Page:Letters to Lord John Russell on the Further Measures for the Social Amelioration of Ireland.djvu/32

29 in every ordinary railway, or canal, or road bill, in the case of lands highly cultivated, improved and adorned—nay, even of buildings and residences on which vast capital has been perhaps laid out, or which are consecrated in the affections of their owners by a thousand cherished associations?

It is clear that no special immunity can be for a moment pleaded for the Irish wastes. And the opposition, if any is publicly made, will, no doubt, be rested on other grounds.

It has, indeed, already been vaguely objected that this is a proposal for "the government to turn farmer on a vast scale, and set about cultivating the Irish bogs." And by a stupid cry of this kind, a prejudice is raised perhaps against the recommendation. Nothing, however, of the sort is suggested. The farms might, and perhaps should be disposed of even in their wholly wild state, so soon as the first steps in the process of reclamation, such as the cutting of the main drains, has been effected. Their occupants would themselves generally be able to carry forward the improvement by thorough drainage and coating with earth, as well as the actual cultivation of their land. Whatever is done by the public authorities beyond the initiatory steps of arterial drainage and the division of farms, should only be to the extent required by the necessity of finding work for able-bodied poor, who would otherwise be destitute and a burden on the public. That there will be many such in all, or nearly all of the