The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-07
IRELAND.
Visit TO tho Town OF Navln-The Working
Glasses still Wre:cmed-lisnie r ration from
the County Menth-Arisa Emigration Gen
orally.


the County Menth-irish Emigration Gen
orally.
NAyAn June 90, 1870
The town OF Navan is situated In the centre OF the
county Meath, at the confluence or the Boyne and
BIackwatcr in the Barony of Lower Navan. and
about twenty miles northwest from Dublin.
II is very ancient town. At che time OF the
Anglo-Sorman Invasion OF Ireland the town OF Ma
van. in consequence Of its central position. became
a stronghold OF great importance, ana was walled
and fortified by Hugh De Lacy. to whom the prnci-
pality OF Meath was granted. Owing TO his munii-
cence Nayan became a nourishing place. SO early,
indeed, as the reign OF Edward ". it re-
ceved charter OF Incorporation and later STILL
In the reign OF Henry VII, other important
privileges were granted To its citizens. In 1889 the
northern Irish, under the celebrated Con O'Ne IN
vadel the English pale. ana among other towns plum
dered Nayan, from when they carried on large
quantity OF gold silver, copper and IRON Down to
late period Navan was undoubtedly place Of I'M
pOrtance, and, as long as IRISH legislative ndepen.
dence lasted, sent two representatives to Palla.
ment Since the union, however, IKE most other
Ilish towns, Navan has gone to decay. II has no
merchants no trade OF any kind not boat Is to be
seen the waters OF the beautiful Boync, which
flow through it, 1t merely supplies the necessires
Of life TO the surrounding inhabItants There
wealthy people to be found inside its ruined walls
on the contrary, me vast majority or the inhabitants
are in condition OF utter poverty ami wretchedness.
STRANGE.
All this misery, strange TO say, Is 10 be
seen on one OF the richest plains IN the
kingdom. The people OF Meath certainly 10
not lack either energy or Industry; they have
long been famous for both these qualities Yet
rich as the land is, great are The facilities for
trade and business OF every kind industrious Us the
wretchedness IN any towns III ireland than IN those
OF the county Meath. Tie people, TOO are more dis
satisfied, more discontinued than elsewlere-a fact
which Is evident from HE frequency with which,
during the last six months, they nave set all iaw
and order at defiance.
IANDLoRDIsa.
All tins misery aud discomfort are due entirely to
the process of landlord externnation, which has
for the last quarter OF century been carried in
this county There il no middle class in Meath.
All the small farmers have been eyrerninated. The
cottages have been levelied and the poor people
driven into the towns or TO America. There
Is no employment, either in town or country and
Is IN lhe hdnus o. ue aristoclacy aud
che grazlers Aud who, let me ask, are
part, merchants ami tradesmen from Dublin who
have rcaiized capital In business ami this capital
they consider Is best aud most safely invested in the
purchase or land IN those counties nearest The me
Iropolis. They have the reputation OF being ex-
trenlely grasping individuals they care little for
the mi fortunes hheir contracts are likely 10 bring
upon The simple peasantry-ihe po,rhouse, exile or
death Is good enough Tor them, and they are. with
out scrupe or remorse driven ont anon the high
road t. starye aud die Their houses are leye,ed
and their farms changed into vast sheepwalSs All
that these traders take INTO consideration - whether
their investment - paying one Nothing else
occurs TO them. When tue stnal farmers gone
and when there T. NJ lage there u nothing for the
working classes % do, and th,s. unfortunately Is the
fate Of the laboring poor IN The county Meath. In
no county IN Ireland Is there such wealth aud such
poverty.
The land and All otner sources OF wealth and CON-
FORT are IN tue hands OF few and The rest OF The
population have nothing. single hetjsinan - the
only person employed ON each VI those nrea yaang
farms which oticniimes consists o. thousauds OF
acres while la other counties tue same extent of
land would undouD edly ailOld employment 10 nun
dreds or poor families.
STARVATION or EMIGRATION
By far the greater part of the population of Meath
therefore. have Only one OF Two alternatives 10 resort
ro-they may either siafse ~ hOaie OF cmlyraie. n
they have the means OF doins 40. The stream OF
emigration has flowed freely from t.ii- county during
the present season. ] have been assured 10y on
who has every right % know that greater number
OF persons em.gratei from Meath during the la SIX
months than ever len ths county IN any similar pc
Rod In the past Every Monday morning the dif-
ferent railway stations Of the county are crowded
with these ill-ciad. hupgry-iooking creatures who
are, though escaping from bondage. giving WAY 10
their GRIEF In the Oittcrest and most passionate s0Os
Fathers ana mothers though som iimes OH and de.
crepd come to The station 10 bid a last farewell -
their sons and daughters who are Their way 10
the West The enigrans are FOR The most plrt nc.
conpanlcd by great number OF their friends AMI &c.
iatlves, whU come. no doubt 10 administer Nhaeycf
consolation j. In their power. I, tLeit Oh c0r1dcs
and companions All differences are forgotten;
promises vi lasting friendship heard On all sides,
Then come the shaking of hands aud the embraces;
and then, the train vhlfis away, cry OF augish
Is raised, which few listen 10 without emotion
''REyENGE, FoR ALL RESTED oN HIA AioNE."
IL has often been my misfortune since came 10
this country witness these scene, OF anguish. aud
have frequently asked myself why IL /, these emit
grans-mer as well "a wOlnen-1lc 40 overwhelmed
with grief when leaving their naive laad. They
have Iothing 10 lose ~ going anl everything %
gain; they have pr0spsct before them ga Aincrict
sucn a. IL were foolish 10 expect al h1e; ttarVt-
ton misery bonda.e, prtse i,to1 they leave
behind; happiness, wealth Aui nee 'Om are t1-s "a