The Emigration Commissioners' report seemsto.dispose of the idea that the
very large emigration from Ireland last year to the United States was due in any appreciable degree to Federal enlistments. The number was not so large as in 1854 (thelast year of the heavy emigrations), nor so large a proportion• of the population of Ire- land ; and what is- more to the point, of that number precisely- the same proportion were. "single men." as in 1860 before the war. In 1860, 38 percent. of the Irishemigrants to the United States were single men. In 1863, 38-1 percent. were single men. In the first three months -of-1864, 44-3 per-cent. of the-Irish-emigrants to the United States were single men ; in the first three months of 1859 and 1860, 47-3 and 47-2. per cent respectively were "single men." "Of those who went out," say the Commissioners, "many no doubt enlisted ; but their number could have had, bat little effect in keeping up the strength of the Federal armies." There were, they think, but 20,000 to 25,000 at most who were at all likely to be recruits ; and they attribute in general the increased emigration. of 1864 to the same causes as that from 1847-1854 —a succession of bad harvests and a great consequent distress.
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