The Blue-Book on Irish Criminal Statistics for 1891, just published,
shows that there has been a slight decrease in the number of criminal offences as compared with 1890. The serious offences are, both absolutely and relatively in regard to population, considerably below the average for the past ten years. The minor offences, however, are a good deal above the average for the decade, owing to the large increase in the number of cases coming under the head of " drunkenness and drunk and disorderly." This is what one would have ex- pected from the Census and Trade Statistics. The country is quieter and more prosperous, and the struggle for life less severe than it was ; therefore, the serious offences have diminished. The people are, however, richer, and therefore the offences due to drink are higher. We believe that the ingenious teetotaler who made out that the whole of the decrease in rent had gone to the public-houses, had fair statistical proof for his assertion.
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