HOW SCOTLAND HAS GROWN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4065, 1 August 1884, Page 4

HOW SCOTLAND HAS GROWN.

In 1841 the population of Scotland was about two millions and a half. It ia now nearly four millions; while that of Ireland has decreased from upwards of eight millions to about five. But it is more in wealth that tho northern kingdom has, since the general peace, advanced, and that with a rapidity absolutely beyond a precedent. About thirty years ago tho Duke of Argyle, from a public platform, asserted that the progress of the great Transatlantic Republic, during the period referred to, fell far short of that of his native country. Mr M. Cr. Mulhall, a well-known statistician, has placed the fact beyond doubt by an approximate of the total value of the three kingdoms for 1840 and 1877, computed from the probate returns. In an article in the Contemporary Eeriew for February, 1882, ho states these as follows:— Avcrrgo por 1340. 1877 inh-bltant. Entjlnnd .. £3,52i>,000,000 £6,552,000,000 *210 £20-2 Scotland.. 196,010,000 070,000,000 81 277 Ireland .. 308,000,000 433,000,000 33 83 Scotland is thus shown to possess more wealth for population than England, and to have taken [England's place as the richest country in the world, though so poorly gifted by nature. "We may, (observes Mr Mulhall) search European annals sinco the timo of Alexander of Macedon, and we shall find nothing to equal the rise of Scotland in the above period." It is ano less remarkable fact that the criminal convictions in Scotland since 1810 have declined nearly 50 per cent., resulting in the closing- f during the same period, of sixteen prisons for want of occupants. Indeed, but for tho Irish colony, as is ovident from tho patronymics o£ the evil-doers still brought to justice, the country would be almost crimeless. "With regard to another important element in this question, education, Scotland still remains her old rn-e-cininence over

the sister kingdom. The average percentage of passes in tho cloinentary subjects in Scotland is S9.G ; in England it is 82.9 under the code of 1881, and 80 2 under tho Mundolla code. In specific subjects the figures for Scotland are 14.0, for England G. 2 oven under the oldcodo; and in the percentage of scholars who made complete passes Scotland beats England by 12 per cent. In Ireland over 40 per cent, of tho population are unable to read. —Presbyterian.