Through the first half of the 19th century, there was a widespread notion that political economy was little known and not highly thought of in Ireland, and that the Irish and Roman Catholic "character" was either "non-economic" or "anti-economic". Such economic ignorance came to be seen as a major cause of Irish backwardness and of social divisions. The educational system was identified as the chief non-coercive means of establishing hegemony over the Irish, with political economy playing a leading role in promoting the "economically" progressive virtues (seen as English and rational) of self-interest and individualism, the "socially" desirable objective of neutralizing class antagonisms, and, above all, the "political" objective of "tranquillizing" Ireland and assimilating it to English norms, the better to promote the integrity of Empire. In a country so spectacularly divided as Ireland, ideological consensus was sought in that allegedly value-free and incontrovertible form of knowledge, political economy. But this book argues that political economy was partisan and defended the social, political and ideological status quo. This book should be of interest to lecturers and student

I believe that next to good Religious education, a sound knowledge of Political Economy would tend as much to tranquilize this country, if not more, than any other branch of knowledge that can be taught in schools.' - Cork Schools Inspector, 1853
In a nineteenth century Ireland that was divided socially, economically, politically and denominationally, consensus was sought in the new discipline of political economy, which claimed to be scientifically impartial and to transcend all divisions. The authors explore the ideological mission of political economy, and the reasons for the failure of that mission in the wake of the crisis induced by the great famine of 1846/47.

Contents:
Volume 1: The Character and Logical Method of Political Economy, 2nd edition, enlarged (London: Macmillan & Co; New York: Harper & Brothers, 1875). First published London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, 1857
Volume 2: The Slave Power, Its Character, Career, and Probable Designs: Being an Attempt to Explain the Real Issues Involved in the American Contest, 2nd edition, revised (London: Macmillan & Co, 1863). First published London: Parker, Son & Bourn, 1862
Volume 3: Political Essays (London: Macmillan & Co, 1873)
Volume 4: Essays in Political Economy: Theoretical and Applied (London: Macmillan & Co, 1873)
Volume 5: Some Leading Principles of Political Economy Newly Expounded (London: Macmillan & Co; new York: Harper & Brothers, 1874)
Volume 6: Uncollected Articles, Pamphlets, and Miscellaneous Writings
1. An Examination into the principles of Currency Involved in the Bank Charter Act of 1844 (Dublin: Hodges & Smith; London: Ridgeway, 1854), pp. 5-78
2. On the Best Means of Raising the Supplies for a War Expenditure (Dublin: Hodges & Smith; London: Ridgeway, 1854), pp. 3-25
3. 'The Effect of War on Prices', Journal of the Dublin Statistical Society, 1, April 1856, pp.223-238
4. 'Capital and Currency', North British Review, 28, February 1858, pp. 191-230
5. Political Economy as a Branch of General Education: being an Inaugural Lecture Delivered in Queen's College, Galway, in Michaelmas term, 1859 (London: J.W. Parker; Dublin: W. Magee, 1860), pp. 5-38
6. 'The New Currency Scheme for India', Economist, 6 April 1861, pp. 370-371
7. 'The Double Income Tax, Economist, 6 April 1861, p. 371
8. 'The Cause of the Inequalities in the Pressure of the Income Tax', Economist, 4 May 1861, pp. 481-483
9. 'The Policy of Alliance with the South', Economist, 8 February 1862, pp. 145-146
