That Ireland has increased rapidly in population within the last half century ; and that at present, considering the large portion of its surface, which is occupied by bogs, loughs, Ste. its population is dense, compared with that of most other countries of Europe, are circumstances, the truth of which is generally admitted. But, as no enumera tion has it cent.y been made of the actual number of peo ple. we must rest content with the authority, or rather the opinion, of those who have taken the most care, and pos sessed the best opportunities, to ascertain it. According to mein, the population of Ireland nearly amounts to, if it does not really exceen, five millions. The first computa tion respecting the number of the inhabitants of Ireland was made in the year 1695, by Captain Smith. According to him, they were 1 034,102. Iu the year 1731, there was a return to parlianie..t the number or inhabitants in each parish, and from tats it appears, that in that year they amounted to 2,010 221. Since that, there has been no of ficial return of the population ; but there have been returns of the number of houses ; and supposing six to each house, (which seems to be the average in Ireland.) there would be in the yea! 1754. 2,372,634 inhabitants ; iu 1767, 2,544,276; in the year 1777, 2 690,356 ; in the year 1785. 2,845,J32 ; in the year 1788, 3 900,000; and in the year 1791.4 206,612 inhabitants. II; therefore, it he a fact, that there are oil an average six persons to a house in Ireland, and if the popu lation since 1791 has increased even in rather a smaller ra tio than it did in the years previous to that period, we may fairly estimate the present population at five millions.
Flom the returns of houses in 1791, it appears, that there \vele at that time, Hence it will appear, that a very large portion of the in habitants of Ireland are very peon. Those employed in the linen manufacture of Ulster are comparatively com I fortable ; but the great mass of the people, especial the labourers in husbandry, and even the very small far crs, are sunk in ignorance and poverty. The peasantry ore miserably ill-lodged. Four mud walls, with one entrance, and frequently without either window or chimney, consti tute an Irish hovel. The rent of these cabins is from one to two guineas a-year. To each cabin, there is commonly annexed about one acre of ground, which is cropped with potatoes, oats, and flax. There are numbers of the peasants who have not a bedstead, nor even a truckle bed-frame. They sleep on a bundle of straw or heath laid on the clay floor; sheets arc scarcely known ; and their blankets are scanty and tattered. The rain not unfrequently descends through the thatch on their beds. Amongst their peculi arities of dress is their long coat ; it is mule of wool, and generally of a grey colour. Their food is almost entirely potatoes and milk ; and their fuel turf. They are indis posed to labour ; and in their habits far from clean. The wages of the agricultural labourers is not only very low, generally less than I s. a-day, but it is not unfrequently
paid, partly at least, in kind, and not very regularly. The wages of the manufacturing labourers are, in general, much higher. The children of the lower classes are seldom employed ; hut are suffered to go about dirty, idle, and Deal ly naked. Not w ithstanding these disadvantages, which result hom political causes in a great measure, the na tional characterof the Irish breaks forth, even amongst the most ignorant and brutal of the peasantry. This national character is considerably different from that of Great Britain. " Greater vivacity, and quickness of parts, pro pensities more social, and stronger sensibilities of all kinds, accompanied by the usual attendants on such qualities, un steadiness, and want of self-government, sufficiently mark them as a distinct people. Among the lower classes, there is often a ferocity, which breaks out in savage and bloody deeds, especially in their party and political quar rels : yet no people display more faithful and affectionate attachment to those who have conciliated their good will. A pre, ipitancy of manner, and a proneness to exaggera tion, have introduced into the conversation style of the Irish a kind of hurry and confusion, which has subjected them to the imputation of often tailing into ludicrous contradic tions ; but, on the other hand, eloquence is natural to diem; and they display more imagination than their eastern neighbours." The established religion of Ireland is the same as that of England. The kingdom is divided ecclesiastically, as well as civilly, into four provinces ; but the boundaries of each do not coincide. An archbishop presides over cash. The seven bishops of the northern province are suffragans to the archbishops of Armagh, who is lord primate and me tropolitan of all Ireland. The archbishop of Dublin is lord primate of Ireiand,zand has three suffragan bishops in the eastern province. The archbishop of Cashel, lord pi imate of Munster, has five suffragan bishops; and the archbishop of "Tam, lord primate o[ Connaught, presides over the three bishops of the western province. The province of Armagh contains ten dioceses : viz. 1. Archbishopric of Armagh. 2. Bishopric of Dromore. 3. Down. 4, 5 Connor and Derry united. 6 Rapine. 7. Clogher. 8 Kilmore. 9. Ardagh.
10. Meath. The province of Dublin contains live dioceses. 1 Archbishopric of Dublin. 2. Bishopric of Kildare. 3. Ossory. 4. 5. Fernes and Leighliti united. The province of Cashel contains eleven dioceses. I Archbishopric of Cashel, and bishopric of united with Cashel. 2, 3. Watet ford and Lismorc united. 4. 5. Cork and Ross. 6. Cloyate. 7, 3,9. Limeri Ardlart, and Aglia-lo, united. 10, 11. Killaloc and Kafi.iora. Tile province or 'Foam con tains six dioceses. 1. Archbishopric of Twin. 2 3. Bis'iop tics of Clonfert and Kilmacduagli united. 4. Elphin. 5. Killala. 6. Achonry. Toe number of deaneries is 33, and of archdeaconries 34.