THE IRISH LAND QUESTION. 37 



or two landowners in a district giving employment 

 in draining or farming largely affect all the labourers 

 in it for good. Not only do wages rise, but more 

 than one member of a family being often employed, 

 ideas of comfort and prosperity in their condition of 

 life are spread that are very valuable. Several of 

 my labourers' families draw 20s. to 25s. per week 

 wages. I need not add with what effect ! 



May heaven forgive those who represent the Irish 

 tenant as an innocent, simple being, unable to take 

 care of his own interests or make a bargain for him- 

 self. A more barefaced fiction was never put for- 

 ward. If any one in England has a doubt on the 

 subject, let him try a dealing with the first Irishman 

 he can catch (who is sure to be a cousin, at least, of 

 some tenant at home), and he will soon find out if he 

 has not met his match. 



Of course, as in every class everywhere, some are 

 sharper and some softer ; but as a body Irish tenants 

 are as -sharp and shrewd and as well able to hold 

 their own as any class in the country. Like others 

 of the lower orders, they have a strong Iov6 of law, 

 and are much better up to it than English tenants. 

 They resort to it with entire freedom, and are re- 

 strained by no scruples from taking advantage of 

 every quirk, honest or dishonest, that the very inge- 

 nious body of attorneys who now abound in every 

 corner of the land can suggest for the moderate fee 

 of 5s. 



