The Political Anatomy of Ireland (1899)/Chapter II

by William Petty

 

[CHAPTER II.]

Of People, Houses, and Smoaks ; their Number, Differences, and Values.

THere are of People, Men, Women and Children.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	1,100,000
There are of Families		200,000
Of Smoaks[1]		250,000	|8|
VIZ.
Of the People, there are English		200,000
Of Papists		800,000
Of Non-Papists		300,000
Scots		100,000
Irish		800,000
—————
[2]2,200,000
The Scots are Presbyterians, and the Irish, Papists. But the English are above 100,000 legal Protestants or Conformists, and the rest are Presbyterians, Independants, Anabaptists and Quakers.
Of the Families.
Such as have no fix'd Hearths, are		160,000
Such as have but one Chimney		24,000
Such as have more than one		16,000
Of Smoaks.
The Single-Smoak-houses, are ut supra		184,000
And those Houses that have more than one Chimney, have but one with another above four in each House, viz. in all	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	66,000
250, M.|9|
The Number of them of all degrees, who paid Poll-money, Anno 1661. was about	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	360,000
Dublin hath Houses of more than one Smoak.	3,400
Other Cities, Towns, and Corporations of the like.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	6,000
The rest of Ireland of the like	6,600
[3]165,M.
And of Smiths Forges, near the same number, or rather 1⁄5 more.

A more particular Account of the Houses in Ireland, which have more than one Chimney , viz.
The Castle of Dublin hath Chimneys	125
The Earl of Meath's House in Dublin	27
The Houses of Dublin which have above 10, are	164

[4]The Number of Coaches, besides Hackneys, near the same Number, or rather fewer.
There be (ut supra) 160,000 Cabins without Chimneys, whose worth are not reckoned ; but as for the others, we rate as follows, viz. Houses of |10|
1 Chimny		24000 at 5l. each	120,000l.
of 2, and 3,		6800 at 40l.	272,000l.
4, 5, 6,		5600 at 100l.	560,000l.
7, 8, 9,		2500 at 300l.	750,000l.
10, 11, 12,		700 at 600l.	420,000l.
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	400 at 1000l.	400,000l.
2,522,000[5]
For 20 Transcendental-houses, per estimate				78,000
Total	2,600,000
Memorandum, That not ⅛ part of the Value of all those Houses do belong to other than English Protestants.			$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	325,000
To the English	2,275,000
There are of Non-papists in Dublin				28,000
In the other Cities, Towns, Corporations, &c.				72,000
In the Country				100,000
[6]2,000,000

There is in Nature but one in 500 at most who are Blind, Lame, and under incurable Impotence; so as not above 2000 in Ireland, whom 12000l.[7] would maintain without Scandal. |11|
The number of young Children under seven years old, and not fit for Labour, is ¼ of the 275,000 whole, viz.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	275,000
The said number of Impotents		2000
The number of Soldiers		3000
280,000
The Masters and Mistresses of 360 Families, wherein are above six Smoaks, are	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	7,200
Their Servants to their Persons		14,400
The Servants to the Persons of such as live in 5600 Families of 4, 5, 6. Smoaks, are	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	11,200
Servants in Families of 2, and 3, Smoaks		6800
Ministers, Students, &c.		400
320,000

People in all	1100	M.
Of above 6 years old	704
16	462
26	297
36	198
46	132
56	88
66	77	[8]

So as there are in Ireland fit for Trade		[9]780,000	|12|
Which are Imployed as followeth, viz.
For the Tillage of 500,000 Acres of Land for Corn, Men, and their Wives	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	100,000
For Cowherds and Shepherds to Cattel, grazing upon Seven Millions of Acres, viz. six Millions of black Cattel, or their equivalent in Horses and Sheep[10], Men and their Wives.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	120,000
220,000
By the other side[11].		220,000
Imployed about the taking of 5000 Hogsheads of Pilchards, Boats, Nets, Hewers, &rc. Men and Women.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	1000
Imployed about making 1000 Tuns of Iron, Men and Women	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	2000
Smiths as by account, Men and Women		15,000
Their Servants to the Trade[12]		7,500
Taylors and their Wives		45,000

