CH. IV.] SMALL TENANTRY. 63 



Gowran, that the landlords are not sorry at the farmers 

 being in arrear of pay, since, besides the influence which 

 this gives them at elections, they make the tenants work, 

 requiring of them service-labour, and taking their cars to 

 bring home coals or turf: the arrears of rent make the 

 tenants so dependent on them that they dare not refuse 

 anything. 



In the barony of Philipstown it was added, that the 

 landlords wait till the tenants are able to pay them, but 

 that no abatement in the rent is ever made ; so that when 

 a good year comes, all the profits are swallowed up in the 

 arrears which have to be paid. 



In the barony of Moyfenragh great complaints are made, 

 that the few buildings upon a farm are always erected by 

 the farmer ; these usually cost, upon a farm of from four 

 to ten acres, 121. to 13/. ; and that the landlords, notwith- 

 standing the excessive price which they receive for their 

 lands, will not even do any repairs. 



In the provinces of Ulster and Munster the Commis- 

 sioners found these facts confirmed. In the barony of 

 Iveagh, the value of the rent of lands, according to the de- 

 positions of the witnesses, appeared so extraordinary as 

 to be scarcely credible, and the Commissioners took the 

 greatest pains to ascertain the state of things. They 

 found that the statements of the witnesses were not at all 

 exaggerated ; that, for example, a man had paid 100/. for a 

 farm of seven acres, the rent of which was I/, an acre. 



In the barony of Lecale IjQl. was given for the lease of a 

 farm of six acres, for which a rent was paid of two guineas 

 an acre. A tenant stated that he had a farm of four acres, 

 rented at 21. 4s. lOd. per acre ; and that if he wished to 

 give up his lease, he could obtain for it 21. Ws. to 31. In 



