which can bo answered satisfactorily
in the affirmative or negative from actual experiment;
and on the satisfactory answers to these questions de-
pends the further question " whether capital can be
profitably employed in Ireland?"
We intended this month to have noticed fully the facts
which Mr. Seymour brings forward to prove that capital
can be more profitably employed in Ireland, at the pre-
sent ;time, than in almcst any other portion of the
British dominions; but we are obliged to postpone an
examination of the statistics on which Mr. Seymour
rests his argument, and to give now a mere outline of
the proposal which he so very clearly and satisfactorily
explains in the pamphlet that he has published. In
considering the question we treat it purely as a financial
one; and our object is to determine whether the plan
proposed is likely to prove profitable to capitalists who
may give it their support. It is, no doubt, deserving of
approval on other grounds; but the only question which
concerns capitalists is, " Will it pay 4" and this is the point
to which we would the more especially direct attention.
Mr. Seymour, titer fully investigating the subject of
his essay, places six questions before the reader. They
are:—

1. Can beet sugar, grown and manufactured in Ire-
land, compete with foreiga and colonial sugars?
2. Should a company, undertaking the manufacture of
beet sugar in Ireland, rely on private enterprise for the
supply of roots, or include in its operation as well the
cultivation of the beet as the manufacture of sugar?
3. Can rotation crops of beet and flax be advanta-
geously introduced into Ireland? If so, should the cul-
tivation and manufacture of flax, together with that of
beet, form a principal object of the promoters of such a
company ?
4, Are the soil and "climate of Ireland suited to the
growth of chicory ? and would its manufacture there on
a large scale be profitable?
5. Vlithout reference to the "commercial plants"
mentioned, does the West of Ireland present any natural
capabilities, agricultural or industrial, which peculiarly
render it an elegible field for the employment of capital?
6. What are the best means for introducing manufac-
tures of beet sugar, flax, &c,, &e., into Western Ireland,
and for otherwise developing its agricultural and indus-

trial resources?
It will be seen, from these questions, that the other
question, " whether capital can be advantageously em-
ployed in promoting the cultivation of beet and flax in
Ireland?" is placed before the public in a plain and
simple manner; and that the expediency of employing
capital, in endeavouring to restore the fallen fortunes of
the country, is not considered simply with reference to
" Justice to Ireland," but especially with reference to
justice to those who embark their capital in Irish en-

terprises.
Mr. Seymour, arguing from the conditions of soil and
climate, and various chemical and economical considera-
tions, makes out a strong case in favour of the extended
cultivation of such " commercial plants" as beet, flax,
and chicory, in connexion with manufactures of sugar,
&c., &c ,in the West of Ireland. The company estab-
lished to carry his views into .effect, called " The West
of Ireland Land Investment Company," propose to pur-
chase some of the large estates now, or likely soon to
appear, in the market—to sublet these on encouraging
terms to English and Scotch farmers;—while, at the
same time (to promote the growth of plants suited to the
locality, and give employment to the native poor who
would otherwise be a burden on their property and a
check to improvements), they propose to establish manu-
factories for the conversion of beet into sugar (the re-
fuse being reserved as food for cattle), and to raise
suitable erections and machinery to prepare flax for the
markets of Belfast and elsewhere. Considering the de-
plorable want of manufectures in Western Ireland,
where markets, capital, and habits of trained labour are
almost unknown, private enterprise seems inadequate to
the task contemplated, with better hopes of success, by
the present company.
"It has occurred to us, however, that the proposed

-
company would find their preliminary arrangements
very much facilitated, if, instead of endeavouring to coin-
bine the purchase of land with the manufacture of beet
sugar, flex, and chicory, they began operations simply
by obtaining land, leaving out of consideration for the
present, as tar as the company are concerned, the manu-
facture of produce. Other companies might be advanta-
geously formed to prosecute this part of the enterprize,
and we think " a Land Investment Company for Ire-
land," if unencumbered with any conditions as to manu-
facturing produce, would have a claim on the attention of
capitalists, that would ensure its success.
" We are unable this month to give our reasons at
length for agreeing with Mr. Seymour, that no one will
have occasion to regret his having joined the company
which had been formed for the purpose of purchasing land
in Ireland. The facts he adduced convince also that beet
sugar can be as profitably made in Ireland as in Bel-
gium, and the specimens of the sugar we have tasted,
prove without doubt, that as respects quality, it is equal,
if not even superior, to any that can be produced on the
continent. We hope next month to be able to quote at
length some of the authorities, to' which he refers, to
prove that the produce of Ireland can in every respect
compare with that of Belgium; and to show that the
investment of capital in any companies that may be pro-
jected to carry out the proposals contained in the
pamphlet to which wo have referred, can be made with
safety and advantage. Mr. Seymour's pamphlet is ao
conclusive on the subject, that we might refer to it
without further remark for satisfactory evidence in sup-
port of the opinion we have expressed in the matter;
but we know that such works are too frequently ne-
glected, unless brought under the especial notice of those
who are interested in the subject; and we hope, there-
fore, that all who feel desirous of improving the manu-
factures of Ireland, and extending the field for profitable
employment in that country, will procure the essay to
which we have referred; as we feel assured that it con-
tains an abundance of facts sufficient to convince every
unprejudiced mind of the capabilities of Ireland, and of
the handsome return which may be obtained from any
judicious investment of capital in that country."

