In the year 1834 the census of the whole parish

According to these estimates, it would appear that the Catholics constituted about one half of the population, while the Presbyterians were by much the smaller party of the three.

There were formerly four National Schools in Armagh; and I see by the official Reports, that in September, 1850, they had on their books 533 boys and 299 girls; and in March, 1851, 355 boys and 240 girls. On making inquiry, however, respecting these, I was informed that they were all now closed: I did not learn from what cause; but I see it stated in the Commissioners' last Report (September, 1851,) that the master of one of the schools had been dismissed, yet still retained possession of the house.

The place of these schools is now very inadequately supplied by others connected with the different churches and religious establishments. Two of these schools belong to the Established Church, and are in connection with the Church Education Society. In 1851, they had on the books 272 boys and 211 girls, with an average attendance of 144 and 117. One of these (the Drelincourt male and female school) was originally founded in 1732 by Mrs. Drelincourt, the widow of the Dean, and still de

rives a certain amount of income from funds then bequeathed for its support.

There are also three other schools in the parish, two of them Infant schools. One of the latter is in the town, and last year had 119 on the books, with an average attendance of 60. The other infant school at St. Callan had on the books 133, with an average attendance of 55; while the school of Banbrook (not infant) had 178 on the books, and an average attendance of 54.

There are also two schools attached to the Catholic religious establishments of the Franciscan Friars and Presentation Nuns, which are said to be well attended.

The Temperance system, which had once greatly flourished in Armagh, has within the last two years had a sort of revival. A Society called the Cork Branch, which had become extinct, now has 200 members, and is gradually augmenting its numbers. There is a benevolent Society connected with it, the members paying for both 10d. a month. Another called the Armagh Temperance Society, also of about two years' standing, has about 100 members, besides an affiliated branch, called the Juvenile Temperance, which has about 50 members. The Temperance Reading-Room and the Temperance Hotel have become extinct; but it is expected that they will be restored, at least the Reading-Room. Meantime it may be safely stated, that the city of Armagh possesses a population distinguished for their sobriety.

CHAPTER X.

THE UNION WORKHOUSES OF IRELAND.

THAT of Antrim being the last of the Union Workhouses visited by me in Ireland, I think it will be expected, after the numerous details given of individual houses in the preceding pages, that I should, before finally dismissing the subject, make some observations of a more general character on the great institution of which they constitute the chief feature. Poor Law Establishments, though unquestionably morbid products of an imperfect civilization, are, in all the countries where they exist, of great national importance; and that of Ireland is so in an especial manner.

But for the existence of the Poor Law system in Ireland, during the years of famine and pestilence, hundreds of thousands of persons would have perished, in spite of all the extraneous aid supplied by the British Government, and the people of England in their private capacity. In their Annual Report, dated 1st May, 1848, the Irish Poor Law Commissioners make the following statements:

"Including the large number of inmates maintained in the workhouses, we may state that more than 800,000 persons are daily relieved at the charge of the poor-rates, consisting chiefly of the most helpless part of the most indigent classes in Ireland; and we cannot doubt that of this number a very large proportion are by this means, and this means alone, daily preserved from death through want of food.

Including the relief contributed by our Inspectors from the funds of the British Association, in certain distressed Unions, the entire number of persons provided with daily sustenance in Ireland, may be stated, in round numbers, to be 1,000,000, or about one eighth part of the whole population."

Since that disastrous period, the labours of the Poor Law Commission have been incessant to improve and perfect the system of relief, tempering the sound economical principles on which it is founded, with every humane modification of which they are susceptible. The result has been, that they have at length established a system as complete as any such progressive system can well be; and which is no less distinguished for its general philosophical principles than for its humane spirit. As now established, it will not only render any future. miseries like those of the famine-years in Ireland impossible; but will, while ministering to the inevitable and habitual wants of the poor, open up a perennial source of progressive amelioration for that

As

class of the community—until the time arrives when all such extraneous aid can be dispensed with. at present conducted, the general tendency of the system is, unquestionably, to discourage and discountenance, in the young and healthy, all reliance on eleemosynary relief, while it provides, in the tenderest manner, succour and support for those who are not in a condition to effect their own maintenance by their personal labour.

In the accounts given of the individual workhouses, in many parts of the preceding pages, one invariable result will have been observed, namely, the great decrease of inmates recently, in comparison with former years; and this at a time, too, when the practice of granting out-door relief may be said to have entirely ceased.

As contributing to this result, we must, no doubt, admit as a principal cause, the vast thinning of the population by death and emigration; but we cannot refuse also to reckon as causes, the improved condition of the labouring class from the greater and more steady demand for labour, and, I would add, the increased disposition of the labourers to work out their own maintenance. In p. 297, of vol. I, I gave a statement of the total numbers relieved annually in the workhouses and out of doors from 1848 to 1851, as also of the annual cost of this relief in money as a complement to this, I here subjoin the actual numbers of persons who received relief in the workhouses and out of doors, on a particular