CH. I.] LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. 31 



expenses, and finds persons who will advance loans to him 

 on the nominal price of his estates. The farmer cannot 

 pay, and the landowner is obliged to make seizures on all 

 sides in order to discharge the interest of the mortgages. 

 Mr. Shawe, proprietor of some estates in Ireland, and 

 farmer and agent of many others, assigned another cause 

 for the embarrassment of the Irish landowners, namely, the 

 modification made in the law of primogeniture during the 

 war, obliging the eldest sons to allow pensions to their 

 brothers and marriage-portions to their sisters. 



The Commissioners have paid great attention to the 

 effects resulting from the residence or non-residence of the 

 landowners. 



Some persons complained of the non-residence of the 

 landowners, saying, that if they dwelt upon their estates, 

 the labourers would have more work ; that in times of dif- 

 ficulty the tenants would have more help ; that in those 

 parts where the landowners do reside, they take care of 

 the aged, the orphans and the poor ; that they subscribe 

 towards the support of the hospitals, the schools, the cha- 

 pels, and all useful establishments ; that they mend the 

 roads, and give employment in keeping up their parks, etc. 



The English Commissioners have expressed their opinion, 

 that the state of Ireland is so hopeless, both from the pe- 

 cuniary embarrassment of the landlords, and the ignorance 

 and poverty of the farmers, that they are amazed that so- 

 ciety can continue to exist. They state, that landowners, 

 with very few exceptions, are looked upon only as the 

 tyrants of the soil ; that, although in England and Scotland 

 complaints are sometimes heard against the landowners, 

 they are in general humane, protecting and supporting 

 those who are under them ; whereas in Ireland, huma- 



