work out of himself the slavish spirit
which oppression had produced, and to gain, by extra efforts, the
skill which the law had forbidden him to acquire. Nevertheless the
Catholics have acquired skill, and the extent to which the empire is
dependent on their knowledge of the industrial arts is much greater
than many people suppose. Of the farming class in Ireland, 76 per
cent. are Roman Catholics. But we are indebted to the obnoxious race
in other respects than as producers of food.

From the classification of occupations and professions, we learn that
the Roman Catholics bear the following proportions to the Protestants
of all denominations.

Persons employed in the manufacture of: Roman Catholics.

Skin clothing .77 per cent.
Woollen do. .88 "
Flax do. .43 "
Cotton do. .53 "
Straw do. .66 "
Silk do. .66 "
Miscellaneous do. .67 "
In producing furniture .84 "
In unclassed industrial employments .84 "
In amusements .80 "
In architecture .78 "
In making machinery .76 "
In conveyance and travelling .73 "
In literature and education .56 "
In charity and benevolence .52 "
In health .50 "
In science and art .47 "
In justice and government .46 "
In banking and agency .40 "

There are other suggestive figures in the census, bearing on
this question. While three-fourths of the farmers are Catholics,
three-fourths of the land-agents are Protestants, who, as a rule,
have an unconquerable antipathy to the Catholic clergy, as the only
obstacle to their absolute power over the tenants, with whom they find
it hard to sympathise. Of farm labourers and domestic servants, nine
out of ten belong to the race supposed by some to be incapable of
virtue and loyalty. Again, of the whole British army of all ranks, 37
per cent. are Irishmen, and of these Irish soldiers, 67