ascertain the proportion of the two religions in these schools; but as it appears that the proportion in the whole population on the Company's estates is very nearly as three to two, i. e., three Protestants to two Catholics, it may be fairly inferred that there will be nearly the same proportion in the schools.

3. Ironmongers' Company. This Company has no schools exclusively supported by itself, but it contributes to fifteen schools, of which number fourteen are National Schools. These schools lie in the parishes of Aghadoey, Desertoghil, Macosquin, Erigal, and Agivy, in a south-west direction from Coleraine, and about seven or eight miles distant from it. The following Table exhibits the chief particulars relating to them at the close of the year 1852:

In the above enumeration the religion of the children is assumed from the known religion of their parents or nearest relations. Out of the whole fifteen schools, fourteen of the masters are Presbyterians and one Catholic.

4. Mercers' Company. This Company's property lies near Kilree, on the river Bonn, eight or

space

ten miles to the south of Coleraine, and occupies a of eight miles in length. It has been in the Company's own hands since the year 1832. It consists of upwards of 20,000 acres, and is understood to yield a rental of 8000l. The Company supports four double schools, that is, schools for both sexes, entirely at their own expense. Three of these schools have been long in operation, the fourth is now in the course of erection. The following are the numbers belonging to the schools in the year 1849, and the ratio of attendance by the children:

In all these schools there are residences for the masters and mistresses. The total cost to the Company is about 250l. per annum.

Beside these schools, there are two Sunday Schools in the town of Kilree, to which the Company annually subscribes; to the one (Established Church), 127.; to the other (Presbyterian), 107. 10s. It, moreover, contributes small annual sums, amounting in all to about 1007., to nineteen inferior schools scattered over the property.

5. Grocers' Company. The estates of this Com

pany lie chiefly in the parishes of Faughanvale, Glendermott, and Cumber, on the eastern and northern side of Londonderry, and partly adjoining Lough Foyle. There are on the property two large schools entirely supported by the Company, and quite free to all the children on the estate, everything being found for them. The schools are attended on an average by about 300 children, male and female. The Company also pay the masters of two small country schools in the mountainous district; and contribute the following sums annually to other educational establishments within their territory:

The total annual outlay of the Company on schools exceeds 2001.; not to mention the previous expenditure of full 30007. in building and repairing the school-houses.

6. Clothworkers' Company. This Company's property lies in the vicinity of Coleraine. It has no schools exclusively its own, but it gives liberal support to eleven different schools on or near its property. These schools altogether contain 606 children; and of these, 311, rather more than half, are paid for by the Company. The Company also contributes 100l. annually towards the payment of the salaries of the masters and mistresses of the

eleven schools; being two fifths of the whole amount received by them. Five of the eleven schools are in connection with the National Board.

The foregoing statements place the London Companies in a very favorable light as to their liberal and enlightened views in caring for the children on their estates. What was stated to me by the local agent of one of the Companies, is, I believe, equally applicable to all-viz. "that every child on the estate, be the parents poor or rich, receives a good education perfectly free of expense." The same gentleman, in a letter with which he has favoured me, does not, I think, exaggerate the educational resources of the districts in which the Companies' estates are situated, when he says: "The general fact in regard to the estates of the London Companies is certainly this-that the means of education, open and free to all, are so ample, that the parents of the children are distracted as to which of the schools -the Companies' Schools, the National Schools, Erasmus Smith's Schools, or the schools of private individuals—supply the best instruction, and are to be preferred." He adds, "There are also Sunday Schools at the churches, the meeting-houses, and the chapels; and the Presbyterian body are about to erect schools at all their meeting-houses."

It is universally known that the Plantation project of the government of King James, as above stated,

had the effect of bringing into Ulster an immense number of "Planters" both from England and Scotland; perhaps more plentifully from Scotland than from England. To the enterprising people of so poor a country as Scotland, the liberal offers of the English government proved an immense temptation, which was still further strengthened by the consideration, that, in yielding to it, they were only obeying the behest of their countryman and King. It is also not unlikely that their compliance with their Sovereign's wishes was still further stimulated by some superior facilities of settlement accorded by the King's known partiality for his old subjects. The near neighbourhood of Scotland, as facilitating the transport, must also be considered; the distance of the point of Tor, on the north coast of Antrim, being less than twenty miles from the Scottish peninsula of Cantyre. Neither are the many other descents-some of a directly-hostile character, some with a view to settlement-made by the Scots on this district, to be entirely overlooked in a question of this kind. At all events, it is very certain that the immigration of the Scots, (not only at the time of the Plantation of Ulster, but at other times also,) was carried to a great extent in the most northern counties of Ireland. In proof of this, we need no other evidence than the persistence of the lowland Scottish language in all the country districts of Ulster, even up to the present day.

As, however, there came into the country, at the