26 ERRONEOUS VIEWS OF THE 



invest in the permanent improvement of their 

 farms ; for not only the original outlay, but the 

 whole tear and wear of houses, fences, and 

 everything of the kind, have to be borne by 

 them. In Ireland, we had hundreds of the 

 small tenants of Ulster in our employment at 

 task-work who were in the enjoyment of those 

 rights ; but the majority of them, instead of 

 being able to finish a job of 60/. and receive 

 payment for it at the expiry of their lease?, 

 could not finish one of as many shillings ; for 

 they had to receive so much weekly to account, 

 and to many of them we were obliged to 

 advance a few shillings during the currency of 

 the very first week. Some had credit at least 

 for a week, but none had money. It is very 

 evident, therefore, that the want of such measures 

 as those now proposed cannot be advanced as 

 the cause of the poverty of the peasantry of the 

 south and west of Ireland, who were never rich 

 beyond their present circumstances never in 

 possession of capital to invest in the improvement 

 of their farms. 



It may be said, however, that were tenants 

 allowed to dispose of their farms at the ex- 

 piry of their leases, on the plans now advocated 



