The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-29 00:00:00

bring into cultivation one million of acres of Waste Land, all
the idle and de3titute labourers of Ireland could at once be
set to work, at an annual expense to the country, for the
Interest of Five Millions, 4 per cent. or £200,000
Interest, second year 200,000

£400,000

This sum of 400,000/. would be all the actual cash advance
that would be required to relieve, pacify, satisfy, and render
comfortable the suffering population of Ireland.
The owners of land in each parish ought gladly to give their
waste and unprofitable land to be put under the management
of Government Commissioners, to be brought into cultivation
by an outlay of 5/. on each acre. Nor is there a labouring
man in Ireland, with the inducement of being made secure in
the possession of an acre of land, for 7 years—and being ad-
vanced the price of his labour for bringing it into cultivation,
or 100 days' work at ls. per day, but would grasp at the
offer—and from the 51. so advanced, save the means of putting
down a crop, that would support his family all the year.
A part of the labour might be applied to the erecting of a
cottage, which the Irish peasantry are well qualified to do for
themselves; .the wages of is. per day to be allowed while so
employed. The first year, the land to be allowed rent free—
the second, the same—and, within this period, the cottager
would be comfortably settled—and made secure, during good
behaviour, of his holding; on terms that would admit of his
supporting a family, and becoming a useful and valuable
subject.
The sum of 5,000,0001. to he raised on the security of
Government. at 4 per cent. interest.

The proprietors of Waste Lands to be invited to give in,
to Commissioners appointed by Government, returns of the
lands that can be appropriated, on conditions to be specified to
them.

The Land-owners of Ireland are particularly interested in
this Plan, as it will not only, in time, bring them an addi-
tional income from what is now dormant and useless, but
greatly enhance the value of their cultivated lands ; as a better
system of husbandry will become general, and Ireland soon be
made the Granary of the Empire.
The home consumption of Agricultural produce, all over
the country, will greatly exceed in magnitude the boasted ex-
ports, while the latter can be greatly augmented, on terms most
beneficial to Ireland. A liberal government will find the re-
venue increase, so as to justify a gradual reduction of the
Taxes, which press most heavily on the working classes. And,
when such results are reasonably to be expected from the ju-
dicious application of 5,000,0001.—it cannot be doubted fir a
moment that arrangements will at once be made to carry the
plan into immediate execution.
The labouring- poor to be instantly set to work in erecting
cottages, and bringing into cultivation waste and useless lands,
under the direction of Overseers, to be appointed by the Board
of .M.anagernent.• A labouring man, assisted by his wife and
children, will, in three months, build a cabin, and put as much
land into a state for
.producing a crop, as will support them
during the whole year. He will have his potatoes—a little
barley and oats—erass for a cow—food for a pig—vegeta-
bles, poultry, &e. ; and all this he could be made master of,
by an outlay of 5! —that is. paying Is. per day for 100 days,
on showing work, to the satisfaction of an overseer.
This is all that would be necessary to locate, and settle
down. all the insurgents in Ireland—and such as would not
avail themselves of the opportunity, ought to he consigned to
all the severities of :Ylartiat law. A labouring man could thus
be established in, the world, and put into a way of supporting
his family comfort:ilk, be an outlay of 51.—tire intereat
which, and 4,, fair rent for the land, could, at the end of four
Years, be paid. by himself—as will be afterwards shown. Even
the capital could be paid off hy the people in ;fourteen veers—
but, it would be better that Government should hold the 6.t-
-trout in the bands of their Commissioners, centiuuing the col-
lecters of the 200,0001., and having the power of fixiag the
additinus to be made to the landlord's rent, w hich should never
exi:e.l, in any case, it per acre.
In their present coriiiiiicn they are desperate tied without
aev hope, but in rebellion againq their rulers. What they can
extort from the Lumanity of their less destitute countrymen is
immediately devoured to satisfy the cravings of nature. Em-
ploy ! employ ! employ !—should be the word—and not " Agi-
tate ! agitate ! agitate !"

It is impossible to cone2ive any tbin•-• more deplo,:-.ble than
the situation or a poor Irish peasant, driven with ios
from a eThin (perilrlps his blrth-piave), with which. wretched
as it might be, he hal associated art the ideas which erickar a
home to man ;—::rd, that too, by a mercenary Miediezaan;
and to supvcrt a Cimireh, Ia whose tenets he do,s not believe.
Ffi: becomes—h., • which be is driven by dire oe-