Carpenters and Masons, and their Wives		10,000
Shoemakers and their Wives		20,000
and Servants		2500
Millers and their Wives		1600	|13|
Workers of Wooll and their Wives.		30,000	[13]
Tanners and Curriers, and their Wives.		10,000
331,600	[14]
Trades of Fancy and Ornament and their Wives.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	48,400
380,000	[15]
Wherefore if the present Employment be performed with 380,000[16] Persons, it follows that there are to spare for other uses	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	400,000
Memorandum, That in Dublin, where are but 4000 Families, there are at one time 1180 Ale-houses, and 91 publick Brew-houses, viz. near of the whole; it seems, that in Ireland, there being 200 M. Families, that about 60 M. of them should use the same Trade.
And consequently, That 180,000 viz. 60 Men, 60 Women, and 60 Servants[17] do follow the Trade of Drink.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	180,000
So as there are yet to spare, who are Casherers and Fait-neants.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	220,000
400,000	|14|
Whereas it is manifest, that ⅔ of the Alehouses may be spared, even although the same quantity of Drink should be sold ; then there will yet be further to spare of them	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	110,000 and 220,000
340,000

Having shew'd that 340,000 of spare hands are in Ireland, it follows to find Employments for them, which is at 7l. per head, to earn per Ann.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	2,380,000
This Imployment may be either in order to Local Wealth, or Universal Wealth.
Local Wealth I understand to be the building of 168,000 small Stone-wall Houses, with Chimneys, Doors, Windores, Gardens and Orchards, ditch'd and quicksetted ; instead of the lamentable Sties now in use; the which may cost 3 l. each, in all	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	l. 544,000
The planting 5 Millions of Fruit-Trees at 4 d. each.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	83,000	[18]
Planting 3 Millions of Timber-Trees upon the Bounds and Meers of every Denomination of Lands at 3 d. each	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	[19]360,000 l.	|15|
Of Inclosures and Quicksets one Million of Perches at 12 d. per Perch.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	l. 50,000
Fortifying the City of Dublin	30,000
Building a new Palace for the chief Governour.	30,000
Making there a Mold for Shipping.	15,000
Making several Rivers navigable and mending High-Ways.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	35,000
Building of 100 Churches, at 200 l. each	20,000
Workhouses of several sorts. Tan-Yards, Fishing Crofts, Rape-Mills, Allom and Copperas-works, as also Madder, Lead, Salt, &c.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	50,000
In order to Money and Universal Wealth.
For Ten Thousand Tuns of Shipping	100,000
For a Stock of Wool, Hemp, Flax and Rawhides for one Years Work	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	400,000
For the Labour of Men to Manufacture the same.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	[20]1000,000	|16|

[Note to last line of p. 141 :]

S has, 'Of the people there are:—					200000	English	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
	Of Papists	800000	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$		100000	Scots		1100000.'
Of Non-Papists	300000	800000			Irish

