14 DECEMBER 1889, Page 2

Sir Henry James mentioned some impressive statistics showing the improvement

of Ireland under the Union. In 1841 there was an acre and an eighth to every head of the population living in the rural districts ; now there are four acres to every head of the population living in those districts. Since the famine, the number of good houses in Ireland has increased from 40,000 to 66,000 ; the number of houses occupied by the better class of farmers and tradesmen has increased from 266,000 to 422,000 ; while the number of bad houses has diminished from 533,000 to 384,000; and the number of mere hovels has decreased from 491,000 to 40,000. Could there be better proof that since the great famine the physical condition of Ireland has at least vastly improved?