LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE DEPOPULATION OF IRELAND.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIL—Every one admits the existence of " congested" districts in the Western half of Ireland. Mr. Parnell's remedy in attempting to migrate the excess of Western population to the Eastern half of Ireland broke down, because the population is already thicker there. Every one is not aware of the latter fact, which may be ascertained by reference to Thom's " Statistics of Ireland."
In the absence of manufacturing and other industries, there is no room anywhere in Ireland even for the whole of the existing population. It is, therefore, most unreasonable on the part of Irish Nationalists to denounce the landlords for en- forcing emigration after the terrible famine of 1847. - Had the population in 1879 remained anywhere near the level of 1847, another famine must have occurred. But plague and famine weigh nothing with Irish Nationalists against their hollow cry of " Ireland a nation !"—I am Sir, &c.,
Sir-Mile Bottom, December 23rd. W. H. HALL.
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