10. 'Negro Slavery and the American Civil War', Economist, 1 March 1862, pp. 231-232
11. Who are the Canters? (London: Ladies' Emancipation Society Tracts, 3, 1863)
12. The Southern Confederacy and the African Slave Trade: The Correspondence between Professor Cairnes, A. M., and George M 'Henry, esq. [reprinted from the Daily News] with an introduction and Notes by the Rev. George B. Wheeler, A.M. (Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1863), pp. I - xxvii & pp. 1-61
13. 'Have the Discoveries of Gold in Australia and California Lowered the Value of Gold?', Economist, 30 May 1863, pp. 592-593
14. 'The Consequences of the Gold Discoveries', Economist, 27 June 1863, pp. 704-706
15. The Effects of the Gold Discoveries' National Review, 17, October 1863, pp. 447-464
16. 'Mr.Ruskin on the Gold Question', MacMillan's Magazine, 9, November 1863, pp. 67-69
17. England's Neutrality in the American Contest (London: Emancipation Society, 1864), pp. 5-23
18. 'Ireland', Edinburgh Review, 119, January 1864, pp. 279-304
19. 'The Negro Suffrage', Macmillan's Magazine, 12, August 1865, pp. 334-343
20. 'Irish Education', Economist, 19 August 1865, pp. 1000-1002 21. 'The State and Education', Reader, 26 August 1865, pp. 223-224
22. 'Ireland in Transition', Economist, 9 September 1865, pp. 1087-1088
23. 'Ireland in Transition: Free Trade', Economist, 16 September 1865, pp. 1116-1117
24. 'Ireland in Transition: The Irish Cottier', Economist, 23 September 1865, pp. 1146-1147
25. 'Ireland in Transition', Economist, 30 September 1865, pp. 1173-1175
26. 'Ireland in Transition: the Decline of Cottierism', Economist, 7 October 1865, pp. 1204-1204
27. 'Ireland in Transition: Land Tunure', Economist, 14 October 1865, pp. 1238-1239
28. 'Ireland in Transition: The Future of Irish Industry', Economist, 21 October 1865, pp. 1268-1269
29. 'Ireland in Transition: Tenant-Right', Economist, 28 October 1865, pp. 1301-1303
30. 'Ireland in Transition: Peasant Proprietorship', Economist, 4 November 1865, pp. 1333-1334
31. 'The Irish Land Bill', Economist, 12 May 1866, pp. 559-560
32. University Education in Ireland: A Letter to J.S Mill, Esq. M.P. (London: Macmillan, 1866), pp. 3-52 & 55-63
33. 'The Law of Demand and Supply', Economist, 20 October 1866, pp. 1221-1222
34. 'The Law of Demand and Supply', Economist, 3 November 1866, pp. 1279-1281
35. 'New Theories in Political Economy', Fortnightly Review, 17 os, 11 ns, January 1872, pp. 71-76
36. 'His Work in Political Economy', in J.S. Mill Notices of his Life and Work (London: E. Dallow, 1873), pp. 47-52
37. 'Froude's 'English in Ireland' Fortnightly Review, 22os, 16ns, August 1874, pp.171-191
38. 'Women Suffrage: A Reply', Macmillan's Magazine, 30, September 1874, pp. 377-388. 39. 'Mr. Spencer on Social Evolution: Part 1', Fortnightly Review, 23 os, 17 ns, January 1875, pp. 63-82
40. 'Mr. Spencer on Social Evolution: Part 2' Fortnightly Review, 23 os, 17 ns, February 1875, pp. 200-213

Contents:
Volume 1: Scope and Methodology
1. Richard Whately, 'Nature and Subjects of the Science' Introductory Lectures on Political-Economy: Delivered at Oxford in Easter Term, MDCCCXXXI, with Remarks on Tithes and on Poor-Laws and on Penal Colonies, 4th ed., revised and enlarged, Lecture I pp. 1-17 [London: John W Parker, 1855]
2. Isaac Butt, An Introductory Lecture: Delivered before the University of Dublin, in Hilary Term, 1837 pp.5-71 [Dublin: William Curry; London: B Fellowes, 1837]
3. James Anthony Lawson Five Lectures on Political Economy: Delivered before the University of Dublin, in Michaelmas Term, 1843, Lecture I, pp. 1-25 [London: John W Parker; Dublin: Andrew Milliken, 1844]
4. John O'Hagan 'Views Preliminary to the Study of Political Economy' Atlantis, 3 pp. 24-48 [1860]
