A farmer's HOUSE. 53 



drainage of Lough Corrib lowers the permanent level of 

 that lake, as is expected. Altogether, these are very 

 eligible and improvable lots, and, if purchased on 

 moderate terms, might be made a fine property. Care 

 must be taken to ascertain exactly how the exist- 

 ing leases stand, for on the length of these will greatly 

 depend the value of the purchase. But, in my opinion, 

 the Martin estate, as a whole, is not adapted for 

 the nucleus of any comprehensive scheme of settle- 

 ment, notwithstanding the advantages which some of its 

 lots present for the separate investments of private indi- 

 viduals. 



We were shown over this property by a farmer who 

 holds a considerable part of it, and who kindly asked us 

 into his house during a heavy fall of rain. The house 

 outside looked rather neat, and is very prettily situated 

 close to the Lough. Inside, it is impossible to describe 

 the dirt and confusion. We entered by the back, 

 as the front door did not appear to have done duty for 

 a long time. Around the kitchen fire were seated and 

 squatted a number of men and women, very dirty and 

 ragged. In the inner room, to which we were shown, 

 were all sorts of things — fishing-nets, saddles, chairs, 

 spades, sideboard, &c. A mutilated ale-glass was pro- 

 duced, which one hulking fellow was ordered to wash, 

 while another was despatched for water. The owner 

 made up for all by a very hospitable welcome ; but the 

 fact that he appeared quite unconscious of any defects 

 in his household appointments, showed how very low 

 the standard of comfort must be among this class. A 

 ploughman in Scotland would be ashamed to have his 



