BOOK IL

A GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF IRELAND.

CHAP. I.

A geographical and statistical summary of Ireland -Climate and seasons-Face of the country→ Soil and agriculture-Rivers-Lakes-Moun

tains-Forests-Bogs-Natural curiositiesMineralogy-Antiquities-Religion-Popula

tion-Revenue-Education

Universities

IN Chap. I. Book I. we have entered into a few geographical details as preliminary matter to the general history; and as it would be superfluous to recapitulate them here, we shall merely refer the reader to that portion of our work for information respecting the discovery, name, extent, and political division of Ireland, proceeding now to a brief but accurate detail of other particulars connected with this division.

CLIMATE AND SEASONS.

As Ireland lies nearly in the same parallel with England, there is not perhaps any great difference in the climate. The mean temperature of the north is about 48; of the middle 50; of the south 52 of Fahrenheit. In a paper published in the 7th vol. of the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, the Rev. Mr. Hamilton endeavours to shew, that the climate of Ireland has of late years undergone a considerable change; that a more general equability of temperature prevails throughout the year, the summers being less warm, and the winters milder and opener. The author's theory may be thus briefly stated. The winds. which most usually prevail in England blow from the westward; they are mild in their temperature and moist in their nature. Being therefore highly favourable to animal as well as vegetable life, to them, among other natural causes, may be ascribed the increasing population of Ireland, and the uncommon fertility of its soil. Of late years, these winds, from whatever cause, have assumed more than common violence, which the author endeavours to prove by observations made on the trees of the country, the sands of the coast, and the tides of the ocean. To this cause he ascribes unsuccessful attempts made to plant on high and elevated situations. He gives some instances also

of places buried under sand, where the vestiges of towns and villages seem to attest that they were once the residence of men. Of late years extraordinary high tides have been more frequent than formerly; public roads have been destroyed by them, walls beat down, and other damage occasioned; all evidence of increasing tides, and the greater frequency of storms. He, however, concludes, that the annual quantity of heat received in the country in the present day is not less than it was in former days. If the prevalent winds of a country blow over an ocean situated in its parallel, that country will be relatively denominated temperate; it will be free from all extremes; the heats of summer and the colds of winter will be checked by sea breezes of a contrary property, and the land, influenced by the neighbouring element, must, more or less, partake in its equability of temperature. Such is the case in almost all the islands in the world, and such at all times has been the peculiar character of Ireland. Fifty years have elapsed since the river Foyle has been' completely frozen over at Derry. It is also observed, that the Thames is less frozen of late years than formerly. The summers in Ireland are colder, and the winters warmer, than they were some years ago; hence hemp does not grow so well, and the ancient apiaries of the country, once so celebrated, are nearly extinct.-Such are the outlines of Mr. Hamilton's hypothesis.

Respecting the climate of Ireland in general

no satisfactory conclusions can be formed, as the subject has been but little studied.

FACE OF THE COUNTRY.

In considering the face of the country it must be remembered, that Ireland forms a striking contrast to Scotland, being mostly level, fertile, and abundant in pasturage. The chains of hills, for they can hardly aspire to the name of mountains, are few and unimportant. Donegal, Fermanagh, and Londonderry, all in the north, are the most elevated districts. There are a few eminences in the south.

SOIL AND AGRICULTURE.

Arthur Young, and a recent writer (Mr. Wakefield), have both very ably discussed these topics. Their extensive researches cannot be here followed. It will suffice for the general nature of our plan to present a few positive conclusions, deduced from the laborious and minute inquiries of those writers. The quantity of cultivated land in Ireland exceeds, in proportion, that of England. The soil is rocky, stones generally appearing on the surface, and yet without any injury to the fertility. The stones are generally calcareous, and appear at no great depth, even in the most flat and fertile parts, as Limerick, Tipperary, and Meath. The climate being more moist than that

of England, the verdure never appears parched with heat *. Tillage is little understood, even in the best corn counties, as Louth, Kildare, Carlow, and Kilkenny, turnips and clover being almost unknown: the wheat sown upon fallow, and followed by several crops of spring corn. The farmer is dreadfully oppressed by the vile system of middle-men, who rent farms from the landlord, and let them to the real occupiers, who, as well as the proprietors, suffer greatly by this strange practice. Notwithstanding these abuses, however, Ireland is a most fertile country, and since encouragement has been given to agriculture, has become a treasury of grain. Even the bogs, among which that of Allen extend 80 miles, and is computed to contain 300,000 acres, might generally be drained and converted into fertile meadows. Lime-stone gravel is a manure peculiar to Ireland, having, on uncultivated land, the same effect as lime, and on all soils it is beneficial.

RIVERS.

The chief rivers of Ireland are the Shannon, the Barrow, the Blackwater, the Bann, and the

* Dr. Martin Lister, who visited France in 1698, and published his Travels, speaking of the difference of climate between Paris and London, says, "From the quantity of rain with us our fields are much greener; and it was a pleasing surprise to me at my return, sailing up the river Thames, to see our green fields and pastures on every side; but we pay dearly for it in agues and coughs, and rheumatic distempers."