1822.) 
words “ no preference to the tenants in 
possession,” forming a part of all ad- 
vertisements for letting land; and 
when the landowner acts up to this un- 
just and unfeeling cendition, and pre- 
fers sixpence an acre offered by a land 
speculater, to a proposal from his old 
tenantry, and drives them from his 
estates by hundreds—what is to be ex- 
pected from a wretched, ignorant, and 
starving population ? 
The Jrish are known to be more de- 
voted to their native soil than perhaps 
any other people in the world, Is it 
possible not to feel resentment towards 
the man who, for sixpence an acre, 
ejects his old tenants, whose ancestors 
were perhaps the lords of the very estate 
from which he now drives their descend- 
ants to beggary and starvation? Such 
is unfortunately the stafe of a great 
part of the south of Ireland; and add 
to this the non-residence of the esta- 
plished clergy, and the manner which 
too many of these gentlemen have 
adopted of ietting their tithes to specu- 
ators, who re-let them to the oceupy- 
ing tenant, or exact a full tenth of his 
titheable produce. The writer of this 
article met at an inn, on his way to 
Killarney, a gentleman who had a con- 
siderable parish near Castle Island ; he 
had no church—no protestant parish- 
ioners—and, wishing to spend his time 
pleasantly, ke resided principally at the 
watering places in England. He ac- 
cordingly lett the tithes of bis parish 
to aspeculator for £500 per annum, 
and left the country. The person who 
rented his tithe raised the parish, the 
first year, to £650; the second year he 
advanced the tithe to £900; and as the 
value of produce increased during the 
war, he advanced thie tithe of the pa- 
vish until it amounted to £1,406 per 
annum. E£Eneouraged by the acquies- 
cence of the people, this tithe-farmer 
endeavoured to increase his income still 
‘more ; but he had already gone too far, 
and the oppressed farmers refused to 
submit to further exactions. The dis- 
agreement proceeded to actual hostility, 
and, in an attempt to earry away tithe 
from the ground, a seufile took place, 
and some lives were lest. The news- 
papers of the day detailed the facts ; 
the clergyman saw the details—he had 
those good feelings which induced him 
to wish to put a stop fo such outrages— 
he returned to Lreland—re-purchased 
the lease of the tithes he had granted— 
assembled the farmers of his parish— 
stated his sorrow for what had happen- 
Picture of Ireland, and the Cause of its Discontents. 
i9 
ed—offered the tithes to them at what 
they deemed a fair value—accepted 
their proposal, and had the happiness 
to relieve them from eppression, and 
to receive an increase to his income, 
with the perfect approbation and grati- 
tude of liisRoman Catholic parishioners. 
If other clergymen would “ go and 
do likewise,’? much might be done to 
promote the welfare and happiness of 
the country. In other parts, similar op- 
pressions prevail; and all the distress 
complained ef may fairly be ascribed 
to similar causes. Great absentee 
estates, in the counties of Tyrone and 
Donegal, are entirely left to the ma- 
nagement ofan agent. The leasesupon 
these great properties were formerly 
granted for thirty-one years and lives. 
The tenants were of the most respecta- 
ble description ; they had acquired ca- 
pital by their industry, which they de- 
voted to the improvements of the linen 
manufacture, aud the face of the coun- 
try exhibited bleaching greens, good 
dwelling houses, and. a most industrious 
population. The noble proprietor of 
this extensive property, seeing the pros- 
perity of his tenantry, believed that his 
lands were lett at an undervalue. He, 
therefore, at the expiration of the old 
leases, gave much shorter tenures, and 
raised his reuts. He continued that 
practice during the late war, until his 
whole estate was lett at rack-rents. He 
would not permit a tenant to reap any 
advantage from his improvements ; 
and, from step to step, he advanced 
until he has deprived his once wealthy 
and respectable tenantry of their entire 
capital ; and now, at the two terms of 
May and November, may be seen all the 
pounds in the country crowded with the 
cattle of his tenantry, which are sold by 
his agent, if the rents are not paid in 
the time stipulated after the seizure. 
By this mode of proceeding, the inhabi- 
tants of extensive districts in the coun- 
ties of Tyrone and Donegal are nearly 
ruined. Promises of abatement in their 
rents have been held out, year after 
year, but these promises have not been 
fulfilled. 
Will not the Lord Chancellor—will 
not Lord Aberdeen, who are the ‘trus- 
tees of the heir of this great property, 
enquire into the situation of the Aber- 
corn estates? or will they continue to 
let the agent ruin a tenantry, who were 
once the most wealthy and respectable 
in the north of Ireland? | Perhaps it 
may be supposed that landed property 
never can be too high lett, as the tenant 
may 
