34 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK I. 



the most miserable, on account of the great subdivision 

 of the lands, and of the high price paid by those who sub- 

 let them ; for the Chancery Court, having the admini- 

 stration of all the property of minors in dispute, is obliged 

 to put their lands up to auction, and the great competition 

 produces enormous prices. 



With respect to the lands let directly by the proprietors 

 in fee, the Commissioners have divided them into three 

 classes, namely : 



Plantation Acres. 



Proportion held under resident landlords 13,4?9 

 Proportion held under non-resident land- 

 lords, having agents on their estates . 12,370 

 Proportion held under absentee landlords, 

 not having resident agents .... 3,675. 



The estates of the resident proprietors were found to be 

 in a much better state than the others, and those let by 

 the middle-men the most neglected of all. The Commis- 

 sioners remarked, that the tenants of the resident proprie- 

 tors were, in general, treated with more humanity, and 

 were not sued for the payment of their rents, as those 

 who are under the power of agents and middle-men ; and 

 that, in short, the best off among the farmers were those 

 living under a resident proprietor, who made improve- 

 ments on his estates. These remarks are confirmed by all 

 the depositions. 



In the barony of Galmoy, province of Leinster, there is 

 no resident proprietor. 



In the barony of Gowran, in the same province, the 

 majority of the proprietors are resident. 



Nearly all those in the barony of Clonlisk are resident. 