5. William Edward Hearn Chapter XXI, 'Of the Industrial Evolution of Society' Plutology: Or the Theory of the Efforts to Satisfy Human Wants pp. 382-405 [London: Macmillan; Melbourne: George Robertson, 1864]
6. J[ohn] E[lliot] Cairnes, 'M. Comte and Political Economy' Essays in Political Economy: Theoretical and Applied, Chapter VIII pp. 265-311 [London: Macmillan, 1873]
7. J[ohn] E[lliot] Cairnes, The Character and Logical Method of Political Economy, 2nd ed., enlarged pp.27-87 [London: Macmillan, 1875]
8. Thomas Edward Cliffe Leslie Chapter X, 'The Political Economy of Adam Smith', [1870], Chapter XIV, 'On the Philosophical Method of Political Economy', [1876] and Chapter XXVI, 'Political Economy and Sociology', [1879] Essays in Political and Moral Philosophy pp. 148-66, 216-42 and 383-411 [Dublin: Hodges, Foster, & Figgis; London: Longmans, Green, 1879]
9. John Kells Ingram 'The Present Position and Prospects of Political Economy: Being the Introductory Address Delivered in the Section of Economic Science and Statistics of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, at Its Meeting at Dublin in 1878, by the President of the Section', revised, with notes and additions, Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland, 7 pp.3-29 [1876-79]
10. F[rancis] Y[sidro] Edgeworth , 'On the Present Crisis in Ireland',Appendix VII pp. 126-48, Mathematical Psychics: An Essay on the Application of Mathematics to the Moral Sciences, Part I, pp. 1-15 [London: C Kegan Paul, 1881]
11. William Dillon Chapter VI, 'Political Economy and Sociology' The Dismal Science: A Criticism on Modern English Political Economy pp. 207-36 [Dublin: M H Gill; London: Simpkin, Marshall, 1882]
12. Hutcheson Macaulay Posnett, 'The Historical Method in Political Economy' The Historical Method in Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Political Economy, Chapter IV, pp. 76-108 [London: Longmans, Green, 1882]
13. C[harles] F[rancis] Bastable, An Examination of Some Current Objections to the Study of Political Economy: Being an Introductory Lecture Delivered in Trinity College, during Trinity Term, pp.3-30 [Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, 1884]
14. John Kells Ingram Chapter VIII, 'Conclusion' to A History of Political Economy new and enlarged ed., with a Supplementary Chapter by William A Scott and an Introduction by Richard T Ely pp. 294-300. [1888] [London: A & C Black, 1915]
15. William D McDonnell 'Prediction as a Test in Political Economy', Economic Review, 4, pp. 477-89 [1894]
16. C[harles] F[rancis] Bastable 'Address to the Economic Science and Statistics Section of the British Association, Held at Oxford, 1894' Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, 57, pp. 611-26 [1894]
Volume 2: Value and Distribution
Section A: Value Theory
17. Mountifort Longfield, Lectures II, III and IV from Lectures on Political Economy pp. 22-41, 42-63, and 64-85 [Dublin: William Curry, jun.; London: Longman, 1834]
18. James A. Lawson, Appendix, 'Retaliation, or Free Trade'?, Five Lectures on Political Economy pp. 133-47 [London: John W Parker; Dublin: Andrew Milliken, 1844]
19. William Neilson Hancock, An Introductory Lecture on Political Economy [Dublin: Hodges & Smith; London: James Ridgeway, 1849]
20. Arthur Houston, The Principles of Value in Exchange, Explained and Expressed in Simple and Comprehensive Formulae [London: Longman, Green; Dublin: William McGee, 1864]
21. William Edward Hearn 'Introduction', Chapter I, 'Of Human Wants', Chapter XIV, 'Of Exchange' Plutology: Or the Theory of the Efforts to Satisfy Human Wants pp. 1-11 and 12-23 [London: Macmillan; Melbourne: George Robertson, 1864]
22. J[ohn] E[lliot] Cairnes Part I, 'Value' and Chapter III, 'Normal Value' Some Leading Principles of Political Economy Newly Expounded, Part I pp. 11-21 and 43-96 [London: Macmillan, 1874]
