Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-11-27
From the baltimore Chronicle.


In examining our late English papers, we ac'
cidentaIly met with an extract from - nc"
work, entitled
IRELAND,
its evils and their remedies; being refuta-
ton of the errors Of the Emigration
Committee, touching that Country. BY
NJ T. Sadler, $40. Murray, 1928.
We have not, for long period, says the En-
glish editor, met with work SO eminen''y
entitled to the serious notice of every member
OF the British Parliament, and indeed every man
who feels interested in the present ameliora'ion
and future welfare Of the sister kingdom, as the
very able work on our table, MIR. Saddler,
instead of following the beaten track OF the
Nautilus school Of Political Economy-of as
cribinp all the miseries Of Ireland 10 excessive
DO pulation-endrayours to show, (and in our
opinion, very successfully that under proper
internal government and moderate investment
Of capital, Ireland might subsist population
Of at least three times the present amount
That The capabilities OF Iceland have been gteat-
" uuderrated by our statistical writers, we
have not the smallest doubt. The abs'ntee
landlords and their lessees, or middienen, 10
the third and fourth grade, living like irones
or Iocusts on the soil OF their country, without
contributing an iota Of the quidpro quo From
the wan, Of capital and enterprise, Ireland. as
an agricultural country, has never yet had
fair trial. H.. resources in furnishing the ne
cessaries Of life are almost inexhaus,ble il duly
appreciated; and We sincerely trus, The valua.
bic labors Of Mr. Sadler, may be the means OF
calling greater attention TO subject OF such
vast importance MIR. SadIer gives table al
the progressive increase of population in Ire.
| land, from the year 100, and contends, that,
| although the population has doubled within
the last 60 years, it is enormously supposed, IN
a peometrieal ratio, for shat the stamina OF an
excessive population diminlshes In proper
tionate ratio with the increase.
The present work is rather preliminary es-
say 10 a larger work promised by the author /;
we can therefore, at present, only afford room
for a short extract, to illustrate his views Of
this important question:
"The population of Ireland appears TO have
doubled once in every sixty-hve years; great
rate Of increase, il The emigration which has
taken place from thence, tor at least q century
past, and which was relatively far the largest
in the former part of that period. is taken into
the account; frr totally differ with those who
pronounce emigration, under such, or indeed
any, circums ances, to be immaterial 10 its Ell
fects upon the progress of population. To this
drain must be added those losses, whether
frequent and fatal epidemics. which, during a
far more extended period, have been almost
peculiar to Ireland. The increase, though
thus checked and im2eded, is doubtless very
large and is in strict accordance with the prin.
ciple of population for which I contend; il
conforms to the facts, ard is confirmed by the
physiology upon which that principle is found
pb. xuh 10 nod, IL
exempt case, these charging numbers are sill
accompanied, instead of confronting ,he true
theory of human Increase, is precisely that sor,
Of exception which establishes its truth. But,
before l prove this, shall, in the hrs, place,
examine the arguments Of those, who, holding
the modern notion on the principle of popula-
ton, attribute the distress and degradation of
Ireland to excessive numbers, and who exul,-
lngly point to that country, as fully demonstras.
ing all the dogmas they have advanced. 4
very short consideration Of the subject will,
Think suffice TO abate the confidence Of such,
il not finally to destroy il altogether. These.
then, would fist ask, is Ireland over-peopled
in reference to its potential produce? On the
contrary, even on the showing of the Emiera-
ton Committee, there are in Ireland, a. the
present time, al least 100000 acres Of pro-
ductve land uncultivated, independently Of
2,4l6,e64 acres deemed Con what authority I
know not,) incapable Of improvement. These
immense tracts, little Of the constantly alb.
stracted capital of the country might and would
bring into the most luxuriant state. as their
should become necessary; lille the
very act Of reclaiming these would be the means |
of correcting the management of the rest, now |
impertectly improved, so as to produce the
means Of human subsistence in quantities i,
would not be easy to calculate, certainIy far be.
yond the possible consumption of double the
presen. Inhabitants Of the entire island, 10 take
Tar lower estimate than any which agriculture
presents to us,) even were the people as much
improved in their mode of living as they would
be increased in numbers In the mean time.
while Nature has provided The amples. means
Tor this amelioration. and solicits from us their
improvements, is she, or thurman institutions,
with the misery which :beir neeIec,
occasions! Is the principle OF our policy or
hat OF population, to blame as it respects Ire.
and? In word, are these sufferines, under
such circumstances charpeabIe unon man mr. !