32 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK I. 



nity is not to be expected from them ; and that in short 

 their absenteeism, their neglect of the lower classes, and 

 their political dissensions, are alone well nigh sufficient to 

 keep the country in its present state of misery. 



The Commissioners inquired if the lands were let di- 

 rectly to those persons who cultivated them, or if they 

 were sublet to them by individuals, who, on specula- 

 tion, became middle-men between the landowner and the 

 farmer. 



Nearly all the baronies have shown that the custom of 

 employing middle-men in the letting of lands was formerly 

 general, but that the landowners are seeking to get rid 

 of them, and that the number of leases which pass in 

 this manner is daily diminishing. 



The complaints against the middle-men are general. In 

 the barony of Kilconnel, province of Connaught, a remark- 

 able instance was detailed of the facility with which lands 

 are sublet. A piece of land was let for 6d. an acre, sub- 

 let afterwards for 2s. 6d. an acre to another person, who 

 again sublet it to a third at 3s. an acre ; and he sublet to 

 several small tenants, receiving from them on an average 

 l 7*. an acre. 



Whatever clauses are contained in the lease granted 

 by the head landlord are continued in all leases granted 

 by each inferior middle-man; but it is impossible to 

 enforce their execution*. Whoever wishes to have any 

 land, signs the lease without even seeking to know what 

 it contains. 



In the province of Munster, many persons who had paid 

 their rents to middle-men have lost both their money and 



[* In the Report, Appendix F., this refers only to certain clauses 

 respecting burning the land. TRANSL.] 