Section B: Distribution Theory
23. William Thompson, An Inquiry into the Principles of the Distribution of Wealth Most Conducive to Human Happiness; Applied to the Newly Proposed System of Voluntary Equality of Wealth pp. 6-20, 24-28, 35-45, 78-90, 144-51 and 173-78 [London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green & Wheatley and Adlard, 1824]
24. Mountifort Longfield Lectures on Political Economy, Lectures VI-X pp. 108-31, 132-57, 158-79, 180-99 and 200-21 [Dublin: William Curry, jun.; London: Longman, 1834]
25. Isaac Butt, Rent, Profits, and Labour: A Lecture [Dublin: William Curry, jun.; London: Samuel Holdsworth, 1838]
26. Robert Vance 'On the English and Irish Analyses of Wages and Profits' Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 1, [1847-49]
27. William Edward Hearn 'On Cottier Rents' Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 2, [1849-51]
28. T[homas] E[dward] Cliffe Leslie 'Political Economy and the Rate of Wages', Appendix to Chapter XVII in Land Systems and Industrial Economy of Ireland, England, and Continental Countries pp. 357-79 [London: Longmans, Green, 1870]
29. J[ohn] E[lliot] Cairnes The Rate of Wages', Some Leading Principles of Political Economy Newly Expounded, Chapter 1 Part II, pp. 149-88 [London: Macmillan, 1874]
30. J[ohn] K[ells] Ingram, 'Work and the Workman: An Address to the Trades' Union Congress' Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland, 8 pp. 106-23 [1879-85]
31. Thomas Edward Cliffe Leslie, 'The History and Future of Interest and Profit', in Essays in Political Economy, 2nd ed.Chapter XVIII, pp. 243-68 [Dublin: Hodges, Figgis; London: Longmans, Green, 1888]
32. Hutcheson Macaulay Posnett 'The Ricardian Rent Theory', 'Social Aspect of the Ricardian Rent Theory' and 'Physical Aspect of the Ricardian Rent Theory', sections I- III in The Ricardian Theory of Rent pp. 9-33 and 34-53 [London: Longmans, Green, 1884]
33. W[illiam] D McDonnell 'Introductory', 'The Wages-Fund Theory' and 'View of Longfield', in A History and Criticism of the Various Theories of Wages: Being the Whately Memorial Prize Essay for 1887 pp. 1-19 and 31-4 [Dublin: William McGee; London: Simpkin, Marshall, 1888]
Volume 3: Public Finance, Money and Banking, International Trade
Section A: Public Finance
34. Sir Henry Parnell 'Taxation' On Financial Reform, 3rd ed.Chapter I, pp. 1-17 [London: John Murray, 1831]
35. James A Lawson 'On the Policy of Direct or Indirect Taxation' Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 1 pp. 3-8 [1847-49]
36. Denis Caulfield Heron Three Lectures on the Principles of Taxation, Delivered at Queen's College, Galway, in Hilary Term, 1850, Lecture I pp. 17-39 [Dublin: James McGlashan, 1850]
37. W[illiam] Neilson Hancock 'On the General Principles of Taxation, as Illustrating the Advantages of a Perfect Income Tax', Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 2, pp. 3-15 [1849-51]
38. C[harles] F[rancis] Bastable, 'State Economy. General Considerations', 'Some General Questions of Expenditure', 'The Forms and Classification of Public Revenues', 'The Tax System: Its Forms', 'Introductory-State Treasures', 'Public Indebtedness, Its Modern Development' and 'The Theory of Public Credit and Public Debts' Public Finance, 3rd ed. [1st ed. 1892; 2nd ed. 1895], pp. 1-15, 41-57, 130-49, 153-68, 338-59, 611-18, 619-28 and 658-84 [London: Macmillan, 1903]
Section B: Money and Banking
39. W[illiam] Neilson Hancock, 'The Theory of Money, and the Probable Effects of the Discovery of Gold in California on Prices in Great Britain', Dublin University Philosophical Society Transactions , 4 [1850]
