point) that had the Rulers intended to have made life miserable 

 to millions of persons, to have produced crime, immorality, poverty, 

 and eternal ruin to countless numbers of souls as well as the 

 nation's ruin, no better method could have been adopted, than that 

 of forcing upon the community licensed houses in such numbers 

 and of such character as to have made it practically impossible to 

 resist the temptation, and to avoid its really awful consequences, as 

 may be seen in almost every parish throughout the land to-day. 

 Whilst all interests in the country have suffered from Intemper- 

 ance, perhaps none have been injured so much as agriculture. I 

 will therefore refer to it in regard to its influence upon the various 

 classes engaged therein, viz. : 



1. The Landlords ; 2. The Tenants ; 3. The Labourers ; 

 and 4. Upon Agriculture itself 



I. ITS BEARING UPON THE LANDLORDS. 



Every landlord knows which has given him the most trouble, 

 the intelligent, industrious, sober man, or the man that is neither 

 the one nor the other. Who are the men that have to be excused 

 at the rent audit ? Why landlords know, those as a rule who 

 drink freely, men who have got into the habit of attending several 

 markets a week, when perhaps one in a fortnight would be 

 sufficient for business purposes, and thus a great deal of valuable 

 time and money year after year is wasted. 



Who is it that allows the farm buildings to become dilapidated 

 and does not half cultivate the land, and gives up the property 

 considerably deteriorated, which the landlord has to make good 

 for the next tenant, either by expending a sum of money, or 

 letting at a reduced rent for several years 1 



The same is true as regards cottage property ; at least it was 

 so upon an estate that I myself was connected with for six years, 

 in Buckinghamshire. A cottage may be done up at the cost of 

 say half a year's rent or more. It is let to an intemperate man 

 and his family, in a very short time the place is all to pieces again. 

 This is one reason why cottage property does not pay. I venture 

 to think that the experience of most landlords who enter into the 

 details of the management of their property will confirm my 

 statement. Another serious burden that falls heavily upon the 

 landlord is the increased rates and taxes through intemperance. 

 If these matters have not been carefully noted and looked into, 

 they may appear of but little consequence at any given time, yet 

 if the records in any estate office for the last thirty years be 

 carefully examined, they will be found to amount to a considerable 

 sum. 



The shocking condition of Ireland ought to be enough to 

 make every English Landlord give this matter his most serious 

 attention, for he knows not how soon a similar state of things 

 may be at his own door. There can be no doubt but that the 

 condition of that unhappy country is mainly due to the drinking 

 habits of the people. According to the Government returns, the 





