After the amalgamation of the Exchequers in 1817 the case becomes clearer.

In 1819-20, for instance, the revenue contributed by Ireland was L5,256,564, of which only L1,564,880 was spent in Ireland, leaving a tribute for Great Britain of L3,691,684.

For 1829-30 the tribute was L4,156,576.
Let us now inquire how things stood with regard to absenteeism.

This had existed before the Union'; indeed, if the curious reader will turn to Johnson's "Dictionary" he will find it damned in a definition.

But it was enormously intensified by the shifting of the centre of gravity of Irish politics, industry, and fashion from Dublin to London.