40. John E[lliot] Cairnes, An Examination into the Principles of Currency Involved in the Bank Charter Act of 1844 [Dublin: Hodges & Smith; London: Ridgeway, 1854]
41. R[obert] Torrens 'On the Origin, Object, and Operation of the Act of 1844', in The Principles and Practical Operation of Sir Robert Peel's Act of 1844, Explained and Defended, 3rd ed. pp. 50-113 [London: Longmans, 1858]
42. Richard Hussey Walsh 'Observations on the Gold Crisis, the Price of Silver and the Demand for It; With Answer to the Question', 'What Becomes of the New Supplies of Gold', Journal of the Dublin Statistical Society, 1, pp. 175-93 [1855-56]
43. J[ohn] E[lliot] Cairnes, 'Essay towards a Solution of the Gold Question: The Course of Depreciation', in Essays in Political Economy: Theoretical and Applied pp. 53-76 [London: Macmillan, 1873]
44. Richard Horner Mills, The Principles of Currency and Banking: Being Five Lectures Delivered in Queen's College, Cork, to the Students in Arts of the Third Year, 2nd ed. pp. 25-45 and 64-89 [London: Groombridge; Dublin: Hodges, Smith, 1857]
Section C: International Trade
45. Mountifort Longfield, Three Lectures on Commerce, and One on Absenteeism: Delivered in Michaelmas Term, 1834, before the University of Dublin pp. 1-71, pp. 95-107 [Dublin: William Curry; London: Longman, 1835]
46. Isaac Butt, Protection to Home Industry: Some Cases of Its Advantages Considered. The Substance of Two Lectures Delivered before the University of Dublin, in Michaelmas Term, 1840 [Dublin: Hodges & Smith; London: J W Parker, 1846]
47. J[ohn] E[lliot] Cairnes International Trade, Part III, International Values, Chapter III, Some Leading Principles of Political Economy newly Expounded, pp. 342-74,[London:Macmillan, 1874]
48. C[harles F[rancis] Bastable, The Theory of International Values, The Theory of International Trade: With Some of its Applications to Economic Policy Chapter II, pp. 22-47, [Dublin:Hodges,Figgis;London:Simpkin,Marshall, 1887]
Volume 4: Policy & Special Topics
Section A: Laissez-Faire
49. John O'Hagan 'On the Expediency of Protecting Irish Manufactures' Dublin Philosophical Society Transactions, 1 pp. 178-89 [1843]
50. Anonymous 'Protection to Home Industry', Dublin University Magazine, 27, pp. 507-16 [1846]
51. W[illiam] Neilson Hancock 'On the Use of the Doctrine of Laissez Faire in Investigating the Economic Resources of Ireland', Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 1[1847-49]
52. W[illiam] Neilson Hancock 'On the Economic Views of Bishop Berkeley and Mr. Butt, with Respect to the Theory that a Nation May Gain by the Compulsory Use of Native Manufactures' Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 1[1847-49]
53. T[homas] E[dward] Cliffe Leslie 'The Self-Dependence of the Working Classses under the Law of Competition', Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 2 [1849-51]
54. J[ohn] E[lliot] C[airnes] 'Ireland in Transition: Land Tenure', Economist, pp. 1238-9 [14 October 1865]
55. J[ohn] E[lliot] Cairnes 'Political Economy and Laissez-Faire' Essays in Political Economy; Theoretical and Applied pp. 232-64 [London: Macmillan, 1873]
56. Mountifort Longfield 'The Limits of State Interference with the Distribution of Wealth, in Applying Taxation to the Assistance of the Public', Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland, 6 pp. 105-14 [1870-76]
Section B: Population
57. James A Lawson, 'The Over-Population Fallacy Considered', Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 2 [1849-51]
58. Frederick G Evelyn 'Malthus', Journal of the Dublin Statistical Society, 1 pp. 125-36 [1855-56]
Section C: Emigration and Colonization
59. Mountifort Longfield 'Emigration', Dublin University Magazine, 21 pp. 506-20 [1843]
