Progress of Population.

The increase in population has been rapid and nearly at an uniform rate per cent. for the last thirty years, notwithstanding the increase or diminution of the Army, Navy, &c. The population of Ireland amounted in 1831 to 7,734,365, making the aggregate population of the three kingdoms 24,271,763. With such an augmented number of people, cribbed in by corn laws, anti-emigration prejudices, and monopolies, can it be matter of surprise that capital is redundant—bread dear and labour cheap? Is it possible, while society is progressively increasing in numbers, wealth, and intelligence, public institutions can be stationary? Is it possible that an Aristocracy, daily becoming more disproportionate in every element of power to the mass of the community, can maintain a monopoly of political authority? Either they must speedily repair the few decayed pillars by which the State is supported within, or be crushed from the superincumbent pressure without!