PREFACE. vii 



years ago this practice was common in regard to all 

 public contracts. Any one who wished to get a 

 contract took it at any price, and then trusted by the 

 help of. his friends to fight through it to advantage 

 by scamping the conditions, or getting increased pay- 

 ment. Till we conquered and routed this system, 

 many of us (all who were honest) lived in a state of 

 declared war with a large part of our neighbours. 

 Since we won the battle, nobody thinks of taking a 

 contract who does not mean to fulfil it. 



Lastly, I venture to remind all that there are 

 three such evils in the world as lying, drink, and 

 debt. Unhappily not only have these vices pene- 

 trated to the Holy Isle of Ireland, but there is sad 

 reason to believe they took up their permanent abode 

 there and have thriven ever since. 



Any tenants who are subject to such bad habits 

 are on the sure road to ruin. Are they to be pro- 

 tected from the effects of their own faults ? or, like 

 the rest of mankind suffering from the same vices, 

 left to the ordinary consequences of these ? 



W. BENCE JONES. 



DECEMBER 1, 1880. 