60. T[homas] E[dward] Cliffe Leslie 'Political Economy and Emigration' Land Systems and Industrial Economy of Ireland, England, and Continental Countries, Chapter V pp. 85-116 [London: Longmans, Green, 1870]
61. R[obert] Torrens 'To the Right Hon. Lord Eliot, on Colonisation, Considered as a Means of Removing the Causes of Irish Misery; and of Preventing the Wages of Labour in England from Being Permanently Forced down, by Irish Immigration, to the Starvation Level', in The Budget: On Commercial and Colonial Policy, with an Introduction, in which the Deductive Method, as Presented in Mr. Mill's System of Logic, Is Applied to the Solution of Some Controverted Questions in Political Economy pp. 105-38 [London: Smith, Elder, 1844]
Section D: Poor Law
62. Mountifort Longfield, Four Lectures on Poor Laws, Delivered in Trinity Term, 1834 [Dublin: Richard Milliken; London: B Fellowes, 1834]
63. Richard Whately, Substance of a Speech Delivered in the House of Lords, on Friday the 26th of March, 1847. On the Motion for a Committee on Irish Poor Laws [London: B Fellowes; Dublin: Hodges & Smith, and Grant & Bolton, 1847]
64. Samuel O'Sullivan 'Free Trade and the Poor Laws Incompatible', Dublin University Magazine, 35 pp. 270-6 [1850]
Section E: Absenteeism
65. Mountifort Longfield, Three Lectures on Commerce, and One on Absenteeism, Delivered in Michaelmas Term, 1834, before the University of Dublin pp. 72-94, Appendix, pp. 107-11 [Dublin: William Curry; London: Longman, 1835]
66. Richard Hussey Walsh, 'Absenteeism', Dublin University Philosophical Society Transactions, 4 pp. 69-80 [1850]
67. John P Vereker, 'Absenteeism Economically Considered', Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 2 [1849-51]
68. W[illiam] Neilson Hancock 'On Irish Absenteeism', Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 2 [1849-51]
69. Ebenezer Shackleton, 'Thoughts on Reading the Hon. John P. Vereker's Paper on Absenteeism', Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 2 [1849-51]
70. A[ndrew] J[ohn] Maley 'Observations upon the Economic Effects of Absenteism on Ireland' Transactions of the Dublin Statistical Society, 2 [1849-51]
71. Samuel O'Sullivan 'Absenteeism: Its Social and Economic Effects upon Ireland', Dublin University Magazine, 35 pp. 277-86 [1850]
Section F: Slavery
72. J[ohn] E[lliot] Cairnes, 'The Economic Basis of Slavery', in The Slave Power: Its Character, Career, and Probable Designs: Being an Attempt to Explain the Real Issues Involved in the American Contest pp. 33-58 [London: Parker, Son, and Bourn, 1862]
Section G: Gender
73. Edward Gibson 'Employment of Women in Ireland', Journal of the Dublin Statistical Society, 3 pp. 138-43 [1861-63]
74. Arthur Houston, The Emancipation of Women from Existing Industrial Disabilities: Considered in Its Economic Aspect [London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts; Dublin: McGlashan & Gill, William McGee, 1862]
75. Arthur Houston, The Extention of the Field for the Employment of Women Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland, 4 pp. 345-53 [1864-68]
Section H: Education
76. William Edward Hearn, 'Professor Hearn's Lecture' Galway Vindicator [5 December 1849]
77. John E[lliot] Cairnes, Political Economy as a Branch of General Education; Being an Inaugural Lecture Delivered in Queen`s College, Galway, in Michaelmas Term, 1859 [London: J W Parker; Dublin: W Magee, 1860]
78. R[euben] J[ohn] Bryce, 'Fallacies Involved in the Popularly Received Dictum that Endowments for Education Are Necessary because Man's Appetite for Knowledge Is too Feeble to Produce such a Spontaneous Demand for Instruction as Shall Create an Adequate Supply' Transactions of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, 1860 pp. 360-7 [London: John W Parker, 1861]