PART II

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PART II.

Observations on the preceding Intelligence.

TO register the minutes received upon such a journey as this, and leave them simply to speak for themselves, would have its use; but it would leave to the inquisitive reader so much labour and trouble in collecting general facts, that not one in five hundred would attempt it. That it is a matter of importance to have accurate ideas of a country, instead of erroneous ones, will hardly be disputed; no books of geography but speak generally of soil, climate, product, rental, population, but they are too often mere guesses; or, if sounded at all, the facts that support them of too old a date to yield the least truth at present in points subject to change. When one country is mentioned in another it is usually in general terms, and by comparison; England has not so rich a soil as Ireland. Products in England larger than in France. Rents higher in Ireland than in Scotland. A thousand instances might be produced, in which ideas of this sort are particularized, and in which general errors are often found the cause of political measures, even of the highest consequence. That my English tours give exact information relative to England I cannot assert; but I may venture to say, that they are the only information extant, relative to the rental, produce, stock, &c. of that country, which are taken from an actual examination; I wish to offer equal information relative to our sister island; and I am encouraged to do it, not only from my own ideas, but the opinions of many persons, with whom I have either corresponded or conversed from most parts of Europe, including some of the most respectable for abilities and rank.

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