" Elow to Employ Capital in Western Ireland, &e," by
William Digby be Tour. Third Edition. Loudon •; Effing-
ham Wilson, and Ridgway. 1851.

PARISH OF ST. MARY•LE-STRAND.

Tile Rev. J. F. Denham, rector, has issued his anima'
pastoral letter to the inhabitants, conveying his affec•
tionate wishes for their welfare at the commencement of
another year. The Rev. Gentleman gives some accepta•
ble information respecting the state of various parochia
charities, which he says continue in their wonted pros
perity. He proceeds to sky—" With regard to the
means of education, I have to report the pleasing fact,
that out of 369 children in the inner portion of the pa-
rish, between the ages of two and fourteen, there are
288 in distinct attendance at our infant, Sunday, and
parochial schools. The following is the proportion of
children who are parishioners or residents in the parish
in attendance at these several schools. In the infant
school, 81 out of 97 ; in the boys' Sunday School, 53
out of 55 ; in the girls', 95 out of 103 ; and in the
parochial schools, which admit none but parishioners,
there are 33 boys and 26 girls. These results show
that the good effected in these schools is done
according to the apostolic rule, to our own.'" On
these facts an appeal is made for further support. " The
Parochial Lending Library had increased from sixty to
ninety readers, more than half of whom have two books
at a time for the use of themselves and families. The
Clothing Fund, instituted for the purpose of receiving
small weekly deposits from the children of the schools, at
a premium of twopence on the shilling, at the close of
the year was found at its disbursement, on Wednesday,
December 17th last, to include sixty depositors, when
131. 15s. 74d. were expended in raiment among them.
The Maternity Society had relieved eleven cases during
tho year, owing to an increase in its means." Mr. Den-
ham says in conclusion—" I beg to express my grateful
thanks to all those parishioners and members of the
congregation who have most kindly and assiduously
assisted in promoting the efficiency of these and other
means of parochial usefulness during the past year, in
addition to the continuance, in the great majority of
instances, of their kind and judicious aid through many
previous years."

THE DEMERARA STEAMER.—BRISTOL, JAN. .-
We have already put our readers in possession of the Melan-
choly accident attendant on the passage of this noble steamer
down the river Avon. A survey of tho ill-fated vessel has
been held to-day and yesterday, cn account of the several
parties interested. The persons who inspected the scene of
the accident were Mr. Elmslie, of Southainpton, inspecting
surveyor of the Royal West India Mail Stearn-Packet Com-
pany-s fleet ; Mr. G. Bailey, late surveyor for Lloyd's ; Mr.
Carter, an extensive shipbuilder of London ; and Mr. Wi-
co'
Slam, of the eminent metropolitan firm of Wigrara and
Green. Mr. F. Green also attend
completed this afternoon,
on behalf of the builder,
Mr. Patterson. The survey was
and disclosed a very serious state of
.things. It seems that
the kelson, although not broken', Las been strained and
twisted to a most serious extent, and the other injuries sus-
tained by the ship are even of a more grave character. He
mosttlie 0
f iron
her kneesfloors broken
i
starboard-bow and larboard-quarter are completely brok
in, and several of her beams,
together with
with which she is fastened, are broken;
are broken up, and a great number of her bolts f
She is much strained and broken
throughout. Iro
The started,
of the surveyors will not be published for some reps
time, but
from an official source we may state that the interests of all
the parties concerned will be best consulted by her being
broken up.
REPRESENTATION OF THE 'MONMOUTHSHIRE 80.
AOUGHs.-111r. Crawshay Bailey has
consented to come for-
ward on the Conservative interest
which will be caused, in consequence tosupply the vacancy
Monmouth and. Glamorganshire B
Bank,
the failure of the
Blewitt, M.P., is one of the an.,, of which Mr.
principal partner=. Mr. Lind-
say, of Loudon, shipowner, has announced himself as a can-
didate on the Liberal interest, R and a second
can-
didate is mentioned, so that eform
the struggle is likely to be a
j severe one.