Notes and Gleanings Relating to the County of Wexford Book

General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1868 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: Notes And Gleanings, | N this age of rapid progress it may be useful to notice the degrees of advancement in the rural economy and social circumstances of one of the principal counties in Ireland, as illustrative of the progress which may be supposed analogous with that in other counties. We take the County of Wexford for example, because from long personal observation of its features, we are not altogether incompetent to compare its past with its present condition.. A glance at the map shews the almost peninsular character of the county, and how its strongly defined boundaries of sea and mountain, and high hills, afforded in early times great protection to the inhabitants against the inroads of hostile people from neighbouring districts. Its situation, directly opposite South Wales, presented especial facilities for invasion from that quarter. It became the established seat of the English colonists who here introduced and have maintained to the present day such exemplary illustrations of industry, social propriety, and practical integrity. The climate, divisions, and geographical distinctions were accurately described in Mr. Frazer's Survey, from which we epitomize a few observations. The eastern or sea-bord side consists of deep alluvial soil, abounding in marl and sand (more or less calcareous), and in some localities limestone. The southern maritime district, which is separated from the northern portion of the county by the range of hills called the Mountain of Forth, bears the distinction of English baronies. The land declines from the primitive mountains on the north side towards the sea ; th...Read More