APPROXIMATE VALUE OF MANUFACTURES. 53 CHAPTER XIV. APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE OF THE VALUE OF THE MANUFACTURES OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND RESPECTIVELY-EXPORTS OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF BRITISH AND IRISH MANUFACTURE FROM BRITISH AND IRISH PORTS COMPARISON OF THE COAL, MINERAL, AND MANUFACTURING WEALTH OF THE TWO COUNTRIES. In the absence of accurate statistics, it is impossible to estimate closely the total produce of the manufactures of Great Britain and Ireland; but, as we have, from official documents, the value of the exports to foreign countries, and as the quantities retained for home consumption are, on the whole, considered to be about equal to those exported, we are able to make a fair approximation to the total amount. The total declared real value of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom exported from Great Britain and Ireland to foreign parts in the year 1866 was 188,917,536, viz. : But, in instituting a comparison of the two countries, it will be necessary to deduct the value of all exports of agricultural produce, of which Ireland contributes a much larger proportion than is set down to her in the official returns. Thus, for example, her shipments of butter to foreign parts are in most instances sent on steamers to Liverpool and other British ports, and are thence trans-shipped on vessels bound to the ports of final destination, and so are enumerated as British shipments. Again, the enumerated exports of provisions, to the amount of 385,7241. from Great Britain and 1,1021. from Ireland, in 1866, are not fair criteria; inasmuch as Ireland exported to Great Britain, in 1865, 364,881 head of cattle, 34,350 calves, 398,846 sheep and lambs, and 504,224 swine, and thus largely aided, or filled up the void created by, the exports of provisions from British ports. But, even though this were not the case, it would be necessary to make these deductions, as our object just now is a comparison of the mineral and manufacturing resources only of the two countries. It will be well also to omit beer, ale, and spirits, as being manufactured directly from agricultural produce, and almost exclusively for home consumption; and beer and ale being perhaps, after bread, the principal articles consumed of native production. As we already have the value of coals and minerals, we must omit the exports of coal, culm, and unwrought metals. We then have, as follows, the declared real value of the principal articles of British and Irish manufacture exported from Great Britain and Ireland respectively in 1866 :— yarn 4,742,162 Linen manufactures The rule of doubling the exports to ascertain the total value of native manufactures obviously does not apply to Ireland, as a large proportion of the exports of Irish manufactures are made through British ports. We, therefore, must arrive at the amount by other means. We know that the estimated value of the linen manufactures of Ireland is 10,000,000l.; and that of the sewed muslin trade, and all other manufactures, exclusive of beer, ale, and spirits, may be taken at 6,000,000l.-Total 16,000,000l. Deducting 5,000,000l. from the declared value of manufactures exported from British ports, as being the probable amount of their exports of Irish linen and other Irish fabrics, we have 165,038,1291., which sum, when doubled, gives us 330,076,2581. as the value of British manufactures in 1866. The comparison will then stand as follows: 1 Statis. Abstract U.K. No. 15, pp. 60-67, and return of exports from Irish ports. 2 The value of the raw material of manufactured metals exported, being a small proportion, is not deducted. of Great Britain and Ireland are in the following proportions of 100: Great Britain 95.81 4.19 100.00 This comparison, at best, is only approximate, as regards manufactures; for there are not, nor can there be, accurate statistics available, by which to arrive at the exact value of the manufactures of both countries. It is useful, however, in placing before us, in detail, the striking contrast presented by the British and Irish exports of manufactured goods; and it further exemplifies the gigantic proportions attained by the manufacturing industry of Great Britain. When we take into account the effect of manufactures on the agriculture, the carrying trade, the commerce-the whole economic status of a country-we can easily understand that the above figures and proportions are very inadequate representations of the relative economic positions of Great Britain and Ireland. This will be exemplified in detail as we proceed. CHAPTER XV. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF IRELAND, HOW COLLECTED-AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF GREAT BRITAIN, HOW COLLECTED AREA OF IRELAND; ITS SUBDIVISION AGRICULTURAL TOURS IN IRELAND BY ARTHUR YOUNG, MR. WAKEFIELD, AND MR. CAFRD; THEIR SEVERAL REPORTS ON THE SOIL AND AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN THE FOUR PROVINCES. THUS far we have viewed the contrast of Great Britain and Ireland in mining and manufacturing wealth. Let us now compare the two islands in agricultural wealth and resources. Much as Ireland is backward in other respects, there is no country possesses more complete or more accurate agricultural statistics. These are carefully prepared, and have been every AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF UNITED KINGDOM. 57 The year, since 1847 inclusive, by the Registrar General. materials are collected by the constabulary and metropolitan police, who, to the number of nearly 4,000, act as enumerators, visiting about 600,000 separate holdings during the progress of the inquiry, and obtaining, from the occupiers, or some person in their employment, the acreage under each crop, the number of live stock, and other particulars stated in the returns. It was long a subject of regret that a similar system did not prevail in Great Britain. However, the Board of Trade commenced supplying that want in 1866. The details are collected from all occupiers of land by the officers of the Inland Revenue Department, in the month of June in each year. Thus, we have at hand, for the purposes of our comparison, accurate and reliable returns of the agricultural statistics of the three kingdoms. Ireland, exclusive of the larger rivers, lakes, and tideways, contains 20,319,934 statute acres, divided as follows in 1867 : -- On the subject of her soil, climate, and agriculture generally, I shall quote three authorities, who made these matters their particular study at different periods-namely, Arthur Young, Mr. Wakefield, and Mr. Caird. Mr. Young, F.R.S. and Secretary to the Board of Agriculture in England, spent over three years in Ireland-1776 to 1779visiting various districts, and minutely inquiring into everything connected with the agriculture, soil, climate, and social and economic condition of the country. In his investigations, he received much aid from the gentry in the several counties, to whom he was furnished with numerous letters of introduction. 'But,' he tells us, 'I did not trust entirely to this source, having, |