The editors of the 1691 and 1719 eds., by an obvious blunder, made the total 2,200,000. Neither here nor elsewhere does Petty make use of the returns of the census taken in 1659, though it is probable that he once had the figures of that enumeration for nearly the whole of Ireland. The population at that time has been calculated at 500,091, of whom about one fifth were Englishmen or Scotsmen. Hardinge in Trans. R. I. Acad., xxiv., Antiquities, 317 — 328. If these figures are correct, Petty unquestionably overestimated the population of Ireland, both here and when, at a later date, he increased his estimate to 'about 1,200,000 people' and 'near 300,000 hearths,' and still later to 1,300,000. Polit. Arith., chap. ii, and the Treatise of Ireland. Subsequent investigations have thrown but little additional light upon the correctness of his figures. The next estimate is for the year 1696. Calculating from the poll tax returns in three counties and in the city of Dublin, Capt. South set the population of Ireland at 1,034,102. 'An Account of the Number of People in Ireland,' Philos. Trans., 1700, no. 261, vol. xxii., p. 520. Nearly a century later Mr G. P. Bushe, commissioner of revenue, published in the Trans. of the R. I. Academy, iii., Science, 145 — 155, his 'Essay towards ascertaining the Population of Ireland.' Bushe points out that the returns of hearth money before 1686 were very defective, 200,000 houses being added by Ormond's reform in that year. He thinks that the houses must have been more numerous in 1672 than Petty makes them, and intimates that Petty's calculation of the population also is too small. But Thomas Newsham, an investigator quite as careful as Bushe, is of the contrary opinion. "Whether Sir William Petty overrated the population of Ireland in 1672, it is impossible now to determine. That he did not underrate it we may consider as certain." An Historical and Statistical Inquiry into the Progress and Magnitude of the Population of Ireland (1805), p. 89.

1. On the hearth money in Ireland see a note to chap. II of the Polit. Arith.
2. See note on p. 142.
3. '165, M' should be '16 M,' and is so corrected in S.
4. 1719 omits this paragraph.
5. This footing falls, both in S and in the first edition, in the middle of a page, where it is superfluous. It may have originated in a MS. which was the archetype of S as well as of the first edition. Cf note 4, p. 145.
6. '2,000,000' appears to be a misprint for '200,000,' the reading of S. But on p. 142 Petty found 300,000 'Non-Papists' in Ireland. See also p. 148.
7. Cox, 'he allows 12000^l to 2000 Impotents & pag 60 [of the MS., p. 189 of this ed.] but 8ooo^l.'
8. Had Petty adopted Graunt's table [Observations, ch. xi.] without modification, his figures would have been 704, 440, 275, 176, no, 66, 33. The figures actually used correspond more nearly to the probable mortality of Ireland at the time, but there is no indication of the reasons which led Petty to substitute them for Graunt's (or his own) 'six mean proportional numbers.'

9. In the margin of S, '1,100,000

   320,000.'

   ---

10. Cox, '6,000,000 of black Cattle or their equivalent is more yⁿ all Ireland will feed vide pag 42' [of the MS., p. 175 of this ed.].
11. This line stands at the top of folio 10 in S and repeats the total (' 220,000,' one line above) from the bottom of folio 9 (misnumbered 13). In the first edition both lines fall (as here) in the middle of a page where they are superfluous. Cf. note 3, p. 143.
12. Cox, 'Smiths 15000 and their serv^ts but 7500: whereas of all Trades Smiths doe most need a serv^t to help: It is indeed a two handed trade y^t cannot be without a serv^t: ergo there should be as many Serv^ts as Smiths.' But Petty allows a servant to each smith, though none to the smiths' wives.
13. Cox,'Workers of Wool & their wives are x times as many as are computed it being comon for one bagmaker to Imploy 1000 Spinners weavers &c. There are also three times as many Carpenters and Masons as he mentions.'
14. S, 1691, '331,600,' 1719, '364,600,' which is the correct footing.
15. S, 1691, '380,000,' 1719. '413,000,' which is the correct footing.
16. S, 1691, '380,000,' 1719, '413,000 'but S and both eds. spare 400,000 for other uses. The editor of the second ed., to be consistent, should have altered 400,000 to 367,000.
17. S, '60 M. Men,' 1719, '60,000 Men, as many Women, and as many Servants.'
18. More accurately £83,333. 6s. 8d.
19. In the margin of S, '375,000.' The correct amount is £37,500.
20. Making the corrections indicated, Petty's 'employments' foot up to £2,384,833. 6s. 8d. as against £2,380,000 of employments required.