C?i itcs,

crcity--- rot oute2.Qt from scuiety ; s rebel, subj:...ct to all eic

horror; of Mariial.!aw

There is no Arny in nlich he can extricate hinlself—jivcstcd
of eharactur, he ',ill not 11.: trn,t•,l, nor entployed ; and his
starring family cling boat him for food, winch 'he cann:t

procure them.
Let any man, whatever his rank or condition in lire may
contemplate for a moment this picture; let him revert to his
own past life—t,,x hew are so fortunate as to eseapo moments
of dinieupy, and perplexing. cares—he may then have some
idea of the pressure upoa the mind of the unfortunate Irish
peasant, placed in the :;iinition I have clesrrlhcd. Ile will
net wonder .that a man, under such ciremostanecs, should.
yield to the temptation of coin:biting crime to ohtain any re-
lief from his care, and resort to any ci.pedient to procure tem-
porary oblivion by means of intoNicltion. Neat to the exac-
tions of tie Middlemen arid the Church—Drunkenness ii the
curse of Ireland ; and it is an evil which, its my opinion,
eldeily results from the other two. It is the fallen and the
brcker, man, who generally sioht into the beastly and aban-
doned drunkard. In Ireland, ti)

vice i ialulged in to the

grossest excess, •md excites the inE:uated wretches who give
Way to it, to commit the crimes which tan-Ash the national

cliaractor

The deleterious spirit they dial; product:le of the re-
volting scenes we so often hear of. lz is generally made from
raw grain, and sold at a great strength, in a new and harsh
state, which may he called " liquid fire," that infuriates and
maddens thorn. - It would be well for the Irish, if the use of
malt whiskey were more general ; and that malt liquors were
substituted for the gneatest part of the whiskey now consumed.
The Scotch drink mild malt whiskey. The English drink
gin, made from grain whiskey (but greatly modified and re.
duced in strength) ; and there is a most marked distinction to
be observed between the temper and habits of the lower orders
on each side of the Channel ; that may in some degree be as-
cribed to the difference of drink in which they indulge—and
under the influence of which the strongest features in the cha-
racter of both are developed."

The actual cash advance, therefore, would be, for first
and second year, 400,0001. In the third year, the settlers
might be required to pay a rent of ss. per acre, or .£250,000

Third years interest of five millions added

150,000
200,000

Advance reduced, third year, to
Which w3uld be liquidated on the fourth year,
by the settlers being able to pay is. per acre, or

350,000

350,000

So that, at the end of the fourth year, the land would be
in a condition to enable the people, not only to pay the inte-
rest of the original investment of 5,000,0001., or 200,000/.,
which would come to 4s. per acre ; but, also, to pay to the
proprietors of the land broueht into cultivation, on the fifth
year of possession, a rent of 6s. per acre ; making in all ios.
per acre, or £500,000

Of which, for interest, 4s. per acre... £200,000

For landlords, Gs

300,000

X 500,000

Here then we have, on the fifth year, the plan, as it
were, supporting itself ; after rescuing, from the brink of de-
struction, a great country ; and from destitution, a vast popu-
lation ; converting them, from rebels, to contented and valu-
able subjects.
Besides the immense addition which would be created,
and added to the wealth and resources of the nation at large,
the benefit which individual land-owners would derive from the
plan, would be incalculable.
The land, which does not now yield them Is. per acre,
would, in five years, be put in a state to be worth 10s. . per
acre—in the occupancy of an industrious, thriving, and happy
peasantry ; by whom its value would be encreased every suc-
ceeding year. The face of the country would be altered and
improved peace and tranquillity established—and life and pro-
perty made secure.
All these blessings would indubitably result from the
adoption of the plan now proposed, if the management be
kept clear of such jobbing as has disgraced every attempt that
has ever yet been made to ameliorate the condition of the people
of Ireland.

The undertaking could be conducted by a Board of four
Commissioners, residing in Dublin—one for each province; to
make quarterly circuits, for the purpose of enquiring into and
correcting all abuses. These Commissioners to be selected,
for their experience in the management of lands, and superin-
tendence of public works, but more particularly for their sound
judgment and business habits. To such men no more diffi-
culty will appear in this undertaking, than is to be encoun-
tered in the making of a high-way, rail-road, or canal, or in
the builaing of a palace, or workhouse.
There are no better labourers in the world than the Irish :
and if set to work, for their own sole benefit, for the first two
years, who can doubt the eagerness with which they will grasp
at the opportunity of emancipating themselves from the most
intolerable bondage by which man has ever been cursed I
The Commissioners must be vested with ample powers to
distribute, according. to merit, among the deserving those
acres that may be forfeited by the idle and worthless.
By this means, classes of a better description of people
may be advanced from the general mass, and gradually pro-
moted to the uossession of live, ten, or twenty acres of land ;
nod this mark of distinction will be the surest way of stimu-
lating the industry of the whole.
The man who proves himself a good manager of five
acres will he equally successful with ten, fifteen or twenty—
and from such men, can be selected the future overseers ; and
in many cases the maeagers of large estates in Ireland.
It is in this way, that, in the course of time, will be es-
tablished that connecting chain of grades in the social system,
without which no country car, possibly prosper, or be great."

• NEW CLUB.—The crowded state of the principal
Clubs., and the consequent difficulty in obtaining. admission,
have induced some Noblemen and Gentlemen, with whom are
associated several Naval and Military pincers, to ooen a new
Club, and we understand that one is now in progress of for.
?nation in the immediate vicinity of St. Jarnes's. It is to be
entirely unconnected with party or politics, and is to be framed
on .he basis of the Union. We are somewhat surprised that
a similar undertaking has not been commenced before. At
the principal Clubs there are upwards of 10,000 persons on
the Candidates' Lists, many bf whom will, we have no doubt,
tr,iadly avcil themselves of an opportunity to berorne members
the new club._ our? Jounvd.